Disney Pixar Cars Lightning McQueen Camera Phone - Play Flip Cell Phone - NEW!
From Bayside Betty/fortin
* With Realistic Lights & Sounds! * Batteries Included * For Ages 3+
Motorola MA351 2.4 GHz Analog Cordless Phone with Caller ID (Silver)
From Motorola
Motorola gives you the freedom to roam with this 2.4GHz cordless phone. You will love the clear, strong signals you get every time you talk to friends and family. And the Caller ID* will allow you to see whoM-^Rs calling, even while youM-^Rre on the other line. Additional features include last number redial, handset page/locator, and a 10-number speed dial memory. *Requires phone company subscription
Brand: Motorola Model: MA351 Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 4.00" h x 7.00" w x 8.50" l, 1.67 pounds
Simple, solid phone for the price After reading tons of reviews for cheap 2.4GHz phones, I stumbled across a few recommendations for this product. I have to admit -- for a ($)phone, it's more than I expected. The handset is very solid and comfortable, and it sports rubber grips on the sides -- why, I don't know, but I'm sure it'll become apparent soon :) The sound quality is superb, except for a slight annoyance -- sometimes, your voice funnels back to the earpiece and it can get pretty loud. I only noticed this during my first call -- after that, it was a non-issue. Perhaps it was due to a low-battery, since I hadn't fully charged it before I made my first call.The phone has all the basic features of a caller ID cordless phone, and they all work as expected, so I won't elaborate on that. Most people are just concerned about sound quality, and the sound quality on this phone is great. It's also very stylish in a very understated way -- there aren't tons of buttons, lights, and garish colors on this thing, but I like that and it was a factor in my purchasing decision.Probably the only BAD thing about this phone is the ring volume isn't as loud as I like. I live in a small apartment, so it's not such a big deal, but to some it may be. You have a choice of three ring tones, and the loudest one is the most annoying, sadly enough. If the only drawback to a ($) phone is its ring volume, then I think we have a winner. Great no-nonsense caller-ID 2.4Ghz cordless Been happy with this phone for a couple of months now; particularly like the rubber edges that provide a nice, solid grip on the phone. The simple shape and the nice weight makes the phone feel sturdy. As others have commented, it looks less star-trekky than a lot of other phones out there - a real plus. The answering machine is easy to figure out and does the job nicely; caller-ID seems reliable enough. Only complaint is the ringer on/off button that has been placed exactly where you're most likely to get switched off by accident - most other 2.4Ghz' I've tried had the button in the exact same place, so Motorola's not the only vendor failing here. Oh, and the cover for the battery compartment pops off every so often unless you use strong language and/or brute force to keep it in place. Even though this thing has a built-in answering machine, the footprint is reasonably small. A real plus is the nicely executed wall-mount that takes the phone off your table. I would have liked to have seen intercom or additional handset options with this phone, but even without, it's the best thing i could find on the market at any price. Good looking phone that executes most features well. I had been looking for a 2.4GHz phone for a while. I wanted a great color-matched home/office phone with good reception, Caller ID, backlit LCD and buttons, and not on the heavy side. The phone also needed to be friendly to my WIFI / 802.11b wireless network. This phone matched my requirements.Pros* color-blended well with my PowerMac G4 Quicksilver computer, and black TV -- should look great with any silver-grey/black setup* green backlit LCD and buttons* good voice quality and reception* no interference with WIFI / 802.11b wireless network -- including the Mac airport* belt-clip and ear piece socket for hands free useCons* ringer button is on/off only -- and the ringer is loud* function buttons are tricky to use and a bit small -- for example, the caller ID history button sometimes needs to be pressed several times for it to work* straight shape is not very comfortable to hold against earStill, a great cordless phone in this price range.
