Left! Right! What's the difference?

[Admiral Huddy]

I thought I'd be a devil this morning.. I put my left ear plug into my right ear and visa versa.

I was disappointed really because I was expecting the track to be played backwards.. so then I thought, does it really matter which ear it goes in?

[Desmo]

I guess that in reality it doesn't. But if you want to hear a song the way it was heard by the "audience" in the way it was produced/edited then I guess it does.

[leowyatt]

It doesn't really matter, I'd just expect in-ear earphones not to fit properly if they are not in the right ear.

[Admiral Huddy]

I must have funny holes as one keeps popping out. Hence the reason I swapped. I've noticed too that I have to gently keep the earphones pressed to hear music the music otherwise it's muffled and the sound is lost. This is a problem when I'm on my bike! :D

Can anyone recommend some decent earphones.. Should have posted this in Audio really.

[Tak]

I have the additional problem of metal - forgot about new piercing and shoved earphones in on Tuesday at the gym, then proceeded to pull funny faces in pain :o

[Admiral Huddy]

OoooUchhh!!! #cringes#

[Tak]

There are some really inner earphones available - meant to be good at blocking outside noise so you don't need to have players as loud. They look quite long so I doubt I could use them. Someone who knows what I'm talking about will hopefully post coz I can't remember details or names or anything that is actually useful :o

[Pheebs]

Ermm I have some standard Ipod ones and they're alright :) Though I can't really judge these things, when I wear earphones, because my ears are sooo teeny, if I smile or laugh they pop out.

Plus, when I used to be able to afford the gym, whenever I was on the running machines or crosstrainer, I would inevitably get zapped in my ears every so often due to earphones and static. Drove me nuts!

Good luck finding some decent ones! :)

[Mark]

Might want to have a look at behind-the-ear options too. I have the same problem and at least when they fall out they don't go far. Some of them even come with different sized bits of rubber to attach - supposedly in pairs but no-one said you had to, so I didn't. Seems to work, though I still have the sound problem even though they don't fall out so much.

[Pebs]

I have some groovy Sony in ear jobs but the number has worn off them :( MDRsomething I think, I'll check....

[Pebs]

Oh, well there's lots apparently! The ones I got were about £39 but there are better ones (and cheaper ones) Highly recommend them, I cant use normal ones, they pop out instantly

[Jonny69]

they pop out instantly
Gnnnf fnnnf blibber blibber :evil:

[Stan_Lite]

I have some groovy Sony in ear jobs but the number has worn off them :( MDRsomething I think, I'll check....

These ones? (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MDR-EX71SLB-Fontopia-Headphones-Black/dp/B00008XYJL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1200575715&sr=1-1)

These are the ones I have - I'm sure they were more expensive when I bought them.

They fit really well and sound pretty good. I don't like the standard ones as they hurt my ears - like Pheebs, I have small ear canals and the ordinary ones are too big but these fit in snuggly. They come with three different sized rubber buds to suit the individual and if, like me, you lose one of the buds, you can buy new ones.

[LeperousDust]

Some decent sennheiser in ear, Sony, or if you're feeling really flush shure, will always make a difference, more bass/response/depth. Spend about £50 of earphones and you won't be disappointed compared to the standard ipod or generic £10 jobbies. Although the ipod are actually pretty decent freebie earphones (as they go).

[Wossi]

I've got a pair of these - Clicky (http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/880672/Sennheiser-CX-300-In-Ear-Headphones/Product.html) and they are great, stay in the ears and are very comfortable too.

[karbon]

I've got a pair of these - Clicky (http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/880672/Sennheiser-CX-300-In-Ear-Headphones/Product.html) and they are great, stay in the ears and are very comfortable too.

i have a pair of these and they bug the hell out of me, if i push them too far the rubber rolls back and i need to take them out and fix them.

had the sony ones mentioned and loved them, looking to get a new set at some point

[Dr. Z]

Ultimate Ears make the best in-ear headphones, just don't buy the .eb versions :)

As for the difference between putting them in the correct ears or not, the evidence in this thread would show that the vast majority of people can't tell the difference (probably because of the poor quality of the iPod and many other portable audio devices) but you should experience a diffuse stereo image and other such things. It might not sound wrong to the "untrained ear" but it will feel different, it will be just something you cant quite place.

If you listen to a lot of well-produced music or music that uses stereo quite heavily (for example the Beatles) then you will certainly benefit from having them in the correct ear :)