Celebrity headphones: they’re big this year, will you buy into them?

Meanwhile, hip-hop artist 50 Cent has unveiled his own brand of wireless headphones, built by SMS Audio.

A DJ will also be joining the ranks of SMS Audio, with DJ Pauly D getting a line of headphones later this year.

50 Cent is releasing wireless headphones this year made by SMS Audio.

Another hip-hop artist – Ludacris – has also been talking up his “Soul by Ludacris” brand of headphones, which were released in late 2011.

This year, Ludacris will be adding an AirPlay-enabled wireless speaker with iPad dock to the eight-strong lineup of headphones.

Finally, headphone manufacturer iHip has announced a relationship with Jersey Shore star Nicole Polizzi, also known as “Snooki”. The headphones have apparently been designed by Ms. Polizzi and feature heavy bass, rhinestones, and animal prints.

The SL150 from Soul by Ludacris.

 

So there are lots of big (and, frankly, not so big) names appearing on headphones, but what, if anything, do they bring to the sound reproduction and comfort of those headphones?

In the past few months, we’re trialled Beats by Dr. Dre and the Soul by Ludacris headsets, and been impressed by what we’ve heard. But not all headphones are made equal, and a celebrity name isn’t always an assurance of good performance.

So, as always, select your headphones for sound, comfort and price, and if you’re looking for a name, remember it’s the manufacturer’s name that really counts.