audiosplitz

Klipsch's New Reference X-series

November 21, 2015

Master & Dynamic MW60 Over Ear - First Glimpse

November 15, 2015

Master & Dynamic make their grand entry into the wireless headphone segment. Launched in NYC to a fanfare of helicopter rides to the media to showcase its noise isolation capabilities, 5 Nov saw the unveiling of the MW60 Wireless Over Ear Headphones.

Master & Dynamic MW60 Over Ear Headphones - Launched on 5 Nov 2015

What's The Deal?

Let's break it down for simplicity.

1. Design
Similar to our experience of MH30 On Ear, the headphones are forged by a combination of lambskin, premium cowhide and stainless steel. This adds up to a hefty 345g but give a distinct touch of class to the MW60 Over Ear Headphones. If you think the design is a case of déjà vu, most likely you've seen its wired sibling, the MH40, which interestingly is heavier at 360g.

Master & Dynamic MW60 Over Ear Headphones - Fashion shot

2. High-fidelity Sound
Powered by 45mm neodymium drivers, the MW60 uses the aptX codec which promises CD-quality sound over Bluetooth. What this means is you need to play a high quality source such as streaming from Tidal Hi-Fi or use ALAC files to appreciate the audio. Promising 'rich, warm sound', we are keen to take this unit for a spin to find if it delivers.

3. Battery Life
Master & Dynamic leverages on Bluetooth 4.1, using a low energy protocol which theoretically promises a better battery life. At 15-16 hours of power, this is a decent number.

4. Multi-Point Connection
The MW 60 Over Ear can connect up to two devices simultaneously such as your mobile phone and a tablet. This gives a smooth transition when taking calls and switching back to viewing movies.

M&D MW60 - Foldable hinges for compact storage

5. Signal Reception
Its all exposed aluminum antenna on the left ear cup gives the potential of 'best-in-class signal range' boasting 4 times the industry average. Again, these are technical specs and we'll have to test these to see how this works for voice clarity and continuous music flow over wireless.

Master & Dynamic MW60 - Right earcup's playback controls

Pricing
At USD 549 (approx SGD 780), plainly put, these aren't the most affordable headphones out there. However, Master & Dynamic sure know how to create the need. The experience promised could be well worth the money you dish out.

M&D MW60 - Silver Metal / Brown Leather variant

Availability
The launch colors come in two variants - Gunmetal / Black Leather and Silver Metal / Brown Leather.

Master & Dynamic MW60 Over Ear Headphones - Premium materials

They are available for pre-order worldwide on the Master & Dynamic website and they mention on their website they will ship the unit by 1719 November.

Headphones

Klipsch Reference R6i On-Ear - Bang for the Buck

November 12, 2015

Klipsch, the Indianapolis-based company, are a well established audio manufacturer in the in-ear earphones category. Wired on-ear headphones are another matter altogether with a lesser but growing emphasis. Earlier in 2015, we saw the introduction of the Reference On-Ear.

In late September 2015, Klipsch launched the Reference R6i On-Ear (SGD 199), a wired unit targeted at iOS users that builds on the momentum of its predecessor.

Design
Let's look at the unboxing process.

To get the box open, we cut the transparent seals and lift up the flap at the bottom. Sliding out the cardboard interior reveals the headphones proper and that's basically it.

The very straightforward no-frills packaging contents include:
- Headphones
- Carrying pouch
- Quick start guide

On taking out the Reference R6i On-Ear headphones, we can say that they are featherweight. It clocks in at 160g and is way lighter than other wired on-ears like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 2.0 On-Ear (190g) we are currently testing and the Master & Dynamic MH30 (260g).

To be absolutely frank, I was a little skeptical before taking out these headphones to test as the 'Reference' label is something that audiophiles take quite seriously. The new Reference R6i On-Ear is debatably as good as its predecessor given its price - more style, more comfort and is actually more affordable. As for sound, more on this below.

While the material used is less premium than its predecessor, Klipsch made good use of what was available. The outer ear cups are made of aluminum-like material and the headband is made of a rubberized matte finish.

To store the unit, just swivel the ear cups 90 degrees to compact the headphones before stashing it inside the carrying pouch.

Features
The audio cables hang on both the left and right ear cups and link up at the Y-connector where the in-line remote resides. We're not sure why they chose non-removable cables and why there are two points of cabled contact with the ear cups where usually one is more convenient as it reduces cable tangle. When you move your head around, you may hear the some plastic rustling, which is actually the rather loose cable point of contact with the ear cups.

At the other end of the audio cable, the vertical 3.5mm jack will connect to your audio device. However, the connection feels rather loose and may disconnect intermittently, a rather big niggling point if you are on the move very often.

