5 comments about Antenna Headphones for Xm.

1. I'm happy with these headphones. I can listen to XM radio inside my house with good reception. I think the audio quality is adequite. If you move around the ear pieces become painful. I wore them cutting my lawn and I had to take them off. You can put the headset around your neck and plug another headset in the normal headset jack. Works fine. They aren't perfect but I would recomend them.



2. These headphones allow me to pick up a stronger satellite signal inside my office building. They are not very comfortable, so I only use them as an antenna.



3. Mine behaved like the others did. Worked for few weeks then the Satellite reception went dead with the Inno displaying the infamous msg 'Check Antenna'!
   
   So, if you want get a new one every few weeks, then go for it. I am not.



4. These headphones are for for use with the Pioneer Inno2 portable XM satellite receiver. Their primary benefit is the XM antenna built into the headband of the unit. As an antenna, the unit works well.
   
   As headphones go, though, they are less than optimal. They use a design where miniature speakers go into your ears. Sony markets headphones of similar design, without with the XM antenna. Many people claim to find these headphones unbearably uncomfortable. I find them to be barely tolerable in terms of comfort. Look at the product picture and you can see how the speakers will project into your ears, entirely unlike ear buds.
   
   Some people report just looping this unit around their neck to use the antenna, while plugging their favored headphones into the 3.5mm jack. The Belkin headphones terminate in a proprietary connector.
   
   Sound quality is adequate.
   
   Essentially, if you have an Inno2 and use it as a portable receiver, you want this unit. But you just might wind up wearing it around your neck to use the antenna, whie using your favorite mobile headphones or ear buds.
   
   Jerry



5. Failure of the antenna part of the Belkin head phones is caused by the extreamly thin wire strands inside the headset cord braking. I had a Roady 2 portible purchased in 2006 that used the same phones with a different plug end and I had the same problems. I purchaed 3 phones over 2 years. They don't make them anymore so I purchased a Inno and I see I will be getting the same problems as before. If the wire inside the cord had more strands, the headsets would work better, longer. Here are some tips on making the headsets last longer.
   
   Never tug on the cord when removing the plug from the radio and be careful when pluging the cord in the radio not to pinch or put any pressure on the cord.
   
   Try to keep the cord from swinging as you walk or jog.
   
   Don't let the cord bend sharply in one place a lot of times. Easy to do where the cord inters the radio plug end.
   
   Hope this helps

3 comments about Coby CVE51PNK Jammerz Sound Isolating Earphones (Pink).

1. I was skeptical at first on buying these only $3 earphones! But I took the chance because I wanted earphones fast withought hving to go to the campus book store and paying $10 for them!. I ordered on Saturday got free shipping and they got here on Wednesday 2 days before the anticipated dilivery date!!... I opened my new PRETTY PINK PACKAGE, instantly hooked them up to my equally pretty pink 8gb ZUNE (also purchased on Amazon.com for the lovely discounted price of $160 YAY AMAZON). THE SOUND WAS AMAZING!!!!!! THE BASS WAS DEFINATELY PUMPING ITS AS IF I HAD A HOME STEREO SYSTEM BUILT IN MY EARS!!!....IF YOUR SKEPTICAL LIKE I WAS ABOUT BUYING THESE DONT BE!!...I THINK I JUST MAY BUY 5 MORE ..THERE JUST THAT GOOD!!!...1 lil con...sometimes they fall out of my ears...but i have wiered ears sooooo lol!!



2. It's nice, cute and confortable, however, the cord is not pink as I thought it would be.



3. i needed a new pair of headphones for my ipod, and ordered these hoping the sound would be clearer considering theyre meant to actually sit deeper inside the ear. For only 2.99, i was amazed to find these are incredible. My music sounds clearer and crisper than ive ever heard it before and now i plan on listening to my ipod even more often, it sounds incredible! I highly suggest ordering these! The best three dollars you could spend!

5 comments about Shure E3c-n Sound Isolating Earphones (Black).

1. Okay, so let me preface this review by saying that for the last month I have been doing a significant amount of research in preparation for buying a new pair of headphones. I was looking to get a pair of around ear or on ear headphones, and spend no more than $150. So the headphones I was looking at included the Audio Technica quietpoint noise canceling headphones, Bose triport around ear headphones, Sennheiser noise canceling headphones, and the likes.
   
