Here it is, another collaboration from Massdrop. Coming from the K7XXs, Fostex TR-X series and most recently the Plus, there is definitely a look of surprise on my face when I saw that the new Bolt, an IEM that was born from the collab between MD and HiFiMAN, costs only $10. $10 guys! imagine, what can we get for that amount nowadays? Probably a one-time lunch or a short uber trip. But no, here with the Bolt you get what MD claims to be a budget IEM that is made by audiophiles, for audiophiles. a bit of Razer reference, eh? Anyways, will the claim stand or will it just be another marketing slogan by MD? Find out in this review!
Now I now I put up an intro already, so this section will address the types of music that I will test the Bolt with and my expectations. So, as far as expectations go, I expected it to be good but not at the level of the RE400s. I know that no company in the market will be willing to let a cheap product cannibalize their higher-lineup models, and so I had that mindset going into this review. Furthermore, although I will cut the Bolt some slack in this review, I still believe that no one should spend money on products that does not suit them, so I will be as transparent as I could. Even for $10, I know that some people might be willing to save that dosh in their wallet instead of having an IEM that they do not like lying around in the house, unused. Now for the music genre, I mainly test these with rock, edm, and modern pop.

Now MD really gets to me when it comes to their packaging. Some people might think its disappointing, but for me it is interesting as it shows their "in the works" state similar to what Off-White is doing with their products. However, with the Bolts I was disappointed on the inside... check it for yourselves:
You see the part I hate the most is the fact that they do not put any effort at all during the internal packaging. It feels like in the factory they just put them inside the clip and off they go. Even for $10, I expected more. C'mon MD I know you could impress me more..

The Bolt is made out of part aluminum, part plastic. The housing itself are encased in aluminum, which is a nice touch. The metal they use are similar to the ones present on the urBeats, with solid, smooth metal across the surface. Unlike the urBeats however, the metal part on the Bolt does not go all the way, as 1/4 ish of the housing is wrapped in what seems to be a solid feeling plastic. No problems there.
The stress reliefs are also pretty solid as well, which technically should give these better chances of survival in case of extreme tangling or unexpected pulls. Moving forward to the cables I feel like they are also quite solid, and despite being a little on the thinner side and feeling a little plasticky, the tangle-free, flat design screams convenience. There is a built-in mic as well with a one-button remote so the Bolt remains neutral and allows for convenient use with both Android and Apple. Briefly touching on quality the mic is actually decent with clear output and decent sensitivity.
In terms of fit the Bolt is sort of so-so. The body design is well thought-out, with angled bore design which allows for better insertion and thus, better sound and fit. However, when coupled with the included tips, the overall fit becomes quite bad. I have a tendency of immediately swapping tips when buying new IEMs, but after receiving bad feedback on their fit, I decided to try the stock ones on, and OMG they are so bad. Suction is quite large, and the silicone itself is flimsy, which gives a wobbly fit when inserted inside the ears. I don't know how to describe this but they fit similar to those free earbuds you get when you purchase a Samsung or ASUS smartphone. Its bad. Swap them out for a pair of SpinFits or take one from your inventory, any method works but do ditch the stock ones.

Now this is the part that's exciting. I have so much to talk about so I will give a general summary first. Overall, I would say the Bolts have a weird tonality, which I will explain, but to generalize I would say they lean towards the brighter side of things, with added bass. These should work brilliantly with most EDMs, most Pop tracks, and some Rock. Okay now into the more detailed part...

Treble: This section imho is quite inconsistent for me, which is why I think this is going to be the longest part. I am a huge fan of trebles, and I prefer brighter-sounding gear rather than warm as I can hear more details and thus make the track more exciting (for me). So when I listen to the Bolts I immediately noticed the extension and shimmer. Oh boy does the Bolt strike you immediately with its treble. Upon pressing the 'play' button, immediately my music sounds glossy, with apparent air and shimmer across the board. Initially it blew me away as I thought its going to be another one of those budget IEMs which does treble right, but when the cymbals crash in, I immediately held back. Although the extension is by far one of the best for an IEM under $100, the implementation is poor. Cymbal crashes sound too piercing, and decay is quite long which sometimes could muddle up the whole high-frequency region. Playing "21 Guns" by Green Day shows the Bolt's faults, with the second bridge sounding too muddy with cymbals piercing you on both ears and the vocals suddenly took a huge step back leaving you with nothing but clutter. This, alongside its mediocre detail retrieval, make for a no-no when it comes to complex rock tracks with cymbals crashing all over the place. Moving on to EDM, trying out "No Money" and "Runaway" by Galantis was imo the worst decision I have made when testing these, as their high-pitched vocals generate nothing but nightmare in your ears. Your ears will soothe abit when the song reaches chorus, but for the gaps in between, ugh no. just no. Overall, 5/10 from me.

Midrange: This is going to be the shortest section, as I feel like they have done a good job on it. Pure vocals and instruments like guitar strums sound great, with quality that I feel like is even better than the Shozy Hibikis, which is also known for their midrange. Here the mids sound more dynamic, and although the RE400 still trumps them in this department, they do hold their own. Detail retrieval is nothing to write home about, and does give an immediate sense of resolution when plugging them in. The one reason why I did not say great, but only good for the mids is because I found some faults in the upper midrange. So, I like a little more emphasis on the upper mids, as the songs that I like (AniSong, J/K-Pop) usually rely on the upper mids the most to add that extra energy to their tracks. The Bolt does the upper mids fairly well, but again the implementation is a little flawed as sometimes it can get a little rough/spiky and give you that random pierce when listening to songs like "As if Its Your Last" by BLACKPINK and "Catch the Moment" by LiSA. A minor flaw, but worth noticing for people who are sensitive to this. Overall though, a solid 7/10

Bass: Now this is where I think the Bolt does most things right, with minor faults in the transitions. The Bolt sports bass similar to the urBeats, but is fuller and a little punchier which reduces clutter and muddiness when playing complex EDM tracks with deep, slow bass. Tracks like "Are You With Me" by Lost Frequencies showcase the impressive punch and decay the Bolt has, and going into pop the track "What Do You Mean?" by Justin Bieber again blew me away with how punchy yet smooth the Bolt's bass could be. The minor fault as I mentioned is in the bass-mid and sub-bass transition, as I do pick up a little bit of bleed which gives tracks an immediate sense of thickness and/or stuffiness, and sometimes with tracks that sport both electronic and classic instrument (e.g. bass guitar) the Bolt fails to deliver a smooth transition between the punch and rumble. I am being too nitpicky here, but overall for what it is I give the bass a solid 8.5/10

Soundstage: Soundstage is actually really good, and once you get the right fit with the right tips, these IEMs offer solid soundstage that could rival $50-$100 IEMs on the market. Definition is good, and even though it could be a little hazy around the edges due to the faults I mentioned, it is still enjoyable and I would even game with these (not competitively of course lol).

