recommended earphones

Once you get above the $200 mark, you get what you pay for. Sensaphonics and Ultimate are off the chart expensive, but, and this is huge, you get custom ear molds that not only allow the portal farther into the ear canal, AND there is significant reduction, i.e., 25dB-SPL or more, or ambient environmental noise. This in turns allows you to listen at a far lower volume, but maintaining an awesome musical experience. A win-win. Great sound and hearing conservation.

If the top-end of either of these manufacturers is too much cash, there's another alternative. I can't speak for Ultimate, but Sensaphonics will take Shure drivers and build custom molds for you. Much less expensive than the ProPhonic 2X's, but still custom molds. Another win-win.

JM

I use Shure E3c's to workout and general use. I can highly recommend them. I use the E4c's when I'm at the computer and want to get a richer listening experience, not to downplay the E3's at all. You'll have to be careful, because whichever set you choose, you won't be able to hear anything other than the music!

The earphone's are quite expensive, but I bought the E4c's for $165 new. An amazing price. I couldn't see paying $400+ for the EC5's, though I'd love to have them.