Steve Aoki Classic WeSC Headphones

Steve Aoki joined WeSC to create his own signature line of premium headphones. They were released a few years ago and were available in 5 models, ranging from classic Ipod style earbuds to full DJ headphones. The prices ranged from $35 to $200.

Today, I will review the Steve Aoki Classic Headphones which are the lowest priced ones. The problem that I have with these headphones is that they are very plain for WeSC standards. The headphones feature no sign or feature that makes these Steve Aoki's. The high price tag just isn't worth it since there is no difference between these earbuds and any other colorfully designed headphones. Since most of these headphones are not being sold anymore, they are extremely tough to find. The headphones come in 4 colors: Dark Shadow, Dirt Pink, Black, Vibrant Yellow.

Price: $34.99
Available: Extremely Hard to Find

Roxy Reference 430 JBL Headphones

JBL is a partner company of Harman Audio and AKG. They have created a stylish set of headphones designed for females in collaboration with Roxy, the female division of Quicksilver. These headphones portray the young, hip and colorful style that Roxy is known for.

The Roxy Reference 430 headphones feature a thick cable for durability. I really like the design of these headphones due to the simple, yet playful style. The ear cups are not as comfortable as I would like. Since they are made of plastic, it makes the headphones feel  a little cheap. Since JBL is a proven leader in the audio market, it should come as no surprise that these headphones sound better than most. However, the bass isn’t overwhelming and the headphones tend to leak sound quite easily. The headphones packaging is one of the best I have seen. JBL has thrown a stylish travel pouch into the package as a nice touch.  Overall, these headphones are not a bad option if you The Roxy Reference 430 by JBL are available in 2 colors: Pink/Orange & Blue/Green

Price: $69.95

Available Now

Pros

• Colorful Design
• Decent Sound Quality
• Travel Pouch

Cons

• Built of Plastic
• Leaks Sound
• Padding on Ear Cups

Overall Rating: 7/10

Sony PIIQ Qlasp Headphones

Since Sony has always been a top seller in the headphone market, it comes as no surprise that they have come out with an urban and street friendly lineup of headphones. Thee PIIQ headphones draw inspiration from artists, street culture and athletes. Sony is trying to attract some of SkullCandy's clients by using similar designs. With the PIIQ headphones, Sony has promised quality sound quality with high style. Sony has hired professional skateboarders, Chris Cole and Tom Asta. The PIIQ line has 5 different styles with each having a variety of color options. The prices range from $15 to $100. Today, I will review the Sony Qlasps.

The design of these in-ear headphones are very unique. Instead of most clip-on earphones which go around the back of the ear, these earphones clip on around the earlobe. When put on correctly, the earphones appear that you have earrings on. Sony has developed these headphones for those who need a secure fit whether that be skating down a ramp or shredding down a mountain. Since the Qlasp's are made for the extremely physical activities, these headphones are not for everybody. The clips are uncomfortable for some and look kind of strange for everyday use. However, the sound quality is surprisingly good and the price won't break the bank. The Sony PIIQ Qlasp headphones are made for the young, hip and active person who doesn't mind the odd earlobe clip.

Price: $19.99
Available Now


Pros

• Price
• Wont Fall out
• Color Options

Cons

• Not for Everyday Use
• Uncomfortable for Some
• Strange Design

Overall Rating: 5/10

The Berrics Bongo WeSC Headphones

Since WeSC was created by a group of ex-skaters and ex-snowboarders, it comes as no surprise that the company has teamed up with many of today's biggest stars in extreme sports. Two of the most recognizable figures in skateboarding are Steve Berra and Eric Koston. These two pro skaters have created an incredibly popular indoor skatepark and website devoted to skateboard-related media. The name of this venture between the two skaters is called the Berrics.

The Berricks Bongo Headphones were created as part of the WeSC Activist Headphone Capsule Collection. The headphones feature the Berrics signature logo and a contrasting red cord.  They are built well through the use of a combination of metal and plastic. There is less padding on the earcups than most headphones which causes some discomfort after long use. This was done intentionally because they are supposed to be used while skating or snowboarding.  While these headphones were made more as a niche product, they deliver with decent sound quality and plenty of bass. The sound quality is inconsistent with most punk, rock and dance music sounding great but other genres of music leave you wanting more. That being said, the Berrics Bongo Headphones are a more of a novelty item for fans of Steve Berra or Eric Koston.

