Wednesday, April 30, 2014

2014 Headphone Shootout Part 3: Wireless

In this years Headphone Shootout, due too the high demand, we have a new category: wireless. Wireless gives you better freedom, hence the rise in popularity. And we have some great models represented. They are the BeeWi BBH300 with a MSRP of $150, the JBL Synchros S400BT for $230 MSRP, and the Velodyne vBold with $350 MSRP.

The BeeWi BBH300 had a nice looking box with photos of the device, its specs, and magnetic cover that allowed you to open and see the headphones. They were mostly plastic in materials, with soft leather earpads. Quality of materials was good, as was the fit and finish. They were more of an on the ear design. Also included was a hard zipper case, airplane adaptor, 1/4" adapter, multiple cables, and a docking station. And they were pretty comfortable to wear.

Features and Specs:
Audio Specifications 
Driver36 mm
Frequency range20Hz to 20000Hz
Impedance32 Ohm
Sensitivity100dB SPL max
  
General Specifications  
Bluetooth Range 10 meter / 33 feet
Battery Life 18h play / 80h stand by
Color available white / black
AccessoriesRoad-case, international power adapter, 80 cm Audio Cable, Airplane adapter...
I was surprised with all you get for the price with the BeeWi BBH300. It is quite the unique product. It came with a regular cable so you can listen to non Bluetooth sources. But what was really cool was the docking station. You can use it to charge the headphones, but that's not all. It can also connect to a surround sound receiver, and allow your receiver to play wireless content.


Listening to the BeeWi BBH300 was a different story.  Pairing Bluetooth devices can yield mixed results.  Some are more difficult to pair than others.  This model seemed to be one of those products.  I was unable to pair with 2 headphones, but was successful with my laptop.  And while there is a cable included that would allow listening to them with a standard wired device, you may not want to.  They sounded ok when used wirelessly, but sound quality takes a big hit when using them wired.  And they were good for around 20 feet before you would get drops in audio.

Listening wired:
Fresh Aire: Creatures of Levania sounded warm and oddly filtered/muffled with a lack of highs.  Bass was there and had some depth but not much authority.  The flute was there but did not have a lot of resolution and sounded far away.  Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, the clarinet sounded somewhat natural as did the horns, but they all sounded distant.  Imaging was ok.  The cymbals had some crispness to them.  Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, vocals sounded natural yet distance and recessed, almost like performing without a mic.  The harmonica sounded natural with ok resolution.  Justin Timberlake: Sexyback, bass was there and punchy in the upper midbass and again sounded recessed and had little depth or output.  Vocals were again recessed and distant with the lead singer.  Guitar sounded clear. 

Listening wireless:
Fresh Aire: Creatures of Levania, bass had nice extension and good output and authority.  Flute had good air with ok resolution.  The strings also sounded natural.  Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue clarinet sounded natural and only slightly distant.  Imaging was ok as was the size of the soundstage.  Horns and piano sounded natural.  Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, vocals were sufficiently natural as was the harmonica.  The bass guitar had good extension and played with authority.  Imaging was also good.  Justin Timberlake: Sexyback, had nice bass extension and depth, and played with very good impact and authority.  Vocals sounded natural with some resolution.  Imaging was good again.  Sound was much better wireless than they were wired.

Next up is the JBL Synchros S400BT. The JBL Synchros for a more traditional DJ style over the ear headphone design.  The earpads were leather wrapped and over the ear design.  Only the left earcup also had touch controls on the exterior.  They were also a CES Innovations Award Honoree for 2014.

The JBL Synchros S400BT came in the traditional attractive looking box with pics of the headphones and their specs. Opening the box revealed a semi-hard zipper case, which housed the headphones. Also included was the owners manual, and cables. One cable was for charging, while the other was for listening to a standard non-wireless device. The construction comprised of both plastic and metal, with soft leather earcups, which also swiveled and folded for portability and convenience. Fit and finish and the quality of materials used was very good. They felt solid and very durable as well. They were very comfortable to wear. I also liked the interior pocket of the case, to hold the manual and cables.


