ADV.Sound EVO X

mejoshua

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Clarity and sound quality, good battery life
Cons: Hard to get a secure fit, may need to play with different ear tips or use Complys
ADV.Sound graciously sent me a set of the EVO X for review, in return for my honest opinion.

I've had some experience with bluetooth earphones, and generally I do not have a great impression of them because they typically sound very generic and bass heavy, with a lack of clarity and a very forward, in-your-face kind of sound signature. The Evo X defies that stereotype

The packaging is fairly utilitarian but comes well accessorised. It comes with a nice zipper carrying case, and a short micro usb cable is included for charging, as well as extra foam and silicone tips for tip rolling.

What sets the Evo X apart for me is the quality of the sound. All other bluetooth earphones I've tried so far does not even come close (Jabra, Jaybird etc. and partly because of that I gave up on bluetooth earphones. However, I relented and decided to give the Evo X a chance, and I'm glad I did.

Bass
The bass has a slight but very tastefully tuned midbass bump - which is really nice because when outdoors it compensates for the lack of bass in a noisy environment. Even though it is not the most linear it adds a nice rhythmic feel to the music. The mid bass bump is also not overly emphasised, lending itself to nice texturing of the bass and impact, albeit a little softer in character.

Mids
Mids come through crystal clear with good definition and weight. Voices are very nicely rendered and there is pretty accurate reproduction of timbre. Norah Jones was quite lifelike and detailed, unlike any other bluetooth earphone I have heard. There was also a good sense of space surrounding vocals, whereas most other Bluetooth earphones will sound either congested or too forward sounding in order that the midrange can cut through the mix.

Treble
Treble is also well articulated and only slightly rolled off in the higher registers. Even then, what strikes me most is the bell-like clarity that cuts across the frequency spectrum, as well as the quality of the instrumental separation. The treble is slightly rolled off but because of that it also makes it less fatiguing and easily listenable over long periods.

The only problem I had with the Evo X is getting a secure fit all the time. Sometimes it tends to loosen while I am moving, but I suspect this may be due to my ear anatomy. Foam eartips allow me to secure it better but the tradeoff is slightly added bass and slightly less well articulated treble. I would suggest that if you intend to use this for sports or outdoor activities, unless you are able to get a secure fit, use the foam eartips.

All in all, I feel that ADV.Sound has produced an excellent product with the Evo X - this should appeal to the audiophiles who do not want to sacrifice sound quality in a bluetooth every day solution, or even for sport fanatics who like to listen to music while they enjoy sports and train. Well done ADV.Sound!

