eargasmman

Good looking, good sounding, good smelling earphones for only $25. Do you seriously need to think before you buy this? Buy and be amazed. 

So glad I got these instead of another pair of Sennheiser CX 300IIs. Don't have the texture to the bass of my VMODA M-80s, or the incredible seperation of the Sony XBA H3s, but crazy good sound for the money.

I live in China and have built up a collection of mostly local brand headphones:  Astrotec AM90 and AM800, Soundmagic E10, Ecci PR200, Dunu Hades, several different DIY Yuins and (Korean manufactured) Feels Pro 900.   I ordered the Xiaomi earphones recently without much expectations - the brand is well established in China and the phones are pretty good but they have no previous hifi experience that I am aware of.  After a couple of weeks of using them I can honestly say that they are the best of all the pairs I use - I previous leaned towards the AM800 or the Feels Pro900 but I prefer the Xiaomi's sound to any other options (with the possible exception of the Yuins in a quiet environment!).  They have a really wide soundstage, punchy bass but really good separation across the board. As you can tell from my favourite earphones I'm not a big bass guy but love how these sound bassy but balanced) . As a bonus I've also found the mic really clear and the controls simple to use.  If you can pick up a pair for $20 or so I highly recommend giving them a try. 
 
I've been using this site for a couple of years but never felt the need to write anything before, there has always better written and more expert reviews available. Actually thatbeatsguy wrote a great reveiw of the Xiaomis which inspired mine. Hopefully this will inspire more and better review the Xiaomis

To reiterate what others have been saying this pair of earphones: The overall sound quality is astounding, the soundstage and separation is phenomenal, the build quality and packaging is world class. It even has a integrated mic and volume controls to supplement your phone! 
 
I liked them SO much I have 3 pairs of them as backups just in case Xiaomi discontinues them. It is THAT good. 
 
Just like any in-ears YMMV with the sound isolation and tip comfort, but this is a USD $20 piece of equipment to cry out loud. You simply cannot go wrong unless of course if you bought fakes which unfortunately are everywhere on the net. 
 
If you have read this and can get the real stuff easy like in Singapore or China yet somehow still want to stick to crappy iPhone/Samsung earbuds, shame on you for doing your ears a major disservice.

Introduction – So a few weeks into my search and discovery of budget-based earphones has led me here - to the Xiaomi Piston 2.1. The Pistons are the result of the popular Chinese smartphone manufacture’s efforts to produce an inexpensive high performance earphone that competes well with higher-end audio gear. At only $25 the Pistons fall within the “budget” category for most people but whether they perform well enough to justify their price is another question. And for those wondering if they do… the short answer is yes, they do, and they do it well. I’ll explain throughout my review what makes the Pistons such a good value proposition and a great starting point for amateur enthusiasts.   
 
Disclaimer – The Pistons used in this review are mine and were purchased from Amazon.com. My pair is authentic but all buyers must be warned to avoid Pistons costing below $20 as they are likely to be fakes. All photos were taken by me. Important Notice: The green "review detail" graphs to the left are inaccurate for some unknown reason. Here is an ACCURATE representation of these five details: Audio Quality (9/10), Comfort (7/10), Design (9/10), Isolation (6/10), and Value (10/10).
 
Specifications: 
- Beryllium alloy Dynamic driver (single, vented/ported)
- Impedance: 16 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 93dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Rated Input Power: 5mW
- Cable: Enamel copper line, 1.2 meters/3.9 ft.
- Android/iOS compatible remote
- Colors: Brown & Silver
 
Packaging & Accessories: The Pistons are packaged beautifully in a brown square case that presents the earphones, the cable, and 3.5mm jack through a shiny translucent cover. Opening the case is like opening a tiny box of Belgian truffles – a light chocolaty aroma is the first thing you notice, which is a nice touch. The earphones are wrapped around a soft rubber case with additional ear tips just below. Each tip sits within a small plastic spike with a size indicator between them and an aluminum shirt clip resting directly on top. The included accessories are quite minimal but can be forgiven considering the price and presentation.
 
Build & Design: With large metal housings the Pistons feel solid in the hand and are much lighter than expected, despite their size. The chocolate brown and light gold color scheme complement each other well and the “CD grain” texture on the aluminum remote, jack, and housings is smooth to the touch. The cable is rubber above the remote/Y-split and entirely fabric below it. This design helps prevent kinks and makes the Pistons feel a little more durable overall. Strain reliefs on the housings are very flexible but are fairly short below the Y-split and 3.5mm jack. But due to their thin, flexible cables the Pistons can easily be wrapped and tossed into a small pocket or case for maximum portability. Users should operate with caution as the Pistons have been known to break after extensive/rough use. On appearance alone, however, it’s no wonder why the Pistons received the iF Product Design Award when you consider Xiaomi’s thoughtful design and packaging – it’s well deserved.
 
Comfort & Fit: This is a tricky area for the Pistons as their large profile will cause trouble for some. Housings are wide and the nozzle is short so an easy fit is not always easy to get. However, only little adjustment is required to achieve a secure seal. The edges on both sides of the housings are fairly rough and could be problematic for those with smaller ears. The only issue I encountered was never feeling a pressure change in my ear when the Pistons were inserted, unlike most other earphones. This is most likely caused by the large port behind the housing but it doesn’t affect fit, just isolation (see below). And while they do utilize a cable-down design, they can easily be worn over-ear due to their soft strain reliefs – either configuration should yield good results.  
Microphonics: Cable noise is distracting when worn cable-down but easily acceptable when worn over-ear. The rubber on the left and right sides are the only noisy part of the entire cable. There is no noise from the from below the Y-split/remote thanks to its fabric exterior. That said, there is no cable cinch to remedy the noise where it occurs.
 
Isolation: This is probably the only real shortcoming of the Pistons. Isolation is mediocre and won’t silence most noisy environments. As I mentioned earlier, the larger-than-normal port keeps the Pistons from having a closed design making them “open-back” in a sense. But if this one compromise is part of the reason they perform so well, than it is justified. Just keep reading... 

 
 
Equipment & Background – For the sound portion of this review I will be using an Audinst HUD-MX1 amp/DAC combo as my primary “reference” source, a Topping NX-1 portable amplifier, and a Sansa Fuze as a portable source. All my monitoring is done indoors with an over-ear headphone for added isolation resulting in almost silent listening with no audible distractions. My library consists of high bit-rate MP3s and FLAC files. The Pistons were burned-in over 100hrs before review.
 
