Hello! This time I have a completely different review from the ones I’ve been bringing you lately because I’m going to review a full sized headphone! This time we have the Superlux HD681 a full sized circumaural headphone from Taiwan, which reaches on to us with a little help from George from Gearbest! Thank you very much for the chance to review this product and check www.gearbest.com for somewhere to buy this product.
As for a little introduction to the Superlux brand, lets just say that they are a brand with a known reputation for having full size headphones that mimic some popular designs from other brands such as BeyerDynamic or AKG in a much cheaper price. But the catch is the following: they always punch above their weight in terms of sound quality, so this HD681 which can be had for just 20$ will surely surprise a lot of you.
Video Review
Technical Data
Talking about technical data and specifications, nothing like using the specifications provided by Superlux themselves:
Specifications:
GENERAL
Type headphones
Packaged Quantity 1
Weight 7.8 oz
Additional Features gold-plated plug
ManufacturerAvlex Corporation
HEADPHONES
Headphones Type Headphones - binaural
Headphones Form Factor On-ear
Headphones Technology dynamic
Sound Output Mode stereo
Frequency Response 10 - 30000 Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.25% %
Sensitivity 98 dB
Impedance 32 Ohm
Diaphragm 2 in
Magnet Material neodymium
MISCELLANEOUS
Included Accessories headphones pouch
Color Category black
Packaging
The packaging of the HD681 could be defined as Spartan and it is one that could be used to be in exhibition inside a music store. Its design makes it sit nicely in a stand , and we just have some plastic covering the cardboard where the HD681 sits. On the backside we can read some of the more important specifications of these headphones, but overall we can see that this is where Superlux decided to cut costs. Which should be fine if sound quality doesn’t take a hit.
Accessories
For a 20$ set of headphones we see that the included accessories aren’t bad: we get a carrying pouch and a 3.5mm to 6.3 mm adapter, which guarantees that the Superlux HD681 fit pretty much any audio systems. Other than that, we don’t have anything else apart from the headphones themselves, so its time to get a better look at the Superlux HD681.
Build Quality and overall look
These are the Superlux HD681. They sport a black and red color scheme and have a semi open design. As you can tell, they have a circumaural design with big ear cups made out of plastic, as is most of their build.
On the right side you can find the Superlux logo, alongside 8 small vents that allow a bit of sound to leak from the cups. You can also read on the black on black letters “professional monitor” which would let us know that these are good for studio monitoring.
As we go towards the left side, we can find the name HD681 (this model name), alongside an indication of 2x32 ohm, which tells us that each one of the drivers has 32 ohm of impedance.
The cable is pretty well made and it is terminated with a 3.5mm gold plated plug, but here we see it with the 6.35mm screw on adapter. The rubber coating of it makes it feel really decent and that they will last.
Going for the headband we can find the Superlux name on it, being made of some kind of leather, which is comfortable enough for long term use.
The earpads are made out of cheap pleather, which would easily be my main concern with these headphones. While they are comfortable, they will get warm with long term use. But don’t be afraid since there are lots of aftermarket pads that will fit these headphones, such as the velour replacements sold by the manufacturer.
All in all, the Superlux HD681 present a pretty solid build quality for the price and, since they are studio monitors, I’m sure they will be able to take a beating and don’t break a sweat, since the plastic used is of good quality. But what is a studio monitor without the sound? So we should progress onto the next section which is how good these headphones sound.
Comfort/Isolation
Like I’ve said before, these are circumaural headphones, which mean that they will completely go around your ears. These kind of headphones are usually more comfortable than headphones which just sit on top of your ears, and, since these are studio headphones, they need to be comfortable for somewhat long periods of time. The earpads are also really important in terms of comfort, and these are not the best. After two hours they really start to get warm which might make you want to take a break. They also won’t be suitable for people in warmer climates to use during long periods of time, since the pleather isn’t breathable. Other than the fact of warming up, they are super comfortable since they are light and easily adjustable to your head.
As for the isolation, these have a semi-open design, which is a lot more open than some of the open headphones I’ve previously tested , making them have a pretty nice soundstage for the price. There is also a downside to this tho which is that they leak a good amount of sound, so they might not be suitable for public quiet places such as libraries, but they won’t bother someone sitting in the same room as you (in opposite sides). Without music playing you are able to tell what is going on in the room and even with music, if you have a television playing in the same room, you will be able to hear it all. But these are made to be worn in the studio so I’m sure that the semi open design choice was a good one.
