TL;DR: Quick version? The SoundLink On-Ear bluetooth headphones are passable to good. I'm thinking these can live alongside my other headphones as my one and only bluetooth offering. They're comfortable and moderately on the light side, but the combo of folded headphone and case is bulky as, and just difficult to take around. The bass is more on the rhythmic side than melodic side, and midrange tends to follow. Sound staging needs a lot of imagination as an on-ear headphone, but it's still enough to get roomy sound from jazz or classical music. They're definitely the most detailed sounding of Bose's On-Ear range, but not historically (Compared - QC15 explains)
 
So, I finally sprung for my first set of Bose bluetooth headphones and decided to go for my favourite form factor for out-and-abouting (that's on-ear incase you're somehow wondering)
 

 
I've already owned the SoundTrue On Ear headphones (which are basically the same amount of enjoyable as my OE2s because....well....they are the same) so I've decided to pop a side-by-side of them on here just in case, as well as review the SoundLink On Ears on their own merit. I'd definitely say to take my review with a few extra pinches of sugar or salt, or your preferred seasoning, as I'm basically still in the "convince myself to keep them" phase (I do still love my mint on-ears) OK, let's stop my procrastinating and start!
 
Ergonomics & Convenience
 
Bluetooth
 
In advance, I'm one of those people that's never had an inherent problem with cables, so I never really get bluetooth headphones because they work over bluetooth. I just get good headphones that I might or might not like the sound of. On that note, I love the fact that these connect by Bluetooth! The controls are in a good position as well, It's still easy to use blind (as in, without looking) one handed and still get what you need. Trust me, there are headphones with a cable that already make this quite difficult, let alone when it's moved to your head. The buttons you can see in the picture live on the back of the right ear cup. A.K.A, in perfect thumb distance. The microphone is also really clear. I've used them for a lot of phonecalls and when I tell people I'm using headphones they just don't believe me! Granted, I haven't used a lot of headphones that have this sort of distance between the mic and your mouth, but they do a good job in my opinion. The only downer is that Siri gets moved to phone audio and sounds awful through the headphones, but it could be much worse. (it does get bad from here)
 
The Case of the Case
 
The headphones fold up, much like everything else Bose make. One thing though, they only fold inwards. They don't fold flat. That takes the case that could be very small (SoundTrue On Ear, anyone?) and makes it double the thickness. Can these fit in a hoodie? Yeah....but it looks like you're very happy to see someone on the train. I ride a bike, so these usually just live in a backpack until I want to use them, but even then they take up a noticeable amount of space. I just can't 'not feel' these when I'm taking them somewhere, and that's a problem for a headphone that's meant to be small and portable. Wearing them neckband mode, however, isn't a bad thing and can work out as an alternative to lugging around the really big case.
 
Audio
 
This is what you really want to know though, right? How they sound? Well, here we go!
 
WAIT!!! Important note, this is the sound over bluetooth, which lasts 14 hours. After this, as an overview, treble and midrange become less forward. Basically, on the cable, they sound exactly the same as SoundTrue On-Ear headphones.....make of that what you will
 
Treble & Detail
 
I always have Nils Frahm on my speeddial of artists to try for this, and Hammers on the album Spaces shows the level of difference you get from Mids up to Treble for me. The subtle differences in brightness between every piano key seem to be present on this, a consumer headphone. Even Nils Frahm's hums over the top quite early into the track and his breaths are audible through these with the piano filling in the rest of the track. It's the most pleasant assault on the ears I could think of when turned up quite high.
 
Using SebastiAn's C.T.F.O as a test of harsh treble, these seem to handle it well compared to other plays into On Ear headphones that Bose have done. The treble has the more metallic feel I'd expect from this track, but isn't overly harsh. It still has a sense of being slightly warmed up by everything else. Trying them out with Home by Gabrielle Aplin, you notice that treble still has the warm Bose sound you expect, just with a little bit more aggression. You notice this mostly with the cymbals and the maracas in the background near the end of the track that are crisp and clean, but still ever so slightly veiled. I quite like it, others might be looking for something more analytical. In all honesty, if analytical is you, stop now.
 
Midrange & Bass
 
I decided to pop these both into one because I just couldn't get to grips with each one individually. Using Joss Stone's 'Drive All Night' as an example, when the song picks up a lot more and the background vocals come in, they still have separation compared to the rest of the track. Stone's voice seems pleasantly intimate, akin to a more forward, narrower QC15 with a bit more fullness from the on-ear fit. The only issue I have is with the Bass. The punch to the drums is definitely there and defines the rhythm of the track....and lets you know it defines the rhythm of the track. The bass guitar however, which I've always remembered as the 'front' of the baseline, is wrongly tamed by the headphones. It's there, and I know it's there, but it's just.....missing it's soul a little bit. It's a shame, because on more modern types of music these excel (my next 'review' as an example) but here is where I feel that there's a little bit missing in a minor but annoying way. As you can tell, I really want to have these burn in and this become a non-issue as the drivers become smoother and get used to moving, but at this time as pretty fresh headphones I'm a little bit saddened.....maybe they'll change....
 
