AAW x Shozy Hibiki

Greetings,

Today we're checking out the Hibiki, the resulting earphone of a collaborative project between Shozy and Advanced AcousticWerkes (AAW).

Shozy and AAW are established brands with strong reputations and juggernauts in their respective fields, crafting amps, ear buds, universal and custom in-ear monitors, and more to great fanfare. Seeing them come together to bring to the market an affordable product that was attractive on both physical and auditory levels was exciting. They succeeded too. The Hibiki is a quality earphone.

Let's take a closer look.


Disclaimer:

Thanks to Lillian with DD Audio for arranging a sample of the Hibiki. The thoughts within this review are my own and do not represent DD Audio, Shozy, AAW, or any other entity. There was no financial incentive provided to give this a positive review or otherwise. At the time of this review, the Hibiki was retailing for around 60.00 USD.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hibiki-High-Definition-headphones-Dynamic-Detachable/dp/B077Q3W5JQ/

AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...tachable-HiFi-In-Ear/2894006_32834360602.html

Source:

For at home use the Hibiki was powered by a TEAC HA-501 desktop amp with my Asus FX53V laptop sourcing music. For portable use it was paired with an LG G5, Shanling M1, HiFiMan MegaMini, or HiFi E.T. MA8, all of which easily brought it up to listening volume. The Hibiki doesn't need to be amped.

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures in my headphones I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even and natural mid-range response, with reduced mid-bass. The HiFiMan RE800, Brainwavz B400, and thinksound On2 offer examples of signatures I enjoy.

Specifications (from manual):

• Driver: 10mm dynamic
• Frequency Response: 20-40kHz
• Sensitivity: 102dB SPL@1mW
• Impedance: 18ohm@1kHz
• THD ≤ 0.5% @ kHz

Packaging and Accessories:

The Hibiki comes in simple but elegant packaging. On the front of the exterior sheath is an image of the earphones and some delicate text handling the branding on the front. The sides, outlined in a broad silver border contains the slogan “Chasing Aural Perfection” and notification that this earphone is a collaboration between Shozy and AAW. The rear of the sheath contains an exploded image of the Hibiki's construction along with some limited specifications and a feature list. There are also images of with descriptive highlights covering the unique carbon fibre faceplates, high quality Ethos Black 26AWG copper cable, the inline mic and controls, and the application of a recessed two pin removeable cable system.

Removing the sheath and opening the lid of the nondescript black box within, you are greeted by a manual made from dense, high quality paper. Underneath is the Hibiki nestled securely and safely within a finely cut foam insert. The spare tips are set loosely within separate cutouts. In all you get;

• Hibiki earphones
• Replaceable cable
• Silicone tips (s/m/l)

The packaging is quite attractive and has a quality feel to it, but I can't help but be slightly disappointed at the lack of accessories. At this price point, some additional tip variety (foam, bi-flange, etc.), a soft carrying case, or at the very least a shirt clip is expected. The quality of the included tips is nothing special either, and are a common site among the extreme low budget earphone landscape.

Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

You will likely find yourself being drawn first to the carbon fibre face plates finished in a brilliantly smooth clear coat. Surrounded by chromed plastic borders, they stand out and give the Hibiki a commanding presence. It's a large step up from the faux carbon fibre you generally find around this price point. The rest of the housings are just black plastic, coated in a pleasing, soft-to-the-touch matte texture that feels good on the ear but highlights the oil from your skin that sticks to it. Left and right indicators are denoted by large capitalized L/Rs printed in white on the inside of each ear piece. I wouldn't be surprised if they wore off relatively quickly. Not an issue since the Hibiki is designed to be worn cable up and with each ear piece tailored to fit a particular ear. Unlike most earphones that utilize 2-pin connectors, Shozy recessed the Hibiki's a good 4mm into the housing. This limits 3rd party cable options but makes for a much more durable connector. Worth the trade off in my opinion.

The Ethos Black 26AWG copper cable is provided courtesy of AAW and is spectacular. The 90 degree angled jack is compact enough to fit in most cell phone and DAP cases, and is furnished with a classy brushed aluminum back plate. Leading up to the y-split are four tightly braided strands that split off into two groups leading to each ear piece. The y-split is a solid hunk of black rubber, above which sits a break-away chin cinch, one that's a little too eager to separate for my preferences. Leading up to the earpieces are pre-formed ear guides, weighted at the ends with large rubber strain reliefs that help keep them securely behind the ear. Last are the 45 degree angled, recessed plugs which feel very tough. About the only complaint I could levy at this cable is a lack of strain relief . Other than that, it's well constructed with minimal cable noise and next to no memory.

