A guide to buying the best music player earphones

A story out the other day from the Children’s Hearing Institute notes that hearing loss among children and young adults is rising in the United States, and that one-third of the damage is caused by noise – with earphones and earbuds that blare music a chief culprit.

The problem is so severe – and preventable – that the group has launched a “turn it to the left” campaign, meaning turn the volume down.

So with that in mind, let me suggest some replacement earphones to replace the standard ones that come with the iPod, iPhone, Zune, video game player or mobile phone.

Aware of the looming hearing loss problem, some companies like Ultimate Ears are making new ear devices that are volume limiting. The company, which produces many of the super expensive ear monitors worn by music professionals, has a product called Loud Enough out that is marketed towards parents worried about the noise pumping into the ears of their children.

Loud Enough in-ear devices have an excellent “seal,” meaning they fit tightly into the ear, thereby reducing the level of volume required to get a high quality, accurate sound. In addition, they have a reduced maximum sound pressure level that can be reached when driven by a music player.

Here’s how the company describes it:

“A typically headset consists of a small speaker that is driven directly by the music player (iPod, etc). Loud Enough limits the amount of power delivered to the speaker by inserting an energy dissipating device before the speaker. Instead of ll the power from the music player going to the speaker, a designated percentage of the power is dissipated prior to reaching the speaker. As power to the speaker is reduced, so is the sound pressure, or, sound pressure level that reaches the user.”

Cost is about $40 at stores. At Amazon, you can get them for $34.

For older consumers, the qualities to look for in ear devices include a good fit and sound isolating capabilities. The less outside noise that comes in around the earphone speaker, the less volume you need and the better the sound quality.

The V-Moda Vibe Duo earphones delivers some of the best sound – particularly the bass – that I’ve used. It works with all iPod, Zune, MP3, DVD, computer, and CD players.

These are the earphones I use. With the iPhone, there’s a built in microphone, so when you get a call while listening, it automatically stops the music or video and lets you talk without having to unplug.

My biggest gripe is how tangled the cords can get when you store it in a computer bag.

Cost is about $100 at stores. Amazon has for $80.

Top of the line iPhone/music player earphones these days come from the Danish company Bang & Olufsen, which makes the A8 earphone. I heard these at a tradeshow and was stunned at the quality. But at $160, it’s out of my price range.

The earphones are designed specifically to avoid that sound leakage. They can be adjusted to fit the contours and curves of the individual ear. And the earphone’s speaker unit itself can be moved up or down or side to side until the most comfortable and effective position is found.

These, say a lot of health club hardcores who work out with their iPod, are particularly good at staying in the ear during vigorous exercise.

Find out more at http://www.bang-olufsen.com/earphones