Move it over to something modern, like the Tourist Remix of 'The Wire' by HAIM, and aggression, fun, and some sense of teenage parenting become the way that these headphones live. The lower end of bass (not sub-bass, just lower frequency normal-bass) is on the right side of boomy for my young ears, and the punch that defines the rhythm and pace becomes a lot more welcome with the speed of the track. The headphones also don't seem to have too much of a problem giving the Bose softness a bit more pepper and Red Bull. The synthesised steel drums get a little bit sibilant when accompanied with 20 different instruments, but the SoundLink On Ears keep everything moderately under control. Bass response then comes into it's own and shows that it's still got a place in our hearts, being able to just about vibrate the ear pads (I love that feeling!) but it still doesn't just blindly overpower everything. I can enjoy the musicality of electronic music with these, something which a lot of other bluetooth headphones aimed for the common consumer don't seem to do.
 
Soundstaging
 
Soundstagins is......passable....for these headphones. They'yre not Beyer Teslas, but they still have a slight width to them. Granted, you do have to use your imagination for this one. The start of For-Peter-Toilet Brushes-More gives you a very spacious echoing effect to the synthesiser being played live on stage by Nils Frahm. It stretches quite far, but still feels slightly local to the headphone itself. In their defence, they are on-ear, but in our defence, this should be executed a little bit better even taking into account the restrictions on size of the headphone. Separation of instruments is good when you have a lot, and it can handle quite complicated things. Hell, 'The Wire (Tourist Remix)' is a good example of the style of organised chaos this can give, and Jazz still gives you a good 'room' feel for it's sound staging.
 
Listening to 'Stratsbourg/St. Denis' by the Roy Hargrove Quintet makes me feel like I'm the microphone in the middle that they're all playing towards (and I have an afro, so that could be closer to the truth than you'd imagine) and everything seems to be correct here. The piano sounds like it's a teeny tiny bit behind me, to the left. The drummer's to the left of me asking why I'm drinking vanilla coca-cola like it's water, and the bassist knows how to fill the room. Roy knows he lives on my right shoulder, maybe pointing towards my ear. The soundstage in this track feels like it just about gets to the width of my shoulders at it's maximum. Not bad for On-Ear consumer, but it could be better.
 
Summary
 
Overall, these are good headphones. I quite like them. I think they have a pleasantly forward treble and midrange among Bose's history of On-Ear headphones, and the battery life means that I actually have to remember to charge them occasionally. They are difficult-ish to take around though, having the larger case compared to what I would be used to is a bit annoying and is a limitation on their part, but it could be worse...they could be the size of other branded headphones, or Around-Ear cases.
 
If you're planning on buying these new, I would definitely ask if you ​need bluetooth. Do you need to connect these to two things at once? Do you need to be wireless? If the answer's yes, or 'no, but I really want to' then these are the Bose headphones you're looking for. If you're like me and don't need it, then still consider these for their sound. Over bluetooth, I'm actually debating between the SoundTrues and the SoundLinks (these) over subtle-ish differences.
 
If you want these as a refresh of Bose OE2s or SoundTrue On-Ears just because they're On-Ear and new, I wouldn't. You need to be compelled by the sound of these to want them. The cabled OE2 and SoundTrue OE are still good headphones. I'm still keeping mine just in case I want a bit more uncontrolled fun! Or some minty freshness.
 
Quick-ish Comparisons
 
Compared - SoundTrue On Ear (mint headphones in the picture)
 
Most importantly, the difference is around £70 in the UK. Seriously though, other than the obvious bluetooth thing, the SoundTrue On Ear headphones are much lighter and therefore a lot more 'wear-all-day-able' and have a lovely case that fits everywhere. Jeans? yep. Hoodie? you bet. Under your pillow? Where did they go?!
 
Sound-wise, the SoundLink On-Ears (bluetooth guys) are definitely a lot more.....'equalised' and 'hi-fi' like. The SoundLinks have a sharper and clearer midrange upwards, although that means that by the law of perception their bass isn't as dominant. The SoundTrue On-Ears (minty) tend to wobble a lot more on your ear, so you actually feel the music. That makes them fun for me. They don't have a huge amount of detail compared, but to me that makes them slightly warmer. Their bass also isn't as punchy. Actually that's wrong!! Their bass is the same, it's just that their emphasis is on the melody of the bass rather than the rhythm that the SoundLinks like. Their midrange is the thing you hear more and that's what makes the SoundTrue On Ear more...maybe veiled by comparison.
 
