I've often wondered why sequels invariably suck.
The's lots of ways following up a big success can go wrong:
- Temptation to duplicate your previous formula... risk of producing a similar but inferior copy.
- Desire to try something completely different... risk it won't match your existing fans' taste.
- Pressure to add a new selling point but keep things the same... risk questionable stuff gets added just to differentiate from the original.
Why do I mention this? Back in October Penon Audio sent me a pair of
ISN Neo5s which remain my #1 budget IEM champ of 2023. Me and my friends just love 'em.
So when I was offered a set of new
Penon DOME IEMs in exchange for a review and saw they have virtually identical shells & nearly the same driver config and price... suddenly my excitement bubbled.
There's wasn't much to complain about with the Neo5s and lots to like, so I was skeptical they'd produce a better follow-up without ballooning the shells, driver count & price. Either way it'd be fascinating just to see the direction they took - stay true to the original, try something new or a slight variation?
It turns out the DOMEs
are different to the Neo5s, and you're about to lean why.
Packaging
The USD $349
Penon DOMEs arrive in the usual small yellow Penon cardboard box, inside of which is a fairly plush & well-made leather carry case that strikes a nice balance between being small enough to pocket but roomy enough to house the IEMs with a large 8 wire cable.
There's also a small leather accessories case, inside of which are three sets of silicone eartips in 3 sizes along with a shirt clip & cleaning tool.
The DOMEs come bundled with a very comfortable 8 wire silver-plated copper cable, in your choice of 4.4mm, 3.5mm or 2.5mm terminations.
Ergonomics
The DOME's medical-grade resin shells are almost a carbon copy of the
ISN Neo5s I've reviewed. They're tiny, very light & extremely well-sculpted to fit the ear, and are as effortlessly comfortable for prolonged use as any hybrid IEMs on the market I've tried.
They're also vented to alleviate pressure build-up, my only minor complaint is the metal nozzles – eartips don’t grip them as securely as nozzles sculpted from the resin itself, so my Spinfit W1 tips occasionally dislodge from the nozzles if I'm not careful to remove the DOMEs from my ears gently.
The stock cable is very light & flexible, with no microphonics or memory effect.
Sound Impressions
I've tested the DOMEs using a
Hiby R6 Pro II set to Hi-gain in AB mode, with the DOMEs requiring a volume level of 22.
The DOMEs reveal themselves as moderately warm, well balanced all-rounders with tastefully elevated levels of bass - they don't do a lot wrong. They're tuned for musical enjoyment rather than 'accuracy' in a reference sense, but are neutral enough they get out of the way of the music quite well and avoid feeling excessively coloured, yet are warm & bassy enough they won't come across as lean or thin.
The DOMEs avoid earning those "flat" and "boring" monikers often levelled at IEMs like
U12Ts or
Monarch MKIIs, but don't quite possess their refinement either, and in the tradeoff between accuracy & musicality lean towards the latter.
There's a great balance between sub & midbass output, and which is more prevalent is determined more by each particular track or album. What's really impressive is how responsive DOME's DD bass driver is - having absolutely no issues keeping up with the fastest paced music you can throw at it. The downside is bass decay isn't as slow as bassheads may like, though bass slam & texture are still decent with quantity still well above neutral.
The midrange is tastefully warm without retreating too far from neutrality. I can imagine some listeners preferring even more warmth with a bit of extra lower midrange boost, but instead the DOME takes a measured approach to strike a balance between maintaining clarity without sounding lean.
Finally, treble is quite dark and it feels like Penon have deliberately reeled in this area to prevent the DOMEs fatiguing treble-sensitive ears. I'd prefer some extra upper-treble sparkle, and although DOME's treble is perfectly capable this is probably the area where quality suffers most in comparisons to IEMs with multi-thousand dollar price tags.
Technical Performance
DOME's soundstage is decently wide & spacious for an IEM of this pricepoint, avoiding any feelings of congestion. Stage depth isn't as impressive, but isn't as wafer-thin as we often find with entry level IEMs. That said that I find soundstage depth is one of those attributes we rarely see in abundance from earphones under $500, so this isn't unusual.
Dynamics are excellent, with instruments distinguishing themselves from background noise levels commendably. It's a quality that enhances my enjoyment significantly and DOME has it in spades.
Imaging is decent for the price. There isn't the sense of razor-sharp pinpoint imaging we expect from top-tier IEMs with EST or BCD drivers, but nor is imaging vague enough to stand out as a problem.
Similarly resolution doesn't call attention to itself as exceptional, but I don't get the feeling important details are being obscured. The addition of ESTs (and more upper treble sparkle in general) would be nice, but then the DOMEs shells & price would grow considerably.
IEM Comparisons
I compared the DOMEs with a number of earphones using the
Hiby R6 Pro II set to Hi-gain in AB mode, with the DOME's requiring a volume level of 22.
