The microphone manufacturer Blue has made its first foray into the headphone market, revealing a powerful, premium set of headphones that aim to compete with Beats and Bose.

Blue’s Mo-Fi includes a built-in “audiophile” amplifier, which boosts the power of the often weak audio from mobile devices. That allows Blue to pack larger, more power hungry speakers with better sound into the earcups. The power and quality of a hi-fi system in a headphone; at least that’s the premise.

Blue said it went back to the drawing board on the design of the Mo-Fi headphones. They certainly don’t look like other headphones, with a main rectangular block that sits on the head supporting two articulating arms that hold the ear cups in place.

The ear cups are held completely parallel on the side of the head, with even pressure around the whole ear no matter what size the head. Most headphone bands either pinch at the top or bottom of the ear.

The pressure on the ear and the angle of the ear cup can be adjusted, which makes for a comfortable fit, but the whole headphone is quite heavy. Out and about you really feel the weight no matter how comfortable they are, and the ostentatious design won’t be to everyone’s taste. Either way you look at it, they’re definitely a statement.

Analogue style

A switch on the side rotates around the removable headphone cable, switching the amplifier off, on – or on with an analogue-style bass boost, which makes the music sound authentically warmer in the low end.

Charging via microUSB gives approximately 15 hours of play time, helped by a feature that automatically switches off the headphones when they’re taken off the head. They will also play music without the amp on, so if they run out of juice the music doesn’t have to stop.

Super loud

Blue claims its amplifier-powered setup means the headphones can handle greater ranges and maintain punch in both the high and low end.

The first thing you notice is just how loud they are. Do not plug in your headphones while powered on or the loud electrical pop will give you quick a shock. Likewise some mobile devices, particularly smartphones, power on and off their audio circuits between tracks and sounds, which produces an annoying electrical click. Some smartphones are worse than others at this.

Overall they’re a very good-sounding pair of headphones, though, with plenty of bass that isn’t overwhelming, and decent accuracy in the highs. Calling them “audiophile” grade might be a bit of a stretch; they’re definitely loaded towards the lower end, but still sound great when lots of treble is pushed through them.

Something like Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love sounds particularly good, with a real intensity in the riff (which was just voted the best guitar riff of all time). But the headphones sound equally good blasting out Blue Sky Black Death or Pavarotti, making them decent all-rounders.

Price

Blue intendeds to take on Apple’s Beats and the Mo-Fi headphones are priced accordingly. They cost £275, but come with two cables – one with a remote for controlling playback on a smartphone and another longer one for connecting to a hi-fi.

Verdict

Blue should be commended for trying something a bit different. If you can get used to the weight, the Mo-Fi headphones are ideal for listening to music privately at home or at a desk.

They insulate listeners from the outside well and don’t leak sound to the outside too much, considering how loud they can go on the inside.

Their large size and weight means there are better options while on the commute. But they certainly add punch to mobile listening that’s lacking from most other headphones, especially if you like driving music.

One of people who like their music loud, and with lots of range.

Other reviews

• Beats Studio Wireless review: expensive headphones with lacklustre sound

• Philips Fidelio M1BT review: great-sounding Bluetooth headphones