Transition? what transition?
So this is sort of a bonus section I guess, since I mentioned the word a lot in this section. So I might be wrong when it comes to terminology but transition for me simply means how the sound "moves" in the spectrum, from sub-bass->bass->mids->upper-mids->treble. You can tell if an IEM is tuned well by looking at how smooth the transition is. The rougher it is, the more "disjointed" tracks will sound and you might hear something like bright cymbals but the sound of the drummer hitting the cymbal itself is pushed behind (disjoint in treble->presence) and bass notes having quick punch but suddenly the rumble comes out of nowhere (disjoint in sub->upper-bass). Another scenario would be listening to massive synthesizer extension but very little definition to the synth sound itself (disjoint between treble->presence). This does not apply to the Bolts alone, even some expensive $300< IEMs sometimes suffer from this fault as well.
Since these are really an EDC at its core, I am not going to test these with expensive DAPs or try amping it as it does not make sense and you guys would not be doing that probably. So I listened simply with my 1+5 and I will provide song matchups (YMMV, remember this!):

Strong for:
- Slow Pop (e.g. Rihanna's "Take a Bow", JB's "What Do You Mean?", P!nk's "Just Give Me A Reason")
- Chill / Mellow EDM (e.g. LF's "Are You With Me", Jonas Blue's "Fast Car", Niall's "Slow Hands", Kygo's "Stay")
Weak for:
- Rock (Fast Rock, mainly) (e.g. Dokken's "Breaking the Chains", Linkin Park's "Numb")
- Bright EDMs (e.g. Most of Galantis' songs, JB's "2U", DFA's "Millionaire", Zedd's "Clarity")

Remember these are some examples that I find the Bolt to be good and bat at, YMMV and for you things that are in bad might sound good and vice versa. This is just a rough guide.
I personally think these IEMs are really good value and they do sound much better than what they cost, but if you ask whether these are giant killers or not, I would say no. These will not topple the likes of Hibiki, RE400, or the FH1 any time soon, but they honestly do hold themselves quite well especially in the already very crowded budget IEM market. The build certainly delivers with EDC in mind, and even though I went a little rough on sound, in one of my testing where I just sat down inside the bus for 2 hours and listen to them, I do find them quite enjoyable. I feel like as long as you don't nitpick here and there these are really good for every day commutes. I still do stand by my word that even if this is $10 it should still be bought by the right people, but overall they are okay for what they are. Props to MD for successfully reaching out to the ultra-budget market, and sorry for posting this long for a $10 IEM! I hope you enjoy the read!

I love Massdrop. Despite living in Canada and bombarded with heavy import taxes, I am still very interested in special collaborations made by Massdrop such as the TR-X00, HD6XX, HD58X, and K7XX to name a few. After years of collaborations, Massdrop had to create something of their own; a product that is tuned in-house, made in-house, and unique to its name. Thus, the Plus was born. Made and tuned by Massdrop from the ground-up, these IEMs hope to try and aim for that sweet, seemingly impossible spot in sound signature: reference-like neutral tuning with extra emphasis in the bass region. With a year worth of R&D behind their belts and continuous testing prior its release, is the Plus worthy of your $300? Read on to find out!

I usually almost never do this section as I immediately throw boxes and wrappers out after I unbox things, but the Plus really got my attention...

First of all, the box is really small, and I have a soft spot for small, cute things XD


Box design is a little different from the ones shown in other reviews... Is this a refresh? is it only a design update? My guess is as good as yours...


Kinda like what they included... A mini hardshell case, a pair each of foam, silicone, and dual-flange tips, a cleaning tool, and a nice velcro strap attached to the cables. Note that the black cable is not included, it is my personal Noble cable, attached cos I was too lazy to remove them..

If I could nitpick on something, I would say the case is a little bit too small, look at how ugly my Sage is in them..


Anyways, moving on...

The Plus is made out of 3D-Printed Acrylic, and it is what it is. The shells have a smooth surface all around, without seams or glue residue being present, which is nice. The edges/corners around the sides of the shells are also very round and smooth, which reduces fatigue and irritation on the ear once worn. Really it is as good as it gets, and there is no other special things worth mentioning here. The fit however, is down right amazing. This is the best fitting universal IEMs on the market right now. Period. No other IEMs come close to the fit of the Plus, with its custom-universal design nicely sitting inside the grooves of your ears, causing little to zero irritation whatsoever. Because of this the Plus also sits flush inside your ears, which gives you a more low-profile look, with nothing sticking out of either ear. Plus (no pun intended), it lets you lean on your sides with these on, which is amazing for those who love to sleep while wearing earphones!


As you can see, the Plus looks more sleek and slender, as opposed to the more chunky, industrial design adopted by the Orions which gave my ears quite the run as it sometimes gets sore after awhile.. ymmv tho

The cable that comes with the Plus is a respectable silver-coated copper, which is quite thin and flexible. Being thin and flexible however could be a good and a bad thing. The good thing is that this cable is lightweight and tangles less often, but the bad thing is that sometimes when yanked they feel like they are about to pop off, and it could accidentally get snapped when closing the case included by Massdrop, which is no fun especially when you are in the middle of a trip, etc. While using the Plus, despite being okay with the cable itself, I found myself looking for a replacement cable fairly quicker than I initially thought, as the end connectors tend to get a little loose over time. I believe the issue is with the cables itself, as when I swapped it out for several aftermarket cables, the connection becomes more secure and even for some cables you can hear a "snap" sound when plugging them in.

Okay, the most important section, the "make-or-break" section of a review. I will start off by providing a general tonality of the Plus before going over the detailed breakdown. So in general, the tonality of the Plus leans towards neutral-warm, with emphasis towards the sub-bass region (duh?). The character is somewhat very immediate and aggressive, with impact being the key player in each spectrum. Confused? read on...

Highs: The high frequencies in the Plus is mostly neutral, with a slight emphasis in the upper treble (at around 10-11k) which gives the Plus some added shimmer and sparkle on the very top end. Although there is more extension compared to say, the Orions or the ER4XR, the Plus still can't compare to the likes of CA Andromeda, with orchestral and several instrumental pieces sounding a little bit compressed, with string instruments sounding like they are gasping for air. Swapping genres to Pop and EDM however, the slight emphasis gives the Plus a little bit more room to breathe, preventing the Plus from sounding congested and stuffy. Detail-wise the trebles bring some good detail, not amazing. Cymbals crash with natural crispness and quick decay, which is desirable for me. The treble also contributes a little bit to the soundstage, which I will talk about below. Overall, 8.5/10

