Best budget headphones

For those who don't want to spend too much on headgear limit their budget but still want wide soundstage and crispiness, Lets find out below
what are the options

Below 50$
1. Monoprice 8320 IEM

Price : $7- $9 (amazon)
Pros:
amazing soundstage
mids
honest,
balanced,
natural sound that is very musical
unbeatable price

Cons:
No accessories,
No packaging,
Big housing may hurt small ears.

Verdict : For $7 they are way more value than many others :)

2. Panasonic RPHJE355K

Price: $18 (amazon)
Pros:
beautifully balanced.
Bass was decent enough,
but the clarity was excellent

Cons:
so so looks
looks cheap

Verdict: get them for their clarity

3. SoundMAGIC E10

Price: $34 (amazon)
Pros:
2 time whathifi award winner
excellent BASS
stylish
it looks and sounds as good as many more expensive sets
Treble and mids are not compromised
loudest earphones

Cons:
slightly harsh at high volumes

Verdict : pefect Allrounder with varsatile BASS and fun to listen

4.Koss Porta Pro

Price : 36$ (amazon)
Pros:
True classic
Good soundstage
crisp and natural

cons:
semi open
hair gets caught in headband

Verdict : love or hate them best sound quality for their price.

Audio technica ATH-M20, Philips cityscape, Brainwavz M2 to M5 can be looked into.

Below 100$:
1. Shure SE215

Price: 80$ to 99$
Pros:
Good mids,
decent bass,
great build,
removable cable,
isolation,
comfort

Cons:
May not fit some people,
removable cord socket can get flimsy

Verdict: wow and amazing words suit for these.

2.HEAD-DIRECT RE0

Price: $79 ( there is sale for 49$ @ head-direct site)
Pros:
Clarity,
Transparency,
Neutrality,
Treble extension,
Bass Extension,
Value for Money

Cons:
Bass Impact
fragile
not loud enough for some people

Verdict: If you like neutral signature definitly these are for you. Bass head just ignore :)

3. Monster Turbine In-Ear Headphones

Price : 80$ to 149$
Pros:
Good bass,
sound stage,
durable,
3 year warranty,
lots of accessories,
tangle-free cord,
isolation

Cons:
Heavy,
hard to get a good fit

Verdict: fun to listen IEM with good BASS presence

Jays Android Control

Headset maker Jays launched their android control app by installing it you can do following
Discover loads of more features with JAYS Headset Control^TM app for Android. With this app you can now turn your a-JAYS One+ into a fully customized multi feature control. Play/pause music, change volume, skip songs, manage calls and much more all in one app - and all with one headset button. And of course it’s free.

More details and how to use screenshots are on below link
http://www.jays.se/android

New headphones for android

Polk audio announces 3 new Ultra fit headphones for android.
they will range from 70$ to 100$ price.
one of the looks like sennheiser PMX60.
The new series will have full functionality with android devices
music controls
volume control
microphone
1.

The $69 UltraFit 100a features an in-line three-button remote control and microphone and two tangle-free, planar audio cables which terminate with a standard 3.5mm connector. It is available in black/red or white/gray and includes a 14-inch cable, three pairs of StayFit silicone tips and a vented protective case.

2.

The $69 UltraFit 2000a features the same controls, along with a tangle-free planar cable, “airframe” design and reflective wraparound headband (perfect for joggers!). This model is available in black/red and white/orange with zippered protective case, one pair of silicone ear pads, two pair foam ear pads and one pair of cold-weather shearling ear pads.

3.

Finally, the step up $99 UltraFit 3000a in-ear headphone offers two tangle-free planar cables, and is available in black/red, white/gray and white/orange with a zippered, vented protective case. It has an extra long 41-inch cable plus 14-inch cable, and comes with three pairs of StayFit silicone tips, two pairs of StayFit three-flange silicone tips and three pairs of memory-foam tips.

F&D E200 review

Reviewing my old speakers seems to be fun :) . This time its portable laptop speaker (soundbar). Its tiny soundbar 2.0 speaker system.