Samsung Propel a767 Phone, White (AT&T)
From Samsung
Amazon Sales Rank: #1810 in Cell Phone Accessories Color: White Brand: Samsung Model: a767 Released on: 2008-10-29
Get the word out to friends, family, and instant messaging buddies with the Samsung Propel slider phone from AT&T, whose face slides up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard that makes typing a breeze. You'll be able to quickly download video, music and more over AT&T's lightning quick HSPDA 3G network. Additionally, this GPS-enabled phone can access the AT&T Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions as well as its Video Share serve, which enables you to send video of yourself to another compatible phone while making a voice call. Other features include a 1.3-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for handsfree devices and stereo music streaming, MicroSD memory expansion (to 8 GB), access to personal email, and up to 5 hours of talk time. The Propel's full slide-out QWERTY keypad makes keeping up with friends and family via email and text and instant messaging a breeze. AT&T Service This AT&T phone can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network, which is available in most major metropolitan areas. The AT&T 3G network uses the dual-band UMTS 850/1900 MHz network, which provides download speeds ranging from 700 Kbps to 1.7 Mbps, and upload speeds ranging from 500 Kbps to 1.2 Mbps. This makes it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services, and it gives you the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services. In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it's fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go. You'll also enjoy quad-band GSM connectivity, which allows you to make calls in more than 190 countries and access data applications in the more than 135 countries where AT&T offers international data roaming. With 3G connectivity, you'll be able to access AT&T's Video Share service, which enables you to send a live, one-way video stream to another compatible phone during a standard voice call. The service also allows you to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call. (Customers must be in an area served by the company's 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone.) A majority of users in the architecture, engineering and construction industries rated the ability to share live video through Video Share highly, according to research commissioned by AT&T. Video Share lets you see progress on a job site or review the day's work without having to drive from an office or other site to do so. You can take advantage of the AT&T Navigator GPS software and service, a full-featured premium navigation application that includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options, and 3D moving maps (additional charges applicable). AT&T Navigator offers several other features to make your commute more enjoyable and reliable, including mobile access to Yellowpages.com. Additionally, AT&T Navigator is the only mobile phone-based GPS service that provides integrated speech recognition for address entry and points of interest search. With 3G connectivity, you'll be able to access AT&T's Cellular Video (CV) service and the Internet while on the go. Cellular Video features content from CNN, The Weather Channel, iFilm, Comedy Central and exclusive premium content from HBO and much more. And you get access to AT&T Mobile Music, which enables you to buy tracks while on the, access the Napster and eMusic subscription music services, stream music video, discover what's playing with Music ID song-recognition software, and find out what's hot with The Buzz music news portal. (A MEdia Max subscription bundle is recommended for accessing AT&T's Internet, video, and music services.) The phone has a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. AT&T's MEdia Net service enables you to receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Phone Features The Samsung Propel's face features a large 2.2-inch LCD screen, which offers a 65K color depth and 220 x 176-pixel resolution and sits above a standard five-way navigator, two soft keys for navigating menus, and send/end keys. It also includes a dedicated one-touch messaging key, making text messaging, instant messaging and mobile email quick and simple. The face slides up to reveal full QWERTY keyboard with integrated numeric keypad and dedicated camera button. The phone has an internal 50 MB memory, which can be expanded via optional MicroSD memory cards (up to 8 GB in size). The internal phonebook can store up to 1000 contact entries, each capable of storing multiple phone numbers and supporting caller groups as well as picture/ringer ID. Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server. The Propel offers a full range of email, text, and multimedia messaging options. It includes support for mobile email services such as AOL, Yahoo!, and Windows Live. You can also keep up with your instant messaging buddies using the built-in IM application that connects to those same services. Other features include: 1.3-megapixel camera with digital zoom and video capture capabilities Digital audio player with support for MP3 files 72-chord polyphonic and MP3 ringtones Organizer tools: calendar, alarm, world clock, notes, memo, currency converter, to do Voice recording capabilities T9 predictive text entry USB connectivity (cable not included) Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), SPP (serial port profile) Vital Statistics The Samsung Propel weighs 3.8 ounces and measures 3.85 x 2.23 x 0.5 inches. Its 1000 mAH lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 240 hours (10 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's 850/1900 MHz 3G network (UMTS/HSDPA).
