The new P55 V3.0 have quite a mature and sophisticated look that is sleek and understated. The design is similar to a lot of on-ear headphones, they are not flashy but they have a fairly high end feel to them.
The build quality is top notch, with a mainly metal frame and detachable 3.5mm cable these are perfect for your daily commute. The cable uses a standard 3.5mm jack, so replacements will be easy to come by, along with the P55 V3.0 coming with 2 cables in the box anyway. These are a really solid on-ear headphone, especially for the price.
The P55 V.30 come with a carry case to keep them safe in your bag along with 2 cables, one with a mic and controls, one that is audio only. Also included is a Skype adapter for using them with a PC that has separate mic and headphone sockets.
Comfort:
These are not light due to the metal construction, but they are also not what I would call heavy. The clamping force strikes the right balance between providing a secure fit and not being tight and uncomfortable. The earpads are plus, and the headband doesn’t dig into the top of your head. These are not the kind of headphones you sit back for hours in a comfy chair with, but they are excellent for general use and I can easily wear them for a couple of hours.
Sound:
Bass: The bass on the P55 V3.0 is really punchy and has excellent body to it. It really does an excellent job of allowing you to hear and focus on the bass line of tracks, without masking details. Yes, the bass is slightly emphasised, but for on the go use this is an advantage, and the fact they never sound bloated is a huge bonus. The don’t just punch hard, they also dig deep into the sub-bass with ease. These are about fun, and they deliver on that promise, with a dynamic and engaging sound.
Midrange: The midrange sits slightly behind the bass in absolute presence, but it is far from being recessed. Vocals cut through the mix with great clarity, guitars have good tonality and everything is quite well presented. There is a little bleed from the bass which does affect the lower midrange a tiny bit but this is easily overlooked when the overall sound is this good. Female vocals do have a slight edge, due to a slight uplift in the upper midrange, but the transition into the treble region is fairly smooth with only a hint of sibilance.
Treble: The treble has not been forced to take a backseat on these, giving them a good sense of balance overall. The great thing about the treble on these is the way they are not boosted in the lower treble. There is not a focus on bringing out the initial impact, but more on bringing out air and extension in music. Every cymbal tap and crash is well defined, without sounding sharp.
The P55 V3.0 manage to handle everything you throw at them, they do not have a massive soundstage but the separation and spatial imaging makes up for this.
Conclusion:
SoundMAGIC have created a rugged, stylish and great sounding on-ear headphone for less than £100. The sound is full, fun and engaging. There is a bit of emphasis on the bass, but there is enough detail in the midrange, and presence up top to make them well balanced overall. These could be the best sub £100 on-ear headphone out at the moment.
Looking for a new pair of on-ear headphones? We’ve collected the best on ear, open back, closed back and portable headphones to buy in 2017 and reviewed them to help you choose.
SoundMAGIC takes a lot of beating in this price category – the brand is a natural at making low cost headphones which sound much pricier.
The P22C model is a lightweight portable with a flat tangle-free cable and good isolation. Ideal for travel and holidays, these will fit right in to any bag or backpack when stored in their low profile travel case. The P22C included a microphone for phone usage and the remote is compatible with both Android and Apple devices.
Sound is impressive for this price point, with plenty of detail and a good kick to the bass without overpowering the mid range.
Engaging and fun-sounding, the P22C will make the absolute most of the output from any portable player.
The Edifier P650 is a smartphone friendly, easy to carry portable headphone that punch above their weight and price.
Offering a well balanced sound with a little added kick down low, the midrange is clean and detailed and the treble isn’t far behind. The bass does not have the most sub-bass rumble but for a quick and easy to use, on the go headphone they offer great sound.
What impresses most is their ability to portray the whole frequency range in a well controlled and balanced manner, too many budget headphones overload you with muddy bass, yet these offer plenty of detail but are also easy to listen to; a no brainer at this price point.
