Name: Audeze iSINE 20
Brand: Audeze
SKU: 884ISINE20
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

by Crutchfield's Jeff Miller

Unique in-ear design for transparent, open-air sound

Audeze's iSINE 20 headphones feature the same break-through design as their sibling iSINE 10s, and I found they sounded even more spacious and detailed. The company shrunk their planar magnetic drivers — which are traditionally found inside their extra-large over-ear headphones — and fit them into a compact in-ear design.

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Audeze iSINE 20

Thanks to Audeze's cutting-edge planar technology, the iSINE 20 earbuds sound more spacious than a lot of over-ears.

Unique in-ear design for transparent, open-air sound

For this model, they've included an extra-long voice coil that improves the precision and the depth of the sound. It also helps reduce distortion. The iSINE 10s are impressive headphones, but the iSINE 20s give you an even better-defined sense of space.

More than just a Lightning cable

Audeze also included a detachable Apple® Lightning cable with its own built-in 24-bit DAC, so you can plug them directly into your iPhone® or iPad®. (You'll find a traditional 3.5mm cable, too.)

And this special "Cipher" Lightning cable offers more than just a way to play nice with your Apple device. You also get a built-in DAC and headphone amp that Audeze has precisely matched to these drivers. This means you get serious punch and clarity, just by plugging into your phone.

Planar-magnetic drivers: the basics

So how do planar magnetic headphones usually work? A large yet ultra-thin diaphragm is suspended within a magnetic field. It is covered with a flexible circuit. When the circuit receives an audio signal, the diaphragm moves back and forth to create sound. It starts and stops rapidly for clean and accurate sound across a wide frequency range.

How did Audeze fit that technology into an earbud?

The diaphragms used in the iSINE 20s are a fraction of the size used in most planar magnetic 'phones. Still, you can probably tell from the pictures that these headphones are bigger than most in-ear models. You stick the earbuds in your ears while the planar drivers actually sit outside.

To make up for the loss in diaphragm size, Audeze uses their super-powerful Fluxor magnets to provide quicker movement. These magnets are nearly double the power of a traditional magnet, making the iSINE 20 drivers incredibly efficient.

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Product highlights:

one of the world's first in-ear planar magnetic in-ear headphones
open-back design for warm, spacious soundstage

Driver Details:

30mm planar magnetic driver in each earpiece
- ultra-thin diaphragm starts, stops, and moves swiftly within a powerful magnetic field
- offers enhanced dynamics and detailed sound
Fluxor™ magnetic technology increases efficiency to keep headphones smaller and lighter
Uniforce™ diaphragm technology greatly reduces distortion
- longer Uniforce voice-coil than used on iSINE 10 headphones
- voice-coil etched across entire diaphragm to eliminate movement variations within the magnetic field
tested inside a sound-proof enclosure to ensure the drivers are accurately matched

General Info and Specs:

ear hooks keep headphones stable and comfortable
silicone ear tips included
detachable Lightning listening cable included for high-definition audio from an iPhone or iPad
- cable includes built-in DAC and headphone amp
Siri®-compatible microphone for voice commands and phone calls
detachable 59-inch flat audio cable with a 3.5mm plug
made of durable materials
designed by BMW DesignWorks USA
frequency response: 10-50,000 Hz
impedance: 24 ohms
weight: 0.7 ounces (without cable)
warranty: 1 year
MFR # 110-IE-1010-01

What's in the box:

Audeze iSINE 20 owner's manual

In-ear headphones
59" Cipher cable with in-line remote/mic (with 2-pin connectors on one end and an Apple Lightning connector on other end)
59" Audio cable (with 2-pin connectors on one end and straight 3.5mm plug on other end)
3 Pairs of ear tips (1 pr installed)
2 Pairs of Surefire EarLock retention rings (Med/Large)
2 Pairs of ear hooks (black/translucent)
Clothing clip
Ear tip cleaning tool
Certificate of Authenticity card
User Guide on USB drive

See the difference between "Open Box" and "Scratch & Dent" Outlet items

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Researched by Crutchfield's Mark G.