The Hibiki's shells are light and ergonomic, but wow are they ever enormous. The ZS10 from Knowledge Zenith uses a similarly shaped shell. With five drivers crammed in each you'd expect them to be large. Despite housing only a single dynamic per side, the Hibiki is somehow even thicker making the ZS10 the more low profile of the two. Size aside, the Hibiki also features a stubby nozzle, one which exits the ear piece at a greater angle than on the ZS10. For some this will be good, for me it was not. The stock tips were unusable since they didn't extend quite far enough to get a reliable seal. With the right tips, the Hibiki is very comfortable but it sticks out quite a bit. You won't be easily hiding these when wearing them.

Isolation is sub-par at best. For example, the Hibiki joined me on a ~20 minute bus ride to go pick up my car from the shop. Half way there I took them off and turned off my music. The volume required to have a half decent experience and drown out the bus and other passengers was too extreme to be comfortable.


Inline Mic and Remote:

The mic feels really nice in hand despite being all plastic. The smooth buttons feels right and the rounded edges of the housing is natural in the hand. Depressing the buttons is met with a satisfying visceral response. The layout is little different than most with the larger multifunction button sitting below volume up/down, as opposed to being in the middle. It works well, leading to fewer mis-presses than I experience with other modules. While I didn't have the opportunity test with iOS, the controls functioned without a hitch on my LG G5 running Android 7.0

Regarding call quality, those on the other end found my voice plenty loud enough, but also somewhat muffled. Using the Hibiki while recording a video supported this. My voice sounded overly thick and a little lacking in clarity, with the mic picking up a fair bit of background noise. Overall performance isn't great, but it's not terrible either. Pretty average here.

Sound:

Tips: As with the ZS10, the large housings and stubby nozzles limited alternatives tol the stock tips. KZ's large Starlines worked fairly well here as did large Sony Hybrids, but I settled on medium Spinfits which gave the depth needed to get a reliable and comfortable seal. Since the stock tips didn't work for me at all, the effect Spinfits have on the stock sound signature is lost to me. That said, KZ's Starline tips tend not to affect sound at all and the Spinfits sounded nigh identical.

I don't know if they've changed the Hibiki's tuning over time, but to me it has a very common signature, one I'm very familiar with through my time with products from The Fragrant Zither (TFZ). The Hibiki outputs elevated treble and emphasized sub-bass with a slightly recessed but clear and coherent mid-range. It's a signature that is right at home at it's price range and is a crowd pleaser among the majority, i.e. the non-audiophile crowd.

Treble is well extended and has a firm presence but stops short of being overly abundant or aggressive. Detail is decent but slightly smoothed over. It seems a little unbalanced with cymbals often sounding slightly too quiet or soft, contrasted by chimes which come across too forward. Pink Floyd's “Time” shows this off quite effectively. I'm not particularly treble sensitive, but overall I wouldn't say the Hibiki falls into what I would consider the territory of bright products, such as the Whizzer Haydn A15Pro, Kinera H3, and to a lesser extent the TFZ Series 2. It's upper end presentation is for the most part airy and fairly relaxing.

The mid-range is quite clear and crisp with a strong presence that melds well with the emphasis placed on the treble and bass. Running through some hip hop by the likes of Aesop Rock, Felt, and others, vocals never sounded overshadowed or muddied. Busting out some classic rock from Grand Funk Railroad and King Crimson, guitar work is weighty and detailed with well defined notes. This seems to be a genre that is particular well-suited to the Hibiki.

Heading into the low end, the Hibiki is big and brash with great extension and a fantastic balance. There is enough mid and upper bass to give music some warmth and weight, but it doesn't overpower the visceral sub-bass. Texture is not quite as impressive as what you'll get from TFZ's graphene coated dynamic units, but it's still quite good with notes showing solid depth and dynamism. The Hibiki's bass isn't always on either. Where a track is bassy, the Hibiki is bassy. Where a track requires subtlety, the Hibiki nails it.

