JVC Marshmallow headphones user reviews (violet)

3.5 stars

"Great value for picky people" on July 20, 2010 by evennumbers

Pros: Comfortable (conforms to your ear shape)
Inexpensive
Colorful
Appropriate cord length

Cons: Not for the long-term investor!

Cord will wear out within approx. 2-3 years
"Marshmallow" buds get cracked and very dirty with only one replacement - can't buy the coverings individually and must replace the whole set.

Summary: I was looking for a pair of buds to replace the terrible free iPod ones. My primary criteria were comfort, price, and retention (as I exercise with them). I found that they are extremely comfortable; you just stick the bud in your ear and after it has warmed up a little, it will form to your shape. For anyone who likes to fall asleep or lie down with earbuds, this is a definite plus. Also, the molding feature means that they do a decent job of staying in my ears when I jog.

Now, the downside: they aren't meant to last. The buds will eventually lose its capability to mold and will form cracks, as well as become dirty from usage. While it's simple enough to replace them with the backup pair of buds, it's annoying that you can't buy buds on their own and must replace the set if you so desire. Also, after about 2-3 years of using the same set, the connection went bad in one ear.

Ultimately, I ended up purchasing another set...of the exact same type. I lose and break electronics all the time, so it was fine with me that I actually got to wear something out.

Summary: They're good for those who don't want to invest, but they are not extremely durable (though they can survive lots of being shoved into backpacks and physical activity). For the price, definitely two thumbs up.

Updated on Jul 20, 2010

Oh jeez, why did I not say a thing about sound quality?

I thought that the quality was good, but I'm not picky at all. Perhaps there could be more bass; overall it comes through great. Also, the buds sort of block outside noises - great for those who listen on planes and can't get the volume up high enough or for shutting out ambient noise.