Iron Maiden is one of the most iconic metal bands of all time. For fans, the question that surrounds the Onkyo-manufactured Maiden Audio ED-PH0N3S headphones isn't "Why would Iron Maiden make headphones?" but "Why has it taken so long?" The ED-PH0N3S is an eye-catching pair of on-ear headphones that sound very good, but their $299.99 price tag is hard to swallow, especially since they use a non-replaceable cable. Only deep-pocketed, diehard Maiden fans need apply. Everyone else should run for the hills.

Design

If you look at the cyborg zombie head on the right earcup, the Iron Maiden-styled Maiden Audio logo framed by another cyborg zombie head on the left earcup, and the bright blue plasma paint job running up the sides of the headband, and think you wouldn't be caught dead wearing these headphones, you can probably stop reading this review right now. If, on the other hand, you glance at these headphones and think the design would look equally good on the side of a van, keep reading.

The earcups are mounted on quarter-circle metal arms that let them rotate 90 degrees to lay flat. The headband is a sturdy strip of metal surrounded by plastic on the lower parts and padded foam on the top. The bottom portion extends and retracts from the headband with firm click stops. The earpads are circular foam rings covered in a leather-like material, just like the padded part of the headband. These aren't the most plush headphones I've worn, but it didn't take much time to adequately break them in.

Cable Problems

The ED-PH0N3S use a cloth-wrapped 5.2-foot cable that terminates in a silver-plated 3.5mm plug. The cable separates into two thinner cables around chest-level, with one running up to each earcup. The spot where the cables connect contains an in-line microphone, but no phone controls. The headphones also come with a leather carrying bag, and a 1/4-inch headphone adapter.

The cable is permanently attached to the earcups, which is surprising to see in such an pricey pair of headphones. Since the cable is the most likely part to become worn or damaged, most high-end models use a detachable cable (and often include more than one) that can be easily replaced. The ED-PH0N3S' cable seems even more vulnerable, because of the separate connections to each ear. It's easy to see either earcup cable get snagged and tugged hard enough to damage the connection point. It was particularly frustrating after experiencing first-hand that the cables tend to get caught on the metal arm from which the earcups pivot.

Performance

As to be expected from their metal pedigree, the ED-PH0N3S headphones are quite powerful. Our bass test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout," sounds full and thumpy, without a hint of distortion even at maximum (and borderline unsafe) volume levels.

Testing Iron Maiden headphones with some Iron Maiden tracks felt natural, and both "Run for the Hills" and "The Number of the Beast" sound powerful. The driving force of the drums in "Run For the Hills" stand in the spotlight without overtaking the rest of the mix, and the screaming guitars and vocals in "The Number of the Beast" are well-balanced and very energetic against the less prominent drums.

Miles Davis' "So What" sounds good across the frequency range on the ED-PH0N3S. The upright bass borders on booming, but it doesn't overwhelm the mix or prevent more subtle sounds like string plucks from coming through in the mix. The steady cymbals and horn are crisp and get plenty of presence without sounding overly bright. The piano notes don't stand out quite as much as they otherwise might, indicating a bit of sculpting that lets midrange frequencies dip a bit compared with lows and highs. It's a very satisfying sound, even if it isn't perfectly flat.

The much simpler mix of Ninja Sex Party's "Symphony in P Minor" demonstrates the ED-PH0N3S' richness and clarity. The classical piano arpeggio that opens the track sounds crisp in the highs and full in the lows, and Danny Sexbang's baritone voice gets a lush warmth that maintains some of the more subtle sibilance in his vocals.

The Maiden Audio ED-PH0N3S is a capable, visually striking pair of headphones that should appeal to any fan of Iron Maiden who wants Eddie on the side of his head without getting a tattoo. It's just a shame that the cable is permanently connected to the headphones and can't be replaced, with two particularly vulnerable spots just begging to get damaged through slightly careless everyday use. That's unacceptable in a $300 pair of headphones. You can find some excellent, non-band-specific headphones for around the same price or less, like the Blue Lola ($249.99 at Amazon) , the Sony MDR-1A , or (if you want noise cancellation) the Bose QuietComfort 25 ($229.00 at Amazon) . You can also pick up the Sennheiser HD 598 , which are studio monitors that offer excellent performance for about half the price.

Maiden Audio ED-PH0N3S 3.0 See It $99.00 at Amazon MSRP $299.99 Pros Good audio performance.

Striking style (for Iron Maiden fans). Cons Expensive.

Non-replaceable cable.

No phone controls. The Bottom Line The Maiden Audio ED-PH0N3S is a solid pair of headphones with Iron Maiden flair, but they're just too expensive for what they offer.

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