Key Of Grey

October 5th, 2008 – Just over a month ago, Andrew from AirDrives contacted me about my post about his product. He sent me over a few sets of AirDrives and, having used them for a fair amount of time, I can tell you about how it’s like to use them daily.

First off, Andrew sent me 3 versions: normal AirDrives, AirDrives for the iPhone, and pink ones. Since I don’t have an iPhone, I gave them to a friend who’s a web designer to review. He’s somewhat gadgety so I figured that he would be a good representation of the type of person who would buy the AirDrives. Next, I provided the pink pair to Rita (sponsor of the ninja toys contest) to use on her daily commute to and from work. As a somewhat audiophile, I would provide a review with a somewhat critical ear.

Web Designer – Used to wearing V-Moda Vibes, he felt that the bass was lacking in comparison. He was pleasantly surprised by the “surround sound” feeling of the AirDrives. He liked the clarity in the treble and mid-range. When using the mic to make calls, the people he phoned found his voice quiet. He suggested that placing the mic an inch or more higher would help remedy this. If the mic was not moved up, a clip would be helpful so that the mic could be clipped higher on the shirt and would not move around as much.

Rita – When walking home over the bridge from downtown Vancouver, she appreciated being able to hear the traffic and be aware of what was around her.  Sometimes she found the headphones weren’t loud enough in high background-noise areas. At first, she had problems putting them on, but after the first couple of times, she got used to it and found them comfortable. She liked them enough to replace her current earphones with the AirDrives.

Typically, I use fully-enclosed headphones to mix music (along with speakers of course). When out and about, I use Shure in-ear monitors with my iPod. I have sensitive ears, so I like to keep the volume as low as possible and block out unnecessary background noise. Of course, in some situations this is downright dangerous. The Shures that I have fit me well and are so effective at reducing noise that I sometimes use them as earplugs if I don’t have my normal set with me. I had read that AirDrives conduct sound through the flesh and cartilage in your ear instead of through the ear canal, and this unique selling point piqued my interest. This leaves your ear canal open to hear outside sounds which is great for safety when you’re listening to music while walking on busy streets, or going for a jog late at night.

When I first put on the AirDrives, it was an odd experience. Like my web designer friend, I felt that the AirDrives sounded like I was listening to speakers in a room. This is contrary to many in-ear monitors that typically are very close to the eardrum and sound as such. I felt that there was “air” between the sound source and I, which was a cool sensation considering that the earphones were sitting on my ears. Speaking of which, the AirDrives really do conduct sound using your ear. The mini-speakers sit on top of the little piece of flesh at the front of your ear and transmit sound through it. If you move the drivers over the ear canal you don’t hear the music as well. Pretty neat stuff!

Sound quality wise, I found the AirDrives to be adequate. Highs and mids were clear without being overly boosted like iPod earphones. Of course, there was very little bass, but more than I was expecting. Because good bass response only comes from separate woofer drivers and/or sealing the ear canal for optimum sound wave transmission, the AirDrives, by design, cannot deliver this. They are not meant for audiophiles and aren’t marketed as such. From the website and the packaging, it’s clear that the AirDrives are meant for active individuals to work out with. To this end, they succeeded.

I found that that the AirDrives fit comfortably over my ears and were secure when I was walking or working out. In contrast, the Shures I have fall out, or shift enough to leave an air gap which, in turn, reduces the bass I hear, when even simply walking. It was also nice to be able to hear what was around me so I didn’t have to worry about missing important sounds that might signal danger.

The AirDrives deliver exactly what they promise and at a reasonable price. Are they going to replace my Shures when I want to actively listen to music? Of course not. But they are going to replace my Shures when I just want music in the background and want to be aware of what’s going on around me. One thing I should mention is that AirDrives are the only earphones that are audiologist approved for all-day use without hearing damage. So if you listen to music all day, all the time, these will reduce your chances of hearing damage. They’re available now from online retailers like BestBuy and Amazon for around $80.

AirDrives