Ear buds for MP3 players

[slowpoke]

Why?
I don't know how many times I've heard a car/bike/truck/coming up behind me or in my blind spot. Ambo's/cops/firies etc have got AUDIBLE warning devices to help us out and you wanna go and negate all that?
I don't care what you say if you've got music loud enough to be enjoyed over the wind noise then you are at least slightly distracted from what you are doing. Yes, I got me one of them new fangled 8 track's in my motorcarriage but I don't have to have it cranked up due to wind noise and it's not jammed in my ears excluding all other inputs.
What music compares to a symphony orchestrated by messr's Akrapovic, Termi, Micron et al anyway. If you wanna enjoy the creature comforts as you cruise around with the wind in your face stick to the cage and just wind the window down.

[Devil]

Creative Labs EP-630, noise isolating ear-buds. Just like a pair of ear plugs, but with headphones in 'em. Means you dont need to turn up the volume as much to make up for the background noise.

[The Big J]

Why?
I don't know how many times I've heard a car/bike/truck/coming up behind me or in my blind spot. Ambo's/cops/firies etc have got AUDIBLE warning devices to help us out and you wanna go and negate all that?
I don't care what you say if you've got music loud enough to be enjoyed over the wind noise then you are at least slightly distracted from what you are doing. Yes, I got me one of them new fangled 8 track's in my motorcarriage but I don't have to have it cranked up due to wind noise and it's not jammed in my ears excluding all other inputs.
What music compares to a symphony orchestrated by messr's Akrapovic, Termi, Micron et al anyway. If you wanna enjoy the creature comforts as you cruise around with the wind in your face stick to the cage and just wind the window down.

I'm riding a bike through Mexico in January on roads where there just won't be people. I won't be wearing them all the time and I agree with you about being able to listen for things behind you around you etc. But I think on a long day on a pretty straight road some music can help you keep alert a bit better also.

[xwhatsit]

Yah, I saw the title of the thread and immediately though about my beautiful EP-630s. They are seriously good at cutting out noise; when I ride the bus (hopefully not any longer! yay for CB250RS!) you cannot hear anything, just feel the engine from the seat. They are a bit bassy though, too bassy for my tastes (I listen to jazz), but the bass is clearly defined and shaped, not muddy and awful like the bass in the Sony EX51/71/81 series. Highly recommended!

-Tom

[Devil]

Yah, I saw the title of the thread and immediately though about my beautiful EP-630s. They are seriously good at cutting out noise; when I ride the bus (hopefully not any longer! yay for CB250RS!) you cannot hear anything, just feel the engine from the seat. They are a bit bassy though, too bassy for my tastes (I listen to jazz), but the bass is clearly defined and shaped, not muddy and awful like the bass in the Sony EX51/71/81 series. Highly recommended!

-Tom

Are you listening to MP3's?
What are you using? An Ipod?

If MP3's in general, a sign off too much, or shitty bass is that the mp3 is not high enough quality. Aim for 192kbit or above.

If an ipod (other than shuffle) dont forget you've got an EQ to sort it out (I personally keep it flat on mine).

[pritch]

The ear buds that come with the iPod are no good to ride with, but iPod actually do make an isolating earplug as well as an adaptor that converts the standard buds. Having said that I've never been able to find them in a shop.

In Australia a week or so ago I purchased an equivalent Panasonic item that does the job. Around town it plays at normal volume and although it is "noise cancelling" you can carry on a normal conversation and can hear things around you.

Testing continues :-)

[CastorPollux]

... But I think on a long day on a pretty straight road some music can help you keep alert a bit better also.

I have to agree with you there Big J. I just did my first long ride
(Auck - Paihia, not bad for a learner) and on some of those "middle of nowhere" roads, I needed some noise other than the bloody LOUD aftermarket exhaust I have on my bike. Don't get me wrong I love the sound of my bike but sometimes the drone of it can be worse for your concentration I've found.
I have tried using my iPod ear-plugs but they're a bitch to get into place and come out as soon as I turn my head. So I content myself with the sound of my own voice. Halla-f**ken-llujah!!