Price: $59
Available Now


Pros

• Built well
• Light
• Punk/Rock/Dance Sound Quality

Cons

• Not much padding
• Overall Sound Quality
• Better Options for Price

Overall Rating: 5.5/10

2010 NBA All-Star Players Series Headphones

SInce I have now blogged about this years new SkullCandy NBA All-Star designed headphones, I thought I would show you last year's model for comparison. For the 2010 NBA All-Star game headphones, SkullCandy worked with professional DJ Mix Master Mike to develop a personalized headphone for each All-Star and their NBA team. The SkullCandy MMM headphones were first announced at the 2010 CES show and were given an upscale and professional packaging. What seemed interesting to me about these headphones is that they seem awfully similar to the Beats by Dre headphones that have become ever so popular. SkullCandy only sold 100 of each headphone to the public. They were sold out in the local Apple Store of each team in minutes. Although you probably missed out on the rare MMM All-Star headphones, SkullCandy is now selling a black edition of the Mix Master Mike headphones to the general public. I will review these headphones in the next few days.

Lady Gaga HeartBeats Monster Headphones

Lady Gaga is one of the most famous and recognizable musicians in the world today, so it should come as no surprise that she has her own headphones. She has partnered with Monster Audio to join Beats by Dre's Artist Series. With Lady Gaga being the fashionista that she is, her headphones had to be eye catching and over-the-top. The HeartBeats headphones succeed in this regard. Their unique design is unlike any headphone on the market today. The earpieces are large, shiny, and triangular. They feature the signature flat ribbon cord that the Beats line is known for. Unlike other Beats earphones, the HeartBeats headphones feature a Lady Gaga accent piece halfway up the cord.

Like with most fashionistas, Lady Gaga has designed her HeartBeats with her main objective being style over functionality. The large size of the earpieces makes it tough for people with small ears to fit inside. The triangle shape of the earpieces tend to cause some discomfort against the ear. In addition, the earpieces fall out of the ear with any sort of quick movement. The sound quality is also rather poor. There is an overpowering low-end response to most genres of music which causes songs to sound muddy. Unless you love the design or are infatuated with the biggest pop sensation in the world today, then you probably shouldn't buy these headphones. The Lady Gaga HeartBeats come in 3 colors: Black Chrome, Bright Chrome & Rose Red (pink)

Price: $99.95
Available Now


Pros

• Eye-Catching Design
• Flat Cord
• Carrying Case

Cons

• Uncomfortable
• Sound Quality
• Falls out of Ear Easily

Overall Rating: 6/10

NBA All-Star SkullCandy Aviator Headphones

The Air Jordan packs were just a warm-up for SkullCandy for this weekends NBA All-Star festivities. They have released a Special Edition NBA All-Star Aviator headphone that has been made for both, fans and players alike. The headphones will feature the same design as the RocNation Aviator headphones with the exception that they will feature laser-etched NBA All-Star and LA2011 logos. These headphones won't be as impossible to find as the Air Jordan ones, but they will still be very hard to find after this weekend is over. They are being exclusively sold this weekend at Apple Stores in the Los Angeles area.

SkullCandy has also announced that it will give each of the NBA's 24 All-Star's their own personalized editions of the Aviator headphones. One will be in an all-white color, and the other in an all-black colorway. Each player's personal signature and jersey number will be laser-etched onto each side of the ear caps. However, these personalized headphones won't be available to the public.

Price: $179.95

Available Now in L.A area Apple Stores

Air Jordan 2011 & Retro 3 Headphone Packs

In anticipation of this weekend's NBA All-Star Game and the release of the new Air Jordan 2011 shoes, Air Jordan and SkullCandy have teamed up to create some ultra exclusive packages. The package, that will be released tomorrow, will include a pair of the new Air Jordan's and a set of very limited edition Jordan Headphones. These headphones might look like a brand new product from SkullCandy, but they are actually the same as the Jay-Z "Aviator" ones.

There will be two different Air Jordan packages to choose from. One will include the Air Jordan 3 Cement Grey's with matching headphones. The toe and heel of these new shoes feature the same elephant print design as the headphones. The other package will include the new 2011 Jordan signature shoe with matching headphones. The headphones are blue on one side and red on the other. This design is inspired by the interchangeable "Quick and "Explosive" midsoles that come with the new shoes.  These packages will be exclusively sold at the FootAction in the Westfield Culver City Mall tomorrow.

