Sound Isolating Headphones

footfootfoot · 11-28-2011, 11:43 AM

That's from listening to Parliament (obscure lyric reference)

Flint · 12-10-2011, 11:37 PM

Briefly read some reviews for Shure SE215, their $100-ish level sound isolating in-ear monitors.

Pretty quickly came to these conclusions: they sound pretty good, but they tried to "enhance the bass" to meet consumer demand--and I hate that. I listed to Bose (you know: no highs, no lows, that's Bose) and I'm in love with "flat" response. Even so, in my 2008 Honda Odyssey (stock Bose system) I have to turn the bass AND treble 1/3 of the way down to get a "flat" sound. Even Bose these days is hamming it up with the vanity frequencies. What's more, I don't need bass in an in-ear monitor, in a musical situation--considering my experience with wearing earplugs while playing my drums is that I can still hear/feel the bass, while the ear-killing highs are what is being blocked out. What people have said about the Etymotic Research MC5 is that it "has no bass" which probably means I'll think it sounds perfect.

Some other things I've read about the Shure SE215: they are awkward to put on, awkward to keep in, bulky, clumsy, the "stubby" ear piece is counter-intuitively less comfortable than the deep canal design, and (according to a bazillion people) the sound frequently cuts out due to the brilliant "detachable cord" design.

The Etymotic Research MC5 are almost half the price, appear lighter, more comfortable, have better sound (for my tastes), and they were recommended by Undertoad--so I'm ordering some. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Flint · 12-13-2011, 10:15 PM

Nope. Worst sounding headphones I've ever heard, and the insides of my ears feel like they've been ground into hamburger by having sandpaper jammed inside them.

These are NOTHING like foam earplugs. I wear foam earplugs every time I sit down at my drumset--I roll up the tip, place it in (note: don't have to CRAM it in) and hold it down for about 5 seconds while it expands and makes a seal. The foam tips on these earphones work nothing like that: can't roll up tight enough to fit in, don't go in far enough, and when they expand they get pushed out of your ear--they never make a seal. AND they fracking hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. The triple flange hurt even worse.

There are literally no bass frequencies produced by these drivers--no matter how far you cram them into your ear canal there is never a "magic seal" that corrects this. Placing even a moderate swell in the mid-bass of an EQ instantly produces a distorted, literally "blown" sound.

All I really wanted was to do my homework and listen to some Mozart, but I don't think I can stand trying to jab these things directly into my brain, just to get a few more db of isolation. And the crappiest sound quality ever. These things suck.

11-28-2011, 11:43 AM	#1
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	That's from listening to Parliament (obscure lyric reference) __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-10-2011, 11:37 PM	#2
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Briefly read some reviews for Shure SE215, their $100-ish level sound isolating in-ear monitors. Pretty quickly came to these conclusions: they sound pretty good, but they tried to "enhance the bass" to meet consumer demand--and I hate that. I listed to Bose (you know: no highs, no lows, that's Bose) and I'm in love with "flat" response. Even so, in my 2008 Honda Odyssey (stock Bose system) I have to turn the bass AND treble 1/3 of the way down to get a "flat" sound. Even Bose these days is hamming it up with the vanity frequencies. What's more, I don't need bass in an in-ear monitor, in a musical situation--considering my experience with wearing earplugs while playing my drums is that I can still hear/feel the bass, while the ear-killing highs are what is being blocked out. What people have said about the Etymotic Research MC5 is that it "has no bass" which probably means I'll think it sounds perfect. Some other things I've read about the Shure SE215: they are awkward to put on, awkward to keep in, bulky, clumsy, the "stubby" ear piece is counter-intuitively less comfortable than the deep canal design, and (according to a bazillion people) the sound frequently cuts out due to the brilliant "detachable cord" design. The Etymotic Research MC5 are almost half the price, appear lighter, more comfortable, have better sound (for my tastes), and they were recommended by Undertoad--so I'm ordering some. I'll let you know how they turn out. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

12-13-2011, 10:15 PM	#3
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Nope. Worst sounding headphones I've ever heard, and the insides of my ears feel like they've been ground into hamburger by having sandpaper jammed inside them. These are NOTHING like foam earplugs. I wear foam earplugs every time I sit down at my drumset--I roll up the tip, place it in (note: don't have to CRAM it in) and hold it down for about 5 seconds while it expands and makes a seal. The foam tips on these earphones work nothing like that: can't roll up tight enough to fit in, don't go in far enough, and when they expand they get pushed out of your ear--they never make a seal. AND they fracking hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. The triple flange hurt even worse. There are literally no bass frequencies produced by these drivers--no matter how far you cram them into your ear canal there is never a "magic seal" that corrects this. Placing even a moderate swell in the mid-bass of an EQ instantly produces a distorted, literally "blown" sound. All I really wanted was to do my homework and listen to some Mozart, but I don't think I can stand trying to jab these things directly into my brain, just to get a few more db of isolation. And the crappiest sound quality ever. These things suck. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

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