Sennheiser

Sennheiser CX400

Specs.
Single dynamic driver
Frequency range: 17 Hz – 21 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 113dB/mW
Price: can be found for <£20
Colours: Silver/black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal with a modular cable, 60cm/24in and an 100cm/40in extension, that has a straight jack on the short cable and a 90 degree jack on the extension. The cable is quite soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it. The included accessories are, three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L), a pouch, the extension cable, a shirtclip and a cable manager. A generous amount of accessories in all, but I would like to see a pair of dual flanged sleeves included as well.

Comfort and fit.
The CX400’s are light and small. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Unfortunately I could not get a good seal with any of the provided sleeves, this review was made with a pair of dual flanged silicone sleeves which make them fit perfectly and give great isolation from ambient noise. There are some microphonic noises, but they can be reduced by running the cable over the ears and fixing it with the clip.

Sound quality.
Being a dynamic IEM the CX400’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a powerful and clear sound. The bass is tight and punchy without interfering on the rest of the soundspectrum, the mids are slightly in the background but still fully audible, the highs are crisp and more forward, and the soundstage will not disappoint. The detail in the sound reproduction is very good considering the CX400’s are a low cost dynamic IEM. The CX400’s are really enjoyable once a good seal is accomplished. Thanks to their powerful dynamic sound, you feel the music as well as hear it. Their sound sig makes them very well suited for guitar and bass driven music. One thing worth noting is that due to the low impedance and relatively high sensitivity they can be very loud

To sum up.
The good: powerful and detailed sound (with dual flanged sleeves), build quality.
The bad: the provided sleeves do not fit my ears, lack of dual flanged sleeves.

Verdict: for the price they offer a very good overall sound and a feeling of being ”built to last”. With dual flanges and the prices they can be found for, I would highly recommend them.

Sennheiser IE6

Specs.
Single dynamic driver
Frequency range: 10 Hz – 18 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 115 dB/mW
Price: 1200 DKK
Colours: Silver/black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is excellent. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is excellent, thick yet very flexible and very light. The length of the cable is 120cm and it has a 90 degree jack at the end. It can be noted that the cable is the same on the entire IE series. The included accessories are, six pairs of silicone sleeves (single and double flange, S, M, L size), a pair of earhooks, a cleaning tool, a hardcase with built in cable and accessory management and a shirtclip. A generous amount of accessories.


Comfort and fit.
The IE6’s are light and average sized. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear. The vast amount of included sleeves ensures that anyone can find a perfect fit. Once they are fitted, they are very comfortable and offer a fairly good isolation. Microphonic noises are nearly non-existent, thanks to the excellent cable and the clip.

Sound quality.
Being a dynamic IEM the IE6’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a powerful and clear sound, with a tight and punchy bass, mids that are slightly in the background but still fully audible, and highs that are crisp and clear, and finally a soundstage that will not disappoint. The IE6 sounds like the little brother to the IE8, a little less of everything, yet very good in their own right. They have a “V” shaped frequency curve, which works very well for rock and generally bass driven music. Even if the detail is very good, the IE6’s are not suited for monitoring and critical listening, but they are very, very fun and involving to listen to.

To sum up.
The good: powerful and fun sound, build quality, excellent cable.
The bad: isolation could be better.

Verdict: a fun and overall good sound, excellent build quality plus a generous accessory pack. Recommended.

Sennheiser IE7

Specs.
Single dynamic driver
Frequency range: 17 Hz – 21 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 113dB/mW
Price: 1640 DKK
Colours: Black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is excellent. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is excellent, thick yet very flexible and very light. The length of the cable is 120cm and it has a 90 degree jack at the end. The included accessories are, six pairs of silicone sleeves (single and double flange, S, M, L size), two pairs of foam sleeves (S, L), a pair of earhooks, a cleaning tool, a hardcase with built in cable and accessory management and a shirtclip. A generous amount of accessories in all.

Comfort and fit.
The IE7’s are light and slightly bigger than average. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear and thanks to the generous amount of sleeves everyone should be able to get a perfect fit. They are very comfortable and fairly well isolating, and thanks to the excellent cable and the clip there are “no” microphonic noises.

Sound quality.
Being a dynamic IEM the IE7’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a more neutral sound than the rest of the IE series. The bass is tight and punchy without interfering on the rest of the soundspectrum, the mids are smooth and more upfront, the highs are crisp and expansive, and the soundstage is very big and well layered. The detail in the sound reproduction is very good and the overall focus on the mids make them well suited for acoustic and folk music, but they can of course be used for all sorts of music.

To sum up.
The good: neutral and detailed sound, build quality, excellent cable.
The bad: isolation could be better.

Verdict: the IE7’s offer a great and neutral sound quality, excellent build quality and a generous accessory pack. Highly recommended.

Sennheiser IE8

Specs.
Single dynamic driver, with bass adjustment
Frequency range: 10 Hz – 20 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 125 dB/mW
Price: 2460 DKK
Colours: Black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is excellent. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the detachable cable is the best I have seen in any IEM, it is the same cable as the rest of the IE series, only this one is detachable. The length of the cable is 120cm and it has a 90 degree jack at the end. The included accessories are, eight pairs of silicone sleeves (single and double flange, S, M, L size, double half-flange, S, L size), two pairs of foam sleeves (S, L size), a pair of earhooks, a cleaning/bass adjust tool, a hardcase with built in cable and accessory management as well as a built in silica gel compartment and a shirtclip. A very generous amount of accessories.

Comfort and fit.
The IE8’s are light even if they are fairly large. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear. They are very comfortable to use for hours and hours, but due to the size they may not suit everyone as perfectly. The isolation is not the strongest point, even if it is acceptable for normal use. Microphonic noise is nearly non-existent due to the excellent cable and the option of fixing it with the clip.

Sound quality.
Being a dynamic IEM the IE8’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a sound that can rival full size headphones, with bass that is simply stunning and a soundstage that is larger than life. The bass response can be tailored to each and everyones personal taste, with the bass adjustment, the mids are very smooth and detailed, even if they are ever so slightly in the background, highs are very expansive and clear as a mountain lake, without ever getting harsh. The soundstage is by far the largest and best layered I have ever heard in an IEM. The strongest points of the IE8’s is the stunningly detailed bass reproduction and the soundstage, that does not mean that the rest is not also very good, but the bass and soundstage are class leading.
I could go on and on about the qualities of the IE8’s, but no amount of rambling on my part could describe these in a accurate and fair way, they must be experienced in person. After I have published this review I will lock myself in, and truly enjoy my music collection with these absolutely stunning sounding IE8’s, see you all in a few months time.

To sum up.
The good: excellent sound quality with a sound signature of full sized headphones, bass adjustment, build quality, excellent user exchangeable cable, plenty of accessories.

The bad: size may be a concern for some, isolation could be better.

Verdict: the IE8’s are rightly seen as one of the absolutely best IEM’s on the market. Very highly recommended !!!

Shure

Shure SE102=

During the week I have been ears on with Shure’s new entry level in ear monitor (IEM), the SE102, with an RRP of £75, but they can be found for less than £40 when shopping around.

The build quality and materials used are first class.
The cabling is modular with a length of 45cm/18in and a 91cm/36in extension, the cable itself is quite a bit thicker than the average IEM cable and feels more durable. Included as accessories you get three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) to help you achieve a good fit, as well as a cloth pouch for storage and protection. However, there are no foam sleeves included and you can not use the sleeves from other SE models since they are not compatible, and finally there is no cleaning tool or airline adapter included.

The SE102’s are comfortable.
Once you get used to them they are comfortable to wear, but a little word of caution may be in place, the way they are meant to be worn may not suit everyone. To get the best out of them they need to be worn in the so called professional way, with the cable over the ear and quite deep inside the ear canal. Wearing them like this does have adavantages though, the ambient isolation is very good and the microphonic noise from the cable is negligible, in other words perfect for commuting or exercising. The excellent isolation makes them a good choice for frequent flyers or even for listening to your favourite Pink Floyd album while hooning on a trackday (if you prefer that to the soundtrack of the engine).

The SE102’s use a dynamic micro driver (speaker), as opposed to balanced armatures.
There are a few things that differ between dynamic and balanced drivers, dynamic drivers need several hours of use before they are settled in for the best sound performance, balanced armatures on the other hand are ready to perform their best from the very start. Generally a dynamic driver can produce the full sound spectrum better than a single balanced armature driver, but the trade off is that they lose some clarity and detail compared to balanced armatures.

Having said that, the SE102’s do have a very nice and full low end, while still maintaining a decent and surprisingly detailed mid and high range. The dynamic sound brings a warmth to the music that really makes rock come alive, my all time favourites Comfortably Numb and Hotel California both sound brilliant on these. The drums have a nice and fast attack to them and the guitars sound crisp and well presented.
The soundstage expands rather nicely both in width and height, there is no claustrophobic feeling of a concert inside your head. Listening critically, the instrument separation could be better, but they do not sound muddy or crowded for normal listening. For being entry level IEM’s they really do offer outstanding sound quality.

To sum up.
The good points are the excellent ambient noise isolation, involving and fun overall sound quality, solid build quality, comfort and very competitive price.
Not really that much to not like, but it would have been nice to include foam sleeves, a cleaning tool and a airline adapter.



Would I recommend these IEM’s? For the asking price, yes definitely.
If you are looking for new IEM’s to replace the bundled ones or just want a cheaper end upgrade, at less than £40 the SE102 are , I dare say, unbeatable.

Shure SE110

The former entry level offering from Shure, the SE110, is a balanced armature driver IEM. RRP is set at £86, but they can be found for around half of that if shopping around. You even get to choose between an all black or a black&white model.

The quality and materials used are absolutely top notch.
The cable is a modular type (45cm/18in + 91cm/36in) and has a very rugged feeling to it. The included accessories are three pairs of silicone sleeves and three pairs of foam sleeves (S, M, L), a cleaning tool and a handy zippered soft case for storage and protection, no airline adapter is included.

The SE110’s are even more comfortable to my ears than the SE102’s, especially with the foam sleeves. Like all Shure’s they should be worn in the professional way, which may not be liked by everyone. The isolation is very good and the cable microphonics are almost un-noticeable, perfect for sports or commuting.

Being a balanced armature IEM, the sound is clearer and more detailed than the dynamic driver SE102, but the low end does not offer the same experience and involvement. The soundstage expands nicely and the instrument separation is quite good. Turning up the volume on Comfortably Numb and Hotel California makes for a detailed and airy sound, I can quite clearly separate all the instruments and place them within the soundstage, but I can’t help feeling that the low end sounds a little too thin, which is a shame on the otherwise nice and detailed sound. They do not really deliver the punch strongly enough for rock, but they do reproduce folk and acoustic music rather nicely.

To sum up.
Plus for the excellent ambient noise isolation, the clear overall sound quality, a very solid build quality and they are extremely comfortable to wear even for longer periods.
The minuses are mainly for the lack of low end and uninvolving presentation of bass driven music.



Would I recommend these IEM’s? Well, that depends, for the price they are good and a big step up from the bundled ones, but to be fair the SE102 are even better.
If you prefer a clean and detailed sound, then the SE110 may be a good choice for you.

Shure SE535

Specs.
Three balanced armature drivers (dual woofers, single tweeter) with a passive crossover
Frequency range: 18Hz – 19KHz
Impedance: 36Ohm
Sensitivity: 119dB/mW
Colour: Bronze or Clear
RRP: £469.99


Build quality and accessories.
The build quality and design is absolutely top class! The housing itself is made of high quality plastic, and has an extremely good attention to detail and fabulous design/looks. The cable has a memory wire at the housing, the cable is also detachable and can freely swivel around the housing, the length of the cable is 155cm and it has a 90 degree jack at the end. The cable is the most rugged looking and feeling cable I have seen in any IEM, it is very thick with a plastic feeling to it, still it is surprisingly light and easy in use. This is my new favourite cable of all IEM’s I have tried. Excellent work Shure!
The included accessories are, eight pairs of different sleeves (S, M and L sized foamhybrid and silicone sleeves, a pair each of yellow foam sleeves and triple flanged silicone sleeves), an airline adapter, a 6.3mm adapter, a volume control unit, a cleaning tool and a semi-hard zippered case. I would say that is a very generous amount of extras.
Shure also sell a separate microphone cable for the SE535’s, which turns them into a headset to use with Iphones etc.




