[Review] JBuds Ear Buds for iPod

JBuds Hi-Fi Noise Reducing Ear Buds for iPod (White)

I got these a couple of weeks ago from Amazon (the black ones - they aren't as visible).  I was tired of having uncomfortable headphones (the over-the-ear ones suck when you wear glasses), or fragile ones (the cheapest Sony ear buds are the best value for money, but a wire connection always breaks within about a year of purchase).

The best benefit of the noise-reducing style is that you don't have to turn the volume way up to drown out subway noise or street noise.  The volume is so focused that you can leave the volume on your music player at reasonable - even low - levels.  In the long term, this spares your hearing.   These headphones conveniently include 3 different sizes of rubber earpieces to increase your odds of a good fit.

As a big-time music lover, it might surprise some people that I would not spring for Bose Triports or Shure headphones of the active noise-dampening variety.  The reason for this is simple: quality vs. cost.  These JBuds are $20.  If I lose these, the wire connection gets crackly or they break, I won't cry about it.  If I had a pair of Bose headphones and they got stolen, I'd freak out and gnash my teeth over it.  There's a difference between a music-lover and an audiophile. 

As far as sound quality, these are about what you'd expect from $20 noise-reducing headphones.  The "stethoscope effect" is certainly evident, meaning that the in-ear style amplifies and transfers the sound fo moving, slapping or bumping the wires around.  If this aggravates you, you should skip these.   They have good bass reception, decent mids and almost nonexistent treble.  I've sort of found a workaround - I now use the 'Treble Booster' setting in my iPod's EQ setting.  Never thought I'd have to pump the treble, but it actually makes a difference and improves the overall sound.

Overall, these aren't perfect by any means.  But if you want cheap noise-reducing headphones and are willing to sacrifice some sound quality, these might be the way to go. 

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