Sleek Audio SA1 Customisable Single Driver Earphones
February 19, 2010 | Headset, Peripheral | 2 CommentsIf you need more confirmation that things are getting better at the budget end of the headset market, here it is. Back in September 2008, we looked at early IEM’s Sleek, clever, SA6 customizable. Audiophile-grade, single driver earphones, their modular design, allowed them to be dismantled and refurbished with a selection of tips treble and bass ports, allowing you to tinker and tweak them up ‘what you have achieved the perfect sound for each ear.
Our own Edward Chester had his reservations about the overall sound quality and price point, but he liked the sound, Sleek and have since won a substantial audience among fans of helmet in the world. Moreover, when a partnership with the wireless adapter Sleek W1, the SA6 is without doubt the best product for wireless headphones we’ve seen yet.
Now, however, Sleek has thrown us a bit of a curve ball. SA1 is the new entrance to the business model level, designed to bring some of the audio quality of the SA6 and customizable to a wider audience. In addition, PS1 is compatible with the adapter W1, making the wireless setup that Sleek little more affordable. Surprised? The price point. These look and feel like the earphones quite expensive, but Sleek has made an aggressive £ 70, putting SA1s the same kind of space as S4S Klipsch Image, HF5s Etymotic and Shure SE115 (or even undercutting a tenner Vital).
Let’s make it clear: these do not look or feel like headphones budget. There are give-aways – the cable feels a little thin and plasticky, and the case has surprised zip drive is not particularly luxurious – but the share SA1s most people think with their brothers and sisters more. As noted earlier, one thing we liked about them was SA6s modular design. Rather than being wired, the cable plugged into the headphones, which means a disastrous Yank does not necessarily mean a break, and if something does not damage the cable, you can always replace it. The SA1s have exactly the same thing, which means you can modify or replace the cables if you need (and are promising Sleek color cable later this year). [via trustedreviews]
