The only thing to say for the Skullcandy’s is they have more bass than the stock Sansa earbuds, otherwise, there are far better options available. I paid about $6 for Koss KSC75 clip-on-ear 'phones and they’re exponentially better than the Skullcandy Ink’d I paid $15 for…that collect dust with the sansa buds :smileyvery-happy:
@neutron_bob wrote:
There’s another option, if you get a vented IEM design. I happened upon this quite by accident with the Maximo iMetals. They have an open port to the outside world, which is used for loading the driver, as compared to a completely sealed unit.
I wear them as sound suppressors in the workshop, with the Sansa often OFF, and I can hear the surrounding noises acceptably well.
Bob
I am intrigued by this, 'cause generally I can’t wear the in-ear 'phones. My eardrums are pressure-sensitive, and the air needs to be able to flow. I had read about these being “tuned for Sansa” but I’m not sure I knew they were vented…of course, my memory’s not what it used to be either 
I would agree that the Koss KSC75s are better if you are looking for a “Headphone”. I sing the praises of the SkullCandy because I cannot use traditional headphones or earbuds (At 20 y/o I only hear about 65-70 percent of the normal) the SkullCandy’s work best for everyday(@ $15 I can afford to replace them regularly[they get torn up when I forget to unplug]) The Shure on the other hand have amazing sound but are cost prohibitive for everyday use (With the risk of destruction).
@marvin_martian wrote:
I am intrigued by this, 'cause generally I can’t wear the in-ear 'phones. My eardrums are pressure-sensitive, and the air needs to be able to flow. I had read about these being “tuned for Sansa” but I’m not sure I knew they were vented…of course, my memory’s not what it used to be either
Most IEMs I’ve tried are sealed enclosures. In order to provide a satisfying balance, especially including reasonable bass, they all need a proper seal within the ear canal. This is a characteristic of having such very small drivers. The Maximos have a 9mm driver, which is nice. It’s also great for controlled bass.
The Maximos will make a little “plink” sound if they are pressed inward, and the air is compressed a wee bit. I have found that they provide a warm sound without having to completely seal the ear canal. My outer ears are pretty big, and I use the largest of the three provided tips. Yet the iM490s still have a pleasant bass, slightly reduced, if the seal is less than perfect.
The space between the driver and the ear is not vented, but the chamber behind it is.
If you enjoy a sip of coffee, having a plugged Eustachean tube can be unpleasant as you swallow. I’ve experienced acute otitis media years ago, a severe enough case that the pain is not a distant memory.
Daily use of the Maximos has allowed me to find that happy balance, where I get a good fit without “plink”. The back side of the drivers is open to the air, via a teeny port. Ambient sound is not completely drowned out, if the volume is at a modest level. Closed type IEMs are a “plug” in comparison, as ambient sound can only reach the ears via conduction.
Bob
think the guy said a few bucks up, not 400$ up >.<
Crazy price for just an earphone, 399.99. I would spend maybe 15-30$ on a earphone MAX
@mc_hammer wrote:
think the guy said a few bucks up, not 400$ up >.<
Crazy price for just an earphone, 399.99. I would spend maybe 15-30$ on a earphone MAX
Agreed. I am definitely an audiophile…and I have tons of ultra-expensive gear in my studio and home; but it doesn’t make sense to me to spend hundreds of dollars on earbuds/earphones on a device that costs $60…
Give me a pair of Sennheiser HD202’s or (if I’m feeling really naughty) a fine bottom line set of grado’s and I’m a happy camper with the fuze.
@fuze_owner_gb wrote:
@mc_hammer wrote:
think the guy said a few bucks up, not 400$ up >.<
Crazy price for just an earphone, 399.99. I would spend maybe 15-30$ on a earphone MAX
Agreed. I am definitely an audiophile…and I have tons of ultra-expensive gear in my studio and home; but it doesn’t make sense to me to spend hundreds of dollars on earbuds/earphones on a device that costs $60…
Give me a pair of Sennheiser HD202’s or (if I’m feeling really naughty) a fine bottom line set of grado’s and I’m a happy camper with the fuze.
