Headphone News

We just finished our review of the Vibe Duo, and were a bit surprised. Anyone who's visited the V-MODA site can immediately tell they have a more fashion-forward approach to their product than most companies. In the electronics world, this typically indicates disaster. In this case, however, it simply indicated above average, which is far more benign. Audio quality? Not the best. There were low levels of distortion present throughout. These headphones also didn't isolate well, spewing out more sound waves than any other in-ear we've tested thus far. Though you won't deafen those next to you on a bus, don't use these at a library or museum unless you want to broadcast 'Barbie Girl' to everyone around you. The Duo had good frequency response, however, and ludicrous bass response. If you like bass-heavy songs, but find your current in-ears have a flat lower end, then you should definitely check out the Vibe Duo. Otherwise, the Duo did well enough for most in-ear users, what with their iPods and overly-compressed music.

The Vibe Duo somewhat made up for its poor audio in usability. These were very comfortable in-ear-canal headphones. While we never forgot we were wearing them, we were also able to get through a six-hour listening session without major complaints. They also stayed in well, even when we took them for a jog.

Do we think the Vibe Duo is a better deal than the Denon AH-C351? No, but the AH-C351 is an unusually good deal. At $99.99, the Vibe Duo is still adequately priced for its audience. Therefore, if you're looking for a pretty pair of headphones for use with your iPod (or another media player that can't play lossless file formats), you should consider the Vibe Duo as an option.