March Madness is in full force, which means it is time for our annual
Headphone Shootout. We have 3 categories, which consist of in-ear, over-the-ear,
and wireless. And as usual we have products form great manufacturers, namely
Audiofly, Audio-Technica, Blue, JBL, Kenwood, Kingston, Klipsch, Massive Audio,
Monster, and Westone.
This year they range in prices from $80 to $600. With March Madness the
teams are bracketed by seeds based on performance. Typically the lower seeds
beat the higher seeds, but there can be surprises. With headphones, they are
priced based on performance. But there can be some surprises as well.
This year we are starting with the in-ear models. They start with the
Klipsch XR8I Hybrid for $279, Audio-Technica ATH-IMO2, Westone Am Pro 30 for
$439, Klipsch X20i for $549, and Audiofly AF180 for $599. They all feature
balanced armature drives, most of them have multiple balanced armature drivers,
except for the Klipsch XR8i Hybrid. The Klipsch XR8i is a hybrid design with a
full range balanced armature, and a second dynamic driver that is tuned as a
dedicated subwoofer, which I am particularly excited for!
The 1st Klipsch IEM is the XR8I Hybrid, which I am particularly excited
about. I tend to be a bit of a bass head, so I like a lot of bass. They showed
these off at CES, and we jumped at the opportunity when Klipsch wanted these
included in our annual shootout. What makes the Klipsch XR8I Hybrid so special
is the dedicated subwoofer driver in each IEM.
They feature a full range balanced armature, then a dedicated subwoofer
driver!
Features and specs:
- KG-2365
AcuPass(R) Two-Way Hybrid Driver
- KG-065
Dynamic Woofer
- KG-723
Balanced Armature Tweeter
- Die-Cast
Zinc and Co-Molded Elastomer Housing
- Patented
Oval Ear Tips (4 Different Pairs)
- Three-Button
Remote + Mic
- Carrying
Case + Clothing Clip
- 1
Year Warranty
The Klipsch XR8I came in a nice looking clear plastic box so you can see
the IEM on a plastic display in the box. The Klipsch XR8I was mostly made of
plastic, with some aluminum in the molded housing. Quality of materials used
was very good, as was the build quality and fit and finish. They appeared in
hand to be a well made product. Also included was the owners' manual, carry
case, and extra ear tips. I loved the little holder for the additional eartips.
It was a little plastic piece, almost like a credit card, with little stubs to
hold the extra eartips. There is also an in-line mic and controls to use with
your smartphone.
The real question though is how do they sound. This year, we included some tunes to really
test the bass. And with the recent
passing of David Bowie, we thought we would honor him a little bit and include
one of his songs. So while the Klipsch
XR8I looks impressive, as the saying goes, the truth is in the pudding. And with that said, it's time for some aural
tasting.
With David Bowie: Let's Dance, the bass was deep with a lot of authority! They
threw a nice big soundstage. Drums had nice dynamics, knocker sounded natural, and
vocals had nice texture. Journey: Don't
Stop Believing, the keyboard sounded natural, with smooth vocals and nice
resolution. Kick drum had good depth. Also Sprach Zarathustra, it had excellent
ultra low bass extension that played with a lot of authority! Horns were smooth
sounding. Nice resolution in the tympani. Junior Wells: Why are People Like
That, had nice texture in the vocals. Bass guitar had excellent depth and
authority. Harmonica was dynamic. Gershwin:
Rhapsody in Blue, the clarinet sounded natural, as did the piano. There was nice
texture and resolution in the bassoon. Tympani had nice low end extension.
Brass was really clean sounding.
The
overall sound was smooth, just a tad on the warm side, with good resolution and
excellent bass response! It's the
closest headphone I have heard that sounds like a home or car stereo system
with a subwoofer. Klipsch knocked this
one out of the park in terms of bass response. And when it comes to the fit, it
looks like Klipsch has an unfair advantage.
With some features, it's easy to think it's just hype and no real
advantage. But with the oval tips...it
was not just hype! They helped make for
a really easy fit, for both sound quality and comfort!
Audio-Technica is known for their great headphones that give good bang for
your buck. And here we have their ATH-IM02 IEM. They are part of their
professional series, so no built-in mic. These are designed just for listening.
They feature a 2-way design with detachable cable.