[xwhatsit]

I used the Apple isolation ("In-Ear") earbuds, they were more expensive than the EP-630s, but not as good sounding. Looked pretty though. A massive step up from the buds that come with the iPod. They ended up breaking eventually, the cable broke inside. A pity, but gave me a chance to get the EP-630s.

No, Devil, I don't listen to MP3s (well I lie, I do have a few on my iPod). I tend to encode in Apple lossless format. I've always found audio gear a little tricky; I'm a musician, classical and jazz -- not rock, so I do still have my hearing haha! As a result I like to think my ears are pretty good but unfortunately you tend to pick up flaws in a recording and you can't stop noticing them. So mostly I stay away from MP3s, except in very high bitrates. The iPod is actually pretty good audio quality, apart from bass roll-off at low frequencies; this supposedly helps to counteract the EP-630s bassy tendencies but for my ears it's still not enough. For most people, listening to normal music, they would be pretty sweet though. Yeah I don't like the EQ on my iPod, any of the settings. I'd love a good parametric EQ to just very slightly boost some of the lower midrange so I can hear Mr. Hancock behind Mr. Davis a bit better =^_^=.

[MrMelon]

Sony MDr-ex71SL's are pretty good. They seal in your ear so you dont need to turn them up so much, and their stem is made of rubber so won't dig in when you've got a helmet on. I've been using mine for close to 2 years now and they're great. Retail for $100 or so.

I've heard that senheisser CX300's give even better sound quality than the sonys (hard to believe) but I haven't been able to try them on the bike. They look like they'd be fine though and they're only $85 or so. http://www.elive.co.nz/view_product.php?product=C0425

[The_Dover]

Koss Earbuds - 60 bucks from Sounds or Planet Jack (off a horse)

Just replace the squashie foam with those yellow chuck away ear plugs.

[Devil]

Yeah I don't like the EQ on my iPod, any of the settings. I'd love a good parametric EQ to just very slightly boost some of the lower midrange so I can hear Mr. Hancock behind Mr. Davis a bit better =^_^=.

Yeah, I thought the EQ on my nano was shit. I hate bad sound (especially bass, i'm a semi-retired bassist).
Haven't tried the apple format myself, I'm an MP3 whore, and can spot a shitty one a mile off, as you say, you keep noticing it.

As for the comments on the blocking out of thing like sirens. I dont have a problem, I can still hear enough, even while the music is playing.

[The Pastor]

music is a distraion from the road, your all unsafe and are going to die.

[sAsLEX]

I'm a musician, classical and jazz -- not rock, so I do still have my hearing haha!

Pardon?! huh speak up a little


I played in the front row of jazz bands for years and the blast from a trombone or trumpet inches from your ears aint leaving you with much hearing in later life!

[xwhatsit]

Hahaha I am the trumpet player... I'm the loudest bastard there, so it's all OK lol.I play in small ensembles and about the loudest thing is the drum player; I tend to stick around beside the piano though so I've got things between me and the drummer. In orchestras I play french horn, which can occasionally lead to a scary percussionist trying to deafen me but this happens surprisingly rarely. Even soprano saxes (ugh!) aren't too deafening when they're pointing away from you on the other side of the bandstand. If the sax gets too loud I just take the mute off and play a few high Cs in his general direction when it's my turn.

Btw I take delivery of my 1984 CB250RS tomorrow morning... how loud is a 250 thumper? Inside of a helmet? Should I get some earplugs, or are those more targetted towards owners of frighteningly loud Harleys? I like my ears and would them to retain their abilities.

[The_Dover]

Yeah, I thought the EQ on my nano was shit. I hate bad sound (especially bass, i'm a semi-retired bassist).
Haven't tried the apple format myself, I'm an MP3 whore, and can spot a shitty one a mile off, as you say, you keep noticing it.

As for the comments on the blocking out of thing like sirens. I dont have a problem, I can still hear enough, even while the music is playing.

the only thing worse than an audiophile is a paedophile.