Posts tagged 50 Cent
STREET by 50 ANC Headphones Review
The headphone marketplace has taken a turn for the premium in recent years. Sure, you can get by with those standard, Apple-issue ear buds, but why subject yourself to inferior sound quality when there’s such an influx of high-end headphones on the market?
The brand that gets all the attention is Beats by Dre. These headphones first debuted in 2008. By 2012, the company released the Beats Executive noise-cancelling headphones in an effort to compete with higher-end headphone manufacturers like Bose and Sennheiser. With savvy branding and eye on quality, the Beats by Dre line has really taken off.
Not to be outdone, Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) launched his own headphones brand in 2011. SMS Audio (which stands for “Studio Mastered Sound”) was created when 50 acquired KonoAudio in August 2011. The founder of that company, former Gillette executive Brian Nohe, serves as president of SMS Audio. Nohe and 50 shared an interest in developing high-end audio equipment and they began releasing high-end headphones in late 2011 and early 2012.
SMS Audio produces the STREET by 50 line of in-ear, over-ear and on-ear wired headphones along with their SYNC by 50 line of wireless headphones. We received a pair of STREET by 50 ANC noise-cancellation headphones to review, and how should we put this… they’re kinda amazing.
In no uncertain terms, the STREET by 50 ANC headphones are better than Beats by Dre. Without question. The construction is sturdier, the bass is bassier and the active noise cancellation is quite good.
This ultimate-premium sound experience has one drawback – the headphones are massive. I felt like a cosmonaut with these things on, but if I was going for a jog and I wanted to hear the outside world around me, I’d probably reach for ear buds anyway.
The STREET by 50 ANC headphones are designed to block out any and everything around you so that you can immerse yourself in a rich and truly top-shelf sound experience. I mean you can tab a hand on the table with these things on and you won’t be able to hear a damn thing. The battery life for the noise-cancellation action is solid, and you can even get some juice from whatever device you’re plugged into.
The headphones fit pretty tight, but hey, you put them on to shut the world out, right? The grip isn’t really a big deal. Plus the soft leather cushions have some memory foam action to them which really seals in the sounds you want, while keeping out the sounds you don’t need. The design is bulky, but still very stylish and foldable. The set comes with a removable cable that features a built-in mic and a hard shell carrying case.
Bottom line, these are legit headphones for the price. $300 may seem like a lot to drop on a set of headphones, but when compared to other sets in the market, these things hold up, man. It’s a competitive price point for the experience you get. Sometimes we all want to retreat from the outside world and be alone with our thoughts (or our favorite tunes). These headphones help you do just that.
Feb 27th
SMS Audio STREET By 50 ANC
SMS Audio is 50 Cent’s premier audio headphone line. The STREET by 50 Over-Ear Active Noise Control are an innovative set that eliminates unwanted ambient noise. Whether you are on a plane or walking the loud and noisy streets these headphones are legit.
The STREET features what SMS Audio calls active noise cancellation technology (ANC). The set contains awesomely tuned 40mm drivers and soft leather memory foam ear cushion. That pretty much means whatever sound the engineers and producers wanted you to hear in films and in music you will definitely hear.
50 Cent aka Curtis Jackson, who is the CEO of SMS Audio said, “I have spent a long time searching for a great pair of headphones that not only deliver great sound quality, but that also are durable and comfortable enough during my extensive travels. That’s why we created the STREET by 50 Over-Ear ANC Wired headphones with active noise cancellation technology. Not only do they deliver the best in studio mastered sound, but they are also tough enough to withstand extensive traveling while providing a secure and comfortable fit for hours of listening enjoyment.”
With a price tag of $279.95 you get what you pay for not only in sound quality and in durability as well. The STREET ANC has a hard exterior, but the earcups are made of memory foam cushion so you ears won’t get irritated as you wear them. These headphones are very flexible too. They are foldable and also come with a removable cable with 3 click microphone, soft touch cleaning cloth, micro USB charging cable, airplane adaptor and hard shell carrying case for easy transport.
The left arm of the headphones is where all the magic happens so to speak. On that side is the ANC power switch, an LED power indicator, a mini-USB charging port, and a 3.5mm cable input. The battery life for the STREET lasts up to an outstanding 70 hours. To recharge the headphone battery take about two and a half hours. Like all normal charging devices the LED indicator glows blue with ANC engaged, red while charging, and green when the battery is fully charged.
So does the SMS STREET live up to the hype? Well the last time I was on a plane I had a different set of headphones. They were supposed to be noise canceling, but I heard many noises coming in from the outside while I was trying to watch a movie on my iPad. When I put on the STREET ANC recently on the subway all the outside noises were eliminated. When the ANC feature is running you will notice a difference. If you are serious about sound quality and are looking for a great set of headphones, the STREET By 50 ANC is definitely worth a look.
Oct 9th
