Phiaton, a new child company from audio manufacturing giant, Cresyn Co. Ltd. Since 1959, the Seoul-based company has been making products that strive for the best in its class. Phiaton is no different. Since its first earphone release, the PS200, which houses dual drivers and a sleek jet turbine design, Phiaton has added several new products to their line up, including products with noise cancelling as well as a microphone for mobile devices. Today, we will be auditioning the Phiaton PS210, an entry level, semi-isolated in-ear monitors.



Specifications
Variation: PS210i with microphone ~ TBA
Transducers: Single Dynamic Driver
Configuration: Half In-Ear, Open
Frequency Range: 10Hz-27 kHz
Impedance: 32 ohm
Sensitivity (1mW): 98 dB SPL
Accessories: 4 pairs of soft silicone ear tips, soft leather case, instruction manual, registration card.
Price: MSRP $119


Packaging and Accessories (6/10)
Being a previous owner of Phiaton's flagship PS200 earphones, the PS210 doesn't seem to have changed that much in terms of packaging quality. The PS200, costing a hefty $249, came in a crystal clear plastic chest that just proclaims royalty. The PS210 doesn't go far away from that. With a clear and simple packaging, the PS210 looks as killing as its older brother.



In terms of accessories, the PS210 offers a rather simple and small array of accessories compared to competitors in its price range. Like the Phonak PFE, that received our Editor's Award, the Phonak came jam packed with silicone tips, cleaning tools, filters etc....the PS210 offers four sets of silicone tips, and a soft leather case.



Due to the difference in physicality between the PS200 (balanced armature driver) and the PS210 (dynamic driver), the PS200 was able to use a smaller sound bore than that of the PS210. The PS200's tips therefore were able to be thicker, and more solid in shape without being rejected by every listener with a small set of ears. The PS210, on the other hand, uses thinner and less stable tips in comparison to the flawless tips of the PS200. The tips that come with the PS210 are flimsy, and are hard to use and get a seal. Individuals who might consider the PS210 may also want to consider purchasing other tips that provide a more comfortable fit, such as the Comply heat activating foams.


Build (10/10)
Despite being a new player in the portable audio market, Cresyn has learned that nothing goes out the door without being properly built and designed. The Phiaton PS210 strays away from a very common design, which is to manufacture multiple plastic parts, then glue them all together. Instead, Phiaton has chosen to build their earphones in a much more simple, and durable way. The outer housing of the PS210 is a one piece, milled aluminum shell. The back and front are then screwed on, which in turn hold the earphone together a lot better compared to adhesives. This way, even when you drop or step on it, the earphone stays together all in one piece. Unless you're taking a car to the PS210, they'll without a doubt stay the way they are.





Like its predecessor, the PS200, the PS210 inherits the same, and relatively well designed strain relief on the plugs and the earphone themselves. The reliefs are significantly longer on the PS210, not sure as to why they have chosen it this way. However, it seems that with the added weight and size of the PS210, it's more of an insurance that the strain reliefs don't wear out or rip when they're being pulled out of the ear by the cable. Y-Splitter is made from aluminum as well, so you're sure to be safe that your earphones are not splitting apart


Cables (8/10)
One down side in the constructive properties of the PS210 is its cable. Despite being relatively thin and durable, the cable itself is not that flexible. If you wrap them in an oval and try to put them on a table or into the case, it will simply pop right back to a pile of messy cables.



Despite being less flexible, the cable used on the PS210 and any other Phiaton earphone, is fairly good at keeping the microphonic, or cable noise, down. Whether it's rubbing against your shirt or simply swinging around, the Phiaton's cable keeps the noise to a very quiet, and rather impressive, level. On top of the low microphonics, Phiaton's cable is one of the most durable cables that we have seen on the market as of now. The cable beats Ultimate Ears' hands down in terms of quality and feel.

Fit (7/10)


With the PS210's half in-ear design, there seems to be a case where the earphone either fits really well, or doesn't fit at all. Due to the large shape of the "earbud" and the "inner canal" part, the earphones come out being a rather large piece. Individuals with have smaller ears might have a hard time getting the earphone in themselves not to mention getting a proper seal. During our tests, we found that only several individuals with larger ears were able to get a nice snug fit. Overall, I would say despite the great fit that some received, this earphone is definitely not for everyone!




Sound (8.5/10)
Being the first to utilize a dynamic driver in Phiaton's line up, as well as the first on the market to have an open, half in-ear design, the sound that we expected was a pioneer in the industry. The design of PS210 uses two sound tubes. The canal tube channels most of the driver's reproduction straight down the canal of your ear, while the rest of the sound is channelled through an opening on the bud to the concha of your ear.

