Superlux HD668B Semi-Open Reference Monitor Headphones – 50mm Neodymium Drivers, Wide 10–30kHz Response, Precise Imaging & Detail, Detachable Single-Sided Cables for Mixing & Monitoring

The headphone/earphone competition today is fierce. The quest to offer better sound quality has been heating up since the introduction of the iPod and subsequent DAPs (digital audio players). Back then, the "pay more money for more performance" was the mindset. $20 headphones sounded like $20 headphones. $200 headphones put $20 headphones to shame, $500 headphones were better than $200 headphones and so on. The educated consumer knows that those days, for the most part, are behind us. It isn't that a $30 headphone can run all over a $200 headphone. No! However, the landscape and the game has changed considerably over the years. The competition is so stiff that you no longer have to pay lofty prices to get RELATIVELY comparable sound. The consumer that does his/her due diligence will discover that OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) release headphones that are near identical to the big brand names but only have a slight variation in sound signature. A good example of this, seven or eight years ago would have been the Sennheiser CX300 ($40 big brand) versus the Creative EP-630 ($20 bargain brand). Today you might look at the AKG 240. Over the years, prices for the AKG 240 have gone from approximately $150 to $60+/- due to competition from the Superlux 668B ($38) and/or Samson SR850 ($50). The AKGs are in a completely different price bracket now because the Superlux and Samson are comparable at their respective price points. Question: Can a $60 headphone sound as good as a $150 headphone. Apparently, yes, because it is in fact the same headphone (AKG @ $150 = AKG @ $60). The difference isn't the sound quality, but rather the price point. This begs the age old question when it comes to audio equipment. Is the difference in price an exercise in futility due to the law of diminishing returns? In the larger scheme, no, but as the landscape changes, sometimes the answer is a resounding yes. I can list half a dozen sub-$200 headphones that will run roughshod over some very popular $400 - $500 headphones. The SoundMAGIC HP150 come to mind. What about the sub-$100 market? The Philips SHP9500 come to mind. They easily hold their own when compared to some very popular $300 - $400 headphones. Implementation and tuning is the name of the game and some of the well known brands fail to impress and their lofty prices are not justified. The uneducated consumer is simply overpaying for a recognizable brand. That can't go on for much longer. Indeed, the sound quality gap among mid-fi headphones has narrowed considerably and pricepoint may not be the reliable litmus test that it once was for the simple. What about the sub-$50 headphone market? Is there any reason to venture where only the entry-level sub-par headphones or the basic "two cans with a wire" usually reside? Is there anything remotely redeemable at this price point? clouds open and angels do somersaults.... It's the Superlux 668B. back to reality.... I bought these six months ago and have given them time to break in. What a great set of headphones these are. I can't say at any price point because these are made mostly of plastic and the earpads are entry-level. However, the combination of highly detailed, accurate sound and detachable cables for $38 make these a rare treat. How is it that $38 can gain you an above average set of studio monitors? Yes, studio monitors so you can hear the tiniest detail across the entire frequency range when doing a final mixdown. I think the lower mids are ever so slightly recessed in order to avoid bass bleed into the mid frequencies, but the lower-mid slight recess is barely noticeable. The lower-mids is where the warmth of a vocalists voice is, but again, it's barely noticeable. In general, you will hear everything the way the recording engineers intended for you to hear it. That is typical of studio monitors. These are phenomenal for $38, because you will hear everything. I should note that these go to the Nth degree to capture the details in the treble so if you have an aversion to treble you can always use your EQ to roll it off. These are all about the details. Treble extension is about as far as you can take it without being sibilant. I highly recommend these as studio monitors and if you enjoy a neutral sound signature these may work well as your go-to headphones. The detachable cable is such a nice touch on these because you can always replace the cable with a standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable of any length if it fails. You actually get two detachable cables. There is a 3ft 3in cable for mobile use and a 9ft 10in cable for home use. If you are like me and need more than ten feet you can simply combine the two cables for a total of more than twelve feet. That's great because I didn't have to purchase an extra cable to meet my needs. When I purchased these 668b headphones I purchased a set of velour earpads just in case the pleather pads made my ears sweat, but thus far I haven't had to install them. The doo-hickeys near the top, where you usually find a headband, are comfortable. The headphones adjust well for me and I have had no issues with fit or discomfort when wearing these for hours on end. Your experience may be different if you have a large noggin' or if your body temperature tends to run hot (meaning if you sweat easily). Bottom line is these are a "no brainer" at $38 because they are excellent. Easy decision. No regrets I'll post pictures at a later date. Hope this was helpful.

