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Polk Audio’s Hinge Wireless on-ear Bluetooth headphones are designed to fold down for easy storage, like the name implies. At $199.95, they aren’t cheap, but bass lovers will love the powerful audio performance these unassuming on-ears pack. Booming lows are matched with crisp, bright highs, producing a sculpted sound signature intended to enhance modern mixes (but will likely turn off purists). Unfortunately, one very annoying design decision, a wheel-like control button, holds the otherwise-very-solid Hinge Wireless back.
Design
Let’s start with the positives: The Hinge Wireless ($58.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) have a simple, attractive look that folds down at hinges on the headband for compact stowing. They’re offered in bluish-gray and orange, off-white and brown, or black versions. It’s a bit of a surprise that Polk uses artificial leather instead of the real deal at this price range, but the faux-leather certainly does look and feel real, and plenty of users might prefer the more humane design. The supra-aural (on-ear) headphones are exceptionally comfortable, with plush earpads that feel barely there, and a headband that exerts just enough pressure to ensure a secure fit.
Now onto the problems: In a noble attempt to streamline the controls on the Hinge Wireless, Polk has designed a “three button control” that scrolls up and down like a wheel. It’s neither wheel nor button, but a confusing, poorly executed amalgam of both. Pressing it controls Play/Pause/Track Navigation and Call Answer/End, and those functions are all straightforward.
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The problems arise when you try to do anything else with this button. Hold it down for too long, and you will power down the headphones. This is an issue, because in order to adjust volume, you must hold the button down and press upward. In about 50 tries, I think I successfully raised the volume maybe five times. Usually, I either paused the track or powered down the headphones. Lowering the volume was somehow slightly easier.
The volume controls work in conjunction with the levels on your mobile device, not independently of them. If you don’t mind simply adjusting the volume on the device itself, then this becomes something of a non-issue, as the button functions that don’t involve scrolling up or down work just fine. Thankfully, there’s no scrolling involved for track navigation, playback control, or answering calls.
For $200 headphones, the Hinge Wireless feel light in the accessory department. They ship with a micro USB charging cable that connects to the right earcup. You also get a 3.5mm audio cable that connects to the left earcup and includes a normal three-button remote for when you want to use the headphones in passive, wired mode to save battery life (or when the battery’s dead). Beyond that, however, the cloth tote bag feels a bit un-luxurious for the price, and there’s no protective case.
Connecting with an iPhone 5s was a quick, simple process, and the headphones auto-pair quickly when powered up again after the initial pairing. The Hinge Wireless are also compatible with NFC-enabled devices. Polk estimates battery life to be roughly 12 hours on a full charge, but your results will depend on how loudly you play your music back. One note about the audio cable: It doesn’t power off the headphones automatically when you connect it, so you’ll have to make sure you’ve turned them off on your own if you want to save battery power.
See How We Test Headphones
Performance
At top, unwise listening levels on tracks with intense sub-bass, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the headphones deliver massive low-frequency response. The sound is dialed up in the lows and, to a certain degree, the highs. While the mid-range is not ignored, it certainly takes a backseat. The result is a bright, sculpted sound that will please fans of booming bass, but not those looking for a more accurate, flat response sound signature.
On tracks with little in the way of deep bass, like Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” the Hinge Wireless add noticeable low-end that makes the drums sound almost thunderous. Callahan’s baritone vocals, which need little help in the low-end department, get a boosting as well, resulting in what would be an overly rich, muddy experience, were it not for the sculpting of the high-mids and highs to balance it out.
The attack of the kick drum loop on Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild” gets enough high-mid presence to retain a sharp treble edge and slice through the mix, but its low-mid presence is also stronger than usual, and packs a powerful punch. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the drum loop sound as if they’re actually coming through a subwoofer; this is some truly boosted bass, but it is clean and well-defined. The vocals float brightly over the entire busy mix.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, pack far more bass than purists will want. The boosted low-end brings out the lower register instrumentation in a way that many listeners will enjoy, however, and the higher register strings, brass, and vocals still own the track. The headphones add some extra brightness and high-mid edge to counterbalance the deep lows.
If you’re a fan of powerful bass response, there’s very little to complain about the Hinge Wireless sonically. That said, the volume control design issues are annoying enough to lower the overall rating. The Editors’ Choice Harman Kardon Soho Wireless ($279.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) are very solid, bass-forward on-ear headphones with slightly better on-ear controls. The Sony MDR-ZX770BT ($169.95 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) and the AKG K545 , meanwhile, both offer slightly less low-end for a more balanced sound signature. If you’re looking for headphones with strong bass, but for less money, check out the more affordable Jabra Move Wireless ($29.95 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) .
3.5
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Bass lovers who can get past the clunky on-ear controls will enjoy the Polk Audio Hinge Wireless Bluetooth headphones.
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Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/polk-audio-hinge-wireless