Price: $500
Availability: Extremely Limited

WESC Rae Martini Bongo Headphones

WESC is a Sweedish clothing brand that is based on skateboarding culture and lifestyle. WESC sponsors many famous celebrities and personalities which they refer to as "activists" or "WEactivists". Each of these activists has their own WESC pieces of clothing, and a few of them even have their own designed headphones. The first headphones in their line that i will review is Rae Martini.  Rae is a an Italian self-taught urban artist who has become famous for his informal abstract paintings. He has become an advocate for Street Artists International. His works have been featured in solo exhibitions across the globe.

The headphones had to fit Rae Martini's abstract style so the colors had to pop. The colors were chosen specifically by Rae. Some of Rae's art pieces have been incorporated into the headphones graphic pattern. While the design is over the top and intense, the sound quality is anything but. WESC doesn't have the technology that an audio company has, and it shows. They are built to last and their comfort is decent. These headphones are not the best option out there unless you love the design and don't mind the mediocre sound quality.

Price: $77
Available Now


Pros

• Artistic Design
• Light

Cons

• Sound Quality
• Graphic Pattern
• Hard to Find

Overall Rating: 5/10

Val Kolton V-Moda Vibrato Headphones

The V-Moda Vibrato Headphones are in-ear premium headphones designed by music producer and DJ, Val Kolton. V-Moda has continued the tend of sylish earbuds that they have been known for with these Vibrato Headphones.

The earpieces are stylish yet durable. These earbuds are created from zinc alloy. The metal technology is unique to the V-Moda company. Metal has its positives and its negatives. It makes the earbuds more durable than plastic ones but it also significantly increases the weight of them. The earbuds offer a jewel-like look due to its geometric shape and shiny metal accents. Like all V-Moda headphones, the cord is woven Kevlar and covered in cord for maximum durability. One unique feature about the Vibrato headphones is the shirt clip that is attached to the right cord. The Vibrato earbuds are successful in that they won't fall out of your ear once they are in. The bad news is that that when they are in, they are not so comfortable for everyone. These headphones offer a great deal of bass for their size. The overall sound quality is good, but not great. If you like the jewel like design and are looking for bass heavy earbuds, then the Virbrato Headphones are for you.

Price: $129.95
Available Now

Pros

• Durability
• Eye-Popping Design
• Fit Securely

Cons

• Heavy
• Unbalanced Audio
• Not Comfortable for Everyone

Overall Rating: 7/10

Ludacris SOUL Ultra Dynamic Headphones

In addition to the release of Sleek by 50, CES was also the debut of a new lineup of headphones developed by Ludacris and Signeo. The "Soul by Ludacris" line is competing with Beats by Dr. Dre and the Sleek Audio to try and win the young audience demographic. While Beats by Dr.Dre has celebrity power and Sleek by 50 has wireless technology, Soul by Ludacris uses high definition sound to separate it from the rest. The new released Soul lineup will have 5 different headphones to choose from. The headphones range from the small in-ear SL49's to the extremely large noise canceling SL300. The prices in the Soul lineup will range from $70 to $300. As more information is released, I will have a review for each edition. The final release date in unknown at this point but will be sometime in Spring 2011.

Val Kolton V-Moda Crossfade LP Headphones

V-Moda is a relatively new Los Angeles based company that combines fashion clothing and high end headphones. The CEO and founder of the company is Val Kolton. He is a famous DJ and music producer who specializes in combining house beats with rock and electronic music. Besides spinning at some of the worlds best nightclubs, Val Kolton has designed a full lineup of designer headphones.

The Crossfade LP Headphones by V-Moda were designed with DJ's in mind because they are the largest in the V-Moda lineup. The style fits the company's profile in that these headphones are very hip due to the urban industrial design.  On the outside of the ear cups, there are magnesium accent plates in different colors depending on which ones you buy. The cable is thicker than most because the outside is coated in cloth and the inside is reinforced with kevlar for maximum durability.  The ear cups are extremely well padded for maximum comfort but they do tend to make the ears slightly sweaty after prolonged use. Since the headphones were made by a techno and house DJ, the sound quality is not consistent across all genres of music. All those who listen to electronic, bass thumping music will love these headphones. However, those who don't listen to club and dance tracks sound look elsewhere. The Crossfade LP headphones come in 6 colors: White Pearl, Phantom Chrome, Gunmetal Black, Nero (purple accents), Rouge (red accents) and Pink (more purplish).

