Good Value in Wireless Headphones
Written: Aug 08 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very Sturdy, Good Value, Decent Sound Quality
Cons: Not Portable, Light Fuzz, Slight Discomfort
The Bottom Line: For low-end wireless headphone buyers, these JVC's are a real bargain. Decent sound, decent comfort, decent price, decent range.
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| bigredmachine's Full Review: JVC HA-W1000RF Consumer Wireless Headphones |
Well, I have had these headphones for going on a year now, so I think it is time that I write this opinion. First off, let me just say that I purchased these headphones for about $65.00 online to replace my old Koss set. I knew I wanted to pick up a set of wireless headphones and did some research to find the best mix of quality and value. The JVC HA-W100RF was the best model out there for me. I really recommend that unless you really want or need wireless headphones, go for corded. Corded phones provide a more consistent and clear sound and there is generally less hassle and more utility. That being said, on to the review:
1. THE WIRELESS ISSUE: The infrared type of headphones are a poor excuse for radio (like the JVC HA W100RF). I personally feel that if you are going to pay the extra money for the luxury of wireless headphones then you should be able to at least leave the room and retain sound quality. These headphones have no problem moving to the next room over and keeping similar sound quality. I often walk all over my apartment and rarely do I run into even a moderate amount of fuzz.
2. SOUND QUALITY: The sound output of these headphones is good (3 or 4 on a 5-point scale). There is a tiny amount of static that you can hear during lulls in the music, but you have to listen for it. If you listen to your music at a reasonable volume I doubt you will notice anything at all. If your music is really subtle (i.e. classical) or you are a music fanatic who is obsessed with crystal clear quality, then you might want to consider either a more expensive model or a corded set. For the average listener, sound quality shouldn't be an issue.
3. COMFORT: This was my biggest complaint. The headset is fairly big and heavy and has a strong grip to keep the thing on a listener's head. I wouldn't wear these things for more than an hour without stopping. I think if someone wanted to wear these things for an activity that required a longer use time than an hour (like a computer game) they would probably be better off with a more comfortable set (or speakers for that matter). And the fact that they are of the style of phones that surround your entire ear, if you wear these things for more than half an hour, they tend to heat up just due to body heat. If you are looking for comfort then please do yourself the favor and try on the sets at a store and get whichever feels best on you. Just for the record, I highly recommend open-ear headphones when dealing with comfort.
4. GENERAL USE AND DURABILITY: The batteries on these things last a while (at least 4 hours- I don't know if I haven't worn them for longer than that.) on a charge and I have never had a problem with them dying on me. As long as you keep them plugged into the recharge stand when you aren't using it, then I don't foresee any problems of that nature. The batteries themselves have lasted me the whole year, which has surprised me. The set is very sturdy and hasn't fallen apart or cracked or anything in the year of use I have given it. Also, due to the fact that these phones take a separate stand to operate, they aren't realistically portable. So that limits their range of use. I use mine mostly for my home stereo and computer. The tuning is a breeze. Just turn the knob on the headset until you hear music clearly and you are ready to go. The volume control on the headset is also a nice feature that comes in handy.
OVERALL: If you are looking to buy an inexpensive set of wireless headphones for a moderate amount of use at home, then these are probably a good investment. Comfort may be an issue for some people, but is not a major issue. Again, I stress that you start your headphone search by asking what you NEED in a headphone. Does it have to be portable? How long of stretches will you be wearing them for? Will they be comfortable during my use? How good of sound quality do you want? How much are you willing to spend? And for this product especially, DO YOU REALLY NEED WIRELESS?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bigredmachine
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Member: Lee Turner
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 2 members
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