Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones NEWEST MODEL


QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Bose® QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones --For those who prefer a compact on-ear design and a rechargeable battery, QuietComfort 3 headphones offer a proven combination of Bose noise reduction, audio performance and comfortable fit. Enjoy full-spectrum noise reduction that dramatically reduces engine roar--and fades background distractions at work and at home, too. Bose quality sound reveals nuances in your music you might have missed. And the soft-cushioned headphones stay comfortable for hours. Earcups fold flat for easy storage in included case.

I decided to cheap out earlier and bought a pair of Sony NR headsets for $30 and change. They seemed pretty good but on flights, the NR wasn't good enough - way too much background noise. Finally I decided to man up and get the real deal. And boy, what a change (for the better)!

With the Bose headsets, NR means NR, they ain't kidding about when they say NR, absolutely no background noise on the flight. My quick thoughts on this so far:

- You haven't heard true HD sound if you haven't heard it on this headset. And the sound is not like bass or treble heavy, it's just crisp and you can hear every water drop and every single instrument being played. And NR works great both ways on this headset - the surrounding noise is almost cancelled out completely for you when you're using the headsets, and the sound of the sound from the headset doesn't carry out of the headsets either. I can listen to music or movies at a fairly high volume and the person sitting next to me won't hear a thing.

- The leather trim around the headsets makes them extremely comfortable to wear. I wear them on 15-hour flights and don't feel any strain by the end of the flight. My ears or head don't hurt because of the headsets and the plastic strap. They truly are made for comfort.

- It comes with airplane adapter so you can turn it from a single 3.5mm audio cable into one that fits in the airplane sockets. The cable is also detachable completely from the headset, which I actually find very useful when I want to doze off and not be bothered by surrounding noise. You don't realize how effective the headsets are till you take them off and realize how much of background noise they were eliminating!

- The only one downside of this headset is that it runs on a AAA battery. So I always need to make sure I have fully charged batteries with me at all times. I carry rechargeable batteries (Sanyo Eneloop are the BEST) with a charger. So if I do run out of battery, I can always charge it on the flight itself. ON a full charge of the Eneloop AAA, I am yet to run out of battery on a 15-hour flight.

Yes, these headsets aren't cheap but they are worth every penny. Bose puts so much research and effort into developing their products, I have absolutely no reason to complain!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Sennheiser HD 598 Audiophile Headphones with High-Gloss Burl Wood Accents

In a hurry so I will try to be quick, but thorough. Forgive the lack of proper structure but I think you will find the review quite informative.

I think it would be quite helpful to do a comparison. In contrast to the 598s, the HD555 are quite affordable to most for a beg head fi headphone, and they do sound good. Also, yes the foam mod "works" when done on the 555 in that it opens up the headphones, bass is more prominent but still remain tight (this is a popular mod that is well known in the head-fi community).
The 558 mod (foam removal) will NOT make the 558 like the 598. It will make the bass somewhat heavier/looser (slightly overlapping the mids) which some may find as a negative.

The casings where the drivers sit are different and the drivers are tuned differently.

The sound on the 555 is laid back and the 555 is not as airy and open as the hd558 or the 598. The 558 is also laid back and darker than the 598s.
The 558s and 598 are more refined and the frequency is smoother throughout relative to the 555s; the 598s are undoubtedly more refined than both the 555 AND the 558.

The 598s are brighter than the 558, the 598 are awesome for vocals, that is, the vocals are more up front and pleasant (especially awesome when listening to female vocals, I love my Adele :)and piano (awesome with piano), the 598s definitely shine with classical music as well. The 598 also excel in a wide genera of music including pop, jazz, classical, jrock, jpop, acoustics.
Bass is weightier on the 558s and tighter on the 598s (tighter bass is what I prefer, I like the tight punch). Not only is the 598 relatively bright when compared to the Senn signature, but it is funner to listen to as its mids are more forward than both the 555 and the 558.
The 598s have a Grado approach without the treble being overly sharp.

Like others have said, and I concur, the 598s def open up/come alive when coupled with an amp/ decent DAC. But at 50ohms, an amp is not necc to drive these babies.

A number of audiophiles have stated that: The sound from the hd598 are UNMATCHED by ANY other headphone. AGAIN, that doesn't mean they are better than, for instance, the hd800s but rather that they are unique, nonetheless, a notion is to be taken in a positive way.

Comfort is great on both the 558 and 598. BETTER than the 555/595. If you call Senn they will tell you that the clamping force is the same BUT I as well as a couple of others I know all agree that these are MORE comfortable, you pretty much forget that they are on your head (that says a lot especially because I wear glasses and I'm really sensitive to the pressure in that area).

