I was contacted to see if I would be interested in reviewing
these headphones and agreed to do so. It’s been some time since I’ve owned a
pair of headphones and to be honest I’d always opted for the very inexpensive
brands in the past. This was due in part to their being affordable but also
because I tend to be far too rough with my headphones. I’m one of those people
who accidentally rolls from one part of the room to the other so immersed in my
music I forget I have them on.
Since the last pair I purchased there has been a dramatic
interest in headphones and they’ve gone from a good pair for $20 to pairs that
exceed several hundred dollars. I’m sorry but I’m still not ready to shell out
that kind of money for headphones. If I worked in the recording industry maybe.
But the truth is while I enjoy using headphones quality for the price is more
of what I’m inclined to look at when purchasing them. There is also the fact
that I am not a sound technician. I am the average Joe on the block looking to
see what sounds good. No bells and whistles, no technical equipment to measure
frequency and the rest, just two ears to listen.
So rather than hook up modulators and the like I decided the
best way to determine if these headphones were worth their salt was to try them
out with some music. That is what most people will be using them for. And
rather than try them on one single or one album (yes I’m old and still call
them that) I would try them out on several songs from various styles. Would
they hold up to heavy metal but not soul? What about classical or folk? So here
is what I found using various songs.
“You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC. Great. The bass came
through but wasn’t overpowering. Lead guitars were crisp and clear. Vocals came
through as intelligible. The drums were fine and the cymbals rang. All in all
this song came through perfect.
“I Robot” by The Alan Parsons Project. The song starts low
and soft and that was there with great mixing back and forth from left to
right. Again the bass came through without being the only thing I was able to
hear, one of my biggest complaints with headphones and sound systems in the
past. As the melody came in all parts of the composition could be heard clearly
and clean. Another perfect sound
experience.
“Pink Moon” by Nick Drake. The opening guitar chords
strummed away and I closed my eyes. I was transported to a smoky nightclub or
campus center where I could hear everything as it was meant to be, Drake
playing in an intimate setting. The headphones allowed me to go there, offering
superb quality sound that brought it all together.
“Déjà vu” by Crosby, Still, Nash & Young. One of my go
to songs for harmonies, something that doesn’t always transfer well when
listening to headphones. One that I listened to on headphones for years. The
harmonizing of the four singers combined sweetly through the headset. Guitars
solo and background sounded real. The bass was there but not overbearing.
Another plus mark for this headset.
“Elevate” by Winery Dogs. Great bass on a level playing
field with the lead guitar. Bass drum pounding beneath it all. Other drums and
cymbals beating wildly and with clearness not usually found in headphones.
Vocals clear as can be. Once again a perfect sound experience.
“Spring” by Vivaldi. The concert hall came alive. Lows,
highs, midranges all came through loud and clear. Violins came through sweetly
and the orchestra around them added much support clearly and cleanly.
That gets me through the sound experience but what about the
rest of what makes a good pair of headphones? To start with on a comfort level
these were better than headphones I’ve had in the past. The cushions used allow
for maximum comfort without applying too much pressure. They also provided
great sound enclosure preventing sound from not only being heard by others but
from stopping sound from coming in as well. When your wife comes in and tells
you she’s been calling for you from the other room for the past ten minutes you
know the sound canceling works better than she would hope for. The tangle free
cord was a feature I loved as well having dealt with far too many coiled cords
that did little more than wrap themselves up after a single use. Perhaps it
would have been nice if it were a little longer but I can take care of that on
my own with an extension cord. The case the headphones come in is nice as well
providing a protective location for them to reside in when not in use.
As I am not a game player and was using these for just
listening to music I can’t tell you if the built in microphone on the cord
worked well or not. But it seems like most headphones these days require that.
My entire experience with these headphones was exceptional.
Are they worth the money? At a list price of $79.99 on amazon but marked down to
$19.99 I would say they are way more qualified for that sale price. They are
quite possibly worth the $79.99 price tag. If you’re looking for a pair of
headphones that will fill the bill of what is required for a basic set then
this is something you should look into buying.
No comments:
Post a Comment