I’ve spoken with more than one person that uses $800 headphones with a Clip 
Never mind
Message Edited by Agnostic on 12-09-2008 08:17 AM
The cool thing with the Sansa is that you can dump compression and load a group of FLAC files, those CDs you want to really listen to, free of the brown paper lunch sack known as compressed digital.
Don’t get me wrong, the venerable MP3 has made transmission and storage of music far simpler than 20 years ago.
But, for critical listening, the CD was far superior to the compressed version. We are trading convenience for quality. Well, until recently, that is. Technology is catching up with us.
It’s just that we don’t readily see it. We all take for granted that our Sansas have an internal FM radio, and don’t give it more than a passing thought. That radio receiver is the size of a breadcrumb, about 4mm, and about 0.8mm thick. I remember when just the IF stage of a decent FM receiver was the size of the box the Sansa is shipped in.
SanDisk is squeezing GIGAbytes of data into wee wafers. Just have a long look at a MicroSD card, and the teeny bump at the outer end that’s the embedded microchip. Heck, the entire processor of these machines is about a centimeter across, and it has 200 pins on the back!
Let your ears make the judgement as to whether a wee Clip is Fuze is worthy of an expensive headphone. They have the resolution that makes it possible.
Actually, is’s about time that Sennheiser and Grado think more seriously about fitting their full-size devices with smaller cables and a nice 3.5mm plug.
Bob :smileyvery-happy:
Message Edited by neutron_bob on 12-09-2008 08:37 AM
I bought at pair of Philips SHE9800. The quality of the sound, especially the soundstage (huge!) and the bass (i like my bass a little more than neutral) is just awesome.
And, since Philips is not as hyped as many other brands, the price is reasonable (even here in Denmark).
They are the ‘olive’ kind of IEMs, and I just LOVE mine, with my Fuze.
Someone above mentioned the KSC75s from Koss, if you’re going for Supra-aural (on top of the ear headphone as opposed to around the ear headphone) Go with these. Hands down. Hell, RadioShacks are clearing them out of stock and you can pick them up for $5.47. (I bought 5 for presents this year) Look on Head-fi for the Kramer mod for them and they’ll blow you away with exactly what you were looking for…However, one rather large caveat must emerge. Most great headphones are “open” as opposed to “closed” enclosures, therefore, if you’re planning on using them in a busy and active place, you will have to deal with the outside noise, and with the occupants of said noisy place hearing exactly what you are…no isolation at all. At 60ohms, you made need to pick up the FiiO E3/E5 amp, but they’re extremely inexpensive and not bad.
I’d try out a pair of IEMs to start with, to see if your ears can handle them. I just picked up a pair of Jbuds new J2s and after about 30 hours of burn-in these really start to clear up and provide a very natural and neutral soundstage. Especially for their price.
Granted, if you’d want to spend two bills, I’d just get a decent dedicated portable headphone amp and some also aforementioned Grado SR-80s or Sennheiser HD-555s…
The possibilities here are endless and our beloved Fuze does have the sonic capabilities to warrant a great pair of headphones if your music is nicely ripped…I’d just recommend making lists of exactly what kind of use you’re going to be looking for (travelling, working out, at library, etc) and what features you’re looking for, and how important each feature is, i.e. soundstage, clarity, separation, bass, isolation, comfort, on and on and on.
www.head-fi.org is a great place to then take a look at a lot of the choices you’ve narrowed it down to, but beware…you’re pocketbook may never forgive you. Price doesn’t always equate naturally to quality. The difference between $40 headphones and $150 may be small indeed, and only if you’re proof positive you can tell exactly what the difrerence is and if it means that much for you, put down the bread. Most of these headphones all sound great (and really your wifey’s ibuds are about as bad as you can get) with the only real difference being amongst the higher end stuff having different qualities to the sound (warmth v analytical, etc)…
Have fun!
-w-
800$ Rich friend? My brother uses the 1$ earphones lol. I use the apple white ones
Future Sonics Atrio
/thread
I use JVC Air Cushions (HA-FX66R), and have loved every minute of owning them. They provide great noise isolation (especially during a two hour plane ride and a two hour layover in Phoenix), and truly awesome sound. I did burn them in for a couple of days, however. Nothing major, just hooked them up to my stereo and turned the volume to a nice listening level. I paid less than twenty-five bucks for mine through an Amazon.com seller.
All the best.
