- FiiO just introduced retro-style mini over-ear headphones
- But with LDAC and volume/skip controls on the headphones, they’re modern too
- …and for only $29.99 / £32.99, I just want your extra time and your… kiss!
Look, if you are No channeling Julia Roberts singing Prince from Richard Gere’s hotel bathtub in the film pretty woman When you look at the 80s-inspired FiiO headphones, do you love music or, for that matter, movies?
Not content with transporting me back in time to the Bond films of the 1960s (with a flagship iFi DAC from Phantom), it seems like every recent hi-fi release was designed with the sole aim of sending me into a world of ready-made analogue cassettes.
FiiO continues to blur the lines between classic design and modern audio engineering with what it calls the “FiiO EH11 Mini Retro Bluetooth Headphones.” Yes, that name is also bigger than the Blue Banana…
At first glance, the EH11 looks absolutely like the headphones Vivian Ward plugged into a Walkman (which was balanced precariously on the edge of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel bathtub) and used to belt out Prince lyrics. Kiss. But look a little closer and his The compact wooden headphones set them apart.
They may be inspired by the iconic over-ear headphones, but the design features transparent elements that reveal the internal components, and those controller housings actually function as control knobs. FiiO tells me you can rotate them, adjust the volume, or skip tracks. The goal, FiiO says, is to create “an experience influenced by vintage hi-fi while remaining portable.”
You don’t have to be beautiful to turn me on…
…but it helps! Weighing just 92 grams, the EH11 are certainly ideal for portable listening.
FiiO tells me that the 40mm long-throw dynamic driver in the earcup features “a high-damping composite diaphragm” to reduce the resonance frequency to 60Hz and “enable bass extension down to 17Hz.” Awesome.
The EH11 also feature a semi-open acoustic design, with ventilation ports and damping filters to reduce pressure, thus preventing the “closed” ones typical of over-ear headphones from sometimes failing.
And these headphones aren’t just here for the retro feel. The EH11 supports LDAC Bluetooth, for audio up to 990kbps when paired with compatible devices, and here FiiO will be happy to point you to its fabulous JM21 hi-res player, which is now available with additional storage.
The EH11’s battery (yes, they are wireless headphones) apparently offers up to 30 hours of playback on a single charge, and a full recharge takes about 90 minutes.
And we’re also a long way from the 1980s when it comes to the feature set: Integration with the FiiO Control app unlocks genre-specific sound profiles, custom EQ, low-latency game sound modes, and firmware updates.
Replaceable ear pads are included in sets of two colors to match your outfit a bit, and are now available in clear, off-white, burgundy, cyan or clear black finishes, priced at just $29.99 / £32.99 (around AU$65).
That would make them easy candidates for our guide to the best cheap headphones if the sound matches the vibe, and let me tell you, reader (*closes eyes, sings) “I just want to try them, baby… from dusk till dawn!”
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