Sound stage is where I was most impressed with the Hibiki. It's default is fairly intimate, but it has absolutely no issues throwing sounds way off into the distance. I've been using the Hibiki a lot with film which seems well suited to the powerful low end, and the Hibki does a great job of surrounding you with the action. Take for example Rey and Kylo's fight against Snoke's guards. The sound design in this section is quite impressive with strong directional queues that are well layered, matching well with what the Hibiki is putting out. Also, the pulsing of Kylo's sabre sounds damn epic and so very textured, contrasting perfectly with the smooth hum of Rey's sabre.


Select Comparisons:

TFZ Exclusive 3: The Exclusive 3 is brighter and more detailed with a similar bass presentation. Extension isn't quite a good as the Hibiki, but it is more textured and impactful with a quicker decay. The 3's mid-range is more forward but also a touch more lean. Sound stage is larger on the Hibiki but with more depth coming from the 3.

The 3 uses a mix of stainless steel and plastic for it's housings. Fit and finish is good on both with the 3 taking a very slight edge. It's molding is slightly more precise, evident mostly in the nozzle and the definition of the lip. Their cables are equally good too, with the Hibiki's 2-pin system being the better implemented. The 3's plug are not at all protected from bending. Fit and comfort goes to the 3 due to it's compact dimensions that aren't reliant on ear size and tip to get a secure fit. The 3 isolates very well.

Huawei AM175: The AM175 is more balanced with less treble and bass emphasis that falls right in line with the mid-range. Treble seems to extend more with the AM175. It has slightly better control with more defined notes. The AM175's mid-range is more detailed and even more clear with a more accurate timbre. Bass on the AM175 is less powerful and well-extended compared to what the Hibiki puts out. It is slightly less textured, though impact is similar. The AM175 has a smaller stage but with better separation and more accurate and layered imaging.

The AM175 is majority plastic with an aluminum back plate and ring that surrounds the earphone's waist. The quality of the plastic is outstanding with a very precise mold. As nice as the Hibiki's construction is, the AM175 both looks and feels like a more quality item in my opinion. The AM175's cable flat cable is an excellent example of this style of cable. That said, I'd much rather have the Hibiki's which is more flexible, better relieved, transmits less noise, and in general is more manageable. The AM175's trapezoid shaped housings are significantly smaller than the Hibiki's and have a very low profile. They nestle more securely in the ear, though I wouldn't say they're any more comfortable. Isolation is superior though.

Meze 11 Neo: The Hibiki has a larger sound stage all around but falls behind the 11 Neo in terms of imaging accuracy. Layering and separation are similar. Bass on the Hibiki isn't as well balanced but is more emphasized and extends deeper. It is less textured provides a more satisfying physical response. Treble is similarly emphasized on the 11 Neo but is slightly thicker and less airy. It's better controlled though. Mids go to the 11 Neo. They're more prominent, clearer, and more detailed and seem presented with greater nuance and finesse.

The 11 Neo's all-aluminum housings are flawlessly constructed with perfect fit and finish and zero flaws. It is a perfect example of the exceptional construction quality expected from Meze. The cable though, is another story. It has a dense, durable sheath but it is stiff and the microphonics are nearly deal-breaking. I'd take the Hibiki's outstanding cable any day of the week. The 11 Neo's compact, lightweight, barrel shaped housings are much more universal and comfortable than the Hibiki's. If it weren't for the cable they would disappear.

Final Thoughts:

The Hibiki is constructed well and crafted from nice materials such as the carbon fibre used for the face plate. Special mention goes to the deeply recessed 2-pin cable system and the extra durability such as design affords. Ergonomics are well thought out and the Hibiki is comfortable to wear for extended periods, though the sheer size of the ear pieces will limit their audience. The sub-par isolation will too. The packaging is simple but attractive, yet inside you're left wanting more in the way of extras. Accessories are few and far between, limited only to a couple spare ear tips. The Hibiki has a grand sound stage with a bass line to match with a crisp mid-range that drew me in, yet I found myself wanting a little more finesse and balance in the treble.

