It’s that time of the year when basketball teams are
finishing the last of their regular season schedules. That means March Madness
is soon to begin. Which also means that it’s time for our annual Headphone
Shootout. While teams in March Madness are ranked into seeds, products such as
headphones are given prices. But just as with March Madness, sometime products
perform better than their price points. We’ll see how this year’s Shootout
turns out.
As usual, this years Headphone Shootout is divided into two
parts: the over the ears, and the second part is the In-Ear Monitors. This year
the over the ears will be first. It includes the following models: Phiaton 900
Legacy + at $249 MSRP, Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless, with a $249 MSRP, JBL
Tour One M2 at $299 MSRP, Viwone Pure + with a $349 MSRP, and last but not
least PSB M4U 9 with a MSRP of $499. We will start at the lowest price point
and work our way up. Through this we will also see what is received as we move
up in price point.
The Phiaton 900 Legacy + came in a great looking color
printed box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a
well-protected headphone held in place in a nice zippered hard case. Materials
used in the construction was mostly plastic, earpads were leatherette and foam.
Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, were good. Also included
was the zippered hard case, charging cable, audio cable, and user manual.
Features and specs:
Communication Network: 5.1
Output Power: Power Class 2
Max. Communication Range: Discoverable within 10 m / 33 ft.
Music Play Time: 39 hrs / 43 hrs (NC on / off)
Call Time: Max. 39 Hours
Full Charge Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Fast Charging: Support 10 min Charging = 4 hrs Playing
Standby Time: Max. 320 Hours
Frequency Range: 2.4 GHz (2.402 GHz ~ 2.480 GHz)
Bluetooth Profile Support: HFP v1.7 / HSP v1.2 / A2DP v1.3.1
/AVRCP v1.6
Battery: Lithium Polymer DC 3.7 V / 1000 mAh
Microphone Frequency Range: 50 ~ 4,000 Hz
Microphone Sensitivity: -42 dB
Support Echo Cancellation and Talk Noise: cVc® Solution
Operating Temperature: -20 ~ 45
Size: 180 x 172 x 23 mm (H x W x D) / 7.1 x 6.8 x 0.9 inch
(H x W x D)
Weight: 256 g (0.56 lb)
Audio Codec: SBC, Qualcomm® aptX™HD, aptX™, AAC (If the
‘Bluetooth Device’ can not support Qualcomm® aptX™ or aptX-HD™ audio or AAC
mode, it will be connected with SBC mode.)
The Phiaton 900 Legacy + employs a good bang for the buck
design. While you get leatherette with basic foam in the earcups, you do get
Active Noise Cancelling, and touch controls on the outside of the earcup. There
are also hard buttons for power and Active Noise Cancellation. And while they
are light weight which can be interpreted as cheap, it seemed sufficiently well
made. And the zippered hard case will help protect it. Let’s see how they
sound.
Nat King Cole: LOVE – Vocals were pleasantly smooth, string
bass was really deep and played with authority. Hi hat was crisp and clean.
Piano sounded sufficiently natural. Violins were smooth with the bow going
across the strings. Trumpet was dynamic, clean and very good resolution of the
tone, as was the trombone. Imaging was good, and soundstage was both wide with
noticeable depth.
Guns N Roses: Patience – the whistling was silky smooth with
nice harmonics. Acoustic guitar strings were crisp and clean. Vocals were also
smooth with good resolution of the timbre.
Brandon Beal: Drop that Booty Down Low – vocals were smooth,
with good texture of the timbre. Bass beats were clean, smooth, and played with
authority. And when it dropped down low, the bass hit hard! It was clean,
extremely deep, and played with really good authority.
Next up is Beyerdynamic MMX 200. The Beyerdynamic MMX 200 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. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very
good. Also included was the detachable mic, charging cable, low-latency
wireless adapter, and owner’s manual.
TRANSMISSION TYPE: Wireless via Bluetooth®
EARPAD MATERIAL: Softskin, memory foam filling
REMOTE: Clickable control wheel
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE HEADPHONES: 32 ohms
WEIGHT HEADPHONES WITHOUT CABLE: 360 g
BATTERY RUNTIME: Up to 35 hours
HEADPHONE FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20 Hz – 20.000 Hz
NOMINAL SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL: 116 dB
SPECIAL FEATURES: Call Handling, Microphone Mute, Volume
Control, Augmented Mode
BLUETOOTH® VERSION: 5.3
SOUND COUPLING TO THE EAR: Circumaural (around the ear)
CABLE & PLUG: 2 m USB cable, wireless dongle with USB-C,
USB-C to USB-A adapter for PC, Bluetooth® 5.3
POLAR PATTERN FOR MICROPHONE: Cardioid
TRANSDUCER TYPE FOR MICROPHONE: Electret condenser -
Cardioid
Beyerdynamic is from a quality German manufacturer, known
for hi-end headphones. The MMX 200 is a quality headphone designed for gaming
and includes a low latency mode, yet retains its legacy studio quality sound.
