Customer Reviews

V-MODA Vibe In-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Flashback Chrome)

5 star:		(160)
4 star:		(118)
3 star:		(80)
2 star:		(73)
1 star:		(80)

 

 

Overall I like these earbuds a lot. They do have a very strong bass bias, so if that is what you are looking for great, if that bothers you then you should definitely look elsewhere. Any of the preset equalizers with heavy bass on my MP3 player are basically unusable with these earbuds because it will drown out the other ranges. But a flat or treble-biased equalizer sounds great because the bass is still available, along with rich mids and clear treble. The range on these earbuds is also noticeably larger, especially on the low end, than other headphones I've used.

These are great earbuds if you want to listen to music in a loud environment, such as a crowded office, bus, or even airplane, without having to crank up the volume. Because of the seal these make in your ear canal they block out most environment background noise so all you hear is the music. These work so well that I actually play tracks at about half the volume as I did with regular earbuds, and as a result I've even noticed improvement in the battery life of my MP3 player.

The only fault I've had with these is that about 8-9 months after purchasing these the sound in the left earbud started to cut out. The problem was the wire connecting to that earbud seemed to be slipping loose and cutting off the sound. Luckily I was within the 1-year warranty and they shipped me another pair, but I was distressed that such an expensive pair of headphones would go out after several months. The problem is likely in the design: since the metalic earbuds fit within your ears there is natural tendency to pull them out by the base of the wires when removing them from the ear. This probably loosened the mount over several months and resulting in it wearing out. So if you get these definitely pull them out by the bud itself, not the wire.

Pros:
* good rich sound if you don't mind the bass
* stylish, catchy colors (I have the metalic red), goes well with ipods if you are sick of white wires
* wires are less prone to tangling
* great blocking of environmental noise, especially in noisy environments. benefits of noise canceling headphones with the batteries or the bulk.

Cons:
* Several reviews note having to return them to fix problems with the wires.

I've been using the v-moda vibe for about a week now with my iPod Nano and I absolutely love this baby. Although I have a huge music collection as well as three iPods, I never considered buying high end earbuds until about two weeks ago. Since I'll be heading on a 16 hour flight in a couple of days, I thought - why not invest in some great noise isolating earbuds instead of putting up with the terrible earphones that the airlines usually hand out.

After reading the reviews on Amazon, I first went to my local retailer and bought a Shure E2C. While the audio quality on the Shure E2C was great, it takes a lot of maintenance..... and as other reviewers point out, the bass response is terrible unless you get the silicone insert perfectly right. If thats not enough of a headache, the bass response can differ widely every time you use the earphones, depending on whether the earbuds "seal" correctly. It took so much work everytime I used it, it made more sense for me to get a pet instead!!!

So I returned the E2C's and got myself the Creative Aurvana's. Great packaging and slick presentation, but the earbuds suck!!! The bass response was terrible and my music sounded flat! I returned those within 48 hours of use. Seriously, dont even bother with the Creative Aurvana. Its a total waste of time and money.

Finally, with my trip looming large, I decided to get the v-moda vibe once again after reading the stellar reviews on Amazon. I mean, a product with 4 stars after 312 reviews has got to be good, right? I got the earbuds and decided to try them on (skeptically). I was completely blown away! So much so, that I decided to write my first review ever on Amazon. So here are the pros and cons of these earbuds.

Pros:
1. Phenomenal bass response. It doesnt have the "please make me deaf" kind of "super bass", but has a rich uniform bass - much better than the Shure and Creative buds.
2. Mid range and highs are also great and crisp
3. The fit and maintenance are both super easy. No clogging, not 'ear wax cleaning tools' etc
4. The "seal" is also great - and importantly, consistent. Also, the seal pretty much isolates most sound. So you definitely want to be careful when wearing these. (For example - I couldnt hear the tap running when I was in my kitchen. I couldnt even hear my phone ringing right in front of me)
5. Fits right, no slipping even when you are walking or running

Cons:
None really. The packaging, presentation etc could be better. The "leather" bag it comes with looks kinda cheap, etc. But all of this, in my opinion is purely incidental and immaterial. I mean, do you buy earbuds for the sound or for the way its packaged/accessories?