Features and specs:
- Exclusive
dual balanced armature drivers for pure sound reproduction
- 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
- Horn-shaped
conductor pipe, the “Acoustic Horn,” reduces acoustic radiation resistance
- Includes
a case, silicone earpieces (S/M/L) and Comply™ foam earpieces (M)
Type
|
Dual Balanced
Armature Driver
|
Frequency
Response
|
20 - 16,000
Hz
|
Maximum Input
Power
|
3 mW
|
Sensitivity
|
113 dB/mW
|
Impedance
|
36 ohms
|
Weight
|
5 g
|
Cable
|
Detachable
1.2 m, Y-type
|
Connector
|
3.5 mm
(1/8") gold-plated stereo mini-plug, L-type
|
Accessories
Included
|
Case,
silicone earpieces (S/M/L), Comply™ foam earpieces (M)
|
They came in an attractive color printed box, with photos of the IEM, and
their specs. They came well protected, in custom molding holding them secure in
place. They were constructed of mostly plastic with some metal. The quality of
materials used as well as the fit and finish were very good. You could tell
this was part of their professional series, and it showed. Included in the box
was the owners' manual, hard zippered carry case, and extra sized eartips. The
carry case has a pocket on the inside as well, to hold your extra tips.
I'm impressed with the look, design, and quality of the Audio-Technica
ATH-IM02. The cables are good quality,
are bendable at the top to help you get a good fit around your ear. The cables are detachable, so if you get a
short, you only have to replace the cable.
I also like the smoke housing so you can see the internal
components. But now it's time to hear
how they sound!
David Bowie: Let's Dance, the drums had good depth and dynamics, with some
authority. They threw a nice big soundstage, with good imaging. Percussion was
very dynamic. Vocals were very natural. Journey: Don't Stop Believing, the keyboard sounded natural, vocals were smooth with good resolution and texture. Imaging
was nice. Drums were dynamic with crisp cymbals. Also Sprach Zarathustra, it
had sufficient low end extension that could be heard, very smooth bass and very
nice resolution in the tympani. Junior
Wells: Why are People Like That, had nice resolution in the vocals, harmonica
was crisp and clean with great dynamics. Very good details in the percussion.
Bass guitar had good low end extension. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, the clarinet
sounded really natural with good resolution. Piano sounded natural. Brass was
really rich and smooth without being too brassy. Bassoon had good texture. They
threw a good sized soundstage and had very good imaging as well. Overall, you could definitely hear the
resolution that two balanced armature drivers provide. The sound was really crisp and clean with
very good resolution and was just barely on the bright side overall.
The Westone Am Pro 30 is a brand new model that is actually not yet
available, but soon will be within the next month or so. Westone makes some
excellent IEM's and have been included in our annual shootout in years past.
They jumped at the opportunity to be included again this year, but they did not
have a final product with packaging, so a final engineering sample was provided
with no packaging. They did promise that the engineering sample provided will sound
just the same as the final retail product, but look a tad different than the
final product that ships. Although comparing what was provided to the look in
the photo on Westone's website product page, the look is really close! So when
you see our photos, the final product will look just a tad different, if you
look really closely. I had to study it
for a few minutes to find the extremely small difference. They looked like a final product to me!
Features and specs:
·
• Westone
True-Fit Technology: 50+ years experience with in-ear applications has yielded a
low-profile, lightweight, universal earpiece which delivers maximum comfort and
in-ear coupling for dynamic transfer of sound.
·
• Balanced
Aramture Driver: Westone’s balanced armature drivers are significantly more
compact and efficient than traditional dynamic drivers. By combining multiple
balanced armature drivers with sophisticated crossover networks, Westone
monitors provide enhanced sonic detail and frequency range that extends well
beyond typical in-ear solutions.
·
• MMCX
Audio™ Connecter: Designed specifically for musicians’ monitors, our audio
connector ensures a reliable connection every time.
·
• Patent
Pending SLED™ Technology: Combines your ambient surroundings with
your monitor signal with no compromise to the frequency response.
·
• TRU™
Audio Filter: Allows
you to fully experience your performance—hear your band, your fans, and
everything else.
·
• Designed
& Assembled in the USA: Meticulously built by a staff of
dedicated artisans and lab techs based in the USA, Westone’s products exhibit a
level of craftsmanship that truly embodies America’s rich history of handmade
artistry.
Sensitivity: 124 dB SPL @ 1 mW
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 18 kHz
Impedance: 56 ohms @ 1 kHz
Passive Noise Attenuation: 25dB
Driver: Three balanced armature
drivers with three-way crossover.
Cable: MMCX Audio™ Connection.
The Westone Am Pro 30 came shipped in one of their water resistant hard
cases for protection. Also included were some difference sized ear tips, and
wax tool. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic. Quality of
materials used was very good, as was the fit and finish. It's the quality I
have come to expect from Westone. And I
liked the cables being detachable. Westone has for as long as I have been
working with them, provided a stellar product.
The Westone Am Pro 30 is designed around the professional musician
performing on-stage, so there is no in-line mic or controls for your
smartphone. And this is a product they are very excited about, so I couldn't
wait to review them. So let's hear how
they sound.