Look and Feel:
not that big or not that small apt for 15 inch laptop same length as it looks cool with any laptop. It has 3.5 mm jack and usb power cable to it. And there volume control right side of the bar which also has power indicator around which creates nice look to it. The light isn't that bright so it wont disturb you in the night.
Price : 800Rs (flipkart,snapdeal)

How is it?
This sound bar works with USB power and produces 1W RMS output.
The sound doesn't astonish or create surprizes but its worth every penny you spent. Loud enough for travel and movies and music. Lows and mids are good. Size is small but you don't feel anything lacking.

Cons:
Highs or at high volume levels sound breaks and you cant listen.
when used with out power, drains out laptop battery little faster.
you cant clip like logitech clip sound bar but for you have to spend extra
700 bucks.

Verdict : nice to have it if your laptop speakers sound medicore :)

Sony SRS D5 Review

Recently haven't bought any new things so wanted to review my old desktop 2.1 speaker system (which is currently in production) Sony SRS D5.

Look and Feel :
Package is simple which includes
1 Subwoofer with Amplifier
2 Satellites
Connecting cables
power cable
3.5 MM jack
Price : 2600 RS or 40$

As per package it weighs around 5kgs only available in Black colour no other options. Looks not that bad everything looks reasonable in size. Controls are placed on one of the satellite and it has all the wire connections too. I don't say its hassel free connections but better than many in the range. No sd card or usb support. There is volume control and Bass control too, no remote. But as for the price couldn't expect much.

Sound Quality:
As the product description says the sub has some punchy (boomy) bass. The built in amplifier works very well and sound is pretty clean for its price. when you make the bass to its maximum and put a bass heavy(dubstep may be) song it kinda sounds bloated and dominates the trble and vocal. Otherwise even the highs sound good on this speakers.
40W RMS output is good enough to fill my room. It has headphone jack too. I have tested it by connecting to my mobile and music player works very well doesn't sound nay distorted. base is the plus point and suits for genre's. The bass doesn't disturb the soft songs or melodies, they sound fabulous too

Cons:
Power cord is short.
At maximum BASS level sometimes you feel bloated.
Volume is low when we use with ipods and mobiles.


Conclusion:
At this price point best system for PC. All other brands doesn't offer this sound quality. If you are in this budget and looking for 2.1 get this one you won't regret.

Digizoid ZO2.3 Personal Subwoofer Review

It's been a month since I received my personal subwoofer as a gift. I think now is the good time to review it.

Where to buy?
Digizoid official online shops ships to all the countries with fed-ex, it costs around 119$ + shipping
But best bought at
99$ - amazon.com
79GBP(UK) - Amazon.co.uk

Package & Accessories:
small & simple -- shows that the makers are proud of the creation only amplifier + micro usb charger + 3.5 mm connector. But thats what we all need to unleash boom boom and bang bang in ears. Comes small compact and slim box.

Length – 7cm

Width – 3.8cm

Depth – 1cm

weight - 26.6 grams

The amplifier 2 and 1/2 inch long and as slim as ipod shuffle that means no hassels carrying around. smaller than credit card and as thinner as my phone galaxy s II.

Almost forgot there is a mannual inside how to start and connect amplifier and mentions about 32 modes it has :)

Compatibility:

I used it with my phone s II, laptop and mp3 player works very well with all of them. didn't break the sound or distortion.

Sound:
I am not deep into sub bass or mid bass or something else dunno all those terms. when I connected firstly sII + Zo2 + Brainwavz HM5
I was blown away by the bass improvement. It was in high gain mode
which is colored pink on the amp(default). Because generally HM5 isn't bass heavy it has some punch but its definitly lacking but taking it 56 ohm impedance consideration and easy to drive nature the bass was punchy and awesome.

To start using:
pretty simple taku zo2 headphone and 3.5mm connector. place one end of 3.5 mm connector on zo2 one port where music symbol written and insert your headphone jack into the port where loud speaker symbol is there. connect another end of 3.5mm cable to audio source.

Ease of operation just only 3 ports & one button
1 audio source port
1 audio out port (headphone)
1 charging port

To switch it on just push in the button it will turn on LED to RED color. again you push in it will show you Pink on LED light

RED - high bass mode
Pink - High gain mode

as they mention in mannual they have 32 modes one for headphone one for iphone one for 5.1 But i got this for BASS for my headphone so I just use it with high gain mode.

