Samson headphones are made by Superlux, which are
technically a knock of Audio Technica and AKG but bare with me, these
headphones are remarkable for the price.
To preface, I will not be fixating on specs of these
headphones, nor will I provide a numerical rating out of 5 or 10 because I
cannot boil down the pros and cons to a numerical weight; it just irks me to
think of it. I am particularly concerned
with and will discuss the, comfort, sound quality and features, yes features of
headphones. The SR850’s can be found for
$60-75.
The Samson SR850’s were the first good pair of headphones
I’ve owned that differed from the stock ear buds that came with my iPod
Classic. I purchased the SR-850 five years ago for $20 from a local audio shop
that is no longer in business. The SR-850
for the price of $20 is simply, a price-performance juggernaut. However, after 5 years the headphones have
increased in price by $55. So, are these
still a gem for the newly inflated price?
Comfort
Firstly, the pads are circular and made of pleather. Personally, I prefer an oval sized pad so my
ears fit entirely inside the cup.
However given the headphone’s 50mm drivers the circular pads were large
enough to fit most of my small ears inside the cup. The pleather material can result in sweaty
ears during long listening sessions. The
headphones have a relaxed clamping force. As an alternative you can buy HiFi Man velour
pads for $10, which are incredibly comfortable.
Similarly the headband is made of a thin piece of vinyl but the
headphones are relatively light, so much so that the headband wasn’t
pressuring.
Sound Quality
The sound quality is simply pleasing. The Sr850’s have a semi-open design, slightly
warm sounding headphone will superb clarity throughout the entirety of its
frequency response. There is a nice
extension in the bass, a detailed mid range and the highs are a tad
sparkly. Some may find the treble a bit
fatiguing, but personally I had no issue with them. Given the semi-open design these headphones do
have a wide soundstage. The soundstage
provides a nice airy sound and for the price its more detailed than you might
expect. These headphones have 32 ohms of
impedance and have a 98db for sensitivity, what does this mean? Well it means
your computer, phone or iPod can adequately power these headphones.
Features
To reiterate the design of these headphones is semi-open,
meaning sound is not only pushed in the direction of your ears when wearing
them, but is also pushed outward providing a more natural presentation and
detailed sonic imaging. The inevitable
leakage of sound from the open design make these less than ideal for public
use. Furthermore, the 8 and a quarter foot
of non-detachable cable make these slightly problematic for portable use. However there is always the option of braiding the cable, which I highly recommend for any electronic device where
the cable is too long for your liking. In addition, the
headphones do come with, a threaded 1/4 inch adapter for devices such as stereo
receivers, dedicated amplifiers, soundboards ect. Lastly, the headphones do not come with a
carrying case.
Conclusion
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These headphones were a steal at $20 and for $60, they still
hold up against other headphones in the $100-150 range. The semi-open design and large 50mm drivers
results in a wide soundstage with a pleasant bass extension which compliment
the smooth, detailed midrange and treble.
I highly recommend the Samson SR850 as an inexpensive and entry-level solution that
are easy to drive and can be used on most audio players.
