This review is going to be quick, because I have only 2 words for the Creative Outlier Black.
Buy it.
It retails officially at S$79 but currently at launch price of S$59.
Design
I love how this pair of over-ear headphones look. It’s classy, non-pretentious, doesn’t look cheap. The plain unbleached cardboard retail box, however, screams of being basic, Muji-like. Unboxed, the headphones are securely held by a plastic frame, and sparse accessories like the USB cable, 3.5mm audio cable, user guide, and a soft bag. Sparse but essential accessories.
Battery lasts for 13 hours, but if it runs out, insert the audio cable to listen through direct wired audio.
The right earcup has a 5-button controller. Press and hold the middle button to power on, while the up-down buttons adjust volume and left-right buttons changes track with fade-out. The button labels are printed on the protective plastic sheet, so removing it further minimalises the outlook.
The over-ear earcups fit my ears just nice, though my ears still touch the leather, the cushion is soft without exerting too much pressure.
The headphones fold inwards for ease of transport. The headband is big enough for most adult heads, and I only need to extend the band halfway to the maximum length. Thanks to the long headband and compact earcup, I can wear the headphones around my neck without restricting my neck movements like a neck brace.
Audio Quality
These headphones have heavy fat bass but do not feel too pushy and pumped-up, so that the treble remains sufficiently sparkling to give a balanced hi-fi sound. For tracks with already strong bass levels, it could get too overwhelming and drown out the mids and overpower the treble. Still, the bright highs counter the bass to retain some musicality. And if the bass wasn’t that strong, the mids do possess some good details too.
I can’t use them for reference, but when you needed some kick at the lows, the Outlier Black gets the lovely boom without the pain. I enjoy listening with them because the highs are clean, sufficiently detailed yet not too harsh. Trust Creative, they are in the consumer audio business for decades.
Verdict
The Creative Outlier Black offers excellent value for a pair of good-looking headphones with great bass, clear treble. Anyone who likes indulging in modern genres and wants a little more bass should get one. They are too affordable to give a miss. Forget about those unknown China OEM brands, get international-renowned local-brand Creative and enjoy legit 1-year local warranty for S$59 at Creative Online Store. (for comparison, Amazon US goes for US$49, while Lazada is selling for an overpriced S$160+, only because the merchant imports from overseas)
And, if you have already bought one, help share the love and influence friends around you. And Creative might even reward you with more audio goodies! Details here.
Good
- Classic black design for all occasions
- Value for money
- Full fat bass without too much kick pressure, yet maintains treble clarity and overall musical enjoyment
Bad
- Bass overpowers other frequencies
Creative Outlier Black – Brief Specs
- Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
- Driver: 40mm Neodymium
- Bluetooth: 4.1, SBC
- Weight: 190g
More product information at Official Creative Website
Note: Product provided free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.
6 comments