Harman Kardon AE Best Performance In-ear Headphones Review and Price

The overall response of the AE is a lot of delicate and reserved than recent models just like the advisedly bass-heavy Denon Urban Raver AH-C300. The AE not solely contains a less intense bass response, however its high frequency response additionally seems to be less exaggerated. this is often to not say, however, that the AE lacks power or clarity.

On deep bass tracks just like the Knife's "Silent Shout," the earphones ne'er distort, even at most volume (a level you're hopefully not coming up with on exploring a lot of for your eardrums' sake), and therefore the low frequencies ar delivered with a particular boost – simply nothing on the extent of the Urban Raver. On tracks with vital thump, like Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church within the Wild," the sub bass frequencies ar well-represented once a distorted synth bass enters the song, however the middle frequencies additionally shine, adding further power to the attack of the persistent kick drum beat. On instrumental tracks, like John Adams' classical piece, "The Chairman Dances," the mids once more take centre stage, with the lower register strings and percussion adding the occasional deeper bass presence to the combination – it's ne'er overwhelming or too skinny of a sound. Some purists might need that the bass was dialled back a shade a lot of, however the sound signature here is sort of balanced and articulate while not being too crisp or bright.

Design

Harman Kardon keeps things distributed and trendy within the style department, with rounded rectangular, black and matte metallic-coloured earpieces connected to a skinny black cable. A three-button remote on the proper ear's cable handles phone calls, volume, Play/Pause, and Track Navigation controls. solely the center button includes a raised marker, and it's laborious to feel wherever one button ends and therefore the next begins. Since you cannot simply consider the compartment once carrying the AE, this can be a small annoyance.

The earphones integrate controls for Apple devices. The electro-acoustic transducer is constructed into the proper earphone, and decision clarity is comparable alternative iPhone remotes – not nice, however passable. enclosed within the box ar 3 pairs of semiconducting material eartips in numerous sizes, a try of obey foam tips, and a prime quality snap-shut carrying case with cushioned compartments to carry the earpieces firmly in situ (a feature sometimes found within cases for higher-end gear). Recently, electro-acoustic transducer designers are creating refined enhancements to audio cables, utilising artifact or new plastic coatings to scale back tangling and retain form. The AE, however, doesn't use this kind of evolved cable. Instead, we've got an easy, simply tangled and quite coil-prone cable. The AE appearance smart, however the rigid cable itself sounds like AN afterthought.

If you are looking to pay less, the Shure SE215 (priced at around £75) contains a comparable sound signature. Compared with the equally priced Bowers & Wilkins C5, the AE sounds additional refined – it focuses on mids and providing ample bass response and articulation, however it offers less bass and crisp high-end than the C5. Both the Bowers & Wilkins C5 and AE provide a response that's off from really flat, therefore deciding that combine sounds higher could be a matter of private preference. I realize the additional graven sound signature of the C5 exciting, and its match is considerably safer. Still, the Harman Kardon AE could be a bit cheaper, and positively a worthy contestant – its audio performance is clean and matched with its value, and also the pro-gear look of the case is an additional bonus.

Price Range : £129.95

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