Sound
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
Technical Data
Talking about technical data and specifications, nothing like using the specifications provided by Superlux themselves:
Specifications:
GENERAL
Type headphones
Packaged Quantity 1
Weight 7.8 oz
Additional Features gold-plated plug
ManufacturerAvlex Corporation
HEADPHONES
Headphones Type Headphones - binaural
Headphones Form Factor On-ear
Headphones Technology dynamic
Sound Output Mode stereo
Frequency Response 10 - 30000 Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.25% %
Sensitivity 98 dB
Impedance 32 Ohm
Diaphragm 2 in
Magnet Material neodymium
MISCELLANEOUS
Included Accessories headphones pouch
Color Category black
Packaging
The packaging of the HD681 could be defined as Spartan and it is one that could be used to be in exhibition inside a music store. Its design makes it sit nicely in a stand , and we just have some plastic covering the cardboard where the HD681 sits. On the backside we can read some of the more important specifications of these headphones, but overall we can see that this is where Superlux decided to cut costs. Which should be fine if sound quality doesn’t take a hit.
Accessories
For a 20$ set of headphones we see that the included accessories aren’t bad: we get a carrying pouch and a 3.5mm to 6.3 mm adapter, which guarantees that the Superlux HD681 fit pretty much any audio systems. Other than that, we don’t have anything else apart from the headphones themselves, so its time to get a better look at the Superlux HD681.
Build Quality and overall look
These are the Superlux HD681. They sport a black and red color scheme and have a semi open design. As you can tell, they have a circumaural design with big ear cups made out of plastic, as is most of their build.
On the right side you can find the Superlux logo, alongside 8 small vents that allow a bit of sound to leak from the cups. You can also read on the black on black letters “professional monitor” which would let us know that these are good for studio monitoring.
As we go towards the left side, we can find the name HD681 (this model name), alongside an indication of 2x32 ohm, which tells us that each one of the drivers has 32 ohm of impedance.
The cable is pretty well made and it is terminated with a 3.5mm gold plated plug, but here we see it with the 6.35mm screw on adapter. The rubber coating of it makes it feel really decent and that they will last.
Going for the headband we can find the Superlux name on it, being made of some kind of leather, which is comfortable enough for long term use.
The earpads are made out of cheap pleather, which would easily be my main concern with these headphones. While they are comfortable, they will get warm with long term use. But don’t be afraid since there are lots of aftermarket pads that will fit these headphones, such as the velour replacements sold by the manufacturer.
All in all, the Superlux HD681 present a pretty solid build quality for the price and, since they are studio monitors, I’m sure they will be able to take a beating and don’t break a sweat, since the plastic used is of good quality. But what is a studio monitor without the sound? So we should progress onto the next section which is how good these headphones sound.
Comfort/Isolation
Like I’ve said before, these are circumaural headphones, which mean that they will completely go around your ears. These kind of headphones are usually more comfortable than headphones which just sit on top of your ears, and, since these are studio headphones, they need to be comfortable for somewhat long periods of time. The earpads are also really important in terms of comfort, and these are not the best. After two hours they really start to get warm which might make you want to take a break. They also won’t be suitable for people in warmer climates to use during long periods of time, since the pleather isn’t breathable. Other than the fact of warming up, they are super comfortable since they are light and easily adjustable to your head.
As for the isolation, these have a semi-open design, which is a lot more open than some of the open headphones I’ve previously tested , making them have a pretty nice soundstage for the price. There is also a downside to this tho which is that they leak a good amount of sound, so they might not be suitable for public quiet places such as libraries, but they won’t bother someone sitting in the same room as you (in opposite sides). Without music playing you are able to tell what is going on in the room and even with music, if you have a television playing in the same room, you will be able to hear it all. But these are made to be worn in the studio so I’m sure that the semi open design choice was a good one.
