Sensible Listening

I cannot live without music. No matter where I am or what I am doing, I need music to be playing (probably because there was never a moment growing up that I did not hear some kind of folk-rock band being played throughout the house). Most people are content with little iPod ear buds, while others go for the over-sized headphones that are a mass of plastic and other non-biodegradable parts and packaging. I essentially stopped listening to my iPod unless it was hooked up to a dock or speaker system, since those little buds did nothing except leave me with an earache, and I really did not want to walk around campus with a massive headset on.

That is, until this Christmas. I got these little guys:

Definitely one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. Produced by a company called Timbre Sound, these thinksound ts02+ ear buds are not only compact and comfortable, but they sound fantastic and are eco-friendly. They're 8mm high definition and have noise isolation and a pause/play control, which is great for when I'm in an office setting. Oh yea, and they are made out of wood! The packaging is from recycled cardboard, so just pop it into the recycling bin if you don't want to keep it.

Here is a statement from the company, printed on the back of the box.

"Sound with a Conscience: thinksound (TM)  began with a simple goal; to create incredible sounding headphones with the smallest eco-footprint possible.Our headphones are made of real wood, creating a more natural resonance and unaparalleled acoustics. We choose as many renewable resources and recyclable materials as we can to minimize our overall environmental impact."

Now, you are probably wondering how they actually sound. Does a sensible product sacrifice quality sound? No! These headphones have a fantastic sound that is in part due to the interchangeable ear pieces. The package comes with four sizes, xlarge to small. I tried all of them before deciding on which ear insert I wanted. The best fit creates the best sound for the listener and since they are made from silicone, it won't hurt to keep them in for as long as you want. The package also includes a cotton carrying pouch to keep the little guys safe during travel and transport.

The only thing I cannot tell you is how much they cost, since they were a gift. They were ordered on-line, so I'm sure the Google could find them for you. Definitely look into it and make your listening into sensible listening.