The overall feel is solid in the hand, and solid in use. The included shirt clip isn't anything to get excited about �C it's your basic plastic clip �C but then all it has to do is grab hold of a shirt. If anything it seems a bit large for the job.
My only gripe about the NAEB500 design is the use of asymmetric cable lengths between left and right. It's just me �C I am sure someone loves this style, but it just doesn't work for me. You're supposed to wrap the right one around the back of your head. If you have long hair, then the question is 'over or under'. Maybe it's just my hair (which is usually in a heavy thick braid), but neither works for me. So the cords hang in front monster beats , and look odd. It also kinda mandates that whatever you've got these plugged into should be on the left side of you �C since the cord tends to hang down from the left ear:
As I said, that is my pet peeve �C I find this asymmetric design no worse than any other, I just really don't seem to work well with these.
In-ear Fit
The NAEB500 fit in-ear very well. The little manual tells you how to pull your ear back to really wedge it in. I found I was able to also just corkscrew the buds in one handed beats by dre studio , with a little practice. I also found that I got better sound switching to a smaller tip, which surprised me a bit since I usually need to use the largest ones provided. I think the angled end, and somewhat larger actual core plastic bit inside made the largest tips too large for me to get the bud in at the proper angle and depth. With some experimentation I ended up quite pleased with the ease of putting them in & out dr dre headphones , and their stability once in place. I'm not a runner, but I do spend time in the gym, and take brisk walks. In both cases the buds stayed put monster headphones , and there was little static/noise transfer from the cord moving about. I managed to get one flight in with these, and they worked well at providing noise isolation �C so well I wore them, unplugged Beats pro , for takeoff and landing. In the air they allowed for a comfortably low listening level due to the reduced 'roar of the jets' background noise.
Sure, but how do they Sound?
I'm glad I read the manual, and I had some time to use these earphones before doing this review. The manual points out that there is a break-in period. I read that and thought it was likely bogus. When I first used the NAEB500s sure enough the sound was somewhat flat, and seemed to be a bit tinny with no low end. 'Uh oh' was my first thought. Even listening to 'talking head' podcasts the sound just wasn't as full as I expected. I hung in there with them, and after about a week they did seem to even out. The low end was mostly about getting the fit in my ear right, and the tinny/harsh upper end 'mellowed' as the manual suggested it would. I'm not sure what's at work with that, but it was a noticeable improvement over time. Now I find them to be quite good for both 'talking' sources, and music. My hearing isn't the best (too much rock in the old days) but to me, they're as good as other medium-priced earphones.
Where's the mic?
These are not headsets, so they lack a mic, and the attendant bubble to answer/hangup/control music on an iPhone/iOS/other smart phone device. While that's completely understandable, it sure would be handy.
Let Me Sum That Up For You
I tend to chew through earphones, so I'm very accustomed to the low end products. I also own one high end set that I treat with kid gloves. The NAEB500 earphones fall into a sweet spot between those two extremes. They're not so expensive that you feel like you need to don white gloves when handling them �C and not only that, they're built like they expect to be used in active situations. In actual use I found they delivered on those expectations. They're comfortable, they sound great, and they're much more attractive than the usual white wired plastic wired earphones. They're a nice step up in quality, without being a huge step up in price.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
beats headphones allowed
The overall feel is solid in the hand, and solid in use. The included shirt clip isn't anything to get excited about �C it's your basic plastic clip �C but then all it has to do is grab hold of a shirt. If anything it seems a bit large for the job.
My only gripe about the NAEB500 design is the use of asymmetric cable lengths between left and right. It's just me �C I am sure someone loves this style, but it just doesn't work for me. You're supposed to wrap the right one around the back of your head. If you have long hair, then the question is 'over or under'. Maybe it's just my hair (which is usually in a heavy thick braid), but neither works for me. So the cords hang in front beats by dr dre, and look odd. It also kinda mandates that whatever you've got these plugged into should be on the left side of you �C since the cord tends to hang down from the left ear:
As I said, that is my pet peeve �C I find this asymmetric design no worse than any other, I just really don't seem to work well with these.
