HankScorpio

Anyone know where I can get spare buds for the Sony's?

Between me and my missus, we've got 4 pairs (we like them a lot!) and and have missing and mismatched buds all over the place.

I did find one place in the US but UK would be nice.

Alan C

Edcase.. What did you get in the end?

I've just picked up a pair of E2C's and find them much better than the Sony's.

I'm hearing things on tracks I'd not picked up before... The detail is superb...though the Bass is a little lacking to my ears. Saying that, the Sony's wasn't the best, just a pseudo bass using a generic low frequency spread...

I agree that they don't beat a good set of 'over the ears', but for convenience, discretion and keeping noise polution low for those around you, these cannot be beaten.

One more point is that all the staff in the Ipod store at Meadowhall are using the E2c's. They tried all the Sony's, Etymotics and walkman sized Senheisers & Bose (which they sell) and they reported that these were overall the best they'd heard. Moreover, the gains you get on the Shure 3's & 4's are pretty negligible if your compressing the audio and using the limited output from a MP3 player.

Edcase

Alan,

Yeah I also went for the EC2's and am very pleased! As you say the sound is fantastic, and its great that it blocks out the outside noise as well as shielding others from what you are listening too, especially as I get the commuter train into London every day.

Agree about the bass response, that's my only minor ctiticism, but it seems to depend on a)the quality of the original recording and the mp3 compression, and then also how firmly they are wedged in your ear canal. Strangely my right one fits perfectly but regardless of which bud I use the left one wont go in my ear fully.

How do you wear yours? Up and over the back of the ear or down the front like 'normal' 'phones?

Alan C

I've tried both down the frontand round the back. I usually pull the tensioner up a tad to get a decent secure fit...

After some trial and error I find down the back more comfortable... I'm also using the medium black soft buds as the others don't give the same comfort or isolation... the harder latex clear buds seem to cause an air block, and I find pulling my earlobe down a good way of getting a good fit...

Edcase

snap, although anyone reading that last sentence in isolation would no doubt find that very amusing

Alan C

Not as amusing as watching you pulling your ear down and wiggling that bit of plastic down your lug... all on a moving train..