Gadling gear review: Ultimate Ears 600vi earphones

Modern technology has obviously had a dramatic impact on how we travel. Thanks to small, lightweight portable devices, we now have the ability to carry our entire music library or a collection of our favorite movies and television shows, with us where ever we go. But one of the key elements for enjoying our music and videos is a good pair of headphones, preferably headphones that are comfortable to wear, isolate outside noise, and offer great sound. I recently found all of those qualities in a new pair of Ultimate Ears 600vi earphones from Logitech.

Before testing the UE 600vi’s I was a bit skeptical as to whether or not I would find them comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. After all, on a long international flight, they could potentially be used for hours on end. For years I’ve traveled with a pair of Bose Triport headphones, which are traditional, over the ear headphones that are super comfortable and provide great sound. The Ultimate Ears on the other hand, are in-ear models that are a bit of a departure for those accostumed to the larger, bulkier models that cover the entire ear.

To get the best performance, and comfort, out of the Ultimate Ears it is important that you get the right fit. Fortunately, Logitech packs in six sets of ear cushions, varying in size from extra-extra-small to large, which are designed to help us find that fit. Those cushions can be mixed and matched as needed, and it took several days of experimenting to find the right combination for my needs. Once I did however, not only did the UE’s fit very well, they also offered a high level of isolated from outside noise as well. That isolation is important when you’re stuck on a plane for 15 hours and you want a little relief from the sound of jet engines.While finding that perfect fit is important for the long term use of the Ultimate Ears, one thing that will strike you right away is the sound quality. Upon taking these earphones out of their package, I immediately hooked them up to my iPod and started listening to a few of my favorite tracks. The sound quality was astounding, and as I worked my way through various genres of music, I discovered that I was picking up elements to the songs that I hadn’t ever heard before. Background vocals and instruments came through clear as a bell and volume levels didn’t need to be cranked high to get the full effect of the music. I also used these headphones to watch videos and play games on my iPad, and came away impressed with their versatility and sound quality with those types of media as well.

This particular model of Ultimate Ears also includes a built in remote control right on the cable. That remote allows you to adjust volume, as well as pause and skip tracks on an iPod and other supported mp3 players. On the iPhone, the remote allows you to answer calls, and a tiny mic lets you chat directly through the earphones themselves. They also work with Siri on the new iPhone 4S, giving you the option to ask her questions and give commands without ever taking the UE’s out of your ears.

Despite their comfort and fantastic sound, the Ultimate Ears aren’t necessarily the best option for everyone. if you’re not already of fan of the in-ear model of headphones, it can take some time to get use to the feel of the cushions resting inside your ear canal. They also aren’t as good at filtering outside noise as over-the-ear headphones either, even when you have found the best fit possible. However, they don’t nearly weigh as much as their bulkier counterparts and they take up almost no room in your bag either. Those are two factors that are very important for travelers looking to travel light.

Logitech includes a nice, hard case with the Ultimate Ears, which protects them nicely when not being used. The case also help to keep the delicate cord from getting tangled, which can cause problems with any headphone. I found the case to be a nice touch in protecting my headphones while on the go.

With an MSRP of $120, the UE 600vi’s are a bit on the pricy side. But Logitech offers several models at a variety of price points, and while I’ve only had the opportunity to test this particular model, I was suitably impressed enough to recommend the rest of the line as well. If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy your music, movies, and other digital media while on the go, then you’ll definitely want to give the Ultimate Ears a listen. I think you’ll find they offer amazing sound and comfort in an incredibly small package.

Urbanears Bagis headphones: snaps together to prevent tangles

With so many new headphones hitting the market each week, it takes some decent innovation to get any attention. Thankfully, Swedish headphone maker Urbanears understands a thing or two about making smart headphones, and they used those skills to develop their latest addition: the Bagis.

The headphones themselves grab your attention immediately because of their colors; the Bagis lineup is available in 18 different colors – and unlike most other headphones, the color in the Bagis is found on the entire product – from plug to cord to bud to earpiece and remote.

When not in use, you simply snap the two earpieces together, greatly reducing the change of nasty tangles. An all fabric cord also helps reduce “cord noise”. Audio is fantastic — especially since the Bagis only cost $30. You’ll find the entire color lineup and links to purchase options at Urbanears.com.

SkyMall Monday: Pillow Speaker

While some people enjoy falling asleep to the soothing sounds of music or the television, the noise can disturb others. Whether you’re at home trying to sleep next to your spouse who prefers peace and quiet or on a plane where you want some background noise to drawn out the passengers around you but also don’t want to disturb them, trying to sleep while also listening to music can be a challenge. I know that I enjoy listening to music while sleeping on planes but I also don’t want to be that guy providing a soundtrack for everyone within five rows. So, finding a way to listen to music, sleep and do it all discreetly is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an economy class seat. Thankfully, SkyMall knows that headphones can be uncomfortable when you’re sleeping and people prefer to rest their heads on their own pillows. That’s why they sell a product that combines the sleep benefits of a pillow with the audio abilities of speakers. That’s right, it’s the Pillow Speaker.It may be easy to sleep with headphones in your ears while you are seated upright on a plane, but that isn’t the case when you’re laying in bed or curled in a first class lay-flat seat. That’s where the Pillow Speaker comes in. You simply plug your iPod into the pillow, rest your head as you normally would and enjoy your music through the speaker built right inside. Who doesn’t want audio components stuffed into their pillows? You can’t spell comfortable without treble*.

