Earphones Buyers Guide[1]

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Playbackbecause music matters

GUIDE TO

EarphonEs & Custom-fitin-Ear monitors

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Earphones & Custom-Fit In-Ear Monitorscontents

IntouctionHeahone Buying Ti fom Playback:

What Buye Nee to Know About Uniea-Fit Eahone What Buye Nee to Know About Cutom-Fit In-Ea Monito

On the Hoizon: New Eahone Heae Ou Way

UNIvErsAl-FIT EArpHONEs UNdEr $100

Apple In-Ear Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23

Denon AH-C551

NuForce NE-700X & NE-700M

Jays a-JAYS Three

Klipsch Image S4i

Koss KDX200 Silver

Koss KDX300 Gold

Sennheiser CX300-II

Skullcandy Smokin Buds

Skullcandy Titan

Skullcandy FMJ

Ultimate Ears UE600

Yurtopia Yurbuds

UNIvErsAl-FIT EArpHONEs $100$300Beats By Dr. Dre TourEtymotic Research hf2

Etymotic Research ER-4P

Future Sonics Atrio

HiFiMAN RE-262

Monster Cable Turbine

Monster Cable Turbine Pro Gold

Phiaton PS200

Phiaton PS210i

Phiaton PS20 NC

Phonak Audeo PFE 122

UNIvErsAl-FIT EArpHONEs $300 ANd UpKlipsch Image X10i

Monster Cable Turbine Pro Copper

Monster Cable Miles Davis Tribute

Sennheiser IE 7

Sennheiser IE 8

Shure SE535

Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10

Westone TrueFit 4

CUsTOM-FIT IN-EAr MONITOrsJH Audio JH16 PRO

Sensaphonics 2MAX

Ultimate Ears In-Ear Reference Monitors

Westone ES5

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EDITORIAL

pUBlIsHErJim Hannon

EdITOr-IN-CHIEFChris Martens

sENIOr EdITOrTom Martin

GUIDE TOEarphonEs & Custom-fit in-Ear monitors

Playbackbecause music matters

cREATIvE

CrEATIvE dIrECTOrShelley Lai

prOdUCTION MANAgErAaron Chamberlain

dEsIgNErMikki Bullock

cORpORATE OffIcE

NEXTsCrEEN, llC, INC.CHAIrMAN & CEOTom Martin

vp/grOUp pUBlIsHErJim Hannon

ADvERTIsIng

AdvErTIsINg rEpsCheryl Smith(512)-891-7775

Marvin LewisMTM Sales(718)-225-8803

Scott Constantine(609)-275-9594

To sign up or Buyers Guidesalerts, click here

Address letters to the EditorPlayback Guide,8868 Research Blvd.,

Suite 108,Austin, TX 78758 [email protected] NextScreen, LLC


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While some might regard earphones as interchangeable,

garden-variety appliances, Playbackbegs to dier. Our position

is that earphones, though admittedly small, are very signicant

pieces o audio equipment that can make a huge dierence

in terms o sound quality and comort. I youre interested in

earphones at all, we believe its worth taking some extra timeto make discerning, well-inormed choices, which is what this

Guide aims to help you do. Few other investments can bring

music lovers more enjoyment per dollar than a well-chosen set

o earphones.

This Guide ocuses primarily on Uniea-Fit Eahone(or in-ear headphones), but also touches on more exotic

and specialized Cutom-Fit In-Ea Monito. To help you getstarted, we provide two important background articles:

What Buyers Need To Know About Universa-Fit

Eahone What Buyers Need To Know About Custom-Fit In-Ear

Monito

Next, we provide a wide-ranging survey article, On the

Hoizon: New Eahone Heae Ou Way, to help you keepabreast o new developments in our industry.

Uniea-Fit Eahone are available at many dierent pricpoints and typically are sized and shaped to t a wide range o

listeners. As a rule they also come with multiple sizes or types

o eartips in order to help you achieve a good, comortable t.

This Guide covers three classes o universal-t earphones:

Modes Priced Under $100 (15 modes reviewed)

Modes Priced From $100 to $300 (11 modes reviewed)

Modes Priced Above $300 (8 modes reviewed)

Cutom-Fit In-Ea Monito eature, as their name suggestsearpieces that are custom molded to t the exact contours

o the owners ears. They also typically provide exotic, high-

perormance driver arrays and pay close attention to the ne

points o sound reproduction. In short, these are the Ferraris,

and Lamborginis o the earphone world. Our Guide takes a

close look at ou eeentatie moe.

We hope you have as much un reading this Guide as we

did preparing it, and that it takes you orward in your quest or

better sound. Enjoy.

Chris Martens,

Editor, Playback

Welcome to the Playback Guide to Earphones & Custom-Fit In-Ear Monitors . Let us

tell you right up ront that this Guide has been created by and or people who are

passionate about music and who want to make the most o their listening experiences.

InTRODUcTIOn


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HEADpHOnE BUyIng TIps fROm PlaybackWhat Buyers Need to KNoW aBout uNiversal-Fit earphoNes

Most o us are amiliar with the ubiquitous earbuds

that come with most personal digital music players

and some cell phones. You know the ones Im reerring

to: theyre small, button-shaped devices that t loosely in your

outer ear and that let you listen to music with, to be generous,

some delity, but not nearly as much as you might want.

In simple terms, this Guide is all about exploring sonically

superior alternatives to box-stock, el cheapo earbuds

alternatives that take the orm o universal-t in-ear headphones

(or earphones, or short). So, lets begin with the rst and most

important question.

What Makes Universal-Fit earphones Betterthan Garden-variety earBUds?

Answer: Better Drivers = Better Sound

Almost all universal-t earphones use drive units that are

superior to those ound in stock earbuds. Better in what

ways? Better in terms o requency response, transient speed,

resolution, detail, and dynamics.

As you get more involved in the hobby, youll discover that

some earphones use dynamic moving coil-type drivers that

can be thought o as miniaturized versions o the dynamic

drivers ound in most high-perormance loudspeakers.Other earphones, typically higher-end models, use balanced

armature-type drivers that are thought to be capable o even

higher levels o sonic purity, detail, and resolution.

Finally, some o the more expensive high-end models use

multiple driver arrays, with dedicated bass drivers (wooers),

midrange drivers, and high-requency drivers (tweeters)

again, driver arrays that are much like the ones you might nd in

high-perormance loudspeakers.

Answer: Better Sound Isolation = Less Noise, More

Music

One huge (and we do mean HUGE) dierence between high

perormance earphones and garden-variety earbuds is thatearphones are invariably equipped with specialized eartips

that are designed to orm a comortable but airtight seal in the

Chris Martens

Wetone TueFit 4 i a thee-way, ou-ieuniea ft eahone




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wearers ear canals. A good airtight seal gives three essential

benets whose signicance cannot be overstated.

Noie Ioation: A good airtight seal helps block out atremendous amount o environmental noise, so that you canreally hear what the music sound likeswithout background

noise polluting the experience. (Hint: Even seemingly quiet

environments are noisier than you might think.).

Bette die peomance: The airtight seal enables theearphones drivers to couple with your eardrums in a precise

way, oster dramatic improvements in perceived requency

responseespecially at the bass end o the audio spectrum.

A peonaize Fit: Eartips can be made o a variety omaterials (sot rubber, silicone, hybrid silicone-gel materials,

or compressible oam), each o which has dierent properties

in terms o noise isolation and wearer comort. The objective,

always, is to get an airtight seal, but without putting too much(or too little) pressure on your ear canals.

Makers o universal-t earphones recognize that one size

doesnt t all. For this reason, universal t earphones oten

come with eartips that are oered in a wide range o shapes and

sizes, allowing users to seek out a customized, personalized t

(which is where the term universal-t really comes into play).

The point is that universal-t models give users options,

where the goal is to achieve an airtight seal (necessary or

optimal sound) and a t that remains comortable even or

longer listening sessions.

