are not too bad.

Mine are getting on a bit and could probably do with an overhaul. Bass isn't bad and the top end is acceptable. Because they're buds they do manage to keep out a lot of background.

I found that my iPod Classic could happily produce something reasonable at about 60% volume. I did think they were slightly better with my old 5G pod though.

sorry i keep banging on about them but I've been very impressed at how long they've last compared to the cheap ones I use to buy. Case in point I messed up this weekend and left them in shirt pocket and they went in the washer.
I was on amazon looking for some replacements but having hung them up to dry over night, this morning they were still working fine! Some people don't like the in ear thing but they work for me and the sounds good too.

You look like a cyberman but they're utterly brilliant

And you've already tried Etys and Shure, you might want to give Ultimate Ears a go. I've a pair of the 'bass-enhanced' flavour, which do what they say on the tin. Build quality is excellent but they to tend to favour the 'bigger' ear canal (nlike, say, the Etys).

Just gone to The Apple Store and purchased these

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/hf2.aspx

The HF2 are not the most 'audiophile' but they have an inline controller and mic

...and because you can never buy one thing also got this case that answers the case of holding up the iphone when ure on the train

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/TV791ZM/A

Just popped into curry's at lunchtime and they are stocking 2 sets of Denon in-ear phones priced at £44 and £80 so fairly high end. Anyone had any experience with them? Would be interested as Denon have pretty good reputation and would expect them to be of a high standard.

Tried out the Etymotic HF2 on the train this am

Very impressed!