Review Ultrasone Edition 8 – High end headphones sturdy enough for the commute to work…but at a price

When I first started looking for alternatives to Dr Dre Beats I thought $200 for a pair of headphones was a tidy sum. So you can imagine my jaw hitting the floor when I saw the price tag for these babies. If you’re prepared to shell out over $1500 on a pair of headphones you either take your sounds reaaally seriously or you have more money than sense. One things for sure, wearing these on the commute to work should earn you nods of respect and an immediate upgrade to first class.

So can Ultrasone justify charging the price as a second hand car for a pair of headphones? Or are they having a laugh at their customers all the way to the bank?

Appearance

The Ultrasone Edition 8 (confusingly a successor to the Ultrasone Edition 9) are for people that want the best of everything. Casual listeners need not apply. So they come in a reassuringly elegant wooden box and are made from expensive sounding materials.

Leather from a conventional cow wouldn’t be good enough for this price tag, so instead Ultrasone have sought far and wide before settling on Ethiopian sheepskin for the ear cups. The outer cups are made from Ruthenium (yes, I hadn’t heard of this metal before either) that gives them a metallic sheen and a durability that gives you confidence these will make it to work and back in one piece.

The Ultrasone Edition 8s are, indeed, a beautiful set of cans. They are also sturdy, hardwearing and portable, making them practical for wearing outside the safe confines of your home. But looks aren’t everything (or, at least, they shouldn’t be Dr Dre Beats fans!), and ultimately what matters is how the Ultrasone Edition 8s sound.

Performance

The Ultrasone 8s are closed back headphones. Ordinarily, this means you can listen to your music without it being broadcast to the people around you with the payoff of a loss in transient sound. Not so with these headphones. The Edition 8s are on a par, if not better, than many top open-back headphones, which is incredible for their closed back design.

As you’d expect for the price, the sound does, indeed, dazzle, putting the majority of other high end headphones in the shade. Cymbal crashes will never get boring and the Ultrasone Edition 8s handle kick drums and bass like a concerto grandmaster (do they exist?). Vocal and live recordings, in particular, have never sounded better, with crystal clear imaging and a warm ambience.

You also will notice a significant difference in the sound quality of difference sources. It’s a safe bet that anybody looking to buy these will already have the best home stereo system money can buy. But if you’ve been thinking of upgrading, now might be the time so you can fully enjoy the premium grade audiophile experience the Ultrasone 8s can deliver.

Are they worth the price? Ultimately it comes down to whether $1500 is going to pay your rent and feed you for a month or a mere few days’ salary. There’s certainly a market for these headphones, but if the price tag gives you heart palpitations then you might want to check out the AKG 701s, Grado Prestige or the classic Sennheiser HD650s.

Music that will make you delighted you put down the cash

Blues, classical, live recordings and vocal tracks will sound magnificent, with exceptional imaging, precision and transience for a closed back pair of headphones.

Music that will send you hunting for the receipt

These are not bass monsters, but neither do they aspire to be. So heavy metal and electronica might not set your world alight. If you want bass that can punch through walls then you might want to stick to Beats by Dre or other headphones at a lower price bracket.

Originally posted 2012-12-18 19:58:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Review Bose Quiet Comfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones – The Frequent Flyer’s Friend

The corkscrew. The sparkplug. The light bulb. All are designed to perform a specific task, which they all do diligently without any need for fanfare. This is much like the Bose Quiet Comfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones. To coin a cliché, they ‘do exactly what it says on the tin’. In this case it’s enabling the wearer to enjoy their music or to sit in silence without being disturbed by the ambient noise around them.

The Bose Quiet Comfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are beloved by frequent flyers and commuters for their ability to block out the rumble of the aircraft engines or train. But they are not without their critics, particularly among ardent audiophiles.

Appearance

Considering their high-end price bracket, you might be disappointed with the build quality of these noise cancelling headphones. Rather than a luxurious, exotic choice of metals, the Bose Quiet Comfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are made from plastic. But whilst they might not impress fellow commuters in the looks department, what the use of plastic does mean is that they are lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods compared to metal heavyweight cans that can feel like wearing a vice after a while.

Supporting the focus on comfort rather than looks are the large earcups, which fit snugly over the ears. And being closed back means they will passively reduce background noise without the need to switch on the gadgetry hidden inside. The added bonus of the large earcups is that they don’t leak sound, which means you don’t have to worry about disturbing your neighbour when banging out Beethoven or the avalanche of explosions when watching The Avengers.

Additional features include the ability to answer phone calls on an iPhone with the inline mic, a reassuringly solid case and the ability to twist the earcups 90 degrees for neatly folding them away after your journey.

Performance

The noise cancelling abilities of the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones comes from battery powered technology packed into the cans. Mics are fitted to the inside and outside to pickup outside ambient noise and then to cancel it out using Bose’s patented Triport® acoustic technology for a tonally balanced sound performance.

Sounds impressive. So how does it perform?

