Blue Microphones have a wave of popular and high-quality sound equipment all the way from headphones to desktop microphones, products for musicians to bolster their sound as well as PC gamers wanting to connect together over voice applications… but today we check out the Sadie, a set of premium headphones designed for music lovers with a built-in audiophile amplifier.
Music is life, life is music, or so some people would tell you. To me, music is actually life and when I’m on my travels where ever that may be, I demand quality as let’s be honest, music is a magical thing which can leave you riding an emotional roller coaster… and who wants to listen to their favourite songs with distortion, mud and fuzz? Not me!
Focusing on the Blue Sadie headphones, the Sadie sits as one of Blue Microphones most premium headphones with a whole host of features designed to deliver top quality audio performance at a highly contested price point. The Sadie features a 50mm fibre reinforced dynamic driver with an impedance of 42 ohms and sports a built-in amplifier with a total power output of 240mW. While most wireless capable headphones have on an off switch, the Sadie automatically powers on and off when the headphones are open and closed making this set of headphones high tech, especially with an integrated battery with a 12-hour charge.
Blue Sadie Headphones Specifications & Features
FULL FEATURES
- Built-in audiophile amplifier for true high-fidelity sound on any device
- 50mm drivers custom-tuned for a superior soundstage
- Refined personalized fit for superior comfort
- Sealed over-ear design for immersive isolation
- Racecar-inspired multi-jointed headband design keeps earcups parallel at all times for superior comfort and sound
- Powers on and off automatically when headphones are opened and closed
- Rechargeable battery provides up to 12 hours of playtime; Sadie continues to play music even when the battery has no charge
SPECIFICATIONS
DRIVER SPECS
- Type, and physical size: 50mm, fibre-reinforced dynamic driver
- Impedance: 42 ohms
- Frequency response: 15Hz-20kHz
- Enclosure details: Sealed enclosure with tuned damping materials
AMPLIFIER SPECS
- Output power: 240mW
- THD+N: 0.004%
- Frequency response: 15Hz-20kHz
- SNR, self noise: >105 dB
- Noise: < 20 uV
- Battery capacity: 1000mAh
HEADPHONE SPECS
- Weight: 444 g (15.67 oz)
- Outer dimensions (closed): 21cm x 14cm x 12cm; 8.27” x 5.51” x 4.72
- Outer dimensions (open): 18cm x 29cm x 12cm; 7.09” x 11.42” x 4.72”
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
- Soft case with cable storage pocket
- 1.2-meter audio cable with Apple iPhone/iPad controls and microphone
- 3-meter audio cable
- 1 meter USB charging cable
- 3.5mm to 1/4″ adaptor
Blue Sadie Headphones Closer Look & Performance
The Blue Sadie has a unique styling which resembles something alien compared with most other brands high-end headphones on the market, but what Blue lack in conventional looks, they make up for in modern flair with a unique styling which is sure to turn heads. The general style is an all-black colour scheme with silver highlights which displays the curves nicely.
Blue themselves state that the Sadie’s design is modelled after a Formula 1 car (very fast race car) which does explain the aggressive, yet sleek appearance, but we all know it’s not about how fast your car looks on the track, it’s how it performs! The headband on the Sadie doesn’t lock into a specific position, instead, it needs resizing every time it’s worn which isn’t a detriment, it’s actually a good thing as it allows for optimal positioning each time. The headband is strong and the cups are comfortable, and if you’re not a fan of headphones gripping your head hard then maybe the Sadie isn’t for you. The ear pads are pretty robust and this shows in the semi-hard feel to them, but not TOO hard to cause discomfort.
The Sadie itself has three different operational modes, ‘off’ which means passive, ‘on’ and ‘on plus’ or ‘on+’ as it’s marketed. The amplifier does exactly what it says on the tin and boosts the volume greatly, even further than the Galaxy S8 can produce without distortion. The sound with the amplifier pumping along was crystal clear and the bass was replicated as if it was reverberating around your body… it’s not just sound you can hear but sound you can feel. The sound itself is good in all three of the available modes, but my favourite has to be the middle of the three, the regular on mode. The sound was warm and crisp, without distortion and simple things that get overlooked with cheaper headphones are things like individual notes in guitar solos with double bass drums blasting behind it. The Blue Sadie is great for virtually all types of music I listened to, and overall the sound on the Sadie is very dynamic, but this is to be expected or should be expected given the price tag attached.
The components on the Blue Sadie are made from high-quality materials, with nothing coming across as feeble or badly built. Accompanying the headphones is a pairing of audio cables, a 1.2m cable with in-line controls and a longer one measuring at 3m. Also included is a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter as well as a Micro USB charging cable to, well, provide the charge which Blue state to be 12 hours.
While the headphones are indeed wireless and the amplifier requires a battery to work, put into the off position, they will still work passively which obviously isn’t as loud as with the amplifier enabled, but it still allows you to use them when the audio cable is plugged in; perfect for a long-haul flight or indeed any type of journey.
The Blue Sadie Headphones Review: The Verdict
The Blue Sadie follows on from the original Blue Mo-Fi headphones making the Sadie a sort of 2.0 version of the original. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the Mo-Fi made a bold statement upon release with critics being seemingly split down the middle. The Sadie, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish with numerous improvements from a performance aspect and with a dynamic sound for virtually all genres of music, the Sadie looks to corner the sub £400/$400 headphones market… something that doesn’t seem a stretch too far.
What’s hot:
- Built-in amplifier enhances the already crisp and clear audio with good quality lows and spine-tingling highs
- Very comfortable and gripping headband is a highlight
- Works in passive mode when the Sadie runs out of juice (12 hours is a good running time for such a powerful pair of cans)
- Looks unique and features solid construction and top-notch build quality you would expect from Blue Mics product range
- Good price considering the sound quality certainly punches above its weight
What’s not:
- $400/£385 puts it out of most consumers budget, but you get what you pay for!
- Quite heavy on the head, can see some users experiencing neck fatigue in scenarios like long-haul flights
The crux of any good quality pair of headphones is reliability and performance, with style being somewhat important, but true audiophiles demand a solid sound. This is exactly what the Blue Sadie provides and while some people will dislike the aggressive and ‘out there’ style, the Blue Sadie is certainly one of the best pairs of high-quality studio-grade headphones for the price on the market and they more than deserve our gold award. I’m also sold on the ability to use them long after the battery has run out of juice in passive mode (with audio cable) which makes the Blue Sadie one of the most dynamic and versatile headphones on the market at its price point, especially with such fantastic sound quality. Seriously, you won’t be disappointed!
Thanks to Blue Microphones for sending a sample of the Sadie headphones in for review.
Buy the Blue Microphones Sadie here in the UK – https://amzn.to/2lyE9AR
Buy the Blue Microphones Sadie here in the US – https://amzn.to/2MYvswg
