Altec UHP326NP Lansing Backbeat Titanium Noise Isolating Earphones

These are the headphones that the leading consumer's magazine recently rated above phones (full-sized and "in-ear" style) listing at 3-4 times the price. First of all, lest there be any confusion (though Amazon has apparently fixed the problem), these phones formerly were being listed on separate Amazon pages (and at different prices) as the Altec 326 and the Altec 326NP. The 326 claimed to use "Ultimate Ears" technology whereas no mention of that was made with the 326NP. ("Ultimate Ears" is the company that makes true audiophile IEM phones at ultra-high prices.) Some quick research yielded the conclusion that the two Altecs listed on different pages are the same headphones--from the cloth-mesh cable to the noise-isolation feature to the 8-piece fit kit and, above all, to the "Titanium-enhanced speakers." Altec's website confirms it: there's only one set of "Backbeat Titanium" earphones.

The Altec Titaniums are mid-priced, excellent-sounding earphones being sold at...Read more

Pro: The sound on these is great. I work in an office in noisy manufacturing plant, and the noise canceling works good too. BUT...

Con: The wire is covered in a stiff weaved sheath. Any time I move and sheath drags on the collar of my shirt (or anything else) it transmits a LOT of noise directly to the ear buds. It is LOUD. I would not have bought these if I could have tested them before buying.

If you don't move around alot, they are great. If you are constantly turning you head they are not.

These are the best sounding earbuds I have ever owned. The noise passive noise cancellation is great, you can work in peace and quiet and not hear the people in the next cube, or the 9000 times the phone rings while they prance around the office.

The ONLY con is the sheath for the wires. They used a tough fabric to protect the wire, but the problem is the noise that is transmitted up the line to the earbuds can be a bit much.