KLIPSCH S5I RUGGED EARPHONES

Good price, great sound, heavy-d uty cables - Chunky remote

www.powermove.com.au $599 

SCORE: 8KLIPSCH S5IRUGGED EARPHONES 
 
Klipsch has added the S5i Rugged to its line, a new heavy-duiy earphone that features the same aoousfio characteristics as the Image S4is. These 'rugged' models boast a durable, water-resistant design Everything from the plug housing to the earpieoes, and even fhe remote module, is designed to withstand a reasonable amount of moisture. Besides water resistance, the in-line remote's buttons are large enough to be operated by gloved hands. These would be perfect for the skier, snowboarder or skater who doesn't  have a helmet with headphones built in. The box also includes a hard-sided case with an integrated torch. The earpieces themselves are super compact and angled ever so slightly. It comes with three pairs of different-sized, patented oval ear tips, which do an excellent job of isolating most external sounds.
 
Above all else, these earphones sound superb. Each earpiece contains a set of dual-magnet microspeakers which give an added boom to the bass. This said, the Image $5is do not fail to deliver

   an excellent amount of clarity and detail throughout the high-end. I would have to say the S5is, like most of Klipch's range, are the best in their price range For someone who is active and looking for something strong yet still good looking, these will not let you down .

  

 SHURE SE535 EARPHONES+Perfect sound quality, replaceable cables

' Takes some time to get used to the fit

www.jands.com.au
$478

SCORE: 10


5hure has been known for having some of the best earphones on the market for years and the nev; SE535s have only taken its reputation to the next level.

The copies themselves are the first things that shout 'high quality'. Shure has gone with a new Kevl a Reinforced material that's far more resilient thon standard plastic, and has added gold-plated connectors right on the monitors themselves. In other words, you'll never need to replace a complete headset due to cabling problems

A wide selection of tips in different styles and materials, an adjustable inline volume control, o hard nylon zippered cose, and both aircraft and 6.5mm jack adapters are all bundled in an ultra-high-quality aluminium box.

If you're completely hew to this type of product, you'll discover that inserting the SE535s in yaur ear is a little mare involved a process than a lower-end earbud or in-ear monitor; you need to properly snake the cabling around your ear and make sure the tip goes deep enough in your ear canal. You'll also need to experiment with tip types and sizes to make sure you're comfortable with the fit and sound. You might feel like a fool at first, but it only takes a couple of tries to get it right, ond let me assure you, it's well worth it.

The sound produced by the SE535s is nothing short of magical. There are three separate drivers tucked away inside the SE535s' plastic housing; two woofers and one tweeter. In terms of the low end, the SE535s don't offer the kind of artificially pumped-up bass we sa often hear in lesser in-ear madeis Rather the emphasis is on a natural, faithful reproduction af the original recording. The tweeter does an impressive job of feeding through crystal-clear high tones and keeping high ends distinct, which adds to the overall breadth of sound. There are few things more satisfying than hearing something new in one of your favourite tracks.

The SE535s really perform when the volume is cranked up. The SE535s kept a tight rein on things and, even when the music was really blaring, I never lost track of the mix's individual components In fact, if anything, I'd actually argue that the sound is too perfect, which makes it easy to point out imperfections in lossy formats and also encourages you to turn up the volume. They're amazing!

BOSE MIE2I MOBILE HEADSET

+Great sound, functionality and build quality; good price

- stayHear earpieces not for everyone

www.bose.com.au 
$199.95 
SCORE: 8


Bose has a reputation for producing good but overpriced speaker systems, but when it comes to headphones and earphones the company is on the money for both quality and cost. As an example, these new MIE2is are builf-for-iPhone/iPod earphones that provide sound quality beyond their $199.95 price-point.

Putting thern into my- ears for the first time brought a smile to my face - realiy the litmus test for any product's success. They're beautifully balanced from the treble, through the midrange to the bass

- but not clinically so. Bose hos introduced some warmth into the mix, which makes the audio more listenable and engaging, but might not be acceptable to you if you prefer unadulterated sound.

