Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out the Bluetooth version of Mee Audio's classic budget earphone, the M9B.
 
Mee Audio, formerly MEElectronics, has been around since 2005 and is known for offering high quality, low cost products to their valued customers. Earlier this year they stepped up their game with the very well-received Pinnacle P1 but have since gone back to their roots releasing the M9B, a Bluetooth variant of the ever-popular M9 Classic. Let's take a closer look shall we?
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Mark with KS Distribution for connecting me with Mee Audio and a sample of the M9B in exchange for a fair and impartial review. There is no financial incentive for writing this review, nor are the comments within representative of Mee Audio or any other entity.
 
The M9B retails for 29.99 USD. You can check it out here on Mee Audio's site; www.meeaudio.com/M9B
 
Be sure to check them out on Facebook too; https://www.facebook.com/MEEaudio/
 
About Me:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The M9B arrived in some pretty basic but perfectly functional packaging. Donned in a blue, black, and white color scheme, the front contains a high-rez, glossy image of the M9B and a quick description of them. Flip open the magnetically sealed flap and you're greeted by the M9B in use on the left, and a viewing window showing off the product and ear tips on the right. The side panels list the included accessories and specifications. On the rear some key features are listed, such as multipoint functionality which enables you to connect to two devices at once. I was quite surprised to see that welcome feature included in such a low cost Bluetooth device.
 
Opening the package and sliding out the inner plastic tray reveals the M9B nestled in place, as you would have expected from the quick preview you got earlier. The included accessories are;
- a compact 7" micro USB charging cable
- three sets of single flange, wide bore silicone ear tips in s/m/l
- one set of dual flange ear tips
 
While limited, the accessories are of decent quality and work just fine. I was able to get a consistent seal with both the preinstalled dual-flange tips and medium single flange tips. The USB cable connected firmly and charged the earphones without issue. The overall unboxing experience is basic but pleasant and functional.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
The M9B isn't going to win any awards for their design which could be best described as minimalistic. Their small, black, lightweight aluminum housings are a straightforward barrel shape without any interesting design flourishes. Above the silver vents on the rear of each housing are L/R markings and the Mee Audio logo. It's a very subtle, clean design that won't be drawing any unwanted attention to you. I quite like it.
 
The entire assembly is about 23" in length. Mee Audio made sure to include a cable cinch allowing you to clean up any slack. This helps ensure a stable, comfortable fit, reduces cable noise, and take up some of the weight of the offset control module. Speaking of the controller, it is very well-built. The plastics used feel very thick and sturdy and the buttons depress with a very satisfying 'click'. It also worked perfectly with my HTC One M8, controlling music and volume with ease.
 
The cable is quite nice as well, though a bit stiff. It's reasonably thick and well-relieved leading into the housings. There is no strain relief leading into the control module which is a bit of an oversight given it weighs a fair bit.
 
Isolation is about average for a dynamic driver, letting in just enough outside noise o ensure you can remain mostly aware of your surroundings. This could be both a positive and negative, depending on the value you place on absolute isolation from your surroundings.
 

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Bluetooth Connection:
 
The M9B was really easy to pair with my HTC One M8. Just hold down the power button and keeping holding to enter pairing mode. Turn on the M8's Bluetooth and locate the M9B which was clearly labeled as "MEE audio M9B". Select it. Pairing took place almost immediately, and the connection was strong with only the occasional hiccup. Subsequent automatic connections surprised at how quick it occurred, pairing almost immediately the moment both my M8's Bluetooth and the M9B were turned on.
 
Mee Audio claims a 10m range, but you're only going to get that under ideal circumstances; i.e. no obstructions. Walking around my apartment I would routinely experience breakups if I left my device on my desk. There would be at worst either a thin door or slim concrete wall separating us.
 
Overall the M9B offers up a pretty solid connection and extremely quick and easy pairing.
 
Battery Performance and Charging:
 
Mee Audio claims 4 hours of music playback and around 90 minutes of charging. I was easily able to exceed 4 hours of playback, probably because I listen at lower than average volumes. From the time the low volume warning first made itself known, I was able to get almost an extra 30 minutes of play from the M9B. Charging from the USB ports on my Asus G73 took just over an hour and a half on most occasions.
 
Overall battery performance, while not anything to write home about, was enough for my daily activities. I think Mee Audio could have squeezed in a slightly larger battery given the size of the control module that houses all the electronics, but what you get is more than acceptable, especially given the solid Bluetooth quality.
 

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Sound:
 
Onto the most important part; how does the M9B sound? Quite good actually, especially given they're based off a 10 USD earphone. I enjoyed their sound just as much as the equivalently priced but more neutral sounding Ausdom S09, and much more than the treble recessed, bass heavy Brainwavz BLU-200 which commands a significant price premium.
 
The M9B I found to offer an exciting and energetic signature with just the right amount of warmth. It's not super smooth and refined experiencing a couple rough edges in their treble presentation, namely with cymbals, but it works well across a variety of musical genres. You'd think that Mee would have dialed in a safe v-shaped signature, but the mid-range is very clear and prominent with a strong presence that confidently hold it's own. Vocals are crisp and clear with a pleasant lack of mid-bass bleed to drown them out. On some tracks the enhanced bass will edge it's way into the forefront, but it's never so overpowering that it becomes an annoyance. This assuming you're okay with enhanced bass levels. If you looking for Etymotic or Havi B3 Pro 1 levels of bass you should have moved on a while ago.
 
Soundstage isn't much of a thing with the M9B. Their presentation is firmly in your head. Luckily, they avoid sounding congested as their imaging and separation are actually pretty solid. They're able to present just enough of a sense of space to avoid a sense of claustrophobia.
 
Overall the M9B is a pretty musical earphone that will put some pep in your step and a smile on your face as your run, work out, play games, study, or do whatever is is you're doing while you're listening to them. They're enjoyable, full stop.
 
Overall:
 
There's not much to say. If you want a good sounding, inexpensive, well built Bluetooth earphone with good-enough battery life and a strong wireless connection, the M9B is it. They don't go out of their way to provide an amazing experience, but they don't irritate or fail in any way either. The Mee Audio M9B has found itself in a very safe and stable position, and to me is the pretty much the definition of a good budget Bluetooth earphone. Well done Mee Audio.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
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Test Songs:
 
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missles
BT - The Antikythera Mechanism
Daft Punk - Touch
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey
Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
Jessie J - Bang Bang
Kiesza - Hideaway
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Supertramp - Rudy

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out Meze's entry level product, the 11 Neo. Morpheus would be so proud.
 
While they've been around for a while now Meze really found their stride with the 99 Classics, a headphone that has since their release in 2015 thundered on to become quite the beloved product. This year we see the release of their new in-ear models, the 11 Neo and their upgraded, wood-infused counterpart, the 12 Classics.
 
As an all-aluminum offering and the only wood-free product in Meze's lineup, you might be quick to disregard the 11 Neo as a simple budget offering. I'm here to tell you that underestimating this little guy is not a wise move. It offers up most of the performance and features of their more expensive sibling at a more budget friendly price.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank @MezeTeam for sending the 11 Neo along with the 12 Classics as part of their Head-fi 12 Classics review tour. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Meze or any other entity.
 
The 11 Neo can be purchased from Meze at the cost of 59.99 USD and is available in two colors;
 
Gunmetal - https://mezeheadphones.com/collections/all/products/meze-11-neo-gun-metal-earphones
 
Iridium - https://mezeheadphones.com/collections/all/products/meze-11-neo-iridium-earphones
 
A Little About Me:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
If you've checked out any review of the 12 Classics, the 11 Neo's unboxing experience will be familiar. If not, know that it is quite pleasant and appropriate considering the cost of entry. The cardboard selected for the exterior packaging is much thicker and more durable than the flimsy stuff used by most of the competition. There are some direct nods to Meze's trident logo which are pretty cool, such as the way the earphones are oriented in the image on the front of the package and again inside in the way the earphones themselves are stored. I personally prefer the black theme the 11 Neo has going on as it contrasts nicely with the Iridium colour choice and looks a little classier than the 12 Classics' white theme.
 
Meze didn't clutter the box with marketing speak, instead using the space to show off the earphones, features, and accessories. The frequency graph and blown up image of the 11 Neo's constituent parts are nice touches.
 
The included accessories are everything you need to ensure a good listening experience. You are provided the same silicone tips provided with a trillion other earphones in s/m/l, and a set of dual flange as well. Meze also includes a set of genuine Comply T500 Isolation tips. I didn't think they would suit the 11 Neo since they're not a bright earphone, but they paired surprisingly well and helped combat microphonics (cable noise). The shirt clip helped with that too.
 
Overall the 11 Neo's unboxing experience is pleasant. The presentation is very clean and straightforward, and the included accessories pair well with the Neo and their sound signature. Great job Meze.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, and Isolation:
 
Based on my experience with the 99 Classics, I had high hopes for the 11 Neo. Meze didn't disappoint. While the 12 Classics have the edge in the looks department, the 11 Neo nail fit and finish and are one of the most well put together pair of earphones I've come across.
 
The all-aluminum housings are finished in a beautiful matte silver, or Iridium as the color choice denotes. While you can see the seams where the three component parts of the housing connect, there are no unsightly gaps or rough edges. The Meze logo printed on the rear of the housing is also very crisp with well-defined details.
 
Meze selected a quality cable for the 11 Neo, one that is shared with the 12 Classics. It's thick and has a hefty, dense sheath that is reasonably flexible. Memory of bends or kinks isn't a worry. It would be near perfect if it wasn't for the overly invasive microphonics (cable noise) that nearly ruin the experience. Luckily, wearing the cable over-ear negates the issue more or less completely. I want to point out and give great thanks to Meze for getting strain relief right. At all major intersections the relief is present and effective; jack, y-split, in-line controller, and leading into the earpieces. See, everyone who is not Meze; effective strain relief isn't difficult to implement.
 
The 11 Neo are very comfortable and I can only see someone having issues if they need extremely slim nozzles like those found on the Shure SE215, Fidue A31s, or Klipsche S3. The front nozzle section is smooth and curves naturally into the rest of the housing, completely free of sharp edges or awkward angles. The curves continue along the body of the housing making gripping them easy and natural as they conform to the shape of your fingers. Finally, we get to what is oddly my favorite part of the 11 Neo, just as it was on the 12 Classics; the rear dimple containing the Meze logo. For whatever reason I find it immensely satisfying to set the tip of my finger on there. It's also useful for inserting them into your ear. Meze did their homework and nailed ergonomics.
 
Isolation is solid, and better than I was expecting given there are two vents in each earpiece; one right behind the nozzle and another in front of the strain relief. At the overly low volumes I listen they were unable to fully snuff out the whirling dervish that is my work computer and it's horribly noisy fans; not so much of an issue at more average listening volumes. It was also enough for walking around in the real world, letting in just enough external stimuli to remain fairly safe.
 
Overall the 11 Neo are an attractive, comfortable earphone made from quality materials. Fit and finish is flawless too. While not a deal killer, the cable noise is unacceptably intrusive.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: I'm a big fan of tips rolling and feel it is integral to getting the most out of your earphone in terms of both comfort and sound. The stock tips Meze provides are about as generic as they get, but they work. I have no complaints about them whatsoever. They're comfortable, they don't feel cheap and flimsy, and they pair well with the 11 Neo's sound signature. That said, I use KZ's new star tips. They give me a more consistent seal in my left ear, and the wider bore brings the treble forward a touch.
 
Amping: I honestly didn't spend much time with them attached to my NX1 or Rig USB amp. The 11 Neo paired beautifully with my HTC One M8 and XDuoo X3 so the need just wasn't there.
 
The 11 Neo is a lovely sounding earphone with a signature that should cater to a pretty wide audience. They aren't quite as balanced or technically competent as their walnut stablemates, the 12 Classics, but they're no less appealing.
 
Their 8mm, titanium-coated dynamic drivers are characterized by a warm and silky smooth signature. These are easily one of the most chill earphones I've had the pleasure of listening to. Their sound is well-weighted, tilting ever so slightly towards a thicker more meaty presentation. I chalk this up to a somewhat confined soundstage and some extra mid-bass. Despite this, their mid-range is stunning. If a fan of progressive rock, the 11 Neo will make for a great companion. Treble is tight, well-controlled, and well-extended, but dialed back a bit in favor of the sweet mid-range and tight, punchy low end.
 
Despite the somewhat compressed soundstage, imaging remains excellent. Sounds swirl and twist around you with confidence avoiding any 'dead-zones'. If a fan of highly detailed earphones, the 11 Neo might not cut it for you. Like the 12 Classics, I felt it was merely adequate doing only what was needed to maintain an inoffensive yet highly musical presentation.
 
The 11 Neo snuggles up to your ear canal and whispers sweet, soothing tunes to you. They breed familiar and immediately pleasing experiences that make them a very easy recommendation.
 
Select Comparisons:
 
KZ ATR (under 10 USD): The ATR is easily one of my favorite budget earphones and offers buyers an experience far beyond what their ridiculously low price tag would lead you to expect. For under 10 USD you get a well-balanced signature with solid detail.
 
The 11 Neo feels like a direct upgrade in most aspects. They're both quite warm with a mild mid-bass focus, relaxed yet well-extended treble, and a delicious mid-range. The 11 Neo falls short on overall airyness and soundstage size, but their layering, instrument placement, and stereo imaging are clearly a step ahead.
 
The 11 Neo is, as you would expect, the better built of the two. Aluminum vs. plastic housings and excellent vs. good strain relief. Their cables are similar, though KZ's offering is slimmer, more flexible, and a touch grippy which can be annoying at times.
 
The ATR features an over-ear design quite reminiscent of the ATH-IM50, which isn't for everyone. Even with their extremely thick nozzles they're one of the most comfortable earphones I've used, though I feel most would prefer the more traditional barrel-shaped design of the 11 Neo.
 
If looking to upgrade from the ATR while maintaining the same general signature, the 11 Neo would be an excellent option. The 12 Classics would be an even better choice however, as their signatures are even more in line with each other.
 
Meze 12 Classics (79.99 USD): How do the 11 Neo hold up against their more mature sibling? Quite well, to the point I feel the 11 Neo offers better value and is the model to get if you don't absolutely need the sexy walnut wood housings and are willing to sacrifice what would to most listeners would be a negligible level of technical competence.
 
The 12 Classics and 11 Neo share sound signatures, design, and for the most part, materials. The 12 Classics have slightly more emphasized treble and mids. The 11 Neo are a wee bit warmer, smoother, and slower, sacrificing some detail for listening ease. That said, unless listening to them back to back, your average listener probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
 
Build quality and ergonomics are identical minus the 11 Neo swapping out the walnut for more aluminum. To me, that by default means the Neo will be the more durable and longer lasting of the two.
 
Accutone Gemini HD w/ blue filters (129.00 USD): The Accutone Gemini HD offers up a shockingly similar experience to the 11 Neo, just with greater technical competence. A larger soundstage all-around and a lot more detail, but with the same uber-smooth, inoffensive presentation and accurate imaging.
 
Comfort on the 11 Neo is definitely better. They're lighter and lack the somewhat sharp frontal housing edges the Gemini HD suffers from. Build quality is excellent on both with the 11 Neo coming out ahead due to the less-than-premium feeling inline mic Accutone uses. The Gemini's cable is also on the thin side and strain relief is almost entirely absent, but it is very flexible and well-controlled. Even when worn cable down, cable noise isn't really a "thing" which is a huge plus compared to the 11 Neo.
 
If you really enjoy the 11 Neo's signature and presentation but feel the need to upgrade to something that's more technically competent, the Gemini HD would be a good place to start.
 

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Final Thoughts:
 
The 11 Neo are a beautiful looking and sounding earphone with a sound signature that does nothing but please. Ergonomics and comfort are top notch, and the cable is stellar pending you can deal with the microphonics. The in-line mic is a practical addition for use with a phone, and the material quality top-to-bottom is outstanding.
 
While I can't deny that the 12 Classics are the more appealing of Meze's new earphones, the 11 Neo offers up nearly the same experience for 20 USD less. Why do you have to make choosing between the two so difficult, Meze?
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
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Test Songs:
 
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missles
BT - The Antikythera Mechanism
Daft Punk - Touch
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey
Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
Jessie J - Bang Bang
Kiesza - Hideaway
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Supertramp - Rudy

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we will be checking out another wooden wonder from the brilliant minds at Meze, the aptly named 12 Classics.
 
Hailing from Romania, Meze is a company that needs no introduction with the Head-fi crowd. Despite only being on the market for a short period of time, their 99 Classics model has become ubiquitously associated with all-round quality and a timeless design. When Meze released news of their upcoming 11 Neo and 12 Classics in-ears, it was clear they hadn't been resting on their laurels while relishing in the success of the 99 Classics.
 
Both the 11 Neo and 12 Classics feature a titanium coated driver membrane. What sets the two apart and links the 12 Classics to their full-sized counterpart is the difference in housing material; all-aluminum versus an aluminum/walnut wood hybrid. The 12 Classics additionally toss in a copper-clad, aluminum voice coil for good measure.
 
Do the 12 Classics live up to the Classics name, offering the premium build and sound quality we've come to expect from the Meze name. For the most part, they sure do.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank @MezeTeam for selecting me to take part in the Head-fi 12 Classics review tour. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Meze or any other entity.
 
The 12 Classics can be purchased from Meze at the cost of 79.99 USD; https://mezeheadphones.com/products/meze-12-classics-gun-metal-wood-earphones
 
A Little About Me:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The 12 Classics unboxing experience is price appropriate, with a few eye-catching aspects. The first thing that struck me was just how solid the cardboard used is. It's not that flimsy, thin stuff most manufacturer's opt to go with, but is thick, firm, and durable. Second, the direct nods to Meze's trident logo in the orientation of the image of the 12 Classics on the front of the box, and again inside nestled among the foam padding. This are nice details that show Meze put some thought into the packaging without going overboard and making it too extravagant.
 
It's also refreshing to see a complete lack of marketing blurbs, mission statement, and the like, though sometimes that can be pretty entertaining. The closest Meze gets is with the statement, "Perfect Natural Sound," printed on the left side. This packaging is all business; images of the complete product, a breakdown of the components and construction, specifications, and key features.
 
The included accessories are everything you need to ensure a good listening experience. You are provided the same silicone tips that come with a trillion other earphones in s/m/l, and a set of dual flange as well. Meze also includes a set of genuine Comply T500 Isolation tips. I didn't think they would suit the 12 Classics since they're not a bright earphone, but they paired surprisingly well and helped combat microphonics (cable noise). A handy little Velcro strip is provided and helps with cable management during storage.
 
Overall the 12 Classic's unboxing experience is pleasant. The presentation is very clean and straightforward, and the included accessories pair well with the 12 Classics and their sound signature.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, and Isolation:
 
Meze's 99 Classics set a high standard for the build quality and design of all future Meze products in my opinion. They're absolutely stunning and look even better in person. Despite their sub-100 USD price tag, the 12 Classics uphold expectations with a unique design and quality materials, though fit and finish on the earpieces could use some additional TLC.
 
There are minor nicks and blemishes at the edges of the walnut wood selected for the earpieces where it connects with the aluminum end cap and nozzle section. These pieces also happen to avoid sitting perfectly flush with each other. I would chalk this up to the use of natural materials, but this is not something I noticed to the same extent on other wood earphones like the Thinksound MS01 or even the House of Marley Smile Jamaica and Uplift.
 
Meze selected a quality cable for the 12 Classics. It's thick and has a hefty, dense sheath that is flexible enough and doesn't retain memory of bends or kinks. It would be near perfect if it wasn't for the overly invasive microphonics that nearly ruin the experience. Luckily, wearing them cable over-ear effectively negates the issue, but not completely. I want to point out and give great thanks to Meze for getting strain relief right. Someone finally gets it! At all major intersections relief is present and effective; jack, y-split, in-line controller, and leading into the earpieces. To everyone who is not Meze; effective strain relief isn't difficult to implement.
 
The 12 Classics are very comfortable and I can only see someone having issues if they need extremely slim nozzles like those found on the Shure SE215, Fidue A31s, or Klipsche S3. The front aluminum nozzle section is smooth and curves naturally into the rest of the housing, completely free of sharp edges or awkward angles. The curves continue along the body of the housing making gripping them easy and natural as they conform to the natural shape of your fingers. Finally, we get to what is oddly my favorite part of the 12 Classics; the rear dimple containing the Meze logo. For whatever reason I find it immensely satisfying to set the tip of my finger on there. Oh, and it's useful for inserting them into your ear. What I'm getting at is Meze did their homework and nailed the ergonomics.
 
Isolation is solid, and better than I was expecting given there are two vents in each earpiece; one right behind the nozzle and another in front of the strain relief. At the overly low volumes I listen they were unable to fully snuff out the whirling dervish that is my work computer and it's horribly noisy fans; not so much of an issue at more average listening volumes. It was also enough for walking around in the real world, letting in just enough external stimuli to remain safe-ish. I live in London, Ontario, Canada, a city notorious for having some of the worst drivers in the country. You're never truly safe...
 
Overall the 12 Classics are an attractive, comfortable earphone made from quality materials that suffers slightly from an abundance of cable noise and slightly sub-par fit and finish where the wood and aluminum meets. These negatives are in no way deal killers, just noteworthy items.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: I'm a big fan of tip rolling and feel it is integral to getting the most out of your earphone in terms of both comfort and sound. The stock tips Meze provides are about as generic as they get, but they work. I have no complaints about them whatsoever. They're comfortable, they don't feel cheap and flimsy, and they pair well with the 12 Classics sound signature. That said, I use KZ's new star tips. They give me a more consistent seal in my left ear, and the wider bore brings the treble forward a touch.
 
Amping: I honestly didn't spend much time with them attached to my NX1 or Rig USB amp. It worked just fine with my HTC One M8 and XDuoo X3 so the need just wasn't there. I've read they scale quite well but since my gear is still more-or-less entry level, I recommend checking out other reviews for more in depth information on this subject.
 
Meze played it safe, no, smart with the 12 Classics' tuning. They weren't being adventurous, trying to offer up something overly unique or polarizing. Instead, they dialed in a balanced sound with a mildly boosted mid-bass presence that gives the 12 Classics a warm, welcoming presentation. It's near perfectly weighted, never coming across too thin and wispy or thick and soupy. This balance really lets the natural mid-range stand out despite being slightly recessed. Treble is tight and well-controlled with excellent extension that falls well short of bright but isn't lacking energy and panache. They're very musical. Imaging is quite good with sound moving cleanly between channels without any 'dead-zones' or vague spots. Detail, however, is merely adequate. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, but at the same time they're not wowing me by picking up the smallest of nuances.
 
Overall the 12 Classics present sound effortlessly. They don't struggle or distort, and simply provide listeners with a comforting and musical experience.
 
Select Comparisons:
 
House of Marley Uplift (39.99 USD): Really, B9? A House of Marley earphone. Yeah, because it's actually a pretty solid product and shares a similar signature. I found the Uplift to be even more balanced than the 12 Classics due to their more even mid-bass/sub-bass progression. Treble is similarly emphasized and extended, and the mid-range clear and prominent.
 
Where the near 40 USD difference shows is in refinement. The 12 Classics are smoother in the treble and more detailed. The Uplift's bass hits with a slightly muffed thud vs. the 12 Classics clean, crisp thump. Soundstage is similarly presented, but the 12 Classics move sound around with more natural precision and greater accuracy.
 
Material quality is split but build quality goes to the Uplift. They have what I think is one of the best fabric cables in the business, at least of those earphones I've tried with fabric cables, and fit and finish is excellent where the aluminum and wood meets. Strain relief is lacking at the y-split though.
 
Meze 11 Neo (59.99 USD): How does the 12 Classics' little brother stack up? Quite well, to the point I feel the 11 Neo offers better value. It is the model to get if you don't absolutely need the sexy walnut wood housings and are willing to sacrifice what would to most listeners would be a negligible level of technical competence.
 
