2026 Annual Headphone Shootout Part 2: The IEMs

It’s now time for the second half of our annual Headphone Shootout, the In-Ear-Monitors. We have some great models from some excellent manufacturers. And they came in both wired and wireless. They include the Cleer ARC4, MSRP $99, Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero, MSRP $179, Ultimate Ear UE350, MSRP $399, Alclair UV3, MSRP $399, and Shure SE846, MSRP $989.  We’ll start with the lowest price and work our way up, and see how they do.

 

Cleer may be a fairly newcomer to headphones, but they do have almost 15 years under their belt. They are known for providing innovative features at budget prices. Included is their Cleer ARC4. Following their corporate philosophy, they provide innovative features for a budget price.

 

Features and specs:

General

Weight:  10.8g (per earbud) 76g (both earbuds and case)

Driver:  16.2mm

Driver Frequency Response (Bluetooth):  65Hz-40kHz

Headphone Type:  Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds

Microphones:  2-Mic Qualcomm cVc (Clear Voice Capture)

Inputs:  Bluetooth

Bluetooth

Bluetooth Version:  5.4

Audio Formats:  AptX Adaptive, AptX Lossless, LC3, SBC, AAC

Battery

Battery Life:  Up to 7hrs, In total 32hrs with charging case

Charge Method:  USB-C

Quick Charge:  10min charge provides 2hrs

Features

Dolby Audio, THX Certified, Hi-Res Audio, MultiPoint Connectivity, IPX7 Water and Sweat Resistance, Adaptive Volume Control, Personalization via Cleer+ App

 

The Cleer ARC4 came in a nice color printed box with photos and specs of the in-ear monitor. Opening the box revealed a well-protected IEM, held in place in their charging case. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some silicone and metal. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the manual.

 

I like the design of the Cleer ARC4. It’s a simple around the ear design that is true wireless. This makes them very simple to put on and take off. They also have some great features, such as Dolby Audio, THX-certified, Hi-Res Audio, IPX7 Water resistance, adaptive voice control, and touch controls. There’s even an app that’s used for sound modes, EQ and media playback. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came through very good, snaps and snare drum was dynamic, cymbals and hi-hat was crisp and clean. Kick drum was deep and played with authority. Trumpet was also really clean with very good harmonics. Vocals were silky smooth with good texture of the timbre.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was smoother than honey, acoustic guitar was really crisp and clean with good resolution of the strings. Vocals were really smooth with good texture of the timbre.

Brandon Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats were nice and tight, clean and played with some extension with some authority. When the booty got dropped down low, there was some extended depth, and some authority.

 

Next up is the Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero. Beyerdynamic is a German company that has been making excellent audio products for generations. And they are known for excellent professional headphones. Their Amiron Zero are an open-ear clip design. MSRP is only $179

 

Features and Specs:

Wearing Style:  Open-ear

Operating principle:  Open

Transmission Type:  Wireless via Bluetooth®

Remote:  Without Remote

Battery Runtime:  Up to 6 hours (one charge); Up to 20 hours in total (6+14)

Headphone frequency response:  20 – 20,000 Hz

Range:  Up to 15 m

Supported Bluetooth® Profile:  HFP, A2DP, AVRCP

Bluetooth® version:  5.4

Codecs:  SBC, AAC

Charging Port Type:  USB-C

Article No.:  AMIRON ZERO select option

 

They Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero came in a nice color printed box with photo and specs of the earbuds. Opening the box revealed a well-protected earbud held in place in their charging case. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some silicon and metal. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the charging cable and manual.

 

I like the design of the Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero, they are a simple wireless clip-on design that is really easy to use. And the open design makes it easy to hear your surroundings. They also feature IP54 water resistance. There’s also the Beyerdynamic app, which allows you to customize both the sound through the 5 band EQ or the touchpad controls. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came through good. Snaps and snare drum was dynamic, cymbals and hi-hat were crisp and clean. Kick drum had very good depth and played with good authority. Trumpet was also really clean and played with very good harmonics. Vocals were silky smooth with good texture of the timbre.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was smoother than honey with very good harmonics. Acoustic guitar was really crisp and clean with good resolution of the strings. Vocals were also really smooth with good texture of the timbre.

Brandon Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – Bass beats were nice and tight, clean and played with good authority. And when the booty got dropped down low, the bass beats got even deeper, and played with good authority.

