In with the old, and out with the new. Wireless peripherals have become the norm, but there has been a recent shift back to wired tech, and SAN Sound is here to meet those demands while also challenging the status quo. For all that the company is a relatively new player in the audio space, its co-founder, David “DL” Leung, is no stranger to setting a new industry standard, armed with decades of experience as the founding engineer and “Golden Ear” of Beats by Dre.
The Sanwear-Hardwire gaming earbuds are in the spotlight this time, featuring the brand’s proprietary custom-built Audio Cortex sound system that acts as a two-in-one amplifier and digital signal processor — a combination hardly seen, if ever, in existing offerings. It’s not the only unconventional design element, either, for its ear hook involves lodging it into the ear before “locking” it into place, much like a corkscrew, rather than the traditional way of wrapping around the ear.
Hardware-wise, the wearable is powered by planar-dynamic drivers, which, on paper, deliver faster response and reduced distortion. Audio quality is more than decent for casual users and will appeal to bass heads, though it can get loud even at lower volumes. The competitive price of S$128 means other compromises, however, including the lack of comprehensive EQ settings in its accompanying app, a too-short wire, and more.
Check out the video above for the complete breakdown of the Sanwear-Hardwire gaming earbuds.
GEEK REVIEW SCORE
Summary
The Sanwear-Hardwire is a promising prototype with well-developed concepts, but it lacks certain features to reach its potential.
Overall
7/10-
Aesthetics - 6/10
6/10
-
Build Quality - 7/10
7/10
-
Performance - 7/10
7/10
-
Value - 8/10
8/10
-
Geek Satisfaction - 7/10
7/10
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
