Sony continue to bring out quality in-ear headphones in the face of quite severe and controversial criticism from some members of the audiophile community. Good for Sony we say because, if you’re seeking a great listening experience at a good price then the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00FJISZFK” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”sound51-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]Sony XBAH1 In-Ear Headphones[/easyazon_link] are perfect for your needs – it’s a triumph of simple and straightforward production with all the hallmarks of Sony’s no-frills approach. Let’s get to the Sony XBA-H1 Review.

Well built throughout, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00FJISZFK” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”sound51-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]Sony XBAH1 In-Ear Headphones[/easyazon_link] are lightweight and feature shiny, metallic-colorer plastic buds that have the Sony brand name on. On the underside, color coding indicates left ear/right ear. For any anarchists out there, you’ll be delighted with the flat cabling which is red on one side and black on the other. In keeping with functionality rather than extras, you won’t find a microphone or volume adjuster along the cable so okay you will need to keep your phone handy.

Many in-ear headphones don’t deliver much on noise isolation, but once you get the right fit with the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00FJISZFK” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”sound51-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]Sony XBAH1 In-Ear Headphones[/easyazon_link] ear tips you’ll be listening in more peace than you ever imagined. Sony provide seven pairs of silicone tips and three foam pairs, so you have just try them out in various environments to get the best result.

Sony XBA-H1 Review: A BREATHTAKING HYBRID DRIVER DESIGN

Apart from the benefits of noise isolation, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00FJISZFK” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”sound51-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]Sony XBAH1 In-Ear Headphones[/easyazon_link] shapes up in the sound reproduction stakes. Firstly, its hybrid driver design of a combined dynamic driver and a balanced armature driver is frankly breathtaking. Remember, dynamic drivers are great at handling bass response whereas the armature is excellent at mid-range. So imagine, somehow Sony have put both together in their XBA-H1 and given us audio buffs the best of both worlds. With these buds in your ears, you get crispness and quality of sound on midrange and solid, controlled bass.

Are you a huge fan of the Sony XBA-H1 headphones? We’re sure you’ll like our Best Bluetooth Headphones for Running post too!

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Shure has been successfully supplying impressive quality headphones to the audiophile community for 15 years

And now for on-the-move people who are constantly searching for high-quality sound performance from their in-earphones, there cannot be a more accommodating piece of kit than the Shure SE425 which delivers a combination of replaceable parts and exceptional noise isolation with sonic detail to die for. Woof! Woof!

The SE425 is Shure’s latest dual-driver offering in the mid-range market. Like the other models, the SE425s share a lot of functional similarities with previous Shure headphones. What are the significant design modifications and developments that make the SE425 different from its predecessors?

Firstly, no more bulbous teardrop-shaped earpiece. Shure has redesigned it to a smaller size enabling its contour to fit more comfortably inside the ear. Add to that, the earpieces are user detachable – a real tail-wagging bonus.

Secondly, say hello to its 162mm-long cable which is reinforced with Kevlar® for long life and durability. You can hang it loose or use its Wireform fit capability for looping over your ears to keep it out of the way.

Shure SE425 Review

Thirdly, to protect your investment, the SE425 comes with a hard-sided, zippered carrying case,

complete with earwax cleaning tool; the earphones are accompanied by a 3.5mm to 6.25mm adaptor; plus, there’s Shure’s standard fit kit with three sizes (S, M, L) of the flex and black foam sleeves as well as one pair of triple-flange and one pair of universal-fit yellow foam sleeves; add to that there are three sizes each of silicone and hard foam tips, as well as one pair of triple-flange and one pair of universal-fit yellow foam sleeves – Howl!

Are you a big fan of Shure headphones? We think you’ll also like our Etymotic Research HF5 Review!

The prime concern of buying an ear-phone is its sound quality, and in this Shure SE425 Review we found that it didn’t disappoint in this respect. As you’d expect from their reputation, Shure’s audiophile monitors deliver distinctly rich sound with accurate musical details on all frequencies.

The earpieces cram in dual High-Definition MicroDrivers, which means there is a tweeter and woofer dedicated to each earpiece for the ultimate in clear music reproduction and spacious instrumental separation.

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Sennheiser Momentum In-earphones are available in two versions so both iPhone iOS users and Android users alike can enjoy the sleek, elegant design and high-quality sound provided which is simply, universally, tail-waggingly good! In keeping with their previous Momentum headphone models, Sennheiser delivers well on performance and the red/chrome or black/chrome makes a reappearance in the Momentum in-earphones. Let’s get to the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Review.