David Bowie: Let's Dance, the bass had nice punch, plenty of depth, as well
as good authority. Percussion was crisp and dynamic. The knocker sounded woody
and natural, with large soundstage and very good imaging. Nice texture in
vocals. Journey: Don't Stop Believing, the keyboard sounded very natural, vocals
were smooth with lots of resolution and textures. Cymbals were crisp and very
dynamic. Kick drum had nice low end extension. Also Sprach Zarathustra, had nice
low end extension that played deep with authority. Brass was very smooth
without being too brassy. Very good dynamics and resolution in the tympani.
Junior Wells: Why are People Like That, revealed nice sounding vocals with
depth and harmonics. Bass guitar played deep and with some authority, harmonica
so dynamic it sounded like I was right there, and the percussion was crisp.
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, the clarinet had excellent tone, with resolution
good enough you could hear the woodiness and the breathing technique. Piano
sounded very natural. They threw a big soundstage, and imaging was excellent. Percussion
was crisp and clean. Brass was very smooth and dynamic without being overly
brassy. Bassoon had nice texture.
The
sound in all was extremely neutral, with lots of resolution, and good bass
depth and authority. And the SLED
Technology worked! For musicians on a tight budget...this is for you! I'm not
sure that they helped give a bigger soundstage the way open back over the ear
headphones typically sound. But it was
pretty cool being able to hear some of what is going on around you, in your
environment.
Next is Klipsch's 2nd entry into our shootout, the Klipsch X20i. In
addition to wanting their X8RI included, they also wanted this model, their top
of the line, included. And I can see why. The X20i is part of their Reference
series, and their top of the line, for good reason. While it is only a 2 way
model at their $549 price point, the way that they designed integrated the two
balanced armature drivers is supposed to bring stellar sound.
Features and specs:
- KG-2625
AcuPass(R) Two-Way Driver
- KG-926T
Balanced Armature Woofer
- KG-125B
Balanced Armature Super Tweeter
- Stainless
Steel Construction
- Super-Slim
Oval Ear Tips
- Interchangeable
Cables
- Advanced Three-Button Remote + Mic
The Klipsch X20i came shipped in a nice box with a paper sleeve with photos
and specs for the IEM. The sleeve wrapped around a very cool wooden box, that
is held shut with magnets, which gave a very elegant touch and feel. This is
clearly their flagship model! Opening the box revealed the IEM, owners' manual,
a leather case with magnets to hold it closed, and one of the credit card sized
plastic eartip holders. The quality of the materials used was very good,
comprising of some molded aluminum, and plastic. The quality of construction as
well as the fit and finish was equally impressive.
The Klipsch X20i seemed to do everything right. The cables were very high quality, comprised
of twisted strands inside a plastic sheath.
There is an in-line mic and controls for your smartphone. The cables are also detachable, and the way
they do so I think is a bit more durable.
David Bowie: Let's Dance, bass had good depth and authority, percussion was
crisp and dynamic. Knocker sounded woody and showed a wide soundstage. Very nice
resolution in the cymbal. Vocals had nice detail and smoothness. Journey: Don't
Stop Believing, the keyboard sounded extremely natural, vocals were smooth like
honey with lots of resolution and texture. Percussion had crisp cymbals and
nice low end extension in the kick drum. Also Sprach Zarathustra, revealed good
low end extension with lots of authority. The silky smooth brass wasn't too
brassy. Very good resolution in the tympani.
Junior Wells: Why are People Like That, the vocals were extremely
natural and smooth, harmonica was dynamic and provided a musical experience
that has to be heard to be appreciated. The resolution provided was life like.
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, provided excellent clarinet tone, and lots of
resolution so you could hear the breathing technique, with air and woodiness of the reed.
Piano sounded extremely natural. Brass was as smooth as honey with excellent
dynamics without coloration. Bassoon had amazing texture. Low level harmonics
was very nice, as was the imaging and large soundstage.
The overall sound was more refined, just a bit warm, and so silky smooth! And I loved the level of resolution that they
provide! The housing is actually very small. So if you have small ears, they
are much easier to get a great fit! And
for those not so small ears, they have larger sized eartips to help you get the
right fit. I could not believe the level of sound provided by 2-way monitors!!!
Last but not least is the Audio Fly AF180. The AF180 is also one of
Audiofly's top of the line products, and it shows just as well. Having reviewed
their products for a few years now, I at first was impressed with the sound of
Audiofly's products. They always seem to give a big bang for the buck. But I soon
came to learn that's the way these Aussie's roll. They like giving value to
their customers. So when given the opportunity to see if the AF180 continues in
the tradition, We naturally jumped on it!
