At the time this review was written, the Noble Kaiser Encore was listed for sale on Noble Audio’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
https://nobleaudio.com/en/shop/universal/kaiser-encore/
 
 
Introduction
As I become more seasoned in this hobby my preferences continuously evolve. When I first started buying earphones, I was looking for in-ear monitors with a lot of bass and a slight V-signature. That preference has changed over time. I’m no longer looking for an earphone that will blow my brains out with thumping bass (respect to you if that’s your thing). I now look for an earphone that can do everything well at the same time. I want a perceptually even amount of detail, accuracy and tone at each frequency range. This is a feat that is seldom done, and often times difficult to accomplish.
 
I listen to different earphones quite often and I’ve only scratched the surface of everything that’s out there. Although there are tons of in-ears to choose from, picking between a bunch of possible options becomes another problem in itself. This especially applies to high end monitors. When you are looking to spend a more substantial amount of money on a product, the risk to reward factor is increased exponentially. Picking between several options becomes a daunting task. Simply put, we all want the biggest return on our investment. Taking a stab in the dark on a high end product can turn out to be a tremendous disappointment. This is why we read the reviews and ask questions. We want to know what the best options are before we make a purchase.
 
I’m not an “expert” at this stuff. I don’t claim to have a golden ear, nor do I consider myself the say all and know all of what a good earphone is. I’ve heard many of the world’s best earphones at each price point. I’ve been blown away by some stuff (regardless of price), while other products I’ve walked away shaking my head wondering what the heck all the fuss was all about. All I can do with a review is give my honest opinion, be fair to both the manufacturer and the reader who is taking time out of their day to read that opinion, and write a review that respects all listening preferences. If I can give you a good sense of what an earphone is like, I’ve done my job.
 
When Noble sent me a review sample of the Katana, not only was I honored to have the opportunity. I was really impressed by what Noble did in terms of venturing from their previous flagship tuning, the Noble K10. Although the original flagship (the Noble K10U) was a legend, the new Katana was an improvement over the K10U in terms of extension, soundstage, separation and detail. I pointed out the differences between the two in my review and explained why I would give a slight advantage to the nine driver Katana. Even still, there were things about the K10U that I enjoyed over the Katana. It had a richness and dynamic tone in the lower registers that made them seem less fatiguing and more musical.
 
Over the course of the review I emailed Noble a few times, asking questions and sharing my impressions. During these conversations Noble’s rep responded, telling me that there were “future projects” in the works. With that being said that my curiosity peaked instantly. When the Encore was announced, I got a shipping notification. The Encore was on its way, and I was about to see what the “secret project” was all about. Here is a statement from Noble about the Encore:
 
 

 
There is no such thing as a perfect earphone for everyone because the diversity of people’s  preferences prevent that from being a possibility. However, there are some earphones that come close for me. Let’s do a comprehensive review to one of these products, the Noble Kaiser Encore.

 
Disclaimer
I was given a free loaner of the Encore in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Noble Audio, aside from having a few review opportunities. I would like to take this time to personally thank Brannan for the opportunity to experience and review the product.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me. I want to hear any earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I can share my impressions with  enthusiasts and help them find the audio product they’re looking for. My Head-Fi profile has a list of audio products ranked from favorite to least favorite. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gear to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are solidly built, with ergonomics and sound that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

If you’ve ever purchased a Noble earphone in the past you will recognize this premium box. There’s magic inside, trust me. Opening the box, owners are greeted with some Noble stickers, a velvet drawstring pouch and a premium black Pelican 1010 case.
 

Opening the case reveals the earphones, cable, carabiner, two rubber binding rings for portable rigs, owner’s card, a cleaning tool and a very nice selection of tips . The entire package is premium. You get everything you need to use and protect your investment.
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specifications
*10 proprietary balanced armature drivers per side
*Updated Noble universal form factor and geometry featuring creative precision machined aluminum housings
*Sensitive enough for use with smartphones as well as portable amps and DAPs
*Hand-assembled and matched
*Detachable cable with industry standard 2-pin configuration (0.78 mm diameter)
 
Noble doesn’t give much information beyond driver count. I don’t know the earphone’s exact impedance, but I’m guessing it’s fairly low. The sensitivity of the Encore is on par with most other flagship in-ear monitors, and can be driven loudly at low volumes.
 
Accessories

1X Pair Encore earphones
1X Braided cable with two pin connectors
1X Pelican Carrying case with carabiner
1X Velvet drawstring pouch
1X Earphones cleaning tool
1X Warranty card
2X Portable rig binding straps
3X Pair red/gray wide bore tips (S,M,L)
3X Pair blue/black narrow bore tips (S,M,L)
2X Pair memory foam tips (S/M,M/L)
1X Metal tips organizer plate
 
 
Housings

Encore’s housing is a very similar shape to the K10U, but with different colors and patterning in the earphone’s shell.
 

Encore has a earthy metallic satin teal anodized aluminum finish on the outer portion of the shell. The inner part of the shell is a satin aluminum finish. The pattern imprint on the shell is exquisite. I really like the way the lines of the earphone flows. As with all of the Noble universal lineup, the Noble emblem is stamped in the outside of the shell.
 

The overall shape is slightly bigger than the average universal monitor. They are pretty much the same size as the K10U, and slightly larger than the Katana.
 

The Encore nozzle is slightly wider than the average in-ear monitor. Although a little more effort is needed to do some tip rolling with aftermarket tips, I was able to get just about every tip I had (with the exception of Shure olives) to fit.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs
Encore’s stock cable is identical to the ones used in previous models. A four strand braided black rubber jacketed cable runs from the jack to the Y-split, then branches off into dual strand twisted braids that lead to each channel. The jack and Y-split are jacketed in metal, with a clear plastic tube just above the Ysplit. This operates as a chin/neck slider. The cable connects to each housing via a standard two-pin connection. About one and one half inches of memory wire run out from each two pin jack and helps users secure the earphones in place.
 
Functionality
There is no microphone or remote option in the stock package. The fact that the cable is removeable, an aftermarket microphone and remote can be purchased from several places. Here is a link to Noble’s versions of aftermarket cables, including a mic/remote option:
 
https://nobleaudio.com/en/shop/accessories/
 
Another clever little gadget I found on the Noble site is the Noble BTS. For all you Iphone 7 owners, I strongly suggest a device like this:
 
https://nobleaudio.com/en/shop/wireless/

 
NOTE: If wireless isn’t your thing and you’re an Iphone 7 owner, Noble is on the verge of releasing a lightning jack cable for their in-ear monitors. When this product is release I will update the review and add a link.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

Despite being slightly larger than the average in-ear monitor, I got a great fit with the Encore. Just like all other Noble universals I’ve tried, the biggest key is finding the right tip (which plays a key role in both the fit and sound). I enjoyed the fit of and sound with the included black silicone tips best of all of the stock tip options. I did find aftermarket options that worked great as well. Once I found a set of tips that sealed well, it was as easy as popping them in my ears, securing them with the included memory wire, snugging them in place with the included chin/neck slider and enjoying them for extended periods of time with no need to adjust the fit.
 

Isolation is better than average for a universal in-ear monitor. Although not on the same level as a custom shell, the Encore blocks a large majority of outside noise. With music playing at low volumes, average amounts of surrounding noise are not audible. This is one of the big reasons I really enjoy the Encore as much as I do. The tuning in combination with the level of isolation makes them an earphone I prefer to listen to at more modest volumes. Simply put, I don’t have to crank the volume up to tune the outside world out.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for smartphone use, and either my Fiio X7 or iBasso DX80 DAP/Bushmaster D14 DAC/Amp for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection

This ten driver design doesn’t come with exact impedance specification, but I’m guessing it’s on par with most earphones with multiple armature driver counts. They are pretty sensitive and can be driven easily with a smartphone. DAPs will work, but more powerful DAPs might reveal some background hiss when music isn’t playing, or you may pick up some occasional EMI and digital background noise. When music is playing this isn’t noticeable.
 
The Encore flat out rocked with my LG V10 and Iphone 6 Plus. I got great sound from the Cayin i5 and Fiio X7/AM3 combo, but there was a little background noise with both units. Using a powerful desktop unit is overkill, and if anything will yield more negative results than positive for the most part. When used with the iFi micro IDSD in its high sensitivity setting, the Encore sounded incredibly good.
 
These earphones will sound great with either colored or more linear sources. They are a phenomenally balanced and cohesive pair of earphones that will not discriminate any low powered source out there. Use the Encore with what it was intended for. A low power output portable source on low gain will be the sweet spot for them. Although you will get best results with higher quality recordings and higher bit-rate music files, the Encore won’t butcher your MP3s. I was able to enjoy the Encore with just about any music file I had. The Encore is incredibly true to your recordings.
 
Sound Signature
With this review I’m going to have to fight hard to not be cheesy or go over the top in terms of my appreciation for what these earphones can do. This is a result of me feeling that the Encore has hit a sweet spot in terms of its technical abilities and sound signature. At the time of writing this review, the Encore is one of the closest things I’ve heard to what I would consider perfect for my listening preferences.
 
To my ears, Noble has managed to take the best aspects of their previous flagships (the Katana and K10) and made a lovechild co-flagship. Take elements of the K10 cohesiveness and musicality, now add the soundstage of the Katana. On top of that, improve the transients and organic nature of its sound (primarily mid-range and upper frequencies). Next, make everything entirely cohesive, seamless and natural at all frequencies. Add all of this up and you have the Noble Encore. Yup, to my ears it adds up to an earphone that earns the title as one of Noble’s premier models.  
 
The Encore is a microfraction leaner and brighter than their previous flagships. The trade-off is an earphone that creates an incredibly realistic sound experience to my ears. Although your mileage may vary, I don’t think there will be many people who hear these things and not consider them to be one of the most natural and cohesive earphones on the planet.
 
Bass
Bass has a similar tuning to other Noble monitors, packing a perceptually even amount of punch and rumble. With that being said, the Encore is a ever so slightly leaner than previous flagships. Although it may be just a touch above neutral, it’s close enough for me to say I don’t classify them as a bass forward earphone.
 
The Encore has a bass response that is NEVER intrusive to other frequencies. It has the ability to be soft and polite, but can also become robust and authoritative when called upon. During Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” bass lines were incredibly fast in terms of attack and decay. The bass is tight, responsive, solid in tone and extends reasonably well. James Blake’s “Limit to Your Love” sounds incredible with Encore. The throbbing bass is authoritative without impacting James’ voice whatsoever.
 
Encore can bring it when tracks that call for a dynamic and impactful response is warranted. Encore has found that fine line needed to be universally world class. They will appeal to just about any listening preference. I’ve had people who prefer more warm and bassy sound listen to them, and just about all of them agree that for a more neutral tuning the Ecore bass is butt-kicking good. For those who preferred a colder and more linear tuning, most of them found them to be neutral enough to get the thumbs up, but emphasized enough to say they don’t follow the trend of being boring or analytical.
 
Mid-bass is incredibly responsive and has a maxed out sense of resolution. You get a slight sense of musicality, but with an incredibly fast and articulate delivery. Just like all other frequencies, the Encore takes detail and accuracy to an elite level while still managing to be entertaining.
 
Mid-range
This is where the Encore is a noticeable improvement over the previous flagships. Noble has taken a step forward from the K10 by adding air between the instruments and improving the separation in the lower to upper mid-range. To my ears the Encore puts on a mid-range clinic. Whatever Noble has done differently with the Encore mid-range, I consider it to be a huge step forward.
 
Lower mid-range seamlessly transitions from mid-bass tones, with a clean and accurate delivery. Compared to other earphones (like the K10 as well as other flagships), this frequency range is a bit thinner, but the trade off is an unrivaled clarity and airiness that is elite. Some may find the Encore to render some male vocals a bit thin, but I think that may be a product of whatever they are used to listening to. Once my ears acclimate to the Encore sound, it’s hard to go back to warmer and bassier earphones. Simply put, other earphones sound sloppy to my ears after jamming the Encore.
 
Upper mid-range is in nice balance with neighboring frequencies. Things to get a little emphasized at the far upper mid-range/lower treble range. Because of this some songs from rock and band genres can get a little edgy and aggressive at very loud volumes. Although that is the case, transients and detail are on another level. Listen to them at a moderate (and healthy) volume, this won’t be an issue.
 
Treble
Normally I would say that this will be an earphone that doesn’t appeal to those who are sensitive to treble frequencies, but I think everyone needs to give these a try before saying that. The transients and organic nature of the Encore’s upper frequency tuning is something everyone must experience. To be honest, it’s the closest thing I’ve heard to an HD800 in an in-ear monitor. It may be more forward than some in-ear monitors, but it’s sounds so incredibly real to my ears that it makes listening to most other in-ear monitors.
 
Cymbal crashes actually crash, with no perceived sense of roll off or unnatural decay. Pronunciation of the letters S and T are there with a reasonable amount of crispness, but again the overall sense is very natural at the same time. Do I think that treble could have been tuned down a few decibels? For some (those who are incredibly treble sensitive or those who listen at really loud volumes), maybe. For me the answer is a resounding NO. There’s so much good stuff going on that lowering it would take away from what I enjoy so much, which is an honest yet still slightly musical presentation.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
For me, the biggest deal about these things is the amount of air Noble has put between every instrument from top to bottom. The balance, separation and clarity is ahead of many other flagships, leaving me with an elite sense of soundstage and imaging. Listen to the Encore is the closest I’ve heard to and HD800-ish signature in an in-ear monitor. Imagine an HD800 sound with great isolation, ya, it’s that good to my ears. Of course your mileage may vary, but that’s what I’m hearing.
 
Comparisons
 
Noble Katana ($1850 USD on many sites)
The Katana is another recent Noble release. They are a nine driver co-flagship that sits somewhere between the older K10 and the Encore. Here is a link to my review:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/noble-audio-katana/reviews/17095
 
Comparing the two, the Katana seems to be a slightly warmer and more intimate sound, and closer in tuning to the original K10 than the Encore. The Encore has taken elements of the Katana and K10 and added an improved level of separation and clarity at midrange tones. With that being said, both earphones have their place as Noble co-flagships. For those who want the next step up from the original K10 without losing that same great bass response, Katana is the answer. For those who found the K10 to be a little bit too warm and colored and would like something that sounds more natural and clear with improved soundstage, the Encore is the answer.
 
Bouncing back and forth between the Encore and Katana, Katana has a little more bass and a little less treble (very minor). Katana’s midrange seems a hair more laid back and with a touch less airiness. The Encore has a slightly more linear approach. The overall sense is a slightly more detailed sound with improved clarity.
 
Build and accessories is virtually identical, with the most noticeable difference being that Katana’s housing is slightly smaller.  
 
Unique Melody Miracle V2 ($1049 USD on Musicteck’s website)
The Miracle V2 has been a go to reference monitor for a good while. They have a very balanced tuning that is somewhat similar to the Encore. Here is a link to my review:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/unique-melody-miracle-v2-universal-six-driver-in-ear-monitor/reviews/15935
 
Comparing the two, both earphones have similar bass response. Mid-range seems slightly warmer and smoother on the Miracle V2. Treble is slightly smoother on the V2 as well. With all that being said, the Encore has a slightly better sense of clarity, separation and detail at almost every frequency. Although I do enjoy the Miracle V2 more with band and band and rock music, I prefer the Encore for every other genre. While the Miracle V2 is no slouch and warrants its asking price, Noble also justifies its more expensive price tag by adding a level of airiness and detail that the Miracle V2 can’t achieve. Both are going to make some great reference monitors.
 
Build quality and accessories goes to the Noble Encore. Their all metal housing and Pelican case are a slightly better offering than the Miracle V2 acrylic housing and metal cannister.
 
Conclusion
The Encore is incredible. If I could only give one in-ear monitor a five star review and had to lower every other five star rating to four and a half, the Encore would get the five star exception. At the time of writing this piece, the Encore is the most cohesive, detailed, clear and enjoyable earphone I’ve experienced. I’ve put the Encore up against the other flagships I currently have in my possession, and while others may give them a run for their money in many aspects, the overall experience I get when listening to the Encore makes it the current king of the hill.
 
The Encore might not be perfect for everyone. They won’t cater to the polar opposites of the listening spectrums (neutral/linear/bright or warm/colored/basshead sound signature preferences). For everyone in between, I’m confident they will be able to appreciate what Noble has done with these. The Encore is one of those earphones that sounds so “real” that many will throw personal preference to the side to say that these are entirely awesome. Upon the conclusion of this review, the Encore gets top honors in my list of favorite in-ear monitors.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this was written, the ZMF Omni could be purchased directly from the ZMF website. Here is a link to the site for purchase:
 

 
http://www.zmfheadphones.com/order-the-zmf/zmf-omni
 
Introduction
When I first met Zach it was last spring at the 2015 Chicago Axpona audio convention. At the event, there was a dedicated headphone room full of  booths the likes of Astell & Kern, Sennheiser, Oppo and many other of the big names in the audiophile world.
 
To be honest, Zach and his ZMF booth was different from the rest. In a room full of company representatives from all over the world, many of them wearing their suit jackets and handing out neatly printed pamphlets and trying to secure sales, here was this very normal looking guy I could have mistaken for a attendee had he not been behind a table, exhibiting some rather unique looking headphones in front of him.
 

Mr. ZMF and me at Axpona 2015
 
I had heard about ZMF headphones before bumping into Zach, but never really thought it would be something for me. I had a chance to sample the Vibro and Blackwood that day, and also talked about his soon to be released Omni. At the time I was really into “bang for your buck” products and the asking price on Zach’s stuff was a little bit too rich for my blood.
 
After listening to his Headphones I thought for sure he was going to hand me a bunch of sales flyers and ask me if I would be interested in purchasing something. Instead, the first thing out of his mouth was “So, what do you think?” It was like we were a couple buddies and I was checking out his new headphones he just got in. I gave him my stamp of approval and was on my way.
 
That day I had a chance to try several top of the line headphones like the HE-1000, LCD-X, HD800, several  Beyerdynamics and many other models. Up to that point I had always thought that top tier headphones would all sound relatively the same. By the end of the day what I realized is that they all have their own unique approach, and the sound alters differently between models, sometimes radically. Headphones are designed and catered to appeal to different tastes. I think the most intriguing thing I learned that day is that there is no right or wrong in this hobby, it’s all a matter of preference, and what we are willing to pay to achieve our own level of audio nirvana.
 
Since the 2015 Axpona, I’ve had a chance to attend a few more Chicago Head-Fi meets and sample more top tier headphones, including the Omni Zach and I discussed. Upon first listen I found them to be PHENOMENAL. Truth be told, all his headphones sound great but there was something about the Omni I especially liked. Zach and I chatted about the headphones and what the differences there are between the Omni and older models. We chatted about baseball, our wives, our careers and life in general. What I soon realized is that Zach is a really good guy, and his biggest priority with ZMF is to connect with enthusiasts and please his customers. I was also able to secure a review sample for me and a couple of my Head-Fi friends who were interested in reviewing them.
 
I would like it to be known that upon receiving the Omni review sample, I have committed to purchasing them. The pair Zach has provided is incredible and I don’t want to send them back at the conclusion of the tour.
 
What is the ZMF?
 

 
A few years ago, a very popular hobby on Head-Fi was modding the Fostex T50rp. Modifications of all sorts were done and some members got really good at it. It was pretty cool to read about how people would take a reasonably priced planar magnetic headphone and tune it to their personal preferences. Personally, I hardly ever modify headphones out of fear that I’d ruin them and be out the money I spent.
 
If modifying the T50rp is an artform, I consider Zach to be the Pablo Picasso of doing so.
 
He takes a T50rp like this…
 

 
...and turns it into a work of art like this…
 

 
And trust me friends, it’s an incredible sounding headphone!
 
I asked Zach how this whole thing came about. He says that a few years ago he made a modified T50rp for a relative, and they liked it so much that several others wanted a pair made. Between that and being mildly successful recabling pairs of Sony MH1 (if you’ve been on Head-Fi long enough I’m sure you remember that craze) ZMF was born. Zach later joined forces with Luke from Vibro Labs and the ZMF wood cups became a staple of the ZMF headphone. ZMF continues to grow as more people have an opportunity to hear them. Hearing is believing, and ZMF has made believers out of many.
 
You might be thinking to yourself “Wait, so the ZMF headphone is just a modified T50rp?”
 
That’s a tricky question to answer. The answer is yes, but the leap in quality in every aspect will make you say that doesn’t matter. Zach goes beyond making it just better, he radically transforms this into an heirloom quality headphone that sounds amazing. I made sure to try the T50rp, then immediately try a ZMF afterwards. You would never think it was the same headphone. It’s not even relatively close in comparison. The difference is night and day.


 
Review

 
I could sit here and tell you why butter pecan ice cream is the best ice cream and point out all the reasons why you should run out and buy a half gallon right now. At the end of the day if you like chocolate ice cream, it doesn’t matter what I say. What I hope to do with this review is tell you why I personally love this headphone and hope that my write up gives YOU the opportunity to find out if this is something that appeals to your preferences. I hope this review will give you the information you need to decide whether or not the Omni would be a headphone that appeals you your preferences.
 
The Omni arrived in a few days from the time of receiving the shipping notification via email. It arrived in a Seahorse case. The case is an aftermarket product, as is just about everything that makes up the ZMF and culminates into one phenomenal package. The exterior of the case has a patented ZMF logo sticker on it. It is very durable Plastic with dual clips that keep the case securely shut. The entire case is about the size of a small shoe box. There is two spots for a lock on each corner of the case (locks are not included). The interior of the case is lined with foam that holds the Omni securely in place while transporting.
 

 

 
Opening the case revealed the headphones, two cables, and two extra pairs of pads.
 

 
There are three pad options, and all of them make minor changes to the sound. The pad options are Cowhide, Lambskin, and Protein. They are all high quality and very comfortable.
 

 
The Omni came with two stock cables, a 3.5mm cable, and an XLR cable. These stock cables are made of decent material but don’t necessarily match the quality of the headphones themselves. There are several cable upgrade options to choose from, including variances in length and termination. You can get pretty fancy with cable upgrades. There is a chat feature on the ZMF website where I’m sure Zach will be able to assist you in getting the perfect cable for your application if you aren’t seeing the option you’re looking for. The left and right channels connect at the cups via an mini XLR connection, and each channel is marked with rings to identify each channel (red/right, black/left). This configuration makes it convenient for running balanced cables.
 

 
Also included was a velvet material drawstring bag for holding cables or earpads, and a laminated card that is a certificate of authenticity. This card has the date it was made along with Zach’s personalized signature of approval. The certificate has a handwritten list of the customized options installed on the pair of headphones. Zach even noted the owner as “The Lab” which is my thread, and consists of the reviewers that will partake in reviewing this particular pair of headphones. I really like the personalization with the owner’s certificate and consider it to be a nice touch for those who invests in a premium product like this.
 

 
Holding the headphones in my hand, they reek of luxury and quality. From the cups, to the pads, to the headband, everything has been meticulously thought out to give the owner that “WOW” factor. I could hold any other pair of headphones I currently own in my hand and their build quality won’t come close to what ZMF has accomplished with the Omni. It’s solid from top to bottom.
 
Starting with the cups, the Omni comes in three different woods. The options are Cherry, Walnut, and Blackwood. The wood you choose impacts the sound to a certain extent, with the Cherry being the most linear sounding, and the Blackwood being the bassier of the three. I chose the walnut because it is tuned in the middle of the other two woods and seemed to retain characteristics I appreciated in both the Cherry and Blackwood.
 
Each pair of cups starts out as a milled pair of wood. They are hand stained by Zach himself. They are all beautifully finished and can have some personal touches added by request. When visiting Zach to have my Omni retuned (more on that in a bit) I saw some pretty radical cups lying around his shop.
 

Blackwoods with custom stain... WOW
 

Stained cups ready for drivers
 

Cups waiting to be stained
 
The cups of the Omni have a small amount of oscillation where they connect to the slider, helping make the fit of the Omni very comfortable. The slider is made of metal and comes in five different color options (Powder Black, Cast Iron, Architectural Bronze, Cast Aluminum, Natural Bronze). they are solid metal and durable.
 

 
The headband is the original rubber fostex band. My pair comes with an upgraded and detachable aftermarket protein exterior foam filled padding that makes my Omni very comfortable. If you do purchase the Omni I recommend this padding as it covers the Fostex logo and really improves the overall comfort. The band is flexible and durable, and I understand why the band is not replaced from the stock Fostex band. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
 

Pad on (super comfortable)
 

Headband pad removed
 
Comfort
The pads of the Omni are angled to help imaging. They come in three different material options (Cowhide, Lambskin, and Protein). I found the Lambskin to be my personal favorite by far, as they were the most comfortable and breathable of all the pads I tried.
 
The Omni is a pretty bulky pair of headphones. I wouldn’t recommend them for commuting because of the sheer amount of space they take up, nor would I want to take them out of the house to risk damaging them.
 
Holding them in my hands they feel a bit heavier than the average headphone, but they haven’t gone overboard on weight. Between the thick pads and the way the band rests on my head, I find them to be pretty comfortable.
 
While the Omni is considered to be a vented earphone, the only thing vented is the sound. The Omni gets as hot on the ears as your average closed headphone. I’m not sure how inspired I would feel to use these on my porch on a hot summer day. Aside from the heat (which honestly isn’t too bad) I give the Omni a thumbs up in terms of comfort.
 
Sound Review
Before the sound review is done, we have to cover something special about any pair of ZMF you purchase. As I said earlier, Zach is committed to giving his customers the best experience he can offer. If you are unhappy with the way your ZMF sounds, he will retune your headphone to better cater to your preferences one time FOR FREE. When I first got the Omni I loved it but felt like the soundstage of the Omni was not ideal. Although resolution was great, I was thinking they could have use a few decibel decrease in bass, and a lift somewhere in the upper frequencies. Usually headphones are sent in to be retuned, but because I had chatted with Zach on a few occasions, was doing a review and lived so close, I met him at his home headquarters in Chicago to have my Omni tested and retuned as well as see what goes into the making of the Omni. Here is a graph of what my Omni tuning is like after the adjustment:
 

 
Zach retuned them to what he said is his new “standard tuning” for all of the Omnis he makes. After the retune, I can honestly say that I consider these to be an “end game” type of sound quality.
 
JDS Labs Element
 

 
While at the shop I asked him what he suggests for a source. While most sources will work as long as they are more powerful than the standard cell phone, and maybe a bit more than the standard DAP, I asked Zach if there is an affordable desktop option he would suggest for the Omni, and without hesitation he recommended the JDS Labs Element. The reason being the one full watt of power, and excellent DAC and amplifier that is installed. All this in combination with a very nice look and simple functionality made this something I was very curious to try out. If Zach says he highly recommends this amplifier for his headphones, I would have to see if there’s a way to get one for the tour. I’m happy to say that as a result of contacting JDS labs and explaining the situation with the Omni review tour, the guys at JDS Labs were kind enough to provide a Element DAC/Amplifier that can be used for the tour. Not only to display the capability of the Omni, but also the Element. I must say that the synergy was great. Before it gets sent back, I will also be doing a review on the Element to give it more exposure. It is a great little desktop DAC/Amp that punches well beyond its asking price.
 
Other Sources Used
Another rig I used for desktop use was my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
Source Selection Summarized
One of the beauties of the Omni was its ability to scale with higher bitrate files, but also be forgiving with poorly recorded music. Although it is pretty forgiving and will work with portable amplifiers (preferably on high gain), you won’t unleash the full potential of the omni unless you are streaming some high bit rate recordings through an at least somewhat powerful desktop set up. Do this and you will spend the next few hours simmering in the musicality that is the ZMF Omni.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to asses and break down the gear’s response.
 
Overall Signature
Writing reviews is bitter sweet. It’s sweet in the sense that I get to try a vast variety of different pieces of gear, but bitter because I’ve subconsciously trained my brain to pick the sound apart and analyze the headphone rather than enjoy my time with whatever I’m listening to. What the Omni does is take away that urge to analyze performance and figure out the signature, and gives me the freedom to kick back in my chair, relax and soak in the combination of resolution and musicality that makes it an incredible headphone. I can’t help spending most of my time listening to them and appreciating all the things they do well.
 
I would describe my Omni as a warm tilted and non fatiguing headphone with extended and authoritative bass that doesn’t overwhelm or get fatiguing. It retains a great combination of detail and separation through the entire midrange that works well with its warm tilt, making it a great entertainer. There is no type of bleed at any frequency, even at high volumes. Treble is a unique combination of extension and resolution and without any type of spike or harshness whatsoever. I can listen to the Omni for hours without ever getting fatiguing or boring. The tuning works well with everything I threw at it. Vocals sound natural with a slight warm tilt. Nothing seems unnatural to my ears. It is a very complete sound that I can’t fault. While some out there who prefer a more linear sound, or a more aggressive upper frequency range won’t find what they are looking for in the Omni, I am confident that a large majority of those who have a chance to listen to the omni will fall in love with their engaging signature.
 
Bass
Although the bass is forward in the mix, it is of impressive response thanks to the speed of the planar magnetic driver. There is more rumble than punch, and their response extends as low as your ears can hear. There is a nice transition from sub bass to midrange that avoids any type of bleed. It is a combination of bass forwardness and resolution that is seldom replicated. While it doesn’t cross into basshead territory, it has an authoritative lift in lower frequencies that is very enjoyable and works with all music. Mid bass frequencies are tuned so that it avoids being intrusive. The best way I could describe it is that it has a nice forward and extended presence like many pairs of closed back headphones, but the speed and texture of a vented design.
 
Midrange
Lower midrange is warm tilted without being excessively weighted or sounding unnatural. This gives the Omni a nice sense of timbre and makes vocals very entertaining. A warm tilt carries on through the entire midrange and leads into a smooth yet detailed upper midrange. One of the things to note is the warm tilt, incredible resolution, and no radical spikes or dips, making the Omni incredibly entertaining and musical. I’ve heard other headphones in this price range that have tried to replicate this signature but were unable to achieve the same level of clarity and separation, making them sound sloppy in comparison. Amidst the warmth of the Omni, there’s a level of PRAT that makes them truly addicting.
 
Treble
The extension is there, but the spike isn’t. You will hear every treble detail in the track but with a different approach to many higher end headphones. The sense of space is created by the Omni with extension and clarity rather than an artificial boost. What you get is a very complete yet slightly relaxed treble presentation.  
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The Omni is a lot of things all at once, which makes it a great headphone capable of doing many things well at the expense of not being the best at one particular aspect of its sound. The Omni does lose a little bit of in terms of soundstage because of its tuning, but still there is a nice sense of space. I would say the soundstage is better than the average pair of headphones but not the best I’ve heard. Imaging is along the same lines, being formidable but not elite.
 
Comparisons
Although I don’t currently own a pair of headphones at this price point, I feel the next best thing to do is compare it to my current favorite pair of open back and closed back Headphones that I own.
 
Sennheiser HD600 ($325--$400 USD on many sites)
The HD600 has and will continue to be a personal favorite and benchmark when comparing gear. It is a pretty neutral headphone with excellent soundstage and resolution.
 
First thing i noticed when comparing these two is that the HD600 is thin sounding in comparison. The bass on the Omni is not only more forward, but also more extended and entertaining from what I heard. After my ears adjusted to the Omni, it took a good while for my ears to adjust back to the brighter and leaner sound of the HD600, and vice versa. Despite the more extended sub bass the HD600 and Omni displayed similar characteristics in its mid range, offering a warmer yet still very natural presentation from what I heard. Moving to the upper midrange and treble, the HD600 had a more forward presence with a noticeable lift that made the top end of the HD600 more aggressive to my ears, and potentially more fatiguing during long listening sessions. On the same note, after my ears adjusted to the HD600 treble, going back to the Omni made them seem lacking in upper registers (until my ears adjusted back the the Omni tuning). Overall clarity and resolution was too close to determine a clear cut winner. I give the Omni the advantage in terms of timbre and dynamics.
 
Soundstage on the HD600 is superior. Its open design and elevated treble presence gives them a great sense of space.
 
Power requirements are fairly similar (the Omni requires maybe a touch more power).
 
I would say comfort is a draw. The HD600 is a slightly tighter squeeze on my head, but the Omni cups can get pretty hot on my ears. Other than that they both are a good fitment.
 
In terms of build quality and accessories, it’s not even close. The Omni is world class and is of heirloom quality. The case that comes with the Omni is a bonus over the caseless HD600.
 
Soundmagic HP150 ($175-$200 USD on many sites)
The HP150 is an incredible closed back headphone that makes many people’s top ten list of favorite headphones. They offer a bass forward tuning with good extension on both ends and a huge soundstage.
 
The Omni has a more resolving bass response, making the HP150 seem slightly boomy in comparison. This translates into a slight bleed on the HP150. Midrange is slightly more full sounding and with more timbre on the Omni, with the HP150 being more thin from what I hear. Treble on the the HP150 has a spike somewhere up top and some will find it harsh at louder volumes, while the Omni retains a smoothness through this range that makes it very fun and easy to listen to. Although I find the soundstage to be superior on the HP150, overall sound quality goes to the Omni.
 
Again, build quality is no contest, the Omni wins in every aspect.
 
Conclusion
The Omni has not cracked to code and constructed a headphone that will appeal to every audiophile in the world. People looking for a very linear and tight sound won’t find what they are looking for in the Omni. It is a headphone that is designed to be engaging, entertaining and fatigue free. It is a bass forward tuning that incorporates a level of resolution and musicality that many will find addicting.
 

 
What Zach has done is taken a pretty average headphone and rebuilt and retuned it to something that many will make their prized audio possession.. They are a unique combination of traits in both build and tuning that makes them one of the best headphones I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.
 
Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the Dunu Titan 1  was on sale for $115.00 USD on Penon Audio . Here is a link to a listing of their product at the time of the review:
 
http://penonaudio.com/DUNU-TITAN1
 
Introduction
 
The Titan 1 is already making waves on Head-Fi at the time I am writing this. I became interested in it  when some of my respected Head-Fi friends could not stop raving about them. After hearing the endless praise they were receiving, I knew I had to get my hands (and ears) on a pair and experience them for myself. They did not disappoint!
 
Disclaimer
 
My pair were purchased online from a group purchasing site. I am providing a review for the sole purpose of giving this terrific IEM the exposure it deserves.
 
