Pocophone F1 Review

 

Design and Construction

The F1 comes in three colors – Graphite Black, Steel Blue, and Rosso Red. There’s also an Armoured Edition with Kevlar Aramid fiber. For this hands-on, we’re taking a look at the Steel Blue model.

One of the first things you’ll notice about the F1 is its large screen. It’s a 6.18-inch display with a thick notch at the top. This notch houses the 20MP front camera, earpiece, proximity sensor, infrared lens, and infrared lighting. Down below at the center of the chin is the notification LED.

 

Found on the left side of the device are the volume and power/lock buttons. They’re plastic but firm, clicky, and easy to reach.

Up top are the 3.5mm audio port and the secondary microphone, while down below are the loudspeaker, main microphone, and the USB Type-C port.

Flip it on its back and you will see the dual rear cameras, fingerprint scanner, and the LED flash.

Quality-wise, the F1 feels far from the premium glass and metal I’m accustomed to, but it looks and feels really good for something that is made of plastic. The hard-coated polycarbonate unibody is solid, it doesn’t creak when squeezed or sound hollow when tapped. The finish is also able to resist fingerprints and smudges well.

At 182g it’s already hefty so I’m starting to appreciate the use of polycarbonate to keep the weight in check. It’s tall and a bit wide so navigation of the UI would often require both hands. And if you’re worried about scratches and bumps, don’t worry as Pocophone included a jelly case in the package.

Display and Multimedia

The 6.18-inch screen which Pocophone calls the edge-to-edge display has an 18.8:9 aspect ratio and Full HD+ (2246 x 1080) resolution or equal to 403ppi, which is a decent resolution for a screen of this size.

The display is nice as it is sharp with good viewing angles and accurate colors. However, it’s prone to glare but the bright screen was able to keep things legible. As for its screen protection, it uses Corning’s Gorilla Glass so it should be able to withstand minor scratches and bumps.

There’s nothing fancy about the down-firing speaker. Like with most smartphones, it’s lacking in bass but it is loud and crisp enough for hands-free voice-calls, watching videos on YouTube and Netflix, or listening to tunes on Spotify. If you have a good pair of wired headphones, I’m glad to report that the F1 still sports a 3.5mm audio port.

Camera
When it comes to imaging, the F1 sports a 12MP main rear shooter with the Sony IMX363 sensor, which is the same sensor found on the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S which got a score of 97 at DxOMark Mobile. The secondary camera, on the other hand, is handled by a 5MP Samsung sensor. For selfies, it has a 20MP camera.

As expected, images produced are good as they’re sharp with punchy colors and great dynamic range. Low-light performance is also good and was able to preserve details while keeping the noise down. We can attribute the performance to the camera’s built-in AI capabilities and image stabilization. Selfies are good as well, especially in bright conditions. It’s sharp as it has plenty of resolution to go around and comes with bokeh and beauty effects.

As for video recording, the F1 maxes out at 4K resolution at 30fps. There’s no 60fps option here, even at 1080p. Quality is as good as stills with dynamic range and colors. There’s EIS, although works best when recording at 1080p. For slow motion, there’s the Video HFR (High Frame Rate) which can record up to 1080p at 240fps.

OS, UI, and Apps

Running the software is MIUI for POCO (MIUI 9.6.11.0 Stable) based on Android 8.1 Oreo which is basically a slightly customized version of Xiaomi’s MIUI. It has multiple home screens but also has an app drawer that you can bring out by swiping up. The apps are pre-arranged by category but you can add your own tab.

Other features include the ability to hide the notch, Second Space which allows you to make your own private home screen, Button and Gesture navigation, Dual Apps, a Security app, and App Lock. Since it’s based on Xiaomi’s MIUI, we can expect new features to be developed for it as well.

Speaking of apps, we have the usual Google suite of apps, as well as pre-installed ones from Microsoft, Facebook, and Lazada. Overall, I’m getting 52.6GB of usable space out of the 64GB. Good thing Pocophone decided to make this expandable and has support for a microSD card but in a hybrid setup.

Performance and Benchmarks

Powering the F1 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630 GPU, 6GB or 8GB RAM, and a 4,000mAh battery with QC 3.0. As expected, performance is great and it was able to keep things running smoothly. The fingerprint scanner and face unlock feature are very fast and responsive. Even games like PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends, and NBA 2K18 are easily playable in high settings.

