Monster's iFreePlay cordless headphones for 2G Shuffle

Monster Cable has been known to dabble in the world of iPod accessories before, and while it's easy to give the company notorious for over marketing its flashy cabling knocks on just about anything, the iFreePlay contraption doesn't look half bad. The cordless wraparound headphones don't deviate too far from similar alternatives, but rather than communicating with your DAP via Bluetooth or RF, you can snap your 2G Shuffle right into the left earpiece and run along. The collapsible headphones weigh just 1.6-ounces, and while you do sacrifice some style for utility here, we've most certainly seen worse. So for runners looking to ditch that awful iSoundCap and avoid getting tangled all the while, Monster's iFreePlay apparatus can be picked up now for $49.95. Click through for a few more angles.

[fitinferno @ May 23rd 2007 11:07AM]

That's brilliant...now if they make the Nike-plus audio only and let me plug it right into the top of that shuffle, I'll be in absolute running bliss!

[Tim Hunt @ May 23rd 2007 11:07AM]

Pusiing the boundries of Cordless should be the Headline!

[Ben @ May 23rd 2007 11:31AM]

That's actually a pretty neat idea ... proprietary but cool indeed.

[paloooz @ May 23rd 2007 11:53AM]

Proprietary? Do you honestly expect them to make this work with every MP3 player out there?

The headphones are just for 2G iPod Shuffles... nothing else.

[andy @ May 23rd 2007 11:39AM]

Good idea, but aren't like 85% of all people RIGHT handed? You have to reach around to your left ear to skip to the next track. I'd think touching your right ear with your right hand while running would have been easier.

[ocsiri @ May 24th 2007 11:54AM]

is not so hard to do it with your left hand...i dont think thats relevant and sure monster had their reasons

[Rick Lyon @ May 23rd 2007 11:59AM]

Affordability from Monster? Ahh, the not included special batteries must be $150.

[doctorSpoc @ May 23rd 2007 12:23PM]

man that looks pretty dorky! i'm not running around in public with an iPod shuffle sticking out of my head... heavy head phones, made even heavier by the iPod.. that is REALLY weak!

[Wokkus @ May 23rd 2007 12:33PM]

the 2g shuffle weighs 15 grams a.k.a. .55 ounces there captain... that's not heavy AT ALL

just give in to the fact that those headphones look good and honestly wouldn't be awkward at all

[doctorSpoc @ May 23rd 2007 12:50PM]

@Wokkus...

they're... Dorky & FUGLY! and heavy compared to ear buds... and anyone that's actually used earphones for exercise knows that over the ear headphone are hot and fill up with sweat.. c'mon they look like something from those airline mags... like those radio-earphones things... go ahead and get them, but don't blame me when everyone laughs and points...

[Jean-Michel Decombe @ May 23rd 2007 1:08PM]

Much more mug-friendly that way. At least, the whole thing can be gracefully ripped off your head without leaving any scars. Life is precious.

[Wokkus @ May 23rd 2007 2:52PM]

first of all... regardless of what you look like you should be proud of yourself for working out and running with them when most of the word doesn't stay in shape. If people are laughing and pointing they clearly have nothing better to do than concern themselves with headphones that make life more convenient and wireless. If you really are that concerned and bothered about people commenting about your headphones that you wouldn't even consider buying them then I feel bad for you.

[Wokkus @ May 23rd 2007 2:54PM]

oh and by most of the world.. i mean the U.S. pretty much...i can't speak for other countries.. cuz i guess we kind of have a health issue :-p (statistically speaking of course)

[bwbagaga @ May 24th 2007 2:15AM]

The UK is statistically more obese than the USA.

[jRojas @ May 24th 2007 8:56PM]

Very smart and cool

[eric meyer @ May 24th 2007 9:51PM]

hey i'm curious if anyone has ever used these headphones while mountain biking. I need to know how secure they are and if ipod would skip while going over tough terrain. if so, these phones would be sick as hell and for great deal. oh ya, does anyone know about the battery life or how it's powered? thanx.

[richep @ May 25th 2007 2:25PM]

hey eric, I don't think anyone has a pair yet, they just started shipping yesterday, I'll let you know when mine arrives. As for the skipping that's not an issue, the shuffle is flash based, no moving parts no worries. as for battery life they just work like any other headphones (powered by the device) again not an issue, you can get 12+ hours out of those gen II shuffles. Should be good, I'm gambling a whopping $49.00 that they will be.

[JeFinNYC @ May 28th 2007 10:59PM]

Yes 85-90% of the people are right-handed, but Monster probably figures people using these headphones will be carrying things in their right hands like water bottles, beer cans, and/or cigarettes, so it makes sense to put the shuffle on the left ear to me! (Left-handers rock!)

[Ian @ Jun 5th 2007 3:21PM]

Using cordless headphones to prevent your beer drinking and smoking hands from getting tangled in cords is brilliant.

[bobbybang'emDalla Valle @ Jul 6th 2007 9:51AM]

If people think they look 'dorky" I feel that all depends on who's doing the looking and who's wearing them. I think they look/sound great and are totally cool overall.
As for my own observations.... I need to know if anyone knows if the foam earpieces are replaceable as over time I would think that sweat and normal wear and tear over the course of a year or two may cause them to erode and gradually fall apart. Also, I feel that for Monster to make this product totally perfect they just NEED to balance the right side by adding 15 grams(approx. weight of shuffle) of weight. When in use with shuffle, shuffle weight seems to cause the headphones to remain slightly tilted to the left on the wrap around part at the back of the neck so they DO fit just a little crooked unless you adjust (pull) them downward tightly. Other than that they really do perform and look great.