We don’t design and hardware quite as much as we used to, but I’m making an exception for these. A good while back, I wrote about a pair of headphones I thought was the most understated and attractive I’d ever seen. They were the TMA-1s from Danish design house AIAIAI, and while I never got to get my hands on them, I’m going to make it my business to try their new pair out.

Capital is the name of the new headset, and they’re a larger, over-ear, more heavily-designed piece of work. But I still love them — especially the black version.

To be fair, they have lost some of the understatement that made the TMA-1s so interesting to me. The Capital has more pieces, more design elements, more flair. But they’re still simply and beautifully made, from fiberglass-reinforced nylon, with 40mm drivers and a folding design for travel.

They’re being shown at the Agenda trade show in LA today, so if you’re heading down there, be sure to drop by AIAIAI and congratulate them for me. We’re on our way to CES, where design is not a primary concern, and I’m pretty sure we won’t see anything quite as excellent and utilitarian as this.

With the rise in popularity of Dr. Dre’s Beats, audio company Bose saw a niche they weren’t capitalizing on – the cohort of kids who aren’t afraid of paying $229 for a pair of wildly overpriced headphones. Their reaction? To create and sell a pair of lightweight, over-ear headphones for the cool crowd for $149. Called the OE2s, these headphones feature comfortable memory foam earcups and support hands-free calling with an optional mic/phone control system.

These are half the cost of a pair of Bose QuietComforts, making them sort of a gateway drug to Bose products for a younger generation.

I’m a big fan of Bose QuietComforts for flying – there’s something calming about being able to cut out the engine and plane noise – so I’ll allow you guys to argue the value of Bose vs. everything else in the comments below. I’ll just add that these things are designed as a lighter alternative to full-sized Bose cans and, if history is our guide, the distinct lack of specs on the product page suggests that the price point and styling are what’s really being sold here.

Product Page

Short version: Looks good, sounds good, fits… okay. It’s not for marathon gaming or all-day use, but the Chimaera is a solid headset for home gaming. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Features:

• 2.4 GHz wireless transmission (10m range)
• Closed-type earcups
• Compatible with PC and Xbox 360
• 3.5mm audio input and built-in mic
• MSRP: $129.99
• Note: This review is for the stereo headset, not the virtual 5.1 headset.

Pros:

• Decent range (normal for 2.4GHz headsets)
• Powerful sound and good isolation (if they fit your head properly)
• Solid battery life

Cons:

• Gigantic
• Definite lean towards the low end
• Rigid build means if they don’t fit, they don’t fit

Full review:

Really quick: the Chimaera comes in two flavors, the $129.99 stereo version (which is what I have here) and the $199.99 virtual surround version (which I don’t have). You can see a comparison here, but what you’re missing out on is virtual surround (questionably useful but occasionally nice in games), digital optical and RCA in, an on-device equalizer, and an improved, 5.8GHz wireless transmitter (should have less competition on that frequency). So, onwards.

The Chimaera is a large, plastic-y production, with deep cloth-lined earcups trimmed with leather. There’s a flip-down mic on the left earcup that is flexible and positionable. Both earcups have four buttons on them – mute and power/sync on the outside and audio/mic volume on the back.

Connected to your 360 or PC is the combination charge stand and transmitter. Again there is no attempt at miniaturization (as opposed to AKG’s, for instance); it’s more of a display stand, meant to be prominently placed. On the stand you’ll find on-off and sync buttons, and (in the stereo version’s case) a single 3.5mm input. It has to be plugged in — no USB here.

Now observe this picture and tell me whether you think these are a little large, or if you think I just have a tiny head:

No, I’m pretty sure these things are huge. They’re not particularly heavy, for their size at least, but they do feel big on your head. The fit is hit or miss: there’s not a lot of latitude in how your head can be shaped for these things to sit on your properly. In my case they tend to grip me far more tightly above my ear than below. It’s not quite to the point where it breaks the seal, but I can definitely improve the sound by pressing them in a bit at the bottom. I didn’t have this trouble with a similarly large pair of headphones, the Logitech G35s, which fit very well despite their size.

Sitting them on their stand is super easy and I never had any trouble getting the charge to start. It displays its status prominently on the stand; there’s no tiny LED to look for. Razer claims 12 hours of battery life from these, and while I didn’t time it carefully, I’m quite sure I got at least 8 of them, and I didn’t take it down to the point where they shut themselves off. They shut off automatically if there’s no input for 10 minutes, so no need to worry about manually shutting them off if you have to run out.

