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Product: Flamingo Sport Headphones
Price and Availability: Currently available and retailing for $49.99
Rating: 8/10
Pros: Stayed in ear well, offered good sound quality, comfortable even with extended wear.
Cons: Nylon cord.
Overall: Would not hesitate to recommend.

Keep reading to check out the full review…

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Sennheiser is offering a trade-in program of sorts for your old headphones. Whether “new, old, broken or used” all you have to do is choose the style of headphones that you want to purchase, fill out their form, gather up your old headphones and mail them in. The trade-in value depends not on the style of headphones that you are sending in, but on the style that you are getting from Sennheiser. The value will range from $5 for Street Earbuds up to $25 for Noise Canceling models. So if you were thinking about replacing those nasty or broken headphones, Sennheiser may be worth checking out. The trade-in offer is valid from April 1 through July 31.

Read [Sennheiser (pdf)]

Product: Skullcandy iPhone FMJ headphones
Price and Availability: $79.95, Currently available for sale, although they are noted as being out-of stock until March 1-15, 2008.
Rating: 10/10
Pros: A comfortable fit, great sounding and a solid, durable feel.
Cons: Not sure I can really call it a con, but at first the cable seemed a bit stiff. It did become a little more flexible with a few days of use.
Overall: A great choice for iPhone and/or BlackBerry Curve users alike.

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We have already shown you the new Skullcandy SD card headphones, but these new earbud style headphones deserve some attention as well. Skullcandy, from personal experience make good quality headphones at good prices.

Their latest are the iPhoneFMJ headphones, which were first announced at CES 2008. They are earbud style headphones that are designed for the iPhone, or perhaps more important they are made to work with music phones so they will work equally well with other phones such as the Blackberry Curve. The iPhone FMJ headphones feature a solid feeling “tightly-wrapped, coiled metal cable” and an in-line microphone. They are available in black, silver or chrome and retail for $79.95, they can be found online at Skullcandy.com. I had an opportunity to see these headphones first hand on the show floor during CES and can say they appear to be very nice, based on experience with other models I can imagine they will sound equally well.

Product [Skullcandy]

Wooden headphones or earbuds seem to becoming more and more popular. A couple of months ago, Audio Technica announced their wooden headphones. These new JVC HP-FX500 earbuds cost less than wooden headphones because wooden headphones require more wood than normal earbuds. So, if you’re looking for wooden headphones or earbuds and are looking to save money, then you might want to go with the earbuds.

These earbuds also feature high quality sound, and they only weigh 7.5 grams. Specs of the HP-FX500 are as followed: sensitivity of 100dB/1mW and frequency response of 8Hz to 25kHz. No word on when they be available, but look for a Japan launch first. They will retail for 15,000 Japanese Yen, or about $130.

Via [Akihabara News]

I know all you loyal Gadgetell readers may be slightly confused, but yes, Greg, the podcast producer is taking a crack at writing!  Under the watchful eye of my two fearless editors, I will give it my best shot.

At CES Unveiled, we had the opportunity to speak briefly with the PR people from Shure who said the company will be showcasing their new product line of in-ear headphones, including the SE210 ($149.99), SE310 (249.99), SE420 ($349.99), SE530 (449.99), and finally the SE530PTH ($499.99):

• SE210: Premium sound in a sporty package - designed with a Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker to provide full-range audio distinguished by an optimal high frequency response.


• SE310: Breathtaking style and sound - utilizing a Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker with Tuned BassPort technology the earphone offers extended range audio and enhanced bass for high frequencies and enhanced low-end performance.


• SE420: Heart-pounding performance - Featuring Dual TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers – a dedicated tweeter and woofer – an internal crossover sends lower and higher frequencies to dedicated drivers so that lows, mids and highs are distinct and defined, for accurate reproduction of all the details of your music.


• SE530/SE530PTH: Pure audio precision - Formerly Shure’s E500, the SE530 (or SE530PTH) represents the bridge between the E Series and the new line of Sound Isolating Earphones and has therefore been renamed the SE530 to signify its place as the flagship of Shure earphones.  The SE530 features Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers – a dedicated tweeter and dual woofers – an internal crossover routes audio to a dedicated tweeter to ensure that highs and mid-highs are incredibly accurate and detailed, while two dedicated woofers provide the ultimate in balanced lows and low-mids and full-bodied bass. The SE530PTH also includes the Shure Push-To-Hear Control (PTH).

The new line builds off the success of the E Series headphones that have proven to be popular with audiophiles and non-audiophiles alike. Shure took notice of the complaints about poor fit for the ears, and opted to introduce a new sleeve that they hope will alleviate the problem for those with the most fickle of ear canals.  And let me tell you, they were damn hard to get off of the headphones.

Yes, $500 may seem a bit steep for earphones, check that….$500 seems a bit CRAZY for earphones, but Shure has proven to be dedicated to providing an audio experience everyone can enjoy. The new line of earphones will be available to the public in February of this year.

Update: Added additional product details.

Read [Shure]

Back at Pepcom Digital Experience, we got a good hands on with Shure’s new E Series Sound Isolating Earphones.  They look like any old pair of earbuds, but oh, they’re so much more.  The E500PTH has “Triple Hi-Definition Drivers,” meaning 1 tweeter and 2 woofers, and what the company is calling “Push-To-Hear Control,” which allows you to adjust the level of outside noise you hear.  It utilizes the VoicePort which is essentially a microphone that lets you hear things around you while you’re enjoying the isolation of the headphones.  If you’re familiar with Shure’s premium products, you already know that these are quite expensive.  They’re now available at your favorite electronics store for $549.

Read [Shure]