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Cinder

Formerly known as Res-Reviews
Pros: Very secure, good build quality, durable, good cable, decent accessories, great case, decent battery life
Cons: Occasional stuttering, bass port is in an akward spot
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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Advanced Sound EVO-X: It Doesn’t. Fall. Off![/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Advanced Sound, one of the newest kids on the Hi-Fi block, doesn’t seem to want to slow down. After releasing their massively well-received Model-3 MMCX Bluetooth earphones, they are back at it again with their newest set of Bluetooth earphones, the EVO-X. This time, however, they designed it from the ground up to be the active audiophile’s best friend. Does it live up to Advanced Sound’s claims?[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]You can find the EVO-X for sale here on Advanced Sound’s official website for $60.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. I am not affiliated with Advanced Sound beyond this review. These words reflect my true, unaltered, opinion about the product.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]I would like to thank Peter for this opportunity.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Preference and Bias: Before reading a review, it is worth mentioning that there is no way for a reviewer to objectively pass judgment on the enjoy-ability of a product: such a thing is inherently subjective. Therefore, I find it necessary for you to read and understand what I take a natural liking to and how that might affect my rating of a product.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, mid-bass. The mids should be slightly less pronounced than the treble, but still ahead of the bass. I prefer a more bright upper range.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Source: The Advanced Sound EVO-X was powered like so:[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Nexus 6P -> Bluetooth -> earphones[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Sound Signature[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Initial Impressions:[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Advanced Sound claims that the sound signature of the EVO-X is specially designed to increase sonic performance when the listener is physically active. In practice, this ends up expressing itself by drawing out the treble and kicking up the upper-mids a couple notches, resulting in a healthy V-shaped sound signature with a 1–2KHz bump.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Treble: Songs used: In One EarMidnight CityOutlandsSatisfy[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Treble is boosted and maintains the same iconic tuning present in all the other Advanced IEMs. I really like it. High-hats sit smoothly in the background. While they aren’t exactly up to audiophile standards, that’s okay. This isn’t an audiophile earphone. It’s a workout one.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The synths of Midnight City were really well defined and pretty smooth. There’s no sense of sibilance at all with the EVO-X. Treble-bound elements seem to always be present, but are rarely separated too much from the rest of the sound, leading to a very slightly congested sound.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Mids: Songs used: Flagpole SittaJacked UpI Am The HighwayDreams[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The mids are the EVO-X’s strong point. While they are placed a bit behind the treble and the mid-bass, they remain clear and relatively detailed. Given the form-factor and price-point of this IEM I really can’t complain. Guitars are reasonably detailed and have an okay crunch to them. They miss that last bit of roughness to be truly convincing, but again, that’s not unexpected.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Vocals are pleasant as well. The 1–2KHz area seems to be boosted a bit to ensure that you can always hear the singer clearly. This is a bet that worked pretty well, as I never heard the vocals drop out of intelligibility, even when rock climbing or running.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Bass: Songs used: MothGold DustIn For The Kill (Skream Remix)Leave Me[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The bass-guitar in Moth was easy to hear, and had some shaping to it. While there is room for improvement, I don’t find it to be imperative to enjoy the bass of this earphone.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Bass-heads will be happy to hear that there is a decent amount of wetness to the bass, with a good amount of impact and rumble. It’s nice to have a heavy electronic song come on mid-workout and have it give you that extra push.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Sub-bass is decent, though not as strong as I would have liked. Extension is good, but doesn’t impress me at this price-point. Given the fact that this is a Bluetooth IEM, I wouldn’t be surprised if these drivers, in exactly the same housing, would sound better wired. However, the average performance of the sub-bass didnt stop me from enjoying songs like In For The Kill and Leave Me.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Packaging / Unboxing[/color]

 
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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]You’ll have to excuse me ripping off the official box image from Advanced’s website, as I seemed to have lost all the ones I took. If you would like to see real-life images, please check out some other reviews, there are certainly some good ones out there.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Build[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Construction Quality[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The EVO-X’s construction is one that inspires confidence in me. While it is primarily made out of plastic, I can’t find any weak points that look like they could mean trouble. The face-plate is made from a shiny plastic (that attracts lots of finger-prints). The rest of the IEM is made from a matte plastic.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]
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[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]There are hard black plastic ear guides that are quite durable. They bend a bit to accommodate your ears’ unique shape.[/color]
 
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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The cable, short as it is, is quite good. It appears to be a gray translucent plastic sleeve over white twined multi-core wire. It has a nice plasticity and isn’t microphonic at all.[/color]
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[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The EVO-X uses a bulb form-factor, likely to prevent the nozzle from moving around too much on the ear while you are active. The bass-port is located on the inside of this bulb, which I think was a poor decision. If you push the EVO-X in far enough, it really impacts the clarity of the IEM as a whole. If this was relocated somewhere else, I would be really happy, as someone with weird ears like mine currently has to choose between good sound and great isolation.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Connectivity / Battery Life[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The EVO-X uses Bluetooth for connectivity, and doesn’t have a wired mode (unlike the more expensive Model 3). Battery life is pretty good, and I consistently got close to 5 hours out of the EVO-X .[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]You can charge the EVO-X through the micro-USB port embedded in the right ear piece.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]
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[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]While I’ve heard a good number of people complain about the EVO’s connectivity range, I can say that I’m not too affected by it. I’ve only had a single bout of poor connectivity over the fifty or so hours I’ve used it so far. While the overall range of the EVO-X could certainly be improved, I found it to not cause a problem for me with my day-to-day use.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Controls[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The controls are also built straight into the EVO-X, not set to dangle on the cable. This makes it much easier to run with, as both sides of the cable are balanced. The buttons are nice and tactile, and have all the functionality you would expect from a modern workout earphone.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Comfort[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The EVO-X is reasonably comfortable, and never bothered me during my workouts. Now, I don’t work out in the traditional way. I prefer to do extreme sports. Rather than lift, I climb. Rather than hit the treadmill, I trail run. Rather than bike, I BMX. These earphones never fall off. It’s ridiculous. Whether I’m falling off the rock-climbing wall or slamming into the floor coming out of a failed trick on my bike, the EVO-X was always there, faithfully playing whatever song was next on my playlist.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Accessories[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The EVO-X comes with a reasonable set of accessories. Inside the box you will find:[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]
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[/color]
  1. 3 pairs of black foam tips
  2. 3 pairs of black silicone tips
  3. 1 carrying pouch
  4. 1 microUSB charging cable
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]I can’t think of anything else you’d really need to enjoy the EVO-X, so no complaints here. As per usual, the case that comes with the EVO-X (which is identical to the one from the Model 3) is really good as it holds the EVO-X and all the accessories with ease.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The eartips, both foam and silicone, are comfortable and easy to use.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Summary[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The EVO-X is a really solid workout IEM. It sounds good for the price, even when you are active. Furthermore, the hand of God couldn’t shake it off your ears, even if it tried. If you are like me, and your active sport of choice involves lots of falling down and (possibly) hurting yourself, then take a serious look at the EVO-X.[/color]
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chompchomps