I found the sound to be good, but rather heavy on the bass, which was right up front and tended to overpower other parts of the soundscape. Generally this isn’t a bad thing in games, but it’s a pain to have to re-EQ your music when you’re wearing them. Isolation would be good if they fit your head correctly, so mileage will vary there.

Range is as expected for a plain RF transmitter: you’ll want to be within 20-30 feet with no walls, and more than one wall (in my experience) tended to break up the signal.

There are a lot of buttons, only a few of which you’ll be using with any frequency. The mute and mic mute buttons are well enough, but the Sync button is very prominently placed for such a seldom-used function. The volume buttons on the back of the cups control volume (on the right earcup, very handy) and mic volume. Instead of the latter, I’d have preferred media control buttons like those on the G35 and others. When you’re connected wirelessly to your computer or hi-fi, it pays to have a remote on your head. But as these are also very 360-oriented, it’s an understandable omission.

Conclusion

The stereo Chimaeras overpromise, I think. Their bulk is somewhat off-putting, and sound is a mixed bag — good for games, a little too bottom-heavy for music. For an all-purpose PC headset, I’m not convinced it’s worth the $130, though it’s more in its element leaning back on the couch playing 360. Unfortunately there’s a lot of competition here, and decent headsets like the Gamecom are available for far less. The surround-sound Chimaera sports more features and of course virtual surround, which sets it apart from the competition, but the stereo version is in a rather awkward position. Check out the more expensive version or save a little cash and get something with less pomp.

Product page: Razer Chimaera

Need some noise canceling headphones? Sure, we all do. That’s why Audio-Technica is selling these QuietPoint active noise-canceling headphones that range from $220 to $79 for the lowest-end model. The best thing? They keep working even if the battery is dead, so you can still listen to music albeit in non-noise-canceled mode.

All models run on one AAA battery.

• Moisture-resistant remote and headphones
• Anti-tangle, durable cord
• Remote supports Apple products
• Microphone built in
• MSRP: $129.99

Pros:

• Solid sound
• Resistant enough to wear in the rain no problem
• Attractive, simple remote

Cons:

• Noise isolating, not so much
• Fit might not be good enough for joggers
• Lots of cable noise, no clip

Full review:

Klipsch’s in-ears have a long, illustrious history, so I won’t bother you with it. I’ve enjoyed their headphones before, but the S5i is their first rugged set to my knowledge, though with headphones and in-ears in particular, rugged is really more a style than a serious change in hardware.

These headphones will no more than any other survive complete submersion in water (or lava), but they are built with activity in mind, and they won’t be bothered by a little rain.

Sound is good. Klipsch knows what they’re doing. There’s plenty of power in them, if you’re wearing them correctly, and room for clarity if you want to push it, but the focus seems to be on the mid and low end. I pushed them pretty hard from my PC’s headphone output (which generally runs a little high) and got no clipping or distortion, though at high levels the highs were a little hissy. The bass and mids stay solid, and at that point they’re pretty good for isolating yourself on a train or street. Klipsch claims they’re noise-isolating, and they are, but that’s just a natural consequence of filling your ear canal. The S5is don’t do it any better than any other in-ears, as far as I can tell.

The cords are of a matte rubber of above the average thickness, which is reassuring strength-wise, and also really does prevent serious tangles, even uncoils itself. The disadvantage seems to be an increased amount of cord noise in the headphones, a problem that affects all in-ears, but these in particular.

The controls are really big. I know some people prefer these to be small or even on the headphones, but if you’re skiing or biking and don’t have the time or manual dexterity (wearing gloves, for instance) to feel for the orientation and correct tiny circular button, you’ll appreciate these jumbo buttons, shaped in +, -, and triangle shapes. They worked fine with my iPad, though of course they’re not compatible with anything other than iDevices (on Android phones it launches the speech search, for what it’s worth). It could really have used a clip, though, for attaching it to your shirt or jacket. It tends to swing about.

I’ve always enjoyed the fit of in-ears, but I can’t say I would trust them to stay in my ears during any kind of truly strenuous activity, especially if there’s a good amount of sweat involved. I know, it’s gross, but bear with me, since it’s a serious consideration for the likes of joggers and cyclists. If you’ve got sweat trickling down your head, there’s a good chance it could cause these things to slip out of your ears. Again, this is an issue with any silicone-tipped in-ear headphones, but since Klipsch is presenting these as an athletic option, it seems worthwhile to point out that there are no precautions taken against it. Some headphones I’ve reviewed have the option to run the cable around the back and over the top of your ear, which would have been welcome here — but the single orientation of the S5i headphones doesn’t permit it.

