We have made it to March, and March Madness is well under
way. Which means it’s time for our annual Headphone Shootout. We get some great
products from excellent manufacturers every year, and this year is no
different. This year we have products from 1More, Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic,
E-MU, JBL, Master Dynamic and Sennheiser. They will be divided into in the ear,
and over the ear. We will start first with the IEM’s. And for source unit my LG V40 ThinQ
smartphone was used, which is well known for it’s high quality audio, using the
Hi-Fi Quad DAC.
This years IEM’s have a fairly wide range of price points.
Unlike March Madness, where they use seeds, here we go by price points. Like
most of the basketball teams performing to how they were seeded, most
headphones perform to their price point. But every so often you get a seed that
performs better than they were expected to. The same can happen here, with the
occasional headphones performing better than their price point.
The wireless models are getting more and more popular. We
have a couple of those style of products included. While we have one present
that is wired, and one that has both a wired and wireless option, most are
wireless. The IEM models this year includes 1More Quad Driver IEM,
Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT70BT, Beyerdynamics Xelento Wireless, JBL Under Armor
True Wireless Flash, and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless. Let the shootout
begin!
The Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT70BT is a wireless IEM designed
for the active individual. Whether you are jogging, or playing basketball, they
are designed for you. They wrap around your ears to securely hold them in
place. They are also waterproof, so they are completely outdoor friendly! MSRP
is a low $120.
Features and specs:
Type: Dynamic
Driver Diameter: 9 mm
Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 93 dB/mW
Impedance: 16 ohms
Battery: DC 3.7 V lithium polymer rechargeable battery
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
Charging Time: Approx. 3 hours (for 0-100% charge)
Weight: 28.5 g (1.0 oz) without eartips
Accessories Included: Eartips (XS, S, M, L), Comply™ foam
eartips (M) with SweatGuard™ technology, 30 cm (1') USB charging cable, hard
carrying case
Type (Microphone): Condenser
Sensitivity (Microphone): -42 dB (1V/Pa at 1 kHz)
Frequency Response (Microphone): 50 – 8,000 Hz
Polar Pattern (Microphone): Omnidirectional
Communication System: Bluetooth Version 4.1
Output: Bluetooth Specification Power Class 2
Maximum Communication Range: Line of sight - approx. 10 m
(33')
Compatible Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
Support Codec: AAC, SBC
The Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT70BT came in a nice looking
color printed box with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a
well protected product held in place by custom molded plastic. Materials used
in the construction was mostly plastic with some rubber and a little metal in
the wrap around frame. Quality of materials used, as well as the fit and finish
was very good. Audio-Technica is known for making a quality product, even in
their more economical products like this one. Also included was additional ear
tips so you can get a good fit, a charging cord, and a soft zipper case with an
interior pocket to hold the accessories.
When it came to using the product, I was very satisfied. And
the design worked very well. I was able to get a good fit with the included
tips. The bendable frame made sure I had a snug fit to keep the IEM in place.
Pairing with the LG V40 ThinQ was very simple and easy. They even had decent
Bluetooth range at 30-40 feet, depending if there are walls between you and
your phone.
Next up is the 1More Quad Driver IEM. 1More is new to the
scene, with the company only being in business for 5 years. Their business
model is to provide quality sounding headphones with a huge bang for the buck.
With an MSRP of only $169 for a hybrid quad driver IEM, I would say the
business plan is working. The bang for the buck would be huge, as long as they
sound good.
Features and specs:
Weight: 18.5 g
Cable Length: 1.25 m
In-line Remote Control and Microphone
Oxygen-Free Copper Wire
Plug: 3.5 mm Gold Plated
Frequency Range: 20-40,000 Hz
Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 99 dB
Rated Power: 5 mW
The 1More Quad Drive IEM came in a premium color printed box
with photos and specs of the IEM. Taking off the sleeve, was the box. Opening
the box revealed a well protected IEM held in place by custom plastic molding.