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Lightweight, Excellent sound, Quick pairing, Sexy Aesthetics.
Cons: Fingerprint magnet, may not be bassy enough for EDM gym junkies
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Unboxing
This package came in an unassuming black box with the branding directly on the front. Opening it reveals the very nice semi-hard case that stores the earphones. Opening the case will reveal the package contents which include:
  1. The Evo X with Foam tips
  2. 1 microUSB charging cable
  3. 3 pairs of black silicon tips in S,M,L
  4. 2 other foam tips
 
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Build quality
Touted as a wireless IEM for Sports, i would expect these to be light and durable for a rugged workout. When i first picked it up, it feels pleasingly lightweight, and it feels slightly lighter than my other sports earphones like the Jaybird Bluebud X and the MeeAudio X7’s, though i don't have a digital scale to weigh them. The EVO X has majority of surface covered in soft touch plastic, with a portion being glossy and showing of the branding of the product. I liked the soft touch plastic which feels great but the glossy surface is a major fingerprint magnet that might be a turnoff to some.
 
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The bottom of the shell would end with a red and blue shiny plastic which indicates the right and left sides. The both sides are then connected with a semi-translucent cable sheath which shows off the twisted cables beneath. There is also a slider which ensures a secure fit to the users head to prevent these from falling out. I've noticed that this IEM does not come with an inline remote that are a common for most sports earphones, but this being a over ear design and sporting a bigger shell, the controls are in built into the earphones as shown in the pictures below.
 
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The usb charging port, volume rocker and power button are all on the right side of the IEM. As usual, the usb port is covered with a rubber cover which prevents sweat from damaging the port. I liked that the both edges of the volume rocker are raised, making it easier to navigate and press during workout sessions as compared to a flat volume rocker.
 
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Another praise for this product is the very well sized carrying case that they provide. Large enough to store all the accessories without the need to squeeze into tiny cases like some other companies. The Semi-hard case is slightly smaller than the Pelican case as shown below.
 
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Comfort
During my workouts, i would want a fuss free wearing process and a secure fit to minimise any disruptions during runs or burpees. While wearing them for my workout for a week, i’ve found that these indeed have a secure fit and i was able to put it on with ease thanks to the cable slider at the back, securing it to the back of my head. The nozzles on the EVOX are also angled, giving the user a good fit. I felt that isolation was just average, but it might be a safety feature to let in some ambient noise from the surrounding hazards one might face.
 
Sound Quality
An IEM’s sound quality is indeed one of the major factors in purchasing it. These have been advertised as
 
“A set of quick and transient beryllium dynamic drivers that are specifically tuned for sports application in order to provide additional emphasis on the mid / treble details which tend to be lost during workout.”
 