Sound
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
Talking about technical data and specifications, nothing like using the specifications provided by Superlux themselves:
Specifications:
GENERAL
Type headphones
Packaged Quantity 1
Weight 7.8 oz
Additional Features gold-plated plug
ManufacturerAvlex Corporation
HEADPHONES
Headphones Type Headphones - binaural
Headphones Form Factor On-ear
Headphones Technology dynamic
Sound Output Mode stereo
Frequency Response 10 - 30000 Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.25% %
Sensitivity 98 dB
Impedance 32 Ohm
Diaphragm 2 in
Magnet Material neodymium
MISCELLANEOUS
Included Accessories headphones pouch
Color Category black
Packaging
The packaging of the HD681 could be defined as Spartan and it is one that could be used to be in exhibition inside a music store. Its design makes it sit nicely in a stand , and we just have some plastic covering the cardboard where the HD681 sits. On the backside we can read some of the more important specifications of these headphones, but overall we can see that this is where Superlux decided to cut costs. Which should be fine if sound quality doesn’t take a hit.
Accessories
For a 20$ set of headphones we see that the included accessories aren’t bad: we get a carrying pouch and a 3.5mm to 6.3 mm adapter, which guarantees that the Superlux HD681 fit pretty much any audio systems. Other than that, we don’t have anything else apart from the headphones themselves, so its time to get a better look at the Superlux HD681.
Build Quality and overall look
These are the Superlux HD681. They sport a black and red color scheme and have a semi open design. As you can tell, they have a circumaural design with big ear cups made out of plastic, as is most of their build.
On the right side you can find the Superlux logo, alongside 8 small vents that allow a bit of sound to leak from the cups. You can also read on the black on black letters “professional monitor” which would let us know that these are good for studio monitoring.
As we go towards the left side, we can find the name HD681 (this model name), alongside an indication of 2x32 ohm, which tells us that each one of the drivers has 32 ohm of impedance.
The cable is pretty well made and it is terminated with a 3.5mm gold plated plug, but here we see it with the 6.35mm screw on adapter. The rubber coating of it makes it feel really decent and that they will last.
Going for the headband we can find the Superlux name on it, being made of some kind of leather, which is comfortable enough for long term use.
The earpads are made out of cheap pleather, which would easily be my main concern with these headphones. While they are comfortable, they will get warm with long term use. But don’t be afraid since there are lots of aftermarket pads that will fit these headphones, such as the velour replacements sold by the manufacturer.
All in all, the Superlux HD681 present a pretty solid build quality for the price and, since they are studio monitors, I’m sure they will be able to take a beating and don’t break a sweat, since the plastic used is of good quality. But what is a studio monitor without the sound? So we should progress onto the next section which is how good these headphones sound.
Comfort/Isolation
Like I’ve said before, these are circumaural headphones, which mean that they will completely go around your ears. These kind of headphones are usually more comfortable than headphones which just sit on top of your ears, and, since these are studio headphones, they need to be comfortable for somewhat long periods of time. The earpads are also really important in terms of comfort, and these are not the best. After two hours they really start to get warm which might make you want to take a break. They also won’t be suitable for people in warmer climates to use during long periods of time, since the pleather isn’t breathable. Other than the fact of warming up, they are super comfortable since they are light and easily adjustable to your head.
As for the isolation, these have a semi-open design, which is a lot more open than some of the open headphones I’ve previously tested , making them have a pretty nice soundstage for the price. There is also a downside to this tho which is that they leak a good amount of sound, so they might not be suitable for public quiet places such as libraries, but they won’t bother someone sitting in the same room as you (in opposite sides). Without music playing you are able to tell what is going on in the room and even with music, if you have a television playing in the same room, you will be able to hear it all. But these are made to be worn in the studio so I’m sure that the semi open design choice was a good one.
Sound
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
The packaging of the HD681 could be defined as Spartan and it is one that could be used to be in exhibition inside a music store. Its design makes it sit nicely in a stand , and we just have some plastic covering the cardboard where the HD681 sits. On the backside we can read some of the more important specifications of these headphones, but overall we can see that this is where Superlux decided to cut costs. Which should be fine if sound quality doesn’t take a hit.
Accessories
For a 20$ set of headphones we see that the included accessories aren’t bad: we get a carrying pouch and a 3.5mm to 6.3 mm adapter, which guarantees that the Superlux HD681 fit pretty much any audio systems. Other than that, we don’t have anything else apart from the headphones themselves, so its time to get a better look at the Superlux HD681.
