Topic: In-ear headphone / IEM recommendations

[dlh]

ended up getting the Etymotic Research HF5's for $99. mainly b/c of the isolation properties (35-42dbs). for the price, I don't think they can be beat. The cable is kevlar reinforced and they come with a 2yr warranty.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XP8DJC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B002KQ5MAK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0WW8PST8F396W25N9PG0

I have Ety 4B's and use these:
http://www.complyfoam.com/?gclid=CPzNsNaXrKwCFUdn5QodPSc94A
For me, they're more comfortable than any of the supplied tips and still give good isolation.
BTW, I love the 4B's

Dave

[NOLAfishwater]

ended up getting the Etymotic Research HF5's for $99. mainly b/c of the isolation properties (35-42dbs). for the price, I don't think they can be beat. The cable is kevlar reinforced and they come with a 2yr warranty.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XP8DJC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B002KQ5MAK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0WW8PST8F396W25N9PG0

I have Ety 4B's and use these:
http://www.complyfoam.com/?gclid=CPzNsNaXrKwCFUdn5QodPSc94A
For me, they're more comfortable than any of the supplied tips and still give good isolation.
BTW, I love the 4B's

Dave

thanks for the heads up. I might have to get a set with the earwax filter to protect the tip.

[Jamos]

So how do I go about getting some of these custom molded earpieces for my westones?

I went to my local Audiologist, who happened to also be a Westone dealer.  They will make molds of your ear canal.  Then either they can send the molds direct to Westone, or you can probably do it yourself.  You can choose your color or pattern and composition.
They slip right on the IEM like a Comply tip would.
Cost was about $100 when I had mine done.

[Red Boink]

I've used the copter headphones with Sony 7506 guts and much preffer using westone IemS with comply tips and shop or gun range over ear mufflers if more isolation is required; less klunky, more comfortable, and much better fidelity.  The gun range mufflers allow use with any iems and give you more options for ergonomics, like in a quieter scene, you can remove the mufflers to let your ears breath. I use the westone um1 for gritty stuff and um2s for quieter high dynamic range sources.  Be picking up um3x soon.  Been using westone daily for many years without failure.  Much better solution than the Remote Audio HN-7506 imho.

Best,

John Hartney

[Brian Skalinder]

A long delayed update:

I decided to skip IEMs and more expensive earphone models -- just too much money for my only occasional, casual, on-the-go use, and based on some comments here and elsewhere I'm a little concerned about the IEM's hard-shell molds, comfort, and fragility.  So I gave the Ultimate Ears 500 a try.  Not too surprisingly, none of the included tips fit my ears.  (I have very narrow ear canals with a particulary sharp bend.)  I looked into Comply tips, but it appears (granted relying on photos only) that they don't make tips small enough for my puny ear canals.  Also, the stock tips (and I assume Comply tips, too) don't slot onto the UE500 very tightly, raising concerns about pulling out the earphone while the tip remains lodged in my ear.  Done that once with the foam tips on my ER-6, and it was a PITA.

So...in the end, I decided to stick with the Etymotic ER-6 since they're compatible with my custom molds (which I also use for concerts with the -15 dB filters).  Etymotic replaced my earphones out of warranty, for free (as they've once done before).  At this point, if they're happy to keep replacing them, I'm happy to keep using them -- the hassle of finding other earphones that fit my ears and/or custom molds is more hassle than the 1-2 yearly replacement.

Thanks for all the recs, everyone -- I do appreciate everyone taking the time to provide feedback, and I'm confident other TSers will find the thread helpful, even though I ultimately went in a different direction than originally planned.

On a related note:  I've been using a Rockboxed iRiver iHP-120 for a portable music player.  I finally got tired of its bulk and picked up a Sansa Clip+.  Damn this thing is small!  With a 32 GB microSD card I have more than enough storage for portable listening, and it sounds pretty darn good. 

[Gutbucket]

..Just FYI, the Westones can take custom molded earpieces instead of the foam tips.  This is more comfortable for most people and provides a little more isolation.  Sometimes I wear mine on the train home and absolutely cannot hear anyone around me!  Very nice at times.

FYI-
Contrary to popular belief, expanding foam earplugs usually provide more isolation than custom-molded plugs due to both their expansion, which maintains a minimal yet even pressure across the entire contact surface while in use, and their flexibility which allows them to better conform to the slightly ever-changing shape of the ear canal.  Isolation is amost entirely about the quality of seal and the depth of it in the ear canal.  The advantage of custom-molded plugs is primarily comfort and ease of insertion, not the highest achievable isolaton.

[YYzepp]

I've been a pro drummer for 25 years. Obviously one cannot stress enough the importance of ear protection. Those cylinder-shaped foam plugs are the only foam type of plugs I wear. I've tried all the other shapes/styles but they're the best. I had custom Etymotic IEM's made and for a while they were great. The one thing your audiologist might not tell you is if you lose/gain enough body weight the shape of your ear canal changes. When that happens those $$ customs won't provide the best fit any more and you need new molds done. Lately I've been using Surefire EP5 Sonic Defenders for protection. They're reusable, they stay put, 26dB reduction, and they're cheap. I think I paid around $15 for the pair. Highly recommended.

[jbou]

I finally got tired of its bulk and picked up a Sansa Clip+.  Damn this thing is small!  With a 32 GB microSD card I have more than enough storage for portable listening, and it sounds pretty darn good. 

Brian, do you have your Clip+ rockboxed?

[Brian Skalinder]

Brian, do you have your Clip+ rockboxed?

I just Rockboxed it, but haven't had much opportunity to explore configuration, UI, etc.  I had my old iRiver Rockboxed and the configuration and UI options were much better than stock, so I assume the same will be true with the Clip+.

[F.O.Bean]

While they are NOT custom molds, I have tried a MILLION in-ear setups, and my favorite are my $25.00 Zune headphones. I just bought another pair of Skull Candy ones last night for $30.00. And while theyre decent sound-wise, but are VERY RUGGED as a whole, they are a great match w/ my iPod Classic and my M10's And the cable is flat so it doesnt get all wound up I want to try the "Beats By Dre" in-ears as well, but cant afford them right now

Best of luck in your search Brian

[DigiGal]

Just happened across this, not recommending but thought it might be of interest here...

Collin's Lab: Custom Fit Earbuds

[F.O.Bean]

Just happened across this, not recommending but thought it might be of interest here...

Collin's Lab: Custom Fit Earbuds

Hmmm, very interesting. Def worth a look

[EScott]

I've been a pro drummer for 25 years. Obviously one cannot stress enough the importance of ear protection. Those cylinder-shaped foam plugs are the only foam type of plugs I wear. I've tried all the other shapes/styles but they're the best. I had custom Etymotic IEM's made and for a while they were great. The one thing your audiologist might not tell you is if you lose/gain enough body weight the shape of your ear canal changes. When that happens those $$ customs won't provide the best fit any more and you need new molds done. Lately I've been using Surefire EP5 Sonic Defenders for protection. They're reusable, they stay put, 26dB reduction, and they're cheap. I think I paid around $15 for the pair. Highly recommended.

I'm in the same boat as far being a drummer.  My shure's have now died on me, at least the right channel so my net purchase will be a custom pair from sensaphonics.  Shure's design has changed so my molds are worthless.  I need total isolation as I run a board feed through a mixer to include my click.