Overall, SoundTrues aren't as detailed, but make up for it in a less forward and more melodious midrange and bass. SoundLinks are overall more accurate, but are punchier for the mid and bass, by adding in some extra treble. Both are aggressive as they can be, and know how to be fun in a controlled way. It's just that the SoundLink Bluetooth On-Ears are a bit on the sharper side, SoundTrue On-Ears are a bit blunter and softer, to veiled on the extreme mean-talk of them.
 
Compared - Bose QC15
 
....Get QC15s.
 
Compared - Bose QC15
 
OK fine, I'll be serious. QC15s are the SoundTrue On-Ears bass and midrange with a much nicer treble compared to all of the other Bose Headphones (including the QC25s I returned) They are detailed, but still have a nice warmth. Sound staging on the QC15s is much wider because they're Around Ear and the speaker is physically further away, and everything's quieter because they are noise cancelling. They're also cabled, with a cable that's a teeny bit on the long side. So when I said get QC15s, it's because sound-wise (which is what matters a lot for me) they are better.
 
Out and about, if I'm completely honest, I manage. Most people who want a headphone to commute with or use as their daily headphone will find these, at the best of times, as large as the SoundLink On-Ears and manage like I do. At worst, they'll find them big, and find that having to use AAA batteries (even if they're rechargable) annoys them. Hell, with a 35 hour battery life on a single AAA though, it's a first world problem for me but is a deal breaker for most.
 
Price-wise, you might be able to get a good condition set used, and some new ear pads direct from Bose for the same price as these. Or, if you want QC25s, you can spend an extra £40 in the UK. My overall opinion: if you want them for noisy environments and want better sound, and don't mind a bit of work to integrate them into life, QC15/QC25 are worth a go. SoundLinks aren't bad, QC15s are just better.

Well, the main reason for this review is that these have been in and out of my grasp at least once (as in I've had them, then debated and lost against myself at keeping them and gave them back) At very least, I thought I'd share my thoughts on them against what are the legendary QC15s to help everyone out a little bit. So.....let's go!
 
Design (and Portability)
 
A very useful and notable change with the QC25s (other than the change to how they look) is that they fold inside to help them fit into their smaller case compared to the QC15s, with a case that will fit them to the extent that they can fold; flat, not inside. Also, the case has a purpose made space for the airline adapter and spare battery you'd most probably (and I'd reccomend you to) take with you.
 

From left to right: QC15 Case, QC25 Case
 
 
 
The QC25s' case being smaller does make it slightly easier to put in a bag and take around with you, especially if space is a premium on any long trips, although if you're travel is the hour or two of commuting to work on the train then you may not notice a huge real-life difference between the two. The main reason the smaller case is both a pro and a con is that inside the new case, after the headphone (folded) is in there and you've got the cable to sit somewhere nice, there's only really space for one spare battery and the airline adapter, whereas in the QC15 case, you have a little pocket that can hold quite a few (I count 5 or so) AAA batteries, and the void where the headphones are still nets you some space for a cable, and maybe some jack adapters and your airline adapter too.
 
Other than the case, the QC25s opt for a fabric cover on the headband as opposed to the leather that the QC15s had, and a black-and-blue striped liner inside the earpads, with a huge L or R on them. The second is something I don't like when looking at them, but perfectly honest is something that's a bit of a non-problem, because nobody (including you) will see them once you're wearing them. Also, the QC25 come in white and cream, or black and slate. At least there's a choice rather than having to wait for limited editions to the "anything, as long as it's silver" on the QC15. They also use a simpler cable that doesn't have, or need, overmolds to fit in to the shape of the headphone. The cable's thicker as well, although now you have to have a remote and mic cable with them. I can see an issue with earlier Android devices that may decide not to output audio to them. Best bet is to try a set with your phone before buying just in case.
 
The cable is still removable but these aren't wireless for audio. You can use them for my sleeping analogy (especially sleeping while travelling if you're brave) in noise cancelling mode without the cable, but if you want some tasty beats, you'll want that cable in
 
Comfort
 
Comfort between the two is pretty similar. Never a bad thing with what I could easily class as some of the most comfortable headphones I've used, and tried. 15s are good when I need to make sure I'm getting good rest so I still look "acceptable" while there's a party next door and I could easily imagine doing the same with 25s. The QC25s ear pads feel slightly different, and clamping force feels ever so slightly tougher on the 25s, but that could easily be attributed to new vs "weathered" sets of headphones. I still wouldn't call these "uncomfortable" in any way, even after a long listening session at home or out and about.
 
Features
 
25s work when they're off! If I'm honest, I personally am not excited a huge amount about this. Yeah, they work when they're off but think of it this way. QC25s and QC15s last for arouns 25-35 hours on a single AAA. If you have a spare battery/spare batteries with you, you're minimum looking at around 55-70 hours of play time with them. That's difficult to burn through unless you forget to turn them off and investing in some good rechargables (eneloops) will mean you're hardly every gonna use them when they're off. This is the non-caveat I have with QC15s and why I prefer they're larger case. I can take three or four of my spare eneloops as well as the one in the headphone with me. Total time - 150-170 hours over 5 batteries. I struggle to be completely out of battery with them, so I never "run out forever." With 25s, you can maybe get three (if you don't mind leaving the battery loose and knocking next to the heaphones) batteries with you (one in the headphone, one in the insert, one somewhere in the case) so you can still get your decent 65-100 hours taking them with you. On a day out, unless you've used a lot of the battery life, you'll only need one.
 
Noise Cancellation
 
Here in London, we have one of the noisiest things in the world. Yep, the Underground. QC15s are already quite good at cutting through most of the background noise and putting your music front and center. On the noisier parts of the tube, the spikes from outside will still seep in, but if you're volumes at a semi-decent level (halfway on my iPhone 5) it really won't bother you. This is where the 25s start to show off what they can do. They're quieter - much quieter. The tube is challenging for lots of things because the sound is never constant, but if the 15s slightly push those spikes back, the 25s do that slightly further, and smooth over them a little bit more. You're music definitely feels more present when there's lots of disruptive noise.
 
I haven't had the financial opportunity to try them on a plane, although I'd imagine that with the constant sound you get on both, you'd mainly see the 25s will definitely quieten down the engine a lot more then 15s will. It's not chalk and cheese, but I'd much rather have a plate of 25 if this was the only metric.
 
Sound
 
This is the deciding one. How do these headphones stack up compared to the 15s. Remember people, this is very subjective, so let me explain my music taste. I'm on the side of R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop and the like, as well as a bit of Jazz, Classical, and probably some Electronic music thrown in there. I'm definitely partial to the warmer, darker side of sound, with a bit of a bite in the midrange and treble, and that's what made me love the 15s. Neither of these are basshead, or analytical headphones as a quick one; they're pleasant and most people will appreciate both of them.
 
The 25s still have that slight sharpness at the treble end, with a slight push forward on the bass response. On the bass response, they're a bit on the loose side compared to other things I've listened to. Voices can sometimes get pushed back into the middle of the instrumentation if the track gives them the opportunity. It gives them a "nice" warm sound with a little bit of a snap to it.
 
With one of my favourite soul tracks, "Drive All Night" by Joss Stone, the kick drum definitely has that smoother punch I'd expect, while Stone's sultry voice still seems to float around slightly more front and center. There is nice refinement to her voice that does give it that slightly lifelike and live feel to make them quite enjoyable. Those keyboard sounds that you get in the background also float around, almost setting the scene of a purple jazz lounge in your head (and with my Afro, there's a lot of space in that lounge.....you guys want to visit?)
 
If you want bass, "A Dream Within A Dream" by The Glitch Mob can get them moving quite a lot of air in that little bubble they make. Soundstaging, the sense of space from the sound, is where a headphone can make this song sound awesome. At a midpoint in the song, a synthesized "saxophone" (if you can call it that) plays in the background. It doesn't seem to have an etheral feel to it as it has on many headphones I'll listen to with this song. They're not completely direct as in "shooting sound directly into your head" but the soungstage doesn't extend as far back as you imagine it could. Some of Bose's on-ear headphones will soundstage to a similar, if not only slightly lesser extent to these which is slightly scary. The bass response is controlled compared to a lot of other headphones in this bracket. Forward given the type of song, but with a fast enough decay not to get in the way of anything else which, with the amount of drums you have in this song, is great. The "glitchy guitar" (that's what I'm calling it!) has a slightly softened timbre to it. I like this, some people may want the slightly harsher sound thrown in. If you're the second type, a quick EQ on the higher frequencies should give that a quick fix.
 
