[TheChairGuy]

Hey, I just realized I have some earbud-phones from my old Kenwood Personal CDP.  It's not exactly apples to oranges test vs. the Westone or Grado, but it's a different flavor to try.

[Jon L]

Hey, I just realized I have some earbud-phones from my old Kenwood Personal CDP.  It's not exactly apples to oranges test vs. the Westone or Grado, but it's a different flavor to try.

Hey, when you try the earbuds, try something different.  Instead of just inserting them like normal, try to wiggle them into an angle so that it does create a good seal.  They will be wedged into the opening of the ear canal awkwardly, but the bass should improve tremendously compared to without a seal.  And then tell us how this tweaked placement compares to Westones and Grado?

[TheChairGuy]

I put the buds in yesterday only briefly...it's not going to be a fair test at all with the Kenwood CDP as I have to crank the volume to distortion levels (7 of to get decent volume out of it...vs. the far more efficeint Westone (117 db) that if it's anything more than 3 it's too loud on the Kenwood.

That is a major plus of  a very efficient head, canal or bud...greater efficieny largely mititgates the cheap output amplification on the personal CDP/Walkman.  The canalphone, in addition, attenuates sound on the order of 20 db...perhaps making it's true efficiency a bit better than either.   I have 3 (working) personal CDP's and each sound very different with the Grado's and more the same with the Westone's.  I think it's because we are largely factoring out the highly distorted outputs with very efficent phones...making all fairly acceptable. You simply don't hear how lousy the amp section is at 3, as opposed to 7 of 8.  A big plus for canalphones of any variety or make,  I'd think.

I'll A vs. B each for the three with my (Empirical Audio modded) headphone outputs on my Sony DVP-S7700 soon.  I'll make sure to seal the buds for a good fit for a good test run.

[PA]

How about these from pioneer? Any good?

Pioneer SE-NC31C in-ear

[steve in jersey]

Hey, when you try the earbuds, try something different.  Instead of just inserting them like normal, try to wiggle them into an angle so that it does create a good seal.  They will be wedged into the opening of the ear canal awkwardly, but the bass should improve tremendously compared to without a seal.  And then tell us how this tweaked placement compares to Westones and Grado?

There is a difference between what are called "earbuds" & what are known as "IEMs/InEarMonitors". If you are looking for isolation from noise you should try using an "IEM" as they are designed to fit into your ear canal & expand when inserted properly thus creating a "seal".

I honestly would not try to create a seal w/ an earbud type phone. just looking at the "tip" of the phone will indicate whether it was designed to a "bud" or IEM type. Above everything though, just make "Shure" (IEM Pun) to use common sense.. "Bud"

[dB Cooper]

For a second I thought TheChairGuy was posting from the Other Side. Then I looked at the dates...

[ACHiPo]

I've had Etymotic ER4s for about 10 years.  They aren't noise cancelling, but provide 26dB isolation so you can listen at lower levels.  And they're a lot smaller than Bose. About 3 years ago I got custom molded inserts which make them more comfortable.

Highly recommended.

[dB Cooper]

Seriously, I agree with ACHiPo. I happen to think active noise cancelling 'phones are overrated. They introduce distortion and have power sources that require attention. A good pair of isolating phones do virtually as good a job without the extra complexity. +1 on the Etymotics and the custom tips (although Comply foam tips come close, they have to be replaced periodically). Shures come in a very close second to Etys in their noise isolation.

[ACHiPo]

Seriously, I agree with ACHiPo. I happen to think active noise cancelling 'phones are overrated. They introduce distortion and have power sources that require attention. A good pair of isolating phones do virtually as good a job without the extra complexity. +1 on the Etymotics and the custom tips (although Comply foam tips come close, they have to be replaced periodically). Shures come in a very close second to Etys in their noise isolation.

On other slightly gross comment on the custom tips.  With the standard ER-4s, about every 4-6 months the filters plug up with ear wax and need to be replaced.  With the custom molds I haven't had to replace the filters in over a year since the filters are not as deep in the ear canal. 

The bad thing with the ER-4s (at least the way I use them--daily for workouts and on many airplane flights) is that the wires fatigue and give out after a couple years.  Etymotic used to "repair" them for $50 (they aren't repairable, so you get a new pair), but I noticed on their website that they now charge $180.  I haven't sent my pair back (the right channel started cutting out a couple weeks ago) to see if they will honor their previous deal for me, but I did buy a pair of their Hf5 earphones that are usable with the custom inserts for $129.  The Hf5s do not sound as good as the ER-4s, but the cables are "Kevlar reinforced" so I'm hoping they will hold up a bit better.

