ljokerl
Portables Reviewerus Prolificus
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As the name implies, Australia-based Padacs (usually stylized in all-caps) specializes in iPad and iPhone accessories for the fashion-conscious. The Aksent is the company’s first earphone – an in-ear model with mic and remote. Marketed as a high definition earphone and priced at $49.95, the Aksent is unique on several levels and definitely has a place in the already-crowded sub-$50 headset market.
The Aksent comes in a small yet stylish cardboard box. The blue-and-white color scheme is easy on the eyes and the soft foam inserts are friendly to the fingers. The earphones, in all of their glossy gunmetal glory, are visible through a window on the front. Interestingly, Padacs decided to forgo the usual silicone tips and included three sets of foamhybrid tips instead. Though the sizes are listed as S/M/L, compared to other earphones they are more akin to M/L/XXL. In addition to the eartips, the package includes a shirt clip and a drawstring carrying pouch.
(Left->Right): MEElectronics M11P+, Sunrise Xcape rev.1, PADACS Aksent
Call me a sucker for gunmetal but the design is what drew me to the Aksent in the first place. Happily, the earphones are just as handsome in reality as they appear in photos. What the photos don’t reveal is how large the metal housings are. To illustrate, I took a photo of them next to the miniscule MEElectronics M11+ and the average-sized Sunrise Xcape. Ignoring the sheer size of the housings, the design is quite pleasant – the lines are smooth and the finish is flawless. The nozzle diameter is a familiar 5mm and paper filters protect the nozzles from earwax. At the other end, a rear vent provides increased airflow to the large dynamic driver and beefy strain reliefs protect the rubbery cable. The cable is of average thickness and terminates in a 3.5mm I-plug. Subscribing to the same more-is-better philosophy as the gargantuan housings, a large unit holding the integrated microphone, 1-button remote, and sliding analogue volume control is positioned at the y-split.
Though the housings are quite large, they weigh no more than those of the average metal-shelled earphone. The oversize foam tips are soft and compress quite easily, expanding to provide a stable seal even with shallower fitment. I have no trouble wearing the Aksent for several hours at a time but the comfort level may be lower for those with smaller-than-average ears. I do wish that the spacing between the tip set sizes were smaller, with maybe a fourth pair included to bridge the gap between the current ‘Medium’ and ‘Large’. In addition, the core-less nature of the tips makes them a bit difficult to stretch over the nozzle, though this becomes easier with practice.
The foam tips provide a good seal and isolate well but the earphones are still vented dynamics so isolation is average. I had no trouble with them on my daily commute but if I were purchasing IEMs specifically for airplane or subway use, I would probably look elsewhere. Cable noise is slightly below average and the included shirt clip helps lower it further. In addition, because the mic is integrated into the y-split, the Aksent can be worn over-the-ear much more easily than headsets with cable-mounted microphones.
Impedance: 16Ω
Sensitivity: 98dB/mW
Max power input: 30mW
Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz
Connector: 3.5mm I-plug
Testing note: all on-the-go listening was done straight out of a Cowon J3 portable player loaded with 192-320kbps mp3s. Critical listening was done using an iBasso D10 DAC/amp with stock opamps using a wider selection of lossless tracks in FLAC and WMA formats.
The Aksent is a decidedly bass-heavy earphone, with the powerful sound signature befitting the enormous housings of the earphones. The bass is very authoritative – about as impactful as but slightly more rumble-prone than that of the Fischer Audio Eterna. Low-end extension is very good – again on-par with the Eterna – and the balance of the Aksent very nearly matches its bass quantity to the true bass-monster earphones in the <$50 range – sets such as the TDK EB900, Sony XB40EX, and MEElectronics M31. The bass is full-bodied and has a bit more impact than texture. In a way, the character and quantity of the bass actually works for the Aksent since its foam tips require a bit more fiddling to form an airtight seal than the silicone tips commonly used by most other manufacturers. Even with a poor seal, the Aksent is highly unlikely to elicit any complaints of insufficient bass. With a good seal, on the other hand, the Aksent may elicit complaints of excessive bass from those who prefer a more analytical sound. However, unlike the bass-heavy sets from Sony and TDK, the bass quality of the Aksent doesn’t suffer much in favor of quantity, though it isn’t quite as textured, controlled, or detailed as that of the pricier Eterna.
Expectedly, the huge bass boost of the Aksent does bleed slightly into the midrange, warming it up and coloring the sound signature. However, the midrange is not nearly as recessed as the Eterna's, making the Aksent sound more balanced and allowing the volume to be kept lower without sacrificing midrange articulation. Generally, the mids are smooth, rich, and a little thick. Clarity and detail are decent for a bass-heavy earphone but the leaner-sounding midrange and treble of the Eterna are more technically proficient. Still, the Aksent performs very well considering its price and bass-heavy inclinations. The treble transition is extremely smooth and emphasis doesn’t drop off until well into the treble region, providing solid presence across the range. Top-end extension is decent as well. No, the Aksent doesn’t provide the crisp shimmer and sparkle of something like the ECCI PR401 or Fischer Silver Bullet, but neither of these earphones has an inline mic or remote and both cost more than the Aksent. The Aksent’s closest competitors in the headset realm are the MEElec M31P and Nuforce NE-700M, neither of which has a significant advantage in balance.
The presentation, similarly, is well-rounded and competent. The soundstage is average in size but layering is good. The huge bass has a tendency to be omnipresent in the sonic stage, but that’s true with most reasonably-priced bassy earphones. The slight thickness of note also detracts slightly from instrumental separation though it is still easily as good as with Meelec’s similarly-priced M31 and M11+ models. On the whole, the Aksent doesn’t so much wow with anything in particular but impresses more with how little of a hit it takes in overall sound quality despite producing a copious amount of bass.
The Padacs Aksent in-ear earphones offer a unique blend of style, sound, and functionality at their (very popular) price point. The Aksent is the only reasonably-priced set I can think of to provide a smartphone mic and remote as well as a built-in analogue volume control. The large gunmetal housings are similarly unique and, while probably not ideal for those with small ears, remain quite comfortable with the provided foamhybrid eartips. The sound signature of the Aksent puts it quite close to truly bass-heavy mid-level IEMs without sacrificing a whole lot in the mids and highs. While not at all revolutionary, the sound is sure to appeal to the mainstream consumer and, combined with the generally good build quality and isolation, makes for a solid mid-range headset.
Packaging & Accessories
The Aksent comes in a small yet stylish cardboard box. The blue-and-white color scheme is easy on the eyes and the soft foam inserts are friendly to the fingers. The earphones, in all of their glossy gunmetal glory, are visible through a window on the front. Interestingly, Padacs decided to forgo the usual silicone tips and included three sets of foamhybrid tips instead. Though the sizes are listed as S/M/L, compared to other earphones they are more akin to M/L/XXL. In addition to the eartips, the package includes a shirt clip and a drawstring carrying pouch.
Design & Build Quality
(Left->Right): MEElectronics M11P+, Sunrise Xcape rev.1, PADACS Aksent
Call me a sucker for gunmetal but the design is what drew me to the Aksent in the first place. Happily, the earphones are just as handsome in reality as they appear in photos. What the photos don’t reveal is how large the metal housings are. To illustrate, I took a photo of them next to the miniscule MEElectronics M11+ and the average-sized Sunrise Xcape. Ignoring the sheer size of the housings, the design is quite pleasant – the lines are smooth and the finish is flawless. The nozzle diameter is a familiar 5mm and paper filters protect the nozzles from earwax. At the other end, a rear vent provides increased airflow to the large dynamic driver and beefy strain reliefs protect the rubbery cable. The cable is of average thickness and terminates in a 3.5mm I-plug. Subscribing to the same more-is-better philosophy as the gargantuan housings, a large unit holding the integrated microphone, 1-button remote, and sliding analogue volume control is positioned at the y-split.
Fit & Comfort
Though the housings are quite large, they weigh no more than those of the average metal-shelled earphone. The oversize foam tips are soft and compress quite easily, expanding to provide a stable seal even with shallower fitment. I have no trouble wearing the Aksent for several hours at a time but the comfort level may be lower for those with smaller-than-average ears. I do wish that the spacing between the tip set sizes were smaller, with maybe a fourth pair included to bridge the gap between the current ‘Medium’ and ‘Large’. In addition, the core-less nature of the tips makes them a bit difficult to stretch over the nozzle, though this becomes easier with practice.