If you are going to be playing electronic, house, metal then these headphones may be a bit slow for you, they could use some speed. If you want that, then I recommend the HD 25 1 ii. DO NOT get the hd25SP (easily mistaken since the picture is incorrect on amazon.com). The hd 25s are closed back, awesome for portable use and the no.1 DJ headphones in the world. They are also used by the broadcaster in NBA, NEWS etc (their version has a special mic attached of course).

If you were to do a AB testing bw all 3 like I did, you would definitely notice the difference, the HD598 is the clear winner in my estimation.

ALSO VERY IMPORTANT and thus should be noted, as stated by another reviewer there has been incidents in the past where there has been cracks that have been formed on the headbands of the 5xx series. Although Sennheiser essentially ignored the problem for several years they have INDEED taken corrective steps in manufacturing as of last year to prevent this. Further, they come w/ a two year warranty replacement and Ive heard pretty good things about the CSRs there.

Lastly, is it just me or do you guys also cringe when people/"reviewers" complain about sound leakage when reviewing an OPEN BACK HEADPHONE.

This headphone is an amazing product. I've used Sony XD400 and Bose Triports before. I'm not an audiophile. I just use it for listening to music and movies. It sound so great...so spatial....one word its heaven. It has controlled and well defined bass. Bass does not overwhelm mid/treble as in XD400. Sound leaks out but as advertised it is open headphone, so ofcourse it does. I can hear everything so clearly. Only thing is, the pins provided does not fit iphone properly unless you hold with your hand.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Skullcandy Hesh Headphones S6HECZ-079 (Shattered Blue)

Fisticuffs with the boss could potentially be confused by some at the office as a sign of insubordination. Vigorous dancing on his desk with exotic facial contortions and frequent airborne double-bird fist pumping hand gestures while wearing Hesh headphones is probably a more diplomatic way of saying, Leave me alone so I can rock again. Features; Explosive 50mm Drivers Enhanced Parabolic Sound Soft Leather-Touch Ear Pillows Satin Travel Bag Specs; Speaker Diameter: 50mm Magnet Type: NdFeB Frequency Response: 18-20k Hz Impedance: 32 ohms Max Input Power: 100mW Cable Type: TPE, Braided Nylon Cable Length: 1.2m Plug Type: 3.5mm Gold Plated

I'm used to using the separate headphones where you rotate this awkward piece of plastic behind your ear because those are cheap, but I decided to buckle down and get some nice over-the-ear headphones because the original ones I'm referring to never seem close enough to my ears. I love the style and color; I feel like Skullycandy is all about expression. I read the reviews before my purchase and I took note that these leak sound (which is unusual considering the style), but I truly don't mind. I usually only wear headphones when I'm walking outside or at home, not in public places anyway. This product also comes with a pouch which is really neat; I just store these and my iPod in there so I always know where they are. I also love how the cord doesn't get tangled and ruined like most headphones! Whatever material they used for the cord is ingenious.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Beats by Dr. Dre Tour High-Resolution In-Ear Headphones from Monster

Beats Tour delivers sound so big; you would think you had speakers in your ears. Newly developed in-ear speaker technologies reproduce clear natural vocals, detailed highs, and deep powerful bass without distortion. Wired with high-performance Monster Cable, Beats Tour delivers sound performance never before achieved in any earphone. Beats Tour also features the world's first tangle-free earphone cable. While earphones are convenient, taking the time to untangle them is not.Most in-ear headphones simply cut off the low end of your music because they simply can't reproduce low audio frequencies.
Alright I've been looking for a stylish and great audio quality pair of headphones for a while, after I lost my Bose In ear Headphones.

Now after tons of searching across the web, I ran into these headphones. I was a bit unsure at first whether or not to get these, but I ended up getting them because I just had that gut instinct I would be pleased with them.

As soon as I got them, I wanted to post a review how awesome they were. Only, I waited for about a week to test them out. So now after a week, I am pleased to say these headphones were everything I wanted.

The sound quality matches up to my previous Bose In Ear Headphones plus I get that stylish cable and look of them. I've had at least 20 people this past week mention my headphones to me, all good feedbacks. I am proud to own them.

I only have one con:
The earbuds are a royal pain to put on. I was testing them out to see which one I like best and one earbud took my 20 minutes to get on, but they won't fall off so I guess it really doesn't matter. Its not like you'll be changing earbuds constantly. And if they are to easy to get on like the Bose ones, they fall off and get lost all of the time so I'm happy to have these.

