Earphones / Headphones: Where to try, what to buy?

I've got some of the H6's and they're brilliant. The H8's are more expensive so should be even better, right?

The Sennheiser momentum on-ear are probably worth looking at in that category as well.

If it's of interest to anyone, I have an immaculate pair of MrSpeakers Ether open back headphones, with the upgraded 10ft DUM cable that I might be selling. I'd be looking for £675...which is basically less than half price.
Message me if you're interested.

Incidentally I went into a B&O store yesterday and tried all their headphones. H8s really are a thing of beauty and 50 quid off in the sale. I listened to them corded to my phone and it's quite nice, then Bluetooth with ANC and its glorious. Such creamy bass. Also walked around (and ran and jumped because if you're going to test, test) and didn't hear any reverb from footsteps that I'd read about in reviews. Also no screechy feedback or hiss I'd also read about. My only gripe is that playing music from my phone (using the Music app on iPhone 6) I can't get the volume deafeningly loud. It's not something I would do all the time but every now and then I want to feel discomfort due to high volume. I wonder if I plug it into an amp and turned the dial up I would get the effect I want? Or is there a cap/limiter? One last thing that meant I didn't buy them on the spot: there seemed to be quite a lot of spill. I was playing music and could hear quite loudly when I took the phones off and put them on the mannequin head. If I was on a train or plane and playing at that volume I'd be embarrassed so to avoid it I'd turn it down but then I wouldn't be enjoying the music as much. Are there any on-ear designs that are discreet from a fellow passengers perspective?

On ears are always going to spill some sound, you need over ears if you want to avoid it.

I think generally iPhone's do have a lower output than average.

A headphone amp would probably fix that, not sure if any lightning ones have been released yet.

OK, ta. Maybe I'll get on-ears and wear a balaclava made of rubber or something.

Hadn't considered a headphone amp - was thinking a big shelf based thing but that's an idea to investigate. Thanks also for iPhone note. Contract renews soon so maybe I'll shop around.
Ta

Looking for some in-ear bluetooth headphones.
Heard good things about the Teufel Move BT and beyerdynamic Byron BT.

Anyone had experiences with either? Any other recommendations?
They should be comfortable to wear and have decent battery life and sound.

Are the Sony MDR-1000X worth the extra coin over Bose QC35s?

Doing quite a bit of flying etc and like the idea of noise cancelling jobbies

Got the Bose Quiet Comfort 35's a few months back, expensive but well well worth it. Use them constantly and they noise cancelling is amazing.

I bought wireless headphones for the Mrs for Christmas and after a ridiculous amount of testing I went for the Bose 35s, the noise cancelling us just far better than the others, including those Sony's.

John Lewis on Oxford Street is a good place to test them out as they pretty much have all the top contenders out on the top floor to test.

Love my QC35s. Got in the office at 8 and haven't taken them off yet.

Incredible for flying. Wore them for a West Coast round trip in September with no fatigue etc.

The wife has Bose noise cancelling ones, the cable died rapidly, got a warranty replacement and that died.
Bought an aftermarket cable and has no problems since.

QC35 are wireless :)

(they do come with a backup cable if you want though...)

Ah she doesn't have wireless ones!

I spent a while playing with a few of them. I thought the Bose were best for sound cancelling, Sennheiser Momentum (wireless) were slightly better sound quality but not as isolating, the Sony's seemed a little worse on both counts.

Much of a muchness I think. I ended up with the Sennheiser Momentum and have used them on 10 hour flights with no issues for music and TV. The clarity is such that even though there's a bit of background hum the sound cuts through that. If you want to wear them with no sound just for noise isolation (some people do on flights) then probably the Bose. Others I know who have the Bose are very happy with them.

You're describing my use. That's good to know.

Doing Austin, LA, LV and Mexico in March so thinking I could really do with them

Wonder if it's worth picking them up at an airport or buying in the states?

Agree with you with regards to the Sennheisers, I thought the sound was better but the noise cancelling was definitely more important for the mrs, also thought the Bose were a bit more comfortable.

Wonder if it's worth picking them up at an airport or buying in the states?

Neither will net you a significant discount with the current exchange rates so it depends how long you want to wait / when you want to use them.

For what it's worth, i bought mine in an Apple Store in San Fran and saved about £30.

Good cabled sports in-ears?

I'm a sweaty bastard at the gym and no amount of bud combinations or looping the cable over my ears stops them from falling out...

These Pioneers look ok.

Anyone want this? The foam earpads have perished so would need replacing.
(I'm kinda assuming it's obsolete junk, but just checking... )

1 Attachment

Can anyone help me out, I need a new set of in ear headphones I had soundmagic e10 but wasn't overly impressed with them.
Looking for something that has good clarity and not overly bassy but good breadth and not tinny. That will be good for riding and tube journeys.
Anything better in the same price bracket?
I Keep on breaking them so need to good value.

I'd recommend Soundmagic PL50. Not too bassy, great clarity (as they're balanced armature), they've held up being shoved in their little faux-leather pouch in my pocket or my bag for ages.

Used to be able to pick them up for £30ish from AliExpress (genuine, they're a Chinese brand) but seems like they're closer to £40 or £50 these days.