The Growth of the Portable Earphone Market
Whilst not related to digital photography, I will sometimes sneak in an article about something else that I particularly enjoy. It seems that back in the days of the Sony Walkman, the portable earphones that came with the device were deemed acceptable to most users. It was rare for people to upgrade them to look for better sound quality. Full-size headphones were typically only purchased for use at home, listening to your vinyl collection.
With the advent of the iPod, we now have a device that can carry most (if not all) of our audio collection and capable of delivering very high sound quality (I will leave the discussion of compressed MP3 ‘quality’ to another post!).
As well as looking for higher quality sound, we now listen to our ipods for many hours a day, requiring a more comfortable headphone than the standard earbuds supplied with the iPod. Isolation is also important when in a noisy environment such commuting or at the gym. Being able to block out the background noise is a great way to really appreciate the music more.
This has led to an explosion in the availability of high quality earphones for portable audio use. The range is enormous, from 10 dollar earbud replacements to the range topping Ultimate Ears Custom UE 11 Pro at 1150 dollars!
Lets run through the basic types of portable earphones.
Earbuds
These are the type of earphones that come bundled with your iPod. They are small, comfortable and sound okay with compressed MP3’s. They do provide pretty poor isolation, so when commuting or at the gym, you can hear everything around you. This can require you to crank up the volume to be able to hear the music. However, this can have serious implications for your ears, so if you are having to turn your iPod volume higher than 50%, then you should consider looking at earphones that provide more isolation.
There are a couple of exceptions to the general poor sound quality of earbuds, the Yuin PK3 ($40), PK2 ($80) and PK1 ($160) being the best earbuds you can buy. If you like earbuds (I recommend trying the Canal Phones or even better the IEM’s) then the Yuin’s are highly recommended.
Canal Phones
Canal phones are part way between the earbuds and the inner ear monitors (IEM’s). They provide more isolation as they insert slightly into the ear canal. However, they do not provide the deep insertion of IEM’s, therefore not the same level of isolation. Canal phones are typically the next upgrade most people make from the standard earbuds. Even Apple make a pair of canal phones.
As this is a very popular market segment, it is a bit hit-and-miss choosing a good model. The Sennheiser CX300 ($80) are pretty good, providing a good sound quality with good isolation.
One problem I have sound with canal phones is the fitment. They rely on a small silicone flange that provides a seal around the entrance to your ear canal. Most phones come with a set of different sizes to cater for differing ear canal sizes. However, they can sometimes be hard to stay it, and if you are wearing them at the gym, the sweat can cause them to fall out. As they do fit in as deep as with IEM’s, they have less of a grip on the ear. Perhaps I have funny shaped ears, but I have never been able to find a good fit with canal phones.
Inner Ear Monitors (IEM)
Inner ear monitor (IEM) phones are similar to canal phones but fit a lot deeper into the ear canal. They are designed to provide the maximum isolation and the highest sound quality.
You will have never heard of most of the manufactures of IEM’s . Many of the ‘new’ manufactures of IEM’s have actually been around for many ears servicing the professional audio market. The earphones worn by Madonna and Bono on stage are IEM’s that provides a very high level of isolation, allowing them to hear only what the sound engineers wants, rather than be drowned out by the background noise of a 100,000 strong audience. They have applied the same technology to the consumer market, with manufactures making earphones that offer the same high sound quality and isolation, but at a lower cost.
I love wearing the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 3 Studio at the gym, especially the way it blocks the awful background thump-thump music, allowing me to enjoy and appreciate the music more. It can feel a bit funny at first, as they provide such a high level of isolation. If is like wearing earplugs, so caution should be taken when walking around as you will not be able to hear car horns or people screaming at you to step back from the curb.
As with canal phones, IEM’s also include a comprehensive fitment set, allowing you to find the perfect fit. Also available are foam fittings (similar to earplugs) that provide an even higher level of isolation with greater comfort. The more recent IEM’s now include multiple drivers, similar to home speakers, with the seperate of bass, midrange and treble.
If you are looking for the ultimate in portable audio, then the Ultimate Ears UE-11 Pro is the way to go. However, at $1150 it is a bit above most people’s budget. When paired with a portable headphone amplifier (they can range from $100 to $500) and lossless audio the sound quality can match a home stereo system costing 5 times as much.
IEM’s should be seriously considered if you are looking for a high quality sound with a high level of isolation.
Headphones
If you like the comfort and bigger soundstage that full-size headphones offer, then there are some portable headphones that are great value.
The Koss KSC75 ($20) are great headphones. They are comfortable (they clip over the ears), have a great sound and are very cheap. Everybody should own a pair of these.
The Sennheiser PX 100 ($50) are a more traditional design with an over-head band. They are available in black or white (for the iPod crowd). They sound great and are a perfect headphone for work, as they still allow you to hear your surroundings.
Larger style headphones can start to look a bit dorky, but I have seen a few people wearing full-size headphones whilst shopping - whilst attracting a few odd looks!
Some Cool Links
- Head-Fi - the Internets largest headphone related community site
- Earphone Solutions - for all your IEM needs.
- HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears
- iLounge - iPods and iPod accessories
If you enjoy listening to music you should really look at replacing the earbuds that came with your iPod. You will be amazed at the increased sound quality available, and you do not have to spend a fortune.
Take a look at some of the links about for inspiration.
Tags: Canal, Headphones
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