Reviews by Des99 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Simgot for providing a unit of the EA500 LM for me to review. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$89.99

Source(s)

It is fairly easy to drive
Even on the JM6 Pro, I only 30-40% volume at most, but I prefer the Topping DX1 due to its smoother nature.
- Topping DX1
- HiBy W3 II
- JCally JM6 Pro
- Truthear Shio

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Unboxing and Quick Summary

Packaging

Simgot EA500 LM.
Hard carrying pouch
- A little big but it doesn't feel cheap.
- Great for storing but a little harder to carry around with only your pocket.
Standard selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
  - Looks and feels like a 07 clone, which are pretty decent.
High-purity, silver-plated OFC cable
- Cable is decently built for the price and is very comfortable to use.
- It is not microphonic and it does not tangle often.
- However, it can be a little bit thin.
Tuning nozzles

Build Quality

Build quality is excellent for the price, completely made out of metal, with some heft to it.

Fit

Nozzle length and width is fairly average.
Fits is decent, but not the best. Comfortable enough but not really that deep.

Tonality

Bright leaning Harman

Tuning Nozzles

Gold
- Least shouty out of the 3.
- Considering that this nozzle is already shouty to me, so I will use this as a default for the rest of the review.
Silver with Red Ring
- More shout. Nope.
Silver with Black Ring
- More shout. Nope.

Bass

Bass is quite balanced between the sub bass and mid bass.
Rumble is present but doesn't go really deep or is super thick.
Slams and thumps have great impact and physicality to it.
Tight, well textured, and snappy. Very satisfying to listen to.
Overall, the bass is somehow the best part of the EA500 LM to me.
Quantity is a little more than sufficient, pretty fun amount of bass without being too much.

Midrange

Lower midrange comes with a little bit of warmth, yet still clean and open.
- Male vocals sound decent. Not exactly lush and forward but not really thin or dry either.
Upper midrange is overly energetic.
- Female vocals just sounds too forward, which easily comes across as shouty and shrilly.
Overall midrange performance is uneven, where lower midrange is decent but upper midrange being way too much.

Treble

Treble is quite bright and harsh especially in the mid and high treble region.
High hats and cymbals are emphasized a lot, plus it is quite sibilant.
Can easily be fatiguing especially for longer listening sessions.
Treble is very well extended but also overdone, which causes timbre to be unnatural.
Details in the treble can be perceived well due to how bright and airy the treble is.

Technicalities/Others

Resolution and detail retrieval is good even when compared against hybrids in this price range. However, this is also partly because of how boosted the treble is.
Soundstage has good width but with only decent depth.
Imaging and accuracy is decent, pinpoint accuracy in terms of stereo imaging but I didn't get that 3D holographic feeling.
Separation and layering is good. It never really gets congested even in busier tracks.
Note weight is on the thinner side due to the boosted upper frequencies.
Timbre is not very natural as it has a metallic sheen to it due to the overly boosted treble and air region. Vocals are not really natural as well due to it being shrilly, especially female vocals.

Comparison

Simgot EA500 LM vs Simgot EA500

Accessories:
- Similar, if not, exactly the same.
Fit and Comfort:
- Similar, if not, exactly the same.
Bass:
- Quality wise, they are quite similar. Tight, snappy, and impactful.
- A sub bass boost is very much appreciated here to balance out the already bright signature, I prefer the LM in this aspect.
Midrange:
- The upper midrange from the EA500 is already a little too shouty to my ears, but the LM somehow just doubled down.
Treble:
- Same story as the upper midrange, but due to the masking from the upper midrange, the treble actually sounds a bit less harsh on the LM, but still on the sibilant and peaky side.
Technicalities:
- To be honest ... technicalities are similar as well, despite Simgot claiming the driver upgrade.
Overall, I don't really prefer either, really. They are more similar than different with only minor differences. If I have to pick one, I would actually go for the original EA500 due to the lower price tag and less shouty presentation. However, the LM does sound a bit more balanced but also costs 10 more bucks.
Is the LM really an upgrade over the original EA500?
- Not really.
- More like a side grade but it isn't really too different either.

Conclusion

Honestly, I think that the Simgot EA500 LM is a little overhyped by the community.
- While it certainly isn't too bad, but I can definitely see how overbearing the upper frequencies are for many people.
- Timbre and tonality wise, it isn't the most natural due to the metallic sheen.
- As for technicalities, there are many planar IEMs nowadays for under 100USD.
Also, the EW200 is also available for lesser than half the price of the EA500 LM if you are interested in Simgot's bright house sound.
- Not a huge jump or improvement in my opinion, plus they share a similar sound signature to my ears.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

I won this from a giveaway directly from HiBy on a Twitter event. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Price(MSRP)

$49.00

IEM(s) Used

Oriolus Isabellae
Binary x Gizaudio Chopin
Letshuoer EJ07M
Tangzu x HBB Heyday

Packaging

W3 II.
USB Type-A to Type-C Data Cable
- I hope this is a Type-C to Type-C data cable instead, so I can use the dongle mode on my phone. Perhaps even including a Type-C to Type-A adapter would be fine too.
- Once, I accidentally brought this cable out but realized it cannot be used on my phone after that. Luckily, there was enough juice on the W3 II for me to use it on Bluetooth Mode.

Design & Build Quality

Plasticky, a little cheap but there is at least
Has some heft to it but not heavy at all.
Has a nice graffiti art on the faceplate but is quite easy to attract fingerprints.

Battery Life

Battery life is quite decent for its size
- I only need to charge about once every 3 days of use, with 3-4 hours of use per day.
- I usually use LDAC with 60 to 70% volume
Even without Bluetooth, it can be used like a normal dac/amp dongle with a data cable, which is called dongle mode.
- The W3 II will be charged at the same time while using in dongle mode.

Connectivity

Pairing

Pairing is easy and straightforward as long as you follow the instructions in the user guide.
Remember to plug in your audio device first for audio cues.

Latency

There is a very slightly noticeable delay for me, like most Bluetooth devices I used.
- Not a problem for lighter tasks such as watching videos and listening to music
- Can be a small issue for competitive gaming.

Sound & Drivability

Sound

Neutral-ish signature with a very slightly hint of warmth so it is not too sterile, nothing else is boosted to my ears.
Sounds very decent for the price, easy to pair with any IEMs or headphones, clean and open, with no audible noise floors to my ears.

Drivability

Not great, should be enough for most IEMs, but only barely enough for harder to drive IEMs such as AFUL MagicOne and Tangzu x HBB Heyday.
Definitely not for full sized open back headphones.

HiBy Blue

One of the main highlights of the W3 II to me, providing many useful features for the user.
Fairly easy to use, and it shows all the important information right as you tap into the app.
- Battery life
- Bluetooth connection strength
- Bluetooth codec being used

Find W3 II

Only flashes the light of the W3 II in red and blue alternately in quick speed.
- Not very useful but this is the the best that the W3 II can do due to its limitation of not having a sound output.
- Adding a loud sound like a "BEEP" would be a lot more helpful.

Car Mode

I don't have a car so I didn't try this function.

Channel Balance

Good temporary solution if there are any channel imbalances in your IEMs or headphones, while waiting for your replacement units.

EQ

One of the main highlights for me, didn't expect this feature at all coming from a device in the price range, very impressed
5 bands, with 8 preset profiles and 1 custom profile.
- Makes it very simple to use yet very effective.
- Each band represents sub bass, mid bass, lower midrange, upper midrange and treble quite well.
- I wish it could have more custom profiles, so I don't have to keep readjusting every time I use a different device.
Once saved and enabled, it can be used even without starting the app.
However, the app has to be used if you want to turn off the EQ after that.

Volume Fine Tune

Works like an independent volume control like other more premium dongles, but in a digital and software manner.
Use it very often to have more precise control on volume.
Really appreciate that HiBy implemented this so this very useful feature is more accessible on budget devices.

Volume Adjustment

Works like the physical volume up and down buttons.
Good temporary solution if your physical buttons are damaged or are not functioning.

Power Off

Provides an option to power the W3 II off through the app.
Also can adjust the time needed for the device to power off if inactive, from 5 minutes up to 240 minutes.

Other Features

NFC

Nice and convenient feature.
Personally, I don't use it often, but I tested and it works with my Samsung Galaxy S21.
Can see this being useful for a lot of people.

Microphone

Usable at most.
Sounds very soft in my case and is not very clear.

Shirt clip

Very nice to have, used a lot more often than I initially thought.

Conclusion

Overall, I think the HiBy W3 II is a truly impressive device by packing so many features and good qualities into such a portable form factor. Furthermore, it has an unbelievably affordable price tag for what it is capable of doing.
However, if you're looking for something to power your hard to drive devices, without the need of extra features and portability, then the W3 II might not be for you, and I suggest looking for something else.

Non Affiliated Link

If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below
- HiBy Official Store:
  - https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-w3-ii

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a unit of the Pandamon 2.0 for me to review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$59

Source(s)

It is easy to drive. Even on my JM6 Pro, I only need 30-40% of the volume most of the time, which is lesser than most IEMs I have used.
- Topping DX1
- Truthear Shio
- JCally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Unboxing and Quick Summary

Packaging

Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0
Round, semi-hard carrying case
Decent selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of Celest 608 balanced silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
  - Has a narrower bore, more closed in
- 3 pairs of Celest 221 vocal silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
  - Has a wider bore, sounds more open
5N Copper Silver Plated Cable
- Feels a bit cheap but not bad at all.
- Tangles a little bit sometimes but is comfortable to use.

Build Quality

Build quality is decent, feels plasticky.
Shell is made out of resin, is extremely lightweight and it looks stunning.

Fit

Nozzle is on the narrower side, with an average length, but is angled, in a way that didn't really work out too well for me personally.
Fit is decent but not great, I couldn't fit it as deep as I would like due to the angled nozzle, but is very lightweight and comfortable.

