Help Needed on Headphones

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

I have an iRiver iFP-799. I have found that I cannot seat the earbuds in
my ear well enough to compete with the blasting music at the gym. I am
thinking about getting noise cancellation headphones and am thinking about
the ones listed below. I have tried to see if there is a place I could go
listen to them, but I have not been able to find a place. I have checked
reviews on CNET and the HeadRoom. At this point I am not sure what to get
and would really appreciate input.

- Etymotic ER-6 ($90)
- Shure EC2 ($79)
- Shure EC3 ($109)
- Sony MDR-EX51LP ($30)
- Koss Porta Pro Original ($34)

Note - ($) contains web prices that I could find.

Thanks for the help!

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

In alt.music.mp3.hardware Dan Jensen <DJensen@att.net> wrote:
> I have an iRiver iFP-799. I have found that I cannot seat the earbuds in
> my ear well enough to compete with the blasting music at the gym. I am
>
I've also (on occasion) found that an in-ear-canal earplug, cut in half,
and placed under conventional bud earphones, with ear defenders on top
can work even better than conventional headphones for reducing ambient
noise, while not forcing you to listen at high volume.

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

On 20/03/05 13:25, Ian Stirling wrote:
> In alt.music.mp3.hardware Dan Jensen <DJensen@att.net> wrote:
>> I have an iRiver iFP-799. I have found that I cannot seat the earbuds in
>> my ear well enough to compete with the blasting music at the gym. I am
>>
> I've also (on occasion) found that an in-ear-canal earplug, cut in half,
> and placed under conventional bud earphones, with ear defenders on top

Ear defenders? In the gym? Should look good...
http://www.robinsonandhunt.co.uk/products/SA4044.jpg

;-)

Adam

--
Adam Richardson
Email me at: monkeyadam~but.not.this.monkey~@ntlworld.com
Carpe Diem

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

"Dan Jensen" <DJensen@att.net> wrote in message
news:7h8%d.154456$Th1.115195@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net
> I have an iRiver iFP-799. I have found that I cannot seat the
> earbuds in my ear well enough to compete with the blasting music at
> the gym. I am thinking about getting noise cancellation headphones
> and am thinking about the ones listed below. I have tried to see if
> there is a place I could go listen to them, but I have not been able
> to find a place. I have checked reviews on CNET and the HeadRoom.
> At this point I am not sure what to get and would really appreciate
> input.

> - Etymotic ER-6 ($90)

I own ER-6s, and don't like them. Lower sensitivity, harsh and lacking in
bass. There is a new model the ER-6i that is supposed to address these
problems.

> - Shure EC2 ($79)

AKA E2C AKA E2 which I own. Smooth but not extended reasonably efficient. If
you want the same thing but mooh bettah, check out the E3 which is also mooh
moolah.

> - Shure EC3 ($109)

See above.

> - Sony MDR-EX51LP ($30)

Basically a MDR EX71 with a simpler cord and packaging. I own several pair
of these. They are bright sounding, but the price is right. They seem to
mellow out with time, as a new pair I have seems brighter than an older
pair.

> - Koss Porta Pro Original ($34)

Never done that, but I'm familiar with the Koss "The Plug" which is a
heckuva deal for the tiny investment.

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

In alt.music.mp3.hardware dgates <dgates@spamlinkline.com> wrote:
> On 20 Mar 2005 13:25:25 GMT, Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>>In alt.music.mp3.hardware Dan Jensen <DJensen@att.net> wrote:
>>> I have an iRiver iFP-799. I have found that I cannot seat the earbuds in
>>> my ear well enough to compete with the blasting music at the gym. I am
>>>
>>I've also (on occasion) found that an in-ear-canal earplug, cut in half,
>>and placed under conventional bud earphones, with ear defenders on top
>>can work even better than conventional headphones for reducing ambient
>>noise, while not forcing you to listen at high volume.
>
>
> I've considered a solution like this, but I'm curious:
>
> What do you mean "cut in half?"

> What are "ear defenders?" Can you point to a sample URL?

