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Apple EarPod: $37.5 (4 star)
The EarPod are head and shoulders above the
older (and famously leaky) Apple ear-buds. They are comfortable. Sitting just
outside the ear canal instead of burrowing in. the sound is spacious, the
detail is good and there’s a solid grip of rhythm and dynamics. Compared with
the best of their rivals, however, they’re a little harsh in the midrange, and
could do with a touch more clarity and precision. Apple claims that the Earpods
“rival high-end headphones that cost hundreds of dollars more”. We’d file that
under ‘exaggeration’. But for budget phones, the Earpods are fine. Casual listeners
are likely to be happy to get these bundled with the iPhone 5 and iPod Touch,
but better sound can be had for slightly more cash.
Apple
EarPod
Verdict: A
vast improvement over Apple’s original buds, but not quite up with the best at
this price
Sennheiser CX275s: $75 (3 stars)
Smooth plastic conspires with strange
design to make these Sennheisers very fiddly. Getting them into your ears
properly is a struggle but, once in, they’re comfortable enough to stay there.
Sonically, the experience is balanced and well organized. The midrange is
nicely separated and the treble is articulate, if a touch hard. There’s a hefty
dose of bass too, although it’s short on definition and lacks rhythmic
precision, resulting in a lack of cohesion. Overall, the CX275s sound a little
clumsy. All the elements are present, but they need to perform better together
to create real panache. There’s a nicely shaped remote control button and
microphone, but that still doesn’t justify the price.
Sennheiser
CX275s
Verdict:
Capable enough, but a lack of cohesion prevents these Sennheisers from truly
satisfying in the way that $75 pair of buds should
RHA MA450i: $60 (3 stars)
RHA has put an emphasis on the treble here,
perhaps to suggest a higher level of detail. But this is coupled to a
persistent sharpness that makes it difficult to listen without wincing. This is
acceptable with good recordings and lowered volume, but poorer-quality tracks
are hard work. That’s a shame, because otherwise the MA450i is an accomplished
product. Treble apart, the sound is full-bodied, with great energy and precise
instrument placement. There’s a good degree of insight, and vocals are
expressive. Bass is strong but tidy, and the 450is have a good sense of rhythm
and fine dynamics. Sadly, all this is outweighed by that harsh, occasionally
piercing high end, which represents a significant flaw.
RHA
MA450i
Verdict: Good
performers in many ways, but they are let down by that piercing treble
Cresyn C510E: $45 (3 stars)
These curious-looking headphones have a half-in-ear
design. They sit at the entrance of the ear canal – an arrangement we found
comfortable, even for long listening sessions. The dual-chamber structure is
designed to deliver a more extended bass response. And it seems to work: the
C510Es are deep and rich at the low-end. A semi-open back design leaks sound at
high volumes, but the flipside to this is a more spacious soundstage than
closed alternatives. These Cresyns have a wide, airy presentation, and the
listening experience is relaxing. Elsewhere, there is a satisfying level of
detail. Compared with the best at this price, however, the C510Es aren’t quite
as punchy or as engaging. We sound also like the timing to be a little tighter.
Cresyn
C510E: $45 (3 stars)
Verdict:
Comfortable, open-sounding headphones, but they’re short on excitement and
overall fluidity
Degauss Labs SPKRS: $60 (3 stars)
Newcomer Degauss Labs, from Sweden, says it
has aimed for “MASSIVE bass for today’s most popular music”. We can’t help but
feel that they’ve overshot… the low end dominates the performance and forces
everything else to retreat to the background. The bass itself is deep and
relatively tight, but it comes at the not inconsiderable expense of clarity and
articulation. The opening of Muse’s Panic Station is conveyed with energy and
power, but everything else feels slightly blurry. The SPKRS also trip up a
little when it comes to conveying changes in pace. This is a shame, because
there’s an impressive sense of scale, and just a little more balance would
improve things significantly.
Degauss
Labs SPKRS
Verdict: Bold,
brash but slightly incoherent – perfect for that nightclub feeling
JAYS t-JAYS Three: $75 (3 stars)
These JAYS have a pleasing matte finish and
an unusual, square-ish shape. They’re a bit awkward to insert, but the fit is
comfortable once they’re in. a low profile means that they sit neatly and
unobtrusively within the ear, and so are less likely than some rivals to be
knocked or pulled out. The sound they produce is punchy and has a sturdy grasp
of dynamics – there’s a good amount of detail and clarity, too. Vocals and
higher frequencies can get a little spiky and bright though, and they could do
with being a little more precise. These are perfectly capable performers, but
for the money we expect a better sound. We awarded them three stars when they
were $120, and a $45 price drop can’t do anything to change that.
JAYS
t-JAYS Three
Verdict: A
reasonable performance, but that price tag is still on the high side
SoundMAGIC E10: $52.5
These two-time Award-winners never cease to
amaze. Their sound is rhythmic and articulate, with great attention to detail
and breathtaking clarity. Delivery is punchy, stereo imaging is excellent and
there’s plenty of energy and excitement but the sound is still natural enough
to feel relaxed. And a recent update has improved an already winning formula:
the new cable is glossy and twisted, which reduces wear and tangling; and extra
bass gives more power without affecting the overall balance and sense of
cohesion. Combine that with its exemplary build quality and you have headphones
that should cost more than they do. An extra $22.5 would buy you the (slightly
fiddly) E10M model with three buttons and a microphone.
SoundMAGIC
E10
Verdict: A
brilliant design at an affordable price, made better. The E10s have never been
a better investment