Tonality

Mild V-shaped

Bass

Bass is a little more mid bass focused instead of sub bass.
Fast, snappy, and has a decent punch and texture to it.
However, it lacks a bit of impact, weight, tightness to it.
Quantity is on the lighter side, which is absolutely not for bassheads.
Overall, bass is not super satisfying, as it is lacking the weight and impact of a DD, but is somewhat fast and punchy.

Midrange

Lower midrange has some warmth to it.
- Gives a good amount of weight and lushness to male vocals and some instruments without being muddy bloated.
Upper midrange is very forward compared to other frequencies
- Can be a little bit shouty at times.
- Smooth, but the transition from the end of upper midrange to lower treble is lacking, so vocals don't really have the extension or "breathy" feeling at the end.
Note weight has a nice weight and density to it but not overly heavy.
Most instruments do sound great without any oddities, timbre is quite natural as well.

Treble

Treble is on the relaxing side, but can easily get overly dull at times.
Rolls off pretty early from the end of upper midrange, notes and cymbals lack incisiveness and sounds a little blunted in general.
Extension is also not good, lacking a sense of airiness to it.
Details are not very revealing due to the overly inoffensive and rolled off treble response.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is average due to lack of sparkle and extension in the treble.

Soundstage

Soundstage also has average width and height, but not really spacious or expansive.
At least it is not overly closed in but it is on the more intimate side due to the lack of air.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is average.
Not really pinpoint accuracy due to it being blunted but still fine.

Separation

Separation and layering is average as well.
Instruments and vocals are not clearly separated but it is not overly congested on busier tracks due to the speedy driver.

Conclusion

Overall, I find the Pandamon 2 to be a little niche.
- It has a pleasing, relaxing signature yet it still retains good vocal forwardness.
- However, the bass and treble performance is not really up to par to be competitive with the rest of the market.

Non Affiliated Link

If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below.
- HiFiGo Web:
  - https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2
- Aliexpress:
  - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html
- Amazon US:
  - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/
- Amazon JP:
  - https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Hidizs for providing the opportunity for me to review the MP145 through a tour However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$169

Source(s)

These are a little harder to drive than most IEMs I have tried since they are planar, but as long as you have a decent dongle DAC/Amp it should be fine.
- Topping DX1
- Truthear Shio

Ear tips

Acoustune AET07

Unboxing and Quick Summary

Packaging

Hidizs MP145 with rose gold nozzle attached to it
Soft carrying pouch
Wide selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of balanced, generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of bass, generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of vocal, generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
6N Silver-Plated Single-Crystal Copper Wire
- Build quality is ... fine. Not good but not bad, feels a bit on the cheaper side
- Ear hook's shape are really weird for my ears, so they do strain and make my ears a little pain after longer listening sessions.
A small case containing nozzles
- 1 pair of silver nozzle
- 1 pair of red nozzle

Build Quality

Build quality is very good, shell is made entirely out of metal.
Very sturdy but is very heavy.

Fit

Nozzle is HUGE in terms of width, while being slightly longer than average.
Fits is excellent. Very lightweight and the shell is super comfortable.

Tonality

Mild V-shaped

Tuning Nozzles

Rose Gold
- Balanced mild V-shaped signature.
- Most balanced out of the 3 nozzles to my ears, nice mix of clarity and warmth.
- This will be my go to pick, and will be used throughout this review.
Silver
- Bright tilted mild V-shaped signature.
- Adds a little more sparkle and air, providing extra clarity and brightness, but also becomes a bit more metallic and thin at the same time.
Red
- Warm tilted mild V-shaped signature.
- Favors male vocals, but will mask some clarity especially for female vocals, and boominess will be even more apparent.

Bass

Bass is quite balanced between sub bass and mid bass, with a slight emphasis on the mid bass.
Rumble and slams well, with decent definition & texture and good speed & decay to it.
However, the bass lacks a bit of tightness, sounding a little boomy.
Overall, the bass performance is quite decent and satisfying for a planar, but the combination of boominess and quick decay of the bass makes it sounds a little weird.
Quantity is slightly on the bassy side, but not quite basshead level yet.

Midrange

Low midrange comes with some warmth, giving male vocals and instruments a nice weight and body without being muddy or bloated.
Upper midrange is very smooth and has just enough energy for vocals to pop out from the mix without being shouty at all to my ears.
Note weight is on the slightly thinner side due to the elevated treble response.
Timbre is surprisingly natural for a planar IEM, which isn't as metallic as other planar IEMs such as the S12, but there is still a small hint of planar sheen.
Overall, the midrange is very well done in my opinion, especially for a planar IEM.

Treble

Treble has plenty of sparkle and airy, yet it remains quite smooth.
Treble extension is very good, giving a great sense of air to it.
However, there is a audible peak at the mid to high treble region, which does adds some harshness and sibilance to vocals.
Details in the treble can be perceived easily due to how sparkly, smooth and extended the treble is.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is great, on par with other planar IEMs that I have tried.

Soundstage

Soundstage is on the wider side and is quite spacious, with a decent depth to it.

Imaging

Imaging is quite accurate, as I am able to pick up direction of sounds with good accuracy.

Separation

Separation and layering is good, no issues with congestion on busy tracks other than the bass and midrange transition.

Comparison
Hidizs MP145 vs TANGZU x HBB Wu Heyday Edition

Accessories:
- I can't compare this element as I only borrowed the Heyday from one of my good friends.
Fit and Comfort:
- Heyday is a lot more comfortable to my ears, as the MP145 is just too bulky and big.

Bass:
- Heyday is significantly tighter with a bit more punch but less slam compared to MP145

Midrange:
- Lower midrange on the Heyday is cleaner than the MP145, with a slightly more emphasis on the upper midrange.
  - Female vocals will be the star of the show on Heyday instead of male vocals, as they sound thinner and less natural.
  - However, while female vocals isn't as good on the MP145, it has a much more balanced midrange, where both vocals are pretty decent
Treble:
- Different story from what the graph tells, the Heyday is actually a bit smoother to my ears, probably because of the better fit and deeper insertion, which I could not achieve with the MP145.

Technicalities:
- Both have similar technicalities and they trade some blows but not by a large margin.
- The MP145 has a slightly larger stage while the Heyday has a slightly cleaner separation.
Overall, I enjoy the Heyday a lot more due to fit and comfort, and the overall sonic performance fits a little bit better to my preference.

Conclusion

Overall, the MP145 is one of the better sounding planar IEMs that I have tried in the price, but I can also see that the fit and comfort of the MP145 can be a huge problem for many people, considering that I already have larger ears than most of my friends.

Is it going to dethrone the Heyday to be the king of planar IEMs under $200? I don't think so.
- The Heyday pretty much still remains my favorite planar IEM for under $200
- However, the MP145 can compete directly with the Heyday in terms of sound, with some trade offs such as comfort.

Thanks for reading!

great review

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Kinera for providing the opportunity for me to review the Freya 2.0 through a tour However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$269

Source(s)

It is not hard to drive but not exactly super easy either. However, any cx dongle should work fine. When using them on my JM6 Pro, I never have to exceed 40%.
- FiiO KA13
- Truthear Shio
- JCally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Unboxing and Quick Summary

Packaging

Kinera Freya 2.0
Round, hard carrying case
- Soft to touch, but is a hard case, very premium.
Premium selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of K-07 balanced silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
  - Looks and feels like a 07 clone, which are pretty decent.
- 3 pairs of 221 vocal silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
  - Looks and feels like generic silicone ear tips.
- 5 pairs of Final E ear tips! (SS, S, M, L, LL)
  - One of the most popular ear tips among hobbyists, and they can get quite pricey, so it is an extremely good inclusion in my opinion
Cleaning brush
4.4 modular plug
Modular Alloy Copper Cable attached with the 3.5 modular plug
- Excellent stock cable, premium build quality.
- Comes with interchangeable plugs as well.
- However, it has a bit of memory, and is not as soft as I would like.
- Furthermore, ear hooks can be awkward on the ear sometimes.

Build Quality

Build quality is decent, shell is made out of resin and is very beautiful.
Very lightweight.

Fit

Nozzle length and width is slightly above average, but I have no problems with them.
- Even though it is a resin nozzle, I have no issues with slippery ear tips like Dunu S&S.
Fits is excellent. Very lightweight and the shell is super comfortable.

Tonality

Mild V shaped

Bass

Bass is quite balanced between sub bass and mid bass.
Very well bodied and textured
Has decent rumble, slam and impact.
Not very tight or snappy, bass is on the slow and boomy side.
Overall, bass is decent, nothing too outstanding but not bad.
Quantity is a touch more than average, not basshead level yet but is on the warm and bassy side.

Midrange

Lower midrange has some warmth to it, giving a good amount of weight and lushness to male vocals and some instruments without being muddy bloated.
Upper midrange is done decently too, being quite energetic so female vocals are forward and lively, but not to the point of being shouty while maintaining good energy to pop off from the warmth.
Note weight has a nice weight and density to it but not overly heavy.
Most instruments do sound great without any oddities, timbre is quite natural as well.

Treble

Treble is overly safe and inoffensive, lacking a lot of energy and sparkle throughout most of the region.
Rolls off extremely hard from mid treble onwards, so notes and cymbals lack so much incisiveness and bite to it, so much so that they just sound blunt, unengaging and lifeless.
Extension is also very poorly done, basically killing all sense of airiness.
Details are pretty much hidden due to how hard the treble is rolled off.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is subpar at best, due to lack of sparkle and extension in the treble.

Soundstage

Soundstage is average in terms of width and depth.
At least it is not overly closed in but it is on the more intimate side.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy also average at best.
Not really pinpoint accuracy due to it being blunted but still fine.

Separation

Separation and layering is average as well.
Instruments and vocals are not clearly separated but it is not very congested on busier tracks.

