The HiFi Headphones team is pleased to announce that the new noise cancelling in-ear model from Blackbox, the C20 is now available to be purchased on our website.
If the noise created by an aircraft engine ruins the experience of flying for you, active noise cancelling headphones can really help. Blackbox C20 ergonomically designed earphones fit comfortably in the ear, delivering accurate sound reproduction from the audio source. The active noise-cancellation and intelligent electronics of the C20 deliver sound as you expect to hear it, eliminating most typical background noise found in environments such as transit vehicles, trains and aircraft cabins – even some of the distraction of busy office environments. Blackbox smart engineering also eliminates the discomfort of mobile phone signal interference to your music.
The HiFi Headphones team is pleased to announce that the new wireless on-ear model from Nakamichi, the NW501 is now available to be purchased on our website.
With the development of the wireless NW501 headphones legendary Japanese audio company Nakamichi have created the perfect partner for Apple devices. Tangled cables are now a thing of the past when enjoying music from your iPod, iPhone or iPad. The NW501 wireless headphones feature 2.4GHz digital technology with digital paring with a range of up to 5 metres without interference for mobile music without compromise.
Stunning sound quality for the price with well thought out mic features and admirable design.
Cons
The cable could be a little sturdier but it would be a bit unrealistic to expect one at this price point.
In-Depth Review
Introduction
Audiofly are based in Australia. Founded by musicians, they design and build headphones striving to bring a detailed sound to their audience. Having released their first set in 2011, Audiofly are constantly pushing the boundaries to create something unique by merging modern, cutting edge technology with the longevity of vintage gear. Their aim is to replicate music in an honest way; to achieve that, they use custom voiced drivers in all of their models, so you never miss a beat!
Description
Audiofly always make sure that their headphones not only sound good, but look great as well. The AF33s are no exception – they appear stylish without being too flashy and as such, they can appeal to the younger and more mature audience alike. The AF33Ms are available in six different colours (Corset White, HiRise Purple, IshGreen, Lounge Yellow, Selvage Blue, Slycat Black) satisfying even the choosiest headphone lovers out there. Even though they do not come in the box, the 400 series of Comply Foam tips do fit the earphones so if you’re looking for the best combination of comfort and isolation, we recommend trying them out.
Included peripherals
Inside the box there is a nice microfibre storage pouch to keep the ‘phones safe and some additional Silicone eartips (4 sizes in total) for improved isolation.
Application
The Audiofly AF33M is the perfect companion for your smartphone. Driving these headphones is very easy so the standard headphone-out of most smartphones should be able to handle them with ease and drive them to sufficient volume levels. This model comes with an in-line mic, but unlike most headphone models, where the control and the mic are connected, they are kept separate for more practical use. This is called ClearTalk™ – the control button is located on the yoke (where the main cable separates into the individual earpieces), and the actual mic is located closer to the mouth on the left hand side.
Describe the sound
As with most budget earphones, the first thing that strikes the listener is the bass. However, it is usually because the amount is so big that it overshadows the whole scope – not with this model, though! The thing that struck us about the bass is that it is nothing like your average budget dynamic driver bass. It is tighter and more balanced; it still hits hard but no sign of the common, overpowering, muddy bottom end that most budget sets can offer. The midrange is clear and clean, albeit a bit recessed and as such it is definitely not the centre of the presentation. Vocals are still great, though you should not expect the forwardness of in-ear monitors. The treble is surprisingly lively especially for a budget set. Nice and sparkly but not fatiguing at all. Overall, it is hard to find a fault with the set considering the price point, deserves its place amongst the best in-ear headphones on the market.
The HiFi Headphones team is pleased to announce that the new noise cancelling on-ear model from Denon, the AH-NCW500 is now available to be purchased on our website.