Overall, if your looking for a nice pair of headphones, I recommend these.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

JBuds J3 Micro Atomic In-Ear Earphones with Travel Case (Titanium Silver)

The Mothership has Landed! JBuds J3 Micro Atomic. Full metal housing and components, cold forged from solid aluminum core. Stunning anodized finish. Tactile L/R ID system. Revolutionized flex joints. Laser cut bassport. Laser etched logo details. Full spectrum, hyper balanced micro drivers. Legendary JBuds sound. The sleekest, sexiest profile ever. A perfect fit. The J3 Micro Atomic Earphones are the JBuds, redefined. Part of JLab’s futurist new design paradigm, the Atomic Wave. Building on JLab’s legendary JBuds sound signature, the Micro Atomics pair the superior resonance of carefully crafted aluminum housing with perfectly balanced full spectrum drivers to deliver a stunning new level of acoustic performance. The rich, dynamic soundstage features crystal clear highs, deep, full mids, and tight, punchy bass. The J3’s ultra slim, ergonomic profile is designed for easy grip, an amazingly comfortable in-ear fit, and first-class noise isolation. The Micro Atomics are built to last with rugged aluminum housing and components, durable rubber flex joints, premium quality micro-braided anti-tangle cable, stainless steel mesh filters at the sound tube and baseport, a durable inline cord slide, and a 24ct gold plated 3.5 mm audio jack for premium, no-loss sound connection to your audio device. The entire product is covered by JLab’s no hassle one-year warranty. Soft silicone cushions are included in four sizes (XS, S, M, and L) to assure an ideal fit from the smallest ears to the largest. Also included is a sleek, rugged, designer travel case to protect and organize your Micro Atomics and accessories for travel. The travel case features durable woven nylon Jacquard over a rugged EVA shell, a long-lasting composite zipper, an internal mesh pocket, a 3-D molded JLab logo, and molded JLab tactile zipper grip.

I purchased this item after having the JBuds J2 earphones for a few months and I can say from personal experience that these earphones are extremely improved from its predecessor, the J2s. The new sleek and slim design fits comfortably into the ear and with four different size tips, one surely has to fit. The cord is very durable even though it is slightly slimmer than the previous model. Also, the four different colors JLab Audio offers helps personalize this product towards your individual preference. After "burning-in" the new J3s, I noticed an overall clear, high quality sound. I've tested this with a variety of music and have noticed improved highs and bass as well. Some people have commented that that there is too much treble but I haven't really noticed this. After you do a "burn-in," the sound quality should significantly improve. The sound is perfect for me but I am just your average music lover, not an audiophile. When listening to music with these earphones, I notice instruments I've never heard before on my standard iPod earphones.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sennheiser Adidas MX 680 Sports Earbud Headphones with Volume control & Earfin Clips

Combining the sporting knowledge of Adidas with Sennheiser's top-of-the-line audio expertise, the Sennheiser MX 680 stereo earphones provide top-quality sound, excellent wearing comfort, and resistance to external influences such as water, sweat, and cold.
We partnered with Adidas on ergonomic design for a precise and comfortable fit.A unique moisture-resistant materials wicks away sweat and rain.Dynamic Sennheiser transducers deliver true sound performance. Designed for extreme movement. Flexible materials absorb shocks and strain. S
I have to admit that I was dubious of these when I first saw them. Ear fins do not seem like they would be comfortable, and I could see how it would be a problem. At first it was a little strange, but after using them for a while I do not even notice the fins anymore. The sound is good for ear buds that are only used to work out, and I actually use them just walking around. The bright yellow is a little intense for my tastes, but nobody really seems to notice unless I point it out. These work great for what they were intended for. The extension cable does not degrade the sound enough to matter at all, I actually did not notice any degradation, and since I do not own a iPod Shuffle, some of the reported problems with that system (which seem like a design flaw that that product more that this one) do not exist for me. Very happy with this purchase overall. It should be noted that those who are worried about different size ears should be able to find something close to their size in the pile of extras that come with this ear bud set.

The downside would be that they are not as high performing as some of the other Sennheiser audio listening devices. This is not all that surprising considering they are not designed for in depth listening but being active, and in that they excel. Even jumping around for four hours strait and slinging heavy boxes around does not move these out of place.


