ifrogz is well known for their custom protective casings for iPod, iPhone, iPad and whatever “i” there might be.

Less know are their headphones and ear plugs. Esp. the latter deserve our and your attention. There are a lot of stylish models in the “EarPollution” product range to choose from – and they all deliver very decent sound quality.

The Timbre earbuds with wooden chassis: will give you great dreams!

So if you are sick of Apple’s less than mediocre ear plugs or just want a new, stylish and great insert for your ears: take a close look at the Timbre, or, if that one looks to treehuggerish to you, one of the more technical and stylish designs in the EarPollution series. A good alternative would be the “Metal Drumz”.

Features and Technical Details

• Thick, rich bass.
• Crisp, high-definition stereo sound.
• Includes small, medium, and large soft-tip earpieces.
• Driver Unit: 10 mm
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Sensitivity: 103 dB
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Cord Length: 1.1 m
• Plug: 3.5 mm

There is also a model with microphone so you can use it with your iPhone.

How much?

The Timbre is currently at $ 39.99, the version with mic is $ 49.99, other EarPollution models start from as low as $ 14.99

Where to buy?

Order your new headphones or earplugs directly on the ifrogz website:
>>> CLICK HERE for more information and purchase !<<<

P.S.: Got a new shiny iPhone? While you are at ifrogz, grab one of their new iPhone 4 silicon cases, many colors, click here!

• Works With Any Type Of Pillow
• No Cumbersome Headphones Needed
• Listen Easily Without Disturbing Others
• Works With Any Audio Device (i.e. TV, DVD, CD Player, MP3, ipod, VCR, etc.)
• FREE Relaxation CD Included

The Pillowsonic features quality speakers that deliver crystal-clear sounds at gentle, safe volume levels. Resonating throughout even the plushest pillows, the audio is of excellent quality — encompassing the entire surface, allowing you to turn freely without missing a beat. Our speakers are so slim that you’d never know there is a powerful innovation under your pillow — except for the sounds that emerge, caressing your senses, providing a surprisingly unique, pleasing experience in private l

Rating: (out of 121 reviews)

List Price: $ 19.00

Price: $ 15.86

Bellysonic Baby Sounds Prenatal Pregnant

• Play music for your in-utero baby while you relax, do exercises, or study
• Made from Organic Cotton Sherpa and assembled in USA
• Lightweight, imbedded, (removable) mini stereo speakers included in washable pouch
• Storage room for your MP3 player – ( MP3 or CD player not included)
• Adapter and splitter for portable CD or MP3 player included

The Bellysonic is the perfect way for an expectant mom to participate in their baby’s sensory development, and to enrich their pregnancy experience using a natural, sound therapy approach. Crafted in an Organic Sherpa TM cotton belt-pouch, the Bellysonic places soft and gentle-output stereo mini speakers in the direction of the womb, while making room for a MP3 player. Adjustable belt with easy to use fasteners help keep the Bellysonic Stereo Speaker Pouch comfortably situated around the pregnan

Rating: (out of 3 reviews)

List Price: $ 69.95

Price: $ 59.95

Find More Sleepsonic Products

• A new Sleepsonic Hi Fi sleep therapy stereo speaker pillow
• Fits regular size pillow cases (smaller than a Standard Size Pillow)
• Removable foam cylinder for adjustable neck comfort and head support
• Dimensions: 21″L x 16″W x 5″H (SALE IS 1″ SHORTER THAN SIZE)
• Great for tinnitus sufferers and people who seek better sleep with sound therapy

Sleepsonic’s Innovative Sound Delivery system permits hi fidelity listening similar to headphones, at gentle volume levels from a comfortable, serviceable pillow. This pillow design also incorporates a removable neck support for varying neck requirements and conditions. Natural cotton fabric and plush fill give your reclined listening and sleep a level of comfort equal to or better than a plain bed pillow. Compatible with MP3 players, CD players, and TVs Sleepsonic users report benefits in the a

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

List Price: $ 139.95

Price: $ 129.89

The Gateway Experience Waves (I – VI Audio CD SET)

The popular Gateway Experience evolved directly from the Monroe Institute®’s world-renowned Gateway Voyage®. Like the Voyage, this CD program is an exercise in developing, exploring and applying expanded states of awareness. Beginiing with Discovery, there are six albums called “Waves of Change.” Each three-CD Wave contains special Hemi-Sync® exercises designed to gently lead the listener into profound states of expanded awareness. While in such states, one has available a broader range of pe

Rating: (out of 6 reviews)

Price: $ 295.95

For quite some time I managed to get along with the crappy ear plugs that Apple dares to sell with their (otherwise incredible) iPods (I have the iPod classic, just perfect for my several gigabytes of brainwave stuff… ;-) ). But it was not the real thing. So gradually I started to try and explore and test other headphones.

Criteria:

• comfortable. Need to be friendly to my ears and head even after hours of extended wearing.
• clear, unspoiled sound. Many headphones (even rather costly ones) tend to “leak” sound (meaning if there should be sound only on the right channel you still get some faint volume on the left as well – which is no good for binaural beats), many over do the bass frequencies, and many sound alltogether crappy…
• medium price range. I am willing to chip in some bucks for a decent sound experience, but I am not willing to pay the price of a used car for a pair of platinum-plated custom made ear plugs… ;-)

I have tested a lot, and came up with three favorites. Here you go:

Ultrasone HFI 780

If you buy only ONE headphone in your life – let it be this latest flagship of the Ultrasone HFI series!

Developed by some audiophile maniacs in Germany these high-end headphones give you an incredible experience, – without the price knocking off your pants.

