I am a music lover. I spend most of my free time listening to music - even when I sleep - I turn the volume down just so I can dream music. So getting the chance to review two sets of earphones was a challenge I was more than willing to accept.
In the one corner, we have the Urbanears Bagis earphones by Zound Industries. In the other, the Marshall Minor earphones from Marshall (the iconic brand created by the 'Father of Loud' Jim Marshall). Let's see how they compare.
Design, look and feel
The first lesson I learnt when I put on the Urbanears Bagis earphones was that any sudden movement is prohibited.
If you turn your head too fast, these are bound to fall off - unless you're doing a convincing impression of a statue. The Marshall Minor earphones do a better job with the patented EarClick solution, which secure the earphones into the ears, ensuring they don't fall off.
The earphones sit neatly in the top inner fold of the ear, with earpiece sizes ranging from small, medium, large and extra large.
It seems as though the two brands are trying to outdo each other when it comes to presentation, both have pulled out all the stops in the creative design of the packaging.
The Urbanears earphones come in a box that could be confused for a decadent box of chocolates. Amid a maze of sub-boxes, you will find a pair of red earphones (and a cute heart-shaped sticker).
The Minor earphones are a 'baby' Marshall brand, but they're in a completely different playing field. The Minor's packaging could pass for a jewellery box (guys should tread carefully if they give these to their girlfriends for Christmas).
The Minor earphones are striking in their understated design, with a black and gold finish. Be warned: it is a mission trying to get them out of the box. But once you do, it's hello to good sound (minus the bass).
Both earphones have a thin connection cord, which I found convenient as it meant I could easily slip them into my handbag without the concern of space; however, I will admit that finding and untangling them was a bit of an exercise.
The Urbanears' cord is half material, half rubber, which, according to Urbanears, is tangle-resistant. However, I found the earphones would tangle easily in my cluttered handbag.
About 130mm from the left earpiece is a microphone and remote.
The Urbanears and Minor microphones allow users to talk on their phones while listening to music, while the remote answers and/or disconnects a call; two clicks will skip to the next track while three clicks will take users to the previous song.
I found the design and look of the Bagis earphones rather ordinary; they feature the usual rounded tip that goes into the ear. Marshall, on the other hand, went the extra mile with the complete fabric and EarClick design.
Perhaps due to the in-ear design, I found the Minor earphones a little uncomfortable after long periods of use. It felt as if the pointy edges were pressing against the inside of my ear.
The fact that the cord on the Minor earphones is completely made of fabric was a plus for me, as it meant that no matter how far down in the cluttered handbag these earphones may find themselves, they are tangle-resistant. Also, the sound never distorted.
Comfort and usability
The Urbanears earphones fell off countless times, so I would recommend only wearing these when you know you're going to be sitting still.
A really cool feature is the snap construction, which allows users to snap the back ends of the earplugs together around their necks when they are not using them.
In the box, you also get small, medium and large rubber plugs, which you can change on the earphones to find the perfect fit.
Even though they kept falling off, the small earplugs worked best for me as I found them the most comfortable to use.
However, I found the Marshall Minor earphones more comfortable even though it was quite a tedious exercise trying to figure out which EarClicks were suitable for my ears. But once I did, these earphones stayed properly in place.
As with the Marshall Major earphones, the Minor earphones feature an Apple-certified microphone and remote, with the additional functionality of volume control, which is great for controlling a device from the earphones.
Sound quality
I tried the earphones out by listening to Hip-Hop, Jazz and R&B, and they worked well.
The highs on the Urbanears remain high, while the mids and tempos are left behind completely. This translated into a pretty bland experience - the earphones don't add anything to the music experience, it just comes as is.
It's a pity there isn't robust bass to complement the sound. But this may be a plus for some users.
Having used the Major earphones, I was disappointed with the quality of the sound of the Minor earphones. It is as though the Minor lacked the same level of understanding of the music and the different tones as its big brother.
They don't offer the complete surround bass; but then again, I need to keep my expectations in check - these are earphones, not headphones.
A word of caution, don't try and play music at full blast on the Urbanears - the sound gets distorted and there is a really annoying, squeaky, shrill sound in the background (not unlike a screaming Smurf). Not groovy - especially if your ears are fragile.
I was satisfied with the clear, crystal sound on the Minor earphones and was happy not to hear any distortion when the volume was turned up, albeit being disappointed with the missing bass.
Recommendation
I sat with a friend and we compared the Urbanears with a pair he had bought for R10 on the street.
When you look at them, there isn't much difference, except for the quality of the finishes. For example, the earpieces on the Urbanears unit don't disconnect from the cord as easily and the microphone is always working in top form.
They also feature the additional stereo plug, which is not available from the street vendor (neither is the cool packaging you get with the real-deal from Urbanears).
Get them for their decent sound and affordable price tag, but do not expect wonders from these babies.
The Marshall Minor earphones scream elegance and sophistication from the moment you lay eyes on them.
They are from the Jim Marshall brand, which is synonymous with rock and roll. They will definitely rock your world with their crystal-clear sound and you will love the additional feature of the EarClicks, particularly if you are the jogging type.
Compared to the Urbanears earphones, the Marshal Minor earphones excel in the sound department.
Users will definitely enjoy the understated glam-rock look and feel. While they may be a little pricey for mere earphones, if you want an above-average experience, these are worth it.
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