The MIE2is are also very detailed and clean, in that sounds which may ice indistinct over many headphones or speakers are suddenly brought into focus, f They also have good sounastaging, which allows you to better distinguish the positions of the various musicians.

The 'Made for iPhone/iPod' moniker mentioned earlier refers to the fact that these earphones have an inline microphone and three-button remote, plus the ability to control volume, skip or scrub forward and backward, and play or pause.

If you're using them with an iPhone. when a call comes in you can answer, decline or end if, and put it on hold to answer a second call.

The central button on the remote can . also activate the Voice Control feature

on compatible iPhones and iPods. This lets you issue commands such as 'Call home', 'Shuffle', 'Previous track' or even 'Play playlist Party Mix".

When you're on the phone, both the incoming and outgoing voices sound . loud and clear. . better, in fact, than most earphones I've tried.

This review isn't all roses, though. The MIE2is come with 'StoyHear' silicone tips which have little 'fins' that sit in the upper part of the ear.

Almost identical to Sennheiser's 'EorFlns', they're designed to provide a more secure fit when on the go or exercising, but I and a couple of others who tried them for this review didn't find them as comfortable as the 'normal' Bose tips.

There are three sizes in the box, but I'd like to see three sets of the older-style 'wingless' tips thrown in as well.

 JOBY YOGI
+Flexible support on most surfaces - No front cover for iPad protection 

$79

SCORE: 9

 Joby's GorillciMobile Yogi for iPad is the ergonomic version of a slinky for your beloved Apple tablet.

Tne legs on the stand are flexible and can grip on to all kinds of ledges and surfaces (there's one hanging from the partition of my office desk right now). This feature would be perfect for long trips in the car with the kids - hang your iPad using the Yogi stand's legs to grip the top of the front seat, and you can watch movies and other videos from the backseat.

Another option Is to stand your iPad on c flat (or uneven) surface and adjust the Yogi's legs to view the screen in landscape or portrait mode. Again, this is great for watching videos or playing games.

Whether you choose to hang, grip or stand your iPad using the Yogi, it's a cool, almost insect-looking design with a ton of extra grippy' options to choose from. It's also kind of fun to see how many different ways you can bend and twist the legs to make weird shapes.

Tne legs are removable, so you can use the plastic holder as a case when you're on the run or for quick and easy storage. The Yogi is lots of fun for iPad users of ail ages.

 JOBY ORI
+Sleek, multi-functional design

- Rather large when assembled, sharp edges

$129 SCORE: 8

Joby's Gorilla Mo bile Ori for iPad features a sleek design inspired by the Japanese art of Origami, ond, while it certainly looks good, it's also built fof functionality and comfort

The On is made from a lightweight aluminium that is also strong and durable

- good protection for your iPad against a fall or scratches. EJespite its intricate appearance I found it easy to assemble the case ond position and remove the iPad. Once you have set the stand up. the rest is pretty straightforward.

The Ori features a swivel mechanism to view the iPad screen in landscape or portrait mode - a particular advantage when I used this to read documents and play games. You can also adjust the display height and viewing angles for erganomicpositioning.

Once you finish using it, you can fold the On quickly and compactly, for easy storage in a drawer or on a shelf with books.

As well as a stand, the Ori also doubles as an iPad case, complete with a microfibre screen caver. Because of its design, the Ori makes for a stylish case that is bound to be durable and great protection inside a bag or briefcase.

The Ori s a sophisticated iPad accessory with functionality and attractive, modern design and would be a very welcome addition to the home or office.

RAIN IREST
+Sensible, comf ortable, elegant design

• It's relatively big
$59

SCORE: 9

One of the darlings of this year's CES was Rain's iRest. This new iPod lap stand uses a design so elegantly effective, it's amazing no-one's thought of it before; the iRest features a hinged foot thot swings backwards into a reclining position, allowing users to comfortably position their iPod when they're sitting - even lying down.

The iRest is in keeping with Rain's standards of build quality, crafted from two pieces of sturdy aluminium,with strong plastic on the arm, rubber grips for the device and soft foam-like pads for the feet.

For anyone who's found that the iPad's just that little bit heavy to hold for an entire movie, or even for extended reading or browsing sessions, the iRest is an incredibly sensible stand.