Background
Perhaps the toughest environment for any set of headphones is peak-hour train public transport! For this usage, my priorities were: ambient noise isolation, portability and ruggedness. In-ear headphones were not an option, so it was a decision between on-ear and over-ear headphones.
Despite being tempted by several over-ear models (especially the DJ models, due to hopefully better noise isolation), I ended up buying the Beyerdynamic Custom Street on-ear headphones, due to the smaller size being more portable. This was quite a leap of faith, because I haven't used on-ear headphones for many years.
Onto the headphones themselves...
Portability
A big selling point was the design that folds into the headband and the included hard shell case. These features reduce the bulkiness of the headphones when in storage and protect them from knocks and bumps far better than a typical cloth bag. I am very pleased with both of these, and they mean the Custom Street is better suited to portable use than typical DJ headphones. A minor gripe is the lack of a neat storage pouch for the cable inside the case.
Other portability benefits (especially over studio/DJ headphones) is the shorter cable and 1/4 inch connector (instead of being 1/2 inch and needing an adaptor for mobile phones etc)
Noise isolation
The graph in the User Manual (below) claims about 25 dB of isolation at 1kHz, but I would be surprised if it is actually much more than 5 dB. The desire for noise isolation very nearly caused me to buy over-ear headphones instead (specifically the Sennheiser HD4.30G), which I assume would be a bit better at blocking ambient noise. The Custom Street's isolation is better than nothing, although I was hoping for a bit more. I'm guessing that noise isolation is a personal factor for on-ear headphones, with the isolation dependant on how well the ear cups seal to your ear.
Robustness
Very impressive - everything seems very solid. The detachable cable, headband cushion and ear cups are also easily replaceable if they get worn or damaged.
Smartphone functions
Audio purists might cringe, but I do find it handy to be able to take phone calls on the headphones, and to pause or skip tracks with the one-button remote. The microphone is in a good location near your mouth (often they are too far down the cable) and the remote is nicely shaped so that you can easily find the button with your finger.
Comfort
Some headphones cause me soreness on top of the head, but I am pleased to report that the Custom Street headband is very comfortable, even for long periods. The clamping pressure eventually made my ears slightly sore after a few hours, but I don't think this is an issue for commuter usage.
Custom covers and daisy-chain function
Meh. The former went straight into the rubbish bin, and I doubt I'll use the latter either.
Sound quality
Let's start with the Custom Street's party trick, the 3-position bass selector. Position 1 ("analytical") is too lacking in bass- I would only use it for podcasts or to compensate for a song with excessive bass. Position 2 is spot on- deep and powerful, yet not unbalanced or overwhelming. Position 3 is fully hektik- it is often very overpowering, so I would only use it for songs where the bass is really lacking. Overall, I think the bass switch is a worthwhile feature, even if only to compensate for recording quality failings without having to dig deep into the audio settings on your phone etc.
Moving up the spectrum, the lower-mid frequencies are slightly lacking, and I think this is the cause of other reviewers saying that vocals sound tinny. It isn't a huge flaw, just a minor imperfection. If you have an equaliser, I suggest slightly bumping up 250-500Hz, to give it a bit more warmth. The highs are very nice- crisp and bright.
Final thoughts
Overall, I am very happy with these headphones. For usage on the move, they suit the purpose very well.
Perhaps the toughest environment for any set of headphones is peak-hour train public transport! For this usage, my priorities were: ambient noise isolation, portability and ruggedness. In-ear headphones were not an option, so it was a decision between on-ear and over-ear headphones.
Despite being tempted by several over-ear models (especially the DJ models, due to hopefully better noise isolation), I ended up buying the Beyerdynamic Custom Street on-ear headphones, due to the smaller size being more portable. This was quite a leap of faith, because I haven't used on-ear headphones for many years.
Onto the headphones themselves...
Portability
A big selling point was the design that folds into the headband and the included hard shell case. These features reduce the bulkiness of the headphones when in storage and protect them from knocks and bumps far better than a typical cloth bag. I am very pleased with both of these, and they mean the Custom Street is better suited to portable use than typical DJ headphones. A minor gripe is the lack of a neat storage pouch for the cable inside the case.
Other portability benefits (especially over studio/DJ headphones) is the shorter cable and 1/4 inch connector (instead of being 1/2 inch and needing an adaptor for mobile phones etc)
Noise isolation
The graph in the User Manual (below) claims about 25 dB of isolation at 1kHz, but I would be surprised if it is actually much more than 5 dB. The desire for noise isolation very nearly caused me to buy over-ear headphones instead (specifically the Sennheiser HD4.30G), which I assume would be a bit better at blocking ambient noise. The Custom Street's isolation is better than nothing, although I was hoping for a bit more. I'm guessing that noise isolation is a personal factor for on-ear headphones, with the isolation dependant on how well the ear cups seal to your ear.
Robustness
Very impressive - everything seems very solid. The detachable cable, headband cushion and ear cups are also easily replaceable if they get worn or damaged.
Smartphone functions
Audio purists might cringe, but I do find it handy to be able to take phone calls on the headphones, and to pause or skip tracks with the one-button remote. The microphone is in a good location near your mouth (often they are too far down the cable) and the remote is nicely shaped so that you can easily find the button with your finger.
Comfort
Some headphones cause me soreness on top of the head, but I am pleased to report that the Custom Street headband is very comfortable, even for long periods. The clamping pressure eventually made my ears slightly sore after a few hours, but I don't think this is an issue for commuter usage.
Custom covers and daisy-chain function
Meh. The former went straight into the rubbish bin, and I doubt I'll use the latter either.
Sound quality
Let's start with the Custom Street's party trick, the 3-position bass selector. Position 1 ("analytical") is too lacking in bass- I would only use it for podcasts or to compensate for a song with excessive bass. Position 2 is spot on- deep and powerful, yet not unbalanced or overwhelming. Position 3 is fully hektik- it is often very overpowering, so I would only use it for songs where the bass is really lacking. Overall, I think the bass switch is a worthwhile feature, even if only to compensate for recording quality failings without having to dig deep into the audio settings on your phone etc.
Moving up the spectrum, the lower-mid frequencies are slightly lacking, and I think this is the cause of other reviewers saying that vocals sound tinny. It isn't a huge flaw, just a minor imperfection. If you have an equaliser, I suggest slightly bumping up 250-500Hz, to give it a bit more warmth. The highs are very nice- crisp and bright.
Final thoughts
Overall, I am very happy with these headphones. For usage on the move, they suit the purpose very well.
