In Ear Headphone choice

[joeperson]

I believe my current Etymotic 6i Isolator Earphones are slowly dieing. They seem to be progressively losing volume in one of the two ear buds. Unless they can be fixed, which I doubt I need new ones.

So which would be best
another set of 6i's
the more expensive ER•4 (p or s/b with an amp?)
the hf5
or some other brand

These are for playing with a Cowon iAudio 7 (think ipod with better sound & battery life) so if you suggest an amp solution please be specific.

One of the biggest problems with ER4 or hf5's is sourcing them somewhere reputable. I can't get them from ncix :( so it'll have to be some smaller shop in Ontario. I'm open for info on the better e-tailers out there.

[joeperson]

No one knows about ear buds?

[Spikemaul]

These are great quality and they sound amazing but are very pricy.

Bose Mobile In-Ear Headset - Bose Headsets and Headphones

[joeperson]

Those are on par with the other options I'm considering price wise. I'll end up spending 100-200 on these things.

[Arinoth]

Originally Posted by Spikemaul

These are great quality and they sound amazing but are very pricy.

Bose Mobile In-Ear Headset - Bose Headsets and Headphones

I have those, they are great, i was lucky enough to buy them on staff so it was much cheaper but i've never liked a pair of head phones as much as these.

[AkG]

I hate to say it but BOSE IEM SUCK. No, let me rephrase that: ALL BOSE suck. You are buying brand name over quality with washed out sound. Tried them, sent them back.

You have a great player with enough power to drive some pretty good cans (I love Cowon!), so unless you are an audiophile an external amp is not really needed.
IF you want the BEST (and can afford them) it comes down to the Westone U3 or Shure 5x series. I prefer U3 myself BUT that is only a personal pref. Both are triple drivers for great reproduction of sound. Westone's are just more comfortable.

In the mid end Westone UM2s are hard to beat. A UM2 + Shure "Olive" foamies = kick ass listening experience. UE Super Fi 10s are VERY decent too...but are not my cup of tea thus the mid teir rating from me, even though they are a tripple drive IEM.

In the lower end Westone UM1s are very good. Shure's low end is MEH. Ultimate Ear Super Fi's 5 Pro's are very good for the price...IF they fit. They are on the large side...and stick out.

IF you are into HEAVEY Bass the Super Fi. 5 EBs will blow your mind with the amount of bass they deliver.

I usually buy my gear at Earphone Solutions - Shure Earphones, Sennheiser Earbud, Ultimate Ears Ear Buds, Shure earbuds and Westone Earphones - The Best Earphones for iPod Comparisons and Reviews good peeps with great customer service.

YMMV, but the biggest suggestion I can make BESIDES try the dif brands before you buy. Is Garbage In Garbage Out. No sense owning U3s if you play 192 mp3's! With the high end IEMS they amplify the experience amazingly well IF the quality is there....if not they will make it sound HORRIBLE! Mid grade are more all round, and super high quality music is not as important. With the low end, some low bitrate music (especially heavy bass on the EBs) will sound BETTER on them than on a IEM costing 5x more!

YMMV but thats my recommendations. ;)

EDIT:
Never did like Emotic IEMS. Tried them and wasn't happy with the fit. That being said I do like their triple flange, mod'ed to a dual ;)

[geokilla]

Go to DealExtreme and get DealExtreme: $6.98 Premium Noise Isolation In-Ear Stereo Earphones with Pouch (3.5mm Jack/121.5cm Cable)

Those are better than the previous Sony headsets I was using for my Nintendo DS and listening to music on the laptop and computer.

Oh, and as AKG said, Bose sucks, according to RFD. I have to agree with that though. Not worth the price for their headphones and speaker systems.

[miggs78]

You know you could buy a descent pair of headphones, whatever you like.. and replace the tips with some comply foam tips, Comply Foam Replacement Tips, Noise Reduction Earphones, and Mobile Phone Earsets with Noise Reduction. search for your brand and it will suggest the tips that fits your phones..

[joeperson]

Here I though no one replied :|

Lots to look at thank you to those that replied.

I'll probably settle on the westone um2/UE Super Fi 10. I don't count myself an audiophile so $100 between westone um2 and u3's although tempting is just a little too much to spend this time around.

I do like the way the um2/u3 and others sort of wrap around the ear.

[jcmaz]

I know a guy that works at Futureshop and he said that the return rate for the Bose sound systems is very high.