Tag: Headphones

Lets review new monitor headphones KEF M500. Lets start with the fact, that manufacturer tells not much about their technical characteristics : they can reproduce sounds in 20 – 20000 Hz range ( which is not much for asked price ) and they have built-in 40 mm drivers, which are powered by neodymium magnets; and there is no information about their sensitivity, impedance, signal/noise ratio and maximal power input. At the same time there is large amount of loud names of different “technologies”, which mean not much in technical respect, if they mean something at all. Manufacturer asks 300 USD for this device – for more than 3 times lower price professional studio monitor headphones can be bought, which are far superior to these ones in all technical respects, and for even smaller price there is ability to buy headphones with known technical characteristics of Sony, Philips and other manufacturers. So, in respect of these headphones KEF M500 there is ability to say, that they are marketing money-pumping from customers with use of dull loud names of different “technologies”, so, this model is not recommended for purchasing and it is better to buy other headphones with known technical details for 3 times and even more smaller sum.

Lets review new monitor headphones Sennheiser HD 598. Manufacturer does not tell information about diameter of their drivers, but, judging by their view, it is 40 mm, they are driven with neodymium magnets and can reproduce sounds with 12 – 38500 Hz frequencies, thier impedance is 50 Ohms; manufacturer does not tell information about their sensitivity and signal to noise ratio. Package contains : Sennheiser HD 598 headphones themselves, TRS 6.3 mm jack – 3.5 mm mini-jack adapter and user’s guide. Overall, they are too overpriced ( 250 USD at the end of Autumn 2015 ) : in the technical details ( which not all are disclosed ) they are not better and in some respects even weaker, than top-level monitor headphones of Sony and Philips and cost much more, than they are; and for less than half of this sum professional studio monitor headphones can be bought, which are far superior in sound quality respect, than this handcraft. So, this is a classical example of marketing money pumping from customers with use of loud claims and names, which mean not much in technical respect; so, these headphones are not recommended for purchasing, it is better to buy top-level monitor headphones of other manufacturers with known technical details or professional studio headphones for much smaller price.

Lets review new Beats Powerbeats2 In-Ear Headphones. Manufacturer tells nothing about their technical details, so this already rises suspicion. Judging by their view, 8 or 10 mm drivers are built into them, tips have additional hooks for better weight distribution and better fixing on ears, cable length is 119 cm and mass is 26.7 g. They are protected from sweat and moisture, volume control unit with microphone and phone remote control buttons is attached to cable. Package contains : Beats Powerbeats2 In-Ear Headphones themselves, carrying and storage case, 4 interchangeable tips of different sizes for comfortable wearing by different people, cable fixing clip and user’s guide. All in all, taking into account lack of technical information ( frequencies range, drivers diameter, magnets, impedance, sensitivity and maximal input power ) and very hight price ( 199 USD at the end of Autumn 2015 – for half of this sum there is ability to buy profession studio monitor headphones and for much smaller money amount there is ability to buy very good in-ear headphones with known technical details ), these headphones are not recommended for purchase.

Lets review audio novelty SOL RELAYS SPORT – in-ear headphones for sports exercises. Manufacturer tells almost nothing about their technical characteristics, this points thoughts in suspicious direction. Judging by their view, 8 or 10 mm drivers are built into them, they are protected from sweat and moisture and has small mass and low-profile. Their volume control unit has built-in buttons for phones control, they are supplied with changeable tips for comfortable wearing by different people and are subject to 1-year manufacturer warranty. Package contains : SOL RELAYS SPORT headphones themselves, storage pouch and user’s guide. Overall, with lack of technical details from manufacturer and high price ( 50 USD at the end of Autumn 2015 ) it seems, that these headphones are simply marketing money pumping from customers, so, if there are no special sympathy to their design, then it is better to look on devices of other manufacturers with known technical details and more acceptable price.

Lets review new compact sportive headphones MEE audio M7P Secure-Fit Sports, designed for in-ear use. Their drivers size is 8 mm, they can reproduce sounds in 20 – 20000 Hz frequency range, impedance on 1 kHz equals to 16 Ohms, sensitivity is 98 dB and maximal power input is 5 mW. They are supplied with 1.3 detachable cable with 3.5 mm mini-jack connector. To its volume control unit microphone ( with 100 – 5000 Hz perceived frequencies range and -40 dB sensitivity ) and phone remote control are attached. Cable additionally has over-ear parts to distribute its weight evenly; pads, cable and its volume control module are protected from sweat and moisture. Headphones are released in 4 color variants : gray, red, blue and green. Package contains : MEE audio M7P Secure-Fit Sports headphones themselves, detachable cable, pouch of according color, 4 pairs of silicon ear-tips of different sizes, clothes clip and user’s guide. Characteristics of these headphones are mainly similar to those ones of other devices of such type, so, this model should be preferred for purchase only in case of sympathy to their design, reliability and convenience of their construction and adequate price.

