What is the best alternative to Monoprice MHP 839 ( 108323 )?
Pro Bass and treble are emphasized
These headphones have what is called a V-shaped sound signature where the bass and treble is boosted while the mids take a backseat. The bass is powerful, deep and satisfying. Listening to bass heavy music will certainly be a good experience. The boosted treble makes audio detail up front, so nuan...
Pro Fairly wide soundstage
Due to the semi-open design, the sound is not completely trapped inside the ear cup housing. This gives the sound a wider, more natural feel.
Pro Not tiring to wear
The HD681 will not put a lot of strain to your neck and head, even for long periods. Coming in at around 220 g, they are relatively light. This is due to the use of plastic as the primary build material, along with small metal tubes on the headband frame instead of large plastic or metal parts.
Con Thin ear pads may cause comfort issues
The ear pads are made of cheap feeling synthetic leather which can get warm rather quickly. To potentially add more discomfort, the cushioning inside these ear pads is quite thin, and can hurt the area around your ears when worn for many hours straight.
Con May feel cheap and flimsy
The plastics used in the construction of these headphones are not of the best quality. They feel flimsy and will often flex and rattle.
Con Mids can be lacking
Some may find the mids to be inadequate. Vocals, guitars and other sounds in the mid-frequencies may sound distant or too soft.
Pro Warm sound with good low-end punch
The highs of these headphones are not very bright or airy, but still present a good level of detail. The mids are slightly recessed, but vocals can still be easily heard. The bass reproduction however is what makes these shine, as there is very good depth and power. Bass-heads will very likely lo...
Pro Stable Bluetooth connectivity
The wireless connection is very good for a budget pair. While the range isn't too far, connection stability is pretty good. This is a significant improvement compared to other budget wireless headphones that may have frequent signal drops.
Pro Clamping force is quite firm
The firm clamp means the Move Wireless will stay in place, even if you move a lot like when running or working out.
Con Clamping force may cause discomfort
The firm clamping force combined with the on-ear design can put quite a bit of pressure on the ears. This can result in some discomfort when these are worn for extended periods.
Pro Full and warm sound despite the small size
The drivers may be small and thin, but there is good bass presence.. The mid-range may not be the most detailed, but there is a smoothness to it that gives the sound a warm and pleasing quality. There is a slight roll-off to the high frequencies yet detail and extension is still good . Overall, the...
Pro Lifetime warranty
Koss provides a lifetime warranty for these headphones.
Pro Can turn heads due to their retro design
These are eye-catching headphones because of their retro design. The unusual shape of the driver case and the blue accents definitely make these look unique.
Con Not much power to the sound
If you are looking for headphones that offer a lot of thump and a lot of detail then these are not for you. The headphone drivers are too small for big and detail-rich sound.
Con Danger for hair
Hair tends to get snagged on the metal headband which can get quite uncomfortable.
Pro Great build quality for the price
These headphones should last you quite a while, as they are built well. The hinges and the headband adjustment are made of metal, with sturdy plastics on the earcups. These should survive being thrown into a bag and minor drops without issue.
Pro Fairly neutral sound
The sound is on the neutral side instead of boosted bass or highs. Overall the sound has good clarity with okay details on the treble along with tight and low-end. The mids are slightly recessed though.
Pro Okay noise cancelling performance
You won’t easily hear engine noise and the like. The active noise cancelling is quite effective at filtering out low-pitched, droning noise.
Con You’ll still hear high pitched noise clearly
You may still hear high pitched noise like female voices and sudden bursts of laughter. The noise cancelling is not very effective at filtering mid to high frequencies.
Pro Full bass with adequate levels of mids and highs
Despite the compact size. the bass is full, has great impact, deep extension yet is not loose. The low end also has a natural quality to it that makes these headphones great for music that is performed using real instruments. The mids are slightly recessed, but also have a natural tone. The highs...
Pro Ear cups can swivel facing outwards
The K81 can be used “DJ style”, wherein only one ear cup is in contact with the head. The cups have a smooth swivel action so they can be rotated to face outwards. A user can choose to hold one ear cup up to his or her ear while flipping switches or turning knobs on the mix board with the other han...