My Background
 
Please allow me to share a little bit about myself so you can better understand my observations. I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, amplifiers and earphones that intrigues me, ESPECIALLY if they can be had for low prices. I’m a budget-fi guy. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will can discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased many, and I mean MANY different headphones and earphones ranging from from dirt cheap to hundreds of dollars higher end products. For me, its more about getting great price to performance ratio, and hearing a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound. With this hobby we tend to often times pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that price DOES NOT necessarily indicate good build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have tested and reviewed.
 
The Package
 
The Titan one came in a very simple medium sized black box with white and gray lettering and a close up of the monitors on the front.
 

 
 
The back of the box had some nice information about the product, as well as pictures and descriptions of the accessories. The sides of the box had the item’s specifications.
 

 
Opening the box revealed information about the product’s technological advancements and the benefits of it’s nano class diaphragm, as well as a graph showing the difference between itself and a conventional driver. A second flap had information about Max Barsky and his accomplishments as a musician.
 

 
 
Opening the second flap revealed the IEMs, three sets of tips, and the carrying case.
 

 
 
Specs
 
Driver:          Titanium 13 mm dynamic
Frequency Range:     20Hz~30Khz
Impedance:         16 Ohm
Sensitivity:         90 +- 2dB
Rated Input Power:    Not Listed
Plug:             3.5mm gold plated (right angled plug)
Cable:             1.2 meter cable
Weight:         18 grams
 
Extra Accessories
 
The accessories package was very nice, offering everything you would need and nothing you don’t. There was a large selection of tips, including my personal favorite Sony-esque hybrids. The rubber and hard plastic container that had a nice locking mechanism and release button. It is very solid and a great home for the Titan when not in use. The only issue I can see with the case is that if you take off the “screen protector” material on the top of the case it is prone to scratches (not a big deal). You also get a ¼ adapter that is of the utmost quality.
 

 
 
The Titan 1 comes with 9 pairs of tips:
 
3x Sony Hybrid-like silicone tips (sizes S,M,L)
3X black silicone tips with a wider bore and flat end (sizes S,M,L)
3X black/red silicone tips with a rounded end (sizes S,M,L)
 

 
There are plenty of tips for just about everyone to get a secure fit and seal.
 
Housings
 
The housings are very impressively built out of polished metal (looks to be stainless steel). There isn’t a single piece of plastic on the housing. Even the screen/port at the end of the hozzle is a part of the housing, with 7 drilled holes for sound to come through. This is unique, and a very cool approach in my opinion. The housings each have a colored ring to indicate which channel is which (red/right, blue/left). There are several vent holes drilled in the inside of the housing where it rests in your ear. DUNU logos can be seen both on the inner and outer part of the shell.
 


 
 
 
Cable, Y-Split & Strain Reliefs
 
From the housing to the Y-split, the cable is typical rubber material used with most earphones at this price point. Strain reliefs from the housing are perfect in my opinion, with enough strength to keep everything in tact, and enough flex to prevent shorts in the wire.
 
The Y-split is made of the same polished metal as the housing, and just above it is a cable cinch of the same metal material. The cable cinch has a notch milled so it can fit right into the Y-split when not in use.
 

 
 
From the Y-split to the cable jack, the cable has been covered in a kevlar or kevlar-like material. The cable in it’s entirety is very flexible and with little to no memory. Also, a nice bonus is the rubber cable tie that is attached to the cable. It make winding these things up a breeze. It is a very nice touch.
 
Cable Jack
 
The cable jack is the same polished metal used in the housing and Y-split. The Titan 1 sports a ninety degree angled, and gold plated 3.5mm plug. the strain relief at the jack is one of the most well done strain reliefs I’ve seen. I don’t see anything shorting out here, or anywhere on the cable for that manner (if handled correctly).
 

 
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics
 
Think of a earbud with a angled hozzle coming out of it to make it an in-ear monitor. That is exactly what the Titan 1 is. That is really clever if you ask me, because you are using the whole ear to support the fit, making it not only very comfortable, but also a very secure under the ear fit. Well done DUNU! I normally am not a fan of in-ears that are designed to be worn cable down, but they really hit a home run with this concept! The Titan 1 can also be worn over the ear by swapping channels. If you don’t mind swapping channels it works extremely well.
 
Worn cable down, you do get some microphonics. When worn over the ear, microphonics is reduced significantly.
 

 
                                                                      
Isolation
 
Because of the venting design the Titan does not isolate very well, and leaks sound more than your average in-ear monitor.
 
Review Materials
 
I primarily did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware, and Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I make sure that any gear I test has a minimum of 30 hours of play time before writing any type of review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
 
“Limit to your love” by James Blake
“Madness” by Muse
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk
“Some nights” by Fun
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela
“Bassically” by Tei Shi
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie
“One” by Ed Sheeran
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to asses and break down the gear’s response.
 
Sound Signature
 
Ahhhhhhh, now we get to the good part! These are great! It’s an aggressive, up front and in your face sound that is really addictive. Right out of the box they seemed a bit hot up top. Whether it be burn-in or time to adjust, I now find the treble to be just right and in accordance with the rest of the spectrum of sound. With the Titan 1, you get a slight V-signature with some of the best resolution and separation you can get in an IEM. The sound quality of these competes with everything I have, and will give many in-ear monitors at a much higher price range a run for their money.
 
Bass
 
The bass is forward on these. When running test sweeps I noticed a slight roll-off at sub-bass regions, especially from 10 Hz to about 40-50 Hz, but from there it takes off. The mid bass region definitely does jump out in front, but it is done with NO noticeable bleed. Trust me, you will get plenty of bass response, and mid bass and lower mids will have plenty of weight and punch. It really sets itself apart in how it handles midbass frequencies. To have that forward presentation and still be very resolving is seldom executed with in-ear monitors.
 
Mid Range
 
Mid range is something that is a mixed bag with the Titan, and something that makes this pair special. It takes a small step back from the bass and treble. Starting from the lower midrange, you will hear a very thick note presentation with a good amount of warmth and texture. However, as you listen and span across you will notice it going from very warm and lush lower midrange frequencies, and progressively get a little cooler and crisper sounding moving up to the upper mids and treble area. It is a smooth transition, and all the while it maintains a sense of clarity and separation that is world class.
 
Treble
 
It is crisp and very clear. If the Titan 1 didn’t have the awesome resolution it does, I would say the treble can be harsh, but because you can make out every high hat and cymbal crash with incredible accuracy, it is a joy to listen to. I enjoy the Titan 1 at medium listening levels. listening to them at loud volumes for too long leads to fatigue for me. All in all it’s a very high resolution monitor that has a beautiful shimmer and sparkle in it’s upper registers.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
 
This is a hard one to draw a conclusion on. In one sense, they sound “big”, but at the same time the forward mid bass can make you feel like they are not as open or airy as other in-ears. The best way I can explain is that it’s a “front row at the show” type of sound.
 
Music Recommendations
 
I think these are great for all genres, but will sound best with live performances, acoustic and rock music.
 
Comparisons
 
GR07BE ($125 to $150 USD on many sites)
 
Bass extension and response on the GR07BE is superior, and for an in-ear monitor it still amazes me to this day. But, the buck stops here for the VSONIC. Titan 1 has more energy to it’s tuning, and their amazing resolution, texture and detail in both mids and treble regions makes the GR07BE seem dull and lifeless in comparison. All in all, the GR07BE is outclassed by the Titan 1. That is saying a lot!
 
T-PEOS Altone 200 ($175 to $200 USD on many sites)
 
The Altone 200 can hang with the Titan 1 in terms of clarity, but the highs are harsher and more fatiguing. Titan is smoother, and has a more textured and open feeling to it’s sound, making the T-PEOS offering seem slightly congested in comparison. Both are good, but in my opinion the Titan sounds just as good, if not better at half the price.
 
Ostry KC06A ($55 to $85 USD on many sites)
 
The KC06A packs a great package with plenty of sub bass rumble and a nice treble response, but the Titan mid range outclasses the Ostry. In this comparison the trade off between the two is sub bass (advantage Ostry) and crystal clear midrange (Titan 1). I give the advantage to the Titan 1 because the quality mid range makes the sound more cohesive.
 
Conclusion
 
The Titan 1 is a perfect example that you don’t need several drivers packed into a custom shell and at the cost of a mortgage payment in order to create world class sound. These are a refreshing approach that brings something unique to the table, both in terms of build and sound quality. Upon concluding this review, I rank this earphone second in my in-ear collection, just barely behind the Fidue A83. Dunu did a stellar job with this one, and at a price that is almost too good to be true. I highly recommend them!
 
Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time of the review, the VE Zen 2.0 was was on sale on their Aliexpress web store. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Venture-Electronic-VE-Zen-high-impedance-320-ohms-earbud/1924356_32302987270.html
 
Introduction
I would like to take this time to tell you a little bit about Venture Electronics.
 
VE was a start up company by a couple guys over in China. From what I’ve gathered the two main players behind all of this are Lee, and and someone who goes by the name of “KK.”
 
I started covering VE products by getting a review sample of the original Zen 1.0. If you haven’t read my review on them here is a link:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/venture-electronics-ve-zen/reviews/13680
 
Reviewing the VE Zen 1.0 changed my view on earbuds, well, it changed my perspective of Venture Electronics and what they can do with their earbuds in particular.
 
Now days when I come across any earbuds and have a chance to try them, I will. What I have realized by doing this is that while other earbuds can perform reasonably well, I still have yet to hear any that can combine the dynamics, detail and balance that VE can accomplish with their models. This goes for the Monk, The Zen 1.0, and now the Zen 2.0. In fact, I would go as far as saying I have yet to hear an earbud outside of the Zen lineup that sounds better than the five dollar Monk.
 
I really enjoyed the Zen 1.0, and still use it to this day. When I heard Lee was making an upgraded version of them, I knew I had to review them. There’s no way I was going to miss out on an upgraded Zen!
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Zen 2.0 in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Venture Electronics. I would like to take this time to personally thank Lee for the opportunity. Lee, I love the marketing approach and no BS approach you take with customers. The audiophile community is a better place because of it!
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
The Zen arrived in a tough cloth covered clamshell case. There is no formal packaging that came with the sample I received.
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specifications

 
Accessories
1x pair of red foam discs
1x pair of red foam doughnuts
1x pair of silicone “earhoox” like silicone fins
1x shirt clip
1x zipper clamshell case
 

VE offers pretty much everything you would need to make your Zen 2.0 fit. The new “earhoox”-like fins is a welcomed upgrade from the Zen 1.0.
 
Housings

One of the negatives I stated about the original Zen 1.0 was the somewhat generic looking white housings. VE stepped things up, offering a translucent smoke tinted plastic housing. Their website 52ve.cn is printed on shell. I really like the way they improved on the design and went with translucent material, as it shows the craftsmanship and quality of components used in the Zen 2.0. Although I doubt the plastic housings would be able to withstand getting stepped on, they are a very sturdy build that will withstand the test of time if handled with a reasonable amount of care.
 

NOTE: Venture Electronics has a new domain name, VECLAN.COM
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

I love the Zen 2.0 cable. It is a clear rubber jacketed cable with a shiny red sheathing inside the jacketing that covers the multiple core copper cable. For a portable earphone I find it to be the perfect thickness and durability. Inspecting it under a light, I can see imperfections in the consistency of the red sheathing, which adds to the visual effect in my opinion. To my eyes it almost has the appearance of what an external vein flowing musical blood into user’s ear. It is actually two separate cables attached to one another, separating the signals from the jack all the way up to each channel.
 

The Y-split is a small rubber block that determines where the cables split to go to each housing. The Jack is a ninety degree design with a gold plated 3.5mm jack and plastic/rubber jacketing. A black rubber strain relief comes from the jacketing and seems durable.
 
NOTE: There is other cable options than the one I have. There is a black braided cable version that is much pricier, and a balanced edition that uses the same red cable. In terms of what termination you need for your balanced setup, you can request it by messaging Lee from the questions feature on Aliexpress.
 
Functionality
There are three options in terms of cable options, none of which have a microphone and remote option. However, I’m sure if you contacted Lee about this he might be able to possibly help you out. As is, I don’t see any reason for a microphone and remote for two reasons. #1 The Zen 2.0 sounds better with an amplified source, and #2 The purpose of the Zen is to give the user the maximum audio experience. Most phones will not have the power to maximize the Zen 2.0 sound and would just get in the way of maximizing the 2.0 capabilities.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
For an earbud they are pretty standard. They fit like any other earbud, and come with foam discs, doughnuts, earhooks and a shirt clip to suit whatever fitment you are trying to achieve. They manage microphonics very well, much better than average. Isolation isn’t great, just like any other earbud.
 
NOTE: The Zen 2.0 sound changes quite a bit depending on how you use them and what type of foam or accessory you use. I will go over this more in the sound review.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justice for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection

The Zen 2.0 seems slightly less power dependent than the original 1.0, but still needs something more powerful than the average smartphone to sound its best. They sound great with any portable amplifier or DAP on high gain. They were sublime in combination with my VE Runabout amplifier in high gain. Because of their power demands they will also work well with most desktop DACs and amplifiers. Zen 2.0 upscales well with higher bitrate files. Feed them DSD and FLAC files through your best amplified source and let the lifeblood of the Zen 2.0 sound satisfy your soul.
 
First things first, the anatomy of your ear combined with what type of accessories and fit you get with the Zen will determine your sound impressions. I will start the sound review with a brief explanation of my impressions with each accessory. Please remember I am going to do a brief description based on what sounds I got with my ears. Your mileage may vary. The only way to know is to try each accessory.  
 
“Earhoox”-like silicone fins- This was the most secure fit of all of the accessories, but also the worst sounding to my ears. I feel the Zen 2.0 needs either free air or foam to prevent bass resonance. The 2.0 sounded like a good earphone overshadowed by a resonant bass response with the fins.
 
Foam Discs- These gave a the 2.0 a warmer and bassier sound with an overall more intimate sounding signature.
 
Naked (No accessories)- This is arguably the best way to wear the Zen 2.0, and from what I experiences the closest sounding to the original 1.0 with foams. It is the leanest and most detailed of all wearing styles, and gave me the best sense of soundstage and instrument placement.
 
Foam Doughnuts (foam rings)- The rings were my favorite of all the options, offering a touch of warmth and bass from the discs, and also a little bit of the detailed and airy presence when worn naked. Because of this I will do my remaining sound review and comparisons based on this wearing style.
 
Sound Signature
The Zen 2.0 is a masterpiece. When I first heard VE was going to improve on the 1.0 model, I wasn’t sure how they were going to do it. Well they did and it is an all around better sounding earphone to my ears. Lee and KK listened to feedback from customers and reviewers. They made another phenomenal sounding earphone. I can enjoy the Zen as much as my favorite pairs of in-ear monitors and full size earphones.
 
NOTE: Remember, my impressions from here on out are based on using the foam rings. You can achieve a more linear and airy sound wearing them without foams or fins.
 
The Zen is warm tilted and bordering on me saying they’re somewhat bassy (which is weird for an earbud). Every frequency is very high resolution and has fabulous dynamics. Midbass and lower midrange tones play with incredible speed, texture and timbre. The upper midrange is relaxed and rolls into a crisp and non fatiguing top end. The PRAT from the original is still present with added warmth and dynamics. If the 1.0 is the Sennheiser HD600 of earbuds, the 2.0 is the HD650.
 
Bass
Bass tones are robust and responsive. Because they are earbuds there is a roll off starting at around 100Hz and seems to fall off the radar at about 35Hz. This doesn’t impact the overall feel of the earphones like anything is missing. The forward midbass of the Zen 2.0 is their biggest strength, providing a level of resolution and timbre that makes them world class.
 
Midrange
Zen 2.0 midrange is pretty warm, super responsive and in good balance with the sound signature. The lower midrange forwardness slowly rolls off into a relaxed upper midrange. Vocals finish with a relaxed feel while still seeming very natural. Lower to midrange notes are felt as well as heard. As with all frequencies, resolution is fabulous.
 
Treble
Treble is overall relaxed with a well placed spike, preventing them from seeming overly warm. The overall feel is like they have just the right amount of PRAT to say that they are both warm and natural at the same time. Sibilant sounds can be heard without any kind of harshness.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage is really good thanks to their high resolution. Imaging is somewhat in the head, with a dynamic midbass and lower midrange coming from outside the head.
 
Comparisons
At the moment, Zen 2.0’s biggest competitor is its other earbuds. Because of this I will compare them to my two other VE earbuds, the Zen 1.0 and the Monk.
 
VE Zen 1.0 (discontinued)
The Zen 1.0 caught a lot of people off guard when they first stepped on to the scene, offering a level of dynamic sound and texture that wasn’t experienced from an earbud.
 
The Zen 2.0 took any knocks that could be held against the original and addressed them. They took the Zen 1.0 and improved midbass and lower midrange resolution and gave it a slight forwardness that is more rich, cohesive and engaging. There’s an added timbre and punch that makes the Zen 2.0 the better earphone in my opinion. Both earphones have a similar treble presence.
 
Build quality is a draw, but I give the Zen 2.0 a decisive advantage in the style department. Zen 2.0 also gets an advantage for accessories, offering a set of silicone fins for those looking for a more secure fit.


 
VE Monk ($5 USD on Aliexpress)
You might be thinking why I would be comparing a five dollar earbud to the Zen 2.0. Truth be told, there will be some people who might say they prefer the Monk sound over the 2.0. The Monk might be the greatest deal in earphones today.
 
Comparing the sound of the two, the Monk is definitely the colder sounding earphone. Zen 2.0 is much warmer, smoother and less fatiguing earphone of the two. The Monk has a much crisper top end that is harsh in comparison to the Zen 2.0. Zen gets an edge with better dynamics and timbre. Monk gets an edge for being an easier to drive earphone that works better with cell phones. Listening to them both, I personally find the Zen 2.0 to be a more refined, fatigue free and enjoyable sound.
 
Build quality is similar, but I give a slight edge to the Zen 2.0 for their ninety degree plug. Zen gets an edge for style, and also has a better accessories package.
 
NOTE: If you aren’t sure which earphone to pick from because of the tremendous price to performance value of the Monk, let it be known that Lee will include the Monk for FREE with any Zen 2.0 purchase. Awesome!

 
Conclusion
If the Zen 2.0 was the only earphone I had, I wouldn’t be missing out on a whole lot. The Zen 2.0 has once again taken earbuds to a level I didn’t know was possible. Paired with a high quality and amplified source and fitting accessory, their dynamic and fatigue free sound takes my listening experience to the next level.
 
If you want an earbud with top of the line style and sound, the Zen 2.0 should be on the top of your list.  
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the  Earsonics S-EM9 was listed for sale on Musicteck’s online store. Here are a couple links to listings of the product:
 
https://www.amazon.com/Earsonics-S-EM9-ear-Earphones-connector/dp/B01GATE7YO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477836191&sr=8-1&keywords=s-em9
 
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/earsonics-s-em9
 
 

Introduction
With the release of Iphone 7 the market for wired earphones and headphones buyers has been cut by a sizeable percentage. What’s left are Android owners (I salute you) and audiophiles (double salute). Personally, I prefer adding wired earphones to my shopping cart. I’m not only an Android owner, I have a drawer full of DAPs and some desktop gear to maximize their wired capabilities. Old school? Nope… Allow me to explain...
 
Say what you will, the wireless era is going to go through a learning curve before I jump my ship full of wired gear. A WIRELESS EARPHONE DOESN’T OFFER THE SAME FIDELITY AS A WIRED PAIR, ESPECIALLY A HIGH END PROFESSIONALLY TUNED PAIR OF EARPHONES. The technology is getting better, but it’s not to the point of saying a wireless earbud can touch the best wired in-ears on planet Earth.
 
Flagship earphones are here for a reason. Those last bits of micro details and layering/texturing of sound that a flagship earphone can produce are the difference between “just listening to music” and getting a goosebump inducing moment of musical clarity. That, my friends is the reason we spend the extra money for high end audio gear. We know it when we hear it, or at least we would like to think so. The sound and experience of a high end audio product will take our listening sessions to another level if we find the right one for us.
 
Earlier this year I got my ears on a pair of recently released high end in-ear monitors. The sound was so good I didn’t want to take them off. The name of the product isn’t important but the experience of this happening is. It was one of the first times a earphone had raised the proverbial bar of excellence in a while.
 
Headphones have not become an uber spiritual thing for me, but I will admit that I am on a conquest to find that one earphone/headphone I can plug in and be whisked away to another dimension of music bliss. When the tuning of an earphone can get the dopamine receptors firing you must ask yourself, “is this worthy of flagship status and price?” When a pair of earphones can induce goosebumps and make the hair stand up on your neck stand up the answer for me is yes. If it does anything less than that, the answer is no.
 
Going to shows and discussing earphones, some of the people I spoke with mentioned that Earsonics was one of the best in-ears on the planet. Several times the guys mentioned the SM64 and Velvet earphones. I had a chance to hear the SM64 and although it sounded good I didn’t get a huge wow factor from it. Reading other reviews on the Velvet, my interpretation of the reviews I read indicated that maybe it would be a little too warm and smooth for my preference. I can’t confirm this, but if asked if I would listen to and review the Velvet or review another product from Earsonics, I would have said that I’d rather go straight for the flagship and see what it is they consider their best.
 
A couple months ago I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing the S-EM9. I jumped on the chance. I’m going to use this introduction and conclusion to reaffirm that they sound awesome. Let’s go over them now with a comprehensive review. I hope my description will give you an idea of how the product performs.
 
During the review process, Earsonics has introduced two newer (and more affordable) models in the ES lineup. Here is a link to the ES2 and ES3:
 
ES3
http://www.earsonics.com/in-ear-monitors/es3/
 

ES2
http://www.earsonics.com/in-ear-monitors/es2/
 

 
Disclaimer
I was given a free loaner sample of the S-EM9 in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Earsonics. I would like to take this time to personally thank Max for the opportunity to experience and review the product.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me. I want to hear any earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I can share my impressions with  enthusiasts and help them find the audio product they’re looking for. My Head-Fi profile has a list of audio products ranked from favorite to least favorite. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gear to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are solidly built, with ergonomics and sound that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

The S-EM9 comes in a black box that is sleeved in a white glossy sleeve with an enlarged picture of the product on the front. The back of this sleeve is blank aside from a barcode.
 

Removing the sleeve, I’m greeted with a medium sized black box with a silver stamp. Removing the lid reveals the entire package
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specifications
*Sensitivity: 121 dB / mW
*Frequency response: 10 Hz -20 kHz
*DCR 38.5 ohm
*Driver: 9 drivers with impedance correction filter 3-way
 
Earsonics (like other high end manufacturers) don’t give a lot of information in terms of specifications. Things I do know is that the S-EM9 uses a nine armature driver design. There is a single armature for bass frequencies, four dedicated to midrange playback, and four more drivers to handle the high frequency range. The S-EM9 seems to have less sensitivity issues as compared to other similar multi-armature earphones.
 
Accessories
1X Pair of S-EM9 flagship earphones
1X Braided two pin cable (MMCX option is available)
1X Clamshell case
3X Pair dual flange silicone tips (1X S/M, 2X M/L)
1X Pair single flange silicone tips (one size fits most)
2X Pair foam tips
2X Disposable sanitizing wipes
1X 6.5 mm to 3.5 mm adapter
1X Cleaning tool
 
 

Although you will get everything you need in terms of using them, the package is not as premium as other flagships in its price range. I was not able to get a good fit with the included tips, and the clamshell case is more on the generic side of things. A more premium cable, a more heavy duty carrying case, and a larger and higher quality selection of tips would help justify the S-EM9 asking price. Because they perform so well, I can look past this to a certain extent. However, if I bought a high end pair of earphones like this, I would hope to be able to use and protect my investment without having to invest in an aftermarket Pelican Case, aftermarket tips and possibly an upgrade cable with a microphone and remote for my smartphone.
 
Housings

At first glimpse the S-EM9 shells look like they are on the larger side, but wearing them is a different story. More on this in the fit and ergonomics portion of the review.
 

The S-EM9 is an all acrylic shell. It has a glossy finish with distinctly separate logos printed on each side. This makes it easier to determine which channel is which. The form of the acrylic shell makes for an ergonomic fit. The nozzle is another story.
 

The nozzles of the S-EM9 are one aspect I found to be extremely underwhelming in terms of design. The nozzle is slightly more thin and shorter than the average universal in ear monitor. On top of that, the nozzle has no lip to hold ear tips in place securely. I was not able to get a secure fit with any of the included silicone tips, and the foam tips of the S-EM 9 created a seal, but also took away from their overall fidelity. Tip rolling was a challenge to not only find something to create a seal when wearing them, but also finding something that would stay on the short and skinny nozzle. I settled on a pair of M/L Spinfit tips. Not only did they help me get an ideal fit, they offered a level of clarity and balance that I couldn’t achieve when wearing the stock foams. Your mileage may vary.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs
The cable looks very familiar to another brand’s stock cable. If I am correct this is a Plastics One cable. Anyone familiar with these, there you go.
 

The cable is a black jacketed and somewhat thin and very flexible braided cable with virtually no spring or memory. Although not the highest quality and most durable cable you will ever see, it’s fun and easy to use. The Y-Split is a black piece of rubber/plastic and seems durable. A clear rubber chin/neck slider comes attached and works well to snug things in place. Two and a half inch clear jacketed pieces of memory wires are attached to the two-pin connections of my review pair, making it easier for listeners to secure the fit of each channel. Although I am sometimes not a fan of memory wire, the memory wire of the S-EM9 is not too long and does it’s job well, improving the wearing experience. Strain reliefs seem adequate. I don’t see this cable breaking any time soon.
 
Functionality
A microphone and remote cable isn’t included in the package. The replaceable cable of the S-EM9 opens the door to many aftermarket offerings. The stock version of the S-EM9 is geared for music enjoyment and it does a great job at it.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
If you gave me just the stock package of the S-EM9 (and no aftermarket tips) I would have to post a mediocre review. Stumbling on a pair of Spinfits that work well, I can maximize the sound quality of the S-EM9 and hear it for what it is capable of. I promise you, if you can get a tip that seals decently and comfortably, these will have a fair chance of being the best sounding in-ear monitor you’ve ever heard. The disproportionated nozzle makes getting to the promise land of what makes these special more of a challenge. Once you’re there, the reward is well worth it. Of the people I know that have heard these, not one person is yet to say they aren’t one of the best sounding earphones they’ve heard (after getting a good fit). Getting a good fit and seal are the most challenging, but also the most important part of what makes the S-EM9 so special.
 

The fit of the S-EM9 depends greatly on what I’ve mentioned above. Finding the right tip for my ears was a “AHA!!!” type of moment. Now that I’ve found the right tip, I love how they fit. Prior to this I was somewhat frustrated as I fiddled with the stock variations. An added benefit is also having a housing that fills the concha of my ear and sits fairly flush. In my opinion they have a nice look while wearing them around. The fit is “custom-ish.”
 
With the right seal the S-EM9 gives listeners a good amount of isolation, although not at a CIEM level, it is excellent for a universal monitor. Microphonics are under control thanks to their over the ear fit. When used in combination with the included chin/neck slider, microphonics are virtually eliminated.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP/Bushmaster D14 DAC/Amp for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
I was able to use the S-EM9 with just about any portable DAP I had. Some of my more high powered portables and sources with high gain would yield a faint hiss and there were some traces of EMI in the signal. Use any portable device on low gain and your source will be at least somewhat ideal. For a multiple driver earphone, the S-EM9 is pretty universal in terms of source. It performs better in terms of source matching than many other earphones with similar designs.
 
The S-EM9 is overall pretty balanced sounding. Because of this I didn’t need to worry too much about source matching. A bassy and more colorful DAP would make the S-EM9 follow suit. The same could be said about the opposite type of source.
 
You can stream top forty radio on your smartphone and get some great fidelity from your S-EM9. Plug these things into a high fidelity device with FLAC and DSD files in low gain and you will be rewarded with added texture and detail that is sure to impress. My favorite combination of gear during the review process was the S-EM9 and Fiio X7 with AM3 amplifier module and 3.5mm output (250 mW @ 16 Ohm). I didn’t mind taking them with me and plugging them into my LG-V10 either.
 
Sound Signature
Words that come to mind when describing them are Delicate, Precise, Unique, Slightly Musical and Controlled. In terms of sheer music enjoyment, this might be on the top of the list for me. This is a signature that doesn’t fatigue, doesn’t get boring and doesn’t fail to impress. In terms of tuning the S-EM9 is a masterpiece to my ears. For whatever reason, the S-EM9 has the ability to make every genre of music sound like it was made for it. I can randomly play my entire music collection on random and enjoy the next song just as much as the last. It’s a slightly holographic and very controlled sound. The tuning seems to have been split into three frequency ranges, then perfected with ideal driver applications for each range. To be honest, it’s tuning seems partly artificial but entirely awesome at the same time.
 
I can see these being many audiophiles favorite in ears. I can see them being used for mixing monitors and music production. The S-EM9 has nailed it in terms of tuning. It’s balanced, controlled and entertaining sound that is sure to impress.
 
Bass
Before getting the review sample I had my doubts about how a single armature driver would sound in combinations of multiple driver counts at other frequencies. Those questions were quickly answered at first listen. The S-EM9 bass is somewhat rare in the sense that it performs more like a dynamic driver than anything else I’ve heard. The S-EM9 has a nicely tuned (and not overly done) armature sized subwoofer installed in each channel. It’s not the tightest bass you will hear, and it is somewhat soft in attack and decay, but at the same time its tuning adds more to the ambiance of the earphones than it does take away. I feel like this is where the added sense of the musicality is located. There is a refrained sense of power at low frequencies.
 
S-EM9 has equal amounts of punch and rumble. It is not loud and overbearing, and has the sound characteristics of very large subwoofer in a high end home entertainment set up. Bass will be big and bold when it needs to be. It will also be polite and inoffensive during times where bass is not necessary. The overall feel of the S-EM9  is that the bass is well rounded, fatigue free and overall fun to listen to. It’s a little more bass than what a person who wants a cold and linear response would go for, and less bass that what bassheads are out to get. The S-EM9 has really dialed it in for audiophiles who want a sweet spot geared for music enjoyment.
 
Midrange
Midrange of the S-EM9 is fabulously done. I would say that it’s a slightly holographic, yet beautifully layered sound. Depending on what you’re listening to, the stage on the S-EM9 can go from very small and intimate midrange to sounding wide open and airy. Where the S-EM9 excels is in its ability to handle multiple sounds at the same time. Beck’s album “Sea Change” rendered some midrange textures that brought a deeper appreciation of how well the album was mastered. David Cambell’s lyrics go from faint and isolated to large and spacious depending on how the track was recorded. It’s masterfully done stuff that is rendered fabulously with the S-EM9.
 
Lower midrange is incredibly neutral to my ears. There’s smidge of color that prevents them from being considered flat and boring. At the same time they don’t venture into the territory of sounding warm. You will get every detail at an elite level. There’s a soft attack at this frequency as compared to most other earphones. The result is again something that I find fatigue free and fun to listen to.
 
As we approach the upper midrange frequencies of the S-EM9, things get a little more forward to my ears. The S-EM9 has an upper midrange that take a slight step forward. The result is vocals and upper midrange sounds that pop, especially during harmonies and times when multiple instruments are playing simultaneously. Harmonies and female vocals sound spectacular with these earphones. Acoustic recordings are great.
 
I invite you to play your most complex music passages and see just how well the S-EM9 handles every last detail of sound. The clarity at midrange and treble frequencies is phenomenal. It’s a mostly smooth tuning with a little upper midrange bump to add some excitement and prevent the sound from being overall too soft. Depending on what you’re listening to, the S-EM9 midrange will go from refrained and polite to upfront and aggressive. I can’t pinpoint the tuning as being forward or back of the mix because the unique delicacy and midrange dynamics makes for a very interesting and entertaining listening experience.
 
Treble
For an armature driver configured earphone, the S-EM9 is one of the more smooth yet detailed and clear treble responses I’ve heard. The S-EM9 is able to give you all the treble without any sharp edges. Compared to other earphones the S-EM9 will sound like the treble has been tuned in balance with the neighboring midrange. You will get enough detail and extension needed to say nothing is lacking. Once my ears adjust to the S-EM9 tuning I can further appreciate the treble tuning. The S-EM9 sounds very balanced and treble is perceived as accurate and fatigue free at the same time.
 
You will hear hi-hats and cymbal crashes with great clarity but they won’t be as forward as some other V or U shaped earphones. Pronunciation of the letters S and T are crystal clear and never render themselves as harsh or sibilant. Even at louder listening volumes the treble is detailed and smooth at the same time. Several times over the course of using the S-EM9 I would look down to see that I had turned the volume up maybe a bit too loud. The S-EM9 is fun to listen to at loud volumes, just be warned.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage of the S-EM9 is entirely dependent on what is being played. If you’ve listened to enough earphones, you will eventually come across earphones that have a somewhat artificially large soundstage because of a V-shape sound signature. The S-EM9 doesn’t have that type of thing going on. When the track calls for an intimate soundstage, the S-EM9 sounds very natural and intimate. In the same breath the S-EM9 can sound absolutely huge when called upon. With incredibly complex music passages, the S-EM9 sounds very clear and almost artificial at times. Some may deduct from the midrange and soundstage for this. To my ears I see this as unique and very fun to listen to. Vocal lovers, if you are in the market for a TOTL in-ear monitor, see if you can give these a try. They shouldn’t disappoint.
 
Imaging is excellent. During Rodrigo y Gabriela's “The Soundmaker” I could close my eyes and envision the placement of the guitars around me. The balanced tuning combined with excellent clarity makes for some fantastic sense of placement and space. Although not the best I’ve heard for an in-ear monitor it is elite in this sense.  
 
Comparisons

Campfire Audio Andromeda ($1099 USD on the Campfire website)
 
Earlier in the introduction part of the review, I mentioned something about hearing an earphone and not wanting to take them off of my ears. That earphone was the Andromeda. Campfire’s five armature in-ear monitor offers an incredible listening experience.
 
Comparing the two, the first thing I notice is the difference in sensitivity. The Andromeda is much louder at the same volume, and also picks up more EMI and background hiss. In terms of universal application regarding source, the S-EM9 gets a decisive advantage. As far as sound is concerned, Andromeda seems to be the more aggressive sounding of the two. Andromeda has a more forward bass and lower midrange as compared to the more controlled and natural sounding response of the S-EM9. On top of this, the S-EM9 has an added level of refinement and clarity over the busier sounding Andromeda. This is no small feat considering just how good the Andromeda is in this aspect. Soundstage is bigger on the Andromeda, but more accurate and with better instrument placement on the S-EM9. In terms of higher ranges, the S-EM9 has a slightly more clear and still relaxed upper frequency tuning.
 
In terms of build and design, Andromeda is slightly better quality materials throughout. The metal shells and braided cable of the Andromeda feels more premium. Andromeda also gets an edge for accessories with their premium wool lined leather case and superior tip selection. The S-EM9 gets an advantage for being a much more comfortable earphone to wear. The S-EM9 is one of those earphones you can forget you’re wearing, while the Andromeda has some edges on its housings that can eventually irritate the listener’s ear, requiring them to take breaks.
 
 
Fidue Sirius ($899 USD on Penon Audio)
Fidue went all out earlier this year, introducing itself into an uncharted price point. Their previously lower priced flagship was the A83 which caught the attention from many audiophiles. The A91 Sirius is a step forward from the A83, and a look at what Fidue is capable of offering the high end audio market.
 
Comparing the two, the Sirius is a more aggressive and midrange forward earphone. The S-EM9 is a slightly clearer and more smooth and mellow sounding earphone. Bass tuning is slightly more forward on Sirius, offering a little more rumble and a little less punch than the S-EM9. Mid-range is more forward and aggressive on the Sirius. The S-EM9 is slightly cleaner, polite and recessed on the S-EM9. Treble is slightly brighter and natural on Sirius while the S-EM9 treble is smoother and more detailed and clear.  
 
For the sake of noting it, I credited the Sirius as being great in terms of sensitivity and avoiding background noise and EMI. the 20 Ohm Sirius is even more sensitive and louder at the same volume as compared to the S-EM9. Let that be a testament to how these will source match with your portable DAPs and portable DAC/amplifiers.
 
Conclusion
I have to stop saying “the best” or “favorite” when it comes to something because every time I do that it gets eclipsed by something else. In terms of sheer music enjoyment, the S-EM9 takes the cake, offering a tuning that can be enjoyed for hours on end and without any sense of fatigue. Don’t let that statement fool you into thinking that these are overly smooth. They are incredibly balanced, and each frequency seems to be controlled and presented in a way that maximizes the listening experience. If I was going on a trip and had to take one earphone with me, the S-EM9 would be it. With the right pair of tips, the comfort, isolation and tuning are an epic combination.
 
The S-EM9 has some aspects that I didn’t care for at all. The nozzles were a deal breaker until I could find a tip that worked for my ears. The accessories package is no better than some fifty dollar earphones. Considering the asking price in today’s market there should be either a higher quality cable, or a second cable with a microphone and remote option. Even still, I think Earsonics understands that they are selling nine masterfully tuned drivers packed into each channel of their acrylic shells. Once you pop them in your ears and get some music playing, I can put any angst about the nozzles and accessories behind me. Earsonics has nailed it in terms sound.
 
When rating a product I have to take every criteria into account. The S-EM9 gets a half star deduction for its nozzle, and another half star for its somewhat mediocre accessories package. I am being sincere and honest when I say that compared to the other earphones I’ve experienced, the S-EM9 has a five and a half or six star sound to my ears. Because of this I’m averaging the negatives with the positives leaving it up to you to determine how important these aspects are when an earphone sounds this good.
 
The next step for me is seeing If I can work out a deal so these earphones don’t leave my house. If they stay in my collection they will receive top honors in terms of sound quality, at least for now.
 
Until next time, thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the Fidue A83 hybrid earphone was on sale for $279.99 USD on a major distribution/selling site (not to be named), and on Penonaudio.com for $339 USD. The Penon model comes with an extra MMCX cable with a microphone. Here is a link to Fidue’s product page, and to Penon Audio’s listing of this product:
 
http://www.fidue.com/index_en.asp
http://penonaudio.com/Fidue-A83
 
Introduction
 
When Michael at Fidue contacted me to possibly review products, I was excited at the opportunity. I had never tried any of their products and was looking forward to it. The A83 had a lot of hype at the time, and was the talk of many Head-fi threads. To be honest, I was expecting to get an entry level model as a feel out process to see where we would go after that. I was floored when I realized that I was going to get their flagship A83 right off the bat.
 
Disclaimer
 
First and foremost, a HUGE thank you to Michael over at Fidue for the opportunity to try this world class earphone. I am in no way affiliated with Fidue, and was given an opportunity to sample this product in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
 
My Background
 
To start this review, please allow me to share a little bit about myself so you can better understand my observations. I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, amplifiers and earphones that intrigues me, ESPECIALLY if they can be had for low prices. I’m a budget-fi guy. I buy the $5 to $400 headphone or IEM that looks promising, in hopes that I can find that one new gem that can perform above its price range, and compete with the big boys of this industry. If you look at my profile and inventory you will see I have purchased many, and I mean MANY different headphones ranging from $5 all the way up to $400. For me, it’s been more about getting great price to performance ratio, and hearing a variety of different gears with diverse signatures. With this hobby, we often times pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned is that price DOES NOT always indicate good sound and build quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me that “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different signatures as long as they are presented in a way that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experience with audio products, and make recommendations based on what I have heard.
 
The Package
 
The Fidue A83 came in a slightly larger than normal black box featuring a minimalistic display that featured their name, the model, a brief description of their product’s features, and a glossy “cut out” image of the product.
 

 
The back of the package had a nice statement from the company explaining their 20-years of Hi-Fi audio experience and commitment to audio excellence. It also displayed their technical specifications for the A83 in three different languages.
 
Driver Type:                          10mm Exclusive Dynamic & Dual-Balanced Armature drivers
Frequency Range:                 9-31000 Hz
Impedance:                           11 Ohm
Sensitivity:                             104dB
Max Input Power:                  30mW
Distortion:                              <1%
Plug:                                      3.5mm stereo, gold plated
 

 
Opening the package revealed a baggie with accessories and tips. Being the gear junkie I am, I skipped that for the time being to go straight for the earphones. They came in a Pelican-like case that was made of very rugged plastic. The case was the type I’ve seen only come with custom earphones for the most part.
 

 
Opening the case, the earphones were wrapped up in a foam that held the earphones in place, and had a cord winder around the perimeter. It was something along the lines of the Pistons earphone concept, but with foam instead of silicone. I have to admit, I was smiling the whole time. This thing reeks of high class audio. It’s a beautiful package that won’t disappoint. There’s not a single thing that would make you feel like you aren’t getting your money’s worth.
 

 
The A83 comes with a ¼ inch adapter and an airline adapter. Both are gold plated and of very nice quality. There are six pairs of tips:
 
1X High quality comply foam tips (appear to be Medium/Large size)
1X Medium/Large dual flange silicone tips
1X Small/Medium dual flange silicone tips
1X Small single flange silicone tips
1X Medium single flange silicone tips
1X Large single fange silicone tips
 

There are plenty of tips for just about everyone to get a secure fit and seal. 
 
The build on these are fantastic. Starting at the housing, they have a metal exterior on the outside. The inside portion of the earphone housing is a solid and translucent blue (left) and red (right) plastic that reveals the innards of the A83. It is a very clever and cool design which not only indicates the left and right channels with, taking a close look at them under light I could see the detail and technology these things have. The housings are solidly built and light weight.
 

 
The A83 has a unique MMCX connector that has a special metal tab on each phone that prevents the connection from rotating. I really like this feature, as it assists in getting a more solid and consistent fit. And, another positive with this design is that other MMCX cables without the metal tab will fit on the A83, but they will rotate. The Fidue cable can’t be used on other models because the tab will get in the way.
 

 
Starting with the Cable jack, we have a straight version that is made of metal and seems very durable. The strain relief is made of a rubbery material and is really well done. I don’t see having any problem with the jack holding up to the test of time and use.The cable is beautiful, period. It’s made of silver plated oxygen free copper and is a heavy duty dull silver/lead colored with a shimmery finish and braided all the way up to the Y-splitter. You will seldom if ever see a cable this thick and nice in a universal IEM.The Y-splitter is made of the same metal as the jack, and displays the A83 model name. It’s well built and leaves me with no complaints at all. Rubbery strain reliefs are at the Y-splitter to keep the cord from getting any kinks. Once you get above the Y-splitter, it gets pretty interesting. The cable now becomes a twist cable (same dull silver/lead with shimmer) and appears to be wrapped with clear heat shrink tubing all the way up to the housing. If I had to guess, it was done in an effort to further prevent microphonics. There is no chin slider. The A83 uses memory wire to go over and around the ear to hold things in place.
 

 
Fit & Microphonics
 
The one thing on the cable I didn’t care for was the memory wire leading from the final 3-4 inches of cable to the housing. I don’t mean to be picky, but I find memory wire to be very finicky and hinders my ability to get a solid and consistent fit unless I tediously manipulate the wire to conform to my ear each and every time. There have been some comments on Head-fi about these having a “shallow fit” and people having a tough time getting a solid fit and seal. I’m guessing that some/much of this has to do with the memory wire. Don’t get me wrong, I got a good fit, but I would rather not deal with memory wire and opt for a cable that leads all the way up and over the ear, and snug things up with a chin slider. As for microphonics there is little if any. If I do get any microphonics it’s from the memory wire brushing my ear. Like all in-ear monitors, finding the right tip that is the right size and seals well is essential in getting the best sound quality you can achieve from your earphone. For me, I prefer the large single bore silicone tips
.

 
One thing I noticed while tip rolling is that tip selection plays a big part in how these sound. Smaller bore tips bring the bass and treble forward from what I heard, and a wider bore tip seemed to yield a more balanced presentation. Your mileage may vary, just be sure to experiment with tips to see what works best for you.
 
Review Materials
 
I primarily did my demo with my LG G3 phone, and with my portable rig, a Samsung Galaxy S (Wolfson chip) with Topping NX1 amplifier. I also used my Fiio E17 DAC/AMP at 24 bit, 96000 Hz out of my laptop setup. I also tested them with other portable DAPs and amplifiers, and didn’t notice any significant changes with different sources. I used Google music downloaded in its highest quality download setting (320 kbps), and streamed flac via Tidal streaming service. I made sure to have approximately 30 hours of burn-in by playing them at loud volumes with different varieties of music.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing this gear:
 
“Limit to your love” by James Blake
“One” by Metallica
“Madness” by Muse
“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk
“Some Nights” by Fun
“The Soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela
“Bassically” by Tei Shi
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie
“One” by Ed Sheeran
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack
“Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits
“Ten Thousand Fists” by Disturbed
 
Sound
 
Its amazeballs, period. There are times when people pop IEMs and headphones on, press play, and feel like they are hearing their favorite songs for the first time all over again. The Fidue A83 did that for me. They are the best IEM I have at the time of writing this review. I feel blessed to have a pair. It is a combination of power and finesse. Its musical and articulate. Its Batman and Robin. Its peanut butter and jelly. Do I need to keep going to prove my point? Nah…
 
Bass
 
The bass on these are great. Out of the box, I thought that maybe it would be their downfall, as the bass response seemed sluggish and just a micro fraction slower than the rest of the sound, but even that is no more after burn in. It has beautiful punchy bass that rumbles as low as it needs to go. Is it as fast as balanced armature bass? The answer is no, and to be honest I don’t want it that way. There’s a reason why hybrids use the dynamic driver for the bass frequencies, and it’s because some audiophiles and headphone enthusiasts understand and crave the type of dynamic bass that the Fidue A83 brings to the table. Its perfect attack and decay that lingers long enough make you jones for the next note. It’s bass has weight, rumble, punch and bounce. It makes kick drums sound the way they should. It makes that hip hop bass line make you want to bob your head to the beat. During low frequency test sweeps my ears heard/felt the bass all the way down to 10Hz. It put on a clinic during James Blake’s “Limit to your love”. It never intruded into the midrange, nor did it overwhelm male or female vocals in any song I listened to. There is no mid bass bleed from what I hear. There is enough mid bass to give it a natural and pleasant texture and nothing beyond that. It’s basshead-audiophile in my opinion. The bass is forward, kick butt, and awesome.
 
Midrange
 
Midrange is high resolution, and with great separation and balance. I wouldn’t say that it takes a back seat to the bass but it’s just a hair back of the bass presence. It’s more noticeable with Hip Hop, Pop, and EDM music, but with acoustic it’s hardly noticeable at all. I consider this a good thing because those genres call for more bass anyways. Female vocals and guitars sounded especially good. In case anyone was wondering, I didn’t sense there being any kind of problems with this hybrid seeming disjointed in its sound. The balance and transition in frequencies from the dynamic driver into the armatures was seamless and perfectly executed. There’s not a single thing I played that left me thinking the A83 didn’t put on a clinic in how it should sound.
 
Treble
 
The A83 treble is crisp without being harsh. The armature driver is very natural sounding to my ears, and plays cymbals much better than many other armature drivers I’ve heard. I know some of you reading this know what I’m talking about when I say there’s some armatures that make cymbals sound unnatural and harsh. The A83 doesn’t suffer from that at all. The upper frequencies can extend pretty high, but the resolution is so good and natural sounding that it isn’t bothersome. A really good song to test to see if the sound is distorting is with “Ten Thousand Fists” by Disturbed. The A83 played every cymbal perfectly, even at the most complex passages of that song, and I NEVER got a sense that the sound was pasting together. That really impressed me because usually there’s at least one point when that happens with even my most expensive other gears. While I think some people who are extremely treble sensitive will think they are a touch hot up top, most others will fall in love with the crisp and accurate treble response these have.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
 
Soundstage width is good with depth and height. They don’t hang with the best of the best full size cans, but for IEMs they are world class and I can’t think of anything that’s particularly better.
Imaging is great. One of my favorite listening sessions with these was listening to the album “Sessions from the 17^th Ward” by Amber Rubarth. I could close my eyes and envision the band playing in front of me. The great texture and separation puts space between instruments. The sound is open and airy for an IEM. Their Hi-Fi tuning also helps promote a great sense of imaging.
 
Comparisons
 
Sony H3 ($250-$350 USD on many sites)
 
The clinic that the A83 puts on with its top end resolution and balance from bass to midrange makes the Sony H3 seemed veiled in comparison. The H3 has considerably more mid bass that puts more weight on most male, and some female vocals. The separation and texture on both are great, with a slight edge going to the A83. The H3 has more relaxed and less fatiguing treble that some will prefer. While I have found the bass on the H3 to be fatiguing at times, I don’t get that from the A83 bass.
 
As far as build is concerned, I’m split between the two. The A83 has an awesome case and a beautiful cable, but the H3, comes with two stock cables (one with a microphone and one without) that features much easier to use memory wire that is coated with a soft rubber exterior. I love the hybrid sony tips, and the bonus foam filled hybrid tips that come with the H3 are epic. The H3 also comes with a very nice leather zip up case.
 
VSONIC GR07 Bass Edition ($125-$175 USD on many sites)
 
This was a close one. The Fidue destroys the GR07BE in build and accessories (although the GR07BE does come with A LOT of tips to choose from). In terms of sound, it is really hard to say that anything bests the bass quality of the GR07BE, but the Fidue A83 gives it a run for it’s money by coming close. GR07BE wins in bass response by a hair. The A83 has a more articulate and defined midrange with better separation, but the GR07BE is more musical and slightly (very slightly) fuller sounding to my ears. I consider it a tie for midrange. Treble extension is similar in both models, but the A83 plays treble more accurately and with better resolution.
 
Dunu DN1000 ($200-$250 USD on many sites)
 
I give a tie in terms of build quality and accessories. Where one company got something wrong, the other company got it right, and vice versa. Bass response goes to the A83 and it seems to be just a touch leaner and faster in its response. Midrange is a draw, as they are both world class in both imaging and resolution. Treble is also a draw. These two were actually very similarly tuned with the exception of the beefier and slightly more sluggish low end of the DN1000.
 
Conclusion
 
The A83 takes hybrid technology to a new level. I own several hybrids, and seldom does one take the “best of both worlds” in dynamic and armature technology, and combine it flawlessly. I don’t hear anything I would consider a shortcoming in their sound signature. NOTHING. You will be hard pressed to find an IEM that bests these. I often times ask myself “If I broke these would I spend the money to replace these?” Even at the higher asking price, the answer is ABSOLUTELY! Until I hear something better, the A83 is the current king of the hybrid market in my opinion.
 
Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time of the review, the ZMF Eikon headphones were listed for sale on the ZMF website. Here is a link for information and purchase:
 
http://www.zmfheadphones.com/zmf-originals/zmf-eikon
 
Introduction
The Eikon headphone is the big brother of two dynamic driver headphones recently released by ZMF. Here is a link to its sibling, the Atticus:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/zmf-headphones-atticus-dynamic-tpe-driver-over-ear-full-size-headphone/reviews/17335
 
As stated in the Atticus review, the recent releases by ZMF are the first all exclusive headphones they have brought to market. Zach has ventured beyond the modded Fostex T50RP models of time’s past. The new headphones each sport an all new design and build, and also their own unique dynamic drivers and diaphragms. The Atticus utilizes TPE, while the Eikon uses a somewhat unique material, biocellulose. If you are not familiar with this material, here is some material on it:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/568694/biocellulose-and-its-use-in-headphones-earphones-referring-the-recent-iem-example-vsonic-gr-07-r07
 
ZMF is bringing to market two headphones with different tunings. Considering the build quality is pretty much identical aside from drivers and tuning, there will be some sections of this review copied and pasted from the Atticus review. If you already read the Atticus review and would rather not read the same material twice, I encourage you to skip ahead to the sound portion of the Eikon review after the introduction.
 
The purpose of two different headphones with the same build is in an effort to cater to a broader range of listening preferences. Before we continue with the review I will state for the record that Eikon is more up my alley in terms of preferred signatures. As always, your mileage may vary. Here is a quote from the ZMF website:
 
 
With all of this being said, let’s take a look and listen to the new flagship from ZMF.
 
 
Disclaimer
I was borrowed a review loaner of the Eikon in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with ZMF. Any time spent with the Atticus and Eikon are a product having interest in seeing how the product performs. I would like to take this time to personally thank Zach for the opportunity to be part of the beta testing and also review process.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me. I want to hear any earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I can share my impressions with  enthusiasts and help them find the audio product they’re looking for. My Head-Fi profile has a list of audio products ranked from favorite to least favorite. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gear to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are solidly built, with ergonomics and sound that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
The new package for the Eikon will be a slightly larger Seahorse case than previous offerings, providing mores space for for storage and transport. ZMF owners will be getting an upgraded owner’s card as well as an owner’s manual. An improved stock cable will also come in the Atticus and Eikon packages. At the moment I have only the headphones so I can’t provide pictures of these items. However, I’ve asked Zach and confirmed what will be different from the previously mentioned ZMF lineup.  
 
Specifications and Accessories

Eikon features a custom made fifty millimeter biocellulose diaphragm driver. The driver comes in at 300 Ohms, making it about as power hungry as a AKG K7XX or Sennheiser HD600.
 
The following comes in the Eikon package:
1X ZMF Eikon Biocellulose Dynamic Driver Headphone
1X Pair ZMF Omni and Eikon Pads
1X Lambskin headband padding
1X Stock Cable
1X Seahorse SE430 or S3 6500 Case
1X Owner’s Card and Manual
 
Overall Build

I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I think of when I take a look at these headphones is the legendary Sony R10. These are NOT knockoffs by any means but there are some very apparent similarities when looking at the two:
 

Picture of the Sony R10. Picture is borrowed from a Head-Fi review of the Sony R10. This is not my picture. I do wish I had a pair!
 

Starting with the headband, a very flexible spring steel band is coated is clothed in a padding lined lambskin sleeve. A leather band will accompany the the spring steel band, giving the headphone an added level of strength and resilience. This leather piece will be the portion of the headband that will make contact with the top of the user’s head. The headband screws onto machined aluminum pieces on each end. These aluminum pieces are hinged to chrome metal bars that also swivel at the connection where the arms connect to the cups.
 

The Eikon cups currently come in two different types of wood. Options are African Padauk or Cherry woods. There are options whether or not you would like a hand varnished or factory sprayed finish. From the description, picking the stain will be a matter of deciding what whether you want a handmade appearance or something more uniform in appearance. As with previous ZMF releases we could/should expect to see some more exotic woods offered in the future.
 

The Cups and pads are pretty big and bordering on huge. There’s plenty of room for just about any type of ear size and shape with the Eikon pads. The Eikon pads are stiffer than the Omni pads and sport a slimmer profile, leaving less room between the driver and the listener’s ear. The result is a slightly more musical and dynamic response. With the softer and deeper fit of the Omni pads, the Eikon is a touch leaner and analytical sounding. The differences aren’t significant but are definitely noticeable. Considering the fact we are focusing on the new product we will continue the rest of the review (including sound) with the Eikon pads.
 
Cable, Cable Jacks, Strain Reliefs
I used the Braided cable that I ordered for my Omni with the review samples. For the record, the Atticus and Eikon use the same cable and connections as the previous ZMF models. I know Zach is currently working on a deal to get the best stock cable he can get for the package. Worst case scenario, we will see the basic stock cable for the Vibro and Omni come in the Atticus/Eikon package. Once this is settled I’ll edit this portion of the review. For now, rest assured a functional cable will ship with the package. The only question to be answered is how nice this cable will be.
 
Comfort, Isolation, Microphonics

Hisoundfi Junior
 
The flexible spring steel and hinged swivels are extremely secure and work excellent. There is no popping or crackling when contorting and rotating the cups into a secure and comfortable fit. Between the flexible and and various hinging actions, you can literally take each channel and contort them to fit ANY shape or size of head on earth.
 
There is virtually no microphonics to report, and isolation is that of a good sealing full size closed headphone. Although there are what appears to be vent holes in the Atticus cups, they are essentially a closed headphone in their design. When tuning the Atticus, Zach uses the vents to fine tune them and guarantee channel matching. As always you will not get a pair of ZMFs with channel imbalance. Each side is measured and tweaked to match as close as possible, guaranteeing each ZMF owner to get the music experience as it’s intended to be.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP/Bushmaster D14 DAC/Amp for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
Coming in at 300 Ohms, the Eikon demands more power than the average smartphone to sound their best. They sounded decent with my Iphone 6 Plus and LG V10 (the V10 recognized the Eikon as a high impedance device and increased its output impedance). Other smartphones I tested them with couldn’t get the same results as the ones I just mentioned. Of all the portables I had on hand, the Eikon sounded best with the Luxury & Precision LP5 ran line out into my uber powerful Cayin C5. Portable rigs with added portable amplifiers help improve the definition and response of the Eikon.
 
The Eikon seemed to be more universally applicable than it’s sibling, the Atticus. I could enjoy the Eikon with warmer and more colored sources, and equally as much with a more linear device. Both sounded great in their own way. Where I noticed the most difference in terms of source is with output power and impedance. With Eikon, the driver becomes more responsive with more powerful sources. Switching from Eco to Normal, then to Turbo mode with my iFi micro IDSD the sound increased in response and was noticeably more controlled and refined.
 
Zach says the Eikon (and sibling Atticus) are designed to work best with OTL amplifiers. If you don’t know a whole lot about them (like myself), here is some information for you:
 
http://www.audiodesignguide.com/otl/otl.html
 
NOTE: Because I seemed to get best results with the iFi micro IDSD in turbo mode, a majority of my sound review will be based on my impressions from listening to them with this source.
 
Sound Signature

Summarized, I find the Eikon to be a slightly colored spin on neutral with an added bass bump. With the right source, this headphone is for people who want a musical and smooth headphone without breaking too far away from a neutral sound signature. I can’t classify this headphone as either neutral or dark, I feel it sits somewhere in between both.
 
When asking Zach what headphone he would compare the Eikon to, his response was that it has the “mids like HD650, transients of an HD800 and sub bass response similar to the ZMF Blackwood.” Going off of memory of these headphones, I don’t think I would disagree with this. If I had to say they sound similar to a headphone in my collection, I would say they are like a dynamic version of my re-tuned Ori (formerly known as the ZMF Omni). There’s the usual musical and fun feeling that Zach pulls off when he tunes a headphone. ZMF has once again taken neutral and tilted the line of the frequency response towards the lower registers without losing the upper frequency presence, detail and  sparkle.
 
I would consider the Eikon a great option for those who want a big, bold and powerful sound that finishes smooth while adding a solid bass response. That is why the Eikon is right up my alley. They check a lot of boxes in term of what I look for in a headphone.
 
Bass
Eikon’s bass is robust and engaging. To my ears there’s a bit more rumble than punch. The source you use will determine the device’s attack and decay. With a less powerful source the headphone’s attack and decay will be more slightly more sluggish and overall these headphones will have a smidge more colorful presentation. With a more powerful source the Atticus bass tightens up and the signature improves in terms of overall resolution and refinement. With the micro IDSD in turbo mode, the Eikon bass is very responsive and dynamic at the same time.
 
Sub-bass on the Eikon is forward and extends with impressive depth. During Daft Punk’s “Doin it Right” bass lines were handled with visceral depth that maintained consistent and impressive deep tones. If you are planning on picking up the Eikon, know that you won’t have to worry about whether or not they have enough soundstage depth because there’s plenty to be heard.
 
Midbass is maybe a hair behind sub-bass tones and a step above mid-range/upper mid-range frequencies. As with most of the ZMF headphones I’ve heard, the Eikon follows in the footsteps of previously released headphones. Mid-bass is forward enough to add nice weight and compliment the sub-bass response without being intrusive to midrange instruments and vocals.
 
Mid-Range
As with just about any ZMF headphone I’ve heard to this point, the Eikon starts off with a bold bass response, then slowly tapers off as we travel higher up in the frequency range. There is no sharp dip, or radical spikes that I can hear.
 
Lower mid-range is bold and natural at the same time. I consider vocals to be one the of things the Eikon does best, and it starts here. Male vocals have enough color to sound forward and engaging, and without losing their organic and natural tone. Warm? Yes. Overly warm and bloated? No, at least not to my ears. There is a thick note presence as the dynamic driver does it’s magic with the reverberations of the Eikon wooden cups. If you’re a person who wants linear, airy flat sound with little to no color a la many semi open headphones, these cans probably aren’t for you. If you like the dynamic and textured response of closed cans without sacrificing a big stage and some impressive transients, you have a winner right here.
 
Upper midrange is somewhat relaxed and puts a smooth finish on vocals. Although the forward nature of the bass seems to jump out in front of this part of the frequency range, the Eikon manages to maintain a nice sense of clarity. The Eikon avoids being overly shouty or aggressive.
 
NOTE: This is a good time to mention that the Ori pads do a good job of taking a little bit of color away from what I’m explaining here with the Eikon pads attached. If you are finding the Eikon to have a little too much color or resonance from the cups, the Ori pads do an excellent job of taking some of this away. If you get an Eikon, make sure to try them with both the Eikon and Ori pads.
 
 
Treble
I find the Eikon treble to be a relatively even tuning and a small step back most of the audible frequencies and about even with upper midrange tones. It is a half step forward of rolled off, and a full step down from emphasized. Something I really appreciate is how balanced the high frequencies are. What I mean by this is that there are no perceived spikes or dips. Pronunciations of the letters S and T come smooth and natural. It does develop a somewhat smooth shimmer as we range higher and higher in tone.
 
While going through my test tracks I noticed that the Eikon tuning makes cymbals sound just a hair laid back. During Disturbed’s “Ten thousand fists” The forward lower frequency tuning was out in front of the mix. When playing rock, speed metal and some modern genres of music, expect the Eikon treble to be present but not as present as other frequencies (primarily lower frequencies).
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Impressive bass, warm tilt and impressive transients give the Eikon a relaxed sound on a big stage. The Eikon has a concert hall feel to its sound. Acoustic music, jazz, live performances, and many modern genres are rendered beautifully. Vocals tend to take center stage with nice supporting bass presence.  Instrument placement is solid (although upper mid-range/treble presence is a half step back of the mix). Combine the tuning with some excellent detail and transients, this is one of the better headphones I’ve heard in terms of imaging.
 
Comparisons
 
Sennheiser HD600 ($250 to $400 USD on many sites)
The HD600 are my reference pair of headphones and a personal favorite. When trying to wrap my mind around how something sounds, I reach for my trusty HD600. I do this to make sense of whatever headphone I’m listening to, and also to help readers understand via a comparison to a more neutral sound.
 
Comparing the two, the first thing I notice is that the Eikon has considerably more color to its sound, and low end girth that the HD600 can’t come close to. Considering that the ZMF is basically a closed headphone, the Eikon uses the cups to create an impactful quality that will lead you to believe the sound is in a large room rather than the more thin and seemingly endless space of an open headphone design like the HD600. The “meat” of the Eikon carries through the entire sound, giving it the “slightly darker and more colored spin on neutral” I referred to earlier in the review. I was really impressed with how the the HD600 and Eikon were neck and neck in regards to transients and detail. Both are world class in this regard. Treble is more relaxed on the Eikon, while the HD600 treble is more extended and potentially more fatiguing at louder volumes (albeit more natural). In terms of sheer musical enjoyment, the Eikon wins. In terms of Neutrality, HD600 gets the edge. Going from the Eikon to the HD600, the Sennheiser is flatter, harsher and more two dimensional. Going from the HD600 to the Eikon, the ZMF seems bass heavy and overly smooth. Once my ears and brain adjust to what I’m listening to, they are both excellent in their own distinct ways. If you are looking for two headphones that sound different and complement each other well, these are definitely two options to consider.
 
Design, accessories, build quality and comfort are no contest. The Eikon destroys the HD600 in all of these aspects.
 
 
ZMF Atticus ($849 to $949 USD on many sites)
I will copy and past my comparison fromt he Atticus review, but I would also like to add that after further comparisons, I think the key here is going to come down to preferred music genres and sources used. To my ears this is what I came up with:
 
Eikon: Tuned more for Vocals, Acoustic, Folk, Symphony, Jazz and Live Performances. Still sounds great with the other genres but really nails it in terms of more “mature” genres of music. Pairs well with both colored and neutral sources.  
 
Atticus: Tuned more for Rock, Metal, Modern genres and still sounds really good with other genres. Although the bassier of the two, they also seem to control complex music passages with lots of bass better. Pairs well with a neutral and more linear (and more powerful) source.
 
Here is the portion copied and pasted from the Atticus review:
 
The key thing to note is the reason why Zach is releasing two headphones at the same time. They are designed to cater to what I feel are two types of listening preferences. The Atticus is for those who want a more rich, dynamic, bassy and musical sound signature. The Eikon is for those who want a more balanced and linear sound while still getting a sense of the ZMF signature “house sound.”

Comparing the two, the Atticus is definitely the more colored, bassy and smooth headphone. Bouncing back and forth makes me appreciate what Zach has done here. Listening to both with the ZOTL, there is an adjustment period when switching between the two. Switching from Atticus to Eikon, the Eikon seems initially crisper and almost shouty in comparison until my ears adjust. Switching from Eikon back to Atticus, the Atticus will seem very bassy and almost dark in comparison until my ears adjust once again. After my ears/brain adjusted, I could appreciate both of them. The difference between the two makes a lot of sense. At the End of the day, it’s a nice variance that prevents listeners from saying neither headphones cater to their listening preference.

Atticus seems to extend and emphasize sub-bass tones more than Eikon. Eikon seems to extend and emphasize upper midrange and treble tones more than Atticus.

Bassy+Warm+Good with rock and modern genres= Atticus

Bold+Responsive+More eclectic with genres and sources= Eikon

Build quality and accessories are a draw. Aside from drivers and tuning, they are identical.
 
 
 
Conclusion
If I could compare it to a real life application it would be like going to a family reunion and seeing an out of state cousin for the first time. Although it may be the first time you see them, you can definitely see a resemblance. Zach incorporated many aspects of the ZMF house sound into the dynamic driver of the Eikon and put it in one of the best built headphones I’ve had the pleasure of wearing.
 
If I had to pick between the Eikon and Atticus, I would personally go for the Eikon. The selling points for me are the way they make my favorite genres of music sound, how they work with the gear that I have, and how they lean more towards neutral than the Atticus. That DOES NOT mean that it’s a better headphone than Atticus. I’ve had several people come over to listen to them, and it’s about a 50/50 split between the two in terms of preference.
 
The Eikon is a phenomenally built headphone that sounds damn good. It caters to those who like a headphone that is dynamic and bold without venturing too far from neutral. While I don’t think the Eikon is tailored to everyone’s listening preference, it will hit a sweet spot for many.

This is going to be a hard product to rate because I feel it falls into a category aimed to please a particular demographic of audiophiles. The Eikon gets five and a half or six stars for build quality (yes, it’s that good). As far as sound, if what I’ve described in the review is what you prefer, give it four and a half of five stars. If it’s not what you prefer, lower it by a half of a star. I’ll leave the final star rating up to you. Just make sure to check into the ZMF booth and try them out yourself the next time a Head-Fi meet is coming to your area.
 
Upon the conclusion of this review, I am lowering the Atticus review by half a star. Not because it isn't an excellent headphone, but more to show that my personal listening preference leans towards the Eikon. I try to be very selective in what I purchase these days because the gear is starting to pile up. I plan on purchasing a pair of Eikon. Between the build and sound quality, they will have a place in my collection for a long time to come.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time of the review, the MEE audio Pinnacle was on sale on their website and also on Amazon. Here are links to their listings of the product:
 
http://www.meeaudio.com/pinnacle
 
http://www.amazon.com/MEE-audio-Audiophile-Headphones-Detachable/dp/B01A60I4P6?ie=UTF8&keywords=pinnacle%20earphone&qid=1460079506&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
 
Introduction
The first earphone review I ever wrote on Head-Fi was in February of 2015. I was given a chance to cover the nine dollar Meelectronics M9 classic. This opportunity came after being heavily involved in Head-Fi threads, making recommendations and doing comparisons for almost two years. After spending a lot of time and money on multiple pairs of earphones, my passion for budget audio had finally culminated into a company asking me to share my opinion of their product with the Head-Fi community. To this day I consider it a crowning achievement.
 
The whole thing came about as a part of a complaint to Meelectronics (now known as MEE audio). I had just recently purchased a pair of their A161P balanced armature earphones and was not happy with how flimsy the cable was. Having owned the M6, and A151P, I had taken it on as my personal duty to reach out to them and express my concern with the build quality of this cable and ask that they don’t use it again in future models. This complaint sparked a conversation with Mike over at Meelectronics. Mike’s response was quick and very thoughtful. We chatted about earphones and the direction MEE audio was headed. After a few back and forth emails, Mike agreed to offer a review sample of the M9 classic in exchange for my opinion and review. Just for the record, the cable of the A161P is still in tact and more sturdy than I initially thought.
 