As for being waterproof, well, I wore them out in the rain several times and in the shower once to really push them. I never had any trouble with leakage, and as I was using a Motorola Defy to play music, I had no worries on my device’s part either.

Bonus: The S5is come with a sweet hard case with plenty of room inside, and an actual LED flashlight on the outside. It’s not very strong, but it works and could be helpful on a camping trip or what have you.

Conclusion:

While some things seem to have been done to make these headphones sporty, I’m not convinced just yet. The lack of a clip for the remote (which is itself nice) is troublesome to anyone doing anything active with these, and there’s nothing about the headphones’ fit that make them more likely to stay in than the next pair. At the same time, it’s the same solid Klipsch quality as the rest of their in-ear line. But are these mostly cosmetic changes worth the extra $30 from the S4i, the extra $50 from the S4? I can’t say they are, but if Klipsch made a few more changes to the hardware to make them activity-friendly, I’d have nothing to say against them.

Product page: Klipsch S5i headphones

• Five-speaker headphones with acoustic waveguides for surround sound
• Analog connectivity to most PC surround sound systems
• Removable microphone
• Amp with adjustable bass and LED direction indicators
• MSRP: $199.99

Pros:

• Directionality definitely improved
• Fairly comfortable
• Setup is straightforward (but could be more convenient)

Cons:

• Sound has strange distant quality
• Bulky and creaky construction
• No good for music/non-game use

Full Review

As you might have read over the last couple years (Psyko’s first headset debuted way back in 2009), Psyko set out to revolutionize gaming audio by turning the headset paradigm on its head. Instead of a pair of speakers next to your head simulating surround sound, they’d put the speakers on top and pipe the sound down to your ears in discrete channels, letting it come out where it should: behind, in front of, or beside your ears.

Their newest design adds look and feel updates, but the technology is much the same, and no other companies offer anything like it. The Carbon is their high-end version, with better cords, connectors, and construction.

So do they work? Based on hours of play with these and other headsets (surround-sound and normal), I’d have to say not enough. They set out to make the best gaming headset out there, and while the Carbon excels in some ways, it simply fails in too many ways for me to recommend them to anyone but novelty seekers.

True to Psyko’s promises, the directionality is very good. Once you get your settings right, and assuming your game supports them (not all do; Valve’s games do, Bad Company 2 for instance doesn’t), you do have an increased sense of where things are coming from. The benefit is, in my opinion, marginal, as stereo placement in good normal headphones covers a large swath of audio territory, and it’s only towards the rear that you have any real failure to communicate direction. The Carbon remedies that (as did its predecessor), and my teammates footsteps in Left 4 Dead 2 did sound very much like they were actually behind me.

The primary problem is the sound of the sound. Maybe it’s just the presence of the long “waveguides” that inspire this comparison, but it sounds like you’re hearing things through a long tube. I tried it on two different sound systems, with various configurations in Windows and in games, and got the same result. It was worse when games didn’t support a stated 5.1/7.1 option, naturally.

Different headsets sound differently, obviously, and one may emphasize the high end or low end more, or provide better definition but worse range. The Carbons fell outside of my “reasonable allowance for headset differences” range; as soon as I put on another headset to compare, I found myself thinking “oh yeah, that’s how that gun is supposed to sound.” The amp has a dial that allows you to choose between more bass and better sound placement. It seems odd that I should have to choose between these two important things, but nevertheless I did find a happy medium.

Could you get used to it? Maybe. But you’d have to live in these headphones, and that’s not an option for a couple reasons.

Music is no good in them, being subject to the same effect. Movies were a mixed bag and I don’t trust the ones I watched or my media player (newly configured) to get it right. But you wouldn’t want to do anything but game in these.

Comfort isn’t really an issue; though the headset is extremely bulky, it’s not particularly heavy, being on par with the Logitech and Razer headsets I have here. I wouldn’t call them truly comfortable (at least, not like lightweight pairs like the Klipsch One and Nox Specialist), but they’re definitely wearable for an hour or two. The earcups feel fine and are quite large enough for the biggest ears. I had to extend the earpieces down to their maximum height to fit, though, and I’d like to think I have a reasonably sized head. If you don’t, you might have a problem.

Setup is straightforward, though the amp requires power and you may find yourself behind your PC a lot, unplugging these when you want to listen to music and plugging them back in for gaming. Some sort of passthrough option would have been appreciated. Why the power and audio aren’t both sent over USB is beyond me. (Psyko says: USB power isn’t enough for their amps.)

