New pair of headphones for mobile use - now with review, Xiaomi.

[g8ina]

I have a new phone and the audio output is rather good, so does anyone have any suggestions for out n about headphones, pref clip over the ear type.

[Smudger]

Soundmagic E10Cs get a good write-up. They're in-the-ear types, but you can turn them upside-down and wear them like over-the-ears...

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...sound-e10c-gun

And review here:

http://www.whathifi.com/soundmagic/e10c/review

[g8ina]

Yep, they are on the shortlist along with MEE audio Sport-Fi M6, and the Shure SE215

[jimborae]

Soundmagic E10Cs get a good write-up. They're in-the-ear types, but you can turn them upside-down and wear them like over-the-ears...

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...sound-e10c-gun

And review here:

http://www.whathifi.com/soundmagic/e10c/review

Soundmagic E10's are vastly overrated in my opinion and I was very disappointed. Build quality was not that great and the sound went in one earphone after a couple of months. Bear in mind that I wear headphones for most of the day, every day and even sleep with them in.

For pure longevity, value and sound quality I have used none better than the Xiaomi Piston II but finding genuine versions is difficult these days are they have been superceded by the Xiaomi Hybrids which are also pretty good.Check headfi out for reviews of both but I defy anyone to find better for less than £40. The Xiaomi's cost between £12-20 when imported from China.

if you dont fancy importing then I'd urge you to have look at RHA's range, sound & build quality is very good and there customer service is exceptional if you do have any issues. Again I'm speaking from personal experience having owned both the MA450i & MA750i .

The others I've been very impressed by are Huawei AM185 Active Noise Cancelling In-ear Earphones although I got these as a freebie, so on the value scale they dont count. Sound & build quality wise they're very good.

[g8ina]

Ta for that.

I've since been out to my local Currys and tried a few on, I found that I don't actually like the wrap around the ear shell type, I much prefer the stick em in your ear canal buds, so Ill take a serious look at the Xiaomi. Dont need noise cancelling, just a comfy fit and good audio quality.

[Smudger]

Soundmagic E10's are vastly overrated in my opinion and I was very disappointed. Build quality was not that great and the sound went in one earphone after a couple of months. Bear in mind that I wear headphones for most of the day, every day and even sleep with them in.

For pure longevity, value and sound quality I have used none better than the Xiaomi Piston II but finding genuine versions is difficult these days are they have been superceded by the Xiaomi Hybrids which are also pretty good.Check headfi out for reviews of both but I defy anyone to find better for less than £40. The Xiaomi's cost between £12-20 when imported from China.

if you dont fancy importing then I'd urge you to have look at RHA's range, sound & build quality is very good and there customer service is exceptional if you do have any issues. Again I'm speaking from personal experience having owned both the MA450i & MA750i .

The others I've been very impressed by are Huawei AM185 Active Noise Cancelling In-ear Earphones although I got these as a freebie, so on the value scale they dont count. Sound & build quality wise they're very good.

I got the original E10 set off Amazon for £20 one Christmas sale, and was really pleased with them. I would still be using them now if I hadn't lost them, bought some E50Ss, them found them again a day after the E50s arrived... The E50s give a more mature sound, but I couldn't fault the E10s.

[g8ina]

Dun sum research on those hybrids and just ordered a pair, thanks again

[jimborae]

Ta for that.

I've since been out to my local Currys and tried a few on, I found that I don't actually like the wrap around the ear shell type, I much prefer the stick em in your ear canal buds, so Ill take a serious look at the Xiaomi. Dont need noise cancelling, just a comfy fit and good audio quality.

Don't forget to look at the RHA's then as they're easy to get hold of over here as they're a UK company. The 350's would fit the bill very nicely if your at the value sort of price range, if not have a look at the 450's.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RHA-MA350-A...dp_ob_title_ce


https://www.amazon.co.uk/RHA-MA450i-...EJ8YW3JNSH5HXC

http://www.head-fi.org/t/640122/soun...-or-rha-ma-350

[jimborae]

Dun sum research on those hybrids and just ordered a pair, thanks again

Cool, let us know how you get on, I do like the Hybrids but find the Piston II's more comfortable to sleep with on.