When the review sample arrived I took this opportunity as a personal challenge. I wanted to prove that I was versed enough and capable of writing a complete and comprehensive review. The review received positive feedback from my peers, and opened up doors for future opportunities. Fast forward to present day I am going to audio shows in my area, rubbing elbows with some of the guys I used to read about on Head-Fi, receiving unreleased beta samples and also getting opportunities to sample and review products I NEVER thought I would have a chance to experience in the past. Head-Fi is awesome!
 
I’m not telling you this story to get the spotlight or make this review about me. I’m saying it more to show how this hobby and community works. The point of Head-Fi is to not only help manufacturers advertise their products, it’s also an opportunity for people with a passion for headphone related gear to help others. We all want to maximize what we get for our hard earned dollars, and I feel blessed to be able to use my experience with headphone related gear to help people find exactly what they’re looking for that’s within their budgets. A big thank you goes to Mike at MEE audio for giving me the opportunity!
 
My relationship and loyalty to MEE audio has remained strong. Not only have I purchased several of their products, I have also had a chance to review some more of their products. One thing almost always remains consistent with MEE audio, they offer a products that punch well beyond their asking price.
 
The whole time I’ve known Mike, he has dropped bits and pieces about his “undercover flagship earphone”, the Pinnacle. Knowing how well his budget model earphones and headphones performed, the Pinnacle had peaked my interest from the first time he mentioned it. To be honest for the last six months the Pinnacle has probably been the most anticipated and intriguing earphone I’ve known about. After sharing my invested interest in hearing them, I was able to secure a review sample. Just as I had hoped, the Pinnacle is an incredible product. Let’s go over them with a comprehensive review.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Pinnacle in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with MEE audio. I would like to take this time to personally thank Mike for the opportunity.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they have good ergonomics, and the sound is pleasing to my ears. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

The Pinnacle comes in a black box that is wrapped in a white cardboard sleeve with black and silver accents. The front of the sleeve displays the Pinnacle name in silver leaf along with a brief description in black print. A very sharp high definition picture of the earphones are printed in a gloss finish as well.
 

The Back of the sleeve displays another picture and further elaborates on the product with a description of key features that cover the premium features of the Pinnacle. This information is printed also in French, Spanish, German and Chinese.  The left side of the box lists the Pinnacle specifications and accessories. The right side of the sleeve has a barcode and individualized serial number, notification of MEE audio’s two year warranty and warning about unsafe listening volumes.
 

Removing the sleeve reveals a premium black box that opens from the middle to reveal the Earphone housings, a serial numbered leather case, and two boxes labeled with its contents. Of all the earphones I’ve had the pleasure of covering, this might be the most premium packaging and displays I’ve come across.
 

Removing the carrying case and top foam layer that holds the earphone housings, I’m greeted with a quarter inch adapter and Pinnacle owner’s manual. Opening each of the marked boxes revealed the high quality accessories.
 
Specifications and Accessories


 
Housings

The Pinnacle housings are constructed of ergonomically shaped, molded and polished zinc alloy. They are heavy enough to feel incredibly high end, but light enough for me to say that their weight isn’t an issue. They have somewhat of a bean shape, and feature the MEE audio M (upside down it could be mistaken for the Westone W). To be completely honest, the polished finish gives the impression that they were handmade by a blacksmith.
 

An MMCX connection is located at the top of the housing. A Stainless steel nozzle comes out from the zinc alloy housing and is of a pretty standard length and width. I had no problem tip rolling with the PInnacle, and found several different tips that worked well.
 

The Pinnacle design is premium and sophisticated. It gives the owner a feeling of quality without any flashy gimmicks.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The Pinnacle comes with two cables. One is a braided silver plated copper cable that is extraordinary. I used to think that the Fidue A83 cable was the best stock earphone cable I’ve ever seen, but Mee audio now holds that title. To top it off, they also offer black braided version of this cable with a microphone and remote for headset use. Both cables are slightly longer than the average in-ear monitor cable. The cable is a bit on the stiff side, but I think that has more to do with the braiding and how well it's constructed.
 

Both cables feature MMCX connectors. After a few early complaints about the cables having a bit too much play, MEE audio has tightened things up. Although I’m not a huge fan of MMCX connectors, the revised connection seems flawless. The cable has a pretty seamless connection with the Pinnacle housing. The cable jack and Y-split are top notch.
 

The Y-split is made of a firm rubber material and offers plenty of strain relief. A chin/neck slider is included and works well to secure the fit. The cable Jack is a ninety degree design with gold plated ⅛ inch jack. The housing of the jack is constructed of the same firm rubber material as the Y-split.
 
Functionality

One of the two cables has a single button microphone and remote that works with both Android and Iphone. When using it for phone calls, friends and family said my voice came through at a four on a scale from one to five.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

Pinnacle can be worn cable up or cable down. Both methods are very comfortable and it’s very easy to get a secure fit either way. Worn cable down, the cable had a considerable amount of microphonics.
 

Worn over the ear, microphonics were more under controlled but still somewhat noticeable. Isolation is better than the average universal in-ear monitor.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192k Hz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
At fifty ohms the Pinnacle needs more power than the average smartphone to sound its best. Although the Pinnacle will sound good through your cellular device, you won’t maximize their potential if you don’t use the right DAP or desktop rig. The Pinnacle scales up well. The better the recording you play, the better your Pinnacle will sound.
 
The Pinnacle is a source dependent earphone. Through a more neutral sounding DAP will sound bright and bordering on sibilant. Listening to the Pinnacle through my LG V10, upper frequencies sounded slightly emphasized. With a warmer and more powerful DAP they will sound pretty incredible. Through my Luxury and Precision LP5 they sounded awesome.
 
Pinnacle and DX80

The MEE audio Pinnacle and iBasso DX80 are a match made in audio Heaven. They synergize so incredibly well, I can say in all honesty that these two together makes for some of the best portable sound I’ve ever heard. The dual Cirrus Logic chips of the DX80 does something magical to the Pinnacle that must be heard to understand. It rocks all genres of music incredibly well with dynamics and transients that are addictive to my ears.
 
Sound Signature

*These measurements were taken using my Vibro Veritas and Arta Software. Although this is not a measurement done with industry standard testing equipment,it should give you an idea of how the Pinnacle sounds.
 
The source you use with the Pinnacle will dictate the answer to this criteria and determine your impression. For the most part the Pinnacle is an earphone that takes neutral and adds a touch of added midbass and upper midrange, reduces the sibilant ranges and still retains a level of sparkle and extension in treble regions. This is all done while maintaining a level of resolution and detail that is world class. If you think dynamic earphones can’t offer a level of detail at every frequency like a multiple armature set up, you should listen to the Pinnacle. In fact, you might turn that argument around and say that multiple driver earphones can’t sound as cohesive as a well tuned single dynamic transducer earphone like the Pinnacle.
 
Bass
Bass on the Pinnacle is a bit of a mystery. To be completely honest the sub bass isn’t that great, but adequate enough to say that it doesn’t take away from their overall listening experience. The sub bass is a bit back in the mix and to my ears it sounds just a touch loose. I think the way it is set up, it is more to compliment a slightly forward and very responsive mid bass. The responsive midbass has very natural feel in combination with the sub bass, and in some ways the tuning reminds me slightly of the Havi B3 Pro1. Rather than there being a boosted sub layer, the Pinnacle bass rolls off into a limitless amount of space.
 
Midrange
Midrange is the best aspect of the Pinnacle tuning in my opinion. A very slight warm tilt tapers off then lifts at around 3k, giving all vocals a very nice and natural bite. The incredible amount of resolution and separation makes it easy to pick out a particular instrument or vocal and follow it. With the right source I was taken back at how good guitars and bass guitars sounded. Vocals often times tend to take the front of the stage, which is how I prefer to listen to my earphones.  
 
Treble
This is the one part of the frequency response that depends greatly on what source you’re using. With a more neutral source I’ll say that treble is crisp and extended. I could see some people saying that it can become slightly fatiguing with louder volumes and extended listening sessions.
 
Just the opposite, with a warmer sounding DAP, the Pinnacle treble is darn near perfect and I didn’t find it fatiguing. Even at louder volumes it was very natural and enjoyable. Cymbal crashes and pronunciations of the letter T and S were accurate and not overdone whatsoever.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The Pinnacle manages to pull off some of the same magic as the Havi B3 Pro1 when it comes to soundstage. A detailed and high resolution mid range is complimented by some very nicely layered and textured supporting frequencies, making the soundstage seem fairly large. Combine this with some of the best imaging I’ve heard from an in-ear monitor, and the Pinnacle scores a very high rating in this criteria.
 
Comparisons
 
Dunu DN2000J (with bass rings) ($275 to $350 USD on many sites)
The DN200J has been labeled as a “baby K3003” offering what some say is ninety percent of the thousand dollar hybrid. It’s a hybrid design, utilizing two Knowles drivers and a titanium dynamic driver for bass frequencies.
 
Comparing the two, I can see why the DN2000J has the price tag it does. They have an incredibly extended and detailed sound signature. With the bass rings installed the DN2000J has superior sub bass extension and response. The Pinnacle has a more natural and spacious sounding midrange. The DN2000J seems to be more sonically capable of producing any frequency and with a slightly higher level of detail retrieval.  Although the DN200J treble is more extended, the Pinnacle treble is more relaxed and enjoyable to my ears, especially at louder volumes. Also, there was something about the DN2000J upper midrange that made them seem shouty with certain tracks when comparing the two.
 
Build quality goes to the Pinnacle. Their zinc alloy housing are built like a tank, and their removable cables with diverse applications make the Pinnacle my pick. Accessories goes to the DN2000J. It’s been a year and I’m still tinkering with the various accessories that they came with.

 
VSONIC GR07BE ($100 to $150 USD on many sites)
The GR07BE was a personal favorite for a long time. They are single dynamic biocellulose driver that has won the approval of many reviewers. For a long time they were a premier pair of earphones.
 
As much as I have loved my GR07BE, it’s bittersweet to have to say that many the new mid tier releases are just as good or better sounding to my ears. Comparing the two, the GR07BE has a more responsive and extended sub and midbass response. The Pinnacle midrange more forward and with superior micro details and clarity. The Pinnacle treble is less sibilant and more natural to my ears as well.
 
Build quality and accessories goes to the Pinnacle. Their detachable cables and metal housings trump the VSONIC offering. The leather snap pouch of the Pinnacle is better than the leather sack that comes with the GR07BE. Although the Pinnacle offers less tips, I find them to be higher quality and better fitting.

 
Conclusion
If I took the the letter M off of the housing and replaced it with the logo of a more premium brand earphone, it would sell for a lot more than the Mee audio asking price. I don’t say that to discredit more established manufacturers, but more for the purpose of making you understand how good the Pinnacle is. MEE audio has raised to bar on in terms of mid-fi price to performance ratios. The Pinnacle has awesome packaging, build quality, sound quality and a phenomenal accessories package to go along with it. And just when you thought that was enough, they also have a two year warranty to top it all off.
 
MEE audio made an incredible earphone that is definitely worthy of flagship status. Combined with a warmer sounding DAP, they are one of the best in-ears I’ve heard regardless of price. Upon the conclusion of this review I consider them to be the best two hundred dollar in-ear I’ve heard thus far.  
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time of the review, the LZ-A2 was was on sale on Amazon and the Aliexpress website. Here are a couple links to their listing of the product:
 

 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017Z8AWHA?keywords=lz%20a2&qid=1449320297&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-Newest-LZ-A2-Dynamic-and-Armature-3-unit-Headphones-HIFI-Fever-Earphone-As-K3003-DIY/32501370155.html?spm=2114.01020208.3.1.I4NI5c&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_2_79_78_77_80,searchweb201644_0,searchweb201560_1
 
Introduction
Before we begin I feel it’s important for everyone to understand what a hybrid in-ear monitor is and how it works.
 
For a long time in-ear monitor sounds were created by one of two different types of drivers. It was done by either dynamic or armature drivers.
 
Dynamic Drivers
Dynamic drivers are basically the same thing you see in a speaker at home, using ringed magnets, a round voice coil and a cone to move air and produce sound. Dynamic driver sound can be manipulated by changing the venting on either side of the cone. Because of the need to utilize venting on either side to tune the sound, isolation is more of a factor/issue with dynamic designs. For the most part a dynamic driver is able to move air with more force than an armature driver, resulting in a more impactful and satisfying bass response, but often times have less detail and accuracy throughout the midrange and treble frequencies.
 
Armature Drivers
An armature is a similar in how it produces sound, but in a more controlled environment. They use magnets, a voice coil and a membrane, but it is done inside of its own independent housing. An armature driver uses an arm that suspends between the magnets and voice coils and is attached to a driving pin that leads to a membrane. This produces the sound which is then delivered through a port on the housing of the armature. They have an exact frequency output that has been predetermined by the armature manufacturer. The result is a more controlled and accurate sound, giving an opportunity for manufacturers to use multiple armatures in combinations to produce one cohesive and customized sound. Isolation is less of an issue with an armature design, allowing listeners to enjoy their earphones at lower volumes. Earphone designers can take a combination of armature drivers and tweak them with resistors, crossovers and dampers to shape the sound. For the most part armature drivers are known deliver a level of detail and accuracy that trumps many dynamic drivers, but often times without the same impactful bass.
 
Hybrid Technology
With each driver explained, it is clear that each type of technology brings something different to the table. Where one is exceptional, the other is not. This is where hybrid technology comes into play. It is the concept of utilizing the “best of both worlds” from dynamic and armature drivers, turning it into one pair of kick arse in-ears. Bass tones are produced by a dynamic driver while midrange and upper frequencies are presented with armature drivers. This is usually done with a single dynamic driver in combination with one or two (sometimes more) armature drivers. This not only makes hybrids more costly because of the number of components, but also more of a challenge for manufacturers to make one cohesive sounding earphone. Hybrid technology is amazeballs when it’s done right, but can also be a major letdown when not executed correctly. Over the last couple years we have been treated with some really amazing hybrid technology, but usually the more successful designs come at a premium price.
 
A few companies have released hybrid in-ears hoping they can fall under the one hundred dollar price point and compete with the big names in hybrid monitors. Despite the fact that they fell under the price barrier, almost all have failed in terms of bringing the goods in terms of overall fidelity. Well, that is until now. Today I have the pleasure of introducing the first hybrid in-ear monitor that myself as well as other trusted Head-Fi participants can say has “cracked the code” and brought a product to market with sound quality that competes with just about EVERY hybrid in-ear monitor there is. Introducing the LZ-A2.
 
When I first heard about the A2, a few guys who got their hands on them were raving about them, but to be honest I try to not succumb to the hype these days and let my ears be the judge. When my friend Charlie said he had some review samples available I had to jump on the chance. Of all the reviews I’ve written this year, this is probably the one I’m most glad I’ve participated in. The LZ-A2 was more than a pleasant surprise, it was a revelation for hybrid in-ears.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the LZ-A2 in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with LZ. I would like to take this time to personally thank Charlie and the guys at LZ for the opportunity to cover such a great sounding earphone.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
The LZ-A2 was shipped to me by a friend for review. I didn’t receive a formal packaging, and to be honest I’m not sure if these things to ship with packaging. I don’t know, and honestly don’t care. If they cut corners to put all their resources in the package it is well worth it.
 
Specifications
*Product Name: LZ A2 Dynamic and Armature 3 unit Headphone
*Brand: LZ
*Model: A2
*Type: In-ear
*Impedance: 16Ω
*Headphone sensitivity:120±3db
*Frequency range: 2-24000Hz
*Interface: 3.5mm
*Cable Length: 1.2m±5cm
*Weight: 25g
*Color: Gold
*Whether with Mic: Optional
*Headphone plug type: Through Hole
*Headphones category: HIFI, Monitor
*Applicable type of music: Classical symphonic concert
*Drive unit: dynamic and complex double unit armature (3 unit drive)
 
Accessories

*1X semi-rigid cloth covered zipper clamshell case
*1X shirt clip
*1X pair of frosted over-ear guides
*1x pair of silicone fins (for securing fit, similar to Dunu fins)
*1X white silicone dual flange tips (M)
*1X red memory foam tips (M)
*3X red/gray silicone single flange tips
 
Housings

 
The LZ-A2 housing is a combination of machined aluminum and plastic. It’s a gold powdercoated metal barrel shape with a rounded metal aluminum back. The back of the housing has a vent for the dynamic driver. The front of the housing and nozzle are constructed of attached plastic. The nozzle is a weird shape and is very wide and short. This makes tip rolling, and getting the earphones to seal well a challenge.
 

 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs
The cable is a semi transparent rubbery material similar to the Fidue A73 and A65. It has very little memory and a bit of spring. The cable sheathing has a tendency to grip anything it rubs against which can be a hinderance but also works very well for over the ear fitment. The Y-split is a very simple black metal jacket. There is a black plastic chin slider attached that works well and comes in handy (especially with over the ear fit)
 

 
The cable jack is a black straight barrel design that is very simple and sturdy. It follows the same theme as the Y-split and has a somewhat generic LZ logo printed on it. Strain reliefs at the housings and jack are short rubber jacketing that goes in between the cable and the housings/jack. They seem discreet and adequate, but could be better done.
 
Functionality
There is no microphone or remote. The LA-A2 is a plug and play device designed for sound quality. Plug in, play music, enjoy the sound, repeat.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
I had a hard time coming up with a tip that made the LZ-A2 fit because of the wide and short barrel. None of the stock tips, guides, fins helped me to come up with a consistent and secure fit. What I discovered it that using a smaller tip than I normally do helped me achieve a good seal. Despite tip rolling being more of a challenge than usual, I was able to stretch a pair of medium Sony silicone tips around the nozzle and they work excellent.
 

 
The A2 can be worn under or over the ear. Once a good fitting tip is found, the straight barrel promotes a fairly simple and comfortable wearing experience. As is the case with most earphones, I personally preferred an over the ear fit in combination of the chin slider to snug things into place. Your mileage may vary, just make sure to use all the accessories and tip options you can come up with to try to get the best and most comfortable fit. Just like with all in-ear monitors, the better they seal your ears, the better they will sound.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to asses and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
These earphones are incredibly easy to drive. I couldn’t turn the A2 up to half volume on my smartphone before they became too loud to listen to. There is no need for amplifiers or high power sources with the A2, nor did I find any benefit from using them.
 
The bass forward tuning makes them somewhat forgiving with poorly recorded music and low bit rate files, but they also scale well with better files because of their incredible detail. From what I’ve experienced, the A2 sounded most impressive with a neutral source and high bitrate music files.
 
Sound Signature
I was blown away by the sound quality from the first listen. The first thing that came to mind was my favorite earphone, the Fidue A83. They have a similar tuning with a forward and dynamic bass response with a slight V-shape from what I hear and incredible resolution from top to bottom. They are a combination of musicality and detail that definitely gives me that “WOW” factor I’m after.
 

LZ-A2 measurement (left and right channels) taken by my Vibro Labs Veritas. This device is not %100 accurate, but accurate enough to give you an idea of the LZ-A2 sound signature.
 
Bass
Bass on the A2 is a dynamic combination of punch and rumble that I find to be very satisfying and works with all genres of music I listened to. It definitely has a forward presence, and the bass extends well into sub bass regions. There is a considerable amount of midbass, but it is tastefully done, and the way the armatures are tuned in combination with the dynamic driver it doesn’t make male vocals seem overly weighted.
 
Midrange
The A2 midrange puts on a clinic in terms of neutrality and resolution. the way the sound is split it is very cohesive yet still separates the sound so each frequency isn’t overshadowed. It reminds me of a very high end stereo system where high quality speakers are aided by a sub woofer. What I mean by this is the midrange distinctly sets itself apart from the forward bass response with a very airy, natural and well defined midrange that gives me that “best of both worlds” dynamics and separation that elite hybrids have. Because of the forward nature of the bass, some people will say they are warm, but listening closely I don’t get that impression. What I hear is a very well done dual armature supported by a dynamic driver bass boost that is very tastefully done. Upper midrange is somewhat relaxed but not significantly rolled off. I like how this tuning takes a lot of the edge off of most instruments and vocals and prevents the A2 from being shouty with any genre.
 
Treble
Treble is somewhat relaxed with a small bump or spike somewhere up top that gives it a nice sense of energy. From what I hear, It might be somewhere around 3 kHz. It’s enough to put a nice bite on vocals and adds needed life to the upper frequencies without going overboard. Despite the lift in upper frequencies the overall impression is slightly V-shaped yet still relaxed, and very entertaining.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Because of the tuning and extension on both ends of the frequency response in combination with the incredible resolution, I will say that the soundstage is great. It’s not best I’ve heard but definitely in the top ten. Imaging is also better than average from what I hear.
 
Comparisons
 
Fidue A83 ($275 to $350 USD on many sites)
The A83 sits on the top of my list of favorites because it checks every box in terms of what I look for in an in-ear monitor. Their stock cable is ridiculously awesome, and overall design is pretty spectacular and well thought out. They offer an incredible case and accessories package, and the sound? Amazeballs!
 
You might be asking yourself why I would compare a budget in-ear monitor to a flagship model that costs almost four times more. Simply put, THE LZ A2 SOUND QUALITY RIVALS THE FIDUE A83, AND MANY OTHER TOP OF THE LINE IN EAR MONITORS. I’m confident enough to say that if I did a blindfold test and popped both of these in your ears and asked which one was more expensive, I’m fairly confident you wouldn’t be able to tell.
 
Yes, the A83 destroys the A2 in terms of ergonomics, fit, and accessories. I won’t even go into detail on that, just know the A83 is better at all of them.
 
BUT, in terms of sound its really a close contest. If Fidue released the L2 sound in their next generation model, I would probably buy it. I consider the sounds to be sidegrades to each other. Bass response on both earphones is eerily similar, almost identical to my ears. Even lower midrange is somewhat similar from what I hear. The A83 is a more lively and aggressive tuning that infuses more energy to the track. I noticed more forwardness going into mid and upper midrange tones. Extension is better with the A83, but to be honest it almost took away from the listenability to my ears as compared to the A2. The biggest difference between the two was the more relaxed and laid back upper midrange of the A2, which in my opinion sets up for longer listening sessions but at the expense of losing a bit of excitement and energy. Although I feel the A83 might impress a few more people, I can almost say that for the sake of longer listening sessions, I might reach for the A2 more often.

 
Sony H3 ($300 to $350 USD on many sites)
So, here I go again, comparing the A2 to another top of the line hybrid that costs almost four times more....
 
The Sony H3 is a beast of an earphone, featuring detachable cables, a unique fit, and awesome accessories package. Again, it’s not a contest in terms of build quality and accessories, the H3 wins in these categories.
 
Now for the sound! The A2 is a flat out better sounding earphone to my ears as compared to the H3. Better bass, better midrange, better treble, period. Bouncing back and forth between the two, the A2 makes the H3 sound like a midbass bludgeoned cluster of haziness. While the H3 does offer some great separation of sounds and good timbre, it can’t hold a candle to the A2 response. The A2 is more responsive, more detailed, and much more clear. While many like enjoy the H3 for modern genres, the A2 offers the more audiophile friendly experience, while still offering some bass thump.

 
Conclusion

 
The fact that I did comparisons to earphones that cost MANY times more than the A2 should tell you just how great these things sound. Although the build and design could be better, their price tag makes this a non issue for me. When someone tells me they are thinking about purchasing their first hybrid in-ear monitor without breaking the bank and can’t decide what to get, I am going to recommend the A2 one hundred percent of the time. LZ has taken the words budget and hybrid and combine it into one awesome pair of earphones with sound that is truly incredible.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the Campfire Andromeda was recently listed for preorder/sale at Campfire Audio’s website. Here is a link for purchase:

https://www.campfireaudio.com/product/andromeda/

Introduction
The 2016 Axpona Audio Exhibit was a great turnout. Notable earphone displays were Empire Ears, Etymotic, Onkyo, Shure, JH Audio, Campfire Audio and many more.

It’s pretty epic to be in a giant room with a large array of the world’s finest earphones. They’re lined up on display tables, being driven by some of the world’s finest sources. In one room, we had summit-fi earphones the likes of the Noble K10U, Siren Series from JH Audio, Shure KSE-1500 and SE846, Vibro Aria, Etymotic’s new ER4 lineup as well as many more.

If you are reading this, I would assume you most likely have some type of interest in headphones. If you have an opportunity to go to an audio show in your area, be like Nike and JUST DO IT!

It’s an awesome experience that helps YOU find what type of sound signature and earphones you’d like. Not only that, you get to meet the people behind the products.

What I like to do at these types of events is come up with my own personal best of show for each type of gear that is presented. Being a fan of in-ear monitors, I spent most of the weekend listening and evaluating them in particular. After three days of listening to all the earphones there (some of them several times), I have to say that the best of show this year for me was the Campfire Andromeda. Allow me to explain why.


The first day I plopped down into chair at the Campfire booth and met Caleb. They had the whole lineup available to listen to. Caleb explained the models to me, including their “New Flagship Prototype” named Andromeda. These were the initial impressions I noted in my phone while checking them out:

“CAMPFIRE ANDROMEDA”

*Solid build with lightweight aluminum all metal housings. Even the nozzles are metal.
*Cable has no spring or memory. It’s a Litz braided rope with MMCX connectors that swivel at the housing. Very sharp looking and works well.
*MMCX connection seems very solid and was confirmed with brand rep to be a stronger than standard connection.
*Five balanced armatures, unique tubeless set up replaced by metal “Resonator box.”
*Sound is... WOW! *clear and spacious *detailed and responsive *crisp without being harsh, INCREDIBLE! LISTEN TO AGAIN!!!

After about ten minutes of listening to them, I put the Andromeda down, looked at Caleb and said “Dude, these are incredible!” Caleb smiled, agreed with me, then introduced me to his colleague, Ken. I explained that I would love to be one of the first to review them on Head-Fi. I gave them my Head-Fi credentials and continued to listen to the rest of the lineup. Everything Campfire had to demo sounded great, but there was an added dimension the Andromeda had which I particularly liked.

That weekend I listened to many of the best in-ears the world of audio has to offer. Just about anything I tried sounded excellent, but there was something about the Andromeda that kept me coming back for more. Before the weekend was over, I think I listened to them four or five separate times. Every time I was finished listening, it left the same overwhelmingly positive impression.


Over the course of that weekend, the Andromeda sound had catapulted its way towards the top of my list of all time favorites. Impressions were shared with friends at Axpona, and many who listened to them agreed. To my ears they sounded as good or better than any other IEM at the show.

A few days after the event Ken contacted me to see if I was still interested in covering the Andromeda. Without hesitation I agreed. I’ve had them for the last few weeks and listened to the them almost exclusively. It’s an honor to share the good news on the Andromeda flagship from Campfire with the Head-Fi community.

What is Campfire Audio?
Campfire Audio is a branch from ALO Audio. The letters ALO are abbreviated letters for “Audio Line Out” which is the company that Ken started years back. His roots were in earphone modifications and cables. To this day he still has a large assortment of high quality cables listed for sale on his website.

Somewhere along the way, Ken lost the domain name of “Audiolineout.com” and renamed it ALO Audio. The name has stuck and to this day ALO Audio has a steady stream of online traffic and sales.I had a chance to check out their hand built portable amplifiers, the RX and Continental Dual Mono. Long story short, they both rock, particularly with in-ear monitors. The cables Ken had on display looked premium as well.

Ken’s success in selling cables and doing earphone modifications paved a way for him to start his most recent endeavor. Ken told me it has been a dream of his to have his own line of premium in-ear monitors. The Campfire Audio lineup is a product of that vision.

Review

Andromeda comes in a small and modest green and blue box with white lettering. There is nothing exquisite or flashy about the packaging.


Flipping the box open, I’m greeted with a premium brown leather rectangular clamshell zipper case.


Unzipping the clamshell case revealed the Andromeda earphones and cable. If you thought the leather case was already premium, the inside of it is lined with what appears to be a wool material. This provides the Andromeda with padding and prevents the earphones from wiggling around when transporting them. Underneath the case and earphones a cardboard tab can be removed, revealing a few bags that hold the accessories.

Specifications and Accessories

Specifications
Frequency Range: 10Hz-28kHz
Sensitivity: 115 DB SPL/MW
Impedance: 12.8 Ohm @1kHz
Cable: Silver Litz cable, MMCX connection

Accessories


1x Pair Andromeda earphones
1x Silver Litz cable with exclusive MMCX connectors and memory wire
1x Leather carrying case
3x Pair Comply Foam tips (S, M, L)
3x Pair memory foam tips (S, M, L)
3x Pair silicone wide bore tips (S, M, L)
1x Owner’s manual

Housings


The Andromeda is a made from a single block of high grade machined aluminum. They are an all metal design that is relatively lightweight. The Andromeda currently comes in a metallic emerald green tint. While some would think it would make them an eyesore, or something that will clash with much of their wardrobe, I find them to be a very sophisticated.


From housing to jack, the Andromeda has a very high end look with an almost jewelry like appearance. The machine screws and clear MMCX connectors add an extra sense of quality and craftsmanship.


The Andromeda fit is reminiscent of many over the ear monitors. I consider it to be a bit more on the bulky side of things. The size doesn’t bother me as much as some of the design aspect. I will go over this in the fit and ergonomics section of the review.

Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The cable is awesome. It’s a four strand braided Litz wire with swiveling MMCX connectors and memory wire. The flexible cable has virtually no spring very little memory. The Y-split is a metal jacketing that splits the four strand braid into two twisted lines that lead to each channel. A clear rubber chin/neck slider is attached to the cable and works well. The Cable Jack is a gold plated 3.5 mm jack, and ninety degree solid frosted clear rubber jacketing. The Andromeda has two inches of memory wire that lead to two MMCX connectors.They are covered in the same frosted clear hard rubber coating found at the jack. Every aspect of this cable is premium and Find it an upgrade in terms of quality and performance over most of what I own.

Functionality
The MMCX cable that comes with the Andromeda doesn’t have a mic/remote. Replacement MMCX cables can be purchased and used with the Andromeda housings. I tested and confirmed that this is possible.

Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

If there is one thing about that Andromeda that might be a dealbreaker is the shape of the housing, and how it may impair some people from being able to wear them comfortably. The machined housings are constructed of many planed surfaces that leave the Andromeda with some edges and corners that might irritate some user’s ears, depending on what tips they are using. Regardless of how the Andromeda fits the user's ear, I don’t think anyone will be able to comfortably lay their head on a pillow while wearing these.

The key to getting a cozy fit with the Andromeda is tip selection. When tip rolling with the Andromeda variances in insertion depth would cause edges of the housing to rub against parts of my ear and eventually cause irritation. Finding a tip that seals well without narrowing the bore diameter of the nozzle, and at the same time forcing the Andromeda to stick out farther from the ear seemed to work best. I was lucky, the tips that seemed to work best in my case were the attached stock foams tips. For silicone tips, I used a pair of stock Sony MH-1 or RHA tips. Your mileage may vary.

Isolation is decent but not elite. I would say it is along the lines of the average in-ear monitor. When worn over the ear and using the included chin/neck slider, microphonics were eliminated.

Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP for high fidelity portable use. For desktops I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.

I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)

Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.

Source Selection
Andromeda is an extremely sensitive in-ear monitor, coming in at just under thirteen Ohms. With a more powerful DAP like the iBasso DX80, I got a slight background hiss from Andromeda. They work great with a high fidelity smartphone like the LG V10 or iPhone 6. Streaming services through your phone will sound great, but your music will sound even better with high bitrate music files played through your favorite DAP in low gain. If you plan on using the Andromeda with a more powerful source, an impedance adapter will most likely help with any noise floor issues.

The best source I had for the Andromeda was the iFi micro iDSD in its most sensitive power setting. It was an incredibly clear and balanced sound that was very revealing, packing lots of texture and detail while still retaining a controlled and slightly emphasized bass presence.

Sound Signature

The Andromeda has been described as Bassy, but to my ears it depends on what source you’re using. With a Warm or bass boosted source the Andromeda sounds musical with an emphasized lower frequency range and smooth treble response. Using a colder and brighter source with Andromeda makes them sound very technical and extended (primarily in treble regions) while still keeping a little bit of low end oomph. Either way you listen to them, the general consensus is that your preferred source will be determined what you like more. For me it’s split between each, and what music I want to use.

The tuning is pretty genius. It’s a five driver design. All five of them deliver sound into what was described to me as a metal box that operates as “resonator.” What this means is that rather than have armatures attached to tubes that fire right into your ear, they have a microsecond to meet in this box and resonate into each other before it reaches your ear. The result is a VERY spacious and holographic sound that is unique and refreshing. With this technology, upper frequencies have the extension and detail without the harshness I often time get with armature drivers. To be honest, the presentation is flat out awesomesauce.

Rather than fire a particular frequency range into your ear like most armature earphones, the crossover and armatures all do their job first, pumping out each frequency as assigned, but before it reaches your ear the music has time to mesh in the exclusive resonator box, similarly to speakers in a room. We don’t mash our ears up against the grill with a funnel to listen to our favorite speakers, we stand back in the room and give the speakers some space so it can use the room around us to its advantage. Campfire’s five armatures are similar. It fires all of its frequencies into this genius little box, allowing the music to become more cohesive, spacious and less harsh.

Bass
The bass of the Andromeda is slightly emphasized and uber dynamic. You would never think the Andromeda bass came from balanced armatures because of the power and performance of its low end frequencies. It sounds more like a titanium diaphragm dynamic driver to my ears. The bass is extended, responsive, and somewhat bold. The Andromeda will definitely bring the rumble when it’s called upon. At the same time you won’t get any type of lingering bass or bass that doesn’t belong in the track. The low end response of the Andromeda sets up to work well with just about all genres of music.

To my ears the Andromeda has a bass that is relatively balanced, and maybe even leaning towards sub bass tones. Andromeda’s low end is fast, textured, responsive and has nice sense of tone and depth. In the high end market, many top tier earphones don’t carry the same sub bass presence these do.

Andromeda’s bass rocks the snot out of the bass lines of most modern genres of music like hip hop and EDM. The Sub bass lines are extended and the tone is that of a 15 inch subwoofer. With a good sealing tip, there’s a depth that makes it very enjoyable.

