Phonak Audéo PFE 232 In-Ear Headphone & Headset (Playback 51)
Refinement-R-Us
November 17th, 2011 -- by Chris MartensSource: Playback
Perhaps the strongest indicator of the PFE 232’s worth comes when take them off and substitute lesser earphones. In most cases, you can’t help but feel an almost involuntary sense of disappointment or emotional letdown, because you realize—even if only in a subliminal way—that the sheer density of information you were enjoying only seconds ago has faded once you set the Phonaks aside. In short, taking off the PFE 232s in the middle of a listening session proves the truth of Joni Mitchell’s classic line: “…you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”
CONCLUSION
Consider these earphones if: you want one of the great universal-fit earphones—and possibly the best ever. Consider the PFE 232, too, if you value lightweight earphones that offer easygoing comfort, and a design whose distinctive acoustic filters address the fact that different listeners may interpret sonic accuracy in different ways. Finally, note that the PFE 232 can be configured for convenience (as an iPhone-compatible headset), or for a purist listening experience (with no mic/remote).
Look further if: you are price sensitive; any way you slice it, the fact is that the PFE 232 is presently the world’s most expensive universal-fit earphone. Also look further if, down deep, you regard the idea of interchangeable acoustic filters as a gimmick (which they’re not) or as a feature that demands more manual dexterity than you bargained for (which is partly the case, at least for some users).
Ratings (relative to comparably-priced competition)
• Tonal Balance: 9.5
• Frequency Extremes: 9.5 (bass)/ 10 (treble)
• Clarity: 10
• Dynamics: 9
• Comfort/Fit: 10
• Sensitivity: 8
• Value: 8.5 (only because $599 is a whole lot to pay for any universal-fit earphone)
BOTTOM LINE
Phonak’s PFE 232 is one of the finest universal fit earphones we’ve tried, and one of the very few to seriously rival the performance of today’s best custom-fit in-ear monitors. While the $599 price of entry is sobering, these ‘phones offer Swiss-influenced precision and a sound that is both revealing and thrilling.
SPECS & PRICING
Phonak Audéo PFE 232 In-Ear Headphone/Headset
Accessories: Three pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M, L), three pairs of Comply foam ear tips (S, M, L), one pair of silicone over-the-ear cable guides, filter changing tool and storage box containing one pair of black filters and one pair of green filters, bearing in mind that the PFE 232 come fitted as standard with a pair of gray filters), cleaning tool, carrying pouch, one detachable signal cable with iPhone-compatible three-button mic/remote module, one purist-oriented straight-line signal cable.
Drivers: dual balanced armature-type drivers
Frequency response: 5Hz – 17kHz
Weight: 16 grams
Sensitivity:
• 109 dB SP/1 mW, gray filters installed
• 107 dB Sp/1 mW, black or green filters installed
Impedance: 47 ohms
Warranty: 2 years, part and labor
Price: $599
PHONAK U.S.
(800) 679-4871
www.phonak.com
AUDÉOWORLD
(866) 900-7174
www.audeoworld.com
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Comments
Actually nothing. Where are the comparisons to top flight earbuds, UE's, Shure 535s, Monster Coppers, or the best headphones, Audez'e?
Personally I cannot relate this review to anything.
Perhaps some day soon we'll be enlightened?
Greetings agb, and thanks for your comment. Your point is fairly taken. Here's my take on things.
I would place the PFE 232 in the very top-tier of universal fit earphones, and in that same general category I would also place the Shure SE535, the Westone TrueFit 4, and (provisionally) the Monster Coppers. All things considered, I regard the PFE 232 a personal favorite within that group, though your mileage might vary. The reason why I'm drawn to the PFE 232 involves that "ceilings unlimited" quality I mentioned in the review. With many earphones you'll hear sonic improvements as you step up through various grades of amplifiers until you reach a certain point where it appears that you have essentially "maxxed out" the sonic potential of the earphone. Above that point, amplifier/source improvements don't seem to buy you much as the earphones, themselves, have become the limiting factors. But that's not what happens with the PFE 232; as you improve ancillary components it just keeps sounding better and better and better, which I find very impressive and quite rewarding.
Note, however, that the perceived sonic excellence of the PFE 232's is very much dependent on ancillary gear. If you only ever drove the PFE 232 directly from an iPod, you might feel it offered only small, incremental benefits vis-a-vis the PFE 122's or other mid-priced earphones. From that frame of reference you might reasonably conclude that the PFE 232 doesn't offer very good return on investment (i.e., it costs a lot more than mid-priced models, but seemingly sounds only a small bit better). But once you start that upward progression through better amps (and sources), the true potential of the PFE 232 is revealed, as you discover it has quite a lot more performance headroom or "upside" than its supposed peers.
For me, one eye opener came when I switched back and forth between favorite custom fit in-ear monitors and the PFE 232. Normally, it has been my experience that even the best universal fit earphones pale in comparison to good custom fit monitors, but with the PFE 232's I found that wasn't the case. On the contrary, the PFE 232's fared quite well in comparison with custom fit designs, though I did and do think the custom fit models enjoy an undeniable edge in terms of overall noise isolation.
__________
I won't try to compare the PFE 232 to full-size headphones, since I find that earphones and headphones typically offer very different listening experiences. For example, compared to the PFE 232's both the Audeze LCD-2 and HiFiMAN HE-6 sound terrific (arguably even better than the PFE 232), but are very much harder to drive, provide far less noise isolation, and are not really what I would consider to be viable portable listening devices (because they're just plain big). So, from where I sit the two classes of products are really designed for entirely different listening applications.
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
First of all - fantastic review, really enjoyed your thoughts on the PFE 232s.
I owned a pair of PFE 012s and I've just got my hands of these 232s. I've listened to them for about 4-5 days now and I'm just blown away by how good they are. Even straight out of my iPod classic they sound fantastic. When amped up, they continue to get better; which leads me onto your point about this IEMs 'ceiling.' You make a quite brilliant point here - herein lies the difference between this pair of IEMs and others in the so-called 'top tier.' I look forward to more of your reviews!
So is your review based on using those two amps? Personally i do not find carrying amps for portable listening very appealing. How do they perform straight out of a mp3 player? I see that one would be missing some of its sonic potentials but do they still sound one of the best among the universals? Would you say they are an upgrade from some of the high-ends universals like W4 or SE535?
Hi easrs,
I listened to the PFE 232 pretty extensively both with and without portable amps. While the 232 sounds very good directly from an iPod, I would say that an awful lot of its potential is masked by limitations inherent to the iPod itself--limitations that of course are lifted (to a large extent) when you listen through a good LOD cable connected to a high quality outboard amp.
I would say the W4, SE535 and PFE 232 would make a good "Top 3" to evaluate, though which to choose would be up to you. How you feel about the PFE 232 will have much to do with whether you find one of its three voicing filters to be a good match for your perception of what natural or accurate sound should be. One thing I think you will find very impressive though, is the PFE 232's ability to resolve very low-level details and sonic information--an area where I consider it to be one of the best in-ears I've yet heard.
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
That was quick! Thanks for the reply. I will try them out.
Appreciate the comps.