I spent a little time on headphone.com earlier on today and it seems that Shure and Etymotic are the only two options for In-Ear Monitor headphones. If so, what's my best option? I'm looking for something to use with my iPod. I have a pair of Grado SR-60s that I use for my laptop and when I'm not out and about.

I don't want to spend much more than $120 if possible.

I can't comment first-hand on Etymotic's offerings but the Shure's are well made and pretty robust. They also have superb after-sales service, I can vouch for that personally. People say Etymotics suffer from cable microphony and the wires are rather thin, but I don't know if that's really an issue.

I bought some E2c for use with a DAP (iRiver not iPod) and they sound very clean with good isolation. The higher models are also higher impedance so I'm not sure an iPod would drive then so well on limited voltage. There is a little bit of microphony from them but I think the design of any IEM makes that inevitable and it never intrudes. I was tempted by the higher models, since the output of the iRiver is pretty high, but decided it was probably overkill for a DAP.

Horses for courses I guess, see what other opinions you get...

I've had both the Shure E2c's and the Etymotic ER6i's. I prefer the sound and ergonomics of the Ety's. The Ety's have a very balanced sound, while the Shures sound rather muddy on the low end and too quiet on the high end. The Shures also wrap over the top of your ear, and the cord is so thick that it constantly felt like they were being tugged out. They Ety's, on the other hand, have a very light cable with a clip that you can attach to your collar, so there's no pull on your ears.

My main concern is how much better they sound over the stock iPod buds...

A lot! Not least because they block outside sound and allow you to hear the music. Be aware of this if you go walking!

Are you saying my chances of being raped are going to increase exponentially as I will be unable to hear approaching attackers!?

Creative EP-630, Sharp HP-MD33 and Sennheiser CX200 (actually the same headphones, originally by Sharp) have gotten very good recommendations.

I have the Sharps. And I love them. I don't think there could be a 100 dollar difference on my iPod.

One advice, though, get the Creatives, they are the cheaper than the Senns and they are 2-pole instead of 4-pole (like the Sharps), which some players will find troublesome.

Read this thread

Nevermind that the Etys did not get compared. Read the other posts.

Thanks for the info. Are all of these going to sound a lot better than my iPod buds?

I did a quick google search for those Senns that you recommended and I couldn't find anything at all...

Sorry. CX300

Also on eBay

But I really think you should get the Creatives.

Yeah, I'm leaning that way too. I'm just price shopping now. Any good sites you recommend?

eBay

What do you guys think of the Apple headphones that you can buy from their site? I tried a pair today (roommate has them), and they sounded a lot better than the standard buds, but I had trouble keeping them in my ear.

Me myself owned a pair of EP630, very satisfied.