iPod headphones

chris f

chris f

Veteran
OK, so I must have weird shaped ear canals because ipod headphones won't stay in my ear and I was wandering if anyone else has this problem and what headphones they use. I had been using old school headphones, but I'm tired of them and want to give earbuds another try. I'd really like to try the earbuds before I buy them, but I doubt stores will let me put them in my ear and then say I don't want to buy them. Any suggestions for those who have weird shaped ear canals?
 
Just get the ones with the rubber tips, not plastic. They go a little deeper into your ear but sound much better and block out a lot of sound. Most come with three or four sizes of tips for any ear.
 
i always hear people complaining about the "ibuds" but i love them. i broke my pair and was devastated. i tried several other of the buds but i never found one that made me quite as happy as the ibuds. turned out i eventually just stole a pair of my friends that hated his.

to answer your question he ended up getting the ones with the rubber gel tips like william said. he seems to like those though.

sorry for my rant.
 
I thought I was alone with this problem! They always fall out, and I get mad when others show such love for them. I use the kind which are kind of like traditional ones although without the over the head band. That attach over each ear. That likely made no sense, so here is a pic of something like mine:

img_25951_headphones_3_450x360.jpg
 
Yeah - everybody's ears are a little different. The iPhone buds just about fall out of my ears. I got some Etymotics in-ear buds, and it's a WORLD of difference (in sound quality, too).
 
I second the Etymotics. They sound great and block almost all outide noise and definielty wont fall out of your ears. Shure makes some great in ear buds as well.
 
Those Etymotics 6isolators look amazing, but I dunno if I want to spend $150 on some headphones, especially if there's a slight chance that even those wouldn't fit in my ears.
 
You are not alone. The headphones that came with my ipod do NOT stay in my ear. It's like they are just resting there until I move my head an inch then *POP* they fall out.

I use my etymotics. I purchased them before my iPOD. They were $100 bucks when I bought them. You can spend a LOT more but I'm pleased with mine and like the others said they block out sound and THEY STAY FIRMLY PUT. Though, it seems a little unnatural to shove something deep into your ear canal.

I've seen many like-earbud headphones selling for about the same price. That seems to be the average amount someone is willing to spend, $100 dollars. Etymotics, Shure, even BOSE has a pair of $100 dollar ear plugs though I'm sure they are all comparable.

It sounds like a lot of money because it is. But, if you treat them well they will last for years and bye-bye head phone problem.
 
I have this problem, and not just with iPod headphones.

I've bought a pair of Bose in-ear headphones with rubber ends. Perfect. And the sound quality is amazing.
 
I just wrap my ipod headphones AROUND my ear...They stay fine.

But ya, my ears absolutely suck, and they never stay in. Until I thought of the "wrap a round" method...
 
Skullcandy noise canceling headphones are what you want:

Link

proletariat_nc_gold-link.jpg


I love mine with the ipod on flights.

Plus, I use them with the HVX. It lets you cancel out the outside noise and hear JUST what is being recorded.
 
hmm I found out you can get the Etymotic ER6i's on Amazon for only $80 so I might have to break my budget and order a pair, because I've got a flight coming up and last flight was a nightmare trying to watch a movie on. I gave up 5 minutes into it because I had the volume all the way up and I still couldn't hear everything over the plane engines.
 
I guarantee you that any good bud earphone would do the trick. I know the etymotics would...but I don't want you to think I am "pushing" them because I own them. But from experience they are great and will cancel out airplane engines easily. And for that price, $80 bucks...good gig.

As for the other buds, I can't speak for them but I can't imagine that Shure or Bose wouldn't be great as well. For a plane ride or the gym or with the DVX for that matter (cancels out echo) buds are a great way to go.

Rick
 
ipod headphone fall out of both mine and my wife's ears. I think they only fit Apple executives.
 
Most of the IEC buds sound good... I had some Sony's that were around $30, and they sound great... I got some knock-off Sennheiser cx300 off ebay for around $15 SHIPPED and they sound even better, but the cord is a pain... as long as you aren't moving the sound and isolation is fantastic. Almost all the IEC buds come with 3 different size fittings, so getting them to fit YOU is almost assured... you MUST have a good seal to get good bass... but I can guarantee you that the difference in sound quality over the stock Ipod buds is apples and oranges.
 
The sellers on amazon that had low prices seemed to be sketchy, so I went on ebay and found some better dealers selling them for about the same price. Just ordered a pair of white Etymotic ER6i's last night and can't wait to try them out on my flight next monday.
 
Rick Meyer said:
Etymotics, Shure, even BOSE has a pair of $100 dollar ear plugs though I'm sure they are all comparable.

It sounds like a lot of money because it is. But, if you treat them well they will last for years and bye-bye head phone problem.
Click to expand...

Update. I lied. For the past few months I have been using my Etymotics with a legally deaf left earbud. Its been maddening. So, I broke down and spent a whopping $16 bucks for some Skullcandy earbuds from Target. Wow is all I got to say. Not only is it great to finally have stereo sound again but for $16 bucks they sound fan-friggin'-tastic.

Maybe I don't have a very well seasoned ear but I cannot discern any quality loss between the SC and the Etymotic E-6s. In fact, dare I say while listening to Don't Phunk My Heart (great bass beat) I couldn't quite pick up the same fidelity with the Etymotics. It was very deep, rich and booming on the Skullcandy buds. Who knew? Plus, I compared it to my Etymotic earbud (just the right) then inserted just the right Skullcandy earbud and not only was the quality better but the volume was up 10 fold. Perhaps the copper wiring is deteriorating on the inside of the wire casing causing this because I've had them for a few years but for $16 dollars...I was super impressed.

Just an FYI.

mcgeedigital said:
Skullcandy noise canceling headphones are what you want:

Link

proletariat_nc_gold-link.jpg


I love mine with the ipod on flights.

Plus, I use them with the HVX. It lets you cancel out the outside noise and hear JUST what is being recorded.
Click to expand...

I'm sold.
 
I saw an ad of Bose in-ear headphones in Men's Health. One review says "in-ear headphones from Bose deliver amazing sound while providing a supremely comfortable fit", it says you can try them for 30 days. Maybe that should help.

There are several questions to be asked before buying in-ear headphones though. What type of music do you usually listen to? how much a day? on a normal or rather high volume?
 
I would recommend the Skullcandy headphones too. I have one and it's one of the best I've had in a while (that I can afford :)).
 
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