What neW developMents shoUld i knoW

aBoUt?Answer: Combo Earphone/Headsets Are Becoming

Increasingly Popular

As more and more listeners choose high-perormance, music-

capable cellphones as their personal music players o choice,

earphone makers have responded by oer combination

earphone/headsets. At a bare minimum, these provide small,

inline microphone/remote modules with simple, basic call

send/end switches. More elaborate models provide additional

remote control unctions, with some in particular including the

Apple-standard 3-button remote control unctions.

Answer: Models with High-End Multi-Driver Arrays Are

Increasingly Common

Once the almost exclusive province o costly custom-t in-ear

monitors, exotic multi-driver arrays are now more commonly seen

in todays best universal-t earphones. The upshot: increasingly

sophisticated sound and muscular dynamic capabilities.

Answer: Some Universal-Fit Earphones Now Oer

Options or Slip-On Custom-Molded Eartips

In an eort to match some o the benets o custom-t in-ear

monitors, some makers o universal-t earphones now oer

programs where owners can order custom-molded, custom-t,

slip-on eartips to use in place o standard universal-t eartips.

Naturally, this process means listeners must rst have

earmold impressions taken (see What Buyers Need to Know

About Custom-Fit In-Ear Monitors or details), and then wait o

their custom eartips to be manuactured. The benets include

superior sound isolation and a one-o-a-kind t that cant be

beat (at least not with garden variety universal-t eartips).

Combo eahone/heaet eatue tiny ininemic/emote moue ike the one hown hee.

Shures SE425 ts three tiny baanced-armatureie inie each ea eaiece.





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What QUalities shoUld i look For in

Universal-Fit earphones?

Answer: Accurate, Neutral Tonal Balance

Some people argue that the requency response curves o

earphones are like favors o ice cream: you just nd one

you like and then stick with it. Playback, however, takes a

very dierent position. We believe that, all other things being

equal, you are better o with earphones that oer neutral tonalbalance, where bass, mids, and highs are smoothly and evenly

balancedwith no one requency region given too much or

too little emphasis. In this way, the earphone becomes like a

perectly clear pane o glass, giving you an honest, uncolored

view o the music exactly as the musician/record producer

intended it to be heard.

The trouble with the favor-o-the-month-club approach

to tonal balance is that whatever sonic coloration you choose

to embrace will be applied to all types o music, whether the

coloration complements the music or not.

Example: We know o some listeners who claim to preer

earphones that oer a bass heavy sound. While this choice

might work or some types o music, imagine what happensi the listener decides to explore, say, music that highlights

violins or soprano voices. Suddenly, the once-preerred bass

heavy sound seems very, verywrong (there is no such thing as

a bass-heavy soprano)and totally inappropriate. The same

could be said or any other type o pronounced sonic coloration.

In short, we believe you should be able to choose your own

music as you see t, without your earphones dictating termsas to the types o material they will or wont reproduce. This

is why we advocate choosing headphones that give a more

neutral and unbiased presentation, and that can thereore do

all things well.

Answer: Clarity, Detail,

Defnition, and Transient

Speed

Many years ago the legendary

audio journalist Harry Pearson

(ounder o our sister magazine,

The Absolute Sound) developed

a language or describingthe perormance o audio

components, wherein

Mr. Pearson oten drew apt comparisons between the sound o

components and photographic images.

Just as the eye can tell the dierence between the indistinct,

low-contrast images produced by cheap, low-quality cameras

and the sharp, richly detailed images produced by high-

resolution cameras, so too the ear can discern the dierence

between the murky sounds produced by low-quality earbuds

and the crystal-clear, well dened sounds produced by high-

quality earphones.

We encourage you to listen closely to transient sounds and

the beginnings and endings o notes. Are the edges o soundsclearly dened, yet unexaggerated? Can you hear subtle

reverberations as sounds decay? Is the impact o sounds

presented in a clear, lielike way, or does the sound seem

congested and imprecise?

Also think careully about the textures, details and denition

o the sounds you are hearingalmost as you would analyze a

photographic image. Is everything sharply ocused, as it shouldbe? Are sonic textures clearly presented?

For example, do your earphones enable you to tell whether

the stringed instrument you are listening to is a violin, a viola,

or perhaps even a cello? Can your earphones dierentiate

the sound o, say, an English horn rom that o an oboe or a

clarinet? How about revealing the dierences between acoustic

and electronic drum kit, or the signature sound o a Fender

Stratocaster electric guitar versus a Gibson Les Paul? The

more clearly your earphones resolve subtle textural and tonal

dierences between instruments, the easier it is to answer such

questions.

Answer: Large and Small-Scale Dynamics

Ideally, high perormance earphones should be able to

reproduce sot sounds very clearly, yet also able to handle

large scale dynamic swells (or example, a crescendo in a large

orchestral work) without distortion or distress. But there is

also more to musical dynamics than simply being able to play

very loudly or sotly or to deliver what some audiophiles callmacrodynamics.

We also seek earphones that can capture extremely subtle

variations in dynamic emphasis. Examples might include

moments where a singer gives just a bit more energy to a

particular lyric within a song, or to a particular word within a





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phrase, in order to give it greater emphasis and

weight. Similarly, an instrumentalist might vary

the attack or a given note or rhythmic pattern,

or apply vibrato to control the way a given note

sustains (or not). When it comes to dynamics,

small variations (or what some audiophiles

call microdynamics) can be every bit as

important as large ones.

We encourage you, wherever possible,

to seek out earphones that are dynamically

expressive and lielikethis in contrast to

those that soundhomogenized, compressed

and comparatively lieless.

Answer: Comort, Ease o Use, and A

Good, Airtight Seal

Wed love to be able to tell you all universal-t

earphones are equally comortable and able

to achieve a good airtight t in most wearers

ears, but this isnt really the case.

The act is that there are very signicantdierences in size and shape between

earpieces (that is, the physical housings or the

earphones drivers and other circuitry) and

especiallybetween various types o eartips.

Some earpiece designs seem easy or a broad

range o listeners to t properly, while others

are comparatively nicky and tricky to t.

Similarly, some earphones come with a broad

array o eartips to choose rom (maximizing the

likelihood that one set or another will be right

or you), while others oer only very limited

choices that may or may not work well.

Understand this: i the earphone does not

achieve a good, airtight seal in your ear canals,

then it will never sound good. Period. Getting

a good seal is not just a nice idea; it is

essential i you care about sound quality.

Also remember this: i an earpiece seems

dicult to handle or to insert properly, or

i it simply eel weird once it is inserted,then odds are that you either wont use the

earphones much in the rst place or will nd

them uncomortable in the long run. Go or

comort, always.

Answer: Good Value or Money

In a perect universe, there would be a direct

correlation between earphone pricing andperormance, but in practice this isnt always

the case. In act, in terms o pure enjoyment per

dollar, some o todays best budget and mid-

priced models arguably oer listeners maximum

bang or their bucks.

Does this mean premium-priced models

are a rip-o? No, not at all. Its just that sonic

improvements become increasingly expenisve

to achieve the urther up the perormance

ladder you seek to climb (this is true in virtually

all areas o high-end audio). A wise audiophile

once said that getting 85% o the way toward

your sonic goals is typically pretty inexpensive;

its the last 15% o the curve where costs really

start to mount up.

This said, we observe that in every price

bracket there are certain models that seem to

give listeners a little something extra or their

money, and we naturally encourage you to

seek those products out.

GOOD

FitBAD

Fit


$$$


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I youve watched many live music events on television,

youve probably seen musicians wearing custom-t in-ear

monitors as they perorm on stage. This makes perect

sense, since custom-t monitors were rst developed with

the needs o working musicians in mind, where the goal was

to let musicians monitor the subtlest aspects o their own

perormances and at sensible volume levels. These days,

however, custom-t monitors are no longer just or musicians;

discerning music lovers o all stripes have discovered their

unique benets.

In simple terms, custom-t in-ear monitors are specialized,

high-perormance in-ear headphones whose drivers are

mounted within custom-molded earpieces that t the exact

contours o the listeners ears. Unlike universal-t earphones,where the idea is or one product to accommodate the needs

o many users, custom-t monitors are designed to t one and

only one person: you.

Manuacturers o custom-t monitors rightly regard them as

fagship products, so that they typically equip their monitoring

products with the highest perormance driver arrays they know

how to make. It is also becoming increasingly common to see

monitor makers oer ranges o custom-t models, with some

geared primarily or onstage use, and others intended more

or listening to recorded music (though there certainly can be

overlap between these two camps).

Onstage models sometimes provide deliberately skewed

requency response curves shaped with an eye toward cuttingthrough the onstage din o live perormances, while models

geared or listening to recorded music or or studio monitoring

applications typically provide more accurate and neutral voicing

(all o the custom-t monitors reviewed in this Guide make an

eort to provide accurate sound).

But heres the bottom line: Custom-t in-ear monitors

represent the Ferraris and Lamborghinis o the in-ear

headphone universe. In-ear sound just doesnt get much better

than this.

CUstoM-Fit in-ear Monitors: Whats theappeal?

Answer: State-o-the-Art In-Ear Sound

I youve read our article entitled What Buyers Need to Know

About Universal-Fit Earphones, please realize that custom-t

monitors oer many o the same benets, but taken up to the

next level o perormance.

In discussing universal-t models we said better drivers

= better sound, and that is denitely the case with custom-t models. While the overwhelming majority o universal-t

earphones use just one driver per earpiece, it is common to

see custom-t in-ear monitor maker equip their products with

sophisticated and surprisingly elaborate multi-driver arrays.

For example, thesimplesto the custom-t monitors reviewed

in this Guide uses a two-way, two-driver array. Other reviewed

monitors include one with a three-way/three-driver array,

another with a three-way/ve-driver array, and yet another

withget thisa three-way/eight-driverarray. As you can

imagine, custom-t monitors are true marvels o miniaturization

We dont mean to suggest by these comments that more

drivers automatically equate with better sound, but rather

we want to give you some idea o the extreme lengths to which

monitor makers will go in pursuit o sonic excellence. Driver

specialization, however, is only part o the sonic equation,since custom-t monitors also provide incredibly quiet li stening

environments that let you hear all the perormance those exotic

driver arrays have to oer.

Answer: A More Detailed and Revealing Sound

Bear in mind that todays best custom-t models have evolved

out o a requirement or listening devices suciently revealing

or even nicky musicians to reliably use them to judge the

ner points o their own live perormances (something good

musicians do not take lightly). Perhaps or this reason, custom

t monitors have traditionally worked to provide a more detailed

and nuanced sound than even the most expensive universal-t

earphones can provide.It helps, too, that custom-t monitors are generally regarded

as proessional-grade products where the emphasis is on

rising up to meet extremely high perormance standards, not

on limiting construction costs in hopes o meeting a low price

point. As a result, designers enjoy the reedom to speciy

Chris Martens

JH Auio JH 16 prO ue a thee-way/eiht-ie aaythe mot eaboate aay oee inany cuent ouction in-ea monito

HEADpHOnE BUyIng TIps fROm PlaybackWhat Buyers Need to KNoW aBout Custom-Fit iN-ear moNitors


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exotic driver arrays and other high-quality parts that would in

all likelihood prove prohibitively expensive or use in consumer

grade earphones. But happily the sonic ends justiy the means,

so that todays best custom-t monitors oer truly exceptional

levels o accuracy and overall sound quality.

Answer: State-o-the-Art Noise Isolation

When listeners get their rst taste o custom-t in-ear monitors,

one common reaction is or them to say, I cantbelieve how

quiet these things are, quickly ollowed by the comment that,

now I can really hear everything going on in the music. And its

true. Playbacks experience has been that custom-t monitors

provide markedly quieter listening environments than even the

best universal-t earphones doso that, perhaps or the rst

time, it becomes easible to listen to music even in quite noisy

environments (e.g., the interiors o airliners in fight, etc.).

But whats interesting is that the sonic benets dont stop

there, because even when used in relatively quiet environments

custom-t monitors reduce the noise foor urther still. Thus, it

becomes easy to hear extremely low-level sonic details in music

that might otherwise be washed away by, say, the barely audible

whir o an AC an or the whisper o car tires rom the street

outside. With custom-t monitors, listeners quickly grasp that

superior noise isolation is a proound sonic gitone that keeps

on giving.

Answer: The Most Personalized Fit Possible

Nothing else quite matches the t and eel o custom-t in-

ear monitors, since their earpieces closely match the shapes

o earmold impressions taken directly rom your ears. Note,

though, that this does not mean all custom-t monitors eel

the same to wear. Each manuacturer uses subtly dierent

techniques or transerring earmold impressions to the nal set

o earpieces, and many specialize in using specic materials

(or combinations o materials) or crating their earpieces. As

a result, you will see variations in t and eel in monitors rom

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dierent manuactures. But even so, the norm is or custom-

t monitors to achieve better noise isolation and a more

comortable t than even the best universal-t models can

provide.

But certain points apply in common to all custom-t monitors

we have tested. First, unlike universal-t earphones that use

various sizes o eartips to achieve an airtight seal in the wearers

ear canals, custom-t monitors provide earpieces that typically

ll the entire lower third (or hal) o the wearers outer ears and

that extend a moderate distance into the ear canals. The result

is a t that gently makes contact with the whole earnot a

t that relies on a tight seal within the ear canal alone. While

the physical sensations o wearing custom-t monitors can

admittedly seem unusual at rst (because we are unaccustomed

to having a signicant portion o our ears lled with noise-

blocking materials), they are by no means unpleasant. Ianything, Playbackhas ound that the longer you wear custom-

t monitors, the more comortable they eel.

This said, we should point out that there is a bit o a learning

curve to climb when rst inserting custom-t monitors in your

ears (the insertion process initially can seem a little awkward).

But ater a ew trial -and-error attempts, the procedure becomes

second nature, with veteran users reporting that their monitors

seem almost to snap into place. The result is much like having

the proverbial cone o silence descend, leaving listeners to

savor their music ree rom outside distractions.

What neW developMents shoUld i knoW

aBoUtAnswer: Reasonably Priced Entry-Level Custom-Fit

Monitors Are Here

Well aware that the cost o entry to the custom-t world can be

prohibitive or some listeners, makers o custom-t monitors

have begun to produce entry-level custom-t models that

areget thisdesigned to underprice many o todays top-tier

universal-t earphones

Answer: Pushing the Perormance Envelope with DSP-

Controlled Active Crossovers and Amplifers

I you study some o the top-tier custom-t monitors reviewed in

this Guide you might reasonably conclude that theres really not

much urther they can go in terms o driver sophistication and

miniaturization. What, then, is the next rontier?

JH Audio gives us what may be a glimpse o the uture with

its new JH-3A DSP-controlled active three-way crossover and

tri-amplication module, which will be oered as a retrot or

existing top-tier JH Audio monitors. There is, however, one

catch; in-order to use the JH-3A module, the monitors must

be rewired and have their current passive crossover networks

removed, so that once modied or use w ith the JH-3A theres

no going back. But or some the promised perormance

benets, which include essentially perect phase and requency

response, will be well worth the costs.

What QUalities shoUld i look For in CUstoMFit Monitors?

Answer: The same sonic qualities apply or custom-ft

monitors as or universal-ft earphonesbut with higher

performance standards applied.

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Answer: A Great Fit with Superior Noise Isolation

Custom-t in-ear monitors are expensive, luxury products that

are essentially hand-made just or you. Thereore you can and

should expect:

A sueb Fit: I you are not 100% satised with the t o yourmonitors, contact the manuacturer to request an adjustment.

Most reputable monitor makers are willing to rework the

earpieces o your monitors as necessary, to help correct any

problems with t that you may encounter.

Cutomization Otion: Many monitor makers oer customappearance options or their monitors (though the materials

some manuacturers use do not allow this). Options can

include custom colors, graphics, andthe skys the limit.

