A few years ago, Kleer, the 2.4GHz-based, 16-bit platform for high quality, wireless audio, was the best way to listen to audio without cables. Despite the annoyance of the necessary dongle, Kleer sounded better than Bluetooth, by a lot. But in 2012, as we check out rapper 50 Cent's wireless headphones, the game has changed. SMS Audio Sync by 50 is a Kleer-based wireless headphone pair complete with blinking lights, USB charging cables, a dongle, a cable for listening to audio directly, and a hefty price of $399.95 (direct). It's not a clunker, but beyond its highly sculpted, treble- and bass-boosted frequency response, the Sync's main issue is that Kleer, as good as it was, has been surpassed by Bluetooth?certainly on a convenience level and arguably in terms of audio quality. Simply put: There are now easier ways to get better-sounding wireless headphones for less money.
Design
You have to hand it to 50 Cent and his design team for creating a pair of headphones that stand out. Available in Shadow Black, Phantom Blue, or Ghost White (our test pair was the latter), the shell of all three models is a sleek, glossy plastic, with shiny metallic trim accents. The headband features plastic sliders that are easy to adjust for a perfect fit, thanks to the built-in click stops. There are multiple controls on the outside of each heavily padded, comfortable earcup. The left ear houses the Power and Bass Boost controls; the right has two volume controls, and track navigation controls that only work when using the USB cable to listen to music via a USB port.
As thoughtful as the highly adjustable headband is, some of the other design choices don't seem to be rooted in real world usage. The "S" logo on each earcup, for instance, is actually underlit by a bright, flashing blue light when the headphones are in use. Thankfully, you can turn them off by enabling Airplane Mode. Beyond the annoyance factor, the flashing lights can't be helping the battery life of the headphones, which SMS Audio claims will provide about 17 hours of playback on a full charge.
The Sync ships with a blue audio cable with a 3.5mm connection for regular, wired listening, along with built-in mic and call answering controls. You also get a USB cable that connects to a charger, and can be used for listening to audio via a computer's USB port as well. In addition, the package includes an adapter for airplane jacks and the 3.5mm Kleer dongle that's required for wireless operation. Everything comes in a rather bulky, sturdy zippered case.
You can sync up to four Sync headphone pairs to one audio source, hence the name. We were unable to test the feature, so we'll take 50 Cent at his word.
Performance
Bass lovers will find plenty to love?and hate?about the complicated Sync. On the one hand, it offers tremendous bass response when used as a wired pair. On the other, the same songs that sound so robust at high volumes with the cable can distort wildly at the same levels when using the Kleer wireless dongle. This should never be the case with a $400 pair of headphones.
It could be that the multiple volume controls wreak havoc on the headphones in wireless mode. If you are listening via a laptop with iTunes, for instance, you have the internal iTunes volume control, the volume slider of the computer itself, and then the headphone's volume control to contend with. Finding the sweet spot is difficult, but distorting the Sync on tracks with deep bass is quite easy. In stark contrast, using the headphones with the included 3.5mm cable offers a much more stable, distortion-free listening experience?and also disables the headphones' built-in volume controls.
When in wireless mode, moderate listening levels are really the only way to go. A Bass Boost button on the left earcup offers some extra low-end push for those who can't get enough, but the headphones already come with plenty of low-frequency presence. The high frequencies are quite boosted, as well, to the point that it almost seems as if the mid-range frequencies have been significantly diminished and you're left with bass rumble and bright, very crisp highs. It's not a sound signature for everyone?it sounds best on electronic music like The Knife's "Silent Shout," or hip hop, rock, and pop.
A song like "Silent Shout," with its intense bass, sounds far better using the cable than when used in wireless mode. Instrumental tracks like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances" sound a bit?too bright, making some of the brass and higher-register instruments sound occasionally harsh at higher volumes, but the bass response does add a pleasant roundness to the overall mix.
Conclusions
Even if Kleer offers a slightly better frequency response than Bluetooth, the Sync creates distortion issues at higher volumes that negate much of this advantage. Meanwhile, the listener has to use a dongle that can drop the stream if it's thrown in a bag (Bluetooth doesn't require line-of-sight). Add in the flashing blue lights and the controls that only work when connected via USB, and you get a product that feels like it wasn't well thought-out. The Sync is trying to do too much, whereas the successful competition keeps things far more simple.
In the realm of celebrity-branded headphones, the runaway leader is the one who started it all, Dr. Dre. His Beats by Dr. Dre from Monster ($349.95, 4 stars) are an example of powerful headphones with a sleek design. They, like the Sync by 50, are not for audiophiles, but more for fans of deep bass response and modern music mixes. The Sync, however, fails to keep up with the Beats lineup (there are several models) in terms of features, ease-of-use, and overall audio quality.
If high quality wireless audio for mobile devices is what you crave, many of the best options are in-ear, like the far less expensive Phiaton PS 20 BT ($149, 4 stars). Sony's recent XBA-BT75 ($299.99, 3.5 stars) offers strong audio perfomance and a shirt-clip free deisgn, which is rare for Bluetooth in-ear pairs. If wireless isn't important, and you are more interested in a comfortable headphone pair that'll deliver powerful low-end for modern music, the aforementioned Beats by Dr. Dre are worth your consideration, as are the Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones ($299.95, 4.5 stars), an on-ear pair that offers a more refined bass response and overall performance, and is much smaller and easy to pack.
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