The 12 Classics and 11 Neo share sound signatures, design, and for the most part, materials. The 12 Classics have slightly more emphasized treble and mids. The 11 Neo are a wee bit warmer, smoother, and slower, sacrificing some detail for listening ease. Unless listening to them back to back, your average listener probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
 
Build quality and ergonomics are identical minus the 11 Neo swapping out the walnut for more aluminum. To me, that by default means the Neo will be the more durable and longer lasting of the two.
 
Thinksound MS02 (99.00 USD): Yet another attractive wooden earphone, the MS02 makes for a great comparison with the 12 Classics. While they offer similar signatures, the MS02 comes across as the more 'hi-fi' of the two. They're brighter, less bassy, and have an even more prominent midrange. I found the MS02 offers a touch more clarity and detail at the cost of soundstage width/height. They come across as more direct and focused than the 12 Classics.
 
The wooden portion of the MS02 is cleaner cut and better finished than the 12 Classics, and the aluminum front portion fits with great precision. Meze's cable is much thicker and more durable above the y-split. Gauge is very similar below the y-split. Thinksound's cable is the more flexible of the two, but also happens to retain very mild hints of bends and kinks.
 
Overall they're both great earphones and it would be hard to choose one over the other.
 

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Final Thoughts:
 
The Meze 12 Classics are an amazing looking product with a very appealing sound signature. They provide outstanding comfort and ergonomics. The cable is stellar if you can get around the near-crippling noise it funnels into your ears when worn down. The in-line mic is practical and a welcome addition, and the materials selected appear top notch. While the 11 Neo offers up nearly the same experience for 20 USD less, you can't deny the appeal of the 12 Classics beautiful walnut housings and the extra clarity afforded by the copper-coated voice coils.
 
What is all comes down to is that Meze has released another stellar product into the market. It competes well with earphones in and above it's category, and their mass-appeal sound signature makes them easy to recommend. Great job again, Meze!
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
Test Songs:
 
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missles
BT - The Antikythera Mechanism
Daft Punk - Touch
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey
Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
Jessie J - Bang Bang
Kiesza - Hideaway
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Supertramp - Rudy

Greetings Headfi!

Today we are going to be look at an interstellar champion, a titanium infused monster, the Finder X1 from Echobox.

In Echobox's words, they founded their company "...to help personal audio evolve to a level that does justice to good music. We plan on making good sounding audio products that are well-built and available at prices that are affordable to anyone who is passionate about music..."I have spent the last two months and well over 100 hours with the Finder X1 and can comfortably see that the X1 encompasses Echobox's values and beliefs. The X1 is one of the most detailed, revealing, and entertaining earphones I've come across at any price, routinely impressing during each and every listen, and not just from a sound perspective. They are the complete package.

Disclaimer:

The Finder X1 was provided complimentary of Echobox in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any monetary compensation and all views and opinions within this review are my own. They are not representative of Echobox or any other entity.

You can purchase the X1 here: https://echobox-audio.myshopify.com/products/finder-x1

Be sure to check out Echobox's social media platforms as well; Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

About Me:

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Packaging and Accessories:

It's always nice to purchase a product that gives you a pleasant unboxing experience, which the Finder X1's packaging certainly does. The exterior sheath starts things of well with glossy images of the Echobox logo and the X1. The rear informs you of Echobox and their beliefs, and covers some of the unique features of the X1; they use Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) drivers, titanium shells, a silver plated cable, and an acoustic filter system. Down the sides you find the earphones specifications, accessory list, and a nice wireframe image of the hard carrying case.

Sliding the sheath off reveals a beautiful matte black box with Echobox printed in glossy black. This black on black design motif is subtle and attractive, and definitely something worth displaying. Lifting off the lid reveals the X1's housings on display in a matte black, cardboard presentation board, and a curious round flap hiding the neatly wrapped cable and Comply ear tips. I would have preferred ta foam insert instead of cardboard, but it works fine.

Echobox provides a generous helping of extremely high quality accessories with the Finder X1. These include;

- a high quality, spacious clamshell carry case
- three pairs of single-flange ear tips in small, medium and large sizes
- one pair of dual-flange ear tips in medium
- one pair of triple-flange ear tips, also in medium
- one pair of medium T400 Isolation Series Comply ear tips
- three sets of tuning filters (white = bass, red = treble, black = balanced)
- an organizer for holding all these tips and filters
- detailed instruction manual
- three year parts and labour warranty card

The single-flange tips are made from a very comfortable, flexible, opaque, and very grippy silicone. A welcome feature that I haven't seen on any other tip is the size printed along the bottom inner edge. This is especially helpful as the medium and large tips are quite similar in size and not easy to differentiate at a quick glance.

The clamshell case is probably the nicest I've seen provided with any earphone to date. The leatherette material doesn't slip out of you hands and has proven to be very durable. The zipper slides smoothly but with good resistance. The two mesh pockets inside keep the earphones in place and will hold your spare ear tips with tons of space to spare. That said, you don't need the mesh pockets to hold the ear tips because of the organizer. Simply put, this case feels expensive.

Some manufacturer's like RHA offer simple (but beautifully crafted) tip holders that keep the included tips organized and secured. These holders aren't designed to travel with you. Bringing extra tips requires you to leave it behind somewhat defeating the purpose. Echobox's solution is brilliant. They include a fitted silicone organizer that securely contains every tip and the spare filters, all designed to fit comfortably in the case along with the earphones themselves.

This unboxing experience and the overall quality of the accessories included give an amazingly positive first impression. It was only after spending some time with the different filters that I found they were quite delicate and easy to damage with normal use. I'll expand on that in the next section.

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Build, Design, Comfort, and Isolation:

Echobox released a short promotional video in October of 2015 to announce their, at the time, upcoming Indigogo campaign of the Finder X1 and the impressive durability of this earphone. How did they do this? They taped it to the road at a busy intersection in Los Angles and let cars run it over for five minutes. The earphones came away unscathed, as you would expect from a promotional video. While I can't personally attest to them surviving such abuse, it wouldn't shock me if after being left there all day they came away looking brand new, working just as well as they did out of the box; they're that well built.

Every piece of titanium is beautifully machined with a very fine, subtly ribbed texture that improves grip and flat out looks damn cool. The small straight jack and in-line control module are well relieved, though the cable feels cat-proof with it's dense outer sheath. I doubt the strain relief is even needed to be honest. Relief for the ear pieces is in-built, a feature I first came across on the even more compact AAW Q. The only potential qualm I have with the cable is that it's on the stiff side, though not so stiff that it impedes on usability in any meaningful way.

The inline control module is a little bulky and heavy, offset by the aura of quality and steadfastness on display. The three buttons depress with a satisfying and stable "clack". This tactile feedback is something other manufacturers should try and mimic. It's very satisfying. It works well for phone calls, but a bit of background static reduces clarity a minute amount.

The filters themselves are quite small and very well machined. I had no issues installing and removing them from the X1, though things weren't all positive. While swapping out the red filters on one occasion the mesh separated from the exterior housing of the filter, sticking to the nozzle. I was able to pop it back in place and have no had any further issues. On one of the white filters the fabric separated from the inner grill and bunched up, thereby rendering it useless. I was able to peel it out of place with a pin, carefully smooth it out, and re-install it. It still works but has a tendency to stick to the main housing if changing filters. This is an area of improvement for the X1 given it's a primary and defining feature.

Due to the compact size, light weight, and curvaceous housings, I found the X1 to be extremely comfortably, even more so when worn cable over ear. They didn't create any hot spots in my outer ear, nor were there any odd ergonomic quirks to worry about. Just set 'em and forget 'em.

For an earphone with dynamic drivers, the X1 isolates exceptionally well for me. I chalk this up to the vents being integrated into the internal strain relief, around where the cable enters the housing. Toss on the included Comply foamies or the included multi-flange tips to improve things further.

Overall they are an unreasonably well-built and comfortable earphone, just be careful installing and removing the filters as they seem somewhat frail.

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Sound:

Tips: If you happened to pick these up and are sensitive to treble, then you'll do well by tip rolling. The included Complys do a decent job of nullifying some of the most intense treble peaks. Comply's Sport tips with the added moisture guard are even more effective. Sony's Hybrid tips also pair quite well, as do KZ's new star-edged tips. Their bore isn't as small as the Sony's and the stiff inner tube doesn't deaden the treble as much, but they simply sound good and accompany the X1's well-engineered ergonomics quite effectively. If mass quantities of treble doesn't bother you, the stock tips are some of the best you'll find so you can end your search there.

Amping: I definitely recommend an amp, especially if not playing high quality files. The X1 is very revealing and doesn't play nice with low quality source material. "Quality in, quality out" definitely applies. They can be driven just fine from a smartphone like my HTC One M8 but I found adding the Topping NX1 into the chain noticeably tightened up the treble and gave their somewhat soft mid-bass punch some needed authority.

You know that moment when you find something that just clicks for you? You pick up that 'just right' pen with ergonomics that mold to your hand allowing a flawless scroll across the page. Or maybe that moment when hunting for your dream car you think;

"This is it. This is the one for me."

That's how I felt the moment the Finder X1 graced my ears. I was struck with a sense of deep familiarity because they were so similar to my favorite earphone, the JVC HA-FXH30, but improved and better in almost every way. What hit me first was just how clear and detailed they were. I've tried a number of hybrid and balanced armature earphones which output a good amount of detail in addition to offering up other typical BA benefits like improved driver speed and response, heightened clarity, etc. etc, but it's always nice to see a well-tuned dynamic hang tight in these metrics. It's earphones like the X1, and the FXH30 before it, that dull my desire to try all the hyped budget hybrids popping up left, right, and centre. I don't really feel the need when this single 9.2 mm, PEEK driver pretty much does it all.

Speaking of PEEK, or Polyether Ether Keytone; what is it? Based on some interweb sleuthing it is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic with a few qualities that make it great for use in this particular application; high tensile strength, stiffness, and low moisture absorption rates to name a few. I'm sure you can see how these would be useful in the application of an earphone in which a diaphragm is always moving and inserted in a fairly moist environment, that being your ear. What did choosing this material result in? A highly detailed, quick, accurate, and entertaining earphone with a signature that can be personalized with the three filter options.

The general signature of the X1, regardless of filter, is slightly warm with an abundant mass of treble, a crystal clear though somewhat dialed back midrange, with a swell of sub-bass. From the upper treble through to the lower midrange the Finder comes across slightly thin, accentuating their already excellent detail and clarity. Things thicken up a bit heading into the low end giving the X1 some much needed body and weight to their sound. While they do not have a massive soundstage, it is evenly distributed and airy enough to give you the occasional "what was that!?" moment as sound whips around you. Imaging, layering, and separation are all quite impressive, backed by a nice black background that lets the detail shine.

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*In the manual the white filter is listed as the balanced option and the black as bass, but a quick listen did not support this in any way. It was clear bass and treble quantity overall was reduced with the black filter, and bass quantity, sub-bass in particular, notably increased with the white filter.*

Let's take a glance at the filters to see how they play around with this general sound, covered from most to least favored.

White - Bass

The white filter brought the X1's signature more in line with my personal preferences for lots of sub-bass and less mid-bass while maintaining an energetic but not overpowering upper end and fairly prominent mid-range. This to me came across as the most even-handed and refined filter.

Red - Treble

I totally get why these filters are marked as the least favorite in most reviews. They take an already abundant top end and bring it even more forward in the mix. This is a treble-head filter through-and-through and if you're down for some wicked detail, these little babies will shove it down your throat with a stupid grin on your face. There's still a clean midrange and notable bass quantity kicking it in the background, but the highs steal the show and can be a little over-enthusiastic at times, even for me.

Black - Balanced

The black filter is the balanced option. It's not balanced in the sense that it makes the X1 a neutral, uncolored earphone because it certainly isn't that. It simply dials back the bass and treble enough to bring things a little closer together. The X1's lovely mid-range is given additional emphasis because the upper end's energy is dulled a notable amount. I found they also significantly reduced sub-bass extension and increased mid-bass response, a shift I wasn't overly fond of.

Select Comparisons:

JVC HA-FXH30 (~55 USD): The FXH30 confidently held my attention since I first bought them in early August last year. It has continued to do so as a result of it's high energy sound, unique design, and outstanding comfort, and is still my top recommendation for an earphone under 100 USD. It's saying a lot about the Finder X1 that I consider it a direct upgrade from the FXH30.

It shares many of the same qualities; a speedy, accurate driver with a high energy upper end, cleanly defined midrange, and a robust bassline. The X1 adds into the mix even tighter and more prominent treble, enhanced sub-bass extension with reduced mid-bass presence, and a well-rounded soundstage that does more than just depth. If you love the FXH30's signature and want to step up to something similar but more capable, the Finder X1 is it.

Accutone Gemini HD (129 USD): The Gemini HD and the Finder X1 cater to very difference sound preferences. Regardless of the three filters installed, the Gemini is warm, smooth, bassy, and quite mellow. The X1 is the opposite; colder, quicker, and undeniably more aggressive. The Gemini HD offers up a much more expansive soundstage catering well to it's more mellow sound, but it lacks the raw detail, clarity, and lazer-focused presentation of the X1.

AAW Q (~210 USD): The AAW Q is a pretty unique earphone, sorry, canalphone. As compact as the X1 is, the Q is significantly smaller coming in around the same size, all-in, as one of Echobox's medium single-flange tips. If you want something as unobtrusive as possible, the Q is it.

When it comes to sound quality, as good as the Q is I feel the X1 is playing another sport altogether. The Q lacks the refinement and all-round extension of the X1. It's bass presentation centres a little too much around their mid-bass presence. It is lacking the sparkle and technical prowess of the X1 coming across somewhat soft and almost dull, though this does mean it's the less fatiguing of the two and better for long listening sessions. Soundstage is about the same, with the X1 edging ahead in separation. Imaging and accuracy goes to the Q. You can't beat a tip-mounted micro-driver there.

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Overall Thoughts:

With the Finder X1, Echobox has nailed all the qualities that make an aggressive signature fun. It's quick, treble heavy, has a robust low end, lots of detail, and it's isn't harsh or sibilant. The thing is also built like a tank, excusing the somewhat fragile filter construction.

If you're a fan of bright, aggressive earphones and are in the market for something around 200 USD, this should definitely be in the running as a top pick. The Finder X1 is entertaining as heck and a great value.

Again, a huge thank you to Sam and the crew at Echobox for the opportunity to experience the Finder X1. This is one heck of a successful leap into a very competitive market. Awesome job!

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Test Songs

Daft Punk - Touch
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
Jessie J - Bang Bang
Kiesza - Hideaway
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)
Supertramp - Rudy
Supertramp - Asylum

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be looking at the Mixcder ShareMe 7.
 
Mixcder's ShareMe series is composed of the entry level 7, the midrange Pro, and the top tier 5, all of which share the unique ability to cast music with another ShareMe capable headphone. This is a useful feature letting you and a friend, spouse, partner, etc. listen to the same entertainment wire free and from a single source.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Grace and Mixcder for providing the ShareMe 7 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Mixcder or any other entity.
 
The ShareMe 7 is currently retailing for 35.99 USD on Amazon.com and Amazon's other regional sites;
 
https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Mixcder-ShareMe-Bluetooth-Smartphone/dp/B0152GBS66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478643123&sr=8-1&keywords=mixcder+shareme+7
 
You can also check it out here on Mixcder.com;
 
http://www.mixcder.com/mixcder-shareme-7.html
 
A Little About Me:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The ShareMe 7 arrives in environmentally friendly packaging, similar to it's more expensive counterparts. The front proudly displays the ShareMe logo and announces which model is contained within. The sides contain wireframe-like images of the 7's earcups and highlights what I consider their most distinctive feature, that being the twisted arms connecting the earcups and headband.
 
Siding out the inner tray the ShareMe 7 is found hugging a sky-blue, triangular cardboard insert. Underneath the headphones and their cardboard insert hides the instruction manual, 3.5mm cable, and micro-USB charge cable.
 
The ShareMe 7's packaging does a good job of keeping the headphones safe during transit and won't leave a negative impact on the environment when disposed of properly. The included cables are of decent quality, though the 3.5mm cable is quite thin. That said, it's not meant to be used all the time and works fine as a backup option for when the batteries die.
 

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Design, Build, Comfort, and Isolation:
 
The ShareMe 7 features an interesting design, made almost entirely of plastic. The exceptions are metal reinforced hinges and arms. The plastic used has a smooth, matte coating which helps offset the somewhat low-rent feel. The hinges feel brittle and the 7 folds with an uncomfortably loud 'snap', BUT, all the important parts of the hinges are metal. Despite the way they sound during folding, I'm fairly confident they'll last a while.
 
The head band is another story altogether. All plastic is something I worry about, especially when it starts to get cold and the plastic gets brittle. While warm, the headband doesn't bend much, but it can take an uncomfortable level of twisting. I'm not going to see how it handles cold weather abuse.
 
Out of the box, the cable that snakes up and through the headband connecting the two earpieces on the black/red pair was pulled taut; tight enough to stop the ear cups from pivoting as far as they should. I had to very carefully pull them out to create some slack allowing the cups to pivot as intended. This was not an issue with the white pair which has the cable routed slightly differently.
 
I found the 7 to be pretty hit or miss with comfort, primarily coming down to the cups not being able to pivot back and forth to match the angle of my ears. When wearing a hat it wasn't an issue, but without I couldn't ever get them to seat properly. My wife on the other hand could wear her pair for hours at a time, so your mileage may certainly vary.
 
Left right indication on the black/red pair is excellent, denoted by large L and R lettering in the ear pads. The white pair has small L and R indicators printed on the inside of the headband which cannot be read via a quick glance. It would be nice to see the white version updated with the same indicators as the red/black pair.
 
Isolation is limited at best, just as it is on the ShareMe Pro. The light clamping force and limited ear cup movement results in a very light seal. That plus the thin plastic used on the cups means outside noise bleeds in pretty easily. Good for walking around downtown and maintaining awareness of traffic, etc., but not for silencing the world around you.
 
While the 7 isn't the most premium feeling headphone in the world, nor the most solid, nor the most comfortable, it does all of it well enough to avoid concern about longevity.
 

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Battery Performance:
 
Just as with the ShareMe Pro battery life on the 7 is awesome, easily hitting the claimed 20 hours. I probably got a little more out of it due to the low volumes at which I usually listen. The two hour charge time is also spot on.
 
Bluetooth and ShareMe Performance:
 
The ShareMe 7 features Bluetooth 4.1 and the connection strength is quite good, however range could see some improvement if you like to travel around without the source on you. They were fine for walking around my apartment, but beyond that things would get spotty pretty quickly. For example, I wasn't able to go down a floor to the laundry room without having my phone on hand. About 15 feet from my apartment door the connection would drop and struggle to reconnect. That said, as long as you don't venture too far from the source, you'll be just fine. It doesn't skip or drop connection, and the sound quality remains consistent. Some additional range would be nice, but for the majority of users it will be more than enough.
 
It is extremely easy to pair your units for ShareMe use. Just hold the power button until they both turn on, keep holding until the indicator LED on the ear cup starts cycling between red and blue, and let go. The units will locate each other automatically connect. One earphone will be selected as the primary and announced as the left channel. The other will be chosen as a secondary and announced as the right channel. Which earphone was chosen for which channel seemed to be pretty random. Luckily the media controls on both earphones will work to control the device and volume could be controlled independently so in the end it didn't really matter which earphone was selected as the primary.
 
Once connected, I found that the primary earphone would work as expected. Great connection, full media controls; no issues whatsoever. The secondary earphone? On some devices it would work quite well. On others, forget about it. Frequent connection loss was the name of the game when using my HTC One M8, and it happened enough to make the feature unusable. Through my 1st Gen Motorola Moto G, they worked well but the secondary earphone would drop their connection every once in a while. To my surprise, my ancient Samsung Nexus S worked the best of the phones I tried, by far. It output the cleanest sound and provided the most stable connection. My wife's laptop, a Lenovo G50, provided the best connection of the bunch, but watching video was a no go due to about a two second lag. It was fine for music though.
 
Similar to the conclusion I reached with the ShareMe Pro, the 7 works very well as an entry level, standalone Bluetooth headphone. The ShareMe feature is awesome in concept and when it works it is pretty cool, but it's very source dependent.
 

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Sound:
 
The ShareMe lineup of headphones has been consistent in their sound signature and overall quality. The 7 certainly sets the stage and expectations for the Pro and 5, though I found it to be the most balanced of the three. Since they sound virtually identical wired vs. wireless this section will not be divided.
 
It's overall tone is warm and bassy, with a relaxed treble presentation and bass that starts to roll off a touch early. They are non-fatiguing and easy to listen to for long periods. The focus on mid-bass can be a little overwhelming for critical listening but when out and about it works well as bass often gets drown out easily by external noise. The 7 is especially affected by this due to their low isolation. Their midrange is reasonably well detailed, but slightly veiled and as a result not as clear as it could be. Still, it's more forward and more clear than on the Pro. Treble extends well enough and isn't overboosted, though it is a little unrefined but not to the extent it comes across harsh or sibilant. Their soundstage isn't anything unexpected from a closed back headphone, and gives your music enough space to move about with decent accuracy and layering.
 
My biggest issue with the 7's sound is that everything has a slightly hollow quality to it. I attribute this to the material choice and lack of adequate damping. It's not a deal breaker in any way and I still prefer their sound to the more expensive Pro model, but it's certainly not ideal.
 
Overall the 7's performance is solid, giving you a positive listening experience. Yes, it could be better but you have to remember this is a ~36 USD, Bluetooth 4.1 headset. The quality you're getting is more than adequate for the price.
 

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Suggestions for Improvement:
 
The 7 would benefit from improved plastics, if not only to eliminate the hollowing effect. It would also be nice to see Mixcder update the ergonomics by allowing the ear cups to swivel horizontally. This would make them more comfortable across a variety of head shapes, and provide a more secure fit.
 
Overall:
 
The 7 is a solid performer in most metrics. The connection quality is good, the ShareMe feature works well with the right source, and while they won't blow you mind, they sound pretty decent for a 36 USD wired headphone, let alone a Bluetooth set. I personally recommend stepping up to the 5 if you want the best audio experience, or the Pro if durability is a big selling point, but the 7 is a good headphone and worth consideration if in the market for an inexpensive wireless experience.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
** If interested in the other two ShareMe models, reviews of the Pro can be found here, and reviews of the 5 here. **

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out the flagship unit in Mixder's ShareMe lineup of Bluetooth headphones, the 5.
 
The primary draw of these headphones is strongly hinted at by the lineup's name; ShareMe. This feature allows you to connect two ShareMe enabled headphones to each other. One headphone is denoted the primary, or left channel, and connects to your Bluetooth enabled device. Whatever is being broadcasted to the primary headphone is shared with the secondary headphone, or right channel. This is great for watching movies with a spouse or partner, listening to music with a friend while on the bus, or any number of other scenarios that involve sharing your music or media with others.
 
The entry level ShareMe 7 is a great introduction to the lineup featuring an interesting design and solid sound quality, but build quality was lacking. The ShareMe Pro did an amazing job of improving on build quality and durability, but didn't offer any improvement in regards to sound. As the flagship of the lineup, how does the ShareMe 5 perform? Let's find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Grace and Mixcder for providing the ShareMe 5 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Mixcder or any other entity.
 
At the time of this review the ShareMe 5 is retailing for 55.99 USD on Amazon.com. It is also being sold on a number of other Amazon regional sites.
 
US: www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY56U3P
 
UK: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LMY4RMO
 
JP: www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01LYRKMDS
 
Spain: www.amazon.es/dp/B01LMY4RMO
 
IT: www.amazon.it/dp/B01LMY4RMO
 
DE: www.amazon.de/dp/B01LMY4RMO

 
A Little About Me:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
Like with the rest of the products in this lineup, the ShareMe 5 arrived in some very basic, environmentally friendly packaging.
 
