First off, I got the E80 on loan from a generous fellow headfi'er. You know who you are. Thanks!
I have absolutely no connection to SoundMagic and have no incentive to compose this review other than to provide my own honest opinion.
I'm going to make this a quick, pictureless review (I know, I know. Boring, right...). I'll go through some highlights of what I thought made the E80 special and where I found room for improvement.
For pictures, please check out one of the other five reviews HERE. They all took absolutely fantabulous pics of these cute little guys!
So, here we go...
ABOUT ME
I'm a 43 year old music lover who listens to a wide variety of genres and artists (but mostly electronic, metal, and modern composition these days). I've been enjoying IEM since the venerable Shure E2C was released and have listened to a lot of IEM over the years. As with a lot of people my age, I've got some hearing issues - some upper frequency loss and mild tinnitus. So my reviews might be particularly valuable for people in the same boat.
ACCESSORIES
Since these were a loaner, I just got the E80 with some Lunashops heir-style tips and the carry case. I have reviewed the provided accessories and think SoundMagic provides a great accessories package with the E80. I really like it that they provide S, M, and L narrow bore, wide bore, and comply tips. I also liked the compact semi-rigid carry case. The only thing missing are ear guides, so those who go for those might be disappointed. I abhor them, so it wouldn't be a loss for me if I were to purchase the E80. Good job SoundMagic!
BUILD
The E80 are a fairly small, straight barrel single dynamic IEM made of aluminum with some minor plastic accents. You can choose between a couple colors. The pair I was loaned were a sexy red color and were quite attractive! Cable exit is out the back of the barrel. Luckily SoundMagic provided a good strain relief there. The nozzle is standard size and has a good lip to see your tips on nice and snug. It made a nice popping noise when I put the Lunashop tips on. There was one vent on the shell near the nozzle.
The cable is a bit of a mess, honestly. It seems to be the trend to affix shiny, springy cables to otherwise nice IEM these days. It makes the cables hard to wind and increases microphonics. I just don't get it, and hope the trend ends immediately! I am glad SoundMagic included a cable cinch, and it's a really thin one. I haven't seen one of this sort on IEM before. You'll see it when you check out pics from the other reviews.
Strain reliefs are good. Nothing to write home about, but they'll do their job quite nicely.
Y splitter and plug housing are both aluminum and color match the shells perfectly to my eye.
Speaking of the plug, it's one of those 45º plugs that some people absolutely abhor. Not me, I love them - good on you SoundMagic for being an in-betweener! And the plug has ridges near the insertion point to make it easier to grip when unplugging from your phone or DAP. Nice touch! It also fits into smartphone cases, which quite honestly any IEM plug should nowadays. (Shame on you manufacturers who don't do this! Get with the times!!!)
Ok, that's it. Pretty good marks all around here besides the shiny, springy cable. Seem like they're build pretty well. Moving on...
ERGONOMICS
As I mentioned, I'm not a fan of the cable. It's springy nature increased microphonics and made it more difficult to wear over ear. The dreaded ear guides would've been useful if I actually wanted to try that. As with most straight barrel IEM, I much prefer wearing them down and relying on the cable cinch + shirt clip to attenuate any microphonics, finding it much easier to get a good fit and seal. The E80 were no exception. I'm sure plenty of you will enjoy wearing them up. Not me. Once I got them into my ears, I found them really comfortable and easy to maintain a good seal.
ISOLATION
It's ok. I've had better, but not too bad.
SOUND
As I mention in every review, I find describing what I hear a lot more difficult than some but enjoy trying. It's a work in progress...
For context, I really like the TPEOS Altone200's sound signature and can listen to it for long periods at a stretch out of my X5 without feeling fatigue.
Also for context, I didn't tip roll with these - just used the provided tips. They sealed well and were comfortable.
I'd describe the E80 as having fairly full, round bass that's a bit slow, sweet mids, and slightly attenuated highs. I'll try to explain with some examples.
