Headphone Reviews
Detailed reviews of all the latest models, from earbuds to over-ears.
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The best wireless headphones
Music is a necessity while I'm working. If it's not tunes from Spotify, there's at least a podcast chattering on in my ear. Of course, if you don't want to bother those around you with what you're listening to, you need a good set of headphones. The best options will also do a good job of blocking out the outside world. We've already offered some suggestions on the best wireless earbuds, so now it's time to examine the best over-ear wireless headphones. Each was selected for its mix of comfort, sound quality and effective noise cancellation. Because let's be honest: Audio is just one part of the equation when it comes to long listening sessions.
Billy Steele03.31.2018
Blue raises the bar for wireless audio with its Satellite headphones
After making its name building microphones for both amateurs and professionals, Blue made the leap to headphones back in 2014. Its first model, the Mo-Fi, featured a built-in amplifier and the company followed up with three others, including a planar magnetic set that also has an onboard amp. All of those options were wired, though, and if we've learned anything about "courageous" smartphone makers these days, the headphone jack is on its way out. To cater to the wireless craze, Blue announced its first wireless headphones, the Satellite, at CES in January. While this $400 model features and amp for top-notch audio, the Satellite lacks a key selling point for headphones: comfort.
Billy Steele08.03.2017
M&D's wireless MW50 headphones aren't perfect, but they sound great
Master & Dynamic has dabbled in wireless sound before, but big cans like the MW60s aren't always the most convenient to lug around. People's needs change when it's time to pack up our gear and venture out into the world, and that's why the company recently released a new set of wireless headphones: the on-ear MW50s. At $449, they're currently the least expensive wireless option in Master & Dynamic's lineup, but that's still pretty dear for a pair of wireless headphones. That said, their blend of performance and style might be worth it for some of you.
Chris Velazco01.15.2017
Sony's new PlayStation headset is premium in name alone
There's no shortage of gaming headsets on the market, and in an effort to distinguish themselves, manufacturers are turning to gimmicks to stand out from the competition. Sony, for example, has several PlayStation-branded pairs, and now it's adding another to the mix, in hopes that 3D audio will be enough to earn your $150. After spending some time with the new PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset, though, I'm not sure it deserves its asking price.
Timothy J. Seppala01.15.2017
Bragi's 'Headphone' takes on Apple's AirPods
Almost three years ago, Bragi left an indelible mark on the headphone universe. The then-unknown company launched a pair of "truly" wireless headphones on Kickstarter that not only cut every wire, but boasted a slew of fitness-tracking features, all wrapped in a superslick design.
James Trew11.26.2016
Jabra's Sport Coach headphones count my reps so I don't have to
Whenever I go to the gym, I immediately plug in my headphones. Last year, I graduated to wireless headphones, and while I'm happy with my current Bluetooth buds (more on those later), I was intrigued by Jabra's latest refresh of its Sports Coach series, which promises to gauge and coach not only your running (I don't do that), but also cross-training style bodyweight and dumbbell-based exercises, counting reps using built-in movement sensors so that you can concentrate on your form -- and then crank out even more.
Mat Smith10.30.2016
The sweet sound of the 'world's most expensive' earphones
I imagine I'm like most people in that I'm fairly content with a leaky pair of earphones that came bundled with a phone I bought 18 months ago. Some of you will have more expensive tastes, of course, dropping a few hundred on a "nice" pair of Beats, Sonys or similar cans. But there's a whole other world out there, where money is seemingly no object in the pursuit of the perfect sound. And for roughly a week, I've been masquerading as an audiophile myself, wearing oBravo's EAMT-1 in-ear headphones that cost no less than £3,600 (roughly $4,413). Yes, you read that right.