 

Now it’s Alclair’s turn with their Alclair UV3 universal in-ear-monitor. Alclair has been in the hearing industry for over 60 years. And they have been manufacturing custom IEMs for over 15 years. While they mostly tailor to the professional musician market with custom IEM’s, they also have a few universal models. Their UV3 is their top of the line universal.

 

Features and specs:

Three Balanced Armature Drivers

2-Way Crossover

-26dB Noise Reduction

27 Ohm Impedance

105 dB SPL Input Sensitivity (@100mV)

20 Ohm DC Resistance

 

The Alclair UV3 came in a nice color box. Opening the box revealed the well-protected IEM held in place in its hard zipper case. Materials using the construction was mostly plastic. Quality of the materials used, as well as fit and finish, was excellent. Also included were multiple different sized ear tips, and a cleaning tool. There was a QR code on the box to scan for the owner’s manual.

 

I really like the design of the Alclair UV3. It’s a universal IEM, with three balanced armatures. There’s a balanced armature for low, mids, and highs. And I love the clear plastic housing, so you can see all the internal components. And to make sure you get the best fit, there are multiple different sized ear tips. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came through very good, snaps and snare drum was very dynamic. Cymbals and hi-hat were really crisp and clean with good resolution of the impact. Kickdrum had really good low-end extension and played with really good authority. Trumpet was also really clean and played with very good harmonics. Vocals were silky smooth with very good texture of their timber.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was smoother than honey, with excellent harmonics, acoustic guitar was really crisp and clean with excellent resolution of the strings and their decay. Vocals were smooth as well with excellent resolution of the texture of the timber.

Brandon Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats were tight, clean and played with a ton of authority. And when the booty got dropped down low, it was a whole new level. Not only did the low-end extension go really, really deep, it was like an earthquake in my ears.

 

Now it’s time for the Ultimate Ear’s UE350. Ultimate Ears revolutionized the industry 30 years ago by providing custom IEM’s. Today they continue their legacy, with most of their models being custom models. They do offer a few universal models. The UE350 is the top of their universal models.

 

Features and specs:

Type:    Wired

Connectivity:   1/8" plug

Fit Style:            In-ear

Drivers:              3 x BA drivers

Noise Attenuation:       Passive Noise Isolating

Impedance:      13.5 ohms

Frequency Response:  5Hz-22kHz

Sensitivity:        113dB

Detachable Cable:        Yes

Cable Length:  50"

Color:   Clear

Case/Bag:          Soft Case

 

The Ultimate Ears UE350 came in a nice-looking color printed box. Opening the box revealed a well-protected IEM, held in place by custom molded foam. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish was excellent. also included was a hard zipper case, additional sized eartips, cleaning tool and manual.

 

I love the design of the ultimate ears UE350. They feature three balanced armatures: a separate tweeter, mid and woofer, along with a passive crossover network. And the housing is clear, so you can look in and see all of the components. While they are universal to fit anyone, they do come with several different sized eartips so you can get the best fit for you. It’s a great design. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came through very good, snaps and snare drum was very dynamic. Cymbals and hi-hat were very crisp and clean with very good resolution of the impact of the stick and the decay. Kick drum had very good low-end extension, and played with good dynamics and authority. Trumpet was really clean and played with excellent harmonics. Vocals were silky smooth and played with very good texture of the timbre.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistly was smoother than honey with stellar harmonics. Acoustic guitar was extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution and dynamics of the plucking of the strings and their decay. Vocals were also very smooth with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre.

Brandon Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats were tight, clean, and played with good authority. And when the booty got dropped down low, it got even deeper. Not only did they play really deep, they played with even more authority. Oh yeah, it’ll bring a smile to your face.

                                                                                                                                       

Last but not least is the Shure SE846 Gen 2. Having been in business for over 100 years, they have been making headphones for over 80 years. So they have been making excellent headphones for many years. And the SE846 Gen 2 are their top of the line in-ear monitors.

 

Features and specs:

Four high-definition drivers provide high-end clarity and unparalleled low-end performance for a state-of-the-art listening experience. Three-way system for dedicated low, mid and high frequency distribution. Hi-Res certified by the Japan Audio Society.

Groundbreaking low-pass filter provides the deep low-end performance of a true subwoofer - without sacrificing clarity or detail.

Customizable frequency response puts you in control of your audio experience. Select extended, balanced, warm or bright audio through removable nozzles for four unique sound signatures. The extended nozzle insert (default configuration) increases imaging clarity and adds an "airy" quality to the audio. The balanced nozzle enhances clarity and detail, the warm offers additional bass presence, and the bright highlights high frequencies.

