Customer Reviews

Q:Electronics Noise-Isolating Earbuds (Black)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

After another reviewer left feedback on these ear buds, I decided to get a pair...that day (I usually get my items will call since I live close by to their warehouse.) After initial use, these are definitely superior to the cheap ones I got at Wal-mart (no bis surprise.)

The Pros:
1. These come with three sizes of pads so if the medium-size ones that come on the ears don't fit, you can go larger or smaller. For me, the medium size ones fit much better than the others.
2. These ear buds are very comfortable. They fit nicely in my ears and I used them for over an hour without any pain or discomfort. With many I've used, I usually start getting some discomfort after 30-45 minutes as they put pressure on my ears.
3. The pads create a great seal, so good that they actually cut out a lot of the talking that is in the office, so I was able to get a lot done during that time.
4. These worked so well on the talking level sounds (that noise-canceling earphones generally don't cut out) that I actually tried them on with my noise-canceling headphones to see how much they would cut out together. WOW, when I closed my eyes, I felt like I was going through sensory deprivation as I could barely make out any sound! It was nice for a while--but kind of creepy that I couldn't hear when people walked up behind me.
5. They look great--not like the cheap Wal-mart ones I used to get.

The Cons:
1. The little fabric cover on the inside seemed to come off just a little in one spot as I was changing out the pads--shouldn't be a huge problem as I won't be switching them out again...ever...
2. If you're not careful, these may get you in trouble. As I said above, they cut out a lot of the talking-level noise. This was great for my focus, but my boss was a little upset that I wouldn't respond to him when he called me. So take it as you want--good or bad--these really cut the noise out. Just be careful if you're on a bike, running, or in places where you need to have some level of hearing as these can really cut out the background noise (seems to be higher level sounds, not the lower sounds that noise-canceling headphones cut out.)

Overall, I would definitely recommend these ear buds--really good price for the product. I know what I'll be telling my mom to get for stocking stuffers this year--I just hope Q:Electronics does some promotions before Christmas to make it an even better deal!

--Updated 9/24/2009--

I just got a pair of Philips noise canceling ear buds for a trip I'm taking next month, but honestly, other than being able to cancel noise--at the lower decibel levels--I like my Q:Electronics ear buds much better. It could be that I like songs with more of a beat, with some bass, and the Q:Electronics ear buds really bring that out much better than the Philips ear buds. My opinion is that if you need noise canceling, just pay more for the headphones that do much better for noise canceling with less white noise, but if you are looking for good music quality, ear buds really put the sound much deeper in your ears so it sounds better. For the price, I'm glad I have the Q:Electronics ear buds--best buy for the buck.

--Updated 2/4/2010--

Ear buds are still working great! In fact, at the lower prices they are being sold for now, they make great gifts! I gave one to my sister for her birthday in December and then to my brother and dad for Christmas. They love them--especially the siblings in college. I'm keeping these on my gift-giving list for the future. Just as a side note--I have another friend who also got some--after my recommendation--and they didn't fit right for her at first, kind of hurt her ears, but after she switched to the smaller sized pads they fit much better and didn't hurt. So that is a disclaimer on my recommendation on these, everyone's ears are different so you'll have to find the right fit for your own ears.

PROS:
Great sound coming from these little headphones
Extra earbuds
Not noise canceling, but does a good job of keeping outside noise out, especially considering the price.
Great price
Durable case-- I put the headphones back in the packaging after each use and throw it anywhere in my laptop backpack. I'm not afraid of the headphones getting damaged in the backpack. OK, so I should probably be a little more careful, but I feel pretty good about tossing it in there.

CONS:
The tight packing of the headphones in the case forced me to CAREFULLY extract them from the case. I felt as if I had to pull on the wires so hard that the earpieces would separate from the wire. Took me way too log to get the headphones out. I still haven't gotten the extra earbuds out of the packaging yet, as they are packed at the bottom of the tube and my fingers can't reach them.

I am listening to these IEMs right now and they sound great. For what its worth I own Sennheiser HD-595s ($180) and Grado SR-80 ($100) headphones and while both are clearly better sounding than these, the difference is not huge. These Q buds have good dynamics and nice midrange and highs. The bass is decent on classical music but it tends to sound somewhat muddy on rock music. They are better sounding and definitely more comfortable for me than the stock buds that came with my IPod Touch. For $10 with free shipping you can't beat them.

Music is an integral part of my life. You would be hard-pressed to find me not walking around without my MP3 player. To this end, what I am using to listen to my music is highly important to me. As a student, products such as the Shure SE210 are out of my range. The Q:electronics Noise-isolating Ear Buds surpass the quality of any set you will find under $50.

Often, you get what you pay for: a pair of well-reviewed $30 Panasonic sound isolating buds I purchased last year fell apart to expose the internal wiring of the hardware with normal use after three months. You would think that you pay to get the trust and support of a brand-name like Panasonic, but apparently not. It was conveniently a few days past the warranty when I managed to brave the long waits of their customer service number. I was told by an outsourced customer service agent that there was absolutely nothing they were willing to do, although the product fell apart like peanut brittle.

