Polk Audio’s new, flagship headphones are the UltraFocus 8000. Featuring active noise-canceling, elegant styling and a $349.95 dollar price point, I went into this review expecting my ears to feel like angel babies wrapped in pillow of clouds. Was I disappointed? Not one bit.
Out of the box, the Polk Audio UltraFocus 8000 active noise-canceling headphones come in their very own black, attractive carrying case. Polk Audio has gone to great lengths to add elegance and class to this pair of headphones, and the added care the case provides is welcome. Getting everything unpacked, I was blown away by the headphones large, massive shape. This is one big pair of headphones! The headphones feature a black, graphite-like pattern in the headband which reads “polk audio” when light reflects off of it a certain way. The headband features a very comfortable pad which, even after several hours of wear, did not rub my skull the wrong way. These are some really comfortable headphones to wear.
The first thing I did once I got the UltraFocus 8000 all hooked up (thankfully, Polk Audio includes two AAA batteries in the box) was start up iTunes and play some music. Laying back in my office chair, with some soft jazz playing, I nearly drifted off to sleep. Pulled back into focus by a co-worker walking by, I put some pep in my step by switching over to Operation Ground and Pound from Dragonforce. I love those guys. Anyhow, I played several genres of music on these headphones and had a terrific listening experience. As far as the UltraFocus 8000’s active noise-cancellation technology, it’s easy as flicking a switch on the side of the headphones. It is surprising just how well the active noise-cancellation works, and whatever technical sorcery is involved has paid off in spades. Turning the function on allowed me to keep out a ton of ambient noise so I could really focus on the music I was hearing.
Even though the Polk Audio UltraFocus 8000 headphones are not designed primarily for video gaming, at this price point I feel like I would be remiss not to review them in that function as well. Thankfully, they performed exceptionally. Testing the headphones out on my PC gaming rig was very simple, as I plugged them into the Audio Control Module of my Sound Blaster ZxR sound card. I played several nights worth of gaming using these headphones, and was consistently impressed with their ability to generate clear sound. With a sound card featuring such a high signal to noise ratio, I was pleased to finally have the chance to match it with a pair of headphones featuring a similar sensitivity level.
Overall, the Polk Audio UltraFocus 8000 headphones feature great noise-cancellation technology as well as the ability to reproduce clear and crisp audio – even when the volume is cranked up to dangerously-high levels. You can purchase the Polk Audio UltraFocus 8000 headphones over at the company’s official website. Additionally, we have loved this product so much that we are awarding it our “Seal of Excellence”. Congrats, Polk Audio!
[easyreview title=”Polk Audio Ultra Focus 8000 Headphones Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″] Our Rating Scores Explained
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Manufacturer’s Specifications
- MSRP: $349.95
- Available Finish: Black
- Headphone Type: Active Noise Canceling
- Style: Over Ear
- Transducer Type/Size: Dynamic Balance, 40mm diameter
- Input Connections: Gold-plated 3.5mm
- Maximum Sensitivity: 110dB
- Minimum Impedance: 100 ohms
- Total Frequency Response: 8Hz-28kHz
- Apple Remote and Push-to-Hear Controls: On-Ear
- Dimensions: 7″ W x 7.6″ H x 3.5″ D (at the widest point of the earpieces)
- Product Weight (without batteries): 8.9 ounces
- Warranty: 1 Year, Parts and Labor
