--
The
Moshi Vortex Pro:
http://www.moshi.com/audio-earbuds-vortex-pro-mic#silver
~ All Photos Taken By Me, No Stock Material From the Manufacture Were Used for this review ~
*Packaging*
For a $150 earphone, the box and presentation is decently designed.
*Accessories*
- 2 Pairs of Extra Small and Large Silicon tips (Medium Size Installed On Vortex Pro)
- 1 Pair of Medium size foam tips
- Rubber Triangle Carrying Case
The Vortex comes with a total of 4 pairs of ear tips, 3 sets of Silicon (S,M,L) and 1 Set of Foam. The Foam tips are not Comply, but are still soft and work well with the Vortex Pro.
The Carrying Case is something uniquely special. It is quite heavy and on the larger side, but it is quite different. While the cord is wrapped around the case, the backs of both earphones do remain exposed, though still protected with rubber.
*Build*
The housing of the Vortex Pro are made out a heavy, sintered steel alloy. The earbuds is on the smaller size, but they seem well built and tough. The steel housing is very smooth and carries a distinctive design.
The Cable is braided and on the thinner side. Unfortunately, I found myself fighting with the cable quite a bit. Due to the cable cover, I found that it was very prone to tangling and kinking. Also, though my pair was brand new, I noticed that the braided cable was already starting to fray.
Strain relief is more than sufficient at the split and the 3.5mm plug. All steal materials are made very well and have a premium fell.
*Fit*
The small, heavy and smooth housings look fantastic, but can be slightly problematic when inserting into your ear. They are hard to get a good grip on, even with my small, dainty fingers making getting them to seat well a bit of a challenge. Once inserted they are quite comfortable, though the weight of the earphone does seem to have gravity against it as its heaviness can make them feel like they want to fall out of your ears. A simple solution and what Moshi recommends is to run the cable over and behind your ear, though the cable itself is not a fan of staying over the ear. With the multitude of silicon and foam ear tips, I found a good seal can be made.
*Function*
The Vortex Pro comes standard with an in-line control and microphone. I found all aspects of this control to be well laid out and function well. Callers were able to hear me loud and clear with minimal distortion, even when I was outside with some wind noise. Unfortunately, being an Android user, I was unable to use the control functions. Luckily my wife and daughter both have Apple products (an iPhone and an iPad), so I was able to test the Vortex Pro with both those devices and it worked wonderfully. Moshi clearly states on their website that the Vortex Pro’s controls were designed for Apple products.
Moshi provides is a Burning Tool App (
Android,
Apple). Inside the App you will find a specialized burn in sequence for all of the Moshi Products. Just select your model and hit burn in. It should be noted that you are responsible for the volume of the burn in, so make sure that you have it set a reasonable level before you start.
*Sound*
Bass – Right away I noticed the lows were very controlled, while still having presence. Sub-bass could be heard from a distance, yet I could feel them. I noticed this is the start to a very neutral sound signature.
Mids – Continuing with neutrality here, the mids stay in place very well. A great tonal balance can be found right in the middle. Vocals are pronounced well and are presented with great clarity.
Highs – I could quickly hear that the highs extended well into the up range, though without being overly bright. Up at the highs is where I could really hear the great tuning that Moshi did with the Vortex Pro.
Isolation – With the housings built like tanks and a closed design. The Vortex Pro isolates very well.
Soundstage – I was surprised to notice a hint of airiness from these earphones. Being closed off like fort Knox I was not really expecting any sort of distance, but I was wrong. Instrument separation can be clearly heard throughout the range, it is quite impressive.
Sound signature – As mentioned before, there is a real feel of neutrality the Vortex Pro produces. The whole range is controlled and clear, never overly bright or harsh.
*Overall Thoughts*
The Vortex Pro is a great sounding earphone. Music is represented in tonal balance. Build quality and design is top notch. Issues arise with the cable and housing. The cable is unfortunately prone to kinking and tangling due to the braided materials used. The housing itself is beautiful and strong, but because of its smoothness and size, can cause so problems when inserting into the ear.
Though there are a few footnotes to be made of the Vortex Pro, it must be said overall that this is still a great earphone. A clear, neutral earphone can be hard to find, a great job by Moshi tuning these so well.
--