Bose® IE2 audio headphones
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Bose IE2 audio headphones set a new standard for sound reproduction that conventional earbuds can’t match. Re-engineered from the inside out, they feature an enhanced acoustic design that helps music sound smoother and more natural. And our new construction provides a more secure fit and improved durability. IE2 headphones reproduce music with more range and realism than most typical earbuds. A modified port design, in concert with our proprietary TriPort acoustic headphone structure, results in a richer audio performance, with more detail in music’s high frequencies. More clarity, even at louder volume levels-an overall presence you’d expect from much larger headphones. Proprietary StayHear silicone tips offer greater in-ear stability during exercise and other active sports. Advanced materials and design allow the tips to nestle inside the bowl of the ear while also naturally conforming to the ear’s upper ridge. The tips come in three sizes to fit listeners comfortably for hours on end. StayHear tips also are designed to remain more securely on the headphone itself. Overall, they provide a better on-the-go listening experience. IE2 headphones are sturdier than ever, thanks to advanced materials, construction and manufacturing techniques-all adding up to more lasting quality for you. Each pair undergoes rigorous testing to meet Bose standards for performance and durability. Bose IE2 headphones are engineered specifically for listening with MP3 players, laptops and portable CD players. The cable’s angled plug fits directly into sources with recessed headphone jacks. Also included: a sleek, protective leather carrying case with room for a portable MP3 player, plus original-style tips in three sizes.
Features
- A new standard of audio quality for greater musical detail
- Advanced design, durable materials for lasting quality
- StayHear tips for greater stability during exercise and other activities
- Hours of comfortable on-the-go listening
- Protective carrying case included
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 2 x 5 x 8 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
Bose fixed the earpieces!
When I first purchased these they had the old style rubber earpieces – comfortable for about 15 seconds, until they fall out of your ear! These headphones are simply incredible in terms of sound – amazing bass, full/rich midtones and highs. The biggest drawback (and its a big one) was the stupid earpieces. The headphones wouldn’t even stay in at work when all I was doing was typing! I was very close to purchasing a different set of true in-ear earbuds when I saw Bose came out with ‘fixed’ earpieces, and they are awesome! They are perfectly designed to hold the earbuds snuggly inside your ear. I’ve used them for hours already and its a flawless design. Now I can give these headphones the 5 stars they deserve. Well done Bose!
Continue to Enjoy Bose Products
I recently purchased these to substitute for my Bose over the ear headphones. I liked the sound that the over the ear headphones provide and the reviews were good for these so I decided to give them a try. First of all the sound is very good in my opinion and comparable to my over the ear headphones from Bose. I think that sound quality is subjective to the individual, so if you like the sound Bose products give, you will likely enjoy these headphones. They don’t do a tremendous job of noise canceling but if you look at the paperwork included, Bose states that they are not designed to do so.
They really are very comfortable to wear. I’ve tried the regular tips and the stayhear tips and I wouldn’t want to wear just the regular tips as they wouldn’t stay in my ears. The stayhear tips are super comfortable and after a while I almost forget they are in my ears. Bose means it when they say that these headphones aren’t in-ear headphones, but that’s why I like them. Every in-ear headphone I’ve tried no matter what the tips are made of or how they are shaped make my ears hurt after a while and are ultimately just too uncomfortable (which is why I’ve used my ipod headphones for so long- they aren’t in-ear).
Finally addressing an issue another reviewer had- they stated that in an environment with more background noise i.e. a subway station or on an airplane, the headphones were rendered useless. I don’t personally feel that this is the case. I work in a microbiology lab and wear them while I’m working at two hoods both with blowers that make a lot of noise (they blow filtered air at me to prevent contamination). While it is true that I might have to turn the volume up slightly to compensate, these headphones are totally usable in a noisier environment and I can hear my music and audiobooks clearly. If I were using any other headphone in these conditions I would have to turn up the volume to a dangerous level for my hearing just to compensate for the noise of the hood. I feel that this reviewer shouldn’t criticize a product based on characteristics they feel the product should have but never claim to have. If you want an in-ear headphone and the noise cancellation that in-ears would provide don’t buy these then complain they don’t cancel out outside noise.
