Home Reviews ,,,,, To relax on the sofa with healthy music, to mix audio tracks with Garage Band, to completely estrange yourself from the world and increase concentration while studying or reading a book: these are just some of the examples in which the new Dodocool DA158 headphones are reveal a valuable ally. Recently tested by our editorial staff, they stand out not only for the excellent materials that make up the structure, but also for the Hi-Res Audio certification and the active noise cancellation technology that can be managed through a switch.
Packaging
The headphones are housed inside a semi-rigid case with fabric lining and zip closure. Inside there is also a pocket where the user manual and microUSB cables for battery charging and 3.5mm audio jack for cable connection are stored. The dimensions of the headphones are reduced as they can be folded back on themselves to take up less space: the case when closed measures approximately 20 x 15 x 7 centimeters.
How are they made
To open the headphones, simply pull both pavilions outwards until you hear a “clack” which will confirm that the structure has been locked. Unlike others, the adjustment of the distance of the pavilions from the arch does not occur through the extraction of an iron plate usually collected inside the structure. Here, in fact, the pavilions are embedded inside a frame by means of a metal plate that slides along it: according to our tests this is a better solution as the structure is not only more robust, but it is also easier. to be adjusted and there is no risk of hair getting caught on the frame during adjustments.
The headband is externally covered in imitation leather, while the interior is in fabric, to protect the foam padding to which it is blocked through visible stitching with a rhomboid texture. The external case of the pavilions is instead in satin plastic while the foam padding is covered in imitation leather. They are very large and can completely surround the entire pavilion of the ears.
Another good choice is the printing of the letters L and R (to recognize the left headphone from the right one) not only inside the headband but on the fabric covers of the speakers, which immediately stand out to the eye and facilitate correct use. headphones. Cable management is also very good: instead of cables that bend and protrude from the headphones, the company has opted for spring cables that stretch just enough for adjustments, leaving everything always in order and with the least space possible.
As for the push-button panel, we find everything around the frame of the right pavilion: on the back there are the buttons for managing music playback, on the opposite side the switch for active noise cancellation technology and on the bottom the hole for the microphone and the microUSB and jack sockets.
How are they doing
For soundproofing and three-dimensionality, these headphones hardly have worthy opponents in the same price range in which they are positioned. Much of the credit goes to the two flagship features, namely the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology and the Hi-Res Audio (HRA) certification which on the one hand make the audio experience truly immersive, on the other promise a better response to tracks sampled at higher frequencies.
Any HRA audio device can play higher quality audio files than CDs. The latter offer music at a sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz at 16 bits, while the Dodocool headphones are able to adequately reproduce files sampled even at 48 KHz at 20 bits, a significantly higher quality. To fully understand the difference between listening to a CD quality track with a higher quality one, we recommend downloading one of the free samples available for download on the Sony website. The writer is not an audiophile but the difference between a compressed file and a high resolution one is palpable: with the songs sung like the sample “Bee Moved” it seems to have the singer two meters away, while in instrumentals like the song ” Hisokana Mizugame “the difference is mainly noticeable in the shades, which are lighter and three-dimensional.
Apart from high-resolution files, the headphones also perform well with compressed MP3s, ensuring excellent reproduction of the entire sound spectrum: the highs are clear and crystalline, the bass full and engaging while the mids are full and clean. Classical Music, Rock, Pop, Jazz and any other genre find the right space in these headphones that know how to emphasize sounds and colors.
Conclusions
Dodocool DA158 is a good compromise for those looking for something efficient from the point of view of soundproofing and audio quality without spending too much. The ANC technology works well, especially if you listen to music with a medium-high volume (with the volume at 40% while listening to a Beethoven Adagio we cannot even perceive the clicking of the keys while typing these words) while the presence of the HRA certification it also makes it interesting in the eyes of those who aim for something more than just MP3. From this point of view, however, it is good not to expect too much and make your own considerations also in relation to the selling price: it is unlikely that Dodocool headphones will be able to get even a little closer to high-end products that offer the same certification.
Retail price
The Dodocool DA158 headphones are on sale on Amazon for 73.99 euros.
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