Most earphones are straight, and so far I have only seen a full range of angled earphones from Klipsch. Now I have a set of angled earphones from MEElectronics to try out: the CX21P. The C in the name tells us that it is part of the Clarity series that is focused on giving a nice neutral reproduction of the source. Basically it is meant to make it sound realistic instead of focusing on enhancing the bass or other aspects of the sound spectra. This is something it manages to do really well. At the price it really surprised me with a great level of detail for all sources I have tried. Already bass heavy music still sound good, such as Burial or Kno. 
The earphones also works really well with jazz, metal and rock. For spoken audio the neutral sound also limits hissing, and humming that some bass heavy earphones tend to enhance.
There are some aspects of the CX21P that are really great, and as mentioned the sound is the first most noticeable. The design is simple yet striking. There is something cool about these shiny angled earphones that I didn`t see in angled earphones from Klipsch. The CX21P might cost less than $45, but does not look like a budget product at all. It looks sharp, smart and edgy. The plastic housing is also really light, and seems to be durable.
There are some aspects I really dislike about the CX21P, and first of all the microphone feels cheap. A colleague of mine actually thought it was a makeshift repair to the cable using electric tape, but it was the small rectangular piece of plastic that constitutes the microphone. The placement is good in throat height. Audio is good for the receiver, and it is good enough for usage when driving or walking. The single button to take calls, pause/play and use Voice Command is unresponsive. I can`t forward or go backward between tracks using multiple clicks. Furthermore I really miss having volume controls. This is the same microphone used in the M-series, and the more I use it the less I like it. Hopefully the cylindrical design find in SP51P becomes the new standard for MEE for the time being awaiting a microphone with volume controls.
The cord is durable semi rigid see through plastic with fabric around the inner cords. It is strong, and almost completely free of noise transferring from rubbing against clothes. The attached shirt clip is placed far too low to be of much use.
There are five different sets of eartips included in the package. I find the material to be slightly too thin, and when I extract them they tend to fold outwards. When inserted they are quite comfortable unless any edge folds inwards. In those cases they can get uncomfortable quickly. Overall though I think these are good for most users, and can be worn for quite some time considering the low weight. A small carrying pouch is also included, and can be quite handy to store all the eartips in.
The CX21P is a good set of budget earphones offering a nice neutral sound, low weight and comfortable wear. The microphone is not up to par, and lacks some of the basic functionality most users have come to expect. At $45 it holds up as a good overall communications solution, and I can really recommend it to most users for most source material.
Final Rating