The stylish, active design features incorporated in the red and black detailing include subtle metallic shading and a glossy texture giving it both a sporty and sophisticated look. Sennheiser have also paid as much attention to the packaging as it has done to the design of the earphones themselves.

Opened up, you get a selection of four varying sized earbuds, sturdy L-shaped plug and inline remote, all neatly packaged. Inside the Sennheiser Momentum in-ear box there is also a tough and semi-hardened carry case coated with smooth fabric and red stitching.

Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Review: TANGLE-FREE CABLE AND HANDS-FREE CALLING

Attached to the earphones, there is a flat and tangle-free cable, so designed to avoid snarling and knotting. There is an inline control on the cable which reaches up to the right earphone for hands-free calling and it also has an adjustable stopper to help keep the cables tidy.

In terms of sound performance, this is where Sennheiser have departed from the traditional consumer-oriented sound signatures and have opted for a recessed midrange. Superior to the typical Momentum line, the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear headphones deliver a punchy and skull-shaking bass and a clean and crisp high treble, but for some people the midrange might lack a little of the fullness they prefer though this is obviously personal choice. Another great option in this in-the-ear mid range is the Sony XBA H1 review.

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After the initial success of their RHA M450i, Scottish headphone manufacturer RHA have now released the RHA T10i. These uniquely designed in-earphones are a well-crafted and great-sounding product, engineered to reproduce and respond to all music genres with a high level of accuracy and fidelity, a great step up for those who are using iPhone earphones. Let’s get to the RHA T10i Review.

The first thing to note about the RHA T10i design is its metal construction. The injection-moulded, stainless-steel shells not only look intricate and delicate but provide an ultimately sleek and expensive appearance. The only issue created by the T10i metallic construction is that it gives an extra weight over aluminium and titanium alternatives, but there is no chance of the shells falling out of the ear as it is counter-balanced by the latest design in mouldable ear hooks provided.

Manoeuvring the RHA T10i earpieces’ ear hooks can be tricky, but once they are in place you get the freedom of walking around in the streets with full-proof noise isolation and enjoy your music through your in-earphones without any distortion.

RHA T10i Review: 10 EAR-BUDS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR BEST FIT

BOW WOW! With this product you get to play around with the case of ten ear-buds, comprising six pairs of dual density ear tips, two pairs of double flange ear tips, two pairs of memory foam ear tips (universal fit) all of them arranged on a metal tray in a carrying case. It comes with a mouldable-plus detachable cable of 1.3m which is a unique, original development from RHA. It’s not like the original cable is likely to break but still RHA have focused on offering a lot of extras not only for audial satisfac-tion but also for peace of mind.

The sound performance of the RHA T10i is terrific but the bass can get a little bit much. If you are into pop music then you are going to love this piece but if you are into electronic music then you can find the bass troublesome. However, three pairs of swappable tuning filters: bass, reference and treble which you screw into the earbud in order to achieve the balance you require. The treble filter definitely brings out the detail from the mix and the reference filters go even further ahead in term of definition.

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Polk Audio have been making quality speakers since 1972 and now – give the dog a bone – like other major audio manufacturers, they have ventured into the headphone market. Polk Audio AM5110-A Nue Voe is the latest release of Polk’s Heritage collection, distinguished by the sophisticated, good-looking and stylish de-sign from their Nue Era range but with added extra and unique audio features. Let’s get to the Polk Audio AM5110-A Nue Voe Review.

Obviously headphones hunting doesn’t usually begin with looks and it has to be said right away that, true to their reputation, Polk haven’t focused on image alone with the Nue Voe, but also on build quality. These earphones provide fantastic audio chops and are packed with Polk’s own armature de-sign drivers which obtain frequency responses above and below the range of normal hearing. However, Polk’s trendy and flashy design is an important selling point for those who care about image as well as sound.

Nue Voe certainly makes a grand fashion statement with these in-ear beauties available in either sleek black or, to match the appearance of your tortoise-patterned eye glasses, stylish tortoise shell.

Polk Audio AM5110-A Nue Voe Review: SLEEK 3-BUTTON INLINE CONTROLS

Continuing with both the black and the tortoise pattern theme, another prominent feature of the Polk Audio AM5110-A design is a set of Inline controls, a simple, ergonomic three button system allowing for playback, navi-gation and volume control, textured with the respective design to make it look even more attractive. Whichever you choose, you’ll be receiving much more than just a flattering style and a comfortable fit. Polk generously include seven pairs of ear tips of varying sizes, two pairs of three-flange tips, two pairs of foam tips and three pairs of silicon tips, so it’s easy for you to select the best ones as defined by your needs. In line with the tastefulness and consideration of Polk, all this is provided within a pouch made of soft canvas with leather laces.

