Note* This review was supposed to come out a lot sooner than expected but life happened. Here's my take on the Variations either way. On to the review.


Hello everyone.

I would like to preface three things.

Firstly, I do not completely believe in audible “burn-in” or cable changes (in regard to sound). I have not personally been able to detect any changes in sound with a different cable or hours of burn-in, though YMMV. However, my final impressions will be based on 20-25 hours of burn-in with the stock cable and stock tips.

Secondly, my music preferences consist of many genres ranging from Rock/Metal, Rap, J-Pop/K-Rap, and some acoustical/vocal-based music. They will be listed below as examples.

Lastly, my reference over-ear headphones are the E-MU Teaks and the Sennheiser HD58x Jubilee.

All critical listening was done off the Topping L30/E30 and LG V30/FiiO BTR5 using Flac files. Casual listening was done with Spotify. All items were purchased with my own money.

Sample songs used to evaluate gear to get an idea of the type of music I listen to. Some bands/tracks have been changed.
Polaris – Landmine, Casualty, Creatures of Habit
YOASOBI - ラブレター (Love Letter), 夜に駆ける (Running into the Night ), ハルジオン (Halzion)
Slipknot – Before I Forget, Duality, Psychosocial
Hoshino Gen – Koi, Continues, Sun
Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Love, Yume No Tzusuki, September
Jakubi – Holiday, Pillow, Nobody Better
Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood, On Melancholy Hill, Ascension
Tupac – Ambitionz Az a Ridah, Changes, All Eyez on Me
Mos Def – Mathematics, Hip Hop, Ms. Fat Booty
Polkadot Stingray – Free, Mermaid, A Stinging Spica

Overall tonality: Neutral with bass boost
Fit: The fit is.... pretty rough. Think Blessing B2. Small ears look elsewhere.
Comfort: Pretty uncomfortable. Think B2 (again). Though larger ears may be fine with this
Cable: Pretty solid. Nice to see an interchangeable cable system.
Isolation: Above average. I would be totally content taking these out to block sounds.

Bass: Starting with the bass, these go down low and are not afraid of showing it. Almost exclusively boosted in the subbass frequencies, these are really fun to listen to. Basslines are well-textured, and impact is almost perfect for my personal tastes. Though having a bit little more midbass presence might have made these perfect. Being a dynamic driver bass rumble and speed is excellent, neither being too slow nor too fast all while providing satisfying rumble. These are one of the most well-tuned and fun bass sets I’ve heard.

Mids: Mids are quite neutral with few “flaws”. Overall the midrange can consider flat with a slight bump a little after the pinna gain. This is where the flaw comes in. Depending on the track, some vocalists can sound a tad too close (i.e., some vocals tend to sound shouty). For some like myself, I prefer having vocalists relatively forward, though I will admit that it can get fatiguing. Both male and female vocals have great clarity with female vocals being up and center. Virtually all instruments sound as they’re supposed to. Nothing sounds out of place. Very well-tuned midrange with little faults.

Treble: Being one of the first EST drivers I’ve heard (more on that later), I didn’t really know what to expect. Treble seems to have decent extension, though nothing exceptional. I would say it’s pretty neutral to be honest. One thing I noticed though is that nothing seems to be pronounced. In fact, treble seems quite unfatiguing. No hints of sibilance or anything any weird peaks. There’s a good amount of “air” which is always appreciated. The EST seems to be a nice addition though I don’t know if it warrants the additional cost compared to sticking with a standard BA.



Select Comparisons:



Blessing2 (non-Dusk)

The most obvious comparison I can think of. Surprisingly more similar than you think. I think it’s safe to say that I much prefer the bass on the Variations, no competition. The Variation’s boost in the bass is more textured, significantly harder hitting, more rumble, and more fun than the Blessing. Midrange is where things go back and forth. Honestly, I think midrange is almost identical. Both are very well-tuned with the same “flaws”. Both male and female vocals have great clarity, though with a forwardness that some may find too fatiguing after long listening sessions. Treble extension and detail seem to be better on the Variations, though the B2 is pretty solid. Detail retrieval on both seems to be pretty good with the slight edge to the Variations. Staging and imaging on the Variations is slightly ahead of the B2. I consider the Variations to be the ideal upgrade to the B2.



