2012 Annual Headphone Shootout: Over The Ear Models

The opening words, "All Aboard" from the classic Ozzy Osbourne song Crazy Train keeps coming to mind. It's March Madness time, and things get pretty crazy. And that means here at Stereowise Plus it is also time for our annual Headphone Shootout. It is time for headphone manufacturers to start duking it out. This years contenders come from AKG, Altec Lansing, AudioFly, Audio-Technica, Eers, German Maestro, The House Of Marly, Monster, Sennheiser, and V-Moda.

The shootout will be in two parts, as usual. The first one will be over/on the ear, and the second part will be IEMs (In Ear Monitors). Basketball teams are judged by their offense, defense, players, and the points they get on the board. The Headphone Shootout will be looking at features and design, specs, quality, and performance. And instead of brackets, we have price points that range from $80 to $1,000. Listening tests will be from bottom to top, one song at a time. For a good variety of songs, I have used Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, Metallica: Nothing Else Matters, Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha, Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae, and Eric Kunzel: Sing, Sing, Sing. We will now be starting with part one. Let the shootout begin!

We will start with the AKG K451. They are a small attractive looking pair of headphones. They are small portable fold-up design with a nice hard zipper case. It comprises of the headphones, case and two pair of detachable cables, and manual. One cable is a standard cable, and the other has in-line mic and control buttons.

It's features and specs include:

-ideal for portable devices

-in-line remote control* and microphone*

-two single-sided, detachable cables

-soft ear pads and light weight for maximum comfort

-unique 3d-axis2 folding mechanism for easy transport and storage

* Remote control and microphone supported by iPod nano(4th generation and later), iPod classic (120GB/160GB), iPod touch (2ndgeneration and later), iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad and iPad 2. Remote control supported by iPod shuffle (3rd generation and later). May require latest software version on device.

- Color: black

- System: Dynamic

- Design: Closed headphones

- Frequency range: 11Hz to 29.5kHz

- Sensitivity: 126dB SPL/V

- Input impedance: 32 ohms

- Max. input power: 30mW

- Cable: 99.99% oxygen-free
- Cable lengths: cable 0.5 m and 1.1 m

- Main connection: Hard gold-plated jack plug and contacts

- Weight (without cable): 120 g

-$149 MSRP

They came in an attractive looking box. The build quality appears good, as well as the fit and finish. I like the fact that the cables are detachable. The earcups are very soft, and feels comfortable on the ears. The cables also have a nice soft feel to them, and the tips are gold plated. Likewise the hard zipper case is custom molded on one side to fit the headphones folded up. The other side has two mesh pockets to hold the cables.

Listening to Steve Miller Band: Swingtown, there was decent punch to the kick drum. The vocals were natural sounding, and the highs were fairly crisp. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters had ok resolution in the acoustic guitar. It was fairly crisp sounding, with smooth vocals. For small portable headphones, they had good bass extension. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha was pleasantly dynamic, with crisp percussion. The bass while it didn't play with a lot of authority, did play deep. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae showed fairly clean trumpets with good resolution. And Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing provided a nice sound with ok resolution. The clarinet solo was clean, with nice output from the tympani. There was a good sized soundstage with good imaging. The trumpet solo was also clean, with good pitch definition in the trombones.

Next up is the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b. These are actually an active noise cancelling pair of headphones. The earpads swivel to fit in a zippered hard case. There is a small metal mesh covered opening on each side that appears to hold a microphone for the active noise cancelling function. One earpad has an on/off button for the noise cancelling feature, and the other earpad holds a single AAA battery to power them.

