It’s now time for the second half of our annual shootout,
the In-Ear Monitors. We had some surprising performances in March Madness. And
like March Madness, we had a surprise in the first half of the headphone
shootout for the over the ear models. Let’s see if we have any surprises with
the IEM’s. They comprise of the JBL Endurance Peak 3 $100 MSRP, Philips Fidelio
T1 $300 MSRP, Westone Mach 40 $600 MSRP, Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti $750 MSRP,
and Westone Mach 80 $1600 MSRP.
We’ll start with the JBL Endurance Peak 3. Not only does JBL
have a long history of making great headphones, they also make great fitness headphones.
So whether you are sitting on the couch or doing laps in the pool, JBL has you
covered. With an MSRP of $100, it’s a great price.
Features and specs:
General Specifications
Driver size (mm): 10
IP Code: IP68
Number of Microphones: 4
Audio Specifications
Driver sensitivity at 1kHz/1mW (dB): 102 dB SPL@1 kHz
Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance (ohms): 16
Dimensions
Charging Case Weight (oz): 2.7
Earpiece Weight (oz): 0.9
Charging Case Weight (g): 76
Earpiece Weight (g): 25
Control and Connection Specifications
Bluetooth version: 5.2
Bluetooth profiles: A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6, HFP V1.7
Bluetooth frequency: 2.400 GHz - 2.4835 GHz
Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4 QPSK, 8DPSK
Bluetooth transmitter power: < 14 dBm
Battery
Charging time (hours from empty): 2
Maximum talk time (hours): 5.5
Charging case battery life (max hours): 40
Maximum play time (hours): 50
Features
Charging cable: Yes
Ambient Aware: Yes
Built-in Microphone: Yes
Hands Free Call: Yes
JBL Pure Bass Sound: Yes
Powerhook: Yes
Sweat Proof: Yes
TalkThru: Yes
Twistlock: Yes
Wireless: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Charging case: Yes
Speed charge: Yes
Rechargable battery: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
The JBL Endurance Peak 3 came in a great color printed box
with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a well-protected
headphone, held in place by custom plastic molding. Materials used in the construction
was mostly plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was
very good. Also included was the charging case, charging cable, additional
sized ear tips and owner’s manual.
I like the design of the JBL Endurance Peak 3. While they
are true wireless, they are designed to be used for fitness activities. Part of
the IEM is a rubber piece that wraps around your ear. So when you are doing
more active sport activities like swimming or basketball, it helps to hold them
in place. With the IP68 rating, they are fully waterproof, so they could be
used for swimming.
JBL provides some great useability features as well. The
charging case provides extra charge, to help keep you listening even longer
while you are on the go. They allow for independent earbud use. That way if you
wanted to, you could use just one of them at a time for even longer extended
listening. The app that you can download onto your phone helps you check on
battery life, and make changes to the sound with EQ curves, and tune the sound
to your liking. The 4 built-in mics also help ensure your calls sound great
too. Now let’s see how they sound.
Nat King Kole: L-O-V-E
– Piano sounded natural, vocals were smooth with good texture of the timbre. Hi
Hat was crisp. Bass had very good low-end extension and played with a ton of
authority. Trumpet was very dynamic, with very good harmonics. They threw a
soundstage that was surprisingly not just very wide, but also deep. They even provided good imaging.
Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough - Shaker
had good resolution as well as the wood block and cow bell. Guitar was nice and
raw. Percussion instruments were all very dynamic. Vocals were pleasantly
smooth with good resolution of the timbre. Trumpet was very dynamic with good
harmonics. There were a lot of instruments, and they were resolved better than
expected.
Katy Perry: Dark Horse – Vocals had good resolution of the
texture of the timbre. The snaps were very dynamic. The beats were nice and
tight, and played deep and with good authority. The longer sustained bass beats
played very deep, played with a ton of authority, and was clean doing so.
Now it’s time for the Philips Fidelio T1. Philips has a long
history of making excellent products. While most may not think of Philips when
it comes to headphones, we have seen some excellent headphones from Philips
lately. They are a true wireless design, with a MSRP of $300.