Bass: Utilizing a somewhat bass heavy sound signature the Pistons exhibit more mid-bass and sub-bass presence than in upper-bass regions. This generates a very “fun” sound without suffering any bleed into the lower midrange. Lows are impactful and carry a lot of heft which is in part due to their excellent sub-bass extension. And while not overdone on tracks with soft or mellow bass, the Pistons can become boomy with bass heavy music such as rap, drum ’n bass, and so on. That said, bass never becomes sloppy or loose, it simply lacks control and finesse at times. Attack and decay could be more accurate especially considering the long reverb of bass notes (this could be considered a positive for bass-heads however). Overall, bass is the most authoritative part of the Piston’s signature but isn’t entirely the focus of the sound as everything that follows takes it up a notch in quality.
 
Mids: Following the bass, the midrange takes a big step back in terms of presence but is incredibly clear and well defined throughout. And since its mids are not especially forward they could be considered slightly recessed. But this entirely depends on preference as they’re neither distant nor forward. However, clarity is by far the biggest strength of the midrange which can be demonstrated with female vocalists where they exhibit an almost lifelike quality. On the other hand, male vocalists can sound a little thin due to the lack of extra warmth in the lower midrange and upper-bass. But this is no way a negative unless you enjoy very thick/rich male vocals. The advantage of a slightly leaner midrange means that note thickness is never overdone and helps maintain a natural timbre for acoustic instruments, which the Pistons do quite well. And while not the most revealing of mids, detail and transparency is extremely good considering the price.
 
Treble: At the top end, treble has a bit more presence than the mids but isn’t bright by any means. Treble does exhibit some unevenness at times but is never distracting or fatiguing. Instead, they strike a balance between smooth and sparkly without losing out in crispness or clarity. Details are retrieved nicely without any sign of harshness making for a non-sibilant sound overall. And with its mild lift in the treble region the Pistons display excellent timbre reproduction and great accuracy with cymbals/percussion. Extension reaches into the upper-treble and is very consistent until it rolls-off beyond frequencies of about 16kHz. Overall, the Pistons have mildly energetic treble that are never dominant or excessive and keeps up in quality next to the midrange. There is a particularly refreshing manner with which the Pistons handles treble and it is noticeable upon first listen; I think most listeners will be pleasantly surprised.
 
Presentation: In terms of soundstage the Pistons present a very wide stereo image with very good depth and decent height. This particular presentation is why the mids and highs shine - There is detail and space surrounding instruments throughout the midrange and airy highs throughout the treble resulting in a somewhat “out-of-the-head” experience. And while not the deepest presentation, layering is excellent when reproducing vast distances between sounds with complex recordings. Imaging, too, is never confused or off-center even with the Pistons’ expansive soundstage. The result is an open, spacious sound that is only mildly held back by the sheer amount of bass that kicks in with certain genres of music. This is an area where the Pistons truly demonstrate their worth by simply taking whatever goes into them and combining an engaging sound signature that pairs beautifully within its audiophile-like delivery.  
 
Ear-tips & Insertions sensitivity: I found that the Pistons are not too fiddly to insert and keep in place. However, they are limited in terms of tip selection due to their wide nozzles. Tips with small or even medium sized sound bores will not fit unless they’re forced, but I don’t recommend that. This shouldn’t be an issue for most users but those who prefer to adjust their sound through tip-rolling will be disappointed.
 
Power, Sensitivity, & Source performance: Despite their 93dB rating, the Pistons have to be one of the most sensitive earphones I have ever used. They are easily driven by any portable device (which should also pair well with the included remote) and can be driven to extremely loud volumes without any additional power. Quality isn’t lost without an amplifier which allows them to perform their best with almost any device as well. The only downside is that there is a noticeable hiss with anything other than very low-output sources.
 
Value: At only 25$ the Xiaomi Piston 2.1 is exceptional value for what it is. As a budget value earphone it exceeds every expectation its low price would suggest. It’s energetic and lively where it needs to be yet smooth and laid-back at the same time. It also borrows some of the best sound characteristics of earphones costing well beyond 3 times its price. Its build, package, and design are beautifully executed too. And if you don’t mind its lack of accessories or its mediocre isolation, it is without a doubt one of the best packages you’ll ever come across. So whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned reviewer give them a shot. You have nothing to lose - except maybe a couple bucks. 

 
 
I hope this review will be useful to some and for those who read through it please leave any suggestions or advice you may have in the comments below.  Everyone’s input will help me to improve my reviews in the future and make it easier to adapt my reviews for as wide an audience as possible. Thanks for reading and happy listening! 

 

These in ears are easily the best $20 I've ever spent. They sound amazing, look great and smell amazing. Only downfall is the ear cup as they don't insert properly.
Xiaomi for a unknown "apple clone" has come really far to offer this type of quality for the price and I'm hoping they will expand there range.

Okay, a great review from thatbeatsguy convinced me to buy these headphones, and I don't regret that I did. I received them earlier today and been playing different kind of music since. 
This is going to be a short review, just to confirm that the earlier reviews are absolutely correct. The headphones are amazing. The sound is extremely clean and crisp, you are easily able to distinguish the different instruments and vocals. The bas is great and the sound level is pleasing. A big plus is the chocolate, or coco, smell on the headphones. Don't know why or how, but it smells good! The box is packed by a design company, which has resulted in a good looking, simple box. The cord is tangle free and it works to play and pause on the control. Unfortunately iPhone users, like myself, can't change the volume on it. I'm not used to in-ear phones, so I don't think they are too comfortable. But hey, so is every other in-ear phone for me. Don't blame the headphones. 
 
The sum it up:
They are the best budget headphones, or even normal in-ear phones, I've ever tried. (I haven't tried so many, but still). The sound quality is amazing, the price is even more amazing. If you are able to; BUY THEM!!
 
And yeah, this might sound a bit one-sided, but I'm not kidding, the headphones are amazing. 
 
Thanks.   

I have the real version 2.0, not 2.1 (with the clip).
 
Build/Design:
I didn't like the provided tips, used the small Sennheiser tips: http://www.ebay.com/itm/110976313070 - much better.
 