Their features and specs include:

-ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint® noise-cancelling headphones feature ANC circuitry that
effectively reduces environmental noise by 90%
-Lightweight, compact, fold-flat design is ideal for travel
-Ideal for use with Apple® iPod®, iPhone™ and iPod touch® portable music and
DVD players, laptop computers, in-flight entertainment systems and other devices
-Closed-back headphones feature large-aperture 40 mm drivers with neodymium
magnet systems for impactful bass, extended treble and higher fidelity
-Comfortable earcups with generously cushioned padding and a shape that fits
easily over any ear
-Audio functions (in passive mode) even without the battery
-Fully integrated electronics—no external modules needed
-Fold-flat design with included 3.5 mm mini-plugs, a full-size ¼” adapter, a
specialized airline adapter for connecting to in-flight entertainment systems,
and a handy carrying case

-Active noise-cancelling
-Driver Diameter: 40 mm
-Magnet: Neodymium
-Frequency Response: 10 - 25,000 Hz
-Quietpoint® Active Noise Reduction: Up to 20 dB
-Maximum Input Power: 500 mW
-Sensitivity: 109 dB
-Impedance: 300 ohms
-Battery: AAA (alkaline)
-Battery Life: Up to 40 hours, typical (alkaline)
-Weight: 210 g (7.4 oz), without cable and battery
-Cable: Detachable 1.6 m (5.2') with 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo mini-plug; Detachable
1.0 m (3.3') with 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo mini-plug
-Connector: 3.5 mm (1/8")
-Accessories Included: 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo adapter; airline adapter; AAA battery; carrying case
with attached accessory pouch

-$199 MSRP

They use a fairly simple swivel design for the earpads for portability in the included case. They are mostly plastic, but feels well put together in your hands. Quality of materials as well as fit and finish is also good. The earpads are large enough where my ears were able to fit inside them, and they felt comfortable. The hard zipper case also felt fairly well made and durable. And there is a small zippered pouch inside the case that holds the included accessories. These include the 1/4 inch plug, airplane adapter, and detachable cables. I like the fact that it has a detachable cable, and there are actually two with different lengths.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown provided crisp snare drum, natural vocals, and good pitch definition in the drums. The guitars had nice resolution. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters showed crisp acoustic guitar. Vocals were just a tad toned down and not quite as vibrant, and drums sounded good. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had clean highs in the percussion with good resolution, and was fairly dynamic. Vocals were natural sounding, and the bass had good extension with authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was clean sounding with ok resolution, nice sounding percussion, and good sounding trumpets. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing was good sounding with nice resolution. The clarinet solo was clean, with good output of the tympani. Imaging and soundstage was also good. The trumpet solo was also clean sounding.

As they are also active noise cancelling, I tested that feature as well. I was pleased to see they actually worked as advertised. They advertise 90% noise reduction, and from what I was able to hear 90% appeared right on. Keep in mind that they are designed to reduce engine noise. The constant low end rumble can get fatiguing, whether you travel by plane, train, or bus. These are designed to cut out the low rumble of engine noise. They do not cancel all of the sound around you. So if someone tries to talk to you, you will be able to hear them. An interesting thing is that the active noise cancellation also seemed to act as an amplifier to increase and improve the sound. I thought they sounded not only louder, but better with the active noise cancellation enabled. So in doing the listening tests, they were done with the active noise cancellation turned on.

The House of Marley: Stir It Up model is next in line. They have a very cool looking retro look. They used wood in the earcups, cloth around the headband, and the classic Marley look with a black, red, yellow and green cloth cable. The trend continues as the cable is also detachable. It also has in-line mic and controls.

It's features and specs include:

-On-ear design for exceptional comfort even during long listening sessions.

-15Hz - 22kHz frequency response adds clear sound reproduction.

-40-millimeter dynamic moving coil speaker drive for sound reinforcement.

-Right-angled, 3.5-millimeter gold-plated connector

-Recyclable aluminum ring that’s high quality, adds to durability and keeps materials out of the waste stream.

-52" Fabric Covered Cord helps reduce tangles and is specially engineered to cut down on static so you get that clear sound.

-$199 MSRP

I am impressed with the build quality. They feel very sturdy in your hands. The earcups feature black aluminum, wood, and a ring that contains the red, yellow, and green color theme. The earcups swivel for easy storage in the green cloth carry bag. I also like the cloth covered padded headband. Overall fit and finish and quality is very good. They even feature real leather covered earpads. I am sure Bob Marley would have been very pleased with the product.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown had good resolution in the cymbals and guitar. The kick drum had good extension, and vocals were natural. Drums sounded good, but not quite as crisp. Overall the sound was a bit on the warm side. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters had nice resolution in the crisp acoustic guitar. Vocals were smooth and fairly natural sounding. The kick drum had good low end extension but was a tad muddy. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha the warmer sound came thru again, as they were not quite as dynamic with the claps/snaps. There was good resolution in the percussion. There was also good bass extension with ok authority. Vocals were also clean. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was clean sounding with good resolution, with a tad warmer sound overall. The trumpets were good sounding with nice bass extension. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing had a nice sound and ok resolution. The clarinet solo sounded very natural and the tympani had great authority. The soundstage was good sized, and the trumpet solo was clean.

