Now it’s time for part two of the Headphone Shootout: the
over the ear models. They come from some great manufacturers: 1More, JBL,
Master & Dynamic, Audio-Technica, and E-MU. They include some excellent
designs. Some are corded, some wireless. And there’s even one with a multiple
driver design; common for IEM’s but rare for over the ear models. Most of us will be using our smartphones to
listen to our music. To provide a better
sound, we used our LG V40 ThinQ as our source unit, which is designed for
superior sound with it’s Hi-Fi 32-bit Quad DAC.
First up is the 1More Triple Driver. They feature a unique
design for over the ear models. They actually incorporate a multiple driver
design. It’s a rare design for over the ear models. Usually multiple driver
designs are found in IEM’s. Here 1More uses two active drivers. One is for the
highs, one is for the mids and lows, and there’s also a passive radiator. So
while there are 3 drivers, only 2 are active. Price is also very competitive at
$169.
Features and Specs:
Type: Over-Ear Headphone
Name: 1MORE Triple Driver Over-Ear Headphones
Color: Titanium
Weight: 293 g
Wire: Oxygen-free Copper
Cable Length: 1.35 m
Plug Type: 3.5 mm Gold Plated
Speaker Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 104 dB
Frequency Response Range: 20-40,000 Hz
Maximum Power: 50 mW
Implementation of Standards: Q / WMSX 003-2016
The 1More came in a great looking color printed box, with
photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well protected
product, held in a nice semi-hard zipper case. I was extremely impressed with the packaging, which looks like a significantly more expensive product! Materials used in the
construction were actually mostly metal, with some plastic and foam. Quality of
materials was good, as was the fit and finish. Also included was the owners
manual, soft carry bag, and ¼” adapter. And I liked the fact that it has
detachable cables.
Next up is the JBL Everest 7106A. These JBL headphones are a
prime example of how products keep getting more and more advanced. Not only are
they wireless headphones, they can also connect to other wireless headphones so
you can share your music with friends. There’s even Google Assistant built-in
that you can access with the built-in mic. MSRP is a very competitive $249.
Features and specs:
General Specifications:
Headphone cable length (ft): 3.93
Headphones jack type: 3.5 mm
Weight (oz): 9.35
Ear cushion material: PU Leather
Bluetooth version: 4.1
Headphone cable length (cm): 120.0
Audio Specifications:
Driver size (mm): 40.0
Number of drivers per ear: 1.0
Driver sensitivity at 1kHz/1mW (dB): 96dB
Impedance (ohms): 32.0
Control and Connection Specifications:
Bluetooth profiles: HFP v1.7, HSP v1.2, A2DP v1.3, AVRCP
v1.6
Bluetooth transmitter power: 4 dbm
Bluetooth frequency: 2.402GHz - 2.48GHz
Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4DQPSK, 8DPSK
Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 10Hz – 22kHz
Battery Type: Polymer Li-ion Battery (3.7V, 850mAh)
Charging time (hours from empty): 2
Speed Charging time (hours): 2.0
Talk time (hours): up to 25
The JBL Everest 7106A came in a great looking color printed
box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well
protected product held in a semi hard zipper case. Materials used in the
construction was mostly plastic with some metal. Quality of materials used were
very good, as was the fit and finish. Also included was the manual, charging
cable and audio cable.
Up next is the Master & Dynamic MW60. They are a premium
wireless headphone, with only the best materials used in the construction. And
something that is getting rare, is they are actually hand assembled. MSRP is a
fair $449 for what you get.
Features and specs:
Dimensions: 200mm x 185mm x 50mm
Drivers: 45mm Neodymium
Impedance: 32 ohms
Weight: 345g
Materials: Premium grain leather, lambskin leather,
stainless steel, aluminum
Cable: Detachable 1.25m Standard Cable
Micro USB Input Cord
Headphone Connection: 3.5mm Passive Audio input micro USB
charging/firmware update input
Ear Coupling: Circum-aural / Over-Ear
Microphone Type: Omni-directional
Machined Aluminum Antenna
Ear Pads: Detachable lambskin memory foam
Bluetooth Profile: Bluetooth 4.1 with Aptx™ high quality
audio
The Master & Dynamic came in a great looking color
printed box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a
well protected product held in place by custom molded foam. Materials used in
the construction was mostly anodized or PVD coated aluminum and stainless
steel, with some leather, and memory foam. I actually did not see any plastic
used in the construction. Premium cowhide are used on the exterior side of the
headband and earcups, with soft lambskin on the underside of the headband and
ear pads. Quality of the materials used was excellent as is the fit and finish.
