Eleven Best Portable Headphones - $50 to $100
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Jabra BT8030 Bluetooth headphones/speaker - Around $65
An unusual offering from a lesser-known brand, the BT8030 is an innovative combination of headphones and fold-out portable speaker, with built-in Bluetooth hands-free cell phone connectivity. As a set of standard headphones the unit works well, offering decent sound in a reasonably comfortable package.
Having said that, certain design compromises were inevitable when making a gadget such as this, and a shortage of long-term comfort seems to have been one of them. The overall weight makes them tiring to wear for extended periods, as does the firm, almost claustrophobic, grip of the headband.
At the press of two buttons the BT8030 opens out into a pair of speakers, automatically boosting the volume as it does so to deliver a sound that is still quite acceptable if not quite as punchy as in headphone mode. Dedicated controls are included for hands-free operation, which kicks in automatically on receipt of an incoming call. It's an interesting dual-purpose idea, for which Jabra is to be commended.
Summary: Decent sounding headphones, portable speakers and hands-free in an intriguing single unit.
Philips SHE9850 headphones - Around $90
Unlike the previous offering, the SHE9850s from Philips are a standard in-ear headphone. They are equipped with a number of advanced features, including high-definition transducers for more precisely balanced reproduction across the frequency range, and what Philips calls Angled Acoustic Design that allows the position of the ear piece to adjust to the form of each individual ear.
Whether or not these technologies work in practice, Philips is doing something right, because these headphones sound excellent. They also provide good comfort levels, although, as with all in-ear buds, this will depend to some extent on one of the supplied sets of buds being suitable for your ears. The SHE9850s also come equipped with a selection of ear buds and sleeves, a cord clip and a high quality metal carrying case.
Summary: A quality product from an industry icon.
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