ISN Neo5 – 4xBA 1xDD (USD $289)
The Neo5's shells are almost identical to those of the DOMEs, as are comfort levels between them. The Neo5s require 21 volume on the R6P2 so they're similarly easy to drive.
The Neo5s are more unashamedly bass dominant with bass that goes deeper with more satisfying decay, though their DD is slower than the DOME's so bass isn't kept as tightly in check, clouding the rest of the presentation with additional rumble though note weight does seem to benefit.
Neo5's midrange is more biased towards lower rather than upper mids, and I prefer their tonality which sound earthier. Both IEMs feature similarly dark treble, and though the Neo5s boast a slightly wider stage the DOME's may be a little deeper. They're both very dynamic & similarly resolving, however the DOMEs separate instruments better during complex passages thanks to their faster DD.
The two IEMs share a lot in common - the DOMEs feel like cleaner, more polite & less bassy Neo5s.
Penon Globe – 2xBA, 1xDD (USD $329)
The Globes are slightly larger & stick out more but comfort is very similar. Needing 21 volume on the R6P2 they're similarly easy to drive.
Much more of a midrange specialist, the Globes have very forward vocals impressively spotlit against the rest of the presentation that really grab you with their presence & resolution while everything else takes a backseat. The DOMEs are more balanced across all frequencies, with the Globes' bass in particular being lower in quantity and a bit limp in texture.
The Globes aren't quite as warm either, with the DOMEs displaying better note weight and a slightly deeper soundstage. The Globes' stage is a little wider, but feels stretched in a way I don't like and they can come across as slightly diffuse at times though resolution between the two IEMs feels similar.
The DOMEs are better all-rounders, but the Globe midrange has a magic the DOMEs lack though much is sacrificed for it.
ISN EST50 – 2xBA, 1xDD, 2xEST (USD $449)
The EST50s are quite a bit larger and stick out further, but the DOMEs are only slightly more comfortable. Requiring 20 volume on the R6P2 they're similarly easy to drive.
Surprisingly the DOMEs demonstrate better bass texture as EST50 bass feels a tad pillowy, and their DD bass driver is much slower. The EST50s are more V-shaped and bass dominant, whereas the DOMEs feel flatter and more tonally balanced. Treble on the EST50s is not only more prevalent but is of higher quality thanks to its' EST drivers.
Perhaps in part thanks to their brighter presentation the EST50s deliver more microdetail & higher resolution, with a soundstage that feels narrower but a touch deeper, thought instruments are separated better on the DOMEs with a stage that feels less congested. The DOMEs are the safer option if treble sensitivity is something you have an issue with.
Penon Turbo - 6xBA (USD $549)
Turbo's shells are similarly sized and equally as comfortable though their rounder shells seal slightly more strongly, but requiring 27 volume on the R6P2 they're a bit harder to drive. I keep Turbo's tuning switches in their stock positions.
I immediately notice Turbos feature much greater bass quantity though it's largely extra midbass. Unfortunately bass texture is a little mushier on the Turbos with slightly less slam. The DOMEs are warmer with Turbos emphasising the upper midrange more, and both are similarly dark in the treble.
Interestingly I don't notice the Turbos being much faster when it comes to busy passages of music, though they are a little more dynamic with a blacker background, slightly higher resolution, sharper imaging and they also layer sounds better than the DOMEs.
Thieaudio Monarch MKIII - 6xBA, 2xDD, 2xEST (USD $999)
I also compared the DOMEs to IEMs at
Addicted to Audio during a recent Head-Fi members meetup.
Monarch MKIII's are quite chunky and fit me very snugly. They isolate a bit better than the DOMEs but aren't quite as comfortable, and also require quite a bit more power at 30 volume on the R6P2.
The DOMEs may have a slightly deeper soundstage and a minor edge in dynamics, but in other facets the Monarch MKIII's pull ahead with a bit more sub bass though overall bass quantity is similar, a midrange that's biased more towards the lower rather upper midrange & consequently has a more natural tonality than the DOME's, and higher quality EST-fuelled treble with a greater feeling of refinement.
Monarch MKIII's stage is wider, imaging more precise, resolution is higher & instruments sound larger.
Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea - 5xBA (USD $1399)
Andromeda Emerald Sea have some of the most beautiful, exquisitely smooth-finished metal shells of any IEM I've tried. They're about the same size as the DOMEs, don't feel much heavier and are similarly comfortable. Requiring 18 volume on the R6P2 they're a bit easier to drive.
Unfortunately Emerald Sea are second only to the
Blessing 3s as the
worst IEMs I've demoed this year, they're an irredeemable trainwreck. The first thing I notice is how boomy they sound, almost as if a wonky reverb filter has been added to the music. They're incredibly coloured & muddy, with excessive lower midrange boost and bass that sounds very hollow.