When I plug the Pistons into Audio-GD NFB-11.32, they sound horrible, unless I pull them back a little.
I resolved this issue by using a CTIA to OMTP adapter that came with Philips SHE3590, which is weird, since none of other headphones need it.

This doesn't happen with FIIO E12.
 
I hate the buttons placement on the remote - keep pressing wrong buttons.
 
SQ:
Initially, the Pistons were too bassy, even after a long burn-in period.
I have modded them, removing the screen protector and the foam inside. To keep the drivers protected, I have used a small thin napkin:
 

 
The bass cleaned up, and mids and treble stepped forward from behind a curtain.
Now these sound like a baby RE-262.
Recommended for "audiophile bass-heads".

Full review:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/717620/review-xiaomi-piston-2-re-defining-budget-fi
 

 
 
Specs:
Weight: 12g
Impedance: 12Ω-16Ω (depending on the version, 2.0 vs 2.1)
Cable length: 1.2m
Sensitivity: 93db
Plug Type: 3.5mm  gold-plate
Rated Power: 5-20mW
Frequency Range: 20-20000Hz
 
I've got my pair from Xiaomiworld, and it's an original one. It seems mine is the 2.0 version, but it was shipped by the end of January, so the ones sold now should be the seemingly newer 2.1 version. They also carry the newer IF version. Anyway, this seller carries the real one, so no need to worry about fake pairs. Their service and communication is pretty good too.
Here're the links:
http://www.xiaomiworld.com/original-xiaomi-piston-earphone-updated-version-brown.html
And for IF version:
http://www.xiaomiworld.com/original-xiaomi-piston-earphone-if-commemorative-edition.html
 
 
Sound:
Sound signature maybe not be far from a consumer-friendly V-shaped one. But as for sound quality, that's another story.
Before getting to describe the sound characteristics, let me just say that this Piston new model doesn't sound as what'd be expected from a $20-30 earphone at all. It simply competes with the best earphones I've listened to in the $50-70 price bracket.
 
The Piston 2.0 presents a typical customer friendly V-shaped response. Extension is quite good on both ends, giving a pretty wide soundstage and sense of space. The low end is quite prominent and rather dominant over the rest of the frequencies, and (fortunately) while it may not be considered as a heavy-bassy earphone, it should be enough for the bass listeners. Despite the strong nature, both sub and mid-bass are very detailed and well controlled, with a noticeable added mid-bass hump for some extra 'fun' factor.
Similarly, the top end is very present without any annoying peaks, and rather linear on its whole, but not overly smoothed or even rolled-off. While the treble won't have the same authority as the bass, it won't lack in sparkle and crispiness.
As for the midrange, here's where I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, the mids are really well detailed and airy, and pretty much clean from unnecessarily extra bass bleed. Separation is also quite amazing both in the instruments and vocal dept. In fact, the vocal separation is really surprising, not only for a V-shaped $20-30 phone, but even beats mid-centered IEMs when it to comes to separation.
On the other hand, as impressive as the midrange is, it isn't safe from the common V-shaped effects. While it's not lost in the presentation, it does feel rather cold and distant, and sometimes slightly veiled. Vocals lack texture and sweetness, too. That said, some extra EQ can help in this regard, but still may not fit for the mids lovers.
Yet, the overall detail is much more than what would be expected from this price and matches some of the best sounding in-ears I've owned within the $50-80 bracket.
 
Perhaps I'd rank the Piston 2 around the Vsonic VSD1-S level (even though the signatures are quite the opposite of each other) and a bit better than the RHA MA350 in detail and smoothness (but personally could prefer the RHA midrange richness over the Xiaomi's).
The Moe SS01, for example, are better in most aspects, but the Piston aren't too far from them.

The first thing you are going to notice about your Pistons, is that these babies are absolutely gorgeous. I'm not talking about that these headphones simply look nice (although they do) - they are, without a doubt, the most beautiful headphones I have ever had the distinct pleasure to rest my eyes upon (regardless of price group). This extends far beyond the actual headphones themselves - the box is a design-marvel all on its own. Crafted out of a single sheet of thin cardboard, this - surprisingly small - box is equipped with all the instructions you could possibly crave for your new Xiaomi Pistons, and - more importantly - they also include the exquisite box that will - hopefully - contain your Pistons. Under a clear plastic lid - that could easily pass for glass - your pistons will be lying, embedded in a simple silicone mold. The industrial, and at the same time stylish design will jump at you, and once you unwind the cord - through an ingenious method - the sheer feel of the brisk golden beryllium in your hand will flabbergast you.

However, all of these pleasant aspects fade away once you put the headphones in your ears, in sheer awe. I have had a troublesome history with in-ear headphones, but these do the trick really well, especially if I use the smallest ear-size included (which, together with a large size and one for conversations, are neatly tucked away beneath the silicone mold). I'm not going to try to describe the actual audio, any more than this - it is simply amazing. I was completely unaware of that in-ear headphones existed that had the capacity to produce this sort of audio. My switch to using the Pistons was both an easy and rewarding experience. I started picking up subtle new melodies that had never been there before in songs, and even set to "extreme" streaming quality, Spotify had trouble keeping up with the Pistons. What was a more disappointing experience was switching to a pair of Apple's EarPods (actually quite decent stock headphones). The EarPods have always managed very well in my opinion, and although they still produced an adequate audio-experience, they were complete devoid of any feeling. I would compare the experience to drinking your tea without any sugar - then suddenly switch to taking two sugars, and then switch back after a week. It goes without saying that my EarPods have been forced into early retirement following this disappointing episode.

The Xiaomi Pistons 2.0 are, however, not entirely without flaws. Even so, almost all of my complaints are nonetheless related to the cord. Although the play/pause button, housed in the cylindrical volume control hub, works very well with my iPhone (and all other commands for that button as well, like activating Siri/replay track/skip track), the actual volume controls themselves do not work. I'm hoping against hope that this will be fixed by Apple in an OTA update, but I recognise that this is unlikely. While on the subject of the volume control hub, it is not situated on the cord protruding out of the right headphone - it is instead positioned directly below where the two cords intersect and merge into a single one. This is not ergonomically ideal, and it allows for a number of awkward positions when you are trying to pause. Also, the cord is just a bit too short, about five centimeters shy of that ideal length that lets me wrap it around my iPhone when walking. Instead, now a few centimeters poke out of my pocket whenever I'm listening to my Pistons, and if I wrap the cord halfway around my iPhone, then I'm faced with having too short a cord. The cord is also probably the least flattering part of the headphones - composed of a brown mishmash of - tangle-free - nylon-strings (that actually work surprisingly well), it is not quite up to the same level of unchallenged design-supremacy that the rest of the headphones are. Also, the elegant gold-plated 3.5 mm plug is making me regret that I bought the SpaceGrey iPhone 5S, instead of the Gold iPhone 5S (which it compliments vary nicely, looking like the coolest stock headphones you have ever seen). Don't let this fool you, however. The Xiaomi Pistons 2.0 are almost unfeasibly good, and their drawbacks are nowhere near their pro.