Conclusion

I have very mixed feelings about the Freya 2.0
- In my opinion, it is tuned very decently from bass until the upper midrange, which is quite surprising to me considering that it is from Kinera ... but treble is just way too dark and dull, which throws off the overall balance.
- I think Kinera is heading towards the right direction in terms of tuning with their recent releases, but I think they have to put in a little more work in order to compete in today's market.
Overall, I think the Freya 2.0 is an IEM that has decent bass, warm and natural midrange but with overly dull highs and subpar technicalities. It is very hard to recommend especially at this price, but if you are extremely sensitive to treble and want a set to be as inoffensive as possible, then this may be the set for you. Accessory inclusions, aesthetics and comfort is top tier for the price though.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to EPZ for providing a unit of the EPZ Q1 Pro for me to review. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$35

Source(s)

It is not hard to drive but also far from the easiest to drive. However, any cx dongle should work fine. When using them on my JM6 Pro, I never have to exceed 40%.
- FiiO KA13
- Truthear Shio
- JCally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Unboxing and Quick Summary

Packaging

EPZ Q1 Pro
Soft carrying pouch
Standard selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
  - Looks and feels like a 07 clone, which are pretty decent.
4-core single crystal copper wire
- Stock cable build quality is decent for the price.
- Doesn't tangle often and is very comfortable to use.
- Connectors on the 3.5mm and the 2pin feels very cheap though.

Build Quality

Build quality is very good, shell is made entirely out of resin with the nozzle being metal. Lightweight yet very solid and sturdy.

Fit

Nozzle length is average but is on the thinner side.
Fits is excellent. Very lightweight and the shell is super comfortable.

Tonality

Harman

Bass

Sub bass is a bit more prominent compared to the mid bass.
Has a good, deep rumble to it and also good control.
However, it lacks a bit of slam and impact.
Furthermore, it can get a little thin as well due to the scooped mid bass.
Overall, the bass is decent, nothing too outstanding but not bad for the price either.
Quantity is just sufficient, just enough to be engaging but definitely not for bass heads.

Midrange

Lower midrange is very clean, slightly recessed, with only a hint of warmth to it.
- Male vocals sounds a little bit on the thinner side, lacking some lushness and weight to them.
Upper midrange is very energetic and smooth.
- Female vocals are very forward but they can be a little shouty to some.
Note weight is slightly on the thinner side, but not overly thin due to the slightly elevated mid bass.
Most instruments do sound great without any oddities, timbre is quite natural as well.

Treble

Treble is on the relaxing and smoother side without being overly dull.
Treble extension is mediocre but natural. Personally would still prefer a bit more air.
Not really sparkly or airy in anyway.
Details in the treble can be perceived somewhat fine but can be slightly hidden due to the relaxed treble presentation.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is quite good for the price.

Soundstage

Soundstage is decently wide and open, but not exactly expansive due to the average treble extension.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy also decent.
While not holographic and not pinpoint, I can still approximately tell where the sound is coming from.

Separation

Separation and layering is good, I have no issues with congestion even on busier tracks.

Comparison

EPZ Q1 Pro vs Simgot EW200

The main differences between these 2 IEMs are the bass and treble region.
- Bass
  - The EW200 slams a bit harder, thus sounding a bit punchier and weighted.
  - The EW200 easily takes the win here in my books.
- Treble
  - The EW200 is noticeably brighter, airier but also harsher and more sibilant.
  - The totally depends on personal preference, but I prefer a smoother, more relaxing listen.
- Technicalities
  - Due to the brighter signature of the EW200, details are immediately more perceivable on the EW200.
  - Driver quality on the EW200 is slightly better too in my opinion, other aspects such as imaging and layering is a clear cut above the Q1 Pro.
As a conclusion of this comparison, it all comes down to personal preference.
- The Q1 Pro is easily more comfortable for longer listening session while the EW200 has a lot more excitement in the treble.
- Personally, the EW200 is more "wowing" and impressive at first listen but it gets fatiguing fairly easily, and I somehow always go back to the Q1 Pro quite often, so the Q1 Pro is the pick for myself.

Conclusion

Overall, the EPZ Q1 Pro is a very solid, entry-level Harman style IEM that is fairly easy to listen to if you're used to the Harman signature. Although the accessories are not much, they are very useful in most cases and should be sufficient for the price.

Non Affiliated Link

If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below.

Aliexpress:
- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006467098821.html

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing the opportunity for me to review the NiceHCK DB2. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this impression with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$22.99

Source(s)

Very easy to drive, even JM6 Pro is already more than sufficient.
Sources used:
- Topping DX1
- Truthear Shio
- Jcally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

NiceHCK DB2
Leather carrying pouch
Cable tie
5 pairs of NiceHCK 07 silicone ear tips (S, M-, M, M+, L)
3 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
High Purity OFC cable
- Surprisingly decent cable for the price
- Feels cheap but doesn't tangle easily and comfortable to use
- Unfortunately, no chin slider

Review

The DB2 is built very well for the price, it is mainly constructed of resin with some metal finish on edges.
- Fit is good and comfortable for me.

V-shaped signature

Bass
- Quite balanced between sub bass and mid bass with a very slight emphasis on the mid bass.
- Thumpy and impactful with surprisingly decent speed and control.
- Sub bass also has decently deep rumble to it.
- Have decent body and physicality to it for that satisfying punch.
- Quantity is definitely more than sufficient for most people but not quite basshead level.
- Overall, the bass is quite good especially for the price, and it is fairly enjoyable.

Midrange
- The midrange performance is very uneven, with the lower midrange being very recessed and the upper midrange being very forward.
- Lower midrange is quite clean but also pushed back, causing male vocals and certain instruments to be lacking some lushness and weight.
- On the other hand, upper midrange is very forward and energetic, female vocals can be but combining with the lack of weight from lower midrange, it can easily become shouty and shrilly sometimes.

Treble
- Treble is overall just grainy and unrefined, with peaks and dips everywhere.
- However, it is quite sparkly and airy, which does bring out some details out of it.

Technicalities
- Technicalities is quite decent for the price but also not really amazing
- Decent resolution, imaging is not bad, stage isn't really intimate or closed in, and nothing sounds overly congested on busier tracks.

Timbre is unnatural as expected from a V shaped IEM, but it is not the worst compared to other deep V shaped IEM.

Overall, I think that the NiceHCK DB2 is a unrefined, slightly subpar V-shaped IEM that does not compete well against today's budget offerings or please too many people. However, the build quality is exceptional at this price, includes many decent accessories.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Penon for providing the opportunity for me to review the Penon Turbo through a discount on the Turbo. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$549.00

Source(s)

Surprisingly easy to drive, even the budget oriented JM6 Pro is sufficient to power it easily with the volume being lower than 50%.
Source used:
- Topping DX1 (preferred)
- Truthear Shio
- Jcally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

Penon Turbo.
Hard case with a soft, smooth texture
Small leather pouch
Cleaning brush
Pin for tuning switch adjustments
Shirt clip
Good selection of ear tips.
- 9 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Leather cable tie
Penon CS819 OCC & Silver-plated Mixed Braided HiFi Audiophile IEMs Cable
- Feels very well built, soft and comfortable to wear, doesn't come with a ear hook though.

Build Quality

Build quality is alright, not the best.
Shell is made entirely out of resin, very lightweight as well.

Fit

Nozzle length and width is average, but note that it can get a little slippery for certain ear tips as it is made out of resin.
Fit is extremely comfortable for me, due to its very small shell size and how light is it, which is not common at all for an IEM that has 6BAs
- Some popular 6BA IEMs like the Elysian Diva and 7th Acoustics Supernova have really chonky shells.
Very well vented, no pressure build up issue at all in my experience.

Tonality

Neutral-bright to L-shaped, extremely versatile tuning switch implementation in my opinion.
I will only describe the tuning profiles with drastic changes.
As for the description below, I will use the format of (x-xxx), where the first x represents the turbo switch, and the xxx after that represents the remaining 3 switches in order. 0 means that it is turned off or down, 1 means that it is turned on or up, and x means that it does not affect much whether that it is off or on.

Tuning Profiles

0-000
- Invalid profile according the official Penon site.
- However, I find this quite listenable, and it may appeal to some people.
- Neutral-bright signature, most open and transparent. Female vocals sounds the most light and airy in this signature. Details can be perceived the most easily in this mode.
- However, it lacks body and note weight in this mode due to insufficient lower end response.

0-001
- Slightly bright tilted mild V-shaped signature.
- Bass is still present, still with amazing qualities
- Lower midrange sound a bit cleaner than other signatures.
- Slightly favors female vocals, male vocals slightly lacking weight but treble has good amount of sparkle and crisp, plus it doesn't get harsh in any way at all.

0-01x
- Mild-V shaped signature.
- Most balanced signature out of all the profiles in my opinion.
- Bass is more a bit prominent but still remains well controlled.
- Lower midrange comes with a little more weight. but I would still say it is fairly clean and open.
- Doesn't favor any side of the vocals, both male and female vocals sound equally good on this setting.
- Treble has just enough sparkle to push through it to balance it out with the lower end energy.

0-1xx
- Slightly warm tilted mild V-shaped signature.
- Bass is a bit more dominant compared to other frequencies
- Lower midrange comes with a bit more warmth and lushness but not to the point of muddy and bloaty.
- Slightly favors male vocals, female vocals tend to get a bit masked in this profile.
- Treble is also slightly overpowered by the lower end, but this makes it into a more relaxing listen.

1-xxx
- Bassy, L-shaped signature
- Insane amount of bass, which easily overpowers other frequencies.
- Still remains somewhat clean due to the bass tuck.
- May have pushed the drivers a little too hard, distortions can be heard fairly easily.
- Only suitable for certain genres like EDM, or based on your mood at that time.