Midrange
This is where the magic happens with Andromeda. Starting with the Lower midrange, things get really spacious sounding. Bass guitars can distinctly be picked out from the mix. Low end guitar chucks have some power behind them. Low frequency strings would occasionally give me goose bumps. Unlike any other in-ear monitor I’ve ever listened to, Andromeda has the ability to render a sense of space that makes live and acoustic recordings sound incredibly good. The big and dynamic sounding instruments can be discerned rather than paste together like many in-ear monitors.

Upper midrange of Andromeda is natural and smooth without any sense of things being rolled off. There isn’t a whole lot to say about this range other than it is very formidable and works.

When evaluating in-ears I try to be picky and see if there is anything about its sound that some people will say leaves them with a negative impression. If there is anything I can say that about the Andromeda, it’s that when playing the most complex musical passages you can throw at it, Andromeda’s sound gets a little overwhelmed, smearing the sound or making their upper midrange sound a bit stuffy to my ears. This rarely happened and even so, it’s a small caveat in comparison to everything the Andromeda does well.

Treble
This is an area that makes Andromeda a star. If you’ve dabbled in armature earphones in the last few years, you’ve probably heard an armature that overall sounds excellent, but seems to have a sense of harshness. When certain pronunciation of the letters S or T are played, or when a cymbal crashes it will be rendered in a harsh and almost screeching type of sound. Andromeda has none of this. You will hear all cymbal crashes and the letters S and T. It will not be portrayed in a way that I would consider the Andromeda to be sibilant.

Treble is extended and polite. It’s true to the recording and yields all the details and clarity needed to say it is elite.

Soundstage and Imaging
I’ve touched on it in the sound impressions, but this criteria is why I consider the Andromeda to be one of the top earphones I’ve ever heard. When talking to people about the Andromeda sound, I’ve mentioned several times that the soundstage reminds me of a high end audio system. To me, Andromeda’s sound is like listening to a well driven pair of top of the line tower speakers in a large room.

In terms of imaging, the sound of Andromeda is very three-dimensional. Sounds come at you from all angles with plenty of texture and detail. At the time of writing this review, the Andromeda hands down THE BEST in-ear I’ve heard in terms of soundstage and imaging.

Conclusion

Normally I would do a couple comparisons to similarly priced and designed earphones before “jumping to a conclusion” but I want to generalize and tell you why the Andromeda sets itself apart from its competition. When demoing the Andromeda at Axpona, many asked for comparisons to other elite earphones in its range. Fortunately, I had the luxury to actually do these comparisons as people asked. Bouncing back and forth between earphones that sometimes cost a lot more than Andromeda did, I couldn’t help it like the sound of the Campfire flagship more. Of course source and preference plays a part in this and I can see some people liking other top of the line earphones more. Using Andromeda with my LG V10 and micro iDSD, it is tuned perfectly for my preference.

Andromeda is not what I would consider a perfect product. The machined aluminum corners can cause irritation where they regularly make contact with the user’s ear. They are highly sensitive and need an impedance adapter with most dedicated DAPs. On top of all of this, they are over a thousand dollars, which isn’t cheap. However, the Andromeda has so much upside that I can overlook all of these factors and say that they are definitely worthy of their asking price. Usually I can’t mention price to performance when things get as expensive as the Andromeda. In this case I will make an exception. The Andromeda is built like a tank and sounds as good as any in-ear monitor I’ve ever heard, including more expensive models.

Andromeda has an added dimension to its sound that makes many other earphones seem flat and lifeless. Campfire audio has produced an earphone that gives listeners something that is unique and refreshing in terms of in-ear monitors. They combine a slightly musical signature with a level of separation, extension, detail and soundstage that makes them a personal favorite. Upon the conclusion of this review, I’m going to contact Ken and Caleb and tell them that I’m buying this pair. I have plenty of earphones to listen to, but I like these enough to not let them leave. The Andromeda sound quality makes me look at other earphones that I’ve given five star reviews and makes me consider lowering it if these are the new standard. Instead, I’ll end this review by saying these have six star sound.


Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time of the review, the Unique Melody Maestro was on sale at Musicteck’s online store. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/um-maestro-universal
 
Unique Melody has a great Facebook Page with lots of links to some really good reviews. Here is a link to their page:
 
https://www.facebook.com/UniqueMelodyInternational/?fref=nf
 
Introduction
Over the course of reviewing products we occasionally are given rare opportunities to cover something really special. These times don’t come around all too often, and when they do it’s an epic opportunity, not only to experience a summit-fi product, it’s also a chance to share my experience with the Head-Fi community.
 
Unique Melody has been around for a while. They hit it big around 2010 with their release of the Miracle. Since then an ongoing war has been waged, as companies continue to come up with ways to stuff more and more drivers into each channel of their in-ear monitors and jack up the price. This can be a very good thing, but it can also be nothing more than a gimmick. I’ve heard multi-driver earphones that sound worse than some single dynamic driver designs. It’s not a matter of how many drivers you can stuff inside a shell to make them sound good, it's more a matter of whether or not the manufacturer can use tubing, resistors, dampers and crossovers to make a number of drivers sound cohesive and pleasing to the listener’s ear.
 
When I was contacted to see if I could review the Unique Melody Maestro universal in-ear monitor, my excitement level was through the roof. At the same time, I didn’t want to set my expectations too high. In the summit-fi multi-driver IEM world there are models that are selling drivers rather than sound. I had to wait until I actually heard them to decide which side of the fence Unique Melody was on with this earphone. I’m happy to say that Unique Melody is selling twelve armature drivers on each channel (twenty-four total) that sound INCREDIBLE.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Maestro in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Unique Melody. I would like to take this time to personally thank my friend Andrew for the opportunity.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they have good ergonomics, and the sound is pleasing to my ears. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

The Miracle comes in an all black box the size of a large jewelry cube. The Unique Melody logo is printed in discreet shiny black print on the top. “HAND CRAFTED WITH LOVE” is printed on the bottom of the box with the same glossy black lettering. Another interior box slides out from the package which contains the earphones. A third box pulls out from the second one, containing the Maestro Universal accessories.
 

After removing this box, I was greeted with a heavy duty black metal canister that unscrews to reveal a velvet bag which was holding the earphones.
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specifications:
12 Balanced Armatures
4 Low, 4 Mid, 2 High, 2 Super High
4 Way Crossover
20 Hz to 20 kHz
109 dB SPL Sensitivity
20 ohm Impedance
 

Accessories:
4x Pair memory foam tips (S,S/M,M/L,L)
4x Pair black silicone wide bore tips (S,S/M,M/L,L)
1x Airline adapter
1x ¼ inch adapter
1x Earwax cleaning kit
1x Two year warranty card
1x Metal cannister
1x Velvet drawstring pouch
 
Housings

The Maestro housings are made of a black acrylic material that seems very sturdy. It’s bulky and has a quasi-custom-ish shape. A two pin connector is located on the upper portion of the housing. The fitting is slightly recessed into the housing, making the cable connection more secure than earphones without this feature. The faceplate of the earphone is a holographic carbon fiber printing with the Unique Melody name printed in a shiny finish. Overall, the housing seems tough enough to withstand daily abuse. Because these are a loaner I refrained from using them as nunchucks to see how well they would hold up. Just know that they look built to last. I didn’t see any screws or misaligned seams. It’s honestly pretty flawless looking. If you have any concerns, the Maestro comes with a two year warranty.
 

The Maestro name is printed on the inner part of shell. The right side is printed in red, and left side is printed in blue (to mark each channel). The Maestro nozzles are wider than average. Looking at the end of the nozzle, they have three separate ports for sound. Tip rolling is a bit tougher than normal but for the most part I was able to fit just about every tip I had on the nozzle with a little extra effort.
 
NOTE: The Maestro comes in both a universal and custom model. Please take a look at Musicteck’s website to find out more about pricing and design options for the custom models.
 
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/um-ciem-maestro-12-drivers
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

Maestro comes with a braided black cable that follows along the lines of many other high end in-ear monitors. A quad braided cable leads up to the Y-split which is held together by clear heat shrink tubing and separates into two twisted cables that leads to each channel’s two pin connector. There is also a piece of clear tubing that operates as a chin/neck slider to snug things into place. The Maestro stock cable has two inches of memory wire that help secure the earphone in place and works well. The cable jack is a ninety degree variety that has a gold plated 3.5 mm jack and plastic and rubber jacketing. Strain relief at the jack is adequate, and the memory wire offers some strain relief where the cable connects to the housing.
 
Functionality
The stock cable is plug and play. However, the fact that it is removeable opens up options for microphone and remote cables as well as upgrade cables. When talking to a fellow reviewer, they indicated that The Maestro sound benefits from an upgrade cable.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
The Maestro is a bulky housing, but also a pretty nice fit. The tips that come with the Maestro are formidable for getting a good seal. I found the memory foam tips that come with Maestro to be high quality.
 
Unique Melody gives you everything you need to get a secure and consistent fit. Find the right fitting tip, pop them in your ears, secure them in place with the memory wire, then adjust the chin/neck slider to secure the cable over your ear. The Maestro is designed to go over the ear. Because of this microphonics are minimal and virtually non existent. With the right tip isolation is just a hair below custom in-ear monitor level.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
Just like most multiple driver in-ear monitors, the Maestro is a very sensitive and easy to drive IEM. With most more powerful sources (even portable sources) you will hear a faint hiss when music isn’t playing.
 
I don’t know how it does it, but one of the things I really enjoyed was how well the Maestro could play with any source or recording and make it sound incredible. The Maestro was able to take my mp3 files playing from my clip zip and make them sound like FLAC. I heard details in tracks from this very average/mediocre source that I never heard before with any other earphone. Also, they sounded that much better with a higher quality sources and recordings.
 
The Maestro will sound great with a smartphone streaming music, and phenomenal with your best DAP playing your highest bit rate music files. For best results, use the best sources and files you have in low gain with the Maestro and be whisked away to another dimension of quality audio.
 
Sound Signature

The graph made with my Vibro Veritas. Although it isn't an industry standard device, it should give you an idea of the Maestro tuning. 
 
The Maestro is a combination of musicality and detail that you will seldom hear. It’s endgame sound in my opinion. The amount of clarity and spaciousness trumps just about all of my in-ear monitors and full size headphones. The sound is rich and dynamic. It’s definitely a music lover’s earphone. You get an incredible low end response in combination with a level of resolution that is seldom replicated. The thing I think I liked the most about the Maestro was its ability to play every frequency with ease and at a maximum level of resolution and clarity. If I had not heard the Shure KSE 1500, I might be saying that this is the best in-ear monitor I’ve ever heard (this or the Noble K10). The sound is balanced with just a touch of lift at upper and lower frequencies. Extension on both ends is fabulous.
 
Bass
Bass is impeccable in my opinion. I’ve said it before in other reviews, but these definitely have the best combination of armature accuracy with dynamic impact I've heard at the time of writing the review. Bass extends as low as I can hear and is just as responsive at 30Hz as it is at 150Hz. Truth be told I can hear kickdrums in a way that I don’t hear them with other earphones. The resolution is so good it adds a sense of realism that you have to hear to understand. I usually talk about the transition from sub bass to mid bass, but there isn’t necessarily a “transition” to speak of. The four way crossover blends the 12 drivers pretty flawlessly. Mid bass is perfectly in line with the neighboring frequencies, rendering a very spacious sensation. Its as if someone at Unique melody was able to pull the sound apart to reveal every single detail the way it should be heard. To be completely honest I can’t listen to the Maestro, then go back to listening to other earphones without feeling like the low end is either somewhat sloppy or muffled.
 
Midrange
The midrange of the Maestro is just a hair behind the lower frequency response, but not to the point that it is severely lacking or overshadowed by the rest of their sound. Just like any other part of the Maestro presentation, the level of resolution is top notch, and the sound just seems effortless, like the drivers have no problem keeping up with the music being played. There is a bit of dip at upper midrange frequencies, making vocals have a smooth finish and never allowing the signature to seem shouty whatsoever. I might have liked to see the upper midrange be just a touch more forward, but I completely understand why Unique Melody did this. This keeps people from saying vocals are “grainy” or “shouty” while still maintaining their musical signature.
 
Treble
The Maestro has a spike at around 6K, that makes cymbal crashes and hi-hats sound awesome. This spike also helps pronunciations of the letters S and T coincide with the forwardness of the lower midrange. I can see this being an issue for those sensitive to this frequency, or for those who listen to their music at louder volumes. I personally enjoyed it, and didn’t find it harsh or sibilant in any way. After trying to EQ this area down a couple decibels, I soon found out that the Maestro presentation seems somewhat lifeless without it. In fact, there was no EQ adjustment I could come up with that sounded better to my ears than the stock sound. Let that be a testament to how well the Maestro is tuned.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
This is where I give the Maestro an eleven on a scale from one to ten. The resolution and extension is awesome, giving the Maestro one of the most impressive soundstages I’ve experienced. I heard reverb and echos in vocals and instruments I simply didn’t hear before with other gear. Even with a mediocre sources and files I picked up micro details I didn’t previously notice in the past. The resolution and sense of space makes imaging on the Maestro elite.
 
Comparisons
 
Unique Melody Miracle V2 Universal ($1000 USD on Musicteck’s website)
The Miracle V2 universal is retuned version of the original. I will be reviewing this earphone in the near future.
 
Comparing the two, the Miracle is a somewhat similarly tuned earphone. The differences are minor, but make a considerable difference. The Miracle is a slightly smoother and more neutral sounding earphone with a bit less sub bass extension and smoother upper frequency presence. Midrange seems slightly more forward on the Miracle. To my ears the Maestro seems more musical and detailed, with the Miracle being more neutral and transparent. The Maestro is more of an entertainer and music lover’s earphone, with the Miracle being more of a reference monitor. I can see the Maestro being more for a drummer or bassist, with the Miracle being more for the guy mastering the track in the recording studio. Both are excellent in their own way.
 
Build quality and accessories are a draw. They are pretty much identical in this case.
 
At the end of this comparison, I can see why the Maestro has a higher asking price. If these two earphones were people, the Maestro would be the Miracle that started going to the gym three times a week, taking protein supplements and hiring a personal trainer. The Maestro is a beefier and more defined version of the Miracle to my ears.

 
Noble 6 ($1000 on Noble Audio’s website)
The Noble 6 is a bass forward earphone with a warm top end. It carries a very decent amount of detail and dynamics.
 
Comparing the two, the Noble 6 brings a much more prominent mid bass presence and lower midrange. After this the Noble six slopes into a relaxed upper midrange and treble presence that maintains a nice sense of extension. The Maestro is a more balanced sound with a brighter top end. They have a less forward but more responsive low end. Choosing between the two will be a matter of preference. I prefer the Maestro tuning over the Noble 6, but I can see how others who like warmer and bassier tunings being turned off by the 6kHz boost of the Maestro, preferring the Noble 6 as a result.
 
Build quality goes to the Maestro. Their housing feels more solid in my hands, and the recessed fitting for the two pins plug seems more solid. Accessories goes to the Noble 6 by a large margin. They offer a plethora of tips, and I prefer the pelican case over the metal cannister that comes with the Maestro.  

 
Conclusion

If the Maestro was a thousand dollars or less, I would contact Head-Fi administrators to see if they could add a sixth star to the rating system for this review (joking). When I look at a price tag approaching $1500, I have to deduct a half of a star. I've purchased cars that cost less.
 
Is the Maestro worth the money? I think that comes down to budget and how much a guy has in his wallet at the time of purchasing them. If I ran into a large inheritance I would be scooping up a pair right away, no questions asked. As it stands, I’m your average Joe who is married with a mortgage and child who needs to go to college some day. If I took this much out of my savings to purchase a pair of in-ear monitors, I might be sleeping on the couch for a while. Your mileage may vary…
 

I was able to take the Maestro to a Head-Fi meet in Chicago shortly after getting them in. I had guys listen to them who honestly didn’t think too much of in-ear monitors all together, and were primarily listeners of high end full size headphones with DACs and amplifiers that cost thousands of dollars. The consensus was pretty much unanimous. Despite their biases, they were all impressed with the performance of the Maestro.  
 
The Maestro is a legend in my book. They are a incredibly well tuned earphone that didn’t just take twelve drivers and stuff them in a shell. They took twelve drivers and a four way crossover and turned it an earphone that will be a trophy earphone in several audiophile’s collections. Their combination of dynamics and detail will give many who hear them the “wow” factor we’re all after.
 
Are you looking for an endgame earphone? See if you can give the Maestro a listen. They might check all the boxes and be the high end in-ear monitor you’ve been searching for.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the 1MORE Triple Driver was on sale on Gearbest’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://www.gearbest.com/earbud-headphones/pp_337047.html
 
Introduction
I have recently had some awesome opportunities to try some of the best earphones money can buy. It’s been awesome to see what top dollar can buy in the world of personal audio. Still, one thing is very apparent. Many of the more established brands with higher priced products are offering build and sound improvements that aren’t significantly superior to some products that cost a fraction of their MSRP. The further up the ladder you go, the more you pay for minor, if any improvements. Most of the time a thousand dollar earphone doesn’t sound ten times better than a similarly designed hundred dollar model. It’s more of a fraction of difference, depending on what you’re comparing.
 
The earphone market is a game of cat and mouse. Just a year ago, the market for great hybrid in-ear monitors was much different. In order to get a great sounding hybrid, it would cost a few hundred dollars. Nowadays I can go online and there are several options, many of them coming in a budget prices and offering a level of build and fidelity that rivals earphones that cost many times more.
 
The LZ-A2 was a monumental product in my opinion. It was the first hybrid monitor that fell under the hundred dollar mark and had sound that rivaled much more expensive versions. Since then there have been some others that came along and sounded just as great. Hybrid in-ear technology is becoming more and more mainstream.
 
There is a recent explosion of companies releasing these budget hybrid monitors. I have had the pleasure of sampling and reviewing quite a few of the more popular ones. There were some pleasant surprises that caught me off guard. One of them was the E0323 from 1MORE. In my opinion, the E0323 is still the best hybrid to come in under the seventy-five dollar mark. Here is a link if you are interested:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/1more-eo323-multi-unit-earphones/reviews/15105
 
When George asked if I would be interested in reviewing the new three driver hybrid from 1MORE, I jumped at the chance. I knew that if 1MORE could make an earphone that sounds better than the E0323, it would be something I have to hear for myself. Let’s take a closer look and listen to the new hybrid champ in the hundred dollar weight class.

 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the 1MORE Triple Driver in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with 1MORE. I would like to take this time to personally thank George for the opportunity.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me. I want to hear any earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I can share my impressions with  enthusiasts and help them find the audio product they’re looking for. My Head-Fi profile has a list of audio products ranked from favorite to least favorite. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, while having a variety of different gear to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are solidly built, with ergonomics and sound that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

The front of the package has the 1MORE logo and Hi-Res logo.
 

The Back of the package has a description of the earphone in several languages. There is also specifications listed.
 

The 1MORE arrived in a box the size of a relatively average sized hardcover book. Not only is it similar in size, the package itself is made to resemble a book. Just like the E0323, 1MORE doesn’t cut any corners with their packaging. The packaging is so nice, I almost find it to be excessive. Any way you look at it, it’s phenomenal.
 

The Package opens Up to a beautiful display of the Triple driver earphones and a great read about the 1MORE company. The tab operates as a page that opens up to reveal some more small boxes that hold the Triple Driver accessories.
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specifications
Frequency response: 20 - 40KHz
Impedance: 32ohms
Sensitivity: 99dB
 

Accessories
1X Pair 1MORE earphones
1X Magnetic clasp carrying case
6X Pair wide bore tips with protective grill (2X small, 2X medium, 2X large)
3X Pair foam tips (S,M,L)
1X Airline Adapter
1X Shirt Clip
1X Owner’s Manual
 
Housings

The Triple Driver definitely resembles its cousin, the E0323. They have pretty much the same housing design. It’s a not only hybrid in terms of drivers, but also in the housing shape. It’s a lovechild between earbuds and in-ear monitors. The housing rests in the concha of the ear, and a nozzle is angled from the housing into your ear canal.
 

The triple driver is an all metal housing. They have a nozzle that is wider and longer than the average in-ear monitor. This makes tip rolling somewhat difficult, and prevents narrow bore tips from being used with the 1MORE earphones. Wide bore tips work great.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

A cloth covered cable spans from the cable jack to the Y-split, then splits into two rubber coated wires that lead to each housing. The cable is pretty standard in terms of it’s build quality. There is very little if any spring or memory. One thing to note, if you twist the cloth cable enough, it will eventually get a kink or two in it. Be careful not  to let the cable twist too much and this can be prevented.
 
The Y-split is a basic black metal jacketing that with rubber internals. The cable jack is straight 3.5 mm gold plated plug with a black metal jacketing. Strain reliefs are subtle but effective. If handled with a reasonable amount of care you should have no problems with the Triple Driver wiring.
 
Functionality

The Triple Driver comes with a very nice three button microphone and remote about six inches down from the right channel housing. I tested the controls for both Android and Iphone. All three buttons work for both devices. The buttons are all the same size and are easy to locate and use. The microphone is average. When talking to friends and family, they confirmed that my voice came through at a three or four on a scale from one to five.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

The Triple driver has a very nice under the ear fit. The rounded earbud shape and in-ear nozzle creates a snug fit that doesn’t require much adjustment. They were easy to pop in and out with minimal hassle. Although I prefer an over the ear fit, I really enjoyed how easy these were to use.
 
The combination of wearing style and cable design do not mesh well in terms of microphonics. I couldn’t use the 1MORE for physical activities because of this. Any time the cable rubs against a surface it creates enough microphonics to alter the listening experience. Constant movement made the Triple Driver almost unlistenable for me.
 

With a good seal, the Triple Driver has better than average isolation for a universal monitor. The stock tips work great, but their shallow fit is in close proximity to the mesh grill of the nozzle. This creates concern about how it would impact sound down the road (because of ear wax build up). I did some tip rolling and found the JVC spiral dots to work great. They fit the nozzle easily, have a bore as wide as the nozzle and seemed to create a shallow vacuum like seal. Your mileage may vary
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
The Triple driver comes in at a comfortable 32 Ohms, making it universally compatible with DAPs and smartphones. Because of their warm tilt and robust lower frequency range, they benefit most from a more neutral/linear source. A colored or bass boosted source will further emphasize an already somewhat bassy tuned earphone.
 
With my V10 and Shanling H3, the 1MORE was a dynamic and warm tilted earphone with plenty of clarity and detail at midrange and treble frequencies. With the iBAsso DX80, they sounded much more “middy” and smooth.
 
The forward bass tones of the Triple Driver makes these forgiving with poorly recorded music. They will scale up with better quality recordings and high bitrate files. Upgraded music files sound like they have more texture and increased soundstage. The 1MORE sounded excellent in combination with my LG V10 in HIFI mode. For best results, use the Triple Driver to stream music with your smartphone, or use them with your most linear sounding DAP  and high bitrate files in low gain.
 
Sound Signature

Big bass and clear mids/treble sum these up in a single sentence. They have that combination of slam and sparkle that makes them a joy to listen to. I would describe them as very musical without losing the micro details.
 
The 1MORE tuning almost falls into the basshead audiophile category. It is a very easy on the ears and I it works great for long listening sessions. They have a fatigue free sound that avoids being harsh or sibilant, while still sounding very adequate and extended at higher frequencies.
 
Over the course of using them, I found them to be a great tuning for commuting. Their superior isolation and bass forward signature helps drown out exterior noise. Throw in some very nicely detailed and textured upper frequencies, and we have a real winner here.
 
Bass
The Triple driver doesn’t shy away from the low notes. There’s a responsive and dynamic subwoofer-like low end. Those looking for a more linear tuning will find these to be overly bassy. Those who prefer a more musical and powerful sound will like the combination of slam, tone, and texture. The 1MORE has fairly equal amounts of punch and rumble that I thoroughly enjoy.
 
The Triple Driver's sub bass tones are presented well. For a dynamic driver they are on the more responsive side of the spectrum. With a warmer source or bassy music, the 1MORE borders on being boomy. Fortunately, for the most part they push that boundary without going overboard.
 
Mid bass takes a small step forward from lowest of audible frequencies. It doesn’t seem to have any bleed, but it will occasionally cast a slight shadow over the lower midrange.
 
Midrange
Starting with the lower midrange, the 1MORE has a warm tilt with some nice dynamics. The way the dynamic and armature drivers are tuned, the lower midrange sounds manage to be dynamic and natural at the same times. All tones in this range are audible and things like deeper male vocals avoid the being overly weighted or veiled. Piano notes and guitar chugs sound really good to my ears.
 
The 1MORE tuning has a slight recession from lower midrange down to about 1kHz, then has a plateau at around 3-4kHz. This lift gives the 1MORE a certain shimmer and energy to things like vocals (especially female vocals). High notes from pianos and strings instruments have an energy that is very enjoyable.
 
Treble
If there’s one thing I feel 1MORE has figured out, it’s how to tune treble in an in-ear monitor. Just like the E0323 I previously reviewed, the Triple Driver has a treble response that is relaxed and extended at the same time. Looking at the graph, you would think that the dip at the 7kHz range would cause them to sound unnaturally smooth but that isn’t the case at all. The dip is masterfully done, preventing sibilance then rising back up at the 11 kHz range. The harshness from pronunciations of the letters S and T are eliminated, but cymbal crashes still sound fantastic.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The Triple driver bass sounds really good for its price range. The nice sense of extension on both ends and nicely detailed upper frequencies give them a better than average soundstage. Even still, the slightly boosted bass and dip at 7kHz prevents the stage from being massive.
 
Imaging is solid, but not what I consider to be elite. Your experience in terms of soundstage and imaging will depend on what source, music file and volume you listen at. At louder volumes the Triple Driver seemed to create the best sense of space. Your mileage may vary.
 
Comparisons
1MORE E0323 ($70 to $USD USD on many sites)
The E0323 and Triple Driver have more similarities than differences. First off, they both have almost identically built housings, with the Triple Driver being a fraction larger and consisting of higher quality materials. The cables, remotes, plugs are nearly the same, with the Triple driver being slightly higher quality materials used in this criteria as well.
 
Comparing the sound of the two, they measure somewhat similarly. They have similar slopes, accentuating the same frequency ranges while subduing others. Both earphones sound fantastic, but much similar to the A73 and A83 hybrids from Fidue, the extra armature of the Triple Driver creates an added level of extension and detail that the E0323 doesn’t offer. It isn’t significant but it’s definitely noticeable. Also, the Triple Driver has a slightly warmer and bassier sound.
 
Packaging and accessories on both are great. The Triple Driver gets a slight edge, offering some more tips than the E0323. In terms of looks, I far prefer the black/brass/charcoal finish and cable of the Triple Driver.

 
LZ A2 (Discontinued)
The A2 is a legend in terms of price to performance. Sadly they have been discontinued. On a more positive note, there are rumors that a revised version of the A2 is in the works.
 
Comparing the two, The A2 has a little bit more sub bass and soundstage depth. Midrange on both earphones is eerily similar. The A2 has a slightly more relaxed treble region. Honestly, both earphones are excellent. At the moment this is a close contest, but at the moment I prefer the slightly crisper and more natural treble response of the Triple Driver.
 
In terms of packaging and accessories it isn’t even a contest. The A2 comes with no packaging and minimal accessories. The Triple Driver is the opposite, offering custom tips and plenty of extras.
 
Conclusion
I knew the Triple Driver was going to be an excellent product, but the question that needed to be answered is how it would rank with the best earphones in its price range. At the time of writing this review, I consider it to be the best hybrid to fall under the hundred dollar price tag. 1MORE definitely has my attention. Not only do I highly recommend both of the 1MORE products I’ve reviewed, I am looking forward to seeing what else they can come up with in the future.  
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the Venture Electronics Monk Plus was listed for sale on the VE website and also on Aliexpress. Here are links to their listing of the product:

https://www.veclan.com/engappliance_sel_one?eng_ApplianceVo.eac_id=4

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Venture-Electronic-VE-MONK-earbud-earphone/32417311324.html?spm=2114.08.3.1.BJX1op&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_7,searchweb201602_5_10057_10056_10065_10055_10067_10054_10069_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_10017_10070_10060_10061_10052_10062_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_1&btsid=23ac801c-dbc5-42aa-80fb-4d10ff020ade

Introduction
A year or so ago I would have laughed at earbuds. I hadn’t had any positive experiences with them up until that point. My opinion at the time was that earbuds couldn’t do much beyond creating a thin and lifeless two dimensional sound. I had no intention to dabble in this style of earphone until my good friend Tamal suggested I give the VE Zen a try. It was a perception changer for sure. Here is my review of the original Zen:

http://www.head-fi.org/products/venture-electronics-ve-zen/reviews/13680

Needless to say, they left me impressed. Although not the greatest thing I ever heard, the Zen proved that an earbud can offer incredible dynamics. There is now a quasi-revival of earbuds and their relevance in the current hi-fi audio scene for me. Just about every tenured earphone manufacturer has an earbud of some sort listed for sale.

In 2014/2015 Venture Electronics released the Monk, which was the original five dollar budget earphone that made some pretty big waves in the audio community. VE also released the Zen 2.0, which to my ears was an improvement over the original Zen. Here is my review:

http://www.head-fi.org/products/venture-electronics-ve-zen-v2/reviews/15142

I have become a fan of Venture Electronics after covering some of their product line. The first version of monk gave people a taste of what VE had to offer, and the Zen would take the Monk sound to the next level of audio bliss (at a sizeable price increase). Don’t have the funds to take the leap into the realm of Zen? It’s okay, because the Monk could give you seventy five to ninety percent of what the Zen could do (depending on your preferences and sources used). Only those who wanted that extra ten to twenty-five percent increase in performance needed to shell out the hundred plus dollars needed to make it happen.

With VE, there’s winners at every price point. The VE Clan has also vowed to improve the product line as they move forward. The Zen 2.0 was a considerable improvement from their first Zen, and the Monk Plus is… well, let’s get to that in a bit. For now let's continue the current conversation.

Venture Electronic’s Zen 2.0 took the original's place as their current flagship earbud. Now that they have had some time on the market and in the ears of its customers, there seems to be a pretty noticeable leap in performance between the original Monk and Zen 2.0. Well, Lee and the boys over at VE have once again bridged the gap between the budget and flagship lineup, introducing the Monk Plus. Let’s take a look and listen to their budget priced and premium sounding earphone.

Disclaimer
Venture Electronics has supplied me with free sets of their entire Monk Plus lineup in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Venture Electronics aside from being entrusted to fairly review their products, and share my experience with the Head-Fi community. I would like to take this time to personally thank Lee for the opportunity to experience and review their products, and also for allowing my constructive criticism help play part in their product development.

To be completely honest, I am so impressed with the Monk Plus, I plan on purchasing a couple pair to give as gifts. I feel they perform so well that I’m going to buy a few more just to share the magic these things have for five measly dollars. If I am getting free pairs to review, the least I can do is to buy a few more pairs and share the gift of Head-Fi at the next few upcoming audio conventions.

My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…

There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me. I want to hear any earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I can share my impressions with enthusiasts and help them find the audio product they’re looking for. My Head-Fi profile has a list of audio products ranked from favorite to least favorite. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gear to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.

I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are solidly built, with ergonomics and sound that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.

REVIEW

The Monk comes in a cheap bag. Yup, a cheap plastic bag with funky drawings and quotes derived from the socializing and antics of Lee over at team VE. To be honest the bag captures the essence of Venture Electronic’s no BS approach to making earphones. “The biggest bang you’ll ever get for your buck” is printed on the front of the bag, and to be honest it is a pretty accurate statement.


The back of the bag has some links for purchasing and more information. Opening the bag reveals the pair of earbuds and a small plastic bag with a few sets of blue and red foams. No clamshell case, no shirt clip included...The Monk is five bucks for a reason.

Specifications and Accessories
The Monk Plus lineup has variations and accessories that go beyond just the standard earbuds. Thanks to Lee, I received one of everything in the lineup. I’m glad he did, because it’s important to understand what VE is offering its customers with the Monk Plus. The specifications and accessories portion of the review will go beyond just the five dollar earbud. Let’s cover the specifications and accessories for the base model first:

Specifications:
Type: Open dynamic ear-bud
Driver: 15.4mm dynamic
Frequency Range: 8 Hz – 22 Khz
Impedance: 64 ohm
Sensitivity: 112dB +/- 5dB (1mW)
Plug: 3.5mm gold plated, straight jack
Cable: 1.2m, TPE outer coat, 128 x 0.06 4n ofc copper
Weight: Approx 15g with single full foam covers
IEM Shell: Polycarbonate / hard plastic

Acccessories:
6X Pair foam discs (3X Red, 3X Blue)

Various Jack Options

There are three different jack variations. There’s the standard 3.5 mm TRS jack, a 3.5 mm balanced TRRS jack, and a 2.5 mm balanced TRRS jack. There is no increase in price, any jack option you choose is only five dollars USD (awesome). Lee has also informed me that there will soon be a microphone version of the Monk Plus coming soon. I’m not sure what the asking price will be.

Adapters

Also included in the Monk Plus lineup are adapters that allow users to guarantee their Monk Plus will work with all of their source outputs. All adapters were tested and work well. Each one costs five dollars USD. Here are the list of the adapters that can be purchased:


1X 2.5 mm balanced TRRS to 3.5 mm standard TRS
1x 2.5 mm balanced TRRS to 3.5 mm balanced TRRS
1x 3.5 mm balanced TRRS to 2.5 mm balanced TRRS
1x 3.5 mm balanced TRRS to 3.5 mm standard TRS

EX Pack

Last but certainly not least, VE is offering an incredible earbud/accessories package option called the EX pack. In this package you will receive the Monk Plus earbuds along with a baggie that contains eight pairs of red and blue foams, four pairs of foam doughnuts, two pairs of rubber rings, and two pairs of ear hooks (size S/M and M/L). You can purchase the EX pack for a grand total of ten dollars USD.

Housings

The Monk Plus housing is a lightweight translucent smoke colored plastic housing similar to many other earbuds on the market. The shape is fairly generic, but the aesthetic is pretty nice thanks to the translucent finish which reveals the driver and internal wiring. The VE logo and 8-bit writing of the word Monk is printed on the outside of the shell, along with imprinted left and right channel markings.


The foams come in red and blue. Although I assume you could use the colors any way you’d like, this was done to make it even easier to identify each channel (red for right and blue for left).

Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs
The cable is a fairly standard black rubber jacketed cable. It’s very durable for the price and rivals cables that cost many times more than their asking price. There’s a small amount of spring and memory, but not enough to cause issues with the fit. The Y-split is a firm rubber jacketing with the words “VE Clan” imprinted on it. A chin/neck slider is attached to the cable and works well to help secure their fit. The jacks (regardless of what type you choose) has a straight gold plated jack that is jacketed in a rubber coating similar to the Y-split. Strain reliefs are nicely done. All in all this is a pretty decent cable at one hundred dollars, let alone the five dollar asking price.

Functionality
The current Monk lineup does not have a microphone and remote option. I have been told that there will be a mic/remote option coming soon. I will update this portion when the mic/remote version is released.

In terms of jacks, there are standard and balanced options. Make sure to choose the jack that will maximize your listening experience with whatever source you use. If you have a 2.5 or 3.5 mm balanced output of your DAP, make sure to purchase the correct balanced cable jack. There is a noticeable increase in fidelity to my ears with a balanced connections.

Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

There’s not a whole lot to say here. If you’ve worn a generic earbud with foam tips you know how the Monk Plus fits. Their disc shape sits in the concha of your ears. As with all earbuds, your sound experience is entirely dependent on how these things rest in your ears. If they seal too well, they will sound overly warm, bassy and smooth. If they fit too loosely they will sound thin and lifeless. Dabble with how the monk fits and you will find the sweet spot somewhere in the middle of the two. One big positive about the Monk Plus fit, the installed chin/neck slider was a welcomed feature that enabled me to acheive a more secure and consistent fit.

Earbuds are known to lack isolation and create more of an open air music experience. The Monk Plus is no exception. You will get some nice airy sound without eliminating ambient noises. You will have no problem listening to your earphones while hearing your surroundings.

NOTE: The Monk Plus isn’t the greatest for noisy environments. Listening to the Monk while commuting or outdoors, I was regularly distracted by outside noise which took my focus away from what makes the Monk Plus sound special. Listening to them in loud environments will take away from your ability to fully enjoy them. To maximize your listening experience with the Monk Plus, listen to them in a quiet room.


Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP/Bushmaster D14 DAC/Amp for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.

I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)

Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.

Source Selection
The Monk Plus comes in at sixty four Ohms, making them somewhat source specific to maximize their sound. They will sound really good through your smartphone, but they will benefit even more from more powerful sources like DAPs, and stacked rigs with portable and desktop amplifiers. High Gain with portable sources seemed to give me the most ideal sound quality. They sounded especially good with the 2.5mm balanced jack version Monk Plus and Fiio X7 with AM3 balanced amplifier module installed.

The Monk Plus won’t necessarily discriminate either warmer or more linear sources. What you will like will be determined by your preference. Just know that this earbud is scaling up incredibly well. I was able to use everything from my Sansa Clip Zip and LG-V10, all the way up to my more powerful desktop rigs.

Sound Signature
First things first, these things sound awesome regardless of price. The biggest thing that jumps out at me is the open and airy sound combined with a very nicely dynamic, textured and detailed midrange. There is a ever so slight tint of warmth to the sound.

Just like with almost every earbud there is, the Monk Plus won’t give you the lowest of low frequencies. To add to this, the Monk Plus has a somewhat smooth (yet perceptually extended) treble response. There’s a nice bite on vocals and instruments along with complimentary frequencies that don’t take the focus off of the center stage midrange.

Although sub bass tones aren’t as present as many in-ear monitors or full size headphones, the Monk Plus still sounds adequate with most modern genres of music. The Monk Plus seemed to shine the most with Vocal and band oriented music. Symphony, Classic Rock, Indie, Acoustic, Live performances, Country, and some Rock and Metal sounded especially good with the Monk Plus.

The Monk is another earphone I caught myself turning the volume up higher and higher. It seemed like the louder I turned them up the more I enjoyed them. Disclaimer: Listening to volumes that are too loud and for too long is unhealthy. Listen responsibly people. If you’re going to turn the volume up, be sure to give your ears a break every now and then. Remember, earphones become paper weights if you go deaf.

Bass
Bass is controlled and pretty non existent at sub bass levels. To understand the way the bass works we must start with mid bass. There’s midbass to an almost forward extent, with a nice amount of fullness and punch. Kick drums to give a realistic sense of impact that is a touch softer delivery than most average full size headphones. Where the earbuds lose out is in things like sub bass lines and the lowest of low earth rumbling stuff. From the very adequate a full midbass, there is roll off into a non existent low end. This was exposed during Daft Punk’s “Doin it Right”. Simply put, the bass line was monotone and thin, and the low end rumble was non-existent.

Midrange
The Monk Plus midrange is really well done. For five bucks you get a quality midrange that trumps the mids of many earphones that costs several times more. A warm tilt carries through the entire frequency range and finishes with a 2 kHz bump. This tuning raises the dynamics without destroying their organic and natural sound reproduction and detail. Take this type of tuning and add the open and airy presence that earbuds give you, we have a very unique and somewhat spectacular effect when listening to them. I thoroughly enjoy both male and female vocals with this earbud. Harmony of vocals and instruments are rich and airy at the same time.
When testing the Monk Plus, the midrange in Rodrigo Y Gabriela’s song “The Soundmaker” guitars flowed in and out of the track and played with a very nice amount of strength and accuracy. With Ed Sheeran’s song “One” his voice was colorful and full without being unnatural. Dire Straits “Sultans of Swing” has some nice and full rhythm guitar and vocals that were complemented by some smooth shimmer and sparkle at higher ranges.

Midrange sounds take center stage and there is a gradual descent in each neighboring frequency ranges. Although sub bass is pretty much obsolete, the treble holds its tone well and doesn’t necessarily “roll off” or appear to be shelved like the lower bass tones. We will go over this next.

Treble
Treble manages to be smooth and maintains a shiny and enjoyable presence. The Monk Plus does a good job avoiding sibilant sounds. If you’re not going to enjoy these earbuds, it’s not going to be because of harsh highs, and in that same breath your aren’t going to dislike them for lack of treble either. They are a step at or maybe a touch under neutral in some frequencies. Highs are slightly behind the forward midrange presence in terms of balance. I really like the sound of cymbal crashes and hi hats. They are clearly heard and without harshness or distortion for the most part. One thing to note, they will struggle with more complex musical passages. The Monk Plus drivers will get a bit overwhelmed and smear upper midrange and lower treble ranges when trying to handle lots of sounds at the same time. It’s only with the most complex passages with genres like fast rock and speed metal that I experienced this.

Soundstage and Imaging
The dynamic and forward midrange packs enough naturalness to create a nice sense of airiness and instrument placement. Because of this soundstage and imaging are pretty solid. Due to the lack of sub bass response, the depth struggles. Highs that take a slight backseat to the midrange don't yield much height. Airy? Yes. Extended? No.

Comparisons


Monk (original version) ($5 before being discontinued)
The Monk is the original five dollar earbud, and the basis in which VE aimed to surpass with the Monk Plus.

Comparing the two, the changes in sound are along the lines of the jump from the original Zen to the Zen 2.0. With the new generation, the Monk Plus is slightly more musical and smooth. VE has added a bit of color and strength to the upper midbass and midrange while maintaining the clarity and separation that made the original Monk a popular budget pick. The Monk Plus also has the added benefit of avoiding sibilant sounds and harshness from poorly recorded music. The overall feel is that the Monk Plus has a more organic signature with less fatiguing upper frequencies

Build quality and accessories is a draw. I prefer the look of the translucent smoke housings of the Monk Plus.

Do I consider the Monk Plus to be an improvement over the original? For me the answer is yes, absolutely. However, It will not be an improvement for those who prefer a more linear and lean tuning. Long story short, the Monk Plus is a slightly more musical version of the first offering, and more jack options and accessories to pick from.


VE Zen 2.0 ($150 USD on Aliexpress and VEclan.com)
The Zen 2.0 is the current earbud flagship from Venture Electronics. They are the next generation that picks up from where the original Zen left off. Similarly to the Monk series, the next generation Zen 2.0 added warmth and dynamics to their tunings while toning the upper frequencies down a bit. I am making this comparison for those who are considering taking the leap from the Monk Plus to the Zen 2.0.

First things first, the Zen 2.0 comes in at 300 Ohms, making it much more source dependent. The Monk Plus will sound better with a smartphone, while the Zen 2.0 will sound better with a more powerful DAP or amplifier. Bouncing back and forth, the Zen 2.0 is even more relaxed and smooth than the Monk Plus. There is more bass impact and depth with the Zen 2.0. On top of all of this the Zen 2.0 manages to maintain the same level of clarity throughout the sound spectrum. Throw both earphones on a higher powered source and it’s not really a contest, the Zen 2.0 pulls away when this is done. I personally feel that the Zen 2.0 is a luxury item as compared to the Monk Plus. If you want to see what VE is capable of doing, try the Monk Plus first. Get the Zen 2.0 if you want to hear one of their best, and experience what I consider to be a ten to twenty percent increase in performance over the Monk Plus, and have something more ideal for your desktop rigs and high powered portable sources. If the leap in price is worth the difference in your opinion, I say go for it. Just remember, trying a sample of the Monk Plus will give you a taste of what to expect in the Zen 2.0.

In terms of build, the Zen 2.0 gets a slight advantage, offering a ninety degree cable jack and cooler looking cable (with upgrade options). Accessories also goes to the Zen 2.0, as they offer more foams, ear hooks and a clamshell case.

Conclusion
The Monk Plus is hands down one of the best deals in the game of budget earphones. For five bucks you get a pair of earbuds that I consider to be a remarkable improvement in clarity and overall balance/fidelity to the stock Apple earpods we see used so often these days.

The Monk Plus isn’t going to rip through and destroy your custom built multi-driver in-ear monitors. It’s not the five dollar earphone that makes every earphone purchase you ever made seem obsolete. They won’t be the most ideal earphone for noisy environments. They won’t be the best earphone for commuting or running. To be honest, the Monk Plus is really only ideal for one thing, which is to sound really awesome for the price of lunch. Pop this five dollar earbud in when you're in a quiet environment and be amazed by their remarkable fidelity. Hearing is believing my friends!

Usually I try to break earphones down in each category to get a star rating. This time I’m skipping all this part and giving the Monk Plus a five star review. That’s one dollar for every star I gave them. For a price less than an extra value meal, I find the sound quality to be pretty amazing. I recommend that if you are even a little bit curious about the Monk Plus you should give them a try. Worst case scenario, if you don’t like them, you’re out five measly dollars and will have heard what a Venture Electronics earbud are capable of.

The amount of work it took to write this review is a testament to how well the Monk Plus sounds. Over the course of the last two years I’ve joined forces with many Head-Fiers to find the best sounding earphone for under twenty-five dollars. This is arguably the best of the bunch. Add things like optional adapters, balanced cable jacks, and an EX accessories package, Venture Electronics has redefined the words tremendous value when it comes to earphones.


Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Trinity Atlas Beta Sample Initial Impressions and Review
 
At the time this review was written the Trinity Atlas was part of a Kickstarter project. The item can be purchased for around $140 USD or higher, depending on what options you select. Here is a link to their Kickstarter web page:

 
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/157887895/high-end-in-ear-headphones-and-wireless-in-ear-hea
 
First things first, I’ve been spoiled with lots and lots of phenomenal gear in the last year. Reviewing has opened doors that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. It’s a result of my love for this hobby and the Head-Fi community. It has given me a chance to experience and report on many of the best personal audio gear there is. I’ve met a lot of very cool people and experienced some of the most phenomenal products there are.
 
When I first started chatting with Bob, it was a result of me complaining about the time it was taking to get my hands on the Delta/Techne/Hyperion Kickstarter products. Bob was quick to respond and reached out to me personally via PM on Head-Fi. To be honest this was a first for me. Never before has a company, let alone the main man in charge tried to contact me personally to resolve any issue(s) I was having. Long story short, we got things sorted out and the end result was more insight into the Trinity brand. And before I forget to mention it the Delta/Techne/Hyperion package DID NOT disappoint. I was very happy with my purchase of all three.
 
There are some very different companies that exist within the realm of high fidelity audio. There are the big dogs that operate on endless budgets that pump out earphone releases with the sole intention of maximizing their profit margin while keeping their faithful following happy. Then there are companies that are middle of the pack, offering a variety of products that are geared towards a select group, whether it be the high end and high priced products or the budget-fi world I’ve grown to know and love. Before all is said and done, what’s left are unique companies like Trinity.
 
Trinity has the same vision as the Head-Fi community, and it’s a beautiful one. Bob and the team at Trinity has set out to give the Head-Fi and Kickstarter community what it wants, which are great earphones that punch above their price that the masses can afford. Trinity’s products are based on OUR feedback, making it a win-win for everyone in the end. Anyone who participates on the Trinity Head-Fi and Kickstarter thread understands how personable and involved Bob is in the shaping of Trinity’s products. He is almost too transparent at times with his products and design, but let that be a testament to his goal which is to give all of us headphone enthusiasts the products we are looking for. High five Bob! We love ya!
 
When the Head-Fi community wanted a solid hybrid IEM with phenomenal sound quality, along comes the Delta, one of the first hybrid earphones that offers three tuning filters (and two more rumored to come). Along with the Delta, Trinity released an ergonomic single dynamic with three tuning filters called the Techne, and the widely popular micro dynamic Hyperion. Trinity has put themselves on the map for sure with their inaugural releases.
 
While the products are awesome, there are some things that I thought could be improved on. One was the fit and features. I mentioned to Bob that I wished the Delta was designed to be better set up for an over the ear fit. Other ideas came from the community, and sure enough Bob listened.
 
Bob contacted me shortly after that to see if I would partake in some beta testing for the soon to be released Atlas. I was really excited and honored to have the opportunity. After some communications back and forth, I think he understood my intentions as a reviewer and Head-Fier. I want everyone reading this to understand that my goal is to help the Head-Fi community get their hands on the best products they can and at the best prices possible.
 
Before I continue, I first and foremost want to thank Bob. Not only for the opportunity, but also his vision in designing his products. On behalf of all of us on Head-Fi and Kickstarter, we salute you for what you are doing sir! Cheers!
 
The Atlas package came in a bubble wrap package. There was no retail packaging so I can’t comment on this at the moment. When the retail packaging arrives I will edit this and attach it to a more formal review.

 
I received two versions of the Atlas. It didn’t take long to decide which one I liked more. Needless to say it was pretty unanimous between all beta testers which version will be used.
 
The Atlas is a remarkable build. The housing is made of all CNC machined metal housings that are very solid. The housings will come in a variety of different colors to choose from (Purple, Polished Aluminum, Orange, Gunmetal, Matte Black, Red). I LOVE the polished mirrored look that came on the beta model. The shape is phenomenal and I have no complaints about them. Their design follows along the line of many over the ear designs like Shure, Westone, and Fidue. Another great feature of the Atlas is that Bob has decided to put an nano-coating on the entire housing, making them water resistant and less prone to water damage and corrosion.

 
The Atlas has detachable MMCX connectors. They seem solid and well placed. The location of the MMCX jack sets up perfectly for their over ear fit. I have no problems with the placement.

 
Another great design on the Atlas is the filter system. The filter design follows more along the lines of the Techne model rather than the Delta, offering five sets of threaded tubes that are shaped to hold ear tips and have venting that helps shape the earphone’s response. While I didn’t get the exact finishes of the filters, I did receive what could be the final production of filters in terms of tuning. I will report that there has been discussions of tweaking the filters to possibly maximize the listening experience. With that being said, even if we can’t come up with another filter option, the ones I received are excellent and everyone should be able to get a filter that matches their preferred tuning.

 
Along with the housings I received two cables. One was a MMCX cable that is the same material as the first line of products. If you aren’t familiar with the original cable it is a braided cable with virtually no memory and very little spring. I love this cable and the MMCX application makes it even better. The other cable I received is a MMCX rubber coated cable with a universal single button microphone and remote. This cable seems very durable and reminds me of the RHA T20 cable in terms of thickness and durability. This cable has very little memory and less than average spring. The Trinity Atlas package will consist of three cables. To be honest I almost chuckle at this. At the current asking price I really don’t understand how Bob is making money off of these. The three cables by themselves should be more expensive than the Kickstarter asking price! There are also other cables that can be purchased like a bluetooth cable or Pono balanced cable. Don’t forget, because these are MMCX cables they can most likely be used on your other earphones with a MMCX connection.
 
As far as tips are concerned, I got the same gray and yellow silicone stock tips that come with the first line of products. While these tips are very formidable, both Paul (Brooko) and myself were in agreement that Sony hybrid tips worked better. Because of this Bob will be supplying a similar style tip called “KOMBI” hybrid tips. Thank you Bob!
 
Other tips that will ship in the package are S/M memory foam tips and double flange silicone tips. The other accessories that will come in the package are a shirt clip, a carrying case and a jack adapter. I can’t comment on any of this at the moment as I didn’t get any of this in the beta package. If they are anything like the first line of products they are excellent.
 
Here are some specifications and lists of accessories before I begin with sound impressions:
 
SPECIFICATION

Balanced Armature + 8mm neodymium dynamic drivers

5 x Interchangeable tuning filter system

Impedance 16Ohm

Sensitivity 110 +/- 3DB

Frequency response 19 - 21000HZ

24ct Gold plated 3.5mm Jack

ACCESSORIES

1. S/M/M/L silicone ear tips
   
2. S/M memory foam ear tips
   
3. 1 pair of double flange silicone tips.
   
4. S/M/L "KOMBI" hybrid tips
   
5. Shirt clip
   
6. Carry case
   
7. Jack adapter
   
   

COLORS AVAILABLE

You will be able to chose the colour of your Helio or Atlas IEM, choosing from the following selections:

1. PURPLE
   
2. POLISHED ALUMINIUM (excludes Helio wireless)
   
3. ORANGE
   
4. GUNMETAL
   
5. MATT BLACK
   
6. RED
   
   

FILTERS EXPLAINED

1. RED = Enhanced bass. Offering a V shape signature while retaining plenty of musical detail
   
2. ORANGE = V shape signature with slightly decreased bass
   
3. YELLOW = Neutral + Offering a more balanced sound signature with a very slight increase bass over neutral with a great mid and high range sparkle
   
4. PURPLE = Neutral - Offering a more balanced sound signature across the frequencies.
   
5. GUNMETAL = Treble. Offering a reduced bass signature with an focus on upper mids and treble.
   
   

 
Sound Impressions
 
Okay, so now you want to know how it sounds?

The Atlas offers FIVE different tuning filters that all bring something different to the table. Here is a graph I made with my Vibro Veritas and ARTA software. It gives an idea of what to expect from each filter.



 
The filters are vented to control the earphone’s bass response. As you can see by the graph, upper midrange and treble regions are almost identical, and from 2K and over it is pretty much an identical earphone. With that being said the tuning in this range is phenomenal, offering lots of detail and no sibilance from what I hear. There is no significant spike from what i can hear and everything sounds very natural and not overdone in any range.

 
Red Filter

This is the bass cannon filter from what I hear. The bass is there in abundance and is the star of the show in this configuration. You will still get good dynamics and better than average details, but the forward bass presence overshadows the reduced midrange presence. This will be the filter that will appeal to bassheads and those who like Hip Hop and EDM. Expect a consumer friendly tuning with excellent upper mids and treble presence and detail in this configuration.

Orange Filter

This filter sounded and measured almost identical to the red filters. I am wondering if I possibly got a red filter that was mistaken as the orange. For now all I can say is that it is pretty much the same as the red filters. I assume once Bob reads this he will contact me and see if there is a mishap in the filters I received. If there is a mix up I will be sure to edit this.

 
Yellow Filter

This is one of my personal favorites. I am a big fan of the Fidue A73 and this is very similarly tuned. To my ears the bass on the Atlas is just a touch slower in comparison, but the treble has just a touch less spike and is a touch more natural and resolving than the A73. This filter will be a favorite to many who buy the Atlas, as it is somewhat consumer friendly and enjoyable with just about every genre.

 
Purple Filter

At first listen this one was just a touch thin, but over time the purple filter’s sound grew on me and ended up being a tie with the yellow filter. The overall sound is very balanced to my ears, and the bass has better speed at the cost of less sub bass extension. Still, bass response isn’t necessarily lacking. I really enjoyed the purple filter with warmer sources.

 
Gun Metal (gray) Filter

This filter is the thinnest sounding, yet still carries a bass that can be heard and felt. Upper mids and treble are the star of the show in this configuration. It honestly has the sound of a high quality single balanced armature to my ears. Those who despise throbbing and thumping earphones and want to enjoy a thinner and more linear sound with a nice and complimentary bass presence, these are for you.

 
Source Selection

The Atlas is pretty source dependent. Because of it’s configuration and tuning filters, owners will enjoy tweaking their listening experience by experimenting with various sources and filters. For all you future Atlas owners, I promise that Bob has provided enough filters and cables to allow you to find what you consider to be a perfect, or darn near perfect combination for your preference and application.


 
Conclusion

With an array of cables and filter options, I would buy the Atlas if it cost twice as much as the current asking price. They have provided enough options that I can honestly say that they have pretty much eliminated the chance of anyone being able to say they can’t find a configuration that is ideal for their preference. Aside from being a Beta tester I have also jumped aboard the Kickstarter and ordered myself a retail pair. This is going to be a remarkable package at a price that is almost too good to be true.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the Noble Katana Universal was listed for sale on Noble Audio’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
https://nobleaudio.com/en/shop/universal/
 
Introduction
The greatest thing about this hobby is that the art of manufacturing great sounding earphones continues to evolve. From the top of the line multi-driver manufacturers down to the "bang for your buck" budget builders, the quality you can get at each price improves as time and technology advances.
 
Many of us start out in this hobby by dipping our toes in the waters of budget audio gear. Hearing some great sounding earphones at cheap prices raises the curiosity factor when it comes to the elite in-ear monitor brands. I remember thinking to myself “If these sound really awesome for one hundred dollars, I can only imagine what the earphones over a thousand must be like!” They say curiosity kills the cat, but when spending money on audio gear it can kill your wallet before you can ever afford to buy the cat in the first place!
 
In my time in this hobby, I’ve broken audio enthusiasts down into two types:
 
#1. There are those who have an established price limit to spend on gear, then spent the rest of their time in this hobby wishing for or wondering if it would be worth it to spend the extra cash on a pair of top of the line earphones.
 
Or…
 
#2. There are those who have the resources and patience to dabble in high end gear.  Most who fall into this group will keep their funds reserved, and go to audio shows or partake in review and demo tours to sample the best gear money can buy. They will try sampling several items, ready to pull the trigger and go balls out when they feel they’ve found the earphone they must own.
 
To be honest, I understand both philosophies. Being a huge fan and reviewer, my journey started out trying to find the best budget gear money can buy, thinking that If I buy the most popular earphones that are discussed in the budget threads I will find my “end game” earphone at a great price. I had a ton of fun doing this, and I made a lot of friends along the way. I found my preferred sound signature, and even started writing reviews during this time. However, "end game" earphones weren't discovered.
 
I also learned some things during the process of being a budget shopper. First off, budget brands can sound downright awesome for their price. Secondly, following the budget threads can be just as, if not more expensive than previously mentioned category #2. Third, the term “end game” is a myth. You can chase the dragon and you may get really close, but if you continue to read up on new products and go to shows you will see new products are released regularly and also getting better over time. This prevents seasoned veterans in audio gear (whether it be budget or top of the line) from saying that there is a general consensus for the world's best anything that is audio related. Stuff we thought was amazing a couple years ago has often time been eclipsed several times by new products at the same price range. At the same time, there are some products that stay relevant for years.
 
As my time reviewing has evolved, my main objective has always been to treat each review opportunity like I’m telling my friends about whatever earphone I’m covering. This approach has progressively opened the door to cover more and more premium products. Between the reviews and going to shows I’ve heard the top of the line earphones that used to spark my curiosity, pulling back the curtain of high end audio. Although I wasn't whisked away to another dimension of sound, the quality and presentation of much of this expensive gear is fabulous.
 
I now understand the law of diminishing returns, and the fact that in this hobby we pay a lot for minor upgrades in sound quality. With top of the line gear, a two thousand dollar earphone isn’t necessarily twenty times better than a hundred dollar pair. However, some of the products at the highest price points offer a level of refinement and quality that might not catch the proverbial “end game” dragon, but it will get you close enough to pet it for a while!
 
For the last two years since I first heard them at the 2014 Axpona audio show in Chicago, I have had aspirations to one day own the Noble K10U. Simply put, it’s to this day arguably the greatest sounding earphones on the planet. My wishlist was reconsidered earlier this year when Noble announced the release of their co-flagship named “Katana.”
 
Just like most high end earphone announcements, I was instantly curious to hear it and find out what these were all about. I reached out to Noble to see if they would be willing to offer a loaner for review. Today I have the honor and pleasure of sharing the good news of the Katana, and also compare it to it’s flagship companion the K10U which was borrowed by a fellow Head-Fier.
 
Here’s a statement from Noble about the Katana:
 
“Considered by many to have the perfect combination of balance, artistic beauty, and sharpness in its cutting edge, the Katana sword is by all accounts a precision instrument. As a tribute to the exclusivity and craftsmanship of the finest examples, Wizard’s latest design bears the name Katana.

Popularized due to its tremendous speed and versatility, Katana features proprietary Noble drivers throughout in a unique 9-driver per side configuration. With an extended top-end that generates airiness and outstanding imaging, Katana’s balance and control are the mark of a master that continues to refine his craft. Combined with a lush mid-range, impactful low-end, and Noble’s signature coherency, Katana is a serious tool in anyone’s arsenal.”

Disclaimer
I was given a free loaner of the Katana in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Noble Audio. I would like to take this time to personally thank Brannan for the opportunity to experience and review their new co-flagship product.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me. I want to hear any earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I can share my impressions with  enthusiasts and help them find the audio product they’re looking for. My Head-Fi profile has a list of audio products ranked from favorite to least favorite. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gear to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are solidly built, with ergonomics and sound that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

Katana comes in the customary premium black box seen in their previous models. The front of the box features the Noble logo printed in a gloss finish.
 

The back of the box displays a sticker with the serial number, name of the model and a brief description.
 

Opening the box, I’m greeted with a black pelican case, some stickers and a velvet drawstring bag. For those who don’t know, Pelican cases are airtight when snapped shut.
 

The Pelican Case opens to reveal the earphones and accessories. There are a lot of goodies stuffed in this case.
 

Removing the earphones from the packaging, the immediate impression is that of luxury. The cable and housings are premium. Underneath this bag is a metal plate which holds the Katana tip assortment.
 
Specifications and Accessories

Specifications
*9 proprietary balanced-armature drivers per side
*Updated Noble universal form factor and geometry featuring creative precision machined aluminum housings
*Sensitive enough for use with smartphones as well as portable amps and DAPs
*Hand-assembled and matched
*Detachable cable with industry standard 2-pin configuration (0.78 mm diameter)
 

Accessories
1X Pair Katana earphones
1X Braided cable with two pin connectors
1X Pelican Carrying case with carabiner
1X Velvet drawstring pouch
1X Earphones cleaning tool
1X Warranty card
2X Portable rig binding straps
3X Pair red/gray wide bore tips (S,M,L)
3X Pair blue/black narrow bore tips (S,M,L)
2X Pair memory foam tips (S/M,M/L)
1X Metal tips organizer plate
 
Housings

The first thing I thought when I heard the Katana had nine drivers was that the housings would be on the larger side of average. That isn’t the case at all. I have no idea how Noble got nine drivers in this housing. Although the housing is not small, they aren’t what I would consider bulky, and their ergonomic shape provides a nice fit.
 

The housings are made of machined aluminum and have lots of detail and patterns, creating a very nice visual effect. I will be honest, I far prefer the black and organic gold finishes over the colors used with the other variations in the Noble lineup. The look is sleek and sophisticated, and should appeal to those who want a high end appearance.
 

The Katana nozzle is in line with the rest of the product line. The nozzle has a fairly standard width and length making tip rolling easy to do. There are three ports at the end of the nozzle, identical to the K10U
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

Katana comes with a fairly rugged black braided cable. A four strand braid leads up to a metal jacketed Y-split, and branches off in to two twisted cables that lead to each channel. A clear plastic chin/neck slider is installed on the cable and works well to secure the Katana fit. Each channel has a two pin connection that plugs into a recessed notch of the housing. The fitting is solid and secure. Each side has a couple inches of memory wire to help secure the over-ear fit. Although I am not normally a fan of memory wire, in this case it works well and is very comfortable and easy to use. The jack is a straight 3.5 mm gold plated jack with a black metal jacketing.  
 
Functionality
The included cable doesn’t have a microphone and remote. To be honest, when spending as much as the asking price for the Katana, I would have hoped for a second cable option with a microphone and remote. Even still, if you are interested in this option an aftermarket cable with mic/remote can be purchased separately. There are a ton of options to pick from in today’s market.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

Having reviewed Nobles older shelled N6, I was curious how these would fit compared to the old version of shells. From the pictures I saw, I wasn’t sure if Noble has traded in comfort for style. I’m glad to say that’s not the case. The Katana is a great fitting earphone, especially once you find the right tip.
 
The all aluminum shell is not overly bulky. For those who are curious, the Katana comes in at a slightly smaller shell than the K10U. I would say it’s average in terms of bulk compared to other earphones.
 
Katana has a basic over the ear fit. Getting a great fit is a matter of finding the tip that works best for you, popping them in your ears and securing them in place with the cable’s memory wire. With a good sealing tip, isolation is excellent for a universal in-ear monitor. Microphonics are minimal thanks to the over-ear fit and chin/neck slider.
 
NOTE: Tip selection plays a huge part in how the Katana will sound. Experiment not only with the included tips, experimenting with other tips will also change the way these earphones sound. I really enjoyed the way Katana sounded with JVC Spiral Dot tips, but at the end of the day the included blue/black silicone tips rendered the best sound quality. For this reason I will be using them for the sound portion of the review.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP/Bushmaster D14 DAC/Amp for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
Katana falls in line with other in-ear monitors in terms of sensitivity. With more powerful powerful sources you will get a slight audible background hiss. This is no different than just about any high end multiple armature earphone out there. I was able to eliminate the audible background noise with higher output power devices with a device from iFi called the iEMatch. Here is a link if you are interested:
 
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-iematch/
 
Katana will work with your Android or Iphone and make your streaming music sound really decent. They have incredible resolution that gives you every detail in your music whether it be good or bad. With this being said, know that these earphones will do low quality sources, poor recordings and low bitrate files no justice. Their incredible detail and extension will butcher low bitrate music through a cheap source. My guess is that anyone who purchases the Katana will most likely have a high quality source, or at least a modern smartphone to use them with. If that is the case you should have no problem getting great performance from the Katana.
 
I can’t say whether the Katana works better with warm or cold, colored or neutral sources. I was able to enjoy them with either one. What I can say is they will rock with a low powered source the likes of most A&K players, the Fiio X7, my LG V10 and so on. Use your best music files with your best low powered portable source and you will be blown away by the Katana’s ability to be detailed, extended and musical all at the same time. Of all the gear I have at home, I enjoyed the Katana with my Fiio X7 while listening to FLAC and DSD files.
 
Sound Signature
Katana is a perfect name for this in-ear monitor. To my ears, Noble has taken elements from it’s co-flagship and added a slightly more airy and extended presentation. The Katana takes a razor sharp response and adds enough low end oomph, musicality and sparkle to make your listening experience special. I have a good feeling that as time goes on, conversations about what the best earphones on the planet are, the Katana will be included in these discussions.
 
Katana isn’t easy to classify. I can’t say it necessarily falls into a particular group of sound signature. Instead I’ll say they are like a perfectly cooked meal. You aren’t going to dislike the Katana sound because something is missing, because in terms of presentation you get the full palate. If you are going to say the Katana isn’t for you it’s probably going to be a preference thing. To my ears, there’s just the right amount of each frequency to make it a great and complete sounding earphone. The Katana has natural, sophisticated and musical sound all at the same time. I am seldom times able to group all of these three words together when describing an in-ear monitor.
 
Bass
The Katana bass is north of what I consider neutral, albeit not significantly boosted. Early impressions I read from others stated that they were on the lighter side in terms of bass. That isn’t the case. I hear a dynamic and responsive bass line that packs plenty of impact for armature drivers.
 
While listening to Daft Punk’s “Doin’ it Right,” Katana was able to handle the song’s visceral bass line with ease. Tone was great, and attack and decay were more in lines with that of dynamic driver earphones. Mid-bass tones may be a touch more forward than sub bass tones, but not significant enough to say it was noticeable outside of critical listening. You won’t feel like sub bass is lacking.
 
Mid-bass is slightly forward, uber responsive and non-intrusive to the rest of Katana’s sound. You get a very natural and impactful punch from kick drums and bass guitars sound very natural. During James Blake’s “Limit to your love” you can get a greater appreciation for just how responsive and accurate the Katana bass is. Long story short, the Katana bass is entertaining and engaging without crossing into basshead territory.
 
Midrange
Midrange on the Katana is somewhat unique. Considering the slightly forward tuning of the bass, you would assume that there would be a carry over of this into a very rich and lush lower mid-range. That doesn’t seem to be the case. The lower mid-range is very natural, but not as full and textured as the mid-bass tuning. At the same time, the transition from mid-bass to lower midrange doesn’t seem to be skewed to my ears. It’s really unique in this sense, and the perception I get is that the lower midrange is very airy, natural and detailed. While in one sense there could be more weight to some instruments and voices, the trade of is a unique and incredible sense of instrument placement and separation of sounds. I really enjoy this a lot and find myself appreciating this more and more as I listen to them.
 
Upper midrange is engaging and slightly forward. Vocals and upper mid-range sounds have a nice bite to them. Although an already goosebump inducing performance, Sia’s piano version of “Chandelier” literally put chills down my spine when listening to it through the Katana. There’s a unique level of airiness and dynamic textural thing going on in the mid-range that makes female vocals sound spectacular. Jam band, acoustic, and rock genres make good use of this element as well.
 
Treble
Treble is extended and natural to my ears. One thing to note is that Katana gives you the higher frequencies and doesn’t segregate the stuff that some manufacturers remove when tuning their earphones. I consider this to be more of a “true to recording” type of approach.
 
While some may try and say that these are bright are harsh, I would be inclined to argue this. With higher quality sources, files and listening to them a listening volume that is healthy, that isn’t the case whatsoever. Even still, at louder volumes the Katana is very true to the recording.
 