   I made a trip over to the apple store in order to try out a few of these different pairs. I tried the Bose triport headphones first. Extremely comfortable, very stylish, and fairly decent sound. I next tried the Audio Technica quietpoint headphones. Comfortable as well, terrific sound with noise cancelling on (better than the Bose triport), and also stylish, although they stick out a little farther off your head than the Bose triport do. I also tried the Bose quietcomfort 2 and 3 (although they were out of my price range). These were very comfortable and had great sound, but to tell you the truth, I found little different between the Audio Technica quietpoint and the Bose quietcomfort. The Bose may have been slightly more comfortable, but is that extra comfort worth twice the price of the audio technicas?
   
   Anyways, after trying the various headphones, I asked some of the apples workers if they could tell me anything about the various headphones I was looking at. They knew very little, and weren't too helpful. They actually knew less than I did about the headphones, because I had been reading so many reviews and info about the headphones. However one of the apple workers showed me the Shure earphones that they carried. I had not considered in-ear headphones, and had actually never heard of Shure. This one worker knew a whole lot about the Shure earphones, he owned a pair and absolutely loved them. Another worker came up and said he owned a pair as well and also loved them. So I went home and did a little research on shure, and read a bunch of reviews.
   
   The sounded like great headphones, got decent reviews, and I liked the idea of being able to block out noise with this tiny little earphones. So I went ahead and ordered the SCL3 (same as the E3c). After much anticipation, they arrived in the mail. I opened them up, laid out all the accessories that came in the box. Bag of different sleeves, earphones themselves, and a nice little case. I began by trying out all the different sleeves that it came with. Let me say that the silicon rubber ones are absolutely useless. Although they come in small, medium, and large, and I could not find any of them to fit or even stay in my ear for more than 10 seconds. The black foam ones were slightly better, also came in s, m, and l, but were not that tight of a seal or that comfortable. The best sleeves for me turned out to be the yellow foam ones. These are quite cool, you roll them between your fingers, place them in your ears and allow them to expand making a perfect seal.
   
   The first thing I noticed upon putting these in, was their ability to block out all noise. I put them in without any music at first, and was just amazing at how all noise was blocked out. No buzzing of the refrigerator, no more birds chirping. They're essentially earplugs. I then put some music on. The sound was really incredible. I normally listen to my ipod at about 50-70% volume, but with these, I only needed my ipod at 30-35% volume max, and the sound was truly phenomenal. It sounds as if the music is in your head. I listened to some grateful dead, rolling stones, biggie, Beethoven, wu tang, Neil Young...a little of everything. The sound was great, especially when listening to live music.
   
   HOWEVER: My gripe was the fit of the earphones. Maybe it is because I have small ears, but I found these earphones to not be that comfortable. Almost none of the sleeves fit except for the yellow sleeves, and even these were a hassle to put in and out and would fall out if the cord is tugged on even somewhat lightly. I also didn't like the feeling of having these earphones jammed deep in my ear for a long period. It was almost like a claustrophobic type of feeling (if that makes any sense). I was really disappointed that these headphones were uncomfortable and didn't stay in because the sound was truly great. Keep in mind, that I believe I have small ears, so it may be different for you.
   
   I was pretty dissatisfied, since I had spent $125 bucks on these little guys. And I was even more disappointed when I learned I could not return them because it was apparently unsanitary since I had already tried them on. So I wound up selling them on Ebay for $100, and buying a pair of the Audio Technica quietpoint headphones, which I absolutely love! Great sound, great comfort, sleak looking, nice case.
   
   All in all, I would not recommend the Shure earphones. I know plenty of people who absolutely love them (I have read so many headphone reviews over the past month), but they are not for me. Despite their great sound and incredible ability to cancel out noise, they weren't too comfortable (if they would even stay in at all).



2. These are my second set of Shure e3's. My first pair lasted over 2 years before I forgot them on an airplane :/
   
   The fit in my ears is great. The sound-isolating properties are key to the performance. I am so very happy with this purchase. The earphones bring a smile to my face when I listen to my music through them.



3. Have had these buds for a couple ears now. The sound is very clear but lacks some bass. Had a chance to try out some e530's, which put these to shame (expected given the price differential).
   
   I had to send back my original pair b/c of a fraying wire. Shure has some unbelievable customer service. They sent me a new pair immediately after receiving my old ones.



4. I was torn between these and the new SE210s. I used to own a pair of these and loved them. And that first pair was $200, and well worth it. Also owned a pair of e2-c's. Always preferred the sound and the feel of these over the e2-c. At present Amazon prices, the cost of these e3-cs are about the same as the old cost of the e2-c's, so the value is there.
   