Bottom line: Highly recommend for working out, but if you want to sit and listen to music I would suggest a different model.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Sony MDREX36V/BLK EX Earbud Headphone (Black)

9mm EX Drivers --- Allows for a comfortable fit and a deep and full sounding bass performance all in a small package. In-Line Volume control --- Allows you to control your volume without having to take out your player from where you are carrying it. Cord adjuster --- Allows you to conviently control the length of the cord. Three sizes of ear buds --- You can pick the size that right for you for comfort and performance.

I have tried a few cheaper ear buds and they all seemed the same. They would all keep slipping out and after using them for a while, they would hurt your ears and were just very uncomfortable. I decided to spend a little more money and see if it was worth it. Well it was definitely worth it in every way. I can put these in without the feeling of having to shove them in your ears. They go in easy and stay put very well. I can keep these in for hours without even feeling them there. They are very comfortable and the sound quality is much better. The most noticeable thing is more bass, not over powering, but just a deeper sounding bass. I would recommend these if you are looking for a more comfortable set of ear buds that stay in your ear, where they belong.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Philips Rich Bass Neckband Headphones SHS5200/28 (Replaces SHS5200)

Rich Bass. Durable cable. Bass beat vents allow air movement for better sound with a deep rich bass. And 24k gold-plated finishing on the plug will give you a more reliable connection for better quality audio. The special shape and luxurious materials used for the ear cushions ensure a perfect fit for maximum comfort and ensure a more comfortable fit and better bass performance thanks to reduced audio leakage. Special reflective material on the neckband helps keep you visible in the dark.

Philips SHS5200 Reflective Neckband Headphones

I am a medical transcriptionist. We all require comfortable headphones for daily workday wear and these are pliable, fit just close enough without pinching or causing headaches. I forget I have them on!! We also must have very clear, detailed sound so we can quickly recognize the difference between sounds to get things like medications and dosages EXACT; these headphones are perfect, playing even the finest details in the softest, unintelligible words!! Designer looks and practical too!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Ear Force X31 Digital RF Wireless Game Audio + Xbox Live Chat

The Ear Force X31 is our third generation of wireless headsets for the XBOX 360. Like the X3, the X31 combines XBOX live chat with wireless game sound so you can hear the game sound and the voices of other players in the headset. In other words, it replaces your XBOX communicator headset and external speakers. By hearing the XBOX Live chat in the center of your head rather than in one ear, you can communicate better online. By eliminating speakers you can turn up the game without disturbing others.
Ok first of all, to all those who are trying to scare off potential buyers with the "popping/ crackling" noise, you don't know how to read instructions. The popping noise isn't a problem if you know where to correctly place your headphone equipment. These headphones offer quality you can't get with most t.vs. I can hear footsteps of the enemy as they try to sneak up on me, gunshots off in the distance, the action sounds like its right there.

The headphones are a comfortable fit with a decent mic. I can whisper into the mic and my friends can hear me no problem. This is an excellent alternative for gaming at night. I highly recommend this to anybody who wants to hear everything, including the chat of your friends or foe. With chat boost, chat is not drowned out with explosions.

I am purposely keeping this review short because I saw so many good reviews. I was worried about buying this because of the "noise popping" comments, and I am writing this to clear any concerns potential buyers may have. I have a wireless internet router in the same room as my gaming system and headphones. As long as you READ THE INSTRUCTIONS about placement, you can game effortlessly without any distractions. Haven't had any problem at all with these headphones. Best accessory purchase I've made.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Sennheiser HD555 Professional Headphones with Sound Channeling

The HD 555 features a special Surround Reflector, which generates and extended spatialsound field, making it the ideal headphone for home theater, as well as music.Other innovative features include Sennheiser's E.A.R. technology and optimized Duofol diaphragms for a new level of audio enjoyment. Overall listening pleasure is combined with outstanding wearing comfort.
Sennheiser definitely makes quality headphones, and prior to buying this, I owned Sennheiser HD-202, which seem to be the most popular Sennheiser model on Amazon. The only complaint I had with the 202's was that they hurt my ears after a while. Plus, I had some extra cash to burn and I wanted awesome headphones that would last me a very, very long time. Here s where the 555 comes in.

Simply put, this is the best audio investment I have ever made. These will definitely last at least 10-15 years. I'm sure you've all read about the awesome sound, so I won't waste your time with that. The comfort level, however, is incredible! I can wear these all day (really!) without even noticing them.

I live in the dorms at school, so I bought these headphones to give my roommates privacy. Don't worry about the sounds leaking. The only leak slightly more than other headphones. Also, the sound only leaks within your immediate space. So my roommate on the other side of the room doesn't even hear my music even at a relatively loud volume.

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