Hasta La Gadget!

V-Moda’s cellphone-compatible earbuds annoyed me the second I squeezed them into my ear canals. Then, bit by bit, they grew on me, until now they’re the favorite set of headphones I’ve been testing in Gadget Lab’s Spanish bureau.

The Remix Remotes are noise-isolating earbuds, the kind that cut down on external sound by sealing your ears with their silicone O-rings. They also have the three-button inline remote that’s getting more common, and include a microphone in the torpedo shaped pod. Paired with iPods and iPhones, you can make calls, voice-control your device, skip, play, pause and change volume. The specs are good, and the product is well-made. So what was the problem?

First, I have never liked this style of earbud. Drilling the silicon plugs into your ears until you gag is uncomfortable and inconvenient. Next was the boom that accompanies such a tight fit, with every touch of the cable sending shockwaves deep into my cochlea. Third, the controller, while easy to use, always seemed to disappear down my shirt front. It might not be fair to blame all this on the earbuds, but even so, as the week wore on, these annoyances disappeared, one by one.

First, V-Moda puts an extra-large set of silicon plugs in the kit. Once I switched to these, the buds became comfy, and I didn’t need to drive them into my brain to keep them in place. When this was fixed, the boom seemed to disappear, too, and this (along with the disappearing remote) was fixed by a small clip that hooks the cable to a collar. This is, sadly, detachable, and I detached it permanently somewhere in the city, never to be found again.

The remote itself sits on the center cord, where it splits off to the ears. If you’re used to the Apple ‘buds that put the switch on the right cord by your cheek, the fumbling to find this one can be off-putting. You get used to it, though, and the advantage is that the little torpedo is always in the same place, regardless of which way you wear the ‘buds.

Speaking of right and left, it is almost impossible to tell which is which. L and R are engraved in tiny lettering under the silicon covers. V-Moda does give you two sets of plugs, in gray and in black. Use one of each and you have color-coded earphones.

A couple more points: The metal construction doesn’t drag on your ears, and the Kevlar-reinforced cables feel pretty strong. The plug itself, covered in gold, has the cable angled at 45 degrees, which is nothing new. What I really like, though, is the metal stud on the back. This lets you push the plug in without pressing on any essential parts.

On to the sound. The Remix Remotes don’t sound as good as similarly-priced over-the-head phones, but that’s sort of not the point. With their solid construction, tangle-resistant wires, a handy remote and comfortable ‘buds, these are the headphones you’ll usually take out with you. They sound way better than Apple’s stock earbuds, too, with a decent attempt at making a stereo picture and full tones for the human voice (they’re great for podcast listening). If you want to listen to lossless jazz recordings, these aren’t for you. If you want something (fairly) affordable that you’ll use, and that will last awhile, then go ahead. You won’t be wowed, nor will you be disappointed. $100.

Remix Remote [V-Moda]