RHA Product Reviews
North America
The following pages contain a selection of
North American reviews of RHA products;
the T20i/T20, T10i/T10 and MA750i/MA750.
Additional reviews can be found on the
RHA website; be sure to follow RHA's
social media profiles for the latest news,
information and reviews of RHA products.
rha.co.uk/fr
/rhaaudio
@RHA
@rhaaudio
When a piece of technology becomes commoditized,
the inevitable response from its maker is to try and
obscure that fact by resorting to gimmicks. Smartphones
offer some of the best examples of unnecessary overengineering (see LG’s curved G Flex handsets) and
gratuitous use of exotic materials (like on Motorola’s
kevlar-plated Droids), but they’re hardly alone.
view online >
“
That’s really the
thing I keep
coming back to
with the T20is: they
sound great...I’ve
been inspired by
the RHA T20is to
improve my music
collection...These
in-ear headphones
are a great example
of harnessing
engineering and
materials with a
purpose
”
Headphone makers are just as susceptible to filling out
spec sheets with meaningless jargon, and on first sight,
I thought the RHA T20i in-ears to be just another in a
long line of gimmick-laden tech products. They have a
“revolutionary” DualCoil driver system, interchangeable
tuning filters, and an injection-molded stainless steel
build. And a $249.95 price tag. I didn’t think something
so simple as a pair of earphones required all that
sophistication and expense, but having listened to them
for an extended period of time, I have to say the T20is are
a pleasant exception to the gimmick rule.
Reid Heath Acoustics is a British headphone company
whose products have attracted Apple’s attention and
are featured alongside the more familiar Beats, Bose,
and Bowers & Wilkins brands in the accessory section
of Apple Stores around the world. This particular set,
the T20i, comes with the Made for iPhone designation
and an in-line microphone, which bumps its price up by
$10 over the otherwise identical T20. Both look pretty
much the same as their predecessor T10 / T10i models,
whose attractiveness has been recognized with a Red Dot
product design award. The molded steel provides a neat,
durable carriage for the technology within and has
a universal appearance that wouldn’t be out of place in
almost any context.
What’s different about RHA’s T20 family is the unique driver
and magnet arrangement on the inside of each earphone.
Instead of the usual solid disc, RHA uses a ring magnet
and puts two voice coils around it — hence the DualCoil
branding — with the inner one handling the lower range of
frequencies and the outer addressing the higher end. The
audio signal is split when it arrives at the earphone, with
bass and lower midtones going to one coil and treble and
upper midtones going to the other. I’m not going to pretend
to understand the mechanics of how this separation makes
things sound better — I just know that it does.
Putting on the T20is for the first time was an eye-opening
experience. I’ve messed around with expensive earphones
before, but none have ever delighted me quite so quickly.
It’s not that anything stands out in the sound of the T20is,
but on the contrary, it’s the absence of any excess or
distortion that is most notable. I’m used to most in-ear
headphones exaggerating bass in order to make up for
their physical constraints, but not this time. The bass
produced by the T20i set is clear, precise, and just right.
Neither overpowering nor underwhelming. The best
analogy I can think of is a fine-tipped pen: it leaves a mark
only where the writer intends and doesn’t spill a drop of
superfluous ink.
Bass is important to me because it figures prominently in
the sort of electronic music I usually listen to — Daft Punk,
deadmau5, and DJ Shadow, just from the D section — but
the T20is handle pretty much everything I throw at them
with aplomb. The urgency of a wailing Eddie Vedder and
the deep, soul-sapping despondency of Thom Yorke are
both realized beautifully and effectively. Every instrument
has a distinct position on the T20i sound stage, which
isn’t extraordinarily wide, but still offers enough definition
for me to easily distinguish between, for example, the
guitar at my left temple, the bass at the right, the drums
at the back of my head, and the vocals in the middle. I’m
also constantly discovering subtleties about my favorite
tracks that I just hadn’t noticed before: little background
flourishes that had previously been lost in a bassy swamp.
That being said, I do find the treble can sometimes feel
harsh, though I suspect that’s down to the recordings
I listen to. Violin concertos sound perfectly crisp and
accurate, no matter what volume I turn them up to.
The best, and most important, thing I can say about the
RHA T20is is that they just let me enjoy my music. RHA
subscribes to the school of thought that headphones, like
a camera’s lens, aren’t supposed to embellish or affect
the signal. They are meant to convey it faithfully, and that’s
what this pair of earphones does. And just like a good
camera, the T20is continue to work well when I crank up
the intensity: even at max volume, they remain composed
and distortion-free. Their detail is almost excessive: during
an episode of The Great British Bake Off on BBC iPlayer, I
could hear judge Paul Hollywood’s heavy breathing and
chewing as he was tasting the latest cakes on the show. Like
HD video, high-resolution audio is a double-edged sword —
and yes, the T20is are Hi-Res-certified, although I still can’t
find a huge difference in listening to Hi-Res tracks. All of
my positive impressions, and the Paul Hollywood episode,
came from conventional, compressed audio.
As someone who listens to a lot of his music on YouTube,
I realize I’m not exactly the target audience for the RHA
T20is. These headphones are expensive to me, but they’re
at the affordable end of the scale for people who put
in the effort to ensure the highest quality of their aural
experience. But you know what, the T20is are so good that
they’re tempting me to change my ways. I still listen to the
Best Brutal Dubstep mixes online, but I’m also growing
more curious about higher-fidelity recordings and how
they might sound. I can’t think of a better function for a
piece of technology than its rekindling of a passion for
cultural exploration
In terms of day-to-day use, the RHA T20is are a little less
practical than a conventional pair of in-ear buds. They’re
larger and heavier, and putting them on and taking them
off requires more ceremony to get just right. Colored
tabs at the top of each earphone identify which is left and
which is right and connect to a moldable hook that goes
over the ear. Such over-ear hooks are a common solution
to the greater bulk and weight of high-end earphones, but
I’ve universally hated all the ones I’ve tried before. They’re
just a nuisance to fit correctly. I was having the same issue
with RHA’s set until I got a bit more aggressive in shaping
the hook around the contours of my ear. That did indeed
make for a more comfortable, or perhaps more tolerable,
fit. What’s clear is that the T20is are not designed to be
worn while running for the subway or in the midst of an
intensive workout. The in-line mic works very well, but its
integrated controls are a little too high on the wire, forcing
me to reach almost up to my ear to change tracks.
RHA bundles no less than 10 pairs of ear tips, including
two sets of memory foam covers that should fit anyone.