Despite the ostensibly improved construction on the Carbon, I found that the multiplicity of interlocking pieces that make these up makes for an unacceptable amount of very audible creak and groan when wearing these.

The removable microphone seemed to work just fine, though being removable, I assume it will eventually be lost.

Conclusion

While I applaud the unique approach to sound offered by Psyko with this headset, the fact is that it just doesn’t sound as good as others on the market. The directionality is improved, but at great cost — plus, these headphones are limited to use as surround gaming headphones, whereas virtual surround headphones like the G35 are multi-purpose and in my opinion provide an adequate illusion of surround. If Psyko can improve the sound (and simplify the build and setup) they may have something, but until then there are dozens of better choices for the discerning gamer.

Product page: Psyko Carbon surround-sound headset

The Carbon and Krypton don’t seem to advance the science so much as just refreshing the look and feel. The important part of their product is the actual surround sound, of course, and both sets have that — so improving fit, weight, ergonomics, and so on are the next things to do.

The Krypton will be the direct replacement for the old 5.1 set, and includes “market-based improvements,” which probably means things customers complained about. The Carbon, though, is the luxury version, with gold-plated connectors, a braided cord, more high-performance speakers, and better construction.

They both come with a little amp/puck that lets you adjust the sound and even includes a helpful directional indicator. The Krypton is $150, the Carbon is $200, and both are available now. Yeah, kind of expensive, but those of use who’ve tried it here at CG think that the real surround sound thing is actually quite cool.

During the month of March, if you buy Sennheiser’s HD 515 headphones you’ll get a free pair of Sennheiser OMX 60 earbuds. Cool right? You can buy the cans almost anywhere, just don’t forget to send in the mail-in rebate.

The OMX 60 earbuds aren’t bad and they’re worth about $30.

Press Release

• 40mm moving coil drivers
• Leather-topped foam headband and ear cups
• Apple-compatible volume, playback, and mic controls
• Fold-flat ear cups
• MSRP: $149.99

Pros:

• Powerful sound, lots of bass
• Fairly comfortable and lightweight
• On-cord controls handy, unobtrusive

Cons:

• Cord could be longer
• Slightly clunky design
• Folding doesn’t really save much space

http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/image-one-overview/

Full review:

Klipsch was originally known for their speakers, and then for their excellent in-ear headphones (we’ve pronounced the S4, X5, and X10i all good), but at CES they were introducing their new One series on-ear headphones, their first “traditional” style cans. So how are they?

In a word, powerful. I review headphones now and then, and I’ve come to expect certain sounds from certain sizes, you know? It’s just a matter of the size of the ear cup, the driver, and so on. The Image Ones sound significantly bigger than they look. Not necessarily better or clearer, mind you, but certainly bigger. That’s not to say they aren’t good or clear, but the first thing that struck me about their sound was that it felt big and booming, unlike other perfectly good headphones of this size.

The sound is great for movies and games, though with music they tended to show the low end past the point where it should have been — not clipping or anything, but just as if the EQ was on a bottom-heavy setting. For some music, of course, it worked — but in complicated music with lots of smaller melodies packed into the mid range, the sound seemed a little overpowering. That kind of balance is great in games, however, and they really shook my head when rockets went off or guns fired nearby. Same for movies: big bass rarely gets in the way of dialogue, and often just enhances the best and biggest scenes without effecting the rest.

The headphones themselves aren’t particularly inspiring — perhaps that contributed to my expectations. They’re tasteful, I guess, but rather plain-looking, and the design seems a bit clunky. That the cords go to both earpieces doesn’t help; you feel a little dated wearing them. They fold for travel, but it really only saves you like a half an inch of vertical space.

Wearing them is comfortable enough; they’re pretty light and the earcups are soft, though I personally prefer a more breathable material. They produce a decent seal, though, and outside noise is reduced significantly, while little escapes.

There’s a little control stick and microphone at the Y juncture of the headphones that’s compatible with Apple devices, and it appeared to work just fine, although I wasn’t able to test the microphone.

The cord could also be longer: it’s about four feet from earpiece to tip, enough for walking around with your mp3 player but kind of a stretch at the desk when you’re leaning back.

Conclusion

I’d say these headphones are a good deal for people with roommates who want to watch movies and play games on their computer with lots of bass, but don’t really want to go the USB/surround route or don’t want to have a separate pair for their iPhone or iPad. The sound really is nice and big, and you probably know if that kind of thing is for you. $150 isn’t too bad of a price if you ask me, though personally I’ll be looking forward to whatever they follow this up with.

