GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL ...............FOR YOUR EARS ONLY

GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL FOR YOUR EARS ONLY





Do you consider yourself an audiophile? Have you always ripped your music at the highest bit rate possible? Do you prefer listening to lossless FLAC files over the lossy MP3 format? Are you the person that your friends turn to for new music?
Do you spend a lot of money on a music player, but settle for cheap earphones and headphones? If you answered “Yes“ to even one of these questions, you need to consider an upgrade. Luckily , for you, we have tested some of the newest and best mid-range models that money can buy...

SENNHEISER HD 518

Specs: Circum-aural | 14Hz­26kHz | 50 ohms he HD 518 are a good pair of headphones for movie watching, and are capable of a theatre-like sound. Given that these come with a longer cable, an impedance of 50 ohms and 6.3mm audio jack, you can also use them with your home audio systems for personalized audio listening. On the flip side, the higher impedance also means that these cans will not sound as loud when used with low-powered MP3 players and smartphones.In the box: 3m detachable cable; 3.5mm converter

SENNHEISER HD 598

Specs: Circum-aural | 12Hz­38kHz | 50 ohms Y ou would think the HD 518 sound great for movie watching, till you try out the HD 598. These headphones ­ arguably the best for home listening in this price range ­ are capable of an even cleaner sound with a deep bass, crystal-clear mid-range, and good highs.

Also, since these headphones ­ like its sibling the HD 518 ­ do not come with a foldable design or a carry case, they are not exactly travel friendly. That said, the HD 598 is a premium headset that come with velour ear cups that are comfortable to wear over long periods.In the box: 3m detachable cable; 3.5mm converter

AKG K167 TIESTO

Specs: Circum-aural | 10Hz­27kHz | 32 ohms T he K167 ­ designed in collaboration with DJ Tiesto ­ is an out-and-out `mix-master' headphone that ­ is an out-and-out `mix-maste comes with an attached 1.2m coiled cable, stretchable up to 5.5m, and rotating cups for single-ear use. Its lower impen dence than the Sennheisers mean that they can't be used with as wide a range of audio equipment, but they will still work superbly to spin tables, and equally well with MP3 players and smartphones. What you also get `16,813 is a sturdy metal headband, a glass fibre-polymer body , and a 3D-axis folding mechanism that makes them travel friendly . The soundscape may not be as nuanced as the HD 598, but it still packs in the right amount of bass and mid-level punch to qualify for audiophile grade.

PLANTRONICS BACKBEAT PRO

Specs: Circum-aural | Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | Bluetooth | 20Hz­20kHz | 32 ohms | li-ion battery T he BackBeat Pro's ANC drowns out external sounds in crowded environs, so you can still hear your music at a low volume. What you also get is Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC) for `14,990 wireless pairing, a built-in mic for hands free calls, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that powers it for up to 24 hours on a full charge.

On the right ear cup, the headset carries controls for volume and to answer calls when it's paired with your phone. While on the left ear cup, it has a toggle to change tracks as well as a playpause button.

Additionally , it automatically pauses your music when you take it off your ears. Wear it again, and playback resumes. Now while wire-free phone calls work well in silent environs, the sound quality transmitted from its microphone seems patchy . But use it with its included cable and call quality improves considerably . Most importantly , it is capable of surprisingly good audio reproduction with thumping bass, clear mid-tones and highs, making it an all-round headset that looks as good as it sounds.In the box: Detachable cable with mic; USB charging cable; carry pouch

V-MODA XS

Specs: Supra-aural| 5Hz­30kHz | 28.5 ohms T he V-Moda XS is a compact, foldable headset ­ complete with a metal headband and a Kevlar-reinforced detachable cable ­ that's built to pass MIL-810G `14,990 military-grade standards. What you get are a durable pair of phones that can withstand more than a few drops, and a cable than can take more than its fair share of bends. But that's not all. These deceptively-small earmuffs are capable of big sound, complete with rumbling lows, clear mid-tones and distinct highs. Additionally , an inline microphone also lets you take handsfree calls when connected to your handset. If you're looking for an ultra-portable headphone that promises audio-fidelity , put your money on the V-Moda XS.In the box: Detachable single-button cable with mic; hard carry case with carabiner

JBL SYNCHROS S300A

Specs: Supra-aural | 10Hz­22kHz | 32 ohms T he Synchros S300a is a good set that's capable of warm, clear sound. Its only problem is that the V-Moda XS does it slightly better. Still, these are perfect if `12,990 you're looking for foldable audiophile headphones ­ with a bendable metal headband ­ that also allow for hands-free calls. The mic on the S300a's cable is closer to the mouth when worn and therefore allows for better voice calls.Also, the S300a, comes with volume control on its cable for when connected to your smartphone.In the box: Detachable 3-button cable with mic; carry case

AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50X

Specs: Circum-aural | 15Hz­28kHz | 38 ohms W hatever the K167 Tiesto does, the ATH-M50x does better. The sound from these over-the-ear DJ cans is nuanced and boasts of a rumbling bass, sharp mids, and clearer highs. In fact, these headphones even work well for acoustic instrument sounds.

Like the K167, this sturdily-built model comes with a metal band, and swivelling ear cups. What you also get in the box is a 3m coiled and a 3m straight detachable cable for studio use; a shorter `13,499 1.2m line for portable playback, as well as a 6.3mm audio converter for consoles and hi-fi systems.In the box: 3m coiled cable; 3m straight cable; 1.2m portable cable; 6.3mm converter; carry pouch

BOSE SOUNDTRUE

Specs: Choice between supraor circum-aural | frequency response not disclosed | 32 ohms B ose is finicky about disclosing the frequency response of its products, but what you get here is an extremely lightweight, durable pair that delivers audio-fidelity on a par with some of the best devices in this review. That is, only if you use it with media players and Apple iPhones. When we tried the SoundTrue with Android handsets, we either got extremely soft playback, or an accompanying echo that made it seem like our music was being played in a cavernous hall. But use it with an iPhone, and it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to audio-quality .

Difference between Supra-aural and Circum-aural

Supra-aural are headphones that sit on top of the ears, while circum-aural models are those with larger cans that cover the ears completely.

What Is Headphone Impedance?

When you look at the specs, you'll notice something known as “impedence“ that is measured in ohms. Simply put, earphones with low impedance ­ 30 ohms and lesser ­ require little power and work well for devices with weak amplification like portable music players and smartphones. On the other hand, headphones with impedance of over 30 ohms require more power for higher audio levels and are better suited for systems with amplifiers and for DJ consoles.

What is Frequency Range?

Humans can generally hear between the 20Hz (hertz) and the 20kHz (kilohertz) range. The lower number indicates the lowest bass sound, while the higher number represents treble.

The wider this range, the better the headphones. It should be noted, however, that most folk can hear about 20Hz at the lower end, while sounds lower than that (vibrations) are generally felt rather than heard.

At the higher end, hearing sensitivity declines with age. So while teenagers can hear up to 20kHz, a person in his 30s can hear up to 16kHz. There are `professional' headphones that boast of a higher range. You don't necessarily need those unless you work in the recordingmusic industry ­ and even then, you would only be able to hear sound in those frequencies if you had `superhuman' hearing.

Savio DSouza

TOI21MAR15