Dunu SA6

Though similarly priced, these sets present music rather differently and enjoy I both for different reasons. Bass easily goes to the Variations. More impact, slam, texture, definition, and fun. The bass on the SA6 is no slouch, but it really shows why a DD is preferred for bass. For the midrange, I actually prefer the SA6. The non-fatiguing, yet energetic playback is still some of my favorite on any IEM I’ve come across. Vocals (male and female) have provide great detail while never being too close or too far. Instruments on both have great tonality, though the SA6 has that special sauce. Treble is extended well on both, but the Variations goes the extra mile. Clarity is also better on the Variations. Where the SA6 stumbles in comparison is staging and imaging. The Variations does a noticeable better job. If bass is not a concern, the SA6 is a really great set specializing in midrange tonality. The Variations is a beast for almost all types of music, especially those with a lot of subbass. Keep in mind that both are not perfect though. Pick your poison.



ThieAudio Clairvoyance

Note* I no longer have the Clairvoyance with me so take this with a grain of salt.

The Clairvoyance is a great competitor to the Variations. Both can be considered neutral with a bass boost, though they’re executed differently. The Variations has a strong focus on sub-bass while the Clair’s specializes in its evenness. The Clairvoyance bass is solid across. Neither subbass nor midbass is emphasized over the other. In comparison, however, the midbass seems to have a greater punch on the Clair’s while the midbass has more impact on the Variations. Midrange is also similar with some differences. Male vocals seem to be slightly more pleasant on the Variations while female vocals are more pleasant on the Clair. Both present great detail on both. Instruments on both also sound relatively neutral. Treble on both is non-fatiguing, though I’ll give the edge to the Variations. Staging and imaging honestly go neck and neck. In my opinion, if you want more balance, go with the Clairvoyance. If you want a more energetic, go with the Variations.





Conclusion

If you haven’t guessed, I really like the Variations. It plays well with most of my music library. From the bass to treble, it's excellently tuned with little to fault. It really sets the bar for what an IEM around $500 should sound like. It strongly made me rethink what I should expect from an IEM. Excellent job to Moondrop once again for their consistency.

Hello everyone.

I would like to preface three things.

Firstly, I do not completely believe in audible “burn in” or cable changes (in regard to sound). I have not personally been able to detect any changes in sound with a different cable or hours of burn in, though YMMV. My final impressions will be based off 20-25 hours of burn in with the stock cable and stock tips.

Secondly, my music preferences consist of many genres ranging from Rock/Metal, Rap, J-Pop/K-Rap, and some acoustical/vocal based music. They will be listed below as examples.

Lastly, my reference over-ear headphones are the E-MU Teaks and the Sennheiser HD58x Jubilee.

All critical listening was done off the Topping L30/E30 and LG V30/FiiO BTR5 using Flac files. Casual listening was done with Spotify. All items were purchased my own money.

Sample songs used to evaluate gear to get an idea of the type of music I listen to.
Wage War – Twenty One, The River, Low
Slipknot – Before I Forget, Duality, Psychosocial
Hoshino Gen – Koi, Continues, Sun
Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Love, Yume No Tzusuki, September
Jakubi – Holiday, Pillow, Nobody Better
Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood, On Melancholy Hill, Ascension
Tupac – Ambitionz Az a Ridah, Changes, All Eyez on Me
Mos Def – Mathematics, Hip Hop, Ms. Fat Booty
Polkadot Stingray – Free, Mermaid, A Stinging Spica

Overall tonality: Warm/Warm Neutral
Fit: These fit nicely. Not the best, but above average fit.
Comfort: Pretty comfortable. Better than most but not top tier.
Cable: Pretty good cable
Isolation: Above average. These are suitable to take out on walk to block outside sounds.


Bass: Like the recently reviewed SA6, these are a full BA setup. I tend to prefer hybrid or hybrid configurations, but these are surprisingly done well. Being a full BA setup, they lack a true DD presence and rumble. With that said, these do bass well enough. The lower frequencies are nicely separated from the midrange all while having good presence. Bass impact is lacking a bit when compared to other sets; more on this later. Subbass is present, though not as strong as I tend to prefer. Midbass has modest boost lending some warmth to the overall sound, making these less boring.

Mids: The mids are where things get weird, at least for me. Let’s address the elephant in the room first, the vocals. Vocals have an interesting take to it. Male vocals sound rather good. They are full and present without being shouty or too forward. Female vocal on the other hand… To me, female vocals sounded kind of “fuzzy”. They lacked detailed, though they were adequately present. I found they have a weird tonality or sound to them. It’s hard to explain, but these just don’t sound right with female vocals. Now back to the good. Similar to the bass, the mids lend a warmth to the sound giving instruments a nice quality to them. This can lead to an easy but coherent sound. I would say other than female vocals, the mids are tuned quite well.

