Good ear bud headphones for less than $30

[dothog]

Can anyone recommend a good pair? It's hard to find tech reviews for cheap ear buds, and I don't trust a lot of the reviews on amazon.com because they vary so widely.

I'd like to get something that is above all comfortable while retaining the best sound possible. I may even get two pairs: one for home on the computer, and one for running with the mp3 player.

Recommendations for either are greatly appreciated. I have learned in buying a number of cheap ear buds that quality is highly variable: my favorite pair to this day are some Sony buds I bought at a Target in 1993 for $30 or so (I still use them all the time at home), and a pair I just got rid of were some cheap Maxells that were giving me ear sores.

Thanks for the help!

[FrankTheFrowner]

I'm no audiophile, but I've been happy with a pair of Griffin EarThumps that I picked up for about $20.

[Kerig]

Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia, aka: EX51's.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-EX51LP-WHI-Fontopia-Headphones/dp/B000095SB6/sr=8-1/qid=1163058639/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9112130-5668112?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

The reviews are usually summed up as this: great sound, great quality, super-comfortable, good noise-blocking w/the plug design...BUT, the construction of the cord is a bit weak...

I've had/used my one pair for over 2 years now, and the first time I noticed the cord starting to wear down by the earbud, I put a bit of super-glue gel on it...never had any further problems since then. If it weren't for the semi-poor durability of the cord (which isn't all that bad, but still shouldn't happen) these would probably get 4-5 stars from everyone on Amazon (currently 440 reviews, average is 3.5 stars).

[Murcielago77]

Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia, aka: EX51's.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-EX51LP-WHI-Fontopia-Headphones/dp/B000095SB6/sr=8-1/qid=1163058639/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9112130-5668112?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

The reviews are usually summed up as this: great sound, great quality, super-comfortable, good noise-blocking w/the plug design...BUT, the construction of the cord is a bit weak...

I've had/used my one pair for over 2 years now, and the first time I noticed the cord starting to wear down by the earbud, I put a bit of super-glue gel on it...never had any further problems since then. If it weren't for the semi-poor durability of the cord (which isn't all that bad, but still shouldn't happen) these would probably get 4-5 stars from everyone on Amazon (currently 440 reviews, average is 3.5 stars).

yea, i got the ex-71s, its really no different, except for the wierd short cord + long extension thing they do, and they look a little bit different. But yea, it think theyre great, ive had mine for over a year now, and mine are still in great shape. I love the bass on these things, great bass for earbuds, and theyre comfortable as you just stated

Go with the ex51s or the ex71s, theyre excellent headphones for their price

[batmundo]

I hate those Sony MDRs. They lack bass and sound too thin...most in-ears I've tried have that problem. Instead try these:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-E828LP-Fontopia-Earbuds-Winding/dp/B00008VF63/sr=8-5/qid=1163060076/ref=pd_bbs_5/103-6423246-3251064?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-E829V-Fontopia-Earbuds-Control/dp/B00005T3RC/sr=8-9/qid=1163060076/ref=pd_bbs_9/103-6423246-3251064?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

I'm assuming the volume-control version sounds the same as the regular. In any case, don't let the price fool you - I've used the regular one for a long time now, and whenever I try other headphones, I always find myself coming back to these. They only issue is they're not the most durable, and you might need to replace them every couple years.

Now, if you want spectacular audio quality, go Grado. I have the SR125s, and they sound simply amazing. Of course, they are a bit...above...$30.

http://www.gradolabs.com

[mkg12]

check out these:

Sennheiser MX500
Creative EP630

[mofo1115]

I just ordered the Skullcandy SBB yesterday, I heard it's very comfortable and has great bass, I'll tell you how it turns out.

[FrankTheFrowner]

I just ordered the Skullcandy SBB yesterday, I heard it's very comfortable and has great bass, I'll tell you how it turns out.

I have a pair of the Skullcandy headphones too. They are quite comfortable and the sound is really good. The one drawback is that they have the new behind-the-head wiring design (one ear's wire is much shorter than the other, so it wraps around your head where it meets in a y-like shape). It's actually a pretty cool design because it eliminates alot of wire tangling, but it takes some getting used to -- especially for an oldtimer like me.

[dothog]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'm checking them all out right now.

[Rozz]

I have a pair of the iPod ones I can sell you if you're interested, never been used.

[sarausagi]

No, those are all craps, my Japanese minidisc player came with those SAME fonotopias [and granted, they look gorgeous and feel wonderful] but I have not found a better in ear than this

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4809767

It's only $14, give it a chance, maybe the specs seem bad or it seems gimmicky, but just give it a try..I swear...best earbuds ever. They sound absolutely WONDERFUL.

