In-ear phones for less than $80, in-store

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Lizard1977

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#102919 25-May-2012 13:23

My wife is looking for a good set of in-ear phones, for a max of $80. We're flying overseas in less than 2 weeks, so we want to buy in-store rather than online, meaning we're confined to the usual big box retailers in PN, like JB Hifi, DSE, Norman Ross, Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, and Marbecks. We've looked at a couple, like Logitech UE 400v, and Sennheiser CX270 and 215, but we're not sure.

She's got a proper set of Shure headphones which she uses round home, so the in-ear phones are mostly for travelling on the plane, and having something lightweight to listen to music on her iPhone.

What would you buy for under $80, using only stores in PN?

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#630396 25-May-2012 15:24

I don't really know what brands are available in stores, but check out my website headphone reviews for reviews of many of them.

You'll want canal phones, to block out noise. Sennheiser's a good brand, Logitech can be good depending on the model, Sony are pretty for the price.

Personally I wear foam earplugs on a plane, with noise cancelling full sized headphones over top.

crackrdbycracku

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#630412 25-May-2012 15:59

Logitech UE 400v

I've had these and they were good.

JB is usually your best bet but check them and Dick Smith for the best sale price.

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asmcar

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#630419 25-May-2012 16:03

I don't have any advice on what model but if you decide before tomorrow Dick Smith have 40 % off all headphones tomorrow only (Saturday) which may put more products in your price range, or make the headphones you decide on much cheaper.

http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/offer/XXXLSaleFri

NZtechfreak

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#630422 25-May-2012 16:14

I would check this review series of 237 headphones from an audiophile who owns ALL OF THEM and select the ones that sound most appealing that are available and in your price range:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-238-iems-compared-astrotec-am-90-added-05-21-12#post_6492056

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Lizard1977

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#630522 25-May-2012 20:06

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

We went down to DSE on Rangitikei St. After a few confused looks from the staff, they tracked down a pair of Logitech UE 400vi (pays to look behind things, apparently). I asked if, as a clearance product, the 40% discount would apply on Saturday - blank looks. They said they had no idea about how the sale was going to work, and they weren't going to be told until tomorrow. Greaaat! So we went over to Norman Ross, across the carpark, just for comparison. They had a bin full of Logitech UE headphones, including dozens of the 400vi. RRP - $79.95 (same as DSE). 50% off all the UE range, including a pair of 600vi for $219 RRP. So we picked them up straight away for $40, no waiting around, or faffing about with Saturday-only deals. Even the checkout operator was surprised at the price, as it came up on the screen as below cost. Wife is just trying them out now, but looks promising.

Cheers!

Batman

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#630524 25-May-2012 20:19

Just adding a pointless comment but i got a pair of MEElectronics a151 and they are detailed as anything ... may be get then on your way back!

timmmay

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#630530 25-May-2012 20:31

Ultimate Ears is a good brand, at least before they were bought out they were. My UE5EBs (review models) broke after a few years, a small part of the plastic casing cracked then they came apart. I imagine the design has been improved by now.

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merve0o0

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#630532 25-May-2012 20:36

I have ue400vi's and they are great. The only problem I found with them was the cables went hard after a year or so

sleemanj

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#630536 25-May-2012 20:50

I'm a pretty cheap bugger admittedly, I use two pairs of in-ears - 1 in the office, and 1 in bed, and I munt them up quite often (rolling over them with chair, tangling them up in bed when I fall asleep etc...) anyway.

Pair one, my main pair, are presently Philips brand from The Warehouse, I think they were about $12 on sale at the time.

Pair two, my secondary pair, are presently some nameless pair from the $2 shop (actually $5, but you get the picture).

I'm not an audiophile, the $12 pair are better than the $5 pair certainly, but the $12 pair are as good as any others I've ever had, and really can't say I think that I'd be able to hear much better from a $80 pair. And the $5 pair are perfectly usable too.

My point is, I tend to think that paying anything even close to $80 for a pair of in ear headphones (normal retail type price) is a waste of money, I sincerely doubt that the diminishing returns on quality after about $30 are worth it at all.

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sbiddle

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#630539 25-May-2012 20:56

sleemanj:
I'm not an audiophile, the $12 pair are better than the $5 pair certainly, but the $12 pair are as good as any others I've ever had, and really can't say I think that I'd be able to hear much better from a $80 pair. And the $5 pair are perfectly usable too.

The difference between a $12 and a $80 pair is very noticeable., pariicularly if you're comparing some cheap in ear jobbies with some Sennheisers. Is there a $68 difference in value? Maybe, maybe not. The feel of the them is completely different however, and a $12 pair is probably offering no isolation at all.

On a side note has anybody heard much about the Panasonic RP-HC31 at all? I can't seem to find any decent reviews online. Somebody told me they are a great unit, but I don't necessarily believe it.

Dunnersfella

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#630544 25-May-2012 21:31

sleemanj - have you considered that the content you're listening to is of poor quality / your hearing is damaged?
I listened to some $1500 h/phones today through a headphone amp... and there is no way, on this earth, that you could compare the sound coming out of a pair of Philips $12 headphones.
No way.
Ever.
I mean, ever.
Life is too short to listen to crap sound... and I don't spend much on headphones as I rarely use them.
Speakers on the other hand...

Lizard1977

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#630545 25-May-2012 21:42

My wife wanted a new pair of headphones a few years back. We went to Image Audio in Palmerston North, and tried on different sets of Denon, Sennheisers and Shure, ranging from $150 to about $600. Like sleemanj I was skeptical that they would be worth it. But after trying them on I was blown away with the Shures. Wife paid $500 for them and they are worth every cent. The sound is phenomenal, the build quality perfect, and the fit is like velvet on the ears. Since then I've been a convert to high end audio gear. The Logitech UEs aren't in the same bracket, but not too bad, especially at $40.

sleemanj

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#630548 25-May-2012 21:46

There is little point in arguing the point, people tend to have quite.... strong opinions on this particular subject.

Obligatory XKCD...

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merve0o0

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#630550 25-May-2012 21:50

I thought I was going cheap with my latest pair of headphones at $140. I wanted ones wih apple remote, in ear and braided cable. Ended up getting some marley ones. They are a lot better than I expected then to be. So comfortable and sound good enough but most of my listening is podcasts or streaming music.

I will defiantly buy another pair when they are on special even though I know they are mostly gimmick they are comfortable and built well

timmmay

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#630552 25-May-2012 21:52

I do like my LCD2-s, but I'm glad I didn't pay for the things!

http://www.headphonereviews.org/headphone/Audeze/LCD-2

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