NoiseHush stereo headphones feature neodymium magnet drivers and advanced engineering to deliver a great audio experience whether used with your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. I'm going to review a couple of their models, starting with the NoiseHush NX26 Hi-Fi stereo headphones.

The NoiseHush NX26 headphones are for high-performance audio that promise deep bass, low distortion and a wide dynamic range. They eliminate noise, making sure no matter what you're listening to, music or video or someone else at the end of a call, you're not distracted by a lot of external chatter. They have an adjustable headband and an over-the-ear design that delivers good sound and strong bass. The microphone also claims to be acoustically tuned to filter out external noise so the people you're talking to hear you, and not the racket around you.

While the NoiseHush NX26 are a lot of headphone to love -- they're big, really big -- but being over-the-ear lets them deliver really rich, really clean sound. They don't fit as tightly as some other headphones, however, so if you're seriously getting your headbang on, you'll need to be careful so you don't know yourself out. (Kidding!)

I use similarly sized headphones for podcasting on a regular basis, so for around the house it really doesn't bother me. I wouldn't use them to go jogging or in the gym, but if I really wanted to enjoy my favorite music or a movie with amazing sound design, these would be the headphones Id' use.

The good

• Over-the-ear design is comfortable
• Sound quality is excellent

The bad

• Loose fitting
• Large

The conclusion

The NoiseHush NX26 are good headphones for the price. The size and design won't appeal to everyone -- these aren't your Apple earbuds, and thank goodness for that! -- but for those who like the form factor, they'll appeal a lot. Combining long-wearing comfort with excellent sound quality the NoiseHush NX26 are an excellent pair of headphone to keep at home for the stuff you want to listen to most.

$69.95 - Buy now

With their new UltraFit line of sports headphones for iPhone, iPad, iPod and other devices, Polk Audio is really putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to their SecureFit, "stays in place" promise. Rather, they're putting Olympic-calibur athletes on a trampoline smack-dab in the middle of Macworld 2012. There are several different sport-optimized headsets in Polk Audio's UltraFit line. All of them share iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible 3.5mm connectors, tangle-free, planar audio cables, and Strainguard moisture shields, along with 41-inch cables for those who want to keep their device on a belt, in a pocket or otherwise further away, and 14-inch cables for those who want them on an armband, or clipped or stowed closer to the collar. Here's the breakdown:

• UltraFit 500 are in-ear, lower end headsets in black/red, black/gold, white/gray, and white/orange with 3 pairs of StayFit tips. They go for $49.95.

• UltraFit 1000 are in-ear, mid range headsets in black/red and white/gray, with the iPod-style remote control and three pair of StayFit silicone tips. They go for $69.95

• UltraFit 2000 are on-ear, mid range headsets in black/red or white/orange, with the iPod-style remote control, two pairs of foam ear pads, and one pair of cold-weather pads. They also go for $69.95.

• Ultrafit 3000 are in-ear, high range headsets black/red, white/gray and white/orange, with iPod-style remote control and 2 pairs of StayFit, 3-flange silicone tips, and three pairs of memory foam tips. They go for $99.95.

If the trampoline demos at Macworld were any indication, where the athletes jumped, flipped, spun, and otherwise shot themselves across the sky -- with and without snowboards -- are any indication, when Polk Audio says these new UltraFit headsets stay in place, they mean just exactly that.

As someone whose ears have been mangled by years of grappling, and whose standard headsets continuously fail to stay in place, I'll definitely be checking them out.

• $49.95 - $99.95 - Amazon link

Polk Audio's new UltraFit athletic headsets will make you jump

It appears as if Apple is looking into an issue between the iPhone/iPod and Monster brand headphones. According to an anonymous tipster who contacted Engadget, Apple has informed their customer service workers of issues that are occurring between Monster headphones that utilize integrated microphones and controls.

The rumored memo to employees reads as follow:

Several Monster headphone models using Apple's Remote and Mic technology do not meet Apple's technical specifications. These headphones use conductive flanges, which can result in electrical shorts that can cause an iPod or iPhone to pause and play erratically. Customers may not be aware that the issue is caused by the headphones and may believe that the iPod or iPhone is defective instead. There are no known safety concerns and no known risk of damage to the iPod/iPhone or headphones.

