Before starting this review, I would like to share the technical aspects and package details.

Also, I would like to thanks to Oriolus for this great opportunity. Here is the link of the Percivali; https://www.en.oriolus.jp/product-page/percivali-jp

https://penonaudio.com/oriolus-percivali.html




Specifications:

Percivali JP

Body Material: Photopolymer

Transducer Type: Electrostatic Driver*2 - BA Drivers*2 - Dynamic Drivers*1

Sensitivity: 113dB/mW

Freq. Response: 10Hz～40kHz

Impedance: 16Ω

Cord: High Grade silver (PW Audio)

Plug Type: 3.5mm mini stereo




Package Details:

Silicone Eartips (S M L 2-flange-M)

Foam Eartips (S M)

Cord Clip

Cleaning Tool

Protect Case (Vannuys)

Round Twin Tube (Vannuys)




Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold Diana

Opus #1

Dethonray DTR1 Prelude




Package, Design & Isolation;

Oriolus Percivali comes with a simple carton outer box that has an Oriolus logo on the top, but don’t let this mislead you because everything changes when you open up the box. Inside the box, a high quality Vannuys case welcomes you. Most of you will recognize the Vannuys brand, they produce high quality cases for audio equipment and this one is no exception. Percivali’s case is amazingly made and you’ll have the option of using it as a vertical case-like pouch, or a regular top-cap open style. The case is pretty big so it provides plenty of space for the Percivali. Also, it has a round twin tube for the earphones themselves, so you can prevent scratches and other possible damages while in the case. Simply put, I love the case and the material quality and this might be the best stock case I’ve ever seen. There are a couple silicon tips with S, M, L sizes and some foam tips, cleaning tools, and chord clips inside.




The Percivali is a beautifully made earphone and its shape is the same as the previous models. Percivali’s size is smaller than the Reborn and it fits better on the ears. Reborn is fatter and bolder than the Percivali but I haven’t felt and fit problems with the Reborn anyway. Percivali only has one colour option and has a wood faceplate with translucent smoke grey shells, I really love how it looks and it has an elegant and premium design. Like other Oriolus’ models, Percivali also has a 0.78mm 2 pin recessed socket. To be honest, I am pretty happy that they didn’t change their sockets to MMCX. I know there are some robust MMCX sockets out there but I still prefer 2 pins. Percivali has 1 dynamic driver for the bass frequency, 2 balanced armature drivers for the mids and 1 electrostatic driver for the high frequencies. The latest flagships of most companies come with a triple driver design and Oriolus is one of them.




The cable is another amazing part to the Percivali. As you might know, Hyla and Oriolus have a collaboration with PW audio and all of their earphones come with the PW Audio cables, aside from some entry level models from Oriolus like the Finshi and Forsteni. The Percivali comes with a high-grade PW Audio silver cable and I believe this is made only for the Oriolus Percivali because I’ve never seen it before in their product line. The cable itself is similar, or maybe even identical to PW 1960s cables, and as you can guess the quality is top notch. The cable has a 3.5mm jack, but there is an option for both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced. The cable is double braided and the outer material is made of nylon sleeving which both looks and feels solid. The cable isn’t super soft but it is tangle free and easy to use. Also, there is no microphone issue with this cable. Its sad to see some companies’ flagship models coming with horribly cheap stock cables and I hope Oriolus gives them some courage to change so they can all include high-quality cables.

Overall, the package quality is simply the best I’ve ever seen, The cable, case, and earphones themselves are premium and I’m happy to loudly applaud Oriolus for this.



Sound Type:

First of all, this is my first time hearing electrostatic drivers earphones, so I can’t compare them to other brands’ models, but I will use the Reborn for comparison at the end of my review. I really don’t know where to start but Percivali is the new king of my heart. It is an impressive and unique hybrid earphone. That electrostatic driver has some magic that’s for sure, but the overall mid presentation and bass response is truly fantastic., Oriolus’ house sound is easy to recognize if you are familiar with their lineup and has a warm and slightly coloured signature. This is not bass heavy but the bass reaches deep enough to satisfy and it has good extension and weight. The treble is… oh boy - it extends crazy good and you can hear everything that you shouldn’t have to hear. Resolution and detail level are easily the best I’ve ever heard. Presentation is crystal clear. Soundstage is impressible airy, wide, and all the instrument placement is easy to pin point and the low to highs show off every flaw in the records.



Trebles:

Where the Percivali really shines is the high frequencies. When I first listened to the Hyla CE-05 I was pretty impressed by the trebles that I heard, its extension and sparkle was different than anything I’ve heard before. I couldn’t imagine better than that, but I was wrong. Electrostatic drivers are a game changer and Oriolus did a great job with their tuning. The treble extensions, sparkle, decay, and details… everything is fantastic. Electrostatic drivers absolutely add extra dimensions to the sound that I’ve never experienced before. Space and depth are extremely high, so each instrument can be heard clearly. Crashes, bells, and all other instruments are crystal clear. This is something else, and much different than the balanced armature or dynamic drivers sound that they produced. Tonality is neutrally tuned. Even with high quantities of trebles, there was no harshness or sibilance. I have never experienced this before and I’ve listened to my sources with different records. You might think it must be tiring with long listening but I can honestly say that I’m so comfortable after 2 hours of listening. The reason is that the trebles are not harsh and sharp, but quite smooth and soft at the top end. Percivali never lost control at higher volumes, which I tested with AC/DC’s Thunderstruck and some other AC/DC songs. It has excellent speed and very nicely handled the fast passages. I don’t want to exaggerate and maybe I used so many “best” words, but I’ve got to say it again. These are the best earphones I’ve heard, both in terms of resolution and details. Tons of details are easily audible in music, you might not even want to hear them - every good, bad, and record fault is there. Overall, I’m super impressed by the high frequencies and this is a way different experience than other earphones



Mids:

Percivali’s sound is U-shaped and the mids are more laid back than the other frequencies, but vocals are slightly forward. Mid frequencies are over shadowed by the high and low frequencies, but sound is musical with great tone and balance throughout. Tonality is a bit complicated. The lower mids are slightly thin, which makes the mids a little weak and dryness and brightening in the upper mids make it lifeless with some music. This can be a bit more obvious with some stringed instruments and It reminds me of the CE-05 in this regard. I wish this area was a little fuller. The resolution and detail levels are extremely high as would be expected from a TOTL earphone. Every timbre in the instruments, and slightest change in the vocals can be heard easily. Like the high frequencies, mids also have a bright presentation and it isn’t possible to talk about the dark presentation. It’s like Percivali’s aim to target clarity on all frequencies. Both male and female vocals are very good on the Percivali which creates emotional atmosphere. Vocals are not too far ahead and will make a lot of users happy by their positioning. You are not face to face with vocals like Reborn, but it’s not positioned far back either. Although it is an earphone that I would call bright, the control in the upper mids are really good and it will never lose its control.



Bass:

Hyla TE5B have one of my favourite bass performances on earphones up to now, but with the Oriolus Percivali, I’ve found a new leader. TE5B is still amazing and I love how it produces its bass, but Percivali is better on control, tightness and details. Bass are fully filled, slightly warm, and have vert soft notes. It is tight, controlled, and satisfactory in quantity. Bass has good authority and it reaches pretty deep but it is not at bass head level for sure. Overall, tonality is slightly warm and the smooth bass notes are hitting on the softer side. It sounds a little on the thicker side with stringed instruments but it doesn’t feel exaggerated. Bass never comes close to bleeding mid range and never pushes the overall sound with its power, it plays in its place. Substantially, dynamic drivers are slower than balance armature drives and only exceptional dynamic drivers are not as slow as the other DD. Percivali’s dynamic driver is doing a good job and it doesn’t show any weakness in this regard. But of course, it is not as fast as a BA driver as well. I listened to some progressive house tracks, and the bass has more than enough punch and rumble to leave you impressed.



Soundstage:

Percivali has a wide and airy soundstage that creates an amazing imagining. You can hear and feel every instrument in its place without any effort. Crystal clear highs make a great impact on the soundstage. Background is not the best but it is quite black. Razor sharp separation, Imagining, and layering are fantastic and probably the best I’ve heard. Speaker like presentation and airy atmosphere dive into your head and it brings your musical experience to another level.



Comparison:

Percivali vs Reborn

The old flagship against the new king. Actually, this is not a fair comparison because Percivali has a different driver configuration and its way pricier than Reborn, but this is not a dog fight and I’ll try to explain how different they are. Both earphones’ body shapes are similar in terms of design but Percivali is slimmer and smaller than the Reborn. Reborn is bulky and fat. They both fit well into my ears, but Percivali is better due to the size. Reborn’s stock cable is the legendary PW Audio No5 and Percivali has the PW silver cable. Sound wise, Percivali is better in every aspect. Its technical capacity and detail level are something else. But technical supremacy doesn’t make it the best because we hear differently and everyone has their own personal taste. Treble is much more extended and the sparkle on Percivali, an it is sharper than Reborn. Actually, Reborn also has nice treble sparkle and extends pretty well, but it cannot match the Percivali here. The Reborn sounds good too, but until you step up to the Percivali. I haven’t experienced but Percivali’s razor sharp treble response may give some fatigue in a long listening session for some, so Reborn is better in this regard. Mid range is the hardest part to compare for me. Reborn’s mid range has a special place in my heart and I still prefer its romantic and lush presentation. Percivali on the other hand, is more refined, airy and detailed than the Reborn. As I said before, technical performance is not the key for listening to music. Vocals are much more upfront and in your face on Reborn, while Percivali is more laid back and centered. Reborn’s bass performance is phenomenal, and I like its bulky powerful low end. Reborn is more like a body builder that has plenty of muscle, while Percivali is more like a fit and tight sprinter. Reborn has more quantity and weight on the low frequencies and its a tad bit slower than Percivali. Percivali is more controlled, tight and he knows what he’s doing. Percivali’s soundstage is wider and deeper and has a more holographic presentation. Reborn is more intimate but absolutely isn’t narrow or congested. Overall, Percivali has better performance without a doubt. Resolution and detail level, technical capability, and overall sound performance are hard to beat, but Reborn still shows how it is special with its sound and after many years it will still be.




Verdict:

I’ve either owned or listened to almost every Oriolus product (except for Mellianus) and every one of them have their special tonality and sound. I briefly listened to Finschi and its sound was very impressive for its price. Reborn is one of my favourite earphones and Forsteni is another amazing hybrid earphone. Oriolus doesn’t have a super side line-up and they are releasing some new earphones every year. I assume they don’t want to lose their focus with 7-8 products that may hinder their success. And I believe they have achieved a lot. They did an amazing job with their new flagship. Percivali’s sound is beautifully made and its technical capability is completely different than their previous models. Hyper detailed high frequencies with beautifully smooth and detailed mids easily impress. Bass performance is one of my favourites as well. Musical and warm presentation won’t compromise any details or resolution. Percivali is one of my favourite TOTL earphones currently and it has become my best earphone for listening to just about everything.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details. Also, I am so thankful to Ken for this great opportunity.