I feel that the cord is also comparable to any headphone product out there. It’s a pretty standard length and it’s nothing special, but the one thing I do like about it, that I have never received in another headphone is the clip! I love the clip because it keeps the cord from getting caught on things and keeps it out of my work when I’m moving around in the hood. It is a great addition and I didn’t know what I was missing until now!
You Ears’ Best Friend
Owing to the price of these babies, I was skeptical, at first. How could any tiny ear bud or headphone be worth upwards of $100.00. Once I installed the Bose IE2 headphones in my ears and listened to my Nano and PSP my skepticism vanished.
First, they do a far better job at reproducing sound than the stock Apple buds. To me, headphone sound is never as satisfying as the waves a good receiver married to good speakers produces. However, these little Bose phones seem to reproduce a broader spectrum of sound than other buds and phones I’ve tried. Playing games on the PSP, especially, I hear sounds I don’t hear with OEM buds. The music my Nano delivers seems more spacious and richer with the Bose phones.
Excellent sound reproduction aside, it is the comfort of the Bose phones that make them extra special to me. Regular ear buds are simply unbearable to wear for more than 30 minutes, or so. At least they are for me. The Bose come with super soft attachments designed to gently, yet securely, rest the phones in your ear canal. They call it StayFit. And it works. If it’s not for you, though, the phones do ship with normal inserts for snugging in the ear canal.
Final word: The Bose IE2 Headphones are worth every penny.
Stay in ear great, Sound quality not so great!
Compared to my Sony MDR-XB40EX the Bose IE2 do not come close. They stay in the ear great but the sound quality is not there. It lacks low end and volume. I did a comparison to the Sony MDR-XB40EX hoping the Bose would be better but to my disappointment they were not at all. The clarity is equal but bass and volume is very noticeable. I am retuning them immediately. Bose let me down. Am I paying for the name?!?!?!?
Tied for my favorite single driver buds
Summary: I’ve tried about a dozen earbud style headphones that are in the under $100 region. These are tied with my former runaway favorite Woodies IESB-101B buds, which are at the link below:
http://www.amazon.com/Woodees-IESW101B-Inner-ear-Stereo-Earphone/dp/B001U5YZ4G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1285112818&sr=8-1
Details:
1. The sound. I like the smooth and open sound that the IE2 phones have. The frequency response is very solid from low-end bass up through the upper midrange. The treble rolls off smoothly, but I would say these give up just a little high end compared to the Woodies. On the other hand, the Woodies do not have the smooth and powerful bass of the Bose. All in all, I am able to adjust the EQ on the playback (mac laptop or ipod) to get great sound our of the Bose. Once again, you have to remember that it’s a single driver, under $100 earphone and so the designers have to decide where the “sweet spot” is. To get way better sound, I think you’d have to choose one of the multi-driver buds that cost a lot more (e.g. Etymotic research). I listened to these phones under a wide variety of conditions and with classical, folk, rock and podcasts. they all sounded very good, even while working out at the gym.
2. Comfort. The IE2 comes with six sets of ear inserts. There are a small, medium and large pair in both the alien looking “Stay hear” appendage. The Amazon product page shows the appendage, which helps retain the buds in your ear while exercising or other motion activity. I found that they are pretty comfortable. At first, I lamented the fact that on my ear they didn’t seem to go deep enough into the ear canal to provide better sound isolation (yes, I tried all six pairs to make sure). However, this ended up not being an issue in practice and I don’t find that too much sound leaks in. The plus of this looser fit is that my ear canals get a bit more air and don’t get sweaty or irritated if I’m using these on a long plane flight.
3. Durability. They look sturdy for a bud and seem to be well built. Good looking strain reliefs at ell cable junctions with the earpiece, plug etc. i work to keep from stressing out all my buds, so I am not a good tester for this feature, however.
