[Review] Creative Aurvana InEar3

Talk about computer audio and one of the topics that come up will be about Creative. This truely Singaporean company revolutionized the computer audio industry with their SoundBlaster sound cards, which remained popular well into the 90s. They are also well known for their ZEN series of MP3 players. Now their Creative Aurvana Live! headphones are known for delivering great sound at an affordable price point, but the Aurvana series of IEMs do not receive much attention.

The Aurvana InEar series all utilize balanced armature drivers. The Creative Aurvana InEar3 is the third model of the lineup, featuring two balanced armature drivers, utilizing dual bore technology (something like what is seen in the UE900) which acts as a mechanical crossover that separates the woofer from the tweeter. Now with so many dual BA IEMs around, can it stand up to the rest of the competition?

The Creative Store at Marina Square is closing down, and so there is a closing down sale, with products like the Creative Gigaworks T3 being priced attractively. Seeing the Creative Aurvana InEar3 fall to a price of 109SGD, I went ahead and got it.

The packaging is really good, in fact it is one of the best I have seen. Despite the extensive use of plastic, it never fails to portray the elegance of the Aurvana InEar 3. The packaging makes the Aurvana InEar 3 look like an art piece rather than part of an audio setup.

The accessories are excellent too. There are 3 pairs of silicone tips, 2 pairs of foam tips, airline adapter, cleaning tool, hardshell case with integrated cable winder, and an acrylic case that can be used to display the Aurvana InEar3 like an art piece.

Build quality is decent, though there are some questionable areas. The shells are glossy and made of plastic, and I wonder whether the gloss of the InEar 3 will hold up over time. The design itself seems to remind one of the Shure SE535. The strain reliefs are actually really soft and flexible, in fact the most flexible I have ever seen. The wires are soft but a little too thin, which does not really give one confidence when it comes to the durability of the wires itself.

Comfort is very good due to the over the ear design like the BA200. With rounded housings and soft cables, it would feel comfortable in most ears. However, its large shells may be uncomfortable in smaller ears compared to say, the BA200.

Unlike most Dual BAs which utilizes a passive crossover, Creative seems to be using their dual bore technology to act as a mechanical crossover. So how does their earphones sound? Let us find out.

Bass is accurate and controlled. It is tight, punchy and has good texture to it. It is not particularly prominent though with the forward midrange. Also, it tends to roll off slightly at the lower end, causing it to have less of a subwoofer feel compared to say, a Klipsch X10.

The mids are very smooth and thick. They are also forward, giving the InEar 3 a mid-centric signature. Comparing with the BA200, the BA200 has a thinner note presentation and a less forward midrange. At the same time the BA200 carries a bit more detail compared to the InEar 3. The InEar 3 has a thicker, creamier midrange that is extremely smooth. Those looking for a monitor-like signature might find themselves craving for a little more detail.

The treble is very laid back, even more so than the BA200. This makes it a very non-fatiguing IEM. Also, there is no harshness or sibilance present, making it an enjoyable listen for long hours. However, compared to other IEMs with crisper top ends, like the TF10 or Quadbeat Pro for example, the Aurvana InEar 3 seems veiled. This is also due to the attention grabbing midrange, which results in the treble being less focused on.

The presentation is good for its signature. While not particularly out of the head like the Quadbeat Pro, it has good layering and separation. However, compared to other models like the BA200, it feels less airy due to the lower treble presence.

With regard to efficiency, I find this one of the most efficient IEMs I ever have. It is really meant to be powered by portable players. With my iPod Nano 7G, I can run it at 4 volume notches lower than my BA200. Thus people who purchase the InEar 3 need not worry about their players being unable to power the IEM to sufficient volume levels.

The Creative Aurvana InEar3 is a great monitor that can be mistaken as part of the Shure lineup. At the current street prices, it is one of the cheapest dual BAs around. I can see it as an introductory IEM to the world of balanced armatures, and a good introduction to the Shure lineup. While not very impressive at first listen, its smooth and inoffensive signature makes for an enjoyable listening experience.

