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Topic: iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed (Read 4272 times) previous topic - next topic
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iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Hi all.

I am looking for a headphone to replace the not so great and rather uncomfortable apple ear buds that came with my iPod nano.

I have been looking at the Etymotic E6i and Ultimate Ears super.fi 3.  But I may be interested at phones in a higher price range depending on your recommendation. 

Here are the things I am most interested in:

  1)  Sound Quality.  I like accurate, true to the original recording sound.  I listen mostly to jazz and a bit of classical.  I am not huge on the "booming" bass stuff.  I like balance.

  2)  Comfort.  This is a VERY close second.  I was temped to list it as the most important criterion.  I really don't want to have to deal with uncomfortable headphones.  I understand that IEMs can be uncomfortable at first, but I hope you guys can recommend one that is managable. 

I am looking forward to all of your suggestions.  Thanks for running such a great forum.

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #1 –
Quote
Hi all.

I am looking for a headphone to replace the not so great and rather uncomfortable apple ear buds that came with my iPod nano.

I have been looking at the Etymotic E6i and Ultimate Ears super.fi 3.  But I may be interested at phones in a higher price range depending on your recommendation. 

Here are the things I am most interested in:

  1)  Sound Quality.  I like accurate, true to the original recording sound.  I listen mostly to jazz and a bit of classical.  I am not huge on the "booming" bass stuff.  I like balance.

  2)  Comfort.  This is a VERY close second.   I was temped to list it as the most important criterion.  I really don't want to have to deal with uncomfortable headphones.  I understand that IEMs can be uncomfortable at first, but I hope you guys can recommend one that is managable. 

I am looking forward to all of your suggestions.  Thanks for running such a great forum.
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Koss Porta Pro Small comfortable and best of all sounds great!
[a href="http://www.audioreview.com/cat/headphones-home-audio/headphones/koss/PRD_143821_2750crx.aspx#reviews]the reviews[/url]

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #2 –
Depends on price really. I use Westone UM-2s which sound fantastic.

UM-2 Review

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #3 –
I use Grado SR-60s with my nano.

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #5 –
Quote
I love my Sennheiser HD-280 Pros
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=354861"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I have a pair of them too...love em!  Do you use those with a Nano? 

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #6 –
Quote
Here are the things I am most interested in:

  1)  Sound Quality.  I like accurate, true to the original recording sound.  I listen mostly to jazz and a bit of classical.  I am not huge on the "booming" bass stuff.  I like balance.


If you are looking for accurate sound, Sennheiser HD280 Pro's are a great choice, they are relatively flat, and don't overexaggerate the low end.  Good reviews can be found at headphone.com.

BTW, has anyone done the blue tak mod on their 280's? Does it work well?

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #7 –
Quote
I have a pair of them too...love em!  Do you use those with a Nano? 
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=354867"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Kinda beats the purpose of being nano, eh?

I haven't done the blue tak mod, but then again, I consider they sound fine.  Must have over 3000 hours of play by now, so I guess they're as good as they'll get.

Make sure you burn em in, slightly over listenable volume, for 2 days straight.  I think you'll notice a difference.  It makes the driver material more flexible.

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #8 –
Quote
,Jan 5 2006, 02:00 PM]Kinda beats the purpose of being nano, eh?

I haven't done the blue tak mod, but then again, I consider they sound fine.  Must have over 3000 hours of play by now, so I guess they're as good as they'll get.

Make sure you burn em in, slightly over listenable volume, for 2 days straight.  I think you'll notice a difference.  It makes the driver material more flexible.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=354872"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yeah, not really nano.  More suited for a large HDD player or for home listening. 

I can get lost in them listening to music.  Some people complain that they clamp too much....which increases fatigue when wearing them.  My head is by no means small....and I don't have that problem.  I'm glad that I bought em.

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #9 –
blue tak mod, as in blue taking the Nano to the earcups? 


How about the ($90+ship) Sony Eggo D66? (available from Audiocubes.com) Not too expensive, portable, pretty comfy and a fairly evenly balanced sound. Not much isolation to speak of though.


I'm sure people could come up with loads of other recommendations. For my portables (including the Nano) I use the:
- ($200) Sennheiser HD25-1 (great all-round throwaround-able phones, comfort is a variable factor but to me does almost everything else right)
- ($2,600) Sony Qualia 010 (for when I'm in a hotel room, intercity train, etc and sometimes even just for keeping my ears warm on winter commutes)
- ($50) Sennheiser PX200 (for when I want something I can slip in a jacket pocket)
- ($900) Ultimate Ears UE-10Pro (for flying).
 

iPod Nano headphone choice; help needed

Reply #10 –
Another satisfied Sennheiser HD-280pro user here. Actually my criteria went like this "under $100 -> closed design/good isolation -> circumaural -> best sound quality" and the choice ended up between these and a pair of Sony's. And I'm very happy with these.