In-ear Fit
The NAEB500 fit in-ear very well. The little manual tells you how to pull your ear back to really wedge it in. I found I was able to also just corkscrew the buds in one handed beats headphones, with a little practice. I also found that I got better sound switching to a smaller tip, which surprised me a bit since I usually need to use the largest ones provided. I think the angled end, and somewhat larger actual core plastic bit inside made the largest tips too large for me to get the bud in at the proper angle and depth. With some experimentation I ended up quite pleased with the ease of putting them in & out Dr Dre Beats, and their stability once in place. I'm not a runner, but I do spend time in the gym, and take brisk walks. In both cases the buds stayed put Dre Beats, and there was little static/noise transfer from the cord moving about. I managed to get one flight in with these, and they worked well at providing noise isolation �C so well I wore them, unplugged Beats By Dre, for takeoff and landing. In the air they allowed for a comfortably low listening level due to the reduced 'roar of the jets' background noise.
Sure, but how do they Sound?
I'm glad I read the manual, and I had some time to use these earphones before doing this review. The manual points out that there is a break-in period. I read that and thought it was likely bogus. When I first used the NAEB500s sure enough the sound was somewhat flat, and seemed to be a bit tinny with no low end. 'Uh oh' was my first thought. Even listening to 'talking head' podcasts the sound just wasn't as full as I expected. I hung in there with them, and after about a week they did seem to even out. The low end was mostly about getting the fit in my ear right, and the tinny/harsh upper end 'mellowed' as the manual suggested it would. I'm not sure what's at work with that, but it was a noticeable improvement over time. Now I find them to be quite good for both 'talking' sources, and music. My hearing isn't the best (too much rock in the old days) but to me, they're as good as other medium-priced earphones.
Where's the mic?
These are not headsets, so they lack a mic, and the attendant bubble to answer/hangup/control music on an iPhone/iOS/other smart phone device. While that's completely understandable, it sure would be handy.
Let Me Sum That Up For You
I tend to chew through earphones, so I'm very accustomed to the low end products. I also own one high end set that I treat with kid gloves. The NAEB500 earphones fall into a sweet spot between those two extremes. They're not so expensive that you feel like you need to don white gloves when handling them �C and not only that, they're built like they expect to be used in active situations. In actual use I found they delivered on those expectations. They're comfortable, they sound great, and they're much more attractive than the usual white wired plastic wired earphones. They're a nice step up in quality, without being a huge step up in price.
My only gripe about the NAEB500 design is the use of asymmetric cable lengths between left and right. It's just me �C I am sure someone loves this style, but it just doesn't work for me. You're supposed to wrap the right one around the back of your head. If you have long hair, then the question is 'over or under'. Maybe it's just my hair (which is usually in a heavy thick braid), but neither works for me. So the cords hang in front beats by dr dre, and look odd. It also kinda mandates that whatever you've got these plugged into should be on the left side of you �C since the cord tends to hang down from the left ear:
As I said, that is my pet peeve �C I find this asymmetric design no worse than any other, I just really don't seem to work well with these.
In-ear Fit
The NAEB500 fit in-ear very well. The little manual tells you how to pull your ear back to really wedge it in. I found I was able to also just corkscrew the buds in one handed beats headphones, with a little practice. I also found that I got better sound switching to a smaller tip, which surprised me a bit since I usually need to use the largest ones provided. I think the angled end, and somewhat larger actual core plastic bit inside made the largest tips too large for me to get the bud in at the proper angle and depth. With some experimentation I ended up quite pleased with the ease of putting them in & out Dr Dre Beats, and their stability once in place. I'm not a runner, but I do spend time in the gym, and take brisk walks. In both cases the buds stayed put Dre Beats, and there was little static/noise transfer from the cord moving about. I managed to get one flight in with these, and they worked well at providing noise isolation �C so well I wore them, unplugged Beats By Dre, for takeoff and landing. In the air they allowed for a comfortably low listening level due to the reduced 'roar of the jets' background noise.
Sure, but how do they Sound?
I'm glad I read the manual, and I had some time to use these earphones before doing this review. The manual points out that there is a break-in period. I read that and thought it was likely bogus. When I first used the NAEB500s sure enough the sound was somewhat flat, and seemed to be a bit tinny with no low end. 'Uh oh' was my first thought. Even listening to 'talking head' podcasts the sound just wasn't as full as I expected. I hung in there with them, and after about a week they did seem to even out. The low end was mostly about getting the fit in my ear right, and the tinny/harsh upper end 'mellowed' as the manual suggested it would. I'm not sure what's at work with that, but it was a noticeable improvement over time. Now I find them to be quite good for both 'talking' sources, and music. My hearing isn't the best (too much rock in the old days) but to me, they're as good as other medium-priced earphones.
