Hörluchs HL1100

Modifiable Optics

The Hörluchs HL1100 includes six pairs of silicone and memory foam earmolds, a carry bag made of denim fabric and a soft cleaning cloth, in addition to the in-ears themselves. A pair of attachable red caps, so-called “Smart Caps” are also thrown in for good measure. These can be attached to the headphone housing to modify their appearance. By contrast, without the caps attached, these are black in-ears with a rather simple design concept.

Form Follows Function

The in-ear housings are flattened on the outside but ergonomically shaped on the inner sides. This allows them to fit snugly into the ears and sit without pressure being applied. The earpieces, which extend into the auditory canal, are also ergonomically designed. The replaceable cable is spiralled, so it is less prone to accidental twisting and knotting. The cable is plugged into the in-ear housings at the top via two exposed contacts. From there it can then be guided on both sides over the earpieces, consequently acting as a tension relief. A covering with bending wire ensures that the cable is reinforced at this point and shaped appropriately. In addition, the sound openings of the earpieces come equipped with a small grille to prevent dirt from penetrating. Form and function combine to create a really solid and sensible unit here.

Technical Specs

The HL1100 can manage the typical frequency range of the human ear from 20 to 20,000 Hz, which it reproduces with a maximum sound pressure of 125 dB SPL. An impedance of 11 Ohm is sufficient, which in combination with weaker pre-amps of smartphones, tablets and the like has a positive impact. The cable is also top of the range. With a length of 1.60 metres, it is optimally proportioned and can, therefore, be positioned under clothing without any problems.

Fit

The ergonomic design of the inside of the housing makes the HL1100 a comfortable in-ear option. Even the low weight of only 5 grams, not including cable, adds to the pleasant wearing experience. Additionally, various sizes of earmolds provide good shielding from external noise. This applies especially to the memory foam pieces.

Not Perfectly Balanced

Balanced armature drivers usually deliver a detailed and harmonically weighted sound. However, the HL 1100 doesn’t sound as balanced as expected to my ears. Restrained basses meet relatively finely drawn mids and highs here with the mids as the main focus. Even the use of an equaliser doesn’t change this much since the bass strains quite prematurely (i.e. at medium volume) when the volume is increased by a filter. In short, my opinion is that these in-ears are particularly suitable for listening to productions with spoken-word audio. Radio plays, audiobooks or even films and television series can be listened to very effectively with these headphones, as they emphasise the presence of the voice particularly effectively. Anyone who wants to use the HL1100 as a monitoring in-ear solution can expect to enjoy presentations and talks with them.