Razer Pro|Tone™ m100 Headphones

I have had some experience with Razer peripherals before, and they have always been of high quality. I didn't know what to expect with these earbuds, since sound reproduction is a decidedly different kind of technology than laser mice, but I was not disappointed in the least. I bought these earbuds when I broke my Griffin Earthumps, and I have to say that I'm almost pleased that I broke my old ones. I found the m100s online in a two for one deal (I paid $34.99 for two pairs), but I would have been happy with them even if I had purchased them at full price (about $30 most places).

As is the case with every Razer product, the m100s come in very attractive packaging. They really make you feel like you've purchased a quality product, even before you open the box.

Luckily, once you open the box and try them out, you'll discover that they sound as good as their packaging looks. As I do with all headphones, I tested these earbuds with a variety of different music, and probably the first thing I noticed was how rich the sound is. Some earbuds suffer from the small size of their sound drivers and end up sounding tinny, but the m100s have no such problems. They reproduce full thumping bass and crystal clear mids and highs with no noticeable distortion. Jazz, hip-hop, and rock music benefit particularly from these earbuds and their ability to provide good bass response. The only music that wasn't quite perfect sounding was classical, which at times seemed a little bass heavy to me. However, more and more mp3 players are including equalizer controls, which should make this less of a factor as you are more able to lessen the bass from the player end.

From a comfort standpoint, the m100s are about as nice as they come. The package includes three sets of rubber covers to better fit a wider range of ears. The stock set was a little small for my ears, but once I switched to the bigger set, I had no trouble keeping them in my ears. I noticed that the rubber covers are quite a bit softer and more comfortable than other earbuds I have used, which was nice.

The m100s come with an airplane adapter to fit the headphone jacks in airplanes as well as a nice neoprene carrying case. These are both unnecessary but welcome additions to an already worthwhile purchase. The neoprene case at first seemed quite a bit larger than it had to be, but then I realized that it actually is just the right size for an ipod. I don't know if that was on purpose or not, but it's nice to be able to have a single protective case that works for both your ipod and your shiny new earbuds. It's especially good for rainy days, since the case is neoprene and therefore waterproof.

My one complaint, while minor, is definitely worth mentioning. The cord, while nice and durable, may be too short to accommodate taller individuals. I am 6'3", and if I put my mp3 player in my front pants pocket, the cord for the earbuds is nearly stretched tight. This isn't a huge factor (I just keep my mp3 player in my jacket pocket instead), but it's worth considering.

However, that minor complaint is by no means a deal-breaker. These are the nicest sounding earbuds I have used, yet they cost less than many midrange offerings from companies like Sony or Shure. They are durable and attractive looking, the carrying case is large enough to double as an ipod case, and they are extremely comfortable. I would recommend them to anyone.