BARKING BAD DISTORTION ISSUES

Obviously you’ll be wanting to know about the sound quality you’re going to get even if you’re choosing earpieces because they’re matching up to a particular style or image you wish to adopt, The Polk unique balanced-armature driver with Polk Optimized Electro-acoustic Tuning (POET) provides considerably enhanced treble performance In mid audio range over its competitors and is certainly superior to dynamic drivers, delivering well-defined detailed highs and responsive openness across all frequencies. Barking bad however, er noticed in this Polk Audio AM5110-A Nue Voe Review – with its uncontrollable heavy bass, there are distortion issues when played at very high volume.

If you like these in-the-ear phones, we think you’ll love our Etymotic HF5 best noise isolating earbuds review!

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Light, practical and sleek, the Beyerdynamic iDX 160 iE is a welcome addition to the in-ear headphone market. These headphones are the dogs bollocks! With their solid appearance, it’s no surprise that they are really well built – but we didn’t expect such sophistication in design. Seriously, the glossy black that is becoming Beyerdynamic’s hallmark is what sets these apart from the competition. Let’s get to the rest of this Beyerdynamic iDX 160 iE Review.

The black theme follows through to the flat cabling with its ergonomically designed inline control panel and is contrasted by its snazzy silver trim to the control panel and cylindrical buds. There is a cheaper version i.e. the Beryerdynamic DX 160 iE which lacks the control panel for use with Android/Windows and is for playback audio only – so take this into account if you’re to an IOS user.

The trim detail exudes quality and this feature shows the attention given to every aspect of the prod-uct. For instance, the earpieces are moulded with one side slightly concave in shape which allows for easy wearing and fitting.

Beyerdynamic iDX 160 iE Review: SHARE AUDIO WITH A FRIEND

That same concave finish is applied to the topside of the control panel which preventing accidental movement of the buttons. On the reverse of the control panel there is the microphone. An extra, unique feature to this product is that a 90cm extension is included and not only that, but they provide an adapter that you can plug into the extension cable so that you and your friend can share your audio experience.
The extras provided include also a cable clip for tidiness, eight different types of eartips so you can be sure to find the right pair for that perfect fit, all neatly packaged in a zip-fastening sturdy hard case. You will be impressed by the eartip selection of the Beyerdynamic iDX 160 iE that comprises five different sized bowl shapes, one double flange type, one triple flange type and – the icing on the dog’s dinner – one size of original Comply eartips (type T-400) which will knock out all extraneous noise by fitting so well into your ear as it uses  heat-activated memory foam with a wax guard core – brilliant!

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The Klipsch R6i in-ear monitors are unbeatable all-rounders, straightforward and efficient. They are available in an un-fancy finish of either black or white with the Klipsch brand name featured on the outer side in black on an aluminium trim which actually makes insertion to the left/right ears automatically simple. In the case provided, you get a 48 inch, flat, tangle-resistant cable with an inline mic and controls built in, finishing in a 3.5 mm braided nylon gold-plated jack. You also get a clothing clip; and four different-sized ear tips to help customise your perfect fit. Let’s get to the rest of this Klipsch R6i Review.

Klipsch have favoured flat cabling which really does help keep the headphones tidy and tangle free. It’s more function over style with the buds as well, so you will experience lightness in weight from the aluminium construction, comfort from the soft elastomer used in the manufacture and altogether you simply end up with a long-lasting product. The ends of the buds are anatomically designed to fit the ear canal and manufactured from a soft silicone material to further ensure ease of wearing as well as optimal noise isolation.

Using the Klipsch R6i in-built three-button control you can easily select tracks and adjust the audio palette to your taste. The bass response on the Klipsch is generally highly praised for its fullness and solid presence and digs deeper than a dog burying a bone.

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Reputedly the best noise isolation in-ear-monitors (IEMs) on the planet – woof! woof! The Etymotic Research HF5 Review phones may seem a bit small on kit content but scores big on delivery. Etymonic, who established themselves first as manufacturers of top-range hearing monitors and ear protection, have brought their skills and audio-engineering know-how to this is no-quarter asked, no-quarter given, high-performance product that should really get your tail wagging. The custom-built Accu•Driver balanced armature drivers deliver fantastic sound through the IEMs that fit comfortably into your ear canal.

The 48-inch long substantial cable finishes in a gold-plated, j-shaped 3.5 stereo jack; the earphones come in two colours, cobalt and black, all in a carrying pouch with an assortment of their trade-mark ACCU•Fit ear tips and ACCU•Filter wax filters with removal tool. The long, slender buds are ergonomically designed to fit and are handsome devils too, which will seal off more outside noise than you could hope for – Etymotic even provide clear video instructions for placing them into your ears simply, safely and comfortably to get the most out of them – Etymotic website

The Etymotic hf5 IEMs are suitable for Android or IOS users. If you’re after an overall sound that is top dog at a reasonable price these will deliver the goods.

