I love my iPhone a lot, but when it comes to the included headset... not so much. I find it uncomfortable and its sound quality mediocre at best. But until I got a V-MODA Vibe Duo headset I hadn't found anything that satisfied all three of my needs/wants, namely:

• audio quality
• comfort
  and
• functionality at least equal to the Apple headset

The V-Moda Vibe Duo, a stylish earphone/microphone combination, hits the trifecta.

Audio quality: The Vibe Duo earphones sound much better than the ones that came with my iPhone. Make that much, much better. The low frequencies are lower yet cleaner while the mid and high frequencies are warmer and more natural sounding. Or, as V-MODA puts it:

VIBE Duo offers superior technology that enables a sculpted response curve fashioned for the discerning audio enthusiast, providing a precise balance of rich bass, warm mids and unprecedented clarity. Utilizing V-MASQUE dynamic driver technology, VIBE Duo achieves a precise yet natural soundstage in comparison to other high-end earphones. BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicon) technology further reduces outside noise for a precise and rich bass response (frequency 12Hz to 22Hz).

All I know is that music sounds much better to me through these earphones than through the Apple ones.

Comfort: The Vibe Duo comes with interchangeable soft silicone earpieces in three sizes as shown here:

Photo courtesy of V-MODA.

The ear pieces are indeed quite soft and make the Vibe Duo much more comfortable than the one-size-fits-all Apple headset (which is more like one-size-doesn't-fit-all when it comes to my ears). Furthermore, the Apple earbuds are bigger around and get uncomfortable after only a few minutes of use while I can listen to music through the Vibe Duo for hours without discomfort.

Functionality at least equal to the Apple headset: To achieve this a headset must meet two criteria.

First, it needs a button that does the same things the Apple headset's button does -- single click to pause and play music and double-click to skip to the next song in iPod mode. And in phone mode a short click should answer an incoming call while a longer click should send it directly to voice mail.

Second, its plug should fit into the iPhone headset jack without an adapter, just like the Apple headset.

I'm happy to report that the Vibe Duo passes both tests with flying colors.

Another thing I like is that the Vibe Duo is quite stylish and not white. In fact, it’s available in three different colors -- GunmetalRouge (top), Nero (bottom left), and Chrome (bottom right) -- as shown here:

Photos courtesy of V-MODA.

Last but not least, V-MODA offers a 100 percent risk-free satisfaction guarantee on its products. You can't ask for more than that.

The Bottom Line

If you're dissatisfied with the sound quality or comfort of your Apple iPhone headset, the V-MODA Vibe Duo is a wonderful alternative.