SoundMAGIC E10 Wired Earphones No Microphone HiFi Stereo Earbuds Noise Isolating in Ear Headphones Powerful Bass Tangle Free Cord Gunmetal

I seldom review my purchases, but this product is worthwhile reviewing. Forget about paying huge amount of money for sound quality and bass, this headphones is a purchase you won’t be disappointed with. It’s the best headphones I’ve EVER purchased…wow, again the price and sound quality is AWESOME!

I ended up purchasing these after reading some reviews and opinions at Head-Fi, so I had a pretty good idea what to expect. I am extremely happy with the headphones, especially for the price. Obviously $35 is not going to buy you a $350 pair of headphones, but these are very tough, if not impossible, to beat on a quality-for-price basis and beat the pants off of some models I've tried that cost twice as much.However, bassheads beware: these are not a bass-centric or bass-enhanced headphone. That's not to say that the bass response isn't good, because it is. Bass is very tight and punchy without muddying the rest of the mix, which was a problem for me with the CX-300's these are replacing. But you are going to hear what the engineers put in the mix - nothing more. That was actually a huge selling point for me, but if you want your ears rattled off you need to look elsewhere.That said, response is good across the frequency spectrum, with possibly just a bit of a bump in the mids. Highs are sharp and responsive without creating a lot of sibilance or overpowering the mids - these are not tinny phones by any means. Lows are solid. Bass drums have a nice dull thud just like they should without overpowering the rest of the mix. Mids really shine. Guitar and piano-based rock and pop sound fantastic, and jazz is very pleasant.I have heard it said that fit is very important with these headphones, and that's true. If they are not fully inserted they can sound thin and tinny, and it is important that the ear pieces create good contact with your ear, both for isolation and for bass perception. The stock "medium" sized pieces that were factory installed work great for my ears, but they come with a good selection of alternatives, including 2 sets of double-flanged cups. Isolation is good but not great with properly sized ear pieces. I find I need to bump my volume a notch or two in noisy environments compared with my CX-300's. However, isolation is far superior to my MDR-EX90's or any outside-the-ear buds, and what these phones give up in isolation they make up for in a much more open soundstage than my previous buds. This is probably owing to the vented design of the E10 vs the closed design of the CX-300. I can't see isolation being an issue unless you spend appreciable time in very noisy environments with these phones.Comfort was a big concern for me as I sleep on my headphones just about every night. The CX-300 has a lower profile and rounded back that is very unobtrusive to sleep on, and I was concerned that the squared back and slightly longer length of the E10 might cause some discomfort. Surprisingly, these are actually, if anything, slightly more comfortable to wear lying down and haven't caused me any pain or discomfort while sleeping or upright even when left in place up to 7 hours at a time. Everyone's ear being different, YMMV, but I find them very comfortable to wear even for long durations.Build quality seems very good. Every tactile surface besides the wire is metal and feels sturdy. Accidentally dropping or sitting on these will not cause me a second of concern. The strain reliefs are short and low-profile with a hardened rubber feel, but seem to work effectively, and I don't anticipate shorts or breaks becoming a problem. The wire is a bit thicker than either my EX-90 or CX-300's, and microphonics are very minimal. By way of comparison, I never had a problem with my CX-300's before, but going back to them after using these the microphonics are really irritating. Cord length is good. I haven't found myself wanting for more slack or getting tangled up in excess cord. This was a welcome change from the CX-300, which has a very short cord that would occasionally cause the headphones to jerk out of my ear when shuffling my chair around my desk or turning my head too far away from my MP3 player.Overall, I'd say these are without question the best pair of in-ear headphones that $35 can buy right now. I started out looking for a replacement for my CX-300's that were inexpensive enough that I wouldn't have to worry about abusing them and sleeping in them, and I ended up with that and a lot more. I would have been extremely happy with the quality and performance of these headphones at double the retail price. For what I paid, I almost feel guilty. As I said at the outset, these are not a good match for a basshead, but they suit me and my listening preferences perfectly. As long as you know what to expect I can't think of any good reason you would be dissatisfied.

- originally written 01/2012Soundmagic is building up quite a reputation for budget-fi products. Their latest entry into the fray is the E10. It is a barrel styled dynamic driver offering at just $35. How good can a $35 phone be? Let's find out...Soundmagic seems to have phased out the hard case they used to include and instead offer a pleather pouch with drawstring. While I know many prefer hard cases, I really like nice pouches for toting in a jacket or jean pocket. This pouch is very nice but a little larger than necessary, so I plan on using it with my new custom Merlins when they finally arrive. Also included is a nice selection of various tips. For most IEM's I've found larges to give me the best seal but with both the new E10 and my old PL30, the mediums work best to give me a deeper fit and better bass response. I've yet to try any different tips. The cable is the standard SM offering. It is pretty stiff and rubbery feeling and tangles fairly easily but at this price and with the kind of sound quality the E10 offers, I'm not complaining.Bass is nothing short of spectacular for its class. It's the perfect blend of mid bass punch and sub bass rumble. Kicks sound off with authority and bass guitars thump their driving beats. The bass is tight and extended, if a bit on the soft side with respectable speed and nice decay; which works really well with the overall sound signature. I find it just right for my preferences.The midrange is pushed forward of neutral. Bass does not bleed into the midrange, leaving you with a nice and clean vocal. Distortion guitars have nice forward bite (nowhere as good as the GR07 or FXT90 but good in their own right). Pianos sound very good and are placed forward in the mix.Treble has very nice sparkle but does take a slight backseat to the bass and midrange. However it isn't what I'd call recessed or laid back. I'd say its presence is somewhere between the Atrio MG7 and GR07, leaning much closer to the Atrios. Perhaps slightly relaxed with sparkle is good descriptor for the treble.Soundstage is pretty wide and depth is good. Dynamics are very good and the E10 sounds great for low level listening as well as `rocking out' levels. Instrument realism isn't on the level of my favorite JVC offerings but it is no slouch considering its class bracket. Clarity is great for such an inexpensive, bass oriented phone.The E10 just sounds great with any recordings I throw at it, from classic rock, metal, pop and country. It has a fun, punchy and clear sound that is certainly better than anything at $35 has a right to be! I cannot recommend the E10 enough. This one is a keeper.Tip recommendations:Meelectronics extra long single flange. They come in Meelec's M11+ 10 pack but if you contact Meelec, they will sell them in 4 packs.See link for a picuture: [...]I get a deeper fit and better seal, resulting in better sub bass response while maintaining maximum clarity.