Price: $199.95
Available Now
Pros

• Well Built
• Electronic & House Music Sound Quality
• Color Options

Cons

• Leak Sound
• Sound Quality of Some Genres
• Large for Travel  (don't fold or collapse)

Overall Rating: 9/10

Justin Bieber JustBeats Solo Headphones

In honor of the release of Justin Bieber's new movie, "Never Say Never", I will review his Dr. Dre headphones. These headphones are called the JustBeats Solo by Dr. Dre. The only difference between these headphones and the regular Solo Beats is the color. Since Justin Bieber's favorite color is purple, Monster Audio has given him what he wanted while capitalizing on one of the biggest stars today.

The Monster Beats Solo headphones succeed in that they are compact and stylish. This product is perfect for people who are always on-the-go because they don't take up much space and come with a great carrying case. These headphones lay on-the-ear as opposed to over-the-ear. Since they fit on the ear, the comfort of these headphones is very unique to each person. Some people don't like the slight pressure that comes with heavy use with on ear headphones. Like with most Dr. Dre headphones, these headphones deliver with mega bass. The sound quality is not nearly as good as I would like. Some songs will sound muddy and not clear and crisp. Another problem with these headphones is that they are rather fragile. Since the plastic is thin throughout the headphones, they tend to break easily. If you must have Dr. Dre headphones, travel a lot, and like smaller on-the-ear style headphones then these are for you. If not, there are much better options. The Monster Solo Headphones come in 4 colors: Black, White, Red, and Purple (Justin Bieber)

Price: $199.95

Available Now

Pros

• Compact
• Flat Cord
• Great Bass

Cons

• Durability
• Muddy Sound
• Leak Sound

Overall Rating: 7/10

Quincy Jones AKG Q701 Premium Headphones

AKG Acoustics is a highly regarded company with superior microphones and other audio equipment in Europe. They have now entered the U.S headphone market with a new lineup in collaboration with  Grammy Winner Quincy Jones. He helped produce Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as well as some of Frank Sinatra's most famous hits. AKG has developed 3 different headphones for their Quincy Jones series. Today, I will be reviewing the AKG Q701 over-ear premium headphones.

I really like the creativity and style of these headphones because of the bold colors and modern look. With this design, AKG is targeting a young audience and trying to compete with SkullCandy and Monster Audio. The headphones have a padded leather headband and a large 3-D velvet earpad. The cord is flat and has a striking lime green color. The aspect that will sell these headphones is the great sound quality. These are one of the best sounding headphones on the market. They are also very comfortable because of the sheer size of the ear pads. Although these headphones are exceptionally good, they are also awfully expensive. If you are an audio buff, and have the money, these are a great option. The AKG Q701 headphones come in 3 colors: White, Black and Lime Green

Price: $399.95
Available Now


Pros

• Sound Quality
• Lime Green Cord
• Comfortable

Cons

• Pricey
• Long Cord
• Ear Cups are too Large

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Diddy Beats Designer In-Ear Headphones

Add Diddy to the list of celebrities with their own Monster high performance headphones. Although they were made to match Diddy's "impeccable style", the relatively plain design left me wanting more. For the hefty price tag, these headphones seem awfully similar to the Dr. Dre Tour and iBeats. The DiddyBeats combine the rubber band style cord of the Tour and the earbud shape of the iBeats.

Like most headphones in the Dre lineup, these headphones deliver with the bass and sound quality. They also feel durable and have a good number of features. The problem that I have with these headphones is that they are uncomfortably large and tend to fall out of the ear rather easily. That being said, these headphones offer a good mix of style and functionality which make them a decent option. They come in 3 colors: White, Blank and Pink

Price: $149.95
Available Now


Pros

• Good Balance of Sound
• Color Options
• Durable

Cons

• Expensive
• Falls out of Ear Easily
• Rather Large

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Lil Wayne Live Nation High Performance Earbuds

LiveNation is entering the headphone market and releasing a new lineup of headphones in collaboration with some of their artists. One of the first artists to come out with their own design is Lil Wayne. These headphones were created to compete with Monster's lineup of celebrity endorsed earbuds. With these new Live Nation products, they are trying to make stylish headphones affordable for anyone. They are not the best sounding headphones by any means, but with the slim price tag, they are not bad. The earbuds come with an extra set of silicone tips for personalized comfort. The cable is made up of a material similar to a shoe lace. I am not a fan of this material because it makes the headphones feel cheap. With that said, these headphones are stylish and a decent value.
Price: $19.99
Available Now

Pros

• Lil Wayne Logo
• Inexpensive
• Earbud Options

Cons

• Shoe Lace Cord
• Sound Quality
• Packaging 

Overall Rating: 5/10

Daft Punk Monster Tron T1 Headphones

Monster Audio has released a pair of headphones in collaboration with Daft Punk and with Disney's new film, Tron. These headphones were debuted in January at CES 2011. They have a unique and modern design and will surely draw attention from others. They are relatively large (about the same size as Dre Beats) and are futuristically styled with lights on both sides.


