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Stereo Headsets with mic

Maximo iP-HS1 Stereo Headset

Most categories of the iPhone accessory market are tremendously supersaturated; so many different types of cases, speaker docks, and screen protectors are available that, by now, you’re probably starting to feel a bit like WALL-e just from trying to shovel them all into a tidy little pile. However, wired iPhone headsets have been a notable exception to this trend, and in fact, only a few alternatives to Apple’s own headset, such as the V-Moda Vibe Duo, were available when the iPhone first debuted. Nonetheless, additional products in this category are finally beginning to trickle into the marketplace, such as Maximo’s iMetal iP-HS1 wired headset for iPhone. If you are looking for a wired iPhone headset, and you listen to music more often than you make phone calls, then the iP-HS1 is a good choice.

The iP-HS1 consists of two aluminum alloy ear buds that connect to an iPhone or iPhone 3G via white cables that resemble those of Apple’s own headset. The left ear bud also has a condenser microphone about four inches below the bud, and at the point where the left and right cables meet, a small button is present that enables you to connect and disconnect phone calls, as well as pausing and resuming music. Unlike Apple’s own headset, the button is separate from the microphone, which is likely to be many easier to understand and more comfortable to use for many customers than the combined solution. The cable length is four feet, with an additional two-foot extension cable included in the package.

The ear buds are the “external” type (they don’t enter your ear canal), with each bud using a 15 mm neodymium driver to provide a frequency response range of 18 Hz-22 kHz. The ear buds come with ring-shaped foam covers, although unlike most in-ear buds, there is only one pair of covers to choose from. A carrying pouch is also included.

Once you put on the foam covers, the iP-HS1’s ear buds were just slightly larger than those of Apple’s iPhone headset. If you are hypersensitive (or just have really small ears), you may find the iP-HS1 to be a little bit uncomfortable to wear, but in our tests, we found that most people who don’t have a problem with wearing an average pair of regular earphones probably won’t have any difficulty with the iP-HS1 either. You actually can plug the headset into a standard headphone jack as well, without using any adaptor, and they will function as standard earphones, but iPhone owners are clearly the iP-HS1’s primary target audience.

Apple’s own wired headset for iPhone provides good enough quality for listening to music and placing phone calls; however, people who truly love their music tracks are probably looking for a higher standard than just “good enough.” Overall, the iP-HS1 proved itself as a significant improvement over Apple’s headset for listening to music. Maximo’s headset also performed better than Apple’s when making phone calls, although the improvement was not nearly as pronounced. Here’s how the iP-HS1 fared in our specific tests:

Bass: The iP-HS1’s bass responsive is impressive. Comparing them side-by-side with Apple’s own headset, I was able to notice a substantial difference; in fact, I would estimate that the iP-HS1’s bass output is about 50% more powerful than that of Apple’s own headset. Although it’s not the strongest bass we’ve ever heard, it is certainly a lot of power by iPhone headset standards. 4.5/5.0

Treble: In the treble department, the iP-HS1 is actually very similar to Apple’s own headset. However, that’s probably a good thing, since both Apple’s headset and the iP-HS1 have strong enough treble output to make sure higher tones get the proper emphasis, and, in fact, if it were any stronger, it would probably start to drown out the bass or make the sound less balanced. 4.5/5.0.

Clarity: Clarity is especially important for a headset, since, besides podcasts and other recorded material, you’ll also be using them for actual communication. Fortunately, the iP-HS1 has a high clarity level that makes it easier for you to hear every detail of whatever audio you may be listening to. The clarity level also beats that of Apple’s own headset, although it is only by a rather modest margin. 4.0/5.0

Volume: The iP-HS1’s cover pretty much the entire range of volumes you could possibly want: You can adjust them to anything from “library quiet” to “crowded street loud.” 5.0/5.0

Microphone: When using the iP-HS1 to place phone calls, our call recipients indicated that they heard a much fuller and richer sound than they heard from Apple’s own headset. However, they also noted that my voice was a bit muffled, making it a little tougher to understand. 3.0/5.0

