Entered CNET Catalog: 07/30/2009
SKU: CNETAUVIOINEARARMATUREBLU
Manufacturer: Auvio Inc.
Manufacturer description
Get more from your audio and video equipment. See what you've been missing. With Auvio, you control the experience. Auvio was established by a group of technophiles to provide high quality audio and video products without the high sticker price. The Auvio philosophy is for you to experience audio and video as it was intended to be. Auvio simplifies your experience by providing the right products, with the right specs, to work with your equipment. Your Auvio product incorporates the latest technology, is built to the highest quality standards, and reduces environmental impact by complying with RoHS environmental restrictions.Product summary
The good: The Auvio In-Ear Armature headphones offer a comfortable and secure fit and include compressible foam eartips that are ideal for passive sound isolation.
The bad: The Auvio In-Ear headphones' sound quality is subpar for the price.
The bottom line: The Auvio In-Ear Armature Headphones are plenty comfy and offer excellent sound isolation, but the sound quality does not live up to the price tag.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 07/30/2009
Photo gallery:
Auvio In-Ear Armature Headphones
It seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harry is putting out headphones these days, and far be it for Radio Shack to be left out in the cold. The electronics retailer is turning out a line of earphones sporting the brand name Auvio. The line includes a handful of models that range from the very cheap ($15) to the top-of-the-line In-Ear Armature headphones featured here. This set goes for a still-affordable $80, though it's practically impossible to recommend them over the comparatively priced Klipsch Image S4. The Auvio In-Ear headphones just don't stack up in terms of sound quality, though we do appreciate the foam eartips and comfortable fit.
The Auvio In-Ear headphones are fairly standard in design--nothing about the look of the 'buds stands out, though that could be a positive for some. The earpieces are slightly tapered so they resemble miniature cupcakes with angled, oversize candles sticking out of the top for the sound ports. Onto these you can attach one of the six sets of eartips that come in the package. We definitely appreciate the fact that three of these are Comply Foam Tips in various sizes. The compressible material tends to offer the most secure and comfortable fit as well as block out the most outside noise. In fact, passive sound isolation is perhaps the only area where the Auvio 'buds have the Image S4s beat.
Descending from the Auvio earpieces, which are available in two color options (black or blue)--is a black cord that measures 4 feet and terminates in a gold-plated straight plug. The cable is a bit of a mixed bag, actually. Although the longer bottom segment is impressively thick and flexible, the upper section is thin and the area that attaches to the 'buds seems weak. Only time will tell how these may hold up in the long run. On the plus side, there's a slider at the Y to help prevent tangles when the earphones are not in use, and the package includes a nice travel pouch with two compartments.
Sadly, our praise of the Auvio In-Ear Armature headphones ends there. Sound quality is just not up to snuff. While music playback isn't terrible, it's not on par with what we've come to expect in this price range. Namely, clarity is not great, with nearly all rock and other fast-paced songs suffering the most. Sounds tend to get mushed together in any tracks that have a lot of complexity--they come across sounding like a messy cacophony. We also noticed that some songs had a slightly muffled quality to them, and bass response was very mushy in most cases. And in fact, bass was not quite as deep as we'd like overall.
We can't say we're not disappointed with the Auvio In-Ear headphones--we always have high hopes for earphones in this price range, which is a bit of a sweet spot. Unfortunately, there's nothing here to set them above or even near the Image S4. The only upshot of the Auvios is the superior noise isolating capability.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3out of 3 user reviews
Bought them when they were $200.
Pros: Very comfortable fit
Cons: Don't live up to what they advertise (sound)
out of 3 user reviews
Very, Very Pleased.
Pros: Stylish, long cord, carrying case full of ear buds.
Cons: Auvio sells better ear buds separately. Why not with unit to begin with??
Needs break in period??
Also changed to AAC recording from CDs into ipod (limewire sucks). Now want P3, Creative x-fi2, or Cowon in FLAC mode.
Buy on sale. $59.00, sometimes $49.00.
Updated on Nov 21, 2009Cut out jet engine noise 95%. Wife 100%.
out of 3 user reviews
Fit perfect and sounds great, worth the money.
Pros: Adjustable sizes and plenty of cord. Carrying case very nice and sound quality very good if your not trying to ruin your hearing. Noise cancel awsom, take the train everyday and can't hear it with them on.
Cons: Bass could be a little stronger but does not hurt the pros.
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