SoundMagic ES20 review

If you build it, they will fit

So what’s changed? Half of the E10s’ aluminium has been swapped out for plastic, which might be a bit of a dirty word in the gadget world these days, but the ES20s feel very well built. And as with the E10s, they look and feel more expensive than they are.

There’s also a funky new shape. It’s a half-in-ear design, which means you won’t accidentally ram the buds too far down your ear canal and end up massaging your brain. The shape also helps them stay put rather comfortably.

Aside from that, it’s business as usual for SoundMagic. You get the same glossy, internally twisted cable, which means it’s durable and doesn’t cling to the inside of your pockets. You don’t get an in-line mic, but at this price that’s not a massive surprise.

They sound magic (sorry)

The ES20s sound unbelievably good for the money. They’re tonally well balanced, which means they’re suited to a variety of music. There’s plenty of detail, and dynamics are good. We’re also pleased how wide the soundstage is.

In a head-to-head, the E10s still win with greater clarity, detail and punch, and we’d recommend stretching to those if you can. It’s not a massive difference, though, so if you want to save that tenner and get yourself some sandwiches, you won’t miss out too much.

Verdict

We honestly don’t know how SoundMagic does it, but once again we find ourselves questioning the boundaries of what should be expected of dirt-cheap headphones. These sound simply brilliant for the money, so if you’ve got a new phone or tablet there’s absolutely no excuse not to bin the bundled buds and get a quality pair instead.