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Posts with tag Earbuds

Best Headphones for the Gym

It's the holiday season and we're all eating a bit more. Unfortunately, going to the gym is such a drag that the only way to make time pass (and exercise more bearable) is to blast some tunes while we work out. Unfortunately, many of the headphones we like to wear on the street (because they're stylish), at home (because they're audiophile-quality), or while we travel (because they block out airplane cabin noise) just don't cut it on the treadmill. Headphones have a tendency to fall off our heads while we jog, for example, or just hurt out ears. But have no fear: We put five highly-touted, gym-friendly headphones to the test by taking them with us on some recent workouts. Here's what we found.



H2O Sport Headphones

The only over-the-ear pair of headphones we tested, the H2O Sport is a pretty good option for budget-conscious athletes: For 30 bucks, these things actually provide decent bass response and get plenty loud. The neckwrap helps keep the headphones in place while you get your sweat on, and the coiled cord conveniently retracts to three feet (six feet when extended). That said, the plastic construction is a bit chintzy, and the cord feels like it might rip if you tug it too hard. The phones are a bit bulky and feel like they may give out after a year or so, but until then, they'll definitely get the job done whle you work out.

Just Tell Me What to Get: iPhone Earbuds




A reader writes: I bought an iPhone and was bummed to see that I can't use my favorite pair of earbuds with it (thanks to a proprietary audio input). The earbuds that came with the iPhone are no good sound-wise and so far I haven't seen many options for IPhone-compatible earbuds. So, I'm looking for a pair of iPhone-compatible earbuds that not only sound good (and go up to 11, volume-wise), but also let me take phone calls. Just tell me what to get!


We were just as disappointed as you were when we got our iPhone, so we immediately went out and bought a bunch of different models. Though we'd heard a lot of great things about the $99 Shure Stereo Headset Universal that we picked up at our local AT&T Store, we actually preferred the equally-priced V-Moda Vibe Duo earbuds, which not only look stylish with their three-toned white rubber, black, and chrome finish, but also offer decent definition in the mid-range and excellent, non-distorting bass on the low-end.

Like many a headset, the V-Moda Vibe Duo comes with a fit kit for differently-sized aural canals, as well as a compact leather case so you don't break them! Our only gripe is you can't answer the phone by just tapping on the mic, as you can with Apple's standard earbuds, but pretty much none of the options out there for the iPhone have this function -- yet. Besides, we'll take the better sound over call-convenience any day! One other thing we like: The cord is made of some kind of synthetic cloth, which doesn't tangle as easily the plastic cords of most earbuds we've had.




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American Eardrums Under Attack

With Sanjaya Malakar no longer the force he once was, it seems the tender eardrums of America's youth are once again safe from unnecessary harm. But sadly, that's not the case, reports NPR.

Today's 'Morning Edition' broadcast spotlighted Dr. Sharon Kujawa of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and her crusade across Boston's school system to inform young people about the dangers of listening to music too loud.

A study by the CDC estimates that 12.5 percent of American kids between six and 19 years-old show signs of noise-induced hearing loss. That's more than five million nationwide. However, what's particularly alarming is the fact that the study is from 2001 -- years before iPods and other digital media players were as commonplace as they are in 2007.

But, kids are a tough audience to win over. So, to help her get the message across, Kujawa travels with Ben Jackson, a twenty-something kid who gets up and actually raps a song about hearing loss. His song is called "Turn it to the left," and encourages youngsters to turn their volume dials down (and to the left). According to NPR, the kiddies go nuts for it.

Jackson's diddy goes a little something like this:

"The number one risk around,

Is when the volume goes up when it should go down,

So be aware of the sounds that you're listenin' to,

And when it gets too loud, you know what to do:

Turn it to the left, turn, turn it to the left..."

Admit it. You're dying to listen for yourself (halfway down the page).

From NPR


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