Bose IE2 Headphones

Bose make some of the finest quality speakers in the world - everybody who is interested in music knows that, but it is hard to miniaturize great high-performance, full-size speakers down to tiny in-ear buttons. Does Bose manage it with the Bose IE2 Headphones? Bose IE2 Headphones are small and meant to be plugged into any telephone or MP3 player and are designed to out-perform any earbud speakers hitherto manufactured

Bose IE2 Headphones

Bose recognize that one of the most annoying problems with earbud speakers is that you have to push them into your ear quite far to prevent them from falling out every five minutes especially when you are exercising. They call the technology that they put into the Bose IE2 headphones to achieve this 'StayHear' and it seems to work quite well.

The Bose IE2 headphones are light-weight - one speaker and cable (ie for one ear) weighs just 18.5 grammes or just over half an ounce and the cable is just over 42 inches long, which is enough for all but the tallest people in the world.

The StayHear earbud speakers have been designed for comfort as well as audio quality, so there are three different interchangeable covers for the speakers, namely small, medium and large. The earphones are meant to nestle inside the bowl of the ear quite naturally.

The manual gives clear information by diagrams and instructions on how to change these pads to suit the size of your own ear canals. Changing them can be carried out in a minute or two.

The StayHear design prevents the earpiece from falling out often by having a flexible wing on its upper edge. This wing fits in under the upper ridge of your ear, which provides the earbud with more grip, more stability.

I must say that it is comfortable and works well too during all but the most vigorous or movements. The clothing clip also helps to prevent vigorous movement from being transferred up the wires to the ear pieces

It is important to realize that the StayHear wings are not interchangeable. They are marked L and R for the left and right ears. If you you use them the wrong way round they may be uncomfortable and not do their job properly. This is all clearly explained in the manual which is short but contains ample information.

The Bose IE2 Headset uses a 3.5mm jack plug to connect to any audio playback device, so it will fit practically any portable player, although it seems that the volume controls will not work with all of Apple's equipment.

You can even use these headphones with your home stereo set-up, which will probably have a larger headphone jack by purchasing an adapter.

One complaint has been that the earbuds soon become discoloured by ear wax and by general dirt and grime in the atmosphere. This depends a lot on personal hygiene and where you live, but the ear pieces can be cleaned as explained in the manual.

The list price for the Bose IE2 Headphones with carrying case is a hefty $99, which many people find excessive. However, nothing that Bose does is cheap and their quality is always of the highest.