Packaging, design and comfort
I’ve grouped both Serratus and Ripples into this section because, aside from some minor differences that I’ll cover, the presentation, accessories, design and fit of the buds are very much the same.
Both are shipped in nondescript cardboard boxes, inside of which you’ll find nicely-made but fairly standard hard-shell pill-shaped zipper cases that contain the buds and some spare accessories. The Ripples case is notably larger than Serratus’s, with ripple-like grooves on the lid, and a more spacious interior. Not that it needs it, because the included accessories – some spare foam covers, rubber surrounds (in case you don’t get a good fit with foams), and a TGXEAR button – are identical and, to be blunt, very basic.
Speaking of fit, this is the part of the review I was dreading the most, because buds and me are traditionally not the best bedfellows when it comes to comfort. I’m not an expert on earbud design, so excuse me if some of my facts are off, but both Serratus and Ripples feature a ‘standard’ 18mm ‘hanging’ design, housing 15.4mm dynamic drivers, with non-removable cables that feed through a slightly elongated stem at the base of the bud head.
I don’t have the world’s largest ears, and both these buds are at the very limit of what I would call ‘anatomically appropriate’. That is, they just about fit inside my concha, and with a few twists, wedge themselves tightly enough to stay put…as long as I do. Any vigorous movement or a slight tug on the cable, and out they pop.
But here’s the thing: that’s exactly how they should fit. Jim includes a small card with simple illustrations on how to ‘seat’ the earbuds in your ears which, when followed properly, result in the best fit and ‘seal’. If, like me, you’re used to IEMs and their tight, in-ear seal, here’s my advice: forget about it. The best you’re going to get is a fit that covers your entire ear canal, and sits tightly enough so that the buds don’t move around while firing sound directly into your ears.
While I find the bulbous earpiece design a touch too thick to sit perfectly flush inside my ear, especially with the foam covers, once seated, I can listen for hours in relative comfort. The buds themselves are very light, almost weightless, especially compared to IEMs. But don’t make the rookie mistake of just plodding these things in your ears and letting them hang; Jim’s trick of twisting the stems slightly forward and outward might feel a bit odd at first, but it makes sense both physically and sonically.
If you’re still struggling with fit, try out the rubber surrounds Jim now includes as standard with his buds. They remove the ‘bulk’ of the foam covers so that you only need to fit the thinner plastic earpieces inside your ears. Personally, while the earbuds do tend to sit tighter this way, I found the thin rubber less comfortable, with parts of the hard plastic shells touching my ears.
To summarise: pressurised sub-bass thump? No. Isolation from external sound? Nope. Yawn-resistant seal? Not going to happen. Just remind yourself that these are not IEMs, they are designed to fit and sound very differently to IEMs and headphones, and they present music on their own terms. Once you make peace with these facts, you’re good to go.
One last thing, as I mentioned above, earbuds provide zero isolation. Outside noise will be masked by music, especially if you tend to turn up the volume like I do, but you’re still going to hear others in the room, and any environmental noise, so if all you want to hear is the music, best to find a quiet room to do so. The buds also leak noise, so listening to these in a quiet library is best avoided, unless you’re a stickler for negative attention.
That said, if you somehow manage to keep them in your ears while moving around, they’re great for casual listening outdoors without masking important sounds you do want to hear, like a truck horn when crossing the road for example.
Continue to sound impressions…
