RHA T20 Review - An Incredible Earphone Refined

INTRODUCTION

So late last year, I wrote the review of one of my all-time favorite earphones... the RHA T10i.  The RHA T10i review highlighted just how many things the Glasgow-based company got right when it came to their flagship model.  

From head to toe, it was simply brilliant with plenty of nice wells thought design cues as well as one of the most comprehensive (and useful) accessory packages on the market.  Testament to how much I actually like the RHA T10i because I use them almost daily. 

Even with a range of infinitely more expensive units in my possession, it’s always the T10i that seem to come with me when not using my customs, like the Minerva Mi-Artist Pro or the UM Miracles.  Now, the T10i is not what most people would classify as all-rounders.

The T10i is suited for specific genres such as modern pop, Hip Hop, electronic, and dubstep, where the humongous soundstage and head smashing sub-bass shine. This time, the company is introducing the RHA T20 that will sit alongside (Not Replace) the RHA t10i in their lineup. 

It’s not a successor. It has the same incredible build but with new dual coil drivers aiming to create a more detailed and balanced sound.

For this review, since the RHA T10i And RHA T20 share the same build, packaging, and accessories, I am simply going to use the respective sections from the RHA t10i review in describing all those respective areas. For sound quality, that will cover my impressions from a week of listening with the T20.  In this section, I will be making select comparisons with the T10i on certain tracks.  

Finally, as I have now been using the T10i for some time in the Areas such as accessories and build, I will add starred footnotes to each section revealing my long-term experience using these awesome IEM's.

I hope you enjoy it and feel free to ask any questions down below or on Twitter.

THE MEAT OF THE REVIEW

The RHA T20i Earphones

Packaging

"Yet again, RHA smash it out the park and manage to put together one of the best consumer headphone packages on the market.  The graphics, photos, and branding all work together to make the item desirable, and if you got this one for Christmas this year, you would be very excited when you open that package. 

There is a book-like flap on the front of the box that, when opened, reveals the headphones through a small packaging window, and on the left is one of my favorite features on RHA's T10i Packaging, the information. 

The packaging is loaded with detailed information ranging from the concept of the design to technical specifications, how to use them, and frequency graphs.  Almost everything you need to know is on the outside of the box, which can certainly help a buyer in-store."

*The packaging on the new T20 earphones is the same as described above.  

Accessories

Yet again, RHA nailed it.  Everything you would want in an earphone is included but not only that; it’s RHA T10i's little touches again that make the overall package stand out against the similarly priced competition.  

On the inside, you get the RHA T10i earphones themselves (more about them later), par for the course shirt clip that I never use on any earphones, a carry case.  The case is a synthetic material designed to carry the earphones, tips, and filters all in one place. 

There is some nice RHA branding on it, and whilst a good case, I would prefer to have seen a hard case is provided instead of a soft one (something similar to the Dunu DN2000 case or a Pelican 1020).   Next up, you have the spare tips, of which there is a plentiful supply of high-quality tips meaning anyone can find a decent seal.  

What is great about the RHA t109 is the way they don't just throw a bunch of tips together in a plastic bag as so many manufacturers do; they go the extra mile and create a card style tip holder carved out of aluminum to keep everything in place and make size matching tips a breeze.   

The RHA T10i's tip holder was something I have seen in both the RHA MA600i and RHA MA750i, and it’s most welcome again here.  What’s new, though, is that they have done the same for the filters, with their own aluminum engineered filter holder. 

So about those filters?  The filters come in three different tuning options, one for highs, one for neutral, and one for enhanced bass. Unlike other companies who intend to make filter switching the most fiddly and frustrating exercise in the hobby, RHA has made simple screw-in metal units. 

It is effortless and quick to do and one of the best systems I have seen for tuning the sound to date.  That’s a lot of accessories, a lot of high-quality accessories.

*After having used the RHA T10i for some time now, I can say that everything is in good order; the eartips seem to just last and last.  Regarding the filters on the RHA T20, they follow the same setup as on the RHA T10i, providing tuning in the treble, reference, and bass.  

The one main difference here is that due to the T20 being a more balanced headphone, to begin with, the filters are more adaptable throughout the range.  I found that I could use all the filters on the RHA T20 instead of mainly sticking to the treble and reference filters on the T10i.  

When using the T20, even with the bass filters, it sounds similar to a T10i with the reference filter but with more tightness in the upper region and a more detailed midsection.

Build Quality

RHA are kings when it comes to building quality; there really are few earphones that can match the RHA T10i for build quality, which runs right through almost every feature of these excellent IEM’s.  Let’s start at the jack, it’s custom machined metal and attached to the excellent slightly extended cable with a strain relief that is unlike any other. 

It’s like one of those spring doors stops wrapped around the cable and doesn’t just stop the cable from bending at strange angles. It also jumps back to its optimal position. As soon as pressure is relieved, the jack could have been left as smooth metal, and I would have been thrilled, but once again, the extra thought is put into function, and the design team has added knurling to give additional grip. 

Further along, is the cable split, which is also made out of machined aluminum (no off-the-shelf parts here), and then even further along is the very nice volume control and microphone. 

The call quality was excellent on the T10i, with everyone saying my voice was being picked up clearly and without distortion.  Next up is the Housing.  The RHA T10i earphones are, in my opinion at least, one of the best-looking IEM’s that I have ever seen, maybe even better looking than the Final Audio Heaven Earphones reviewed last year.  