Excellent Entry Level Texting Phone =) This is a great entry level texting phone for all the text message whores out there. Despite all the pictures advertising the phone, it only appears to be big and bulky but it's the complete opposite. The phone is actually very slim & slender. I love that it comes in 3 different colors (Green, Blue, & Rose White) and probably more on the way. I picked up the green one and i love it. I originally purchased the Samsung Epix PDA phone and was so disappointed by the awful operating system and returned it right away. Finally the Samsung Propel hits the stores and it's basically a PDA smart phone without the Window Mobile operating system (Which is awful by the way). I love the Samsung Menu and UI. It's easy to use and just navigating through it is a breeze. You don't even need to look at the manual to operate this thing. The one downside to the Propel is that the screen could be a bit bigger and the colors could be a bit more vibrant. You only get 65K colors as oppose to the usual Samsung high end phones that come with 262K colors. So, that was one of the disappointments with this phone. Samsung knew this phone was strictly for the teens so i can see why the price is so cheap. Considering the friendly price is probably a big reason why you don't get the 262K colors. Another flaw is the Instant Messaging. You do get AIM & Yahoo but the buddylist is not in real time. You will only be able to see a few friends on your buddylist not all. But if you IM them they will respond even though they appear to not be signed in. The best thing about my Sidekick LX is that IM is in real time. I signed on from both devices and had about 50 friends on my buddylist appear on my SK while the Propel only had 3. As i stated before even though only 3 appear you can still IM the ones that don't appear and chat with them. Also AT&T for some reason is so stingy with the accessories. I wish it came with an additional USB charger, free micro SD memory card, or a case. Unfortunately NONE. All you get is the cell & wall charger. Overall i am very pleased with my purchase and recommend anyone looking for a texting phone or any device that might come close to a Sidekick on the AT&T network, this would be the phone 4 u. Pros: Sleek sexy design Comes in multiple colors Camera/camcorder (Really should be 6.0 megapixel by now) Built in Messaging Clients (AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Etc) Access to Emails Qwerty Keyboard MP3 Players Samsung Menu GPS Slider Phone Micro SD (Up to 8GB) Cons: Only 65K Colors on screen Only 1.3 Megapixel Camera/Camcorder (Really should be 6.0 by now) Battery is really thin so carry an extra charger with you AT&T is really cheap with the accessories (Only device & charger included) Wish a USB Charger was included Favorite Phone I got this phone after weeks of research. I was not attached to a specific provider, I just wanted to find a phone that was sturdy, had an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard, and a good display, and was attractive. I totally found it in the Samsung Propel. I went into a bunch of cell phone stores and looked at all the phones and this was my favorite. It's a slider, and the qwerty keyboard looks a little small but I was really surprised how easy it was. I have had other samsung qwerty phones and I got used to the keyboard but it was still kind of awkward, and this one was super easy. The menus are really user-friendly, the screen is nice and bright. The sound quality is good, too. I like that it shows the day of the week and the date on the screen, and there is one button that turns silent (vibrate) on and off, in the case of an emergency. My favorite thing about this phone though is that the battery lasts FOREVER. Literally the battery has lasted me for 4 days on standby and it's still on 2 bars, and with texting/calling throughout the day it was still on 2 bars by the end of two days. It also charges very quickly. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes lots of features, easy to use interfaces, and texts a lot. Not working well after 5 months use I purchased this phone in March and as of August it is not working well. The battery needed to be charged frequently (every other day) even when first purchased. Now I can only talk using speaker phone, often do not have a signal, and have had several dropped calls. AT&T will not replace the phone because it the water mark indicator is red. When I informed them that the phone has not been in any place where it has occured water damage, they stated that in humid areas, which I do live in, it may turn red. It is cheaper for me to change to another server and take my number with me than to replace the phone.
