thinksound On2 wood on-ear monitor headphone (natural black)

Video review:



Review by soulsikreviews.com

INTRODUCTION

Wooden headphones are not only nice looking but they theoretically improve acoustic performance. Therefore, wooden headphones have always been so popular. However, the ones you will find are usually expensive or cheap with a lot of problems. Problems that arise with wooden headphones is not a small one. There are often cracks or dents that happen naturally occur due the nature of the woods. However, this is something that even happens with higher end wooden headphones. It takes perfect craftmanship to build anything with wood and make it last. Therefore, I took quite a while to test these headphones out. Thinksound On 2 headphones took my brutal tests and survived without a dent or a scratch. What is more outstanding is, even though it is quite small, every part of the headphone screamed “quality.” With my “reviewer eyes” that looked at the headphones for any fault turned into eyes that of a child, looking at a toy that he really wants.


ABOUT THINKSOUND

You can get a glimpse of what kind of product & costumer service Thinksound provides with what they state on their website. You can trust every word of it after this review.


On there website:


It all starts with the sound.


We started thinksound™ to make headphones that we would want to listen to; and we’re not easily satisfied. They not only had to sound amazing; they had to look good, feel comfortable in your ears and be designed and manufactured responsibly too. We gave ourselves quite the challenge. Back when we set out to do this; it was unheard of in the audio industry.

Over the years, other companies have taken notice. They’ve copied the design, the packaging, the accessories, and even have taken text directly from our website and catalog. While these companies and their headphones may try to look similar; it’s only skin deep. The sound, what matters most, just doesn’t compare. Don’t take our word for it either; read the reviews on our site.

We’re a small company. We work hard to make extraordinary products and offer them at affordable prices and we back all of this with unmatched customer service. We’re not happy accepting “good enough” and honestly you shouldn’t be either.


Thank you for supporting thinksound.


DISCLAIMER
This review unit was sent to me for review purposes. My reviews will as usual contain no bias

SPECS

• Hand crafted natural wood housing for accurate music reproduction
• Award-winning thinksound™ signature acoustics
• Two (2) 4.5’ long detachable cables – (1) with mic control and (1) without
• Single button microphone + call/music control for mobile communication
• Compatible with iPhone® Android® and more (see thinksound.com for details)
• 5Hz-22kHz frequency response, 50Ω, 40mm dynamic driver
• 3.5mm steel reinforced gold plated stereo plug for increased sound clarity
• Passive noise isolation minimizes ambient sounds
• Kevlar® reinforced, tangle-resistant fabric cable
• Memory Foam ear pads for maximum comfort and wearability
• Flexible metal headband with comfortable faux leather overlay
• Storage pouch included and a two (2) year limited warranty


THE BUILD QUALITY

Honestly was not impressed when I first received the headphones because it had a lot of plastic parts that rather felt cheap. But over time, I realized how light yet sturdy these headphones really are. The plastic on these headphones reminded me that of the plastics on vmoda headphones which are almost indestructible.


The headband is plush. The pads are plush and soft. The weight distribution on your head is perfect. Combine all these factors and at the end of the day, you get one of the most if not the most comfortable on ear headphone.


The Wooden housing/cups on these headphones are gorgeous and every corner of the wooden cup has the perfect curves that are glossy yet, retains all the nice wooden grains that will look very nice on your head. I put these headphones through several tests including but not excluded to temperature change, which is the primary reason for cracks. However, these headphones stared right back at me with “perfection.” I could not see even a small crack or better yet, I could not imagine one.


It comes with 2 cables, same length, one with a control and one without. You get a choice of having a control or not but not the cable length, which is quite odd but I cannot complain about the cables quality. Both cable quality is Kevlar reinforced tangle free and are fabricated. In another word, you get to keep them for a very long time.


Every part of these headphones scream quality more and more as time goes by, except for the carrying case that will destroy any headphone if you put them inside your bag with your heavy books. Please get another carrying case if you plan to get these.


SOUND QUALITY

These have unique but very pleasant sound signature that one might hate or just fall in love with. I personally found it hard to hate.

Lower Frequencies: The bass punch is very dynamic and tight out in the distance. Unlike other on ear headphones, the bass are not in your face, which I quite enjoyed. The lower frequencies also extend quite low for an on-ear headphone, which surprised me. By no means, the sub-bass do not extend as low or have more body to it than a full-sized headphone. For portable use, these have enough “fun” and bass for anyone to enjoy.


Mid Frequencies: The Mids are quite clear with the strings and vocals a step forward. Everything is done correcting with imaging being amazing but we will talk about this later


High Frequencies: This is where it gets interesting. The trebles are in your face but not in a sibilant way but in the most pleasant and detailed way possible. These destroy many of the on ears and maybe even full-sized headphones in terms of the details in the highs.


Soundstage & imaging: the soundstage is amazing for an on-ear. I would say these destroys many of the on ears in terms of two things. The soundstage and imaging. The imaging is amazing on these headphones but do not get better than “full sized” headphones. They do very well where they can and for portable use, you will not need to look anywhere further if what you are looking for are these two things.


