ZAGG Z.Buds earphones/headset: iPhone Accessory Review

Posted by Bill on May 12th, 2009 at 07:26pm Comments

ZAGG Z.Buds Earphones/headset Review
Reviewed by: Bill Henderson
ZAGG
Price: $80 US

When I bought an iPod Touch shortly after it was introduced, the first thing I did (other than put it in a case) was to buy a screen protector for it. After doing a bit of research, I settled on the ZAGG Invisible shield. It was touted as the ultimate protection for the glass front of the Touch and iPhone. It arrived and being the klutz that I am, I messed up the installation ruining it. So I asked politely for a replacement and ZAGG sent one immediately. I was very impressed with their customer service.

So when I got a chance to sample their new Z.Buds earphone/headset, I was thrilled.

Having just finished using the $180 US Etymotic hf2 earphones and absolutely loving them, I was curious to see what these $80 US earphones sounded like.

I gotta say, I like ‘em. They didn’t blow me away like the hf2’s do, but I didn’t expect them to. But at their price point, the sound is easy on the ears and they are also quite comfortable for longer periods of use. That can count for a lot.

I sampled the different earplug adapters that come with the Z.Buds and I like the flange design better. However, ZAGG also includes silicone and foam tips in different sizes, so preferences shouldn’t be a problem.

Listening to various audio sources, I noticed the bass was more prominent than usual. The Z.Buds seem to accentuate a warmer sound at the expense of total accuracy, which can sometimes sound harsh. Even with the heavier bass, muddiness was not an issue.

Another thing I liked is that these are a very distinctive design. The buds are black metal  with a flaming red nylon cord that looks and feels like a quality cord. The construction is firsr-rate. And you WILL be noticed wearing them. If you prefer, the cord also comes in a more sedate black. The cord is advertised as tangle free, but to me, it tangled just as much as any other earphones I have.

There is a volume control wheel on the cord as well as the usual clickable on/off mic. Phone calls sounded and worked as advertised. Keep in mind though, you don’t want to be totally isolated from the outside world while walking or especially driving.

One weird element was the cord was housed in a right-angle plastic piece near the volume wheel where it splits into right and left cords. I have yet to figure out why.

If you are looking for an earphone/mic for your iPhone that  sounds as good as it looks, check out the ZAGG Z.Buds. Price-wise, they fit right in that sweet spot between stock earbuds and the higher end earphones. If your budget limits you to less than $100 for earphones, its hard to think of a better way to spend  your money.

Score:
7/10

Related posts:

1. Etymotic hf2 Earphones + Headset: iPhone Accessory Review
2. Klipsch X10 earphones: iPhone accessory review
3. Scosche IDR400m earphones: iPhone accessory review
4. Klipsch S4 earphones: iPhone accessory review
5. V-Moda Vibe Duo: iPhone/iPod Accessory Review

(2 votes, average: 8.50 out of 5)

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Filed Under: iPhone Reviews

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