4. Earbud attachment. Most buds have some variation on the same simple attachment of cushion to earpiece. That is, a simple round cushion has a ring molded into the rubber that slips over a groove in the earpiece and is supposed to hold them together. The Bose has an engineered attachment design that has a positive hook integral to the earpiece that engages the silicon cushion in such a tenacious manner. If your cushion pops off due to trauma you were involved in, then you frankly have bigger issues than losing the silicon cushion. This is a real improvement over the more common design for cushions. It is still not hard to change ear cushions due to the excellent design.
5. The case and kit. The case is a zippered wallet that is 3″x5″x1″. It is velour lined, but has NO INTERNAL POUCHES OR ORGANIZERS!! Whatever you put in the case just rattles around loose. There’s not even a cord wrap. Hmmm – seems like a big oversight. I explicitly mention the size of the case, because it’s likely to be either too big (e.g. I have an iPod nano which swims in this case) or too small (iPod classic would crowd this thing). All said, if a better case with organizer is not in the offering, then a smaller case or a cord wrap of some sort would have been a better deal.
Conclusion
I really like these headphones for the in-ear category. However, at $99 you may want to look at the Woodies I referenced at the top of the review, too. They are about half the price, especially for street price. The Bose are seldom discounted, whereas the Woodies and others often see healthy sales prices. All that said, these are really nice and you won’t be upset to own them.
Great Headphones
After purchasing a new Sony CD Walkman for a trip I was taking I realized that the headphones just weren’t up to par compared to the last Sony I owned. I spent most of my trip trying to adjust them thinking that was the problem. After listening on these I realize it was simply an inferior set of headphones that were the problem. These are much more comfortable and what an improvement in sound!! I am completely satisfied I picked these up. The sound is clear with defined bass and treble. There are also different sizes included to fit your ear. Great product!
Great set of earphones for the price
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RZ0M7PN57DEQ3 Here is a quick unpacking and fitting review for the Bose Headphones. My apologies when my dog heard somebody walk in the house and started barking, I edited about 95% of that out.
I just got back from running a half-marathon with these in my ears the entire time. My first impression is that these were extremely comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, I pretty much forgot they were even there when the music was off during pre-race instructions. The other pair I had, that did not have the StayHear tips, were also comfortable, but this raised the comfort level just a notch.
Also, these were very stable. Usually when exercising with any headphones I have to press them into my ear as they shift with all the bouncing that I end up doing. Especially the in-ear, noise isolating ones that give me a headache after an hour of so of use. I did not need to do that ONCE with these headphones. They get in there, they stay there, and are very comfortable the entire time.
Everything about this is fantastic. The sound, from the lows, the mid-range, and the highs, sound great. When I listen to audio books, the speakers come across very rich and clear, almost like they are standing right next to me.
These are, without a doubt, my go-to headphones 90% of the time. The only thing I won’t use these for are when I’m trying to block outside noise and only noise-canceling, over-the-ear headphones will work for that. Which is a shame because they block the noise but are nowhere near as clear sounding or comfortable. I just wish I could afford the Bose brand, but I can’t justify the expense.
Excellent Quality Sound
I’ve never owned any Bose product before. I constantly saw their commercials, but never thought it really necessary to buy something that might improve sound by just a little bit. I was pleasently surprised to find how truly different the quality of sound is, especially the rich bass these headphones are capable of reproducing, it’s top notch, and nearly matches my expensive over ear logitech headphones.
In addition to the great sound quality, these stay on very well while jogging with my dog. They’re also comfortable to wear for long periods of time (unlike the Apple-Iphone earphones).
They are expensive, but if price isn’t and issue in order to get great sound quality, then this is definetely something you want to buy.
Very good product
Aside from the fact that I cut my hand trying to get the darn package open, I do really like these head phones. The StayHear tips are much more comfortable then they look. It’s very thin, and stays in your ear very well while jogging or walking. I wear these while working out at the gym, and never had a problem with them falling out. The clearity in the sound it awesome. These have really good bass as well. My 17 yr. old son spotted them, and now he’s constantly borrowing them. I have to fight with him to get them back. They are a little pricey, but I don’t think you can get a better quality head phone.
