Best earbuds under $100? - Page 2
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  1. #11
    Tech Guru mostapha's Avatar
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    Well....it's a matter of priorities.

    Do my $8 (whatever) skullcandy earbuds actually sound good? No, they don't. They're muddy and low-mid-y and severely lacking on highs and separation and detail and all of the other good things that good speakers or headphones do. But they were $8. I've definitely gotten worse earbuds for $60 before. I've also gotten only marginally better for $40 and felt bad about destroying them.

    Those $70 etymotics were a great value, and etymotic marketed them with their own calculated accuracy score of like 89%. Their $300 IEMs at the time got like a 93%. The current $60 ones get an 85% iirc. And based on their descriptions of how it was measured, that number actually seems to mean something.

    Unfortunately, they were replaced by ones "made for iDevices" that had over-pronounced low-mids, slightly lacking highs, and a huge bump at 2k....better than my cheap SC, but not 8 times as good...and they only lasted like 6 months of normal use and relatively careful care.

    Like I said....if I cared, I'd be looking at $200-300 IEMs (se315, um pro 20, etc.). But, I just use my hd-25s or mdr-7506s when I actually want things to sound right as opposed to just being there. And I can DJ with the skullcandies in a pinch. It's not pleasant, but it works better than broken monitors.

    There are a lot of places where I just don't think mid-range gear is worth what it costs: CDJs, earbuds, dj practice speakers, bags (I have a bag obsession, go ahead and make fun of me), clothes, jewelry, shoes....fortunately there actually are cheap earbuds that don't totally and completely suck.
    Last edited by mostapha; 11-19-2014 at 05:53 PM.

  2. #12
    Schalenberg
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    I'm only going to be using them for work. I listen to music all day. I think anything will be better than my iPhone earbuds. For home use, I use the same headphones you do, mostapha.

  3. #13
    Tech Guru mostapha's Avatar
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    Yeah...iPhone earbuds just plain don't fit my ears.

    Mine are weird in that my ear canals are 2 different sizes. That's actually why I picked the SCs. Even the super-cheap ones come with 3 pairs of rubber thingies (what are those called) in different sizes. So, large on the left, medium on the right....and they at least fit.

  4. #14

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    I lose my earbuds a lot so I don't buy expensive. The Marley ones are ok, although I got a good deal on mine. The Tweaked Audio ones being hawked on damn near every podcast im listening to are actually quite nice too, although make sure you use a discount code when ordering them. Both are better than Apple earbuds but no substitute for IEMs.

    Entry level IEMs start at something like the Shure SE215

  5. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by nudedudewithattitude View Post
    I'm only going to be using them for work. I listen to music all day. I think anything will be better than my iPhone earbuds. For home use, I use the same headphones you do, mostapha.
    I work at a desk..and I wear headphones. Mostly to block the outside noise while making it "obvious" that I have headphones on.

    With earbuds people would have 2 minute conversations with me, and I'm all nodding my head...and not hearing a word. It happened often enough that I switched to headphones.
    Denon X1600, NI X1 Mk1 & Mk2, MF Twister
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  6. #16
    Schalenberg
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    Quote Originally Posted by soundinmotiondj View Post
    I work at a desk..and I wear headphones. Mostly to block the outside noise while making it "obvious" that I have headphones on.

    With earbuds people would have 2 minute conversations with me, and I'm all nodding my head...and not hearing a word. It happened often enough that I switched to headphones.
    We're not really allowed to wear earbuds/headphones but I get away with it somehow.

  7. #17
    Tech Guru kooper1980's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mostapha View Post
    Yeah...iPhone earbuds just plain don't fit my ears....
    Especially the newer model. I cant take more than 2 steps without one falling out!!
    MacBook Pro, HD25's, Midi-Fighter Classic, Pioneer DDJ-RX , Rekordbox

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