Like the ES600M, The AWEI Q3i is an in-ear headphone that is said to produce decent sounds at an affordable price, with even an in-line microphone to boot. Can a sub-Php300 in-ear earphones deliver?
The Q3i, unlike the ES600M, presents itself with thin, round cables. The earphones are donning in a two-toned plastic housing, and includes two extra pairs of rubber tips in different sizes. It has an in-line microphone that doubles as a button click control. The 3.5mm input plug is not gold-plated and does not come with a leather case.
Replacing the rubber tips sometimes take a lot of time and effort, as it is almost impossible to put them. That’s good in a way if you’re going to stick with the ones already in the in-ears, but if you prefer to use any of the extra tips for better comfort, you’re in a tough situation.
There are times when I question the durability of the product. Three days into using the in-ear monitors, I noticed that the cord has detached itself from the glossy 3.5mm plug, exposing its copper wiring underneath. Adding the fact that the plug itself might be seen as very short and sometimes slippery, it can be susceptible to damage caused by repetitive plug-outs from any device. The cords are thin and tangles easily, which makes it harder to use especially when you’re in a hurry or getting it our from your bag.
Most of AWEI’s in-ear monitors we reviews offered great bass, and this one doesn’t disappoint with providing a bassy sound. The mellow highs, hollow mids, and bassy lows sound a bit congested but is still transparent enough to be distinguishable, and the sound stage is set at moderate. Cable Microphonics are quite present when the cords are frictioned against any surface.
While the noise cancellation blocks most of the subdued outside noise out, a few can still be heard while listening to music. The depth is nowhere to be heard, and the sound may at times sound to be sibilant.
The microphone does not offer noise cancellation, but is able to reproduce our speeches well when we tried recording a few lines with it and talked to people over the phone.
AWEI Q3i specs:
Frequency: 18~25KHz
Impedance: 16 ohms
Sensitivity: 116dB +/-3dB
Driver element: 10mm
Cable length: 1.5m
For Php250, the AWEI Q3i aren’t as bad as what you might think after reading this review. It does produce a decent sound for casual listening, and the bass is. This build of the accesory, however, is rather questionable if it would last long enough. With that being said, you get your money’s worth, as it is one of the most affordable in-ear headphones with a built-in microphone we’ve seen so far.
What we liked about it:
* Good bass
* Really affordable price
What we didn’t like:
* Build quality is questionable
* Depth, noise cancellation
* Very slippery 3.5mm plug
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