This basic packaging consists of a straightforward cardboard box with limited coloring and printing. The front contains the Mixcder brand logo, the ShareMe logo, and notification that inside you will be receiving the ShareMe 5 model. The sides display a simplified image of the 5's earcups, highlighting some basic design cues. Moving to the back you find the product's specifications printed in seven languages (English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese). There are five icons printed above the specs that point out the 5 folds up, has a 40mm driver, last call redialing, can work with a 3.5mm audio cable, and sports 14 hours of talking with 2,000 hours of standby time.
 
The package opens from the top after flipping out two tabs, revealing a sky-blue cardboard cover. Underneath is a plastic tray holding the 5. Lift out the plastic tray and you will find an instruction booklet, basic audio cable terminated in standard 3.5mm jacks at either end, and a micro USB cable for charging. The audio cable is pretty standard and somewhat thin, clearly not meant to be used on the regular. The USB cable is of good quality, if not particularly noteworthy. The instruction manual is fairly comprehensive, covering everything from the package's contents to notification of Mixcder's one year warranty.
 
Overall the 5's packaging and presentation is very simple and straightforward. Unlike the ANC-G5's package which has a more premium feel, the 5's package does only what it needs to do; protect the product and not much more.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, and Isolation:
 
The ShareMe 5 is a good looking headphone with a sleek, modern design. As with the rest of the ShareMe lineup, plastic is heavily featured as the material of choice with aluminum strategically placed for both structural and aesthetic purposes. The aluminum backing on the ear cups, along with chrome edging, brings with it a premium aura lacking on the Pro and 7. The aluminum plates on the inside of the headband add some welcome rigidity to the folding hinges.
 
The pivot point that attaches the earcup to the headband is an area to watch, as it uses a simple, fairly thin cylinder of plastic that doesn't come across as overly robust. Given my colder, northern climate, the headband is another area I'm cautious of. Plastic headbands on inexpensive headphones always seem to get extremely brittle in cold weather and snap without warning. The cups also had a tendency to rub against the arms when pivoting, but that was never an issue when the headphones were in use.
 
Media controls were easy to use, but I missed the dedicated track skip buttons from the Pro. Locating them was simple and their tactile feel was direct and confident. There was a bit of a delay when trying to skip songs or change volume, but it wasn't unbearable.
 
I found the 5 to be a very comfortable headphone. Lighter than I expected as well. I thought the Pro was pretty dainty at 250 grams, but the 5 weighs in at only 170 grams. While some may find the cups a tad small, they entirely covered my ears with the angled driver ensuring they weren't pressing on the inside of the earcup anywhere. The headband's padding was ample enough to ensure there were no uncomfortable hotspots on the top of my head. The only qualm I have is that the 5 is just a tad too large for my head, fitting best when wearing a hat, an issue I have with many headphones.
 
Passive isolation is not a strong point on the Pro or 7 as those models hardly isolate at all. The 5 on the other hand actually isolates pretty well which was a welcome surprise. They don't fully silence your surroundings, but its enough to avoid the need to turn up the volume to drown out all but the most invasive outside noise.
 
Overall the ShareMe 5 is an attractive headphone that gives off a much more expensive air than it's ShareMe stablemates. I would without question take the Pro if durability was a primary selling point or concern for you. In every other way however, the 5 is superior.
 

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Battery and Charging:
 
Despite their battery being the same size as that used on the Pro and 7, the 5 gets only 14 hours of play time versus 20 with the others. It has a ridiculous 2,000 hours of standby time. While I can verify the 14 hours of play time is about right, I won't be testing the 2,000 hours of standby anytime soon. Sorry. The claimed "about two hours" charge time is also accurate, as each charge I put into the 5 took just under two hours to complete.
 
While I would like the 5 to share 20 hours of play time with it's cousins, 14 hours turned out to be plenty and I didn't find myself missing the extra hours.
 
Connection Quality and ShareMe Feature:
 
While the ShareMe 5 is a great performer wired, that's probably not why you're interested in them. Rest assured prospective buyer, the 5 offers up strong Bluetooth performance and a much more pleasant ShareMe experience then what I had with either the Pro or 7.
 
Setting up a Bluetooth connection is as easy as you would expect from a modern Bluetooth device. Hold down the power button to turn them on and keep holding it to access pairing mode. On your Bluetooth enabled device, select the ShareMe 5. Congratulations! You paired your ShareMe 5 via Bluetooth.
 
Looking at the ShareMe feature, well that was easy to use too. Just hold the power button until both units turn on, keep holding until the indicator LED on the earcup starts cycling between red and blue, and let go. The units will locate each other and automatically connect. One earphone will be selected as the primary and announced as the left channel. The other will be chosen as a secondary and announced as the right channel. A nice touch is that media controls on each headphone could be used to control your device. My wife likes her music a lot louder than I do so independent volume control was nice to have.
 
The ShareMe feature didn't work perfectly and I experienced occasional connection loss in the right channel. Still, it was a way better experience than I had with the Pro and 7 which dropped their connections too often for the feature to be usable.
 
As a simple Bluetooth headphone the 5 is quite nice and worth consideration. If looking at any earphone in the lineup primarily for their namesake ShareMe feature, the 5 is the only one that worked well for me and gets a hearty recommendation. That's not a bad thing as they're also the best sounding of the bunch.
 

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Sound Quality:
 
Wired vs. Wireless: Just as with the 7 and Pro, I didn't find the 5 wholly different when listened to wirelessly or wired. They were somewhat sharper and more refined when used wired, but it wasn't so much of a difference that I was loathing or dreading wireless use when out and about. Once again, kudos to Mixcder for great wireless sound quality, especially since the entire ShareMe lineup lacks any aptX support.
 
My very first listen with the 5 confirmed expectations that they would share a v-shaped signature with the rest of the ShareMe lineup. What made it stand out was an airiness often lacking in closed back, budget headphones, and some additional treble emphasis and refinement. These differences highlighted the 5's improved technical competence. While I find it the most v-shaped model in the ShareMe lineup, it's also the best sounding.
 
The additional treble energy puts some bounce in their step and some air in their presentation that the other ShareMe models do not have. The 5's treble just edges into sounding lean or thin which I feel aides in giving them some additional sparkle. It's very polite though, and even at volumes I'm not comfortable with doesn't break up and distort or become harsh.
 
The 5's midrange is quite pleasant but pulled back a little more than is ideal. It's slightly warm, well weighted, reasonably detailed, and comes across pretty natural. Despite being the least emphasized aspect of the 5's sound, it's relatively unimpeded by the bass or treble. I found it best when watching movies or videos, as actors/commentators remained clear and precise regardless of what was going on in the background.
 
Strong bass is a ShareMe staple, and the 5 is no different. What really impressed me was the extension and emphasis placed on sub-bass. These 5 gives you a nice visceral experience that the other two models lack. Beats hit with a fairly authoritative and defined punch, whereas the 7 and Pro are thumpy and less precise.
 
A noted earlier, I thought the 5 was way more airy sounding than the other ShareMe models. Imaging, layering, separation, and placement are better than I was expecting and definitely a step up over the Pro and 7, but they still fall short of other portables like the Sony MRD-ZX600, mind you those are wired and cost nearly twice as much.
 
The ShareMe 5 brings to the table a well-tuned v-shaped sound. They're easy to listen to and non-fatiguing, though the midrange could use a slight boost and additional presence.
 

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Final Thoughts:
 
Mixcder's ShareMe lineup ends with the 5. Were it not for the ruggedness of the Pro, it would be pretty easy to argue the ShareMe lineup could begin with it too.
 
Subjectively, the 5 features the most mature and attractive design with the highest quality materials. It is the most comfortable and the best isolating. It was the only one of the three that gave me a good ShareMe experience while still offering up the excellent solo Bluetooth performance of the other models. On top of that it's price is within striking distance of the other two and as a result it's easily the best value of the bunch.
 
Mixcder's ShareMe 5 is a great product and one I would not only recommend to others, but would proudly buy for myself and my wife if I didn't already have two of them, and gift to friends and family. I hope Mixcder continues to grow, developing their sound and technology, and expand the ShareMe lineup with similarly great headphones. Maybe one day they can even introduce a ShareMe in-ear into the mix? Here's hoping!
 
Thanks for reading.
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums
 
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Culprate - Deliverance
Alan Parson's Project - I Robot
Various drum and bass mixes from SubSil3nt and Going Quantum Podcast

Greetings Head-fi!

Today we are going to be taking a look at the newest earphone from the good folks over at Blue Ever Blue, the Model 1200EX.

Based out of Washington, D.C., Blue Ever Blue (BeB) exploded onto the earphone market in 2011 with a variety of products featuring HDSS (High Definition Sound Standard) technology. A number of respected Head-fi'ers like @jant71 and @clieOS gave them a go. After some outstanding initial coverage, it was apparent BeB was bringing to market some heavy-hitting earphones in the under 100 USD category.

Fast forward five years and BeB has continued to expand their lineup, releasing higher quality and seemingly more technically proficient models along the way. Their new flagship, the Model 1200EX, was recently released on October 28th, 2016 and I feel we're going to be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months. Why is that? Let's find out.

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank Bentley with Blue Ever Blue for providing a sample of the 1200EX in exchange for a fair and impartial review. 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 Blue Ever Blue or any other entity.

The 1200EX retails for 130.00 USD. You can purchase it here on Blue Ever Blue's website: http://www.blueeverblue.com/product_model_1200ex.html

The nozzles on the sample I was sent came misaligned, a QC issue BeB is keeping a close eye on. It didn't affect fit or sound quality.

Edit: Review reduced to 4 stars to sit more in line with competition from other products. The 1200EX is still a fantastic buy.

A Little About Me:

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Packaging and Accessories:

Looking back to BeB's older models and the heavy use of blister packages, you can see they've taken a pretty big step forward here. While nothing mindblowing or uber premium, the outer package clearly outlines what to expect from the 1200EX; what it looks like, specifications, and features. The magnetically sealed front flap is a welcome touch, giving you a sneak peak of the earpieces and BeB logo embossed on the carrying case. An area of improvement would be the layout and presentation. It's overly busy with six or seven different fonts used on the front alone, and the red on grey is nearly impossible for a color-blind chum like myself to read.

HDSS and some of the benefits of this unique technology are noted, such as 3D full stereo sound, high definition audio, and a 14.32% reduction in psychological stress. I don't fully understand how that's supposed to work, but I highly recommend heading over to HDSS.com (http://hdss.com/technology.html) to read up on it as it's an interesting subject. There are some big names backing the tech as well, such as Asus, Marantz, Sharp, Head-fi favorite Dunu, and of course, Blue Ever Blue.

Moving on to the contents, sliding out the inner package you'll notice the foam inlay is covered in a smooth, felt-like fabric. A unique touch compared to the bare foam inserts used by most manufacturers. The 1200EX earpieces are on full display up top, with the compact carrying case on display below. I was afraid the case would be a bit too small, but it holds the 1200EX just fine.

Inside the case you find a bunch of goodies; medium bore eartips in s/m/l sizes that were very similar to those included with the ATH-CKP300, a single set of wide bore tip in medium size, and a single set of dual flange tips reminiscent of those used by Brainwavz. There are also three alternative ear hooks in s/m/l sizes. Another ear hook in a completely different and more compact style comes preinstalled.

Tucked away underneath the inner tray is a 1 year limited warranty card. Not as great as the three year warranty you get with RHA's products, but it's a heck of a lot better than the hilariously short limited 3 month warranty Sony offers with the AS800AP.

Overall the presentation is a little hit and miss, but quality materials are used and the accessory kit is comprehensive.

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Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

Cheap materials and poor build quality can quickly quell enthusiasm and cast a dark shadow over a great sounding product. Now way would I want to drop my hard earned cash on something that's probably not going to be in good working order in a couple months, especially when I start dipping my toes in the 100 USD and over market. The 1200EX meets my expectations and feels like it should stand the test of time.

If my experience with old school Hot Wheels toy cars from the 70s, 80s, and 90s is any indication, these housings will take a licking and ask for more. The solid feel and weight of the 1200EX immediately brought to mind that classic toy the first time I held them in my hands. The hefty metal alloy and thick, reassuring plastic used for the earpieces inspires confidence. Only time will tell of course, but I would be shocked if the Model 1200EX ran into durability issues.

All this girth means the 1200EX is a heavy beast but the weight is fairly well distributed. This is further aided by the use of the included ear hooks. The ear hooks are made from a very soft silicone so while they taper into a seemingly sharp edge you hardly notice they're there. I would like to see BeB include slightly beefier ear hooks in the style appearing on Brainwavz's BLU-200 model. Their ear hook works amazingly well with the 1200EX, adding additional stability the stock ones lack while maintaining most of the comfort.

When I first saw the winded cable, the QKZ W1 Pro came to mind. While the 1200EX's cable is similar, it's thinner above and below the y-split and uses a much stiffer sheath. It's fairly resistant to tangling but has some memory, retaining mild bends from being stored in the case. Cable noise (microphonics ) is almost completely absent and is very likely the best I've come across in an earphone designed predominantly for cable-down wear. Strain relief is present at the 45 degree angled jack and leading into the earpieces, if not a touch too stiff. It is completely absent at the y-split. Overall it's a very nice cable. While thin, it feels tough and the near complete lack of microphonics is a HUGE plus.

The Model 1200EX isolates like a dynamic driver earphone, that is to say it is simply okay. The large vent in front of the driver, just beside the nozzle, lets in a fair bit of sound. Once you have music playing, even at low volumes, its not so much of an issue but you're still going to need to crank it up when using public transit.

Overall the Model 1200EX comes across as a very durable earphone. The fairly comfortable design, which makes good use of the included ear hooks, combined with very low cable noise means they're great for mobile use, just try to avoid overly loud areas because their passive isolation could be better.

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Sound:

Tips: I tried a variety of tips with the 1200EX but didn't hear much of a difference moving between bore sizes. In the end, large dual-flange Havi tips and medium Mixcder ANC-G5 tips offered up the best comfort and most consistent seal, so I settled on them.

Amping: Please do, even though this is an earphone optimized for low volume listening. They are a slightly warm, treble leaning, mid-range forward earphone that with extra power is extremely clean, tight, and very detailed. Straight from a cellphone, they certainly sound great, but an amp kicks it all up a notch.

Bass seems to be the prime focus of most manufacturers as of late. Warm, smooth, monstrous bass that will please the masses. What I love so much about the 1200EX is that their bass quantity is sidelined putting everything else in the spotlight, with just enough warmth to tie it all together.

Treble is crisp, accurate, full of detail, and prominent, along the lines of Dunu's Titan 1. Unlike the Titan 1, the 1200EX is a touch dry and quite crisp that results in them sometimes coming across a bit over exuberant, such as during particularly energetic cymbal crashes. For the most part, however, it's well behaved. Well behaved enough for this to become my go-to earphone for metal, taking the place of my beloved JVC HA-FXH30.

Their midrange is truly something special, making the Havi B3 Pro 1 sound almost muffled and veiled in comparison. The B3 has one of my favorite midranges, and still does, but listening to the two back-to-back confirms the 1200EX is not playing the same ballgame. The realism and ease with which voices are presented is outstanding and in my earphone collection, I'd be hard pressed to find a rival.

Their low end is pretty tame, with not much more emphasis than the Havi B3 Pro 1. Extension into sub-bass regions is quite good, showing that a somewhat bass light earphone can still hit the low notes if called upon. It is also insanely quick and punchy. Drums sound spot on with just the right amount of decay, and so good I caught myself spending a couple hours on Youtube hunting down the craziest drum solos and battles. The intent was to find one that would exceed the 1200EX's capabilities. Still looking...

BeB touts a 3D, full stereo soundstage. I don't know about it being 3D, but it sure is impressive. Definitely larger than average and nigh identical to the Titan 1 but with improved depth. Where the sweetness comes in is with the way sound travels within this space. I've run into earphones that make me aware of non-existent activity in my surroundings, but not quite like the 1200EX does it.

Overall the Model 1200EX is an outstanding sounding earphone with a stupendous midrange. Don't let the ear hooks fool you into thinking this is a sports earphone your typical bass-heavy signature, because it couldn't be any more different. If you like a fairly neutral sound with a ridiculously sweet midrange and some extra energy up top, these are well worth your time.

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Final Thoughts:

Blue Ever Blue has eschewed standard tuning expectations for the Model 1200EX, and like the Havi B3 Pro 1 shows that you can release a very capable, audiophile friendly tuning at a good price. They don't spam your ears with "EXTRA BASS!!!", they output gobs of detail top to bottom, and they present their midrange and soundstage in a way that would make most earphones jealous.

While the misaligned nozzles are something to watch out for, it wasn't something that affected my enjoyment of the Model 1200EX. The packaging design also needs some work, but this is pretty minor in the grand scheme of things especially when most buyers will be tossing it out anyway.

I've been thankful to have the opportunity to listen to a number of outstanding earphones this year, but the Model 1200EX really stands out. It's always refreshing to try out something that's intended for low-volume listening. It's even better when the earphone sounds this good.

Thanks for reading!


- B9Scrambler

Earphone stand provided courtesy of Aural Life​

***** ***** ***** ***** *****​

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Test Albums

Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Tom Cochrane - Trapeze
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey

Greetings Head-fi!

Today we are going to be checking out a display stand from Aural Life.

Stands for full sized headphones are a pretty common site in the audiophile community, but options for earphone users seem to be limited at best. The team at Aural Life ran into the same issue so they took it upon themselves to offer the community their solution.

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank Mik at Aural Life for providing a complimentary sample of their stand in exchange for a review. I am not receiving any financial compensation and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Aural Life or any other entity.

You can check out and purchase their stand here on aurallife.com.

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The Stand:
 
The Aural Life stand is flawlessly crafted from acrylic. It is fairly small and unobtrusive with a modern design that draws your attention while still blending in naturally with the surrounding environment. The crystal clear acrylic used doesn’t obstruct your earphones allowing for full admiration by yourself and others.
 
The stand features two small u-shaped cradles upon which the earpiece housings rest. The notches cut into the cradles securely grasp each earpiece’s cable and strain relief, ensuring the earpieces stay in place. The earphone’s cable snakes down and threads through the front of the face plate, into the base which doubles as a storage compartment.Using a three-finger wind and Aural Life’s hefty, rubberized and magnetic cable clip, the compartment was able to accommodate any cable I tried. From your average, thin, rubberized cable to large, ungainly flat cables, the Aural Life stand could store it all.

There were only two, very minor, nitpicky issues I ran across. One was with overly stiff cables. They had a tendency to slide the compartment lid back and out of place. Maybe having the lid enter at a raked angle would help with this? The other was with the hole in the face plate through which the cable was threaded into the storage compartment. I always had to pick up the stand to feed the cable back through so it could be used. This was somewhat inconvenient and led to many fingerprints. To make it more convenient for frequent use it would be nice if there were an easier way to slot the cable through the face place, such as through a hole in the side. For example;

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Comparison:

The Aural Life stand doesn’t have a lot of competition that I’m aware of. The only other product I’ve tried that serves the same purpose is the Brainwavz Krudul Duo, though it goes about it’s business in a very different way. As a result, I feel they compliment each other quite nicely.
 
Also coming in at 14.99 USD, the Krudul Duo gives you two headphone holders crafted entirely from aluminum and painted matte black. Their design is more function-over-form, blending in without drawing any attention. Unlike the Aural Life stand, no one is going to take a second glance at the Duo and your earphones because they’re so attention grabbing.

The Duo are affixed in place by a very strong, double-sided adhesive. One holder is meant to be attached to a computer monitor, the other to a vertical surface. This is great and all, but it means the Krudul Duo is not suitable as a portable solution. The Aural Life stand can travel with you if needed, and easily be shifted around to a new location if you happen to be re-organizing.

Brainwavz’s offering can be more practical in that the earphones held are easier to access. You just lift them off the holder. That said, they lack any true cable management solution so the cable ends up dangling and getting in the way. The Aural Life stand’s base keeps your cable neatly wrapped up, secure, and out of the way.

The Krudul Duo hold your earphones. The Aural Life stand displays your earphones, stashes the cable safely away, and looks classy all the while.

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Final Thoughts:
 
Overall the Aural Life display stand is a beautiful way to show off your favorite pair of earphones. The price is right, it is well-built, and it can easily accommodate a number of different earphone and cable designs with ease.

If you are looking for an attractive and functional earphone stand, this is it. Look no further than Aural Life’s offering.

Thanks for reading!

– B9Scrambler

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out the C1002, one of 1More's many hybrid offerings. The C1002 utilizes a single balanced armature and single dynamic driver to produce a clean, crisp, detailed sound.
 
The idea behind 1More's products is to represent music with "unrivaled precision". They teamed up with Luca Bignardi, a Grammy award winning sound engineer, on their products to create a house sound that focuses on a realistic balance between all frequencies. They claim to avoid the boosted extremes that other manufacturers products suffer from, giving you a sound that you can enjoy without having to crank the volume up to unhealthy levels.
 
1More's audio goals are well-presented in the C1002 Capsule.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Tyler on 1More USA's Support Team for hooking me up with a C1002 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of 1More or any other entity.
 
The C1002 Capsule currently retails for 89.99 USD. Check it out here on 1More's site.
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The package an earphone arrives in is of little importance to many. Some prefer a simple, low-cost solution because it means more of the cost of development can be applied to the earphone. It also mean means they can toss it out without remorse once they have the goods tucked away inside. Some like a flashy package that provides an involving and in-depth unboxing experience. You feel like you are getting something special, a thought reinforced once you have the earphone in your ears and are listening to your favorite tunes. Me? I like a little of both and can appreciate when a company has taken the time to ensure the entire ownership experience is memorable. I think the 1More did a good job of this with the C1002 Capsule.
 
The package looks simple enough, luxuriously appointed in blacks and greys with a glossy high quality image of the C1002 on the front with some specifications and information on the back. Sliding off the outer sheath reveals a two part box about the size of a hardcover book. The grey split between the two halves looks fantastic and invites curiosity as to what is inside.
 
Lifting off lid you find the C1002 on display, wrapped around a silver plate. Flip back the silver plate and you find the rest of the Kevlar reinforced cable wrapped around a raised section holding the spare tips, a metal shirt clip and two silicone sleeves. Looking back at the lid you will find two storage sections holding a leatherette carrying case and instruction manual.
 
The tips, which come in xs/s/m/l are made of a fairly thin but well-sealing silicone. The metal shirt clip is reminiscent of that which came with the Xiaomi Piston 2.0 and is a very nice addition, coming across much more premium than the inexpensive plastic clips that are included with countless earphones. The silicone sleeves fit on the earpieces well, adding some protection from drops and scratches. They also keep the earpieces securely in place during vigorous activity.
 
Overall it's a really nice package. Well-designed, attractive, and with a comprehensive accessory kit full of items that are of good quality while also being useful.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort and Isolation:
 
Upon first holding the C1002 I was immediately impressed with the light but solid feel they exuded. I thought only the outer half of each earpiece shell would be metal, but nope, turns out everything is. This combined with compact dimensions, solid strain relief, and a Kevlar reinforced cable inspires lots of confidence that they will stand the test of time.
 
The design itself is very simple, but wow does it ever result in a comfortable and fairly attractive little hybrid. The two-tone earpieces are about the size of a large pill (hence Capsule) with the nozzle extruding at a near 45 degree angle. The strain relief is oddly enough also located at the front of the housing, opposite of the nozzle. This allows the earpiece to sit unimpeded in your outer ear. It's a very thoughtful design. Also thoughtful are the magnets tucked into the rear of each housing. When not in use, the allow the C1002 to be "clipped" around your neck for storage. The magnets are strong enough to hold together during regular activity. If you happen to snag the cable on something they will quickly release to prevent any damage.
 
Isolation is pretty average with the stock tips. The C1002's design means it doesn't insert very far into your ear canal. When combined with the thin silicone used on the stock tips sound will leak in. Toss on some Comply foam ear tips and isolation increases drastically, as expected.
 
