PLEXTONE S50 Waterproof

PLEXTONE S50 Review:
 

 
 
I was feeling like buying unkown cheap earphones lately and bought 3 different Plextone earphones, this one wasn't my favorite at the begining because I find it too brightish with my Ibasso Dx90. Since I have try it with my other player Xduoo X3 all of sudden this earphones become something of a REVELATION! As I was all excited to try different earphones of my collection with this wonderful player that use a Cirrus Logic CS4938 Dac I finally found myself using the Plextone S50 alot more than other earphones at 5 to 10 times the price! I was wondering if something was wrong with me, who know, perhaps the sudden midfowards soundsignature make some strange spell on me and I lost my objectivity, still i'm convaince that the very pair I listen to right now sound like a real serious hifi earphone with a uniquely tweaked soundsignature that is utterly beautifull with the right low amping (I think the Ibasso amp was too powerfull for this sensible earphones).
 
CONSTRUCTION :

 
Hum, I will say the construction look better than what it is because as soon as you make a close up you find the earshell to look very fragile and when you press it to put it in your ears you are nervous that it broke in two part between the pression of your fingers. The cable and L plug are all top notch quality, very impressive twisted cable for the cheap price but must important part-the earphones-are undeniably made of a light, cheap and extremely fragile transparent plastic. I don't understand this choice of all good material but the plastic...it's a contradiction that will certainly be a turn off for people looking to buy durable earphones.
 
PACKAGING :
 

 
 
 
The box include 2 pair of rubber eartips and 1 pair of good quality memory foam eartips AND a good quality case. This is really nice accessories, especially for the 10$ price. I suggest the memory foams for best result with sound and comfort.

 
SOUND :
I decide to just use the Xduoo X3 for this review because this earphones is made to be with this laid back sounding DAP like fusional mother and son. With the Ibasso the Plextone S50 doesn't even worth a try, it became too bright and trebly and the soundstage is smaller and more congested because amping is too high and this earphones have a very capricious 118db of sensitivity.

 
LOWS :
I feel that the S50 have ''Grado-low'' wich in my dictionary mean fast and punchy bass with good texture but a lack of extension in the lower end and near no-sub bass. It is well controlled and do not bloat mids, quite the contrary, it is there so the mids can sit on and be the principal star of the show. Bass isn't feel in the skull and can be compare to a less clear version of the Yamaha EPH-100 bass, wich is very articulate and present but not heavy or round, you can ear it easily but it do not enveloppe the sound spectrum and it's air vibration. Bass have great impact and decay and toms have enough weight to give a dynamic sound experience with good instruments separation. This type of lows are great for Jazz and Classical because cello do not bloat violin and keep their grace and texture as well as their melodical nature and low register nature.

 
MIDS :
In the little description that we can find about the Plextone S50, it say ''enjoy a truly lifelike music experience'' and this time this rather vague promise reflect reality. I will add : ''enjoy truly zoom-in lifelike vocals''. Yes, these are earphones to make shine your favorite signers voice. It is far from neutral and the treble is very present. The soundsignature is tweaked to push foward the mids but keep a very detailed presention of the whole spectrum, by taking off some sub bass it permit to the sound to sparkle alot and have a very energic unveiled sound, very bright but not particularly harsh, the voice are not prompt to hiss like with the Yamaha EPH-100 or Mrz Tomahwak. Mids aren't warm but they do not sound cold or too layered and unnatural, they blossom in the middle of other frequencies in a A soundsignature (if such a thing exist). Really, female signers can sound sublime with the S50 and acoustic guitar is a delight too, this earphones is a most for Folk music fan. Instruments separation is above average for this price range and this clean sound, even if it lack some air between them, give a very elegant presentation to the sound that will do miracle with warm sounding source.

 
HIGHS :
The S50 have lot of treble and will sound harsh with bright source like the Ibasso Dx90, but this extra treble will be a blessing for other warmer source like all Xduoo DAP. The fact that it is easy to drive and have high sensitivity make them a very practice earphones for audiophile that need more than one type of soundsignature for their different music type and source. Texture and details are spot on but do not have the layers and deepness of higher end earphones, another comparaison to the grado sound that is foward and energic. Anyway, we have a very detailed rendering that will impress newcomer in IEM world and certainly not deceive earphones collector like me.
 
FINAL WORDS:
While I wasn't impress with the 2 other models I try from Plextone, this one is an exception and a real hidden gem to me, the resolution in sound we get for such a little price is near incredible and a most for any Xduoo X3 owner. Soundstage isn't the bigger one but still above average and I can say it is one of the more addictive mids I heard in any IEM that I own of any price range, this is made for signers lover and feel and hear the voice of it like never before in a intimate and urgent way. For me, the S50 is a keeper and a personal favorite that utterly please my ears even if I know they will not pass the test of time in term of construction.
 
Another time I buy this earphones at Gearbest wich offer the best price as always:
http://www.gearbest.com/earbud-headphones/pp_332602.html?wid=21