*Note: Female vocals can make or break a set for me. This may have led to my harsh criticism on how I perceived the M7. It’s also possible my set was broken or had something wrong with it. YMMV

Highs: The treble is kind of where this set pick right back up. I would consider these to have a rather laid-back presentation. Even on the most ssssibilant tracks, these never sounded harsh or unpleasant. Hi-hats, woodwind instruments, and “air” all seemed relatively good sounding. These are laid-back but detailed set. When I want to just chill, these are what I go for.

Soundstage: Quite good staging. I wouldn’t necessarily buy these for staging though they are far from being narrow.

Imaging: Refer to soundstage

Resolution: Resolving enough set.



Select Comparisons:


Sony XBA-N3AP

The N3 gets my vote. Bass is significantly more boosted, midrange seems to be a bit overshadowed, and the similar laid-back treble makes this easy to recommend for those sensitive to treble. Technicalities and resolution go to the M7. Different tunings for different audiences. For more a more fun and engaging set, go with the N3. For more a more relaxing though detailed set, go with the M7.



Moondrop Blessing2

I prefer the Blessing2. Better tonality, technicalities, and overall more detailed presentation. At the price it’s a no brainer. Only thing holding this set back is the fit. If you can sacrifice the comfort, these are the set to beat.



Fearless Audio S8F

I added this mainly due to its similar pricing. These are different sets targeting different audiences in my opinion. The M7 is neutral and chill. The S8F is fun and hyperdetailed in comparison. The M7’s bass is ironically closer to being a DD, though not as boosted as the S8F. the S8F sounds more “boomy” and detailed in comparison. The mids (minus female vocals) are more pleasant to listen to on the M7. Treble is more detailed and forward on the S8f. The M7 is less fatiguing but lacks the detail of the S8F. If you absolutely had to choose between these two sets here’s the TL; DR. If you can handle the S8F’s aggressive sound, they will serve you well, otherwise go with the M7’s more laid-back neutral presentation.



Dunu SA6

As mentioned in my previous review, I much prefer these over the M7. The tonality is pretty much spot on for me on the SA6. The bass frequencies are more to my liking are also more to my liking on the SA6. There is more of a dynamic feel to it, though the M7 does a pretty good job for being an all BA set as well. The midrange is a is near perfect for me on the SA6. Vocals never edge on shouty, but are also highly resolving and detailed. Both male and female vocals are fantastic on the SA6, while female vocals have a strange quality on the M7. Not horrible, just different to my ears. Treble can be where preference takes the win. I prefer the treble on the SA6, but the M7 wins if you’re looking for a more laid-back presentation. Both are well detailed, though the M7 is less forward. Staging and imaging go to SA6 for me.



Conclusion

The M7 walks on thin ice. At the price, I do not think the M7 really competes since the SA6 and even S8F exists. If this were half the price (or cheaper), this could be a pretty compelling and competitive set. It’s just unremarkable and doesn’t add anything exciting to the table. Nothing really stands out, but nothing is outright wrong either. It’s a little too safe in its tuning and doesn’t excel at anything like the SA6 or even the N3. If you absolutely need a laid-back neutral set, this is a good option. Otherwise, I would look at something else.

Hello everyone.

I would like to preface two things.

Firstly, I do not completely believe in audible “burn in” or cable changes (in regard to sound). I have not personally been able to detect any changes in sound with a different cable or hours of burn in. My review however will be based on my final impressions after 20-25 hours of burn in with the stock cable and stock tips.

Secondly, my music preferences consist of many genres ranging from Rock/Metal, Rap, J-Pop/K-Rap, and some acoustical/vocal based music. They will be listed below as examples.

Lastly, my reference over-ear headphones are the Sennheiser HD58x Jubilee and the E-MU Teaks.


All critical listening was done off the Topping L30/E30 and LG V30/FiiO BTR5 using Flac files or Tidal premium. Casual listening was done with Spotify. This was purchased with my own money.

