Altec Lansing's Personal-audio Upgrader

Altec Lansing's parent company, Plantronics, maintains a proprietary library of ear measurements, amassed through years of paying attention to comfort, ergonomics and craftsmanship, as well as delivering excellent sound. The Upgrader range makes use of all this information, and is intended to display every one of these qualities, with different models to suit specific end-uses.

I tested the UHP 304 headphones, constructed for use on public transport, at work, and well-suited to RV use. With a lightweight, ultra-flexible headband made from parallel strands of titanium, they feel more like a pair of glasses than a pair of headphones. Microfibre ear pads ensure a reasonable sound seal and don’t get too sweaty or sticky like the foam-and-pleather pads more commonly fitted.

Headphones are an essential for me, and I put the UHP 304s through their paces. Connected to the laptop, external sound card, iPod, and hi-fi, sound reproduction from the 40mm neodymium drivers was clear and precise, if a little bass-heavy.

The UHP 304s are comfortable to wear, and durable enough to carry in a bag, protected by the supplied zip-up neoprene case. A fibre-insulated lead is much less prone to tangling than the usual plastic or rubber-coated variety, and an in-line volume control means it's a breeze to turn down the volume to catch essential conversation. The open-ear design, which means the back of the ear-cups are open, means you aren't completely cut off from ambient noise. Some Upgrader models are closed-back; it comes down to personal preference.

The Upgrader range also includes audiophile-quality external-sound-isolating headphones, as well as in-ear models and noise-cancelling headphones. Neckband designs for jogging and cycling are available, with washable silicon ear tips.

Altec Lansing's Upgrader Series are available at major retailers and through authorised Plantronics resellers. The UHP 304s retail for $249. For more information, visit http://www.altec-lansing.com/