The HD-25-1 11 Originals from Sennheiser are a nice looking DJ headphone. They sport a blue and black theme. They feature a plastic construction in black plastic, with blue pads on the headband, earpads, and a blue cable. MSRP is $250.

Their features and specs include:

-Frequency response: 16-22,000 Hz

-Sound pressure level (SPL): 120 dB

-Impedance: 70 Ohms

-Total harmonic distortion (THD): 0.3%

-Cable length: 5 ft single-sided

-Weight: 5.7 ounces

My initial thought about the quality is cheap plastic. But upon further handling them, they are actually pretty solid, and seem very durable. As is typical, the fit and finish is good on this Sennheiser product. The earpads slide up and down for an adjustable fit. The headband also splits to a somewhat V pattern for a more secure fit on your head. Unlike the previous models, the cable is not detachable. But it is thick and well made. The plug also is gold plated and threaded to screw on the 1/4 inch adapter. The padded earcups were sufficiently soft, and felt good.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown was not quite as smooth sounding. Resolution was good in the cymbals and kick drum. Vocals were smooth and natural sounding. The guitar also had good resolution and nice harmonics. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters had clean sounding acoustic guitar, nice extension in the kick drum that while it did not have a ton of authority was actually pretty clean. Vocals also had nice pitch definition and harmonics. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha didn't appear as dynamic as the snaps/claps were a bit laid back. There was nice high range frequency extension and pitch definition in the triangle. Vocals were clear, and overall the sound was just a tad bright. Bass extension was ok. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was very clean sounding with excellent resolution in the trumpets and snare drum. Bass had sufficient extension, and excellent pitch definition. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing had great sound with very good resolution. The clarinet solo was clean sounding, and the tympani had great output and resolution. Both the soundstage and imaging were good. The trumpet solo was exceptionally clean, with good pitch definition in the trombones.

The AKG K550 is a large studio style reference headphone set. The earpads swivel and colors are dark aluminum with some black plastic in the headband. They feature a rather thick single sided cable. MSRP is $300.

Their features and specs include:
-System: Dynamic

-Design: Closed-back headphones

-Color: Matte black with black metal accents

-Frequency range: 12Hz to 28kHz

-Sensitivity: 114dB SPL/V

-Input impedance: 32 ohms

-Maximum input power: 200mW

-Net weight (without cable): 305g

-Cable: 99.99% oxygen-free cable, 3m

-Main connection: Hard gold-plated 3.5/6.3mm jack

I like the use of metal in headphones, as they appear to have a more durable feel to them. The quality of materials is very good. Fit and finish is also excellent. The soft ear cups are so large they easily cover my ears. The swivel movement of the earcups is smooth. The headband is mostly aluminum, and is also padded. I really like the markings on each sides of the headband, from 1-10. It makes for easy adjustment for a perfect fit. The thick cable has a premium fit to it. They are comfortable enough for hours of listening at a time, and built well enough to last for years.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown had good resolution in the vocals. The cymbals were crisp, keyboard sounded natural, and there was nice resolution in the guitar. While there was ok low end extension, it did not have a lot of authority. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters was very crisp with the acoustic guitar and was a tad bright. There was nice resolution in the vocals that revealed their timbre. bass extension was there, but without much authority, so they sounded just a bit thin. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had clean and crisp percussion with good resolution. The snaps/claps were sufficiently dynamic. There was very good harmonics in the vocals with good detail in the timbre. Bass extension was good, but without a lot of authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was really clean sounding with very good resolution in the trumpets and percussion, and not too bright. Bass extension was ok, and with sufficient authority. Eric Kunzel: Sing, Sing, Sing had great sound with good resolution. The clarinet solo was clean, with good output in the tympani. Both soundstage and imaging were good. The trumpet solo was very clean with great pitch definition in the trombones.

