Customer Reviews

Philips SHS4150 Turbo Bass Headband Headphones

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I settled for these headphones, which I bought at Rite Aid for $15 because of the flashy packaging and a seemingly natural design. I couldn't be more disappointed. The speakers have this rubber balloon thing on them, which is apparently intended to enhance bass. But it feels like someone is shoving a pen in your ears. I can't wear them for more than about 10 minutes before the pain is unbearable. The bass is mediocre and they get pretty loud, but you'll need a high pain threshold because these are very irritating. Also, where the chord splits is almost directly under your chin and you can't split the cord yourself. All I wanted was a decent replacement for my Sony MDR-W08 headphones which have been discontinued (who knows why), but so far I can't find heaphones to match them. Philips disappoints me once again.

I prefer in-the-ear headphones with a headband for running and working in my cubicle at work. At work I sometimes wear them for hours at a time. I've had two previous generations of the Philips Turbo-Bass headphones over the past 5+ years. I liked my original pair so much that I purchased the follow-on model (SBC HS405) 3 years ago as a second pair. My original pair got stepped on and this newer model is all that I could find as a replacement.

I am very disappointed with the replacement model. The in-the-ear rubber molded piece has changed shape and gotten smaller, and no longer fits my ears nearly as comfortably. The headband now puts a large amount of pressure on your ears (forces them into your ears more). These two changes make the new model unwearable - very uncomfortable for me. I tried bending the headband some, but still no success.

In this case, change is not a good thing.

While I do understand the other reviewers that these headphones can get uncomfortable after a long period of time (for me typically at the end of a 2 hour run/workout), they are the ONLY headphones that work for me running. They are very lightweight and they don't fall off! I can't tell you the hours of exasperation I've spent with ear buds that just fall right out of my ears (or I can't get in in the first place, I have really small ears), big foam things that get so sweaty the sound quality changes, or those ridiculous hanging ear ones that just don't fit at all. They stay on your head while you work out and the sound quality is fine.

The other commenters here are complaining about their ears hurting bec. it's basically uncomfortable . . . well, I think these type of headphones aren't for "casual" listening -- it's for rigorous exercise - it wasn't meant to be comfortable, it's just meant to "stay on" while you do your exercises whatever they may be - I've used other headphones, earbuds, etc. but they all just don't stay on . . . these do the job, they do "stay on" and when you are exercising . . . you aren't really going to be that sensitive about how your ears are feeling . . .

I run every day in Tampa - often in extreme heat, humidity, and rain. I typically sweat off 3 or 4 pounds each run, so these headphones stay wet. I run and work out with an iPod Shuffle (in an H20 Audio brand Waterproof Case 2G Shuffle for sweat protection), and these headphones. They are flat-out the best for any iPod product. The sound is faithful, very deep, and vibrant. They provide concert hall realism, while sound from other headphones is tinny and shallow. Over my 58 years of running (I'm 68), I've wasted hundreds of dollars unsuccessfully experimenting with other brands. Nothing Sony, Panasonic or Apple makes can compare. About six years ago I found ultimate sound in these headphones. They have easily survived high heat, downpours, hurricanes, crashing on concrete, being briefly submerged (though not designed for this), lightning strikes, sweat, and more sweat. The rich, powerful sound pushes me during runs and workouts. True to spec, they indeed provide the deep 10 Hertz bass we all deserve, and distortion-free reproduction from 10 to 20,000 Hertz (thank you, Philips engineers). I love hip-hop through classical. When wearing these headphones, I'm next to the stage. I'm not affiliated with Philips in any way, just extremely pleased with this product!

I work in a noisy woodshop and wanted something to cut some of the background noise and be able to enjoy music with breaking the bank. The sound is great by my standards but the good news stops there. The other comments are right on the money. I have never worn headphones that actually hurt. Slightly uncomfortable I would tolerate, but these feel like someone is pressing a pen on the hard cartilidge of my ear. 15 seconds of wearing them and I'm ready to rip them off. Sometimes I put up with them long enough for my ear to go numb. Even after I take them off, I can feel the pain for several minutes. I echo the other reviewer, didn't anyone at Philips try these on for more than 2 seconds?

It wasn't worth the low price.

Cheap, not sharp, not bad headphones, they are delicate though, after 5 months of regular use the cable of the left ear started damaging and after a week it broke down.

Very sorry.

I have never had a pair of headphones that were actually painful to wear before this. There are rubber attachments that go in your ears (sounds comfortable right?) but they stick out and push against your ears until they are hurting you something awful. They look like they are ergonomically designed to fit in your ear and keep from slipping out, but it does not work that way. I removed the rubber and it is a little better, but the metal inside really was not designed for comfort either.

Doesn't Philips actually try on their earphones before they distribute them? After wearing these headphones for about 20 minutes I have to say the answer must definitively be: NO.

Tried all the earbuds for running (slipped out when I began to sweat), as well as the over-the-ear clips (my ears must be misshapen). In the end, I picked these up inexpensively at ShopKo, thinking they'd fill the void while I looked for another top-of-the-line product...and, lo, many months later, I'm still using them.

They're lightweight, they don't drag at my ears, and the sound is good. If you're an audiophile, maybe you'll find something about which to complain, but for exercise, they fill the bill with room to spare!