Headphone Replacement Time: Suggestions Anyone?
Reply #3 – 2011-11-29 11:03:12
I'm looking to spend under $100 (would prefer $50 or less) for a new set of IEMs. Basic features I look for: - Balanced/accurate sound; no bloated bass or treble. - Comfortable and good for daily use; able to wear them for several hours with no discomfort and the buds need to be easy to take out and put back in. I have the Shure e4c's and the foam fitted tips make it too difficult to insert and remove them for daily usage. - Strong/durable chord; cat proof would be a bonus! I think you'd better go for earbuds instead of IEMs. I use daily a pair of AKG K311 or K318 (this one has integrated mic and remote control for iPhone) while at work, for many long hours and they are very comfortable to wear. At moderate listening level you can even forget them: a couple of times I've tried to answer the phone, I mean the wired one, with them on! but normally I take them out and then on again with ease, which would instead be a real pain if they were IEMs, as their in ear positioning is very critical for accurate sealing and sound quality. Of course isolation from ambient noise is weaker than typical IEMs, so that I can even speak with colleagues without taking them out, just lowering the volume or stopping the player. About sound quality: I listen mainly to classical and, subjectively speaking I'm very satisfied by these AKG's, very well balanced, no bass boom or ear piercing treble, even at "realistic" volume level. Good tonal rendition of a wide range of instruments, orchestra and voices. They are also very cheap, about 15 euro for the K311 here in Italy: for the price, you can just buy two sets, one for you and... one for your cat!