Grado Reference RS 2 Headphones Review  

Posted by nipatr_nvb in , , ,

Grado ALMOST Best Headphone

By paying $500, it may seem like you should get the top of the line of a companies headphone. With the Grado RS-2, you nearly do. The RS-1 sells for $200 more but the difference is minimal. Most people who listen to them side by side would probably choose to save the extra money......unless money is no object.

These headphones are classy from the getgo. They arrive in a wooden box. They are made of real mahogony wood. The wood is treated not just for great looks (which it has) but for performance. The headband is real leather.

The sound?

Outstanding!

The highs are great, the midranges are tremendous and the bass is realistic and tight. They, in my opinion, outperform all other competitors. Those who cannot afford this much for a headphone may wish to consider a less expensive model from Grado. The SR-80, which sells for $95, is probably the best buy of the entire line. But if you can afford these, they are worth the investment


Phiaton MS 400 Headphones Review  

Posted by nipatr_nvb in , , ,

Phiaton MS 400 Premium Carbon Fiber Headphones :
A New Experience

I couldn't be happier with the product. This thing is just WILD!!!
I previously used Bose TriPort and Sennheiser HD 595, and the Phiaton catches all the sound that the others couldn't. It's definitely a new experience that all hardcore music lovers deserve.


V-MODA Vibe Earbuds Review  

Posted by nipatr_nvb in , , ,

Outstanding!!!

I decided to get the v-moda vibe once again after reading the stellar reviews on Amazon. I mean, a product with 4 stars after 312 reviews has got to be good, right? I got the earbuds and decided to try them on (skeptically). I was completely blown away! So much so, that I decided to write my first review ever on Amazon. So here are the pros and cons of these earbuds.

Pros:
1. Phenomenal bass response. It doesnt have the "please make me deaf" kind of "super bass", but has a rich uniform bass - much better than the Shure and Creative buds.
2. Mid range and highs are also great and crisp
3. The fit and maintenance are both super easy. No clogging, not 'ear wax cleaning tools' etc
4. The "seal" is also great - and importantly, consistent. Also, the seal pretty much isolates most sound. So you definitely want to be careful when wearing these. (For example - I couldnt hear the tap running when I was in my kitchen. I couldnt even hear my phone ringing right in front of me)
5. Fits right, no slipping even when you are walking or running

Cons:
None really. The packaging, presentation etc could be better. The "leather" bag it comes with looks kinda cheap, etc. But all of this, in my opinion is purely incidental and immaterial. I mean, do you buy earbuds for the sound or for the way its packaged/accessories?


M-Audio Q40 Closed-back Headphones Review  

Posted by nipatr_nvb in , , ,

A Superb pair of closed cans

I decided to take the plunge and take a chance on this relatively new brand and purchase my first real set of headphones (had an akg k26 p before). Got it on Monday and I've been very pleased with it thus far. Bass is right there and should be comparable to many sub $150 headphones (except the DT770s) judging from other user reviews at head-fi.org. I use it primarily for movies and so sound detail is important and the Q40 definetly delivers on that aspect. The build is sturdy (Not a fan of flimsily made headphones... ahem Grados, Senns, Denons) and its not too heavy. My ears started to get warm after about 1 hour but that's expected with any closed style headphones. Isolation is excellent and sound leak is minimal... although certainly no IEM .

The kicker for me was the price of course. at around 100 bucks incl shipping. I don't know any comparable headphone out there at that price range.

Great for
-hiphop, heavy rock, movies, gaming

Look elsewhere if you're into (Denon D1001?)
-classical, techno


AKG K272 HD Closed-Back Headphones Review  

Posted by nipatr_nvb in , , ,

Comfortable, Durable, Excellent sound

Love these head phones....Nicely made, very comfortable and durable. I love the self adjusting head piece, it eliminates the pressure points you would get in a typical headphone. The headphones rest across the whole top of your head. I chose the closed style to eliminate outside noise which does a very good job. I use them with my ipod and macbook, they work great for both. I do have a portable headphone amp which I use every so often with the ipod, but it is not really needed for everyday listening. My only complaint, if I had one, would be I was hoping the head band would have been leather(like the AKG K701), not a big fan of vinyl/plastic. But I will say, they did a good job with it regardless.


Best I've found, though a bit pricey

I've been looking for decent in-ear headphones for quite a while. I've tried Sonys, and eventually bought the Bose offering, which was disappointing given Bose's reputation and price. Still, they were better than the ones that came with the iPod, so I had just about resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to get from earbuds the kind of sound over-the-ears headphones provide. Then I tried these, and the difference was night and day.

The first thing a good pair of headphones has to do of course is isolate the sound from the ambient noise, especially in a car. The Monster turbines do this better than any I've ever heard, even nearly obliterating the sound of a competing car radio. (I worry about hearing sirens while driving, they're so good).

Once the background is taken care of, the sound is superb -- clear, balanced, and finely detailed. I'm a fairly eclectic listener, and everyone from Puccini to Sigur Ros sounds good through these. It remains undistorted even at high volumes, but high volumes are less necessary with these. Finally, these are comfortable to wear. The soft rubber tips (a variety of sizes and shapes provided) fit comfortably in my small ear canal, and hardly ever fall out.

The only reason I give these 4 stars instead of 5 is the price, which I find to be a bit excessive for ANY earbuds. But it may be a case of getting what you pay for.