Emerald Sea also feel embarrassingly lacking in resolution with excessive warmth clouding the presentation, and though their soundstage is deeper than DOME's it also feels narrower. Emerald Sea feel like a failed attempt to emulate the unique
FIR XE6 tuning, and make the vastly less expensive DOMEs feel smoother & more refined by comparison.
Amplification Performance
I recently received a
Mass Kobo 475 portable earphone amp and am keen to learn how the DOMEs scale with better amplification. I rate the 475 as simply the best portable amp money can buy, it’s fully balanced with 4.4mm input & output, delivering 2.3V RMS from its’ balanced jack.
It's obvious at once the DOMEs love amplification. Dynamics improve substantially & so does note weight, two areas the DOMEs weren't lacking in so they're now pushed into seriously impressive territory.
Soundstage depth & layering improve quite a bit, by contrast these are areas the DOMEs underperform without the extra grunt. However where I really notice the biggest change is how much richer & more effortlessly resolving vocals are - it almost feels like a handful of extra Sonion BAs have been jammed in there, and the DOMEs transform from having a midrange that's pleasant enough without being spectacular, to one I find immensely more engaging.
Of course the stage is also wider, the background is blacker and imaging is more defined, but it's mostly those stage depth & midrange improvements that transform the DOME experience for me. Admittedly the 475 amp is as good as it gets by portable standards so lesser amps won't deliver benefits of quite the same magnitude, but this gives you some idea of how much for potential for scaling is there.
Cable Comparisons
Naturally I tested the DOMEs with a number of cables from my collection, and interestingly find they don't scale with cables quite as dramatically as other Penon IEMs.
I've noted improvements in many areas by rolling cables but the magnitude of those changes is slightly down on what I'm used to seeing, though it's difficult know if that's the result of DOME's driver configuration, tuning or both.
ISN S4 (USD $55)
I was keen to learn if the Neo5's stock cable would make the DOME's sound more similar to them.
The S4 makes the DOME midrange feel slightly more resolving and bass may be a bit more impactful, there's also a tiny bit more treble sparkle. It feels like the stage is being stretched a little wider, though it also feels a touch shallower. Tonally the balance shifts away from the lower midrange with a slightly cooler tonality, and I do prefer the stock cable in that department.
NiceHCK FirstTouch (USD $89)
This cable reduces DOME's treble to produce a darker tonality, with bass hitting a bit harder. Thanks to a blacker background midrange resolution is more impressive which is FirstTouch's standout quality.
The soundstage also feels slightly wider & deeper and dynamics are enhanced a little. FirstTouch's sonic improvements aren't as dramatic DragonScale's below, but this is a far better cable ergonomically with very soft nylon braiding - as opposed to DragonScale being quite stiff below the Y-split due to what feels like additional shielding.
NiceHCK DragonScale (USD $157)
DragonScale grows the soundstage in all directions, making everything feel larger with a greater sense of scale that's easily noticeable, with what feels like more space between notes to give the performance much more room to breathe.
Although resolution & dynamics are also improved, the downside is the tonality shifts upwards with greater emphasis on the upper midrange & treble that doesn't feel quite as earthy, and vocals are pushed back in a way I don't care for though there's no doubting the stage improvements.
Effect Audio Ares S 4 Wire (USD $179)
This is an impressive pairing, with Ares S delivering slightly more bass punch through an increase to midbass, generating a warmer tone yet surprisingly also makes vocals feel a bit more resolving.
The DOME stock cable feels slightly brighter by comparison, but Ares S boasts a slightly blacker background with both a wider & deeper stage and I'm surprised how much more spacious it feels even though the dimensions aren't drastically different.
Effect Audio Code 23 (USD $599)
With some of the most questionable ergonomics of any cable, Code 23 is certainly unique. I immediately notice the soundstage improvements this cable is famed for, with the stage both widening & deepening though not quite to the extent I'd hoped.
Vocals are more forward on Code 23, with enhanced midrange resolution, slightly deeper bass and improved dynamics. However I find the amount of improvement in each department to be very minor, which makes this pairing feel like a letdown given the cable's cost & excessive stiffness.
Conclusion
It's tough to know if expecting the
Penon DOMEs to emulate the
Neo5s is an unfair comparison I'm making because they look the same, and I'd give anything for a Neo5 on steroids.
Some listeners are going to love that the DOMEs are a more polite & 'correct' sounding offshoot of the the Neo5 formula, and there's no doubting they're capable & versatile all-rounders in their own right. I just happen to prefer the more exaggerated & fun tuning of the Neo5s, though there's no doubt the DOME's DD is much faster which does address one of the Neo5's few shortcomings.
Penon sell a range of IEMs that cater to an assortment of tastes, so this is another solid option which doesn't do a lot wrong.
Meanwhile a true Neo5 successor remains high on the list of stuff I can't wait for in 2024... so which title do you like for the sequel -
The Empire Strikes Bass or
Return of the Boom?