INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
(Image credit: Haymaker)Yes, they're that goodI have a ridiculous number of headphones and earbuds
Some might call it an obsession
As a self-proclaimed minimalist, I've been trying to whittle down my unintentional collection
The problem is, each model does something unique or at least does it better than every other one.I have a set of cans for listening to
metal, a pair that gives me a mesmerizing movie experience, a noise-canceling set for practicing guitar, buds for running and for talking on
the phone, a foldable set for travel, chunky, gaudy headphones for gaming, and, well, you get the idea.When The Haymaker HM100 headphones
landed on my doorstep, I was sure this was going to be yet another set that would do only one thing well
Here's what sold me on The Haymaker, and why I've gotten rid of all my other headsets.The technicalsThe Haymaker HM100s come from Haymaker,
Haymaker is a small firm that's big on details
Their sole purpose: to make the only headphone you'll ever need.The Haymaker comes with the highly-regarded Dirac 3D Audio and Dirac HD
If you're a gamer or immersed in VR, you've had some introduction to this technology
Haymaker)The Haymaker HM100s also feature Bluetooth 5.0, active noise canceling, touch sensor controls, RGB lights on the headband and
earpads, and two active noise-canceling microphones
Haymaker has also tossed in a spare set of speaker pads, a braided universal micro USB-C cord for charging, a 3.5mm aux cord, and a PC
gaming controller adapter
And it all zips up nice and neat in a big, padded carrying case
If it sounds like a lot of gear, that's because it is
This is the first time I've unboxed a set of headphones and didn't need to go on a hunt for a cable, case, or controller
Everything you can imagine (and more) comes with The Haymaker.How do they feel?Cranking Zeppelin, drowning yourself in an action flick,
throwing your all into a first-person shooter, and even chatting it up on the phone are all immersive experiences
When a speaker pad pinches your earlobes or a headband weighs too heavy on your noggin, it subtracts from your overall enjoyment
It causes you to tune out instead of tune in
The thick headband is padded and sturdy, and it stays in place, whether you're sitting back in a gaming chair or running on the track
The speaker pads clamp down over your ears without force or pressure, creating a tight seal that locks sound in and muffles external noise
even when active noise canceling is off
And if you wear glasses, the over-the-ear design never bites at your ears or causes irritation
Brilliant!The button placement is logical and spaced out in a finger-friendly manner
The power and noise-canceling controls are on the left outer side of the frame, the aux cable slips into a port on the bottom left speaker
pad, and charging and gaming cables happen in a port under the right side of the frame.(Image credit: Haymaker)At 324 grams, The Haymaker
HM100s feel sturdy in hand and while in use but are never too heavy to take up residence on your head for hours at a time.Those lights,
man!(Image credit: Haymaker)LEDs have a solid foothold in electronics these days, especially gaming headsets
It's a love/hate stopping point for many
Some find them distracting and others seek out the flashiest set of cans on the market
I fall somewhere in the middle.Thankfully, the Haymaker gives you options here
LED lights fill the outside of both speaker pads and also line the top of the head band
Holding your fingers down on the right pad turns the lights on, and swiping your digits over the logo cycles through eight vibrant color
The lights have four modes: static, flash, breathe, and cycle
Fade subdued shades in and out to your heart's content or ramp things up a notch and be the flashy one in the room
And if you find the RGBs too distracting, turn them off.The important stuff: sound(Image credit: Haymaker)Looking good and feeling good are
with the included aux cable, you can feel every thundering beat of the bass and drums in tunes, sail through the highs, and catch the mids
The bass won't blow you away, but it doesn't take a backseat either
The sound is crisp and balanced, precisely as it should be
When you want to drown out external voices or background chatter, the active noise canceling is solid
Whether you're deep in the throes of League of Legends, on a call, or relaxing with a session of music therapy, The Haymaker HM100s deliver
the goods.And the call quality is in a new league! Most headsets give you one mono microphone, but The Haymaker has two active
noise-canceling mics built-in, both of which act to pull sound and voices to the forefront and push distracting background noises out of the
way.How I ended up with The Haymaker as my only set of cans(Image credit: Haymaker)Today, I've pared down my audiophile obsession to a
donning The Haymaker for calls, gaming sessions, runs, and music
And because they're hinged just above the speaker pads, they fold down small
Coupled with manufacturer-guaranteed water-resistance, they meet my needs as a travel headset
The clear voice processing and stellar dual active noise-canceling microphones also make these a class-leading headset for making and taking
Needs met, and then some.If you want one set of headphones that do everything and do it all well, grab The HayMaker HM100s because Haymaker
may be right: these are the only headphones you'll ever need.X38Hvd97kuGqD53iXPaYxe.png?#
