Top Earbuds by Consumer Reviewers

Bose IE2 Headphones (Ear Bud, 0.7 oz)

486 Reviews

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	Price: $89.99
	Price: $89.99
	Price: $89.95
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Pros: Great fit, Amazing sound quality, Unique design, Includes 3 sizes of earbud tips and a nice carrying case
Cons: Pricey, Twisted cord, Not noise-cancelling

Review: The IE2, successor to Bose's first generation in-ear headphones, carries the same dynamic sound that Bose is known for. The secret lies in the TriPort acoustic headphone structure that produces natural, powerful sound. Whether you want to use it primarily for calling or together with your Apple devices, there are several options you can choose from that will enhance usability and bring more convenience to your daily activities. The MIE2 cable has an answer/end button and a mic, while the MIE2i includes all the features that the MIE2 has, with the addition of a volume control solidly planted in the inline remote. A carrying case, a clothing clip and an adjustment slider are also provided. The Bose IE2's one-of-a-kind styling perfectly fits your fashionable lifestyle, but the good thing is that it is not just good looks. It can also be every exercise junkie's best friend as it provides all day comfort. It uses an angled plug to match various types of MP3 players and mobile devices, while the exclusive, removable silicone StayHear tips come in three different sizes (S, M and L) for maximum comfort. The black and white twisted cord can be a little fragile, though. It is tangle-free but for the price, we expected a sturdier flat cord. If needed, you can even purchase a 20' extension cable and different sizes of stay-hear tips and original tips. At first, the price of the Bose IE2 may seem pretty steep but when you do the math, you're probably saving yourself a couple dollars since you won't have to buy cheap ones and replace your headphones from time to time. If you liked the previous Bose in-ear headphones, there's a big chance that you'll love this one even more. Sound quality has greatly improved. You can expect rich sound and enough bass. It may not rock the house down but it suits most genres and good enough for private listening.

Klipsch Image X10i Earset - Stereo (Earbud - Binaural - Open - Mini-phone)

205 Reviews

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	Price: $349.00
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Pros: Comfortable design, Lightweight, Pristine sound quality, Includes inline controls and a case, Great warranty
Cons: High price, Not ideal for those with large ears, Thin cables

Review: Pump scintillating sound into your ears and get rid of your old earphones that have flat response and poor sound quality using the Klipsch Image X10i. For the price, it can easily be considered a luxury and unnecessary for average listeners who are just looking for a lightweight and good match for their portable music. On the other hand, if you consider yourself a true audiophile and you don't want to settle for anything less than the best then these earbuds will be worth every penny. The X10i, replacing the X10, improves over its predecessor by integrating an inline remote and a built in 360 degree mic, nicely positioned at the Y-split or middle of the cable. This addition only adds a slight increase in weight, 0.5g to be exact, and makes it an excellent pair for your iPhone, iPod and iPad, allowing it to handle not only your music, but also internet and phone calls. Voice quality, through the mic, is loud and clear, and even has echo cancellation. The inline remote has three buttons, two for volume control and another for quickly answering calls. An airplane adapter, a quarter-inch adapter, a cleaning tool and a faux-leather case are also generously provided. The tiny anodized copper earpieces house the full-range armature micro-speaker of the X10i while providing secure fit and resting comfortably in the ear. Those with large ears may find it too tiny but for small to average sized ears, there's simply no issue. 5 pairs of different-sized ear tips come supplied together with a clothing clip for tangle-free listening. The cable has great length at 50". One of our major concerns, however, is that it is very thin and less durable. Noise isolation, due to the oval ear-tip design, is good, but keep in mind that these are not completely noise-isolating earphones so you cannot expect it to perform exactly like those models that offer active noise isolation. Again, we would like to emphasize that if you're only listening to ripped music and not lossless audio, these will be hard to appreciate. Otherwise, the Klipsch Image X10i delivers an experience almost second to none with its superior fit and unbeatable clarity.

Shure SE215 Noise Isolating Headphones - Clear (Ear Buds, 107 dB)

136 Reviews

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	Price: $99.99
	Price: $99.99
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Pros: Very good noise isolation, Superb sound quality, Replaceable cable, Solid bass, Includes an earwax cleaning tool and three sizes (S, M, L) of the flex and black foam sleeves
Cons: Over-the-ear style, Long cable