Build Quality and overall look
These are the Superlux HD681. They sport a black and red color scheme and have a semi open design. As you can tell, they have a circumaural design with big ear cups made out of plastic, as is most of their build.
On the right side you can find the Superlux logo, alongside 8 small vents that allow a bit of sound to leak from the cups. You can also read on the black on black letters “professional monitor” which would let us know that these are good for studio monitoring.
As we go towards the left side, we can find the name HD681 (this model name), alongside an indication of 2x32 ohm, which tells us that each one of the drivers has 32 ohm of impedance.
The cable is pretty well made and it is terminated with a 3.5mm gold plated plug, but here we see it with the 6.35mm screw on adapter. The rubber coating of it makes it feel really decent and that they will last.
Going for the headband we can find the Superlux name on it, being made of some kind of leather, which is comfortable enough for long term use.
The earpads are made out of cheap pleather, which would easily be my main concern with these headphones. While they are comfortable, they will get warm with long term use. But don’t be afraid since there are lots of aftermarket pads that will fit these headphones, such as the velour replacements sold by the manufacturer.
All in all, the Superlux HD681 present a pretty solid build quality for the price and, since they are studio monitors, I’m sure they will be able to take a beating and don’t break a sweat, since the plastic used is of good quality. But what is a studio monitor without the sound? So we should progress onto the next section which is how good these headphones sound.
Comfort/Isolation
Like I’ve said before, these are circumaural headphones, which mean that they will completely go around your ears. These kind of headphones are usually more comfortable than headphones which just sit on top of your ears, and, since these are studio headphones, they need to be comfortable for somewhat long periods of time. The earpads are also really important in terms of comfort, and these are not the best. After two hours they really start to get warm which might make you want to take a break. They also won’t be suitable for people in warmer climates to use during long periods of time, since the pleather isn’t breathable. Other than the fact of warming up, they are super comfortable since they are light and easily adjustable to your head.
As for the isolation, these have a semi-open design, which is a lot more open than some of the open headphones I’ve previously tested , making them have a pretty nice soundstage for the price. There is also a downside to this tho which is that they leak a good amount of sound, so they might not be suitable for public quiet places such as libraries, but they won’t bother someone sitting in the same room as you (in opposite sides). Without music playing you are able to tell what is going on in the room and even with music, if you have a television playing in the same room, you will be able to hear it all. But these are made to be worn in the studio so I’m sure that the semi open design choice was a good one.
Sound
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
For a 20$ set of headphones we see that the included accessories aren’t bad: we get a carrying pouch and a 3.5mm to 6.3 mm adapter, which guarantees that the Superlux HD681 fit pretty much any audio systems. Other than that, we don’t have anything else apart from the headphones themselves, so its time to get a better look at the Superlux HD681.
Build Quality and overall look
These are the Superlux HD681. They sport a black and red color scheme and have a semi open design. As you can tell, they have a circumaural design with big ear cups made out of plastic, as is most of their build.
On the right side you can find the Superlux logo, alongside 8 small vents that allow a bit of sound to leak from the cups. You can also read on the black on black letters “professional monitor” which would let us know that these are good for studio monitoring.
As we go towards the left side, we can find the name HD681 (this model name), alongside an indication of 2x32 ohm, which tells us that each one of the drivers has 32 ohm of impedance.
The cable is pretty well made and it is terminated with a 3.5mm gold plated plug, but here we see it with the 6.35mm screw on adapter. The rubber coating of it makes it feel really decent and that they will last.
Going for the headband we can find the Superlux name on it, being made of some kind of leather, which is comfortable enough for long term use.
The earpads are made out of cheap pleather, which would easily be my main concern with these headphones. While they are comfortable, they will get warm with long term use. But don’t be afraid since there are lots of aftermarket pads that will fit these headphones, such as the velour replacements sold by the manufacturer.
All in all, the Superlux HD681 present a pretty solid build quality for the price and, since they are studio monitors, I’m sure they will be able to take a beating and don’t break a sweat, since the plastic used is of good quality. But what is a studio monitor without the sound? So we should progress onto the next section which is how good these headphones sound.