Those sit atop swappable tuning filters, which are clearly
demarcated: one set boosts the bass, the default one
keeps things neutral, and the treble filters emphasize the
high end. For all this customization and multiplicity of
options, I found myself most comfortable using the default
set of filters and buds. They fit me best, and the reference
sound is just too pure and accurate for me to wish to spoil
it by prioritizing any part of the aural spectrum.
That’s really the thing I keep coming back to with the T20is:
they sound great. Whether you mess around with all the
user configuration options or just rip them out of the box,
they will inevitably impress you. Take this from someone
who isn’t an audiophile and usually treats music like fast
food. I’ve been inspired by the RHA T20is to improve my
music collection, both in its quality and diversity. These
in-ear headphones are a great example of harnessing
engineering and materials with a purpose. They’re different
for the sake of being better, not just different.
The RHA T20i earphones are available to buy now at
Amazon or through RHA's website, and will be at Apple
Stores globally from October 6th. There will also be an
Apple-exclusive black edition, which will differ only in
having a black rather than silver shell.
The Verge
Everyone has their own idea about what makes the perfect
headphone. Some people like huge bass, some want totally
accurate sound reproduction. Some people just want
them loud. Equally as important, however, are the physical
features. Do they fold? Are they wireless? Are they goodlooking enough that I won’t be embarrassed in public? All
valid criteria. To suit everyone’s taste in one headphone
is impossible, but we’ve rounded up the 20 best pairs of
headphones for all the different wants and needs of 20
types of people.
view online >
We start with the cheap earbuds for the person who just
wants something cheap they won’t have to worry about, and
we end with some picks for the tough-to-satisfy audiophile.
These are some gifts that will help your loved one plug in,
turn on, and tune out.
Wired
“
The RHA T20 is a
stellar, audiophilequality in-ear
with truly killer
isolation. Place
them in your ears,
and the world
disappears
”
view online >
Over the past year I’ve looked at quite a few pairs of
headphones so I thought it was about time I took a look at
earphones instead. Not everyone wants to carry around
a large pair of headphones or wander the streets looking
like one of Doctor Who’s cybermen, and yet there’s little
to compare to a really good pair of reference headphones
to bring out all the subtlety and detail in a piece of music,
especially if you have a hi-res music player such as the AK Jr
that I reviewed here recently.
For the past few weeks I’ve been road-testing a pair of T20i
earphones from Scottish company RHA. These earphones
are at the top of the RHA range and there’s no question
that they reek of high quality. Manufactured from injectionmoulded stainless steel (I’d no idea you could injection
mould stainless steel) these earphones feel weighty in
the hand. The cable is thick and durable while the 3.5mm
gold-plated jack plug is exquisitely assembled with a coil
spring running up the cable to relieve any strain on the plug
. There’s a small tubular remote towards the top end of the
right-hand cable which has a microphone and the usual
controls to work with most iPhones, iPods and iPads. It’s fair
to say that the feel of the T20i reflects their price tag very
well. Each pair comes with a three-year guarantee which
speaks volume for the build quality.
“
The separation
and clarity of all
the frequencies is
superb...You’ll find
yourself searching
out different tracks
just to hear them
anew
”
The T20i come with a selection of silicone and memory
foam earplugs in various sizes so that you can choose the
one that suits your ears best. Alongside the earplugs is a set
of three changeable steel tuning filters that offer a subtle
change in the sound character, ranging from treble and
reference through to bass. These little metal filters screw
into the earphone housings and you can try each pair out to
see which set suits your taste. The effect of the tuning filters
is fairly subtle but I found the bass filter added a little extra
depth that suited my hearing best.
Inside those injection-moulded stainless steel housings are
two separate voice coils which work much the same way that
a woofer and a tweeter might on a two-way speaker. A tiny
crossover is also shoehorned into the housing to direct the
appropriate frequencies to each voice coil. The result is a
clear and neutral sound that can actually be quite unusual at
first listen. Most of us are used to using the earbuds that come
with our iPhones or iPods and, let’s be honest here, those
cheap mass-produced units are never going to win awards
for sound quality. In fact, most of us have only ever heard our
music on the go through earbuds tuned to provide maximum
volume and thick bass so that we can get the illusion we’re
listening to hi-fi when we’re running or exercising.
Initially the T20i sounded a little bright to my ears but after
trying out and swapping over the tuning filters and selecting
a set of earbuds that properly fitted my ears, I finally heard
the sound quality that the designers at RHA had intended
me to hear. I can’t stress enough how important it is to select
the correct size of earbud and to test out the tuning filters in
order to get the very best out of the earphones. If the T20i
aren’t fitting properly you’ll just hear a harsh and tinny sound
that won’t impress, but once you have the earphones set
up correctly you will hear a sound that’s every bit as clear
and as enjoyable as any pair of high-end headphones. The
separation and clarity of all the frequencies is superb. RHA’s
clever sound shapers have managed to bring out a treble
that doesn’t fatigue, a mid-range that projects forward and a
bass that doesn’t muddy or crowd out the rest of the music.
These are earphones you can listen to on a long train journey
or flight without suffering ear fatigue. You’ll find yourself
searching out different tracks just to hear them anew.
Forbes
For audiophiles who don't want to look like an airplane
mechanic, these stainless-steel earbuds are a revelation.
Swappable filters on the tips optimize sound for bass or
treble-heavy tunes, and a DualCoil driver makes any music
crystal clear
Rolling Stone
view online >
“
These stainlesssteel earbuds are
a revelation
”
For decades, I’ve been searching for the perfect pair of
headphones—ones that would render my favorite songs
with warmth, richness and detail. I’ve walked the halls of
audiophile trade shows, hogging the outrageously expensive
pairs on display. I have no qualms about strolling into highend audio showrooms and spending the better part of an
afternoon listening to various models. Heck, I’ve even had
audiologists inject my ears with pink goo so I could have
custom-molded earbuds made. But recently, I’ve given up.
Perfect headphones do not exist.
view online >
That’s because no matter how awesome your cans, they’re
going to make some types of music—even certain songs—
sound better than others. Headphone manufacturers
carefully “tune” each model, boosting or cutting frequencies
to give each pair a particular sound. It’s an aesthetic decision.
One size does not fit all.
Lately, I’ve been enjoying a relatively obscure class of
headphone: those that allow you to acoustically tweak
their sonic profile—boosting the bass, treble and other
characteristics as you see fit. It’s like having multiple models
packed into one tidy package.
“
Even if you never
bother installing
its two additional
screw-in acoustic
filters, the T20
still comes across
as astonishingly
detailed
”
One of the greatest joys of being an audio nerd is listening
to the same song on various headphones and hearing how
different elements come to the fore—perhaps a previously
obscured instrument that the percussionist hits on the
upbeat or the lilt with which the singer delivers a line. These
models allow you to do that in a space- and relatively costefficient way and offer practical benefits for casual music
lovers, too: They can adapt their sound to better suit the
listening environment, whether a quiet living room or a
noisy train station.
