RHA came on the scene rather quietly but over time has won a large, growing fan base. Their new T20 Wireless headphones will only help further solidify RHA’s position as a top-tier audio company; they sound great and have unique features that will impress.
“RHA T20 Wireless High-fidelity in-ear headphone featuring DualCoil technology” That’s the full name the company used for their latest release. It’s a mouthful, but it captures some of the things that make these earphones great. They are wireless. They are built to deliver high fidelity. And their dual-coil technology makes them a great choice for people who love their music. As they explain:
The T20 Wireless combines our signature technologies in a portable tunable in-ear monitor. Capable of unparalleled precision and immersion.
The first thing that makes the T20 stand out is the fact that they are a fantastic pair of wired headphones and they are ALSO a fantastic pair of wireless headphones. The T20 Wireless ship with the neckband-style design we have seen the company use previous in wireless headphones like the MA750. (Read our review.)
The design is a bit unusual, and, at first, it might look a bit cumbersome. That’s certainly what I thought when I first encountered their approach to wireless headphones with a neckband.
The back of the neckband, the part that wraps around your neck, is a thin, somewhat flat cable covered in a soft-touch material.
The ends of bother sides of the neckband expand into a larger cylindrical shape that houses the electronics, batteries and the power/pairing button. On the left side, there is an icon indicating the tap zone for NFC pairing. (Why Apple has yet to make use of this simple but convenient technology is beyond me.)
On the right side, there is a USB-C port for charging (yay for USB-C!) and the button for power and pairing.
Thin cables emerge from both of these cylindrical sections and offer ample (some might say too much) cable that ends in the earbuds themselves. Before it reaches the earbuds, however, there is one final change in the materials and design employed. The last few inches of these thinner cables are a slightly thicker, curved rigid material with a bit of spring. These create loops that wrap around your ear and keep the earbuds securely in place. It works magnificently.
The cable on the right side has a three-button remote and a microphone for calls or voice notes.
I didn’t like the design when I first saw it. “It’s too cumbersome.” I remember thinking, “and there’s no way it is going to be comfortable.” I was wrong.
The design is quite comfortable. The cable that wraps around the back of your neck is comfortable. The larger cylindrical sections sit on the front of your collarbone or shoulders and have enough weight that they partner with gravity to keep them in place.
The cables leading to the earbuds are thin, light, and long enough that movement doesn’t impact the neckband. The headphones stay in place and because they can house larger batteries than other neckband-style headphones, they offer 12 hours of battery life.
The earbuds are small and made from metal.
The outer portion of the earbuds, the part others will see when you are wearing them, have the initials RHA. It’s obvious but not obnoxious. Hiding behind the RHA logo are magnets. When the two RHA logos are placed next to each other, the magnets grab hold of each other. This is great to keep the T20 Wireless around your neck when you a wearing the headphones around your neck but haven’t inserted the earbuds.
Find the perfect fit: The T20 Wireless is provided with 10 pairs of ear tips in a variety of shapes and sizes. Included are noise isolating dual density and secure double flange silicone tips. Advanced Comply Foam tips enable a perfect fit for any ear. A stainless-steel ear tip holder is provided to store tips with ease.
The T20 Wireless ship with a full complement of ear tips so you can find the right fit and seal for your ears. this includes 7x pairs dual density silicone ear tips in small, medium and large, two pair of double flange silicone ear tips in small and large and two pairs of Comply Foam Tsx400 ear tips. If this seems like a bit of overkill, you might be right. Still, having the right ear tip on in-ear wireless headphones makes all the difference. It is worth the time to try them all to see which style and size are best for you. In my case, a few of them were fine, but the double-flanged silicone ear tips stand at as the ones that are most comfortable and offer the best seal.
The ear tips all come secured to a metal “sheet” that holds them in place and offers some protection to your “extras.” The box also includes a clothing clip so the cable won’t flop around (more on that shortly), a neoprene carry pouch and two other items that deserve their own sections.
The Tuning Filters
Listen your way: Modify the sound signature of your audio with swappable tuning filters. Bass filters add extra-power to hip hop or EDM anthems. Treble filters heighten details in acoustic or classical recordings. For original sound as the artist intended use Reference filters.