Where's the mic?
These are not headsets, so they lack a mic, and the attendant bubble to answer/hangup/control music on an iPhone/iOS/other smart phone device. While that's completely understandable, it sure would be handy.
Let Me Sum That Up For You
I tend to chew through earphones, so I'm very accustomed to the low end products. I also own one high end set that I treat with kid gloves. The NAEB500 earphones fall into a sweet spot between those two extremes. They're not so expensive that you feel like you need to don white gloves when handling them �C and not only that, they're built like they expect to be used in active situations. In actual use I found they delivered on those expectations. They're comfortable, they sound great, and they're much more attractive than the usual white wired plastic wired earphones. They're a nice step up in quality, without being a huge step up in price.
beats headphones display
NAEB500 Noise Isolating In-Ear Earphones from Nyrius are a refreshing departure from the run of the mill $10 in-ear earphones one usually runs into. They��re priced at $49.95 but are widely available around $30, and as such they cost about as much as 2 or three of those knock-off earphones you��ll find in the big-box store. What you get for that premium are earphones that are built like wee-little tanks, and that provide (after a bit of fiddling and fitting) clearly better sound than those cheaper options. Thanks to the ��deep�� in-ear/angled design the NAEB500s provide a decent amount of noise blocking as well.
Inside the Box
In the box is a surprising array of goodies, given these are earphones:
In addition to the earphones, you get one of those clamshell semi-rigid cases to store them in (handy for those of us who toss the earphones in a backpack!) and a pile (8 pair!) of additional bud tips in various sized and configurations. Those will come in handy beats by dr dre, as you��ll see later on. Also included is a manual, which is important to read to get the proper fit, and to read about the break-in period. I kid you not beats headphones, I experienced it firsthand. More on that in a bit.
Build Quality
The earbuds are made out of both metal and plastic, with stress reduction connectors to the heavy gauge wire attractively showing through a clear sheath. The removable tip sits on an angled stalk, and the right side (in addition to being on the end of the longer wire) is helpfully marked with an R. When you cram these things in your ear Dr Dre Beats, the end sticking out of your ear is angled forward, towards the front, if you��re putting them in right.
The back is branded with a lowercase N.
The impression the buds give off is that they��re solidly constructed Dre Beats, and nothing I��ve seen in several weeks of use has demonstrated otherwise.
The Y connection between the earbuds is even built using the same solid construction and stress relief:
And as you would expect at this price-point, the jack tip is gold plated. It��s also made exactly the same as the other parts �C metal, with the same stress reduction fitting.
The overall feel is solid in the hand Beats By Dre, and solid in use. The included shirt clip isn��t anything to get excited about �C it��s your basic plastic clip �C but then all it has to do is grab hold of a shirt. If anything it seems a bit large for the job.
My only gripe about the NAEB500 design is the use of asymmetric cable lengths between left and right. It��s just me �C I am sure someone loves this style, but it just doesn��t work for me. You��re supposed to wrap the right one around the back of your head. If you have long hair, then the question is ��over or under��. Maybe it��s just my hair (which is usually in a heavy thick braid), but neither works for me. So the cords hang in front, and look odd. It also kinda mandates that whatever you��ve got these plugged into should be on the left side of you �C since the cord tends to hang down from the left ear:
As I said, that is my pet peeve �C I find this asymmetric design no worse than any other, I just really don��t seem to work well with these.
In-ear Fit
The NAEB500 fit in-ear very well. The little manual tells you how to pull your ear back to really wedge it in. I found I was able to also just corkscrew the buds in one handed, with a little practice. I also found that I got better sound switching to a smaller tip, which surprised me a bit since I usually need to use the largest ones provided. I think the angled end, and somewhat larger actual core plastic bit inside made the largest tips too large for me to get the bud in at the proper angle and depth. With some experimentation I ended up quite pleased with the ease of putting them in & out, and their stability once in place. I��m not a runner, but I do spend time in the gym, and take brisk walks. In both cases the buds stayed put, and there was little static/noise transfer from the cord moving about. I managed to get one flight in with these, and they worked well at providing noise isolation �C so well I wore them, unplugged, for takeoff and landing. In the air they allowed for a comfortably low listening level due to the reduced ��roar of the jets�� background noise.
