Headphone Commute Review
582865
Listening to Birghton (UK) based Benedic Lamdin's solo project under Nostalgia 77 alias I am reminded once again of his light, playful, and jazzy compositions. The last album I recall hearing was Songs For my Funeral, which I remember being more downtempo with a sprinkle of breaks bordering future jazz. One of those great tracks to compliment a chillout compilation (as a matter of fact, there was a double disk comp, Chilled Beats Sessions, where Nostalgia 77 appeared alongside Skalpel, The Cinematic Orchestra, Bonobo, Blockhead, Daedelus, Plaid, Boards of Canada, Prefuse 73 and many, many others [Sessions, 2005] ). Then there is, of course, The Nostalgia 77 Octet with a great Weapons Of Jazz Destruction release on Tru Thoughts last year. The latter deserves a separate review, but I'll briefly mention that the octet is formed from the Royal Academy of Jazz graduates and NYJO Alumni. For his sixth full length album (including the afore mentioned live project), Lamdin gathers his group of talented jazz musicians to walk up and down the modal scale with ease. Lizzy Parks returns with her lovely voice adding a perfect element to an already wonderful selection of songs. "I wanted to continue developing the ideas I've explored in the other records, to take the emotional moods that are there and to vocalize them. I wanted to write lyrics that reflected them," says Lamden. I personally applaud and enjoy following the artists that continue to not only reinvent themselves, but perfect their musical composition. It seems that many musicians, after consecutive successful releases want something more and end up turning to the roots of live, improvisational, or organic sound - I'm thinking here of The Herbaliser, The Landau Orchestra, and even Amon Tobin. The 2008 double-disk compilation of Nostalgia 77's One Offs, Remixes & B-Sides is a must for any serious catalog collector.
2257133
the 5.1 mix is really good...even throwaway album tracks become highlights now...the audio in surround just makes you like every track
325018
Purchased just over a year ago. I will not claim to be an audiophile or have tested these against anything else. But, I can tell you about my experience (review may be all over the place, I'm writing as things come to mind that I find important).

I have a larger than average head and ears. So, to start, these fit very comfortably on my head and completely surround my ears, forming a nice seal on my head. The headphones are very light, making them comfortable to wear for hours at a time. I ride the subway for 20-30 minutes each way for my commute and use these to listen to podcasts, music, books, and play the occasional game. The noise cancelling takes care of most of the noise save for the highest pitched screeching sounds. I also use them daily for phone calls on Skype. The battery easily lasts for two weeks of commuting. I have also flown with them several times and used these for the in flight entertainment, wearing them for 4-5 hours straight. I personally believe these are one of the most attractive headphones on the market with a refined look that doesn't stand out. They connect to two devices, so I can listen to music on my PC at work and take a call on my cell phone without having to do anything, it just works. Finally, I think the audio sounds great, but again, I'm not an audiophile, and I'm not making any claims about how they sound compared to some other high end head phones because I don't know.

There are two downsides I can think of. One is that the headband is not replaceable. This is not an issue, yet, but I can imagine the day when it rips or wears thin and I have no option for replacing it. Two, when the battery does get really low, the headphones tell you every few minutes that the battery is low, over top of whatever you have playing. It is very annoying. I just charge them every couple of weeks whether they need it or not so I never have to worry about it.

I paid full price back when they came out. I'd buy these again in a heart beat if I didn't already have them.
2339855
Alright so I have used a lot of headphones in the past. Everything from Sennheiser, Audiotechnica, Turtle Beach, Monster, etc, out of all the headphones I have used these really take the cake. They are the perfect mix of portability and performance. The audio quality tops pretty much every pair of headphones I have ever used. They have the sound quality of a pair of headphones at least double the 310 price point. It's rather impressive, that and the fact they fold away in a snap makes them easy to take with you everywhere.

It's a near-perfect mix of lows, mids, and highs that won't disappoint and it's definitely worth dropping the money to get a pair of these beautifully crafted headphones to impress your family, friends, co-workers, etc.