The headphones use Monster's Noise Isolation Technology to block out external sound. The unique aspect of these headphones is the LED Light Drive System on the outside. Monster has tried to recreate the light animations captured in Tron: Legacy. The Daft Punk version of these headphones are white, instead of black, and are being created in limited supply. These limited edition headphones have the Daft Punk logo above the right ear cup. Monster throws in a special edition Tron Sountrack into the package, as well as a soft pouch and cleaning cloth. Overall these are a decent pair of headphones if you like the design, light up features or are just a big fan of Daft Punk or Tron.


Price: $349.95
Availability Unknown


Pros

• Light Up Technology
• Unique Design
• Sound Quality

Cons

• Bass Quality
• Expensive
• Hard to find

Overall Rating: 8/10

Jay-Z "RocNation" Aviator Headphones

Hip Hop superstar Jay-Z has teamed up with SkullCandy to deliver his own line of headphones for the company. These headphones are made of stainless steel and aluminum. The use of stainless steel and aluminum is very unique to not only the SkullCandy company, but to all headphones in general. There is no mention of Jay-Z on the headphones but the word "RocNation" is written vertically on the right cup.

The style of these headphones is not my favorite, but also not the worst that I have seen.
One feature that I did like was that the wire from the headphones only comes down from one side, instead of both. The wire is made of nylon so that it can remain tangle free. SkullCandy made these headphones extremely light. The RocNation headphones come with a leather carrying case and come in 3 distinct colors: White, Black and Brown (more of a copper).

Price: $149.95

Available Now

Pros

• Color Options
• Light Material
• Comfortable

Cons

• Sound Quality
• Durability

Overall Rating: 8/10

LeBron James PowerBeats Sport Headphones

The newest addition to the Monster by Dr.Dre lineup of headphones is the LeBron James PowerBeats. These premium headphones were created for the athlete or active person. Before the launch of this product there was no celebrity clip style headphones. The unique characteristic that separates these headphones from others is the adjustable ear hook that wraps around the outside of your ear to keep the headphones in place while your working out, playing sports, or running.  They were not created to be noise canceling headphones because when your working out or running, you want to be able to hear ambient noise. That being said, these headphones still have excellent sound quality.

After reading countless reviews on the internet, I can say that these headphones succeed in that once they are on, they won't fall out. Another reason I especially like these headphones is that the earpieces rest on, not inside, the ear canal. The headphones are quite expensive for what they are. However, they do come with a very good carrying case and are unique and stylish. The PowerBeats come in 3 colors: White, Black and Red.

Price: $179.95
Available Now
Pros

• Great Design
• Very Comfortable
• Carrying Case
• Wont fall out during exercise

Cons

• Expensive
• Bass isn't Great
• Long Headphone Jack

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Snoop Dogg Skullcrusher Headphones

Snoop Dogg has come out with his own signature headphones as part of Skull Candy's Artist Series Headphone lineup. These headphones have a unique design to them because of the print. The headphones have mini sub-woofers which help with the overall bass quality. The sub-woofer is run using a "AA" battery which is installed in an inline unit about half way down the cable. I don't like this design feature because it causes the headphones to drag to the ground because of the weight of the inline unit. It also becomes somewhat annoying to have a bulky box bouncing around in front of you. The headphones will work without batteries but the sub-woofer won't.
Like with most SkullCandy headphones, the sound quality is not the greatest, but also not the worst. SkullCandy has made them completely foldable for easy travel. I am personally not a fan of foldable headphones because it makes them feel a little more flimsy and cheap.  The Skullcrusher Headphones come in 2 colors: Blue and Black.

Price: $79.95

Available Now

Pros

• Unique Design
• Relatively Inexpensive
• Mini Subwoofer

Cons

• Inline Unit
• Mediocre Sound Quality
• Double Cord
• Collapsible

Overall Rating: 5/10