Etymotic Research hf2 review

Verdict:

Review Date: 21 Nov 2008

Price when reviewed: £100

Supplier: http://www.apple.com/uk/thestore

Our Rating 2 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

Etymotic Research's hf2 passive noise-cancelling earplugs have an in-line remote that can be used to pause songs and change tracks on the latest iPod Nano.

It can also answer calls on the iPhone, the BlackBerry and some music phones. There's only one button, so you have to double-click it to skip to the next track or triple-click it to return to the previous track. The iPhone and the iPod Touch must be upgraded with the latest Apple firmware using iTunes, or the triple-click control won't work. Oddly, there are no volume controls. The hf2 can also be used to listen to music on any device with a standard 3.5mm stereo jack.

Although these earplugs have flanged eartips, achieving a comfortable fit can be tricky, despite the illustrated instructions. The noise isolation is impressive. Quiet acoustic music and audiobooks were easily audible at low volumes in a noisy aeroplane cabin. However, there's little bass and the treble can sound harsh. Sound quality improved using the alternative foam eartips supplied.

Unless you need the in-line remote, Shure's SE210 earplugs are better value, as they're cheaper and sound better.

Author: Alan Lu

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