Sony X-Factor Headphones

Back in September, we heard that Simon Cowell had announced his own X-Factor signature Headphones. Over the past few weeks, I have finally been able to test them out and I found some great features and some definite drawbacks.

First and foremost, I am not a fan of the overall design of the X-Factor Headphones. From the shiny metallic earcups to the "X-Factor" branding, these are too over-the-top for my taste. I especially don't like the headband which looks a little too futuristic for me. I asked myself, "would I wear these headphones in public?" I can't say that I would. They draw too much attention and I feel like people would judge me for wearing Simon Cowell Headphones. 

However, I loved the actual headphones. Although I am usually not a fan of on-ear headphones, the Sony X Headphones are easily one of the most comfortable headphones I have ever tried on. Without question, they can be worn all day without any ear fatigue. They still might cause your ears to sweat, but that happens with all large headphones. Sony has also done a great job making these headphones portable by making them easily collapsible.

The best part of the headphones is its sound quality. Every music genre sounded fantastic and I had absolutely no complaints. With a similar price, these headphones sound much better than Beats by Dre Studio's or Soul by Ludacris SL300's. If it wasn't for the gaudy design and high price tag, the Sony X-Factor Headphones fantastic sound quality and supreme comfort would have made them a top choice.

Price: $199.99

Available Now

Pros

• Sound Quality
• Extremely Comfortable
• Lightweight

Cons

• Metallic Finish
• "X-Factor" Theme
• Carrying Case

Overall Rating: 7/10

 

Tivoli Audio Radio Silenz Headphones

Tivoli Audio is a company known for their premium tabletop radios and portable powerradios. While I've never tried their products, I've heard their products are known for having excellent designs and great performance. The Radio Silenz Headphones are their first step into the crowded headphone market. The most unique aspect of the design is its incorporation of real wood. While all other headphone companies can only offer a choice of color, Tivoli gives you a choice of wood: walnut, cherry or black ash. Besides this nice design touch, the black plastic construction gives the headphones a cheap look. The overall size of the headphones are much smaller and lighter than I expected. In order to keep the headphones light and travel-friendly, the padding is minimal which doesn't help with comfort. Overall comfort is average at best.

The Radio Silenz Headphones are the first noise-canceling headphones with an on-ear design. Unfortunately, this extra feature does have its drawbacks. It requires a AAA battery which is located in a plastic housing hanging half way down the cable of the left ear-cup. The extra weight is a major annoyance. I've never been a huge fan of noise canceling in general due to it's tendency to cause sound distortion and create a slight hiss in the background. However, the noise-cancelling feature works surprisingly well for the headphones extremely small size.

Overall sound quality is dependent on whether the noise cancellation is turned on or off. With it off, sound quality is balanced and neutral compared to with it on, overall sound quality drops. Either way, there's not much bass, so those looking for thump should look elsewhere.

I had high hopes for the Radio Silenz Headphones, but it's extremely high price tag, and unspectacular features keep it from getting a high rating. Overall, the Radio Silenz Headphones are a good start for Tivoli Audio, but with today's vast options, they just don't cut it.

Price: $160
Available Now

Pros

• Lightweight
• Real Wood Finish
• Slim & Portable

Cons

• Requires AAA Battery
• Pricey
• Flimsy

Overall Rating: 6/10

Beats by Dre Mixr David Guetta Headphones

It comes as no surprise that the headphone giant, Beats by Dre, has developed a headphone with the biggest DJ in the world, David Guetta. With a compact on-ear size, the Mixr Headphones are a welcome addition to the growing Beats line.

Beats by Dre has done a fantastic job with the design. The headphones are compact, sturdy and stylish.  The first thing you're going to notice is that the headphones are much smaller than the Studio's. Secondly, the build quality is excellent which frankly, is shocking for a Beats by Dre product since they have had trouble in the past with durability. The unique part of the design is the way the headphones expand and collapse depending on your head's size. No matter how much adjusting you do, there's no tacky visible metal like with most other premium CelebHeadphones. Don't forget these are David Guetta headphones so he wanted to make sure DJ's could use them for mixing. Since being able to listen to the external environment is necessary for any DJ, Beats has made the ear cups adjustable up to 180 degrees.

There are a few more positives with the overall design. Both the DJ and standard cords that are included in the package can be plugged into either side ear-cup. As opposed to the glossy finish on the Studio's and Solo's, the headphones have a matte finish which helps limit fingerprints. They are also available in white as well. Beats by Dre has always done a fabulous job with packaging, but the Mixr's might just take the cake. The included stylish carrying case fits the headphones like a glove which helps protect your pricey investment. However, with all these positives, it doesn't mean I didn't have concerns.