Wow, Bose finally got these right.
2 years ago I tried the original ones and sent them back because they just would not stay in my ears.
When I read about these coming, I figured I would give them another try. I am glad I did try these new ones.
First the sound quality is very good, much more clear and robust. I listen to movies music and they all sound very good.
I do walk a lot as well as run a bit (2x week). These new StayFit design is great for multiple reasons
They are light, soft (like skin) and pliable so they are really comfortable, but most important is that they stay put. I can shake my head for side to side really fast and they do not budge. Running and walking are no problem for these buds.
I am equally impressed with the sound quality.
I like how they feel & sound as well as they do not move when in my ears.
My Sweet Grado, will you take me back??
I am a Grado fan who got lured into buying these buds because I had a BestBuy gift card and wanted some buds which were better than the stock apple buds.
I tried em out and returned them within an hour. Very unbalanced sound. Bloated mids and mid bass which is typical of Bose. It provides an “up front” sound which is not smooth at all.
Im going to buy some music with my gift card and save up for the more expensive Grados.
BTW, if you dont care about looks, dont miss the IGRADO’s. Amazing!! Like butta!
BOSE IE2: Great bass, warm sound, really stays on ear
What’s inside:
cord – has a slider that moves very freely on the cord anywhere you want & clothing clip.
tips – it has: medium & small regular tips where the part that just barely goes in the ear canal is oblong in shape. large, medium & small tips w/the winged “stay hear” design w/same oblong part that goes into the canal.
has a mail-in warranty.
case – it’s a black, cheap, vinyl leather wannabe, 3-sided zipper style w/cardboard inside the vinyl to keep it’s shape to fit the headphones & all the tips in their tiny plastic bags (bags have L, M, S to know size) or also your mp3 or phone.
Style/Comfort:
stylish, silver BOSE on the buds, white & black twisted colored, very soft cord.
I used to hate the old, hard plastic round buds from years back because they caused me pain/redness within minutes, also because I fit the smaller size ear tips. on the bose, I fit both the medium & small tips which I was surprised at.
I went to the plantronics style years ago w/the clip on the earlobe so they aren’t inserted, just sit against the canal.
I was surprised the Klipsch did not hurt at all, though they weren’t totally comfortable for long periods & having to insert them deeply felt weird.
these bose go on fast & easily & even when I viciously shake my head, they stay on (the winged tip style). they do feel comfortable b/c of the silicone tips, my ear doesn’t feel stretched & the part that goes in is so small & short, it’s feels like it’s barely past the canal opening & doesn’t muffle sound if you’re not playing something, so that you don’t feel forced to remove them to hear around you unlike the klipsch.
changing tips was easy enough, though it is good the buds themselves tells you which one is left or right as well as all the tips since it really matters to get them correct.
sound:
I could not find the specs for range, impedance, etc., even on the the bose site or in the manual.
I compared the sound playing music & voice lecture mp3s @ 320 bps on a windows 7 pc w/Klipsch Image S2m & Plantronics Audio 450 earbuds.
the klipsch is the most clear for lectures, but horrific for music as it’s very tinny & cold sounding w/almost nose base at all.
the plantronics has some base, but not a lot, is good all around for both music & lectures, but could be better on both in terms of base & clarity, but midrange to klipsch & bose. the bose has amazing base for earbuds, has a good, warm sound & only slightly more muffled then the plantronics, but still plenty clear for lectures.
check the bose website to see pictures of the case & all the tips & maybe they will have added the sound range, etc.
Good sound, depending on use.
I admit it, I am a an earphone snob. I don’t know that I have ever tried the earbuds packaged with the many MP3 players I have owned in my life, and currently use a high-end Shure in-the-ear earphones/monitors (SE530), which form my current basis of comparison. The most recent offering from Bose is where I would expect excellent sound, a big upgrade from the included buds with any MP3 player. You DO get very good sound with these earphones for sure, but only when you are using them in a quiet context, otherwise you will be sorely disappointed and not hear much at all, other than the surrounding noise. Go into a crowded subway train, or I would imagine these to be useless on an airplane, and it is nearly impossible to make out music. At this price point, you have several in-ear options that will be a much more pleasant experience in more noisy conditions. Now, not everyone is comfortable with the inner ear phones – and they do require some maintenance, and extra care to monitor your surroundings, but to me the sound and overall experience is worth it.