Midrange: The Mids in the Plus are very well tuned and matched, and I found it to be exactly similar to the likes of Etymotics, with the exact same character, detail retrieval, and presence. I noticed the mids sound very detailed and forward, with solid vocals (both male and female) and excellent resolution on instruments; from piano notes to guitar strums, everything sounds crunchy and resolving. However, with this I also found that the mids sound cold, with less organic warmth present, especially within vocals. This makes the Plus very versatile, but not a master when it comes to slow pop, rock, or jazz. The Noble Sage, for example sounds more organic and involving with those genres, but sometimes sound less energetic with a more fast-paced Pop track. The Plus, on the other hand does not have that "inviting" feeling when listening to the aforementioned genres, but sounds better with more impact on fast-paced Pop tracks. Overall, looking at where these IEMs are aimed at and what is it for, I will give the mids a 9/10

Bass: Bass in the Plus is exciting, in a unique way. The 2 Sonion vented drivers really show its finesse here, with strong, powerful impact and rumble. Now the typical BA-bass sounds tight and impactful, but it decays so quickly there is no apparent rumble for us to enjoy. Adding a vent in the driver allows for more airflow, hence adding the sense of rumble into the mix. Whenever I load bass-heavy tracks with the Plus I sometimes even forget that this is not a hybrid, but a full BA model. Yes, the bass is dynamic-like, with the nice rumble being the defining factor. Is it as tight as say the CA Andromeda? No. But it does not have to be. It is enjoyable enough even like this. Tracks like Summer Air by Italobrothers sound amazing, with good depth and impact throughout the track. Now its not all good for the Plus's bass, as sometimes due to the uber-clean midrange and highs, the rumbling bass seems a lil 'out of place', and could surprise you sometimes by sounding a little bit boomy and uncontrolled. This, however often disappears midway throughout the track and back you go enjoying its rumble. Overall, 8.5/10. My kind of bass.

Soundstage: Now the Plus does not offer a great deal of staging, and although it is better than say, my Orions, they are no match for my Sage. The Plus sounds more wide than tall, with the slightly lifted treble giving a little bit of air throughout every mix. Separation between instruments are good however, with each one finding its own spot in your ears. I would say 8/10. BTA but not amazing.

The Plus is an easy IEM to match as it has a more or less neutral tuning, which makes it less picky when it comes to DAP pairings. The impedance, however states otherwise as with a 10 Ohm Impedance, players with OI of 2 or more would be less than desirable for the Plus. This renders players like the HiBy R6 a little unusable with the Plus, as the frequency fluctuation tends to make the bass sound boomy, pushing the midrange back in the mix, but leaves the highs untouched. Weird, but it happens. Now if you own DAPs with an OI of >2 Ohms, never fear as there is a product called iFi iEmatch and EarBuddy, which reduces your DAP's OI to less than 1. Use that with the Plus, and rip through your albums!

Comparisons:
I compared the Plus against several IEMs listed, with the same tracks, same DAP (AK100ii), and same OI (Balanced for all)

vs Noble Sage: Both have similar configurations, with 2-way crossover which controls each BA individually (1 and 2 for the Plus). Tonality is a little bit different, with the Sage tuned more towards warmth, and the Plus more towards reference-like neutrality. The striking difference between the two IEMs is actually in the mids and bass. The Sage has a warmer midrange, with thicker, more organic notes being presented whilst the Plus offers detail and transparency right off the bat. Now I enjoy the Sage's mids more, as it sounds more pleasing and relaxing for my ears, but ymmv. The bass is where I wish the Plus is similar to the Sage, as the Sage receives a good lift from the midbass and to the sub-bass. The Plus however, does not have any midbass increase, and then suddenly you have a bunch of impact and rumble on the sub-bass. This makes the Plus sound less coherent, less 'refined'. But then again, with $300 difference, I can't complain, can I?

vs Noble X: I think this matchup is important as both is up on Massdrop but the difference is the Plus cost more ($50) but ships much faster than the X. Now the striking difference is with the midrange and bass, similar to the Sage. This time however, I favor the Plus more, as the X has this warmish midrange similar to the Sage, but has the sub-bass suddenly slapped in there without careful tuning on the midbass. This causes the X to sound more muffled compared to the cleaner sounding Plus. The Plus also has a more satisfying rumble to them, which makes them a clear winner over the X.

vs CA Orions: Against the CA Orion, I would say the Plus offers better balance and tonality for all-around listeners. Being one of the first adopters of the Orions, I used them quite a lot back in the day, and I can immediately say they are cleaner and clearer than the Plus, but they sound less dynamic, with little to no punch at all in the bass region. Granted, its 1 vs 3 BAs and although I feel the Orions still stand as the best, 1-driver analytical IEM on the market, I will say given the price ($349), the Plus offers more flexibility for less money. Definitely the Plus as a starter IEM unless you hate bass and want uber-transparent sound.

vs ER4XR: The ER4XR sounds very similar to the Plus, and I can confirm that the Plus's midrange is tuned exactly the same way as these. The Etys however offer less rumble in the sub-bass region compared to the Plus, due to the less driver count (1 vs 3, again). The only thing that differs between the two is I would say the treble extension, with the ER4XRs sounding more extended, but the Plus sounding more immediate and crisp due to the dropoff at around 10-11k for the Etys and at 15-17k for the Plus.

I would say this is an amazing find for me, as I never thought I could find something close to the Plus in the market right now for $300. Being a fan of midrange and highs and not too much bass, I find myself looking towards more analytical IEMs, but sometimes I crave for bass at the same time and whenever I do, I am always faced with choices that cost me over $800. The Plus really sets the bar for "entry-level IEMs" right now and I believe the Plus is worth picking up, as whether it ends up as another piece in your collection or your first IEMs, the Plus will not disappoint you.

I know this review is quite late, as this IEM has been around the market for at least 7 years now, dating back to late 2010-2011 when it made its debut. However, I also understand that audio is a hobby, and one way or another people might want to get their hands on this piece of kit even if it has reached its saturation point, so I thought I'll make a review about it, for good or for ill

Now there are some points I would like to address before going more in-depth. First, my preference in sound signature lies more towards neutral/bright rather than warm/full. Second, I use silicone tips that were provided by Shure and I swapped out the original cable in lieu of a thinner, more comfortable FiiO Cable. Okay now with those out of the way lets get into the review!


Shure is undoubtedly one of the best if not the best designed IEM when comfort and fit is put into consideration. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I remember correctly Shure and Westone collaborated in their IEM design, so Westone comes at a close second when it comes to the overall body design. Even when compared to higher-end IEMs like the likes of Campfire Audio, Noble, 64Ears, and Dita, the Shures still stood out as the most comfortable IEM in my lineup due to its size and form factor. The shells are made out of plastic which keeps the body lightweight, and although I am quite disappointed since I got the silver version, I felt that plastic is better as it does not get cold in the winters and does not have rough edges that might irritate my ears. I give the Shures a thumbs up in this regard.


This section is where Shure gets its first yellow card. Cables.