   When comparing these to the SE210s, I opted for these for two reasons:
   1. These were familiar to me
   2. The new SE210s have a short cord and an extension cord
   
   The short cord is ideal if you place your mp3 player around your arm at the gym. I don't do that with my iPod classic, so I didn't want to deal with a second cord connection.
   
   Also, it should be noted that these e3-c's are shipping under their new name, SCL3. I ordered these e3-c and received a SCL3. They are the same headphones. Reading message boards I've discovered that the SCL3s have one new set of foam earbuds that the e3-c's didn't, so rest assured if you buy some e3-c's and get an SLC3 instead.



5. I started out thinking about getting the Bose ear buds. I didn't buy them because of the fact they don't seal off in your ear to block out other sounds. I found this set and did a lot of reading reviews and found this set to be the best value at around $110. For the money, the sound is excellent. Very clear sound that doesn't over-do treble or bass. If you want A LOT of bass, don't buy these, get one of the other cheaper sets that emphasize bass or step up to the full headphone (and more expensive) that Bose sells. The sound is very well balanced and clear. I've used these while in flight using the yellow foam ear pieces playing from my iPhone and they really shut out everything and sound clear. I couldn't use any of the other ear pieces because you really need a good seal to appreciate these headphones. I read some other reviews where people were talking about going through those yellow foam ear pieces but I've used mine now for a couple of months and I'm just now starting to get around to ordering some new ones. I just placed an order on replacements for 10 pieces for $20 on Amazon's website. I use these also while mowing the lawn and they do well for this too because they are so durable. The cables are thick and do not tangle up. Don't fool around waist your money with the cheap headphones that will eventually break and have cable problems and not sound as good. The only fuss I have about these is the time it takes getting the headphones into my ear and sealed off good. Also, they recommend wrapping the headset wire around over and behind the ear and this takes a little extra time too but the wires stay out of the way coming down your back. If you need to take these off and on alot, you're going to get frustrated with the yellow foam ear pieces. So, I would put them on when you plan on leaving them on for a while. I can't complain too much because this is going to be the case for any ear bud style headset and the extra time is well worth the sound quality.

5 comments about Bose® In-Ear Headphones.

1. Bose lives up to their reputation again. For this type of earphone the bass response is phenomenal and the whole frequency spectrum has the life that was intended when the song was produced. (I am a recording engineer and producer, so I know)



2. I've actually owned two pairs of these. The first pair I had to exchange after a year (they were still under warranty so Bose replaced them which was nice) because the wires got damaged and only side would work at a time. As others have said, they don't stay in unless you're not moving so these aren't great for even walking, let alone running etc. The second pair (about 9months now) has developed this static problem which I suspect will deteriorate to only one side working...a bit too expensive and unreliable. They sound fine for work/traveling etc but for anything else, not great.



3. My brother requested these for Christmas so I gave them to him. He loved them so much, he bought a pair for me the next year! I was skeptical until I tried them on and listened. WOW was all I could say.
   I'd rather be listening to my iPod with these headphones, than in my BMW stereo. The quality is intense.
   I would never dare touch those stupid cheap Apple earbuds again. Do yourself a huge massive favor; give these a try! You won't be disappointed.
   That said, my only complaint is that it's hard to do active sports with these. When I go snowboarding, wearing a hat or something that wraps over the ears definitely helps.
   For airplane travel, these are really good.



4. This things are absolutely horrible. I bought these to use instead of my Bose noise cancelling headphones because of the bulk. I used, and I stress USED, them exclusively while traveling. The ones I have are the newer model with the black and white cable. The major problem is the connection to the seat is a straight plug, it does not mount flush or at an angle to the seat. About the 10th use someone got up from next to me and when I moved my legs to let the person out of their seat, SNAP went the seat connection - $100 earplugs now useless. I mean really do the people who design these things ever take them on an airplane and use them?
   
   Just as bad the things will not stay in your ear - I would spend the whole flight trying to put them back in my ear.
   
   My last set of Bose anything.



5. definately the best ..... bravo bose you have done it again bought 2 of them one for me and one for my friend always a fan of bose will always be

1 comments about Magellan 950-0077-001 2008/2009 Map Update.

1. Contrary to the written product description and what the customer service reps at Magellan will tell you, this item is NOT compatible with a number of Magellan Maestro models if you're hoping to uprade one to include Canada. Don't waste your time (a significant consideration, insofar as the software involves the most complex download process I have ever experienced) or money.

5 comments about Bose® On-Ear Headphones.

