Noontec Zoro: A new high for $100 headphones?

Don't the weird name throw you, the Noontec Zoro may be the clearest, most accurate on- headphone you can buy the money.

It's impossible to keep with all of the new headphones crowding the market, but great-sounding headphones are pretty rare. The Noontec Zoro is the rarest of the , an audiophile-oriented design that's affordably priced.

The headband and earcups' high gloss finish conform the fashion of our times, and the headphone's build quality is good the money. The hinged steel headband allows the headphone to up and fit inside the included soft carry , and the user-replaceable headphone cable is tangle- and plugs into the left earcup. Both of the 48-inch long, flat cable are fitted 3.5mm connectors, but alas the Zoro lacks a remote and microphone. the headband and earcups are nicely padded, and comfort levels are good, the cushions put a bit pressure against the tops of my ears the bottoms. The earcups' limited pivot angle was the source of that irritation, but everyone's head shape is different, the Zoro might be perfectly comfortable on your noggin. Isolation external noise was about average for a headphone of type. The Zoro comes in three colors, red, white, and black.

The sound is neutral, so the Zoro doesn't boost some frequencies or roll- others. No, the Zoro tells it it is, with high-quality recordings vocals sound natural and treble detailing is very good.

To the sound in context I compared the Zoro with small, closed-back headphone, the V-Moda M-80 ($230). The Zoros dynamics rocked harder, and the sound was more alive; the M-80 sounded like it working harder, with the Zoro cymbals were cleaner and "fuzzy." Bass definition and lowest bass frequencies are very decent both headphones, there's no flab or mud down there! Jazz piano CDs were a delight the Zoro; you can really hear the player's touch. Are they caressing the keys? Or leaning a little harder, it's easy to tell the Zoros, and they outpaced the M-80s in that regard. The Zoro's soft ear pads were more comfortable than the M-80's.

Next, I compared the Zoro the Audio Technica ATH WS55 headphones, and the WS55's were more open and airy, and the treble was softer and sweeter. I like headphones, for different . All of my listening up to this was with my iPod Classic.

The Zoro sounded strong with the Classic, I wondered if my little FiiO E10 USB desktop headphone amplifier ($69) would the sound to the next level. The difference wasn't huge, but DJ Krush's "Jaku" album's stereo soundstage was bigger, open with the E10. Returning to the Classic the space collapsed a bit. The amp's bass had more weight and power, but not enough to justify spending the extra money the amp.

The Noontec Zoro sells $99.99 on Amazon. It's one of the best-sounding on-ear headphones I've heard audiophiles at the price.


Adapted from: CNET, July 21, 2012.