My biggest issue is with the Mixr's comfort. Due to its extremely tight fit, prolonged use might cause discomfort. However, I found that over time, the headphones adjust and loosen up which do help out with comfort. With this said, I still would advise if you have a larger size dome, I would avoid the Mixr's. Another issue is with the padding on the ear-cups. There is a decent amount of padding on each ear cup, but I would have preferred more substantial and softer padding to help combat the tight fit.

No matter how great the design, comfort or style, it's all about the sound quality. The Beats by Dre Mixr's don't disappoint on this end either. With David Guetta's signature house music, it's no surprise the headphones are one of the loudest I've ever heard. Raising the volume level higher than medium is never necessary, and in fact, can almost cause temporary deafness. Like with all Beats by Dre Headphones, the Mixr's have more bass than its competitors. Music genres like hip-hop, electronic, pop and reggae sound great while country and classic music sounds distorted and unnatural.

The Mixr's are not only the best Beats by Dre's, but one of the best on-ear headphones out. If you can get over the tight fit and minimal ear padding, the Mixr's are a great option.

Price: $250
Available Now

Pros

• Matte Finish
• Premium Build Quality
• Great for Fans of Electronic, Hip-Hop and Pop Music

Cons

• Tight Fit
• Not Much Ear Padding
• Pricey

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

iHome Soundesign SD63 Retro Headphones

In the last few years, iHome has become a well recognized company for their fantastic iPod accessories. Not surprisingly, iHome has joined the headphone market with their own headphones in collaboration with Soundesign. While iHome succeeded in giving the SD63's a retro feel, the headphones look and feel cheap due to their plastic construction and overall flimsy feel. However, there were two aspects of the design that I liked. First, the volume control can be adjusted using the circular piece on the outer portion of the right earcup. Secondly, the cord is spiral and thick which helped give it a classic 70's feel.

Unfortunately besides these two design touches, there weren't many positives to the SD63's. No matter how much adjusting I did, I could not find a natural fit. Comfort-wise, the headphones are below average, especially if you have a larger size head. The reasoning behind this is that the earcups are slightly angled which limits you from having a proper seal. As for sound quality, I expect much more for $50, especially now with the growing number of options at similar prices. Sound quality is just not very good, mainly because of the the design flaw I discussed earlier. While I can appreciate iHome's attempt to create a retro designed headphone, the SD63's have too many design execution errors to warrant a high rating.

Price: $50
Available Now

Pros

• Thick Coiled Cord
• Retro Feel
• Volume Knob

Cons

• Uncomfortable
• Sound Quality
• Look & Feel Cheap

Overall Rating: 6/10

 

Glen "Big Baby" Davis BiGR Audio Headphones

BiGR Audio has developed a signature headphone for Orlando Magic NBA star, Glen "Big Baby" Davis. The on-ear headphones come in 3 designs with each incorporating a different Big Baby inspired-design into the natural wood covered ear cups. They are now available for $150 through BiGR Audio's official website. Check back in the next few weeks for a full review.

Incipio Forté F38 Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones

Incipio is another electronic accessory company which has entered the headphone market. I have used some of their products in the past and have loved the quality so I was extremely excited to check out their first headphones, the F38's.

Overall, Incipio has given the F38's an old school look. In regard to the design, I'm a big fan of the vintage feel. The headband is covered in a meshed synthetic fabric and the earcups have a matte finish. The Incipio logo is displayed on both sides and with the Espresso model, the logo is red which compliments the tan and brown design well.

My favorite thing about these headphones is the comfort. The earcups are large enough to fit around your ear which makes them much more comfortable than say the Matix Domepiece Headphones. After using them for a few hours, I hardly noticed I was wearing them which can't be said for most headphones.  One problem I have with them is the amount of sound leaked. Even though this is common with most inexpensive headphones, it's still extremely annoying.

Sound quality is about what you would expect for $50 headphones. They will satisfy most, but they aren't great by any means. However, they can get really loud, which I liked. The F38's include a black carrying case and are available in 5 colors: Matte Black, Neon Pink, Bright Turquoise, Vintage White, and Espresso.

Price: $50
Available Now

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Color Options
• Thick Tangle Free Cable

Cons

• No In-Line Mic
• Leak Sound
• Mediocre Sound Quality

Overall Rating: 7/10

Sennheiser Adidas HD220 Headphones

Sennheiser and Adidas have collaborated to create a line of headphones which target the young and active consumer. The line is composed of 3 models: in-ear, on-ear and over-ear. Today I will be reviewing the most affordable option, the on-ear HD220's.

