I like the behind the neck earphones. They keep out sound and keep in sound w/o being so huge to bring attention to oneself. Earbuds do the same but they don’t work for everybody.
@f00l They’re nowhere near top of the line audio quality, but are definitely better than earphones like the ones that came with the older model iPhones. They do drop out at lower frequencies (the company that makes them even says this). Also, if you have them really loud and it hits a deep bass you can feel them vibrate on the side of your head which is a weird feeling.
I have a set of $200 noise-cancelling earbuds someone left on a plane and never claimed from lost and found. I almost never use them. As great as the noise-cancelling bit is, they are ridiculously uncomfortable, presumably to get a good seal for canceling noise. No, I grab my big, cheap, ear-covering headphones. The sound is better, and while they technically aren’t “noise-cancelling,” you’re going to be shouting pretty loud before I hear you. Plus, no one can claim they didn’t know you were wearing headphones, unlike tiny earbuds. Taking away their wire will just make that issue worse.
@f00l They hurt me too. I have a pair of noise-canceling ones and couldn’t figure out why I’d start getting headaches until I realized there were headphones that didn’t use cartilage to support them.
I like the ones that face forward in the ear and have hooks for over he ear. It’s more likely to saty in my ears when working out. Sony has the best of these
grado headphones. middle of their line cans are the best bang for the buck. unfortunately they are tuff to use outside of home but they are really not for mobile use anyway.
Just to get this out of the way, because I hear people use these terms interchangeably.
I positively hate, hate, hate earbuds. Must be something about the shape/size of my ear, but I find them downright painful to wear. But if I am going to be hiking/walking, a comfortable pair of in-ear headphones as an acceptable replacement for over-the-ear cans
@DrWorm I really hate the earbud style. For in-ear, I have found that relatively cheap memory foam tips make all the difference. They make a better seal, so better bass, and they are crazy comfortable compared to the horrendous silicone tips.
Not stylish, but supremely functional, under $100 and possibly the best selling headphones ever.
They’re not the work horse of audio professionals for nothin’.
When even multi-million dollar studios choose $99 cans, there’s a reason.
@DennisG2014
I’ve got these. Damned good. Paid just under $100.
I hear that these (as personally chosen individual broadcaster property) are all over the various Sirius studios, and also are what you commonly see in recording studios.
@f00l I currently have an over ear pair that cause some discomfort after a while. If I’m really careful about tucking the back of my ear into the cup, it’s usually not so bad. I’ve always had issues with over ear, even though my ears are average sized. They were Bluetooth and $10 shipped so I’ll deal for now.
On ear absolutely suck. Maybe not the old walkman style. Don’t remember those hurting so bad.
@RiotDemon Yes they’re over the ear and I do find them comfortable even after wearing them for long periods (like I said, they’re not the go-to choice of professionals for nothing).
I have had other pairs of over the ear phones that caused me a lot of discomfort, either by being too hot and/or too tight/painful, but that’s not the case with these.
When I bought mine (at B&H, iirc) they came with a free pair of replacement cups/pads, however, after years of use the originals are still in perfect shape; unlike the Sennheisers I had previously (and regretfully) bought, whose pads started disintegrating after surprisingly little use.
Best overall sound, my Bose QC35’s (made even better by the fact that my step-bro works for Bose and got them for me at half price). While I generally think Bose isn’t worth their prices and their rep is overblown, they really do make the best noise canceling headphones.
@cinoclav
I would say they are good sound, but a long way from best sound. (Compared to, for instance, Fostex, Oppo, Senn, Grado, or many other audiophile specialty headphones).
But yes, best noise-canceling tech. Cans of choice for frequent flyers.
I use my Wireless Bose for air travel, Jaybird X3’s for daily use, and trying out Zolo Liberty’s for running. No one-size fits all for me. If I had to pick one, it’s the Jaybirds.
@ACraigL I have Bose OE bluetooth for work, Bose SoundSport for running, and AirPods for commuting/phone calls. Bose isn’t the best, but it’s solid sound and very high build quality. For something that you don’t need to worry about taking good care of, Bose is hard to beat.
@Coldrice The trend of big to small and back to big is funny to me. I think the issue was it was too hard for people to tell who had expensive headphones when everyone was using tiny ear buds, so it was impossible to use them as a status symbol. Now that they’re huge again, you can easily see who has spent too much on their personal audio peripherals.
I feel obliged to point out that Beats, considering the price, are the WORST headphones on the market.
I mean, you can definitely find lower quality phones but, dollar for dollar, they’d still be a better deal than Beats.
Understand that Beats are a fashion statement, form (& marketing hype) over function, and absolutely NOT a high quality, good sounding set of headphones.
Hopefully I’m preaching to the choir and you all know this already.