To get more critical with them, with Nils Frahm's "Says," the texture of the synthesizer he's using just about comes through - remember these aren't analytical, there's definitely some detail that gets smoothed over - compared to what I'd get out of my Denon AH-D5000's at home - the Denon's are about one and a half times to twice as expensive though. This is quite a good thing in a way with this song because at moderately loud to loud volumes, it doesn't become completely unchained and assault you with what can be harsh tones on sharper headphones. The soundstaging from the headphones, although wider than expected, isn't as expansive as I thought it could be again. The notes on the synthesizer, especially as the song builds to the end, all seem to be coming from the same-ish place on the left and the right with the bass from the lower notes becoming, strangely, subtly pushed further back within the complex arrangement. The headphones are still enjoyable with this song unless you decide you want to listen critically, in which you turn into what I do; someone who looks for anything you didn't like (I had to re-listen a lot before these things started to get me)
 
Overall, for a Noise Canceller, these sound good enough to use as your dual use home headphone for many genres of music, as well as your travel, commute, and general "shut-up world" headphone. And they can become a very enjoyable headphone to have a listen to, with enough detail and push to get you through some semi-speedy rock music, as well as refinement that works well for your jazz or soul. You have enough punch for your electronic music too. The only thing you may not get is a huge soundstage. It's acceptable and will be "good enough" for most of your musical needs however.
 
How about when they're off?
 
When they're off, you'll lose a lot of the top end, and a lot of the bottom end. They'll sound slightly muffled. Bass won't be muddy, it'll just be reduced in it's overall quantity. This doesn't make them analytical, they're just not as clear and not as heavy. A lot of the soul that makes them legendary kind of goes away, so this isn't a mode you'll "want" to listen to, but one you'll listen to inbetween changes of batteries, or recharges of your eneloops or other rechargable AAAs
 
Sound - Compared to their Dad
 
25s replace 15s. 15s are definitely in two of my lists. They're my favourite Noise Cancelling headphone, and they're among my favourite headband style headphone with the only things better being those that are both more expensive and don't actively cancel noise. So, how are they when faced off against each other? Remember, this is my subjective afro-based opinion.
 
I prefer the 15s
 
Honestly, I listened to the 25s and felt that there was "something missing" rather than a difference. The 15s, although less forward with their bass, seemed to have a bit more refinement and a more laid back feel which I love. The detail on them was slightly better; the mids on the 15s seem a bit less forward than the 25s which doesn't mean you lose mids - it means you gain a bit more detail and crispness. Most important to me is that these both come in with a noticeably different soundstage. They're wide enough that you do feel that bit more immersed. To me, you gain utility but go sideways or, in my opinion, slightly downards in sound.
 
Summary - The "Short Review"
 
You're going to love the 25s, just as much as you'd love 15s if I'm completely honest with you. Best bet, if you have the opportunity go out and try them with your own stuff. My opinions are based on the fact that I'm particular with the sound of them, and that I still expect my NC headphones to blow my socks off. After having the 15s do that, I expect the same from the 25s and you probably won't get that. You're talking two headphones that are very similar. Once you pick one that becomes you're blueprint at this level of NC, and differences can easily become negative rather than positive.
 
I'd definitely say the foldability of the 25s is good, even if it means you can't fit as much into there now. The thicker cable also means you're gonna be spending less on maintenance on the headphones. The NC is also a big boost compared to what they've done before; enjoy the even quieter silence.
 
Sound wise, you've got a slightly more direct, less "dark" and more "warm" headphone compared to previous QC around ears. Soundstaging exists, it's just not as prominent as you may have previously experiences. An ever so slightly more "common denominator" rather than "niche" type of sound overall I would say. Minor differences to most of the community. Treble is still in the same amount in a way, if not slightly reduced, and you're mids and bass go up a bit more in quantity. Not basshead, but you end up with a less detailed and rounder sound as a result. When they're off, everything becomes masked under a cloud of not being powered (and therefore actively equalised)
 
Content with your 15s? You might be better off keeping them and spend that money on a new set of ear pads and a cable. (unless you try them and prefer the 25s) If you don't own either one, I'd say it'd be worth getting the 25s. The little additions for utility, ability to work when you've forgotten to charge up, and possibly more "universal" cable make them better than having to try to find a good condition 15.

Cowon've ventured into android before, and with the D3 plenue, it was thought that they'd hang up and stick to their own OS, but they've brought out the Z2, and it does android right!
 
The first thing is the fact that, because of Android, the Z2 not only has a much easier to use (and learn) interface, it means that you have the opportunity to switch around nearly everything. From the music player, to the home screen, and everything inbetween. The only down side is that, because Cowon aren't Google Certified, you don't have the Play store, but that it something that can be remedied if you were to root the device. By doing so, you do unlock the potential of the phone a bit more.
 
It also feels a lot nippier than even the J3, from the responsiveness of the touchscreen, to how fast it actually does things on the screen. Unlike the D3, the Z2 is actually kinda fast. Sure, it's not exactly a powerhouse like android smartphones out there with their dual and quad-core processors, but it'll still handle most of what you can throw at it. The only thing about it running Android is that you sometimes get a slow moment here and there, but it's nothing that being patient for an extra 3 seconds won't fix.
 
