A
beast on your head.
Teeny
tiny headphones are great for carrying around, to deliver a blast of
tunes whenever you need it. But lets face it, in-ear earbuds just
can't cut it in the performance stakes next to a chunky pair of
over-ear cans, and that is just what we're reviewing today. Let's
take a look at the Monster Elements Bluetooth Headphones.
This
is a pair of relatively large headphones with cans that sit
completely over your ears. The are wireless, using Bluetooth 4.0 with
an aptX profile to keep lag to an absolute minimum, but also feature
a traditional headphone jack for you to connect the included 3.5mm
aux cable, should you wish. They also come with a Micro USB to Micro
USB cable, so you can use your mobile devices data port to connect as
well, and also a standard USB cable for charging.
On
the right side can you'll find a single button, used for switching on
the headphones and also for pairing the Bluetooth. All other controls
are handled by a pretty innovative and swish touch control on the
pylon between headphone and head band. There is nothing to tell that
this particular region is special, it being completely void of
markings, but there is in fact a lot going on there.
Swipe
your fingertip up and down to control the volume level, while a
single tap will play or pause the track. Tap twice to skip to the
next song, or tap three times to go back a song. Its quite intuitive,
and as the touch panel is easy to find without looking (because the
headphones are on your head) it makes it easier to control the music
than using standard buttons, or reaching for your phone. The controls
can also be used to take calls, and as the headphones feature a
built-in mic, you can chat happily away. Nice touch, Monster.
Despite
their chunky size, the Monster Elements Bluetooth Headphones do fold
up somewhat, and come with a soft carry with an internal pocket for
the cables. As over-ear headphones go, the folded size isn't too bad
at all, and we can imagine them sitting very happily in your
commuting bag, without taking up too much space. The head band is
also soft and flexible, while the angle of the cans themselves can be
adjusted to find the most comfortable fit. The longest we wore them
for was about three hours in one go, and they were never too tight,
heavy, or uncomfortable.
In
use, they sound pretty awesome, with a leaning toward a full and
bassy sound. Over-ear headphones always sound more immersive, and in
fact this is the first such pair we've reviewed in a while, so were
happy to be reminded of that fact. Everything sounds crystal clear,
with vocals and highs coming in clean and crisp, and lows and bass
seeming to resonate down your spine. They do a great job of blocking
out ambient noise, helped in no small way by the soft cushions on
each can, so there isn't much need to up the volume all that much,
keeping the sound smooth and under control (although, thanks to the
cool touch controls, we loved playing around with the volume as much
as possible!).
So
they might be larger than you're used to, and a tad pricier, but the
versatility of the connection is a sure winner. Having to keep them
in carry case means you're already carrying around the aux and USB
cable anyway, so even if you don't fancy setting up the Bluetooth (or
are connecting to something without it) you have the option straight
away.
Deep,
rich sounds, comfortable on your noggin', and innovative controls...
we like them a lot.
£199.95