The good:The JVC HA-S900 headphones feature a lightweight design and fold-flat earcups for easy portability. A hard-shell carrying case is also included. The cushioned earpads offer decent passive sound isolation, and the overall sound quality is good.
The bad:The headband of the JVC HA-S900 headphones feels cheap, and the cable isn't long enough to use for at-home applications without an extender. The package doesn't include airplane or quarter-inch adapters.
The bottom line:Frequent fliers who prefer over-the-ear headphones but yearn for a portable design should consider the JVC-HA-S900, which feature good sound quality and come with a slim carrying case.
For those earbudphobic users who favor portability over features, such as active noise cancellation, there is a category of headphones that includes over-the-ear speakers and compact designs. Within that, we have JVC's line of lightweight headphones, which is topped by the aptly-coined "high grade" HA-S900. These $130 'phones offer a good combination of comfort, portability, and pleasing sound.
True to their name, the JVC HA-S900 High Grade Lightweight Headphones feature a lightweight (4.11 ounces), flexible design with an adjustable headband. The headband is ergonomically-shaped and padded, but we question the durability: It feels a bit cheap. Each end of the band terminates in a full-size earcup trimmed with a soft, leatherette earpad. The outer portion of each cup is decked out in a circular JVC logo colored bronze to match the accenting on the lower portion of the headband. Although the 'phones are mostly black, there is enough brown to turn off those who aren't keen on brown electronics.
Since 2003, Jasmine France has worked at CNET covering everything from scanners to keyboards to GPS devices to MP3 players. She currently cohosts the Crave podcast and spends the majority of her time testing headphones, music software, and mobile apps. Full Bio