Are you having this issue with your Monster headphones? Let us know your take on this apparent problem in the comments below.

[ Engadget ]

The Motorola MOTOROKR S305 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones [$49.95 - iMore Store link] for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G are great for enjoying your music on the go. Whether you're on your daily jog or spending some time in the gym, these headphones are the perfect fit that will not hurt your wallet.

Read more after the break!

I'll be honest and say I have never been a fan of Bluetooth stereo headphones but Motorola's S305 has recently made me a fan. All of you active people out there can put these headphones to good use. Heck, with what these headphones actually bring to the table, you can take full advantage of them while lounging around your home.

In the box you get the S305 wireless stereo headphones, microUSB travel charger, and getting started guide. Syncing to your iPhone is a breeze and once you are all set up you can enjoy your music and phone calls with high performance and remarkable wireless sound up to 33 feet - priceless.

For those of you who are not a fan of in-ear earbuds, you are in luck with the S305's very comfy setup. These headphones are extremely lightweight and fit comfortably with the out of ear 1.2-inch pods. On the outside of one of the pod's housing you get some controls - audio track navigation, volume, and call controls. Along with the comfortable fit you also get a excellent battery life. Expect a talk time of up 6.5 hours, music time of 6 hours, and standby time of up to 4 days.

The Motorola MOTOROKR S305 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones are not too shabby. With their very low price point of $49.95, you can't go wrong.

Learn More and Purchase via TiPb's iPhone Store >>

Apple has stealthily updated their premium in-ear headset with remote and mic. What exactly did they update? Well nothing major but it's an update regardless - they replaced the soft rubber 3.5 mm headphone plug casing with a hard plastic one. So now instead of the soft rubber falling off we will now start to see the hard plastic replacement crack.

All joking aside, Apple really got these headphones almost perfect. And as a bonus they are now fully compatible with iPhone 3GS. Sorry first generation and 3G owners, you are still missing out on the control features.

Be sure to check out Rene's full review from this past January.

[Via AppleInsider]

iPhone 3G S comes with typical shiny white Apple headset buds, but for the first time these earbuds sport the new "remote", which includes volume controls and more.

Apple previously introduced iin-ear headsets with remote and mic for the second generation iPod touch (and aluminum MacBooks) in September 2008, but clearly labeled them as not-compatible with the iPhone 2G or iPhone 3G because the "remote" part was useless.

What a different a generation makes.

Now the full control scheme introduced with the 4th gen iPod shuffle is available to iPhone 3G S owners with one notable difference -- holding down the center button activates Voice Control.

(Thanks Bruce for the tip!)

Headphone Design

The v-moda vibe duo has an in-ear design with a selection of two earbud colors, black and clear (frosted), and three sizes in each color: small, medium and large. The headphone driver housings are black with an etched chrome-like band around the housing, giving the headphones both a stylish look and providing a textured surface for a more sure grip between your thumb and index finger when putting the headphones in your ears. Another nice addition is the small black carrying case that will accommodate the headphones and extra ear tips, if needed.

The fabric cable is an excellent upgrade from lesser headphones. I'm a big fan of fabric cables because they are both more durable and less inclined to tangle. The v-moda vibe duo sports an adjustable/removable plastic clip for securing the headphones to your clothing, thus supporting the weight of the cable at the point of the clip rather than having the weight pull the earphones from your ears.

About six inches down from the right earphone is the mic and call control button housing. The "duo" in this product's namesake is the ability to listen to audio but also take a call. The call control button can be depressed to answer or cancel a call. In addition to simple call handling, the call control button is compatible with the iPod features of one click for pause, two clicks to forward to the next song, and three clocks to listen to the previous song. My only gripe with this setup is the size of the mic/call control button housing. It seems a bit large and hefty and it would be nice to see it trimmed down in size and weight.

Performance

The v-moda vibe duo In-Ear Headphones w/ Mic deliver a clean, crisp sound with punchy bass and clear high-end levels. The volume range is just about right and if you use the right size of ear tip (requires a bit of experimentation), you will be rewarded with a firm fit in your ear delivering superior sound quality and impressive noise-isolation.

