This year has been a bumper year for neckband headphones. It really took a long time for the industry to realise the advantages of such design. Sony is one of the early adopters, releasing several neckband headphones like the Sony SBH-80, Sony SBH-70, Sony EX750BT, some of these appear to be inspirations for future designs. In this year alone, I already have reviewed neckbands from Fischer Audio, Plantronics, Jabra. In this latest review, 1MORE too has joined the bandwagon to offer their first neckband, the E1001BT Triple Driver BT In-Ear Headphones.
Design and Operations
For a first attempt, 1MORE has actually done quite a good job in the design. The elaborate box comes with generous sets of eartips and a soft bag. The sketches paints a story on the design evolution of E1001BT. The length of the neckband is made of soft silicone with a built-in memory steel wire, allowing user to roll up and store. The earbuds cable emerge from the sides instead of the ends of the neckband so that it’s closer to the ears and hence the cables don’t run too far off. Charging via the new USB-C is at the left end of the neckband, and all the controls are also located at the left neckband.
There the is the large round multi-function button that controls play, pause, change tracks. The rocker volume has the controls rotated so that the up button is towards the front while the down button is further inwards. The tiny power button is located at the narrow section of the neckband, tucking away from the action to prevent accidental presses. I love the design of the controls, they are clear to the touch and accessible. Many other neckbands fail in this aspect.
Unlike many neckbands, the earbuds do not have magnets to keep them together. As such, the earbuds tend to swing around while walking. Another bugbear is that the earbuds reads the battery level when it hits medium level, which interrupts the listening flow unnecessarily. I don’t mind if they remind me when battery is low, but the medium-level reminder is disruptive. Perhaps some users might find this feature good so that they can plan the journey.
Audio Quality
The E1001BT supports AAC Hi-Res transmission technology optimised for iOS devices, as well as LDAC for Android devices. It has two balanced armature drivers and a single dynamic driver. These premium hardware delivers great listening experience and wireless streaming quality.
The overall sound is very balanced with emphasis at the lower ranges. The sub-bass is well-defined, audible and even rumbling, but not unmusically exaggerated. Its bass is tight, firm, with nice pumps that offers presence, which extends to the midrange, allowing me to hear the instrumentations strong in this range. The treble politely completes the setup with clarity and above-average detail, albeit overshadowed by the heavy lows. It’s there, you can hear more instrumental details and nuances than most consumer headphones, as long as the bass and midrange do not drown them. Vocals are well-blended with other instruments and do not stand out excessively. Sound staging is close and closely layered, but too cluttered for critical listening. Of course, if you find the bass too excessively, just ease the eartips a little and then the frequency scale will tip towards the highs. You can also listen at a lower volume so that the bass is less filling to allow the treble to be more prominent.
Many of the latest pop genres have their sub-bass tuned up, like Havana (Camila Cabello) or Pray (Sam Smith). But so are their treble. Honestly, the E1001BT delivers a warm and impactful sound that is fun and cushy for aged ears who do not like overly piercing highs but still has the musical clarity.
Based on my memory, the E1001BT is warmer than the Triple Driver wired earphones (E1001), which is interesting since they are basically the same family, Compared to the Quad Driver wired earphones, the E1001BT offers slightly stronger bass response and little more forward at the highs.
Verdict
1MORE catches the audio community attention when it started as the OEM for Xiaomi’s Mi earphones with good build, great sound at a fantastic price value (like this one). When 1MORE started selling earphones under their label, it retains the audiophile-grade quality and reasonable price point.
The 1MORE E1001BT retails for S$219 available at Analogue+, Stereo, and Lazada (affiliate link). 1MORE continues to deliver audiophile-grade musical quality with competitive pricing, and on this Triple Driver BT In-Ear Headphones, the sound signature is geared towards the bass and midrange, with sufficient treble presence. This tuning allows listener to enjoy the fullness at loud volumes without excessive harshness to the ears. I certainly enjoy listening to the E1001BT more than the Jabra Elite 45e which is half the price.
Specs
- Drivers: 2 x Balanced Armature, 1 x Dynamic
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Play time: 7 hours
- Charging time: 1 hour (charge 10 minutes for 2 hours usage time)
- Bluetooth: 4.2
- Codec: AAC, LDAC
- Weight: 42.5 g
- Charging port: USB Type-C
