Saturday, 5 December 2015

Westone Adventure Series ADV ALPHA : As Rugged as they come.

Beside a lot of things which can ruin your journey, a broken earphone might easily rank in the top 5's. Trying all the combinations to make that earphone work, knowing thoroughly that it will no more is like running behind the bus which you will never get, but what if the bus always stops for you. Similarly lets have a look at one of the most revered rugged earphones with great music producing capability.
Westone Adventure Series ADV ALPHA 
Westone Adventure Series ADV ALPHA
Westone Adventure Series ADV ALPHA
Its all in the name here, "Adventure Series", its designed to last, tough and rugged. On top of that the design is beautiful and very stylish. priced $149.99-$249.99
The magnesium unibody design is durable and stylish while the AWACS Reflective cable is replaceable and boasts a 3 button control system and mic. You'll also be ready for adverse weather conditions with the IPX-3 weather resistant rating. And thanks to our Active Fit System, your Adventure Series ALPHA is comfortable and will stay in place for all-day comfort and performance.
Westone Adventure Series ADV ALPHA
Westone Adventure Series ADV ALPHA
Besides being tough and rugged, the earphone cord can be easily swapped in case you need to swap it for a cable with Mic. The sound is crystal clear and a delight with amazing bass. It comes with a number of colorful ear buds.
But the pros come with the cons, you need to pay more to get the volume control and Mic. The cost is what can prevent a user from buying it. Sometimes the covering of the cable absorbs sweat and can become smelly (cat).
Adventure Series is the culmination of two decades of experience with audio and in-ear monitors. Designed for active users, ADV creates a new category of cross-over earphones that can be enjoyed in any environment.
ACTIVE FIT SYSTEM
Up & Over ™ cable routing and patented Star™ Tips ensure superior fit, comfort and retention.
AUDIOPHILE FIDELITY
Proprietary Extended Range 6.5mm Micro Driver with PST™ (Precision Surface Tuning) delivers sonic accuracy with extended bass.
IPX-3 WEATHER RESISTANT
Protection against spraying water and adverse conditions for everyday use, rain or shine.
AWACS REFLECTIVE 
Adventure Warning and Control System: better visibility in low-light and adverse conditions with a reflective, replaceable cable featuring 3-button control system.
MAGNESIUM UNIBODY
Low-profile lightweight magnesium unibody and aluminum faceplate for strength, durability, and style.
Warranty
  • Two years
So if you can shell out that kind of money, Go for it.

Shure SE215 : The best rugged earphone under $90 with Kevlar coating.

Those who enjoy music on the go, while exercising or those early morning runs dread this moment, the moment when the songs does not play through the earphone, all the things you try to get it in the audible state fail and you accept that this earphone will work no more.
Enter the dragon or the rugged Shure SE215, they are simply the most rugged earphone with very thick cable which resists breakage to a very large extent. The noise cancellation leads amazing clarity which makes it a delight to use when commuting in train or a bus.
Shure SE215
Shure SE215
The design is unique and the translucent cover of the earphone add a dash of style. It fits amazingly in the inner ear providing great noise isolation. The buds are detachable, something you do not find normally making it easy to repair just in-case. You might miss the controls like remote volume control and a Mic, the only cons we can point out. The design might take sometime to adjust with, but once you get a hang of it you will love it. Try the buds to find the one which is most comfortable.
The sound is neither too high(squeaky)  nor too low, the treble is something i enjoyed and the bass is pure.
The Pros of this earphone is definitely the sound quality which really gives your music the value they deserve, the rugged form bring added resiliency a tough combination to beat. Just to point it out it comes with a tool to clear the ear wax if you need to clear it out. If you need mic and controls and buy a advanced version you can always swap it out.
Shure SE215
Shure SE215

Features

Sound Isolating Design
Comfortable sound isolating sleeves block up to 37 dB of ambient noise. Sound isolation technology prevents outside noise from interfering with your listening experience, whether on-stage or on-the-go.  Shure Sound Isolating Earphones require a proper fit to achieve the best sound.
Unmatched Personalization and Comfort
Ergonomic, Professional Design
  • Lightweight, low-profile shape with optimized nozzle angle is designed to rest comfortably in the ear.
  • Over-the-ear configuration keeps cables out of the way.
Detachable Cable with Wireform Fit
  • Durable Kevlar™ reinforced cable allows easy replacement or customization.
  • Formable wire ensures secure placement, and over-the-ear configuration keeps cables out of the way.
  • Gold plated MMCX Connector has a lock-snap mechanism allowing 360-degree rotation for comfortable fit.
Comes with Fit Kit Includes
  • Sound Isolating Sleeves
The role of the included sound isolating sleeves is twofold: blocking ambient noise and ensuring a comfortable customized fit. Because every ear is different, the Fit Kit includes three sizes (S, M, L) of the flex and black foam sleeves. Experiment with the size and style that creates the best fit for you. A good seal is key to optimizing sound isolation and bass response as well as maximizing comfort during extended wear.
  • Carrying Case
A soft-zip, compact carrying case is included to provide a convenient, tangle-free solution to store and travel with your earphones.
Can  be bought under $90.




Tough earphones without burning a hole in your pocket : JLab JBuds J4M

The sound in one of the ear-buds has ceased to fire up, you dreaded this day for long but never thought this will happen to you, at-last it has happened.
So without burning more money after dozen earphones a year, lets have a look at JLab JBuds J4M, the tough and durable earphone for the money conscious.
What if the earphone is rugged and tangle-free and not that costly, welcome to JLab JBuds J4M. They even come with mic and control switch. Also you get a pair of earphones and just about every eartip size under the sun. In total we counted four sizes of single flange silicone tips and three sizes of double flange tips with a rugged case.
JLab JBuds J4M
JLab JBuds J4M
The rugged exterior of J4M is reinforced with Kevlar and the connection points are reinforced with flexible plastic guards.
Now to the sound, the bass is  strong and resonates well. The mids are good, but not absolutely great; they can be muddied out by the bass sometimes. The highs and lows are very crisp and have a nice sting to them, but that can change if you don't use the correct ear tip.These sound like $100-$200 tier earphones. Rich bass and crisp tones.
JLab JBuds J4M with Case
JLab JBuds J4M with Case

The button on the earphone  allows you to pause/restart and skip forward/backward.
JLab JBuds J4M Control
JLab JBuds J4M Control

Overall, the JLab JBuds J4M are extremely durable and rugged, great sound quality based on the very good price point. You can buy one at $36.6 on amazon.