Specifications:

5Hz–20 kHz Frequency Response

115 dB SPL/mW Sensitivity

10 Ohms @ 1kHz Impedance

Less than 1% Total Harmonic Distortion

24K Gold Plated Lid

Durable PVD Finished Body

Dual Custom Balanced Armature Drivers + T.A.E.C. (High)

Single Custom Ported Balanced Armature Driver (Mid)

Specially Tuned 10mm Dynamic Driver (Mid + Low)

Plasma enhanced Chemical Vapor Depostion (C.V.D.) Amorphous Diamond Like Carbon (A.D.L.C.) Diaphragm.

Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections

Stainless Steel Spout


Package Details:

Campfire Solaris earphone

Campfire Audio Premium Leather Earphone Case

Campfire Audio Super Litz Cable

Final Audio E-Type Tips (xs/s/m/l/xl)

Campfire Audio Marshmallow Earphone Tips (s/m/l)

Silicon Earphone Tips (s/m/l)

Campfire Audio Lapel Pin

Cleaning Tool

Earphone Protection Sleeve


Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold Diana

Opus #1

Astell & Kern AK120

Hifiman Megamini



Package, Design & Isolation;

Solaris comes with the famous Campfire Audio box design, but this time box size is bigger than the other models have. When you open the box, first thing that you notice is the new leather case. Like the other Campfire cases, new case also made of quite high-quality genuine leather and again like other CA cases, inner surface is covered with soft cotton material. New case’s shape is square instead of other models’ rectangle shape. I really like the case, it feels and looks premium. Another great thing about Solaris is the new Super Litz cable. Cable itself is soft and tangle free and it looks gorgeous, but one thing that I don’t like is the memory wire. I wish it doesn’t have memory wire but you can get rid of it very easily. There are some instructions how to remove memory wire that some users already shared. Last new thing about package content is the new earphone protection sleeve. This is really great to store earphone safely. As you know, Solaris is made of aluminum and its paint can worn off if it hits somewhere, so this is great way to protect your earphone. Other accessories that come with Solaris are same as other models. Marshmallow tips, silicon tips and cleaning tool. In the and, package contents really great. Thumps up.

Campfire Audio made some design changes with Solaris, and this is way different than the old Andromeda, Jupiter, Atlas or Vega design. I really like the new design and color choice. Body size is bigger than any other CA earphones and ergonomically I couldn’t find any discomfort issue. It fits like a glove to me, but some people who has small ear might have some fit issue. Personally, I prefer Solaris fits instead of Andromeda or Vega. Overall, I do think that the fit and physical comfort of Solaris is very good. Like other CA models, Solaris is also made of beryllium copper MMCX connectors. I always prefer 2 pin connectors but Campfire is the only brand that I trust their MMCX connector, I never had any issue with Vega or Andromeda. Also, I never read any issues with their products about MMCX issue. In the past, there were some earphones that I gave up to order because it has a MMCX connector, but I can comfortably say that the Campfire Audio products are pretty solid in this regard.

Solaris looks really beautiful. This is the most beautiful IEM I’ve ever had. Much better than the pictures. Finish and workmanship are stunning. When I got the Solaris, I just looked like half and hour before listening. If you are using outside just be careful because it seems pretty like jewellery. Actually, it is jewellery.

Isolation is pretty good. I tried many different types of tips and I have never gotten any isolation problem. Also, Solaris very tip depends earphone. There is a slight difference in sound signature between some of tips and I’ll share my impression below.



Sensitivity:

Like Andromeda, Solaris has low impedance level, so you might get hiss with some of your sources. I’ve heard some hiss with my Lotoo Paw Gold Diana, and Megamini. AK120 and Opus #1 are much more acceptable hiss level when I compared to others. If you hear some hiss with your source, I can recommend to use ifi iematch which you can reduce hiss or minimize. Also, Solaris is easy to drive, so you can use them with any kind of source.



Sound Type:

Before getting my product, I’ve read lots of things about Solaris. Some comments say speaker like sound, some other says holographic soundstage and bass light. For me, the overall sound itself is crisp and clear highs, musical and detailed mids with forward vocals, and powerful and bodied bass. Presentation is neutral and slightly warmer. I find Solaris works well for a wide variety of music while my tastes towards Vocal, EDM and Jazz. Most of people are comparing it with Andromeda and if I have to follow that path, Solaris is more like homogenized Andromeda for me. I think the biggest differences between Solaris and Andromeda is in the bass department. Bass is more pronounced and authoritative with Solaris and sub-bass can go deeper. As many of you know, Solaris using the same dynamic driver with Atlas but more bridled way. Bass quantity is not like basshead level but it is absolutely powerful and enough to satisfy to many people who loves bass. Mid presentation is smooth and detailed. Vocals are the most part that I liked it. Both male and female vocals are fantastic. I really like Reborn’s vocal performance, it is emotional and smooth and Solaris is doing the same emotional vocal presentation with more realistic tone. Solaris’ treble is my another favorite part of the sound. It is silky smooth and highly detailed with good sparkle. Although prominent trebles, I’ve never ever heard any sibilance or harshness in this area. Soundstage is massively wide and deep.

Overall, I really like Solaris and it sounds really special. I was stunned what I was hearing and I didn't want to stop listening since I received.



Sound:

The treble is one of my favorite part of the sound. It extends quite well and has a nice sparkle without being too much. Who doesn’t like Andromeda’s highly extended trebles may like Solaris’ smooth and less spiky trebles. But of course, it doesn't extend like Andromeda’s highs. There is less treble energy and extension when I compare with Andromeda, but this is already more than enough I believe. Some of you guys knew S-EM9, its trebles are really detailed and prominent. When I switched back to the Solaris to S-EM9, S-EM9 felt like rolled off and veiled, but of course it is not. My ears are accustomed to the prominent trebles of Solaris, maybe you can guess more or less how much is the quantity.

As I said before, Solaris is really special in high frequencies. Trebles add air and space between instruments. Every instrument is very easy to listen. Cassandra Wilson – Tupelo/Honey Angel. Cymbal, trumpet, strings and every other instrument are crystal clear. I listen this song many times with Solaris. The reason that I listen many times is enjoyable to listen with Solaris, not because it’s a great song. It is great but not my favorite songs from Cassandra. I highly recommend Solaris owners to listen this song.

Trebles are very easy to listen to for long periods of time because of the smooth and relaxed tone. I have listened Nils Lofgren - Keith Don't Go Live Performance (it is available on Tidal) many times with pleasure. The guitar sound is extremely crisp and airy and you can hear every scratch and details in the music. Cymbals are clear and shimmering without sibling.

Solaris’ mid frequencies are well textured and tonality is smooth. Instrument and timbre tonality are a tad thicker. Overall tuning is U shape and mids are a bit recessed because of prominent bass and treble frequencies but vocals are pretty forward. One aspect that stands out in the sound of the Solaris is the vocal. Vocal presentation is forward and lush and it makes vocal sound emotional and smooth. Both male and female vocals are well presented. Lifelike instruments separation and smooth vocals that make you smile while listening music. Mids are rich and warm, and super clear with excellent separation between instruments.

I read some comments mentioning that Solaris has bass light and I couldn’t understand how its bass light. Solaris’ bass quantity is absolutely great in terms of quantity and quality. It is not like Vega or other bass heavy earphones but I never call it is lack or bass light. Of course, this is not bass head earphone, if you are looking like earthquake bass, Vega or Atlas are better choice that’s for sure. I love Andromeda bass, it is fast, detailed and highly coherent, but sometimes I wish it has a little bit more bass. And now with Solaris my dreams come true. Bass has great quantity level and it is not dominating or bleeding other frequencies. Also, it is not boomy or too exaggerated. Atlas’s diamond carbon dynamic driver doing its job greatly. Bass sounded so natural with just the right amount of presence that I really impressed. If you are a bass-head or who likes tons of bass I'd recommend look somewhere else, but Solaris’ bass is strong and powerful enough to feel punch and rhythm in the music. It's all personal preference though. Bass is well controlled and pretty fast for a dynamic driver. When I compared with my Oriolus Reborn, I noticed that Solaris’ bass is way faster and recovery time is noticeably better. The Solaris’ low-end is well controlled very well articulated.

Solaris’ soundstage is impressive to my ears. Not the best but one of the largest that I've experienced. With 3d and holographic presentation easy to pin point every instrument in the stage. I understand when people call it sounds like speaker. In some instrumental tracks, Solaris sounds like speakers are in front of you.



Solaris vs Andromeda:

Andromeda is one of the most popular and well-known IEM in audio community and Solaris has some serious trouble against Andromeda in terms of popularity because Andromeda’s glowing spotlight hard to shut down. But Solaris is not trying to beat it because it has very different sound character and technical specs. I know this is cliché but this is most like to compare apple and orange, so same as here, Hybrid and Balanced armature is not fair to compare, but let me do it gently.

The most distinctive differences between two earphones are "smoothness vs sharpness" and they harmonized the music from their own character. Andromeda sounds magical and crystal-clear highs are truly fantastic. Andromeda’s wow factor comes from its hyper detailed trebles and super holographic soundstage. The sound of Andromeda is astonishing and I’ve never heard that kind of presentation from any IEMs. On the other hand, Solaris is another animal. It sounds clear and vivid on first listen and it felts Andromeda sounds thinner when I switched back Solaris to Andromeda. Also, Andromeda does not make you feel excited as Solaris. This is where dynamic driver shows its power. Solaris have more body and bass is more dominant in general presentation. Andromeda bass is faster and quicker decay, but not by far. Solaris bass is surprisingly well controlled and faster than I expected from a dynamic driver. I’ve realized it better especially, compare to Andromeda. Instrument tones are more realistic on Andromeda. Solaris is much more musical and livelier, so it is not trying to produce reference like sound. I can say the Solaris' highs are silky smooth while Andromeda is highly sharp and it has more sparkle, but Solaris trebles don't extend as high as the Andromeda, because Andro has more sparkle in the treble. Both earphones are highly detailed in the treble area, but Andromeda shows its details more forward way while Solaris shows smoother way. Both Solaris and Andromeda have pretty wide soundstage but somewhat Andromeda feels airier. Solaris has better depth. Both earphones are pretty sensitive.

Well, there is no winner as you expected, there is a preference. Who likes flat, reference like sound and accurate tonality with amazing clarity, Andromeda is a better choice. On the other hand, who prefers warmer, bodied sound with high level of detail with resolution and breathtaking forward vocal present, Solaris is better. If I have to choose one of them. I choose…err…Solaris. Because it suits better than Andromeda to my personal preferences, but that doesn’t mean that Andromeda is bad or it lost. It is absolutely not. Andromeda is really special to me and always it would be. I’m happy that I’ve both in my collection.




Tips Rolling:

Before sharing my tip impression I’ve to mention that these impressions might change your experience because of ears anatomy, ergonomic wise and sound preferences. Also, all tips that I used are L size.


Spiral Dot;

Spiral dots are one my favorite tips that I have used, but with Solaris, I’m not impressed what I have heard. Bass has good rumble but somewhat lost their magic. Also, I couldn’t get good seal. I had to fix fit for every 10-15 minutes. I’ve never experienced this issue with my other IEM’s that I have.


