The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. I've been testing headphones for half a year, but MUZIK's pair, the One Connect, still surprised me.They're a marriage of audio and tech that I've never seen before.Whether you like them or not, the One Connect isn'tan ordinary pair of Bluetooth headphones.At first glance, it doeslook the part of a standard over-ear pair. Ithas ample cushioning, making itcomfortable to wear for extended periods of time.Another plus: The ear cups on this pair ofheadphones are large enough to accommodate my slightly-larger-than-average ears.The over-ear pads can be switched out with on-ear onesthat are included in the box. A major plus if you want a pair of headphoneswhose bulkiness can be changed on the fly.If you lookcloser, you'll noticefour indentationson the side of the right ear cup. More than just a simple design flair, these buttons are key to what makes the One Connect stand out.They're touch-sensitive buttons that can be assigned different functions that you can select fromMUZIK's eponymous app. Whenyou pair these with your phone, a prompt pops up asking you to download the app so you can't miss it.These functions can run the gamut from adjusting your volume, to tweeting out aSpotify link song you're listening to, or integrating with IFTTT (If This Than That). That last one is an online automation service, which opens up the possibilities of what can be done with a button press substantially.Some functions don't have to do with music at all; you can get the weather forecast, your next calendar event, or the battery level of both the headphones and your device. Instead of limiting functionality just those four buttons, MUZIK made theentire right ear cup is touch sensitive, complete with gesture support. Wiping up and down adjusts your volume, and swiping right and left changes the track you're listening to. Resting your hand on the earcup for a few seconds brings up Siri.In my experience these buttons worked most of the time, and if you're the type of person who loves gadgets and customization, you're going to love these headphones. Overall, I found summoningSiri to be the gesture I liked most.It's natural, and saved me from having to take my phone out if I wanted to change the song I was listening to or get a question answered.In terms of technology, these headphones are the most advanced I've ever tried. When it comes to music playback, they're divisive.I'll be blunt. These are going to be love-it or hate-it depending on what you're looking for in a pair of headphones. They don't sound bad; in fact, they sound really good, but they have a very distinct sound profile that effects everything you listen to.Trying these out reminded me of when I reviewed a pair of "extra bass" headphones from Sony;music sounded more bass-heavy, and that was the point. These headphones aren't extra bassy, but blend high, mid, and low frequencies together.The result is music that sounds very good, but not super dynamic. All songs, regardless of genre, sounded somewhat similar. It was harder to pick out particular elements from a song the same way I could with other headphones.Again, this comes down to your own personal preference; the way MUZIK's headphones present music makes it all sound rich, and full. More importantly, this presentation isn't fatiguing.I've found headphones that are too bass or treble heavy can't be worn for extended periods of time. That's not a problem here.You could listen to music through these headphones all day without getting any ear fatigue.There are better-sounding headphones out there for the One Connect's price, but MUZIK has packed their pair with more technology. It's a balance they've struck, and if you're looking for a pair of "smart headphones," this is the pair I would recommend.MUZIK One Connect Smarter Headphone, $199.99 (originally $299.99), available at AmazonThis article was originally published on12/15/2016.DON'T MISS:The 15 headphones under $100 actually worth your timeSEE ALSO:Sony has made the ultimate headphones for travelersJoin the conversation about this story
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