Sure, but how do they Sound?
I��m glad I read the manual, and I had some time to use these earphones before doing this review. The manual points out that there is a break-in period. I read that and thought it was likely bogus. When I first used the NAEB500s sure enough the sound was somewhat flat, and seemed to be a bit tinny with no low end. ��Uh oh�� was my first thought. Even listening to ��talking head�� podcasts the sound just wasn��t as full as I expected. I hung in there with them, and after about a week they did seem to even out. The low end was mostly about getting the fit in my ear right, and the tinny/harsh upper end ��mellowed�� as the manual suggested it would. I��m not sure what��s at work with that, but it was a noticeable improvement over time. Now I find them to be quite good for both ��talking�� sources, and music. My hearing isn��t the best (too much rock in the old days) but to me, they��re as good as other medium-priced earphones.
Where��s the mic?
These are not headsets, so they lack a mic, and the attendant bubble to answer/hangup/control music on an iPhone/iOS/other smart phone device. While that��s completely understandable, it sure would be handy.
Let Me Sum That Up For You
I tend to chew through earphones, so I��m very accustomed to the low end products. I also own one high end set that I treat with kid gloves. The NAEB500 earphones fall into a sweet spot between those two extremes. They��re not so expensive that you feel like you need to don white gloves when handling them �C and not only that, they��re built like they expect to be used in active situations. In actual use I found they delivered on those expectations. They��re comfortable, they sound great, and they��re much more attractive than the usual white wired plastic wired earphones. They��re a nice step up in quality, without being a huge step up in price.
Inside the Box
In the box is a surprising array of goodies, given these are earphones:
In addition to the earphones, you get one of those clamshell semi-rigid cases to store them in (handy for those of us who toss the earphones in a backpack!) and a pile (8 pair!) of additional bud tips in various sized and configurations. Those will come in handy beats by dr dre, as you��ll see later on. Also included is a manual, which is important to read to get the proper fit, and to read about the break-in period. I kid you not beats headphones, I experienced it firsthand. More on that in a bit.
Build Quality
The earbuds are made out of both metal and plastic, with stress reduction connectors to the heavy gauge wire attractively showing through a clear sheath. The removable tip sits on an angled stalk, and the right side (in addition to being on the end of the longer wire) is helpfully marked with an R. When you cram these things in your ear Dr Dre Beats, the end sticking out of your ear is angled forward, towards the front, if you��re putting them in right.
The back is branded with a lowercase N.
The impression the buds give off is that they��re solidly constructed Dre Beats, and nothing I��ve seen in several weeks of use has demonstrated otherwise.
The Y connection between the earbuds is even built using the same solid construction and stress relief:
And as you would expect at this price-point, the jack tip is gold plated. It��s also made exactly the same as the other parts �C metal, with the same stress reduction fitting.
The overall feel is solid in the hand Beats By Dre, and solid in use. The included shirt clip isn��t anything to get excited about �C it��s your basic plastic clip �C but then all it has to do is grab hold of a shirt. If anything it seems a bit large for the job.
My only gripe about the NAEB500 design is the use of asymmetric cable lengths between left and right. It��s just me �C I am sure someone loves this style, but it just doesn��t work for me. You��re supposed to wrap the right one around the back of your head. If you have long hair, then the question is ��over or under��. Maybe it��s just my hair (which is usually in a heavy thick braid), but neither works for me. So the cords hang in front, and look odd. It also kinda mandates that whatever you��ve got these plugged into should be on the left side of you �C since the cord tends to hang down from the left ear:
As I said, that is my pet peeve �C I find this asymmetric design no worse than any other, I just really don��t seem to work well with these.
In-ear Fit
The NAEB500 fit in-ear very well. The little manual tells you how to pull your ear back to really wedge it in. I found I was able to also just corkscrew the buds in one handed, with a little practice. I also found that I got better sound switching to a smaller tip, which surprised me a bit since I usually need to use the largest ones provided. I think the angled end, and somewhat larger actual core plastic bit inside made the largest tips too large for me to get the bud in at the proper angle and depth. With some experimentation I ended up quite pleased with the ease of putting them in & out, and their stability once in place. I��m not a runner, but I do spend time in the gym, and take brisk walks. In both cases the buds stayed put, and there was little static/noise transfer from the cord moving about. I managed to get one flight in with these, and they worked well at providing noise isolation �C so well I wore them, unplugged, for takeoff and landing. In the air they allowed for a comfortably low listening level due to the reduced ��roar of the jets�� background noise.
