HifiMan

HifiMan RE1 (Dragon)

Specs.
Single dynamic driver 9 mm
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 18 KHz
Impedance: 150 Ohm
Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW
Price: $79
Colours: Gold/Black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the 140 cm long cable, with its 90 degree jack is cloth/nylon covered. The included accessories are, five pairs of silicone sleeves (3 single and 2 dual flange) four extra filters (for the nozzle opening, to protect the drivers from wax builds), a shirt clip and a leather hard case. Not bad at all.

Comfort and fit.
The RE1’s are light even if they are quite large, Comfort is excellent due to the various sleeves provided, the isolation is average due to the open back design. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. There are some microphonic noises, but they can be minimized with the clip and by wearing the cable over your ears.

Sound quality.
One thing to keep in mind with the RE1’s is the massive 150 Ohm impedance, compared with the “normal” 16 Ohm. This means that they are harder to drive than your average IEM, but it also means that they do not have a trace of hiss or any other background digital noise.
The RE1’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a very detailed and natural sound with great separation and soundstaging. The bass is tight and very controlled, the mids are smooth and the highs are crisp. Thanks to the open back design the soundstage is bigger than average, and with a strong signal the soundstage grows considerably.
The detail is astonishing for a dynamic IEM, and the natural and open sound can convince you to forget that they are IEM’s. The bass, while being very accurate and well balanced may not be enough for most bass addicts, but the detail and soundstaging on the other hand will surprise even the most demanding of listeners. Overall the sound is well suited for most music tastes, thanks to the natural and neutral presentation of the RE1’s.
The key, though, is to feed them with a powerful signal, and they will deliver.

To sum up.
The good: detailed and natural sound, great comfort, they are hiss-free.
The bad: not necessarily bad at all, but the 150 Ohm is quite demanding on the source.

Verdict: the RE1’s offer a very good overall sound, feed them with a strong signal and they will reward you in a way you would never expect from this price point. I do highly recommend them.

HifiMan RE262

Specs.
Single dynamic driver 9 mm
Frequency range: n/a
Impedance: 150 Ohm
Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW
Price: $249
Colours: Black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality seems very good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the 130 cm long cable, with its 90 degree jack has a nice rubbery feeling to it. The included accessories are, five pairs of silicone sleeves (3 single and 2 dual flange), five pairs of extra filters (for the nozzle opening, to protect the drivers from wax builds), a shirt clip and a plastic hard case. Not bad at all, but not overly generous either.



Comfort and fit.
The RE262’s are light and about average size. Comfort is excellent due to the various sleeves provided, the isolation is very good. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. There are some microphonic noises, but they can be minimized with the clip and by wearing the cable over the ear.

(What I have found out is that by swapping the earbuds, left -> right and vice versa the comfort and fit is excellent for over the ear wearing. This unfortunately also swaps the stereo image, but that can be fixed by soldering a new 3.5mm jack on the cable with cables reversed)

Sound quality.
The RE262’s 150 Ohm impedance means that they are harder to drive than your average IEM, but it also means that they do not have a trace of hiss or any other background digital noise.
The RE262’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a very detailed and slightly warm sound with great separation and soundstaging. The bass is very tight and controlled, the mids are the best I have heard in an IEM, and the highs are crisp but a tad in the background. The soundstage is big and very 3D, the music surrounds you in a way I have never felt from an IEM before. The detail is superb for a dynamic IEM.
The strongest point of the RE262’s are the buttery smooth mids that lets the music flow effortlessly like petrol flows into a V8 when pushing the loud pedal, and the gloriously big and surrounding soundstage. The sound they produce is nothing short of stunning, and my test tracks sounded spacious and so smooth, I warmly recommend you to listen to Dark Side Of the Moon with these, it will open up new dimensions. Seriously though, I cannot praise the sound qualities of the RE262’s enough, they are excellent, full stop.

To sum up.
The good: the buttery smooth mids, the excellent soundstage, superb allround sound quality, comfort, totally hiss- and digital noise free, price for this level of sound quality.
The bad: not necessarily bad at all, but the 150 Ohm is quite demanding on the source, may require some DIY for optimum fit and sound.