I may have missed the fact that this is to go out in public.
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Sa [...] /d70/sd520
For example 'ear plugs'.
These are compressible foam plugs that you roll between your thumb and
finger, and then insert into the ear canal where they expand to a tight
fit.
If you take one of these, and slice it at 45 degrees, you can then insert
it (with the 'tail' down and out), and have the earplug fit snug with the
ear canal, but be easily removed.
This lets you wear earbud style headphones over them.

Add a MP3 player turned up to max, with appropriate EQ settings, and it
can be quite acceptable even in loud settings.

The ear defenders are also mentioned on the same page, and can be worn
over the lot, for even louder environments.

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Dan Jensen wrote:
> I have an iRiver iFP-799. I have found that I cannot seat the earbuds in
> my ear well enough to compete with the blasting music at the gym. I am
> thinking about getting noise cancellation headphones and am thinking about
> the ones listed below. I have tried to see if there is a place I could go
> listen to them, but I have not been able to find a place. I have checked
> reviews on CNET and the HeadRoom. At this point I am not sure what to get
> and would really appreciate input.
>
> - Etymotic ER-6 ($90)
> - Shure EC2 ($79)
> - Shure EC3 ($109)
> - Sony MDR-EX51LP ($30)
> - Koss Porta Pro Original ($34)
>
> Note - ($) contains web prices that I could find.
>
> Thanks for the help!
>
>
Go for the Sony MDR-EX51LP ($30).

I've got them and they sound great and block out noise real well. The
only problem is that, for active use, they fall out because of how the
cord is desinged. The right ear lead is longer than the left ear lead.
The design is such that the right ear lead wraps around the back of your
neck. When I run, the weight of the cord pulls on the left plug and
pulls it out.

Anyhow, to fix this, just use some electrical tape and tape the right
lead to the main cord so that the length of right and left leads are equal.

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Derek R wrote:

> On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 15:29:55 -0600, "Al(at)weirdenergy.com"
> <"Al(at)weirdenergy.com"> wrote:
>
>
>
>>I have Etymotic ER-4P headphones and they do the job at mt noisy gym.
>>I would guess the ER-6 would work really well too.
>>
>>I also have the cheap Koss type, and they don't work worth a damn.
>
>
> I also have ER-4s which I am very happy with. Isn't the 'stethoscope
> effect' a problem at places like gymns though? I'd have thought it
> would be with the cable moving around so much.
>


LOL, um, yes, it can be a problem. I put a clip on the line and clip it
to my shirt, then run a bit of slack between the clip and the
headphones. That helps a bunch. Oh for softer cords.

They do block out the noise in the gym perfectly though.
They do such a good job that I can listen at lower volumes and still
hear it clearly.

Archived from groups: alt.music,alt.music.mp3,alt.music.mp3.hardware,rec.audio.misc,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Garry Owen wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 05:57:23 GMT, "Dan Jensen" <DJensen@att.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>I have an iRiver iFP-799. I have found that I cannot seat the earbuds in
>>my ear well enough to compete with the blasting music at the gym. I am
>>thinking about getting noise cancellation headphones and am thinking about
>>the ones listed below. I have tried to see if there is a place I could go
>>listen to them, but I have not been able to find a place. I have checked
>>reviews on CNET and the HeadRoom. At this point I am not sure what to get
>>and would really appreciate input.
>>
>>- Etymotic ER-6 ($90)
>>- Shure EC2 ($79)
>>- Shure EC3 ($109)
>>- Sony MDR-EX51LP ($30)
>>- Koss Porta Pro Original ($34)
>>
>>Note - ($) contains web prices that I could find.
>>
>>Thanks for the help!
>>
>>
>
>
>
> I've had two sets of Porta Pros for well over 15 years, one at home
> and the other at the office. Have yet to find anything close to the
> price that can match them.
>
> Googled on Porta Pro +Review and found a number of them. Take a look
> at what others have to say. Also check Amazon reviews.
>
> http://www.google.com/search?q=+Ko [...] illa:en-USfficial
>
>


I also have Porta Pros, I'm on my third pair over 20 years. They come
with a lifetime warranty but I just bought more. They are amazing
sounding headphones but the person who started this thread was talking
about blocking noise at the gym. Porta pros have two problems in this
regard, one, they block nothing unless you turn them way up. (bad idea)
Two, in the gym you will sweat a lot and the on ear style phones can
absorb sweat. Not a good idea either.