Top of Sony’s headphone range for Christmas are these extra large cans with the emphasis firmly on low down sound. The distinctive looking XB series aims to ‘create a heavy club vibe with rich, powerful bass you can really feel’. Standing for “eXtra Bass”, the new XB range aims to accurately reproduce ultra-low frequencies which have become prevalent in the dubstep and drum ‘n’ bass genres without compromising midrange vocals and high frequency sounds.
The headphones are crafted from synthetic leather, with an outsized ear cushion to reduce sound leakage from booming bass emanating from the XB-700’s 50mm driver (or 40mm in the case of the XB-500) – Sony’s nothing if not considerate. The urethane cushion is designed to spread pressure evenly around the ear, providing comfortable wear over extended listening periods and the wide headband features a new ‘seamless’ design for extra wear comfort.
The XB-500 and XB-700 headphones are both available now for £45 and £75.