General Cycling Discussion - What are some good MP3 earphones??? Please Help

Well, after debating for almost a year whether or not to ride with tunes, I decided to go for it. In two days I've tried two different sets of Phillips earphones. They both suck!! The first pair I got were easy to get on and stayed in place, but the ear hooks are too big to go with sunglasses and the stem that the bud is mounted to creates a lot of wind noise. Here's what the first pair are
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000UUXC0.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg


The second pair were also Phillips. These were a "clip-on" style. To start with, the cord for the left ear is about half as long as for the right ear (some purpose?). The clips do barely any good in keeping the earphones in place and I got bad wind noise with these also. Here's what the second pair are
http://store1.yimg.com/I/caraudiovideo_1852_59297529

Can anyone please suggest a good earphone that's comfortable, accomodates sunglasses, stays in place and blocks out or doesn't create a bunch of wind noise? I've always had trouble with "bud" style earphones, they never stay in my ears, so I need something with a ear hook or clip. Also, please don't start the debate about whether or not it's safe to ride with music, there's already enough of that on here. Thanks...Pat

http://oakley.com/about/thump512mb/

shure e2c. great sound quality and good job blocking out wind. only problem is the cord goes over the ear, which might me irritating depending on what kind of glasses you're wearing.
http://www.shurestore.com/earphones/eseries_e2c.html

Sony EX71's

They fit snuggly in the ear canal and block most of the wind noise but remember that if you cann hear any wind, you cannot hear cars well either. They do not interfere with glasses.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00030CHRQ/104-9445326-0484737?v=glance (black is availible too)

http://oakley.com/about/thump512mb/


yep!

the iPOD I use the sony e70's....they're tiny...

Sony noise reducing ear buds are GREAT! Part of my coummute is 2 hours on a train and the ear buds fix the train noise. They are small and they stay in they have three different size rubber ear size things so you can get a good fit.

Joe

My Rio Nitrus came with Sennheiser earbuds and I like them quite a bit. They fit snugly in my ears (they're pretty large for earbuds) and I haven't had any issues with them falling out. sound quality is above average for earbuds. They're pretty cheap on Amazon... Click here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004Z0BN/qid=1122546529/sr=8-12/ref=pd_bbs_12/103-5734711-8105453?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846)

Thanks for the replies, I'm thinking about the Sony EX71's, the Shure's look nice, but I don't want to spend that much. Anymore suggestions? Do you get bad wind noise from all of the styles that don't act as an earplug?

Another vote for the E2C - they might be a bit pricey, but the sound quality is light years ahead of the EX70s, or any other sub-$100 earbuds for that matter.

i was interested in the shure e2c's, but when the headphones cost almost as much as my mp3 player i decided to reconsider. koss makes a bottom-end headphone called "the plug;" similar concept, except the included foam plug is completely useless. so i bought a pair of silicone earplugs, used a flame-heated paper clip to melt a "sound channel" through the middle, and whammy! $20 shure e2c's. i'm no audiophile, but it keeps ambient sound out (i ride strictly with just the right bud in), keeps the earbuds secure, and the bass response gives me a headache when i have bass boost on. perhaps a little too macgyverish for you, but i love em.

i was interested in the shure e2c's, but when the headphones cost almost as much as my mp3 player i decided to reconsider. koss makes a bottom-end headphone called "the plug;" similar concept, except the included foam plug is completely useless. so i bought a pair of silicone earplugs, used a flame-heated paper clip to melt a "sound channel" through the middle, and whammy! $20 shure e2c's. i'm no audiophile, but it keeps ambient sound out (i ride strictly with just the right bud in), keeps the earbuds secure, and the bass response gives me a headache when i have bass boost on. perhaps a little too macgyverish for you, but i love em.

I got a pair of the "plugs" and love them. I used a regular set of earbuds that sound great, but the wind noise at 25mph is too much to enjoy the tunes, so I switched back the the plugs...give them a try..

lapdog, not sure if you're telling me to give the plugs a try, since you quoted me... i am currently using them in fact, just that i replaced the foam that was included with them.

wind noise hasn't drowned out my music as of yet with my Sennheisers. I don't think you can find them at your local department store, though. I'd buy another pair in a heartbeat if I had to.. I really like them. :)

Nope, just in agreement with you

I'm a huge fan of Audio Technica, they make incredibly good headphones. And offer much more balanced responce then the Shure, Etymotic and Ultimate ear headphones.

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headphones/dc1fdbf3a9a2448a/index.html

I have been using these for a couple of years and they work great.. You can get them at best buy or online.. Nike PSA Flight Headphones

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4697769&type=product&id=1051826199874

The Sony plugs are very nice. Had mine for about a year now and will never go back to the ear-bud type.

Here's a summary...I own all of these, as I'm pretty much an audio junkie:

...by the way, due to how they work (their design naturally blocks off outside sound), it really is best to not use them when moving in public at all.

Sony EX-71:

Great bass, treble is a bit sharp, midrange needs some help, but for $40 is about as good as you can get. Also the worst noise attenuation of the three.


Shure e2c:

incredible bass, good mids, somewhat soft on the treble. Great for computer games, and bass-heavy music. Not too bad really for $90/pr. Middle of the pack in noise attenuation, but far, FAR better than the Sonys as far as blocckign outside noise.


Shure e3c:

accurate, accurate, and accurate....bass is pretty thin, but the midrange is excellent, and the treble is nice and clear. I'd reccomend using the yellow foam tips with these and going for deep-ear use if they fit you that way...it takes some fidgeting to figure out the right positioning, but once they are in...not even an engine seat on a 747 could interfere with your music. Also rather pricey at $170/pr.

I use these too. I like that I can leave them up near my ears, but not at all blocking any external sound. It's easy to have one side right up near my ear and the other positioned near enough to be audible, but certainly not very loud. I can easily move them out of the way - if I'm approaching traffic or another rider pulls up to chat, but they aren't now hanging someplace. The solid band keeps them right where they need to be. Sound quality while I'm riding isn't nearly as important as safety and convenience.


I have been using these for a couple of years and they work great.. You can get them at best buy or online.. Nike PSA Flight Headphones

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...d=1051826199874

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...d=1051826199874

The page you requested is unavailable.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4697769&type=product&id=1051826199874

I'm heavily considering the Shure E2C, is aorund $75 (including shipping) a decent price for these?

I'm a recording and performing musician, and use in-ears for monitoring. I've used both the E2 and the E3 (the "c" designation simply means they are different colored plastic for the consumer market). $75 for the E2 is a good price, you may be able to find them a little less than that if you keep googling and checking. Buy.com sometimes has them on sale for less than that.

That being said, the E3 (even more money) is exponentially better to my ears than the E2. It is also smaller, fits better, stays in longer than the E2 (none of which would matter if they didn't sound way better...which they really do).

You might also want to consider visiting http://www.headphone.com, these guys know of what they speak. Although I pulled the trigger on the Shures rather than the Etymotics (another brand to consider), collegues tell me the Etymotics are a quality, pro-level option as well. Also check out the in-ear reviews on Cnet - they are pretty thorough and objective. FWIW, the benchmark standard for in-ears with the Cnet staff is the Shure E3 - also the benchmark for iPod use with the staff at my local Apple store.