Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM
Price: Rs 599
Finding the right set of headphones is not as easy as it seems. Picking up a set that suits your budget is just the tip of the ice berg, for a set that can cater to all your music needs is not always the one that pleases the eyes the most. So when we were handed the new Advent Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM that carries the price tag of Rs 599, it was a good week-long fun process of listening to all our favourite tracks and videos.
One of Sony’s most popular on-ear models is also one of its cheapest: the Rs 990 MDR-ZX110. So Advent is really confident about their product for it is being marked over the market leaders entry level set. Question is: Is the Indian pair worthy to take on the Japanese giant? We find out in our review.
Design, specifications and comfort
The Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM looks a bit tacky and inexpensive from a distance, due to the plastic with a gloss finish it uses on the body that lacks the premium feel for this price. However, up close it feels strictly budget. The plastic is hard and tensile, and does not look or feel like it can take too much abuse, so careful handling is advised.
This headset has a rather unique folding mechanism that allows the ear cups to twist inwards, into the headband. This makes the Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM a bit easier to store. Apart from this, the phones have 40mm dynamic drivers, with a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz, 32 Ohm+15% impedance and a sensitivity rating of 105dB+3dB. The Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM does have an inline mic with 2200 Ohm impedance.
The ear cups have very slight padding, which is enough for an acceptably comfortable on-ear fit. The headband has no cushioning, but is designed well and feels secure and comfortable in place. The Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM also has a tough cable that took a constant abuse by a month old Lab and survived to tell the tale. On the whole, apart from the flimsiness, we’re happy with how the Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM looks and feels.
Performance
With the Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM not being an entry-level on-ear headset, we did most of our testing using an Android smartphone. We also tried it with our iPod touch and a Mac. Starting with the bass-heavy tracks, we found that the Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM had a meaty sound, with lots of emphasis on low-end attack. The bass can be overpowering, but is usually controlled thanks to the not-so-tight fit. The sonic signature has been tuned toward promoting the lows, and this makes for a very warm sound. This also tends to show a bit in the lower-mid ranges, but there is a clear sensitivity drop towards the upper end of the frequency range.
Next, we cued up a dubstep track; the Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM has plenty to offer in terms of the mid-range and detail. While the headset is impressive in low-end detail, it seems to trail off going up the range. The result is a sound that isn’t quite as open and detailed as we’d like. Finally, we kept our ears open for imaging and soundstaging. While the Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM offers a full and aggressive presentation in the sound, it falls a bit short in terms of openness and width. The sonic stage feels narrow and specific, rather than properly spread out. However, it certainly does its bit to make your music immersive and entertaining, especially if you like your headphones bassy and aggressive.
Verdict
The Echo Phonz AD-HP BOOM falls a bit short in terms of build quality. It feels cheap and we were always worried about damage during our time with the review unit. However, it offers an immersive, full sound that excels in its handling of bass. Detail and clarity suffer a bit, but bass-heads will not find too much to complain if the company plans to sell it at a lower price bracket.