Jamie Rigg10.09.2016
The AirPods aren't a must-buy (yet)
The iPhone 7 goes on sale in a few days, and with it comes another nail in the headphone jack's proverbial coffin. Included in the box you'll find a pair of Lightning-tipped EarPods and a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter for your analog headphones, but to hear Apple tell it, the future of music is wireless. That's where the $159 AirPods come in: the company's totally cordless earbuds are slated for an October launch, and they promise elegance, ease of use and great sound. They deliver ... some of that, but after about a week of testing, they often felt as confusing as they did cool. Note: Our original review was conducted with AirPods that we understood to be consumer ready, but in hindsight that obviously wasn't the case. After using the originals for about three months with no issue, I received a final-production set, and was able to compare the two. We have since updated this review with further impressions. Long story short: We are bumping the score from 79 to 80, but generally speaking all of our earlier praise and criticism still applies.
Chris Velazco09.13.2016
Motorola's latest wireless earbuds don't live up to expectations
In June, Motorola unveiled its VerveLife line of "lifestyle" products, with the VerveOnes+ wireless earbuds being the first to go on sale. These are truly wireless, existing as two independent pods that you wedge into your ear holes, with no wires or headband to be found. Needless to say, I was excited at the prospect of ultracompact Bluetooth earbuds -- especially after reading about the Bragi Dash, a similar device. Sure, these headphones will be easy to lose (something the company addresses), but having a semi-smart audio system without tangles that's easy to stow in your pocket ... that seemed like the future. Sadly, while there are some useful features and the sound quality is indeed respectable, the form factor itself still has some lingering issues -- most notably, drops in earpiece-to-earpiece syncing. That's a problem, given the $250/£230 price tag.
Jon Turi08.28.2016
Bose's best headphones are even better wireless
When it comes to headphones, it can sometimes be easy to forget about Bose. The company doesn't debut new models as frequently as the competition, choosing instead to focus on quality, comfort and its highly touted noise-canceling tech. Bose's previous noise-canceling model, the QC25, has been around awhile, and despite its popularity, there was one thing missing: a wireless edition. Announced just over a week ago, the QuietComfort 35s mix that trademark sound and feel in a $350 package. I spent a few days using the headphones to see if they met my high expectations.
Billy Steele06.26.2016
Avegant Glyph review: A wearable cinema for serious movie fans
The idea behind the Avegant Glyph is pretty simple. It's a $699 portable, wearable movie theater. And if you're thinking it looks more like a pair of Beats than a cinema screen, there's good reason: It moonlights as a pair of regular headphones, of course, though video viewing is why you'd want to buy one. Inside the headband are two eye holes, behind which is some clever micromirror projection technology that beams 720p video directly into your eyes. Wear the Glyph like a VR headset, and plug in an HDMI source and you're good to go. If all this sounds familiar, it's because the Glyph has been in development for a few years now. This right here, however, is the version that's about to ship. I've spent some time with my head in one, and it's pretty neat. And, yes, a little weird.
James Trew03.01.2016
Marshall's wireless headphones rock all night (and day) long
When will these headphones die? That's what I'm thinking two days after switching on Marshall's $150 wireless Major II. The box clearly states "30 hours of playback," but it is a humble fib. It breezed past the 30-hour mark, well, hours ago. If it carries on much longer, it'll reach a second night, and probably run out while I sleep. Then I'll never know how long they lasted. Unless ... surely ... it won't still be playing when I wake up again? I can't risk the not knowing, so I turn them off and pause the timer. I'll resume this showdown in the morning.
James Trew02.24.2016
Axent Wear's cat ear headphones are the stuff of anime dreams
New Yorkers have perfected the art of looking but not looking. You know, where you let your eyes glaze over someone as you pass, so you can take them in without making it obvious that you're studying them. For this reason I wasn't entirely sure if anyone noticed the giant glowing cat ears on my head as I walked down the street on my way home from work.
