Headphone News

The last time I saw a review for the Sennheiser PXC 300 noise canceling headphones was way back in October and it was far from flatering. Gautam at Tablet PC Review has done a more recent review of these ‘phones and although it’s more positive, the write up still finds some problems.

Starting with the negative, Gautam has some problems with the design, particularly the in-line battery and noise-canceling circuitry. It’s also noted that the bass is very weak on these headphones which wasn’t something that Pocket Lint picked up on in the previous review. Despite these problems, Gautam does like these headphones with the mids and highs being praised in particular. Sounds like this is a definite try-before-you-buy, if possible.

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Shiny Shiny reviewed the Plantronics Pulsar Bluetooth Headphones way back in July and were quite impressed with them and now TreoCentral have reiterated that opinion in a recent review.

Awarding the headphones 4 out of 5, TreoCentral praise the sound and comfort of these ‘phones but do have some reservations over the design. For much more details, check out the full review.

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PC World are the latest to review the Razer Barracuda HP-1 gaming headphones and again they are let down by some issues with the sound quality.

Awarding the headphones a decent 3.5 out of 5, PC World do like the surround sound capabilities of these headphones but were disappointed by the bass and felt the treble was really quite poor. The sound quality is problems are a real pity since the headphones seem to have lots of other great features for gaming. Hopefully Razer can improve this in a later model.

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CrunchGear have a quick hands on with the Able Planet Clear Harmony headphones and the tester seems largely pleased with these noise-canceling headphones.

After some initial teething problems (does feeling sick while using them count as a teething problem?), the reviewer seems to have grown to really like these headphones, especially their noise cancelation which he appears to rate higher than the market leading Bose Quiet Comfort Series.

Overall, it’s a positive review but as with most noise-canceling headphones, it appears best to try before you buy - some people really can’t stand them.

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I’ve mentioned quite a few times that I don’t really see the point of Bluetooth headphones but trust Sony to come up with something I find even more pointless, a set of full-sized Bluetooth headphones.

I guess the DR-BT50 headphones will be useful for those who like to wander around the house listening to music, assuming anyone actually does that. Or are you actually expected to wear these outside? Either way, for those who fancy a pair, they appear to be Japan only at the moment but will probably reach the rest of the world eventually.

Technically, they support the A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP protocols so should be able to pair with almost any Bluetooth device. They’ll last for around 17 hours on a single charge and weight around 180 grams.

Also announced is the slightly more useful DR-BT21G wrap-around earphones. These actually look quite nifty and again support all the latest Bluetooth protocols. Available in black or white, they will clock in at a fairly lightweight 63 grams.

[Found via CrunchGear]

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Reviews of the recently released Bose TriPort IE earphones have been mixed with some testers reporting problems with a poor fit. However, it looks like Bose have taken the criticism on-board and are holding a press conference next week where they will discuss the problem and their solution to it.

Good for Bose, hopefully they’ll be able to do something for the disappointed customers out there.

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Shure announced their new SE Series of earphones at this years Consumer Electronics Show and TrustedReviews are quick off the mark with a review of the mid-range SE420.

So how are they? Well, according to TrustedReviews

“Shure has created a superb set of earphones in the shape of the SE420s. I maintain that the E500PTHs are still the best earphones that money can buy, but the SE420s are a far more affordable option. As I said earlier, if you’ve been lusting after the E500PTHs, but could never afford them, take a close look at the SE420s – they offer much of the performance of their big brother at a fraction of the price.”

That’s some praise! As well as the excellent sound, the reviewer also praises the build quality and design of these earphones. Sounds like Shure have done it again.

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Beyerdynamic don’t make the worst headphones out there, but they do make some of the ugliest. The latest example of this is the new DTX 50’s with a design that appears to take inspiration from a hairdryer.

If you don’t mind the looks, then these £60 headphones offer noise-isolation through their in-ear design and promise loads of bass. Apart from that, there’s not really much to differentiate these ‘phones from the thousands of similar sets on the market.

Available right now in black or white. How predictable.

[Found via Shiny Shiny]

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InfoSync are the latest to review theV-Moda Vibe sound-isolating earphones and it’s yet another positive review for these stylish ‘phones.

Awarding the headphones a good 70%, the reviewer appreciates the design and the bass range of the Vibe’s. However, InfoSync do feel the high-end is a bit lacking, especially compared to the powerful lows. Finally, they do have some slight issues with the build quality though I haven’t heard anyone else complaining so hopefully it’ll turn out to be a one off.

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