The reviews I read are universally praising of the sound cancelling performance of the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones. Whether on flights, on trains or to block out the ambient noise at work, these headphones are the best in class at what they do. What’s more you don’t get the ‘whoosh’ that you get with most electronically powered noise cancelling headphones. Instead, the rumbling sound of an airplane engine is replaced with a mild mid-level hiss, enabling you to enjoy music and movies in peace.

So if you’re looking for comfortable, noise cancelling headphones for travel then look no further. But (and it’s a big but) if you’re looking for audiophile class sound performance you might want to look elsewhere.

The Bose Quiet Comfort headphones have been described as sounding ‘airless’ in the highs and slightly thin in the middles. The bass is likeable but can lack impact and weight when listening to drums or electric bass. So if sound performance is top of the agenda, you might want to look at what the Grado SR325is or Sennheiser HD650s have to offer in this price bracket. The payoff is that you’re then looking at losing the noise cancelling abilities of the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones. So it’s a case of horses for courses, as the saying goes.

When you’ll leave them on

The Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones are the perfect headphones for flights, commuting and for blocking out background noise at work. Their noise cancelling technology enables you to watch movies and listen to music in peace without being disturbed by the cacophony of people talking or rumbling engines. They’re also great for listening to classical, jazz and other music that lives in the midrange.

When they’ll be left in their carry case

These headphones won’t work without a battery. So it’s wise to carry a spare around. While great at cancelling background noise, they lack the sound performance of Sennheiser or Grado in this price bracket and will struggle with hip-hop, hard rock and other bass heavy music. However, Bose Quiet Comfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are designed for listening to music quietly in a noisey environment, not the other way around.

Originally posted 2013-02-12 18:05:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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What are the Best Headphones for Running and Jogging?

If you’re like me, going for a jog seems like a great idea but gets boring pretty quickly. Many people would seem to agree, choosing to put on some headphones and listen to their favourite tunes when hitting the pavement. There are many things to consider when choosing the best headphones for running. Are they wireless? How will does the Bluetooth controls work? Will they get sweaty fast?

The type of run you’re going to do will also play a huge role in determining the best headphones for running in. Running on a treadmill offers a wider option of headphones to choose from because of less motion. But if the running workout is going to be on the streets and involve more impact, then you’ll need headphones that wont fall out and will be comfortable to wear for long periods with heavy vibrations passing up from the pavement. Here are some of the best headphones for running to consider:

SONY MDREX300WH CLOSED TYPE EARBUDS STYLE

is an ideal type of headphone for runners and joggers. It has been made in such a way that it should be fitted in the ear. It has a vertical in the ear style. Its retail price is $79.99, but a person can easily get it at discounted prices from multiple online outlets. Its features include a hybrid silicone type of earbud which guarantee better sound. It is also comfortable and is assured to fit well in the ears. It comes in three sizes namely small, medium and large hence making it appropriate and convenient for people of all ages and sizes.

Bose ® MIE2i Mobile headset are among the best headphones for jogging because they offer a new standard of audio quality that result in greater detail of music. Its design is impressive and advanced. An added advantage is that it is made from materials of good quality that are long lasting. They enable joggers to enjoy the services of the product for a longer duration without having to think about purchasing a new one. It also has greater in-ear stability that makes it appropriate for runners.

Sony MDR-J10L Over Ear Clip Style HeadphonesSony MDR-J10 h.ear jogging headphones are chic, cheap and cheerful and have also adopted the vertical in the ear design. This is meant for comfort. It also has a non-slip stable design that guarantees that the product fits well when a person is exercising. It is very clear due to its capability of minimizing sound leakage. The open air design is meant to enable a user to hear ambient sound. Its retail price is around $11.25.

MEElectronics M6P-BK sports in the ear headsets are good headphones for jogging. It is perfect for the working out lifestyle and has an over the ear design. The Bose MIE2i is slightly more expensive but is worth every penny. It is recommended because it is ideal for any running workout and activity, and is of good quality. It is one of the best headphones for running.

Originally posted 2013-05-17 09:29:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Review AKG Q701 Quincy Jones Reference Class Premium Headphones – For Serious Stay at Home Audiophiles

Beats by Dr Dre headphones seem to have opened the floodgates to a wave of celebrities endorsing what all claim to be the best headphones on the market. In this case the AKG Q701 headphones have been endorsed by none other than 27 time GRAMMY award winner Quincy Jones. Having worked on an extensive back catalogue that reads like a roll call of some of the world’s greatest musicians, his endorsement is high praise indeed.

In his own words: “These are the only headphones I’ve heard that bring out the true sound we were striving for on records like “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” and “Give Me the Night”. It’s the best-quality sound I’ve heard, ever.”

So do these deliver the true sound that artists and studio engineers hear? Or is Quincy’s endorsement mere marketing mush? Let’s find out…

Appearance

Anybody hoping for a big, bold ‘Q’ on either headphone can to mimic the branding of Beats by Dr Dre will be sorely disappointed. But these aren’t designed for impressing people on the commute to work. But what you do get is a solid metal pair of cans with a reassuringly luxurious velvet ear pads and a real leather headband that auto adjusts to grip comfortably onto your head.

