**** PT25 earpods!
Pros:
Wide/deep holophonic sound-stage.
Excellent resolution of micro details – with highlighted midrange.
Accurate depth of imaging & layering of instruments.
Analogue/warm/brightly tuned graphene drivers
4-core silver/copper cable.
Cons:
Takes time to adjust to earpod form factor.
Treble EQ boost can lead to sibilance.
No option for longer length or balanced plug cable.
Bass quantity/resolution could be more pronounced.
Build, comfort & fit:
Very light and sleek shells sporting a brushed aluminum finish with minimal ear protrusion.
Build quality of the metal shells is excellent with uber tight MMCX connectors - supplied with 2 pairs of silicons covers (one pair with ear hooks.) With attached silicons the in-ear comfort level is superb & they’re incredibly light and unobtrusive.
One thing I always try out with new buds is to cup both hands over ears & buds - to ascertain if the bass/sub bass quantity can be improved by reducing any sound leakage.
I found that the best way to achieve the perfect seal with PT25 is to attach the non-hook silicons first – then overlay them with the 2nd hooked pair. This results in having minimal shell movement - giving the listener more reassurance that they’ll stay in place.
The supplied half silver/ half copper MMCX cable is of excellent quality. For this price I wasn't expecting a 4-core cable. This is a bonus if you plan to re-cable with a balanced 2.5 jack plug.
Fortunately, I’d already got a balanced MMCX cable ready to exchange - balanced as you’d expect bolstering the frequency range & enhancing micro details (in comparison to SE output.) Also the sound-stage is given greater sense of “air” alongside a feeling of a more holophonic 3D sound!
Sound signature:
The brightness of the dynamic graphene drivers is apparent; hence the PT25 sound signature is certainly not neutral, presenting a warmer and very energetic signature. Three holes drilled into the rear of shell housings can be modded with tape - to further increase bass response.
Imho they are light years ahead of Apple earpods - having a much brighter tuning & tonality. They sound fine out of the box and start to sparkle after a few hours burn in, becoming much smoother & less abrasive than initially perceived - generating an intimate “live” performance feeling. They respond well to EQ – but a cautious approach (compared to EB2) is required when boosting midrange/ high frequencies (500 – 23kHz) - in order to avoid the onset of harshness & sibilance!
Genre/listening preferences:
The majority of tracks in my collection are electronica, indie, soundscapes and binaural recordings….
PT25 are another superb all-rounder! - Accurately rendering all genres such as: female vocals / pop / rock / classical & jazz.
Comparisons:
PT15 vs PT25
The difference in SQ is night and day, both have graphene drivers, however PT25 renders far more details, conveying a much wider, deeper holophonic soundstage.
To my ears, there seems to be an ever-present, overriding rumble sound in the original PT15. The bass bleed into the mids becomes quite an annoying distraction - making them sound very muddy in comparison (even with a balanced cable.) Conversely, the quantity of bass of the PT25 is much more distinct and never succumbs to image congestion.
EB2 vs PT25
A similarity in specifications is reflected in their mutual sound signatures. The combination of the PT25’s form factor & graphene drivers seems to recess the bass/sub bass slightly, whilst pushing the mids more forward resulting in an emphasis of micro details.
They are both intimate but have different tonalities to sound refreshing. Switching to a balanced cable adds an extra dimension to the soundstage of the PT25 – offering seamless transfer between SE & balanced sources. EB2 are slightly more refined with warmer vocals and realism of instruments, however despite this, both buds complement each other perfectly for a wide range of genres.
Conclusions & Verdict:
Similar to the EB2 they can both hold their own alongside more expensive buds, with controlled raw energy that encourages you to re-appreciate your album collection. The combination of low impedance, high sensitivity means that they’re easily driven with smartphone, DAP etc via SE or balanced outputs. PT25 have a fast attack response making percussion tracks really pop - whilst bell / plucked / hammered sounds have a very realistic resonant chime.
Admittedly, bass realism & resolution is a tad more recessed than EB2, the star of the show being the tonality of the mids – which are pushed forward in the mix. PT25 has minimal fatigue with extended listening sessions - both pairs have a sense of energy and “musicality” whilst being interchangeable & easily switchable, helping to maintain a fresh contrast of tonality!
· Sound signature:
4.2/5
· Soundstage: 4.
5/5
· Micro-details: 4.
5/5
· Bass:
4.2/5
· Mids:
5/5
· Treble:
4.2/5
· Value: 4.
5/5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/SFR...105.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4eab4c4dsnIEoJ
