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"Where can I buy a Etymotic Research HF5 In-Ear?" At all of these merchants listed below. Click any of the deals below to buy now on the merchant's website.
Good sounding and very accurate for the money. Not huge bass but the bottom is there. Using with 5G nano and the power output on the nano is a little weak. Great for classical music not the best but for $100 it is only a little worse then a westone um2 I heard which is 2-1/2 times the price , more even from top to bottom and not as much bass and lower output. The westone is much to warm sounding and not as accurate.
The quality is much better than expected, and the amount of noise isolation is phenomenal! You definitely get what you paid for this one. One small issue is the cable noise you hear when you rub against it, although the clip helps and since I only use them when I'm sitting idle it doesn't bother me. If you are picky about this type of thing you might want to consider a cheaper alternative, however the amount of outside noise that is reduced is well worth it in my opinion.
"Extreme Noise Isolation (Plus There's Music Inside)"
After losing my noise canceling Audio Technica ATH-ANC7 headphones on a trip, I was miserable. I was forced to turn my music up to turn the outside world down. After 3 months, I just couldn't take it. Did a few days worth of research and decided on the HF5s finally.
WOW!!!
These earphones are exactly what I've always wanted, just never knew existed--excellent music inside my earplugs. I'm bad at handling noise that is out of place (neighbors stomping upstairs, blasting TV downstairs, extremely loud individuals on the subway (+ the subway noise itself), car alarms...). These guys completely block all of it out. I can sit and study in the middle of a cafeteria and not hear a soul. I'm no longer that grumpy old guy (24 is the new 75) that asks everyone to "pipe down you noisy kids." The noise isolation is so good that my wife constantly surprises me even if she's trying to get my attention--I just don't hear her calling me--as she comes up to me.
As far as the sound quality goes, these are far superior to the AT (just like in the noise dept). There's no hiss of the noise cancellation and the music is just much more clear. So many little sounds are heard hat I just didn't know were part of the music or the show. I'm periodically turning around when I think someone's behind me--nope it's just the 3D sound that these things give off.
PROS:
*Sound Isolation. 10/10. I use extreme ear plugs and these are better (plus there's music inside).
*Small Package. 10/10. Completely fit inside pinna (outer ear), so there's nothing protruding. Can sleep in these comfortably if so inclined.
*Sound Quality. 9/10. I'm not at all an audiophile. I just hear much more detail in a lot of the music I have and the shows I watch. May seem a bit 'tinny' for some, but that's 'cause they're not dull and bassy.
CONS (small issues):
*3-flange earpieces. Will scrape ALL of your wax out if you don't really clean your ears. Get gunked up quick. Keep cleaning those ears.
*3-flange earpieces. May be a bit uncomfortable if put in dry or slightly off. Have to make sure to push in all the way (stop BEFORE it hurts).
*Rubbery cord. Kind of annoying. Grips tables, so it won't slide when you lean on it or try to push it over a bit with a textbook or something. Harder to untangle (not slippery).
*Cord transmits movement sounds unless wrapped around ears. Should be preshaped or stiffer at the ears to make wrapping easier. Not perfect as is.
*L/R designation written in least visible place on earphone--underneath, in thin white lettering. This is a pet peeve, the chords or phones can easily be marked by a tiny something to distinguish between them.
Conclusion:
These headphones provide me with complete noise isolation and excellent sound quality. They have been tested in cafes, NYC Subway, home, office. If you're looking for quiet, stop looking!!! Plus there's music inside!
Great sound quality. The sound quality does seem to improve after the earphones have been used for several hours. One review I read suggested this "burn in" can take up to 70 hours. Personally I find the foam ear tips mandatory for good sound quality. To get optimal sound with this "in ear" product the device must seal the ear canal, a situation I could not get with the supplied soft plastic tips. To summarize, if you are new to this product, as I was, give the phones some time before you make up your mind and experiment with the different tips to get adequate isolation mandatory for fidelity with this product.
I will brief. I have used them for 9 months with no complaints. No bulky earphones, no bendy wires behind your ears, no looking for left and right, no drama. Just pop these puppies in and exercise. They weigh nothing, block out all the outside sound and no cord noise. Last, but not least, they sound great.
Last updated: Mar 21, 2010 at 04:35 EST. Pricing information is provided by the listed merchants. GoSale.com is not responsible for the accuracy of pricing information, product information or the images provided. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on amazon.com or other merchants at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. As always, be sure to visit the merchant's site to review and verify product information, price, and shipping costs. GoSale.com is not responsible for the content and opinions contained in customer submitted reviews.
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"Great quality and noise isolation!!!"