RHA T10i review: In-ear headphones that are all about the bass

RHA T10i review: Build quality and accessories

How would I describe the T10i’s build quality? In a word, gorgeous. Put the RHA T10is side by side with any other pair of headphones up to £150 and they stand apart. The metal housings look and feel expensive, and the thick grey cabling is terminated with a solid-feeling 3.5mm jack and metal strain-relief sleeves.

As with the MA750i, the T10i’s ear cables loop up and over the ear, but RHA has replaced the pre-shaped rubber of the MA750i’s with a sheathed metal spring that bends and holds in place. Again, I’m not a huge fan, probably because of my excessively floppy hair, but I did find they had a tendency to creep upwards and slip out of place. Those with more Spock-like ears or a less ridiculous barnet probably won’t have such problems, though.

Just like the MA750i, the “i” in the T10i’s title indicates that they come with an in-line microphone and a remote control. This allows you to accept and decline calls, skip tracks, activate Siri and adjust the volume on an iPhone, and some of the functions may work on select Android phones. If you don’t need the luxury, however, then save yourself £10 by opting for the standard T10.

RHA is pretty generous with the extras. The padded zip-up carry case is a nice touch – these are headphones that you’ll definitely want to keep safe and sound – and there are a smorgasbord of different eartips.

You get six pairs of dual-density silicone tips in three sizes, two pairs of double flange tips and a further two pairs of memory foam tips. As ever, though, I reached for my trusty after-market Comply memory foam tips: for some reason, my ears just don’t get along with the eartips that are bundled with most in-ear headphones. I’ve always found them wanting for comfort, or simply not capable of creating the firm, air-tight seal that guarantees in-ear headphones perform at their best.

RHA T10i: Verdict

Given their love of the lower half of the frequency spectrum, the RHA T10i may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But, thanks to the fact that you can tune the sound signature, this shouldn’t prove a significant barrier to purchase – you can tweak the T10i to suit your ears and your tastes.

All told, they give a big, weighty sound from a tiny in-ear package, and if you can forgive the niggles with fit – or don’t suffer from them in the first place – they offer a refined, truly high-end performance for £150. Throw in RHA’s three-year warranty, and the T10is are destined to keep on dubbing for many, many years.

So you’ve got a new pair of headphones. Want to find the perfect smartphone to go with them? Check out our list of the best smartphones of 2015