I listened to the E80 for a few days as my primary IEM with my Fiio X5 and iPhone + Calyx PaT and then did some comparative listening with a few IEM I thought would be of interest - the RHA MA750 and VSONIC VSD5 and ANV16.
Here's what I found...
vs. VSD5
After becoming accustomed to the E80, the VSD5 sounds edgy and lacking in bass extension and quantity. When I go back to the E80 after listening to a few songs with the VSD5, I notice that I'm missing some upper end details with E80 that I heard clearly with the VSD5. A particularly noticeable example was one point in a song where the drummer simultaneously hit the kick drums and cymbals. I can clearly hear kick drums and cymbals with VSD5, but the bass isn't as punchy as it should be. With the E80, I get one punchy, sharp sound but can't separate out the cymbals from the kick drum. It's as if the kick drums just sound a bit star for some reason.
After listening to E80 for awhile, the VSD5 sounds stretched out and diluted. Give it a bit, and it sounds natural. Switch back to E80, and it sounds overly intimate. Give it some time, and it sounds just fine. Our brains are just funny that way!
Oh yeah, I'm not a big fan of VSD5 housing shape / construction. It's got sharp angles, you can feel seams, and the strain reliefs aren't built to inspire confidence.
Just a note that I found this comparison challenging because these two have quite different presentations, making comparison difficult - apples to oranges type stuff and all.
Overall, I'm giving the battle to the E80 even though I really missed some of the details the VSD5 can provide. The E80 just sounds more natural to my ears and is easier to listen to for longer periods of time.
vs. ANV16
Another complementary pairing, although ANV16 pulls it off much better than VSD5.
To set the stage, ANV16 is a lean / dry sound signature. There's nothing sweet about it to my ears. Bass isn't elevated at all and sounds tighter and more linear than VSD5. It doesn't sound as edgy as VSD5 and has more air and better soundstage.
As with the VSD5, I was able to clearly distinguish the kick drums and cymbals in the passage I mentioned above, and it sounded much tighter than VSD5.
Compared to the E80, the ANV16 has tighter bass but with a lot less quantity, dry mids, and more upper mid and treble presence. Bouncing between these two makes E80 drums sound slow and bloated. I'm also missing out on details up top with E80 that I'm getting with ANV16. E80's soundstage again sounds overly intimate. Moving to ANV16 from E80 makes the ANV16 sound thin / diluted but also quick / crisp / dry.
ANV16 have much better build and ergonomics than VSD5 and quite different vs. E80. I love, love, love the ANV16's rotating nozzle!!!
It's hard for me to pick a winner here because I think they're both quite good at the presentation they're shooting for. I'd pick ANV16 for shorter, more detail oriented listening and E80 for longer, relaxed listening sessions.
vs. MA750
Whew, finally a much easier comparison...
These aren't nearly so different. E80 wins again. Bass is similar but has a bit more attack than E80. MA750 has recessed mids that make me miss the E80's sweet mids. As with E80, I still can't clearly distinguish kick drum and cymbal with MA750, again getting more or less one sound like a sharp kick drum.
For me, E80's ergonomics just completely destroy the MA750's, although the MA750 are built to last! I swear you could use MA750 as a self-defense weapon!!!
Hands down, no contest, the E80 is the clear winner here!
Sound Wrap-up
The E80 leave me wishing for quicker bass attack to speed things up a bit down there. Leave the mids alone, as they're really nice. A bit more detail up top so I don't miss things would be nice. Overall, these are a nice, relaxed sound signature for longer listening sessions with just enough sparkle up top to keep things interesting. Again, I love Altone200, so keep that in mind when gauging how I hear the E80!
SUMMARY
The SoundMagic E80 are an attractive, ergonomic IEM with a slight bass emphasis, sweet mids, and relaxed upper end. It's got a lot going for it, even if it's not my preferred sound signature. From the reviews so far, it's obvious that a lot of people will like, if not love the E80. Personally, I'd like to see a more supple, less microphonic cable. I'd also prefer tighter / quicker bass and more detail retrieval.
