It’s been a long time since I sat in a makeshift, DIY sound proofed (egg cartons) sound booth to sing a song. I do remember just how important it was to be able to “hear” myself as well as the music I was singing to. I liked the isolation of my voice it help me better arrange during final mastering. I grew up watching countless musicians use earphones, called monitors, to accurately hear their music on stage. I-Mego created ZTONE (pronounced: stone) to bring this on-stage earphone quality to your everyday life. Do the ZTONE’s bring that “back in the studio” feel? I’ve actually used these as my daily go to earphones for the last 60 days and was actually impressed.
Design/Build
ZTONE utilizes a patent-pending design that form-fits and locks in your ear. ZTONE also provides a secure, comfortable fit through four pairs of custom-molded ear gels. The braided cables made from genuine silver carry impeccable audio to the studio-tuned monitors and securely fit behind your ear and add a touch of elegance to the design. ZTONE completes the package with an elegant design that compliments both your taste in music and your style.
It took some maneuvering with the custom molded ear gels to actually get the full benefit of the lock feature. Once I got it sorted out it I found them to be a lot more comfortable than they look. While they all have the silver braided cable they are available in 3 different colored finishes Gold, Gunmetal and Chrome.
In the Box
- In-Ear Monitor Earphones
- 1/4″ (6.3mm) stereo adaptor
- 2-prong Airplane Audio Adaptor
- 4ft (1.2m) genuine silver braided audio cable
- 4 pairs of custom-molded ear gels
- 3 pairs of additional silicone fittings
- Durable metal carrying case
Technical Specifications
- Driver Diameter: 10mm x 2
- Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000Hz
- Sensitivity: 105 +/- 5db
- Impedance: 16ohms
- Cable Length: 4ft (1.2m)
- Connector: 3.5mm gold-plated stereo plug
Final Thoughts
Some headphones serve a particular purpose and are not all one size fits all or even most. I found that to especially be the case with the I-Mego Ztones. These are really made for a DJ/hardcore music person, so casual listeners or even most general consumers may want steer clear. These aren’t bass heavy, no inline mic or as there is no inline mic or volume controls and it can take a bit of effort to get them adjusted just right for optimal performance.
For me – I use these daily with my iPod and find I enjoy albums like Adele – 21 much more with them. I didn’t miss the enhanced bass I’ve gotten used to with most other earphones I’ve used. For my personal use they are well worth the $99.99 price tag and for anyone else who is in the market for a great pair of monitors to listen to tracks, demos, rough mixes; etc. I’d highly recommend. If you plan on listening to bass heavy and you require that option with your earphones these won’t do the trick.
