Headphones: Full-size or IEM?

[Mailorder]

(Sort of music-related. Feel free to move this thread elsewhere if you don't think it's appropriate here.)

http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/

So I've been looking to buy new headphones. So far, I've tried "street style" headphones, earbud headphones, and of course.. the common earpad headphones. And I don't like them.

Now I've been thinking about full-size headphones. Where I work, there's usually the buzz of machinery in the background. So I'd love to block that noise out. And with Full-size headphones, I'll pull off that old-school, DJ-ish look when I let it hang around my neck. As opposed to the hipster scenetrash look, with the white iPod earpieces. (just kidding.. I love hipsters)

But now I'm looking at those In-Ear-Monitors. Since they go right into your ear canal, it blocks off sound. So now I can't decide. So I ask you, forum-goers of Anime Academy. Do you own Full-size headphones or IEMs? How do you like them? What brand and model are they?

Here's what on my mind:
- If I'm out the house, the IEM is easy to carry around since they're small but I'll probably end up stuffing it in my pocket when I'm not using it; getting all the wires tangled up. You can't fold up full-size headphones or easily put them away, but you can just let them rest on your neck.

- The IEM is a little more expensive. But if it blocks off outside noise better than full-size headphones, I'm willing to pay.

- Sometimes at work, I'll get a partner in the same room for an hour or two. When that happens, I usually drop my current earpad headphones to my neck or place them on my temples so I can still listen to my music, but also listen if my partner calls for help. I can continue to do this with full-size headphones. But I'm not so sure about IEMs. Maybe I can let them hang by the wire over the tops of the ears?

Lemme know what you think~

[Dennis]

I have two seperate headphones for two different times.

For listening in private or in quiet locations I use Sony MDR-V500DJ which, in my opinion, offer good sound quality and comfort. They are DJ headphones but I honestly wouldn't walk around town with them on.

For travel, walking/running, and all other times I use the iPod headphones out of practicality. They travel real well, are compact; but do not offer the same sound quality compared to my DJ cans.

[Tyrdium]

I use KSC75 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826106720)s. They're cheap, comfortable, and sound pretty good.

The cord tangling isn't really an issue if you get a winder. IEMs take some getting used to, though, and you need to clean the inserts every now and then (especially if you have a lot of earwax). But the isolation is great. Full-size headphones can get hot and sweaty if you're wearing them for a while, and the weight and bulk can be fatiguing.

You should try asking over at Head-Fi (http://www.head-fi.org/); they know their stuff.

[Mana]

I <3 my DJ Headphones. They keep my ears warm, the sound away, and my hair out of my face when I'm walking, so I don't burn my hair off with my cigarette. They're a bit bulky, but I only notice it when I'm carrying them while not listening, which doesn't happen often (normally when batteries die).

Then again, I've never really been fond of sticking crap is my ear.