Now I understand that Shure has always gone for this 'studio quality' thing as they claim that their IEMs are the industry standard used by musicians, sound engineers, and in studios all around the world. While I appreciate the addition of removable cables via the MMCX connection, I absolutely hate how the cable looks and feels. On paper, the cables provided are strong and durable, made with reinforced kevlar and a super sturdy, chunky wire splitter in the middle. However, on practice, I felt this to be quite uncomfortable, as the cable is quite stiff and they never 'relax' when worn, holding their shape over time, which makes it hard when you need to stuff your cable into your jacket or pants pocket if it gets too long. In addition, since the cable did not conform well, a change in posture (i.e standing to sitting) can also be a little awkward, as the cable stays stiff and you basically have to re-form the wires again.

Now I sound like I absolutely despise the cables, which is not true since I appreciate that Shure is one of the few mass-market companies that pays attention to cable quality, and the idea of imbuing kevlar into the cables is super smart. However, I value comfort and flexibility when it comes to cables, except if they sound amazing to the point that I can sacrifice my values. Shure sadly does not tick those boxes (for me), which made me swap my cables.


Before we go here I want to quickly touch on the genres of music that I normally listen, and what I used to test this IEM. For my everyday, I am a J-Pop and Anisong fan (it makes up ~70% of my library). However, I also listen to others like Rock, Pop, Classical, and Smooth Jazz (~30%). I tested this IEM with all genres mentioned, with a couple of EDM tracks to test out bass.

Bass: Starting out with bass, people might have different views about it. Some will say the bass is just right in quantity and quality, but some will also say that the bass is lacking. Imho, I feel like the bass is really good when it comes to quality, but meh when it comes to quantity. Bass notes in tracks like Hidamari Days by SisterS and Break Free by Ariana Grande feel really tight and punchy, but is lacking in weight. Tracks like Miss You - Nick Talos Remix lack the rumble down low, which makes the track less pump-y. Overall, bass is just right for me, and it will for you, too, if you choose the right genre and tracks. I would also say that DAPs play a role in enhancing this region, as bass notes sound weightier and fuller out of my X5iii compared to my AK100ii.

Midrange: Mids is generally Shure's forte, and it is no stranger in the 425s. Midrange is very forward, grabbing all the heat and attention from the audience. It is also very smooth and silky, with full-sounding notes to give listeners a more intimate time, and make them feel like the singers are singing right there in front of them. This is the part which amazed me the most, as Shure is able to compete against the higher-tier JH Audio and the likes of Layla and Dorado when it comes to pure midrange smoothness. I never said they came out on top, though so keep that in mind . Detail is very good too in this region, with good micro-detail retrieval (this is where people say "I heard things I never heard before"). However, what Shure is offering in the plate here is intimacy and smoothness, not detail. Search too extensively, and you will be disappointed. Tracks like Beauty and the Beast by Ariana and John Legend sounded amazing, and it feels as if I am in a concert, standing front row center listening to their duo. Vocals shine beautifully and overflows with realism, while the other instruments dance around in the background. I believe by Il Divo sounds amazing as well, with the 425s reproducing the group's mesmerizing vocals with beautiful fullness and clarity. Finally, Deatta Koro no You Ni by Takahashi Rie's beautiful guitar rythms are presented with beautiful realism, and again vocals are reproduced effortlessly until the end. Overall, Mids are AMAZING here.

Treble: This is where I feel like again people have different opinions on, including me. In my opinion, treble is the weakest part on the 425's sonic signature, and honestly this is also the part that turned many people down when they first give this IEMs a listen. In terms of quality, treble is detailed, with a good sense of air and separation between the high notes. However, the quantity here is EXTREMELY lacking, and for me it brings down all that goodness the quality brings.*I need to apologize beforehand that I only have Anisongs and J-Pop music to showcase here* Okay so, as a general intro, Anisongs showcases midrange, treble, and air in an equipment. Gear that lack even one of those qualities will make Anisongs and J-Pop sound a little 'off'. Beautiful World by XX:me sounds okay with the 425, but it lacks the air and sparkle it once had when I listened even with my Orions. Asayake no Starmine by Asami Imai sounds a little off to me, with sparkles and synthesizers gasping for air, and sometimes even missing entirely in several sections of the track. When I listened to this track with the 425s, I feel like things are missing, as opposed to finding new details in the track. Overall, this is the dealbreaker for me, as I cannot listen to ~70% of my album at its fullest potential with the 425s. However, I am not surprised as well, as all IEMs in Shure's entire lineup never possess amazing treble. Not even the famed 846s.


Soundstage in this IEM is good, not great, with better width than depth. Imaging is quite precise which is surprising, given the circumstances. However, due to the lack of air and treble, complex tracks tend to sound a little congested, and imaging alongside spacial accuracy degrades the more complex a track gets. I would say this IEM is more on the dark, thicker side, with smooth vocals, non-invasive bass and polite treble.


In conclusion, this is a niche IEM that will serve a specific group of people. You enjoy vocals and don't care too much about the instruments taking the backstage? go for it. You enjoy a more organic, full sound like the old times? buy it now. You a metalhead? plz stop. You listen to J-Pop and other genres that require great air and treble? don't come any closer. In all seriousness, this IEM will please a crowd but will turn others away. Similar to its bigger brother, the 535s, this is not a jack-of-all-trades IEM, and it favors a certain genre over the other. I would say get this for a specific purpose, but don't expect your entire library to sound amazing in these, except if its vocal-strict.
*Bonus Section: Cables*

I put this as a bonus because people who believe in this, read; for those who don't, the conclusion is up there . So I tried a couple different cables with the 425s in hopes of getting a better treble response. Note here I am going to focus on adding treble, not warmth or bass so that is what I will focus on.

1. Lavricables Pure Silver: This cable has to be a quick, not too expensive fix for people who want higher quality cables than stock. In terms of sound, there is definitely an improvement in the treble region, with added presence and shimmer. The low end seems to tighten a tad bit too, but is barely noticeable as the 425's bass are tight enough. However, even if this is a good cable, I will not justify the purchase as the improvements are not night-and-day.

2. Effect Audio Ares II: This cable is copper, and oh boy does it add more warmth to the 425s. Treble is extended just a tiny bit, and the overall sound gets more intimate. A good pair if you want a very smooth and warm sound.

3. FiiO Replacement MMCX Cable: This is the oddball but I definitely recommend you to grab it if you hate the cable ergonomics. The FiiO cable is way softer and more flexible, and it also has a mic (yeah yeah interference, etc). To me it hooks to my ears better, and is very comfortable and does not feel stiff nor bulky. Does not change sound, but yea for 16 bucks what can you expect?

Intro
The Noble Audio Sage was released back in late 2016, around November, and is meant to be a permanent replacement for the fan-favourite Noble Audio Savant. Despite being the successor of a popular line, initially the Sage was overshadowed by the Kaiser Encore, which was released around the same time. In the forums people seem to not discuss this IEM very much, so I will give it a shot for review since this IEM is, in my honest opinion, a hidden gem.

