GamePro Labs Gadget and Gear Roundup (8 of 8)

JBL Reference 220

What is it: In-ear earbuds that blow the freebie pair that came with your MP3 player out of the water.

How does it perform: Really, really well. This was the first time I've used a pair of in-ear earbuds and I have to say, the JBL's are impressive. They fit snugly and the sound quality was really good. It was a definitely step up from the pair of earphones that came with my Creative Zen player. I was really impressed by the bass response as well and the fact that they completely filled my ears really helped block unwanted noise, like the rumble of the underground train on the way home. It also played nicely with my PSP and my DS and in a pinch, it also worked well on my PC.

What did you like about it: The package itself was really impressive as well. There's a nice carrying case that houses a foldable neckband, two plug adapters-one for airplanes and one for stereo phono-as well as a bunch of different ear tips. It's a really nice package and I felt like I was getting a premium product. And again, the earphones themselves perform really well and I haven't gone back to my old pair since.

What didn't you like about it: Sad to say but the price was quite a shock. Sure, they perform really well but a hundred bucks is a lot to pay for a pair of earphones. Of course, after testing them out for a while, I'm convinced of their quality but that's a lot of money, especially when there are products like the Koss PortaPros and the Grado SR60's floating around on the market. I also had initial trouble getting used to the way the 220's block outside sound; again, I'm not used to in-ear earphones so it was a little disorienting. But on the train it's a lifesaver and I'm definitely taking them with me the next time I get on a plane.

Should I buy it: If you listen to your music on the go or you play on your PSP and DS a lot then you should definitely consider the 220's, especially if you're just using whatever earbuds happened to fall out of the box when you opened up your MP3 player. They'll be a huge upgrade to your existing pair of freebie earbuds. Sure, they're pricey but if you care about your ears, they're definitely worth the investment. Just be sure to set the volume lower than you're used to-because of the in-ear design, you don't have to have them as high.

www.jbl.com
MSRP: $99.95
Fun Factor: 4.50
(Editor's Choice)

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war02orc

Good article GamePro, but I won't be using any of those devices lol. I have a surround sound audio system for my PC, an iPod, and no need of $100 earbuds. And who in their right mind would buy a set of 2.1 speakers for ~$500-600 instead of buying a surround sound system instead?

war02orc

I might use that 6 port charger though, but I'm worried about proper distribution of power to my devices. All it takes is one power spike or irregular power flow to destroy my iPod, PSP, or DS. For $45 it sounds too good to be true.

MegaGeek

This Keyboard would definately fit my lifestlyle except for the price. if anyone knows where to get an awsome keyboard like this cheap they are stupid not to buy one for at least backup.

Sire

okay, now the keyboard is just getting into a HUGE console controller looking keyboard, it's funny, I can't really tell how big it is but if you held it like a big controller and used your thumbs, it's like a Spinal Tap looking thing. And wasn't there just an article on how console controllers have too many buttons?......Or maybe you can hold it to your chest like an autoharp...........what you need is a keyboard or controller in where you pull, rather than push the buttons, you know, like an old cigarette machine, kinda like an operators switchboard.

colossus16

The Keyboard looks totally badass!!!! I see that there's multiples of some of the keys. The P button should be in a more convenient position, because in a lot of online games, P is pause, the all important function.

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