I was extremely impressed with the packaging! I have seen headphones at 3 times
the price not have as impressive packaging as this. There were also slots for
the ¼” Adapter, airplane adapter, clip and holder for the 8 different ear tips
that are provided under the ear tips is a spot for the manuals. There was also
the faux leather semi-hard case with magnetic closure. Equally impressive was
the build quality. Materials used in the construction were metal and plastic.
Quality of materials used was very good, as was the fit and finish.
I can definitely see where 1More is being extremely
aggressive at following their business plan. The packaging is worthy of 3 times
the price. The materials used and quality of construction is also very good.
And you get a lot of high quality accessories. The only downside I see so far
is the lack of detachable cables. Otherwise I see these selling for 2 times the
price or more.
Now it’s time for the Under Armor True Wireless Flash by
JBL. True Wireless Products are getting more and more popular. And they are
becoming available for all different uses. These are designed for the active
individual. Whether you are inside on your treadmill or jogging outside in the
rain, JBL has you covered. With an MSRP of only $169, they are also a great
value!
Features and specs:
General Specifications
Weight (g): 16
Weight (oz): 0.56
Ear tip material: Silicon
Bluetooth version: 4.2
Audio Specifications
Driver size (mm): 5.8
Number of drivers per ear: 1.0
Driver sensitivity at 1kHz/1mW (dB): 95dB
Impedance (ohms): 14.0
Control and Connection Specifications
Bluetooth profiles: A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.5, HFP V1.6
Bluetooth transmitter power: <9 .5="" dbm="" font="">9>
Bluetooth frequency: 2.402GHz - 2.48GHz
Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4DQPSK, 8DPSK
Battery
Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 20Hz-22kHz
Battery Type: Lithium-ion polymer (3.7V,85*2mAh)
Charging time (hours from empty): 2.0
Speed Charging time (hours): 2.0
Talk time (hours): 5.0
Maximum music play time with ANC off (hours): 5+20
Play time (hours): 5.0
The box they came in was a premium color printed box with images and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed well protected IEM’s held in place by custom molded foam. Also secured in the foam was the charging case. Materials used in the construction of the IEM’s was mostly plastic with some metal and rubber tips that wrapped around the IEM. The charging case was mostly metal with a cloth wrist strap. Quality of materials used was very good, as was the fit and finish. Also included was the owner’s manual, charging cord and additional rubber tips.
I loved the design of the IEM’s. The rubber tip wrapped
around the end of the IEM, and had a little rubber notch that stuck out, to
help hold them in place in your ears. I also liked the design of the charging
case. I love the way it does double duty. It holds the IEM’s but it also holds
a built-in battery to charge them. The slots for the IEM’s are magnetic, so it
also holds them in place while they are being charged. The LED is red while
being charged, and turns off when fully charged. Turning them on and syncing to
my LG V40 was very simple and fast. Bluetooth range was also very good at 30-40
feet, depending on if there are any walls between you and your smartphone.
Another company with a true wireless model is Sennheiser,
with their Momentum True Wireless. Sennheiser has a long history of making
excellent products. And the styling often tends to be on the elegant side. That
elegant styling continues with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless IEM. With
an MSRP of $299, they are also priced good as well.
