Inline features

How good are the lead controls?

The Audiofly buds include a single button on the cord that offers the standard iPod/iPhone compatible inline controls, so that you can accept and end calls, skip forward to the next track with two taps in quick succession and skip back to a previous track with three taps. There are no volume controls, though. The same goes for the Sony button remote, which feels oddly cheap and plasticky against its strong, serrated cord.

The Klipsch remote supports all the functions above but offers substantially separated volume controls as well, while the same can be said of the AKG and RHA buds, with the latter being easiest to control in the dark thanks to its ergonomic, moulded design.

As noted, the Vibe earphones offer no inline controls at all, so there’s no facility to change track or accept/ decline a call without taking your iPhone or iPod out of your pocket, let alone change volume on the fly. This presents a particular challenge if your handset is tucked beneath coat and scarf in cold seasons.