OK so I finally got these
The New Philips SHE5105 and the new Pioneer CL-721 AKA basshead earphones.
Fight!. I have to admit I have to get used to hearing bass heavy earphones again as I have been using my current favorite the ATH-CKM77s almost all the time now a days but it hasn't stopped me from being curious enough about these 2 to not try them out. So without further ado.. These 2 are the newest earphones from Philips and Pioneer. Right off the bat I was not too happy with the Pioneer packaging. I suppose all will be well if the sound of them justified the $30 cost of them. Let me start with these Pioneers..Now I haven't burned them in too much I was eager to hear them from open box
16 Ohm, 5hz-22Khz, Max power 100mw 9mm driver unit closed design. One of my funnest listening headphones is the Pioneer HDJ500. Which has that Pioneer sound. Extended lively highs with big punchy lows that hits all them notes cleanly and is as close to having a club in your head as it gets with any type of headphones. So I was hoping these new earphones would be the earphone equivalent. Well let me just say. Unless they clear up here in a few days of burning these are gonna get the boot. Here is why. These have the muddiest sound I have heard in anything recently and when I say muddy I am talking about the entire sound spectrum.
These have a very similar sound to the CC51s but even more congested sounding in the mids over them which I thought would be an impossible task..Similar sparkly highs but not so extended. Kinda weird sounding. A thick veil, muddy and non refined sounding. I can not recommend even the die hardest of bass heads try these. The JVC HAFX1X and the Xeports 5010. Completely out does these earphones in every way. The bass is a flabby mess as well. Bloaty bass, muffled congested mids and sparkly light treble make these sound like you are listening to your music after a night of pounding tequila with your collage frat mates. Making matters worse they have driver flex from the get go. I am gonna have to complain to Amazon because of this and just return these. Another issue they make these packaging the type you can only open once. I had to tear them apart to get to the earphones. Sucks.
These say they are DJ inspired. Well I actually own some of the best DJ headphones in the world. These aren't even close. These suck in every single way. Well the only thing good on them is they have no microphonics what so ever. But I would rather deal with some microphonics with a good sounding pair of buds rather than deal with crappy sounding earphones with no microphonics. Waste of money. Yes they were. So it goes to show you. You can't take the reviews you see on Amazon seriously at all. One guy claims everything he has sound just marvelous on these. Marvelously crappy I would say. This guy has probably never heard a decent earphone in his life. Lol.!
Well you don't know untill you hear it for yourself and hear them for myself I did. These suck and I am talking like 3/10 sound wise. Terrible in every way. The SHE3580 for $10 sound like $100 earphones compared to these abominations. Verdict.. STAY AWAY. A huge thumbs down for crappy sound and that is even before the driver flex problem.These are getting the boot. Well after writing this it made me realize..These are getting the boot!!
Now for the new Philips SHE5105..
16ohm 105db max output, 20hz-20khz,10mm driver.You know what these sound like? They sound just like the SHE3580. I can take the Left side of these SHE5105s and the Right side of the SHE3580 plug them in my ears and it would be hard to tell you had 2 different earphones on each ear. Now here is how these are solid however. The build on these are very solid while all plastic looking and they are made with all plastic it looks like the flat no microphonic rubberized cord eliminates the only real issue with the SHE3580. Better build with no microphonics. These do have a bit better definition but the driver seems to be one in the same. The exact same sound signature and dynamics.
So in a way these was disappointing I was expecting more for the X5 more expensive version of the SHE3580s. On an added bonus these work awesome on my Optimus cell phone. But this is not a feature I care for..For the money. Hmm I will reserve verdict until proper burn in. So while these sound great they are too close in sound and performance to the SHE3580 for me to think they are worthy. I was expecting much refinements but ended up with a better build, no microphonics with built in mic with the similar sound as the SHE3580 is what I got.
Ok so I might have been a bit drastic on my views of these SHE5105. I think my furry over the Pioneer dumb earphones made me kinda blind to the better qualities of these new Philips phones. The mids are much more fuller on these as well as having a bit more detail in the highs over the SHE3580. So for now I will keep them on the burn and see what happens. On open box they sounded too much like the SHE3580. After a few hours of burn I can sense they are improving a bit.
They already have better balance. Interesting. Gonna go for several days of burn and see where these end up. I forgot to mention. I think these would be immediate keepers if they came with a nice case but none was included. However this is kinda cool. They have magnets in the ass end of the earphones so they stick back to back for easy storage.
Ultimately there is a lot of positives here. The sound is definitely bassy about the same quantity and quality here compared to the SHE3580, but for being a bassy phone these have a much better balance. Especially in the mids. Initially I thought they sounded very similar but upon more A/Bing the mids are much improved on these SHE5105. With a better balanced sound. Minimum microphonics, Flat thick rubberized cord that is tangle proof, an actual working mic for your cell phones..All the positives add up to a proper earphone for the money.. These are clearly the winners here. The more I listen to them the more I am liking them.. Thumbs up from me @$50 price tag. These are a solid buy. Keepers!