I have absolutely no connection to SoundMagic and have no incentive to compose this review other than to provide my own honest opinion.
I'm going to make this a quick, pictureless review (I know, I know. Boring, right...). I'll go through some highlights of what I thought made the E80 special and where I found room for improvement.
For pictures, please check out one of the other five reviews HERE. They all took absolutely fantabulous pics of these cute little guys!
So, here we go...
ABOUT ME
I'm a 43 year old music lover who listens to a wide variety of genres and artists (but mostly electronic, metal, and modern composition these days). I've been enjoying IEM since the venerable Shure E2C was released and have listened to a lot of IEM over the years. As with a lot of people my age, I've got some hearing issues - some upper frequency loss and mild tinnitus. So my reviews might be particularly valuable for people in the same boat.
ACCESSORIES
Since these were a loaner, I just got the E80 with some Lunashops heir-style tips and the carry case. I have reviewed the provided accessories and think SoundMagic provides a great accessories package with the E80. I really like it that they provide S, M, and L narrow bore, wide bore, and comply tips. I also liked the compact semi-rigid carry case. The only thing missing are ear guides, so those who go for those might be disappointed. I abhor them, so it wouldn't be a loss for me if I were to purchase the E80. Good job SoundMagic!
BUILD
The E80 are a fairly small, straight barrel single dynamic IEM made of aluminum with some minor plastic accents. You can choose between a couple colors. The pair I was loaned were a sexy red color and were quite attractive! Cable exit is out the back of the barrel. Luckily SoundMagic provided a good strain relief there. The nozzle is standard size and has a good lip to see your tips on nice and snug. It made a nice popping noise when I put the Lunashop tips on. There was one vent on the shell near the nozzle.
The cable is a bit of a mess, honestly. It seems to be the trend to affix shiny, springy cables to otherwise nice IEM these days. It makes the cables hard to wind and increases microphonics. I just don't get it, and hope the trend ends immediately! I am glad SoundMagic included a cable cinch, and it's a really thin one. I haven't seen one of this sort on IEM before. You'll see it when you check out pics from the other reviews.
Strain reliefs are good. Nothing to write home about, but they'll do their job quite nicely.
Y splitter and plug housing are both aluminum and color match the shells perfectly to my eye.
Speaking of the plug, it's one of those 45º plugs that some people absolutely abhor. Not me, I love them - good on you SoundMagic for being an in-betweener! And the plug has ridges near the insertion point to make it easier to grip when unplugging from your phone or DAP. Nice touch! It also fits into smartphone cases, which quite honestly any IEM plug should nowadays. (Shame on you manufacturers who don't do this! Get with the times!!!)
Ok, that's it. Pretty good marks all around here besides the shiny, springy cable. Seem like they're build pretty well. Moving on...
ERGONOMICS
As I mentioned, I'm not a fan of the cable. It's springy nature increased microphonics and made it more difficult to wear over ear. The dreaded ear guides would've been useful if I actually wanted to try that. As with most straight barrel IEM, I much prefer wearing them down and relying on the cable cinch + shirt clip to attenuate any microphonics, finding it much easier to get a good fit and seal. The E80 were no exception. I'm sure plenty of you will enjoy wearing them up. Not me. Once I got them into my ears, I found them really comfortable and easy to maintain a good seal.
ISOLATION
It's ok. I've had better, but not too bad.
SOUND
As I mention in every review, I find describing what I hear a lot more difficult than some but enjoy trying. It's a work in progress...
For context, I really like the TPEOS Altone200's sound signature and can listen to it for long periods at a stretch out of my X5 without feeling fatigue.
Also for context, I didn't tip roll with these - just used the provided tips. They sealed well and were comfortable.
I'd describe the E80 as having fairly full, round bass that's a bit slow, sweet mids, and slightly attenuated highs. I'll try to explain with some examples.
I listened to the E80 for a few days as my primary IEM with my Fiio X5 and iPhone + Calyx PaT and then did some comparative listening with a few IEM I thought would be of interest - the RHA MA750 and VSONIC VSD5 and ANV16.