Denon’s AH-NCW500 Globe Cruiser on-ear headphones feature a 40mm driver, an integrated amplifier and AAC and aptX decoding for CD quality audio over a wireless connection. The design’s control wheel also allows you to effortlessly control Apple iPhone, iPad or other Bluetooth devices. Incorporating advanced noise cancellation circuitry via Bluetooth 3.0 wireless or a wired connection, Denon’s Globe Cruiser AH-NCW500 headphones actively eliminate unwanted ambient noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music, wherever you are. They are available in silver and black.
Denon AH-NCW500 Globe Cruiser – Your Perfect Travel Partner
The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce that the flagship in-ear model from Ultrasone, the IQ is now available to be purchased on our website.
Ultrasone’s IQ has a housing constructed using superior metal die casting, its unique ergonomics make it possible for the IQ to be worn comfortably for a extended listening periods. A dynamic 8mm driver, made with Ultrasone’s powerful Neodymium magnet, is responsible for the robust and precise bass playback. A micro driver (balanced armature) is controlled by a frequency separating filter, this is responsible for the reproduction of crystal-clear mid and high-tones. The outstanding isolation against background noise allows you to concentrate completely on the music.
Metal earphones with bi-directional hybrid driver technology
Superior strength metal die casting earpieces
Suited for many mobile phones and MP3 players
OMTP Adapter for smartphone use
Two high-quality detachable cables
Multimedia cable equipped with mic & remote
Five pairs of silicone eartips and two pairs of Comply Foam Tips
Includes flight adapter and luxury leather transport case
The looks of the Momentum are very engaging, handsome with beautiful quality leather pads and headband. The design looks modern enough but has classic elements too – Sennheiser have been very successful in creating a desirable object. They feel very comfortable, due to the very best quality leather being used, but stay put well considering clamping force is minimal.
Included peripherals
Included in the momentum box is a headphone cable with smart controls, a second standard headphone cable, an attractive hard carrying case and 6.35mm jack adapter.
Application
Not only great for wearing in the home using with your Hifi set up, the computer or with the TV but they are also small enough to make a great commuting or travel headphone. They come with a protective carry case which also has space for other portable audio equipment. Compact headphones you would want to take everywhere!
Describe the sound
So are the Momentums all looks and expensive leather? The short answer is no. Sennheiser have worked just as hard on the sound as well as the looks and come up with a comfortable yet fun sound which is on the right side of relaxed. Plenty of detail and instrument separation in the sound but they never step into fatiguing territory, soundstage is short but imaging impressive for the size of the cups. This sound fits very well with the target group of commuters and business travellers who will use them. It’s certainly not boring, tons of bottom end is there when needed, bass drums have a satisfying thump without ever kicking you in the eardrum. Altogether the sound is warm and smooth without becoming sluggish – a hard balance to find!
Verdict – With the largest and most advanced drivers of any headphone on the market, together with cutting edge design, the HD800 set new standards in high-fidelity listening.
Pro’s – Great build quality, reasonably lightweight and very comfortable fit.
Con’s – Looks and size may not suit everyone.
In-Depth Review
Introduction – The HD800 sits at the pinnacle of Sennheiser’s headphone product line. Part of the Club Orpheus range of high end listening devices, they are available through a very select set of dealers. This is due to the extra aftercare services provided (a 10 year warranty!) and that Sennheiser would prefer for customers to have the opportunity to try their flagship before they buy. These serious headphones will require an equally serious dedicated amp to get find everything they are capable of.
Description – The looks of the HD800 are surely Metropolis inspired, handsome in a future retro way. When picked up the unit feels beautifully constructed – this makes the lack of design subtlety more endearing as you can easily believe their shape is integral to the success of final object. They feel very comfortable, whilst staying put when turning your head the clamping force exerted is minimal.
Application – The HD800 has one job, to get you excited about all your favorite recordings from the most comfortable chair in your living room. You might want to kick everyone else out though as they are open backed and will allow sound to leak in.