Testing out these in both commute and during my workouts, i felt that these IEM’s really do deliver, with an increased focus on the treble and not so much the mids which i feel might just be average. This made acoustic songs and female voices nice to listen to. The bass is fast and have a good quantity to it but i personally i feel that the bass doesn't have the oomph and the deep sub bass extension to give me the heart thumping adrenaline that i like to have with my EDM music during my workouts.
 
I liked that the subdued bass doesn't overpower the mids and highs, giving me a more enjoyable experience for normal pop songs before and after the gym session.
 
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What can be improved
This pair of IEM’s have been a joy to use but there are some areas i felt that is able to make it a notch better. Apart from the fingerprint magnet on the glossy shell, there is a groove on the ear hook for the wire to pass through and this exposed area might be a melting pot of accumulated sweat and bacteria that would disgust some people. The exposed area gives it a nice aesthetic look, however, allowing the user to clean the groove under the cable would be a nice addition.
 
I also felt that the cable are quite springy and stiff, and tended to irritate me once in awhile as i prefer a softer more pliable cable. Since we’re on the topic of cables, PERSONALLY i feel that i like the memory cable fit more than the rigid over the ear fit as the memory cable made me feel like it's more secure on my head. Don't get me wrong, these are secure and did not fall off or get dislodged but with the memory over the ear cable, i felt more secure that the IEM will stay on my head.
 
Comparing to the MeeAudio X7s and Jaybird Bluebud X, i felt that these have some advantages over them like having the controls built into the shell rather than having an in-line control, and that some may prefer the less overwhelming bass on the EVOX.
 
Conclusion
I felt like this pair of IEM is priced at a price at $59.99 on the ADVANCED website, these are at a competitive price point and should appeal to users looking for a well tuned sports IEM. Apart from the little niggles that i pointed out, i feel that these would give other companies a run for their money with more expensive offerings like the Jaybird Freedoms and the POWERBEATS 3.
 
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Before i forget, I would like to thank ADVANCED for an opportunity to review this set of IEMs. 
 

gprs007

New Head-Fier
Pros: Sound, Build quality, Comfort and accessories
Cons: Charging time
Hello fellow head-fi members
 
Welcome to the review of Advanced Evo X Sports Wireless In-ear Monitors.
 
Disclaimer
This were a sample provided by Advanced team for my review. I am not affiliated with Advanced team in anyway or getting any financial assistance from them for my review.
 
Advanced team with its successful launch of budget friendly M4 and one of its kind (beast) Model 3, already has set high expectation among music lovers. I was quite excited to review Evo X and lets see the impression it leaves.
 
Where to Buy: https://www.adv-sound.com/collections/all-collection/products/evo-x 
 
Unboxing
Advanced team has taken a minimalist approach for Evo X Packing. Nice and compact packing, with Evo X on the front and details on the backside. 5''X4'' inch box taking minimal space.
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As usual Solid built Carry case etched with Advanced logo carrying Evo X and accessories safely in its tummy, Keeping her safe and secure. 
 
What it contains?
As usual Advanced team is generous with accessories and has supplied some top notch accessories.
3 pairs of foam tips
3 pairs of silicone tips
1 carrying case
1 User manual
1 microUSB charging cable
 
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Build Quality
Build quality is something which Advanced team has never compromised on and the tradition continues. The Premium carry case (the same as Model3) as stated on Advanced website does look and feel premium and makes sure Evo X is safe and secure in your gym bag, 
Plastic/Rubber used to build in housing is top notch (glossy top for look and rubber bottom to avoid slips), Housings are color coded (as well as marked R and L inside) with Red for Right and blue for Left. Cables as usual solid with a cable adjuster.
 
Ease of Use
Hassle free pairing with my iphone 6 plus and wife's iphone 7+ (Thanks to wify for letting me use for phone for clicking pics and some of the calling).
All (multipurpose) controls of the headphone are located on right side (including the charging slot). Power Button located at the end of housing which doubles as call connect/disconnect controller is easily accessible during work out sessions (Tried it while biking and on tread mill). Volume control + Track Skips are easy to reach and operate. Single press skip the tracks and long press will increase or decrease the volume. 
Something other manufacturers need to make a note of, As mentioned by fellow head-fi member b9scrambler skip tracks is quite commonly performed action by users than volume control (Once volume is set hardly we change)
 
Comfort
As soon as I unboxed, i removed the silicone tips and replaced with supplied memory foam tips without a second thought (My take memory foam is the way to go and never loved silicone tips). Something I admire of Advanced team's design team attention to detail and Ergonomics. I was skeptical about fit and comfort looking at the size of the housing (I am a regular wearer of glasses and only time I take of my glasses is while sleeping). Angled nozzle, light housing and ear hooks create a light and shallow fit which let the users keep it on for long without any fatigue.
 