The simple design and great sound keeps them viable while the open-back design, whilst not being the best for isolation of course, is perfect for those who wish to be aware of what’s going on around them such as joggers, and muggers.
The sound is generally well balanced between bass and treble, although the midrange can seem a bit distant and mushy. Bass is perhaps a bit on the heavy side, but it will definitely satisfy those who want a bassy sound. The Koss Porta Pro Classics offer a warmish sound overall.
Be aware though that their open-back nature means that they will be of limited use in noisy environments.
B&W have a long history of making excellent hifi products, and this has trickled down into their headphones.
The P3 are superbly built with an elegant and sophisticated look, the P3 really do impress. Lucikly they are not all about the look either, as the P3 offer a smooth and effortless sound that is akin to their house speaker sound. Offering excellent full bodied bass response with a non fatiguing and slightly sweet midrange and treble.
Comfortable, well built with a smooth and pleasing sound signature, the P3 are perfect for on-the-go use.
The HD25-1 II are one of the most well known on-ear headphones, this is partly due to their popularity as a DJ headphone. Used by DJ’s and sound engineers globally the HD25-1 II are a rugged portable headphone that will last for years.
Offering an immediate and aggressive sound they won’t give you a wide soundstage but will give you an engaging and detailed signature. The bass is tight and digs deep with excellent control and presence, the midrange is smooth yet very detailed and the treble has good extension and is very well placed in the mix.
If you are looking for a smooth laid back sound, the B&W are probably a better choice, but if you want a fun, upfront and engaging listen the HD25-1 II is for you. All parts are easily replaceable too, should anything ever break.
The Grado SR80e are a definite improvement over the SR80i, with a slightly warmer, more balanced sound. Their retro styling may not appeal to all, but underneath the looks is a fine sounding open-back headphone. The undisputed king of headphones for rock music, these are sure to get you toe tapping and head banging in no time.
These will not appeal to bass heads, they fair better with music that is played on real instruments. They have long been favourites for people that enjoy rock music due to the speed and control of the sound.
At the price point I still think Grado hold their own with a well balanced, aggressive and detailed sound, there is nothing quite like them.
The Momentum series are hugely popular with on the go commuters, and for good reason. Offering stylish looks, a comfortable fit and a smooth easy to listen to sound.
Built to last with replaceable parts, the Momentum has slightly retro looks and comes in an array of colours. With playback controls on the cable you no longer have to take your phone out of your pocket. The sound is dynamic and punchy, offrering a slightly bass driven sound without sacrificing the midrange and treble. Engaging and fun are the best word to sum up the Momentum 2.0i.
Good looks and great sound, it is easy to see why the Momentum 2.0i is so popular with commuters. For Android users there is also the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0G.
The T51i have been around for a while now and are still excellent on-the-go headphones. They have a sturdy and sophisticated look, and offer a well balanced and detailed sound.
The T51i again tilts towards an easier to listen to sound, with a slight bass boost that gives the whole sound a little added body. There is sufficient detail across the range to keep them from sounding boring and what comes to mind when you put the T51i on is refinement.
With excellent build, comfy fit and refined sound the T51i has a lot to offer.
Leather earpads and a metal headband, the P5 Series 2 screams quality and luxury. The earpads are soft lambskin leather with memory foam inside, like cushions against your ears.
Like the P3 the P5 Series 2 has the typical B&W house sound, which is smooth and effortless. Offering a well balanced but slightly rich sound with superb separation and articulation, from highs to lows these sound very refined and grown up.
The P5 Series 1 look stunning, have replaceable cables and a smooth effortless sound, what is not to like?
Built from leather and metal, the Audeze Sine are built to last and also come with detachable cables. Using planar magnetic drivers they take a little more power than most phones can output, so they are best used with a high quality music player.
Give them a good source and the Sine in return give you excellent audio with snappy dynamics that can keep up with the most demanding of music. The bass is full yet superbly controlled, the midrange is where these excel not allowing the lows to affect them. Guitars have excellent power, and vocals come across with plenty of detail. The highs are present and well defined, but never become too hot and harsh.