Isolation & Microphonics
The foam tips provide a good seal and isolate well but the earphones are still vented dynamics so isolation is average. I had no trouble with them on my daily commute but if I were purchasing IEMs specifically for airplane or subway use, I would probably look elsewhere. Cable noise is slightly below average and the included shirt clip helps lower it further. In addition, because the mic is integrated into the y-split, the Aksent can be worn over-the-ear much more easily than headsets with cable-mounted microphones.
Sound Quality
Specifications:
Impedance: 16Ω
Sensitivity: 98dB/mW
Max power input: 30mW
Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz
Connector: 3.5mm I-plug
Testing note: all on-the-go listening was done straight out of a Cowon J3 portable player loaded with 192-320kbps mp3s. Critical listening was done using an iBasso D10 DAC/amp with stock opamps using a wider selection of lossless tracks in FLAC and WMA formats.
The Aksent is a decidedly bass-heavy earphone, with the powerful sound signature befitting the enormous housings of the earphones. The bass is very authoritative – about as impactful as but slightly more rumble-prone than that of the Fischer Audio Eterna. Low-end extension is very good – again on-par with the Eterna – and the balance of the Aksent very nearly matches its bass quantity to the true bass-monster earphones in the <$50 range – sets such as the TDK EB900, Sony XB40EX, and MEElectronics M31. The bass is full-bodied and has a bit more impact than texture. In a way, the character and quantity of the bass actually works for the Aksent since its foam tips require a bit more fiddling to form an airtight seal than the silicone tips commonly used by most other manufacturers. Even with a poor seal, the Aksent is highly unlikely to elicit any complaints of insufficient bass. With a good seal, on the other hand, the Aksent may elicit complaints of excessive bass from those who prefer a more analytical sound. However, unlike the bass-heavy sets from Sony and TDK, the bass quality of the Aksent doesn’t suffer much in favor of quantity, though it isn’t quite as textured, controlled, or detailed as that of the pricier Eterna.
Expectedly, the huge bass boost of the Aksent does bleed slightly into the midrange, warming it up and coloring the sound signature. However, the midrange is not nearly as recessed as the Eterna's, making the Aksent sound more balanced and allowing the volume to be kept lower without sacrificing midrange articulation. Generally, the mids are smooth, rich, and a little thick. Clarity and detail are decent for a bass-heavy earphone but the leaner-sounding midrange and treble of the Eterna are more technically proficient. Still, the Aksent performs very well considering its price and bass-heavy inclinations. The treble transition is extremely smooth and emphasis doesn’t drop off until well into the treble region, providing solid presence across the range. Top-end extension is decent as well. No, the Aksent doesn’t provide the crisp shimmer and sparkle of something like the ECCI PR401 or Fischer Silver Bullet, but neither of these earphones has an inline mic or remote and both cost more than the Aksent. The Aksent’s closest competitors in the headset realm are the MEElec M31P and Nuforce NE-700M, neither of which has a significant advantage in balance.
The presentation, similarly, is well-rounded and competent. The soundstage is average in size but layering is good. The huge bass has a tendency to be omnipresent in the sonic stage, but that’s true with most reasonably-priced bassy earphones. The slight thickness of note also detracts slightly from instrumental separation though it is still easily as good as with Meelec’s similarly-priced M31 and M11+ models. On the whole, the Aksent doesn’t so much wow with anything in particular but impresses more with how little of a hit it takes in overall sound quality despite producing a copious amount of bass.
Conclusion
The Padacs Aksent in-ear earphones offer a unique blend of style, sound, and functionality at their (very popular) price point. The Aksent is the only reasonably-priced set I can think of to provide a smartphone mic and remote as well as a built-in analogue volume control. The large gunmetal housings are similarly unique and, while probably not ideal for those with small ears, remain quite comfortable with the provided foamhybrid eartips. The sound signature of the Aksent puts it quite close to truly bass-heavy mid-level IEMs without sacrificing a whole lot in the mids and highs. While not at all revolutionary, the sound is sure to appeal to the mainstream consumer and, combined with the generally good build quality and isolation, makes for a solid mid-range headset.
