Company Puma presented its new device PMAD6007 – 14.8 in ears headphones with microphone, ability to reproduce 15 Hz – 20 kHz sounds frequencies and protection from moisture for approximately 8.5 USD. Cable with 1.2 m length is connected to both cups, to sound source it is plugged via 1/8″ mini jack connector, in its volume control module microphone and smartphones control buttons are placed; both cups have over ears bands for fixation. Package contains : Puma PMAD6007 headphones themselves, carrying and storage case, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones are good and have great sportive in-ears headphones characteristics for such price. There is also ability to look on other in-ears headphones or, if there is need in sound quality over device’s compactness, then on 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones.
Among monitor headphones with microphone new device appeared Sven AP-930M with 40 mm membranes, closed architecture, 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range and 95 dB sensitivity. Their impedance is 32 Ohms, mass is 192 g; microphone perceives sounds in 50 Hz – 10 kHz frequencies range, its sensitivity is -42 dB. Cable is mounted to only one of the cups, microphone is located in its volume control module with smartphones control button, to sound source it is connected via 1/8″ mini jack plug; they are supplied only in black and white color variant. Package with Sven AP-930M headphones contain : warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are good enough and do their job, they can be used as headset for phones, for communication in Skype and other voice applications; there is ability to anticipate, that Sven will not set high price for this device. So, if there is need in headphones for doing of set targets, then these ones are quite good; but if there is need in 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones for high quality music playback or professional work with sound, then there is ability to look on devices with higher technical characteristics and price.
Company ASUS presented new 9.2 mm in-ears headphonesEL33 with microphone, support of 20 Hz – 20 kHz sounds frequencies playback and 103 dB sensitivity for 15 USD. Their impedance is 16 Ohms, cable is mounted to both cups and is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector; in its volume control module uni-directional microphone and smartphones control button are built-in. Package contains : ASUS EL33 headphones themselves, interchangeable earstips of different sizes ( small, medium and large ), warranty card and user’s guide. From one side : headphones are good enough and have not very big price; from the other : in-ears headphones will not give high-quality sound due to small membranes and for 2 – 3 times smaller sum there is ability to buy similar devices, which are not weaker, than these ones. So, there is ability to look on other in-ears headphones, if compactness is needed the most, or add small sum and buy 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones, if sound quality is the most important.
One of the novelties of Sven company production is an in-ears headphonesSEB-101 with 10 mm membranes, support of 20 Hz – 20 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction and 98 dB sensitivity for 3.5 USD. They have closed architecture, 32 Ohms impedance and 10 g mass, they are supplied only in black color variant. To both cups 1.2 m cable is connected with 1/8″ mini jack connector with nickel-plated contacts for connection to sound source. Package with Sven SEB-101 contains : plastic case, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones do not have some top-level characteristics, but in-ears headphones will not produce high-quality sound due to small membranes size, so these ones is an optimal choice, when compactness is the most important. If it is not needed and high quality of sound is more important, then it is better to buy 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones for 20 – 40 USD.
Company Sven presented new model of its in-ears headphones SEB-300M – device with 10 mm membranes, microphone, 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range and wooden body for 12 USD. Headphones impedance is 16 Ohms, sensitivity is 93 dB and mass is 13 g; perceivable audio frequencies range of microphone is 30 Hz – 16 kHz and sensitivity is -42 dB, which is a good values for microphones. Cable is attached to both cups, its length is 1.2 m, in its volume control module smartphones control button is built-in, it is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector. Package contains : Sven SEB-300M headphones themselves, stylish aluminum case for storage and carrying, 2 interchangeable earstips, warranty card and user’s guide. These headphones do not have some very high audio characteristics, but they are quite good, provide high-quality music reproduction and do their job; wherein their price is adequate to their functions. However there is need to note, that if there is need in high-quality sound and not compactness of device, then it is better to add 14 – 20 USD and buy good 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones.
Among new dynamic monitor headphones there is device Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 with 40 mm membranes, 18 Hz – 25 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction support, open architecture and around 80 USD price. Their impedance is 35 Ohms, sensitivity is 93 dB/mW, maximal input power is 500 mW and mass is 240 g ( without cable accounting ). It is connected to one of the cups, is not detachable, has 3 m length and is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts. Double headband automatically adjusts to different sizes of heads of users, soft earpads provide comfort during long-time music and sounds listening.
Drivers of Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 are created with use of coils with CCAW wire for reduction of mass, more free movements of sound emitter and more precise reproduction of all audio frequencies, especially high ones; in each cup there is only 1 dynamic driver. Headphones are not foldable, in place of entering into cup cable is additionally reinforced with resin tube for increased toughness and wear resistance against bending and tear-off forces. They have no active noise cancellation function, as some other monitor headphones have, but have good noise isolation. Cups and honeycomb fence are made of aluminum for increased rigidity and reduction of chatter during music and sounds playback.
Package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 headphones themselves, adapter to 1/4″ jack connector, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great : they have large 40 mm diaphragms, wide sounds frequencies reproduction support, open architecture and comfortable headband and earpads; wherein their price is even not big for professional monitor headphones. However, there is need to note, that for most users such characteristics are not needed and there is ability to buy much cheaper consumer-level 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones. Also, if compactness of device is must have, then there is ability to look on in-ears headphones, which do not reproduce sounds as good, as monitor headphones, especially basses, but have much smaller sizes and mass, which is very important in sportive exercises and trainings, also such kind of headphones often have slider and clip on their cable, to prevent its tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects.