Viva V-MODA.
4811903
Overall: 3.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5 pretty balanced, warm signature, slight bass emphasis
Noise cancelling: 4/5 works well noticeable, but no bose
Comfort: 2/5 ok for <2 hrs, hurts my ears on extended period (long plane rides) from hard parts pressing against the ears, YMMV
Build: 3/5 very bulky, but intuitive controls
Material: 4/5 nice and durable materials
1650904
When opening the parcel containing the headphone, we can notice that a travelling bag is supplied, which is very useful for itinerant audiophiles. Then, we can see that the headphone has a metallic armature, which is a sign of robustness. Then, by wearing it, we have at once a huge sensation of comfort, which lets think long listening will be possible without any physical fatigue. It is more comfortable than Akg, Sennheiser or Grado headphones for example.

The sound characteristics delivered by this headphone are the following ones:
highs are very clear and very well detailed, which allows an analytical listening of melodies,
 mediums are pleasant and their presence are solidly delivered,
basses respond very well, and ring with an admirable fullness.

This headphone fits the audiophiles, who look for a detailed sound image, allowing to follow in a clear way the various voices which express themselves in any music.

Classical and baroque music are very well delivered, with an extraordinary detail level. We can even hear on some recordings the interferences made by the instrumentalists when playing (metallic keys noises from a saxophone or a clarinet for example).

 Jazz amateurs will be satisfied by  hard-hitting trebles returned by this headphone, as well as by the line of bass which frames solidly this style of music.

 Rock will not be in rest, but amateurs will perhaps be more attracted by a Grado headphone for example.

The quality of the music listened to through this headphone, makes me recommend it for any audiophile wishing an upper quality headphone, of strong, very comfortable conception, and allowing an analytical and detailed listening.
210509
I've been through three pairs of headphones for my iPhone (2G and 3G), and think I've found the best yet. I use my headphones during my daily commute in New York City, so I contend with quite a bit of noise while riding the subway.  The white earbuds that come with the iPhone have absolutely nothing to reduce ambient noise, which makes for an awful experience.  I had a pair of Shure E3C headphones that I really liked, and got a lot of use of, but went through TWO pairs that both suffered the same problem (broken ear-piece) within a year. Not exactly what you'd expect from a set of earbuds that cost almost $300.

What I loved about these headphones was the foam eartip attachments that were the most effective I'd seen at blocking out ambient noise.  I could be listening to a violin solo while an express train roared by and not miss a nuance.  After that, I had a pair of V-Moda Vibe headphones, and they did an alright job, but didn't have the foam tips.

SO now I have these MetroFi headphones, with the optional foam attachments, and I have to say, I've found a winner.  They're inexpensive, show decent bass response, and do a terrific job of blocking out ambient noise.  The case they come with is very convenient, and I love having access to the button on the cord to pause/skip music.

All in all, I'd recommend these to just about anybody.  Of course, I've only had them for a day, so it's possible I'm missing something, but I promise to come back and amend this review if anything serious comes up!
3186376
This is a hard high-end headphone to classify. On one hand they come with premium packaging and a decent selection of tips. Plus it comes with a premium case so you can transport them. On the other hand they are a mid-centric in-ear that doesn't seem to do one thing particularly well. The headphones struggle to be neutral in that they don't feature overpowering bass. They also don't particularly sparkle in the treble department. It was only after I amped these that they started to shine. Plugging them directly into a computer or phone yielded less than amazing results. So there's the rub. Who is this headphone designed for?

For reference I have a custom set of quad 1964 ears that I had made as universals. These headphones rock on an iPhone but they shimmer with life when amped. The same can be said of the gorgeous Shure SE846 which are simply the best in-ear headphones I have ever had the pleasure of owning. All of these headphones have one thing in common and that is that they are balance armature headphones. Balanced armature work by placing a tiny coil between some magnets. Current causes the coil to move and that creates a sound frequency. This is why you need multiple drivers in a BA headphone. Each driver produces a particular frequency and the crossovers bring the sound together.

