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RunEars — BestHeadphonesForRunning.com

Best Headphones
For Running

The Best Earphones, Earbuds, Neckbands and Behind-The-Neck
Headsets for iPod, Working Out, Sports, Marathons and Jogging

One Man's Quest To Find The Best
By Andrew Hudson

Headphones For Running



Music To My Ears


Sorry, there's not much here yet. And, yes, I need to add photos.

I typed "Best Headphones for Running" into Google once, hoping to find a comprehensive review. I didn't, so I thought I'd make one — but this is as far as I've gotten. One day, I hope to compare running headphones and make a nice, pretty, image-filled page. In the meantime, here's some preliminary info:
  • Sony MDR-G42 I paid $15. Street-style headphones.
    The lowest cost OK headphones that I've found. Fairly good bass for the price but overall muddy bassy sound. The tight band and weak frame allows the earpieces to bend away from the ears, resulting in less sound and some wind/outside noise. Spend a bit more and get the better-built Sony MDR-G57 instead.
  • Sony MDR-G57 I paid $30. Street-style headphones.
    Good overall low-cost headphone. Nice neckband and rounded sound profile. A little bassy and muddy. Fits well on the ears.
  • Philips SHN5500 I paid $57. Behind-the-head noise-cancelling headphones.
    Only a fool would think that these 'phones would be good for running -- so I bought some. Noise cancelling seemed like a good idea (since I run near a noisy freeway) but I couldn't detect any significant noise reduction, just increased loudness. Intended more for a plane ride than for running, the padded off-ear design attracted a great deal of swooshing wind noise, making the headphones more noise creating than noise cancelling. I could barely hear any music, even with the extra loundness. A nice detailed sound profile however, so good in a quiet office, but that's not what this Web page is about.
  • Shure SE210 I paid $150. Sound isolating earphones.
    With an extra zero in the price tag, these headphones are in a league of their own. A lot of people rave about the Shures so I tried a pair. Big disappoinment. Try as I might, I could not get these ear buds to stay in my ears. Every few steps, one of the buds would fall out. It just became annoying and after a few miles the headphones got relocated to my pocket. Good job I could get my money back (thanks BestBuy!) People also seem to like: Shure S2, E2C, , E3, E3C; Etymotics 4s, 6i.
  • Up next: Sennheiser. I've ordered (9/18/09) the following for a comparison:
    • Sennheiser PMX60 $29. Neckband, similar to the Sony/Nike/Phillips design.
    • Sennheiser PMX80 $55. Neckband (thin and orange).
    • Sennheiser PMX100 $50. Supra-aural mini-neckband headphones. Anything labeled "Natürlicher Klang" is alright with me. (It means "Natural Sound" in German).
      The "80" series has four models. It's easy to tell them apart: do you want a secure sports fit, flexible earhooks, a twist-to-fit system, or a close-fitting neckband? (CX-380, OMX-80, MX-85 and PMX-80 respectively). Easy huh? Renowned ear model Andrew Hudson sports the latest in ear accoutrements.
    • Sennheiser PMX70 $21 (Cheap as they're the older "Series I" version). Neckband (thin and green).
    • Sennheiser OMX80 $55. Clip-on (twist-to-fit).
    • Sennheiser MX85 $55. Earbuds. Recommended by Bestcovery.
    • Sennheiser CX380 $63. Earbuds (Noise-isolating). Recommended by EarphoneSolutions.com and David Colker (the related Sennheiser CX300-B).


If you have any suggestions, please let me know.


Links:


Other models to try sometime:
Types:
  • In Ear (Canal, In-Ear Monitors (IEM), sound-isolating),
  • Earbuds (earphones)
  • Clip On (hook-on)
  • Neckband (behind-the-neck)
  • Over The Ear (Audiophile, circumaural, full-size, overhead)
Variations:
  • Wireless (bluetooth)
  • Noise-cancelling

Apparently there are counterfeit headphones out there, so make sure you buy from an authorized reseller.

Sorry California cyclists: CA law states: "A person operating a ... bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears (27400)."

Retailers that specialize in headphones: headphones.com.



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