When first heard about these headphones, I found myself extremely excited because I had very high expectations. In theory, the combination of Adidas Originals' sporty and classic look with the well established audio company, Sennheiser, would be a perfect fit. After testing out the product for a few days now, my high expectations haven't been met.

Design-wise, they are very stylish. The blue and white color combination is one of the nicest I've seen. The Adidas Originals logo is placed on the outer portion of each earcup. The big problem I have with the design is the overall cheap feel. When you are holding these headphones, you feel like you could be holding a $2 airline set. The plastic construction gives the HD220's a flimsy feel. The positive of this flimsy construction is that they are light. In fact, these have to be one of the lightest on-ear headphones I've ever reviewed. Another positive feature is their comfort. The ear cushions act like a pillow which make them perfect for long use. At no point will you ever get ear fatigue or start to get the dreaded ear sweats. The  included carrying bag should also not be overlooked as it is the nicest accessory I've seen since the House of Marley Positive Vibration's.

With Sennheiser's history of great sounding headphones, I was disappointed with the sound quality of these headphones. I realize they are inexpensive, but there are other headphones for a similar price with much better sound quality. The poor sound quality might have to do with the foam ear cushions, as opposed to the standard design of on-ear headphones.

I can see these headphones as a great option for those who don't like in-ear headphones and want to be able to listen to music while at the gym or doing any physical activity. Overall, the Sennheiser Adidas HD220's would be a perfect fit for those looking for a relatively in-expensive stylish on-ear headphone that aren't so concerned with sound quality. While the sound quality and cheap feel are serious drawbacks, the style and accessories somewhat make up for it.

Price: $65
Available Now

Pros

• Sporty Design
• Comfortable
• Light Weight

Cons

• Poor Sound Quality
• Flimsy
• Plastic Construction

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

House of Marley Positive Vibrations Headphones

The House of Marley Company was started with three principles in mind: Superior Quality, Eco Friendly and Charity.  The company ensures outstanding quality that even Bob Marley himself would be proud of; while also maintaining products that are sustainable, renewable and recyclable.  In addition to the eco-friendly aspect, the Marley Family wanted to give back a portion of their profits to the 1Love Fountain, which is an organization that continues to instill Bob Marley’s message of a more peaceful, clean and hopeful future.

The House of Marley has decided to divide its audio products by price points into three collections: Jammin’, Freedom, and Destiny.  Each collection has a variety of earphones, headphones and docks.  The product’s names bear some memory of Bob Marley.  Today, I will review the Positive Vibration on-ear headphones, which is part of the Jammin’ Collection. 

The Positive Vibrations have three distinctly different designs: Sun, Rasta and Roots.  Each design sports vastly different color schemes, which allows consumers to choose a style that best fits their personality.  We will be looking more closely at the Rasta design in this review.  The heavily padded headband is covered by a stitched canvas, which I like because it gives these headphones a unique look and feel.  One of the best features is the stylish cord, which is wrapped in fabric and engrained with Rasta colors.  Overall, the design fuses a rugged feel with a modern and youthful style.

As with all on-ear headphones comfort is a very important aspect.  Although these headphones do not pinch your ears like some other headphones, they do cause your ears to become warm during long uses.  This is mostly because of the snug fit, which in turn minimizes bulkiness when worn.

Now I will move onto the sound quality aspect of the Positive Vibrations.  Not surprisingly, these headphones sound much better with genres like R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop and Reggae. There is a good balance between treble and bass, with neither overpowering the other.   There is some slight sound leakage but that is to be expected with a lower priced headphone.  While sound quality is nothing special, the House of Marley’s target consumer will surely be satisfied with the overall sound quality.  If you decide to pick up these headphones, be sure to throw on a Bob Marley song, sit back, relax and feel the Positive Vibrations.

Price: $59.99

Available Now

Pros

• Rugged & Modern Design
• Included Carrying Case
• Fabric Rasta Cord

Cons

• Causes Ear Sweats
• Sound Leakage
• Average Sound Quality

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Sol Republic Tracks Headphones

Sol Republic is a relatively new headphone company that was created by Kevin Lee, who is the son of the founder of Monster Cable. Mr. Lee saw an opportunity to make great sounding headphones for the masses with affordable prices. While Kevin's dad sells premium headphones which sell for over $250, the most expensive product in the Sol Republic line is $130. The Sol Republic brand is an anagram for Soundtrack of Life.

