Altec Lansing Backbeat Titanium Noise Isolating Earphones

Pros: Cloth cord seems very durable and tangle-resistant; tips fasten tightly and fit ear good; very nice sound.

Cons: Not nearly enough bass.

Summary: I just got these in yesterday, so this is a "first-impression" review, but I'm so far incredibly pleased with these. I upgraded to these after my Sony MDR-EX71SL/WK started shorting out after over two years. The first thing I noticed is how much thicker the tips are than the flimsy rubber ones on my Sony's (aside: this was a MAJOR consideration for me, as the 2 different sets of Sony earphones I've had BOTH had a problem with the tips staying on the earphone when I'd put them in my pocket or something. I was constantly losing tips.) The AL326s have a much thicker tip, but are also designed a lot better to stay on the earphone. I like that I have to actually wiggle and work them onto and off of the earphone. Plus, with the way they're designed, it looks like it keeps more of the sound in the channel so that it reaches your ear. It comes with 3 tips, plus a set of dual-flange tips which are currently spoiling me. I love the dual-flange design. I do support work for a call center, to blocking out external noise is a huge factor, and the dual-flange tips do a phenomenal job of that. I tried one of the regular tips in one ear, and a dual in the other, and I could tell a difference. However, the regular tips have a really great fit and sound, too. I also like the cloth cord. I love that I can pull my headphones out of my pocket after class and not have to untangle a knot. The included case is also really great. It's not too small for the phones, nor too big to carry in your pocket, and holds both the phones and the extra tips without a problem (although a pocket for the extra tips would be nice, but now I'm just being picky.) The AL326s definitely have a better sound than the Sony's, but BEWARE that they're very bass-light. I noticed it immediately listening to Jack Johnson's "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing", where the bass line absolutely (and unexpectedly) booms in my car (06 Accord factory speakers), but is lacking through the headphones. Currently listening to the studio version of "Crush" by Dave Matthews Band, which is very bass-driven, and I could use a lot more. In fact, I'm taking away half a star from 4 stars because of this alone. I suppose it's a personal preference as to how much bass you like, but also think people who are gonna go through the trouble of researching earphones before they buy them are gonna want more than this. Overall, though, the sound is very nice. I can pick out all the different layers and lines in the song, and nothing is particularly overwhelming. All the instruments/vocals are crisp and clear and the harmonies come across very nicely.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend these to anyone who wants a great sound for an affordable price, with the caveat emptor that you may not be satisfied with the bass. For me, it's not a dealbreaker, but if everything else about these weren't so good, it would be.

Updated on Apr 6, 2009

I think my problem with the bass may have been mostly user error. I got fed up with the lack of bass on Kanye's "Late Registration", so I tried some tricks to get a better fit (thanks to a CNET article) and it made a pretty noticable difference. It's still not that thumping bass that some people might want, but it's a LOT better. If I could, I'd add a star to my review.