review: Thinksound TS02+mic Earbuds

These days, due to lack of interest from most iPhone and iPod users, we rarely bother reviewing earbuds that don’t come with some kind of on-board controls for playback, volume, and making calls. We made an exception back in 2009 for the Thinksound earbuds, and for one reason: they’re made of wood. This all too rare design choice gives your music a feeling of being less digital and more natural, and while that’s not for everyone, it’s nice to see the option on the market. The even better news is that Thinksound has gone back and added a mic and button to one of its earbud lines, with the result being a new generation called the TS02+.

Actually, the TS02+ has more over the previous TS01 than just the addition of on-board controls, as the already crisp audio sees improvement with the new generation. Among the various wood-based earbuds I’ve tested, the TS02+ now pretty clearly stands as the best option.

Are there drawbacks? Sure. There are competing earbuds in this price range (not made of wood) which offer better overall audio quality; in other words, you’re paying a premium here for the natural-sounding factor, which means you need to make sure it’s something you really want. And as we head into 2011, the single-button controls of the TS02+mic just barely cut it, as three-button are almost standard at this price point. But if you don’t care about the extra two buttons for volume control, and if you place a premium on the kind of natural-sounding audio from wooden earbuds, then the TS02+mic earbuds are worth consideration. As I said, they’re the best-sounding wooden earbuds I’ve tested to date.

review by Bill Palmer

rating: four stars out of five • Thinksound.com

About Bill Palmer

Bill Palmer is Editor in Chief of Beatweek Magazine. His editorial contributions include interviews with musicians and iPhone industry coverage.