This is just a small review and how I preceive the Oculus Rift Earphones.
Here is a little bit of my audiophile background. I am no means a sound engineer, but I have been in the audiophile hobby for 15yrs+. I own about $10k worth of headphones, DACs, and Amps. My "reference" headphones are the Audeze LCD-3 which has many accolades before being replaced by the LCD-4. My reference IEM are the Noble Kaiser 10. I also own many mid-range headphones and IEMs
For a while, I have been using my PSB M4U2(my travel headphones) instead of the built in headphones that came with the Rift. Due to the fact that I hate on-ear headphones, because it can't isolate noise and VERY uncomfortable having something leaning against the ears. The PSB M4U2 has an active-noise cancelling and it is consider to be one the flattest (Freq-Resp) headphones under $500. It was serving me well except when I started using the Touch, the two sets of wires became quite the tangle.
I have read a few reviews on the sound signature of these Rift earphones, one of those reviews even "claimed" it is "as-good" as the $1000 headphones/earphones. I don't know if that reviewer owns such head set, but I can atest to you that it DOES NOT sound like $1000 headphones/earphones, as I own at least 4 of them around and beyond the $1000 range.
That said, how they sound for $50? They are exactly what you expect what you get for $50. I have listen to these headphones with some test tones and a set of "reference" track I use to evaluate speakers and heaphones alike.
1) Bass extension drops very fast at around 80hz, sub-bass is almost non-existence (you can hear it, but it is a big dip); I use Beastie Boy's "Brass Monkey" to further confirm the sub-bass. 2) there are dips are raises at around the 9khz and 12khz range. 3) mid-tone is not smooth like any $1000 headphones; Adele's "Hello" is very edgy and very forward. Soundstage is narrow as expected with IEMs of this range 4) attenuating noise from the real world is also not that great. Due to the plastic plugs it comes with. Unfortunately at this time of the writing, none of the Comply foam I own fits.
What does this all means? These are NOT musical earphones. It also means they are very effective in bringing out voice and somewhat ambient noises. Which means they are designed exactly what they are for, voice and noise placement in a VR world.
Are they worth the $50? that depends if you like on-ear headphones. I purchased these for the sole purpose of eliminating my 2 wires setup without having headphones against my hears. So for $50, I solved my problem. Seriously, they don't sound like $1000 headphones/IEMs, I say they sound more like $25-$30 earbuds
Will you get better sounds from these? Maybe. I think once I get Foams tips it will isolate even better, plus a better seal around the ear canal, the bass extension will become more coherent. I will try to give another small review once I find the correct size Comply foam plugs to replace these plastic plugs
I wish u luck with your headphones. I feel lucky I'm happy with low end headphones. It saves me a bundle. The built in rift headphones for me are great and comfortable. I love not having to add extra to the hardware.
I'm more of a visual guy. Don't care about audio fidelity. don't get me wrong I still like crisp sound with full range, but can't see myself ever being tight about it. Heck If I was tight about visuals VR wouldn't even be ready for me yet. I wish I hadn't have bought the buds myself. The difference isn't huge as far as isolation goes (huge maybe if you don't place the on ear set squarely over the ear) and I don't like the bit of extra effort needed to shove them back in my ear holes every time I take the headset off. In a nutshell I'm still very happy with the on ear set. Good thing for me too since the integrated headphones where the biggest selling point for me. I tried headphones with the DK2 and hated it so bad the Vive wouldn't have been an option for me even if I wanted it.
I contacted Comply to find out which of their sizing will fit the Rift's earphones. I will post that information once I get a reply from Comply. All my IEM uses the 500 series, and it is a super tight to fit around the stem of the Rift's earphones.
I believe they're a revenue grab, contract some company in asia to provide those cheap earphones and sell then for $50 to a niche demographic that would buy a turd on a stick if you told them to. The earphones that come with the rift are perfectly fine. You could go get the "earbuds" off a 3rd party for $14.
I believe they're a revenue grab, contract some company in asia to provide those cheap earphones and sell then for $50 to a niche demographic that would buy a turd on a stick if you told them to.
I resent that. I would never buy something I can make myself.
I think the isolation is a hell of a lot better and worth the price just for that. I feel they sound a bit better and have more directional sound compared to the on ear headphones. If you find the isolation to not be good then I am thinking it is a compatibility issue with ear shape (no doubt a concern with non foam tips) so hopefully you can swap out the tips that will better fit your ear.
I'll listen to some music with them tomorrow and see what I think. I used the Senn HD600s for 14 years and now use Shure 1540s so I am familiar with higher end phones. I also have a pair of Etymotic hF5 IEMs so i can compare what these sound to a little over $100 set of IEMs.