Sound Isolating technology blocks up to 37 dB of noise to eliminate distractions. Enjoy the most immersive listening experience with a design that keeps earphones in and noise out during exercise or travel.

Ergonomic low-profile design with optimized nozzle angle ensures long-wearing comfort and fit. Over-the-ear design keeps cables out of the way.

Detachable 3.5 mm cable allows the SE846 Earphones to attach to different cable accessories with an MMCX connection, including the True Wireless Secure Fit Adapter for Bluetooth connection.

Two-year warranty in tandem with durable build quality engineered for a lifetime of use. See what we’re made of and ensure your investment lasts.

Includes SE846 Detachable Sound Isolating Earphones (Gen 2), 3.5 mm straight cable, fit kit with a variety of sleeves for the perfect fit, 1/4” adapter, and a hard carrying case. Also includes a set of Comply™ foam sleeves (XS, S, M, L) for additional sleeve options.

 

The Shure SE846 Gen 2 came in a nice color printed box, with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a well-protected IEM, held in place in custom molded foam. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, is excellent. Also included is a hard carry case, multiple ear tips, ¼” adapter, and unique sound signature nozzles.

 

I love the design of the Shure SE846 Gen 2. It starts with the drivers. You get four balanced armatures in a 3-way design that features a single tweeter, single midrange, and dual woofers. It also incorporates a low-pass filter so you get true subwoofer performance.  With unique nozzles, you can also customize the sound to your liking.  It appears to be a well-designed IEM with game changing features.  Now let’s see how it sounds.

 

Earth, Wind & Fire: September – the texture of the wood block was excellent, snaps and snare drum was very dynamic. Cymbals and hi-hat were extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution of the impact and decay. Kick drum had low-end extension, dynamics, and played with a ton authority. Trumpet was extremely clean and played with excellent harmonics. Vocals were silky smooth with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was smoother than honey, with stellar harmonics that was aural bliss. Acoustic guitar was also extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution of the plucking and decay of the strings. Vocals were also smoother than a Dove bar, with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre

Brandon Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats were tight, clean, and played with a ton of authority. It’ll bring a smile to the face of any basshead like me. But when the booty got dropped down low, it was no joke and definitely sounded like having a subwoofer in your ears! Took things to a whole new level, and it was like an earthquake in my ears. Like the quote from the old 80’s movie, Robocop, “I like it!”

 

As stated in part one of this years annual Headphone Shootout, we also test the Bluetooth range with a torture test. While we have yet to see a headphone not meet the published range, we also like to see what their limits are. So indoors, we test to see how it does between walls on the same floor, as well as between the floors from the basement to the main and second floors. For outdoors, we test it up to 300 feet, now let’s see how they do. The wireless models are the Cleer and Beyerdynamic.

 

Beyerdynamic – no problems in the basement, glitchy on the main floor but useable, a little too glitchy on the 2^nd floor to be usable. Outside a little glitchy at 150 ft, usable to 250 ft.

 

Cleer - no problems at all in the basement. Bluetooth connection a little glitchy on the main floor, but usable. Walking up to the 2^nd floor, it was too glitchy to be useable. Outside it performed great, with a single glitch at 150 feet, bet then usable out to 300 ft.

 

For the Cleer ARC4, I was impressed at its performance at just $99 MSRP. You don’t get quite the resolution, nor the bass performance with it’s floating over the ear design, as compared to other in-ear traditional designed models. Yet I was still impressed with how well it did sound for its design. Sound signature was mostly neutral, and Bluetooth performance was very good.

 

For the Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero, I was also impressed with its performance at only $179 MSRP. Bluetooth performance didn’t do as well as I had hoped, but it still did better than it’s published range. And it’s wrap around your ear design didn’t quite perform as well as the more traditional in-ear design, it still performed very well. And with the speaker being partly in the ear, it did help with its bass performance. Sound signature was mostly neutral.

 

This was our first experience with Alclair, and we were very impressed. Highs were really crisp and clean, mids were nice and smooth, with excellent clarity in all ranges, with an excellent ability to resolve a lot of instruments without getting bottled down. And the bass response was equally impressive with the same level of detail to make any basshead happy. Overall sound signature was neutral. And I loved the amount of accessories they provided.

