1More Triple Driver H1707 Headphones Review

As veteran reviewers, we’ve done extensive research over the years, and we know your eyes likely flicked to that score box before you started reading. We also figure you’re probably tutting over a $250 set of cans picking up this sort of score. That’s too low a price for them to be audiophile quality, and too high a price for them to be reasonably affordable, right? Yes. You’re absolutely right. Heck, let’s list some more of their flaws while we’re in the mood: The cable’s a touch too short, there’s no built-in mic (for that you'll want a gaming headset), the meaningless “Hi-Res Audio” logo is on the box as some kind of enticement for the unaware—the list goes on.

But 1More’s remarkable headphones deserve every ounce of praise we can pour on them. Even getting them out of the box is an experience; proper packaging making way for an included carrying case, then the cans themselves—heavy, solid, and pretty damn beautiful, with the correct orientation marked on the inside of each earcup in inch-high letters, so you don’t have to squint for a tiny icon in order to get your stereo orientation straight.

The rear portion of the cups is, judging by its perfectly striated pattern, milled straight out of anodized aluminum, and it’s far from the only metal component on display. While there is plastic, it’s used as a complement rather than a structural centerpoint. The headband is stainless steel, the earcup pivots are metal, and fold inward with a solid clunk when it’s time to stow them; these are headphones that are built to last.

Despite the reasonably heavyweight materials on show, comfort has taken equal priority with aesthetics. Each ear’s padding is reasonable—not the miraculous superfoam we’ve seen on some headsets, but absolutely adequate—and it’s covered in silky pseudo-leather. The headband features the same material inside and out; pointlessly, it’s padded on the outside edge as well as featuring sectional padding on the inside. The real key is that stainless steel band, which has clearly been engineered with some thought; these are brilliantly adjustable and supremely wearable, not squeezing over time, but providing enough pressure to keep the sound firmly in your head, not leaking out.

And what sound. 1More’s marketing trumpets triple drivers in the form of a 40mm graphene dynamic driver, a ceramic tweeter, and a bass reflector. That last one is, technically, a bit of a fudge: Bass reflectors aren’t really active drivers, more tuned ports or, in this case, a cunningly constructed membrane placed behind the main driver, and behind the transparent window on the cans’ outer shell. But 1More has clearly got the hang of the tuning part of things inside these closed-back enclosures. 

The sound stage is wide; it’s woody, crisp, subtle, and brash in equal measure, leaving everything from top to bottom distinct and definable. There’s great separation on offer, and while the output isn’t completely flat (getting a little pushy toward the bass end, and often very bright on the treble), it’s very pleasant. Transformative, even—it could change the way you listen to music.

Games aren’t the 1MEJH0006’s wheelhouse, given the lack of mic, but that acute frequency distinction makes them a great choice if you need to keep your ears on your environment.

That’s our argument for the high score. These are headphones, and they do exactly what good headphones should: They sound phenomenal, and feel great on your head. If cans are a key part of your setup, or you feel they should be, 1More’s offering could well be worth your investment. If you see them for less than the $250 MSRP, jump on that deal immediately. Sacrifice food if you have to. Your ears will thank you.

This article was originally published in Maximum PC's July issue. For more quality articles about all things PC hardware, you can subscribe to Maximum PC now.