[Russell Dawkins]

The PSB M4U 2 ($400) looks like a worthy variation on the noise-cancelling concept. They possess a few unique (in my experience) features, like:
- two cords; one with mic and play/pause controls and a 4 segment plug and one with an 1/8th inch TRS plug, either of which can be plugged into either the L or R side of the headphone and, get this, the jack on the other side serves as an outlet for another set of headphones, so you can share the music without requiring a Y-cord!
- a "monitor" control on the cable that drops the level of the music by 30dB and overrides the noise cancelling, letting you hear the input to the noise cancelling mic so you can respond to a question addressed to you by, say, the flight attendant without taking your headphones off
- a built in amplifier (powered by 2 AAA batteries) that boosts the incoming signal better than the amp in the typical smart phone, for example. It's selectable. When engaged the input impedance is around 10,000 ohms which lets the source device sound its best. When disengaged the input impedance is 30 ohms, I think.
- most importantly, the tonal balance is intended to simulate the sound of a neutral speaker in a good room. The room gain is simulated and results in a rising bass end, but no boom, per se.
There is a cheaper model, the M4U 1 ($300) which is like the M4U 2, but passive. They fold.

Response to the sound characteristics of these headphones seems to be strongly in favor of the choices made by Paul Barton. I have long respected the unusually accurate tone of his speakers - clarinets sound very much like clarinets, which is not usually so true and is sounds like the same careful thinking has been applied to these headphones.
Paul Barton is quite a serious designer who since 1974 has taken advantage of the facilities and resources offered by the National Research Centre in Ottawa Canada. A lot of research has been done there in an attempt to formalize the relationship between listener preferences and speaker performance characteristics, particularly in terms of frequency response and dispersion characteristics.

How about this Stereophile review:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/entry-level-36
where the reviewer says "The M4U 2s provided the most consistently thrilling headphone-listening experiences I've ever enjoyed."
and "It was almost too much to take. In fact, there were several instances when music became so engrossing I had to remove the M4U 2s from my head."

[TF1216]

I'd suggest going with custom in-ear monitors all the way.  They offer 26 dB of isolation and when you are done with them they can go right in your pocket.  Plus, they don't require batteries 

You never know, there might be a manufacturer near where you live.  You could swing by their shop to see if custom in-ears would work for you.  Some of these teams make silicone or acrylic ear protection as well if you don't want music while your work.

If it is a universal in-ear you are considering, I heard the VSonic GR07 Bass Edition this weekend.  It blew me away with what it did for the price.  It's the first time I have heard a sub-$1000 IEM that did things right versus not doing things wrong.  It won't provide the best isolation so it could easily fall out of your ears but it's a sweet in-ear.

http://www.amazon.com/Edition-Dynamic-Isolation-Earphones-Earbuds/dp/B00ATWLG8Y

P.S. I posted on the "Hot Headphone Deals" thread without a response.  I am not sure if anybody noticed the post.  If it's OK to post again there is a giveaway happening right now on Head-Fi by iFi Audio.  They are offering cool gear with the chance to win a nice set of universal in-ears from Alclair.  I can delete this Post Script if I am breaking AudioCircle rules. 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/753978/ifi-audio-retro-stereo-50-discussion-thread/15

[dB Cooper]

The bad thing with the ER-4s (at least the way I use them--daily for workouts and on many airplane flights) is that the wires fatigue and give out after a couple years.  Etymotic used to "repair" them for $50 (they aren't repairable, so you get a new pair), but I noticed on their website that they now charge $180.

This is one reason Shure is on the radar for my next IEMs- replaceable cables which cost around $49- still high but $49 is a lot softer hit than $180. I have hf5's and the underrated Apple in-ear BA IEMs now. I switch between the custom tips and the Comply ones on my Etys according to my mood.

I don't use my Etys in any kind of workout setting- if I was doing that (which, to be honest, I should be), I'd use something cheaper (like the Apples) that I wouldn't have to worry about too much.
The Apples have one feature I like a lot- the filters are stainless steel mesh that thread into the earpiece. Take them out and soak them in some H2O2 and they're good as new. The isolation isn't anywhere near as good though.

[Russell Dawkins]

At the risk of sounding like a shill for P Barton, have you heard the in-ear equivalent to the headphones I mentioned, the NAD VISO HP20?
NAD has a headphone and an in-ear with the same "room feel" approach as the PSBs.
At $169, they sound like contenders, if the first customer by Kozlowski review on this page is taken seriously:
http://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Isolation-Headphones-3-Button-Controls/dp/B00FK4087G

I have a pair of Etymotic ER4S which suit my current needs, but are very bass light. If I were in the market for another set I would check these out.

I like the fact that they come with 5 different sizes of foam tips and that the body is anodized aluminum alloy.