Design and features:These headphones can be used wirelessly with audio devices with Bluetooth capability, cord connected with non-Bluetooth audio equipment, and can decode digital audio when it is connected to a computer or Android mobile device with a USB cable. The Elements Wireless Over-Ear has a built-in microphone and integrated volume, music player and call connect/disconnect controls for use with paired Bluetooth devices. When connected with an audio cable these headphones have high sensitivity so they can provide satisfying volume levels when used with lower-powered portable audio devices. Additional features include touch sensitive Bluetooth volume, music player, and call connect/disconnect controls on right earcup, and earcups can be pivot for single ear monitoring and fold for ease of carrying and storage. This model comes with a detachable 53-inch long audio cable with a built-in mic and call answer/music player control button for wire-connected iPhone/iPod/iPad and smartphone use, a 47-inch long micro-USB charging/digital audio data cable, a USB plug-to-micro USB jack adapter, a mini-plug-to-1/4-inch-plug adapter, and a carrying case.
Sound quality: The Elements Wireless Over-Ear has three operation modes; Bluetooth wireless, digital audio cable connected with a USB cable, and analog audio cable connected with a standard audio cable. In all of these modes we found that if the earpads seal properly around the users ears (which it may not - see the Comfort comments for details) it delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. The wireless and digital audio cable connected modes sounded the same, and their overall sound can best be summarized as boomy bass with a slightly thin midrange and slightly prominent treble. Bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is slightly thin and grainy. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is somewhat smeared (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer sound blurred) and slightly prominent. The sound has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. Analog audio cable connected sound is similar to the above but the bass becomes slightly prominent and the sound is a bit fuller; the score increases slightly but still stays in the very good range. Regardless of the sound mode, if the earpads don't seal properly around the ears the sound becomes thin, plasticy, and bass-shy, and the sound quality falls to the good range.
Comfort: We found that these headphones produce a light sense of pressure around the ears. As typical of over-ear models the ear pads might feel hot and/or sticky after prolonged use. The earcups don't articulate well and users with smaller and/or narrower heads may find that they do not seal properly around the ear, and without a proper seal the sound quality suffers as indicated in the sound quality notes. Inadvertent contact with the touch control panel on the upper right earcup can cause unintended pausing or playback, volume changes, and track skipping.
