⊛ Incase Sonic Headphones

For an iPhone case and laptop bag manufacturer like Incase, jumping into the crowded world of electronics, specifically consumer audio equipment, is pretty rare. Rarer still are its ambitions to compete in the mid-range and premium ends of the market, with a pair of over-ear headphones like the Sonic priced at USD$199.

The soft-touch coated Sonics are just about the best-looking headphones available today. Incase calls it minimal design, but what you get is something fresh. It's a departure from the retro look of Grados, the workmanlike build of Audio-Technica's monitors, and the plasticky gloss of Dr. Dre/Monster's atrocious-sounding beats brand, all of which dominate the definition of contemporary headphone design.

If you believe the hype, Incase had a hand in crafting the sound signature for all four headphones in its first audio collection. The Sonics sound balanced but not exceedingly well-defined; I get more clarity and detail in the high frequencies with the Logitech Ultimate Ears 600s. To their credit, they chose to avoid the exaggerated bass response of many other fashionable headphones (which would have guaranteed them millions of dollars in sales).

Isolation is superb, and the irregularly-shaped earcups are a big part of it. Covered in a soft suede and molded to fully surround a human ear, they are the most comfortable over-ears I've ever worn. They can get a little warm, but I only ever use them in an air-conditioned office. You may not want to walk around town in the summer with them.

Each pair comes with two cables, one in a matching color, and the other in a contrast color matching the inside of the earcups. Both have iPhone-compatible microphones and 3-button remotes.

The massive box onions out like the finest Apple packaging, and includes a fur-lined zipper case. The headphones don't fold up in any way for transport, though.

The more I think about it, the smarter it looks. Phone/laptop cases are differentiated by design, and companies in the business develop a lot of experience working with Asian suppliers — two traits that increasingly define success in the headphone market. Amongst those competing on fashion and design, most buy off-the-shelf reference models from Chinese factories, silkscreen a logo on, and go straight to market.

Any audiophile could point to a pair of Sennheisers at the same price point that sonically outperform the Incase Sonics, but that's no longer the game being played in the marketplace. You pay for a great custom design, a generous set of accessories, and the sound quality of German headphones that go for half the price. That's actually one of the best deals in fashionable audio equipment!

Shop: Incase Sonic Over-Ear Headphones (Primer/Fluoro Blue) | (Black/Fluoro Green)

Photos for this feature were taken with an Apple iPhone 4S