The result is sound with real energy and drive, even if the bass is just too juvenile to keep pace with anything more complicated than a “four to the floor” pulse. Overall, I really liked the Monster iSport Immersion headphones. As I said in the intro, I consider them to be among the best wired sports in-ear headphones available and I wouldn't hesitate to use these on a day-to-day basis. While they won't fit everybody equally well, I got a very secure fit and they stayed in my ears on all my 4-mile "test" runs. They fit more securely than the Polk Audio UltraFit 3000 in-ear headphones and sound better, with bigger bass and more detail. But the Polks, which sound pretty good, allow more outside sound in, which some people may prefer.

As a pair of sporty on-ear headphones there’s plenty to like about the Monster iSport Freedom. The surprisingly lightweight design make them perfect for the gym and the bright, reflective exterior is great for running at night. It manages a faultless Bluetooth performance and the water-resistance is a real bonus especially if you get a real sweat on. These earphones aren’t subtle. The SoundMagic E10BT display better bass control, and more smoothness in the mids and treble, without sacrificing detail. However, I can’t deny that these really do the job for workouts. However, if you want to chance it, and buy from a retailer that won’t make a fuss if you try to return them if they fail to work properly with your phone, they’re worth a shot. For runners and gym fans, at any rate. The iSport Freedom Wireless headphones deliver impressive sound quality, providing clear and crisp audio for an enhanced listening experience. With a focus on bass, these headphones are engineered to provide powerful and deep low-frequency response.

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It doesn’t take long after you prise them out of the box to realise that these are undeniably sports headphones. The neon green running through the interior of the headband all the way to the earcups ensure the Freedoms truly stand out. That’s before spotting the big reflective strip to aid visibility and make them ideal for night-time runs.

The iSport Spirit’s entire sound is all about this sort of motivation. It’s aggressive, in a way that works perfectly for exercise. The Optoma BE Sport4 earphones reviewed recently have a smarter design in this respect, since they actually fit the battery into the earpieces.Wireless reliability loses the Monster iSport Spirit a point or two – and these days you can afford to be demanding about the quality of Bluetooth signal in a pair. Like the iSport Victory, the SuperSlim are washable, so you can run them under a tap to clean off any sweat off. We’d suggest making sure the USB latch is closed – although having forgotten to do this on one occasion, we’re please to say that we didn’t encounter any problems of it malfunctioning or not being able to charge. Although the iSport Victory don’t sit quite as flush against your ears as the iSport SuperSlim, they don’t protrude enough to make them feel like they’ll fall out at any moment. Even after building up a sweat, the headphones continued to feel secure in my ears. Monster iSport Victory – Sound and call quality We can at least be more glowing about its Bluetooth capabilities. There’s support for AAC and APTX high quality Bluetooth streaming and we had little problems of signal drop-outs or syncing with our iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. If you want headphones that will become a seamless part of your workout then you might find the tug of the remote control’s weight too distracting. The iSport Victory’s sound quality is reasonable for the money, but I wish there was more of a middle-ground between the two sound profiles.

The Monster iSport Spirit are less subtle and refined than the SoundMagic E10BT, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless or the Skullcandy Method Wireless. However, their combo of big bass and largely harshness-free treble energy is a good fit if you want to use music for motivation. Verdict Bass is big and punchy, if quite poorly controlled when you stop for a moment and listen with your critical head screwed on. There’s some boominess in songs with strong bass, but it doesn’t leave the iSport Spirit sounding muggy or dominated by bass. There’s real energy in the treble to counteract this.Thankfully, even with the slightly distracting weight of the remote, the headphones didn’t budge from my ears throughout testing. This is thanks to the wingtips that lodge securely into your outer ear to help anchor them in place. The problem with suggesting an alternative is that there simply aren’t any really great on-ear headphones that can offer the kind of features the Freedoms can. If you are happy to go in-ear there are definitely some great options like the Pioneer SE-E721 or the Sennheiser PMX-685i, which do have a headband-style design. If you are willing to spend big, then the Monster iSport Victory in-ears do a much better job than Monster’s on-ears. Verdict The one truly unusual feature of the iSport Spirit is to do with sound, however. By pressing the volume up/down buttons on the remote together, the earphones switch between normal and Turbo sound profiles.

Such extras are a welcome addition in what are a fairly low-cost pair of earphones. The battery indicator is another such example. When you turn on the Monster iSport Spirits, a voice prompt tells you whether the battery level is ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’. We’re not dealing with scientific-like accuracy here, but getting a nod when you’re running low is helpful. The Monster iSport Freedom Wireless headphones are a popular choice for individuals seeking a wireless audio solution. These headphones offer a convenient and hassle-free listening experience, as they eliminate the need for cumbersome wires. While the fit is secure, there are better alternatives out there, such as Monster’s own iSport SuperSlim, which are a great value nowadays. Verdict

As mentioned, the Monster iSport Victory offer two sound profiles and you can easily toggle between them by holding both volume buttons together for three seconds. In our opinion, the detail and finesse of the Monster iSport Victory are missing. However, there’s enough treble and mid-range to prevent it sounding muddy – which won’t alienate those who prefer a little more finesse. On the whole, sound was punchy and it didn’t become unstable when we cranked things up either. Although the Jabra Sport Pulse offer more balanced sound quality over the iSport SuperSlim, you’ll have to pay more for the pleasure. The company estimates battery life to be roughly eight hours, but your results will vary with your volume levels. Aside from the ear fins and tips, Monster includes a small drawstring pouch for the earphones, and a micro USB charging cable that connects to a covered port on the inline compartment. Performance These headphones also boast a long battery life, allowing users to enjoy their music for extended periods without the need for constant recharging. Additionally, the headphones feature a convenient built-in microphone, enabling users to make and receive phone calls without having to remove the headphones. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.