Bose intros IE2, MIE2 and MIE2i in-ear headphones, only charges an arm for 'em
By Darren Murph 
posted August 17th 2010 5:48PM
posted August 17th 2010 5:48PM
NEW BOSE IN-EAR AUDIO PRODUCTS
Engineered for Improved Audio Performance and Stability
Bose has introduced three new in-ear products: the IE2 audio headphones for listening on-the-go, and the MIE2 and MIE2i mobile headsets, designed specifically for music-enabled mobile phones. Each is engineered with proprietary Bose technologies for improved audio quality, and feature new Bose® StayHear™ tips for greater stability and a comfortable fit.
The IE2 audio headphones, and MIE2 and MIE2i mobile headsets (which are not noise cancelling or sound isolating) offer an enhanced acoustic design using a more sophisticated application of proprietary Bose TriPort® acoustic headphone structure. Music sounds smoother and more natural, instruments have better detail and definition, and high frequencies and vocals are reproduced with improved clarity.
For improved stability -- during exercise or other rigorous activity -- each new model debuts proprietary Bose StayHear tips. They attach more securely to the headset itself, and then remain more securely in the ear while in use. Designed with soft silicone and a rounded profile, they fit easily inside the bowl of the ear, while naturally conforming to the upper ridge of the ear. Three sizes are included -- small, medium and large -- ensuring a comfortable fit for hours of listening.
The IE2 audio headphones can be used with a variety of audio sources, including MP3 players, personal computers and digital music players. The MIE2 and MIE2i mobile headsets offer an additional benefit -- taking calls with ease from music-enabled mobile phones. They feature a convenient in-line microphone and one-touch answer/end button for seamless switching from music to calls and back. While the MIE2 is compatible with many mobile phones -- including all iPhone models and many BlackBerry devices -- the MIE2i was designed exclusively for listening to and control of select Apple products, including the iPhone, iPod, iPad and MacBook Pro. Its in-line microphone provides access to certain voice applications in Apple products, and the in-line remote lets users adjust volume and navigate through stored music directly from the headset.
The IE2 audio headphones and MIE2 and MIE2i mobile headsets were constructed and manufactured for lasting quality. From the ear tips to the cables, they have been tested to meet demanding standards for durability. A carrying case is included for added protection and convenience.
Bose® IE2 audio headphones replace the Bose in-ear headphones, and are available on August 23, 2010 for $99.95. The Bose® MIE2 mobile headset replaces the Bose mobile in-ear headset, and is available on August 23, 2010 for $129.95. The Bose® MIE2i mobile headset will be available in October, 2010 for $129.95. Along with the new StayHear™ tips, each new model comes with the original ear tips for a more traditional fit and look. They will be sold at select authorized Bose dealers, Bose retail stores, www.Bose.com, and toll free at 1-800-444-BOSE (2673).
About Bose Corporation
Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar G. Bose, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, the company is primarily known for acoustics, however, its research has resulted in products for non-audio fields. Bose inventions have improved the performance of:
· Loudspeakers
· Home entertainment systems
· Automotive music systems designed for the interior acoustics of each car model (first introduced by Bose)
· Noise reducing headsets for pilots and the public (first introduced by Bose)
· Sound in public spaces
· The production of sound for musicians requiring electronic amplification of their instruments
· Materials testing and durability simulation instruments for biomedical applications
· Driver suspension systems for heavy-duty trucks
Craptastic
What would happen if Bose and Monster merged?
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA well they'd be overpriced because of monster and bose, great because of bose, and terrible build quality because of monster
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6cS92ZfChA
@The Geek
They'd be terrible because of Bose. They suck at making IEMs. Monster has at least released the half decent Turbines and the very good Miles Davis Tribute Turbines.
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
You would get crappier (is that a word?) quality at even higher prices and you can read about how great hey are while you flip the pages of scientific american or gq
@The Geek
They might be ok, but the street consensus from people who actually sample audio products from a range of makers over on headfi and other places seems to be that bose often costs more for less sound than competitors. And the reason most people give favorable reviews is that they are coming from much worse, but if they tried X/Y/Z brand they'd be much better off and get more detail.
