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| Less Noise, More Solitude |
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Featured Articles May 2008 • Vol.6 Issue 5 Page(s) 46-47 in print issue |
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Less Noise, More Solitude Travel-Friendly Earbuds & Headphones |
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Shush. Hear that? It’s your ears begging you to ditch the low-cost, underperforming earbuds your MP3 player shipped with and upgrade to a set that puts a premium on sound instead of shaving pennies. And your choices for mobile-friendly models are plenty, as are the features you’ll find, including audio quality that tickled our ears with delight, noise-canceling and sound-isolating technologies, designs catered toward comfort, in-line volume controllers, and more. Here’s what we found about the five models we plugged in and set about town with.   JVC HA-NCX77 $79.95 • www.jvc.com The HA-NCX77 is unique in that its offers built-in noise-canceling technology—a rarity among earbuds. Most use sound-isolating methods, which rely on getting a tight seal between the earbud and ear canal. Noise-canceling models use batteries to power built-in electronics that create anti-noise to counteract the ambient noise around you. JVC says the HA-NCX77 cancels up to 80% of surrounding noise, but this requires using a largish external unit that holds the AAA battery needed. Positively, the unit can control volume, power, and the noise-canceling monitor. Negatively, it’s cell phone-sized (although just 1.9 ounces) and is another device to carry. The 4.9-foot cord and earbuds are also permanently fixed to the unit, but you get a handsome carrying case that also holds an extension cord, airplane adapter, and extra cushions. The HA-NCX77’s best asset is the exceptional audio that its 8.5mm neodymium drivers outputs at this price. Although low sounds don’t resound as richly and fully as earbuds with multiple, dedicated speakers, the HA-NCX77’s spread out nicely without sounding muddy, and midranges and highs punch brightly without sounding thin. Add in a convenient earbud design with noise-canceling tech and the HA-NCX77 is a fine, affordable choice.  Klipsch Custom-2 $199 • www.klipsch.com If you’ve been in a room with a Klipsch speaker system pumping out sound, you understand the company’s “Do Right By Your Music” slogan. Klipsch boasts 60-plus years of experience and makes outstanding gear. The Custom-2s are no exception. They pack full-range KG534 dual-balanced drivers, a 50-inch black cloth cord with protective Wireguard, and Flex Wire ear fittings that contour perfectly. Klipsch says its anatomically designed, patent-pending ear gels “allow for even the most difficult fit.” They’re among the most comfortable we’ve used, and you get 10 replacements in three sizes. The earbuds use a right-angle design, weigh 0.458 ounces, and are attractively black and gunmetal gray. They’re comfortable over long hauls and handle excellently. Audio-wise, lows and highs fill out nicely. Bass is authentic and deep, and trebles are clean and precise. The Custom-2 is just a short step down from the $400-plus models discussed here. Factor in the included carrying case and adapters, and $199 isn’t unreasonable at all.  Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10 Pro $399.99 • www.ultimateears.com As legend has it, Ultimate Ears co-founder Jerry Harvey was once Van Halen’s sound engineer. Today, he helps make “earphones for touring musicians, audiophiles, emerging artists, and music fans.” If you covet exceptional audio, the triple.fi 10 Pro is for you—even at $399.99. For your money, UE says you receive “the sonic equivalent of sitting in the world’s best recording studios.” We can’t confirm that, but we’ll unequivocally state the buds filled our ears with audio details that we didn’t know previously existed in familiar songs. Clarity and crispness of percussions and basses were stunning, as was the accuracy and clarity of horns, keyboards, strings, etc. Three precision-balanced drivers output that audio, with a passive crossover circuit directing lows, midranges, and highs to a speaker dedicated to bass, vocal, or treble. The 10 Pros are large but still look ultra-hip, and flexible wires near the earbuds keep them in place while afoot. The gel ear cushions (single- and double-flange styles included) are a bit stiff but comfortable. Airplane and stereo adapters, a 26-inch extension cord, a sound-level attenuator, and a cleaning tool are included.  Shure SE530 $449.99 • www.shure.com No, you’re not seeing things. The SE530 really is $449.99. Given that each earbud uses a Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeaker design (one tweeter, two woofers) for “full-bodied bass,” $449.99 seems less daunting. Throw in Shure’s audio pedigree dating back to 1925 and that the SE530s are possibly the best-sounding consumer buds available, and the price looks better all the time. Shure goes a long way toward giving you every penny’s worth by shipping the metallic-green SE530s in a gorgeous tin box with extra cushions, airplane and stereo jacks, 3-foot and 9-inch extension cords, cleaning tool, hard-shelled case, detachable volume controller, and illustrated instructions to get up to 90% sound-isolating results. The SE530’s multiple speakers leave the buds largish, but they’re light (1 ounce) and sound remarkable. Snares and tom toms pop and crack individually. Acoustic guitars resonate lushly. Basses echo realistically. Mix in great sound-isolating results that keep volume levels lower without losing detail, and you’re getting a top-price product for your top-price dollars.  Yamaha RH10MS $159 • www.yamaha.com The RH10MS’s over-the-ear design is much larger than earbuds, but over-the-ear models arguably are more comfortable for long periods of wear and cancel ambient noise better. Although the RH10MS forego noise-canceling technology, ample foam cushioning around the ears (and head band) effectively keeps most background noise out. by Blaine Flamig |
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