Another suggestion:
When using the iPod, I found the "Rock" EQ setting gave me the best response on the buds. Try listening to "Stairway to Heaven" and you can hear Jimmy Page's (I think) fingers brush against the strings of the lead guitar as he plucks away. Beat that Shure! Creative, just roll over! :)

There are two generations of The V-Moda Vibe... the first generation, manufactured in China by a company called OTC, and a 2nd generation, with a different sound, different components, different manufacture, and way less build quality and sound quality.

This is confusing and unfair... many reviews refer to the original version.. especially reviews on enthusiast boards, and that quality and sound is long gone... the modern professional and enthusiast reviews are nearly always negative, and the product is not recommended.

I suggest you stay away from the Vibes... better and cheaper options abound.

To be fair, customer service at V-moda is excellent.. you'll probably need it.

Although the sound quality is good, the product is built very poorly and the customer service is terrible. After several months of regular use at normal volume, the left earbud volume dropped completely, cutting in and out as the (too-thin) cable moved. Now only the right earbud works. Check other reivews: this is a common problem with this product. I chose to ignore the bad reviews, thinking it was a rare malfunction, but it happened to me too, within a couple of months. Also, even when they worked properly, the cord transmits noise as it bumps against you, your clothes, your fingers, etc.

When I tried to return the earbuds through the V-Moda warranty, I received absolutely no response even though I followed the instructions on the warranty page exactly.

In summary, very poor construction quality and non-existent customer service. V-Moda should be embarrassed. You might enjoy these for a few months, but chances are they'll break on you within a year. Check reviews: you'll see that what I experienced is a recurring problem and that there are other earbuds in this price range with better durability and customer service.

I bought a pair of Vibes a year ago off an auction site for $35 and have been very happy with them. The sound quality is amazing, especially for the price. in short, they are worth every penny. My dog ate my backup headphones (a pair of Sonys) so I decided to buy another pair of Vibes as the price had dropped to $[...] here on amazon. I was aware of the '2nd generation' bait and switch Vibes (see some of the other reviews) but was under the impression that they were visibly different from the '1st generation' in that the headphone jack was reconfigured to an L-shape instead of the straight silver setup (there are pictures on amazon of both configurations). It turns out I was wrong. And I'm not real happy about it. There is NO POSSIBLE WAY TO VISUALLY DIFFERENTIATE between the '2' generations! Want proof? Drop this in your address bar: http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-Vibe-Earbuds-Flashback-Chrome/dp/B000K5VCUC. This is page for the '1st gen.' Vibes, which you'll notice are no longer available. In fact, there's a link to the replacement product, which is what you're looking at now. Here's the kicker. The two listings are IDENTICAL! EXACT same product title, EXACT same product images, EXACT same detailed product description! The only differences between the two are that the '1st gens.' are no longer available and have better, albeit fewer, reviews. It seems pretty obvious that V-Moda simply relisted the new product but with the exact same listing so as to intentionally deceive buyers. total bait and switch.

So why does all this matter? Because, as mentioned in other reviews, the '2nd gens.' are a totally inferior product. The sound quality of these new ones is nothing like my old ones. They're no better than the Sonys that came with my player. And yes, I burned them in. If you've read any positive reviews on other web sites about the Vibes, chances are it's for the '1st gens.' As most of those reviews are done just after the product hits the market. I think it took 6 mos. to a year before they were replaced with the '2nd gen.'

I would return them, but after you factor in initial shipping (not refunded), return shipping, and 15% restocking fee, I'm out $10 to return a $[...] purchase. it's a lose/lose situation. Unfortunately, I didn't find the old listing until after I received my new ones in the mail or else I would've steered clear. So learn from my mistake and buy a pair of headphones from a manufacturer that isn't trying to pull a fast one on you.

I purchased a pair of these a little over a year ago. They look fantastic, the pictures don't do them justice. I'm no audiophile, but I found the sound quality to be quite good. They have good isolation, I was able to block out the noise in my office.

