EDGAR‘s pick of the best high-end headphones.
They might have made him the first billionaire of hip-hop, but any audiophile worth his salt will know that Dr Dre’s Beats headphones aren’t actually that good when it comes to sound quality, comfort and value for money. And, let’s face it, they’re pretty ugly-looking too!
Here are five alternatives that might cost you a little bit more, but will improve your audio experience beyond all measure:
Design: Lambskin-clad memory foam ear pads and a sun-polished and anodised aluminium headband make these headphones truly luxurious.
Sound: Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX codec delivers uncompromising, crystal-clear sound wirelessly from your chosen device.
In the pack: Headphones, audio cable, micro USB cable for charging, flight adapter, carry pouch.
Price: AED 1,840.
Why buy them: They’re super-comfortable, beautiful to look at, have excellent sound quality and also feature futuristic wireless motion controls, enabling you to perform a range of functions, from pausing and playing to accepting and rejecting calls, without taking your device out of your pocket.
Details: visit beoplay.com
Bowers & Wilkins P7
Design: While the giant over-ear pads may seem like they’d hinder portability, clever hinges enable them to fold inward to form a compact easy-to-carry shape.
Sound: A 10Hz to 20kHz frequency range and distortion of less than 0.3 percent ensures that both top- and bottom-range sounds are clear and crisp.
In the pack: Headphones, two tangle-free audio cables and a clutch case.
Price: AED 1,470.
Why buy them: The P7s borrow technology from the traditional speaker design the brand is famous for, making them excellent carriers of sound.
Details: visit bowers-wilkins.net
Design: Minimalist, plain design, although for an extra AED 367 you can customise your set in any colour combination you like.
Sound: Excellent noise-cancellation powered by just a single AAA battery, and the actual audio quality competes with some of the best in the business too.
In the pack: Headphones, airline adapter, carry case, AAA better, inline remote and microphone cable
Price: AED 1,100.
Why buy them: When you buy Bose you know exactly what you’re getting: high-quality product at a reasonable price.
Details: visit bose.com
Design: Each pair of Troubadours is individually handcrafted from real wood, meaning no two pairs are the same.
Sound: With a frequency response of 18Hz- 22Khz and the capacity for a maximum input power of 50mW, the Troubadours highlight top-range sounds, yet still pack enough of a punch to keep even the most bass-hungry person happy.
In the pack: Headphones, audio cable, drawstring carry bag.
Price: AED 550.
Why buy them: Not only do they look and sound awesome, but for every purchase, LSTN helps restore hearing to a person in need through the Starkey Hearing Foundation – so far they’ve helped more than 19,000 people hear in the U.S., Peru, Kenya, Uganda, China and Sri Lanka.
Details: visit lstnheadphones.com
Design: Simple black and chrome design with plush padding for exceptional comfort.
Sound: The PM-1s use fancy planar magnetic technology, which is basically a whole new way of delivering sound that’s found in very few sets of headphones, therefore the quality is absolutely flawless.
In the pack: Headphones, wooden storage box, carrying case, audio cables, two pairs of lambskin leather ear pads and one set of velour ear pads
Price: AED 4,040.
Why buy them: These are a serious set of headphones with a massive sound capability that lives up to the sky-high price tag.
Details: visit oppodigital.com
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