The first thing you notice about the EarSet 3i is the incredible build quality. The brushed aluminium is light – the whole set weighs 23g including the 1m cord – and the precision of manufacturing is evident in the telescopic bars and joints that allow the earpiece to be repositioned infinitely. The over-ear hook contraption, after taking a while to get used to the feel, keeps the ear-piece positioned correctly so it doesn’t need to be stuffed into your earhole to keep from falling off while jogging, dancing or whatever it is you do.
On the flipside, if you are bespectacled or wear sunglasses, the hook does take up precious ear-top real estate, so it may get in the way. Also, from an aesthetic perspective, the EarSet 3is are not to everybody’s taste.
Given Bang & Olufsen’s pedigree, it was no surprise that the EarSet 3is performed very, very well. Sound quality was impressive over a wide range of musical genres and in games, but, if anything, was skewed towards trebley vocals and spoken word. Podcasts and phone calls were clear, while the microphone picked up speech perfectly well from its natural hanging position.
Although the cylindrical shape of the remote makes it a little difficult to distinguish the location of each button by touch alone, its configuration matches that of the bundled iPhone earbuds.
Assuming that the over-ear style won’t get in your way and you dig the look, the EarSet 3is deliver excellent sound, as well as full functionality for your iOS devices.
www.bang-olufsen.com/earset3i
RRP: $295
By Peter Roper
This article originally appeared in issue #2 of touch magazine.
Band & Olufsen EarSet 3i