Comfort and fit.
The SE535’s are quite large but light and one of the most comfortable IEM’s I have ever used. They are to be worn with the memory cable running over the ear, you can simply bend the part of the cable that runs over the ear into any shape you like and it stays there. The swivel mechanism of the cable also helps greatly for comfort. Isolation from ambient noise is very good, the cable does not suffer from microphonic noise.

Sound quality.
As a triple balanced armature IEM the SE535’s do not really need to burn in.
The SE535’s do not offer that WOW! feeling the very moment you let music through them, no, they slowly let you get accustomed to them and when you decide to stop listening, you think, just one more song, these sound pretty good. Next thing you know, several hours have passed and you’re completely absorbed into the music and only a willpower as strong as a supercharged V8 can force you to stop listening to them. Said in less words, they sound absolutely and positively fantastic!
The SE535’s are not the most revealing IEM’s out there, but they get the balance between musical enjoyment and detail retrieval spot on. You can distinguish the plucks of a guitar, the breathing of the singer and reverbs of drums, just not too much or too clearly to distract from the music.
The low end is very tight and controlled, the slightly forward mids are class leading, highs are natural and slightly in the background, soundstage is larger than average with very nice separation and imaging. My test tracks sound just like I would be in the studio or on stage with the guys, so very natural and musical, you really “get in” with the music and forget about everything else.
The SE535’s are the most balanced IEM’s I have heard, this means that they suit any music and can be EQ’d to everyone's taste, if that would be necessary.
I just recently wrote this exact same phrase, “these are the best IEM’s I have ever heard”, but already now the time has come to re-evaluate.
The Shure SE535’s are the best IEM’s I have heard and as an added bonus they are also the most beautiful universal IEM’s I have seen. Excellent work Shure!



To sum up.
The good: balanced and fantastic sound, beautifully designed, very comfortable, great isolation, excellent (detachable) cable, generous accessory pack, microphone cable available.
The bad: they are rather expensive.

Verdict: Definitely! My new personal favourite IEM.

Soundmagic

SoundMAGIC EH10

Specs.
Dynamic driver earbud style
Frequency range: 15 Hz – 22 KHz
Resistance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 112 dB/mW
Price: $38
Colours: Black, Pink, White

Build quality and accessories.
The 120cm/47in cable is soft even if it is more to the plasticky side, and it has a 90 degree jack at the end. The housing is made of high quality plastic, the earhooks are rubber coated metal wire and they can be bent into shape as well as adjusted in size. The accessory pack consists of a pouch, a cable winder and a cloth clip. The EH10’s look and feel very classy.

Comfort and fit.
The EH10’s are light and comfortable, but due to the design they may not suit people with specs. They “hang on” to your ears with the earhooks, while the earphone itself swivels to cover your ear canal, the earphone itself has a rubber sleeve attached to it, to direct the sound better inside the ear canal. The EH10’s are very easy and unobtrusive to use, and thanks to the excellent earhooks they stay put even during the most demanding moves. There are some microphonic noises, but they can be avoided by using the clip provided. Obviously they do not offer isolation in any bigger meaning, this is not necessarily bad though.

Sound quality.
The EH10’s should not and can not be compared to IEM’s, as they do not seal the ear canal and do not offer isolation as such, nor do they offer the same clarity and detail.
Having said that the EH10’s do sound very nice. They present a warm dynamic sound with a nice detail and a soundstage with real space. The low end is meaty and controlled, the mids are lush and detailed, the highs are a little in the background but still fully audible. My favourite tracks sound well presented with a warm and smooth sound, fun is a word that springs to mind while listening to the EH10’s.

To sum up.
The good, fun and dynamic sound, comfort, exclusive looks.
The bad, the design (earhooks) may not suit users with specs.



I do recommend the SoundMAGIC EH10’s, for their price they offer great sound as well as exclusive looks.

