"Steve says they're worth $1100, not just because they're hand-built and designed Jerry Harvey, who founded Ultimate Ears, but because you'll get 10 years of use out of them"
in my experience, all headphones of $25+ quality all end up dying from severed cords, not from bad drivers or build quality issues. #jhaudiojh13pro
they SAY that, but i'm having trouble finding any info on such a replacement. from the image, everything appears to be hard soldered. i'd be interested to know what replacing the cable on these things actually entails. #jhaudiojh13pro
@nutbastard: I've got a pair of Ultimate ears customs right now and have gone through 3 cables in 2 years. The JHAudio IEM's use the same plug/cable, they ARE user replaceable and it's quite simple to do yourself :). Just grab the monitor in one hand, grab the plastic plug on the cable on the other, pull straight out firmly/gently. They install the same way. Takes under a minute to swap cables on them. #jhaudiojh13pro
@nutbastard: The custom earbuds I got from [www.bigearinc.com] have an aramid (kevlar) strand weaved into the headphone cord. They demonstrated the headphone cord supporting a 70lb weight at the motorcycle show where I got fitted. No problems yet, and I'm hard on earphones. #jhaudiojh13pro
People who think you need to spend huge amounts of money to enjoy music have missed the point of music.
Would you appreciate the Mona Lisa more if you examined it under a microscope?
Remember the Shawshank Redemption, when Andy played that music through the PA system? If the PA system cost $80,000, would it have moved the prisoners any more? #jhaudiojh13pro
@njdevil: it depends on what music you''re listening to, listening to britney spears on$1100 probably would do nothing to make her music more enjoyable but for some music there are some slight nuisances that can only be heard and appreciated with high fidelity headphones, whether $1100 headphones are really needed is another question but spending a little bit more on music does show someones appreciation for it. #jhaudiojh13pro
@ab3: i had to read what you said three times because i read 'nuances' the first two... but no, you are correct.. there are slight nuisances that can only be heard on very high quality audio equipment as well... though they tend to make one upset about having said equipment and liking "those types" of music.... #jhaudiojh13pro
@günter macbeetle, codename: chrystlubitshi: whoops I was kinda in a rush and i just spell checked with firefox and I must not have been paying attention... haha #jhaudiojh13pro
@jbl429: I ordered my JH13's last week and are waiting for them. So I can use them on my iPod with Apple Lossless (And RaySamuels Shadow amp). Does that mean I didn't waste $1070 on them?
That said, listening to an ipod using the stock earbuds is a waste of the price of an ipod :) #jhaudiojh13pro
FLAC on a 1g nano? so that's what, 4GB tops? and "Audio sources encoded to FLAC are typically reduced to 50–60% of their original size." so about 350mb per CD, so you can fit, what, 12 albums on there?
you're at the FAR end of the spectrum, miles away from those who whine about the touch having 'only' 64gb. #jhaudiojh13pro
@lostarchitect: Sure, but you're losing some sound quality in the device itself. The iPod Touch isn't really renown for passing on picture perfect sound. #jhaudiojh13pro
@Evan, How Dare you Sir!: True, it would be interesting to do an experiment to determine when that limitation begins. But then, I'm sure it's different over different devices. Mine is an Ipod Classic 160GB. #jhaudiojh13pro
@lpranal: Look on eBay for the new dual driver Apple IEMs. They can often be had refurbed for ~$35.
The headphone gurus at head-fi.com forums tend to like them even at retail price, and they're usually the first to level hate at the the stock buds. #shurese115m
@lpranal: Watch out for the scams & fakes. Search the head-fi.com forums to see who's a known good seller. I got mine from "7dime" and despite the carrying case getting crushed by USPS they're perfect. #shurese115m
@Poison_Shroom: I use speakers so I can't really justify it. Sure I could use them at work, but $150+ to listen to music out of one ear at work just isn't worth it to me. #shurese115m
I understand that this doesn't literally apply, so bear with my word choice, but why isn't one female? (Like a plug) If I got them, I would want to keep them together to prevent tangling of the wires, thus connecting the lego blocks.
That's why I like my Zune headphones.
@Dacker:
Yeah, but since the general brick patent expired, their main claim against clones is trademark infringement on the basis that the 2x4 brick has been used on and off in LEGO logos for the entire history of their plastics division. The 2x3 brick enjoys no such trademark association, and therefore that simple distinction may be all that's needed to defuse any lawsuits before they happen. If they don't have an active patent, and they haven't ever even attempted to trademark that brick shape, it's a big difficult to come up with grounds for a lawsuit.
