Newsagent AAA review
Throughwork
I bought these from a newsagent—said I needed earphones. was given these. As you can see, they have a label ‘AAA’, so I called them that. What does my impulse get me?
Contents
Build
An Apple EarPod copy. Overall, cheapest possible, but well‐hidden. The cable is poor, worst I have yet to meet on an earphone—only slightly rubberised, joint‐bottom for thinnest and, worst of all, came kinked and has a lot of memory. Expect it to tangle and maybe break. Joins and plugs are tiny, with surprisingly soft and appropriate inset strain reliefs. Plugs are a bulge with no tips, imitating the older Apple Airpods. They do not feel secure in the ear. Usefully visible Left/Right marks. Shiny plastic all round looks ok but feels lightweight and cheap. No weak points in build, but materials are not robust. Fit in the ear ok—and as this is a no‐tip solution, not at all intrusive. As art, the AAA is integrated, so good… you wouldn’t mind being seen wearing them.
Sound
Review somewhat limited as the right earphone had tiny volume and a balance control couldn’t rescue it. Very quiet. Volume blooms near oboes. Fades on high notes—so tapering volume range. Timing is reasonable. Attack good, decay is like a slump. Good on swells. Frequency is duff in the flute/mid‐guitar range, and drones near mid‐strings. And starts to fizz on massed frequencies. No low notes at all. Though hard to hear, it has color. Only a guess, given one earbud works, but positioning is good, and wide scale too.
When the AAA gets a solo instrument within range, such as a classical guitar, it sounds outstandingly detailed and open. But everything else is a muddle, sometimes painful, and pop music is a disaster area.
Spec
| mic available? | no |
| cable noise | quiet |
| accessories | |
| support |
Assess
It’s an Apple EarPod copy—the marks are similar, and so is the box (though the switch is different). The box looks like it may have been intended as reusable, but there is no way I would be fiddling with wrap‐round on a bus, so is environmental waste. For what the AAA is, the build is reasonable. It’s fast, it’s good at detail, it’s doesn’t make a fuss when it is confused—if it gets a solo instrument in range, it’s good. The non‐existent low, and dying top, frequencies are forgivable, but it has duff frequencies, volume variations, and an overall echo, that wreak nearly all sources.
I’d say the cone has potential—I’m guessing it’s hard plastic—but the AAA design never controls cone resonance. And reduced frequency range can be a revelation, but only if there is delivery in the space. As for the housing, the shape should discourage resonance, but sounds like a tin can. The AAA is useful components thrown together, making too much that is duff, chaotic, or screechy.