Foreword about sound assessment --- I don’t have much high end equipment (yet), and thus all comparisons are made un-amped with my HP dv4t notebook computer using foobar2000 v1.1 and WASAPI in exclusive mode at 24-bit, 96 kHz. The notebook contains dual 3.5mm outputs so I can do simultaneous A/B testing. Portable sound assessments are made with an Apple iPod Touch 2nd Generation 8 GB un-amped.
The general sound of the HD381F is neutral, subtly mid-forward and bright, with deep and impactful but very controlled bass. The sound is spacious and transparent, although it may not sound as full-bodied as other IEMs.
In the context of putting them in the category of sub-$30 in-ears, the HD381F are absolutely the most revealing IEMs I've ever listened to. While their ability to resolve is nowhere near the level of top-end IEMs, they nevertheless compete with nearly all the sub-$100 headphones out there (that I've listened to). In a quiet room, the HD381F resolves more detail than a Klipsch Image S4, Audio-Technica CKS50/70/90, CKM55, and Shure SE115, just to name a few. The Etymōtic MC5 may possibly resolve marginally more mid-to-high frequency detail (listened to the MC5 a while ago, so I don’t remember clearly). Mind you, I haven't had the opportunity to test out some of the budget kings in this sub-$100 category such as the Hippos, ViSang/Brainwavz, RE0, etc. so the HD381F’s placement amongst them is unknown. If I had to take a gander, I'd say that even if the Superlux couldn’t resolve as well, it would surely still not be too far behind, as the HD381F are also able to handle and articulate the added resolution and dynamic range of 24-bit/96 kHz music, but sometimes does not take the high-resolution music to its full potential.
The strength of the HD381F's sound isn't at all in its resolving capabilities, however. We all know that resolution is not the key to an enjoyable music experience, but rather the cohesiveness in balance across the frequency range. In all honestly, the majority of Superlux products I’ve tried or bought have this property. The distribution between the lows, mids, and highs is so well balanced, that the only IEMs I’ve tried so far that have been as ‘euphonic’ as the HD381Fs have been the SE535 and the e-Q7 --- quite the elite company. Whatever resolution or distortion shortcomings the HD381Fs have is made up by the sonic presentation. It is for these reasons that the HD381F doesn’t feel boring, despite it not being full-bodied or super detailed in any frequency range.
At this point, if you’re still reading, you might be thinking, “Are you out of your mind? Really? $20? Better than top-tier IEMs?” --- No, that’s not at all what I’m saying. What I am saying is that Superlux managed to take bargain bin parts and tune it to its full potential, and that ceiling is as good of a sound package as I’ve ever heard.
Onto the negatives. Sonically, there really isn't anything to complain about, especially when you consider their price. The tuning is perhaps a little rough (not unexpected for the price) and it doesn't do well with poorly recorded material. It does best with lossless and higher resolution tracks, where the graininess is kept to a minimum.
For those of you who might think I might’ve gone off my rocker for holding a pair of $20 IEMs in such high esteem, I took a long time writing this review, listening to as many different IEMs as I could, to make sure what I was writing could hold up under the microscope. I’ve hit just about every single top-tier IEM there is (save for the RE0/ZERO/262, ER4P/S, and GR8/10, and the ridiculous Final Audio offerings), and while I may like some of them better (my favorites thus far are the UM3x, SE535, and e-Q7 in no particular order), there’s a certain charm about these cheapies that I stick in my ear every day and if a pair of $100+ IEMs don’t achieve a sonic balance close to the HD381Fs, I know they’re not worth my money.
Foreword about sound assessment --- I don’t have much high end equipment (yet), and thus all comparisons are made un-amped with my HP dv4t notebook computer using foobar2000 v1.1 and WASAPI in exclusive mode at 24-bit, 96 kHz. The notebook contains dual 3.5mm outputs so I can do simultaneous A/B testing. Portable sound assessments are made with an Apple iPod Touch 2nd Generation 8 GB un-amped.
The general sound of the HD381F is neutral, subtly mid-forward and bright, with deep and impactful but very controlled bass. The sound is spacious and transparent, although it may not sound as full-bodied as other IEMs.
In the context of putting them in the category of sub-$30 in-ears, the HD381F are absolutely the most revealing IEMs I've ever listened to. While their ability to resolve is nowhere near the level of top-end IEMs, they nevertheless compete with nearly all the sub-$100 headphones out there (that I've listened to). In a quiet room, the HD381F resolves more detail than a Klipsch Image S4, Audio-Technica CKS50/70/90, CKM55, and Shure SE115, just to name a few. The Etymōtic MC5 may possibly resolve marginally more mid-to-high frequency detail (listened to the MC5 a while ago, so I don’t remember clearly). Mind you, I haven't had the opportunity to test out some of the budget kings in this sub-$100 category such as the Hippos, ViSang/Brainwavz, RE0, etc. so the HD381F’s placement amongst them is unknown. If I had to take a gander, I'd say that even if the Superlux couldn’t resolve as well, it would surely still not be too far behind, as the HD381F are also able to handle and articulate the added resolution and dynamic range of 24-bit/96 kHz music, but sometimes does not take the high-resolution music to its full potential.
The strength of the HD381F's sound isn't at all in its resolving capabilities, however. We all know that resolution is not the key to an enjoyable music experience, but rather the cohesiveness in balance across the frequency range. In all honestly, the majority of Superlux products I’ve tried or bought have this property. The distribution between the lows, mids, and highs is so well balanced, that the only IEMs I’ve tried so far that have been as ‘euphonic’ as the HD381Fs have been the SE535 and the e-Q7 --- quite the elite company. Whatever resolution or distortion shortcomings the HD381Fs have is made up by the sonic presentation. It is for these reasons that the HD381F doesn’t feel boring, despite it not being full-bodied or super detailed in any frequency range.
At this point, if you’re still reading, you might be thinking, “Are you out of your mind? Really? $20? Better than top-tier IEMs?” --- No, that’s not at all what I’m saying. What I am saying is that Superlux managed to take bargain bin parts and tune it to its full potential, and that ceiling is as good of a sound package as I’ve ever heard.
Onto the negatives. Sonically, there really isn't anything to complain about, especially when you consider their price. The tuning is perhaps a little rough (not unexpected for the price) and it doesn't do well with poorly recorded material. It does best with lossless and higher resolution tracks, where the graininess is kept to a minimum.
For those of you who might think I might’ve gone off my rocker for holding a pair of $20 IEMs in such high esteem, I took a long time writing this review, listening to as many different IEMs as I could, to make sure what I was writing could hold up under the microscope. I’ve hit just about every single top-tier IEM there is (save for the RE0/ZERO/262, ER4P/S, and GR8/10, and the ridiculous Final Audio offerings), and while I may like some of them better (my favorites thus far are the UM3x, SE535, and e-Q7 in no particular order), there’s a certain charm about these cheapies that I stick in my ear every day and if a pair of $100+ IEMs don’t achieve a sonic balance close to the HD381Fs, I know they’re not worth my money.