When it comes to thermals, there’s a slight warming felt beside the cameras when running games and benchmarking apps but it’s very minimal. I checked the temperature using an IR thermometer after playing PUBG Mobile and I got a maximum read of 37.5-C which is tolerable, so I can say that the LiquidCooling technology works.

Check out the benchmark scores below:
• AnTuTu – 264,977
• Geekbench –2,475 (Single-Core), 9,004 (Multi-Core), 14,415 (RenderScript)
• 3DMark – 3,252 (SSE – OpenGL ES 3.1), 2,706 (SSE – Vulkan)
• PCMark – 7,427 (Work 2.0)
• AndroBench – 700.88 MB/s (Read), 146.69 MB/s (Write)

Connectivity and Battery Life

The Pocophone F1 has your usual connectivity features like dual-SIM with 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. The said features work as advertised as calls are loud and clear, mobile data connects right away, it had no problems connecting to BT devices like speakers, earphones and wearables, while GPS-based apps like Google Maps, Waze, and Grab was able to pinpoint our location right away.
Since this is a performance-oriented smartphone which is designed to be used heavily, I’m glad that Pocophone equipped the F1 with a 4,000mAh battery. It sure was able to last a whole day and into the night on light to moderate usage and sporadic gaming. Our video loop test got us 19 hours of video playback which is good. Charging, on the other hand, using a QC 3.0 charger takes 2 hours.

Conclusion

The Pocophone F1 became a wakeup call not just for consumers but for other smartphone brands as well. Here is a device that delivers flagship performance, feels good, doesn’t have a lot of fancy features or tech, but is offered at a price that we normally see in mid-range devices. For plenty of users, this is a big win, and definitely not overpriced. For some smartphone brands, it kind of ruined a lot of things.

To end this review, I can absolutely say that this device is a big hit. It has proven that we don’t need to pay ridiculous amounts just to get the best performance possible. I just hope that they have enough supply to meet the demand. So to answer our question, is the Pocophone F1 the best bang-for-the-buck device in the market? Yes, it is.

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro review

Canon Pixma TR8550 review

The majority of Canon’s Pixma inkjet printers are geared toward printing great photos, like the impressive six-ink Canon PIXMA TS8050, but the Canon Pixma TR8550 is aimed squarely at the home office. As such, it has only five (rather than six) ink cartridges and adds a document feeder and duplex printing. The inclusion of a fax facility, puts this machine in the competitive category of compact four-in-one MFPs. At around £199 (about US$265,AU$355) it is quite keenly priced. 

And this model really is compact. Canon reckons it is 38% smaller than the MX920 it replaces, while retaining two separate paper trays front and rear and a 20-sheet ADF on top. What Canon offers that the average MFD doesn’t, is a large 4.3-inch touchscreen interface, Bluetooth connectivity in addition to Wi-Fi and a fifth ink cartridge to enhance the print quality.   

Design

Printers for the home office have been getting progressively smaller and the Canon Pixma TR8550 is a prime example. With all of the flaps and extending trays folded away, it’s little bigger than Canon’s family oriented photo printers and yet it incorporates a 100-sheet main paper tray, a 20-sheet rear paper tray for photo paper and envelopes and a 20-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) on top.

It looks smart and sophisticated with the extra-large touchscreen taking up most of the front panel and you probably wouldn’t begrudge this unobtrusive printer sharing your desk.

SPEC SHEET

Here are the full specs of the Canon Pixma TR8550:

Type: Multifunction colour inkjet printer

Functions: Print, copy, scan, fax   

Ink: Five cartridges  (C, M, Y, BK, PGBK) 

Paper size: A4   

Connectivity: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth   

Data storage slot: SD Card slot   

Print speed: 15ppm (mono), 10ppm (colour) 

Main paper tray capacity: 100 sheets    

Print quality: 4,800 x 1,200 dpi 

Duplex: Yes   

Scan quality: 1,200 x 2,400 dpi   

Apple AirPrint: Yes   

Google Cloud Print: Yes 

App support: iOS/Android 

Consumables included: 5 ink cartridges     

Size/weight: 190 x 438 x 351mm (HxWxD)/8kg

Features

Features
The Canon Pixma TR8550 is a four-in-one, which means the print, scan, copy and fax boxes are all ticked, this is a feature-rich machine and Canon has done well to include luxuries like a 4.3-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity for the money.