There is also need to note, that Audio-Technica – is a Japanese company, established in Tokyo in 1962 year, as phonographs cartridges producer. Then it started to develop and introduced among its products microphones and headphones, among which now there are wired and wireless models. At current moment it is one of the leading foreign consumer sound electronics and government organizations devices supplier in USA. And in the country of a rising Sun audio devices are usually made with high quality of components and assembling.
One of the new over ears headphones is a Stenn SH-750T – device with closed architecture, 40 mm membranes, moved by neodymium magnets, 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible sound frequencies range and 110 dB sensitivity for 14 USD. Their impedance is 32 Ohms and maximal input power is 100 mW; cable is attached to both cups, its length is 1.5 m, it is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack nickel-plated connector.
Headphones are foldable for compact carrying and storage; package contains : Stenn SH-750T headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones do not have some extra characteristics, but they have very small price for 40 mm headphones, so, if there is need in device with neodymium magnets and 40 mm membranes, then these ones are adequate for the purpose. But there is need to note, that adding small sum to their price, there is ability to buy better 40 mm headphones; so, if there is need in real high quality music listening headphones, then it is better to invest more money in their purchase and acquire device with better characteristics.
Another one novelty of Audio-Technica company is a professional monitor headphones ATH-PRO5MK3 with microphone, 10 Hz – 25 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range, 1300 mW input power and closed architecture. Their impedance is 38 Ohms, Sensitivity is 101 dB and mass is 250 g ( without cord ); headphones can reproduce sound from both or only one cup for selective channels monitoring; powerful magnets and high input power provide uniform sounds frequencies reproduction. Detachable cables are connected to only one cup ( there are 2 of them in the package : coiled one and straight one with microphone and smartphones control button, their both length is 1.2 m ); they are attached to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts. Microphone sensitivity is -41 dB ( this is a good value ) and perceivable frequencies are in 100 Hz – 10 kHz frequencies range.
Package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-PRO5MK3 headphones themselves, 2 cables, screw-on adapter to 1/4″ jack plug, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great : they have wide reproducible frequencies range, high input power, large membranes, two detachable cables and microphone; they are oriented on professional studio use and have according price : around 100 USD – for professional monitor headphones this is an adequate sum. There is need to note, that for high-quality sounds and music listening by usual users consumer-level monitor headphones cab be used with much smaller price.
Company Audio-Technica released new 53 mm professional monitor headphonesATH-PRO700MK2 with 5 Hz – 35 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range and closed architecture. Their sensitivity is 106 dB, impedance is 38 Ohms, maximal input power is 3500 mW and mass is 305 g. Removable cable is connected to one of the cups ( there are 2 of them in the package : coiled one and straight one, both have 1.2 m length ), to sound source they are connected via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts; device can be folded for compactness. Package with Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 headphones contains : adapter to 1/4″ jack connector, 2 cables, carrying and storage pouch, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great : with very wide reproducible sounds frequencies range, large diaphragms for high-quality basses reproduction and high sensitivity; they are designed for professional studio use and have according price 100 – 130 USD, this acceptable price for professional headphones; but for simply high-quality music listening, consumer level monitor headphones can be used, for example, 50 or 40 mm ones for much smaller price.
One of the devices of Superlux company is a 40 mm closed dynamic monitor headphonesHD-440 with 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range and 150 Ohms impedance. Their sensitivity is 96 dB, mass is 300 g ( with wire accounting, without accounting of it – 251 g ), to one of the cups not detachable cable with 2.5 m length is mounted with 1/8″ mini jack gold-plated plug for connection to sound source. Device’s headband adjusts automatically to head size, it has interesting design, enhanced basses reproduction characteristics and good outer sounds silencing. Package contains : Superlux HD-440 headphones themselves, adapter to 1/4″ jack plug, warranty card and user’s guide.
Superlux HD-440 are not foldable, each their cup has only 1 sound emitter; in place of connection to speaker cable is additionally reinforced with resin tube for increased durability and wear resistance during bending and tear-off forces application. Headphones has no active noise-cancellation function, as some other monitor headphones have, but they have good isolation from surrounding sounds; they are supplied only in black color variant. Their cable has no slider and clip for tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects prevention; also it has no built in microphone and smartphones and volume control buttons. Cushions and headband of Superlux HD-440 are covered with soft material for comfortable wearing during long time listening of audio.
All in all headphones are good, with wide frequencies range and large membranes, their price is around 30 USD, it is not too high for them, but there is need to note, that for such money 50 mm monitor headphones or for smaller money 40 mm ones can be bought. Also, these headphones have high impedance and to power them there is need in good sound source : players, smartphones and tablet PCs are not enough for this, there is need in receiver or good audio interface. If from device compactness and small mass are needed, then there is ability to look on in-ears headphones, which are oriented on use during sportive exercises and trainings, as well as everyday compact use. Besides this their cable often has slider and clip.
Superlux – is a company, which main office is located in Taiwan development and testing laboratories and facilities in Hong Kong and other China cities. This name is a brand of company Goang-Fann Co. Ltd., which in 1997 year acquired Tenlux – company-producer of microphones and started to release headphones, microphones and other audio equipment under this name. Company is known for production of very functional devices with very attractive prices; so, when according sound devices are being choosen, it is useful to look on products of Superlux.