Making and receiving calls with these headphones is impressive. The sound quality during calls is more than adequate, with stereo sound during the call. The people I spoke to while using the headphones could hear me just fine and I could hear them without difficulty. Using the "clicker", or call control button, to answer and end a call is convenient, as well as using it for one, two, or three clicks while listening to music for pausing, skipping ahead, or listening to previous songs.

The plastic clip is a great feature to have. I really like being able to clip the headphones to my clothing so as to support the weight of the fabric cable, which in turn allows the headphones to remain securely in my ears without the nuisance of the weight of the cable pulling the ear tips from my ears. This can be more of a problem when you are doing something active, so the clip solves the problem. The fabric cable performs very well, giving these headphones a durable build quality and a greater resistance to tangling. 

Conclusion

For $99.95, the v-moda vibe duo In-Ear Headphones w/ Mic deliver quite a bit of bang for the buck. You can certainly spend much more for headphones, particularly if you are a serious audiophile, but these could be the earphones you use on a regular basis for a long time due to their quality. The sound is better than average, the inclusion of a call control button and microphone for calls is great, and the plastic clip and fabric cable are wonderful upgrades to justify the additional expense. Having two sets of ear tips in two colors and three different sizes is very convenient, especially given that losing an ear tip is a possibility during your time of ownership. I dislike the size of the call control button/mic housing. I wish it were smaller. Other than this small little gripe, the overall design, quality and performance of these headphones make them easy to recommend.

Pros

• Fabric cable is durable and tangle-resistant
• Punchy bass, clear highs and good noise-isolation = great sound quality
• Includes clip, two sets of ear tips in 3 different sizes, and carrying case
• Answer and end calls with call control button

Cons

• Call control button/mic housing is a little large

TiPb Rating:

For those of you waiting for Apple's new headphones, the patience you have displayed for the past 3 months has paid off. The day is finally here and you can now place your order.

Hear every detail of your music every time you tune in with the Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. They offer pro audio performance and impressive sound isolation, and convenient buttons let you adjust the volume and control music and video playback.

The Apple store is claiming the Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic will begin shipping within 7-10 business days and will run you $79. The earphones with remote and mic carry a 3-4 week wait and have a price tag of $29. And with that 3-4 week wait, don't expect these before the holidays.

Place your order today!

It looks like Apple's new in-ear headset will begin shipping any day now, according to what Macrumors is reporting. Yesterday Apple end-of-life'd the old headphones which simply means they will no longer be shipping them to resellers and when that happens, it generally means the new product is on it's way.

In case you missed the announcement of these new headphones, here's the deal:

The new Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic are engineered for superior acoustic accuracy, balance, and clarity. So you hear details you’ve been missing with other, lesser headphones. And the biggest breakthrough? They’re just $79.

Are you willing to drop $79 for these bad boys?

[Via Macrumors]

It's rare that I place much stock in the "stock" headphones that are included with my devices. Even though the headphones provided with my iPhone 3G are decent, I've graduated to a noise-cancellation type of headphone with rubber ear tips. Even so, the stock headphones and many third-party headphones are equipped with both a microphone for phone calls and a "clicker" button to control your audio. The clicker is a fantastic feature because it makes operating your iPhone or iPod Touch as simple as you want - no need to risk flying off the treadmill because you just can't stand to listen to THAT song even ONE more time!

Along with the many new updates in firmware 2.1, there was also an update for audio features, specifically concerning the "clicker." The clicker already handled triple-duty with play / pause / skip to the next song. A single click pauses your music, then a single click again will play your music. Two quick clicks will forward to the next song. Now, there is a FOURTH option. With a triple-click, you can go to a previous song. Remember, you can keep moving backward or forward through your playlist if you click in rapid succession, then pause momentarily for each clicking command to register, then proceed.

Many of you may have already been aware of this feature, but if you aren't, it's a handy thing to know. Now, if you are exercising or just don't want to have to look at your iPhone's screen to manage your music, just make a favorite playlist of everything you like. Then, you can click, double-click, and triple-click your way through your music without ever looking at your iPhone. This feature works also with third-party headphones. For example, I'm using the Maximo iMetal isolation headset (to be reviewed later), and it is also equipped with a clicker button and it works just fine. So if you haven't already, it's time to get your "click-groove" on!

If you have a tip or how-to that you would like to share, drop by the forums and/or email us at brian.hart@tipb.com. 