I cannot say at this point whether the build quality of these earphones will be better than the aforementioned Panasonics. They have a bit of a more rugged build, but are still plastic. But if you happen to lose or destroy them you could buy three pairs for the price of Panasonic or Sony earbuds.

Most importantly, the audio quality of these earbuds are superb for the price you pay. The range far surpasses any of the three brand-name pairs that I have owned over the past two years, with deep bass that does not rattle and crisp highs. The noise isolating feature works well, with a good seal provided by a properly selected rubber tip.

It is likely that you are listening to an MP3 compressed at 256kbps or below anyway - Amazon and iTunes use this compression rate, with old, protected iTunes songs at a staggeringly low 128kbps. I doubt a pair of Shures will be able to squeeze out any more quality than the Q:electronics Noise-isolating earbuds. Furthermore, at this price you can buy a second pair as a back-up for when you break or lose them.

Purchased 3 sets of these - one to use, one to keep in the office (almost daily use) and a spare. The sound quality is really good and I like the fit of the ear bud - iPod buds just don't fit in my ears and are not comfortable. However, the first pair i opened broke within a week; rubber on the end of the Q Ear Buds is pretty flimsy and I think the motion of frequently removing them from your ears makes them susceptible to breaking. It actually pulled the speaker out of the bud and it would not fit back into place. As i work in an open office, i use them a lot, but find myself frequently removing one or both buds when co-workers want to have a discussion or the phone rings.

Maybe the first pair was a lemon - the second pair has lasted about a month. For $7.99 a pair, it's a good deal, just be mindful of how you are going to use them, i don't think these are designed for durability.

I needed a new pair of earphones and this fit the bill well.

Positives:
The earphones fit in my ears comfortably and the cord is a good length too. The first set of earpieces that come with the headphones form tight seals in my ears and do a good job in blocking outside noise. These earphones definitely put the sound deep into your ear canals, so you aren't increasing the volume to drown out sounds around you. Another benefit is the price. I got my set off buy dot com for $9.99 shipped. These earphones have good low end bass. I listen to mostly heavy metal and rap so these are perfect for me. These phones have good build quality and look very cool too.

Negatives:
Like all sound isolating earphones, the earpieces form tight seals in your ears, so you hear when the cord bounces off of your body or your arms. This can get a bit annoying, but it's not too bad if you mostly use them while sitting still (like me). The sound quality isn't well balanced but for the price, it's good enough. The phones are a bit heavy on the base, but I would rather have a fuller lower end than not much lower end at all. I think it helps with the isolating the noise.

I haven't used these running, but I will be sure to post a comment after I have.

I took a chance on these after seeing a deal on these and reading the Amazon reviews. I am very happy with my purchase and would buy them again in the future.

First .. I have seen a few reviewers state that "it is too difficult to get the head phones out of the tube they come in" There are two different sections to the "tube" that these ear buds come in, find the lower section, and you will have far less issues getting them out.

Second .. For 10$ these have AMAZING sound quality ... deep rich base clear highs and no static.


Third .. A semi short cord for these head phones make it either perfect or horrible for your specific use.. for me they are perfect for the use i have.. but if you want to use these on your computer or some device you have to be more then 3 feet away these will not work.

Forth .. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the "buds" them selves were made out of metal .. very sturdy feeling.


Overall considering the use you need... these are the absolute best deal out there for ear buds in this price range ... you would have to spend 35$ or more to find anything comparable.

I just got these ear buds and have used them a couple times, and am absolutely amazed by the clear, crisp sound. I have always despised any headphones other than the big, bulky ones, as the ones that go into the ear never have seemed to quite fit my ears. But these mold to the ear comfortably and funnel the sound right in there perfectly, so that I can feel the music, almost as if I'm using a pair of large, high-quality noise-canceling headphones. I'm not sure how long they'll last, as the rubber seems quite thin, but for the low price I'm sure I'll get my moneys worth.

I purchased two pairs of the Electronics Noise-isolating Ear Buds for my grandchildren. My 14 year old grandson (who has practically every piece of electronic equipment and with the knowledge to use them) told me they were very functional and do a great job in filtering the noise. My 8 year old granddaughter also loves them and says they are very comfortable. I don't need to try them as children today know exactly what they want and will tell you if they "stink" or not. I am writing this review based on their "expert" opinion and one I trust. I also trust Amazon to get the latest items for very competitive prices. Their delivery and return policy can't be beat either.

Bought this product with high expectations after my last pair if Skullcandy Ink'd earbuds, which lasted me half a year.
This product came, and BOTH earbuds became separated into 2 parts on the first day, with normal use. I was forced to tape it up in order to continue listening to them. The plug also has poor conductivity and will often play music intermittently while I walk which is very annoying. I've ordered new earbuds (never this brand again), and I am sure they will be better.

PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT. There are plenty of other ones that are the same price, and much more durable.