Spinfit CP500

CP500 is the newest Spinfit’s product. It is designed for wider nozzle earphones. Nozzle diameter size is 5.5mm which is great for Solaris. Personally, new full black color looks great but what about sound? Well, sound is pretty disappointment for me. I tried with different sources but the result didn’t change. CP500’s outer material is pretty soft, and it makes sound thinner and bass light. I couldn’t get a good seal and the isolation was also disappointment. Tips are wrinkling inside my ear and therefore cannot provide a good isolation. I was very hopeful with these new CP500, but result was pretty awful.

Symbio W Peeled:

This is my favorite tips with Solaris. Fits well, sounds well, looks well. Symbio peeled fit is much more secure than Spiral dots and CP500, it is going deeper and giving a better seal. Treble is less energetic than the CP500 but still prominent. Bass is more authoritative and powerful than the other tips. Soundstage is felts narrower than AET07 but very close in this regard. Overall sound is prominent bass with nice tamed trebles. Symbio peeled better than original Symbio (with foam) to my ears.

Acoustune AET07:


AET07 is my 2nd favorite tips with Solaris. Main sound differences between AET07 and Symbio peeled is the high frequencies, but overall, they are very similar. On AET07 high frequencies are more prominent and clearer and it felts its soundstage is more open and airier. Bass is a tad of less punchy than Symbio peeled. Also seal and fit is very close to Symbio Peeled. I believe many people may like AET07.




Verdict:

Well, Ken did it again. Every Campfire Audio product have some impact on the audiophile community, and now it is time for Solaris. Like other successful Campfire products, Solaris is another amazing IEM. I am truly amazed by its sound, design, and build quality. This is the most beautiful IEM in entire Campfire Audio products for my personal taste. The new Super Litz cable that comes with is really great with Solaris and no need to upgrade. Sound wise, low to high is every frequency has some special tuning like Andromeda. This is not reference sounding IEM, this is more like musical engaging and dynamic IEM which always wants to dance with you. To wrap things up, Solaris is absolutely deserving new flagship status in Campfire Audio.

Also, I would like to thank to Campfire Audio price policy. Nowadays IEM prices goes up and most companies increasing their price with every new model, but Campfire Audio still tagging a great price and I’ve always respected. Hope they won’t change their price policy in the near future.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.

Here is the link of ISN Audio D02: https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-d02.html


Specifications:

Brand:ISN Audio

Model: D02

Driver: 10mm dynamic driver

Material: resin

Impedance: 32 Ω @1khz

Sensitivity: 108 ± 3dB @1khz

Frequency response: 20-20kHz

Connector: MMCX

Plug: 3.5mm Audio

Cable length: 1.2M


Package Details:

ISN D02 IEM

3 pairs of blue silicone eartips (SML)

3 pairs of green silicone eartips (SML)

Carry case

Carabiner


Test Equipment:

Opus #1

Topping D50s & THX AAA 789

Earmen TR-Amp

Chord Mojo

Package, Design & Isolation;

Let’s take a look at the packaging. ISN D02 comes with standard small ISN cardboard box. There is carry case inside of the box and everything has in to it. Nylon carry case is looks flimsy but it does its job. There is a plenty size and quantity tips and you can find the best fits for yourself. ISN D02 is very well build gorgeous looking earphone. It is made by medical grade resin which is looks and feel pretty high quality in hands. I can’t believe the price when I inspect the D02 because it has same or better-quality feelings then the much more expensive earphones that I’ve used. It has only one color which is blue but it is so beautiful in low light condition. There is a gold ISN Logo on both side of the faceplate. There is an air venting grill on top. MMCX sockets feels solid and secure and you can use your after-market cables without problem. Stock cable looks and feels good. It is pretty soft and tangle free. D02 has nice ergonomic shape and size which it will fit most ears without any pain. Isolation is pretty good and there nothing to complaint about it.


Sound:

D02 is typical V shaped sound earphone. There are some minor differences between switches but I’ve used with the default settings while testing (switches up).

Treble has quite enough sparkle and energy. Clean and clear presentation results in an extremely good musical performance. The resolution and level of details are well above the price and surprisingly good. There is no sibilance or hard presentation as well as no roll off, but it might be sharp with some bright source with silver cables. Details level is really great which I’ve listened so many instrumental tracks and have heard background details very easily.

Although mid frequencies are less emphasised then the other frequencies, they are not that far behind and weak in presentation. Mid frequencies are very detailed and has good performance in terms of resolution. Instrument separation is extremely successful. The vocals are impressive, but I like male vocal performance more. It was so enjoyable to listen to Richard Hawley – The Ocean track. Although the mid frequencies are relatively behind, the vocals are forward and have a fuller presentation. With the help of air venting, the stage has a very good sense of width and distributes the instruments over a very large area. Before listened D02, I was expecting mid frequencies will be weak and laid back, but it has a very detailed and bodied presentation.

Basses are one of my favorite frequencies on D02. It has extremely pronounced and powerful beats. Sub-bass has roll of, but they can still go pretty deep. Bass is a bit emphasized in quantity and this may be too much for those who do not like the bass frequency very much, but it will also make the bass-head users smile. However, I would like to mention that it is not a bass-head level earphone. I can consider it is fast, but still the recovery time is a bit slow with the disadvantage of the dynamic driver. The bass is tight but I guess it will perform much better with a better cable. The body and voluminous presentation offer a very musical and enjoyable performance. As you can imagine, it is very enjoyable to listen to music like EDM.

Soundstage is spacious and airy which every instrument spread out enough distance from each other. Instrument separation and details are easy to hear it and clean background helps a lot.


Compare:

D02 vs Rhapsodio Orla:

Orla is single dynamic driver earphone from Rhapsodio and it has a nice beautiful sound. Both earphones-built quality is top notch. Although Orla has smaller in shell size, D02 fits my ears better and provides more secure seal. Sound wise; Orla is organic, sweet and lush while D02 is more energetic, powerful and dynamic. Trebles are more pronounced and emphasized on S02 which provides better clarity and details while Orla is more relaxed and smoother in presentation. Technical performance is better on D02 in terms of resolution and details on trebles, but Orla has beautiful tonality and sweetness that you can easily like. Lush presentation of Orla continuous on mid frequencies as well. It is organic, slightly forward and smooth while D02 is more sterile and drier when I compare side by side. D02 is slightly laid back and less emphasize than the Orla. D02 provides better clarity and details. Vocals are more natural and easier to listen with Orla. Bass is more dynamic and powerful on D02. It hits harder and goes deeper while Orla is lush in presentation and beats are smooth and soft. D02 is more aggressive and edgy. D02 provides airier and spacious soundstage I believe air venting has a big role on here. Orla soundstage feels intimate and limited but still it has nice fresh feelings.


D02 vs Final Audio E5000:

E5000 is one of the favorite earphones from Final Audio which has a nice safe tuning. Both earphones material and build quality are great. E500 has stainless steel while D02 is made by 3d printed resin. Both earphones have MMCX connectors. Like D02, E5000 also has 1 single dynamic driver per unit. Both earphones are great in comfort but D02 provides much better sealing and isolation due to its design. E5000 is smooth, lush and rich while D02 is more dynamic and fun to listen earphone. D02 has better bass presence and it is more in quantity while E5000 is less emphasise but still has good amount of bass. Mids are more organic, natural in presentation and forward on E5000 while D02 has slightly recessed and thinner on mid frequencies. Vocals are more pronounced and forward on E5000 and at the same time it feels intimate in stage. D02 is slightly laid back on vocals but it has nice airy presentation and has better clarity. Trebles are more forward and detailed on D02. E5000 is smooth and creamy. D02 provides better details and resolution. Soundstage is wider and deeper on D02 while E5000 has more limited presentation.


D02 vs Bille Jean:

JH Audio Billie Jean has 2 balanced armature drivers per side while D02 has 1 dynamic driver per side. BJ is made with high quality ABS plastic and its body shape is slightly smaller than D02, but D02 provides better fit and secure seals on ears. Also, BJ comes with flimsy plastic stock cable while D02 comes with beautiful SPC cable which is much better. BJ has quite strong and powerful bass for a balanced armature driver but it can not scare to D02 in this sense. D02 is more in quantity, hits harder, goes deeper. Thanks to dynamic driver. BJ has better speed and control on bass and much tighter while D02 slower and less controlled. Both earphones have recessed mids but vocals are slightly forward and when I compare side by side. Trebles are more extended, sparkled and detailed on D02 which provides more resolution and details. BJ has smoother slightly dark trebles. Soundstage is wider and deeper on D02 and instrument separation is better.


Verdict:

ISN D02 is fantastic earphone for 80$ and it is absolutely bang for the buck. There is so many good things about D02; enjoyable dynamic tuning and very well-made material and build quality, spacious airy soundstage. I haven’t heard anything better than D02 at this price.

Introduction:

Earsonics is a France based professional audio company and the Velvet is their first signature series earphone.

The Velvet has quite a big body. I was worried that I would have an ergonomic problem in my ear when I first bought it, however I did not encounter any problems, even in 3 hours of listening. I just think that if you have smaller ears you can have trouble after prolonged listening.

Velvet has 3 balanced armature drivers inside. In addition, the largest armature driver I've seen so far. Giant armature drivers and circuit boards, looks full inside of the body. 2-Pin connectors are very solid. There is no looseness. There is 1 screw on the body. The place where the screw is located is slightly sharp when touching the nail, but it does not feel discomforting in the ear. I like the quality and ergonomics of the body.




Technical Specs:

Driver: Triple Balanced Armature w/ 3-way Crossover
Imp: 31.5 Ω – 41.5 Ω
Sens: 116 dB
Freq: 10-20k Hz
Cable: 3.9′ L-plug





Inside of the Box;


The texture of the box is pleasantly soft. There are
4 Double Flange,
1 Small Double Flange
1 Fat Silicone tip,
1 carrying case,
1 pot screwdriver,
Cleaning wet wipe
6,3 mm jack.





Isolation:

I liked isolation of the Velvet with the double flange tips. It also provides a very good isolation when combined with the big size of body. It has also good isolation to the outside. As far as I can remember, this is slightly better than the SE846 and UMPRo30.


Bass:

Velvet came to me with warm mode as a factory setting and I started to listen to it with Warm mode. Before listening, I was curious about the bass and I started to listen to the Day Din - Halkidiki (Zonka Remix) to PSY Trance song. There's a very strong bass entry in the 55th second of the track, and the first time I heard it, I don’t want to exaggerate, but I'm a little bit "shocked". I was so surprised, I didn’t expect such a powerful bass, as the bass burst into the deep, creating explosions in my ear. I am a bit surprised by this bass. Bass is really as strong as I can not compare it with any balanced armature IEM I have heard so far.
The Velvet bass is not uncontrollable, even though it has high bass power, and is not bleeding to the mid area. Some bad recordings can be a bit muddy and loss of detail.
Velvet bass is not dry like regular balanced armature drivers. There is no such thing as a slowness in the fast parts or a hunch in one hit in the fast pace.
Despite all these massive bass, I found it a bit unnatural. Even though such intense bass does not create imbalance in the mid-range, it makes me feel that I can hear a bit more than the existing bass, because it dominates the general air of music. This is a good thing for EDM or R&B music, the bass spreads all over, but other genres can be tiring from some angles as well. Balanced and tight mode is more natural than the Warm one.
Warm mode is not suitable for users who like balanced and natural sound. Someone who does not like bass can hate the Velvet with this mode. However, users who love bass can fall in love with Warm mode of Velvet.


