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Review: 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

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The Case for Multiple Drivers

Accurate sound reproduction requires multiple drivers, each dedicated to reproducing sound within a specific frequency range. That’s why, when you look at a speaker, you usually see a woofer for bass response, a tweeter for high frequency sound and often a mid-range driver to handle everything in between.

1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones feature premium build

Brad Moon

The Earbud Challenge

The big problem with earbuds is space. It’s easy to fit multiple drivers in a speaker box, but much tougher to do so inside something as tiny as an earbud. As a result, most earbuds rely on a single driver setup where one multi-purpose driver handles all frequencies. The sound is usually far from ideal, but it keeps the costs down. That’s why Apple is able to include a free pair of EarPods with every iPhone.

1More’s Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones take multi-driver technology to a new level, with four miniaturized drivers in each earbud. There’s a dynamic driver that handles bass and mid-range sound, a pair of armature drivers for high frequencies and a single armature driver dedicated to ultra-high frequencies. 

As the name suggests, these earbuds feature four independent drivers

Image copyright 1More

The result is sound reproduction that is much more balanced, with greater detail and a frequency response that leaves most headphones in the dust: 20 - 40,000Hz.

1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones Key Specs

  • Quad driver configuration with dynamic Carbon driver, three balanced armature drivers
  • Frequency range 20 - 40,000Hz
  • 4.1-foot tangle resistant and durable Kevlar core cable (oxygen-free copper wire) with gold-plated, right-angle 3.5mm plug
  • Weight 0.65 ounces
  • Inline remote with integrated microphone
  • Includes magnetic clasp leather carrying case, shirt clip, 1/4-inch and airline adapters, nine different ear tips in silicon and foam

Premium Build + Accessories

The 1More earbuds are built with premium materials that ooze quality --while contributing to their superior performance. The buds themselves are made of aluminum with tungsten accents. Nicely polished with red trim, they look stunning, offer durability and are comfortable to wear. The Kevlar core cable is durable, virtually tangle-free and helps to reduce noise from brushing on clothing. Inside is oxygen-free copper wire for superior audio transmission. Instead of the usual black, 1More uses a transparent cover so you can see that copper inside, giving the cable an unusual brown hue.

1More's packaging is impressive, as is the extensive collection of included accessories

Brad Moon

Getting the most out of earbuds requires having a good seal. Even the best buds will sound tinny if they don’t fit correctly. To ensure good fit, 1More has always been generous with its selection of included tips, and with the new Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones the company has topped itself. Inside the attractive gift box are nine pairs of ear tips (including the ones pre-installed on the buds), in varying sizes and a choice of silicon and foam.

Also included are a premium leather carrying case with a magnetic clasp, 1/4-inch and airline adapters and even a shirt clip for the cable. iPhone 7 owners will have to use the Lighting cable adapter Apple includes with its smartphone. 

Listening Experience

Looks, accessories and multiple drivers are all well and good, but that doesn’t guarantee good sound. Even with multiple drivers, if the crossover circuitry isn’t properly designed the results can leave listeners disappointed. However, during my time with them, the 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones proved to be a showcase of how adding more drivers can dramatically improve the earbud listening experience.

So long as they were seated properly, bass was solid (without being overwhelming) and the highs were sparkling. I wouldn’t say it was quite neutral but it made for great listening with plenty of punch and incredible detail.

One of those balanced armature drivers is dedicated to ultra-high frequency sound, boosting the ceiling of the frequency response to 40,000Hz, which is a huge gain over the 20,000Hz most headphones top out at. It’s also a considerably higher frequency than most humans can distinguish. While some people can make out 28,000Hz, most people struggle to hear 22,000Hz and that range decreases as you age. So is this actually accomplishing anything besides spec bragging rights?

I really noticed the difference when it came to that detail I’ve been mentioning. A great example of this is Pink Floyd’s “Time.” The dynamic driver provides a satisfyingly ominous rumble in the introduction, but while that's going on the roto-toms gain a kick that’s missing with many headphones. David Gilmour’s guitar work after the first chorus sounds spectacular, and at the same time it’s easier to pick out individual instruments and (eventually) vocals in the background that tend to get overshadowed during the extended solo. I’m convinced it’s that third armature driver on the 1More Quad Drivers making its presence known that makes the difference and adds the extra detail.

Recommendation

Image copyright 1More

Compared to the pack-ins you got with your smartphone, you’ll be blown away by the sound quality of 1More’s Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones. Demanding music lovers will find the $199 to be money well spent. However, casual listeners will probably get more value out of 1More’s Triple Driver version (which I looked at last fall). Although not quite on the same level, they still offer excellent sound, premium build and include a nice collection of accessories as well --for $100 less.

Disclosure: 1More provided a set of Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones for review purposes, but did not have editorial input.

 

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