Etymotic Research HF5 Review: A MIDDLE RANGE THAT DELIVERS THE GOODS

They provide well-rounded reproduction with high-level treble, being smooth rather than shrill; a middle range that delivers the goods; and the bass, while not as dynamic because of its armature-based drivers is perfectly adequate for most listeners, particularly for those seeking tight, mid-bass rather than a hip-hop thump.

Make sure to check out our Best Headphones for Under 300 Dollars post too!

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Bowers and Wilkins have a deservedly high reputation for delivering a full-panoply of audio clarity and rich bass to their range of headphones. The design build of the Bowers and Wilkins C5 S2 in-ear phones with its unique adjustable Secure Loop is intended for listeners who want an immersive experience delivered to their ears safely whether sitting stationary or on the move exercising. The in-cable control buttons allow the iPhone user to switch easily from making/receiving calls to selecting/listening to the track but if you’ve got an Android you won’t be able to do this. Let’s get to the rest of this Bowers and Wilkins C5 S2 Review.

These stylish in-ear headphones are produced in a classy black and aluminium finish to the earbuds. Additional to the look provided with the Secure Loop design, retained from its predecessor the ac-claimed C5, is the comfortable fit provided by the ear buds which are manufactured from soft silicone and, as there are three different sizes provided in the kit, you can try them all to find your best fit. The 40 inch black flexible cable is worryingly thin but if you keep it carefully in the clam-shaped case pro-vided should offer years of service. The cable also houses the remote and is finished with a standard 3.5 mini-jack.

The Series 2 of the C5 merits high praise for its naturalistic acoustic reproduction that has been further enhanced by the Bowers and Wilkins’ redesign of the dynamic driver.

Bowers and Wilkins C5 S2 Review: EXPERT FUNCTIONALITY

The result with these Bowers and Wilkins C5 S2 upgraded units is the range you get over the bass, resulting in a clarity of con-trolled precision so the bass is heard but never overpowers the rest of the music. This one enhancement means you get to fully appreciate all aspects of the midrange light and shade for its tonal qualities and the top end is beautifully served by the B&W expertise. Finally, the noise isolation on this kit is second to none – it quite literally fills your head with sound – Top dog!!

Are you a Bowers and Wilkins fan? We think you’ll also like our Bose Freestyle review.

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Bose has been in the audiophile community since the late 1960s and has earned a rightful reputation for quality sound performance and, more importantly, its visual approach to product design. Bose re-cently brought out the FreeStyle, a pair of in-earphones with quality performance as well as youthful and colorful design. The Bose FreeStyle is Bose’s successor to their already existing IE2, SIE2i, and MIE2i in-ear headphones and so existing Bose users will be familiar with many of its features. Although not built from a scratch as a whole new product, it is not simply a rebrand but comes with a number of design improvements – Give the dog a bone! Let’s get to the rest of this Bose FreeStyle Review.

Available in two colors, Indigo and Ice Blue, the FreeStyle’s target audience is youthful and fun-loving. The way the color is used is typical of Bose’s style with two-tone colouring spiralling along the length of the cable – the spirals on the Indigo are navy blue and fern green while the Ice Blue spiralling is white/blue. The remote junction for the microphone and the volume control is red on both color choices.

The cable is 44 inches and is both robust and flexible with a connection designed to prevent it getting tangled. The cable houses the red remote control, and microphone for mobile devices. The housing of the plug and earpieces is both well reinforced yet malleable.

The Bose FreeStyle is shipped with three pairs of transparent silicon tips which are very lightweight and you hardly notice you are wearing them when the buds are in your ear.

Bose FreeStyle Review: EAR-BUDS THAT WON’T DROP OUT WHEN RUNNING

The Bose FreeStyle earbuds’ crescent-moon-shaped hook is designed to fit onto the outer ear which further helps to keep them in place. The FreeStyle earbuds are moisture/sweat resistant so you can wear them during exercise or when out running without fear of the unit malfunctioning.

The sound quality doesn’t offer perfect noise isolation, but it is, as you would expect from Bose, crisp, clear and sculptured, capable of picking out discrete sound signatures, perhaps focusing a bit more on crisp high-mids than deep bass.

Are you digging these headphones? Be sure to check out our Best Beats Headphones post too!
And don’t forget to check out our guide to the Best Gaming Headset.

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