I need Earbud help.....suggestions?

[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.