We're still wrapping our heads around this, but Sony and Simon Cowell have officially decided to join the celebrity-endorsed headphone bandwagon. Dubbed as the MDR-X10, the X-Factor-themed cans are certainly late to the party, but the vibrant red and silver color theme will ensure they get noticed -- and we're not saying that's a good thing. $300 snags you the extra-sparkly circumaural earmuffs, an even more sparkly case and a duo of flat, tangle-resistant locking cables (one of which features a "made for iDevice" inline remote and mic). Unsurprisingly, the X10 is geared toward pumping out gobs of bass, being essentially a re-badge of the likes of Sony's XB800 from its Extra Bass headphone lineup. We had the opportunity to give Cowell's new headgear a fair amount of listening time, so jump past the break where we'll judge its brief audition.

Gallery: Sony and Simon Cowell MBR-X10 X-Factor headphones

Gallery: Sony MDR-XB headphone range hands-on

Continue reading Sony and Simon Cowell intro X-Factor-themed MDR-X10, celebrity headphones officially jump the shark for $300

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Wearables

Sony and Simon Cowell intro X-Factor-themed MDR-X10, celebrity headphones officially jump the shark for $300 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.