Happily the folks at Altec Lansing have cushioned my complaints with the new In-Ear Sport Earphones. The soft rubber ear hooks (called fitbits) included with these waterproof, Bluetooth earphones, flex to fit the inside of each ear, gently but firmly securing the ear buds in place. A slim rubber-coated cable connecting the left and right ear buds wraps weightlessly behind your head, or can dangle over your shoulders, keeping ear buds at the ready. A little inline panel with an integrated microphone and well-spaced, brightly colored control buttons lets you power on-off, sync with a Bluetooth-enabled device, navigate songs, adjust volume and answer phone calls.
The included USB cable plugs into a micro-USB port in the control panel, providing 20 hours of power from the built-in lithium-ion battery. You get three sizes of soft rubber ear caps and three sizes of those comfy hooked fitbits. The audio quality is, put simply, clear, robust and surprisingly nuanced for the budget-friendly price.
Altec Lansing In-Ear Sport Earphones (MZX856) in black, white, red, or blue, are $59.99. Info at www.alteclansing.com.
