Truly awesome headphones for the iPhone

I purchased an iPhone back in September (after the price drop). Since then, I have been looking for a headset that fits the iPhone and does not require extra adapters.

I purchased the V-Mode Vibe Duo Nero from Amazon for $99 plus shipping and handling. Based on the Amazon web site, I was expecting to have to wait a few weeks, however, the day after I placed the order I received an email from Amazon saying that they had received the product sooner than expected. The item was ordered on 11 October and I received it today (18 October).

At first glance, the headphones look really slick - black body with silver trim ring on each earphone. The headphones come with the small sized ear fittings already installed. For me, these fit great because they allow the ear plugs to fit deeper in my ear - which is more comfortable for me and makes the ear plugs feel more secure. However, they also come with medium and large size ear fittings in both clear and black silicone (for a total of 6 ear fittings - S, M, L in each color). The silicone ear fittings are pretty easy to change in case you want to use a different size. Another thing that I like about these is the wire running from the connector to the ear plugs is wrapped in a cloth material. I'm not sure what function this cloth plays, but it seems to help reduce the transient noise from the wire rubbing against my shirt. Also, it's important to note that the connector that plugs into the iPhone is compact, contoured to be easy to grip and fits nice and snug in the iPhone without requiring a special adapter. This is a big plus in my eyes. The connector plug is 3.5 mm and is gold-plated.

The earphones are very lightweight and almost feel like I am not wearing them at all. According to my digital scale, these earphones weigh in at just under 15 grams. According to the product packaging, the cable length is 32 inches from the plug to the y-connector and 13.5 inches from the y-connector to the earphones. I don't have any trouble slipping the iPhone into my back pocket and still be comfortable wearing the earphones.

I'll be honest - I don't consider myself an audiophile. I like to listen to music and I know what I think sounds good. To me, the sound quality produced by these earphone rivals that of my component stereo. The high notes come through clear and do not have a "tinny" sound to them The bass comes through with a deep, rich sound that is not overpowering. According to the product packaging, the frequency response is 12 Hz - 22 kHz. The earphones really block out the external noise (from the environment around me), but they do not create a "talking head" sensation when I speak. In other words, I can still hear myself speaking when I am on the phone.

As for making calls with these headphones - they work very well. I've asked the folks on the other end if they can hear me clearly and understand what I am saying. So far, they all say that the sound is good and that they have no problem hearing me clearly. I did have one person tell me that the sound quality was a bit "hollow" sounding, but he then told me it was not too bad and that he had no trouble understanding what I was saying.