My only real complaint with the C1002 brings us back around to that cable. Overall it is well behaved with limited memory and decent tangle resistance. Microphonics, or cable noise, is very intrusive. Even sitting at my desk, noise travels up the cable and through the earpiece, highlighting every shift of my body. This can be minimized greatly by wearing the C1002 over-ear, but I found swapping channels was required to maintain their outstanding fit and comfort.
 

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Microphone and Remote Performance:
 
The inline remote and microphone worked very well. Ergonomics on the remote are excellent with each button easy to find without looking. Functionality with my HTC One M8 was pretty comprehensive, though I couldn't seek through tracks to a specific point within a song. Call quality was very good with callers saying I was coming through loud and clear. Given how intrusive cable noise is coming through the earpieces, I was expecting the microphone to pick up quite a bit but that was not at all the case. Bumping the cable, hitting it against my chest, shaking my head; none of that was picked up.
 
I didn't have a windstorm handy so I don't know how they would stack up to my benchmark JVC HA-FRD60 when it comes to minimizing wind noise, but I suspect the C1002 would pass with flying colors.
 
The C1002 is designed to work with iOs and Android devices that follow the CTIA standard.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: 1More's stock tips are a perfect match for the C1002; not really the norm. I tried my usual favorites, like those from the UE600, Havi's dual-flange set from the B3, and some others, but I always came back to the pre-installed stock mediums. Comply's 400 and 500 series tips would stay on just fine and sounded good, dulling treble somewhat. Note that this particular model isn't yet found on Comply's compatibility list. I can't guarantee they won't slide off and get stuck in your ear, though that's not a problem I've run into yet.
 
Amping: The C1002 was easily driven to blistering volumes from my phone, and amping didn't seem to add any auditory benefits. Not needed.
 
1More has really been gaining some ground and great respect with their earphones as of late. Just take a look at the reviews of their double- and triple-driver hybrids which have been exceedingly well-received. The C1002 Capsule is another product that I suspect will continue to uphold 1More's reputation for quality hybrids as more customers get their hands on them.
 
The general signature of the C1002 is one that is slightly bright with a natural midrange and bass that rolls off early giving the impression of a mild mid-bass hump. They are wonderfully balanced with each aspect of their sound vying equally for your attention. Treble stands tall offering listeners a tight and accurate presentation. It leans towards a thinner presentation which really helps showcase the amount of detail and impressive clarity on offer. At high volumes I noticed the C1002 had a tendency to get a little peaky, but there shouldn't be any reason to listen that loud as it performs best medium to lower volumes. It's also best to feed them high quality, well-recorded files since they're not overly forgiving and pull out flaws.
 
Their midrange is exceptionally clear with absolutely no interference from the low end. The lightly enhanced treble doesn't overshadow it in any way either. I didn't find that either male or female vocals were more emphasized or given precedent and both sounded refreshingly accurate without coming across overly thin and light or too weighty. Guitars strum along amazingly well with minute details, such as fingers siding up and down the strings, being picked up easily. The C1002's midrange is surprisingly musical.
 
The C1002's low end continues the trend of being engaging, quick, accurate, and well-weighted, but it lacks extension bringing us to my only qualm with their sound. Mid-bass is punchy and well textured, but when a song calls for some deep bass, it trails off and fizzles out way too early. This helps prevent fatigue during longer listening sessions, but it also hinders my enjoyment somewhat when listening to bass-reliant music.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
Dunu Titan 1 (~130 USD): The Titan 1 utilizes a single, fairly large 13mm, titanium-coated dynamic driver and features a semi-open, earbud style design. The large, flat housings are comfortable, but I feel the C1002 will be more appropriate across a wider variety for ear types. The Titan1 has more prominent, impactful bass that extends significantly deeper than on the C1002. The C1002 places about the same emphasis on their treble but it's thinner, more sparkly, and even more lively. Their midrange is also more forward and detailed than experienced on the Titan 1. The C1002 is slightly more natural sounding as the Titan 1 comes across a little dry and sterile. The Titan 1's soundstage and presentation is much larger and more grandiose than the C1002's more intimate showing. The C1002's smaller sounstage comes across more accurate though, placing instruments and sounds more accurately. The C1002 requires more power to drive to the same volumes.
 
LZ A2S (~70 USD): The A2S and C1002 couldn't be much more different. Where the C1002 is bright and detailed with de-emphasized bass, and A2S is warm and bassy with an overly smooth presentation that comes across a little dull to my ears. The A2S is extremely thick sounding next to the C1002, or conversely the C1002 comes across overly thin. 1More's earphone has better resolution and detail with improved instrument separation and imaging, though the A2S's midrange is very addictive. It carries a more realistic tonality and weight to it. The C1002's treble presentation is light-years ahead of the A2S. Despite being much brighter, the C1002 is nearly as non-fatiguing despite the additional detail and sparkle. The A2S's more traditional barrel shape is very comfortable and works equally well in either cable up or cable down situations. The C102 again requires more power to drive to the same volumes.
 
Huawei Honor AM175 (45.99 USD): The Capsule focuses on providing a rich treble experience with more presence, greater extension, and more impressive clarity and detail. It's clear the BA driver is the primary focus and as a result the C1002 takes on a less warm presentation. The AM175 has a thicker and more weighty, realistic midrange with greater extension in the bass. The C1002 has a deceptively small soundstage coming across larger than it is, probably due to the thinner presentation. The C1002 is quicker but the lack of bass extension is too noticeable. The cable is also much too noisy and intrusive compared to the AM175s in daily use. Both require similar power to drive.
 
Overall:
 
The 1More C1002 Capsule is an excellent hybrid earphone catering well to someone looking for a balanced sound; just be prepared to sacrifice some bass extension. Their outstanding detail and clarity is backed by a durable and comfortable design, a thoughtful and useful accessory kit, and a limited 1 year warranty adding some additional security. If you can excuse some cable noise, these would work well for daily use and exercise in addition to critical listening in the comfort of your home.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Some Test Albums:
 
BT - This Binary Universe
The Uncluded - Hokey Fright
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Evil Nine - They Live
Aesop Rock - Daylight EP
Gramatik - The Edge of Reason
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
King Crimson - Red / Lark's Tongues in Aspic
Warlock - Triumph and Agony
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Gonna Eat That?
Rob Sonic - Alice in Thunderdome

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Huawei. Mobile device giant out of China. It makes sense that they would design and sell their own earphones.
 
My first Huawei earphone experience was the Honor Engine AM12. They were a solid little earphone. Awesome build quality, really creative storage case, and decent sound quality though not my cup of tea. They were a good Xiaomi Piston 2 competitor, offering up a more balanced signature and more premium feel.
 
Huawei has now stepped into the increasingly popular budget hybrid realm with the AM175. It utilizes a Knowles balanced armature (BA) driver solely for treble and a 10mm dynamic driver (DD) with a Daikoku coil and Dupont diaphragm to handle the midrange and bass. This is a slightly different approach than the BA for treble and mids, DD for bass approach that many hybrids seem to take.
 
Does the AM175 hit the mark or is it simply an honorable attempt at an entry level hybrid? Let's find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Alta with Lightinthebox for providing the AM175 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Lightinthebox, Huawei, or any other entity.
 
The AM175 currently retails for 45.99 USD/63.93 CAD. You can check it out here on lightinthebox.com.
 
 
A Little About Me:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The AM175 comes in an attractive but simple package. The entire front panel is a clear viewing window displaying the earpieces. The box is coated in a comforting pebbled texture that has Honor printed on the sides and some basic statistics and features printed on the rear. I thought it was neat that soy ink was used in the printing of the package as it is a more environmentally friendly option than more traditional inks.
 
The viewing window is lifted out using a small tab. The foam pad the earpieces are set into lifts out via a small strip of ribbon. Underneath you find the cable tightly wrapped up and secured in another foam cutout. The spare tips are stored in their own cutouts instead of being placed in a plastic bag as found with most products. Lastly there is a small warranty card, though it was printed entirely in Mandarin. The included tips use a high quality silicone but they are uncommonly small. The large tips are akin to medium with most brands, medium with small, and small with extra small. Luckily the large tips fit my ears fine and enabled a perfect seal.
 
Overall the unboxing experience is unremarkable but pleasant. It would have been nice to have received a small bag to carry the earphones in, and tips in a more standardized size.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
The AM175 features a mostly plastic construction with some aluminum trim surrounding the earpiece housing and an aluminum back plate adding some additional flair. The top of the housing sports a layered texture leading from the back plate to the aluminum trip. The fit and finish is impeccable, just as I expected based on the AM12's build, and the plastic feels very solid and durable. The housings are light, but they have a bit more heft to them than you would expect.
 
The earpieces are similar in size to VSonic's AN16/GR06 housing, but take on a trapezoidal shape which I found more ergonomic. The nozzle protrudes at a 50 degree angle which worked very well with their shallow fit design. They're designed to be worn cable down but can be worn cable up if you swap channels. I found them extremely comfortable in either orientation.
 
The AM175 uses a flat cable which tend to be hit or miss, but this one has performed admirably. It is very flexible and fairly light, though it does hold minor bends and still hasn't fully straightened out after weeks of use. At least microphonics are acceptable, especially for a flat cable. My main qualm is the complete absence of any strain relief, though the cable apparently has been tested for 5,000 bends. That's somewhat reassuring. There is a chin cinch for those that appreciate this feature, but note that travel is limited as a result of the inline remote.
 
 
Given the shallow fit and twin vents on each earpiece, isolation was predictably low. Without music playing I had no issues holding a conversation with someone. With music playing on low volumes, I could still hear a fair bit of ambient noise bleeding through. Toss on some Comply 500 series foams and isolation improves considerably going from below average, to above average,
 
Overall the AM175 is extremely well built minus the lack of strain relief , and they are very comfortable. Isolation is poor unless using foam eartips.
 
Microphone and Remote Performance:
 
Given Huawei's performance in the mobile device market, you would hope the microphone and remote would be excellent since this product will probably be used quite often for phone calls. I don't think you'll be disappointed as the inline remote and mic are quite good.
 
Microphone performance is up there with some of the better units I've tested. During phone calls I come through loud and clear to my callers, wind noise was present but minimal, and tapping the cable produced only a minor thud that hardly intruded and did not overshadow speaking.
 
The remote worked well with my HTC One M8. It would be used to start/stop tracks and skip through songs, though it wouldn't allow fast forwarding or rewinding. A minor setback to be honest, but having the ability would be nice.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: Since the stock tips worked so well, I didn't really feel the need to try a variety of tips. The nozzle is 5mm wide, 6mm long, so the majority of tips fit fine. Note that due to the length, short tips like those that come with many JVC earphones will rest very far down on the nozzle. You might be forced to up the tip size due to this combined with the shallow fit. Comply foams paired exceptionally well with the AM175. Since they sat so far down the nozzle, they didn't absorb treble energy to the extent I was expecting.
 
Amping: The AM175 is easy enough to drive from your average cellphone, but it does benefit from being hooked up to an amp. I found it produced a much cleaner, more precise sound from my Topping NX1 vs. being plugged directly into my phone or laptop. Treble was more lively, the midrange seemed clearer, bass had more impact and texture, and they sounded lighter and more open. While amping isn't necessary, you'll want one to fully experience the AM175's excellent sound quality.
 
Budget hybrids have exploded in popularity this year with new models and brands cropping up weekly, or at least that's how it feels. As a result, the new hotness garners all the attention for a week or two until the next "big thing" appears and the hype train shifts tracks and heads in a new direction. I'm not going to be hyping the AM175, but I will say that it's a great sounding earphone and worthy of some attention if you're wanting a hybrid in that 50 USD price bracket.
 
Given the AM175's BA is dedicated to handling treble, it surprised me to find that they were fairly reserved up top. It's presentation is tight and accurate with good clarity and detail, rolling off a touch early so as not to be bright and fatiguing. The AM175 lacks the clarity and raw detail of the JVC HA-FXH30 which uses a single 6mm titanium coated micro-driver, but it's also less fatiguing. The midrange is where the AM175 excels in my opinion. It brings to mind the Havi B3 Pro 1 and shares the same fluid, natural tone though balance isn't quite as even with more emphasis found in the lower mids. They're also a touch dry. Detail and clarity were excellent picking up nuances in recordings fairly well. Mid-bass is where most of the emphasis sits, but it works. You get a fair bit of punch with good speed and decay, enough to keep up with some complicated basslines. Sub-bass extension is just enough to give you some rumble, but I would like to see even greater presence.
 
Some of my favorite aspects of the AM175 are the soundstage and imaging. They don't display a cavernous sense of space like some other in-ears, but they do transition sounds throughout it with greater dynamiciscm than many in this price range. You're not stuck with a simple left/right/centre presentation, instead getting everything in between. Since the drivers come across as light and snappy, effects really zip around with a sense of urgency and accuracy. It can be quite fun and involving.
 
Overall the AM175 produces a very coherent, slightly mid-focused sound that is quick and engaging. For my preferences I wish the treble was slightly more prevalent and for there to be a bit more umph in the sub-bass regions, but as-is this is one of the most consistent and capable hybrids I've heard at this time.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
1More C1002 Capsule (~90 USD): The Capsule 1+1 hybrid focuses on providing a rich treble experience with more presence, greater extension, and more impressive clarity and detail. It's clear the BA driver is the primary focus and as a result the C1002 takes on a less warm presentation. The AM175 has a thicker and more weighty, realistic midrange with greater extension in the bass. The C1002 has a deceptively small soundstage coming across larger than it is, probably due to the thinner presentation. The C1002 is quicker but the lack of bass extension is too noticeable. The cable is also much too noisy and intrusive compared to the AM175s in daily use.
 
LZ A2S (~70 USD): The A2S 1+1 hybrid is the bass cannon of the bunch, giving listeners a thundering low end that for my tastes puts way too much emphasis on the mid-bass. It has the extension and texture advantage while being just as quick. The AM175 has similar treble presence, but with more energy and sparkle. The A2S' midrange is just as sweet, if not slightly more so. The AM175 has a similar soundstage as the C1002, falling well behind the AM175. The thick, midbassy presentation is too much and as a result it feels congested and lacks the clarity of Huawei's offering.
 
Accutone Pavo (79 USD): Another dual driver, but the only one of the bunch with two dynamics. Oddly enough, it sounds more like a hybrid than either the A2S or AM175. It is similar in overall presentation to the AM175 but slightly thinner, a touch grainy, and with treble extension and detail more on par with the C1002. The midrange is colder, lacking the natural feel of the AM175. Bass extension is good, but falls just short of the AM175 and well short of the A2S. Texture and clarity are on par. Soundstage on the Pavo feels less spacious but deeper than on the AM175. I prefer the Pavo's PU cable and all-metal build, but the AM175's design is more refined with better fit and finish.
 
The AM175 comes across as the most balanced and usable as a daily driver since it does everything well without any glaring flaws or clear strengths.
 
Overall:
 
The Huawei Honor AM175 surprised me at how well it works as an all-round earphone. The design, build quality, materials, functionality, fit, and comfort make them an easy earphone to pick up, toss in your pocket, and use throughout the day.
 
Their sound quality is excellent with a forward midrange and a realistic tonality. Treble extends well but is relaxed enough to avoid coming across as sibilant. They have enough bass to thump hard when required, but it's not overpowering nor lacking. I love that Huawei chose to leave treble duties to the BA alone, as this gives the AM175 a unique midrange when compared to my other hybrids.
 
Out of the budget hybrids I've heard, this is my go-to as it provides the most coherent and flexible sound of the bunch. Huawei did an excellent job engineering the AM175 into a very competent, affordable earphone.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Jessie J. - Bang Bang
Lyndard Skynard - Free Bird
Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like I Do (live)
 

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be looking at Accutone's current flagship earphone, the Pisces BA.
 
Since 1969, Accutone has been delivering businesses and regular consumers alike with quality products. Their primary goal is to bring people closer, be that through music or communication. It's clear that they are well-versed in the industry and that the knowledge and experience garnered over numerous decades has been put to good use crafting their latest series of consumer products.
 
From the energetic Lyra, to the Pavo with it's dual dynamic driver setup, to the Gemini HD with it's three filter options, Accutone has done an excellent job of offering both competitive and unique products. The Pisces BA continues this trend and is Accutone's only earphone using a hybrid dynamic driver/Knowles balanced armature setup.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Angus with Accutone for providing the Pisces BA in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Accutone or any other entity.
 
The Pisces BA retailed for 389.00 USD at the time of this review; http://www.audio.accutone.com/pisces-ba
 
Follow Accutone on Facebook!
 
A Little About Me:
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Pisces BA's packaging gives off a premium air and makes the product feel very special. When you realize this is the same package included with their much less expensive and prior flagship, the Gemini HD, that feeling is dulled somewhatl. Since the Pisces BA's unboxing experience is very similar to that of the Gemini HD, some of the following may seem familiar to those who have read my review of them.
 
Covered in a cardboard sheath displaying the Pisces BA is an immaculately stitched large white leatherette case, very reminiscent of a high end watch or jewelry box. I'm surprised this case isn't mentioned on Accutone's product page or in the store because it's absolutely gorgeous and would be an enticing feature to advertise should someone be looking to buy a high end pair of headphones as a gift. Heck, it even smells amazing.
 
Opening the box you are greeted by the comforting smell of leather and the Pisces BA earpieces standing proudly on display. Lifting the foam layer out you see the removable MMCX cable wrapped neatly underneath around another cutout. It does an excellent job ensuring the cable isn't kinked or bent upon first use.
 
The bottom layer of the case holds a now-familiar portable white leatherette case, similar to that provided with the Lyra, Pavo, and Taurus, and the same as that provided with the Gemini HD. While I really like this case, it isn't ideal for the Pisces BA due to the size of the housings. It's hard to get everything comfortably in the case without detaching the cables. Since they use MMCX connectors, removing the cable should be done as little as possible to ensure a secure connection long into the future.
 
You are also provided a spare pair of Compy eartips and two information cards about the size of a standard business card. The first card has a unique QR code used for warranty and promotional purposes on one side and a mission statement on the other. The second card is a little more interesting. One side features the earphones statistics;
 
Hybrid Unit Model: Knowles WBFK
Hybrid Sensitivity (dB/SPL): 101 +/- 3dB SPL; 1kHz
Impedance: 32Ω
Frequency Range (Hz): 20-22kHz
Cable Length: 1.3m
Noise Isolation: 26dB
 
 
 
The other side shows your particular Pisces BA's frequency response curve, lovingly titled as it's "Birth Certificate". This personal touch is pretty cool.
 
While the presentation is excellent and the quality high, at nearly 400 USD the complete lack of extras seems like a major oversight. It would be nice to see Accutone revisit this product and revise it's accessory kit to better match the cost of entry. Maybe something like this would work?
 
- slightly larger portable case that can more comfortably accommodate the Pisces BA with cable attached
- more tips; one set of dual flange and one set of triple flange both in medium size, one set of single flange tips in s/m/l, plus the two sets of Comply tips already included
- a second, higher quality, more professional feeling cable intended for over-ear wear sans inline mic and with a chin cinch
 
Updating the Pisces BA's accessory packaging to something like the above would improve the presentation and add more value to the overall package.
 

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Design, Build, Comfort:
 
One look at the Pisces BA and you can tell style was an important factor in their design. The design and shape is very unique in that the driver units are contained in their own separate, neatly machined, aluminum housing. Attached is a slightly curved plastic plate displaying Accutone's logo at the top. At the bottom is the MMCX connection point. The two pieces are at odds with each other and the cable clips in somewhat awkwardly, almost as if it was an afterthought, but together as a whole it works. It's an interesting looking product that definitely catches your eye.
 
When it comes to build and material quality, the Pisces BA is a bit of a mixed bag. Build quality of the housings is perfectly fine. The aluminum is neatly machined without any blemishes or sharp edges. The curved plastic, while clearly made of multiple pieces, fits together well and doesn't feel flimsy or fragile. That said, it also doesn't feel like a premium material that would warrant a nearly 400 USD price tag. This would be more forgivable were the cable something spectacular, but alas, it is not.
 
This cable is the same as that used on their Taurus model, and is actually less substantial than the cable found on the Pegasus C, one of their entry level models. It is thin above the y-split and of average thickness below. I'd be generous in saying that strain relief is minimal at best. There is no relief at the 90 degree angled jack It is very short and stiff leading into the y-split and remote. Heading up to the housing, there is a long relief but it too is quite stiff. Not so much of an issue here due to the rotating, removable cable, but elsewhere more effective relief would be welcome. On the plus side, the cable is well-behaved. Microphonics (cable noise) are minimal, it is very flexible, and does not hold memory at all. This is a good cable that needs some extra strain relief to help ensure greater long term durability. I'm not sure if the MMCX connections are proprietary, but none of the spare cables I have worked out since the connections are quite stubby. Most of the MMCX cables I owned would fit, they just wouldn't lock in place and therefore were unusable.
 
The inline mic is made entirely of plastic and feels fragile, especially compared to the quality of plastic chosen for the housings. The buttons depress with defined clicks and are easy to tell apart from each other due to the ergonomic design. Microphone quality is simply alright. My voice comes through fairly clear, though there is some notable background static that intrudes on your conversations. Since the cable provided with the Pisces BA was intended for use with Apple's iDevices, only the centre button was functional.
 
Isolation seems pretty decent and is listed at 26 dB. I found they did a good job of cutting out background noise, and were entirely serviceable for listening in noisy urban environments.
 
Due to the rotating cable the Pisces BA can be worn cable up or cable down. Despite their size this earphone is quite light so cable down wear seems most natural, especially given the length of the housings. That said, I found wearing them in either orientation very comfortable. The primary portion of the housing is a standard barrel shape without an angled nozzle, so the Pisces BA is very easy to seat in your ear.
 
Overall the Pisces BA features a unique design let down by non-premium materials and a cable that desperately needs to be upgraded to something more suitable of a flagship product. Simply re-purposing the Lyra or Pavo's cable into a removable design would be a large step in the right direction.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: The included Comply tips are an excellent match for the Pisces BA. If you prefer to use silicone tips, you have lots of choices. The Pisces BA's nozzle is a fairly standard size so you can toss on pretty much whatever you want. I found tips with a semi-wide bore, such as Ultimate Ear's UE600 tips, worked quite well in matching the sound you get from the included Comply tips.
 
Amping: Not at all required. The Pisces BA worked amazing well with anything I tossed at it, maintaining a surprisingly consistent signature regardless of the source used. They're also pretty easy to drive. I'd be surprised if you found an amp necessary to bring them up to volume.
 
At this point I have experienced a number of Accutone earphones, from introductory products like the Lyra to their prior flagship the Gemini HD. Most have been quite good and competitive at their respective price points, sharing qualities that I guess you could say are part of Accutone's house sound; non-fatiguing with a light and airy feel. Despite being a fairly bright earphone, the Pisces BA carries on this trend and sounds more than worthy of carrying the title of Accutone's flagship product.
 
This earphone does everything I would expect a hybrid to do. It firmly displays the positive qualities expected from a BA driver in the form of detailed and accurate treble with a lush, though mildly recessed midrange.
 
Many of my earphones containing BA drivers can be a little grainy in the treble, but the Pisces BA remains silky smooth from top to bottom. Despite there being a lot of treble presence, it is never harsh or fatiguing and there is still a notable amount of warmth to the signature. My cousin whom has preferences quite the opposite of my own came away from a listening session with the Pisces BA shocked at how listenable they were for long periods, despite being so treble heavy.
 
The midrange is always clear and open, aided by a large and almost 3D-ish presentation. The buttery texturing really pairs well with softer vocals but doesn't do more gruff, aggressive vocals much justice. As a result I feel they pair best with female vocals, or male vocals that are higher pitched. Guitars have excellent presence but again, a touch more texture and detail would be appreciated to bring out the most in recordings.
 