When in red light if you turn the knob on right side to down it reduces BASS and if you do that by holding 5 secs it will be yellow which is no BASS mode.

When in pink if you turn the knob down for 5 secs it will go from purple to blue which from high gain to low gain. low gain modes are for iphone not quite sure what it does.but if you again wanna go to PINK high gain mode just hold the knob upwards for 8 secs LED will go PINK. just keep in mind that volume should be low because it doubles up the volume with high gain mode(200%).

Coming to the overall sound I used it with HM5 and klipsch x10 and low end sony ex-85. HM5's BASS was definitly improved and punchy. I was watching a movie and all the explosions like happening infront of me. it didn't degrade any of the trble or the clarity. But there was slight hiss at higher volumes.

With X10 iems as we know they are already loaded with impressive bass after connecting to zo2 it ha dmore tighter BASS not bloated or muddy.
a10 is an analytical iem with BASS. zo2 didn't spoil the experience but I fell improved a lot on movie watching side. I love to have the zo2 while watching a movie. recently was watching movie end of watch and loved it :)

Conclusion:
I would definitly recommend zo2 for the listners who definitly need BASS and those who already have bass heavy IEMS dont think that this will spoil the experience because it definitly does its smart vektor magic and improve the quality. But it comes with some cons, I don't feel using it when listening to melodies. I will try to get one FIIO E11 because people
say FIIO E11 + Zo2 (warm+BASS) works very well. :)

Best Bass head headphones

I like this article from headphonescout.com and added my thoughts to it.

Everyone has those moments where they think to themselves, “I wish these headphones had more bass!” – or at least I think most people do. Hopefully after browsing through these recommendations, you won’t have to say that to yourself anymore, as you will have a headphone capable of delivering those goods.

You will see that I have categorized each headphone. They are not necessarily self-explanatory so here are quick descriptions:

• Pure Basshead: The focus is largely placed on the low frequencies. The mids and highs are recessed.
• Versatile: There is a clear emphasis on the bass but the mids and highs are not overpowered.
• Aggressive: The sound signature is not particularly warm and does not chase smoothness.

[Disclaimer: these recommendations are not comprehensive. Instead, we have tried to find something for everyone while keeping the lists short. At the same time, this is a living document so let us know what we're missing!]

In order of increasing price:( from budget to which can create hole sto ur pocket)

JVC HA-FX101 – $15 (Pure Basshead)

After making several improvements in sound over the HA-FX1X, I can finally recommend the Xtreme Xplosivs as solid entry-level bass-monsters. The frequency response is seriously V-shaped with insanely powerful (and well-controlled) bass, recessed (and unfortunately a bit muddy) mids, and energetic (but peaky) highs. They are very fun headphones for rap, drum & bass, and dubstep but they sound downright unacceptable for most other genres. Available in red, pink, violet, blue, black, and green (FX101G is the green model for example). [Buy at Amazon]

Can be for those who need boom boom for less bucks

Soundmagic E10 / E10M – $35 (Versatile) (I strongly Recommend them)

The E10 has the potential to be one-and-done purchase, especially thanks to the built-in microphone which only costs an extra $10. The bass is powerful enough to satisfy bass-heads, but not so overpowering that it takes complete control of the music. The mids and highs are surprisingly clean and detailed but the bass still steals the show. The presentation is warm and forward which pairs well with all types of music. Also available in red, gold, and purple. [Buy at Amazon]

 If you have I product E10M mic can be useful.

MEElectronics SP51 / SP51P – $45 (Versatile)

The “Sound Preference” SP51 lacks the raw bass power and clarity of some of the headphones lower down on this list, but the overall sound is very pleasing. The Sound Preference system is identical to that of the Hippo VB where you have three interchangeable plates that you can use to tweak the sound (MEElec dubs the plates “balanced”, “enhanced bass”, and “extreme bass”). While they have this feature in common, they are very different sounding headphones. The VB is dry and aggressive in style while the SP51 is smooth and warm. The soundstage is impressive, rounding it out as a very solid choice in the sub-$100 category. [Buy at Amazon]

Can be good bet.

