REVIEW: Swing EC1 – Low Budget Triple Hybrid, High Value
Specifications
Drivers: 1 dynamic + 2 Balanced Armature
Frequency: 5 - 35000Hz
Sensitivity: 118dB / mW
Impedance: 32Ω
Maximum power: 8mW
Cable length: 1.2 meters
Plug type: 3.5mm, gold-plated
Price:
U$D 32.90. From Penonaudio and Aliexpress store.
Accessories:
3 pairs of silicone eartips (S/M/L)
1 pair of foam eartips
Carry case
Design
For something on this low budget, the Swing EC1 presents a pretty good overall build quality in a fancy and colored design. The shells and nozzle are made of a solid metal material, well rounded and nicely finished. The nozzle is slightly angled, and also wide and shorter than on most IEMs. However, tip rolling is always possible with the EC1. The strain relief is well attached and flexible enough.
The EC1 can be worn either with cable down or up, but personally I found the down setup the easiest and more comfortable. It is a lightweight earphone and with right eartips it can achieve a decent seal and good isolation level despite the supposed vent on the outer shell part. No driver flex was noticed.
The cable certainly looks very cool with the black and green color theme. It’s very soft and easy to wrap. If anything, it may tangle with ease and the rubber surface can be annoying if not using a shirt clip. The y-split and straight plug are of aluminum, with a good strain relief.
Sound
The overall signature of the Swing EC1 is of a deep v-shaped type with quite boosted bass and treble with a more laid midrange. However, the presentation is very convincing and very competent with a good level of clarity and detail for being just a simple low budget triple hybrid.
The bass is highly enhanced with a very strong impact but surprising good quality and control. It definitely gets boomy and can be easily categorized as a bass-heavy IEM set. It has a nice texture and well-rounded lower notes with a good speed to match the BA part. While sub-bass has a good reach it is mostly focused at the mid-bass region almost as a bass cannon.
Keeping the default v-shaped signature, the midrange is fairly distant, not too thin due the warmer tonality from the dynamic bass driver but still recessed. The boosted bass combined with the better clarity from the upper mids and lower treble has a good mix of resolution and 'fun' factor that makes it stand out among its similar priced competitors making the EC1 an enjoyable listening.
Treble performance is more than decent for a low priced hybrid, but still no the most favorable factor of the EC1. It still follows the conventional lively v-shaped formula and doesn’t get particularly harsh or too sibilant at moderate normal volumes. Highs are reasonably prominent and crispy but remain smooth at their upper end. However, it is missing some sense of air and present some grain and doesn’t sound too natural as other single dynamic based IEM can be at the same price (e.g. A&D D2, VSD2, F3).
The Remax hybrid RM800 still wins in midrange resolution, clarity and micro detail, but the EC1 competes very well versus the Vsonic VSD2S. In a way the EC1 reminds me of a low budget version of the Fidue A73 with its similar V-shaped sound and overall clarity.
Summary
Pros:
- Overall build quality
- Comfortable
- Above average isolation
- Very good sound quality
- Price
Cons:
- Rubbery cable is a bit annoying
- Might be too aggressive and harsh on treble; Midrange can be too recessed
- Difficult to wear over-the-ear
Value: 4.5/5 - Very recommended!
