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Phonak Audeo PFE 012 video review
#214 | 3:15 |
Monday February 21, 2011
Gadget TV
Monday February 21, 2011
A relative unknown in the world of audiophile headphones until recently, the Phonak Audeo PFE 012 and 022 come on the heels of the acclaimed PFE 1XX series. Tuned for bass audience the PFE 012 and 022 took end user and audiophile reviews to heart in an attempt to create the perfect earbuds at an impressive (given the category and the competition) price point.
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Phonak Audeo PFE 012
GBP80 ~ USD$130
Build quality
The heavy cord feels durable and resists knotting and tangling. The Phonak Audeo PFE 012 can be worn as traditional earbuds with the cord hanging down or they can be comfortably worn upside down with the cord tucked behind the ears. This alleviates the cable rustle that is a significant problem with isolating earbuds. While ear loops are available (sold separately), they're not necessary.
While a plastic where the single cord splits into left and right for the earbuds looks like a cell phone mic, it's not. The PFE 012 doesn't have this feature. The PFE 022 does however.
Sound quality
Whether you're a devout audiophile or not, you will definitely hear the difference between these high-end buds and the stock phones that came with your MP3 player or smartphone. High-end audiophiles pretty universally praise the previous generation of the Phonak phones, the PFE 1XX and have good things to say about this bass-tuned model too. Price for performance, they're a great bet. If you're listening to compressed MP3 or AAC audio of the latest top-40 artists though, you'll be fine to stick with your stock earbuds. For anyone that enjoys getting lost in the fine nuances of music though, these deserve a listen and the price point is hard to beat in the category.
GBP80 ~ USD$130
Build quality
The heavy cord feels durable and resists knotting and tangling. The Phonak Audeo PFE 012 can be worn as traditional earbuds with the cord hanging down or they can be comfortably worn upside down with the cord tucked behind the ears. This alleviates the cable rustle that is a significant problem with isolating earbuds. While ear loops are available (sold separately), they're not necessary.
While a plastic where the single cord splits into left and right for the earbuds looks like a cell phone mic, it's not. The PFE 012 doesn't have this feature. The PFE 022 does however.
Sound quality
Whether you're a devout audiophile or not, you will definitely hear the difference between these high-end buds and the stock phones that came with your MP3 player or smartphone. High-end audiophiles pretty universally praise the previous generation of the Phonak phones, the PFE 1XX and have good things to say about this bass-tuned model too. Price for performance, they're a great bet. If you're listening to compressed MP3 or AAC audio of the latest top-40 artists though, you'll be fine to stick with your stock earbuds. For anyone that enjoys getting lost in the fine nuances of music though, these deserve a listen and the price point is hard to beat in the category.
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