Kicker Tabor

A large percentage of the Bluetooth headphones we test tend to have a boosted bass response—sometimes comically boosted. The Kicker Tabor takes a different approach—the $129.95 headphones deliver a mids-focused sound signature without much in the way of boosted bass. There is bass presence, to be sure, but you really only notice it on tracks that have notable low-end. The headphones are very comfortable, and can be used with an included audio cable for passive, wired listening. There's nothing about the Tabor that makes them stand out dramatically from the crowded field of Bluetooth headphones in this price range, but for those seeking something closer to flat response than booming bass, they make a decent alternative at a reasonable price.

Design
The Tabor is a rather bulky-looking, but lightweight circumaural (over-the-ear) headphone pair, with a heavily-cushioned headband and earpads. The black frame has attractive design elements, like a bright yellow cloth grille covering the drivers on the inside of the earcups, perforated leather on the underside of the headband, and a black stitched logo across the top. The headphones offer a secure, comfortable fit, and fold down flat into an included drawstring pouch when not in use.

On the right earcup, there are controls for volume (which work independently of, not together with, your mobile device's volume), a multifunction Power button (that also controls playback, call management,  and pairing), and two dedicated forward/backward buttons for track navigation. It can be a bit annoying to memorize the location of the various controls at first, but it's far better than having one button control too many functions—a design move that often leads to users unintentionally powering down, or skipping tracks when simply intending to raise the volume.

The connection for the included USB power cable, a pinhole microphone, and a 3.5mm connection for the included audio cable for wired listening are also located on the right earcup. The linguini-esque cable is a bright yellow and has an inline mic and remote control of the single-button variety—multiple clicks control playback, call management, and track navigation, but there's no way to control the volume via this remote. Connecting the cable kills the power on the headphones; when you power them back up, they will re-pair automatically with your device, as long as it's in range and ready to pair.

I had no trouble pairing the headphones with an iPhone 5s. Kicker estimates battery life to be roughly 10 hours, but your results will depend on how loudly you play your music. One bummer: The Tabor doesn't automatically power down after a period of not being used—this is true even if it isn't paired. That can kill your battery life if you forget to turn them off when not in use.

Performance
On tracks with powerful sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the headphones deliver powerful bass response. At top, unwise listening levels (on both the headphones and your connected device), the sound does not distort on this challenging track. At more moderate listening levels, the headphones still deliver a decent sense of deep bass, paired with a crisp high-mid presence.

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Bill Callahan's "Drover," a track without much deep bass in its mix, sounds bright and clear through the Tabor. The drums on this track, which can often receive too much low-end on headphones that seriously boost the bass, sound natural—but they perhaps could use just a touch more bass. Callahan's baritone vocals receive a decent amount of low-mid richness, and enough high-mid edge to keep them clear and in the forefront of the mix. The overall sound here is mids-focused, with some added brightness. This is not a pair for anyone seeking booming, exaggerated bass.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop's attack is graced with plenty of high-mid presence that gives the hits enough contour and edge to slice through the mix. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the loop are less powerful than they often sound through headphones with more intense bass response—but this doesn't mean the mix sounds weak. There's plenty of bass here, it's just not pushed forward in the mix. The vocals on this track float clearly over everything, with plenty of high-mid and high frequency presence.

On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the Tabor's audio is pretty close to a flat response-style sound signature. The lower register instrumentation is delivered with plenty of richness, but nothing sounds remotely boosted, while the higher register strings, brass, and vocals have a pleasant brightness to them. Things sound balanced and clear, with no single range of frequencies stealing the show or sounding neglected.

One annoyance: Occasionally, the Bluetooth audio stream would stutter or pause for a second before starting up again. It wasn't a constant issue, but it is a problem that is rare in today's Bluetooth products.

At $130, the Kicker Tabor is a well-designed, comfortable Bluetooth headphone pair with a clear, distortion-free audio experience that focuses on the mids. But even if you're not a major bass fiend, the headphones pack a little less bass response than many users might be looking for. Particularly on tracks that don't have tremendous bass presence, the Tabor can sometimes sound a bit thin. There are plenty of quality Bluetooth headphone options in this general price range that deliver a more solid sense of lows, like the Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless, the Jabra Move Wireless, and the Sony MDR-ZX770BT. If you're looking to spend far less on a Bluetooth headphone pair, it may not be the best-looking option, but the Creative Sound Blaster Jam delivers quality audio for its modest price.