Phonak Audéo PFE 232

Phonak Audéo PFE 232

Phonak, a hearing aid company that recently has dabbled in high-quality earphones, offers up the Audo PFE 232 as its top-of-the-line pair. At $599 (list), they're incredibly expensive. Typically, you don't see this kind of price unless you're getting a high-end wireless, noise-canceling, or custom-molded pair. What makes the PFE 232 so special? It's not just the bundled accessories, which includes a range of eartips made from a variety of materials, a replacement cable, and a set of three acoustic filters to help customize the audio response to your preference. What you're paying for is overall audio performance. The PFE 232 combines beautiful, articulate, robust lows and crystal-clear highs with an extremely secure fit. Is this pair worth $600? That's debatable, but the quality level is not. Audiophiles seeking the most customizable, non-custom molded earphone pair you'll find, read on. DesignPart of what shocks me so much about the Audo PFE 232's price is how it looks: from the ho-hum (but useful) zip-up protective case to the styling of the earpieces, which look like a minor upgrade from earbuds included with MP3 players, they just don't scream "high-end." The black-and-gray plastic on the earpieces is not eye-catching, but the good news is the PFE 232 fits remarkably well.