El D,
Shure are definitely the biggest name out there and the E3s and E4s are probably a safe bet, as are the lower end of Shure's new SE series - SE210 and SE310. However, there are definitely some other very good options out there, as is evidenced by the overly torturous process I've put myself through in trying to pick my new pair of IEMs. See the post I just made for what I consider to be the best options in this price range, at least for my taste. The JAYS d-JAYS and q-JAYS are looking VERY nice. The only problem with them is very few people have much experience with them, so they're still a pretty unknown quantity (and the q-JAYS won't be here until May/June). Initial reviews are very good, though.

Other earphones to seriously consider would be the V-Moda Vibes, UltimateEars SuperFi 5 Pros, and the Westone UM1 and UM2s.

El D,

I had a pair of e3c's, lost 'em, and decided to go for the e4c's when i replaced them. Very happy I did. Very noticeable improvement in sounds quality, particularly for songs with heavier bass (yes, I listen to rap, so sue me.) The amount of enjoyment I get out of the 4cs over the 3cs is well worth the nominal price increase.

- TWP

I got a set of Shure E4Cs and am happy with them. They were for me a good compromise between price and sound quality. The E5Cs have a somewhat clearer soundstage, but are a noticable step up in price.

I listen mostly to orchestral classical and some big band jazz. I rip to WAV rather than MP3 or FLAC. I've never been happy with MP3 rips in terms of string sounds, cymbals/hihats, and clarity in the top end. iPods won't play FLAC.

The E4cs aren't the equivalent of an absolute top end set of cans or preamp/amp/speaker setup, but they're MUCH better than I expected out of earbuds. The isolation is really good. If I use them on an airplane, I can't hear the screaming kid so long as it's 3 rows away. They deaden at least as much sound as the earplugs I always wear on airplanes. If I wear them in my cube, I can't hear my cube neighbor who is incessantly making personal phone calls, and I also can't hear people come into my cube by knocking on the supports.

I haven't had any problems with them bumping into things due to sticking out of my ears too far. I do wish they had a better wire solution. I've tried the suggested "loop it above your ears", but it didn't work for me. They do have a slider over the wires leading to the buds so you could slide that up and tighten the wires near your chin.

I've tried all of the various fittings and the foams work best for me both in terms of comfort and sound/isolation quality. I actually experimented with wearing some of the rubber ones in the cube so I could hear people come in, but they are too uncomfortable for me. I purchased a pack of 20 replacement foams, but haven't cracked it open yet. I've had the Shures since December.

does everyone hate the bose noice cancelling headphones? ive had mine for like a year and a half, and i like them a lot. very comfortable for long periods of time.

Best headphones for jogging?

yes

you're in the wrong place man, this thread is for audio-snobs only. as far as i can tell bose has a very bad reputation amongst them.

i have shure e4c's but i don't really think they are that good. is it because i'm listening to crappy mp3s? they don't sound bad but i don't know, i just don't feel that they sound much better than the earbuds that come with the ipod. what am i doing wrong?

There's a decent chance you're not inserting them far enough inside your ear and getting a good seal. You can actually stick them in farther than what might seem like is all the way in. This might sound like I'm suggesting you're an idiot of some sort, but I'm not. Give it a shot.

i use the ends that are made of that squishy earplug type material, if you know what i mean. maybe the seal isn't the greatest, but it seems good. i'll try again, maybe i'll try some of the different attachments also.

In general Bose has a bad reputation among most audiophiles and their headphones are no exception. I personally don't hate the Bose headphones, I just think they don't offer a great bang for the buck. I think there are lot of other headphones out there which sound better for less money. Also their build quality for their pricepoint is very suspect. Really the only scenario where I'd recommend the Bose headphones is if you need isolation and find IEMs to be too uncomfortable to wear over a prolonged period of time.

Daryn, check the bit rate of your mp3s. Generally speaking the higher the bit rate, the better the sound. There is also a chance that the Shure sound isn't your cup of tea, though I suspect even if that was the case you'd be able to appreciate the upgrade in sound quality without loving the Shure sound.

daryn,

push them really all the way in. like to the point that you feel a little funny. it will kinda feel like the way your ears feel when you're underwater. if you do it when you're listening to music - SOFTLY - you'll notice that it will sound like the volume has turned way up when you push them in all the way. that is how you should be listening to them. if you don't find that tight seal comfortable with one type of attachment, try another. i think most people find the yellow foam things to be the most comfortable (but they get dirty and you have to clean them occasionally or replace them - replacement packs of 20 aren't that expensive).