High Frequencies (10/10)
With the experience we've had listening to the flagship PS200 when it was first released, we were thoroughly impressed as to how much detail the PS200 was able to output and how much instrumental separation there was in the high frequencies. The PS210 is no different, and follows the same path as the PS200. Despite having a different kind of driver, the PS210 cranks so much clarity and detail into the high frequencies you always wonder if there's a tweeter hiding somewhere. Listening to just any song, you'll hear a whole new level of sound frequencies that you haven't heard before using a pair of Shure, Ultimate Ears, or Westone, not to mention any of the little rebranded earphones that cost you a mere $15 to pick up a pair for. With this $120 PS210, it's the first product that I've come across in this price range to find the high frequencies nearly flawless. Whether it be a tenor, a saprano, violin, or piano, every note is so crisp, so detailed and alive that you would think the music is being played right before your eyes. Frequency extension is not just the highest in its price range, but one of the highest I have heard in any earphone or monitor, including the ones that top up to a grand. If you are a listener that prefers a warmer sound to a trebly high, then this earphone might not be for you.

Mid-Range Frequencies (8/10)
The mid-range is the part of the sound spectrum where most vocalists fall within. In other words, when it comes to vocals, the mids are one of the most important and crucial reproduction ranges that the earphone has to do.
The PS210’s bright character can be both a good and bad thing. The brighter side is that instruments and vocals sound really clean, and defined. They aren't mumbled together like the regular that comes into your coffee shop expecting you to know their order. Rather, every note is well played, well executed, and easily heard. The downside is that you tend to lose the emotion that you get from deep, rich mids that Shure's give you. When portraying classical music and some variations of pop, you get the meaning in the words with the PS210's fantastic divinity in cleanliness. However, the earphones just lack the richness and fullness that you get from a warmer sound signature. If you're a person that loves Mariah Carey, or Whitney Houston's most praised hits in the 80's, then you better look somewhere else. If you're a 21st century schoolboy, and teenager looking for some screamo, and that little bit of California Girls, then this earphone's mid-range may be enough for you.

Low Frequencies (8/10)
Ever notice the heart throbbing thump when you call in a DJ, or when you're at a movie theatre watching an action film? Well, in the 21st century, an audio product simply just can't fail at producing those low notes or it will lose all that business from the younger generations. Where the PS210 is priced at, it's just for this group. The PS210 houses a dynamic driver. According to personal experience technical data, dynamic driver's design allows it to more easily reach lower frequencies compared to that of a balanced armature driver. The bass notes of the PS210 are able to go below the average level of hearing. Although it might sound a little dramatic, there are music that have notes below the average 20Hz, and there are individuals that can hear below the average 20Hz.
The PS210's low frequency reproduction is a unique one, and a rather unfamiliar one for individuals coming from their $20 pair of earbuds. For more experienced individuals, the PS210's low-end sounds similar to Westone's. The thumps are very controlled and quick. The lows are also leaner in comparison with several others in its competitive range, like the Klipsch Image S4 and Shure SE115. Despite their lean quality, the lows of the PS210 are rather unique in its price range as the bass control and decay produce a marvellous combination. Despite the slightly lacking of power in the low-end, the accuracy of the PS210 is extremely well done, and is the best for any earphone that I've heard under $200.

Soundstage (9.5/10)
The soundstage of an earphone is how well an earphone is able to place an instrument or vocal while allowing the listener to accurately interpret the height, width, and depth of the sound. This is where the ingenious design of the PS210 and its science shine through.
Due to the different ports that the PS210 uses for channelling sound into our ear, we hear sounds from four directions rather than two directions (two per ear rather than one). The port that channels sound into our concha is the one that helps define the three dimensional sound of the PS210. Phiaton has really put some heavy research and thought into designing the PS210. As human, the concha and the shape of our ears are used to define three dimensional sounds. This relationship between the PS210 and the concha of the ear allows us to hear an extremely spacious sound that is extremely hard to reproduce with just a two-directional sound. As such, the PS210 is able to produce extremely high, wide, and deep sounds while at the same time being able to place instruments and vocals in just the right spot. The incredible soundstage of the PS210 will without a doubt astound you.



Detailed Score Breakdown:
Stereo Imaging - 9.5
Frequency Extension - 9
Transparency - 9
Decay - 9.5
Impact - 9
Speed - 9
Clarity - 8.5

Conclusion ( 8 /10)


Being the brand new youngling of the company, the PS210 is an impressive one. The Phiaton PS210 offers out of its class high-end reproduction, clean and defined sound throughout the whole frequency, and a jaw dropping soundstage. Being one of the best built earphone on the market today along with a modest price tag at $120 dollars, it's hard to say no to this astonishing earphone. However, we've found a reason to and it's a big one. The PS210 is rather heavy on the ear, and is also extremely large, making it hard to fit your ears. Despite various attempts, many of us just couldn't get these beautiful earbuds to fit. Either the bud part was too big, or we couldn't get a proper seal, not to mention it's even harder with the overly soft silicone tips that come with the PS210. Overall, however, the PS210 offers the best sound and build quality in its class and we at Compudio heavily recommend it to individuals with a wider ear canal who are also into genres of music that aren't classical or 80's pop!

What's Hot
● Accurate audio reproduction
● Clean, defined notes
● Astonishing soundstage
● Extremely durable

What's Not
● Heavy earphones
● Hard to find a fit
● Lack of accessories