Can you recommend a pair of in-ear headphones?

[Cotty]

I have been using the standard Apple headphones that came with my ipod but think the quality could be better. Any recommendations up to £100, I don't mind spending that much as I wear them for two hours every work day.

I tend to listen to a lot of trance type music so must have good base.

These Bose ones look good and have mainly good reviews.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bose-SoundTrue-Ear-Headpho...

[FD3Si]

I have some SoundMAgic E30's - for the price (£30 ish) I really can't fault them. Cheap enough to be disposable should I lose/trash them, but reasonably well built, nice clear treble (with little of the sibilance that some thrust at your ears), good low end, comfortable (although obviously this is subjective) and they don't tangle easily.

I've had them about 2 years or so with no issues whatsoever. Great purchase IMO.

[sgrimshaw]

I've got two sets of Bose In Ear and they are excellent.

I had the MIE2i, which are the earlier version of the ones you are looking at, and then I managed to get a set of the QC20's 50% off during the Amazon Prime sale .

Both are excellent.

Why not order from Bose direct, it's free delivery and 30days Risk Free Trial - same price as Amazon.

BTW - Amazon listing is a bit misleading, it sort of implies that the case is extra - it is not, there is one included.

[Cotty]

sgrimshaw said:

Why not order from Bose direct, it's free delivery and 30days Risk Free Trial - same price as Amazon.

I am never at home for deliveries but the corner shop 2 mins from my house has Amazon lockers so with Prime ill get it next day rather than picking it up from the post office at the weekend.

[Sticks.]

I had some Bose ones - similar, it was a while back. I returned them as although the sound was good, the exclusion wasn't good enough for the gym's music.

I got some of these, which are fine. I think how much bass you get can depend on how well they fit. Thses come with three sizes of in-ear fitment.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001EZYMF4?psc=...

[blindswelledrat]

Sticks. said:

I had some Bose ones - similar, it was a while back. I returned them as although the sound was good, the exclusion wasn't good enough for the gym's music.

I got some of these, which are fine. I think how much bass you get can depend on how well they fit. Thses come with three sizes of in-ear fitment.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001EZYMF4?psc=...

I got a pair of these for running and they have the most irritating design imaginable. The wire to the left ear bud is about a quarter of the length of the wire to the right one, so effectively the whole weight of the wire hangs from one ear. What the hell is all that about? There is no logic at all to that design and it drives me up the wall.
The quality is fine, particularly for the money, but that design is so stupid that I couldn't recommend them for a moment.

ETA: Ive just seen on that link that the sell it in the following manner: "•Asymmetrical cable reduces tangle and cable clutter"
That is such a load of crap it makes me furious.

Edited by blindswelledrat on Friday 31st July 17:29

[Cotty]

A lot of the 1 star reviews on Amazon claim the left ear bud is the one that fails.

Edited by Cotty on Saturday 1st August 12:02

[Sticks.]

blindswelledrat said:

I got a pair of these for running and they have the most irritating design imaginable. The wire to the left ear bud is about a quarter of the length of the wire to the right one, so effectively the whole weight of the wire hangs from one ear. What the hell is all that about? There is no logic at all to that design and it drives me up the wall.
The quality is fine, particularly for the money, but that design is so stupid that I couldn't recommend them for a moment.

ETA: Ive just seen on that link that the sell it in the following manner: "•Asymmetrical cable reduces tangle and cable clutter"
That is such a load of crap it makes me furious.

Edited by blindswelledrat on Friday 31st July 17:29

I think the idea is you'd have it in your left pocket or on your left arm. That's what I do and the longer right wire is helpful.

I does remind me of the one thing I don't like though. Nice 'soft touch' wire means it snags sometimes. But I had a similar pair before which I'd had 5 years until my cleaner kindly hoovered them up and had no hesitation in getting them again.

[Nimby]

I've always found the cable fails near the bud - first they get crackly then go altogether.
So last time I got some Shure's that have replaceable cables.

Mine are the entry level SE215.

[jimmybobby]

Another thing to bear in mind is apple headphones come with a two year warranty unlike most others which I think come with 1 year. I have two pairs QC15 and Qc20i and both are brilliant albeit horrifically expensive. The ones yu have posted look a good bet.

You could always simply pop into your nearest bose store and try them out and or simply as suggested pick up a pair on try before you buy.

[twister]

Asymmetric cables allow you to route the ear to ear cable round the back of your neck rather than leaving it dangling under your chin. And having owned two sets of CX300s, I can't recall it ever being a problem having the entire main cord mass hanging off just one bus instead of being shared by both.

[LiquidGnome]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/RHA-MA750-Noise-Isolating-...

These are superb, and very good under a helmet if that is relevant to you. They also isolate sound very well and are ridiculously well made.

[All that jazz]

Cotty said:

I have been using the standard Apple headphones that came with my ipod but think the quality could be better. Any recommendations up to £100, I don't mind spending that much as I wear them for two hours every work day.

I tend to listen to a lot of trance type music so must have good base.

These Bose ones look good and have mainly good reviews.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bose-SoundTrue-Ear-Headpho...

Clicky.

[mikef]

I recently got a new pair of the older model Bose M2Eis off eBay for £50. Excellent if you don't like the jammed-in-the-ear feel

Just got delivered a new pair of noise-cancelling Bose QC20i off eBay for 150 for flights - initial impression is less comfortable but the NC is quite excellent. My full-size NC phones are great but take up a lot of room

So another vote for Bose

Edited by mikef on Friday 31st July 22:25

[Cotty]

All that jazz said:

Clicky.

Holy cow thats a bit over the top for me. I have an ipod touch 5th Gen and just listen to some music going to work and a film or TV show on the way home. Currently working my way through box sets of Star Trek Voyager, can just about watch an episode on the train then switch to music on the walk to my house.

[audi321]

mikef said:

I recently got a new pair of the older model Bose M2Eis off eBay for £50. Excellent if you don't like the jammed-in-the-ear feel

Just got delivered a new pair of noise-cancelling Bose QC20i off eBay for 150 for flights - initial impression is less comfortable but the NC is quite excellent. My full-size NC phones are great but take up a lot of room

So another vote for Bose

Edited by mikef on Friday 31st July 22:25

I've been looking at the QC20's from the Bose website but they're £259, are these ones off eBay legit coz that's quite a saving!

[mikef]

Yep, absolutely - One-off sale from a seller with 100% feedback

[jimmybobby]

mikef said:

I recently got a new pair of the older model Bose M2Eis off eBay for £50. Excellent if you don't like the jammed-in-the-ear feel

Just got delivered a new pair of noise-cancelling Bose QC20i off eBay for 150 for flights - initial impression is less comfortable but the NC is quite excellent. My full-size NC phones are great but take up a lot of room

So another vote for Bose

Edited by mikef on Friday 31st July 22:25

Just make certain they are official Bose and get them registered as the design has one or two small flaws as I have found out after having and used extensively a pair for a year.

Edited by jimmybobby on Saturday 1st August 18:34

[mikef]

jimmybobby said:

Just make certain they are official Bose and get them registered as the gesign has one or two small flaws as J have found out after having and used extensively a pair for a year.

Thanks for the tip

Mike

[jimmybobby]

mikef said:

jimmybobby said:

Just make certain they are official Bose and get them registered as the gesign has one or two small flaws as J have found out after having and used extensively a pair for a year.

Thanks for the tip

Mike

No Probs. I will be exchanging my pair within the next few weeks before the two year warranty is up as the battery doesnt last as long as it used to and the plug is separating from the cord .