Page 3: Lift-Audio Icon Series
Lift-Audio Icon Series
The first thing that catches your attention is the carrying case for the Icon Series. It has a similar construction to many kinds of earbud cases (a hardback-nylon weave with a clamshell design, held closed by a zipper), but there are a few differences. There is a wide tag at the rear of the case which displays the Lift-Audio logo, and to the left is a small cloth loop which holds a carabiner that you can use to attach the case to a belt loop or keychain. The handle on the zipper slider also uses a shape that nicely contours to your hand rather than a more generic design.
The interior of the case is also a little different, using a cargo net on each side for storing the earbuds and the wires rather than a center spindle. The inside of the case is lined with a felt-like substance.
Moving on the the earbuds themselves, what quickly grabs you is the wires used in the construction. They are all high quality braided wires, with a thick-but-durable feel to them. We at ASE Labs love braided wires for electronics. They look better than typical wire insulation, they are stronger than typical wire insulation, and they also don't get kinked as easily as typical wires do.
The TRS connector is a gold-plated straight jack with a glossy finish, and the splitter for the left and right bud is made of a similar glossy plastic. Particularly notable about the splitter is that it is fashioned out of one piece of plastic and looks quite strong, which is a major plus because a poor splitter is generally the cause for earbuds to break.
The design of the cones is pretty straightforward for premium earbuds. They have an aluminum construction with a plastic shroud covering some of the exterior. One cool thing about the design is that the R and L are etched into the surface opposite of the speaker cone rather than simply painted on. All in all, the design of the Icon Series is pretty straightforward, but there are still some nice touches sprinkled throughout.
The first thing that catches your attention is the carrying case for the Icon Series. It has a similar construction to many kinds of earbud cases (a hardback-nylon weave with a clamshell design, held closed by a zipper), but there are a few differences. There is a wide tag at the rear of the case which displays the Lift-Audio logo, and to the left is a small cloth loop which holds a carabiner that you can use to attach the case to a belt loop or keychain. The handle on the zipper slider also uses a shape that nicely contours to your hand rather than a more generic design.
The interior of the case is also a little different, using a cargo net on each side for storing the earbuds and the wires rather than a center spindle. The inside of the case is lined with a felt-like substance.
Moving on the the earbuds themselves, what quickly grabs you is the wires used in the construction. They are all high quality braided wires, with a thick-but-durable feel to them. We at ASE Labs love braided wires for electronics. They look better than typical wire insulation, they are stronger than typical wire insulation, and they also don't get kinked as easily as typical wires do.
The TRS connector is a gold-plated straight jack with a glossy finish, and the splitter for the left and right bud is made of a similar glossy plastic. Particularly notable about the splitter is that it is fashioned out of one piece of plastic and looks quite strong, which is a major plus because a poor splitter is generally the cause for earbuds to break.
The design of the cones is pretty straightforward for premium earbuds. They have an aluminum construction with a plastic shroud covering some of the exterior. One cool thing about the design is that the R and L are etched into the surface opposite of the speaker cone rather than simply painted on. All in all, the design of the Icon Series is pretty straightforward, but there are still some nice touches sprinkled throughout.