Penon Liqueur Series Silicone Eartips

Nowadays, the market is flooded with a lot of eartips brands. Some of them are good, and most of them are just mediocre. However, the Penon Liqueur Orange and Black are among the top and are easy recommendations to anyone. Their unique glossy/sticky surface provides the best seal with comfort. Also, the Orange and Black are not just different colors; they have different wall thicknesses. The walls of Black eartips are slightly thicker, and the stem is harder compared to orange eartips. This gives unique choices to consumers according to their preferred sound signature. So, I am splitting the review for Orange and Black.


Penon Liqueur Orange – The Orange color gives them a unique and funky identity. In terms of sound, I experienced the following:

Bass –

• Sub-bass – As per advertisement, the Penon Liqueur eartips improve the low end noticeably, giving sub-bass fuller definition.

• Mid-bass – I observed that there is no coloration in the mid-bass, but these eartips provide cleanliness to the kick drums and bass guitars. Due to this, mid-bass does not bleed into the mids.

Midrange –

• Lower Midrange – Straight away, clear male vocals. I felt it is not just clear but opened lower midrange. If you like snare drums, then you’ll be definitely amazed.

• Upper Midrange – Guitar notes, female vocals, cymbals are noticeably clearer than stock eartips. There is no added sibilance to the vocals. Definitely the best point for these eartips.

Treble –

• I observed airy treble and improved definition to notes, giving more room for sound. There is no harshness in the treble area.





Penon Liqueur Black – The Black color gives them a subtle identity. In terms of sound, I experienced the following:

Bass –

• Sub-bass – Rich details in the sub-bass, providing fuller depth.

• Mid-bass – There is coloration in the mid-bass, making kick drums and bass guitars more fun to listen to. But I observed slight mid-bass bleeding into the mids.

Midrange –

• Lower Midrange – There is no coloration in the lower midrange. Lower midrange sounds the same as the Orange eartips.

• Upper Midrange – No sibilance in the vocals. Guitar notes, female vocals, cymbals.

Treble –

• The best part of the Penon Liqueur Black is the treble improvement compared to orange. The treble feels more extended and more open. The notes are well defined, making the sound engaging. The notes of instruments like violin and flute feel more engaging.




Conclusion –

In conclusion, the Penon Liqueur Orange and Black eartips offer distinct sonic experiences, each catering to different preferences. The Orange variant provides a clear and open midrange with enhanced vocal clarity and instrument definition, making it ideal for those who prioritize detail and precision in their audio. On the other hand, the Black eartips offer rich sub-bass details and a more engaging mid-bass, perfect for listeners seeking a dynamic and immersive soundstage. Moreover, both variants boast improvements in treble extension and definition, contributing to a more enjoyable listening experience overall. Whether you lean towards the vibrant identity of the Orange eartips or prefer the subtlety of the Black, both options deliver exceptional performance and comfort. With their unique design features and tailored sound signatures, the Penon Liqueur Orange and Black eartips stand out as top contenders in the market, offering audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike an enticing choice to enhance their listening pleasure.

Earphone fit & comfort is critical for listening enjoyment – but you probably knew that already.

What you mightn't know is how many brands of eartips are out there, how wildly they vary in shape, material and construction, and how dramatically those differences can affect what you hear!

Being in the hobby for ages means you’ll probably wind up with a large eartip collection - they’re cheap enough to be great impulse buys with minimal post-purchase guilt, yet their sonic benefits can be huge.

I’ve tried all the popular brands, but for the past year have settled on Spinfit W1s as my tips of choice. So I was keen when Penon offered to send me their new Liqueur eartips in exchange for a review but sceptical they’d replace W1s as my favourites.

However upon arrival the Liqueurs at once stood out as being different... read on to learn how.

Ergonomics​

Penon Liqueur eartips come in two varieties – orange and black. Both are similarly shaped but the black ones have thicker walls. Which means the Black Liqueurs provide a stronger seal and better noise isolation, at the cost of being more rigid & slightly less comfortable.

There’s four sizes, and the largest is massive. If you’re someone who struggles to find tips large enough the Size XL Liqueurs may be the solution, given they’re way bigger than the largest tips of most brands.





The Liqueurs' secret sauce is their slightly tacky/sticky texture which helps form a stronger seal. If you’ve tried Azla Sedna Xelastec tips you know the kind I mean, but thankfully the Liqueurs dial down the effect – adding just enough tackiness to seal strongly without impacting comfort as much as the Xelastecs do.

Eartip fit is very personal, I find the Liqueurs comfortable for extended listening with fairly soft & yielding silicone. The Orange tips are slightly squishier than the Blacks but the difference is quite minor.

Sound Impressions​

The Liqueurs' spacious open bores project airy high frequencies, and particularly the larger size tips are quite wide at the base to create a strong seal that gives low frequencies plenty of rumble.

The Orange Liqueurs are sonically well balanced, with a strong seal creating a wide soundstage & good perception of imaging. Midbass and upper midrange are emphasised, with treble quite extended. However the Liqueurs seal too tightly to sound as open & airy as other eartips, if that's what you prefer.

The Black Liqueurs seal even more strongly for very powerful isolation, but aren’t as comfortable. Their soundstage isn't as wide due to the stronger seal, instead they sound darker with emphasised lower midrange. Midbass is also strong, and they feel more bass dominant than the Orange tips.

Eartip Comparisons​

Spinfit W1 (USD $8.99 per pair)

The W1s project the deepest sub bass of any tips I’ve tried, but despite sealing well sound very open with airy treble - sonically they're quite V-shaped, and close to the most comfortable tips I’ve tried.

The Orange Liqueurs are slightly firmer with comfort a small step down, with a similarly wide stage but less emphasised sub bass & treble. The Black Liqueurs seal more tightly and isolate better than the W1s, leading to a more intimate stage with greater midbass but less sub bass rumble.



Divinus Velvet (USD $18.99 for 3 pairs)

The Velvets seal slightly stronger than the W1s but aren’t quite as soft or comfortable, with a more intimate soundstage, less sub bass & treble emphasis but more lower midrange presence.

They’re reminiscent of the Black Liqueurs but are slightly more comfortable as they aren’t quite as thick, yet they don’t seal as strongly so isolation is lower but they sound slightly more open.

Conclusion​

At $9.90 for 3 pairs the Penon Liqueur eartips are a no-brainer for earphone fanatics.

Especially the Black versions.

The Orange tips are slightly softer and for $9.90 it’s probably worth trying both… but the Black Liqueurs provide superb isolation, as good as any tips I’ve tried – without being as uncomfortable as Xelastecs.

For long plane & train trips the Black Liqueurs are now my first choice.

Eartips are like cables, you can never have too many and synergy is key. W1s remain my preference at home for their peerless comfort, the Black Liqueurs let me sacrifice some of that softness to block out extra noise when it bothers me. The Oranges are softer but I prefer max comfort or max isolation.

I love how spoiled for choice we are these days - it makes being super picky feel completely justified!