The in-line remote contains the usual 3 buttons for playback - two for volume adjustment and the center for multi-function purposes. Oh, and they are configured for iOS users (sorry Android folks).

The ear cups are replaceable. However, they are not for sale but if they are defective, they can be exchanged if the unit is still under warranty.

Update (22 Nov 2015)
Tat Chuan Acoustic informed that the ear cups are actually available at SGD 40 for a pair.

Performance
This is probably one of the most comfortable on-ear headphones I've tested. The elliptical shape of the cups provides a decent breathing space for your ears and comes very close to being a full over-ears design. It also helps that the underlying material is made of memory foam.

On to audio quality. John Murphy's signature In the House-In A Heartbeat was delightfully ominous with the bass buildup. On the other hand, Tove Lo's vocals in her angsty Moments were somewhat squeezed out by the power of the underlying bass.

The 'Reference' label may not be so appropriate for this unit as it implies a very neutral sound that neither overemphasizes the treble or the bass. I felt this was a very bass-tuned pair of headphones. The clarity was not at the crystal level of its predecessor, the Reference On-Ear, but the bass delivered a greater depth and punch, providing a pretty satisfying aural experience.

The noise isolation was tested during a bus commute and the result was unexpectedly poor as ambient sounds could easily heard through the music playback.

Overall
The Klipsch Reference R6i On-Ear is a very good pair of headphones at its price point. Looking beyond the potentially loose point of contact with your source device, all its plus points like the comfort level, light weight, bass level and one year warranty (with one-to-one exchange) make this a very enticing proposition for folks on the move.

Audio Sources
In The House-In A Heartbeat (28 Days Later OST) - John Murphy (Spotify 320kbps MP3) on iPad Air
Moments - Tove Lo (Tidal 1411kbps FLAC) on Samsung Galaxy S4

Credit to Tat Chuan Acoustic for a review unit.

aptX

B&O BeoPlay H7 - First Glimpse

November 09, 2015

In mid Oct 2015, Bang & Olufsen launched the BeoPlay H7, a pair of wireless over-ears. They combine the over-ears comfort of the BeoPlay H6 and run on Bluetooth wireless technology of the BeoPlay H8.

What's the Big Deal?

1. Sound
Bang & Olufsen claims that the BeoPlay H7 allows you to 'enjoy the acclaimed B&O Signature Sound' regardless whether in wireless or corded mode. Leveraging on the recent Bluetooth 4.1 standard, they support high-fidelity sound via the aptX codec. However unlike the H8, there is no active noise canceling functionality.

2. Touch Controls
Similar to its on-ears sibling, the BeoPlay H8, the playback and volume controls lie on the aluminum surface of the right ear cup. Just swivel your finger clockwise to increase the volume and tap to change tracks. If it works like what we tried on the H8, you should be able to navigate songs without much issue. It is claimed to work 'even when wearing gloves'.

3. Battery Life
The BeoPlay H7 can last a good 20 hours of music playback after a 2.5 hour charge on the replaceable 770mAh Lithium Ion battery. Apparently, there's a also a useful battery-saving function that kicks in after 15 minutes of non-usage.

4. Design
At 280g, these over-ears are just a tad heavier than the 255g on-ears H8. As per many of B&O's headphones, the industrial design is Jakob Wagner's and materials such as cowhide leather (for the headband) and soft lambskin (for ear cups) are used.

Pricing

According to the Bang & Olufsen site, the H7 retails for EUR 449 / USD 449. We are currently checking on the Singapore pricing.

Availability
The two color variations available (for now) are Black and Natural.
According to their website, they are available from 15 October 2015 at B&O stores and selected design and department outlets worldwide. We shall check on the status in Singapore.

Where To Buy
If you like the product, do support me by purchasing through Amazon via these affiliate links - BeoPlay H7 Black / Natural / Cenere Gray / Cocoa Brown. They start from USD 396.

Update (9 Nov 2015)
Bang & Olufsen (SEA) confirmed that the price is set at SGD 649 and is available at the B&O Showroom at Grand Hyatt.

Update (30 Dec 2015)
The BeoPlay H7 is also available in Apple Premium Resellers, Challenger, Digital Style, Newstead, Sprint-Cass, Stereo, AV One, ConnectIT and Tangs.

Bluetooth

Bose SoundLink on-ear Bluetooth - Top Notch Performer

November 05, 2015

You will either love or hate the design of the white-based Bose SoundLink on-ear Bluetooth headphones. If the color-hue turns you off, no worries as the more classic black model is readily available. While this SGD 379 unit has been on retail shelves for a year, let's see how well it fares to recent on-ears.