In the end the Hibiki is an enjoyable product with a lot of strengths. For its intended use as a daily driver it is a wonderful earphone, but I'd recommend spending a few extra bucks to pick up some foam tips if you're going to use them in noisy areas. You'll be needing the extra isolation.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler


Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)
Aesop Rock – Fishtales (Track)

Shozy Hibiki - Sweet and Tasty

Shozy is a pretty big company from China, well-respected by music lovers from all over the world for their accessible yet high-quality products. We're going to take a look into the performance of their affordable IEM, Shozy Hibiki, which is priced at just 60 USD.






Introduction

Shozy is a rather friendly company from China, who has worked in developing and bringing In-Ears at affordable prices to the average music lover. Their achievements are best known by those looking for an affordable IEM that still has the build quality, and the design of a higher-end product. Shozy is known to offer good support to their customers, and they are known to be great with warranty, but happily there have been very few cases of people needing warranty for Shozy products in the past.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Shozy, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by Shozy or anyone else. I'd like to thank Shozy for providing the sample for this review. The sample was provided along with Shozy's request for an honest and unbiased review. This review will be as objective as it is humanly possible, and it reflects my personal experience with Shozy Hibiki. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Shozy Hibiki find their next music companion.



About me

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/p/about.html



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:











Shozy Hibiki comes packaged in what can be called a fair package. They come seated in a sponge / foam cutout, with two more sets of tips. The outer package design is quite beautiful, and it has a good amount of detail about Shozy Hibiki on it.

The overall package feels premium and well made actually.

The cble they come with is detachable, it has a remote on it, and it looks to be of a pretty good quality. By contrast with Kinera Seed, where we could complain that the cable was from a third party vendor and didn't match perfectly with the IEM body, Shozy Hibiki's cable fits perfectly with the IEM body and seems to be made especially for them. There will be a V2 coming out soon, but we don't have a lot of information on what the changes from the first Shozy Hibiki are.

Besides the IEMs and the tips, there's nothing else in the package, one of the reasons we said fair. Even so, they are priced at the very friendly price point of 60 USD, where they make a very compelling purchase based on the sound, but more on this in the sonic performance.



What to look in when purchasing an entry-level In-Ear Monitor

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/p/what-to-lookl.html



Technical Specifications



10mm Bio Cellulose Membrane Proprietary Full Range Dynamic
Single Sound Bore Design
Frequency response: 20Hz-40000Hz
Sensitivity: 102dB SPL@1mW
Impedance: 18Ohm@1KHz
THD: ≤0.5%@1KHz
Connector: 2-pin 0.78mm
Plug:3.5mm



Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort

Starting with the build quality, Shozy Hibiki feels quite different from the average 60 USD IEM, which usually has some minor build quality issues, or where you can notice that some build quality had to suffer for the pocket-friendly price. Usually, that point is in the cable, which sometimes is produced for multiple IEMs and doesn't fit perfectly with the IEM body, but here Shozy has proven to be a real champ, providing an excellent overall experience for their Hibiki, as the cable matches the IEM body perfectly.















The overall build quality is pretty good, plastic all-around, but seems durable, the pieces fit well together, there are no hard edges, and no protruding edges, the whole IEM seems to be assembled well and the cable seems to be of a good quality as well. It even has a remote if you need it, and the overall quality seems higher than the price points dictates.

The outer face plate has a carbon fiber model that looks very sleek and is both a bit industrial and a bit modern in appearance. The inner IEM is made from a rubbery plastic material that fits quite ergonomic.

Which brings us to the comfort, which is great. The IEMs are on the slightly larger side, but their shape is quite ergonomic and they sit well in ears. The included tips look very basic, but they actually have a good quality to them, do not get slippery, and they feel good even after a few hours of wearing.

The cables allow only for over-the-ear wearing, but this means that there is no microphonic noise, and the best part, there is no driver flex now. Since we reviewed the Shozy Zero in the past, and we were quite a bit disappointed by its microphonic noise, we are really happy to notice that Shozy sorted it out in their Hibiki IEM.

We've seen quite a few of those Hibiki being worn even in Romania, and since they are not available here directly, you can take into account that people are ordering them directly from Shozy or from other stores, and are still enjoying them quite a lot, so Hibiki is quite loved here, thing which further impressed us, as even some of our friends had a pair, without us knowing before we saw each other wearing it and starting a conversation on their sonic performance.

All in all, we'd say that the build quality and the fit/comfort are golden for a IEM at this price point.



Sound Quality

The sound quality can be written off in one little question: "Do you like midrange?"





