Phiaton PS320 Portable Headphones

Phiaton, while still a relatively unknown audio brand in the U.S., has built a strong reputation for high-quality headphones in the Asian market with their manufacturer brand name of Cresyn. The entrance into the North American portable headphones market is highlighted by the product we have for review today – the Phiaton PS320 portable headphones, which list for $199.

Design

The PS320 styling is distinctive, but rather understated in the gray and black color scheme. On the outside of each ear cup is oval-shaped leather covering that is encircled by a silver accent. Similar to other portable headphones, each ear cup can be swiveled left or right to adjust for comfort. Each cup can also be folded in, and then folded up toward the headband, to allow for easy transport in the included carrying pouch. The black headband is made of a soft and spongy material, and is covered on the top part with a leatherette material.

Each oval-shaped ear cup size is approximately 3" long and 2" wide, which makes the headphones fit snugly on an average sized set of ears. The on-ear design is typical of portable headphones, as over-the-ear or circumaural designs are usually too bulky to transport easily.

At the core of the PS320 are two coaxial dynamic drivers set up in tweeter/woofer array with a passive crossover network. This design is similar to the in-ear PS200 model and is used to optimize sound quality over the entire frequency spectrum. While this type of dual driver configuration is quite common with in-ear models, it is very much unique in the world of portable headphones. As far as I can tell with my research, this is the first such pair of portable headphones on the market.

Specifications

• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 23Hz
• Design: Closed
• Driver: 13mm and 40mm Dual Dynamic with Passive Crossover
• Max input power: 500 mW
• Sensitivity: 102dB
• Impedance: 32ohm
• Isolation: -10dB ~ -12dB
• Weight: 122 grams w/o cord
• Connector: 3.5mm Gold Plated
• Cable: Y-cord, 1.25m

Sound Quality Testing

The sound quality performance evaluation of the PS320 headphones was performed exclusively by listening to MP3s and FLAC music stored on my Sansa Fuze MP3 player. I listened to a number MP3s with bit rates of 128kbps and 320kbps, as well as lossless audio tracks in FLAC format. A wide selection of rock, alternative and hip-hop music was used in the evaluation.

My initial listening sessions with the PS320 revealed a very detailed, and very forward-sounding, sound signature. The soundstage is overall very good, with a good amount of both wideness and openness in the majority of music I listened to during my testing. They don't rival some of the more impressive full-size headphones in terms of soundstage, but do an admirable job for a portable set.

High frequencies are where the majority of the attention is focused, with a forward sound that comes across with quite a lot of energy. Some users may find the amount of highs to be overbearing, and I admit that a long listening session with the PS320's was wearing on my ears. The treble is very sharp with these headphones, and this certainly takes some getting used to if you have not heard a similar sounding set of headphones before.

Mids are likewise forward sounding, but overall much smoother than the highs. I would describe them as neutral with not nearly as much energy as the highs. Vocals did sound smooth for the most part, which was a positive note I took away from my listening sessions.

Where the PS320 lacks authority is in the bass department. Bass is certainly tight sounding, but there is very little punch and very little impact with bass notes. Don't get me wrong - low frequencies are present – but there is a lot to be desired while listening to any hip-hop or other bass heavy tracks. To further compound the problem, I found that the bass was very dependent upon the seal you get with the ear cups over your ears --- so repositioning is likely to be needed whenever you put on the headphones. This repositioning was a bit irksome, and the seal was much more dependent on positioning than in other headphones I have tested (such as the Sennheiser HD238).

Isloation

Isolation was quite good in comparison to other portable headphones, but not quite as good as you will find with most IEMs. Once you find a good seal with the ear cups, most typical sounds like talking, fans running in the background, etc. will be blocked out and won't disrupt your music listening.

Comfort

Overall the PS320 headphones were comfortable to wear, with only a bit of clamping felt during extended listening sessions. There is a noticeable amount of pressure on your ears, but if you are used to listening with on-ear headphones they should not cause any discomfort.

Portability

The PS320 is easy to drive with an MP3 player, and the ability to fold it up and carry in the small carrying case is a plus in terms of portability. While it is not ultra-lightweight, it is lightweight enough to carry around in your laptop bag or backpack without really even noticing the added weight. Suffice it to say that it offers easy portability all around.

Phiaton PS320 Portable Headphones

Whether or not you believe the dual-driver configuration delivers advantages over a single-driver design, there is no doubt that the PS320 offers an impressive level of detail and clarity for a portable set of headphones. The leather outer covering and silver accents also give the headphones a more upscale look, while still looking understated enough for those who don't appreciate the Skullcandy " mo' colors = mo' better " design philosophy.

Those users who prefer a more forward sounding treble will certainly enjoy the sound signature that the PS320 presents, and an average online price of $150 gives the PS320 a reasonable price tag. Those people looking for a low-end kick, or a more warm sounding set of vocals will be better suited looking elsewhere.

Pros: Plenty of detail; comfortable to wear; understated and classy look.

Cons: Bass lacks punch; sound quality is particularly dependent on positioning on ear.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5

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