Recent Headphone Reviews

The proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and while the Mikros 90s look great on paper, we're still unsure how they sound. At $300, they are in a very popular "entry-level high-end" bracket. At this price point, the MartinLogan name will certainly turn heads but those heads will have discerning ears. If MartinLogan wants the Mikros 90 reference on-ear headphones to be successful, they really will have to live up to the famous MartinLogan sound. They certainly can't promise that the Mikros 90s are like "having your own private MartinLogan listening room wherever you go" and not deliver at this price point.

The California Headphones Silverado headphones definitely have a style we like. The retro styling, die-cast metal and leather construction, titanium driver, and removable cable and folding design all are ticks in the plus column. But we are always wary of products that are tuned for a specific type of music. It is an easy way for manufacturers to blame your content instead of their product if you find you don't like their offering. At $225.95 a pair, we don't think it is too much to ask that a set of cans be appropriate for all types of music and not just rock, country, and alternative. For our money, the $99.95 Laredo headphones with a similar (if less high-end) design and musical focus might be a better bet.

We don't know what they sound like, we're not exactly sure of the pricing, but we are sure of one thing - the new Monster DNA headphones are going to be a hit. With a partnership with Viacom for placement at the MTV Video Music Awards plus a commitment for much more, these headphones are designed to encourage music sharing, music community, and social awareness. All we care about is how they sound. Hopefully, when these headphones are done saving music and the world, they'll still have time to sound good. We'll let you know when (if) we get a pair in for review.

It's not hard to see the appeal of the Arctic P402 On-Ear Headphones. For $40, you are getting a very impressive sonic performance. While you won't be taking these to the gym anytime soon (at least, not if you want them to stay on), they're perfect for listening to music while working or commuting. They are comfortable if a bit loose on the head which may, over time, become problematic. Chances are, however, for $40, you aren't going to care. If you are looking for accurate sound at an incredible price, the Arctic P402 Headphones should be on your list. At this price, why not give them a shot?

When you've got something good, don't mess with it seems to be how Klipsch is approaching their Image ONE headphones. While the drivers and performance haven't changed from the previous model, the Image ONE II offering is easier to transport and overall it looks better. Add to that a Bluetooth version for wireless or wired connection, and you've got everything a consumer might need in a headphone.

We are really into headphones lately. Perhaps it's because Tom Andry (our resident fiction author and AV Rant guru) has been reviewing headphones like a madman of late. Or maybe it's because we do a lot of headphone listening - particularly when we travel. Klipsch just announced the launch of the Image X7i, the company’s first-ever ceramic headphone. Ceramic is an unusual material for a headphone, but there is a lot here that makes sense. Aside from the uniqueness of the design, the Image X7i's ceramic composition is durable and lightweight. durability. The X7i headphone also uses Klipsch's new flat cabling that is both strong and, possibly more important to consumers, tangle-resistant. The Image X7i also includes a three-button remote that is inline with the cable and houses a directional mic. For Apple users, this means you can make and receive calls with the on-board mic, and then transition to controlling your music.

The RBH EP1 noise reducing in-ear headphones are about the best sounding I’ve heard from this category of product. Their oversized 13mm drivers produced excellent bass response and were able to play cleanly at much louder than safe listening levels. Their overall tonal characteristics seemed to be pretty well balanced though the midrange was a tad thin at times depending on source material. Anyone looking for respectably good performance from a pair of portable earphones would be remiss not to check these babies out. Portability, good fidelity, comfortable to wear; all backed by the legendary RBH name shipped to your door direct for $149. Recommended is about all I have left to say.

