THE SPECKED [SHO9550/28]

Monday, November 25, 2013
Secret War Journal[2011 - November 2013]

Highlights

Powerful sound

  • Powerful 9mm drivers deliver a deep, dynamic bass
  • Sound isolating soft ear sleeve

Enhanced durability

  • Tough tangle-free cable and reinforced connectors

Supreme comfort

  • 3 sizes of ear sleeves for a customized fit

 
 

Product dimensions

Width: 1,22 cm
Width: 0,5 inch
Height: 2,35 cm
Height: 0,9 inch
Depth: 2,55 cm
Depth: 1,0 inch
Weight: 0,012 kg
Weight: 0,026 lb

Sound

Acoustic system: Semi-open
Magnet type: Neodymium
Voice coil: CCAW
Diaphragm: Mylar dome
Frequency response: 6 - 23 500 Hz
Impedance: 16 ohm
Maximum power input: 50 mW
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Speaker diameter: 8.6 mm
Type: Dynamic

Connectivity

Cable Connection: symmetrical
Cable length: 1.2 m
Connector: 3.5 mm
Finishing of connector: gold-plated
Type of cable: OFC

Packaging dimensions

Type of shelf placement: Dummy
Number of products included: 1
UPC: 6 09585 18877 8
Depth: 3 cm
Depth: 1,2 inch
Gross weight: 0,066 kg
Gross weight: 0,146 lb
Height: 17,2 cm
Height: 6,8 inch
Nett weight: 0,026 lb
Nett weight: 0,012 kg
Packaging type: Dummy
Tare weight: 0,120 lb
Tare weight: 0,054 kg
Width: 9,5 cm
Width: 3,7 inch

Outer Carton

Gross weight: 2,285 kg
Gross weight: 5,038 lb
GTIN: 1 06 09585 18877 5
Height: 37,5 cm
Height: 14,8 inch
Length: 24,8 cm
Length: 9,8 inch

Nett weight: 0,288 kg
Nett weight: 0,635 lb
Number of consumer packagings: 24
Tare weight: 1,997 kg
Tare weight: 4,403 lb
Width: 8,9 inch
Width: 22,7 cm

Inner Carton

Gross weight: 0,243 kg
Gross weight: 0,535 lb
GTIN: 2 06 09585 18877 2
Height: 17,6 cm
Height: 6,9 inch
Length: 10,5 cm
Length: 4,1 inch
Nett weight: 0,036 kg
Nett weight: 0,079 lb
Number of consumer packagings: 3
Tare weight: 0,207 kg
Tare weight: 0,456 lb
Width: 4,0 inch
Width: 10,2 cm
Link to Purchase: http://www.usa.philips.com/c/headphones/sho9550_28/prd/en/

Review:
This ear piece had been my daily companion for around 2 years. For the price of $39.90, it lasted for quite a while until my colleague accidentally crushed it while slamming shut my drawer. Most unfortunate.

Through a collaboration between Philips and O'Neill, they came out with a new design for ear piece. During its time, wires for ear pieces were mostly made of rubber, either the conventional round or flat types. Hence, when THE SPECKED make use of fabric covering for the wires, it was considered a novelty.

What sets the fabric outer layer from the conventional rubber layering is its enhanced durability. As a rough user of ear phones, I was disillusioned with the conventional rubber layers because they tear too easily. As a result, when the ear piece that came along with my iPod was wrecked, I did some research to search for alternatives to rubber wrapped wires. Thus, that was how I chanced upon the tanker.

The strongest selling point of THE SPECKED is without doubt, its durability. In fact, when the product was first released in the market, it was advertised as the ear piece for sportsmen. As users who exercise, the ear piece that they use would be subjected to much damage during the course of the activity. THE SPECKED was built to withstand such damage and after using it for 2 years, I dare say the ear piece had lived up to its expectations.

However, while the ear piece excelled in durability, it fell behind in the sound department. The bass is decent but the fabric material proved to be an obstacle to producing quality music. In exchange for protection against wear and tear, the fabric tends to produce frictional noises when rubbed against another object. This makes it not ideal for playing music on the move as the wires would be swinging around hitting random objects (your top, slashing against the wind). In fact, this is the negative point that is a letdown for users and a major turnoff for audiophiles. Therefore, if you think cannot stand static noises when you are listening to music on-the-go, you should not buy this nor any wires covered by fabric.
That said, one way to minimise the noise would be to clip the wire to your clothing or simply listen to music without much fidgeting or without moving.

In conclusion, I would rate this product about 7 out of ten. It is considerably affordable and durable which I feel deserves a 7. :)