The great thing about the Z2 is it's connectivity. It has Bluetooth and Wifi, meaning you can use it as an iPod-touch-a-like with apps, the internet and such, with the obvious penalty to battery. Bluetooth handles not only audio, but file transfers as well, so you might be able to get all your music on by bluetooth if you're short on time and have your phone with you as well. It also has a micro-HDMI out, meaning if you wanted to listen to your music on the big screen, you could do it in a little bit of a sharper way, instead of having to use what's becoming a slightly dated composite output. It doesn't have a line-in, however, so if you wanted to record from a line level signal you'd probably need to wait to see if something in the future does it.
 
The design of the player is a little bit of a "love it or hate it" thing. It's got a simplistic design to it, quite rectangular with a part that comes out at the back to give it that "floating design." I don't really mind whether it looks like it floats or not, but it does make it a little bit easier for me to hold. A lot of people do say that it makes it a little bit harder to hold, but it's probably one of those things you'd get used to. The door for the Micro HDMI, SD and USB actually becomes a kickstand for the device, so you can keep it propped up for when you're watching a video. Something quite useful.
 
The only way to describe the SQ is that it's classic to the Cowon line of players, in that you have the same, if not slightly more freedom in the effects you can get in JetEffect 5, and that pretty much makes it a good pick for a new PMP.
 
The biggest gripe I have is the battery life, in that it pretty much lasts a day or so of use (pretty much comes close to it's 22 hour battery tag when you have it at brightness level 1) compared to the J3's 60+ hours of music use, and even the iPod touch's quoted 36 hours. I do think, however, that if you're using it as your portable player while you're in the city, on the way to and from work, you'd barely notice a change, except that you'd most probably need to charge it every night or two instead of every 4 days or something.
 
In general, if you're looking at Cowon players, and you're looking for something new, the Z2 is pretty much the choice to make, it's quite a light player, that can give you a great sound for whatever it is that you need to drive. Is it a complete J3 replacement? No, but it does come close enough

There's a reason that I put the look in both sections. That black and white stripe design looks really good, but might take some getting used to for some.
 
In general, I can understand the slight "ewwww" response to Bose headphones, and owning two probably makes me seem like I don't belong here, but these earphones do actually break the classic trend. Time for a review.
 
Audio Quality
 
Right, so the main bit of the review. I listen to a lot of different tracks, and there are some where I actually do think "wow." For a set of headphones at their price, they're actually quite good. When I first tried them out with my phone, they weren't the greatest things in the world, sounding a little bit thin, and muffled. A weird combo. 
 
Bass
 
I've been trying these out for a few months, however, and I realise exactly how they sound. They probably start to lose their stage fright after you get a few hours through them. The bass you get on these is just about enough....not exactly strong or weak, but good enough when they're put on a flat surface. (no EQ basically)
 
Mids/Highs
 
The clarity on them, and the way it separates different sounds on the higher end is quite good. Literally, I listened to Joss Stone's "Music" today, and only just noticed a specific "maraca" like sound on the right ear. Also, listening to "Love Lockdown" (Kanye West) really got a few more of those drums out during the outro section. A track I played so much of with my TMA-1s I actually enjoyed the same with IE2s, except for the lack of a free ear massage. There are some times where my mind adds things into the track I know are there, but don't come out, which saddens me, because I'd think that they'd do a bit more of the thinking for me.
 
Isolation vs Comfort
 
This is something noteworthy. These don't sit in the ear-canal like other in-ears would (such as my NC-300Ds, and a lot of other in-ears out there) so they don't isolate as much really. Meaning, that if you're like me and use them while you commute on the metro, you end up turning the volume up quite a lot. It does, however, make sense when you are on the move, because the little wing on the tips means that they don't fall out a lot. Personally, I think that the comfort makes more sense for me, but I would definitely suggest trying them out for yourself so you can see what I mean.
 
Summary
 
The IE2s are good, definitely giving you an "ever-so-warm" sound to your music. The fact that they stay in your ear makes them very useful if you're on the move as well, although it's one of those headphones that you end up loving or hating. Even if you're on the "grrrr....Bose" thought, I would say that if you're looking for a semi-inexpensive set of in-ears, to consider these as an option

I've had these for a month and a bit, and now it's time for me to review them!
 
Audio
 
Most important from these is the audio quality. From stock they're a quite balanced headphone, with the classic on-ear phenomenon of a slight bass boost. They have a nice attention to detail, and a semi-shockingly wide soundstage for a small headphone. Not exactly on the same level as around-ear or open headphones, but sometimes I get a bit of distance with the quieter sounds from my tracks.
 
