Accutone Gemini HD Earphone Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to Accutone for the sample.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/828710/accutone-gemini-hd-earphone-review-by-mark2410
Brief: Mids to die for.
Price: US$129 which is about £102
Specifications: Err, an 8mm Beryllium driver and impedance is 20 Ohms.
Accessories: So you get 2 pairs of Comply’s and no silicone tips. 3 pairs of tuning filters and a case that is too thin to fit the things without shoving them in.
Isolation: Alright, not super great but fine for out and about and just enough for bus use. Flight and Tube not so much. Still you’ll need to remember and use your eyes near traffic or get yourself killed.
Comfort/Fit: Good, absolutely zero issues on either front, wearing up or down despite their angular edged outer. Happy to wear them for hours and hours at a time. Nice.
mark2410's Reviews!
Sound: Well prior to this my experiences with Accutone had not be stellar. Then these came in with the red filters. Sigh. They were not great. Then I changed to the bile coloured filters and suddenly they were a completely different product. Not just did they no longer suck, they were actually good, very good, damn fine good in fact. The mids in particular become outstanding. I don’t know where they were hiding, maybe I’m having a stroke, god knows. The bass is super clean for a dynamic and really shines when amped, its death isn’t super linear but in the more typical bass things its sooo clean and sculpted. No mid bass hump, though not it’ll be bass light for more mainstream folks but try to resist using the red filter, EQ or bass boosting amp it instead. Then the treble is nicely refined, little bit more inclined to the shimmer and it doesn’t really ever give a hard edgy bight which is super fine with me. Though if you want brutality or details hurled at you this won’t do that. It’s got a sublime tonality and the mid-range being slightly prominent are so sumptuously flowing. Top marks for the vocals, I don’t know what they did but they are so beautifully rendered, rich and yet not creamed and thickened, such grace to them. Just fantastically good and ear pleasing vocals on these. Love them.
Value: Well they aren’t unbeatable but the mids are just so gorgeous that I’d have not a seconds hesitation in slapping down a hundred quid for them.
Pro’s: Mids to die for. So graceful and clean. Delicately beautiful.
Con’s: The “green” filter is more bile coloured. The red filter sounds sucky.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Sound incredibly good. Astoundingly good value.
Cons: The Triple is better and only a tiny bit more money.
1MORE Dual-Driver In-Ear Headphones (E0323) Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to 1MORE UK for the review sample.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/828671/1more-dual-driver-in-ear-headphones-e0323-review-by-mark2410
Brief: 1MORE for the ladies.
Price: £79.99
Specifications: Frequency Range: 20-20,000 Hz / Plug: 3.5 mm Gold Plated Color: White With Brushed Gold
Accessories: 6 sets of silicone ear tips of various sizes, Magnetic clasping traveling case, Attractive storage case, Quality dual prong airline adapter, Matching shirt clip.
Build Quality: Flawless, I can’t spot any imperfections. The cable is a little bit kinky but that’s it.
Isolation: Pretty good for a hybrid and thus with a dynamic. Easily fine for on a bus or out and about use. Even the odd Tube or flight should be fine. As always you will then need to use your eyes for noticing traffic, or get run over.
Comfort/Fit: They were perfectly comfy for me to wear up, for hours at a time. The fit was a bit shallow so I need the big foam tips but then was fine in use.
Aesthetic: Well there are kinda pretty, the white with the almost rose gold is pretty but…… yeah its super girly. Now that doesn’t really bother me enough to not use but they are certainly not the most masculine of looking earphones. One for the ladies I think.
Sound: Excellent. These are stupid good, really they are seriously stupidly good. They really do show that you don’t need 50 drivers to sound good, these are really super seriously good. However……. They are just so closely priced to the Triple and while there isn’t very much in it acoustically between them, why wouldn’t you pick the Triple over these? The only real reason I can find is because you like how these look more. In terms of the audio these are stunning, the bass is every bit as great as the triple, large but so well controlled and articulated. It’s impeccably behaved yet well scaled for those who like their bass. Sure it’s a bit more than there ought to be but so what. The mids too are sublime, really approaching perfection, maybe a tiny sliver over warmed and creamy. The treble too could be said to be a little forgiving and polite but at the price, so what, these are amazeballs crazy good. Their balance and tuning is so brilliantly done, so incredibly good, really these are amazing sounding. They walk the line of mainstream and audiophile yet are so good that both will love them to bits, seriously good audio and with a bass that will please mainstream listeners too.
mark2410's Reviews!