They are a very well mode and durable product! Also included was a cloth zipper
carry case, manual, changing cable, audio cable, and ¼” adapter.
Now it’s time for the Audio-Technica ATH-SR9. They are a
premium over the ear headphone designed for Hi-Res Audio. They are designed
from the ground up for Hi-Res Audio, employing 45mm True Motion drivers. The
cables we dual sided with A2DC connectors. With a built-in mic and controls on
the cable, they are also designed to be used with your smartphone. MSRP is at
$449.
Features and Specs:
Exclusive 45 mm True Motion Drivers, each featuring a
bobbin-wound OFC-7N voice coil and diaphragm with DLC (diamond-like carbon)
coating, provide extremely accurate audio reproduction with extended high
frequencies
Midpoint Mount Technology provides a uniform space in front
of and behind the diaphragm to ensure the full performance of the driver inside
the limited space of the housing
Acoustic resistor controls airflow inside the diaphragm
housing to yield a natural sound
High-rigidity aluminum housings reduce unwanted resonance
Includes two 1.2 m (3.9') detachable cables (one standard,
one with mic & controls) with A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial)
connectors
Ultra-comfortable, soft foam earpads and headband
Fold-flat, swivel design and hard carrying case for easy
portability
Type: Dynamic
Driver Diameter: 45 mm
Voice Coil: OFC-7N
Frequency Response: 5 – 45,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power: 1,500 mW
Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW
Impedance: 47 ohms
Weight: 270 g (9.5 oz.), without cable
Cable: Detachable 1.2 m (3.9') standard cable with A2DC
connectors, detachable 1.2 m (3.9') cable with A2DC connectors and in-line
control and microphone
Connector: 3.5 mm gold-plated stereo mini-plug, L-shaped
Accessories Included: Hard carrying case
Type (Microphone): Condenser
Sensitivity (Microphone): -40 dB (1V/Pa at 1 kHz)
Frequency Response (Microphone): 50 – 4,000 Hz
Polar Pattern (Microphone): Omnidirectional
The Audio-Technica ATH-SR9 came in a great looking color
printed box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box I found a
well protected product held by a semi-hard zipper case. Materials used in the
construction was metal and plastic, and memory foam for the soft headband and
earcups. Quality of materials used was very good, as was the fit and finish.
Also included was the manual and two sets of cables, one standard and one with
mic and music controls, and a ¼” adaptor.
Last but not least is the E-MU Teak. This is a model from
their wood series. They are Audiophile reference headphones with an eye for
craftsmanship, as can be seen with the teak wood earcups. The polished teak
wood is absolutely gorgeous. They are a premium headphone and it shows. MSRP is
$999.
Features and specs:
Weight: 370 g (Without Cable)
Color: Brown
Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 45 kHz
Cable Length: 3 m
Cable Style: 7N Oxygen-Free Copper, wrapped in nylon
braiding with gold-plated connectors, detachable
Driver: 50 mm (1.97 inches) Neodymium magnet with
Bio-Cellulose Diaphragm
Wearing Style: On-ear
The E-MU Teak came in a black box. Opening the box revealed
a headphone held in place by cardboard and protected by being held in a custom
bubble wrapped bag. Materials used in the construction were metal and wood,
with soft leather and memory foam. There was no plastic used. Quality of
materials used was excellent as was the fit and finish. The large polished teak
wood is gorgeous! The cord was also very high quality covered in braided cloth.
We must have been provided a previous generation, as per their website the
cable is detachable, but the model we were provided did not have a detachable
cable.
Now it’s time to hear how they sound. We tried to use a
variety of genres, and we wanted to include songs that would be a good test of
sound of vocals, piano and other instruments, to test the resolution and sound
quality. We’ll start with 1More triple Driver and work up the models according
to MSRP, and end with the E-MU Teak, seeing the sound we get as we move up in
price. As with March Madness, there are times when we have surprises and a team
performs above their seeding. And sometimes we get a surprise when a model
performs above it’s price point. Let’s see how they sound.
1More
Disturbed: Sound and Silence –Piano sounded natural, vocals
had good texture and timbre. Guitar was crisp and clean. Violin was smooth.
