Maximo iM-590 iMetal Isolation Earphones review
Another one of the little accessories is the 2.5mm adapter, this plug is used by a lot of phones.
Maximo also thought about people who travel a lot by plane, this dual-prong airline adapter will enable you to enjoy in-flight entertainment with your own headphones.
Because all ears are different, Maximo includes a total of four silicone eartips. If the preinstalled one doesn't properly fit or isn't comfortable enough, you can replace it with a smaller or larger eartip. These silicone are pretty comfortable but one of the disadvantages is that the material tends to discolor over time, just like those old computer cases the material becomes a bit more yellowish over time.
A stylish piece of metal with Maximo's logo etched into it is located on the Y-split of the cable. In the picture below you can also see the silicone cable slider plus the white plastic shirt clip, attaching it to your clothes will greatly reduce microphonic noise, but more about that will follow later in this review.
With the silicone eartip removed, the 9mm neodymium driver becomes visible. As listed in the specifications, the drivers have a frequency response of 12Hz to 22KHz, a sensitivity of over 100dB and a maximum SPL output of over 120dB.
Testing and sound quality
The sound quality of the iM-590 seems to focus primarily on the mid-range, but when it reaches the upper end of the spectrum the sound can sometimes get a little bit too harsh. The vocals sound very bright with these earphones but unfortunately, the basses lack a little punch. Overall the iM-590 sounds quality is very balanced and for its price class these in-ear monitors are very good.
Another important topic is the wearing comfort, in my opinion, the silicone tips provide sufficient comfort during extended periods of usage, they provide a good seal and I also found that the earphones had no problem staying in my ears. Additionally, the iM-590 is also very good at blocking outside noise. Even at relatively low volume levels I had no problems listening to my music while my girlfriend was watching a noisy TV program, and when she was saying something to me I had to remove the earbuds from my ear, because otherwise I could barely understand her.
My biggest complaint is the microphonic noise, when the braided cable brushes against your clothing or another object it's quite noisy. This issue can be reduced by attaching the shirt clip to your clothing, but you'll never be able to completely eliminate this annoying noise.
Conclusion
If you need a new pair of in-ear buds the Maximo iM-590 is definitely worth your consideration. For an MSRP of $59.99 this product delivers a big step up over the sound quality offered by the stock earbuds that ship with MP3 players, and as an added bonus you get a rugged carrying case and a set of accessories that may come in handy every once in a while.
The Good Stuff
The Bad Stuff
I give the Maximo iM-590 iMetal Isolation Earphones a 8.5/10.
Previous Page (1/2)Added: October 30th 2009
Product reviewed: Maximo iM-590 iMetal Isolation Earphones
Reviewer: Thomas De Maesschalck
Score: 8.5/10
Page: 2/2