Bluetooth compliments the inbuilt Wi-Fi and makes it even easier to ensure a stable wireless connection with a smartphone so that you can use the handy Canon Print companion app, while the touchscreen makes it easy to use and monitor at a glance.

Instead of four ink cartridges, there’s an extra pigment black to improve text and photo quality. You can tell this printer was made by a Camera brand because it also has an SD Card input and can connect to Canon cameras wirelessly via PictBridge.

Essential features such as duplex printing and connectivity with cloud services like Dropbox are present too, which means the only items missing are NFC connectivity (although Bluetooth makes up for this) and a front USB port. 

Setup and operation 

The 10.8cm colour touchscreen might seem an unnecessary extravagance for a printer, but the asking price for this model is still low and it certainly makes installation and operation easier than it would have been without it. Getting started is simply a case of following the instructions and printing out the test sheets when prompted. You have five cartridges to fit instead of four.

The touchscreen proves its worth when you have to type in the password to your Wi-Fi network. It’s not a sensitive as your smartphone’s screen, or course, but it’s quicker than the fiddly hard buttons you usually have to contend with. The screen is also great for switching between paper stock and monitoring the status of your current print job at a glance.  

The Canon Print app is also very helpful when it comes to scanning and printing. Canon uses the app to offer its own cloud printing service, although this takes some time to set up. 

HOW WE TEST PRINTERS

Each printer we source for testing is measured on our test bench and the results are critically compared with every other model we have reviewed. Rather than relying on the manufacturer’s quoted figures, we time the first page out and print speeds in single sheet and duplex mode using a standard ten-page document and a stopwatch app. To compare print quality, we print out the same set of test documents on every machine. These twelve test pages include text of varying font sizes and colours, mixed image and text pages, a set of photos and a series of test patterns designed to assess sharpness, colour fidelity, contrast and grey scale. 

We also calculate running costs, compare functionality and consider each product’s versatility, design and build quality. The overall score reflects all of these parameters and overall value for money.

Performance

We found the Canon Pixma TR8550 to be rather slow when it came to printing mono duplex pages of text, but the pages were worth waiting for. The additional cartridge delivers black pigment ink in addition to the four dyes, which gives printed words a rich darkness, while maintaining a delicate touch. Very small point sizes are just as clearly defined as large letters.

The extra ink also befits colour documents, with colours appearing vivid and well contained and blacks, evenly filled in throughout. Photographs on photo paper are particularly well shaded, accurate and colourful. Well what did you expect from a camera manufacturer. Presumably it is because the print resolution is only half the DPI of the Canon PIXMA TS8050 that photos look noticeably softer. It also lacks the additional grey cartridge of that model’s six-ink system.

By adding a fax and ADF and keeping the cost low, some sacrifices in print quality have been made. Despite this, the Canon Pixma TR8550 turns out mono, colour and photo prints that will impress. 

Final verdict

The size and style of this surprisingly compact printer will endear it to anyone who works in a cramped office, while that enormous 4.3-inch touchscreen makes everything from setup to checking your workflow at a glance, just a little bit easier.

The Pixma TR8550 ticks off all of the features a home office might need including duplex printing, separate paper feeds for plain and photo paper and an ADF. Bluetooth, in addition to Wi-Fi, ensures an easy connection with the helpful Canon Print app and that extra ink cartridge gives every text document a crisp and bold finish, while photos appear rich and vivid.

By adding a fax and ADF to what looks very much like the Pixma TS8050 photo printer, the Pixma TR8550 gains some bulk while compromising its print quality. It is also rather expensive to run, with that additional black pigment cartridge meaning that you have to buy five, rather than the usual four replacements. 

For the money, and we’ve seen some significant discounts on this model already, the Pixma TR8550 has a lot to offer. To begin with, the compact size is an achievement given that it has three separate paper feeds, five ink cartridges and a huge 4.3-inch touchscreen display. It also offers the essentials such as duplex printing and sending high-resolution scans to the cloud via a companion app. It also prints mono, colour and photos in great quality. Like many cartridge-based inkjets, however, replacement ink is expensive.

