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which headphones should i purchase i have read great reviews on both but hopefully some one can give me some feedback as to which is the better out of the pair, i dont listen to music a lot but when i do i want a nice crisp clear sound with no distortion.
which should i get ?
A word of warning: All headphones sound a wee bit dull and lifeless when plugged into the HOX due to its dreadful amp circuitry (I guess it must be the amp side as I'm led to believe the Nexus 7 uses the same DAC, despite sounding waaaaay better on the same cans.) If this really bugs you (as it does me) you'll probably end up investing in an APT-X capable Bluetooth streamer as a workaround because although a cheap dedicated headphone amp might solve the impedance issues that toally lose everything over 16KHz with my TDK BA100s, it's not going to improve the general muddiness of the sound I've noticed even using cheaper dynamic driver IEMs. I've got a Samsung HS3000 streamer on the way to try (it was pretty cheap, at about £20 so I'm not too worried if it doesn't sound fantastic and it would be really difficult for it to sound worse than the HOX )
Regarding the actual headphones you choose I've only tried (briefly) A-Jays 3 but I'd describe them as having a notably better soundstage than CX300s (I or II, I didn't notice a difference in sound to be honest) - they have better instrument separation and placement... But the Sennheisers (several sucessive pairs of which were my mainstay for years before switching to the TDKs I've got now) are far more bass-centric and could take a lot more in EQ if that's your kind of thing. I listen mostly to a mixture of electronic music like dubstep and drum and bass which tends to favour these kind of earphones, and progressive rock and metal, which definitely sounds much better through something with a more detailed high end and real mid punch like the BAs I'm using now.
The CX300s were something of a revolution in the IEM market when they first came out, because there was nothing else cheap worth owning. Now they have a lot of competitors (A-Jays, Soundmagic, MEElectronics, etc, etc) who if anything outdo the cheaper Sennheisers.
If you've never used IEMs before, you might find a while to get the tip size and style that suits your ears best sorted. They usually come with a few different sizes of the single flange silicone type, but there are also double and triple flange silicone tips and aftermarket 'Comply' memory foam tips I'm using now. They are dead comfy. You'll know when you've got the fit/position right because you won't be able to hear anything outside short of a small nuclear blast happening next to you, plus the bass tends to lose all depth without a good seal.
Oh, and one more thing: Don't buy Sennheisers from eBay. Or, for that matter, any online distributor you haven't heard of. 95% of those available are fake, and some are physically very good copies right down to the packaging.
Azurael said:
A word of warning: All headphones sound a wee bit dull and lifeless when plugged into the HOX due to its dreadful amp circuitry (I guess it must be the amp side as I'm led to believe the Nexus 7 uses the same DAC, despite sounding waaaaay better on the same cans.) If this really bugs you (as it does me) you'll probably end up investing in an APT-X capable Bluetooth streamer as a workaround because although a cheap dedicated headphone amp might solve the impedance issues that toally lose everything over 16KHz with my TDK BA100s, it's not going to improve the general muddiness of the sound I've noticed even using cheaper dynamic driver IEMs. I've got a Samsung HS3000 streamer on the way to try (it was pretty cheap, at about £20 so I'm not too worried if it doesn't sound fantastic and it would be really difficult for it to sound worse than the HOX )
Regarding the actual headphones you choose I've only tried (briefly) A-Jays 3 but I'd describe them as having a notably better soundstage than CX300s (I or II, I didn't notice a difference in sound to be honest) - they have better instrument separation and placement... But the Sennheisers (several sucessive pairs of which were my mainstay for years before switching to the TDKs I've got now) are far more bass-centric and could take a lot more in EQ if that's your kind of thing. I listen mostly to a mixture of electronic music like dubstep and drum and bass which tends to favour these kind of earphones, and progressive rock and metal, which definitely sounds much better through something with a more detailed high end and real mid punch like the BAs I'm using now.
The CX300s were something of a revolution in the IEM market when they first came out, because there was nothing else cheap worth owning. Now they have a lot of competitors (A-Jays, Soundmagic, MEElectronics, etc, etc) who if anything outdo the cheaper Sennheisers.
If you've never used IEMs before, you might find a while to get the tip size and style that suits your ears best sorted. They usually come with a few different sizes of the single flange silicone type, but there are also double and triple flange silicone tips and aftermarket 'Comply' memory foam tips I'm using now. They are dead comfy. You'll know when you've got the fit/position right because you won't be able to hear anything outside short of a small nuclear blast happening next to you, plus the bass tends to lose all depth without a good seal.
Oh, and one more thing: Don't buy Sennheisers from eBay. Or, for that matter, any online distributor you haven't heard of. 95% of those available are fake, and some are physically very good copies right down to the packaging.
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thxs for the advice i think i will go for the a jays one + many thanks for a very detailed and helpful reply
I started doing my reviews with a single goal in mind to find the best price/performance products to test/review and to share it with others. Sometime its a hit, sometime it could be a miss once something else comes out and I do a/b comparison.
I have reviewed a number of wired/wireless speakers and headphones, and starting to realize that in some cases perhaps a premium price will justify the quality. I mean, how many times we have people chiming in about using Beats and paying upward of $350 per a pair of cans. Or I remember reading someone posting about spending $1500 on a pair of earbuds. This tells me people are willing to pay extra money for a quality sound.
One thing for sure, Note 2 is a premium entertainment phone and if you want to enjoy this entertainment - you need a way to deliver the sound, and some people willing to pay premium for that. Headphones/earphones (in-ear-headphones) is something that you can use with your next phone or your tablet or another phone in the family, so in a way its an investment. Although I have been trying to stay within budget of under $100 with headphones or sometimes under $10 budget ones from CH sites, these are still far from perfection of how I want it to sound. So, I have been talking to a few premium sound companies trying to get a review loaners of premium models like UE900 or Westone 4R, and maybe some Shure (although their PR is not the friendliest bunch).