The Sine are a mighty fine sounding on-ear headphone when driven well, and give you a full and detailed sound all
We weren’t expecting anything which would impress us this much; Bang & Olufsen’s products were always to cater primarily for the full size hi-fi market and we were guilty of a touch of cynicism where a B&O headphone was concerned. We certainly stand corrected and they say pride comes before a fall; well now we’ve certainly fallen for the H2!
Intro
When the letters ‘B’ and ‘O’ come together the result is usually something that’s less than desirable, but put an ampersand (&) in between and things begin to seem rather more pleasant!
Bang & Olufsen is perhaps best known for its full-sized hi-fi equipment but has produced headphones for the past few years under its B&O PLAY moniker; currently it has an full-sized over-ear model in the H6, the In-Ear H3 and for an on-ear it has brought out the new H2.
Key Features
Things are kept simple as is B&O’s usual brief; we have the headphones themselves, a cable and a generous 3 year warranty (2 if you don’t register the product online with B&O).
The cable features a 3-button arrangement for use with smartphones and iPhones, though functionality may be limited depending on software.
First Impressions
The earpads are have a very well made and opulent cushioning quality like the KEF M500; good thing too, because at first the headband is very unremitting and springy leading to a lot of clamping power. This should clear up after a couple of days of use.
The fabric covering the headband and the outward-facing part of the earcups is a light beige/manilla colour, leading to some concerns about how they might look after some months’ use. Fortunately darker colours are available if this is a worry. It’s a look sported by the Sennheiser Urbanite range; could this be a new trend?
Sound Quality
Tested with an Astell&Kern AK120, the H2 really impresses!
Bass is at the same time voluminous and well controlled; voluminous in the area it occupies within the soundstage. It seems to come from all around! It’s there in quantity as well; giving a definite heavy foot to proceedings, but without damaging the floor.
Midrange is just as big in terms of its depth and width – there’s lots of space in there and the wearer gets a real treat in terms of vocals,details and reverb. They can stray towards peakiness at points but this is heavily dependent on the music and the wearer. B&O have got a nice balance here.
Treble is toned down making for a warm presentation overall, and one which really works for most genres. Details and harmonics are complemented without sacrificing listening comfort.
Soundstage and separation are very good also; hard panned instruments leap out and vie for attention from the shoulders, along with subtle details not usually encountered with on-ear portables.
Summary
With the BeoPlay (B&O Play) H2, Bang & Olufsen stake their claim in the portable headphone market. It’s often attacked as trading on a well-known name rather than great products, but we beg to differ. Having tried the H2 we recognise a B&O headphone by any other name would smell as sweet!
The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Open-Back On-Ear Headphone from Musical Fidelity, the MF-100 is now available to be purchased on our website.
Musical Fidelity’s MF-100 headphones were designed to make a beautiful lifelike sound. They are light, comfortable and durable making long listening sessions a pleasure. Musical Fidelity’s award winning design team identified and focused on several critical areas to achieve our aims of natural lifelike sound, lightness and comfort, and durability.
Musical Fidelity’s MF-100 drive units have been designed from the ground up to give a flat and wide frequency response with low distortion. This enables the MF-100 headphones to offer a completely natural, stress free sound so you can hear exactly what the artist intended to create.
With subtle leather earpads are crafted from a combination of fine materials and refined design the MF-100 headphones create maximum comfort. At the same time they give excellent sound isolation. Your music doesn’t disturb anybody and vice versa. The ergonomically designed earpad forms an excellent seal which ensures deep powerful and clear bass. Specially designed transparent fabric has been used for the centre of the earpad.
Every part of the MF-100 is made of high quality materials which enhance the durability, tactile sensations and sound quality.
