Nox Audio explores audiophile options with Scout mini headset, we go ears-on

When the Scout in-ear headset launches this fall, it'll actually be Nox Audio's second debut product -- the first is the Specialist we just reviewed -- but unlike that pair of supra-aural cans, these little devils may actually have quality sound. Even in the hustle and bustle of the E3 2010 floor, we were able to make out clear, nuanced audio from their balanced armature drivers, and were impressed by the build quality as well. The silicone tab attached to each phone kept them more easily affixed to the ears, and both the in-line microphone and send / end button for calls were so tiny a Nox rep had to point them out -- at first, we thought they were part of the cord. At an estimated $70, though, we'll be eager to see how they compete with Klipsch, not to mention Apple's model.

Nox Audio Scout ears-on

[DDiaz007 Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:40PM]

Cool

[Techie Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:20AM]

Skip the Apple product and compare these to Sennheisers or Sony MDR high end series.

[eddieexe Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:41PM]

You're really comparing these to Apple's in-ear headphones..?

[bathellfire Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:47PM]

@eddieexe They have a premium version (sold separately) that are pretty good.

[dpaq887 Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:53PM]

@eddieexe
Not yet they're not

[HoldenMccrotch Posted Jun 18th 2010 7:00AM]

@bathellfire
hmm...
the ones you get in the box and the other 'low end' (though still expensive) headphones apple make are not so good sound quality and break rather easily, which is a shame, their products are quite good youd think theyd want to flaunt the sound quality with some nice earphones :P

[Fizz Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:42PM]

So many headphones, so little time.

[TwoADays Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:45PM]

Theyre nothing compared to my s4's...

[goopy Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:06PM]

@TwoADays Just try x10, IE8, Monster Copper/Gold/MD, FX700 and you'll see how bad s4 sound. :)

[reallynotnick Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:44PM]

@goopy
Why are you comparing $300+ earbuds to sub $100 earbuds? I'm sure I could find some $900 earbuds that blow your choices away.

[goopy Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:08AM]

@reallynotnick : At least they are all universal. :P
And there's no universal out there that cost $900.well, not that I know of.

[New Reformation Posted Jun 18th 2010 1:44AM]

@TwoADays

I asked this before but never got a answer... Can anyone recommend some cans for around $300? I run lossless and have my hearing completely intact. I have been looking at Alasandro's but I don't know...

[roosta Posted Jun 18th 2010 6:24AM]

@reallynotnick
RE0's will still kick your S4's ass. and they are $80.

[goopy Posted Jun 18th 2010 7:44AM]

@New Reformation : You better go to Head-fi and ask that question cuz you are not going to get sound advice here. But be ready to tell what kind of music you listen and what kind of DAP you use. You'll get good advice for sure.

[goopy Posted Jun 18th 2010 7:44AM]

@roosta : I heard RE0 suck ass in bass department. How about HippoVB?It's about the same price.

[protolink Posted Jun 17th 2010 10:53PM]

Balanced armatures? HELL YEAH!

[goopy Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:03PM]

I'm self-confess bass head. So no thanks to BA drivers.

[UrAwFuL Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:13PM]

How about compared to Beats by Dre? The tour one.

[reallynotnick Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:40PM]

@UrAwFuL
The Beats are terrible, another over priced monster product. You would be better off buying just about any other brand for half the price.

[unseen Posted Jun 17th 2010 11:45PM]

@reallynotnick ironically though monster turbines of all models are highly regarded on places such as headfi

[goopy Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:12AM]

@unseen : AFAIK tubines are regarded as overpriced and beats and gaga are regarded as junks there. The rest are highly regarded(MD/MG/MC)

[Bung Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:01AM]

Any kind of comparison to similiarly priced sennheiser earbuds?

[ngko Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:04AM]

Well at first I thought Beats by Dre 2010.

[ddkshah Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:36AM]

My sony xb40's sound better than my friend's dre's. So I wonder how these would compare with my xb40's?

[ddkshah Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:43AM]

My Sony xb40's sound way better than my friend's dre's. Also my xb40's have bass that's better than my jbl woofer. So I wonder how these would do against my xb40's?

[ddkshah Posted Jun 18th 2010 12:44AM]

Oops my bad for the double I guess my iPhone didn't load the page correctly :(

[Evanblive91 Posted Jun 18th 2010 3:55AM]

how about compared to the nuforce ne7. and hows the bass in comparison??

[roosta Posted Jun 18th 2010 6:26AM]

i cannot believe you are testing headphones from a sony PSP, possibly the worst headphone output on any mobile device ever made.

[Openwave Posted Jun 18th 2010 8:29AM]

My S4s have served me well.

[micahstevens Posted Jul 1st 2010 10:27AM]

I listened to these - although I'd agree with the build quality assessment, the sound was actually pretty good.

They have a fairly nice response and although I wouldn't say they have the clarity of a good set of balanced armature inserts, and they aren't an audiophile setup, they're firmly in the 'decent' range and I would definitely consider using them to listen to music to. If you consider the gaming features they're darned good, although not sure what to make of the interface product. Didn't get to try it out.

If you look at the response graphs it's pretty decently flat in comparison to other on-ear headphones in it's class. I wouldn't throw these at the bottom of the pile for sound quality at all.