Product page: Klipsch Image One headphones

• 2.4GHz RF (K840) or Bluetooth (K830) wireless connection
• Kleer audio technology (K 840)
• Compact, fold-flat design and small transmitter
• Battery recharges via wall plug or USB
• MSRP: $300 (K840), $250 (K830)

Pros:

• Light, portable design to headphones and transmitter
• Decent battery life
• Extremely simple operation

Cons:

• On-set volume controls a bit weird
• Short range compared with other RF headphones
• No noise canceling or acoustic isolation

Full review:

Wireless headphones are more or less divided into three classes: tiny Bluetooth-style headsets for mobile phones, larger multimedia headphones for living room use, and the mid-size guys that are meant to travel with you, but not be worn at all times. These new headphones from Harman Audio, the AKG K830 and K840 are in the latter category. They’re lightweight and travel well, but don’t provide the always-there utility of an earpiece or the fidelity or range of the larger, more high-powered models. This isn’t a bad thing, but it’s good to know what they’re shooting for.

I mainly tested the K840 model, which uses RF, since it’s (in my opinion) the more universally applicable model, having a compact dongle that attaches to any 1/8″ audio jack. It also provides better audio quality for those keeping track (what with streaming and compression already taking their toll on fidelity).

The most important things for wireless headphones in this category are weight, comfort, and ease of use. These AKGs score pretty high all around. They’re quite light, and although they gripped my head securely (sounds like a headcrab), they didn’t seem to press very hard. As I type this I’m testing the battery life, and I’ve been wearing them for just under three hours straight. Due to their on-ear rather than over-ear design, they do press on your a bit in order to get something like a seal, but I’m feeling pretty good and I could probably wear them for another hour or so. They’re only 145g, around a third of a pound, so they don’t add much weight to your head, either.

Setup is, as it should be for gear like this, extremely easy. Switch the transmitter and headset to the on position, plug in the transmitter to your audio source, and boom, you’re on. I found that going wireless quieted the signal somewhat, but that will differ depending on the system.

Once they’re going, you can adjust the volume by hitting the +/- buttons on the left earcup. I found these to be rather imprecise and overly “clicky.” I’d have much preferred pressing something along the rim of the earcup, or a cool dial like on Nox Audio’s headset. These buttons felt clumsy and clicked loudly in my ear. They worked, but I found myself reaching for the speaker or software volume instead. Set it to “75%” and forget about it is my advice.

Range depends first on which model you have (Bluetooth obviously is much shorter, but requires no extra transmitter), but I wouldn’t say it’s remarkable either way. These aren’t for going outside and shoveling the walk with, they’re for cutting down on cord clutter, going across the room to sit down or grab a book, or popping over to the kitchen for a drink. If you interpose more than two walls between you and the transmitter, forget about it. It easily reached my kitchen through two walls and about 15 feet, but going into the closet (two thicker walls, ~25 feet) in my bedroom led to gaps in the audio. In the room with the transmitter there was never any delay or skippage.

Sound is good. Bass is somewhat de-emphasized (you can only expect so much with an over-ear model), but it’s present and accounted for. Clarity is good, and classical music sounded great, with small details like the breathing of the pianist coming in loud and clear. Comets on Fire was plenty loud, and Outkast was punchy. No complaints at all about the sound.

Battery life is 4+ hours with a full charge. I turned these on at 2:50PM and they’re still going now at a quarter to 7. Charge time I neglected to record (sorry), but it wasn’t super long. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Build quality is solid, though being light and compact they do naturally feel a little fragile. They took some serious bending and I didn’t hear any tension squeaks or cracks. The earcups are very soft in both texture and cushioning, and I found them comfortable to wear. The expansion setting on the headband is maintained when you fold the headphones up, which is nice.

These AKG cans look remarkably similar to TDK’s WR700 headphones, and both offer Kleer and a compact, portable design. I haven’t tested them out, but presumably they provide similar performance, though Harman Audio would object on the grounds that the actual headphone unit is higher quality. Fair enough. Still, it’s a hundred dollar difference for a similar product and worth mentioning.

Conclusion

First off I think it is worth the extra $50 for the Kleer version, since that comes with less hassle, better sound, and longer range. If you can’t stand the idea of having a little doodad attached to your audio source, go with Bluetooth, sure, but if it were my money I’d stick with the Kleers. Now that that’s out of the way, it’s a question of whether it’s worth the three hundred. If you have no need for the extra-compact size, and most of your use will be at a desk or couch, go look into Sony, JVC, or Sennheiser; they have nice over-ear options for $50-$100 that will probably serve you better. But if you’re planning on traveling or plan on taking these to and from work, say, or want to use your headphones at a cafe, these are up your alley. If your credit can handle it, however, consider picking up a cheaper pair like the TDKs mentioned above and see if you can tell the difference. If you can’t, what are you paying for?

