SoundMagic PL-21/MP-21 Review
A few months back finding a ‘value for money’ IEM with exceptional sound quality in India was almost impractical. There was the mighty Creative EP-630 which was everyone's favorite, Other than that the only additional options we had were a few Sony, Philips lineup which really didn't sound all that great, barring a few models; ofcourse, Sennheiser was available as well and had a price tag which would empty your wallets.
I dint find any reasonable yet truly effective IEM....Until people started talking about a company called SoundMagic, i saw one of the post highlighting this great company,,whose flagship model- the PL-30 took all the IEM lovers and audio enthusiasts on head-fi by surprise. An IEM costing just about 25-30$ and sound comparable to twice-thrice it's price.
And immediately i ordered PL-21 in Mediahome.in and it was shipped to me 5 days back..!!I was impressed by first look itself.....here is some of it...[..]
SoundMagic PL-21 and MP-21.
Among all the brands available today ,Soundmagic still remains one of my most recommended personal choices as it is one brand which consistently delivers the best possible musical earphones for each price bracket.
Today we have a look at yet another new budget offering from SoundMagic -the PL-21 and the MP-21.With the MP-21 which is a PL-21 with an additional mic, Soundmagic has targeted a new segment of buyers -iphone and mobile phone users.
Basically the PL-21 & MP-21 are the same IEM with the exception of an added microphone on the MP-21 for receiving calls and music controls on iphone.
Today we have a look at yet another new budget offering from SoundMagic -the PL-21 and the MP-21.With the MP-21 which is a PL-21 with an additional mic, Soundmagic has targeted a new segment of buyers -iphone and mobile phone users.
Basically the PL-21 & MP-21 are the same IEM with the exception of an added microphone on the MP-21 for receiving calls and music controls on iphone.
These specifications are common for PL-21 & MP-21.
Driver: 9mm Dynamic
Impedance: 12 Ω
Sensitivity: 97dB±2 dB / mW @ 1kHz
Frequency Response: 15Hz~22kHz
Plug: Gold-plated L-shaped mini plug (3.5mm)
Weight: 8g
Cable: 1.2m
The impedance is pretty low ,hence these should be really easy to drive and won't need any amping as such .
Driver: 9mm Dynamic
Impedance: 12 Ω
Sensitivity: 97dB±2 dB / mW @ 1kHz
Frequency Response: 15Hz~22kHz
Plug: Gold-plated L-shaped mini plug (3.5mm)
Weight: 8g
Cable: 1.2m
The impedance is pretty low ,hence these should be really easy to drive and won't need any amping as such .
Packaging and Accessories :
The PL-21 and MP-21 both come in the new standard, small Soundmagic boxes similar to the one used for PL-30,PL-50 etc. It's a fairly miniature box with a tiny window on the front which lets you have a look at the design of the earbuds. Inside, the different eartips and accessories are well packed and immobile.I did receive all the accessories and different ear tips with both the IEMs which I've listed below.
The accessories consist of -
4 silicon ear tips -Small, Medium ,Large ,Xtra Large
The PL-21 and MP-21 both come in the new standard, small Soundmagic boxes similar to the one used for PL-30,PL-50 etc. It's a fairly miniature box with a tiny window on the front which lets you have a look at the design of the earbuds. Inside, the different eartips and accessories are well packed and immobile.I did receive all the accessories and different ear tips with both the IEMs which I've listed below.
The accessories consist of -
4 silicon ear tips -Small, Medium ,Large ,Xtra Large
2 Foam tips (for better isolation and bass)
Cable winder
Ear guides
a soft pouch
Sound Magic seems to have done away with the round hard case which is a part of the more expensive PL-30, and PL-50 .Looks like a part of cost cutting to keep the price lower than the PL-30. Anyways, a soft pleather pouch is a part of the accessories. It's nothing spectacular but decent enough to carry the IEMs and keep them safe. I still found the hard case to be classier and more durable but I guess you get what you pay for...
All in all considering the price ,it's a well thought accessory pack . Would give it a 3.8/5.
Cable winder
Ear guides
a soft pouch
Sound Magic seems to have done away with the round hard case which is a part of the more expensive PL-30, and PL-50 .Looks like a part of cost cutting to keep the price lower than the PL-30. Anyways, a soft pleather pouch is a part of the accessories. It's nothing spectacular but decent enough to carry the IEMs and keep them safe. I still found the hard case to be classier and more durable but I guess you get what you pay for...