SoundMAGIC PL50

Many have probably never heard of SoundMAGIC, or their very well regarded earphones. The PL50 is the Chinese manufacturers latest offering, and their first balanced armature IEM. The RRP is set to $55 or around £30-35.

Build quality deserves thumbs up.
They look and feel very nice and solid. The cable is 120cm/47in, and has a 90 degree angle on the jack. There accessories included are, XS/S/M/L silicone sleeves and S/M/L foam sleeves to help you find a perfect seal, earhooks for the cable and a zippered soft case. No cleaning tool, but due to the design one isn’t really needed. A generous and well thought out accessory pack.

Comfort and fit.
They are very light and small, very easy to fit and they are the most comfortable IEM’s I have stumbled upon to date. They are to be worn professionally, over the ear, but rest assured that the PL50’s are very comfortable even if you do not like this way to wear IEM’s. The earhooks can up the comfort for some users, but I find them to be near perfect without and the hooks do make the fitting of them a bit more tricky. Isolation from ambient noise is quite good, but not really among the best isolating IEM’s, even if the foam sleeves do add more isolation than the silicone ones. For much improved isolation you can use Shure PA758 grey flex sleeves and enjoy your music in near complete silence.

Ok, what about the sound?
As a single balanced armature IEM the PL50’s could sound a little thin and lacking in energy. The truth is that SoundMAGIC has made a full sounding single balanced armature IEM, which in itself is quite something, and considering this is their first effort in this class, it is very impressive. They can not quite rival higher end dynamic IEM’s or multiple balanced armature setups, but for a single balanced armature they are remarkable, and for under £40 they are outstanding.
I can also note that the PL50’s respond very well to the use of equalization, for the ones that prefer to do so.
Hotel California and Comfortably Numb sound very good, the fast and controlled bass combined with the overall detailed soundspectrum and a expansive soundstage makes for a very enjoyable listening experience.

To sum up.
What I like most about the PL50’s is the sound, the generous accessory pack, design, build quality, and that they are the most comfortable IEM’s I have ever used.
The only real drawback is the lack of availability in the local shops.

Simply put, the SoundMAGIC PL50’s are my new best choice IEM’s under £40. They really are that good.

Vivanco

Vivanco Aircoustic Black Walnut

ABW for simplicity



Specs.
Single dynamic driver
Frequency range: 18 Hz – 23 KHz
Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW
Price: £50


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good, although I would recommend not to expose them to too much stress due to the softness of the wood. The housing is made of handcrafted walnut wood and metal, the 120 cm long cable, with its straight jack, is cloth/nylon covered. The cable is very thin compared to other IEM’s and rather prone to tangling, but it is also very light. The included accessories are, three pairs of silicone sleeves and a pouch. Not that generous accessory pack, but everything needed. A special mention for the stylish wood and materials used.

Comfort and fit.
The ABW’s are light and about average size. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down, and are very comfortable to wear even for longer periods. Isolation from ambient noise is about average and the cable suffers from some some microphonic noise, but it can be reduced by running the cable over the ears.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a naturally warm sound with a nice clarity and sparkle, or as the box states “warm bass and smooth treble”. The bass is deep and full of authority, the mids have a good timbre and are surprisingly detailed while the highs are laidback, yet clear and sparkly. The soundstage is very well laid out and big. The ABW’s are very addictive with their smooth and warm sound which makes them superbly suited for acoustic, live music and rock. I finally see, “hear”, the reason for having wooden earphones, they do bring a new dimension to the music.

To sum up.
The good: musical, powerful, warm and very nice overall sound, exclusive wood finish.
The bad: the cable is prone to tangling, the warm sound may not suit all tastes.

Verdict: if you like warm sound and exclusive looks, then I would recommend you to check out the ABW’s, they are very good. Recommended.

Westone

Westone UM2

Specs.
Two balanced armature drivers with a passive crossover.
Frequency range: 20Hz – 18KHz
Impedance: 27Ohm
Sensitivity: 119dB/mW
Colour: Black or Transparent
RRP: $279 ($299 for model with detachable cable)

Build quality and accessories.
Great build quality and attention to detail. The housing itself is made of plastic, a very high quality plastic I may add. The cable is 130cm, with a 90 degree jack. The cable is braided, very light with a plasticky feeling, it is one of the absolutely best cables I have seen on an IEM. Excellent work Westone!
The included accessories are, different sized comply foam sleeves, a cleaning tool and a semi-hard zippered case. Not too generous, but still everything one will need for normal use.

