I\u2019m usually all about sound quality when it comes to headphones, but having reviewed several pairs over the years, I\u2019ve come to realize that other attributes, like comfort and weight, are pretty important too. And House of Marley\u2019s new Exodus over-ear wireless headphones<\/a> check those boxes with aplomb.<\/p>\n They\u2019re beautifully styled and appointed with premium materials, and they\u2019re are sure to warrant a second glance every time you pick them up. While I\u2019m fortunate to have better-sounding headphones to pop on, I found myself frequently reaching for these while heading out, and to work. Here\u2019s a look at what you get for your money.<\/p>\n The Exodus, named after the ninth album from legendary reggae outfit Bob Marley and the Wailers<\/a> from 1977, is made from stainless steel, aluminum, natural leather, and sustainably sourced wood in a gorgeous modern design.<\/p>\n The materials are beautifully finished, and there\u2019s plenty of attention to detail in the way it\u2019s been built. That\u2019s apparent from thoughtful little touches like the earcups\u2019 ability to fold inward and down flat, and in the way the metal batons slide with a bit of resistance when you adjust the earcups to fit your head comfortably.<\/p>\n Between the lightweight construction and the memory foam ear cushions, the Exodus is perhaps the most comfortable pair of headphones I\u2019ve ever tried. They weigh nearly the same (279g) as these inexpensive noise cancelling over-ears from iTeknic<\/a> that I reviewed in February, but they\u2019re easier to wear for longer periods of time because they don\u2019t fatigue me as much.<\/p>\n I also like how the controls are easy to reach, memorize, and use without having to look at them.\u00a0 Unlike many other ambitiously designed cans, the Exodus\u2019 buttons for playback, power, wireless pairing, and volume are laid out in a straightforward manner, along the sides of the earcups.<\/p>\n These headphones come with a cloth carrying case, as well as a tangle-free 3.5mm aux cable with a single playback control button and mic for use as a headset and when it\u2019s out of power. You\u2019ll also get a braided USB-C cable for relatively quick charging. Overall, it\u2019s a well thought out package with little details that make them a delight to own.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s talk about how these sound. The Exodus plays things safe for the most part, coloring the output with an emphasis on the low end. It delivers a little less treble and a looser bass response than I\u2019d like. And as with most closed-back headphones, the soundstage isn\u2019t very large, and so there isn\u2019t a whole lot of separation between instruments.<\/p>\n As such, it\u2019s tame, lacks a bit of bite, and is a little less exciting than some other headphones I\u2019ve tried in this price range.<\/p>\n That said, these are still enjoyable to use with most contemporary genres, from pop to folk to metal. Testing it with tracks by Kiev, Bruno Mars, Cleo Sol, Alfa Mist, Audioslave, Arctic Monkey, Mac Ayres, and No Honey, I had a fine time leaving behind the din of my co-working space over the past couple of weeks.<\/p>\n However, if I intended to meditate with some modern classical and jazz records from the likes of Philip Glass and Pat Metheny Group, I\u2019d reach for Master & Dynamic\u2019s MW50<\/a> to eke out a bit more detail and sound separation.<\/p>\n With a Bluetooth 4.2 chip on board, these headphones pair fairly quickly, but it would have been nice to have quicker connectivity with Bluetooth 5. The onboard mic isn\u2019t great, so don\u2019t expect to take calls while using these wirelessly. These aren\u2019t deal-breakers for me, but I\u2019d have been chuffed to use this for work chats as well. Plus, the long battery life (close to the advertised 30 hours) makes for a pretty sweet deal.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in the market for headphones with a distinctive look, or need a pair that you can wear for hours on end, I\u2019d happily recommend the Exodus.<\/p>\n At its asking price of $200, you can get nicer sounding cans like Audio-Technica\u2019s M50XBT<\/a>, but the alternatives within this range aren\u2019t nearly as tastefully designed. It may seem shallow to judge headphones by looks for the most, but hey, you\u2019re going to own these for years, and it doesn\u2019t hurt to have pretty gear.<\/p>\n Find the House of Marley Exodus on Amazon US at $199.99<\/a>, and on the company\u2019s site<\/a>.<\/p>\n This post includes affiliate links to products that you can buy online. If you purchase them through our links, we get a small cut of the revenue.<\/em><\/p>\n TNW Conference 2019 is coming! Check out our glorious new location, inspiring line-up of speakers and activities, and how to be a part of this annual tech extravaganza by clicking here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n For more gear, gadget, and hardware news and reviews, follow Plugged on \n Published May 7, 2019 \u2014 16:35 UTC\n <\/p>\n \n Price<\/span>Design and features<\/h2>\n
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Performance<\/h2>\n
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Who are these for?<\/h2>\n
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\n 199.99 <\/span>
\n Product<\/span>Exodus by House of Marley<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n