Polk Hinge Wireless Headphones - Hands On

As part of Polk's Heritage collection, the Hinge on-ear headphones have always had a pleasant mix of convenient control features, solid performance, and a vintage vibe. Now the cans have added a new state-of-the-art twist to the equation, cutting the cord for Bluetooth wireless connection.
Designed to strike a rustic aesthetic reminiscent of loose boards on your grandfather's dock -- and other sailing/leather goods nostalgia -- the cans don't exactly scream cutting edge tech. But the system, integrated into the Hinge's clever mod-control wheel, actually suits these cans pretty well -- as does the manageable price of $200, coming in relatively close to comparative wired headphones in the space.
All controls are handled by the aforementioned silver wheel on the right ear cup, including power, pairing, volume control, play/pause, and song skip. It's a lot for one little dial, bit it's actually quite intuitive. The cans are also comfy, and easy to wear, and Bluetooth connection is extremely reliable.
As for the sound, these are a bass-heavy pair of cans -- a bit too bassy for our ears -- but they don't give up much in the process. Midrange and treble are both clearly delivered, though we wish there was a bit more detail and definition in the mix. There's also a bit of noise from the on board amplification that kicks in whenever the cans connect to your source device. It's not a huge issue, but it will be noticeable to more discerning listeners.
While $200 isn't chump change, these cans make for a pretty attractive way to go wireless without putting a kidney up on the chopping block, especially considering prices for many wireless competitors often start at $300 or more. If you're looking for a bass-forward pair of affordable wireless cans, Polk's Hinge Wireless headphones are available now.