When I first saw the adidas Originals by Monster Over-Ear Headphones I thought it was all about the branding. After all, these are Monster Headphones that sport Monster AND adidas logos. As such these headphones are all about style right? How comfortable could they possibly be? How good could they actually sound? The answers actually surprised me!The headphones ship in a box that has the same style as the many Monster Headphones we have reviewed. In other words, it is a simple box with a small angle on one side for added interest. That is, of course, no big deal since what matters with over-the-ear headphones is the comfort and sound they offer. I was surprised to discover that, on both counts, they impress.
The product page explains what these headphones are all about when they state, “adidas Originals style meets pure Monster Sound. ” It is an interesting statement that is made all the more potent by the fact that, prior to this, adidas worked with Sennheiser for their headphone line. It isn’t readily clear to me why they made the switch but I’m glad they did!
Slip on a fresh way of listening with these high-performance headphones. The adidas Originals Over-Ear headphones are the result of a unique collaboration between Monster® and adidas Originals, fusing the best in audio performance with serious street cred to deliver a sound experience worthy of the Trefoil.
To be honest, were it not for the adidas branding I would think these were Monster Headphones through and through. They are… And that’s a good thing.
Here’s our video look at the adidas Originals by Monster Over-Ear Headphones
As you can see I’m rather impressed by these headphones. That fact surprised me. The fact that I have been opting to use these instead go some of my other over-the-ear headphones did even more but they are that comfortable and they do, indeed, sound quite good. They offer enough bass without going over the top the way some other “fashion headphones” do. The sound is balanced and, thanks to the soft, thick ear cushions, the headphones don’t need to work too hard to overcome the ambient noise. These aren’t active noise cancellation headphones but they do a nice job of passively isolating you while you wear them. Best of all, these are headphones you can wear for an extended period of time without them wearing too heavily on your ears.
Inside the box you get the headphones, a straight cable, a cable with Monster’s ControlTalk functionality so you can control your iOS device and carry on conversations and a carry bag, so you can take your headphone with you. The bag is the one thing that is truly a departure from Monster Headphones’ usual styling. Features:
- MusicShare dual ports: adidas Originals by Monster headphones’ dual audio input jacks let you link your MusicShare headphones together and share the audio. Plug in and experience music and movies with your friends.
- Pure Monster Sound: With these over-the ear-headphones, you don’t have to choose between deep bass or crystal details. adidas Originals by Monster headphones are tuned for a live music experience, just like being in front of the stage.
- Passive noise Isolation
- Super-comfortable ear cushions for long trips
- ControlTalk cable for controlling music and phone calls from iPad, iPhone and iPod
- A straight mini-to-mini cable for airplane listening
- Made for active lifestyles
- Easily folds for travel
- Stylish carrying pouch
- Pillow-soft superior noise isolation
As you can see from this written review as well as the video look, I really like these headphones. I don’t love the single branding of Monster Headphones to begin with and really don’t like the double branding that comes with these being adidas Originals by Monster Over-Ear Headphones but the comfort and sound of these headphones was good enough to let me look past that. They are comfortable and sound excellent. What I do have a hard time getting past is the price. At an MSRP of $299.95 these headphones are at the high-end of fashion headphones. Are they worth the price? Maybe but if you are spending that kind of money you we it to yourself to look at some of the other options before you buy. If you do come back and purchase these headphones however I expect you’ll be quite happy. You can learn more and order yours here.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the adidas Originals by Monster Over-Ear Headphones
MSRP: $299.95
What I Like: Amazing comfort; Include two cables; Off the Monster Headphone MusicShare feature; Sound surprisingly good!
What Needs Improvement: Pricey; The double branding on the headphones is over the top