 Best for under $30 |
| Review Date: March 27, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Ray Lyon, |
As a sound engineer and musician for over thirty years, I can attest that the Denon AH-C252 ear buds are simply the best buds available for under $30. They are superior in audio quality to others I have tried. They come with three different size light rubber tips that conform comfortably to the size of your ear canal. They are not entirely air tight, but let just enough ambient sound in so that you are not totally isolated from your environment.
The buds are also unique in their ergonomic design. Instead of buds that go straight into your ear, the tiny speakers are mounted at a slight angle so as to facilitate the angle of the ear canal with the ear itself. This makes the buds very comfortable and enhance sonic transmission.
There is also a little rubber clasp that is movable up and down the cable when they split into separate wires. The better ones always have this feature... it reduces tangling and knotting, and makes for better storage. The cable is black, which is nice not having to be a walking advertisement for the white cable iPod.
Again, the sound is very good... not as good as a $100+ set, but that is not the point here. These things sound great for the price I paid which was $25.99. Ear buds get knocked around alot, and I would not want a whole bunch of money invested in something that will eventually break with heavy usage.
Sonically, they reveal a whole new world of detail in mp3 audio... Inferior buds do not reveal this. 128 kbps files sound a bit grainy, with artifacts in the high end. 192 kbps is much better. You will hear the difference.
As good as they are, here are some caveats. I don't like the right angle 1/8" stereo jack... with an iPod, a straight jack would be best for holding up in the long run. I usually place my iPod in my pocket and when I pull it out it puts undue strain on the cord attached to the jack. The jack will be the first thing to go on this product. Right angle mini jacks are fine for laptops but not iPods.
The buds also can change sound on you... if you tilt your head straight back or look up... the bass disappears. I had not noticed this particular trait in other buds I have used. (Maybe because I wasn't hearing the bass to begin with!) It is bothersome at times
There is also a problem with handling noise in the cable... moving or touching it while listening at lower volumes creates a lot of undesirable background noise. More so than other buds I have experienced. If you are walking or running this may bother you and more expensive buds have better isolation from this characteristic.
One more thing, if you are in an environment with static electricity watch out! A static charge will travel up the cable straight into your ears. ZAP! What follows can only be described as pain. I don't know if this is a universal trait of all ear buds, but I certainly noticed with the Denon's.
Nevertheless, if you are on a budget looking for replacement buds you can't go wrong with these! My highest recommendation. |
Great sound !
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| Review Date: May 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Phillips, Chattanooga, TN |
| We have always bought Sennheiser products, but when it came to in ear phones they just would not stay in, so I tried these. Great purchase!, after I allowed these to "break in", playing them for 14 hours, they sound just perfect. For the money you cannot go wrong. |
Excellent choice
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| Review Date: June 14, 2010 |
| Reviewer: R., New York |
I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled because these headphones are truly great. They sound awesome, they're comfortable, and they block enough noise so that you can focus on the music. I'm extremely happy with these. |
AH- C252K
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| Review Date: April 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: yohanan, |
| these headphones are the best headphones at the $20-$30 range. these are some of the most comfortable headphones i have used due to their angled inserts which come in three sizes. The sound was better than the Sennheiser cx300s with an elaborate bass and clear highs. The only downfall was that one ear-piece stopped working after 3 months although i had also bought one for my brother which he has already used for over a year. For anyone who is interested in upgrading Ipod stock headphones these are perfect for the price. |
Boom Boom Bass
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| Review Date: May 26, 2010 |
| Reviewer: I. J. Barker, Poughkeepsie, NY |
I have to admit, for the relatively low price I paid for these buds, they really have performed admirably thus far. They're definitely not perfect--the sound's a bit imbalanced IMO--but they really do the trick. I'll sum up good and bad points in a few categories.
Isolation: As a frequent bus traveler, being able to listen to my music in relatively noisy environments is a plus. I'd rate the isolation on these about a 4/5. Even when sitting near the bus's engine in the back, what was once a loud, exhausted roar becomes an only somewhat audible rumble. I can also hear background chatter somewhat clearly. That's before I even turn the music on, mind you. I also don't need to use nearly as much volume as with my Panasonics, which also require an extra trick that coincides with the next category.
Fit: The buds are a little different than what I'm used to: the drivers are actually angled into the ear. As awkward as it sounds, it is actually an ergonomic layout. A smooth, rounded end after the silicone tip allows it to rest comfortably against what I'm guessing is the tragus. Silicone tips are average; I have small ears, and the tips slip out sometimes, especially when it's hot. Big tips weren't comfortable. It's still less awkward overall than my Panasonic buds, which I love to pieces, but they require that I slip them in, twist them to find the "sweet spot," and hope they stay that sweet for long.
Sound: This is where my admiration for the product starts to fall a little short. The buds are REALLY inclined towards the low end--we're talking boomy bass--something I like, but it's not without cost. Mids and highs are a little clipped, although that improves as the diaphragm is allowed to work itself more loose. Still, I can see why these are more on the budget end. But they're excellent for average joes like me, and I'm sure even some more "penny-pinched" audiophiles would still gladly take them over other lower-end options.
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