Sample songs used to evaluate gear to get an idea of the type of music I listen to.
Wage War – Twenty One, The River, Low
Slipknot – Before I Forget, Duality, Psychosocial
Hoshino Gen – Koi, Continues, Sun
Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Love, Yume No Tzusuki, September
Jakubi – Holiday, Pillow, Nobody Better
Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood, On Melancholy Hill, Ascension
Tupac – Ambitionz Az a Ridah, Changes, All Eyez on Me
Mos Def – Mathematics, Hip Hop, Ms. Fat Booty
Polkadot Stingray – Free, Mermaid, A Stinging Spica

Overall tonality: Slight U/V-Shape

Fit: These fit really nicely. Not my favorite for sleeping but fit almost flush with my ears.

Comfort: Extremely comfortable. A step down from top tier (Dunu DK2001).

Cable: Fantastic cable though a bit heavy. I love the interchangeable connectors

Isolation: Above average. These are suitable to take out on walk to block outside sounds.



Bass: Let’s get this out of the way, these are a strictly full BA setup. I tend to prefer hybrid or hybrid configurations, but I must say these really took me by surprise. These are very close to a dynamic driver. They lack the rumble and slam of a DD but are much better than any full BA setup I’ve heard. Surprisingly, their bass is boosted almost exclusively in the subbass region. This luckily makes it so it doesn’t bleed in the mids while having a fairly strong presence, especially when a song calls for it. They lack the tactility of what makes a strong DD bass set that I personally love, though “neutral-heads” may find the bass a tad too much.

Mids: The mids have a nice balance of neither being too forward nor recessed. This makes instruments sound extremely natural and very pleasant across all instruments. Vocals are perfectly staged. They are just forward enough and have fantastic clarity without ever bring shouty, even on the shoutiest of vocalists. Guitars in general sound wonderful. I can easily hear guitarist pluck each individual string. I have the highest remarks for the midrange and generally these do that best.

Highs: As I keep mentioning, I do not feel that I am sensitive to sibilance/treble in general. The highs seem to be relatively laid back causing no issues of sibilance. In addition, I don’t experience any “hotness” that some other sets exhibit (e.g., TinHiFi T4). I don’t think these can be considered for a top contender as I haven’t heard everything, but they are more than serviceable. Cymbals and hi-hats really show presence without being overly done. Their impact really shines and never intrudes. There seems to be an adequate amount of “air”.

Soundstage: Quite good staging. I wouldn’t necessarily buy these for staging though they are far from being narrow.

Imaging: Pretty good. I once again wouldn’t buy these for their imaging, though they are adequate at worst and great at best.

Resolution: Decently resolving set.



Select Comparisons:


Sony XBA-N3AP

The bass is more present and fun to listen to on the N3AP right off the bat. Mids almost seem “recessed” due to the significant boost on the N3, especially when doing A/B testing. Vocals are significantly more pleasant to listen on the SA6, though the N3 is no slouch. Treble is also much more detailed than the SA6, though the N3 is the go-to for relaxed treble (out of these two). Soundstage/imaging are better on the SA6. The SA6 is also far more resolving and possess greater technicalities in general. Fit and comfort is a toss-up. The N3 is the set I go for that bass and the SA6 for almost everything else. If you prefer bullet-style and iems worn cable down, go with the N3. Otherwise, the SA6 may be the preferred set for comfort. They both fit me very well and also isolates quite nicely.



Moondrop Blessing2

This is an interesting comparison. Once again, it seems that higher priced iems are competing with its lower priced counterparts. However, I think it goes without saying that I really dig the tuning on the SA6. That alone makes these my preferred set. Let’s get into a “deeper” comparison though. Bass texture/physicality go to the B2. The dynamic driver shows why I still prefer a configuration with a dynamic driver. Though I actually prefer the generous bass boost of the SA6. I imagine the B2 Dusk fixes that issue, but I have yet to try it. The mids on the B2 are forward, though thinnish sounding, especially when doing A/B testing. Vocals sound a bit shouty on the B2 as well. For mids I prefer the SA6. Treble is quite similar. Laid back, but detail enough while still providing enough “air”. Staging and imaging are quite similar. The B2 may be more comfortable if you have larger ears and the SA6 will be more comfortable with smaller ears.



Dunu DK2001

Pretty much similar to the N3. They are a “fun” set with some minor differences. The mids and vocals tend to sound a bit more shouty on the DK2001, and not as detailed. Treble can seem more forward on the DK2001 when A/B testing. Staging and imaging easily go to the SA6. Technicalities are much stronger on the SA6 as well. Comfort easily goes to the DK2001, but isolation easily goes to the SA6. I would say the SA6 is the DK2001 on steroids, which it should be considering it’s almost twice the price.