Kris Naudus02.10.2016
Bragi Dash review: The smartest earbuds on the planet
Since I started at Engadget, it's been my life's mission (possible exaggeration) to reduce the number of gadgets I carry when I run. At one point, getting ready for a workout was something of a memory test. Where's my heart-rate strap? Did I charge my MP3 player overnight? Where's the foot-pod thingy? Are my headphones where I usually leave them? What about the GPS dongle and my running watch? You get the picture.
James Trew01.21.2016
AudioFlood's waterproof iPod is a swimmer's music dream come true
Swimming in an incredible form of exercises, especially as you age, but there's one problem for people like myself who use exercise time to work through podcasts and records you'd like to check out. Namely, it's really difficult to listen to music underwater. Thankfully for the sound obsessed swimming fans of the world, AudioFlood's waterproof iPod shuffle is a nearly perfect way to experience your tunes underwater. Utilizing the latest generation of iPod shuffle, the AudioFlood iPod has 15 hours of battery life, 2GB of storage (enough space for over 500 songs), and is depth rated to 200 ft. We tried it at a depth of 6 ft at an indoor pool because it's winter, but the device worked with no problems. Even when you're underwater, iPod shuffle features like the VoiceOver button that tells you song title, playlist name or battery status work like a charm. Included with the MP3 player are wonderful short cord headphones, six earpiece options to guarantee the perfect fit, an extension cable, a USB charger/sync cable, and a swim cap. I found attaching the device to the swimcap with the iPod's clip provided a secure swimming experience without ever coming loose. The short cord headphones allow you to swim without getting tangled in a mess of cords, and we commend AudioFlood for removing this possible drowning hazard. Getting used to the earbuds takes a little getting used to but if you think of them as normal swimmers earplugs you'll be enjoying your tunes in no time. Make sure you're using the proper size of earbud, as sound quality will suffer if you don't put them in just right. Sound quality for music will largely depend on the quality of your files, but listening to 320KB MP3s brought me my favorite tunes loud and clear. In my testing spoken word audio sounded better than recorded music, but the differences were mostly negligible. The only real downside of the AudioFlood iPod is the iPod Shuffle itself. Apple's VoiceOver feature makes navigating possible, but if you're looking for a specific song or podcast episode it's going to take awhile for you to find it. That's a minor complaint though. In the grand scheme of things, it's not much of a sacrifice to give up a little bit of speed when looking for content if means you can listen to music underwater. Should you somehow lose the device while you're swimming it will keep working, even after being sunk underwater by itself. Our test unit was stored in a sink of water for hours on end, only to still work when pulled out. Here's a photo of our testing rig: You can get the main AudioFlood bundle for around $140, which gives you a case, swimming cap, headphones, different sizes of earbuds, and the device itself. It's handy for keeping track of everything and only marginally more expensive than the $125 it costs for the device itself. Ultimately, it's a small price to pay for the ability to swim while "Under the Sea" or "Beyond the Sea" blasts through your ears... whether you choose the tune to be Disney or Bobby Darin is up to you. This is the perfect gift for the swimmers in your life, whether they're practicing for the Olympics, exercising, or just blowing off some steam in the pool. Couple its wonderful functionality with AudioFlood's two-year warranty and they'll be swimming in tunes for a long time to come.
