Help I Need Ear Bud Advice

GWC Community GWC Hive Mind
#1

I’ve gone through 5 or 6 sets of ear buds. I don’t really care about audio quality, but I do generally use ear buds for more than 6 hours daily, so I need advice on a new pair that has some longevity.

Are there any GWCers that has had or knows of a good set of ear buds that will last??? One of my friends suggested a $70 pair of V Modas and another friend likes her $40 Sennheisers.

My original iPod earbuds lasted ~5 months, when they broke, Apple replaced them for free, but once those broke, I went with a Sony $30 pair that died after a few months. I decided to go with a cheap set after all that and bought a $6 set of Coby’s ear buds, but those broke after less than a month, but I got Amazon to give me a new pair under warranty, but this latest ear bud just died a day after the warranty period.

Any good suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks

#2

You gotta pay. Apple’s cheap ones are good for three months in my experience (YMMV.)

The GF and I have been through several sets of buds. Pony up for the $80-$100+ models (the cloth covered v-moda is da bomb.)

#3

I got a pair for about 20-30 bucks at Wal-Mart. They are Phillips brand. They are very comfortable and also the best sound quality that i have ever had for ear buds. They have little rubber pieces that fit nicely in the ear and they come in two sizes included in the package. Also it comes with a nice little carrying case. They are white and the cable is a decent length. The only weird thing is that they left ear cable is shorter than the right, but that is meant to for exercise so you can run the cable around the back of your head so it doesn’t get caught up on things. i normally go thru a pair of ear buds every 3 months or so but these ones seem to be holding up. And like i said the sound quality is great. My default sound is set at half and i normally have to turn it down a little or else the podcasts are a bit to loud whereas i had to turn the volume all the way up with the other ear buds i used.

These are pretty close to the ones i have.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7240924&type=product&id=1115364664036

#4

I have the Bose ones, they’re awesome and worth the price if that’s your #1 way to listen. They’re $100 I think- got em for my birthday. Your ears don’t hurt after a couple of hours listening, which is nice.

#5

You know, I have those as well, and I gotta say, they must be really hit or miss, cuz I heard some people love them, and some people hate them. I am one of those people who hate it.

I feel like it distorts in favor of bass pretty significantly. Punchy bass, muted and muddled midtones, completely inaudible high-freq details. I’ve tried them for a few days since I bought them, and I’ve never used them since.

I also have the V-Moda. It also biases toward the base, but without totally killing the high-tones. Cloth covered wires feel very sturdy, though I’ve managed to kill it twice already. (Their customer service and warranty dept is excellent, BTW.) I don’t think their sound quality justifies the price, but if you don’t care about the price, and you want something that will last and sound better than something that came free with your player, this is a good choice.

What I use constantly nowadays are Shure SE110s. Best clarity of all the ear buds I’ve used, and very neutral sound, without bias toward high or low. Of course, it’s so freaking expensive, it had better be the best ear buds I’ve ever used. Luckily, they are.

Yes, I have a lot of earbuds. I have more, but I’ll shut up now.

#6

I log in at least four hours on mine, and I use JVC Marshmallows. They go on sale at amazon at regular intervals for 9.99 a set, and I stock up then. They block noise quite well, and are very comfortable. My second rec would be Skull Candy. They are quite comfortable, but don’t offer the noise reduction that the marshmallows provide, and are more expensive. They do have nice tone in the bass range, though.

I’ll be watching this thread to see if there is anything I should take a shot at. I’ve heard so many good things about the shure’s, but I can’t quite bite the bullet. (I have small ear canals, and have had a lot of phones just fall out, no to mention the cost.)

#7

I also have Bose and yes they go for around $100. My problem is my ears are so small that the Apple earbuds hurt. I went through the under $20 cost range and they all hurt at the hour mark. I had the original Bose design that did not last well. They gave me 2 more sets for free with a year warranty on each. Now they have a new design that fixed the issue and I have no problem at all. They are conformable and do not hurt the cartilage in my ear and they have lasted. Some of you who are more picky about sound may have some problems I do not know. I use listen mostly for podcasts.

#8

You might want to try the v-moda. I know two people with really small ear canals, and it’s the one they both settled on.

#9

$9.95 or 19.95 i cant remeber… from walmart and they are sony… they wrap around the back of ur ear… i work in a loud warehouse, and i swear by mine… i go thru a pair every 8-12months, if not longer(and im abusive)… def. try a pair out… for the price u cant go wrong… and i promise u’ll love em

#10

I use these: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-CX300-B-Earbuds-Black/dp/B000E6G9RI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1221572935&sr=8-1

They work gud

#11

here u go… http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2624938

i use them over 8hrs a day and they are extremely comfortable, sheck em out

#12

Let me start out by saying:

I HATE EARBUDS

Ok - now that I’ve got that out, let me make a plug for JVC Marshmallows. :slight_smile: I bought a pair of these 'cause they looked similar to my shooting earplugs which I don’t mind too awful much. I don’t know if I have weird shaped ears or what but 99.9% of earbuds hurt. Not discomfort - actual pain. And I don’t have 100% of my hearing anymore (thank-you college work/study job in the mainframe room) so I just don’t hear well with earbuds. However, I do own a pair of pink marshmallows that I actually wear at work when I’m out and about and I actually don’t mind them. You squish them up and then put them in your ear and they expand to fit - just like foam earplugs. I will admit that I don’t hear as well with them as I do my normal headphones but they’re not bad and easy to carry around.

Just my 2 cents!

#13

I think you answered your own question there.

#14

Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder, like a continental solder?
Do your ears hang low?

Sorry couldn’t resist :rolleyes::o:D

#15

I tried sticking these two buds in my ears … well, not very comfortable—although I made an interesting discovery: beer is a fantastic ear wax solvent.:eek:

#16

Wait - were you the tall gangly one at the campfire at summer camp 20 years ago? Wait - make that 30 years ago.

Damn, I feel old.

#17

Never in my life have i been either tall or gangly…Short and skinny at one point and more recently i have been described as beach ball shaped, but never tall and gangly…and as for 30 years ago i was a 9 month old Fetus waiting to hatch.

#18

Gods - I was 8. Now I feel REALLY old…

#19

Naaa. By the new math i invented you are only 28…you are younger than me for the next 20 days :D:D:D

#20

mine too - I can’t wear earbuds for long until I get serious pain trying to keep them in. However today I received my new headphones, sennheiser and not too pricey either. I got these - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD202-Headphones/dp/B00009QH78/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1221601680&sr=1-15 and they are really good. I’m completely converted. Not bad price either.