@Dacker:
Well, you have to realize that when they leased the original Automatic Binding Brick design from some guy in the UK, the _only_ part design was a 2x4 brick. It wasn't quite what we envision today, since the inside was completely hollow, and it was made from cellulose acetate instead of ABS plastic, but the outer shape is pretty much unchanged to this day. Well, the logos on the studs have been updated once or twice, and there was that period of time where some bricks had slots in the sides and/or ends (I actually have one of those), but any original Automatic Binding Brick should be able to connect to any modern LEGO brick and vice versa.
@Kaiser-Machead: Lego doesn't have a trademark on their brick design anymore anyways, so, there would be no reason for the company to not make it interlockable. Although, i cant imagine what you could do with them by adding more bricks....
@Marc Mohon: I dunno. The spacing of the dimples seems off, that or the dimples themselves are smaller than the standard. I wouldn't suggest adding other big bricks, but 1x1 pieces, like tile bits, would make for nice custom color schemes.
@Kaiser-Machead:
You mean the studs? They do look a bit undersized. The gap between them should be about 2/3 the width of each stud, where in this image it appears to be closer to a 1:1 ratio.
I've owned 30 different earphone models, from the stock Apple buds to $500 Shures, Etymotic, Ultimate Ears, Klipsch, Sony, etc. I even started my own earbud company.
The best earbuds I've ever heard are the Ultimate Ears UE-10. Loud, clear, eye-blinking impact and $500.
In general I've found that "you get what you pay for" and until recently I would have said that you need to spend at least $300 to get great sound from earphones/buds.
But In my search for the ultimate value in earphones I ran across a surprise. JVC (yeah, I know, JVC? ) has developed a new approach to earphones. They've designed a dynamic driver so small that it fits down inside the ear canal in the tip of the earphone nearer the eardrum. The difference is amazing. For $27 at Amazon http://amzn.com/B001E2SHI0 I can get sound far closer to the quality of $500 earphones than I would have thought possible. Very clear, tight, remarkable low end. Light comfortable, easy to put in (unlike the UEs/Shures). Easily the best value in earphones today.
Now I have a pair of these JVC's in my car, my briefcase and my bedside table and usually in my pocket if they're not in my ears. And I buy them for my friends and family.
I bought some £70 shure's last year and they are brilliant. I don't need it to sound any better. As a music producer I've tried many headphones out and own a large pair when producing in my studio.
The one thing that annoys me about in-ear headphones is when you walk with them, or actually even slightly knock the headphone cord, you get a great bassy amplification running up into your ear. I have to hold the cord next to my chest as I walk around!
@dps27a: I don't need it to sound any better. As a music producer...
Thanks for explaining why nearly all recorded music in the past decade sounds so crappy. Keep those earbuds jammed in deep so you won't hear music lovers coming to your house with torches and clubs.
@OmarMojojojo: No, they don't. Oldies sound fun and punchy on AM radio, but my old 45s sound much better on my $20,000 high-end stereo. If they sound worse on your music system, it's because it has an inaccurate tonal balance, fattening an upper bass that isn't there in old records, or a piercing treble, etc. Try turning off the tone controls and other EQ on your amp and repositioning your speakers, but it sounds like you need a better stereo.
@pete1061: I don't have a problem with people being satisfied with their purchase of cheap earbuds. Honestly, I can't tell the sonic difference between $20 and $80 earbuds, it's often the fit and design.
However, I take exception to statements that equate expensive to foolish. This isn't the monoprice/monster audio debate. There is a definite difference in audio quality from Shure's offerings, as well as others. Mine were a custom fit and cost well above the $100 marker the author is stating at minimum. Were they worth the money? Yes, every penny.
If you are happy with your $20 earbuds, then good. It's doesn't mean they are going to make someone else as happy, or that someone's enjoyment of a more expensive earbud isn't just in their head (pun intended).
10/27/09
in my experience, all headphones of $25+ quality all end up dying from severed cords, not from bad drivers or build quality issues. #jhaudiojh13pro
10/27/09
10/27/09
they SAY that, but i'm having trouble finding any info on such a replacement. from the image, everything appears to be hard soldered. i'd be interested to know what replacing the cable on these things actually entails. #jhaudiojh13pro
10/27/09
10/27/09
thanks, good to know. #jhaudiojh13pro
10/27/09
10/27/09
Would you appreciate the Mona Lisa more if you examined it under a microscope?