For most iPhone owners, their device is an iPod first, and a phone second. Likewise, the Maximo iMetal iP-HS1 places its primary focus on being a musical accessory. Its audio quality, while not quite at the same level as high-end professional earbuds, is a marked improvement over that of the headset that Apple includes with the iPhone. Intuitively speaking, I would have guessed that microphone quality would be better in wired headsets than in wireless headsets or the iPhone's built-in mic, which makes it a bit ironic that neither Apple's headset nor the iP-HS1 is particularly strong in this area. However, if you are primarily interested in music like most iPhone users, then the Maximo iMetal iP-HS1 is definitely worth considering for one of your everyday accessories rather than just being another candidate your "random iPhone stuff pile."

Pro: Strong bass and overall audio quality; integrated call/pause button separate from the microphone; includes extension cable and carrying case.

Con: Microphone results in slightly muffled audio.

iMetal iP-HS2 In-Ear Headset

Hot on the heels of their own iP-HS1 headset for iPhone, Maximo Products has submitted a second entry into their iMetal line of iPhone headsets. This time around, they have released an in-ear, isolating headset that goes deeper into your ear than the iP-HS1, giving it the potential to produce higher quality sound while blocking out more ambient noise. The iP-HS2 is, in fact, a substantial improvement over its predecessor, even though they both actually carry the same list price. As a matter of fact, even the microphone seems to have been improved, making iMetal iP-HS2 one of the most impressive wired headsets available for iPhone.

Like the iP-HS1, the earbuds of the HS1 are made from aluminum alloy, and also like the iP-HS1, a soft-touch button is present at the meeting of the two sides so you can begin and end phone calls, or pause and resume music. The condenser mic on the left side is also unchanged, but unlike its predecessor, the iP-HS2 comes with three different sizes of earbud covers to choose from, which is fortunate because finding earbud covers that fit comfortably is even more critical when using in-ear buds than with external ones. The buds have 9 mm neodymium drivers producing a frequency response range of 18 Hz – 22 kHz. Maximo has also changed color of the cabling to black this time around, with a two-foot extension cable once again included along with a carrying pouch. As with the iP-HS1, the iP-HS2 is intended to be connected directly to the headset jack of an iPhone or iPhone 3G, although it is also compatible with standard headphone jacks.

The iP-HS2 does not use any active noise-canceling technology (fitting this sort of circuitry into a tiny set of earbuds is not an easy task), but it does “isolate” noise, which pretty much just means it comes close enough to fully plugging your ears that background noise is substantially drowned out relative to the audio you are listening to. This is really a pretty low-tech solution, and although it was generally effective in our tests, in most cases, we find active noise cancelling to be preferable to passive noise isolation.

As an in-ear headset, the iP-HS2 carries some pretty high expectations for great sound quality. For the most part, it did not disappoint, achieving the level of audio quality we are used to hearing from other in-ear buds. However, it was not always as big an improvement over the iP-HS1 as we thought it might be. Specifically:

Bass: In-ear earphones have the potential to produce very high-quality audio, especially in the bass category, so I must admit I was a little surprised to find that the bass output of the iP-HS2 is virtually identical to that of the iP-HS1. The iP-HS1 certainly does have a fairly strong bass that is a major improvement over Apple’s own headset, but the iP-HS2 doesn’t really improve that bass any further. 4.0/5.0

Treble: The iP-HS2 performed well in the treble test. Higher-pitched tones were recreated with a powerful level of emphasis that made vocals sound great. 5.0/5.0

Volume: Since it is an in-ear headset, the iP-HS2 has the potential to be a headset that can produce audio at a volume level that just might cause your whole brain to shatter. The headset makes good on this potential, and in fact when wearing the in-ear buds and listening to them, I was only able to get the volume slider on my iPhone to about 50% before it was already starting to become uncomfortably loud. You can, of course, turn them down as well, though, so you won’t have any problem getting sound that’s as loud, or as quiet, as you need. 5.0/5.0