Features and specs:
Passive crossover
splits the audio signal and routes it to the appropriate driver
|
Quad drivers: 4 balanced
armature drivers
|
Audioflex™ SL Cable:
low profile for stage
|
Mouldable over-ear
cable
|
Selection of high
grade silicon and COMPLY™ Premium Earphone Tips
|
Driver
configuration: Four balanced armature drivers with crossover
Frequency range: 15-25kHz
Sensitivity: 108dB at 1 kHz
Impedance: 18 Ohms
Cable length: 1.6m / 64”
Plug type: 3.5mm gold plated, right-angle format
Frequency range: 15-25kHz
Sensitivity: 108dB at 1 kHz
Impedance: 18 Ohms
Cable length: 1.6m / 64”
Plug type: 3.5mm gold plated, right-angle format
The Audiofly AF180 came in a great looking printed box with photos and specs of the AF180. They came well protected. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, but quality of materials is very good, as is the fit and finish. I loved the sexy look of the stone blue housing. These are towards the top of the line for Audiofly, and it shows in the quality of the product. Audiofly may be fairly new to the headphone industry, but they were quick to establish them as a serious contender with quality products. Also included was a nice leather carry case, owners' manual, wax loop, and multiple sets of difference size and style eartips.
I was seeing things I was used to see from Audiofly. The top of the cable is molded to help give a
better fit around your ears. The cables
were high quality with cloth cover. And as stated before, the gloss stone blue
of the housing was pretty sexy looking.
I couldn't wait to hear how they sound!
David Bowie: Let's Dance, the bass had good low end extension and played
with authority. Percussion and cymbals were very crisp and clean and dynamic.
Vocals had a lot of resolution and texture. Knocker sounded woody and threw a
wide soundstage with great imaging. Journey: Don't Stop Believing, the keyboard sounded extremely natural, vocals were extremely smooth with tons of resolution
to reveal lots of texture and timbre. I loved the harmonics, and lack of
coloration. Percussion was crisp and clean with good depth in kick drum. Also
Sprach Zarathustra, yielded nice low end extension that played with very good
authority. Horns were smooth like honey with lots of resolution without being
to brassy. Excellent resolution and dynamics in the tympani. Junior Wells: Why
are People Like That, vocals were smooth and very detailed, bass guitar had
excellent depth and authority as did the kick drum. Percussion was crisp and
clean. Harmonica was extremely life like and detailed. Gershwin: Rhapsody in
Blue, the clarinet was extremely detailed with good air, with so much
resolution you could easily hear the breathing technique and woodiness. Piano
had nice harmonics. The bassoon had excellent texture and depth. Soundstage was
very big and imaging was spot on.
The Audiofly AF180 performed extremely well. Using four balanced armature drivers, the
resolution and detail they provided was closer than I expected to custom models
I have reviewed in the past. The highs
were crisp and clean, mids were warm and smooth, and the bass played deep with
lots of authority. And the sound was
overall very neutral. I couldn't help getting lost in the music, going on to listen to more of my favorite tracks. The sound was so good I got goosebumps!
All of the IEM models in this years shootout performed very well. They were also all made very well. So no matter what you sound preferences, they
are all made well to provide years of service.
The Klipsch XR8I provided a detail I would expect from a single balanced
armature. The sound was overall smooth,
a bit warm in signature. And with the
built-in subwoofer driver, it played deeper and with more bass output than any
of the other IEMs. The Audio-Technica
ATH-IM02 takes the detail and resolution to the next level with incorporating
dual balanced armature drivers, while lacking in the bass output of the Klipsch
XR8I. They also feature detachable
cables. Overall sound signature is a just a tad
bright and provides very good resolution. Next are Westone Am Pro 30, and they
up the ante even more, providing three balance armature drivers. The level of detail, imaging, and soundstage
are exceptional, which I have also learned is signature Westone. I also liked their SLED technology, which
allowed you to somewhat hear what is going on around you, and that feature
could make it perfect for you. Next up
is the Klipsch X20i, with is their top of the line model, and it shows. They performed some serious magic to get sound this good from a 2-way balanced armature driver system! It's dual balanced armature drivers provided
a lifelike sound that was silky smooth, refined, and a bit warm. And with it's small size, if you have small
ears, they could be just what you have been looking for. Last but not least is the Audiofly AF180,
with it's quad balanced armature drivers.
They had an overall neutral sound, and provided an aural bliss that must
be heard to be believed. And
surprisingly the bass performance in depth and output was 2nd only to the
Klipsch XR8I. Based on their design,
features, quality, and performance, the Klipsch XR8I and Audio-Technica
ATH-IM02 has earned our Highly Recommended Award. The Westone Am Pro 30,
Klipsch X20i, and Audiofly AF180 have earned our Editor's Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out
their website at www.audiofly.com, www.audio-technica.com, www.klipsch.com, and
www.westone.com.