The Sol Republic Tracks are the on-ear model. One of the big selling points of these headphones is that they feature swappable headbands, speakers, and cables in different colors and designs. This feature is possible because the wires and earcups can be detached. While I have seen detachable cords before, I have never encountered a headphone that allows the earcups to be taken off the frame. This definitely takes some getting used to and will feel strange at first. I am not yet sold on this whole "swapping idea" because the company currently doesn't sell individual pieces. Therefore it means the only way you could swap something would be to buy a completely new set of Tracks headphones. However, the company does plan on releasing an assortment of different color headbands.

When worn, the headphones look different depending on the size of the person's head.  The smaller the head, the more the bottom portion sticks out and and visa versa for larger heads. However the design does make sure that any person is able to get a perfect fit every time. Before trying on the Tracks, I was most worried about the comfort of the design since I find the Solo Beats extremely uncomfortable. However, after trying them out for a few minutes, I was extremely pleased to find that they were not uncomfortable whatsoever. In conclusion about comfort, I much prefer the Tracks over the Solo's even though the Tracks are about $80 cheaper.

A problem with the design, that I noticed, is the ultra-glossy finish that is on the outer portion of each earcup. Avoiding fingerprints and smudging is difficult, but not impossible. Durability is not an issue because they are made of an indestructible material called FlexTech. The Tracks include a built in microphone for cell phone calls or playing/pausing songs.

These headphones were made to target the same young demographic as the Beats by Dre line does. So it's no surprise that they have good bass and the audio sounds loud and aggressive. I tested the Tracks against the Solo's and found that most songs sound crisper with the newcomer: the Tracks. This seems to be the case probably because they have less overall bass.  In conclusion, the Sol Republic Track On-Ear Headphones are a great option for those looking for an on-ear headphone with style and very good sound quality. They are available in 3 colors: Black, Red & White

Price: $100
Available Now

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Comfortable
• Stylish Design

Cons

• Currently No Interchangeable Parts
• No Carrying Case
• Prone to Finger Prints

Overall Rating: 8/10

Madison Avenue BiGR Audio Headphones

The first feature that stands out with the new Madison Avenue Headphones is the packaging. All of BiGR products like the Crooks & Castles, Hellz Bellz, and MLB Over-Ear Headphones include the signature bamboo case. The BiGR Bamboo Box consists of all natural fiber and ultra strong construction for extra protection for your headphones. In addition to the headphone, BiGR Audio has included an ultra soft carrying case that is amazingly, also made of bamboo. Both the headphones and box are green and environmentally conscious.

The design features argyle stitched leather on the outer portion of the earcups. These are the only headphones that I have seen that have leather on the outside of the headphones. The headband also features the same argyle pattern. In my opinion, the Madison Avenue Headphones are extremely stylish and look more expensive than they actually are. One problem that I had with the headphones is that the headband seems to stick out and aren’t streamline at all.

Usually, my biggest gripe with on-ear headphones is comfort. What usually happens is that the small earcups end up pinching the back of your ears, which causes major discomfort. While I would still prefer over-ear headphones, the Madison Avenue Headphones are one of the most comfortable on-ears that I have tested. Another feature that I found with these headphones is that they block ambient noise extremely well. When listening to music, it’s extremely hard to hear people at all.

Now onto the sound quality. Sound quality with these headphones is above average, but not exceptional. Sound quality is most similar to the Matix Domepiece On-Ear Headphones. These headphones don’t provide much bass at all so if you’re into bass heavy headphones, these definitely aren’t for you. One nice design feature is that they include an inline microphone for Smart Phone users or for stopping/playing music.

At $130, the BiGR Audio Madison Avenue Headphones are a little more expensive than most but some might feel that the fashionable design outweighs the extra cost. They are available in 2 colors: Black & White.

Price: $130

Available Now

Pros

• Argyle Leather Stitching
• Lightweight
• Bamboo Case

Cons

• Minimal Bass
• Headband Sticks Out On Sides
• Expensive

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

iFrogz Vertex Headphones

The company iFrogz is primarily known for their digital media accessories, but they also have a line of headphones that not many know about. Today, I will be reviewing their most expensive headphones, the Vertex's. These are more on par with the SkullCandy Hesh Headphones than the Beats by Dre Solo's. In my opinion, the build quality is almost as important to a headphone as its sound quality. The plastic shell feels cheap and not very durable. One positive about the Vertex Headphones is the incredibly comfortable ear cushions. iFrogz uses what they call, "AeroFoam ear cushions" to give them that extra comfort that other similar headphones don't have. One design feature that is often overlooked with headphones is the in-line microphone that allows you to talk on the phone without having to take off your CelebHeadphones.