However, they are just 20 quid less than the Triple and while they are only a tiny bit better and they need driven well for you to really notice it I just don’t see any circumstances other than looks for me to say get these not the Triple instead.
Value: Super-duper excellent…… but seriously buy the Triple’s instead.
Pro’s: Sound incredibly good. Astoundingly good value.
Con’s: The Triple is better and only a tiny bit more money.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Variable bass output. Removable cables. Good mic.
Cons: Mediocre sound quality.
Accutone Taurus Earphone Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to Accutone for the sample.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/828106/accutone-taurus-earphone-review-by-mark2410
Brief: Pricing discrepancy extraordinaire.
Price: PPR is US$90, Amazon US says US$23
Specifications: Erm 9mm driver. I’m not copying the manual from the Pisces out by hand.
Accessories: You get a nice tip selection and the cable is removable which is nice. The case though, well it doesn’t really fit so, yeah maybe go buy one that does.
Isolation: Not big isolators, probably okay for on a bus or out and about near traffic. You’ll still have to remember keep an eye out for traffic with music playing though, so please, do remember to keep your eyes open.
Comfort/Fit: Great for both. Their shape and the removable swirling cables meant I could wear them up or down and they were perfectly comfortable. Then it was just a shove in and done. Simples.
mark2410's Reviews!
Sound: Yeah they may say there are by default set to make the bass and they are very heavy. You can however turn it down and when you do the get much less bad. The bass behaves a bit more and stops flabbing up all over the place. With it at min they are not too bed. They aren’t exactly great though but enough that in can say they have been pretty enjoyable to play with. They are bassy, reasonable in the mids and forgiving and mild in the treble. So for my treble sensitive ears they were pretty easy going. Still, if I said I loved these I’d be lying. Looking at their RRP of $90 I’m sorry but no. Then they appear on Amazon US at $23 which is vast difference. At that then they rocket up the value charts and their audio, their removable cable, their everything takes on a completely different tone. At that price they are cracking little things that I could absolutely give a huge thumbs up to, hand on heart at $23 they are super-duper nice. At $90 I cannot say the same.
Value: Yeah at US$23 awesome. At US$90 not so much.
Pro’s: Variable bass output. Removable cables. Good mic.
Cons: Mediocre sound quality.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Visually attention grabbing. Huge bass.
Cons: Clarity? Yeah not so much.
Accutone Pisces Earphone Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to Accutone for the sample.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/828002/accutone-pisces-earphone-review-by-mark2410
Brief: Hipster cool.
Price US$80
Specifications: See the manual.
Accessories: I think 5 pairs of tips, including some foam ones and a pair of Comply’s, a cable tie thing and a case. They don’t fit in the case.
Isolation: So so at best. They didn’t isolate enough for me to even use walking about near traffic. However when you have music playing it would be very easy to not notice traffic so do remember you must use your eyes if you want to stay safe.
Comfort/Fit: Great for both, they have an unusual shape but I could wear them up or down with no issues at all.
mark2410's Reviews!
Sound: Their website goes on about their clarity and their micro detail retrieval which I don’t understand why. They are not, they are bassy, big bass heavy, weighty, potent thumbing beasts. Which is great if you want some big bass monsters and want it in a hipster fashionable look. They look super visually eye-catching. Plus bass heavy is popular mainstream appealing sound so why so the opposite on the website description of them? It’s confusing, what’s also confusing is the number of products they all call Pisces. I think someone put the wrong description on them. These things were made to go on a shelf in an Apple store and I think they both visually and acoustic are the perfect match for each other.
Value: Stunning looks and massive bass, great if those are what you want.
Pro’s: Visually attention grabbing. Huge bass.
Con’s: Clarity? Yeah not so much.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Sound great. Great balance. Super small.