This basically states everything about Shozy Hibiki. They have a really sweet, natural, detailed, relaxed and open-sounding midrange. It is a true beauty to hear, and honestly, very few IEMs, especially at this price point, can compare their midrange with Shozy Hibiki.

The sub-bass and the bass are good, with fair extension, although the sub-bass is not quite the best in extension, it still is good. The mid bass and the sub-bass are both less in quantity than the midrange, so if you're a basshead, this really is not the best IEM for you. The impact is fairly good, although most of the impact starts to be good from the drums, not exactly from sub-bass impact.

The midrange is extremely good, and quite impressive for the price point. It sounds sweet, sounds natural, and has a delicious amount of detail to it. In fact, it is more impressive than we're used to seeing at 200$, but it should be noted that it is a forward midrange, so if a V-shaped signature, where the midrange is recessed, is your thing, then Shozy Hibiki won't be the best choice. But this forward midrange has one thing to it that was actually the main reason we were so impressed, it is not fatiguing. Usually, midrange-forward signatures, like Etymtoic ER3XR, are very revealing and analytical, but can also fatigue the listener, can be too much, but Shozy Hibiki has a good balance of bringing the voices forward, placing the instruments well in a scene, not sounding congested, and having a good amount of energy to the sound, all without being fatiguing.

The treble is quite smooth and lean, it is slightly recessed when compared to the midrange, and its detail is fair. Nothing too energetic, but it is good if you're looking for a more relaxing treble. Won't work very well with acoustic or metal music, where the cymbal crashes need a lot of energy and life, but should work very well with pretty much anything else. Works especially well with vocal-forward music, and with female vocals.



Soundstage

The soundstage was actually a surprise. Most IEMs with a midrange-forward signature tend to compress the soundstage to a degree, but with Shozy Hibiki, you actually get a fair sense of space. The stereo imaging is very good, and instrument layering is good, especially for the price. Basically, things don't come off as congested nor as too intimate, it brings the midrange-forward signature fairly wide, offering a fairly out-of-the-head experience, at least for the price point.



ADSR / PRaT

The ADSR and PRaT (Texturization) is natural, to slightly slow. This means that textures are not overly expressed, and instruments like trumpets are slightly smoothed out. This also means that poor recordings and older recordings can sound very good, while instruments that are normally fatiguing are rather lean and relaxing. Textures on Mindless Self Indulgence feel fairly smooth, there is not much micro-texture revealed, and some might argue that this way their music feels more relaxing, but it should be noted that Shozy Hibiki is not a very analytical IEM in this sense. For Jazz especially, Shozy Hibiki feels really good, all instruments feel liquid and relaxing, creating a very smooth and laid-back experience.



Portable Usage

The portable usage is quite excellent. They come with a thin yet reliable cable, they come with a fairly good fit and comfort, and they come with a remote on the cable.







They isolate well form the outside noise, so you can take a walk through noisy places while wearing them, while still enjoying your music, and they have a fit good enough that they can make good jogging IEMs.

Shozy Hibiki is easy to drive, and they sound good from the typical smartphone, and you don't really have to worry much about their build quality if they fall and hit the ground, being constructed quite well. There are no microphonics, there is no driver flex, the cable doesn't stay strangely while walking, it isn't springy, basically there's no issue that would stop them from being really good portable IEMs.

The only thing you'd have to take into account is that their signature, which is pretty mid-centric, isn't the best to drown out the outside noise, and the sub-bass and treble are even more subtle while outside, than while inside, so this might be good to take into account when considering whether they make good walking companions or not.

All in all, their portability scores are very good and if you already enjoy their signature, they are great IEMs to take on a walk.



Comparisons



Shozy Hibiki vs Shozy Zero - Shozy Zero was a great IEM produced by Shozy as well. It came in a similar package, but it came with a carrying case. Shozy Zero did not have a detachable cable. Shozy Zero's build included wood in their construction, but they had a downside which we complained about, which was driver flex. Shozy Hibiki has no driver flex, and has detachable cables, so Shozy improved a lot on the 60 USD IEMs range. The sonic performance is quite different, with Zero being a IEM with a bassy, thick, lush and smooth sound, where Hibiki is a quicker, lighter, more midrange-centric, more revealing, more detailed, larger sounding IEM, with better overall value, and with a more versatile sound. All in all, if you're a basshead, then Shozy Zero was a fairly good performance, but if you prefer a more versatile sound, then Shozy Hibiki surely is a pretty sweet choice. The fit for Zero works both straight-down and over-the-ear, where Hibiki only works over-the-ear.