John-Michael Bond12.19.2014
Klipsch Reference R6i headphones: A sound stocking stuffer
Your holiday gift-giving might include an iPhone or iPod touch for your favorite person, but do you really want them to listen to music through the standard Apple earbuds? Klipsch has been making speakers since 1946 - when I was in college back in the 1970s, it was a sign of pride to have a pair of Klipschorn speakers in your apartment or dorm room. The company is still making a range of speakers and headphones, and today we're taking a look at the US$99.99 Klipsch Reference R6i in-ear headphones. Specifications Weight: 15.2 grams Input connections: 3.5mm (1/8") Driver Diameter: 6.5mm Frequency response: 10 Hz - 19kHz Sensitivity: 110dB Impedence: 18 Ohms Colors available: Black, white Design There's not much you can say about the design of in-ear headphones - they pretty much all look the same. Earbuds - check. Cables - check. Button with mic for phone use - check. Well, Klipsch did things a little bit differently with the R6i 'phones. The cables are flat, which does a surprisingly good job of keeping them from tangling. The button and mic are pretty typical: they're made of shiny white plastic (black in the black model) with a silver tone button (gold on the black model). That button is used to play, pause, fast forward, or rewind music. There are also buttons in the top and bottom of the unit for volume control. I'm not sure I'm a real fan of the design here, since the white plastic (on the white model) that's used for the earbud casing and button/mic is brighter than the covering on the cables - in other words, it's two different shades of white. Steve Jobs would not approve... Like many headphones in this price range, the R6i headphones come with four different sizes of earbuds. The idea is that you try the default buds, then switch to a smaller bud if it's too tight or a larger bud if it's falling out of your ear. A small zippered carry pouch is included with the headphones. Functionality For me, functionality of headphones boils down to a few key points: comfort, usability, and sound quality. I found the in-ear earbuds to be amazingly comfortable, surprising because I'm not a big fan of in-ear headphones. How comfortable? I'm usually yanking in-ear headphones off after ten minutes; I kept these on for hours. Likewise, I like the flat cables. Not once during my testing did I have a problem with the R6i cables getting tangled. The mic/button is located in the same awkward position that it is on the Apple earbuds - roughly in line with your chin. That location is decided by the need to have the microphone near the mouth of the wearer, but I still think it would be a much better idea to have a separate bump for the mic and then have the controls further down on the cabling. The controls on the button worked well and it was easy to find them by feel. So, how about the sound quality? When testing headphones or speakers, I always play a set of tunes that cover a number of genres so that I can get an idea of the response to music that has different acoustic elements. The R6i's did a great job on midrange sounds, with very clear, sweet tones. The bass end is also surprisingly good; in fact, I'd say that the low-end response is almost some of the best I've ever heard. You'd think that would mean that Klipsch ignored the high frequencies... but you'd be wrong. Once again, the R6i does a wonderful job of reproducing the high end, with well-balanced and nuanced tones. Conclusion OK, so I didn't like the slightly different colors on the cords and the plastic elements, but the sound quality from the Klipsch R6i headphones more than made up for that design faux pas. Make someone happy this holiday season and buy them a pair of these headphones - they'll be a sterling stocking stuffer that will be appreciated for years to come. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Steve Sande12.04.2014
RHA's T10i brings sound customization to high-fidelity headphones
The recently announced RHA T10i (US$199.95) noise-isolating, in-ear headphones take top-shelf in RHA's lineup of fantastic headphones. According to RHA, the T10i headphones take precedence over the MA750i (read my review here), which have been my everyday headphones over the last year or so. They're also the set I recommend to anyone looking for new headphones with high-quality sound, but with a modest budget. How does the T10i compare as the new top-tier RHA offering? Design According to RHA's website, the T10i takes a step forward in almost every aspect compared to the MA750i. The MA750i drivers are made from 303F Stainless Steel. The T10i drivers are made from Injected Molded Steel -- a process where steel is subjected to 1300 degrees Celsius heat for up to ten hours, ensuring the correct shape and density for superior comfort and durability. The result is a cool, brushed metal look and feel, with a sturdy confidence. I would have no problems