Maximo iP-HS5 iMetal headset

Posted by Bill on November 12th, 2009 at 09:13pm Comments

Maximo iP-HS5 iMetal headset
Reviewed by: Bill Henderson
Maximo Products / Headsets / iP-HS5
Price: $79.99

When you think of iPhone companies who make earphones, cases and the like, Maximo doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Although they are not as well known as Shure, iSkin, etc. their current line of products may change that. What I’ve been listening to is the iP-HS5 iMetal headset.

Lets get the bad news out of the way right up front. I did not like the supplied eartips. I could not get a good seal from any of the four sizes. They were either too small or too fat. And as I’ve said in other reviews, no seal equals no bass. So to remedy this situation, I took some tips from another brand (I’ve yet to review) and swapped them out. This made ALL the difference. I immediately realized just how good these iMetals sounded. Note to Maximo: I found the perfect eartips… they’re just not yours.

With that taken care of, let’s get to the good stuff.  These are very pretty, very solid, very efficient earphones. You’re gonna look good with this headset in your ears. The combination of dark grey plastic and silicone, aluminum and fabric cable makes the iMetals look a lot more expensive than they are. And that’s a good thing.

But all that beauty is worthless if they sound terrible. And they don’t. In fact, with the ‘borrowed’ eartips, I was pleasantly pleased how natural they sounded. The bass was prominent, but not boomy and the mids were on the warm side. The highs tended to get a little harsh when pushed, but by then, the volume was in the painful range anyway. Tequila Sunrise by The Eagles showcased the vocals clearly amid shimmering acoustic guitar. The iMetals made The The’s version of Hank William’s Your Cheating Heart sound like a dirty, analog recording, complete with schmaltzy echo. Which is exactly how it should sound. The iMetals also bring out all the orchestral thunder of Graeme Edge’s paranoid ranting in the opening of The Moody Blues’ In Search of the Lost Chord making him sound downright maniacal.

Engineering wise, the fabric cable cuts down microphonics a little, but not completely. The 9mm neodymium driver requires a larger opening which can sometimes result in a more difficult fit for some people. With Maximos tips, it felt like they wanted to pop out, even when they weren’t going to. The way the aluminum is used makes the headset feel very sturdy, and very light. I have a lot of earphones that weigh double what these do.

The mic on this headset is a small aluminum ball attached to the  cable and the on/off call switch is placed right at the “Y” part of the cable, a very convenient place. Call volume was good as was clarity in hearing for both me and who I was taking to. No issues there.

The pack-ins are impressive, especially considering the price range. You get four sizes of tips (but the two middle sizes were so close, I had trouble telling them apart). Also included are a 2 ft. extension cable, two 2.5mm adapters, a shirt clip, neck lanyard and a small canvas zippered carrying case. Like I said; impressive.

You really can’t go wrong with this headset. the sound is balanced, the build is top-notch, and the looks are expensive. With a different choice of eartips, the iP-HS5 iMetal headset would be just about perfect for its budget.

Score:
7/10

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4. Etymotic hf2 Earphones + Headset: iPhone Accessory Review
5. Hi-Fidelity Hands-free Headset Earphones by Etymotic

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