[ad_1]
For a long time, sub-$100 headphones simply couldn’t reproduce bass response, but now $50 headphones can offer a powerful low-end. At $59.95 (list), the Eskuché Control V2 delivers some of the most thunderous, deep bass—with no distortion—that we’ve seen in this modest price range. Throw in the stylish retro look and comfortable fit, and the V2 seems poised to become a must-have for bass-lovers on a budget. However, for every bit of bass the Control V2 offers, it lacks just as much high-mid and high frequency presence. Even for bass fans, this unbalanced, muffled sound is a hard sell without that treble clarity.
Design
The lightweight Control V2 , with its rounded rectangular earpieces and cloth cable, has a decidedly retro look available in a variety of colors. Though described by Eskuché as on-ear headphones, the earpads of the V2 are large enough to fit around the ear a bit; they feel not-quite supra-aural (on-ear) and not quite circumaural (around-the ear), but somewhere in-between. Regardless, they are comfortable for the most part, with ample padding in the ear cushions and on the underside of the headband. The earpieces slide down metallic rods on either side of the headband to adjust to fit. A three-button remote control and microphone sits on the cable, which connects to the left earpiece. The remote offers playback and volume control, as well as track navigation.
Performance
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like the Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the V2 delivers some serious low-end performance. At top (unsafe) listening levels, the V2 delivers bass so powerful you feel the earpieces vibrating, but even then it doesn’t distort. At moderate levels, the deep bass presence is still there, but the high-mids and high frequencies seem a little muffled.
Bill Callahan’s “Drover” more or less confirms this. While the drumming on this track receives enough low-end to sound almost thunderous, his baritone vocals sound a bit too heavy in the lows and low-mids. There’s very little definition in the high-mid frequencies to balance this out—so instead of the mix sounding crisp with complimentary deep lows, it just sounds overly bass-heavy.
Similar Products
Jays v-Jays
Read Our Jays v-Jays Review
Skullcandy Crusher
Check Stock
(Opens in a new window)
Read Our Skullcandy Crusher Review
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Read Our Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Review
Scosche Lobedope SHP451M
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Read Our Scosche Lobedope SHP451M Review
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the V2’s lack of treble edge means that the attack of the kick drum loop, which at its best is sharp enough to slice through the dense mix, sounds dulled. It’s not lacking any power in the bass department, however, and neither do the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat. The vocals on this track sound less muddy than Callahan’s; they could still use more high-mid presence to get them out in the forefront of the mix, but the range of every vocalist on this track is higher, and thus less susceptible to muddiness.
Classical tracks like John Adams’ “The Chairman Dances” also sound muffled through the V2, as if the higher register strings were covered by a blanket. Meanwhile, the lower register strings are delivered with a serious added bass push that puts them center-stage in the mix, creating a pretty unnatural sound field.
To call these headphones a bass-lovers dream just because they can deliver thunderous low-end without distorting would be inaccurate. Bass fans may like a slightly exaggerated mix in the lows, but I think most still prefer the presence of crisp high-mids and highs to maintain a sense of balance. The V2, while powerful, is one of the least balanced headphones I’ve tested recently. If you’re after a more balanced sound, both the Jays v-Jays and the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro($94.95 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) deliver a more accurate mix. If it’s simply big bass you’re after, but you’d like it with a dose of high-mid definition, the Skullcandy Crusher($99.25 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) lets you adjust bass levels, while the extremely affordable Scosche Lobedope SHP451M($43.10 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) delivers a punchy mix without eliminating the clarity of the high-mids and highs.
[ad_2]
Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/eskuche-control-v2
