Bose® IE2 In-Ear Headphones

Product
2011

I recently bought a set of Bose® IE2 In-Ear Headphones strictly for use with my IPod. I have had the $179.00 OnEar Bose Headphones for several years and was reticent to "go backwards" in sound quality despite my desire to walk in public without the bulky head strap and large ear covering speakers. Most cheap(er) ear buds have sub-par sound, but worse they constantly fall out or need to be repositioned. The ones that ship with the IPod are terrible.

Bose has long been associated with innovation, quality, and great sound. They have also been associated with high prices. The company has fostered a cult-like exclusivity, a step above the riff raff mentality not unlike Apple or BMW or other high end products where price is the barrier to getting in. Only recently have we found Bose products in big box stores like Target and Best Buy. Despite being on a discounter's shelf Bose does not deal. The Bose® IE2 In-Ear Headphones are $99 everywhere, including online.

The question then is: are they worth $99?

Considering the cost of manufacturing is likely to be less than $15 a unit then $99 seems a bit high... On the plus side they sound very good. There is a good balance between bass, mids and highs that do justice to the source material. Is the sound far superior to cheaper earphones? No. There are several earphones that are on par with the Bose product and some like the Shure SE530 are much cheaper. The Sennheiser CX300 and the Klipsch Si4 also sound very good and while more expensive they offer sound isolation that seems to be the number one compliant of the Bose® IE2 In-Ear Headphones.

The lack of sound isolation is a choice, and the product packaging is clear about that. For those commuting on a noisy train or bus these are probably not for you. Myself, I like the fact that I hear a bus or the rampaging dog coming.

Finally, the issue of unstable ear buds is answered by the Bose® IE2 In-Ear Headphones. The addition of "Stayhear" foams built with a hook that provides outward pressure within the ear cup keeps the ear buds in place. Most of the customers who bought these for use during physical activity are quite satisfied. I have not had any trouble at all with these plugs falling out or becoming skewed in my ear to where the music is out of balance - a constant struggle with other ear buds.

Bottom line: $99 seems high, but then I believe all Bose products are over-priced. $50 seems reasonable, but I am satisfied with the sound and stability, which were the two most important attributes. I do not feel like I was taken.

4 of 5 stars

CW