 

Next up is the Ultimate Ears UE350. They have a long history of providing excellent IEMs. We have also reviewed multiple of their IEM’s in the past, and I’m glad to see they haven’t’ been sitting on their laurels. Highs were really crisp and clean, mids were also nice and smooth, with very good to excellent resolution provided across all ranges. Low end extension in the bass is also excellent: it goes deep. And the bass output is also really good. Overall sound signature feels just a tad on the bright side. They also give you a great amount of accessories.

 

Last but not least, is the Shure SE846 Gen 2. They have a long history of providing excellent headphones. We’ve reviewed several of theirs as well in the past, and they are always impressive. Yet they have managed to empress me and exceed my high expectations. The highs were so crisp and clean, with pleasantly smooth mids, the level of resolution and detail are a new level. And for the bass, oh snap! That in-line filter they figured out, they must have some Keebler elves working some magic, cause it sounds like there’s a subwoofer in there. Guys, when your girl screams, Yes! Yes! YES! ….You know what I’m talking about. Well, it’s a lot like that. They also provided some excellent accessories. And those actual physical nozzles that you can switch out to change the sound signature? Game changer! While the sound signature is neutral, you can change that to your liking with the filters.

 

We had some excellent products again in this years In-Ear model part of the annual Headphone Shootout. No matter your budget, there are some good options. The Cleer ARC4 provides an easy to wear option, that doesn’t break the bank. The Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero is a bit more, but also provides great wireless performance and for the extra money gives even better sound. But if you can stretch the budget a bit more, both Alclair UV3 and Ultimate Ear UE350 provide monitor level performance. Yet if you can stretch the budget even more, the Shure SE846 Gen 2 are something special, giving more custom IEM level performance in a universal model. Based on their design, features, quality and performance. The Cleer ARC4 has earned our Value award. The Beyerdynamic Amiron Zero has earned our Recommended Award, the Alclair UV3 and Ultimate Ears UE350 our Highly Recommended Award, and the Shure SE846 Gen 2 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info check out their websites at www.alclair.com, www.beyerdynamics.com, www.cleer.com, www.shure.com, www.pro.ultimateears.com.

2026 Annual Headphone Shootout The Over The Ear Models

There’s been a lot of hype around men’s basketball, with March Madness in full swing. Which means, it’s also time for our annual Headphone Shootout. But unlike seeding with March Madness, with headphones we have an MSRP. Yet like March Madness, where some teams perform above their assigned seed, some headphones also perform above their MSRP.

 

We divide up our annual Headphone Shootout into two parts: the over the ear models, and the in-ear monitors. This year we’ll be starting with the over the ear models. This year we have some excellent products from some great manufacturers. They comprise of JBL Live 670NC, MSRP $129, Shure SRH840A MSRP $169, Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 MSRP $229, Sony MDR-M1 MSRP $269, and lastly Pioneer HDJ-X10 MSRP $449.

 

Up first is the JBL Live 670NC.  JBL has been in the business of making great audio products for generations. And while not as long, they still have a long history of making great headphones for decades.  They have a wide selection of quality headphones. This year they have included their JBL Live 670NC.

 

 It came shipped in a nice color printed box, with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone, held in place by molded cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal, cloth, and foam. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was an audio cable, charging cable, cloth bag, and owner’s manual.

 

Features and specs:

General Specifications

Driver size (mm): 40

Activity: Leisure

Noise Cancelling: Yes

Noise Cancelling Type: True Adaptive Noise Canceling

Number of Microphones: 2

Audio Specifications

Driver sensitivity at 1kHz/1mW (dB): 98

Dynamic frequency response range: (Hz): 20 Hz - 20 kHz

Impedance (ohms): 32

Dimensions

Audio Cable Length (ft): .7

Audio Cable Length (m): .2

Weight (g): 219

Weight (oz): 7.7

Charging Cable Length (m): .2

Charging Cable Length (ft): .7

Ear Cup External Height (in): 2.7

Ear Cup External Width (in): 2.7

Ear Cup Internal Height (in): 1.1

Ear Cup Internal Width (in): 1.1

Ear Cup Depth (in): .8

Ear Cup External Height (cm): 6.9

Ear Cup External Width (cm): 6.9

Ear Cup Internal Height (cm): 2.7

Ear Cup Internal Width (cm): 2.7

Ear Cup Depth (cm): 1.9

Control and Connection Specifications

Bluetooth version: 5.3

Bluetooth frequency: 2.4 GHz – 2.4835 GHz

Connection: Wireless

Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth

Bluetooth profiles: HFP v1.8, A2DP v1.4, AVRCP v1.6.2

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4-DQPSK, 8-DPSK

Bluetooth transmitter power: ≤ 13 dBm (E.I.R.P)