So the question, has anybody using premium IEH with their smartphones and can share their opinion? Or just a general comment if some would be willing to spend $400-$500 to get top of the line earbuds with crossover and 4 drivers, etc. I know head-fi.org is well know for these audiophile reviews, but when I start reading about people using their headphones with pre-amps and a special cables, and custom setup - it doesn't give me any good indication how it works directly with a smart phone out of the box, and how does it sound in plain english without all those big words to show how well versed you are in this subject. That is what I would like to do in my upcoming write ups here on XDA and also curious to hear from others
Love my Shure se535 IEMs with neutron player!
Sent from my SGH-I317M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Valkern said:
Love my Shure se535 IEMs with neutron player!
Sent from my SGH-I317M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Uh, now we are talking business! May I ask you why you decided to use SE535 over other triple-/quad-driver IEH in the same price range? Was that strictly based on reviews (head-fi.org, etc.) or your own personal comparison between other ones like UE900, Westone 3/4R, etc? If you have compared these, was there a definitely sound or design advantage with SE535? I had an opportunity to receive review sample of SE535, but Shure PR company wanted credit card deposit and some other restrictions which made me uncomfortable. I will be getting UE900 sometime next week, and still in talk with Westone about testing their W40 which replaced flagship 4R model. But I honestly think this comparison will not be complete without SE535 in the mix since its highly regarded.
Btw, thanks for Neutron pointer! I gotta check it out. Also, I assume you connect your headphones straight in rather then using something like Fiio amps?
Personally, I wouldn't spend more than $40 on a pair of headphones. I have tried much nicer headphones and there does seem to be a difference but I wouldn't say it's hundreds of dollars worth of difference. Senheiser and Audio Technica make some pretty good stuff you can occasionally find on sale at that price range.
Well, that used to be my thinking looking at various headphones up to $100-$150 range with a single driver design. Without a crossover and separate woofer drivers it's hard to distinguish and often you might find cheaper headphones sounding as good as more expensive ones. Although sometime there is an exception like Meelec M-Duo dual-driver I just had a chance to review and will publish write-up soon ($73 on amazon!!!). But once you step into a category of triple and quad drivers where you have precisely tuned crossover, interchangeable filters, and dedicated drivers for lows, mids, and high - you will be blown away by the difference and would have hard time believing these sounds are coming from a pair of tiny buds. That is what I would like to check these out and to compare in my reviews.
Furthermore, I'm also looking into reviewing Fiio E17 usb dac headphone amp which everybody raves about in audiophile community. You don't connect audio to headphone jack but rather connect this dac through OTG cable to usb port and plug your headphones in there. Will see if I get a chance to review it as well.
vectron said:
Uh, now we are talking business! May I ask you why you decided to use SE535 over other triple-/quad-driver IEH in the same price range? Was that strictly based on reviews (head-fi.org, etc.) or your own personal comparison between other ones like UE900, Westone 3/4R, etc? If you have compared these, was there a definitely sound or design advantage with SE535? I had an opportunity to receive review sample of SE535, but Shure PR company wanted credit card deposit and some other restrictions which made me uncomfortable. I will be getting UE900 sometime next week, and still in talk with Westone about testing their W40 which replaced flagship 4R model. But I honestly think this comparison will not be complete without SE535 in the mix since its highly regarded.
Btw, thanks for Neutron pointer! I gotta check it out. Also, I assume you connect your headphones straight in rather then using something like Fiio amps?
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I bought mine based on reviews I have read online coupled with my experience with Shure products in the past. What I read online pretty much was exactly what I received. Pronounced mids with clear highs with a more subdued low end. I will tune the low end up a little bit to compensate for the more subtle lows which is perfect for me.
Neutron player is important if you want to hear good sound from the note2 as other apps sound surprisingly terrible. Neutron is a god send.
I usually listen to lossless format but if I happen to listen to a lower bit rate mp3 the highs can be very irritating with these IEMs, very over pronounced and garbled. I wouldn't recommend less than 320bit anyways.
I do not currently use a external DAC although I sometimes listen with my dedicated mp3 player if pocket space isn't a concern which is a Cowan j3. It's too bad they don't make these anymore though.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Seems to be a lot of high praises of Fiio X3 audio player: http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000045041475&MenuID=105026016 - might be your solution for dedicated audio player replacement.
Good point about bit rate content. Usually down sampled files loose low frequency content, although kind of strange since I would expect a loss across the whole spectrum. So, with high quality IEH where low end is reduced, the high end gets "boosted" in your ears.
For those how are interested, I just posted a detailed review of Logitech/Ultimate Ears UE900 headphones: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2485233
try koss ksc75, they wouldnt call it "bang for the buck" and "mini-grado" for nothing.
BratPAQ said:
try koss ksc75, they wouldnt call it "bang for the buck" and "mini-grado" for nothing.
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7+ year old ear-clip headphones for $17 I do see comments about it having a good sound, but way too many comments about cheap design and poor quality where it stops working after 3-4 months.
I only have one pair of headphones in that price range, and it is the infamous Beats Studios. They cost me AU$499 when I got them in Australia about 20 months ago. I also own several other headphones, but rarely do they exceed the $300 mark (the only other pairs that I have that cost more are the Bose QuietComfort 15, at $399 and Sennhesier HD 650, at $499).
After wrapping them in carbon fibre Di-Noc, installing a second stainless steel internal headband, replacing the cushions twice and removing the terrible ANC, they actually turned out to be my best pair of headphones (not earphones) for portable use. The integrated pre-amp provides a slight edge over non-powered sets in terms of audio "fullness". The Studio's sound is actually quite interesting once the ANC is out of the way. Bass, along with bits of the mids and highs are emphasised by the circuit which makes the music sound less flat and boring. Plus, the closed cavity design makes it very usable when out and about. Wind doesn't interfere with the speaker drivers like it does in open-back sets. They're very comfortable, and have a hard carry case which increases its ability to tag along with my Note 2 as a full-sized over-ear headphone.