- TWP

Diablo,

I've had the e2c's and now I have the e4c's. I love the e4's but they're really not worth the difference in price (I'm not an audiophile, like yourself). I don't know if the difference in price really matters to you. If it doesn't, get the 4's because they are better for sure, but the 2's are very good also and a lot cheaper.

Daryn,

In my experience you can't really get a good seal with those tips. The clear or black ones are much better.

I have the e4cs too and they rule. I use the foam plugs. Its annoying to keep buying them but the other kinds suck.

RJ,
What do you think about speakers? I would like to get a real nice set for audio probably to be plugged into a laptop, but possibly for home theater sometime down the road. I already have a $250 5-piece with a nice sub and I don't need a new setup to be louder than my old one. Is it even worth spending more? The current setup sounds pretty good. How much would I have to spend to really notice a difference?

And what would you say is the optimal price range for speakers? That is, the price range where you are getting the most per dollar?

What is the minimum you would advise someone to spend who wants a great sound system that will last a while?

I've met Mikhail and i feel silly for having left him off the list. he makes incredible amps. I listened to a Singlepower Supra and my friend thought it was the best at the meet, i loved it, mostly because tube electronics sound amazing.

The headphones i have pictured at the top are probably some of the most comfortable headphones ever built. All the top of the line headphones are v comfortable except grado really. But yeah, for closed, sound isolating headphones, sennheiser doesnt have a real solid competitor yet, so i dont mind the quiet comforts because they do their job, even if they deliver fairly crappy reproduction of sound. holla.

daryn,

the source means more than the headphones, so crappy mp3s make for crappy sound. think of it as a chain where if any one part sucks, it all sucks, it trickles down from:

[censored] mp3
[censored] sound card
[censored] amplification
[censored] headphones

in that order. anything before the headphones sucking means what the headphone gets will sound worse.

jablue,

I am a big stereo speaker fan. In fact, downstairs i have a Marantz 1060b setup that could knock down my whole condo complex(ive never set it above 40% and the neighbors came over and complained the one time i got to 40) and i use KEF C40 loudspeakers imported from the UK. I love 2 channel stereo, at the same time, i think small, 5 channel systems are kinda weak. Speakers should be giant and heavy, as the magnets inside are what produce the power, so i dunno, im just not into surround sound stuff.

lol

I use these.

I only have the surround set up because I use it for movies too and having surround sound on movies is pretty sweet.

I don't want huge speakers because they're obtrusive and I don't need them to be super loud. My ears are already damaged at the tender age of 18 and I hear ringing a lot of times I shouldn't.
With that in mind, could you try answering

a) And what would you say is the optimal price range for speakers? That is, the price range where you are getting the most per dollar?

b) What is the minimum you would advise someone to spend who wants a great sound system that will last a while?

For walking around school/jogging I use the AKG K 26 P.. They're okay, pretty cheap and small, easy to fold.. They've been lugged around in my bag a lot without using the carrying bag and haven't broke.. The sound quality is average, I don't have anything to compare it to, but for the price I can't complain. I was looking at these and the Sennheiser PX100's.. they both had great reviews so I just picked what look I liked more.

http://www.lentorg.ru/images/goods/0...g_k_26_p_2.jpg

JaBlue,

If you are serious about this topic, and willing to spend the time, pore through the avsforum info on surround sound, home theatre, speakers, etc. Tons of great info there for all price ranges.

- TWP

I am very happy with my Etymotic ER-4Ps except for some irritation issues from the flanged buds. The sound quality is excellent.

I have the sennheiser HD 280 pro. Allot of gamers use this headset and the quality is very good. And it isnt that expensive, check it out yo.

I have those, and 1 one side is much longer than the other one. I thought it was a defect, until I saw a random other pair that was the same way. what's up with that?

I just ordered these a couple of days ago on eBay. I'm very excited!