In conclusion, Koss Porta Pro Limited Edition Rhythm Beige On-Ear Headphones can be a great alternative to the classic Porta Pro Headphones for those who love the stylish design but need more current features for their conference calls. After thorough evaluation, we believe these headphones are better suited to persons rigging or operating bigger sound systems. Even though the soft leather around the ears makes them more comfortable and acts as a tight seal, the weight may become too much, particularly for prolonged periods. We like the earcup-mounted volume controls that make it simple to customize the sound. One thing we loved about JLab Rewinds is that it weighed relatively lighter than the other retro headphones on our list, which is why we’ve categorized them as the most portable headphones. When we did focus on the sonics, we noticed that the Panasonic RP-HTX7 had a big, full and warm sound, with a slight emphasis on the midbass. Music that was already generous in this area, such as the album Villa Manifesto from Slum Village, could sometimes sound a little too boomy, but it never thumped its way into a one-note drone and still had decent pitch definition and clarity.

Even the wonderful Sennheiser ‘phones, just above, as beloved as they are among audiophiles, have a somewhat boosted bass and a slightly popular sound, but this is not the way for the Masters! I noticed a couple of trends when considering which retro headphones are the best, and which ones I would choose, and these two tendencies seem to help explain just why so many retro headphones are so excellent, and why they can be such a great choice: So many of the best retro headphones available today have a kind of neutrality about them that other popular ‘phones – Beats by Dr Dre, as a prime example – intentionally avoid.And the Sony MDR7506 are one of the best examples of this, a superbly musical and accurate pair of headphones that are legend in recording studios as well as among normal music lovers everywhere. And not only have the Porta-Pro been in continuous production for nearly 20 years, they have remained consistently at the top of so many best-of lists and buyers guides every single year! Most of the headphones on this list of top retro-style cans have been made for many years, decades even, and so their retro headphone style is totally understandable. They are also surprisingly comfortable to wear – much more than their appearance might suggest – and designed for hours and hours of continuous use. The RP-HTX80B are among the most stylish headphones in Panasonic’s range. The company sells many ordinary-looking pairs, but these have a sense of flair to take on rival lifestyle brands such as Urbanears and Urbanista.

The JLab Rewind look startlingly similar to the headphones that suddenly began appearing everywhere – really everywhere, by the thousands and the millions – with the introduction of the Walkman and similar personal portable stereos. I call the Sennheiser Momentum 3, just above, the best sounding retro headphones on my list, but in fact many true audiophiles would choose these astounding Master and Dynamics MW65 over them, and these do have, to be sure, a slightly more accurate sound. Aside from these ugly mids, the Panasonic RP-HTX80B sound pretty decent. Bass isn’t as powerful as that of the AKG Y50BT, but it sounds balanced and clean. Compared to the brashness of the mids, the treble is smooth and non-sibilant. We will always have a soft spot for these old-school headphones and we’re sure you do too. After all, the timeless design of retro headphones is their hallmark.In conclusion, the Panasonic Retro Bluetooth Wireless Headphones have a sleek design and most of the features you may desire. These headphones provide a strong and reliable Bluetooth connection, long-lasting batteries, and come with a pleasant vintage design. But as much as I love their innovations and features, all of that is absolutely nothing compared to their sound. Although a bit expensive, the Momentum 3 wireless on-ear headphones are often cited as perhaps the best value in true audiophile sound on the market today. A well made pair of headphones that is the perfect choice for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money, and who want first-rate quality, very high levels of accuracy and musical fidelity, and at the same time a fun, exciting sound that works great with all kinds of music. Made for Years– several of my choices for best retro-style ‘phones have been in production for decades – one for more than 50 years! – and while a lot of tech has been introduced in that time, the basics of high fidelity sound – light, low distortion drivers, solid housing, low diffraction and high phase coherency and more – haven’t changed much at all (although these headphones have often benefited from many years of subtle improvement and refinement).

While the retro oversized design may raise eyebrows, it serves its function by accommodating a wide range of head circumferences. The double-hooped headband is adjustable to fit any size or shape of the head.,and the small flaps (what Audio Technica calls self-adjusting 3D wing support’) below it are also flexible, although we found them too flimsy for our taste. There’s no advanced tech here – they’re just basic wired headphones – but the sound, the build quality and the comfort, among other things, make them one of the best retro headphones you can get.Basic, wired headphones that don’t even have a microphone, the AKG K92 are retro in all the best ways, and highly recommended! These retro headphones last master an excellent balance of a cool design and good price. The battery life lasts up to 22 hours and has a rapid charge feature. The quality of the sound is wonderful straight out of the box. We agree they are quite big and perhaps too heavy for “on-the-go” listening, but they’re completely worth buying because of their sturdiness and construction quality. In fact, they are not built or intended for portable usage. Instead, they are traditional-style headphones useful for frequent usage. Kids can use these durable and retro headphones to work with various electronic devices, including iPads, iPods, Android smartphones, MP3 players, CD players, listening centers, and more. The long, flexible wire accompanying it is plastic coated so that it won’t fray. The Koss Pro-44! are also one of the best values in accurate, musical high fidelity headphones available today, and so much fun as well – a perfect example of the retro ideal!

As should also be expected of a sealed design, the Panasonic RP-HTX7 had pretty decent noise isolation overall and were better than average in this regard. While they didn’t completely seal out ambient sounds, what did come through was fairly benign in nature. Perhaps more importantly for some users, the Panasonics did good job of keeping the music from leaking out of them, even as we went Insane in the Brain with some old school Cypress Hill turned up to 11. Conclusion They are also among the most beautiful and highest quality premium products I’ve ever seen, and get our very highest recommendation. Conclusion: Why Are Retro Headphones So Great? In conclusion, if you want headphones that have a retro look and active noise cancelation, then Koss QZ-99 Noise Reduction Stereophone is the one you should buy! These headphones are comfortable and durable. We loved how they isolated ambient noises, even in the busiest surroundings, while providing stellar sound performance and clarity.

Sound

I scoured Google to see if I could find a direct inspiration for the Panasonic RP-HTX80B’s curved cup look. They seem so familiar, I half-expected to find a 1950s photo of a radio operator wearing something similar, but clunkier. With almost 60 years in the business, Marshall Amplification is a company that consistently delivers with their top-notch audio devices, and when it comes to retro headphones? The Marshall Major III didn't come to play. Because one of the main and most obvious qualities of the 7506 is deep, deep bass. They go really low, with speed, accuracy, detail and incredible dynamic energy. In this they also reveal a bit of a trend among all of the best retro headphones on the market – accuracy over hype.