Hands-On Review: MEElectronics CC-51P and SP51P Headphones

Let's face it: as good as your iDevice earphones are, there's plenty of room for improvement as far as sound quality goes.  MEElectronics would like to help.  Let's look at two of their offerings, both optimized for phone usage, both offering passive noise reduction and multiple soft vinyl earpieces for a comfortable in-ear experience.

 Clarity Series CC-51P

The Clarity Series CC-51P (US$89.99) boasts a ceramic housing that "delivers full, accurate, detailed sound and…eliminates resonance that might cause distortion-inducing harmonics resulting in a natural sound."  It features an inline microphone with a single button to pick up/hang up phone calls or start/stop music playback.

Sound Preference SP51P 

If you'd prefer more control over the tone of your music playback, check out the Sound Preference SP51P earphones (US$69.99).  A set of screw-in sound tuning ports let you easily switch between enhanced, extreme, or natural bass response.  Like the CC-51P, it comes with a single-button inline microphone.

We tested both of these headsets over the course of a week of full-time use, and the sound quality (both spoken and heard) and comfort live up to the hype.  We had some reservations about the earphones' durabilty (the earpads can get lost easily, and the cables aren't the sturdiest we've seen), and the in-ear design isn't for everybody.  Nevertheless, if you're looking for better telephone and media sound from your handheld device, either of these headsets should be at the top of your short list.

Watch our hands-on reviews below: