Introduction:
These are really good! But perfection is subjective. In my personal opinion, it's better not to pitch one product head-on against another unless every aspect and test condition matches exactly. Same goes for the human factor. No two people are identical. We hear similar sounds differently. Then there's price-point, which must always be a key-consideration. However, against this and more, Adam Blair and the Team have done a very good job indeed. Pump Audio offer seriously proficient earphones!
Background:
I'll try to keep this review very simple and unbiased. I am not a specialist in the audio or electronics field; I just know when something sounds or looks right, and whether it feels like overall value.
I've been buying tech products for over 5 decades. Serious sites like Head-Fi are incredibly useful, bringing together collective knowledge and experience from experts and beginners alike. The views I express here are specific to me, but I hope they help add to the overall perspective, and do not offend or grater with anyone too much.
Expensive in my opinion does not always mean "best", and cheap does not always mean "nasty". What matters is overall cost/benefit. Earphones produce different results according to sound source, environment and fit. I fly a lot, and always carry a bespoke Media Player, or Tablet/Cellphone in flight mode. In an aircraft, isolation matters far more than it does in a studio, so something like my Bose MIE2i, for instance, offer the wrong type of fit.
It's relevant to remind the less technical that results from a specific sound source can also be influenced significantly by the selected equalizer/mode settings, and by software. The same device/track, for example, can sound quite different between a kit media application, and VLC, etc.. Inevitably, accurate comparison is further complicated by our personal condition at the time, mood, and objective recall.
Adam Blair, Founder of Pump Audio, is one of a kind. I have been following him for years and have bought in to a number of his innovations. Pump Audio claims were ambitious (arrogant?) and intriguing. However, knowing how quality-driven he is, I bought in. I pre-ordered my Version 1, All-Blacks, pre-launch, and have been using them ever since. With due regard to caveats and budget, they are arguably the best earphones I have ever bought - and they just got better with the new Memory Foam Tips!
Audio Quality: 5 STARS
Performance is the ultimate leveler but in the final analysis opinions will always vary and be somewhat subjective to the individual. On a general assessment, for me, the Bass tones are incredible. They are solid, pleasant and engaging. There is no distortion, and the detail is full - unlike some at the lower end that are dull or even painful to the ear. Mid-Range is balanced. Detail is present and it's accurate. Treble is lovely. It is very crisp, if not quite as exceptional as the Bass. Anyone who has ever played with a graphic equalizer will now that there has to be compromise somewhere. Boost the lows or the highs and that influences the rest. Pump Audio seems to have focused on the lows, while retaining an excellent experience elsewhere. It works well. It surpasses expectation, and is extremely rewarding whether the genre is Classical, Folk, or Rock.
Comfort: 5 STARS
The kit Pump Audio IEMs come with a range of silicone tips in the usual sizes. I confess that the standard tips caused me a little irritation with prolonged use. I was regularly adjusting the fit, and they tended to slip out. I am not a big fan of silicone tips in general. I often find them hard, and intrusive. The effect was to impair the overall experience, although I hasten to add that others may disagree entirely. Then I obtained some of the company's new, soft, Memory Foam tips, available from their website. WOW. What a difference! My summary experience has changed dramatically. I can wear the Pumps for hours and forget they are in. Irritation has gone, and there is no more unwelcome distraction. Much more though is the improvement to sound. Previously, I would have marked the Pumps down slightly but for a meagre £7 a set the new Foam Tips have transformed my entire listening experience.
Design: 5 STARS
Not everyone likes orange! My launch-original V1s are all-black, and that might be a preferred option for some. It's all down to choices. I have to admit that I DO like it, and with the replacement tips in "trademark-Orange" the Pumps look rather striking. I like the thought that went into size and weight; they fit well. They are snug in my outer ear, and the (new) tips are subtle when inserted. The cable is generous; it is flat, and rubbery. It doesn't tangle, and it suppresses cable noise well. It features a Remote. There is clear evidence of the thought that has been given to overall impressions. I wish there was a Lapel-Clip to help avoid tugging, but that is hardly a deal-breaker. I have been using my Pumps for a year, almost to the day, and they stand up well to respectful treatment. Packaging is also really good. It is solid, tasteful and clearly identifiable.
Isolation: 5 STARS
With the standard silicone tips, sound quality was above par, with just moderate intrusion. Yes, I could hear aircraft noise and muted conversation, though well suppressed, but that is normal. The Memory Foam tips improve that significantly. The foam is very soft indeed, so it adapts to the ear beautifully. The seal is complete and isolation is probably as good as it's going to get. Although foam does have a lesser shelf-life than silicone, and is harder to keep sanitized, I would suggest that periodic renewal/replacement is money well spent, and would recommend the many Pump Audio users out there to order a couple of sets. They are nicely made, fit easily, and they stay on. Comfort is first-class, and the overall experience is highly commendable. I have scored this section based on Memory Foam fitted.
Value: 5 STARS
This puts it all into perspective. I bought mine pre-launch, as part of a very short 2014 "Black-Friday" promotion to Adam Blair clients. At £29 plus postage they were nothing less than utterly incredible value, although they remain so even at normal retail price. Are they better than Beats? I don't know. It doesn't really matter, anyway. I think it would have been preferable not to throw down the gauntlet, but that's just me. Beats are Beats, and they are superb. These are superb, but they are Pump Audio. They are different and they have their separate appeal. All I can say is that they are by far the best value earphones I have ever bought. I could go out and spend £500 or £1,000, but to what purpose? I like what I hear from Pump Audio, and that's what counts. Would I but another set at normal retail price? Definitely! If I did, it would be in Orange; it would feature Memory Foam tips, a spare set to keep in reserve, and a matching Clam-Case. I've been asked numerous times about the V1s and friends who have tried them have been pleasantly surprised. I'm as curious now as I was at launch - if mine are THIS good, what will the V2s be like, with their even wider Frequency Range?
SUMMARY - OVERALL 5 STARS
I recommend Pump Audio unreservedly. I cannot wait to try the new Pump Zeus headphones due out soon. Give Pump Audio a chance. For the money, these IEMs will not break the bank for most people, and they might surprise many. They have some outstanding qualities and deserve the overall high rating, especially with Memory Foam tips. Rather like the on-ear Sennheiser PX100s or Kos PortaPros they shouldn't be this good for the money, but they are. Let's hope they are just as enduring over time. Which brings me to the replacement warranty should they go wrong. If you order direct from Pump Audio, you have 5 years in which to send them back.
I have tried to be as objective as I can be, and I hope my review has been of value. Thank you for reading.