Features and Specs:
General Specifications
Rated Power Input
30mW
Audio Specifications
Frequency Response
10Hz – 22kHz
Maximum SPL
115dB @ 30mW
Speaker Specifications
Driver
Premium 40mm drivers
Dimensions
Depth (in)
3
Depth (mm)
77
Height (in)
7-1/2
Height (mm)
190
Width (in)
5-3/4
Width (mm)
146
Product Features
JBL Professional Audio Sound with PureBass Performance and aptX encoding.
Sound modeled after industry leading JBL professional audio speakers delivers a balanced audio experience with amazing clarity and deep powerful bass, while advanced aptX encoding lets you experience the highest possible wireless sound quality available.
Bluetooth® 3.0 wireless freedom with innovative touch sensor controls and NFC technology simplify the user experience.
Wireless technology liberates you from the hassles of wires, while NFC technology on the right outer earcup simplifies the Bluetooth pairing process. The innovative touch sensor controls on the left earcup enable you to advance tracks, adjust volume, and play or pause your music, as well as take your calls – all with an easy swipe of your finger anywhere along the earcup’s surface.
Unique LED Lighting Feature
A unique LED lighting feature responds intuitively to every adjustment made to your headphones’ touch sensor control system, following the direction that you swipe your finger across the earcup.

Using the JBL Synchros S400BT was very easy.  I was able to very easily pair them to both my laptop and 2 cell phones.  Controlling them with a swipe of  finger for volume, tracks, play/pause, etc. was also easy and worked well.  They also sounded the same whether I was listening with or without the cord.  When it came to distance, I also got these to a little over 20 feet before I started to have drops in signal.  It was a little shorter than I was expecting, but they sounded great. 

Fresh Aire:  Creatures of Levania, had very good bass extension and output with good authority.  Flute sounded natural with very good resolution and air, with audible tonguing and texture.  Imaging was very good, and the strings were smooth.  Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, clarinet was natural and really clean with very good resolution.  Brass was smooth without being too brassy.  Piano sounded very natural.  The soundstage was big with very good imaging as well.  Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, excellent low bass from the bass guitar and played with good authority.  Vocals were natural with excellent texture.  Harmonica was really clean, dynamic, with excellent harmonics.  The percussion was crisp, and the soundstage was big.  Justin Timberlake: Sexyback had very good bass extension, impact, and authority.  Imaging was also very good.  Vocals were smooth, with excellent timbre, resolution, and dynamics.

Last but not least is the Velodyne vBold, bluetooth wireless over-ear reference headphones. Velodyne has been known for their excellent home theater subwoofers. In recent years they have come into the headphone market and have people taking notice. The vBold are a rather large over the ear design.

Features and Specs:
Make a statement. vBold®Our wireless headphones offer Bluetooth® connectivity compatible with your iPhone®, iPod Touch®, iPad® or any Bluetooth® capable device. Wireless sound reproduction is accurate and true thanks to aptX® coding. A direct connect audio cable is included for optional wired connection.

Collapsible design
In addition to the convenience of being wireless, the vBold can be folded up for compact storage. Now you can bring Velodyne’s legendary audio technology with you anywhere you go.

Signature style
International artist, Marta Hall, created the signature style and shape of the vBold. You get the best in style with Velodyne’s accurate and true sound experience.

Built-in rechargeable battery
The vBold features a built-in rechargeable battery that allows for 10+ hours of talk and music listening time. A micro USB charging cable is included for charging your headphone.

Features:
• Outstanding wireless sound quality utilizing apt-X® coding
• Bluetooth® v2.1 connectivity with >30 foot range
• Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology
• Intuitive controls
• High-quality microphone for phone & online video games
• Energy efficient design with exceptional battery life
• Collapsible design for easy storage
• Available in 2 stylish colors: Matte Black & Satin Silver

Accessories:
• 4 foot, 3.5 mm (3/8") audio bypass cable
• 1/8" to 1/4" plug adapter
• Micro USB charging cable
• Carrying pouch

Specifications:
Driver size: 40 mm
Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 105 dB/1 kHz/1 mW
Impedance: 32Ω
Frequency range: 2.4Ghz – 2.4835GHz
Transmission range: Up to 10 m (33’)
Power: Lithium-ion polymer battery, 3.7V/430mAh (rechargeable)
Operating temperature: 0 C – 40 C
Supports Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR, A2DP v1.2, AVRCP v1.0, HSP v1.2, HFP v1.6
Supports codecs SBC, AAC, apt-X

Battery Specifications:
100 hours standby
10 hours talk and music
1.5 hours recharge time

The box is a more premium glossy print look with pics of the headphones, and their features. Opening the box revealed the headphones, along with a simple card with instructions. Also included were a cloth carrying case, and two cables. One cable was for charging, and the other was for listening to standard non-wireless devices. Materials used in construction were mostly plastic, with soft leather earpads. While they appeared to be plastic, the finish seemed to have more of a soft feel to it. Quality of materials used were very good, as was the fit and finish. They felt durable as well, but not quite as durable as the JBL's. They were also very comfortable to wear.