I haven't talked about the price of these headphones, simply because it has nothing to do with the Pistons. I would easily buy these Pistons if they cost $50, and I would just as easily order a pair if they were sold for $100. These headphones are a bargain for anything less than three digits, and I cannot honestly understand why Xiaomi would sell them for as little as $25 (!). My advice to you is the - "Go. Buy. One. Now.", before Xiaomi bumps up the price. I think they are fairly comfortable, or, as comfortable as in-ear headphones get. Also, a nifty and unique attribute the Pistons have is their enticing scent. The smell is reminiscent of chocolate, with a hint of vanilla and just the tiniest bit of coconut. Take my word for it - the aroma is very appealing. So, in conclusion - the Xiaomi Pistons are incredible headphones, regardless of price. However, when you add all of the details, like the aggressive pricing, the beautiful design and the crisp, clear and vivid audio, together with the sturdy premium packaging and box, as well as the headphones being manufactured out of luxurious materials like beryllium (an elusive material that is extracted from precious gems and jewels, and which is actually harder to find than gold) - then the headphones really have no match, anywhere in the world.


A Box Fit For A Minimalistic King
The Xiaomi Pistons are delivered inside an almost unfathomably small box. The thin, rigid cardboard is of surprisingly high quality, and the clean exterior of the box has really grown on me since I saw it for the first time.

Xiaomi claims that the 15° chamfered edge on the back of the actual earphones improves ergonomics, and I can only agree. The circular, by Xiaomi patented, “CD-pattern” is a reoccurring theme on the headphones, and creates a nice “vibrating sensation” when you run your fingers across it.

All In Took Was Someone Thinking Inside The Box
The Xiaomi Pistons are delivered entirely without a manual. However, don’t be frightened by the Chinese letters that litter the box - all the instructions your could possibly need (and then some) are printed as large, educative images - on the inside of the firm cardboard -, that provide very little room for misinterpretation.

The instructions do everything from detailing which earphone is the right and left one, to explaining exactly how the Pistons can be winded up in the slick “silicone winder” included.

Style Is Timeless - So Are The MK301 Pistons
The Xiaomi Pistons 2.0 (MK301) are, without a doubt, truly beautiful headphones. From the cool industrial design - that incorporates a reoccurring pattern of precise grooves in the solid beryllium enclosure -, to the soft silicone earphone tips - these headphones have got it all.

Although the volume controls don't seem to be compatible with iPhones, they work fine together with Android phones. More importantly, however - the microphone works fine with all phones, and captures a very clear, crisp and realistic voice transmission.

A Mold With A Secret
The Xiaomi Pistons are securely fastened inside a silicone mold, which in turn is domed by a clear and elegant plastic lid. The mold is a great way to transport your Pistons in style. It also features a “secret compartment” underneath, where all the different sized stock earphone tops are stored.

Xiaomi claims that the silicone used both for the “winder” (the mold) and for the tips are akin to the softness of baby skin. The entire plastic box that contains the silicon mold is also, according to Xiaomi, modelled on “jewellery grade gift boxes”. The cord, which I still believe is made out of nylon, is by Xiaomi said to consist of kevlar.

The Best Is Saved For Last
The Xiaomi Pistons are remarkable headphones. You can only really appreciate their awesomeness by listening to them, but I have managed to decipher some information from Xiaomi’s Chinese website.

Xiaomi utilised new beryllium drivers in their MK301 Pistons, something which they claimed improved the bass-performance of the headphones, and improved the overall sound. Also, the cavity resonance was dramatically reduced which increased the audio-spectrum, boosting the performance of the headphones even further. The headphones also employ a dual dampening system, to provide a more balanced sound, along with sound chambers precision machined by diamond tools.

This is the best sub 50$ earphones you could possibly find.

Well, I read alot of enthusiast reviews about Pistons 2.0 before going for a purchase, and to be honnest, I was of the sceptikal kind.
I was wrong.
This earphphones are something specials and this time everybody is going crazy about them for a good reason.
First time I plug them in my Ibasso Dx90 player I was blown away by their energic rendering and elegant bassy sound, I was listening to the electronic artist Ametsub and this very detailed IDM music sound fabulous. In fact, the Pistons are very well suited for electronic and beat driven music, the punchy bass is well rounded and high and treble make details sparkle. Mids frequencies are less recessed than lot of other V shaped earphones, it is surely due to the distortion free rendering of all frequencies range (sub bass included).
I have listen to jazz, classical, electro, folk and rock with this earphones and nothing sound bad, for some type of music I will prefer the vocal-mids to be more foward but I think the same thing about some earphones that cost more than 100$ while this miraculous Pistons only cost me 15 boxes!
 
The construction is solid, earphones are made of brushed metal and chord made of a type of kevlar. Must note that because of my coat that have velcro pocket the chord got worn badly as it stick on it, it's just esthetical tough.
 
After more than One year of use, this trusty Pistons 2.0 still are my in-ear of choice.
I have now made a simple mod to them and use the Shure foam tips wich make the sound shine even more.
 
In all honnesty, this earphones are a must for any music lover or earphones enthusiast, they are one of the best purchase I made in a budget audiophile perspective.

Note:
 
I bought these off mi.com, which is the official site for Xiaomi. However, it is only available for certain countries and hence the price is much cheaper for me. So obviously this product is not a fake and I get a white box with an English manual.   New account so can't post pics yet though.
 
 
The Review 
 
 
Design
 
When you do get the box you will find your earphones wrapped around a piece of chocolate-smelling rubber, which doubles as a carrying case for your earphones. The simplicity of the box is unbelievable and much better than your average plastic retail packaging. 
 
There are supposedly Kevlar fibres inside the cable and the bottom half of the cable before the Y-split is braided. The top half of the cable seem to be made of your typical plastic. In short, the design is excellent and much better than earphones which are 3-4 times more expensive.  
 
 
Sound quality  
 
Obviously a good looking pair of earphones is nothing with a terrible sound quality, but thankfully the Pistons do very well in this aspect. The sound is V-shaped, with the mids taking a backseat compared to the bass and treble, but it is still mostly present. The earphones are definitely designed for the average consumer in mind, so unless you are looking for an analytical response, the sound quality should be good for most people.
 
I personally find the bass slightly overpowering and the soundstage a bit too small for my liking, but the price is unbeatable for me at least, since we don't have many cheap and good quality earphones in my country (Singapore)
 
 
Other features
 
The remote works on all my mobile devices, including my iPad, Xperia SP and Xiaomi Redmi. There is NO volume control for iOS though. I presume it uses the CTIA port standard, so unless you have a older smartphone the earphones should work rather well.  
 
I guess that is the end of my review. No TLDR for you lazy folks.  

I had countless of sony ear buds since its incarnation, as they don't last for more than 1.5 yrs. i will have to replace them yearly. I owned Mi 3 and thats how i got to know more about xiaomi brand. For the cheap launch price of less than 20 sgd with voucher, i say why not

For the price, the sound quality is truly unbelievable. You won't really believe it till you try it.

I've been using cheap IEMs for years now and run a wide gamut of brands in the process. I've had the Meelectronics M6 and M9, Skullcandy Ink'd, Sennheiser CX400, Ultimate Ear 500, Samsung headphones included with my Galaxy S3, and Sennheiser CX-685i. This easily blows them all out of water. I thought the Ultimate Ears 500 was as good as it got at this price point, especially for a dynamic driver, but they're not even comparable. I really can't recommend any other pair of budget headphones anymore with this on the market. They sound good from pretty much any source as well and they're easy to drive. I've used them on a 2013 iMac, Galaxy Note 4, S.M.S.L M2 USB DAC+Amp and been pleased with the results on all of them. I'm also getting a pair of Yamaha EPH-100 IEMs soon and will edit this review with a comparison.

Build quality is also similarly amazing. These things are weighty but insanely solid. Cons are small but I do think the strain relief could be a bit better, especially near the jack, and would've preferred a right angle jack (straight angle jack + note 4 is... uncomfortable to say the least). Also, they could've rounded the sides a bit as they are rather massive and can dig in if you don't insert them perfectly straight. And finally, my biggest peeve with the design is because of the metal body and jack, as well as the kevlar cable sleeving, large static discharges are common and painful. Still, at this price point and sound quality, I really can't complain. The Piston 3.0 should resolve the static issue as the area closest to the ear is now plastic.

These have really made me a believer in Xiaomi. Great job and keep it up. I'm going to keep on enjoying these in the meantime.

Disclaimer

     Please note that I am not affiliated with Xiaomi in any way, though you could consider me an "endorser" of this product.  I was neither paid nor given a review sample by Xiaomi; this pair was purchased personally. Also, do take note that most of the review is my personal opinion, and it should be treated as such; also, the impressions from this review can and will change, so please take this review with a grain of salt.
 
 

Intro

     My, how time flies. I’ve spent almost an entire year on Head-Fi, and I have to say, I’ve learned a lot. Much to my dismay (and to the joy of my wallet), I’ve suppressed many urges to purchase more pairs of headphones – though, admittedly, it was mostly my parents who did that for me. But anyway, knowing that my 1^st-year anniversary on Head-Fi is nearing, I thought I’d revisit all of the headphones I have amassed over that year, starting with the Xiaomi Pistons.
 
     I’m sure many of you who’ve been to the Xiaomi Pistons Thread [link] have heard of the so-called “2.1” version, as well as the commemorative iF Edition. For this revision of what you could say is the first review of the Pistons, I’m going to address these new versions.
     But enough talk; let’s get to the review!
 
 

Appearance, Design, Accessories

 

     The Xiaomi Pistons are, without a doubt, beautiful. Their machined aluminum housings are painted in the dazzling color of gold (now more silver in the iF Edition), seamlessly matching with any owner of the iPhone 5S (I do not own one, so no pictures for you ). Their color is also cleverly accented in their chocolate-brown Kevlar and silicone cable. From the pictures alone, you could see just how beautiful these IEMs are. But underneath that dazzling exterior is a gem waiting to be unleashed. Technically, it’s supposed to be a metal, but never mind.
 
     But what is this metal, you ask? This metal is called beryllium.
 
 
     Well, from what you just read, there’s no doubt that beryllium is one “wonder metal.” However, it is extremely rare, which still makes me wonder how Xiaomi managed to manufacture so many Pistons with such a rare metal as beryllium. We don’t have the answer to that yet, so let’s just leave that as one of the many questions for the ages.
 
     Now, let’s move on to the box. The box is special in a lot of ways. First, it’s an exquisite work of art per se. Its flaps unfold, one after the other, to reveal the Pistons in their box and the instruction manual. Second, it’s really, really small. Just how Apple would make them. And finally, the box itself is the manual. Yes, you read that right – pretty much everything you need to know about the Pistons is right there on that box. Plus, you aren’t given anything close to marketing or advertising.  That box is special, without a doubt. And that’s not even the gist of it.
 
     The box containing the Pistons is also a work of art. Its plastic cover would very easily be passed up as glass – except they aren’t fragile in the slightest. Lifting the cover off, you see the Pistons in their chocolate-brown travel case custom-molded out of silky-smooth silicone. (If you ever get tired of that chocolate brown, you could always buy one separately in blue, pink, and yellow.)
 

The eartips in the box, along with the clip, and the box 
 

     Lifting the travel case out, you’re greeted with three pairs of tips – a small pair, large pair, and a bass-ported dual-flange pair. Now, this is where things get a tad confusing. The tips I mentioned only apply to the 2.0 set – that is, if you’ve purchased a pair before around late March of 2014. If you’ve purchased a pair after that, then you will most likely have the so-called 2.1 version (it is so-called because it is an unofficial term used around Head-Fi). Of course, let’s not forget about the commemorative iF Edition of the Pistons after having received the iF Product Design Award. If you’ve purchased either the 2.1 or the iF version, then in those cases you will receive small, medium, and large pairs of single-flange tips. We will come back to this later on in the review to further clean things up.
 