Cons: Its Siblings exist.
1MORE
Capsule
Dual-Driver In-Ear Headphones Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to
1MORE UK for the review sample.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/827769/1more-capsual-dual-driver-in-ear-headphones-review-by-mark2410
Brief: The really pretty sister, of Claudia Schiffer.
Price: £89.99
Specifications: Type: In-Ear, Color: Black, Nominal Impedance: 16 Ω, Sensitivity: 100±3 dB /1mW, Driver Unit: Balanced Armature Driver+ Dynamic Driver, Weight: 14g, Frequency Range: 20-40,000Hz, Plug: 3.5 mm, Rated Power: 5mW, Length: 1.25m, Wire Material: Enameled Copper Wire.
Accessories: 4 pairs of tips, “silicone extension sleeve for larger ear sizes,” pleather baggy thing.
Build Quality: I can’t fault anything they appear to be great. Cable seems nice.
Isolation: Very good. It may be a hybrid but they isolate almost as well as an all BA design. Easily fine for on a bus or out and about. Tube and flights should be okay too probably. That does mean that you won’t hear traffic even with no music playing so do remember to use your eyes near traffic.
Comfort/Fit: Great on both counts, tiny things and they fit me just great. Happy to wear all day.
Aesthetics: Rather nice. Ignoring my brief these are actually the best looking 1More. So diminutive and they just melt away, like them lots.
mark2410's Reviews!
Sound: Now this is where the brief comes into play. The capsules are great, really they are really good. Their problem is that while they are great, the only a tiny fraction more expensive Triples are better. Not just a tiny bit better but they are noticeably better. Hands down better. Unless you really care about their looks and the size differences I just can’t see any occasion where I’d tell someone to buy the Capsules over the Triples. Not that I think anyone would be upset to receive a pair on Christmas morning, the Capsules on the own are really good. I myself very much like them and have enjoyed every minute I’ve spent with them. But I enjoyed the Triples more. Flavoured to be a relatively flavour lacking IEM, the bass is almost BA in its attributes and style. Lithe and agile and diminishing in depth. The mids are grand and the treble is good, accurate but can be a tiny bit gritty before going into its decline. All things I’d forgive at its price no problem yet….. Its siblings I just can’t quite keep out of my mind. It’s a nice overall acoustic balance being rather naturalistic and easy going. All in all a very pleasant affair that I’d be fine with using every day.
Value: Very good. However the Triples are better.
Pro’s: Sound great. Great balance. Super small.
Con’s: Its Siblings exist.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Superb mid-range. Highly naturalistic presentation.
Cons: Minimal drama and bombast. Will be too polite for some.
Massdrop x Noble X Universal IEM Earphone Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to Massdrop for the loaner.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/827755/massdrop-x-noble-x-universal-iem-earphone-review-by-mark2410
Brief: Massdrop and Noble make a baby.
Price: US$250 or about £197
Specifications: Faceplates: Anodized aluminum in midnight blue, Drivers: 2 proprietary balanced armature drivers per side, Impedance: 30 ohms, Frequency response: 15 Hz – 20 kHz, Cable: 50 in (127 cm), detachable, with 2-pin configuration, Plug: ⅛ in (3.5 mm), gold-plated, Weight: 0.69 oz (19.5 g)
Accessories: Detachable cable with 2-pin connector & 3.5mm TRS plug, 2 pairs of single-flange silicone ear tips (M, L), 2 pairs of Noble foam ear tips (M, L), 1 pair of double-flange silicone ear tips (M), Cleaning tool, Carrying case, Noble Audio warranty.
Build Quality: It all seemed decently put together, the bits are of a good quality and the cable and such were all rather nice too.
Isolation: For a BA IEM they are rather shallow sitting and that means that they are relatively not so isolating. However these are still BA and thus they have no dynamic in them like with hybrids which require a vent. These are properly sealed and thus they beat pretty much every dynamic out there for isolation. Not just fine for bus or about and about but fine for flights or the Tube. Naturally that means even with no music playing you’ll need to use your eyes near traffic or get yourself killed.
Comfort/Fit: Aside from being rather shallow sitting with is a little peculiar if you’re used to normal BA things. That was it though, issue wise, a touch shallow but they fit me great and easily. I was also happy wearing them all day long, no comfort issues at all despite them being a little bit big.
Aesthetics: Nice. Tbh I’m not exactly drooling over them but they look nice enough, I like that blue and the Noble design is pleasant. So they look fine, nothing amazing but nice enough.
mark2410's Reviews!
Sound: Good. They are a touch middy compared with most may be used to, what with their being all BA which seems like it’s been ages singe I’ve seen a multi driver that’s not a hybrid. BA bass is light, accurate, detailed and more inclined to punch than to bloom. Its depth is fine but can’t get all the way down. Same with the treble, it tails off as you go upward. Plenty detail but its subtle in its presentation. The mids though are where they are at their best. The mids are a little plain, not the most flavoured but highly naturalistic and realistic. Effortless and easy going. I kept going back to fantastically simple tracks with stellar vocals. Something so simple, easy and delicate to them if you amp them well. Oh and they do like all the power you can provide, particularly if from a cool amp. Not just benefit from but border line need, yet they were super easy to make loud out of anything. Contradictory a bit but oh well.
Value: Not the cheapest but certainly the cheapest Noble you can get.
Pro’s: Superb mid-range. Highly naturalistic presentation.
Con’s: Minimal drama and bombast. Will be too polite for some.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Soooo many inputs. Built like tanks. Mental bass response.
Cons: Bass is subtle as a howitzer. Could do with a smidge more treble.
Bluedio Victory Bluetooth and Optical Headphone Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to Bluedio for the sample.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/827745/bluedio-victory-bluetooth-and-optical-headphone-review-by-mark2410
Brief: Churchill’s headphones. (V for Victory, get it?)
Price: £200 or US$300 N.B. Black Friday sale makes them £130 or US$180
Specifications: Transducer type, Dynamic. Bluetooth version, 4.1. Frequency Response 10Hz to 22KHz. Impedance, 42 ohms x 2 32 ohms x 2 32 ohms x 8. Bluetooth Profiles aptX, A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP, ampX-LL. Digital audio support 24bit 48KHz. SPL 112dB. THD <0.1%. Drivers 50mm x 2 30mm x 2 20mm x 8. Bluetooth music time 25 hours. Optical Music time 40 hours. Standby time 1000 hours.
Accessories: 3.5mm audio cable, 6.3mm patch plug, User manual, Carrying case with a buckle, USB charging cable, Pouch for cables, Optical audio cable with adapter.
Build Quality: They visually and to the touch feel flawless and they are weighty, things that feel built like tanks.
Isolation: Actually rather good. They clamp reasonably well and they have thick squishy pads that got a good seal and thus isolated quite well for a headphone. Fine for most uses and maybe even a little flying. Naturally way more than enough to mean you don’t notice traffic out and about so please do use your eyes near traffic.
Comfort/Fit: Well fit was good but they did impinge my ears a little, so while the pads are nice and soft they do get a little tiring on the ear after a few hours. So for me it was mostly fine but I’d like a little break every few hours.
Aesthetics: Nice. Not super great as they are all just mostly matte black tank like monsters. They are kinda nice but hmm, there is something I dunno. Though what is cool is the buttons being a touch sensitive gesture pad rather than buttons, that does look kinda cool in use especially. Seriously, touch sensitive headphones, that’s some fancy stuff.
mark2410's Reviews!
Sound: First off these are very much all about the bass. Whoa baby are these things all about the bass or what!!! You might think with all those drivers that the treble would be the star of the show but actually the treble is rather light, don’t ask why all those drivers then but they do have a curiously diffuse quality to them. Strange it is for sure but while I would have liked more it was interesting. Delicate and flighty that I couldn’t quite place its location it created an almost open like effect yet the bass is so obviously closed and walled, viscous power too. It just is a strange combination. That something with such a massive bass response and the things being so solidly constructed, heavy beasts. Then you get this diffuse delicate treble. It’s like an elephant performing ballet and performing it well. Something in your brain just says no no no, this is all wrong, yet there it is. The mids are a bit similar yet they are more heavy, rather over buttery. I’d like them to be more forward but it’s not. That might steal attention from the bass and trust me these are all about the bass. Fabulous epic crazy insane bass that will rip your face off. It’s crazy but it’s fun and I can’t quite make up my mind about them. Madness incarnate.
