You may know the RHA T20
Well, then RHA has the S500i, which is their entry-level option for around $50. But as we all know, when it comes to budgeting a pair of headphones, something has to be sacrificed to keep within its ‘budget’. So what did RHA sacrifice? We weren’t sure, so we asked if we could sample their new headphones for ourselves – and they agreed to send us a pair.
We can tell you that they did not sacrifice on usability. This S500i comes with a ton of ear tips (7 by our count) to make sure you get a perfect (sound isolating) fit. It also comes with a braided cord for durability and a fully stocked inline remote control with three buttons at your command and a mic that sits comfortably at your jawline.
Perhaps RHA cut a few corners on sound quality?
No, the sound output goes above and beyond what you might expect at this price range. Our philosophy is that it is always easier to dampen extra bass and brightness than it is to compensate for its lack of – and with the S500i, it comes out of the box with an obvious appreciation for the far ends of the frequency spectrum. But despite its preference to be a little ‘over-the-top’ in its bass and treble, it does maintain its balance quite well no matter what you’re listening to.
Our theory as to what makes the S500i a ‘budget’ pair of in-ear headphones is its simple design. While these may be finished with excellent quality aluminum, they are not exactly eye-catching or ground-breaking. And if we had to make a guess as to who these were designed for, we would simplify it with a single question:
Are you the kind of guy who lives for the experience of the ride or the pride of having excess bling on your driveway? Because this budget sports car was built for both speed and comfort, and if that sounds like your own philosophy on life – you can get a little more close and personal with the S500i here.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech