Review: Altec Lansing MUZX Classic Earbuds

I’m a beast when it comes to earbuds. Whenever I get a new pair of earbuds, they rarely last a few months before I need to get a new pair. Most recently, the pair I decided to get were a set of Altec Lansing MUZX Classics. At $29.99, they were a little pricier than the cheapo brands I usually get, but I had a bit of extra cash on hand and I figured I’d give them a try.

My favorite feature, by far, is the cloth-covered cord. Since I usually keep my earbuds rolled up in my pocket, they have a tendency to get tangled around things like my pocket knife or loose change – rubber- or plastic-coated cords almost always end up tying themselves into knots, meaning I have to spend five or six minutes untangling the cord every time I want to listen to music.

The cloth-covered cord of these Altec earbuds is a little heavier than the cord used on most earbuds, which seems to help prevent most major tangles. When your cord does get tangled, the cloth provides a textured grip that makes untangling them a breeze, and the durable cloth makes the Muzx Classics less likely to suffer fraying than the cords on other earbuds.

The sound quality is fantastic. There’s no rattling or static sounds found in some cheaper earbuds, and the Muzx Classics provide a wide range of deep bass beats and higher notes.

With 16db of sound-dampening, these Altecs provide more noise cancellation than some cheaper earbuds, but not so much that you’re completely isolated from the world around you; generally, I consider this a good thing, as I like to still be able to hear a certain amount of background noise, but it does make it easier to ignore annoying sounds like screaming children. Most importantly, because of the noise cancellation, I can actually hear my music when I’m in a crowded restaurant without needing to crank my volume up to dangerous levels.

The Altec Muzx Classics have those little gel tips that are common in several earbud models these days, and it comes with a small baggy with a variety of tip sizes so you can find a set that fit your ear. Personally, I found the default tips fit pretty well, but like all gel earbuds, they have a tendency to slide out of your ear if you get the slightest bit sweaty, or if you’re engaging in any activity that has you moving faster than a steady walk.

Aesthetically speaking, the Muzx Classics have a sort of charcoal grey color – they aren’t quite black, but they’re pretty dark, so they look good with most things. If you’re a fan of Apple’s stark white product lines, these earbuds won’t look as uniform as a pair of white earbuds, but they’ll still provide great sound.

At $29.99, the Altec Muzx Classics are a bit pricier than some cheaper brands like JVC Gummys, but the price is definitely worth it – you get a solid pair of nice-looking, comfortable earbuds that provide fantastic sound quality without sacrificing durability.