Sure, but how do they Sound?
I��m glad I read the manual, and I had some time to use these earphones before doing this review. The manual points out that there is a break-in period. I read that and thought it was likely bogus. When I first used the NAEB500s sure enough the sound was somewhat flat, and seemed to be a bit tinny with no low end. ��Uh oh�� was my first thought. Even listening to ��talking head�� podcasts the sound just wasn��t as full as I expected. I hung in there with them, and after about a week they did seem to even out. The low end was mostly about getting the fit in my ear right, and the tinny/harsh upper end ��mellowed�� as the manual suggested it would. I��m not sure what��s at work with that, but it was a noticeable improvement over time. Now I find them to be quite good for both ��talking�� sources, and music. My hearing isn��t the best (too much rock in the old days) but to me, they��re as good as other medium-priced earphones.
Where��s the mic?
These are not headsets, so they lack a mic, and the attendant bubble to answer/hangup/control music on an iPhone/iOS/other smart phone device. While that��s completely understandable, it sure would be handy.
Let Me Sum That Up For You
I tend to chew through earphones, so I��m very accustomed to the low end products. I also own one high end set that I treat with kid gloves. The NAEB500 earphones fall into a sweet spot between those two extremes. They��re not so expensive that you feel like you need to don white gloves when handling them �C and not only that, they��re built like they expect to be used in active situations. In actual use I found they delivered on those expectations. They��re comfortable, they sound great, and they��re much more attractive than the usual white wired plastic wired earphones. They��re a nice step up in quality, without being a huge step up in price.
earphones
The best earphones are listed here in order of our preference. The Shure SE535 sits at the top of our list. These triple-driver earphones have a new fit with removable cables. In second comes the first true 3-way triple driver earphones with universal fit, the UM3X with a slight "bump" on the lower end, clear vocals and great soundstage. The Westone 4 is hands down our favorite earphones for Classical music. The Westone 4 earphones have a 3-way crossover and it's the very first Quad Driver earphones with universal fit ever made. Each earpiece has four drivers! One "tweeter", one mid-range and two "woofers" in a 3-way crossover configuration.
Shure SE535 outputs slightly more detail in the mid range and highs. The UM3X has slightly stronger bass. The SE535 is brighter while the UM3X is more balanced (flatter). The Westone 4 is a great option for iPod owners as the drivers are more elastic and accepting of EQ changes. For comfort we do prefer the UM3X because of its slightly elongated nozzle. The Westone 4 however is simply amazing for cello, violins and classic masterpieces.
These models are our overall best ear canal headphones beats by dr dre, combining the best fit, comfort and sound, along with the best fitting cables. We tested them with a RIO player beats headphones, Cowon, iPod Classic, iPod Nano Dr Dre Beats, iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS Dre Beats, iPhone 4 and a Sony CD player.
We strive to be the best at what we do and all of the in-ear earphones (also known as ear canal headphones) you find on Earphone Solutions are special and of the highest quality, but the ones you see rated here are, well Beats By Dre, extra-special. We understand that this choice is a very personal matter, however we have found along these years that, the great majority of our customers that had the chance to try more than one model, are in agreement with our findings. Our staff, contributors and friends simply listen to all the earphones and then we vote the best earphones for the iPod and other portables. We listen to all kinds of music in different situations and with different sources. We do not get hung on headphone technical specifications.
Back to our top of the line in ear headphones... Man dancing with Shure SE420 Earphones
The UM3X is the FIRST TRUE 3-way triple driver earphones and what Westone did with the sound signature is simply amazing. Along with Shure��s SE535 this is the best universal fit earphones money can buy. Comfort and fit are unbeatable. The achieved clarity AND warmth is a first in the industry. If you have $399 to spare, these are unbeatable. Clearly better sound than the UM2 and W3. It comes with a 2 Year warranty (you need to mail the warranty card in with the Earphone Solutions' proof of purchase). The crossover on these earphones does an incredible job in distributing and controlling the frequency ranges among the 3 different drivers. The SE535 and Triple.fi in contrast have a 2-way configuration with 1 driver of one kind and 2 identical drivers opposed to UM3X's 3 drivers. Each driver is different and optimized. One to handle highs, one for mids and one for lows. Simply amazing combination of art and technique. The sound is simply on a different league of its own.
