I need Earbud help.....suggestions?

[deagle10]

I have searched the archives and found the ER6i to be very popular here (most were posts from 2007-2008).  So I was all set to get those.
Now I see they are discontinued.  

Are there any highly recommended earbuds for under $100 that will seal out the outside noise and work with a helmet?

Thanks.

[Cablebandit]

They are discontinued but you can still purchase them online all over the place.

[DRam]

JLab J-3 earbuds work for me.  Small, light, they come with several different size rubber ear cups (correct term?) so you can size them to your ear.  Mine are used when operating woodworking tools, riding lawnmower and cut the noise considerably.  It was a little difficult to get my helmet on without dislodging them, but that might be due to the fit of my helmet.

Caveat:  My hearing cuts out at about 8,000 Hz.  Some reviewers claim the JLabs don't do well on the high end.  I wouldn't know about that.

[AzItLies]

I have searched the archives and found the ER6i to be very popular here (most were posts from 2007-2008).  So I was all set to get those.
Now I see they are discontinued.  

Are there any highly recommended earbuds for under $100 that will seal out the outside noise and work with a helmet?

Thanks.

One thing to consider... how tight is your helmet fit? Is there a lot of room when you take it on and off? Have you worn any kind of earbuds before with your helmet?

The point is there are other options, more expensive, but deaden the outside noise better and fit all the way in your ears... nothing sticking out but the wire.

[miles]

I'd give Skull Candy Ink'd earbuds a try first.  You can get them all over the place for under $20, and they work reasonably well.  See if you like the experience before shelling out more money on something you may find you don't like to use anyway.



That said, I have (and use) the Ink'ds (the looks awkward written like that) and the Ety er6is, and the etys are superior in every way but outright volume.  I'll grab the Skull Candys for shorter rides, or rides with friends because they reduce outside sound less, so I can hold conversations more easily.

[deagle10]

My helmet fits tight.  RF1100 and maybe the cheek pads aren't going to break in as much as I thought.  

The less outside noise the better as I get SO much windnoise without earplugs.  I thought listening to music was going to be impossible and now I am reading these threads and it sounds like these little things actually block out the wind pretty well.

Less outside noise the better.  My helmet is LOUD without earplugs.

edited to add:  So is there something else that has came along and is better?  Or should I just get the 4 year old technology of the er6i.  And they are NOT all over the place on the internet.  Hard to find.

[Mr.Black]

I'm with Miles on this. I usually buy a couple of pairs of Skull Candy Ink'd buds when they are on sale. Been using just them for three years now.

[SuperHans]

Skull Candy's work although I do like my er6i's.

[AzItLies]

My helmet fits tight.  RF1100 and maybe the cheek pads aren't going to break in as much as I thought.  

The less outside noise the better as I get SO much windnoise without earplugs.  I thought listening to music was going to be impossible and now I am reading these threads and it sounds like these little things actually block out the wind pretty well.

Less outside noise the better.  My helmet is LOUD without earplugs.

edited to add:  So is there something else that has came along and is better?  Or should I just get the 4 year old technology of the er6i.  And they are NOT all over the place on the internet.  Hard to find.

Sounds (sorry for the pun...) like we have some similarities. Now wearing a Shoei Qwest but prior was an Arai QII. Both are pretty loud without ear plugs. I use Hear-o's with NPR 32.

Won't ride without earplugs as the wind noise is just deafening.

But how to get the same noise reduction (music on or off) and have comfort? Tried custom molded, but even after they "re did" them with longer input into the ears, no way was it going to allow 32 NPR without music.

Tried basic skull candy things... not happening. Stuck out too far and virtually no noise reduction without music.

Tried Ety's. Pretty good, but again though, not enough noise reduction when music off. And hard to get helmet on and off as they stick out your ears, and can catch on the helmet liner when pulling off... painful.

While the S-Plug  is pricey (144), they work. They get the job done. And they are quieter then my Hear-o's even without music! Never would have believed that could happen, but it's true.

In addition, the S-plug is MEANT to go all the way in your ear. They are designed to be removed by pulling on the wire. And yes, the design does work as intended.

One thing about them is they are a kind of oblong shape and one needs to be sure to insert them in such a way that it matches the oblong opening of your ear. There are directions that come with it.