When measuring them, it doesn’t have a huge dip in tuning from the 5-9 kHz range like many other earphone manufacturers are doing so often these days. To be honest, after experimenting with tips, sources and doing comparisons, the Katana high frequency response is one of the more natural responses I’ve heard in an in-ear monitor. Although sometimes you might get a crisp pronunciation of the letter S or T, the organic nature and elite level of detail and separation makes up for it many times over. During the most complex music passages of Disturbed’s “Ten Thousand Fists” the Katana handled the upper frequencies with a level of clarity and separation I’ve seldom heard in an in-ear monitor. Is the Katana for those who are incredibly sensitive to higher frequencies? The answer is no, but for everyone else they will be great.

 
Soundstage and Imaging
Excellent extension at  both ends of the sound spectrum makes the Katana soundstage elite. Although not the best I’ve heard, Katana’s soundstage is excellent. The superior clarity and separation of sounds allows me to say that imaging is very good. With acoustic music and tracks with echoing, the clarity gives you an incredible sense of space and instrument placement.
 
Comparisons

Noble K10U ($1650 USD on Noble’s website)
The K10U is the now sharing the title of flagship with the Katana. The K10U has been one of the summit tops in the realm of in-ear monitors for quite some time. Now that Katana has come along, I guess you could call them “twin peaks.”
 
Comparing the two, the sounds aren’t that far off. Although different, there isn’t a sense that things have been radically redesigned. It’s really hard to break it down into each category of sound, it’s more of an overall feel kind of thing where I can tell a difference between the two.
 
If I had to put the difference into words, Katana seems to have taken the K10U and stretched the sound out just a touch. The K10U sounds more musical, a touch thicker in the lower midrange and just a touch less extended at higher frequencies. The Katana sounds a touch leaner and airier at lower midrange frequencies, and a bit more extended at higher frequencies. The K10U is a slightly richer, more dynamic and forgiving sounding version of the Katana, while the Katana is a slightly leaner, more natural, airier and more extended upper frequency tuning version of the K10U.
 
If you are a K10 or K10U owner and are looking to upgrade, consider the differences and ask yourself if this would be an improvement. If I had to pick one or the other it would be really tough. I might pick the Katana because of how good they sound with high res sources and files. That, and the fact that they have a slightly smaller housing and nice color scheme. To my ears, the Katana is capable of sounding more natural and impressive with the right source.
 
In terms of build quality, they are pretty much identical. The Katana has a slightly smaller and less bulky housing. Accessories is pretty much a draw.
 
Campfire Audio Andromeda ($1099 USD on ALO Audio’s website)
Andromeda broke onto the scene earlier this year and made a huge splash. They are an incredible sounding five driver earphone that has won the ears of just about anyone who has listened to them.
 
Comparing the two, the Andromeda seems to be the bassier of the two, and also seems to have a more visceral and aggressive sub-bass rumble that impacts the other frequencies. In terms of midrange, Katana has a cleaner and more detailed presentation, while the Andromeda has a slightly more musical and dynamic presentation. In terms of treble, Andromeda is smoother and less detailed than the crisper and slightly cleaner treble of the Katana. In terms of soundstage, I give it a draw. Some things I notice bouncing back and forth between the two, the Katana sounds cleaner, more detailed and refined, while the Andromeda sounds slightly more musical, bassy fun for modern genres of music.
 
Build goes to the Katana. Their shell is better designed and more comfortable to wear. I also prefer the two pin connection of the Katana over the MMCX connection of the Andromeda (although I do prefer the stock cable of Andromeda).
 
Both earphones are incredible, but this comes down to what you prefer. If you want a more natural, clinical and “accurate” music presentation, go for the Katana. If you want a slightly bassier and more musical tuning while still maintaining a good amount of clarity detail, go for the Andromeda.
 
Conclusion
The Katana is definitely worthy of flagship status. It has an incredible ability to give you a sense of detail, musicality and extension that is rarely done all at the same time. If you want an “everything all at once” kind of sound, these earphone these are something you should definitely consider.
 
The Katana will not be for everyone. Their top of the line quality comes with a top of the line asking price. Are they worth the price? If you can afford them, absolutely. If you only have two grand to spend on audio gear and don’t have a high quality source (or at least a modern smartphone) to push them, you might want to hold off until you get that situated. Those who listen to modern genres of music at really loud volumes, these probably aren’t meant for you. For those who want to take maximize the Hi-Res files they have stored on their high quality (and low powered) DAP, these are right up your alley.
 
Noble is a company that two years ago I could only imagine how good their best earphones are. Now that I’ve had the pleasure of listening to them, I can say that their flagships are everything I could have hoped for. They bring a level of fidelity that must be heard to understand.
 
When rating a product I have to take all criteria into account (including price). The Katana gets an easy five stars for sound, five stars for build, design and fit. If there’s anything I would feel inclined to deduct a half star for, it would either be the price, or the fact that there is not a microphone option to come with the package. Considering this is a luxury product, I’ll leave that up to you to deduct a half star or more from my rating, because I’m giving them a five star review. They are designed and geared for guys like me, and are one of the products that are raising the bar of personal audio products.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time this review was written, the Fidue A73 in ear monitor  was on sale for $149.00 USD on Penon Audio’s website. Here is a link to a listing of their product at the time of the review.

 
http://penonaudio.com/FIDUE-A73
 
Introduction
The highlight of my short tenure of writing reviews was covering the Fidue A83. It was my first time experiencing a Fidue in-ear monitor and after using the A83, I knew it wasn’t going to be my last. When the A73 was released I purchased it on the spot, and with absolutely no regrets. The A73 is an in-ear monitor that took the success of the A83 (I gave it five stars) and customer feedback (small issues regarding the fit and sound) and tweaked their tuning, ergonomics and PRICE. They made what is my favorite in-ear monitor to date. Please read more to find out why!
 
Disclaimer
The A73 was purchased from Penon Audio. I am in no way affiliated with Fidue or Penon Audio.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
 
The Package

 
 
 
The A73 was one of those packages that I had to make sure I checked the tracking on my phone several times each day, for no other reason than sheer anticipation. When they arrived, I was greeted with a sharp black and green box much similar to the A83. There was a description of the product and key features, along with a nice picture image of the IEM. The back of the box had specifications in three languages.
 
Specifications:

1. Driver: Φ10mm Exclusive Dynamic & Balanced Armature Drivers Frequency
   
2. Frenquency Range: 13-27,000 Hz

   
3. Sensitivity: 107dB

   
4. Max Input Power: 20mW

   
5. Distortion: <1%

   
6. Plug: 3.5mm stereo, gold-plated (MP3, iPod, iPhone & iPad Supported)

   
7. Cable: 1.3 m
   
8. Sensitivity of Mic: -42+-3db
   
9. S/N Ratio of Mic: ＞55db
   
   

 
Accessories:

1. Silicone eartips (S/M/L)

   
2. Double flange silicone eartips
   
3. shirt clip
   
4. High quality Leather Carrry case
   
   

 
Housings
The housings are a combination of metal and plastic similar to the A83, but with a more ergonomic shape that better fits my ears. The outside of the housings appears to be metal with a brushed nickel or aluminum finish. The inside of the housing is a transparent crimson/wine colored plastic that reveals the innards of the A73. I find the housings to be very nicely built and very good looking. The hozzle angles out of the inside of the housing and is designed for over the ear fit. All in all its sharp looking, has a sturdy build, an ergonomic design and a great fit.

 

 

 

I think they checked all the boxes on this one...
 
Cable, Y-split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs
The cable is a rubbery transparent gray cable that shows traces of the inside cable cores. It has very little memory and a small amount of spring. It's nowhere near as solid or heavy duty as the A83 cable but it is sleek, discreet and ready for daily use.
 
The Y-split is a Crimson rubber material coated in a aluminum tubing that displays the Fidue logo. The build is sleek and solid.
 
The cable jack is a straight plug that uses the same materials as the Y-split. It's a straight plug and seems to be well built and able to withstand the test of time.
 
Strain Reliefs are a rubber material that is a similar transparent crimson color to the housing. I find the material to be spot on and perfect for strain relief. I don’t see this cable shorting out any time soon.

Boxes for all criteria were checked for this section.
 
Functionality
The A73 has a single button remote and microphone that works for both Iphone and Android (very smart) and is located just above the Y-split on the right side. When talking to friends and family, most reported my voice clarity to be at a four on a scale from one to five.
 
It checks boxes in terms of being just right for features I need, and nothing I don’t.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics
The over the ear fit is perfect in my opinion. I had no problem getting them to fit. Once situated in my ear, I almost never had to adjust them. Your mileage may vary, and tip selection plays a big part in this, but for me they are one of the best fitting IEMs I’ve ever worn. They aren’t designed to be worn under the ear but it can be done without a problem. However it looks kind of awkward.

 
Note: The cable didn’t have a chin slider. Although, not necessary, I feel that this is one feature that would have improved the product’s fit.
 
Sound Review & Materials
I primarily did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware, and Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for portable use. For desktop I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier for lower impedance products. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs/DACs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I make sure that any gear I tested has has enough time play time for me to be able to confidently describe their sound.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to asses and break down the gear’s response.
 
Sound Signature
I’ll be the first to say that I’ve been a huge fan of hybrid earphones because of their ability to have the bass of a dynamic driver in combination with the details of a balanced armature. As time goes by, this design keeps getting better and better. The A73 is incredible tuning that adds an ever so slight bass lift, warm midrange and treble response that is extended, detailed, crisp and pretty smooth all at the same time. Nothing seems to be over or under done from what I hear. It is a nice combination of power and finesse. It plays all genres of music well. They were especially spectacular for band genres due to their world class separation, timbre and detail. Jazz, Metal, Rock, Classic Rock, and Symphony all sound especially beautiful with these IEMs. I spent a long time listening to both these and the A83 and although the A83 is a more dynamic and entertaining sound, I caught myself reaching for the A73 more often. At the moment I prefer their slightly more linear tuning. Allow me to explain why as I break them down.
 
Bass
The A73 bass is slightly boosted, beautifully balanced, fast in attack and not intrusive whatsoever. Bass tones were heard/felt as low as 10Hz and rolled upwards to 130Hz before it topped off. There was no significant drop offs and all tones were relatively close. During music playback it seems very balanced to my ears. There is no part of the bass response that seems to jump out in front of the rest of the tuning.
 
The bass is forward, present and lush, playing along with the music in good balance, hitting every note pretty flawlessly. When called upon by the track to bring some thump it can also do so just as easily. It is a very versatile bass response. During Daft Punk’s “Doin it Right,” the lowest of low bass notes were perfect in tone and not boomy at all (which is usually the case with most IEMs). During Tei Shi’s “Bassically,” there was a level of depth and speed playing the bass lines that yielded a great sense of space and energy. You get punch, you get rumble, you get speed. No, it’s not fast armature bass but in my opinion it's better. It’s more linear and balanced than most bass forward dynamics and more dynamic and weighted than balanced armatures. I hope that makes sense.
 
Bass quality, Check...
 
Midrange
Midrange is an epic combination of warmth and resolution. I get a sense of forwardness in ranges just above midbass that make vocals pop. I really like how this is done. To my ears, the vocals take center stage on most tracks and that’s how it should be. Voices sounded very natural and forward at the same time. Pianos had great timbre and speed.
 
The midrange is somewhat similar to the tuning of the Dunu Titan in the sense that they go from very warm and rich in lower midrange to very crisp and slightly dry upper midrange. The word that comes to mind is “shimmer.” They have a certain amount of upper midrange detail and shimmer that nicely compliments that rich lower mid presence. They are never shouty, and you catch every single micro detail with great resolution and accuracy. The balanced armature inside of these are gems. During Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing,” I got lost in picking apart all of the guitars and bass guitars playing at the same time. I think the level of separation on the A73 is world class.
 
Midrange, Check...
 
Treble
Treble is my favorite aspect of the A73 in terms of its sound. Often times when higher end IEMs are released, they have a tweaked treble response with a bump somewhere in the upper mids or treble area. This is done to yield a good sense of top end extension and improve soundstage. This is done at the expense of some listeners not being able to tolerate the spike, or get the impression that the earphone is mild to considerably sibilant. The A73 is unique in the sense that it carries the same amount of extension and detail as higher end stuff, but isn’t forward enough to be harsh. It has very clean and crisp sound and feel. There were no harshly pronunciations of the letter S, and cymbal crashes were crystal clear and on the more mellow side of harsh.  I could listen to this type of treble tuning for hours without it ever getting fatiguing or feeling like it is lacking in any way. It sounds good at any volume. Dare I say it is some of the best treble I’ve ever heard in an IEM? I did, and with no shame!
 
Treble response, check...
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The A73 sounds very open and airy. The beefy sound from the dynamic driver and very detailed and extended sound of the armature driver creates a huge soundstage for an IEM. Imaging is awesome because of the top notch level of detail and accuracy. Simply put, pop them in your ears, play your favorite tracks, sit back, relax, close your eyes, and you will be whisked away to your favorite songs being performed live just for you. The dynamic and armature driver playing in unison really makes the presentation sound multidimensional.
 
Soundstage? Imaging? Check...
 
Comparisons
 
Fidue A83 ($275 to $325 USD on many sites)
If the Fidue A83 is the Shaquille O’neal version of in-ear monitors, the A73 is Kobe Bryant model. While the A83 brings power and an aggressive tuning that impresses me every time I listen to it, the A73 has traits that sets it apart from it’s older teammate, making it equally as effective despite the differences in its game plan and approach.
 
The A83 is more aggressive and forward in just about every auditory aspect. The bass is more robust and has more rumble. The A73 bass is more linear and with more speed. The upper midrange of the A83 is more forward and shouty in comparison to the A73 softer presentation. The treble of this A83 is more up front and some have said it is sibilant. While I don’t think this is the case, they are forward in comparison to the more relaxed and tolerable treble of the A73.
 
A83 is up front and aggressive, the A73 is more laid back and relaxed, delivering all the details and balance needed for audiophiles to really appreciate it.
 
The A83 is the entertainer, the A73 is the professor. A83 is the Incredible Hulk, the A73 is Bruce Banner. A83 is Superman, the A73 is Clark Kent. To make this review more fun, please post more analogies in the comment section below! Just keep it clean guys!
 
So, while the A83 is in the paint throwing elbows, pulling down rebounds and dunking on people, the A73 is weaving in and out of traffic, picking the opposition's pockets and nailing twenty foot fade away jumpers.
 
If I want to play an action flick with lots of music and explosions, or I’m listening to my favorite Daft Punk album, I’m going A83. This A83 also isn’t leaving the house because of the high price tag!
 
If I’m going to listen to some AFI or Pink Floyd, or decide to play some acoustic artists, I’m going A73.  I prefer the A73 for long listening sessions, one thing I haven’t touched on is the that the A73 has a much better and more ergonomic fit than the A83. If I’m leaving the house I’m taking these over the A83 because they are sleeker, and half the price (so half the risk) of the A83. Yes, for me the A73 is good enough to reach for instead of the A83 more times than not.
 
In terms of accessories, A83 takes the prize with its pelican case, airline adapter, ¼ inch plug, and detachable cable. The A73 accessory package is formidable and not lacking in any way, but not on the same level as the A83.
 
Dunu Titan ($90 to $125 USD on many sites)
The Titan caught a lot of people off guard with their solid build, and phenomenal resolution and aggressive tuning, turning many people’s attention towards the titanium single driver dynamic.
 
Simply put, I feel the Titan is outclassed by the A73 at this point, which is saying a lot because I had the Titan ranked second at the time of writing this review (now third out of all of the IEMs I have). The A73 is more extended into sub bass regions and more linear at the same time, making the Titan seem more mid-bass forward and lacking sub-bass extension and soundstage depth. Vocals sound great with the Titan but separation in the midrange was not as good to my ears as the A73. While I preferred the upper midrange of the Titan, overall smoothness, extension and resolution of the A73 treble was more enjoyable to me.
 
A-B comparisons, I can confidently say that the A73 is more detailed, higher resolution, more sub bass (and more bass overall) and has a bigger soundstage and better imaging. Now, all of you who have the Titan pop them in right now, give them a listen, and apply what I just said. Now, grab your wallets and go to the link at the top of the page and get these A73! HAHA! JKJK...kind of...not really...muahahaha...
 
Dunu offers a slightly better accessories package. Their case is very nice and Sony like hybrid tips sealed the deal for me.
 
Titan has a better under the ear fit. The fact that I can go over the ear with the A73 without swapping channels gives them the edge.  
 
Conclusion
The A73 checked just about every single box for me. It was a chin slider short of being perfect in my opinion. They took feedback from it’s reviewers and made another epic in-ear monitor. Fidue is quickly becoming my favorite maker of in-ear monitors. They make improvements based off of reviews and customer feedback. That is huge and a big reason why I have already made up my mind to invest in more of their premium products moving forward.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time of the review, the Havi B3 PRO1 was was on sale on Penon Audio’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://penonaudio.com/HAVI-B3-PRO%20?search=Havi
 
Introduction
Ahhhhhhhhhh, where do we even start?
 
Early on in my adventures into this hobby (around 2013) I was a Head-Fi rookie trying to find the next great pair of cheap in-ears when I stumbled across the Chinese/Asian budget thread. Lots of great gear was discovered and discussed there, and many friends were made. From that thread my searches branched off into the Deals thread, the Discovery thread and then into other threads that featured individual popular models. Since then one thing has remained consistent. The Havi B3 PRO1 (not to be mistaken with the Havi B3 PRO2) was and still is very relevant and popular with the Head-Fi community. While many flavors of the month come and go, the Havi stays relevant.
 
The B3 PRO1 was one of my first Head-Fi recommended purchases (right after the Piston 2.0) but DEFINITELY not my last. I remember getting my pair of B3 PRO1 in the mail from Penon Audio, plugging it in and being wowed by how natural they sounded. If I remember correctly my response to others on the threads was that I just heard a waterfall at the end of a Daft Punk track and it sounded so real, I had to run to the toilet to relieve myself.
 
To be completely honest I haven’t listened to the Havi very much for the last year simply because I was either listening to review samples or gear I’ve purchased out of curiosity. When my good friend Baybars was asking if anyone wanted to hear the “new” B3 PRO1 I had to experience them for myself. Attach the words “Havi” and “new” and you don’t have to ask me twice.
 
There’s something special about the Havi. It’s not booming bass, timbre rich midrange or super extended treble. It’s not the perfect frequency response curve that will make you say “that has to sound good.” In fact, looking at a graph you would almost think there’s no way this earphone can sound good at all. Don’t be fooled, hearing is believing! Just about everyone who’s heard the Havi ends up liking them. For many listeners on the threads I visit their favorite earphone to this day is the Havi simply because they haven’t heard something that gives the same type of sonic presentation. Let’s cover them with a comprehensive review.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Havi B3 PRO1 in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Havi. I would like to take this time to personally thank Havi for sending the review sample, and also my friend Baybars for the recommendation. He is the original Havi fanboy, an excellent photographer and reviewer, and all around great guy. Hey Baybars, thanks for rekindling my love for the B3 PRO1 buddy!
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
 
The original Havi B3 PRO1 came in a small plastic case just big enough to hold the earphone and simple accessories. Havi stepped it up this time, packing them in a larger black box with red and silver accents. There is a nice picture of the earphones on the front. The back of the box displays features about the B3 PRO1 that sets itself apart from the rest of earphone market.
 
  
The right side of the box has a picture of a 1990s grunge dude strumming a guitar (nothing special). The left side of the box features specifications and accessories in Chinese and English.
 

Inside the box was another more premium box that opened via a magnetic flap on the front.
 

Opening this box I was greeted with a foam cutout with the famed Havi housings and a couple pairs of red/gray silicone tips. Removing the top foam revealed the remaining accessories package.
 
Specifications and Accesories
Specification

1. Frequency response：10-20KHz
   
2. THD:<0.1%（Ikhz/100db SPL）
   
3. Impedance：32ohms
   
4. Sensitivity：115dB/mW
   
   

Package

1. HAVI-B3 Pro1 In-ear Earphones
   
2. 3 types of silicone eartips (S/M/L)
   
3. 3 pairs of Black Dual Flange Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
   
4. Flannel Carrying bag
   
5. Carrying case
   
6. High quality handkerchief
   
7. One pair of foam cushions
   
8. 3 pairs of White Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
   
   

 

Havi stepped it up in terms of accessories in this package. The most notable and appreciated upgrades in terms of accessories were the improved tip selection and the higher quality clamshell case.
 
Housings

First things first, there is no noticeable change in terms of build between the old and new model. If something isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it, right?
 

The inside of the Havi housing is constructed of plastic that is fairly lightweight but feels very sturdy. The fact that I have a two year old pair that looks just as good as the new pair should be a testament to how well they hold up if handled with a reasonable amount of care. The outside of the housing is constructed of gorilla glass (the same material used for cell phone screens) and has the simple and sleek Havi logo displayed underneath.
 
The nozzle of the Havi is angled nicely and is pretty standard in terms of length and width. I have no problems tip rolling with them.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The Havi cable is uniquely done. It is made of four separate cables that are attached in a ribbon fashion and runs this way from the jack to the Y-Split. There is purpose in having four separate cables leading to the Y-split. Havi splits grounds for each channel, eliminating crosstalk and improving coherency. One negative note, when unwinding the cable the ribbon-like cable gets twisted into a kink occasionally. It isn’t a permanent thing but you will catch yourself removing these kinks when unwinding the cable from time to time.
 
The Y-Split is made of a very durable black plastic piece and leads into two single cables that run to each channel. There is a chin slider above the Y-split that works well and comes in handy with the over the ear fit. The cable jack is a well done ninety degree gold plated jack with a red and black plastic jacket.
 
Strain reliefs at the housing, jack and Y-split are well done and built to withstand the test of time.
 
Functionality
The Havi is a plug and play device. There are no microphones or remotes to get in the way of the B3 PRO1’s awesome audio presentation. Plug in, play music, be amazed, repeat.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
The housings are shaped to fit the inside of the ear similar to a custom in-ear monitor. While I feel the form isn’t bad, I don’t think Havi nailed it with the shape and ergonomics. Still, I get a really good fit that is comfortable and easy to wear with the right tip. Speaking of tips, I find the Havi to be a VERY tip dependent earphone. While they stepped it up in terms of tip selection, the best tips I’ve found for my ears are Sony silicone tips. JVC Spiral dots and the included Sennheiser-like dual flange tips come in a close second. Your mileage may vary, just know that in order for you to get the heralded fidelity this earphone can provide, you need to find a tip that gives you an impeccable seal.
 
The B3 PRO1 is designed to be worn over the ear. Because of this there are virtually no microphonics to mention.
 
Isolation is better than the average universal in-ear monitor. Still, I get a small amount of noise leaking in while listening to them.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection

At first I thought the new Havi was easier to drive than the original, but it turns out it was merely new toy syndrome. Comparing the two responses on my Vibro Veritas (a very fun tool to use to help you understand what you’re hearing), I got similar slopes with a few variances, which could be because the age and use of my old model, or due to variances in production runs. Also noted is the need for the Havi to be driven by a source slightly more powerful than the average cell phone.
 
Something I really enjoyed was my combination LG G3 streaming Google Music via Bluetooth into my APTX bluetooth Shanling H3, then low gain into my B3 PRO1. That combination was out of this world good, and got the approval of everyone who listened to them.
 
I personally feel that despite being listed as 32 Ohms, the power demands of the Havi exceeds that. A warm sounding source with amplification beyond a cell phone will be ideal for Havi
 
Sound Signature
Spectacular, stunning, stellar, stylish, standing out from the rest… Havi….
 
It’s like someone at Havi said “let's do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and make one of the best sounding in-ear phones around in the process.”
 
Most of us are used to a V-Signature tuning, where manufacturers boost bass and treble frequencies, leaving the midrange in the background. Havi has done the opposite, elevating middle frequencies with an added dip around 1k while still maintaining a nice level of extension and resolution on both ends. The result is a center stage midrange with great 3D imaging and separation. The dual dynamic drivers handle music in perfect unison. Havi is the soundstage king of earphones from what I’ve heard. Nothing I’ve heard beats the spacial imaging of the Havi B3 PRO1. It seems as though the Havi midrange is taking center stage and projecting outward into a limitless amount of space. I’m sure there’s many who have heard them and will agree with this.
 
Bass
First things first the Bass IS NOT FORWARD. It is tight responsive bass with a very slow rolloff into sub bass ranges. The way it rolls off in comparison to a forward lower midrange makes it seem very natural and organic. Bass heads won’t like it, nor should they. I would go as far as say its neutral to my ears.
 
Midbass is the one of the most well tuned and responsive ones I’ve heard. Even with the somewhat linear bass tunings, I still enjoy the B3 PRO1 with bass heavy genres. The high resolution and response the Havi kicks out makes anything thing I listen to enjoyable.
 
Midrange
Midrange is warm tilted, ultra high resolution, superb separation, and ready to take on any music you throw at them. There is a dip around 1k that makes all vocals seem more spacious and slightly holographic to my ears. The midrange lift carries to the 4k mark then drops off before things get sibilant. Dare I say perfect midrange? If not it’s close!
 
Treble
Treble appears to drop off early but it’s not the case. Havi has a crisp feel without being sibilant at all, even at loud volumes it maintains a smooth presence. Just like the bass frequencies the B3 PRO1 treble seems to slowly roll off into eternity. The treble has a very fast attack, great separation, and an ability to seem incredibly spacious.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Here is where we could go on forever about them…
 
Havi nailed it with soundstage and imaging. Usually I can sum it up with two sentences for this criteria, however this might be the one part I want you to know about the B3 PRO1 sound.
 
Midrange is without a doubt center stage, but in a good way. It has a level of clarity and separation that is very unique. from that very forward midrange they roll off a bit on each end while maintaining a level of resolution throughout the entire frequency range other in-ear monitors can’t come close to. Because of the phenomenal clarity it doesn’t seem to have any limits in terms of space. It’s almost uncanny how big the stage is to my ears.
 
Imaging is somewhat holographic. While I feel the space is maximized I don’t know if I would say there is perfectly accurate imaging. Despite this it is excellent, and far better than the average in-ear monitor.

 
Comparisons
 
Audio Technics ATH-IM50 ($50 to $75 USD on many sites)
The IM50 is a dual driver earphone that was and still is popular with the Head-Fi community, and a direct competitor to the B3PRO1. Their somewhat consumer friendly tuning is a hit with many who listen to modern genres of music.
 
Comparing the two, IM50 is definitely a more aggressive tuning that will appeal to those who like modern genres of music. The IM50 has the advantage in terms of bass forwardness and overall balance. Havi has the advantage in terms of resolution, separations, and soundstage. To my ears the B3 PRO1 is a less fatiguing and slightly more enjoyable listening experience. Your mileage may vary.
 
In terms of accessories, Havi has taken it to the next level with the upgraded accessories package. Advantage Havi.

 
TTPOD T1E ($30 to $60 USD on many sites)
The T1E is one of my favorite earphones of all time. They are a budget friendly, well made and well tuned dual bio-cellulose driver earphone. The T1E has a fast, bouncy and extended bass response that never seems to bottom out, timbre rich and buttery midrange and slightly better than average treble that is decent enough to not ruin the T1E presentation.
 
T1E gets the advantage in terms of bass response and enjoyment factor. Havi wins in the mIdrange, treble, and overall resolution categories. In terms of listenability, I find both of them equally enjoyable, and which one I use is dependent on what mood I’m in and what music I want to listen to.
 
Again, Havi’s improved accessories package gives them an advantage over the T1E. The new B3 package provides a similar amount of quality tips and also offer a superior clamshell case as compared to the velvet drawstring pouch of the T1E.
Conclusion
When I started this review I planned on giving it four and a half stars, but by the time I finished doing the sound analysis and comparisons I have to bump the Havi up to five stars. While I think there are things about the design that aren’t perfect (minus one star), I realize that on a scale from one to five, I consider the sound quality of them to be a six. Simply put, the B3 PRO1 has sound quality that rivals things that cost ten times more than their asking price.   
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

At the time of the review, the Oriveti Primacy was on sale on Amazon.com. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019TAJRPA?keywords=oriveti%20primacy&qid=1453662990&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
 
Introduction
I love reviewing hybrid in-ear monitors. Technology has advanced to the point I personally feel that with the right combination of source and earphone they can sound just as good and sometimes better than many top of the line full size headphones. I’m sure there are some who will disagree with this. In a hobby based on perspective and experience, I’m sure there are also many experienced reviewers who will agree with my statement as well. The science behind creating great sounding earphones is not limited to just a couple elite earphone manufacturers. With the right knowledge and resources, we are seeing quite a few smaller and more obscure companies release products that are downright incredible.
 
A couple reasons for this are advancements in designs and materials used for both dynamic and armature drivers, but even more so the advancing technology and application of both dynamic and armature drivers into one cohesive sound. If you haven’t experiences a highly touted hybrid earphone for yourself you definitely should. Their combination of dynamics and detail are taking in-ear monitor technology to another level that couldn’t be achieved five years ago.
 
We are in a time where earphones couldn’t be more popular. Although the market is huge, it is usually split between two very different demographics. There are the budget minded consumers looking for a formidable pair of earphones to replace the pair that came with their smartphone, and then there is the audiophile who doesn’t mind shelling out massive wads of cash, getting impressions for their next set of multiple driver custom monitors. To be completely honest, I consider myself somewhere in the middle of these groups at this point. I can see the reason for both motivations.
 
Smack dab in between these groups is the mid-fi market. The one to five hundred dollar market is a unique one where you will find models that can be ridiculously over or underpriced. Let it be known that once you get beyond the realm of budget-fi, you are increasing your risk to reward factor when spending your hard earned dollars. Just like all things bought and sold, the law of diminishing returns becomes more and more apparent the higher you get on the price bracket.
 
The best advice I can give you if you are in the market for a great fitting or great sounding piece of audio gear, it is smart to dabble in the budget-fi world first to see what you like. Create a Head-Fi account and ask questions. There’s lots of very helpful people on the threads that can help answer any questions you have. When you’re ready upgrade to something better, read the reviews of people you trust and see if their impressions of an earphone are in line with what you’re looking for. More times than not this is a recipe for success, and a formula to make the most of your money when buying audio gear.
 
So where am I going with this conversation? I guess what I’m trying to say is that a product is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. I’m also saying that in this hobby where customers are usually paying for either performance or exclusivity, occasionally both. Any time I purchase or review an in-ear monitor that eclipses the hundred dollar mark, I often times ask myself which of the two it is that’s driving the manufacturer’s current asking price. Are they selling performance, or are they marking up the price just so consumers will think that because of the price it has to be good?
 
When I was asked to review the newly released Oriveti Primacy, I was very excited to have the opportunity. I was looking forward to figuring out not only if the Primacy could compete with comparable models in its price range, but also if they were worthy of their asking price. I’m happy to say that Oriveti is selling an awesome combination of performance and sleek style. The Primacy is a rock star of an earphone!

 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Oriveti Primacy in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Oriveti. I would like to take this time to personally thank them for the opportunity.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.

 
REVIEW

The primacy comes in a Black box with gray letters. The front of the box displays the model name with a very brief description, as well as a nice photo of the earphone housing.
 

The back of the box features very nicely drawn schematics explaining all the technology that goes into the Primacy construction. There is also a listing of specifications and accessories.
 

Opening the box, I was greeted with felt lined foam cutout displaying the Primacy earphones and a part of the braided cable. I immediately smiled from ear to ear. Their sleek and slim profile reeks of luxury. Lifting the foam containing the earphones revealed another foam cutout holding the accessories. This is a very high end presentation and accessories package. Just opening the box, I could tell the folks at Oriveti definitely know what they’re doing. The way the earphones and accessories are displayed, the product pretty much sells itself.

 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specification
Driver: Exclusive Dual Armature Driver & 8.6mm Dynamic Driver
Impedance: 11 Ohm
Frequency Response: 20 - 20000Hz
Sensitivity: 107+-3dB/mW, 1000Hz

Distortion: <1%

Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm Stereo Plug

Cable: 1.2 m
 
Package Includes
Earphone body - 1pair
Detachable Cable - 1pc
Aluminium Carrying Case
XS, S, M, L Silicone Tips - 2pair per size
M form tips - 2pairs
Flight adaptor - 1pc
Earwax Cleaning tool - 1pc
3.5mm to 6.5mm plug -1pc
Ear Hook - 1pair
 

The accessories package is exquisite. There are plenty of high quality tips to help guarantee customers will get a good seal. Although the the metal case is top of the line, I do wish Oriveti would have provided a more pocket friendly case that prevents the Primacy earphones from rattling around. I can use the Oriveti case for storing them, but I make sure to use an aftermarket clamshell case when traveling with them. The Primacy is so nice, I don’t want to risk chipping the shells.
 
Housings

The Primacy housings are awesome. They are constructed of a black aluminum shell. For a hybrid they are very small, and I was scratching my head wondering how they were able to fit three drivers in each side. It was very easy to tell the channels apart. Not only did they have the R and L written in white on the inside of each housing, they also had variances on the outside of the housings as well. The Oriveti name is printed on the right channel, and the Oriveti “O” logo is printed on the outside of the left channel.
 

The housings are a rounded bean shape that contours seamlessly into the nozzle and cable connection. The nozzle is perfect in terms of it’s length and width. Tip rolling was easily done. One thing to note is how narrow the inside of the nozzle is. This makes sense why Oriveti would Include a wax cleaning tool in the accessories package.

 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The cable is a black braided cable that has very little to no spring or memory. It is fairly tangle resistant and matches the rest of the design in terms of sleekness and sophistication. The rotatable MMCX jacks snug to the housing and sit flush with the Primacy housing. The Y-split is somewhat underwhelming. It is nothing more than split braided cable covered in a piece of heat-shrink tubing. There is a clear firm rubber chin/neck slider that works well to snug the monitors into place. The cable jack is a straight gold plated 3.5 mm jack with a black metal housing displaying the Oriveti name. Strain reliefs are subtle but seem adequate.
 
NOTE: One issue I have is that Oriveti didn’t include a cable with a microphone and remote. In today’s day and age I almost feel this is a necessity when selling more expensive earphones. On a positive note, replacement cables are pretty reasonably priced and relatively easy to find. I tested and confirmed that the Primacy has a standard MMCX cable adapter.
 
Functionality
The Primacy is a plug and play device. Plug in, play, enjoy, repeat.
 
