It's not unusual for a product manager to exaggerate certain aspects of the gadgets he or she is representing, which is why reviewers quickly learn to take everything with a grain of salt. When the hyperbole extends to the actual name of the product, expectations tend to increase at least incrementally. Such is the case with Phonak's Audeo Perfect Fit Earphones PFE 022 + Mic, a uniquely designed set of earbuds with an integrated mic and a fair price ($99). We can't be certain they'll actually fit everyone perfectly, but we can say with confidence that our reviewers found them to be exceptionally secure and quite comfortable. They also managed to impress us in terms of sound quality.
The design of the Audeo Perfect Fit Earphones earpieces is a bit difficult to describe in words. They are somewhat of a modified L shape, with a step-down into the ear. Needless to say, the 'buds are exceptionally compact, and the funky shape seems to mesh well with most ear shapes. To further help users achieve a secure and comfortable fit, Phonak includes three sets of soft silicone tips in small, medium, and large sizes. (The 'phones are also compatible with Comply Foam Tips.) We're a bit disappointed that this model doesn't come with a pair of earloops to be attached during rigorous activity; with their compact, lightweight design, the PFE 022s lend themselves well to fitness pursuits, and that extra would take the earphones up a notch.
The Perfect Fit Earphones seem fairly durable. They feature a thick, 30-inch cord originating from a gold straight plug. This then splits into a thinner, 15-inch Y-cable that terminates in the two earpieces. The Y features a slider that helps prevent tangles when the headphones are not in use; a tiny module with a mic and call-answer button is integrated into the right cable. Although Phonak does not advertise the feature, the aforementioned button also serves as a playback remote for the iPhone and iPod Touch, playing and pausing tracks as well as skipping backward and forward. Beyond that, the PFE 022 earphones don't include any extra features.
