Seeking ear buds that fit and sound good
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When Mozart said, “Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music,” could he have foreseen the age of the punishing ear bud?
Within 24 hours of using the cushion-free ear buds Apple supplied with my iPod and my iPhone, my ears are screaming for comfier ear buds designed for listening pleasure.
For travelers on the go, I sought out reasonably priced models with above-average sound, comfort, fit and ergonomics, preferably with a microphone/remote for phone calls.
After testing more than 15 with my iPhone and iPod, I found eight great in-line earphones; three (Yurbuds, Phiaton PS20 and Ankit) were so good they made the list even though they lack phone-call capability.
Make — Model/Price
Yurbuds/$29.99-$49.99
Yurbuds are personally sized funnel-shaped ear buds that channel sound into your ear for a richer sound quality and are guaranteed not to fall out. You upload a picture of your ear taken with a digital camera or using Yurbud’s free iPhone app (Size Yur Ear) to get the right size.
Pros
Yurbuds are comfortable. They stayed in my ears and directed the sound so well that I quickly found myself cranking down the volume to half the level I use with other ear buds.
Cons
No microphone for phone calls.
Phiaton Earphones PS 20/$99
These half in-ear headphones feature Phiaton’s “MaxBass Reflex” technology and have a dynamic speaker driver that balances bass and treble for superb sound.
Pros
The half in-ear design provides a great fit, and they are lightweight and comfortable.
Cons
No microphone for phone calls.
Ankit Forbidden — Snake Earphones/$29.99
These fun, metallic serpent-shaped ear buds provide a seductive sound that Ankit dubs G-bass Technology for a rich, clear, loud bass sound.
Pros
They’re fun to wear, and the sound is great.
Cons
These ear buds are slightly heavier than others I tried; no in-line microphone for calls.
Urbanears Medis/$50
Medis use a patented EarClick construction to fit in the groove of your ear a small distance from your ear canal. The single button remote/microphone lets you make calls or switch music tracks.
Pros
These buds snap into place (that is, they click) in your ears and don’t slide around during a workout. The design positions the bud so I can still hear sounds around me.
Cons
The microphone remote doesn’t adjust the volume.
https://www.urbanears.com/category/medis
Denon In-ear headphones Model AH-C560R/$99.99
The angular design keeps these buds in your ears when you’re active. The three-button remote control/microphone permits phone calls and adjusts the volume.
Pros
Great sound, and the angular design helps keep the ear buds in place.
Cons
Buds weren’t as comfortable in my ears as some of the others, but they had the best remote microphone for calls.
iBeats by Beats by Dr. Dre from Monster/$119.95
These metallic buds designed by Dr. Dre for Monster combine style, comfort and high fidelity.
Pros
Engineered to deliver high-definition audio from iPhones and iPods, the iBeats trump the rest for concert-quality sound. The squeezable remote/microphone easily adjusts the volume and makes hands-free calls.
Cons
None of the silicone fittings provided a perfect fit, so these metal buds fell out frequently when I was on the move.
Skullcandy Holua wooden ear buds/$99.99
These wooden ear buds feature a one-button remote/in-line microphone for making phone calls or skipping a song.
Pros
The wood enhances the resonance. The foam tips fit my ears the best and were more comfortable than the silicone fittings also provided.
Cons
Ear buds aren’t labeled left and right.
V-moda Remix Remote earphones (Nero model)/$99.99
These lightweight all-metal ear buds feature V-moda’s BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone) noise-isolating technology. The three-button remote/microphone permits phone calls and volume adjustments and skips tracks.
Pros
The stylish buds fit, they sound great, and the wires are tangle resistant. The noise isolation helps if you’re on the treadmill next to two chatty gym rats.
Cons
The audio is a bit muffled during phone calls. The detachable sport ear hooks were uncomfortable.
https://www.v-moda.com/headphones/remix.aspx
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