Bass on the Pisces BA is what you would expect from a well-tuned dynamic driver. It's punchy, quick, and has great extension. Texture and detail are good, but not as impressive as something like the Echobox Finder X1. The X1 isn't anywhere near as smooth, however, so the trade off in detail for listening ease makes sense.
 
The Pisces BA has a very large and open soundstage for an in-ear. Unlike my experiences with most earphones, this one's soundstage extends around your head quite nicely and gives a very solid impression of depth, width, and height. Imaging and placement were also excellent. These things are amazing for gaming and have become my go-to for World of Tanks and Battlefield when I'm not using my AKG K553 Pro or HiFiMan HE-350.
 
Overall the Pisces BA gives you a fantastic auditory experience. Their sound is exceptionally refined and smooth, detailed enough, and with excellent extension at both ends. They are not at all fatiguing and are very easy to listen to for long periods of time.
 
Please see my blog for a comparison with the only earphone in my possession that offers up performance competitive with the Pisces BA. I was going to compare to my other hybrids, those being the 1More C1002 Capsule, Huawei AM175, and LZ A2S, but there is no comparison. The Pisces BA is quite clearly playing on another level. The Gemini HD, AAW Q and Echobox Finder X1 offer up similar levels of performance in some areas (midrange quality and detail) and are better in others (bass impact and speed), but overall they too fail to match the Pisces BA in all around performance.
 

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Overall:
 
The Pisces BA is a stellar earphone that falls short in material quality and overall value. If Accutone had continued to use more premium materials throughout the Pisces BA would feel much more deserving of their price tag.
 
Plastic being used for the housings is a minor disappointment. It doesn't feel amazing in hand, but it looks good at a distance and has shown itself to be quite resistant to scratching, so I'll give it a reluctant pass. On the other hand, the cable doesn't cut it. It is much to thin and fragile feeling for something nearing 400 USD. If it was better relieved this would be less of an issue. The included accessories, while of decent quality, are much too limited for something costing this much. At the very least some silicone tips in s/m/l sizes should have been included to make the earphone compatible with a wider variety of ears. I have quite a few different eartips to fall back on if the stock options don't fit, but not everyone is so lucky.
 
All that said, the Pisces BA does sound absolutely sublime. Most of my qualms melt away once I have them in my ears as I can easily get lost in my music for hours on end. It's only when they're waiting to be used that their faults stand out. Luckily, that won't be a common occurrence once you've heard them. The Pisces BA rewards you with an aural experience that far exceeds your average earphone.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Grand Funk Railroad - Inside Looking Out

Greetings Headi-fi!
 
Today we are going to be looking at the Gemini HD, one of two offerings from Accutone's elite Deluxe Line of earphones.
 
Since 1969, Accutone has been delivering businesses and regular consumers alike with quality products. Their primary goal is to bring people closer, be that through music or communication. It's clear that they are well-versed in the industry and that the knowledge and experience garnered over numerous decades has been put to good use crafting their latest series of consumer products. From the compact and durable Pegasus C, to the Taurus and it's bass tuning knob, to the hybrid Pisces BA, Accutone has done an excellent job of offering both competitive and unique products. The Gemini HD is no different using 8mm beryllium dynamic drivers and a very effective filter system to provide users with a premium audio experience.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Angus with Accutone for providing the Gemini HD in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Accutone or any other entity.
 
The Gemini HD retailed for 129.00 USD at the time of this review; http://www.audio.accutone.com/gemini-hd
 
Follow Accutone on Facebook!
 
A Little About Me:
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
A premium product is served well by a premium unboxing experience. While the included accessories are sparse the Gemini HD doesn't disappoint.
 
Covered in a cardboard sheath displaying the Gemini HD is an immaculately stitched large white leatherette case, very reminiscent of a high end watch or jewelry box. I'm surprised this case isn't mentioned on Accutone's product page or in the store because it's absolutely gorgeous and would be an enticing feature to advertise should someone be looking to buy a high end pair of headphones as a gift. Heck, it even smells amazing.
 
Opening the box you are greeted by the comforting smell of leather, the Gemini HD, and the gold and blue filters inserted securely in foams cutouts. The red filter comes pre-installed. Lifting the foam layer out you see the cable wrapped neatly underneath around another cutout that ensures the cable isn't kinked or bent upon first use.
 
The bottom layer of the case holds a now-familiar portable white leatherette case, similar to that provided with the Lyra, Pavo, and Taurus. This is where you will also find a spare pair of Compy eartips, instruction manual, and a cardboard slip explaining the three filters and how they adjust the Gemini HD's sound profile.
 
While the accessories are limited, everything looks, feels, and is presented like a premium product.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort:
 
Of all the Accutone products I've had the opportunity to test, the Gemini HD feels by far and away the most like a premium product. The housings are a mix of aluminum and steel, and have some serious heft to them. You can tell Accutone is proud of the Gemini HD as the rear steel portion of the housing comes covered in a thin wax layer to prevent scratches. Once peeled off, the chromed steel is allowed to shine. While I'm not 100% on board with the design, it is eye-catching. More than once I had someone ask if they were Beats which indicates the market these are aimed at.
 
The filters take the place of the nozzle and seem to be made from aluminum. The threads are cleanly cut allowing the filters to be smoothly replaced. I found they came loose easily and needed to be tightened them after every other use. A simple solution to this issue would be the inclusion of a small rubber gasket which I've found to work well on other earphones with swappable filters, like the NarMoo R1M.
 
The cable used is also quite familiar, shared with the Pegasus C, Taurus, and Pisces BA. It feels most at home with the Gemini HD for whatever reason. Unlike on the Taurus and Pisces BA, the Gemini HD's cable is not removable. One massive plus to this cable is that microphonics, while present, are fairly minimal and memory is completely absent. Left and right indicators are denoted by blue and red markers attached to the cable just under where they enter the housings. Strain relief is quite limited, only making an appearance heading into the y-split and into and out of the inline remote. It would have been nice to see some strain relief added to the housings given their weight. Since there isn't any, this might not be the best pair of earphones to let hang around your neck if you are apt to do this.
 
Using the included Comply foam eartips, the Gemini HD is a pretty comfortable earphone despite the weight. I didn't have any issues with them coming loose or causing any discomfort from pressure points. With some silicone tips, it was another story. The housing would insert far enough for the sharp edges to touch my ears. This would cause hotspots and discomfort near immediately. The weight would also cause them to come unseated while walking around. If you are planning to use silicone tips with the Gemini HD, I recommend choosing something with a long core such as the tips used with the Huawei AM12.
 
The inline mic is made entirely of plastic and feels fragile, especially when compared to the solid materials chosen for the housings. The buttons depress with well-defined clicks and are easy to tell apart from each other due to the ergonomic design. Microphone quality is simply alright. My voice comes through fairly clear, though there is some notable background static that intrudes on your conversations. Since the Gemini HD has an iDevice support remote, only the centre button worked with my Android devices.
 
Overall the Gemini HD is a well built earphone made from durable, high quality materials. The cable could use some additional strain relief, but it feels at home and appropriate on the Gemini HD.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: The Gemini HD comes with two sets of Comply foam eartips. These are a good match and aid in providing and maintaining a very smooth sound regardless of the filter used. When it comes to silicone tips, the Gemini HD pairs well with something with a mid-size bore like those from the UE600 or Mixcder ANC-G5. Huawei AM12 tips also sound excellent.
 
Amping: The Gemini HD played well through any source I tossed at it. Through an amp, bass hit with more authority. Through the HTC One M8 or XDuoo X3 alone they had decent punch but adding the Topping NX1 to the mix gave them some additional confidence. If you want to get the most out of the Gemini HD an amp would serve you well, but it's not required to get an enjoyable sound out of them.
 
This earphone is characterized by a warm, overly smooth signature that sacrifices a bit of detail for listening longevity. The Gemini HD comes with three set of filters. Preinstalled are the "Warm" red filters which are bass enhanced. They as expected offer up the greatest quantities of bass. They sounded good, but with these filters installed the Gemini HD took on a more v-shaped signature and the bass came across somewhat bloomy and sluggish. The midrange remained clear and unimpeded, but sounded as if it was playing second fiddle to the low end.
 
The "Balanced" Gold filters dial down the bass somewhat, but its still plagued by the same mildly bloomy sound the red filters caused. I also found them to be somewhat less lively than the other two filters, and as a result they were the least enjoyable. That doesn't mean they sounded bad by any means, just that the other two filters made my music feel more alive.
 
The blue "Clear" filters dial down the bass even further to give you the most focused experience and detailed sound. The blue filters were my favorite by a wide margin as I found they still offered up a good quantity of bass but removed the sluggish, bloated feeling of the other two filters. They also seemed to offer the most treble presence and detail when compared to the other two options. The Gemini HD's excellent midrange was allowed to step up when using the blue filter as it was no longer overshadowed by the extra bass on offer through the gold and especially red filters.
 
Instrument separation is excellent aided along by a fairly wide and deep soundstage. The Gemini HD leave a clean black background to your music allowing for good imaging and instrument placement. Their single 8mm beryllium driver makes for a pleasantly natural and relaxing sound that is as far from fatiguing and harsh as you can get before you start edging into a bland sound.
 
Overall the Gemini HD is a wonderful sounding product that is quite capable. It sounds notably more impressive than many of the budget hybrids I've listened to as of late, and is very competitive in it's price range.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
NarMoo R1M (29.99 USD): The R1M was my first foray into earphones that use a filter system to alter sound. Where the Gemini HD has interchangeable filters in front of the driver, NarMoo's offering changes out filters via the rear of the housing. The black filter is the equivalent to the Gemini's red filter. This filter turns the R1M in an overly bassy earphone with little control.
 
The gunmetal filter is the equivalent to the Gemini's gold filter, making the R1M more balanced. I feel in this orientation it sounds most similar to the Gemini with the blue filter, but lacks the smoothness and refinement. It's also still slightly more v-shaped.
 
The silver filter boosts treble and removes bass. This makes the R1M quite harsh, but improves detail. Accutone's blue filter takes a much more graceful approach by simply dialing out more bass than the gold filter. This naturally brings the treble and mids to the forefront.
 
Moving from the R1M to the Gemini HD is a natural progression giving you a similar experience but with more focused and effective changes via filter swaps. You will have to give up some durability, however. NarMoo's offering also has solid metal housings and a thick, beefy flat cable.
 
Echobox Finder X1i (199.00 USD): The Finder X1i is like the Gemini HD's rowdy cousin that is always getting itself in trouble. It shares a similar three filter system, but unlike the Gemini's filters which mostly make adjustments to bass quantity, the X1i's filters leave the bass alone and adjust it's always very present treble quantity.
 
You can make them overly bright with the red filters, which I guess would be the Gemini's blue filter equivalent. The black filters are the "Balanced" option and have a similar effect to the Gemini HD's gold filters. They make their respective earphones a little dull. The grey filters tame the treble the treble the most making them seem to be the bassiest (and my fav of the bunch).
 
Where the Gemini HD is warm, smooth and relaxing to listen to, the Finder X1i is loud, unforgiving, and in your face. The Gemini HD can be used for hours without fatigue. With the Finder X1i, fatigue sets in very quickly as a result of their energetic sound. They are similar when it comes to soundstage, imaging, and separation. The Gemini HD works well with pretty much anything I toss at it where the X1i needs quality files and a good source. It is much more revealing than the Gemini HD and impresses most under the right circumstances. The Gemini HD can impress whenever, wherever, just not to the extent of the Finder at it's best.
 
These two earphones are opposite sides of the same coin. If you like bright and energetic, the Finder X1i would suit your preferences more so than the Gemini HD. If you prefer a smoother more mellow sound that is still quite technically proficient, Accutone's offering is definitely worth your time.
 

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Overall:
 
When I was advised the Gemini HD was on the way, I hopped onto Accutone's website to read up on them. Sometime between now and then, the price dropped from above 200 USD (218 USD if my memory serves me right) to the current price of 129.00 USD. They were an excellent bargain at their original price offering up an amazing unboxing experience, wonderful materials with a striking (some might say polarizing) design, and one of the smoothest, cleanest signatures I've had the pleasure to hear. At 129.00 USD, the Gemini HD is pretty much a no brainer and is a very easy recommendation if you want a premium experience at a more than reasonable price.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Grand Funk Railroad - Inside Looking Out

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be looking at the newest earphone from ADVANCED, the Model 3.
 
ADVANCED first appeared on the scene with the M4, a $39.99, crowdfunded, micro-driver earphone that delivers crystal clear sound, excellent build quality, and a whole lot of bang for the buck. It showed that this new startup knew what they were doing and could deliver a strong product in a competitive price range. Their next product was the 993 wireless speaker system. While I haven't had the chance to hear them, their reception has been unanimously positive.
 
With their third new model, ADVANCED took aspects of both of their previous products and combined them to bring us one heck of an earphone; the Model 3. It features a low profile design similar to those from Shure and Westone, a 6mm driver akin to the M4, and comes with two removable MMCX cables. The first cable is a standard 3.5mm audio cable. The second cable is where the fun comes in; Bluetooth 4.1, aptX, AAC codec support for Apple products, and 5 hours of play time following 1.5 hours of charging. Just looking at the stats the Model 3 seems like an excellent value when you take into consideration it only costs 79.99 USD. How does it perform in the real world? Let's find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thanks ADVANCED's co-founder Peter for providing the Model 3 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of ADVANCED or any other entity.
 
The Model 3 can be purchased here on their website; https://www.adv-sound.com/collections/all-collection/products/model-3
 
Additional Note:
 
ADVANCED reached out to reviewers to note that the ADV silkscreen and L/R markings on the inside of the housing were found to wipe off easily. They have halted sales of the Model 3 and have already started remaking the shells of remaining batches. Shipments are expected to resume on October 14th.
 
To be honest, seeing an email about this defect came as a surprise. Not because it is a big problem, but precisely because it isn't. I have numerous earphones that have been on sale for years with printed logos and L/R indicators that have worn off within the first week of use, and in some cases the first time I rubbed my finger against them pulling the product from my ear. Seeing ADVANCED take such an aggressive stand to address this, going so far as to halt sales for two weeks, says a lot to me about their values and integrity.
 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
While the M4 was packaged nicely, it didn't do much to really stand out. The Model 3 kicks things up a notch and gives you a notably more premium unboxing experience.
 
The outer sheath does a stellar job of outlining what you should expect to find inside. The front panel is adorned with a high quality, glossy image of the Model 3 dangling mid-air. Since these meet the necessary requirements, you will find Japan Audio Society's (JAS) all-important 'Hi-Res Audio' logo proudly displayed in the bottom left hand corner. The left panel contains a more complete image of the Model 3 with the Bluetooth cable attached. The right panel contains the opening lines of ADVANCED's story;
 
"It was for the love of music. It was the respect for all musicians of the past, present and future. It was for the struggling instrumental buried under the heavy bass line. It was for the audiophiles craving that crystal clear and mind-blowing detail."
 
Normally I find statements like this nothing but marketing fluff, but based on my experiences with the M4 and Model 3, it is clear ADVANCED has taken this to heart and truly believes in their message.
 
The rear of the package overloads you with information; package contents with associated images, a blown up image of the Model 3 and the components that make it up, a description of what Hi-Res Audio certification means, vital stats, and a frequency chart. Despite there being a ton of information, it's laid out smartly and is easy to follow, however the writing is very small. If your eye sight is in need of improvement, this could prove to be an issue.
 
Removing the outer sheath reveals a simple matte black box with nothing printed on it except ADVANCED's new logo. Lifting the magnetically sealed flap from the right side and opening the box as you would a hardcover book, you are greeted by the Model 3 and the components of the Bluetooth cable pressed into a cleanly cut piece of dense foam. Below is ADVANCED's new hard shell carrying case, also adorned with their logo. To the left printed on the inner sleeve you just folded back are the words 'Break Free'. I'll do just that, thank you very much.
 
Lifting out the carrying case you find all the accessories are contained within, those being the wired 3.5mm MMCX cable, three pairs of green foam tips and three pairs of black silicone tips all in s/m/l sizes, and a microUSB charging cable. Also included is a compact instruction leaflet, similar to that provided with the M4. It contains all the information needed to understand the Model 3 and what it is capable of.
 
All of the accessories are of high quality, with a possible exception being the 3.5mm audio cable. It has some great qualities such as a very compact and well-relieved 90 degree angled jack, a complete lack of memory, and minimal microphonics. At the same time it is quite thin and delicate. Coming from the M4 and the hefty guage selected for the Bluetooth cable, it's pretty underwhelming. That said, this is still a minor concern given the Model 3 is intended to be used as a wireless earphone first, and a wired earphone second. As a backup cable, it works just fine. ADVANCED was also nice enough to ensure an inline mic was included, so you won't have to give up call control if the batteries run out on the Bluetooth cable.
 
Overall the Model 3's unboxing experience is outstanding. The materials look and feel like they belong on a more expensive product, the earphones are presented clearly and professionally, and it all feels very honest and open. The Model 3 isn't presented to you with promises that it can't deliver on.
 

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Build, Design, and Comfort:
 
When it comes to products nearing 100 USD, mediocre build and material quality are far more difficult to forgive than at lower price tiers. The Model 3 finds itself in a good place, using quality materials throughout.
 
The housings are all plastic but are quite thick and confidence inspiring. Inside the housing is a diamond-like texture which gives the Model 3 a nice aesthetic. Given they use clear plastic, this design motif is very subtle until inspected up close. The v-shaped ridge protruding from the outer facing portion of the housing perfectly nestles the tip of your finger allowing for easy insertion into your ear. With other low profile earphones, such as the Brainwavz XF-200, QKZ W1 Pro, Rhapsodio Clipper, etc. I spend a lot of time fiddling around trying to find the perfect seal. The Model 3's design and tip selection just works, and I've experienced no complications or hassles getting them to fit quickly and comfortably.
 
The only concern I have about the housings is the nozzle. They're made of fairly thin plastic in the style of Shure's SE215, and I worry that they might become brittle over time and snap off when changing tips. Time will tell if this is truly an area of concern, but it will be something to watch for.
 
The cables ADVANCED provided range from passable to great. Since I covered the quality of the 3.5mm cable in the previous section, we will look only at the Bluetooth one here. The Bluetooth cable is thick all the way through. The top portion is similar to the cables VSonic uses on the VSD3 and AN16, but is much heavier all while retaining excellent flexibility and low memory. It's almost as beefy as the KZ ZN1's cable, lovingly nicknamed the 'Fire Hose'. There is also a built in ear guide that works exceptionally well at keeping the cable in place behind your ear. Normally I find these annoying and unnecessary, but it's applied well on the Model 3. The lower portion of the cable is fabric covered. It retains the same heavy gauge as above, is tightly wound, and does not transmit much noise. I was pleased to see that it has not started to fray anywhere, something I've noticed happens pretty early on with most cloth cables.
 
The battery/electronics housing resides where you would normally find a standard y-split. It is slightly curved so it rests comfortably against your neck and is finished with a smooth, matte black coating. This portion splits into two pieces, the smaller of which houses the input for your microUSB cable. The two halves are held together via a reasonably powerful magnet. Where you would normally find a jack resides the mic and remote. The buttons are a shiny, piano black while the rest of the unit shares the same matte finish as the y-split. I wish the buttons depressed with a more tactile and noticeable click. They're a little spongy as-is, especially the centre play/pause button.
 
The Model 3 is one of the most comfortable earphones of this type I've come across. The housings completely fill my outer ear, and nestle in very securely. No amount of wild head shaking can unseat them. I truly hope ADVANCED comes out with an exercise focused version of the Model 3 that is sweat resistant. The extremely stable fit means these would be stellar for some intense workouts. They should still be fine for exercising as-is, especially when using the included small bore silicone tips, but added moisture resistance would be welcome. For those that like to sleep with earphones in, I found the housing too thick to be comfortable. That said your mileage may vary here especially if they fit more flush with your head than they do with mine.
 

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Call Quality:
 
The Model 3 handles phone calls pretty well. The centre button on the remote does exactly what it should, that being answer and end calls. A neat little feature that I wasn't expecting the first time I received a call was for it to read out the number. If only I bothered to memorize phone numbers nowadays...
 
Overall call quality was good though. My callers said I sounded fine without any intrusive background noise, it just sounded like I was in a confined space such as an elevator. I had no issues hearing those on the other end. Tapping on the cable produced a small bumping sounded on my callers end, but nothing too intrusive.
 
Battery Performance:
 
One aspect of wireless devices that drives me up the wall is the need to constantly recharge them or change batteries consistently. There is a reason why I went out of my way to find a wired XBox 360 controller and refuse to use a wireless mouse. Yeah, I'm a little old fashioned sometimes.
 
While the Model 3 doesn't have the greatest battery life at around 5 hours, that number is competitive. It's charge time is pretty quick at only 1.5 hours. I managed to run through the Model 3's battery three times since they arrived (including the initial charge out of the box). ADVANCED's claimed run and charge times seem to be spot on.
 
While I would like to see 6 to 7 hours of use before having to charge, the time the Model 3 runs has been good enough to get me through my day before the battery needs to be topped up.
 

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Connection Quality:
 
A Bluetooth headset that fails to connect consistently and hold that connection can be pretty annoying. If the drops are spaced far enough apart or occur only for the first few minutes, that's aggravating but livable. I tried three different phones with the Model 3; an HTC One M8, Motorola Moto G (1st Gen), and my trusty old Samsung Nexus S.
 
Pairing was easy, consisting of simply holding the centre button on the control module for a few seconds to turn the Bluetooth cable on, then a few more to start the pairing process. After starting the 'search device' process on my cell phone, all I had to do was select the Model 3 to connect. This process was entirely painless, except with my HTC One M8.
 
For whatever reason, over the last two weeks it has been running into some pretty serious Bluetooth issues. When the Model 3 connects properly, all is hunky dory. Luckily, this was an issue only present with the HTC and it did not affect the quality of sound. Motorola and Samsung's phones worked as expected. The connection was stable on all three phones with only minor millisecond hiccups once or twice an hour. Range was also pretty good, allowing me to stroll around my apartment at will without any connection issues. Once once I left my apartment and took a walk down to my neighbors door did the connection start to break.
 
Minus the occasional, almost unnoticeable connection drops, the Model 3 performs very admirably.
 

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Before the next section, let me preface my comments with the following. ADVANCED did not test this cable with competing products and cannot verify compatibility, nor do they necessarily recommend using it with anything but the Model 3. I tested this cable with three other earphones understanding that I was risking damage to the earphones and/or the Bluetooth cable. If you decide to try this cable with other products, YOU ARE DOING SO AT YOUR OWN RISK.
 
Cable Compatibility:
 
MMCX Bluetooth headphone cables seem to be gathering steam as of late and I totally get why. In theory you can take any audiophile grade MMCX compatible earphone and make it wireless. Admittedly, this is one of the reasons I was so interested in the Model 3 when I received a sneak peek a while back. For many of you reading this review, this cable might very well be the reason this earphone is on your radar. I had the opportunity to test it out with three different products; a 4-way hybrid that is not Head-fi friendly so details end there, a DIY earphone using Shure's SE215 housing and a 6mm driver, and the Rhapsodio Clipper.
 
I am pleased to confirm the cable worked fine with the Clipper and DIY. I didn't experience any issues with either. Both the Clipper and DIY sounded slightly warmer and smoother than when run with a 3.5mm cable, but otherwise sounded just as good as I expected. To my pleasant surprise the Clipper retained it's hilariously massive bass and could be driven to blisteringly uncomfortable volumes with ease.
 
The 4-way hybrid on the other hand didn't fare so well. While the dynamic driver did what it does without any interference, I noticed the balanced armature drivers struggling. They sounded very off, with noticeable popping and sound artifacts. I cut this listening session short for fear of damaging them. There have been no lasting negative effects from what I can tell.
 
So, there you go. My limited test with three different MMCX earphones had a 66.7% success rate. Do what you will with that information. Now, onto the most important part (finally!).
 