Let me start of by saying I'm just a casual user. I'm no audiophile but I can appreciate quality audio. I can't really compare this to anything else besides the gaming headphones I've used in the past but these headphones are leaps better. I've been playing a game called Squad, which is a half step up over Battlefield but not quite a full on sim like Arma 3. From my experience the directional audio is fantastic. I can hear shots or explosions at specifc angles and I can pin point them. Speaking of explosions they sound very full and lovely. The cracks of bullets are crisp which is fantastic and scary. For the money these are probably the best sub $50 headphones and paring this with the Antlion ModMic you got youre self an amazing gaming headphone. For under $100 together its heaps better in quality in both build and audio/voice! There are some negatives to the Superlux HD668B. For one it's made of plastic but you have to cut corners somewhere. You can't really expect metals to be used on sub $50 headphones. Although its made of plastic I'd imagine these would be lighter than their metal counter parts. If youre the type of person to leave your headphones on the ground, don't get these. You'll probably snap them, not saying its fragile but it's definitely not rock solid. I would recommend getting a headphone holder/stand. The other downside is what many have said. These get uncomfortable after +2 hours of use. Thankfully I just ordered some replacement velvet pads as well as a headphone stand. All in all this product is great! In fact its so great that I've completely have stopped using my computers speakers and have just left them plugged in all the time now. With the new more comfortable pads coming in, I doubt I'll ever unplug them.

I was looking for some headphones to use as a monitor for podcast recordings, and came across the Superlux HD6668B. I read all the reviews, compared to as many competitors as I had time for, and eventually decided these were the best bang for the buck. I was not disappointed. I am no audiophile, but the sound from these headphones is really sharp. I hear details I don't notice from my iPhone ear buds, and they don't overwhelm my ears even at higher volumes. I did have a problem listening to a professionally recorded podcast right out of the gate - there was just a piercing quality to the audio that wasn't there when listening to the same recording on my earbuds. But things seemed to have calmed down as I've broken them in. They are fairly comfortable, but I can see how some would not enjoy the design. The two head pads provide noticeable pressure on your skull, but it hasn't caused me any discomfort, even after more than an hour of listening. The earphone covers don't breath particularly well, and I've noticed a little perspiration when wearing them in a hotter-than-normal environment. Neither of these issues are big ones for me. What was a big issue for me was customer service. The headphones come with both a 1 meter and 3 meter cable, and the 3 meter cable in my box was damaged - I could only hear sound in one ear when using it. The 1 meter cable worked fine. I sent a quick email off to Avlex customer support explaining my situation, and hoping they would be able to help me. I got a quick response from a nice fellow named Kevin, who explained what info he needed from me, and also what he could do to help. I provided the info, and he provided me with a replacement cable. He also went through the trouble to test the cable he sent me to make sure I didn't get another dud. Sure enough, the replacement worked great, and I am now a faithful Avlex/Superlux fan. I highly recommend these headphones for their quality, price, and the great service you get from Avlex.

