OneOdio continues to impress me with their high value headphones. I have several pairs (multiples of the Pro 10s, Pro 30s and the now the A70 Fusions) and they just keep getting better and more refined with each new product they release.
The A70 Fusions are a brilliant all-around headphone that punches way above it’s price point. This is a pair of headphones that can do it all.
You’ve got your long 1/4 inch to 3.5mm cable for kicking back and listening to turntables or an audio receiver, or for connecting to an instrument amp or DJ mixer. It’s even got a jack lock. You’ve got your shorter 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable for listening from a mobile device or connecting to a game controller. Finally, you’ve got Bluetooth so you can go completely wireless for working out, commuting, listening from a laptop, or connecting to a streaming media device.
You know those outfits that are meant to transform and go from the office, to dinner in the evening, to drinks at the nightclub? This is like that, but for headphones. You could hit the gym in the morning, work at the office during the day, relax with some vinyl records after work, go play a music gig or rehearse with the band that evening, catch up on some Netflix at night and fall asleep to your favorite podcast all in these headphones.
Sound: A competently done V-shaped consumer tuning that I find fun to listen to but not fatiguing. Clarity and good separation. Defined treble, slightly warm through the mids. Bass is natural and full without muddying the mix and the sub-bass is present, but accurate. If you’re looking for Skullcandy Crusher type bass, this is not your headphone. If you like a full, but natural sound profile, these are great. Soundstage is not crazy wide, but it’s good for a closed back headphone.
Build quality & style: These don’t feel super, duper premium but they also don’t cost $200+dollars. Mostly plastic, metal where it counts. They’re well put together and they don’t feel cheap. The build compares well to other headphones at this price. I’ve got other OneOdio headphones with the same headband as these that I have not treated at all gently over the last year and they’ve held up much better than I expected. I don’t see them breaking anytime soon. Compared to those, OneOdio has further refined the fit and finish on the Fusions.
They’re a handsome headphone, reminiscent of Audio Technica ATH-M50s. They look more expensive than they are.
Comfort: I’m totally spoiled on OneOdio’s DJ Pro 30/50 earpads, which feel like the headphone equivalent of putting on your favorite sweat pants. The Fusions are not as those, but they’re quite good and a lot slimmer and more portable. The earpad foam and protein cover are soft on the skin and resilient. They make a solid seal, which is critical for sound quality. The earcups are oval instead of round and angled from the band for an ergonomic fit. They’re light and easy to wear for hours. The earcups swivel flat and sit well around your neck and they articulate well against your head.
Versatility and portability: These are light and slim 3 for an over-ear, but not at all flimsy. The earcups swivel flat and fold inward. You can connect these to any audio source and even daisy chain them to share music with another person, including while on Bluetooth mode. They’ll work wired without any battery. In OneOdio’s semi-hardshell case they’re about the size of a hardback book. In the included bag they’re about the size of a rolled up t-shirt. Around your neck, you can forget they’re there.
Value: The value of these headphones at this price is off the charts. Seriously, just buy them. If they’ve got a coupon, they’re an absolute steal. Buy two. OneOdio is generous with accessories as a bonus.
Controls and Bluetooth performance. The controls on the right earcup do everything you need them to do and they’re easy to find and identify by touch. Bluetooth connection has been solid and stable. Quick to connect and with the expected range. They sound great wired. As good as the OneOdio Pro 30/50 despite a driver that’s 10mm smaller. They sound slightly better wireless to me, with a bit more punch and presence. They seem to be benefitting from the internal amp and I think using them with a wired amp would squeeze a little more performance out of them. The Bluetooth noise floor is incredibly low, which really impressed me. This is coming from a person who can hear ultrasonic electric dog repellents and knows when the downstairs neighbor is running a ceiling fan. It makes listening to podcasts and audiobooks very enjoyable because there’s no annoying background hum. Battery life is great. Seems a little longer than the stated 20 hours, but thar depends on volume. I like that they use tones instead of voice prompts when powering on and off. There’s a built in mic for phone calls, and it’s clear enough that I was able to have a phone conversation on a busy 6 grocery store without the person on the other end asking me to repeat myself.
Nitpicks: They could go a bit louder for listening from quieter bluetooth sources that don’t have independent volume control. On the silver model, the status led lights up the entire earcup, which is annoying if you listen a dark or dim space. On the black model, it’s nice and subdued. I would have liked to see bluetooth 5.0 and USB C, but at this price I’m not complaining. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback and are quite clicky, but that means you can hear them click in the right ear when you press them.
Service: I’ve had to deal with OneOdio on a couple issues before and they’re great. They made things easy and followed up to make sure I was satisfied.
Overall: These are really solid, versatile headphones that sound good and are an outstanding value. Absolutely worth the purchase.
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