shoving these into my back pocket or bag. The MA750i has over-ear cable supports. The T10i has "moulded" over-ear hooks that adjust to the shape of your ear. The MA750i has a steel reinforced, oxygen-free cable with gold plated connections. The T10i has a multicore, reinforced, oxygen-free copper cable with gold plated connections, and it's noticeably thinner, but still strong and hard-wearing. The list goes on. Incrementally different as they are, both headphones look fantastic, are rugged and durable, have a three button remote and mic made for iOS users and, as with all RHA headphones, have a 3-year warranty. However, the big difference here is between the MA750i 560.1 driver and the T10i 770.1 driver. For starters, the T10i's are noticeably bigger. But there's a lot more to it than just size. Aside from delivering a natural, balanced sound signature aiming to accommodate all genres of music accurately and precisely with high levels of soundstage imaging, the frequency response of the 770.1 driver is customizable with the T10i's interchangeable tuning filter system. By unscrewing the tip-ends off the drivers and replacing them with either of the two sets of additional filters, users can enhance the bass or treble response of the T10i or remain with the pre-installed, true-to-life reference filters attached. Check out RHA's details on the differences between all the drivers in their line-up here. Performance I spent the bulk of my listening time using the reference filters on the T10i. After the lengthy, but recommended burn-in period, I found the T10i's to be immediately familiar in feel and sound -- though offering a weightier, more detailed sound compared with the MA750i's more open sound -- but with a new found focus and determination that bested the MA750i. Of course, choosing the right ear tip is crucial for both noise isolation and the sound you'll get. I have some universal custom molds for my ears, but found that they didn't work well with the T10i's. Perhaps when fitted, there's a bit more travel between the driver and my ear. Either way, do try the different tips that come with the T10i's to get the best fit. Damien Rice's The Box (do listen to the album version) demonstrates how the T10i delivers fine detail and presentation as well as range and depth with life and energy. Rice's vocal is front and center, delicate and then soaring over an acoustic guitar. Subtle inflections, intonations and rhythms are beautifully presented and handled. The later piano and strings demonstrate the breadth of the T10i's soundstage, with warmth and clarity. Brass and drums join the mix, filling into the balanced depth and fullness the T10i offers. Everything culminates with a climatic end; piano harmonics linger while Rice's vocal and guitar end the song. It's a great song and a pleasure to hear through the T10i's. I spent less time with the filters, but appreciated the enhancements that each brought. If you're looking for that extra bit of sonic depth or height in your music, both will deliver subtle, but appreciated enhancements to either end of the spectrum. The filters provide a customization that is not often found in headphones of this price range, if at all. Conclusion The T10i sets a new high for RHA, pushing the boundaries of sound quality and delivery. They're a worthy upgrade to the MA750i, with incremental upgrades to an already impressive feature set, but it's those 770.1 drivers that make all the difference. There's also the custom filters for personal taste, which is a premium feature. Hitting the $200 price point starts to push beyond the realms of budget headphones, but I think the T10i offer great value for money when you could easily spend a lot more for a similar, high-quality experience. The T10i is available directly from RHA's website, Apple's Online Store or Amazon
Matt Tinsley11.20.2014
Parrot Zik 2.0 review: still the world's most advanced headphones
If you're into drones and wireless audio, then you'll probably agree that Parrot is the best thing out of France since Daft Punk. Personally, I've been most impressed with the company's wireless headphones, the Zik. In fact, I've been a regular user since it came out about two years ago. Even today, no other brands have attempted anything as advanced as these cans. Which makes sense: These are no ordinary Bluetooth headphones. In addition to being wireless, they feature effective noise cancellation and intuitive touchpad input, all tucked inside a quirky Philippe Starck design, no less. More importantly, the audio quality has gotten better over time as Parrot improved device compatibility via firmware updates. But of course, there's always room for improvement; the original Zik is on the heavy side, and not everyone's a fan of its bulky look. Well, that's pretty much why we now have the Zik 2.0, and fortunately, it offers more than just improved portability. Read on to see if this new model is worth the $399 upgrade.