Features

These headphones are designed with a straight connector for a perfect fit in the recessed iPhone headphone jack.  The length of the wire is just about right; not too long to snag on things and not too short to prevent wearing your iPhone on your hip.

In addition to the earbuds delivering stereo sound while watching YouTube, listening to your iPod, or watching movies, there's a mic down the wire in just the right place to make or receive a phone call.  A small, oval-shaped silver button is positioned just below the mic holes for play/pause of your audio and for answering/ending your call - thus, the 2-in-1 in the name.

Performance

The Smartphone Experts 2-in-1 Earphones w/ Handsfree for iPhone boast a sound isolating design, and after using them, I found that they were adequate.  I was impressed with the sound quality.  They deliver clear sound, both while listening to audio on the iPhone and during phone calls.  Callers could hear me fine and I could hear them without any trouble.

Like other more expensive headphones, the Smartphone Experts 2-in-1 Earphones play the ringtone through the earbuds during an incoming call, pausing your audio until the call is answered or ignored.  Pressing the button on the mic pod answers the call, pressing it again cancels it.

Although these earphones are a great value for such a low price, I was disappointed that they did not include a pair of foam covers for the earphones.  I've purchased other audio products that include basic earphones, sometimes with the foam covers, sometimes without them.  I usually find the earphones are difficult for me to wear without the foam covers because I can't cram them into my ears.  Usually the headphones will fall out at the slightest movement and the sound quality suffers. Foam covers can be purchased for just a few bucks, but it would have been nice if they had been included.

In Summary

The Smartphone Experts 2-in-1 Earphones w/ Handsfree for iPhone are a good value for the money at $7.95.  With sound isolation and an integrated mic pod for phone calls, the earphones are similar to much more expensive models.  The lack of foam covers for the earbuds is a drawback, but still a great value overall.

You can purchase your own set of Smartphone Experts 2-in-1 Earphones w/ Handsfree for iPhone today at the Phone different Store for only $7.95.

Not a fan of the stock headphones bundled with your iPhone?  Me neither.  Sadly, the quality of the headphones packaged with the iPhone and most other devices emitting sound are a fair representation of the profit-by-any-means-possible culture.  I think Apple figured they had such a hot product with the iPhone that they could bundle it with two cups connected by a string and it would still sell (and I suspect they're right!).

Fortunately, other enterprising companies have stepped up to the plate and given unto us some worthy replacements for the stock headphones: enter Maximo, the makers of the iP-HS1 iMetal Stereo Headset for the iPhone, available at our Phone different store for $69.99.  Continue after the break for a full review!

Out Of The Box

The Maximo iP-HS1 iMetal Stereo Headset for iPhone includes some extras out of the box.  In addition to the earbud headphones, you also get a pair of earphone foam covers, a 2-ft extension cable, and a carrying pouch.  It's nice to get a little more bang for the buck!

Form And Function

Having converted to the isolation ear-tip style of headphones many moons ago, I thought it would be a huge step backward in sound quality to use earbud headphones again.  The Maximo iMetal earbuds are surprisingly good, however.

The first thing I noticed is the build quality.  The earbud and driver housings are made of aluminum alloy, not plastic; thus, the name "iMetal".  A high-definition condenser mic is located partway down one of the earbud cables, in just the right position to answer a phone call.  The overall length of the earphone cable is 4 ft.  If that's not enough, a 2-ft extension cable is included.

Speaking of phone calls -- if you are in the middle of a YouTube video, podcast, or jamming to some tunes on your iPod, everything pauses when a phone call comes in and resumes when the call is completed.  This is a normal feature for the iPhone, but there's more.  Further down the headphone cable is a rubber button that can pause/skip the audio and answer/end a call.

To prevent annoying tangles and protect your headphones, a silver carrying pouch is included.  Just put the headphones inside and pull the drawstrings.

Sound Quality

With the foam covers on, the earphones are a fairly snug fit, which enhances the overall sound experience.  One advantage of the earbud style is that, unlike the isolator earphones, you can hear outside sound much better.  This is handy if someone is trying to get your attention, a city bus is bearing down on you, etc.  Of course, the disadvantage is you can hear outside sound much better -- if you want to be completely immersed in your music with as little distraction as possible, then you will want to look at the isolator iMetal headphones instead (to be reviewed at a later date).