Mids:

Mids quite laid back. As the stage is wide, the feeling of mids is presented in a wide area. Since Velvet is not mid-focused (at least with warm mode), the vocal doesn’t feel like singing in your face. But it still doesn’t too far. In fact, vocal distance can be change with the source. When I listened with AK120, vocals feels closer than my LPG and iPhone. But when I listened with LPG, the vocals were located in a little bit far.
My complaint is the mid-bass. It’s a bit weak, which has a little effect on the overall sound. Especially men’s vocals feels a little bit thin.
Although the Velvet is also in warm mode, it doesn’t have such a dark atmosphere. I mean, it's definitely a warm but it's not curtained and dark. I like the level of resolution in the mids.


Treble:

Despite the warm mode, the treble is not laid back. The resolution level is also quite high. I noticed when I heard first time. I hear air and details in the music with excellent extension.
The trebles don’t mix with fast passage, even at high volume. The speed and detail of the treble is very good. It has enough level of speed. Guitars have a nice extension and decay to them, as do cymbals.
I listened Tina Turner - Steamy Window and I really liked the timbre and cymbals. There is absolutely no peaking of treble. I've never heard of sibilance even though I've been listening to all kinds of tracks. The treble is very controlled.


Soundstage:

The soundstage is really wide. I don’t have IE800 anymore but it is exactly as same as I remember. It is much more spacious than SE846. The 3D feeling depth and width are both impressive.


Conclusion:

Velvet is a very impressive earphone and we can call All-Rounder. The level of instrument layering and imaging is really good. If you are looking for EDM earphones with balanced armature, I highly recommended it. With a lot of bass and a lot of "bass head" users will be happy too. It has a high power, resolution and detailed presentation that should definitely not be ignored in this price range.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.

Also, I would like to thanks to Penon Audio for this great opportunity.



Specifications:

8 cores pure silver braided cable

Carbon fiber material plug and splitter

Gold-plated plug

Weight：22g



Package Details:

Cable

Storage bag

Velvet pouch

Metal clip

Nylon Strip




Test Equipment:

THX AAA 789

Opus #1

Astell & Kern AK120




Package, Design;

Leo comes with the Penon cartoon box like their other cables. Package contents are exactly the same as Neo which is great. There is velvet pouch, wooden case, metal clip and nylon strip inside the box. I really like its rounded wooden case because it is great to use as an earphone case. Overall package, contents and unboxing experience are great.

Leo is 8 braided silver cable and big brother of Penon Neo silver cable. It's pretty thick but light for an 8 braided cable and surprisingly feels soft and ergonomic while using. There is no memory wire and it is easy to wear it. Y splitter, jack and sockets are black carbon fiber pattern that adds some elegance and it looks great as well. There is a gold Leo text on the Y splitter. Sockets have metallic red and blue circle line to identify left and right side. Cable looks gorgeous and it makes any earphone that you used beautiful. The important thing is the sound of course but the visual is also important. My cable has 2.5mm jack and 2pin sockets but you may select MMCX, 4.4mm, 3.5mm.



Sound Type:

Leo has typical silver cable sound character and it shows its best performance at upper frequencies. It adds more sparkle and extension to show more details and resolution. I've tried with my Fibae 4, Atlantis, Reborn and Leo improves the clarity and resolution level of all the earphones that I used. Reborn's trebles become more prominent and detailed, and mids are tad of laid back, but of course still forward (compared with No5). Moreover, bass is surprisingly doesn't lose its power and quantity which I like. And also, It makes Reborn’s bass more controlled and faster. Atlantis' bass frequencies are not powerful and deep but with Leo I feel the quantity of the bass is increased significantly, and again the top frequencies are definitely more detailed and distinct. Overall, Leo improves the top frequencies significantly, making the bass more controlled and better without reducing the quantity. It makes mid frequencies just a bit thinner and laid back. Tonality is bright but slight on warmer side.



Trebles:

Undoubtedly, treble is the best region of Leo. It takes quality of the high frequencies to a higher level and increases the level of details noticeably. Of course, a good synergy with the earphones used is extremely important. Leo has great match with the particularly bright or laid-back trebles earphone. It won’t be good with bright and prominent trebles earphones for sure. If I have to give an example of Atlantis, upper frequencies are more controlled and it improves the quantity. In addition, the presentation in general has become airier spacious. It makes the strings more prominent and detailed without causing an aggression and harshness. The progression of Leo has made on the top frequencies also contributes to the instrument’s separation.



Mids:

With all the earphones I tested with Leo has lost some weight on mids but that’s’ not a big a margin. In general, Leo takes back the mid frequencies a little and opens the stage. The best thing that Leo does is in the mid it improves the clarity and the sound definitely gets cleaner; it is very obvious when I compare the stock cable with Leo. Improvements of transparency and cleanliness of the mids are quite high. The vocals go back little in the stage, but it creates larger space and airy stage. Instrument separation is definitely better and can be heard easily. Again, to give an example from Atlantis, the cable is boosted the lower mids but Leo makes it tighter and relatively more controlled. Overall, the resolution and detail level of the mid is great and it has positive effect on soundstage.



Bass:

Bass is another great frequency of Leo and its quantity is impressive for a silver cable, but it is not like the copper cable in terms of quantity for sure. Leo makes bass tighter and also improves the speed and tight bass performance makes it controlled. Controlled bass helps clarity and doesn’t compress the other frequencies. Leo has a great bass response and the percussion is punchy. Atlantis’ bass is not powerful and deep but it is tight and controlled. Leo adds some weight to Atlantis’ bass but it still keeps tight and controlled without losing control. Overall bass performance is clean tight and slightly warm.



Soundstage:

Leo noticeably improves the soundstage both wide and depth. Not only it improves the soundstage, it also improves the instrument separation and details. It brings more detail, especially on upper frequencies. Airy and spacious soundstage is pretty great as expected from silver cable.




Comparison:

Leo vs PW Audio SC Silver:

Both cables are pure silver, PW is 4 braided while Leo is 8 braided. PW SC Silver comes in simple black cartoon box with cotton pouch. Leo’s package contents are richer and better. Both cables are beautiful and makes it look gorgeous. Although PW has 4 braids, it is stiffer which makes Leo more comfortable and ergonomic. Sound is similar but they are differing in bass department. Trebles are similar in quantity and quality but PW has slightly more extended and sparkle. Both are detailed and the resolution level on the top frequencies are great. Mids are slightly more bodied on Leo while PW is thinner and bright in tonality. Bass is more in quantity of Leo and it has more impact than the PW. PW has more controlled and tighter bass but it’s sacrifice quantity and weight. Soundstage is similar but Leo feels airier and more spacious.



Leo vs Rhapsodio RSD Silver:

Both cables are beautiful and their material and build qualities are top notch. RSD has 4 braids while Leo has 8 but they are almost in same thickness because of gauge differences of the cables. RSD is warmer and organic sounds cable while Leo is more on technical side and slightly bright when compare to RSD. Leo has more quantity and extension on trebles. RSD is organic and it has copper cable warmth. Mids are more forward and lush on RSD and it has more body while Leo is more laid back and thinner in tonality. Vocals are also more forward on RSD as expected. Bass is more in quantity on RSD and it has more impact but Leo is faster and tighter. Leo is clearer in presentation and the transparency is better. RSD feels more organic and natural. Overall both cables are great but they have different sound character.



Verdict:

Rich package contents, great craftmanship and material quality with great sound is really impressive for the retail price of Penon Leo. Market is so hot these days with the crazy price tags, and Leo brings some fresh air with its affordable price. It is a great performer silver cable and if you match with the right earphone it will improve all the sound to another level.

Before start to review, I would like to share technical aspect and package details.


Spec:

• Headphone type: over-the-ear
• Frequency response: 15Hz-40kHz
• Drive type: 1 dynamic + 2 balanced armature drivers
• Impedance: 28Ω
• Sensitivity: 106dB/mW
• Maximum Input Power: 100mW
• Plug: 3.5mm straight gold-plated stereo jack/ 2.5mm TRRS straight gold0plated stereo jack
• Cord length: 120cm
• Single Earbud Weight: 3.76g
• Detachable cable design: Yes (standard MMCX connector)

Package:

· Fiio F9

· 3.5mm single-ended cable with in-line controls

2.5mm balanced cable

· 6 pairs of Silicone ear tips

· Carrying case

·






Design & Isolation :

When I get the F9, I really liked the design and quality. The workmanship on the body is pretty solid and feels very good. The comfort is decent. The body of the F9 is quite small. It’s kind of Westone-like body and that is very comfortable in design. When you wear it, you do not feel any pressure or pain in the ear. I really liked the package and contents. There are 6 set of tips and it has Pelican style like case solid black case.

F9 comes with silicone tips and that’s provide a good isolation. I think that it has provided sufficient isolation to the outdoors.

Also, it has 1 SE cable and 1 balanced cable. Fiio done a really great job.

The F9 comes with a replaceable MMCX socket and that feels quite rigid and solid.







Sound Type:

If you look at the sound character; F9’s slightly V shaped and mids positioned further backwards. General presentation is energetic and hot treble with upper mid boost. Bass is prominent and tight.





Bass:

One of the biggest improvements in hybrid design is that the bass is usually noticeable. At F9, it is not a dominant when viewed from the general character. Sub-bass are not very deep, but the overall presentation is sufficient. The bass is tight and good slam. The bass are not hitting from a wide area, it’s hitting more central. As I said before, the amount of bass is not much powerful but you can hear it when it calls.

Quantity of the bass is average. When I compare with my AAW A3H Pro V2, bass is two steps behind. But the F9 tighter and faster. The A3H Pro V2 hitting a much wider range, much deeper and more resolving but A3H PRO 2 slower than F9 and it feels more uncontrolled. F9 is better on sharp and quick passages.



Mid:

Mids positioned one step backwards to the top and bottom frequencies. The presentation is not in your face. There is a quite distance. The instruments are accompanied by vocals in the middle. Space between instruments pretty good. Clarity and detail level is in this price range quite impressive. Mostly, I listened with my Opus #1 balanced output and every single detail came up clearly. I liked the timbre of stringed instruments. Male and female vocals are above average in terms of transparency.

The overall character of the lower mids a little bit thin. If you love mild, bold mid presentation, F9 is not for you. Also, upper mids a little energetic and sparkling can be harsh a bit in bad recordings.




Treble:

Trebles are slightly bright, energetic and hot.

When I first removed it from to the box, the treble tones came up a little bit harsh. Then I decided to burn-in at least 100 hours. Now, treble is nicely tamed. Cymbals are audible and relatively well separated. Before burn-in, fast passages it caused complications, but after a burn-in it showed seriously relief. There is still a bit of aggression in bad record, but I have not come across a sibilance yet. In terms of resolution is pretty good. But I would recommend to use with warm source (Dap/Dac-Amp)





Soundstage:

The soundstage of the F9 is neither very wide nor too narrow. The instruments are doesn’t overlap. Soundstage quite wide enough to make happy many people, and average in depth. The amount of distance between each instrument better than everything I have heard in this price range.


