Review: iFrogz Timbre for iPhone

review by Bill Palmer

Some folks refuse to listen to any speaker systems but those made entirely out of wood, favoring the more natural sound that such systems provide. And based on the ones I’ve tested over the years (Vers 2x, Speck Retro), I can understand why, as it gives what might be described as a more “human” edge to music that these days is typically recorded, produced, and played back in an otherwise all-digital capacity. iFrogz has taken that same concept and improbably applied it to iPhone earbuds in the form of the $49 Timbre with mic (also available for $39 without the mic).



What initially appeared to be a mere styling choice instead turns out to be the real deal: these are wooden earbuds that offer up that same natural sound you get from wooden speakers. And while I’m not about to give up the significantly more expensive, better-sounding-overall iPhone earbuds that I use most of the time, I really appreciated the Timbre’s unique sound. If you’re the type who thinks that CDs and MP3s sound too warm, then you’ll really get a kick out of these. The rest of you may appreciate the Timbre or may not.



Setting aside the wood factor and judging them on overall sound quality, the TImbre is doesn’t quite measure up to Scosche’s $49 IDR350m but is on par with Macally’s $49 HiFiTune and the Radius $49 Atomic Bass, which is to say that the Timbre is near the top of the pack in terms of audio quality at this price point, although not quite at the top.



Close enough, though, if you think the wooden sound is something you’ll prefer to that of traditional earbuds.

Learn more about the Timbre at iFrogz.com.