We’ve been here before and we have another pair of headphones to review. At this point I look for that special niche each pair has to bring to the table. I usually look for a balance of sound and style, but when it comes to fitness headphones I look for different things.
When going to the gym, there are certain things you bring along. High quality headphones are not one of them. I usually take earbuds since I’m not too worried about damaging them. And they are less likely to get damaged also.
I’m always looking to better my gym experience in hopes of getting better habits. I’m sure for many music is a helpful part of the gym experience. For me it’s more than necessary to have music at the gym. But more often than not, I work out without headphones because wearing them in a sweaty environment gets sticky, sweaty and just plain annoying.
When Soul Electronics sent over their Soul Transform Headphones, I was happy to try them out. Let’s be honest here, I am no gym buff but I do know how to put headphones to the test.
The Soul Transform have a different mission than other on-ear headphones and I want to make sure they accomplish that. They’re supposed to provide you quality sound without getting in your way/
You can buy the SoulTransform from the Soul Electronics website HERE or from Amazon.com HERE
Soul Transform Headphones – Design
I’ll admit that when I looked the box, I thought that it had to be a joke that these huge looking headphones would be comfortable in a workout environment. They look big, but once you take them out of the box, you realize how incredibly lightweight they are. I don’t mean lightweight for heavy headphones. I mean lightweight all together.
I got the Electric Blue and Black version. You can also get them in this lightning green (looks neon yellow) and black combination. The outer body of the headphone (the black) is plastic. You will see “Soul” outlined on the plastic side of the band. The polyurethane (rubbery material) inner headband is the most crucial part of the design (for me at least).
[divider] [/divider]
Experience
When working out with headphones, I think one looks for comfort over quality. You get one or the other, not both. The headphones can’t endure many sweaty sessions or the music quality isn’t good enough.
Of course the weight of the Soul Transform was helpful, you don’t feel bogged down and annoyed (think of that feeling when it’s too warm and you don’t want to wear on-ear headphones.)
The rubber part of headband is breathable and didn’t clamp on my hair too much. The rubber headband is actually kept the headphones in place while in use. It’s so annoying when headphones jump around when you’re on the treadmill / elliptical. The mesh ear-cups soaked the sweat. I’m so glad that you can remove them and wash them. They didn’t get annoying to me, as I thought they would. While the cable is tangle free, it isn’t detachable. So you have to make sure it’s clipped and out of the way. If you notice the bag is pretty tall. That’s because the headphones aren’t foldable. So don’t try to fold the Transforms!
Sound
So we know the Soul Transform are super comfy in the gym. But what about the music quality? Can they drown out the gym music and the grunts of the “heavy” lifters? Well the answer to that is a loud YES!
The Soul Transform headphones saved me from listening to the agonizing grunts and even worse gym playlist around me. The bass isn’t the strongest from my headphone collection, but it wasn’t weak either. The volume on the Soul Transform is great too. It drowned out enough noise to not disturb my workout, which is what I needed. The sound is clear enough. It has a good balance of bass output and clear mids, which is great for the type of music on my workout playlist.
It was great to not have a headache after wearing headphones at the gym. Or not have to take them off mid-workout because they are too heavy.
[divider] [/divider]Workout With the Soul Tranform Headphones?
YES! The lightweight design alone will sell you. But adding comfort grip (on your head), a nice balance of sound, and washable ear cups make the Soul Transform a must-have to an athlete’s duffle bag.
The Soul Transform headphones cost $99 which isn’t too steep. It’s a great investment into your workout. You can buy the SoulTransform from the Soul Electronics website HERE or from Amazon.com HERE.
If you’re looking for a pair of headphones that are a bit more sturdy, you might want to check out Soul Electronics’ Combat+ Headphones.
