Buds

I got a new pair of earphones for the iPh one the other day: The V-Moda Vibe Duo Nero. Lots of contenders to the throne of the white buds, but all things being equal this is the only one worth getting.

iPhone buds are the Holy Grail of accessories â while the white ones suffice, unfortunately they're neither here nor there. T o be fair they sound ok, but people keep them around because they have the mic and button on the cord. Those inclined to trade them right off for better ones tend to hang on for the functionality. Honestly, there aren't any real compromi se-free options available.

V-Moda previously released the < strong>Vibe Duo model which had the phone mic incorporated into it, bu t it didn't have the all-important button that answered calls and stopped, star ted and forwarded tracks â just like the regular buds. The new models, which co me in chrome, red and black, have this button, which is a trifle smaller than i s convenient.

But the Vibe Duo is the only one that approximate s the original buds in configuration and use without taking anything from the m ix. The existing alternatives either have too many cords or have little growths and appendages that carry the mic or the button or both.

At US$99 the pair is the best option so far in te rms of function and value. With some extras. Of course the plug fits, and the j ack seems sturdily made with a knurled grip, as there are on the left and right buds themselves. The sleek chrome of the buds and jacks are well made, but the big surprise is the cords themselves. They are light, soft and pliable, and cl oth-covered! The feel like well-made, durable string, and not prone to tangling or retaining odd shapes when they get wrapped around things. A self-sealing le ather carry pouch comes in the box, which is a pretty classy bonus.

The buds are in-ears, which are acquired tastes. Some like it, some don't. I belong to the former, having used many like them in the past. They come with six pairs of replaceable silicone fittings, in three sizes: S, M and L, and in clear or black. I'm most comfortable with the mediums . The in-ears seal out extraneous noise and amplify the sound; I'm glad I don't have to dial up the volume to full all the time now. Two-thirds is plenty.

One of the comments is that the Bliss silicone fi ttings have a tendency to fall off their posts, and you find you lose one or th e other in common use, forcing you to use the other color, or the other sizes. I own a pair of red V-Moda Vibes, and I was down to just four mismatched pairs until I figured a tiny droplet of glue on the rims when you pop the fittings on usually does the trick. You just have to settle on the size and color and stick with your choice.

Another usual comment is that V-Modas have tradio nally been bassy buds; true, but not excessively so. Mids and highs don't get b uried, and the reproduced tones shine through the low lows. I'm prefer flat set tings myself, but I can live with the V-Modas.

One of my friends who owns a pair already complai ns that it's odd to use the V-Moda Vibe Duos as a handsfree headset, and having taken calls on it, I know what he means. The lack of the ambient noise is a bi t disconcerting, since the in-ears shut everything out. But it isn't a biggie; it's just a matter of getting used to it,

I'm glad I got these, and can now set the white b uds aside as reserves. Two Mac-A-Doodle thumbs up.