Digital Trends

Pioneer SE-A1000 May 14th, 2007 | by Jason Tomczak

Conclusion

The Pioneer SE-A1000 headphones sound amazing and in some cases seem to bring an entirely new physical dimension to audio. If you're a music lover and you want to rediscover just how amazing your music collection is, give the SE-A1000s a try.

If you're sensitive to in-ear headphones (ear buds) and you want a large, very comfy set of headphones to wear while listening to surround sound TV, DVDs, or high-quality music, the SE-A1000s should be on your list of devices to test. Despite a couple minor design quirks (limited adjustability and cord length), they truly perform like top-of-the-line professional headsets.

The SE-A1000 headphones do have competition, however, even within the Pioneer family. The HDJ-1000 pro DJ headphones operate from 5Hz to 30kHz (lower frequencies than the SE-A1000s), though the volume only goes up to 107dB/mW (as compared to the SE-A1000s louder 120dB/mW rating). The HDJ-1000s $129 price may also catch bargain hunters' attention.

Although the SE-A1000s $199 USD initial retail price tag may make some buyers uneasy, remember the saying, "You get what you pay for."


Pros:

• Clean bass, mind-blowing mids and highs
• Lightweight
• Very tight construction

Cons:

• Unruly cord length
• Limited adjustability