The xDuoo EP1 is a 10mm dynamic driver IEM for $30 at XTENIK Audio that is an easy recommendation for a general duty IEM. While I have a large collection of multi-thousand-dollar custom IEMs that are clearly better for fine listening, these lower-cost IEMs are more than good enough for most situations and are garnering far more ear time than my expensive customs.
Use Case
While my expensive customs are securely stored away in nice cases to protect them, my xDuoo is setting conveniently on my desk attached to my audio out for private listening to videos and other audio that is typical in my line of work. There are many voice recordings such as self-improvement or podcasts that do not require the fidelity that the customs offer. There are also times that I am mowing the lawn or trimming bushes that I don’t wish to risk my more expensive customs where the EP1 is very handy. The bottom line, with my customs averaging $2000 each, I could buy 100 EP1 sets so if were to damage these for any reason, replacement is easy. Not so with my expensive customs.
Risk Assessment
These are very enjoyable for casual listening but will never be my go-to for critical listening. Mowing the lawn creates a lot of noise which these effectively block and provide entertainment. However, the mower is loud enough to interfere even with my best customs, so we are dealing with a diminished experience to begin with. This renders the custom advantages to be a moot point. However, in both cases, I enjoy listening to the music to pass the time and both provide that musical entertainment I crave. On the other hand, my bike rides are less noisy where the custom isolation works well enough to make a difference worth the effort of pulling out the custom. The risk is an issue though, so if I am just listening to podcasts, audiobooks, etc. then I grab the EP1 instead.
Musical Experience
The dynamic driver offers a richly enjoyable experience that brings a sense of rhythm and tempo that can get your foot tapping. However, the experience is more back row offering clarity, but lacking the texturing of my much more expensive customs. Voice seems to be what the EP1 does best offer great clarity in voice. While I have been breaking these in for a couple of months now, they seem to be continually improving so there may be updated later. The bass is mainly where I am hearing the improvements coming from muddy to tight, from mid-bass to starting to open up in the sub-bass. The treble while on the bright side is not sharp but smooth and growing smoother.
Another key point to the EP1 is that they like volume. The more I turn them up the better they sound. I tend to listen to lower volumes where it can sound a little lacking, but in turning them up I get a much richer experience. This also plays to the use case such as mowing the lawn where I am forced to turn them up creating a much more enjoyable experience. The reason that I am favoring them for voice, videos, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. is that I can listen with great fidelity at lower volumes. At higher volumes, the driver begins to sound dynamic with the dynamic bounce that gets my foot tapping.
Product Quality
In terms of product quality, these IEMs stand up easily to most that I have experienced in the $150 range. They are a solid, durable CNC metal shell with just enough heft for confidence without feeling like weights in the ears. The cable is light and non-tangling for the most part. While not a replaceable cable, at $20 overall, it is easier to just get a new set.
The setup includes an assortment of ear tips to fit your ears which I found good enough as I am happy with the fit and isolation as well as the resulting sound quality. The plug is just 3.5mm for standard connections, no balanced, but again, this was not made for higher fidelity setups and appropriate for its use case.
Overall, there is nothing missing as far as I am concerned, and the experience is much better than expected given its price. The comfort is good enough to forget that they are in your ears as you get busy at your activity. The price allows you to take them anywhere with confidence and without fear. I am impressed with this xDuoo product and will replace if anything happens to it and that is the key take away for this review.
Use Case
While my expensive customs are securely stored away in nice cases to protect them, my xDuoo is setting conveniently on my desk attached to my audio out for private listening to videos and other audio that is typical in my line of work. There are many voice recordings such as self-improvement or podcasts that do not require the fidelity that the customs offer. There are also times that I am mowing the lawn or trimming bushes that I don’t wish to risk my more expensive customs where the EP1 is very handy. The bottom line, with my customs averaging $2000 each, I could buy 100 EP1 sets so if were to damage these for any reason, replacement is easy. Not so with my expensive customs.
Risk Assessment
These are very enjoyable for casual listening but will never be my go-to for critical listening. Mowing the lawn creates a lot of noise which these effectively block and provide entertainment. However, the mower is loud enough to interfere even with my best customs, so we are dealing with a diminished experience to begin with. This renders the custom advantages to be a moot point. However, in both cases, I enjoy listening to the music to pass the time and both provide that musical entertainment I crave. On the other hand, my bike rides are less noisy where the custom isolation works well enough to make a difference worth the effort of pulling out the custom. The risk is an issue though, so if I am just listening to podcasts, audiobooks, etc. then I grab the EP1 instead.
Musical Experience
The dynamic driver offers a richly enjoyable experience that brings a sense of rhythm and tempo that can get your foot tapping. However, the experience is more back row offering clarity, but lacking the texturing of my much more expensive customs. Voice seems to be what the EP1 does best offer great clarity in voice. While I have been breaking these in for a couple of months now, they seem to be continually improving so there may be updated later. The bass is mainly where I am hearing the improvements coming from muddy to tight, from mid-bass to starting to open up in the sub-bass. The treble while on the bright side is not sharp but smooth and growing smoother.
Another key point to the EP1 is that they like volume. The more I turn them up the better they sound. I tend to listen to lower volumes where it can sound a little lacking, but in turning them up I get a much richer experience. This also plays to the use case such as mowing the lawn where I am forced to turn them up creating a much more enjoyable experience. The reason that I am favoring them for voice, videos, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. is that I can listen with great fidelity at lower volumes. At higher volumes, the driver begins to sound dynamic with the dynamic bounce that gets my foot tapping.
Product Quality
In terms of product quality, these IEMs stand up easily to most that I have experienced in the $150 range. They are a solid, durable CNC metal shell with just enough heft for confidence without feeling like weights in the ears. The cable is light and non-tangling for the most part. While not a replaceable cable, at $20 overall, it is easier to just get a new set.
The setup includes an assortment of ear tips to fit your ears which I found good enough as I am happy with the fit and isolation as well as the resulting sound quality. The plug is just 3.5mm for standard connections, no balanced, but again, this was not made for higher fidelity setups and appropriate for its use case.
Overall, there is nothing missing as far as I am concerned, and the experience is much better than expected given its price. The comfort is good enough to forget that they are in your ears as you get busy at your activity. The price allows you to take them anywhere with confidence and without fear. I am impressed with this xDuoo product and will replace if anything happens to it and that is the key take away for this review.
Bought together with the XDUoo 2S player from a french company and received in just one week via courier
They have a very good build for the price but are quite longer than any other models i use
After that i use them quite often . Comparing with the Soundmagic models they are quite treblier. I only use them in cases trebles are necessary.
They are not so bassy as anyone here notices
All accessories have been then put in different places and i am nto sure where they are. Anyway the tips used are easy to leave the earphones from the ear.