Introduction:
The new kids on the block, Ankit’s lineup of four style-conscious earphones aims to bring together looks and sound in an attempt to appeal to both the audiophile and the fashion junkie. Though the stylistic merits of the earphones can be disputed, their all-around competence when it comes to sound quality is quite surprising. Hence I am reposting a review written by me for another site, slightly condensed and adapted for a head-fi audience.
Packaging & Accessories:
The Ankit Stay True earphones are packaged in a colorful cardboard blister pack. Though Ankit doesn’t go to the same great eco-friendly lengths as Thinksound with their packaging, the company promises to go one step further and plant a tree for each earphone they sell. Although I was impressed with the colorful and humorous packaging, pickings are rather slim in terms of accessories. All you get is three sets of silicone tips. Not too impressive for the $50 retail price.
Design & Build Quality:
The entire Ankit range implements 3D metallic designs affixed to the earphones to achieve a unique look for each model. In addition, the sliding cord cinch on each model has a unique topical design to match the housings. Ankit claims that each unit is hand-assembled, and the build is actually rather impressive. The 3D metallic skulls on my Stay True model give the earphones a nice weight, the housings to which the designs are attached are made of a thick, sturdy plastic, and the 46” cable is thicker than average and rubberized to reduce tangling. The stems of the earpieces are made of a hard plastic, though, as is the plastic sheath on the 3.5mm plug. No real strain relief there so being careful with the cords is probably a good idea.
Fit, Comfort, & Isolation:
All of Ankit’s earphones utilize an ergonomic, angled-nozzle design. Despite the moderate heft of the earpieces, I found them perfectly comfortable for very long stretches of time. The included silicone ear cushions are fairly standard and the earphones provide above-average isolation, slotting somewhere between shallow-insertion earphones such as the Meelec M6 and PL50 and the true straight-barrel in-ear designs such as the Nuforce NE-6. Microphonics are fairly low, which is a good thing since the skulls don’t make the Stay True too conducive of over-the-ear wear.
Sound:
Testing note: All on-the-go listening was done via an unamped Sansa Fuze using a wide range of tracks in mp3 (bitrates ranging from 128 to 320kbps) formats. Critical listening was done via an optical-fed iBasso D10 using only WMA and Flac lossless files.
The technical specifications of Ankit products are not published, not unlike those of Monster IEMs, but the sound speaks for itself. Ankit’s marketing mumbo-jumbo lauds something called ‘G-Bass Technology’, which is said to reduce low-end clipping and provide deep, clear bass. Obviously, then, I was expecting Bose IE-levels of distortion and Skullcandy-like subwoofer impact. But I was pleasantly surprised by the well-controlled low-end punch of the earphones. The bass response can occasionally be slightly boomy, but no more than certain head-fi favorites and certainly not enough to make the Ankits sound unbalanced. Sub-bass extension is very reasonable although there is a definite mid/upper-bass emphasis that gives a small amount of coloration to the midrange. The end result is vocals that are slightly on the warm side of neutral. Clarity is good and the mids are lush and thick, though some detail is glossed over. Treble presentation is soft, almost timid, but at least they steer far clear of sibilance. There are some peaks in the lower treble but not enough to call it harsh. I would personally prefer a more upfront presentation of the high end, but of course forward treble is harder to get ‘right’ on a budget earphone. Soundstaging is average, with adequate width and depth and decent separation. Drums are sometimes brought too far forward for my liking, but for the most part everything is positioned properly in the sonic stage. Overall, the sound is natural and boasts good dynamics and a surprising amount of clarity, definitely an enjoyable signature all things considered.
Summary & Conclusions:
The Ankit Stay True earphones offer an ergonomic design, above-average isolation, solid build quality, and four unique visual styles. With sound quality to match their practicality, the Ankit earphones should not be dismissed as another blingy Skullcandy or EarPollution competitor. Smooth, natural, and very enjoyable, the sound is refined enough for these to be among IEMs to consider in the sub-$50 range. If turning heads is a priority alongside all of the usual concerns, the Ankit earphones might just beat out the best of the rest in the crowded market.
Edit: here's a link to the manufacturer's site that showcases all of the designs (TheAnkit.com).
