Pros: Great sound, comfort and noise isolation
Cons: Poorly designed cable and not very portable
*Before reading, please know that I'm very new to Head-Fi and I've never written a serious review before. Thanks!
Overview
I bought these headphones after months of on and off research and consideration. I wanted a really high quality headphone that my iPhone and desktop computer could drive without the bass-heaviness of Beats by Dre (I listen to mostly rock of all types) and I didn't want to spend more than $175. After having these for 3 months I think I can now give a good input on these. To keep things concise, here are my pros and cons with these headphones:
Pros
- The sound is amazing! Since I've owned these, I've probably gone through most of my rock-dominated library. These headphones give very clear highs, mids and lows. Acoustic songs are incredibly crisp and clean, bass-heavy songs are powerful and booming, and the instrument separation is clear and precise. In comparison to my friend's Beats Solo HDs, these are much more accurate and dynamic overall.
- I can't stress enough how comfortable these cans are! The ear cups are a very form-fitting and light foam covered by a soft and flexible leather-like material. The headband is covered in the same material and is also very comfortable. I can wear these for several hours without my ears getting hot or any other discomfort.
- The sound isolation is another huge plus. These have truly better isolation than the headphones that I use for drumming, which are Howard Leight Sync headphones.
- I really like the design of these headphones, which is what attracted me to them in the first place. I love the high quality materials and just the overall look of these.
Cons
- One of my only peeves is the cable. I do like the flat cable style, but unlike the rest of the headphone, it feels really cheap and has caused a few problems. My main problem with the cable is the volume slider. I haven't seen this in any other reviews so it may just be my pair, but the volume slider will create a static sound or short out one side. I have to be really careful about it, because it usually takes me a minute to put it back to the original position. I also would have preferred a detachable cable and I wonder how long the cable will last me. I have to be really careful with it
- Just a minor thing, these are not very portable. They don't fold, and these are pretty big headphones. I would have at least expected a carrying pouch or something, but whatever.
The bottom line
I'm not an audiophile by any means, but I am really picky when it comes to headphones. These are awesome headphones and I use them almost every day at home or whenever I'm on an airplane. I'd recommend these to anyone who wants a well-balanced, well made, comfortable and stylish pair of headphones for less than $200 (I think one color is $100 on Amazon now). I wouldn't recommend them for everyday travel or commute or if you can't handle a not-so-durable cable. For me these are pretty close to perfect. Out of all the headphones that I own (Urbanears Plattan, Sony MDR-NC40, Howard Leight Sync, Skullcandy Hesh, and some Altec earphones), these are by far the best and my favorites. Definitely check em out!
Thanks for reading!
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