pkurk
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2012
- Posts
- 42
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- 13
[size=small] Before you read anything just know I'm trying to come from as objective a perspective as possible. [/size]
[size=small] Before purchasing the SOL Tracks HD I've owned bose qc2's, monster studio beats (like 3 years ago), sennheiser hd 428, and now currently sennheiser hd 439's and shure SRH840's. Ive also tested almost everything under the sun.[/size]
[size=small] My review isnt going to be as traditional as the rest on this forum this is my first post. So here it goes.[/size]
[size=small] I never use any of my cans for critical listening or anything other than for entertainment value, because i dont do anything with music other than listen.[/size]
[size=small] Let me also say, I hope nobody is turned off by the SOL Tracks HD because of the image monster projects, or what one might assume or dislike about the way they look or the image theyre trying to fall into. Briefly, i think this company does a much better job than monster, by leaps and bounds. Dont judge a book by it's cover, just try these out and i think they definitely built this with emphasis of wanting no connection with the beats.[/size]
[size=small] As far as overall quality, I think that the SOL republic's are extremely well built and very high quality. Almost indestructable and made from solid materials that make you know youre holding a good product, something i feel is lacking with the sennheiser he 428 and 439's. The build surpases the beats and the bose in my opinion. When you hold them you know youre not holding a cheap piece of garbage.[/size]
[size=small] The headband is completely able to bend backwards without cracking and the headphones themselves are metal and solid plastic. The pads in the headband and on the ear cups are of higher quality than the Beats STUDIO (which i have to say i absolutely despise as a headphone) and the Shure SRH 840's. It reminds me much more of the pad quality that bose has. Very comfortable and the seal is great for isolation.[/size]
[size=small] As far as sound comparison i was listening to Mozart's Requiem, K. 626. I listened to it a few times with the shure 840's then the same with the Tracks HD. Then i would listen to specific parts and switch back and forth from the Shure to SOL Tracks HD. For the Shure being known as one of the most flat and honest headphones you can purchase i have to say the Tracks HD impressed me. There were several things that stood out. For example in the very beginning of the song when you can hear the orchestra jostling and moving slightly and the clicking of people wetting their lips i could hear it just as clear with the SOL's as i did with the Shure 840's. The one benefit is that the SOL's appear to be a tad bit louder which i find to be a plus. It helped bring out the hidden and more delicate sounds.[/size]
[size=small] To judge soundstage i like to listen to live released recordings of phish. I was impressed. The SOL Tracks HD brought the music to life where as the shure 840's and the senn hd 439's werent nearly as "alive". They were evidently more flat which is good and has its purpose, but for listening enjoyment i have to say the Tracks HD came through again. They seemed to accentuate the crowd much more than either other set of cans. I think the fact that theyre naturally a louder set helped make this evident. But none the less it was there and it sounded better.[/size]
[size=small] One notable difference between these sets of cans is that there is an extended bass response with the SOL versus the Shure 840's. Now for critical listening this would be a negative, however for your every day commute and easy listening set of phones it is very tasteful unlike the Monster studio beats or the Klipsch Image One's. The beats were obviously colored and amplified but to a level where the mids and highs would give off a muddled response that shouldnt be there. With the Tracks HD i do not notice this. The bass is more tasteful like the sennheiser hd 439, but it is definitely more alive. It also is a louder set of cans than all mentioned other than the studio beats.[/size]
[size=small] The sound isolation is great, almost as good as the shure 840's if not the exact same. It doesnt cancel noise so you wont be able to block out everything like you can with the bose Q line, but it still does its job. They isolate out the sound of the subway in NYC and almost all other noise much better than my senn hd 439's.[/size]
[size=small] Overall, this is a great set of phones. If you're not using headphones for anything but listening to music during a commute or while working out or just for pleasure, i would highly recommend these over any other set ive ever owned or tried to be honest. Theyre comfortable after several hours of listening, theyve tastefully been colored to make the bass more evident but not to where it sacrifices quality of music and the mids and highs are evident and clear.[/size]
[size=small] Everything considered, for daily use and making your music come to life and considering the price which ranges from $129-$139 i would give these a 9/10. For critical listening they get a 4/10 because of the evident bass coloration. Comfort i give a 7.5/10 (i prefer over ear rather than on ear and something like the sennheiser he 439's). Quality of build a 10/10.[/size]
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[size=small] If youre into electronic music, dubstep, triphop, progressive trance, or anything of the sort this set is absolutely amazing. I also really listen to a lot of classic rock and pink floyd both the wall and dark side of the moon sound amazing through them, there is no distortion and the bass is not overwhelming what so ever. Listening to Phish live tracks is amazing as well, the soundstage is great overall[/size]
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