Okay Geek Farm
Thinksound ms01 earphones review
Ricardo Trejo
We know two things about Thinksound already; 1.) they make consistently great earphones, and 2.) they know how to package their products just about better than anyone out there. We were first introduced to their unique approach when we reviewed 2010’s offering in the ts02+ earphones. The Thinksound name isn’t as big as a brand like Beats or Bose, but what they lack in exposure they more than make it up in overall audio excellence. And the latest addition to their monitor series, the ms01’s, don’t stray away from the that high standard.
Our Impressions
As mentioned in the outset, Thinksound approaches its packaging and presentation in the same light that Apple does their products. You only get one shot to make a first impression and they certainly hit the mark dead-on in this case. Shipping in a neatly and tasteful earth toned box, the earphones and branding are highlighted in white and green which humbly gives you a warm sensation.
Constructed out of recycled cardboard, and hosting no plastics, besides one tiny zip-bag that holds the interchangeable ear-tips, the packaging is as eco-friendly as you can get.
The contents come the same in every Thinksound product; earphones, cloth carrying case, x4 s/m/l/xl Comply ear-tip’s (not shown above), along with active lifestyle hooks, cord clip, and warranty insert.
8mm drivers offer a frequency response of 18Hz to 20 kHz and are housed within a lightweight wooden casing. As you’ll notice the pattern with wooden housing is that you get a much warmer sound, which for earphones are a must, especially if you’re listening to music with vocals (folk, indie, soft rock, 80’s).
The cord itself hosts kevlar reinforced PVC-free cable that ensures they won’t get tangled up in your pocket, which my ridiculously stupid, white Apple stock earbuds continue to do so no matter what precautions I take.
Active lifestyle hooks are packaged alongside the ms01’s which will please folks who like to jog with the help of a few tunes. The hooks gently surround the back of your ears and run the earphone cords on the top, which are snug enough for them to not easily get loose, but not too hard that you can’t adjust them for the proper amount of slack to be comfortable. Also, don’t forget the cord clip which you’ll need so you don’t tug at them while bouncing up and down during a run.
The earphones are also pre-packaged with 4 different sized Comply ear-tips (fittings) designed to give you the most comfortable fit for your ears.
Passive noise-isolation is a concrete-like barrier between you and any outside noise not coming from within your earphones, so don’t expect to hear a shouting match even if it’s a foot away. A seal is created when the silicone tips are properly placed within the ear canal and they don’t let anything leak out either, which won’t bother others who are sitting next to you on your preference of transporation (plane, bus, etc.)
And in terms of performance, what can I say? When it comes to Thinksound you can’t go wrong. High’s and mid’s are as rich as you can imagine. We listened to “We Are The People” by Empire of the Sun and could hear guitar strums and the vocals clearer than we ever experienced before. And what’s great about that particular track is its use of a heavy and consistent beat which also was able to demonstrate the low’s that the ms01’s could handle. Layers of music are dissected like a knife through warm butter and we couldn’t be more satisfied.
On the downside of things, the ms01’s do NOT feature play or volume controls. That being the case, there’s also no onboard microphone to answer phone calls with if you’re using them along with a smartphone. This a major bummer considering their last earphones (ts02+’s — the + stood for the added micrphone and play controls) offered such a feature. We assume the next iteration will likely host something similar.
Overall
No matter how you slice it, Thinksound treats and designs their audio products just as great as anyone else without any needed fluff and flair, letting their products do all the talking. The acoustics made available through these particular earphones are the some of the warmest and smoothest you’ll ever hear at this price point. Why pay hundreds of dollars for big named stuff when these earphones, priced at Thinksound’s own store at under a single Benjamin Franklin bill, can do everything you’d ever want a pair of earphones to do?
Our only complaint comes from the lack of play and volume controls, which can be a missed convenience seeing as having to actually take out a device to change a song during a morning jog can be pretty distracting. Outside of that however, you may want to seriously consider giving them a shot as your primary, personal audio gear.
Pro’s
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Steller audio quality
- Additional packaged ear hooks and multiple sized ear-tips
Con’s
- No play and volume controls
- No onboard microphone
Where to buy
Thinksound — MSRP: $99.99
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This review was done by Ricardo Trejo, who was given ms01 earphones by Thinksound.
