Review: Phiaton PS 210 headphones

In early June, hi-fi enthusiasts and audio geeks converged on the Hyatt Regency O'Hare for Head Fi CanJam 2010, a product show for those that take headphones very seriously. Among the hot new offerings was the first in-ear headphone from ultra high fidelity headphone makers Phiaton. I was lucky enough to borrow a pair of Phiaton PS 210s recently, and I'm wishing I had written about them around CanJam. But bad timing aside, the Phiaton PS 210s are still worth mentioning.

Pros: If you've ever dreamed that popping your in-ear portable earbuds in was like walking into a pristine studio listening environment or a fancy stereo shop, the PS 210s are about as close as we are going to get for under $150. The sound from the PS 210s is clear, natural and infused with a sense of space that's rarely found in an earbud, certainly not in the muddy cheap ones that came with your iPod. Albums that I previously found flat came alive with the PS 210s, overdubs and backing vocals revealed and drum tones exquisitely detailed. The noise-canceling earbuds from Phiaton fall a bit on the crisp side compared to comparably priced in-ear headphones from Shure, which leads us to the cons.

Cons: They're probably not overly boomy enough for the fan of bass music or hip-hop. And everyone else will have to get accustomed to a design that's not intuitively ergonomic—much of the meat of the earbud sits outside the ear allowing it bigger, more accurate drivers in two sections. It took me a few tries to find the right angle to get these little guys in my ear though I hardly felt them once positioned. And then there's environmental factor. Unlike most in-ear headphones I own, the PS 210s don't shut out loud and rumbling outside sounds so well—such as the CTA train I ride to work every day. Count in a small, but obviously well-made cord and the PS 210 feels more like the high-quality headphone you bring on a long flight, to your hotel room or any other situation really. These headphones are more pristine sonically than completely portable.

$99 at Amazon.com, includes four different size ear tips and a carrying case. Mobile phone users can opt for the PS 210i which adds a microphone.