Little about me: I am a pretty hardcore audio enthusiast. I have multiple pairs of headphones ranging from Sennheiser HD650, AKG 7xx, Mee Pinnacle P1, Fostex THX-00, and now these SuperLux HD668Bs. I have a barrage of DAPs, DACs, and headphone amps that I use ranging from Schiit, to Oppo, to Audioquest, and a smattering of Fiio products. My musical tastes tend to gear towards low tempo Electronica, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Blues, Classical and Prog Metal. Initial Impressions: Let me say, out of the box, these things do not look, nor feel, like a quality item. There is literally no heft to them, so I was a bit suspicious. I put them on my head, and surprisingly, they are very comfortable, with just a slit head clamping, but a very secure fit. The headband, although goofy looking, feels very nice on top of my head. It is nice to have a pair of headphones that do not dig into the top of your head. I can see this headband design being especially comfortable for those that have longer hair. The SuperLux come with 2 cables that are 3.5mm extension cables. The termination out of the headphones is a 3.5mm male connector. One roughly 3 feet, one roughly 10 feet. Both cables seem to be nice quality with a nice heft to them. Terminations look very nicely done. Initial Listening: I plugged in the SuperLux into my Oppo HA-2SE dac/amp. I am a very big fan of ESS Sabre DACs, so this seemed like a great place to start. First up: Pat Metheny: Cherish. The upper strings of Pat's guitar ring through crystal clear, and the notes of the upright bass are present and full. You can hear Pat's hand sliding up and down the strings and the little buzz that happens when moving up and down the fret. The sound stage was big, open and very full. I had to take off the headphones and look at them for a second while murmuring "These cost $40?". I was literally blown away. So it handles Jazz well. How about Prog Metal with more complexity? Next Up: Animals as Leaders: Physical Education. This is a very complex song with a lot going on. The SuperLux kept up with the heavy guitar riffs, bass guitar, and drums, all while sounding very full, all the while keeping up without being strained. You could clearly articulate all of the nuiances of the track, almost as well as my HD650s, which is quite impressive, and these are not even broken in yet for an hour. Closing: I bought these on a whim since I wanted something new to play with. Give them a chance. You will be honestly be surprised what is coming out that is not a 'name brand', and how fabulous they sound. Longevity is in question with all of the plastic, but for $40, you could buy a new pair every year and still it would be a good value. Cheers! **EDIT** After a using this for roughly we a week, the sound really has opened up, and the mids are much more present, and the brightness has tamed. I find that the cans could use a small EQ tweak at the top end of -2dB, which seems to just smooth out the sound signature. I also found the stock pads a little uncomfortable for long term wear and quite warm, so I purchased a fairly inexpense pair of Cosmos pads, which are a velour pad, that fits perfectly on this item with little to no stretching of the pads before installing them on the cans. I noticed little change to the sound signature, just a minor reduction in the bass, but perfectly clear highs and mids. The increase for long session wear alone was worth the upgrade. The replacement pads can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KLPRQMO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 **

Hello all... As a matter of background information, like many others, I do a series of blog reviews on various audio gear. Over the past 6 months I've been reviewing dozens of headphones that run in the budget range. As I was going through the mill of various brand headphones, I've come to admire quite a few of them for the audio qualities they possess given their lower price points. If you've searched the net or sites like Amazon and others, it soon becomes quite clear that many of these Asian brands are knock-offs of other well known models, and even then, you'll find the same design (in this case the 668) under a variety of brands, which can become confusing. With regards to size, these are larger headphones and the stock pads that come with the 668's are absolutely worthless (in my opinion). As I always do, I tend to experiment with various pads, because in most cases, the addition of upgraded pads can result in both increased comfort levels, not to mention improvements in sound quality - yet, that's not necessarily always the case with every headphone model. Upon first hearing, I found the 668's to be quite lacking, exhibiting a confined, nasal quality to the music with little to no depth. With regard to music in general, do keep in mind that there are some headphones that may do quite well with certain genre's of music styles (i.e. jazz and pop vs classical, and vice versa), while other models are adept at providing outstanding audio qualities with "all" types of music. I've used/reviewed a variety of headphones that were very solid when playing pop, jazz, and rock - yet, when trying them on large orchestral scenarios such as classical, big band jazz, and other multi-instrumental set-ups, they would bomb big time, and it was quite apparent. In my opinion, such is the case with the 668's in that they sound fine (up to a point) with small jazz groups, pop and rock. However, when I played classical music through them, they sounded confined, instrumental timbres were off, and lacked a substantial amount of depth (if any). As an aside, one of the best ways to evaluate audio gear is to play multi-instrumental pieces (well recorded, that is) such as classical, big band, big band Latin, etc. Again, if all you were to listen to was just the 668's alone, you'd probably find them to be just fine. However, as I mentioned previously, I reviewed quite a few of them - thus I have an easy reference point - and sadly, the 668's just don't measure up. I then began experimenting with different pads. In the case of the 668's, you will need to look for larger pads to fit. I ordered the XL Brainwavz Round pads - which were the correct ones. Prior to that I tried 7 different pads from several brand names and all they did was to actually degrade the sound quality - which I found unusual because they helped with so many other headphone models. Finally, the Brainwavz (XL versions) did the trick and actually improved both the sound and comfort somewhat. As an aside, the Cosmos brand sound pads, which were recommended by some on-line and video reviews, failed to do the trick and made things sound appreciably worse (at least in my scenario). But alas, even though the sound improved somewhat, the 668's still don't compete (again, my opinion only). Other similarly priced headphones such as the Status CB-1's, the Status BT-1's, the much cheaper (yet awesome) Koss KPH-30i's, and a half dozen other models, all sound substantially superior to the 668's by a noticeable margin (I'm referring to those with similar price points here). Now it's important to remember that when it comes to headphones, you are at the mercy of your ears (not a particular room or hearing setup). For example, I'm in my 70s, have been an audiophile for almost 50 years, have long since developed critical listening skills, and in my case, have a high frequency drop-off at above 11,000 kHz. In addition, what you plug your headphones into can make a huge difference. I do not plug supposed audiophile level headphones into the likes of smartphones, Walkmans, cheap stereo sets, etc. To fully evaluate and appreciate these types of headphones, I've used the 668's with a half dozen different beginner to intermediate DAC/headphone amp units and thus my evaluations are based on those. The DAC/Headphone Amps used were the Fiio K5 Pro, iFi ZenDAC, Soundavo HP-DAC1, Micca OriGen G2, FX-AUDIO DAC-X6 Mk II, the Fiio K3, and the Sabaj D3. The end result is that although the sound improved somewhat with the addition of the Brainwavz XL round pads, the audio output still had a somewhat confined quality to it. In comparison with other headphones - even similarly priced models from various brands - the sound didn't have the depth that the others projected. By depth, I mean to say that imaging (from left to right and front to rear) was more on a 2 dimensional plane. At times, depending on recording, the music had a nasal quality to it. Additionally, in quite a few cases, the instrumental timbre of various instruments sounded off - colored, if you will. Repeating myself again, if these were the only ones you ever listened to, then you probably wouldn't take notice. But once you try different headphones while listening to the same source material, the inadequacies of the 668's were apparent. Sound isolation - in particular, with the larger XL pads - is superb and once you put them on, most of the exterior sound is isolated. With regard to being able to listen for long periods of time, however, these are not the type of headphones that allow you longer sessions. The music reproduction, the accuracy of the timbre of some instruments, and the coloration all can contribute to long-term listening fatigue. It's just a fact of life with these. So in the end, even with various ear pad experimentation, even though the sound improved somewhat with my selecting the Brainwavz XL round ear pads, I still can only give these headphones 3 stars and that's being generous. Also, I realize it's all subjective and somebody reading this may retort, "What in the hell is he talking about because I think the 668's sound great!" And who am I to argue with another subjective viewpoint on sound. I've subsequently given these headphones to a neighbor's son who listens to rock and pop most of the time and he likes them.

