Review: Plantronics BackBeat 216

Plantronics recently released a new set of stereo headsets with inline mic and I've had the opportunity to review them.  As I've mentioned in the past, high quality stereo headphones with built-in Mic seems to be a rare breed, so I'm always excited to welcome new ones to the club.

The Plantronics BackBeat 216 sells for $49 a pair which makes it almost a premium headphone but not quite.  From the design of it, it sure looks and qualifies to be considered a premium headphone but the nice thing here is that its price-point is quite affordable.  The typical bells and whistles are there, 3 different ear buds sizes, inline microphone with volume control and cloth-wrapped tangle-free cord.

I was anxious to test out these headphones because one of the advertising points printed on the front of the box is "Bass Boost Headphones" and I love my headphones with good low-frequency response rate.  Upon testing, I was a little disappointed by the Bass response, or the lack of.  Upon closer inspection, I realized the frequency range for the BackBeat 216 is 20Hz to 18500Hz as oppose to some other headsets like my V-Moda Vibe II goes both lower and higher at 12Hz to 22000Hz.  The mid to higher range frequencies are as advertised which is crystal clear.  I suspected Plantronics engineers had voice-conversations in mind since building phone/bluetooth headset is the name of their game.  The headphones do offer excellent noise shield with the size-adjustable ear buds and the audio control is great with the inline remote/mic.

Overall, I'd say this set of headset is really good if you are not looking for strong Bass (some might find too much Bass response headache inducing), at $49 MSRP, this headset gives you a lot of premium design, feel without the premium price tag. 

Review: ifrogz Plugz Headphones w/ Mic

Good value stereo headphone w/ mic! Thats how I'd sum up ifrogz's Plugz, $19 pair of headphones,. For the amount of money you'd shell out for this headset, you are getting quite a bit in return. An in-ear design stereo headphone that includes a built-in mic so you can use your iPhone or BlackBerry smartphones without having to carry a spare headphone just for communication.

Sound quality is precise and crisp; I'd personally prefer to have a little bit more bass support so I'd recommend the ifrogz Timbre which supports a wider/lower frequency (20Hz to 20KHz). ifrogz has done a great job producing an entry level stereo headphones with built-in mic for a very reasonable price.

ifrogz Premium Headphones w/ Mic, Affordable too!

I've said it before that there ought to be more manufacturers to produce stereo headphones with built-in mic. With iPhone sales taking off and lots of other smartphones starting to support this trend there this demand is becoming more serious. Now that iPod Touch has a few VOIP solutions, I'd say this is a must.

Up until today, I can only think of a few choices: 1). Apple OEM headphones [no thanks], 2). Apple Premium headphones [mixed reviews], 3). V-Moda series [we like it] and 4). Griffin TuneBuds Mobile [excellent value]. That is until I received a communication from ifrogz about 3 of their headphones ranging from $19 to $49 and they all have built-in mic. What a concept!

I'll see if I can get some reviews in for you on these, so stay tuned! For now, you can check 'em out your self here:

ifrogz Plugz ($19.99)
ifrogz Reflex ($29.99)
ifrogz Timbre ($49.99)

Review: V-MODA Vibe DUO Headphones BASS Powerhouse!

[Update: 7/22/2009 Just got an email from V-Moda saying they are shipping out a replacement order for my defective headphones. V-Moda is a standup company and I would vouch for their

[Update: 7/7/2009 My Vibe Duo headphone started to having problems with the left ear bud cutting in and out; the behavior is strange because it would do it randomly, w/o any tugging or pulling or the cords. Feels like some sort of short; I'm going to see how V-MODA is going to handle my request seeing that my unit is a review, never-the-less, only lasted 4 months of light usage]

Few weeks ago, I did a review on V-MODA’s latest creation, the Vibe II stereo headphone with mic and I liked it a lot. But in the back of my mind, I’ve always wondered how it differs from the Vibe Duo (the original headphones that made V-MODA popular). Well, wonder no more, I have gotten a hold of a pair of Vibe Duo for a follow-up review.