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Sound Quality:
 
Tips: While I really like the quality of the included foam tips they suffer from a flaw that made them unusable; expanding too quickly. I don't know how someone is expected to insert them when the moment you release your grip they're already nearly fully expanded. You'll have to look to another review for how the Model 3 sounds with them. Sorry ADVANCED. Apparently this has been looked into. Future releases will include tips that are less dense and should be more manageable. My comments on the included foam tips will be most relevant to early releases of the Model 3.
 
On the other hand, the included silicone tips are awesome and more than made up for the disappointing foam tips. The material is comfortable, sticky, and they seal amazingly well. I preferred to use the Model 3 with the standard mediums for 90% of my listening because they sounded great and isolated well. The remainder was done with the medium foam tips that came with the DIY SE215. These reduced bass and somehow made the treble even smoother. They would be my pick for exercising because they have a built in filter to keep out wax and water and isolated even better than the silicone tips.
 
Amping: I really didn't find any benefit other than making the Model 3 reach louder volumes than I could ever want, something the HTC One M8 and XDuoo X3 could already do without breaking a sweat.
 
So far the Model 3 has failed to disappoint. How do they sound? Outstanding of course, and that comment applies regardless of whether you are using them wired or wireless.
 
The Model 3 takes a bit of a departure from the M4. If you were expecting a similar sound, wired use will be more up your alley. I found the M4 to edge towards a more more cold, analytic sound focusing primarily on treble and midrange with bass that rolled off before getting into the fun stuff, i.e. those thundering subbass regions. With dialed down bass that puts focus on their clear, detailed sound, the M4 does a good job of giving you that "Hi-Fi" sound on a budget. The Model 3 is just as technically impressive as the M4, if not more so, it just has more fun in the process. Since bass presentation is the biggest departure from ADVANCED's previous earphone, let's start there.
 
I was hoping the Model 3 would bring more low end to the party than the M4. Ho boy, do they ever deliver. While they don't offer up silly levels of bass like the aforementioned Rhapsodio Clipper, the Model 3's bass is undeniably boosted. That said, the balance is quite nice and works well with a wide variety of music, though it does occasionally come across a bit overwhelming on tracks that don't need the low end. Despite being silky smooth, it can still give you lots of detail and texture if that's what the song dictates. You're not losing out on the finer nuances.
 
The Model 3's driver is also pretty speedy, able to handle some quick transitions and complicated drum pieces with relative ease, not unexpected given they're using a 6mm micro driver. Decay and timbre are also spot on, and to me better even JVC's HA-FXT90 which are well-known for these qualities.
 
The Model 3 is a warm sounding earphone and I feel this does nothing but benefit the midrange, especially with female vocals, wind instruments, and pianos. They all sound so natural and infectious. Males vocals don't fall far behind either. Give Pink Floyd's 'Us and Them' a go. My favorite Supertramp track 'Rudy' sounds so good through the Model 3 I spent nearly half an hour listening to the same ~7 minutes on repeat. In fact, this earphone breaths a lot of life back into many prog rock classics.
 
I'm somewhat picky about my treble in that I like like it tight and precise. The Model 3 achieves this while continuing the trend of being effortless and tranquil. It never comes across harsh, fatiguing, or sibilant, despite having pretty good extension. It also has a bit more body to it than many micro-drivers, yet it still manages to maintain a light and airy feel.
 
They even have a pretty good soundstage, though they excel most in depth over width and height. They're one of the few earphones that make me take them out every once in a while thinking something is happening behind me, or I was being called upon by my wife when in actuality it's just the song. It doesn't happen as often as with earphones like the Havi B3 Pro 1, Accutone Taurus, or Dunu Titan 1, but this is a Bluetooth headphone. I was expecting something a little more confined. This larger than average soundstage also permits some good imaging and instrument placement giving you the impression that you're getting up close and personal with the band.
 
Detail and clarity is also pretty darn good, improved upon when used with the 3.5mm cable. The Bluetooth cable softens the Model 3's edges and boosts bass slightly. Running them wired, their sound falls more in line with the M4. Treble takes on a greater presence, they sound sharper and more precise, bass is reduced, and their overall presentation is a touch thinner. That said, they're still unbelievably lush making the M4 sound somewhat grainy and unrefined when listening to the two back-to-back.
 
Overall the Model 3 surprised me with how good they sound. While they have a warm, bassy signature, I feel they play in the same league as Dunu's Titan, JVC's FXT90 and FXH30, Havi's B3 Pro 1, and other like heavy-hitters. What impresses most is that they are intended to be used primarily as a Bluetooth earphones and the above comparisons are still apt.
 
Final Thoughts:
 
I went into the Model 3 with what I felt were unrealistically high expectations. I wanted amazing build quality, sound that would compete with 100 USD earphones, and a flawless Bluetooth connection. For the most part, my lofty expectations were met.
 
I have reservations about the nozzle thickness, wish the wireless connection wouldn't cut out for a brief and negligible millisecond every hour, and detest the included foam tips because they expand too quickly, but that's about it. The secondary cable is just that meaning it's easy to look past the thinness and potential fragility because it's not meant to be used all the time.
 
If Apple's past history is any indication the deletion of the 3.5mm jack from the iPhone 7 is likely to spread to competing products. ADVANCED is setting themselves up to take full advantage of this with the Model 3. The unboxing experience is great, the earphones themselves are attractive, they have some great features, quality accessories, are well built, and the sound quality is outstanding. Their pricing is aggressively low and they're being released right before the holiday season kicks into full gear. Do you see where I'm going with this?
 
I think ADVANCED has a winner on their hands.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Grand Funk Railroad - Inside Looking Out

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out one of Accutone's most unique earphones, the Taurus.
 
The Taurus is the first of three earphones in Accutone's Pro-X Line, which is where their earphones start to get serious. The Taurus' pièce de résistance is it's bass tuning knob, a distinguishing feature that really makes it stand out.
 
Bass tuning knobs are not a new feature and can be found on Sennheiser's IE8 and IE80, the Aurisonics ASG 2.5, Lear's LUF-BD4.2, and a number of other universal and custom earphones. All of those earphones are pretty expensive, however, especially for your average consumer who wouldn't look twice at a 500 USD product when shopping for their new earphone. Accutone's Taurus on the other hand brings to the budget realm a feature that is somewhat exclusive to higher end products.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Angus with Accutone for providing the Taurus in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Accutone or any other entity.
 
At the time of writing this review, the Taurus retailed for 99.00 USD: http://www.audio.accutone.com/taurus
 
Follow Accutone on Facebook!
 
A Little About Me:
 
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 and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. 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, and Meze. 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.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 has recently been added to the crew and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Taurus is stored in some of the most durable and robust packaging I've come across yet. Wrapped in a red and black cardboard sheath outlining the product is a large black plastic case with a rubberized matte finish.
 
Open the lid and you are greeted by the Taurus' housing tucked nicely into a foam cutout. Comply foam eartips are preinstalled. The connectors of the detachable cable are displayed below with the remainder of the cable neatly wound in their own cutout in the foam.
 
Lift out the foam sheet and underneath is another compartment housing the accessories. Included is Accutone's excellent leatherette carry case, three sets of silicone tips (s/m/l), and another set of foam eartips. The second set of foams is the same as the set provided with the Pavo. I was very happy with their inclusion because they do not have the treble dulling qualities of Comply's tips. Finally, there is also included a tiny screwdriver.
 
"Why a screwdriver?" you might be asking yourself. Because the tuning knob is recessed into the housing and cannot be turned by hand (unless you've got some seriously long fingernails), the screwdriver is needed to make adjustments.
 
Overall the Taurus' unboxing experience is outstanding. The large case is also useful beyond providing positive first impressions, as it can easily hold the Taurus in their leatherette case, a DAP, small amp, and a number of other accessories if needed. For someone that travels a lot and needs a place to store their gear, this case will be a godsend.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
I enjoy good sound as much as an interesting design and the Taurus does a good job of providing some interesting visual stimulus.
 
The glossy, piano-black housings surprised me at how small they were. From the images I saw online before they arrived, I was expecting something pretty bulky but that was not at all the case. The housings are mostly plastic in construction and very light, but they don't feel cheap. The nozzle is tipped with a metal ring that holds tips securely in place. The rear of the housing has two metal grills that not only add another interesting design cue, but also serve a practical purpose in the bass tuning feature. The unique shape and plethora of design cues ensures this is an interesting product to look at.
 
The small size, light weight, good fit and finish, and reasonably long nozzle that protrudes at a logical angle means the Taurus is a very comfortable earphone to wear. The cable can be worn up or down as well since Accutone did not limit it to one orientation, rotatating freely to let you use the Taurus however you want. Swiveling MMCX connectors may raise questions on long term durability, but that's the price to pay for a personalized fit I guess. Personally, I would have been happy with it locked in either orientation. Since microphonics are kept to a minimum I found myself using them cable-down the majority of the time purely out of convenience.
 
The cable is somewhat thin above the y-split, and of average thickness below. I'd be generous in saying that strain relief is minimal at best. There is no relief at the 90 degree angled jack It is very short and stiff leading into the y-split and remote. Heading up to the housing, there is a long relief but it too is quite stiff. Not so much of an issue here due to the rotating, removable cable, but elsewhere more effective relief would be welcome. On the plus side, the cable is well-behaved. Microphonics (cable noise) are minimal, it is very flexible, and does not hold memory at all. This is a good cable that needs some extra strain relief to help ensure greater long term durability. I'm not sure if the MMCX connections are proprietary, but none of the spare cables I have worked out. The connections on the Taurus are quite stubby. Most of the MMCX cables I owned would fit, they just wouldn't lock in place and therefore were unusable.
 
The inline mic is made entirely of plastic and feels fragile, especially compared to the quality of plastic chosen for the housings. The buttons depress with defined clicks and are easy to tell apart from each other due to the ergonomic design. Microphone quality is simply alright. My voice comes through fairly clear, though there is some notable background static that intrudes on your conversations. It worked perfectly with my HTC One M8, able to fully control my music and phone calls.
 
As a result of the two large vents on the rear of the housing, isolation is predictably low. The Taurus blocks outside noise on a level similar to the amply ventilated Dunu Titan 1/FiiO EX1.
 
I find the Taurus to be an attractive and interesting looking earphone that is mostly well-built and very comfortable. The cable itself is decent, though the swiveling MMCX connector may be something to watch for in the long run. More effective strain relief would also be welcome.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: The preinstalled Comply eartips were replaced almost immediately. The Taurus is not an overly bright or energetic earphone. I found the Comply tips dulled all treble energy and sucked the life out of the Taurus. Tossing on Accutone's unique foam tips or silicone tips resolved this issue, restoring life to the raging bull. Due to the nozzle having a smaller than average bore, tip rolling was limited. As is often the case, wide bore tips muted bass and increased treble presence, small bore tips muted treble and increased bass. I ended up choosing RHA S500i tips and using the bass knob to adjust bass to a more comfortable level.
 
Amping: The most notable benefit of using an amp was better bass control when the knob was adjusted past 50%. Unamped and with the dial adjusted above 50%, the Taurus loses composure and their bass becomes, slow, loose, and sloppy. Amped, it is still loose but no longer feels as slow or uncontrolled. They're quite listenable in their maximum bass configuration when amped, but this still isn't ideal. If you're planning to listen to them the majority of the time with bass turned up, then an amp is highly recommended. If you will be listening to them in a lower bass configuration, an amp isn't needed and your basic cellphone or DAP, such as an XDuoo X3, will work just fine.
 
The Taurus is characterized by a warm, smooth sound with laid-back treble and a clean midrange. If using bass at it's maximum setting, the Taurus exhibits an L-shaped signature with mid-bass bleeding an unfortunate amount into the midrange. This isn't so bad for music with less vocal presence, but otherwise it can be pretty intrusive. Toning down the bass flattens this L to the point where I have no issues saying the Taurus is one of the more neutral earphones I've come across.
 
Treble on the Taurus extends decently well. It could use some additional presence but for the most part is balanced with the midrange and bass when in a lower configuration. It can come across a little dull at times, and could possibly use a very slight boost in the 6k region to give them a bit of extra energy. This is especially apparent on Gramatik's 'Bluestep' which makes heavy use of high hats. For the most part, however, the Taurus' treble is quite inoffensive, refined, and easy to listen to.
 
Midrange on the Taurus, when not effected by overly exuberant bass, is also nicely balanced with the other frequencies. Both male and female vocals have nice texture and detail, and come across reasonably clear. Their is a slight veil that prevents them being as clear as they could, but this adds to that long term listen-ability the Taurus exudes. A track such as 'Empire Ants ft. Little Dragon' by Gorillaz does a nice job of showing that the Taurus handles both male and female vocals equally well. On classic rock tracks with a strong guitar presence, such as Grand Funk Railroad's 'Inside Looking Out', instruments are presented with realistic attack and decay.
 
Bass. All-important bass. The bass knob on the Taurus is very effective. So effective you can dial in more bass than the driver can handle. Twisting the dial parallel with the rear vents reduces bass to near Havi B3 Pro 1 levels, which means quantity is very, very low. Twisting the dial so it rests perpendicular with the rear vents means the bull has been let loose, tearing through the china shop smashing everything in it's wake. Sure that's fun, but they're not overly graceful in this configuration. Bass becomes loose, sloppy, decay is too long, and they get easily confused and muddied during complicated passages. With slower tracks, like pretty much anything from Massive Attack, the bass can really add to the emotion and feeling of the song. In most other instances, you're best off dialing down the bass to something the Taurus' driver is more comfortable with.
 
I spent the majority of my time listening to them with the dial at the 2 o'clock position, which is about 40%. of it's range. I found this gave me the greatest balance of bass quantity, speed, impact, and clarity, all without effecting the midrange. In this "mode" their overall tonality and sonic qualities brought to mind the AAW Q and Brainwavz S5. As with both of those earphones, the Taurus doesn't have the most punchy, hard hitting bass in the business, but does have great texture and decay. Listening to Gramatik's 'Torture feat. Eric Krasno' helps show off these qualities.
 
When it comes to clarity and detail, the Taurus is simply average. For the majority of songs I didn't find this an issue, but on more abstract, ethereal tracks like those found on BT's 'This Binary Universe', you want all the detail and clarity you can get. This is a very dynamic album that shows heavy use of BT's stutter edit effect in all it's glory. While the Taurus does an admirable job, many of the finer details blend into each other. 'The Antikythera Mechanism' is a good test track given the heavily edited use of a live orchestra.
 
Soundstage is an area the Taurus excels, nearly rivaling the Dunu Titan 1. Their semi-open design gives them a nice light and airy feel, with instruments and effects cropping up around you. More than once I took them out thinking I was hearing something behind me, or that someone was calling me. Placement and imaging aren't the most accurate, but are more than acceptable for an earphone in this price range.
 
The Taurus is very capable and enjoyable listen. Once you've played around with the bass dial and have found the driver's breaking point for maximum bass, the Taurus shows that it is a very versatile product. While it is certainly capable of insane quantities of bass, it does not excel in such configurations and feels much more comfortable and at home when the bass is dialed down and kept in check.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
Brainwavz S5 (99.50 USD): These two make for a solid comparison since they both sell for around the same amount and produce a similar sound.
 
The S5 is a bit thinner, brighter, and more energetic in the treble, but offers up similar levels of detail and clarity. The Taurus outputs similar bass, but with more impact and better extension into sub-bass regions *with the bass dial around the 50% mark*. Where they differ most is in the midrange. I found the S5 to have an overly recessed midrange which was too bad because mid-focused songs showed they were quite competent. The Taurus doesn't suffer the same fate, and their general tone and feel is exceptionally close.
 
The only reason I would take the S5 over the Taurus is because of the materials used in their construction. The S5 has solid metal housings versus the Taurus' plastic. The S5's cable is much thicker and more robust with excellent strain relief throughout, though it's not removable. The S5 imparts a feeling of confidence in their build quality that the Taurus just can't match. While their overall sound quality is close, the Taurus is the better of the two. It's bass is harder hitting than the S5's, but it's the more forward midrange that clinches the win.
 
AAW Q (199.00 USD): The AAW Q is a wonderfully balanced earphone that brings forth a relaxing, u-shaped signature in a very tiny package.
 
The Taurus in a low-bass configuration does an excellent job of replicating the Q's sound signature, though it lacks the technical competence. Their midrange presence is similar with the Q edging out the Taurus in texture and detail. Bass depth goes to the Taurus. They have similar impact and decay times, with the Q again showing greater texture. Instrument separation and placement is vastly superior on the Q, though the Taurus offers up the more spacious soundstage able to toss effects well beyond what the Q can accomplish.
 
Once again, material quality falls behind on the Taurus. The Q has a pretty thin cable, but not a thin as the Taurus'. It's also better relieved. Accutone's cable has better memory-resisting effects though. Despite the Q's small size and that it pretty much resides entirely in your ear canal, the Taurus is just as comfortable. Kudos to Accutone's designers for their ergonomics.
 
Yes, the Q is the better of the two, but the Taurus shares many similar qualities and is more versatile due to the bass tuning feature. Pretty good for 100 USD less.
 

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Suggestions for Improvement:
 
It would be nice to see future iterations of the Taurus come with an upgraded cable that is thicker and better relieved. The existing cable is okay, but it feels fragile and is not the most confidence inspiring.
 
The bass tuning feature is great, but you are given too much freedom. Either a future revision of the Taurus' driver should be able to handle all the bass you can dial in, or the dial should be limited to a certain range that better suits what the existing driver can handle.
 
Finally, the bass knob should have clear start and end points for minimum and maximum adjustment. As-is, you can spin the dial freely and it's very easy to imbalance bass levels on either side. If there were notches molded into the housing that displayed min and max bass settings, and some points between, adjusting bass evenly between the two channels would be much easier. Less important is for the dial to be adjustable without a screwdriver. It would be nice to easily be able to adjust bass levels on the fly without having to pull out a tool.
 
Overall:
 
Accutone has a pretty unique and worthwhile product in the Taurus, one I would love to see them continue to develop and refine.
 
The packaging doubles as a spacious and secure carrying case for more than just the Taurus. The included accessories are of good quality and are fairly generous in quantity. There are some great features to be found such as an Android compatible remote that works well for phone calls, a removable MMCX cable, and the bass tuning dial.
 
If you are looking for a new earphone in the 100 USD price range and don't feel like limiting yourself to one particular signature, the Taurus is worthy of consideration. With a quick twist of the tuning dial it can be extremely bassy, near neutral, and pretty much anything in between.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Grand Funk Railroad - Inside Looking Out

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out the Mixcder ShareMe Pro, a Bluetooth headphone created with the aim of bringing listeners together.
 
I was first introduced to Mixcder through the ANC-G5, active noise canceling earphones. They greatly impressed me by offering up good sound quality, a nice design, solid material and build quality, and great low-frequency noise reduction. When Grace updated the ANC-G5 reviewer thread noting they were looking for people to cover the ShareMe Pro, I jumped at the opportunity.
 
The ShareMe Pro at first seems like a pretty basic budget headset, but with a few notable strengths; Bluetooth 4.1, and after only 2 hours of charging, 20 hours of play time. Conspicuously absent is aptX support. As we will find out later on, that doesn't really hurt as much as you might expect.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Grace and Mixcder for providing the ShareMe Pro in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Mixcder or any other entity.
 
The ShareMe Pro is currently retailing for 45.99 USD on Amazon.com at the time of this review. Check it out here.
 
A Little About Me:
 
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 and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. 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, and Meze. 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.
 
I intended to use my HTC One M8 as my primary device for testing but that didn't work out so well. As a result, my truly old Nexus S made a return to form and saved the day. Some wired testing was done with an XDuoo X3, but the majority of my listening was conducted via Bluetooth. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The ShareMe Pro arrived in some very basic packaging designed to be environmentally friendly. How do I know this? The "Environmental Protection Design" statement with a wonderfully stylized tree printed on the top flap is a dead giveaway.
 
This basic packaging consists of a straightforward cardboard box with limited coloring and printing. The front contains the Mixcder brand logo, the ShareMe logo, and notification that inside you will be receiving the ShareMe Pro model. The sides display the Mixcder logo and Shareme logos once again. Moving to the back you find the product specification printed in seven languages (English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese). There are three icons printed above the specs that point out the Pro has rotating ear cups, 2,000 hours of standby time, and comfortable leather (they're not) earmuffs.
 
The package opens from the top to reveal a plastic tray which holds the ShareMe Pro. Underneath is an instruction booklet, basic audio cable terminated in standard 3.5mm jacks at either end, and a micro USB cable for charging. The audio cable is pretty standard and somewhat thin, clearly not meant to be used on the regular. The USB cable is of good quality, if not particularly noteworthy. The instruction manual is fairly comprehensive, covering everything from the packages contents to notification of Mixcder's one year warranty, details of which are here on their website.
 
Overall the Pro's packaging and presentation is very simple and straightforward. Unlike the ANC-G5's package which has a more premium feel, the Pro's package does only what it needs to do; protect the product and nothing more.
 
Build, Comfort, Isolation, Usability:
 
The ShareMe Pro's light 250 gram shell is made almost entirely of plastic, but they still exude a feeling of quality and durability. The primary surface of the cups and lower portion of the headband are presented in a clean, semi-matte finish. The outer facing portion of the ear cup is a shiny slab of plastic with the ShareMe logo and a printed design. Fit and finish is excellent with a complete absence of sharp edges or poorly fitting parts.
 
Within the generously padded and exceptionally comfortable headband is a very flexible band of steel. This is not a headband you will ever have to worry about breaking.
 
The pleather ear pads are surprisingly nice for something in this price range. They are very soft and plush, if a touch shallow. Mixcder attempts to address this issue by gluing some padding to the inner portion of the cup. This doesn't necessarily help out the sound quality any, but it does make the Pro more comfortable since your ears press against soft foam instead of hard plastic.
 
Isolation on the ShareMe Pro is limited at best. Pretty much all outside noise bleeds in without much opposition. The Pro doesn't offer a firm clamp and depending on your head size and/or shape, might not seal fully around the bottom of the cup due to the limited vertical pivot of the ear cups. Should you find the clamping force too light, the band can be carefully bent to permit a more firm grip on your head.
 
The media controls on the ShareMe Pro are not the most user friendly. It can be a difficult to select the right button due to the way they are clustered, and as a result I found myself pausing when wanting to skip songs, or prompting a phone call when trying to adjust volume. A simple solution to this problem would be to slide the power button a few millimeters forward on the ear cup so that it is more distinctly placed and separate from the volume controls as it is on the ShareMe 7. On the flipside, the forward/reverse buttons could be paired, and the play/pause button moved forward on the housing mirroring the new placement of the power button. It would also be nice if the 3.5mm input was angled downwards so as not to put so much strain on the cable if you choose to use them wired. That or include a cable with a 90 degree jack instead.
 
Battery life is awesome, easily hitting the claimed 20 hours. I probably got a little more out of it due to the low volumes at which I usually listen. The two hour charge time is also spot on.
 
Overall the ShareMe Pro is a very well built, comfortable earphone that doesn't do much to isolate outside noise. Battery life is outstanding. Button placement could definitely be improved and I know Mixcder can do it. Just look back to their older ShareMe 7 model.
 

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Connection Quality and ShareMe Feature;
 
The ShareMe Pro features Bluetooth 4.1 and a rock solid connection, but not the greatest range I've experienced. They were fine for walking around my apartment, but beyond that things would get spotty real quick. As long as you don't venture too far from the source, the Pro will treat you well. It doesn't skip or drop connection, and the sound quality remains consistent. Some additional range would be nice, but for the majority of users it will be more than enough.
 
The ShareMe feature is the primary reason to buy these earphones, or at least that's what I would expect given their name; ShareMe Pro. How did this feature work? Great, on some devices.
 
