Harman Kardon Soho Review | 93 Data compared

The Harman Kardon Soho I is a compact, on-ear headphone priced around €200 that stands out for its high-quality aesthetic, blending metal and leather into a flawless, sturdy design. Its standout feature is an exceptionally rich, warm, and full sound profile powered by a 30mm driver, which delivers compelling vocals and an impressive beat across genres like pop, rock, electronic, and jazz. Additional benefits include highly distinguishable cable remote buttons, a stable transport box, and hinges on the ear cups that allow the headphones to fold up into a very compact form factor. However, the headphones suffer from several functional design and usability flaws. The ear cushions are made of fabric rather than leather, which reduces sweat but feels less premium and soft. Due to its tight on-ear construction, the headset easily slips out of place during sudden head movements. Furthermore, its dual-sided cable layout is less convenient than standard single-cable models, the volume control buttons do not work when connected to a Mac, and the bass can become overbearing during long listening sessions at moderate volume levels.

In their product review, the CHIP Testcenter awarded the Harman/Kardon Soho WirelessGo Bluetooth headphones an overall score of 88 out of 100, placing it at a solid performance tier. The testing laboratory highlighted major strengths in sound quality and features. On the positive side, the audio profile is loud and voluminous, delivering very good mid-tones, strong bass, excellent detail, and clear vocal reproduction. Additionally, the device does not display any massive performance flaws, consistently meeting or exceeding average expectations across all testing parameters. However, the review outlines substantial drawbacks regarding ergonomics and financial value. The prominent downside is the physical fit; the headphones are critiqued for being simultaneously uncomfortable and too loose on the ears. Acoustically, the high frequencies suffer slightly, losing some brilliance at the top end. Ultimately, CHIP concluded that the price-to-performance ratio was unconvincing at the time of testing, suggesting alternatives like the Marshall Major II Bluetooth, which offered a more comfortable fit for a third less money.

Overview and Pros The Harman Soho Wireless is a sleek, highly flexible Bluetooth 3.0 on-ear headphone featuring a unique headband cable-pull design that elegantly contours to the user's head. A major highlight is its seamlessly integrated touch control panel on the right leather ear cup, allowing users to effortlessly control volume, skip tracks, and answer calls with simple finger gestures. It offers versatile connectivity options, supporting both quick NFC pairing and standard Bluetooth. Sound-wise, it is purpose-built for noisy city environments, delivering a warm character with a punchy bass and a rich low-end that effectively isolates urban rumble and chatter. Cons and Limitations Despite its premium design, the headphones suffer from a few practical drawbacks. The low-friction headband lacks sufficient grip, making the headphones prone to slipping off the head, ruling them out for intense crossfit training—though they remain usable for standard jogging. Additionally, its acoustic tuning is heavily tailored for mobility, meaning it artificially compresses sound by accentuating the bass and midrange frequencies. While this helps details stand out in a loud environment, it results in a falling high-frequency...