Granted, some headphones, like the Parrot Zik, let you modify
their sound with the help of your smartphone. And apps can
pull off similar results with any headphone by adjusting the
sound of the music itself. EQ apps, for example, allow you to
boost or cut frequencies, while the Audyssey Music Player
app uses modeling algorithms that attempt to make average
headphones sound like stellar ones.
Although this digital trickery can be convincing, it isn’t quite
the same as what the headphones shown here manage to
pull off: Altering sound using good old-fashioned physics
and acoustic know-how. The effect is somehow more
authentic—and infinitely more satisfying.
Few models out there offer this adjustable-sound feature,
but I managed to find three outstanding examples that hold
their own against conventional pairs in a similar price range.
These are stellar headphones in their own right; the ability
to tweak them just brings them a step closer to perfection.
RHA T20
Even if you never bother installing its two additional screwin acoustic filters (one enhances treble frequencies by 3
dB, the other bass frequencies by the same amount), the
T20 still comes across as astonishingly detailed. But it’s
worth taking the five minutes required to swap them out.
This simple-seeming modification makes the T20 sound
awesome in different ways. The treble filter imparts a crisp
but natural timbre to vocals and brass especially, while the
bass filter provides an unmistakable kick without coming
across as boomy. Just remember that, as with all earbuds,
the T20 needs to sit snug in your ear, blocking out as much
ambient noise as possible, if you want to appreciate all of
the nuance. The T20 includes 10 eartips of various sizes—
including foam and silicone—so you can get the fit just so. I
heard the most detail using the double-flange silicone tips
Wall Street Journal
About six months ago, I reviewed the T10i IEMs (in-ear
monitors) by Reid Heath Acoustics, a scottish audio company.
It was one of my favorite headphones, with top-notch build
quality, a comfortable and elegant design and powerful sound.
Some people found the sound a bit too powerful though,
with a strong bass that sometimes intruded on the rest of the
sound frequency and bright treble that just wasn’t the cup
of tea for some of the persnickety audiophiles paying $200
for the set. The headphone’s included tuning filters helped
you modify the sound between bass, reference and treble
settings, but the effect was relatively subtle.
view online >
Enter the new T20, an upcoming $260 [Update: the release
price will be $240 now] set that kicks RHA’s sound quality up
another notch, due later this summer. While they look nearly
“
I have no hesitation
to recommend the
T20... It hits all the
right notes: neutral
sound, looks,
comfort, durability,
accessories,
warranty and
customizability.
”
identical to their predecessors, a newly designed ‘DualCoil’
driver is designed to provide a neutral sound by separating
the high and low frequencies onto different mechanisms.
It delivers: The T20 competes with larger headphones as well
as earphones.
Build and design
If you’ve read our T10i review, then you already know most of
the design story here. The headphones are beautifully crafted
out of polished, injection molded steel, giving them an almost
handmade look. Aesthetically, the only real difference is the
use of a reassuringly thick black cable instead of a grey one,
which I suppose somehow makes them look a little more
serious-business.
About six months ago, I reviewed the T10i IEMs (in-ear monitors)
by Reid Heath Acoustics, a scottish audio company. It was one
of my favorite headphones, with top-notch build quality, a
comfortable and elegant design and powerful sound.
Some people found the sound a bit too powerful though,
with a strong bass that sometimes intruded on the rest of the
sound frequency and bright treble that just wasn’t the cup
of tea for some of the persnickety audiophiles paying $200
for the set. The headphone’s included tuning filters helped
you modify the sound between bass, reference and treble
settings, but the effect was relatively subtle.
Enter the new T20, an upcoming $260 [Update: the release
price will be $240 now] set that kicks RHA’s sound quality up
another notch, due later this summer. While they look nearly
identical to their predecessors, a newly designed ‘DualCoil’
driver is designed to provide a neutral sound by separating
the high and low frequencies onto different mechanisms.
It delivers: The T20 competes with larger headphones as well
as earphones.
Build and design
If you’ve read our T10i review, then you already know most of
the design story here. The headphones are beautifully crafted
out of polished, injection molded steel, giving them an almost
handmade look. Aesthetically, the only real difference is the
use of a reassuringly thick black cable instead of a grey one,
which I suppose somehow makes them look a little more
serious-business.
The earphones are meant to be worn around the ear instead
of the usual arrangement with the cable handing straight
down. This has the dual benefit of helping the buds stay in
your ear while exercising and reducing microphonics (the
sound of the headphone cables hitting your body).
Like the T10i, the T20 have a unique moldable ear hook
design, which you can adjust to conform to your own ears’
shape. As for the earpieces themselves, they are smooth and
small enough that I had no issue sleeping with them on.
Notably, RHA released the T20 without a microphone to start.
It’s likely the people spending their cash on headphones
in this price range care more about the sound quality than
convenience, and some audiophiles allege that integrated
microphones degrade the cable’s sound signature. I personally
missed the convenience of the microphone though, so I was
happy to hear that a T20i model will be released in the future
for a small premium (no specifics on the price yet).
As with their predecessors, isolation from the outside wold is
excellent. There’s no fancy noise cancellation circuitry, but the
metal housings are able to block outside noise well, especially
using the included foam tips. It’s comparable to larger
headphones using active noise cancelling such as some Beats
models and the Bose QC25.
Speaking of tips, you’ll be more than covered by the set
included in the box. You get two sets of small, medium
and large sizes, two sizes of double flanged tips, and two
pairs of the aforementioned foam ones. As always with
in-ear headphones, its worth experimenting with different
configurations to see what best suits your tastes. In my case, it
was the foam tips.
You also get the T series’ trademark tuning filters, again in
bass, ‘reference,’ and treble varieties (more on this later).
Both the tips and filters come with their own machined steel
holsters – a nice touch – as well as an elegant leather carrying
case for all the items so you don’t damage the headphones or
lose any of the accessories.
I do still wish the cables were detachable – the more
expensive headphones are, the more silly this omission is –
but again, RHA has a virtually unmatched three-year warranty,
so it largely balances out.
Sound
Let’s first discuss those sound filters. The effect is subtle, but
they definitely work to nudge sound slightly towards your
preferences. Unlike with the T10i, this time I think the reference
filters are probably the best option for most people, although I
still personally gravitate to the brighter treble sound.
Furthermore, the bass tips are legitimately useful this time
around, increasing the physicality of low notes by a substantial
amount without being overwhelming. Because the default
tuning is much more balanced this time around, the filters
end up being more effective. As a note, most of my listening
happened using the middle-ground reference filters.