Describe the sound – This is where they should and do really impress, vocals feel very real and the handling of bottom end is impressive, punchy with no feeling of sluggishness. Cooler than the usual Sennheiser house sound, detail is very evident without becoming too introspective. Instrument separation is coherent with good width to the stereo image, the angled drivers must help with the perception that the audio is definitely in front of you. Although some may find the soundstage a little in your face with some recordings, many will think that Sennheiser have nailed the spacial presentation here. With a quick and rhythmic feel which works great for stringed instruments, percussion stopping quick passages from becoming confused whilst retaining for more gentle and drifting pieces. The HD800’s seem to do well with most genres, aggressive when needed and capable of subtle sweetness, a well rounded and extremely accomplished offering.
The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce the Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Solo -dB portable DAC from CypherLabs, is now available to be purchased on our website.
Cypher Labs introduces the AlgoRhythm Solo -dB, combining all the functions of USB line-in accessory for Apple devices, with an audiophile grade 24/192 DAC in a single, portable package. Fully balanced output is included to support world class audio amplifiers.
d is for DAC – USB audio from computers and Apple devices
B is for Balanced output from source to amplifier
Large capacity battery charges while playing, up to 14 hours
USB audio resolution up to 16/48 from Apple devices
USB audio resolution on Mac or PC up to 24/192
Fully balanced analogue line-level output (4-pin)
S/PDIF and single ended outputs
Volume output optimised for all headphone types, including IEM and planar headphones
The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce that the flagship full-sized model from Sennheiser, the HD800 is now available to be purchased on our website.
Decades of experience in innovative headphone technology and design have resulted in the creation of the HD800 flagship headphones in Sennheiser’s audiophile range. With the largest and most advanced drivers of any headphone on the market, together with cutting edge design, the HD800 set new standards in high-fidelity listening.
Verdict – Portable headphones with built-in noise cancellation, bluetooth connectivity and mic/remote features.
Pro’s – The MM 550-X sound good enough that you’ll feel like it’s money well spent, especially when using it wirelessly. Its active noise cancellation, while not class leading, is still fairly effective; if you want the best and don’t need a wireless pair, the PSB M4U2 is a great alternative.
Con’s – There is huge choice in the world of portable headphones, if you do not require all of the features on offer here you can save yourself money without experiencing a big drop in sound quality.
In-Depth Review
Introduction – This is Sennheiser’s portable that does it all, and at £300 most people would be expecting that. Although they are not the most beautiful cans we have ever seen the build quality is excellent, they are more a model of German Efficiency than a statement of urban sophistication. The Sennheiser MM550X are circumaural with soft pleather earpads for long listening sessions in comfort. Despite the generous cups they are a small size, easily transportable. The right earcup is laden with controls, not surprising given the list of available functionality. Extremely flexible headphones, impressive technology, of course as with all wireless headphones, not all of the money goes into sound quality. The MM550Xs pair with a phone easily, charge over USB, and they fold easily into a portable carry case.
Included peripherals –As well as a lovely pair of foldable travel headphones, you get – USB mains charger, USB charging cable, in-flight adapters, an audio cable, a neat carry case and the user manual.
Application – Headphones don’t come much more feature-packed than the Sennheiser MM550X. CD quality apt-X, NoiseGard sound cancelling technology, TalkThrough (a button turns on the external microphone so you can talk without removing the headset), Invisible microphone, cable option when power runs out, neodymium drivers, SRS WOW HD technology, integrated track and volume controls. To save on weight, most of the unit is plastic, Steel runs through the headband to give flexibility and strength.
Description – Sennheiser say the battery should provide 8 hours of listening with Bluetooth and NoiseGuard enabled, 10 hours Bluetooth without NoiseGuard and 20 hours using the cable with NoiseGuard activated. If you are looking for all the features on offer here then the MM550X are a good bet, however if you want the best sound quality then a well isolated closed back cabled headphone may be a better fit. If the NoiseGuard is the most appealing feature there are similar quality alternatives which have excellent noise canceling abilities for less.
