IsoTunes
Last March I reviewed the PlugFones Liberate, which are wireless headphones that also provide 25db reduction in noise. They worked well, but the charger stopped working and the foam tips get dirty quickly. For those reasons, I started looking for a new option and noticed some tool reviewers on Instagram were impressed with ISOtunes. I reached out to the company for review but was too impatient and decided to buy a pair on Amazon. A week after I started using them, ISOtunes got back to me and sent me its ISOtunes and ISOtunes PRO models for comparison.
ISOtunes. What makes these earbuds worth looking at is that, besides connecting to my phone over Bluetooth, they have an ANSI-certified 26db NRR, so I can use them when I’m using power tools. I can also take calls and the “background noise-canceling microphone” does a pretty good job. This model is IPX3 sweat and splash resistant, so I don’t need to worry if I’m working in the heat and sweaty. Battery life is rated at about 4 hours of playback or talk time. This is frankly just not long enough for me. Earbuds need to last at least an 8-hour shift in case I have no down time to charge them.
I love the little case that the earbuds come in. It includes a charging cord and three pairs of the Comply foam eartips, three pairs of soft rubber eartips, two pairs of SecureFit tips, and Cable mini-clips. This product comes with a 1-year warranty and you can send them back within 30 days for a full refund. A little feature that I like is that the ends of the tips are magnetic so you can wear them around your neck “clicked” together when you need to take them out and not lose them.
They sell for $54 on Amazon.
ISOtunes PRO. This model features 27db NRR, 10 hours of playback, apX high-definition audio playback, noise-canceling mic, and IPX4 rating. Additionally, they have a wire that can be adjusted around the ear to hold the earbud in place.
I’ve been using this model all summer and I love it. It is easy to put in. Similar to foam ear plugs, you just squeeze the memory foam earbuds, insert them, and hold them in place for about 30 seconds. They’ll expand and you can begin to hear things get quieter. I use these for listening to podcasts while I take walks in the woods near where I live. (As an aside: I highly recommend Planet Money).
If I’m doing layout on the job, I can put these in and listen to music and focus while the crew keeps working and listening to their music. I have found that I can easily use them for 8 hours and they don’t run out of power. They connect to my phone quickly, and I can take calls and no one complains about the voice quality.
The package comes with a nice little round carrying case that holds the earbuds, charging cable, three pairs of the Comply foam eartips, one pair of silicone eartips, and cable mini clips.
You can buy them in black or orange for $90 on Amazon. They have a 1-year warranty and can be sent back within 30 days for a full refund. I have no trouble recommending this product. The only issue I’ve had is that the left foam ear tip doesn’t expand as well, so it’s time for replacements. I’d just buy some at the same time that you buy the unit itself.
This article originally appeared on JLC’s sister site: Tools of the Trade.
