Review: Maximo iM-490S iMetal Isolation Earphones

The Maximo iM-490 iMetal Isolation Stereo Earphones are made of lightweight alloy metal which looks very cool. Many people think that the design is not important on a pair of stereo earphones, but that’s just wrong because that’s very important and Maximo’s earbuds passed the test with ease.

In the box you will find the Maximo iM-490 Stereo Earphones with Medium Sized Ear Tips, a 2 ft. extension cable, 2 x small and large eartips, a very stylish carrying pouch and the user’s guide. While the medium-sized eartips fit most people, you might wanna impress a chick with big ears(ok, this was a bad joke).

The Maximo iM-490 iMetal Isolation Earphones feature a 4 feet long cable, a 3.5mm stereo plug, 9mm Neodymium drivers, a maximum SPL output bigger than 120dB, more than 100dB sensitivity, 18Hz-22Hz frequency response, and a superior audio fidelity. These earphones are definitely great, and I have to say that it improves the sound very much. The sound on my Storm is unimpressive, but the deep, powerful bass on these earphones have improved audio playback by much.

In a world where $100-and-up earbuds seem to rule the roost, it’s always pleasing to come across a decent pair at half the cost. The Maximo iM-490S iMetal Isolation Earphones fall squarely into this category. They may not offer the cleanest audio response or the most durable design, but these earbuds deliver on bass, comfort, and portability–and all for less than $50. If you’re on a budget and like lots of low-end, the iMetal is worth a look.

If you like your earbuds to look like jewelry, you should be pleased with the iMetal earbuds’ chrome-like finish–it’s definitely more stylish than standard. The silver ‘bud housing extends a half-inch down each side of the Y-cable, which is thinner than we’d like. This causes some concern for durability and tangling, especially since these ‘phones lack the slider that can help prevent snarls. From earpiece to straight plug, the cable measures about 48 inches–plenty long enough for portable use. Maximo also includes a 24-inch cable extender, which make the headphones work for home applications, as well.

Adding to the iMetals’ appeal as portable earphones is the inclusion of a clamshell carrying case with a built-in cable wrap. The case also has a mesh pocket for holding eartips (Maximo includes one set each in S, M, and L) or similarly tiny items. The eartips are the standard silicone variety, which I usually have trouble fitting properly in my small ears. However, in this case, the medium size worked just fine, and I was able to achieve an adequate seal for bass response and noise isolation. In fact, I found the iMetals to be quite comfortable, but should note that the actual aperture (where the eartip attaches) is quite large and may cause problems for those with small or irregularly-shaped (i.e. not perfectly round) ear openings.

Sound quality is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to the iMetal earphones. On the one hand, you get super-thumping bass and a surprising amount of high-end detail. Mids, however, can have a slightly bright or digital quality to them. Also, clarity isn’t the greatest at times because of the overwhelming low-end. Many songs have a muffled quality–almost as if you were listening underwater, except you can still hear a lot of detail. Some styles of music, such as jazz, don’t really suffer from the problem, but others (electronica, rock) are tainted. Still, if you place all your favor in the land of bass–and you don’t have lots of cash to drop on headphones–the iMetals could do just fine.

The good: The Maximo iM-490S iMetal earphones offer great bass response; a stylish, chrome-like finish; a comfortable fit; and a handy cable extender. The earphones are relatively inexpensive, and the package includes a hardshell case with a cable manager.

The bad: Sound from the Maximo iM-490S iMetal earphones leans heavily toward the low-end, which can give music a muffled quality. The Y portion of the cable is especially thin, causing concern for durability.

The bottom line: These may not be the best earbuds for audio purists, but the Maximo iM-490S iMetal Isolation Earphones should please bass addicts after inexpensive sound isolation.

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