V-MODA Vibe Duo In-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone with Universal One-Button Mic (Nero)
by V-MODA
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of V-MODA Vibe Duo In-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone with Universal One-Button Mic (Nero)
Customer Review: Best Phones I Have Used... So Far...
Summary: 5 Stars
Physical Observations:
* Very nice squeeze-to-open 2-3/8" x 4" pouch
* One set of Small, Med, and Large silicone earcanal inserts in semi-transparent clear and one set in black (6 total).
* Wiring covered in woven cloth. Very flexible boarding on limp.
* Mini-plug is straight, extends 7/8" from iPhone when in place
* Chrome barrel crimp with V-Moda logo at Y where cables to earbuds meet
* Microphone/call button barrel on right side earbud.
* Cloth covered cable to right earbud is same diameter as main cable with small clamp to attach cord to clothing.
* Cloth covered cable to left earbud is approx 2/3 as thick as main cable.
Using the Earbuds:
My 56 yr old eardrums still work but do not pickup the very subtle nuances of audiophile playback as they did when they were 25 yrs old. I bought these earphones because the iPhone OEM earphones hurt like heck after 10 minutes,and my current Shure E4c's do not have the call answering/pause button that the Apples do.
The V-Moda's came with the medium-size silicone inserts in place and, for me, did not form a seal in my ears. The phones sounded horribly tinny. I changed to the largest inserts, which did form a good seal. The V-Modas produced a well balance sound and very pleasing output (sounds great to my old ears). After using them for a week, I prefer them to my Shure E4c's that sound very good, but not 3.5x worth. Most of what I listen to are audible books and videos/movies in while stuck in airline seats.
The tight seal the large inserts create do a very good job of isolating
exterior noise. The earbuds are small, nicely trimmed in black enamel and chrome. I found the cloth to be easier to untangle than vinyl coated cordsets.
I used the "semi-clear" insert for the left side and a black one for the right side so I could tell'em apart quickly. Each earbud is marked with R or L in # 0.01 font near the driver output tube, which is completely obscured when a large ear canal insert is used.
The call button in the barrel microphone is a small slightly raised button easily found with bare fingers, but may be difficult to locate if the user is wearing gloves. In contrast, I can just mash down on the longitudinally split rectangular tube design on the Apple phones.
Makes using my iPhone as a music and vid player very enjoyable and they work well in phone mode, isolating sound in a noisy office and produce excellent sound.
Sonically better than the OEM Apple earbuds for my ears and I can wear these cushy in the ear type ear buds as long as I want without discomfort.
Customer Review: Sweet, sweet product; bitter, bitter quality. DO NOT PURCHASE
Summary: 5 Stars
I've left the original review in place, below, and Amazon won't let me revise my "star rating" -- but sadly, I have had to completely revise my opinion. Shortly after I wrote my review, the headphones failed as many others have. V-MODA honored the warrantee, but it took them ten weeks to turn around with a second set. The new ones have a new connector at the phone, but sadly the quality problems aren't resolved and these earphones are failing, only a couple months after I began using them again.
When they are functioning, these are great. They don't function long. Don't waste your money.
These are perhaps the best earphones I've ever owned, and certainly a perfect companion to the iPhone.
I'm not an audiophile, but to my ears the sound is excellent. It certainly sounds as good or better than my computer speakers (with external bass); the only thing missing is the physical pressure on my body of real bass from a good stereo system.
There are some graceful touches as well. As many other reviewers note, the cloth cable is much easier to disentangle than cheaper earphones. This is pretty useful. They come packaged with both white and black silicone fittings, and it is really nice to have one white (right) and one black. The cable is generously long, so it's easy to keep the iPhone in my pocket and run the cable inside my jacket or sweater to my ears. I've seen some complaints that the mute/answer/hang-up button is hard to find, but I figured out the trick of running my hand up the cable and then just rolling the microphone between my fingers, which makes it simple. My only complaint -- and it's minor, really -- is that there's no volume control. Probably wouldn't be worth the cost, but generally the only time I have to fish my phone out of my pocket is to muck with the volume.
Most importantly, these are very comfortable earphones. I can wear them all day coding and not really notice; when the phone rings, it's still a little surprising and satisfying that I don't have to turn off the music or take off the headphones. (I actually prefer to take one out when I'm on the phone, though; the sound isolation is quite good, which makes me unsure of how loud to speak when I leave them both in.)
Overall, I'm very, very happy with these.
Again, that was my early opinion. Now, I have to say: stay away.
Customer Review: Possibly the best deal you'll find for earphones.