He with gettin Eamo Imeion Taken: Monitor

makes can reer you to qualied local service providers whocan take your earmold impressions.

peonaize seice: Most good monitor makers will behappy to provide advice regarding headphone ampliers and

other accessories you may require

CUstoM-Fit Monitor FaQs

Question: Is there any way to try custom-ft monitors

beore making a purchase decision?

Answer: Some manuacturers have developed special demo

only universal-t versions o their custom-t monitors, which

you can try out at trade shows. This is, o course, an imperectprocess since you cant know exactly how a given model will

sound until you hear it with your own custom-t earpieces. Even

so, demo-only models give you a good idea o the perormance

capabilities o the monitors driver array.

12

3

4

5

6


payback pubiheJim Hannonhain eamoimeion taken.




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WHAT BUyERs nEED TO KnOW ABOUTCustom-Fit iN-ear moNitors

Question: How can I arrange to meet

monitor manuacturers?

Answer: I you wish to meet with monitor

manuacturers ace to ace, Playbackstrongly

encourages you to attend one o the popular

Can-Jam events produced by our riends

at www.head-.org. Can-Jam events are

veritable gold mines o inormation or listeners

interested in headphones.

Question: Whats involved in having

earmold

impressions taken?

Anwe: The process varies somewhat rommanuacturer to manuacturer, but a generaloutline is as ollows:

Step 1 (see photo, previous page): The

service provider examines your ears and, i

necessary, recommends a thorough cleaning

prior to taking the earmold impressions.

Then, the service provider inserts small,

tight tting elt or oam plugs in your ear

canals. The plugs typically have long threads

attached, which will be used later on to help

release the nished earmold impressions

rom your ears.Step 2 (see photo, previous page): Some,

but not all, service providers will ask you to

bite down on specialized bite-block whose

purpose is to hold your jaws open slightly as

the earmold impression is taken.


service provider prepares mold compound,

which is a thick, viscous material with

roughly the consistency o sot putty.


service provider careully injects mold

compound into your ear canals and outer

ears.

Step 5 (see photo, previous page):

The service provider will ask you to wait

quietly or about ve minutes as the mold

compound cures. Once cured, the mold

compound solidies into a rm, but not

rock-hard, material with about the same

consistency o oam rubber that has a bit o

give.Step 6 (see photo, previous page): The

service provider pulls gently on the release

strings (as mention in Step 1, above) and

careully removes the nished earmold

impressions rom your ears. Finally, the

service providers does a careul inspeciton

to make sure your ear canals and outer ears

are clear.

That a thee i to it...

Question: What do earmold impressions

cost?

Anwe: Prices range rom about $50 (or bothears) on up. Some manuacturers will let you

use the do-it-yoursel earmold impression kits

now available, require that impressions be

taken by proessional service providers.

Note: One benet o meeting with monitor

manuacturers at trade shows is that some

make o point o having audiologists present to

take your earmold impressions. This service is

oten oered ree o charge provided you order

your new monitors at the show.

Question: Does it hurt to have earmold

impressions taken?

Answer: No, though you may eel a bit o

pressure when your service provider installs

the blocking plugs at the beginning o the

process.

Question: Do custom-ft in-ear monitorsreally provide better sound isolation than

todays best universal-ft earphones?

Answer: Yes, and by a not subtle margin.

Question: Do custom-ft in-ear monitors

provide noticeably better sound quality

than todays best universal-ft earphones?

Answer: Todays nest universal-t models

are getting close to parity in terms o

driver quality, though we would still give the

perormance nod to the driver arrays ound thebest custom-t monitors.

Bear in mind, however, that dierences in

sound quality youll hear derive partly rom

superior driver technologies, but also rom

the superior noise isolation that custom-t

earpieces provide. Its the powerul, synergisti

combination o better driver arraysplus

superior earpiece technology that really sets

custom-t monitors apart.




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on the horizon: new earphones & in-ear monitors headed our wayChris Martens

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23www.audio-technica.com

Tye: Noie-Cancein Uniea-Fit Eahone(reviewed in this Guide)

The Audio-Technica in-ear ATH-ANC23 QuietPoint

active noise-cancelling (ANC) earphone blocks up

to 90% o external noise and eatures both silicone

eartips (sizes S, M, and L), plus Comply memory

oam eartips that orm to the shape o the ear canal

or superior comort and audio quality.

Designed or clear, natural sound, the ATH-ANC23

(MSRP: $99.95; MAP: $79.95) has a handy in-line

volume control, and its audio unctions in passive

mode even i the batteries run out. The ATH-ANC23

is compatible with the Apple iPod, iPhone and

iPod touch, and comes with a carrying bag and

accessories. (Available in March 2011).

Beyerdynamic DTX 101iEwww.beyerdynamic-usa.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneThe new DTX 101iE in-ear headphone combines

superb sound quality and elegant design with

excellent ambient noise attenuation or a spectacular

listening experience. Do not be ooled by its compact

design; the neodymium magnet-equipped acoustic

drivers deliver a striking audio perormance. The DTX

101iE is a rened design that eatures lightweight

metal earpiece housings and it is supplied with asot carrying case and three dierent sizes o eartips.

In addition, the DTX 101iE comes in three dierent

colors, black, red, and silver. The DTX 101iE is

currently available direct rom www.beyerdynamic-usa

com or through authorized dealers. (MSRP: $89.00).

T

o help readers stay abreast o the rapidly evolving earphone/in-ear monitor

marketplace, Playbackinvited a group o 25 (!) manuacturers to describe

upcoming or recently released models we think youll nd ascinating. There

are options here to t every budget and to address most any in-ear application

scenario you might envision. Enjoy.




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on the horizon: new earphones & in-ear monitors headed our way

Denon AH-C560Rwww.denon.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit Eahone/HeaetDenons AH-C560R in-ear headphones eature a special

ergonomic design that isolates the ear more steadily and

comortably, and also decreases mechanical v ibration or

the purest audio experience. To ensure perect t or every

wearer, they not only come with three sizes o silicone

eartips, but also with special sot-oam eartips or added

comort and luxury. In addition, a specially designed three-

button remote control/microphone provides easy access to

both voice and music control, and is compatible with Apple

Voice Control, or Apple iPhone3GS, iPod Touch 2G, and

the latest generation Shufe. The AH-C560Rs can also

control the iPad. (MSRP: $99.99).

Etymotic Research h-3www.etymoticresearch.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit Eahone/HeaetEtymotic Research is the company amous or

inventing in-ear technology. The rms new $179 h-3

headset+earphone is priced within reach or consumers

who care about sound quality, and its choice o three sot-

touch colors add a dash o style.

The h3 headset oers best-in-class accuracy eaturing

precision-craftedACCUDrivers,best-in-classnoise

isolation (up to 42 dB), and best-in-class comort with theaffordableandconvenientCUSTOMFITearmoldprogram

The h3 headset eatures a 3-button control pod with

a close-proximity in-line microphone that allows iPhone/

iPad/iPod users to pause their music, engage in phone

conversations, adjust volume and select music tracks.




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Future Sonics Atrio SEwww.futuresonics.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneA recent study by the Journal o the America Medical

Association (JAMA) revealed that one in ve children ages

12-19 are suering hearing loss. People using earbuds

with lower sound quality attempt to drown out background

noise and enhance audio clarity by increasing the volume t

dangerous levels. Future Sonics natural noise isolation and

quality sound at low volumes extends listening pleasure

and greatly reduces hearing atigue. Future Sonics Atrio

Special Edition earphones provide Bigger Sound at Lower

Volume, creating dynamic & powerul sound or both

recording artists and consumers. Currently available at

Airport Wireless stores. (MSRP: $229).

HiFiMAN RE242www.head-direct.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneRE242 in-ear earphones are HiFiMANs entry level earphon

product. The RE242 will become available within the next

a ew weeks, with a projected MSRP o between $20 and

$40. Based on powerul but extremely small 6mm drivers,

the RE242 will also be one o the most compact earphones

on the market, ensuring a superb t or most people.

A cellphone-compatible version o the RE242 is alsocoming soon, and it will eature an inline mic/controller and

will come with a universal 3.5mm to 2.5mm cellphone plug

adapter. This mean the headest version o the RE242 will

work not only with iPhones, but also with Nokia, Samsung

and other cellphones that use 2.5mm sockets.




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Jays a-JAYS Fourwww.jays.se

Tye: Uniea-Fit Eahone/HeaetWhy do earphones always seem to be the least

appreciated component o any portable media system?

The Swedish company Jays aims to bring this to an

end by designing the rst ever music-ocused headset

or iPhone, the a-JAYS Four. It oers sleek, simplistic

Scandiavian designs and provides fat, tangle-ree cables

The Four is the perect accessory or any iPhone, iPad

or iPod thanks to its Apple-compatible controls, plus a

high quality microphone that helps you get the message

through. The award winning speaker elements are

tweaked or voice without compromising music sound

quality in any way. (MSRP: $69.99).

JH Audio JH16 Pro & JH-3A DSPcrossover/ampliferwww.jhaudio.com

Tye: Cutom-Fit In-Ea Monito with dsp-ContoeCrossover/Ampier (JH16 Pro reviewed in this Guide)

JH Audios JH16 Pro oers better clarity, comort, and

sound quality than any other in-ear audio monitor. The

only available 8-driver IEM, the JH16 Pro integrates

perectly with the JH-3A 3-way Active DSP Crossover

Amplier, producing perectly tuned time, phase, and

audio signatures. Built or 1/8 analog or mini USB inputs,

the device oers audio pros and perormers maximumportability. It eatures double dual lows, single dual mid,

and single dual high drivers, and a 10Hz to 20 kHZ

requency response range. The JH16 Pro is available now,

with pricing beginning at $1,149.00. The JH-3A will becom

available in late 2011.




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JVC HA-FX1Xwww.jvc.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneThe JVC HA-FX1Xs are in-ear headphones in JVCs new

Xtreme Xplosives series. The headphones eature a 10mm

diaphragm with neodymium magnet and a bass port orstrong low requency perormance. An angled design

enhances comort, and three sizes o silicone earpieces are

included to ensure a proper t and to provide comort and

the best possible sound isolation or any size ear.

The HA-FX1X uses a 2.0mm-thick oxygen ree copper

cable and a gold-plated 3.5mm stereo plug. A carrying

pouch is included.

The JVC HA-FX1X in-ear headphones are available now

or $29.95.

Klipsch Image S5i Ruggedwww.klipsch.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit Eahone/HeaetThe Image S5i Rugged is much more than just a

headphone. Built to last, this headphone eatures a

moisture-resistant three-button remote and mic or taking

calls and controlling music on iPods, iPhones or iPads.

Designed to handle whatever lie may throw at it, the S5i

Rugged eatures durable cabling and a rubberized nishor added protection. Thanks to Klipschs patented oval

ear tips, listeners experience superior noise isolation and

comortable, contoured long-term t. The Image S5i Rugge

is currently available or purchase and retails or $129.99.




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Koss IL2001www.koss.com

Type: Universal-Fit Earphone

Koss presents perfect harmony in both form and function.Clever interlocking earbud design allows for easy storage

when on the go and performance-tuned 9mm driversdeliver outstanding audio. The IL2001s highly polishedaluminum frame is surrounded by a flexible, soft touchmaterial that acts as a soundproofing layer to blockoutside distractions and keep you focused on the crystalclear highs and crisp lows. High performance technologyserves music in this patent-pending design. The IL2001 isscheduled for a summer 2011 launchwith alternate mic-equipped versions planned. Sign-up at Koss.com to learnmore and receive special offers. (Projected MSRP: $49.99)

Monster Miles Davis Trumpetwww.monster.com

Type: Universal-Fit Earphone

Miles Davis was known for his unswerving perfectionism,and Monsters new Miles Davis Truet headphones aredesigned to reflect that, along with inimitable Miles style.Precision-tuned to reproduce the subtle nuances andacoustic tones of jazz, they feature the worlds smallestdrivers, plus a new design that allows the earpiece torest more comfortably and deeper within the ear canal,enabling a perfect fit and superior isolation. Included is

Monster Musics specially remixed and remastered versionof Sketches of Spain in High Definition Stereo (HDS) andHigh Definition Surround Sound. Available in April 2011.(MSRP: $349).




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NuForce NE-700X and NE-700M

www.nuforce.com

Types: Universal-Fit Earphone (700X) and Earphone/

Headset (700M) (reviewed in this Guide)

NuForces enviable reputation or high-perormance

audio at real-world prices continues in fne orm withthe NE-700X Earphones. Sharing the limelight with their

widely praised NE-7M Earphones, the NE-700X eatures

a precision-machined aluminum chassis that minimizes

resonance to the vanishing point. Titanium-coated 8mm

drivers provide sweet, extended highs, a warm and

silky-smooth midrange, authoritative bass, and a lielike

soundstage that ar exceeds what one might expect o

$65 earphones. At $79, the NE-700M version includes a

hands-ree microphone with a pickup button or answerin

phone calls and operating your music devices playback

and ast-orward eatures.

Phiaton PS 20 NC

www.phiaton.com

Type: Noise-Cancelling Universal-Fit Earphone

(Reviewed in this Guide)

Phiatons PS 20 NC earphones provide a totally immersive

personal listening experience. Part o the Primal Series

line, these lightweight and stylish Hal In-Ear earphones

eature the companys exclusive Noise Blocker noise

cancellation technologyblocking 95% o outside noise

ideal or noisy airplanes, trains, or subway cars. The PS

20 NC solves a problem common with conventional noise-canceling headphonesthe interruption o music when the

battery runs out o power. Thanks to Phiatons EverPlay

eature, users can continue listening even i battery power

should run out. The PS 20 NC is available in glossy black

and glossy white versions.



i i i


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Phonak Audo Perect Fit 111/112and 121/122www.audeoworld.com

Type: Universa-Fit Earphones (111/112) and

Earphone/HHeadsets (121/122)(Audo PFE

122 reviewed in this Guide)World-renowned Swiss hearing aid company Phonak draw

on many years o experience in producing quality hearing

instruments to create the Audo Perect Fit Earphones

(111 and 112) and earphone/headsets (121 and 122). The

sound-isolating earphones oer: top-notch sound quality

without sacricing the health o your ears, replaceable

audio lters to adjust the requency response and sound,

unrivaled t with its over-the-ear style and unique ear

guides, and a choice o Comply oam or silicone tips

delivering hours o comort. They are available in black

and white and with ($179)/without ($159) a microphone

(compatible with mobile devices).

Sennheiser IE8iwww.sennheiser.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit Eahone/HeaetSennheisers IE8i is designed exclusively or use with

Apples iPhone, iPod and iPad produc ts. The revolutionar

IE 8is audio perormance warrants a standing ovation.

Rediscover your music collection and tailor it to your

aural tastes with a tunable bass requency response. A

convenient volume adjuster/3-button control with mic let

you manage calls and playlists at the touch o a button.The customized sonic signature is complemented by

a unique t thanks to the included ear adapters. This

t isolates the user rom environmental noise, oering

passive noise attenuation and the best sound experience

(MSRP: $449.95).



th h i h & i it h d d


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Sensaphonics 3MAXwww.sensaphonics.com

Tye: Cutom-Fit In-Ea MonitoThe worlds rst triple-driver custom earphones with

the superior t o sot-gel silicone earpieces and a eld-

replaceable cable, the 3MAX oers the ull-spectrum sonicdetail that Sensaphonics is known or, but with enhanced

low-requency impact. We match our proprietary twin-drive

bass system to a precision high-requency driver in a single

crossover, high sensitivity design. Silicone construction

provides exceptional comort, maintains a ull seal, and

yields unexcelled broadband isolation o up to 37 dB.

Used by Usher, Jon Bon Jovi, and ZZ Top. Pelican case,

carry pouch, cleaning tool, shirt clip and -inch adapter

included; custom colors available. (Price: $850 direct).