Now, back to the IE2. With the name “IE2″ I would assume that these are inner earphones, yet the packaging clearly states no noise canceling (or isolation) ability with the set. It also includes a case, which looks and feels cheap, and of little real world use. IE2 comes with 2 types of tips (in three sizes), which should allow comfortable fit for any ear. I did however, not get comfortable fit. I always felt like they were going to fall out of my ears. These buds come with a fairly short (not a deal breaker) and flimsy small-gauge cable (compared to some) that flies around and gets caught on things, because, I think it is too lightweight. Overall, I did not find that the build quality inspired confidence.
So overall, I would rate these a 4 for use in a quiet room/context – most people will likely find a good fit and enjoy the sound. However, I would rate these a 1 or a 2 for use in noisy environments (public transit, gyms, airplanes) that I often find myself in.
Finicky to take on and off, but great sound
I’m more familiar with Bose’s noise-reduction earphones, but was eager to try these because there are times (notably walking in New York, and trying to avoid being hit by a car) when you want to know what is happening around you. Also, while I’ve been quite happy with Apple’s in-ear headphones for the iPod, I’m always on the lookout for something more comfortable that I can use for longer periods of time (a plane trip, say).
Well, these certainly fit the bill. They nestle lightly in the ear, and while they don’t always FEEL secure, they remained in place during periods where I was doing my shopping, walking home and working out at the gym. Even moving my iPod around in my bag or my pocket and accidentally pulling on the headphones didn’t remove them. And I didn’t have to jam them tightly into my ear to accomplish that!
Another big plus is very low noise leakage. Yes, I know that’s more for others’ benefit than my own, but it’s still an upside.
Best of all, of course, was that the sound was exponentially better than anything else I have tried. True, you don’t remove the outer world as you can do with the noise-reduction headphones, but even without that, the sound is crisper and more clear, all the way through the spectrum. I’ve turned down the set point volume on my iPod; I now don’t need to have it turned all the way up. Another plus for me: I transcribe a lot of interviews, and find that these are nearly as good as the noise-reduction earphones in doing so. (The regular kind don’t measure up; too much outside noise creeps in and the sound isn’t clear enough for me to catch each word.) That means I can do my work and still hear when the phone rings!
One caveat: I find it finicky to remove and then replace these. Even after a week of using them, I was still having to pause and remember which earbud goes in which ear, and at what angle. There’s no “pause” button feature on the earbuds themselves, so if you need to have a conversation with someone in real life (in a store, on a plane, bumping into a friend on the street), you’ll either need to yank out your MP3 player and turn the volume down or remove the headphones. After years of using in-ear headphones, I’m used to just putting them back in without really pondering which goes in which ear. There have been a few times when I’ve had to stop, put down my bags, and figure it out. I’ll update this review in a few months to note whether this gets easier, whether the earphones are as durable as they should be for this price, how they function in freezing weather, and whether they are as comfortable as I anticipate on a long plane trip and survive without falling out. That would be a boon for those overnight flights, when an over-the-ear headphone is just too uncomfortable and the Apple-provided earphones tend to fall out.
For now, I’d say these are the best earphones of their kind that I have tried — which they should be, given their premium price. Recommended to anyone able to put sound quality above price as a consideration. 4.5 stars, rounded down.
Some of the best earbuds I’ve used in awhile
I have been through a LOT of headphones in my time. Whether it’s because I lose them, give them away, leave them in a purse in my closet, or just don’t like them, I seem to always be looking for new headphones. Part of the problem for me is how difficult it is for me to get ones that don’t hurt in some way. My ears are just so *tiny*, and I wear glasses as well and most earbuds are way too big for me, and most normal headphones hurt my ears from pressing on my glasses. The newer more expensive earbuds with different sized inserts do a bit better, but I have problems then with them falling out. So I was very interested to see how the new design of the Bose earbuds worked for me.