In this review, this source was used:

FiiO X3 II --> Sage



Packaging / Unboxing
The Noble Audio Sage has a similar packaging as its brothers, being wrapped in a cardboard-like box, which houses the actual retail box which is made out of a harder, sturdier black cardboard with noble accents on it. The retail box reminds me of an Apple product's box, with similar detailing and layout. Inside the box we get a small velvet pouch, 2 pieces of Noble Audio stickers, and a Pelican Case.



Inside the Pelican Case, you'll get a lot of accessories, starting from a clip for the case, a cleaning tool, an assortment of ear tips packed in a cool but unusual card design, two pieces of rubber band for strapping on portable amp/dac onto your portable device, an owner's manual, and the earphones themselves, which are packed inside a sealed plastic bag (earphone not shown here).


The ear tips included are massive in size, ranging from the standard-issue SpinFit tips ( S, M, L, with XS pre-installed), Standard Silicone Tips (2nd row), Double Flange Tips (3rd Row) which i find to be uncomfortable, and finally the super soft Comply Foam Tips (Middle Row) in both S and M/L sizes.


Sorry I took out the S sized SpinFit tips so it was missing!! XD

Build Quality / Design
The build here is phenomenal, similar to the overall design and looks of it. The cables are braided, from a thicker double cable braid to a single cable braid after it splits in the middle. The jack is straight, and it kinda feels cheap to me


but overall the cable feels nice and solid, although it is less thick compared to my Campfire Audio Orion's. The part which I love however, is the durable 2-pin connectors in play instead of the growing MMCX connectors. It feels a lot more solid and stays more stable even after swapping a couple of times. The Faceplates here are made out of Aluminum, and is precision-cut giving a really nice finish on the Noble logo, plus the textured surface allows for light to dance through them when moved, so nice!


The body itself is made out of medical-grade plastic, which feels really nice without any rough corners / cuts, and has this glittery finish to them ( Sorry if I couldn't capture all of the glitters here! my lighting is so bad X( ).


Overall, the design and build is very nice, as expected from Noble Audio!

Sound Quality
Considering this is my first Noble IEM (Aside from my borrowed Savants), I could not compare the signature to its brothers, therefore I will discuss the sound signature that I perceive with minimal comparisons to my XBA A3 and the Savants.

Overall Picture: The overall sound of this IEM is detailed, transparent, with a touch of smoothness to them. I could see why this is the successor to the Savant, as from my experience trying out the Savants, they have this transparent, detail-rich sound, but sometimes there is a hint of dryness or coldness to the sound, which reminds me of Etymotic IEMs. The Sage solves the issue by having a tad bit more bass, which smooths out the overall signature, giving a pleasant, fatigue-free, but detailed listening experience.

---Breakdown---
Highs : The high frequencies in the Sage is really, really nice and pleasant, but its not something to write home about. I am not saying its not exceptional, its just it is 'expected' for an IEM costing $600. Gone were the peaks that i noticed were present in the Savants, resulting in a more smoothed out treble section, without sounding veiled or lacking in energy. Airiness, sparkle and its extension is still retained, creating this sense of spaciousness when listening to tracks without sounding overly bright like my XBA-A3 in some tracks. Surprisingly, detail in this region is not sacrificed in order to achieve those properties, which is amazing.

Mids: The midrange is the hero here, as in my opinion it is the best part of the whole sound signature of this IEM. Compared to the dryer, colder mids found on the Savants, the Sage has lusher midrange, with vocals sounding more organic and warm rather than dead accurate. female vocals on the upper midrange is reproduced beautifully, and male vocals on the lower midrange is superb with added body without sounding overly full / thick. Detail retrieval in this region is also superb, which when coupled with its insane instrument separation, every single instrument in your track could be pointed out with precision from start to finish. An interesting point is that the midrange does not 'dip' and have a more 'laid-back' tone to them like my XBA-A3s, while still sounding so smooth and relaxing.

Bass: The bass is the weakest region in my opinion, but 'weakest' here is more of a preference rather than an actual con. The overall bass in this IEM is still very good, or at least better than the Savants. The Savant has this 'BA-Bass' which simply means the decay is so fast you get little to no 'thump' in each hit. The Sage solves this problem by incorporating more 'oomph' to the bass, but not to the extent of my XBA-A3s. The bass on my XBA-A3 is fuller, reaches deeper, and has better sub-bass response. However, the Sage reigns over my A3 in terms of quality, as the moment you hear the bass notes kick in, you are greeted by this 'just enough' quantity and punch, with the perfect decay and zero bleed, something which I cannot say is always true with my A3. Somehow the Sage manages to bring in just enough for each specific track, without overdoing the bass in any way, which is something that i don't see happening with most IEMs.

--Even after all this, my inner basshead still craves for more, so if you are addicted to the likes of V-Moda M100 type bass, go for the Noble Dulce Bass, or Shure SE846 --

Soundstage and Imaging: One word, Insane. Period. The Soundstage here is a tad bigger than my XBA-A3s, the IEM which I mentioned in my review as the one which comes very close to a full-sized headphone. Imaging is also very good, as like I mentioned before, instruments are easily pointed out in your tracks, may it be a complex music with a lot going on, or a simple track involving one to four instruments, the Sage has no problem presenting to you all of the instruments playing. Instruments are also spaced out really really well, giving you this sense of space when listening. Amazing!

Conclusion
The Noble Audio Sage is a hidden gem, an IEM that most people might skip either due to the wrong concepts people have regarding more drivers = better sound, or people just going for the best (i.e. straight to the Katana / Kaiser Encore). It is true that this IEM only uses 2 BA drivers, but from the sound it produces and its unique signature paired with its capabilities on handling any genre of music, I could see this IEM being an everyday carry for people with higher-end IEMs, or a good entry point for people who want exceptional sound but is not ready to dive into the sub-$1000 region.

Hello Head-Fi! This time I'm going to review my wonderful but short-lived Bowers and Wilkins P5 Wireless Headphones. A quick intro, this headphone is released around mid-2015 and is one of the newer pairs B&W in their headphone lineup. This headphone is based off of the P5 Series 2, which to me is a significant upgrade from the P5 Series 1 in terms of sound, but I'm going to go deeper later in this review, so legoo!!!
 
