Atomic Floyd Twist Jax review

They're built to last, and look stylish as well, but these Atomic Floyd cans are a bit too harsh for our tastes Tested at £129.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A neat and attractive pair of in-ear headphones but lacking the sonic ability we’d expect at this price

Pros

  • +

    Excellent build quality and comfortable fit

  • +

    lively sound

  • +

    decent detail

Cons

  • -

    Hardness in the midrange and brittle treble

  • -

    lack refinement and subtlety

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For some people, trying to fit in-ear headphones into their lugholes can be an awkward and painful experience.

Atomic Floyd's Twist Jax offer a solution that's hinted at in the model name.

The earbuds can rotate on their fittings (it's referred to as Twist2Fit technology), thus eliminating the need for any over elaborate contorting in your ear canal.

Once in place, the Twist Jax fit extremely snugly and the design is certainly befitting of a pair of premium headphones. They're weighty in hand and the metallic earpieces look exquisitely engineered.

Built to last
The sturdy fabric cable is another hint that these headphones are built to last. In the packaging you get a neat little carrying pouch, an airplane adaptor and a 3.5mm – 6.3mm headphone adaptor too.

Hook them up to an MP3 player and you're hit with an energetic, upfront sound. The ‘phones present music a very open and clear manner.

Detail levels and bass weight are good for the money too. However, it soon becomes apparent that the Twist Jax can't break out of their forward musical stance.

The longer you listen, the more tiresome this one-dimensional, relentless approach becomes. High frequencies sound splashy and vocals can sound hard and unnatural.

Atomic Floyd have got the feel and fit right but there are too many sonic frailties on show, especially for this kind of money.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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