Firstly I would like to thank Radsone for sending me this sample to review.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings
Gear Used: Audio Opus #2 / Topping DX7 Pro > HE100
Tech Specs:
Product Type – Canal Type In-Ear Headphones
Driver Type – Dynamic
Sensitivity – 103 dB/mW
Frequency Response – 10-40,000 Hz
Impedance – 27 Ohm
MSRP – $89.99
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The HE100 come in a nice off-white box that has a picture of the IEMs on the front and diagrams of the earphones on the back with an exploded view, specs and info on the driver diaphragm. Slide off this outer sleeve and you’ll find a plain black box with a flap that lifts off, you’ll find the IEMs held in foam underneath. Overall the packaging is attractive yet simple, and I really like the detail on the back about the technologies used.
Build quality is good overall with sleek and well machined housings and good strain relief all round. The cable is however quite thin and not replaceable, the bottom section below the y-split is covered with fabric which should offer some extra protection. However with some care they should hold up just fine. The single button remote feels a little cheap but it functions fine.
Accessory wise you get a small fabric pouch to keep them in along with fairly standard S, M and L single flange tips. You also get a cable clip, so overall they have the bare essentials and a clam-shell case would have been better along with a few more tips. Nothing too wrong here though.
Comfort and Isolation:
These are designed to be worn with the cable straight down, and their small bullet style housing helps you get a comfortable fit for hours on end. They are lightweight and comfortable to use for prolonged periods of time, but there is a little bit of cable noise which can be distracting when using them portable use.
Isolation is good on the HE100, effectively blocking out a fair bit of outside noise. But they are vented so this does reduce the isolation ever so slightly.
Sound:
Lows: The HE100 are not tuned for your average consumer, they lean towards a more neutral and audiophile sound signature with a more controlled and precise low end. They are not lacking body or warmth, they fill out when called for yet stay perfectly in line so as not to colour the overall sound signature or encroach on other parts of the spectrum. Drum kicks have body and impact, double bass is articulate and well extended and the lows are always present and easy to follow without being overblown. Some would like a little more emphasis down low, as these are not a warm sounding IEM by any stretch but they have great layering, speed and detail.
Midrange: The midrange is well presented without too much emphasis on any part of it, imaging however is excellent and everything has its own place within the soundstage. Guitars have good power and energy with an overall quite realistic tonality. These are a pleasure to listen to if you like a wider and more spacious soundstage, however the centre image is a little more diffuse compared to some with a more focused stage. These pretty much sound great with all genres and it is easy to pick apart recordings with the HE100. I have found that on certain recordings these can sound a little thin in the midrange, but it shows that these are fairly revealing of the recording quality.
Highs: These are rated to extend until 40kHz, well we can’t hear that high but it should mean less distortion and it moves the breakup frequency higher. Overall though, they sound remarkably clean and detailed up top without sounding forced or too up front. They are perfectly placed in the mix and accurately portray what is in the recording, they do extend well but they can sound a little unrefined at times though. Overall they paint a pretty accurate picture though and inject a bit of energy into the sound.
The soundstage is wide with fairly average height, I really do enjoy how spacious these sound when listening to them though, spacial cues in the recording really stand out.
Conclusion:
Based on sound alone, the HE100 are superb, with a fairly accurate yet enjoyable sound signature that has excellent detail retrieval and soundstaging capabilities for its price. However the build quality could be better, I wish they had released them with a detachable cable to ensure longevity. Overall though the HE100 have a sound that I really enjoy, it is both energetic but not fatiguing, detailed but not harsh.
Sound Perfection Rating: 7/10 (Great sound, but the build could be better)