The best 2 in ear headphones I’ve ever had are a pair that came with a 512mb Alienware set purchased from w00t in 2006 and still going strong almost 12 years later:
The others are the in ear buds by Beats that came with my HTC Rezound in 2012. Still use them as daily drivers.
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Audio Technica ATH-M50X yet. I recently bought the Bluetooth adapter, but haven’t gotten round to trying it. Oddly enough the Audio Technica Sonic Fuel Over-Ear Headphones I got from Meh aren’t too bad, until they start to hurt from being too tight.
When I’m on the go I’m using the Bose SoundSport wireless headphones, which I got during their Black Friday sale to replace my beloved Bose BT2, even though that was only for one ear.
I like the behind the neck earphones. They keep out sound and keep in sound w/o being so huge to bring attention to oneself. Earbuds do the same but they don’t work for everybody.
@elimanningface I agree my favorite ones are the ones that go behind your head and I can’t keep earbuds in to save my life!
I am using Bluetooth bone conduction head phones. I like them and the tech is cooler than normal ear phones.
@Luko26
Audiophile quality?
@f00l They’re nowhere near top of the line audio quality, but are definitely better than earphones like the ones that came with the older model iPhones. They do drop out at lower frequencies (the company that makes them even says this). Also, if you have them really loud and it hits a deep bass you can feel them vibrate on the side of your head which is a weird feeling.
@Luko26
I have some. Given them a few months ago. Will give them a try. Thx.
If I’m at work in-ear headphones but at home gaming, I use around the ear.
The high voltage ones my doctor lets me use.
I have a set of $200 noise-cancelling earbuds someone left on a plane and never claimed from lost and found. I almost never use them. As great as the noise-cancelling bit is, they are ridiculously uncomfortable, presumably to get a good seal for canceling noise. No, I grab my big, cheap, ear-covering headphones. The sound is better, and while they technically aren’t “noise-cancelling,” you’re going to be shouting pretty loud before I hear you. Plus, no one can claim they didn’t know you were wearing headphones, unlike tiny earbuds. Taking away their wire will just make that issue worse.
The best earphones are:
Stored in the refrigerator. With the batteries.
@shahnm Mine are in the pantry with the other cans.
/giphy obviously
Why no poll option for the smaller, on ear headphones, I have a pair. They are OK, but rarely use them.
@davido Because they’re only appropriate when using your cassette Walkman.
@davido
For me, these start to hurt after a pretty short time.
I think I don’t have Dumbo ears or Prince Charles ears. Dunno.
@f00l They hurt me too. I have a pair of noise-canceling ones and couldn’t figure out why I’d start getting headaches until I realized there were headphones that didn’t use cartilage to support them.
The big cans have the best sound.
Electrostatic…but as those are downright silly, give me a good pair of planar magnetic cans.
I like the ones that face forward in the ear and have hooks for over he ear. It’s more likely to saty in my ears when working out. Sony has the best of these
Sound
Huge ridiculously expensive over the ear planar magnetics.
Convenience
LG tones
Workout
Those kind with Warhol’s or the little fins?
@f00l
Was supposed to read “earhooks”
My kb hates me. ; )
@f00l I like the kind with the Warhols.
grado headphones. middle of their line cans are the best bang for the buck. unfortunately they are tuff to use outside of home but they are really not for mobile use anyway.
Just to get this out of the way, because I hear people use these terms interchangeably.
I positively hate, hate, hate earbuds. Must be something about the shape/size of my ear, but I find them downright painful to wear. But if I am going to be hiking/walking, a comfortable pair of in-ear headphones as an acceptable replacement for over-the-ear cans
@DrWorm the earbuds type are super painful for me as well. In ear is much better!
@DrWorm neither one of them will stay in my weird shaped ear hole LOL
On the other hand, I prefer the earbuds. The in-ears type cause me much pain after about 20 minutes. TETO, I guess.
@DrWorm I also prefer the in ears, but they have to be the kind that come with different sized tips as I require the smallest size.
@DrWorm I really hate the earbud style. For in-ear, I have found that relatively cheap memory foam tips make all the difference. They make a better seal, so better bass, and they are crazy comfortable compared to the horrendous silicone tips.
Not stylish, but supremely functional, under $100 and possibly the best selling headphones ever.
They’re not the work horse of audio professionals for nothin’.
When even multi-million dollar studios choose $99 cans, there’s a reason.
@DennisG2014
I’ve got these. Damned good. Paid just under $100.
I hear that these (as personally chosen individual broadcaster property) are all over the various Sirius studios, and also are what you commonly see in recording studios.
@DennisG2014 are these considered on ear, or over ear?
@RiotDemon
These are over-ear.
On-ear = pain.
no way a broadcaster would wear their a full studio shift.
Sony makes two good (diff model
sets you can pickup for around $100.