Bass
 
The bass goes quite low and, yet again in classic Bose fashion, stays just below your radar. It's there and adds a bit of warmth and depth, but doesn't blast it out. The only thing is, and with some of my bass-heavy hip-hop tracks, I can hear that they want to try and pump out that lower bass, but just gives up and gives a little bit of a shake. (Nearly makes me cry, because I do actually like these headphones a lot)
 
HOWEVER! Even with some of my very boomy tracks (like J. Cole's "Grown Simba," or Blackmill's "Evil Beauty") it can perform quite well, but I can hear it start to struggle sometimes.
 
Highs & Mids
 
For this, I use one of my simpler, but more complicated classical tracks, prime #7 (on a soundtrack for a game called Echochrome, in case you want to do some self-auditioning ) The viola and violin come through very clear, even when the viola hits it's higher notes, and when all the string instruments come together the mids still have some separation to them. Something which I like a lot about these headphones.
 
Equalisation notes
 
For all of the head-fiers out there who use a combo of their iPhone/Smartphone/MP3 player or something, with an EQ, these are very very resistant to any device-centric equalisation to the point that I can push the lower bands up on my phone, and they'll sound pretty much the same, but then refuse to do bass. So I'd really say that if you don't like the sound of these, there's hardly anything you can do.
 
[size=medium]Design, [/size]Build and Comfort
 
In classic Bose fashion, these headphones are extremely comfortable and light. Genuinely, for on-ear headphones, these are comfortable. I could wear these all day, and I want to, because they're more comfortable than air! The extra padding on the earcups (compared to the original OE headphones) and the lower clamping force makes them seem to lift off of your head. Sometimes (and that might be because of my hair) the earcup seems to slightly twist your ear.
 
The build quality is quite good as well, quite a sturdy plastic construction that's still quite light. The only thing is, the combination of a light headphone, with just enough of a clamping force means that they don't do much in the way of sealing any outside noise. I go onto the subway and I have to pretty much push these up loud to get everything I want from my tracks.
 
I know I'll get slapped in the face by a few for this, but the headband is something that isn't completely flimsy! I've had my share of annoyances at seeing how Triports stack up to anything else, and even though it isn't the strongest one of them all, it can deal with being stretched by my hair (I have an afro) and is thin enough to leave a semi-manageable dent in there
 
If, somehow, the page's picture (or my picture) doesn't show you how nice these are, then I shall tell you now! (As you can tell, this is my favorite bit)
 
#1, is the fact that you can get them in black, or white. I have the white ones, and I actually love how they look! The white ring spacer has a nice glossy finish to it, which compliments the (not-so) white of the frame of the headphone. It will turn heads. (When you're talking headphones in consumer-land, style is kind of important)
 

 
Summary
 
These headphones have a nice clarity to them, that can make quite a lot of different genre's of music sound good. EDM could sound better, but as a hip-hop, R'n'B, and especially Jazz/Classical headphone for while you're on the go, I would say that these are good enough. If (like me) you have specific headphones for specific reasons, these'd make sense as a quick portable set to take out if you don't want to take out a portable amplifier or something.
 
Review complete! 
 

As a quick overview for the reader who wants it over and done with in a sentence:
 
These made me love on-ear headphones again.
 
Firstly, they look really stylish in the fact that they're not tatted with "Aiaiai TMA-1" logos everywhere. The only branding on it is on the cable terminals, and the inside of the headband. I actually love how they look in the mirror, even with me and my big afro. They have a nice matte finish too, so you're not gonna be getting a problem with fingerprints, and if they get wet a quick wipe to get rid of the splashes will make sure it dries off uniformly and looks good.
 
As well as that, they isolate pretty well for the clamping force that they semi-don't have. I use them on the underground (the subway to any friends from the US) and when I have these at volume I don't notice too much of the outside noise. The only thing I'd say about using them day to day is that with the leather  pads on (which IMO give you the better sound) you do get a little bit of an earmuff effect, and after a while it can get a bit uncomfortable around the ear. However, they are on-ear headphones, and compared to many others I've tried, they're very comfortable. With the synthetic pads on, you don't get this as bad, although you do lose a bit of the noise isolation.
 
Now for the sound, which is what made me fall in love with them. The thing about these is that they're quite a dark headphone, so if you want that brighter, more detailed sound then these might not be for you (unless you want to EQ it in.) These do, however, perform very well in the high and midrange I feel, bringing the subtleties to a lot of my tracks back in, even at lower bitrates (my crappy 96kbps files still sound great!). A lot of the guitar string sounds from some of my acoustic music is brought back in, with a lot of the drum kit sounds finally brought to my ears after at least two or so years.
 