Verdict:

When I consider the price of the F9, package contents, quality of the material, the sense of durability it gives, sound signature and comfort I can easily recommend. I find it to have a pretty great value. Fiio getting better and better.

Before starting this review, I would like to share the technical aspects and package details.







Specifications:

Driver: 11mm Dynamic Driver

Frequency response: 20 ~ 20,000 Hz

Sensitivity: 106dB/mV

Impedance: 16ohm


Package Details:

Rhapsodio Saturn earphone and stock cable

6 pair silicon tips

1 Cleaning tool

1 carrying case


Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold Titanium

Opus #1

Astell Kern AK120

Astell Kern AK70


Package, Design & Isolation;

Saturn comes with a box that can be called as simple. The package includes pelican case-like protection box and 6 double silicon tips. Saturn has only 1 faceplate option which is a wooden faceplate. It looks quite good which I like it. The shell color is translucent brown. You can see the dynamic driver. Saturn is a quite big earphone. I can even say the biggest earphone I ever used. I thought I would have a problem with the fit when I first unpacked it, but I had fairly comfortable fit. Like the other Rhapsodio products, Saturn also comes with a 0.78mm 2 pin socket. My only complaint is the nozzle. It is really big and bold which I couldn’t use it with many tips that I have.



Sound Type:

Saturn has soft and smooth presentation, and it has strong and deep bass. Also, trebles are relaxed tones. General sound character is kind of V-shape, but the trebles are slightly behind in the overall presentation. Mids are behind but the vocals are a little bit forward. Saturn is a fairly easy to listen earphone, even though it has strong and deep bass. The reason is the non-aggressive trebles and laid back mid frequencies. Saturn’s level of detail is also good in some parts; however, the details are not prominent. If you want to hear the instruments in the music, you have to focus and hear it. I can say that the soundstage width is quite wide. In general, Saturn is an earphone with strong and deep bass, relaxed tones and smooth organic mids.



Trebles:

I think the trebles are Saturn’s weakest side. The trebles have a slightly relaxed, non-aggressive and it is not uncontrolled in the overall presentation. There is a roll-off in trebles. While this is negative for detail and resolution, but it also allows a long listening without fatigue. The tones, which are a little behind the dominant low frequencies, make the overall presentation warm and smooth. As a matter of fact, the trebles are detailed but they do not let you in because they are behind in the overall presentation. I can’t say that the it has higher level of details but in this price range, it’s performance is quite good.

I think this treble level is enough for some type of music genres, but it may not be enough for classical, jazz and instrumental music. However, Sammy made tuning for more smooth and organic sound, it does not promise much in this sense. The trebles do not get on top of the middle as elongation and detail.



Mids:

Mids are bit behind and slightly veiled. The organic and warm presentation is going on same as in the overall presentation. Mids are playing thick notes so it causes a thick stilted instrument audition. Instruments come up behind so it gets difficult to focus on hearing. One of the things I like about the mids is vocals. Mids’ vinyl-esque presentation is enjoyable in terms of vocals as well. Listening to the vocals is really enjoyable due to its dark and marshmallowy softness. I can say that vocals are close although the mids are back. The detail level of mid-frequencies is not so high but it is successful in terms of musicality and it is joyous. There can be mid hump while listening to some tracks and it can be tiring somewhat in particular tracks. Listeners who enjoy warm and smooth vocals are going to like Saturn too.



Bass:

The best range of Saturn is the low frequency. Bass is strong, authoritative and shaking your ears as it supposed to be in a dynamic driver. It goes deep and are good but it might lose control in dense bass tracks. Sub-bass is successful in terms of depth but it can be tiring sometimes due to the spreading in a wide area. Bass creates a club ambiance with its good performance in EDM and similar genres. It is slow and the recovery time is not so enough for the fast passages, but it is not disturbing at all. I listen to many different genres like EDM, classical music, jazz… So, I choose the earphones according to the genre I am going to listen to. At that point, Saturn is definitely good with genres like Pop, R&B or EDM, so I turn on EDM unintentionally, the depth and sweet structure of bass drives me to do that.



Soundstage:

The soundstage is quite wide. The instrument positioning on the stage is not super clear, however it is hard to say that there is interference. You just need to focus on the instruments. While listening to the particular tracks in high volume, it feels like the bass dominates the frequencies and narrows the overall soundstage. Still, the width of the soundstage is fine. In the sense of depth, there is no 3D holographic soundstage, but it still has a spacious and airy.

Verdict:

Saturn could have been a much better earphone if it can succeed in low frequencies same as the upper frequencies. However, it is a very enjoyable earphone to listen strong and authoritarian bass and organic vinyl-like presentation. The overall presentation is accompanied by the meaty vocals and bit thick instruments. There is a unique tuning of Saturn. This is a good earphone for lovers of this type of presentation. Even though there are assertive earphones in that price range, but Saturn has still a good performance in that range.

Let me share technical aspects and package details before review it.

And also, you can buy both TE-5B / TE-5T from Hyla website or Musicteck;

https://www.hyla-audio.com/shop
https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/hyla



Specifications:

Driver type (per channel): Balanced Amateur x 2 Dynamic x 1 Piezoelectric Ceramic x 1

Sensitivity: 97dB@1mW

Frequency response: 20Hz-45kHz

Impedance: 12Ω

Cord: PW Audio 1.2m 2pin high grade PCOCC with silver plated copper.

Plug type: 3.5mm mini stereo with gold plated




Package Details:

Hyla TE5B earphone

PW Audio cable

Foam eartips (S M L)

Silicon eartips (S M L XL)

Cleaning tool

Nylon earphone case (Van Nuys collaboration)




Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold Titanium

Opus #1

Astell Kern AK120



Package, Design & Isolation;

Hyla TE5B is coming as the same box with CE-05. Outer cardboard box has simple design and there is a gold Hyla logo on it. When you open the box, things start to change. Beautiful TE5B and Vannuys storage case are presenting in satin fabric and it feels premium. Like Reborn and CE-05, TE5B is also made by Germany imported resin and Hyla Audio used 3D structural design in their earphones. Hyla went to design change with the new TE series and personally I like it more. Body shape is different than CE-05 and it feels more comfortable to my ears. By the contrast of CE05, Hyla put some logo on the both faceplates of TE5B. I have to admit, CE05 is a beautiful IEM and I like its clean design and color but I always wish some logo on it. Hyla Audio must hear that and they printed logo and text on the faceplates. TE5B has nice blue translucent color and there is no other color option. I like translucent shell, it is beautiful to see all organs inside of the TE5B. TE5B has 1x piezoelectric ceramic super tweeter which produces amazing high frequencies. It is accompanied with 2 Sonion balanced armature drivers and 1 10mm dynamic driver. There are total 4 drivers with 3 different type of drivers.

TE5B’s fit is perfect for me. This is not a small earphone but their longer nozzle and ergonomic shaped shell make it great fit in the ears. I don’t think there will be some fit issues but maybe some small ear might get an issue. Isolation is better than most of the earphones that I tried.

Hyla made a collaboration with PW Audio and they come with beautifully made PW Audio SPC cable. Cable has 3.5.mm gold plated jack. I’ve never tried TE-5B with another cable in my hand but its stock cable is already beautiful. If they were sold separately, I would definitely buy it. Hyla’s another collaboration is with the Vannuys. Like CE05, TE5B is also coming with Vannuys nylon case. It looks and feels beautiful. Also, TE-5B is coming with 3 sets of foam and 4 sets of silicon tips.



Sensitivity and power:

Lotoo Paw Gold has some background noise and it became my official sensitivity testing gear. I’ve heard some hiss with TE5B but nothing serious. For example, if I have to give hiss level score, Andromeda should be like 10/7.5 with LPG and I would give the TE5B 10/3. In terms of hiss, it is way better than Andromeda. Also, there is no noticeable hiss with any source in my hand. Hyla TE-5B loves power. You don't need a powerful amp to run TE5B, most of the daps and some phone drove them easily, but more powerful amp will make TE5B sound better, that's for sure.



Sound:

Probably most of the people are curious about the differences between CE-05 and TE-5B, and let me answer some of those questions. Is there any sound difference between two earphones? Yes, absolutely there is a difference in terms of sound. Is it significant? No, they are not significant or huge but they are noticeable and if you have a complaint about thin mid range of the CE-05, TE-5B has nice improvements in this area. Should I have to upgrade from CE-05 to TE-5B? It’s up to you. Last year I just lost / stolen my backpack and my CE05 has gone sadly, so I cannot compare them side by side, but I remember thin and laid-back midrange of CE-05. Bass is more or less same but I think TE-5B is more prominent in this area. Only thing that I can criticize is the lower volume performance. The TE5B sounds amazing at high volumes, but it lost its magic at lower volumes. I'm normally listening at medium or high volumes but at nights, mostly listening at quite lower volumes and TE-5B a little compromise its performance. Nothing serious.

TE-05 is a great successor of the CE-05, Hyla Audio has improved the weakness in the mid frequencies that the old model has, so TE-5B now plays meatier and it has more body on overall sound. It’s not thin anymore. High frequencies are amazingly clear and impressive, thanks to piezoelectric ceramic driver. It produces an amazing clarity and detail. Bass? It is another story. TE5B is by far the best bass response earphone I’ve heard. I couldn’t find any fault on this area and there is nothing to say about it. I don’t know what kind of bass driver it is or what Hyla did, but it is doing great job.



High Frequencies:

High frequencies are another favorite part of the TE-5B. Piezoelectric driver is freaking detailed and extended. The upper frequencies are extremely generous, but there is no harshness or disturbing sharpness. The extension of the treble is spectacular. You feel the sound of the bells in the track till the last frequency. Each instrument can be heard and there is an extremely clean space between them. The treble may seem a little shiny for some, but I don't see it as annoying. There may be some stress in the upper treble area, especially with the bright sources, but I can say that it has not reached a disturbing point even though listened loudly. The instruments come from neither thin nor thick notes, and I find it quite successful in this sense. The level of resolution and detail is definitely quite high. The TE-5B is very successful in giving micro details. Piezoelectric technology seems to bring a new breath in this regard. Of course, technology is not the only thing, however tuning is more important. Especially these days, there is a driver war out there and TE-5B is very successful at this point. It is doing a better job than the some of the earphone who has 6 upper frequency balanced armature driver.

Articulation and coherency are simply great. It feels like you're listening to music with all its nakedness. I haven't had a chance to listen to the TE-5T yet, but it's hard to believe or understand how TE-5T can have more amount and resolution than TE-5B. In addition, prominent and forward trebles have a positive impact on the soundstage. The perception of the stage is particularly spacious and airy. Overall, trebles are super detailed and it has fast transients.



Mid Frequencies:

The prominent upper frequencies make us think that it will create a weakness in the lower frequencies, but the TE-5B shows it is better tuned than the CE-05 in this sense. There is absolutely no problem of lack of body in the mid frequencies and it has bodied and full.