Product page: AKG K840 (Kleer) and K830 (Bluetooth) headphones

Outdoor Technology has just come out with some dog-tag-like Bluetooth headphones called OT Tags. You can get them in either black or red and when not in use they hang down like dog tags – see what I mean? The Bluetooth headset offers stereo listening from any Bluetooth device and if the connected device is a phone, then you can also make and receive calls.

The case of each earbud looks to be a bit bigger than one would normally wear, but OT says that’s because they are made from sturdy plastic to survive harsh use. (So if you’re one of those people harsh-using your Bluetooth headsets, then these are for you.) Not only does the big case help protect, but it is also said to improve bass and treble — that sounds more truthful.

The battery lasts for up to 6 hours talk time 5 hours for music listening and 120 hours for standby. Range is 32 feet and if you don’t have Bluetooth on your iDevice, they sell an adapter for $24.95. Price is $79.95 each and are available now.

[via slashgear]

Check out these neat little earbuds from Urban Ears. These hipster buds come in eight different colors, have an inline mic and remote, and the ends snap together around your neck when not in use.

The Bagis features:

• One year replacement warranty
• Snap construction; connect around your neck when not using the Bagis
• Size adjustable with enclosed S, M and L sleeves
• 120cm / 47” tangle resistant fabric and TPE cord
• 3.5mm stereo plug
• Microphone and remote compatible with unprotected 3.5 mm standard

Cost is $30 and you can get them here.

While Boba Fett obviously has an air of “danger and mystery,” did you know that he also enjoyed Jazz and early Dixieland? That’s right: Jango Fett, whose real name was Bruce Fitzgerald Fett and was born in Aukland, wasn’t called Jango for nothing (he dropped the silent D because they didn’t have that particular consonant combination on his adopted planet of Kamino), and his son, Boba, took on some of his father’s latent genetic predilections including a love of the Gypsy Troubadour’s jangling guitar. He also slightly color blind (low blue perception) and a bit of a lisp, which is why he didn’t talk much.

Now you can enjoy music the same way Boba did with these $55 Boba Fett headphones, a pair of cans specially tuned to Boba’s specific hearing range. You can hear all of Satchmo’s highs and Miles’ lows and even hear Woody Allen’s clarinet at least 50 times better than you would on normal, non-clone headphones. Plus you’ll be able to understand what that one tall and skinny robotic bounty hunter was saying on the Death Star, which I suspect was something about hitting the Blue Note after picking up Han Solo.

Available now, daddy-o.

Features:

• 100% waterproof up to 12 ft.
• 5 sets of Elastomer earplugs (XS-XL)
• Low fluidic drag
• 8mm neodymium drivers
• MSRP: $49.99 (buds), $69.99 (headset w/inline mic)

Pros:

• Solid feel and sturdy construction
• Sounds pretty neat underwater; actually are waterproof
• Fits well in-ear and surprisingly stays in when running

Cons:

• May not fit everyones ears
• No case
• Comes in one color

Full review:

I tend to consider myself among the more active types, and also a tech-type. So it fits that with that combination, you’d probably see me at the gym using an iPhone to log workouts and check proper form with the latest iFitness. For the longest time, it was hard to find a good pair of headphones to take along to the gym; mainly, ones that can make it out of a guaranteed hardcore sweat-filled workout ending with another realm of harsh conditions (steam room and sauna), all while remaining in-ear. Of course, that goes without saying that you wouldn’t dare take any normal pair of headphones into the pool.

When I got sent these headphones to check out, I decided to take them for a swim. And because I’m an iPhone user, I also got ahold of the Amphibx waterproof armband to take into the pool. At first, I was a bit apprehensive to take the sacred iPhone into the water, but since h2o audio has a pretty good reputation for waterproofing gadgets, I went ahead.

I have to say, swimming while listen to any music (especially Boards of Canada) is a real trip. The clarity was very good. A few times though, I ripped the headphones out by overreaching in my stroke, but YMMV with that. Either way, just put them back in and you’re good to go. No clogged sound. Just shake the water out.

The Surge headphones passed, IMO, the most rigorous test; underwater listening and activity.