Battery

Charging time (hours from empty): 3

Maximum music play time with ANC off (hours): 65

Maximum music play time with ANC on (hours): 50

Maximum talk time (hours): 33

Battery Life: 65

Maximum play time (hours): 65

Features

Spatial Sound: Yes

Voice Aware: Yes

True Adaptive Noise Cancelling: Yes

Foldable: Yes

Audio cable: Yes

Speed charge: Yes

Voice Assistant integration: Yes

Ambient Aware: Yes

Built-in Microphone: Yes

Detachable Cable: Yes

Hands Free Call: Yes

JBL Signature Sound: Yes

Multi-Point Connection: Yes

TalkThru: Yes

Wireless: Yes

Charging cable: Yes

Over-ear: No

Rechargable battery: Yes

Bluetooth: Yes

JBL Headphone App: Yes

I really like the design of the JBL Live 670NC. And I love the bang for the buck! While they cut some corners, it’s still a good quality headphone. They also managed to provide some excellent features. Not only do you get 40 mm driver’s that provide the JBL sound, there’s also active noise cancelling, the JBL app, built-in mics for handsfree calls, and Personal-FI 2.0. It’s also built for Alexa and Google.

 

The JBL app is what’s used to control most of the features. There’s an EQ. Here you adjust the sound to your liking. You also can adjust the Active Noise Cancelling settings. There’s off, on, and you also have an ambient mode where you can also hear the surroundings around you. And you also access its additional features such as the Spatial Sound, and Voice Aware.

 

What can also make a big difference, and my favorite, is the Personi-Fi 2.0. Some of us hear better than others, and some of us due to work environment tend to lose some of our hearing. We also tend to lose some of our hearing as we get older. But Personi-Fi 2.0 basically takes us through a hearing test, and can tailor the sound to us. And this can also help your music to sound even better. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came through good, snaps and snare were dynamic, cymbals and hi-hat was crisp and clean, kick drum was deep and played with authority. Trumpets were also really clean with very good harmonics. Vocals were silky smooth with good texture of the timbre.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was smoother than honey. Acoustic guitar was so crisp and clean, with good resolution of the strings. Vocals were really smooth as well with good texture. Soundstage was pleasantly wide with some depth as well

Brandon Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low - Bass beats are nice and tight, clean, and plays with good extension with good authority. But when the booty gets dropped down low, it plays really deep, and has a ton of output. And does so cleanly.

 

Next up is the Shure SRH840A. While known for their professional microphones, Shure also makes other great products for audio professionals. This includes Studio Monitor Headphones. The Shure SRH840A is one of those headphones.

 

Features and Specs:

Precisely tailored frequency response delivers rich bass, clear mid-range and extended highs

Premium, padded headband provides ergonomic fit for superior comfort over extended periods

Closed-back, circumaural design rests comfortably over the ears and reduces background noise

Detachable locking cable securely locks cable into ear cup and enables easy replacement

Matched 40mm dynamic neodymium drivers offer natural and well-balanced frequency response with low distortion

Sleek, durable design looks great on camera and withstands the rigors of everyday wear

Includes additional detachable straight cable, carrying bag, threaded ¼” (6.3 mm) gold-plated adapter and two-year warranty

 

The Shure SRH840A came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone held in place by custom molded cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal, cloth, and foam. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, is very good. Also included was the detachable cable, carry bag, and manual.

 

The Shure SRH840A uses a simple design. It’s a standard corded studio monitor headphone. They keep the cost down by using cloth in the headband and standard foam in the earcups. Yet they still function well. They swivel and fold for easy storage. They are also comfortable to wear, fitting over the ears. I also love the detachable cable. No need to work about them developing a short. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came through very good, snare and snaps were very dynamic, cymbals and hi-hat were really crisp and clean. Kick drum played really deep and with really good authority. Trumpets were also really clean with very good harmonics and dynamics. Vocals were silky smooth, really rich, with very good texture of the timbre. Soundstage was also really good, wide, deep and good spaciousness like you were in the studio.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was smoother than honey with excellent resolution. Acoustic guitar was so crisp and clean with very good resolution of the strings, being able to hear their decay. Vocals were also really smooth with very good resolution of the texture of the timbre. Soundstage was also nice and wide and deep.

Branden Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats are nice and really tight, clean, and plays with really deep extension with a ton of authority. But when the booty gets dropped down low, the bass goes to a whole new level: so deep, so much authority, and does so cleanly.