Describe the sound – The sound quality is pretty impressive in standard mode although maybe a tiny bit Mid shy. On most occasions Bluetooth headphones still don’t match up to their cabled cousins but here the sound is nearly identical in cabled or Bluetooth mode, feeling much better than most traveling wireless headphones. Sennheiser’s NoiseGard canceling technology is a different matter though, audibly degrading the great sound from standard mode. The SRS WOW HD button is in our opinion a pointless addition. It seems to add an aggressive smile curve EQ simultaneously making the top end a little scratchy and the bass muddy and over emphasized.
Verdict – A well thought-out wireless set with innovative features at a great price point
Pro’s – The list of features and uses for this wireless headphone with a USB DAC make it a superb all rounder. The headphone itself has the same incredibly comfortable pads as the SoundMAGIC HP100 and HP200 wired Full size headphones, is reasonably lightweight and has a well thought out set of controls placed thoughtfully on the left ear cup.
Cons – It isn’t the most expensive wireless headphone on the market, but not too far off. To make up for the price just about every accessory you could need has been included.
Introduction – SoundMAGIC have been an up and coming headphone brand for the past few years. With a few awards and a lot of recommendations from magazines and gadget blogs, SoundMAGIC have been expanding beyond the low budget – high performance IEMs they are already well known for. Perhaps looking to demonstrate their clear technological know how by producing these advanced wireless headphones. Because of the features, sound quality and comfort the WP10 must be taken seriously, particularly if you have a range of uses in mind for your cable free cans.
Description – Features of the Transmitter include an onboard USB DAC as well as an analogue input – it is tiny and so incredibly portable. The WP10s have a functional look – they look like headphones! – But are by no means un-attractive. Controls are simple and well placed.
Included peripherals – SoundMAGIC WP10 package comes with the wireless headphones themselves, an excellent carry case, the transmitter/DAC unit, USB mains Charger and cable, 3.5mm to RCA cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable and a physical instruction manual.
Application – This is a very clever set of headphones, the transmitter also contains the USB DAC for superior sound from your PC or Mac, connection cables for pocket sized media players and RCA for home HiFi connectivity. Should you run out of battery power while out and about it is possible to use the included cable to keep on listening! SoundMAGIC have really tried to cover every eventuality.
Describe the sound – Sound quality is well above that of any RF headphone and superior to that of Bluetooth headphones as the WP10 uses a 2.4G 16 bit CD quality connection. The sound signature is bright and clean with punchy bottom end. It’s not really fair to compare the sound to a similarly priced cabled headphone; the DAC technology in the transmitter obviously costs a pretty penny. The WP10 gives clean audio with decent sound stage which helps live recordings and film sound and feel realistic.
Comparisons – Similar features to the king of wireless headphones, the Sennheiser RS220, but less luxury oriented and more application rich. Very usable for portable applications they have the edge over the Sennheiser RS160 as the SoundMAGIC transmitter is smaller and more advanced.
Verdict – Perfect portable choice for those looking for innovative features and a lovely design.
Pro’s – Beautifully designed and filled with technology, plenty of opportunity to adjust sound to taste.
Con’s – The high sound quality is not retained when using the cable in passive mode.
Introduction – The Parrot Zik, designed by Philippe Starck, is a wireless headphone with gesture control, noise cancelling technology and their very own app. Surely designed to be a gadget fan’s dream audio accessory, they have a host of features including a sensor that pauses the music when you take them off.
Description – The aesthetics are really impressive, the ear cups are covered with smooth matte rubber, the metal frame is in matte steel finish. Pairing the headphones up using Bluetooth is simple and gives a decent range but the Ziks also feature Near Field Communication (NFC) for quick pairing – a first for headphones – although your music player will need this technology too. The Ziks have their own custom-made Parrot Audio Suite app which is available on iTunes. You can use it to monitor battery life, control noise-cancelling, add a “Concert Hall” effect, which can give the impression of listening in a variety of settings. There’s also EQ so you can fiddle until the sound is just right.
Included peripherals – With your Parrot Zik headphones you will get a Micro USB cable, Line in cable (3.5mm), a Li-ion battery (800mAh), a Protective pouch and a helpful Quick-start guide.