Bass

The bass is quite balanced between the sub bass and mid bass, perhaps leaning slightly toward the mid bass
Snappy, good rumble and slam, well textured and controlled, very impactful, have decent body and weight to it.
Have a woofer effect due to to bass tuck, sounds slightly detached from other frequencies but makes it quite unique and very fun to listen to.
I would only have minor nitpicks for the bass, that being lacking in bass definition as the bass sounds a little mushy, and it isn't as full sounding as some people prefer due to the bass tuck.
Quantity can be easily adjusted through the switches, ranging from bass head level to no bass at all.
- Bass quantity affects many other factors, such as note weight, tonal balance, and overall timbre presentation.
- When the Turbo switch is turned on, the bass starts to lose some of it qualities like control and naturalness, and it starts to distort, sounding as if the bass drivers are being pushed to their absolute limits.
Overall, the bass performance is spectacular and is one of the highlights of the Penon Turbo, especially considering that the BAs are completely handling the bass!

Midrange

Overall midrange is slightly recessed from the bass tuck,
- However, it isn't as thin as other IEMs that has a bass tuck, probably due the tuck being a bit
Lower midrange can get from slightly warm to slightly cold depending on the chosen switch profile, but deeper vocals tend to sound quite far away due to the recession.
Upper midrange is quite energetic and is very smooth to listen to.
Vocal performance depends heavily on switch profile,
- More bass will introduce more heft and lushness to the vocals but it will also bring in some huskiness and mask over the clarity.
- Less bass will make vocals have a more angelic and airy presentation but losing some weight.
- Fortunately, I found a very balanced setting for myself through the switches, which is 0-01x, that offers a perfect balance of weight and clarity.
Timbre is decent and natural enough to me for most of the profiles, with the 0-000 and 1-xxx being the exception. However, don't expect the most natural timbre due to the bass tuck and recessed midrange.
Overall note weight ranges from slightly dense to lightweight depending on profiles as well.

Treble

Treble is overall quite smooth with just enough sparkle to balance out the lower frequencies on most profiles.
- On profiles that has less bass, treble tend to be a bit more forward but not enough to be overly bright or sibilant to me. At most, cymbal clashes and vocals have a bit more bite to them.
Treble extension is good, which add some air to it.
Details can be perceived pretty well due to how extended the treble is without being dark.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is decent, the Turbo isn't really lacking in details but it isn't outstanding either considering that it is a full BA set and the $550 price tag.

Soundstage

Soundstage is average in terms of width but is decent in terms of depth.
Not really intimate but isn't exactly very wide or spacious, not the best for the price.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is very good, I am able to pinpoint position accurately with ease.

Separation

Separation and layering is impressive.
Every instruments are layered very well among each other, nothing will sound congested at all, even on extremely busy tracks.

Conclusion

Overall, the Penon Turbo is very well tuned in all departments, backed up with good enough technicalities, and can be further customized with its well implemented tuning switch system.
- The tuning switches does not changes the overall tuning style.
- Instead, it changes the "flavor", with minor adjustments towards different tilts, just like how people enjoy different flavors for different genres or different moods.
- Furthermore, there is even a dedicated switch just for bass heads, but it is a little niche.
Personally, I am very happy that this is my first endgame TOTL IEM due to its insane versatility and bass quality.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to OpenAudio for providing the opportunity for me to review the Witch Pro. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$89.90

Source(s)

FiiO KA13
Truthear Shio

Ear tips

OpenAudio 003

Packaging

OpenAudio Witch Pro.
Hard case with a really nice texture and feel to it.
1 set of OpenAudio 003 Premium Silicone Ear Tips (6 pairs, 3 sizes)
- Bore is very narrow
- Very soft and comfortable to use.
Cleaning cloth
4-Core OFC Cable
- The cable honestly feels very cheap, but it is comfortable and serviceable at least.
- It does tangles fairly often

Build Quality

Plasticky, lightweight and clear, feels a little cheap but build is solid for the price.

Fit

Nozzle length is average, but it is slightly on the wider side
Fit is really good for me, fits very comfortably.
However, pressure does get built up very easily, so do take note of it and use a pair of ear tips that can relieve some pressure for you. The included stock tips work very well for me.

Tonality

Deep V-Shaped

Bass

Sub bass is more prominent than mid bass, both are monstrous in quantity.
Rumble goes really deep and it slams fast and hard.
However, control and texture is not really good, and there is a weird, hollow sound to it. It sounds as if the bass slams are coming from an empty metal tin.
Quantity of bass is huge, may even be sufficient for some bass heads!
Overall, the bass is decent, probably the best aspect coming from the Witch Pro.

Midrange

Midrange is very recessed, making it quite scooped overall.
Midrange is also uneven on several parts
- Lower midrange has a good heft from the bass but is most likely to be muddy for most people.
  - However, this does give male vocals a good weight and lushness most of the time.
- Upper midrange pops out a lot from the mix but they are simply uneven and grainy.
  - Female vocals tends to be very forward and can be potentially shouty. Furthermore, they also sound nasally and husky from the bloat in the lower midrange.
Timbre is not really natural as expected from a deep V shaped signature.
Overall note weight and density is definitely on the heavier side from the bass bleed.

Treble

Treble is bright, sparkly and airy, which does adds a ton of excitement, but can easily be overbearing for people who are treble sensitive.
However, treble is also very peaky and piercing, which easily causes sibilance.
Treble extension is quite good, which adds a good sense of air and openness.
Details can be perceived quite easily from how bright and extended the treble is, but it may sound very boosted or forced due to peaks and brightness.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is surprisingly decent, but this is mostly due to the boosted treble that helped to highlight the details and nuances.

Soundstage

Soundstage is decent in terms of width, but has a good depth to it.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is a little subpar considering a lot of notes are a bit blunted and smeared, which makes it a little hard to pinpoint the directions.

Separation

Separation and layering is underwhelming as well.
As mentioned above, the smeared and blunted notes makes instruments and vocals sound congested and blended, which doesn't sound cleanly separated at all.

Conclusion

Overall, the OpenAudio Witch Pro is a tough recommendation, considering how fierce the competition is in the $100 price range.
The tuning is just not the best, midrange being overly recessed and uneven, and treble being overly piercing and harsh.
However, they are very pretty, and have really good isolation and comfort.
I tried messing with the EQ to tune it closer to my personal preference, and to my surprise, they are very capable of responding to it.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to EPZ for providing a unit of the EPZ x Tipsy Star One for me to review. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$72

Source(s)

It is slightly harder to drive compared to my usual IEMs but I would say anything with an amp chip should be fine (even the JM6 Pro can drive this fine for me)
- FiiO KA13
- Truthear Shio
- JCally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

EPZ x Tipsy Star & One
Soft carrying pouch
- Texture can be a bit tougher and rougher than usual soft pouches.
- Quality also seems to be a bit higher than usual ones.
Standard selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
  - Looks and feels like a 07 clone, which are pretty decent.
High purity oxygen-free copper silver-plated wire
- Cable is well built for the price and is very comfortable to use.
- It also looks very good and non microphonic, plus it does not tangle often.
- However, it can be a little bit thin.

Build Quality

Build quality is decent for the price, shell is made out of resin, and it is very lightweight.

Fit

Nozzle length is average but is on the thinner side.
Fits is decent, but due to the slightly odd shell shape, it gets a little bit uncomfortable after longer sessions.

Tonality

Harman

Bass

Sub bass is a bit more prominent compared to the mid bass
Has a good, deep rumble to it and also good control.
However, it is not very well textured, and it isn't very impactful either.
Overall, the bass is decent, nothing too outstanding but not bad for the price either.
Quantity is just sufficient, just enough to be engaging but definitely not for bass heads.

Midrange

Lower midrange is quite clean, slightly recessed, with some warmth to it.
- Male vocals sound decent. Not exactly lush and forward but not really thin or dry either.
Upper midrange is very energetic and smooth.
- Female vocals sound very engaging and forward but if it takes one more step forward then it will be on the shouty side to me, but shoutlets should still take note of this.
Note weight is slightly on the thinner side, but not overly thin due to the slightly elevated mid bass.
Most instruments do sound great without any oddities, timbre is quite natural as well.

Treble

Treble is on the relaxing and smoother side without being dull and lifeless.
It has a little bit of sparkle and energy in them just to keep things going but not enough to be fatiguing in any way.
Treble extension is mediocre, not very airy, personally I would like to have a bit more airiness to it here.
Details in the treble can be perceived somewhat fine but can be slightly hidden due to the relaxed treble presentation.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is decent for the price, nothing to write home about but it definitely won't let you down either.

Soundstage

Soundstage is also decently wide and deep, it isn't really airy or expansive but it is not intimate as well.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is very average, I am able to pinpoint positions in terms of stereo left-to-right scenarios but struggle the pickup in a more holographic scenario, and can be slightly blunted.

Separation

Separation and layering is also average for the price. Nothing pops out or is separated very well other than female vocals but at least is not overly congested, so it is acceptable.

Conclusion

Overall, the EPZ x Tipsy Star & One is a decent Harman set with a warmer and more relaxing twist to it, but it is slightly overpriced considering their cheaper products such as the G10, Q1 Pro (will be covered soon) and even the Q5 offers a similar sound signature with some minor differences between them all.
However, it still sounds decent, and it is an extremely beautiful set, just not at a very competitive price.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to TRN for providing the opportunity for me to review the MT4 Pro. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this impression with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

~ $15

Source(s)

Truthear Shio
FiiO KA13
Jcally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

TRN MT4 Pro
3 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
1 pair of TRN T-Tips (M)
2 pin cable
- Cable is absolutely unusable for me, it tangles very often and is not comfortable for me even during shorter usage.