Remember the Shawshank Redemption, when Andy played that music through the PA system? If the PA system cost $80,000, would it have moved the prisoners any more? #jhaudiojh13pro
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/28/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
That said, listening to an ipod using the stock earbuds is a waste of the price of an ipod :) #jhaudiojh13pro
10/27/09
FLAC on a 1g nano? so that's what, 4GB tops? and "Audio sources encoded to FLAC are typically reduced to 50–60% of their original size." so about 350mb per CD, so you can fit, what, 12 albums on there?
you're at the FAR end of the spectrum, miles away from those who whine about the touch having 'only' 64gb. #jhaudiojh13pro
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
P.s. it used to be 4GB, but after a recovery mode/full restore it became 2GB. Go figure.
P.p.s. It's not my main PMP, that's a 16GB iTouch. #jhaudiojh13pro
10/27/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
The headphone gurus at head-fi.com forums tend to like them even at retail price, and they're usually the first to level hate at the the stock buds. #shurese115m
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
Good headphones are worth it, unfortunately it's one of the things were you have to try it or you'll never know
Three years ago I bought a $100 dollar pair of IEMs from Shure, earlier this year I got Denon AH-D2000 for $300. I don't regret it at all #shurese115m
10/23/09
10/09/09
That's why I like my Zune headphones.
10/09/09
10/09/09
10/09/09
10/09/09
10/09/09
10/09/09
[/vanilla ice]
10/09/09
10/09/09
10/09/09
Yeah, but since the general brick patent expired, their main claim against clones is trademark infringement on the basis that the 2x4 brick has been used on and off in LEGO logos for the entire history of their plastics division. The 2x3 brick enjoys no such trademark association, and therefore that simple distinction may be all that's needed to defuse any lawsuits before they happen. If they don't have an active patent, and they haven't ever even attempted to trademark that brick shape, it's a big difficult to come up with grounds for a lawsuit.
10/09/09
Ah, now I understand the discussion of 2x4 bricks. Thanks for the explanation...!
10/09/09
Well, you have to realize that when they leased the original Automatic Binding Brick design from some guy in the UK, the _only_ part design was a 2x4 brick. It wasn't quite what we envision today, since the inside was completely hollow, and it was made from cellulose acetate instead of ABS plastic, but the outer shape is pretty much unchanged to this day. Well, the logos on the studs have been updated once or twice, and there was that period of time where some bricks had slots in the sides and/or ends (I actually have one of those), but any original Automatic Binding Brick should be able to connect to any modern LEGO brick and vice versa.
10/09/09
10/09/09
10/09/09
10/09/09
You mean the studs? They do look a bit undersized. The gap between them should be about 2/3 the width of each stud, where in this image it appears to be closer to a 1:1 ratio.
10/04/09
The best earbuds I've ever heard are the Ultimate Ears UE-10. Loud, clear, eye-blinking impact and $500.
In general I've found that "you get what you pay for" and until recently I would have said that you need to spend at least $300 to get great sound from earphones/buds.
But In my search for the ultimate value in earphones I ran across a surprise. JVC (yeah, I know, JVC? ) has developed a new approach to earphones. They've designed a dynamic driver so small that it fits down inside the ear canal in the tip of the earphone nearer the eardrum. The difference is amazing. For $27 at Amazon http://amzn.com/B001E2SHI0 I can get sound far closer to the quality of $500 earphones than I would have thought possible. Very clear, tight, remarkable low end. Light comfortable, easy to put in (unlike the UEs/Shures). Easily the best value in earphones today.
Now I have a pair of these JVC's in my car, my briefcase and my bedside table and usually in my pocket if they're not in my ears. And I buy them for my friends and family.
10/04/09
10/04/09
The one thing that annoys me about in-ear headphones is when you walk with them, or actually even slightly knock the headphone cord, you get a great bassy amplification running up into your ear. I have to hold the cord next to my chest as I walk around!
Anyone know what I mean?
10/04/09
I don't need it to sound any better. As a music producer...
Thanks for explaining why nearly all recorded music in the past decade sounds so crappy. Keep those earbuds jammed in deep so you won't hear music lovers coming to your house with torches and clubs.
10/04/09
10/04/09
10/03/09
If you pay more than $50 for earbuds, let alone $500, you just got scammed.
Stock iPod earbuds are just fine.
10/03/09
However, I take exception to statements that equate expensive to foolish. This isn't the monoprice/monster audio debate. There is a definite difference in audio quality from Shure's offerings, as well as others. Mine were a custom fit and cost well above the $100 marker the author is stating at minimum. Were they worth the money? Yes, every penny.
If you are happy with your $20 earbuds, then good. It's doesn't mean they are going to make someone else as happy, or that someone's enjoyment of a more expensive earbud isn't just in their head (pun intended).