1. Headphone cord for the Bose on-ear model got damaged so called customer service. They took my name and address, looked up my account and sent a replacement cord next day UpS no charge. They now have a customer for life.



2. damn this things are amazing, i put off buying these for a while because YES, They are very expensive, however i decided to buy them about 2 weeks ago and they are amazing, i dont even miss the money!!!! everything sounds absolutely fantastic with these, bass is superb and so are the mids and highs, crystal clear sound. they seem sturdy enough to carry around but the carry case is portable enough if you wish to carry them in your backpack to skool or work or watever. You will not regret buying these babies they are fantastic. it is also worth mentioning that they are not noise cancelling but because of the super-confortable memory foam cushion material that adapt to the shape of your ears, THEY DO BLOCK OUT ALOT OF OUTSIDE NOISE, i live in NY so blocking out traffic,horns,and people screaming on the streets is essential, and these sets brings all of those obsructions down to super minimum volume. 100% RECOMMENDED.
   
   p.s: if you are upgrading from those terrible ipod headphones you are in for one BIG improvement here, you will not believe the sound!!!



3. i've tried a few sets of headphones, and fell in love with these. i bought them mainly for travel (planes, etc.) They sound great, block out plenty of noise on an airplane, are very lightweight and you can barely feel them on your head, so they're incredibly comfortable to wear for long stretches. The parts that go on your ears fold inwards to become compact and flat, and take up very little room in my carry-on. Also, the cord is detachable... it comes with two different length cords to choose from. I'm so, so happy i found these. they're not cheap, but worth every penny, in my opinion.



4. These On-ear Triports are like the QuietComfort 3 headphones, but the difference is it does not have the noise cancelling technology, cost less than half the price, and sounds almost as good as the QuietComfort 3, but not better, which is perfect for me because I already have the QuietComfort 2 headphones that I love and could not justify paying the higher price for the QuietComfort 3 when the tech specs for the the QuietComfort 2 were better. In fact the QuietComfort 2 battery lasts for 40hrs and is easily replaceable compared to QuietComfort 3 battery which lasts 25hrs, but the battery is not easily replaceable. The only advantages QuietComfort 3 had was the Size, design, fit, and probably comfort due to the memory foam ear-cup that adjusts to the shape of your ears and is like having an ear massage, which is a feature the Bose On-ear triports have too.
   
   Anyway I plugged these headphones into my Zune and the sound was amazing without burn-in, but that is probably because my Zune has gotten used to Bose audio engineering from headphones. In fact I also own the Bose In-ear headphones that I use on my Zune.
   
   Tip: To reduce burn-in time listen to music from your MP3 player or audio device without EQ or anything that electronically alters the audio signal sent to the headphones because these headphones work as advertised and produce life like sound.



5. Im completely satisifed with my purchase. Rate i still feel to be bit high when compared to other brands. But the Brand Bose made me to take this aside. It is very light and don feel like wearing it even after long hours. It reduces noise by almost 50 percentage by jst wearing it. Awesome design and sound quality. Nothing to complain abt.

2 comments about Etymotic Research HF5 Portable In-Ear Earphones (Black).

1. I have a number of different earphones/headphones, including Etymotic ER-4P, Jays Q-Jays, Ultimate Ears 5 Pro and 4vi. The ER-4Ps sound the best to me (but lack in the design category -- they stick out too far when inserted in your ear and the cable feels somewhat flimsy). The ER-4Ps have a level of clarity and detail (and treble) that the others do not match.
   
   I bought these headphones thinking that I would now have the best of both worlds: the sound of the ER-4Ps with a better design. I was wrong. The design of the Hf5 headphone itself is better than the ER-4P, but the sound of the Hf5 does not match the ER-4P. To my ears, the ER-4P and Hf5 are very similar at the low end (neither is particularly strong in bass). However, at the mid-range and especially the high end, the ER-4Ps have more detail and clarity between different instruments and vocals. The Hf5 tends to sound more muddy IN COMPARISON to the ER-4Ps and the high end of the Hf5 has more roll off than the ER-4Ps (i.e., the highs on the Hf5 won't go as high as they do on the ER-4P). Vocals and mid-range on the ER-4P sound so much better than the Hf5 that I wonder whether I had a bad set of Hf5s.
   
   Looking at Amazon's prices, the ER-4Ps are only $20 more than the Hf5. If you are spending that much money on headphones, the ER-4Ps are a better deal.
   
