In ear headphones vibrate as you walk?

[admin_exported]

I've just decided to move away from the standard small headphones I used on my Ipod (Sennheiser MX90vc) and replaced them with actual in ear ones (Shure SE110). Now they are run in they are sounding very good standing still but I am dismayed how loud the thud of my feet and vibration I get as I walk along. As I listen to various film scores, which are not always bombastic, I am now finding my walking is interrupting the music. Anybody else suffer with this and have any ideas how to get round it? I moved away from the MX90s as they were sounding too bright and sometimes distorted my listening. But in a lot of ways they sound better as I never used to hear my feet hitting the ground and vibrating the music.

 

[JamesOK]

Its not quite the same, but I have a similar problem. I find the sound of the wire moving about transmits in to the ears. Havent found a way to sort it yet though. Its funny as it doesnt seem to happen with standard iPod type earphones. Only the ones where a large part of the earphone goes inside the ear itself.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I think I can explain this one......

With the newer, 'bud' type earphones, the soft rubber moulds to the shape of your ear, making an airtight seal, which causes this effect - just put your fingers in your ears and you'll hear a similar things (and a rumble due to not being able to keep your fingers dead still).

With the cheaper i-phone ones, and others of their style, they don't make an airtight fit, so you don't get the same effect, which is good, but you also lose a lot of bass and also let a lot of external noise in.

 

[Anonymous]

As David said for hearing your feet thud - it's why they're not ideal for running (although I use mine and put up with it). Also, cables vary in terms of the level of microphonic noise carried by the cable itself brushing against clothing etc. I think IEMs do vary quite a bit in this - I have Shure SE530s and it's rarely an issue for me (except as I say when running).

Rob

 

[6th.replicant]

I've a pair of Klipsch X10s & have the same problems with cable-rubbing & footsteps when walking/running etc, especially when it's windy outside. However, when static - in a train, bus, cab or 'plane, for example - perhaps the benefits of improved sound isolation, greater frequency range & superior sound quality more than compensates - more so when you're sitting next to a bore on a long-haul flight or a tosspot who shouts incessantly into their mobile during a train jorney?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all. I may use my MX90s for walking and the Sure's on the Train as they are great at cancelling out a lot of the noise around me. Wish I could find one pair that does the job though.

 

[SnowyJohn]

Isn't this quite clear?

Friction on the cable of in-ear earphones is transferred directly to the ear because of the tight seal formed if properly inserted. Removing the tension, or transferring the vibrations elsewhere will reduce, or attenuate, noise entering the ear. Looping the cable around the ear or attaching the cable to an item of clothing (i.e. using a clip-on attachment - think ipod shuffle) would help.

The shure 110's are designed to be wrapped around the ear anyway... but you really should think twice about running in urban areas with proper noise isolation earphones - it ain't safe crossing roads!

 

[SnowyJohn]

maybe it isn't as clear as I thought --- sorry to patronise.