Plussound Prism In-ear Earphone Review

Design –

All of Plussound’s new models utilise the same 3D printed housings. When compared to online readers, the earphones are larger than I expected though they are still considerably smaller than the 64Audio and Campfire Audio earphones. They feel simultaneously rock solid and handcrafted, courtesy of a hand finished paint job and the inclusion of Plussound’s signature EXO-series iem cable from factory. The Prisms are available in black and blue with a colour matched y-split on the cable. The black model looks more co-ordinated since the 3.5mm plug is always black though the blue model is tasteful enough for those tired of monochrome.

DSC02959-1The housings are plastic but feel impeccably constructed; the 3D printed earpieces have absolutely no joins or seams. The earphones have quite an interesting design that is akin to Etymotic style earphones albeit larger. The housings are transparent and the plastic moulding is incredibly thick; Plussound have traded compactness in favour for superior acoustic properties. The earpieces have a hand painted gloss coat that gives them a super smooth, but slightly inconsistent finish. Small features such as the small bolts on either side of the earphone produce a very utilitarian look like that achieved by the armature based Campfire earphones and offer enhanced repairability should components require replacement or repair.

DSC02974-6In use, the Prisms are an ergonomic earphone that achieves great long term comfort. The housings barely contact the ears at all with minimal outstanding features to cause discomfort. They were designed for a cable down fit and though their laterally placed strain reliefs and thick cable make them a bit awkward when worn over ear, it is doable. Due to the weight of the cable and their very lengthy housings, fit stability is just average; even with foam ear tips they wiggle themselves loose during any activity but walking. They definitely don’t lock into the ears like the Dunu, 64Audio and Campfire iems but they will be vastly more comfortable if you have smaller ears, a fair trade-off unless you intend to use them for running or stage monitoring. I found them far more practical to wear than either the 64Audio U3 or Dunu DK-3001, both of which are a bit strangely shaped.

DSC02972-5The Prisms have a long, straight nozzle that fits wide bore tips. This does limit fit depth to some degree though they are a very well sealing earphone overall. The Prisms are also fully sealed and when combined with those thick housings and reasonably deep fit, passive noise isolation is terrific, few earphones provide more. With great isolation and comfort, the Prisms are ideal for any kind of travel though the long housings do protrude quite a bit from the ear, creating above average wind nosie during commute.

DSC02977-7The Prisms possess a removable cable that uses the tried and tested MMCX interface. The connectors are super tight and secure, I didn’t experience any accidental detachment nor any intermittency in my month of testing. The cable receives special mention since the Prisms come packaged with Plussound’s $200 EXO-series custom cable. While I only have a handful of cables at this price, the EXO is definitely one of my favourites.

DSC02981-9It’s a 4-core braided OCC litz copper cable with robust but not unwieldy thickness. Aesthetically, the cable is gorgeous with a very professional construction and finish. The cable also doesn’t tangle at all but remains compliant enough to coil and pocket. It is a bit stiffer than the Effect Audio Ares II+ though the Ares is also a little more prone to tangling. The EXO cable has well finished but very DIY terminations; the MMCX connectors and plug are covered in heat shrink and the cable is secured via small screws which are visible from the exterior.

DSC02982-10The y-split has the same construction as the earphones themselves though the finish of the cable on a whole is still less compelling than the EffectAudio cables that sport custom metal/carbon fibre connectors. A chin slider is implemented in the form of some plastic tubing. It’s simple but gets the job done, I found it to hold its place reliably in daily use. Plussound claim to have implemented some sort of shock absorption into the cable to prevent microphonic noise though I didn’t notice the Prism to be any quieter in that regard than a typical cable down earphone. This is easily alleviated by wearing the earphones over-ear or by using the slider or shirt clip.

DSC02983-11Plussound offer the cable with a variety of plugs at no additional cost, they also offer a balanced variation if your source can take advantage of it.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Ryan Soo

Ryan Soo

Avid writer, passionate photographer and sleep-deprived medical student, Ryan has an ongoing desire to bring quality products to the regular reader.

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