Performance

To test these in-ears I used my Cowon D2 DAP, but before any testing begun I had them burning in for well over 100 hours. As far as comparison goes I chose to put them up against some OVC TC20 in-ears which cost around $30 and the Maximo iM-590 in-ears which sell for around $50. One of the key features of the PL30s is their adjustable bass response system, and after much listening I decided that the best overall performance was achieved with the bass turned to minimum which gives enough bass for the music not to sound totally anemic, but will not satisfy a bass hungry crowd.

The first thing you notice with the PL30s is that they are quite midcentric even with the bass turned up. Compared to the iM-590s the PL30s lack a bit of bass and some low end extension. The frequency response of the PL30s seems to be quite uneven and makes them sound a bit off on some tracks, the high end rolls off fast yet it is spiky and unnatural to listen to. Definition wise the iM-590s are a full step ahead. Imaging wise the PL30s are very left and right which does not come as a surprise to me because of their insane low price. One of the few things that the PL30s manage to pull off semi convincingly is the midrange, even though it is not as good as the more expensive earphones it still manages to carry enough details in order to be listenable.

Compared to the OVC TC20s the PL30s are a bit bass heavier and warmer sound even with the bass turned down low. Sound wise it is pretty clear to me that the PL30s are a notch above the OVC in-ears all aspects considered. The warmer midrange and better bass just makes for a way more pleasing listening experience when taking into account that you also get a much better bundle the SoundMagic PL30s are such a no brainer. The low end of the PL30s is a bit flabby and not that refined and it does not extend that far.