<p>My S has requested a good pair of earbuds for Christmas, so I am hoping to get some suggestions.
I looked up Bose earbuds, but they are around $80 and seem to only get mediocre reviews on Amazon. I’d prefer to spend less but am willing to spend up to $80 for a quality pair.
Any and all suggestions welcome.</p>
<p>[Walmart.com:</a> JVC Marshmallow Stereo Headphones, HA-FX34S Silver: Audio](<a href=“http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9135484]Walmart.com:”>http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9135484)</p>
<p>I have used these JVC ones, they have the skwishy foam that molds to your ear. I like that better than the silicon ones.</p>
<p>I’m sure you can find more expensive ones with similar characteristics, but I just like the way these mold to my ear canal. I think these can be found in circuit city (for more than walmart charges for the exact same product)</p>
<p>[JVC</a> HA FX34 Marshmallow - headphones Headphone reviews - CNET Reviews](<a href=“CNET: Product reviews, advice, how-tos and the latest news”>CNET: Product reviews, advice, how-tos and the latest news) has some reviews on this product</p>
<p>My daughter likes the Skull Candy ones we buy at Target…they aren’t expensive ($14.99) and come in a wide variety of colors. But I don’t like them at all…they fall out of my ears. </p>
<p>I think this is one of those items that must be purchased for oneself, like shoes. Maybe a gift card to an audio store?</p>
<p>I stepped on the ones that came with my ipod which I’d liked just fine. I now have some rejects from dh and I know why. The sound is fine, but they don’t stay in my ears in the gym. Everytime I lie down they fall out. I agree that this is a case where you might want to try them on. Do they let you try them out at stores? If not perhaps she needs to figure out what she likes by trying out what her friends have.</p>
<p>If you want a slight step up from the standard Ipod earbuds, you can look at Sennheiser or Shure, which run $20-40; for a major step up, look at the Ultimate Ears product line. Here’s a good one a little higher than your price range: [Amazon.com:</a> Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio Earphones (Black): Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Super-fi-Studio-Earphones-White/dp/B000B610D4/Ultimate-Ears-Metro-fi-Earphones-Black/dp/Ultimate-Ears-Studio-Earphones-Black/dp/B000B5XU06]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Super-fi-Studio-Earphones-White/dp/B000B610D4/Ultimate-Ears-Metro-fi-Earphones-Black/dp/Ultimate-Ears-Studio-Earphones-Black/dp/B000B5XU06) They also have the metro-fi, a little cheaper, but I haven’t heard it.</p>
<p>audiophile</p>
<p>P.S. In the audio world, the Bose brand is known for their marketing, but little else.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions, I’m checking them all out. This is the only gift S has asked for so I’m inclined to get the best I can for under $100.
Sueinphilly: thanks for the link to CNET reviews, I’m looking at their list of best ear buds for under $100. Audiophile, i see that the ultimate ears rate really well; do you like them better than the Shure E2?</p>
<p>I have these and I like them a lot:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black): Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-Isolator-Earphones-Black/dp/B000BQSGMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229008513&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-Isolator-Earphones-Black/dp/B000BQSGMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229008513&sr=1-1)</p>
<p>Two caveats. First, they are a bit tricky to fit in the ear, but come with a variety of tips to make it easier. Second, they have very thin wiring. If your son is like my daughter, who likes to yank the buds out of her ears by the wires, they won’t last long.</p>
<p>Sennheiser also makes very decent cheap earbuds:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> sennheiser earbuds: Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e_2_10?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=sennheiser+earbuds&x=0&y=0&sprefix=sennheiser]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e_2_10?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=sennheiser+earbuds&x=0&y=0&sprefix=sennheiser)</p>
<p>I shudder at the thought of earbuds for D - earlier this fall, she was coming home for the weekend on the bus from NY to Boston and I got phone call from her with a sense of panic in her voice. Seems one of the foamy covers from her earbuds (not sure what kind they were) had come off and gotten stuck in her ear. The more she tried to get to it, the deeper into her ear canal it went. The bus at that point was about half-way to Boston, somewhere in CT. I told her to stop trying to get it out, deal with the muffled sound, and I would bring tweezers with me when I picked her up. Needless to say, when I couldn’t even see it inside her ear - there was no way I was going to stick tweezers in there - LOL! </p>
<p>So, off we went (at almost midnight) to the ER at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary (only about 10 minutes away), and got the “experts” to fish it out. The doctor shone the light in her ear - said “I see it - it’s pink!” and just like that, got it out! It only cost me the co-pay and about 1 hour of my time.</p>