   This is not to say that the Hf5s are a bad set of headphones. To the contrary, I found them to compare very favorably to the Q-Jays. The Q-Jays had better low end (bass) than the Hf5, but the Hf5 was better than the Q-Jays on the high end and the Hf5 seemed to have a better soundstage (more clarity and detail). The Q-Jays are smaller and fit better than the Hf5; HF5 are slightly better than the Q-Jays at blocking external noises.
   
   The Ultimate Ears 4vi are a good set of headphones. With respect to sound, I would give a slight edge to the UE 4vi over the Hf5 (the UE 4vis have better low end and maybe slightly better soundstage than the Hf5...though not by much). The Hf5 fit better than the UE4vi and block more external noise.
   
   The UE Super 5 Pros are muddy and pale in comparison to any of the other headphones.
   
   So, the Hf5s are a good set of headphones...but they do not match the great sound quality of the ER-4Ps.



2. I can unequivocally recommend these earphones. I have used a broad variety of earphones, including the Shure se530's Ultimate Ears triple-fi 10's and several Sennheisers. For this price, I've never heard sound so balanced, and with such clarity, coming out of an iPod. I feel like I'm in a sealed sound chamber when I listen with these, even when I'm on the bus. It's almost too isolating - sometimes I really lose touch with what's going on around me. I am a musician, and when I've done studio recordings, we listen for nuances in the instrumentation and music that you typically do not hear when playing back an MP3 file or CD. With the Etymotic hf5's, I'm getting the kind of clarity I get in the studio. And for just $150! There's no over-exaggerated bass, and I can hear every instrument and every voice. There's nothing like listening to an a capella group like Take 6 with the hf5. Or to an unplugged session where all kinds of things can happen in the tracks - if you can hear them. Oh, and the blue and red ones are cool-looking. Pretty much everyone replaces the earphones that come with your MP3 player, and you can spend a lot more on earphones than this, but I recommend $150 spent on these earphones as the biggest bang for your buck.

5 comments about Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro Earphones Gun Metal Blue.

1. I purchased the Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro Earphones Gun Metal Blue about 3+ months again and the sound is amazing! I also own a pair of Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones and the Ultimate Ears are simply better. They are worth the money.



2. I hope this review will assist Etymotic ER-4P owners who are considering the Ultimate Ear Triple.Fi 10 Pro.
   
   BACKGROUND
   My first pair of earphones was Etymotic 6i. With the low price and small size, it was ideal to be pair with any portable mp3 player on the go. However, it lacked the clarity in the treble department so crucial to female vocal. The first upgrade to the Etymotic ER-4P was night and day. ER-4P absolutely sparkles in the high range. The small nuances all the sudden became evident, and the clear separate between the spark treble and crystal mid-range made me cycle through my musical selections that's been left untouched. The only flaw with the ER-4P was it's bass. It's there, it's punchy and tight. At moments, you can somewhat "feel" the punch. But in general, it's like a bad tease that leaves you hanging and mumble "only if the bass could just extend a little bit further....". Thus started my quest to look for an upgrade. The obvious contenders were Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10 Pro and Shure SE530.
   
   CHOICES
   After hours of googling on the comparison between Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi and Shure SE530, I got no where. Its almost a 50/50 split with opinions that often resulted in contradictions due to personal preference in music genre. Unfortunately, there were no dealers in the area that carries either one for test drive. The only choice was to order online. My decision was made based on the following rationale - the main objective was to find a product that retains the treble and mid-range but provides more bass.
   
   In all the comparisons, the most concerning issue with the UE Triple.Fi was the mentioning of "sucked out mid-range" which is crucial for female vocal. Equally concerning is the Shure SE530 notable treble roll-off that's practically mentioned in every review - again, critical to female vocal. The primary trade-off is between the Triple.Fi clean high treble and SE530's smooth mid-range and famous bass. In the end, the retention of the clear treble with well documented bass boost over the ER-4P won me over. There was still a risk with the "sucked out mid-range" - it was a risk that was put to rest after several listening.
   
   FIRST IMPRESSION
   To be honest, the first listening session with Triple.Fi left me with mixed feeling. The treble is "Clear" and projects the small nuances well, however, it does not sparkle like the ER-4P. By sparkle, I mean the music does seem to have as much dimension. To be fair, Triple.Fi does provide dimension with lots of details, it's just not as prominent. The mid-range is "Clean" although just a touch more flat than ER-4P. Again, the dimensions is there with lots of details like the ER-4P, but it's just not as prominent. The bass was the biggest difference leaning towards the positive, it was deep, smooth with plenty of tight thump that can be felt. Words of warning to the first time ER-4P owner - the bass was almost overwhelming; it felt disproportion and overshadowed the less dimensional treble and mid-range. However, this is primarily due to our ears being accustom to the overly prominent treble and mid-range in ER-4P.
   
