dB Logic MP-100 Headphones

A recent study found that 1 in 5 adolescents will suffer from hearing impairment because of loud music's damage on hearing. dB Logic is a company that was started to create headphones for young adults that limit volume to a healthy level. The headphones use SPL2 technology which automatically limits the maximum volume to a safe level. If you were to try and blast your favorite song on your MP3 player, the headphone would automatically slowly lower the sound level to help you avoid hearing damage and ear fatigue.

I had a little problem with the comfort of the MP-100 Headphones. Like with many other headphones, the tight fit caused the top portion of my ears to be pinched back which caused some discomfort. Also, the cushions on the ear pad caused the dreaded ear sweats and overall, were not as plush as I would like. Sound quality is surprisingly above average for the modest price tag. While the dB Logic MP-100 Headphones might be revolutionizing the headphone market as we know it, the current design flaws will keep them from being a top seller. They are available in 3 colors: Blue, Red, & Silver.

Price: $49.95
Available Now

Pros

• Healthy Sound
• Great for Teens
• Above Average Sound Quality

Cons

• Uncomfortable
• Design
• Ear Padding

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Moshi Moonrock In-Ear Headphones

Although Moshi is known for their cases for all Apple Products, they are now entering the headphone market with the Moonrock In-Ear Headphones. At some point, everyone has put earbuds directly in their pocket causing the cables to tangle up and become a major headache. The Moonrock In-Ear headphones is able to avoid this with its unique carrying case. Sometimes the carrying case is an afterthought with headphones, but with these, the earbud design was based off the case. The egg shape case fits the headphones like a glove and protects the earbuds from wear and tear.  The case is made of a rubbery plastic for durability and is small enough to fit in any pocket.

The Moonrock's deliver with a surprisingly good amount of bass. Sound quality is mediocre but much better than your average Apple earbuds. The cable features an inline remote for controlling music or taking calls. The Moshi Moonrock In-Ear Headphones are a great option for their creative cord management system and thumping bass. They are available in 2 colors: Black & Red or White.

Price: $39
Available Now

Pros

• Carrying Case
• Ear tip Options
• Bass

Cons

• Sound Quality
• Little Expensive

Overall Rating: 8/10

Fanny Wang On Ear Headphones

The Fanny Wang Headphone Company's slogan is that they "take the tend started by Beats by Dr. Dre to the next level in terms of fashion, sound and price." It seemed really funny to me that they included the Dr. Dre line in their slogan since they look so similar to the Beats Solo's. The design is so similar that Monster sued Fanny Wang for using such a similar design.

The Fanny Wang On-Ear Headphones have a flashy and stylish look because of the shiny plastic and it's indented pattern. The cord is removable and has a 3.5 mm Duo Jack for sharing music. Although most of the time you won't have two people listening to an MP3 player, the option is nice to have. The headband and earcups have adequate padding for decent comfort. The headphones fit tight on the head, in the same way as the Solo Beats.  The Fanny Wang headphones have less bass than the Solo Beats, but a better overall sound quality (especially for the price). Although Fanny Wang is a relatively new company, their On Ear headphones are a great first step into the headphone market. They are available in 3 colors: Black, White and Red.

Price: $169
Available Now


Pros

• Price
• Duo Jack
• Good Sound Quality

Cons

• Similar Design to Beats by Dre Solo's
• Directed for Women
• Average Bass

Overall Rating: 7/10

SkullCandy NBA Crew Video

Back in October, SkullCandy announced the signing of some of today's newest NBA stars to form the SkullCandy NBA Crew. This crew consists of: Thunder SF Kevin Durant, New Jersey Nets PG Deron Williams, Bulls PG Derrick Rose. Thunder SG James Harden and Sixers SG Andre Iguodola.

With 3 of 5 players still left competing for an NBA Championship, SkullCandy has picked a great group of players. Not to mention that they signed the NBA's most valuable player in Derrick Rose and arguably the best offensive talent in Kevin Durant.

Here is the video:

Marshall Minor EarBuds

After reviewing the Marshall Major Headphones a few weeks ago, I was really excited to see if the Minor Ear Buds live up to the hype as well. The attractive black and gold color gives these earbuds a classy rock and roll look. The Minor headphones have a different design from any earbuds i have seen. The cable is strong and durable because it is surrounded by a braided fabric. The minors come with a microphone and a control for your Ipod on the cable. Is there anything worse than having to take out your MP3 player when you want to change the song or volume? If there is, please let me know in the comment section.