Application – The Parrot Zik will also enable you to make and receive calls when paired to your phone. They use several microphones along with a bone conduction to enable your voice to cut through surrounding noise.
Describe the sound – Sound quality is impressive for a Bluetooth wireless set, as mentioned you have a lot of control so it is hard to describe a distinct sound signature. They are warm with a quite quickly rolled off top end, they have a comfortable and fun sound and in wireless mode have really nice stereo characteristics, they do not retain their character when used with the included cable however, in this passive mode without their technology they are unimpressive.
The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce that the flagship in-ear model from Sennheiser, the IE800 is now available to be purchased on our website.
Dynamic linear-phase driver with extremely wide bandwidth (XWB)
Very low overall harmonic distortion
Oval-shaped eartips for maximum comfort
Two protective meshes protect against contamination
Attenuated dual-chamber absorber (D2CA)
Extremely deep, distortion-free bass
Ceramic housing, stainless steel vents and Kevlar coated cable
Brimming with ground-breaking technologies the IE800 embodies the most innovative portable music solution Sennheiser has ever created. A welcome addition to Sennheiser’s popular audiophile range, the IE800 meets the demands of portable audio with perfect sound and comfort.
Verdict – A very impressive sound at an affordable price, great option for those looking for a cord free set below £100. No wires. No worries.
Pro’s – Small yet comfortable on-ear, lightweight and durable. The big surprise is that they sound great, impressive stereo imaging for an on ear. Bluetooth headphones for under £100 often seem a bit bargain basement, the Volumes tick all the boxes for functionality, do not compromise on quality and still come in at a cheap price!
Con’s – None if you have under £100 to spend! AptX CD quality sound would be a great addition but at this price that just seems greedy.
Introduction – Volume is a new audio company proudly making headphones in Taiwan, the brainchild of the son of a British family owned components manufacturing company. After finishing his education in London and becoming disillusioned working in the city he decided to return to Taiwan to make high quality portable audio products at a sensible price. This high-spec, low price philosophy underpins the current collection of Bluetooth headphones with mic and on board controls.
Description –Available in a range of attractive colour ways the Volume DH-B38 has controls for volume, changing track, pause and play. Special features include a high quality omni-directional mic, Class 1 Bluetooth – giving up to 100m range and the ability to fold flat for storage. The headphones themselves are very light and do not clamp making them pretty comfortable for on-ears, the soft leatherette ear cushions are shaped well. Build quality is impressive, no corners have been visibly cut.
Included peripherals – Volume DH-B38 are supplied with a soft carry bag.
Application – If you are looking for some portable headphones for commuting or being mobile in general these have all the features you could need. Listen to music, answer and end calls without having to touch your phone and they should easily fit into an already cramped bag too. Because of their longer than average range they would also work well for listening around the house or getting out in the garden. Low weight and comfy fit means they also work very well in the Gym.
Describe the sound – A typically warm feel for consumer headphones, punchy smile curve EQ with much more detail than you would expect. The bass will handle everything from chart pop to huge electro basslines. Classical and Acoustic don’t sound bad either as they have a bit of sparkle to them, the fact they do sound good does mean you can hear small Bluetooth sonic problems which less capable headphones might mask. The sound is fun and involving but not too aggressive for everyday use or long journeys.
The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce that the flagship wireless headphone model from Sennheiser, the RS 220 is now available to be purchased on our website.
Open, circumaural digital wireless headphone
Uncompressed lossless digital audio transmission
Transmitter features analogue audio input
Range of up to 100m (line of sight) from sound source and up to 30m indoors
Power on/off, balance control and volume control integrated on headphones
Multi-purpose transmitter also functions as ‘easy-charge’ cradle and docking station
Extremely comfortable and luxurious velour ear pads
Audiophile listening has gone wireless: Sennheiser’s RS 220 takes cable-free listening to new realms. This digital wireless headphone system delivers pure sound performance matching high-grade wired headphones.
