Review: Motorizer over-the-ear headphones from Motorheadphones

'We told them what to do very specifically. And we threatened them with terrible violence if they didn't get it right, so I'm sure they got it right.'  Lemmy Kilmister

Looking for a set of high-quality headphones that were designed for screaming rock music instead of music with over-processed and overdriven bass tracks? Enter the Motörizer Over-the-Ear Headphones from Motörheadphönes. Designed by rock 'n' roll legend Lemmy himself, these can will make your ears bleed with delight.

They're your typical set of studio-style headphones on the outside (with a little bit of Motörhead branding, of course), but they're built from quality materials. They sport velvet ear cups instead of that horrible fake leather that gets your ears all sweaty, flat woven-cover cords, and a solid closed-back design. They're auto-adjustable, with a thick two-piece rubber headband to fit anyone's noggin. They're fairly heavy at 8.4 ounces, but they're comfortable to wear for extended periods.

Most of us use earbuds with our phones, but if you're like me and appreciate a good set of DJ-style over-the-ear headphones, you'll love the way these fit. If you like your music hard and heavy, you'll love the way they sound.

What's in the box

  • The Motörheadphönes Motorizer headphones
  • Instruction booklet
  • 3.5mm to 6.3mm audio adaptor
  • Retaining clip
  • 2.5-meter single-sided audio cable
  • 1-meter single-sided audio cable with microphone and smartphone controller
  • Nylon carrying bag
  • A kick-ass Motörheadphönes sticker

Audio quality

I alluded before that these aren't your average musician-endorsed headphones. If you're looking for something that will let David Guetta's BOOM BOOM BOOM bass mercilessly pound your ears, look elsewhere. The Motörizers were designed to separate the mids and highs from your music, allowing the screaming guitars and bloodcurdling vocals of heavy metal fill you with their absolute goodness. Pick up a pair of Motörizers, and play something like "The Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden through them. Play it loudly. When you get to the 1:18 mark, and Bruce hits that note, your ears will hurt but your soul will love you forever. And Lemmy won't mind if you pump a little Maiden through them.

Motörheadphönes lists the specifications as a ø40mm neodymium driver, with a sensitivity of 102 dB SPL (1mW) at 1KHz, and a frequency response of 10 – 20,000Hz. What I can tell you is that they sound great, without the hip-hop influenced bass that other brands force on you. They deliver high-quality sound from a phone or a tablet, as well as a computer or guitar amp. 

The included 1-meter cable has an inline mic and controller, but like most products it only partially works with non-Apple devices. I guess Lemmy gets to hurt someone over that part, but some of the functions do work with Android phones. You can play, stop, and pause a track with the middle button, and answering/switching calls work fine. The 2.5-meter cable has no controls, and is designed for those times when you just want to get comfortable and listen. You can connect the two cables for 3.5-meters of length with smartphone controls if you're into that sort of thing -- it works as expected.

Call quality

The Motörizers work great for those times when you want to talk on the phone. They sound excellent on both sides, the difference is that you look like a complete badass wearing Motörhead branded headphones while talking to someone. You can answer and end calls with the button on the controller, and it also works with three-way calling and call-waiting.

The verdict

The good

  • They're freaking Motörhead branded so they are automatically awesome
  • Made with high quality materials
  • Comfortable
  • Detachable, woven cables
  • They sound great for listening to metal

The bad

  • The controller was designed for iOS
  • They're a little heavy
  • They say Motörhead on the side, so they're pretty conspicuous
  • They won't sound good if you like lots of bass

Plain and simple -- if you want a good, loud set of cans and want to hear more than the bassline, pick these up. The quality will surprise you, and so will the sound. Grab them from ShopAndroid

Jerry Hildenbrand
Senior Editor — Google Ecosystem

Jerry is an amateur woodworker and struggling shade tree mechanic. There's nothing he can't take apart, but many things he can't reassemble. You'll find him writing and speaking his loud opinion on Android Central and occasionally on Twitter.