Here's what I found...
vs. VSD5
After becoming accustomed to the E80, the VSD5 sounds edgy and lacking in bass extension and quantity. When I go back to the E80 after listening to a few songs with the VSD5, I notice that I'm missing some upper end details with E80 that I heard clearly with the VSD5. A particularly noticeable example was one point in a song where the drummer simultaneously hit the kick drums and cymbals. I can clearly hear kick drums and cymbals with VSD5, but the bass isn't as punchy as it should be. With the E80, I get one punchy, sharp sound but can't separate out the cymbals from the kick drum. It's as if the kick drums just sound a bit star for some reason.
After listening to E80 for awhile, the VSD5 sounds stretched out and diluted. Give it a bit, and it sounds natural. Switch back to E80, and it sounds overly intimate. Give it some time, and it sounds just fine. Our brains are just funny that way!
Oh yeah, I'm not a big fan of VSD5 housing shape / construction. It's got sharp angles, you can feel seams, and the strain reliefs aren't built to inspire confidence.
Just a note that I found this comparison challenging because these two have quite different presentations, making comparison difficult - apples to oranges type stuff and all.
Overall, I'm giving the battle to the E80 even though I really missed some of the details the VSD5 can provide. The E80 just sounds more natural to my ears and is easier to listen to for longer periods of time.
vs. ANV16
Another complementary pairing, although ANV16 pulls it off much better than VSD5.
To set the stage, ANV16 is a lean / dry sound signature. There's nothing sweet about it to my ears. Bass isn't elevated at all and sounds tighter and more linear than VSD5. It doesn't sound as edgy as VSD5 and has more air and better soundstage.
As with the VSD5, I was able to clearly distinguish the kick drums and cymbals in the passage I mentioned above, and it sounded much tighter than VSD5.
Compared to the E80, the ANV16 has tighter bass but with a lot less quantity, dry mids, and more upper mid and treble presence. Bouncing between these two makes E80 drums sound slow and bloated. I'm also missing out on details up top with E80 that I'm getting with ANV16. E80's soundstage again sounds overly intimate. Moving to ANV16 from E80 makes the ANV16 sound thin / diluted but also quick / crisp / dry.
ANV16 have much better build and ergonomics than VSD5 and quite different vs. E80. I love, love, love the ANV16's rotating nozzle!!!
It's hard for me to pick a winner here because I think they're both quite good at the presentation they're shooting for. I'd pick ANV16 for shorter, more detail oriented listening and E80 for longer, relaxed listening sessions.
vs. MA750
Whew, finally a much easier comparison...
These aren't nearly so different. E80 wins again. Bass is similar but has a bit more attack than E80. MA750 has recessed mids that make me miss the E80's sweet mids. As with E80, I still can't clearly distinguish kick drum and cymbal with MA750, again getting more or less one sound like a sharp kick drum.
For me, E80's ergonomics just completely destroy the MA750's, although the MA750 are built to last! I swear you could use MA750 as a self-defense weapon!!!
Hands down, no contest, the E80 is the clear winner here!
Sound Wrap-up
The E80 leave me wishing for quicker bass attack to speed things up a bit down there. Leave the mids alone, as they're really nice. A bit more detail up top so I don't miss things would be nice. Overall, these are a nice, relaxed sound signature for longer listening sessions with just enough sparkle up top to keep things interesting. Again, I love Altone200, so keep that in mind when gauging how I hear the E80!
SUMMARY
The SoundMagic E80 are an attractive, ergonomic IEM with a slight bass emphasis, sweet mids, and relaxed upper end. It's got a lot going for it, even if it's not my preferred sound signature. From the reviews so far, it's obvious that a lot of people will like, if not love the E80. Personally, I'd like to see a more supple, less microphonic cable. I'd also prefer tighter / quicker bass and more detail retrieval.
@leobigfield: Man, E80 and ANV16 couldn't be more different! Very complementary sound signatures, IMHO.