While custom-colored headphones have been a fixture now for a while courtside (or wherever celebs are to be found), Fanny Wang have introduced a custom program across their entire headphone line. For a $50 upcharge you can go wild with the colors of your choice; an online design tool lets you experiment to your heart's content. Want earthtones with pink highlights? No problem. Oranges and reds? Sure. Whatever suits your fancy (and uses colors within the customization pallette, of course), Fanny Wang will deliver.
Courtesy of Fanny Wang, we're giving away a pair of the company's top-of-the-line 3001 headphones, in custom colors chosen by the winner. The 3001 looks to cover all of your headphone needs, packing in everything but the kitchen sink. It's an over-the-ear active-noise-cancelling 'phone (utilizing a 4-mic system that claims to block 95% of ambient noise), with an onboard 5 watt amp (powered by a pair of AAA batteries) featuring +6dB of switchable bass boost, mic and iOS-friendly remote, and a rigid carrying case. And don't worry, the headphones will still work in passive mode if you neglect the batteries.
If you need more than that from your personal listening device, you may have to resort to strapping a car battery and a receiver to your chest, which would hardly be as practical and fashion forward.
To qualify to win, all you need to do is tell us how important features are to you when considering a headphone purchase. Do noise cancellation, active electronics, microphone and controller modules, etcetera, impact your decisions? Or does sound trump all?
The winner will be chosen randomly from among those who leave on-topic comments below (you'll have to register — no anonymous commenters, we need a valid e-mail contact address to inform you of your win), so don't be afraid to speak your mind. We'll take entries until midnight (Eastern Time), on November 25th, and notify the winner via e-mail on Monday, November 28th, and then put that lucky person in touch with Fanny Wang to finalize the order. Good luck!
Sound and comfort level is what counts the most. I use a pair of noise canceling bose over the ear headphones every day. They sound decent, a little light on bass. They require a AAA battery to function no matter what. That drives me nuts. I have heard a few better headphones than these. One was a sony make and the other a set of Grados on an amp.
What is most important to me is that my children like them as they are the primarily users of headphones at our house. Thanks!
I think sound quality - followed closely by comfort - are the most important. Truly comfortable headphones are rare... I have a larger-than-average head, and they're all way too small.
Looks don't matter as much to me, and if I'm using noise-cancelling headphones, I want to be immersed in the music or shut off from the world. If I want to re-engage, I'll just take them off.
I do like headphones that work whether there's a working battery or not... because sometimes, working batteries can be hard to find.
Sound is first with me and then comfort for extended listening sessions.
Sound output, comfort, durability, and lastly, looks.
I will have to agree with the posts about, sound quality is key, as well as comfort. I am not a bells and whistles type of person, and I don't need a controller, or a mic etc. To me it's all about the listening experience, and enjoying the music as it was meant to be heard. I do like them to look good though. Simple yet elegant is how I roll.
First of all, Comfort - There is no use for super quality headphones if you can use then for more than 5 minutes.
Second, Quality of sound - I`ve seen a really good looking headphones with awful sound.
Third, Volume - Doesn't have to be a head banger but you must be able to crank the volume sometimes and "feel" the sound.
Fourth, Durable and Solid - I don't want a headphone that I must take care of it as piece of jewelry.
Fifth, Good looking - We must agree that use a pair of "cups" over your ears maybe fashion these days but you'll not win any beauty contest using it on streets. So at least they must be nice looking and match with your personal style.
It all comes down to comfort and sound. Style comes after that. I kind of hate it when headphones mess up my hair, but that hardly matters. Thanks.
Sound has to trump all else. Who cares if they look cool or feel good if they sound like muck? After sound quality, then comfort comes into play. If my kids like them scores pretty well too!
I too, travel alot and need a good noise cancelling headphone with QUALITY sound. Preferably with connections to all airplane plugs.
For me, sound quality trumps everything. I may be young, but I have been around long enough to learn a few things. Sound quality is everything, if I have a pair of headphones that are really comfortable but sound terrible what is the point of having those headphone? They are just an expensive pair of ear muffs. Now don't get me wrong, comfort is definitively needed to enjoy the sound, but the good, deep, powerful sound needs to be there. All the gadgets that are added on are just bells and whistles to me. They are just on there so the non-audiophiles will buy them because there "pretty" or "look cute".
The comfort of quality headphones is almost as important to the quality of the sound, not the volume, but true music to your ears. The over-the-ear active noise-cancelling feature is a great bonus and ads to the total zoning out with your music. I m not to sure about the additional batteries will add to the weight of the headphones but with the added bass I’m sure it is worth it.
I have to agree with the comments. Sound quality and comfort is the most important thing. Currently I'm using a pair or Grado's 125 held together with ducktape, but they sound great. It will be interesting to see how the Fanny Wang headphones compare.
I also agree with everyone else that sound quality and comfort are the two primary factors in my purchase of headphones/IEM's. Sound isolating something whether it be active or passive is also super nice to have so that I can enjoy my music at lower volumes and hear more detail and finesse in the audio signal. It is so nice to be on an airplane and not have it sound like you are on an airplane. I think it is great as well that these will work without the battery as well, making them practical for all locations.
