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With the promise of being the world’s lightest closed-back planar magnetic headphones, the OPPO PM-3 product belongs to the over-the-ears style of headphones.  Weighing 320g, the OPPO PM-3 brings together a brushed metallic frame with plush padding materials surrounding the headband and ear pieces.  The padding is encased with durable synthetic leather that helps add to the comfort of this product when worn for lengthy sessions of entertainment.

Supplied with the OPPO PM-3 headphones is a 3 metre cable that has 3.5mm jack plugs at each end.  One of the jack plugs features threads so that you can screw on the supplied 6.35mm adapter for connecting the headphones to appropriate audio devices that form part of various Hi-Fi set ups.  The user also gets the choice of a second lead for use with a mobile device. 

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This second lead measures 1.2 metres.  Depending upon your needs and preferences, you could opt for a lead designed for use with Android and Windows phones or the iPhone / iPad family of devices.  Both of these leads come with a built-in microphone and various controls.  Disappointingly for fans of the Android or Windows platform the iOS lead has over double the amount of controls for the user.  There is also a third option for those who have no interest in having access to a microphone.

To ensure easy transportation of the headphones and the leads when not in use, OPPO includes in the box a selvedge denim carrying case.  Those more knowledgeable regarding certain fashion issues, inform me that selvedge denim is used by a number of boutique clothing brands in Europe and Japan.  Selvedge denim is considered to be a stylish high-end fabric known for its ability to weather the elements and develop a unique aesthetic character over time.  From my non-aesthetic point of view, the denim zipped bag, with its accompanying soft draw-string pouch for the leads, does its designated job of protecting the PM-3 headphones, which can be folded flat to save on space, when travelling.

As I have just mentioned, these headphones can be folded flat due to the hinged construction of the ear pieces.  These can be rotated through 180 degrees.  Along with this ability to make storage easier for these headphones, this swivelling of the ear pieces can ensure a better fit over the ears which are completely enclosed so providing isolation from any outside distractions.  You can also extend the metallic headband by as much as 45mm on each side to ensure a better fit on various head sizes.

As the earlier reference to the supplied leads should indicate, these headphones require a physical link to the audio source whether by the 3.5mm jack or 6.35mm adapter.  Although most of the time I appreciated the 3 metre length of the main lead when using it to connect to my Hi-Fi system, there were a couple of occasions when I found myself partially entangled with the generous lead length on offer.  Incidentally the different leads connect to the left ear piece.  As my Hi-Fi system is situated to the right of my favourite armchair, this meant that the connecting lead ran across my body which might help explain the couple of occasions when an entanglement occurred.

These headphones make use of planar magnetic technology that comes with the claim of offering deep bass, smooth midrange and clear treble.  In order to help achieve this combination, the headphones feature a magnetic driver diaphragm that consists of 7 layers of thin material.  The diaphragm also has a spiralling pattern of flat aluminium conductors on either side of the driver that help deliver higher sensitivity, better damping and even driver force.  I appreciated the delivered audio quality.

Along with the built-in microphone, the Android / Windows or iOS specific lead gives the user access to various controls.  In the case of the Android / Windows lead, you can stop / start the audio plus accept and end calls coming into the smartphone.  The iOS Lead adds the ability to adjust the volume level, cycle backwards and forwards through tracks plus fast forward and backwards through the current track being played.

I found the OPPO PM-3 to be comfortable to wear for lengthy listening sessions.  The audio output was of a high standard with no noticeable leaking of sound.  Combining quality appearance with audio to match, the OPPO PM-3 has been priced at £349 which marks this device as being more suited for the dedicated listener rather than for more casual use.

http://www.oppodigital.co.uk/ecommerce/product/pm-3-planar-magnetic-headphones.aspx