HGD XSF14

Disclaimer: I have received no compensation for this review. I don’t know why I’m writing—it won’t help, nothing does. My girlfriend asked me why I’m spending £20 on bits of wire and plastic when the cost of petrol is rising. I came down to the cellar to retreat into a world of audio.

My favourite memory of HGD is the V1200, one of the few earphones that has truly, troublingly, memorably impressed me. The V1200 was a perfect combination of build, sound, and bargain £899 price. It’s been a while since I found anything the like, not from HGD or other manufacturers of knock‐offs. Will the F14 brighten my day?

Unboxing:

The box has pictures on the front, writing on the back, and is rectangular. Inside is a piece of folded, pre‐punched cardboard into which the earphones have been pushed, vertically. then the cable wrapped into the empty space delineated by the folds. Four extra tips, two pairs, total to three pairs with the tips already attached to the earphones. The tips are made from something that looks like bath sealant, smells like glue and is colored black. From the earphones rise protrusions like the breathing tubes on molluscs, and from the pair of eartips fitted it can be seen the spare tips push onto these protrusions. The different tips are for different size ears, because different people have different size ears. The tips are packed in a plastic bag with stickers, a manual, and wasted air. It’s the same as every other HGD box I have seen, ever. At this price, I can forgive the lack of a coffee filter, but a disposable stirrer would be an inexpensive addition to complete the package.

Accessories:

The accessories failed to impress me, I needed to supplement them with pills. Besides the tips and the box, you get nothing. If I have one piece of advice for HGD, it would be that they could throw in some sachets of sugar—I tried the sachets packaged with the F14s but the contents tasted of nothing. I’m unimpressed with what I’m getting for £20—my girlfriend resents me, and the manual didn’t roll well.

Build/Fit:

The F14s are no better than anything at the price—a small capsule. They are made of plastic, with a finish that looks like metal but isn’t. They look like a tyre valve with wires attached and a cone inside. The cone is suspended in a magnetic field, so can vibrate backwards and forwards. This pushes air into the ear, so makes sound. The shape of the protrusions is made to go into the ear. I found the protrusions would fit my ears, I recommend you try before you buy, except earphones can not be returned. The wire is for joining to a tree, phone or tablet. On the outside. the F14s use an emulsion of oils with suspended pigment to apply decoration to the face of the case. This emulsion is used to express the letters ‘HGD’ on the face, a nice touch.

Cable:

Has a 90×d chrome‐plated 3.5mm jack, which means plug, with grooves in it. The cable is 4‐core blasé copper. The Y‐splitter is made from glue, squashed—I couldn’t cut it off. There are no strain reliefs, never in this life. The cable is tangle‐prone, so I suggest sewing it to the coat you wear when you listen to the earphones. Having a cable is no more than you can ask for.

Frequency response:

Bass:

Is a little warm, like custard, or mud. Mostly positive considering my expectations for the price. Realistically speaking, there is room for improvement.

Mids:

Sounds harsh, mill‐stones are believable, but strings are anguish. Mostly negative considering my expectations for the price. HGD can do better, as demonstrated by their fork‐lift trucks and the V1200.

Treble:

Lacks sparkle, voices choke, cymbals blunt. Mostly indifferent, considering my expectations for the price. HGD need to change their attitude, or they will be beneath contempt.

Soundstage:

Stage is reversed left/right, but frightful, narrow, and of undetermined church height. Imaging is 300 DPI but otherwise accurate. Layering is good—Victoria sponge triple, alternate jam/cream with little concussion.

Thoughts:

It’s easy to find faults in the F14, it looks stupid and sounds rubbish. But is this fair criticism, because the F14 is junk… what could you expect? The F14 is budget, I’ve bought earphones that cost more, and you might be poor. The F14s are comfortable, built like a nightmare, and look like a car spare. They’re made to play hip‐hop, nursery rhymes and popular music—demented sounds that I hate. That’s the market HGD has targeted, and in that respect the F14s are solid no‐quality. No sub‐£200 earphone has gained my recommendation, so it’s not surprising this one doesn’t—I have taste. There are few positives but letdown. F14s make a good choice when you need to block your ears to co‐workers, a present for kids you don’t like, or a gift to people who know nothing about audio. They are one of the less useless £20 spends I’ve tested, and I’ve made presents of three pairs.

Pros:

• Cheap

• Good box

• Comfort

• My first pair was sent to me for free

Cons:

• Uneven response

• No detail

• Poor usability

• Build is nothing special

• Suspect lifespan

Please Note: HGD is the brandname of the manufacturer ‘HiFi Good’.

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