Ace of bass

What is it? Dr Dre's got one. So has Lady Gaga and famed producer Quincy Jones. And now it's time for another rapper-actor to dip his hands into the growing celebrity-branded headphone market. This is the SL150 Soul by Ludacris. So what's special about it? Well, to start with, it has Ludacris's name on it. After a recording label and a refreshments company, this is the entertainer's third business venture. But manufacturer Signeo USA says that along with featuring Ludacris's name on the good-looking audio product, the crux of the idea behind the SL150 was to make "true studio level sound quality without distorted, out-of-whack sound balance". Style and quality can coexist, it says, and the SL150, along with a range of other personal audio products, exemplifies it. The SL150 comes in black and white — both very attractive, featuring a glossy polycarbonate skin and a curvy build. Soft leather pads coat headband and earpads for a cushy feel. The accompanying case (in which the headphone nicely folds) comes with two cables — a standard cord, and one with an attached three-button remote for those using iOS devices. Both cords are detachable, so you do not have to worry about dangling wires when not listening to music. Then there is a small issue of sound, which, I am assuming, would be the reason you'd be interested in this product. Out of the eight present headphones in the Soul line, the SL150 has been given the highest rating by earlier reviewers in terms of sound quality. Some have, but naturally, even compared it to and chosen it over Beats by Dr Dre — its main competition. While some reviewers have complained about its excessive bass and said that things can get a little overwhelming when music is on in full swing (that is with several instruments playing at the same time atop heavy voice tracks), the SL150 has generally triumphed in many departments. Where is it available and for how much? The Soul by Ludacris line of headphones is available at all Virgin Megastore outlets in the UAE. The SL150 retails for Dh799.