Verdict: the RE262’s offer $400+ sound for $249. Very highly recommended!!!

Hippo

Hippo 10

Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 10mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 23KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity:110dB/mW
RRP: $70


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is 130cm, with a 90 degree jack. The cable is very nice and one of the best I have seen and used, especially the jack is excellent.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue, a clip and a soft pouch. The red/blue sleeves are very good, as they make the right/left channel so easily recognisable.


Comfort and fit.
The 10’s are light and above average sized. They are to be worn with the cable running straight down, even if they can be used over the ear too, but the design is for straight down use only. They are a combination of IEM’s and an earbud, the sleeve is inside the earcanal, while the rest of the earphone rests in the outer ear. This gives a very good comfort and a isolation that is so much better than normal earbuds. Microphonics can be reduced with the clip.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The 10’s offer a natural and neutral sound. The high quality bass is very natural and more of a sub-bass than a thumping mid-bass, mids are detailed and smooth, the highs are natural and very nice. The soundstage is big and expansive. The natural and neutral sound reminds me of the Hippo VB, they share the same deep bass and natural presentation.
My test tracks sound very natural and true to life, without becoming boring or flat, the 10’s bring out the dynamics of the music in a way that not many IEM’s can.

To sum up.
The good: very good and natural sound with real sub-bass, red/blue sleeves, great cable.
The bad: the half IEM/half earbud style may not fit everyone, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: excellent sound. Highly recommended.

Hippo Groove

Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 10mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 18Ohm
Sensitivity:88dB/mW
RRP: $38


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is good. The housing is made of plastic and what appears to be a metal compound, the cable is 135cm, with a straight jack. The cable is quite plasticky and it suffers slightly from microphonic noise.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and black, and a soft pouch. The red/blue sleeves are very good, as they make the right/left channel so easily recognisable.

Comfort and fit.
The Groove’s are very light and about average size. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Comfort and isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized by running the cable over the ear.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The Groove’s are bass driven and offer a very powerful sound. The bass is very dominant yet well behaved, mids are fairly detailed and smooth even if they are a little in the background, the highs are also put in the background and they don’t really sparkle, but that also means that they never become sibilant or harsh. The soundstage is bigger than average. While the Groove is not for everyone, with the prominent bass and recessed mids and highs, I really like the relaxed and powerful sound they produce.
As expected my test tracks sound very beefy and engaging to listen to, fun, is the word to describe the sound qualities of the Hippo Groove.


To sum up.
The good: very powerful, relaxed and great sound for the price, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat plasticky cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: warm and fun sound, to a very good price. Recommended.

Hippo Pearl

Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 9mm
Frequency range: 10Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 106dB/mW
RRP: $43

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal and the cable is 140cm/55in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable seems to be the same as used on the VB’s, i.e. quite plasticky and microphonic, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in blue and red, a soft pouch and a shirtclip. Everything needed to use them, but not that generous.

Comfort and fit.
The Pearls are light and about average size. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Isolation from ambient noise is average and microphonic noise can be minimized when wearing the cable over the ear..

Sound quality.
As nearly all dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The Pearls have a very neutral/natural sound that does not really emphasize on any part of the audible soundspectrum. Everything is there, the bass is deep and fast, mids are smooth and detailed and the highs are sparkly without being too bright. The soundstage is slightly above average. They sound very pleasing to the ear, and can be used for hours on end without any fatigue. The Pearls are well suited for any music really, the nearly “flat” response allowes the music to sound natural, as it was intended by the artist. This also means that they are very bassy with the right sort of music, without sacrificing the mids and highs, bassheads rejoice. Being nearly flat also means that they respond very well to the use of EQ and DSP.

To sum up.
The good: neutral and overall very good sound, build quality, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat noisy cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: for the price they offer a very good and neutral sound. Recommended.

