2023 Annual Headphone Shootout The In-Ear Monitors

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.