Zagg Audio Z.buds Conclusion

Sound Quality Testing

The sound quality performance evaluation using the Zagg Z.buds was done by listening to MP3s and FLAC music stored on my Blackberry and my Sansa Fuze MP3 player. I listened to a number MP3s with bit rates of 128kbps and 256kbps and FLAC audio files. A wide selection of classical, rock, alternative and hip-hop music was used in the evaluation.

Overall listening impressions revealed that the Z.buds produce a warm, rich level of mid-range and a hefty dose of bass. High frequencies are also handled well with smooth, natural response throughout the upper frequencies. The Z.buds are a definite sonic upgrade to the stock buds supplied with Apple music products - make no mistake about that.

Complexities of fast-paced music with multiple instruments posed no problem for the Z.buds, with clear separation of instrumentals throughout my testing. Vocals were also smooth and even sounding, however with a slight tendency toward a warm mid-range sound that I found to be a bit obtrusive for female vocals.

The strong bass never sounded muddied, even at higher volume levels, and the tight fit of the earbuds went a long way toward reinforcing the brawny low range. The tight fit also does a nice job of blocking out external noise, although not as well as other closed-back headphone models.

The built-in microphone worked very well for phone calls, and I never had any issue with background environment noise interfering with the conversation. The mic did occasionally rub up against my shirt if I was moving around during a call, but this was the only minor complaint that I had. The mic worked as expected and it was easy to activate the mic using the inlaid mic button. I liked the fact that the button is inlaid, as it kept me from ever accidentally hitting the button while moving around during a call or while listening to music.

Portability

Along with the included soft carrying pouch, the strong point of the Z.buds in terms of portability is definitely the nylon sheathed cable. The stiff material makes it much less likely that the cord will get tangled up, even if you are stuffing it into your pocket along with your iPhone/iTouch player. It also gives the Z.buds a unique look that sets them apart from other earbuds, which is a plus in my book.

The “Hangin’ Tight” setup and the slider beads are a mixed bag – they are useful if you can them set up correctly, and I did find it to be a useful set up once it was all said and done, but it takes quite a lot of trial and error to find the right alignment of the beads along the cabling. I probably spent 10 minutes playing around with the placement of the beads before I got them the way that felt comfortable to me, and I still felt that the cords ended up being too short for my taste. I would have liked an extra foot or two of cord length to work with, as I would always rather have more cord than not enough.

Zagg Audio Z.buds

Other than a few minor drawbacks, the Z.buds are a very nice sounding pair of earbuds that stand out in a crowded field of iPhone and iTouch accessories. The nice design features of the nylon cable and the built-in mic make the Z.buds an excellent value at $79.99 USD. The lack of any instructions or any quick-start guide, the easily misplaced button loop and a short 4.5 ft. cable are my only real concerns. These points keep the Z.buds from receiving a higher rating. But my overall listening impression and usage experience with the Z.buds is quite a positive one, and so I feel confident in recommending them.

Pros: Overall enjoyable sound quality, great design features, built-in mic works well, $79 USD is an excellent value.

Cons: Lack of quick-start guide, button loop pops out easily, 4.5 ft. cable is too short for my taste.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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