Next up is the German Maestro GMP 435 S. For those that know high quality audio may know the name MB Quart. German Maestro is the new company name from the makers of MB Quart. They are an over the ear studio style headphone, with a cable in each earpad. Construction is mostly plastic, and an open back design. They are based on the highly rated GMP 400, but use low-impedance and highly sensitive drivers. This makes them better suited for portable devices, such as MP3 players. MSRP is $320.

Their features and specs include:

-Cardamatic suspension and the specifically engineered ear pads guarantee perfect comfort and fit, also during long-term listener sessions

-Frequency Response: 20 - 27.000 Hz

-Nominal Impedance: 35 O

-Acoustical Principle: Open

-Ear Pads: Synthetic leather, circumaural

-Average pressure on the ear: ~3 N

-Weight w/o cable: 240 g

-Connector: Stereo-Multi-Jack 3,5 / 6,3 mm

-Round cable with helix-section 3 m

To be honest, I had high expectations, as I am familiar with their products and history. They are not cheap at an MSRP of $320. My first impression when I pulled them out of the box, I was a bit underwhelmed, as they are mostly plastic. My next thought was that they must have put all the money in the design and the drivers. But after handling them, they are actually very durable. And I do like the fact that they are handmade in Germany. The quality is actually good, as well as the fit and finish. The cable has a premium feel to it. The earcups fit well over my ears, and are very comfortable as well. There must have been some thought involved with the design, as the earpads are not your typical round design.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown provided really clean cymbals and guitar. The keyboard was also crisp sounding with good resolution. Kick drums had good extension to it. The harmonics were excellent with no noticable coloration. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters showed excellent acoustic guitar that was extremely crisp and clean with lots of resolution. Vocals had good depth and timbre. They were also a bit more balanced with more bass output. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had nice dynamics in the snaps/claps, with excellent resolution in the percussion, and high frequency extension in the triangle. Vocals were clean and well articulated. Bass extension was good with ok authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was very clean with excellent resolution and natural sounding trumpets and strings. I loved the excellent harmonics. They were very musical. The bass extension was also ok. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing showed excellent sound and resolution. The clarinet solo was clean with good air, and you could hear the woodiness of the reed. Imaging was really good, with a good sized soundstage. The trumpet solo was really clean as well.

The Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9 is part of their top of the line models. They are actually a portable over the ear design. The earcups are smaller, and the headband is made narrower. The earcups swivel, and there are cables at each earcup. MSRP is $350.

Their features and specs include:

-Wooden housings made of African Padauk for superior acoustic reproduction
-Specially designed 42 mm drivers deliver outstanding audio
-Soft leather earpads for a luxurious, extra-comfortable listening experience
-Headphones fold for compact portability
-Includes protective pouch

-Driver Diameter: 42 mm
-Frequency Response: 5 - 35,000 Hz
-Maximum Input Power: 1000 mW
-Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW
-Impedance: 42 ohms
-Weight: 170 g (6.0 oz) without cable
-Cable: 1.2 m (4 ft), single, OFC
-Connector: 3.5 mm (1/8") mini stereo, gold-plated
-Accessory Included: Pouch

The quality of materials is excellent. They feature wooden earcups made from African Padauk wood. The earpads and headband are covered in lamb skin. I love the color of the wood, and the plush premium feel of the real lamb skin. These premium headphones scream top of the line. The fit and finish is also excellent. While the earcups are smaller than I typically prefer, they are still very comfortable. The headband is easy to adjust. The swivel mechanism is very smooth, and feels extremely well put together! I absolutely LOVE the quality and feel of these. They are also made in Japan, which is typically a step of three up from other countries when it comes to electronics made on that continent.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown had crisp cymbals and good low end extension in the kick drum, and natural sounding keyboard. Vocals had a pleasant feel with real depth to the timbre. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters had acoustic guitar that was nice and clean with good resolution. Vocals were smooth with energy. The kick drums had nice extension with good control. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had sufficient dynamics in the snaps/claps with excellent resolution in the percussion. The triangle showed good high frequency extension, and the vocals were smooth. They also showed good low end extension and authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae was very clean with excellent resolution. Every detail of the string instraments came thru, and they were a tad more refined sounding. The trumpets sounded great, and the bass extension was good. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing was great sounding with very good resolution. The clarinet solo was clean with good air. The soundstage was big and deep, with great imaging. The trumpet solo was also really clean. I thinking to myself how musical they sounded.

