Five months have passed since Altec Lansing released its first pairs of “iPhone-compatible” earphones — an over-the-ear pair called UHP307 ($40) and earbuds called UHP301 ($50), both billed as iPhone-ready because their headphone plugs were thin enough to fit Apple’s recessed headphone port. We featured both earphones in First Looks at the time, but didn’t review them because they didn’t offer a complete iPhone headset experience: they were little more than iPhone-sized iPod earphones, lacking the microphones and call/playback control buttons of other true iPhone-ready options, including Apple’s packed-in iPhone Stereo Headset. Altec promised that those features would soon arrive in an update.

In late November, the updated versions arrived: the UHS307 ($40) and UHS301 ($50) offer the same earphone designs, cables, and plugs as their predecessors, but now come with four things not found in the UHP-series designs: an in-line microphone, a single-button call/playback control, a shirt clip, and a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter cord for use with non-iPhone mobile phones. Altec also released another model, UHS306 ($90), which replaces the other models’ earbuds with in-canal earphones. Each of the models comes with silicone rubber eartips, a zippered neoprene carrying case, and attractive gray fabric cords; they’re all otherwise primarily made from gray plastic, and feature in-line volume controls in a box that’s separate from the microphone, if one’s included.

Basically, all five of these earphones strike us as a step or two back from the Etymotic-developed earphones Altec was selling a couple of years ago under its inMotion label, introducing elements from Plantronics’ cell phone headsets that don’t necessarily improve the iPhone or iPod earphone experience. Our separate reviews briefly discuss each version in relation to the others, as well as other iPhone-specific headsets we’ve tested.

Of the group, our favorites were the UHS307 and UHP307, though their identical pricing and UHS307’s superior pack-ins and features make it the better buy of the two. In essence, both of these earphones are somewhat overcomplicated alternatives to Sennheiser’s OMX70, which itself was a slightly overcomplicated alternative to Sony’s MDR-EX81. The premise behind all three models is that earbuds are suspended from rubber-coated “over-the-ear” mounts in order to keep the buds inside your ears. But whereas Sony made the mounts simple and designed the buds to fit in your ear canals, Sennheiser and now Altec Lansing use large iPod pack-in-style earbuds. You try to fit the earbuds into your ears, and they sort of do, sort of don’t; only one size of rubber eartip is included, so some ears will do better than others.

We found the Sony design a lot easier to fit onto our ears: the MDR-EX81 rubber mounts are simple and worked perfectly for us. Altec instead uses a far larger ear cuff that has multiple layers of rubber and a C-shaped metal bar inside. The positives of this design is that it’s firm and enables you to adjust the earbud’s height and tilt for your ear, but we didn’t find the in-ear result as snug as Sony’s; some users will definitely have different results.

UHS307 and UHP307’s saving grace is their sound quality. These particular earbuds sound a lot like Apple’s, with a reasonably wide dynamic range and enough high- and low-end presence to satisfy typical listeners; the only issue is getting the earphones properly positioned in your ears to let you hear the sound. Callers described the UHS307’s microphone as sounding almost identical to the one in Apple’s iPhone Stereo Headset—natural and smooth, not optimized for intelligibility but rather designed to make your voice sound normal. At times, they noted that the Altec mic was 10% or so lower in volume than Apple’s, but otherwise they liked how we sounded, and vice-versa. As with all of the mic-equipped headsets, a mute switch for the mic is included on the back of the in-line volume control box, should you want to stop your caller from hearing what you’re saying.

Given that they’re priced the same as earphones that come with in-line microphones, remotes, and 2.5mm adapters, our ratings of the UHP301 and UHP307 are a hint lower than the mic-equipped UHS301 and UHS307 versions, respectively, but it’s worth noting that we’re a bit disappointed with each of the earphones in this collection. Altec Lansing was generally on the right track with its Etymotic-developed InMotion earphones, but something seems to have gone wrong here—comfort, isolation, and style have all decreased rather than improved in this new generation of offerings. It sounds almost silly to say this, but we want our old Altec back, and soon.

Though we consider the UHS307 to be a good earphone overall, and the best of this bunch, the others are varying shades of “OK” save for the UHP306, which costs around twice the price of the others, and doesn’t approach the sound or comfort of past inMotion designs. It rates a D- in accordance with our policy on defective products, because of the frayed state it was in when received.