Summary: 5 Stars
I first purchased a pair of Vibe duos several months back, in the same order as a set of Sennheiser CX300-B Earbuds (Black) . I used both and thought the sennheisers were a clear cut winner, with their booming bass and crisp, bright highs. I was going to gift the vibes to a friend, however, after a week of breaking both in, I did a similar comparison because something made me not want to let go of the vibes, probably their flashy exterior. In this second test, the vibes nailed everything perfectly. Great low-frequency response, mids as you'd expect them, and brilliant highs. With the balance of sound these earphones offer, listen closely and you'll hear new dimensions in your music. This is especially true in newer rock/alternative where songs are so over-produced that a lot of low volume tracks are present, and you usually don't hear them. Be it a subtle guitar overdub or an unusually unnoticeable ascending bass fill, the vibe will literally let you hear all the right notes. This sets sound quality blows the water out of the Shure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones and costs much less
The microphone works quite well. I tested this with the iPhone 3G, and call quality was fantastic for me, and on the other end I was told that every word came out clearly compared to the often tinny, blurry sound of the iPhone's built-in mic. Placement is just right, so you won't have to lift the mic up to talk, although if you're like me, you still will as a social cue to tell people around you're talking to someone, rather than being insane.
Durability is also solid, I have both the first batch model (straight plug) and the newer replacement (with the plug at a 90 degree angle as pictured above) and neither pair has broken, despite fairly rough handling. My one complaint is that the grip, if you'll call it that, on the first model came loose fairly quickly, which was a little bit of a nuisance.
Earphone comfort, I believe, is entirely subjective, but in my own, the vibe was great, and even after extended use my ears were not sore. I'd recommend using the small size buds that the vibe comes with for optimum bass.
The vibe duo is a fantastic buy, and I recommend it to absolutely anyone looking for a good pair of earphones.
Customer Review: Finally! With call+ipod control button!
Summary: 5 Stars
First and foremost these headphones have the absolute best sound of any that I have ever owned in the past 10 years -- and unfortunately, I go through headphones like they're going out of style, because it's tough to please me. The bass response is INCREDIBLE -- pristine -- no mud, just blissful skull vibrating pure bass (okay, so J/K on the vibration -- I don't actually listen to music that loud but these are MORE than capable of filling your head full of incredibly intense sound).
The bass is what struck me as exceptional, but that's because usually that's what's lacking in the dozens of small, comfortable headphones that I have tried over the years. The mid-range and high-end are also absolutely phenomenal!!! All in all, just a very well balanced, intense, and dynamic sound!!!
Finally! No more searching for that perfect set of headphones. The comfort was perfect for me out of the box and with all the additional soft gels, these will fit comfortably for anyone who is already happy with an in-ear design. These seal the ear canal very well and block out the majority of external sound so the volume level does not need to be very loud in order to hear the nuanaces of the music -- yet when speaking my own voice doesn't resonate excessively -- no trouble tolerating the sound of my own voice with these firmly in place. Just a great balance between sound blocking and minimizing my own voice resonance while on a call.
With the addition of the call+ipod control button, these are the PERFECT replacement for the stock iPhone headphones -- filling out the depth of bass and intensity that are lacking in Apple's standard headphones.
My one complaint is that unlike the Apple control button, which is so easy to find (just squeeze anywhere on the mic section), the button on the V-Moda is a bit small and only at one end of the mic section -- it took some getting used to just to find the thing. Ultimately this really is just a matter of getting used to the difference in design -- easy enough to reach for the mic and find the button -- the lapel clip keeps the mic in position so I don't have to fumble to find it. After just one afternoon of use, I have no trouble at all finding and using the mic button.
All things considered, this is the last set of headphones that I will ever buy! I absolutely love them!
Customer Review: V-Moda Vibe Duo
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had the V-Moda Vibe earphones for several years now and have been more than happy with them. As I was looking for something in the way of a stereo phone headset for my iPhone, I naturally thought of V-Moda and their Vibe Duo. And I am again happy.
The textured metal earpieces (available in chrome, black and red colors) give the Vibe Duo a very industrial look. The cable in made of a vinyl-like material, almost cloth-like, rather than the traditional plastic coating. Most headsets or earphones include perhaps two or three different sizes of eartips (that is the piece that seats the speaker in your ear), but V-Moda includes eight pairs of eartips, six black and two clear. A storage pouch is included to store your eartips.
This is a phone headset, so it has an inline button to answer calls. On the iPhone, this button also serves as your play/pause button, your skip button, and your rewind button. The action is determined by how many times you press the button. I've seen this feature in other headsets as well and it makes it really nice to be able to store your iPhone in your backpack, purse, etc. In terms of the talk button, I was somewhat disappointed in the design. The inline talk button is on a round chassis, which can make it difficult to quickly locate. I wish that V-Moda would have flattened the chassis so the button would be easier to find.
Many in-ear speakers suffer from a lack of bass and sound tinny. The Vibe Duo has excellent bass and produces a rich audio experience. They are rated at 12 Hz to 22 kHz, covering the range that the human ear can hear. Crisp highs and booming lows with a nice mellow mid-range make these ideal for music. Phone calls sound as clear as the cell signal you're getting, and the microphone performs just as well.
As for the fit, you can certainly find an eartip size and style that will fit your ears among the many eartips included. The single-flange design of the eartips seat well and they do a decent job isolating external noise. I particularly like the jack on the Vibe Duo. The cable is offset to the side so you can push the male jack into the female port without worrying about any damage to the cable.
If you're going to use your headset for music in addition to taking phone calls, the Vibe Duo will not disappoint.