subject: Bose Around-ear Headphones For Personal And Portable Listening [print this page]
Bose Around-Ear Headphones - Pricey, comfortable, nice sound, but ... you can do much better
As I've posted elsewhere, these are my favorite choice for quality listening. They don't tire your ears out (like plugs) and they isolate you from all but the most intrusive environmental distractions. Superb bass response.
2009 update:
In 2006 I was sent a replacement for a broken model that had faulty headband design. So far's I know, the current model has the redesigned, sturdier component.
2010 update:
After regular use in the office, the ear pads of one of my pairs has begun to wear. Replacement earcups should be cheap, right? THINK AGAIN. Bose wants $35 for a set of these simple, cheap earcups. Combine that with the superior sound that you can get for equivalently priced 'phones (start with Grado), and the high price that Bose commands begins to pale by comparison. At one time, the Bose Triport (now called "around-ear") headphones were a very light and crisp sounding value proposition, but in this day of excellent on-ear or around-ear phones, as well as terrific in-ear monitors (IEMs), $149 for these is just too much money. Same with the Bose Triport IEMs (which I also own), for their MSRP, you can buy Shure SE110s or Etymotic Research HF5s, or (a spiffy newcomer) Thinksound TS01s or the more balanced Thinksound Rains for half the price.
Whether you want over the ear escape, or in-ear convenience, you can do better for less money.