Completely natural, stress free sound
Drivers offer a flat and wide frequency response with low distortion
Light, comfortable and durable design for long listening sessions
Ergonomically designed earpad forms an optimal seal
Specially designed earpad with transparent fabric
Cable incorporates in-line mic/mute control for Smartphones
The Fanny Wang Headphone Company are the latest fashion brand to stake a claim for superb audio experience as well as cool contemporary urban looks. At this point you are probably either re-reading the product name in case you misread it or giggling to yourself heartily. This is a brand that is having fun, not taking itself too seriously and inviting everyone to join in, hence the slightly rude sounding name.
Who is Fanny Wang?
Fanny Wang is an imaginary eastern lady who wants everybody to enjoy her headphones. The brand is being fronted by attractive young women (the Fanny Wang Girlz) who seem to have been very well trained in demonstrating the headphones, seen at January’s CES Show, talking to the public about what to expect from a headphone.
If you think they look a bit familiar, that’s because they are! Fanny Wang is the brainchild of Tim Hickman and David Adam, who after making some of the best known iPhone cases and accessories around with their Hard Candy brand, decided to research what the public at large wanted from audio accessories. After looking at the ultra successful Monster Beats by Dre range, they thought that although Monster had made headway in opening up better sounds to the mass market, they had also got some important details really wrong.
For the On-Ear Wang (yes that is what their first headphone is called!) they consulted the original Engineer and Sound designer behind the Monster Beats and asked him to come up with a sound that was more natural, neutral and better suited to the serious music fanatic. Before audiophiles scoff at this idea, the titanium drivers found inside the On-Ear Wangs is inspired by the Denon AH-D2000! This I think was aimed at fixing the most common critique of the Monster Beats – For most they are simply too bass heavy and therefore struggle with Rock, Classical and Jazz.
For their design they took their cue from the Beats and attempted a sturdier more comfortable frame with a fun finish similar to the popular designs of their iPhone, iPod and Mac accessories. Another factor that is generally backed up by the popular opinions of Audio enthusiasts was that the main thrust of the Monster Beats marketing is a little misleading. Slogans like “… hear music how artists intend you to – like you’re in a studio” and “People are not hearing all of the music” are a very bold claim for bass heavy noise cancellers especially when actual studio headphones can be bought at half the price. The Fanny Wang Brand is attempting a less bombastic and more fun approach with another crucial difference – price! The aim seems to be realistic sound at a realistic price.
Sound
There is an obvious attempt to bridge the gap between the fashion headphone market and the audiophile serious listener, it seems like this balance is achieved quite well. I cannot see the on-ear Wang joining the Grado SR-325is or the Ultrasone Edition 8 as an audiophile classic but I have to admit, as a less than serious audio manufacturer, they have made a great sounding headphone! Bass is present but not dominating, the mids are clean and clear and there is also plenty of detail with an impressive sound stage for a closed back headphone. Complex stereo imaging does not seem to bother them too much and these easy to drive on ears have a comfy warm feel which is not tiring at all. The audio is provided by custom paired 40mm titanium drivers and the On-Ear Wangs are supplied with a “Custom high-fashion dust bag” don’t you know.
Duo Jack
Taking social media to the next level, apparently. Fanny Wang’s Duo Jack (patent pending) means a friend can “Jack in” sharing music through this interesting 3.5mm output addition to the cable. The Duo Jack comes standard with every set of Fanny Wang On-Ear Headphones.
Tri Fold Design
Perfect for travelling the sturdy tri-fold design makes Fanny Wang headphones easy fit into a bag. Although on-ear, they are still a decent size so this is a welcome feature.
Rock Your Wangs?
With a controversial start, bumping legal heads with Monster Beats, this brand may at first seem like a copy of an existing idea – the trouble with that assessment is, when compared, the On-Ear Wang feels a bit more substantial, has comfort improvements and most importantly sounds considerably better. The pricey fashion headphone may be Monster Cables creation but being first to market is not normally a guarantee of quality. As most musicians know the first take is not always the best – sometimes you have to relax and have a bit of fun before the real magic happens. One thing is certain though, fashion headphones are growing up and they want to be taken seriously – but not too seriously.
