Earphone suggestions

So, yeah, today my Etymotic Research HF5s decided to kill themselves. The left channel is dead due to a break in the wires inside the cable somewhere. Unfortunately, unlike their bigger brothers, the ER4P, the cables are not removable or replaceable.

Soooo... I have to buy new earphones, now. Oh, joy.

I need some suggestions. I don't know what to get, and there's a lot of different options out there. I'm not looking to spend very much if I can avoid it, but I have some caveats:

I don't want to buy another pair of HF5s. The cable crapped out like this after less than two years--not cool, especially when my arguably-crappier ER6i lasted nearly four years before the cable died.

The earphones don't need a mic or anything like that. They're mainly for use with a laptop or MP3 player.

I want earphones that have a more balanced sound than anything Etymotic puts out. The clarity and detail is nice, but the highs can get shrill and fatiguing with some recordings (especially older recordings). They also have almost no bass to speak of, which pigeonholes me into using Sony MP3 players (traditionally bassy sounding) and jacking up the Clear Bass and EQ settings.

I also need the new earphones to have a much sturdier and more durable cable. My earphones themselves--the drivers and the housings are fine. The cable just killed itself, but the cable isn't replaceable, so they're useless. Trying to replace the miniplug is a nonstarter thanks to the lacquered wires inside the cable--they won't solder. It just beads up.

The new earphones should also have a sturdy right-angle plug. Seriously guys, the first-generation iPhone is long gone. Stop making effin' weird plugs designed to fit its weird recessed jack!

I'd like something designed for over-the-ear wear as well. Cable thump is annoying, though the soft cord of the HF5s and the shirt clip prevented this mostly. However, shirt clips are also annoying. I don't always wear clothes that are compatible with them.

So yeah. That's what I'm looking for. If they could also not be horrifically expensive it would be nice, too.

 

What's your budget?

 

I would like to keep it under $200. I'm not opposed to buying used as long as they're in good shape (I can always clean them with isopropyl before using them).

 

these are supposed to be nice. not sure about the plug.

http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateears/store/products/superfi5.php

only earbuds i use are my skullcandy $15 ones for exercising... i use my over ear sony DJ headphones for normal use.

 

I'm thinking about those. I read some reviews and they seem to all agree that the super.fi 5 have a pretty balanced sound not really lacking or overbearing in any area. That much is good.

Plug is unfortunately a straight plug, which will undoubtedly wind up with the same issue that my current earphones have. =/

 

Can try westone UM2, it's known for having the most balanced sound in high end IEMs, the one I'm using now was bought 3-4 years ago at 300+, it should be able to be purchased at around 200 now, the wire is great as well and the pieces are very comfortable as they fit inside your ear, almost can't feel they are even there.

Still using it now, after 3-4 years it' still almost as good as new.



I'm using the Shure Olives on my earphones, the original buds are much better, but last much shorter, and a lot more expensive to replace.

 

I owned and returned the UM2s a couple years ago. Highs are rolled off something awful. They're still pretty expensive since Westone likes to set price floors, too.

If I had tons of money falling out of my ears, I'd go for Sennheiser IE8. I really liked them, I could tell they were something special even during a brief audition, but I can't afford them, even at the reduced Amazon price of $300. (Anyone know of a "poor man's IE8?")

I'll list the earphones I'm currently considering below. I don't have experience with any of these, so if anyone else who reads this does, please chime in.

Shure SE420
Westone 1
Shure SCL4
UE super.fi 5 (v2.0)
Nuforce NE-6

These are just some I've looked at.

 

what about the ultimate ear 700's?

i'm gonna try to pick these up some time next month, and they have some nice reviews. i'm really lovin the dual driver, micro design. i'm hoping that the micro design + foam tips = great, comfortable sound isolation for many many hours.

edit: i just found them on amazon for $182.43 + free shipping. i really hope UE's facebook page (in my sig) can get up to 5000 subscribers, so that they will release a $50 off coupon for the UE 700's.

 

The Klipsch image s4. $100 brand new.. but oh my god, they're even better than my bose on ear headphones. Good Bass, good sound, worth every dollar. Going to $80 on eBay I believe, but trust me. Totally worth it.

Comfortable in the ear as well.

 

UE700s look interesting. They kinda remind me of the Jays q-Jays, being both tiny and dual-driver...

 

ety ER4P/S would be good, Head Direct RE0 ( review here. i own the RE0's cos they were cheap ( bought here) and the guys over at headfi raaaaave about them. they are good, but they lack bass. other than that they are as good as my ultrasone 780's.

hippo VB are heant to be nice if you like a bit more bass, but ive not heard them. i think they are marketted as AudioPaq in some places, (uk for example) but they might be 2 different companies.
theres the phonark PFE too, but ive heard some bad reviews of them. put me off.

a quick look shows The Monster Cable Turbine Pro Copper to be flavour of the month over there at the moment. though they look expensive.

 

I used to have ER4P. I liked them, though like the HF5 they were a little harsh with a lot of recordings and lacked bass. The biggest problem was the cable. It's horrifically noisy, heavy and terribly annoying.

 

I just picked up a pair of Klipsch Image S4s. Good sound, very comfortable and great isolation. Also only $80.