The Miles Davis Trumpet in-ear headphones by Monster may not give you the most sound quality for the dollar, but they are high on aesthetic value.
That is not to say these headphones are not good. In certain genres, the Trumpets were quite good indeed.
After listening to some rock, pop, film and orchestral music, I was ready to dismiss the Trumpets as lackluster. But Diana Krall’s jazzy version of “Temptation†changed my mind. As you might expect from headphones called “Trumpets,†they did best on music featuring horns but also had rich sound on acoustic bass like past Monster headphones.
In fact, the $330 Trumpet comes with a specially remastered CD of Miles Davis’s “Sketches of Spain†that showcases the capabilities of the headphones. The highs of Mr. Davis’s trumpet were sharp and the bass full. The sound was slightly more detailed than with my preferred in-ear headphones, the $130 Westone UM1, but it had less dimension and sounded less natural than with my favorite, the over-the-ear $100 Grado SR80i headphones.
What really sets the Trumpet apart is its look. The hardware is silver and gold metal, with a three-button controller made to look like trumpet valves. There are small silhouettes of Davis below the earpieces and an engraved autograph on the cable trim.
The cables themselves are flat wires to reduce tangling, but they were susceptible to static crackle. They even delivered a couple of static electric jolts to my ears.
If you listen to jazz exclusively, are a massive Miles Davis fan or just like people to comment on your earphones, you might buy the Trumpets. Otherwise, there are cheaper options.
