A few months back, some ClarityOne earbuds appeared on a few desks here in the Crutchfield Creative department for a tryout. Those of us who received a pair spent a few days putting them through their paces. The consensus? Houston, we have a winner.
Let's be clear
The handsome ClarityOne earbuds live up to their name, with a crisp high register, natural, unforced mid-tones, and great extension at lower frequencies. And we were all struck by how well they played with a wide range of musical styles. Rock and rap thumped with a satisfying yet controlled power, and the higher frequency details of acoustic instruments cymbal decays, aggressive violin bowing, a flatpicked 12-string guitar shone through without feeling aggressive.
Lower your resistance
Just why do the ClarityOne earbuds deserve to be singled out? Well, it might be the fact that these headphones run at a low resistance: only 8 ohms. They can be more efficiently driven by lower power sources, like your phone or portable media player. Lower resistance means extended battery life as well.
Here's another noteworthy design feature: They have a built-in "PureSound Processor" which ClarityOne describes as canceling out inherent distortions and heat build-up that are present in most other earbud designs. The company's ultimate goal? "Pure sound in pure sound out." If our enjoyable experiences are any indication, they're on to something.
The EB110s come with a handy in-line microphone for taking calls on your iPhone®. Three sizes of silicone ear tips help you get a secure fit, providing a strong acoustic seal while staying put during vigorous workouts. The cord doesn't tangle easily. And the included, rugged reinforced-mesh carrying case has a carabiner for easy attachment to your backpack or laptop case.
From our review
"There are three primary reasons I enjoy these headphones:
First, the EB 110s stay put and they're comfortable.
Second, they provide a good seal.
Third, these headphones are really listenable over the long haul."
Woody, Crutchfield Home A/V Writer