Sony Ericsson W580i White Phone (AT&T)
From AT&T
The slim form factor of the W580 hides the Walkman 2.0 music player to make it simple to organize and play your favorite music. Easily create custom playlists. The Disc2Phone music management software and included USB cable make it easy to transfer music from a PC on to the phone. Additionally you can listen to favorite radio programming as the W580 offers an RDS-FM radio. The TrackID feature powered by Gracenote makes it easy to identify music tracks you don't recognize. The W580 also features a 2.0 Megapixel camera and functions as a portable photo album and pocket gaming device. A large 2-inch color screen is ideal for gaming as well as web browsing and viewing your camera photos. TrackID music recognition software Disc2Phone Music Management Software Multiple Music Format Support (MP3/AAC/AAC+/e-AAC+/WMA) A2DP (Bluetooth streaming sound) Music Illumination Effects Stereo Headset Speakerphone Connectivity & Messaging - Bluetooth 2.0, Java MIDP 2.0, Full HTML Browser with RSS, Instant messaging & USB Mass storage
Amazon Sales Rank: #13938 in Cell Phone Accessories Color: White Brand: Sony Ericsson Model: W580i Released on: 2007-08-24
Sony Ericsson shakes things up with its new quad-band W580i Walkman phone, introducing an innovative "shake to shuffle" feature that randomly chooses another song stored on your phone with just a flick of the wrist. This thin, slider-style phone also features a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, fast Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR connectivity with music streaming, Memory Stick Micro expansion, Web browser for viewing full Internet sites, email access, an FM radio with RDS, and EDGE data support. The slim slider W580i measures just 0.55 inches thin and features a brightly colorful QVGA screen, external music keys, and a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder. With AT&T's Mobile Music service, you can access your Napster subscription service for music downloads to keep you booming out the tunes for up to 20 hours. AT&T Service The W580i operates on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 networks and can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"), with availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. This third-generation, high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go. The phone has a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. AT&T's MEdia Net service enables you to receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. It also features AT&T Mobile Music, which provides access to the Napster subscription music service in addition to Music ID song-recognition software, music videos and The Buzz music news portal. (A MEdia Max subscription bundle is recommended for accessing AT&T's Internet, video, and music services.) Phone Features The W580i Walkman phone offers a full-function digital audio player that's compatible with MP3 and AAC files. The front of this slider phone includes dedicated music control buttons, and it includes Sony Ericsson's innovative "shake to shuffle" feature. With Shake control activated, press and hold the Walkman key and flick your wrist. A vibration lets you know that the track has been changed--a new song from your current playlist is randomly selected and automatically played. With the TrackID service, you can identify any song that you can hear by just recording a snippet of sound using the microphone. After sending the file for recognition, you'll have the name, artist and album sent to your phone. Other Walkman features include MegaBass enhancement for added depth of sound, a flight mode that lets you keep listening to tunes with the phone's network connectivity turned off, and Disc2Phone software for easy transfer of song files between phone and PC. It also includes a built-in FM radio with RDS, which displays the name of the currently playing song (when tuned to compatible radio stations). This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity with EDR (enhanced data rate), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and audio/video remote control. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server. The built-in 2.0 megapixel camera captures stills and video--and playback of video or still pictures is only limited to the memory card size. Picture effects and custom screensavers, backgrounds, and themes can be setup to fit your personality. It provides support for PictBridge technology so you can print your photos without the need of a PC (either using USB or Bluetooth). And the W580i makes it easy to send snapped photos directly to a blog or an online photo, complete with text. This phone is also compatible with RTSP/3GPP streaming video playback You can even take your favorite tracks to the track with the W580i, which will count your steps, your calories and monitor your running speed/distance/time with the integrated motion sensor. Your workout results are stored in your phone so you can monitor your progress. The phone also ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3 and IMAP4 protocols, while the included Access NetFront Web Browser allows you to surf full HTML web sites. It also supports RSS feeds, allowing you to use your phone to view up-to-the-minute news and other content from selected Web sites and blogs. Just subscribe to the feed and let it come to you. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. The phone also supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard. This means the phone can be used with the included Sony Ericsson Sync Station software, which lets you synchronize your Microsoft Outlook calendar, contacts, notes and tasks on your PC with the phone. Other features include: 2-inch LCD with a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and support for 262K colors Up to 1000 contact entries, each with five number fields Built-in pedometer and fitness applications Picture blogging with Google Blogger Mobile email and messaging via AOL/AIM, Yahoo!, and MSN Java support for online and offline 3D games (preloaded games include PacMan and Ms. PacMan) USB 2.0 wired connectivity with mass storage capability PIM functions including calendar, tasks, notes, alarm, calculator, stopwatch, and timer T9 text entry technology 72-chord polyphonic ringtones and MP3 ringtones Digital audio file formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ Vital Statistics The W580i weighs 3.32 ounces and measures 3.9 x 1.85 x 0.55 inches. Its 930 mAh lithium-polymer battery is rated at up to 9 hours of talk time, and up to 370 hours of digital standby time; the phone will also play for up to 20 hours when in Music Mode. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.
