Introduction:
After my
UMI-BTA8 review, UMI offered me a chance to review the UMI-BTA9. While I found the BTA8 to have a nice fit and finish, the sound was lacking on certain points. I’m curious how the UMI-BTA9 competes against its sibling. I like to thank UMI for providing me with a sample. The UMI-BTA9 is available from different resellers for around $23. I got mine from amazon:
DE: http://amzn.to/2hQAs8U
US: http://amzn.to/2h6jhkA
Disclosure:
I received the UMI-BTA9 free of charge. Nonetheless the following opinion is a personal honest opinion. Usually I buy a product and review them according to how they suit my personal preferences. In this instance however, I will try to keep things more general since this review is about the product and not about my personal audio adventures. The rating is based on the whole product and price as a combination and not solely on audio quality.
Source: Samsung Galaxy s7.
Music: Spotify Extreme & Poweramp Alpha with 44.1khz/16bit Flac files.
Setup: Stock tips size M. Stock ear hooks
Burn in: 24 hours on the cooker before listening.
My acknowledged bias: Music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).
Review:
Specifications:
Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP
Battery: 150mAh rechargeable battery
Water Proof: IPX4 (splash proof)
Music Play time: 7 hours
Standby time: 160 hours
Charging time: about 1-2 hours
Package Contents:
- Bluetooth in-ear headphone
- Micro USB charging cable
- S/M/L Size tips
- User manual
Umi delivers their Bluetooth IEMS in a nice black tin case. A nice touch when you want to gift these headphones, especially for the price. Upon opening the case, these headphones look much more premium than the $23 they cost. A well designed usb cable in the box is a nice plus. There aren’t different size earhooks added in the box however, since these are not user replaceable.
build, design and fit:
Well build and sturdy. You’re not going to break these any time soon. They don’t have any moving parts on them, including the earhook which is fixed in one position. The remote is built into the right earpiece, which is surprisingly intuitive. At 20 grams they are lighter than their size may suggest. While the gunmetal colour looks great, the design is not my thing. They remember me of those Bluetooth mobile phone hands-free headsets, which some people wear 24/7 while never receiving a call (and continue to wear in cinemas and libraries). But my biggest gripe is their fit. Getting a proper fit is not an issue, maintaining one is, at least in my case. The cable connecting both earpieces is rubbery and springy, which pulls the solid earpieces out of my ear-canal. I found myself readjusting their fit every time I moved my head to the left or right. By wearing the cable in front of my neck and tucking the cable into my shirt, I largely solved the problem without looking completely ridiculous. Its brother, the BTA8, has one of the best fits I’ve ever tried, so I was kind of disappointed with the fit of the BTA9.
Battery life and Bluetooth:
Reaches the promised 7 hours battery life and is easily charged with the same charger as my phone. Haven’t noticed any Bluetooth dropouts. Couldn’t ask for more.
Sound:
UMI did vastly improve the sound of the BTA9 over the BTA8. The sound is now more natural and more suitable for a variety of music styles. The sound signature is still warm and bassy, but more enjoyable now. Just don’t expect any miracles from a sub $30 bluetooth IEM. Furthermore, passive isolation is top-notch.
Let’s dive a little deeper in the sound:
Treble:
Smooth, but a bit veiled. Not the main attraction, but pleasantly there. The treble doesn’t possess the highest resolution, nor the most extensive depth, but for a Bluetooth running IEM very acceptable. Songs like ‘Oasis - The shock of the lightning’ could do with a tiny bit more treble in order to let the cymbals remain energetic, but that may be a matter of taste.
Mids:
The mids are prominent and very capable. Dispite being prominent, the mids are surprisingly balanced and natural. Voices are excellently positioned in the mix and a huge step up from the BTA8. Guitars, synths and drums sound full and warm. The mids are not as clear as I wished they would be, which becomes more noticeable in busy parts. This is more noticeable in rock music than in any other kind of music style. Instrument separation and positioning is average and fine.
Bass:
Very nicely done. Good amount of subbass with the addition of a rounded midbass. While the bass tends to be a bit overblown, it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. Listening to “The Weeknd – Starboy” I heard myself let out a little “niccceee” when the bass kicked in. It digs deep and offers a nice rumble. While too much for general use, the bass provides a nice punch during workouts.
Compared to the BTA8 (same price):
The BTA9 offers a noticeable rise in sound quality for the same price. The highs are a bit more subdued. The mids sound cleaner and more natural with a better voice presentation. The great 3D soundstage of the BTA8 made room for better sounding guitars, synths and drums. A/B-ing between the BTA8 and BTA9 makes the BTA8 sound coloured. The bass of the BTA9 is tighter and less intrusive into the midrange. Dispite the BTA9 offering a better sound quality, I find the BTA8 to have a far better fit, which is quite important for a “running IEM”. If the BTA10 is made, I hope UMI puts the BTA9 sound in a BTA8 body.
Conclusion:
The BTA9 offers a pleasant sounding Bluetooth IEM for a very affordable price. The BTA9 does a lot right soundwise. A warm sound-signature with a great bass and natural mids. Design and fit are however step back from the BTA8. Wearing the cable behind the neck was not an option for me. If you can live with the cable tucked in the front of your shirt, you’ve got yourself a great Bluetooth iem for a low price.
Tl;dr: Affordable Bluetooth IEM that offers a fun and enjoyable warm/bassy sound-signature. The fit and design aren’t doing it for me.