Bose TriPort Headphones

I've owned quite a few pairs of headphones and these are pretty high up there in terms of overall quality. One thing to note here is that you are definitely paying for that Bose name. The sound quality is excellent but there are other comparable headphones which have similar sound quality to these.

- Construction and Comfort
These headphones look nice. They have a metallic blue finish which is very trendy these days. More importantly, the top of the headband is padded with a stretchable material which fits comfortably on your head. The ear-pieces are lined with a rubber/leather/fake-leather material (can't be sure) which is very soft and comfortable. The size is a bit oval-shaped and they totally enclose my ears. This is comfortable but after an extended period of time, it can get hot in there.

- Sound Quality
Sound quality was measured using a standard CD walkman without any equalization settings turned on (flat response). Here are my observations. The treble is very well balanced with just the right amount of super-high frequency treble without all the mid-treble stuff which causes the ear-piercing. The sound is crisp but I've definitely heard crisper. The bass is not overpowering and is also well balanced. There isn't a ton of "kick" or thump, but most people probably wouldn't want any of that in a headphone. Headphones are for clean crisp sound which won't make you go deaf! The mids were reasonable. The mids could use a little tuning to get it up a little more but overall, moderately well balanced. Most people probably wouldn't have even one complaint about the sound quality of these headphones though. I also own a pair of Sennheiser HD540II headphones. In comparison, the Bose headphones are generally crisper but lighter on the bass. Additionally, the Sennheisers are definitely more comfortable. I use them for long home recording sessions and these are optimized for long use. Overall, the Bose headphones are a thumbs up.

- These Headphones are Great But There Are Others!

It's important to note that there are a ton of different headphones out there and each of them is built for a different purpose. Generally, consumer headphones are built for walkmans like the in-ear and wrap-around designs which are ideal for active environments. There are also the big headphone types, otherwise known as "cans," which are used by DJ's and private use in your home. The most common ones consumers see on the shelf are Sony's "Digital" line and various wireless headphones. The entry of the Bose headphones sets itself apart with exceptional quality which clearly blows away the standard on-the-shelf headphones. However, remember that there is a whole market dedicated to these types of high quality headphones because musicians and other media production professionals demand the absolute highest quality. For example, brands such as Sennheiser, AKG, Beyerdynamic, and Etymotic Research make excellent studio quality headphones which in many instances will blow away this pair of Bose headphones. The price of those headphones vary all across the board but it also depends on the type of headphone configuration, how much power you will be delivering to the headphones, and whether you will be using them in a room which demands silence. I suggest you look at www.headphone.com for lots of info on headphones.