I hear you

Three weeks ago, I asked readers to recommend the best headphones or earbuds for a personal music player. Clearly I had asked the right people, because I got just the information I needed.

For those who just want a bit of tranquillity after a long day, Gou recommends not headphones but earplugs.

“Hello, hello! I totally agree with you—we’re being shouted down, and I really think people get used to it and therefore only get louder the next time. The malls are insufferably noisy too—especially PA systems that go on and on about how they are after the convenience of the shoppers who are always reminded to take care of their ‘volleyballs’ (yes, and you’re not in the sports shop).

“I’ve given up on bringing my music wherever I go (there’s no telling when a wayward/drunk/stupid driver will come out of a blind corner). But on most nights  I’ve taken to stuffing my ears with those foam earplugs you get at airports—the orange ones that come in a cute case and which last an incredibly long time. They shut out most of the city; and though they render me near-deaf (which is wonderful when I’m curled up reading a book but not when I’m out walking or doing groceries) they’re close to becoming as indispensable as toilet paper or tissue (which you could, alternatively, use to plug up when the decibels fly out of the acceptable range).

“More power to you! And I wish we wouldn’t be so helpless against noise pollution.”

Virgil knows enough about headphones to open his own shop. (I would shop at your store.)

“My most-loved headphones are Bose in-ear headphones. They have the best sound without making my ears hurt. They’re a bit expensive though (about P5K). I love them so much that I don’t use them that often (for fear that I may yank them or lose them. I am weird that way.)

“For sleeping I use JVC Gummy earphones. They have good sound, they’re loud (this means you conserve iPod battery power), and they are damn near indestructible. So I sleep with these on, knowing that they can get tangled or wrapped around the bed post and they will still work the next morning.

“The best value for money, in my opinion, are the Pioneer buds. They’re a bargain at P700 to 1,000, and they offer almost audiophile quality sound (Whatever that means, hahaha, but trust me they sound sweet). However, they are a bit flimsy and may not withstand the earphone torture you have described in your article.

“My all-around earphones are the Sennheiser MPX500. They have superb sound quality but their best feature is a built-in volume control on the cable. These are invaluable when I commute or use my iPod while walking or malling: I do not have to continuously take out the iPod to turn it on or off, or take out the phones just to listen to someone, or to give my order. They are nice if a bit difficult to spell.

“If you are after true sound quality and you want to hear your music all over again, you might consider Shure isolating earphones. They provide a totally different listening experience, and trust me, you will hear the difference. However, they do isolate sound quite well (people thought I was away as I could not hear the ringing of the phone or the doorbell), so this is not for everyone. Also, you need to stick the things down your ear canal. Some people do not want that kind of violation.

“I have also tried the Sennheiser MPX100 and I like the sound. However, they are headband-types so you might not be too interested. Some people don’t want their hair getting mussed, no matter if they get better sound. And the earpieces have foam, which starts to get soggy after a bit of walking.”

Shure and Sennheiser devices have another fan in Richard, who emailed from California. “In my opinion the best earbuds I’ve ever tried (very briefly at a hi-fi show) were from the Shure line. The Shure SE 210 sounded pretty good for the money, the 530 was very impressive, but they’re quite pricey: $150 for the SE210, $250 for the 310, $350 for the 420, and $450 for the 530.

“Best for home stereo listening is any AKG or Sennheiser,  but I prefer the Beyer 990 Pro, which is reasonably-priced— I paid about $130. I’m on my second pair as I wore out the first pair after seven years. The absolute best: STAX electrostatic headphones, pricey but the best!”

Finally Karlo offers an interesting piece of advice: get another iPod.

“The iPod earphones are still the best. Since the original iPod earphones are kind of expensive, my advice is for you to buy an iPod Shuffle 1G and use its earbuds with your iPod. The Shuffle costs almost the same as the original earbuds anyway. Use the extra iPod Shuffle to store your favorite songs, so that even when you’re recharging your iPod, you have something to listen to. Or keep the Shuffle in your purse so you can be sure you always have a tiny music player handy.”

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question (and wrote my column for me). I temporarily lost my hearing today after my friend and I wandered into a Bang & Olufsen store and heard how much the sound system cost. My shriek is still reverberating in my ear canal.

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