A lot has been said and debated about the best earphones in the Rs. 2000 price category. The wide smorgasbord has only led to more confusion among audio lovers who are looking for a pair of in-ears on a budget. Today, we will compare two of the most popular earphones in India.
It's the SoundMAGIC E10C from China vs. the Sony MDR-XB50AP from Japan!
"If you are looking for in-ears that will let you enjoy music with more depth and detail, then the SoundMAGIC E10C is your earphone.
If an extra bass sound signature is something you love, then you should indubitably pick the Sony MDR-XB50AP"
-Raghav Somani
A noticeable upgrade to the older and very popular E10S, the E10C comes with a metal build. The unique 3-button in-line remote too comes in a striking metallic body. The build makes for an astoundingly durable body and surprisingly, this does not affect its lightweight feature. These in-ears are comfortable while also being conveniently portable.
The SoundMAGIC E10C is available in 4 different colours—simple Black, elegant Gold, bright Red and a vibrant Violet. A nice thought by SoundMAGIC, the red and blue indicators around the earpieces allow for quick indication of left and right.Branding has not been emphasized too much, all you have is the model name and brand logo on the back of the earpieces.
SHINY METALLIC BODY VS. ELEGANT CLASSY BUILDThe Sony MDR-XB50AP features a design that looks and feels extremely durable. Different from that of the SoundMAGIC E10C, the earpieces are bigger in size. Unlike most conventional earphones in this price range, Sony has put in extra effort to ensure that these headphones do not look ordinary or cheap.
A great feature at this price point, the SoundMAGIC E10C sports a super functional microphone and 3-button controller that carries solid action. This means you can stow away your smartphone while answering calls and controlling your music on-the-go. The E10C packs along with it seven pairs of silicone ear-tips of varying sizes, including a double-flanged pair. There's also a small carry case, a shirt clip and a double-pin adapter to use the headset with a laptop or computer.
The coiled design of the cable makes it tangle-free and only aids in making it extremely durable. However, the outer plastic sheath of the cord does lend it a plasticky look causing it to be a small turn off.
SOUNDMAGIC'S 3-BUTTON CONTROLLER VS SONY'S SINGLE BUTTON REMOTEThe MDR-XB50AP comes with four pairs of black silicone ear tips, a cord adjuster and a small carrying pouch. When it comes to the fit, it employs an angular in-ear fit enabling the earphones to feel snug while in your ears.
A small complaint would be the noise isolation. You will find that these in-ears do not very effectively attenuate environmental sound. However, this is not a big issue as it can be improved with a pair of Comply ear tips.
IMPRESSIVE ACOUSTIC BALANCE VS SONY'S INSANE SIGNATURE BASS
The MDR-XB50AP is clearly targeted towards people who love all that bass. Just like the name suggests that it has been tuned to deliver bass that is heavily pumped up.The lows are heavy, while the highs and mids do get disappointingly over-powered.
On tracks with exciting beats such as EDM, Hip Hop, Bollywood, etc, the MDR-XB50AP delivers an exaggerated punch. A commendable feature that is not found among extra bass earphones in this range, the Sony MDR-XB50AP does not crack or distort even when played at the highest volume.It somewhat manages to maintain a decent balance between the lows and highs as well but may sound muffled with certain genres.
This is clear if you love your bass and do not mind compromising on clarity, by all means, go for the Sony MDR-XB50AP
CONCLUSION
To put in simple terms, the SoundMAGIC E10C has a comparatively balanced sound signature and comes with a 3-button universal remote. So if you prefer clarity and are looking for convenient smartphone compatibility, then go for these.
If you are all about that bass and can make do with the one-button microphone and remote, then the Sony MDR-XB50AP is a better option.
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