Value: Usually going for US$300 or £200 they are not bad, with all those inputs they have, its own DAC and amp in one its good. However the black Friday sale has them hacked down to £130 or US$180. Wooo basstastic value.
Pro’s: Soooo many inputs. Built like tanks. Mental bass response.
Con’s: Bass is subtle as a howitzer. Could do with a smidge more treble.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Good audio quality. High quality bass output.
Cons: Treble too edgy. No aux input.
Yamaha MusicCast WX-010 Wireless Speaker Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to Yamaha UK for the sample.
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/827742/yamaha-musiccast-wx-010-wireless-speaker-review-by-mark2410
Brief: Yamaha’s mini Sonos.
Price: £150 each or in the US US$180
Specifications: Wi-Fi Yes, AirPlay Yes, Bluetooth Version/Profile Ver. 2.1 + EDR / A2DP, AVRCP, Audio Codec SBC, AAC* (*Receiving Only), Maximum Communication Range 10 m / 32.8 ft. 10 in. (without interference), File Format MP3, WMA, MPEG4-AAC, WAV(*2), FLAC(*2), AIFF(*2), ALAC(*1) --- (*1) up to 96 kHz (*2) up to 192 kHz, Ethernet Yes, Speaker Unit 9 cm (3-1/2”) Woofer x 1, 2.5 cm (1”) Tweeter x 1, Passive radiator x 2, Maximum Output Power 25 W (Woofer 15 W + Tweeter 10 W), Power Supply AC, Power Consumption 8 W, Standby Power Consumption 2 W (Network Standby ON, Bluetooth Standby ON, Wireless connection), 0.2 W (Network and Bluetooth Standby OFF), Dimensions (W x H x D) 120 x 160 x 130 mm; 4-3/4” x 6-1/4” x 5-1/8”, Weight 1.7 kg; 3.7 lbs, Colours Black, White
Accessories: Well the power cable for them is all you get. Though the Apps to control them are available and free.
Build Quality: Like everything else I’ve seen from Yamaha, the build quality appears to be flawless. It is heavy, solid and I can see no issues with any aspect of it.
Aesthetics. The while one, with the more grey mesh outer is nice looking but I think the black looks much nicer in pics. Though if I had that I may think the other way round. They are mostly diminutive, easy to barely even notice them.
mark2410's Reviews!
Sound: The bass is considerably more even than you’d expect. The driver isn’t big at all but with two bass radiators it increases the surface area and thus the bass is more controlled and linear as it descends. It’s not flawless, it still does decline but its better behaved than tiny speakers would be otherwise while keeping the output quantity up. It’s unusual to have two bass radiators but it does work well. The mids are good, rather accomplished and probably what they do best. Then the treble, well that is strangely abundant. Not just that it’s a bit abundant but that it’s got a rather hard edge to it. That makes them feel rather enhanced in terms of their detail retrieval. It’s edgy and noticeably present which is unexpected. They do however do well with two of them together, the bass is competent and the mids are nice yet that treble is over edgy and with that edge it makes it sound more abundant than it really is. Yet there is an overall grown up balance, accomplished and treble aside, pretty evenly balanced. At low volumes and on their own they make for a great little background music speaker. Yet I couldn’t help but want them to be more use as a stereo pair. They coped with music so well that I wanted them to be usable for all audio not just the streaming supported kind.
Value: As a stereo pair very nice, on their own they are expensive for a background speaker. Surely one by itself you’ll only use for background stuff right?
Pro’s: Good audio quality. High quality bass output.
Con’s: Treble too edgy. No aux input.
mark2410
mark2410's Reviews!
Sponsor: HiFiMAN
Pros: Slight more a mature tonality. Looks good. Good Value.
Cons: Perhaps not as flavoured as some may wish.
UMI BTA6 Magnetic Bluetooth Earphones Quick Review by mark2410
Thanks to UMI for the sample.