Review on 🎧 MEElectronics A161P In-Ear Noise-Canceling Headphones featuring Balanced Armature Technology (Discontinued by Manufacturer) by Tracy Thrash

I needed a replacement for my Sony noise isolating headphones (forgot the model but they mostly sold for $60 at Best Buy and was best 2 years ago). My top requirements were: 1) Noise canceling headphones 2) Improved sound all round but more mids and less bass (too painful when I have migraines) 3) Less than $100 ($50 ideally) 4) Comfortable to wear. .com for ideas, followed by in-depth audiophile reviews and comparative tests of 100 products. I narrowed it down to a few options and wanted to buy the 151 because it seemed great overall for $50. But then I saw a comparison matrix of different MEElectronics offerings and settled on 161. Sound quality I was amazed when I first used it! The sound is so rich and crisp - vocals are crisp and I can hear nuances like snare and hi-hat echoes. I have a lot of music in different genres and it's like hearing every song for the first time! The bass level is ok. I can finally hear hip hop without the pounding in my head! I've seen a comment that the bass sounds flat, but that's only true if the original recording didn't capture/articulate the bass from the start, i.e. bass guitar, toms and/or kick drum. However, if you really want to boost the bass, an equalizer can help. Denon has a great free mobile app. You can easily adjust/align in real-time with your fingertip on your iPhone or iPad. Well, if you have a classic iPod, you'll need to play around with the presets a bit. (I don't worry about setting it up.) I prefer it to my bulky gaming headset. Modern games often have atmospheric ambient noise such as bullets ricocheting and hitting the ground, grunts and labored breathing, echoes in caves, sound traveling left and right and just about everywhere - I can hear the smallest audio details very clearly. My gaming experience has really improved. If sound can be three-dimensional, then it does it very well. It's perfect when I'm on a train or in a car full of loud, obnoxious people. I sat near the wings during a 4 hour plane flight - engine noise was muffled with them. I doubt you'll ever be able to really block out plane engine noise, but it helped A LOT. Next to me there was neither snoring nor bored, chattering children. Also, with my previous Sony headphones, I've heard so many unwanted vibrations when walking (for example, if I occasionally wear clogs) or chewing (if you've been underwater, for example). At 161 this is negligible. Comfort I hesitated to buy headphones online. It took me several trips and exchanges to Target and Best Buy before I found my previous Sony headphones, mainly because most of them were very uncomfortable. 161 are VERY comfortable. There are 6 headphone sizes to choose from. I use small triple flange mics that fit perfectly. Microphone At first I wasn't sure I needed one, but I'm glad I have one. It's a great replacement for my Motorola Bluetooth speakerphone (which I would have to take out of the case, put on my ear, then turn on Bluetooth on my iPhone and pair - not ideal while driving). Microphone 161 is ready for use. I can be heard well on the other line, and I can hear the other party well too. (Note: If this is your first time answering a call with the feature enabled, make sure the earbuds hang a little in your ears - the audio is pretty loud! Otherwise, you'll be fine with a little adjustment.) Wired microphone. the rest of the way. For this big $$ I was expecting something more stable overall. The 151 cable had good reviews for durability, so I'm not sure why they didn't bother to do the same with the 161. I guess the thinner part would have helped minimize the noise propagating through the cable when you're using the cable again. Microphone Still sensitive. I usually wrap the cable around my MP3 player when I'm done with it. I felt fine for the first 5 months but recently I accidentally stretched it so now there is a tear on one ear piece exposing the wires. :( Otherwise, I like these headphones. I think if you're the type that likes the austerity and doesn't care about the mic, get the 151. If you're the type that takes the time to put the headphones on in a protective case and use the microphone, 161 Worth the price Conclusion: These headphones are amazing!