Ratings: 5/5
Price: $255
The
midrange is particularly expressive, with the vocals singing out loud, proud
and emotive
We reckon that when Harman-Kardon was thinking about its first foray in to the
headphone market it probably took a thorough look at B&W’s range. Like,
B&W, Harman went for portable on-ears with sophisticated styling and a
serious, hi-fi-like sound. If we were to cut to the chase we’d say that these
can’t quite match the B&W P3s, but they’re certainly close enough that you
should give them a listen before spending any cash.
Like most headphones, the Harmans sound
best once given a little running-in time, but even straight from the box they sound
impressive, with a great sense of clarity and openness.
The midrange is particularly expressive,
with the vocals on The Gaslight Anthem’s anthemic Handwritten singing
out loud, proud and emotive. Switch to something bassier, such as old favourite
Fight With Tools by Flobots and there’s very decent weight and body
given to the low frequencies underpinning the action, even if the dynamic
shifts and subtleties aren’t conveyed here quite as well as they are when
listened to through the Harman’s most potent rivals at the price.
Still, with their comfortable fit on the
head and ears, good inline mic and decent noise-isolation, the CLs remain an
interesting option for those looking for a premium pair of portable on-ear
headphones.
Best for cutting-edge tech – Sony XBA-4iP
Ratings: 5/5
Price: $412.5
Sony
has managed to combine four such drivers into a single enclosure
As huge and
successful as Sony might be, we’ve rarely been very impressed with its
headphones. Of course, like everyone else, the company has watched the
inexorable rise in popularity of the sector, and has clearly re-doubled its
efforts with a whole new range of in-ears.
What makes the XBA-4iPs so interesting is
that they use balanced armatures; a floating transducer that’s capable of
greater efficiency and (theoretically) better sound. It’s the ‘in’ thing in
headphone design these days, and here Sony has managed to combine four such
drivers into a single enclosure.
So, in each earphone you have a tweeter, a
full-range driver and two woofers, and while that results in a rather chunky
design, these are surprisingly comfortable and secure in the ears. On top of
that, they sound absolutely fantastic. Play the dance-tastic Ether Drift
from Com Truise and you’re treated to supremely crisp, sparkly treble, clear,
attacking midrange and a rock-solid bottom-end, all delivered with exceptional
verve and gusto. The directness makes it feel like a truly private, personal
performance, and the amount of details is truly stunning.
If you’ve got the cash and are serious
about portable audio you have to hear these earphones – just avoid those
low-res tracks: that treble can be baited into brightness by weak material.
Best for the stylishly eccentric – Audio-Technica ATH-ES88
Ratings: 4/5
Price: $330
The
sound the ES88s produce is of the warm and weighty variety
As far as
Audio-Technica is concerned this is an ‘ear suit’ rather than a pair of
headphones. Yep, that’s what we thought too. And over-flamboyant descriptions
are not the only weirdness of the ATH-ES88s, which also eschew the traditional
adjustable headband in favour of a fit reliant on pivoting earcups alone. They
feel a little less grippy than some, but you will get used to them.
It’s worth persevering, too, as the sound
the ES88s produce is of the warm and weighty variety. Play Alt-J’s fabulous Breezeblocks
and the bass displays a nice balance between poise and attack, the midrange
proves to be punchy and nuanced, while the treble is composed and balanced,
even when you’re listening at deafness-baiting volumes.
There are flaws – that minimal but
nevertheless significant bottom-heavy quality means there’s a slight lack of
agility to the sound, and the ES88s don’t quite have the dynamic subtlety to
fully describe the leading and trailing edges of notes. In the over-$300 price
bracket, that becomes a bit of an issue. Those niggles are enough to deny these
‘phones a five-star rating, but they remain an undeniably likeable listen, and
the quirky design should win them plenty of fans too.
Best for refinement and comfort – Philips Fidelio L1
Ratings: 4/5
Price: $345
The
L1s conjure a sound tonal balance, yet offer enough bite, insight and bass
power
Attack, excitement and punch all things to be praised in headphone (and general audio)
design, But what about comfort and refinement? Both things you might well
demand when paying over $300 for a pair of over-ears, and two things these
Philips Fidelio L1s deliver.
Lovingly crafted and comfy to wear, the L1s
conjure a sound with a smooth tonal balance, free of brashness yet still with
enough bite, insight and bass power to deliver with even rough recordings such
as Ellie Goulding’s Under The Sheets.
Hefty dynamic shifts could be stronger,
true, and they don’t time quite as effectively as the very best, but the
semi-open design makes them more practical than the likes of the Grado SR325is
and the refined delivery makes them a must-audition proposition.
Best for putting you in control – Sennheiser IE 80
Ratings: 5/5
Price: $330
These
neats in-ears allow the user to adjust the amount of bass coming through each
ear
In-ear headphones tend not to be the most tweakable of audio products, but the
Sennheiser IE 80s are here to change all that. Using the little tool that comes
in the box you can turn a screw on each earphone to adjust the amount of bass
they pump out. Turn it clockwise for more, anti-clockwise for less.
Of course, personal taste comes into this a
great deal, but for us a quarter-turn clockwise produces the by far the best
overall balance. Much more than that and the bass can be a little overwhelming,
but less and the headphones can sound a bit thin and lightweight. With that
quarter-turn dialed-in, though, you get bass that’s chunky and powerful, but
also controlled and – crucially – smoothly integrated with the rest of the
tonal range. And don’t go thinking it’ll be fun to set each earphone to
opposite ends of the bass spectrum – you’ll be walking wonky for days.
Of course, you expect more than just a
strong bass response if you’re spending over $300 on the pair of in-ear, but
thankfully the Sennheisers deliver all-round. Give Alabama Shakes’ I Found You
a listen and they dig-up all of the detail in the unashamedly low-fi analogue
recording. The zingy guitars and punchy drums are present and clear, while the
natural, soulful vocals shine through in charming style.
Beyond the sound the design also wins
plaudits. Build quality is excellent, styling refined, and the bundled ear
hooks are very useful for reducing cable noise and providing a more convincing
fit. The clever, solid carry case seals the deal. Only iPhone users need be
disappointed, as there’s no inline mic or remote, but the previous model gained
an iDevice version soon after launch, and we’ve no reason to think the same
won’t happen here.
