POSTED BY

Rob Beschizza

AT 10:42 AM
Tuesday February 3, 2009

Audio and Portables • Fashion

nerve pipes

Review: iFrogz Nerve Pipes headphones

nervepipes0.jpgiFrogz headphones' appeal isn't sound quality, but the elaborate customization options available to the buyer. Colors, designs, fabrics... countless combinations exist and it'd be a picky hipster who couldn't find something pleasing.

Following, for example, is one tab (of five) from the designs that can go on the earpieces.

Capturenerveppes.JPG

I'm sure you get a sense of the variety--and the sensibility--at hand.

When it comes to sound quality, however, the Nerve Pipes are tinny, lacking warmth and strength. They're not sturdy, either, with all-plastic components and delicate trim. It's hard to complain, given the $35 price tag: but such is the appeal of complete customization that one wishes they charged more and made a better product as a result.

Ear Pollution Nerve Pipes [iFrogz]

1

12 Comments

midknyte

#1 – 12:39 PM February 3, 2009

> Frequency Response: 30 Hz to 20 KHz

pass...

Hellblazer

#2 – 1:01 PM February 3, 2009

I've spent the last couple weeks shopping around for my next pair of headphones, and my primary criteria is that they sound good. Looks are =way= secondary. Sadly enough, this seems to put me in the minority amongst headphone shoppers.

Either I'm doing it wrong, or everyone else is. Somehow, I don't think it's me.

LuckyFink

#3 – 1:42 PM February 3, 2009

These headphones are absolutely awful.
I got them for my girlfriend, as a Christmas present. And I even got them on sale for $20. They're not worth $5.

HELLBLAZER
Buy these
http://www.buy.com/prod/altec-lansing-onear-uhp304-headphones/q/loc/101/208720624.html

It'll give you both looks and sound.

Gainclone

#4 – 5:00 PM February 3, 2009

I wonder if I could put the guts of a Grado SR-60 or 80 in there... They look to be about the right size, the chamber is open, the earcups seem comprable...

Imagine a pair of Grados that people would actually want to wear because they LOOK great, not just SOUND great...

midknyte

#5 – 8:54 PM February 3, 2009

These non-exotic, Panasonic RP-HS6-S, earphones pass muster for me in cost and sound (Freq' Response 10-25). Add some foam pads to them for improved low end and comfort...

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Supplies-Accessories/Video/Portable-DVD-Accessories/Headphones/model.RP-HS6-S.S_11002_7000000000000005702#tabsection

djn

#6 – 6:44 AM February 4, 2009

If you want some customization (or even if you don't), I'm very happy with my Beyerdynamics.

They've got a service where you can pick some options (colors, cord type, impedance, real vs. synth leather, laser-etched text), and they sound very good indeed.

djn

#7 – 6:49 AM February 4, 2009

Come to think of it, a link would be useful.
I've got these:
http://shop.beyerdynamic.de/hifi/manufaktur/dt-990-manufaktur.html?lang=1

I'll admit I got them at a time when the NOK/Euro exchange rate was very good - these days, they'd be too expensive for me.

Downpressor

#8 – 7:42 AM February 4, 2009

perfect for the your inner hipster that is too cool to listen to any of that pedestrian stuff anyway.

DefMech

#9 – 7:50 AM February 4, 2009

Beyerdynamic headphones are a very safe buy, great sound and quality. I adore my DT-770s. Sadly, I don't think anyone is going to cross-shop $35 lime green cans with $200+ examples of fine German audio manufacturing.

Also, Grados look(and sound) great and anyone who says otherwise has questionable judgment and should not be listened to!

Oren Beck

#10 – 11:41 AM February 4, 2009

No disrespect to the style uber alles folks. But?

Style to many of us is less concern than fish have for craters on the moon. And for certain situations it's even a trade off between the sound going into my head Vs the sound/s being kept OUT. Thus one sanity and marriage saver for me has been THESE:

http://www.peltor.com/peltor.com/comm_detail.cfm?prod_family=Worktunes&ind_prod_num=HRX52A%20343-SV-GV001

Linked to my computer by an old
Belkin TuneCast FM modulator hacked for range and AC power ,These medium isolation phones "Just Plain work." Running several days on a set of NiMh AA's. Letting me hear the internet streaming "Radio Paradise" as opposed to my wife's TV or other objectionable noises.

Anonymous Anonymous

#11 – 11:50 AM February 9, 2009

I just ordered some of these yesterday, even with a 35% discount in the sale.
Are they worth the customisation just to listen to music with terrible quality ?
Should I consider cancelling it ?

Anonymous Anonymous

#12 – 10:21 AM July 9, 2009

This is actually the first review that states that they sound bad and I habe seen, like, 15 reviews of them. But they lack bass indeed, thats true. These headphones are comparable with the Ipods. You just give that extra money out, because they look good and trendy and everybody has them. There are not as many people that have these Headphones, but the really look cooland I think they don';t sound that bad at all.

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