Harman Kardon CL Precision On-Ear Headphones with Extended Bass
Update (Received 15th June) : After trying on the set, I think this is only for people who have either extremely small head or have a IRON Head and Ears. The clamping force is terrible ! Your ears feels like they're being deprived of blood and your skull seems to be collapsing after prolong usage(>1hrs). I wouldn't pay more than what I had paid(under $100) for the design and quality of the headphones though. Also, there is a thing to note, the wire comes with a apple vol control. However, if you use the cable on a laptop, you will hear distant sound. You have to press the SPEAK button on the control for the sound to become the intended sound. So the only way you get to enjoy the headphones is to TAP DOWN the "Speak" Button. Yes.. They should have an alternative set of cable for the laptop users.
Engineered to Outperform.
Harman Kardon CL headphones feature an exclusive acoustic system that integrates superb mechanical design, materials, and electronics. User-exchangeable bows, self-adjusting housings, soft leather cups, and slow-retention ear-cup foam ensure a comfortable fit and an optimal acoustic seal on the ear. Uniquely baffled 1-5/8" (40 mm) drivers enable the CL to outperform other headphones in extended bass response. Sandblasted steel frames and black matte housings create an iconic, modern aesthetic. A blend of sophistication and simplicity, the lightweight, comfortable CL headphones are part of the first-ever line of Harman Kardon headphones. Now you can take beautiful sound with you wherever you go.
Sophisticated, Modern Design
Harman Kardon CL headphones offer high-tech performance wrapped in an elegant package and interface. With its blend of sandblasted steel and black matte housings, the CLs’ design and function complement Apple products while reinforcing the sophisticated elegance of the Harman Kardon brand.
Optimized Sound Quality
High-performance 1-5/8" (40 mm) drivers produce an excellent frequency response (16Hz – 20kHz) for a natural tone. The wide dynamic range reproduces music with realism. A unique baffle creates air flow that extends low frequencies. The CL headphones also incorporate a bass tube that functions like a tuned bass port. It boosts bass performance and helps the headphones produce exceptional bass response at any volume level. As a result, CL headphones provide better bass response than other headphones in their class.
What I like:-Aesthetics: presentation, packaging, beautiful and unique sophisticated design, nice pleather carrying case-Option of 2 sizes (small vs large) of metallic headbands-Magnetic leather earpads are easily removable and thus replaced-Balanced sound, more than capable (though not booming) bass. Suitable for movie-watching and all sorts of music (instrumental soundtracks, vocals, hip-hop, pop, haven't tried rock yet)-Easily driven by Galaxy Nexus using PowerAmp app with slight boosting of the treble, no amp necessary-On-ear design makes music more vivid than around-the-ear design of other headphones. It also does a fair job of passively isolating noise (good enough to drown out 70% of engine noise during air travel)-Minimal sound leakage-More premium sound and design than direct competitor B&W P3. $100 cheaper than B&W P5, and after a quick test I could not tell the difference, probably only a very discerning audiophile could
What I don't like:-Unlocking mechanism for earpieces may disengage them from the headband if you rotate them 360 degrees inadvertently-Comfortable for half an hour but then clamping pressure on ears causes them to start throbbing-Cable is proprietary. It also has a straight end rather than an L-shape to connect to device-A little bit of noise when you move around, whether from squeaky leather or rubbing the metal headband
Sound and comfort when compared to Klipsch Image One, Harman Kardon CL, B&W P5, Bose QC15, Sennheiser Momentum:-Klipsch Image One is too bass-heavy. Comfort is merely OK because the cushions are so small they straddle the line between circum-aural and on-ear-UE6000 will have more prominent bass with active noise cancellation function turned on with better clarity in the mids and highs with noise cancellation turned off. It is very comfortable, superior to CL due to plush memory foam. However the UE6000's earpads cannot be replaced at all, and it is somewhat heavy/bulky especially with 2 AAA batteries installed. Plus you may noticed a "hiss" due to the noise cancellation-B&W P5: Although this was by far the best-looking out of all the headphones, I found it to have a somewhat hollow sound especially when compared to the Harman Kardon CL. A very tight (and unadjustable) clamping force made listening very uncomfortable even for brief periods. That, plus the questionable durability (just go into any apple store and see how beat up the leather pads get over time), made me feel this was overpriced at $300-Bose QC15 have best active noise-cancelling effect (and does not generate any hiss/white noise). In terms of sound quality, however, it is the worst of the bunch as bass is one-tone and highs sound shrill and hurt my ears. Its plush ear cushions make it the most comfortable around-ear headphones I have ever used-Sennheiser Momentum has crisper highs and has less bass. Comfort is superior as long as your ears fit into the plush cushions, and overall weight is a barely-there 190g
For sound quality I would rank Sennheiser Momentum>Logitech UE6000=Harman Kardon CL>B&W P5>Klipsch One=Bose QC15For comfort Bose QC15>Sennheiser Momentum>Logitech UE6000>Harman Kardon CL=Klipsch One=B&W P5For noise isolation Bose QC15>Logitech UE6000 (active mode)>Harman Kardon CL>Sennheiser Momentum>B&W P5=Klipsch One
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