Smart-Phone Compatible Audio Goodness
Audeo offers up an impressive In-Ear with microphone in the PFE022 + Mic. High quality sound, iPod controls and microphone for 99.99? Have they gone mad? Perhaps. If you are looking to pair your smart phone with a pair of in-ears with microphone, then the PFE022 + Mic should be on your short list. For ten dollars less, you can purchase the PFE012. These are the same earphones without the remote control and microphone feature.
THE FIT AND FINISH
On the box it states "Perfect Fit for Perfect Sound." This is quite true in the sense that I initially used the small ear tips when evaluating the earphones. When using the small silicon tips, the PFE022 did not fit my ear canals and as a result the earphones sounded emaciated in the bass region. While a bad fit can affect the sound of any earphone, I was truly amazed at how distinctly different the PFE022 sounded when I did not have a proper seal. It wasn't until I switched to the larger ear tips that I began to notice how superb these earphones sound. I found that the silicon ear tips provided superb isolation. The L-shaped enclosure design provided for an extra-comfortable fit. In fact I wouldn't hesitate to call these amongst the most comfortable in ear designs I have ever tried. I always prefer earphones which are designed to have the cable rest over and behind the ear as opposed to straight down. The PFE022 fit in the ear this way. I prefer this design not only because the cable feels less intrusive, but also because from my experience the ear pieces stay in place better during recreational activities and exercise.
The play controls I found were best suited to Apple products however when using a Windows smart phone, I was still able to pause and play. The microphone/remote is embedded in the right side of the Y-cable split and is placed approximately where the listener's chin is. I found the call-listening quality to be excellent. The microphone too provided very clear audio quality. One accessory which I wish was included in the box was a small travel carrying pouch. However, granted all the features which the PFE022 has, I think it's fair to say that even before the music began I was pleased with the quality and the overall design.
ALL ABOUT THE SOUND…
The PFE022 employs a single balanced armature driver design. One very special feature which Audeo offers for their earphones is the user replaceable audio filters to adjust the sound presentation. The PFE022 natively come with the green filter for stronger bass response. Audeo offers a grey and black audio filter to emphasize the midrange and treble respectively. These filters can be implemented into the armature at a later date if the user wants to alter the sound of the earphone.
On the box reads the words "Perfect Bass." What is meant by perfect bass? I'm not exactly sure. Usually when a headphone box specifies anything about bass in its description, I assume the bass will sound over-emphasized and boomy. Not so here! , The bass really is well tuned here to please a variety of tastes who prefer a warm sound. The bass is emphasized, but in my opinion not over-emphasized unless one is looking for a neutral / audiophile sound presentation. The midrange presentation here renders vocals very well. The highs, while rolled off a bit, are less fatiguing to my ears than a lot of other models. These earphones control sibilance quite nicely. This allows me to comfortably listen to music for longer periods of time.
Listening to Pat Metheny's "Letter From Home" album, I was impressed with how all the songs were rendered with a sense of extra bottom but not at the expense of the soundstage (this album in particular offers a particularly wide and realistic sound picture). It was really fun to hear the music this way. Shifting to some Bob Marley – "Exodus" to be exact, I was impressed with the impact the percussion had without create a blurry bass presence which can often smear the sound picture when listening to bassy and percussive genres. After Marley, I got the Led out, Zeppelin that is…Listening to some Black Dog, I found the cymbals to sound a bit shrill and brought to the forefront a bit too much, but the overall impact of the sound was very lively. Considering the bass emphasis I was surprised with how well the PFE022 handled classical music. Listening Karajan's 1978 interpretation of the Brahms 4th Symphony, the sound was warm, but not too congested that I couldn't enjoy it. Usually for classical music listening, I seek out extremely neutral headphones/earphones. While the PFE022 is not particularly neutral, I consider it a fantastic all-round choice at its price point for the sheer fact that while it is bassier for those who prefer that extra visceral impact, it does not abandon the listener who likes to hear detail in their music.
LAST WORD
In terms of overall tonality, transparency and detail retrieval, the PFE022 fare well at their price point. Considering that this is not simply just a good sounding earphone, but a smart-phone-compatible set of earphones, offering truly remarkable fit, comfort, and passive noise isolation – Audeo has an extremely impressive offering in the PFE022.
Earphones at $100 price point
Sound Quality |
8 (bass emphasis |
| Comfort |
9 |
| Design & Accessories |
8.5 |
| Isolation |
8.5 |
| Value |
8.5 |