Google Daydream View (2017) review

VOYO VBook i7 Plus Review

VOYO is a very popular and leading Chinese electronics manufacturer and they had recently announced the VOYO VBook I7 Plus 2-in-1 Tablet PC. The VOYO VBook I7 Plus features some very powerful hardware along with original Windows 10 Home inbuilt and the VBook I7 Plus is priced at $699.
The $700 price range is very well known for some really competitive laptops including 2-in-1 Tablet PC from very popular manufacturers. So in the competition, where does the VBook I7 Plus stack up and is it worth the amount you pay? This is what we will be finding out in this in-depth review of VOYO VBook I7 Plus.

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Specification

VOYO VBOOK I7 Plus	Specification
Display	12.6 inch
CPU	Intel i7 7500U, 2.7GHz, Dual Core
GPU	Intel HD Graphics 620
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB + 256GB SSD Storage Capacity
Operating System	Windows 10
Camera	2.0MP front camera + 5.0MP rear camera
Battery	10200mAh

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Design and Appearance

The VOYO VBook I7 Plus is a device that is targeted towards business use where people would often require a tablet on the go and a laptop for extended work. The VOYO VBook I7 Plus offers the functionality of both a tablet and a laptop within a single device and apart from that, the device offers a top notch built quality as well.
The VBook I7 Plus features an all-metal construction out of aluminum and magnesium alloy and the built of the device is really sturdy without any flexes or creaking noises anywhere to be found.

Being a device that focuses on portability, the device only weighs around 900grams which makes it one of the lightest laptops to carry around. The super lightweight and high-quality construction means that holding the VBook I7 Plus even with a single hand is not an issue at all.
The front of the VBook I7 Plus features its gorgeous 12.6-inch display along with a secondary camera on top of the display. The back of the device features the 360-degree hinge that can help users to play around with the device easily as a laptop or a tablet. The hinge can be set in four modes: tent, stand, laptop, and tablet. On the back, at the top center, there is a primary camera sensor as well.

There are a variety of ports available in the VOYO VBook I7 Plus. There is a USB Type-C port for charging and data syncing, a 3.5mm headphone jack, 2x USB 3.0 ports, a card slot, and a Micro-HDMI port. Also, there is also a dual channel inbuilt speaker as well.

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Display

The VOYO VBook I7 Plus features a 12.6-inch 3K OGS capacitive IPS LCD screen with 2880×1920 pixel resolution. The awesome 3K display is one of the highlight features of the VOYO VBook I7 Plus. The display has a ratio of 3:2 and a super wide 178-degree viewing angle.

When comparing the 3K OGS IPS panel on the VOYO VBook I7 Plus to the 1080p panel that is found on most of its competitors, the difference is quite visible. Images are sharp, super detailed and the color accuracy is also on point.

The brightness of the display is also very good enough and the display gets bright enough to use even in direct sunlight.

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Hardware and Performance

The VOYO VBook I7 Plus is really powerful on the hardware front as well. Powering the VOYO VBook I7 Plus is the Intel Core i7 – 7500U dual-core chipset that has a clock speed of 2.7GHz and can turbo boost up to 3.5GHz.
There is also 8GB of DDR4 RAM in the device, which can be upgraded up to 16GB.The GPU used in an inbuilt Intel HD Graphics 620 and there is also a 256GB SSD.

The Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and Intel HD 620 Graphics are really more than enough to take the device through all the daily tasks that anyone would normally do. Even when it comes to multitasking, the device can easily swift through various programs and processes without any hiccups.
The device is also good enough for gaming but the lack of a dedicated high-end GPU would mean that even if you are able to play graphic-intense games on the device, you will have to play them in the low graphics setting.

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Software

The VOYO VBook I7 Plus runs on the Windows 10 Home English version out of the box. Being a 2-in-1 device running on the latest Windows operating system, you can enjoy all the Windows features that are customized for both laptops and tablets in this single device.

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Camera

There are two camera sensors available on the VOYO VBook I7 Plus. There is a 5MP primary camera on the back and a 2MP secondary camera on the front.
Well, both the camera sensors are not something to brag about but are good enough for a camera that you would expect out of a 2-in-1 Tablet.
Both the primary and secondary camera is good for the occasional pictures you may take out of it and provided that there is ample amount of lighting, the camera is capable of capturing a not-so-bad amount of details. However, as the light gets dimmer, so does the quality of pictures taken by the camera.