Shure SE535 outputs slightly more detail in the mid range and highs. The UM3X has slightly stronger bass. The SE535 is brighter while the UM3X is more balanced (flatter). The Westone 4 is a great option for iPod owners as the drivers are more elastic and accepting of EQ changes. For comfort we do prefer the UM3X because of its slightly elongated nozzle. The Westone 4 however is simply amazing for cello, violins and classic masterpieces.
These models are our overall best ear canal headphones beats by dr dre, combining the best fit, comfort and sound, along with the best fitting cables. We tested them with a RIO player beats headphones, Cowon, iPod Classic, iPod Nano Dr Dre Beats, iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS Dre Beats, iPhone 4 and a Sony CD player.
We strive to be the best at what we do and all of the in-ear earphones (also known as ear canal headphones) you find on Earphone Solutions are special and of the highest quality, but the ones you see rated here are, well Beats By Dre, extra-special. We understand that this choice is a very personal matter, however we have found along these years that, the great majority of our customers that had the chance to try more than one model, are in agreement with our findings. Our staff, contributors and friends simply listen to all the earphones and then we vote the best earphones for the iPod and other portables. We listen to all kinds of music in different situations and with different sources. We do not get hung on headphone technical specifications.
Back to our top of the line in ear headphones... Man dancing with Shure SE420 Earphones
The UM3X is the FIRST TRUE 3-way triple driver earphones and what Westone did with the sound signature is simply amazing. Along with Shure��s SE535 this is the best universal fit earphones money can buy. Comfort and fit are unbeatable. The achieved clarity AND warmth is a first in the industry. If you have $399 to spare, these are unbeatable. Clearly better sound than the UM2 and W3. It comes with a 2 Year warranty (you need to mail the warranty card in with the Earphone Solutions' proof of purchase). The crossover on these earphones does an incredible job in distributing and controlling the frequency ranges among the 3 different drivers. The SE535 and Triple.fi in contrast have a 2-way configuration with 1 driver of one kind and 2 identical drivers opposed to UM3X's 3 drivers. Each driver is different and optimized. One to handle highs, one for mids and one for lows. Simply amazing combination of art and technique. The sound is simply on a different league of its own.
earphone display
Say what you like about Sony's sound products, you can't deny that they've had some pretty firsts in the headphones arena, like creating the world's first in-ear headphones (in 1982, mind you), the world's first 5.1 digital surround headphones and the first ever digital noise-cancelling headphones. And this month beats by dr dre, their latest line of in-ear headphones - the XBA series, featuring 11 models - have finally come to our shore. There are four "regular" models for your music players, four smartphone versions beats headphones, a Bluetooth version, a noise-cancelling version and a "sporty" model. Using balanced armatures instead of their familiar dynamic drivers, the folks at Sony said that this would be the start of a new direction that the company would be taking.
When we visited their showroom in Tokyo some months ago - where we got a chance to try out all the models - two models stood out for me. The first was the XBA-3. Powered by three balanced armatures (one tweeter Dr Dre Beats, one "full range", and one woofer), the XBA-3 really did live up to the brochure's claim that it would provide a "rich expression through all frequencies". Every little nuance across the frequencies was richly detailed Dre Beats, which was really great for someone who, like me, likes to pick apart the different musical components of a song. (The XBA-4 contains an added "super woofer" armature Beats By Dre, although I felt that was a little unneccesary, because really, do we need that in headphones?)
Unfortunately, the XBA-3 was the first one I tried, which meant that when I heard the base model, the XBA-1, which features only one balanced armature, for "full range", it made the music sound a little thin.
Another model that caught my eye was the sporty XBA-S65, meant for those who like to listen to their music while they workout. It has a few things going for it. One, it has an adjustable strap that ensures the in-ear headphones stay in the ear, no matter what type of ear shape you have, and no matter what activity you engage in. I jumped, jogged on the spot, shook my head and those babies were snug as a bug. I've always had problems with in-ear headphones because my ears are of different shapes, so that's a boon. Also, it's doesn't have those annoying, stiff clips that always dig into the back of your ear, which means you can actually wear this for long periods of time.