I posted links to both of them recently here. I can’t remember which topic.
Ok found it.
Here is the topic.
https://meh.com/forum/topics/headphone-question
Here is the post
https://meh.com/forum/topics/headphone-question#57a27289f6bd8034022df9e3
Here is the Sony info
And here is abort recent topic about bluetooth headphones.
https://meh.com/forum/topics/bluetooth-headphones-recommendation
@RiotDemon
I updated that after you read it.
links to the items now.
@f00l I currently have an over ear pair that cause some discomfort after a while. If I’m really careful about tucking the back of my ear into the cup, it’s usually not so bad. I’ve always had issues with over ear, even though my ears are average sized. They were Bluetooth and $10 shipped so I’ll deal for now.
On ear absolutely suck. Maybe not the old walkman style. Don’t remember those hurting so bad.
Thanks for the update.
@RiotDemon Yes they’re over the ear and I do find them comfortable even after wearing them for long periods (like I said, they’re not the go-to choice of professionals for nothing).
I have had other pairs of over the ear phones that caused me a lot of discomfort, either by being too hot and/or too tight/painful, but that’s not the case with these.
When I bought mine (at B&H, iirc) they came with a free pair of replacement cups/pads, however, after years of use the originals are still in perfect shape; unlike the Sennheisers I had previously (and regretfully) bought, whose pads started disintegrating after surprisingly little use.
Best overall sound, my Bose QC35’s (made even better by the fact that my step-bro works for Bose and got them for me at half price). While I generally think Bose isn’t worth their prices and their rep is overblown, they really do make the best noise canceling headphones.
Best sound for the price without a doubt goes to the Panasonic ErgoFits. Incredibly comfortable, stays put when doing pretty much anything, available in cool colors, and under $10. If you don’t have these, go now and buy some.
https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RP-HJE120-PPK-Stereo-Earphones-Black/dp/B003EM6AOG?th=1
@cinoclav
I would say they are good sound, but a long way from best sound. (Compared to, for instance, Fostex, Oppo, Senn, Grado, or many other audiophile specialty headphones).
But yes, best noise-canceling tech. Cans of choice for frequent flyers.
@f00l I meant the best that I own, not in the world. Guess I should have clarified that earlier.
I use my Wireless Bose for air travel, Jaybird X3’s for daily use, and trying out Zolo Liberty’s for running. No one-size fits all for me. If I had to pick one, it’s the Jaybirds.
@ACraigL I have Bose OE bluetooth for work, Bose SoundSport for running, and AirPods for commuting/phone calls. Bose isn’t the best, but it’s solid sound and very high build quality. For something that you don’t need to worry about taking good care of, Bose is hard to beat.
Who needs noise cancelling when you can do this
@andygti everyone else.
@alphapeaches True, though I can’t afford to use it until Meh.com sells D batteries. What say you, @meh?
@andygti psst. The username you pinged is not meh.com Long story, but suffice it to say the user existed before meh.com did.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@andygti i say, “i don’t care”
@therealjrn
I’m interested in hearing the story now.
@mflassy
Here’s the unabridged story in video form:
@Coldrice The trend of big to small and back to big is funny to me. I think the issue was it was too hard for people to tell who had expensive headphones when everyone was using tiny ear buds, so it was impossible to use them as a status symbol. Now that they’re huge again, you can easily see who has spent too much on their personal audio peripherals.
@medz
I feel obliged to point out that Beats, considering the price, are the WORST headphones on the market.
I mean, you can definitely find lower quality phones but, dollar for dollar, they’d still be a better deal than Beats.
Understand that Beats are a fashion statement, form (& marketing hype) over function, and absolutely NOT a high quality, good sounding set of headphones.
Hopefully I’m preaching to the choir and you all know this already.
The best 2 in ear headphones I’ve ever had are a pair that came with a 512mb Alienware set purchased from w00t in 2006 and still going strong almost 12 years later:
The others are the in ear buds by Beats that came with my HTC Rezound in 2012. Still use them as daily drivers.
Home: Massdrop x AKG K7XX
Work: Massdrop x AKG M220
I love my audio
@jbartus
I love Massdrop.
Only I love them a little too much.
Avoiding, currently.
Bank-balance-imposed-exile.
@f00l I know the feeling.
I didn’t mention the premium earpads I bought on Massdrop for the K7XXs
Panasonic-RP-HJE120 is nice
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Audio Technica ATH-M50X yet. I recently bought the Bluetooth adapter, but haven’t gotten round to trying it. Oddly enough the Audio Technica Sonic Fuel Over-Ear Headphones I got from Meh aren’t too bad, until they start to hurt from being too tight.
When I’m on the go I’m using the Bose SoundSport wireless headphones, which I got during their Black Friday sale to replace my beloved Bose BT2, even though that was only for one ear.