Review

TRN T-Tips being included for a product in this price range is very surprising to me, but only one size is available, so if it doesn't fit ... it is going to be a little of a waste in my opinion.
The MT4 Pro is built extremely well for the price, it has a very good heft to it with a metal faceplate and resin shell.
- However, it does feel somewhat heavy after extended use and its not exactly a small shell.
- Fit is quite good for me though.
Thin, Harman signature
Bass
- Sub bass over mid bass.
- Decently deep and rumbly sub bass with a thin mid bass.
- Overall bass lacks body but tight and well defined.
Midrange
- Lower midrange is a little too clean, lacking a bit of warmth and lushness.
- On the other hand, upper midrange is quite energetic and engaging, making female vocals sounding forward and smooth.
Treble
- Treble is somewhat grainy and unrefined, not the smoothest but it has enough sparkle without being overly fatiguing.
- Surprisingly, it has good treble extension, which is unusual for an IEM in this price range.
Technicalities
- Technicalities is good for the price but not ground breaking.
- Good resolution, decently wide stage, and nothing sounds overly congested even on busier tracks.
Overall, I think that the TRN MT4 Pro is an easy recommendation for an IEM at this price bracket if you're into a Harman-ish signature with a thinner, lighter presentation that will not be overly harsh.
However, if you are looking for a more fun and smoother IEM, I suggest looking at something else. Furthermore, you may have to spend extra for a better cable or an additional carrying case.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing the opportunity for me to review the Kinera Celest Plutus Beast. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$89.00

Source(s)

Truthear Shio
FiiO KA13
Jcally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Acoustune AET07

Packaging

Kinera Celest Plutus Beast.
High quality hard case with a really nice texture
3 pairs of Celest 221 Vocal silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
3 pairs of Celest 608 Balanced silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
High-Purity 5N Copper Silver-Plated Cable.
- Comfortable, lightweight, and not overly thin
- Has some memory on it, not the softest cable but it only tangles a bit sometimes.
Metal dragon-shaped bookmark
Cleaning brush

Build Quality

Full resin shell but doesn't really feels cheap.
- Have a stunning design on the faceplate. (Subjective)
Shell size is very small considering the driver setup.
- It also has a springy feel to it if you tap on it lightly.

Fit

Nozzle has average width but is slightly on the shorter side.
- Do note that it is a slightly shorter resin nozzle, certain ear tips may slip out.
Fit was very good, I am able to wear these very comfortably throughout the whole day without even feeling them in my ears.

Tonality

V-shaped
Warm, shouty, dark

Bass

Sounds very different from the graph based on my listening experience.
Sub bass is more prominent than the mid bass.
Sub bass has a very deep rumble and very good texture to it, as if it can be felt.
- I'm guessing that its the bone conductor making this happen.
Mid bass on the other hand is more toned down, but still having decent slam and texture
However, the mid bass is on the boomy side, and it does lacks definition, as it sounds very smoothed over.
Quantity is more than sufficient, but I don't think it hits a bass head level just yet.
- It is definitely on the fun side though, and it sounds more than the graph suggests.
Overall, the bass is extremely fun to listen and experience. It is definitely a highlight of the Plutus Beast to me.

Midrange

Lower midrange is quite warm and rich, but can potentially be bloated or muddy if you prefer a cleaner signature.
- Male vocals sound pretty lush and very well bodied, and they are quite forward in the mix.
Upper midrange is overly energetic and not very smooth.
- Female vocals sounds very forward, which pops out very well from the strong lower frequencies, but this can easily be too shouty to some. It also has some huskiness to it due to the warmer lower midrange.
Timbre is odd and unnatural due to the strange combinations of the warm lower midrange, overly forward upper midrange and downward treble slope.
Overall note weight and density is on the thicker side, most instruments and vocals have some weight and lushness to them.

Treble

Treble is on the darker side, plus it is very smooth and inoffensive.
However, treble extension is very poor, basically not airy at all and it can sound a little "dead" or lifeless.
Details can be a little hard to pick up as the overall treble presentation is already dark, and the poor treble extension made it worse.
Overall, the treble presentation is very safe and smooth, perfect for long listening sessions but it also lacks some sparkle and air in them.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is subpar.
Having a warm, dark-ish signature like this further hurts the detail retrieval, and transients are not as fast and incisive.

Soundstage

Staging is also average in terms of width, but it goes fairly deep.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is average as well, I'm able to pinpoint position but more of a stereo, left and right presentation.

Separation

Separation and layering is subpar.
Vocals and instruments get blended and congested fairly easily once the tracks get really busy.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, I think that the Kinera Celest Plutus Beast is a very unique IEM in this price range which specializes on the bass and bone conduction department.
- I personally really enjoyed the sub bass rumble that is assisted by the bone conduction driver on this set, where nothing else comes close to it in this price range.
It is recommended for people who wants to try out bone conduction drivers without breaking their bank account. It is also perfect for people who are into a less conventional tuning which is on the warm, shouty and dark side.
However, if you're into a more conventional, natural tonality, and a shoutlet/timbrehead, I advice to look for something else instead.

Non Affiliated Link

If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below.
- HiFiGo Web:
  - https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-plutus-beast
- Aliexpress:
  - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006408658667.html
- Amazon US:
  - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR5QNDD9/kinera+celest+plutus+beast/
- Amazon JP:
  - https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CR63TMB2/kinera+celest+plutus+beast/

Thanks for reading!

Check out the beginning of The Funeral by Band of Horses on these things. I tried it today and it feels WILD. Great review! I pretty much agree across the board.

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Simgot for providing the opportunity for me to review the EW200. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$39.99

Source(s)

Truthear Shio
FiiO KA13
Jcally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S
Acoustune AET07

Packaging

EW200.
Soft carrying pouch
- Very good inclusion, very practical to use as well.
3 pairs of genetic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Silver-Plated OFC Cable
- Comfortable, lightweight, and not too thin either.
- Tangles a little sometimes, but not the worst.

Build Quality

Full metal finish, very solid and sturdy build.

Fit

Nozzle has average width and length.
Fit was alright, not the most comfortable fit ever due to its weight.
I also don't have the deepest fit for it, maybe it is due to the shell blocking it.

Tonality

Harman

Bass

Sub bass is slightly more prominent than the mid bass.
Sub bass is present and they do rumble, just don't expect it to be very deep.
Mid bass is slightly less present than sub bass, slams isn't particularly hard and isn't very well bodied, but they are fairly punchy and textured.
The bass presentation is also really snappy and very well controlled.
Quantity should be sufficient if you're not a basshead or if you're not into very thick bass.
Overall, the bass is satisfying enough to my ears and definitely is good enough for something in this price range without any major compromises.

Midrange

Lower midrange is quite clean with a touch of warmth.
- Male vocals sound decent, doesn't sound particularly lush and forward but it is not overly thin and pushed back either.
Upper midrange is very energetic but is smooth.
- Female vocals sound very engaging and forward, but can potentially be shouty and overly forward.
Instruments and timbre is decently natural, but upper region is a bit brighter while lower region is a bit dry, so it can get very energetic on the upper end.
Due to the thinner lower midrange and the brightness of the upper midrange and treble, the overall note weight is noticeably on the lighter side.

Treble

Treble is definitely on the bright and sparkly side, which adds some crispiness to cymbals and notes.
Can be slightly too harsh and fatiguing to some.
Treble is quite smooth as well, no major spikes and peaks throughout my listening experience.
Treble is also well extended, which is a little surprising for a single DD IEM in this price range, giving a nice airy feeling to the overall treble presentation but not overdone in any way.
Details can be perceived fairly easily due to the bright nature of treble.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is excellent for the price, can even rival certain DD IEMs that are priced nearly twice the price tag, such as the Moondrop Aria.

Soundstage

Staging is decently wide, but not really deep or tall.
I would say is good enough for something in this price bracket, but not very outstanding.
However, it is not cramped or intimate by any means.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is razor sharp for the price, I am able track and pinpoint where the sound is coming from precisely with ease.

Separation

Separation and layering is good. Instruments and vocals is well separated among each other.
Even in busier tracks, the EW200 handles it really well, without sounding congested at all.

Comparison

Simgot EW200 vs EPZ Q5

Accessories:
- The Q5 easily provides more and better accessories compared to the EW200
  - Main difference being:
    - Extra set of ear tips
    - Higher quality, semi-hard case
    - Extra cleaning cloth

Others:
- The Q5 box is a lot bigger, offering a more much more "premium" unboxing experience if that is your sort of thing.
- The Q5 MMCX connector offers a really bad experience in my case, and the EW200 uses the usual 2 pin connector which I am very used to, which I did not encounter any issues.

Bass:
- Q5 has better sub bass extension, providing a slightly deeper sub bass rumble.
- Although both bass are tight, well controlled and snappy, the Q5's bass has a better slam, definition, texture and speed.
- Overall, I enjoyed the bass on the Q5 a bit more, but both are not bad by any means.
Midrange:
- Both have similar presentations, slightly thin lower midrange paired with a very energetic but smooth upper midrange which could be shouty to some.
Treble:
- Q5 carries more energy particularly in the lower treble region (4-6k), which ultimately adds sibilance to a lot of higher pitched female vocals during my listening experience.
- Meanwhile, EW200 tones it down a little, cuts down a ton of sibilance for me but retains the overall brightness and energy.
- Both have similarly decent treble extension, providing a airy but still natural tone to it.

Technicalities:
- While both are technically impressive for the price, I would give it to the Q5 for having better staging, resolution and speed.
- This could be due to the bump in the lower treble region, which could give a boost in clarity, or could also be the difference in driver used.

Overall, based on my own preference, I would pick the EW200 which offers a similar tonality and close enough technical chops compared to the Q5, but with a huge cut in sibilance which I am particularly sensitive to. However, if you're not sensitive to sibilance and treble, I would say that the Q5 offers a better package as a whole and slight edge in technicalities.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, I think that the Simgot EW200 performs WAY above its price point, and it could potentially even rival IEMs under $100 in terms of tonality, technicalities, and even build quality.
The EW200 is an easy recommendation for people who are looking for a clean, bright signature with as little compromise as possible, such as accessories and build quality as well.
However, if you prefer a more warm and relaxing signature, or a more unique, non-Harman signature, then the EW200 is not for you.

Thanks for reading!

My YouTube Video:

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to EPZ for providing a unit of the EPZ G10 for me to review. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$35

Source(s)

FiiO KA13
Truthear Shio
JCally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

EPZ G10 with a M sized generic silicone ear tips attached.
Soft carrying pouch
- Very good inclusion, very practical to use as well.
- Most budget IEMs don't even come with a carrying pouch nowadays .. so they did a great job at including these.
Good selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of double flange silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 2 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, L)
Cable with built in microphone
- Build is okay for the price, but tangles quite a bit if not kept properly and can be a bit thin.
- Ear hooks are very comfortable though.

Build Quality

Build quality is decent for the price, shell is made out of resin.
When the provided purple light is shined onto the shell, the shell will emit a pretty cool green glow for a short period of time. This is the first time I see something like this on an IEM.

Fit

Nozzle length and width are about average.
Fits very comfortably for me and is extremely lightweight, once I put them on I don't notice them at all even after long hours of usage.

Tonality

Harman
There are some minor channel imbalance mainly in the sub bass region. Note that I graphed them right after I unbox them.

Bass

Sub bass is a bit more prominent compared to the mid bass, mid bass can be slightly thin sometimes.
Has a good, deep rumble to it and also good control.
However, it sounds a bit thin, soft, lacking in overall impact and weight.
Do note that my particular has some imbalances in bass region.
Overall, the bass is decent, nothing too outstanding but not bad for the price either.
Quantity is just sufficient, just enough to be engaging but definitely not for bass heads.

Midrange

Lower midrange is clean, slightly recessed, with a hint of warmth to it.
- Male vocals sound a little thin and dry, lacking a bit of lushness
Upper midrange is energetic but smooth.
- Female vocals sound very engaging and forward but not exactly to the point of being shouty to me.
Due to the thinner lower midrange and the brightness of the upper midrange and treble, the overall note weight is noticeably on the lighter side.
Most instruments in the midrange do sound good and natural without any oddities, so timbre is good as well.

Treble

Treble is overall quite bright and have sufficient sparkle.
It is also quite smooth without any noticeable huge spikes to my ears.
Treble extension is mediocre, not very airy, personally I would like to have a bit more airiness to it here.
Details in the treble can be perceived fine, without any issues, and it is not overly boosted in any way.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is decent for the price, it isn't mind blowing but it definitely won't let you down either.

Soundstage

Soundstage is quite good, nothing sounds too cramped or closed in, everything is spaced out quite nicely.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is decent, I am able to pinpoint positions fairly well most of the time.

Separation

Separation and layering is decent overall, instruments and vocals are separated among each other and does not get too congested in busier tracks, but it does get a little mushed together in very busier tracks.

Comparison

EPZ G10 vs EPZ Q5

Accessories:
- The Q5 offers 2 types of single flange silicone tips while the G10 offers 1 type of single flange and 1 type of double flange, so take note of this if you want to try out double flange tips.
- The Q5 offers a much better quality carrying case along with a cleaning cloth, while the G10 only offers a carrying pouch.
- The Q5 stock cable is also noticeably thicker and better quality compared to the G10 stock cable.

Others:
- The Q5 box is a lot bigger, offering a more much more "premium" unboxing experience if that is your sort of thing.
- The Q5 MMCX connector offers a really bad experience in my case, and the G10 uses the usual 2 pin connector which I am very used to, which I did not encounter any issues.

Bass:
- Even if the graph only shows minor difference, that is not really the case to my ears.
- The Q5's bass is significantly more snappy, tighter, impactful, and textured.
- On the other hand, the G10's bass is much more limp and soft.
- This could be because of the difference in driver as well.

Midrange:
- Both performs quite similarly.
- Main difference to me would be in the upper midrange, where the Q5 is slightly more forward and energetic, but that's about it.

Treble:
- Again, the graph is only showing minor differences here, but my listening experience tells me another story.
- The small bump in the 4-6k region made female vocals, a lot more "scratchy", sharp and sibilant to me, which is a totally different experience for me in the G10.
- However, the Q5 does offer better treble extension, at the cost of overall treble smoothness.
- On the other end. the G10 is significantly more smooth and easier to listen to in my case.

Technicalities:
- The Q5 offers a far more superior in terms of technical capabilities compared to the G10.
- Transients and speed on the Q5 is significantly faster and more precise to my ears, while transients on the G10 tend to be mushier.

Overall, based on my preference, I would pick the G10 as I am quite sensitive to the lower treble harshness in the Q5, and I don't like the MMCX connector on the Q5. However, if you're not as treble sensitive as me, the Q5 is just much more impressive package as a whole, with a much technicalities, and the price difference actually isn't that huge if you can get it on a deal!

Conclusion

So, back to the main question, is the EPZ G10 just budget Q5?
- In my opinion, I don't think so. I think both IEMs have their very own pros and cons even if they graphed very similarly, so just pick them according to your preference.
Overall, the G10 is a solid budget all rounder that comes with a surprisingly complete set of useful accessories. They also have a unique "glowing" aesthetic and great comfort.
However, if you're looking for something that has a very lush and warm signature, or something that will absolutely wow you in this price range, then I don't think this is it.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to EPZ for providing a unit of the EPZ Q1 for me to review. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

~$25

Source(s)

FiiO KA13
Truthear Shio
JCally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

EPZ Q1
Soft carrying pouch
- Very good inclusion, very practical to use as well.
- Most budget IEMs don't even come with a carrying pouch nowadays .. so they did a great job at including these.
Good selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of double flange silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
5N 4 core Single Crystal Copper cable with Microphone
- Honestly, very good for the price.
- Not too thin, doesn't tangle often, very comfortable to wear.
- Even comes with a microphone and wrap to keep everything in place, not many stock cables comes with all these, even in higher price brackets.

Build Quality

Surprisingly well built especially for the price, shell is made out of resin.

Fit

Nozzle length and width are about average.
Semi custom-like fit, fits very comfortably for me.

Tonality

Warm, dark.

Bass

Mid bass is more prominent than the sub bass.
Bass sounds ... very loose, makes everything sounds a little splashy and undefined to my ears.
However, it does sound somewhat full and comes with decent texture and a slight rumble to it ... but still lacks a bit of weight and physicality to it despite the 13mm DD.
The bass is also not well controlled, with slower decay.
Overall, I think the bass is subpar. It lacks in a lot of aspects such as tightness, control, and even in weight and impact.

Midrange

Midrange is quite warm and rich with a smooth and relaxed presentation.
Lower midrange sounds full, which makes male vocals sound forward and lush, but its also too bloated and muddy.
Upper midrange is recessed, female vocals stays at the background and is a little veiled & muffled from the bass bleed. This is not often based on my personal experience and is rather niche and unique, since there will usually be more energy in this region to compensate the lower end energy.
Timbre is ... not good but not too bad for a signature as unique as this. Everything sounds a little heavier and huskier but still within the realm of natural enough.
Note weight and density is on the thicker and heavier side.

Treble

Treble is very smooth, but it is also dark, and lacking a lot of sparkle throughout the whole treble region.
Treble extension is subpar, not much sense of airiness and
Details can be a little harder to perceive due to the darker signature.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is surprisingly decent even with the lack of brightness in the treble but I won't call it good for the price.

Soundstage

Soundstage is average, a little closed in as expected from something in this price but due to the recessed upper midrange, the overall staging can be strange.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is good, I am able to pinpoint positions quite easily and accurately.

Separation

Separation and layering is overall average, but vocals can easily sound a bit congested and not as well separated.
This may be because of the warmer low end and lack of upper midrange energy for the vocals to pop out sometimes.

Conclusion

Overall, the EPZ Q1 has a very unique tuning that differs itself from the usual budget offerings but this sort of tonality only appeals to a very niche crowd in my honest opinion.
If you want a very warm, smooth, unique, and non-fatiguing IEM to the extreme that also comes with a very complete set of accessories for a affordable price, then this is the IEM for you.
However, I would advice to look somewhere else if you're into more mainstream tunings and excitement in your IEMs.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a discount for me to review the AFUL MagicOne. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$139.99

Source(s)

One of the hardest to drive IEMs I owned. However, both of my dongles are able to drive it with the 4.4mm output without any issues.
- FiiO KA13
- Truthear Shio

Ear tips

Tangzu Tang Sancai

Packaging

AFUL MagicOne with M sized wide bore silicone ear tips attached
Hard metal storage case
Good selection of ear tips.
- 2 pairs of generic wide bore silicone ear tips (S, L)
- 3 pairs of generic narrow bore silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Oxygen-free Copper Multi-conductor Cable with 192 Ultra-small Wires
- Feels quite premium and soft, doesn't tangle often at all.
- Ear hooks are very comfortable as well.
- Only the connectors feel a little plasticky but this is just me nitpicking.

Build Quality

Good build quality, shell is made out of resin.

Fit

Nozzle length and width are about average.
One of the most comfortable IEMs I have tried in a while, very lightweight and sits very well in my ear.
However, pressure does get built up easily due to the ventless design. Personally, I use the Sancai tips to solve this problem for me.

Tonality

Warm neutral.

Bass

Mid bass is more prominent than sub bass.
Bass sounds surprisingly full, with good texture and thump.
However, it still lacks the physicality, slam and rumble from a DD.
The bass is also not the most well controlled, and decay is slightly slower.
Overall, despite the cons, the bass is still impressive to me considering that this is only a single BA IEM, where even multiple BA IEMs tend to not do well in this section.

Midrange

Midrange is quite warm and rich, and is not really recessed at all.
Lower midrange sounds full, which makes male vocals sound forward and lush without being bloated or
Upper midrange on the other hand sounds smooth and laid back. Female vocals barely pop out from the mix, which is perfect if you want a more relaxed presentation but I prefer a little more energy here based on my preference. Female vocals also have a slightly huskiness sometimes from the extra warmth in the lower end but it doesn't affect my overall listening experience too much.
Timbre is great, everything including vocals and instruments sounded quite natural most of the time.
Note weight and density is thick and heavy throughout the midrange, which honestly is surprising again for the single BA configuration.

Treble

Treble is very smooth throughout the low and mid treble, with enough sparkle to shine through without being fatiguing or harsh even after long listening sessions.
Treble extension is also good, which adds some airiness to it.
Details can be perceived fine, doesn't sound like the details are presented too "in your face". It sounds just about right, not too boosted and not too hidden.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is decent for an IEM in this range, nothing groundbreaking but not bad either. Definitely went above my expectation for a single BA IEM by a little though.

