UMi have made the move from dedicated smartphone maker to lifestyle brand with the introduction of the new UMi Voix earphones. See how well they have done with the move in our full review.
A smartphone maker making earphones is hardly something new. Xiaomi made it famous with the Piston earphones, but even they weren’t the first! Meizu, Oppo and Vivo all had earphones on the market before them. So far it has only been the bigger brands that have released earphones, so UMi are the first mid size phone maker to get in on the action. How have they done?
UMi Voix Unboxing Video
UMi Voix Review: Packaging and in the box
The Voix come in a simple metal tin with red “Voix” logo and specifications on the rear. The metal tin of our pre-production sample came without a foam insert which the final production packaging will come with.
What we did get in the box though were the Voix earphones and also a small ziplock bag with 4 additional silicon rubber tips of various. In total there are 6 rubber tips ranging from large to small, I found the small to be the best fit for me and kept external sound sources out while enjoying my tunes.
UMi Voix Review: Design and Construction
The design of the UMi Voix is very unique and I would say “retro space age”. My first thoughts were of the end of a jet engine or tip of a rocket, while holding the earphone up it even looks a little like a classic UFO flying saucer. The “retro space age” look is brought in to the 21st century with a smoke grey chrome finish, red highlights and flat black cable.
Compared to some earphones the body of the Voix is on the large side and if you have smaller ear lobes you might have a bit of struggle to get the positioning just right. Once you get used to them though you easily sit the Voix in place with the drivers directing down to your eardrums.
Build is of a very good standard. Even getting up close and carefully inspecting the Voix I found no imperfections. The flat anti-tangle cable is protected by rubber as it enters and exits the earphones, remote and 3.5mm plug and should prevent the internal wires snapping when bent or tugged.
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The earphones shape and build quality is good as is the 3.5mm headphone jack with gold plating, but the remote in the middle of the cable is a little sub par when compared to the rest. It’s nice to see a multifunction single button on the control, but the plastic body could be of slightly better construction.
UMi Voix Review: Sound Performance
To confirm this is our second set of Voix, the first being a very early pre-production sample and this new set (for the review) a new updated version with slightly tweaked audio.
UMi have been working with a number of parties to get the sound of the Voix just right. From Italian DJ’s to engineers in China. UMi have also been getting feedback from early testers to get the sound quality just right. With a true sound audio curve, helical aluminum sound chamber, 13mm drivers and MPEI diaphragms, the Voix certainly have the goods but how do they sound?
Well if you like bass then there is a lot of it here perhaps a little too much at time, even for someone like myself who enjoys bass! Sounds quality isn’t bad, better than the first review set of Voix we were sent, but overall clarity is a little lacking at times.
Audio, art is very personal and while one person might not like something there are plenty of others who will. This is true for the Voix, while I found the Voix to be missing something in terms of clarity and depth there were other people who tried them who loved the bass heavy nature of the earphones.
UMi Voix Review: Conclusion
Build quality and design of the UMi Voix is good. They are a unique looking pair of earphones with a huge amount of cable and useful remote design. Sound quality it good if you are searching for a bass heavy set of earphones, but where they gain ground in sheer bass the Voix are a little behind the pack in terms of overall clarity with the overall “atmosphere” of tracks loosing out.
At $19.99 the UMi Voix have some big competition but for a first attempt at an earphone UMi have done a surprising job with the design and build. Compared to your standard OEM earbuds that come with many phones the UMi Voix are much better and a huge update, and even against some popular big brand earphones the Voix can hold their own.
The Voix will suit anyone looking to upgrade from OEM earbuds and not want to pay the earth, true audiophiles need not apply but then again this type of user generally doesn’t buy $20 earphones.