I have the single drivers, which are fine for me. Very good music, especially after broken in for a 10 hrs or so. The dual drivers seem like overkill to me. I mean we're on bikes... this is not an audiophile situation.

I'm not affiliated with the company... just like the product.

[Prubert]

 MEElectronics M6 earbuds ~ $20.00

Webbikeworld review here

I have had these for one riding season(16K miles) and give them a thumbs up.  Good sound and a reasonable price!

The over the ear flexi-tube broke away after 9 months of use but I just wrap them around my ear without it.  I would buy these again if I needed a new set.

They work well in my Shoei Qwest also....

Later.

[ia sprint]

I'll second the MEE earbuds.  Been using them for about 6 months and love them.  Block out wind noise well and have good sound quality.  They also fit under the helmet really well and stay in my ears.

[Mr.Black]

Skull Candy's work although I do like my er6i's.

Who is the manufacturer?

[miles]

Who is the manufacturer?

Skull Candy is the manufacturer, the model of the specific earbuds I recommend from them is called "Ink'd".

[Mr.Black]

I have th SC. I was wondering of the ER6is

[miles]

etymotic.

[miles]

http://www.cultofmac.com/97595/etymotic-er-6i-earphones-deserve-their-mythic-status-review/

[CLAY]

Skull Candy is the manufacturer, the model of the specific earbuds I recommend from them is called "Ink'd".

I have these and a set of Entymonic Er6i's.  For the price, the skull candy's are awesome.  The ER6's are better, but not $80 better.  

[Meemuh]

http:// http://www.cultofmac.com/97595/etymotic-er-6i-earphones-deserve-their-mythic-status-review/

link no workie

[miles]

link no workie

Try it now.

[Meemuh]

works - tx.

[sfalexi]

Any etymotics are good.  I splurged and got the er4s.  Yup, expensive, but I do use them all the time.  Not on the bike, but at the gym, while mowing the lawn, while jogging on a track, and they've made it through two deployments.  4 years and still going strong and sounding great.  And they're one of the FEW headphones that stay in my ears during lots of movement.

Alexi

[NotDeadYet]

I am a big fan of Etymotic.  I use the ER6's primarily for riding but I have found I could fit my ER4's under my helmet as well.  The ER4 is more expensive and has a longer stalk on it so it isn't as well suited for use in a full face helmet.  The ER6's give great sound quality at a lesser price and work very well in my full face helmets.  You can still get ER6's on ebay - I just ordered a couple of sets the other day as I caught the wire on one set in a jacket zipper and the left earbud on the other set started to short out recently.  My wife and I both wear them in our full face Shoei's when we ride.  She uses a smaller etymotic earbud than me but they work equally well for both of us.  Search Etymotic ER6i on ebay and you will find a few suppliers still selling them at just under a hundred bucks a pair.  In my opinion they are well worth the money.

[dietDrThunder]

I have tried _many_ different solutions for this, and FWIW, when I saw that the ER6i was discontinued, I went on line and bought (3) pairs. I am hopeful that by the time pair #3 dies (and I'm still using the set I had pre-purchase of the quarter dozen) there will be a proper substitute.

[deagle10]

Liked the S ear bud idea, but couldn't ignore the praises of the ER6i.  

Have ordered the ER6i's.

Really appreciate all of the suggestions!

[Cablebandit]

But I thought they weren't readily available online?  

[deagle10]

They are not EVERYWHERE online.  No longer available at best buy or Amazon (and many other places that list them now as no longer available).  One place on ebay selling them still.  Seems to have lots of them.

I try to avoid ebay when I can buy things elsewhere.  But glad I was told where I could find them.

Never thought listening to music was going to be a possibility with the wind noise.  Pretty excited.

[miles]

Have you tried them yet?  The big thing to remember is that to get best results, push them in all the way until the two earbuds just about touch each other.

[Meemuh]

kind of reduces the stereo effect, doesn't it?

[miles]

kind of reduces the stereo effect, doesn't it?

Only if you put them both in the same ear.

[Meemuh]

but, if you push them in until they almost touch in the center of the brain....

[Cablebandit]

Pinpoint stereo.

[Bain Dramage]

I did that and it does sound good but my old Quadrophenia album still sounds better in a room with four speakers and putting a helmet on with four earbuds is a challenge because one is like always falling out, but yea - it can sound really good.

Same with Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon album but it sounds great with only two speakers especially if they are on each side of the couch.