 

Next up is the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100. They’re a great example of German engineering that have been making great audio products for over 100 years. And they have been making headphones for almost as long. That legacy continues today. Their Aventho 100 is an example of it.

 

Features and specs

Wearing Style: On-ear

Operating principle:    Closed

Transmission Type:      Wireless via Bluetooth®

Remote:            Without Remote

Nominal impedance headphones:      48 ohms

Weight headphones without cable:    220 g

Battery Runtime:          More than 60 hours

Battery runtime with ANC:      Up to 40 hours

Headphone frequency response:         20 – 22,000 Hz

Range: up to 15 m

Supported Bluetooth® Profile:  AVDTP 1.3, AVCTP 1.4, GAVDP 1.3, SPP 1.2, RFCOMM 1.2, A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6.2 HFP 1.9

Bluetooth® version:     5.4

Codecs :  AAC, SBC, aptX™ Lossless, aptX™ Adaptive*

Charging Port Type:     USB-C

 

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 came in a nice colored printed box, with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone held in place by custom molded cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some metal and foam. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish was very good. Also included was the charging cable, audio cable, cloth carry bag, and manual.

 

I love the design of the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100. It’s a Bluetooth headphone that are a more compact on the ear design. They cut some corners to keep cost down such as using leatherette and regular foam in the earcups and headband. But they use the quality materials where they count, such as using metal in the headband and swivel and connecting it to the back of the earcups. One earcup has the connectors for charging cable and audio cable. The earcups also fold in for easy storage, and the earpads are also user replaceable.

 

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 are also very easy to use. Bluetooth makes them simple to use with your smartphone. They even have Active Noise Cancellation. Their app also makes them easy to use. Through the app, you control the ANC, with off, on, as well as ambient mode option. This option let’s you not just hear your music, but by using the built-in mics used for handsfree phone calls, the mics also let you hear your environment around you. It’s a well-made product with excellent features, now let’s see how it sounds.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came though good, snare and snaps were dynamic. Cymbals and hi-hat were really crisp and clean. Kick drums played really deep and with very good authority. Trumpets were also really clean with very good harmonics and dynamics. Vocals were silky smooth with very good texture of the timbre. Soundstage was also nice and big. With some width and depth.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was smoother than honey with very good resolution. Acoustic guitar was so crisp and clean with very good resolution of the strings being able to hear their decay. Vocals were also really smooth with great texture of the timbre. Soundstage was also nice and wide with depth as well.

Branden Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats are nice and tight, clean, and plays with good depth and really good authority. But when the booty gets dropped down low, it gets even better! Bass beats go even deeper, louder, with a ton of authority. And is really clean doing so.

 

Now it’s time for the Sony Professional MDR-MI. Sony does a lot! And this includes Sony Motion Pictures. In speaking to Sony, they needed a true monitor headphone for working on the sound tracks for their films. So the MDR-MI was developed for their professional line.

 

Features and specs:

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES

Headphones cable (Approx. 1.2m/2.5m - Stereo mini plug) Plug adaptor (Stereo standard plug ↔ Stero mini plug) Reference Guide Warranty Card

Size & Weight

Weight: Approx. 216 g (without cable)

General Features

Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 80,000 Hz (JEITA)

Cord Length: Approx. 1.2m/2.5m

Driver Unit: 40 mm

Impedance (Ohm): 50 (omega) at 1kHz

Magnet: Neodymium

Plug: Gold, Stereo Unimatch Plug 1/4" and 1/8"

Sensitivities (dB/mW): 102dB/mW

Wearing Style: Over-ear

Headphone Type: Closed dynamic

Frequency Response (Active Operation): 5 Hz - 80,000 Hz (JEITA)

Input(s): Stereo Standard plug/Stereo mini plug

 

 

The Sony MDR-MI reference closed monitor headphones came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a pair of headphones held securely in place by custom cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal, memory foam, and leatherette for the earcups. Quality of construction as well as fit and finish was excellent. Also included were two detachable cables, a 1/4 “adapter, and the reference guide.

 

I love the background story of the development of the Sony MDR-MI reference closed back headphones. Some work by music mixers/creators was done in the studio at Sony, some was done at their homes. So it was determined there was a need for a modem high resolution closed back headphone that could be used by music creators who needed studio quality monitoring in any environment. And Sony worked closely with top industry engineers in their development to ensure they met the high demand of professional engineers. But not only that, they also allowed the creation of a reference point, which ensured that mixes created with them plugged in accurately into end user systems.

