Headphones

Details

Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 20 January 2022

Write a comment

Sound:
Value:
(Read about our ratings)

Measurements can be found by clicking this link.

I’d say that over the last ten years, there’s been more innovation in headphones and earphones than in any other segment of audio—and there’s a lot more coming. With the “wearables” and “hearables” trends, audio companies and tech companies are exploring new form factors, hearing-enhancement capabilities, and other new features that can turn headphones into a substantially different experience than what we’re used to. Considering that SoundStage! Solo focuses on products targeted at audiophiles, I generally don’t review these types of products here—but I decided to make an exception when I heard the Soundcore Frames.

Read more: Soundcore Frames Bluetooth Glasses

Details

Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 20 December 2021

Write a comment

Sound:
Value:
(Read about our ratings)

Measurements can be found by clicking this link.

My first “real” job was writing ads for a Dallas agency that handled Wilsonart decorative laminates. Wilsonart was number one in market share, yet they made it a rule never to innovate. They’d let competitors like Formica and DuPont come up with new ideas and build public awareness for them, then Wilsonart would launch something similar and out-distribute the other companies. Monoprice follows a similar plan with its headphones—a year or two after an innovative headphone technology comes out, Monoprice jumps in with a similar product at a lower price. The Monolith AMT headphones are the latest example.

Read more: Monoprice Monolith AMT Headphones

Details

Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 10 December 2021

1 Comment

Sound:
Value:
(Read about our ratings)

Measurements can be found by clicking this link.

There are all sorts of paths into the audio products biz, but one of the most tried and true is to start as a dealer. That’s what happened with the new Caspian headphones, which are sold by Apos Audio, an online retailer specializing in headphones and related gear. Although Apos has been offering its own line of cables for some time, the Caspians ($499, all prices USD) are the company’s first attempt at making a complex audio product.

Read more: Apos Audio Caspian Headphones

Details

Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 20 November 2021

1 Comment

Sound:
Value:
(Read about our ratings)

Measurements can be found by clicking this link.

I’ve become addicted to the Your Morning Coffee podcast, where two music industry vets examine current trends in their field. The key message they stress is that artists and labels have to re-evaluate their business practices continually. Headphone brands face the same challenge now, and for the same reason—the creator community is growing rapidly, new outlets are emerging every month, and the old ways of doing things are evolving or dying. The DT 900 Pro X headphones are part of Beyerdynamic’s answer to this challenge.

Read more: Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X Headphones

Details

Written by: Brent Butterworth

Created: 01 November 2021

Write a comment

Sound:
Value:
(Read about our ratings)

Measurements can be found by clicking this link.

Anyone who’s been writing about technology for a couple of decades probably greeted the recent announcement that Philips is re-entering the North American market with “Again?” But while the brand’s interest in selling things like speakers and TVs in the US seems to ebb and flow, I can’t remember a time, at least since the late 1990s, when it didn’t sell headphones in the US. The Fidelio L3 headphones ($349.99, all prices in USD) might get a little lost amid the company’s numerous new SKUs in soundbars, wireless speakers, and headphones, but given my positive experience with the passive, open-back Fidelio X3 headphones, I wanted to give them a spin.

Read more: Philips Fidelio L3 Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones