Okay Geek Farm
SOL Republic Tracks headphones review
Andrew Kalies
Let’s face it, headphones can be a pain to buy. Some headphones are surrounded by hype and celebrity sponsorships but are generally considered in the tech world to be way overpriced (and because of that, slightly overrated). And yet, there are other types of headphones that are fairly unknown but can be the best bang-for-your-buck-cans out there! Today we’ll be taking a look at the latter, the $99 Tracks headphones by a new company called SOL (Soundtrack of Life) Republic. How do they stack up against other headphones in the price range?
Features
- V8 Sound Engine Speakers for deep bass, good vocals, and an impressive soundstage.
- Sonicsoft cushions for light and comfortable listening.
- Flextech sound track headband made of an advanced polymer compound made for heavy abuse, bending, and twisting.
- Integrated mic and music controls in cable. (Only compatible with iPod, iPhone, and iPad)
- Right angle connector for less stress on your device’s headphone jack.
SOL Republic came out of nowhere in August 2011, when Monster Cable’s (yes, the guys who sold the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones) VP of Marketing Kevin Lee announced he was co-founding the new company. But don’t let the Beats name scare you away, as SOL is taking a completely different approach to the headphone market. Instead of pricing their cans at around $300, SOL has a line of more budget friendly headphones ranging from from $59 to $129.
Our Impressions
Right away, you can see that SOL is taking some design cues from Beats with the box design (although that isn’t a bad thing). The box is attractive and even has a side window to see what the headphones look like before you buy them. After opening a small seal on the top, you just pull a few flaps and then you’re ready to slide out the main compartment. Inside, you’ll find the headphones, a small booklet with instructions and some SOL Republic stickers, and finally a small plastic bag with the cable inside.
Design and Build Quality
First off, build quality. The headband is made of an extremely durable advanced polymer compound that always you to bend the headband every way possible and not have it snap at all. After several tests, it really works. I couldn’t break them at all. Plus, everything is interchangable and replaceable. The sound engines can slide right off the headband, in case you want to change the headband color or replace a broken one. The cables are all replaceable as well, as they can be plugged/unplugged into each sound engine and if say your cord shorts out, you can just request a new one and swap it in with no issue. All in all, they’re a tough pair of headphones that can definitely take a beating, and if it comes to it, replaced quite easily.
As for look and feel, well, they look a lot like a pair of black Beats by Dr. Dre Solo headphones, except with slightly larger sound engines, detachable cables, and a much more durable headband. In hand, the Tracks are quite light, but they also have a solid feel to them as well. On the $99 pair of Tracks, the headband is matte and generally resistant to scratches, and the sound engines have a glossy plastic shell that is, no surprise, a fingerprint magnet. The tangle free cable, from the connector on to the integrated mic, is quite thick and cumbersome although they do feel quite durable as a result. From the mic on the cable splits in two off to each speaker and becomes much thinner and out of the way. Overall, they are a sleek pair of headphones.
Comfort
With on-ear headphones, the subject of comfort can be a mixed bag because depending on the size/shape of your head and/or the sensitivity of your ears, on-ear headphones can get become really uncomfortable in a short period of time. So before I begin, let me say your personal mileage may vary. I suggest going to your local electronics store and trying them first before buying. Cushion wise, there is a small cushion on the top of the headband that keeps them comfortable on the top of your head. The ear cushions are soft and squishy, and really sit nice on the ear. I wear glasses daily, so I know how uncomfortable some on-ears can be with them on; I found the Tracks to be much more tolerable than say the Beats by Dr. Dre Solo’s (I was only able to keep the Solo’s on for 15 minutes at a time in comparison to around an hour and a half with the Tracks). Overall, I’m happy with how they felt.
Sound Quality
Finally, arguably the most important factor in a pair of headphones, the sound quality. First off, let me say that I am definitely not an audiophile, but then these aren’t audiophile cans either. To sum it up for you, the Tracks sound amazing, especially for the price tag. They have a well defined, but not overpowering, bass kick and vocals are quiet clear. Genre wise, I determined that acoustic and electronic music definitely shine on these. Instruments are very clear, and it sounds like your in the studio with the band. Really good stuff. Some may call them poor man’s Beats Solos, and I’d say you’re wrong because 75% of the time, these sounded on par, if not better, than the Beats Solos. Overall, I am very impressed with the sound quality of the Tracks.
Noise Cancellation & Sound Leak
Unfortunately, I have to report that the SOL Republic Tracks suffer from a good amount of sound leakage. At modest volumes of about 50%, everyone around me could hear my music. Go higher, and a microphone setup across the room could pick up my music as if it was being played right through my speakers. If you listen to your music at lower volumes, work at a club, or plan on using these where you don’t have to quiet, the Tracks should be fine though. Since I primarily used mine in my room alone listening to music, it wasn’t a big deal at all.
As for noise cancellation, these definitely aren’t made or marketed to be noise cancellation cans, but with them on most surrounding noise was muffled out. Overall, they’re pretty good at cutting out external noise but if noise cancellation is one of your main deciding factors when buying headphones, we wouldn’t recommend the Tracks.
Overall
To recap, we found the SOL Republic Tracks to be a great set of headphones overall. They’re durable, replaceable/interchangeable, look great, and have very good sound for the price. Plus, at $99 they’re a lot more affordable than competitors. The only things dragging these cans down are the fact that they can uncomfortable after long listening periods and that they leak a significant amount of sound. Otherwise, the Tracks are a very attractive and capable set of headphones that we think most people will appreciate, especially considering its value.
Pro’s
- Very good sound for the price (much cheaper than competition)
- Durable headband with replaceable parts
- Sleek looks
Con’s
- May be uncomfortable for extended periods
- Sound leakage at loud volumes
Where to buy
SOL Republic — MSRP: $99.99
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