   SUBSEQUENT IMPRESSION
   I withheld my assessment and gave the Triple.Fi a second test run. This time with less focus on the individual range, but more on the overall sound. The combined result was a a treble that's clear with lots of detail, a mid-range that carried female vocal cleanly, and a smooth bass that could be felt. I can distinctly hear the high instrumentals, the mid female vocal and the deep strong bass beat all at the same time. Additionally, it seems my ear has adjusted to the heavier bass, it no longer feels overwhelming (This was the adjustment I mentioned earlier). Neither the high nor the mid-range is as distinct as ER-4P, but in a qualitative analysis using ER-4P as the baseline, Triple.Fi sounds 90% the treble, 90% the mid-range and 200% the bass. The overall slight flat equalization across treble, mid range and bass made the overall sound a joy to listen to.
   
   ISSUES
   After several listening sessions, I've noticed a correlation between volume and clarify/detail which don't seem to be proportional. At low volume, the detail isn't apparent. As volume increases just above the mid-level, clarify and detail seem to kick in. I've not notice anything similar on ER-4P. So if you have to pick one issue with the Triple.Fi, this maybe it.
   
   AFTER THOUGHT
   I believe Triple.Fi is a worth upgrade from ER-4P, and is probably better value than Shure SE530. General impression with Shure SE530 is the treble has a larger roll-off than Triple.Fi. Given Triple.Fi's treble does not sparkle like the ER-4P, I could not imaging going with something with even less treble. Secondly, Shure SE530 is known for it's bass, some would say even heavier than Triple.Fi. However, Triple.Fi's bass is already significant better than ER-4P, any more may offset the balance between treble, mid-range and bass.
   
   FASHION & FIT
   The two complains I've heard regarding UE Triple.Fi have to do with fashion and fit. In almost every comparison between Triple.Fi and SE530 that mentions fashion, the complaint is with how significantly bigger Triple.Fi is over SE530. Yes, it is bigger, but no less aesthetic pleasing than a small headphone which makes this argument moot. If fashion is worth additional $120 dollars over functionality, then by all mean, purchase the Shure SE530. The second complaint deals with the fit. Triple.Fi doe not come with the tri-flange that comes with ER-4P. Instead, it comes with the regular rubber nib which leaves the insertion slightly looser on it's own. To compensate, Triple.Fi made the wire near the earbuds moldable around the back of the ear. Spend a little time following the instruction to mold the wires around your ear will significantly improve the seal.



3. I received my new headphones yesterday and was eager to give them a try. I decided to use the double-flange ear pieces because they seemed more comfortable than the medium-size silicone ones that came on the earpieces. I could not have been more disappointed in the quality. Highs were great but mid-range and lows were muddy at best. Virtually no bass response at all.
   
   I boxed up the headphones, submitted my return on Amazon and printed out the RMA form. Then I got to thinking... how did these things get the rave reviews when mine seemed so bad? Well, I decided to give them another shot. I put the standard silicon cap on the earpiece this time. I followed the instructions very specifically. SO....
   
   What a huge difference! Now I understand all the hype. These headphones sound simply outstanding. I consider myself at least an audiophile wanna-be and have graced my home with a very nice stereo system (yes, I mean stereo). However, my only experience with 'high end' headphones are the Bose QC3's I currently use. They are ok, but flat on the highs and midrange. The UE headphones are beautiful. Sharp, clear, great definition and very natural soundstage/separation. Put on Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College. Could have sworn I was in the room with them.
   
   Also interesting is that I was in my living room with 3 kids playing at the time I was listening. Even at 50% volume, I could hear nothing but the music. I am extremely satisfied with these headphones and would recommend them to anyone who (1) can deal with in-ear headphones, (2) has an ear discerning enough to know the difference and (3) doesn't mind dropping $300 on a completely decadent purchase.



