StereoNET: KEF Porsche Design Motion One Headphones Review

APRIL 2017

KEF PORSCHE DESIGN MOTION ONE WIRELESS HEADPHONES

REVIEW / KEF / PORSCHE DESIGN MOTION ONE IN-EAR HEADPHONES

KEF

PORSCHE DESIGN MOTION ONE WIRELESS HEADPHONES Distributor: Advance Audio $399 RRP

Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was

Porsche Design Group was formed. Porsche

famously quoted as saying “If you analyze

took their elegant, high performance, no-

the function of an object, its form often

nonsense approach to design and applied it to

becomes obvious.”

an array of everyday items, including luggage,

When he designed the first ever Porsche

watches, eyewear, electronics, and more.

911, it was clear that he practised what

And whilst the Germans were busy creating

he preached. From its unusually functional

history with the iconic 911 back in the 1960s,

aesthetic, down to its rear-engined raw power,

equally rich in heritage and performance,

to this day the 911 remains one of the most

KEF were getting to work in the UK, creating

successful competition cars ever produced

beautiful sound systems.

– and for decades now, a cult favourite amongst sports car enthusiasts.

The brainchild of WWII Royal Navy veteran Raymond Cooke, KEF has always been at

What many may not know though is that

the forefront of HiFi. Their iconic speaker

Porsche aren’t just about cars. In 2003 the

enclosure design, paired with their incredible

“elegant, high performance, no-nonsense approach to design”

amount of acoustic and driver research, allows them to proudly remain one of the most esteemed names in home audio.

Teaming up for a new range of headphones and Bluetooth speakers this year, it’s not the first time they’ve collaborated. Back in

between these two industry giants.

The new line includes three products: ‧ ‧ Over-ear headphones (Space One) ‧ ‧ A portable speaker system (Gravity One) ‧ ‧ The new Bluetooth IEMs (Motion One)

2013, together they produced the over-ear

Space, Gravity and Motion … we’re starting to

KEF M500 headphones. Whilst reviews were

notice a pattern here.

mainly positive for this release, critics did mention that it felt more like a KEF product, with Porsche Design’s style bolted on.

With a more unified collaboration in this new range, there is an obvious and consistent design philosophy driving the collaboration

Australian KEF distributors Advance Audio were generous enough to send through one of the first available samples of the Motion One In-Ear Monitors for our review.

“Porsche Design have put an enormous effort into the aesthetic of this release”

Packaging and Materials Included in the box is: ‧ ‧ Clamshell style hard carrying case ‧ ‧ Smaller semicircle soft case ‧ ‧ Neckband Bluetooth module ‧ ‧ 3.5mm ribbon cable ‧ ‧ A shirt clip ‧ ‧ An airline adapter ‧ ‧ Three different size of ear tips ‧ ‧ A USB charging cable The packaging and presentation of this product is nothing short of exceptional. All the accessories are a sleek shade of matte black and have clearly had consideration put into the consistency of the design.

Everything was so neatly and beautifully presented that I almost felt bad removing it all from the carefully laid out positions in the packaging.

Build One unspoken rule of what I like to call a “road

For on-ear and over-ear releases this is

warrior” IEM, is that it must look the part.

becoming a common feature, but it’s quite a

If a product is designed to be used on flights,

rarity for Bluetooth earphones.

in the gym and around the office, let’s face it,

To switch between Bluetooth or cabled

it will become not only a way of listening to

options, the entire neckband assembly

music, but also a fashion accessory.

must be detached from the aluminium driver

Luckily in this case, Porsche Design have put an enormous effort into the aesthetic of this release. Not only is each earpiece

housings via their MMCX type connection, and is easily replaced with the included 3.5mm ribbon-type cable.

made of aluminium with a sandblasted

This solution is perfect for a portable IEM for

anodised titanium finish, but all of the included

a few reasons. Firstly, the user can use any

accessories and parts strictly follow the same

cable they wish, providing it has an MMCX

colour scheme and design themes.

connection. Secondly, this option means that

It all comes together in a very classy and elegant looking package – which is especially impressive considering the IPX5 water resistance certification. In fact, Porsche Design claim you can wash these under a tap!

Each earpiece has an internal magnet at the rear which allow the IEMs to neatly snap together when not in use. Sounds gimmicky,

users will never have to worry about battery life affecting their listening session – if it ever runs out on the road or on a long-haul flight, you can simply switch to cabled mode.

This is both a clever and intuitive way of switching between wireless and cabled, and our hats go off to both Porsche design and KEF for this.

but it’s handy for a tiny product with removable

The Bluetooth neckband contains volume

cables; a key factor in not losing them.

control, play/pause and track skipping

They also feature a pivoting rear head with precise markings so that the cable can comfortably be worn either over the ear,

Bluetooth buttons. They feel a little soft and spongy but that’s likely due to the IPX5 water resistance rating.

or straight in. Considering the insertion

Unfortunately, the battery does not seem

angle on these is quite steep, this is quite a

to be user replaceable. Rather, an included

useful feature.

Micro USB cable charges it.

The Motion One earphones can be used in either cabled or Bluetooth (wireless) mode.

Using the headphone: Each earpiece contains a single dynamic

built in when compared to the average

8.6mm Neodymium driver which is rated at a

smartphone. I also used various smartphones

surprisingly low 16 Ohms and has a sensitivity

for listening as well though, with no noticeable

of 95dB. You’ll have no issue driving this to

audible difference.

ear-splitting level with the average smartphone.

A robotic voice will speak through the IEMs

The wireless neckband has Bluetooth v4.1

indicating when they are powering on or

with AptX, with a 140mAh battery which is

off, or when they successfully connect to a

rated to around 10 hours of battery life.

source device.

The neckband is incredibly light and flexible. It

While too often found with Bluetooth

didn’t cause us any pain or discomfort, even

headphones, I’m happy to report in this case I

after long periods of use.

couldn’t detect any audible hiss or noise.

No two pairs of ears are the same so it’s

Tonally, the sound via AptX and cabled mode

always welcome when several different sizes

was very similar. The usual unavoidable

and styles of tips are included with in-ear

bandwidth drawbacks with Bluetooth are

headphones. In the case of Motion One, I

still present, but it’s still a solid and stable

did find the selection to be lacking in this

connection with no major issues.

department with only three different size of olive-style tips included.

Cabled Listening (Chord Mojo):

From my observations, there doesn’t seem

Whilst not being difficult to drive in cabled

to be anything terribly unique about the wide bore of the Motion One IEM, so perhaps

mode, the low impedance of these single driver dynamic IEMs does mean that a little care must

some aftermarket tips might fit neatly here.

be taken in selecting the right source.

In any case, once a good fit is established

Whilst the Chord Electronics Mojo headphone

they sat comfortably enough in my ears.

amplifier/DAC was a perfect pairing for this

Bluetooth Listening (Pioneer XDP 300R):

The good news is a smartphone will do

I prefer using a dedicated Digital Audio Player for testing Bluetooth earphones as they generally have a lot more volume steps

device, at this price point it is a little overkill. a great job of powering the Motion One earphones in cabled mode.

“once a good fit is established they sat comfortably�

“The bass feels strong and clean, and not distorted at all�

Sound The bass response is precisely

Considering the ever so slight

what I love to see in a single driver

V-shaped sound signature, the

dynamic IEM: Deep reaching,

high frequency range has just

tight, controlled and punchy. The

a little bite around the 8kHz

packaging lists the frequency

mark, but not enough to be

range as 20hz to 20khz.

bothersome.

The bass feels strong and clean,

The soundstage is phenomenal,

and not distorted at all. Basslines

and I was pleasantly surprised.

and kicks alike will jump out and

The imaging was also dead

be forward in the mix. With a rise

accurate. Both of these

around 30hz to 60hz there’s a

properties allow the Motion One

distinct sub bass rumble. From

to clearly punch above their

there, it’s a linear ride from 60hz

price point which is no surprise

to 120hz, where it gets a nice

considering KEF are at the helm

meaty kick until it hits around

of the acoustic enclosures.

160hz or so.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model / / MOTION ONE Bluetooth Earphones Type / / Bluetooth In-ear earphones Driver (Headphone) / / 8.6mm neodymium driver Frequency Response / / 20-20kHz Bluetooth Version // Bluetooth v4.1 with aptX codec Sensitivity / / 95 dB±4dB (IEC-318 at 1KHz) Impedance // 16±15%Ohm

Considering the Motion One will

Midbass frequencies don’t bleed

be used out and about, noise

into the lower midrange in any

isolation is important. While not

intrusive or unpleasant way.

ground-breaking in this area

Usage Time

they do a respectable job at

// Up to 10 hours (BT)

In my listening the midrange is slightly recessed compared to the bass and higher frequencies.

It’s not a huge veiling, but it’s enough to make the sound signature more fun rather than neutral. This is also common

/ / 45g

tips fitted, but in overly noisy

Unit Measurement

environments, some outside

/ / Piece

noise may leak in during quiet moments in your music.

Conversely, there’s not a lot of sound leakage out of the Motion

accurate tone, with enough detail

Weight

well improve with some Comply

designed to be used on the go.

the midrange still retains a fairly

// 140mAh

isolating external noise. This may

for a multi-purpose earphone

Despite this mild recession,

Battery Type

One even at decent volumes, so the person sitting next to you won’t be disturbed.

present for an earphone at this price point.

Conclusion Summing up the sound signature

Paired with the IPX5 rating the

of the Motion One IEMs, they’re

Motion One looks professional

powerful with an ever so slight

yet still highly capable for gym

emphasis on the bass and high

sessions or an active lifestyle.

frequencies, with terrific imaging and respectable detail.

Considering the overall quality and the big names and

If you’re looking for an affordable

technology behind this release,

in-ear headphone with a premium

I consider the Motion One

yet unusual aesthetic, a fun

earphones from KEF and Porsche

sound signature, IPX5 water

Design very well priced and

resistance and a stylish brand

highly recommended.

name, this fits the bill.

WORDS/IMAGES: Mathew ‘Jensy’ Jens