The earbuds sound great for a wide variety of music. The bass isn't as heavy as the Beats By Dre earbuds because the Marshall enthusiasts are predominantly listening to a different style of music so it's not necessary. The unique shape of the earbuds have gotten some negative reviews by users for being uncomfortable, but I found them more comfortable than the Dre Beats ones that feel like they are halfway down your ear canal. Since the comfort of earbuds is different to each person, my only suggestion would be to try the Marshall Minor's first and see if you like them before purchasing them.

Price: $59
Available Now

Pros

• Attractive Design
• Overall Sound Quality
• Packaging

Cons

• Uncomfortable for Some
• Large Earbuds

Overall Rating: 8.75/10

SkullCandy NBA All-Star Agent Headphones

A few months ago, SkullCandy released so many limited edition NBA All-star headphones that I forgot about the All-Star Agent edition. These became available during All-Stat weekend in Los Angeles and can still be found online at the Best Buy store. I know I am really late with posting these headphones, but I thought some of you might still be interested in seeing them.

Price: 29.99

Available Now

SkullCandy Vandal Dock

Available Now

Sleek by 50 Cent Update

This last Friday, Sleek Audio and G-Unit decided to cancel all plans to develop products under the "Sleek By 50" brand. This comes as a shock to the whole world, since 50 Cent had been marketing his new headphones in almost everything he did. First, he went to CES 2011 to create buzz over his new product. Next, he got into a public fight with Dr. Dre over which headphone would be better. And finally, he had been placing Sleek headphones in his social media outlets and had been including them in all of his music videos.

I am really disappointed that we won't be able to see what could have been. While I know there are plenty of competitors to Beats by Dre, the Sleek by 50 line had a shot at putting a major dent into the Beats market share. Now, we will never know what could have been. I highly doubt that Sleek Audio will ever release these headphones, but I can't help but wish I could somehow get my hands on a pair.

Aerial7 Phoenix Headphones

The new Phoenix headphones are the cheapest on-ear headphones offered by Aerial7. The company is known for their eye catching designs because of the stylish color combinations offered. Some might be turned away from the over-the-top color choices offered with these headphones, but I personally like them. The one problem with the design is the large logo on the outside of the ear cups. It might just be me, but I really don't like the Aerial7 arrow logo. It looks the same as the "Above the Influence" logo, which is the advertising campaign of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. I don't know about you, but I don't want to walk down the street and have people think I'm rocking anti-drug headphones.

The Aerial7 Phoenix headphones were designed with a DJ in mind since the earcups swivel 180 degrees. The problem with this design feature is that 99% of the people that buy these headphones are not DJ's. Another problem I have is the extremely small and uncomfortable ear cups. One good aspect is that these headphones can play music really loud. Even though they sound better then I initially predicted, they still don't sound great when played extremely loud. While the Aerial7 Phoenix may have many funky color options, they are not worth buying because of the many design flaws and average sound quality. They are available in 6 styles: Citron, Chino, Storm, Eclipse, Tantrum, & Soldier.

Price: $60
Available Now

Pros

• Color Options
• Decent Sound Quality

Cons

• Small Earcups
• Aerial 7 ("Above the Influence") Arrow Logo
• Earcups Swivel

Overall Rating: 5/10

iHome iHMP5 Speakers/Headphones

The iHome iHMP5 are the first headphones that I have reviewed that also function as speakers. Why buy headphones and speakers when you could just buy one? While it sounds nice in theory, the execution from iHome is disappointing.

There are a few positives from these....headphones? The earcups are adjustable so you can play music at any angle. iHome has priced the iHMP5's at an extremely affordable price. The speakers run on two AAA batteries inside the left earcup. Unfortunately, there are many drawbacks to the headphones and speakers. Neither the headphones, nor speakers sound good. The headphones aren't comfortable and the durability is another major concern. While the iHome iHMP5's are unique due to the speaker capabilities, they don't succeed in performance, durability or comfort. They are available in 3 colors: Silver, Red & Purple.

Price: $25

Available Now

Pros

• 2 in 1 Product
• Low Price

Cons

• Sound Quality of Speakers & Headphones
• Hinges Break Easily
• Uncomfortable

Overall Rating: 4/10