A review of Labtec Elite 840

[dkswong]

OK, I've already posted it on another forum and I think it doesn't hurt to post it again here. I can easily understand all the mistrust of me as well as the headphones. But I do hope that you can still keep an open mind since I believe you're all discerning headphone users.

The following is the equipment I used to test and compare the Labtec Elite 840, Sennheiser HD-580 and the Grado SR-225. I own more than ten pairs of dynamic headphones and I believe the HD-580 and the SR-225 are the best in my place.

CD player: Marantz 67SE with MF X-DAC
Amplifier: Arcam Diva A-75, Muscial Fidelity X-CANS
Interconnect: Furutech PCOCC

I believe that the above are good enough for the HD-580s to show their ability. And I read posts like I used crappy equipment to test the HD-580 with so that the Labtec sounded comparable, which is NOT the case.
So you want a full review with analytical accounts and sound arguments, I'll do it for you. Pardon me if my English is not so perfect, but I believe there should not be any major problem that gets in the way of your understanding.
First of all, I'd like to state that the HD-580s and the Sr-225s are BETTER headphones indeed. And I never made grand claims like the humble Labtec outdoing the two big brothers. Read my original post carefully would you?
I tested them with music of different genres, including classical vocal (the Essential, Hollywood Golden Classic by Jose Carreras), pop and techno(History by Michael Jackson), Mandarin pop and folk (Lao Ge and Folk Songs by Tsai Ching), jazz (Duets by Frank Sinatra with many other stars) and some more.
The HD-580s are better than the other two contestants in many areas, very clear and analytical, and you can hear all the nuances of the recordings with them. The soundstaging of the HD-580s is impeccable too, and the positions of the instruments are precise and stable. However, while the soundstage is not as wide as the HD-580s, the Labtec Elite 840s still manage to project a very clear picture of the orchestra as well as the jazz band. The Grado SR-225s sound a bit mingled compared to the Elite 840s.
In simple words, the Elite 840s are CLEARER headphones than the SR-225, which is an incredible achievement considering the price.
As for the vocals, the Grado wins. When I listened to Jose Carreras as well as Tsai Ching, the warmth and vocal texture of the SR-225s are breathtaking. The HD-580 sounded a bit thin compared to the Grado. The Elite 840s' vocal is very full-bodied, and it's standing between the SR-225 and the HD-580. Still, the HD-580s manage to separate the vocal from the background music in a much more confident manner than the Elite 840s.
When it comes to real highs and deep lows, Elite 840s fail to impress. The Grado SR-225s are better in bass and impact, and the Sennheiser HD-580s shine with their airy highs. And these are the areas separating hi-end cans from the budget cans.
All in all, I find the Elite 840s were trying to emulate the HD-580s in many areas, they are VERY analytic for their price, and the flat frequency response is favorable. The sound of Elite 840s is very natural, without overemphasizing any part of the frequency. The Grados always have their own way of projecting vocals, but sometimes it's a bit overdone, and some would put it as coloration.
So, the Elite 840s are very good cans indeed, disregarding the low price. However, the highs and lows are limited, and it's these areas that stop them from being a real hi-end pair of headphones.

Guys, since they are SO cheap now, why don't you get a pair and try them first before you say ANYTHING? Time will tell if I am liar.

 

[coolvij]

Nice review - those cans sure sound like superb buys!

Just wondering - have you ever tried Grados with a solid-state HP standalone amp?

It's pretty rare to see Grados paired with tubes.....very cool.

 

[dkswong]

But the Musical Fidelity X-CANS is a tube amp, isn't it? I tried all three pairs of the headphones with it and they all sounded superb.

I just want to say a few more things as to why I made bold claims like "the quality of the Elite 840s easily surpasses any headphones under US$150". I always have strong belief (though it can be wrong) that the SR-125s are the best buy in this price range, but I found the Elite 840s even better, more neutral and analytic, and as involving. Maybe I should rephrase the the whole thing into "surpasses many headphones under US$150". It sounds more reasonable. Sorry for not thinking carefully before I typed...

 

[Gluegun]

Well, you all, what's the best headphone under $150? I paid $130 for my DT831's....

I think it's generally thought that the sr-125 ISN'T the best bang/buck headphone at the $150 USD mark.

by the way, are we looking for $150 USD in teh USA, in Europe, or in Asia? Because in the US, 150 goes farther for, say, grado's, in europe, 150 goes farther for senns or beyers, and in asia, it goes farther for sony's..... and are we taking into account discontinued models? if yes, is that under $150 MSRP, or discontinued models taht you can GET for $150?

 

[dkswong]

OKOK, you got the point. I am living in Hong Kong and there are headphones which are difficult to find here, and I admit I can never listen to all of them. But I think being a pair of sub-$30 headphones defeating the SR-125s is remarkable enough. I am as eagerly as you guys waiting for MacDEF's review of the Elite 840, since I think you guys must trust him much more than me.
And I firmly believe the headphones won't disppoint.

You know what, I did the same thing of highly recommending the Elite 840s in Hong Kong Hi-Fi newsgroups a few weeks ago, before they became famous. At first they mostly thought I was nuts, just as what some of you guys think about me. But some days later I began to read messages of thanking me for such a good recommendation. And some days later I knew that the Elite 840s were sold out in Hong Kong. So, I DO have confidence.

