What Headphones on NX80??

[bwalker5]

What is everyone using for headphones for your MP3's????
I used the Sony supplied phones and found they hurt my ears after about 5 mins. They do have really good sound though.
So, of course I had to try my Shure E2C's and what a difference!!! The highs are little flatter but I found this to actually be better for longer play times at high volume listening to Staind. The Bass absolutely ROCKS!!!! Only problem with the E2C's is that they are an "In Ear" type and if you have to take them out it takes a minute or two to replace them. And they are $100
But they ROCK!!!!

http://www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_e2c.asp

B

[evaoni]

It takes a minute or two to replace them? wha!?

[bwalker5]

So the E2C's have a sponge earpiece that you compress and then insert into your ear canal. You have to hold them in place until the foam expands back. It usually takes less than a minute....

B

[Jay Levitt]

Etymotic ER-6's here.. :)

http://www.etymotic.com

[kp*]

My favorite earphones I use are a different Sony model that has a very tiny volume knob around collar-height, which for me works better than a remote. I like to just leave whatever I'm listening to on a given day running on a loop, but I like instant control over the volume. Otherwise I wind up either not being able to hear my music on the subway or blowing my eardrums out indoors.

I found that having all sorts of cords and remotes coming out of my Clie made me less willing to take it out to look up information when on the go, so I switched to carrying a separate source of MP3s, eventually settling on an iPod. When I just don't have room to carry my iPod, I use my Clie, without a remote or anything, and usually just my iPod earbuds. This morning I'm going to do laundry, and I'll probably just take my Clie and my favorite Sony earbuds with me to the laundromat. I have to carry the Clie anyway, all I need to add music is a pair of light earbuds, and for simple errands like laundry, I prefer to travel light.

[n2ifp]

Some like Bang&Olafsen head phones, but they're not cheap!

There are some past threads on it somewhere ;)

[Jay Levitt]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Some like Bang&Olafsen head phones, but they're not cheap!

B&O and Bose are "lifestyle brands"; they have great styling, but are heavily EQ'd and provide very poor sound for the money. I'd strongly recommend trying other headphones on the same source material - preferably powered by the Clie in both cases, if they'll let you - before spending your money on them...

[trudenko]

Koss PORTAPRO Portable

[JwY]

the original ones give me some weird static shock? when i press them in my ear

[meir87]

I use the Sony MDR-NC11 and although the price tag says $150 I got the refurbished off pcmall for $70. They work very well.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=ZBh2zoqcDGd237XdRq98xcWTuBBKj5PUYfk=?CatalogCategoryID=XtIKC0%2eNrNQAAAD3arGquAcK&ProductID=K28KC0%2eN5_YAAAD3HtSquAcP&Dept=pa

[DonWon]

Sony MDR-EX70

[AndyJapan]

I also use the SONY MDR-EX70 which somehow look like the Shure headphones, but at half the price. Not sure, if it is worth to spend $100 or more on headphones. I think that the sound of the Clie is anyway a little bit sharp. That`s why I would like to see an equalizer app in the audio player.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by Jay Levitt


B&O and Bose are "lifestyle brands"; they have great styling, but are heavily EQ'd and provide very poor sound for the money. I'd strongly recommend trying other headphones on the same source material - preferably powered by the Clie in both cases, if they'll let you - before spending your money on them...

B&O had some real nice foldup ones that past CS members raved about. Obviously, money for some is not a problem :) 

[neuroking]

Shure E2C all the way. Sure you can use more expensive ones, like the Etymotic 4s or the Shure E5, but the E2Cs have a nice price point and quality pont. You have to assume the electronics in the Clie are not the top-top end, so putting killer cans on it isn't really worth it, and anything clunky and old looking, like some Koss ksc-35s or anything Grado, just kills the style factor. I think the E2c is an excellent compliment to the NX80. Hell, they're what I use!

As a rule, I would stay away from low end Sony phones. Anything by them under $300 is not worth it. Don't believe me? Go find a place with a liberal return policy and audition a few.

Brandon King
Senior Editor
Design Technica

[ugokanain]

If you use it in a subway or bus, you really would like to try some noise canceling earphones.

[PRoy]

Originally posted by Jay Levitt


B&O and Bose are "lifestyle brands"; they have great styling, but are heavily EQ'd and provide very poor sound for the money. I'd strongly recommend trying other headphones on the same source material - preferably powered by the Clie in both cases, if they'll let you - before spending your money on them...

Got to disagree with this. I have the B&O earbuds. Yes they look cool but they also sound awesome. Considerably better than my Sony and Sennheiser phones.

[Jay Levitt]

Originally posted by neuroking
Shure E2C all the way. Sure you can use more expensive ones, like the Etymotic 4s or the Shure E5, but the E2Cs have a nice price point and quality pont. You have to assume the electronics in the Clie are not the top-top end, so putting killer cans on it isn't really worth it

Very true. With the Etymotics, I can hear the thermal hiss on the output, and that's not necessarily a good thing. If I didn't already have musician's plugs, I wouldn't have gone for them; as it is, they'll be useful for in-ear monitoring and such on stage, not just listening to my Clie on the train :)

[kp*]

Originally posted by ugokanain
If you use it in a subway or bus, you really would like to try some noise canceling earphones.
I would like better earphones, but I use the cheap non-noise-cancelling ones for the exact reason that I don't want to get hit by a bus! I usually only use my earbuds when walking from place to place, and while I'd like to hear my music better, I appreciate having those little outside noises filter in that tell you a truck is about to back over you or something. Of course if you're only going to use them in an environment where nothing is likely to hit you, then noise-cancelling ones would be best.:)

[Jay Levitt]

Originally posted by PRoy
Got to disagree with this. I have the B&O earbuds. Yes they look cool but they also sound awesome. Considerably better than my Sony and Sennheiser phones.

Interesting.. I stand corrected, then. I was basing my B&O opinion on their speakers and stereo equipment; perhaps their headphones are better.

[ugokanain]

Originally posted by kp*

I would like better earphones, but I use the cheap non-noise-cancelling ones for the exact reason that I don't want to get hit by a bus! I usually only use my earbuds when walking from place to place, and while I'd like to hear my music better, I appreciate having those little outside noises filter in that tell you a truck is about to back over you or something. Of course if you're only going to use them in an environment where nothing is likely to hit you, then noise-cancelling ones would be best.:)

You can always switch the noise cancellation off:) However, when riding a subway, I could never hear what is playing without the sound cancellation on. Besides I hate having to raise the volume to over 120dB :(

Sony has a very nice and small one, though they charge a bundle for it.

[bwalker5]

Also, the Shure E2C's knock out 20dbs of ambient noise.
This was an ear saver on a recent trip to Osaka. Didn't hear the guy next to me snoring or the 777 drone. Just music......

[PDaWGSevEN]

I use the new mdr-71sl's Their the best around, it sonys top of the line head phones, they replaced last years fontopias! worth the money! so much bass! and plus it cancels outside noise and it makes you yell when talkin and the music or anything isn't even playing :) seriously

[JwY]

i just bought mdr-51sl
i think that's what it was it's the lower model to the mdr-71sl
quality and performance is great
i'll wait to see how durable it is