When you buy a wireless headphones, the expectation is once you tuck them in ear, they do not popout or you don't have to keep adjusting them. Evo X passes this requirement in flying colors, Put them on and adjust the chord length you all set. No worries of ear buds popping out or you need to keep meddling with it to keep them on.
 
I tried Evo X while playing pingpong which involves lot of movement (unplanned) and did not find any trouble of adjusting them or fear of popping out. 
 
Charging and Battery Life
Specs states once charged, Evo X is good for 5 hours of use. The performance matches with what is claimed. 
The only drawback is it takes 2 hours for complete charging. :frowning2:
(Note: I am planning to use my Anker quick charge plug for next round of charging and see will there be any improvement)
 
Calling
Tried it for Regular calls, facetime and some international calls. Works perfectly fine. Neither me nor the caller had any issues hearing each other, 
 
Isolation
These earbuds gives you a shallow fit which may not result in good isolation. As stated by b9scrambler this is something dependent on individuals view point. If you are outdoors (cycling or running) its always good to hear some outside sound so that you will be aware of surrounding. 
 
Sound Quality
I used my iphone 6 plus + Spotify combination for most of my testing.
Sound signature of Evo X is more in line with its elder sibling Model 3. 
Evo X offer punchier bass with primary focus on mid bass. Mids is where it excels, details offered by it may not be phenomenon but does a fantastic job. Vocals sound lively, Adele's hello was treat. Pharrell Willaims Happy sounds fabulous giving needed adrenaline rush. 
 
Conclusion
Evo X is perfect mid range addition to Advanced earuds lineup. With perfect Ergonomics offering comfort and ease of use, paired with Punchy bass and detailed mid range they have created one of the best Sports bluetooth IEM's. They have earned a permanent place in my gym bag which I doubt will be replaced in future. 
 
Kudos Advanced team, Hope you continue creating these small wonders :)  

B9Scrambler

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Intuitive Controls - Comfort and Stability - Clean U-Shaped Signature
Cons: Occasional connection jitters - Mild driver flex
Greetings Head-fi!
 
In a past long gone, wireless audio was scoffed at for it's spotty connections, bulky modules, and compromised sound quality. Over the years technology has advanced and great steps have been taken to address these issues. Luckily, I've more or less leapfrogged straight into the era of quality wireless sound, bypassing the mediocrity.
 
ADVANCED first appeared on the scene with a killer budget micro-driver based earphone, the M4. They followed that up with a monster of an earphone that had a nifty trick up it's sleeve; a removable Bluetooth module. The Model 3 entirely sold me on the concept that wireless sound can be just as good as wired, proven through it's ability to swap between wired and wireless use.
 
Now we have their newest entry, the Evo X. This time around ADVANCED has gone with a dedicated wireless product that doesn't have the luxury of a removable Bluetooth module like the Model 3, so it better perform well at it's intended purpose as a sports earphone. Does it? Let's find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
The Evo X was provided complimentary by ADVANCED in exchange for a fair and impartial review. Big thanks to Peter for reaching out to see if I was interested. This earphone is still considered the property of ADVANCED until they state otherwise. I am not receiving financial or any other form of compensation for this review. All comments and opinions within are my own and do not represent ADVANCED or any other entity.
 
The Evo X retailed for 59.99 USD at the time of this review. You can check them out here on ADVANCED's site; https://www.adv-sound.com/collections/all-collection/products/evo-x
 
My Gear and I:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread, reviews from other established reviewers, and thus being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, Meze and many more. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done and payment enough.
 
