So definitely try these on before you buy. And there's no cable running through the minimalist headband, which means the detachable, replaceable cable is a yoke style model, not my favorite arrangement. The original Tracks headphone, based on the V8 driver unit, is the darkest and most bass forward of the trio; there's so much bass here that it can - depending on your choice of material, - overwhelm the midrange.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing, given that the V8 is much more in line with the prevailing taste for a seriously bass-forward headphone than anything else in the Sol Republic lineup. And as we keep finding, there's a place for very bass-heavy 'phones even for folks who don't want to thump it up - out and about, a more mid-forward voicing would just seem overly thin in the face of street noise, traffic rumble, etcetera. The Tracks HD, built around the V10 driver, has a subjectively more balanced response across the frequency spectrum.
It's a clearer headphone in the upper registers as well. Both the V8 and V10 are, to my ear, a little exaggerated and cloudy sounding in the lower bass; the V8, for me, is also a bit wooly in the midrange; the big bottom tends to spill over into the midrange. The V10 also sounds a bit veiled to me through the mids. The Tracks Ultra, with the V12 driver, is the flattest sounding of the Tracks siblings, with far less bloom in the bass it's significantly more controlled and damped in the lower octaves , though there's a distinct midrange emphasis.
Upper registers sound similar to the V10 and there's still some fuzzy softness through the midrange but it's even brighter - there's even more clarity up top. It's just a more orderly sounding headphone.
Basically, the choice between the three models comes down to what sort of EQ tilt you like. All models are similarly efficient; the original Tracks has the darkest sound, with very forward bass; the HD version reins in the low end a bit, and provides more clarity; the Ultra version is leaner still, with a balance that nods toward audiophile tastes. I checked out a variety of material to compare the headphones, and was surprised by how clear the distinctions between the driver units were.
If you're a fan of acoustic music and you dig the Sol Republic look, the Ultra is the only phone you should consider. I compared again with a number of vocal discs, including old standbys such as Radka Toneff's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and Gillian Welch's Time the Revelator album, and found no deviations from the rule.
Like real instruments? The Ultra V12 is your Sol Republic 'phone. I much preferred the extra oomph and somewhat foggier overall image of the V The V8 I found a little boomy and overly cluttered sounding, especially on the double-kick intro to the latter tune. Pop Sci 's resident headphone reviewer Dan Nosowitz compared these to the two sets he uses every day, the V-Moda M and, for a change, the Klipsch Image S4 in-ears, and he felt that both of his daily drivers outperformed all three of the Sol Republic models.
He felt that by comparison with the V-Moda's, all of the Tracks models had "problems with clarity, namely not enough - vocals were indistinct, and instruments didn't have enough detail. For Dan, the Ultra brought out the banjo's tone on the Tallest Man track in an acceptable way, still found the vocals too colored even on that phone, with a distinctly tubey, cupped hands effect.
I didn't note this myself, and it might well be an effect of varying fit, but as with anything headphoney, your mileage may - and will - vary. If you're a serious basshead, and like overwhelming low end from your hip hop tracks, however, you might like the original Tracks. As with the hard rock tracks, the HD did a better job of balancing some presence with the substantial low-end kick that both of the less expensive models exhibited, but even on this sort of material, I preferred the Ultras; there's just a better sense of "instrumental" separation.
To some extent Dan appreciated the "absurdly oversized bass" of these headphones, and of the only somewhat more restrained Tracks HD, while auditioning Chiddy Bang's "Jacuzzi Lost in the Vapors , but even on this bass-heavy track a "lack of quality in the vocals" left him wanting; he also found that a resonant peak in the Ultra version overemphasized the syncopated synthetic cowbell that punctuates the track.
Like Dan, I'm not sure I'd choose any of the Tracks models over the V-Moda M - by comparison with that headphone, all of the Sol Republics sound a bit fuzzy and unfocused in the midrange, at least to my ear, and the V-Moda's more comfortable. Of course, the M is more expensive than any of the Tracks models, of course, and it's got a very, very different look.
Perhaps this was a fit issue I never got quite comfortable with the non articulated ear cup approach, though it does look quite striking, and the interchangeability of parts really appeals to my geekier side , but then again, the M doesn't fit everybody either.
Search form Search. Headphone Reviews. Michael Berk Nov 6, NEXT: Page 2 ». These aren't as good as people describe them in my opinion. They aren't worth it. Verified purchase: Yes Condition: Pre-owned.
This is a good set of headphones for the money. You can get better but the dollars you will spend will be at least triple to get the sound it takes to hear the difference. This company is doing things the right way. They are making a quality product that most people can afford. The only problem I have is the same with almost everything. They are made in China instead of the good ole USA. I would pay more just for the made in the USA label!!!! Awesome would recommend this product to friends.
I love the clarity and the bass of the headset. The headset is very lightweight, fits perfectly, and band is really flexible and interchangeable It might be comparable with the beats headset.
I will be looking for different design of band. It is very easy to adjust to fit perfectly on your head. Sounds like no other. Skip to main content. About this product.
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