This unit was provided by Elle of BQEYZ for review. As always, what follows are my honest thoughts and opinions to the best of my ability. I won't really be talking too much about the accessories or the build because you can read all the other reviews below mine for that stuff :) The most interesting aspect of the Autumn, though, is definitely its magnet-based filter system. The magnets are tiny, but they're highly magnetic so they usually snap right into the slots of the shells or the carrying tray from up to about an inch away. These filters...

Configuration: 1DD MSRP: $40 Unit provided for review courtesy of Shenzhen Audio. It's been a while since I've dropped actual listening impressions, so here we go. The Ola is Tanchjim's latest single-DD IEM targeting the budget segment of the market. I liked their $25 Tanya IEM quite a bit, so I was interested to hear what the Ola's packaging. On initial listen, the Ola doesn't really appeal to me. Nowhere to be found is the bass-y and dark tonality of the Tanya. In fact, the Ola is very much the antithesis of its younger sibling. Bass...

I received a pre-production unit, so I did not receive the production packaging or accessories. However, as far as the IEM itself is concerned, it has a triangular shell with a darker, steampunk aesthetic. I dig it. Build quality is good, although there is a distinct line where the two halves of the shell meet. The nozzles are also a tad longer than might be expected; however, I had no issues with comfort and was able to even lay on my side with minimal fatigue. Isolation is average. The included cable is commendable for this price point. It has a...

Introduction The Falcon Pro is DUNU's latest point of entry to their ECLIPSƎ lineup. ECLIPSƎ is DUNU's proprietary driver technology that essentially meshes three primary components: 1) a standalone driver cone, 2) patented glue techniques, and 3) a ring-type magnet with >1.8T field strength. The technology was pioneered in DUNU's flagship IEM, the Luna ($1700), which is indicative to me of having some of the best macro-dynamic contrast that I have heard from an IEM. Eventually, the technology trickled its way down from the Luna to the DUNU Zen...

Introduction There's a lot of variety when it comes to driver types in the IEM world, from dynamic drivers, BAs, ESTs, to piezo-electric tweeters. And of course planars. Planars are a staple in the headphone world, with headphones from manufacturers like Audeze and HiFiMAN reflecting as some of the best headphones the world has to offer. But when it comes to IEMs, the story is a bit different. And not in a good way. Suffice it to say that I have not been a fan of a single planar IEM that I have heard. At least in the case of technical marvels such as...

Preface The Kato is Moondrop’s latest single-DD IEM that is being touted by the company as an improved Moondrop KXXS. Incidentally, the KXXS is an IEM that’ll always have a special place in my collection because it’s the IEM that got me into the “IEM game” so to speak. I mean, there was the Drop Noble X that I purchased briefly before the KXXS, but I would prefer not to talk about that IEM - thanks. Moving back to the Kato, I basically had one question in mind when I approached it, and that was whether it would be a true upgrade. This is because I...

This review was originally published here on Headphones.com. Preface Imagine the following scenario. A flagship IEM is released to lots of hype. Said flagship IEM turns out to actually be pretty mediocre, and the hype subsequently dies. Rinse and repeat, plus stack on a couple hundred bucks more for the next big thing. Well, welcome to the flagship IEM world! Having experienced numerous cycles of this myself, it's becoming increasingly rare that I get excited about an IEM; however, there is one IEM I've been eager to hear for some time now: the...

Introduction My first run-in with SeeAudio consisted of their entry-level Yume IEM. The Yume sported a remarkable tonal balance, quite possibly the best I'd heard for its respective price point. But it came with one glaring flaw: technicalities. Notes on it were quite blunted; ultimately, I found that the Yume fell out of favor with my ears. But presently, SeeAudio has released the Bravery, a humble 4BA configuration. The question that is no doubt at hand is whether SeeAudio can maintain the excellent tonal balance that characterized the Yume and...

This review was originally published here on Headphones.com, but I am re-posting it for readers on Head-Fi. Introduction Based out of France and purveyor to some of the world’s finest audio transducers, Focal’s a brand that’s been on my radar for some time. The Focal Utopia, in particular, has afforded me many a moment of yearning. And angst, I should add, looking at that price tag! For mere mortals like myself, then, the Focal Clear was the clear alternative that promised comparable performance at a fraction of the Utopia’s cost. And yes, I’ll try...

This review was originally published here on Headphones.com, but I am re-publishing it for readers on Head-Fi. Introduction My history with the HD800S stretches back to roughly a year ago when I first heard it at the Sennheiser SF storefront. Even though the star of the show should have been Sennheiser’s HE1 (you know, just the world’s most expensive headphone) which I also got to demo, I still recall myself being attracted to the HD800S like no other headphone in the store. It had detail, clarity, and staging in spades, pretty much all my wholly...

