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Radsone EarStudio 100, A Review
For reasons that (even today) defy a rational explanation, couple of years ago Apple decided to remove the ubiquitous, tried-and-true standard of decades the 3.5mm headphone jack from their phones. Leaving hi-fi enthusiasts with two choices, neither of which clears the bar in terms of what we expect in terms of audio quality. To add insult to injury Apple decided to not include a lightning dongle for traditional 3.5mm headphones with their latest iteration; in essence forcing customers to either pay $15 or so for a lightning dongle, or having to buy Bluetooth headphones. As some one with several high quality IEMs, I simply refuse to play Apple’s game. Instead, I decided to go the route of portable hi-fi Bluetooth DAC/amplifiers so that I could use my favorite pair of IEMs while preserving audio quality. After much research, a former colleague recommended I check the ES100 out. After perusing their website and reading the spec sheet as well as their feature set plus user reviews elsewhere, I was sold.
Unboxing: nothing special, but nothing bad either. Fairly simple but functional packaging.
Aesthetics: as someone who appreciates understated and minimal design, the ES100 fits the bill. Well defined, clean lines, tame colors. Very elegant and streamlined looks.
Ergonomics: if there are any minor complaints to dock against this device are its…