Like the JBL's, the Velodyne vBold was very easy to pair with my cell phones and laptop.  Controlling it with the hard buttons was very easy and worked well.  Having hard buttons may not be as elegant looking as using touch controls, but I preferred it.  The real shocker was the Bluetooth performance of the built-in radio.  I'm skeptical to say, because it could be just a fluke with the one that I received, but here is what I found.  When testing the range, I got the 20 foot mark where the others started to have drops and I just kept walking.  I was testing it in my home, for real world situations.  I was down stairs, and ended up walking past the 20 feet mark and kept walking into my kitchen.  It was still going.  I then opened my patio door and walked into the back yard.....still going with no drops yet!  I turned around in awe, and went back inside.  I then walked all around my house, in other rooms, closing doors, even taking them upstairs and walked all around upstairs....still no drops!  I can't see anyone needing more than that, but I wanted to see just what they could do.  So I took my paired cell phone and set it on my front porch, and started to walk down the street.  I finally started to get dropped signals......at over 250 feet!!!  I turned around and got signal back, and walking back I got dropped signal again when I was about 100 feet away from my phone.  Amazing!!!  Like I said, I may have just gotten lucky, but that's what I got.

Fresh Aire: Creatures of Levania, had nice low bass output.  The flute was really clean with excellent air and resolution.  The strings were smooth.  Gershwin:  Rhapsody in Blue, had clean clarinet that had very good woodiness and texture.  The brass was smooth.  The soundstage was huge with imaging that was very good.  Percussion was crisp and dynamic with no noticeable decay, and the piano sounded natural.  Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, vocals sounded excellent with good resolution and texture.  Harmonica was really clean and dynamic.  The drums had good impact and midbass.  Justin Timberlake: Sexyback, had nice deep bass that hit hard with good impact and authority.  Vocals sounded natural with very good detail and texture, and was very dynamic.  Imaging was also very good.  The sound was very good overall like reference headphones should sound, and the bass output was what I was expecting from a name like Velodyne.


All in all, we have some good wireless products, based on the MSRP.  The BeeWi BBH300 was only $150 and gave a lot of functionality with the included docking station.  While sound was just "ok," you have to also realize that part of the money for that goes into the docking station and wireless functionality.  The sound was not the same when listening wired, but they are more ment for use wirelessly.  The JBL Synchos S400BT had the performance I was expecting from JBL.  The same can also be said about the Velodyne vBold.  Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the JBL Synchos S400BT has earned our Highly Recommended Award, and the Velodyne vBold has earned our Editor's Choice Award.  For more features and complete specs check out their websites at www.bee-wi.com, www.jbl.com, and www.velodyne.com.


This completes this year's Headphone Shootout.  We had some great products from some just as good manufactures.  And the wireless category was fun.  Most products were priced right and performed as expected based on their MSPR.  However there were some, such as the Velodyne vBold that really surprised, with their wireless performance.  Hopefully this gave some great ideas on some purchase decisions.  Happy Listening!


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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Available in U.S. Beginning May 1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Available in U.S. Beginning May 1
 
Latest Galaxy Tab series combines value with versatility
 
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. -- April 23, 2014 -- Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today introduced three new tablets as part of the Galaxy Tab line. The 7-, 8-, and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 4 tablets offer a variety of screen-size options, providing various form factors to meet the needs of consumers and businesses alike. The Wi-Fi-enabled Galaxy Tab 4 portfolio, featuring a lightweight profile with thin bezels and a textured backing, will be available in the U.S. beginning May 1, with pre-orders starting tomorrow.

“This latest addition to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab family combines versatility with value,” said Michael Abary, senior vice president of mobile computing, Samsung Electronics America. “The HD display, multitasking capabilities and easy sharing features make the Galaxy Tab 4 a great fit for both consumers and businesses.”

With its HD display, the Galaxy Tab 4 makes a great entertainment companion for the whole family. Multi User Mode lets each member of the family make the Tab 4 their own with private, customizable profiles. Kids Mode allows parents to set limits for their children, restricting accessible apps and managing length of play.
 