While moving up to the mid frequency range, TE-5B is continuing to impress. TE-5B is more bodied than the CE-05 and there is a certain fullness in the sound that I was missing before. There is a crispness and overall fuller sound on it. They are not dominant over other frequencies, on the contrary they are smooth and laid back. It’s laid back in the general spectrum, but the vocal presentation is slightly forward and front of the instruments. The TE-5B did a fine job with both the male and female vocals. It’s smooth in overall, but still retaining great amount of detail and vocals, jazz, instrumental sounds are enjoyable to listen. There is a coloration on the mid frequencies and this is especially noticeable in instrumented vocal songs, but the instruments don’t feel artificial and you feel the instrument with all its naturalness. Mid frequencies are very clean and clear, and the lower mid doesn't affected from mid-bass and does not come out of control. The upper mids can be a little peaky on some tracks, and literally this is the only things that I can criticize for about mid frequencies.



Low Frequencies:

The bass response of the TE-5B blows me away, it’s layered, textured and imaging is top notch. Some of you know this feeling. In some concerts or clubs, bass hits into your body, you can feel every beat in your entire body. This is like bass has infiltrate into your body and hitting it from there. Here is the TE-5B reminds me of this effect when I listened. The bass has breathtaking impact and depth. One of the best features is, it is not compress other frequencies and play without bouncing. It does not lose its resolution or details. The bass are hitting from sweet and warm tone. There are many balanced armature earphones that has very successful bass, and one of the best examples is U12 and S-EM9 (according to my listening experience). After listening to the TE-5B, the S-EM9 feels very artificial and dull. I don't have U!2 anymore and I cannot compare it but I don't think any balanced armature earphone can compete with the TE-5B in this regard. The TE-5B prat is simply amazing. The bass has a very high sense of music. Quantity of the bass is at pretty satisfied level, but some bass addicted people may want more. Of course, it is possible to increase the amount of bass by using eq, but I never thought of doing it. The bass is very successful in technical terms. Its resolution and separation are extremely high. I think the Mid-bass have a very good tune here. If it would less, it will make feel a little thin, though a bit more mid-hump, but it has been tuning in a very right place. The recovery time of the bass is quite good for the dynamic drive. It doesn't mess around in fast passages.

Overall bass performance is simply breath-taking.



Soundstage:

The TE-5B has a wide stage both horizontally and vertically. The imaging is extremely precise and the location of the instruments is positioned successfully in the stage, so they are clearly distinguishable. The scene is very natural in its transverse and doesn’t add an artificial width. All the details in the music also presented clearly and the background is quite dark and clear.



Hyla TE-5B vs Oriolus Reborn:

Reborn is one of my favorite IEM in my collection and I would like to keep it till it’s dead. (I wish this never happen. Amen) I always love its emotional and powerful sound and it has a special place in my heart. After Reborn vs CE-05 comparison, now it’s time to compare with TE-5B, and this time it’s going to be a tough one.

Both earphones are great in terms of comfort. TE-5B is little bit bigger than Reborn but it doesn’t have any comfort issue, on the contrary it fits better than Reborn into my ears. Aesthetically, both iems are beautiful. Reborn’s solid black shell color and gold Oriolus text on the faceplate looks premium and elegant. On the other hand, TE5B is looks more sport and dynamic due to translucent blue color and big shiny silver logo and text. Both earphones are coming with PW Audio cables. Reborn has legendary No5 cable while TE5B has some silver-plated copper which is special collaboration with Hyla Audio. I’ve never wanted to upgrade to any other cable yet, they sound already great.

Both Reborn and TE5B has 4 drivers but they are differing in driver types. Reborn has 3 balanced armature drivers with 1 single dynamic driver while TE5B has 2 balanced armature, 1 dynamic driver with 1 piezoelectric ceramic driver. I would like to mention that, these are not reference type of earphones and they are not trying to produce accurate sound or tonality. Their priority is musicality instead of accuracy, so I am judging in this regard.

Finally sound. Reborn has bold, thick and dark sound and its magic in its mid frequencies. On the other side, TE5B shows its magic in every frequency. Although bold, forward dominant mid frequencies, Reborn has nice sparkle and extension in the highs. It’s extended really well and it has nice detail and resolution, but…but TE-5B is better in every way. That piezoelectric driver doing really great job and its extension, detail and resolution is another level. Separation is clearer and more distinct. Every instrument has own place in the soundstage and it’s never mixing each other. Reborn is still great and its performance still totl class but TE-5B is better in this area. If I have to describe in one word for them, I would use for Reborn is smooth, TE-5B is sharp. Mid frequencies are still better on Reborn, at least for my personal preferences, but that doesn’t’ mean TE-5B is not good. The sound coming out of the Reborn is more full-bodied than TE-5B but this not a huge difference. Reborn is forward, and thick mid frequencies has a big role in here. To be honest, TE-5B has more air and space between vocals and instruments in the stage but somewhat I like that forward, romantic presentation of Reborn. TE-5B is more laid back in mid and it has nice body like Reborn. Bass is better on TE-5B, period. Reborn has nice impact and rumble and its bass performance is really impressive as some of you know, but TE-5B is much better and I don’t know how it is achieved. This is the best bass I’ve ever heard from any iems to the date. Bass is never losing its control and never felt slow. (of course, not as fast as like balanced armature drivers) It has nice body and it reaches really deep. Reborn is still great and I like to listen some bassy tracks on that, but TE-5B is just superb. Soundstage is horizontally better on TE-5B, it has more space between instruments and air and also the imaging is much better than the Reborn. Reborn also has wide soundstage but forward mid frequencies feel more intimate when I compare with TE5B. Both has nice depth and more or less very similar.

In the end, I can clearly say that TE-5B is a better earphone than the Reborn in overall. Its extended, super detailed high frequencies and phenomenal bass presentation are hard to beat. I would like to mention again, that bass is something different than anything I’ve heard. Reborn is still amazing iem low to high frequencies for me and I know some people might prefer Reborn over the TE5B due to its smooth and creamy presentation because TE-5B is not as good as Reborn for long listening. These two bad boys will be stay in my collection forever, both are amazing, both are super enjoyable earphones.



Verdict:

This is the second-generation products of the Hyla Audio’s and they made a nice impact on the audio community with the Nerva-X and CE-05 earphones. And now, I think they hit the spot with their new TE-5B too. I really love its phenomenal bass performance, super detailed high frequencies with level of instrument layering and imaging. The new stock PW Audio silver plated copper cable is also really great with TE-5B and I think no need to upgrade it. TE-5B might be the most excited earphone that I have and also, it might easily be an endgame earphone for who are looking musical and detailed sound signature.

Also, like the CE-05 Hyla Audio made TE-5B only 200 units, it is limited run and it is not going to be produced again. If you miss the opportunity to get CE-05, you can jump on it.

Oriolus Forsteni “Fifty Shades of Grey”


Intro

Oriolus is a boutique audio company located in Japan. After the success of company's first product “Oriolus MK1- MK2” they created “Forsteni”, aimed right at the 300- 400$ market. Since its launch, I was waiting eagerly to get my hands on it and I finally did. I am here with the Grey Oriolus Fosteni. Allow me to introduce you to this awesome creature!

Specifications

Forsteni

• Sensitivity: 111 dB/mW
• Frequency Response: 10 Hz -40 kHz
• Impedance: 24Ω
• Configuration: x2 BA x1 Dynamic Driver
• Cable System: 2-pin Removable
• MSRP: 374$

PW Audio No.5

• Single Crystal OCC Technology
• Litz Architecture
• Flexible Insulation Design
• 4-Braid
• 26 Awg

Testing Equipment

i have used quite a few gear to unleash it’s full potential.

List goes like this:

• Lotoo Paw Gold (Main Source)
• AK120
• Audioquest Dragonfly Black

Accessories | Box

Forsteni comes with a box which can be definable as plain. The stylish Oriolus box includes 3 types of tips. Package content is a bit weak but it is enough with a storage box and various tips sizes.

• Foam Eartips S/M/L
• Silicon Eartips S/M/L
• 2 Flange Eartips M
• Cord Clip
• Cleaning Tool
• Carrying Case
• Manual & Warranty Card

Design | Build | Fit

Forsteni’s material quality is a lot like Oriolus MK2, its body is black acrylic. Faceplate seems elegant in silver color under different light angles. Housing feels durable and 2-pin sockets are quite strong & firm. Do note that Forsteni’s housing is smaller than Oriolus MK2’s.

I really liked Forsteni's fit. It is quite comfortable and it has a better fit than MK2. I don’t think anyone would have any problems with the fit.

Sound Signature

Forsteni’s sound signature is balanced across the spectrum with added warmth of the dynamic driver’s bass. Mids are not in front like its big brother MK2, bass is less deep and less. Forsteni has really good mids as MK2, with really clear and relatively back mids, vocals are joyous. It is compatible with LPG and AK120 as source. I recommend to use Forsteni with warmer daps.


Low Freqs

The most distinct difference between Hybrid and Armature earphones shows up at comparing bass performances. Dynamic drivers are wider, stronger, can go deeper and slower comparing to armature drivers but Forsteni doesn’t have slow bass despite its dynamic driver. Most of the people can define it as armature driver. it has natural bass.

It catches the emphasis in bass, passages are fast and it does not miss the details. Extension in strings are natural, beats like drums are fast and firm. Bass reactions in rapid genres like EDM or Metal are quite satisfying.

Forsteni's speed meets the bass expectation more or the less but the amount of the bass may sound a little less. Bass is %15 rear relatively to MK2. Bass hits fairly enough when needed and does not hit like earthquake as it is at MK2. If you don’t mind the amount of bass, thequality of the bass would be very satisfying. However, it shouldn’t be recognised like bass light. Forsteni has tremendously strong and satisfying bass.

Dynamic driver shouts ‘here i am' when it needed for EDM, R&B and Pop. To sum up, Forsteni has very successful bass regarding quantity, speed and resolution which does not presses the general sound character.


Mid Freqs

Mids of Forsteni are shrill and regarding the bass they are slightly behind. Even though the Mids are lagging behind the sound is absolutely solid body. As tune i can say it is almost natural. Vocals are clean enough sounds slightly behind. I have to admit that Forsteni is more successful with the female vocals. They sound softer. I also really like the instrument distinction. When there are polyphonic songs you can easily make positioning. All the details of the vocals and instruments are very good and musical. For the lower mids there may be I can complaint. It sounds little less but the success at the other fields doesn’t feels like it. The people who like Mid-bass very much may say it would have been more but it doesn’t sound like it is a drawback.


High Freqs

This is where Forsteni is most special. Really its performance is above its price. It’s fast, high resolution, detailed and crystal clear. The first thing took my attention is the resolution of the treble when i first put on the earphones. Treble sounds very relax, stretches adequate and highly controlled. it wont loose control in the fast songs and does not mix the instruments. Highly enjoyable at the stringed songs. It is possible to hear every piece of bell notes. Also very successful at the discrimination. Trebles are slightly shine but as I listened never encountered shining or sibilant. Besides I have to remark that it is very compatible with PW No5 cable comes with it. Different cable variations would change the reactions. Probably it wont be a good combination to use it with silver cable. I couldn’t tried that because i don’t have a pure silver cable. (Ordered PW Single Core Silver but not received yet.)


Soundstage

Forsteni is doing a great job with the subjects such as presentation airiness, reality

The most attention to the stage is the completeness for me. Unless there are instruments playing far away from each other, it is difficult to get an integrity. Instead of playing in a very wide area and creating far distance, Forsteni protects the music integrity by keeping the instruments in a reasonable position and putting a clear gap between the instrument and other instruments. Mid is also slightly behind, the soundstage feels like it is quite wide in the distance. The soundstage is also deeply satisfying.