Starting on the low end, the most noticeable characteristic is
the relatively tame midbass. This part of the sound spectrum
is very often overemphasized on headphones aimed at the
masses – including previous RHA headphones – as it’s an easy
way to add a fun “thump” to pop and hip hop. Unfortunately, it
also has the effect of distorting virtually everything else, so it’s
refreshing to hear that’s not the case here.
The T20 instead shows its low-end chops by providing a deep
and powerful rumble on the sub-bass, helping the headphones
have more visceral rumble on church organs and a more
realistic kick to its drums on tracks like Paramore’s Ain’t it Fun.
The refined laid-back mid-bass allows the midrange – where
vocals and most instruments live – to shine. There’s virtually
no discernible bloat on voices, which is an impressive feat for
sealed in ear monitors.
I’m perhaps most impressed by the treble, which addresses
the sometimes harsh sound on the T10i. Here it manages to
always be prominent without ever being grating. It extends
high enough to give cymbals the proper sparkle in jazz tracks
like Gretchen Parlato’s Weak, but I caught no hint of sibilance
(an annoying hissy characteristic around the letter ‘s’ and
certain instruments) either.
The balanced frequency response make the T20 something of
a genre master – there wasn’t a single type of music I thought
sounded poor. The DualCoil drivers use separate parts of the
speaker diaphragm to push out low and high tunes, and it shows
how separate lower sounds are kept from the higher notes.
This also aids in giving the T20 a realistic amount of
instrument separation. I’ve heard a wider soundstage (how far
from your head instruments sound) on some earphones in the
price range before, but you can still hear separate instruments
clearly in orchestral tracks, and there’s a surprising physical
depth to the sound.
On the whole I’d still describe the T20 as being a bit more
bassy than what audiophiles may consider neutral, but any
less and you’d miss out on a lot of the fun sound in more
mainstream music.
Conclusion
Let’s be clear: the T20 are aimed at people who care about
their sound quality above anything else. Few companies
would consider releasing mainstream IEMs without a
microphone in 2015, so RHA is making a statement that sound
quality is paramount with the T20.
That’s also evident with the price. At $240 (and likely more if
you opt for the upcoming microphone-enabled T20i) they’re
not exactly an impulse purchase, though in the world of hi-fi,
few things are. If this is your first foray into buying a decent set
of headphones, I’d point you to RHA’s MA750i, which are an
excellent value at a more accessible $129.
Still, while mainstream consumers may not often consider
earphones to be in the same league as larger, over the ear
headphones, the T20 can easily compete with large cans like
the audiophile-approved Sennheiser Momentum 2.0, which
retail for $349.
They T20 fix little that was wrong with the T10i. While audio
quality in this price range is inevitably subject, I have no
hesitation to recommend the T20 if you can afford them. It hits
all the right notes: neutral sound, looks, comfort, durability,
accessories, warranty and customizability.
The Next Web
RHA has gradually morphed from a boutique manufacturer
of quality, budget earphones to a purveyor of much
higher-end gear, and the new T20 ($239.95) represents the
company's current top-of-the-line offering. Audiophiles
keen on being able to tweak sound signature without
involving digital signal processing or apps will be drawn
to the T20's tuning filters—easily replaceable nozzles that
emphasize focus on bass, reference, or treble. In this price
range it would be nice to see a detachable cable, but with
a plethora of accessories and excellent audio performance,
there's not much to complain about with the T20. It earns
our Editors' Choice award for high-end earphones.
Design
The stainless steel housings that hold the T20's "DualCoil"
drivers—a type of driver RHA claims delivers more audio clarity
and resolution—look high-end and handsome. Underneath
each silicone eartip, the nozzle that extends toward the ear
canal can be screwed off and removed—this is the tuning filter.
The "reference" tuning filters are in place when the T20 is
shipped, but can be swapped out with "treble" or "bass" filters.
view online >
“
With a plethora of
accessories and
excellent audio
performance,
there's not much
to complain about
with the T20. It
earns our Editors'
Choice award
for high-end
earphones.
”
A thick rubber cable descends from each earpiece, with a
rigid, moldable section running a few inches from where
the cable meets the housing you can sculpt the cable
over the top of your ears and behind, and it stays in place
quite well. The two cables join as one around mid-torso,
terminating in a 3.5mm connection—a slider along the
cable can be pulled upward if you'd rather have the
cables combine closer to chin height. It's really too bad
the cable isn't removable, however—considering it's likely
to malfunction long before the drivers do, it would add
significant value to a very expensive purchase.
It's also a tad surprising that earphones this expensive don't
ship with a 1/4-inch headphone jack adapter for use with
home audio gear, but those are cheap and easy enough to
find. However, between the tuning filters and a whopping
eight pairs of silicone eartips in various sizes and shapes,
as well as two pairs of Comply foam eartips, there's little
to complain about in the accessories department. The
goodies don't stop there—you also get a classy zip-up
protective pouch and a removable shirt-clip.
Performance
Going into this review, the big question was: How will the T20's
sound signature differ from that of its (slightly) more affordable
sibling, the ? The T10i is a high-quality offering that also
features tuning filters—but regardless of which filter you have in,
the 10i packs some very boosted bass. The T20 delivers a more
flat-response style sound signature that is more accurate—its
default response, with the "reference" tuning filters in place, is
balanced, clear, and neither bass-heavy nor brittle.
See How We Test Headphones
On tracks with powerful sub-bass levels, like The Knife's
"Silent Shout," the T20 delivers accurate, powerful low-end.
This isn't the sound of a wildly boosted bass response, it's
the sound of accurately reproduced, very powerful bass in
a mix. Putting the added bass filters in obviously increases
the bass response, but without going over the top—it's like
bass boosting for audiophiles, who really only want a small
amount of added low-end.
Using the default reference tuning filters, Bill Callahan's
"Drover" sounds fantastic. His voice gets plenty of highmid treble edge to remain clear and crisp, despite being
paired with a rich presence in the low-mids. The drums
on this track can sound overly thunderous on earphones
that boost the lows wildly, but through the T20, while we
do get a strong sense of the drums' lower frequencies,
everything sounds natural. This is one of the more balanced
sound signatures we've heard lately—everything in every
range gets more or less equal representation through the
reference tuning filters.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the
kick drum loop's attack is nice and crisp, with plenty of
high-mid punch to allow the hits to slice through the multilayered mix with ease. The vocals, which float above the
track with ease, are never overly sibilant, but have plenty of
bright, high-frequency presence. The sub-bass synth hits
that punctuate the beat here are not as intense through the
T20 as they are through heavily-bass boosted pairs, but
they still sound plenty powerful. And, of course, if you wish,
you can put in the bass filters for more thump.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams'
The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound quite
bright through the reference filters. I actually preferred the
bass filters here—they added some extra depth that brought
out the lower register instrumentation more without
sacrificing clarity and brightness. So, you may have to do
some swapping of filters here and there to get the sound
and balance you prefer, but the process of changing the
filters is very quick and simple.