I personally don't like IEMs because they don't fit very well, have lots of cable noise and practically completely block out all external noises AND I hear myself talk a lot louder. Plus they extract my earwax very well, maybe too well.
Now regarding spending $400-$500 on headphones, I don't think it's worth it if you're intending to use it with a smartphone. My HD 650 only really shine when I'm listening to FLAC on a $900 setup. But even then, I have to really pay attention to what I'm listening to to hear the difference. Otherwise when I'm simply listening to music while on a bus or train, any decent headphone is fine for me.
I'll either use crappy earplugs that came with the phone, usually at school for maybe an hour. Otherwise I will use my etymotic research ER4P and HeadRoom BitHead portable headphone amp.
I never considered using my Sennheiser 600HD can with a HeadRoom Cosmic headphone amp.
I tend to use my Jawbone Big Jambox significantly more often because I'm usually by myself and watching sports.
I use the audio technica ath-m50 (not 400-500 but decent ones and very comfy)at home but outside I just use the headphones that came with the phone. I don't think its worth it without an amplifier for 400-500 headphones.
You guys all brought up very good points. One thing I hear in common: for quality sound you only trust over-/on-ear headphones and some prefer to use it with a separate headphone amp. But on the go you switch to basic cheap in-ear-headphones because big "quality" headphones are too bulky and you don't want to carry headphone amp box. I have read a number of similar comments in other forums where it seems like IEM don't get enough credit of being the replacement for big headphone cans. That was a reason why I looked into quad driver IEM, such as UE900 I reviewed already, and another new ones from Westone I'm planning to review. The sound of UE900 alone was better than some of the studio Sennheiser and Sony headphones I tested before. Switching to Neutron MP improved the sound, but it was still processed by Note 2 internal dac output going to headphone output. Taking this digital-to-analog processing outside of the phone and making it portable enough to carry with you is a key in appreciating sound quality of IEM either for music or movies.
So once you get all the pieces of a portable setup in place, that could be a game changer to use portable IEM instead of big studio cans. With that in mind, I'm seriously looking into new Fiio E18 headphone amp/usb-DAC: http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000049935442&MenuID=105026002 - full external audio processing outside of the phone through OTG usb connection. I guess the intent is to have it piggyback to the phone with a rubber band to turn your phone into external audio processing powerhouse.
It's a very addictive cycle as you begin with lower class headphones and start moving up in class with each one sounding better, clearer, more dynamic, and overall with improved SQ. What I have noticed with headphones I tested is that in $100-$150 price category you can either get low end or treble enhancements, but not both at the same time where a single driver can't handle the whole range or even a dual driver with built-in crossover (like M-Duo) has v-shaped FR. So going to a pricey quad driver design is the only way to cross that limitation. Again, speaking based on my own personal preference of a balanced sound with a slight bump in low frequency.
Sorry, for those who are true audiophiles, I'm probably stating the obvious. For those who think $5 headphones will do the trick - you thinking I lost my marbles But for myself, I'm just starting to discover this audiophile world and trying to justify it for myself (in terms of expenses).
vectron said:
You guys all brought up very good points. One thing I hear in common: for quality sound you only trust over-/on-ear headphones and some prefer to use it with a separate headphone amp. But on the go you switch to basic cheap in-ear-headphones because big "quality" headphones are too bulky and you don't want to carry headphone amp box. I have read a number of similar comments in other forums where it seems like IEM don't get enough credit of being the replacement for big headphone cans. That was a reason why I looked into quad driver IEM, such as UE900 I reviewed already, and another new ones from Westone I'm planning to review. The sound of UE900 alone was better than some of the studio Sennheiser and Sony headphones I tested before. Switching to Neutron MP improved the sound, but it was still processed by Note 2 internal dac output going to headphone output. Taking this digital-to-analog processing outside of the phone and making it portable enough to carry with you is a key in appreciating sound quality of IEM either for music or movies.
So once you get all the pieces of a portable setup in place, that could be a game changer to use portable IEM instead of big studio cans. With that in mind, I'm seriously looking into new Fiio E18 headphone amp/usb-DAC: http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000049935442&MenuID=105026002 - full external audio processing outside of the phone through OTG usb connection. I guess the intent is to have it piggyback to the phone with a rubber band to turn your phone into external audio processing powerhouse.
It's a very addictive cycle as you begin with lower class headphones and start moving up in class with each one sounding better, clearer, more dynamic, and overall with improved SQ. What I have noticed with headphones I tested is that in $100-$150 price category you can either get low end or treble enhancements, but not both at the same time where a single driver can't handle the whole range or even a dual driver with built-in crossover (like M-Duo) has v-shaped FR. So going to a pricey quad driver design is the only way to cross that limitation. Again, speaking based on my own personal preference of a balanced sound with a slight bump in low frequency.
Sorry, for those who are true audiophiles, I'm probably stating the obvious. For those who think $5 headphones will do the trick - you thinking I lost my marbles But for myself, I'm just starting to discover this audiophile world and trying to justify it for myself (in terms of expenses).
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When it comes to portable high fidelity, it's all down to what is most convenient for the occasion. For example, when I'm going somewhere but I don't know if I'll need to wait on something or not, I'd bring my modified Samsung YP-U3 earbuds because they just slip into my pocket. Otherwise when I know I'll be listening to music for a while, then I'd bring my Beats Studios. For my uses, they're the most suitable as a portable "high end" headphone. It's closed-back, foldable, fashionable and even has a built-in pre-amp for use with the Note 2's low audio output. They're certainly better than the HD 650's in terms of portability. because the HD 650's leak sound and lose bass through outside interference. Wind also makes the speaker diaphragm flex and stuff.
