Audeze iSine20 in-ear headphone review: Little buds with big sound

Every so often a product comes along that challenges the status quo. A creation that was born out of its creators rubbing their chin and asking, “Is there some way this can be done differently?” The Audeze iSine20 is one such.

First, a bit of context on the technology. Unlike virtually every other speaker out there -- from those used in headphones to full-size floor standing speakers -- this pair uses what is called Planar Magnetic technology. Where conventional ‘dynamic drivers’ consist of a fabric-based cone that is electrically stimulated to push air out of it to create sound, these use a very thin membrane suspended between a pair of magnetic elements. This setup results in quicker response and lower distortion, potentially delivering more faithful sound. Before getting into that, a look at what’s in the box.

The package

The iSine20 box consists of an outer flap that is held magnetically shut -- lifting it reveals a clear plastic box with the pair of headphones sitting recessed in their foam casing. Printed on the flap is information on the various technologies at play in these earphones including their Planar Magnetic drivers, the included earlocks, the fact that it is designed by a BMW-owned company, and that it is made in America. On the rear of the box is a diagram that offers an visual explanation of its underlying technology.

Lifting out each of the headphones, it is clear from their solid construction that these are built to last. Each headphone consists of a coin-sized rear element with a unique web-like design and a metal mesh backing, reminiscent of a Spider-Man gadget. The Planar Magnetic drivers are within this mesh casing, the other side of which is a funnel-shaped metal structure that guides sound toward the ear tips.

The package includes a nylon travel pouch that contains a laundry list of accessories: three types of earlocks that help prevent the headphones from dislodging during use, three sets of different-sized silicone ear cups, two earwax cleaning tools, a 1.5 meter 3.5mm audio cable and a clip for the headphones cable. There’s also a credit card sized ‘certificate of authenticity’, and a USB drive containing the user manual. Everything is expectedly high-quality, and the variation of accessories makes it so you can set up the headphones for a surprisingly comfortable fit. The headphone cable needs to be plugged into the earphones using the tiny proprietary plug at each end: good, given that they can be removed and stowed when not in use but bad, given that you’ll need to get another from the company if anything happened to these.

The sound

I auditioned these headphones using a sampling of songs ranging from 160Kbps MP3s to 24-bit/96Khz FLAC music tracks. This variation in the quality of the source enabled me to discern perceptible differences in the quality of the encoding of music as well. Most of my listening, however, comprised high-quality MP3s and FLAC audio tracks across genres. I plugged the headphones into a Fiio E07K DAC/amp so the headphones could receive the cleanest signal and optimal power to drive them.

The listening experience was stellar. That idyllic lilt in Corrine Bailey Rae’s ‘Just Like A Star’ with its acoustic guitar intro played like she was sitting right beside me. Samantha James’ downtempo house tracks were characterised by smooth bass and an airy expanse in the mids and high registers. ‘Moves Like Jagger’ had that driving bassline wash over me at the start, with Adam Levine’s vocals blending with the backing instruments like I haven’t heard before. Complete justice was done to Dave Weckl’s masterful drumming in tracks like ‘Hard-Wired’ and ‘Road to Connemara’, with every snare and bass kick pronounced and defined. Finally Klaus Badelt’s overwhelming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ overture virtually transported me to the deck of the Black Pearl -- salty air, tropical storms and all. These headphones easily redefine what you can expect from something so diminutive.

But while it was clear that the iSine20 excelled in reproducing acoustics, there were instances where I missed some of the ‘intimacy’ of sound -- the kind I was more accustomed to in over-the-ear headphones, for example. There were some examples of music that missed the warm, enveloping soundstage that larger speaker drivers tend to deliver, especially in rendering genres like drum and bass, contemporary jazz, and classical scores.

And so...

These headphones easily set the standard in the in-ear world -- they are versatile, delivering the crisp definition of an acoustic guitar solo with the same elan as a swelling mass of sound rising from a symphony orchestra. If your music collection includes plenty of vocal and acoustic tracks and if you’re on the hunt for the best in-ear headphones, the iSine20 is likely to satisfy even the most discerning audiophile in you.

What we liked: Genre-defining sound among in-ear headphones, excellent build quality, a pick of ear clips and silicone buds to suit individual needs

What we didn’t: Sometimes missed reproducing the ‘coziness’ in some tracks, the scary price tag

Price: Rs 44,990 (Headphonezone.in)