Personally, I picked up the Klipsch S4 iems as they were generally rated around the top sound quality to be had under 100 bucks. But like most things, people often go for branding over merit (where I define "merit" as sound quality first and foremost over apps... on what is primarily a music player first and foremost.. but lets focus on whether it has apps !! >__< , (read ipod nano over sansa clip, ipod players over the sony/cowon players)
Didn't know an arm costed $129.95..
@Metacognition
You people can hate all you want, but I have the previous version of these earbuds, and they sound absolutely amazing. They're priced competitively given what similar-sounding earbuds are priced at, too.
I'd love to see any review comparing these to bargain earbuds that found any bargain earbuds anywhere near the sound quality of these as one poster alluded to.
Bose has plenty of bad products. These aren't one of them.
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
You would get products that are over priced and no better than the competition. You know, a new version of Apple.
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
What would happen if Bose and Monster merged?
------
What if Apple joined - it would be like a gangbang - iFeel sorry for the customer.
@Ayepecks
It might be good. But, for that money, I'd rather go for headphones from Etymotic Research.
Any informed audio enthusiast knows how it goes :
Better Off with Something Else
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
They'd be a marketing driven company sort of like... oh I don't know, Apple?
@E30 Kid I agree Mile Davis is one of the best sounding IEM in market but calling turbine half decent couldn't be more wrong. MTPG/MTPC are almost as good as Miles Davis. Some people ever prefer them over Miles Davis.
@The Geek News Flash - Bose IEMs don't even come close to Monster top of the line IEMs in terms of sound quality. Go and audition them at nearest retailer. You'll take your word back.
@Metacognition Bose makes some of the best sound equipment. Some of it is overpriced, but none of it is crap.
@Matt314
They do not have the best sounding equipment. There products aren't garbage but I don't like how they try to pass themselves off as the epitome of sound quality when there are so many better sounding products out there for the same price or even less.
@Bervick No, any informed audio enthusiast is smart enough to know that sweeping generalizations about a company's products do not always add up, as plenty of good companies have made crap products and the inverse. You're just another uninformed consumer basing your opinions off of the opinions of others, as you clearly have never used the previous version of this product.
@Ayepecks
As they say: fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
Any Audio Engineer or even Audiophile worth their salt will buy a brand once, and if it doesn't live up to their expectations, never buy it again. It's as simple as that, when you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on equipment that sucks, your not going to risk it twice because "they might be good... THIS time".
In short, nothing you can say will make BOSE any less hated among those in the know, go away fanboy.
Bose AKA the audio division of Monster Cable
@TheRealCJ
FANBOY?! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA -- gasp -- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! All I stated was that the previous version of this product was good and a fair deal. If you were a true audophile, you'd know that instead of basing your opinion on generalizations. Go to Head-Fi if you don't believe me -- even people who hate Bose will admit that the Triport IE is a good earbud.
Maybe next time you start calling someone a "fanboy" you should read all their preceding comments. I clearly stated Bose has plenty of bad products, but that these were the exception.
But, hey, go ahead and be a mindless zombie. Go ahead and hate a product with no actual experience with it. You only make yourself look like a fool.
=snore=
@The Geek You can subtract monster from your post, and it remains just as truthful.
Seriously, I love Bose sound, but their build quality is just horrible with their headphones. Falls apart in 1-2 years, with very light use. Too bad they were the best sounding earbuds I've ever personally experienced.
I would love to give them a listen.
@slipdisc
I had the old in ear model (They broke, and Bose UPGRADED me to their better set of headphones. Thumbs up to them.) But anyway, my main complaint with their sound quality is that the highs weren't clear enough, just decent, and they offered near NO sound isolation. Hopefully they've rectified those issues.
The MIE2 is barely a finger!
@d0mth0ma5
Buy
Other
Sound
Equipment
@Luke Ah, that's the acronym meaning I was trying to remember, I kept thinking
Better
Off
Sucking
Elephants
Which didn't make as much sense. (although still probably true)
@d0mth0ma5 in the press release, it says $129... i hope for everyone's sake i am confused. I really like bose and i'd pay $30 for that build quality.
