When was the last time you had to check to see if you were using speakers or ear buds when listening to your music? The V-Moda Vibe II Duo will have you pulling out the buds to make sure your sound system really did cut off when you plugged in your headset.

This is the first headset I've come across that has a natural sound, bass with a thump and realistic high end. The sound is really incredible.

Presentation

From the moment you receive the package you know you are into something special. Inside a fully enclosed plastic vault is the package. The black packaging looks like a small  attache case. The earbuds are visible through a window on the side. You slit two seals to swing open the case to discover it has two sides. One side contains the headset, the other side contains the accessories.

Accessories

Accessories include the ear hooks, owner's guide, additional silicone ear tips, the warranty card and a styled leather case designed in Italy. The headset requires a bit of work to release. Secured by tape and thread it isn't about to go anywhere until it is set free.

Construction

The construction of the headset is something to examine. The cable is Kevlar® reinforced. Kevlar is the same material used to create bullet resisitant clothing. It's tough. The gold plated 1/8" connector isn't a straight 180° shot, which puts strain on the conductor with every insertion and removal. It is part of a 45° assembly that removes the conductor from the line of force of insertion and removal ensuring a much longer life for the device. 

The cable has very low microphonics. It is one of the quietest headphone cables I've come across. You can run your fingers down it and the noise doesn't translate to the earbuds. These come in several colors. Mine are the "nero" color which is the polished stainless steel with dark metal inserts, dark fabric cord with polished controller and flat black microphone. The cable splits at the controller into left and right equi-length parts terminated at the stainless steel ear buds.

The earbuds are interesting. The frame is a solid piece of polished stainless steel into which the rest of the parts fit. The driver, a laser cut mesh, a "thump port" aka bass pass port, are part of the bud. Completing the assembly is a silicone plug that secures the bud in the ear. The proper fit of the bud in the ear is crucial to achieving proper sound. The headset come with four different sizes allowing most folks to find at least one that will work.

Application

As supplied by v-moda the headset will work with the iPhone and Blackberries. The vibe II duo comes with a microphone so you can go hands free with the iPhone and Blackberry. It will not work with Nokia phones with 3.5mm Nokia AV port output without an adapter. It will work with Nokia phones with a 2.5 mm Nokia AV port with an AD-50 adapter. V-moda representatives inform me they are working on adapters for all major phone types.

The Company

I purchased my set directly from v-moda. Their customer service is second to none. I received same day or next day response to the questions I asked. No canned responses. The headset arrived ahead of the promised date by three days. V-moda is a super company with which to do business. No doubt their warranty service, if required, will be as outstanding.

Comfort

With the proper size tips, properly inserted these are very easy to wear for an extended period. I use these when I watch movies at night when I can't disturb others in the house. They excel at soundtracks and remain comfortable for the two hours plus the usual movie seems to take these days. I prefer these to the Sony over the ear type headphones I've been wearing since the late 80s, which I really like for this task.

The Sound

My first earbud was a creme colored thing that plugged into a 7 transistor AM radio and allowed me to listen to 1910 Fruitgum Company in private. This colored my perception of the capability of ear buds. I was amazed at the quality of the sound of the vibe II duo when I put them on the first time. It never crossed my mind that ear buds could sound this good. Very rich, natural, clear and easy. I do not find my ears getting tired after two hours of use like I do with some other headsets. I found myself hearing things with the vibe II on recordings I thought I knew well that I hadn't heard before. There is a clarity in the sound that is similar to the difference between a regular CD and the sound produced by a Super Audio CD.

The Wrap

Not everyone wants to spend between $40 - $119 on a set of ear buds. If you are willing to pay the price the payoff will be worth it. The sound is beyond good. You'll notice I didn't address the appearance of the headphones in this. I like the way mine look. That's personal taste. I liked the way they looked a lot more after hearing them for several hours.  If you are hesitant about dropping the required dough to get these see if you can borrow a friend's for an afternoon. After that you'll find the dough.