More about the actual sound -- good high, mid, and low-range sound with a sufficient amount of bass.  With some headphones, particularly the earbud style, I have been disappointed in the upper-end volume level.  The Maximo iMetal earbuds have an impressive volume range.  If you like your music loud and clear, you won't be disappointed.

When on a call with my iPhone, this headset performs well.  My callers could be heard with good clarity and volume, much like the quality of a land-line, and they could hear me just fine when using the iMetal's high-definition condenser mic.

Conclusion

It's nice to have a high-quality choice between the earbud style of headphones and the isolator rubber-tipped variety.  Maximo has a nice, quality product here with the iP-HS1 iMetal Stereo Headset.  Many people like the fit and comfort of the foam-covered earbud, and Maximo delivers without compromising sound volume and quality.

The features and extras in the box, at $69.99, is a pretty good value:  overall 4-ft length, 2-ft extension cable, carrying pouch, foam covers for the earbuds, microphone, and soft-touch button for call answer/end and song pause/skip.  These headphones are a great upgrade to the iPhone's stock earbuds and it would have been nice if they were included in the first place.  Maybe Apple can strike a deal with Maximo.  Until that time, it's nice to know that companies like Maximo make a nice product available at a reasonable price with lots of extras.

The iPhone's recessed headphone jack has been a headache for those who prefer to use their own headphones instead of the stock Apple headphones. The new Smartphone Experts Headphone Adapter ($9.95) solves that problem handily -- and without sticking out too far either.

Read on for the full review.

The Headphone Jack

The iPhone is clearly the best smartphone out there for listening to music, Jobs himself saying that it is (at least before Apple's big announcements today) "the best iPod ever." So naturally Apple one-upped most other smartphones out there by using a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. That's the good news. The bad news is that the jack is deeply recessed, meaning that many, if not most, standard headphones don't actually fit into the jack - they're blocked by the iPhone's casing.

That's what happened with my favorite pair of headphones, a standard in-ear isolating set from Sony. As you can see from the photo above, no dice. What to do?

The Competition: Belkin

The Belkin headphone adapter was first to market and definitely deserves some credit for that. The problem with the Belkin adapter is that it sticks out -- it sticks out a lot. At just over 2 inches beyond the top of the iPhone, it's not a very ideal solution. Really the only point in Belkin's favor is that it is able to flex, but it doesn't stay in place when you flex it. So at the end of the day you have an adapter that stick out a full 2 inches before you plug in your own headphones. Not great.

The Solution: The SPE Adapter

The Smartphone Experts adapter is a much simpler design, just a short, black plug that fits into the iPhone's jack. It's simple black plastic with some grips on the side. The adapter fits nicely into the iPhone and doesn't wiggle around when it's inserted. Unlike the Belkin, it's not flexible, but since it feels sturdy when inserted I'm not worried it's going to weaken the solder points on the jack by putting horizontal pressure on them.

However, the main benefit, if you haven't gathered by now, is that the SPE Adapter is shorter by just over half an inch. It doesn't seem like much on paper, but it definitely feels like a lot.

Sound Quality

The adapter converts the 3.5mm jack to.. 3.5mm, although it's important to note that headphones with a microphone (such as Apple's stock headphones) will work, but the microphone will not. Sound quality is just fine to my ears - definitely no significant change from plugging in directly to the iPhone. Well, one significant change: I much prefer the improved bass of my in-ear sound isolating headphones and the richer sounds overall they provide. So sound quality: as good as your headphones -- which means that in many cases it will be much better than what you're getting with the stock headphones.

Conclusion

There's not much more to say. The Smartphone Experts Headphone Adapter allows you to use your favorite pair of headphones with the iPhone and doesn't stick out as far as the competition. I'll ding it a point for not working with microphone-enabled headphones, but I do so half-heartedly. It sells for $9.95 at the Phone Different Store. As of this writing, the powers-that-be in the store tell us they're arriving now in relatively large batches, so the wait time on the current backorder shouldn't be too long.

Pros

• Works with any 3.5mm headphones
• Shorter than other adapters
• Feels sturdy in the jack

Cons

• Won't work with microphones

Overall: 4/5