There are a lot of schools of thought on burn in. I don't think you can burn in BA headphones but in the interest of doing a fair review I did play these for about 60 hours with a revolving playlist to "loosen" them up. The sound before and after were no different.

My biggest issue with these headphones is that the mid is overpowering. It's sort of the reverse of the "U" shape sound you get with Sennheiser headphones. It also lacks the dynamics you get with a set of Westone quads. Those manage to be incredibly neutral. These tend to feel recessed in the vocals department across just about every genre. Sure, sound is subjective, and everyone will hear music differently. But for a $500 headphone I expect them to be a bit more refined.

One strong positive. The non-tangling cord is the best I've had yet. These things simply don't tangle. The second set of cables is a good set and features a microphone for making calls. The selection of tips is okay but there are a lot of tips you can buy. I think these sound good with Shure olives but your milage may vary.
4713190
I really like these. First, they are extremely comfortable. I wore them yesterday for 4 hours reading, and no fatigue at all. I'm usually sensitive to such things, so that impressed me. Also, the sound clarity is amazing. I am no audiophile, but I hear things in songs that I don't usually hear. Listening to Diamond's Holly Holy was something else. And the Rolling Stones You Can't Always Get What You Want is truly spectacular. There are, however, two downsides that should give you caution. First, the drivers aren't terribly efficient. This means that if you're using a smartphone, it might not be quite loud enough for you. I listen to music relatively loudly, but even when I have the volume turned all the way up it's not always quite loud enough. This is especially the case on the subway, for instance. It works well enough, but it should be better. I shouldn't have to have the volume all the way up during my commute. Second, despite Sony's claims about bass, there isn't much bass. Bassheads definitely will hate these. But even for a lot of popular music, these don't quite work. The problem is that bass is just too subtle and underwhelming, and sometimes makes songs sound odd because of the lack of bass. So just keep in mind that these really don't do the best job with bass. I mostly listen to rap music and these remain tolerable= and I enjoy them. But for a lot of people than want even minimal to moderate thump, these aren't those cans. I am keeping these Sonys because there just ins't much on the market that's as good. And since I spend so much time commuting, the comfort of these win out in the end. They really are delightful on the noggin. Here are all the other headphones I have tried: Beats are overpriced crap. The Sol Republic Master Tracks ear cups are too small and they pinch the head too much. They sound okay, though. And for the money, if you find them comfortable, it wouldn't be unreasonable to go that route. The Sennheiser Momentums sound better than anything, but also the earcups are not as big as they should be and they are therefore uncomfortable. For $350 they need to be pillows for your ears. The JVC flats sound amazing for 15 bucks, but they're not that functional since they don't sit on the head quite right. But for 15 bucks you can't go wrong if you don't wear headphones that much. I also really like the Bose AE2, but I am tired of Bose stuff, frankly. They need something that looks better, not something that my grandpa would wear. I have also tried the Panosonic over ear cans for around 35 bucks. They sound good enough for the money, but they really pinch the head too much. It's unfortunate, because I would have kept them otherwise. But I just can't wear them for very long. And compared to the Sony's MDR-10R, they are impossible. Finally, I tried the Skullcandy Aviators, and they sound good and for 100 bucks they would be decent, but I think the problem is that I am just not cool enough to pull them off. They look silly on me. You have to be Derrick Rose or something to rock them right.
3857659
The headphones arrived on-time and fully functional.

As for the headphones itself; The sound-staging is extra-ordinary. I upgraded from Audio Technica M50x, the sound quality and comfort beats the M50x's by a large margin. The clarity of music and sound in general is really clear and crisp. The base seems to be about the same as the M50x's, but as mentioned previously, the sound-staging is ridiculously good.