Shure SE425www.shure.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneDesigned or the demanding audio specications o live

perormances, Shures SE425 Sound Isolating Earphones

are engineered to provide reerence quality audio. Dual

High-Denition MicroDrivers, which eature dedicated

miniature tweeters and wooers in each earpiece, deliver

an incredibly accurate and balanced listening experience.

A detachable Kevlar reinorced cable with ormable wires

enables easy replacement and s secure, comortablet. The earphones come with sound isolating sleeves in

multiple sizes that prevent outside noise rom interering

with your listening experience, providing up to 37 dB o

isolation. The SE425 is available now rom select retailers

or $299.99.



th h i : h & i it h d d


25/145


Skullcandy 50/50www.skullcandy.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit Eahone/HeaetSkullcandy knows its not just about what earphone is

in your pocket these days, but also about accessory

dierentiation and bringing alive the soundtrack to yourdaily revolution. The 50/50s beastly 11mm drivers deliver

ballistic bass and a rich sound, while composite earpiece

housings with aluminum ront sides and polycarbonate

back sides make or superior t and nish.

Skullcandys MIC3 inline mic/remote module provides

answer/end, mic, volume and track control unctionality on

MacBook, iMac, iPod, iPad, and all iPhones. Convenient.

The earphones also come with a mesh case and three size

o silicone gel eartips. (MSRP: $49.95).

Sony MDR-EX600www.sony.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneDesigned to meet high-quality audio demands without

breaking the bank, Sonys MDR-EX600 earphones eature

noise isolation technology or excellent attenuation o

ambient noise. The MDR-EX600 earphones provide users

with a secure and comortable t, reproducing studio-

quality sound as a result o their unique multiple diaphragmdesign. The unique multiple diaphragm design also

prevents unwanted resonances and ensures both high

audio resolution and distortion-ree sound reproduction.

Sonys MDR-EX600 earbuds will be available this spring

or about $200.



on the horizon: new earphones & in ear monitors headed our way


26/145


Thinksound ts02www.thinksound.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneThinksound began with a simple goal; to create incredible

sounding headphones with the smallest eco-ootprint

possible.The ts02 faunts an 8mm driver and reduced housing

size to provide better ergonomics, stellar acoustics, and a

wide sound-stage. The ts02 also eatures PVC-ree cables

and a hand crated, sustainable wood housing or accurate

sound reproduction. The result is a warm, crisp sounding

headphone that is lightweight and comortable to wear. It

is available now and oered in a beautiul Cherry/Silver or

a rich Chocolate/Black nish or $79.99. Each thinksound

product comes with a one-year warranty.

Ultimate Ear In-Ear Reerence Monitorswww.ultimateears.com

Tye: Cutom-Fit In-Ea Monito(reviewed in this Guide)

Ultimate Ears teamed with Capitol Records Studios

to design the rst custom in-ear monitors or use by

proessional producers and audio engineers. The Ultimate

Ears In-Ear Reerence Monitors provide reerence-quality,

fat requency response or the ultimate in accuracy when

recording, mixing, mastering, or discerning music listening

These revolutionary in-ear reerence monitors oer -32 dBo noise isolation to eliminate noise and variations in room

acoustics, so users are always in the sweet spot. The

proprietary design ts three drivers plus passive crossover

components in each o its acoustically tuned earpieces.

Available at www.ultimateears.com (MSRP: $999).





27/145


Urbanears Bagiswww.urbanears.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit EahoneThe Bagis, the newest member o the Urbanears amily,

oers a compact version o the acclaimed Urbanears

headphone experience. The Bagis eatures smart earplugconstruction or direct sound and ecient noise reduction

and a stylish rubber housing. Its cord is made rom abric

and TPE to eliminate distortions caused by riction. By

clever design, the let and right earpieces can be snapped

together, enabling users to carry the earphones around the

necks when not in use. The Bagis headphones are availabl

now or $30 in eight bright colorscerise, navy, orange,

red, lavender, grass, white and black.

V-Moda Vibratowww.v-moda.com

Tye: Uniea-Fit Eahone/HeaetDesigned or music lovers with style, the Vibrato is sculpte

rom zinc alloy and eatures next-generation hybrid

silicone ear-tips. Using unique patented die-casting metal

technology that enables consistent sound and unparalleled

durability, the Vibrato has a unique geometric design

usually only seen on ne jewelry or watches. Crated

rom premium metals and abrics, the Vibrato has a solid

eel, unlike most plastic or aluminum headphones that

eel ragile. The Vibrato gives you a sleek design and anincredible sound experience. A three-button remote and

mic make the Vibrato deal or mobile liestyles.

Available at: Apple Stores, Apple.com, shop.v-moda.com.

(MSRP: $129.99).





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Westone AC1www.westone.com

Tye: Cutom-Fit In-Ea MonitoThe AC1 breaks new ground in perormance, quality,

and value. Utilizing a single balanced armature driver

technology with a new take on the signature Westonesound, the AC1 reproduces the live perormance with

superior accuracy. The clear, ull acrylic earpieces

deliver the comort, t, and perormance expectedexpect

rom Westone. Each unit eatures removable Westone

EPIC Pro signal cables and provides 25dB o ambient

noise reduction. Handcrated in the same lab as

the revered Westone Elite Series, the AC1 oers an

unmatched package or worship teams, emerging

artists, and personal listeners looking to upgrade to

their rst custom-t product. (MSRP: $299).




29/145

Playback

univErsal-fitEarphonEsundEr $100SponSored by


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30/145

universal-fit earphones under $100
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Over time, Playbackhas reviewed over

thirty models o in-ear headphones

and headsets andjudging by

inbound emails and phone callsits a product

category that holds enduring interest or our

readers. Every now and again, though, we

get review requests or specic models o

earphones that readers eel are worthy but that

have not yet appeared in our pages. One such

product that has been mentioned in several

reader emails is a model rom a rm you might

not necessarily think o when shopping or

high-perormance headphones: namely, Apple

(as in the guys who built your iPod). Now I

realize that there is a common misconception

that Apple builds only those inexpensive

and relatively low-perormance earbuds that

come as standard accessories with all iPods

and iPhones. But a not-so-well-known act is

that Apple oers a much higher perormance

solution, called simply the Apple In-Ear

Headphones, or those willing to invest $79 in

superior sound quality.

Interestingly, Apples marketing tagline or

the product reads, Turns out you havent

heard everythinga tacit admission that

stock iPod/iPhone earbuds leave much to be

desired. Happily, Apples In-Ear Headphones

APPLE IN-EAR

HEADPHONESChris Martens

universal fit earphones under $100go to:universal-fit earphones $100 - $300 | universal-fit earphones $300 and up | custom-fit in-ear monitors

oeriewConie thi heaet i:you appreciate headphones that oer

generally smooth and evenly balanced

sound that oers a good measure o

clarity and sonic subtlety. Apples in-ear

headphones sound particular revealing

through the broad middle o the midrange,

where most music really happens. Forowners o iPhones or newer generation

iPods, these phones oer a slick remote/

mic module that adds lots o welcome

unctions.

look eewhee i:you avor headphones that oer powerul

and deeply extended bass. Relative

to competing models, Apples In-Ear

Headphones oer superior balance and

smoothness, but can sound somewhat

subdued in the low end (or actually at both

requency extremes, i you listen careully).

Eartips may eel a little too sti or long-

term comort.

are designed to cater to audiophile tastes, and

so, somewhat surprisingly at this price point,

the phones use a sophisticated balanced

dual armature design (meaning each earpiece

provides separate, miniature wooer and

tweeter drivers). O course no Apple productwould be complete without oering a ew

clever, unctional twists, and Apples top-

tier headphones are no exception. They

incorporate a tiny, in-line remote/mic module

that enables the phones to unction as a

headset when used with 2G/3G iPhones and

that provides limited remote control unctions

when used with newer generation iPods. O

course our top priorities (and probably yours,

too) are sound quality and wearer comort, and

its on the basis o those two parameters that

well evaluate Apples top-shel model to see

how it compares to competing models in itsprice class.

soniC CharaCter

The greatest strength o the Apple In-Ear

Headphone is its generally smooth and even

tonal balance, especially through the breadth

o the midrange. In act, compared to some

other headphones in this price class, the

Apples tend to sound just slightly midrange-

orward, in part because their low bass and,

to a lesser extent, extreme highs are slightly

recessed. While the Apples bass is well

dened and oers good pitch denition, it

doesnt convey the sense o rich, powerul,

oundational low-end response that some

aordable headphones, such as the NuForce

NE-700X or Koss KDX 300 Gold, can provide.

