★★★★★ | Bloc & Roc Galvanise Headphones
Sometimes, just sometimes, this job gives you the chance to get your mitts on some really lovely kit. This is one of those times.
From first opening the package, to fitting these kitten soft headphones on my my head was all pure, unadulterated pleasure. The looks, the feel, the… but I’m getting carried away here.
The brand is a new UK based purveyor of audio excellence. Based just outside London, this group of individuals have done their homework, and have been willing to put the hours in to design and manufacture something truly wonderful.
I got to road test the Galvanise S2 in grey and fell in love almost immediately but you can view both new styles at the website (address below) and choose between the S1 or S2.
Lets consider the design of these puppies. Each set has been crafted from British aerospace grade aluminium and the softest leather I’ve ever seen (or felt!). They weigh nothing and really do caress your ears – I don’t think I could ever go back to plastic in-ear type again. The contrast between the black leather and matt metal with a flash of red inside is sheer genius – the look may be industrial chic but the feel is pure handmade.
The cord is a woven nylon, giving them a slight retro feel, and they come with both a soft and hard case for storage or travelling. All in all, a well thought out product.
I don’t pretend to understand some of the technical aspects of headphones, I’m more a looks and sounds man. The Bloc & Roc site talks about customised 40mm dynamic drivers being enhanced to deliver a powerful and well-balanced audio experience, all I know is they simply sound wonderful and envelope you in whatever you choose to play.
Could be a foreign language to me – but features like the fit, the cord being fabric and not cheap plastic, the inbuilt mic that allows you to take calls, and the near perfect sound they allow you to enjoy are all I need to know. The technical stuff, I leave to those that understand it, but these headphones deliver, in spades!
Technical Specifications:
Headphone: On-ear, closed-back.
Speaker: 40mm dynamic neodymium
Sensitivity: 116 ± 2dB
Frequency: 20Hz-20kHz
Impedance: 16Ω ± 15%
Cable material: nylon-type fabric
Cable length: 1200mm
Audio connector: 3.5mm gold-plated
Total weight: 215g
My only gripe? I still like my music loud, and there is some noise leakage with these, so avoid the quiet coach if travelling by train, otherwise, crank it up and let the world hear your choice.
The Positive
▪ The design
▪ Craftsmanship
▪ The extras (both hard and soft cases)
The Negative
▪ Some noise leakage at high volume
Price: £129..95 (plus £5.00 p&p to UK addresses)
Note: they do ship worldwide, so contact them for details.
Available from the site:
http://www.blocandroc.co.uk
I’m rating these a 5. Why? Firstly, I am sick of seeing that headphone with the B everywhere. Secondly, they are a UK product that shows design at its best. Thirdly, and most importantly, they work and work well.
Our Rating: ★★★★★
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