Features and specs:
Dimensions 78.6 x 45 x 35 mm (charging case)
Microphone MEMS
Bluetooth Version Bluetooth 5.0 compliant, class 1
Supported Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
THD, total harmonic distortion <0 94db="" font="" khz="">0>
Ear coupling Ear Canal
Weight 69.8 g (earbuds and charging case), 13.2 g (both
earbuds), 56.6 g (charging case)
Charging time Approx. 1.5 hrs
Microphone sensitivity 94 dB SPL at 1 kHz
Operating temperature 0 to +40°C
Power supply 5 V, 650 mA: USB charging via USB-C socket at
charging case
Battery Specification Built-in Lithium rechargeable battery
Frequency range 5 Hz to 21 kHz (earbuds)
100 Hz to 10 kHz (microphone)
Sensitivity 107 dB SPL (1 kHz / 1 mW)
Speaker type Dynamic
Operating relative humidity 10 to 80%, non condensing
Battery time Up to 4 hrs (A2DP) with rechargeable batteries
of the earbuds, Up to 12 hrs with rechargeable battery of the charging case
Water Protection Code IPX4, splash resistant (earbuds)
Type of Codec SBC, aptX™, aptX™ Low Latency, AAC
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless came in a nice looking color printed box, with photos of the IEM along with their features and specs. Opening the box showed a well protected product held in place by custom molded foam. There were 3 custom cut outs in the foam. 1 for each IEM, and then one for the charging case. I loved the elegant look of the cloth wrapped case. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal, plastic and some cloth. Quality of materials used as is the fit and finish is excellent.
I really like the design of the Momentum True Wireless. They
have built-in mics for the Voice Assistance, and for phone calls. The touch
control makes them simple to use. And I love the carry case which doubles as a
charger. So once it’s time for a recharge, the case will give you 2 full
charges. They also give you active noise cancellation. There’s even an app that
will let you control the features as well as the sound. The Bluetooth range is
also great at 40-55 feet, depending on if there are several walls between you
and your phone.
Last but not least is the Beyerdynamic Xelento Wireless.
Beyerdyanmic has something special with their Tesla driver. They did a great
job miniaturizing it for the Xelento in ear monitors. They sounded absolutely
amazing, as you read in our headphone shootout last year. This year
Beyerdynamic made them even better. They made them wireless! MSRP is $1199.
Features and specs:
Operating principle: Closed
Transmission Type: Wireless via Bluetooth®
Remote: Universal 3-button remote
Nominal impedance headphones: 16 ohms
Headphone frequency response: 8-48,000 Hz
Nominal sound pressure level: 110 dB (1 mW / 500 Hz)
Supported Bluetooth profiles: HSP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP
Codecs: aptX™, aptX™ HD, AAC, SBC
The Xelento Wireless came in a great looking color printed box with photos and specs of the EIM. Opening the box revealed well protected IEM’s held in place by a foam sleeve. Underneath the foam sleeve were slots that held the semi hard case, wireless adapter, multiple sets of eartips, and clip. The ear tips came in multiple sizes both in comply and silicone. The hard carry case has a magnetic closure. Inside the case were held the charging cord, a set of filters, and standard cable with built in mic and controls. Materials used in the construction of the IEM’s was highly polished stainless steel. Quality of materials was excellent, as was the fit and finish. They could definitely pass as jewelry! The cables were also a high quality with a soft plastic covering. Every thing was of a high quality in materials and fit and finish. This is obviously Beyerdynamics at their finest, and it shows! Also included was the quick start guide.
I really like the entire design of the Beyerdynamics Xelento
Wireless. The polished stainless steel looks amazing, more like chrome. You
have both wired and wireless cables for any listening needs. The hard case even
has an elastic band with a snap to hold your cable and charging cord securely
in place, and custom plastic moldings to hold the IEM’s securely in place.
When it comes to delivering your music to your ears, The
Beyerdynamics Xelento Wireless provides the best available. It all starts with
the Tesla driver. They are designed for Hi-Res audio tracks, so you get the
best sound. And thanks to the Xelento Wireless supporting Aptx HD, you can even
enjoy your Hi-Res Audio Tracks wirelessly!
