Blue Urethane Stereo Headphones

If you have read our review on the psa[cd8 and the psa[cd12, then you would be very familiar with the sports themed urethane rubber look that Nike and Philips have been aiming for, in their new range of digital audio players.

With every purchase, they bundled a rather simple pair of stereo headphones (psa[flight). However, those who crave for a better aural experience or contemplating a new set of stereo headphones, might want to consider the psa[duro, which promises to deliver better frequency range and bass/treble response.

Is there a good enough justification for purchasing another set of headphones when the existing one works fine? Does the psa[duro stereo headphones wear well and look good? Would you buy it if you have not already purchased any Nike-Philips psa products?

This and many other questions will be answered in the course of this review.

 

Quality and Design

Aesthetic Design:-

The psa[duro looks functional and sporty.

Much like the urethane blue, that you see from the solid-state digital audio player psa[64, the psa[duro comes with the same motif (blue with a silver/gray finish). There isn’t an option to choose a different color (for example, orange), but we believe blue will work fine for most people.

The rear cable exit ensures that the cables are tucked away during vigorous exercises.

Like the bundled psa[flight stereo headphones, it comes with a behind the head design with rear cable exit. This improves stability while running. Furthermore, it is equipped with sweat resistant earpieces and it is lightweight. However, it does not have the butterfly magnetic clip that comes with the psa[flight.

The blue urethane earpieces though bouncy can feel stiff and slightly sticky after a while.

One design advantage that it has over the psa[flight is that it comes with ear clips. This further enhanced ear grip and reduces chances of slippage during vigorous exercises.

However, we did not feel very comfortable wearing the relatively stiff urethane earpieces. Like rubber balls, it feels bouncy but this will not compensate for the comfort one will get from cushioned earphones. Additionally, if you look closely, you will notice several slots cut into the earpieces. You can actually feel them after some time.

Audio Impressions:-

If one is to compare the psa[duro with the psa[flight, the psa[flight sounds sharper and you can hear more at lesser volumes. With the psa[duro, you will need comparatively higher volumes, however bass and frequency responses are stronger and music sounds warmer. This is probably due to the larger speaker size (30mm versus 14.8mm) and the better frequency range (10-24,000Hz versus 12-22,000Hz).

However, do always remember that the psa[duro is not designed exclusively for audiophiles and should be evaluated as such.

 

Conclusion

If you have bought yourself a digital audio player from Nike-Philips, you should be quite happy with the psa[flight. On the off chance that you are not, there is the option of purchasing the blue psa[duro, which sounds warmer with a better frequency range and bass response (though you will need a higher volume for clarity).

In terms of design, it comes with ear clips that enhances grip and reduces any opportunity of slippage. With blue urethane earpieces and a silver gray chrome finish, it will complement the blue psa[64 and psa[128max well.

However, there are some caveats. For one, the urethane earpieces (slots included) can get uncomfortable. It feels hard and sort of stick to your ear after some time. It does not come with the butterfly magnetic clip that the psa[flight has to complete the wire management system.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a pair of high quality sporty stereo headphones that is sweat/moisture resistant and that you really like blue urethane earpieces that comes with enhancing ear clips, then go ahead and purchase the psa[duro.