Hippo Shroom

Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 6mm
Frequency range: 10Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 95dB/mW
RRP: $57
Also available as Shroom-i, with built in mic, for iPhone and BlackBerry

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is 130cm/51in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable seems to be the same as on the VB and Pearl, i.e. quite plasticky and microphonic, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, six pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and black, a pouch. The sleeves are very good, especially the different coloured ones make the right/left channel so easily recognizable.

Comfort and fit.
The Shrooms are light and small. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Comfort is excellent, due to the very small form factor. Isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized thanks to the clip and cable over the ear way of wearing them.

Sound quality.
This is from the official announcement: “The Shroom design philosophy is different from the usual earphone. It uses a very small driver/speaker mounted way up front so the distance to the ear is as short as possible. The shorter path eliminates sound diffusion. The noise isolation also improves as a result of the deeper insertion”
Sounds good, and the Shrooms do deliver.
Remember to give them time to burn in before passing judgement. Once settled they offer a dynamic yet very detailed and balanced sound, with great detail and a clear mids focus. They offer a tight bass, with quality over quantity, that blends in perfectly with the rest of the soundspectrum, the mids are smooth, detailed and forward, the highs are crisp if slightly in the background, and finally the soundstage is big and very wide. The Shroom suits all music styles, and will make them sound lively and natural, but especially vocal and acoustic music is very well presented. I can also confirm that they respond well to the use of EQ and DSP, if needed.
The Shrooms offer a detail that is exceptional in a dynamic IEM, and in this price bracket simply astonishing! They seem to have the best from both worlds, the detail of a balanced armature and the fun factor of a dynamic driver. The Shrooms are among my absolute favourite IEM’s.


To sum up.
The good: superb detail and excellent sound, build quality, design, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat noisy cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: they offer stylish design and a sound quality that shames many of the much more expensive offerings on the market. Highly recommended!!

Hippo Shroom EB

Shroom original in red and EB in black.


Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 6mm
Frequency range: 10Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 95dB/mW
RRP: $57
Also available as Shroom (original) and Shroom-i, with built in mic, for iPhone and BlackBerry

The Shroom EB is identical with the original Shroom in everything except for the sound, so the first two parts are lifted from the review of the original version.

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is 130cm/51in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable seems to be the same as on the Hippo Shroom, i.e. a plasticky compound that suffers slightly from microphonic noise, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and black and a pouch. The sleeves are very good, especially the different coloured ones make the right/left channel so easily recognizable.
For some reason the red/blue sleeves were of a different type and did not really fit the earphones on my test unit, this may well be an error on a small batch and should not be considered a fault as such. The black sleeves fit perfectly.

Comfort and fit.
The Shrooms are light and small. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Comfort is excellent, due to the very small form factor. Isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized thanks to the clip and cable over the ear way of wearing them.

Sound quality.
This is what I said about the original Shrooms: “The Shrooms offer a detail that is exceptional in a dynamic IEM, and in this price bracket simply astonishing! They seem to have the best from both worlds, the detail of a balanced armature and the fun factor of a dynamic driver. The Shrooms are among my absolute favourite IEM’s”.
Just like the originals the EB’s need time to sound their best, once settled they offer the same incredible (for a dynamic IEM) detail and clarity, with added bass.
The tight bass is very high quality and there is a fair bit of it as well, mids are smooth, forward and very detailed, highs are crisp and clear, yet a little in the background, and the soundstage is bigger than average, by quite a margin. The sound is never dark or muddy, but very detailed and full of low end energy that really lifts the sound to a whole new level.
Excellent sound for the price!


To sum up.
The good: superb detail and very good bass, excellent sound for the price, build quality, design, comfort, red/blue sleeves (when the error is sorted).
The bad: somewhat noisy cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: just like the originals the EB’s offer stylish design and a powerful sound of a high quality that shames many of the much more expensive offerings on the market. Highly recommended!!

Hippo VB

Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 10mm, with variable bass plates
Frequency range: 18Hz – 22KHz
Impedance: 32Ohm
Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
RRP: $79

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal and the cable is 140cm/55in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable is quite plasticky and microphonic, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L), three different bass tuning plates a hard case and a shirtclip. All in all a generous amount of accessories.