This review was originally published here on Headphones.com, but I am re-posting it for readers on Head-Fi. Introduction The cost of flagship IEMs has steadily skyrocketed over the last several years, so much so that seeing a $2000, $3000, heck, even $4000 IEM released doesn’t surprise. So when Odin, Empire Ear’s latest flagship IEM, was released to the tune of a staggering $3400, I think people were more concerned with how and where to buy one than with the price itself. Indeed, Empire Ears has struggled to keep up with demand, and many retailers...

This unit was sent to me for review by Linsoul. As usual, what follows are my honest thoughts and opinions to the best of my ability. I have to say, I’m very impressed with the strides Thieaudio has made with their presentation. The Legacy 2 arrives in a clean, black cardboard box. Inside you’ll find two types of silicone tips, a 0.78mm cable, and a compact carrying case. The L2 itself is nicely constructed and sports one of the more visually appealing faceplates that I’ve seen in its price bracket. For fit and comfort, the L2 is eminently easy...

I heard the Tanya a couple weeks ago at a friend's house and was really impressed with what I heard. It's not often that a budget IEM catches my attention, but this one had me hooked - I even ended up buying my own unit halfway through demoing! It doesn't hurt that the Tanya is only $20, a far cry from the pricing of Tanchjim's other IEMs which I haven't been as hot on. Anyways, it arrived yesterday, and I've been listening to them for the past day. Here are my quick thoughts. Unboxing Impressions Clean unboxing experience that belies its price...

Hey all, here’s my long-belated Zen review. This showed up a couple months ago, I put an hour or two on it, and then promptly forgot about it with all the other stuff I have going through my hands. Yeah. Obviously, that’s not the greatest first impression, but I also don’t think it’s fair to leave DUNU hanging when they sent this out with the expectation of a review. So here we are. This unit was provided for review by Tom of DUNU. As always, what follows are my honest thoughts and impressions to the best of my ability. Presentation &...

This is just a quick summary of the B2 Dusk, as I have it on-hand again from MRS. See his Youtube channel here. Yeah, I enjoyed it enough to steal it for another listen - something that doesn't happen often. You can also read my original, full-review here. If you're not familiar with the original Moondrop Blessing 2, then suffice it to say it's by and large without peer in its price bracket thanks to its stellar, balanced tuning and surprisingly good technical chops. It is the undisputed $300 benchmark. But make no mistake: Equally so, it is not an...

Every once in a while, an IEM's reputation precedes it, and indeed, the Tape Pro is a prime example. With an accolade of 1-star reviews on Head-Fi (no easy feat, mind you) and no shortage of my fellow reviewers raving about how horrible it sounds, I knew I had to get my hands on one. Thanks to @antdroid for making it happen, although funnily enough, I was likewise thanked for "taking out the trash". So let's find out then: Just how bad is the Tape Pro? To ease you in, let's start with the bass which is arguably the least offensive part of the Tape...

If you've read my original review on this IEM, then you'll know that I was very impressed when I first heard it. I've likewise played around with the idea of purchasing my own pair for some time. Admittedly, a part of me was worried. It's been over six months since I last heard it, my tastes have matured, and I just don't find myself particularly happy with a lot of the stuff I hear nowadays. As it would happen, a deal presented itself that I couldn't resist; I pulled the trigger. And it seems I needn't have been worried: The Andro 2020's just as...

I have a Starfield on loan right now from @MRSallee so I figured I'd drop a quick Head-Fi review. But first, a quick spiel. I've owned the KXXS (the Starfield's more premium brother) for more than a year at this point. In this time, I've been lucky enough to try and review dozens of IEMs, some very expensive ones, and yet, the KXXS remains a staple of my small collection. That alone should probably be a testament to how much I like the KXXS, and I have well over a couple hundred hours on my unit. Of course, this review isn't about the KXXS; it's...

I've owned the Nio for several months, so I thought I'd plug a quick review as I don't see too many for this awesome IEM on Head-Fi. You can read my full review here too. The Nio follows an L-shaped tuning with the M15/M20 modules and something much closer to neutral with the MX module. Because I'm a dirty bass-head, much of this quick review will focus on the M15 module. With the M15 module, the Nio is a warm, gooey, sub-bass oriented IEM. And indeed, the best word to describe the Nio's bass with the M15 module is "dirty". There's a...

In the interest of full disclosure, I want to thank Tom of Dunu for sending these along to me for review. At the end of the review period, they’ll be returned. Here are some brief comments on the build and whatnot: Great cable quality and pouches for the IEMs. DUNU clearly cares and is putting in a good deal effort here. All of the IEMs are quite small. This is definitely a plus for smaller ears. However, if you have larger ears, it might feel like the IEMs are a bit loose (although I doubt they’ll actually fall out). None of them isolate...