No doubt, if you’re reading this, you own at least 1 pair of stylish headphones. I personally own 5 different pairs and am still collecting. I like having a pair for every occasion. I dabble in music production so my favorite pair is the Shure 840, Professional Studio Monitoring headphones. For travel, I prefer the more urban style, lower end, WeSC Oboe in White. I also use a Black pair these at work. I currently need a pair for sleeping, when I just cant get enough music. The Incase Audio line looks super comfy for dreams in 4/4 time.
Here is my dream collection of headphones.
- Harman Kardon – BT, $250
Who needs cords? These headphones don’t because they connect via blue tooth to your devices. Obviously these won’t work in all scenarios, but eliminating the cord definitely makes the BT from Harmon Kardon a great tool for mixing and multitasking.
Features
Collapsible
Apple Compatible via Blue ToothTech Specs
Response: 16Hz – 20kHz
Cable: 4′ 7-1/8″ (1.4m)
Driver System: 1-5/8″ (40mm) - Marshall – Major FX, $130
The legendary amp maker has diversified to making headphones. The look is really tight. Marshall done such a good job positioning themselves, I can’t wait to get a pair.
Features
Collapsible
Apple Certified with mic and remote
1/4″ adapter includedTech Specs
Transducer: 40MM MOVING COIL DYNAMIC SPEAKER
Impedance: 32 ? ± 15% AT 1kHz
Sensitivity 121 ± 3dB AT 1kHz 1mW (SINGLE SPEAKER)
Frequency Repsonse: 20 ~ 20kHz
Rated Input Power: 15mW
Maximum Input Power: 20mW - WeSC x RZA– Premium, $275Its the RZA! The Chambers by RZA Premium in white look really clean but would definitely limit my usage. I’d like to get these in the studio in hopes that they make me half as razor sharp as RZA.
Features
Active noise cancellation
Power lever led indicator
Music sharing function.
Adjustable headband and molded ear cushions for high level of comfort
Collapsible
Twin plug airline system adapter to plug into in-flight entertainmentTech Specs
Frequency Range: 20 – 20.000 Hz
Type: 40mm power drivers
Active noise cancellation performance: nr up to 18 dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Frequency range: 20 – 20,000Hz
1kHz sensitivity: 110dB AT 1kHz 1mW
maximum output power: 34mW - Bowers and Wilkins – P5, $299
The website description boasts Natural Sound for these price headphones. Some people like a lot of bass or even treble in their music. I like to leave that up to the sound engineers. The headphones are great for hearing a record as it was intended to be heard. It also nice to have a pair of headphones in the studio that wont add a couple of notches of bass to your track.
Features
Collapsible
Apple Compatible with remote
Noise isolationTech Specs
Frequency range 10Hz to 20kHz
Left/right tolerance +/-1dB at 1kHz
Max. input power 50mW
Distortion @100dB I25<0.05% for 80-20kHz <0.2% for 20-20kHz
Sensitivity 115dB/V at 1kHz - Sennheiser– HD 558, $180
Solid studio quality headphones featuring the Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement (E.A.R.) technology which simulates sitting in front of a hi-fi speakes in stereo without having to worry about the expense or space. Like I said, solid studio monitoring headphones.
Features
Internal Sound Reflector
Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement (E.A.R.) technology
Twist-n-lock single sided cable
Advanced Duofol diaphragm technology
Extremely fast rest/response time
Optimized for home hi-fi equipment and home entertainmentTech Specs
Frequency response 15-28,000 Hz
Wearing style Around-the-ear
Impedance 50 ohms - Incase– Reflex, $80Add the Reflex for comfort. I could see using these on a long plane ride across the country. Incase is so good a protecting all of my Apple products, why wouldn’t I trust them with my dome piece. I wouldn’t say the Incase Audio line is the most stylish, but they appear to have made comfort their #1 goal.
- Nixon – Micro Blaster In-Ear Headphone with 3-Button Mic Nixon, $100
Nixon’s a 4 year vet to the headphone game. I got in early and paid way to much for a first generation pair of buds. The sound quality has always been great, but hopefully they’ve mastered the product design.
- Sennheiser x Adidas – Sport Earbuds OMX 680, $49
When the sound quality experts, Sennheiser and the sport outfitter, Adidas team up, you know you’re going to get a superior headphone meant for sport. That is exactly what you get with this line of Sport Earbuds.
- Incase– Capsule, $50
These are just a good looking pair of earbuds for use in the office or whenever you want to keep a low profile.
- Bedphones, $20
The price inlcludes a free app that will shut your music off when you actually fall asleep. For $20 and these penny sized headphones are worth checking out.
