Its time for new ear buds, I listen to stuff like gratefull dead and jazz any recommendations?
Don’t want to go over $50 give or take.
Thanks
denbar
First, earbuds are the worst type of headphone you can get, from a comfort and sound quality point of view. Rather, you’ll want to look in to in ear monitors (IEMs).
Second, check out Innerfidelity’s Wall of Fame page for IEMs, and scroll down to the area that fits your budget. Within each review for a set of headphones, you’ll find subjective impressions, as well as a full set of measurements of the headphone’s frequency response across the audible spectrum, and analysis.
www.innerfidelity.com/content/innerfidelitys-wall-fame-ear-monitors
Running / Riding or General use?
Running / Riding or General use?
This? For running sure, get earbuds. Look on amazon for earbuds with good reviews. Find some reviews from runners there. That’s what I’d do.
For general use at your home or work you want around the ear headphones. Nothing else comes close. Can’t go wrong with Sennheiser, JBL, Audio Technica or even Sony.
Yurbuds for running - you won’t feel them and they won’t fall out, they have saved my phone a few times (I run with it in my hand).
Make sure you pick the right size cover for your ear (mine came with two options in the box).
WD 
Its time for new ear buds, I listen to stuff like gratefull dead and jazz any recommendations?
Don’t want to go over $50 give or take.
Thanks
denbar
For cycling, I like these cheap JVC ErgoFit Ear buds. Their design is such that they sit in your ear very well even on bumpy roads. There are minor variances in all the models, I prefer the ones without a “L” connector for cycling.
For running, I use Sony Sport MDR-AS35w. This was the best of breed, out of the best design IMO. Unfortunately, somewhere down the ride people thought headbands were “not cool” and this style is hard to get. You can still get them on amazon but they are super expensive from the 19.99 they use to cost retail. Fortunately, I horded a few pairs when they were getting hard to find.
I’ve just about every reasonably priced earbuds (up to around $125-$150 for bluetooth) and the only thing that consistently works for me is the Yurbud line. I’m currently using their bluetooth version but the wired versions can be had at or below your price point.
I prefer to run and ride au naturel so I don’t get killed by a car.
I went through quite a few BT headphones last year trying to find the perfect set. Not sure if my ear channel has non-standard shape or I have never figured out how to use them, but here is a little summary of my finds:
Yurbuds - heavily endorsed. Never fit my ear. I remember having taking them to one of the marathons - ended up screwing myself in the ear for at least half of the distance. Did not fit me at all
Jaybirds - heavily praised, but I am not really sure why. Sound quality is below average, comfort isn’t great, finky mounts. Hated them as much as Yurbuds
Beats Powerbeats2 - overpriced, fragile, sensitive to sweat(!). Good sound quality, but considering the aforementioned drawbacks they are simply not worth it
Jabra Sport Pulse - excellent fit, good controls, good sound quality. Due to the build-in HR monitor the battery life is much shorter. For the same reason they are more expensive. Also, after they’ve died on me three times (yes, I bought and re-bought them), I gave up and started looking somewhere else
Plantonics Backbeat Fit - for me these are the most perfect pair of headphones I had: good battery life, practically bombproof, pretty decent sound quality, excellent fit. The controls are a bit weird, but nothing too bad
These fieldnotes are not universal, but are only a result of my personal experience. The takeaway here is, I guess, just like with the running shoed, is that no matter what everybody tells you, you won’t know what works for you until you try it yourself.
I prefer to run and ride au naturel so I don’t get killed by a car.
+1
Just yesterday I walking past a bus stop full of people. A pedestrian coming the other way (with the flow of traffic) was wearing earbuds. To get past the group of people, he stepped off the curb, right into the path of the oncoming bus. By the grace of all that’s holy, the bus driver slammed on the brakes, swerved just enough to barely miss the guy. The people at the bus stop and I were sure we were watching him get killed. The bus missed him by 2 paint thicknesses! It wasn’t till the bus appeared in his peripheral vision that he realized just how close he was to meeting Darwin. The bus passengers got unceremoniously thrown around the bus likes peas in a whistle.
NFG
High(isn) end - I recommend getting any of the Shure in ear monitors - they’ll run over your budget but they’re great for longer listening on flights, etc. I wouldn’t work out in them as they’ll be damaged by sweat.