[AzItLies]

why not just get some out rigger things attached to the sides of the bike and mount some Wilson Audio Tiny Tots? Pretty sure those reference speakers are only about 13 grand now a days.

stopping might be a B... but you'd be taking up your whole lane! no worries there! fer git bout lane splitting though...

[Squareman357]

Shure makes some great headphones too, across a variety of price points.  Decent bass drivers, sound isolating, comes with multiple foam and rubber inserts for custom fit, a case to keep them in. Heavy duty construction.  I can't recall my exact model number right now, but they are low profile and fit well under my helmets, Shoei or HJC.  They are available online, Best Buy, Amazon, eBay, etc...

[K3VIN]

I have been very happy with these cheap JVC ear buds. The piece that goes in your ear is foam so I think it blocks more sound.

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAFR50B-Marshmallow-Remote-Headphones/dp/B003XMA7U0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321653360&sr=8-1

[emerald94]

I have been very happy with these cheap JVC ear buds. The piece that goes in your ear is foam so I think it blocks more sound.

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAFR50B-Marshmallow-Remote-Headphones/dp/B003XMA7U0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321653360&sr=8-1

+1. I have the same and I'm quite happy with the performance.
I don't expect concert hall sound when riding, I have my home stereo for that!

[ride200mi]

I'm really surprise no one has mentioned these yet. And for what they cost, I give them a +11.

http://earfuze.com/

Just me 2 cents....

P.S. I wasn't impressed, in the least, with the ER's. They would only last 6 months (the warranty time) and then one side would quit. And at (depending where you find them now) +$100.... No so much!!!

[K2D2]

I'm with Miles on this. I usually buy a couple of pairs of Skull Candy Ink'd buds when they are on sale. Been using just them for three years now.

I liked the pink ones you had.

I want to rig up my helmet to have both ear buds and speakers.  Ear buds for tunes, speakers for nav and communications to my wife.  I have an autocom of some flavor.  (I forgot the actual model number it has adjustable volume contols for rider and passenger.)  Ear buds instead of speakers would be awesome but I can never find the proper part from autocom.

Winter project I guess.

[Mr.Black]

I liked the pink ones you had.

The pink ones died today. FWIW, I dont care what color they are so long as they work. I gave my wife my spare pair. They are bright green.

Oh well, I like buying stuff.

[Cablebandit]

The brightly colored ones are easier to spot in the tankbag.

[rino]

I love the AUVIO® Pearl Buds.  You can get them at Radio shack for 10-15 bucks.  They sound great, block out noise well...stay in and are very low profile so easy to get in the helmet.

Careful when you buy them as they have a cheaper version...

[Mr.Black]

Skull Candy Ink'd on sale at Staples.

[agent9]

Skull Candy Ink'd on sale at Staples.

+1 for skull candy

I use IEMs in the band I play in and we all keep a set of SC's on hand for backup. They sound pretty darn good for what they are.

[Flyer]

I like my Etymotic HF5 'phones.
The barrel is longer (and easier to grasp and pull out without yanking on the wires) than the ER6i but they fit under my helmet just fine.
Good sound, comfort, good isolation, and they have an in-line pause/ /mic function that works a treat with the Iphone.

[K2D2]

How far do those go into your ear?

I think it might hit my ear drum lol.

[X1Glider]

As a musician since '79 and a serious audio snob (I'm pretty good with naming that tune with one or two notes.  Recognized by the timbre of the instruments), I have to say I wasn't impressed with the Etymotic ER6i.  Great sensitivity rating (very loud) but didn't seem "musical" and accurate to me.  My biggest issue was durability.  The wires were flimsy and when one side went out after a few months (of low hour use, my commute is only 15 minutes each way) I couldn't get them to warranty it.  Waste of money.  Also, noise isolation wasn't any better that cheapo in ear buds at Wally world.

The problem with buds is resonance.  Just tap on the wire and hear it resonate in your ear canal.  Also when the helmet pads are touching the backside of the bud, it resonates the speaker cabinet.  They all do that because the buds are physically coupled to your ear canal.  Your canal turns into a resonant chamber.  And the helmet coupled to your ear so the helmet, so there's another dynamic to more resonance.