Soundstage was surprisingly big. Tympani had decent impact, depth and low end
extension. Adele: Rolling In the Deep
– Vocals were smooth with good texture. Guitar was crisp and clean with good
resolution of the strings. Kick drum had good impact, depth and played with
authority. Piano sounded very natural. Junior Wells: Why are People Like That
–Vocals were very smooth with good texture and timbre. Bass had very good depth
and played with a ton of authority. Drums were very dynamic, piano sounded very
natural. Cymbals were crisp. Harmonica was dynamic and very smooth. Soundstage
was very large and imaging was very good. Liquid
Soul: Spam Sucker –Bass is tight, has good punch, and authority. Trumpets are
crisp and clean, dynamic. Drums have very good resolution of the pad. Sax has
very good texture. Cymbals are crisp and clean.
JBL
Disturbed: Sound and Silence –Piano sounded very natural,
vocals had very good texture and timbre. Guitar was nice and crisp with good
resolution. Violins were smooth with nice low level harmonics. Tympani had good
impact and low end extension. Sound stage was pleasantly big, and imaging was
good. Adele: Rolling In the Deep –Vocals were smooth with very good texture and
resolution. Guitar was very crisp and clean with very good resolution of the
strings. Kick drum had very good impact and authority. Cymbals and high had
were very crisp and clean. Piano sounded very natural bass had great low end
extension and played with a ton of authority. Soundstage was big and imaging
was good. Junior Wells: Why are People Like That –Vocals were very smooth with
very good texture and timbre. Bass had very good low end extension and a ton of
authority. Drums were dynamic, great impact, cymbals were very crisp and clean.
Piano sounded very natural. Harmonica was smooth, dynamic with very good
harmonics. Soundstage was very big with very good imaging. Liquid Soul: Spam
Sucker –Bass is tight, with really good low end extension, and good punch.
Trumpets are smooth and really dynamic. Drums have very good dynamics and
resolution of the pad. Sax has very good texture. Cymbals are really crisp and
clean.
Master & Dynamic
Disturbed: Sound and Silence –Piano sounded very natural.
Vocals had very good texture and timbre and very smooth. Guitar was crisp and
clean with good resolution. Violins were smooth with good harmonics. Tympani
had good impact with great low end extension and played with good authority but
was a tad muddy. Soundstage was pleasantly large with good imaging. Adele:
Rolling In the Deep –Guitar had good resolution of the strings. Vocals were
smooth and had very good texture and resolution, kick drum had very good
definition, impact and played with authority. Cymbals and high hat were very
crisp and clean. Piano sounded natural. Bass had very good low end extension
and played with a lot of authority. Soundstage was big and imaging was also
good. Junior Wells: Why are People Like
That –Vocals were extremely smooth with very good resolution of the texture and
timbre. Bass had very good definition, low end extension and played with a ton
of authority. Drums were very dynamic with very good impact and authority.
Cymbals were crisp and clean. Harmonica was silky smooth, dynamic, and nice
harmonics. Piano sounded very natural, soundstage was large and imaging very
good. Liquid Soul: Spam Sucker –Bass is really tight with excellent punch and
authority. Trumpets are really crisp and dynamic and not too brassy. Drums have
excellent dynamics and resolution of the pad. Sax has really good texture and
harmonics, and good resolution for the tonguing technique.
Audio-Technica
Disturbed: Sound and Silence –Piano sounded very natural,
vocals had excellent texture and timbre with excellent resolution. Guitar had
excelled resolution and was extremely crisp and clean. Violin was very smooth
with excellent harmonics. Tympani had very good impact, low end extension, and
authority. Soundstage was very big and imaging was also very good. Adele:
Rolling In the Deep –Guitar had excellent resolution of the strings. Vocals
were very smooth with excellent resolution of the texture and timbre. Cymbals
and high hat were extremely crisp and clean. Kick drum had very good impact and
definition and played with authority. Piano sounded very natural. Bass had very
good low end extension and played with a ton of authority. Soundstage was big
and imaging was spot on. Junior Wells: Why are People Like That – Vocals were
extremely smooth with excellent resolution of the texture and timbre. Bass
played deep, tons of authority and definition. Drums were dynamic with very
good impact. Cymbals were really crisp and clean. Harmonica was smooth like
honey with excellent dynamics and harmonics. Piano sounded really natural.
