Audiophiliaco!
Anybody who knows me beyond a How Are You knows I'm a total audiophile (not a hardcore guy who knows every single thing there is to know, just someone who truly appreciates and longs for great sound). And while I may not fork up the cash for dreamy audio equipment, I try my best to squeeze the most out of what I can afford (and I'm not complaining, I've been privileged with some quality sound and am thankful for every moment of it)
I'm a strong advocate of Etymotic Research's headphones. If you like true, accurate (did I mention brilliant?) sound, these are the guys you can trust. I own the ER-4Ps (I didn't pay $300 though, I'm a deal-hunter). I could write a long five page review easily but many people already have, just do some Googling.
I also own a HeadRoom Total AirHead (these guys are awesome too ; I got mine used from Ebay) portable amp that gives the Etys that extra kick and creating the all important brain-encompassing sound stage in your head (did I mention I'm also an Eneloop fanatic?)
I live for Lossless audio and try to get my hands on as much as I can (which means I buy CDs, sometimes). Weapon of choice is an iPod Classic 160GB to fit it all in a pocket (or two, because of the amp).
Speakers of choice are the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks II and there's a pair of B&O BeoLab 4000's at home (though I don't like B&O as a company, they aren't worth it in my opinion, other manufacturers make cheaper speakers that sound far better, but may not look as good).
For some reason I don't like Sennheiser. I'm not sure why, I just don't like them. Their low-end stuff sounds crude, and I haven't heard enough of their high-end stuff to know how they stand there, but for some reason I dislike companies that tend to have a wide array of low-end products in a field where excellence is something attained not so easily. Its a silly reason and I'm sure I'm wrong about it (so don't flame me) but it has been a gut feeling for a while. Or it could just be the people buying low-end headphones from them and then saying "Wow, these sound great!" when its far from so. I don't know (I tend to have odd brand loyalty situations such as these)
Unfortunately there are too many things where money is required. Looming college tuitions, plane tickets, and the basic (unfortunately essential) things like food. But I have been saving up for a pair of AKG K 701's for a while (and probably will be for a few more years unless I sell a few prints or get a sudden inflow of cash ; thankfully I have a steady flow from the advertisers on my blog, but hosting expenses tend to take a toll on that) and hope to have a shot at getting a pair someday. But again, that money can (definitely) be put to better use, so I'll be torn with the decision for a while and probably end up buying something more practical... food, maybe, but probably something photography related, because, well, career comes first. Unfortunately photography things are too expensive to dream of saving for right now, and its no point buying anything unless you buy the best, which can last you a few years into your career at the minimum. The poor man can only afford the best heh?
Oh, and I'd just like to dispel a rumor about IEMs/canalphones.
Most people think they are harmful for your hearing. Not true. From Head-Fi :
"EM is often mistaken as a kind of health hazard which responsible for hearing loss and ear infection. The fact is, IEM is very safe when properly used.
First, you need to understand that listening music at loud volume over time can damage your hearing, regardless of what kind of headphone (or speaker) you used. The advantage of using an IEM is that you can turn your volume down since you do not need excess volume to overcome ambient noise. The lower volume used in IEM means IEM is actually much safer than using earbuds or headphones in a noisy environment. Do not think that IEM will cause damage to your hearing as it is closer to your eardrum. As long as the volume is low, IEM is just as safe as any headphone on the same volume (scientific references 1, 2)"
First, you need to understand that listening music at loud volume over time can damage your hearing, regardless of what kind of headphone (or speaker) you used. The advantage of using an IEM is that you can turn your volume down since you do not need excess volume to overcome ambient noise. The lower volume used in IEM means IEM is actually much safer than using earbuds or headphones in a noisy environment. Do not think that IEM will cause damage to your hearing as it is closer to your eardrum. As long as the volume is low, IEM is just as safe as any headphone on the same volume (scientific references 1, 2)"
Happy listening.