4. I had the opportunity to try out both the offerings from Ultimate Ears...these and the Super.fi 5 Pro...there isn't that much of a difference to me to justify the much higher price. I got these from Amazon when they were on sale for $300 and the Super.fi 5 Pro's were $189. The main difference to me is better lows on the Triple.fi 10's. I don't listen to that much soft music that I hear all the better mid range vocals that everyone swears they hear on these earbuds. I also noticed that the gain on the Super.fi 5 Pro's is a little stronger...meaning that they get a little bit louder at full volume than the Triple's will allow you to get. For about $100 difference, I am going to stick with the Triple.fi 10's...I probably wouldn't if I paid much more for them...like $350-$399 for them. I also noticed something wild with both sets of earphones. I experimented with the different size rubber ear pieces that fit for different size ears. I put the smaller size rubber pieces on and the earphones didn't sit right in my ears at all (and when I did this, the sound had almost NO BASS at all...so I can understand why some reviewers say they sound very tinny when they put them on for the first time). YOU MUST make sure you are using the right size rubber fitting on the earbud no matter if it's Ultimate Ears brand or Shure or whoever you go with. Once I put the larger size rubber plugs on the earbuds, it was like music to my ears...actually, it was music IN my ears. The sound was pure and clean. Again, for the rock and roll (60's, 70's and 80's) that I listen to, it was a tough decision as I play it loud and the Super.fi 5 Pros seemed to be able to get a little bit louder (gain) than the Triple.fi 10s but for overall sound and three drivers on the soft music I listen to, I'll stick with the three drivers in the Triple. fi's. Another thing that is nicer about the Triples...on the Super.fi 5 Pro's, it is almost impossible to see the labeled "L" and "R" for which ear as it is tiny and I had the black set...virtually impossible to tell which was which...on the Triples, because they are blue phoes, the white labeling of which is "L" and "R" is very easy to see. After you get used to using these headphones, you will know by how they fit. I don't think you can go wrong with either set...I have never tried the Shure headphones as all I have ever used other than these two sets was the factory earbuds (garbage) that came with the Iphone. I hope this helps someone out with the same tough decision I had to make as there arent' too many comparisons between the two models I've mentioned here other than looking at the specs on the UE website The frequency response listed on their site is from about 11=17,000 for Triples and from 16-16,000 for the Super.fi 5 Pro's. I also like the harder case (metal) that comes with the Triples and the better or "stronger" looking cable they use...it just seems like it would hold up better over time..also, the Triples come with an extra cable to use between the headphone cable which will extend the length of the cable. Here's one thing to note: The Triple 10s are supposed to have a (1) year warranty if you call UE at the company...while the Super.fi 5s have a two year. The Triples I got show a (2) year warranty card in the box and when I contacted someone at UE, they told me whatever came in the box is what you get...maybe it was an older stock set of earbuds. Also, I have read on numerous reviews on earbuds that most sound better after being used for awhile...not sure why this is...almost like a break-in period until they reach their top sound. Anyway, good luck shopping for earbuds and again, I hope this helps someone outl ULTIMATE EARS earbuds ROCK !!!



5. I've owned the generic cheap earbuds, Koss KSC75, vModa Bass Freq, UE Super Fi 3... nothing tops the UE Triple.fi 10 Pro's (of course, none were as expensive either).
   
   These earphones make my 320kbs mp3 and flac songs sound crisp, warm, and addictive to listen to.
   
   Pros:
   While I'm not good at pinpointing that a particular type of headphone/earphone has good/bad highs, mids, lows; I can tell you that these earphones sound remarkable.
   
   Cons:
   Looks like I need to go back and re-rep some of my CDs to 320kbps or flac--- you can definitely hear a lot more where other earphones cannot at these higher bit rates.
   
   Overall:
   I was able to purchase these from an authorized reseller for $238, so for that price, they are definitely worth it. If I had not found such a good deal and purchased these for around ~$300+, I probably wouldn't have end up buying them. But after listening to these and knowing how great they sound, I would definitely pay the normal ~$300.

5 comments about Griffin SmartTalk Headphone Adapter with Control and Mic for iPhone 1G.

1. I purchased this a couple weeks ago to use it with various headphones like my Shure E2C. Perhaps then I'd have a solution that, unlike my iPhone headset, would stay clipped to my shirt and in my ears. Then I lost my iPhone headset and was forced to use this. I've used it with several excellent quality headsets for an overall disappointing experience.
   
   I like a lot about the adapter. The jack that plugs into the iPhone is small and round, like the iPhone headsets. The adapter has a clip (think iPod shuffle) that hangs onto the collar of my shirt well enough. Talking on it is fairly decent but other callers don't seem to hear me as well as with my iPhone headset, like the windscreen is missing or ineffective.
   