Content You Want
Samsung continues to partner with leading news, productivity and entertainment sources to provide premium content for the Galaxy Tab 4. With Galaxy Perks, consumers have access to popular and best-selling news, social media, and cloud storage applications including: Google Play, Dropbox, Sirius XM and Audible.com.  For more information, visit www.samsung.com/us/galaxyperks.
 
Preloaded apps like Netflix and WatchOn instantly make the Galaxy Tab 4 perfect for viewing content and managing your entertainment.
 
Ready to Work
Whether in-the-field, at home or at the office, the Tab 4 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1 keep users connected securely, with built-in features that support enterprise-grade VPN, corporate email, on-device encryption and scalable mobile device management. The Galaxy Tab 4 lineup gives users the portability and performance they need to work on the go. Powerful quad-core processors and Samsung’s innovative Multi Window functionality provide multitasking capabilities, enabling users to simultaneously view two apps at once and drag and drop content with ease.
 
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 line will be offered in a choice of black or white. The new tablets will be available for purchase from major retailers nationwide on May 1 with pre-sales beginning April 24 at Samsung.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Fry’s, Office Depot, OfficeMax, PC Richard and Son, Sears, and Tiger Direct. AT&T will offer the 4G LTE Galaxy Tab 4 this summer. Sprint will offer the 4G LTE Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 this summer. T-Mobile will offer the 4G LTE Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 this summer. Verizon Wireless will offer the 4G LTE Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and 10.1 this summer.
 
The Wi-Fi enabled Galaxy Tab 4 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1 will be priced at $199.99, $269.99 and $349.99, respectively.
 
For multimedia content and more information, please visit www.samsungmobileuspress.com.

 
Galaxy Tab 4 (10.1) Product Specifications

Category
Specifications
Network
4G LTE & Wi-Fi-only
Processor
1.2 GHz Quad-core
Display
10-inch WXGA (1280x800)
OS
Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Camera / Flash
- Rear: 3 MP
- Front: 1.3 MP
Video
Recording/Playback: 720p/1080p at 30 fps
Audio
3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo Speaker
Content Services / Applications
MultiWindow, Samsung Kies, Samsung Apps
Free Downloadable
apps
ChatOn, Group Play, Samsung Link
Google Mobile Services
Hangouts, Google+, Gmail, Chrome, Google Play, Google Maps, Play Music, Play Movies&TV, Play Books, Play Newsstand, Play Games, Drive, YouTube, Photos
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n , Wi-Fi Direct, BT4.0, USB2.0
GPS
GPS GLONASS
Memory
1.5GB RAM
16GB storage
Micro SD (up to 64GB)
Dimension / Weight
243.4 x 176.4 x 7.95mm, 487g
Battery
6,800mAh
 

 
Galaxy Tab 4 (8.0) Product Specifications

Category
Specifications
Network
4G LTE & Wi-Fi-only
Processor
1.2 GHz Quad-core
Display
8-inch WXGA (1280x800)
OS
Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Camera / Flash
- Rear: 3 MP
- Front: 1.3 MP
Video

Recording/Playback: 720p/1080p at 30 fps
Audio
3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo Speaker
Content Services / Applications
MultiWindow, Samsung Kies, Samsung Apps
Free Downloadable
apps
ChatOn, Group Play, Samsung Link
Google Mobile Services
Hangouts, Google+, Gmail, Chrome, Google Play, Google Maps, Play Music, Play Movies&TV, Play Books, Play Newsstand, Play Games, Drive, YouTube, Photos
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n , Wi-Fi Direct, BT4.0, USB2.0
GPS
GPS GLONASS
Memory
1.5GB RAM
16GB storage
Micro SD (up to 64GB)
Dimension / Weight
124.0 x 210.0 x 7.95mm, 320g
Battery
4,450mAh
 

 
  Galaxy Tab 4 (7.0) Product Specifications

Category
Specifications
Network
4G LTE & Wi-Fi-only
Processor
1.2 GHz Quad-core
Display
7-inch WXGA (1280x800)
OS
Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Camera / Flash
- Rear: 3 MP
- Front: 1.3 MP
Video
Recording/Playback: 720p/1080p at 30 fps
Audio
3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo Speaker
Content Services / Applications
MultiWindow, Samsung Kies, Samsung Apps
Free Downloadable
apps
ChatOn, Group Play, Samsung Link
Google Mobile Services
Hangouts, Google+, Gmail, Chrome, Google Play, Google Maps, Play Music, Play Movies&TV, Play Books, Play Newsstand, Play Games, Drive, YouTube, Photos
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n , Wi-Fi Direct, BT4.0, USB2.0
GPS
GPS GLONASS
Memory
1.5GB RAM
8/16GB storage
micro SD (up to 32GB) - Wi-Fi
micro SD (up to 64GB) - 4G LTE
Dimension / Weight
107.9 x 186.9 x 9 mm, 276g
Battery
4,000mAh

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion.
 