Overall Thoughts


I was quite impressed with this wooden headphone. One last word. Dear thinksound, “please make full sized headphones JUST like this.”

After reading numerous positive reviews of the On2, I took advantage of a visit to New York and stopped at Audio 46 to try them out. Tony helped me at the counter and I spent about 1/2 hour comparing them to my best on-ears, which are also highly rated. The On2s were clearly superior, and not by a small margin. The real test came when I got home and plugged them into my Burson desktop headphone amp/DAC. I had been hoping to get on-ears that gave me a similar musical experience to my beloved Sennheiser HD650s. Well, these Thinksounds do it. While on-ears can't be expected to compete in soundstage with over-ear-open phones like the HD650, the On2 does come pretty close. And they actually beat the Senns in midrange/treble clarity and detail. All the while they are very similar to the Sennheisers in easy-to-listen-to musicality - with no annoying distortions whatsoever. After two weeks of listening I am very pleased and have no problem recommending the Thinksound On2. I fully understand why Stereophile gives them a Class-A rating, right next to other brands costing several thousand dollars.

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I was never a really big fan of on-ear or supra-aural headphones in the past. They always seemed to be uncomfortable or not offer a proper seal granting the full sound or decent noise isolation. My stance changed when I got the chance to review the Jays u-Jays a while back. They really surprised me with their build quality and balanced sound presentation. So when I had a chance to test the Thinksound On2 I went into it reservedly optimistic but still a little dubious. What happened next? Well anyone with a lick of sense should have an idea already after seeing my final rating but if you want to know how I came to that conclusion then read on friends.
 
About Thinksound
 
According to the Co-Founder and president of Thinksound Aaron Fournier the company was formed

"to make headphones that we would want to listen to; and we’re not easily satisfied."

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Not only that but they also wanted to make their products using Eco-friendly materials which I think is an admirable attribute for any manufacturer and to top it off they offer discounts on future purchases if you send in your old Thinksound product for their recycling initiative.
 
Disclaimer
 
This sample was sent to me for the purpose of an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product. I'd like to thank Thinksound's Aaron Fournier for the opportunity to test the On2.
 
The On2 can be bought directly from Thinksound's website here for $199 USD and comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
 
Thinksound website
 
 
Packaging and accessories
 
What's in the box:

1. On2 headphone
2. Two (2) 4.5’ long detachable cables – (1) with mic control and (1) without
3. Canvas storage pouch
4. User manual

 
The On2 comes is a plain white box that is both simple and elegant. On the front is a nice, detailed image of the headphone along with the product name. Over on the back is another image as well as specifications, accessories and features.
 
Upon removing the outer sheath we're greeted with another plain box made of unbleached cardboard adorned with a single Thinksound logo. Opening this reveals a canvas storage pouch that is useful for transporting or storing the headphones when not in use. Inside the canvas bag are the two provided cables and user manual. Under the canvas pouch sit the On2 headphones in a cardboard inlay, in their folded configuration. First impressions make a difference and the presentation of the On2 is done very well. It's a coherent, practical package with the colors and materials used hinting at the Eco-friendly and earthy nature of the product.
 

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The provided cables are Kevlar reinforced and braided or fabric covered. They're extremely lightweight, tangle resistant and of good quality. The length is perfect for portability at around 1.37 meters and they roll up easily and sit well well in use. There is also very little microphonics present when in use. One of the cables has an inline remote and microphone and both terminate in a straight, 3.5 mm gold-plated plug adorned with the Thinksound logo. These are of really high quality and are some of my favorite headphone cables to date.
 

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Build, comfort and isolation
 
It's immediately apparent the first time you hold it in your hands that the On2 has excellent build quality. The headband is covered in a smooth pleather material with Thinksound stitched onto the top side.  On the underside of the headband is some padding which at first glance looks a little thin but due to the light weight of the headphones and stellar ergonomics the any pressure is evenly distributed across the head and ears. There is a notched adjustment slider on each side and on the right side you'll notice that the inner side of the clamp has a red face. On the outer side of the right clamp is a little red square with an R marking. Both of these obviously indicate the right side and while very easy to see when you're picking up the headphones they're barely noticeable when you're wearing the On2. It's little touches like this that give me warm fuzzy feelings inside as it shows the attention to detail that the designer has given to their work and it adds to the end user's experience.
 

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Moving further down the sides the arms are made of matte black and slightly textured recycled plastic that not only feels durable but leaves no unsightly fingerprints from handling. Onto the ear-cups now which are crafted of wood and feel every bit as good as they look. Each side is engraved with the Thinksound branding but it's tastefully done and actually complements the natural finish of the wood.
 

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The ear pads are the same smooth pleather that adorns the headband. There's a good amount of thickness to them and they're soft to the touch. They do a pretty good job of covering my larger than average ears and after a few days use they softened up even more and now I find them to be really comfortable even during extended listening. They're attached to the headphones by a clever locking tab design and can be attached or removed with a simple twist. Removing the ear pads reveals a steel mesh that covers and protects the driver. Replacement pads can be bought from the Thinksound website so if the original ones get damaged, lost or worn over time they're really easy to replace.
 