Comfort and fit.
The VB’s are light even if they are fairly big. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear, as well as straight down. Comfort is high for my ears, but be warned that the stem is rather thick/large, so small ears may suffer. Isolation from ambient noise is average and the microphonic noise can be minimized thanks to the clip and wearing them with the cable over the ear.

Sound quality.
Being a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best, they may sound harsh if not burned in properly. Once settled the VB’s offer three different sound signatures. Changing the bass plates you can achieve a very warm/bassy sound from the dotless plate, a more natural/neutral sound from the two-dot plate and finally a nearly analytical sound from the three-dot plate. This is the exact opposite to what is described on the box, must be a mix-up at the factory.
My personal favourite is the middle, two-dotted plate, which gives a quite natural sound with good detail in the mids and highs as well as providing plenty of energy in the lower, without overpowering or sounding muddy. The soundstage is big on all three bass plates, but slightly wider on the bssiest and narrower on the most analytical. With the VB’s everyone should be able to find a sound signature that suits your personal preferences. They also respond well to EQ and DSP, if that would be necessary.

To sum up.
The good: user changeable sound signature, overall sound quality, build quality.
The bad: the nozzles/stems may be uncomfortable for small ears, somewhat noisy cable, not easily available.

Verdict: freedom of choice is always a good thing, and with the VB’s you get three different sounding IEM’s in one. They look stylish and sound good. Recommended.

Hippo White

Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 9mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 23KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity:108dB/mW
RRP: $45


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal, the cable is 135cm, with a straight jack. The cable seems to be the same as on the Groove, i.e. quite plasticky and also slightly suffering from microphonic noise.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and white, and a soft pouch. The red/blue sleeves are very good, as they make the right/left channel so easily recognisable.

Comfort and fit.
The Whites are very light and about average size. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. They are very comfortable to wear, even for longer listening sessions. Isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized by wearing the cable over the ear.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The Whites offer a warm and powerful analogue sound. The bass is strong with good quality, mids are fairly detailed and smooth and naturally audible, the highs are slightly in the background but still very nice and clear. The soundstage is open and nicely layered. The pleasing analogue warmth sounds very nice and involving. I can listen to them for hours on end without any fatigue, or without wanting or needing anything more, they seem to have a very good balance of fun and detail retrieval in their presentation.
My test tracks sound very lively and nice, the analogue and wam sound is soothing for the ears and I can fully enjoy the music.


To sum up.
The good: pleasing analogue sound, design and build quality, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat plasticky cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: very nice sound and well built. Highly recommended.

HiSound

HiSound Crystal

Specs.
Dynamic driver
Frequency range:
Impedance:
Sensitivity:
RRP: $130

Unfortunately the specs are unknown. These are also a non-retail version, so there may be slight differences to the full retail version.


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is good. The housing is made of plastic and metal, the slightly plasticky feeling cable is 125cm long and it terminates in a straight jack.
The included accessories are, three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M and L) and a shirt clip. A pouch would have been nice to include.


Comfort and fit.
The Crystal are quite small and very light. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. They are very comfortable to wear, but can be a little finicky to fit properly. Isolation from ambient noise is very good for a dynamic IEM and microphonic noise can be minimized by wearing the cable over the ear and by using the shirt clip.


Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The Crystal offers a bass driven, very powerful sound, but it does so without sacrificing the mids and highs. As said the bass is strong yet very well controlled and most importantly, it does not overpower the rest of the sound spectrum. Mids are smooth with good detail, even if they are a bit in the background, the highs are clearly audible without sounding harsh or sibilant. The soundstage is about average, but nicely layered.
My test tracks sound great, the drums and bass really punch hard when asked to, guitars and voices sound full and smooth, cymbals and other high-pitched instruments sound natural.
For the asking price they are very good, but remember that they are very much bass driven and may not suit all tastes.



To sum up.
The good: very powerful bass driven sound, price/performance.
The bad: not easily available to buy, can be too powerful and bass driven for some.

Verdict: if you like bass, these are for you. Highly recommended.