The Audio-Technica ATH-W1000X is also known as the Grandioso. And I can see why. They are gorgeous large over the ears studio style closed back headphone. They incorporate Audio-Technica's wing headband, that makes them feel light on your head. both swivel earcups have cables.

It's features and specs include:

-10th generation of Audio-Technica's prized W Series
-Pure American Black Cherry Wood reproduces magnificent natural playback
-3D wing support for a great fit and long-wearing comfort
-Large 53 mm aperture drivers feature specially built 2-part magnetic
circuits that produce high speed magnetic streams for improved sound quality
-6.3 mm gold-plated stereo plug with high elastic Elastomer sheath and PC-OCC
conductor cord

-Type: Closed-back Dynamic
-Driver Diameter: 53 mm
-Voice Coil: OFC-6N
-Frequency Response: 5 – 42,000 Hz
-Maximum Input Power: 2,000 mw
-Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
-Impedance: 42 ohms
-Weight: 350 g
-Cable: 3.0 m Y-type, PCOCC conductor cord with elastomer sheath
-Connector: 1/4" (6.3 mm) gold-plated wooden plug

The quality from the previous Audio-Technica model continues. It is constructed of wood, aluminum and plastic. And it isn't just any wood. The backs of the earcups are made from virgin North American Dark Cherry. They are polished, and describing them as gorgeous does not do them justice. They are absolutely stunning! The leather earpads and 3D wind support help make them very comfortable to wear. The swivel mechanism is again very smooth. Fit and finish is excellent. The cables are also of premium quality. and the use of the wood is also extended into the 1/4 inch plug. One other thing worth mentioning-it only has a 1/4 inch plug. In other words, these headphones will not work in your iPod. But then again, with the quality and cost of these, I can't see these Grandiosos being used on the go. Although I will admit that I would have liked the option.

Steve Miller Band: Swingtown provided excellent resolution, with really crisp cymbals. Harmonics were also excellent, and the kick drum had good low end extension. Vocals were smooth and natural sounding. Metallica: Nothing Else Matters showed extremely clean acoustic guitar, and smooth vocals with nice pitch definition. The kick drum again had good extension and control. I heard things that I had never heard before in this track, thanks to the superb resolution. Pussycat Dolls: Don't Cha had extremely dynamic snaps/claps, and very good resolution in the percussion, with excellent high frequency extension in the triangle. Vocals were natural and clean. Bass had great extension and great authority. Brunson Brothers: Fleace Movae served resolution that was stunning! I have been personal friends with the members of the band for years, and I heard details I had not noticed before. It was really clean with great harmonics and not too brassy in the trumpets. They were very musical, and the bass extension was good and played with authority. Eric Kenzel: Sing, Sing, Sing delivered phenomenal sound and excellent resolution in the clarinet with good air. And you could actually hear the woodiness of the reed. The soundstage was big and deep. There was nice extension and output from the tympani. the trumpet solo was also really clean, with great pitch definition of the trombones. And again, they were extremely musical.

As expected, all of the participants in this years Headphone Shootout performed well. And as expected, the higher priced models performed better. You do get what you pay for, and some of the models like the Audio-Technica ATH-W1000X and German Maestro GMP 435 S sounded amazing. All of the others sounded equally well at their given price points. And in the case of the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b, you also get active noise cancellation. Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the AKG K451 and The House of Marley Stir It Up have earned our Recommended Award. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b, Sennheiser HD 25-1 II Originals, and AKG K550 have earned our Highly Recommended Award. And the German Maestro GMP 435 S, Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9, and Audio-Technica ATH-W1000X have earned our Editor's Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.akg.com, www.thehouseofmarley.com, www.sennheiser.com, www.german-maestro.de, and www.audio-technica.com.