Headphones

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Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 01 February 2016

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Originally published on SoundStage! Xperience

JBL Everest Elite 700 headphones measurements can be found by clicking this link.

The JBL Everest Elite 700s are the most technologically advanced headphones I’ve tested. I can’t think of a significant feature they don’t have, but the most innovative is TruNote automatic calibration. TruNote uses an internally generated test tone and an internal microphone to evaluate the acoustical effects of your ears, and tunes the Everest Elite 700s’ frequency response to compensate for those effects. It’s basically a headphone version of the auto-calibration technologies, such as Audyssey MultEQ, found in most A/V receivers. This feature was launched earlier this year in the N90Q ($1499.95 USD), from AKG -- which, like JBL, is owned by Harman International.

Read more: JBL Everest Elite 700 Headphones

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Written by: Rad Bennett

Created: 01 February 2016

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Originally published on SoundStage! Xperience

I’ve heard a rumor that this year’s new iPhones won’t have 3.5mm headphone jacks. Can this be why everyone and her brother seem suddenly to be making Bluetooth headphones? Less than a year ago, an Audio-Technica rep told me that A-T would probably never release a Bluetooth model. But they have released some in Japan, and this year, five models are available in the US: three in-ear and two over-ear versions of models already popular in wired versions. And right now I’m wearing Audio-Technica’s ATH-S700BT SonicFuel over-ear Bluetooth headphones ($129.95 USD).

Read more: Music Everywhere: Audio-Technica ATH-S700BT SonicFuel Bluetooth Headphones

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Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 15 December 2015

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Originally published on SoundStage! Xperience

Definitive Technology Symphony 1 measurements can be found by clicking this link.

A few years ago, I’d have been tantalized by the fact that Definitive Technology is getting into the headphone business -- but these days, what mainstream speaker company isn’t in the head-fi biz? Still, I have to admit that I’m impressed that DefTech has jumped in in such a big way. Most speaker companies begin with simple, passive headphones; but DefTech’s Symphony 1s ($399 USD) include noise canceling, Bluetooth, and a direct digital input.

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Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 15 November 2015

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Originally published on SoundStage! Xperience

NAD Viso HP30 measurements can be found by clicking this link.

On-ear headphones such as NAD’s Viso HP30 model rarely appear among audio websites’ top picks. There’s good reason for that. First, it’s difficult to make comfortable on-ear headphones, because the earpads, rather than encircle your earlobes, mash directly against them. Second, it’s difficult to ensure that the earpads seal correctly on the ear -- and without a good seal, it’s impossible to get consistently good sound.

Read more: NAD Viso HP30 Headphones

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Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 01 October 2015

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Originally published on SoundStage! Xperience

HiFiMan HE1000 measurements can be found by clicking this link.

Try to build the ultimate loudspeaker and you’ll end up with something costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The ultimate pair of headphones, on the other hand, might cost less than a midpriced high-end stereo amplifier. We’ve recently seen attempts at creating the ultimate headphones, including such models as the Audeze LCD-3 ($1945 USD), the Abyss AB-1266 ($5495), and the resurgence of the classic Stax line, which tops out with the SR-009 ($4450). Now come the HiFiMan HE1000 headphones ($2999), from the company that did much to inspire the recent interest in high-end ’phones.

Read more: HiFiMan HE1000 Headphones