i’ve been using the Etymotic Research ER*6i Isolator earphones for about 4 weeks now and i have been duly impressed. This is another product of the Silicon Valley 100.

If you’re like me, you’ve been struggling to find good quality headphones that are highly portable. So last month I went to CES with a mission to discover the best headphones. I tried out a bunch of headphones (and shared my ear wax with way too many people).

I came across the Etymotic Research ER*6i Isolator earphones and immediately fell in love.

The pros: My top two criteria are portability and noice reduction. Noise reduction comes in very handy while listening to Weird Al Yankovich and Right Said Fred on my mp3 player and running by the noisy San Francisco streets. A few independent tests shows that ER’s noise cancellation matches electrostatic headphones that cost several thousand dollars.

The cons: If you are afriad of putting something in your ear, you might not like these. And the headphones only work well when they are inserted properly (read the instructions).

Mac Daily News has a good review of the product including a sighting of President Bush using the headphones with his iPod.

So Bose headphones are amazing for listening to music at home. they are even good for a plane (though they are a bit bulky). but you cannot work out in them, go for a run, or be mobile. the ER*6i Isolators are the answer.