Sony IER-M7

I actually plan on doing a full review on these at some point, so I’ll make this part short. Right off the bat I will say that I vastly prefer the Dunu SA6. I prefer the SA6 over the M7 in every way.



Conclusion

The Dunu SA6 is quite the set. From its fit, to aesthetics, to sound, it’s pretty much all there. My only complaint is lack of true DD bass. With that, these would probably be my endgame set. Only reason I will not give it the full five stars is because there is so much more gear to try. With that out of the way, hats off to you Dunu. Keep making sets like these.

Hello everyone.

I would like to preface two things.

Firstly, I do not completely believe in audible “burn in” or cable changes (in regard to sound). I have not personally been able to detect any changes in sound with a different cable or hours of burn in. My review however will be based on my final impressions after 20-25 hours of burn in with the stock cable and stock tips.

Secondly, my music preferences consist of many genres ranging from Rock/Metal, Rap, J-Pop/K-Rap, and some acoustical/vocal based music.

*Note I have switched out Wage War for Polaris.
Sample songs used to evaluate gear:

Polaris – Casualty, Hypermania, Vagabond
Slipknot – Before I Forget, Duality, Psychosocial
Hoshino Gen – Koi, Continues, Sun
Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Love, Yume No Tzusuki, September
Jakubi – Holiday, Pillow, Nobody Better
Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood, On Melancholy Hill, Ascension
Tupac – Ambitionz Az a Ridah, Changes, All Eyez on Me
Mos Def – Mathematics, Hip Hop, Ms. Fat Booty
Polkadot Stingray – Free, Mermaid, A Stinging Spica


Etc.

Overall tonality: Aggressive V-shape.

Fit: Small-medium sized shells. Slightly bigger than the Theiaudio Legacy 3/4, but much smaller than the Blessing2

Comfort: Quite comfortable. Shells barely stick out of my ear. Occasionally I do feel pressure do the nature that these are not vented. As a note, I do have smaller than average ears.

Cable: Quite nice looking and sturdy. A little too heavy and hurts the back of my ears.

Isolation: Above average. Not as isolating as an Etymotic but much more than the DK2001.

All critical listening was done off the Topping L30/E30 and LG V30/Radsone ES100 using Flac files or Tidal premium. Casual listening was done with Spotify. This was purchased with my own money.

Bass: Being an all BA setup, it shouldn’t be a surprise that bass is not as impactful as a dynamic driver. Subbass is lacking extension and doesn’t have a that satisfying tactility and texture of a DD. Midbass seems to have a bump giving off a more “thumpy” response. This works well and doesn’t ever bleed into the mids. Luckily, the overall bass response is quite fast giving off the impression of a clean bass. Surprisingly though there’s a decent amount of rumble. Subjectively, I find the bass to be a little lacking energy and dynamics. Objectively, I think the bass is very well done and offers a generous bass boost. I think this will only offend those looking for a purely neutral set and bassheads

Mids: Despite it’s V-shaped signature, the mids are not really recessed and sound natural for the most part. Vocals often come across as a bit shouty, but never shrill. Although this can be great for certain genres and listeners, this can cause fatigue for longer listening sessions. I find that female singers in particular come across this way, while male singers tend to have more body. Luckily, string instruments have a good sense of body and presence, guitars in particular fit this description. I would consider the mids tonally accurate, though not very forward (minus vocals).

Treble: The treble is elevated making these desirable for those looking for treble oriented iems. My main critique is the intensity it has. Although never sibilant, the forwardness of the treble will either be a deal breaker for some, or exactly what others are looking for. Cymbals and hi-hats can often become fatiguing though the emphasis gives them an energetic tone to it. The treble can be considered “sparkly”, but perhaps a tad too forward for some. The treble provides a good amount of air giving instruments a great sense of depth

Soundstage: Surprisingly wide and spacious. Not the "three blobness".

Imaging: Similar to soundstage. Positional accuracy is excellent.

Resolution: Very high-resolution set.

*It should be noted that the S8F does exhibit BA timbre. Not horrible, but noticeable.

Select Comparisons:


Sony XBA-N3AP

The N3 is quite the opposite of the S8F. Significantly more bass, more natural mids, and less detail/technical performance. The S8F prioritizes its treble resolution, decent bass response (especially for an all BA setup), and detail retrieval. The N3 has been my go-to “fun” set, while the S8F is the more suited for shorter, aggressive listening sessions. The S8F exhibits BA timbre while the N3 sounds quite natural in comparison. The N3 wins in comfort due to its smaller size, though the S8F isn’t far behind. I believe in the 4.5/5 score for the N3.



