I admit it. I am not the world's best when it comes to exercising.
Unfortunately, I have become a total slug as of late, and I hate it. So I've been trying to get back into some form of exercise that doesn't include going from my work desk to the vending machine.
where it's @
The RHA MA750i Noise Isolating In-Ear Headphones With Mic and Remote require a music player with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The product retails for $129.95 and is available at apple.com or amazon.com. More information is available at www.rha-audio.com/u….
My favorite form of exercise is walking. I like putting on some headphones, getting a good rhythm and walking along to the beat. Unfortunately, most earbuds fall out within minutes of my walk. Apparently, I have two different-sized ears, so one inevitably falls out while I'm stomping along.
When the offer to test out headphones from a new British audio company popped in, I was a bit hesitant.
I'll be honest -- in general, I'm not a fan of earbuds, especially those with the interchangeable rubber pieces so that (allegedly) you can find the perfect fit. That perfect fit had eluded me. Again, weird ears.
Some headphones provide solutions to the bounce-out issue by making wires designed to hook over and behind the ears. The idea is they hold the earphones in place. Except I'd often just get earbuds bouncing against my ear, instead of against my shirt. Quite simply, the wire pieces never seem to fit my ears, and the wires never stay in place.
So while I was more than willing to take a look at these new headphones from RHA, the MA750i Noise Isolating In-Ear Headphones With Mic and Remote, I was just expecting to determine if they sound OK. I didn't figure they would actually fit.
I was wrong.
Right off the bat, the headphones impressed me with a tempting package showing black-wired headphones decorated with stainless steel pieces. The package's window also showed off a steel holder loaded with a range of silicone and memory foam earpieces that could replace the ones on the earbuds and create the perfect fit. Inside, I also found a nice zipped, leather carrying case for the headphones and the replacement earpieces. Overall, the whole package looks pretty nifty.
So I pulled the headphones out, stuck the earbuds in my ear, and hooked the black wire over and behind my ear. The wires do hook over the ears well, and the wire is just rigid enough and just curved enough that it doesn't go anywhere. The earpieces are soft, and they mold beautifully to the ear. Though the material is soft, it's not so soft that it slides out easily. In fact, once it was in my ear, it didn't go anywhere until I pulled it out myself. Well, the right one didn't.
The left earpiece didn't fit as well. So I turned to the multitude of silicone and memory foam earpieces included with the MA750i package. I found a slightly smaller silicone piece. I pulled the old one off easily. It was a bit trickier to put the new earpiece on, but I managed to do it. After that, it fit perfectly.
I barely noticed the earbuds were in my ears, even after an hour. They are so comfortable, they almost feel like they aren't there. I couldn't believe how easy these headphones were to wear. I even chewed gum to see if I could bump the earbuds out with my jaw, something that's happened with other earbuds. Once again, these earbuds did not disappoint.
The MA750i headphones include a clothing clip you can attach to one of the wires, providing a little extra security. This is a nice feature for runners, in case they bounce an earbud out accidentally, although that would be pretty difficult to do with these.
The right earbud's wire includes a three-button remote. The top button increases volume, the bottom decreases it. The center button plays or pauses the music when pressed once, moves forward a track when pressed twice and moves back a track when pressed three times. The center button also serves to answer and hang up a phone call, should one take place while the earbuds are in use. A small hole on the back of the remote marks the location of the built-in microphone.
The fit is fantastic, but obviously the real test is the sound. Once again, the MA750i headphones deliver.
The sound is excellent. The snug fit of the earbuds works to eliminate outside noise (they call it "noise isolating"), so the music really stands out. Notes are sharp and clear, each beat heard easily. The sound is so clear that, unlike some headphones, you don't have to turn the music up loud to hear it better. The clarity of the earbuds takes care of that, which is a good thing considering how close the buds are to the more delicate parts of the ear. Listening to these loudly would not be a good idea. But thanks to the design and clarity, it really isn't necessary.
The only downside is trying to find headphones from a startup British company. You probably won't find these in Best Buy or Wal-Mart just yet, but they are available though Amazon.com and, because they're made to work with Apple products, at Apple's website and retail stores.
It's worth the search. These are easily the best workout earbuds I've tested. The sound is good, and the fit is incredibly impressive.
I'm definitely going to have a little more bounce in my step now. So long, slug!
Melissa L. Jones can be reached via email at mljones72@me.com.
SundayMonday Business on 06/29/2015