In a time when many American manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas, Detroit-based Shinola continues to stand out with its line of watches, leather goods, bicycles, and accessories. It’s also making a push into premium audio, including its first-ever headphones, which were developed in partnership with Portland-based Campfire Audio.
The Canfield Over-Ear headphones have an executive look with a sturdy construction that feels like it could withstand being dropped in a junkyard (which is the inspiration behind the design). They’re made of stainless steel with alternating brushed and mirror finishes, and they’re wrapped in supple top-grain leather sourced from Chicago’s Horween Leather Company. They’re so well built that you’d expect them to cost much more than they do.
They have a warm, smooth midrange that can get cluttered in the lower midrange if there’s too much going on – this makes vocals and instrumentation difficult to hear. However, they do deliver a satisfying amount of bass that sounds full without sacrificing the overall clarity and genre neutrality of their sound signature.
They’re designed to be worn cable-down, and they have an iOS-compatible three-button inline mic. They’re a bit stiff in the ears, but they’re comfortable after wearing them for extended periods of time. The Canfield Over-Ear headphones are available directly from Shinola for $350, or at luxury retailers such as Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus. They come with a two-year warranty.
