On-Ear Headphone Shootout – Which Wins for Comfort and Sound?

Gear Diary is reader-supported. When you buy through links posted on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. You can learn more by clicking here.

Screen Shot 2013-07-13 at 12.38.32 PM

 

Dan and I are taking advantage of our time together at GearFest, our annual editors’ gathering, by doing a blind test of which on-ear headphones we think feel and sounded the best. What we have available to try are four different pairs of headphones that Dan had reviewed — the BlueAnt EMBRACE Stereo Headphones ($199.99), the Jabra Revo Wireless Headphones ($249), the Phiaton PS300 NC Premium Noise Cancelling Headphones ($299), and the Monster Tuxedo DNA Headphones ($229.95).

I was the first guinea pig in the chair. The rules were no peeking, and not to touch the headphones other than for minor adjustments. You can see my reactions and which pair I ultimately liked best by watching this video …

Dan was next. Granted, he had a bit of an advantage because he had previously handled and reviewed all of the headphones, but we kept things as fair as possible by making him keep his eyes shut and by me doing all of the handling and adjusting so he couldn’t inadvertently be influenced. Which pair were Dan’s favorites? Watch and see …

And there you have it! Of the four headphones tested, both Dan’s and my top two were the same. We swapped on our top choices, but I think that either of those would be a great choice for anyone looking for a fab pair of on-ear headphones.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!

About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She started in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie is best known for her device-agnostic approach, deep-dive reviews, and enjoyment of exploring the latest tech, gadgets, and gear.