Think that listening through headphones is the only polite way to enjoy your music when other people are around? Think that pillows should only be filled with feathers? Well, while you toss and turn all night, we’ll be dreaming about the product description:

No batteries or ear-buds are necessary — you can use the MP3 Pillow Speaker to enjoy music or TV without disturbing others. A great gift for teens or adults, the MP3 Pillow Speaker also helps relieve stress and tension as you drift off to sleep listening to soothing sounds from your audio source.

One must assume that the speakers maximum volume is quite low if it won’t be disturbing anyone around you. That, or since everyone else around you will have the headphones on, they won’t hear your pillow. You’ll be free to relieve stress and tension as you drift off to sleep listening to the soothing sounds of Gwar.

Don’t torture your ears with uncomfortable earbuds. Fall asleep listening to your favorite music while also enjoying your own pillow thanks to the Pillow Speaker. Just don’t turn the volume up too loud or listen to audiobooks of trashy romance novels while in public.

* Not at all true.

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

Review – V-MODA Vibrato Remote noise isolating headphones

This morning, headphone maker V-MODA unveiled the newest product for their fall 2010 lineup. For the past week, I’ve been reviewing the new Vibrato Remote in-ear headphones, and if you hate reading long reviews, all you need to know is that these are the best in-ear headphones V-MODA has ever made.

Building upon their previous headphones (the Remix Remotes), V-MODA re-engineered the headphones to look better, and sound better. The biggest change is the use of a fabric and kevlar reinforced cable – fabric cables have the advantage of not tangling as easy as plastic.

The earbuds themselves also went though a redesign – and the final result really is pretty damn awesome. The buds feature a two-tone black/silver design, not unlike something you’d find on a watch. Another very welcome improvement is in the silicone earpieces – the Vibratos come with an assortment of sizes, and for the first time, they used dual-tone silicone for each one. The end result really does look pretty neat.

The various earpieces – in the package, you get three sizes of clear buds, and three in black.

The inline remote allows for volume and track control. Even though they are designed for use on the iPod, iPad and iPhone, I was able to control play/pause on my Android devices (Nexus One and T-Mobile G2). The Vibrato’s put the controls towards your left ear, so you won’t be able to look down to see the buttons, which means you’ll need to learn to control them blindly.

Included in the box are two Active Flex ear hooks. I’ll admit that I was initially uninterested in these -but for the test, I tried them out anyway. Thank goodness I did – because they took me completely by surprise. Not only do they make the headphones very comfortable (by reducing the weight hanging from your ears), they also reduce cord noise, a problem almost all in-ear noise isolating headphones suffer from.

Now of course on to the most important aspect of any pair of headphones – audio and noise isolation. Without any audiophile skills, all I can say is that these things sound awesome. I played limited quality MP3’s and a couple of FLAC files, and found the volume and bass reproduction to be great. Best of all, because the Vibrato offers good noise isolation, you won’t need to crank the volume too high to enjoy it, reducing distortion.

The Vibrato features an angled gold-plated headphone jack – this really is the perfect compromise – it suits people who prefer angled plugs, and people who like straight plugs. The whole thing feels well made, and sturdy.

Call quality through the in-line microphone was way above average – callers never complained about excess noise, even when I made calls from a noisy or windy environment. Also, because the headphones isolate so well, hearing the other side of your call is never an issue.

The V-MODA Vibrato headphones come with a stylish carrying case, a variety of earpieces and the two Active Flex earhooks. As usual, V-MODA delivers the headphones in an amazing box – but you’ll need about ten minutes to unpack them.

The new V-MODA Vibrato headphones are available today – and retail for $129.99. You’ll find them at your local Apple retail stores and at shop.v-moda.com. Yes – $130 for a pair of headphones may be hard to justify, but in this case, you get headphones that sound as good as they look – assuming they match your personal taste of course!

Bottom line is that the the Vibrato headphones are the best sounding, and best looking in-ear headphones V-MODA has ever made. Their noise isolation properties are perfect for travelers, the Active Flex hooks are ideal for active use, and the quality seems to easily justify the price tag. V-MODA provides a two year premier warranty on all their headphones, and will even offer a 50% discount on new ones if you damaged them beyond the regular warranty coverage.

Kidz Gear kids headphones – good for little ears and your sanity

No longer content with hours of “are we there yet” and I Spy, kids have far more choices in entertainment than I had as a kid. Many minivans come with a full DVD entertainment system, and most kids can find there way around an iPhone or iPod without any help.

For long road trips, being able to listen to your own music instead of Dora the Explorer or Spongebob could greatly improve your mood. This is where Kidz Gear products can help. The Kidz Gear line of headphones are specially designed for kids, and provide a perfect fit, along with hearing protection.

The headphones are available wired and wireless, which means you’ll be able to find a solution for any car and any portable player.

The wired headphones feature an in-line volume control, and come with a volume limiting plug, which is very handy for really young kids, or for kids that think “max” is the only volume you need to enjoy music. The headphones are comfortable (according to my four year old) and the cord is long enough to reach from the back seat of your car to the front.

The wireless headphones work using infra-red, and are guaranteed to operate on any in-car IR audio system. A volume control and power switch make it easy for kids to operate themselves. If kids forget to turn the headphones off (and they will), the headphones can turn off automatically when no signal is picked up.

One of the best features of these headphones is the optional IR transmitter (seen above on the left.) This box plugs into a headphone jack or line-out port of your TV, stereo system or MP3 player, and allows kids to listen to their own entertainment at home or in a hotel room. Its range is powerful enough to reach around a moderately sized room.

The Kid Gear products are well priced – $16.99 for the wired headphones, $29.99 for the wireless headphones and $14.99 for the IR transmitter. The entire assortment is available directly from the manufacturer.