Astell & Kern's off-shoot brand just dropped some of the best budget audiophile earbuds of the year and you won't believe how cheap they are

Date:
Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Description:
Astell & Kern's budget-brand, Activo, is back again here's what I thought of it's new pebble-like in-ear monitors.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Activo Scoop review The Activo Scoop in-ear monitors are designed to be as smooth as a pebble, in just about every way possible. Physically, theyre light,
rounded, and sculpted. Sonically, Astell & Kerns sub-brand Activo has attempted to craft IEMs with smooth resonance, and supply a sound thats as natural and gentle as possible.

If were talking about design, Id argue that Activo has just about nailed the audio-equipped pebble. The Scoop IEMs are sleek, have a polished feel and
with an attractive white finish. They are a little bit chunky in the ear, and the attached cable is on the thick side, but I found the IEMs to be pretty comfortable for longer listening sessions, and I never had to deal with over-zealous cable noise or any connectivity issues. But I want to focus more on the Scoops sound, and how well it adheres to the pebble theme. As youd expect from a pair of IEMs, the overall sound profile is fairly balanced, and the Scoop are largely focused on an organic presentation that steers clear of harshness, according to Activo. But how good do they really sound? And can they really compete with some of the best wired earbuds on the market?

Well, Im pleased to report that theyre pretty strong performers, especially given their budget-friendly pricing. Their five-driver setup which features one 8mm dynamic, two 6mm dynamic, and two balanced armature drivers supplies clean, articulate sound, with subtle detailing and a genuinely impressive soundstage.

In This Is All I Have for You by Makoto Matsushita, I was struck by the
Scoops revealing sound. In the introduction, rhythm guitar was beautifully balanced in the mix, almost occupying its own unique pocket. However, it
never sounded incoherent with other instruments in the mix it danced beautifully alongside rapid and responsive percussion and full-sounding,
funky bass.

Even after vocals entered the fray, the Scoop maintained a disciplined and balanced approach. And as subtle strings and percussive elements reared their heads, the Scoop ensured that they were clear, but never over-emphasized.

When I compared the Scoop against my trusty Sennheiser IE 200 , I found that the former had less of a warm sound profile, opting for more of an agile and snappy bass response. Sure, that may be a bit less exciting for some listeners, but for professional users or those who simply prefer a more neutral sound that could be a positive. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

All in all, I did feel as if the Scoop took a more natural approach than the IE 200, although I did realize that they went a bit more aggressive on the highs.

In Entertainer by Ruze, higher-pitched percussion sounded more forward in the Scoop. Thats not to say that treble sounds were tinny or harsh but they were noticeably more subdued using Sennheisers in-ears. In other tracks, like Tale of Two Cities by Darren Rahn, claps in the build-up again sounded pretty
eager on the Scoop, and I do think that some may prefer how the IE 200 stayed their hand up top.

To be clear, I did still enjoy the Scoops expressive treble overall, and although I think some may prefer a bit more emphasis in the low-end for
casual listening, I commend their rich, detailed sound. You get capable and solid instrument separation, with just about every part of the frequency
range celebrated and with room to express itself, as well as controlled
audio, even at higher volumes. (Image credit: Future) Activo Scoop at Amazon for 99 Beyond their admirable audio, the Activo Scoop supply quite a few positives. The most obvious is their broad selection of connectivity options: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C. If you want to switch from 3.5mm to USB-C, for instance, all you have to do is unscrew the 3.5mm connector, plug the USB-C alternative in, twist that onand hey presto youre away.

Having so much variety makes the Scoop ideal for using while mixing or mastering in a professional setting, or using on your modern smartphone for casual listening sessions. Theres no in-line controller, which is pretty common for IEMs, but otherwise theyre very well-equipped.

For instance, you get a bunch of different-sized eartips, and picking the right size will be crucial. A perfect seal wont only deliver optimal audio quality, but it will improve passive noise isolation crucial for blocking
out pesky external sounds in your environment.

I went for the medium size as usual, and getting a comfortable feel was
fairly straightforward. I found the foam eartips to be a little fiddly, although they did work very nicely especially when it came to noise isolation. The clear silicone alternative was my go-to, however, both for ease-of-use and for its clear look, which was a better match for the white IEMs, visually speaking.

It would also be remiss of me not to mention the included case, which is very similar to that of the Activo Volcano . It offers plenty of room for your IEMs, different connectors, and eartips, its fairly compact, and it only boosts the Scoops value-for-money score.

Speaking of value, I have to say, the Activo Scoop are priced very generously indeed. They come in at $99 / 99 (about AU$140), and they feel worth every penny. With well-refined audio, wide compatibility, good passive noise isolation, high build quality, and even a case thrown in, its hard to knock these IEMs, value-wise. The buds themselves are even detachable, meaning you can add your own cable if youd prefer, making them a versatile option.

Downsides? OK, I do find the Scoop quite chunky in-ear, and their bulky cable and connectors cant compare to the diminutive Sennheiser IE line. And yes,
you would be able to get IEMs with a bit more space for vocals and even
better detail at a higher price point. On a personal note, Id probably prefer the slightly bassier and sexier Meze Audio Alba , but theyre about $60 / 40 (about AU$100) more than Activos IEMs, making the latter a seriously tempting proposition.

