When I first heard of the Oppo headphones, first thing that came to mind was Oppo smartphones, then I dug a little deeper to discover the PM3, a pair of headphones that’s managed to use planar magnetic drivers to help produce a really good sound quality that makes it one if the best headphones on the market to date and some may still never hear about it. Well hope this review will shed some light on it so you can go out and pick up a pair to see (hear) for yourself.
Design
- Unique planar magnetic driver with FEM-optimised neodymium magnet system
- 7-layer double-side voice coil diaphragm
- Excellent sound quality
- High sensitivity and consistency
- Lightweight for portable use
- Comfortable fit for long-term listening
- Closed-back noise isolation design
- Selvedge denim carrying case
- Detachable high quality cable
- Optional headphone cable with inline mic and remote control
When you receive the PM3, you’ll notice the excellent packaging that shows premium and then you open it up to find the headphones with an elegant styling and exquisite workmanship. I had to take those words from their website as no other way to best describe the design. The ear-cups are finished in comfortable foams, and on the closed back design, you see the diamond cut edges and materials that feels very premium, yet light for taking around with you anywhere you like. The Headbands are adjustable and comfortable with matching colours and the silver finishing also looks great on the ear-cups.
In the packaging you get a carry case to keep your PM3 clean and safe from dusts or accidental bumps, although they are as durable as they come. You get two audio cables, one with inline microphone and the others without for those who just wants to enjoy their music and nothing else. If you have a 6.3mm audio source, perhaps if you are a DJ, there is also a 3,5mm to 6,3mm converter plug in the packaging, so there are no extra expenses for you. The ear-cups also rotate 180º so when you are ready to park it on your neck, you have no issues with the comfortability at all. Although the leather finishing aren’t real leather which could be an issue when it gets hot, but in London it rarely does unless you wear it at the gym or if the London underground is mega sweaty. I also don’t see this as something for the sporty people, although it would handle it very well.
It also blocks out a decent amount of outside noise, however when blasting music on a high volume, others will be able to hear your guilty pleasures, whether it’s Justin Bieber or Britany Spares. The 55mm drivers packs a punch with planar planar magnetic technology, which generates a very thin and light diaphragm. It delivers maximum sensitivity whilst staying consistency. When cranked to high volumes, there isn’t any distortion, it almost makes you feel spaced out with sound delivered in a very subtle, clear/clean manner, so you can hear all the instruments as they were intended. No matter what the music genre is, you can enjoy accuracy with bass and your trebles. If you really want to take you musical experience further, you can also get Oppo’s HA-2 portable headphone amplifier to help deliver an even better experience.
Overall the PM3 is stylish, although i’d prefer it in a darker colour, as the white one I have picks up dirt very easily – this is not a performance related issue. The sound quality is great, comes in a nice packaging with a carry case and cable options to suit your needs. I spent a lot of time with this pair of headphones to test the durability rather than release the review within two weeks of use, and the verdict is it handles my way of life very well, carrying it around with me on my travels, going through baggage control at the airport and more. Using its closed-back design you get privacy and noise isolation when listening to your tunes. You can find out more about the PM3 here