IEMs are kinda in a league of their own. They sit right inside of your ear canal, so the distance between your eardrum and the speaker is very small compared to that of supra or circum-aural cans. Furthermore, the silicone tip things create a nearly airtight seal so minimal sound can escape. I acknowledge the capability of a good set of IEMs, having tried out a few semi-high end ones myself. In the end though, I'd rather have over-ear headphones on my head than IEMs in my ear canals harvesting earwax.
On the same note, high-end IEMs usually utilise balanced armature drivers as opposed to the commonly used moving coil drivers of headphones, making them notably different in terms of technology. This is also probably why IEMs can be made to be multi-driver in such a small space.
Did you know that the Beats by Dr. Dre Solo HD headphones have a dual-driver configuration? The large 40 mm driver is responsible for the lows and mids, and the 15(?) mm tweeter is responsible for the highs. They are cleverly configured so that the tweeter is closer to your ear than the woofer, due to the difference in wavelengths.
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They are indeed a somewhat substantial improvement over the non-HD Solos, which suffered from over-prominent muddy bass.
Good timing with a comment about IEH seal to block outside noise. I'm getting a review unit from Etymotic, HF2 IEH with Android controls (http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/hf2.html) and apparently it comes with AWARENESS! app that somehow can tune a balance of noise isolation?!? Etymotic is known for their canalphones that do a great job of removing earwax considering their triple flange tips that get jammed right into your ear canal for the best sound isolation. So, I have no idea how they can accomplish any control with just an app where you have a physical ear tight seal. Will be interesting to find out. Plus, I'm curious how about microphonics on these since I heard mixed comments about it with all Etymotic IEH in general. Etymotic guys were at forefront of IEH development many years ago, as a matter of fact they state about inventing canalphone (in-ear) technology. I should be getting review sample early next week and will share my thoughts about it.
Apparently it has something called "Programmable Noise Isolation", which I'm guessing changes the phase timing of the inverted soundwaves used for noise isolation. If these inverted soundwaves weren't inverted, it would just be like the sounds pass through the earphone, bypassing the physical noise isolation.
vantt1 said:
Apparently it has something called "Programmable Noise Isolation", which I'm guessing changes the phase timing of the inverted soundwaves used for noise isolation. If these inverted soundwaves weren't inverted, it would just be like the sounds pass through the earphone, bypassing the physical noise isolation.
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It does makes sense to play around with phase inversion, but I'm still puzzled how do their communicate with ear pieces since noise sampling has to be done inside. You will need some adjustable phase inversion, thus some kind of a built in programmable control, and 2-way communication to send digital signal from the app on the phone to ear piece.
Btw another interesting find since you mentioned about using modified samsung headphones just for the purpose of in-line remote with volume control. I was looking for replacement cables for UE900 to wear it wire down, and came across these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2m-Handma...ayer_Cables_Adapters&var=&hash=item4175e56a9b
For $22 they have angle connector cable with Samsung in-line remote that has mic, multi-function control button, and volume controls!!! Its a samsung version of the cable. Of course I'm getting these and will review as soon as I have it. But perhaps if they can sell the cable with in-line remote and without those earphone connectors - it will be cheaper and cleaner to convert any in-ear headset with sammy controls.
vectron said:
It does makes sense to play around with phase inversion, but I'm still puzzled how do their communicate with ear pieces since noise sampling has to be done inside. You will need some adjustable phase inversion, thus some kind of a built in programmable control, and 2-way communication to send digital signal from the app on the phone to ear piece.
Btw another interesting find since you mentioned about using modified samsung headphones just for the purpose of in-line remote with volume control. I was looking for replacement cables for UE900 to wear it wire down, and came across these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2m-Handma...ayer_Cables_Adapters&var=&hash=item4175e56a9b
For $22 they have angle connector cable with Samsung in-line remote that has mic, multi-function control button, and volume controls!!! Its a samsung version of the cable. Of course I'm getting these and will review as soon as I have it. But perhaps if they can sell the cable with in-line remote and without those earphone connectors - it will be cheaper and cleaner to convert any in-ear headset with sammy controls.
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Yes that is a real mystery. Do you know if there is any active circuitry in those Etymotic IEMs? It's highly unlikely that it relies on the phone to perform the noise isolation.
I have a $600 pair of Beats Detox Pro Editions. I love using them with my Note II
and Power Amp. The ROM/Kernel you're using also has a major role in terms of loudness
output from the phone. The sound is crisp and engulfing with that setup.
This is a review of a new model of SMS Audio SYNC by 50 on-ear wireless headphones. http://smsby50.com/products/sync-by-50-on-ear-wireless
Before anyone makes a judgment of "uh, another pair of status headphones by a rapper", I want you to open up your mind and your ears because this is one of the BEST pairs of wireless headphones I have tested and reviewed so far. Period. And since it offers a hybrid option of being used either wireless or wired - the sound quality is almost the same when comparing it. To be honest, I didn't have a high expectation when I received these for review. But after charging it up and running through 4+ burn in (white/pink noise loop to condition drivers), I couldn't believe my ears how sweet these sounds and even took a trip to a nearest Best Buy for a/b comparison with the latest Beats Studio. By far the clear winner was SYNC by 50. Now let's go more into review details.
First, let's start with packaging. This sets a tone of the product quality even before you get to the headphones itself. Opening it up definitely felt like x-mas time going through your presents. You slide off the outside sleeve to reveal a big blue box, a common color scheme of black'n'blue with these headphones. Under the cover you are greeted with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson picture pointing at you like Uncle Sam "I want you" to join him. Another flipped cover and you get to the middle where you see a well crafted hard shell carrying case with a same black'n'blue design. Also in a side pocket you have owners manual, product catalog brochure, soft touch cleaning cloth (blue), and SMS Audio stickers (nice touch!). Yes, presentation is very impressive but it means absolutely nothing without a golden egg inside of that football shaped hard shell case. That's where we are headed next.