BASS Powerhouse! V-MODA Vibe Duo

I’ll start the review by saying that the V-MODA Vibe Duo is an incredible set of headphones especially if you enjoy low frequencies. It has the best BASS response than any other headphones I have tested. Its full and rich with sounds as if you are having a dance club in your head. I love it! Other frequencies are decent but I believe the engineers at V-MODA tuned this headset to amplify it's BASS range (versus the newer Vibe II which has a sharp sound across the entire frequency band at the cost of weaker BASS response). Therefore, depending on your musical preference, you should choose between the Vibe Duo (for R&B, Rap, Dance) or Vibe II (Classical, Rock, Jazz, etc.).

Design - The Vibe Duo design is very elegant. I always liked its anodized-aluminum finish (in three colors: red, black and silver). The cords are enclosed in a nylon-cloth material which is soft and sturdy (and stain proof). V-MODA is always good about its in-ear design. It rests in your ear canals comfortably since they offer 2 sets of three bud sizes to swap out. Having that second set of ear buds is a very good touch incase you lose one of the sizes which has happened to me in the past on a Sony headset.

The built-in mic is great (and a must!) because as I mentioned in my prior reviews, its is very difficult to find premium headphones with mic integration. I find the conversations clear as any other high quality headset and the inline control (answer/end call) is very handy for when your iPhone is in your pocket.

Vibe Duo vs. Vibe II (the newer contender)
This review is actually taking place in reverse since I’ve reviewed the newer V-MODA Vibe II only recently. What was interesting for me is to be able to easily spot the areas where the new Vibe II has improved over the already-very-good Vibe Duo. Here is what I have noticed:

* Overall, the Vibe II feels more refined and ruggedized headphones compared to the Vibe Duo
* Cords on the Vibe II is thicker and uses Teflon as material
* More steel can be found on the Vibe II for a heavier-duty feel (around the ear buds, inline control) compared to the plastic parts used on the Vibe Duo
* Note! The first three points are purely speculations, I am not sure if one is actually more sturdy than the other, both are very well engineered in my book
* Vibe Duo is better suited for BASS, lots of it… I smile like a teenager with a fancy car stereo system when listening
* Vibe II has been tuned to project a very sharp and clear sound over it’s entire frequency range (less intense BASS)

Conclusion: I really like the Vibe Duo, even more than Vibe II

The Vibe Duo is an amazing set of stereo headphones with microphone. The design alone is enough to tell you the story. While the newer Vibe II(MSRP $119) is a bit more refined and ruggedized, the Vibe Duo still holds its own in terms of sturdiness and performance and can be picked up with a bit of discount $80 on Amazon.com. If you like your Music with a strong flare in the low frequency range, look no further, the Vibe Duo is hands down the best for your iPhone. Which is why I really like this set.

If you are just looking for a set of V-MODA headphone w/o mic (for MP3 players or iPods), you can pick up the V-MODA Vibe for about $50 on Amazon.com or wait for the up and coming V-MODA AVC line featuring the VoiceOver support on new iPod Shuffle.

Special thanks to Kat K. at formulaPR for arranging the review units.