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology.  A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more of the award-winning products you love with Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com


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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Kingston Digital Releases Larger Capacity mSATA Drives

Kingston Digital Releases Larger Capacity mSATA Drives    
 
Fountain Valley, CA – April 21, 2014 – Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the addition of 240GB and 480GB capacities to the existing SSDNow mS200 mSATA SSD line. Kingston’s SSDNow mS200 mSATA solid-state drive allows system builders and enthusiasts a cost-effective performance boost with quicker boot time and application loads while requiring less power than HDDs.
The mS200’s small-form factor is perfect for notebook, tablet and Ultrabook™ PCs, as well as a variety of embedded systems. It can also be used as a caching device with motherboards that support Intel® Smart Response Technology (SRT) to improve system performance. mS200 has read speeds up to 550MB/s and write speeds up to 520MB/s.
The 30GB, 60GB, 120GB, 240GB and 480GB mS200 mSATA SSDs have a caseless, PCB-only design with no moving parts and are backed by a two- or three-year warranty, free technical support and legendary Kingston® reliability. For more information visit http://www.kingston.com/.


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Headphone Shootout Part 2: The IEM's

Next up are the In-Ear Monitors. We have some great models, starting with the Jabra Sport Wireless+ $100 MSRP. The Om Audio Inearpeace 2-way IEM has $199 MSRP, followed by the Audio-Technica IM03 3-way with an MSRP of $399. Last but not least is the custom Westone ES50 5-way with MSRP starting at $999 ($1299 as reviewed).

The Jabra Sport Wireless+ is designed to give a huge bang for the buck! Not only is it wireless, but it has you protected against any workout environment, other than a pool. It's IPX4 rating is rated to protect against dust and rain. It also has a built-in FM Tuner, so you don't have to use a separate player such as a cell phone.


Features and Specs:

  • Connectivity

    • Wireless Technology: Bluetooth
      Supports Bluetooth™ for wireless connectivity
    • Bluetooth version: 3.0
      Supports Bluetooth® version 3.0
    • AVRCP: Yes
      You can control your music from this device when it's streaming from another device, such as your mobile phone
    • Music Streaming: Yes
      Device can stream music from a source, such as a Smartphone, Bluetooth enabled laptop, tablet, or MP3 player
  • Microphone

    • Microphone Type: Omni Directional/noise filter
      Enhances call clarity by eliminating background noise from the office.
    • Mute function: Yes
      Mute gives you the option to mute/unmute the microphone directly on the device
  • Battery & Power

    • Talk Time: Up to 4 hours
      Talk Time is the maximum time you can talk before a device runs out of power
    • Standby Time: Up to 120 hour(s)
      Standby Time is the maximum time a device can remain powered on
  • Design

    • Wearing Style: Behind-the-ear
      Behind-the-ear wearing style
    • Ear Cushion Type:
      • Large (L) sized ear gels
      • Medium (M) sized ear gels
      • Small (S) sized ear gels

Opening the box revealed a well protected product, in custom molded foam. Also included are the owners manual, soft bag, USB charging cable, and multiple sized rubber ear tips. Construction was mostly made of plastic with some rubber. Quality of materials used as well as the fit and finish was very good.  MSRP of $99 is quite aggressive for an IPX4 rated wireless product.  A good portion of the cost will have gone into those features.  I'm sure they won't sound as good as $100 headphones, but you will be getting a lot more bang for your buck.




In Fresh Aire: Creatures of Levania the flute was clean and the bass had ok extension but did not play with much authority. Although that was mostly due to the fact that I had a hard time getting a good seal. The strings were nice and crisp.  Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue had natural sounding clarinet with woodiness that was just barely discernible.  Imaging was good as was the soundstage, and they were sufficiently dynamic.  In Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, vocals were natural, and the harmonica was clean with nice harmonics.  The percussion was fairly dynamic.  Justin Timberlake: Sexyback, vocals were natural and dynamic with good imaging, texture, and resolution.  Holding in the monitor so I got a better seal, the bass had good extension and played with authority.