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Connectivity

The VOYO VBook I7 Plus features support for WIFI 2.4GHz or 5.0GHz dual band and also features Bluetooth 4.0. The WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity does not lack on any front and connects or pairs with any devices very quickly.

VOYO VBook I7 Plus: Battery

There is a 10200mAh battery built-in to the VOYO VBook I7 Plus. The battery size of the device can take the device easily through an entire workday even with process hungry tasks.

Considering the huge 10200mAh size of the battery, one might think that charging the device would take a lot of time. However, the device can be charged from dead to a full 100% in less than 5 hours.

LG V30 review

The LG V30 stands out from the competition enough to be considered LG’s true flagship phone for 2017, not the LG G6, its impressive, albeit instantly outmatched smartphone from six months ago. 

That’s an unexpected relief because the LG V20 came onto the scene last year and its rivals frankly picked apart everything unique it had going for it. The HTC U Ultra lifted the second screen for notifications, and just about every flagship phone now utilizes a dual-lens camera. 

So how has LG’s experimental smartphone branch move forward? By focusing on the subtleties, ditching the divisive design, and producing its most bold, feature-packed device yet. 

But making all of the right moves comes at a high cost. $809 in the US, £799 in the UK when it launches in November, and AU$1199 in Australia for the LG V30+ (the only model this region will be served, which differs only in its internal storage).

That amount of money will basically get you any flagship phone on the market, or at least most of one if you’re on the hunt for the iPhone X. And for some, LG took far too long following the V30’s late August announcement to bring it to market. Since then, the Essential Phone, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Google Pixel 2 XL have been revealed to the world. But even with this stellar year for Android smartphones, LG’s nearly bezel-free device easily makes its case for the cash.

We’ve now spent more than enough time with the final review unit and have worked to scoop through each and every feature (there are many) to be found within LG’s latest smartphone.

LG V30 price and release date

• Available now in US, UK and AU
• $809 unlocked in US, £799, AU$1,199 (for the V30+)

For the first time, LG’s V-series smartphone will be more broadly available across the globe. Having been limited to just the US, Australia and part of Asia, the V30 is making the jump to multiple regions, including the UK.

As for the price, LG’s latest retails for $806 in the US. In the UK? Pre-orders for its early November release pin it at £799. For those in Australia, you’ll be treated only to the LG V30+ for AU$1,199 – the same goes for US customers on Sprint. In terms of differences, there are few: onboard storage and carrier compatibility (the latter of which applies if you're in the US). Instead of 64GB by default in the standard model, you’ll get 128GB built-in along with microSD storage.

Design

• Understated design lets the screen stand out
• Feels very light considering all of the tech inside
• Waterproofing and military-grade toughness are always welcome

Instead of straying from the pack, the LG V30 blends in with this year’s fleet of flagships. But that’s not such a bad thing. It even takes cues from the LG G6, evolving that design ID ever so slightly, all while steering itself in a few new directions, too.

Starting on the front, LG’s FullVision 18:9 aspect ratio tech is on display here, complete with a gorgeous 6-inch OLED (finally!) display tuned at 2,880 x 1,440. While there are still bezels at the ends and the sides of the V30, the presentation renders them to be quite understated, letting the screen stand at the center of the stage. In fact, we really appreciate having just a little bezel on the sides, as it lessens accidental presses while typing or playing a game.

LG’s latest measures in at 151.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm and weighs 158 grams, all of which puts it on par in sizing with the Google Pixel XL. That said, it’s remarkable that LG has fit a screen that’s a half an inch larger inside of a chassis that’s nearly the same size. Interestingly, it’s just a bit wider than the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, though the rest of its dimensions pale in comparison.

Around its glossy steel siding, you’ll find a tactile volume rocker to the left, and a SIM and microSD tray on the right. Down below, there’s a bottom-firing speaker grill next to the V30’s USB-C charging port. Up top, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is your one-stop shop for experiencing the phone’s Hi-Fi audio capabilities. LG has never been one to let us down in this department.

Flipped over on its slightly curved glass back, the phone’s fingerprint sensor, which doubly works as its power button, sits right in the middle – a more ergonomic location than Samsung’s choice with the Galaxy S8 and Note 8.

Glancing upward has us stumbling upon the V30’s center aligned dual-camera system. This isn’t LG’s first foray into the technology – the LG V10 was released in 2015. But this phone’s duo of lenses puts them to the best use yet. We’ll dive into that more below.

Lastly, LG has done the V30 a solid by implementing wireless charging as well as making it both water and dustproof with IP68 resistance. It also meets military spec standards, meaning it’s very durable. While this doesn’t ensure that its glass won’t break, the tough frame works to prevent bending. And for such a pretty phone, that’s a very good thing.

Where's the second screen?

Unique to the V experience, up until now at least, was the second screen display. The V30 changes that staple hardware feature into a software touch called Floating Bar that looks reminiscent of Samsung’s Edge feature, but operates a bit differently.

The second screen might be gone, but it’s still here in spirit. On our preview unit, the feature was strangely not turned on by default, but when activated, it’s tucked away into the side of the screen. A simple tap opens the bar and holding on the icon lets you move it wherever you’d like. 

In addition to letting you customize what sort of app or command goes into the bar slots, the feature also focuses on surfacing some of the phone’s more hidden abilities, like QuickMemo+ note-taking and capturing a picture or GIF of the screen.

RHA T20i review

Good sound is subjective, yes, but there are things that we can all agree on that make a headphone sound good: Bass should be tight and impactful, highs detailed but not harsh, and mids that are smooth like honey. 

Most headphone manufacturers shoot for these specs, but what if you want a little more bass or want to increase the energy of the highs? For most headphones, your only option is to mess with equalization. But RHA has a different idea. 

The RHA T20i is an excellent sounding pair of in-ear headphones with a neat party trick: customizable filters. These filters thread into the headphone housings and let you choose from Bass, Treble, and Reference. Each filter makes an audible impact and are easy to swap out on the go. 

As a package, the build quality, sound, and customizable filters make the RHA T20i a must-have for audiophiles on the go. In fact, they sound so good, they made us want to give up our wireless headphones.

Design

The RHA T20i feature a black anodized aluminum finish paired with an all black cable and headphone termination. The RHA T20 (which doesn’t have a mic) comes in a nice silver if that’s more your style. 

The earphone drivers look and feel bulletproof and feature ear hooks with memory wire. This makes the T20i extremely comfortable as you can mold them to fit around your ears and stay there. The over-ear design generally helps cut down cable noise - but you’ll notice the noise if you’re walking or working out. (To their credit, RHA includes a shirt clip to combat cable noise, but it’s a hassle.) 

The headphones feature an in-line mic and remote that works with iOS devices. Android users are out of luck as the T20 doesn’t have a remote. However, if you do have an iPhone, you can control volume, playback, and make calls, which came through loud and clear with our friends and family.

Both the Y-splitter and 3.5mm headphone termination are made out of anodized aluminum as well, which means the headphones can take some serious abuse. To prove they've thought of everything, the 3.5mm headphone jack also features a spring to take the force off the cable to prevent fraying. While it would have been nice to see a replaceable cable, the cable the T20i comes with is so beefy that we doubt listeners will have to replace them short of a catastrophic accident. 

Included in the box are a ton of ear tips to help you find the perfect fit. They’re stored in a nice metal frame and the headphones also come with a nice leather case to help you carry around the filters, shirt clip and eartips. We loved the double flange tips but accidentally ripped them taking them on and off repeatedly to switch filters, so be careful. 

Performance

Listening with the Reference filter, the RHA T20i sound truly phenomenal. Bass hits hard and is always controlled. Highs are sparkly with excellent resolution, but never harsh. Mids sound liquid and balanced. The Reference filter is by far our favorite of the three included filters for its balance and versatility between genres. 

Switching over to the Bass filter, we expected the headphone to increase bass emphasis but it didn’t. Instead, the bass filter dulled the highs and brought out more of the mid-bass frequencies. Bass-heads will be disappointed that the headphones don’t make skull-rattling bass, but this is a headphone for serious listening. 

The High filter brought more energy to the highs but didn’t take away from the mids or bass, which is nice. We found the High filter slightly too harsh for the highs but it can help with tracks that could use a bit more treble energy. 

After spending several weeks with the RHA T20i, we found ourselves going back to the Reference filter and ditching our wireless headphones to enjoy the improved sound during our commute. Sure, wireless headphones are much more convenient, but the RHA’s sound quality is worth the hassle of going wired.