Headphones

Roccat Unleashes the XTD Cave 5.1 Gaming Headset at GamesCom!

Gamers love great sound when playing – whether to hear the music of the latest jRPG or the explosions of the cool new shooter, a great headset provides immersion and a detailed experience that cannot be duplicated in a portable system. For years gamers were stuck with inferior audio in headsets, but now we can get great sound thanks to products like the newly announced Kave XTD 5.1 Digital Gaming Headset from ROCCAT. Here is what ROCCAT says about the new headset: The Kave XTD 5.1 Digital includes a fully equipped desktop remote with a built-in premium 5.1 sound card….


V-MODA Crossfade M-100 Headphone Review – Dress Up Your Tunes

At $310, the V-MODA Crossfade M-100 headphones are a pricey option for anyone looking to purchase a new pair of over-the-ear headphones, but they are absolutely worth the price of admission. The headphones are tough, comfortable, block outside noise, and they sound amazing. They ship with a super-protective case, multiple cables and more. Check them out. V-MODA’s latest headphones stand out in almost every regard. While the company name and these Crossfade M-110s might not be as familiar as Beats or Monster or either company’s offerings, these headphones have all the style, flexibility and audio-quality you could want. Are they worth…


AKG K495 NC On-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones Review – Hear the Quiet, Even When It Is Noisy

The AKG K495 on-ear headphones offer good sound and excellent noise cancellation in a refined package that looks great and is as comfortable as any pair of on-ear headphones I have used. At $349.95 the USB rechargeable headphones are, however, a bit pricey. Then again, quality doesn’t come cheap. Check them out here. I’m on the Amtrak Acela headed from Jersey to DC for a few hours. I like these one day trips, so long as I get to take the train rather than fly. It is easy, rather comfortable and, at least compared to travel by air, quiet. Still,…


MUNITIO PRO40 Headphones Now Shipping

In an ever-crowded headphone market, MUNITIO is looking to make its mark with the PRO40 headphones. At about $350 these headphones,which include a Bass Enhancing Chamber for powerful bass without distortion, aren’t cheap. They do, however, look to offer great sound and a quality build. You can order yours on the product page.   We got a look at Munitio’s upcoming PRO40 Headphones last January at CES 2013 and were impressed with how great they looked. We weren’t able to give them a listen at the time, but the use of 40mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers and Munitio’s tuning of the headphones promised to deliver…


Orb Audio Review – Powerful Audio with a Unique Style

Mike reviewed the Orb Audio Mini-T stereo system back in December of 2011. You can read his review here, but all you really need to know is that when the time came to return the loaner unit, Mike was none-too happy. Yup, he really liked the system. The unit Mike reviewed consisted of two single Orb speakers, an Orb Super Eight subwoofer and the company’s Mini-T amplifier. The company sent me the same arrangements for a second-look Gear Diary review. The only significant change was the inclusion of the updated — and significantly more refined-looking — Mini-T. Was I equally…


Over-the-Ear Headphone Shootout – A GearFest Video

Last week Judie and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with a few pair of the over-the-ear headphones I have reviewed over the past year. With prices ranging from just $149.99 all the way up to $379.95, these headphones cover a good deal of ground. Moreover, one pair offer active noise cancellation while another can be used in either wired or wireless modes. In other words, these headphones don’t all sit nicely in a single product category. At the same time, if you are in the market for new headphones then you are likely going to purchase…


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

  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…


The Nest Earbud Holder Redux – I Wish I Had Thought of Them

We covered the Nest Earbud Protectors from Digital Innovations back in September of 2012. At the time I wasn’t all too interested in the product. It just looked like the kind of thing that would become one more piece of clutter in my gear cabinet. Turns out I was completely wrong, and these are actually a great product that, although a bit overpriced, are worth having if you use in-ear headphones on a regular basis. Digital Innovations, the company behind The Nest, describes their product as an earbud winder/headphone case that protects your earbud-style headphones or earphones from tangling and…


JLAB Supra Headphones Review – High Dollar Features in a Budget Headphone

Since my time in the “reading lab” during elementary school, I have rarely worn over the ear style of headphones and thought it might be time to try. I have always preferred the mostly hidden in-ear buds over the larger, attention-getting over-ear headphones. Most of my athletes have moved to the latter for what I assume are style preferences, but they all assure me they are more comfortable and sound better. With that in mind, I wanted to give on-ear headphones a shot. I recently received a review pair of JLAB Supra headphones, and I have been using for a…


Scosche RH1060 Bluetooth Headphones Review – Cut Cords Not Corners

We recently reviewed the Scosche RH1056md Headphones. I was impressed with the wired, over-the-ear headphones and thought them to be a decent value at under $150. Scosche was good enough to also send a pair of their RH1060 Wireless Bluetooth headphones for review. The RH1060 headphones look quite similar to the RH1056md sample we have been using; in fact, then you use them in wired mode they are pretty much the same. Comparing the specifications of the two headphones reveals that both have 40mm drivers and an impedance of 32?. The frequency response of the RH1056md headphones is slightly better,…


Monster iSport Freedom Bluetooth Headphones are The Perfect Wireless Workout Companion

While in New York for a CE Week event last week, I had a chance to spend some time at the Monster headphones booth. While there, I saw the Monster Inspiration Active Noise-Canceling Headphones which Judie had reviewed and loved. (Read the review.) The White Tuxedo Monster DNA Headphones I reviewed were also on display. (Read my review.) There were also a pair of strikingly bright headphones that caught my eye; these were the upcoming iSport Freedom headphones. The iSport Freedom headphones are Monster’s first-ever on-ear wireless headphones. The iSport Freedom headphones are water-resistant, anti-microbial and sweat proof. Inside the…


Phiaton Bridge MS500 Headphones Review – They Offer Style, Comfort and Excellent Sound

Sexy and stylish are the only way I can describe the Phiaton Bridge MS500 headphones. That came as a surprise, considering I have been impressed with the sound of previous Phiaton headphones I’ve reviewed, but I would not have described any of them as particularly stylish. (The Moderna MS200 did come close.) The Bridge MS500 headphones bring style to the Phiaton lineup even as they bring a premium price tag of $299. Does high style merge with great sound when it comes to the company’s marque headphones offerings? Read on to find out.