And I have to say, these are really awesome! They are quite comfortable for me (although I personally still can’t wear them for more than an hour or so without my ears starting to get sore) and I find the special ear hugger design really effective, the headphones stay put in my ear and don’t budge, even when I am jogging. I also like that it makes it so much easier to tell which is the right and left earphone!
The sound produced by these is quite full and rich with very solid bass without being overwhelming. I didn’t feel any need to try and tweak my playback to adjust the levels, it was very well balanced and vocals were crystal clear. I really couldn’t gripe about anything, they rival some $200 Shure headphones that I had. They have certainly the best sound I’ve heard for under $100, quite impressive. They are not very noise reducing, however. You will still hear a fair amount of ambient noise with these, so not the best for situations where there might be a lot of other noise (such as a gym where they have TVs or music playing). The included case as well is really big and blocky and doesn’t include anything to wrap the cord around to prevent tangling. It looked like a PDA case actually, not something I’d ever use and not sure why they even bothered including it.
Overall, a really solid set of headphones. A better case and better noise cancelling would have bumped it up to a full 5 stars, but for the sound quality and excellent design, I’d give it a solid 4-1/2 stars.
Amazing!
I’m not really an audiophile, but I am a serious music lover who has owned countless headphones. Just glancing around my home office right now, I see six pairs, including a fairly high-end, over-the-head, noise canceling set. None of them come close to these Bose IE2s. I’ve been using these since yesterday, and it’s as if I’m rediscovering music I thought I already knew.
The packaging is beyond infuriating, and I kept thinking “boy, these better be worth it” the whole time I was tearing and cutting and wrestling to open the taped box, the plastic inner box tightly crimped and sealed all the way around, the inner-inner plastic that held the headphones embedded in one side and the case and instructions in the other, the tape on the plastic that held the headphones embedded, the plastic bag inside the plastic box that had the instructions…well, you get the picture. It literally ought to be against the law to waste so much packaging on a tiny set of ear buds, and it’s certainly counter to good marketing.
The good news is, they were *really* worth it! The sound quality and clarity are stunning. It was almost bedtime by the time I got to use them, so I queued up an old favorite just to try them out. It kept me up, because I couldn’t get myself to unplug. The description talks about these adding “greater musical detail.” Absolutely! It’s as if someone has added more music to my music.
The StayHear tips work really well for me. I always read with envy the reviews that talk about using ear buds at the gym or when running. I’ve wondered if my ear canals were oddly configured or something, since I can’t even vacuum without screwing ear buds back in every couple minutes. The StayHear tips looked to me as if they might be uncomfortable, but the only thing I notice once they’re in my ears is that finally, my ear buds stay in.
The price is daunting, no doubt about it. If you’re a music lover, you already know there is no end to what you can pay for top-quality music reproduction; you stop spending when you hit your budget’s limit, not because you’ve reached the top, and you focus on getting the best quality the budget allows. If your budget stretches to hundred-dollar headphones, you’ll be glad you chose these.
In fact, if you can get yourself to do it, consider paying for these by foregoing your usual new music purchases for whatever length of time it takes to make up the deficit. You won’t be sorry, because you’ll happily spend the time with your old music being made new again.
Bose IE 2 Earbud Headphones
This is the first Bose product I’ve used and I have to agree that the sound quality is top notch. The sound is loud and clear matching and easily sounding better than a pair of JVC buds I owned beforehand and equally topping a cheap pair of Koss buds I bought from Wal-Mart (of course). I played a variety of music from classical to punk all sounding amazing even picking up small sounds and incidental noises on live recordings.
Where the buds excel though is their durability. I recently picked up a pair of JVC flats that unfortunately didn’t last past the highest volume settings of my MP3 player but outperformed earbuds by at least staying on my ears. Most buds at their best unfortunately had issues staying in my ears when I was wearing them at work or walking my dog. With the design of Bose has created the better bud, not one that goes far into the ear but sits on the outside buoyed by the tip that fits comfortably into the contours of your ear being almost unnoticable when wearing them.