Five months have passed since Altec Lansing released its first pairs of “iPhone-compatible” earphones — an over-the-ear pair called UHP307 ($40) and earbuds called UHP301 ($50), both billed as iPhone-ready because their headphone plugs were thin enough to fit Apple’s recessed headphone port. We featured both earphones in First Looks at the time, but didn’t review them because they didn’t offer a complete iPhone headset experience: they were little more than iPhone-sized iPod earphones, lacking the microphones and call/playback control buttons of other true iPhone-ready options, including Apple’s packed-in iPhone Stereo Headset. Altec promised that those features would soon arrive in an update.

In late November, the updated versions arrived: the UHS307 ($40) and UHS301 ($50) offer the same earphone designs, cables, and plugs as their predecessors, but now come with four things not found in the UHP-series designs: an in-line microphone, a single-button call/playback control, a shirt clip, and a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter cord for use with non-iPhone mobile phones. Altec also released another model, UHS306 ($90), which replaces the other models’ earbuds with in-canal earphones. Each of the models comes with silicone rubber eartips, a zippered neoprene carrying case, and attractive gray fabric cords; they’re all otherwise primarily made from gray plastic, and feature in-line volume controls in a box that’s separate from the microphone, if one’s included.

Basically, all five of these earphones strike us as a step or two back from the Etymotic-developed earphones Altec was selling a couple of years ago under its inMotion label, introducing elements from Plantronics’ cell phone headsets that don’t necessarily improve the iPhone or iPod earphone experience. Our separate reviews briefly discuss each version in relation to the others, as well as other iPhone-specific headsets we’ve tested.

The middle of the pack earphones are the UHS301 and UHP301. In each model, Altec wraps traditional earbud-style earphones with Bose TriPort IE or traditional Plantronics headset-style layers of blue silicone rubber, which are supposed to made the buds fit more snugly in your ears. We have not had good experiences with these in the past, and didn’t like them in UHS301 or UHP301, where they come in three different sizes, and with standard circular rubber caps as an alternative. Besides looking weird and uncool by iPod earphone standards, the sculpted caps did not feel right in our ears, and the standard ones felt bigger and harder than Apple’s old foam-covered iPod earphones, rather than comfortable.

Apparent sound quality is also affected substantially by the fit of ear tips. A word we do not often use in earphone reviews is “thin,” describing the sound that comes out of earphones or speakers that sound less than full-bodied, often as much because of poor channeling of the speakers’ output as anything else. The rubber caps in UHS301 and UHP301 just don’t deal wisely with the sound that’s coming out of the earphones’ metal grilles; they put rubber on top of the metal, blocking some of the output, while trying to channel the rest through smaller holes towards your ears. Here, the result is thinness—the sense that music is being compressed through a strainer, and not fully depicting the entire sound spectrum or detail it originally possessed.

With the UHP301, you’re basically getting a pair of less than Apple pack-in caliber earbuds at a fairly steep $50 price, but the UHS301 makes a little more sense thanks to the included microphone and call features. Callers described the UHS301’s microphone as similar to the UHS307’s, providing more natural sound—albeit a little softer than Apple’s own microphone—rather than the sharper sound of the UHS306. We wouldn’t pick these over Apple’s pack-ins, but users with ears shaped to fit the unusual rubber pieces may feel differently.

New MP3 players and other portable digital devices all come with headphones. The problem is their quality may be an afterthought. After all, device manufacturers are into devices, not headphones. That’s why Altec Lansing developed the Upgrader series of headphones – to give consumers a step up when replacing headphones. All Upgrader series headphone models are designed to offer great sound. But more than that, they provide a better, more customized fit for exceptional comfort.

Featuring ear caps made with memory foam, UHP101 ear buds offer outstanding comfort and noise isolation.

Features:

• Moisture-resistant Design
• Neoprene Carry Case
• Gold-plated Plug
• Tangle-Free Cloth Cord

Compatible with or can be used with any of the following iPhone 3G, iPods, MP3 players, discmans, dvd players etc.

Comfort and high quality sound in a compact design. That’s what you get with the CHP121 stereo earphones. The 15mm ported, high power neodymium earphones deliver a full, rich sound. And they fit easily in a pocket or their retractable winding/carrying case. 15 mm ported, high power neodymium earphones deliver full, rich sound.

Features:

• 15 mm ported, high power neodymium ear-phones deliver full, rich sound
• Smart design and rubber ear-pads
• Gold-plated 3.5 mm connector
• Protective winding case for traveling convenience

Compatible with iPhone 3G, iPods, MP3 players, discmans, dvd players etc.

