Polk Audio created a set of headphones known as the buckle. The Polk Audio Buckle are well-built, robust headphones with a bit of a gloomy, bass-heavy sound. The majority of listeners will find them to be comfortable enough, and they appear and feel high-end.
This headphone is probably among the best ones on the market right now. With its pilgrim idea, Polk Audio's newest over-ear headphone, The Buckle, might seem to be an ancestor-aged concept. But it actually belongs to the company's Legacy Series.
Polk has a collection of simple objects that emphasizes a natural layout with a minimalistic touch. The Buckle has a worn leather sheath covering the headband, muted color scheme, and substantial slices of matte-finished metal.
This headphone has received mixed reviews that left many users in dilemma whether to buy it or not. So, to help you in making the decision, here in this article, we will cover every aspect of the Polk Audio Buckle Headphones Review.
Review for Polk Audio Buckle Headphones
Here are all the review aspects, i.e. both positive and negative of the buckle headphones you may go through.
In The Box
Below are the different items you are provided along with the Polk Audio Buckle Headphones.
● Guiding Manual
● Polk Audio Buckle headphones
● 1/8″ to 1/4″ adapter
● Carrying pouch
● Audio cable
Design and Comfort
The Buckle headphones have a high-end aesthetic that gives them a luxurious and costly appearance. The padding of the ear cups is soft and well-made, and the headband is coated in faux leather.
The ear cups are attached to a swivel hinge inside the headpiece, giving the headphones an antique appearance. Two color patterns are available for them: brown and black with silver accents. Even though they might not appear as attractive to all listeners, they can easily stand out in the market.
The Buckle headphones have good padding and are decently comfy, but they are a little tight on the head side. They're also a little heavy for their size, but the dense padding on the headband and ear cups helps spread the tension and weight more equally around your ears.
Controlling Features
The overall control layout of the Polk Audio Buckle is very effective and good. Track skipping, volume control, and the basic call/music features are all provided by a single general-purpose toggle.
Although it is simple to use, the response is occasionally poor. When attempting to pause tracks, you might unintentionally increase the volume. As a result, it isn't ideal, but you can get used to it quickly.
Structure and Portability
The Polk Audio Buckle doesn't fold, making them a little cumbersome to carry on your body. However, they are comparatively small for an over-ear design. Also, the ear cups do not really lay flat either. Hence, they won't be the most useful headphones you can carry with you at all times if you don't have a bag.
The Polk Audio Buckle comes with a stylish cloth pouch that will keep it safe from minor scuffs and scratches while it is in your luggage. But since it's a soft pouch, it's unfortunate that it won't shield them from impacts and accidental drops.
Build Quality and Stability
The Polk Audio Buckle is made of many high-quality materials and has a sturdy design. It can withstand a few accidental impacts without breaking, and the cable is replaceable if necessary due to normal wear and tear.
Unfortunately, the most likely places where damage can occur are the ear cup hinges. The multi-purpose toggle is also mounted on a spring device that can become worn out with prolonged use.
These headphones are reasonably stable. They are sufficiently tight that they don't shift much during light jogs and even during casual listening sessions. However, they won't be the ideal choice to bring to the gym because of their bulky design and weighty ear cups, which sway slightly under more strenuous circumstances.
Sound Performance
The Polk Audio Buckle performs with average consistency. The positioning choices and head size/shape of the listener, particularly if they are wearing glasses, can cause variations in the bass range performance. The treble range's deviation, however, is minimal and well-maintained.
The bass range performance of the Polk Audio Buckle is excellent. Moreover, the low-frequency expansion is at a frequency of 10Hz, which is a great quality.
Isolation and Leakage
The Polk Audio Buckle's isolation is poor. They do not isolate in the bass region and lack active noise cancellation. They accomplish only about 4dB of isolation in the midrange, which is inadequate. However, they effectively block out ambient noise in the treble region by about 27 dB, which is adequate.
The leakage performance of the Polk Audio Buckle is excellent. A significant percentage of the leakage is distributed over a sizable range between 300Hz and 4KHz. The overall amount of leakage is, however, quite low.
Connectivity
The Polk Audio Buckle Headphones are top-notch. You must, however, make sure you buy them for an Apple product. If you're looking for comfortable headphones for Android devices, think about trying something different.
They work best when paired with Apple devices, especially iPads, and iPhones. Additionally, if you try to use them with other devices, you'll encounter certain technical issues.
The connection between the headphones happens fast. Regardless of whether they are connected to an iPhone or an iPad, they are in command and act quickly.
However, we discovered that a few of the features on the headphones don't work properly with Android smartphones; the buttons either react completely silently or not at all.
Overall Verdict: Polk Audio Buckle Headphones Review
The Polk Audio Buckle has an overall above-average performance for mixed usage. They are well-built, stylish headphones with decent levels of comfort and barely any leakage. Therefore, they represent a good alternative for use at work, and their audio quality is sufficient for active listening. Since they don't really block out much noise and aren't portable, these headphones are sadly not the best choice for working out or traveling.