   Appearance: 9/10
   Design: 8/10
   Accessories: 8/10
 
 
 

Build, Fit, Comfort

See that accent? That's beauty right there. 
 

     The build on the Xiaomi Pistons is something you would not or cannot expect from a sub-20 dollar IEM. With gold on the housings it’s surprising that you’d get this type of beauty from an IEM at this price. The gold is also accented perfectly with the chocolate brown on the cable and the tips. I don’t know about you, but the color scheme seems to match up well with the Sennheiser HD598.
               
     They certainly look as fragile as a piece of jewelry (and they are gems in their own right), but they certainly aren’t. Its Kevlar-reinforced cable has endured lethal yanks and tugs that would probably snap inferior cables. Though I’ve treated them well (so far XD), some accidents were unavoidable and thus they’ve suffered some hard knocks which rendered them unworthy of the photographs. That's why my sister has taken a lot of photographs from her new iF Edition Pistons which are still in perfect condition. Hopefully those will suffice.
 
     The fit on the Pistons are rather fiddly and take some time to get used to. Unlike a lot of IEMs that sound better with a deep fit, the Pistons’ default tips would very much prefer a shallow fit which doesn’t go too far into the ear. Doing so will break the seal and leave you with a tinny sound, devoid of bass. Getting the seal just right should at least make you able to hear what I’m hearing.
 
     Since you’ve most likely purchased the 2.1 Pistons by now (considering the date of this updated review), you should have the new sets of tips in the box. The silicone tips found in both the 2.1 and the iF Pistons are thicker, stiffer, and stronger than the ones in the 2.0 set. Their increased stiffness should be able to give you a better seal with less effort, and allow for a deeper fit than the flimsy-feeling tips of the 2.0 Pistons.
 
     However (with a tip of the hat to user [b]1clearhead[/b]), you could also try the size “M” tips inside the box. This pair of tips are smaller than the regular tips on the Pistons and thus allow for a significantly deeper fit than what you could get with the regular tips without breaking the seal. However, these “M” tips require you to use a deeper fit, as a shallow fit might give the Pistons a hollow sound as opposed to a properly-sealed fit. Also, you might encounter some discomfort from the housings of the Pistons touching your ears because of this deeper fit; the best way to counter that problem is to wear the Pistons around-the-ear, like so:
 

 
     As for comfort, I believe that the Xiaomi Pistons are great in this regard. Their silicone tips are soft and, as Xiaomi puts it, derived from “pacifier-grade silicone.” With the update to the tips in the 2.1 version, comfort is significantly improved. However, there have been some reports of people noticing discomfort from the housing of the Pistons touching their ears. It is an issue, yes, but like I said in the disclaimer at the top of this review: YMMV.
 
   Build: 8.5/10
   Fit: 7.5/10
   Comfort: 8.5/10
 
 
 

Isolation, Microphonics

     I wouldn’t rate the Pistons very high in this area, though I wouldn’t rate them too low, either. Sound leakage is very little, if any (characteristic of most IEMs), but the isolation is not what you would expect of an IEM. Of course, not a lot of IEMs have the -30 dB of isolation that Etymotic earphones have; but all things considered, the Pistons isolate well for most situations, like parties and walks out in the city streets. In fact, they even isolate better than my over-ear headphones.
 
   Isolation: 8.5/10
   Microphonics: 8/10
 
 

Microphone

     Oh yes, I almost forgot; did I ever mention the fact that the Xiaomi Pistons have an in-line remote and mic? No? Well, maybe I said it in the older review, but not in this new version until now. Yes, there is a three-button remote and mic situated in a rather tricky position on the cable (the resulting cable left between the remote to the earphone housings is quite short).
     On the other hand, that’s about the only gripe I’ve found with the remote so far. Now, on with the plus points. The Pistons’ remote is very useful because it is compatible with both Android and Apple devices. However, functionality is limited on both platforms. Most Android phones can work with all three buttons, but what are supposed to be volume buttons are considered forward/rewind buttons. That makes them essentially useless since the middle button, used for Pause/Play, also does the same forward/rewind functions with a double press and triple press, respectively. On Apple devices the volume buttons do not work, leaving the middle button the only functional one. Apparently the only devices that utilize all three buttons properly are Xiaomi’s devices.
     But there is one thing to note: the microphone still works. Yes, you read that right – the mic works with all devices without a hitch. And the best part? They sound pretty damn good. They sound clear over multiplayer games, chat sessions, and even recordings on GarageBand. Now that’s functionality.
 
Score: 8.5/10
 
 
 

Audio: Preamble

 

     And now, for the most important section in the entire review. I worked hard on this one, so I really do hope what comes out will be the most precise reviews I’ve ever written. But before we begin, I would like to address a few things:
 
 

Modification

     Yes, I have, in fact, modified my pair of Xiaomi Pistons. That alone is enough to significantly alter the results of the review. However, though I do not own another pair, my sister owns an iF Edition pair, and she has submitted them in for review. So with that, I’d like to give a big thank-you to her for providing the pair.
 
 

iF Edition vs. 2.1

     I would also like to address the issue about the iF Edition Pistons supposedly sounding “brighter” than the 2.1 and 2.0 Pistons. Yes, some people have reported that they did, in fact, notice that the iF Edition sounded brighter than that of the Pistons. However, from my personal experience, I did not notice a difference between either. I have said this multiple times to the many people who asked, and some also reported the same results. Hopefully soon the “rumours” will subside and all will be well. Now, with all that cleared up, let’s begin!
 
 

Test Tracks

     When writing headphone reviews, you never settle on just one album. You have to take a wide variety of genres and listen to each and every one of them to see just how good the headphones really are. Well, that’s what I did with my test tracks playlist. Over the past couple of years, I’ve collected various albums of various genres from various artists, which should help a lot in getting me that “precise review” I promised earlier. Below is the list, in a fancy table inspired by the tables which a lot of other great reviewers utilize.
 
 
 

Review Process

     These headphones are subjected to a particularly “hands-on” review process. I never leave them standing out on a stand with pink noise played into them; I always listen to them and hear the changes as time goes by. However, as I hear these changes while they burn-in, there is also the phenomenon called “brain burn-in,” or better known as placebo. I take this into account as I write the reviews, and revise if necessary.
 
