Since I’m on the go a lot, I use my iPod frequently. I long ago threw away the headphones that came with the unit. They have the white high-tech finish, but left a lot to be desired in the sound quality department. I was used to quality headphones with accurate reproduction. I normally listened to my home stereo system with AKG headphones. The AKGs are great headphones, but not practical for a workout at the gym or for a long train ride. I needed something small and portable with accurate sound and I wasn’t going to spend over a hundred bucks, more information.
I went to all the large electronic stores and tried out an array of in-the-ear models from different manufacturers. Shure and Sennheiser make excellent in-ear ‘phones and they were a pleasure to listen to but didn’t really set well in my ear canal even with different sized adapters. They just weren’t comfortable for me, even tho’ the sound quality was excellent. The ‘phones I tried from these manufacturers were all good but they were over my $100 budget. I asked the clerk for a demo of the Bose in-ear headphones.
Bose has always been known for innovation in the stereo world, and has been for over fifty years. They spend tons of money on research and development. Their “Wave” stereo has quite good sound quality for its size, if a bit lacking in the low-end department. Their home theater systems continue to be best sellers along with their home stereo speakers. I had read a little about the in-ears and was anxious to try them out. After finding the right silicon ear adapters for a tight fit, I found the correct left and right ear units, put them in my ear, plugged them into the iPod and was met with incredibly balanced and clear, undistorted sound. The only word I can use to describe them is “accurate.”
Since I listen to a wide variety of music, I put these headphones through their paces with my iPod unit. I listened to jazz (John Coltrane), classic rock (Rolling Stones), some R & B (Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin). and some orchestral classical music to check out the hard to reproduce massed strings sound. These little ‘phones did not disappoint in any of the genres of music I threw at them. The bass was not overly emphasized and had a lot of punch, but was tight and not “flabby” at all. The midrange was smooth and seemed to reproduce the human voice with good clarity, no stridency and with no “nasal” quality. The high end sparkled but wasn’t grating or irritating as with a lot of other units. The highs were clean and clear. They also conveyed a sense of “being there.” The sound stage was wide and deep and revealed a convincing stereo spread without the “hole in the middle” sound of most headphones. I could also drive them to the maximum sound level without breakup and distortion.
I paid the full retail amount of $99.99 and that’s a bargain. I have found them online for $89.00, but I’m always too impatient to wait for the shipment to arrive.
These Bose in-ear headphones are a delight and a pleasure to live with. They’re versatile for any type of music, portable and sexy with their black and chrome subdued design. Bose has done it again! Go out and listen to a pair today, or even better, buy some. They’ll leave those white ear bud headphones in the dust.