If you are a frequent traveler, noise canceling headphones are either a thing you own or a thing you covet. Fanny Wang Headphone Co. has recently come on the scene with high end headphones that are targeted at the discerning consumer. The Fanny Wang Series 3000 headphones are a very nice sounding set of cans that feature not only a Pass Through mode for use when the batteries die but also Noise Canceling and Noise Canceling with Bass Boost. Part of that $300 you are spending on them went into the noise canceling but not all of it. While it didn't hold up to dedicated headphones in the same price bracket, it did well against some highly regarded, but cheaper, sets. When you add in that you'd likely be using them in noisy environments, that they are comfortable enough to wear all day, and that they included everything you'll need to enjoy these at home or on the road (including 1/4" and airline adapters), and you can see the value.

Koss wants to revolutionize how we listen to music with its new STRIVA wi-fi headphones. The STRIVA Pro headphones connect directly to the Internet, no mediating devices or boxes to limit your range. It's the ultimate cordless freedom, tens of thousands of Internet radio stations are waiting to be explored through STRIVA's elegant and easy-to-use (but not so easy to setup) interface. You can also opt to listen to your own music collection using the wireless Content Access Point (CAP) device that connects you to any source with an analog output. Koss promises headphones that aren't just about new high-tech features, these sealed headphones are custom tuned with that familiar Koss-headphone sound.

The Moshi Audio Vortex Pro earbuds aren't without their issues, but in the end, they are a serious upgrade in sound quality from any of the stock earbuds and are certainly worth the asking price. They have a ton of bass, a forgiving top end, and don't care what bitrate you used when encoding your music. If you are wondering what you get when you spend $150 on a pair of earbuds, you get the sort of sound quality that makes you wonder why everything else you own sounds so bad. With a standout design and a "look at me" aesthetic, people will definitely notice your earbuds. And if you just spent that sort of money on a pair of in-ear headphones, that's definitely what you want.

The Pioneer SE-MJ591 Stereo Headphones are, hands down, the best sounding earphones I've ever had the pleasure of testing. The imaging is phenomenal and rivals my experiences with $20k a pair electrostatic speakers. The sound quality is rich and vibrant and, if you are anything like me, you'll start rediscovering your music collection. They are designed for both critical listening and portability, making them perfect for multiple applications. While they'll reveal all the flaws in your poorly recorded/encoded music, they'll also reveal all the beauty in the high-quality recordings. I didn't find them very comfortable to wear, though you may feel differently. At $300, these aren't inexpensive headphones but, if you care about sound quality, you'll likely feel it is money well spent.

Are the Sonomax PCS-250 Sculpted eers the best ear-buds I've tested? Yes. By far. Of course, that's a short list right now. But even when comparing them with my full sized Denon AH-D1000 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50 headphones, the Sonomax come out on top. They may not have the flattest frequency response, but they have a very full and rich sound and is a joy to experience. The molded earpieces means that you've got a set of earbuds that are tailored just for you and, paired with the earhooks, will take an act of extreme violence to get them off your head. If you are looking for high-end audio even when working out, check out the Sonomax PCS-250 Sculpted eers. You won't be disappointed.

The thing to remember about the Sony XBA-1iP in-ear headphones is that they are half the price of either of the reference models. Their comfort level was good, though I never forgot I was wearing them. The bass response was more than adequate and the midrange, while not as rich as the reference models, was still very good. Sitting at my desk, I'd prefer one of my other headphones. But outside, or when I might be expecting a call, the Sony XBA-1iP in-ear headphones are a fine choice. At $100 MSRP (likely less in the store), they are almost an impulse buy. At this price, they are a very nice second pair at a reasonable price. Recommended!

I know you've been waiting for it. For years you've been sitting on your couch, at the office desk, and in your vehicle waiting... hoping... possibly even begging for Bose to come out with a new Bluetooth headset. From the company who brought you the cubed speaker... and then cut the size in half, comes the most impressively ambiguously impressive (did I say that twice?) Bluetooth earphone, the aptly-named Bose Bluetooth headset Series 2. It's so impressive that Bose capitalized every letter in the product release headline except "headset". That's because it is so wonderful, so marvelous, you'll forget it's a headset. You'll think it's the way God should have invented your ears.