Pros
- Solid element and energy
- Comfortable
- Decent worth and options
Cons
- Not the smoothest higher mids
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £99.99
- 12-hour battery life
- Bluetooth aptX
- NFC
- USB-C charging
- IPX4 sweat-resistance
What are the RHA MA650?
The MA650 are RHA’s different to the Beats X. They are neckband wi-fi earphones that, at £99.99, are rather less costly than quite a few options, together with Beats’.
The sound high quality isn’t fairly a match for the Sennheiser Momentum In-ear wireless, however as the value isn’t both, the equation is sensible.
RHA MA650 — Design
Today’s headphone pattern of alternative is true wi-fi, the place nothing bodily connects the 2 earpieces. The RHA MA650 are extra unusual wi-fi earphones, with a band that sits across the again of your neck.
Their earpieces are little aluminium bells that look so much like these of RHA’s customary wired earphones.
There are additionally little rings of aluminium on the neckband, however it's in any other case rubbery plastic, with a regular versatile half that sits across the neck. One key query to ask of an earphone like this (for a lot of at the very least) is: are you able to put on them whereas working?
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I attempted them on the treadmill and located the band doesn’t begin leaping round or rotating just like the Sennheiser Momentum In-ear Wireless. However, it’s a slight disgrace aluminium is used within the distant housing.
Rather than constructing controls into the band, the RHA MA650 have a regular 3-button distant encased in steel. It appears to be like and feels smarter than a primary plastic one, however the added weight of the steel provides it a bit an excessive amount of momentum because it bounces round a short time you run.
These are truthful headphones for working, however you may inform they're actually designed for normal use.
With a separate distant in tow, the RHA MA650 band solely has to slot in an influence button. There’s an indicator LED beside it, letting you recognize when the battery is low and after they’re switched on.
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The earpieces stick along with magnets
RHA MA650 — Wireless and options
Like the newest Android telephones, the RHA MA650 have a USB-C cost socket quite than the normal micro USB variety. There’s no flap to cowl it, but it surely should be moderately waterproof as-is, as a result of these earphones are rated to IPX4.
That means they'll face up to splashes of water, simply not jets or being submerged within the stuff. It successfully means the RHA MA650 are sweat-proof, and don’t thoughts being caught out within the rain.
There are a couple of additional options too. The RHA MA650 have NFC for straightforward pairing with Android telephones, and aptX for higher-quality streaming with telephones that assist this customary.
Battery life is as much as a stable 12 hours. There’s no indicator to let you recognize the battery stage, however a fast press of the facility button fires up a voice immediate, telling you if the battery is “under 80 per cent”, “under 60 per cent” and so forth.
Wireless efficiency is superb, with virtually no interference or drop-outs when the linked telephone was in my pocket or inside a metre. Wearing a smartwatch didn’t spoil the connection both.
RHA MA650 — Sound high quality
The RHA MA650 use a customized “380.1” RHA dynamic driver. However, on condition that this driver has not appeared earlier than, that doesn’t imply an important deal.
The RHA MA650’s sound high quality is mostly very stable, with a few of the similar traits I’ve heard in different RHA pairs.
These headphones sound very clear, however with out a skinny or very shiny, detail-oriented signature. It’s partly as a result of a number of that readability comes from pronounced higher mids quite than treble.
This upper-mid injection just isn't super-smooth and refined, which is the primary criticism. I wouldn’t name the RHA MA650 harsh, however a slight hardness to the higher mids does make them a contact extra fatiguing than some on this class. You’ll hear a little bit of sibilance in tracks which might be liable to it as effectively.
Other features of the sound are higher balanced. You get an excellent compromise between energy, constancy and definition. There’s no floaty fats within the bass, but it surely’s well-rounded and pretty punchy. Its energy is sufficient to make basslines and kick drums sound full.
Stereo imaging is pretty good too, and soundstage width is respectable for a pair of IEMs that, given their wi-fi type, will not be too costly. These earphones can stand subsequent to £150 wi-fi pairs and maintain their very own. They don’t set any new requirements, however are pleasant and effectively well worth the cash, so long as you’re not super-sensitive to a lower than buttery-smooth sound.
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Why purchase the RHA MA650?
Like SoundMagic, RHA has established itself as one of many extra dependable choices in terms of sensibly-priced earphones or headphones. The RHA MA650 telephones are a predictably stable possibility for these after a mid-price Bluetooth set.
The design, battery life and wi-fi reliability are all sound, they usually’re not bad-looking both.
The sound could also be slightly arduous for some ears, with much less smoothness and extra definition than, say, the Beats X, however they often maintain their very own on this crowd. If you may afford slightly extra, the V-Moda Forza Metallo wireless pull off the high-detail signature higher, however then they do price virtually 50 per cent extra.
Verdict
Solid wi-fi headphones, if you happen to don’t thoughts a barely arduous edge to your sound.