So I've got a $100 giftcard to Bestbuy and couldn't figure out what to use it on as I have everything else I could possibly want or need from BB. (at least in this price range).

I've got an iphone so I've been thinking about upgrading the ear buds.

I've already modified the stock mic ear buds. I soldered on my Sony Fontopia EX51 onto the cabling of the stock ear buds so that I get sound isolation and decent bass along with the mic/talk button.

This works fine for most uses. But I've upgraded all of the audio in my life except my headphones and with the gift card I finally think Im ready to pull the trigger on a nicer set. I used to think I would never buy nice head phones as I was always afraid of breaking them, losing them, or getting them stolen.

So I've narrowed it down to the Shure SE110 and the Bose Triport in ear headphones. I figured there must be some audiophile junkies with some experience in here. Which do you prefer and why?

There are a few others I looked into, but these are the two that stand out based on reputation, online reviews, and build quality.

I don't consider myself an audiophile but I do have "upgraded" tastes.

I do enjoy clear and crisp highs but do also enjoy clean bass.

FYI these are the types of speakers I own for taste comparison.

In car - Infinity Reference Components.
At Home - Klipsh Quintet Synergy II w/ Velodyne Sub

Normally I think bose blows, and would never consider them when upgrading to a high end home system, but for headphones, they are quite decent. Just can't decide between the two.

 

Get the Ultimate Ears Iphone ones I think they are the V4i. I have their Pro Fi 5's and they blow away Bose and Shure.

 

Edit - I think I was thinking of the Vmoda ones... Those reviews seem decent, but Best buy doesn't carry them. So no go on those.

 

I just got the 110s to replace my E2cs. The sound is close enough between them that I don't care (both great). The 110 has thinner cables, so they bend easier, but strangely enough, the old stiffer ones took a "set" better, which was nice. The new ones also have a two piece cord; a Y piece that goes from your ears to your chest and an extender piece that extends that to a normal length. The short one is nice if you keep your ipod in your shirt pocket on on an arm band. I don't have a use for it, though.

The biggest disappointment for me is the rubber ear pieces. They stay on the headphone much better, due to an added barb (good), and they have a smaller hole for the sound, which helps keep out the gross stuff coming from your ears you never imagined (good). But, they don't keep a seal in my ears nearly as well as the old ear pieces. That is a big deal, because a tiny seal problem means no outside sound blocking and no bass.

I know you didn't ask for a comparison of the old gen and new gen Sure headphones, but I wanted to explain why I would say the Shure's are only good, where the old Shures were exceptional.

I also want to point out that if you don't try both styles on, you will never know if your ears will fit that model. It's not a small inconvenience with the ear plug style headphones, they must fit right or they don't work.

Good luck, I couldn't go back to regular headphones for the gym or plane.

 

I actually found a 12% off coupon for BB the other day, so I went ahead and picked up the Shure SE210. Price wise they were only $50 or so from the SE110, so I "splurged".

So far I have been very happy with their clarity and range. Bass is LITTLE lacking, but it is very clean and defined. Its a well balanced sound so I'm not all that disappointed.

I figured I wouldn't be buying high end headphones soon enough so I'd just get the next model up. Although realistically there probably is little difference in sound between the SE110 and 210, but whatever.

I have found the foam pieces to work fantastic. I don't care for the rubber too much, but they are much easier to work into your ear. I also just ordered the microphone piece on Amazon for $40 shipped. That way I can still use them with my iphone. While testing the headphones out yesterday I got a call and it was quite annoying to have to wiggle the headphones out and unplug the headphones and then take the call. I immediately began a search and was quite delighted that Shure had already made a device to solve this issue. And because of the connector point on the headphones, the length is not an issue. Basically it just replaces the extension cord with one that has a mic and a talk/mute button.