I use M-Audio Q40's paired with the Fiio e11 amp at home. The combo results in a nice, punchy bass which is perfect for the genres I listen to.

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/image...00XT8JTM-1.jpg

These Shure se215ltd's come out to play when I need to listen on the go. The fitment, seal, and noise cancelling is just awesome.

http://cdn.head-fi.org/b/b5/350x700p...6_2978732.jpeg

I usually listen to trance, happy hardcore, kpop and jpop.

Honestly, the M50's will work well with just about any genre.

There are 2 types of drivers for earbuds.
Your cheaper dynamic drivers, and then the more expensive ones using balanced dynamic drivers.
Yes, you can find amazing dynamic drivers on IEMs, but for the most part, the balanced armature ones are the ones you want.


Then there are 2 different types of seating.

http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-cont...uo-earbuds.jpg
Buds (Like dollar store stuff, sony stuff, jelly beans and apple)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tXnt1KRe-m...emld_chart.jpg
And behind the 2nd bend.
http://image4.archambault.ca/3/0/9/0...87.580x580.jpg
Behind the 2nd bend is where you will find all the nicer ones (Shure, westone, etymotic, earsonic).

http://www.cobaltaudio.com/wp-conten...imate-ears.jpg
http://cdn.head-fi.org/4/45/4595e8ed...ustom-iem.jpeg
Full customs are also behind the 2nd bend.
I prefer the "behind the 2nd bend" type for isolation. The decibel attenuation is amazing.
Active noise cancellation is a bit of a gimmick to me and will not cancel as much noise as these can block.
Consider that ones that musicians wear on stage are "behind the 2nd bend".



Behind the 2nd bend is simply where it's at.
It Blocks out the bus, the inane chatter of idiots and most of the squeal of the skytrain.
It's how I ensure I stay sane during my morning commute. I sent my IEMs in to get repaired once, Showed up grumpy to work every day.
Instead of universal tips, I got custom tips done up, went to an audiologist and had impressions made then they ship them out to get molds made.



I went from dynamic, to double to triple drivers.
I'm never looking back.

I went to 4. :D

I used to have a great collection... now I'm down to mostly IEM's.

Before:

I was on a real wood kick on my headphones... almost all of them had wood cups.

Audio-Technica ESW-9
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/...f/IMG_9023.jpg

UE Triple.Fi 10's
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/...2022007260.jpg

Group shot:
Left - DT770's turned into Darth Beyers. These were the 600-Ohm version
Center - Grado RS-2's
Right - Audio-Technica ATH-W1000 Sovereign
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/...f/DSC02621.jpg

Now:

Ultimate Ears UE11 - 4-driver custom IEM
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/...f/DSC00152.jpg

Klipsch S7i's
http://euromus.ru/image/cache/data/p...0-1000x750.jpg

I didn't include amps because it would take another post to properly detail!

^Oh god! so jelly!

UE11, four drivers, custom molds!

How do you find them? How long have you had them? Have you any issues with the wires and internal fraying?
They look like a good pair for me, but I'm concerned about what to do if the wires shit the bed.

You forgot what music you listen to.

Yeah, I agree, having IEMs is the only way to stay sane on public transit. Well, any type of transit where you're not driving.

Fuck this thread is going to burn a hole in my bank account. Just when I thought I was done buying headphones forever.... FUCK!

akg q701 :toot:

So glad I came across this thread...I've been browsing Amazon for about a month now trying to find a new pair of headphones.

I've been rocking Bose On-Ear and Over-Ear headphones for about 5 years now and I am ready to jump to something better. I've tried QC-15's in the past and thought maybe that might be the way to go but now I'm going to look into the Audiotechnia ATH-M50.

Oh and big thanks to most posters in this thread who understood the purpose of this thread...Pictures, model names and personal reviews are what help people like me get some direction on which headphones are good and bad, well-liked and disliked. I never understood why people just post photos in threads like this without adding their $0.02. :P

Started with Senn CX 300s...
http://i44.tinypic.com/2i0bqcm.jpg
Onto Monster Turbine Pro Copper...

http://i44.tinypic.com/2ngu51v.jpg
Then got the Senn Amperiors last week for on the go use.

http://i41.tinypic.com/25501gw.jpg
And then obviously the modded Senn HD555s for home use.

I mostly listen to instrumental goodies and some more classic stuff (think Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, etc).
I prefer the HD555s for their neutral sound, not too dynamic. With the mod they lost some bass but allowed the mids to come out a bit more.
The Amperiors are great for on the go use and very dynamic. However they are quite sibilant at times to my sensitive ears (and push kinda hard on the head).
Turbines are mostly neutral with a punchy but not very defined bass. Good for most pop music.

CX300s... I try not to use them if I don't have to lol.

With the dynamic vs BA debate, it doesn't hurt to have a good example of both if you can. The dynamic drivers (sorry if this doesn't through clearly, I'm tired) have a certain impact to them. Done right, you can hear and feel the bass; my Atrios extend well into the sub bass frequencies, with very clean bass.

For accuracy, I'd go to a BA any day though, even single driver earphones can be amazing.

Oh, and BA (generally) wins for isolation as well. A lot of dynamic drivers tend to be vented. If you want passive isolation, try Etys. They're pretty much earplugs, but unfortunately on transit the lower frequency noise does still tend to get through. IMO active noise cancellation actually does deal with that better.

By the way, any opinions on the HD598s? I was looking to get a pair a while back, but never got around to it.

Sticking with budget items for now, but I end up spending a ton on too many budget things anyway over the past few years, thanks Head-Fi...