NOTE: As mentioned in the previous criteria, the detachable cable design allows Primacy owners to replace the cable with mic/remote or upgrade cables if so desired. They can be found on eBay, Aliexpress, Amazon and many other websites that sell earphones and accessories.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
For a long time the Phonak PFE012 was the best fitting in-ear monitor I’ve ever used, but now that title is shared with the Oriveti Primacy. Their bean shape and small size will make questioning whether or not it will fit customer’s ears a non issue.
 
The Primacy can be worn cable down, but they are better set up to be worn up and over the ear. Wearing them cable down, the braided cable is noticeably microphonic. Worn over the ear, microphonics are eliminated. Isolation is average for an in-ear monitor.
 
NOTE: The Primacy is a tip dependent earphone. Variances in how well a tip seals your ears will have a noticeable effect on how they sound. Just like all in-ear monitors, maximizing the seal when wearing them is the key to getting the highest quality sound from them. Although I was able to get a good fit and seal using some of the stock tips, the tips I was able to get a consistent seal and sound with the most was a pair of RHA silicone tips. Your mileage may vary.


 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
At eleven ohms, the Primacy can be driven by anything you plug into them. I didn’t necessarily get any added benefit from plugging them into my amplified sources. The Primacy is a very detailed and precise sounding earphone, so make sure to feed them high bit rate and high quality recordings for best results.
 
Sound Signature

*Measurement take with the Vibro Veritas. This is not an exact measurement but should give you an idea of the earphone response
 
The Primacy is a world class combination of dynamics and detail that makes it one of the best sounding earphones I’ve ever heard. They have a relatively balanced frequency response that is void of any radical spikes. The overall feel of them are slightly warm tilted and smooth with great dynamics, detail and extension on both ends.
 
The Primacy flat out rocks. You can throw just about any genre of music at them and you would think that they were made for it. I can listen to the Primacy all day and not get fatigued, yet still feel like I’m getting every single bit of the frequency response in good balance.
 
Bass
Bass is extended, dynamic, and very tight. You get equal amounts of punch and rumble and it is at a level of resolution that you can’t fault it. Attack and decay are very fast for a dynamic driver.
 
The bass digs as deep as your ears can hear and is as tight and responsive at the lowest of lows as it is at any other frequency. Sub bass is tonally accurate and I get no hint of the bass causing any type of distortion.
 
Midbass is presented the same way. Honestly I can’t break it down because it’s so cohesive and almost flawless in its presentation. Midbass bleed? What’s that? When we’re talking about the Primacy we don’t even need to bring this type of nonsense up!
 
Dynamic, balanced, responsive, extended. That’s the Primacy bass in a nutshell.
 
Midrange
The Primacy midrange is in very nice balance with bass tones. The most elevated range of the Primacy response is around the 1-2k mark. This is much different than the industry standard, as many manufacturers place a dip at this range to make earphones sound more spacious. What this does for the Primacy is give them a nice forwardness to vocals, especially female vocals. When listening to female singers they stand out from the track but in a very good way. Aside from this bump, just about everything from sub bass to about 4k is spectacularly well balanced. I can’t say the Pimacy is midrange forward. From what I hear, I will say that they are vocals forward and in a spectacular and slightly unconventional fashion.
 
Upper midrange to treble drops off a bit, but without seeing a graph I can guarantee anyone who listens to it wouldn’t be able to tell. The entire midrange has a very detailed presentation, finishing with a smoothness that makes them non fatiguing. This is all done without feeling like I’ve lost any of the music in the process.
 
Treble
Treble is smooth and natural with great extension. Many will enjoy how these are tuned. Where I feel Oriveti really got it right is with cymbal crashes and sibilant sounds. You can hear them but they aren’t forward enough to be fatiguing. They sit in a really good spot that you can turn them up and hear these sounds and without being bothered by it. Also, the sound of cymbals is very, very natural and without that harshness that we often hear from armature drivers.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
While I don’t feel that soundstage is Primacy’s best attribute, it is still a solid performer. The clarity and detail however helps me perceive a great sense of instrument placement. A+ in terms of imaging.
 
Comparisons
 
Fidue A83 ($250 to $350 USD on many sites)
The Fidue A83 has been at the top of my list of favorites for a long time. It is a top notch performing triple driver hybrid featuring an epic design, cable and accessories package.
 
Comparing the two, the A83 is a more V-shaped earphone. MIdrange and vocals on the A83 sound more intimate, and upper frequencies are more forward from what I hear. The Primacy seems to be more natural and slightly more neutral to my ears. The Primacy is an all around more cohesive sound. Although soundstage goes to the A83, the Primacy gives me a better sense of instrument placement. The Primacy is definitely less fatiguing and slightly smoother. Bass response is a draw. The A83 bass seems more sub focused but just as fun to listen to as compared to the more balanced bass of the Primacy.
 
I give a slight edge to the A83 in terms of accessories. Their case is more pocket friendly and their stock cable is out of this world awesome. Primacy gets a decisive advantage in terms of ergonomics and fit. Their sleek and small shape and cable design with chin/neck slider gives me a much better fit than the A83.
 
All in all this a VERY close contest. Both earphones are phenomenal in their own right. At the moment I give a slight edge to the Primacy.

 
Dunu DN2000J ($325 to $375 USD on many sites)
The DN2000J is another triple hybrid earphone, offering an incredibly fast and extended bass response, razor sharp response and extended upper frequency range. They are without a doubt the most clear and detailed sounding earphone I’ve ever heard. Because I prefer their sound with the Dunu bass rings attached to the DN200J, I will do my comparison with them installed.
 
Comparing the two, the DN2000J definitely has a more extended and crisper top end to their sound. Despite the fact that the Primacy bass is excellent, bass is actually tighter and more responsive on the DN2000J. Let that be more of a testament of how good the DN2000J bass is (I feel it’s the best in-ear monitor bass I’ve heard at the time of writing this review). The top end of the DN2000J is the more fatiguing of the two. The Primacy is more engaging and musical to my ears. Although the DN2000J puts on a clinic in terms of response, If I had to pick one sound over the other I would go for the Primacy. Simply put, I find it more fun to listen to.
 
Accessories goes to the DN2000J. Ergonomics and fit goes to the Primacy.

 
Conclusion
There are times when I’m getting ready to leave the house and I make a pit stop to grab a pair of earphones. It’s not easy picking from over a hundred pairs. One thing is for certain, I catch myself reaching for the Oriveti Primacy more and more often the longer I have them. While many earphones come and go, one thing is certain. I have the Primacy ranked very high on my list and they will be in my rotation of favorites for a long time.  
 
If you’re ready to take the next step up from the budget-fi ranks, or are an audiophile who wants to experience the best of what the mid-fi earphone market has to offer, put the Oriveti Primacy on the top of your list. They are an excellent earphone that will win the ears of just about anyone who hears them.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

 
At the time of this review, the iFi micro iDSD, iFi nano Gemini cable and iFi nano iUSB3.0 was for sale on Amazon’s website. Here are links for the purchase of these three items:
 
 
 
  
http://www.amazon.com/Micro-iDSD-Headphone-Amplifier-Octa-Speed-Double-Speed/dp/B01D40AQJ2?ie=UTF8&keywords=micro%20idsd&qid=1461553486&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
 
  
http://www.amazon.com/iFi-Gemini-Dual-Headed-Cable-Meter/dp/B00COJ5Z64/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1461553590&sr=8-2&keywords=ifi+gemini
 
  
http://www.amazon.com/iFi-iUSB3-0-Audio-Power-Regenerator/dp/B01BMT1CVS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461553784&sr=8-1&keywords=ifi+nano+iusb
 
Introduction
When I purchased my Sennheiser HD600 headphones, I knew I was going to need a more powerful desktop rig to make them sing. I did my homework and came up with a budget solution. I picked up a HifimeDIY Sabre 9023 DAC and a Bravo Audio Ocean Class a tube amplifier. This combination created a very powerful and spacious sound that to this day I am very content with.
 
Since obtaining this rig, I have had the pleasure to attend several audio exhibits and Head-Fi meets. It’s been awesome being able to try the best headphones, DACs and amplifiers the world of personal audio has to offer. I’ve heard DAC and amplifier rigs that sound better than mine, but the big drawback and reason I haven’t picked anything else up to this day has been because of price. It seems like every time I hear something I would prefer to have over my current gear, the price tag is around two thousand dollars or more. As many of us know, in the world of top end audio we tend pay a lot for minor upgrades. The law of diminishing returns becomes more and more apparent the further we travel down the proverbial rabbit hole of audio gear.
 
When iFi contacted me to see if I would be interested in covering some of their products for a review, I was pretty excited. I decided at the time that it was going to be a challenge to see if iFi could offer a source that can rival my budget set up and fall under the thousand dollar mark. Not only does this combination trump my budget rig in terms of sound quality, I found it to be a Swiss Army Knife for audiophiles. Let’s go over these products with a comprehensive review.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review samples provided by iFi in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with iFi. I would like to take this time to personally thank Tyler for the opportunity to review these products.   

 
Micro iDSD (Octa DSD512)

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idsd/
 
Before I begin the discussion on this, allow me to quote the Amazon listing’s description and explanation:
 
“There is nothing like the micro iDSD. It is literally, out of this world. It is the only DAC in the world (at any price) to play True Native Octa-DSD512/PCM768/Double DxD. Its Perfect-Match means it can be fine-tuned to any headgear from IEMs all the way through to large headphones. Its 8v/4000mW output makes it one of the most powerful headamps to drive even the most hungry of headphones with ease. iFi has forged an enviable reputation for being at the forefront of computer audio technology. The micro iDSD has just made another leap, an Octa-Leap to be precise. With its special Dual-Core Burr-Brown native DSD/PCM chipset at the heart, the micro iDSD is capable of True Native PCM768, Octa-Speed DSD512 and 2x DxD; it is simply out of this world. The micro iDSD has 3 different power modes Eco, Normal and Turbo. Capable of 4000mW, 1000mW or 250mW, the micro iDSD is able to drive the full gamut of headphone and amplifiers alike. With iEMatch there to dial to suit any IEM, the micro iDSD has redefined the headphone amplifier class. Used along with the analogue volume control, the diminutive size of the micro iDSD belies its uncanny ability to drive virtually anything and everything! SmartPower is the micro iDSD's onboard recharging feature for Smartdevices. Its 4800mAH battery is able to fully recharge an iPhone two-times. Compatible with Apple and Android, phones and tablets, it is another example of iFi's commitment to customer needs - enjoy high-end audio on the go with the micro iDSD”
 
As for the background on the micro iDSD, this product was designed with the Head-Fier in mind. In fact, much of the design concepts were a product of feedback from the Head-Fi community. Search the threads for this device and you will see that this product was designed from what many felt were the things required to make the micro iDSD the ultimate all-in-one audiophile DAC/amplifier.
 
The Micro comes with the following accessories:

1x RCA cable (1 foot)
1x 3.5mm interconnect (approx. 4 inches)
1x Silicone pad for stacking purposes
2x Silicone bands for stacking portable sources
1x USB male to female type A cable (approx 3 feet)
1x USB type B female to USB type A female (approximately 6 inches)
1x Optical female input to toslink adapter
1x USB type B female input to micro USB output adapter
1x USB type B female input to USB type a female output
1x Felt carrying case
 
You get just about everything you need to hook any audio device up to the iDSD in the package. The only aftermarket cable I used outside of the package contents were the Gemini Cable, or a Toslink to Toslink interconnect.
 
Getting Started

Because the micro iDSD was used in combination with the nano iUSB 3.0, hooking the device up is a bit different than going straight into the computer. However, getting started with the software was the same.
 

Once the device has a full initial charge the software can be downloaded from the iFi website. Once the iFi software is loaded and installed, optional firmwares can be downloaded, unzipped and installed by loading it into the computer application’s firmware folder. I will admit that this process calls for someone who has a little more knowledge of computers than the average person, or someone who can follow the online instructions carefully. Figuring out the software will be a pain for some people. Let it be known that it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you don’t follow the instructions you can run the risk of bricking your micro iDSD and need to send it back to iFi to be fixed.  
 

After downloading and installing the software and firmware updates, the first thing I did was bump the output resolution. On my Windows 10 laptop the iDSD has max output at a whopping 32/192k. If you aren’t sure how good that is, just know that the output resolution and bitrate of a compact disk is 16/44k.
 
Sound in a Nutshell
Once the sampling rate was maxed out, it was time to grab my HD600 and fire up some DSD files. Even upon first listen I had perma-grin. To my ears, without flipping any switches on the unit, the micro iDSD is true to any recording and plays it with a level of resolution and detail that is very, very impressive!
 
I could ramble on and on about the sound about the iDSD, but in a nutshell the iDSD plays music with no added color to its presentation. The iDSD will play your music the way it should be heard. It is a very revealing sound thanks to its very accurate sound reproduction. I've read several iDSD reviews before writing this review, and impressions vary, sometimes significantly. Many of them are different depending on who's review you read. After listening to the iDSD for a few months, the conclusion I have about the sound is that I don't want to label the signature on the iDSD, and feel that the iDSD sound is incredibly balanced with enough minor sound adjustment settings to match just about anyone's preference.
 

The iDSD is future-proofed in terms of its resolution capability. It plays pretty much every type of music file up to double DXD. The iDSD uses dual Burr Brown DAC chips (one for each channel). After looking at the diagram, I was left wondering why iFi wouldn’t finish the deal and add dual op-amps and a balanced output. If I had to guess, iFi is probably already working on this for future versions.
 
Power Output
The most impressive thing about the iDSD is its versatility, with the most important aspect being the adjustable power outputs. The iDSD will drive my ZMF Omni and HD600 with ease, and with the flip of a switch or two I can drive my most sensitive multi-armature in-ear monitors. I have NEVER used a DAC/amp with adjustments that makes it ideal for any earphone type of earphone that I own.
 

The iDSD has three power output settings:
 
*Turbo: (8.0V max/4000 mW@16 Ohm)
*Normal:  (4.0V/1000 mW@16 Ohm)
*Eco: (2.0V/250 mW@16 Ohm)
 
Yes friends, in Turbo mode the micro iDSD pumps out FOUR WATTS at sixteen Ohms! Do you own a headphone that the iDSD can’t drive? Probably not!
 
When you don’t need that much power the Normal mode hits a sweet spot, offering one full watt. This is still plenty of power for almost every headphone in today’s market. This is the setting I used to push my headphones when using the iDSD as a portable. It’s powerful enough to make my cans sound great, and not so powerful that I’m prematurely draining my 4800mAh lithium ion battery.
 
Eco mode is the least powerful and I found it to be ideal with in-ear monitors. It also worked well for more sensitive headphones. When using this mode the battery lasts longer than the other settings.
 

If you thought the power output settings are enough, the iDSD has a “IEMatch” switch to dial things in even more with your most sensitive earphones. You can attenuate the signal from 0/12/24 dB to get the output and volume dial perfect for your earphone and preference.
 

The iDSD has a USB charger attached to side of the device as well. If your portable device or smartphone runs out of juice, you can charge it with the iDSD. One thing to note, the iDSD will not work as a DAC or amplifier and charge at the same time. It’s one or the other.
 
Desktop and Portable use

The iDSD can be used as a desktop or portable device. The 4800mAh battery not only guarantees a consistent and undisturbed power supply, it also allows the unit to be used without being plugged into a power source. The battery lasted for me for an entire day of on and off listening, and still had power to spare when I plugged it in as my desktop rig later on in the day.
 
If I wasn’t using it as my daily portable, it was on my desk being used as the main DAC/amplifier for my desktop, or charging thanks to the design of the nano iUSB 3.0 and Gemini cable (I’ll go over that more in a bit). The iDSD is bigger than most portable DAC/amplifiers on the market today. Although it is portable, I don’t consider it to be pocket friendly. If this bothers you, iFi offers a smaller version called the nano iDSD which offers a good amount of its big brother’s features.
 
Inputs and Outputs

 
micro iDSD input options:
*3.5mm analog input (on the front)
*SPDIF input (coaxial or optical via toslink)
*High Speed USB 2.0 input
 
micro iDSD output options:
    *¼ inch line out (comes with ¼ to 1.8th inch adapter)
    *RCA line with adjustable preamplifier or direct output (on the back of the unit)
    *SPDIF Coaxial output with adjustable preamplifier or direct output (on the back of the unit)
 
With these input/output options, I’m still experimenting with all of my sources and figuring out various ways to get the iDSD to work. This not only applies to my desktop and portable rigs, but also my home stereo. When used in my review laboratory the iDSD not only pushes my headphones, I also use the dual RCA outputs on the back of my unit to feed my stereo music from my laptop. The micro iDSD does this phenomenally. Not only do my headphones sound better, so does my stereo thanks to this device.
 

I was able to connect the DX80 via toslink.
 

With my Luxury and precision LP5, I was able to connect via digital coax.
 

With my LG V10, I was able to connect via OTG. All connections were simple and without any complications or bugs.
 
Fine Tuning Options
 
Filter Options:
    *Bit-Perfect
    *Minumum Phase
    *Sandard
 
To be honest, I didn’t notice a significant difference in sound when using these filters. For the most part I left the iDSD in standard or Bit-Perfect mode. From what I read, the Bit-Perfect and Minimal Phase settings are for using the iDSD in PCM, and the Standard filter was ideal for DSD and DXD. If anything, the upper frequencies seemed maybe just a bit more relaxed in Bit-Perfect mode, with virtually no change in the other two settings to my ears.
 
Another option was a switch to reverse polarity. This was another feature I could have done without. I leave the iDSD in positive polarity when I use the device.
 
Xbass
The Xbass switch is located on the front of the iDSD. While I’m usually not a fan of bass boost switches, in this case I find it to be a useful tool and utilize it quite often. The iDSD Xbass button adds a boost only to the lowest frequencies without raising the midbass or making the sound boomy. Where I found the Xbass switch to be most useful is with my more linear sounding earphones. A simple flip of a switch gave them a clean and welcomed low end boost that improved their sound.
 

 
3D Switch
The 3D switch is also located on the front of the iDSD. Although the intention of this is to create a more open soundstage (and it does so in a certain degree), I found it to be a “awesomifier” for my warmer and bassier earphones. My pair of ZMF Omni sound good with the iDSD, but add the 3D switch into the mix and they become incredible to my ears. The same results can be said for all of my warmer and bassier stuff.

 
Nano iUSB 3.0

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/nano-iusb3-0/
 
Before I begin the discussion on this, allow me to quote the Amazon listing’s description and explanation:
 
“The Nano iUSB3.0 is small, but provides a "USB Total Solution" for audio technology. With USB3.0 Ultra-Speed (5.0 Gbps), it is future-proofed with a near-silent noise floor thanks to built-in Active Noise Cancellation®. IsoPower® separates the audio and power lines for the ultimate in audio signal transmission via USB. You will immediately notice cleaner, crisper audio from your USB DAC when using the Nano iUSB3.0. REclock® technology re-clocks and completely re-generates the USB signal. PowerStation® generates a completely new 5V USB power line including a 3-stage, 6th order RFI noise filter. The quietest of quiet is what you will get with iFi's added technologies. On top of all of this, REbalance® further purifies the audio datastream. Last, but not least, RapidCharge® means the fastest re-charge of even the thirstiest rechargeable battery powered devices. This means flawless pairing with iFi's iDSD DACs. Feature-packed? Yes. Cutting-edge technology? Check. Improves every USB audio system? You bet. In short, you can't go wrong by adding iFi's Nano iUSB3.0 to your USB Audio rig.”
 
So now that you have the information on it, let’s first start by addressing the lingering topics that go on in audiophile circles about products like this. Some will say that something like this isn’t necessary, especially if we have DACs that implement some of this same technology already. Others will say that the audible difference isn’t noticeable to the human ear, and may only be slightly traceable through measurements. While I think there is a half truth to this, what I will add to the conversation is that for under two hundred dollars I find this item to be worth every penny and more, ESPECIALLY when paired with the micro iDSD. Let me explain why.
 
The nanao iUSB 3.0 has the same shape and size body as the portable models iFi offers. Its basically a shortened version of the micro iDSD body.
 
What is Jitter?
I could try to explain jitter, but this guy does it way better than I can:

 
With advancements in digital audio technology, I don’t think jitter is as big of a deal as it used to be. We all know that some things sound better than others, and that’s usually because of the combination of a high quality DAC and amplifier. There are variables that make a DAC/amplifier perform poorly and one of these things is jitter. It's nice to have a product like the nano iUSB 3.0 that helps to eliminate this (even if it is an added safeguard when used with a high quality dac with similar “jitter elimination technology”). It’s reassuring to think that we have the added certainty that jitter will not play a big part in why we aren’t getting the most out of our sources and music.
 
Clean Power Supply

The other benefit of this device is clean power. The flow of power has a considerable impact on our audio chain. Just about all of us can remember a time when listening to music and our experience is altered because of signal noise. We hear it sometimes as electromagnetic interference, or a slight hiss when the music is quiet or paused. As audio enthusiasts, we strive for perfect sound, and a big part of this is a black background. Although many would see these as minor setbacks, in the grand scheme of things it’s a big deal. We want the music to be as clean and uninterrupted as possible.
 
Noise Cancelling (before it’s actually noise)
We’ve all heard of noise cancelling. Bose has cornered the market on noise canceling headphones. The way it operates is that for any noise that they headphone picks up, the headphone essentially creates a “counter-frequency” to cancel unwanted sound. This allows the listener to focus more on the music and less on the surroundings. The folks at iFi have implemented technology in the nano iUSB 3.0 with the same concept but in a different application. It cancels unwanted noise created by your power supply.
 
REclock/REgenerate
Have you ever listened to music through a computer or phone, and tell yourself “wait a minute, this sounds faster/slower?” Or maybe you’ve listened to music and thought something in the timing is just “off” and can’t put your finger on it? Most of our music players have internal clocks that aren’t always spot on. The data is all there, but the timing isn’t. This can be one of the biggest problems with digital audio. Modern day computers tend to do it less often than older ones, but it still happens from time to time.
 
The iFi nano iUSB 3.0 addresses this with technology that takes your audio data and re-clocks and regenerates the music, making it as natural as possible before it gets to your DAC.
 
REbalance
The claim on this is that the iFi nano will take your USB signal and make it cleaner by eliminating unwanted noise and balancing the signal. While I’m not too sure about this, I don’t think iFi would blatantly sell some magic snake oil, and I’m confident that there is some technology designed to help improve the USB signal. If it’s there, it’s not audible to my ears.
 
Separate Power/Audio and USB Charger

The iUSB 3.0 has a nine volt wall wart and a USB type B port for  inputs, and two USB type A outputs. The two separate USB outputs are split into power and audio/power. It works in two ways.
 
Option #1: The Audio out USB port can be used for both power and audio for a DAC, leaving the power output for charging external devices. One nice thing to note is that the iUSB 3.0 charging port is Bus Charge 1.2 compliant, meaning not only will it charge your portable devices, it will charge them faster than normal USB chargers. This is the way almost any DAC aside from the micro iDSD would hook up to the iUSB 3.0.
 

 
Option #2:  When using the nano with the Gemini Cable, the power and audio from each port is transmitted separately and to the same device. This makes for a “best of both worlds” type of application and maximizes the potential of the micro iDSD. It will charge the battery of the iDSD when not in use, and when in use it will power the unit while keeping the Audio and power supply separate up to the point of the connection.
 
Gemini Cable

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-gemini/
 
I’m going to be honest here. I think spending over two hundred dollars on a double sided USB cable is pretty out there. Here’s the kicker though...
 

The Gemini cable is designed to be used exclusively with the iUSB and micro iDSD products. It looks like no corners have been cut with this cable, and no exceptions were made. It’s a very rugged cable, with excellent shielding.
 

The transmission of this cable from end to end stays around ninety ohms and only varies by one percent at most. That is incredibly efficient and basically makes the transmission from the nano iUSB 3.0 to the micro iDSD about as flawless as it can get.
 
My Opinion on the nano iUSB 3.0
I really like this device when paired with the micro iDSD (via the Gemini Cable which I will cover next) and feel it justifies its asking price. This thing isn’t going radically improve your music and send you into another dimension of audio bliss, but it will noticeably help clean up any signal noise you get with your DAC and amplifier. The most beneficial thing regardless of what DAC you have is how silent the noise floor is. When combined with the micro iDSD, the noise floor is pitch black, even with my most sensitive in-ear monitors. There is no hissing or signal noise that I noticed whatsoever.
 
I didn’t notice any kind of jitter or clocking issues with the iUSB 3.0, even when used with my nine year old Toshiba laptop (I do occasionally notice clocking issues when not using the iUSB 3.0 with this computer).
 
Another thing I will say about the nano iUSB 3.0 is that if you have a micro iDSD, it’s a must have because the two compared together makes for an incredibly awesome and convenient desktop rig in terms of functionality. Using the nano iUSB 3.0 along with the Gemini cable, it operates as a charging port if you want to use the micro iDSD for portable use. I can use my micro iDSD all day for portable use, then when I get home, all I have to do is plug into the Gemini Cable and my micro iDSD is now a complete audiophile desktop rig that charges without any needed power from my computer.
 
I went into this having my doubts about whether or not this nano iUSB 3.0 is just a gimmick that will take people’s money without offering much beyond what the micro iDSD already does. Truth be told, the nano iUSB and Gemini cable is the ultimate compliment to an already awesome DAC/amplifier from iFi. It adds to the micro iDSD (or any DAC for that matter) both in terms of functionality and performance.

 
Conclusion

I went into this thinking that this would be a contest to see how the micro iDSD would stack up against my long time favorite budget rig. I’m not even going to bother doing a comparison because it isn’t a contest. It’s in a league with things that cost much more than its current asking price. The micro iDSD/nano USB 3.0/ Gemini Cable combination comes to a cumulative total of under a thousand dollars. I say this in all honesty, at this price I find it to be one of the greatest deals I’ve come across in this hobby. I can’t think of anything that will give you this much versatility and sound quality for twice as much money.
 
The iDSD does everything just as good or better than all of my other DACs and amplifiers. The micro iDSD is everything I need wrapped up into one device. It’s a great desktop or portable rig. It’s incredibly easy to use. With the Gemini cable, the thought of charging the unit is an afterthought as long as I use it as a desktop unit that day. It pushes everything from in-ear monitors to Power hungry full size cans. The various output powers and sound adjustment switches made me revisit earphones I gave up on in the past and find new life in their sound. It may not be the only DAC/amplifier I will ever need, but for now I can say in all honesty that the iDSD offers just about everything I need to enjoy my entire collection of music and earphones.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!   

At the time of the review, the 1MORE hybrid in-ear monitor was was on sale on Gearbest’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://www.gearbest.com/earphones/pp_265759.html
 
Introduction
Here we go again, another hybrid earphone to review… BOOYAH!
 
Every time I turn around there’s another hybrid earphone hitting the market. Things are changing that’s for sure! Getting your hands on a hybrid earphones used to mean shelling out a good amount of cash well in excess of a hundred dollars or more. That is, until now! Hybrid earphones are not only becoming much more reasonably priced, they have the sound quality of higher end models.
 
I’ve written a couple reviews for Gearbest. From the beginning I’ve told them that my intention is to share reviews of flagships and premium products that the Head-Fi community would like to know about. They agreed, and the first two headphones they sent were a hit. Upon completing my last review, I thanked them for the opportunity, and asked them to please keep me in mind for future premium audio products. The next day I received a shipping notice. What came in is the 1MORE hybrid earphone. No objections from me! Until Gearbest runs out of great headphones to review I’m going to keep covering products. This is a great opportunity for the Head-Fi community to learn about some lesser known earphones and manufacturers.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the 1MORE earphone in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with 1MORE. I would like to take this time to personally thank Gearbest for the opportunity.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

The 1MORE Hybrid comes in a black box with a white band on the exterior. The front is very simple, featuring nothing but the company name written on the band and also on a metal tab on the box.
 

The back of the box shows the name of the product in several languages, and also has specifications written in English.
 

Removing the band, I noticed that this is a very premium box worthy of flagship products that would usually cost much more than the current asking price. A velvet and foam cutout displays the earphones and a very nice synthetic leather carrying case with a magnetic clasp.
 

Removing the top layer of foam revealed an owner’s manual, airline adapter, shirt clip and a small black cardboard box that holds an assortment of tips. The packaging is seriously incredible, and honestly too good for the asking price.
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specifications

 

The carrying case that comes with the 1MORE hybrid is really cool. The synthetic leather and red stitching case is about the size of a pack of cigarettes and has a magnetic clasp on the top.
 

The included shirt clip is made of metal. The airline adapter is premium as well. There isn’t very many pairs of tips that come in the package, but the ones that are included are of nice quality.
 
Housings

1MORE has created a housing that is a break away from what I am accustomed to. It is not only a hybrid in terms of its speaker configuration but also in its physical design, using a combination of ergonomics from both in-ear monitors and earbuds. The fit is similar to the Dunu Titan line of in-ear monitors.
 

They are a combination of metal and plastic. I was concerned about how they would hold up under daily use, but upon writing the review, and using these as my daily driver for the last three weeks I have no complaints. Metal parts are made of a gold finished lightweight aluminum. There is a metals tubing that leads to the cable. I originally thought this would be a hindrance, but it honestly works phenomenally for taking the earphones out of my ear. Plastic parts are white (they also come in black). It’s hard to explain the design so I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. While the style of these aren’t really my cup of tea, I can see people with similarly designed phones and DAPs really liking them.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The cable is a little underwhelming. It’s a fairly frail and thin cable. It’s wrapped in a woven fabric material from the jack to the Y-split, then a rubber material from the Y-split to the housings.  A white cloth cable? It’s asking to get dirty, this is for sure! The Y-Split is a barrel shaped piece of gold aluminum similar to the housing. The jack is a straight design gold plated 3.5 mm plug with a gold tinted aluminum jacket that matches the rest of the design. Strain reliefs are short rubber pieces that are adequate.
 
Functionality

A three button microphone/remote is located about six inches down from the right housing. The 1MORE mic/remote is designed to be used with Android devices. I am able to play, pause, skip tracks, answer calls, hang up calls and activate voice controls with the center button. I can control volumes with the up and down buttons. Testing it with my LG G3, all buttons worked flawlessly. The buttons were easy to use without looking.
 
When using the 1MORE hybrid for phone calls, I could hear voices come through clearly. When talking with friends and family, they reported my voice coming through at a three on a scale from one to five.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
The 1MORE earphone is designed to be worn cable down. They can be looped over the ear, but it was a slightly awkward fit. Because of this worn down was my preferred option.
 
Wearing them cable down, the fit is very nice. The rounded housing rests on the lower part of the ear, taking pressure off of the tip and making them very comfortable and easy to wear for hours. However, wearing them this way makes microphonics noticeable. Wearing them cable up, microphonics were virtually eliminated. Isolation is pretty average for a universal-in ear monitor. You will hear surrounding noises, but not when music is playing.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
The 1MORE hybrid is designed to be used with a cell phone. They are listed at 32 ohms, but are easily driven by my LG G3. I couldn’t turn the G3 past ¾ volume before they were too loud to listen to.
 
When using them with various sources, I noticed they worked really well with my Fiio E18. Using them with this DAC/Amplifier streaming higher bitrate files from my computer, they sounded very spacious and detailed. The 1MORE hybrid will upscale well with a good portable source. Do this for best results.
 
Sound Signature

The 1MORE hybrid has a relatively well balanced signature that works with all genres. There isn’t any type of music I listened to that the 1MORE doesn’t play well. They have a warm tilted midrange with slight midbass forwardness and lifted upper midrange that doesn’t perceptually go overboard. Treble is clean and relaxed at upper registers. Albeit not extreme, resolution varies from dynamic to armature drivers from what I could hear. All in all, the 1MORE hybrid performs at a level that exceeds it’s asking price.
 
Bass
Bass is slightly forward and lifted at midbass tones. Although sub bass tones are audible, they take a slight back seat to a dynamic mid bass that avoids being overbearing or fatiguing. Although the bass of the 1MORE earphone is formidable, listening to them I feel that the midrange and upper treble frequencies play at a level of resolution that slightly outperforms the dynamic driver. It isn’t blatant, and only noticeable during critical listening.
 
Midrange
Midrange on the 1MORE hybrid is honestly fantastic. Instruments and vocals sound very natural and with a slight warm tilt. There is a lift just above 2k, which helps finish vocals with a nice bite. Nothing seems over or underdone to my ears, The upper midrange bump is tastefully done.
 
Treble
Treble rolls off after 4k, and doesn’t have any spike until around 11k. This makes the 1MORE hybrid top end seem smooth and slightly rolled off at the range of sibilant sounds. This gives them a sense of being extended and smooth at the same time.  
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The high resolution and of the armature drivers actually gives them a really nice sense of space. Soundstage and imaging are very good for an in ear monitor. This might be the 1MORE hybrids biggest strengths.
 
Comparisons
 
Astrotec AX-35 ($60 to $90 USD on many sites)
Astrotec was one of the original sub hundred dollar hybrids. They are a dual design with one dynamic and one armature driver.
 
Comparing the two, the AX-35 can’t compete with the more complete and higher quality sound of the 1MORE hybrid. The AX-35 seems like a midbass heavy and fuzzy sounding earphone in comparison. I don’t think there’s one thing about the 1MORE sound that isn’t superior.
 
Build quality is a draw. I have issues with the build quality on both cables. I give the 1MORE an edge for their mic/remote. Accessories is close. 1MORE has a nicer carrying case but AX-35 has more tips.
 
 
Hisoundaudio HSA-AD01 ($120 to $130 USD on many sites)
Fast forward to current days hybrids with the newly released HSA-AD01. The AD01 is a hybrid that puts an emphasis on bass and has an overall warm yet detailed presence. I find these very enjoyable.
 
Comparing the two, the AD01 seems to have a more sub focused and also more responsive bass presence. Midrange on the 1 MORE is more tonally balanced and clear. The 1MORE also has a a more extended but slightly less natural treble presence.
 
1MORE gets the edge for accessories. They offer an exceptional case, while the AD01 doesn’t offer anything. The AD01 gets the edge in terms of tip selection.

 
Conclusion
I was impressed with the 1MORE hybrid. They have a packaging and sound that exceeds their asking price. If 1MORE was able to match the build quality to match the rest of the package (particularly the cable quality) and improve the style just a bit, we would have the new king of budget hybrid earphones on our hands. Still, even as they are they are an incredible deal for their price and the best hybrid I’ve heard in their respective price range.
 
If you have an Android phone and would like to max out on sound quality for fifty dollars, I have no problem suggestion the 1MORE hybrid.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!