Notes:
- my unit was bought for full price and I have no obligations to the brand
- I am an amateur so cut me some slack
- I hate 7-8khz peaks and am generally treble-sensetive, so warm and bassy iems are my preferrence
1) Intro
Prior to buying this IEM I heard about Astrotec as a manufacturer who was one of the first to start making budget hybrid IEMs (AX30&35, the latter is possibly one of the best bangs for the buck you can get) and made quite a success at it.
However as their current lineup is seen - there are only pure models available( DD AM lineup and pure BA Delphinius and their new BT earphone).
Out of two options I picked the safest one =)
ATM I have these at hand for more than 3 month and use them few times a week. The photos are taken recently so keep that in mind to judge their a bit weary look =)
2) The Package
AM850 come in a decent box with a nice texture and sleeve (all specs info is on it). Inside you may find the iems and the first set oof silicon tips.
Underneath is a flight adapter. second set of silicon tips, one pair of foamies and ear-hooks + envelope-like faux-leather purse.
It fits IEM's nicely and given the build quality I don't think that it is soft is a big deal, but don't put it in your back-pocket just in case)
3) Build
IEMs are made of metal, and it is probably steel. On their back is wooden insert that adds some nice style to them. Not sure if it affects the sound, but it surely looks nice.
The cable is in silicon insulation, with L-shaped 3.5 mini-jack. It is nice to touch. Somewhat like soft-touch plastic. The splitter looks like a sourcee oh potential trouble as there is no sleeve or something like that.
During first weeks of use the cable was nice and easy to use, but with first cold days it started to curl and it is not very cool, but given the porice point - something I can live with.
The housings are quite small, with average length of the nozzle ( has a small lip, so the issue of having an eartip stuck in the canal is slightly less likely to occur =D ) and a vent in the front part of the iem. I haven't noticed any driver flex during usage, but keep in mind that over the period of usage this IEM had undergone tonal changes ( though not radical).
The fit is quite easy and comfortable and variety of tips you can use is vast. The nozzle's size and form are quite generic, so - no issue here.
4) Sound
The sound of this IEM can be described as comfortable, warm and a bit relaxed.
The lows are emphasized, but not in a manner of a boombox. More like a rumbling in the distance.
Lower end reachs quite deep and subbass extention is really there. :Lower mids are present too, though they have no bumps and sound naturally.
Mids are typicall for DD driver - they are not as detailed as BA , but natural and easy to listen to. Nothing exceptional, though nothing bad either.
Highs have roll-off, which is not terribly early, but clearly is there, when compared too multi-driver BA or fullsize headphones. Again- given the price tag it isn't a big deal, but this marks this IEM as not a great choice for critical listening.
The imaginary scene is not congested, but the lack of treble peaks makes it not airy or spacious. The fact that is a single-bore single driver design is obvious too.
I haven't noticed any peaks or bumps in sibilance or brilliance regions during my frequent use, but out of the box the highs were harsher than after initial burn-in in the cupboard and even more after few days of use. Some detalisation was gone with it, but the sound got really mellow and cozy.
5) Summary
Overall AM850 are a good choice for everyday listening in the big city: lower end emphasis makes it sound despite the outside noise. Mids are decent and highs are not fatigueing, though clearly present.
They seem to be not so much of an audiophile offering; rather than that they are an excellent choice for everyday usage.
- my unit was bought for full price and I have no obligations to the brand
- I am an amateur so cut me some slack
- I hate 7-8khz peaks and am generally treble-sensetive, so warm and bassy iems are my preferrence
1) Intro
Prior to buying this IEM I heard about Astrotec as a manufacturer who was one of the first to start making budget hybrid IEMs (AX30&35, the latter is possibly one of the best bangs for the buck you can get) and made quite a success at it.
However as their current lineup is seen - there are only pure models available( DD AM lineup and pure BA Delphinius and their new BT earphone).
Out of two options I picked the safest one =)
ATM I have these at hand for more than 3 month and use them few times a week. The photos are taken recently so keep that in mind to judge their a bit weary look =)
2) The Package
AM850 come in a decent box with a nice texture and sleeve (all specs info is on it). Inside you may find the iems and the first set oof silicon tips.
Underneath is a flight adapter. second set of silicon tips, one pair of foamies and ear-hooks + envelope-like faux-leather purse.
It fits IEM's nicely and given the build quality I don't think that it is soft is a big deal, but don't put it in your back-pocket just in case)
3) Build
IEMs are made of metal, and it is probably steel. On their back is wooden insert that adds some nice style to them. Not sure if it affects the sound, but it surely looks nice.
The cable is in silicon insulation, with L-shaped 3.5 mini-jack. It is nice to touch. Somewhat like soft-touch plastic. The splitter looks like a sourcee oh potential trouble as there is no sleeve or something like that.
During first weeks of use the cable was nice and easy to use, but with first cold days it started to curl and it is not very cool, but given the porice point - something I can live with.
The housings are quite small, with average length of the nozzle ( has a small lip, so the issue of having an eartip stuck in the canal is slightly less likely to occur =D ) and a vent in the front part of the iem. I haven't noticed any driver flex during usage, but keep in mind that over the period of usage this IEM had undergone tonal changes ( though not radical).
The fit is quite easy and comfortable and variety of tips you can use is vast. The nozzle's size and form are quite generic, so - no issue here.
4) Sound
The sound of this IEM can be described as comfortable, warm and a bit relaxed.
The lows are emphasized, but not in a manner of a boombox. More like a rumbling in the distance.
Lower end reachs quite deep and subbass extention is really there. :Lower mids are present too, though they have no bumps and sound naturally.
Mids are typicall for DD driver - they are not as detailed as BA , but natural and easy to listen to. Nothing exceptional, though nothing bad either.
Highs have roll-off, which is not terribly early, but clearly is there, when compared too multi-driver BA or fullsize headphones. Again- given the price tag it isn't a big deal, but this marks this IEM as not a great choice for critical listening.
The imaginary scene is not congested, but the lack of treble peaks makes it not airy or spacious. The fact that is a single-bore single driver design is obvious too.
I haven't noticed any peaks or bumps in sibilance or brilliance regions during my frequent use, but out of the box the highs were harsher than after initial burn-in in the cupboard and even more after few days of use. Some detalisation was gone with it, but the sound got really mellow and cozy.
5) Summary
Overall AM850 are a good choice for everyday listening in the big city: lower end emphasis makes it sound despite the outside noise. Mids are decent and highs are not fatigueing, though clearly present.
They seem to be not so much of an audiophile offering; rather than that they are an excellent choice for everyday usage.