[Lux Nocte]

Or just not have in-line volume control at all. This is totally unnecessary.

+2

I never liked cable volume controllers.

 

[jazzman7]

Long-time lurker, first time poster.

I purchased these cans from Amazon during their current sale.  On my unit, the volume control definitely causes an imbalance in the output --slightly less output from the left driver -- unless pressure is applied to the volume control itself.  This is mentioned by others in the thread (wj888, manveru).  

My solution is similar to manveru -- tape applied to the bottom of the control unit to keep the volume all the way up and also under slight pressure from the bottom to maintain a good contact.  I use clear tape because I've got the gray-colored version.  It is not noticeable, but the tape will likely need to be replaced over time.  

The reason I don't return the cans is because they are very nice in almost every other way.  Very comfortable for a closed design, light, very useful for phone calls (once you get past not hearing yourself during the calls), very little microphonic noise from the cable, and the remote control button is very nice for pausing/playing both music and videos.  They do seem to have a bit of "sizzle" in their sound which can be fixed using EQ if one feels it is too hot -- perhaps (-2 dB) at 8kHz on an octave equalizer.  

My suggestion to Philips would be to replace the remote control on this headphone with the one from the Citiscape series.  That one is microphone/remote control only and would be perfect on the Uptown as well.  Maybe we'll see a design change on this over time.

 

[manveru]

Quote:

Long-time lurker, first time poster.

I purchased these cans from Amazon during their current sale.  On my unit, the volume control definitely causes an imbalance in the output --slightly less output from the left driver -- unless pressure is applied to the volume control itself.  This is mentioned by others in the thread (wj888, manveru).  

My solution is similar to manveru -- tape applied to the bottom of the control unit to keep the volume all the way up and also under slight pressure from the bottom to maintain a good contact.  I use clear tape because I've got the gray-colored version.  It is not noticeable, but the tape will likely need to be replaced over time.  

The reason I don't return the cans is because they are very nice in almost every other way.  Very comfortable for a closed design, light, very useful for phone calls (once you get past not hearing yourself during the calls), very little microphonic noise from the cable, and the remote control button is very nice for pausing/playing both music and videos.  They do seem to have a bit of "sizzle" in their sound which can be fixed using EQ if one feels it is too hot -- perhaps (-2 dB) at 8kHz on an octave equalizer.  

My suggestion to Philips would be to replace the remote control on this headphone with the one from the Citiscape series.  That one is microphone/remote control only and would be perfect on the Uptown as well.  Maybe we'll see a design change on this over time.

 
With mine, the ideal position is actually slid all the way up to the top without extra pressure applied. The tape helps. It would be nice if Philips could amend this issue.
 
I feel similarly, everything else about them is very nice indeed. I also EQ down about 2dB at ~9kHz.

 

[jazzman7]

Yes, I agree on the position of the control -- slid all the way up (wasn't sure if that was clear in my first post).  The pressure I'm talking about is from the tape on the bottom part of the control, which treats the volume control kind of like a rocker switch.  There's way too much play in the volume control which is where the problem lies, I think.
 
Also, about the remote control replacement:  The one they should use is from the Citiscape Downtown series.  (Can't edit posts yet as I'm too new.)

 

[manveru]

Quote:

Yes, I agree on the position of the control -- slid all the way up (wasn't sure if that was clear in my first post).  The pressure I'm talking about is from the tape on the bottom part of the control, which treats the volume control kind of like a rocker switch.  There's way too much play in the volume control which is where the problem lies, I think.
 
Also, about the remote control replacement:  The one they should use is from the Citiscape Downtown series.  (Can't edit posts yet as I'm too new.)

 
So the Downtown actually has a nicer/functional remote? That makes no sense...
 
There's a little pencil at the bottom left corner of your posts. If you click on it you can make edits. Or do you mean there's some restriction on editing because you have a low post count?

 

[joeylw]

The Downtown has a one-button remote/mic without any kind of volume adjustment. I know this because I actually tried the Uptown and Downtown a while back. The volume slider on the Uptown is absolutely stupid and it pretty much ruins a pretty good headphone. How hard would it have been for them to use a 3-button remote/mic? Did they use the slider instead because they would have to pay some kind of fee to Apple? They should have just kept the one-button for the Uptown as well.

I say this even though I didn't buy either Cityscape headphones pretty much because of the lack of 3-button remote/mic. I ended up buying 2 V-Moda M80s (one for me and one for my wife). We both have and use 24/7 iPhones (I listen to music with mine almost all day) and the 3-button remote/mic is a must.

 

[Leveler]

I Live in Panama, headphones are usually more expensive here but there is a store where the prices are a steal!

 

[Lux Nocte]

Wrote my review on the phillips uptown page. I didn't have too amazing of a sound experience with them, but considering I just found out that pronounced mids are very much where my preference lies, I do not wish to condemn them. They are not bad headphones for people who like more bass.

 

[manveru]

Quote:

Wrote my review on the phillips uptown page. I didn't have too amazing of a sound experience with them, but considering I just found out that pronounced mids are very much where my preference lies, I do not wish to condemn them. They are not bad headphones for people who like more bass.

 
I like forward mids as well, though I'm not impartial to bass at times (still not in exaggerated quantity however).
 
I updated my own review a little bit. Corrected some typos and edited some sentences here and there.

 

[Lorspeaker]

manveru,
 
can u use your fone n snap some crappy fotos on how to take out the earpads pls...lol.

 

[manveru]

Quote:

manveru,
 
can u use your fone n snap some crappy fotos on how to take out the earpads pls...lol.

 
Unfortunately I don't have the Uptowns anymore. 

 
Seriously though, they just slip right off. Grab the edge/lip of the pads, and you can simply pull them off. They are not attached by any adhesive or hooks or anything like that.
 
 

 

[Lux Nocte]

Seeing that my uptowns don't have those covers on the caps attaching to the cushions as yours do makes me worry if I have a fake, if there even is a fake version. But also leads be to believe you had one considering the stock image doesn't have them either.



I also notice a difference in the texture of the cups in mine that do not match yours.

EDIT: looking at official videos and reviews, they do have the covers on the cups. I am absolutely confused. So. Who feels like doing a legitimacy check?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philips-SHL5905BK-CitiScape-Collection-UPTOWN-Headband-Headphones-With-Mic-/290743217690?forcev4exp=true

 

[Lorspeaker]

Strange...yours looks slightly diff from mine...lol

 

[Lux Nocte]

As I said. Instead of a covering, mine has a ring around it with that says "MusicSeal"

 

[Lorspeaker]

As I said. Instead of a covering, mine has a ring around it with that says "MusicSeal"

X2