If you're trying to decide between the T10i and the T20, the
T20 is, in our opinion, the better option, but bass lovers will
likely gravitate more to the T10i. For slightly less money, we
also are big fans of the . But most of the earphones we test
tend to cost less than either of these models. The recently
released , for instance, is an excellent choice, as is the . At
$240, the RHA T20 is a worthy Editors' Choice for serious
music lovers.
PC Mag
A good in-ear headphone is like a truly good book – most
of the time, you’re settling for “good enough,” and a true
masterpiece only comes along once in a while. The new RHA
T10i is that masterpiece when it comes to in-ear buds, with
design that’s durable, eye-catching and comfortable, and
sound quality that’s hard to match, and that can be tailored to
your own tastes thanks to replaceable hardware tuning filters
included with the set for sound modification without the
attendant downsides of software-side equalization.
view online >
“
I wouldn’t be
surprised if these
were regarded
as a ‘classic’ in
even five or ten
years’ time...
If you’ve been
waiting for a good
in-ear headset
to come along,
don’t hesitate
on grabbing
the T10i.
”
Basics
• Stainless steel
• Copper cable with gold connectors
• Replaceable tuning filters for more bass, neutral or more treble
• Built-in over-ear hooks
• MSRP: $200
• Product info page
Pros
• Great sound
• Plenty of fit and customization options
Cons
• Somewhat heavy
Design
RHA has crafted a set of earbuds that are unique – so unique
that at first I wasn’t sure what to make of them. The stainless
steel buds have a design that manages to look more organic
than industrial despite the material used in its construction,
and the final effect is of something almost hand-made. Details
like the cylindrical steel remote case and the knurled cable
case protectors at the headphone split point and the 3.5mm
connector are far more industrial in look, and therefore easier
to mentally place when you’re taking in the RHA T10i at first
glance, but the earbuds take a little more getting used to.
In the end, though, the T10i’s buds are designed to sit in the
ear with maximum comfort, and their smooth-pebble look
is ultimately a pleasant alternative to other earbud designs
that strive for something harsher, and that feel worse when
worn as a result. Other design elements, including the flexible
metal clad “ear hooks” that make up the final portion of each
cable nearest the ear buds, the remote, and the cable end
nearest the 3.5mm jack seems designed to result in a final
product that is best able to withstand tangles, unceremonious
packing and repeated removal/insertion in iPhones and other
devices without cable breakage and with a reduction of wear.
Attention to detail is obvious, too, in the case that comes
with the RHA T10i, which includes a metal card that holds
additional earbuds and the swappable tuning tips. You won’t
have to go digging for these accessories when you need
them, as RHA appears to have thought of everything.
Sound
When preparing this review, I had to go back and remind
myself of the price when preparing the list of basic specs –
and I honestly thought I’d made a mistake when the number
I came up with was $200. The RHA T10i I’d be listening to
could’ve easily cost $100 to $200 more than that, based on
the kind of sound they deliver.
Out of the box, the RHA T10i have the neutral acoustic filters
installed, which are screw-in components that go under the
actual earbud tip and modulate the balance of the sound
you’ll get from the devices. These basic, or reference ones,
provided the perfect sound for me – rich, warm and inviting,
but not overly heavy on the base, or too tinny in service of the
kind of high-fidelity clarity only a purist can love.
The good news is that if you’re either a bass addict or a
classical enthusiast, you can easily tag in the other two
acoustic filters as needed, and essentially convert your
earbuds into a completely different set, albeit with the
same great construction and a high level of sound quality
that persists despite the shifts in overall equalization. And
because this is hardware level, not software-side equalization,
you won’t notice any odd auditory effects from the change
– and they’ll apply to all your music, unlike some of the appbased solutions provided by other companies.
RHA’s sound and comfort combo means that you can listen
to these while also forgetting that you’re wearing earbuds for
the most part, even while in motion and using them under
toques or other hats, which is a rare achievement for this kind
of audio hardware.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a good pair of in-ear headphones, the
RHA T10i are for you. They might be a bit outside the ideal
target price range of most, since I often get asked what’s
the best option at $100, but the extra $100 gets you a lot of
additional benefit with the T10i over any comparable option.
They’re better than in-ear headsets I’ve owned that have cost
twice as much, in fact, and they seem designed to last. iPhone
compatibility via the in-line remote is also great, and the
sound quality on calls, even when used out on the street, is
likewise top-notch.
I wouldn’t be surprised if these were regarded as a ‘classic’
in even five or ten years’ time, and one of the better
bargains in mobile audio accessories. If you’ve been waiting
for a good in-ear headset to come along, don’t hesitate on
grabbing the T10i.
Tech Crunch
view online >
“
First impressions
count for a lot and
the T10i's were
terrific on every
count — bass,
midrange, treble,
low distortion,
dynamics, stereo
imaging. And
the earbuds'
clarity made us
feel closer to the
music.
”
The Good
The well-crafted, uniquely designed stainless-steel RHA
T10i earbuds sound great and come with an abundance of
accessories, including three sets of acoustic filters, 10 different
eartips and a carrying case. You also get an Apple-friendly
inline remote/microphone for making cell-phone calls.
Part of the cord weight is due to the inline remote. It's sleek
and sturdy, but it's got a little heft to it. The remote works
with iPhones, controlling music transport and volume; don't
expect them to work with Android and Windows Phone
devices. Note, though, that the RHA T10 is also available,
sans remote, for $10 or £10 cheaper.
The Bad
They're a little weighty for in-ears and may not fit everyone
comfortably. Some of the inline remote's functions won't work
with Android and Windows Phone devices.
Performance
First impressions count for a lot and the T10i's were terrific
on every count -- bass, midrange, treble, low distortion,
dynamics, stereo imaging. And the earbuds' clarity made us
feel closer to the music.
The Bottom Line
While the design may not work for everyone, the RHA T10i
earbuds are great-sounding and well-built, with some nice
extras, including three sets of swappable acoustic filters.
Earphones are made out of all sorts of materials, but it's
not too often that you hear about metal injection-molded,
stainless-steel ones, which is why RHA's T10i model piqued
our interest. They cost $199.95, £149.95 UK or €179.95 EUR
(they're not not available in Australia, but the US price
translates to about AU$227.)
In case you've never heard of RHA, it's a Scottish
headphone maker, though its products are produced in the
Far East, as most headphones are these days.
RHA says the stainless-steel T10i model features a handmade
dynamic driver (model 770.1) "engineered to reproduce all
genres of music with high levels of accuracy and detail." It's
also interesting to note that the earphones include a tuning
filter system that allows for frequency response customization.
It's a feature we've seen on a few in-ears in the past (the highend Phonak Audeo PFE 232 comes with acoustic filters), but
you don't usually see it in a $200 headphone.
Everything about these seems well crafted -- from the housings
to the reinforced, oxygen-free copper cable to the gold-plated
plug -- and the sound is excellent, too. Factor in all the included
accessories (RHA provides eartips in several different sizes and
shapes along with a nice case), and you really feel like you're
getting a lot of headphone for your money.
The only potential problem is the fit. The T10i earbuds are
somewhat weighty for in-ears and the over-the-ear cable
system won't appeal to everyone (I'm not a huge fan, while
CNET audiophile Steve Guttenberg finds it more appealing).
I had a little trouble maintaining a tight seal, especially
when I hit the streets and walked around with the
earphones in. They were fairly comfortable, but I found
myself regularly adjusting them in my ears. Also, the cords
are fairly heavy, too. I was always aware the cord was there.
Ideally, you want to forget you're wearing headphones.
C-Net
The T10i is easily one of the weightiest pairs of in-ear
headphones we’ve tested, but also one of the best built improving on RHA's own MA750i we reviewed back in 2013.
The use of stainless steel goes some way to explain the added
weight and we actually found the extra heft reassuring.
Initially we were concerned the weight would mean they
might be uncomfortable by pulling down when in your ears,
but we were pleased to find this wasn't the case. Mouldable
over-ear hooks help keep each earphone in place, with the
cables looped behind your ears rather than straight down.
You’re able to bend the hooks into a custom shape around
your ears to remove any slack. The driverhousing is also
reasonably low profile, sitting flush against your outer ear
so they don’t protrude or succumb to the weight of gravity
pulling them away from your ear canal.
view online >
“
The RHA T10i
is a supremely
comfortable
pair of in-ear
headphones
that sound great
with fantastic
build quality.
”
RHA has been extremely generous with sleeves, which helps
when it comes to comfort and finding a secure fit. There are
three different sized silicone tips and you get two pairs of
each, meaning you have a spare should you lose a set. It’s
always annoying to lose a tip and have to resort to using a
different size so we were glad to have a second pair. There
are also two different sized double flange tips that provide
a greater level of isolation as they sit a little further in your
ear canal. On top of these you also get two pairs of memory
foam tips, which we found provided the greatest seal.
You also get a well-made carry case, which offers a good
level of protection while also being large enough that you
don’t need to squeeze the earphones in. The sleeves and
tuning filters also come with holders.
The T10i uses a Y-shaped cable, with an iPhone-compatible
three button remote and microphone built into the the right
earphone cable. Volume controls unfortunately don’t work
with Android. The rubberised cable terminates in a straight
3.5mm jack that is reinforced with a spring, which should
help with flexion. The only minor complaint we have with the
T10i is the mix of materials and colours. It’s as though RHA
has attempted to use as many shades of grey as possible for
the cable, remote, microphone and driver housing, so the
T10i lacks a degree of visual and material consistency.
Unlike in-ear headphones from Shure, the cable is designed
more to be worn down your front, rather than run down
your back, which is similar to how musicians often wear
in-ear monitors. This method won't really work with the T10i
because the microphone would then be located behind your
neck, although if this isn’t an issue you can still wear them in
this manner and take up the excess slack with a cable cinch.
Similar to the Alfa Genus Rock Jaw, the T10i uses
interchangeable tuning filters in order to adapt its sound
signature. Three sets are included: bass, reference and treble.
We actually found the reference pair had more than adequate
bass response for most tracks. When we did want a little
more energy the bass tuning filters performed admirably by
adding some extra warmth without muddying the sound. We
were less impressed by the treble tuning filter as it caused
the sound to become a little too bright. We spent most of
our listening time with the reference tuning filters, however,
preferring the flatter, more neutral sound signature, and
found the sound delightfully delicate. The T10i’s dynamic
drivers delivered crisp details in instrumentation and the
sound stage was about as wide as you could expect from a
pair of in-ear headphones at this price.
We’re big fans of the T10i. They not only sound great but
they’re very well built, too. We found them significantly
better than the similarly-priced Tonino Lamborghini
Quantum HL-01 and also preferred them to the more
expensive Atomic Floyd SuperDarts Titanium +remote. If
you’re looking for a premium pair of in-ear headphones, the
RHA T10i is a great choice especially considering its great
three year warranty.
Expert Reviews
The T10i is easily one of the weightiest pairs of in-ear
headphones we’ve tested, but also one of the best built improving on RHA's own MA750i we reviewed back in 2013.
The use of stainless steel goes some way to explain the added
weight and we actually found the extra heft reassuring.
view online >
Initially we were concerned the weight would mean they
might be uncomfortable by pulling down when in your ears,
but we were pleased to find this wasn't the case. Mouldable
over-ear hooks help keep each earphone in place, with the
cables looped behind your ears rather than straight down.
You’re able to bend the hooks into a custom shape around
your ears to remove any slack. The driverhousing is also
reasonably low profile, sitting flush against your outer ear
so they don’t protrude or succumb to the weight of gravity
pulling them away from your ear canal.
“
The RHA T10i
is a supremely
comfortable
pair of in-ear
headphones
that sound great
with fantastic
build quality.
”
RHA has been extremely generous with sleeves, which helps
when it comes to comfort and finding a secure fit. There are
three different sized silicone tips and you get two pairs of
each, meaning you have a spare should you lose a set. It’s
always annoying to lose a tip and have to resort to using a
different size so we were glad to have a second pair. There
are also two different sized double flange tips that provide
a greater level of isolation as they sit a little further in your
ear canal. On top of these you also get two pairs of memory
foam tips, which we found provided the greatest seal.
You also get a well-made carry case, which offers a good
level of protection while also being large enough that you
don’t need to squeeze the earphones in. The sleeves and
tuning filters also come with holders.
The T10i uses a Y-shaped cable, with an iPhone-compatible
three button remote and microphone built into the the right
earphone cable. Volume controls unfortunately don’t work
with Android. The rubberised cable terminates in a straight
3.5mm jack that is reinforced with a spring, which should
help with flexion. The only minor complaint we have with the
T10i is the mix of materials and colours. It’s as though RHA
has attempted to use as many shades of grey as possible for
the cable, remote, microphone and driver housing, so the
T10i lacks a degree of visual and material consistency.
Unlike in-ear headphones from Shure, the cable is designed
more to be worn down your front, rather than run down
your back, which is similar to how musicians often wear
in-ear monitors. This method won't really work with the T10i
because the microphone would then be located behind your
neck, although if this isn’t an issue you can still wear them in
this manner and take up the excess slack with a cable cinch.
Similar to the Alfa Genus Rock Jaw, the T10i uses
interchangeable tuning filters in order to adapt its sound
signature. Three sets are included: bass, reference and treble.
We actually found the reference pair had more than adequate
bass response for most tracks. When we did want a little
more energy the bass tuning filters performed admirably by
adding some extra warmth without muddying the sound. We
were less impressed by the treble tuning filter as it caused
the sound to become a little too bright. We spent most of
our listening time with the reference tuning filters, however,
preferring the flatter, more neutral sound signature, and
found the sound delightfully delicate. The T10i’s dynamic
drivers delivered crisp details in instrumentation and the
sound stage was about as wide as you could expect from a
pair of in-ear headphones at this price.
We’re big fans of the T10i. They not only sound great but
they’re very well built, too. We found them significantly
better than the similarly-priced Tonino Lamborghini
Quantum HL-01 and also preferred them to the more
expensive Atomic Floyd SuperDarts Titanium +remote. If
you’re looking for a premium pair of in-ear headphones, the
RHA T10i is a great choice especially considering its great
three year warranty.
Huffington Post
Let me start by saying, I know headphones. I have
reviewed a lot, I own a lot, and my ears have endured a
lot. Generally speaking, function comes before form in
my recommendations. Do they sound good? Are they
comfortable? How much do they cost?
view online >
Only after these questions are positively answered do I then
I allow myself to get excited over how pretty they are. Rarely
am I able to reach that glorious final stage. To be frank:
most tech that focuses on form ends up lacking in function
(I’m looking at you, Beats). But every once in a while, my
inner geek gets her day, and today it’s thanks to the British
company RHA’s 750i. Now, knowing the substance is there,
just look at them. Sigh...Sexy, no?
They’re beautifully designed, with small details that are
generally only seen in headphones far more expensive. Those
silvery bits? 303F grade stainless steel. (A Google search
informed me that 303 grade steel has a psi of 89,900! So, very
durable.) Not only is the 1/8th-inch jack reinforced with this
steel, but there is also a spring that gently keeps the cable
from kinking at the connection point. The cable is oxygen
free, and has a velvety rubberized texture that feels both
flexible and sturdy. The junction from main cable to individual
ear cords is steel reinforced. Even the Apple compatible
remote feels luxurious, snug in a little steel jacket.
“
They are a
fantastic buy for
those looking to
make the leap
into higher end
headphones.
Think of them as
the Aston Martin
of headphones.
”
The in-ear buds are supported by the cable being worn
over the ear, which historically speaking, I’ve disliked. Many
headphones’ over-ear designs have cables that rub against
and chafe the delicate skin between one’s ears and skull,
especially when wearing glasses of some kind. Not so with the
750is. Somehow the texture and structure of the cord is such
that I wore my test pair for several hours very comfortably.
Included with the headphones are tips of varying shapes
and sizes, which are all housed in a genius little businesscard-like caddy. The types of tips are single flange silicone
(s,m,l), double flange silicone (s,m,l) and two sets of Comply.
The caddy not only keeps the tips organized, but handy, as
the card fits into elastic straps in the included faux-leather
carrying case. The carrying case also has a little mesh
pocket, perfect for holding the also-included shirt clip.
It’s these small but thoughtful details that transform liking
headphones into loving them.
What else is there to love? The sound. Exciting and clear, with
emphasis on the upper mids and bass. While this isn’t by any
means an even frequency response, it’s not a bad one either.
Rock, hip hop, and electronica sound intense and forward.
Try listening to this: The Who’s “Baba O’Riley”: the electric
organ sounds smooth and rich, and you can even hear the old
strings on the piano vibrate in the intro. Once the guitars kick
in and the layers of sound come at you like a crashing wave,
you’re ready to kick some arse.
Or Radiohead’s “I Might Be Wrong”: deep low bass guitar with
snares snapping on top. The 750i’s bass response is strong,
but it doesn’t overtake the rest of the frequencies.
Or, Estelle’s “American Boy”: The thumping synth bassline
never drowns out the buttery vocals. The sound profile
reminded me of the AKG 376s, but in a far classier package.
And although they lack the sense of sonic depth and space
that the RBH EP2 or Bowers and Wilkins C5s have, they are also
around $60 less expensive, and arguably more solidly built.
The writers at The Huffington Post and British Esquire like
them too.
While I wouldn’t use the 750is for studio monitors in mixing,
I do enjoy them for rocking out. The overall feeling is vivid
and fun. Add in the consideration that you can get them for
around $120, they are a fantastic buy for those looking to
make the leap into higher end headphones. Think of them
as the Aston Martin of headphones: stylish, classic, zippy,
exciting. And bugger me, they sure are pretty!
Sound + Vision
For years at trade shows, I have been passing the stand of an
intriguingly subfusc British headphone company called RHA.
I always note down the name, take its interesting, very black
brochure and promise to get hold of one of its products – and
then, well, I don’t get round to it.
RHA isn’t what you’d call pushy, which may sound nice, but
its quietness works to the extent that nobody I know in techie
circles has (until recently) a view of any kind on the brand. A
search of its website doesn’t help a lot in establishing who it
is or what it’s like, other than that it is obviously high-end. The
website is remarkably spare on details about the company, its
heritage, anything, and only a scan of the legal section shows
its official name is Reid Heath. My own mini-investigation,
however, reveals it to be a Glasgow company whose HQ is “in
the shadow of the Finnieston Crane”.
This is odd because it sounds like the kind of background
a company could make a great deal of. A few months ago,
I finally made contact and asked for a sample of whatever
it was currently most proud of. RHA complied quickly but,
again, the beautifully packaged MA750i headphones it sent
remained on my shelf unopened, as if the company’s shyness
is shared by its products. They just weren’t shouty enough.
Even the price (£90) wasn’t extravagant enough for me to
want to tear them from their box and try them out.
view online >
Yet now I have finally got round to testing them, they are quite
superb, especially – and this is an important point – when
you’ve let them run in for a few hours, a common requirement
with good headphones and loudspeakers.
“
The build quality
is top rank: they
are machined from
stainless steel and
have the best type
of springy, durable
cabling, with no
concession at all.
”
The MA750i is an in-ear model, but one supported by a nicely
springy ear loop, making the headphones ideal for the gym
or running. The build quality is top rank: they are machined
from stainless steel and have the best type of springy, durable
cabling, with no concession at all to the middle-market price.
Even the excellent carrying case and selection of alternative
tips resonate quality. This product could easily sell for £150 or
more – especially when you hear the rounded but still exciting
sound. It has a design characteristic (who knew?) of RHA
called “Aerophonic”, meaning it’s inspired by the airflow and
the acoustic properties of a trumpet bell. I’m not sure if that
would pass without comment from rival audio companies, but
it worked for me.
The MA750i cans are also extremely comfortable and have a
three-year guarantee (as if anyone will manage not to lose a
pair of in-ear headphones within three years).
Oh, and on the shyness front, as I write this, by coincidence,
a thick, tasteful invitation plops through my letterbox to
the launch in Berlin of a new RHA product, promising to
be a serious audio breakthrough of some kind. A quaint
but effective marketing idea, using the post – and maybe a
welcome end to RHA’s introverted phase.
Financial Times
Endless wires, bulky headphones and noisy trains are just some
of the reasons why listening to music on the go can be a bit of
an ordeal. British headphone company RHA have the solution.
view online >
“
Engineered
from individual
stainless steel
components, the
in-ear headphones
have been
specially designed
to produce a
greater depth of
sound and cut
out background
noise.
”
Engineered from individual stainless steel components, the
in-ear headphones have been specially designed to produce
a greater depth of sound and cut out background noise.
Esquire
RHA is a British (well, Scottish) audio manufacturer that aims to
revise our thinking on what a genuinely modestly priced pair
of earphones can be and do, both in terms of sound and build
quality. As a case in point, I would cite RHA’s flagship model,
the MA750i which sells for $129.95 (US), £89.95 (UK), or €99.95
(EU). If you stop to think about it, you could easily go out with
your mates, spring for some delectable pub grub and a few
pints, only to find you’d actually spent more for the evening
than RHA’s top-flite MA750i would have cost you. In my book,
this math makes the MA750i a potential bargain (or what we
Amurricans might call “a screamin’ good deal”), provided the
earphones sound good and are well made. But is that the case?
view online >
Yes. Full stop.
We could pretty much end this review right there, but it would
hardly seem sporting of me. After all, surely Hi-Fi+ readers are
eager to learn how and why a British earphone is acquiring a bit
of a reputation as a giant killer on both sides of the Atlantic and
on both sides of the English Channel. I generally prefer to leave
discussions of sonic character for last, so let’s begin by looking at
what your £89.95 will buy you if you invest in a set of MA750i’s.
“
It is hands down
the finest earphone
I've heard at its
price point.
”
When you open the box you’ll discover the MA750i is
beautifully made. For starters, its earpiece enclosures
are made of machined 303F-grade stainless steel, which
creates a strong, positive first impression. Nothing—
absolutely nothing—looks cheaply made, here. The ‘phones
are supplied with a large diameter set of smoothly-jacketed,
steel reinforced, oxygen free signal cables that terminate
in a robust, knurled metal mini-plug fitted with a gold
plated, four-conductor plug tip. The “four-conductor” bit
refers to the fact that the MA750i is fully iPod/iPhone/iPad
compatible and accordingly comes with a machined metal
in-line three-button remote/mic module (with soft rubber
button surfaces for better ergonomics). Sturdy strain reliefs
are fitted where the signal cables enter the earpieces and
where the signal cable routes into the connector plug. Even
the “Y-yoke” (the joint where the left and right earpiece
leads join the main signal cable) is handled via a knurled
metal connector whose fit and finish mimic those of the
main output connector.
HiFi+
view online >
“
First impressions
count for a lot and
the T10i's were
terrific on every
count — bass,
midrange, treble,
low distortion,
dynamics, stereo
imaging. And
the earbuds'
clarity made us
feel closer to the
music.
”
The Good
The well-crafted, uniquely designed stainless-steel RHA
T10i earbuds sound great and come with an abundance of
accessories, including three sets of acoustic filters, 10 different
eartips and a carrying case. You also get an Apple-friendly
inline remote/microphone for making cell-phone calls.
Part of the cord weight is due to the inline remote. It's sleek
and sturdy, but it's got a little heft to it. The remote works
with iPhones, controlling music transport and volume; don't
expect them to work with Android and Windows Phone
devices. Note, though, that the RHA T10 is also available,
sans remote, for $10 or £10 cheaper.
The Bad
They're a little weighty for in-ears and may not fit everyone
comfortably. Some of the inline remote's functions won't work
with Android and Windows Phone devices.
Performance
First impressions count for a lot and the T10i's were terrific
on every count -- bass, midrange, treble, low distortion,
dynamics, stereo imaging. And the earbuds' clarity made us
feel closer to the music.
The Bottom Line
While the design may not work for everyone, the RHA T10i
earbuds are great-sounding and well-built, with some nice
extras, including three sets of swappable acoustic filters.
Earphones are made out of all sorts of materials, but it's
not too often that you hear about metal injection-molded,
stainless-steel ones, which is why RHA's T10i model piqued
our interest. They cost $199.95, £149.95 UK or €179.95 EUR
(they're not not available in Australia, but the US price
translates to about AU$227.)
In case you've never heard of RHA, it's a Scottish
headphone maker, though its products are produced in the
Far East, as most headphones are these days.
RHA says the stainless-steel T10i model features a handmade
dynamic driver (model 770.1) "engineered to reproduce all
genres of music with high levels of accuracy and detail." It's
also interesting to note that the earphones include a tuning
filter system that allows for frequency response customization.
It's a feature we've seen on a few in-ears in the past (the highend Phonak Audeo PFE 232 comes with acoustic filters), but
you don't usually see it in a $200 headphone.
Everything about these seems well crafted -- from the housings
to the reinforced, oxygen-free copper cable to the gold-plated
plug -- and the sound is excellent, too. Factor in all the included
accessories (RHA provides eartips in several different sizes and
shapes along with a nice case), and you really feel like you're
getting a lot of headphone for your money.
The only potential problem is the fit. The T10i earbuds are
somewhat weighty for in-ears and the over-the-ear cable
system won't appeal to everyone (I'm not a huge fan, while
CNET audiophile Steve Guttenberg finds it more appealing).
I had a little trouble maintaining a tight seal, especially
when I hit the streets and walked around with the
earphones in. They were fairly comfortable, but I found
myself regularly adjusting them in my ears. Also, the cords
are fairly heavy, too. I was always aware the cord was there.
Ideally, you want to forget you're wearing headphones.
C-Net