HiSound Live

Specs.
Dynamic driver
Frequency range:
Impedance:
Sensitivity:
RRP: $99

Unfortunately the specs are unknown. These are also a non-retail version, so there may be slight differences to the full retail version.

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is great. The housing is made of metal, the slightly plasticky feeling cable is 120cm long and it terminates in a straight jack.
The included accessories are, two extra pairs of earpads and a shirt clip. A case would have been nice.

Comfort and fit.
The Live buds are about average both weight wise and size wise. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear but are intended to be worn with the cable straight down. They are very comfortable and unobtrusive to wear, but may not fit small ears. Isolation from ambient noise is not really the strongest point of earbuds, there is next to no microphonic noise and fixing the cable with the shirt clip can further minimize it.


Sound quality.
Having dynamic drivers the Live buds require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. That said, they do sound very nice straight out of the box as well.
The Live buds offer a powerful and airy sound, without sacrificing the mids and highs in any way. The bass is strong and punchy yet very well controlled, the smooth mids have good detail, the highs are very nice and clear without sounding harsh or sibilant. The soundstage is very big and expansive.
My test tracks sound lively and great, with excellent drum and bass reproduction, guitars and voices blend in nicely and cymbals are clear without any harshness.
I really enjoy listening to the Live buds. For the asking price they are very, very good.



To sum up.
The good: excellent, powerful and airy sound, build quality and materials used, exclusive looks, price/performance.
The bad: may not fit small ears, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: I must confess to not having heard that many earbuds before, but the Live buds have made me a fan of them. Excellent sound, excellent build quality and exclusive looks at a really affordable price. Highly recommended.

I-Mego

I-Mego Ztone

Specs.
Dynamic driver 10 mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW
Price: $99.99
Colours: Gunmetal/black, gold/black, chrome/black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is compact and very well put together. The braided cable, which is one of the nicest cables I have seen, is 120 cm long and terminates in a straight jack. The included accessories are, three pairs of normal silicone sleeves (S, M and L) and four pairs of “custom” sleeves (XS, S, M and L), a 3.5 to 6.3mm adapter as well as a inflight adapter and a very nice hard case. Quite a nice accessory pack, if you ask me.



Comfort and fit.
The Ztones are about average for both size and weight. But what separates them from the average is the “custom” sleeves, they are silicone sleeves that are made to fit most ears like custom made IEMs. Once you have gotten used to them, and more importantly how to insert them, they offer unrivalled comfort, and the isolation is also above average. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear, and there is a stiffened memory wire segment to help them stay put. There are no microphonic noises from the cable.



Sound quality.
The Ztones require time to settle to sound their best, and once settled they offer a warm sound signature with strong bass.
The bass is plentiful, but still rather tight and punchy without interfering with the rest of the sound spectrum, the mids are warm and honey like and a little in the background, the highs are clearly audible if not in any way up front, and the soundstage is very spacious and well presented with great imaging.

Due to the warm sound some fine detail will be lost and as such the Ztones are not for the detail craving listeners. My favourite tracks sound powerful and dynamic, and very musical. The huge soundstage makes for a really enjoyable experience and it makes you want to listen for hour after hour, which is possible without any discomfort thanks to the custom sleeves. Bass driven music sounds great on the Ztones, but of course they suit any music, just don’t expect them to be something they are not. They are for casual listening and enjoyment of your favourite music, not for dissecting and analysing sinus tones.



To sum up.
The good: powerful sound, the comfort of a custom IEM, excellent cable.
The bad: can be too warm and bassy for some listeners.



Verdict: for the price they offer a very nice sound in a great looking package and not to be forgotten, the comfort and fit that is absolutely fabulous. Highly recommended.

Jays

Jays a-Jays

The new a-Jays comes in three different flavours, One, Two and Three, with different accessories and finishes, as well as slightly different sound characteristics.
There will also be a Iphone headset, the a-Jays Four Iphone, which is a mic/headset version of the a-Jays Three, available in black or white.

I will be taking a closer look at a-Jays Two.



