The other day we reviewed the Clublife Adagio Dual Driver In-Ear Headphones with Mic from Tiesto and Audiofly. Today we jump to the high-end of Audiofly’s in-ear headphone lineup… The AF78. These things are amazing. There are well-built, look great and, most importantly, the sound they offer is nothing short of remarkable. I absolutely love listening to music with them.
From Audiofly:
A duet of technologies: dynamic driver and balanced armature driver. Our AF78 is your ticket to truly sophisticated sound.
Unlike the Clublife Adagio Dual Driver In-Ear Headphones these in-ear headphones don’t have any fancy branding on them. The black and metallic earbuds have the Audiofly lowercase “a” logo on them and that’s it. At $189.99 for the version without the in-line microphone and $199.99 for the version with the microphone and controller these aren’t inexpensive headphones. Thankfully they look and sound like the high-end in-ear buds they are.
The cables are thick braided affairs that look and feel substantial. In addition, thanks to the thick, woven quality of the cable they won’t become a tangled mess. Add in strain relief at both the vulnerable point where the cables meet the earbuds and the single cable splits into two and you have a pair of earbuds that can put up with the daily wear and tear they will encounter once these become your favorite pair of go-to earbuds. One awesome detail I encountered on the with Clublife Adagio Dual Driver In-Ear Headphones with Mic that is found here as well is the braille marker on the right earbud. Since there is a right way and a wrong way to wear the earbuds having a physical means to identify left and right is great… Even if you have 20/20 vision!
The earbuds have “off axis (angled) sound port for comfort over extended periods.” That means the earpiece doesn’t come off the speaker enclosures at a right angle but, instead, are angled into your ear for a better fit and greater comfort. Combined with the nice assortment of high-grade silicon tips, after a bit of experimentation you should be able to get as close to a customised fit as possible without actually getting a pair of custom in-ear monitors. Those, of course, make the price of the AF78s look like a bargain!
The earbuds have a machined anodised alloy bezel with “precision laser cut venting for acoustic optimisation.” This, combined with the custom voiced 9mm dynamic driver and “premium balanced armature driver” combine to offer sound that is full, deep and rich. Plug these into your favorite music source and you will be carried away to the tunes you most enjoy.
Specs:
- Driver type: 9mm dynamic driver and balanced armature
- Magnet type: Neodymium
- Frequency range: 18-22 kHz
- Sensitivity: 108dB at 1 kHz
- Impedance: 16 Ohms
- Cable length: 1.2m / 47″
- Plug type: 3.5mm gold plated
Let’s let Audibly run down the specific features that make the AF78s a standout pair of in-ear earbuds.
HYBRID DUAL DRIVERS: Dynamic driver with balanced armature driver delivers incredible separation in the high-end with a lush, well-defined response in the mid and low frequencies.
NOISE ISOLATING: Noise isolating in-ear design. 1 set of foam ear tips and 3 sets of silicon ear tips mould to your ears for better isolation and better sound.
STORAGE TIN: Audiofly storage tin with plush lining for roadworthy protection of your buds.
TOUGH AUDIOFLEX CABLE: Our high spec Audioflex braided cable is made with a CORDURA® fabric outer sheath for outstanding durability.
CLEAR-TALK MIC & CONTROL: Make calls, use voice prompts and control music playback via the microphone and button, compatible with Apple and Android devices.
The inclusion of an airline adapter that splits the single plug into two plugs, an adapter that lets two pair of headphones share the same audio source and a cleaning brush add to the premium feel of the AF78 package.
I love wearing the AF78s. I was wandering around town and the sound they offered was nothing short of wonderful. The ear inserts blocked out pretty much all the ambient sound. The highs and miss were clean and crisp and the bass was excellent without being overpowering. What really struck me was the rich, full sound they delivered without “trying too hard.” Sometimes the sound almost feels forced but it simply seemed to flow from my iPhone to my ears while listening to the AF78s. I did have a few small complaints however. First, I was sent the pair without the Clear-Talk Mic & Control. A call came in while I was listening to the music. I quickly had to reach in my pocket and unplug the headphones to take the call. If you buy these get the version with the controls and microphone. Even if you don’t plan on using them they are worth having for the extra few dollars. Also, when moving around the cables fed some cable noise to my ears. If you are stationary that won’t be an issue but if you are moving while wearing them you will want to find a way to secure the cables so they don’t swing about. These are not, however, a deal breaker in any way. I love these headphones and will be using them… A lot. You can learn more and order yours.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the Audiofly AF78.
What I Like: Great build quality; Comfortable; Do a good job sealing out sound; Braille on right ear piece; Sound amazing
What Needs Improvement: My review pair don’t have the inline microphone and controller; Cable noise when cables are loose and you are moving about