<p>Now, don’t you know that on her Amazon list for Christmas she has listed headphones?? At least she put down the brand she wants…</p>
<p>sarha,</p>
<p>I’ve not tried the Shures. I do have a pair of etymotics, but are reluctant to recommend them before having your son try them out. They do sound great, but go really far into the ear canal (I know someone who had to go the the ER to have one taken out) and the cords make a swishing sound if you move around too much.</p>
<p>sarha, I agree with audiophile that the deep fit of the etymotics is not for everybody. Haven’t noticed the swishing sound, but that may be my 50-year-old ears!</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> JVC HAF130B Gumy Earbuds (Black): Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAF130B-Gumy-Earbuds-Black/dp/B000O7QO90]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAF130B-Gumy-Earbuds-Black/dp/B000O7QO90)</p>
<p>JVC Gummy earbuds are good and they’re cheap. Gummy because they have a squisshy soft rubbery outer coating. You can find them pretty much everywhere and if you’re lucky, the store will have a nice assortment of colors to choose from. I’ve seen black, white with pink, white with green (I have these), white with blue, orange, pink, etc. They make for great stocking stuffers. I’ve seen them at Best Buy and KMart.</p>
<p>I just bought some this morning for my son after doing a bit of research on Amazon. He uses them when he’s homeworking as well as when he’s active - jogging, cutting grass, etc. - so I purchased a pair of Sony Active Lifestyle ones - they fit around your ear though not obnoxiously. They were on sale at Target today for $17. </p>
<p>He hates the Skullcandy ones, but my daughter love them . Go figure. </p>
<p>By the way, another great place to get discounted Ipod supplies - TJ Maxx. They have Skullcandy for $9.99 and I picked up other accessories today (and in the past) - wall charger - $7.99, a synch cable (son left his in his pant pocket and it went through the washer and dryer - not good) $7.99 (compared to $20 at Best Buy and Target)</p>
<p>Well, a decision has been made: Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio Earphone. I based this on mainly on reviews on cnet and epinions etc. ( I don’t want audiophile to feel burdened with responsibility for the decision, lol).
I decided to get him as good a pair as I felt comfortable paying for, since it will be his primary gift.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I looked up each one.
Sarha</p>
<p>Even though you’ve decided, I have to chime in that I think “good earbuds” is an oxymoron. The earbuds direct the sound directly into the ear, and most kids play their mp3s and other devices much too loudly. I can’t help but believe that there will be major hearing loss among this generation directed at earbuds.</p>
<p>I suggest earphones that go over the outside of the ear, and never enter the ear at all, would be safer. They don’t have to be bulky, they can still be individually wired (so they don’t go over the head or whatever - I don’t know the term), and they’re safer.</p>
<p>Something like this:
[Sony</a> MDRAS20J Around-the-Ear Headphones - RadioShack.com](<a href=“http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3143997]Sony”>http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3143997)</p>
<p>sarha,</p>
<p>I think he’ll enjoy them. There’s also the “coolness” factor, because that is the preferred brand of rock stars and DJs (of course theirs are the top-of-the-line and custom molded by an audiologist).</p>
<p>Chedva,</p>
<p>Those are the ones I bought today!!! Target, $17.00 . These also got great reviews from people active in sports…</p>
<p>Chedva,</p>
<p>The better the sound, the less distortion and the less need to crank them up. I wear over the ear when I listen to headphones at home (Sennheiser HD600 with dedicated tube head amp), but earbuds are usually more portable and better for travel and the gym.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Optical out from my computer to an outboard D/A to a Meier Audio headphone amp to modified Sennheiser HD-595s for me. It’s really stunning how good a computer headphone rig can sound.</p>
<p>BTW, the cheapo Sennheisser MX500 earbuds are pretty good. </p>
<p>If you want something portable in an over-the-ear headphone, we have a couple of pair of these:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones: Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PX-100-Collapsible-Headphones/dp/B000089GN3]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PX-100-Collapsible-Headphones/dp/B000089GN3)</p>
<p>They fold up into a carrying case like a pair of sunglasses. Very comfortable. Other than being just a smidgeon bass-heavy (which a lot of people will like), they sound fantastic straight from an iPod. These would also be a really good moderately priced headphone for use instead of computer speakers.</p>
<p>ID,</p>
<p>I have a pair of those also (there’s a reason my screen name is audiophile). I don’t feel the Ipod has enough amplification (without a portable head amp) to make them competitive with buds, particularly with the ambient noise during air travel. Never tried them coming out of the computer, though. I run my office computer through a Linn Classik.</p>
<p>Audiophile, ever tried the Klipsch? They are fantastic.</p>