[SuspendedInGaffa]

On Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:18:58 -0700 (PDT), RichD
wrote:

I have the standard earpod set, which came with my
armband MP3 player. It pops out every 2 minutes.
How did these things become the standard design?
They suck.

So now i'm looking for the earbud style, i.e. inside the
ear. They range from $8 to $40, and Shure offers a set,
over $100?!? For something so small, how can there
be such a range? Is there really such quality difference?

They are all sealed in blister packs, there's no chance
to compare. Even if there were, differences in
environment, time of day, etc. swamp perceptual
discernment.

How would you go about testing these things, in the lab?

Actually,Shure had a set for $500 at one time.

What they are, from an engineering standpoint, is a closed cell audio
environment, which wouldn't be much different than the engineering behind
the old, "acoustic suspension" speaker systems, where your inner ear is
the "speaker box" side. The transducers can blow out your eardrum if
they are made (read engineered) incorrectly. They have to be limited,
but the limitation cannot cause any dampening either.

Of course, you can blow your own ears out by cranking some amp though
them, but most headphone amps (battery operated) are limited.

Any of the good speaker makers would probably be a good choice.
Klipsch, Shure. I wouldn't pay for any hyped company like Monster
or those rapper 'products'. They only prove that 'sucker born every
minute' thing.

Mine cost $12 (JVC), and they sound great! I am sure something 2 or 3
times that would certainly sound better, I just do not have the cash for
something I do not use that often right now.