Comfort/Isolation
Like I’ve said before, these are circumaural headphones, which mean that they will completely go around your ears. These kind of headphones are usually more comfortable than headphones which just sit on top of your ears, and, since these are studio headphones, they need to be comfortable for somewhat long periods of time. The earpads are also really important in terms of comfort, and these are not the best. After two hours they really start to get warm which might make you want to take a break. They also won’t be suitable for people in warmer climates to use during long periods of time, since the pleather isn’t breathable. Other than the fact of warming up, they are super comfortable since they are light and easily adjustable to your head.
As for the isolation, these have a semi-open design, which is a lot more open than some of the open headphones I’ve previously tested , making them have a pretty nice soundstage for the price. There is also a downside to this tho which is that they leak a good amount of sound, so they might not be suitable for public quiet places such as libraries, but they won’t bother someone sitting in the same room as you (in opposite sides). Without music playing you are able to tell what is going on in the room and even with music, if you have a television playing in the same room, you will be able to hear it all. But these are made to be worn in the studio so I’m sure that the semi open design choice was a good one.
Sound
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
These are the Superlux HD681. They sport a black and red color scheme and have a semi open design. As you can tell, they have a circumaural design with big ear cups made out of plastic, as is most of their build.
On the right side you can find the Superlux logo, alongside 8 small vents that allow a bit of sound to leak from the cups. You can also read on the black on black letters “professional monitor” which would let us know that these are good for studio monitoring.
As we go towards the left side, we can find the name HD681 (this model name), alongside an indication of 2x32 ohm, which tells us that each one of the drivers has 32 ohm of impedance.
The cable is pretty well made and it is terminated with a 3.5mm gold plated plug, but here we see it with the 6.35mm screw on adapter. The rubber coating of it makes it feel really decent and that they will last.
Going for the headband we can find the Superlux name on it, being made of some kind of leather, which is comfortable enough for long term use.
The earpads are made out of cheap pleather, which would easily be my main concern with these headphones. While they are comfortable, they will get warm with long term use. But don’t be afraid since there are lots of aftermarket pads that will fit these headphones, such as the velour replacements sold by the manufacturer.
All in all, the Superlux HD681 present a pretty solid build quality for the price and, since they are studio monitors, I’m sure they will be able to take a beating and don’t break a sweat, since the plastic used is of good quality. But what is a studio monitor without the sound? So we should progress onto the next section which is how good these headphones sound.
Comfort/Isolation
Like I’ve said before, these are circumaural headphones, which mean that they will completely go around your ears. These kind of headphones are usually more comfortable than headphones which just sit on top of your ears, and, since these are studio headphones, they need to be comfortable for somewhat long periods of time. The earpads are also really important in terms of comfort, and these are not the best. After two hours they really start to get warm which might make you want to take a break. They also won’t be suitable for people in warmer climates to use during long periods of time, since the pleather isn’t breathable. Other than the fact of warming up, they are super comfortable since they are light and easily adjustable to your head.
As for the isolation, these have a semi-open design, which is a lot more open than some of the open headphones I’ve previously tested , making them have a pretty nice soundstage for the price. There is also a downside to this tho which is that they leak a good amount of sound, so they might not be suitable for public quiet places such as libraries, but they won’t bother someone sitting in the same room as you (in opposite sides). Without music playing you are able to tell what is going on in the room and even with music, if you have a television playing in the same room, you will be able to hear it all. But these are made to be worn in the studio so I’m sure that the semi open design choice was a good one.
Sound
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
Like I’ve said before, these are circumaural headphones, which mean that they will completely go around your ears. These kind of headphones are usually more comfortable than headphones which just sit on top of your ears, and, since these are studio headphones, they need to be comfortable for somewhat long periods of time. The earpads are also really important in terms of comfort, and these are not the best. After two hours they really start to get warm which might make you want to take a break. They also won’t be suitable for people in warmer climates to use during long periods of time, since the pleather isn’t breathable. Other than the fact of warming up, they are super comfortable since they are light and easily adjustable to your head.
As for the isolation, these have a semi-open design, which is a lot more open than some of the open headphones I’ve previously tested , making them have a pretty nice soundstage for the price. There is also a downside to this tho which is that they leak a good amount of sound, so they might not be suitable for public quiet places such as libraries, but they won’t bother someone sitting in the same room as you (in opposite sides). Without music playing you are able to tell what is going on in the room and even with music, if you have a television playing in the same room, you will be able to hear it all. But these are made to be worn in the studio so I’m sure that the semi open design choice was a good one.
