The Crossfade LP are V-Moda's newest and first headphones added to their very popular line of in-ear earphones. The Crossfade LP feature V-Moda's unique style of design and they certainly do not disappoint, from outstanding packaging to their exoskeleton hard carrying case. The Crossfade LP feature patent-pending 50mm High-Definition drivers that produce fantastic deep and strong bass without any batteries. The bass is just outstandingly clear and not muddy or overpowering. The sound quality is very clear and warm with deep lows and clear detailed highs. I think V-Moda has made an outstanding pair of headphones that are definitely worth taking a look at. I have listened to many great headphones in the past and the Crossfade LP are one of the best sounding headphones out there. Also, sound will even improve with burn-in time and use.
Etymotic's HF5, are one of the most popular in-ear earphones in the audiophile world. The HF5 are exactly like the EtymoticHF2 model, except the HF5 do not have a headset feature. The Etymotic HF5 are one of the best sound-isolaters I have ever tried, and this is all thanks to the outstanding ear tips Etymotic provides. So if you are looking so a good pair of earphones that sound fantastic and block almost all outside noise, the HF5/HF2 are for you. Full review after the break.
Ableplanet’s True Fidelity noise canceling headphones have one major flaw and that is they do not actually cancel any outside noise, not one bit however their Linx audio technology does and requires one 3xA battery that is included to power on the headphones. So what does this Linx thing do? It basically gives more power to the audio and you get better and stronger sound, not something i see very special just because the noise cancellation feature does not even work whether it has something to do with the power or not. So how do the True Fidelity sound? Good but not good enough, the bass sounds a little muddy and undetailed so does the overall spectrum, the sound is very full almost hard to distinguish the highs and lows so you do not get any crispy clear highs.
I found a big issue with sound leakage, these will leak a lot of sound just like a speaker so using the True Fidelity in public or quiet places can be an issue. However they are very light and comfortable and the headband is nice and fluffy. The True Fidelity headphones have a matte soft touch finish, and have an in-line volume control switch. In the box you can a battery, hardshell carry case, airplane adapter, home stereo adapter and a detachable/replaceable one sided 3.5mm audio cable (non proprietary). I would not recommend these for portable carry. If your looking to get one of Ableplanet’s headphones i would strongly recommend going for their higher models. Also available at Amazon. Price $129.99.
The SR60i by Grado headphones are most known for their retro or old school look but also for their extreme high sound quality, nothing for this price sound any better. The SR60i have a very rich and natural sound with great detailed bass, clear highs and full soundstage . The SR60i are open air meaning they do not isolate any outside noise, they are very comfortable with the sponge like ear pads that are also replaceable but will last you a very long time. The hand band is not made out of leather and the adjustable hight is done by sliding the cups up and down without any clicks like many other headphones. The build quality is very solid, the cups are made out of plastic but do not feel “cheap”. The cable is nice and thick for durability and comes with a screw-on 6.3mm adapter. The SR60i are one of the best selling models from Grado and are made in the U.S.A. They are truly audiophile grade headphones, but you might want to stay at home while using them if you mind the retro design style. Price $79.99. Can be found for less.
The Sennheiser IE6 are the lowest in the IE series of Sound Isolating In-Ears however they are great performers and well worth their price tag. The IE6 deliver superb sound quality that will surely out preform many In-Ears in the similar price range, the IE6 have fantastic well balanced bass that isn't overpowering and tight. If you're looking for optimal bass response and custom tuning then you will want to check out Sennheiser's IE8 with of course a much larger price tag. The IE6 have super clear and detailed highs and mids, they do have a nice non muddy warm sound due to the dynamic drivers which most people love. The IE6 come with many silicone ear tips that make listening to your music very enjoyable and comfortable for long periods of time but to get the best performance and sound quality out of your IE6 i would recommend getting some foam tips instead, that way you get much better sound isolation and a little more bass response.
You can wear the IE6 directly in you ear or wrap then around you ear and insert them into your ear, both methods are great and will stay securely inside you ear. The design is a little outdated for me and I find the design of both the IE7 & IE8 far more modern and sleek to my taste however the IE6 have great build quality and the audio cable is very durable. The 3.5mm audio jack is L shaped and also very well built, you will still be able to use it with an iPad, iPhone and such with cases on. Sennheiser has really put a lot of thought into the packaging of the IE series, you will find a very nice looking hard carry case for you IE6 that will store them neatly and securely inside, although I found it to be a little too bulky to carry around. The Sennhesier IE6 are a fantastic pair of In-Ears that deliver great sound for a great price. Price $259.95 - Available for much less on Amazon.com.
The Remix Remote are V-Moda's newest series of modern In-Ear earphones made entirely from metal construction, the Remix feature a 3-button remote that allows you to control your music as well as an integrated mic for taking calls on the go or even chat with friends on iChat and other similar applications. The Remix are fully compatible with the iPhone 3GS and Apple's current line of computers, for more devices visit the product page. The new Remix are by far V-Moda's best model with many fixed issues past models had like the Vibe series. No more muddy and overpowering bass and even greater build quality. Let's not forget the new Remix look and feel incredible, they are light weight and have a black glossy metal finish with silver accents that really make them pop out. The Remix are a very comfortable pair of In-Ears with many soft silicone ear tips that will insure a great fit in your ears and will stay in until you decide to take them out, also included are detachable sport earhooks should you want the ultimate stability when exercising and a very soft carry pouch for storing your Remix.
Bottom line sound - The Remix sound brilliantly fantastic! Just like i said they are V-Moda's best sounding earphones currently made, i have used past models before. No more of the muddy overpowering bass, now it's much more clear and crisp but definitely noticeable and punchy! The highs are superb and clear but you still get a nice warm overall sound, mids are well balanced and crisp. The Remix are also sound isolating earphones which help block a lot of unwanted outside noise and give you better sound at low volumes. I'm happy to say the Remix Remote are definitely worth their price tag of $99.99.
The SE310 by Shure are one of the best sound isolating in-ear earphones iv’e tried thanks to Shure’s foam sleeve ear tips, the SE310 provide an ultra comfortable fit while staying secure in your ears. The best way to wear Shures is to loop the audio cord behind your ears to get the most comfort and secure fit out of your Shure earphones. The SE310 come with a huge assortment of ear tips from foam sleeves to flexible silicone tips. The audio cord is very short however you also get a cord extension that is also detachable, so if for some reason you need to disconnect from your audio device then you don’t even need to take out your earphones out of your ear because the short cable does not get in your way. The build quality on the SE310 is very high and durable with a rubber coating on the end to help you get some grip when inserting them into your ears.
Sound quality - Although Shure claims to have improved bass response in the SE310, they Shure do not have enough bass in them at all. I was disappointed to not get rich bass response, the bass is there but no punchy or full rich, nothing for bass lovers to see here. I have been using the SE310 for about a month and the sound doesn’t seem to change with burn in time. However the SE310 do sound amazing with really clear highs, very detailed and clear sound spectrum and every single instrument can be heard clearly. Music genres i would recommend listening with the Shure SE310 are Classical, Pop, Alternative, Electronic, County and some Rock.
The SE310 come with a 2 year warranty, many different sizes and styles of ear tips, detachable extension cable and a portable hard protective storage case. The SE310 are way too expensive for what they offer however they are available for half their retail price on Amazon which makes them a good buy. Price $299.99.