Elsewhere similar sell for $29.95

Earbud Headphones with Transparent Housing
AKG BUDSTYLE EARPHONE W CLEAR CASE NIC

• Comfortable fit and light weight
• Best for portable MP3, DVD and CD players
• Encased in a tansparent housing with blue accents
• Includes plastic bubble case with cable winder and foam ear pads

Stylish and comfortable, the MDREX81LP Stereo Headphones are Sony’s premier lateral in-the-ear headphones. Designed to deliver deep bass and clear treble sounds. Featuring a Super-light in-the-ear Design for a snug, comfortable fit inside the ear – eliminating the headband, Super-small 9 mm Drivers, and Soft, Silicon Earbuds, these headphones were created to enhance your on-the-go listening. Three sizes of earbuds are included.

• Super-Light In-The-Ear Design
• Closed type earphones structure delivers deep bass sound.
• 400kJ/m3 high power neodymium magnet is used to reproduce powerful bass and clear treble sound.
• Elastomer material hanger for snug, comfortable and secure fit on your ears.
• Soft silicone rubber earbuds are used for stable and comfortable fit in the ears.
• Stylish unique, aluminum shaft.

Specifications:

• Sensitivity: 100dB/mW
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Frequency Response: 5 – 23,000Hz
• Cord: OFC neckchain, 1.2m
• Plug: L shaped stereo mini plug (Gold)

Supplied Accessories:

• Earphone Holder
• Ear Pieces (S, M, L x2)
• Carrying Case

If yesterday’s Sennheiser’s sporty new CX 95 earphones didn’t take your fancy, perhaps a more conventional incarnation will tickle you in the right places. We’re looking today at the CX 500 model — another sound-isolating pair in the CX series. These hover around the £45 mark depending on where you shop, and offer isolation by using silicon earphone tips, as most do.

These ‘phones sit deeper in the ear canal than the CX 95s, and are much more akin to the popular CX 300s. You’re given a whole bunch of differently sized tips to ensure you get the snuggest fit, and thanks to their small shape and unobtrusive design, they’re extremely comfortable. There’s also an in-line volume control.

But sound quality is what we’re really looking for and although they’re definitely an improvement over Sennheiser’s next model down — the CX 400s — they’re noticeably inferior to the CX 95s, which can be found for only marginally more money. True, these are a little more casual and their sound quality is still excellent, but we feel the 95s are even better value for money considering their audio performance.

What you’re getting for your moolah with the CX 500s is a generally balanced sound, with great sound-isolation, excellent mids, good bass but nothing outstanding in the high-end. That’s not to say they’re not clear, but it’s the area that shows they’re a sub-£70 model. This just means they don’t offer as wide a sound as slightly more costly models. That said, they’re ten times better than most earphones you’ll get with your MP3 player and as such are a great upgrade, especially if you’re just starting out in the earphone world.

Our full review will be with you shortly, but the Sennheiser CX 500s are on sale now if you just can’t wait.

Features

• Ideal for use with all MP3, CD, DVD players and portable gaming systems
• Best bass experience and noise attenuation
• High-performance dynamic driver systems for superior, bass-driven stereo sound
• Highest passive attenuation of ambient noise
• Outstanding wearing comfort on the go
• Superior fit in the ear canal due to enhanced ear adapters in different sizes (supplied as standard)
• Extremely small and lightweight
• Volume control integrated into the cable
• Cable clip, cable winder, and carrying pouch for convenient handling and storage
• 2-year warranty

Delivery Includes

• 1 CX 500
• 1 set of enhanced CX ear fit adapters (S/M/L)
• 1 cable clip
• 1 cable winder
• 1 carrying pouch

On the Bench

At 1 kHz, only 0.1% THD+N. There is only a second order harmonic (no third), which gives the phones a smooth midrange.

At 10 kHz, still very low distortion. Again, only a second order harmonic (no third).

IMD is almost non-existent. If there were significant IMD, there would be a mass of small peaks around the base of the 2 kHz peak, appearing like a pyramid.

The THD+N vs. Frequency test shows that even at 10 Hz, distortion is less than 5% at 108 dB (taken from the frequency response curve, shown below). This is superb performance. Secrets is the first consumer A/V publication to publish graphs like this for subwoofers and full range speakers, so you won’t find such data elsewhere on similar products for comparison, unfortunately. Perhaps that will change over time now that we have started doing it, because such graphs are extremely informative.

The frequency response shows why I heard such great bass. These phones are designed to really put it out. If you don’t like that much bass, you can always EQ it down in the MP3 player menu. The point is, it’s there if you want it.

Conclusions

For $129.95 MSRP and less than $90 street price, the Sennheiser CX-500 earphones are an incredible value. Nice clean sound, and deep, deep bass. This is a holiday season gift just waiting to be given.