So here's the gotcha: you get a year warranty and they probably won't last much more then that. On mine, the wire around the earbuds started to tear. Once that happens, the sound quality goes away.

If you've got $90 to throw away on a fashion item to wear for a year and a half, get them. Otherwise, stay away.

Folks, take the advice of one of the elder statesman in this group; only buy these ear buds if you have a high threshold for aggravation.

The sound VModa achieves is outstanding, albeit a bit heavy on the bass, but, overall, the listening experience is WONDERFUL - *while it lasts*.

I had these ear buds for less than 30 days before the left channel went dead on a long overseas flight; nothing to do but break out the book at that point.

I'm looking for something else, right now. There are too many reported instances for this to be a chance occurrence.

I've tried a few earphones since buying a Zune 3 months ago, mostly using forums as a guide. As a musician and music lover I actually like a realistic sound and bought a pair of the Koss KSC75's after reading universal praise for them. I was not disappointed and Kramer modded them for an even better sound. The Zune premium earphones came with the Zune and they are fairly good considering they were free at the time (Though not now). They are somewhat boomy and indistinct in bass and lack high treble but I use them quite a bit.
Well, after reading a lot of Vibe reviews I ordered them and was really looking forward to using them. When I first recieved them I thought that there was a lot missing in the midrange but had read they needed to be burned in. which I did for about 12 hours. On second listen, I heard no difference in sound. The soundstage is great, bass has a nice full sound to it and there is decent treble, but the midrange is weak, grainy,and muddy. Acoustic guitar, mandolin, lead and harmony vocals were all wrong.
Granted that they are promoted as having a bass and treble boost, but at least in the pair I recieved, it's at the great expense of a natural sounding midrange. In there defense, some songs really did sound great with the Vibe bass and soundstage but most of the music I listen to did'nt. And the were very comfortable. Too bad they didn't work for me.
I called Amazon and they were kind enough to allow a return for full refund. Thanks Amazon.

When I first got this product, it was for the old black ones that were more of a dark silver chrome. I loved them. But as some reviews point out, pulling the jack out of (for me it was a 3g ipod nano) the port was annoying because, yeah, the grip for it is slippery and small. Additionally, the cord was a rubbery coating, which was durable in its own right, but not ideal. It keeps tangles out well, but it's still rubber.

Well, my iPod was stolen and that meant getting new ipod and new headphones. I decided to get new colors instead of black and got a silver ipod and (don't ask why) midnight blue Vibes. The midnight blue is not really blue. It's more of. . . Teal. Definitely not dark. It's like that bright teal of the disco era, ya know?

BUT
******************
These were better in MANY ways.

First, the bag I noticed was no longer that metrosexual gold. Instead, I got a black leather bag. Not that I used it, but if someone were to use it, they wouldn't have their sexuality misconstrued.

Second, the cord was a cloth cord, which makes it SOOOO much better of a cord. The old one was more rigid and I felt that I could bend this more and it would tend to bend less on its own.

Third, the grip on the jack was extended and a cross hatch design similar to the texture on the earbuds was put around the grip to make removal a cinch.

Except for the color, this makes the ultimate earbud in terms of price and quality.

The earbuds are durable, versatile, and compatible. The sizes of tips are for all ears, and the quality, as people explain, is top notch, for the price at least. I'd say that this is the best quality you're going to get with this durability for under $250.

Listen, I see a lot of earphones/earbuds that are $100 and beyond. I never imagined myself spending that kind of money because I was happy with the Sony EX51's that I got at Amazon for my iPod. I decided to take the plunge and get the Vibe's vice the Bose because they are smaller and more concealed in the ear. Wow! What a difference! These headphones are nothing short of impressive. The only difference from the Vibe's to the Vibe 2's is better build quality but that is only for the sets with a rubber coating around the cable, not the mesh that the silver one's have.

If you want to plunk down a hundred dollars and get something that you will be happy with, this is the product. It came with a case and 3 sets of buds in black and 3 in clearish-white. What a deal!

Word to the wise: If you get the original Vibe's for sale on Amazon and they are a set without the rubber coating and have the mesh coating, save the extra $ and get them. They are essentially the same.