Scosche RH1056md Headphones Review – They Will Rock Your World

To say that I have been impressed with the Scosche RH1056MD Reference Grade On Ear Headphones with tapLINE Remote and Microphone would be an understatement. It is not that these are the best sounding or most comfortable over-the-ear headphones on the market; they aren’t. But they do look good, fit and sound quite good, and for under $150, they are an excellent value. The RH1056MD reference headphones, which ship with an abundant collection of accessories that add even more value to an already impressive package, have 40mm drivers and are designed with a custom blend of mylar, precision wound copper…


Yurbuds Inspire Limited Edition Sport Earphones Offer Good Sound and Good Fit

The other day we reviewed yurbuds’ Focus Pro behind the ear sports headphones. I was impressed with the comfort of the headphones as well as the microphone and in-line controls on them. The audio from the headphones was good, but it wasn’t good enough to make the Focus Pros something I would want to listen to as my full-time pair of headphones. The Focus Pros are perfectly fine for a run or similar activity, but they simply don’t stand up to some of the other relatively high-end headphones we have reviewed. This time we are looking the yurbuds Limited Edition…


Yurbuds Focus Pro Review – They Stay Put and Keep the Music Going

In 2010 yurbuds came out with one of the silliest audio products ever- or so I thought. They offered custom-sized “earbud enhancers” that fit over the one-size-fits all earbuds Apple and others included with phones and media devices. The goal of these “enhancers” was to create a better, more comfortable fit. I wasn’t impressed. Fast forward to CES 2011, and the company showed off their revamped product. Now, instead of having a cover that fit over your existing earbuds, they offered a complete package — their own brand of earbuds with the yurbud special sauce,  the earbud enhancers already in place. We…


JVC HA-MR77X DJ-style Over-the-Ear Headphones Review

A few months ago we brought word that JVC had upgraded their headphone line. The new versions of their headphones feature a rugged styling, a high-gloss finish and durable construction. The company is using heavy-duty Neodymium driver units and Extreme Deep Bass Ports to fill out the sound offered by the headphones. In addition, the company added a one button remote and microphone compatible with iPhone, blackberry and android devices to three of the models. The inline single-button remote lets you play, stop and skip tracks. It also lets you answer phone calls. They sent us a pair of the…


At $1250, These Shure Earphones Sure Better Sound Good!

Shure’s new SE846 Sound Isolating Earphones are a pricey proposition. Shipping in June, they will have a price tag of $1250. That makes them more than a bit pricey. For that price however you get a Quad High-Definition MicroDriver with a three-way system configuration for dedicated low, mid, and high frequency distribution. The SE846 feature a patent-pending design includes a groundbreaking low-pass filter, a true subwoofer that enables deep low-end performance without sacrificing clarity or detail. Sound quality, noise isolation, and a design that includes an optimized nozzle angle that’s designed to rest comfortably in the ear, combine to make the…


Mitchell’s Gear, Spring 2013

  We all have our selection of favorite gear; you know, the equipment we have that we actually keep with us on a regular basis. So spring seemed like a good time to take a renewed look at the gear various members of the GD team actually use. First up — from Gear Diary’s Australian Bureau — Mitchell Oke. My job takes me on the road a lot, so my laptop bag is never more than a few metres away, packed with all the gear that I might need when I’m out of the office.


Monster Diamond Tears Headphones Bring Bling to Your Ears

BLING! That’s the only way to describe the Monster Diamond Tears Edge Headphones. These fashion headphones stand out thanks to their crystal encrusted ear cups and music control. The sharp edges of the headphones immediately remind you of the facets on diamonds, and the transparent crystalline look of the Clear Diamond review sample we were sent (they also come in black) catches light and makes the appearance even more striking. Clearly targeted to a female audience, the Diamond Tears Edge headphones make as loud a fashion statement as you are going to find. There is no doubt what Monster was…


Harman Kardon NC Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review

When shopping for a pair of headphones, it seems that things keep getting harder and harder. After all, in the battle for your ears there are an ever-growing number of headphones vying for attention. Admittedly we haven’t done much of anything to make the task any easier. After all, in just the past few months we’ve reviewed headphones from Phiaton, Monster, AKG and many more. Worse- or better- yet, pretty much all the headphones we have reviewed recently impressed us enough that we would recommend them to a family member looking for some new cans. Is there room for another pair…


Head Over Heels for the Just Mobile HeadStand

Don’t let this happen to you… “Elana do you know where the Harman Karden NC headphones I’m reviewing are?” “Where did you last use them?” “If I knew that I wouldn’t be searching for them… Oh, got ’em!” “Where were they? Buried under the pile on your desk?” Yes, there is an advantage to keeping your headphones hung up and close by the way they are when you use the Just Mobile’s HeadStand. It prevents them from getting lost under a pile of papers. It keeps them safe and protected from someone who might sit on them after yo accidentally…