Features and specs:
Sound
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Speaker diameter: 10 mm + BA
Sensitivity: 103 dB (1K Hz)
Frequency range: 7 - 40 000 Hz
Maximum power input: 5 mW
Driver type: Hybrid, Balanced Armature
Hi-Res Audio: Yes
ANC features
ANC (Active Noise Canceling): Yes
ANC technology: Hybrid, ANC Pro+
Awareness mode: Yes
Adaptive ANC: Yes
Microphone for ANC: 4 mic
Telecommunication
Microphone for call: 3 mic
ENC microphone: Yes
Wind noise reduction: Yes
Connectivity
Bluetooth version: 5.2
Supported codec: LDAC, AAC, SBC
Maximum range: Up to 10
m
Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
Type of wireless transmission: Bluetooth
Multipoint connection: Yes
Wireless: Yes
Convenience
Android fast pair: Yes
Auto pause (IR sensor): Yes
Philips Headphones app support: Yes
Firmware updates possible: Yes
Water resistance: IPX4
Automatic power off: 60 minutes
Mono mode for TWS: Yes
Type of controls: Touch
Design
Color: Black
Ear fitting: In-ear
In-ear fitting type: Silicone ear tip
Ear coupling material: Comply foam, Silicone
Power
Music play time (ANC on): 9 + 25 hr
Music play time (ANC off): 13 + 35 hr
Battery type(Earbud): Lithium Polymer (built-in)
Battery capacity(Earbud): 60mAh
Battery type(Charging case): Lithium Polymer (built-in)
Battery capacity(Case): 650mAh
Battery life standby time: 200 hr
Talk time: 13 hr
Charging time: 2 hr
Fast charging time: 15 mins for 1 hr
Number of batteries: 3 pcs
Battery weight (Total): 14 g
Wireless charging: Yes
Rechargeable: Yes
Voice assistant:
Voice assistant support: Yes
Voice assistant activation: Manual
Voice assistant compatible: Google Assistant, Apple Siri
Accessories
Charging case: Yes
Comply foam: 3 pairs (S/M/L)
Ear tips: 6 pairs
Charging cable: USB-C cable, 500 mm
Quick Start Guide: Yes
Product dimensions
Height: 5.15 cm
Width: 8.49 cm
Depth: 3.24 cm
Weight: 0.109 kg
The Philips Fidelio T1 came in a great looking color printed
box with photos and specs of the headphones. Opening the box revealed a well-protected
headphone held in its charging case. Materials used in construction was both
metal and plastic. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish was very
good. Also included was the charging case, charging cable, additional sized ear
tips and owner’s manual.
I liked the design of the Philips Fidelio T1. They are a
true wireless IEM, that has a metal housing. Muirhead leather was also included in the
design. Including leather in the design is quite unique for an IEM, as is seen
on the charging case. And Philips shows their commitment to sound quality with
the Philips Fidelio T1 being designed for Hi-Red Audio Wireless and LDAC codec.
The Philips Fidelio T1 has additional advanced features as
well. There’s multi-point, so you can use each side individually. This helps to
maximize your battery life. By using only one in one ear at a time, you get
longer use. There’s also Active Noise Cancelling, and an app. Through the app,
not only do you control the ANC, but you can also customize the sound to your
liking through EQ curves. Philips put together some great features for great sound
quality. So now, let’s see how they sound.
Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – Piano sounded natural, vocals were
silky smooth with good resolution of the texture of the timbre. Hi Hats were
crisp and clean. Bass had very good low-end extension and played with very good
authority. Trumpet was very dynamic with very good harmonics without being too
brassy. They threw a sound stage that was both very wide and deep, with good
imaging as well.
Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough – Shaker
was nice and crisp, the wood block had nice resolution of the warmth of the
wood. And also nice tone of the cow bell. Vocals were smooth with good
resolution of the timbre. Trumpet was very dynamic and smooth. Guitar was nice
and raw. There were a lot of instruments, and details of each came out very
nicely.
Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals were nice and smooth with
good resolution of the texture of the timbre. The snaps were very dynamic. The
beats were nice and tight with good punch and authority. The longer sustained
beats played very deep, clean and with very good authority output.
Next up is the Westone Mach 40. Westone has been making
hearing devices for many, many years. They started decades ago with hearing
aids. They used that experience to make great sounding In-Ear Monitors for musicians.
That’s who the Mach Series is tailored to. The Mach 40 features four balanced
armature drivers. MSRP is $600.
Features and specs:
3-way Passive Crossover
DRIVERS: Four Balanced-Armature Drivers
FREQ RESPONSE: 10Hz – 20kHz
SENSITIVITY: 100dB @1kHz
IMPEDANCE: 30 Ohms @1kHz
WHAT‘S IN THE BOX: Mach 40 Universal fit in-ear Monitors
CABLE: Linum SuperBaX™ T2 Cable
TIPS: 5 Pair Foam + 5 Pair Silicone
Impact Resistant Pelican™ Case
Westone Audio Cloth Bag
The Westone Mach 40 came in a great looking color printed
box, with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a well-protected
IEM, held in place in the waterproof hard case. Materials used in the
construction was mostly plastic, with some metal. Quality of materials used, as
well as the fit and finish, was excellent. Also included was the hard
waterproof case, microfiber bag, wax loop, and multiple sized ear tips.
