The PS200s are Phiaton's first set of in-ear headphones. Typically in-ears all look about the same, but the PS200s manage to fit a design flourish on the back of their ear buds: a fan shape. Other than this touch, the PS200s are an average set of in-ears. Unfortunately, the PS200s' asking price of $200 forces them to compete with higher-end headphones.

We thought the PS200s were comfortable, but we had some serious issues with them popping out. If you're looking for headphones to wear in the office, you probably won't run into any issues; if you're looking for gym headphones, we wouldn't recommend the PS200s. Walking down the street with the headphones running under a jacket, we had to constantly push the ear buds back into place. Even if you are sitting still, however, you'll find that the headphones start getting increasingly uncomfortable over the course of a few hours. Headphones with thinner sleeves (the rubber part that fits on the end of the ear bud) are typically more comfortable over time. 

One other area to look out for is the PS200s' plug, which is as bad as the standard Apple In-ear Headphones plug. Straight plugs without any cord guard are a durability issue. Unfortunately, many in-ears have this design, so the PS200s are more the industry rule than the exception. We recommend reinforcing the plug-cord junction with some electrical tape.


Performance  (read the full lab performance results at HeadphoneInfo.com)
The Phiaton PS200s had average audio quality. They had decent bass, but a slightly erratic way of dealing with higher frequency sounds, sometimes emphasizing them correctly, sometimes underemphasizing. The headphones also had some distortion, but it's not likely an amount the average consumer would notice. The headphones do have good tracking: the left and right channels will play back at an even kiel. 

In terms of isolation, the PS200s were about average for a set of in-ears. These aren't the best in-ears for blocking out sound, but they are leagues better than the average set of over-ears or on-ears. Like most other in-ears, the PS200s don't leak much noise at all. The PS200s are also capable of a high level of decibel output without their distortion level reaching an annoying level. 
 

Comparisons  (read more in-depth comparisons at HeadphoneInfo.com)
We think the PS200s would be a solid pair of entry-level in-ear headphones. The don't excel in any category, but hover solidly around or above average. Unfortunately, their $200 price point puts them squarely out of their league. Headphones that are more comfortable and have better audio quality can be found for less money.

For comparison, the Shure SE420s are roughly equivalent, have significantly better audio quality and isolation, and come with many more customization options. Even at the $100 price point the PS200s wouldn't be a great pick, since options like the Sennheiser MM 50 iP can offer better quality. We found the PS200s were about on par with the Denon AH-C351s, which are a great set of $50 in-ears, and Apple's new headphones, the In-ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. 

If you listen to the PS200s and love their sound and find the headphones stay in just fine, we'd still recommend at least waiting until they go on sale.