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Tech Review: RevoNext NEX202 dual driver earphones

RevoNext NEX202 earphones [RRP £55.99]

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RevoNext's dual-driver NEX202 earphones have a sleek and smart look

Stockholm-based firm RevoNext has been peppering the budget hi-fi audio market since 2015, pledging to produce affordable products that don't compromise on quality.

The backstory is that its music-loving founders spent 15 years working as audio engineers, and decided to start making their own earphones out of frustration at the lack of decent options available that didn't break the bank.

RevoNext's latest assault on what in recent years has become, let's face it, a highly over-saturated market, comes in the form of the NEX202 dual drivers in-ear headphones.

The firm promises us a “must have” item with “quality sound at an affordable price”, but do the earphones stand out in a sector where the vast number of options available is enough to confuse even the most dedicated hi-fi heads?

The set up

The packaging is simple enough, with the box featuring the earphones held in by a foam compress, a selection of different sized buds and a small velcro strap to keep the cable nice and tidy.

There's also an instruction booklet, but no carry case.

How do the earphones work?

The first thing you notice when opening the package is that these earphones look different to pretty much any other ‘in-ear’ set on the market.

Mine came in a gun metal grey colour (they are also available in black) in what the makers call ‘aviation aluminium alloy’, with an off-gold and black coloured braded cable leading onto a standard 3.5mm ‘L’ plug.

For devices without a 3.5mm connection, RevoNext also sell a Bluetooth cable which slots in where the 2 pin detachable audio line would fit.

There’s no control panel on the cable.

The buds are the type that are worn with the cable wrapped over the back of the ear, which takes a bit of getting used to if you haven’t done it before.

There’s a reason the cable itself comes with a velcro tidy strap. It is a whopping 1.25 metres in length, which means it can easily become tangled up if you are not careful.

Sound wise the NEX202s boast a big performance considering the relatively low price.

The bass is deep and well-rounded, and overall the sound is sharp and crisp and doesn’t deteriorate – even with repeated use at loud volume.

I also found that despite not having any noise-cancellation features on the set, there was barely any noticeable sound leakage.

The verdict

The NEX202s look great and perform extremely well for earphones in this price bracket.

However, the cable is unnecessary long and I found it impossible to prevent it from becoming a twisted, jumbled mess after a few uses.

The earphones 1.2m line can easily become a tangled mess

I mean really, in the age of the wireless earphone, who needs a cable that is more than a metre in length? I also found the lack of an in-line control feature and mic to be frustrating.

That said, there’s a big attraction here for audiophiles looking to nab a high grade sound – and an unconventional look – at under £60.

Put simply, the NEX202s win on sound quality and looks, but lose on practicality.

Specifications:

Type: In-Ear

Connectivity: Wired

Cable Length: 125cm

Sensitivity: 105dB

Impedance: 18Ω

Frequency Range: 20Hz-40KHz

Plug Type: 3.5mm L Plug

Pin Type: 0.78mm

Weight: 20g

Price: £52.99 (available from Amazon)