Another cool factor: It's washable and waterproof (we tested it by dropping it into a bowl of water) so even if you're sweating buckets, you won't have to worry about moisture affecting the internal electronics.
The downside is that the setup is the same as the XBA-1, but I did ask Sony if they were going to release a version that blended the functionality of the XBA-S65 with the internal make-up of the XBA-3. Sony's reply: "We can't tell you for sure, but we also appreciate all feedback."
Ah, well, we all can dream, right?
The XBA range starts from S$109 for the XBA-1.
When we visited their showroom in Tokyo some months ago - where we got a chance to try out all the models - two models stood out for me. The first was the XBA-3. Powered by three balanced armatures (one tweeter Dr Dre Beats, one "full range", and one woofer), the XBA-3 really did live up to the brochure's claim that it would provide a "rich expression through all frequencies". Every little nuance across the frequencies was richly detailed Dre Beats, which was really great for someone who, like me, likes to pick apart the different musical components of a song. (The XBA-4 contains an added "super woofer" armature Beats By Dre, although I felt that was a little unneccesary, because really, do we need that in headphones?)
Unfortunately, the XBA-3 was the first one I tried, which meant that when I heard the base model, the XBA-1, which features only one balanced armature, for "full range", it made the music sound a little thin.
Another model that caught my eye was the sporty XBA-S65, meant for those who like to listen to their music while they workout. It has a few things going for it. One, it has an adjustable strap that ensures the in-ear headphones stay in the ear, no matter what type of ear shape you have, and no matter what activity you engage in. I jumped, jogged on the spot, shook my head and those babies were snug as a bug. I've always had problems with in-ear headphones because my ears are of different shapes, so that's a boon. Also, it's doesn't have those annoying, stiff clips that always dig into the back of your ear, which means you can actually wear this for long periods of time.
Another cool factor: It's washable and waterproof (we tested it by dropping it into a bowl of water) so even if you're sweating buckets, you won't have to worry about moisture affecting the internal electronics.
The downside is that the setup is the same as the XBA-1, but I did ask Sony if they were going to release a version that blended the functionality of the XBA-S65 with the internal make-up of the XBA-3. Sony's reply: "We can't tell you for sure, but we also appreciate all feedback."
Ah, well, we all can dream, right?
The XBA range starts from S$109 for the XBA-1.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Curtis Martin leads six Hall enshrinees
Doleman and Kennedy were sackmasters from the defensive line, Doleman at end and Kennedy at tackle.
Doleman had 150½ sacks in his 15 seasons, mostly with Minnesota, and Soccer Jerseys was one of the prototype agile-yet-powerful pass rushers who dominate the game today. He made the Pro Bowl eight times and was fourth on the sacks list when he retired.
"I am totally blown away by this and humbled by it," Doleman said, adding his son, Evan, would present him for induction. "When they call your name, you're absolutely numb."
Kennedy was a force inside, both as a run stopper and in threatening quarterbacks. The 1992 Defensive Player of the Year made eight Pro Bowls, had 58 sacks - an unusually high total for a tackle - and spent his entire 11-season career with Seattle.
He waited by his phone to hear whether he'd made it after a six-year wait, and was happy he had the television on when the announcement was made.
"I thought I was supposed to get a call. I didn't get a call. I had to watch it on TV," Kennedy said.
"I am very excited right now."
Roaf spent one season at right tackle, then the rest of his 13 seasons on the left side, making 11 Pro Bowls. He made the All-Decade team for the 1990s.
"He possessed exceptional physical talent and a great work ethic," said Jim Mora, who coached in New Orleans for 11 seasons. "He was blessed with high quality character and a team-oriented attitude. He was a team leader, always positive, upbeat, and a fun guy to coach and have on the team. Without question Willie was one of my best and favorite players ever."
Dawson made seven Pro Bowls as the Steelers' center, that rare snapper who also could block defensive players one on one. He replaced a Hall of Famer, Mike Webster, and started for Pittsburgh for most of his 13 pro seasons.
Linda Cataffo/NY Daily News Archive/Getty ImagesCurtis Martin ran for 14,101 yards and 90 touchdowns in his 11-year career with the Jets and Patriots.
