REVIEW: iHarmonix Platinum i-Series Headphones 

From Mobility Site
March 23, 2009
http://mobilitysite.com/2009/03/review-iharmonix-platinum-i-series-headphones/
PDF Version

2 Words… Inexpensive and Awesome! Seriously. For the price, these headphones deliver. Enough of the infomercial voice now, let’s take a look at the iHarmonix Platinum i-Series Headphones.

I first got a chance to hear these new headphones using my own Zune at the Digital Focus event during CES in January. I normally don’t stop at booths for accessories, but there was such a nice sized crowd there, I wanted to see what was up. I waited around a few minutes and then they popped some fresh ends and let me throw in some Metallica using my own Zune. I also allowed a couple others at the booth to hear these through my own media library. I was pretty impressed as were those around me. It was really the overall sound quality that impressed me, it was knowing that the sound I was hearing was coming out of a set of $39.99 earbuds. I was testing using the Pro Series.

Now I have a set of iHarmonix Platnium i-Series earbuds to try out. I have been using them on and off for a couple weeks now. Recently, with the nice weather, I was able to give them some real good yardwork testing. Now that the grass is short, it’s time for my impressions.

1st let’s take a look at the features as indicated at the iHarmonix Website.

  • Inline microphone for hands-free calling 
  • Multi function button for send/end and pause music 
  • Goldplated 3.5mm audio / voice DC jack 
  • Advanced sonic accuracy 
  • 11mm driver unit 
  • Super bass 
  • Brushed stainless steel casing 
  • Polished gun metal alloy finish 
  • Includes soft ear gels in 3 sizes for a comfortable fit 
  • Deluxe stylish design 

As I mentioned, the set of ear buds I tested are the Platnium i-Series. These are designed for use with the iPhone or a Blackberry. What makes them different is that they also have an inline microphone to allow you to use them as a “headset” too. I barely used this feature, I just focused on the sound quality listening to music on the iPhone and Zune. The retail on these is $59.99. This is a very modest price for a good set of earbuds. 

What do I get for $59?
In the box, you get the the earbud, 3 sets of ear gels, a nice little bag to hold the ear bugs, and some instructions. 

 

These earbuds come with a couple different size ear gels to get the best fit possible. Lucky for me, the medium, default set worked just fine. Mowing grass, weed eating, and edging couldn’t knock them out of my ear, i’d say that was a good fit. 

As you can see in the above right photo, there is a microphone inline. On the connector, there is an additional contact. Regular headphones have a ring and tip, these have ring, tip, and sleeve. 

 

Specs:

  • Type: Dynamic 
  • Magnet Type: NdFeB 
  • Frequency Range: 20Hz-20kHz 
  • Driver Diameter: 11mm 
  • Max Input Power 100mW 
  • Cable Length: 1.3m 
  • Plug Type: 3.5mm Gold Plated 
  • Impedance: 16 Ohms 
  • SPL at 1kHz: 102 ±4 dB 


Build Quality
These are some heavy duty feeling earbuds. The metal accents and drivers add some bulky weight to the these. The thick cord had no trouble staying untangled. The ear pieces, microphone, and connector have a really pro looking steel finish that give those looking for looks a really sexy vibe.

Audio Quality
Who care what they look like, what do they sound like right? Well, they sound pretty good. The bass response is good, but it’s not what the marketing might have you believing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, but you have to remember, the drivers are tiny, you aren’t going to get earth shaking bass from a tiny set of earbuds. The mids and highs were realistic sounding, but the extreme highs are a tad metallic sounding. There was no clamping or distortion at higher volumes either.

Overall, I would recommend these to anyone that wants great sound without breaking the bank. I will be honest and say that I plan to continue to use my SuperFi earbuds, but if I didn’t have them, the iHarmonix would be a contender for my daily driver. These are very high quality for the price. I asked a coworker what he’d expect to pay for them and he guessed $99. If you don’t need the microphone, you can drop $10 off the price and grab the Platnium E Series. You can go even lower by trying out some of the other series. The prices go down to as low as $14.99. The Platnium I-series, as I said, are $59.99 and that’s as as high as these guys go right now.

For more info or to see what other models you can test, head to iHarmonix’s Website.

Chris Leckness
http://mobilitysite.com/2009/03/review-iharmonix-platinum-i-series-headphones/
March 23, 2009