Sony-Ericsson MH410 earphones

Rating: 4/5

Review:
Very decent basic earphones

These are perfectly decent basic earphones.  They're not hi-fi, but for the current price (well under three quid!) they are very good.

The earphones are decently made with an in-line control panel which works OK with my Android phone.  The sound is really pretty good; the bass lacks much punch, but they don't sound tinny to me so for basic earphones for casual listening, especially for speech, I like them.  The cable is about 1m long, but with an extension lead I find them fine for TV watching.

So, these are pretty basic; for high quality music listening you'll need to look elsewhere, but they're not at all bad and for earphones which cost next to nothing I think they offer very good value.  Recommended.

Amazon page HERE

V-MODA Forza Metallo IEMs

Rating: 5/5

Review:
Outstanding sound

I think these Forza Metallo IEMs are excellent.  I was a little dubious before I opened them because the packaging is so flashily designed that I thought this may be a case of style over substance, but I was quite wrong.  They are very well made and the sound quality is outstanding.

The IEMs are plainly a high-quality product, with machined aluminium bodies, a good cable and high-quality strain relief.  There is a nice little carry-pouch and good range of silicone tips, ear hooks and so on so you'll be able to make them comfortable for whatever you need them for.  (Please be aware that these are wired-only IEMs so if you need Bluetooth, these won't be for you.)

The sound is the most important thing for me and I think it is excellent in all genres.  It is extremely sharp and accurate; articulation is crisp and very clear over the whole range and there's a very good balance.  The bass is superb, I think; it is very solid and gives a full depth to instruments like a theorbo or viola da gamba (which really test bass) and in rock it is powerful but never boomy or over-dominant.  Tracks with a really deep bass like Chvrches' Leave a Trace or London Grammar's Hey Now sound the best I have ever heard through IEMs and classic rock like the Stones or The Who is fantastic.  Middles are lovely, tops are sparklingly clear without any harshness and the sheer detail audible through such small units is remarkable.  

I find these a real pleasure to listen to. I have listened to a lot of music through them now including my Test Playlist which I use to compare audio products. This runs from 16th-Century choral music to London Grammar and covers most things in between and I think everything sounds really good. Articulation of individual orchestral instruments is excellent, chamber music sounds superb and crystal-clear, acoustic music has lots of light and air, rock really rocks, and so on. I the clarity, richness, depth and balance. 

 
I have used a much-loved pair of RHA MA600 for many years and more recently I have also been using HifiMan RE-400s, both if which are very good indeed. I prefer these to either; they cost significantly more but if you care about sound I'd say they're worth every penny.  I'm delighted with them and can recommend them very warmly.

Amazon page HERE