Hello everyone.
 
I was over at Engadget looking at all the articles I missed last week due to work ( )
and stumbled into this:
 
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/23/sol-republic-intros-amps-and-tracks-headphone-lines-we-go-hands/
 
I did a quick search on the boards and I couldn't find anything with ("SOL", "SOL Heaphones", etc.) so I'm posting this.
First, I do want to get a "bass-heavy" can just to have one (had the XB500 in sights but the seller quit on me on the deal!), looked into the Ultrasones but I want a "cheapo" set of cans because I think I already reached my spending limit.
 
Anyway, I saw these, and what caught my attention, Removable EVERYTHING!!
Cables are removable, drivers, headband, etc.
I haven't seen a design like this in a headphone and best of all, they look good (the HD version).
 
Since I don't think these are out yet, do you think we could start speculating?!?
I don't think these will be like the "Beats" since it seems they will be cheap ($130 down)!
Will they produce bass output like Ultrasone or maybe even Sony XB700/XB1000?
 
I'm kind of interested.
 
 
Thanks.

 
Really, let's see:
 
Removable gimmicks, check
On ear with horrid pad, check
Name brand everywhere, check
Ipod controls, check
Metal polish, check
Gaudy styling, check
 
Oh boy, sounds like a Beats competitor.
 
Passable comfort with too much bass in a headphone with gimmicks and a cool way to loose a cup or a cable while on the go.
 
Not really interested. Would like to know if real metal and the weight.

Quote:

botbyte said:

 
Really, let's see:
 
Removable gimmicks, check
On ear with horrid pad, check
Name brand everywhere, check
Ipod controls, check
Metal polish, check
Gaudy styling, check
 
Oh boy, sounds like a Beats competitor.
 
Passable comfort with too much bass in a headphone with gimmicks and a cool way to loose a cup or a cable while on the go.
 
Not really interested. Would like to know if real metal and the weight.

Click to expand...

Actually, the "removable" might not be as much a gimmick IF for some reason they decided to sell
updated drivers (and not whole 'nother series of headphones... i.e. imagine if Senns were removable and you could
just buy the drivers for 650s and have 598s, 650s, etc.) Now, I'm not saying SOL will do this but who knows.?
 
The other stuff... yep,  'check'.
 
The "SOULS" (or something like that) are also a Beats competitor though, it seems it hasn't made a splash...
 
I personally like the removable parts aspect and I don't think we will be losing parts while traveling if you get it all
in a pouch (like most headphones come up with these days.). And I'll bet they will be selling all of these "parts" individually...
 

Quote:

gelocks said:

Actually, the "removable" might not be as much a gimmick IF for some reason they decided to sell
updated drivers (and not whole 'nother series of headphones... i.e. imagine if Senns were removable and you could
just buy the drivers for 650s and have 598s, 650s, etc.) Now, I'm not saying SOL will do this but who knows.?
 
The other stuff... yep,  'check'.
 
The "SOULS" (or something like that) are also a Beats competitor though, it seems it hasn't made a splash...
 
I personally like the removable parts aspect and I don't think we will be losing parts while traveling if you get it all
in a pouch (like most headphones come up with these days.). And I'll bet they will be selling all of these "parts" individually...
 

Click to expand...

I actually wouldn't mind a pair of SOULS for myself, but I wouldn't pay the prices they might want.
 
 
I just see myself walking along with them around my neck and go to raise them to my ears:
 
"Oh no, my right cup"
 
now i only have half a headphone.
 

LOL! I get you!
Hopefully the mechanism will be sturdy enough to prevent that from happening... but who knows... a new company probably might cut corners!

botbyte said:

I just see myself walking along with them around my neck and go to raise them to my ears:
 
"Oh no, my right cup"
 
now i only have half a headphone.

 

Click to expand...

I lol'ed so hard. Made my day. <3

Anyways, i'm being sent a review sample. I'll be sure to post another in depth review like I did with my MonoPrice cans.

I listened to a pair of these at best buy last night.  Absolute trash.  The cable is possibly thinner than stock ipod earbud cables.  The fit is aweful.  Supra-aural headphones without x-axis rotation simply do not fit on a human head naturally, unless you don't actually have ears.  Pads are cheap leather/pleather.  
 