All in all considering the price ,it's a well thought accessory pack . Would give it a 3.8/5.
Design
As mentioned previously the PL-21 and MP-21 have identical drivers as well as the housing .Design is pretty simple and straightforward. No fancy curves and stuff. If you check out the Soundmagic lineup ,you might notice that the design is pretty similar to the PL-20, though the sound is completely different. The driver housing is made of tough plastic and is divided into two small portions. The front part has a bezelled ring around the earbuds and the rear part has the channel markings in the form of L & R. The nozzle which holds the ear tips is of the same diameter as the PL-50,hence the ear tips are interchangeable. Also the nozzle is bent at an angle for a more comfortable fit as well as better acoustics.
The earplugs can be worn straight down (traditional way ) as well as over the ears using the provided ear guides or even without them .So the users have the freedom to choose what suits them best.
As mentioned previously the PL-21 and MP-21 have identical drivers as well as the housing .Design is pretty simple and straightforward. No fancy curves and stuff. If you check out the Soundmagic lineup ,you might notice that the design is pretty similar to the PL-20, though the sound is completely different. The driver housing is made of tough plastic and is divided into two small portions. The front part has a bezelled ring around the earbuds and the rear part has the channel markings in the form of L & R. The nozzle which holds the ear tips is of the same diameter as the PL-50,hence the ear tips are interchangeable. Also the nozzle is bent at an angle for a more comfortable fit as well as better acoustics.
The earplugs can be worn straight down (traditional way ) as well as over the ears using the provided ear guides or even without them .So the users have the freedom to choose what suits them best.
Build Quality
The build quality of Sound Magic has improved by leaps and bounds with the latest models and this is seen in the PL-21 as well as the PL50 which I will soon review. Compared to the PL-30 the construction of the PL-21 is a lot more sturdier and solid .It gives you a feel of a more upscale product and makes you feel confident about the life of the earphones. The quality of plastic is on par ,infact slightly better than most earphones of this price range and should be able to withstand a little bit of beating .
The cable is medium, soft and pliable and proper rubber strain relief is provided at every sensitive place of the cable which is prone to damage-the cable entrance near the earplugs, the splitting of the channels and near the L-shaped 3.5mm connector. Overall the cable seems durable in the long-run.
The build quality of Sound Magic has improved by leaps and bounds with the latest models and this is seen in the PL-21 as well as the PL50 which I will soon review. Compared to the PL-30 the construction of the PL-21 is a lot more sturdier and solid .It gives you a feel of a more upscale product and makes you feel confident about the life of the earphones. The quality of plastic is on par ,infact slightly better than most earphones of this price range and should be able to withstand a little bit of beating .
The cable is medium, soft and pliable and proper rubber strain relief is provided at every sensitive place of the cable which is prone to damage-the cable entrance near the earplugs, the splitting of the channels and near the L-shaped 3.5mm connector. Overall the cable seems durable in the long-run.
Summing up the aesthetics,build ,comfort and isolation of the PL-21/MP-21 , I would rate it as 3.9/5. Build quality deserves a special mention as I find it to be the best for the price range and would rate it 4.5/5.
Sound Quality :
Before testing the earphones I gave them a straight 50-70 hrs burn-in .To get a fair idea of the sound signature and avoid any added coloration by the source ,the IEMs were tested using different portable as well as desktop sources.
Test Setup used :
Portable : Nokia 5800 Xpress music
*Also the PL-21/MP-21 are easily powered so no amp was used during testing .A cheap budget amp wouldn't make much difference to the sound quality but a better sounding source will.
Before testing the earphones I gave them a straight 50-70 hrs burn-in .To get a fair idea of the sound signature and avoid any added coloration by the source ,the IEMs were tested using different portable as well as desktop sources.
Test Setup used :
Portable : Nokia 5800 Xpress music
*Also the PL-21/MP-21 are easily powered so no amp was used during testing .A cheap budget amp wouldn't make much difference to the sound quality but a better sounding source will.
So how does it sound ?
Every IEM has that first impression when you put them in your ears. Sometimes you love the sound , sometimes you hate it due to the sibilance ,bright treble etc.
When I tried the PL-21 for the first time, I was blown away! I knew I had a winner in my hand .It didn’t sound anything like a 20$ IEM. It immediately reminded me of the SoundMagic PL-30 because the sound signature is so very similar .The same lush , smooth midrange with a well extended treble and a soundstage unbeatable for this price. The only thing that gets better here is the solid amount of bass.