Once you take headphones out of the case you notice how light they are, at only 190g and with a neatly foldable design they fit snugly in the case which makes it easy for traveling. With a precise click action of the hinges, after unfolding these you can adjust the headband to your liking. The design and construction felt very sturdy, and plastic parts had a nice shiny piano finish where use of cleaning cloth will come very handy. The inner side of headband top has a foam cushioning wrapped in black leather with blue stitching. Earpads are marshmallow soft made out of ultra plush memory foam OVALFIT. Here is something a lot of people get confused, a difference between on-ear versus over-ear headphones. These are on-ear headphones which mean earpads will be smaller pressing against your ears creating an air pocket between drivers and your ear canal. Over-ear are typically bigger and go "over" your ear. I actually prefer on-ear design since it improves sound quality and doesn't "sweat" as much. One side of earphones has micro-usb charging port and opening for charging led, and I assume that's where battery is housed. Full charging from empty takes less then 4hr and battery should last 10-12hr which also depends on level of your listening volume. The other side has 3.5mm port to use a cable for wired application, built in mic, power on/off switch, and VERY WELL laid out playback and volume controls. The large round button in the middle, discretely hidden by S logo, is your play/pause/pickup/hangup call button. Volume up and down positioned logically at the top and the bottom, and track skip next/prev positioned at the front and the back. There is no second guessing or fumbling to locate these buttons, the layout makes perfect sense without looking at it, in daylight or at night.
I was happy to see physical on/off switch which also has dual functionality with a spring loaded push for Bluetooth pair up that was very fast and painless. These headphones support the latest Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX codec, and backward compatible with BT2.1, 3.0+EDR, and support HFP, HSP, A2DP, and AVRCP protocols. If you are out of battery juice or want to listen to a device without bluetooth connection, it's just as simple as plugging included cable and going wired. As a matter of fact, while paired up with my Note 2, I was going back'n'forth wired and wireless by connecting and disconnecting the cable. And speaking of cables, both usb to micro-usb and audio cables were included and neatly stored inside of the inner pocket of hard shell case. Both of the cables are crafted with black'n'blue theme, felt very heavy duty with a nice shielding and overall cool design details. I tested and found included usb cable to be ONLY for charging, not for data transfer. The audio cable has in-line remote with a single multi-function button and built-in mic. Multi-function button worked perfectly with Android devices with single click play/pause/call controls, double-click to skip next and triple-click to skip prev to control playback of music tracks. I also thought it was a great idea for the side of the connector going to your phone/tablet to be angled for a better strain relief.
With design and built quality covered, here comes the most important part - the sound quality. According to their website, these are professionally tuned 40mm drivers, and from my personal experience you always have to burn in these before starting to judge the sound. I did give it initial 4+ hours of burn in connected wired to my laptop while running white/pink noise loop. That really made a sound delivery shine and brought up a lot of details and clarity. That is normal and expected from true high quality drivers. Once I had them on, I couldn't put it down going through my collection of music. Another important point to note, I switched to using Neutron media player (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neutroncode.mp) and would HIGHLY recommend only to use that player for your audio if you want to unlock true potential of your multimedia phone or tablet. Don't get discouraged with enormous array of settings and control options. Take your time and you will really appreciate quality of it's 32/64-bit audio processing engine and audiophile controls. But audio player can only bring up the best of the source and in order to hear that you need drivers that can translate it into analog sound delivered to your ears. SYNC by 50 truly DELIVERED it with a perfectly balanced sound across entire frequency range with an extra bump in powerful bass delivery, yet without overpowering or distorting it, a vibrant mids and crisp highs sounding clear and natural, bringing vocals right in your face surrounded by details of other instruments around them. I'm not going to lie and tell you these sound better than my audiophile $400 UE900, but for wireless headphones these sound truly incredible, thanks to BT4.0 + aptX. I was also pleased with a soundstage of these and how clearly I was able to hear position of every sound. The dynamics and clarify also held very well over the whole volume range. While doing a/b comparison between wireless and wired, I can only mention a slight improvement in sound width and a few more sparkling details of high frequencies with wires on. Also I should mention while taking/making calls, sound was great and people on the other side had no complains except while connected wireless they felt my voice was a bit distant verses wired using in-line remote/mic.
Overall, I was VERY impressed with SYNC by 50 on-ear wireless headphones. Everything from the design details to controls and sound quality was executed perfectly. I have seen and read before about their previous over-ear wireless model with KLEER technology, but was put off by a need to use separate wireless transmitter. Looks like SMS Audio done their homework and put a lot of thought into improving the design while also following the latest technology trend of BT4.0+aptX, and that really paid off! If I have to think of some negatives, I would say not being able to know how much charge is left in the battery since there is no led or voice prompt indicator (unless I missed it), and also assuming some people with big size heads might find these headphones to be a bit tight on their nugget, judging this by my average size head where I felt fitment to be very comfortable but perhaps closer to it's limit in terms of tightness. Currently, you can only get these directly from www.smsaudio.com website and they retail for $229 and come in shadow black or cool silver. It is pricey, but considering design and sound quality, as well as factor of brand name recognition, these are a much better value then Beats. Plus keep in mind, once it becomes available on Amazon, you probably will be able to get a better discount deal. Definitely gets my recommendation!
Here are the pictures.
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Hi
First, thanks for your long review! I just want to ask you a question. Do the controls work with Android? Will it work with CM10.2 on a HTC One with PowerAMP?
And do you probably have pictures with you having the headphones on? I ask, because i recently bought the Soul by Ludacris SL150, but afterwards because they were too big i selled them again. Now i'm using the Beats by Dre Solo (Wired), which have about the perfect size for me.
zotac1907 said:
Hi
First, thanks for your long review! I just want to ask you a question. Do the controls work with Android? Will it work with CM10.2 on a HTC One with PowerAMP?
And do you probably have pictures with you having the headphones on? I ask, because i recently bought the Soul by Ludacris SL150, but afterwards because they were too big i selled them again. Now i'm using the Beats by Dre Solo (Wired), which have about the perfect size for me.
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Absolutely, both wireless and wired controls work perfectly with Android. Wireless Bluetooth protocol supports volume, playback, transport, and call controls. Wired doesn't support volume, but multifunction button works perfectly as I mentioned in my review.
Sorry, I don't usually take pictures with headphone on my head. It definitely sounds like you need on-ear headphones NOT over-ear since those are bigger. SL150 is on-ear as well but do look more wrapped around and bigger, just from the pictures I'm seeing. I think new SYNC by 50 on-ear will have a lot better fit. I don't know if they sell them in the store like Best Buy to try it out, but if you order from Amazon and find fit to be not perfect - can't you just return it back? Your other option is V-Moda M-80, check into my signature link for detailed review. It's probably the smallest on-ear portable headphones you can find, wired only. But there might be some comfort issues, although their sound it out of this world, the best out of everything I have tested. SYNC by 50 are very comfortable, marshmallow-comfortable and earpieces tilt relative to headband which I see SL150 doesn't have. You definitely get convenience of wired/wireless with SYNC, good bass response, excellent wireless sound quality, and comfort. A matter of comfort is something you will need to test it yourself since ymmv.
Thanks for the review.
Do the controls on the headphones work when the headphones are wired, like forwards and backwards playback, and also does the volume control lower the volume of the system or the headphones, when wired and wireless?
also can you use these at the gym ?
faddys123 said:
Thanks for the review.
Do the controls on the headphones work when the headphones are wired, like forwards and backwards playback, and also does the volume control lower the volume of the system or the headphones, when wired and wireless?
also can you use these at the gym ?
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When you use them wired you need to use remote built into the cable; that will control playback and call, but but not the volume. The controls on earcup are only for wireless operation. And of course it will be perfect for the gym to use wireless so you don't pull any wires when exercising. Or if you are next to treadmill and want to plug in your headphones, just use the wire.
Or and the volume lowers headphones volume, while you can adjust system volume separately. It's typical with all bluetooth headphones.
Hey, thank you for your review. Do you have any comparison to serious headphone brand like Sennheiser, AKG, Grado? Comparing to beats audio which is toy brand, not headphone brand is not really satisfying. If by UE900 you mean logitech it is not good recommendation to these SMS.
corckie said:
Hey, thank you for your review. Do you have any comparison to serious headphone brand like Sennheiser, AKG, Grado? Comparing to beats audio which is toy brand, not headphone brand is not really satisfying. If by UE900 you mean logitech it is not good recommendation that these SMS.
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If you are looking for a good audio quality and considering your references above, these will not satisfy you. Keep in mind, I got heavier into audio reviews later last year, so got a chance to run more comparison for the reference Old gen Beats are junk, though I heard new Beats might be better, but I can't comment on that since I didn't have a chance to test it (and have no plans for it). Contrary to that, Monster DNA Pro are serious audiophile quality. Back when I tested UE900, those were the best IEMs at the moment I had, while now I would not recommend them since you can have Westone W40 (or upcoming W30 which I hopefully get a chance to review) or Audio Technica's latest ATH-IM03 with a much better sound and build quality. So, my impression of SMS was based on my earlier impressions.
Yes, comparing them to Senns or AKG or Grado - they will not stand up. But considering their are in $200 price range and wireless, it adds a lot of value to them. I know Monster DNA Pro Wireless is about to be released, but they will be priced around $400+. I'm sure they will sound awesome, but that's double the price. Actually, I think you might want to look into UE9000 over-ear wireless (though battery powered for ANC): www.amazon.com/Logitech-UE-9000-Wireless-Headphones/dp/B0094S37GS/ - I heard a lot of good things about these. Considering UE just discontinued all of their in-/on-/over-ear headphones (only UE900s is left), you can get UE9000 on amazon for under $300.
vectron said:
Yes, comparing them to Senns or AKG or Grado - they will not stand up. But considering their are in $200 price range and wireless, it adds a lot of value to them. I know Monster DNA Pro Wireless is about to be released, but they will be priced around $400+. I'm sure they will sound awesome, but that's double the price. Actually, I think you might want to look into UE9000 over-ear wireless (though battery powered for ANC): www.amazon.com/Logitech-UE-9000-Wireless-Headphones/dp/B0094S37GS/ - I heard a lot of good things about these. Considering UE just discontinued all of their in-/on-/over-ear headphones (only UE900s is left), you can get UE9000 on amazon for under $300.
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I already own pair of Sennheiser MM 550-X which I chose after lots of hearing and research. I compared them to beats audio (which generally are not worth even 1/10th of their price), AKG, Sony MDR-1RBT, Parrot ZIK and many more. By far 550's have the best sound quality and virtually no lag, I couldn't say if they are wired or not. But I am always open to something better and I thought that these SMS could compete. By price tag I would expect they sound at least as good as 550's, but unfortunatelly they seem to be as overpriced as Beats Audio. However I thought I would give them a shot and tomorrow I will hopefully have an oportunity to listen to them.
I'm surprised you mentioned $200 price of these SMS, because where I live 550-X are priced $500 and Audio Sync by 50 are priced $550. Maybe that's why I expected a lot from them. Now I see that this comparison is a little pointless, so I think that by now I should stick to 550-X. They are really badass wireless headphones, but I think that there still is room for improvement.
$500?!? Is that UK price or something? They definitely not worth that much.
vectron said:
$500?!? Is that UK price or something? They definitely not worth that much.