I your sonic rame o reerence is the stock

earbuds that came with your iPod, then you

may well nd the superior resolution o Apple

In-Ear Headphones revelatory. Suddenly, you

be able to access and enjoy low-level musical

textures and details you may not have heardbeore. This is true partly because the Apple





32/145

In-Ear Headphones oer very good measures

o natural resolution and denition. However,

their apparent clarity may also have to do with

the act that there is narrow band o midrange

requencies that the Apples tend to accentuate

in an extremely subtle way. The result is a

heightened sense o clarity, but one thatsometimes comes at the expense o traces o

that midrange-orward quality I mentioned

above.

But let me put my comments in perspective.

Many o the Apples like-priced competitors

exhibit relatively pronounced colorations such

as overly ripe bass or noticeably hot treble

response, whereas the Apples or the most

part sound smooth and unfappable because

their sonic shortcomings are relatively minor

and are mostly sins o omission.

A comparison between the Apple In-Ear

Headphones and the almost identically pricedNuForce NE-8 headphones I reviewed in

Playbackissue 19 may prove useul. Under

ideal listening conditions, the NuForces oer

even greater resolution than the Apples do

and perhaps more perormance upside in an

absolute sense. But rankly, the NuForces are

more dicult to t properly and as a result

have a tendency to sound bass-shy and/

or overly bright. By comparison, the Apples

are much easier to adjust or a proper t and

oer smoother overall tonal balance, meaning

thator day-to-day usethey typically give

better (or at least more consistent) results.

One small tip: because the Apple In-Ear

Headphones come with comparatively sti

eartips, you may need to spend some extra

time adjusting them to achieve the best in-ear

seal and hence optimal bass perormance. Try

gently rotating or repositioning them in your

ear canals i you dont at rst get an airtight t.

MUsiCal eXaMple

In many, ways the Apple In-Ear Headphones

shine brightest on well-recorded vocal

material, such as the jazzy, blues-infected

track Black Coee rom Claire Martins Too

Darn Hot! [Linn]. Martins expressive voice is

always under perect control, yet deeply soulul

and richly infected so that you really hear (and

eel) her blues as she sings Im eeling mighty

lonesome/havent slept a wink/I walk the

foor rom 9 to 4/and in between I drink/black

coee The Apples do a masterul job o

highlighting each syllable and turn o phrase,

letting you enjoy the beginnings and endings

o each word, and showing you how Martin

varies her timing to set up the words black

coee or extra emphasis, just as a master

storyteller might do. The headphones also

give a clean, crisp rendering o the blues piano

and, later on, the Hammond organ that provide

accompaniment or Martins vocal lines.

But i Black Coee shows the Apples

strengths, it also exposes their weaknesses.

I have played this track many times through

various loudspeakers and headphones, and

I have come to expect the deep, powerul,

rolling electric bass line and the luminousride cymbal accent notes that give the song

its living, breathing pulse. But through the

Apple headphones that bass line, though still

quite listenable, loses some o its expected

propulsive power, while the ride cymbal notes

sound clear but are stripped o their signature

treble shimmer and luminous glow. My point

is that Apples In-Ear headphones are good

enough to tantalize you with their perormance

though they arent quite capable o taking you

to the sonic mountaintop.

CoMFort FaCtor/aCCessoriesApples in-ear headphones are very light and

well shaped or purposes o making small

physical adjustments to ne-tune t and

thereore sound quality. The phones come

with three sizes o silicone rubber ear-tips

that are intended to help users achieve a

comortable and airtight t.

One problem I noted, however, is that

Apples eartips are noticeably thicker

and stier than those supplied with many

competing in-ear headphones. As a result,

you may have the sensation, as I did, that the

Apple eartips are not quite compliant enough

to achieve both a good airtight seal and all-da

comort at the same time (ideally, you would

want the eartips to fex to t your ear canals

not the other way around).

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The Apples click-to-answer/mic module is

very cleverly designed and works beautiully

or taking or making calls when using the

headphones with your iPhone. An added

plus, though, is that the same module also

doubles as a limited unctionality remote

control or use with iPod Nano (4th generation),iPod Touch (2nd generation), or iPod Classic

(120GB model). The module essentially has

three control suraces: a raised pair o + and

- buttons, plus a slightly indented center

button. When used in conjunction with the

iPods above, the controls operate as ollows:

Presscenterbutton:Playorpauseasong(or

video)

Presscenterbuttontwicequickly:Advance

to the next song (or chapter)

Presscenterbuttonthreetimesquickly:Go

to the previous song (or chapter)

Pressthe+buttononce:increasevolume

incrementallyPressandholdthe+button:increase

volume rapidly

Pressthe-buttononce:decreasevolume

incrementally

Pressandholdthe-button:decrease

volume rapidly

The Apple in-ear headphones come with

a two-piece, clamshell-type carry case that

doubles as a signal-cable winding spool.

My one concern, though, is that the stylish

case is made o injection molded plastic and

thereore may not be rugged enough to stand

up to daily use (my ear would be that the case

could easily crack). Other accessories includea spare pair o mesh caps (which act as dirt

guards or the earpieces), plus a small, and

again very stylish case or carrying the two

pairs o eartips not currently installed on the

headphones.

BottoM line

The Apple In-Ear Headphones oer good value

or money and a nice blend o sonic virtues that

centeras they shouldon the headphones

adroit handling o midrange requencies.

Listeners who are, pardon the pun, plugged-in

to Apples design ethos will also appreciate theadded control/communications unctions made

possible by the headphones cool remote/

mic module. I there is any drawback here, it

might be that the Apples are good enough to

whet your appetite to step up to the next level,

seeking those ew extra elements o sonic

power and renement that phones in the mid-

$100 range have to oer.

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specs/pricinAe In-Ea Heahone

Acceoie:

Three pairs of round, single-angerubber eartips (S, M, L) Injection molded carry case Eartip storage case Spare pair of mesh capsWeiht: 10.2 gramssenitiity: 109dBpice: $79

ApplE(408) 996-1010(800) MY-APPLEwww.apple.com

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comfort/fit

sensitivity

value

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34/145



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gets worse. You have train clatter, jet engine

noise, and people chattering.

With in-ear headphones, some background

noise reduction can be had via a seal between

the headphone and the ear canal. But you

can also purchase noise-cancelling in-ear

headphones, with the case in point being thesubject o this review: the Audio-Technica ATH-

ANC23s with QuietPoint technology ($99.95).

prodUCt ConCeptWhile relying on a seal to block external

sounds is simple, the extra eect o electronic

noise cancellation should allow greater noise

reduction and could also help tune the noise

reduction to particularly dicult requencies

(e.g., the 125 Hz drone o an aircrat engine).

Audio-Technica claims that its QuietPoint

technology, as used in the ATH-ANC23,attenuates up to 90% o the external noise

rom the environment. It uses battery-powered

circuitry in a small box that is attached in

the middle o the headphones signal cable

to do the noise cancelling. (For those o you

permanently on the go, it may be helpul to

know that the signal processing circuitry is setup so that the headphones continue to work

in passive mode even i the battery runs out o

power.).

The ATH-ANC23 is designed or use with

mobile devices. The 1 meter cord is quite short

and is really optimized or use with a media

player that is carried with you or perhaps

attached to your clothing. The headphones

impedance is 32 ohms, which makes these

Audio-Technicas appropriate or use with

iPhones and the like. The claimed sensitivity is

105 dB, but with no input level specied (this is

a pretty common but unhelpul practice, since

it more or less renders the sensitivity rating

meaningless). However testing showed that

an iPhone 4 could easily drive the ANC23 to

satisying volume levels and beyond.

ease oF UseThe active-plus-passive noise cancelling

approach allows part o the value proposition

to aim at ease o use.