You know a manufacture is serious about providing you the
best possible sound when they include Apt X HD, which is still hard to find
support for in a product. But Beyerdynamic didn’t just stop there, they also
included their Mosayc Sound Personalization, and M1Y App Control. Unfortunately
as you get older, you will typically start to loose your hearing. Thanks to the
included software app, you get your own hearing test. It tests your hearing
with a set of test tones at different frequencies, to see which was you have a
hard time hearing. It then boosts those frequencies so you can get a fuller
sound. It’s a truly innovative product that no matter if you’re 22 or 82 is
designed to help you get the most out of your music. The software was easy to
set-up and use with the app that walks you thru the whole process. The Bluetooth also works very well, giving
you a range of 30-40 feet, depending on if there are walls between you and your
phone.
Now it’s time for the listening, and we’ll start with
Audio-Technica. Disturbed- Sound of Silence: Piano sounded natural, vocals had
good texture, guitar was very crisp, violin had nice harmonics. Adele- Rolling
In The Deep: Guitar was very crisp and clean, vocals smooth with great texture.
Drums had very good impact and deep low-end extension, piano sounded natural.
High hat was crisp and dynamic, as were the percussion. Junior Wells- Why Are
People Like That: Bass had very nice depth, drums were very dynamic, cymbals
were very crisp and piano sounded natural, harmonic was smooth, clean and very
dynamic. Vocals had nice timbre and harmonics, sound stage was surprisingly
big, overall a bit bright. Liquid Soul- Spam Sucker: Trumpets were really
smooth and dynamic, drums, as well as the cymbals and high hat were really
crisp and clean, kick drum had good impact, sax had really good harmonics and
woodiness.
Next up is 1More. Disturbed- Sound of Silence: Piano sounded
very natural, vocals had very good texture and timbre. Guitar was very crisp
and clean. Violin was very smooth with very good harmonics. Tympani had nice
impact, cymbals had very good details and dynamics. Adele- Rolling In the Deep:
Guitar was very crisp with very good resolution, bass drums had very good
impact, depth and played with ok authority. Piano was very natural. Vocals were
silky smooth with much better than expected texture and timbre. Cymbals and
high hat were also crisp and clean. Junior Wells- Why Are People Like That:
Bass had really nice depth and played with ok authority. Drums had good
dynamics and cymbals were very crisp. Harmonica was very dynamic and silky
smooth. Piano sounded very natural. Vocals were smooth like honey with very
good texture and timbre. Liquid Soul- Spam Sucker:Trumpets were really smooth
and dynamic without being too brassy. Drums, cymbals and high hat were really
crisp and clean with lots of resolution. Kick drum had decent impact ant depth.
Sax had really good harmonics, texture and woodiness of the reed.
Now it’s time for the JBL’s. Disturbed- Sound of Silence:
Piano sounded very natural, vocals had good texture, guitar was crisp. Violin
had good harmonics, cymbals had nice details and dynamics. Adele- Rolling In
the Deep: Guitar was very crisp and clean with good resolution. Kick drum had
good impact and depth with very good authority. Cymbals and high hat were very
crisp with very good resolution. Piano sounded very natural. Vocals had very
good resolution to the texture and timbre. Imaging was quite good and they
threw a nice sized soundstage. Junior Wells- Why Are People Like That: Bass had
nice low end extension and played with authority, drums and cymbals were crisp
and dynamic with very good resolution. Harmonica was very dynamic with
excellent harmonics. Piano sounded very natural. Vocals were silky smooth with
very good texture. Soundstage was quite big. Liquid Soul- Spam Sucker: Trumpets
were smooth and dynamic without being too brassy. Drums cymbals, and high hat
were really crisp and clean with good resolution. Kick drum had really good
impact, low end extension and played with authority. Sax had very good
dynamics, texture and woodiness of the reed.
Now it’s Sennheiser’s turn.
