Digital Life Awards 2015: The best headphones and earphones
PUBLISHED ONJanuary 30, 2015 1:00 AMByOo Gin LeeSherwin LohTrevor TanVincent ChangEbel TangJoshua Chen
Best headphones
Editor's choice:
Focal Spirit Classic
Focal, a French brand, may be better known for its premium hi-fi systems than headphones.
All the same, its Spirit Classic cans have been named Editor's Choice for Best Headphones.
The brand has already garnered accolades with offerings such as the Spirit Professional and Spirit One, and it is clear that the hi-fi heritage continues in the Spirit Classic line. For one thing, it features a balanced sound that is full-bodied and clear.
Nuances, such as the fading splash of a cymbal and staccato beats on a snare drum, can be detected easily. You will feel as though you are listening to a band or an orchestra performing right in front of you.
The headphones' tight fit help to block out extraneous sound and the memory foam on the earcups adapt to your ears over time, improving the listening experience.
The Spirit Classic fits well and looks great, with an anodised aluminium finish that ex
udes a premium and classy feel.
Reader's choice:
Sony MDR-1ADAC
62.6 per cent of total votes
Other finalists:
Sennheiser Urbanite XL
Plantronics BackBeat Pro
Samsung Level Over
Best earphones
Editor's choice:
Sony XBA-A2
Premium earphones have become something of a fashion accessory.
Sony chose to focus on sound with the XBA-A2, which is housed in an understated but attractive body.
The XBA-A2's dual balanced armatures and single dynamic driver help it to deliver deep bass, clear mids and crisp highs.
Sony recommends this model for listening to high-resolution audio and it is not hard to see why.
In our test, the earphones won us over with their detailed and balanced sound, performing brilliantly in many genres, from jazz and metal to hip-hop and electronic music.
These earphones also displayed an excellent soundstage - they provided an excellent sense of position, making it easy to locate every element within a recording.
Despite being mostly plastic, the earphones feel well-built thanks to thoughtful design elements such as soft-touch surfaces and a detachable cable.
Reader's choice:
Sony XBA-A2
63.2 per cent of total votes
Other finalists:
Klipsch R6 Beats
Powerbeats2 Wireless
B&O Play BeoPlay H3
Jabra Sport Pulse
This article was first published on Jan 28, 2015.
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