Soundstage

Soundstage is decent in terms of width and depth but nothing outstanding. At least it doesn't sound narrow and cramped.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is good, I am able to pinpoint positions quite easily and accurately.

Separation

Separation and layering is overall quite decent, but vocals may sound a little congested at times and not as well separated.
This may be because of the warmer low end and lack of upper midrange energy for the vocals to pop out sometimes.

Conclusion

Overall, the AFUL MagicOne exceeded a lot of my expectations for a single BA IEM. However, given the price tag of $140, it doesn't compete too well against other competitors in this price bracket. But again, if you're a fan of new tech and wanted to collect something that has a unique driver configuration, then I would say that this is a worthy IEM to collect, considering that the accessories are very complete and good.
I am still very impressed by what AFUL has pulled off in the MagicOne, and I am looking forward to how they are able to implement this technology on their future products

Non Affiliated Link

If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below.

- HiFiGo Web:
  - https://hifigo.com/products/aful-magicone

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Hidizs for providing the opportunity for me to review the Hidizs MS3 through a tour. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$169.90

Source(s)

FiiO KA13
Truthear Shio
Jcally JM6 Pro
Hidizs XO

Ear tips

Dunu S&S
Final E

Packaging

MS3 with the Gold nozzle attached
Soft, leather textured pouch
Good selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of generic bass silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of generic vocal silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of generic balanced silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Tuning nozzles
- Red
- Silver
Oxygen-free Copper Multi-conductor Cable with 192 Ultra-small Wires
- Feels very premium and comfortable, one of the best stock cable in this price range, doesn't tangle easily.
- However, there is a sharp, pointy edge on the connector.

Build Quality

Excellent build quality, has a metal shell.

Fit

Nozzle length is average, but it is slightly on the wider side
Fit is really good for me, fits very comfortably.

Tonality

V shaped.
Gold nozzle
- Bright tilted V shaped. Upper midrange becomes a lot more forward and the treble gets noticeable brighter.
Silver nozzle
- A bit similar to the gold nozzle but with a touch more brightness.
- I wish the silver nozzle can be replaced with another nozzle that can further tame the peaky treble instead ... I honestly don't see the point of further enhancing the already bright and energetic treble.
Red nozzle
- My preferred style, upper midrange and treble becomes smoother and tamed, and it becomes a more balanced V shaped tonality, perhaps with a very slightly emphasis on the lower end.
- My review below will be based on this red nozzle.

Bass

Mid bass is a bit more prominent than sub bass.
Thumps and slams quite well, which makes it fairly fun and engaging.
Very well textured and has a fairly natural decay that is neither too quick or lingers too long.
Doesn't have a very deep rumble but it is present, it also sounds quite full with a good amount of body and density.
However, the bass is not very well controlled, which bleeds into the midrange a little.
Quantity is on the bassier side especially on the red nozzle.
Overall, the bass has a solid performance for the price, my only nitpick is the bass bleed.

Midrange

Midrange is quite recessed, which pushes back vocals and instruments a fair bit.
Lower midrange is affected from the bass bleed which makes it very warm, lush and rich. It is a bit too much for me, so it sounds a bit bloated to me.
Upper midrange on the other hand sounds rather smooth, with just enough emphasis so they don't sound drowned by the lower end, but suffers with some slight huskiness from the excessive warmth.
Timbre is not the best as expected for this kind of signature.
Overall note weight and density is thick and heavy on the lower and upper midrange but is thin in the middle.

Treble

Treble has enough sparkle to shine and balance out the lower end energy even on the red nozzle.
However, the 8k peak is very noticeable to me and I had to turn down the volume most of the time because it gets fatiguing too easily.
Treble extension is decent, which adds a little airiness to it.
Details can be perceived quite easily as the treble is quite revealing even though it is quite smooth other than the 8k peak.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is good for a hybrid in this price bracket.

Soundstage

Soundstage is decent in terms of width and depth but nothing outstanding. At least it doesn't sound narrow and cramped.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is good, I am able to pinpoint positions quite easily and accurately.

Separation

Separation and layering is good as well, nothing really sounds congested.
Instruments and vocals are spaced out and separated among each other well.

Conclusion

Overall, I don't think the Juzear Clear is a very impressive or competes very well in this price bracket at all.
Overall, I think the Hidizs MS3 is a pretty decent offering in this price bracket that consists of a fun, energetic V shaped tonality with tuning nozzles that is effective. It also offers very solid technicalities for the price as well!
However, the Hidizs MS3 will not be suitable if you're looking for a clean, natural and mid centric signature as the midrange of the MS3 tends to be recessed and muddy. The treble is also peaky to me even with the Red nozzle, Final E ear tips and Truthear Shio combination.
From what I observed, Hidizs have sales going on quite often, the MS3 is already a decent buy at MSRP but if you can get it at a lower price, I absolutely recommend it, but keep the cons in mind before making a decision.

Non Affiliated Link

If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below.
https://www.hidizs.net/products/hidizs-ms3-2ba-1dd-hybrid-3-drivers-hifi-in-ear-monitors

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to SHENZHENAUDIO for providing the opportunity for me to review the Truthear Nova. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$149.99

Source(s)

Truthear Shio
FiiO KA13
Jcally JM6

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

IEM.
Semi soft pouch.
- Able to protect IEMs to a certain degree and feels decently soft as well
3 pairs of generic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
1 pair of foam tips
2 pairs of double flange silicone ear tips (S, L)
4-Strand (448-Core) OCC
- Tangles easily, microphonic, and comes with a shorter than average ear hook.
- Only good thing is that it looks decent with the Nova, and it is light & comfortable.

Build Quality

Very smooth and solid yet lightweight resin build.

Fit and Comfort

Nozzle is slightly longer than average, but relatively thinner compared to previous Truthear models.
Decently comfortable but the shell size can be a bit large for smaller ears, and it gets quite stuffy even though it has vents, so I can't wear for too long.
However, I would say that it fits very snuggly in my ears and have very good isolation.

Tonality

Harman 2019

Bass

Sub bass is more prominent and focused compared to the mid bass.
Sub bass is quite rumbly, and has good depth to it.
Mid bass lacks body and thump, sounding quite hollow and thin.
Sub bass quantity is enough but mid bass quantity is lacking and scooped out.
Overall, the bass is ... a little unengaging, limp, and lacks impact. However, it is very well controlled. Definitely not for bass heads.

Midrange

Midrange is very clean with a hint of warmth so it is not too recessed.
Male vocals sound slightly thin, lacking a little bit of body and lushness.
Female vocals sound very forward and energetic, they also sound really smooth as well. Not too shouty for me but I can see how this can be slightly shouty to some, considering that it has less lower end to balance it out.
Instruments and timbre is quite natural considering that this is a hybrid IEM, almost no sign of BA timbre can be heard.
Note weight and density is on the thin side.

Treble

Treble is very smooth, with enough sparkle and energy to make everything lively and exciting but never too harsh or sharp fatiguing for me.
There is some air in the upper treble but it is not an excessive amount to make everything unnatural and overdone, it is just an adequate amount to make it sound slightly airy and open while keeping it natural.
Details can be slightly harder to perceive due to how smooth the overall treble is.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is decent, but it isn't anything outstanding like the planar IEMs in this price range.
Slightly improvement in terms of resolution compared to its little brother, the Hexa, which was fantastic for its price, but then this is why I find it a little harder to justify for Nova's resolution for almost double the price.

Soundstage

Staging is slightly narrow and closed in but decent in terms of height and depth.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is decent, I can track and pinpoint where the sound is coming from most of the time.

Separation

Separation and layering is good. Instruments and vocals is well layered and separated among each other.

Comparison

Truthear Nova vs Gizaudio × Binary Chopin

Accessories:
- Chopin offers only 3 pairs of generic ear tips with different sizes while the Nova offers up to 2 more types (2 pairs of double flange & 1 pair of memory foam).
- Furthermore, Nova provides a much better and more practical carrying case compared to Chopin's cheap and flimsy hard carrying case.
- As for the cable, Chopin's cable is much more usable in my opinion but it isn't that much of an upgrade in value overall.
- However, Chopin's packaging did include 2 cloth covers to protect the IEM and a small cleaning brush.
Bass:
- No competition at all in my opinion. Chopin wins easily.
- Chopin just has a MUCH better slam, impact and body.
- Nova's only advantage is a less noticeable bass tuck, which provides a smoother and more natural transition into the lower midrange.
Midrange:
- Both performs quite similarly.
- Nova's lower midrange sounds a little bit more natural due to the smoother transition from the bass.
- However, Chopin has that extra meat and body from the mid bass, so it doesn't sound as thin to my ears but still lacking lushness overall.
- As for upper midrange, both have the same forward and energetic presentation but Nova sounds noticeable smoother here.
Treble:
- Chopin's lower and mid treble is less smooth compared to Nova but it has a touch more energy and sparkle in them.
- Both have similar performance in terms of airiness and upper treble extension.
Technicalities:
- Chopin has the upper hand in terms of every aspect of technicalities which includes, separation, staging, imaging and resolution.
- The difference in technicalities is actually quite noticeable to my ears.

