Subj : These more affordable audiophile wired earbuds from a brand I lov
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Wed Mar 05 2025 13:15:07

These more affordable audiophile wired earbuds from a brand I love could 
knock Sennheiser off its perch

Date:
Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:13:03 +0000

Description:
Get Astell & Kern's sonic smarts for considerably less cash in these new 
earbuds.

FULL STORY
======================================================================Activo 
Volcano in-ear monitors are available now Triple-driver IEMs with 3.5mm, 
4.5mm and USB-C connections $80 / 99 / about AU$127 

If you're looking for high-spec in-ear monitors with a low price tag, Astell 
& Kern would like to help  or rather, its lifestyle sub-brand Activo would. 
After launching its fantastic Activo P1 hi-res audio player and 
equally-impressive Activo Q1 IEMs previously, the brand has announced a third 
family member: the Activo Volcano. And they're a fraction of the price you'd 
pay for the Q1. 

The official price of the Q1 earbuds is $349 / 299 / about AU$600. But the 
new Volcano IEMs are just $80 / 99 / about AU$127  and we suspect they'll be 
an amazing-value addition to the world of the best wired earbuds . (Image 
credit: Activo) Volcano value 

I'm intrigued by these new IEMs because I reviewed and still use the Q1, 
which I gave four and a half stars to in my Activo Q1 review . The most 
obvious difference is in how the Volcano IEMs look: they don't have the large 
brass housings and steel nozzles of the Q1, and there's a different driver 
inside too. Here you're getting a triple-driver setup comprising one 8mm 
dynamic driver and two 6mm ones. 

The frequency response is the same as the Q1 at 20-20,000Hz, and sensitivity 
is 100dB/mW. Impedance is 16 ohms. The cable is a seven-strand silver-plated 
and five-strand oxygen-free copper wire hybrid with two-pin connectors at one 
end and a choice of 3.5mm, 4.4mm and USB-C connectors at the other. 

The package includes the obligatory ear tips: three memory foam and three 
silicone. And while the weight hasn't been detailed yet the IEMs look a lot 
less chunky than the Q1; not a big deal for me but some reviews have 
suggested that the Q1 were a little too husky in a few cases. 

At this price, the Volcano undercut several impressive rivals, including the 
mighty Sennheiser IE 200 earbuds. Their single dynamic driver covers a wider 
frequency range  6Hz - 26kHz to the Volcano's 20Hz - 20kHz  but the Volcano 
are considerably cheaper: the Sennheisers are currently retailing for around 
$119 / 125. You might also like The best headphones you can buy today The 
best earbuds for every budget The best wired headphones



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/these-more-affordable-audiophi
le-wired-earbuds-from-a-brand-i-love-could-knock-sennheiser-off-its-perch


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