Polk Audio UltraFit 2000

The influx of exercise headphones and earphones in the last year is an encouraging development?for too long, the category suffered from ill-fitting options with meager audio output. A surprise player in the gym-friendly game is Polk Audio, whose UltraFit line is the company's first line of headphones altogether. The Polk Audio UltraFit3000 ($99.95, 3.5 stars) earphones are the top tier option, but we actually prefer the UltraFit 2000 . It's a pair of on-ear headphones rather than in-canal earphones, but the price, $69.95 (direct), is far lower, and the audio performance is actually better. Most quality gym options are in-ear, not on-ear headphones, but the UltraFit 2000 is an exception to the rule, and is almost strong enough to give our recent Editors' Choice for exercise earphones, the Sony XBA-S65 ($89.99, 4 stars), a run for its money.

Design
With an all-black plastic design featuring red circular trim on the earpieces and a gray, flat linguini-style cable, the UltraFit 2000 has a striking-yet-simple visual appeal. (There's also a white model with orange accents.) The fit of the lightweight, on-ear headphones is quite comfortable and secure, aided by foam earpads and the barely-there feel of the over-ear plastic loops. Unfortunately, the behind-the-head band is not adjustable. This means there will likely be some negative space between your scalp and the band itself. It's nice if you don't want your hair to be touched, or if you exercise wearing a cap. However, the band often taps against things behind your head, like your hoodie or the back of a seat, which can be annoying. The headphones still stay in place, but you've been warned.

Unlike most earphones with built-in iPhone (and iPad or iPod) controls, the UltraFit 2000's buttons are not concentrated in a small compartment on the cable?though there is a compartment on the cable that houses the microphone. Instead, the Play/Pause button, which also answers or ends calls, and the Volume controls, which also can be used to skip backward or forward to new tracks, are located on the outer panel of the right earpiece. Unfortunately, this means you can't see what you're doing, but most in-line cable controls are so close to your face that it's difficult with those options too.

The UltraFit 2000 comes with a rather large padded mesh carrying pouch, a shirt clip, a connection adapter for Nokia phones, one pair of silicon earpads, two pairs of foam earpads, and one pair of cold weather shearling earpads?a nice array of extras for a budget-priced option.

Performance
Of course, the nicest surprise is not the included accessories, but the strong performance of the UltraFit 2000, which is actually better than the more expensive, in-ear UltraFit3000. The low frequency response is impressive for a $70 pair of headphones?deep bass tracks, like the Knife's "Silent Shout," do not distort, even at maximum volume. Even better, the bass response is articulate, never muddy or overly boosted. Clarity, in fact, seems to be the highest priority with the UltraFit 2000. Classical pieces, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," are delivered with a focus on the mids and highs. Even when there are lower register drum hits, the higher strings and percussion shine and steal the show. The audio performance is particularly well-suited for modern pop, hip-hop, electronic, and rock mixes, which is another reason they're ideal for workouts. However they're not the best-sounding exercise pair, the Sony XBA-S65 earphones win that award. Nonetheless, the UltraFit 2000?are the best-sounding pair of?headphones?for the gym I have tested, and their low price is impressive.

Still, headphones?especially at the gym?aren't for everybody. Sound leakage is a problem and, at higher volumes, you will broadcast your musical choices to anyone nearby. This is likely less of an issue at the gym than, say, on the subway or bus. But this is also something to keep in mind when fielding phone calls via the headphones?it's possible you won't be the only person who can hear your conversation. (The call quality, by the way, is subject to the clarity limitations of the phone you're using. That said, the UltraFit 2000 seems a tad clearer than most other iPhone-friendly options we've tested.)

If in-ear is your preferred style, the aforementioned Sony XBA-S65 is a great exercise-focused pair, but they lack built-in phone controls. The Monster iSport Immersion In-Ear Headphones ($179.95, 3.5 stars) and Sennheiser's CX 680 (now $89.95, 4 stars) both offer washable, water-proof designs that the UltraFit can't quite compete with. However, neither of those options can match the UltraFit 2000's excellent price. If you're looking for an on-ear headphone pair for the gym, this is the one to get?and luckily, it's a steal.

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