Outdoor Tech OT1900 Los Cabos is the third pair of wireless headphones that I’ve received from the American manufacturer. The previously reviewed headphones were Privates and Tuis but I was not really satisfied with those products. Can the new Los Cabos make a difference? We’re going to find out in the review.
Unboxing Video
Design & Features
The Los Cabos has a very similar design as the Tuis, it is even more minimal as the earcups are not as flexible. They are almost fixed to the headband, fortunately, you still can adjust the headband and the earcups can be folded down to a small package. Inside the box, you can find the headphones, a cloth pouch, a 3.5 mm audio cable and a microUSB cable.
The whole unit is covered in rubberized matte coatings with soft-touch feeling, so it feels more durable and doesn’t look cheap like other plastic headphones.
Although these are on-ear headphones and don’t have thick paddings on the earcups, I still feel very comfortable when listening to music for a couple of hours. The pressure on my ears is insignificant, so these are among the most comfortable on-ear headphones I’ve ever used. A disadvantage of the design is that noise isolation is not that great, however, this is not a big issue for me because I actually want to listen to the world around me as well. I’d rather sacrifice the isolation to make my ears pleasant than using tight headphones like the Beyerdynamic Custom Street.
Another notable feature is IPX4 for sweatproof and water splashing resistant. They are not waterproof but you totally can use them under wet conditions without worrying about damages.
All controls are placed on the right earcup. There are power/Bluetooth/Play/Pause button, volume up, volume down, previous and next buttons. Opening the rubber flap on the bottom will reveal the microUSB port to charge the headphones. On the left earcup, there is only the 3.5mm port to listen to music when the battery runs out.
The battery life of the headphones is quite impressive. I can use the headphones for a whole week without the need of charging, I estimate the battery life at around 8 hours.
Besides, there is a built-in microphone for hands-free calling capability, that means you totally don’t need to reach your smartphone to receive incoming phone calls. Unfortunately, this is a bad microphone as the sound is tiny and it doesn’t block noises as well as the microphone on my smartphone.
Audio Quality
The Los Cabos aren’t designed to be the greatest sounding headphones, they are more suitable for active people who need a rugged pair of headphones. Therefore, I didn’t expect much from the audio quality.
It seems like Outdoor Tech uses the same 30mm drivers as seen on their other headphones. The sound signature is pretty much the same with narrow soundstage, muddy sound, slightly boosted bass and recessed highs. Either you are looking for audiophile headphones or you just want a boomy bass, the Los Cabos might not be your best choice. The sound is muffled and the bass is not punchy as I expected. I even hear distortion occasionally when I crank up the volume.
Having said that, the sound is not terrible. It is actually acceptable for many users, especially at the low price range. It is just that I’ve tried many better headphones and I’m not really satisfied with the sound coming from the drivers.
Conclusion
Pros
- Minimal and durable design
- Very comfortable
- Long battery life
Cons
- Average sound
- Low-quality microphone
The Los Cabos are not the headphones for everyone. You should only buy them for the design, not for enjoying music.
Syd Roque says
Hi,
I’d love to get a pair of Beats or the Sony H.ear, but this is maybe my 5th or 6th choice.
I just bought mine literally an hour ago, and your review really helped me make a choice.
Thank you for the review!