Is B&O's A8 earphone worth it?

Message

nowstime · #1 Post by **nowstime** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:40 pm

I just got my new ipod mini 6GB and now I'm looking for a decent earphone...

I was considering Bang & Olufsen's A8...retailing $160...

Can i get any comments from the users or somebody who knows earphones...

And any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance...

Austin, TX

#2 Post by **daeojkim** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 6:05 pm

I think B&O is overpriced.. very very over priced.
My friend has one of those earphones.
I would rather get the noise cancelling earphones from Sony. can't remember the model number.

rideDPU · #3 Post by **rideDPU** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 6:42 pm

I'll second the comment that B&O is overpriced. Check out Shure In-Ear Monitors -- E2, E3 and E5. I have the E2 and they are wonderful, though I do wish I could upgrade just because. Also, Etymotic make some nice IEMs. If you really have some cash to drop check out Ultimate Ears UE-10. A good place to check out for info and to start your search is [url]http://www.%20ipodlounge.com[/url]

Mark

eriqesque · #4 Post by **eriqesque** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:45 pm

I own the A8s the sound is very good a little light on the bass I would say they are very well suited for classical and opera.
If you want a high end earphone the I would look no further than the
Etymotic's line specificaly the Etymotic ER 6Isolator they are the best suited earphone for the ipod.
Of course all is subjective.

califas · #5 Post by **califas** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:43 pm

These should sound better ,

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDe ... 311&depa=0

If you need isolation and can wait a month these should sound as good or even better then the mx400.

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/sho ... pno=764451

I think the E2 and E3 sound like crud but i have my hopes up for the E4.

g8ina · #6 Post by **g8ina** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:26 am

Whoah - whole new can of worms open now !

Main question : do you want in * ear buds, * "open" type or * "closed" type headphones ?

* Buds : try the Koss, low cost and great bass.

* open : if you can afford them and arent't worried about theft or looking daft : Sennheiser HD600 (or 580 at a push)

* closed : Sennheiser HD25

The std types listed are a bit pricey, so here are some lower cost options :
Sennheiser HD212, Grado s60 (??), Koss PortaPro.

These are UK model names / umbers, so you may have to search around for equivalents.

I use the HD212s on mine, small, cheap and nasty looking, great bass response and very comfy. A firm fave of DJs, but with a respectable freq response.

hth

James314 · #7 Post by **James314** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 1:32 pm

Open: Grado sr80 - simply the best headphones I have EVER heard, that includes top end Seinnheisers and they come at a decent price. For pure pleasure, buy the Mars Volta's new Frances the mute cd, kick back and listen. divine!.

James.

Torque · #8 Post by **Torque** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:40 pm

I live a couple of hundred kilometres from Struer, Denmark where B&O is made.

B&O make very good products, but they are generally overpriced. I think you could find some earplugs that do better, at a lower price.

BILLCROCKER · #9 Post by **BILLCROCKER** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 7:04 pm

I have a pair of the old Bose Quiet Comforts, and they are, without a doubt, the best earphones I've ever had. They're kinda big, but the sound is phenomenal, and you can actually feel the bass with them.

lfeagan · #10 Post by **lfeagan** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 5:08 am

Okay, Headphoneus-Supremeus here. I have listened to just about every thing out there, and personally have some extremely nice cans. Listening with my Grado RS-1s at the moment. Nonetheless, a set of Shure or Etymotic's are without a doubt the best choice. The best set out there for a good price are the Etymotic ER-4P, available right now at Headphone.com on special for $220 (regularly $330). This is a great deal. Another good place to pickup cans is at AudioAdvisor.com.

Links:
Headphone.com ER-4P

For portability reasons, I would recommend avoiding anything that isn't an in-ear set.

CChoi83 · #11 Post by **CChoi83** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:13 am

The B&O's are overpriced. They sound good but not $160 good. B&O are geared more towards people that want pretty okay sound (meaning better than Sony and the like) and great Danish design.

I also use my Grado RS-1's (got to love the mahogany chambers). I agree with lfeagan about the Shure and Etymotics as a pair of earphones. If you want headphones and don't mind the bulk and size... RS-1's. Another awesome set of cans are the Sennheiser HD series. I prefer MusicDirect.com over Audioadvisor.com as they have slightly better prices on some items (they also have a larger selection it seems for everything). You can also visit Headphone.com and AcousticSounds.com.

Choosing a set of cans or earphones all depends on your listening preferences though. Anyone can say that set "A" is better because it costs x amount of dollars more than set "B" but hey, if you like the $20 earphones and not the $120 ones, who can say what YOU like right? Different strokes for different folks. Personally, I listen to a lot of instrumentals (movie scores, new age, classical/chamber, orchestral, opera, etc), rock (punk, indie, emo, you know, the typical I'm a 21 now but I'm still an angry teenager), 80's, etc (no rap/hip-hop) so I like a very smooth, warm but very sharp and fast signature. I've been accustomed to high-end gear since childhood. It all depends on you. Make sure that from wherever you buy, they have a decent return policy.

Not to get off topic but:

For lfeagan: Have you heard your RS-1's through the Grado RA-1 amp? Thinking about dishing out for a good headphone amp but I don't know. I love the overall sound of tube so I was looking at the Musical Fidelity X-Can V3's but I have yet to listen to one.

Anyone know where I can find a B&O Beosystem 7000 with or without the turntable? I have a mint Beolink 7000 remote that's just sitting in my house and I want to complete the package.

JHEM · #12 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:24 pm

lfeagan wrote:For portability reasons, I would recommend avoiding anything that isn't an in-ear set.

The $15 Koss P15 earbuds cannot be beaten for sound quality at a low price!

The Grado SR60 cans for ~$75 are simply amazing.

I'll stick with my Sennheiser HD600 cans for home use until something better comes along.

But I've got a cabinet full of old Koss, Stax, AKG, Grado, Denon and Sony "professional" and "studio" cans from my ill spent youth in the broadcast industry.

Regards,

James

CChoi83 · #13 Post by **CChoi83** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 6:39 pm

Stax and AKG's??? Perhaps you'd like to donate them to the CChoi83 foundation? Um, please???

Is B&O's A8 earphone worth it?

Is B&O's A8 earphone worth it?

Who is online