 

Created with high expectations, their design works well. Earcups are easy to adjust to fit the end user. They also fit well over the ears for a comfortable fit, as well as earcup swivel and fold in for easy storage. And what really stuck out to me was just how light they were. Sure they fit well and are very comfortable to wear. But the fact that they are so light, means that you hardly notice them on, which for a professional engineer sitting at a computer working on content creation, this translates into ease of use for long sessions. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came through in spades, dynamics of the snare and snaps were excellent. Cymbals and hi-hat were really crisp and clean being able to hear the decay of the clash. Kick drum was shockingly deep and played with a ton of authority! Trumpets were so clean with excellent dynamics and harmonics that gave me goosebumps. Vocals were so silky smooth with excellent texture of the timbre. Soundstage was huge, deep, wide, and like being in the recording studio.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was so amazingly smooth with excellent resolution. Acoustic guitar was stellar, with its resolution of the strings, being able to hear the pick and their decay with easy. Vocals were also smoother than honey with excellent resolution of the timbre. And again the soundstage was almost as if I was right there in the recording studio.

Branden Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats were so nice! So clean, and plays with such good depth and authority. But when the booty got dropped down low, it was a whole new level! Bass was so deep, and played with such output I thought my earlobes started to vibrate!

 

Last but not least is Pioneer with their HDJ-X10. Pioneer has a long heritage in the DJ market, providing excellent boards/controllers/mixes and they also provide excellent headphones. The Pioneer HDJ-X10 is their top-of-the-line corded headphone. MSRP is a fair $449.

 

Features and specs

Large 50mm Drivers

Frequency Response: 5 Hz to 40 kHz

Remarkable Left and Right Separation

Bass Reflex Chamber for Deep Bass

Polyurethane Earpads with Nano Coating

Nano Coating Resists Deterioration

Durable Metal Construction

Military Standard Shock Resistant

Includes Coiled and Straight Cables

Includes Carrying Case and 1/4" Adapter

 

The Pioneer HDJ-X10 came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone, held in place by custom hard zipper case. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal with some leatherette, foam, and plastic. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish, is excellent. Also included were two detachable cables, one cloth wrapped, a ¼ inch adapter, a cloth hard zipper case, and manual.

 

I love the design of the Pioneer HDJ-X10. The earcups are large and fit entirely over the ears for comfort during long gigs. The earcups not only fold in for easy storage, they also flip out to be able to monitor current song playing as well as working on your board. There is also a lot of metal in the construction for durability. I really love the durable mini-XLR connector for the cable. The pockets in the case include small pockets for memory cards, which can help you separate your songs by genre/gigs is also a nice touch. It’s a great design for DJ’s, now let’s see how it sounds.

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire: September – texture of the wood block came though so well, dynamics of the snaps and snare was excellent. Cymbals and hi-hat was so crisp and clean with enough resolution to hear the sticks impact. Kick drum was extremely deep and played with huge authority. Trumpets were so clean with excellent harmonics. Vocals were so silky smooth with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. Soundstage was also both very wide and deep.

Guns & Roses: Patience – whistle was amazingly smooth with excellent resolution. Acoustic guitar also had excellent resolution of the strings, being able to hear the pick on the strings, as well as their decay. Vocals were also smoother than honey with excellent texture of the timbre. Soundstage was also wide and deep and felt like I was in the recording studio with them.

Branden Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low – bass beats were really nice, really tight, clean, and played with really good depth and a ton of authority. But went the booty got dropped down low, bass beats got so so deep, and played with even more output to the delight of this basshead.

 

Two of the headphones, the JBL and Beyerdynamic, were wireless. In testing wireless performance, we go above and beyond what any headphone will be asked to do. This way you know the limits of their Bluetooth performance. My home is a two story with a finished basement, so three floors. Bluetooth signal going through walls is easy. Between floors is not as easy. Between floors can be a challenge. But add multiple walls and a floor is really challenging. Multiple floors as well as multiple walls can be too much for most. We also take it outside up to 300 feet.

 

First up is the JBL Live 670NC, with my smartphone left in one corner of the basement, there were no glitches wandering around the basement. Walking up to the main floor, there were also no glitches on the main floor. Walking up to the 2^nd floor, and wandering around, just a single glitch. And taking it outside, not a single glitch even at 300 ft! I was extremely surprised! This was one of the best Bluetooth performances we have seen at any price point, let alone their really low $129 price point!

