MSRP: $149.95; $179.95 for AE2i model with mic & 3-button Apple iOS remote
Current Price: $150 from amazon.com for AE2; $180 from Amazon.com for AE2i
Form factor: over-ear | Space-Saving Mechanism: Flat-folding
Cord: detachable (recessed 2.5mm connector), 5.3ft (1.6m) length, straight, 3.5mm L-plug termination; AE2i cable includes mic + 3-button iOS remote
Accessories: carrying bag
Build Quality (8/10): The construction of the Harman Kardon CL is impressive – over-engineered, even. At first glance it’s a simple floating-headband design with flat-folding earcups. Rotate the earcups a full 180 degrees, however, and they disengage from the headband and simply pop out. The stretchy suspended headband pops out, too, allowing the metal part of the headband to be replaced. Two sizes are included in the box – a small and a large. It’s a very good concept and quite well executed. It doesn’t hurt that most of the parts are metal – the outer band, the frames of the earcups, and even the hinges. The cable is detachable, though it uses a 2.5mm connector instead of the more common 3.5mm. The pads are magnetically attached, as with a couple of the Bowers & Wilkins sets I’ve reviewed previously.
Comfort (10/10): The cups pivot about the vertical axis. Together with the two headband sizes, this makes it possible for the CL to be comfortable for several hours at a time – more so than the average portable headphone. There is one caveat, however – for some reason they are not very tolerant of glasses and create pressure points that other on-ear portables do not
Isolation (7/10): Average for a closed-back, over-ear headphone
Sound (7.75/10):
Vs Matrix2 About prefer Matrix2
Matrix2 bassier, a bit warmer, more natural, similar clarity – brighter bose could be a little clearer but mids are recessed which hurts clarity,a little more forward b/c mids less rececesed/less v-shaped, more full-bodied, can get a touch muddier with bass-heavy tracks
AE2 a little brighter, thinner, touch more v-shaped, mids a little recessed, less natiral
Vs DNA PRO
DNA PRO more bass but also brighter, clearer overall, more sensitive, fuller-sounding
AE2 less bassy, thinner, flatter but a little more mid-recessed
Vs HD428 – quite similar; AE2 a bit better
HD428 a little warmer, bass punchier but impact seems a little off and lacks depth, tonally a little more natural but muddier
AE2 a little thinner, clearer, brighter, more v-shaped, still not particulatly harsh or anything
Vs HD25
HD25 less mid-recessed but bass is much stronger, deeper, still a touch clearer, more forward
AE2 bit less clear, more balanced, even more mid-recessed, more spacious in general, touch more harsh
Value (8/10): About as comfortable as it gets
The good: lightweight and oh so very comfortable; good clarity
The bad: recessed 2.5mm connector on detachable cable
Note: this brief review was based on just a few days’ worth of listening impressions of a headphone that otherwise wouldn’t have been included at all.