     The writing of the review takes at least three days’ worth of work, which is spanned out over the course of a week. Since the mind’s impression of the same headphones can change depending on the time of day, I will also take these into account and combine them into one summarized consensus from multiple tests.
 
     Also, I will be making three different reviews, each with their own focus. The first review focuses on reviewing each of the aspects of the sound signature (bass, mids, soundstage, etc.), while the second one will be focusing on which genres it works best with. The third one is mostly a summary and reviews its general performance in media outside of music (games, movies, etc.) as well as its performance when amplified and equalized. From this alone it doesn’t really make much sense, but hopefully by reading the review you’ll understand.
 
 

Equipment

     Equipment used in the review is an iPad 3, sending the music straight to the Pistons, unamped. In the amplification assessment a Yamaha RX-V359 home theater amp is used. As for the equalization test the EQu app is used.
    
 
 

Audio: Sound Quality

 


     As mentioned in the title, this section will revolve around reviewing each of the sonic aspects of the Xiaomi Pistons. The total score for this section is 100 points.
 
 

Bass

     In tracks like “Lose Yourself to Dance” and “Birthday,” the Pistons demonstrated its ability to bring you accurate and yet powerful bass. The bass guitar’s tone still manages to stay audible and accurate despite the powerful kick drum in the former track. However, I would like to note that they do tend to be muddy in the lower midrange, and they can be rather overpowering at times to the uninitiated.
     To summarize it, I could easily say that the Pistons are friendly for anyone’s ears – enough kick for bassheads and non-audiophiles, while tight enough for a lot of audiophiles.
 
   Score: 17/20
 
 

Midrange

     The general consensus on the midrange of the Xiaomi Pistons is rather mixed; those who don’t like it say that they are too recessed, while those who do say that they’re just fine because they are a consumer-friendly IEM. I, for one, absolutely love the midrange on these Pistons because the very first time I heard them, they had this…unreal clarity to them which all of my other headphones did not have.
     On beautiful, iconic piano tracks like “River Flows in You” and “Kiss the Rain,” you could literally feel the emotion put into the recordings as the notes flow into your mind. This clarity is also exhibited in some of the tracks from Paint It Acoustic like “Fanoe” and “The Merry-go-Round of Life.”
     Overall, the midrange is lush, rich, and despite being slightly muddy in the lower end, is crystal-clear.
 
   Score: 18/20
 
 

Treble

     The treble area, for me, is a rather confusing aspect of the sound signature. At first, they sound crisp, lively, and sparkly without being too sibilant (in other words, they’re just right for me). However, at one point, I noticed that the treble gave way to both the midrange and the bass. They became less crisp and sparkly, and they were not as I remembered it the first time. I cannot say what caused this sudden change, but right now, I’m going to blame it on placebo. Right now, as I listen to my sister’s two week-old pair, I seem to perceive that crisp treble I was looking for. It’s unexplainable, but like I said, it’s probably just placebo.
     To sum that up, the Pistons’ treble is crisp, lively, and has enough sparkle for most people without getting too sibilant.
 
   Score: 18/20
 
 

Soundstage

     The soundstage on the Pistons is yet another plus point. Its soundstage is wide and airy, though I couldn’t say anything particular about its depth. To best describe it, the soundstage extends well out to the sides, but has trouble defining front and back. Nonetheless, the Pistons have a great soundstage which is much, much better than certain consumer-friendly headphones about, say, 20 times the price (say, Beats).
 
     Score: 17/20
 
 

Imaging

     The imaging ability of the Pistons are probably one of their biggest selling points. That’s because they image so well it’s insane. Even on Daft Punk’s “Touch,” which is one of the most complex tracks I’ve ever heard, the Pistons manage to separate the instruments enough to distinguish them from each other and not like some jumbled-up mess. And for a pair of IEMs at 25 dollars, that’s not just something worth noting; it’s an achievement. This imaging and separation ability is something you just notice when you put them on and play a track. While listening to “Fanoe,” a guitar duet, you could very easily pinpoint the two guitarists’ positions without even thinking about it.
     I don’t think I even need to sum this up; they’re simply amazing.
 
   Score: 19/20
 
 
 

Audio: Genre Mastery

     In this section, we focus on the Pistons’ proficiency in various genres, assessing which does and doesn’t sound best on the budget IEMs. The total score for this section is 75 points. In this section, instead of paragraphs upon paragraphs of text, you will be treated to yet another fancy-looking graph courtesy of yours truly. Note that I will not try to restate the qualities of the Pistons in this review; instead I will focus on how much I enjoy the music and how the Pistons’ overall sound signature lends to that enjoyment.
 
 
 
 

Audio: Miscellaneous Tests

     For the third and final audio assessment, we will be focusing on the Xiaomi Pistons’ performance in areas outside of music, such as in movies and games. Also, we will be evaluating their scalability when it comes to amplification and equalization. This section is, well, miscellaneous, but you will find them still useful.
 
 

Gaming

     Note: The games used in this assessment are Team Fortress 2 and Minecraft. The audio is sent to the earphones through HDMI to a Samsung LED monitor’s audio output jack, which doesn’t really have much of a difference compared to my Creative Sound Blaster 5.1 VX card except for a louder output sound.
 
     I personally don’t use IEMs for gaming purposes, mostly since I either use my speakers or my Razer Kraken to do the job. But in retrospect, the Pistons performed well while playing games. Despite most of the action happening in front of me, the Pistons’ imaging abilities were still challenged when I got close to the enemy fort. Though I didn’t get to play high-quality games like Battlefield 4 during the tests, TF2 was still decent, and the sounds were still realistic (as in direction and volume).
 
     On Minecraft, things were a tad worse because the audio tracks were kept at the same volume, so it was a little harder to know how far the enemy is. But then again, positional audio was still accurate, and the Pistons actually handled it well during a multiplayer session with my sister (who also has Pistons).
 
Score: 8/10
 

Movies

     I never watch movies using headphones. It’s mostly because I watch them with my family, and I don’t like watching alone. Also, I just like the feel of a movie theater in my home. But, for this review and your sake, I took to watching the recent episode of Game of Thrones.
 
