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Bose In-Ear: Review

Posted to Headphones 2009-04-25

The Bose In-Ear Headphones are a stylish addition to in-ear headphone market. Bose has only one product in the in-ear headphone category. These are in-ear buds, rather than true noise canceling canal phones. They are designed to sit in the ear bowls, not in the ear canals, and are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

Handsomely styled, with thick, black and white wires, these in-ear buds come in a soft, rectangular case that is roomy enough to stow both the in-ear headphones and an MP3 player. You'll also get a clothing clip to keep the in-ear headphones from being accidentally pulled out of your ears, as well as a lanyard to hang the in-ear headphones around your neck when you're not listening. Silicone tips come in three sizes so you'll get the fit you need.

Rating:

3.2 out of 5

Quality

With Bose's reputation for high quality products, die-hard Bose fans will gravitate to these in-ear headphones. With the proper size tips on, these in-ear headphones feel much more secure than the everyday ear buds that come standard with an MP3 player. They don't form a true noise-canceling seal, so they don't feel as secure as you might like. Bose compensates for the fit with a large bass sound, This can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but if you like a booming bass, these could be the in-ear headphones for you. There have been reports of the silicone tips falling off for some users and the wire is a bit thin (can't Bose use a better quality of wire?) which can cause kinks when coiling it up.

Value

While priced a bit high, these in-ear headphones are going to appeal to true Bose fanatics. If you're in the market for headphones that are in-between ear buds and canal phones, these could very well be the headphones. With Bose's reputation for quality of sound and quality of product, these in-ear headphones are a solid investment, but in the price range, you will be able to find headphones that cancel noise better and headphones that have better balanced sound.

Features

The Bose in-ear headphones have a somewhat unique design in that they look like regular ear buds, but they have silicone tips that channel the sound directly into the ear canal. These tips, coming in three sizes, fit onto small tubes that stand out from the earphones. The thick black and white wires have an anti-tangle slider. There is also a 3.5mm gold-plated straight plug that can fit into the iPhone's port directly. The earphones come in a soft, rectangular box with enough room inside to keep the headphones and a small MP3 player. The box is oddly shaped, and while it's useful, it's a bit bulky to carry around. Included in the box is an integrated cable winder and the box has magnetic flaps. It's recommended that you keep the earphones inside the box, as the silicone tips pick up (and hang onto) every piece of lint and dirt they come into contact with. A clothing clip helps to eliminate pulling the earphones out of your ears, and the set also comes with a lanyard to use to hang the earphones around your neck when you're not listening to music.

Editor's note
While Bose has a reputation for producing high quality sound and excellent quality equipment, they still avoid publishing the specifications of their products. This prevents customers from comparing a Bose product to another manufacturer's. Bose, are you afraid of the sunlight? At the prices you charge, your customer deserves more. In my experience, Bose products are usually heavy on style and light on substance.

Summary

These Bose in-ear headphones are a solid choice for Bose fans. They don't quite fit into the noise-canceling category, nor do they fit into the ear bud category. Being a sort of hybrid, the appeal is the Bose sound quality and the Bose design quality. Unique styling makes these earphones stand out from the crowd, but look at your options in this price range carefully. You should be able to find an in-ear headphone with more versatility that can meet your needs.

Pros

Not noise canceling canal phones
Bose quality design
Strong bass sound
Unique design
Light on product specifications from Bose

Cons

There are no cons for this product