Since these are not premium headphones like a Bose or Beats by Dre, the sound quality isn't premium either. They will sound much better than any stock headphones, but don't expect much more. These are a great option for someone who wants a stylish headphone but is not looking to break the bank. They are available in 2 colors: Black/Red & Iron.

Price: $32

Available Now

Pros

• Inexpensive
• AeroFoam Ear Cushions
• In-Line Mic

Cons

• Average Sound Quality
• Durability
• Plastic Construction Feels Cheap

Overall Rating: 7/10

Soul by Ludacris SL150 Headphones

There has been alot of buzz over the Soul by Ludacris line so I was extremely excited to check them out. The SL150's are a direct competitor of the Solo Beats by Dre so as I was doing my review, I couldn't help but compare the two. These headphones have a very sharp and clean look to them. My favorite part of the design is the leather stitching on the inner portion of the headband. The diamond pattern in the leather gives it that premium car interior look which I love. Just like with the Beats by Dre headphones, the top of the headband has the Soul by Ludacris logo. Although the comfort of on-ear headphones is always a concern, the SL150's are very comfortable because they are a little larger than most. In my opinion, the SL150's are much more comfortable than the Solo's.

Sound quality is about what I expected. Just like with the Solo's, there is a good amount of bass and a significant difference in sound quality depending on the genre. Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B and House music sounds pretty good while classical, jazz and rock music sound average at best. The Ludacris SL150's were made to compete with the Solo Beats by Dre's and after reviewing both headphones, the Soul's are a much better option.

Price: $200
Available Now


Pros

• Leather Stitching
• Travel Case
• Better Sound Quality than Solo's

Cons

• Durability
• Causes Ear Sweats
• Other Options With Better Sound Quality

Overall Rating: 8/10

True Blood V-Moda V-80 Headphones

V-Moda has created a True Blood range of headphones. Honestly, it's kind of surprising that a headphone company would collaborate with a television show. Maybe it's just me, but just because I love a particular TV show, that doesn't mean I want to buy the show's headphones. While I have seen collaborations similar to this before (like with Star Wars & Coloud), I have never seen it with a premium product or with a whole line of headphones.

The V-Moda V80 headphones are smaller than the Crossfade LP's, but have a similar look. While the Crossfade LP's are over-ear, these have an on-ear design. Another big difference is that these are constructed with a flexible metal which makes them ultra durable. I really like the design of these headphones. The black and red color with the metal faceplate is extremely stylish. The included hard case is also one of the best cases I have seen. The interchangeable faceplates that V-Moda is known for is also available with these headphones. Sound quality is well above average. While they aren't one of the best sounding headphones, they will satisfy nearly anyone. For on-ear headphones, these are a great option. My only gripe is I really dislike all the True Blood signs on the headphones. All the True Blood signs make the headphones seem cheap and gimmicky. I wish they sold 2 separate V-80's: the normal headphone and a special True Blood edition.

*UPDATE*: These headphones are also available without the True Blood signs. The normal ones are called the M-80 while the True Blood Edition are called the V-80's.

Price: $230
Available Now

Pros

• Stylish
• Extremely Durable
• Lightweight

Cons

• Don't collapse
• Price

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Sennheiser HD-25-1-II Adidas Originals

At first glance, the Sennheiser HD-25-1-II Adidas Originals Headphones seem like they would be a nice product. This product combines the sporty and classic Adidas style with the great Sennheiser audio quality. These headphones are anything but a nice product.

Let me start off my review by letting you know that they cost $250! The plastic construction make the Adidas Originals look and feel extremely cheap. The build quality is poor. With any adjustments made to the earcups, there is a high chance that the headphones crack. Comfort, or should I say what comfort, is non-existent. After 30 minutes of use, you start to feel discomfort as the earcups pinch the back of your ears. There is one positive with these headphones, sound quality is excellent. However, what good is sound quality if you can't be comfortable while listening to your music? Overall, the number of Sennheiser HD-25-1-II negatives far far outweigh the positives, so they are a poor choice.

Price: $250
Available Now

Pros

• Sound Quality

Cons

• Price
• Build Quality
• Comfort
• Cheap Feel

Overall Rating: 4/10

Roxy JBL On-Ear Headphones

Roxy and JBL have come out with two new designed headphones for the summer. Back in February, I reviewed the first collaboration between Roxy / JBL, the Roxy Reference 430 JBL Headphones. While they are different from the 430's, they still have the same compact, colorful, youthful design. They come in two color combinations: White with black stripes, and a striking sunshine yellow.

Price: $99
Available Now