     Honestly, I wasn’t really impressed with the audio quality, mostly because the amp had a constant hissing which took away some from the experience. But hardware gripes aside, the Pistons were good at most. The really long Game of Thrones intro was fun, though, and it never really gets old.
 
Score: 7/10
 
 

Amplification

     The Xiaomi Pistons, like most IEMs, do not require amplification and can be driven easily out of a smartphone. However, during the amplification test, I noticed that the extra power gave them a tad more of a three-dimensional soundstage, as well as improving the low-end. Aside from that, I hear no glaring differences or improvements in sound signature.
 
Score: 7/10
 
 

Equalization

     As mentioned in the Audio: Preamble section, the equalization tool used is the EQu app, a visual equalizer. It doesn’t have the same power or effectiveness as a parametric equalizer, yet still gets the job done. Although the Pistons sound perfectly fine without any EQ, they were pretty EQ friendly and improved with a treble boost (EQ preset on iOS).
 
Score: 8/10
 
 
 

Comparison

     No review would be complete without something to compare the headphones to, right? Wrong. No, I’m just kidding – comparisons are probably the best way to rank the headphones and secure their place in the many hundreds if not thousands of headphones and IEMs. And the Xiaomi Pistons are no less.
 
     These budget IEMs hold their ground against all sorts of headphones far above its price range. In fact, they even sound better than that of the new Beats Studio, priced at 300 dollars, which is more than 10 times the price of the Pistons. They could take on more than just Beats, however – I find that they stand their ground against popular audiophile headphones such as the Monster DNA, the B&W P7, and the Sony MA900. Of course, nowadays there are a lot of headphones that do the same thing the Pistons do and more, but these Chinese-made IEMs are still in a league of their own: the league of Chinese-made IEMs.
 
 

Conclusion

     The Xiaomi Pistons are, without a doubt, IEMs with an inhuman price-to-performance ratio. Long before the advent of the Pistons hype train, many people have agreed that there are a lot of Chinese manufacturers with superb quality and a rock-bottom price – something that many headphones in the West fail to achieve. The Pistons have a very fun and lively signature which works with basically any genre you throw at it, although it has an affinity with electronic music in particular.
 

Score Tally

     Below is a list of the final scores, filled out in yet another beautiful graph. I just can’t get enough of these spreadsheets and tables. But don’t worry; this should be the last one…
                              
 
 

Shout-Outs

     First of all, I would like to thank my sister again for putting up with all the IEM photo session delays and for lending me her pair of Pistons for review. She’s a really talented photographer, and she’s got raw skill inside of her, even behind a simple Canon Ixus digicam.
 
     I would also like to thank [b]bhazard[/b] because without him, I probably wouldn’t have known about the Pistons, and therefore would never have been able to write this review. His extensive knowledge of Chinese-branded headphones and IEMs has opened my eyes to the many hundreds of awesome pairs that were so close to home.
 
     Finally, I would also like to thank all of the awesome guys at the Discovery Thread, Chinese Brand Thread, and the Audiophile Bass Lounge (the three groups the Pistons manage to fall into). You guys are some of the coolest people I’ve ever met, and this is over the Internet, so that makes you guys all the more cool. Thank you for your support and guidance in my now year-long headphone journey. Of course, I ain’t stopping here – there are far too many headphones left to try out in the world, I wouldn’t want to miss any of them!
 
 

Gallery

     The rest of this section is dedicated to pictures taken by my lovely and very talented younger sister. I really hope you enjoy this new round of pictures, which takes her pair of the iF Edition Pistons into the spotlight. Of course, for comparison, you should also check out the images of the 2.0 version of the Pistons here (link will be added soon).
 

I'd say this is a great set of IEMs for its price if you're looking for that consumer v-shaped sound sig. It's not the most balanced sound sig, but for what it is, it sounds pretty good. The mids aren't very pronounced, but the bass is pretty good and the highs aren't piercing or anything to my ears. I had problems that maybe other people didn't have and that had to do with the fit. It could sometimes be a little difficult to get a seal these. They're also not well-suited for deep insertion due to the bulky housings and the very sharp edges on said housings. Compared to IEMs like the MEElectronics M11+, VSonic GR06, and Havi B3 Pro I, the isolation offered by these Pistons aren't good at all. This was definitely expected though given the LARGE vent on the back. 
 
I'd give this a solid recommendation if you're looking for a more fun, less balanced sound. I think it's quite impressive what they've done for $25. I dunno if it's the absolute best in this price range (you'll have to ask others who have head more than I have), but even if it isn't, it's definitely pretty high up there.

One of the worse earphones I've ever had the mis-pleasure of buying. Read reviews on the net and thought it could be a neat present for a friend.
 
The packaging looked convincing enough even though the gold anodized aluminum looked suspicious.
 
At the end, nothing but low quality sound and had trouble keeping the buds to stay in place.
 
No bass, no treble and sounds really dull.
 
It was so bad, I didn't bother to run them in to have another listen.
 
Avoid. You'd probably have better luck with other earphones.
 
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Update : 10/8/14
 
After reading some of your comments, I embarked on some research. Before this, I had little idea that the MI Piston 2.0 had so many fakes, copies or even "o.e.m" replicas out there.
To cut a long story short, XiaoMi confirmed that the one I got was a fake. They also confirmed that they have never authorized any O.E.M products to be made or sold by any third party.
 
I have since received an original Piston 2.0 and my experience with this earphones is a much positive one.
 
Pros
Good sound and an enjoyable listen even for long hours.
Extended frequencies both low and high. Best with tight fit around ear canal.
Bass frequencies were well extended and I did not detect any lack of bass. (with buds firmly in place).
Good quality.
Cheap.
Works well with a wide range of music.
 
Cons
Somehow, the buds keep falling out. I find that I kept pushing it into my ear harder every time.
Extended listening can cause surrounding area of the ear to hurt due to the reason above.
High frequencies can be a bit aggressive from 8-12kHz, but only slightly so.
Cable is a tad short.
 
This is a highly recommended earphones. Puts some of other more esoteric models out there to shame. Highly recommended. Just make sure you buy from a reliable source and watch out for fakes. The fakes sound really aweful, you won't believe it.
 
I apologize to anyone whom I've mislead from my first posting. Unfortunately, my account does not allow me to post pictures. I'll include a link, hope this works..
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/123318041@N02/

Pretty good for its price. Can be considered as a startup or backup iem if all fails.