Moondrop Blessing2

This is an interesting one. At a cheaper price tag, the Blessing2 competes head to head with the S8F, in my opinion. The bass response can be considered neutral on the B2, while still providing enough presence on certain tracks. The S8F has a significant bass boost in comparison only lacking that DD rumble that the B2 provides. Midrange on the B2 is rather thin in comparison but relatively forward in the mix. The S8F has the more natural, but recessed midrange in comparison. Vocal presentation on both can be considered a little too shouty. Treble is where the S8F pulls ahead. The B2’s rolled off treble lacks detail and extension when compared to the S8F. Staging and imaging are quite comparable on both. The S8F exhibits more BA timbre while the B2’s BA timbre is not as significant. The B2 loses in comfort. I believe the B2 earns a score of 4.5/5 (too lazy to make a review. There's also so many out there)



Dunu DK2001

Similar signature but done differently. The DK2001 has a more satisfying bass emphasis while also having great midrange tonality. The midrange on the S8F provides more detail when compared to the DK2001. In contrast, the S8F specializes in treble and is much more detail oriented. The only aspect the DK2001 outclasses the S8F is in its bass response. The S8F wins in every other aspect (midrange tonality, treble resolution, technicalities etc.). The DK2001 is more comfortable and fits better for my small ears. I believe the DK2001 should be revised to a score of 3.5/5 (not sure to edit a review though).



Conclusion

For its $489 base price, the Fearless Audio S8F offers an attractive proposition. While it is a significant jump over most <$200 chi-fi iems that I have tried, the competition is getting fierce with offerings such as the Blessing2 (Dusk). Being the most expensive IEM in my collection, expectations rise and reviewing becomes more critical. While I do believe these to be excellent sounding with a few potential dealbreakers, the price bracket is currently in may or may not be the deciding factor of its recommendation. For $319 you can get the Blessing2 (or stretch to $329 to get the Dusk) and get an exceptional sounding IEM that rivals, and frankly outperforms the S8F in some respects. With that being said, the S8F is a competent IEM for those looking for an aggressive v-shaped signature.

Hello everyone.

I would like to preface two things.

Firstly, I do not completely believe in audible “burn in” or cable changes (in regard to sound). I have not personally been able to detect any changes in sound with a different cable or hours of burn in. My review however will be based on my final impressions after 20-25 hours of burn in with the stock cable and stock tips.

Secondly, my music preferences consist of many genres ranging from Rock/Metal, Rap, J-Pop/K-Rap, and some acoustical/vocal based music. They will be listed below as examples.

Lastly, my reference over-ear headphones are the Sennheiser HD58x Jubilee. These are the first and only open-back cans I have.

Sample songs used to evaluate gear to get an idea of the type of music I listen to.

Wage War – Twenty One, The River, Low
Slipknot – Before I Forget, Duality, Psychosocial
Hoshino Gen – Koi, Continues, Sun
Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Love, Yume No Tzusuki, September
Jakubi – Holiday, Pillow, Nobody Better
Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood, On Melancholy Hill, Ascension
Tupac – Ambitionz Az a Ridah, Changes, All Eyez on Me
Mos Def – Mathematics, Hip Hop, Ms. Fat Booty
Polkadot Stingray – Free, Mermaid, A Stinging Spica

Etc.


Overall tonality: Warm V-Shape. I like this as it's quite easy to listen to.

Fit: These fit really nicely. I often use these while sleeping as they sit flush with my ears. They are quite small.
Comfort: Easily the most comfortable IEMs I have ever used. Barely feel them and never cause unnecessary pain/fatigue.
Cable: One of my favorite cables. I love the interchangeable connectors.
Isolation: About average. I wouldn’t really take these out on walk to block outside sounds.

All critical listening was done off the Shanling UP4 (Bluetooth and USB DAC mode) and LG V30 using Flac files or Tidal premium. Casual listening was done with Spotify. This was purchased with my own money as well.

Bass: To start off, I would not call these a “bassy” set but it pulls off bass pretty well. The bass is nicely elevated but does not bleed in the mids/rest of the mix. Bass notes are not the most well defined but definitely have nice slam/texture to them. Bass guitars also impressed me. Typically for the music I listen to (rock/metal in particular), I find that electric guitars sound closer/more prominent in the mix. With these, it felt as though bass guitars were louder(?) or easier to hear. Piano keys were also nice to listen to. They have good weight to them and as though you can really feel the piano keys. Overall, the bass is not overdone but definitely boosted (relative to more neutral sets) and presented well.