Comfort and fit.
The UM2’s are quite large but still light and very comfortable. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear. Isolation from ambient noise is good, the cable does not suffer from any microphonic noise.

Sound quality.
The UM2’s are dual balanced armature IEM’s, and do not really need time to burn in.
They have a very good sound, lets get that said straight away. The sound signature is warmish, with good detail and they are very musical. The low end is tight and controlled, mids are smooth and a little forward, highs are natural and detailed, soundstage is about average with a very good instrument separation.
As said, the UM2’s are very musical and really make the music come alive, my test tracks instantly had the “wow!” factor when I listened to them. The UM2’s have a presense and presentation that is only outdone by their bigger brother, the UM-3X.

To sum up.
The good: very good and musical sound, thumbs up for build quality and design, the cable not only looks gorgeous but is also one of the best on the market, comfort is very good as well.
The bad: price, few accessories.

Verdict: One of the absolutely best IEM’s I have ever heard. Highly recommended!!



UM-3X top, UM2 bottom.

Westone UM-3X

Specs.
Three balanced armature drivers with a passive three-way crossover.
Frequency range: 20Hz – 18KHz
Impedance: 56Ohm
Sensitivity: 124dB/mW
Colour: Black/Transparent
RRP: $379 ($399 for model with detachable cable)

Build quality and accessories.
Great build quality and attention to detail. The housing itself is made of plastic, a very high quality plastic I may add. The cable is 130cm, with a 90 degree jack. The cable is braided, very light with a plasticky feeling, it is one of the absolutely best cables I have seen on an IEM. Excellent work Westone!
The included accessories are, different sized comply foam sleeves and a semi-hard zippered case. Quite sparsely equipped, but still all you will need to use them.

Comfort and fit.
The UM-3X’s are quite large but still light and very comfortable. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear. Isolation from ambient noise is good, the cable does not suffer from any microphonic noise.

Sound quality.
The UM-3X’s are triple balanced armature IEM’s, and do not really need time to burn in, we can go straight to the heart of the matter, the sound.
You know the feeling you have when you for the very first time drive a premium sports car? The real sensation and feeling of occasion as you pull away and listen to the mechanical music of the engine and lose yourself in the sheer pleasure of being one with the machine. The UM-3X’s provide that very same feeling as you insert them into your ears, plug them to your player and press play.
The UM-3X’s reproduce every pluck of the guitar, every breath of the the singer and every reverb of the drums, the detail is superb across the entire frequency range.
The low end is very tight and controlled and plentiful, mids are like honey, detailed, slightly forward and very accurate, highs are natural and detailed without ever being shrill or sibilant, soundstage is about average, or maybe a little less than average in size, but compensates with brilliant instrument separation and excellent imaging.
Thanks to the very balanced sound and high level of detail across the entire frequency range, I could hear details in the low end that I had never noticed before. Being so balanced and detailed they could come across as cold or boring, but not so, my test tracks, and any other music I tried them with sounds lush and very atmospheric, with a very musical and warm tone.
These are the best IEM’s I have ever heard!

To sum up.
The good: detailed, natural and absolutely fabulous sound, great build quality and design, the cable is not only gorgeous looking but also one of the best there is, comfort is very good as well.
The bad: price, few accessories.

Verdict: Absolutely! My personal favourite and the best IEM I have ever heard.


UM-3X top, UM2 bottom.

Yin

Yuin G2A

Yuin earphones are highly regarded within the audiophile communities, but not so well known to the masses. What we have here is the clip-on model G2A with an RRP of $49 or around £30.

Build quality and accessories.
The 120cm/47in cable is soft with a nice rubbery feeling to it, and has a straight jack at the end. The housing is mainly made of metal with the back being brushed aluminium, the earhooks are plastic, all in all they look classy. The accessory pack consists of one pair of spare ear cushions. A pouch of some sort would have been nice to include, even if the box can be used for storing them.

