Suggest me earphones or headphones

[avi]

Hi

First thing first, I am a noob in audio tech & I really don't have much idea.

All these I used EP630 and I have been happy with it since I am a no-bass guy. Now I need a better upgrade.

My budget - max 2000

Firstly I need to know about earphones & headphones. Which are more comfort to ears ? Do headphones offer more & better audio quality since they are bulky ? If yes, then I will go with headphones as portability doesn't matter me much.

I will be mostly using with my iPhone 4. Do I need an amp ?

TIA

 

[allrounder799]

Seriously you think EP 630 are no-bass, IMO I like the bass, but its just tad bit more than my Sennheisers

If I wanted to choose from EP & HP, I would go for headphones

It would be great if you mention your usage: Movies, Gaming, Music only etc

For your budget you can get the Sennheiser HD201, Sony MDRXB300

Headphones at 2k range do not need a Amp, your iPhone is enough

 

[iaudio]

avi, There's no given rule that hp at a budget will sound better than an iem at the same budget. Headphones do offer a widersoundstage, especially if you are going for open back headphones. The sound will not seem like it is inside your head, rather it will seem like around your head. I hope I am able to convey the idea.

As for comfort, I personally find an iem more comfy than wearing a heavy can/full sized hp for long hours. But some people dont like inserting iems into their ears. For them, a lightweight hp( on the ear/clip on type) is better. If that is your case, you can look at Koss Porta Pro, Sennheisser Px100 by extending your budget a bit or by buying from overseas.

Else you can look at iems like Brainwavz m1, Brainwavz Beta, Soundmagic E30 etc

There is also a clip on from Koss I think, Ksc 75.

 

[avi]

I am confused more now :s

Seriously you think EP 630 are no-bass, IMO I like the bass, but its just tad bit more than my Sennheisers

So EP630 are more bass IEMs ? Actually only once I used PL-11 & I felt it is more bass. Or may be I am wrong :ashamed:

If I wanted to choose from EP & HP, I would go for headphones

May I know why ?

It would be great if you mention your usage: Movies, Gaming, Music only etc

In preference : Music > Movies > Games.

and I thought 2k gadgets would be all rounder

Headphones at 2k range do not need a Amp, your iPhone is enough

Okay.

avi, There's no given rule that hp at a budget will sound better than an iem at the same budget.

My bad. I thought HP gives more & better quality because of bulkiness.

Headphones do offer a widersoundstage, especially if you are going for open back headphones. The sound will not seem like it is inside your head, rather it will seem like around your head. I hope I am able to convey the idea.

Kinda got the idea

As for comfort, I personally find an iem more comfy than wearing a heavy can/full sized hp for long hours. But some people dont like inserting iems into their ears. For them, a lightweight hp( on the ear/clip on type) is better. If that is your case, you can look at Koss Porta Pro, Sennheisser Px100 by extending your budget a bit or by buying from overseas.

Else you can look at iems like Brainwavz m1, Brainwavz Beta, Soundmagic E30 etc

There is also a clip on from Koss I think, Ksc 75.

I am not sure which will be more comfort. I have used EP630 for a long time [3 years] & have found them nice.

If HP & IEM offer same sound quality & awesomeness, then I'd better go for IEMs as they are more portable. IEMs should be comfy & should never cause any ear pain to me :ashamed:

So, HP or IEM ? I am still confused.

@both - Thank you very much for replying

 

[satan194p]

Increase budget by 1k and get something descent like HD 428. Since you are not a bass freak you will enjoy clarity and crispness of these headphones.

 

[chiron]

I guess get the M2 if you are fine with iem's but if you want comfort while sitting in front of your desktop then get headphones. The lack of bass might have to do with the seal you get with whatever tip you are using (poor seal = less bass and isolation). The Pl30, M1 etc might be good choices well within your budget but since you are looking for bass first and foremost you probably will be happiest with an M2 (nevermind the extra rs 500 or so).

 

[challapradyumna]

So EP630 are more bass IEMs ? Actually only once I used PL-11 & I felt it is more bass. Or may be I am wrong :ashamed:

I have PL 11 and they have insane bass . It drives you crazy after some time . Need to change them ASAP.

+1 for Koss Porta Pro . Good reviews everywhere for it.

 

[allrounder799]

@avi:

If I were buying phones for listening with out considering portability, I would go for headphones as they offer wider soundstage and bit better audio quality

IEMs sound is no doubt good but it sort of feels in your head, I have 6k sennheisers and still buying HP'S cos I have to use them with my PC and the IEMs just dont cut it

But as you said you are considering portability too, you should go for IEM's

 

[avi]

Increase budget by 1k and get something descent like HD 428. Since you are not a bass freak you will enjoy clarity and crispness of these headphones.

Extending 1k... Can be done, but first I need to decide wether to go for HP or IEMs.

I guess get the M2 if you are fine with iem's but if you want comfort while sitting in front of your desktop then get headphones. The lack of bass might have to do with the seal you get with whatever tip you are using (poor seal = less bass and isolation). The Pl30, M1 etc might be good choices well within your budget but since you are looking for bass first and foremost you probably will be happiest with an M2 (nevermind the extra rs 500 or so).

Nope, I am not looking for bass

I have PL 11 and they have insane bass .

So I was not wrong

@avi:

If I were buying phones for listening with out considering portability, I would go for headphones as they offer wider soundstage and bit better audio quality

Wasn't I asking the same from beginning

IEMs sound is no doubt good but it sort of feels in your head, I have 6k sennheisers and still buying HP'S cos I have to use them with my PC and the IEMs just dont cut it

My usage with PC is minimal. Like this :
- music 50% on iPhone
- movies 30% on lappie
- games etc

But as you said you are considering portability too, you should go for IEM's

Nope. I will consider portability only if both offer same quality, feeling & comfortness. Otherwise have no problem with HPs

 

[fLUX]

Sennheiser HD428 have got pretty good reviews out there , and i have seen people vouching for the jvc ha -rx700 as well.

