Sunday, January 22, 2006 09:39 (repost)
I've spent my Sunday morning writing a couple reviews. I will assume that you guys have little interest in hearing about the latest computer book on the topic of Apple PowerBooks; but everybody loves headphones, right? So I thought I'd CC you guys on this one...
Hardware: Griffin EarThumps
Product link: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/earthumps/index.php
Manufacturer: Griffin Technology
Phone: 615-399-7000
Web: griffintechnology.com
Price: 19.99
Pros: A good compromise in sound quality. Excellent low profile. Good build quality.
Cons: Weak base response. Good, but not perfect in-ear comfort.
Rating: 4.5
Throw your Apple ear buds in a box. You'll want to use these instead!
Let me start this review by stating that I am a headphone and ear bud junkie. I currently own at least five pairs. So when I had the opportunity to review the Griffin EarThumps, I leapt at the chance.
For those who do not know the difference, 'headphones' refer to over-the-ear units with a connecting bonnet of some kind. They fall to two sub-categories open and closed air. Then there are ear buds, or 'earbuds' if you prefer. These are the hearing-aid style headphones that get inserted into the ear or, in some cases, ear canal. For the audiophile on the go, buds are the ticket. They're small, consume little power and can deliver astounding audio quality. Many have the added benefit of blocking out external noise allowing for music to be enjoyed at a lower volume.
Headphone and ear bud design is an exercise in compromise. In the lower price range, even more so. When shopping for ear buds, expect to find prices ranging from below $10.00 to over $200.00. As you climb the scale, audio quality and comfort go up, distortion goes down, and the range of sound from low bass to high treble gets wider. In cheaper units, you will usually find units with good base at the expense of high-end frequency response; the exact opposite (good high/poor base); or a mid frequency compromise that doesn't do justice to either. So. Enter the Griffin EarThumps at a retail price of $19.99. I did not expect too much and was extremely surprised by what I've found.
First the basics. What is in the box? A pair of ear buds offered in either white or black. Matching the current iPod, and iPod nano models. A very high quality zippered fabric case (more on that later), and interchangeable soft-rubber tips in three sizes - you know, the part that actually gets inserted into your ear. The EarThumps connect via the ubiquitous 3.5mm stereo plug and will work with any audio playing gear using a standard headphone jack.
Next up is the build quality. Wow. The fit and finish and attention to detail is amazing at this price point. Griffin provides a product that looks like it should have a three digit dollar figure. The supplied case seems to be some kind of Cordura. Unzip and it opens like a book. Each half equipped with a little elastic mesh pocket. The left side also sports it's own zippered sub-pocket to store the extra ear-tips. To use the case, place an ear bud in each mesh pocket. Allow the cord to dangle free. Zip the case shut three-quarters shut, twirl the headphone cord around two fingers and stuff the resulting spool into the case. Zip shut. I also own a set of Griffin EarJams, which are an add-on accessory to the stock Apple ear buds. The EarJams come with the exact same case. So I've had time to develop my technique.
When setting up the EarThumps for use, try them with the middle size tips, If too tight or loose, pull off the tip and snap on a different size. By the way, there is no rule that says they must be symmetrical. You can have a medium tip on the left and a large on the right. Ideally, the buds should fit well enough not to fall out, and you should forget that they are in. Some of the high-end bud manufacturers advise wetting the ear buds before inserting. They also recommend tugging your ear up and back as you insert the bud. When you let-go of your ear, the fit on the bud gets tighter. With the EarThumps, mercifully, no wetting is needed. And usually no tugging either, unless you just can't get the bud to stay in your ear regardless of the size tip used.
WARNING: TURN YOUR IPOD VOLUME DOWN BEFORE HITTING PLAY. If your volume is high, these ear buds will feel like you��������re resting your head on a state monitor at a concert.
On to audio quality. The EarThumps have superb high-end frequency response. Very low distortion and so-so base response (definitely good enough to get by). They are so crisp that I find myself re-discovering my old music collection - hearing nuances that I never knew were there. Compare these to the standard issue Apple ear buds and you will find cleaner high-end sound and comparable, maybe slightly lower base.
Comfort. I have not shelled out the big money for some truly elitist ear buds, so cannot speak to their comfort. But within my budget, I have never found ear buds that are 100
otally comfortable. The EarThumps come close. Also, living in Alaska usually means having to wear a hat from time-to-time. The Griffin EarThumps are the first ear buds, or headphones of any type, that I have been able to wear with a winter hat pulled over my ears. Every other model of buds seem to get knocked out of the ear after a few minutes under a hat. The EarThumps have a very low profile and the hat just doesn't have much contact with them.
In conclusion, Griffin could have prices the EarThumps at twice the price and I strongly believe that the consumer would be getting their money's worth at that! At under twenty dollars U.S., they are quite a gem of a bargain. If I were Sony or even Etymotic, I would be worried about now. I've been using the EarThumps for the past 10 days now. They have climbed the ranks to become my favorite all-around ear bud.
