Design and features:Although this home/studio-style over-ear Bluetooth model lacks active noise reduction, its closed design helps to reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones have high sensitivity in the wired amplified (battery powered) mode, so they can provide satisfying volume levels when used even with lower-powered portable audio devices. In the non-amplified wired mode they have medium sensitivity, so they can provide satisfying volume levels with all but the lowest-powered portable audio devices. The Stance S1+ has a built-in microphone and integrated music player function and call connect/disconnect controls for use with paired Bluetooth devices. The built-in amplifier also has signal processing in addition to the volume boost, and it can be powered by the built-in rechargeable battery or by two replaceable AAA backup batteries. If connected via Bluetooth to an Apple mobile devices using iOS version 5 or higher, it will show the headphone's battery level. This model, which has earcups that can swivel flat for travel or storage, comes with a detachable 52-inch long audio cable for wired use that has an in-line remote that has a mic and answer/player control button for iPhone/iPod/iPad and smartphone use, a USB charging cable, a mini-plug-to-airplane-jack adapter, a mini-plug-to-1/4-inch-plug adapter, and a carrying case.
Sound quality: When used in the Bluetooth or unamplified wired modes, the Stance S1+ delivers very good--if restrained--overall sound, with a warm character. When connected via Bluetooth the bass has good impact and goes fairly deep, but lacks a bit of definition. Midrange is a bit soft, and treble is extended but a bit recessed, with a slight rise in the upper treble. The overall sound is somewhat open, with so-so dynamics. We found no significant difference in sound quality whether the headphones were used in the Bluetooth or unamplified wired mode, which both offer improved sound quality compared to the S1 model. (In both of these modes the Stance S1+ has deeper bass with more impact, a less muffled midrange that doesn't sound plasticy, and a more open overall sound, though its character still lacks dynamics.) When used with a wired connection and the amplifier turned on, the sound is more lively but the sound quality drops to fair: the bass gets more pronounced and boomy, the midrange gets muffled, congested, and plasticy, and the treble gets bright and sizzly.
Comfort: We found that the Stance S1+ can produce a slight sense of uneven pressure (light at top, medium at bottom) around the ears that some users might notice, but it's much improved compared to the Stance S1. The over-the-ear fit of the stance S1+ is also improved, with larger earpads that no longer feel cramped for those with bigger ears. But like all over-the-ear models, the earpads might feel hot and/or sticky after prolonged use. The Bluetooth music player control lets you skip music tracks forward, but not backwards; with a wired connection with Apple and some other mobile devices, you can do both. Setting the switches for the various operational (Bluetooth, un-powered wired, and powered wired) and power (built-in or backup batteries) mode combinations can be confusing.