The IEM's from OM Audio are quite unique. Most IEM's use dynamic drivers, which have potentially excellent bass response. Higher priced models use balanced armature drivers, which have excellent mids and highs performance. Better performing models use multiple balanced armature drivers. One for the lows and one for the highs. But they still use balanced armature drivers, including for the lows. Here Om Audio goes unconventional, but what makes sense. They use a balanced armature for the mids and highs, and a dynamic driver for the lows.

Features and specs:
SPECIFICATIONSINEARPEACE
TypeHybrid
Driver One (highs/mids)Balanced Armature
Driver Two (bass)Coiled Bass Driver
Driver Diameter10mm
Frequency Response20Hz to 20kHz
Sensitivity101dB / 126mV @1kHz
Impedance118dB/V at 1kHz
Connections3.5mm
Mic/controlsIn-line controls w/mic
ColorsBlack, White

They came in an attractive box with photo of the product with it's features and specs. Included are instructions on how to use the in-line controls, a hard zippered case and additional sized eartips. Materials used are mostly plastic. Fit and finish and quality of construction is quite good.


 Fresh Aire: Creatures of Levania had good bass extension, air in the flute, and good resolution.  Imaging was also quite good, as was the size of the soundstage.  Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue had a bigger soundstage and better imaging than expected. Clarinet sounded smooth and the piano sounded natural.  Horns weren't too brassy.  Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, vocals wounded very natural with nice harmonics.  The harmonica sounded really clean with good dynamics, very crisp, with good resolution. Justin Timberlake: Sexyback, was very dynamic.  Vocals were clean with good texture, although just a smidge on the bright side.  Bass had good impact and played with authority.

The ATH-IM03 is part of Audio-Technica's professional series. The design and quality support it. The IM03 uses balanced armatures, and employ a 3-way design. There are separate drivers for the lows, mids and highs.

Features and specs:
  • Specially designed to fit and seal within the user’s ear for ultimate in-ear monitoring


  • Detachable cables with formable wire improves fit and adds convenience


  • Includes a case, silicone earpieces (S/M/L) and Comply™ foam earpieces (M)

  •  Tuning circuitry in the exclusive triple balanced armature drivers divides and distributes audio signal for an ideal, accurate sound reproduction

  • TypeTriple Balanced Armature Driver
    Frequency Response18 - 18,000 Hz
    Maximum Input Power3 mW
    Sensitivity108 dB/mW
    Impedance34 ohms
    Weight8 g
    CableDetachable 1.2 m, Y-type
    Connector3.5 mm (1/8") gold-plated stereo mini-plug, L-type
    Accessories IncludedCase, silicone earpieces (S/M/L), Comply™ foam earpieces (M)


    Packaging is very attractive, with photos of the device, with it's features and specs. The IEM's were well protected in custom foam molding. Also included were owners manual, hard zippered carry case, and additional sized eartips. Construction was mostly made of plastic. Quality of materials used were excellent, as was the fit and finish. I really liked the clear smoked plastic used, so you could see the internal components of the IEM's.

    Fresh Aire: Creatures of Levania provided bass with excellent low end extension and definition.  Imaging was very good, and the flute had excellent resolution and air.  Strings were clean and smooth.  Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue revealed a clean clarinet with good texture.  Brass was sooth without being too brassy.  Cymbals were crisp, and the piano sounded natural.  Imaging was excellent as was the large soundstage.   Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, yielded natural smooth vocals with great texture and harmonics.  Piano sounded natural.  The harmonica was clean and dynamic, and imagine was spot on.  Bass guitar had nice extension and played with authority.  Justin Timberlake: Sexyback, bass had excellent low end extension with great impact and authority.  Imaging was very good, with natural vocals that provided excellent harmonics, and very dynamic.



    Last but not least is the Westone ES50. These are actually custom IEM's. This means that you get an appointment with an audiologist. Once you put in your order. The audiologist will make custom moldings of your ears. To get the best sound, you need a good seal. That's the reason you get extra sets of ear tips with IEM's. That way you can find one that gives a good fit for you. Usually, at least one of the tips included will work well. But not always. And that's the best thing about custom IEM's like the Westone ES50's. There's no need to mess with different tips, and play with them to get a good seal. Since they are custom made for your ears, you know you will get a good fit.