Clarity: The clarity level of the iP-HS2 is outstanding. The headset produces the kind of high-resolution audio often associated with high-end, in-ear earbuds, reaching a level of detail that will jump out and strike you as impressive immediately, without you having to make an effort to notice it. This provides virtually optimal conditions for listening to those high-fidelity tracks you have stored on your iPhone, or for listening to a friend you are having an important conversation with. (No comment about your friend’s fidelity.) 5.0/5.0

Microphone: The iP-HS1’s condenser mic was a bit of a weak point, generating muffled sound that our call recipients sometimes had trouble understanding. Since the appearance and description of the iP-HS2’s microphone make it appear that it is essentially unchanged from its predecessor, I was concerned that the iP-HS2 would have similar problems. However, the headset surprised me in our tests, resulting in much clearer audio that was easy to understand. 4.5/5.0

iSolation Chamber: The Maximo iP-HS2 is superior to Apple’s own iPhone headset in virtually every category, and in most ways, it surpasses the iP-HS1 as well. Pretty much anyone who owns an iPhone would like to get the best music fidelity possible from it, and the iP-HS2 will get you very close to that point, with the possible exception of its bass output. Thankfully, the iP-HS2 is a viable option for phone calls as well (these were a bit of a challenge with its predecessor, thanks to its microphone), so unless your biggest concern is to get the largest bass boost you can find, the iP-HS2 would make a great addition to your iPhone.

Pro: Comfortable; high-resolution, clear sound; microphone worked better than its predecessor in our tests; includes three sizes of bud covers.

Con: Bass could be a little stronger.

Radius Atomic Bass Stereo Headset

Radius Earphones is a relative newcomer to the ear buds market – but that doesn’t mean that they don’t know what they’re doing. In fact, in the short time their products have been available, Radius ear buds have made quite an impression on users and critics alike. With their popularity on the rise, it’s no surprise that Radius is now taking on the iPhone marketplace, with their new Atomic Bass for iPhone. The Atomic Bass is likely to continue improving Radius’ reputation in the audio industry, because, although it isn’t a revolutionary improvement over its competitors, it demonstrates impressive performance consistently while remaining less expensive than many of the other options.

The Radius Atomic Bass is a wired headset intended primarily for iPhone use, although you can use it to listen to any device with a standard 3.5 mm jack. It consists of two in-ear earbuds, a microphone, and a cable that is approximately 45 inches. Three different sizes of ear tips are included, and thankfully replacements can also be purchased easily from the company’s web site. Available in black, red, silver, and pink, the Atomic Bass features aluminum speakers with neodymium magnets and 10 mm drivers, providing a frequency response range of 20 Hz – 20 kHz. The microphone also includes a single button, which functions similarly to the buttons on most wired iPhone headsets, controlling call/disconnect and play/pause.

The Atomic Bass are lightweight and very comfortable to wear. Radius says that they are capable of providing noise isolation by fitting snugly in your ears, but in our tests, it wasn’t quite a tight enough fit to do very much in terms of keeping out background noise, and in fact earbuds that do fit tightly enough for that purpose are often uncomfortable to wear. If you’re looking for a product that will help you combat lots of ambient noise while you’re listening, you would probably be better off looking for a device with active noise cancelation rather than relying on noise isolation in any form.

When it comes to sound quality, the Atomic Bass produced pleasant output with a wide variety of musical genres, and we found the overall sound quality to be consistently impressive. Our specific observations for specific aspects of the sound are as follows:

Treble: Treble tones on the Atomic Bass are recreated successfully with all of the voices and instruments fully intact, although they are not quite as forceful as the treble found on some other earphones (such as the recently reviewed Altec-Lansing Backbeat Titanium). 4.0/5.0

Bass: Since bass is mentioned in the name of the product, it comes as no surprise that Radius’ earphones deliver in this category. Bass tones have that “turbo-charged” feeling that will make you remember you are using bass-enhanced earphones anytime a hip-hop song (or any other track with lots of bass) comes on. It isn’t the most supercharged bass we’ve ever heard – but it is pretty close. 4.5/5.0

