Review: Razer Pro|Tone m250

During the weeklong marathon that was the World Cyber Games 2007 Grand Final in Seattle, I managed to con g0d’s Alana into giving me a pair of Razer Pro|Tone m250s to review.

I’ve never done a headphone review, so let’s dig in.

The Party Line

· Rubber-coated clip arms combine with high quality metal casings for an aerodynamic secure fit
· Ultimate in style, comfort & portability. Solid clips ensure a firm grip during active usage
· With light & compact construction, the sleek metal discs cling effortlessly to the curvature of the ears
· Powered by Razer’s own ProBass™ Technology
· protone™ m250 send out deeply enhanced bass specifically engineered for digital players
· Providing greater sound output and a more accurate music reproduction
· Noise isolation is further maximized through ergonomic design
· Custom-designed carrying case
· Includes a jet-set adaptor for air travel providing total convenience in storage and portability

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Response: 50 ~ 20,000Hz
Dynamic Transducer
Impedance: 32 ohms
Max Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 105dB
Cable Length: 1.15/ 3.77ft
3.5mm connector plug
Max Power Rating 50mW
Weight 38g (with cable)

My views

Fit and finish

Alana copped the silver m250s for me, and I must say, they look a little bit blinged out. I could go into how I don’t ever bother looking at at something I never see when using it, but it’ll suffice to say they look flashy thanks to their shiny finish. Some of you will like that look; others will be happy that the m250s come in black as well.

Also, let’s examine this statement from Razer’s marketing materials: “With light & compact construction, the sleek metal discs cling effortlessly to the curvature of the ears.”

Despite this statement, the outer discs of the m250s seem to be made of plastic. In a vote of six GGL experts (also known as the mutants that sit in my general vicinity, including myself), we voted 5-1 for plastic. The only dissenter, Erik, is wearing a Torchwood costume today and is also detached from reality.

“Reality isn’t a democracy,” he said. Whatever.

Comfort

I’m glad to report that the Pro|Tone m250s are comfortable for extended wear. They could benefit from some additional padding on the arms, but in the bigger picture, they’re among the most comfortable portable headphones I’ve worn.

Still, I recommend taking a break from listening if your ears start to get sore. This goes doubly for those of you with Forrest Gump / Little Rascal ears. You know who you are.

The 3.77 ft. (1.15m) cord is long enough to fit my iPhone in my pocket and stand upright with no mobility issues. The tall ones out there may need to figure out another solution, however.

Meanwhile, the foam on the inside does an admirable job of cushioning your ears. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here, and if there was, it’d be bad news.

Lastly, as an aside, the m250s have a soft rubber covering around their 3.5mm plug. This allows you to shove it into the iPhone without any additional adapter, a major plus for us early iPhone adopters.

Sound

Ah yes, the meat and potatoes of the review. Unfortunately, testing the frequency response and maximum sound pressure level of the m250s is outside of the scope of this review because it’s an extremely technical process.

In a totally unscientific way, I will say that they have an admirable amount of bass for such a small package. What’s better, though, is the high-end response. These headphones are “bright” — they really shine when it comes to higher frequency sounds, so if you listen primarily to music with little bass, these will be right up your alley.

Overall, I’m very happy with the sound quality of the Pro|Tone m250s.

Conclusion

These are among the most comfortable portable headphones I’ve used. I despise canalphones and other in-ear types, so the m250s are perfect for me.

With that said, they need further padding around the arms. Rubber has a way of chafing against the skin; perhaps vinyl-covered foam is in order for future versions.

All things considered, I would recommend the m250s to someone looking to buy a pair of portable or gym headphones. At $49.99, they’re steeper than most other portables, but the comfort and sound quality is worth the added cost.