It is extremely easy to pair two units. Just hold the power button on each until they both turn on. Keep holding until the indicator LED on the earcup starts cycling between red and blue, then let go. The units will locate each other and automatically connect. One earphone will be selected as the primary and announced as the left channel. The other will be chosen as a secondary and announced as the right channel. I don't know what determines which earphone will be the primary, but I sure couldn't figure it out and the instruction manual didn't help. Sometimes my pair would be selected as the left channel, other times (usually) my fiancee's pair would be selected. It was extremely inconsistent. I would try turning on one pair slightly earlier, but that didn't seem to do anything. Luckily the media controls on both earphones will work to control the device so in the end I guess it doesn't really matter which earphone is selected as the primary channel.
 
Once connected, I found that the primary earphone would work as expected. Great connection, full media controls; no issues whatsoever. The secondary earphone? On some devices it would work quite well. On others, forget about it. Frequent connection loss was the name of the game when using my HTC One M8, and it happened enough to make the feature unusable. Through my 1st Gen Motorola Moto G, they worked well but the secondary earphone would drop it's connection every once in a while. To my surprise, my ancient Samsung Nexus S worked the best, by far. It output the cleanest sound and provided the most stable connection. In fact, it is the only device that has yet to drop connection once throughout weeks of use. Not bad.
 
When push comes to shove the ShareMe Pro works very well as an entry level, standalone Bluetooth headphone. The ShareMe feature is awesome in concept and when it works it is pretty cool, but that's the problem; when it works. Since two of the three sources I used failed to work consistently, I suspect the quality of your ShareMe experience will be overly dependent on the source, 
 
Sound Quality:
 
Wired vs. Wireless: I didn't find there was much of a drop in sound quality when going from wired to wireless, which was somewhat surprising given the lack of aptX support. There was a VERY MINUTE amount of static in the background when running the Pro wirelessly, but this was completely overshadowed when you had music playing at anything but the lowest possible volume. Wired, of course there was no static and they seemed slightly cleaner sounding. Bass had a bit more kick, and the midrange had a touch more presence. Any changes heard were fairly minor and in the end, mostly inconsequential.
 
The ShareMe Pro has it's share of positives (build quality, comfort, connection strength) and negatives (ShareMe feature inconsistency, media control placement), but in the end sound quality is almost always the deciding factor on whether or not a product is worth your time.
 
While the ShareMe Pro's signature isn't going to be for everyone I find it's warm, bass-heavy sound to be very engaging and pleasant, easily deserving of their 45.99 USD price tag. They don't have a massive soundstage and they're not detail monsters with absolute clarity. What they are is a bassy pair of cans that your average bass-loving consumer would be happy to own. I think this picture from Mixcder's websites sums up the ShareMe Pro quite well;
 
 
Mid-bass is a bit excessive, but for the most part keeps out of the midrange. It's punchy and has the right sort of presentation for hip hop, EDM, and top 20 pop music. When the bass drops it lingers for just the right length of time and if serious subbass is needed, the ShareMe Pro can bring the goods. Their 40mm drivers can move enough air to give you a fairly visceral experience.
 
Their midrange is good and gets the job done, but it's not what you buy these for. It's slightly dialed back but not to the point where you have issues hearing lyrics. They are slightly veiled so you won't be hearing every little nuance and detail. I found both female and male vocals to sound fairly natural and neither stood out. On tracks like Bang Bang featuring Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, who all have their own unique sound, none of the three stood out more or sounded cleaner than the others. The duo of Aseop Rock and Rob Sonic was the same throughout their Hail Mary Mallon collaborations. Both sounded fine, neither standing out.
 
Treble is smooth and relaxed, a little too much of both for my preferences. Still, this ensures the ShareMe Pro is entirely inoffensive and plays well with even the most poorly mastered tracks, or low quality files. As noted earlier, the Pro is not a detail monster. Their treble presentation isn't going to convince you otherwise.
 
The Pro's soundstage is typical of a closed back headphone. It's not large, and the relaxed treble ensure this is known. Imaging is done fairly well given the limited space your music has to play within, but these isn't much going on here that's noteworthy, either in a positive or negative way. I guess overall that's a good thing.
 
The ShareMe Pro offers up a fun sound that works well in the real world. In the quiet of your home the overly boosted mid-bass can intrude and hinder your enjoyment. In the Pro's ideal environment, such as a mall or busy downtown street, their signature works well. The limited isolation and boosted midbass cancel each other out presenting you with a fun, bassy set of cans that present you with a smooth, fatigue free sound.
 

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Vs. Mixcder ShareMe 7 (35.99 USD)
 
The ShareMe 7 is one of Mixcder's other earphones featuring the ShareMe tech, the third being the ShareMe 5 which I have yet to try. While I feel the Pro overall is a step up from the 7, that statement does not apply to every aspect. Let's start with the improvements.
 
Build quality and comfort goes to the Pro, hands down. The ShareMe 7, especially in the white/blue combination, looks and feels like the budget set it is. It's not anywhere as solid and durable as the Pro with creaks and snaps popping up as you move them about. The headband's padding is nice and cushy, but the earpads are somewhat stiff and hard to describe as comfortable. The earcups only pivot vertically with no horizontal twisting so it's a challenge to seat them comfortably. Not an issue whatsoever on the Pro.
 
The ShareMe Pro's controls also work with more urgency. Increasing the volume on the 7 is a lesson in tedium and patience. Press the button, wait a second, press the button, wait a second, rinse and repeat until you get the volume you want. Hit the button to pause your music, and nearly two seconds later it pauses. Not cool. It's quicker to just pull out your phone. The Pro's controls are noticeably more responsive across the board, though their placement isn't ideal given how easy it is to hit the wrong button.
 
Where I think the ShareMe Pro truly took a slight step back, or at least to the side, is in sound quality. The ShareMe 7 is still a bassy earphone, but it better balances mid- and sub-bass, has improved treble extension and presence, and lacks the same level of midrange veil. The only issue with the ShareMe 7 is they have a slightly hollow sound, probably due to the quality of plastic used on the earcups.
 
Everything else I found to be comparable. Battery life, connection quality, and the ShareMe experience were all mirrored.
 
In the end I feel the vastly improved build quality and comfort of the Pro more than makes up for the slightly more balanced sound quality of the 7. Since the Pro shares a housing that is nearly identical to Ausdom's M05 model, I'm sure many of the mods used to improve those headphones can be applied to further improve the Pro's performance.
 
Overall:
 
While I found the ShareMe Pro's namesake feature to be somewhat underwhelming due to how poorly it worked across a variety of sources, everything else about them was great. They are exceptionally well built, their Bluetooth connection was rock solid, they are very comfortable, and while they don't sound amazing, their signature is entertaining. I would love to see Mixcder work to improve the ShareMe feature because when it's stable it is very useful, especially if traveling with a friend or significant other or watching a movie.
 
What it all comes down to is this. If you're interested in the Pro primarily for it's ShareMe function, based on my experiences and the inconsistent performance I ran into, I have a hard time recommending them. You will have a great time if the Pro plays nicely with your device, as it did with my Nexus S, or, you could have a horrible time as I did when pairing them with the HTC One M8. If the ShareMe feature is of primary interest maybe give the ShareMe 7 a try first, then upgrade if they work well with your device(s).
 
If you simply want a good Bluetooth headphone, enjoy a bassy signature, and the ShareMe feature doesn't factor into your purchasing decision, the Mixcder ShareMe Pro is easily worth your time and money.
 
Thanks again to Grace and Mixcder for the opportunity to review the ShareMe Pro, and thank you for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at another new headphone storage and organization product from Brainwavz, the Krudul Duo, though this particular item is more like two products in one.
 
Brainwavz is best known for their high quality earphones at affordable prices. This year, they have taken a large step towards providing customers with a number of hangers that help solve the problem of where to store and display your favorite headphones. From the versatile Hengja to the compact Hooka and the dual hanger Truss, Brainwavz covered their bases for headphone hangers. Now earphones are getting some love with the Kudul Duo, two hangers that cater to the smaller more portable noise makers in your collection.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I want to thank Pandora and Brainwavz sending me this product in exchange for a fair and impartial review. The views expressed within this review are not representative of Brainwavz and I am not receiving any form of monetary compensation.
 

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Packaging:
 
The Krudul Duo comes in a compact plastic package with the hangers on full display via a generous viewing window that takes up the front section of the package. The sides contain notification of the Hooka’s generous 24 month warranty and information on how to locate Brainwavz online through their site and various social media outlets. The rear of the package contains four images of the Krudul Duo bring used in a variety of situations. Opening the package from the top reveals the Krudul Duo nestled snugly in a separate plastic holder.
 
Like the packaging used on the Hooka, it is simple and free of excess waste. Brainwavz used just enough material to keep the Krudul Duo secure and safe from damage during transit, and the viewing window makes it very retail friendly.
 

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The Krudul Duo:
 
The the Krudul Duo arrived I immediately took some pictures and set out about a detailed examination to see what Brainwavz was going for with their design. Like the Hooka before them, the Krudul Duo is a quality product. Each hanger is made of one very neatly crafted piece of aluminum free of any blemishes. The fit and finish is perfect.
 
The sole mounting option is pre-installed, double-sided 3M VBH tape. This stuff is strong, maybe too strong for this application, but at least you'll never have to worry about the hanger falling off whatever surface to decide to mount it to. If on the off-chance due to unstick and re-mount in various locations and the tape loses it adhesiveness, it's easily replaceable from just about any office supply store.
 
The section that protrudes to hold your earphone is the same on each hanger with only the base differing. The Krudul Vertical is best used when mounted to a wall or other vertical surface, hence the name. I decided to stick mine to the leg of my desk so I always have an earphone within easy reach. On this particular hanger sits my critical listening earphones.
 
The Krudul Monitor is intended to be stuck to your monitor, hence the name once again. Since my laptop is hardly a laptop due to the size, weight, and lack of a working battery, up into the top left corner the Krudul went. This works perfectly for me when watching Youtube, writing reviews, or surfing the web because when I need an earphone, I just reach up and there is a set good to go. When I'm done I don't have to unplug the earphone and store them, instead up they go on the hanger. It's excellent. On this particular hanger I like to leave a pair that is very comfortable with a no fuss insertion. Something I can put in and take off at a moments notice.
 

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Suggestions for Improvement:
 
As with the Hooka, using double-sided adhesive as the sole mounting option isn't ideal, at least for the Vertical. It would have been nice to see the option to mount via screws. Adhesive is a perfectly fine solution for mounting the Monitor given where it is intended to reside.
 

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Overall:
 
The Krudul Duo is a pretty nice product. Their build quality is outstanding, the design is understated and attractive, and the price is right. I love that Brainwavz chose to stick with an aluminum build since they could just as easily have gone with plastic and charged the same amount. These will never be challenged by a heavy earphone and have no issues holding headphones if that's what you want them to do. I always appreciate when a company over-engineers a product, which is exactly what Brainwavz did with the Krudul Duo.
 
Great job Brainwavz. I'm excited to see what you come up with next.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the Gigaset, a budget earphone that offers up a unique signature for the price bracket they play in.
 
While most earphones in the 15 USD price range focus on a fun v-shaped signature that works well for modern and pop music, the Gigaset takes a notably different approach putting their primary focus on the midrange and upper end.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Alta with Lightinthebox for providing the Gigaset in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Lightinthebox, Gigaset, or any other entity.
 
The Gigaset is currently 14.51 CAD on Lightinthebox.com. You can check them out here.
 
A Little About Me:
 
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 and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. 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, and Meze. 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.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 has recently been added to the crew and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Gigaset takes a distinctive Xiaomi approach to their packaging, storing the earphone in a compact black plastic case. The smoked black lid is used as a viewing window to show off the housings. Inside the Gigaset is wrapped neatly in a silicone cutout that can double as a case, pending you are fine taking the time to wind them up for storage. While not quite pocketable, the plastic case is small enough to be tossed in a purse or bag. The eartips are found at the bottom of the case stuck on mounting posts that hold them securely in place.
 
The included eartips (s/m/l) are of nice quality, but the silicone used is very thin. Since they are well matched to the nozzle size and are easy to install and remove I have no worry they will tear, but I do suspect that they won't provide enough pressure to seal in some ears, especially given this is a very shallow fit earphone.
 
Overall the packaging is very attractive and effective in drawing your attention. It certainly feels more expensive than it is. I also like that it is smaller than the case used by Xiaomi for their Piston series making it more usable for travel. The inclusion of a shirt clip would have been welcome, in addition to a basic instruction booklet advising what functions the inline remote has.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
The Gigaset features a 10 mm dynamic driver inlaid in a quite flat, half-earbud style design that sits shallowly in your outer ear. The outer half of the housing is bare aluminum with Gigaset branding unobtrusively printed on it. The inner half is plastic with a stubby nozzle protruding at a fairly relaxed angle. The bore size is pretty standard so the Gigaset was open for pairing with a wide variety of tips.
 
The Gigaset uses a flat cable. While not the best I've come across, it's also far from being the worst. It's the same width and thickness as the cable used on VJJB's K2S, but is stiffer and less rubbery making it less flexible. While it held some initial bends and kinks from being packaged, those worked themselves out after a couple days and it seems memory is quite low. Microphonics (cable noise) are notably more intrusive than your average standard round cable, but it's nowhere near as bad as on the Don Scorpio Bass Colour.
 
I often notice manufacturers don't bother to add strain relief to flat cables for whatever reason, so I was pleased to see that the Gigaset's cable was well-relieved from top-to-bottom. From the cleanly designed aluminum straight jack, through the very attractive remote, up into the housings, relief is only missing at the fairly basic y-split which is just a shaped piece of rubber.
 
Many of you will be pleased to note that the Gigaset has a chin slider. You will be even happier to know that it is a breakaway slider allowing you to detach then reattach it above the remote. Finally, an earphone with remote that features a fully usable chin slider.
 
I think the inline remote looks and feels outstanding. It's probably my favorite of any I've used to be honest. The buttons are thin and sleek with the volume (track controls on Android) buttons situated side by side. The start/stop/call answer button is distinctly set above the others which is a welcome change from the norm. The Gigaset's setup means I have yet to press the wrong button when controlling music through my HTC One M8.
 
Pending your ear works well with shallow fit earphones, comfort should be outstanding. The Gigaset has excellent fit and finish so there are no sharp edges. There are no oddities to their fairly straightforward and simple design. With the right sized tip, you pop them in and you're good to go. Note that they are designed for cable-down wear. You can wear them cable up, but you'll have to swap channels which isn't ideal.
 
Isolation isn't really their strong suit due to a combination of a very shallow fit and ventilation for the dynamic driver. I would put them in the "slightly below average" camp here. Things improved slightly with foam tips or Sony's Islation Hybrids. Considering these tips cost almost as much as the earphone itself, probably not worth it.
 
Overall the Gigaset features a simple but attractive design. It's free of garish colors and design motifs and as a result subtly blends in with it's surroundings. I think they look very professional, aided by their fairly compact size and aluminum finish. Comfort is great, the cable is alright, and material fit and finish are excellent.
 
Call Quality:
 
The Gigaset's microphone works very well for calls. It did a good job mitigating the cable's microphonics while walking around, allowing my voice to come through loud and clear to my callers. Background static was present, but did not interfere. The Gigaset's mid-forward signature meant they were ideal for incoming calls. Voices cut through the noise of my surroundings and I never struggled to hear my callers.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: The Gigaset's stock tips are alright, but due to this earphones midforward, bass light signature, they're not ideal. I found small bore tips took the uncomfortable edge of the occasionally shouty midrange and added some much needed warmth. I settled on large Sony Hybrids as my eartip of choice.
 
Amping: The Gigaset did not seem to benefit from amping failing to scale much, if at all, with the different equipment tossed their way. They did benefit from a warmer source, however. The Topping NX1 I usually use for testing was too cold and exacerbated the issues I have with the Gigaset, so I decided not to use it opting only for the XDuoo X3 and HTC One M8.
 
The Gigaset does not sound like your typical budget earphone to me. I heard them as featuring a slightly thin upper end, an unusually forward midrange, with recessed, rolled off bass. They are very sensitive to the quality of material being fed through them resulting in most Youtube and Soundcloud material sounding grainy and full of flaws. Quality material begets quality sound with the Gigaset.
 
Treble is well-controlled and refreshingly accurate with great extension. It is forward and emphasized enough to come across as somewhat bright. While not as clean and smooth as you'll find on more expensive sets, treble here is quite listenable and reasonably smooth with only a small amount of grain.
 
The Gigaset's midrange is interesting. Their mids clearly dominate and are unnaturally forward pulling vocals, guitars, and other mid-focused sounds to the forefront. This threw me for a loop on many of my usual test tracks, such as those from Gramatik, since their balance was so off. Because of this imbalanced mid-forward signature, I found myself drifting towards new material, primarily vocal and acoustic tracks. This particular signature would be quite fun with some material, but the Gigaset pulls things so far forward they get uncomfortably shouty. At higher volumes than I normally listen, this leads to noticeable distortion.
 
Bass on the Gigaset is very, very underwhelming. My preferences lean towards dialed down mid-bass with boosted subbass. The Gigaset nails the reduced mid-bass, but has next to no sub-bass extension. The track Solli by Kavinsky starts of with a deep bass line that on the Gigaset you struggle to feel, let alone hear. The bass on these rolls off earlier than anything I've heard to date. What is there seems fairly quick and punchy, but it's so downplayed it's hardly worth spending time on. KZ's ED3 Perfection seems like a bass cannon in comparison.
 
Clarity and detail retrieval on the Gigaset is surprisingly good for something in this price range. I was noticing minute details that other budget sets like the Xiaomi Piston 3.0 and Huawei AM12 would fail to pick up. Finger's sliding over strings, light breathing, etc. Their soundstage is no larger than on those aforementioned sets, however. The boosted treble and recessed bass keeps things light and airy, but they never gave me the impression of an overabundance of space.
 
Overall:
 
First impressions are great due to the attractive case and pleasant unpacking experience. The build quality is wonderful and their design clean and attractive. Comfort is quite good due to a ear-friendly shape and shallow fit.
 
The Gigaset is a decent earphone, but as a device primarily used for listening to music they fall short. Their unbalanced signature, shouty midrange, and lack of any sense of extension into sub-bass regions is what lets them down. They can be fun with the right tracks, but they aren't a good all-rounder.
 
Where the Gigaset find it's niche is as a headset. The sound signature works very well for calling, even in noisy areas and despite their limited isolation. The microphone picks up your voice well and does a solid job of cutting out background distractions. For a working professional that wants an inexpensive, attractive headset to keep with them for impromptu phone calls and the occasional bout of music listening, these would be a solid choice.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are looking at the Lyra, a single dynamic driver earphone from Accutone.
 
The Lyra is another earphone from Accutone's 'Standard Line'. They're advertised as having a balanced presentation which is somewhat unusual when it comes to budget earphones. At this price point manufacturers seem to be laser focused on bass presentation and how monstrous it can be, so Accutone's take on the Lyra is a refreshing change of pace.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Angus with Accutone for providing the Lyra in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Accutone or any other entity.
 
The Lyra currently retails for 29.00 USD: http://www.audio.accutone.com/lyra
 
Follow Accutone on Facebook!
 
A Little About Me:
 
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 and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. 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, and Meze. 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.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 has recently been added to the crew and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Lyra uses a similar packaging setup as the Pavo, their dual-driver model. The outer sheath contains an image of the product on the front. The statement "Audio-balanced noise-isolating headphone with microphone" is printed on either side. On the back is a brief paragraph explaining the product and it's purpose; to "offer excellent audio balance, with smooth and round transition of trebles and bass". The Lyra's package did not contain the sheet of paper protecting the housing as was found with the Pavo, or as in shown in @Cinder's review. A small inconsistency but not one that really matters much, if at all.
 
While this style of packaging worked fine with the Pavo, I'm not quite sold on it with the Lyra. The distance between the earphone housing and the remote on the Lyra is quite short. Due to the way the remote is displayed with the cable wrapped tightly around a small cardboard slit, some extreme bends were forced near the remote's strain relief. If left like this long-term, it seems like there would have been some potential for damage to the cable.
 
Included with the Lyra were three sets of silicone tips; two pairs of white single flange tips in small and large sizes, and a completely different style of black medium silicone tips that come with a number of KZ earphones. Another odd little inconsistency, but again is one that doesn't really effect anything. I must comment that the small and medium tips chosen seem like a poor match. The nozzle is very stubby and as a result the tips press into the housing causing them to deform. This prevented me from getting a consistent seal. The large tips work just fine because they are large enough to pass over the housing.
 
The Lyra pairs exceptionally well with Comply foam tips and the unique set included with the Pavo and Taurus. If they stopped including silicone tips entirely and instead gave you two sets of foams, either Complys or their own unique set, I would be entirely content. Either that or go with something similae tothe tips included with Huawei's Honor AN12 earphones. That earphone features a similarly short nozzle but include tips that fit it perfectly.
 
Finally, the included carrying case is quite nice and the same found on Accutone's higher end offerings from the Pavo to the Gemini HD, to their flagship the Pisces BA. It looks to be made of pleather, but has a nice leathery smell to it. It is very similar in design to the case that came with my Sony XBA-2, but is thinner and stiffer offering better protection. It seals with a satisfying magnetic "snap!".
 
Overall the packaging and accessories are quite nice, but not devoid of a few missteps.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
The Lyra's housings are made of aluminum and feels very nice in the hand. They're light and robust with a minimal design that has a few curves thrown in to add dimension. I generallybuy my equipment and gear in black, grey, or gunmetal, but the shade of Rose Gold Accutone chose is very subtle and quite attractive. Mid-way down each housing is a colored ring. Accutone missed a good opportunity to use these rings to tell left from right channels as both rings are red. Instead, they've relied solely on tiny L and R letters printed on the strain reliefs.
 
While the housings are wonderfully crafted there was one area that caused problems for me, that being the extra short nozzles. Combined with a somewhat broad housing, it was exceptionally difficult for me to get a consistent seal with the majority of silicone tips tested and I ended up spending more time adjusting the earphones than listening to music. I know there are many out there that will have no issues with this, but it's worth mentioning for those that tend to run into fitment issues with this particular ergonomic choice. With Comply foam eartips it was easy to get a seal and comfort was outstanding. Your mileage may vary when it comes to comfort.
 
The cable is pretty great, especially for a budget product. It looks fantastic with a clear sheath that allows you to view the winding cable within. It has absolutely no memory and is very flexible and compliant. Microphonics (cable noise) are a little intrusive, but wearing them cable over-ear remedies that issue. Strain relief is also pretty good, present everywhere but at the top half of the y-split leading up to the housings. There is no chin cinch which would have helped with microphonics when wearing the cable down.
 
While I found the inline remote to be built to a higher standard than any other in Accutone's lineup, using solid plastics and featuring well-defined buttons with a very tactile feels, microphone performance failed to impress. My voice came across muffled and unclear to my callers, something I was able to duplicate in recordings. I also seemed exceptionally quiet in my recordings, though callers never made this observation.
 
I was expecting more from the Lyra here because the housing is fully sealed, but isolation is only about average for a dynamic, maybe slightly average below. I'm going to blame this on the shallow fit. Even with music playing you'll hear some outside noise bleeding in. On the plus side, the remote worked perfectly with my HTC One M8, and functioned fine with all your standard behaviours; starting/stopping music, answering/hanging up calls, etc.
 
Driver flex was very intrusive out of the box, but it seemed to clean itself up nicely after many hours of play. With silicone tips it is still present, but has reduced to light crinkling instead of the loud popping it started as. With foam tips you hear no flex at all whatsoever.
 
Overall the Lyra's housings are very comfortable with the right tips, quite light, and they feel well-built. The cable was smartly chosen and is backed by good strain relief from top to bottom. Microphone performance is underwhelming but the remote works really well.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: I've already gone over that the stock tips didn't work for me. After trying a variety of options, I found that the Huawei Honor AM12 tips paired very well, as did my ancient Skullcandy mushroom-like single-flange tips. Both of these are wide bore options that let the Lyra's treble shine. I really liked how Comply's sport ear tips paired with the Lyra. They showed off just how smooth yet detailed the Lyra can be. This was my preferred pairing because the two complemented each other so well. Outstanding comfort AND sound quality.
 