--BUILD & DESIGN--
This headphone, in my opinion, looks amazing. It easily was my most handsome pair especially compared to the other portables which I have. The design is sleek and modern, utilizing only leather and metal to show off their 'mature' and 'manly' look to them. The hinges are made out of metal and are twisted to give a unique look, with a cable running down from the headband to the earcup. The earcups and headband are made out of plastic on the inside, but are covered with luxurious genuine leather on the outside to give them a unique look and feel. The build for me is amazing and since the mainframe is made mostly out of metal, this headphone overall feels sturdy in the hand without any sign of creaking or squeaking when twisting them, and is perfectly okay to throw them inside a bag alongside your books or other stuff you might be carrying with you. Alongside the headphone you also get a cable, and yes the cable quality is very, very poor. It seems like a trend nowadays, where manufacturers provide their bluetooth headphones a crappy cable instead of their standard-issue cable found on their wired counterpart. However, this is not the case since ALL B&W cables are like this, wired or wireless. The cable is very thin with maximum flex, but as a result it does not get too bulky. The cable has a 2.5mm plug to the headphones and terminates in the standard 3.5mm, which means you cannot use this cable as an aux if u wish to do so. The cable overall feels cheap and not on par with the price you ay for the headphones, but that for me is a minor tradeoff, especially you won't need to carry your cables around anytime soon due to the battery life of this headphone which I will discuss later.
 
--CONTROLS & BUTTONS--
This headphone employs several on-board buttons and switches, and like my previous MDR-1Rmk2BT, are hidden on the backside of the headphones themselves. The main difference however, this headphone has all of its controls on the right earcup, with the left earcup featuring a hole which the cables run through if you wish to use it in wired mode. The controls consist of a power slider and volume controls which has the same design and operation as your standard 3-way remote found in most Apple-certified headphones. To power the headphone on just slide the power slider and it will actually wait for a paired device to pair. To pair a new device and make the headphone discoverable, hold the slider for 3-4 seconds and blue light will start flashing indicating that it is currently searching for nearby bluetooth devices. To power them off just slide them again as you would when powering them on and they should power off immediately. The best part about the controls however, is the multicolor LED indicator beside the power slider. It does not only tell you that it is paired and is on, but it also tells you your battery percentage which is cool. When battery is at FULL, the light flashes blue. when battery is at HALF, the light flashes yellow, and when battery is LOW, the light will flash red. This is very convenient especially noting headphones nowadays only warn you when the battery goes down to like 20%. Another feature which is present on the right cup are 2 microphones, and since this is a BT headphone, microphones are necessary to put on the cups themselves. One mic is on the upper-front end of the cup, and the other is on the bottom of the cup, close to the power button. Call quality is perfect, but sometimes it catches wind noise too much especially during winters.
 
--BATTERY--
This headphone has an amazing battery life. This might be a short section because there is literally nothing to discuss here XD. Nevertheless, the P5's battery lasts me a solid 17 hours when streaming on AptX and FLAC, but sometimes it varies by +- 1 hour. Charging takes me around 2-3 hours depending on the current of your charger, and it does not feature any sort of quickcharge feature so when u deplete the battery u gotta wait for the full charging time, which is a minor thing especially with 17 hours I only need to charge it once a week, never more (depends on usage tho).
 
--COMFORT--
This headphone's comfort is so-so, good at best. Don't get me wrong here, the earpads are actually one of the best on-ear earpads I have ever worn, with memory foam on the inside and luxurious sheepskin leather on the outside. The problem here, however, are the materials used to craft these headphones. While the headband is generously padded and the earpads again feel extremely soft, the overall metal mainframe causes this headphone to have maximum clamping force exerted on your poor head. The clamp is too much for my liking and with leather being steamy over time, after about 1-2 hours of use I noticed my ears kind of sweat, and this happens to me right now as I'm writing this review, even if its freezing cold right now. I am a guy who likes both on and over ear styles, and I usually have no problem wearing on ear headphones for a long time. This however, is an exception. Overall comfort feels okay at first since the pads and headband have enough padding to initially nullify the clamp, but over time it gets more and more noticeable and it will start to irritate you. To end this section I would say for people with glasses, please please demo this unit first (I usually see them on demo quite frequently) before actually buying them as when you put this headphone on, within 2 hours your glasses' frame will be implanted on your lower temples. Be warned.
 
--SOUND--
Now! the most important section of the review. Although I could tell some of you readers now would probably run away after reading my comfort section, I believe that some of u are actually still reading down, so here goes. This headphone employs a full-range 40mm dynamic driver, and again tuning is vastly different compared to the original P5. Before I break sound apart to the holy trinity (treble, mids, bass) I would like to describe the sound in one sentence: This headphone overall sounds dark and smooth, just like dark chocolate. Kicking off with the highs, the highs in this headphone is like the shy girl in class, and even though she might be smart or attractive, the wild, rowdy kids in the classroom will always take the attention away. Same goes with the highs in the B&W P5 here. It has good texture and quality, with string instruments being represented beautifully, having both very good texture without sounding too thin or 'metallic'. However, these qualities will vanish the moment bass kicks in mainly because they lack extension which prevents them from having this sort of airiness and presence to them. Mids in this headphone sounds natural with good tonality and balance. unlike most fashion cans nowadays, mids in the B&W P5 is not 'sucked-out', but compared with the original P5, it is a lot smoothed out and 'tamed'. The original P5 has a very forward mid section, and to me personally vocals tend to sound a little bit shouty, especially when listening to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" or Andrea Bocelli's "The Prayer (ft. Katharine McPhee)". The mids now as I said before has been tamed to a very good level, with decent clarity and body, without sounding too forward/harsh on the upper mids. The lower mids however sounded a little bit thick to me, as I noticed that the tuning added this little touch of weight to them. This is by no means a dealbreaker, but again it sacrifices the overall clarity of the signature a bit to achieve this property. The Bass section is probably one of the best, especially for an on-ear pair of headphones. Imo, the bass here is better even when compared to Beats by Dre's offerings. The bass is perfect for EDM/Trance or any other dance music with deep beats, as attack is fast with a weighty punch to them, which I found to be very, very satisfying and will definitely please all those bass-heads out there. When playing tracks such as "Closer" by Chainsmokers or "Only Girl" by Rihanna, bass is very well pronounced with again that fast attack and deep punch, which will resonate deep down to your core with zero distortion lol. The problem however, is when listening to other genres of music aside from those aforementioned ones. When listening to jazz, slow rock, or several pop songs, the bass feels less resolving and lacks a little bit of quality, but contributes to the overall thickness of the sound. When listening to 91 Days ED "Rain or Shine" by ELISA in FLAC, the overall experience becomes thick and kind of muffled, with the bass guitar overpowering the other instruments involved. Coupled with the average soundstage, the music sounds congested and 'blurry'. This however, is almost impossible to notice as I only noticed this with only a couple of tracks (aside from the aforementioned track) in my entire music library. Soundstage wise this headphone is, I would say, average. Separation is OK but not great, and imaging is also OK. As expected of an on-ear headphone; nothing more, nothing less. Overall sound quality as I said before is dark and smooth, mainly because this headphone has an elevated bass section alongside the lower mids with gradual transition between them before laying flat on the mids-upper mids up to the treble section, making a sort of a flipped "L" or "J" when graphed. Technicalities aside, I found that this headphone is actually quite pleasing to listen to, and is suitable for today's modern genre. The smoothing also makes this headphone quite forgiving, which makes playback in any format and bitrate sound good, and it also reduces sibilance in tracks that would sound like so with other headphones. Another interesting thing about this headphone is that despite its dark and smooth character, I actually found them to be more transparent/clear than its predecessor, the 1st Gen P5, and I would say it is worth the upgrade. As for the wireless mode, the P5 actually sounds as good as wired! this is what I see lacking in many other brands, and is great to see that with wireless we don't have to sacrifice audio quality. 
 
