Performance
This is a plug and play device and just like any set of headphones it was as simple as connecting the jack plug. The in-line controller worked first time on all devices tested (iPod, iPhone 5 and iPad 3).
To test audio performance I ran the headset through my iPod and given the light weight of the headset I was expecting things to sound a little shallow, but that really wasn’t the case. Base is thick, distortion free and has a great stereo width to it that really brings the sound away from your ears, giving it a more room filling quality. Mid range is nice and clear too, giving a subtle warm and air to the sound that really brings out a lot of detail when listening to music. Treble is clear and has a slight warmth to it, giving it a less harsh sound than most other headsets in this price range, overall a very smooth and enjoyable set of dynamics for music fans.
I tend to listen to a lot of music and some albums such as Steve Vai – Real Illusions: Reflections and Bloodbath – Resurrection Through Carnage, are great for testing out drivers as they can distort or lose some of the fine detailing that I know should be there when I listen to them. The Kunai easily blasted through them and even at low volumes the bass stayed well-balanced without muddying the sound.
Chat performance was pretty stellar too and when making a call I found the EQ to be a little bass heavy, but still pretty natural compared to most phone headsets. The microphone is nothing special, but I’ve nothing bad to say about it either, however it is rare that I find anything remarkable to say about microphone in this price range.
The in-line controller works great, but I did find it awkward to reach. It’s high resting position means you can’t glance down at it, so you’re operating the controls blind and will need to learn them over time. However once you get past that the controls are responsive enough for basic tasks such as skipping songs and answering calls without having to dig through your pocket to get your phone.
The thick padding on the ear cups provides a smooth fit that stays firm and blocks an impressive amount of outside noise without letting too much audio from the drivers bleed out of the headset, something that will no doubt please the people sitting near you should you be using these on a bus or train.