Where these really come into their own is in their bass. No matter if you listen to tracks like "We Swarm" by The Glitch Mob, where you get the electronic kick drum vibrating the earcups, to new-school rap tracks like Drake's "We'll Be Fine" with it's dominating bass line, and everything inbetween, these will give you the bass like it was meant to be. Either punchy, smooth, or punchy and smooth! I genuinely listened to a track on these and then realised it was actually multiple long bass beats rather than one continuous one. It really has some accuracy in this realm which I find is quite rare. Just remember, if you put these into a laptop and push the volume up on bass heavy tracks, be ready for a free ear massage.
 
Quick note before I go on, the volume these things can reach is amazing, to the point you can actually hurt yourself trying to find a limit. (I nearly did by accident while stress testing them) They can go to the point that they perform like loudspeakers, and them come back and still sound exactly as you left them which is a great compliment to the quality of the drivers in these.
 
In terms of performance from a phone, iPod and so on rather than a laptop/computer, they do quite well, although I find that at lower volumes on portables they don't sound as good as I'd expect. There's no real absolute need to amp them, and I wouldn't suggest you jump straight in. I'd try for a week or so without an amp, and then judge from that. I just use my Mini^3 amp because I can.
 
As a summary, they're brilliant on-ear headphones, with a nice sound for pretty much anything you can think of with a bassline. They're also quite compact which is great if you want to take them out and about, and even come with a mic cable for the talkative. The only gripe with them is that they have the classic on-ear comfort problem, but that isn't something that takes away too much from the general experience. 

After at least a year, I've finally got around to reviewing these headphones! So let's get started!
 
In The Box
 
When you buy these and open them up, you'll get as a present a set of these, with all of the trimmings. A nice leather case which can double up as a widescreen wallet, an airplane adapter for if you fly a lot, a battery for using the headphones, and about 8 or 9 different sizes of ear tips. Also, you get a cable tie, and a shirt clip for the NC box.
 
Fit
 
The fact that there are so many sizes of tips means that you can literally find your perfect size. Also, if you're like me and have one ear that's a slight different size to the other, it makes it easier to mix and match and it doesn't feel to uncomfortable. Although when it comes to noise cancelling, you should expect to get so many so you get a perfect seal.
 
Form factor
 
See, now I have a huge problem with exactly how Sony've decided to design these headphones. The box that you put the battery into (and control the headphones with) is really big, and you'll probably need the shirt clip to use it. The cables then become a big problem, because the cable from the NC box to the earbuds is ridiculously long, meaning you end up using the cable tie for that. You then have a very short jack cable which would make sense if you already had a separate cable you wanted to use, like one with an in-line microphone and control. If not, then you could use the cable extension they give you, but for portable use that's way too long as well. Literally, after using two cable ties, I'm still left wrapping the earbuds around my neck twice, which doesn't make them that nice to wear.
 
Sorry, I really don't like the cables.....still, once you manage to fix the annoying cables, they are quite a nice pair of headphones to wear. The shirt clip could be stronger, but I use it in a button hole on my jacket and that works quite nicely,
 
Audio Quality
 
Right, time to get into this discussion! (I've left my phone flat for this) Before I get too much into this, there are three modes for the headphones, "Normal (no words on the display), BASS and MOVIE." This is a really cool feature, meaning that you can choose to go for a slightly brighter sound, slightly darker sound, or to make sure voices don't hurt your ears. I'll be making references between them so you get the full picture:
 
Lows
 
The bass on these headphones is, at the best of times, quite good. It's not completely untamed, but it does sometimes get lost a bit. A track that I listened to on them sounded like it had a constant long bass note, where it was actually separate beats that rumbled quite a lot (my other cans helped me notice this). In "NORMAL" mode you don't get as much bass as you'd think from this description, but in Bass mode it does come out a bit more
 
Mids and Highs
 
These aren't sharp....they're actually a bit too soft in Bass mode, which is extremely annoying because you end up having to EQ in your treble (not too bad, but it makes them sound fake) However, you get a similar experience in Normal mode, with just an extra bit of a shift to the left of the frequency spectrum. The detail in the higher end (once you put it in a good position from your device) does sound very good, but the midrange sounds mixed in a little bit too much, with not a lot of variation for me. (Yet again, I had to EQ a lot in, especially in Bass mode)
 

Overall
 
Generally, these are quite good headphones, but I can genuinely say that if they didn't have noise cancelling and a smart box for a quick EQ, they'd be just above average for in-ear headphones. And Sony pitching these to us at £200/$300 is mean!