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Poland. SMS brand just entered the market so probably they try to position themselves as premium brand and we have so called "being new tax" when sellers raise prices to the skies for first few weeks to get higher profit from people who are unpatient and will buy no matter the price. So after all these headphones are not really worth considering.
They look very good
Sent from my g2 using Tapatalk
I have wired Beats Studio v2, and I want to buy a wireless headphones, so my choice was Beats Studio v2 wireless, beacause is the same model as the wired one but without wire (obviously), so I already know everything about this headphones. But I always wanted to buy SMS Audio and now that I read your review I'm really undecided. Beats got an incredible ANC system and I love it, because when I travel by train or bus I'm completely isolated from other people's noise, are the SMS isolated so well? Thanks for your response
Curtis7990 said:
I have wired Beats Studio v2, and I want to buy a wireless headphones, so my choice was Beats Studio v2 wireless, beacause is the same model as the wired one but without wire (obviously), so I already know everything about this headphones. But I always wanted to buy SMS Audio and now that I read your review I'm really undecided. Beats got an incredible ANC system and I love it, because when I travel by train or bus I'm completely isolated from other people's noise, are the SMS isolated so well? Thanks for your response
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Beats have active noise isolation, it's more effective because it samples outside noise and cancels it out by adding a flipped waveform of that noise. But as a result you get a humming noise which affects background noise floor thus making a sound not as crystal clear. Other headphones like SMS do passive noise isolation (if I remember correctly since I don't have it anymore), which just blocks outside noise by providing a good earpad seal, though sound quality improves because you have black background. I can't speak for the latest Beats headphones since I didn't have a chance to review them. Never had luck getting Beats review samples since they favor more social medial channels with lots of subscribers or Apple crowd, and do NOT care about XDA-Developers Android community Now with Apple acquisition they definitely don't care about review on XDA-Dev lol!!!
vectron said:
Beats have active noise isolation, it's more effective because it samples outside noise and cancels it out by adding a flipped waveform of that noise. But as a result you get a humming noise which affects background noise floor thus making a sound not as crystal clear. Other headphones like SMS do passive noise isolation (if I remember correctly since I don't have it anymore), which just blocks outside noise by providing a good earpad seal, though sound quality improves because you have black background. I can't speak for the latest Beats headphones since I didn't have a chance to review them. Never had luck getting Beats review samples since they favor more social medial channels with lots of subscribers or Apple crowd, and do NOT care about XDA-Developers Android community Now with Apple acquisition they definitely don't care about review on XDA-Dev lol!!!
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Thanks for your answer. All I want to know is, can I hear other people talk while wearing SMS Sync? I travel a lot and is important to me to just listen music, without background noise like people or street noise. This happen with Beats, but as you said sound is not properly clear. Thanks
I tried to hook it open on my Samsung galaxy s6 edge but it didn't work? Can u tell me why?
I am kind of hard of hearing.
I am looking for suggestions on the following for headphones/buds. I would prefer buds but over the ear is okay.
1. Loud. (Loud enough to use while I am mowing the lawn and weed eating) I listen to both music and podcasts.
2. Clear/Good sound.
3. Not too expensive.
First one that says "Beats" gets my AR-15 pulled on them. Though no one should make that suggestion since two of my requirements are that they sound good and are inexpensive.
I use the ones that came with my M8 for everyday use and I had a certain set that I used while mowing. (They were earbuds and came with one of my MOTO phones I think) I broke them the other day mowing when they caught on the handle of the pull start and ripped apart.
Anyway, is anyone in a similar situation that has suggestions for me?
Also, down the road, I would like to find some BT earbuds or headphones that fit the same criteria.
If you have seen a sticky with all my reviews (also the link in my signature), I reviewed a ton of headphones. When it comes to wired ones and on a budget, Xiaomi Pistons might be a good choice for you but wires will get in the way. Speaking from a personal experience when I'm working in my backyard, you need to go with a wireless headset. I absolutely enjoy using my LG HBS-730 because of all the controls under my fingers. HBS-800 has a better sound, but some of the controls are not as easy to access and 800 cost $90 while 730 is on sale for $43 now. Both were reviewed and in my list. 730 is a great choice under $50, you can get it loud enough, and all the controls are easy to access.
It really depends on what you want to use them for.. Yes obviously listen to music but is that all?. Do you want a pair for watching movies with big sound or are they just for your way to work on the bus..
Perso, I bought the cheapest pair of sony buds and they work like a charm.
On a side note, if your hard at hearing why would the sound quality be a priority since your probably going to phase out the deeper hrz you would find on more expensive gear.....
If somewhat hard of hearing, I think sound isolating headphones (either closed back ones that just keep sound out, or active noise cancellation ones) would be the way to go. In my experience, managing the signal-to-noise ratio is as important as total volume. Knock out the background noise, and the signal that you want to hear will be easier to hear at moderate volume.
Xiaomi Piston 2 have very good sound from what I have read. If you use Comply tips they will also isolate very well.
Xiaomi Piston IF Commemorative Edition (With more tips)
Xiaomi Piston Design 2.0 Earphones
They are both the same
vectron said:
If you have seen a sticky with all my reviews (also the link in my signature), I reviewed a ton of headphones. When it comes to wired ones and on a budget, Xiaomi Pistons might be a good choice for you but wires will get in the way. Speaking from a personal experience when I'm working in my backyard, you need to go with a wireless headset. I absolutely enjoy using my LG HBS-730 because of all the controls under my fingers. HBS-800 has a better sound, but some of the controls are not as easy to access and 800 cost $90 while 730 is on sale for $43 now. Both were reviewed and in my list. 730 is a great choice under $50, you can get it loud enough, and all the controls are easy to access.
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Sorry for just now getting back here but I have been busy. Thanks for the replies. As recommended both by you and note10 I will check out the Pistons.