To put into perspective, the first experience I had with a game was with Overwatch. I was able to hear a Pharah shoot a rocket at me, miss the right side of my ear, and land on the floor behind me on the right.

Anyone unclear as to what sound-staging is, you can research that. I believe these headphones have among the best sound-staging there are.
4435835
Brainwavz S3 Quick Review by mark2410

Brief:  Another Brainwavz.

Price:  US$80 which is about 52

Specifications:  Drivers: Dynamic, 8 mm, Rated Impedance: 16 , Frequency Range: 16 Hz ~ 22 kHz, Sensitivity: 96 dB at 1 mW, Rated Input Power: 10 mW, Cable: 1.3 m Y-Cord, Copper, Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold Plated

Accessories:  Earphone Hard case, 3 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L), 1 set of Comply Foam Tips T-400, 1 Shirt Clip, 1 set of Silicone Bi-Flange Eartips, 1 set of Silicone Tri-Flange Eartips, Velcro Cable Tie

Build Quality:  First rate as usual.

Isolation:  Good for a dynamic but not quite up to BA standards.  Fine for walking for on a bus but not really Tube or long flight material.  However easily enough to get yourself run over of course.  Please do remember to use your eyes.

Comfort/Fit:  Very good on both accounts.  Up or down were fine on me.

Aesthetic:  It is nice to see, unlike their S5 siblings, they show you the metal they are constructed of.  It instantly gives you an image of quality construction and frankly bare aluminium just looks good.  While Ive see more pretty there are still top notch lookers to me.

Sound:  These are a bit of a departure from the S line in that these are rather polite.  The 5 was a bit of a beast, especially in the bass, these are much more refined and laid back.  Not soft, actually a bit coolish and a bit taut but so much more controlled and hesitant.  They are still somewhat bass centric, the bass is what is most prominent however it just doesnt ever feel like its really dominating.  The bass isn't aggressive or lively enough to become demanding and rambunctious.  Its well behave and polite despite its relative dominant scale.  The mids are rather pushed back, too much I think for my tastes.  They are good, a little dryish comparatively and once more polite is the word that springs to mind.  Its just very pleasant.  The highs too have the same attributes, though they are placed between the mids and bass.  They have practically no bight or edge to them, they retain the shimmer after impact but they won't dance and sparkle like some want.  These are laid back, a most pleasantly pleasant listening experience that flows softly over the ear drum.  Not an especially warm flavour but similarly melodic and restrained.  I rather enjoy it.  If you are however looking for a thrilling party beast, this is not it.

Value:  It from Brainwavz, everything they do has to date been great value, this isn't bucking the trend.  Very pleasing audio quality for your US$80

Pros: Value.  Pleasantness.  The whole package.

Cons:  Unthrilling.  Cable, if you don't like flat cables.
4589197
I found this CD to be most important for me when commuting  to and from work, especially when I'm stuck in a traffic jam! Earl Klugh's music on this album is smooth and easy. His playing style is gorgeous and soothing enough to keep my temper and blood pressure at a normal level. And the way that he embellishes his melodies with a beautiful chord arpeggios speratically through the album is an audio treat for the ears - sheer auditory candy. I highly recommend this recording for commuters.
4444156
And for me, that's a true compliment (no REAL Audiophile, here). It's intimate, but sometimes spatial. It seems to conform well to several genre-distinctive sound standards: Bass-y at times, but not muffled. The Highs and Mids are clear & supplied, autonomously. They have a very studio-like quality to them. They seem to be somewhat comfortable (I've only listened to two albums, when posted). I'm without a doubt pleased w/ them. I would match them w/ cans 7X its price.

(Sony MDR-V500 < AmazonBasics On-Ear Headphones < Sony MDR-v150).

Test Albums: 'In the Court of the Crimson King' by King Crimson & 'The Feel' by G.L.A.M.
3926982
I have owned these headphones for over a year, and I feel that I can give a relatively accurate review of them.