I primarily used my HTC One M8 with additional testing done on a Samsung Nexus S, Samsung S2X, Motorola Moto G (Gen 1), PS VITA, and a quick link to my wife's laptop, a Lenovo G50-45. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures, I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even mid-range response, and reduced mid-bass. My favorite in-ear, the Echobox Finder X1 with grey filters is a good example of this.
 

 
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Packaging and Accessories:
 
I've always liked ADVANCED's packaging and watching it evolve across models has been a nice experience. The Evo X's packaging is the most simple but also the most coherent of the lineup.
 
First of all, it's very compact measuring in at approximately 5"x 4"x 2". That's not only nice for shipping and store shelves, but for collectors like myself it means it won't take up a ton of room on my display shelf. This cool little box is something I will want to display.
 
The exterior sheath features a very mature and modern design giving you only what you want to know and in a very clear and concise manner. The front and left side show off the Evo X's earpieces and cable. The right side contains ADVANCED's poetic mission statement and some of their core values. Flipping to the rear things get down to business.
 
The first item to reach out and grab your attention will probably be the frequency chart which shows off a clean u-shaped signature. Below that is a description of the Beryllium dynamic driver and the intended tuning; additional mid and treble emphasis to bring out the detail that is often lost when using an earphone during strenuous activity. Don't take this to mean the Evo X is bright, like the M4. They're not, but I'll get to that later.
 
Also shown is a blown up image of the Evo X's construction and a list of the included accessories. As with the M4 and Model 3, ADVANCED did a good job providing you with what you'll need for a nice experience. Included you will find;
 
- 3 pairs of foam tips in s/m/l
- 3 pairs of silicone tips in s/m/l
- 1 hard clamshell carrying case
- 1 microUSB charging cable
 
I really appreciate that ADVANCED sought to include foams tips in multiple sizes, something you don't see very often. Generally it's just a single set of medium foams and some silicone options to accompany them.
 
Sliding off the sheath reveals a jet black box with the ADVANCED logo in the middle. Open the magnetically sealed flap (from the left?) and you're greeted by the same awesome carrying case that came with the Model 3. It's spacious, well constructed, and quite durable. It's a little big for most pockets though. Inside the case the Evo X earphone and all accessories are neatly stored. Finally, there is ADVANCED's typical teensy leaflette that acts as a user manual explaining all the functions of the Evo X.
 
The Evo X offers a minimalist but very pleasant unboxing and comes with a good number of quality accessories. No complaints.
 

 
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Build, Usability, Comfort, and Isolation:
 
As I have come to expect from ADVANCED's products, the Evo X is well built. The housings are a mix of matte, rubberized plastic providing grip against your ear, glossy but fingerprint prone plastic on display for others to see, and extremely handy, built-in rubber ear hooks that are a key aspect in the Evo X's amazing fit and stability. Even though the design means the Evo X can only be worn one way, there are very clear blue and red metal end caps on the ear hooks that denote left and right channels.
 
The function buttons on the right earpiece are placed intuitively and are very easy to use without much thought. The track skip and volume controls are on what is essentially a small toggle switch while the start/stop/call answer and hang up button is placed on the end of the housing. It takes effort to hit the wrong button.
 
While it was a little awkward at first, ADVANCED's personalized controls for volume and track skipping became second nature and is something I would like to see carry over to other manufacturers products. I tend to skip through my track list quite frequently which with most earphones requires pressing and holding the button for a couple seconds. That's a pain when you're trying to skip quickly, so in more cases than not I pull out my phone and skip tracks there. With the Evo X a long press will raise or lower volume while single presses skip through tracks. I find this much faster and more convenient. especially since I'm unlikely to mess around with volume once set.
 
Comfort on the Evo X was much better than I was expecting. The driver is fairly small and housed in it's own separate protrusion from the electronics. This topped off with a fairly short and well angled nozzle resulting in a shallow fit product. This should be a plus to those out there who aren't fans of sticking things in your ears. Despite the fairly large exterior housings, the Evo X is extremely light making the ear hooks extra effective at keeping the Evo X in place. While the design really doesn't look like anything special is going on, I found the Evo X's ergonomics to be spot on and they pretty much disappeared when in use. I never had to spend time readjusting them as I do with my other Bluetooth sets. Once they're in a comfortable position they're stuck in place until you decide to move them. No amount of vigorous head-shaking could break them loose, though it did entice some mild driver flex in the right earpiece.
 