Richard Lai11.03.2014
Blue Microphones breaks the headphone mold with Mo-Fi
TUAW readers know the love many of our bloggers and editors feel for products from Blue Microphones. The company has been making amazing mics for recording music and podcasts for years, but the latest Blue product isn't a microphone -- it's a pair of headphones. And not just headphones, but ones that the company promises "makes every device sound better." We're testing that promise of the new Mo-Fi powered Hi-Fi headphones (US$349.99) in this review. Design What makes Mo-Fi different from traditional headphones? An internal amplifier. From the Mo-Fi website, "Mo-Fi improves the sound of every source-from smartphones to studio gear-by reducing the audio workload on your device. The built-in amp provides tons of power so your source doesn't have to work as hard. It all adds up to vastly superior performance and jaw-dropping sound quality." The built-in amp isn't the only change. Blue looked at the entire design of the headphone to try to make the Mo-Fi set a lot more comfortable than traditional headphones as well. They did this by creating a decidedly different-looking headset that consists of a flat-looking headband with a built-in adjustable tension knob, height adjustment to account for the wide variation in distances between top of head and ears, and making some large earcups that actually do a good job of completely covering even the largest ears. Since Mo-Fi is a set of powered headphones, you will have to charge the internal battery before use. That takes about three to four hours, but you'll get about 12 hours of playback once it's charged up. The company says that Mo-Fi uses intelligent power management to extend battery life by automatically powering off the headphones when you take them off. If the battery dies, you're still able to listen to music, but the amplifier won't be performing its magic. As you'll see in the next section of this review, just because the amplifier is offline without battery power doesn't mean you won't be getting great sound anyway. The frequency response range of both the amplifier and drivers (Mo-Fi uses a pair of 50mm fiber-reinforced dynamic drivers) is from 15Hz to 20kHz, roughly matching the hearing range of most humans. Functionality The big questions that need to be answered for headphones are 1) How do they feel? and 2) How good do they sound? To test both, I did a comparison to my current headphones of choice, a pair of V-Moda Crossfade LPs. As you'd expect, these are non-powered headphones that take their "power" from the source, whether that is an iPhone, iPod touch, a Mac or any other source with a standard 3.5mm jack. While I was waiting for the battery to charge up I looked through the box to see what's included with the Mo-Fi headphones. There's a soft case with a pocket for storing the cables, a 1.2-meter (about 4 foot) audio cable with controls for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, a 3-meter (about 10 foot) audio cable, a 1-meter USB to micro-USB charging cable, an AC charging adaptor, a 3.5mm to 1/4" TRS adapter, a two-prong airplane connector, and the usual Blue Microphones detailed user manual. After plugging in the Mo-Fi, I could see a faint yellow LED pulsing, indicating that the headphones were charging up. Once the battery was charged, the LED went out. Time to test! Before I get into the sound from the Mo-Fi headphones, let's talk about comfort. These are heavy headphones -- just over one pound (16.44 ounces, 466 grams). But the adjustability of this headset is crazy good; by adjusting a bit here and there, I was able to get the MoFi to feel pretty comfortable on my big head. There's a tension knob located on the headband and the multi-jointed design that holds the ear cups in place makes adjustment up or down very easy. I highly recommend going onto your music source device before starting to listen and adjusting sound volume down quite a bit; your ears will get blasted if you don't. The Mo-Fi unit comes with a warning label to that effect, too. Now, about sound quality. Can I just say WOW and leave it at that? The Mo-Fi headphones are incredible, both in the range and crispness of the sound. When listening to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," for example, there was one section where I could hear a difference in the arrival time of a hand clap -- it showed up earlier in my right ear than the left. I'd never noticed that before with any other headphones, and it's probably just a tiny fraction of a second difference that I was able to pick up. I found that I was able to listen to music at a much lower volume with the Mo-Fi than what I normally adjust my iPhone to, both because of the internal amplifier and just the clarity of what I was hearing. Everything sounded better; highs were pure and sweet, bass was thumping along nicely, and the Mo-Fi headphones provided better stereo separation than I'm used to. Usually when I'm