Mids: The mids have a nice warmth but are not particularly forward either. This makes instruments sound natural and pretty dang good across the board. Vocals are interesting. They can either sounds really good or a little too shouty for my tastes. Most of the time vocals come across as smooth and really pleasant. It should be noted that I prefer more forward vocals.

Highs: I mentioned this in my previous review, but I do not feel that I am sensitive to sibilance/treble in general. The highs seem to be pretty present in the mix but never it’s never “too much”. Many jazz instruments including trumpets, pianos, drums, and harmonics in general have pretty good energy and presence. I think the main complaint I have is that there isn’t enough “air”.

Soundstage: One of the weaker points in my opinion. Sounds happen left, right, and center. I never really felt as though I was getting a larger “out-of-head” experience.

Imaging: A little better than the soundstage. Positional accuracy was not spectacular, but it was good.

Resolution: These are not highly a resolving set. Although they are pretty good, I would not get these if that’s what you’re after.

Genres that work well for these: Rap, Indie Rock, Pop, Jazz
Genres/songs that tend to be "busy" can sound quite congested in my experience.

Select Comparisons:


FiiO FH3/FH5

I’ll be referring to the FH5 for the most part, but this includes the cheaper FH3. Bass and mids are definitely more prominent on the FH5’s. The DK2001’s sound a little more natural to my ears though. I prefer the quality of the mids on the DK2001 but wish they were a bit more forward like on the FH5. Vocals are better on the DK2001 when they are “shouty”. Highs seem a little more resolving on the DK2001 but easier to listen to with the FH5. Soundstage/imaging are better on the FH5. Fit and comfort go to the DK2001.



Sony XBA-N3AP

Similarly to the FH3/5, the bass is more prominent (and fun) to listen to on the N3AP. Mids are easier to listen with the DK2001 but more detailed on the N3AP. Vocals are more pleasant to listen on the DK2001 but slightly smoother on the N3AP. Highs are more detailed than the N3AP but not as forward. Soundstage/imaging are better on the N3AP. Fit and comfort go to the DK2001.



Moondrop Blessing2

The Blessing2 seems to be the opposite of these. Bass is stronger/more impactful on the DK2001. Mids are more detailed on the Blessing2. Vocals sound more pleasant on the DK2001 but are more detailed with the Blessing2. Highs are more detailed on the Blessing2. Soundstage/imagining are easily better on the Blessing2. The DK2001 is far easier to listen to compared to the Blessing2. Fit and comfort go to the DK2001 hands down unless you have very large ears.



Conclusion

The DK2001 is a pretty great set. But would I personally want to pay full price for it? Yes and no. While I do like these quite a bit, I think they have minor setbacks for the price. That being said, they are on the road to becoming one of my most used IEMs. The comfort/fit alone make these just that much better.

First review (?)



Hello everyone.

Since this is my first review, I would like to preface a two things.

Firstly, I do not completely believe in audible “burn in” or cable changes (in regard to sound). My review however will be based on my final impressions after 20-25 hours of “burn in” with the stock cable.

Secondly, my music preferences consist of many genres ranging from Rock/Metal, Rap, J-Pop/K-Rap, and some acoustical/vocal based music. They will be listed below as examples.

Lastly, my reference over-ear headphones are the Sennheiser HD58x Jubilee. These are the first and open-back cans I have. Just in case it mattered, I wanted to put this here.

Sample songs used to evaluate gear to get an idea of the type of music I listen to. Hopefully you can find a new artist/band.

Wage War – Twenty One, The River, Low

Slipknot – Before I Forget, Duality, Psychosocial

Hoshino Gen – Koi, Continues, Sun

Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Love, Yume No Tzusuki, September

Jakubi – Holiday, Pillow, Nobody Better

Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood, On Melancholy Hill, Ascension

Tupac – Ambitionz Az a Ridah, Changes, All Eyez on Me

Mos Def – Mathematics, Hip Hop, Ms. Fat Booty

Polkadot Stingray – Free, Mermaid, A Stinging Spica

Etc.



Now onto the review!

All listening was done off the Shanling UP4 (bluetooth and USB Dac mode) and LG V30 using Flac files or Tidal premium. This was purchased with my own money as well.