As for the LG BT buds, I picked up a pair a few months ago at the Verizon store. A lot of the employees in the stores had them on so I specifically asked about quality and volume. I was told they were great. So I bought them. They were the LG Pro. On sale for $59.
Well they sounded like crap. no volume and it was like I was listening through a tin can. So I took them back. Someone I know was working theat day and I told him my problem. And he was wearing a pair. So this guy leveled with me. The ones they are carrying are the second gen and they have been getting them all back. Just about everybody in the store that was wearing them had the first gens. Huge difference.
obtuce said:
It really depends on what you want to use them for.. Yes obviously listen to music but is that all?. Do you want a pair for watching movies with big sound or are they just for your way to work on the bus..
Perso, I bought the cheapest pair of sony buds and they work like a charm.
On a side note, if your hard at hearing why would the sound quality be a priority since your probably going to phase out the deeper hrz you would find on more expensive gear.....
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I will mostly use them around the house and yard work for both music and podcasts of talk shows.
As for wanting sound quality, I am hard of hearing, not deaf. I have losses in some upper ranges. And I also have tinnitus which is mainly why I need the louder volume. I still like deep rich bases and clear highs (at least the ones I can hear)
Skullcandy
I don't like buying headphones that are too expensive. That's why I bough the Skullcandy Ink'd 2.0. They seem to be really solid headphones and even after 5 times in the washing machine were working for me. :good:
They can go pretty loud and they're really clear audio quality. That is my recommendation
If volume is the biggest problem, something like a Fiio E11 ask amp, or even an E6, would help.
However, I fully agree you should first focus on isolation and clarity, thus salvaging whatever hearing you can. Foam tips are your friend.
Bluetooth will likely never be as loud or as clear as plugging directly in, also.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
For me it is BT headphones.
Hello, my House of Marley Earbuds recently broke and now I'm searching for an replacement. I'm not sure if I buy wired headphones again or switch to wireless headphones. Can someone recommend me some good headphones under 40$ ? Is there also a pair of wireless earbuds with an wired option (that would be ideal) ?
Do you want earbuds, in ear monitors, or headphones? Those are 3 different things. Earbuds, just like apple ipods that don't have a nozzle that goes into your earcanal, the best price/performance ratio in that category is $5 VE Monk+. In ear monitors (IEM) have a nozzle that goes into your ear, a more traditional, probably like the one you had before where you have a nozzle and different size eartips you select to make a better seal. If you want a killer price/performance ratio iems, try Meeaudio RX18, they are on amazon for $5-$6.
It has been awhile since I reviewed budget headphones, back when I used to review and to post on XDA, but I can tell you will not be disappointed with either of these $5 budget gems. Both have a very impressive sound quality, and shows you that you don't need to spend even $40 to get a good iem. Also, IEMs by KZ, like KZ ATE model which you can find for $12-$13 are very good. Of course, there are TOTL flagship iems that cost thousands of dollars, but that's not for XDA discussion
Thank's for the explanation ?. I mean't the In ear monitors. I'l check out the Meeaudio RX18.
What do you think about the Xiaomi Hybrid ?
And is it a good idea to buy a pair of Bluetooth i montiros (mostly for watching YouTube and gamimg) ?
Frostplexx said:
Thank's for the explanation . I mean't the In ear monitors. I'l check out the Meeaudio RX18.
What do you think about the Xiaomi Hybrid ?
And is it a good idea to buy a pair of Bluetooth i montiros (mostly for watching YouTube and gamimg) ?
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Xiaomi makes great stuff, you probably gonna like it! You can never go wrong with hybrids that usually feature dynamic driver (for the bass) and Balanced Armature "BA" driver for mids and treble.
You can find a ton of bluetooth IEMs, typically a pair of earpieces connected by a "wire" with in-line remote. They sound OK, but not all of them have a decent fit/comfort. With a wire-down fit they can fall out easily as you move around. Again, for example, Meeaudio has X6 Plus wireless sports in-ear monitors that have over-ear fit so it stays comfortably in your ear and those are reasonably priced under $30. In general when you are a looking for wireless budget iems, keep in mind that just because they look cool they might not function as good. Big fancy earpieces can easily fall out of your ears, and when you start fiddling with in-line remote to play/pause/skip/volume adjustment - earpieces can also fall out when you pull on the wire. So, over ear fit, regardless if its Meeaudio or someone else - is more desirable.
Another thing to keep in mind, most of these are BT4.1. Definitely make sure they support aptX codec, you will get better sound quality. But be aware, the current mainstream BT protocol still has a sync delay between video and audio. For playing music it's fine, but once you start watching YT or Netflix or playing games, you can have some delay. It's a gray area because I have seen some companies selling low-latency Bluetooth transceivers but not sure if there are headphones to support it yet...
Thank you for your help. I just bought the Xiaomi Hybrid.
Frostplexx said:
Thank you for your help. I just bought the Xiaomi Hybrid.
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Don't forget to come back and share your impressions!
The In ear monitors just arrived and they sound great. They sit also very well in my ears butt its a little tricky to get them in your ears because of the angled design. The only thing that I don't understand is why they change the cable midway from sleeved to rubber. I would recommend these in ear monitors.
Frostplexx said:
The In ear monitors just arrived and they sound great. They sit also very well in my ears butt its a little tricky to get them in your ears because of the angled design. The only thing that I don't understand is why they change the cable midway from sleeved to rubber. I would recommend these in ear monitors.
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Like in the attachment? That one is Xiaomi Pistons 3, so probably similar.
When cable rubs against your clothe, it can create microphonics effect, and it can get worse with that braided sleeve. That's why they change it to rubber sleeving going up above the y-splitter. Plus, rubber sleeving is more durable which makes sense to have at the top, because the clothe braid will be wearing off faster and can get loose after awhile.
Ok that makes sense. I noticed when I wear the headphones for a longer period of time they start hurting a little bit, but i think thats because u have pretty small ears.