[Review] LG Quadbeat Pro

Being one of the two electronic giants and one of the economic forces of Korea, LG seems to make about everything, from TVs and Home Theatre systems to Fridges and Washing Machines. Personally my own home is flooded with LG electronic goods, having a 55 inch LG 3D Smart TV, a LG Soundbar, a LG Blu-Ray system, a LG fridge and a LG washing machine. The newest addition to the "LG family" would be my new phone, the LG Optimus G Pro (which I might probably review later on).

Now, while they are a major electronics maker in the world, they have little to no presence in the world of portable audio, unlike Sony, JVC, Panasonic and Philips, which have some amazing IEMs in their line ups.That is, until the Quadbeat Pro is released.

The Quadbeat Pro set the audio world in Korea by storm, so popular that it can be found as a standalone instead of being bundled with the Optimus G or Optimus G Pro. Some considered it to even be as good as the UE TripleFi 10, or even better. Could this be the giant killer from Korea? We will find out here.

From Amazon it seems like it sells at around the street price of 22USD, which is pretty affordable for a smartphone use IEM. For me, I got it for free since I bought a new LG Optimus G Pro, which had it included as the stock earphones.

Packaging is pretty nice if you get it as a standalone product. It is displayed in nice plastic packaging, though it isn't exactly eco-friendly. For those bundled with phone, they are packed in the much more economical plastic bag.

Same can't be said for the accessories though, as they provided only two pairs of single flanges and a pair of bi-flanges. While these tips are comfortable, they are a bit too soft and they might "collapse" with some force.

Build quality is very good. Aluminum housings are a big welcome in the area of durability and style, especially in smartphone use IEMs where they tend to get trashed around easily. Flat cables are great too, they seem tough but not too thick, making it better for over the ear wear. One bummer though is that there is a lack of strain relief, so one still has to be careful when handling the IEMs.

Comfort for me is decent, though not at the level of the BA200 which has excellent ergonomic shells. Those with smaller ears might find the LG Quadbeat Pro a little uncomfortable though. Isolation is not bad, but not good either. I would say it would be about the same level as the GR99. While pretty useless in flight, it would be pretty good for street use.

Now on to sound quality, which is what the hype is all about. Does it live up to its hype then?

For evaluation, I used the output from both my iPod Nano 7G and my LG Optimus G Pro, since I don't think people will actually spend on a portable amplifier for this. At the same time, a portable amplifier is pretty useless since the LG Quadbeat Pro has a built in microphone with volume control.

Bass is present in good quantity but not excessive. It is well extended, with a little boost at the mid-bass. It doesn't give the subwoofer feel of the VSonic GR99, and I feel it is closer to the TDK BA200 in the bass department. While it feels faster than the GR99, the speed cannot match up to the dual balanced armatures of the TDK. Overall, the bass is clean and pretty well controlled.

Mids are pretty clear on the Quadbeat Pros. While it does have a little bass bleed, it is relatively less than the GR99. It carries plenty of detail, more than the GR99 does and in my opinion, at the same level or slightly better than the Monoprice 8320.

The treble area has a good amount of energy, and probably the most energetic IEM that I have thus far. While not sibilant, it contains more energy in the lower treble, which makes it a little more harsh compared to the smooth BA200s. However, I find it is still quite fatigue free and good enough for a few hours of music.

Soundstage is pretty good on the Quadbeat Pros. It is wide and relatively uncongested, with great separation and imaging. It gives a greater out of the head feel than the Dunu Ares and the VSonic GR99.

I can see why it is compared to the UE TripleFi 10. Both has a slight v-shaped sound signatures, with a wide and open soundstage expected from the type of sound signature they share. So is the LG Quadbeat Pro better than the TF10? While I have not listened to the TF10 for a very long time, I still feel that the TF10 has slightly speed and clarity next to the LG Quadbeat Pro. So my answer to this is, not exactly so.

Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad IEM, it is just slightly overhyped. However, that would not stop me from wholeheartedly recommending the LG Quadbeat Pros. At 22USD, it is a great offer and one of the best value around. For people who are looking for a smartphone use IEM, this could be the one for you, along with the Sony MH1. For LG Optimus G and LG Optimus G Pro users, rejoice; you have a really good pair of IEMs provided for you for free. However, this means you need to spend more to notice the difference in sound quality compared to other stock earphones. I am not sure whether it is a good or a bad thing though.