Nocs looks for repeat success with NS800 headphones

With stainless steel casing, Kevlar and copper cords and a balanced armature, the NS800 look like a clear upgrade from the impressive NS400.

Following the NS400 that we loved and named an Editor’s Choice, the NS800 is a welcomed release by Swedish company Nocs. The NS800 are a little pricier at $200, but promise more both inside and outside to legitimize the price.

First, the NS800 come with a carrying case to hold the extra sleeves for the earbuds, and Nocs threw in an airplane adapter for good measure. But aside from those added features, the headphone casing and the cord are both stronger. The cord is made with Kevlar and copper while the casing is stainless steel, shielded by the silicone sleeves. We won’t know for sure if the stainless steel makes the NS800 too heavy compared to the titanium casing of the NS400 until we test them ourselves.

Inside the NS800 is where the promise of improvement really lies. Nocs took care of the midrange and treble by using a balanced armature driver, but says the bass will still sound natural, giving a great range of highs and lows. It has been our experience with balanced armature headphones that they tend to be a little light on bass, so it’ll be a big plus if Nocs managed to include the best of both worlds.

Two other features are shared with the NS400: the iPod controls and the cord length. The cord length was one of the few negative sticking points in our review, so there’s no improvement there since no extender was added to the package either. 

Of course, if grabbing the latest gear is your thing, you can always wait until the end of September for the NS600 Crush, a new dual dynamic earbud from Nocs that reads like a real powerhouse. Or, if earbuds aren’t your bag, check out  the new NS700Phaser, the company’s first on-ear offering. 

We have a pair of the NS800 on the way and will be giving them a thorough evaluation. Check back with Digital Trends for the full review.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com