Amping: Mmmmmm. Yup. Amping is glorious with the Lyra. They already have pretty tight and snappy bass, or 'firm' as Accutone puts it but with an amp it gets even better. Treble also seems to tighten up further and loses the edginess displayed when played straight from a smartphone.
 
My first impressions of the Lyra were admittedly pretty poor. First it was the cable being bent so sharply in the package, then it was the tips not fitting properlyand poor sound being dumped into my ears as a result. This got me thinking that the Lyra might be somewhat disappointing. Luckily, once I finally had the chance to really sit down and spend some time with them by tip rolling, source matching, and listening critically with my favorite songs, I realized this was a hidden gem in Accutone's lineup.
 
Bass on the Lyra suffers from early roll off, but that's the only negative I can pitch at them and it's really no worse than what I experienced with the Pavo. That means it still digs deep enough to mostly satisfy my preference for boosted sub-bass with dialed back mid-bass. It's fairly quick and nimble, though it could stand to be more punchy and impactful. Bass kicks start off well but fade just before the real meat of the hit takes hold. As a result of this lack of "oomph" you hear some bloom at high volumes, lessened by amping. The Lyra will also distort if you start eq'ing in some extra low end, so leave it as-is for the best experience.
 
The Lyra's midrange takes an aggressive step forward and in my opinion is the star of show. It's got weight, presence, and a surprising amount of texture for a budget earphone. Vocals are intimate, natural, and guitars are aggressive and crunchy. They work equally well for hip-hop and EDM as they do for rock and metal. DJ Shadow's "Nobody Speak" feat. Run The Jewels does a solid job of showing this off with a fun combination of lyrics by EL-P and Killer Mike with DJ Shadow's funky guitar, brass, and bass driven beats.
 
Their treble presentation continues to impress with a satisfying mix of detail, texture, extension, and aggression. It also comes across as a little more realistic than similarly tuned earphones, like the Brainwavz Jive. It tilts slightly towards the bright, thin side (but is neither bright nor thin), and should be quite pleasant for all but those who are sensitive to more forward treble.
 
The Lyra's soundstage is about average, extending just outside of your ears. The slightly boosted treble counteracts for forward midrange nicely, taking maximum advantage of the soundstage. Imaging is well done with clear transitions between left and right, and everything in between. Separation is also pretty good, managing to handle convoluted speed metal tracks pretty well. I think metal-heads looking for a decent budget earphone would enjoy these quite a bit. They're not as good as JVC's HA-FXH30 with this genre, but they certainly hold their own.
 
Overall the Lyra features a nicely refined, mid-forward signature backed by slightly aggressive treble and snappy bass that would benefit from some extra kick.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
Brainwavz Jive (28.00 USD): The Lyra and the Jive have similar signatures, though the Lyra surprisingly ups the Jive in a number of areas. It has better resolution, quicker and less mid-bass presence, though the Jive extends into sub-bass regions with more authority. The Lyra has leaner, cleaner, and more accurate treble with and a significantly smoother midrange. The Jive almost comes across veiled in direct comparison, something I never thought I would say about them.
 
The Jive does present itself as the more refined product when you take into account the entire experience. Better packaging, higher quality and more accessories, and similar features with the addition of a chin cinch. If sound quality was your primary concern, the Lyra would be my recommendation as it is the better sounding earphone. If you don't have a ton of spare tips lying around, I would recommend the Jive because it's a complete package and works perfectly as-is.
 
Accutone Pavo (51.00 USD): Sorry Pavo, but I think Accutone's sweetheart in the lineup may be the Lyra. Performance between the two is quite similar with the Pavo just barely earning it's keep. I think it's the more technically competent of the two, though I can see the added warmth of the Lyra drawing in more fans.
 
The Pavo pulls ahead in clarity and speed. It's bass also has the punch the Lyra is missing. Mid-range presence between the two is quite similar, but the Pavo's more boosted treble takes it out of the spotlight. The Pavo's dialed down mid-bass presence and warmth allows it to show off it's more impressive detailing but also makes it more fatiguing.
 
The Pavo comes with the same carrying case and a complete set of ear tips that fit properly. They also include a pair of foam tips. The Pavo also fits properly into its packaging so there was no worry of the cable being damaged upon unboxing.
 
Suggestions for Improvement:
 
Find more suitable stock tips - The stock tips just don't jive (no pun intended) with the Lyra. They fit that stubby nozzle too poorly and make it unnecessarily difficult to get a good seal. Maybe try to find something with a longer core that extends past the flange. It would also be nice to see a pair of foam tips included as they pair so well with this earphone.
 
Longer nozzle - This would go a long way towards making the Lyra easier to use. It would open it up to compatibility with a ton of additional tip options and for those with ear canals that essentially force deep insertion, would improve comfort greatly.
 
Overall:
 
The Lyra is a fantastic sounding earphone. It's fun to listen to, but also surprisingly technically adept and versatile across a number of genres. The only real fault I have with their sound is in their sub-bass extension and punch. When dipping into the low end they fall off too early, and lack the kick that would give their bass that extra bit of addictive energy. Still, this is a minor complaint and as is there isn't much that can go head-to-head with them in this price range and clearly come out on top.
 
When it comes down to it, they are one of the better earphones I've heard at this price. As long as you can deal with somewhat useless stock tips and limited accessories, I would have no issues recommending these as an excellent alternative to the Brainwavz Jive.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Culprate - Deliverance
"Nobody Speak" feat. Run The Jewels - DJ Shadow
Havok - Time is Up

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the Pagasus C, a product found in Accutone's 'Standard Line' of earphones.
 
The Pegasus C was designed as a lifestyle product to be paired with iDevices. Take one look at their site and the Pegasus C product description and this will be made abundantly clear;
 
"The Pegasus C is all about being different, showing off your personality. Designed to pair with your outfit or colorful smartphones, it is the perfect match to your vibrant and colorful lifestyle."
 
"Designed to be the perfect companion for Apple products, the Pegasus is Made for iPhone."
 
They feature an attractive teardrop design in plenty of colors to choose from, iPhone only compatibility for the remote/microphone unit, and a bass-driven sound. With all this in mind, does the Pegasus C stick out in a very crowded segment? Let's find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Angus and Accutone for providing the Pegasus C in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Accutone or any other entity.
 
The Pegasus C can be purchased through Accutone and is currently sells for 39.00 USD: http://www.audio.accutone.com/pegasus-c
 
Follow Accutone on Facebook!
 
I was not able to secure an iDevice for this review, so please keep this in mind. It is certainly possible that the Pegasus C will perform better with an iPhone or iPad than with my HTC. Should I have the opportunity to use the Pegasus C with an iDevice, this review will be updated accordingly.
 
A Little About Me:
 
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 and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products from outstanding companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. 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.
 
The gear I use for testing is composed of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 was recently added to the crew. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Pegasus C comes in some pretty cool packaging; that being a solid plastic display case wrapped in a cardboard band featuring an image of the product, a brief description of it's purpose, and some compatibility icons. The top half of the case is clear plastic, and bottom is jet black. On the rear is a hanger that slides out of case allowing it to be hung in a retail shelf. I have to admit that the sheer size of this package makes it an odd choice as it would take up a lot of space on store shelves limiting the number of products that could be displayed. The earphones themselves are pretty tiny, so there is no need for it to be so large, unless of course it's sole purpose is to get your attention. It certainly succeeds at that.
 
Removing the cardboard band and splitting the case in half reveals the Pegasus C neatly perched in transparent u-shaped clips that ensure the earphones are the first thing to greet you. The portion of the package holding these clips can be removed and splits into two sections that hide the extra silicone ear tips (s/l sizes) and an instruction manual. A more portable carrying case or bag is not included and would have been a welcome addition.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
The Pegasus C's housing is composed completely of a very dense and durable feeling plastic. That combined with great fit and finish inspires confidence that these housings will stand up to some abuse and poor treatment.
 
The cable is a pretty standard rubber-coated affair. Memory is minimal and so are microphonics (cable noise). Strain relief is non-existent at the 90 degree angled jack and y-split, quite good leading into and out of the in-line control unit, and present leading into the housings. Relief at the housings is too short and stiff to offer much, if any protection from tugs and pulls.
 
The inline mic is made entirely of plastic and feels fragile, especially compared to the quality of plastic chosen for the housings. The buttons depress with defined clicks and are easy to tell apart from each other due to the ergonomic design. Microphone quality is simply alright. My voice comes through fairly clear, though there is some notable background static that intrudes on your conversations.
 
Comfort is outstanding. The housings are very slim and smooth. Their shape reminds me of a stone you would find at the beach that has been worn down by the water. This plus their extreme lightness makes them exceptionally comfortable. They can easily be worn while lying on your side and pretty much disappear when walking around. The occasional tug from the cable reminds you that you're wearing something.
 
 
The Pegasus C is amply vented. That plus a shallow fit means isolation is well below average, even for a dynamic driver. Depending on what you're using them for, this could be seen as a positive or a negative. If trying to isolate the outside world, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. If you still want to hear what is going on around you while jogging or walking around downtown, these should do the trick.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: Due to the unique shape and shallow fit, I resorted to using the included large tips. A smaller than average nozzle width meant there wasn't much in my collection that fit, other than a slew of tips of nearly identical shape and bore that did nothing to change the sound, or at least there wasn't enough of an effect for me to clearly determine any changes.
 
Amping: The Pegasus C is easy to drive. Amping doesn't seem to change their sound, which will be easily understood in the future comments. Given there was no real benefit in amping or playing them through my XDuoo X3, the HTC One M8 alone was my primary device for music and phone calls.
 
The first Accutone product I heard, the Pavo, impressed me with a fairly well-refined, energetic, and reasonably balanced signature. That combined with good features and a nice accessory kit makes them one of my favorite picks for an earphone around 50 USD. While the Pegasus C isn't without it's merits I am disappointed to state that it does not live up to the expectations I had based on my experiences with the Pavo, or even Accutone's Lyra model which retails for 10 USD less.
 
The Pegasus C is marketed as being tuned for "ultra-bass". While this is certainly a warm and bassy earphone, the quality of their bass is lacking and the balance of mid- and sub-bass is heavy skewed towards the mid-bass. I unfortunately found it fuzzy, ever-present, lacking any dynamic range (i.e. one-note), and without much texture. Bass also seems to roll off early, further accentuating the impressive mid-bass presence. The Pegusus C's bass tends to thud along in the foreground, eating into the midrange.
 
The midrange would be alright if it wasn't for the mid-bass intrusion. On songs that focus very intently on vocals with instruments in a clear supporting role, such as Alicia Keys' 'Unthinkable' they can be pleasant to listen to. However, the midrange is marred by a fairly thick veil that smears and muddies detail.
 
This continues into the upper ranges as the Pegasus C suffers from recessed, dull treble. Treble plays third fiddle to the midrange and bass especially, resulting in a earphone that lacks energy and any sense of air or urgency. On the plus side, this makes them very easy to listen to for extended lengths, its just that it isn't a particularly enjoyable listen.
 
Soundstage, imaging, and instrument separation are all virtually non-existent making the Pegasus C sound closed in and stuffy. Listening to them with complicated metal tracks really exacerbates these shortcomings.
 
When it comes down to it, the Pegasus C's stock tuning is uninspired. In fact, they sound nearly identical to my old pair of Skullycandy Smokin' Buds from the early to mid-2000s that I used to rock in university, and of which I still have a working pair.
 
All is not lost though! If you have picked these up or are considering them and want to get the most out of these 9mm drivers, I highly recommend spending some time with an equalizer. Using the basic 5-band equalizer in the Shuttle app on my HTC One M8, the Pegasus C was transformed into a fairly enjoyable listen. I bet you could make them sound even better with a more feature rich program. My settings:
 
60 Hz | -3 db
230 Hz | -5 db
910 Hz | -2 db
4 kHz | +3 db
14 kHz | +6 db
 
These fairly extreme (in my opinion) adjustments make the Pegasus C sound like a completely different earphone. The improvement in their clarity and detail is immediately noticeable now that the mid-bass isn't running the show. The mid-bass bleed is virtually non-existent, treble actually has some presence, and the midrange no longer comes across muddied and veiled. They even end up sounding fairly open and dare I say it, spacious? These adjustments not only make the Pegasus C sound much, much better in every way, but they also bring it more in line with the sound of other Accutone products.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
Skullcandy Smokin Buds (~15.00 USD): The Pegasus C and Smokin Buds sound nearly identical, with the Pegasus C bringing slightly more detail to the party. Other than that, they both have too much mid-bass that muddies up their sound, though the Buds are nowhere near as receptive to equalization or as comfortable.
 
Accutone Lyra (29.00): The Lyra rings in at 10 USD less than the Pegasus C, but feels like the more premium product in everything but packaging. They have an all-metal housing, a very nice cable, a universal 3-button remote that works with both iOs and Android devices, and a more technically proficient driver. They do offer different signatures with the Lyra being brighter and less bassy, but listening to them back-to-back it is undeniably clear that the Lyra lacks the veil and muddiness of the Pegasus C while giving you a much for spacious and airy soundstage with decent imaging. In the favor of the Pegasus C, it is much more comfortable and easier to get a good fit. The Lyra has an exceptionally short nozzle and pudgy housing.
 
Overall:
 
The Pegasus C is a fairly well-built and exceptionally comfortable earphone that suffers from lackluster audio performance. With some serious equalization you can get around this notable flaw, but I can't see many willing to take this step when you can purchase earphones that perform much better out of the box.
 
That said, their excellent comfort and limited isolation would make the Pegasus C a great earphone for jogging, biking, and other physical activities, especially if sound quality is lower on your list of priorities than fit and features. If sound quality is still very important and you are willing to spend time with an equalizer, the Pegasus C might be worth a look.
 
In the end I have a hard time recommending them, especially when the Lyra exists within Accutone's product list. The stock sound quality of the Pegasus C is very subpar and the included accessories too barren to overlook.
 
Thanks for reading.
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the ZS3, yet another excellent new earphone from the masters of bang-for-your-buck, Knowledge Zenith.
 
If anyone has been following the rise of budget earphones spilling out of China over the last couple years, you surely have come across Knowledge Zenith. They're best known for offering earphones costing around 10 USD that bat well above their price point in pretty much every way; sound quality, build, materials, etc. Where they seem to stumble is on consistency and quality control, though the latter is not something I personally have had many issues with.
 
The ZS3 was revealed earlier this year, and followed up quickly with a mass recall due to some issues with the manufacturing process. Once working models got into peoples hands and ears, we were seeing some pretty positive reception. Their design looks almost like a custom earphone and brings a removable, recessed socket, two-pin cable to the hyper-budget market. As far as I know, and please feel free to correct me, but the use of a two-pin connector was essentially unheard of in this price range at the time of release.
 
Many were hoping that this earphone would be the one that showed KZ was serious about stepping up their game and bringing a more premium product to the market. Does the ZS3 succeed in being more than the sum of it's predecessors, or it is just another great earphone with features and sound quality beyond what it's meager price tag suggests? Neither of those options sound bad to me to be honest...
 
Disclaimer:
 
The ZS3 was purchased at the full initial release price of 26 CAD from 888999 store on AliExpress. Prices have come way down since then and you can find them elsewhere for much less, such as on Gearbest for around 11 CAD at the time of this review.
 
I am not associated with KZ or any retailers. All opinions within this review are mine and do not represent KZ or any other entity.
 
A Little About Me:
 
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 and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. 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, and Meze. 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.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
Generally KZ doesn't do anything unique when packing their earphones. A small cardboard box usually does the trick. Sometimes they will try something different, such as with the shield-shaped case that the ED10 arrives in, or the simple yet classy rectangular prism design used for the ED9 and ATE.
 
This time, KZ has decided to try something new...to them. If you are familiar with VSonic you will know that they released their VSD series earphones in a very attractive little box. The entire front portion is a plastic viewing window with the left side containing a cardboard insert displaying the model name in vibrant red writing backed by geometric texturing. The right side contains the earphones nestled in a lined, foam insert. It's very nice packaging and gave me a positive first impression.
 
Looking at KZ's package for the ZS3, you will see that they took heavy inspiration from VSonic, right down to the red writing and geometric texturing. KZ's package is much more compact, however, and the ZS3 is held securely in place with a plastic tray instead of foam. The cardboard insert also splits the window horizontally. While not necessarily unique, KZ picked something nice to emulate and executed it well.
 
Removing the plastic window reveals two bags, one containing the removable, two-pin cable, the other KZ's standard small and large silicone tips. There was also to my surprise an instruction manual. Unfortunately, I speak English only. The manual is written almost entirely in Mandarin or Cantonese. It looks to be a pretty in-depth read with information on how long you can listen at certain frequencies, something other more established brands should learn to include. There are also a few diagrams peppered throughout which make up for my inability to read another language.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
Once again, KZ has lifted inspiration from another company for their housing design. This time looking to InEar and the StageDiver series. From InEar's website site I found that the StageDiver housing was created by digitally superimposing 500 ear impressions over each other to create what amounts to the ultimate universal housing.
 
I'm not sure how close the ZS3's dimensions come to matching InEar's since I've never seen a StageDiver "in the flesh", but from images they look shockingly similar and I can confirm that they are supremely comfortable. That is, as long as you seat them correctly. I found it best to use a twisting technique to maneuver them into position. This technique paired with tips that use a very soft silicone, such as Sony's Hybrids or those from Ultimate Ears UE600, means they nearly disappear or would if it wasn't for the ear guide. With the right tips and a good seal, the ZS3 also isolates better than average for a dynamic driver-based earphone.
 
The housing on my particular pair of ZS3 is made from very durable feeling plastics with an attractive matte coating. You can also pick them up with a shiny finish. You better like your earphones in black, because at this time that's the only color to choose from. Personally I think it looks great.
 
The cable material is what you would expect from KZ, but is removable. This isn't KZ's first removable cable earphone but you would have to look pretty far back in their catalog to find another example, that being the wood-bodied R3. What differentiates KZ's removable cable from most is that it isn't terminated in an MMCX connector, or the other type used on the R3, but with a two-pin connector. Even better is that it is recessed into the housing making it extra stable and secure. I don't know if KZ is using a proprietary connector or if it is going to be something that is easily replaceable, but I'm sure we will find out quickly as more people get their hands on them. The cable is equipped with a built in ear guide. Personally, I'm not a fan and would rather it not be there. On the plus side it is well-molded and keeps the cable securely behind your ear.
 
*Edit: @vapman has noted that the ZS3 uses a standard TF13/Sennheiser two-pin format. Good to know it is not proprietary. Thanks for clarifying buddy!*
 
The inline microphone I can say sounds the best of any KZ has used before, at least of those I've tried. There is a bit of background hiss and it can be sibilant if you raise your voice, but for the most part it performs far beyond what I've come to expect from such a low-end product.
 
While the design isn't entirely unique, it is comfortable, well-built, and the removable cable is a welcome addition if it isn't proprietary.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: The stock tips on the ZS3 just didn't work for me as it was too easy to lose a good seal. After playing around a bit, I found a few options that worked particularly well. Wide bore tips such as those from Ultimate Ear's UE600 softened the bass and let out the treble making the ZS3 brighter and more energetic. These are my preferred tips. Sony's Hybrids sounded basically the same as the stock tip, keeping the treble soft and the bass explosive, but I was able to get and hold a good seal much more consistently. The tips from the Mixcder ANC-G5 also worked really well with the ZS3 boosting treble a touch and lessening bass presence a bit, but not to the extend of UEs tips.
 
Amping/Source Matching: The ZS3 worked just fine with the HTC One M8 and XDuoo X3, but I did prefer them filtered through the Topping NX1. It removed some of the warmth and color the M8 and X3 brought to the table, making the ZS3 more balanced. I don't think amping is required as the ZS3 is pretty easy to drive, but if your amp has a particular sound or signature there is a good bet the ZS3 will pick it up. It's overall sound seems to be easily effected by the source device.
 
KZ is known for offering up great sound at very low prices. The ZS3 is no different and while it isn't the huge leap forward I was hoping for, they're probably the best KZ to date.
 
The ZS3 comes across to me as a mixture of many of my favorite past KZs. Treble is clear and tight, though it could use a bit more sparkle and is a little too smooth for my preferences. Compared to the EDR2 the ZS3 is lacking in detail and clarity, but is without a doubt easier on the ears. It toes a fine line between being dull and overemphasized, and I suspect would be just right for most listeners.
 
The midrange is probably the ZS3s most accomplished aspect, topping KZ's own ATE. Vocals and instruments have excellent presence, sounding natural and detailed. I absolutely adore the way female vocals are presented. Warm and inviting, and slightly more forward than male vocals, they pull you in and delicately caress your ears. Give Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' or 'Send My Love' a go and you'll see what I mean. Outstanding midrange here.
 
Bass on the ZS3 is a bit of a mixed bag for me personally, but not because it's poorly done. On a technical level it is more or less outstanding; excellent extension, well balanced, surprisingly quick, and awesomely punchy (especially at high volumes). It's even got lots of texture. My issue is that the ZS3 can be overly bassy, something I was hoping KZ would avoid this time around. They're not bass-head earphones, but can be bass cannons when called upon. Kavinsky, known for his retro 80s style has changed things up a bit taking a more traditional EDM approach with some of his 2016 releases. Give his track Solli a go. The sub-bass line in the opening moments really shows off the ZS3's low end capabilities.
 
The ZS3's party piece to go along with their engaging midrange is a monster of a soundstage, besting even the ZS1 and ZN1 Mini which offered some of the most spacious sound you could get in this price range. They give you an honest sense of space that combined with great imaging and instrument placement enables you to become enveloped in your music, movie, or whatever form of media you're listening to at the time.
 
What all the above leads up to is an earphone that sounds pretty impressive. Smooth treble, stunning midrange, and a low end that can thump with some serious authority.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
Mi In-Ear Headphones (14.99 USD): Better known here in North America as the Piston 3.0, these two have more in common than you would expect. Their overall signature is very similar with the ZS3 having better extension at both ends, a more forward midrange, a much larger and more airy soundstage with improve imaging, and greater refinement across the board. I would consider them a direct upgrade to the 3.0.
 
Accutone Pavo (51.00 USD): The Pavo offers more sparkle and energy than the ZS3 due to a more emphasized treble region. It is also more detailed through the midrange, though the ZS3 is more forward. The ZS3 digs deeper into sub-bass regions than the Pavo, but falls just short in offering up the same levels of detail. While the Pavo falls more in line with my personal preferences, the ZS3 is a more fun listen resulting from their greater mid-bass presence and the extra punch this brings.
 
Brainwavz S5 (99.50 USD): I found the S5 to be exceptionally smooth and mellow; almost neutral if it wasn't for an overly recessed midrange. The S5 and ZS3's midranges sound very similar with KZ's mids being notably more forward. Treble on the S5 is slightly more emphasized and detailed, while bass on the ZS3 is way more punchy, detailed, and exciting. The ZS3 has a more spacious soundstage, but the S5's improved separation and detail makes up for this deficit. The S5 is overall the more accomplished earphone, as I would expect from a near 90 USD price difference. That said, the ZS3 brings a level of musicality to it's sound that the S5 is missing and is again the most entertaining listen in most circumstances.
 

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Overall:
 
What can I say other than KZ has done it again, releasing what is arguably their best earphone yet. The ZS3 has a great design, uses quality materials, sings with a well-rounded sound signature, and offers features that belie their price tag. Their sound quality pretty easy competes with or bests more expensive products.
 
While they're not my favorite KZ (that title is shared by the ANV and EDR2), they're probably the one that would resonate best with a wide range of listeners as they impress on many levels. Unless KZ has really stepped up their game with the newly released ED12 that I still need to hear, or someone else swoops in with a doozy of a hyper-budget earphone, the ZS3 is certainly one of the best deals out there.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach