SMABAT X1 Review II – Bat Out Of Hell
Pros — Beautiful design, quality metal build, small & light earpieces; the idea of tuning switches; great channel balance; excellent cable.
Cons — Tuning switches effectively redundant for most as the “high” setting creates another “saw”; sound lacks cohesion; no manual instructions for the switches provided; sharp edges may cut some ears off.
In this Article
Executive Summary
The Smabat X1 is dual dynamic-driver earphone with tuning switches allowing the user to select between an anemic/shouty earbud-type tonality or a strong V-shape. The preferred V-shape shows another tonal imbalance between a boomy, muffling mid-bass and a shouty midrange. While cohesion is lacking, timbre, staging, and other technical virtues are acceptable.
Introduction
We know Smabat from their innovative earphones such as the Smabat ST-10 or the highly customizable Smabat M2. The company always incorporates quality ingredients into their appealing designs. The Smabat X1 as the company’s first in-ear comes somewhat as a pleasant surprise – and even more so as it contains tuning switches for selecting a “voice mode” and a “balanced mode”. Co-blogger Baskingshark has already analyzed in all detail so that I give you my second opinion here.
Specifications
- Driver configuration: Dual Dynamic Driver (6 mm titanium plated diaphragm + 10 mm composite diaphragm)
- Frequency response: 10 Hz – 24000Hz
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 110 dB/mW
- Cable: 0.78 mm 2 pin
- Purchase links: https://www.smabat.com/products/smabat-x1; https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001945966511.html
- Tested at $49 USD
Physical Things And Usability
In The Box:
- 2 earpieces
- High-quality SPC Cable
- Set of silicone eartips
Appearance, Haptic, Build Quality: The earpieces are metal and beautifully shaped: light and compact Absolutely gorgeous design. Look good, feel good. The tightly braided cable is superb.
Ergonomics, Comfort, Fit: The frontal/inner edges of the earpieces are sharp and may be sitting uncomfortably on your ears. The nozzle is long enough and does not have a lip. Comfort and fit are poor for my ears as I continuously feel the sharp corners.
Isolation: Good with the Azla SednaEarfit Light earpieces. The included tips were too “flabby” so that I did not achieve a seal.
Tonality And Technicalities
Equipment used: MacBook Air, AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt, Azla SednaEarfit Light.
The tuning switched allow the listener to select two tonality modes: the “high definition voice mode” and the “dual driver balanced mode” are distinguished by a drastically different frequency response below 1 kHz – they are identical above. Switches are moved with a toothpick or similar. The “high definition voice mode” setting turns the earphone into an earbud with a complete loss of low end below 200 kHz…which creates an anemic, piercing, fatiguing sound. There is effectively no sub-bass. Nobody at home down there. The graphs do not point to a technical defect as both channels deliver identical results. In summary, this setting may appeal to earbud users but is cruel to my ears.
The more appealing “dual driver balanced mode” creates a strongly V-shaped sonic experience with both ends competing against each other, resulting in an unbalanced, incohesive listening experience. The low end is well extended – and way too much boosted for my taste, creating a muffle in the vocals department that is counteracted and stirred up by a shoutiness coming down from the 2-4 kHz segment. The result is a nasal, congested, and harsh midrange, a weird sonic mixture. And the early treble rolloff does not come quite to the rescue either. The tuning is simply off imo.
Technicalities such as staging, separation, spatial cues are actually ok, but they don’t save the day. Dynamics is lacking. The listening experience is uninspiring.
Concluding Remarks
The Smabat X1 is sadly just another promising, well-built, attractive looking and feeling Chi-Fi earphone that is in strong need of R&D. Good ideas poorly implemented. What else can I say?
Until next time…keep on listening!
Disclaimer
I would like to thank the Aliexpress SMABAT store for providing this review set. The SMABAT X1 can be gotten here: https://www.smabat.com/products/smabat-x1; https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001945966511.html
Our generic standard disclaimer.
