Jumping Jack Frost signed an endorsement deal for Pump Audio recently. Harry Shotta is to produce his own version so I popped onto the Pump Audio blog to check it all out...
From popping a comment on, Pump Audio got in touch with me and offered to send me some earphones to try out.
I was dubious. What could be so different about these earphones?
A bit of background - I started mixing over 13 years ago with a pair of Sony MDR - V700DJ headphones.
In 2003 I got Sennheisers and I haven't looked back. I have experience in audio monitoring and use a range of audio systems on a daily basis including Mackie HR824s in my studio, so I'd say I'm an audiophile and that my ears are relatively well trained.
Sound quality is extremely important to me when I listen to music.
I was pleasantly surprised that the bright orange cable came out over 4 feet long when I removed it from the smart packaging. Short audio cables are a pain in my life.
These little earphones are not replacing my DJ headphones, they have been designed for playback while exercising, for your MP3 players and iPod players, but aimed to work with higher quality files. I tested this and I have played back some high quality mastered wav files from my CDJ and laptop, against some lower quality files to see if I can hear the subtle differences and the bass response is amazing. I've done some moving about, and being female with a slightly smaller head (though that may be debatable to some people) these earphones sit great and don't slip out.
We're talking luxury, British made, impressive in-ear precision that does justice to your favourite music.
Am I impressed? Yes. Sound technology is improving, which will improve the quality of the music that we listen to.....
I'm not a huge fan of MP3 players due to the quality loss and laziness of cramming MP3 audio onto USB sticks and such, and the loss of bass solidity - but technology is improving and file spaces are increasing in size, which means that high end earphones like these are becoming increasingly popular, which is great. Having affordable quality earphones will help improve the situation of poor quality music because you will be able to hear the difference. Cheap headphones do not give the same frequency response, so listening to a poor quality MP3 won't matter when you're listening through a cheap pair of headphones. Basically studio quality music is only as good as your set up. I hope that people start to engage more with high quality music with high end earphones like these, and understand the basics of learning to identify the subtle changes that lossy compression introduces.
As someone who is constantly pushing for Producers on my label to improve their sound, and after all the time, money, effort and expense that labels and Producers pump into making great music, it does beg the question as to why we bother when the average listener has a cheap pair of £6.00 headphones and downloading low quality MP3s. This isn't an affordability issue when a 5 year replacement warranty covers these Pump earphones, and with them being water resistant for someone like me who tends to be quite clumsy, it's a bonus. I spend more on trainers a year than what these Pump Audio earphones cost, so why would you compromise your favourite music?
As someone who is constantly pushing for Producers on my label to improve their sound, and after all the time, money, effort and expense that labels and Producers pump into making great music, it does beg the question as to why we bother when the average listener has a cheap pair of £6.00 headphones and downloading low quality MP3s. This isn't an affordability issue when a 5 year replacement warranty covers these Pump earphones, and with them being water resistant for someone like me who tends to be quite clumsy, it's a bonus. I spend more on trainers a year than what these Pump Audio earphones cost, so why would you compromise your favourite music?
If you bear in mind the average human hearing range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, these earphones have been designed with that in mind. These are designed for premium audio playback and for people who listen and want to enjoy their higher quality music. Studies shows this also improves well being so surely that's a win win situation?
The overall sound that comes out of these headphones? Excellent. The design of the custom tuned drivers and the way these earphones snug in your ear giving complete noise isolation is great for identifying the separation in the music you are listening to.
For £99 and they can be brought from their website in orange or black these do say what they do on the tin, with incredibly good crisp clean highs.
You can pay up to £1000 for some complete noise isolation earphones (AKG K30003i) so these Pump Audio earphones are priced well. Reviews on the AKG even admit that portable sources aren't up to scratch yet, and until file spaces improve for larger higher quality files, it is pretty pointless forking out a grand. I've read some bad reviews on some websites but I would suggest that they take the time to listen to a range of high quality music, and be subjective with the price comparisons and then you can hear the clarity.
Yes you can get better sounding earphones for a higher budget - but for the price that these Pump Audio earphones are, you won't get better quality for price.
You can pay up to £1000 for some complete noise isolation earphones (AKG K30003i) so these Pump Audio earphones are priced well. Reviews on the AKG even admit that portable sources aren't up to scratch yet, and until file spaces improve for larger higher quality files, it is pretty pointless forking out a grand. I've read some bad reviews on some websites but I would suggest that they take the time to listen to a range of high quality music, and be subjective with the price comparisons and then you can hear the clarity.
Yes you can get better sounding earphones for a higher budget - but for the price that these Pump Audio earphones are, you won't get better quality for price.
Am I endorsing these? Hell yes. Even the iconic bright orange cheers me up. To top it all off, the CEO Adam wrote a very touching blog 2014 into 2015, so it's a bonus this British company is run by some really great people, who are empowering people too.
Pump Audio Earphones
- Frequency range: 20hz – 20khz
- Sensitivity: 102dB (+/- 3dB)
- Impedance : 18 ohms
- Complete noise isolation
- Specially tuned earbuds for small or regular/large ear canals
- Specially custom tuned drivers
- Weight: <15g
- 3.5mm gold connector jack
- In line microphone
- Specially designed to be suitable for exercising
- Water resistant
- Aluminium casing
5 year replacement warranty.