Shozy Hibiki vs FiiO F5 - FiiO F5 was and still is a very impressive performer. The main differences between F5 and Shozy Hibiki are that F5 comes with MMCX-based cables, where Hibiki comes with 2-pin connector based cables. Both feel very reliable, but F5 are made from a metallic material, where Hibiki is made of plastic. The ergonomics and comfort are great on both. FiiO F5 has a much bassier sound, with a much thicker overall presentation, and with a more open presentation, being partially open. Shozy Hibiki feels more even, more natural and more mid-centric, with less bass, but more midrange, a bit more detail and clarity in the midrange, and a bit more energy and presence across the whole spectrum, where F5 feels a bit too thick and too smooth. The fit for FiiO F5 is mostly straight down, while the fit for Hibiki is only over-the-ear.

Shozy Hibiki vs Final E3000 - Final's IEMs are quite nice, but the basic package is quite different. Final E3000 comes with a carrying pouch, but they don't come with a detachable cable. They come with more tips than Shozy Hibiki, thing which may come in handy. Both Shozy Hibiki and Final E3000 come with good quality tips that should work well for multiple usage scenarios. The build quality is quite different, E3000 being a "Bullet-Type" of IEM, which means that it looks like a thin tube made entirely of metal, where Shozy Hibiki is an over-the-ear IEM with a different ergonomic. Since E3000 can be worn straight-down and over-the-ear, it may be considered more versatile in this aspect, but we can't complain of the fit Shozy Hibiki either. The sonic performance is quite impressive on both, both having very similar levels of detail, clarity, PRaT/ADSR and soundstage. The main difference is in the tonal balance, where E3000 is slightly more natural, being more even across the board, with more bass and treble relative to the midrange. This means that it also sounds slightly flatter, so if you're looking for a midrange-forward IEM, then Hibiki would be that, while if you're looking for something that sounds really natural and organic, E3000 might be the answer to your quest.



Recommended Pairings

Shozy Hibiki is fairly easy to drive, they don't need a lot of power to get loud, and they sound great even with the most modest smartphone, making them a great companion if you don't want to invest a lot in the source, but still have a pretty good experience.



Shozy Hibiki + Shanling M2s - This is a great example of a low-cost but fun-to-use and good-sounding setup. Hibiki and M2s pair well with each other, M2s adds a bit of thickness and impact to Hibiki, making them sound more impactful, and giving them a more versatile signature. M2s is also pretty good on its own, being one of the few DAPs that are this small, yet provide the number of feature it does.

Shozy Hibiki + HIFIMAN Megamini - Megamini is a very basic and minimalist player, but it is even smaller as an overall footprint when compared to M2s, and it has a very vivid and energetic sound. With it, Hibiki gets a little more forward and energetic, they gain a bit more edge in the treble, but also a bit more detail and aggressiveness, making them better for rock and metal music. Overall, with Megamini priced at 100 USD, the whole setup is sweet both in price and performance.

Shozy Hibiki + FiiO M7 - FiiO M7 is a very portable DAP with a lot of power and abilities, especially in the Bluetooth, and wireless part, abilities which aren't exactly placed in light with Hibiki, which is a wired IEM. On the other hand, M7's abilities as a standalone player are quite impressive, and compared to M2s, which is slightly thick, and Megamini which is vivid, energetic and slightly forward, M7 feels very neutral and actually brings both the bass and the treble a little more forward, making Hibiki sound more even and giving them a more spacious sound, with more depth, and a bit more detail.



Value and Conclusion

At the end of the review, we must keep in mind that Hibiki is a very affordable IEM, which not only won't break the bank, but will also provide a good bang for the buck for its price of 60 USD.



They come in a handy yet premium-looking package, and they come with the basics one will need to enjoy them. Coming with detachable cables, you're sure you're going to have an easy time fixing them if anything goes wrong, and they also have a remote on the cable, in case you're using them with a smartphone, or with a Player that can read remote signals.