It also includes high end features like detachable mic, and memory foam for
comfort during long gaming sessions. For the price you get a big bang for the
buck. Now let’s see how they sound.
Nat King Cole: LOVE – Vocals were very smooth with very good
resolution of the texture of the timbre. String bass sounds smooth like honey
and played deep and with authority. Hi hat was really crisp and clean. Piano
sounded very natural. Violins were smooth with the bow going across the
strings. Trumpet was very clean, dynamic, played with really good harmonics, as
did the trombone. Imaging was very good, and soundstage was both wide and
revealed very good depth.
Brandon Beal: Drop that Booty Down Low – vocals again were
smooth with very good texture of the timbre. Bass beats were clean, smooth and
played with authority. And when it dropped down low, the bass was extremely
deep and played with good authority.
Now it’s time for the JBL Tour One M2. It’s a quality
wireless headphone with ANC and the signature JBL sound. They came in a great
looking color printed box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the
box revealed a well-protected headphone, held in place in a hard zippered case.
The materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal like
in the hinges. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very
good. Also included was the hard zipper case, charging audio cables, flight
adapter, and owner’s manual. There’s also the JBL app.
Features and specs:
General Specifications
Driver size (mm): 40
Number of Microphones: 7
Audio Specifications
Driver sensitivity at 1kHz/1mW (dB): 117 dB SPL@1 kHz
Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 10 Hz - 40 kHz
(passive), 10 Hz - 22 kHz (active)
Impedance (ohms): 32
Dimensions
Earpiece Weight (oz): 9.6
Earpiece Weight (g): 278
Ear Cup External Height (in): 3.1
Ear Cup External Width (in): 2.4
Ear Cup Internal Height (in): 1.7
Ear Cup Internal Width (in): 0.8
Ear Cup Depth (in): 3.8
Ear Cup External Width (cm): 6.2
Ear Cup Internal Height (cm): 4.2
Ear Cup Internal Width (cm): 2.1
Ear Cup Depth (cm): 9.7
Audio Cable Length (ft): 1.2
Audio Cable Length (m): 3.9
Control and Connection Specifications
Bluetooth version: 5.3
Bluetooth profiles: A2DP 1.3.2, AVRCP 1.6.2, HFP 1.7.2
Bluetooth frequency: 2400 MHz – 2483.5 MHz
Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK , π/4-DQPSK, 8DPSK
Bluetooth transmitter power: <4 dBm
Battery
Charging time (hours from empty): 2
Maximum music play time with ANC off (hours): 50
Maximum music play time with ANC on (hours): 30
Maximum play time (hours): 50
I really like the design of the JBL Tour One M2. Not only do
you get the legendary JBL sound, it’s Hi-Res Audio Certified, and has True
Adaptive Noise Cancelling. Other features included are 4 mics for clear phone
conversations, using Smart Talk, and Personal Sound Amplification as well as
Personifi 2.0 which improves the sound based on your person hearing test and
which frequencies need to be boosted. This is controlled though the app, as
well as EQ settings and ANC modes. Now that it’s set-up, let’s see how they
sound.
Nat King Cole: LOVE – Vocals were smooth like honey with
very good resolution of the texture of the timbre. String bass was also smooth
and played both deep and with authority. Piano sounded really natural. Violins
also provided really good resolution, sounded natural with the bow going across
the strings. Trumpet was really dynamic and so crisp and clean as was the
trombone. Imaging was really good. And the soundstage was not just really wide but
had good depth as well.
Brandon Beal: Drop that Booty Down Low – Vocals were again
smooth with really good texture. Bass beats were smooth, really clean, and
played with really good authority. And when he dropped it down low, the
sustained bass was not only extremely deep, it shook like an earthquake!
Now it’s time for the Viwone Pure +. They came in a nice-looking
color printed box, with photos and specs of the headphones opening the box showed
a well-protected headphone, held in place by custom cardboard. Materials used
in the construction was mostly plastic with some metal. Such as metal in the
hinges for better quality and durability. Quality of material used, as well as
fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the charging and audio cables,
wired mic, USB adapter, owner’s manual and cloth bag.