Specs.
Dynamic driver 8.6mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 20KHz (20Hz-18KHz One, 20Hz-22KHz Three)
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 96dB/mW (95dB/mW One, 97dB/mW Three)
Colour: Deep high gloss black (standard black One, rubber coated black Three)
RRP: $49 ($39 One, $59 Three) ex. VAT

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is excellent. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is 115cm/45in, with a straight jack. The flat! rubbery cable is very stylish and has a very high quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, five pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (XXS, XS, S, M, L), a stereo splitter and a flight adapter. One includes the sleeves and Three includes all mentioned plus a very nice hard shell case. Finally a special mention for the very useful and gorgeous packaging.

The excellent "Pacman-esque" hard shell case included with the a-Jays Three.

Comfort and fit.
The a-Jays are light and about average size. They are very comfortable to wear even for longer periods, thanks to the vast amount of included sleeves. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Isolation from ambient noise is very good, there are some microphonic noises but nothing too bad and wearing the cable over the ear reduces them to a minimum.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM the a-Jays benefit from burn in. The print on the package says, “heavy bass impact, detailed mids and highs”, I fully agree with that. The a-Jays have a very powerful and analogue sound, the bass is tight and full of energy, the mids are very smooth if a little in the background, the highs are crisp without ever sounding harsh or sibilant. A very well textured overall sound, with a slight hint of a V shaped sound signature, all wrapped into a soundstage that is big and expansive. My test tracks sound excellent, filled with energy and very musical/fun. The detail in the overall sound is very good for a dynamic IEM, but the a-Jays are not made for monitoring and critical listening, they are made for the real enjoyment of listening to good music.
Let it also be noted that the a-Jays respond well to the use of DSP’s and EQ’s.



To sum up.
The good: Excellent and powerful/analogue sound, build quality, design, accessories.
The bad: I honestly can’t think of any.

Verdict: Excellent sound and stunning design, what more can one ask for, a generous accessory pack of course, do not worry, the a-Jays deliver on all fronts! Highly recommended!

Klipsch

Klipsch Image S4

Klipsch are very well regarded on the audio scene, where they have provided high quality products ever since 1946. The RRP of the new Klipsch Image S4 is set to $80 or around £45-50.



Build quality.
The S4’s look and feel very nice with their hard plastic casing in black and chrome. The cable measures at 125cm/50in and has a 90 degree angle on the jack, it has a durable and good quality feel to it. The accessories included are, three pairs of silicone sleeves (M and L single flange and SM double flange) that are oval shaped for easy and comfortable fit, a cleaning tool and a very nice looking steel case. All in all a well thought out accessory pack with a touch of luxury.

Comfort and fit.
They are light and small, easy to fit and very comfortable thanks to the oval eartips. They are to be worn professionally, over the ear, even if you can wear them straight down as well. Isolation from ambient noise is quite good, but not really among the best isolating IEM’s. Cable noise is nearly non existant.

And the sound?
The S4’s being a dynamic IEM require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best, I would recomment at very least 20h for this. Once settled the S4’s offer a dynamic sound experience, with a tight bass that isn’t over-powering the rest of the soundspectrum, the mids are smooth like honey, the highs are clear if a little rolled-off and the soundstage is huge. The S4’s sound very nice, they do not offer the most bassy nor the most detailed sound there is, but they certainly sound very pleasing and are more reminiscent of full size circumaural headphones than IEM’s They also respond very well to the use of equalization. One thing worth mentioning is that the S4’s are quite unforgiving on the source, they tend to expose the compression artifacts of poorly encoded files, this does not affect good quality files in any way though.
Hotel California and Comfortably Numb sound very good, the dynamic sound with a hard hitting bass and a overall pleasingly laid out soundspectrum with the huge soundstage makes for a very enjoyable listening experience, where your feet will soon be thumping along to the music.

To sum up.
What I like most about the S4’s is the dynamic sound, design and looks, the luxurious steel case and excellent comfort.
They do not have any real weaknesses.



Would I recommend them? Yes, for the price the S4’s offer excellent sound quality and a classy design. Their biggest strength is that they lack any real weaknesses.