testing speakers and headphones I listen to a variety of genres to get a feel for just how good the sound reproduction is; the Mo-Fi headphones made even some old recordings sound as if I had transported myself back in time to the studio where the classics were taped. The drum solo in Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" sounded like it was happening just to the left of me in real time if I closed my eyes -- that's a recording made in 1959! Even some relatively overproduced pieces of music (i.e., "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty) sounded better with Mo-Fi than with other headphones, although they didn't produce the incredible feeling of "reality" that I got with those songs that were just laid down with a minimum of tracks. The real shocker with my test came when I turned the single switch on the headphones to Off, simulating what I'd hear if the onboard battery was drained. Although I had to turn up the volume a bit on the iPhone, the sound quality was still better than what I get from my usual set of headphones. Conclusion If I could give the Mo-Fi headphones 5 stars out of 4 possible, I would. If we had an "Editor's Choice" award at TUAW, these headphones would get it. I know I'm definitely going to campaign for these to be one of our Best of 2014 products. Blue Microphones should be commended for creating a pair of headphones that not only live up to the marketing hype, but exceed it. I cannot recommend these headphones highly enough for anyone who truly enjoys listening to or creating music, and who has the $350 to spare. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Steve Sande09.15.2014
V-Moda XS On-Ear Headphones provide comfort, incredible sound
With apologies to the folks at Apple-owned Beats, I think V-Moda makes some pretty nice headphones. I've been using a pair of custom Crossfade LPs for years, and the sound quality and comfort of the 'phones always makes me glad I've got 'em. Today I tried out a pair of the company's new XS On-Ear Headphones (US$212.00), a model that's made for the "Modern Audiophile." Are they better than the V-Moda Crossfade LPs? Let's give them a test. Specifications Driver: M-Class Dual Diaphragm 40mm Cable: 1-button SpeakEasy Mic cable, Kevlar-reinforced Warranty: 2 year + 50% "Immortal Life" warranty Dual inputs Cliq-fold design with Exoskeleton carrying case Sound character: Balanced, precision bas, vivid mids, crystal clear ultra wide highs, 3D sound stage Design Highlights One thing you can say about V-Moda's headphones is that they are durable. In the three years or so that I've had my Crossfade LPs, I've dropped them countless times, smashed them into backpacks and suitcases, and they still look brand new. Compared with the "over-ear" Crossfade LP, the XS headphones look tiny. They're made to ride on the ear, not to enclose it, so the ear cups are much smaller. The Steelflex headband is also not as wide as that on the Crossfade LP, and it's padded just as well as its bigger brother. The XS comes in two colors -- matte black and white silver -- but audiophiles can customize the 'phones with metal shields that go on the ear cups in 14 different colors, 15 different designs, or you can send in your own design. The Kevlar-reinforced cables are orange, so you probably want to find a color that compliments that tone. I love the little turtle-like Exoskeleton carrying cases that V-Moda provides, and the XS folds neatly into the case for secure carrying. Functionality Highlights Enough talk about how they look; what about the sound quality and comfort? To make the call, I compared the XS headphones to the Crossfade LPs, listening to the same music on both pairs of headphones. In terms of sound quality, I'd rank the XS headphones higher than the Crossfade LPs. The sound quality was solid across the range, with kicking bass tones and crisp highs. It didn't matter what genre of music I was listening to; the XS headphones gave me consistently better sound quality. Of course, sound is somewhat subjective, so your mileage may vary. When it came to comfort, I think the XS headphones really stood out. I wasn't initially thrilled about the idea of on-ear headphones since I find the over-ear type to be very quiet. But having less weight to carry around really made the XS 'phones more comfy in the long run. Wearing on-ear and over-ear headphones in public seems to have caught on, so if you're still stuck with your pair of earbuds, you need to stop. Spend the quid on some decent headphones like the V-Moda XS and you'll increase your listening pleasure for years. Conclusion The V-Moda XS headphone is the latest of the company's M-class series, which is aimed at modern audiophiles who appreciate what the best electronic equipment can do with sound reproduction. These headphones are incredibly comfortable and produce sound that will surprise and delight you. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Steve Sande09.04.2014