Sound quality was garbage, but its hard to say how much of that was the source material and rig (all inside a locked box).  They are ultra bass heavy, but lack the rich textured bass that makes that can archetype pleasurable.  Mids and highs are congested and severely lacking in clarity.  I'd be curious to try them on a real rig with good source material (for science), but my initial impression is that they can't begin to compare to the xb500s on build quality comfort or sound, which come in at half the price or less.

morph2k4 said:

I listened to a pair of these at best buy last night.  Absolute trash.  The cable is possibly thinner than stock ipod earbud cables.  The fit is aweful.  Supra-aural headphones without x-axis rotation simply do not fit on a human head naturally, unless you don't actually have ears.  Pads are cheap leather/pleather.  
 
Sound quality was garbage, but its hard to say how much of that was the source material and rig (all inside a locked box).  They are ultra bass heavy, but lack the rich textured bass that makes that can archetype pleasurable.  Mids and highs are congested and severely lacking in clarity.  I'd be curious to try them on a real rig with good source material (for science), but my initial impression is that they can't begin to compare to the xb500s on build quality comfort or sound, which come in at half the price or less.

Click to expand...

Sounds like Beats, haha. Sol Republic is a sister company of Monster Cable.

Hey Epic!
 
Keep us posted with your impressions!
 
Quote:

 but my initial impression is that they can't begin to compare to the xb500s on build quality comfort or sound

Click to expand...

 
That doesn't bode well for these cans then...

gelocks said:

Hey Epic!
 
Keep us posted with your impressions!

Click to expand...

Will do.

It's sad to say that they will trick millions of low-fiers into buying them.

I wont be able to do my review of the headphones untill October, semi-long wait. haha

Quote:

morph2k4 said:

I listened to a pair of these at best buy last night.  Absolute trash.  The cable is possibly thinner than stock ipod earbud cables.  The fit is aweful.  Supra-aural headphones without x-axis rotation simply do not fit on a human head naturally, unless you don't actually have ears.  Pads are cheap leather/pleather.  
 
Sound quality was garbage, but its hard to say how much of that was the source material and rig (all inside a locked box).  They are ultra bass heavy, but lack the rich textured bass that makes that can archetype pleasurable.  Mids and highs are congested and severely lacking in clarity.  I'd be curious to try them on a real rig with good source material (for science), but my initial impression is that they can't begin to compare to the xb500s on build quality comfort or sound, which come in at half the price or less.

Click to expand...

 
 
 
So they sound like trash ? In that podcast with Kevin Lee did mention they were bassy.

 
Quote:

epicpie said:

Sounds like Beats, haha. Sol Republic is a sister company of Monster Cable.

Click to expand...

I thought those two company were completely separate ? 
 
PS : I asked about audiophile grade stuff and heres their response, quote : " Our goal is to offer great sound at a completely affordable price point. We are looking into audiophile grade gear as well. Be sure to test the Tracks HD headphones, you may be pleasantly surprised." 


 

parall3l said:

 
So they sound like trash ? In that podcast with Kevin Lee did mention they were bassy.

 

I thought those two company were completely separate ? 
 

Click to expand...

Kevin Lee is the Ceo/Co-Founder of Monster Cable. I would imagine Sol Republic is a sister company.

Quote:

PS : I asked about audiophile grade stuff and heres their response, quote : " Our goal is to offer great sound at a completely affordable price point. We are looking into audiophile grade gear as well. Be sure to test the Tracks HD headphones, you may be pleasantly surprised." 

Click to expand...

 
I hate when companies try to make the distinction between "Audiophile" gear and whatever they are selling.  Its not like I'm comparing these to my SA-5K's, which wouldn't be remotely fair.  I'm looking at these side by side with a low end Sony product that costs half the price.  The notion that poor sound quality is just a function of "not being audiophile grade equipment" is disingenuous at best.  As if people who care at all about sound quality should be considered a distinct sub category of those willing to spend over $100 on headphones...