Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise-canceling home/studio-style over-ear model has a closed design and an electronic noise canceling feature that reduces both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. It can be used wirelessly with audio devices with Bluetooth capability, cord connected with non-Bluetooth audio equipment, and it has a built-in DAC (digital-to-analog converter) so it can decode digital audio when it is connected to a computer using a USB cable. The headphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music, and the audio cable can be detached to get it out of the way when the headphones are being used for noise reduction only. The headphones have medium sensitivity when wire connected and powered whether or not the noise cancelation feature is turned on or off, so they can provide satisfying volume levels when used with home audio equipment and all but the lowest-powered portable audio devices. When used in the unpowered mode they have low sensitivity; so while they can provide satisfying volume levels when used with home audio equipment and higher powered portable audio devices, they may not be a good match for lower-powered portables. The Symphony 1 Executive has a built-in microphone and integrated volume, music player and call connect/disconnect controls for use with paired Bluetooth devices. When the headphone is in powered mode the microphone and music player function and call connect/disconnect control also works with cord-connected smartphones, and the microphone and volume control work with USB cable connected computers. This model has earcups swivel to flat for ease of carrying and storage and comes with a detachable 38-inch long audio cable (the cable's 4-contact mini-plug works with most mobile devices but may not be compatible with some other audio equipment), a detachable 76-inch long USB charging/digital audio data cable, a storage bag, and a carrying case.
Sound quality: With this model we found that turning the noise canceling feature on or off had a slight effect on sound quality, but the connection means (Bluetooth, analog cable, our USB) did not. In noise canceling mode the Symphony 1 Executive provides excellent active noise reduction and 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 overall sound can best be summarized as slightly bassy and a bit hazy. The bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but detail is somewhat lacking and the lower bass is slightly prominent. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is even, but a bit soft and hazy and has a slight plastic resonance (something like what you would hear if you talked into a semi-rigid plastic cup). The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but somewhat soft and recessed. The sound is somewhat closed-in (sound-wise it is very obvious that you have something covering your ears) and lacks a bit of liveliness. When the noise canceling feature is turned off the bass is more even sounding, but the overall sound quality is still about the same. These headphone provide excellent noise reduction that is fairly even across the entire frequency range.
Comfort: We found that these headphones produce a moderate sense of pressure on the ears. The ear pads might feel hot and/or sticky after prolonged use, and if the earpads don't seal properly around the ears the bass becomes recessed and the sound quality suffers.
