Gadget review: RHA T10i earphones

RHA showcase Scotland's great engineering heritage with the T10i. Picture: Contributed

RHA T10i earphones

Price: £149.95

FOR all the engineering marvels that Glasgow has given the world, there is a temptation to regard its industrial heritage as a thing of the past, an energy borne from and which ended with the Victorian era, now to be preserved and revered in the hushed confines museums and libraries. Yet the city’s indomitable spirit has not only survived into the 21st century, but prospered in new ways, with arguably no finer exponent than RHA, a specialist audio company just off the banks of the Clyde at Finnieston, which has also recently opened a pop up shop in Princes Square. Its name may not be familiar to most Scots, but for audiophiles the world over, those three initials represent a guarantee of top-grade sound.

From its humble head office tucked off Argyle Street, the company - formerly known as Reid & Heath Acoustics - has unveiled its latest product, the T10i. Ostensibly, these are in-ear, wired earphones, but such a description feels wholly inadequate when you consider the work and innovation that has gone into them. The first thing that strikes you about the model is its design, akin to a personal listening device dreamt up by H.R. Giger, the late surrealist set designer famous for his work on Alien.

The aesthetic is brash, unconventional and brilliant

Quite simply, the T10i looks classical and otherworldly at once, like Henry Moore meets Blade Runner. What stands out most of all is the use of cold, brushed injection moulded stainless steel for the main body of the earphones, bound to the winding spine of an oxygen-free copper cable with gold plated connectors. It is a bold, brash and unconventional aesthetic and it looks marvellous. More importantly, the design informs a superb sonic performance. The weight of the metallic components give the T10i a sturdiness that improves the isolation of external noise without compromising comfort, thanks to over ear hooks that mould around the ears and leave you free to focus on the output rather than fiddling around.

The resultant sound is a resounding success, a combination of power, finesse and dexterity. RHA say its handmade dynamic driver allows the earphones to excel across a range of genres with detail and accuracy, and our tests endorsed such a claim. Back catalogue vintage Rolling Stones tracks came through with punch and clarity as the T10i brought out the best of the guitar textures and interplay while representing the thumping backbeat with gusto. Punchier tracks from Daft Punk also sounded dynamic and powerful with no distortion when the volume was cranked up.

With extensive options, RHA cater to audiophiles and general consumers alike

While such an expansive performance will likely satisfy the majority of consumers, RHA also caters to the whims of a more demanding audience. The T10i comes not only with a handsome carry case, but an array of accessories and attachments designed to fine tune its fit and sound. Listeners can choose from a range of ear tips - including dual density silicone, memory foam and double flange silicone - but the masterstroke is the choice of two additional tuning filters to add nuance to the overall frequency, whether you favour a little extra bass or treble.

The former is well catered for in the standard issue reference filter already attached to the earphones, but replacing it with the treble option squeezed out a little extra detail from quieter, acoustic tracks. The reality is that music sounds great with the T10i, irrespective of the filter you choose, but the fact RHA have gone the extra mile and allow people to tinker hands-on with its technology in pursuit of the perfect listening experience demonstrates the innovation and care at play. This is a product of which Glasgow, that great city of music, should be immensely proud.

• RHA T10i available at http://www.rha-audio.com/uk/headphones/t10i.html