Features and specs:
Bluetooth® Audio Formats: SBC | AAFC
Audio formats Internal memory: WAV | MP3 | WMA | FLAC | DSD
Supported Bluetooth® profiles: HFP 1.6 | A2DP 1.3.1 | AVRCP
1.6
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
Transducer: electrodynamic
Impedance: 40 Ohms
Sensitivity: 96 dB
The Viwone Pure + has a pretty cool design. Not only is it
wireless, it has 64 GB of wireless storage. That means you don’t need a source
for your music. Gym people, for example, can keep all their stuff in their
locker while working out, and only bring your headphones. So for source
material, there are options of internal memory, Bluetooth to your phone, or the
Viwone app. Another unique feature is the audio ports. It has an input so you
can listen to them wired if you run out of battery. But it also has an output
so you can share your tunes with someone else. Now that it’s set up, let’s see
how it sounds.
Nat King Cole: LOVE – vocals were silky smooth. String bass
was also smooth played extremely deep with really good authority. Hi hat was
really crisp and clean. Piano sounded very natural. Strings were also extremely
smooth with good resolution of the bow across the strings. Trumpet was
sufficiently dynamic, was clean with good harmonics, as was the trombone.
Imaging was very good and the soundstage was not just really wide, but also
nice and deep.
Last but now least is the PSB M4U 9. It came in a nice-looking color printed box with phots and specs of the headphone. Opening the box revealed a well-protected headphone held in place by a zippered hard case. Materials used in the construction is mostly plastic with some metal. The hinges are metal, for extra durability and longer life. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish, were very good. Also included was the zippered hard case, charging and audio cables, cloth earcups, airline adapter, 1/8” adaptor, and owner’s manual.
Frequency Response: LF Cutoff -10dB: 10Hz - 23KHz, LF Cutoff
-3dB: 15Hz - 23KHz,
Within ±1 1/2dB: 20Hz - 23KHz
THD, total harmonic distortion: ANC: ON (1kHz/1mW) 0.5%, ANC:
OFF (1kHz/1mW): 0.25%
Power Handling: Maximum 30mW
Impedance: Passive: 32 Ohms
Transducer Type: Dynamic, graphene-infused
Operating Principle: Closed
Size: 40mm
Connection: 3.5mm (1/8”) stereo jack (left or right), Bluetooth
aptX™ Adaptive, AAC, USB C
Cables: Standard Cable - 2m (78 3/4") Detachable
Tangle-free
USB Cable - 2m (78 3/4") Detachable Tangle-free
Battery Life: Wireless Active Mode: 25 hrs
Wireless ANC Mode: 18 hrs
Construction: Headband: Spring Steel
Driver Enclosure: ABS + Polycarbonate
Earpads/Headpad Cover: Leatherette and Cloth
Travel Case: EVA
Overall: 200 x 200 x 90mm (7 7/8 x 7 7/8 x 3 9/16”)
Ear Cushion Outside: 84 x 114 x 17mm (3 5/16” x 4 1/2” x
11/16”)
Travel Case: 180 x 220 x 98mm (7 1/16” x 8 11/16” 3 7/8”)
Net weight: 362g (12.8oz)0.9oz (25g) with cable
Shipping weight: 1.6kg (3.45lbs)
Cables: Standard Cable: 2m (78 3/4”) Detachable, braided
Tangle-free
USB Cable: 2m (78 3/4”) Detachable, braided jacket
Tangle-free
Finish: Jet Black
I love the design of the PSB M4U 9. Not only are they Active
Noise Cancelling, upon set-up they do a hearing test of each ear separately.
Once completed, a unique sound signature profile is created. Through the
included app, you can further tailor the sound to your liking. And with Roomfeel,
you can get the similar sound and soundstage of powered stereo hi-end speakers.
Through the app, you can also control the ANC settings, which include a
transparency one, so you can also hear the environment around you. Now that
it’s set up, let’s see how they sound.
Nat King Cole: LOVE – vocals were smooth like a dove bar,
string bass was also smooth and extremely deep and played with authority. Hi
hat was extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution. Violins had
excellent resolution of the bow across the strings. Piano sounded very natural.
Trumpet was extremely dynamic, with excellent resolution and amazing harmonics,
with similar performance from the trombone. Imaging was on a dime. Sound stage
was both very wide and with good depth.