Sound
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
Source – HifimeDIY Sabre Dac amped with Objective 2 DIY, Lumia 625, Sandisk Sansa Clip+
Files Used – 256 to 320 kbps and FLAC
As always, before using starting to review these, I let them play a variety of music for about 50 hours (having tried them when they first arrived). There wasn’t too much improvement from the burn-in, perhaps the piercing high end was a bit tamed.
We are going to start by describing the HD681 overall sound signature. These are a studio headphone and if I had to compare them to any other headphone it would be the german made Beyerdynamic DT990. Both have heavy V-shaped sound signatures with the Superlux managing to have their treble peak in a place that might bother a lot of people more than the DT990 Pro. So I should start by saying that if you don’t like the DT990 cause you find them too bright, you might have to pass (or equalize) the HD681.
The HD681 possesses a V Shaped sound with some emphasis on the lower and mid bass, alongside a high-end that might be too sharp for some. This kind of sound makes the HD681 perfect for music that might be bass heavy such as electronic music and rap, falling short on more vocal tracks.
Starting with the lower end of the spectrum, I’m really impressed that the sub-bass is present at this extent, which I suppose is due to the big 50mm drivers that really help bring out the rumble. Even though the sub-bass is good, the quantity of bass is mostly centered around 50-100Hz range with some punch in the mid bass as well. The quantity of bass overall is pretty good and spot on with what is needed for a Studio headphone (enough punch and extension).
The mids aren’t really where the Superlux headphones shine, mostly because they are the shadow of some really sparkly treble, but they are able to reproduce vocals decently well. Female vocals sound a bit raspy and you can notice it on tracks from artists like Adele. They are missing a bit of range, so to speak, and sound a bit flat.
The treble is what really stands out in these headphones, because it is so prominent. It’s even harder to go unnoticed than the so claimed “killer treble” DT990 Pro. I think this is because even though the DT990 has lots of treble, it is a crystalline, pure treble, while the HD681 doesn’t achieve the same level of detail. Even then, the treble is pretty good, even more so if you are able to reduce it in an equalizer in order to bring forward the rest of the sound signature. I say this because while these headphones have a pretty good sound signature, it is hidden under the excessive treble. The excessive treble might also make some bad recordings show all of their flaws, such as noise on old records or low quality (bit-rate wise) ones.
Like I said on the isolation part of the review, the fact that they are semi open and leak a bit of sound definitively helps on the soundstage of the HD681, which while detailed and easy to distinguish left and right, is a bit two dimensional. Even then, they are pretty good even to use while gaming.
As for improvements while amping, I found out that the bass becomes more pronounced while amped, but even unamped these are pretty solid headphones and the amplifier certainly isn’t a must have.
As for songs that I really enjoyed with these headphones:
Run The Jewels – Legend Has it – El-P is an excellent producer and the sub bass that these put out while amped is really interesting.
Deadmau5 – 4ware – The progressions sound good even with the big amounts of treble and with a good lower end.
Conclusion
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.
-
Build Quality: 4/5
Accessories: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Isolation: 4/5
Sound Quality (bang for buck): 5/5
The most important thing about the Superlux is that I managed to point out all the flaws as it were a more expensive headphone. And once you put into perspective how much it costs you really wake up to the enormous value of this offering, even though it isn’t the most beautiful or comfortable headphone you can buy. There isn’t anything near the price range (about 20$ in Gearbest) that can offer such a great sound quality and bring joy to your music sessions (barring in ear monitors or earphones). The build quality will also last, which means that the 20$ will most certainly be a wise investment and for the price, even if you hate treble, you should try these out. Worst case scenario you equalize the treble out of them or pass them onto a family member which will surely love your offering. Why get the HD201 if you can get these?
References
Price: RRP (21.00€) on http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html?wid=21&lkid=10620793 (this is my affiliate code, if you want to you can buy them without supporting me).
I would like to thank Gearbest for the opportunity to review and publish my unbiased opinion about these Headphones, it has been a fantastic experience working with you.