Fanny Wang-- the coolest name made from two cheeky words
Sound & comfort are top of the list & with these I appreciate the onboard amp & the fact that they will still work in passive mode without batteries.
Sound, comfort, then wireless contributing to comfort, and finally a mic for convenience.
Fanny Wang looks like the way to go. They look comfortable and I bet the sound is good also. Would love to win a pair, thank-you.
sound is supreme - closely followed by comfort - i don't care how they look!
Sound quality, Comfort and most importantly Noise Cancellation are what matters most, in fact, nothing else matters!
Sound, comfort and style--a great package.
Sound is important for sure, but even more important for me is the fit on my head. I have had too many headphones that sounded good, but made my head sore.
It's all about the sound!!
Agreed! Sound rules!
Sound Uber Alles.
I would love to own a really comfortable set of headphones. That would make listening to music all the more enjoyable. And to have a set in custom colors would make it that much better
Comfort and fidelity are the most important features
Realism in sound;great highs,and fantastic bass
Great treble;fantastic bass;clear vocals
I have just gotten into experianceing high-end sound, first thinkign there was no difference between cd's and mp3's, but now that ive seen it Ive never looked back! too bad I only got some 50 doller headphones that dont give the oomph I need!
A tight 1-2 finish 'tween sound quality and wear comfort. New consideration is durability or serviceability, after Kitty attacked the lead on my old pair of AKG 240--I'd be quite pleased to find user-replaceable cord as a feature.
I want headphones that will fit into all gaming systems, XBox, PS3, Nintendo. I prefer all white headphones.
Comfort first, then sound is what is important to me. No one will see me wearing them so looks are not important.
1. lossless LPCM over wireless RF xmitter
2. comfort
3. sound quality
High quality sound across the highs, midrange and bass, an integrated mic with ducking feature if used with a mobile phone and of course top grade noise reduction to enjoy my sources in peace!
Sound is first, but then durability has become really important in headphone decisions. I found these great sounding headphones but the fact that it wouldn't last more then a few months without the cable going out really frustrated me. What good is the sound if the it doesn't last more then a few months.
What I look for is a combination of good sound, and either noise isolation or cancelling. Most of my headphone listening is on the bus, and being able to avoid the engine noise without having to have the volume turned way up is important for my long term listening ability.
Sound first, of course. Comfort second. Anything after that is gravy.
Of course SOUND is THE thing, if it wasn't, we wouldn't need headphones, would we? I often wear my headphones for hours at a time, so comfort is likely second. I use them in noisey places and want to hear the music, not crying babies, airplane engines etc. so noise cancelation is also important, after that durability and ease of use. I can't think of anything else that would be important other than its nice for them to look good!
Sound is the most important aspect in headphones. Good bass and midrange are best.
Within reason I couldn't care less what a pair of headphones look like. Sound quality and comfort. If Grados didn't leak sound I would wear them on the subway lol!
Sound and comfort first. But having the chance at customizing them is an awesome idea as well. Thanks for the shot at winning one of these sweet headphones!!
Can't stand on-the-ear headphones; they hurt! I use either earbuds or over-the-ear cans. I prefer noise-cancellation earbuds when walking in noisy areas (traffic), or on planes; but, good-sounding over-the-ears, otherwise; meaning, relaxing at home.
Fit that is comfortable and lasting. I don't want them comfy for an hour and then start causing numbness or pain, I also don't want to have to keep adjusting them on my head either. Sound quality with no interference in the output. I don't want background noises to interfere either. Customizing is a sweet plus I never would have thought of really. I want to hear true sound so that what I hear with them on will translate if I listen without them also. I guess that is basically it for what I would appreciate in headphones.
How comfortable is the main thing.
Sound is a close second.
If they are comfortable with bad sound (or visa versa), then that's a no-go.
You gotta have both.
Need two sets of headphones- in ears for the gym and that set needs to have volume controls and also play pause ideally (but most except the new klipsch s4i cant do all of these on my android phones)
For non gym use, comfor and sound is most important. I am currently using a AKG Q460 that i purchased on impulse but am thinking of getting a Grado SR225 or SR325 or maybe even the B&W p5. I really liked the latter when i heard them at the local apple store. However, any on ear headphone needs to be noise isolating at best and not noise cancelling- have kids at home.
Generally, I want to know about comfort when I'm using them for a few hours; are they going to be comfortable? I also want to know what music they sound best with or a recommendation for a good all around pair for all music types. Let me know how the bass, treble and midrange is. I don't use noise cancellation, but I'd like to know how good they block outside noise.
the absolute most import feature for me is sound, comfort and quality. i have been using my bose triports going on 5 years and i love the sound and how comfortable the sit on my ears. they work really well for my different audio devices i use. these fanny wang headsets look cool and very comfortable.
For me the quality of the sound is the most important. Next would be the comfort, including how long you can wear them without discomfort. I do like well rounded sound and headphones that have accurate bass reproduction.
To me it is sound and comfort. Deep down how it happens does not matter as long as they sound great!