Volume: As with many earbuds, the Atomic Bass has no difficulty covering the entire volume spectrum, ranging from “barely audible noise suitable for a library” all the way up to “instant brain liquefaction” (although we don’t recommend attempting the latter at home). 5.0/5.0

Clarity: The Atomic Bass earphones don’t have the high-resolution level of clarity that some high-end professional earbuds have, but their clarity is above average and more than good enough to enable you to listen to spoken-word content easily. 4.0/5.0

Microphone: When using the Atomic Bass to make a phone call with the iPhone, the call recipients reported that my voice was just slightly clearer, with less background noise audible, than when I called using the iPhone’s built-in microphone. 4.5/5.0

Bass Case: The Radius Atomic Bass are (obviously) marketed primarily toward people who listen to music with plenty of deeper tones, and they are indeed best suited for fans of hip-hop, rap, and other bass-heavy audio. However, even those who listen to other types of music will find that the Atomic Bass provides above-average audio even though it is relatively inexpensive. Radius may not have been around for long, but with products like the Atomic Bass, they likely have a bright future ahead of them.

Pro: Comfortable for carrying and usage; very strong bass; good quality audio in other categories and good quality microphone.

Con: Noise isolation feature isn’t particularly effective.

V-Moda Vibe Duo

As innovative a company as Apple is, it seems even they couldn't get past the bane of cell phone accessories- the bundled headset. The included headset is hardly worth using, but to make maters worse, Apple's notorious decision to recess the iPhone's headphone jack has made finding a replacement a formidable task. Fortunately, V-Moda has recently introduced a stereo headset tailored specifically for the iPhone. I've spent the past month using the Vibe Duos on a daily basis, and I'm pleased to inform you your search for an iPhone headset could very well be over.

The Vibe Duos are exceptionally well designed. Much like the stock headset, they feature a small microphone that hangs a few inches below your chin and a plug slim enough to fit the iPhone's 3.5mm headphone jack. Despite their light weight, the Vibe Duos have a solid, chunky feeling- you can toss them in your bag sans case and not have to worry about tearing off a cord. They also look stunning, with a dark composite body and textured metal accents. Plus, they're not white, which means you won't be a walking billboard for a certain Cupertino-based tech company when you wear them in public.

The inline microphone stands out as an example of the Vibe Duo's excellent design. The svelte, barely noticeable microphone excels at filtering out background noise, even in crowded subways or on city streets. However, the stock iPhone headset already performs this task well, so users of the original headset will not consider the microphone's quality an upgrade.

Like all so-called canal earphones, the kind that fit snugly in your ear canal, the Vibe Duos have one inherent drawback. When walking or performing any kind of movement, the cord moves around and hits your body, sending subtle but noticeable "thudding" noises to your ears. This phenomenon, known as micro phonics, can be greatly reduced by practicing a little bit of Zen cord management- running the cord inside of your shirt, for example. Still, it's something to keep in mind if you're planning on using these on the go or while exercising.

Sound quality is largely a matter of taste- people who listen to heavy metal will prefer different headphones than Mozart aficionados. That said, I tested the Vibe Duos with a wide variety of music and found their bass to be overwhelming. They provide a powerful experience when listening to rock artists like Metallica or Green Day, but the bass overpowers the more subtle treble tracks produced by, say, an acoustic guitar. For example, songs on The Shins's "Wincing the Night Away" came across as muddled and noticeably un-lively. If you're a video game addict, you'll be glad to hear the Vibe Duos deliver the goods in games like Crysis or Battlefield 2142- explosions and gunshots are delivered with power and emphasis. When their audio quality is put up against that of Shure's excellent (and equally priced) E2c headphones, the Vibe Duos pale in comparison. Don't forget, though, that they have two distinct advantages- a microphone, and iPhone compatibility.

At their retail price of $99, the Vibe Duos certainly are not for budget-minded users. However, the Vibe Duos offer an excellent introduction to the world of high-end earphones. There are certainly more expensive and better-sounding headsets out there, but the Vibe Duos sit at the sweet spot between audio quality and price.