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. 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. 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.

Most of the wireless headphones and earphones I’ve used over the past 12 months (bar true wireless pairs) have demonstrated near-perfect Bluetooth performance. The Monster iSport Spirit are less reliable, and results seem likely to vary with the phone with which they’re used. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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While the iSport SuperSlim’s sound profile won’t be to everyone’s taste, there’s still plenty to like about them, if you’re willing to spend big on a pair of sports headphones. Turbo makes music a few decibels louder overall, and seems to boost both bass and treble for a more energetic, cutting sound. While I’m not convinced it’s hugely different to upping the volume a few notches, it’s handy if you’re flagging a bit during a run and find a little volume will keep you going .

The iSport Spirit’s entire sound is all about this sort of motivation. It’s aggressive, in a way that works perfectly for exercise. Bluetooth wireless is the main concern with the Monster iSport Spirit, and not in the usual manner. Once they’re settled in, performance is perfectly good, with just a momentary blip or two for every handful of hours of listening. 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. Featuring Bluetooth technology, these headphones offer a seamless and stable connection to compatible devices. The wireless range allows users to move freely within a certain distance from the device without losing audio quality. If you’re more heavy house than audiobook enthusiast, then you’ll love them. It’s all about the bass, but it isn’t delivered in the erratic way of other wireless sports headphones – such as the Beats PowerBeats.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. 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.

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 Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test. The cable is surprisingly thin and doesn’t weigh very much as a result, making it less noticeable. It’s also pretty flexible, managing to deal well with the rigours of having the headphones thrown casually in my gym bag without any extra protection. A small travel pouch is included, but I didn’t find a need for it. 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 bar continues to be raised for sound quality when it comes to sports headphones. As we’ve already mentioned, Monster’s typically bassy sound isn’t going to be for everyone, but the company delivers some of the best-sounding sports headphones out there.In terms of aesthetics, the iSport Freedom Wireless headphones feature a sleek and modern design, making them visually appealing to users. They are also available in a range of colors, allowing individuals to choose a style that suits their personal preference.

The Optoma BE Sport4 earphones reviewed recently have a smarter design in this respect, since they actually fit the battery into the earpieces. 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 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.

However, the only real issue in earphones that are so clearly sport and exercise-centric is the wireless. There’s some mild noise in one channel and the Bluetooth is less reliable than average at this point. These are made from supple silicone and I found them super-comfortable, even when worn for prolonged periods. You get a choice of three wingtip and five silicone tip sizes in the box, which means you should easily be able to find your perfect fit. Connectivity is all taken care of over on the left earcup where small rubbery latches protect the ports for the headphone cable and microUSB to USB charging cable both of which are provided alongside a small carry bag and a cleaning cloth which will come in handy for the fluff-attracting ear cushions. 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. 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.