Next, I wanted to see how well the headphones could stay in during running. Let’s be honest, many headphones have a difficult time staying in when running, but again YMMV depending on your earholes. But, again, I was impressed with how well I barely noticed the headphones. A perfect companion to long-distance runners.

I have used other headphones in the past where I’ve sweated into them, and there wasn’t an issue. And with the Surge headphones, it just means they can take much more abuse. Which is fine.

Conclusion:

I like these guys. I wish that I got the headphones with the mic for only $20 more. But, I enjoy using these everyday during exercise. They aren’t what I use when listening to music at home, but for on the go they work quite well. The Surge 2G headphones offer great bass and sound clarity and are pretty much what you’d expect from a pair of $50 headphones, but with all that water-phobic pretension.

Product Page

• First headphones from Marshall
• 1/8″ and 1/4″ audio jacks
• Foldable design
• Marshall-style texture and decoration
• MSRP: $99

Pros:

• Small and foldable means easy travel
• Powerful, big sound
• Nice details in design

Cons:

• Not really $100 sound
• Cord seems short

Full review:

I’ve been looking forward to these things since they first got teased a couple months ago (on my birthday, actually). At the time, I thought they were much larger, and on opening the packaging I found that they’re actually quite petite compared to the larger surround-sound headsets I’ve used. For example, here they are next to the (admittedly large) Logitech G35s:

It’s not a good or bad thing, but they’re not the fully-over-the-hear style, nor as small as other on-ear designs. They just barely cover up my ears entirely, and the leather or faux-leather (I’m the worst at telling the difference) earcups are quite soft, almost distressed-feeling. There’s an attractive little grill inside the earpieces, and the outsides have the famous Marshall lettering. The headband stays close to the head and is generously padded. Overall, I’d say they’re quite comfortable, though if your ears tend to get sore or sweaty from on-ear designs, these will be no exception.

The cord is a nice, thick satin-finish rubber, and has a coil near the earpiece, as you can see. This gives the cord an actual length of six feet, but it feels much shorter, since the coil is stiff enough (which isn’t really that stiff) that pulling away from the “resting” length of 3 feet will tug on the headphones a bit. They fit too well to be pulled from your head with even a violent motion, but the effective length of the cord is still reduced somewhat.

It has a lovely instrument-style audio jack, with grippy metal and a spring that prevents cord fatigue at the plug end. There’s also a 1/4″ adapter included for all you musician types.

And how’s the sound? Well, it’s good, but not spectacular. Lows are booming and a little overpresent, and they slide smoothly into mids, but I feel like the highs lack clarity, and don’t stand out. A little EQing helps this, but these aren’t audiophile headphones; they’re rocking out headphones. The balance of the low to the high actually seems to improve as I turn up the volume. The bass gets punchier and the highs stay on top a little better.

One thing I liked about these was that there was an almost virtual-surround feel to the sound stage, as if stereo separation was being spread out a bit. I felt this made the sound take up more of your little world, and combined with the good isolation offered by the earcups, these make for good headphones to use on the subway, while watching a movie on a plane, and so on.

Conclusion

The Marshall Majors aren’t in-a-quiet-room headphones for appreciating music — though being a closed design, they let little sound escape (good for roommates). They’re also not gaming headphones; for a little less money you can pick up the excellent Nox Audio Specialists, which are also foldable but offer a mic and on-set controls. No, the Marshalls are about two things: the brand, and listening to music out in the world. You’re paying extra for the Marshall logo, make no mistake, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad. They’re good-looking, have a nice big sound, nice isolation, and a good cord for portable use. If you’re willing to overpay by a small amount, you’ll have a nice little pair of cans to show for it.

Product page: Marshall Major

Here’s something I want for Christmas: Daft Punk edition TRON headphones! Made by Monster—I’m assuming quality similar to the Beats—these ear cans come with LED lights. A first for Monster, the LEDs will light up and mimic movements from the character’s costumes.

The headphones are meant for gamers, movie watchers and of course, music listeners. Features include noise isolation and an attachable microphone for dual duty as a headset. I can just picture all those tf2 players with these, ahem, Around the World.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to celebrate and dance for free. Price is set at $350 and it comes with a surround version of Daft Punk’s soundtrack for TRON: Legacy.

It costs $80, which puts it in company with stuff from Klipsch and all those guys, so it better do something to justify its cost. I mean, it may have the world’s smallest send/end button:

And its little flaps are supposed to create a better seal on your ear, but will the sound quality be up to snuff? We’ll find out soon, I should have a pair next week and I’ll let you know. Hold your horses until then, you hear? Y’ALL HEAR?