First, by relieving the earphones o the

need to block out all external sounds through

tight-tting eartips, the ANC23s dont have

to have quite as tight a seal to the ear canal.

This should allow the designer to create a

more comortable earphone, at least when

compared with those models that create

pressure points (a common problem). Id say

that the comort level o the ANC23 is above

average. As Ive mentioned beore, my in-ear

specs/pricinAuio-Technica ATH-ANC23 Noie-Cancein Eahone

Acceoie: 1 pair of Comply foam eartips, 3 pairs of rubber ear tips (sizes S, M,and L), carrying pouch, airline adapterFequency eone: 20 Hz 20kHzWeiht: 0.9 ouncessenitiity: 105 dB (input levels notspecied)Imeance: 32 ohmspowe: single AAA battery (provided)Cabe: 1.3mWaanty: Not speciedpice: $99.95 MSRP, $79.95 MAP

AUdIO-TECHNICA U.s., INC.(330) 686-2600

www.audio-technica.com

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frequency extremes

clarity

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comfort/fit

sensitivity

value

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http://www.avguide.com/http://redir.nextscreen.com/e2e3c1c4eb518fc0c83e80b6b5c2e40chttp://www.avguide.com/


36/145

comort reerence is the Klipsch Image X10i,

and Id say the ANC23s are about 80% as

comortable. However, the oval shape o the

Klipsch earpiece still distributes pressure more

evenly, while the Audio-Technicas seem to

achieve a stronger seal, at least with my ears.

Note that Audio-Technica supplies severalsizes and types o ear tips, so your mileage

may vary.

Loose tting models like the Klipsch in-ear

models are easier to insert. Thats partly due

to the nature o the seal and partly because

active noise cancelling headphones like the

Audio-Technicas tend to be bigger and thus

are slightly more challenging to align. The

ANC23s arent particularly hard to insert, but

theyre not the easiest either.

There is a secondary benet o the electronic

noise cancellation approach. One is that the

bass perormance o these headphones should

be somewhat less dependent on the exact

seal one achieves when inserting the earpieces

into the ear canal. (I discussed this same

point when I reviewed the Phiaton PS 20 NCin-ear noise cancelling phones.).The Audio-

Technicas do a better job o demonstrating this

aspect o active noise cancellation than the

Phiatons did, and as well see in a moment, the

ANC23 has pretty potent bass.

I ound the noise reduction rom the active

circuitry to be impressive. At least or midrange

and high requency noise, the ANC23 gives the

eect o wiping out the background noise and

replacing it with very low-level hiss. You switch

on the noise cancelling circuitry, and bang,

the noise is almost gone. With more impulsive

sounds like tapping, some sound still comes

through, so the circuitry isnt as eective i your

problem is talkative oce mates.

I did nd that the ANC23 has one minor

noise irritant. When the cables rub on yourshirt, the sound is (mechanically) transmitted

through the cables to the earpieces, and

then to your ears. I wish the cables were a

little more fexible to avoid this. I should also

mention that the cables are rather short or

desktop/tray table use. Note, too, that the

volume control markings embossed in the

black plastic case or the noise reduction

circuitry are dicult to read.

soniC CharaCter

I tested the ANC23s using an iPhone 4 loaded

with tracks ripped rom CDs in Apple Lossless

ormat, driving the Audio-Technicas both

directly rom the iPhone and via a NuForce

Icon DAC/amplier.

The ANC23s are really quite likeable. Theysound impressively good, especially given

their reasonable price, though their sound isn

strictly aimed at maximum accuracy. But most

people would like a small amount o tonal

tweaking in their headphones, and I think the

ANC23s tweaks have broad appeal.

A key point that many will view avorably is

that the ANC23s have pretty solid bass. Id

rate them as slightly elevated in the mid-bass,

with the note that this elevation in level doesn

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previous page NeXT pagTaBLe oF CoNTeNTs



37/145

seem excessive or particularly intrusive. In act,

I think many people would view a headphone

with less bass as sounding wrong. Thats

because listeners arent necessarily looking orheadphones that sound just like live music,

but rather looking or headphones that, on an

intuitive level, sound natural and well balanced.

Lots o olks also like slightly elevated bass on

headphones to help compensate or the lack

o bass air (that is, the sense o large bass

pressure waves pressing against our chest

cavities, and so on), which necessarily gets

lost when listening through headphones.

From around 200 Hz to 5kHz the ANC23s

roll o very slightly. This is another well-

consider choice, I suspect, since some people

preer a rich and not at all strident sound inthe midrange. People who love instrumental

and vocal dynamics, however, might nd the

ANC23s a little reserved or dull.

Above this band the Audio-Technicas seem

to oer fat response, though this means

highs may sound a bit subdued, since treble

response is geared to blend smoothly with

the headphones upper midrange, which is

somewhat reduced in level to begin wi th. The

result, however, is a smooth sound. Cymbals

and other high requency instruments are

presented with admirable detail, though you

may sense, as I did, that mid and upper treble

requencies could do to have a bit more

energy. But experienced listeners may eel that

such extra energy carries a price (in terms o

potential upper midrange/treble glare)a price

the ANC23s avoid extracting.

Because o their active noise reduction

circuitry, the ANC23s are also above average

it terms o resolving low-level details. This isimportant or a sense the acoustic environment

as well as or articulating the particular beauty

o certain instruments.

I think the requency response tailoring

o the ANC23s will work extremely well as

a package or a large group o listeners.

However, I think the one place listeners might

perceive that the ANC23s come up short is

in midrange renement. Some headphones,

including the Phiaton PS 20s I tested recently,

just give the subliminal sense that they have

lower distortion. The good news here is that

the Audio-Technicas midrange issues aresubliminal sins o omission and not really

ront and center.

That leaves us with the question o value. Its

your money, but at $99 the Audio-Technicas

are likely to be a good deal or most buyers,

assuming you like their sonic prole. The

sound is warm and musical and the noise

cancelling circuitry is genuinely useul. You

could save a little, but youd have to skip

noise cancelling and or many applications the

benets o an extra $20 or $40 spent on active

noise cancellation will reap noticeable rewards.

MUsiCal eXaMplesOn Faun Fables Hibernation Tales rom Light

o a Vaster Dark[Drag City], the bass drum has

excellent depth and weight with the ANC23,

though it might be missing a slight bit o upper

bass denition.

On Eliza Gilkysons Borderline rom

Paradise Hotel[Red House], the vocal is clearbut lacks the last bit o air and resonance

youd like to hear to make it seem like shes

singing to a real person in a real place.

On Bettye LaVettes rendition or Dont

Let Me Be Misunderstood rom her

Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook

[Anti], the sound is warm and smooth, but

maybe slightly too smooth with the result that

it sounds a bit dynamically constricted.

BottoM lineThe Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23s oer a

remarkably solid, smooth and musical soundwith excellent comort or an aordable noise-

cancelling in-ear headphone.

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Denons evergreen AH-C551 earphone

was introduced several years ago (an

eternity in this market) yet it remains

in production or the simple reason that it

sounds good. The AH-C551s eature machinedaluminum housings that incorporate what

Denon terms an Acoustic Optimizer port said

to improve sound quality by adjusting the

sound pressure balance in ront o and behind

the diaphragm.

soniC CharaCter

Like som o the more costly Denon models we

have sampled, the AH-C551 won our avor by

being a well-rounded perormer that oered

tons o sonic renement per dollar. Here as

in Denons more expensive models youll nd

eortless midrange clarity, plenty o sonicnuance, and clean, clear delicate highs. Two

dierences we noted, however, are that the

C551s arerelative to more costly Denons and

to other phones in their classever so slightly

bass-shy and also relatively low in sensitivity

(meaning youll need to

Earphones Buyers Guide[1]

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