A general Question regarding the mic/remote

[NineSwords]

So I'm looking to maybe get some new phones after all the praise here on the boards for better ones.

But I absolutely need a mic and remote on the headphones and cannot imagine using headphones without this.

Are there any (higher quality than the Apple phones but still affordable) headphones with mic and remote? I could live without the volume control but I need the star/stop/voicecontrol button.

[shigzeo]

What is your price range? The Nuforce NE7M is a GREAT product, but isn't quite as airy as Apple's new in ear headset (the one which isolates noise and came out last year). It has gobs of bass and is made pretty well. For 49-60$, you cannot go wrong with it as it is cheaper than Apple's product by a good margin and comes with a better accessory set.

Otherwise, I highly recommend the Phonak Audeo PFE 121 - it is from Switzerland, so it may be easier to find in Germany. Great product which is supposed to have fixed the slight build issues.

Ultimate Ears 220vi is a good product, but for the price, underwhelming. Deep, good bass. Build and accessory set is okay.

The Maximo iP-HS5 is good sounding, but has a horrid cable (noise in your ears) and pretty bad stress relief and anchoring.

Lastly, the Zagg Z-buds - pretty interesting design, but okay sound, horrid cable and mic implementation isn't that great. Volume attenuator on the side means you really can keep the phone in your pocket - that is nice.

[NineSwords]

Thank's shigzeo.

I was looking at something in the 100-150 euros price range. ($135 - $200)

Should be really reliable at the price though since this is way more than I used to spent for headphones.

[shigzeo]

Well, the best at that price range is likely the PFE, but you should know that it is a pretty flat response headphone. Basically, it won't accentuate the bass. If you want more bass than that, the Ultimate Ears Triple Fi 10 headset version may be much better. You could also get a Sleek SA1 (good all around sound) and when they release a headset cable, buy it as the cables can be interchanged.

Unfortunately, not many companies have put out quality headsets; Shure, Westone, UE, have mostly focused on the earphone market, probably because they haven't figured out that many people also use quality earphones as headsets.

[NineSwords]

Did you ever do a review of the original apple earphones? Just to put it into perspective?

[shigzeo]

The iBuds? No, I've not, but here it is:

iBuds - they may stay in, they may fall out
they rout music: stable, hardly lively and without a push, lack bass
For oem products, they aren't bad, but lose to every single upgrade phone I've heard, even the cheap MEElectronic earphones @ 14.99$