The build quality is all plastic, but a very high-quality plastic, they have an shell plate that looks like carbon fiber, and they have a very sleek overall design. The inner plastic feels slightly rubbery to the touch, resulting in a very comfortable fit and, together with the good-quality tips included with them, providing a great overall comfort, even for jogging, or long-hours of listening to music.

The sonic performance is quite impressive and those IEMs coming from China at affordable prices always remind us that the performance of a 60USD IEM is getting better and better, there being quite an arena for those kind of IEMs, where every company tries to squeeze the latest drop of performance for the cost of a IEM. Hibiki is a midrange-forward IEM, also called "flat" by some listeners, who feel that the midrange being more forward compared to other IEMs, especially in relation to the bass and the treble, makes them flat. Regardless, compared to most other 60 USD IEMs which are usually bass-heavy, Hibiki feels mid-centric, with a lighter, quicker and snappier bass, they feel more clear in the midrange usually, with a bit more energy and detail, and they feel smooth and lean in the treble. This kind of signature will surely work well for certain types of vocal-centric music, for Jazz, and for certain types of pop. The leaner treble means that you can enjoy them for hours without suffering from any kind of listeners fatigue.



If you're looking for a great deal on a 60 USD IEM, you should make sure to check on Shozy Hibiki as they bring a lot more than their price tag indicates, they are one of the sweetwest IEMs we tested at this price point, and they are an amazing overall deal, especially for those in love with a clear and vivid midrange, and looking for a good build quality, or for a IEM to take on a jogging session, when working out, or when traveling.



I hope my review is helpful to you!

Stay safe and remember to always have fun while listening to music!



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SHOZY Hibiki Dynamic Driver 2-pin 0.78mm Detachable HiFi In-Ear Earphone IEMs

Description

• A single dynamic design for daily commuters
• The AAW x Shozy Hibiki is unique in its form – a combination of an agronomical in-canal design fused with real carbon elements, together with a meticulously machined cable of fine audio qualities and strength. The high quality mems mic and line controls on the detachable 2-pin cable are perfectly functional on iOS and android.
• Premium hand polished carbon face-plate
• CIEM grade high quality copper internal wiring
• Pull-resistance design with in-line control for iOS/android
• High quality 2-pin copper recessed socket
• 10mm high-efficiency dynamic driver
• 3 buttons in-line remote control with reliable MEMS microphone
• Hibiki comes with the 26AWG Ethos Black high-purity copper earphone cable. The 4-wire braid structure is insulated with ultra-flexible TPE sleeve, minimizing cross interference.
• Hibiki features high quality recessed socket commonly seen on custom monitors, also an over-mold detachable cable
• The system allows users to switch to higher-end cables or to use the Ethos Black cable on may other in ear monitors.

Specification

• 10mm Bio Cellulose Membrane Proprietary Full Range Dynamic
• Single Sound Bore Design
• Frequency response:20Hz-40000Hz
• Sensitivity: 102dB SPL@1mW
• Impedance: 18Ohm@1KHz
• THD≤0.5%@1KHz
• Connector: 2-pin 0.78mm
  
• Plug:3.5mm

Package

• Shozy hibiki
• Eartips
• Case

I've had my Hibiki for a little while now and have a pretty good handle on how they sound as well as how well I think they're gonna hold up to wear-and-tear from general day-to-day use.

First of all, I just want to say that up until recently I thought the Hibiki sounded somewhere in the neighborhood of OK to good. Not great. I've used it off and on since receiving it, but never for very long as it's always left me reaching for something else.

I do believe in burn-in, but some claims I've read of something needing like 200 hours or whatever always seemed slightly absurd to me, since in my experience most changes occur in the first ten hours or so of listening(Shozy recommends at least 100 hours for these). Maybe it's brain-in. I'm not sure. BUT, I'm definitely enjoying listening to them as of late more than I did like a month and a half ago.


Build, Isolation, Comfort

The Hibiki is well-built. The carbon fibre face plates are nice, and mine haven't suffered any noticeable scratches in the time that I've had them(almost three months). The shells are plastic but are holding up just fine.

The (braided)cable is excellent, especially taking into account that this isn't something you have to "upgrade" to - it's the default cable. It's supple, flexible, and not terribly prone to tangling. It terminates in what seems to be a pretty durable L-plug. There's also this little...I don't know what it's called, but you can see it in the pictures. That little piece serves to adjoin the left and right cables. This is actually a pretty smart innovation since with cables that have inline controls and a mic, a typical chin slider isn't very effective. Well, they solved that little issue with that little whatchamacallit!

