Lately, I have been reviewing some really, really expensive earphones and will continue to do so. I do it mainly because I want to educate people about how much more enjoyment can be had from their music with an investment in quality earphones or headphones. That said, there is a huge market for less expensive choices, whether itβs because of budget demands or just a second pair needed for exercise/outdoor use. In fact, there are almost too many choices out there. You can spend anywhere from $10 to $50 and get a pretty decent β if not great β pair of earphones that will last you a while. One entry into this mega-segment is Empire Brandsβ Wicked Audio division.Β Weβll be looking at their Wicked Little Buds earphones.
Wicked makes inexpensive earphones and headphones that concentrate on style. That seems to be the trend in this price range. Many earphones with identical specs will come in wild colors and wilder graphics to set them apart. Consequently, these earphones tend to appeal to a younger, fashion-conscience crowd. Which is great, as long as that fashionista is getting his/her moneyβs worth in sound quality.
Before I get into the pros and cons of how the Wicked Little Buds sound, there are a couple of things that impressed me. First is the size. Theyβre smallβ¦ as in tiny. I have the black model, and because of their size, they are very easy to insert into the ear and are comfortable over hours of listening. Secondly, the cord is covered in woven cloth. Thatβs not something you usually see on earphones this inexpensive. Its a nice touch that helps prevent tangling and cuts down on microphonics β that distracting thump you hear as the cord is bumped, a common trait of many earphones. The Little Buds do not come with a mic for smartphone users, but thatβs not surprising at this price.
The sound quality of the Little Buds is not a surprise, either. They donβt sound any worse or any better than other earphones under $50. But thatβs not a criticism because while they donβt sound terrific, they sound good, and thatβs light years ahead ofΒ free buds included with your player.
The earphones are rated at 20-20,000 Hz, which is a little more range than a normal human can hear. But we have to take these numbers with a grain of salt. What is important is how the music sounds.
The Little Buds faired better on older recordings than the newer bass-heavy songs, which is a bit strange since these are made for the younger listener. Oh, there is plenty of bass here, but it gets muddled when pushed. Of course, if you are used to those βwhite earbudsβ, then the bass exhibited here will knock you over and you will be in heaven. So there.
I began with βHot Loveβ from T.Rex, an old 70s glam-rock tune in the Bowie style. What was good is that even though the bass was a bit on the heavy side, recordings just didnβt have the frequency range they have today. So in this respect, the Little Buds werenβt tiring. The same held true for David Bowieβs βWord on a Wingβ from βStation to Stationβ. This album has recently been remastered, so maybe the newer mix will be less forgiving. This mix from an 80s CD pressing was fine.
One of my favorite groups is Simple Minds and I love the 12β version of a B-Side song, βKing is White and in the Crowdβ. Here is where I was disappointed, simply because on the Little Buds, the song had less power. On really good speakers, this song takes you places. On these earphones, I stayed home.
One of the modern songsΒ I listened to, was βModern Driftβ from Efterklang. This song has a lot of percussion and subtleties going on and I wanted to see how the Little Buds were able to distinguish all the various instruments and sounds. Once again, they did OK, not great. I just couldnβt get into the song like I have been able to with other earphones. But once I remind myself what they cost, my reservations disappear.
As a backup pair or an upgrade from the freebies, Wickedβs Little Buds are a bargain.
Now if they cost $100, I would be hurling insults. But they donβt. For what you get, both in the little extras mentioned earlier and the perfectly OK sound; at $35, I have no complaints. And you wonβt either.
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Price: | $29.99 US |
Manufacturer: | Wicked Audio |
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Bought two pair of these off woot for like $8 total delivered. They fit well and I really like the longer than normal cloth cord, much easier to use and gives you plenty of length to work with. Sound is pretty good. Wish I woulda bought a couple more pairs to have around the house.
These do not last long I had them with good sound for a month the sound is pretty good when you first get them but after a month sound goes down I recommend IFrogs ear pollution plugz for 14.99 they work AWESOME!
Thanks for the review! I love these little earbuds, and I have never had a problem like some of the other people who commented. The cable is the best, that braided material is much more comfortable than standard plastic. I wasn’t able to find these in my area, but I found them at a great little website for $24.99. If you are looking go to http://www.theearbudstore.com/product/wicked-little-buds-earbuds they shipped them out in like three days.
Thanks again!