As a result of the shallow fit and ventilated, all plastic/rubber build, isolation is not that great. I suppose that's a good thing given the Evo X's target audience. You need to be able to hear some of what's going on around you and while muted, sound does intrude. It's not overwhelming, however, and the Evo X can go plenty loud anyway in order to drown it out, if that's what you're looking for. The included foam tips also served to boost isolation. Despite the seemingly aerodynamic design, wind noise was also somewhat intrusive but only while heading into a breeze.
 
Overall the Evo X's plastic, lightweight construction feels solid and is put together well. Comfort for me was outstanding, and the controls were extremely easy to use without thinking about what I was doing.
 

 
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Battery and Connection:
 
The Evo X sports a 5 hours battery life and two hour charge time. I've gone through three complete cycles (excluding out of the box use) and am happy to verify these times are accurate. The two hour charge time is a little long for 5 hours of use, especially given the Model 3 cuts 30 minutes off that for the same lifespan, but it's not terrible in practice. I appreciate that the low battery warning isn't overly intrusive, dropping a couple quick beeps every few minutes as the battery winds down.
 
Connection quality is where the Evo X stumbled a little for me, but let's start with the pros. The Evo X starts up and pairs with a true sense of urgency. It takes only a couple second to power them on and pair. Once paired, the connection was perfectly stable with my phone sitting on a desk. I could walk around my apartment without any drops or sputters.
 
I did run into a couple quirks. The media controls stopped responding once, meaning I was unable to start/stop/skip tracks, change volume, etc. I simply had to cycle the Evo X off and on and the problem was resolved. This has yet to resurface. The second quirk is one I ran into with the Syllable D900. If I put my phone in my left pocket, I'll experience every couple minutes a number of rapid drops before the connection stabilizes. This only happens with my phone in my left pants pocket leading me to believe the receiver is in the right earpiece. Not a huge issue, but it was somewhat inconvenient given I'm a lefty and I can't put my source in my preferred location.
 
Overall the battery life is fine but I would like to see some improvements made to connection strength.
 

 
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Call Quality:
 
The Evo X was only used for a few calls but it handled them without any qualms. My caller and I could hear each other clearly and the media controls worked just fine to answer and hang up. Can't really ask for anything more I suppose.
 
Sound Quality:
 
I've been pretty impressed with all ADVANCED earphones so far. The M4 offered up a very detailed, somewhat cold sound with great treble and strong midrange but was lacking a bit when it came to raw bass extension. The Model 3 warmed things up a bit with greater midbass presence and improved extension when compared to the M4, giving each aspect of it's signature pretty even billing.
 
The Evo X has more in common with the Model 3 than the M4 giving users a warmer, bassier sound. I appreciate that ADVANCED made sure to increase mid and treble presence because the Evo X ends up being a pretty balanced and smooth sounding earphone.
 
The Evo X's treble is somewhat dry and lacks sparkle, but it's clean and tight without being splashy or loose, two qualities that can very quickly kill any enjoyment of an earphone for me. While detail isn't through the roof awesome, it's good enough to ensure most minute details are picked up and on display. This is readily apparent during entirety of The Prodigy's 'The Day is My Enemy' album which has lots of gritty, detailed treble. At very high volumes (nearly 100% on both phone and earphone), the Evo X loses composure and both treble clarity and separation suffer, but you shouldn't be listening at those volumes anyway. Well, not if you care about your hearing.
 
The midrange on the Evo X is excellent. Throwing on Tom Cochrane's "Good Times" nets a very intimate and natural experience, especially during the opening sequences. It's captures his low, gruff tones immaculately well and really pulls you into the track. This experience carries over to more mainstream tracks like Jessie J's "Bang Bang" where all the emotion and power of her and Ariana Grande's voices ring through. In fact, every vocal performance I fired through the Evo X sounded great. These things would be wonderful for audio books, though that would be a bit of a waste.
 