Disturbed- Sound of Silence: Piano sounded natural, vocals very smooth
with very good texture and timbre, guitar was very crisp and clean. Violin was
also vey smooth with nice low level harmonics, tympani had good impact and
dynamics, soundstage was also quite big. Adele- Rolling In the Deep: Guitar was
very crisp with very good resolution of the strings. Drum had very good impact,
low end extension, and played with good authority. Cymbals were very crisp with
excellent resolution. Piano sounded very natural. Vocals were smooth as honey,
with excellent texture and harmonics, imaging was spot on with a large
soundstage. Junior Wells- Why Are People Like That: Brass had very good
resolution and played very deep and with a ton of authority. Drums and cymbals
were extremely crisp with excellent dynamics. Harmonica was silky smooth with
very good harmonics and dynamics. Vocals were silky smooth with very good
resolution of the texture. Piano very natural. Liquid Soul- Spam Sucker:
Trumpets were very smooth and dynamic without being too brassy. Drums, cymbals
and high hat were really crisp and clean with very good resolution. Kick drum
had punch and played with good depth and authority. Sax had very good
harmonics, texture and woodiness of the reed.
Last but not least is Beyerdynamic. Disturbed- Sound of
Silence: Piano sounded extremely natural, vocals were very smooth with
excellent texture and timbre, guitar was very crisp and clean with excellent
resolution, violin was also silky smooth with nice harmonics. Tympani had great
impact and dynamics as did the cymbals. Adele- Rolling In the Deep: Guitar was
extremely crisp and clean with excellent resolution of the strings. Kick drum
had excellent punch and depth and played with authority. Piano was very
natural. Cymbals and high hat were also very crisp. Junior Wells- Why Are
People Like That: Bass had excellent depth and played with authority. Drums and
cymbals were very crisp, clean. Piano sounded very natural. Harmonica was silky
smooth with excellent harmonics and dynamics. Vocals had tons of resolution of
the texture ad timbre. Soundstage was big and imaging was spot on. Liquid Soul-
Spam Sucker: Trumpets were extremely smooth and dynamic without being too
brassy. Drums, cymbals and high hat were crisp and clean with excellent
resolution. Kick drum had real punch and played with really good low end
extension and great authority. Sax had excellent harmonics, texture and
resolution for the woodiness of the reed.
As far as the overall sound, the Audio-Technica
ATH-SPORT70BT had a slightly bright sound signature, with good resolution for
the price. The 1More had a sound
signature that was more on the slightly warm side. The resolution was very good, especially for
their price point. The only downside was
the bass performance that left me disappointed. Like watching your team miss
the Final Four by a missed shot at the buzzer. Employing a hybrid design using a
dynamic driver for the bass, it had depth but more reserved on the output. The JBL Under Armor True Wireless Flash was a
surprise for its price point. Its sound
signature was more neutral and gave nice resolution and strong bass response,
especially for its price. Sennheiser’s
Momentum True Wireless had the sophisticated sound I’ve come to expect from
Sennheiser. They threw a big soundstage
with very nice imaging, and excellent resolution in its neutral sound
signature. You get excellent sound in a
true wireless IEM. Last but not least
the Beyerdynamic Xelento Wireless provides the sound that some only fantasize
about. Sound stage is wide and deep with
spot on imaging. The sound signature is
also neutral, with loads of resolution and stunning looks to match its aural smorgasbord.
To some things up, these are all great products. No matter your budget, these all provide
great sound for their price. The biggest
surprise was the JBL Under Armor True Wireless, giving much better sound than
expected for their price point. The
1More Quad Driver IEM also provided excellent sound for their price. They just had bass output that was more
reserved. And all of the wireless models
had the same Bluetooth range except for the Sennheisers, which managed to get
about an extra 10-15 feet of range. Based
on their design, features, quality, and performance, the Audio-Technica
ATH-SPORT70BT has earned out Value Award, and the 1More Quad Driver IEM has
earned our Recommended Award. The JBL
Under Armor True Wireless and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless has earned our
Highly Recommended Award, and the Beyerdynamic Xelento Wireless has earned our
Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and
complete specs, check out their websites at www.audio-technica.com, www.beyerdynamic.com, www.1more.com, www.jbl.com,
and www.sennheiser.com.
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