Pro Easy to travel with
While these are already quite compact, the ear cups can be folded into the headband to reduce their size even further. This makes them easy to stuff inside a bag and travel with.
Con On-ear design can still be uncomfortable
While the ear pads are thick and give a lot of cushioning, some may still find this to be uncomfortable. Being on-ear, some pressure is applied onto the ears.Those who are sensitive to this may still feel some discomfort, especially when worn for several hours straight.
Con Highs may sound too recessed
People who prefer their music with sparkly highs and utmost clarity likely won't find these headphones to be a good listen.
Con Lengthy cable can be a hassle
The cable is 2.5m which is fairly long. Since it is not detachable and the cable tends to tangle quite easily, it may cause some problems with regular home use or when taking these headphones on the go.
Pro Forward highs and ample bass
The highs stand out from the overall sound. They are quite forward and come with a lot of clarity. This quality makes it very easy for listeners to hear the details of the music. While the bass is not that powerful, it has good presence and gives the music a full feel.
Pro Very good sound isolation
The closed back ear cups effectively keep sound in and the noise out,. You can use these in quiet places without sound leaks disturbing others, or use these in noisy areas to isolate yourself.
Pro Not tiring to wear
Weighing just 154 g, wearing these won't strain your head and neck. They're also rather small, making it a good option for mobile and travel use.
Con Treble can be too bright
The treble can come off as quite harsh for some people. Others may prefer this due to the detail and clarity that is added to the music. Those who are sensitive to washy or zingy highs may find this to be quite distracting if not uncomfortable to listen to.
Con Bass may be inadequate for some
While the bass output may be enough for most genres, bass heads may find it lacking power and thump.
Con Not travel friendly
These headphones don't fold, so they are a little bit more difficult to travel with.
Pro Ample padding on the ear pads make these comfortable to use
Both the ear pads and headband have a good amount of foam in them, which results in adequate cushioning. They're quite comfortable even if you've been using them for several hours straight.
Pro Good detail on the highs and mids
The sound is fairly balanced and can work well with most music genres. The highs and mids have good presence. Although they are not that clear, there is still an acceptable level of detail to them. The bass is not impactful but it does have some depth and helps give a fuller feel to the overall sou...
Pro Lightweight
These are actually pretty light weight for over the ear headphones. The HD 201 will not cause unnecessary strain to your neck, even if worn continuously for extended periods.
Con Does not effectively block outside noise
Despite the closed back design, there is still a fair amount of noise that can mix with the music . This can have a negative impact to your listening experience, especially when you are in a noisy environment.
Con Build quality feels flimsy
The HD 201 has a lot of flex and also tends to make rattling noises when held or moved. This can be attributed to the cheap plastic used in the build.
Con Can get warm around the ears and on the head
The synthetic leather on the ear pads and head band prevents airflow around the ears. This causes warmth to build-up quickly.
Pro Good sounding bass with okay detail on the highs and mids
As expected of their price, these headphones are not able to deliver a lot of detail, clarity or accuracy in terms of the sound but they're still quite fun to listen to. There is a slight accentuation on the bass which gives it oomph and presence but is not overpowering. Mids on these headphon...
Pro Decent all-plastic build quality
Although it's made entirely of plastic, it does not feel cheap at all. The plastics used are of good quality. They can take a significant amount of flex with no signs of breaking.
Pro Can isolate sound well
With the closed back design, very minimal sound can seep into your music. Likewise, sound leakage is kept to a minimum so you won't be disturbing others near you with your music.
Con Ear cup height adjustment is quite limited
The ear cups are attached to a fixed head band, with a ball socket as the connection. Users then move the ear cups up and down the stationary head band. Available adjustment is quite limited though, so these headphones may not be suitable for individuals with bigger sized heads.
Con Very long, fixed cable
The cable is around 10 feet long. While this can be a good thing for certain uses, the long cable can get tangled up pretty easily and can get quite difficult to manage if you decide to take these on the go. The included cable organizer can help mitigate the problem, but some might find it fiddly...
Con Ear cups are quite small
Despite being labeled as over-ear headphones, the cups are actually quite small. If you have larger ears, it is possible that these will fit a little too tightly, if not rest on your ears completely, which you may find uncomfortable.
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