Roxy Reference 430 headphones--photos

Roxy has teamed up with JBL to offer a line of stylish earphones aimed at young women. At the top end of the spectrum are the still-affordable Reference 430 headphones, an on-ear set that lists for $70.

Without a doubt, the Roxy Reference 430 headphones are eye-catching. The set comes in a choice of two color combos: orange and pink, or blue and green. In either case, the earcups are decked out in one color, while the headband and cable are splashed with the other.

The headband, which is padded in black felt, is a leatherette material with rough stitching on the outer edges and a branch and leaf decal on either side. The earcups, made out of cheap-feeling plastic, are painted with the Roxy logo and attach to the headband via steel loops that slide along the band when adjusted. The overall look is somewhat-funky industrial with a hefty dose of California color thrown in.

Now, the style of the Reference 430 headphones may be that which only a surfer girl can love, but they do manage to be fashionable. Our problem with the set is that the felt padding of the earcups made our ears itch after just less than an hour of wear, and it's not as if we were working up a sweat being active.

We also aren't particularly fond of the fact that the set doesn't fold down into a compact form for storage and transport. However, the package does include a carrying pouch with a cute Roxy logo emblazoned around the bottom half.

Also, the 3-foot cable, which terminates in a gold-plated straight plug, is plenty thick and not overly tangle-prone.

As far as sound quality is concerned, the Roxy Reference 430 headphones do a decent job. Music comes through clearly, with no distortion and good balance--nothing sounds harsh or overpowering here. Still, while the cans offer a low end that is tight and not at all mushy, bass is underwhelming for many songs.