Four awesome headphones
We loves our iPods just as much as the next guy. And, well, the guy next to him, and the girl over there, the kid in the stroller, and the rest of the iPod army — all instantly identifiable by those white cords dangling from their ears. But Apple’s earbuds hardly offer the best auditory experience. In fact, investing in a better set of headphones can change the way you listen to music.With hundreds of models of headphones out there, making a sound choice is obviously a daunting task, so EW has done the earwork, as it were, and selected four winners that won’t tax your budget: one model each of in-ear and over-the-ear headphones for $50 or less, and another two for less than $150. (Note: The prices below are not from the manufacturer, but what you should expect to pay at major online retailers like Amazon.) To put them through their paces, we listened to an eclectic playlist of songs from rock and hip-hop to country and classical. And to reflect their real-world use, our song files were a mix of MP3s and protected files downloaded from online stores and played on an iPod without using equalization. Now, hear the good word!
SkullCandy TiTan Earbuds
$42; skullcandy.com
Recommended for Bass junkies, sk8ters
Catering to the young folk, SkullCandy’s TiTans come in a range of eight colors and, rare for headphones, are metal bodied — which looks cool but means they’ll cause earcicles in cold weather. Despite being billed as “earbuds,” TiTans are IEC (in-ear-canal) earphones, which means they’re meant to be shoved deep into your aural canal. The benefit is that they block out virtually all outside noise and thus let you turn the volume down substantially. That necessarily brings up comfort and potential earwax issues, which can get skeevy. Nicely, a change-purse-size carrying case and an extra set of foam tips are included.
What we like
Short of crossing an angry donkey, you won’t find bigger kick than the bass from these buds — the thump of Kanye’s “Stronger” comes through without distortion, while all the treble detail of Daft Punk’s electronic wizardry is still there.
What we don’t like
Big bass may put off some who prefer a more neutral sound. Coupled with loud trebles, that means the midrange tends to disappear, making the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” sound flat. Annoyingly, whenever the stiff rubberized cords swung around, the sound was conducted right to the ears.
Grade: B
Koss PortaPro
$50; koss.com
Recommended for Pop-rockers and retro lovers
Still going strong 25 years (!) after they were first introduced, the PortaPros are that rare gadget that transcends obsolescence. And for a number of good reasons: They’re comfortable, fold up nicely to fit in a pocket, and, most important, produce great sound. The earpieces can be adjusted both vertically and laterally for a tighter fit. They might not be much to look at, but hey, tell your friends they’re retro.
What we like
One listen to Radiohead’s “Everything in Its Right Place” made us believers. It’s all there: full if slightly muddy bass, nicely detailed midranges, crisp trebles. In fact for the first time we actually understood all of singer Thom Yorke’s whinings (well, heard them, anyway).
What we don’t like
Over-the-ear headphones like these require that you crank the volume a little more than you would with in-ear models, which may bother anyone sitting close to you.
Grade: A-
NEXT PAGE: The sweeter sounding — and more expensive — Shure SE210 and Grado SR125
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