Bass on the Evo X focuses a bit too much on mid-bass presence for my tastes and on some tracks, like the aforementioned "Bang Bang", it can come across slightly boomy at times. In general it is reasonably quick but has a softness to it that takes away from their ability to provide a truly impactful low end.
 
Soundstage is about average for an in-ear with above average imaging for a Bluetooth set, at least compared to those models I own. Effects transition clearly from channel to channel with reasonable accuracy, feeling a bit vague just off centre. Given the intended use for the Evo X, this is more than reasonable. I don't know about you, but when I'm jogging or biking and listening to music, hyper-accurate imaging is pretty low on my list of priorities. I want to be entertained, and the Evo X excels at that in spades.
 
Overall the Evo X is a good sounding earphone. They present an entertaining u-shaped signature with a very clear and smooth mid-range that sucks you in and keeps excitement levels high.
 
Select Comparisons:
 
Sound Quality Model 3 -> Evo X -> S09 -> M9B -> BLU-200
 
Connection Quality BLU-200 -> M9B -> Evo X -> S09 -> Model 3
 
Build/Material Quality BLU-200 -> Model 3 = Evo X -> M9B -> S09
 
Comfort/Ergonomics Evo X -> Model 3 -> S09 -> M9B -> BLU-200
 
Battery Life Evo X (5 hrs) = Model 3 (5 hrs) -> BLU-200 = S09 = M9B (4 hrs)
 
Overall The combination of excellent sound quality and comfort along with nice materials, good fit and finish, sweat resistance, and a competitive price make the Evo X my preferred choice. Yes, even over the Model 3 which I have no issues gushing about because it's absolutely fantastic.
 
The Model 3 offers up the most detailed, balanced, and performance oriented signature of the bunch and is more versatile with the ability to run them wired vs. wireless, but the Evo X sounds darn good in it's own way. Plus, it's ergonomics, comfort, and convenience are unmatched in this group.
 
Sure, I could save some money going with the M9B and especially the S09, but despite being nice products they feel like compromises. The Evo X does not. The BLU-200 I feel is by far the weakest of the bunch and really only has going for it those sturdy metal housings and it's strong wireless connection. The price for audio performance lags too far behind with a bassy, bloated sound. Their weight and lack of comfort hurt too.
 

 
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Final Thoughts:
 
The Evo X is another excellent addition to ADVANCED's lineup. Outside of some minor connection instability, there really isn't much negative I can say about them, though I suppose the driver flex when shaking my head was annoying. That said, that never cropped up during regular use so unless you're using them for something truly intense that'll rattle your brain like free-running or trials riding, this probably won't affect you.
 
The greatest praise I can give is to highlight just how nice they are to use on a daily basis. The speed at which they turn on and pair, the comfort and killer ergonomics, and some solid sound quality all combine to make them a stellar earphone. To say they're worth consideration if you're in the market for a Bluetooth set under a 100 USD would be an understatement. The Evo X is very good.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
Test Songs:
 
Aesop Rock - Mars Attacks
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missiles
BT - The Antikythera Mechanism
Daft Punk - Touch
Dillon Francis and NGHTMRE - Need You
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Jessie J - Bang Bang
Kiesza - Hideaway
King Crimson - Red (full album)
Pink Floyd - Money
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)
Supertramp - Rudy
The Prodigy - Get Your Fight On
Tom Cochrane - Good Times
B9Scrambler
B9Scrambler
Thanks Crab!
cofra
cofra
I bought these and have used them for a week. I find them quite unusable when I have thicker clothes on. When having a winter jacket on I get constant drops of sound even if I have the phone in my chest pocket. Weak reception also if I get a body part in the way of the signal, if sitting in a chair and getting my arm on top of my jeans pocket with my phone in crackles the sound.
 
I've only had one pair of wireless iem's since earlier that I owned for a couple of years, the Sony SHB-80, and I never had any issues like this whith those.
 
Now I'll look around for something better.
B9Scrambler
B9Scrambler
You should reach out to ADVANCED and see if they can help. Someone else mentioned they were having similar issues and they're keeping an eye on it. Drops on my pair are minimal and in line with pretty much every other Bluetooth iem I've got. Thinking there could have been a bad batch that went out.
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