 

[Gluegun]

I'm still confused. was it YOU or you quoting SOMEONE ELSE who said they beat the sr-125's?

And how did they do that? You didn't address that in your review..... which is kinda what I wanted......

 

[dkswong]

I did. In my very first post on the Headwise forum.
The Elite 840s are clearer, flatter, more analytic and as involving as the SR-125s. Am I making myself clear?
The SR-225s are better than the Elite 840s because of their more sophisticated bass and better low-end extension.

 

[Xevion]

The Sennheiser HD580s are the best sub $150 headphones money can buy. Look around, they aren't too hard to find. Under $100 in England too

.

dkswong - Have you heard the Koss KSC-35s (Or 50s, or Porta Pros, or Sporta Pros, or Radio Shack equivalents)? If so, how do they compare?

From your review I am under the impression the Labtecs will be less boomy, and less lower treble, but more extended and a less colred midrange. I might just get a pair when I can afford it.

 

[Gluegun]

"clearer, flatter, more analytic'??

Oy.

You just described the Sony MDR-V6's... I think we need to do a comparison between those labtecs and these. And BESIDES, everyone knows that Grado's arent MADE to be flat, or analytical. Grado's are made to have their own unique sound! Obviously, you subscribe to the "engineer's" viewpoint of what better sound is, ie, closer to the origional recording. If you.....can take that away a little, try to just listen to how it SOUNDS, rather than how close it is to the origional recording, could you restate how they compare to teh sr-125's, without using a criteria that immediately places any grado at a disadvantage?

Ya. Basically what I think the ideal headphones to compare these labtecs to would be: Sony MDR-V6, Koss KSC-35, Sennheiser HD580. All of those have that accurate sound you seem to like. And are under $150 USD.

Anyways, if you want to know even MORE headphones that probably do better than those labtecs that you can get for under $150 USD, check this out:

www.musicians-gear.com

US Dollar Excluding German Tax

Sennheiser HD25 128.54 USD

Sennheiser HD 495 60.40 USD

Sennheiser HD 580 II PRECISION 149.45 USD

AKG K501 122.35 USD

Beyer DT531 85.95 USD

Beyer DT831 SAAS 89.82 USD

Beyer DT931 122.35 USD

Beyer DT250 80 OHM 92.15 USD

 

[Tim D]

Ummm yah, I really think he really had German to US grey-market import prices in mind when he made the price comparisons.

You are being overcritical of a review of a headphone you do not own.

If he says the treble and bass extension are not particular strengths, than they in no way are going to be comparable to V6 in these areas.

I think it is silly that you should suggest he buy/try MORE headphones to make more qualified statements, especially when there are people that would suggest the same to you.

Also considering it would take him $150 dollars or so, and you $20.

There are plenty of non-engineers that may not like Grado sound (and of course he has the SR-225 anyhow which shows otherwise)...you are being overzealous again. Saying that low-end Grado can lack some clarity is not that extraordinary.

 

[Gluegun]

Well, as soon as he answers this question:

"by the way, are we looking for $150 USD in teh USA, in Europe, or in Asia? Because in the US, 150 goes farther for, say, grado's, in europe, 150 goes farther for senns or beyers, and in asia, it goes farther for sony's..... and are we taking into account discontinued models? if yes, is that under $150 MSRP, or discontinued models taht you can GET for $150?"

I'll rein back a little.

Well, I wasn't really directly TRYING to say he *buy* more headphones, I was trying to give him an idea of what costs were like, because it seems he wasn't QUITE thinking all of that much with that one broad sweeping statement of his. Now, I know I'm making some broad statements of my own, but, if it gets him to think a little in an area he hasn't, there's no harm done, you know? that's the only reason i'm posting all of this stuff. Just to get him to think. Nothing else.

 

[Tim D]

Giving him an idea of what costs are like?

You are showing him a list of grey-market import prices! LOL nooooooo thats not a bias at all is it?

If he is a Hong Kong resident...than it would be safe to assume that when he makes the statement of price...it pertains to HIS perception of pricing.

Not Gluegun's perception of grey-market import pricing.

 

[Gluegun]

Alright, alright, maybe that WAS a little zealous, but, come on! how expensive can a used set of CD1700's be over there? A set of MDR-V6's?

I suspect that, if he listens to the V6's, he'll find that they might hold up better than the SR-125's.....

How expensive are european headphones there? Same as the european models are in the US or less or more?

 

[Tim D]

Well obviously he likes the phone because of its high price/performance. If he has HD580, SR225...than I don't feel he particularly needs to rush out and get the V6 which would most likely be more than $30 dollars.

His revised statement that they sound better than many phones at $150 is not that outrageous seeing as 90% of all phones up to the $150 mark will suck. Hell saying that 90% of headphones are crap, period would probably not be far off.

Stop assuming what his tastes are, or how these cans sound, or how many other cans will still sound better.

His only original intention was to give people a heads-up on a bargain priced phone anyhow. Not PROVE beyond reasonable doubt how these phones will quantifiably perform with written text. I think it should be realized by now that you just can't DO THAT in a review, and reviews serve to give people a heads-up on some products anyhow. So why not WAIT and see if his heads-up recommendation has worth when other people hear them, instead of trying to PROVE or quantify something merely out of his written text.

 

[KR...]

Don't forget that these 840's only cost $14 and they retail for $30. So go only by the retail price ok guys, instead of the grey market, ebay, used prices that you listed.