Hi,
Let me summarize the situation as much as possible.
HiFiVision and Marsilians have suggested the Etymotic. From reports it seems like the Mercedes of earphones for Ipods. Unfortunately, their lowest priced one (the 6i) goes for USD 150, which will be around 10K in India.
Now I have no problem investing 10K for good sound, but 10K seems to me a bit too much to spend on something to be used exclusively for an Ipod. I would be happy with a budget of at most 4 - 5K for such an Ipod accessory. I agree with Suprateep here regarding how much is to be spent on a earphone for a college-goer (I hope we do not have any college goers among us, deep deep apologies) even though my son is a bit on the conservative side.
I have an AKG headphone (K500 bought 19 years ago, may not be the best one these days, but still pretty good). For my SE phone, I think I have exactly the one Anm has suggested, we exclusively use that for SE phones, because both my son and I use SE phones. I do not like to use headphones or earphones, but at times one has to.
Marsilians has also suggested Shure and Sennheiser. Sennheiser has also been suggested by Psychotropic and Suprateep.
Now the Sennheiser CX300 (at USD 80) seems to compare well with the Etymotic 6i in some reviews. We would love to consider it, because it seems to be within budget, but I cannot locate one easily in Kolkata and also do not know how to ensure that it's not fake one. It seems to be a big issue with the CX300, there are a lot of fake ones around.
Also one point about the price. We checked out a few days ago the Sennheiser LX90 (USD 50) which is significantly inferior to the CX300 and still going around 4K in Kolkata stores. At that conversion rate, the CX300 may be 6.5 - 7 K.
The Shure SE 110 is again comparable in dollar price. But in Kolkata from a store in Chandni Market that keeps also Shure cartridges and other stuff, the quoted price is Rs 5580. The SE115 is a better and more expensive model.
The Ultimate Ears 5 suggested by Ramanujam is also more expensive.
Deba and Psycho, the Creative ones you have suggested may be great value for money, but may also be comparable to the stock one. While we do not want to spend 10K on earphones for an Ipod that cost just a bit above 10K, at the same time we also want one that will better the stock one by a significant amount, otherwise there is no point. Don't you agree?
The other remaining options are the mail order ones by Anm and Suprateep. I always am bit put off by mail orders unless it's superfast. The only thing I ever bought by mail order was a Gateway PC (I do not know if you know the brand) in the early 90's and it was delivered in a couple of days COD. I have to ask my son about these options and see if he is willing to wait.
Ramanujam, thanks for the last post for the specific answers.
Now let me come to a few links my son gave to me this morning. I understand these were some of his reasons for choosing the Klipsch Image S4 (as some of you also noted great reviews this one has recently got).
Kindly look at
Klipsch S4 or Shure SE115 - HiFi Headphones Forum - online headphone & earphone community forums where a member is trying to upgrade from CX300 and considering the Shure SE115 and the Klipsch Image S4. The Klipsch is actually recommended by the moderator of that forum.
Also look at the very critical review of the Klipsch Image S4 at
Klipsch Image S4 Noise Isolating Earphones Review - MP3 Reviews - TrustedReviews where they are also comparing with the Shure 115 and one expensive Etymotic.
He has a few other links as well which I am not going to give you to save each other's times. Actually many (may even be around 20) stunning reviews of this particular Klipsch Image S4 are available at the Klipsch site
Image S4 Headphones - Reviews.
What do you guys say? Price in India also seems to be quite commensurate with the USD price.
Regards.