Excellent slider. Great Value. Slick Design A long-time Motorola phone user now converted. Not only is this phone lightweight and amazing looking, it's feature packed. Pros: - Crystal-clear calling. No static and loud when needed. - The screen is amazing. The resolution is awesome. By far the best I've ever seen on a phone this size. - This phone is tiny; in a good way. Super-slim and tucks nicely in your pocket. Being that it's a slider, you'll never have to worry about pocket-dialing. :) - The software is very easy to navigate. This is nicely improved over the Motorola interface of my older RAZR. - The MP3 player rocks; no pun intended. The Walkman software lets you sort by Artists, Albums, Tracks, Playlists and more. This is light-years ahead of the my old RAZR's MP3 player. This one rivals any standalone MP3 device I've used. - The stereo headphones that comes with it include a 3.5mm adapter. While the included headphones sound great, this adapter gives you the flexibility to use your Bose, Shure or other stereo headphones. A very nice option. - Unlike "some" other sliders, the camera is protected and kept under cover when the slide is closed. This works great in keeping dust off the lens. - The 2.0MP camera is actually pretty good. It takes great outdoor photos. - I LOVE the fitness/step counter. It measures distance in steps and calculated miles along with the calories you've burned. It also keeps a daily average and each days results. Cons: - No 3G - Sony Proprietary Memory Stick Micro M2 versus easy to find and less expensive MicroSD - No LED Flash or Photo Light In conclusion, if you are looking for a super-slim phone with great call quality and superb music capability, look no further. This Sony wears the Walkman name with pride. UPDATE 9/27/07: I bought a SanDisk SDMSM2-4096-A11M 4GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) and it works perfectly. 4GB of music!!! Very Happy With This Phone Even though this phone received good reviews on CNET and elsewhere, I must admit being hesitant to get a slider phone. I was afraid I would accidentally being making calls or snapping pictures from my purse as I had done with a bar phone. I decided to give it a try though, and I am very happy with it. As a phone, it functions great with clear calls, long battery life, etc. However, it has some additional features that I found very useful. What I like: *Automatic key lock option - Turn this on, and you don't have to worry about accidentally calling anyone. All the outside buttons are 'locked' or protected until you touch two buttons. However, answering a call still functions as normal without pushing any extra buttons, and if you slide the phone open, you don't have unlock it either. *Programmable outside buttons - You can program 4 outside buttons as 'shortcuts'. I have one set to toggle my bluetooth on and off, one to go to my phone directory, one to go the camera, and one to my files. Very handy! *Synchronization - The supplied cable makes synchronization with outlook and transferring music a breeze! Download the PC Ericsson phone suite from their website. However, you can also tranfer via bluetooth and even by using your memory stick with the supplied adapter and Windows Explorer. *Presentation Remote - If you have bluetooth, you can use this phone as a presentation remote from Power Point, or navigate your desktop/media center from afar. *Pedometer/fitness trainer - Like it! Lets you keep a past history of your walking/running for the day. *Walkman feature - Love it! I upgraded my memory to 2 gb first thing. *Ringtones - Short MP3 files can be used as ringtones. You can also use the MusicDJ to make your own or even use the 'recorder' and save what you record as a