Review: V MODA Vibe II Headset with Mic

V MODA has been known for producing high quality headphones catered towards the iPhone and iPod crowd. My buddy Yasir has always sworn by their amazing sound quality of his original Vibe Duo. Personally, I have always wanted to get a pair of V Moda headphones for my iPhone, until now, I have been using a moderately good pair of Griffin's Tune Buds Mobile. When the good folks at Formula PR offered a pair of V MODA Vibe II for review, I gladly accepted.
Before we get started, I have some basic requirements for headsets: 1). Must have a built-in mic, 2). Must have good sound quality [good highs and deep bass], 3). Must have some sort of in-ear buds that blocks outside noise. You'd be surprised to find how little choices are available if you require all of the above.
The Vibe II is beautifully crafted in stainless steel alloy and comes with an Italian designed leather protective case. My review unit is black with a soft fabric cable and includes a set of sport earhooks which is optional if you need to secure your headphones for more active environment. In addition to including an inline mic, it also includes inline control to play/pause/answer call. This headset will work with other smartphones, media players as well as VOIP laptop applications (ie. BlackBerry Bold, Curve, Storm, Laptops/MacBooks) so long as they support the 24K gold plated 3.5mm plug.
Hands on with Vibe II
"Only the finest materials are used to create..." as claimed by V MODA's press kit. And finest material they are! I am amazed at the quality and craftsmanship that went into this headset. Even down to its packaging, protective case and Kevlar-infused cord fabric for added durability. When other headphones supply 3 different silicon ear buds for sizing, V MODA gives you a wider range of selection with the four sizing options.
Audio Clarity and Quality is Superb!
The sound quality on the Vibe II is sharp and clear. "Precision" is a word I would use to describe this headset, from the sounds to the fitment. The music sounds very tight and concise; I tried out a variety of songs from Classical to R&B and every note is reproduced accurately. The bass from the 8mm driver is especially great with the in-ear design which is nice and deep (hence is 12- 22Hz range). Even when I cranked up the volume (which is not recommended), the audio is still precise and clear. I placed a couple of test calls and I can hear the other party just fine as they have no problem with hearing me either. In fact, the mic is so sensitive it was picking up the HVAC vent sound to my receipient.
Overall, I am very pleased with V MODA Vibe II and I would recommend this set to any hardcore audio phile with or without an Apple product. At $128 MSRP, it is demanding, however, when compared to the super expensive Shure or Bose headphones, this is actually a great price offer excellent performance and build quality. I'd be very interested in comparing the VIBE II to Apple's In-Ear Buds in the upcoming future. (Special thanks to Jamie C. at Formula PR)

Review: Griffin’s Tune Buds Mobile

I’ve been looking for a pair of 3.5mm stereo headphones with in-line mic for quite some time. I wanted something with value & performance and willing to go up to $50. There are some serious contenders when it comes to headphones but to require built-in mic and set a cap at $50, this is where it filters down to zero. While most multimedia phones come with OEM stereo headphones/mic (ie. Nokia N95 and iPhone) the quality is just not quite what I am looking for.

Background: For a long time, I’ve been pretty satisfied pairing up a set of Sony Fontopia (EX51LP)with my classic iPods. They have a good in-ear design, sounds great and is very good value for the performance (Amazon.com has them for $20, MSRP $35). If only the Fontopia is available with an inline mic.

Griffin Tune Buds Mobile: Griffin Technology decided to get into the game with their Tune Buds Mobile. It offers in-ear design which is something I must have for plane rides to block out ambient noise and a built-in mic to take calls. The 3.5mm jack design is slim to fit the poorly designed first generation iPhones. It, of course, will work with any smart phones with a 3.5mm jack. The built quality is decent, with a nylon-woven-braided material to cover the cords. The cords length are no different than any standard headphones, however, I do miss the Fontopia’s wrap-around-neck design where the right ear bud is a little longer and sits behind my neck instead of hanging in front of my chest. I like the black finish as it matches up quite nicely with my iPhone using a black protector (ClearBoost). The glossy finish on the buds tops off the Darth Vader style I am going after. At $39.99 MSRP (some vendors on Amazon has it for $30), this product fits all of my search criteria, so it looks like we have a potential winner here.

Performance: The sound quality is good; the bass is low and the highs are crystal clear. The in-ear design is important to block out ambient noise which heightens the music playback fidelity. The package comes with three sets of bud adaptors (small, medium and large). By default, it has the medium size installed, while inserting the buds to my ear, I can ear some funny rubbing noise which I believe comes from where the rubber adaptors rubbing against the base of the buds. No harm here, just something I have to get used to. I like the nylon-woven-braided cords; it feels more industrial and being black, it obviously hides dirt and stain marks better than the white/rubbery cords I am used to. The high sensitivity mic worked as promised with a button in the cord which lets me receive calls at will. I noticed I have to hold the mic unit closer to my cheeks or turn my head towards it to provide a better sound for my recipients. This could just be me as I am not known to be a loudmouth while speaking on phones in public.

Conclusion: I find Griffin’s new Tune Buds Mobile a very good alternative to OEM headphones providing high quality sound range and a built-in mic. In this price range, there isn’t anything on the market so I would recommend this earphones for those interested in something better than what your phone comes with. As for me, I refuse to use Bluetooth Headsets, simply because they are counter-productive, both the Bluetooth headset and device will end up draining battery faster than what I would like. That said, these headphones are great for mobile warriors, the package even comes with a little carrying pouch to protect your investment on the go.