My son is a drummer and needs a set of headphones that will block some of his drum sound so that he can hear the song he's trying to learn on his iPod or stereo while he's playing. What's a good recommendation for a good price -- maybe about $30?

Mark

Noise canceling ear buds are likely best. Regular ear buds (ie: the ones that come with ipods) don't seal the ear canal, so a lot of outside sound gets in - but noise canceling ear buds will help in that regard. The difference is that they look like little plugs that go in the ear, not just 2 mini speakers. Usually they will come with 2 - 3 different sizes of outer rubber (the plug) to fit different sized ears. Places like Best Buy will have quite an assortment of these ranging in price.

I'm not sure what is available (and recommended) in a $30 range, but maybe someone will have a suggestion or two. I think this is a prime example of "you get what you pay for", however sometimes their are hidden gems that only a few know about in the lower price ranges.

i got a pair of these:


they work great.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+Ear+Bud+Headphones/8964864.p?id=1218008398563&skuId=8964864

Our drummer put a set of smaller open style walkman phones inside a set of Ear protection cans. The walkman phone are the good ones he paid $50 for them I think. Safety yellow is optional! Anyhow he claims he tried a bunch of serious gear and nothing worked as good as this does. He's done a lot of studio work with them.

that'd be more than 30 bucks there cactus....

if you're going to spend that much, get these:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Direct-Sound-EX-25-Extreme-Isolation-Headphones-241728-i1376069.gc?source=4WFRWXX&CAWELAID=128158371

I use Yamaha RH-5Ma cans... About $30  here

I really like my $15 set of Creative EP-630 ear buds here

The buds are my favorites, they were $80 when I got the first set..... very comfortable and the sound easily compares to headphones in the $200 to $300 price range. I compared them recently at a music store....and did not see enough of a difference to warrant buying the cans. The guy behind the counter agreed that the buds were very comparable and wanted to know the model.

Well those look much more official but I like the idea you can play double duty for leaf blowing! Here's a more esthetically pleasing model in basic black


$14.95   Home Hardware or Rona

Sony Headphones = $ 3.95 - $ 69.95 Sony Store depending on level of distortion you are willing to put up with.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I should have mentioned he does not like the noise isolation type earbuds, with silicon tips. He likes and keeps borrowing my Sony MDR-V700 cans, and that's gotta stop! :) But they're a little pricey. Now Cactus' suggestion above with noise isolating cans and regular earbuds might do the trick, but a descent set of isolating type headphones might be more convenient. I've seen some AKGs in music stores on sale for about $30 before, but don't know how well they isolate, or how good they are.

the only set i've ever used, that actually isolates, are the vic firth or the ones i posted....