ringtone. *FM radio - another plus *Password saver - This in an password protected area where you can save passwords or other sensitive information you want access to, but not have to worry if you lose your phone. *Notes - You can synch Notes from Outlook, but you can also select a note to show in 'standby'. I've used this to keep an address handy or a train schedule. *Screen - Very bright and clear. (I've even used it as a 'flashlight' at night to find my keys.) I did put on screen protector though to help prevent the inevitable scratches. What I don't like: *Battery cover very hard to put on or take off. *Memory cover seems very flimsy - As though it would easily break. *Lanyard holes - So small, I couldn't get any of any lanyards to thread through it. What I wish it had: *3G *Ability to play audio books (and bookmark your place) *Enhanced video playback capabilities *Ability to show your calendar for the day in standby. And now for the CONS I can spend some time on the PROS, but mostly, if anyone is like me, they want to know just what it is that doesn't live up to what is billed. MOSTLY, I can't believe the rated talktime versus the actual talktime in practical experience. 9 hours rated. Now, I haven't talked till the phone died. Nor have I just turned it on and talked after a full charge to get an idea of how long I MIGHT be able to talk. But I can say about 45 - 60 minutes of talk time and 3 days of standby put the battery into the 50+% range. Which leads me to believe that phone will get no where near 9 hours talk time on a single charge. (I realize these ratings are under the best conditions as tested by the manufacturer...and the usual rounding up but if anyone gets 5 hours of talk out of it, post a message about it) Numerable messages on forums about the keypad cracking. Do a search and make your own decision. I learned of it after I bought it. It's the first slider phone I have and while this is not necessarily a CON in the truest sense of the word (i.e., advertised as one thing yet doesn't funciton as advertised), one must understand that the screen is exposed all the time. That means, most likely, scratches and smudges will become the mainstay of that screen...I bought it knowing that but others should know it. Also, because it is a slider phone, more buttons are exposed and available to being pressed by accident than a flip phone. When dialing, one must (duh) slide open the phone. The keys light up. But, if you find yourself stuck in voice mail menu hell and have to wait to see what key to press, you had better be in a lighted area...the key lights go off pretty quickly and then they are quite hard to see. Finally, if you like the idea of the cute little flashing lights one can choose from, you should know in advance that the 10 (or is it 15) or so lighting choices one has to choose from off the menu are quite similar. In fact, some menu choices look exactly the same (just a different name). So, there's not as much variety as you might originally think. Otherwise, most everything else I have used has met or exceeded my hopes and expectations. I give it 4 - stars even with what I have listed.
Grado Prestige Series SR125i Headphones
From Grado Labs
Grado's ability to combine lightness with extreme rigidity and internal damping has been put to good use on the SR125. The SR125 features an improved diaphragm and voice coil design and UHPLC (Ultra-high purity, long crystal) copper voice coil wire. The diaphragms are put through a special 'de-stressing' process in order to enhance inner detail. An improved headband spring provides even greater comfort allowing the listener to relax and enjoy the fine tonal spread and balance. Bass, midrange and treble are all more open.
