Superlux HD 668B: A Giant Killer?

Not to be mistaken with the Swedish home appliance manufacturer, Superlux is a Taiwanese company specializing in microphones, speakers, and headphones catering to a wide variety of customers, from casual music listeners to professional artists. However, despite their professional-oriented market, Superlux managed to sell their products at very competitive prices. One fine example would be the Superlux HD668B studio monitoring headphones, which costs only $30.

Studio monitoring headphones. For $30. Did I just say $30?

Styled like an Audio Technica-AKG hybrid, the HD668B is very well-made. Its plastic body is finished in matte black, solid and smooth, with no jagged edges or uneven seams. Synthetic leather is found on the headband pads and big earpads, which feels very supple, and excellently stitched. Clamping force is just enough to keep the whole thing from moving around, but not so hard to induce dizziness and/or fatigue usually associated with over-clamping headphones. Isolation is quite good, although being a semi-open headphone, it won’t give an isolation that’s as good as a closed-back headphone. Also, the HD668B comes with a detachable straight cable, which is slightly thicker than a Logitech computer mice’s cable, and terminated with a gold-plated plug. Just by looking at and holding it, you wouldn’t believe it is priced at $30.