Zoom iHiFi 4385 review

Heavy, fiddly earpieces and a sound that seems detached and so a little uninspiring. They could and should be better than they are. Tested at £50.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

These Bluetooth headphones are a good idea badly realised

Pros

  • +

    Comprehensive, well thought-out headphone

Cons

  • -

    Lack sonic sparkle and can hang heavy on your ears

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We're all for convenience, so Zoom's 4385 headphones look like a good idea even before they're out of their plastic clamshell.

Foldable, back-band wireless 'phones are always promising, and a transmitter to plug into your iPod sweetens the deal.

Bluetooth compatibility (for answering your mobile via the built-in mic) is another flourish.

Shame, then, that the 4385s are compromised in practice.

Heavy and fiddly in use
The design isn't uncomfortable but the earphones are irksomely heavy. Each earpiece also includes various ‘play/pause', ‘volume up/down' and ‘answer/hang up' controls, which are seemingly grouped at random and are fiddly to use with the headphones in situ.

Sound, too, bears criticism. Like Eric Morecambe when he claimed to be playing ‘all the right notes – but not necessarily in the right order', the 4385s deliver the relevant information, but do it in such a detached manner that they're a dull, uninspiring listen.

The 4385s could easily be better than they are.

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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