Over here at WanderDudes we look for a variety of products that make your travel experience better. Not long ago I did a review of a pair of earbuds. It’s pretty rare that I would do two product reviews of the same type so close together but the folks at RHA presented me with such a superior product – I couldn’t refuse.
Reid Heath Acoustics (RHA) produces audio products centered in Glasgow UK. To be a bit more precise (and the folks at RHA are just that) the website says;
We create unique, high specification audio products, designed and engineered at our research and development centre in Glasgow, UK. Everything we make is engineered to deliver professional grade, cutting edge sound. Each feature, detail and component is the result of extensive research and our uncompromising commitment to innovation and quality.
That’s a bold statement but one backed up by my experience while using the RHA MA450i noise isolating earphones. These little gems provide more sound, better sound and are a better quality product than anything I’ve used before. Now, I’m by no means an audiophile but I’ve been using the MA450i everyday (more on this below) for roughly six weeks multiple hours a day and I’m going to keep using them.
First things first: Service and Packaging
The people at RHA get high marks for providing great service and prompt shipping out of the UK (tip of the hat to Isabel). The packaging itself tells you a little bit about the company. Rather than trying to mimic Apple and pretend to be a Sir-Jony-Ive-wanna-be with the post-modern art-house minimalist design route, RHA takes full advantage of available packaging to both promote the product and introduce it to the user from the very start.
Smart messaging on the outside tells you right away everything you need to know and a clever use of package windows show you that the MA450i’s provide an array of interchangeable earbuds. This is a high selling point for me because like most people my ears aren’t exactly symmetrical and I use two different earbud sizes to accommodate. While probably a small thing for most users this was a big deal to me.
Just a little more on packaging then I’ll talk about the product – I promise.
Now the instructions. I have to admit I rarely read instructions unless the product I’m using is gas powered and has a cutting edge. But RHA put some time and effort into information design so it’s worth a mention. A simple and elegant graphical layout shows all the functions at a glance. And while the instructions do come in multiple languages the extra time to put this info-graphic together was very welcome.
The sound:
In a word: more. There is more sound that comes through the MA450i’s than I expected. There is more volume range and I-don’t-care-what-the-marketing says from other manufacturers the bass on the RHA MA450i is great. My day job isn’t testing audio equipment but as a self-declared-nerd I’m impressed with quality and whether it’s the gold plated connections or solid aluminum construction or a frequency range of 16-22,000Hz – my RHA’s scream great quality. You can read more about RHA’s research and development and the production of their unique bell-shaped opening that exploits the movement of air caused by the audio driver here.
The cable:
I’m very picky about earphone cables for travel. All of my past choices have been earphones with a flat ribbon cable to avoid the tangle factor at all cost. So you’ll understand my initial groan when I saw the relatively thin cord o the MA450i‘s. But look a little closer and you see that it’s actually a braided cable which has a welcome bit of stiffness that prevents what would normally be a ball-of-string effect you get from cheaper manufacturers. I don’t know about you but I’m not carrying the box around with me so when I’m not using them I just wrap them around my hand into a convenient bundle and they go in-and-out of pocket, in-and-out of backpack, on-and-off messy desk, etc. All that said the cord isn’t made of magic pixie dust and it will tangle, but the few times it did it wasn’t a problem. Trust me – I’m impatient when I just want to use my stuff and I never once considered the cord to be a problem, in fact it’s turned out to be a huge advantage.
Like most places in the US we have local traffic ordinance that requires drivers to talk “hands free” while driving. The MA450i’s come with a must-have inline microphone so that I can operate my mobile while in the car. That’s all fine and good but with the phone laying on the passenger seat the cord can get easily wrapped around the gear shift or emergency brake. My RHA’s didn’t have this problem. The cable is longer than other products I’ve used (150cm vs. 125cm) and that extra length helps. No longer are these earphones being yanked out of my ears because the cable gets snagged or if the cable is snagged then it’s long enough not to matter.
The inline remote: Another very-small but great detail is the rounded corners inline mic and remote controls. That smallest of industrial design detail can make or break a product. Other manufactures will put a molded block of plastic where the controls are with “squared off” corners and you would be surprised how often that square and flattened edge will catch on your shirt collar and pull the earphones out. Given that your earphones are operated almost entirely by touch vs. sight not having to worry about that is worth the freight.
Tactile response:
Recently my schedule has been a mix of travel and outdoor projects around the house because of our great spring weather. To keep the MA450i‘s out of the way I snake the cord down through my shirt and into to my iPhone for music and radio. The cord length helps here too because while active and outside I’m not just sitting in one place but moving around a lot and the cord accommodates the activity.
There is a pronounced dip on the inline remote that’s easy to operate – even through gloves. I’ve got a lot of earphones that I can choose from around the house but my RHA’s win my vote every time when I’m headed out because of their durability and the operability.
The Good:
- Exceptional quality
- Excellent industrial design
- Easy to operate by touch
- Packable and durable
- Extra long cable a plus
The Bad:
- Hmm, nothing I could think of
Wish List:
- Replace cable with flat ribbon (but this is a marginal request)
- RHA needs a Wikipedia.org article
The more you know:
RHA has an excellent product blog. Spend 20 minutes there and get smarter – really.