The new kids on the block, Ankit’s lineup of four style-conscious earphones aims to bring together looks and sound in an attempt to appeal to both the audiophile and the fashion junkie. Though the stylistic merits of the earphones can be disputed, their all-around competence when it comes to sound quality is quite surprising. Hence I am reposting a review written by me for another site, slightly condensed and adapted for a head-fi audience.
Packaging & Accessories:
The Ankit Stay True earphones are packaged in a colorful cardboard blister pack. Though Ankit doesn’t go to the same great eco-friendly lengths as Thinksound with their packaging, the company promises to go one step further and plant a tree for each earphone they sell. Although I was impressed with the colorful and humorous packaging, pickings are rather slim in terms of accessories. All you get is three sets of silicone tips. Not too impressive for the $50 retail price.
Design & Build Quality:
The entire Ankit range implements 3D metallic designs affixed to the earphones to achieve a unique look for each model. In addition, the sliding cord cinch on each model has a unique topical design to match the housings. Ankit claims that each unit is hand-assembled, and the build is actually rather impressive. The 3D metallic skulls on my Stay True model give the earphones a nice weight, the housings to which the designs are attached are made of a thick, sturdy plastic, and the 46” cable is thicker than average and rubberized to reduce tangling. The stems of the earpieces are made of a hard plastic, though, as is the plastic sheath on the 3.5mm plug. No real strain relief there so being careful with the cords is probably a good idea.
Fit, Comfort, & Isolation:
All of Ankit’s earphones utilize an ergonomic, angled-nozzle design. Despite the moderate heft of the earpieces, I found them perfectly comfortable for very long stretches of time. The included silicone ear cushions are fairly standard and the earphones provide above-average isolation, slotting somewhere between shallow-insertion earphones such as the Meelec M6 and PL50 and the true straight-barrel in-ear designs such as the Nuforce NE-6. Microphonics are fairly low, which is a good thing since the skulls don’t make the Stay True too conducive of over-the-ear wear.
Sound:
Testing note: All on-the-go listening was done via an unamped Sansa Fuze using a wide range of tracks in mp3 (bitrates ranging from 128 to 320kbps) formats. Critical listening was done via an optical-fed iBasso D10 using only WMA and Flac lossless files.
The technical specifications of Ankit products are not published, not unlike those of Monster IEMs, but the sound speaks for itself. Ankit’s marketing mumbo-jumbo lauds something called ‘G-Bass Technology’, which is said to reduce low-end clipping and provide deep, clear bass. Obviously, then, I was expecting Bose IE-levels of distortion and Skullcandy-like subwoofer impact. But I was pleasantly surprised by the well-controlled low-end punch of the earphones. The bass response can occasionally be slightly boomy, but no more than certain head-fi favorites and certainly not enough to make the Ankits sound unbalanced. Sub-bass extension is very reasonable although there is a definite mid/upper-bass emphasis that gives a small amount of coloration to the midrange. The end result is vocals that are slightly on the warm side of neutral. Clarity is good and the mids are lush and thick, though some detail is glossed over. Treble presentation is soft, almost timid, but at least they steer far clear of sibilance. There are some peaks in the lower treble but not enough to call it harsh. I would personally prefer a more upfront presentation of the high end, but of course forward treble is harder to get ‘right’ on a budget earphone. Soundstaging is average, with adequate width and depth and decent separation. Drums are sometimes brought too far forward for my liking, but for the most part everything is positioned properly in the sonic stage. Overall, the sound is natural and boasts good dynamics and a surprising amount of clarity, definitely an enjoyable signature all things considered.
Summary & Conclusions:
The Ankit Stay True earphones offer an ergonomic design, above-average isolation, solid build quality, and four unique visual styles. With sound quality to match their practicality, the Ankit earphones should not be dismissed as another blingy Skullcandy or EarPollution competitor. Smooth, natural, and very enjoyable, the sound is refined enough for these to be among IEMs to consider in the sub-$50 range. If turning heads is a priority alongside all of the usual concerns, the Ankit earphones might just beat out the best of the rest in the crowded market.
Edit: here's a link to the manufacturer's site that showcases all of the designs (TheAnkit.com).
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