I have been on the hunt for the RIGHT gaming headset for over a year. I have owned the Turtle Beach Stealth PX24, Hyper X Cloud Stinger, both the Playstation Gold and Platinum Wireless headsets. Then, I upgraded to the wire-happy, Astro A40 TR with mixamp. I felt the A40 was bit, overpriced, performance-wise. THEN, I went to the Turtle Beach Stealth 520, which is wireless and has several, surround sound presets, including the featured, SuperHuman Hearing. However, it seemed, like each time I would game with the Stealth 520 for a bit, my ears and eventually, head would start to sweat, due to the enclosed, faux-leather design of the ear cushions. Many times, I would snatch the headset off and play, without it. Then, I went to the Arctis Pro, which was superb in sound quality and build. However, I returned them because they caused me to have headaches after gaming sessions. Then, I was on the hunt for another headset. However, I decided to go a different route and get some stereo headphones for gaming, which led me to finding out about the HD688B by Superlux. I learned about these headphones via various reviewers on YouTube. In addition, they mentioned how superb the HD688B was for gaming, despite being stereo headphones by default. I was sold and decided to give them a try. For the price. Why not? Still, I was wondering, if I would get a good experience by gaming with stereo headphones or should I stay in the gaming headset lane? DESIGN: Overall, the design of the HD688B is not my favorite. Very, basic design. The headphones is very, comfortable. The headband is made up of a wiry, hard, plastic, structure, which looks cheap, but is extremely, durable. Underneath, is a patented, auto-adjusting, headrest for stability and comfort. Plus, the headrest has a manual, sliding adjuster to compensate for an increase in head size, as well. The headphones are semi-open, which means all of the sound, may not leak out for others, nearby to hear. Also, all outside sounds, may not come in. Of course, sound performance, may vary, based upon, if the ear cushions are changed from the original ones. Of course, the original, faux leather cushions, which are included on the HD688B are terrible. I would suggest buying some aftermarket, ear cushions. Needless to say, I fell in love with the AirWeaved ear cushions, which were featured on my previously-owned, Arctis Pro. So, I purchased those on Amazon. Also, the headphones do not have any external buttons to work the headphones, like a volume button or an external mic, as it is not a gaming headset by default. PS4 users will have to change the volume by accessing Volume Control (Headphones) option on the PSN settings menu. Not much of a hassle in my opinion. Of course, if a DAC or sound card is purchased, which has a button, that could change. Also, a mod-mic will be needed to use a microphone for these headphones. SOUND: The driver size is 50mm, double-dome, neodymium magnet, which is great. The frequency response is an above-average, 10-30KHz. Many headphones or headsets are at 20-20KHz. In addition, the impedance of 56 ohms with a maximum input power of 300 mW is impressive for protection from overload by various audio equipment. The sound from the HD688B, gives perhaps, the most authentic sound, which I have heard, while gaming. Every sound can be heard with ambience and clarity from all angles, crisp with no distortion. The highs/low balance of sounds are very good, as well. Bass is there in the HD668B, but not too, much. An increase amount of bass, drowns out pure sound in my opinion. Of course, I use the headset for gaming on my PS4. With the standard ear cushions, the sound was, just right. Not, too loud or too, low. However, with the change of the ear cushions, as mentioned, I saw a much-improved, difference. I would also, suggest to add a sound card or DAC. I have a [ [ ASIN: B01MXJ83G4 Neoteck 192kHz DAC Converter with Volume Control Aluminum Digital Optical Coaxial Toslink to Analog Stereo Left/Right RCA 3.5mm Jack Audio Adapter for PS3 XBox HD DVD PS4 Sky HD Plasma Blu-ray ] ]. The combination will surely, make the HD688D reach its full, optimal sound performance. With that said, there have been opinions, the HD688B is not loud for PS4. Well, get both of those modifications and that opinion will change, quick. I tested the performance of HD688B with the original and the AirWeave ear cushions, while playing Call Of Duty Black Ops 4. The original ear cushions, made the sound from the HD688D a bit, average. Not, too loud, but not too, low. However, I saw a noticeable difference, between both, while playing. The design of the AirWeave cushions, enhanced the sound and the treble of the HD688B. I was in awe of how authentic the sounds were, as I was playing. The gunfire, explosions, dialogue and other random sounds on the map to the left and right of me, were heard, loud and clear. The HD688B picks up low sounds, like a vacuum. For example, on the Morocco map, outside of hearing the common sounds, during gameplay, I could hear the clinging and breakage of pottery, while being shot or kicked around. Never heard that on my last two headsets. Then, while playing on the Icebreaker map, hearing the deep, crunching sound, as my character, Battery was trampling through the snow and the