Monster iSport Immersion In-Ear Headphones

The past year or so has seen the emergence of several earphones geared towards exercise enthusiasts. The Monster iSport Immersion In-Ear Headphones, at $179.95 (direct), are among the most expensive of the options available, and as the name suggests, they are intended to be gym-friendly. This means not only did Monster focus on a secure fit, but the materials used are also sweat- and waterproof. Like past our Editors' Choice Sennheiser CX 680 Sports ($119.95, 4 stars), the earphones can be rinsed off in the sink without damage. The overall audio performance will make bass fiends happy, but audiophiles will probably prefer a pair with a flatter response. And those who have more rigorous exercise routines may find that the fit of the iSport doesn't quite hold up when fast, constant movement comes into play.

Design
Offered in blue, black, or a Livestrong yellow version, the iSport is not a subtle design?though the black version will stand out less than the other two. A small fin on each earpice presses against the ridges of each ear to help secure the fit?similar to the design of the Bowers & Wilkins C5 In-Ear Headphones ($179.95, 4.5 stars). The C5 has the iSport beat in terms of overall secure fit, but the iSport is definitely more appropriate for sweaty workouts, as the C5 is not sweat-proof.

Adding to the exercise-friendly design, the iSport features Monster's signature flat, linguini-like cable, which is less likely to tangle. An in-line ControlTalk pod with a mic and buttons for answering calls and controlling playback on iPhones, iPads, iPods, and some other smartphones (if you have an Android or a BlackBerry, it will probably work) is located on the right earpiece's cable. Mic sound quality is suitable for calls, and the iSport, like just about all other "Made for iPhone" earphones, doesn't improve or worsen call audio quality. The iSport comes with a snap shut protective pouch, four pairs of eartips in different sizes, three pairs of replaceable, in-ear "clips" (what Monster calls the fin that rest against the ear for secure fit), and a shirt clip.

Performance
As mentioned earlier, the iSport features some pretty powerful bass?it never distorts, even on deep bass tracks, like the Knife's "Silent Shout," played at maximum volume. Audio purists, however, will likely prefer a pair that favors the low-end slightly less. Bass fiends?particularly those who listen to hip-hop or electronic music when exercising?will likely love the sound signature of the iSport. It can get quite loud to drown out the gym's radio, and the bass is pretty intense. The mids and the highs are not ignored, but the overall response definitely leans towards the lower end of the frequency range. Thus, orchestral music sounds a bit less crisp than we'd prefer, but if you're exercising to the beat of Wagner, well, that's impressive.

Unfortunately, the fit of the iSport, while quite secure when you are stationary, can easily be jostled when moving quickly or constantly. The earphones are not likely to actually fall out, but the seal created in the canal can become looser?this results in uneven sound from ear-to-ear, and significantly lowered bass response once the strong seal in the canal is lost. All ears are different, so the fit will likely be fine for some, even during rapid exercise, but the iSport did have a tendency, during my tests, to become less secure when a lot of movement was involved. And switching eartips didn't really seem to solve this issue. It's not the end of the world, as you can still hear your music, but it can be distracting.

If what you're really after is a secure-fitting, excellent-sounding earphone pair, the Bowers & Wilkins C5 is probably your best bet?it has very few gym-friendly features, but it has iPhone controls, will stay in place, and the audio performance is excellent. If $180 is beyond your budget, you can get a secure fit with the aptly named Skullcandy FIX In-Ear ($69.95, 3.5 stars), but it's not necessarily ideal for exercise. The aforementioned Sennheiser CX 680 Sports is a more affordable gym-oriented option, and because it's not as new, it can be found online for around $80. It has significantly lower bass response, however, than the iSport.?A newer pair geared towards the gym is Polk Audio's UltraFit 3000 ($99.95, 3.5 stars)?it's part of Polk's first earphone and headphone line, all of them exercise friendly, moisture resistant pairs?but it does suffer from a smidge of distortion a top volumes.

Is the iSport worth its hefty price? The fit issue is a bit of a bummer, but if you're a bass lover who wants a pair that can be washed off once in a while and won't die on you when you sweat, I'd say yes, simply because there aren't many waterproof options with tremendous bass as well.

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