For running, if you don’t want to go the blue tooth route, Amazon sells Panasonic earbuds I’ve found surprisingly good (as have a number of reviewers). They have nice silicone tips in three sizes for a good seal, provide a pretty decent frequency response and at about six bucks a pair, you’re not gonna worry if you step on them, lose them, or in my case, sweat them to death. I’ve worn mine through several long training runs and have been very very satisfied. Another suggestion is the in-house Amazon “basics” brand which are about ten bucks a pair and come with a nifty carrying case. Lastly, I recommend checking out Monoprice for great prices on earbuds (or other good electronic gear).
Oh, don’t get me started about ‘headband’ style headphones for running! As TG suggests, there have been some Sony models that are fabulous for running, including the model he cites and the equally unobtainable MDR-W08L (which are fabulous, but prone to failure at the plug end of the cord, IME. I have a brand new, in box pair that I could sell for the current Amazon low, low price of $100!). I’ve moved on to the Maxell HB-202 BUT…there are two 9or more) variants of the same model. The older version has a metal headband and I’ve found those to be durable and acceptable in sound quality (less wind noise than the Sony, but less intrinsically musical). But the newer model (plastic headband, red eartips, is total sh!t and should be avoided at all costs. The sound quality is wretched and the fit (at least for me) is terrible, so the resulting sound is unlistenable. Really, a shame that we don’t have affordable, quality choices in this style. Anyone try the Sonxtronics XDR-8000 range (Amazon)? Reviews look good and at $25, would be acceptable with good sound quality and durability…
Oh, don’t get me started about ‘headband’ style headphones for running! As TG suggests, there have been some Sony models that are fabulous for running, including the model he cites and the equally unobtainable MDR-W08L (which are fabulous, but prone to failure at the plug end of the cord, IME. I have a brand new, in box pair that I could sell for the current Amazon low, low price of $100!). I’ve moved on to the Maxell HB-202 BUT…there are two 9or more) variants of the same model. The older version has a metal headband and I’ve found those to be durable and acceptable in sound quality (less wind noise than the Sony, but less intrinsically musical). But the newer model (plastic headband, red eartips, is total sh!t and should be avoided at all costs. The sound quality is wretched and the fit (at least for me) is terrible, so the resulting sound is unlistenable. Really, a shame that we don’t have affordable, quality choices in this style. Anyone try the Sonxtronics XDR-8000 range (Amazon)? Reviews look good and at $25, would be acceptable with good sound quality and durability…
I have been tempted to go into the headphone business. I realized that maybe the kids might actually like a lightweight pair of corded headphones instead of those big Beats cans that they are constantly adjusting on the treadmill next to me. Luckily I still have a few pair of AS-35w left.
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I have been tempted to go into the headphone business. I realized that maybe the kids might actually like a lightweight pair of corded headphones instead of those big Beats cans that they are constantly adjusting on the treadmill next to me. Luckily I still have a few pair of AS-35w left.
With all due respect, the huge Beats cans are specifically the point - how else are the kids going to show that they just blew almost 400 bucks on some fashion accessory like the total tools?
I really like Aftershockz. They sit just below the ear and use bone conductivity while leaving the ear completely open for ambient noise. You can hear everything around you clear as day while still enjoying music. I typically listen to books on tape on my longer runs and have no problem hearing birds chirping and cars approaching. They are about $120 though…
I don’t think genre matters. I don’t find it hard to get good sound quality, but I got so frustrated trying to find earbuds that didn’t make my ears sore after longer periods of time. Price didn’t seem to improve this one maddening consequence of every pair I tried. I finally found what I can wear as long as I want: JVC Marshmallows. The part that makes contact with your skin is a highly pliable material - if you hold it for a few seconds between two fingers you’ll actually see your fingerprint in relief. The bonus? They’re cheap. Like $10 on Amazon. At that price even if they don’t work out you won’t feel bad about the few bucks you spent.
I use the Sony ($10 from Amazon) that go behind the ear. Never had a problem. They last about 6 months.
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I have been tempted to go into the headphone business. I realized that maybe the kids might actually like a lightweight pair of corded headphones instead of those big Beats cans that they are constantly adjusting on the treadmill next to me. Luckily I still have a few pair of AS-35w left.
With all due respect, the huge Beats cans are specifically the point - how else are the kids going to show that they just blew almost 400 bucks on some fashion accessory like the total tools?
The way Shure did it was by giving away t-shirts that said “My earphones cost more than your iPod”
After reading a recommendation on here for the stock earbuds that come with iphones I gave them a try. Have been happy running with them since. They’d be a bit lighter without the microphone, but it’s not noticeable.
I love the stock earbuds for everyday use but not for running. I can’t get them to stay in while running.