Ear Pollution’s Timbre earbuds with mic are essentially a pair of high quality, noise isolating earphones with a microphone. Until using Ear Pollution’s Timbre earbuds, I was fully satisfied with Apple’s headphones. Apple’s product seemed to be a fine quality, and I loved the microphone capability. Then, I was sent a pair of Timbre earbuds.
The difference is insurmountable. Yes, you are looking at a $20 price difference. The Ear Pollution solution costs almost double Apple’s price, at $49.99 compared to Apple’s $29. The price is more than made up for with quality, however. The natural wood chamber earbuds actually do offer higher quality sound. Not only was the sound clearer, but I actually found that the microphone was clearer as well. People simply understood me more easily.
After making and receiving a few phone calls with the Timbre earbuds, I decided it was time to test them out with my music. Using the Timbre earbuds, I was able to hear music at the same decibel with the volume halfway up, as I could with the volume fully up using the Apple solution. When using Ear Pollution’s Timbre earphones, I was also able to isolate the noise enough so that if the radio was on at it’s highest level, I was still able to listen to my iPhone over it.
All in all, I’m very impressed with the technology behind these earbuds. I’ve seen and used plenty pairs of Bose style headphones for $300+; $50 doesn’t seem so out-of-line for a pair of high quality earbuds with a microphone for your phone. The biggest issue that I found with these earphones is that they isolate noise very well – so well, in fact, that I initially felt as though I sounded weird while using them in phone conversations. This is something you get used to, however. After a day’s usage, they feel entirely normal to me.
Another interesting feature of the Timbre earphones is that they come with 3 separate earfit pieces in different sizes – Small, Medium, and Large. A common complaint with earbuds is that they can be uncomfortable; this helps with that issue. Obviously, the larger the earfit used, the more ambient noise can be controlled; I recommend using this product with the largest comfortable size earfit piece.
The Ear Pollution Timbre earbuds with microphone are an excellent product for anyone looking for a higher quality earphone and microphone to use with their mobile device.
Overall impression: ★★★★★★★★★☆
Value for your money: ★★★★★★★★★★
Price: $49.99
Buy it now:
http://ifrogz.com/proddetail.php?prod=EP-WB-MIC