[g8ina]

I liked the look of the tech of the hybrids, I'm going to be hyper critical of the sound when they get here. Ordered from Gearbest, £15-40

[g8ina]

Just had another scout around the net looking for these and found the fakes page at AliExpress :

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/In-E...d-e9e153bb9acb

£0-76 a pair INCLUDING post !!!!!!!!

Seventy Six PENCE !

[jimborae]

Yuck!!! Gotta love AliExpress. Buyer beware! But having said that AliExpress has provided some great bargains lately, i.e. bought yet another phone last night - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro Prime for £116 after cash back!!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Offi...608.0.0.IE1kab

I just got these as I see there's a new version of the Hybrids out so thought I'd give them a go.

http://www.gearbest.com/earbud-headp...pp_566702.html

[virtuo]

Yep, they are on the shortlist along with MEE audio Sport-Fi M6, and the Shure SE215

The Shure 215s are fantastic, I'd rate them over the pricier 3/4/5 15 for value - they wrap around your ear in an odd but not uncomfortable way, memory foam fills your holes perfectly and they block out pretty much everything but your music.

Had my current pair for 7 or 8 years and apart from a new cable and some replacement foam inserts they still get daily use.

[jimborae]

@g8ina - Have your Xiaomi's arrived yet? Mine turned up yesterday just trying them out now and first impressions are rather good, considering the cost. Build quality is typical Xiaomi, i.e. really good with very nice packaging. Sound quality it's bit early to say as they need burning in apparently but they are very bright and .......I don't know..... upfront, sounding. Not bass heavy at all, really clear mid range and treble and a nice wide sound stage. As you you can tell I'm not good at describing sound. The sound is meant to improve further after a few days if reviewers are to be believed. But for £20 I really have no complaints at all, also I find them comfortable shoved deep into my ear canals

Ben Howard - The Wolves really does sound good with these, they seem to make acoustic guitars sound rather special.

[g8ina]

Not arrived yet, thanks for the report, Ill update when mine arrive

[g8ina]

They arrived yesterday, just listening as I type, been rather hectic last few days being Dad's Taxi for the family, it's never ending.

Packaging looks nice, the usual Englese translation on the paperwork, amusing.

The fit isn't the best I've had, but maybe I need different bungs, Alan Parsons "Turn of a Friendly Card" sounds pretty nice, not as full or deep as my Sennheisers, but that's to be expected. They appear to be very efficient, don't need much to drive them for a hefty volume. "Mammagamma" from APs Eye in the Sky is definitely thin on bass but seems even across the rest of the spectrum, with good extension to HF. Switching to vocals by the Swingle Singers, the voices are very pleasing, and the double bass accompaniment is actually much better than I thought it might be after the first 2 tests.

Ahhhhhhh, THAT'S better, switched to the biggest bungs, much tighter fit and MUCH improved bass, Yes's "Awaken" off "Going for the One", is my all time favourite track and it sounds great, I like these I can hear all of Chris Squires bass playing, and in fact, I think these might even have a slight edge over my Sennheisers, lemme switch and check. ..... Wow, muddled bass now on the Sennheisers !! HD202, cheapies yes, but Id always rated them. Switch back, yes, definitely nicer, tighter bass, brighter tops without being tinny. I'm gobsmacked.

More tests on Pink Floyds "One of these days", lovely bass in the opening, and I can hear all the nuances of the higher stuff, its not being masked by the 2x basses playing in each lughole.

OOOhhh how about Holophonics ? Pink Floyds Final Cut opening track - I can almost see the cars driving past, rear to front, Paranoid Eyes - the footsteps are solidly placed in 3d. Finally, The Wall, helicopter sequence, lovely

Kraftwerk's Autobahn, is nice and solid on the bass line, the more I hear of these the more I like em

Classical - opening to Janacek's Glagolitic Mass with all it's brassy trumpets and horns sound s beautifully clear.

All of that meant I was wearing em for over an hour and they are also fairly comfy.

15 quid. Buy em

edit : current 12 quid

http://www.gearbest.com/earphones/pp_261864.html