    Features and specs:
    Five-Driver Balanced Armature Technology - Uses 1 bass, 2 mid-range and 2 high frequency drivers for the most accurate reproduction in a custom in-ear monitor.
    Westone EPIC Cable
    - Ultra supple braided design insures comfort and resists tangles
    - Robust bifurcation w/slide adjustment keeps cord in place during activity
    - Over-the-ear cable design offers superior in-ear comfort and isolation from mechanical cable noise
    Westone True-Fit Technology
    - 50 years experience with in-ear applications has yield optimum ergonomics and fit
    - Flex-canal body delivers maximum comfort and in-ear coupling for dynamic transfer of sound.
    Sensitivity: 120 dB @ 1mW
    Frequency response: 8 Hz - 20 kHz
    Impedance: 20 ohms @ 1kHz
    Driver: Five balanced armature drivers with a passive three-way crossover
    Includes:
    Deluxe monitor case, cleaning tool, desiccant drying compound, cleaning cloth, bottle of Oto-Ease, users manual and 1-year warranty.
    3-Way Crossover:
    Splits the audio signal into separate frequency bands that can be separately routed to each micro driver. Each driver is optimized for a particular frequency range delivering to you a balanced, dynamic sound.
    MSRP: $999.99

    There was no printed box for the Westone ES50's. Just a regular brown box. They are shipped to your door in. Opening the box showed wrapped in bubble wrap was the orange water resistant hard case. Opening the hard case revealed the custom IEM's, along with owners manual, microfiber cloth, wax loop, and a small tube of comfort gel. Quality of materials used was excellent, from the IEM's to the cables. And I really liked being able to see into the monitors to see all the internal components. MSRP starts at $999 without any customizations. But there are multiple customizations you can select from, from color, to end cap and laser etchings. I went with Ice Blue color and Pacifica abalone shell faceplate, for a total of $1299.  I absolutely LOVE the look.  Not only do they fit perfect for me, they look amazing as well!

    Fresh Aire: Creatures of Levania, bass had excellent depth and played with authority.  The flute had excellent air and phenomenal resolution, being able to not only make out the tonguing but the musicians technique as well.  With the strings you could actually hear the texture of the bow.  Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, clarinet was clean and natural, with so much resolution you could hear the tonguing and breathing technique.  Imaging was spot on, and the soundstage was huge with great presence and ambiance.  Bari clarinet had nice texture and the piano sounded natural.   Brass was smooth.  The dynamics and volume of a full orchestra was conveyed with zero loss in all it's resolution.  Junior Wells: Why Are People Like That, vocals were extremely natural with layers of texture.  Harmonica was so clean and dynamic, I thought I was in the recording studio.  Imaging was about perfect and the resolution has to be heard to be believed.  Justin Timberlake: Sexyback, bass was tight yet deep, with lots of authority.  The Westone ES50 uses five balanced armature drivers, two for the highs, two for the mids, and one for the lows.  I was not expecting this performance from a balanced armature, let alone only one when the other frequencies have two drivers each. Dynamics were excellent.  Vocals were natural sounding, smooth, with excellent imaging.



    Performance was about on par with what I was expecting at their price points.  The Jabra sounded a bit better than expected, given they are also wireless and water resistant.  The OM Audio sounded a tad on the bright side in the overall sound, and did not have quite the bass performance I was expecting from a dynamic driver being used for the lows.  But the amount of detail, imaging, and size of soundstage was better than expected, giving a big bang for the buck.  The Audio-Technica with a 3-way balanced armatures sounded amazing, and had an overall sound that was a tad warm and very smooth.  You could definitely hear what the extra money gets you.  The Westone ES50 was more neutral in the overall tone of the sound, and was also very smooth, with a level of definition and presence that has to be heard to believed!  And there is just something too cool about having custom headphones.  I think Ferris Bueller said it best with "if you have the means, I highly recommend it!" Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the Jabra Sport Wireless+ has earned our Value Award, the OM Audio Inearpeace has earned our Recommended, the Audio-Technica ATH-IM03 has earned our Highly Recommended Award, and the Westone ES50 has earned our Editor's Choice Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.audio-technica.com, www.jabra.com, www.om-audio.com, and www.westone.com.  And Happy listening!



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