TDK IE-500 In-Ear Headphones Review

Previously we reviewed the TDK WR700 wireless headphones powered by Kleer technology. It was a bit on the premium end with its Php5000 price tag but here we have the more affordable, entry-level IE-500 earphones for review.

From the packaging you would learn that the TDK IE-500 has an elbow-shaped body with a ceramic housing that can give you reach, full sound. It also has a braided cable making it tangle-free and at the same time stand out against other ordinary earphones.

Aside from that, the box is pretty bare. Only other thing you will find inside are two more silicon tips with different sizes. A carrying pouch would sure come in handy.

For some reason, I’m finding it hard to get a comfortable fit with the IE-500. I tried all the tips and nothing would fit snugly in my ear unlike the previous Philips SHE8000 we reviewed. I’m going to attribute it to the shape of the phone because the body is not heavy at all.

Performance

Onto the sound quality. I have to say that the IE-500’s ceramic housing works as advertised. I’m getting full, rich and clear sounds listening to my music. No clanks or hiss, everything is crystal clear. You would appreciate Michael Buble and James Blunt more on this one. Their tunes just sound rich and crispy.

I have to mention though that the TDK IE-500 is not made for bassy beats. Bass on it is a bit lethargic that you will have to turn the sound volume high to get some light thumping. No heart-pounding bass on Wiz Khalifa’s Black & Yellow at all. Same thing with Jeremih’s Down on Me.

If you’re looking for noise cancellation on your earphone, you won’t find it on the TDK IE-500. Even at high volume you will still hear background noise. It can’t completely drown out office chatter but I guess for some people, this is a good thing. What I’m saying is that if you want to tune out and enjoy your music in your own private world, you need to be on a quiet spot. The braided cable also induce a little bit of microphonics, the echo sound you hear as the cable rubs on your body or your shirt. It’s not that bad unlike other earphones we’ve tried though.

Verdict

The TDK IE-500 is made for classic, pop, rock or acoustic listening. If your tunes are mostly hip-hop or rap you might want to look elsewhere but they’re coming up with more earphones for specific types of music. It is really an entry-level earphone that can replace poor stock earphones that comes with your device for only Php830. Yes, it’s better than your generic iPod earphone.