Sony MDR-XB500 – $50 (Pure Basshead) (Dont like the design much but if you are not bothered with those heavy cans recommended)

Without hesitation, I can say that the Sony XB500 is the one of the best bang-for-your-buck bass-head headphones. They are absolute bass monsters once you EQ them. The mids are forward (if a tiny bit shy) and the highs are definitely recessed and dampened a bit. They can give you the awesome feeling that you have sub-woofers strapped to your head with the right songs. Comfort is good thanks to the large fluffy ear pads, clamping force is average, and they offer above average isolation. They do lack definition throughout all frequencies, but audiophiles don’t call them a guilty pleasure for nothing! If you are willing to expand your budget a bit, the XB700 is worth a look but it is not an out-and-out improvement. The XB500 has punchier bass while the XB700 delivers more sub-bass rumble. If you are unsure which to get, the easiest way to find out is to try both! Many companies offer free returns these days. [Sony XB500 Review] [Buy at Amazon]

Fischer Audio Eterna – $70 (Versatile)

The Eterna houses a sound similar to the cheaper Soundmagic E10 but with significantly more thickness. The bass power is shy of the Hippo VB but is slightly ahead of the E10 and SP51. The mids are warm, full-bodied, and emphasized a step behind the bass.  The treble is impeccably smooth and relaxing but lacks the fine details. The Eterna’s biggest improvements over the E10 are actually non-sound related: better build quality, comfort, isolation, and accessories. The soundstage is also bigger but because of the overall thickness, the Eterna lacks any sort of pinpoint accuracy. All in all, the Eterna is a very fun headphone and it nails the “versatile” bass-head sound.

If you want quality audio with great amount of bass get them

Hippo VB – $80 (Aggressive)

The VB pumps out gobs of bass with hi-fi precision (better than any earphone under $250), but the mids and highs are not recessed like most of  the other headphones on this list. Another unique characteristic of the VB is its Variable Bass system (hence the name). The earphones come with three metal plates that can be screwed on to the back of the housings, and each one slightly modifies the sound.

The frequency response is V-shaped, meaning that the bass and treble are emphasized. The bass is unfairly good for the price, but it does not go after smoothness or thickness as many other bassy headphones do. Instead it is very revealing, displays excellent texture, and packs a huge punch. The mids are clear and accurate, but may sound thin to some. The treble is forward and crisp, but may sound harsh to people who are sensitive to treble. The resulting sound is raw, aggressive, and energetic. [Full Hippo VB Review] [Buy at Jaben]

M-Audio Q40 – $120 (Versatile)

The Q40 has the best bass in a full-sized headphone of this price. It is powerful and well-textured all the way to the sub-bass frequencies. The mids are full-bodied and the treble never sounds harsh. It was designed as a studio monitor but does not need to be restricted to studio use: they fold up nicely and isolate well enough for use as an everyday portable set. They do come with a long cord (9 ft) but it is detachable so you can easily find a shorter replacement one. You may find comfort to be the weak point of these headphones, but there are several modifications you can try to improve them in this aspect (earpad replacement, cotton stuffing, etc). [Buy at Amazon]

Value for money headphones

Ultrasone HFI-580 – $125 (Aggressive)

The HFI-580 is a great introduction to the Ultrasone sound. Powerful bass, clear mids, and energetic highs. I think the HFI-580 is very underrated, mostly because it is not the “safe” choice compared to the all-too-often-recommended ATH-M50. But the 580 has made it to this list for a reason, and the M50 did not: the 580 delivers much more low-end punch with added texture as well. The HFI-580 is a very versatile headphone but the bright treble and edgy presentation will make it love or hate. As I have mentioned before, the great thing about big online retailers these days is that returns are painless, and with that considered I think the HFI-580 is well worth a shot. [Buy at Amazon]

Klipsch Image X10 – $160 (Versatile)

The X10 eeks out as much bass as it can from its balanced armature driver and delivers surprisingly big bass (more than any other single BA earphone). The full-bodied mid-range is placed clearly in the foreground and is almost emphasized as much as the bass. Treble is smooth but is clearly played down. Clarity and detail are where the X10 set itself apart from the sub-$100 options. The X10 passes as an excellent do-it-all IEM for those with a bass-oriented yet analytical mindset. [Buy at Amazon]

 I have them and love the way they sound :)

Audio Technica Pro700 MK2 – $175 (Pure Basshead)

The Pro700MK2 is the king of Pure Basshead headphones. Those ready to throw versatility out the window and revel in the world of massive bass can stop their search here. The bass quantity falls just short of the XB500 yet manages much better definition all the way down into the sub-bass region. Headphones with less bass quantity are typically better in terms of speed and precision, so that is a trade-off decision that has to be made. The mids and treble are super recessed, giving the Pro700MK2 a supremely dark sound signature. It somehow manages to make even the AiAiAi TMA-01 and Sennheiser HD 650 sound bright in comparison. Clarity lovers will find much to be desired in the mids and highs, but for those seeking out maximum bass capabilities, the Pro700MK2 is the ticket. [Buy at Amazon]

Ultrasone Pro 900 – $400 (Aggressive)

The Pro 900 delivers huge quantities of bass (almost as much as the Pro700MK2) but with no bleed into the mid-range, giving it a very clean sound. The mids are recessed and the treble is forward and sparkly. It sounds awesome with typical bass-head music such as electronica and hip-hop, but those sensitive to treble might want to stay away, although the Kees mod helps reduce the harshness. Compared to the XB500, there is less sub-bass but more mid-bass. [Buy at Amazon]

Sennheiser IE 8 / Sennheiser IE 80 – $400-$450 (Versatile)

These two headphones are almost identical and and carry a somewhat typical bass-head sound signature with the exception of their enormous soundstage, which is a highlight of the earphone. It expands out in every direction and imaging is ridiculously good. Their spaciousness contrasts the forwardness of the other headphones on this list. The bass is very powerful and expectedly superb for this price. The quantity of bass can be adjusted with the 5-setting bass knob on the outside of the earphone. Notable is the fact that the low end can keep up with very fast bass lines with no problem. The mids and highs sound recessed due to the low end beefiness, but these frequencies are commendable in their own respects. The mids are thick and laid back while the treble is well-extended but void of any sibilance. The IE 80 is the newer model and delivers slightly better detail, clarity, and more sub-bass, but at the expense of some mid-bass quantity.  Both these headphones are very unique bass-head earphones and certainly worthy of a top recommendation. [Buy at Amazon]

You can tune the bass manually, one of the best earbuds around.

Unique Melody Merlin – $800 (Versatile)

The UM Merlin devours the IEM competition when it comes to the bass quality/quantity combination. It uses a hybrid configuration with a dynamic driver dedicated solely to the bass. The impact of the bass is resemblant of the vigorous Hippo VB but with improved realism and clarity. The Merlin, like the VB, doesn’t house your typical bass-head sound signature. Instead it has a thick midrange, clear and airy treble, and the powerful bass acts more as a third party rather than a spotlight. Note that these are custom IEMs, so you will have to make a trip to the audiologist to have a set of impressions made. [Buy at Unique Melody US]

JH Audio JH16 – $1,150 (Aggressive)

No budget? Consider the JH16. The sound signature is not typical bass-head (it is actually close to analytical), but the reproduction of the bass is simply uncanny and any bass-head would be able to appreciate it. It features a whopping four drivers dedicated to bass on each ear (that is not a typo) and they have the capability to sound like a full-size sub-woofer. Interesting is how despite the four bass drivers, it manages to keeps a good sonic balance with the mids and highs. The speed and punch of the bass is fantastic, arguably the best in any in-ear headphone, and it remains well contained. Mids are neutral and smooth. Treble is bright and crisp. Note that these are custom IEMs, so you will have to make a trip to the audiologist to have a set of impressions made. [Buy at JH Audio]

klipsch x10 review

Whats in the box?
image x10, 1/4 adapter, airplane adapter, 5 sets of gels and hard case.