Brand: Grado Model: SR125i Dimensions: 2.00" h x 8.00" w x 8.00" l, 3.00 pounds
Superior clarity for the price It seems like I'm always a bit disappointed when shelling out relatively big bucks for headphones. The Bose QC2 offer great overall sound, but they cost $300 and don't operate without a battery. The Koss Pro4a's are also nice and far less costly, but they are extremely heavy and sound too flat (especially on the bass side of the spectrum) for my tastes. Upon reading about the Grados and given all the accolades these headphones have received, I decided to add them to my ever-growing collection. The Grado 125s really surprised me in more ways than one. They look a bit goofy and the foam headphones didn't seem to fit well, at least right out of the box. The headband can be bent to provide a tighter or looser fit. The other surprise was the full 1/4" stereo plug - not a 1/8" with a 1/4" adapter. Thus, you'll need a reducer to play these on your MP3 player. Now the good news. Voice and instrument clarity surpass even the Bose in my opinion. I have finally been able to decipher the words to some classics, which is to say you'll hear very minor nuances that provide superb realism and impact. Check out, for instance, Dire Straits 'Brothers In Arms' CD. Plus, the extreme lightness is truly astonishing. I listened for hours with no need to give my ears or head a rest. I can't speak for headphones beyond the $300 range, but I'd recommend these $150 phones to anyone, hands down. Extremely good First and foremost as others have mentioned, hook these guys up to a stereo and run it for 12 - 24hrs to break them in before passing judgement on them. Vary the volume while you do this, start out low, then after a few hours go to a mid volume setting, then to a medium loud setting for the last few hours (Not loud enough to blow them mind you). These headphones after the break in period are the clearest headphones you'll ever put on your head and I'll stand behind that statement-I'm an audiophile and have tried most every high end headphone in existence from Sony's V series to AKG to Beyerdynamic to Sennheiser. However, I'm only giving them 4 stars for 2 reasons. They're not the most comfortable, at least not at first. The ear pads are stiff and to me smelled of petro chemical residue. I softened mine down the first day I had them by placing them in a sink with very warm water with a soy based fabric softener, I soaked em for 10 minutes all the while squeezing the water between them. The also are a bit light on the bass, if you want some of these that are perfect with just the right bass response, look one more notch up in the line for $50 more, the SR225's. Outstanding *** Update *** After having these for a couple of weeks, I definitely notice that there has been a "breaking-in" period. The same music I first played through these is noticeably "warmer", with primarily low frequencies now being even more distinct. I.e. the sound is getting better - I am still happier with them now. I wanted very good headphones - great sound for various music types, comfortable, light if possible, decent length cord. I've had Sennheisers many years ago. I did a lot of reading and inevitably ran into reviews everywhere, with everyone touting "their" favorite brand based on various aspects (clarity, range, etc. etc.) which could easily lead to analysis paralysis. Anyway, I went for it and got these. Initial impressions: very retro-looking, without the hi-tech molded plastic and fancy box other brands have. That was my first "what did I just spend a bunch of my money on?" moment. The earcups spin freely, which is nice. They are not very tight on my biggish ears, and sit very lightly on my large head; as someone else noted, the headband can be bent. The cord is very thick and long; you'll need an adapter for a standard MP3 player headset, but Radio Shack has good gold-plated ones and Grado also sells one. I sometimes listen to music in a noisy environment and upgraded to these from a pair of Sony noise-cancelling headphones. The Sonys had awful sound but did a good job of canceling out noise (though not as well as the much more expensive Boses, of course). The Grados, despite no gimmicks like noise cancellation, actually did very well in this environment. Overall, the sound is very good with a variety of sources. It's very balanced and light, and lots of nuances come through that I've never heard before. For example, in a Beethoven piano CD I have, I heard for the first time that a particular phrase's harmony (deep notes) actually alternated between two adjacent notes; previously, that phrase always sounded like the same low note played repeatedly under the melody. Rock, metal, electronica, orchestral classical, vocal, pop, and other types of music all sound great on these, and after running various types of music past them I decided I had a real upgrade on my hands. If, like I was, you are trying to decide on a good pair of headphones on a mid-level budget and are a little lost between Sennheiser, these, and maybe other good brands, you won't go wrong with these. That said, Sennheiser also makes some great headphones, though you'll probably spend more than for these for similar sound quality. Either way, you'll enjoy your music a lot, which is what counts. Good luck!
