The Master Tracks over-ear headphones from Sol Republic.Sol Republic, maker of headphones with swappable parts, recently expanded its offerings with the release of its Master Tracks line, which incorporates over-ear headphones for the first time.
Like the company’s on-ear headphones, the Master Tracks components are interchangeable. You can swap out the headband or cables for parts of different colors, allowing you to customize the look, and the Master Tracks are compatible with Sol Republic’s on-ear headphone lines.
Sol Republic updated all the components for Master Tracks. The headband has extra cushion, and volume controls were added to the inline mic, which is in the yoke of the cable. The ear cushions fit comfortably and are articulated for better positioning. But the biggest upgrade was to the speakers in the ear cups, which accentuate the bass.
According to Sol Republic, the X3 Sound Engines in the headphones are intended to recreate the experience of being in a nightclub. The Master Tracks are indeed impressive for the heavy thump of rock and club music, and they deliver midrange vocals clearly. But the pumped-up bass tends to overshadow the subtleties of quieter music. Classical music, like Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,†for instance, sounds as if it was recorded in a cavernous, empty concert hall.
The headphones come in three premium finishes - gray, blue and white - with additional headband colors in green, purple and red. Accessories include a water-resistant carrying case and a quarter-inch adapter for the 3.5-millimeter jack.
At $200, the Master Tracks headphones are a little expensive, but unlike some competitors, Sol Republic offers a durable product that is designed to last years. You can twist the headband and tug the cable, but you would have a hard time breaking either of them.