Every IEM has that first impression when you put them in your ears. Sometimes you love the sound , sometimes you hate it due to the sibilance ,bright treble etc.
When I tried the PL-21 for the first time, I was blown away! I knew I had a winner in my hand .It didn’t sound anything like a 20$ IEM. It immediately reminded me of the SoundMagic PL-30 because the sound signature is so very similar .The same lush , smooth midrange with a well extended treble and a soundstage unbeatable for this price. The only thing that gets better here is the solid amount of bass.
Bass :
The bass is solid and heavy and extends quite low.
*note- The bass varies with different tips and fit. I found the bass to be very low with the deep insertion of the tips.
The bass is solid and heavy and extends quite low.
*note- The bass varies with different tips and fit. I found the bass to be very low with the deep insertion of the tips.
Conclusion :
Soundmagic has done it again .They have successfully produced another budget champ which in my opinion is capable of outdoing any other IEM in this price range. For just about 20$ the PL-21s and especially the MP-21 with a mic are complete steal deals.
Soundmagic has done it again .They have successfully produced another budget champ which in my opinion is capable of outdoing any other IEM in this price range. For just about 20$ the PL-21s and especially the MP-21 with a mic are complete steal deals.
Pros:
+ amazing midrange + solid bass + excellent build quality + superb value for money - unbeatable for the price
Cons :
-slight treble roll -off
-fit/comfort could be better
-lack of hard case...
**you can buy it in http://www.mediahome.in
its a great site and dont worry your money is secure..!!
18 Leave a comment:
This is a topic that's near to my heart... Cheers! Exactly where are your contact details though?
Also visit my web site Einen Kredit Ohne Schufa
my webpage: bargeld kredit
I know this if off topic but I'm looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I'm assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I'm not very internet smart so I'm not 100% certain. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
Stop by my blog Linked web Site
I do agree with all of the ideas you've presented in your post. They're very convincing and
will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for beginners.
May just you please lengthen them a bit from next time?
Thanks for the post.
Here is my web site ... günstige freiwillige krankenversicherung
I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles
or blog posts in this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this website.
Studying this information So i am glad to express that
I have an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed.
I most indisputably will make sure to do not fail to remember this website and
give it a look regularly.
Review my page ... clickbank marketplace encuestas
My web page :: clickbanks
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this post and
the rest of the site is really good.
Look into my site visit the next website page
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do
it for you? Plz reply as I'm looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. many thanks
Here is my website ... exotic vacations
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is great,
as well as the content!
my blog post: clickbank products list
It's genuinely very difficult in this active life to listen news on Television, thus I simply use web for that purpose, and get the most recent information.
Feel free to visit my site :: wie bekomme ich einen kredit trotz schufa
I like the valuable info you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I'm quite sure I will learn a lot of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
Here is my blog; vacation rentals catalina island
My relatives always say that I am killing my time
here at net, however I know I am getting familiarity everyday by reading such good content.
Also visit my web-site ... home equity loans faq
I'd like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I'm hoping to check out the same high-grade blog
posts from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to
get my own blog now ;)
Look at my web-site ... caribbean vacations all inclusive
Hello! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
Is it tough to set up your own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I'm thinking about making my
own but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you
Also visit my weblog; DCchina - Be Your Own Boss Get Started A Property Organization Enterprise
Hi there, I discovered your website by means of Google whilst searching
for a comparable matter, your web site got here up, it seems to
be great. I've bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hello there, simply became aware of your blog thru Google, and located that it is really informative. I'm gonna be careful for brussels.
I will be grateful in case you continue this in future.
Lots of folks shall be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
Feel free to surf to my web page :: please click the next page
I feel this is one of the so much significant info for me.
And i am happy studying your article. But wanna commentary on
some basic issues, The web site style is perfect, the articles is really excellent :
D. Good activity, cheers
My web-site: Kredit Trotz Insolvenz
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that
it's really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Also visit my weblog :: krankenkassen zusatzversicherung vergleich
I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren't already ;) Cheers!
Feel free to visit my web page: http://wiki.archserver.org/index.php?title=User:WinonaEda
You are some prominent point there. A search on the matter and identified most of them agree with the blog.
Also visit my web-site in deutschland urlaub machen
mediahome.in no longer exists?
Post a Comment