Elecom EHP-CA3580
| 15.4 mm Driver | Neodymium Magnet |
? Elecom is not a particularly famous earphone brand but they have produced some interesting models and one of them is the Elecom EHP-CA3580. This long named model, hides under the housing a very large 15.4mm dynamic driver combined with a neodymium magnet. A driver this large and a neodymium magnet are usually specifications of big companies earphones well known as top level bassheads, such as the Sony XB line (check our Sony MDR-XB50AP review), Sony MDR-7550/800ST and the JVC Xtreme Xplosive line, to name a few (you can check our review of the JVC HA-FX1X)
hides under the housing a very large 15.4mm dynamic driver combined with a neodymium magnet
Elecom has made a diverse range of colours of this model and they add a 2 letter code to the end of the model name to identify the corresponding colour: black (BK), blue (BU), red (RD) and white (WH). The EHP-CA3580 are made entirely of plastic, they don’t feel cheap nor premium but tough enough and they look high quality with the golden details.
The cable is flat, multicolored black with red edges and in a rubbery material making it tangle free.
You can buy it either with or without an inline microphone. The combination of a bi-colored flat cable (black and red) with the golden “coil” on the rear of the housing makes the design attractive and result in a more premium overall look for the Elecom EHP-CA3580. The only downside of the design is the long piece of plastic that extends from the bottom of the housing that is used to give better support and durability to the cable.
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Elecom EHP-CA3580 - Review
Tests & Scores
WWeight
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A
Accessories & Packaging
Out of the box you get a soft pouch, 3 pairs of silicon eartips and a cable winder. Everything is packed inside a small semi-hard transparent box.
8.5/10
B
Bass & Sub Bass
The Elecom EHP-CA3580 has a really big dynamic driver (15.4 mm) that is not easily found nowadays, the bass that comes out of this driver is very deep and punchy.
it can deliver great sub-bass deepness without requiring an external amplifier
Bass and sub-bass are very clean, mid-bass bleeds into the mid/vocal frequencies and sub-bass depth is worth to be mentioned, most of all because it can deliver great sub-bass deepness without requiring an external amplifier to get it boosted.
Equalizing helps to feed bass performance but falls into muddiness pretty quickly.
Equalizing + amplifying will get the Elecom into basshead territory. The EHP-CA3580 when eqed for bass and amplified with a Fiio E12 in high gain mode and bass boost ON, is able to handle a massive 55% of the maximum power coming from the Fiio amplifier. Bass depth will be great but impact and in ear shake will not be that strong; shake (under the same conditions) will be less than the KZ ZST and KZ ZS2 but similar to the Xiaomi Mi Quantie Pro Hybrid. Considering how well it was performing unamped we were expecting more spectacular basshead achievements with the equalizer and amplifier into the equation, anyway it is fair to say that they are a reasonable basshead contender. A hint, change the stock eartips for better sub-bass impact and make sure to fit them as deep as you can.
8.25/10
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M
Mids & Vocals
Mids are recessed on the lower mids and middle mids frequencies, at the same time the upper mids frequencies have an extra emphasis that makes them harsh. Harshness of the Elecom can be felt with peaks between 1.5kHz and 3kHz and mostly if you turn up the volume above 40-50%. Equalizing down these frequencies just a notch and adding a little bump on the middle mids improves mids and vocals quality significantly and harshness almost disappears.
6.75/10
H
Highs & Treble
Highs are present, not the dominant sound signature, but mildly recessed and piercing at times. Sibilance is very noticeable at medium/high volumes. Not the best combination.
4.5/10
SL
Sound Leak
Sound leakage performance is below average, sound levels are moderate to high, people will clearly hear what you are listening to and you will for sure disturb your partner sleeping next to you in bed.
6.25/10
SI
Sound Isolation
The Elecom do not take the crown in sound isolation but they do not fall short either, just average. Noises will get reduced noticeably but they will not achieve top level noise isolation.
7/10
C
Comfort
The Elecom EHP-CA3580 look big and that is because the 15.4mm dynamic driver needs enough housing space to be fitted. They have a form factor very similar to the Pioneer SE-CX8 and the Pioneer SE-CX9 , but still smaller than the Pioneer and much lighter. Fit and comfort are not particularly bad, the form factor may turn off some people and possibly become slightly uncomfortable after long listening sessions but overall they fit just right and comfort is average.
6/10
EQ
Response to Equalization
The response to eq is controversial, their piercing and sibilant highs are practically irreparable if you eq down those frequencies any definition that they could provide gets lost. Mids eq instead respond very good, mids and vocals improve noticeably if eqed right. Bass and sub-bass eq responds well but will muffle the sound quickly.
5.5/10
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BUY IT AT:
- Accesories - 8.5/108.5/10
- Design - 9/109/10
- Bass - 8.25/108.3/10
- Mids - 6.75/106.8/10
- Highs - 4.5/104.5/10
- Sound Leak - 6.25/106.3/10
- Sound Isolation - 7/107/10
- Comfort - 6/106/10
- Response to EQ - 5.5/105.5/10
- Value for Money - 7/107/10
Summary
- 15.4mm driver and neodymium magnet at a fraction of the price of Sony earphones
- Sub-bass depth is very good and clean without the need of any amplifier
- Cheap for the specs it offers
- Highs are piercing and sibilant
- Mids are harsh on the high-mids frequencies
- Having the specs of some top notch basshead contenders it could have performed better. Overall if you enjoy basshead level bass, do not want to use an amplifier and could live with the mids and highs problems that this Elecom have you could be a happy basshead iem owner.
The Elecom EHP-CA3580, due to their extreme bass amplification and basshead EQ response, have gained a position in the Best Basshead Earphones Chart.
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ELECOM EHP-CA3580 Frequency Response
ELECOM EHP-CA3580
Type | Dynamic |
---|---|
Driver Unit | 15.4mm |
Sensitivity | 100dB/mW |
Power Capacity | 100mW |
Impedance | 16 ohms |
Frequency Response | 10-22,000Hz |
Diaphragm | Unknown |
Magnet | Neodymium |
Cord | Y-type, flat cord |
Cord Length | 1.2m |
Plug | L shaped stereo mini plug (Gold plated) |
Weight (Without Cord) | Approx. 12g |
Supplied Accessories | 2x Earphone tips; cable winder, transport bag |
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