Puro IPHF2
| 7 mm Driver |
? A silver edition of the Grado GR10e earphones? When seeing the Puro IPHF2 you will recognize a clear resemblance with the Grado GR10e earphones, with our tests we will see if they perform as a premium iem or not. The Puro IPHF2 are one of the many iems manufactured by Puro Sound Labs, the company has a bunch of earphones, earbuds and headphones but they are not very popular. The IPHF2 have a metallic housing that feels robust enough and light at the same time, the cable is pretty standard, rounded and rubberized, cable bifurcation and plug are made of the same metallic material and color. They come with an inline microphone and a 1 button control but this part is made of plastic.
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Accessories & Packaging
The Puro come in a plastic box with a rigid plastic carrying/storage case for the earphones and a plastic rigid “capsule” that holds inside some extra eartips. The capsule is intended to be used as a carrying/storage case for the eartips. (Check the photos in the photo gallery at the end of the page on this review)
8/10
B
Bass & Sub Bass
A metallic housing sometimes helps to improve bass strength but with the Puro IPHF2 this is not the case. These earphones have no subbass at all and midbass is barely there too. Bass performance is scarce, we would not recommend the bass of the Puro IPHF2 even if you like less bassy earphones.
… we would not recommend the bass of the Puro IPHF2 even if you like less bassy earphones.
An EQ was applied but there was no difference in bass strength and at the same time mids and vocals get excessively recessed. We also tested the Puro with a custom basshead EQ and plugged in to a Fiio E12 portable amplifier. Although being able to handle a respectable 40% of the maximum power of the Fiio E12 (with bass boost on and set to high gain), the Puro IPHF2 were just able to provide a mid bass and sub bass level equal to an average earphone without an amplifier. By now you might already imagine that the Puro were not able to generate any basshead rumble or impact at all.
4/10
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M
Mids & Vocals
Maybe the lack of bass presence of the Puro IPHF2 could give enough space for mids and vocals to shine and sound crystal clear. Once again the Puro disappoint, mids and vocals are laid back, sound thin and congested at the same time. One point for the IPHF2, they are not harsh at all.
… mids and vocals are laid back, sound thin and congested at the same time.
With an eq applied some of the lower mids get a bit clearer but sound boxy, still thin and sort of distant but they keep on being free of any harshness.
4/10
H
Highs & Treble
Highs are recessed, lack brightness but have some detail. Piercing highs is not an issue with the Puro IPHF2 but they suffer from some sibilance. With an eq sibiliance becomes very strong and some piercing highs are brought in. Some brightness is gained but no extra detail or definition is enhanced.
5/10
SL
Sound Leak
The sound that leaks out of these earphones is mediumly high, performing way below average. A medium to high level of sound will be heard by people nearby even on noisy places.
5.5/10
SI
Sound Isolation
Sound isolation is still below the average earphone but if high volumes are used they will more effectively block ambient noises.
6/10
C
Comfort
The metallic housing, very small size, light weight and form factor makes the Puro IPHF2 quite comfortable to use.
8/10
EQ
Response to Equalization
A very small level of improvement is achieved by custom equalizing the IPHF2, bass shows no improvement and just perform worse than before equalizing; mids open up a very tiny bit but start to sound boxy and makes no change on the lack of warmth and general recession; highs increase a bit of their brightness but become very sibilant.
4.5/10
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BUY IT AT:
Scores- Accessories - 8/108/10
- Design - 8/108/10
- Bass - 4/104/10
- Mids - 4/104/10
- Highs - 5/105/10
- Sound Leak - 5.5/105.5/10
- Sound Isolation - 6/106/10
- Comfort - 8/108/10
- Response to EQ - 4.5/104.5/10
- Value for Money - 3.5/103.5/10
Summary
A very clear resemblance to the Grado GR10e at around 100 less the price- Comfortable and small
A very clear resemblance to the Grado GR10e at around 100 less the price- Sound quality is very scarce; bass, mids and highs sound very bad
Sound quality is very scarce; bass, mids and highs sound very bad- The Puro IPHF2 gain points to its final score by looking like a silver version of the Grade GR10e (if you care about it) but costing 100 times less. To sum it up, comfort, looks and accessories are almost the only positive aspects of the IPHF2. Regarding sound aspects as sound quality, response to equalization, sound isolation and sound leakage these earphones are very very difficult to recommend to anybody.
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| Type | Dynamic |
|---|---|
| Driver Unit | 7mm |
| Sensitivity | 116dB/mW |
| Power Capacity | Unknown |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Frequency Response | Unknown |
| Diaphragm | Unknown |
| Magnet | Unknown |
| Cord | Y-type, round cord |
| Cord Length | 1.25m |
| Plug | Stereo mini plug |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Supplied Accessories | 2x Earphone tips; carrying/storage case; pill shaped storage case for eartips |
Puro IPHF2