Overall, I would have very much preferred the Chopin as I find the Nova to be lackluster in the bass and technical department, as the difference is actually quite significant to my ears. Furthermore, the Chopin fits a lot more comfortable in my ears. However, the Nova can still be considered if bass and technical performances isn't as important to you, and if you're on a tighter budget.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, I think the Truthear Nova have a really solid midrange and treble performance which is really smooth, engaging yet inoffensive.
However, I don't think that this is enough to compete in this price bracket ... especially when a banger such as the Chopin which follows a similar signature just got released around the same time.
The other reason I find the Nova a little hard to compete is the existence of Truthear's own IEM: the Hexa.
- I won't comment too much on the signature since everyone's preference is different.
- The Nova definitely improved on several aspects such as the bass performance and technicalities, and its also a lot easier to listen with significantly less metallic timbre.
  - However, I don't find the improvements to justify the price tag that almost doubles the Hexa.
In my opinion, the Truthear Nova would be a much easier recommendation if it is priced around $120 or lower.
- But if you're on a really tight budget but want a midrange and treble presentation that is smoother and similar to the Chopin that comes with good accessories, and if you're okay with sacrificing bass performance, then I think the Nova is a good choice.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Hifigo for providing the opportunity for me to review the Gizaudio × Binary Chopin. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

$199.99

Source(s)

Truthear Shio
FiiO KA13

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

IEM.
Hard case.
- Quality is subpar.
- Feels very cheap, plasticky and lightweight
3 pairs of genetic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
High-Purity OFC Silver-Plated Litz Cable
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Tangles a little sometimes, but not the worst.

(I forgot to take out the ear tips from the package so here is an extra shot)

Build Quality

Acrylic resin shell with a metal faceplate, very lightweight and solidly built

Fit

Nozzle is very thick and long.
Surprisingly very comfortable despite its weird shape.
However, do be cautious if your ear canal is small, as the nozzle size may not fit for everyone.

Tonality

Bass boosted neutral

Bass

Sub bass is more prominent and focused compared to mid bass
Sub bass is quite rumbly, slams super hard and goes sufficiently deep as well
Mid bass has decent body and texture, with enough punch to it
Overall a very satisfying listening experience. A lot to love about it: Well defined, has decent speed, and super well controlled.
Quantity is on the bassy side, may even satisfy some bass heads. Fun and engaging but remains super clean.

Midrange

Midrange is very clean with a hint of warmth so it is not too recessed.
Male vocals sound average, doesn't sound particularly lush and forward but it is not overly thin and pushed back, takes a more neutral state.
Female vocals have a good forwardness which makes them sound engaging yet never too shouty or in your face.
Instruments and timbre is very natural considering that this is a hybrid IEM, almost no sign of BA timbre can be heard. At most its only a very slight hint of it sometimes but I doubt that it can affect the overall listening experience.
Note weight and density is on the neutral side, which doesn't come off as overly thin or thick, its just the right amount.

Treble

Treble is overall quite smooth, with enough sparkle and energy to make everything lively and exciting but never too harsh or sharp fatiguing
There is some air in the upper treble but it is not an excessive amount to make everything unnatural and overdone, it is just an adequate amount to make it sound slightly airy and open while keeping it natural.
Details can be perceived without too much effort and is not overly emphasized.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is good, but it isn't anything outstanding like the planar IEMs in this price range.
However, it definitely isn't lacking details in any way, and is good enough as a $200 hybrid.

Soundstage

Soundstage is decent in terms of width, depth and height.
Nothing impressive but doesn't sound intimate at all.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is good, I can track and pinpoint where the sound is coming from with ease.

Separation

Separation and layering is good. Instruments and vocals is well separated among each other.

Comparison

$200 Showdown: My Personal Favorite Hybrid (Yume 2) vs The Most Versatile Hybrid (Chopin)

Accessories: Chopin offers only 3 pairs of different ear tips sizes while Yume 2 offers up to 5, but both are still only generic ear tips, nothing special. Chopin also has a much better cable which doesn't tangle as often as Yume 2's stock cable, but Chopin's carrying case is built a bit worse than Yume 2's case. However, Chopin does come with 2 protective wrappers for the IEM.
Bass: Chopin's bass is slightly better in terms of quality, also comes with a larger quantity. It packs a little more slam with a more natural decay, while Yume 2's bass is a touch faster and punchier.
Midrange: Yume 2 take the win here. Yume 2 has that extra bit of warmth to make male vocals a little more lush and natural, with a more energetic and airy presentation for female vocals. However, this does come down to preference, as the Chopin has a cleaner and smoother/relaxed midrange presentation.
Treble: Chopin's treble is smoother compared to Yume 2, but lacks that extra bit of airiness. However, the extra airiness may make it sound less natural.
Technicalities: Yume 2 has a slight advantage in technicalities, providing a slightly wider stage and slightly higher resolution. However, both are not very far apart in terms of technical capabilities.
Overall, I would personally prefer the Yume 2, it is still my favorite hybrid in this range due to my preference. However, I do think that the Chopin would be the more versatile choice here with how well it performs throughout all the sections, and the Yume 2 might be a touch too spicy in the treble and air region for some.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, I think the Gizaudio × Binary Chopin is another hit for Timmy from Gizaudio. A truly well rounded IEM with no major flaw.
Very fun and engaging bass, super clean midrange, non fatiguing treble with enough sparkle and decent extension, good technicalities for the price.
The only compromise that I can possibly state is the lower midrange can be a bit too clean, which makes it a little sterile and boring, but even this is up to personal preference.
Some may say this type of tuning is too boring and does nothing special, while I agree to a certain extent especially if you're a veteran in this hobby and owns a bunch of IEMs in your collection ... but I would say that the Chopin is a perfect blend of fun and safe and is extremely recommended for people who are looking for an inoffensive yet engaging IEM, only if you can fit them in, of course!

Thanks for reading!

What do you think of this vs the Sony XBA-N3?

I haven't tried the Sony XBA-N3 before, so I'm not sure, sorry about that

Disclaimer

Huge thanks to Yanyin for providing the opportunity for me to review the Yanyin Canon II via a tour. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Price(MSRP)

$379.00

Source(s)

Jcally JM6 Pro
Truthear Shio
FiiO KA13

Ear tips

Dunu S&S

Packaging

IEM.
- Attached to 1 pair of generic silicone ear tips (M sized)
Hard case.
- Leather-ish texture.
3 pairs of genetic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Switch toggle pin
4-strand graphene single crystal copper silver-plated Cable
- Very premium and comfortable cable
- Tangles a little bit from time to time.

Build Quality

Resin shell, quite lightweight and solidly built

Fit

Nozzle has average width but slightly shorter than average.
Fit is quite comfortable for me, but it is quite large and bulky.
Had no issues with the ear hooks of the stock cable as well, really comfy.

Tonality

Very mild V shaped, close to neutral with bass boost
For the switches, the changes are very subtle, but they do still make a difference in my listening experience, more as a fine tuning option.
The changes are mainly in the bass region. (U = Up, D = Down)
- UU - Most amount of sub bass and mid bass, makes the bass sounds quite boomy and smeared the midrange a little bit.
- UD/DU - Middle between the UU and DD configuration, perfect if you find UU configuration a little boomy or thick but DD configuration too clean.
- DD - Noticeably less boomy from UU configuration , but there is still a tiny bit of it. Midrange is also significantly cleaner and less smeared by the mid bass.
The review below will be based on the DD configuration.

Bass

Adequate amount of sub bass, but mid bass is somewhat more prominent than the sub bass.
Sub bass rumble is present and goes sufficiently deep but nothing too impressive.
Mid bass has good slam, impact, body, and really good texture.
Overall, it is very satisfying, and I really enjoy them. Really sounds different compared to a lot of other IEMs I have tried, credits to the biological dynamic driver.
However, the bass can get a little boomy sometimes, and it is more noticeable especially in the UU config. I also hope that the bass can be a touch tighter and faster.
Quantity is sufficient to be fun and engaging enough but definitely not enough for bass heads.

Midrange

Midrange has that touch of warmth to make it sound decently natural, while maintaining good clarity and cleanliness. Also slightly recessed.
Male vocals performs quite well, decently lush with good forwardness to it. Has enough body to not sound too thin but not overly hefty to the point where they sound muddy.
Female vocals takes a more relaxing position, being pushed off a little more compared to male vocals.
- While it sounds pleasing and smooth for the most part, I noticed some unevenness in the extension and the last notes of female vocals, which somewhat annoys me.
- This is especially noticeable for energetic female vocals with a higher pitch.
Instruments and overall midrange is natural enough for a hybrid, no hints of metallic BA timbre throughout except the weird upper midrange and lower treble which sounds unnatural to me.
Note weight and density is more on the neutral side which doesn't come off as overly thin or hefty, maybe a hint of thinness on the upper midrange but that's about it.

Treble

Treble is on the relaxed side, barely enough sparkle to not sound dull but treble heads definitely wants more.
Lower treble which extends from the upper midrange sounds somewhat gritty to my ears, but get smoother as it progresses to mid treble and upper treble.
Other than the uneven lower treble, everything else sounds quite smooth.
Extension is excellent, it is very well extended up to the upper treble and sounds very airy.
Details are present and can be perceived easily, and they don't sound too forced in your face.

Technicalities

Resolution

Resolution and detail retrieval is really good, considering that the details are not overly emphasized or highlighted.
I'm not sure if it competes with the most detailed IEMs of this range like the Blessing 3 as I don't personally own something within this range, but from my previous short experience with Blessing 3, I think it does holds up fairly well.

Soundstage

Soundstage is quite spacious and wide with decent depth and height, nothing overly impressive but not too bad either.

Imaging

Imaging and accuracy is average, I can track most positions roughly but can't pinpoint the most precise locations and placements of everything.

Separation

Separation and layering is good.
Instruments and vocals have a really clean separation among each other, which is expected of a hybrid of this caliber.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, I think the Yanyin Canon II is a pretty safe and well balanced IEM with competent technical capabilities which competes fairly well against competitors in this price bracket.
However, the upper midrange to lower treble transition is just weird and uneven from my own personal listening experience, which makes energetic female vocals sound a little gritty.
- I prefer a slightly more energetic and smoother transition
- It might not be a deal breaker for some, but it is for me.
Personally, I still prefer the OG Canon, which sounds more natural, engaging and exciting to my ears. The female vocals on the Canon II is just not doing enough for me, but other fields such as technicalities and venting is definitely a step up from the original.
- I did not write a detailed comparison as I don't personally own the OG Canon, but I have tried it multiple times from my friend.
- However, your preference may vary. I personally prefer a smother and slightly more energetic approach for female vocalist.

Thanks for reading!