The T20 Wireless have removable filters that can alter the sound signature the headphones deliver. They ship with the “reference” tuning filters installed, and a small metal plate has the additional “bass” and “treble” filters. To change the filters, you need to remove the silicon ear tips and gently unscrew the small piece of metal just beneath them. Once they are removed you simply take one of the other pair, screw them into place and put the ear tips back on. The process takes just a few minutes but isn’t something you are going to want to do on the go. Being able to change the tuning filters is a cool idea although I’m not sure I’m sold on it. The differences were noticeable but weren’t so significant as to make me a fan of this approach. I felt the Treble tuning filters made the sound a bit too tinny while the Bass tuning filters added a bit more oomph but also made them sound a bit muddier. After using all three on and off for a few days, I ended up back with the Reference tuning filters in place. I’ll revisit this testing process in a few weeks, but for now, I’m pretty happy with the sound when the Reference filters are installed. That’s especially true since the wireless neckband has aptX-compatible Bluetooth on board.
Sometimes, though, you won’t use the Bluetooth neckband. Here’s why.
The Steel-reinforced 3.5m – MMCX OFC cable
Wired or Wireless: Listen wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. The T20 Wireless has both a 3.5 mm connection for high-resolution audio and a flexible Bluetooth neckband. Compatible with high-fidelity aptX codec and a 12-hour battery life; our SecureFlex neckband enables you to enjoy high-quality audio.
One of the standout features of the RHA T20 Wireless in-ear monitors is that they not only ship with a Bluetooth neckband but also include a The Steel-reinforced 3.5m – MMCX OFC cable. The Bluetooth cable disconnects from the in-ear monitors when firm but gentle pressure is applied and can then be connected to the included wired cable. Once the wired cable has been swapped in place of the wireless one you have what appears to be a standard pair of wired earbuds. They have a 3.5mm headphone jack and deliver high-resolution audio if your audio source supports it. It doesn’t have an inline remote or microphone, so the cable is specifically for getting the best sound possible.
I love the idea of being able to use headphones in either wired or wireless mode. Unfortunately, with each passing year, the number of phones and tablets with 3.5mm headphone jacks becomes smaller. Neither my phone not my tablet has one. That means I’m either left using the T20 Wireless only as a wireless product or I need either a 3.5mm-to-Lightning or 3.5mm-USB-C adapter. I suspect my T20 Wireless will rarely if ever, be used in wired mode but I do love the idea of having such flexibility.
Finally, it is worth noting that RHA has a reputation for delivering great sound, and these headphones support that reputation. In addition to having a range of ear tips, so you get the best seal and greatest comfort possible, and in addition to the T20 shipping with three sets of swappable tuning filters, the T20 also have DualCoil drivers that deliver clear, full and crisp audio. As RHA explains:
High-resolution DualCoil drivers: The DualCoil driver is a major upgrade of the standard dynamic driver, with an additional voice coil and custom diaphragm. This configuration delivers equal focus to bass, mid and treble frequencies. The DualCoil produces music with both power and depth, allowing for true-to-life audio without distortion.
In short, the tech packed into the T20 results in headphones that sound great!
Features:
- DualCoil drivers deliver peerless, immersive audio
- Bass and treble boost via swappable tuning filters
- Detachable stainless-steel housings
- 12-hour Bluetooth neckband with high-fidelity aptX
- 3.5mm cable for high-resolution audio
- Comfortable and ergonomic noise isolating design
- Includes Comply Foam ear tips, carry case and sports clip
- International 3-year warranty
Specifications:
- Drivers: DualCoil dynamic
- Frequency Range: 16 – 40,000Hz (wired)
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Rated/max power: 2/5mW
- Sensitivity: 90dB
- Weight: 37g (wired), 48g (wireless)
Bluetooth: Version 4.1, 10m range, aptX™-compatible - Remote and mic: 3-button, Universal
- Battery: Li-ion, 12 hours
- Manufacturer’s Warranty: 3 years, international
Not only do the RHA T20 sound great but they are also built to last. The stainless-steel housing looks great, and it quite solid. Also, the unique shape, achieved through an injection molding process, delivers a comfortable fit that stays in place without causing ear fatigue. Add in the fact that, with the right tip for your ears, they effectively block external noise and let you get lost in your music.
At an MSRP of $249.95, the RHA T20 Wireless aren’t inexpensive. But the build quality, included accessories, ability to use them in wired or wireless mode and the various tuning filters make them a product that stands out in an increasingly crowded market. I’ve been impressed with them and expect you will be as well. Check them out here.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the RHA T20 Wireless Headphones
What I Like: Comfortable; Sound great; Filters let you alter sound signature; Usable in wired or wireless mode; Wired mode delivers high-quality audio while wireless mode has aptX
What Needs Improvement: Battery life is excellent, but there are wireless headphones that deliver even more; Wired accessory has a 3.5mm plug at a time when this connectivity option is disappearing; Filters can take a bit of finesse to seat properly due to their small size