Design:
I love the design of klipsch x10's, one of the coolest looking earbuds. I don't think there is a smaller earbud than this. small yet powerful. even the gold and black combination looks cool. kudo's to klipsch design team for that. I like the hard case given with the package because these are very tiny can be misplaced or put some weight on it so always keeping them in case helps and it looks robust

Cons:
cable is slightly tangle prone and not sure how the strain releif works.

Comfort & Isolation:
extremely comfortable when you wear them. They fit very well to my ears and I just us ethe default M size gels. They sit very well in the ear. I didn't try all the gels but there are 5 pairs of them.
they look very tiny in hands and when you are walking people don't know you are wearing them unless they see the cable :).
They are tiny but blocks the outside noise very well. Isolation is best I have seen with earbuds. Almost blocks 98% of outside noise when you are at work and home. I travel on bike can block 80% noise. the isolation is very very good.

Audio Quality:
I spent quality time with them after they are into my hands
Pros:
treble - handles very very well
wide soundstage
strong bass presence
good with all genres

Cons:
little harsh at full volume and can harm your ears

when I started to listen to them they sit inside the ear so don't need louder volume ( generally i listen at 7 or 8 now at 5 or 6 with x10). First utterly impressed with its presentation and treble. I listned to nirvana and beatles and some melodies everything sounded near perfect to me.

It has strong bass presence but not overpowered or muddy. Its versatile I have to say about the bass of klipsch X10. Now these are my primary IEM for listning and I love them. Just be careful at higher volumes
X10 has wide soundstage and instrument seperation is great. Sound is crisp and natural with every kind of song I had listen to. You cound try double flanges and isolation at 100% deep in ears.

Value & Conclusion:
They are worth every penny unless bought below 170$ price tag.
If you coolest looking and great sounding pair of IEM's get these you will be impressed.

Indian listeners: get A.R rahman songs in flac and listen ... waaahhhh!!!!

Klipsch x10

Finalllllyyyyy ... wait is over my klipsch image x10 arrived yesterday :) ....
first impressions are superb will post a review with pictures soon.
My personal subwoofer DIGIZOID Zo 2.3 is on its way :)

bassy IEM + digizoid = awesome ;)

Coming sooon

more gadget reviews coming soon ... as part of black friday and cyber monday bought digizoid Zo2.3 personal subwoofer and klipsch x10 audiophile in ear headphones. reviews will be posted once the burn in reaches good time :)

Brainwavz HM5 review

Why I got interest in less popular choice?
I like the neutral sounding headphones clissic example would be sennheiser HD650 --> the most popular choice for that and HD600 too.
but my budget was not any closer to them. I was on quest to get a pair which can sound nearly neutral to them within my budget.

What research told me?
going through head-fi (most people's R&D for their headphone)  or headphones.com or google. but not that easy to get one for less than 200$ even for in ear we could go for Hifiman RE-0 or RE-zero or RE - 262.
But for closed ear can nothing much out there. I came across Fischer audio FA-003 which got rave reviews in this area.

So why the brainwavz?
I tried to get a pair of FA-003 but I donno what that russian company is doing out of stock every where. tried hard but nio use the got to know the brainwavz HM5 is replica of FA-003 and specifications are same. Did my R&D on HM5 less number of reviews but very good one's.
it has been awarded neutral champ every where.

Where to Buy?
MP4nation brainwavz's official online shop which ship's across the world free or fedex with charge.
USA - Amazon or ebay
UK - amazon
India - pristine note
Note: I got it from MP4 nation and they ship as they specify in site. it took 24 days long time to reach me free shipping with tracking as they mentioned 15 to 45 days and depends on customs. (they sent in a 20$ gift pack so package was good and no extra custom charges)

Build and accessories?
the package includes a set, 1.2M cable and 3M cable , 1/4 adapter and extra earcups too(how nice). they are solid built but very light weight.

How do they sound?
Neutrality is as stated, these headphones are extremely flat, but I do have some problems with bass, nothing too great, but it is noticeable. The mid range sometime comes to life due to its instrument separation, sound stage is very nice for closed headphones, as Brooko stated, in a concert, you would be in the first row. Not the most detailed headphones, but detailed enough.