I conducted an extensive review of three headphones. This review includes aesthetics, features, and sound. Like many areas of modern electronics, hundreds of headphones exist in a seemingly infinite variety of shapes and sizes. The most important element though, is good fit and good sound. Beyond that, nothing else really matters.
I used the headphone and earphone check suite from http://www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php to determine sound characteristics of the products.
1. Polk Nue Voe ($129.95)
4 out of 5 stars
Polk is a well-established name in headphones and their Nue Voe provides an excellent in-ear listening experience via the balanced-armature design. The gold-plated angled connector fits easily on most iPhone and iPad cases. Unique in-ear loop helps seat the headphones.
Pros: Great sound and sophisticated looks. Best carrying bag and bag closure, and widest range of ear tips in silicon and memory foam. Three-button controller.
Cons: Performed very well on sound tests, but not as well as the Phiaton (see chart below).
Phiaton MS 100 BA ($99)
4 out of 5 stars
In this test, the Phiaton MS 100 BA offered superior sound enclosed in a very highly engineered product design. The black metal body with a sleek red cable looks awesome. The oval cable cuts down on snares and the proprietary technology reduces cable touch noise. The earphones also use balanced-armature drivers.
Pros: Great sound. The best sound isolation in this test at a very reasonable price.
Cons: Less intuitive audio controls than the Polk. Carrying pouch could use more secure closure.
TunePhonik iZX5 On-Ear Headphones ($49.99)
2 out of 5 stars
These on-ear headphones fold into an included pouch to provide a reduced travel footprint. That’s not a good way to start a review. While the audio tests were mostly in-line with the competitors in this roundup, these headphones' on-ear feel really brought down the score. The ear cushions feel cheap compared to sleek exterior and solid engineering on the folding headband. At only $49.99 list, something has to give though.
Pros: Good sound for the price. Nice looking, sleek modern exterior design with folding option. No-tangle flat cable removes from headset.
Cons: Ear cushions don’t offer good fit and they certainly aren’t “noise-cancelling” as stated on the product description. The website also suggests they work well for workouts, but in my experience, I felt they weren’t secure even when sitting down. Embossed left and right labels behind ear cushions are difficult to find, even harder to read.
Audio Test Results
| Product | Low Frequency | Treble Extension | Dynamic Range | Wiring | Binaural Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Nue Voe | 20 Hz | 16 kHz | 72db | Clear L/R | Good |
| Phiaton MS 100 BA | 10 Hz | 16 kHz | 84db | Clear L/R | Best |
| TunePhonik iZX5 On-Ear Headphones | 10 Hz | 15 kHz | 84db | Pop in right channel during left channel test | Background noise & distortion |
Tests conducted via http://www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php
Note: Frequency tests can be affected by the hearing range of the tester.