Ergonomically injection molded stainless steel housings look incredibly sleek and are very well put together. Quality control obviously a priority at RHA.  

The company again stands by their earphones to continue the outstanding 3-year warranty offered on other sets. I can’t see them getting many returns on them as they seem about as indestructible as a set of earphones can get.

*  Well, here’s one area where I can attest to just how well built these earphones are.  My T10i has been with me for over half a year now, using just about every day.  They have been commuted with, taken to the bush in Africa, ridden with on my Enfield through the Himalayas, and survived the heat, humidity, and sweat of a Muay Thai camp in Thailand.....THEY STILL LOOK BRAND NEW.

There are no scratches or dings, no stress on the cable, no mic cut-outs, etc.  There is no wear to the filter screw threads even after multiple changes... Nothing... the RHA T10i are absolute tanks, and given the T2o are the same build, I really cannot foresee you having an issue with them.... its no wonder RHA is confident enough to offer a 3-year warranty.

Isolation & Fit

Isolation, of course, is tip/user-dependent, and I found that when using the standard-sized tips, the RHA T10i were good isolators that would work well for travel and commuting; this would obviously improve further by using the included comply or bi-flange tips.

The RHA T10i is one of the most comfortable earphones I have worn all year.  Of course, those long-term readers will know that I prefer to use over-the-ear earphones and with the fixed ear guides such as the Shure SE215 and the T10i sit beautifully in my ear, never losing their seal. 

I thought the RHA MA750i fitted well, but the ergonomic design on the T10i RHA has again taken it up another notch.

* Another long-term update, and it’s no surprise that the RHA is in use every day; the cable guide, unlike numerous other earphones I have had, still works the same as it did on day one.

Perhaps the most important thing I have liked about the RHA T10i and will about the T20 is the cable being slightly longer than most competitors. I found this makes it incredibly comfortable to use especially when commuting.  

Sound Quality

The RHA T20i

RHA is quite right in saying that the RHA t10i and t20 shall stand beside each other in their product lineup.   When you get into the audio world, you will notice that there is very rarely a headphone or earphone that will suit every job.  

Instead, we find ourselves searching for the one that will suit our preferences in design and tuning (for our preferred genres).  I think anyone that reads my reviews regularly knows that the main reason the RHA T10i has been my go-to universal in-ear since November of last year is due to design, the fit, and features that make it reliable and a joy to use.  

The sound from the RHA T10 is always going to suit modern Pop and Electronic music best.  This is where you feel the 10's driver delivers those mountains Sub-bass best.  

The T20, though, sits far more in center-ground; it’s still not a balanced earphone; it can still hit very hard when it needs to, but it’s tighter, clearer with more revealing highs and mids than the T10i.

Highs - The highs observed during the RHA T20 review were far more prominent than on the RHA T10i earphones. They had a lot more presence and sparkle to them yet still refused to enter that uncomfortable level.  It’s an outstanding effort for a dynamic driver and is one of the main reasons why the RHA T20 sound is different from the previous version.

Mids - The mids in the RHA t20 review were excellent, one of my favorite parts of the whole presentation.  Whereas with the T10i, the focus was on the low end with the T20 IEM's, the real star is now the mids.  The midrange is nice and tight, with good details provided throughout most genres.  

Male vocals sound rich and full, and with acoustic guitars, you can pick up the note decay as it fades into a hiss-free black background.  Speed was also up there, and the earphone managed to keep up on cluttered orchestral tracks with ease.  

Speaking of orchestral... try listening to Metalica's S&M ft the San Francisco Orchestra with these... the combination of huge soundstage, good imagery, and tight, rich mids make for an incredible listening experience, especially when you consider how cheap the RHA t20 go for.

Lows - While the RHA T20 does not extend to the deep and dirty levels of the T10, the remains are able to hit hard.  They display their low end in a much different way than its sibling.  

The T20, rather than rumbling and snarling at the low end, is crisper and more textured.  The decay of notes is shorter, and the detail increased (most noticeable as you can better differentiate the sub-bass from the mid-bass).

Conclusion

So the big question is, if I am choosing between the 2 for everyday use, what will I take?  As I listen to a wide variety of genres, Jazz, rock, classic, hip-hop, industrial, I am going to have to say that I would take the T20.  

This is simply down to simplicity. Sure the T20 won’t sound as good as the T10i's do when listening to Skrillex or Angelspit, and if I know that I will be listening to them exclusively, I would still be taking the T10i with me.  Possibly the easiest way to put it is if you listen to mainly Hip-Hop, R&B, Electronic, etc., and little much else, then go with the T10i, and if you like Rock, Indie, classical, etc., the T20 will be the ones best suited for you.  

The main takeaway I have overall is that RHA just does not make bad products.  Attention to detail is tough to find in other companies.  

I have spoken to the team from time to time, and one thing that stands out is that they are the company that is less driven by audio world BS. They could easily have priced their earphones in the $400+ mark and got away with it, but they don't; right through the range, RHA offers unparalleled value for money relevant to the competition.

They don't ever tend to spout snake oil to sell their earphones. They just stand by their products and let them do the talking, and that in the audiophile world, I find most refreshing.

Note:  As I saw at Munich High-End, RHA is finishing their new DAC and Amp Unit (pictures here). It looks cool as all hell and yet again is built like a tank.  It features ES Sabre Dacs on the inside and a host of cool features, so be on the lookout for updates on that unit soon.

Audiophile On

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