I love the design of the Westone Mach 40. You get a 3-way
crossover network, with four balanced armatures. There’s one tweeter, one
midrange, and dual woofers. You get strong bass response, with balanced mids
and highs. There’s an audiophile grade cable, to make sure a pure signal makes
it to the drivers.
Westone doesn’t stop there. To get the best sound, you need
a good fit in your ear. To get the best fit, Westone provides multiple sized
ear tips, in two different styles. And to protect it all, you get a crushproof,
waterproof hard case. And for a less bulky carry option, you also get a soft
microfiber bag. It’s a great design, with excellent features and accessories.
Now let’s see how they sound.
Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – piano sounded very natural, vocals
were smooth like honey with very good texture of the timbre. Hi Hat was very
crisp with very good resolution of the impact of the stick on the metal. Bass
had very good, low-end extension and played with good authority. Trumpet was
very dynamic with very good silky harmonics without being too brassy.
Soundstage was very wide as well as deep, and also had very good imaging.
Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough – shaker
had really good resolution. The wood block also had very good resolution of the
woodiness of the block, cowbell had nice resolution as well. Guitar was nice
and raw. Vocals revealed nice texture of the timbre. Trumpet was very dynamic
with very good harmonics. There were a lot of instruments and they were each resolved
very well, showing very good resolution for all of the instruments.
Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals had very good resolution of
the texture of the timbre. The snaps were very dynamic. The beats were nice and
tight with good punch. And the longer sustained beats played very deep and
clean output that played with really good authority.
Now it’s time for the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti.
Audio-Technica has been producing headphones for nearly 50 years. They have a
lot of experience to tap into to make the ATH-CK2000Ti. MSRP is a very fair $750
for its superior design.
Features and specs:
Dual phase push-pull drivers (9.8 mm + 8.8 mm) with a
permendur magnetic circuit are capable of Hi-Res Audio reproduction
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating on diaphragms helps to
deliver exceptional full-range audio
Rigid, pure-titanium housings reduce unwanted resonance
Two detachable 1.2 m (3.9') cables with A2DC (Audio Designed
Detachable Coaxial) connectors at the headphones: one with a 4.4 mm 5-pole
balanced mini-plug, the other with a 3.5 mm 3-pole stereo mini-plug
Includes silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L), hard carrying case,
and cleaning cloth
Each pair of headphones is individually identified by a
laser-etched serial number
Type: Dynamic
Driver Diameter : 9.8
mm, 8.8 mm
Frequency Response: 5 – 45,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
Impedance: 10 ohms
Weight: 12 g (0.42 oz)
Cable: Detachable 1.2 m (3.9') cable (4.4 mm 5-pole balanced
mini-plug to A2DC); detachable 1.2 m (3.9') cable (3.5 mm 3-pole stereo
mini-plug to A2DC)
Accessories Included: Silicone ear tips (XS/S/M/L), hard
carrying case, and cleaning cloth
The Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti, came in a nice-looking box.
Opening the box revealed on elegant looking pair of IEM’s, held in place by
custom molded cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly
titanium. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, is excellent.
Also included is a hard zipper case, two sets of cables, additional sized ear
tips, and cleaning cloth.
I really like the design of the ATH-CK2000Ti. With a housing
made of titanium, it doesn’t get much better than that. They are extremely
durable to provide years of use. It also uses a unique dual dynamic driver in a
push-pull configuration. One driver is active, and the second is a passive
radiator. This produces even better low end, with reduced distortion doing it.
Using titanium in the housing, with its rigid properties also works to keep
resonances and vibration down. So Audio-Technica is using both build materials
as well as driver design, in a unique combination, to give a better sounding
IEM. Let’s see how they sound.
Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – piano sounded very natural. Vocals
were smoother than a Dove chocolate with full sized sound and excellent texture
of the timbre. Hi Hat was extremely crisp and clean. Bass had very good low-end
extension and played with very good authority. Trumpet was extremely dynamic
with excellent harmonics. Strings revealed excellent texture of the bow on the
strings. They threw a very wide and deep soundstage. Imaging was also excellent.
Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough– shaker and
wood block had excellent resolution with excellent tone of the wood. Cowbell
also showed excellent tone. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals had good smoothness
with excellent texture of the timbre. Trumpet was extremely dynamic with
excellent harmonics, without being too brassy. There were a lot of instruments
and they were all resolved extremely well with excellent resolution of each.
Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals had excellent resolution of
the texture of the timbre. The snaps were extremely dynamic. The beats were
nice and tight with very good punch. The long sustained beats were extremely
deep, clean, and played with a ton of authority.
Last, but not least, it’s time for Westone’s Mach 80.
Westone has many years’ experience producing high-end IEM’s tailored to
musicians. The Westone Mach 80 is their top-of-the-line universal fit IEM. If
you want the best of the best, these are them. MSRP is $1600.