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As I hinted at above, the On2 is a very comfortable headphone, especially for a supra-aural design. With its even lightweight distribution, low clamp force and generously thick ear pads I found I can wear these for hours on end very easily. Because the cups are designed to be folded up for storage or transport they have a good range of rotation and tilt so they sort of settle themselves in the optimal position on your ears. The cable adds to the comfort as it is so light and doesn't pull down on the phones while you're wearing them. Thinksound really hit the ergonomics out of the park here.
 
When it comes to noise isolation these do surprisingly well. The pads are big enough to cover large ears and there's enough clamp force to hold them in place and get a decent seal. The natural density of the wood blocks out a good amount of sound making the On2 the perfect companion for a noisy environment or a bus/train ride.
Sound
 
Sources used for testing:
 
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Mrobo C5 V2
Benjie X1
Acoustic Research M20
PC/MusicBeen > Audinst HUD-MX2 > Phatlab Sassy2 > On2
 

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Amping:
 
This is a very easy to drive headphone and will sound great even straight from a budget DAP or mobile phone. I didn't notice any significant benefits from throwing more power at them. Having said that however the On2 does reflect the quality of the source you're using and will shine even more when using a good quality DAP or DAC.
 
Summary:
 
Airy, non-fatiguing, engaging and balanced is how I would sum up the sound of the On2. There's a surprising amount of resolution from these and they pick up minute details even at low volume. They sound great with every genre I task them with showing a great depth and agility across the board.
 
Detail:
 
The On2's bass has had a bit of a boost but doesn't try to wow you and is well controlled which isn't surprising as they're part of the monitor series. There's a reason that wood is one of the most favored materials for speaker cabinets and that's due to its inherent resonance properties and density that gives music a natural timbre (and besides that it looks awesome).  The bass is punchy, fast yet still has a natural sounding decay and a real texture. Kick drums and bass notes have a well defined edge that resonates beautifully in the wooden ear-cups. Sub-bass reaches satisfyingly low levels yet is masterfully balanced within the overall sound spectrum. Simply put the On2 has one of the best tuned basses I've heard in the sub $200 category. There's enough drive to bring EDM and hip-hop to life and it's conservative enough to not become overbearing in rock and acoustic music.
 
In "Frosfall" from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim OST the On2 shows a rich fullness in the stringed instruments and orchestral voices but still manages to sound uncolored and natural. I wouldn't call the midrange forward but it certainly isn't recessed - again it's that hovering around neutral yet musical balance that the On2 achieves so well.  Vocals sound great on these too with natural tonality and just the right amount of warmth for male voices although there's a very small range in the upper mids that sometimes borders on being a little thin but for the most part I didn't notice unless I was looking for it. There's great instrument separation and spacing within sounds and the small details that sneak into the music continue to surprise me.
 
The treble is another strong point of the On2 bringing just the right amount of liveliness without becoming strident or peaky, however I did notice that in The Pineapple Thief's "The Final Thing on My Mind" the high hats were a little lacking and  the timbre of some of the cymbals sounded a hint off-kilter. This is just nitpicking really as for the majority of music I've listened to they were spot-on and at no point did they display any sibilance and bring enough in the highs to convey excitement.
 
Soundstage is neither particularly wide or narrow but there's a good perception of space in all directions and imaging and positioning are precise. I feel that the ample thickness of the ear-pads help generate some airiness while keeping the imagery accurate.
 

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Comparison
 
On2 vs Jays u-Jays ($119 USD on Amazon):
 
These both have a well balanced sound. The u-Jays are slightly more intimate and mids are a little more forward than those on the On2. The On2 sounds a little more airy, probably because of creating a little more space from the ears due to their thicker ear-pads. Both have remarkable build quality and great comfort with the On2 having the slightest edge in comfort because of its softer padding on the headband. The u-Jays punch well above their price and come very close to directly competing with the On2 when it comes to sound. If you want more forward and intimate mids or looking to spend a bit less then the u-Jays might be right for you and if you want a slightly more neutral sound with an eco-friendly build then the On2 meets those requirements. You can't go wrong with either one.
 

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Conclusion
 
Recently I met up with a good friend of mine in a coffee shop. He's not an audiophile and has only ever bought budget off the shelf earphones. I'm forever boring him with my never ending gushing over my latest IEMs or DAPs. I asked him if he'd like to hear the On2. He acquiesced and since he's a bit of an old-timer and hails from the USA I chose "Hotel California" from The Eagles' Hell Freezes Over as I wanted something he'd definitely be familiar with. When the song was finished he took the headphones off and asked me what the price was. After I'd told him his next words were "Where can I buy some?" This is a true story and will hopefully give the reader some insight on the immediate impact the On2 can have.
 
They're comfortable, compact, portable and have a charming, detailed and clear sound. On top of that they're environmentally friendly and carry a high degree of build quality. For anyone looking at buying an on-ear headphone under $200 I would unreservedly recommend the Thinksound On2.
 

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