Closer Examination

The Head-Direct RE1s are based on the same design as the RE2s. The finish is shiny black with a few gold colored details. Above you can see the RE1s with the brand new long dual flange tip mounted on. In my review of the Head-Direct RE2 I said that I was not able to get a good seal from the supplied tips due to the fact that my ear's shape would not allow a proper fit with the normal double flange tip. This has changed since then with the arrival of the longer and bigger dual flange. Now everybody is sure to be able to get a tight seal with the Head-Direct earphones. The Head-Direct RE1s are aimed at audiophiles that want the best possible sound from a portable solution. If you are considering the RE1s you should keep in mind that they need a proper portable amp in order to perform their best. Unlike other earphones that are almost too sensitive for DAPs this is actually too big a deal for some. I own a Cowon iAudio i7 which is considered to be one the better DAPs when it comes to the internal amp, but even it cannot keep up with the Head-Direct RE1s. So a good amp is a must for these earphones to be worth the pricetag.


With the new and improved bi-flange tip on the body, this in-ear does not look particularly big, but they are in comparison to most normal earphones. The cable exits the main part of the body through a long and bulky plastic rod. This was a problem for me in terms of fit before they introduced the bigger double flange. Since the new double flange tips are so long the insertion and fit is much better because the edge of the ear flap does not rub against the stem.


Looking at the RE1s from the back you can clearly see the gold face plate with some vents. The vents are there to improve upon the earphone's performance, because the RE1s rely on a dynamic driver. The earphones will still seal your ear canals tight because the diaphragm of the driver spans across it, if anything the amount of noise attenuation could be a bit worse because of that design. As with the RE2s the RE1s have a relatively big letter identifying left and right.

The Head-Direct RE1s are quite flashy because of the gold colored details. It is a bit special to look at, but ultimately it is a matter of preference. I think a lot of people will not mind the quite unusual color. With this kind of product I do not care about minor cosmetically differences. The RE1s are made to produce sound, not look good and in that sense the minimalistic design is rather suiting.


The large silicone tip is a lot thicker than most silicone tips which is nice. It is more solid while still being really soft to touch. The dimensions of this new tip made by Head-Direct fits perfectly in my ears, and with the other tips also included with the RE1s I think everybody will be able to get an adequate seal.


The bore of the new silicone tip is the same as the diameter of the sound tube of the RE1s. They slot on just like all the other tips included in this bundle.


The RE1s are essentially a Head-Direct RE2s with better drivers inside. Aimed at people wanting the ultimate audio experience in a small package the RE1s are made to suit a niche market where only a relatively small amount of people worldwide will be willing to sacrifice portability and money to get a good portable sound rig, however, the reward for those to do that is enormous. The tunnel part of the RE1s is quite large compared to the general size of the earphone's body. It is almost the same size as that on Ultimate Ears earphones, but with a slightly longer tunnel. You can even use the tips supplied with Ultimate Ears products on the RE1s and RE2s.


If you stare directly down into the tunnel of the RE1s you can see that there is some dampening material present. It is probably there to help shape the sonic characteristics of the earphones by reducing the amount of amplification at a certain frequency range. Most armature balanced in-ears also use these kinds of tweaks in their design, however, they are often shaped as small filters that are placed in the middle of the tunnel.


The new double flange tip is quite an upgrade coming from the old double flange. Not only is it bigger it is also made from a different type of silicone and actually increases the amount of bass and noise attenuation.


Head-Direct does their cables a bit differently than the majority of in-ear producing companies. Instead of making them with a medium long cable they only feature a short cable that connects to the earphones and then a longer extension cable. The cable is of a quite good quality, but it is a lot stiffer than most. This is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to the sound quality, but it definitely increases the amount of microphonic noise being transmitted from the cable to the ear piece.


The Y-split on the RE1s are designed just like the one on the RE2s, but in a different color. There is a small ring that allows you to adjust the size of the split.


The RE1s use a normal mini jack connector. It looks a bit DIY like, in the good way. It is solid and sleek enough to fit into all players on the market today.


The tip selection of the RE1s is the same as the RE2s in their final incarnation. With each pair of RE1s or RE2s you get three different single flange tips and big bi-flange tips. The great thing about the RE1s and RE2s is that you can use a good amount of different tips. You can even get some Comply foam tips for them which are called the T400s.