I’ve talked about how the fashion industry wreaks havoc on the environment, but what about the electronics industry? According to United Nations University, a global think tank, in 2016 we created 49.3 million tons of e-waste worldwide. E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream due to our ever increasing consumption of electronic goods. And only 20% of it gets recycled, reports The New York Times Magazine.
This post contains affiliate links and a gifted item. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items I’m interested in. Thanks for supporting Welcome Objects!
One brand that’s doing things differently is audio company House of Marley. Alon Kaufman, the founder and CEO, told Forbes magazine that the company was created, “embodying the philosophy of Bob Marley, rooted in sustainability.” This means designing classic, high-quality products that will last so you don’t replace them often. The company also uses recycled and sustainably-sourced materials in their products and packaging, like FSC-certified wood and reclaimed silicone. And while it’s difficult to recycle electronics — you need to separate every component and material — they seem to be mindful of the life cycle of their products.
House of Marley recently sent me a pair of on-ear headphones to review. I should warn you that I’m not an audiophile who has reviewed lots of audio equipment. So, I won’t be able to tell you how this particular pair of headphones compares to other models. But, I do use headphones a fair amount in my work and I know the difference between bad and good sound quality.
House of Marley makes turntables, headphones, earbuds, and speakers with a range of products at different price points. Their cheapest pair of headphones runs less than $20 while their top-of-the-line model, the Exodus, goes for $200. The model I received, Positive Vibration 2, falls somewhere in middle, but at the more affordable end of the spectrum at $50 retail (though you can snag them for cheaper on their Amazon store).
First, a word about the packaging. The headphones came in a cardboard box with a plastic window and a plastic tray insert with the headphones held in place by twisty ties. Both the box and the plastic tray are made out of recycled materials.
My first impression: these headphones are quite handsome! The ear cups are a nice medium size and the wood disc at the center gives them an elevated look. I received the limited-edition Rasta colorway and I like how they incorporated the colors tastefully throughout, such as in the cable. There’s a plain black version with dark wood. But they also make some fun colorways: denim, silver, and light gray with copper ear cups.
They’re also comfortable. I find some headphones too heavy, but these are light as the ear cups are constructed out of recycled aluminum. The cushions feel plush and sit comfortably. The headband is padded on the underside and wrapped in fabric. House of Marley uses a fabric called Rewind (a blend of 30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp and 40% recycled PET).
I wear glasses and the headphones did press a bit against the temples. So, I personally wouldn’t wear them for hours on end. That would get uncomfortable. But if you don’t have glasses, it doesn’t seem like it’d be a problem. They’re generally not too tight. At the same time, I wouldn’t take these on a jog as they’re unlikely to stay in place with that much movement.
The tangle-free woven cable is about 50″ and features an in-line microphone with a one-button remote. One design decision that I absolutely love is the fact that the cable can be detached. There’s a jack on one of the cups. Why do I love this so much? Because most of the time when an electronic product has failed on me, it’s because of a broken cable. This design is smart because you can replace the cable or swap it out if you need a different length.
These headphones also fold! See that piece of plastic on the side in the photo above? There’s a hinge there!
OK, but how do they sound? I think they’re pretty great. They’re not lo-fi or too boomy-sounding. I do wish they had a little more bass in them, though. They’re not deficient in that department, but still, they could use a bump up in bass. I think that would give them a more textured sound. The sound isn’t flat by any means, but it could be fuller.
The other pair of headphones I have lying around here are Sony’s MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones, which sound better to me. But that’s not a fair comparison as they have an over-ear design and retail for much more. With those, you get more of a sense of separation from the world and a more dynamic sound. With the Positive Vibration 2 being on-ear and moderately sized, you’re still going to get some outside noise if you’re in a loud situation (like the subway).
I also tried these headphones on phone calls and have no complaints in that regard. The sound was nice and clear to me and vice versa for the people speaking to me.
Overall, the Positive Vibration 2 headphones look stylish, fit comfortably, and sound good. (They also come in a wireless Bluetooth version if you don’t want to deal with a cable.) For the price, I think they’re an excellent choice — and I love that they come from a company that cares about sustainability.
