Some of you may be aware of my street musician recording project. The kit
bag is loaded up with a recorder, mic, batteries, and headphones. There's no
space left. I'd like to reclaim a few ounces and cubic inches by
substituting in-ear phones, if possible.

The phones are used to monitor while recording. Requirements for fidelity
are perhaps not so extreme as for audiophile reproduction, but isolation
from outside noise is. Otherwise, leakage of direct sound from the
performers makes it very difficult to tell what the "mix" sounds like.

Some in-ear phones are actually supposed to have superior low frequency
isolation to the best over-the-ear models. They come in varying price
ranges. Since I have no idea whether I could adapt and feel comfortable with
these things, which amount to earplugs, I'm not keen to spend a huge amount
of money unless necessary.

In the very expensive and reputable category, we have the Shures:
http://www.shurestore.com/earphones/index.html

and, of course, the Etymotics http://www.etymotic.com/

The Sonys are quite a bit cheaper:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...d&De pt=audio

as are the Panasonics, at $20

The Sennheisers are pretty cheap too:
http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser...-series_500830
at around $52.


The street price range on the above three ranges from $20 for a low end
Panasonic to $300 for a high end Shure. Given that my recording setup really
has only one adjustment, mike position, perhaps I don't need mastering
quality?

Your opinions are appreciated. Any favorites? Any surprises? Anything to be
avoided?