You have to make a careful decision when considering the purchase of wireless headphones. More often than not, you’re trading sound quality and definition in aid of convenience - is it really that much hassle to deal with a cable dangling down your T-shirt? But you know what, sometimes it’s nice to have the freedom to move away from your device and enjoy the comforting sound of your tunes all around the house, that’s just a fact.
Inspired by the stylings of the Nineties, the Clash Evolution Bluetooth headphones from KitSound try to find a smooth balance between a beautiful design and outstanding sound. And you know what, they come incredibly close to delivering on that promise. These over-the-ear headphones are certainly aesthetically pleasing: boasting comfy cans and an attractive brushed aluminium finish, not to mention strong practicality thanks to a ten-hour life-cycle and 12 metre range for Bluetooth, but can KitSound really deliver where it counts?
The 40mm drivers do their best to impress, though we aren’t wholly convinced. Once you’ve given them a chance to warm up, the Clash Evolutions deliver solid and responsive sounds across a wide variety of music genres, but seem to deliver best to the - surprise, surprise - grunge and punk sounds of the Nineties. The vocal balance is tight and clear, while the treble and mids hold steady at high volumes. Bass addicts and hip hop fans will likely walk away disappointed - the Clash Evolution's lack a thundering heart.
The Clash Evolution headphones deliver good sound across a variety of genres, but that’s it. Good, not great. These headphones simply miss the mark as they lack a strong sound personality, which many of KitSound’s peers are able to achieve effortlessly. These probably aren’t going to replace a good pair of wired headphones available at a similar price, but the cans offer a solid sound wirelessly, which is pretty tough to achieve.
For the price, KitSound is offering a robust and versatile pair of headphones. But they lack the bass response and signature sound that any wanabee audiophile will desire.