Hey guys.
So I compared (briefly, in the store) a few headphones and I'd just like to give my first impressions (these are mostly gonna be one-line replies). REMEMBER that you need to break in headphones first, so in reality this is gonna be flawed, but hey, it's just a heads up. I actually had to buy them all and then return them (the Future Shop guy knew what I was doing.. I told him, and he said he'd like to hear them with me lol)
So onto the phones:
1. Shure 840 ($249.99)
Nice highs and mids, but for the price where's the bass?
That being said isolation was TOP notch - but I just needed more bass.
2. Bose Mobile On-Ear Headphones ($269.99)
They felt loose on my head? The FS sales guy also felt that they did feel light and without too much they'd fall off.
The sound was rich, a balanced output which favoured the highs and mids - bass was slightly present.
3. Blacknoise Noise Cancelling phones ($99)
Crap. - Zero bass lol.
4. Bose Around Ear Headphones ($204.99)
I liked how these felt - like a LOT, they too sounded rich, but again, bass seemed low.
5. Monster Beats Solo by Dr Dre ($219.99)
These fit my head a CHARM. I actually felt like I could go to bed in them lol.
In terms of the sound quality - WOW, just wow. Many say there's too much bass, and I can agree to an extent, but I found that setting my iPhone to 'jazz' on the equalizer the sound was perfect.
Isolation felt really good
LOVED the additional iphone audio/call controls add on (on the cable) - it ALSO works on my Macbook Pro!
6. Monster Beats Studio by Dr Dre ($349.99)
Honestly they're - to me - just the solos with noise cancelling. The noise cancelling allowed for a very minimal increase in audio 'purity' from the solos (this would really help on say.. an airplane, a bus, or even that 'wwwhurrr' sound that my school library seems to have to it).
They did sound a BIT better than the Solos, honestly though I'm not sure it was a $130 performance increase... @ $80 more I'd go for it.
Again - loved the iphone audio/call controls add on (presume it'll work on my mac)
SOO
In the end I went home with the Dr Dre Solos. Simple reason - after listening to all of the headsets it was just down to the Dr Dre series. I may be a basshead, or maybe not - but they felt comfortable, provided deep and solid sound, and well they're not 20lbs on my head (lol).
So in deciding I asked the FS employee what prices he could give. For the studios he said he'd add the 2 year warranty for 1/2 price, or with the solos he'd add the 2 years warranty for free. Wouldn't say that that's bad, but I was kinda after more (I'm a barterer.. lol.).
So I quickly shopbotted the best price and asked the FS employee what he could do for me with those prices. The shopbot for the Studios was $340, the Solos $190.
He said that the Studios he'll pricematch (@ $340) but I'd have to take the $60 (1/2 price, so $30) 2 year add on. Hmm. NOW the solos - he looked at his computer and - he offered me the Solos @ $180 WITH the 2 year warranty??!
The future system is odd for sure, but hell I took that.
So for JUST over $200 I got the Dr. Dre Beats Solo.
I'll be playing with them over the next few days and I'll be getting back to you guys with a full review.
So I compared (briefly, in the store) a few headphones and I'd just like to give my first impressions (these are mostly gonna be one-line replies). REMEMBER that you need to break in headphones first, so in reality this is gonna be flawed, but hey, it's just a heads up. I actually had to buy them all and then return them (the Future Shop guy knew what I was doing.. I told him, and he said he'd like to hear them with me lol)
So onto the phones:
1. Shure 840 ($249.99)
Nice highs and mids, but for the price where's the bass?
That being said isolation was TOP notch - but I just needed more bass.
2. Bose Mobile On-Ear Headphones ($269.99)
They felt loose on my head? The FS sales guy also felt that they did feel light and without too much they'd fall off.
The sound was rich, a balanced output which favoured the highs and mids - bass was slightly present.
3. Blacknoise Noise Cancelling phones ($99)
Crap. - Zero bass lol.
4. Bose Around Ear Headphones ($204.99)
I liked how these felt - like a LOT, they too sounded rich, but again, bass seemed low.
5. Monster Beats Solo by Dr Dre ($219.99)
These fit my head a CHARM. I actually felt like I could go to bed in them lol.
In terms of the sound quality - WOW, just wow. Many say there's too much bass, and I can agree to an extent, but I found that setting my iPhone to 'jazz' on the equalizer the sound was perfect.
Isolation felt really good
LOVED the additional iphone audio/call controls add on (on the cable) - it ALSO works on my Macbook Pro!
6. Monster Beats Studio by Dr Dre ($349.99)
Honestly they're - to me - just the solos with noise cancelling. The noise cancelling allowed for a very minimal increase in audio 'purity' from the solos (this would really help on say.. an airplane, a bus, or even that 'wwwhurrr' sound that my school library seems to have to it).
They did sound a BIT better than the Solos, honestly though I'm not sure it was a $130 performance increase... @ $80 more I'd go for it.
Again - loved the iphone audio/call controls add on (presume it'll work on my mac)
SOO
In the end I went home with the Dr Dre Solos. Simple reason - after listening to all of the headsets it was just down to the Dr Dre series. I may be a basshead, or maybe not - but they felt comfortable, provided deep and solid sound, and well they're not 20lbs on my head (lol).
So in deciding I asked the FS employee what prices he could give. For the studios he said he'd add the 2 year warranty for 1/2 price, or with the solos he'd add the 2 years warranty for free. Wouldn't say that that's bad, but I was kinda after more (I'm a barterer.. lol.).
So I quickly shopbotted the best price and asked the FS employee what he could do for me with those prices. The shopbot for the Studios was $340, the Solos $190.
He said that the Studios he'll pricematch (@ $340) but I'd have to take the $60 (1/2 price, so $30) 2 year add on. Hmm. NOW the solos - he looked at his computer and - he offered me the Solos @ $180 WITH the 2 year warranty??!
The future system is odd for sure, but hell I took that.
So for JUST over $200 I got the Dr. Dre Beats Solo.
I'll be playing with them over the next few days and I'll be getting back to you guys with a full review.
Last edited: