We’ve just got our hands on a set of the new Radiopaq Flex earphones. They are a unique sports headset that is lightweight and secure, perfect for use in the gym, when out for a run, or just for listening to music. Let’s take them for a test run and see what they sound like.
The first thing that I noticed upon unboxing these was the material of the “over the ear” section. I’ve had a few sets of these “gym earphones” before and they’ve always been a pretty rigid affair, the Radiopaq Flex a combination of silicon and industrial plastic which means they bend and twist a lot more, it certainly helps to create a more confortable fit and actually makes putting them on a bit easier.
The Radiopaq Flex is provided with an extension cable which takes the total length up to 1.2m, this is perfect for road running as you can run the wire across your back rather than having it swing around in front of you. You’ll notice that when using this type of earphone, anything brushing against the cables is amplified straight into your head – this can be most annoying when you’re running and the cable is flapping around. The Flex earphones help you avoid this as you can use the longer cable length to send the cable down the back of your tshirt and minimise the movement and noise.
Also included in the pack is a small silver package that you really need to watch out for. Included in here are an additional two sets of silicone earcushions in different sizes, it is vitally important to your enjoyment to ensure that you have the right size cushions fitted. If you have the wrong size you’re probably going to find the sound is a little tinny at best, however once you’ve got the perfect fit you’re going to notice a significant difference in sound quality – more on this in a bit.
Another nice feature is the inclusion of genuine Apple remote and chip placed on the right earphone wire (See picture above). This means that when used with your iPhone you’re going to be able to recieve calls on the run and the drop straight back into the song when the call ends. You’ll also have control over volume without having to root around in your pocket for the MP3 player itself.
So it’s a pretty nice package overall, but the crucial test is the sound – so how do the Radiopaq Flex shape up?
I need to refer back to my point about getting the right fit when using the ear cushions. If you just pull these earphones out of the packaging and slip them straight into your ears then there’s a good chance your response will not be a happy one – but that’s not the fault of the product, it’s the same with almost all sound isolating headphones. Taking the time to find the correct fit is going to pay huge dividends as it takes the sound produced to a new level. The important thing with the cushions is they “seal” the ear, letting in less ambient sound, cause less sound to escape and ensure you’re experiencing the full range of the music.
For the record I tested these earphones using an iPhone 16GB 3GS playing AC/DC Highway To Hell and Def Leppard Photograph (I decided to get my “rock” on this morning), the extra kick in the bass drum on both tracks was impressive compared to the standard Apple earphones. High end frequencies were also clear, Rick Allen makes really good use of the crash cymbal in Photograph (Especially at the beginning of the chorus) that particularly sounded nice and clean.
All in all these are a really good option if you’re looking to replace the standard Apple earphones, the sound quality is certainly good enough to justufy the £24.99 price tag – in all honesty they sound as good as some sets double the price. Okay they aren’t going to compare to the likes of Beats by Dr Dre Powerbeats but they starts at around £119.99 – so you do the sums. Are Dr Dre’s offering really going to be THAT much better? Even if they do, the average life expectancy of a pair of earphones is about 4 months (in my house anyway) before they end up in the washing machine or in the pocket of a pair of long forgotten jeans never to be heard from again.
In the interest of an impartial comparison, the other set of earphones around this price point I’d consider are the Sennheiser 300-II, however with the shorter cable length you will get a lot more of the “in your head noise” especially when working out/running. So take a moment to think about where you’re earphones are going to get their most use – if you’re going to be in the gym a lot you can do a lot worse than the Radiopaq Flex.
The Radiopaq Flex are available for £24..99 from HMV, Game, amazon.co.uk, LA Muscle and radiopaqproducts.com.
Technical data Frequency Response 18Hz @ 20KHz Sensitivity 120dB Impedance 16 ohms Driver Type 12mm Noise Isolation -26dB Cable Length 1.2 Meters interchangeable long and short Cable Type Dual core 7 strand Connector Type Gold Plated 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack
