If Beats Audio is considered mainstream at this point, and
Bose still regarded as the premium maker in the space, then
it seems as though A-Audio is looking to find itself
somewhere in between. Have you ever heard of A-Audio
before? We certainly never heard of them before either, but it
looks as though they’re trying to break onto the scene with
its line of premium-made audio products. One of them in
particular, the A-Audio Icon Wireless , catches our attention
for its hard to believe cost of $379. Naturally, there are
plenty of premium priced Bluetooth headphones around, but
can this one somehow prove it’s worth every single penny
for hardcore audiophiles to accept?
We’ll get in right into it folks, the design of the A-Audio Icon
Wireless is rather odd and strange at first sight. Normally,
we would envision premium priced headphones to sport
industrial, minimalist designs – similar to what we find in
the portfolio of audio companies like Bose and V-Moda.
Going with an avant-garde style, there’s something
mechanical about it – with a hint of sophistication. It’s most
evident when looking at the steel octagonal bezels that are
slapped onto each ear cup. Accentuating the style are the
various bolted screws around each ear cup that help to add
to its mechanical-like styling.
Even though its design can be regarded as cold-looking, it’s
at least pretty comfortable around the head because it
features supple leather around the headband to provide
cushion and support. On top of that, the entire thing has a
tight fit, so it’s something that stays still even with heavy
movement. Rounding things out, the Icon Wireless also
features a collapsible design to occupy very little space if
it’s placed in a bag or something – plus, the ear cups are
placed on a swivel joint so that they can rest comfortably
while it's around our neck.
The left ear cup is home to the dedicated power button,
which powers on the unit when it’s held down. Pressing it
once, though, will light up the corresponding LEDs to
indicate its battery level. While music is playing, a double
press of the button will cycle through its 3-Stage Listening
Technology modes – they consist of Base Enhancer, Active
Noise Cancellation, and wired audio. Conversely, the right
ear cup accommodates its multi-function button, which act
as the pause/play/pickup/end functions. Flanking it top and
bottom are the dedicated volume keys to adjust its output.
So, what’s the quality like with this Bluetooth enabled set?
Well, if you have a thing for the lows, you’ll especially love
the pounding tones the A-Audio Icon Wireless is able to
muster up. Surely, bass tones are profound on all volume
levels, as the headphones pop with power – showing very
little strain even at the loudest setting. Indeed, the lows are
represented greatly with this, but it tends to subdue the high
frequency tones. As for its noise-cancellation feature, we’ll
say that it’s good, but not great. When it’s enabled, we can
tell that background noise is suppressed, but its presence
can still linger on lower volumes.
Anything over $300 for a pair of headphones will warrant
deep scrutiny to uncover its worth. Quite frankly, the $379
sticker price attached to the A-Audio Icon Wireless is a
tough sell – more so considering other comparable priced
headphones offer a deeper set of features. Plus, we’re not
necessarily won over by its particular styling. Nevertheless,
if you’re a fan of bass heavy headphones, you won’t be
disappointed by this.
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