Review: Samson SR850

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

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.