   But the deal-breaker for me is quite often when I unplug it, the iPhone thinks something is still plugged in. This is a problem I never had with my iPhone headset and is very annoying. I've ordered myself a new headset from Apple.



2. I kill iPhone earphones. I tend to wear them a lot, and eventually I get them caught on something. The sound quality leaves a lot to be desired as well. I use this mic with other earphones - I have several different kinds, up to high-end Shure 'phones - and it works well. Sound quality on the other end is better than the iPhone mic, I've been told. I like the heavier nylon cord, as well. My cat can't chew through it, and doesn't like to try. (He enjoys the white iPhone cord a lot, for some reason.) The mic cord could be a little longer, but overall this is a high-quality item at a good price!



3. I bought two of these. One for myself and one for my wife. We both use Shure headphones with these attached. Mine is working and hers will not work. There is a problem wit the plug properly aligning with the connector.
   
   I have bought several solutions to this problem and in every case it seems that that the extra circuit Apple uses to provide the mic and control functions for the iPhone cause problems for every company who tries to creat a solution to this problem.
   
   Please Apple do one of the following.
   
   1. Share the full schematics with 3rd party manufacturers for the electrical circuit and manufacture of the iPhone mic controller.
   
   2. Manufacture a decent headset yourself using Etimotic or Shure like solutions to provide quality sound.
   
   I do think there is a flaw in the circuit Apple designed for the controller head set that is causing a high failure rate across all points of the headsets being manufactured for the iPhone. Even the speakers are failing on iPhone headsets as a result of some kind of feedback loop or something causing the parts to wear and fail. Apple is not admitting anything but I hear from people there are lots of headsets getting returned with buzzing earpieces and failed connector joints and plugs.
   
   In short this is the best of all the mic controllers I have tried.( I have them all) but it still seems to suffer from the same problem. I also wish they had not used the cloth cover as I fully expect it to fail but hey all the rubber ones are failing at the joint as well so maybe the best solution is just a make them cheap enough to make them nearly disposable as even my high quality Shure Mic at $40 failed with in weeks at the connector.
   
   Jeff Stuckey



4. I bought 4 of these. With use, two of them have begun to have an erratic connection. Also, the microphone is not very sensitive, so for most phone calls, I have to hold the microphone in front of my mouth, defeating the purpose of the product.



5. This product does what it is supposed to very well... Good voice quality, I like the fabric like cord wrapping. But I seldom use it... Why? because with it's lenght plus the length of the headphones you plug into it, you end up with about 10' of cord! I kid you not! I put the iphone in my pocket and the cord goes from my waist to the floor and back up to my ears! now if you clip the mike to your lappel, well that's better now it only loops to your knees twice! I i could find headphones with short cords then this would be a winner... I may have to make my own...

5 comments about Belkin F8Z177 Headphone Adapter for iPhone.

1. 1. Its horribly ugly; I almost always found myself trying to hide it with my hand when I took my sleek iPhone out of my pocket.
   
   2. It's like a 2 inch thick grey antenna from a 1980s cellphone.
   
   3. After less than 1 month of use, I began only hearing sound out of one headphone anytime the adapter was flexed or bent even slightly. Of course, it is also flimsy and impossible to keep perfectly straight.
   
   4. Did I mention this is the ugliest, most worthless adapter I've ever had? Thanks for the speed of release Belkin, but you guys really face-planted on this one.



2. This adapter does work. However, notice that it only has 3 contacts instead of 4 like the iphone headset has. After you use this adapter, when you unplug it, the microphone on your iphone will be disabled. You will not be able to talk to people on the phone. If you reboot the iphone, everything will be fine - until you use the adapter again. Buy an adapter with 4 contacts. Walmart sells an adapter set (with 5 different pieces) by Schosche for about $10. It is much better.



3. The first thing I did was laugh, that was just too funny.
   
   I was about to buy an item on eBay, but before doing so I headed to my trusty Amazon to check for reviews, as I always do.
   
   Anyway, thanks to Ben's uploaded pic... I am STAYING AWAY.
   
   Just look at that thing! It's like attaching a pen to your iPhone, and it's retro motorola cellphone gray colored, to top it off!
   
   Thanks again Amazon peeps for uploading pics, and helping me run away from this purchase.
   
   I was trying to purchase a branded adapter, but I guess I have no choice but to buy the black iphone adapters from ebay for $3.00
   =]



4. This product is so expensive everywhere else (My room mate paid double what I paid). Amazon has the best prices on iPhone accessories.



5. The adapter not connect well, so the sound comes from iPhone for only one channel.