
What? A product review?! On here?!! Isn’t this a music blog? Well, yeah. But you’ve got to listen to your music somehow, don’t you? And as much as I hate headphones (I always prefer listening to music out loud, in the open, so the WHOLE WORLD can sing along), it’s just a fact that you need a pair in today’s world. I mean, unless you’re that guy from 1982 who carries around a boombox on his shoulder. In which case, you’ve got a good thing going – don’t you ever get headphones.

Eskuche Control CPU Headphones - Beige
But I’m not that guy, and I need headphones for when I’m out and about (read: sitting in the library studying), and I need to jam discretely. Enter Eskuche Headphones – a new purveyor of fine retro musical-headgear. They sound pretty solid, delivering clear, crisp sound with a surprising amount of noise reduction. They include two interchangeable fabric-covered cords, a standard one and one with a microphone (for you iPhone users I think… or maybe videogamers? I’m not sure! I might be too old for this stuff). They’re also comfortable, which is important to anyone like me who might be wearing them for 4+ hours at a time (during finals week, bleh). In fact, they’re significantly more comfortable than my last pair of headphones – possibly due to the leather strap across the top, instead of the plastic padded prong usually found on headphones like these. Of the Eskuche models I’ve tried, I personally think the rectangular “Control CPU” is more comfortable than the admittedly more stylish “33 1/3″ , which is round and comes in colors like chrome and gold.

Eskuche 33 1/3 Headphones - Gold
But it’s models like the “33 1/3″ that really showcase what sets Eskuche apart. They’ve got a retro vibe going that’s pretty unique, and actually gets noticed. I kid you not, since I’ve been wearing mine I’ve gotten more than a few comments from out of the blue on them – ranging from “sweet phones” to “what year are those from?” (incidentally, when I told him they were brand new he said “you got gyped” – apparently he’s not their target market). So if you’re into making a statement while also rocking out, then these are probably for you. But if you’d rather not get comments on your headgear, then you might want to pass these up for a more traditional black Sony or Bose set.
On the down side, at $60 a pair they’re a little pricey, and I’m not totally convinced that they’re built to last (they feel just a little bit flimsy) – but like I said before: they sound great and look good, and they’re price is at least comparable to brands like Skullcandy. So if you’re looking for some new headphones, check these guys out:
UDATE: Their site is pretty confusing, so just skip right to their shop:
Official Eskuche Shop