Conclusion:

Every product of Oriolus company is getting much more interesting now. After a magnificent earphone like the MK2, the Forsteni is a very good earpiece with the current build quality, sound quality and price tag.. I would definitely recommend it for those who want to balanced, slightly warm and musical sound around 300-500USD. Also PW No5 is very good combination with Forsteni.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details. Also, I would like to thank ifi Audio and Lawrence for this great review tour.



Specifications:

B Input:

up to PCM768kHz & DSD512 (24.6/22.6MHz)

S/PDIF Coaxial and Optical Input:

up to 192kHz/24Bit

Dynamic Range:

> 113dB (A)

Volume Control:

-101dB…0dB in 1dB steps

Output power:

> 2.82V/500 mW @ 16 Ohm
> 3.7V/270mW @ 50 Ohm
> 3.8V/48 mW @ 300 Ohm
> 3.8V/24 mW @ 600 Ohm

Line out Level:

> 2.1V @ 0dBFS (& 0dB Volume)

THD &N (1V/16R):

< 0.005%

Output Impedance:

< 1 Ohm

Battery:

3.8V/2200mAh

Dimensions:

95 (l) x66.5 (w) x19 (h) mm

Weight:

127g (0.28 Ibs)


Package Details:

xDSD USB DAC


USB-A female to male


USB-B female to USB A female


USB-A male to USB B female


Toslink optical adapter to 3.5 mm mini jack


Velcro patches for attaching to phone or music player


Velvet Pouch



Package & Design;

As you can see to the package details, Ifi xDSD comes with lots of accessories. USB cables, toslink adapter, pouch and patches. I am quite impressed by the package contents. ifi Audio put lots of accessories for their customer.

When I first touch xDSD, I was surprised because it is smaller than I thought. Body material is the combination of aluminium and plastic, it is not heavy because of plastic components. Plastic material is not cheap looking, it looks and feels premium. Also, it feels solid and durable, but it definitely feels like the kind of a thing that you never would like to drop. Ergonomically it is wonderful to use it. I used it with my AK120 DAP and they matched quite well in terms of size. Size is similar with Mojo, maybe a bit taller and thinner. Overall, I liked the shape of body, it easily fit any device and you can carry with your portable gear outside without worrying. Also, I like volume knob lights. It is like Mojo and its colors change in every level of sound.

One thing that I don’t like about the design is the glossy surface. I have to admit, it looks good, but it is like fingerprint collector. You have to clean every time when you touch it if you do not like that view. I wish iFi was made of matte surface. Also, another disadvantage of the glossy surface is, it can be scratched easily. It has some hairline scratches on the body if you look closely. Another thing about the design is the volume-knob. It is sensitive enough and feels good when you turn on, but when you turn down or up little bit hard, knob stretches little bit and rubs to the edges. This is not a big issue but it is really bothered me when I use. These are minor complaints of course but I couldn’t ignore it.



Battery Life:

Battery life of xDSD is neither good nor bad. I had approximately 6 hours listening with my earphones, but if you use with power hungry headphones this result will change, probably you will get 3-4 hours battery life. I think it could be better if it runs like 8-9 hours. This is not the main reason of the battery life but there are too many lights on the body. When you turn on the unit, all input lights, battery light, 3D+ or xBass lights and volume lights are turning on. It could be better that if iFi turns off some lights after selected. For example, when we choose xBass feature, the light could be turned off after 15 seconds. I believe this will affect battery life very positively. Of course, I am not an engineer and these are some amateur consumer thoughts.

By the way, you can follow the battery status at battery indicate led. White (more than %75) – Green (middle of somewhere) Red – (hold the charge cable ready) Blinking Red – (Fire in the hole)



Power:

This thing is really powerful. Piece of cake for xDSD to drive any earphones, and it drove my all earphones without any issue. Also, I tried with my HD6XX headphone and it drives effortless. I believe it is enough to drive most of the headphones with authority. In addition, I tried hiss sensitivity with my Andromeda earphone and I heard just a small amount of hiss but it is absolutely not significant. If I speak more clearly, it is better than my Lotoo Paw Gold Diana, Astell Kern AK120 and Opus#1 in terms of hiss performance.



Sound:

The first thing that I realized when I heard of xDSD was its musical presentation. It sounds effortless and musical. No harshness, aggression or sharpness. It is not mellow like Mojo, but somewhat similar with it. I would call the sound signature of xDSD the neutral, but it leans towards the slightly warmer side. Instrument separation, resolution and details are also pretty good. It is not performing from technical side, it shows its musical side. I don’t know how many hours burned this review unit but I found trebles are tamed and relaxed. I never heard any sibilance and it is not rolled off. Details and separation level are good but not perfect. Sometimes in fast passages it loses its details, especially with prominent trebles earphones like Andromeda. Stringed instruments like violin, guitar and oud sound are also natural feeling. It is not coloured, thick or thin. No roll off at upper frequencies. Trebles are pretty extended. I did not come up with sibilance or harshness, but you may need to be careful when using with bright earphones. Overall, upper frequencies are clear and detailed. Mid frequencies are a bit recessed but it is not like deep V-shape form, it is natural and relaxed. Vocals are natural and is slightly forward. Bass is tight and controlled and the sub-bass provides good rumble and impact, but it is not reaching too deep. When you activate xBass effect it adds some quantity but still it is not the bass-head level performance. It has an average performance as a soundstage. When I compare with Mojo, XDSD has wider soundstage than Mojo but Mojo is better at depth.

iff

Verdict:

I always like iFi Audio products. They produced many good gears like ieMatch which I have one and great p/p product like iDSD. And now like other iFi products, xDSD is also a great little device. It is not perfect, it has some weakness but when I consider the whole cons and pros it is a great product in overall. It is very capable device and it is loaded with some good features. If you are looking to get a small but powerful, also musical and detailed DAC/AMP, iFi xDSD must be in your list.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.

Also, I would like to thanks to Penon Audio for this great opportunity. Here is the link of the S6 Rui;

https://penonaudio.com/fearless-audio-s6rui.html



Specifications:

Driver: 6 balanced armature (1 Sonion compound low frequency, 1 Sonion compound middle frequency,2 Knowles independent high frequency)

Impedance: 20 ohm

Sensitivity: 116dB/MW

Passive noise reduction: 26dB

Frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz

Connector:2pin 0.78mm

Plug:3.5mm



Package Details:

Fearless S6RUI earphone

Eartips 4 Foam, 3 (SML) SpinFits and 3(SML) Black silicone.

Leather Carrying Case

2-pin SPC 8 Core cable

Shirt clip

Cleaning tool

Metal plaque with information pertaining to the model



Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold

Astell & Kern AK120

Opus #1



Package, Design & Isolation;

I think Fearless Audio has changed their package design recently. Old package was simple yellow box but now, S6 Rui comes with white designed cartoon box. Inside the box, there are leather cover case, tips, warranty card, and cleaning tools. The carrying case is really fantastic. It reminds me the Anole VX leather case both as design and color. Case has nice touch and its size is pretty enough to keep S6 Rui inside of the box. This is pretty impressive because most of the earphones come with simple carrying case at this price range. It is nice to see that Fearless Audio improves their products and package quality day by day. Cable is another great thing of S6 Rui. Its stock cable is really great and I don’t think I will upgrade it.

My S6 Rui has K9 faceplate with translucent A5 shell design, but there are many other customization options for it, and you can select different designs. And also, you can make your own design as well. This is my second Fearless Audio product and I’m familiar with its shell design and quality. Earphone itself has ergonomic shape which provides good fit and isolation. Built quality is fantastic. No blemish, quality defect or QC issue on it. Like other Fearless products, it has also industry standard 0.78mm 2 pin socket so you can use aftermarket cables with S6 Rui. Isolation is great, no complaint here. I got pretty good seal with the silicon tips. S6 Rui’s body design makes a great comfort and isolation in ears.



Sound:

S6 Rui is pretty well known iem in the audio community and I guess almost every person who buys it loves at the very first sight. Its sound like a dynamic driver, it has nice energy with dynamism and also provides nice detail in every frequency. S6 Rui is some of few earphones that I heard like this kind of bass performance. It is pretty impressive for a balanced armature driver; it hits hard and sub bass goes pretty deep. Mid frequencies are laid back but vocal sound is slightly forward. High frequencies have nice sparkle and extension and it’s prominent on the overall sound.



Trebles:

The upper frequencies are slightly bright, airy and well-extended. A tremendous feature is that the trebles do not loose their control too much. In general, the S6 Rui has a V-shape sound structure, so I can say that the trebles are quite prominent. The fact that the prominent presentation does not make it sound perfect or good by itself, but it is important how it is tuned. In general, I like the tonality of the upper frequencies as well as its control. There is no metallization in the treble, and it has a natural presentation. I did lots of tests with my favorite Le Trio Jeoubran album, and treble does a really good job on stringed instruments. The separation of the instruments and the airy presentation on stage are pretty impressive.



Mid:

Mid frequencies are smooth, easy to listen and overall presentation is soft and does not pressurize the stage in any way. Mids are smooth and its detail and resolution level are quite impressive. It is not shy to give many details in music. Mid frequencies are generally laid back than the other frequencies. Tonality is slightly colored and warm. You feel this coloration especially in the instrument’s sounds, the instruments play a little thick and meaty. In fact, lower mid has a big role in here. Vocals seem to be centered on the stage, and it doesn't seem like you hear it all over the scene. Detail level is good to hear every single detail in the music.



Bass:

Basses are at top of the area where the S6 Rui is the most successful. Basses are really strong, bulky and they don't have any problems about reaching deep. Another thing that surprised me is the beats of the bass are reminiscent of the dynamic driver. Both hits and tonality are very similar to the dynamic driver. Sub basses can go deep very well. I said it was like a dynamic driver, but let me emphasize that you can't get close to a powerful dynamic driver. I love the sound performance of the armature drives, but I think they are a little weak in generating sub-frequencies. Most armature driver headphones are dry and dull with lower frequencies, of course there are some very well tune earphones out there, they are exception. At S6 Rui, I think I can say that it is included in this class. Not dry, not weak or slow, it is very dynamic and natural beats in this regard. Although the bass is strong, it is extremely fast and controlled. It's not the fastest armature driver I've listened to, but in that sense it's definitely good. Overall the bass performance is quite pleasant to listen to and the prat feeling is quite high.



Soundstage:

I can say that the soundstage is wide and deep enough to create room for vocals and instruments. But there is no exception here. It is not the best in its class, but it is better than the average I believe. The instruments and vocals can play from pretty wide area and it is easy to listen. Background is black and clean. It provides clean and clear presentation.