Soundstage was huge and imaging was spot on.
Liquid Soul: Spam Sucker –Bass had good low end extension, was tight and
played with good authority. Trumpets were really dynamic and smooth without
being too brassy. Drums had excellent dynamics, impact and resolution of the
pad. Sax had excellent texture, harmonics, and great resolution for the tonguing
technique, and woodiness of the reed. Soundstage was quite large.
E-MU Teak
Disturbed: Sound and Silence –Piano was extremely clean,
vocals were extremely smooth with excellent resolution of the texture and
timbre. Guitar had excellent resolution and extremely crisp and clean. Vocals
were smooth as honey. Tympani had very good impact with great impact, authority
and definition of the pad. Soundstage was huge and borderline holographic with
spot on imaging. Adele: Rolling In the
Deep –Guitar had excellent resolution of the strings. Vocals were silky smooth
with excellent resolution of the texture and timbre. Kick drum had excellent
impact and definition of the head, with authority. Cymbals and high hat were
extremely crisp and clean. Piano sounded extremely natural. Bass had excellent
low end extension and ton of authority. Soundstage was huge and imaging was
spot on. Junior Wells: Why are People
Like That –Vocals were smooth like honey, had excellent resolution of the
texture and timbre, drums had excellent dynamics, impact and authority. Cymbals
were extremely crisp and clean. Piano sounded extremely natural. Bass had
excellent low end extension and played with a ton of authority. Harmonica was
silky smooth, had excellent harmonics and dynamics. Soundstage was huge and
imaging was on a dime. Liquid Soul: Spam
Sucker –Bass had excellent low end extension, punch and played with a lot of
authority. Trumpets were extremely smooth, dynamic, and not too brassy. Drums
were extremely dynamic with excellent resolution of the pad. Cymbals were also
crisp and clean. Sax had excellent texture and resolution for the tonguing
technique, and woodiness of the red. Soundstage was really big and imaging spot
on.
There ended up not being very many surprises in this part of
our annual headphone shootout. They all performed up to their price points. I
was a little surprised at the 1More Triple Driver. They appeared to be
aggressively priced for employing multiple drivers. Using multiple drivers
however did not provide quite as much detail as I was expecting. But they still sounded extremely good for
their price point, and would give headphones twice their price a run for the
money. They provided a sound signature that was just a tad on the warm side.
The JBL’s performed very well for their price point as far
as the sound goes. They were more neutral in sound signature. Highs were crisp
and clean, vocals were smooth and had great resolution of the texture. And the
bass had good depth and good authority. They did not quite sound as good as the
1More, but you have to remember that there was a lot of cost in the wireless
features. After all, not all of the cost went into the drivers. And add in the extra
feature of Google Assistant, and you get a great bang for your buck!
Master & Dynamics MW60’s also provided a more neutral
sound signature. Highs were crisp and clean with very good resolution. Vocals
were very smooth with very good texture and timbre. Bass also had very good
impact, detail and output. For the extra money, you do get a bit better
resolution, and an excellent build quality of all metal and leather that should
last for years.
The Audio-Technica’s while not built like a tank like the Master
& Dynamics are. Instead the money is put in the technology. Their True Motion
Drivers provide an excellent amount or resolution. The sound is taken to a new
level. The highs were crisp and clean, vocals smooth like honey with excellent
texture, and bass had very good low end extension and output. Resolution and
detail was excellent, and the soundstage really opened up, with imaging that
was spot on.
Last but not least, the E-MU Teak took the sound to an even
higher level! Not only is the polished teak wood gorgeous to look at, the aural
feast they provide will also leave a permanent smile on your face. And the
soundstage they threw was borderline holographic! Unfortunately, they’re not in
everyone’s budget based on their price point. But as Ferris Bueller once said…If
you have the means, I highly recommend it!
In conclusion, all of these models give a good value for
their price point. And the build quality of all of them is good enough to
provide a long life, some longer than others. Based on their design, features,
quality and performance, the 1More Triple Driver and the JBL Everest 710GA has
earned our Recommended Award, the Master & Dynamic MW60 and Audio-Technica
ATH-SR9 have earned our Highly Recommended Award and the E-MU Teak has earned
our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their
website at: www.1more.com, www.audio-technica.com, www.sg.creative.com, www.jbl.com, www.masterdynamic.com.
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