I don't think the Hibiki is a tank, but you shouldn't have any problems with it standing the test of time assuming you take care of your stuff even a little bit.

I find it to be a pretty comfortable earphone, but if you have smaller ears you might have some issues. As far as isolation goes I find them to be "good enough." Being that they're dynamic drivers, they are vented but at least it's on the belly of the earphone.

Sound
I find the Hibiki to have moderately elevated bass, forward mids, and relatively laid-back treble with just enough sparkle to give them a slightly shiny character.

Both male and female vocals have good weight, but I would venture to say that there's a little more emphasis on the upper mids as female vocals tend to sound a little more forward.

I can't imagine anyone but bass heads being disappointed with the quantity of bass on offer here. Listening to "Fire" by Jack Garratt is very satisfying, as the bass goes deep with a lot of rumble and a nice amount of air.

One of my favorite aspects of this IEM is the soundstage. It isn't the widest I've ever heard, getting soundly defeated in that department by my Sony MDR 7550, and slightly falling behind the KZ ZS6. But it has excellent height, depth, and separation.

Where timbre is concerned, I find it to be above average, but that's about it. If you're coming from something with really good timbre you might pick up on a slight plastic tonality, but I think you'll get used to it pretty quick.

Comparisons

Hibiki vs. KZ ZS6


The ZS6 has to be one of the best values of 2017, assuming you don't mind a bright signature and aren't treble-averse. It's a quad-driver hybrid earphone with two dynamic drivers and two balanced armatures in each earpiece. It should crush the Hibiki, right? No.

It has a wider stage than the Hibiki, with more liquid mids. Not necessarily more realistic sounding mids, but more liquid with a hint of metallic tonality, à la the Dunu Titan 1. The ZS6 is more V-shaped and less forward compared to the Hibiki. The ZS6 features an all-metal build, but is also far more likely to cause comfort issues than the Hibiki. The stock Hibiki cable is WAAAAY better than the cheap cable the ZS6 comes with.

Both are great options but the Hibiki will probably be the safer choice for most people.

Hibiki vs. BGVP DM5

The DM5 also represents one of the very best values of the year. A quad-driver earphone just like the ZS6, with a metal shell and excellent ergonomics. It's another V-shaped earphone, with a punishing sub-bass presence. Tickle your ear drums kinda stuff. But because the bass emphasis is so far down the overall presentation remains pretty clean.

I've had some build quality issues with my DM5 so I'd give the Hibiki the nod on that one despite the former having an all-metal build(well, except for the nozzles). The sonic presentations of these two earphones is pretty different - picking one depends on what kind of sound you prefer.

Hibiki vs. Zero Audio Carbo Tenore


The Tenore probably doesn't need much of an introduction. It made waves back in 2013 for the immense value it served up, with many people comparing it favorably to IEMs costing considerably more. Even today, they're held in high regard for their excellent tuning, jack-of-all-trades signature, and excellent ergonomics and isolation. Compared to the Hibiki, the Tenore is a little less mid-forward with less elevated bass, bass which doesn't move as much air. Their treble is similar but the Hibiki has occasional peaks the Tenore doesnt. The Hibiki does of course have a tendency to sound a little brighter which is my preference so I can deal with the occasional peak. The Tenore has the more natural timbre but isn't as spacious as the Hibiki. The Hibiki will almost certainly last longer under heavy every day use due to the Tenore's flimsy, fixed cable. I'd probably pick the Hibiki just because of the detachable cable.

Summary

At first I had mixed feelings about the Hibiki. I mean, I liked it. But it wasn't quite the "giant killer" I had hoped it would be, like the Macaw GT100S was over two years ago. I'm not sure if it was burn-in, or brain-in, or both. But I like it now more than I did. Could it be better? Sure. But for $60 are you getting your money's worth, and more? Yes. For your money you get a nice build, a fantastic detachable cable, very good comfort, style, decent isolation, and very, very good SQ.

I had a hard time scoring them, but relative to their price, and considering their flaws aren't terribly pronounced, I think they deserve the score I gave them. Or, 8.5/10

Now where's my shot glass?