Review: The Shure SE215 has the same clear or translucent black housing you'd come to expect from Shure earphones, embellished with the usual Shure logo and model number, which in this case, is SE215. Also, it gives auditory bliss through its Dynamic MicroDriver, just like any other Shure earbuds. Perhaps, one of its step-up features over standard earphones is its 64-inch replaceable cable with wireform fit. Although it is too long for some, the cord is of higher quality, made of thick rubber, and it makes the earbuds longer lasting and less prone to breaking compared to those with non-removable cables. You can even replace it with matching clear or black cables or with Earphone Accessory Cables which go well with your Apple devices and selected phones and allow the SE215 to turn into a mobile headset with its own built-in mic and volume control. We admit, the over-the-ear style doesn't provide the best comfort as it is slightly difficult to put correctly. If you're not terribly concerned with the fit though, it is worth the try. The formable wire makes sure that it’s out of the way until you need it and the earbuds are comfortable to wear when you are in bed and trying to sleep. The Gold plated MMCX Connector even permits 360-degree rotation. The Shure SE215 not only seeks to provide the best fit with its included Fit Kit, which gives you the freedom to choose from three sizes (S, M, L) of the flex and black foam sleeves, it effectively reduces noise up to 37 dB for truly personal listening. Available at a remarkable price, the sound quality of the SE215 comes as a surprise for many users, with enveloping sound and ample bass. Extra accessories like an earwax cleaning tool for easy cleaning and a compact carrying case for neat storage also come with the package.

Shure SE315 Sound-Isolating Earphones Clear-No Color-

44 Reviews

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	Price: $199.99
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Pros: Durable design, Improved sound quality, Single driver, Includes the Shure Fit Kit, User-replaceable cable
Cons: No more split cable, Expensive, Not very comfortable

Review: Better overall design and a single High-Definition MicroDriver make the Shure SE315 a worthwhile upgrade over the SE310 or the SE215. As far as comfort is concerned, this may not be the best as the style of the earbuds, requiring the cable to be looped over the top of the ear, is a little odd and awkward, but coming in with the Premium Fit Kit which includes three sizes (S, M, L) of the flex and black foam sleeves and a pair of triple flange and a pair of universal fit yellow foam sleeves, you'll find it sitting nicely on your ears after a few attempts. Sound quality is greatly improved as opposed to cheap earbuds which are somewhat lacking in depth or those that produce too much bass, making your music sound a little distorted. Sound isolation is also very good, as expected, allowing you to avoid distractions by blocking up to 37 dB of external noise. We all know that accidents happen when you have a busy lifestyle and there's nothing more annoying than throwing away expensive earbuds just because the cord got jostled and you're already out of warranty. With the Shure SE315, you can extend the life of your earbuds through its detachable and fully replaceable cable. Not having the same split design as the older models is a significant gripe. Still, it's better than not getting your hands on a replaceable cable at all. Cord length is also longer than we would've liked, at exactly 64". Bottomline, if you're committed to splurging a bit and you're tired of the average sound of your cheap earphones, the Shure SE315 will give your ears a treat. It can be purchased in clear and solid glossy black and is compatible with the Shure CBL-M-+K Music Phone Cable with Remote + Mic for iPhone, iPod and iPad which is very nice to have but will definitely add cost to the already-expensive price of the earbuds.

Monster Cable Beats by Dr. Dre Heartbeats by Lady Gaga Studded Noise Isolating Headphones - White (Ear Buds)

25 Reviews

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	Price: $129.00
	Price: $129.95
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Pros: Remarkable sound, Good bass, Effective noise isolation, Fashionable, Tangle-free cable
Cons: No volume control, Pricey

Review: Since looks are important to most people, Monster Beats by Dr. Dre and Lady Gaga made another pair of noise-isolating earbuds with the style of the pop artist written all over. The Heartbeats 2.0 are revamped for greater sound and comfort, from the triangular shape that can cause discomfort and can easily slip out of your ear to a more comfortable but still edgy, studded housing. Inspired by Lady Gaga, these earbuds can be considered a total head turner. They are stylish, lightweight and obtainable in black and white. The thinner and lighter flat cable has a very generous cord length and is not tangle-prone, minimizing the risk of being jostled and having no implications in terms of durability. Audio performance is not disappointing as well, with good bass and optimized sound that will impress even discriminating listeners. Every song, especially those that are included in the pop or hiphop genre, comes out crisp and precise. The in-ear design also offers ultimate noise isolation so you can feel more connected to your music and less attuned to the rest of the world. The Heartbeats 2.0 features ControlTalk Universal which is highly compatible with portable devices. It has a built-in mic and talk buttons for taking calls. The buttons can also function as a playback control for your Apple devices. You can play, skip and pause songs, but there's no volume control so you still need to adjust the volume through your device. A huge variety of accessories, consist of six sets of ear tips and an all-black and also-stylish protective pouch, is included. For fashion enthusiasts who want to listen to their music in spectacular fashion and don't mind paying extra for appearance, the Heartbeats by Lady Gaga from Monster Cable Beats by Dr. Dre makes a great impression. It literally outshines other earphones, with a design that not only provides long-term comfort but is also extraordinary and truly note-worthy.