Good bang for your buck | V-MODA Vibe Earbuds

Quality and Customer Service Issues | V-MODA Vibe Earbuds - Midnight Blue

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	• V-MODA Vibe Earbuds - Midnight Blue V-MODA V-MODA average customer review:based on 159 reviews view larger image
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Some easy solutions to reviewer complaints

Despite having absolutely no interest in cosmetic design of earbuds, I have great interest is functionality and performance, and the Vibes shine in these areas.

Thanks to the (relatively few) negative reviews, I have found several plausible solutions to the cord failures, microphonics and one-side loss of audio for this otherwise outstanding product. I also propose likely solutions to some confusion about tonal characteristics.

Preventing cord failure at the ends
The simplest preventative is minimize movement of the cord. At the 'bud ends, this is easily done by wrapping the cord around the ear instead of just letting it hang (heck, at this price you might even prefer to lose an ear than damage the cord). A big additional benefit of ear-wrapping is that noise from cord movement is practically eliminated.
The durability of the cord at the stress points at the plug and earbuds can be easily improved by applying a small drop of 'Liquid Electrical Tape' (Star Brite, Ft. Lauderdale, FL) for about 2 mm (3/16-inch) along the cord from the existing rubber strain reliefs, using a toothpick. I obtained this from the Ace hardware store for about $5, and have used it successfully for several similar jobs, indoors and out. This liquid vinyl gradually stiffens over time, but retains flexibility and durability similar to that of the existing rubber reliefs. It adheres very well to the black rubber cord, but I can't speak to the clear insulation on some models (although this may not impede its effectiveness). Of course this doesn't make the cord any stronger, but may increase durability by increasing the minimum bending radius.

Fixing loss of sound on one side
Near the bottom of the FAQ on the V-Moda website is the description of this problem being often caused by foreign matter entering the earbud and physically obstructing motion of the transducer. The FAQ recommends blowing gently into the business end of the earbud to clear the obstruction. Perhaps some of the negative raters might have solved their problem this way.

Distorted audio characteristic
The Vibes are the first earbuds that I find allow me to completely disable all equalization and hear much of the definition that the sound engineer intended (when listening to an appropriate sound source*). However, the downside to this level of quality is that the distortion introduced by equalization can become glaringly obvious. Perhaps some who don't observe the richness of the Vibe's audio may be hearing the real effects of some equalization or audio processing they have enabled to improve the sound of weaker devices. Try disabling all equalization and see what happens. I found that most SRS and DFX features, while still functional, tend to obscure the superb definition that these 'buds can otherwise provide. If distortion remains, check for dirty connectors.

* For example, when listening to 'Music Choice' 48-kHz PCM from an SA digital cable box via S/PDIF decoded with the Intel ICH4 AC'97.

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Good bang for your buck

After owning a set of these heaphones, I must say that for IEMs, they are very good for the amount of money you are paying for them. There will always be different opinions of sound, fit, comfort, style, etc., but over all they are good sounding IEMs.

While reading numerious reviews of these headphones, I agree with many in saying that the low end is exagrated and not as crisp as other IEMs. These IEMs would be great for bass heads because of the strong bass. I find that the bass is very muddy, and not good with listening to music, like classical music, that emphasizes the mids, lows, and highs. In other words, the mids and highs are crisp, while the low end is strong and muddy.

After a year, my Vibes did fail and the right channel faded so the volume level was much lower then the right. No, the sounds wasn't cutting out or was completely gone, just a lot lower than the left. This I found similiar to other reviews that had a channel completely die on them. Thankfully, Costco has a very liberal return policy and I am currently burning in my new set of Vibes. Burn in is critical for this set of IEMs. You need about 10 hours of burn in time before these IEMs will fully come alive.

Making sure that the seal is correct, alowing for atleast 10 hours of burn in time, and you have a good audio source (mp3's ripped more than 192kbps, or an audio CD), these Vibes are a great set of IEMs. They are much better than your headphones that come with your mp3 player and your cheap sony's, but they do not compare to the higher end IEMs, like the Sure SE420 or the Etymotic ER-4's. Great IEM's to start, before getting into serious IEMs and external amps for your headphones. Enjoy!

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Quality and Customer Service Issues

I purchased these in January of 2008 (I'm writing this review on 7/21/08). The headphones for the most part worked, noticed I said worked, fine, but since I use them a lot and they are in and out of my cargo shorts pockets they need to address a very important durability issues. The wire just above where you plug them into your iphone must have broke as only one ear piece works unless you jiggle it and then don't move. I was going to call them, but they don't have a phone number on their website or at least I couldn't find it (that should have been my first clue), so I had to email them only to get a automated reply that they'll contact me. Overall they are very good, but quality and customer service are my most important criteria when choosing products, so I think V-Moda has some work to do here.

If you use your iphone headphones a lot I suggest you save up or spend another $70.00 + and get the Etymotic's HF2's. They have some of the best reviews (they have a phone number) and as an example of impeccible service I had a pair of ER-6i's (white) that had issues and when I called Customer Service they said they changed their end to right angle as they had problems and if I'd mind black instead (which I wanted anyway). Boom less than two days later I had them. IMPORTANT NOTE: These headphones where past the 1 year warranty NOW THAT'S SERVICE!!!

The long and short of it is if you're looking for high quality headphones or iphone headphone/mic combos look no further than Etymotics. You won't be disappointed.

Etymotic Research HF2 Hands-Free Earphones / Headset (iPhone Compatible)

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Great Listening Headphones

These headphones are great headphones. There are 4 types of headphones: earbuds, in ear canal headphones, over ear, and canalbuds. These are canalbuds, comfortable but inside the ear. They have the hi quality of the in ear canals, but do not hurt. These headphones have great bass, but are also just really good.

Pros:
1. They look awesome. I have the red and black ones and they are stunning.
2. They are small, superportable, and not like the huge super clunky Bose headphones. I would not want to be seen in Bose headphones.
3. They cancel some noise, not as well as the Bose ones, but really well.
4. Awesome sound comes from these, from classical to metal and everything in between.

Cons:
1. These headphones are only really great if you're just walking around, in a bus/work, or lounging around the house. But if you want to work out, these are not the type you want as they slip out. If you're not working out, they stay in no matter what your position is, but the sweat makes them slip out.
2. To some people this won't matter, but: the jack is straight, not L shaped, so you can't plug this into your iPod and just wrap it around or it will break, you have to unplug them and wrap the jack around the iPod too. This is annoying. It seems small, but it can really hurt if not taken care of. The headphone part is really durable, but the jack is not. Because the jack sticks out instead of following the body, it makes it easier to break them. This is the only reason these are not 5 star.

Verdict: Great quality, but only get them if you will take care of them.

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