iPod/iPhone > All Reviews > Hardware > Audio > Etymotic hf2 review

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 Etymotic hf2 review

Larger than some, but easy to use

Jonny Evans

Manufacturer: Etymotic
Pros: Comfortable, great sound, good send/receive unit, very light
Cons: Large-looking earbuds can be off-putting, bass is a little lightweight
Price: £99
Star rating:

On the back of the release of the iPhone, headphones with an in-built microphone are becoming increasingly popular, so Etymotic enters the market with its effort, the hf2.

And although they work with any iPod, these premium phones are clearly aimed at iPhone users due to the inclusion of the mic. The headphones ship with a range of eartips which we found easy to remove and refit using the tools provided. They also come with a storage pouch that can easily hold the headphones and their 4ft-long cable.

The microphone sits close to your mouth on the cable leading to your right ear so it can pick up your chat, it hosts a send/end button which lets you answer calls, and will also flick forward to the next song.

Don’t be put off cramming the unusual triple-step shape earpieces into your ears, as once you have selected the correct-sized tip you’ll find they slip into your canal very comfortably. And because the buds are light (the whole set weighs just 1.3 ounces) they’re comfortable to wear for long periods.

Comfort and useabilty aside, it’s all about sound quality. The acoustics of the hf2 (which stands for ‘high-fidelity, hands-free’) match those offered by the company’s award-winning ER-4Ps. The sound reproduction is outstanding, with a lovely balance and good noise cancelling. With frequency response of a tidy 20Hz-16kHz, we weren’t disappointed. You’ll experience extremely accurate playback across mid, treble and low ranges and the overall sound mix is excellent, though it lacks a little bass punch.

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