Design
Usually, we'll check out the unboxing process with a visual breakdown. In this case, the box and its contents weren't in the best shape for us to give the product due credit.

What we can say is that the packaging contents should include:
- Bose headphones
- Carrying case
- USB charging cable
- Audio cable

Let's dive in to look at the Bose SoundLink on-ear Bluetooth (affectionately known as Bose OE SoundLink). As you may have guessed from the photos, we received the black model.

On taking out the headphones, we can say the Bose is comfortably light at 153g. Looking at other Bluetooth on-ears, this is comparable to the equally lightweight Jabra Move Wireless (150g) and way lower than the Beats Solo 2 Wireless (215g).

The industrial design of the new generation of Bose headphones comes with a signature thick headband and minimalist exterior ear cup design. They look like a cross between the QuietComfort 25 (QC25) and the new AE2 SoundLink.

There are massive 'L' and 'R' markings to make sure you damn well know the correct way to put on the OE SoundLink. The unit includes a two-way hinge design where the first allows you fold the ear cups inward for very compact storage and the second rotates horizontally to meet a suitable angle for your ears.

When zipped up, the solidly built carrying pouch does its job in protecting its contents. When opened up, you get a pouch to store the USB and audio cables. When placing the headphones within, there is a practical flap to prevent abrasion between the two ear cups.

Features
While there no touch controls, the tactile buttons that allow playback and volume adjustment are found under the right earcup and are easily accessible with your right hand. Pressing the center button twice skips to the next track and thrice will jump to the previous song.

Bluetooth pairing is a breeze. Simply flip, hold the switch on the right ear cup upward to start and the Bluetooth logo will flash blue. On your device, scan and select 'Bose OE SoundLink' to complete the process and the logo changes to a constant white. The headphones can connect to two devices via Bluetooth at the same time, a convenient feature when I was toggling between my Galaxy S4 and iPad Air.

Do note that aptX, that delivers a higher fidelity sound over Bluetooth with compatible devices, is not supported. If you are an audiophile, this may cause some consternation but to the majority, it's not a showstopper as you will find out as you read further.

The voice prompts were very useful and customizable. In one example, the female voice tells you when it's 'Ready To Pair'. When you power the unit, she will tell you what is the battery level left. The prompts can be switched off by holding the volume buttons and other languages can be selected by holding the volume up and center buttons.

For a wired connection, there's a blue audio cable (without in-line remote) that plugs to the headphones (via a 2.5mm port) and to your source device (3.5mm jack).

The ear cups are replaceable, a big plus should you want to use these headphones for the long run.

Performance
If there's one thing that makes the Bose stand out, that would be the sound quality. A audio quality comparison with other on-ears like the Beats Solo2 Wireless (SGD 499) and B&O BeoPlay H8 (SGD 699) gave favorable results that reinforced our notion that the Bose ranks right up there despite its lower pricing.

The instrumentation on Joe Hisaishi's classical The Girl Who Fell From The Sky is distinct and the bass buildup is able to complement well. Avicii's house vs folk-themed The Nights shows off the headphones ability to pull off a good balance between the punchy bass and Nicholas Furlong's accompanying vocals. That said, bass heads may not get their kick if they commute on a regular basis as the bass can be overwhelmed by ambient sound (such as chatter and bus engine roars).

In terms of comfort, this is probably one of the best in the on-ears category that I've tried. The clamping force does enough to keep the headphones in place without placing excessive force on the ears. The ear cups press flat on the ears but they are pillowy thanks to the underlying memory foam and even with glasses, I could keep the OE SoundLink in excess of an hour without much discomfort.

Noise isolation is not fantastic but it does remove a minimal layer of sound. When used in a silent room, you will get a faint humming at the right side due to the Bluetooth module but this becomes completely insignificant when traveling.

For a 3 hour full charge, you get a respectable 15 hours of music playback, a very decent number when compared to the Jabra Move Wireless (8 hours) and Beats Solo2 Wireless (12 hours). The power indicator will blink amber to show it is charging. During usage, green shows a healthy battery life while amber and red should tell you that charging at the soonest is a wise decision.

Overall
If there's a pair of wireless on-ears to buy, this is probably it. The comfort afforded along with the well balanced audio output and complex feature set made simple propel the Bose SoundLink on-ear Bluetooth headphones to be an excellent choice for an on-ear.

Audio Sources
The Nights - Avicii (Tidal 1411kbps FLAC) on Samsung Galaxy S4
The Girl Who Fell From The Sky (Laputa: Castle In The Sky OST) - Joe Hisaishi (320kbps) on Samsung Galaxy S4

Credit to Atlas and Affluence PR for a review unit.