"You never know what your career is going to turn out to be," Dawson said. "I knew I had big shoes to fill 'cause Liverpool Jersey was my first year playing center. I never would have thought I would be in this position after my career."
"It is a great honor and because of being selected today, my phone has blown up."
Butler also played for the Steelers as a cornerback from 1951-59, picking off 52 passes, at the time second most in NFL history. But he was best known for his tackling skills.
"They told me I was good. I didn't know I was good," Butler said. "I never, ever, ever thought I would be here."
Guard Will Shields didn't get in - the only first-year eligible player to make the 15-man finals. Shields started all but one of the 224 games in his 14 seasons in Kansas City.
Bettis also fell short. He was the 1993 Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Rams who retired in 2006 after winning his only Super Bowl with the Steelers. He is the NFL's No. 5 career rusher.
Parcells coached the Giants to Super Bowl titles in the 1987 and 1991 games and also lost the 1997 Super Bowl with New England. He coached the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, too.
Carter, who along with Parcells is an NFL analyst for ESPN, is the No. 4 with 1,101 career receptions in 16 seasons with three teams.
Others not voted in were receivers Tim Brown and Andre Reed, defensive end/linebackers Kevin Greene and Charles Haley, defensive back Aeneas Williams, and former 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo Jr.
The other senior finalist, guard Dick Stanfel, was not chosen, either.
Doleman had 150½ sacks in his 15 seasons, mostly with Minnesota, and Soccer Jerseys was one of the prototype agile-yet-powerful pass rushers who dominate the game today. He made the Pro Bowl eight times and was fourth on the sacks list when he retired.
"I am totally blown away by this and humbled by it," Doleman said, adding his son, Evan, would present him for induction. "When they call your name, you're absolutely numb."
Kennedy was a force inside, both as a run stopper and in threatening quarterbacks. The 1992 Defensive Player of the Year made eight Pro Bowls, had 58 sacks - an unusually high total for a tackle - and spent his entire 11-season career with Seattle.
He waited by his phone to hear whether he'd made it after a six-year wait, and was happy he had the television on when the announcement was made.
"I thought I was supposed to get a call. I didn't get a call. I had to watch it on TV," Kennedy said.
"I am very excited right now."
Roaf spent one season at right tackle, then the rest of his 13 seasons on the left side, making 11 Pro Bowls. He made the All-Decade team for the 1990s.
"He possessed exceptional physical talent and a great work ethic," said Jim Mora, who coached in New Orleans for 11 seasons. "He was blessed with high quality character and a team-oriented attitude. He was a team leader, always positive, upbeat, and a fun guy to coach and have on the team. Without question Willie was one of my best and favorite players ever."
Dawson made seven Pro Bowls as the Steelers' center, that rare snapper who also could block defensive players one on one. He replaced a Hall of Famer, Mike Webster, and started for Pittsburgh for most of his 13 pro seasons.
Linda Cataffo/NY Daily News Archive/Getty ImagesCurtis Martin ran for 14,101 yards and 90 touchdowns in his 11-year career with the Jets and Patriots.
"You never know what your career is going to turn out to be," Dawson said. "I knew I had big shoes to fill 'cause Liverpool Jersey was my first year playing center. I never would have thought I would be in this position after my career."
"It is a great honor and because of being selected today, my phone has blown up."
Butler also played for the Steelers as a cornerback from 1951-59, picking off 52 passes, at the time second most in NFL history. But he was best known for his tackling skills.
"They told me I was good. I didn't know I was good," Butler said. "I never, ever, ever thought I would be here."
Guard Will Shields didn't get in - the only first-year eligible player to make the 15-man finals. Shields started all but one of the 224 games in his 14 seasons in Kansas City.
Bettis also fell short. He was the 1993 Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Rams who retired in 2006 after winning his only Super Bowl with the Steelers. He is the NFL's No. 5 career rusher.
Parcells coached the Giants to Super Bowl titles in the 1987 and 1991 games and also lost the 1997 Super Bowl with New England. He coached the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, too.
Carter, who along with Parcells is an NFL analyst for ESPN, is the No. 4 with 1,101 career receptions in 16 seasons with three teams.
Others not voted in were receivers Tim Brown and Andre Reed, defensive end/linebackers Kevin Greene and Charles Haley, defensive back Aeneas Williams, and former 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo Jr.
The other senior finalist, guard Dick Stanfel, was not chosen, either.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)