Superlux HD-681 Evo WH 4-stars Reviews

Fun sound, good looking, some parts not very long lasting

Bought in 2014. Used it daily for 3 years after which the band part of the headband started cracking and the stretchy silicone headband holders (the ones that regulate the headband size automatically) that were inside the plastic finally broke off. I made a new headband out of an old laptop bag's strap and it's been good ever since. 3 stars for build quality since it has an obvious design flaw (bought 3 pairs, 2 for my friends, they all broke around the same time). I also had to replace the cable jack around 2019 or so since it broke off. The sound, for the money, is very good, bass is punchy, they vibrate around the head if you crank up the volume, an overall "fun" sound, not too anemic, not too muddy, no shrill highs. They are very light so that's a plus. I have really big ears so they touch the plastic and that can hurt after a few hours of listening (no such problem with DT-770's or original HD-330s). Detachable cables in 2 lengths are a plus and I'm using them as an extension cables for other purposes when not listening with these headphones. I have many better and 10x pricier headphones today, but the 681 Evo's still get used sometimes as a back-up pair, or when some friends are over, etc.

Decent sound, not the most comfortable fit

These headphones perform reasonably to great in terms of sound, especially considering their price. They come with a carrying case, two choices of cable length and a separate set of earcups.

Build quality seems okay, but would not be quite comfortable giving them a beating.

In terms of fit and comfort they are a little too snug for me (might be a case of big headedness) and they start hurting my ears after an hour or two of use.

Top headphones, but ...

For this pricepoint the sound and wear is (Wooow) unbeatable, but ... read on.

Blindfolded you will swear you're wearing expensive headphones; accurate soundplacement, good soundstage, well balanced low/mid/high and also very comfy. Whatever music you throw at it, it will silence you up and leave you in disbelief when you hear the price. No, really? Again wooow. But, as I mentioned, there's a but ...

Unfortunately the inside of the headphone, to be precise the soldering of the speakers is below par. I had two pairs and both of them broke down because of inside wiring cracked (don't know why) within a year. Tried to fix them, but didn't work. Seems this is the point of low cost. Pity, I would pay a bit more to have better internal quality, because, OMG, these sound great. Maybe I the future I'll buy a revised set of these ...

Great sound and comfort, but flimsy build and cheap-feeling.

Definitely one of the best headphone (along with other superlux headphones) in its price range and even competes in the sound department with more expensive headphones in the 100 Euro range.

--Sound--

Good bass hump, slightly recessed midrange and good high extension (Slight V-shaped sound signature). With the default pleather pads, the sound is 'closer' the mids are a bit more present. With the included velour pads, they sound a little distant, but the velour pads are much more comfortable.

--Comfort--

Great comfort with the included velour pads, the pleather pads are not very soft, and will make your ear sweat. Clamping pressure is fine on my personal use.

--Build--

The white accents are very glossy, which makes them very cheap looking. But otherwise the headband are good and solid, and slightly padded (compared to the non-padded HD 668). The ear cups are very solid as well.

Pretty good after easy mods

First impression wasn't great. Too much bass and mids and highs sounded rather muffled. After finding the great modding articles on diyaudioheaven, I changed out the earpads for the velours ones, which reduces the bass, and removed the felt pads lightly glued in front of the drivers. The latter improved the mids and highs, and made the sound a bit more airy.

However, if I have to recommend a pair of Superlux headphones, it would be the 662 HD EVO. They sound good out of the box and can be improved by using the velours pads and optionally other mods.

Cheap but works

I bought these for studio cue mixes, I've found them to be great for guitarists and bassists or anyone who doesn't have a microphone too close to them. They sound and feel really good but they don't get very tight so bleed could be an issue if there is a microphone nearby.

Pros..

The sound is really good and clear

Price is fantastic

Came with replacement ear pads

Cons..

Can't tighten the strap

Can fall off if the wearer moves a lot

Overall, definitely worth a purchase for what I needed it for, but the ability to adjust the tightness would be a huge advantage.

Cheap but good

These are not for critical listening but great for watching movies.

A bit too boomy for general music listening but acceptable.

Lots of volume and super confortable.

What my brother thinks

It's a birthday gift for my brother, I got it delivered to him in another town, so I can't review it myself, but here's what he thinks of the 681 Evo:

Comfort: the headphones are lightweight and well balanced, wearing them for a long time shouldn't be tiresome. Two pairs of cushions, leatherette or velours, allow to find the touch you want.

Sound: they deliver a complete range, with lows more present without overwhelming other frequencies.

Workmanship and finish seem to be there; good materials assembled with care. 2 cable lengths and a 6.35mm adapter round up the connectivity.

He gives them 4 stars overall.

Good value for money

Used it daily for more than a year (both in studio and for listening to music), audio quality very good, lasted very well considering how badly I treated it (stuffing it in the bottom of gym bags etc). The wire just where it connects to the earpiece eventually broke. Not the most uncomfortable headphones I've used by far, but in a warm room your head will be very warm.

The long wire was useful in studio.

Hinta-äänenlaatu suhteeltaan erinomaiset kuulokkeet!

Mukavat, tukevat kuulokkeet, joissa aavistuksen tummahko alapään soundi. Tarvitsee lisää kuuntelua, päättääkseni puuttuuko yläpäästä kirkkautta vai onko juuri sopivasti säädetty olemaan rasittamatta :)

Hinta-äänenlaatu suhteeltaan erinomaiset!

Nice sound, Some issues with wire though

The sound quality is very nice, i find it slightly better than the non Evo version of the HD-681.

I did have some issues with the headphone cable that came with the headset though, after a few months use, it broke down, easy enough to replace though so thats nice.

Good headphones, great price

I'm used to AKG's headphones, and these are a great alternative with quite similar sound compared to AKG 240 Monitors. Construction is solid, the cable is long enough and can be replaced.