Summary
Audiophiles are probably aware of the big brands like Sennheiser or AKG, but most have probably never heard of the brand OneOdio. A couple of weeks ago, no one at Game Rant had heard about them either, but after testing their Monitor 80 open-back headphones, it’s hard to tell why. These headphones produce impressive sound, are incredibly comfortable, and have a ton of accessories out of the box. All for a very reasonable price.
These headphones have been my daily driver for gaming, watching movies, and listening to music for the last week. While these are not great for going for walks or exercising, if people want to sit back and enjoy some content, these headphones are an excellent option.
OneOdio Monitor 80
The OneOdio Monitor 80 are headphones made to be a reliable daily driver for audiophiles. Using high-precision audio drivers, these headphones deliver solid bass and clear mids combining to make an incredible audio experience. With an impedance of 250 ohms, these headphones do need an amp to properly drive them, but the fantastic sound quality is worth it.
What’s In The Box?
Straight away, the box made this whole experience feel very premium, and opening it up made it even better. The headphones come in an EVA hard case, which is perfect for taking these headphones on the go. Inside the case is enough room for the headphones, cables, and extra space for a small amp.
Design and Features
The Monitor 80 has a sleek, understated design that fits almost anyone’s style. The silver accent pieces also give them a kind of retro look, like the classic AKG K702. The body is made entirely of plastic, which is to be expected at this price point, but besides a few creaky hinges on the model Game Rant received, the build quality feels sturdy.
Many audiophile headphones are a pain to pack, but thanks to the foldable design, these headphones are a breeze to take anywhere. However, because they are open-back headphones, everyone around will be able to hear the music coming out of them, so they are not great for coffee shop use.
Their portability is further limited by the fact that they need an amp to drive them properly. At 250 ohms, technically, these headphones can be powered by an aux port on a phone, but they will not have nearly the same sound quality. During testing, Game Rant used the Fiio BT3K to drive the Monitor 80s, which proved to be powerful enough and, with its Bluetooth connection options, made it possible to enjoy hi-fi sound on devices that typically cannot support headphones like these.
As wired-only headphones, it is nice to see that the cable on these headphones is easily replaceable; there is nothing worse than having to replace a whole pair of headphones because of a bad cable. The Monitor 80 headphones take this a step further, having two ports to choose from; a standard 3.5mm aux jack and a 6.35mm jack. They already provided two options, but it would be nice to see a way to connect a balanced cable to this headphone though.
Comfort
Whether wearing them during the workday or just relaxing and listening to music, these headphones are incredibly comfortable all day. The velvet earpads are extremely comfortable and breathable, so no annoying heat build-up exists. The adjustable headband makes it easy to get the perfect fit, and there is enough resistance in the headband that accidental bumps won’t cause the sizing to change.
Both cables that come included with the Monitor 80 headphones are nice and long, making it easy to enjoy music regardless of where the amp is sitting on the desk. For people who are good at cable management, the 3.5mm cable to 3.5mm cable will work well; however, for most of Game Rant’s testing, the coiled cable was used. On a pair of wired headphones, there is nothing better than a coiled cable as far as comfort is concerned. No fussing around with wrapping the cable or worrying about catching it on the corner of the desk.
The only gripe that came up was that the earcups are a bit too shallow for some people, so the drivers are right up against their ears. This is not a huge issue for people who are used to on-ear headphones or earbuds, but for people coming from over-ear headphones like the Sennheiser HD 600, this is quite a change. It is not a deal-breaker, but for people with larger ears, this will make the headphones a lot less comfortable, especially for longer-wearing sessions.
Sound Quality
Now, for the real meat and potatoes (or their audio equivalents), how do the Monitor 80 headphones sound? Simply put, these headphones sound incredible; whether for listening to music, watching movies, or playing games, the Monitor 80 is a great way to get into hi-fi sound without breaking the bank.
Lows are powerful and crisp without being overbearing, and mids are incredibly clear. However, at the high end of frequencies, the sound starts to get a bit compressed and tinny. This becomes much more evident when listening to music with a heavy bass line and vocals at higher frequencies, likeForward Compatibility Engineby Aesop Rock. After listening to a full album with similar music, this can lead to some hearing fatigue.
With these being open-back headphones, the sound stage is much wider and more full than most closed-back headphones. Luckily, my typical daily drivers are the industry standard open-back headphones, the Sennheiser HD 600s, so while they are priced very differently, it gives an excellent point of comparison. Side by side, these headphones sound surprisingly similar. But, because of the smaller driver size and shallower ear cups, they cannot produce the effect of being in the same room as the artists like higher-end open-back headphones do.
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But at this price point, people will be hard-pressed to find a pair of headphones that sounds as good as the OneOdio Monitor 80.
Gaming
While gaming is not the intended use case of the Monitor 80, they are excellent to game with. The open-back design produces a pseudo surround sound experience, making it easy to pick out which direction the sound is coming from. Shots and lower-end sounds are not as powerful as some gaming headsets likethe SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. In story-based games, these headphones make it very easy to become immersed in a world. Even though it is not for everyone, gamers should try using open-back headphones at least once for gaming. It really is a game-changer.
While it is possible to use these headphones with a console, it is definitely easier for PC gamers to set up an amp and get the most out of these headphones. Plus, there is no boom or inline mic, so gamers will have to pick up adedicated gaming micto communicate with their teammates.
Overall Impressions
After having a week with these headphones, they are not for everyone, but for people who are looking to get into hi-fi audio equipment, the Monitor 80 is an excellent way to do it. Even for those who have higher-end headphones, these might be worth picking up because of how easy they are to pack up and take anywhere, especially with the included hard case. At around $100, these headphones are an absolute steal. Just be careful, because once people get their first taste of actual hi-fi sound, there is no looking back. All other headphones are going to pale in comparison.
FAQ
Q: Are open-back headphones worth buying?
If people typically listen to music in a quiet environment, open-back headphones provide sound quality that is hard to reproduce with closed-back headphones. The open design allows vocals and mids to sound more natural and accurate; however, bass is typically less powerful than closed-back headphones.
Q: Are open-back headphones good for monitoring?
Open-back headphones are typically a bit more accurate than closed-back headphones, making them an excellent option for monitoring and mixing. Plus, the open-back design allows users' ears to breathe more, making it more comfortable for longer sessions.
