Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Bluetooth?Noise canceling?Dongle included?Sounded too good to be true, so I lowered my expectations.Opened the package, and sure enough, it comes with everything.The headphones, the dongle (which allows you to plug this wafer-thin device into any headphone jack and transmit the signal to the headphones), a bag for the headphones, an A/C power adapter, a 2-headed USB cable that plugs into either the adapter or a computer (while charging the dongle and the headphones simultaneously), and a headphone cable directly connecting the headphones to the music source for in-flight use or in case the battery runs out.Incredible that you get all of this for $110, and it lowered my expectations even further.
Charged the headphones and the dongle for a few hours -- the red lights on both turn off when they're done charging.Checked out the headphones, and they're very slick.They have padded earphones and a padded headband, and they fold up quite nicely, easily, and minimally.On the left earcup is a switch to turn the headphones on and activate the noise cancelling, which activates a small green LED when it's on.There's a Bluetooth button on the side of the right earcup, very easy to access, and a pause/play button on the front of the rim and a volume/track button on the back of the rim.The tiny microphone hole is right next to the USB jack on the bottom of the right earcup.All in all a very sleek presentation.But then I put them on, looked in the mirror, and WOW were they dorky.Each earphone cup is about an inch and a half thick, making me look like Lando Calrissian's personal assistant from Empire Strikes Back.But I kept an open mind.After all, it's all about the sound, right?
After plugging the dongle into my iPod and pairing it with the headphones (very easy, but read the directions first), the sound came on.And it wasn't bad at all.They actually sounded pretty great!I can't agree that they compare with Sennheisers or anything, but they get the job done.The bass, treble, and midrange are represented quite well for the money, and the range is fairly decent as long as you don't pass behind a wall.
Although I've never heard the effects of noise canceling before, it seems to work here.It basically sounds like the sound is jacked up a bit higher, with the bass more pronounced.It doesn't eliminate outside sounds completely, not even close, but there was a marked difference on the subway when switching it on.Since the earcups don't cover the entire ear, it seemingly cannot do the job as well as the larger ones.Still, not bad at all.
One thing that concerned me was that you have to turn your iPod almost all the way up to get enough sound thru these.This is not a problem when using my Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 earbuds - they require a third of the volume while eliminating almost all external sound.Watching video on the iPod posed a small problem as well, as the sound was delayed by a split second when using Bluetooth.
The major problem using the dongle with my iPod arose when I was walking around New York City, where I live and work.I kept the iPod with the dongle very close by, in the side pocket of my messenger bag.It worked great for a day or two, then - for whatever reason - the sound started to drop out inconsistently when crossing intersections.No idea why.It's so frustrating, because I would take it out of the pocket, hold it up near the headphones, and it would still drop out.Couldn't figure it out for the life of me.As soon as I crossed the street, it was fine again.This is a major problem, and it's prevented me from using them on my work commute.Nobody wants to go back to the days of weathering the annoyances of audio dropout from scratched CDs - and that's what it sounded like.
Using the phone with these things is a joy.The sound is great and my friends on the other end had no complaints hearing me.It's very easy to take and make calls using the Bluetooth button on the side.One downside - it's almost impossible to tell how loudly you're speaking with these on because your ears are covered.I found I'd have to position one of the earcups slightly behind my ear to hear my own voice.That said, it worked really well with the phone in my pocket.
If the iPhone supports the A2DP profile for stereo Bluetooth and has a better signal strength than the dongle, these will be indispensable.That's the kind of thing these were meant for - to switch back and forth between music and phone calls seamlessly with your music pausing automatically when a call comes in, etc.Can't wait to try it out.There are a few phones already on the market that have this feature, including the Chocolate from LG.
Not sure how the i903's compare with the Plantronics Pulsar 590A's, but those seem to be a similar design.
Bottom line, these are pretty amazing for the money. iLuv has done a helluva job - the only downsides are the aforementioned dork factor and the issues using the dongle on my work commute. Would definitely recommend them as long as you don't spend too much time using the dongle while crossing intersections in NYC.
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Product Description:
Free yourself from tangled wires and city noises The i903 frees you from the bondage of a wired environment using Bluetooth wireless technology. Not only that, but outside sounds that can be a distraction to pure music enjoyment or an annoyance during an important phone call virtually disappear, helping you focus on what you want to hear and not on what you have to hear. This swivel-designed noise canceling headset has comfortable soft-cushioned ear pads, and with its mini-USB connection you can attach to most audio devices using the included mini USB to 3.5 mm cable. Plus, using the audio transmitter with Bluetooth wireless technology (included), the i903 essentially transforms an audio device not equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology into one with it. Bluetooth wireless technology also helps you connect to your phone without being physically attached to it, freeing you to walk around and use your hands the way you would if you were talking to a person in the room with you. What's more, you can talk and listen longer with the i903. With nine hours of talking time is available with 8 hours of listening time, the i903 helps you enjoy walking and talking more than you did before.
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