I am somewhat a tech geek. However, I am fairly new to headphones or speakers in general. These were my first pair of "real" headphones and I spent ages in the process of deciding which pair to buy. There are lots of fancy words to describe the sound of headphones, yet I always found it hard to imagine it. I don't know what sound signature I like, because I never really cared until recently. This review is aimed at people like me - people who are getting started with headphones and never really had a good pair of cans.
First, they look really nice (got them in black) and feel very durable. Fortunately, they ARE very durable.I tend to throw my cans into my bag or on the bed without looking what else is there. This way they naturally get squashed a bit or rub against my keys. I lost two pairs of cheaper headphones this way. Not the XS, they might have a few scratches, but they still work flawlessly. If you are not as lazy as I am, they also come with a carrying case. It's really nice, sturdy as the cans themselves. I use them mainly on the go and I think that's where they really shine. They have a pretty good isolation against outside noise, but I can still hear cars on the street or announcements in the train if I need to. They are also very light. I almost could forget that I am wearing them if it weren't for my glasses. They apply some pressure on the head, but not so much that it hurts. If I put my glasses off I can wear them for hours. However, with glasses on they can hurt after an hour or two. Usually this is the time it takes for me to arrive where I want to go, so I can take them off. But every once in a while I have to put them off because they just hurt. This is a minor flaw, as most otherheadphones I tried hurt after 30 minutes or even earlier. So maybe that's just me.
They are all nice and sturdy, but what really matters if you pay so much for headphones is the sound. I tried some competitors: the Solo 2, the Momentum On-Ear and the Focal Spirit One. They were all ok, but the XS pleased me the most. As I stated in the beginning, I find it hard to describe sound. They just sound right. If you need a more detailed description of the sound just read the other reviews. When I bought them I was mainly listening to Metal and all of it's sub-genres. Since I got them I also started appreciating Jazz and Classical a lot more. Ok, they are not really meant for that. They go best with any kind of modern music. But they convinced me with these more traditional genres as well. Because for the very first time I could stand the sound of acoustic instruments. Never before I had cans that were so clear and so balanced. Of course there are headphones with even more clarity and balance, but the XS were like an epiphany for me. Suddenly, I could feel the music. I could feel the strings of a bass guitar vibrating. It still gives me chills.
They managed to broaden my musical horizon. If a headphone can do that, it has to be good. And the XS just did.
First, they look really nice (got them in black) and feel very durable. Fortunately, they ARE very durable.I tend to throw my cans into my bag or on the bed without looking what else is there. This way they naturally get squashed a bit or rub against my keys. I lost two pairs of cheaper headphones this way. Not the XS, they might have a few scratches, but they still work flawlessly. If you are not as lazy as I am, they also come with a carrying case. It's really nice, sturdy as the cans themselves. I use them mainly on the go and I think that's where they really shine. They have a pretty good isolation against outside noise, but I can still hear cars on the street or announcements in the train if I need to. They are also very light. I almost could forget that I am wearing them if it weren't for my glasses. They apply some pressure on the head, but not so much that it hurts. If I put my glasses off I can wear them for hours. However, with glasses on they can hurt after an hour or two. Usually this is the time it takes for me to arrive where I want to go, so I can take them off. But every once in a while I have to put them off because they just hurt. This is a minor flaw, as most otherheadphones I tried hurt after 30 minutes or even earlier. So maybe that's just me.
They are all nice and sturdy, but what really matters if you pay so much for headphones is the sound. I tried some competitors: the Solo 2, the Momentum On-Ear and the Focal Spirit One. They were all ok, but the XS pleased me the most. As I stated in the beginning, I find it hard to describe sound. They just sound right. If you need a more detailed description of the sound just read the other reviews. When I bought them I was mainly listening to Metal and all of it's sub-genres. Since I got them I also started appreciating Jazz and Classical a lot more. Ok, they are not really meant for that. They go best with any kind of modern music. But they convinced me with these more traditional genres as well. Because for the very first time I could stand the sound of acoustic instruments. Never before I had cans that were so clear and so balanced. Of course there are headphones with even more clarity and balance, but the XS were like an epiphany for me. Suddenly, I could feel the music. I could feel the strings of a bass guitar vibrating. It still gives me chills.
They managed to broaden my musical horizon. If a headphone can do that, it has to be good. And the XS just did.
