Nokia has been making quality headsets for quite a while now and have some great audio products like the BH-905 and the Nokia Essence under their belt. Some time back Nokia decided to partner with Monster to launch a range of headsets matched with the Lumia line of smartphones.
We got the top end over the head styles model in for review and decided to take it for a spin. Read on to find out more about the Nokia Monster Purity HD !
Specifications
- Weight : 180 grams
- Frequency response : 20 – 20000 Hz
- Connectors : 3.5 mm universal headset connector
In Box Contents
The Monster Purity headset doesn’t come with a lot in terms of accessories but the essentials are covered. Two types of cables are provided to be able to use with any audio source.
The two different cables allow you to use an inline mic with supported smartphones but also let you to switch over to a standard 3.5mm cable for use with any other audio source. The foldable headphones fit right inside the provided hard case and can be easily stowed away when not in use.
Design / Hardware
The headset has been developed by Nokia is partnership with Monster and it shows thanks to the prominently placed logo on the headset. The design is very minimal with use of high quality but very glossy plastics. A 3.5mm jack can be found on the left earcup where you can plug in one of the two flat cables bundled in.
The headphones are available in a range of colors similar to the Lumia devices and include cyan, black, white and even magenta. As we mentioned above, the quality of plastics is high but they tend to pick up scratches. Fingerprints too are a constant annoyance. The earcups have very soft padding and allow for a decent level of passive isolation. Cranking up the volume a bit will drown out all noise around you.
As we’ve come to expect from Nokia, the hardware quality is impeccable. The metal hinges will ensure that the headset will stand the test of time. The solid hinge and the padding on top allowed for a pretty good fit and we never really felt that the headphones would fall off.
Sound Quality
There’s a lot to like about the sound quality of the Purity HD (WH930) headset and it goes without saying that it is leagues ahead of the in box headphones provided with phones. The sound is definitely colored with the bass channel being emphasized but it wasn’t overbearing. The 40mm drivers do a good job in the ‘loudness’ department.
The sound quality remains rich and the bass deep even when cranking them up to 11. We are usually wary of headphones by anybody other than specialist audio product manufacturers but were pleasantly surprised by the audio quality of these. The soundstage is suitably wide and the tone is warm. Treble was clear and controlled across the genres of music we tested out. Sound quality will of course vary with the source material and the device playing back but it was particularly great when we tested it out with our Nokia 808.
Conclusion
Nokia and Monster have teamed up to make a very fashionable and surprisingly good sounding headset. Our gripe is with the price which is on the higher end of the spectrum. Priced at Rs. 11,420, you are paying a lot for the brand name and fashion forward design.
That said, if you’re in the market for a good sounding AND looking pair of headphones then the Nokia Monster Purity HD should definitely be on your radar.
Pros
- Good sound quality
- Great design
Cons
- Price