Nokia Purity WH 930 headphones review by Anno Domini

Nokia Purity WH 930 headphones review by Anno Domini

Headphones have become an essential gadget in any tech-fans armoury, and with new fashion-savvy brands joining established names such as Sennheriser and Sony there's never been so much choice.

Nokia recently joined the fray and announced a partnership with Monster, famous as the maker of the Beats by Dre range, launching two new headphones at Nokia World 2011 in October.

So, to see how good Nokia's Purity WH 930 headphones by Monster are we've enlisted the help of a real expert in audio fidelity; Anno Domini.

For those  that need an introduction, music producer Anno Domini has worked with a host of hip-hop legends, such as Rick Ross, Kool G Rap, Three 6 Mafia, Wu-Tang and D12 amongst many more. He is the ideal expert to tell us what makes a good headphone. Here's what he made of the Purity WH-930 by Monster headphones;

"What's up, AD here with another sound product review. This time I had the chance to check out Nokia's upcoming WH-930 Purity On-Ear headsets (I already tested the impressive WH-920 Purity In-Ear headphones a few weeks back for those that missed it).

Design:

Design-wise the 930s are sleek and modern with a glossy finish. They do feel a little flimsy compared to other headphones in the high-end price range but sit very comfortably when worn thanks to the thick ear cushions.

Sound:

In terms of sound performance, one thing that bothered me about the 920s was the lack of bass. While the 930s certainly have a better low range, basses still sound somewhat muted compared with models such as the 'Beats by Dre' (http://www.expansys.com/s.aspx?search=beats%20by%20dre) series. However, the 930s really shine with a warm mid range and sparkle in the high ends. Vocals are crystal-clear and percussion is picked up beautifully. Feel free to pump up the volume, the 930s can be cranked to ear-drum shattering levels if you're so inclined.

In terms of sound isolation, you'll be forgiven for missing your tube stop or dozing off next to the engine on a plane. This is what you're paying top dollar for after all and you won't be disappointed!

Verdict:

Overall the WH 930s are good high-end headphones that I can particularly recommend to fans of House/Dance or Pop music where a fine mid and high end range will delight your ears. I should note that the quick buttons on the headphone cable weren't compatible with my iPhone 3GS, but if you have a Nokia you may well want these under your Christmas tree!"

Expansys' take:

We were also pretty impressed with the Purity WH 930s, from more of an everyman's point of view of course!

One thing worth noting is that, with the four colours available, the Purity's are designed to be a perfect match for Nokia's Lumia 800 and N9 smarpthones (inlcuding the forthcoming white models). So, if you have either of these models, the chance to have matching headphones might well appeal to the fashion conscious, or those who just love the latest Nokia styling.

As Anno mentioned, the inline controls work perfectly with the latest Nokia handsets, again giving them an advantage over their many rivals.

While we are on the cable, it's tangle free and detachable, so there's no more knots next time you pull your headphones from your bag.

Sound quality is good. They are nowhere as bass heavy as the Beats by Dre series, but the mid-range and high-end do make up for it, and the Beats range is especially noted for their low-frequency intensity, so the Purity WH 930s might suit those looking for something a little less bass-centric.

The Purity WH 930 headphones by Monster are a great set of cans, and though they clearly have a lot of competition and aren't the cheapest option available, they have plenty to recommend them, especially to owners of Nokia's latest phones.

For those that want to learn more about these headphones, definitely check out the official Nokia Purity website.