Features and specs:
3-way Passive Crossover
DRIVERS: Eight Balanced-Armature Drivers
FREQ RESPONSE: 5Hz – 22kHz
SENSITIVITY: 104dB @1kHz
IMPEDANCE: 66 Ohms @1kHz
WHAT‘S IN THE BOX: Mach 80 Universal fit in-ear Monitors
CABLE: Linum UltraBaX™ T2 Cable
TIPS: 5 Pair Foam + 5 Pair Silicone
Impact Resistant Pelican™ Case
Westone Audio Cloth Bag
The Westone Mach 80 came in a great looking color printed
box, with photos and specs of the IEM. Materials used in the construction was
mostly plastic with some metal. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and
finish, are excellent. Also included was the crushproof and waterproof case,
soft microfiber bag, wax tool, and several additional sized ear tips.
I love the design of the Westone Mach 80. They incorporate a
superior design, using a 3-way crossover network with eight balanced armatures.
The configuration of drivers are dual woofers, dual mids, and quad highs. The
audiophile grade cable ensures a pure signal gets to the drivers. And the
driver configuration promotes getting every once of resolution from the source
material, so nothing is lost. It’s impressive in design. Let’s see how they
sound.
Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – piano sounded very natural. Vocals
were so silky smooth like Dove chocolate, with extremely good texture of the
timber. Hi Hat was extremely crisp and clean. Resolution was so good you could
hear the texture of the bow on the strings. Bass had excellent low-end
extension, and played with authority. Trumpet was extremely dynamic with
excellent harmonics and not too brassy. Soundstage was very wide and deep, and
imaging was excellent.
Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough– shaker and
wood block had excellent resolution and wood block had excellent tone, as did
the cow bell. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals were silky smooth with excellent
texture of the timbre. All of the percussion was really crisp and clean.
Trumpet was extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics. There were a ton of
instruments, and the resolution was so good they were all resolved extremely
well and could be heard individually.
Katy Perry: Dark Horse – vocals were very smooth with
excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. Snaps were crisp. Bass beats
were tight with very good punch. The long sustained bass beats were extremely
deep, clean, and played with a ton of authority.
We had some great performances with this years IEM’s. The JBL Endurance Peak 3 had a great sound
especially with their price point, with some great resolution, soundstage, and
imaging. Sound signature was just a hair
on the warm side. The Philips Fidelio T1 also had a great sound with good
resolution, and a sound signature that was pretty neutral. The Westone Mach 40 took things up a level
with their quad balanced armatures, that provided good resolution and a more
refined sound. Its sound signature was
just a bit on the warm side. The
Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti took things up a notch even further. Having dual dynamic drivers instead of quad
balanced armatures, I wasn’t expecting a performance better than the Westone
Mach 40, but that’s what happened. They
had a sound signature just a hair on the bright side. And then the Westone Mach 80 brought the same
refined sound as the Mach 40’s, but with a good amount more resolution and a
neutral sound signature.
Just as with the over the head models, we had some surprises
with performances of the IEM’s this year.
First was the JBL Endurance Peak 3.
For only $100, they had a sound that was actually pretty close to the Philips
Fidelio T1. Much closer than they should
have been with their cheap $100 MSRP. They
actually had pretty good resolution as well as a big soundstage and great
imaging. The Westone Mach 40 had a great
sound, but for only $150 more, the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti had much better
performance than just the $150 difference over the Mach 40’s suggested. With only 2 dynamic drivers: 1 active and 1
passive, they bested 4 balanced armatures.
And…..they actually sounded much closer to the Westone Mach 80’s in
sound quality than they should have for their MSRP. The Westone Mach 80 stood alone in their
performance. They provided the same
refined sound found on the Mach 40’s, but had much better performance.
When comparing the Westone Mach 40 to the Westone Mach 80, they
both have the same build quality. The
improvements you get with the Mach 80 are a better quality cable, and better
sound quality with much improved resolution, and improved soundstage and
imaging. The Mach 40 is worth the money.
But the Mach 80 is worth the extra money.
We again had some great products in this year’s annual
Headphone Shootout. We had a bit of a
surprise in our Over the Ear part of the shootout, and also some surprises in
the IEM’s as well. Some performed better
than expected at their price points.
They are all great sounding products worth their prices. Based on their design, features, quality, and
performance, the Philips Fidelio T1 has earned our Recommended Award, the JBL
Endurance Peak 3 and Westone Mach 40 has earned our Highly Recommended Award,
and the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti and Westone Mach 80 has earned our Editor’s
Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out
their websites at www.audio-technica.com,
www.JBL.com, www.philips.com,
www.westoneaudio.com.