No highs or lows? Must be BOSE...
@Kmobs You took the words right out of my fingers.
@Kmobs
Is that the best you can do? My home theater system begs to differ. For the money, bose 301s are some of the best sounding speakers on the market.
@s2welee No, they aren't. Countless examinations have shown that Bose continually uses cheap parts in their products, and that their sound quality is equal to budget options.
You're being blinded by the brand.
@Kmobs I think BOSE only has HIGH and LOW but there's nothing in MIDDLE.
@SarnGate
I've actually never seen any tear-downs of the Bose 301s...
Those are the bookshelf speakers they sell...
It's definitely true of the cubes. The only thing big they put into those are the magnets.
I used to have a pair of Bose headphones that sounded good and were extremely comfortable. They didn't sound nearly as good as my Sennheiser 595 Headphones... but they were still nice because they didn't blair out all the sound they made and were the most comfortable headphones I'd ever owned.
Truth-be-told... Bose makes about 600% profit on every Home-theather-in-a-box system they sell... It makes it a bit hard to trust them.
@s2welee You apparently didn't look hard enough. The options that are available at the 301 price range that destroy it in audio performance are numerous.
A claim that the Bose 301 are one of the best sounding speakers out there for the money is a claim that can only be made with a straight face by a Bose owner.
@s2welee
Clearly you haven't owned other speakers, because otherwise you wouldn't be saying that. The majority of Bose products are vastly overpriced and vastly overrated. For example: their trickery with small speakers that produce "big" sound is present in my 30-year old Zenith TV, and it sounds just as good. Before making blanket statements about Bose being the best on the market, maybe you should try some other products on the market.
@asgiov "Truth-be-told... Bose makes about 600% profit on every Home-theather-in-a-box system they sell... It makes it a bit hard to trust them. "
Bose is a privately-held company and you don't know anything about their profit margins. I call shenanigans.
@asgiov
Which headphones did you own? I decided to give their current models a try about 1.5 years ago when I was hanging around a store that sells them. I couldn't believe how bad they sounded, even compared to my friends cheap pair of Skullcandy headphones (which are actually ok, just lacking severely in the highs). They certainly didn't come anywhere close to my pair of Grado SR-80i or Etymotic ER-6i, both of which can be found for much cheaper than the Bose headphones.
no noise cancellation/sound isolating techologies for THAT price? who are they trying to kid?
only idiots would buy these when there are so, so many better options out there at these price points (x > $50). UE, NuForce, Shure, Etys.. the list goes on.
craptastic indeed.
I've tried their previous in-ear headphones. Like many of their other overhyped products, they sucked.
*yawn. At that price, and not even a volume control?
@pika2000
Volume control? That's not a good idea for any headphone, unless it's an external amp.
Be wary of hearing loss due to earbuds. Check here for statistics. http://bit.ly/cvdjiI
@cheese11 I'm just too busy lately to do my own goddamn research, so do you mind giving me a brief summary of hearing loss statistics from in-ear monitors? Earbuds suck, I know that much (and I hate the sound/comfort of them as well).
@cheese11
Beware of BS.
IEMs that actually isolate will cause less hearing loss than using any other headphones. "Earbuds" are non isolating speakers that sit in the outer ear. These can cause hearing loss because they do not isolate noise and music has to be played over the noise instead of being isolated from it.
Blah. Unless they fixed the issue with the ear-buds always coming off, these will still suck.
Had a pair of the previous generation. Although they sounded ok, I kept losing those stupid ear-buds. Switched to a pair of Sure SE210 and have never looked back.
@MrArmageddon
Oops, Shure SE210
Bose earphones for $30? Oh wait $30 MORE... I've heard about typos on here but really?...really!?
@angelnilo06 Same thing I thought.
$99 portable music
$30 phone and portable music (? probably wrong - should be $129)
and $129 Apple tax and portable music (maybe $159)
Something seems wrong there.