Lets review new studio monitor headphones KRK KNS 6400. They have closed-back architecture and their 40 mm membranes are powered by neodymium magnets. They can absorb outer sounds with 26 dB max volume. They can reproduce sounds in 10 – 22000 Hz frequencies range, their sensitivity is 95 dB, impedance is 36 Ohms and maximal power input is 1000 mW. Headphones are equipped with 2.5 m pluggable cable with 3.5 mm ( 1/8″ ) gold-plated mini-jack connector, it has no built-in volume control unit. Wing and earcups are made of plastic, cushions from leatherette; which provide comfortable long-time use in studio conditions. Head and ears cushions can be replaced in case of damage. Headphones weight 210 g. Package contains : KRK KNS 6400 headphones themselves, pluggable cable, screw-on 6.3 mm ( 1/4″ ) jack converter, storage and carrying case and user’s guide. These are good studio-level quality headphones for optimal price, which can be used for professional work and for in-home use for music listening.

Lets review Audio-Technica ATH-R70x novelty, these are the professional studio monitor headphones with according characteristics. They have : 45 mm drivers, powerful magnets with fully metal housing ( which provides construction stability and provides clear high frequencies reproduction ), 5 – 40000 Hz sounds frequencies reproduction range, 1000 mW maximal power input, 99 dB sensitivity and 470 Ohms impedance ( such high impedance requires powerful signal, which makes all cable noise signals very week in comparison with it, and also it does not allow all noise signals to go to electric coil near magnet ). They had open back architecture with aluminum honeycomb mesh housing and composite resin and plastic materials for construction rigidity, which make sound reproduction more clear. They weight 210 g and have cozy pads and wing, which make their long use comfortable, which is important with their use in studio. Cable of headphones is pluggable, wherein, it does not matter how it is attached to pads, because right signal is automatically chosen for each pad. Package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-R70x headphones themselves, pluggable cable, protective carrying pouch and user’s guide. All in all : these are the very interesting headphones, but they are not suited for home use, because they cost very much and their high characteristics are not needed for home use. But, if there is choosing : buy too branded audiophile headphones, for which 2/3 of cost are costs for brand name and marketing expenses, and these ones, then it is better to buy these ones.

Philips released new monitor type headphones Philips Fidelio M1 MKII. They have closed type architecture, which isolates from outer sounds, and comfortable materials, which make their long time wearing convenient. Outer surfaces of earshells have vents, which allow air to move in and move out from shells, this makes air pressure on membrane optimal and allows to reproduce high quality sound over all frequencies range. Earshells have 2 layers, that make sounds reproduction clear without additional noise. 40 mm membranes are moved by neodymium magnets. Headphones can reproduce sounds in 15 – 24000 Hz frequencies range, have 16 Ohms impedance, 106 Db per 1 mW sensitivity and 150 mW max power input. Cable length is 1.1 m and it has built-in module with microphone and remote answer button for smartphones. Headphones weight is 166 g. Package contains : Philips Fidelio M1 MKII headphones themselves with built-in cable and pouch for compact storage.

Philips released high quality monitor headphones Philips L2BO/27 of semi-open type. They have built-in 40 mm drivers with membranes, which are moved by neodymium magnets. They can reproduce sounds with 6 – 40000 Hz frequencies, their impedance is 16 Ohms, sensitivity is 105 dB / 1 mW and maximal power input is 200 mW. Earshells of Philips L2BO/27 are produced from aluminum, which allows them to reproduce sounds clearly without additional noise; wherein their drivers are directed into acoustic ears canals, which allows to reduce reverberation from the outer ear and makes sounds more natural. Semi-open architecture allows to isolate ears from outer sounds and enrich deep basses reproduction, at the same time this allows to reduce headphones weight and makes their wearing more comfortable. Philips L2BO/27 comply with Hi-Res Audio standard, which means that they reproduce sounds precisely enough and do not add additional noise to it. Headphones cable has unit with microphone and smartphones remote answer button; also there is 3.5 mm – 6.3 mm mini-jack adapter included in the package. Package contains : Philips L2BO/27 headphones themselves with built-in cable, adapter and pouch for compact cable storage.

3D Sound Labs anounced new headphones 3D Sound Labs One with 3D sound positioning. They have built in gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors, which track head movement and allow to precisely determine head position. This data then sent to computer via Bluetooth connection, where special program processes it and changes sound so, that person have feeling, that he or she rotates head in respect to real sound source. This way there is realistic 3D sound picture is reproduced, which is most plausible for multichannel sound : movies, games and virtual reality applications. Headphones have built in Li-ion battery, which powers sensors and wireless transmitter. Headphones themselves are of monitor type, with isolation from surround sounds and neodymium magnets, which move membranes. All in all this is interesting novelty for mobile use, but taking into account their price ( 269 USD at the beginning of Autumn 2015 ), it is better to buy 5.1 or 7.1 speakers with subwoofer or by drivers and create speakers by yourself and receive sound with much better quality without dependence on some application. 3D Sound Labs One headphones will be available in stores from 15th September of this year.