I've spent $20 on cheapos at Walmart and had better luck.  They've been more durable.  I just find the one with the best sensitivity rating and widest frequency response.  If they crap out...I haven't lost much.  My biggest criteria is the outside being round and smooth and low profile so that when I slide my helmet on, they don't rip out of my ears.  Also so they don't get shoved in so far that the stab my brain!

[auggius]

+1 for skull candy

I use IEMs in the band I play in and we all keep a set of SC's on hand for backup. They sound pretty darn good for what they are.

I am not an audiophile but was happy with SC Ink'd performance.  BUT neither of the two pairs I've owned lasted more than a year.  The failure point was at the plug because with the straight design, the cord is stressed as it bends 90 degree from the device.  

I now have a pair of Panasonic Ergofit RPHJE-12 which has a 90 degree jack, which eliminates the stress at the jack.  Plus, the shape of the ear bud is offset from the centre and more oval shaped ao it firs in the ear more comfortably.  They were cheap, $20 on sale.

I wear these to sleep because I like to listen to music and wife does not.  And the Panasonics are more comfortable when lying on my side with ear to pillow.  I haven't tried them with a helmet though because I don't listen to music while riding.

[Mr.Black]

I am not an audiophile but was happy with SC Ink'd performance.  BUT neither of the two pairs I've owned lasted more than a year. The failure point was at the plug because with the straight design, the cord is stressed as it bends 90 degree from the device.  

I now have a pair of Panasonic Ergofit RPHJE-12 which has a 90 degree jack, which eliminates the stress at the jack.  Plus, the shape of the ear bud is offset from the centre and more oval shaped ao it firs in the ear more comfortably.  They were cheap, $20 on sale.

I wear these to sleep because I like to listen to music and wife does not.  And the Panasonics are more comfortable when lying on my side with ear to pillow.  I haven't tried them with a helmet though because I don't listen to music while riding.

That's why you buy them on sale at Staples for 10 bucks. Get a few pairs.

[hankd]

I now have a pair of Panasonic Ergofit RPHJE-12 which has a 90 degree jack, which eliminates the stress at the jack.  Plus, the shape of the ear bud is offset from the centre and more oval shaped ao it firs in the ear more comfortably.  They were cheap, $20 on sale.

I wear these to sleep because I like to listen to music and wife does not.  And the Panasonics are more comfortable when lying on my side with ear to pillow.  I haven't tried them with a helmet though because I don't listen to music while riding.

Gonna try these. $7.29 shipped on eBay.

[deagle10]

I have the Etymotics 6 coming at Christmas.  In the meantime found a deal for the Meelectronics 6 for $11 shipped.  I am no expert but I do know comfort.  And the sound seems great for my use.  Also really shuts out the outside noise (not sure about wind noise yet).  

So happy I ordered another pair, now $16 shipped.  

[Spanky]

My ER6i's just went bad so I ordered the Etymotic MC5's. They seem very similar to the ER6's. They are slightly larger at the earpiece and have a bend at the 3.5mm end instead of the wire coming straight out. They fit just like the ER6's and the sound seems very good. No problem getting them in a helmet and Amazon stocks them.

[miles]

A new option:


http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=K3003I&status=

[napper]

A new option:


http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=K3003I&status=

$1200 ... On Sale  

I usually buy several pairs of Skull Candy Inkd when they show up on sale.  I did pick up a pair of Sharper Image brand buds at Ross for $5.99.  I've had them for several weeks and just used them for the first time this morning.  I'm not the type to notice slight differences in audio quality but the sound just seemed much sharper than I'm used to from the Skull Candy.  I'm going back and see if they have any more.

[Yokel]

You guys that are fans of the earbuds might want to check out
http://www.alienears.com/products/175-ae1-sigle-driver-fixed-crd-mitr.aspx
It's a studio monitoring custom-fit ear-plug-bud thingie.  You have to get a mold made from an audiologist and send it in... BUT:

The custom AE1 is available with the optional ambient tube feature to allow in ambient sound while maintaining the seal of a full isolation monitor. Unlike the others...our ambient feature come with four different plugs that allow for full isolation all the way up to full open hole for maximum ambient live sound.

Something nice to be said about still being able to hear a bit of what's going on around you.

I'm ordering some next week.

Kinda pricey, yeah... but my brother-in-law swears by these.  He's a musician, uses his daily.  Had his first set for over a year, then upgraded to one of the more expensive sets.  Never had a problem with them.  Not to mention, the case would be nice for just throwing them in a bag.