 

[santhoshr]

I would suggest if you want to experience good sound go for Klipsch S4i, sound is awesome but build is ok, but if you wear while driving with helmets like I did you might be in problem. Even though it is IEM it is better than most over the ear models, and pair well with iPhone, most big headphones needs to be pushed with better audio source, iPhone can't (I have iPhone 1 & 4), but S4i sounds great with iPhone

 

[avi]

Sennheiser HD428 have got pretty good reviews out there , and i have seen people vouching for the jvc ha -rx700 as well.

Thank you for replying But I am still confused IEM or Headphone, though more inclined towards HPs.

I would suggest if you want to experience good sound go for Klipsch S4i, sound is awesome but build is ok, but if you wear while driving with helmets like I did you might be in problem.

Nope, I am not gonna do that

Even though it is IEM it is better than most over the ear models, and pair well with iPhone, most big headphones needs to be pushed with better audio source, iPhone can't (I have iPhone 1 & 4), but S4i sounds great with iPhone

I didn't really get the highlighted part

 

[W@rrier]

^^ he meant, most big hp will need an amp or a better source !

I am still confused on the part where you say you are non -bass guy, and u like the ep-630
ep-630 is a bass oriented iem IMO, if you like its sound signature, and feels its a non- bass iem,
then we have two options :
1.Check out your ears with an ENT
2.Audition a few iem's and find which one you like the most ( try out, pl-30, Brainwavs M2 and the likes )

 

[bennysachdev]

Increase your budget or get a JVC Marshmellow and call it the day.

 

[avi]

^^ he meant, most big hp will need an amp or a better source !

You guys sure about it ?

I am still confused on the part where you say you are non -bass guy, and u like the ep-630

ep-630 is a bass oriented iem IMO, if you like its sound signature, and feels its a non- bass iem,

then we have two options :

1.Check out your ears with an ENT

2.Audition a few iem's and find which one you like the most ( try out, pl-30, Brainwavs M2 and the likes )

May be I don't listen to songs which have more bass ? I listen most of the time vocals, silent love songs, shradda sharma & instrumentals

1. I think I should...

2. Cannot do that

Increase your budget or get a JVC Marshmellow and call it the day.

Read u even read the thread :bleh:

I am ready to increase budget upto 4K now. But I prefer around 3-3.5k Can I feel any changes when I use these costly HPs ? Can I feel any difference in 128 & 320 KBPS songs ?

 

[Malique]

I am ready to increase budget upto 4K now. But I prefer around 3-3.5k Can I feel any changes when I use these costly HPs ? Can I feel any difference in 128 & 320 KBPS songs ?

lol good going. from 2k to 3k and now 4k. Someone else will now suggest that increase your budget to 4.5k and get XYZ headphone. over that someone else will reply that yes XYZ headphones are awesome and they sound even better with amp. so you'll again post that i've increased budget to 7k. 4.5 k for HP and 2.5k for AMP. this will never end.

my point is not to offend OP or anyone else. my message to OP is; fix a firm budget and stick to it. for every X amount you set, there may be a better headphone for X + rs 500 or 1000 and therefore folks would obviously suggest that and its fair. so it will never end. there will always be something better or different even if you set a budget of 60k.

-----------

Now coming to your next question. Yes there difference in sound quality in slightly expensive headphones/earphones but they have to supplemented by quality source one of which is higher bit rate songs.

A personal advice from my own experience: don't listen to music trying to figure out the differences in sound quality, instead whatever it is enjoy the song and relax. if you start finding the nuances, you'll never enjoy listening to songs again, i mean it gets difficult as you mind gets diverted.

 

[avi]

No this time it is fixed & I am not gonna increase

 

[W@rrier]

You guys sure about it ?

yeah

May be I don't listen to songs which have more bass ? I listen most of the time vocals, silent love songs, shradda sharma & instrumentals

yeah, that is why, and for good vocals , u are better off with a non bassy iem

you dont have an mp3 player?

1. I think I should...

2. Cannot do that

4k is a lotta money, and i would wanna know what i am gonna get before taking the plunge, Dont u live at bangy? arent there any other members you can try it out from?

I am ready to increase budget upto 4K now. But I prefer around 3-3.5k Can I feel any changes when I use these costly HPs ? Can I feel any difference in 128 & 320 KBPS songs ?

From what i know, u are not much of an audiophile , IMHO just because you can , doesnt mean you should get something for 3k or 4k

There is a lot of difference between 128kbps and 320kbps files, if you hear it even using a mediocre source!( even when i connect my iem to china phone , i can feel difference)

Do you listen to music while you are outside?

In my opinion, you should get a pl-50, it wont disappoint you

 

[bennysachdev]

Lemme give you the best suggestion I can think of, get a Sansa Clip+, upgrade the storage and get a JVC Marshmellow. When you feel the itch to upgrade again after months/years, get a better iem. That way you have a good player and a good iem rather than just a good iem and not a good source. Trust me its about synergy. You can't have a maruti 800 engine powering a Hummer right? I'm assuming your using a cellphone or ur laptop with the iem since you haven't mentioned your source yet. The SQ of a Clip+ will be a good step up. You can fetch both from pristinenote on TE.
Personally I think the marshmellows are excellent VFM.

 

[Malique]

His first post states he plans to use it with iphone 4 'mostly'. IMO iphone 4 is a decent source.