A few weeks ago, I received 2 brand-spanking Kitsound Manhattans – 1 for review, and another 1 to given away to one of our loyal fans. But before you head on the Rafflecopter widget below, you may want to check out why we find this headphones as one of the most promising cans you can buy at a very affordable price.
Dubbed as the Manhattan, this headphone looks very stylish and proved to be one of the best affordable cans I got from XTC. You will probably remember that XTC was the one who provided us with the rest of the Superlux headphones who reviewed and gave away last year. Well, they’re at it again with another brand they’re carrying – Kitsound.
Unboxing
The Kitsound Manhattan we got is placed in a very classy black box retail packaging. Take a look at the photos unboxing photos below. As you can see below, the box shows a bluetooth logo, which basically tells at the onset that Manhattan is a bluetooth headphone.
The headphone, along with the charging and stereo cables, and manuals, are neatly placed inside the recycle cardboard container.
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Design
Kitsound Manhattan is an on-ear headphone. It employs a semi minimalist build, with ports located at left earcup and adjustable headband and foldable hinges. Let’s break down the parts of the headphones for better appreciation.
The panel behind the earcups has a matte texture. You will find the port and switches just behind the left earcup. Both earcups are made by semi-premium faux-leather cushion. I play a lot of games on PC and console, so I prefer over-ear (like the ones from Razer) than on-ear. While the former type headphones are quite uncomfortable for longer hours of usage, it’s a slightly different case on Manhattan. The pressure from both earcups (brought about by the well-built and tight headband) is a bit uncomfortable at first, but it’s highly bearable.
If there’s one thing I don’t like about Manhattan then it would be the switches and port found behind the earcup. The volume rockers and on/off switches look a bit cheap and the micro-USB port (used for charging and attaching the stereo cables) is too exposed. If you’re after great sound, then you better move along and disregard this portion of the review.
Sound Quality
There is great fallacy on the seeming trend that expensive headphones sound very good. We’ve proven that it’s b%&sht especially if you tried some headphone from Beats. Not all expensive headphones are good. There are exceptions like the HiFiMan HE-500 and Diablo Utopia.
Manhattan’s sound quality is not, at any hint, closer to previously mentioned brands. However, if you wish to get yourself an over-ear bluetooth headphones that produces sound and warm sound without breaking the bank, try Manhattan.
The clarity this headphone produces is excellent. It produces wealth of detail, and you will appreciate the headphones further if you listen to songs with higher bitrate. Listening to Al Greene’s “Tired of Being Alone” on Deezer made just proved to me how good this headphones is. I compared it to my Marshall Major Pitch Black, and quality is approximately the same.
The additional bluetooth connectivity is a great bonus, in my opinion. It’s obviously cable free, so this saves you the hassle of dying from accidental (or intentional) strangulation. I’m kidding. I was able to easily pair it to most of my devices except for the Playstation 4 and the Playstation Vita. Seriously, Kitsound?! It’s not a big issue though.
And yes, before I forget – the life of this headphone on battery with Bluetooth enabled is fantastic. I managed to use this headphone for a total of more than 15 hours (approximately 17-19 hours). Plus points for you, Kitsound!
Verdict
There’s no reason for not getting this if you’re looking for a decently priced bluetooth headphone. Priced at PhP2,990, you will never feel cheated especially once you start using it. Its perfect blend of minimalist design and excellent sound quality make it at as of of the top devices on my list this year in terms of value-for-money.
Get this device at XTC. [button link=”www.xtc.ph/kitsound ” size=”big”]Click Here for more information.[/button]
Giveaway
We’re giving away one Kitsound Manhattan to one of our loyal fans. Contest starts today until 10/16/2014 at 12:00AM. The headphones will be raffled off on 06/17/2014 at 12:00PM. Winner will be announced on our official Gadget Pilipinas and Quad Damage Facebook Pages. Winner will be messaged via Twitter and via Facebook. Winner must be a resident of the Philippines.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