I'll start off with the good.
These headphones sound great! I listen to mostly electronic music, some rock and some pop, and it all sounded great in these cans. The Crystal Method, Daft Punk, Justice, all sound amazing, and I'm using a little sandisk sansa mp3 player. The Hesh do have a bit of what I can only describe as an echo, It is a very subtle effect and most of my friends can't tell. I actually like the effect, they sound "roomy". They have great bass, owing to the sealed design and 50mm drivers. I never noticed the bass distorting the mids or highs either, which I was impressed by. (disclaimer: I am by no means an audiophile, this is just my personal opinion)

I like the tight fit because I don't have to worry about jumping around and my headphones falling off. I did not find them to be uncomfortable though, I could use them for about 4 hours before it got uncomfortable. I use these walking back and forth to classes, and riding my bike, and they are great, but they are a bit awkward to wear around the neck, since the ear cups don't fold down they hit the bottom of my chin. I think these look great, I like the style and the fit, the headband is comfortable and solid. They do tend to creak as you move, it didn't bother me but my girlfriend couldn't stand it.

Now the bad.
I have gone through three pairs of these headphones, and I take good care of my things. The pressure these exert on your head is just too much for the plastic to handle. For me, they always break at the thin strip that slides into the headband, the headband adjuster. They just snap in half. I do not know a single person who has owned Hesh headphones for more than a couple months and NOT had them break in half. I saw a girl with a pair the other day, so I thought I would warn her that they were likely to break. She calmly informed me that this was in fact her fourth pair. Fortunately Skullcandy has a lifetime warranty on their products, so you can just ship them back for a few bucks and they will send you new ones, but is it really worth it? I cannot stand always knowing that my headphones will break in half in the near future. I get close to a pair of headphones, they go everywhere I go, and I have a special bond with them. If the Hesh didn't break constantly I would still be carrying them with me everywhere I go, but I can't fall in love with something I can't rely on.

I bought some Ultrasone HFI-550's earlier today and I can't wait to get them and fall in love with some new cans. When Skullcandy sends me my newest pair of Hesh I'm going to sell them and get out of this vicious cycle.

Some people don't seem to mind replacing them now and again, but for me it ruins the experience.

I hope this helped you make your decision, I really think it boils down to if you mind shipping them to Skullcandy to be replaced every so often, because you won't find a better headphone for anywhere near this price range.
4412439
It is easy to transport, due to the weight and size. i use every day and I am feeling the music. i recommend the purchase of these wonderful headphones.
2915829
I completely underestimated the impact that these headphones-- particularly their wire cutting endeavor-- would have on my day to day operation. The time I spend listening to rocking tunes, podcast, or audio books through activities increased dramatically via the sheer accessibility of the headphones. A few hours of charging every other night is a small price to pay to be untied to an audio device. The sound quality is as good as I could hope for for a pair of in-ear headphones. As unfair as it is to compare any in-ear to studio monitors, these do quite well. Whatever the hype inducing name of that Bluetooth audio decompression tech that Jaybird kept spouting is, it seems to work well.  The sounds are nicely balanced and clear. For someone who is concerned with comfort, the variety of earpieces and ear cushions which not only keep the buds in but feel like a nice little hug for your ear.

What are you doing still reading reviews? Give your ears some love.
2868188
I have the remixes as well as the  "from Sleep" release. I am hugely into ambient musics, though for sleep, I prefer white noise or some type of droning repetitiveness, This is actually just monotonous enough to do the trick, however, I agree--when using to sleep have the volume set to just audible, otherwise you will probably pay more attention to the music than you will about falling asleep. You have to kind of treat it as though it were your own sub-conscious. Nevertheless, having it playing in the background during the day will certainly help to de-stress you. That said, it's a phenomenal piece of work and I can appreciate the time it took to create such a seamless and lengthy recording. By the way, I really don't notice the spaces/gaps between the songs. Perhaps it is just the way my media player reads the data. I use the Music Bee media player and if you haven't tried it you should. All the same--sounds great to me.