04
Jun
NS200-2

[Update: Winners] Win One Of Ten Pairs Of Really Awesome Nocs NS200 Earbuds

Posted by in Contests / Giveaways
Last Updated: June 7th, 2012

The winners have been selected. Check the list below to see if you won!

Do you like listening to music on the go but find that your headphones, for lack of a better word, suck? Then today is (potentially) your lucky day, because Nocs and Android Police are giving away ten pairs of Nocs NS200 earbuds (a $70 value each - find them at Amazon here), and they rock. In fact, check out our review of the NS200s, because you might just end up skipping this giveaway and buying a pair right now.

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Never heard of Nocs? Neither had I until a few weeks ago, but I was stunned by the fidelity, character, and comfort of the NS200s, and I'm really looking forward to any more Android products they have coming down the line.

25
Feb
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[Deep Review] MEElectronics Air-Fi AF32 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones With A 6-Button Controller And Mic - Very High Value, Low Compromise

Posted by in Other Reviews

I'm a big fan of cutting the cord. But this time I'm not talking about cancelling your cable and moving your Judge Judy marathons online - I'm all about going wireless in the audio department. Wireless speakers, wireless streaming, and, of course, wireless portable audio.

My Previous Bluetooth Daily Driver - Sony HBH-IS800

Up until a few weeks ago, I was using Sony's HBH-IS800, which deserves a separate review of its own if I ever get to it. Sony attempted to make something quite revolutionary at the time, and for the most part succeeded - the IS800 is absolutely unbeatable at a gym due to its size, seal, surprisingly decent audio quality (although it's crucial you create the right seal, otherwise they sound terrible), and price point.

20
Dec
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Review: AKG K 830 BT Bluetooth Headphones Get High Marks For Controls And Comfort, But A2DP Is Still A Compromise On Sound

Posted by in Other Reviews

I've been on a bit of a headphone kick lately, and have tried out a number of sets from various manufacturers. The only on-ear headphones I've tried during this time, though, have been AKG's K 830 BT's, the company's only high fidelity Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth headphones remain a relatively young technology, and have been growing steadily as more and more computers and smartphones adopt the A2DP Bluetooth audio transmission standard.

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The 830 BT's are a very comfortable pair of headphones with some nicely designed (if plasticky) on-ear controls (track skip, volume, answer call, play/pause). But like all Bluetooth headphones, they suffer from diminished audio quality when compared to their corded counterparts, particularly at high volume and high frequencies.

20
Dec
32954298-2-440-OVR-1

Review: Etymotic Research hf2 Headphones Provide Unbelievable Fidelity And Clarity At A Reasonable Price

Posted by in Other Reviews

Before seeking out a few companies to find the best Android-friendly headphones around, I had never heard of Etymotic Research. Apparently, they've been around quite a while - since 1983, actually, and were among the first companies to market in-ear headphones to consumers. They actually claim to be the inventors of in-ear headphones (or "canalphones"), though whether or not that's actually true is apparently an object of some controversy.

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Anyway, the good folks at ER sent me a pair of their hf2 in-ear headphones with Android-friendly inline controls and microphone, and I have to say, these headphones rock - the sheer difference in sound quality from your standard $30-80 earbuds is mind-blowing.

08
Nov
Meelectronics-M9P

For Audiophiles: Sub-$100 Mobile Headset (Earbuds + Mic) Review Round-Up + Meelectronics Earbuds Giveaway (5x Pairs, $200 Value)

Posted by in Contests / Giveaways, Other Reviews, Reviews
Last Updated: July 24th, 2011

This article was written by a guest writer, Mikhail Lifshits, better known as ljokerl over at head-fi.org. Mikhail is an audiophile to the bone - a single look at his forum user page will leave you wondering if there is a pair of earbuds Mikhail hasn't owned or tried yet.

Today’s smartphones are quickly absorbing the functions of other portable devices - PDAs, portable GPS units, and standalone MIDs are a thing of the past - and conventional MP3 players may be next on the cutting block.

The audio quality of the latest-gen Android devices nowadays leaves little to be desired in comparison to the majority of mp3 players but the headsets included with most phones are a different story.