Sleek Audio SA7 Carbon Fiber Headphones

For a few years, I really got caught up in the “tuner” culture. I hung out with a couple of car clubs and we would talk about the different upgrades that we had done to our cars and any future plans we had for more modifications. Carbon fiber always made its way into the conversation.

While getting a carbon fiber hood can reduce some weight and potentially improve your performance, it won’t mean much when you’re weighed down by a couple of giant subwoofers. Then again, the carbon fiber and aluminum used for the Sleek Audio SA7 earphones could indeed make you go faster. Or not.

In all seriousness, these are some super premium headphones for your mobile music enjoyment. The SA7 pair are made from military-grade solid aluminum and carbon fiber, giving them not only a unique look but also a unique performance dynamic.  Carbon fiber would provide a tight fighting sealed enclosure, giving you a very sweet tuned sound. The two drivers are protected by shock-absorbent silicone too.

According to Sleek Audio, these brain-rattlers should withstand up to 14,000 Gs of force and the aluminum design actually heightens the audio quality, providing an extra octave of sound to boot.

Expect the Sleek Audio SA7 premium earphones to go on sale soon in the $350 to $400 range. The wireless version chimes in at a $100 premium above that.

At the time, I found the sound quality to be a little on the harsh side of things. Has Maximo improved this for the latest offering? Let’s have a look at the new Maximo iMetal iP-HS5 Enhanced Definition Isolation Headset and find out.

Loading Up on Accessories Again

Several changes have been made for this latest iteration. For starters, Maximo is providing a lot more in terms of bundled accessories for about the same price. The included accessories with the iMetal HS5 are pretty much on par with the iMetal iM-590 earphones that I reviewed a couple of months ago.

You don’t get the airline adapter or the larger carrying case, but you do get a smaller carrying pouch, a lanyard, shirt clip, two 2.5mm plug adapters, a two-foot extension cable, four sizes of eartips and the user guide. That’s quite a bit of extra stuff for something that is an accessory item itself. In this way, Maximo has done a great job in offering a good value proposition.

Specifications and Features

While the iMetal iP-HS5 could easily be used as a handsfree headset for your iPhone, BlackBerry, or other smartphone, its primary purpose will still be for your musical enjoyment. For this reason, the audio quality has to come first and foremost.

Among the features are a pair of 9mm neodymium drivers, a frequency response of 12Hz-22KHz, sensitivity of over 100dB, and a maximum SPL output in excess of 120dB. On the microphone side of things, you get a sensitivity rating of 44dB +/ 3dB @1KHz, a frequency response of 20Hz-16KHz, and an impedance of 2.2K Ohm.

You’ll also notice that Maximo stuck with the “high-quality knit cables” that it has used for its other earphones and headsets. As I have noted in previous reviews, I’m not a big fan of these knit cables, since they tend to transfer the “friction” sound when they rub up against something. I’d prefer a heavier level of isolation.

Sound and Voice Quality

The proprietary eartip design utilized for the iP-HS5 iMetal Isolation Headset is quite comfortable. The silicon earpieces fit snugly into your ear canal, effectively blocking out everything but the sound being forced into your ear with the earphone drivers. It may take a little bit of practice to get them in just right, but they do fit quite well. With four sizes of eartips, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the right size for you.

In terms of sound quality, I had a very similar experience with this set as I’ve had with other iMetal products. Without the initial burn-in period, the sound can be very harsh. The bass won’t hit very hard, and the mid-range and treble notes can be quite hard on the ears… almost piercingly so.

After the recommended burn-in period of eight to ten hours, I found that this quality was improved slightly, but the bass still wasn’t quite as robust as I would have liked and, with moderately higher volumes, you start to get very harsh notes again.

The sound quality, in this way, isn’t quite as clean as I found with the Radius Atomic Bass, which really offered great sound quality for about fifty bucks. The Maximo equivalent is a full $30 more, but it does come with a lot more accessories.

For voice quality, I didn’t find that it was anything to write home about. I could hear the other person just fine and they were able to hear me. Since it uses an in-line microphone, there was a sense of sounding a little distant, but this is to be expected.

Works with Nokia Smartphones Too

You may be wondering why the iP-HS5 iMetal Isolation Headset comes with two sets of 2.5mm adapters. Well, unlike so many other headsets that I have tested, this one actually works with my Nokia E71 smartphone.

All other headsets can work as regular audio headphones, but the microphone and inline (single button) remote work on the HS5 with the Nokia! I’m very glad about this, because it likely means that it offers better compatibility with other smartphones as well.

Conclusion

If you’ve had the opportunity to try some other Maximo iMetal headsets, you’ll know exactly what to expect with this latest offering. The sound quality is on par with other items in the iMetal collection and the inclusion of all those accessories is a definite plus, especially since the 2.5mm adapter works with the Nokia E71.

The sound is still a little too harsh for my tastes and the knit cables aren’t really my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the value and quality being offered with the Maximo iP-HS5 iMetal Isolation Headset. The retail price is $79.99.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

It seems very easy to recommend the most expensive set of headphones that you can find, but that’s not really the point, especially in today’s economic climate. I want the most bang (and thump) for my buck. The official journey, for me, began with a set of V-Moda Vibe Modaphones. Up until that point, I had not owned a single pair of earphones that cost more than about thirty bucks. Now that I’ve had a taste of premium (the Modaphones retail for about $100), it’s hard to go back to cheap earphones.

Will the less expensive Maximo iM-590 Isolation Earphones stand up to the test?

The Objective Facts and Figures

As its namesake implies, the iMetal iM-590 Isolation Earphones are constructed with a couple of lightweight alloy metal earphones, as well as a gold-plated 3.5mm audio connector. Available in your choice of platinum white (as pictured) or graphic black, the iM-590 is said to offer “performance with style and comfort.” The proprietary eartip design “provides optimal noise isolation and extended comfort.”

Going through the specs and features, you’ll find a pair of 9mm neodymium earphone drivers. They have a frequency response rate of 12Hz to 22KHz, sensitivity of >100dB, and maximum SPL output of over 120dB.

So Many Accessories, So Little Time

The last time that I reviewed a set of Maximo iMetal earphones, the package contained little more than the earphones and a carrying pouch. Such is not the case today.

Listed at $59.99, the iMetal iM-590 comes loaded with way more accessories than you could possibly expect. In addition to the earphones themselves, you get four sizes of silicon eartips, a 2.5mm stereo plug adapter (great for my Nokia E71), airline dual-plug adapter, two-foot extension cable, shirt clip, carrying case, and user guide.

That’s quite a bit of additional gear, making the iM-590 quite a good value. With so many similar products, you’d have to buy the airline and 2.5mm adapters separately. The extension cable is also a nice inclusion, especially if you’re going to toss your iPod (or other music player) in a backpack or something.

Initial Reactions and Sound Quality

What good are a stylish design and a box full of accessories going to do you if the earphones themselves fail to impress? As instructed on the earphone cord, I let the iM-590 go through its usual “burn-in” process before giving it a real listen.

My initial response was one of being impressed. Considering that these earphones are about half the price of so many other “premium” earphones, I didn’t expect the world. They easily outperform the cheaper $30 earbuds from Griffin and they’re comparable to some sets of $100 or more.

I tried a variety of music, ranging from the bass-filled beats of Kanye West to the mellow ballads of Coldplay. I also tossed some Offspring, Howling Bells, and Paramore into the mix.

In going through my playlist, I found that the iMetal iM-590 didn’t offer the same heart-thumping bass response as the appropriately named Radius Atomic Bass Earphones. The bass was still quite good, but not nearly as overbearing or ear-splitting. With songs that hit the upper end of the register, particularly with high cymbals on drums, the sound got pretty harsh.

Conclusion

If your music tends to hit the higher end of the treble side quite often, the iM-590 might not be the best earphone solution for you. For just about everything else, I was quite pleased, especially at this price point. That said, I’m still not a fan of the “knit cables” used here, since the cloth-like texture lends itself to the transmission of sounds when the cord brushes up against clothing.

Even though these earphones don’t cost over $100 like some of its competitors, the iM-590 iMetal Isolation Earphones provide a comfortable and powerful aural experience. The eartips create a good seal, the audio range is good, the bass response is perfectly respectable, and the range of included accessories is a definite bonus.

Overall Rating: 8.0/10