DRIFTER by FIIL Audio Fills Your World With Stellar Sound
By Alison Blackman and Anthony Sabatini
The DRIFTER In-Ear Wireless headphones by FIIL arrived on our desk have arrived and we are so excited about these earbuds.
We have reviewed other wireless earbud/sports-type headphones in the past, but the DRIFTER is one of the nicest we’ve reviewed to date (READ: How to Compare & Buy Audio Equipment-how we test for sound). We think they’ll really appeal to people who appreciate both great sound, good-looking tech devices, and a lot of functionality.
Affordable!
The first thing to note about the Bluetooth enabled FIL Drifter is that it’s affordable –remarkable for its $99 price range.
When writing this review, we’ve kept that price range in mind when considering all of the facets of the DRIFTER.
Nice Details
There are a few really nice details on the FIIL Drifter including a sleek (and subtle) design that sits very comfortably on your neck and ears.
These earbuds are also waterproof, making them a great choice for active people, workouts, beachwear, and travel.
The headphones arrive with a variety of earbud cover sizes so you can swap them out and put the ones you find most comfortable on the earbuds.
Another interesting feature is that the earbuds are magnetic. Put the earbuds together to start and stop music when clasped and unclasped.
The magnetics also keep the cords from getting too tangled.
There are some advanced features as well, including multi-device pairing, and the ability to use the headphones with your smartphone.
11 Hour Play Time
Once the Drifters are charged up (with an included micro-USB )they will play for up to 11 hours. That’s long enough for a long trip or for when you just don’t have time to charge up your Bluetooth headphones.
Although our review unit didn’t have instructions, the syncing and operation is intuitive. The controls on the cord are easy to access.
Tech Specs Review:
According to the FIIL Drifter specs: “the headphones have oversized micro-dynamic 16-ohm drivers for extended bass response. Neodymium driver magnets deliver quick response, for vocals that soar along with the highs and mids. And to ensure accurate audio reproduction at any volume, DRIFTER has volume-dependent EQs paired with a proprietary digital signal processing algorithm.”
But to our discerning ears, the point where the headphones open up is just one step too loud for quiet listening. The high end can get glare-y (shrill on certain notes) even when at less than optimal volume.
When you’re at less than optimal volume the bass falls off rapidly whereas the high end falls off less than the midrange leading to a marked shift in brightness.
But these things aside, the earphones are quiet so you don’t bother anyone near you, and at the price point of $99, the FIIL Drifter is the best we’ve heard in their price class.
Bottom Line: Maybe you don’t really think you need another set of earbuds, but if you’re making a new years resolution to work out more, or just enjoy your life more, the FIIL Drifter is a great “go-to” headphones for all reasons.
FIIL DRIFTER is available at electronics retailers nationwide and online: Amazon.com FIIL.com
