dBLogic EP-100 review

They might not be the epitome of “hi-fi”, but the EP-100s offer a dramatic, enjoyably musical performance Tested at £25

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

They might not be the epitome of “hi-fi”, but the EP-100s offer a dramatic, enjoyably musical performance

Pros

  • +

    Clever volume-limiting tech

  • +

    clear, punchy character

  • +

    dramatic when the music demands

Cons

  • -

    Midrange can err towards boxiness

  • -

    not the most refined listen

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

This is the first pair of dBLogics we’ve had in our testing rooms, and we were intrigued from the off.

Boasting a feature called SPL technology, they claim to limit the sound-pressure level entering your ear to 85dB – the maximum recommended volume you can listen at for eight continuous hours without doing permanent damage to your ears.

That’s a sobering thought, especially for full-time reviewers like us, so it’s good to see a design that takes hearing damage into account rather than simply going down the “seismic bass” route.

The maximum volume level on offer isn’t unlistenably quiet, either – when the dBLogic EP-100s are shoved into your ears and a decent seal is achieved around the flanged silicon tips, 85dB is still pretty loud. So, they won’t damage your ears with mega-volume.

A little bit of 'honk'
Will they damage your soul with awful sound? No, not that either. We were pleasantly surprised, in fact, at the EP-100s’ clarity and openness. Save for a little bit of ‘honk’ in the lower midrange, which can edge the sound towards boxiness at times, the presentation is commendably balanced and airy.

Low frequencies are reasonably quick on their feet, and tight enough when it comes to rhythms as long as things don’t get too complicated. The overall sound isn’t what you’d call ‘refined’, though – which is both a good and bad thing.

On one hand, treble can get a little rough around the edges when pushed, and focus suffers during busy material, but at the same time there’s still a sense of drama that some of the other earphones here lack.

We like the EP-100s a lot – it’s only that bawdiness to the treble that’s holding them back from the full five stars.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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