Conclusion:
The
Icemat Siberia In:Ear Headset take my expectations for earbud style headphones to a whole new level thanks to the sound quality, comfort level, and noise blocking capabilities. They work well for audio playback at home or on the road, and adding the microphone creates a convenient way to communicate over IP telephones or perhaps even in online games.
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The "ribbed" ear sleeves may create a whistling sound when using the headphones in the wind (running, biking, etc), but the design is great for making sure that the headphones stay in your ears. Other than the whistling noise, my only issue with the headset is how easily the cables get tangled. This negative comment is a result of a positive feature, and that is the ability to separate the headphones from the microphone (and the extension cable). If the three cables were all molded as one, the tangling issue would be improved, but the convenience would be decreased. The ability to disconnect the microphone when you only want the headphones is great, and when you do want to use the microphone the plug and clips hold it securely in place.
A search of
PriceGrabber reveals a bunch of entries for Icemat brand products, but presently nothing specifically for the Siberia In:Ear Headset. There are several US stores listed on the Icemat "
Where to Buy" page, but I didn't see the Siberia In:Ear Headset at many of them. Digging around the web a bit more shows that you can get this headset for $23 (US) and up, depending on where you shop. That is an attractive price, and I could easily justify spending that little on such a quality set.
Given the performance, features, and pricing, I award the
Icemat Siberia In:Ear Headset the ratings of "Recommended" and "Good Value".
Pros:
» Nice sound quality
» Compact and extremely lightweight
» Comfortable enough for extended use
» Competitively priced
» Microphone is separate from headphones
» Includes extension cable that provides a total of 9 feet of length
» Includes carrying bag and two spare sets of ear sleeves
Cons:
» All these thin cables tangle easily
» Wind creates significant whistling noise with "ribbed" ear sleeves
Special thanks to
Icemat for providing the Icemat Siberia In:Ear Headset to Bigbruin.com for review!