Guns N Roses: Patience – whistling was smoother than honey, with harmonics that gave me goose bumps. Strings from acoustic guitar was extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution. Vocals also had excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre.
Brandon Beal: Drop that Booty Down Low – as mentioned
before, vocals were smooth like honey, with excellent resolution. Bass beats
were clear, smooth, played with great depth and authority. And when it dropped
down low, the bass was extremely deep, and was like an earthquake.
As far as sound signature goes, the Phiaton 900 Legacy+ is
pretty neutral, with good resolution and cuts a few corners on build quality
but gives you a hard zipper case. The Beyerdynamic MMX 200 provides very good
resolution thanks to their studio quality drivers, and has a neutral signature
that’s maybe just a hair on the bright side, yet manages durable construction
with comfortable memory foam for long listening/gamin sessions. JBL’s Tour One
M2 also has a neutral sound signature that maybe just a hair bright, with excellent
resolution especially for their price point, and manages to provide memory foam
for long listening sessions and metal in the hinges where it counts. Viwone’s
Pure+ is also neutral in signature thas maybe just a hair on the warm side,
with very good resolution just a hair behind the JBL but provides built-in
memory for your songs. Lastly the PSB M4U 9 is neutral in sound signature, with
excellent resolution, as well as memory foam and other unique features.
Now for the ANC and Bluetooth range tests. For the range tests we torture test it well above what it’s rated at, just to know it’s limits. Testing in my 2 story home with a basement, I set my smartphone in the basement see how far it’ll go before getting drops. Then I set it out on my front porch and see how far it’ll go in the open without any thick floors or walls between us. This tests it’s open air range, again much further than the rated specs. For ANC, I test it’s performance with a motor running in the background. This tells me what percentage of motor noise it can cancel. Now let’s see how they perform.
For ANC Phiaton worked both with ambient mode and ANC.
Ambient gave good sound of surroundings. ANC removed around 85%. The JBL had
similar performance. Ambient mode worked very well, as did ANC removing around 85%. PSB again had similar performance. Ambient
mode worked very good, and ANC removed around 85%.
For Bluetooth, Phiaton had no problems in basement with
multiple walls up to 50 feet. A couple glitches on main floor, but useable. Too
glitchy on the second floor. Outside a little glitchy at 100 feet, usable up to
125. Beyerdynamic had no problem with
multiple walls in basement and only one single glitch on main floor. 2nd
floor had more glitches and was questionable. Outside a single glitch at 125
feet, could have been random as good out to 200 feet. With JBL, starting from
the basement, only 1 glitch on the first floor and actually only 1 on the 2nd.
So usable even with all those walls and thick floors between us! Outside was
usable up to 150 feet. Viwone in the
basement, going through multiple walls in the basement wasn’t a problem. But on
the main floor enough glitches to make it questionable. 2nd floor was
too glitchy. Outside it was good up to 100 feet. Now with PSB, all of the basement walls were
not a problem. But on the main floor it got too glitchy and 2nd
floor was the same. Outside it was good to 100 feet.
All in all, in this year’s over the ear part of our annual
Headphone Shootout, there really wasn’t any surprises. The Phiaton 900 Legacy+
is a good starting point and provides good resolution for its price point. For
the same price the Beyerdynamic MMX 200 loses ANC, but it delivers slightly better
resolution along with use as a gaming headphone and much better build quality.
The slight increase to the JBL Tour One M2 is probably the slight surprise in
this group, providing the quality of sound closer to the PSB then it should at
such a lower price. The sound quality of the Viwone Pure+ is slightly inferior
to the JBL, and also lacks ANC, but does provide the unique features of 64 GB
of internal memory for your tunes. Last but not least the PSB M4U 9 provides
even better sound quality, with some advanced features.
Based on your budget all are good performers. Most also have
unique features, like the Beyerdynamic MMX 200 that doubles as a gaming
headset, the Viwone Pure+ has the built-in 64 GB of memory. And the JBL Tour
One M2 as well as the PSB M4U 9 both has a hearing test through the app to
tailor the sound to your hearing. Based on their design, features, quality, and
performance, the Phiaton 900 Legacy+ has earned our Recommended Award. The
Beyerdynamic MMX 200 and Viwone Pure+ has earned our Highly Recommended award.
And the JBL Tour One M2 and PSB M4U 9 has earned our Editor’s Choice Awards.
For more info and complete specs, check out their websites at www.beyerdynamic.com, www.jbl.com, www.phiaton.com,
www.psb.com, www.viwone.com.
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