Hardware: Griffin EarThumps
Product link: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/earthumps/index.php
Manufacturer: Griffin Technology
Phone: 615-399-7000
Web: griffintechnology.com
Price: 19.99
Pros: A good compromise in sound quality. Excellent low profile. Good build quality.
Cons: Weak base response. Good, but not perfect in-ear comfort.
Rating: 4.5
Throw your Apple ear buds in a box. You'll want to use these instead!
Let me start this review by stating that I am a headphone and ear bud junkie. I currently own at least five pairs. So when I had the opportunity to review the Griffin EarThumps, I leapt at the chance.
For those who do not know the difference, 'headphones' refer to over-the-ear units with a connecting bonnet of some kind. They fall to two sub-categories open and closed air. Then there are ear buds, or 'earbuds' if you prefer. These are the hearing-aid style headphones that get inserted into the ear or, in some cases, ear canal. For the audiophile on the go, buds are the ticket. They're small, consume little power and can deliver astounding audio quality. Many have the added benefit of blocking out external noise allowing for music to be enjoyed at a lower volume.
Headphone and ear bud design is an exercise in compromise. In the lower price range, even more so. When shopping for ear buds, expect to find prices ranging from below $10.00 to over $200.00. As you climb the scale, audio quality and comfort go up, distortion goes down, and the range of sound from low bass to high treble gets wider. In cheaper units, you will usually find units with good base at the expense of high-end frequency response; the exact opposite (good high/poor base); or a mid frequency compromise that doesn't do justice to either. So. Enter the Griffin EarThumps at a retail price of $19.99. I did not expect too much and was extremely surprised by what I've found.
First the basics. What is in the box? A pair of ear buds offered in either white or black. Matching the current iPod, and iPod nano models. A very high quality zippered fabric case (more on that later), and interchangeable soft-rubber tips in three sizes - you know, the part that actually gets inserted into your ear. The EarThumps connect via the ubiquitous 3.5mm stereo plug and will work with any audio playing gear using a standard headphone jack.
Next up is the build quality. Wow. The fit and finish and attention to detail is amazing at this price point. Griffin provides a product that looks like it should have a three digit dollar figure. The supplied case seems to be some kind of Cordura. Unzip and it opens like a book. Each half equipped with a little elastic mesh pocket. The left side also sports it's own zippered sub-pocket to store the extra ear-tips. To use the case, place an ear bud in each mesh pocket. Allow the cord to dangle free. Zip the case shut three-quarters shut, twirl the headphone cord around two fingers and stuff the resulting spool into the case. Zip shut. I also own a set of Griffin EarJams, which are an add-on accessory to the stock Apple ear buds. The EarJams come with the exact same case. So I've had time to develop my technique.
When setting up the EarThumps for use, try them with the middle size tips, If too tight or loose, pull off the tip and snap on a different size. By the way, there is no rule that says they must be symmetrical. You can have a medium tip on the left and a large on the right. Ideally, the buds should fit well enough not to fall out, and you should forget that they are in. Some of the high-end bud manufacturers advise wetting the ear buds before inserting. They also recommend tugging your ear up and back as you insert the bud. When you let-go of your ear, the fit on the bud gets tighter. With the EarThumps, mercifully, no wetting is needed. And usually no tugging either, unless you just can't get the bud to stay in your ear regardless of the size tip used.
WARNING: TURN YOUR IPOD VOLUME DOWN BEFORE HITTING PLAY. If your volume is high, these ear buds will feel like you��������re resting your head on a state monitor at a concert.
On to audio quality. The EarThumps have superb high-end frequency response. Very low distortion and so-so base response (definitely good enough to get by). They are so crisp that I find myself re-discovering my old music collection - hearing nuances that I never knew were there. Compare these to the standard issue Apple ear buds and you will find cleaner high-end sound and comparable, maybe slightly lower base.
Comfort. I have not shelled out the big money for some truly elitist ear buds, so cannot speak to their comfort. But within my budget, I have never found ear buds that are 100
otally comfortable. The EarThumps come close. Also, living in Alaska usually means having to wear a hat from time-to-time. The Griffin EarThumps are the first ear buds, or headphones of any type, that I have been able to wear with a winter hat pulled over my ears. Every other model of buds seem to get knocked out of the ear after a few minutes under a hat. The EarThumps have a very low profile and the hat just doesn't have much contact with them.
In conclusion, Griffin could have prices the EarThumps at twice the price and I strongly believe that the consumer would be getting their money's worth at that! At under twenty dollars U.S., they are quite a gem of a bargain. If I were Sony or even Etymotic, I would be worried about now. I've been using the EarThumps for the past 10 days now. They have climbed the ranks to become my favorite all-around ear bud.
posted by Eyak Woman at 7:42 AM
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