cracking of the ice, sounded unbelievably, real. Once, on the map, Summit, Battery ran inside of an open-ended bay. Battery was making a quote, while outside and the quote ended, while going half-way inside of the bay. There was an echo of Battery's voice, while making a quote, inside of that open-ended bay. The authenticity of the echo was unbelievable and nearly, scary. Of course, FPS gamers like to know about being able to hear footsteps. Well, footsteps of teammates and enemies CAN be heard, clearly and in more abundance, as they come, much closer. Perhaps, stereo headphones, might be better than a gaming headset. Considering, these headphones are under $50, the HD688B performs better than many, gaming headsets or even, headphones that is twice or three times the cost. HOW could Superlux pull this off and sell these at such a low price? I am cannot complain. MIC (OPTIONAL): Like I mentioned, a mod-mic will have to be purchased to utilize, while online gaming. The prices vary. I have not tried this, yet, as I do not have a mod-mic at this time. I do know, with one attached, it should perform, exceptionally, well. VERDICT: Overall, the Superlux HD688B is a steal, considering the performance for the price. They, just might be the best ever, which is puzzling because it is the cheapest of the majority of the so-called, high-performing, gaming headsets and various stereo headphones. While the design, may not be the prettiest, the HD688B makes up for it with an unbelievable performance. Of course, as headphones by default, the sound is great. In addition, these headphones double for gaming and performance better than any gaming headset on the market. I would suggest going to pick these up. After use, stereo headphones, just may be the way to go, moving forward.

These are my first semi-open headphones and I love them. Super comfortable for all day wear, but a bit too rigid for travel if you're on the go a lot. The sound is clear, as other reviewers mentioned, and perfect for my needs of gaming and listening to electronic music while I work. The ability to hear a little when I need to and not be completely blocked out like you are with noise cancelling headphones is a great benefit. They are super comfortable (once you get used to the fit). I had a couple pair of Sony mid-range headphones and had hurting ears after a full day of work or gaming, these I can wear all week long and not have a bit of pain. The padded wings on the top hurt my head a little before I got used to the proper adjustment (tilting them forward a little) and the wings also hurt a little over time if I'm wearing a beanie and don't ad The detachable cords are great, as well as the extension that I can run from my computer under my desk. That being said, they are not the easiest to travel with, as they don't really comfortably rest on my neck, and my briefcase just doesn't accommodate them well. The biggest complaint I have is that the plastic that's coating the metal wire cracked within the first 2 months (picture), and I haven't left my office with them. For the price, I can't complain too much but that knocked a star off for me. Overall, I'm happy with my purchase. I researched on and off for a few days to find the right pair around $50 or less and this seemed to hit the spot.

I've owned this product since March of 2014. January of 2017, after years of heavy use and abuse for at least 8 hours a day the left earphone went out. I call $40 for nearly 3 full years of heavy use a value. I liked these headphones so much, I had to write a review. Let me start by saying that for $40..you're probably not going to find any headphones that can match these audio wise. The audio that these headphones produce is extremely clear and accurate for the pricing. If you look these headphones up online, you're going to find a bunch of audiophile reviews praising this headphone for their value and sound quality. I had a pair of $150 Audio-Technica M50 headphones and I ended up selling them because I preferred the overall package of the HD668B's. One huge pro of these headphones is that they automatically adjust to your head, meaning you put the headphones and your head and you're done. You don't need to adjust notches on the left or right and they're perfectly fitting on your head. After owning these headphones for so long, I cannot go back to headphones that require adjustment. Another pro for these headphones is the removable headphone cable. We all know accidents happen...You yank on your headphones (Happened to me a lot) you run over the cable with your computer chair (Again, happened with me a lot) and with these headphones, the cable will simply pull off the headphones. If the cable frays, tears, breaks, rips, etc, you simply get a replacement headphone extension cable. An additional pro is the durability of the headphones. They look and feel of cheap plastic, however, they hold up EXCEPTIONALLY well. I've dropped these headphones multiple times, I traveled with them in airports multiple times (Hanging off a zipper on my backpack with a clip) I've thrown them to the ground in a hurry and they continued to hold up and work without issue. Overall, if you're looking for headphones and you want to keep the price down or have a strict budget, you can't go wrong with these.