Back before kids had earbuds or earnodes or whatever, you used to listen to your Robert Plant on big studio cans, man. You’d just sit back with a J and just let the music wash over you while your mom and dad totally spaced out to Reagan in the living room and you were totally in the zone. Bam! Guitars! Boom! Drums! Like you could see the colors of the music, man.

So that’s what Marshall is trying to create here, amigos. The released two headphones, one called the Minor which are basically like earbuds or whatever and then there’s the Major with a curly pigtail cable and enough ear stuffing to keep out the sad sounds of your old lady telling you to get the Firebird into the garage so she can get the minivan up in that piece and you’re like “Fine, after this lick from D’Yer Mak’er.”

The major is like $99 and the Minor, which you totally don’t want, costs $59. The Major has 20 ~ 20kHz FREAK RESPONSE and has soft earcups so you don’t get your gold hoop snagged in there. Biggest question is how Dark Side of the Moon sounds when you’re listening to these things in your basement with the freaking black lights going and the mushrooms popping off the top of your head.

Product Page [Minor]
Product Page [Major]

KRK, makers of high-quality studio monitors, have just announced for the first time, they will offer headphones of similar quality. Made for those who make music or just listen to music, the KNS series is for people that are serious about sound. There will be two models offered; the KNS-6400 and the KNS-8400.

The headphones have a frequency range of 10Hz-22kHz on the KNS-6400 and a range of 5Hz-23kHz on the KNS-8400, which is pretty good for headphones of this price, $99 and $149 respectively. Press release and a video of producers praising the new headphones below.

Press Release

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL, November 2, 2010 – KRK is announcing a new series of professional headphones that feature an advanced transducer design, extraordinary sonic accuracy and a level of comfort that is being described by users as the most comfortable headphones they have ever experienced!

Similar in purpose and design philosophy to all KRK products, both the KNS-6400 and KNS-8400 provide honest reproduction that will benefit studio engineers, studio musicians, producers and avid music fans alike. The KNS headphones provide the same qualities that users of KRK speakers and subwoofers have benefitted from for 25 years; namely, sonic accuracy, transparency and consistency.  Now you can enjoy the same KRK engineering, innovation and voicing philosophy when using headphones.

Tim Dorwart, KRK CEO states, “The development of a breakthrough KRK headphone product has been years in the making. We assembled a team of experienced designers that were given a directive to create a headphone that exceeded current performance standards. The goal was to satisfy what customers have been asking for: a headphone that closely replicates the “studio monitor experience” while honoring our objective to build a product that is lightweight, comfortable and competitively priced.”

KRK headphones provide incredibly natural frequency response that gives you a reference standard unaffected by your location. With a range of 10Hz-22kHz on the KNS-6400 and a range of 5Hz-23kHz on the KNS-8400, you will be able to monitor audio without compromising your tracks. With a detachable and replaceable locking cable, rotating ear cups for travel and storage, durable materials, replaceable ear and head cushions and a wide range of accessories, the KNS series is ready to withstand the needs of producers, musicians, performers and engineers — in the studio and on the go.

“The first thing I want to know is whether the low frequencies are there?  Does it feel like a KRK monitor?  And it totally does,” commented famed producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins of Darkchild Entertainment.  “The comfort is incredible.  They are lightweight – not these big, old heavy headphones that you feel like you want to take off after wearing them for five minutes.” Adds Jerkins, “Now when I take my mixes home or when I’m traveling, I can plug my KRK headphones into my laptop and feel like I’m still in the studio. That’s important when you’re making hits for the radio; you have to be spot on.”

Built with comfort as a design imperative, the KNS 6400 & 8400 have a lightweight reduced-mass structure with an adjustable low-pressure headband system. The self-aligning yoke ensures the best possible fit — so the artist can focus on music without having to tolerate discomfort. The acoustic foam ear pads gently conform to your unique head shape improving low-end response and providing a high level of sound isolation.

For years, KRK has been known for innovations in speakers, monitors and subs. The new KNS series of headphones — with their ability to reveal exactly what you have on the tracks — is an ideal choice for critical listening. Being able to discern the most subtle differences in pitch, timbre and tone helps you to get it right every mix, every take, and every performance. With a suggesting US selling price of $99 for the 6400 model and $149 for the 8400’s, the KNS headphone series provides professional sound quality at an affordable price.

Basically all we know about these upcoming Marshall headphones is that they’ll be available on November 15 and that they bear the name of the vaunted monitor cabinet and amp company, Marshall. If the image is any indication, they’re perfect for hipster graffiti artists.

Product Page