JVC FXD80 - amazing for the money, insanely fun sound signature without having a recessed midrange, out-of-this-world instrumental separation and airiness, transient response is unheard of at this price range of around $80. Seriously, these are probably the best IEMs for under $100. Top-notch quality from JVC/Kenwood, only available in Japan.

http://www.wikinoticia.com/images2//...d-HA-FXD80.jpg
http://cdn.head-fi.org/d/d6/d6783e57_img_5.jpeg

JVC S500 - the best headphone money can buy for under $50 hands down. In fact, it only costs $35 when converted from yen to CAD (also only available in Japan) and I assure you, thanks to Head-Fi's massive 500 page appreciation thread on these, I am a disbeliever turned believer. These things are outstanding, and surpass many cans I've heard that cost nearly 10 times as much, not kidding at all. They need a good 100 hour or so burn in, but after that, they are unbelievable. One of the most versatile on-ear cans you'll ever encounter, that really sound more like full-size cans than portables.

I have mine with Audio Technica WS55 pads, as the stock pads are not so comfortable. Putting these on makes these into over-ears, much more comfortable and balances out the bass.

http://i.imgur.com/lUFdTk3h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/To2myjXh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/u0xhGsVh.jpg

Panasonic RP-HTX7 - the hipster over ears, used to love these until I discovered the S500s, but I still do like these very much. A very clear and well-balanced sound signature with tons of brightness which I like. Also wonderful sound isolation.

http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/20...06_620x433.jpg

And then some old cheap Sony IEMs, EX300s, EX500s, EX57s, and some old UE350s I use for working out.

Honestly my PC audio setup is more significant than my headphone collection at the moment. Have Fostex PM0.4n monitors hooked up to an ODAC, pure unmolested audio bliss.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...14246180_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...38649902_n.jpg

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/image...165073591_.jpg

currently rocking these. the sony mdr-xb500. i honestly love these things because of how comfy they are. they look goofy as hell on my head, but they're just so pillowy soft. lol. these headphones are more geared towards music with heavy bass.

i usually just listen to hip hop/rap but i'll throw on some rock from time to time too.

the next pair of headphones that i plan to purchase are these guys,
http://www.jaybirdgear.com/static/im...gallery/06.jpg
the jaybird bluebird x. they're a wireless, bluetooth unit that's getting some pretty rave reviews. check out a review here ---> JayBird BlueBuds X Review & Rating | PCMag.com

http://i.imgur.com/ixRnNxTl.jpg

Koss PortaPro (for travel.)

http://i.imgur.com/YqH0g2gl.jpg

Wireless, over the ear, and cheap headphones from Sony.

I generally listen to NuDisco, House and EDM.

love the koss portapros but it seems like the are also the headphone of choice for creepy looking pedophiles and overweight nerds.

No those would be skullcandies and Winners brand headphones.

http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/sc/32897...440-HEAD-4.jpg

80's retro pedophileness, but the sound quality is worth it :thumbs:

Got it off Amazon for $35 and it's $60 at London Drugs. :lawl:
The metal headband does grab onto hair.

For Music
http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/images/...k-or-white.jpg

For PC Gaming
http://www.sennheiser.com.pl/images/...iser_pc350.jpg

For Xbox
http://www.techgadgets.in/img/turtle...11-headset.jpg


The Focal's rock.....Sennheiser's are pretty decent, but the Turtle beaches are "meh"....

Senn HD202II...$16 from Amazon but headband is so tight
cheapie IEMs: Senn CX 475, Sony EX38, Meelec M21 (terrible fitment)
no DAC/sound card/limited FLAC library means no nice audio gear for me

You've been pushing Focal since the day I met you! And for good reason!

Didn't realize they made headphones too! You got me to change my Bose car speakers to Focal and now you just might've convinced me to drop my Bose headphones and try out a pair of Focals!

You know no idea how many ear plugs I lost over 2years.... Also the stupid stud they have, I keep losing them.....

Been using a pair of Klipsch image one pretty decent for the price right now
http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/20...ne_620x433.jpg

I was quite happy with my old-school, made in japan, Sony MDR-V500 headphones. I paid $100 for them back in the late 90s, and haven't found anything to replace them. Recently, I bought a pair of Marshall Majors on sale for $40 (MSRP ~$100). They did not sound as good as the Sonys. I gave them to my wife, and she loves them.

Thanks to RFD, I bought the Seinnheiser Amperior (HD25) for $140. Momentums were on sale too, but too rich me. I've only listened to them for a few minutes, but they are a significant improvement over my beloved Sonys. However, for such expensive headphones, they have some flimsy looking plastic to hold it altogether. They're supposed to be for portable use, but I question the durability.

^ I bought these too! I did some reading online before buying them and found that they're supposed to be pretty durable. When I took it out of the box I didn't expect them to feel that way.. I guess time will tell.

To those who have the Momentums, how do you like it? What kind of music do you listen to?

I noticed Momentum on-ear headphones for $220, but I wasn't prepared to spend that much. Plus, it wasn't that much of a discount with the original price at $250. It looks like the only difference between those and the over-ear, $400 version is the form factor? Drivers look to be the same. At normal pricing ($300), how can the Amperiors compete?

Thanks for the headphone lexicon level-up!:ahwow:

Interesting you brought this stuff up!

I just sent off my impressions! I ordered the 1964 Ears V6S.... I tried them inperson awhile back... pretty damn excited for them to come!

My Shure IEM's broke while I was on vacation in asia awhile back.... I am still pissed listening to people in school everyday...

Current: Grado SR80, AKG K81DJ, FiiO E10, Pocket Amp 2 V2 (PA2V2)

Previous (of what I can remember): Portapros, Sony D66 Eggos, Sennheiser HD201, Koss KSC35, Little Dot Micro