All in all, the Activo Scoop are a great pair of in-ear monitors that in spite of their low price dont skimp on quality. Their versatile connectivity and natural sound signature makes them a swell choice for both personal and professional use, they offer solid customizability, and theyre pretty comfortable to boot.

Theyre not the most compact, and those with smaller ears may be better off with a model like the Sennheiser IE 200. Sennheisers rival IEMs also produce
a bassier sound, with more subdued treble, which fans of certain genres may prefer. In the end, though, the Scoop seem like an improvement on Activos previous lower-priced effort, the Volcano, and I cant help but admire their sonic and physical fidelity to the humble, water-sculpted pebble. (Image credit: Future) Activo Scoop review: price & release date Priced at $99 / 99 (about AU$140) Released in March 2026 In March 2026, Astell & Kern revealed that the Activo Scoop were coming to the UK market. They are typically priced at 99, placing them heavily on the budget end of the spectrum. The Scoop will cost $99 when theyre available in the US, which we're told is a certainty, although were not aware of a specific release date just yet. Activo Scoop review: specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Drivers

1x 8mm dynamic, 2x 6mm dynamic, 2x balanced armature

Weight

5g (per bud)

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

Connectivity

3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Activo Scoop? Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Detachable cables, multiple connectivity options, solid passive noise isolation, no in-line controller.

4.5/5

Performance

Natural sounding IEMs with impressive detail and soundstage, bass not
seismic, but well controlled and agile.

4/5

Design

Well-finished and built to a high standard, but pretty chunky driver housings with a bulky cable.

3.5/5

Value

Fantastic low price for the features and sound quality they deliver.

4.5/5 Buy them if You want audiophile quality at an affordable price If you want to take the step into audiophile-grade sound, then the Activo Scoop are
a strong entry-level option. They offer plenty of attention to detail across the frequency range, and nail the natural sound signature they set out to provide. You need IEMs for casual and analytical purposes The Activo Scoop come with three different connectors: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C. That means you can easily hook them up to a laptop, some decks, your phoneyou name it. That makes them ideal for all kinds of devices, and all kinds of listening. Dont buy them if You want imposing bass The Scoops sound signature is intended to be gentle and organic, meaning that deep dark bass doesnt sound particularly imposing. Their approach to the low-end is more centered around agility and cleanliness, which results in brilliantly responsive, but less forward-sounding bass. Youve got smaller-sized ears For me, the Activo Scoop felt a tad chunky in ear, something I also found when using the Activo Volcano. Those with smaller ears will probably experience this to a stronger degree, but dont worry, the options listed below are top alternatives, and still come in at a modest price-point. Activo Scoop review: also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Activo Scoop

Sennheiser IE 200

Meze Audio Alba

Price

$99 / 99 (about AU$140)

$149.95 / 129.99 / AU$239.95

$159 / 139 / AU$239

Drivers

1x 8mm dynamic, 2x 6mm dynamic, 2x balanced armature

7mm dynamic

10.8mm dynamic

Weight

5g (per bud)

4g (per bud)

14g (with cable)

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

6Hz-20kHz

15Hz-25kHz

Connectivity

3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C

3.5mm

3.5mm; USB-C Sennheiser IE 200 Im a big fan of the Sennheiser IE 200, which are affordable, lightweight, and stylish. Sonically, theyre arguably the Yin to the Activo Scoops Yang. After all, they have a deeper, darker sound, with warm bass and more subdued highs a contrast to the more agile, light bass of the Scoop, which also opt for a more forward presentation up top. They still sound spectacular, though, and in spite of their singular 3.5mm connectivity option, Id still recommend them highly. Read our full Sennheiser IE 200
review . Meze Audio Alba The Meze Audio Alba are some of my favorite budget IEMs thanks to their stunning looks, awesome audio quality, and incredibly comfortable in-ear feel. If you want a little more bass, then these are a great choice. Sure, they have a relatively neutral tuning, but their slight bump in the low-end is tasteful and engaging. Theyre slightly pricier than Activos buds, but their looks alone feel worth the increase, in my view. Read our full Meze Audio Alba review . How I tested the Activo Scoop (Image
credit: Future) Test over the course of several weeks Mainly tested using Tidal Tried using various connectivity modes I tested the Actio Scoop IEMs over the course of multiple weeks, and used their various connectivity
methods along the way predominantly listening via 3.5mm with my Windows laptop and USB-C alongside the Nothing Phone 4(a) .

When listening to music, I started as usual with the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a wide variety of genres. However, I
also listened to tunes from my personal library. For the most part, I used Tidal to stream music, however I also dipped into Spotify from time to time.

In the past, Ive tested the Activo Volcano , so I had clear expectations in mind for Activos budget friendly IEMs, but Ive also tested other budget
models from the likes of Meze, and have tested more premium monitors like the Sennheiser IE 600 and Shure Aonic 3 . Read TechRadars reviews guarantee First reviewed: April 2026 Activo Scoop: Price Comparison 99 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/activo-scoop-review


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