JVC Ear Buds not cuttin it!

Every iPod owner usually goes through their fair share of earphones.  When I discovered these JVC HA-F130A Consumer Headphones I thought for sure I had found a great deal.  I soon found out, however, that although I did find a good deal with the price, these earphones were just not cutting it for me. 

PRICE

These JVC HA-F130A consumer Headphones are priced to suck consumers in.  At 5 to 10 dollars these earphones may look like a real bargain, but as they say, you get what you pay for. 

LOOKS

These earphones DO look good.  I can admit that.  They have a modern and sleek look that comes in a variety of different colors.  In the assortment of colors I saw where I bought them there were 6 different colors ranging from lime-green to a bright pink.  They are the new "Gumy" style of headphones.  This means they are surrounded with a layer of squishy, almost transparent material.  These give the earphones a near "edible" look.

DURABILITY

These earphones are not priced at 5 to 10 dollars for nothing.  They are unfortunately not very resistant to...........well, anything.  They will break if you don't take really good care of them.  The cord is also only just over 3 ft. which doesn't give you a lot of slack.  The cord is a two-strand, straight wire with no stretch-ability to it at all.  I have owned a pair for about 3 months, and already they are beginning to wear out on the edges. 

COMFORTABLE

Along with its good looks, the only other thing these earphones have going for them is their fit.  No, they are not designed for running, exercising, or pretty much any form of physical movement besides walking.  However, they do fit quite nicely in your ear without becoming uncomfortable.  This is probably due to the "squishyness" I mentioned earlier.  They mold to the inside of your ear in a way.  Bottom line is they are comfortable, but don't take them to the gym.

SOUND QUALITY

As long as you enjoy music, this is the most important characteristic when looking for earphones.  These Gumy ear buds don't give great sound quality.  The Bass is, quite frankly, NOT THERE, and the treble is very bland.  It is not necessarily an annoying sound, but it lacks the crisp, clear sound you expect from a quality audio product.  It leaves you with a sense that you got a bad recording or something.  I would give the sound quality a D- if I had to give a grade. 

CONCLUSION

These earphones quite simply are not meant for anything other than saving you a few dollars and looking stylish.  If you are going for good sound quality or earphones to work-out with you might want to spend a few more dollars and get a better product.