Comfort.
They are light and comfortable once you get used to wearing them, but they may not suit people with specs. They ”clip-on” your ears with the earhook and while they do stay in place, the fit is not the best possible for my ears at least, more about this later on. Having said that, the clip-on design may be preferred by some as well, for the easy and unobtrusive way of use.

It’s all about the sound.
The G2A’s need burning in to sound their best, the manufacturer recommends 100 hours. Once settled they sound powerful with a nice detail and a soundstage to match. The low end is full and warm, the mids are natural sounding with good detail, the highs are bright and lively. My favourite tracks sound well presented with a warm and smooth sound all over. Even if the G2A’s sound good when worn as intended, they sound even nicer if I press them tighter against my ears. One thing about the clip-on is that I could not get a tight fit against my ears which meant that the sound was leaking out instead of being channeled into my ears. This varies from user to user, and they may very well be a perfect fit for others. However you can use a cheap headband and modify the G2A’s to supra aural headphones, this helps the possible fitting issues and gives even better sound.

To sum up.
The good, the full sound with a nice detail and relaxed warmness, exclusive looks.
The bad, the clip-on style to wear them will not suit all users.

I do recommend the Yuin G2A’s, but keep in mind that they may have fitting issues for some. They do sound very good for the asking price though.

Zagg

Zagg Z.buds

Specs.
Earphone:
Single dynamic driver, 10 mm
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 94 dB/mW
Mic:
Microphone with noise canceling condenser
Frequency range: 30 Hz – 16 KHz
Impedance: 10 Ohm
Sensitivity: 42 dB/mW

Price: With mic $79.99, without mic $69.99
Colours: Black, red, yellow or pink cable, with black housing

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is on top. The housing is made of metal, the cable is cloth/nylon covered and measures 140cm/54in, and it has a 90 degree jack at the end. The cable splitter is located in the middle of the cable, leaving a very long split section with three adjustable sliders. The included accessories are, four pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L and triple flanges), two pairs of different sized foam sleeves (S and M), and a pouch. A very generous amount of sleeves, excellent work Zagg.
The mic version is compatible with iPhone music and call control, this means that the jack has a three channel setup instead of two, which may confuse some players. Tip, if you intend to use the Z.buds with a ”non-phone” player, then go for the ”non-mic” version.

Comfort and fit.
The Z.buds are about average size but still very light, they are also very comfortable thanks to the many different sleeves provided. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down, and in a new revolutionary and patent pending way called ”Hangin’ tight” (see picture).

Isolation is good with silicone sleeves and even better with foam sleeves. There are microphonic noises from the cloth cable, but by ”hangin’ them tight” the noise disappeares completely.

Sound quality.
Being a dynamic IEM the Z.buds require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a very powerful and dynamic sound, one way of describing them would be as having two fullsize loudspeakers tied to your ears. The bass, this is what Z.buds are all about, is tight, punchy and deep, still it does not interfere with the rest of the soundspectrum. The mids and highs are slightly in the background yet fully audible and most of all they are smooth as honey, and the soundstage is pleasingly wide. The level of detail is good, but the Z.buds are more aimed at fun than critical listening. By applying a little EQ and DSP to boost the higher frequencies the Z.buds really make your music come alive. My favourite tracks, and any other music I have tried them with sound very involving, the sheer bass energy is hugely addictive, and the overall sound is extremely involving and fun. In my opinion they would fit like a glove to be used at the gym or while sporting.

To sum up.
The good: very powerful and overall good sound, build quality, design, mic version for headset use and iPhone control, very good sleeves selection grants excellent comfort and fit.
The bad: they may require EQ’ing to really sound their best in the mid and upper soundspectrum, some players have problems with the three channel jack on the mic version.

Verdict: for the price they offer very good sound and a real energy kick for your music. Excellent comfort and fit, much thanks to the ”Hangin’ tight” concept, which also makes sure they stay put.
I would highly recommend them as your ”activity” IEM’s, be it with or without mic, or just as a really good headset for your iPhone.