I've tried it on my high end Japanese MD players and cheapass memory card mp3 players and even an FM radio and trust me when I say, they sound wonderful..

Please..just give them a shot..you can buy them in store for the same price..or maybe a little more expensive [around 18]..but I guess it's the same as $14 plus shipping.

[mkg12]

ipod earbuds are kind of generally considered not good. You can tell if someone knows anything about headphones and sound quality by whether not they changed their stock ipod earbuds. If you would consider supra-aural headphones, the Koss ksc75 are well known for their good sound on the cheap. A in ear headphones people seem to recommend are the sennheiser cx300's but they cost more, $58 on Amazon.

[sarausagi]

ipod earbuds are kind of generally considered not good. You can tell if someone knows anything about headphones and sound quality by whether not they changed their stock ipod earbuds. If you would consider supra-aural headphones, the Koss ksc75 are well known for their good sound on the cheap. A in ear headphones people seem to recommend are the sennheiser cx300's but they cost more, $58 on Amazon.

Granted, the "Ipod" head phones are better than your stock cans for a portable cd player...they sound "okay" but they're expensive on their own.

But let's face it, most people with an iPod never owned any thing near a piece of sophisticated audio equipment..they'd scrap the trademark earbuds in a second if they knew anything about audio.

[come on, if they did know something about audio , Apple couldn't get away with the single to noise ratio and the complete lack of power it puts out..Sony and Sharp can put out 2x power and less noise on a single AA battery and Apple can't even do it with a heavy $100 lithium]

[Kerig]

It's only $14, give it a chance, maybe the specs seem bad or it seems gimmicky, but just give it a try..I swear...best earbuds ever. They sound absolutely WONDERFUL.

I've seen those at the store before. My only concern is the "virtual surround". If it's always-on, I've had other speakers that have the virtual SS button, and it sounds great, but can sometimes lead to what I call track "miss-tortion".

I'd like to know if these do the same thing:

Non-mainstream bands sometimes lay their tracks a bit different (read: wrong?), and VSS can sometimes give too much of the sound to one particular track, usually the lead guitar. It ends up sometimes washing out the vocal track at least 50% and ends up sounding like a guitar solo at some points. I usually have to turn off any VSS on my speakers unless I know it won't affect the particular band's music. With those $14 VSS buds, you're probably stuck with it on all the time. Notice any problems similar to what I'm talking about with those surround ones you have?

[dark-star]

Someone mentioned the Sennheiser MX500's, those as well as the MX400's are very good for the price. I think the only difference is that the 500's have an inline volume control.

[sarausagi]

I've seen those at the store before. My only concern is the "virtual surround". If it's always-on, I've had other speakers that have the virtual SS button, and it sounds great, but can sometimes lead to what I call track "miss-tortion".

I'd like to know if these do the same thing:

Non-mainstream bands sometimes lay their tracks a bit different (read: wrong?), and VSS can sometimes give too much of the sound to one particular track, usually the lead guitar. It ends up sometimes washing out the vocal track at least 50% and ends up sounding like a guitar solo at some points. I usually have to turn off any VSS on my speakers unless I know it won't affect the particular band's music. With those $14 VSS buds, you're probably stuck with it on all the time. Notice any problems similar to what I'm talking about with those surround ones you have?

It's not "virtual surround" like with speakers with a "virtual surround sound" button...

It's just the way the earbuds are made and placed, it's near noise cancelling because the sound "surrounds" you, there's a little tag on the headphones about how innovative it is and how it won an award in 2005.

But I listen to quite a bit of vocal music and the instruments never take over the vocal, nor the vocal over the instruments, in fact, I've even started listening to classical music with them [which traditionally is a very upsetting, unremarkable experience, with earbuds]

With Wal-Mart you can always return it, I haven't experienced any of the problems mentioned above, so there's a good chance you won't either...they're good earbuds

[Kerig]

But I listen to quite a bit of vocal music and the instruments never take over the vocal

Cool, I'll see about picking them up. I can always use a spare set of buds. (but I highly doubt it will replace my EX51s :)

[galeon]

You should really get the Sennheiser cx300 they go for 60 on amazon but about avarage for $30 on ebay. I got mines for $18.
ps those phillips headphones feel like shit in your ears, seriously there is no way for them to fit in your ear. Plus the sound isn't that much of an improvement over the ipod ones.

[Vinny]

http://www.amazon.com/KOSS-Stereo-Ear-Plugs-Spark/dp/B00081A2DQ/sr=8-1/qid=1163654071/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9404243-9199328?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

$9 shipped (free shipping even though it's under $25, shipping discount won't show up until you check out). The reviews are good too- comfy, great sound quality, and helps reduce outside noise.