 

Next is the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100. Starting in the corner of the basement, there were no issues roaming the large finished basement. Going up to the main floor, there were a few small glitches, nothing big, and completely usable. But going upstairs to the 2^nd floor, it was too glitchy and not useable. Taking it outdoors, it had a few glitches at around 150 ft, and was usable out to around 250 ft. definitely much better than their advertised 15 meter range.

 

There is also the app. Both the JBL Live 670NC and the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 use an app to access and control their features. For the Beyerdynamic it allows you to see the remaining battery life, control the EQ to customize the sound to your liking, as well as set the Active Noice Cancelling. The ANC has on, as well as ambient mode, so you can also hear what is going on around you. This is great for commuters, and from a safety perspective. It gets rid of that low engine rumble from the tram, bus or air plane, which can be fatiguing. Yet you also have the option to bring in the sounds around you, so if there’s any commotion you are aware of it. The JBL has the same features in their app. But with the JBL app you also get Personi-Fi 2.0, which takes you through a hearing test to customize their sound to you.

 

When it comes to the Active Noise Cancelling, the JBL live 670NC performed very well. It’s all controlled through the app. Once turned on the ANC had additional customizations for Adaptive ANC which adjusts automatically for surrounding noise level, and leakage compensation. You also had options for ambient aware, and talk through. They all worked well, and for pure ANC it cut out about 85% which was good.

 

For the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100, the Active Noise Cancellation was more simple. Once turned on, you have 3 levels of ANC with 3 being max. transparency allows outside sounds in from your environment, and it also has 3 levels, with 3 being max. The ANC and Transparency modes both worked very well. Through transparency mode, I did hear everything around me. With ANC at max, it blocked out around 90%, which is very good.

 

This years over the ear contenders can almost be further divided into two sub-categories, the wireless, and the wired monitors which are tailored for more professional use. With the wireless models, they are a little handicapped when compared to the wired monitors, as a big part of their cost goes into the electronics for the Bluetooth, ANC, and battery charging system. That is what has me so impressed with the JBL Live 67ONC. The Bluetooth performance was steller, with great ANC performance as well, yet they also managed good sound performance as well for such a low price point. With the extra cost of the Beyerdynamic’s Aventho 100, you get slightly elevated sound performance, with better construction that included a lot metal in key areas.

 

With the monitors, you can tell these are made for more professional use. The Shure SRH840A cut some corners, like having a more basic headband and putting the money into the actual driver. But this kept the price down, so it’s a great option for many of you content creators trying to make a name for yourself and need to at the moment keep your costs down. And true to content creating, from a monitor perspective they managed to keep a neutral sound signature.

 

For the Sony MDR-M1, Sony knocked it out of the park! My initial impression when I picked them up, and inspected them, is that they are mostly plastic. And though the impression was mostly cheap, but when I put them on for the first time, I noticed how light they were. Listening to them, they have a neutral sound signature like a true monitor, and they also have stellar resolution and throw a soundstage equal to the original source material. That is when the synergy hit me and I was able to put 2 and 2 together. Their sound is superb and ideal for a working sound engineer. To this person they are a tool for work, and won’t get thrown around and abused. And the lightweight plastic construction makes for a very light headphone that is not a burden to wear for long listening sessions.

 

The Pioneer HDJ-X10 is also perfectly designed for it’s use! It does not have a neutral sound signature like a true studio monitor. It has a more live sound. But that is what the DJ needs. A professional DJ will have his music blaring to those dancing around him. And while that music is blaring, he needs to be able to hear the tracks that he is queuing up to come next. And they employ a lot of metal in their construction and robust mini-XLR connectors. They probably got tossed around a lot, packing and unpacking from one gig to another. Higher priced than most headphones, Pioneer also hit this one out of the park! They are perfectly designed for the professional DJ, yet will also work great for anyone who likes a more live sound, and also likes a solid construction so they don’t need to worry about how they are treated. And they also provide excellent sound as well!

 

This years over the ear part of our annual Headphone Shootout had some strong contenders. And while some may be tailored more towards the professional sound, that doesn’t mean that us consumers can’t enjoy them as well! Depending on your budget, any of those models should be on your short list.  Based on their design, features, quality and performance, the JBL Live 670ANC has earned our Value Award, the Shure SRH840A and Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 have earned our Highly Recommended Award, and the Sony MDR-M1 and Pioneer HDJ-X10 have earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and compete specs, check out their websites at www.JBL.com, www.shure.com, www.beyerdynamic.com, www.electronics.sony.com, www.pioneerdjstore.com.