Features & specs

General
Fit Style	In-ear/Earbud
Earcup Type	Semi-open
Earcup Width x Height	1.298" x 1.6"
Noise-canceling	No
Bluetooth	No
Bluetooth Version	---
Single-earbud Operation	---
Mic For Taking Calls	Yes
Voice Assistant Access
Amazon Alexa	No
Google Assistant	No
Siri	No
Connectors
3.5mm	No
1/4"	No
Lightning	No
4.4mm balanced	No
XLR4 balanced	No
2.5mm	No
Other	None
Specs
Frequency Response	10-50k Hz
Sensitivity	112 dB
Impedance	24 Ohms
Weight	1.8 ounces
Cord Length	59" + 59"
Parts Warranty	1 Year (3 Yrs Drivers)
Labor Warranty	1 Year (3 Yrs Drivers)

Product Research

Features

Overview: The Audeze iSINE is the world's first full-range in-ear planar magnetic headphone. The iSINE 20 comes with two 59" cables--one designed for use with Apple iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, and one universal cable. The headphones come with two pairs of ear hooks, two pairs of ear locks, an assortment of rubber ear tips, and a handy storage case.

Planar Magnetic Technology: The iSINE Series headphones are a miniaturized, in-ear version of Audeze's flagship LCD collection of planar magnetic over-ear headphones. The iSINE 20 features large (30mm) ultra-thin planar magnetic diaphragms with the patented Uniforce voice-coil technology and a single-sided Fluxor magnetic array for greater accuracy and clarity. The iSINE 20 has a longer Uniforce voice coil than the iSINE 10, providing greater coverage over the magnetic diaphragms, giving the driver better control, better bass and clarity, and improved imaging. Even at high volumes, the distortion (THD) is less that 0.1% overall.

CIPHER Cable: The iSINE 20 comes with the award-winning CIPHER Lightning cable, which is especially optimized for the iSINE series and for Apple mobile devices. The cable bypasses the iDevice's internal DAC/amplifier, and streams a 24-bit high resolution signal directly to the in-line module. The module is equipped with a high-quality in-line amplifier, a digital-to-analog converter, and DSP (digital signal processor), plus a 3-button remote and microphone. The CIPHER cable is compatible with Lightning Connector-enabled iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch. A universal audio cable is also included for non-Apple devices.

Audeze App: With the accompanying Audeze app, you can take advantage of a 10-band EQ that lets you adjust the sound in real time. You can adjust the following bands by + or - 10dB: 32Hz, 64Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz, 8kHz, and 16kHz. You can save your favorite two EQ curves for later use, as they are stored in a non-volatile memory. The saved EQ curves can be used as you switch from one Apple device to another. The Audeze app requires iOS 8.1 or later, and is available for free download from the Apple iTunes App Store.

Fit: The iSINE 20 is designed to fit into the ear canal. It comes with three pairs (small, medium, large) of silicone ear tips to assure a correct fit. Two pairs (medium, large) of durable polymer Surefire EarLock retention rings comfortable lock the headphones into key points of your outer ear and keep them securely in your ear. There are also two pairs of ear hooks (black and translucent) that go behind the ear to hold the headphones in place. To keep the headphone cable in place, a clothing clip is included.

Specifications:

Frequency Response: 10Hz to 50kHz
Type: Semi-open-back planar magnetic headphones
Magnetic Structure: Single-sided Fluxor magnetic array
Magnet Type: Neodymium
Diaphragm Type: Ultra-thin with Uniforce voice-coil
Transducer Size: 30mm
Maximum Power Handling: 500mW
Maximum SPL: >130dB
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.1%, full spectrum, @ 100dB
Impedance: 24 ohms
Dimensions: Width 1.298", Height 1.6", Depth 1.318"
Weight: 1.8 ounces (including CIPHER cable)

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1 question already asked

A few questions: 1.- as the sine 20's are open back can others hear them, especially if used in an office? 2.- Can these be used in an office setting with skype to be on conference calls on a computer as well as with an iPhone? 3.- are they noise cancelling in any way so that they can be used on a plane, gym, or at the office? 4.- are they returnable if I do not like the fit? Thank you.

frank Sep 18, 2017

1 answer

1> Although the iSine20s are open back the noise is negligible as I also use mine in an office setting. 2>. The iSine20 doesn't include a microphone so I don't think you could conduct a Skype meeting with them on. 3> They aren't noise cancelling, you will hear external noise (which in my opinion is preferable when used in an office setting.

colin Sep 18, 2017

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