--CONCLUSION--
To conclude this review, I would say that this headphone is a nice buy if you want a good mix between style and sound. The styling of these headphones is just out of this world and in terms of sound, as long as you are not being too analytical about them, they sound very very good and will definitely please most people out there looking for a stylish headphone which sounds good. At US$ 399 brand new, I would say that purchasing this product might require some thinking and saving, but to be totally honest with you guys, for me personally it is not worth the price tag of sub-400 dollar. I suggest you guys grab the "refurbished" ones which run for way way cheaper, but again that is if you guys could cope with some cosmetic imperfections along the way (mine did not come with any tho lol, its more like a 'chance' of receiving imperfections). Thank you for reading and I hope it helps you with your purchasing decision!

Hello Head-Fi! This is my second review here and this time its about my personal favorite IEM, the Sony XBA-A3!
 
A quick intro, this IEM was released a while back, around the end of 2014 (~September) in Japan by Sony. This IEM was meant to be a replacement to the XBA-H3, the previous flagship for Sony's hybrid (H) lineup. It retails for US$499 when it first launched, but right now one could own this for around ~US$380 on Amazon. I would tell you right now that this IEM is worth every penny, and I will explain why!
 
--BUILD , DESIGN, ACCESSORIES--
This IEM followed the design footprint of its predecessor, the H3 but has minor cosmetic changes all around. I did not own the H3 to post comparison pictures, but from what I can tell, the A3 has a slimmer body, and a newer coat of paint which apparently lasts longer than the H3 (my friend has one so I can tell). The vents on the backside of the dynamic drivers still exist, which Sony calls the Beat Response Control. Aside from those, there are absolutely no difference when comparing the H3 with the newer A3. The body is made out of the same hard plastic used in the H3, which is nice since the plastic itself is durable and doesn't crack under stress. However, I would prefer Sony to use the machined zinc(?) they used for the Z5, especially since for me personally, the A3 sounds more balanced than the Z5, but people could deter from purchasing due to the plastic material. The cables were same ol' Sony I would say, the typical serrated, flat, tangle-free cable which Sony is very proud of and is implemented on every new Sony IEMs. 2 cables were provided, one with an in-line microphone with a universal remote control, and one without. Its nice to see Sony include 2 cables this time, as buying a new one in case the old one breaks sucks. The inclusion of an in-line mic is also nice since this IEM has 64 Ohms of impedance thus people could drive them from their smartphones. The cables are detachable from the housing, but I would not recommend doing so as I heard reports saying people experienced looseness on the receiving end of the socket, which could bother your listening experience. I am however happy to report that mine did not come loose, but again who wants to detach the cables after every use anyway XD. Regarding extra accessories, this IEM comes with a clamshell case, which is about the same size as my Seagate Slim External HDD. The case is well made, protective, and has 2 interior pockets if u wish to store cables or other extra accessories. The other accessory included are 2 sets of ear tips, one being the standard silicone, and the other being the foam-infused ear tips which Sony claims will provide more isolation than the standard hybrid tips.
 
--COMFORT--
This IEM employs the negative-profile fit, or loop-around the ear fit, or hanging fit, or whatever u guys call it lol. Personally, my past experience mingling around with Shure's SE215 has taught me that IEMs which provide this kind of fit is the best, since it reduces wind noise, ensures a tighter fit, and almost zero percent chance of it dropping down your ears if you slept on them (in an airplane, whenever I sleep I realized my IEMs always dropped down the chair XD). Most of them remains true with the A3, with the wind noise reduction and dropping down your ears excluded. Since this IEM has MASSIVE size, the body or housing of the IEM tends to stick out, unlike the SE215 which goes inside your ear gaps, which again results in wind noise during windy days. The dropping down your ears case was not extreme, its just again due to the size, sometimes the headphones just slide off your ear canal and hangs around your ear, forcing you to reposition them quite frequently, especially if you jog or exercise with these (although I dunno why u would). Overall, the fit is nice, and the included foam tips also provides more isolation from my experience which adds the icing on the cake.
 
--SOUND--
Now, the sound. I would say this IEM sounds amazing. Its guts are composed of 2  Full-Range Balanced Armature (BA) Drivers, with one being the all rounder, and the other being the HD Super Tweeter, and a large, 16mm Dynamic Driver to top it all off. Sony claims this IEM provides a full-spectrum sound, ranging from 3Hz to 40kHz, and supports Hi-Res Audio. These amazing components are the ones to blame for this IEM's large size. However, size is a very minor trade-off compared to the sound quality these IEMs produce. Before breaking down the holy trinity (treble,mids,bass), the overall sound this IEM has is balanced, natural, and a little bit bright. Do note that i typed NATURAL and not NEUTRAL. there is a difference between them  
Okay so now lets break down the highs. Technically, the 2 BA Drivers contributes to the high end of this IEM, which makes the overall high frequency of this IEM sound supreme. The combination of the 2 drivers were apparent here, with the Full Range BA delivering body and texture to the highs, which makes the high frequencies sound clean, clear, and again as I said before, textured. The 2nd BA Driver, or the "HD Super Tweeter" is tasked with extension, and boy do they do it very very well. Due to this tweeter, the high frequencies have that really nice extension, which carries the body and texture for the extended ride, which is amazing. The high frequencies however could sound sibilant especially with lower bitrate files, and poor source. With proper source and files, the highs for me never disappoint. 
The mids in this headphone is produced by the 1 Full-Range BA Driver which also does the highs. This however does not make the mids shy out of the competition, as the midrange in this IEM is very smooth and well defined. The upper mids sound natural and has this organic feel to them, which makes both male and female vocals sound great and lively. The lower mids have this nice weight to them but does not thicken the whole listening experience. I also previously owned the 1 Driver Etymotic Hf5, and from my experience, they have amazing midrange, and this is even better compared to the Hf5. They sound fuller, with alot more body and weight to them. Compared to the SE215, the mids dont sound too "pulled-out", and does not sound as thick either. Its the perfect balance between the two (Hf5 and SE215) but with way better quality.
The bass or the low end of this IEM is the best part imo, and I was not shocked nor amazed when I first listened to them as bass response is no stranger to Sony, especially with their huge-ass lineup of XB (Xtra Bass)- series headphones lol. The bass was contributed by mainly the 16mm Dynamic Driver, and as expected of a dynamic driver that large, bass response here is very good with superb quantity and quality. Listening to music such as jazz, slow rock, or J-pop (yes, i love J-pop alongside Anime music) showcases how smooth the bass could go, with every bass note from the bassist represented beautifully and clearly, without overpowering the other players. This also shows that the bassline has a very good extension. This IEM, despite sounding smooth and polite for those aforementioned genres of music, they show their true wild nature when EDM, Trance, or other bass-thumping music were played through them. They suddenly become fast, punchy, and accurate. Every thump in the music have this sort of 'deep punch' to them, and they go very very low with no distortion in higher volumes at all. Overall bass in this IEM is superb, with superior quantity and quality, which most IEMs and Headphones, heck even Sony's own XB-series lineup fail to deliver properly.
To top it all off, the Soundstage of this IEM is AMAZING. They came toe-to-toe with the majority of closed back pair of headphones, and comes close to my Sony H-Ear On and MDR-1R MK2, which again is amazing for an IEM. During winter, you could put them under earmuffs and there you go, an IEM turned to a Full-Size Headphone. This was mainly achieved thanks to the highs, and with superb soundstage comes superb instrument separation and spacing between each players, eliminating the 'clutter' in sound and deals with complex music better than other IEMs in general (p.s. if u also like to listen to j-pop and anime music, u know the pain cluttered songs such as Himouto's OP could cause you XD). Overall, soundstage is really good here and gives you the illusion of wearing an over-ear pair of headphones.
 
--CONCLUSION--
This IEM, I would say, is a dark horse in the hi-fi IEM market, where the likes of Campfire Audio, Noble, FitEar, and other High-end CIEM/UIEM manufacturers dominate the battlefield. They might not win against them all when battled head-on, but I would say they came very very close especially to the $500-700 range of Nobles and Campfire (similar to Nova, and came close to Sage, although the latter has a more refined sound). If you would like to enter the Hi-Fi IEM market but are scared of not being able to tell the difference between ur Apple EarPods/AirPods and Noble Katana and regret ur purchase, this is a good IEM to purchase since it has the qualities of being on the Hi-Fi IEM market with a more affordable price, but sadly its aforementioned competitors are more refined, which is why the A3 is positioned as the gatekeeper. A damn good gatekeeper.
 
 
p.s. I'm sorry if I couldn't compare them to more IEMs, mainly because I did not collect IEMs,  asI invest most of my money in Full-Sized Headphones. Thanks for reading my review and I hope it helps your purchasing decision!

I know I am a bit late to the party, as these cans came out at around late 2015... I think. I got these last fall, and after using them for 5 months, I wanted to give this a review since there were none here on head fi. A quick disclaimer, the price posted here is a sale price, I got it for C$ 150 instead of the regular C$ 249. 
 
--BUILD & DESIGN--
Lets kick off with the design. This headphone looks simple and very modern, with more curves and slopes than sharp edges. The styling of these headphones remind me of Scandinavian design, which focuses mainly on clean, minimalistic design. The colors Sony decided to drench these headphones in might seem a little off at first, but it grows on me and I ended up happy with the color which I chose, which was Teal. The colors were matte and has a dark undertone to them (especially with the teal), which strips the glossy look away from these headphones. It does not pick fingerprints, but shows off scratches in exchange. Overall, these look elegant and subtle but still stands out from the crowd.
 
These headphones are considered as fashion cans, and most fashion cans these days are made out of plastic. The hinge, fork, and headband are made out of hard plastic, but I have no complaints since they are durable enough to withstand everyday life. The hinges, however have a metal strip inside which helps extend the headphones and features satisfying clicks for people who love to count em. It also helps prevent the hinges from snapping, as this headphone employs a folding mechanism much similar to the very popular Beats by Dre headphones. The best part about the build quality are the earcups themselves, since they are made out of aluminum instead of the same hard plastic used in the aforementioned parts. In my opinion, the aluminum housing helps reduce distortion from bass-heavy music, although people's opinions may vary on their actual purpose. The headphone overall feels light in the head, and sturdy in the hands. This headphone sadly comes with only 1 cable, but the cable quality is very good. Its thick, but flat and serrated which makes it tangle-free. Stress reliefs on both ends of the cables are nice, which protects it if u decide to store the headphones without taking off the cables.
 
--COMFORT--
These headphones are outright comfortable, mainly because they are an over-ear pair. The cushions although not memory foam are soft enough to not cause any pain around the ears, and the earpads themselves are made out of pleather. heat build-up is unavoidable especially during long sessions (4-5 hrs) or when listening in hotter climates. The earpads have an interesting design, which allows them to 'slope in' to ur ear, giving a much better noise isolation and prevents sound leakage.
 
--SOUND--
As for sound, this headphone sounds balanced with very good detail retrieval, especially for a headphone at a sub $200 price range. The highs in this headphone has just the right amount to provide us with detail and shimmer, but does not go overboard and sound sibilant. Extension is pretty okay but not the best, but then again for the price I cannot complain. The Mids imo hits that sweet spot in the center which provides us with natural and 'organic' vocals in the upper mids, and good body in the lower mids. The lower mids to me have a little less weight to them, but again it avoids any sort of 'thickness' in the sound. Detail retrieval is superb, and instruments have a good body to them without sounding hollow. Bass here sounds sublime, as expected from Sony headphones. The sub-bass is pretty weak however, with very little rumble to them. The mid-bass has a very good punch, and never bleeds to the mids. Bass quality is overall very good with fast, tight punch to them alongside good weight without overpowering the mids and highs. The bass here has better quality than the XB950s. As for soundstage, this headphone does an amazing job of providing us with a soundstage close to a semi-open pair of headphones. Instrument separation ad imaging is a lot more present here especially compared to other closed-back headphones in its class. However, the OVERALL sound of this headphone is what makes this review lose 1 star. Although it sounds balanced with lots of detail and good soundstage, I feel like the sound quality is a little boring at times, something that I feel is off from a headphone like this. Personally I enjoy the sound quality of these headphones cos I prefer a more linear sounding pair of cans than say, a bass heavy or a V-shaped can. However, if you are looking for a 'fun' sounding headphone, this unfortunately will not satisfy you as they just sound so linear and relaxed, which several people might think this headphones need a good dose of "energy" in their sound. I would say the sound has a good balance to the point where it makes any track sound good in these, but it will not make you dance in excitement.
 
--CONCLUSION--
To conclude this review, I would say that this is a solid pair of headphones, with amazing build and design coupled with very good sound quality which I believe will satisfy most people, but it lacks energy which might turn some people away from investing in these headphones. However, similar to all other reviews out there, take my review with a grain of salt, and go to a store which has these on display (most stores which sells these have em on display) and try them out before making a decision. Current MSRP is US$199, but sometimes it goes down to US$150 or probably even less now in 2017. Hope you guys enjoy this review and find this helpful!