Chinese electronics manufacturer TCL, best known for making good quality televisions at affordable prices, has brought its value pricing to the earphone segment with SOCL300. The new earbuds that cost less than $15 a pair has sound quality comparable to earbuds that are ten times more expensive.
The secret to success of SOCL300 lies in the way TCL has managed to strike the right tonal balance with these earbuds. Sound that emanates from the earbuds may not be as pristine or crystalline as high-end earphones, but it is coherent, realistic, and faithful to the music. The various elements of any given track come together nicely, and with a warm tuning that favors bass these earphones make the basic act of enjoying music extremely easy. Bass is the most challenging thing for tiny earphones to reproduce correctly, so most companies falter in one of two ways, giving you either overpowering or undernourished low frequencies. TCL serves up an expertly judged amount of bass, and it even throws a respectable bit of sub-bass into the mix.
Adding another feather to the cap of SOCL300 is the microphone, which does a wonderful job of isolating reflections from room walls and producing a warm pleasant sound. This is great for those looking to make conference calls, and the mic alone is reason enough to own a pair of these great earbuds.
In addition to the good quality sound of both speakers and mic, the SOCL300 is also lightweight and snuggles up into the ear without any discomfort, while providing a reasonable seal from external noise. On the aesthetic front, the earbuds flaunt a color gradient along the wire, with options of orange, blue, purple and black which fades to gray. The price point at which TCL is pitching the SOCL300 also cuts out anyone would complain of the lack of accessories.
The earbud was launched at the recently concluded CES show in Las Vegas, where the company also displayed the MTRO, ACTV, and ELIT range of earphones to fill out a full portfolio of products.
