Earphones?

[wanpo]

Anyone got good recommendations for earphones? I'm looking for:
Good noise isolation,
low profile (so a helmet can be put on/taken off without too many problems)
decent sound
$100-200 price range

[ttnz]

Scull Candy ear buds i found to be the best and not expensive either

[Devil]

I recently bought a pair of Sennheiser CX281. They're just the right shape for under helmet, price ranges from $80-100 depending on supplier. I've found the sound a little dry for my tastes however.
I have a set of Ultimate Ears (cant remember model off top of head) which were $150 (down from $180) which sound fantastic but they're terrible under the helmet, the cable sticks out too far so tries to rip your ears off when you take your helmet off :(.

Sennheiser CX300-II would be my other choice. I think they're supposed to be a little warmer sounding. Around the $125 mark.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

I recently bought a pair of Sennheiser CX281. They're just the right shape for under helmet, price ranges from $80-100 depending on supplier. I've found the sound a little dry for my tastes however.
I have a set of Ultimate Ears (cant remember model off top of head) which were $150 (down from $180) which sound fantastic but they're terrible under the helmet, the cable sticks out too far so tries to rip your ears off when you take your helmet off :(.

Sennheiser CX300-II would be my other choice. I think they're supposed to be a little warmer sounding. Around the $125 mark.

+1.

Sennheiser are definately the best ones, slim fit so not probs putting on/ taking off a helmet.

Link to price spy (awesome site) for the CX300, lowest price seems to be around $90.

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=340775

[Devil]

I've just had another look at the ultimate ears site and it looks like you cant even get the model i've got anymore. The current models look a lot more flush.

Sound quality is fantastic on the $100+ UE ones.

[diggyduo]

I've got the CX 300 II's but find my Etymotic ER6i's are the bees for the bike. They have really good sound isolation (better than the earplugs I was using) and are pretty good for music too, and come with a really long chord which might be useful depending on how you have the sound system set up. They come with spare filters and a few sets of buds - I reckon the ones that look like honey dippers are best.
I use them with a 9500i detector and MP3 player running through a Belkin 'rockstar' 6 point mixer that me and a pillion can plug into. Pretty simple and works well.
Not sure if you can get them here in NZ, though ebay will have them for sure.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx

[wanpo]

Yeah, I was thinking of getting the Sennheiser CX400-ii, they look like they'd be good under the lid. I've been using the Creative EP-630 (http://asia.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=437&subcategory=861&product=11397), which have been quite good, stepped on one by accident a while back, and they've finally given up on me (right only works.)

[Spazman727]

Ive got some Ultimate Ears headphones too and its quite painful to put on or take off my helmet, but they're fine once it's on.
They sound good too, and only about $40 for mine at PB Tech at uni. I think it was a promo thing though cos they'd just come out.

[Phreak]

Scull Candy ear buds i found to be the best and not expensive either

+100 ... I use Skullcandy Ink'd earbuds, they sound great, cancel out a lot of the external noise, and fit nicely under my lid. Tend to fall out when I take the helmet off though, but I dont find this to be much of a problem, as Im usually taking them off anyways. And cheap too!!! Quick TradeMe search : $25 (way better value than some more expensive items!)

Also, with nothing playing through them they still work well as earplugs...

[sleemanj]

3M ear plugs from bunnings about 60c
Nail from your shed
Heat from your stove element
NETA 90 degree elbows for watering systems from bunnings about a buck
Clear tube from bunnings about a buck
In ear headphones from DSE

Heat nail, melt hole through center of plugs, insert elbow, take length of pipe put one end over elbow, put other end over in ear headphone output hole.

Works real good. I posted more details here before... here:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/119991-DIY-quot-acoustic-tube-quot-MP3-earplugs-for-under-5.?p=1129674848#post1129674848

[thepom]

Sony in ear buds,60 -70 bucks and soft so they don,t hurt your ears like the hard bits on someothers..mdr-ex55 model number.

[nothingflash]

Sony in ear buds,60 -70 bucks and soft so they don,t hurt your ears like the hard bits on someothers..mdr-ex55 model number.

+1 I like them... have ridden all day with those puppies - no problem

[wanpo]

3M ear plugs from bunnings about 60c
Nail from your shed
Heat from your stove element
NETA 90 degree elbows for watering systems from bunnings about a buck
Clear tube from bunnings about a buck
In ear headphones from DSE

Heat nail, melt hole through center of plugs, insert elbow, take length of pipe put one end over elbow, put other end over in ear headphone output hole.

Works real good. I posted more details here before... here:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/119991-DIY-quot-acoustic-tube-quot-MP3-earplugs-for-under-5.?p=1129674848#post1129674848

I thought you were taking the piss.... until you posted the link

Also:
Just ordered Sennheiser CX400-ii earphones. I'll let you know how they go when I've had a play with them

[Devil]

+100 ... I use Skullcandy Ink'd earbuds, they sound great, cancel out a lot of the external noise, and fit nicely under my lid. Tend to fall out when I take the helmet off though, but I dont find this to be much of a problem, as Im usually taking them off anyways. And cheap too!!! Quick TradeMe search : $25 (way better value than some more expensive items!)
Sure, good value if you're not anal about sound quality. I hate cheap headphones. Skull candy have no reputation as far as quality audio products goes.


3M ear plugs from bunnings about 60c
Nail from your shed
Heat from your stove element
NETA 90 degree elbows for watering systems from bunnings about a buck
Clear tube from bunnings about a buck
In ear headphones from DSE

Heat nail, melt hole through center of plugs, insert elbow, take length of pipe put one end over elbow, put other end over in ear headphone output hole.

Works real good. I posted more details here before... here:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/119991-DIY-quot-acoustic-tube-quot-MP3-earplugs-for-under-5.?p=1129674848#post1129674848

Errr yeah. See above quote. If you're after quality sound, running it through a tube is counter productive.

Wanpo: I went through two sets of those same Creative buds (cat ate the first lot, then a driver died in the second lot) and I was highly impressed for the price.

[Spazman727]

Wanpo: I went through two sets of those same Creative buds (cat ate the first lot, then a driver died in the second lot) and I was highly impressed for the price.

Jesus, for a second I thought someone had died wearing the second pair. Im glad I re read that.

[Devil]

Hah. Oops.
What grinds my gears? That speaker died when I put them on after gassing up at the start of my two week south island trip. FFS. When I finally got the chance to replace them (with the UE's) I was on my way back past christchurch. Paid $150 only to find them painful as hell trying to get helmet off! Godammit!

[NZsarge]

Look up Ear Man Pro here on KB, wired molded ear plugs dontcha know... He can now apparently put your monitors or ear buds directly into the earplug molding itself eliminating the need to run "tubes" which by all accounts has been a decent improvement. Haven't got a set like this yet but am planning too.

[k1w160]

Have had a set of the molded plugs for a year or so and always find them uncomfortable to wear, they cause a sort of burning sensation where they make contact with they ear after an hour or so, try other types first would be my recommendation.