The product comes with several tips, and a carrying case though outside of the tips I don’t really see the need for a case. The buds like all Bose products are pricey but for those looking for the best audio quality with good design I’d definitely recommend them. Its a terrific product.
WOW.. A tremendous improvement over the first generation!
First off, I absolutely HATE hard plastic vacuum packaging. I’m amazed that people haven’t had serious injuries trying to open these type of packages!!
OK… beyond the packaging, the product is the BOMB! I have the first generation Bose Earbuds, and while the quality is high, they are difficult to keep situated in my ears in a static fashion. I spend a lot of time readjusting the buds to get the proper positioning and fit.
NOW… here come’s Generation 2 with an entirely new method of properly positioning and HOLDING the buds in place at the ideal location at your ear canal. Perfect… and VERY comfortable.
Sound is as good or better than the first generation, with Bass Response true and full, while higher frequencies are clear and accurate. Very very enjoyable to wear for long periods, and not any listener fatigue from distortion or hiss.
This is clearly my new standard from which to judge all other earbuds and HIGHLY recommended!
The Best Headphones I have ever owned
These headphones are simply amazing. I have used Bose headphones before and they are always wonderful. Those were always the over the ear variety and honestly although they sounded great I did not like the feel nor did I find them practical. The price was always far more than I wanted to pay as well. That all changes here. Although the price is not in line with the bargain basement ear buds out there this set is so far above what you get that the price is more than worth the difference. The unique in ear ear bud stabilizer is a thing of genius and make in ear headphones a thing of comfort and improve consistency and quality of the audio experience.
Even though much more expensive than many other headphones I found the price to be one that I am OK to pay. These headphones have a remarkable range regardless of price. The bass is full and clear. The sound across the board is very unmuffled and distinct. I am very happy. This product is heads and tails above the standard buds that come with your iPod/iPhone and just about anything else on the market today.
Pros:
1. Fair Price
2. Great Sound
3. Great Range
4. Great Bass
5. Light / Comfortable / Stylish
6. Unique Design for in ear placement
Cons:
1. Cost make the set a bit expensive for all audio devices. I won’t be buying for my kids
2. I can’t come up with two cons. This is an amazing product.
A great set of headphones that I couldn’t be happier with. I hope they last me a very long time.
Good sound quality
I don’t expect much from ear buds. The design usually means thumpy bass right in your ears ruining the sound quality, or just not getting good quality on all the tones in music. Even Bose’s last attempt at ear buds fell short of being the sort of quality I expect from them.
I was very pleasantly surprised. The design has part of the sound going directly into your ear with the included tips, and part of the sound going against your ear. I’m not an expert on headphones so I can’t tell you exactly what they did. All I can tell you is how it sounds to me.
It sounds wonderful. In heavy bass hard rock sounds, the bass is strong but it doesn’t obscure everything else in the song. When I played Vivaldi, the music sparkled. Listening to speeches, the sound was very clear.
The tips are surprisingly comfortable. Usually having things in my ears bothers me considerably, but these I could wear for a couple hours without switching to my regular headset when I was home. As far as volume goes, I don’t like listening loudly, but I turned it up and had my son listen from a few feet away and tell me when he could hear the music coming out of my headphones. It was louder than I was comfortable with before he waved to let me know he could hear it.
At a reasonable volume, you can still hear things going on around you.
The tips shown are the StayHear tips which wanted to get tangled in my hair. I switched to the small original tips and they were fine. Very secure and comfortable. I had my husband try them and he used the large StayHear tips and really liked them. He’s slightly hard of hearing in some ranges and was impressed with the sound quality and what he could hear in the music with these.
If you prefer ear buds, these are a good choice. I’ll probably only use them at the gym or when I’m out walking, but for that, they are perfect.
The case will comfortably fit an iPod classic and the ear buds.