Available in a range of colours, including bright green, these are an attractive set of headphones. However, their elegant appearance is likely to be just for you and your nearest and dearest’s enjoyment because these are unlikely to leave the home. That is unless you’re happy to lug around the extra amplification equipment that needs to go with them…

Performance

The AKG Q701 Quincy Jones headphones feature revolutionary flat wire voice coil technology and patented two-layer diaphragm. To the uninitiated, this is the same audio technology you’d find in a high end speaker system or microphone compressed into a set of headphones. In practical terms, this means you can expect extremely accurate sound reproduction that will simply blow you away.

Quincy Jones knows good music and, judging from the performance of these, he knows a good pair of headphones. As befitting the price tag, the AKG Q701s offer a spacious soundstage, which gives pin point clarity, depth and a sweet bass that blends into the midrange beautifully.

If you want to hear music as the artist intended then the AKG Q701 Quincy Jones headphones are a high end option that can offer you some of the most enjoyable listening experiences money can buy.

What people say

Reviewers are universally agreed that the sound quality of the AKG Q701 Quincy Jones headphones is simply superb. They cover a phenomenal frequency range and give you a real sense of ‘space’. As with everything in life, quality comes with a price tag, but if you love to hear music with clarity and depth then these are money well spent.

However, it’s important to note that you may not get the optimum experience listening to these straight through the audio port of your iPad or laptop. These need extra amplification to drive the sound. One solution is to buy a USB audio amplifier (e.g. TonePort or FiiO E17) to give the sound that extra kick through the audio cable. You may also want to ‘burn’ these in for two weeks to get the true audiophile experience that AKG and Quincy intended.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that these headphones are open backed, and consequently leak sound and wont mask background noise. So not ideal for the commute to work, but then that’s not what these headphones are for. They’re for becoming immersed in music at home where you can take pleasure in every note and stanza, just as the artist intended.

Music to turn up

Classical, pop or rock will sound like you’re discovering music for the first time.

Music to turn down

Heart palpitating bass was not on the design sheet for these. For deep growling bass for hip-hop, drum & bass, dubstep and beats on the streets you might want to look elsewhere.

Originally posted 2012-11-07 13:55:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Which Headphones are Best for You?

Originally posted 2013-11-04 05:44:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Review Fanny Wang 3001 Noise-Cancelling Headphones – For Fashionistas that take a Lot of Flights

The massive success of Dr Dre Beats headphones has been a revelation. It’s shown that people will happily pay a premium for design when it comes to choosing the best pair of headphones. Now hot on its heels is the Fanny Wang brand, inspired by Dr Dre Beats for its headphones’ looks and genital organs for its name.

If the name doesn’t put you off and you want headphones that can close you off from the world, Fanny Wang’s 3001 Noise- Cancelling heaphones might be worth a look.

Appearance

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery (or the fastest route to patent infraction law suit), which was no doubt on people’s minds when coming up with these headphones. Put simply, these look nearly identical to Dre Beats. But, along with the bold brand name, there are enough aesthetic differences to justify fashionistas giving these a once over as an alternative to Beats by Dre.

As befits their price tag, the Fanny Wang 3001s are robustly built, with high quality hinges unlikely to break while being carried around in a bag. The faux leather ear pads are luxuriously plush, with a generous amount of memory foam helping the Fanny Wang 3001s achieve their noise cancelling credentials. They also have a rubbery matte feel compared to the metal of Dre Beats.

Performance

The Fanny Wang 3001s are fitted with a three way switch in the right headphone for toggling the noise cancelling or to give them a thumping bass boost. The sound cancelling can also be controlled via large easy to press buttons on the cable.

The headphones are fitted with large 50mm drivers and noise cancelling circuitry, which uses four mics to optimise the noise cancellation. Two mics are used to detect outside noise while two optimise what you hear.

For long flights, while sat on the train to work or for lounging around the pool, the noise cancelling technology in the Fanny Wang 3001s will be a revelation. You’ll literally be able to close yourself off from the world around you and to enjoy your favourite music and audiobooks without the normal interference of surrounding noise. Instead, you’ll be able to relax in your own audio world.

In reviews, the sound quality of the Fanny Wang 3001s also gets the nod. Female vocals over guitar with the noise cancelling switched on is expansive and absorbing. While you can switch on the bass boost to enjoy heavier hip hop, rock and dance tracks with as much rumbling bass as you’d expect from Dre Beats.

Summary

All in all, the Fanny Wang 3001s are a luxurious set of headphones. They are perfect for fashion conscious types that take a lot of flights due to the noise cancellation technology or anybody who likes the look of Dre Beats but wants to stand out as an individual.

They are, however, a bit on the bulky side. So for everyday portable sounds you might want to look at the Fanny Wang On-Ear headphones. Designed to compete with Monster Beats Solos, these have the same outer appearance yet the performance is decidedly superior, with a full and rich bass response that doesn’t drown the rest of the range.

Originally posted 2012-10-30 19:49:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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