One problem after another...
Written: Mar 24 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good sound. In-line volume control.
Cons: NOT durable. Bad fit. Not portable.
The Bottom Line: Do not buy these headphones. They are are made of cheap plastic and are just all-around terrible.
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| greybeh's Full Review: Aiwa HPAV095 Consumer Headphones |
I admit that I am really tough on headphones. Usually, it's the cord connection that starts going bad. With these headphones, everything but the cord connection went bad, and I feel this is due to poor, cheap design more than any other factor.
I purchased these headphones for $14.99 plus shipping and handling. My boyfriend was urging me to try to find something a little more durable, and when I saw them online, I thought that they might be a little more durable than other headphones I buy often. What a terrible mistake!
I also thought that the cord-length and in-line volume control would make them more portable. Three strikes, and I'm completely out!
About three days after I got these, I dropped the bag that I carry them in (they aren't well protected in there, to be honest). The plastic that lets the left earphone grip onto the headband broke. I felt pretty forgiving and knew I wasn't all that gentle, so I just slid it back together and the headphone generally gripped my head well enough that the earphone didn't fall off.
I dropped them again, and this time, the damage was done. The headband broke near the right earphone, completely irreparable short of using duct tape. These things are made of terribly cheap plastic.
So, less than three weeks after I bought the headphones, they went into the trash.
Even though the sound was excellent, the headphones were cheaply made. My friend got them out of the box and said that he thought they were cheaply made.
There are a few other design flaws which I didn't mention. First of all, when I put the headphones on, I was unable to adjust them properly to fit my head. The top of the headband really isn't rounded, but is slightly squarish. The most comfortable way to wear the headphones left the headband actually pushing against the top of my head. I would loosen it, and the headphones would wobble and fall off my head.
The inline volume control is a nice feature in some headphones. Not in this pair! The volume actually is very difficult to adjust... There is so much resistance that you end up with the slider at one extreme or another (it's either at its full loudness or barely audible). The adjustment "box" is the most cheaply made "feature" I've ever seen in any set of headphones. It's barely there at all... Not much wider than the cord and so small that there really is no room for the slider to slide anyhow.
This headphone was really designed for use with a home-theater system. It is not at all portable, but I wouldn't recommend it for home use, either. It just is too cheaply made.
I like long cords, and really appreciated a set of headphones with an eight foot cord (made my Labtec). The cord on this set of headphones was so long as to be awkward. Even wrapped up, it hung awkwardly.
Personally, I have been very happy with Labtec headphones. Currently, I am using the Labtec Elite- 810 and have owned several pairs of Labtec C-110 headphones (both of which I plan to review). Labtecs are inexpensive, seem to be of slightly better than average durability, and have surprisingly good sound. Also, if you're looking for a good CD walkman, please see my review of the Sony D-FJ61 (the round version).
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
greybeh
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 0 members
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