Very comfortable to wear. Absolutely transparent sound, clearly positioned, nothing gets distorted.

Bonus: the speakers are positioned in a way so that the sound hits your ears in a more natural way – slightly from the front. So you have less of that “they are IN MY HEAD – Hjaaaaalp!” – feeling.

Along with their patented S-Logic sound positioning technology this provides you with the most natural “3D” experience I have heard so far. Depends on the recording, of course, but e.g. with Hemi-Sync’s “Heart of the Shaman” I was unable to decide if the ravens where in the headphones or passing above me “in real” (I listen to this kind of stuff under the old oak in the garden whenever possible, and occasionally there are real ravens in the air there…)

I won’t bother you with technical mumbo-jumbo (all the specs are on the product page) – just so much: the HFI 780 is second to none. Very high frequency range (which is good for lower carrier frequencies). And a good sound isolation so the outside world won’t disturb your inner travels too much.

Just click the image above for all the details and a current price quote (yes, it is not “cheap” – but the best buy you can get!).

For those who hate “closed” headphones there is an alternative: the HFI 2200 is an “open” headphone, so you are less separated from the world. It is a bit more expensive, but gives the same great sound experience AND lets the noise of the world in on your troubled ears… ;-) (errr, ok, obviously I prefer the closed ones…)

A click on the image will provide you with the technical details:

Koss Porta Pro

Low on budget? The price tag of the Ultrasone made you shiver and sweat? Check out the Koss!

This light, foldable wired headphone is very affordable, but the sound is absolutely stunning for this price tag!

Good for all occasions where you do not want to risk your more expensive headphones, or where in-ears are too risky.

Bit too much emphasis on the bass frequencies for my personal taste, but not in a way that would annoy me.

Great for brainwave entrainment while you are doing some excercise (e.g. running – they fit well and won’t jump off your head easily)

Click the image for more info and ordering –>
One word of warning: there is a Sporta Pro as well – which I do NOT recommend. Don’t mix them up.

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 pro

In-ears are a matter of “religion”. You love them or hate them. If you love them, you will definitely love the super.fi 5 pro

They have a two-way sound system (yep, TWO speakers in these tiny plugs…) which is normally unheard of until you double the price, and they deliver one of the best sound experiences I ever had. Very balanced and clear (I listen to classical music a lot and hate those headphones that only know BASSSSSSS), no hissing, no nothing. No complaints.

In my opinion they are way better than ANYthing in-ear you can buy at a similar price. I would compare them to the Shure E420 – which cost about 100 bucks more. BTW – even if you could afford it, I would not go for the TripleFi or other more expensive models from Ultimate Ears. You have to be a VERY picky audiophile to notice any difference – the super.fi 5 pro will do perfectly for the rest of us!

The set includes different ear pieces to fit even the most weird elven ear ;-) and a metallic travel case.

Oh, before I forget it: the sound isolation is incredible. You feel like inside a Samadhi floating tank… ;-)

Check out the details and prices (around 190 bucks) by clicking on the image with your favorite color – they come in black:

or in white: or even clear:

In addition to these 3 models I highly recommend the SleepPhones that I reviewed earlier. Less versatile, but ideal for nightly brainwave entrainment and the most comfortable OBE you ever had… ;-)

So that’s my “arsenal”. How about you? Experiences, alternatives and recommendations welcome! Every ear is different… *lol* – just add your comments below.

The perfect solution for sleep.

One of the annoying facts about brainwave entrainment is that it works best with headphones. Yes, there are recordings out there that work with ordinary stereo speakers as well, but still the effect is stronger with headphones.Normally thats no problem – get a pair of decent stereo headphones or high quality in-ear plugs if you are a hifi-maniac, and you are set.

But what if you want to use brainwave CDs (or some sleep inducing brainwave sessions on your iPod) to fall asleep?

Ear plugs have the tendency to fall out or change position slightly so you do not have similar levels of volume on both ears. In-ear plugs stick out – so if you turn and twist a lot, this is not for you. And bulky normal headphones are only for the very serious ones… ;-)

There are two possible solutions for the problem:

• a pillow with integrated stereo speakers
• a headwrap/ headband with integrated headphones

Which one is better for you depends on your personal preferences. If you go all twitchy and itchy and CAN’T SLEEP if there is the slightest pressure and physical presence of “something” around your head, the SleepPhones are not for you. But otherwise they are ideal.

The effect is much stronger – if you change position, they turn with you, opposite to the speakers in the pillow. The fabric is of good quality and “feels good”, it is 100% polyester fleece and washable. The headband can be rolled up and fits into your travel bag easily. It comes in two colors (lavender / grey), three different sizes and can be individually adjusted.

The headband is adjustable and comes in different colors (grey or lavender).

The integrated speakers are of course not comparable with high-priced speakers for audiophiles. But the quality is ok, even if you want to use them to listen to “ordinary” music as well. For brainwave entrainment CDs they are just perfect.

The set comes with the headband (cord with standard plug works perfect with iPod or whatever MP3-Player or personal stereo you have), a CD with brainwaves / ambiente sounds and a little bag with herbs. OK – the herbs could have been left out, and instead they could have produced a better CD.

But that does not do any harm. The CD does it’s job – its just that compared to other sleep induction CDs (like the “Delta Sleep System” I reviewed here as well) it is a bit “semi professional”. Anyways – the sleepphones are worth every penny by themselves, just take the CD and the herbs as complimentary gifts!

Verdict: must have gadget for any brainwaver and sleeper!

Please click the image for further information and purchase: