Summer means travel so many users want their audio on the go. We look at a couple of products from Phiaton that promise to meet those needs just in time for your summer vacation!
Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset
Bluetooth earphones didn’t impress us much over the years. Many looked good but didn’t sound great, and others were difficult to use. One basic issue is that Bluetooth was originally designed as a low-level data transport protocol that was great for use with a mouse or keyboard, but not really designed for high-quality audio. A few years back we reviewed one of the first products that sounded good – made by Etymotic. Since then, there have been scads of other Bluetooth headphones and earphones, most designed for convenience over audio quality. With recent advances in the Bluetooth specification and hardware improvements, the time is finally here for Bluetooth to move from simply a device paired with your phone to a higher quality audio device.
Phiaton has a reputation as a luxury audio manufacturer so the quality of their new Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset is no surprise. With a smooth, rounded design, they pull off the style component quite handily without looking bling-driven. The earphones fit in the ear for a tight seal offering solid bass and noise isolation, with a bit of flash provided by a thin metal design holding each earphone. Connected to a single pod-shaped controller with a power button, controller joystick, and a micro-USB port for charging, the entire system felt natural, and hardly apparent once we started using it.
Phiaton claims six hours of calling or music time on a charge, and 250 hours on standby. We found those times on the conservative side, as we found double the times for music and calling were more the norm during our testing period. While in standby mode, they never lost a charge. According to Phiaton “the PS 20 BT’s ergonomic ‘half in-ear’ design combines the excellent bass response of in-ear style buds with the crystal clear high frequency response of open-ear style headphones.”
We can’t ascertain what design aspects contribute to the sound, but we found it open and airy, with a tight defined bass. While we don’t expect a wireless earphone or headphone to compete with a wired model, we were pleasantly surprised at just how good these were, especially for the price. They fit our ears well, with a variety of four different sized silicon rubber tips.
Syncing up the unit to a phone proved a snap, and the control pod was large enough to hold comfortably but not so large as to feel like it was all that noticeable. The joystick moved through tracks and adjusted volume without drama. As a phone headset, the microphone provided easy-to-hear speech, even in some noisy situations, and returned to music once calls were finished.
We found that the Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset boasted superior sound quality, rivaling many wired earphones at the same price. Its flexibility and style to allow you to pop your phone, iPod, or music player in your pocket and forget about it. The Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset is a Mac Edition Radio Audio Pick!
Phiaton “Moderna Series” MS 400 headphones
The Phiaton “Moderna Series” MS 400 headphones are a wired set of lightweight headphones with a more conventional design. Designed for travel, they feature a “fold-and-go” design so they take up less room when not in use, and can be stored in a nice zippered case.
These headphones come in two color choices: solid black, and black with red accents. The finish is first-rate, with carbon graphite construction and look, and they weigh just 6.5 ounces. The ear cups are over-the-ears and very comfortable. Users can rotate the earcups 180 degrees for DJ-type use, but since the sound of this unit is more accurate than the boomy bass typically found in most DJ headphones, our hunch that most folks will buy them for the sound, look, and quality.
We tested the bright red models with a bright red padded headband that is comfortable and makes a bold fashion statement. Not only did they look cool, but the bright color made it easier to locate the headphones among our audio gear, compared to the typical all-black look of most competing units. The soft earcups combined with the light weight meant there was little fatigue even during extended listening.
The audio sounded clean and uncluttered, but neutral studio headphones they aren’t. There is a bit of emphasis in the bass and treble, but not overwhelmingly so. In a travel situation we found the extra bass musical, and slight emphasis in the highs always seemed free from any sibilance or distortion. One might compare these to the Monster Cable Beats, but aside from the shared commitment to style, the sound is far less exaggerated than the Beats. The MS 400s show their audiophile heritage with a subtlety and smoothness of tone and color.
If you are looking for a stylish, well-made, audiophile grade set of headphones that compress well for travel, then we think you should consider the Phiaton “Moderna Series” MS 400 headphones which boast beauty, elegance, comfort, and most importantly an accurate and musical sound that will make the stress of travel fade into oblivion. The Phiaton “Moderna Series” MS 400 are Mac Edition Radio Audio Picks.
Harris Fogel & Frank Schramm, posted 6/19/12
For more information on the Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset visit: www.phiaton.com
For more information on the Phiaton “Moderna Series” MS 400 visit: www.phiaton.com