Let’s start with bass, the highlight of these for me. The bass is elevated making them quite nice for more modern genres. Bass extends low, hits hard, all while never bleeding into the mids in my experience. There is a good amount of texture and impact. Bass guitars and kick drums sound fantastic, piano keys feel weighty, and with certain songs you can really feel a nice rumble. The added bass boost adds warmth to the overall sound. I think bassheads would be pretty happy with these honestly.
9.5/10.


Onto the mids. The mids are never seem left behind. They seem to be neutral with a bit of warmth. String instruments sound full and never sound too forward. Male vocals sound smooth and seem to about on the same level as everything, if that makes sense. Female vocals on the other hand feel a bit distant. Many of my favorite songs include female vocals so this was a bit of disappointment. Not to say that they’re inaudible, but I do wish they were a tad more forward. 8/10


Lastly, the highs. Highs seem kind of relaxed to my ears, while still having enough details. Cymbals sound quite good while never being over-the-top. I never experienced any kind of sibilance/harshness, although I don’t consider myself sensitive to that. I honestly feel these are really non-fatiguing. I do wish they had more “sparkle” or a little more energy. There doesn't seem to be a whole ton of air as well.
7/10


In terms of soundstage/imaging, these are adequate. Soundstage is larger than most Chi-fi I’ve tried, but never feels huge or give me an out of head experience. Imaging is definitely better. I feel like I could pinpoint where certain instruments were placed.
7/10


Genres that work well with these: Rock/metal, Rap, EDM, Pop


Select Comparisons:

FiiO FH5

The FH5 can be seen as a competitor to the N3. They are more similar than not. Bass on the N3 has a bit more presence/warmth and can even be considered “boomy” in comparison. Slam/impact is close but is overall more enjoyable on the N3. The FH5 does give slightly more texture to the bass though. The Mids are where these differ. Mids are much more forward and slightly more detailed on the FH5’s. Although I never felt the vocals on the FH5 were ever shouty, in comparison the forwardness gives off that impression. Highs seems to be a tad more detailed on the FH5 as well and never get sibilant/harsh. Overall detail retrieval seems to be better on the FH5’s but not by much. The N3 just seems to fall a hair behind. Soundstage and imaging are on par with each other. The N3 seem to be a warmer version of the FH5, which can be a good thing depending on your preferences. I personally enjoy the FH5’s more due to the forward midrange, but that can be a dealbreaker to some. If that’s the case, the N3’s would be a better set. These are both really nice sets for rock and metal/rap/edm/or anything needing that extra bass emphasis.



BLON BL03

Ahh yes, the infamous BLONs. Why compare these you ask? Because these are both what I would consider basshead iems. With the popularity of the 03’s I feel like it makes sense to compare what others probably have. Let’s start with the obvious, bass. Both have a generous bass elevation making these the stars of the show. The 03 have a bit more rumble/impact to the bass but is also slower in comparison to the N3. Bass notes are better defined on the N3 and provide more detail. Unfortunately, the 03 has noticeable bass bleed, not that it really matters since you can find them for <$30. The N3 presents mids in a much cleaner and well-defined manner. Vocals never feel behind and give good clarity as they do with the 03's. Highs are overall better on the N3 providing better clarity. So do I think the N3 is better than the 03? Yes. Do I think it’s worth 10x the price? Depends. In this hobby, the law of diminishing returns is too real. To those who can’t spend over $100, I think the 03 is a phenomenally good sounding set with little trade-offs compared to its competition (especially in its price range).



Moondrop Blessing2

What do these have in common? Price, that’s pretty much it in my opinion. I would argue these are polar opposites. The N3 is the fun bassy, yet neutral set. Details aren’t its strong suite, but they’re present. On the other hand, the Blessing2 are much more neutral with an emphasis on the midrange. Bass is anemic in comparison, despite it's quality. These are different sets for different people in my opinion. The Blessing2 is the more well-rounded set, while the N3 is more enjoyable, especially for longer listening sessions. If you listen to a lot of rock, metal, rap, and edm, the N3 is what you’re looking for .If you like to hear details, listen to more instrumental music, or any type of music where bass isn’t prominent, the Blessing2 would suite your tastes.





Conclusion

Do I recommend the Sony XBA N3’s? Of course! Depending on what you listen to, they’re extremely fun and easy to listen to. Since this was my first detailed review, I'm sure there's bound to be some mistakes and weird phrasings. If you're curious how these compare to an iem you have, please feel free to ask and I'll see if I have them to compare!.

Thanks for your time!