Korean Job Discussion Forums

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I want to upgrade my earphones from the Image S4's. I'm not trying to spend more than 200,000w, but if there is a pair that is absolute must buy that is just above 200k, I'll probably get it.

Any recommendations? I don't listen too much rap/hip hop. Mostly rock, jazz music.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

I don't think you'll find anything better sounding than the S4s under or around $200. Either splurge or be happy that you've got the best sounding pair of earbuds likely under $400.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I've had my current set of S4's for about 8 months. I think the earbuds are wearing out.

I gotta turn up the volume up pretty high to get sound. When I first got them, around 50% volume on my iphone was loud. Now I gotta put it around 70-80% to get the same sound volume.

This is my 2nd set of S4's in 2 years. The first set, the wire got wornout by one of the earbuds until I couldn't hear out of it.

The earbuds sound great, but the quality isn't that good. I wear my earbuds maybe 3-4 times a week. The rest of the time they are in my bag.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

Maybe upgrade to the Klipsch X10s? Those might be too expensive. I bought the Philips SHE9850s a long time back right before the S4s got here and haven't been disappointed. Sound quality is maybe not quite as good, but the build quality is spot-on.

Adam Carolla · Joined: 26 Feb 2010

I'd go with the Image Reference S4s. Same price range, and they seem to be newer.

harryh · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: south of Seoul

Take a look at the Ortofon EQ5. They sound great, much more balanced than my previous Klipsch X10. The Klipsch sounded veiled in comparison. The build quality is much better too.

http://shopping.naver.com/detail/detail.nhn?nv_mid=5700492618&cat_id=40009224

It's always best to try as many earphones as possible if you can though.

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007

I'm a bit late with the reply, so you've probably already bought some new ones, but just in case:

I had the same problems as you - loved my Klipsch but the cord wore out and had the same volume issue. The buds also feel out of my ear sometimes.

After much research and testing I went with Shure SE215s, have had them for three weeks, and couldn't be happier. Much more durable design-wise, sound is just as good if not better, and they stay in my ears. I even like the rubber sleeves better than the Klipsch ones. The downside is the around-the-ear design, which makes them more difficult to put on, but at least they stay there.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

I am in the market for a nice pair of in-ear headphones. Of course sound quality is important, but I have a particular issue that most headphones just don't stay in my ear well. Particularly earbuds just drop right off my ear, and even in ear headphones need to go in pretty deep to stay there. Not all the way to the eardrum, but as deep as possible anyway.
I had a pair of Sony, but the wire wore out after years, After that I tried to buy the same set again, but they changed the cable to have one short cable and one long cable, I guess so people can let the wire hang from one ear and have the over ear's cable run behind the head.
Anyway, that one-long-one-short cable design didn't work for me because with all the wire weight on one ear they fell out. The new design also come with a really short cable and then an extender, I don't like that design either because then there is a connector that adds extra weight also. I have tried 3 other sets that seemed like they would go in deep enough, but never found anything that stayed in my ear comfortably.
Of all the sets mentions here, is there one that goes particularly deep into the ear, has wires of the same length to both ears, and doesn't use an extender cable?

Summary of review above:
Philips SHE9850
Ortofon EQ5
Shure SE215
Image Reference S4 (wire wears out)
Klipsch X10 (falls out of ear)

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

I have the Philips SHE9850, and if you wanted to, you could shove them pretty damn far into your ears. I use the memory foam tips and have no troubles with them falling out, but then I don't have any trouble with the regular old rubber tips either.

Ahh yes, they also have cords the same lengths to both ears and no extender cable.