Comparison:

S6 Rui vs Atlantis:

These are two different earphones both as sound characters and technical details. S6 Rui has 6 balanced armature drivers while Atlantis has 4 balanced drivers. Both earphones’ material and built quality are fantastic. S6 Rui’s sound is dynamic and rich, it has nice bass slam with extended trebles. S6 Rui takes its power from the low frequencies and it adds body on the overall sound. Atlantis is slightly warmer and it sounds is reference like. Of course, not exactly reference but its neutral and balanced sound signature bring it closer in that sense. S6 Rui is much more enjoyable earphone. Bass is more powerful and pronounced with S6 Rui. Its bass hits almost like dynamic driver, actually its bass performance is better than some dynamic drivers. Atlantis is less authoritative and when it’s compared to S6 Rui, it feels bass light. Roll off on the bass becomes more apparent. Atlantis bass is tighter and faster, but not a big margin. Mid frequencies are bolder and thicker with S6 Rui while Atlantis has airier and more neutral. Instruments sounds are more realistic on Atlantis. S6 Rui is playing instruments bold and chubby way. Soundstage is wider and airier on Atlantis. S6 Rui has also wide soundstage but Atlantis’ gives better feeling. At the end, both earphones are pretty good for sound but it depends on your preferences. If you are looking for a fun signature, powerful bass with dynamic earphone, go for S6 Rui. Atlantis sound is totally opposite. Neutral, balanced sound makes Atlantis almost reference earphone, and if you are looking for that, go for it. But Atlantis’ price is almost double on S6 Rui.



S6 Rui vs Audiosense T800:

Lately Audiosense T800 is one of my favorite iem under 500$ which its sound is really impressive. It has 8 Knowles drivers per inside and configuration is like; 2 dual drivers for high, 4 mid drivers for mid, and 2 drivers for low frequencies. Both earphones’ material and build quality are top notch, no complaints here. Sound wise, they are sharing some similarities in sound. Both S6 Rui and T800 have extended and sparkling trebles. S6 Rui is little bit more extended and it has more energy than the T800. T800 is more relaxed and smoother without effort. S6 mid frequencies are more laid back and it’s like dominating with low and upper frequencies. T800 mids are more pronounced and more upfront than the S6 Rui. Vocal is also forward on T800. But earphone has nice details and timbre on mids but T800 is just a bit better for my taste. It is more romantic and natural feeling. Bass quantity is similar in quantity but S6 Rui hits a little harder. Soundstage is wider and deeper on T800 but that doesn’t mean S6 Rui is narrower. It is also wide and pretty deep but T800 puts more air and space between instruments.




Verdict:

Fearless is a very fresh company but they already made many amazing earphones, and a lot of people using their iems with pleasure. S6 Rui is one of them, and great iem which deserves its popularity in the community. Dynamic and engaging sound with easy to love tuning make S6 Rui as a all rounder. Its powerful bass performance accompanied with smooth and detail mid and prominent clear treble.

All the body and material quality are fantastic. Stock cable doesn’t need to upgrade, it is already good looking and sounds beautiful as well. Leather carrying case is not a usual thing to see in this price range which is great. Overall if you are looking for balanced armature earphone with warm and detailed sound, S6 Rui is a great option for its price.

Before starting this review, I would like to thank to Piotr for this great IEM.


Here is the technical aspects and package details.




Specifications:

Single Low/Mid, Single proprietary High

113dB @1kHz @0.1V

7.1 Ohm @1kHz (+-0.5 Ohm 10Hz-20kHz)

10Hz-16500Hz (+-10dB into IEC 60318-4 coupler)

Silicone or Hollow Acrylic body

UIEM or CIEM options


Package Details:

Fibae 2 Earphone

Pelican 1010 Case

Blue Soft Case

6 Pair Silicon Tips

1 Pair Comply Foam

Cleaning Tool


Test Equipments:

Lotoo Paw Gold Titanium

iBasso DX200

Opus #1

Astell Kern AK120

Astell Kern AK70






Design & Isolation;

Magnificent. That was the first word when I took Fibae 2 in my hand. Design is actually amazing. Piotr and his team had created incredibly successful design. This is the best-looking earphones I have ever had with my Atlantis. The color tone of the body changing under different lights which is very nice. When I showed my earphones to the people around me, they gave the same reaction. Spectacular. The workmanship of F2 (Fibae-2) is extremely high. There are no bubble, flaws or blemish on the body. Also, fit is extremely comfortable. Thanks to the long nozzle. Even though it was in my ear like four hours, I have never felt uncomfortable pressure in any part of my ear. CustomArt used very good mold for their universal earphone. I think most of the people will be comfortable with the small shape of body.

F2’s isolation is also very successful. It manages to block the noise out there. It generally provided adequate insulation with silicon tips which I like. With Comply tips the isolation is a bit better but I prefer to use it with silicon tips. In general, I am assigning really high score for the F2 in terms of design, workmanship and fit.



Sound Type:

The F2 has warm, thick sound character and it has slightly forward midrange. Low frequencies are quite strong. Trebles are very separable although strong bass and forward midrange. I wasn’t hoping so much technical capacity for the F2 because of general opinion, I thought that the resolution and technical capacity with few drivers would be unsatisfying, but it is not. The F2 is more capable and better than many multi-driver earphones I've heard. The impressive things about sound quality is, even though it has strong bass and slightly forward mid, it has clear and prominent trebles response.

Some headphones seem not much impressive and doesn’t make you ‘wow’ at first glance but your ears get used to and like it while listening. However, there are some earphones make you fall in love at first second of listening. I feel the second one for F2. I love this earphone since I start to listen. I played my best playlist and listened with pleasure. I am very impressed by the sound and the musical quality of Fibae-2.



Trebles:

The trebles are not very bright in general and certainly not behind in the overall spectrum. Trebles are natural and it has quite high resolution. The general energy of the trebles is very dynamic and vibrant without harshness. The prominent tops add clarity to the F2 and increase the details. The quantity and resolution level are very high than I expected. I have not heard from any 2-driver earphones at this price level. The trebles are not hot and it doesn’t disturb. It reaches very clean presentation at any of instrumental percussion. Thus, the trebles of the songs you listen to are becoming joyous and very musical. The control of the treble is also quite good. They don’t lose control, even in quick passages.

I tested it on many genres like metal music to electronic music, and I still think it doesn’t lose control. There is absolutely no sharpness or sibilance in trebles. It is the same quality with any sources I have. However, I liked it the most with the AK120 and Opus #1. The separation of the instrument is quite good. I can hear every instrument between enough air and space. The sound of all the instruments played is clearly audible, even if it is in the back. I tried some SPC, silver and copper cable and I liked it the most with SPC cable.



Mids:

Mid is clean, spacious and it has good level of detail which is very easily layering. Although the toning is not very accurate, I found the presentation amusing and musical due to the lower mid’s rich presence. Of course, it makes a bit concession of speed, but it is still hard to call it slow. I can say that its toning is a bit forward, warm and slightly thick note in overall. It plays the strings noticeably warm tone. The interesting part is some thick note details that cannot in distinguished in some other earphones are quite distinguishable of F2. Most of the warm playing earphones make the details barely audible but F2 is really successful in this area. It keeps the detail and resolution level quite good.

The vocal presentation of earphones is a bit forward. It is possible to feel instruments voices is front. Vocals are front of the instruments but its not dominating the instruments. My personal preference is a bit forward vocal and that’s why I really like F2. Vocals are smooth and clear. I listened to Rebecca Pidgeon – Spanish Harlem that comes with the AK120 and I liked very much. It’s smooth and mellow. I like the both female and male vocals. It is really joyous to listen to the vocals with F2. Its vocal presentation is emotional due to the forward mid, velvet tone and textured presence. Lower mid are more dominant as quantity. So, I recommend to use it with SPC or silver cables because of the condensation in the mid area.



Bass:

F2 has fun signature and you can feel this with the bass frequencies. Low frequencies are natural, restrained and tight. It can go deep when it is necessary. If you listen to music at high volume, it doesn’t lose control and dominate the other frequencies. Some of the earphones can be muddy at this amount of bass. The lower frequencies are sufficiently detailed. The bass intensity is slightly at the mid-bass side.

There is a little bit roll-off on the sub-bass area, but you wouldn’t feel any weak or thin presence. if the bass presentation would be deeper it loses its clarity and speed. if it would hit shorter it can lose the body in overall presentation. So, the current tuning is substantially great. The separation and resolution level are quite good, they do not interfere with, even if recording is fast. It doesn’t become muddy or swallow the details. Some of the armature-type earphones I've heard are lacking in impact and It has relatively dry in the bass area. Bass is not on bass-head level, but it Is enough to satisfy for listeners who like bass.



Soundstage:

Soundstage is not one of the widest or tallest one, but it is quite good both in width and depth. At first listening you don’t realise the soundstage width well, but it is actually quite wide after couple of hours listening. It is airy and there is an enough space between instruments. It is quite easy to make distinction between the instruments while listening to music. I listened mostly EDM but I also tried with the classical music which F2 feels airy. Vocal presence is forward than the instruments in the soundstage. The background is very clean and dark, so it doesn’t mess up.


COMPARING

Fibae 2 & Atlantis

They are in the same price range but their sound characters are totally different. The Atlantis is flat and slightly warm side, while the F2 is more musical and it has more mid-centric presentation. The body qualities are very similar and both their design are beautiful. They are almost same in terms of comfort and fit. But Atlantis is a little bit more isolated.

F2 has a slightly darker tone and narrower soundstage. Atlantis has better resolution but the difference is not so significant. F2 has more authoritative bass presence than the Atlantis but Atlantis is one step ahead of speed and control. In the trebles Atlantis is doing a better job in terms of quantity and resolution, but it doesn’t mean that F2 be destitute of resolution. While the Atlantis has flatter and technical sound character, the F2 is much more musical and has fun sound signature. In Mid frequencies, F2 is more satisfying with its textured and emotional presentation.


Fibae 2 & Noble X

F2 has better isolation than Noble X and it is also more comfortable than the X. Some users might have trouble with the Noble X due to its untraditional fit.

Noble-X is a very good earphone with its price tag, but when compared to the F2, the F2 is a better earphone than the Noble X in every sense. The lower frequencies of the Noble-X are larger, darker and deeper, but compare to F2, Noble-X sound has veiled and lower-resolution. F2 is much more successful in overall control of the bass. In Mid frequencies, Noble X has a laid back and slightly veiled presentation than the F2. Mid’s resolution, clarity and vocal presence are one step ahead. Also, vocal performance is better and more emotional than the Noble-X. In the treble region, F2 is better than the Noble-X in terms of separation, resolution and quantity of treble. Both Noble-X, F2 soundstage are similar but F2 has better depth.



Verdict:

F2, earphone that I enjoyed very much when I listened first. I played it with all of my daps and it harmonized quite well. From the lower to the upper frequencies, they are extremely good at this price range. I would prefer it compare to the higher cost multi-driver earphones that I have ever listened. There is a driver war these days and don’t be mistaken about F2. The F2 is a masterfully tuned earphone that offers high technical and musical quality with only its 2 drivers without concession. Quality of material, workmanship and wide choice of personalization definitely should not be ignored in this price range.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.

Also, I would like to thanks to Penon Audio for this great opportunity. Here is the link of the Sphere: https://penon-official.com/product/sphere-iem/



Specifications:

Driver: Balanced Armature

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20000Hz

Impedance:6Ω@1kHz

Sensitivity:118dB/1mW

Passive noise reduction: 26dB

Earphone interface: 2Pin 0.78mm

Plug:3.5mm

Cable Length: 1.2M



Package Details:

Sphere IEM

Stock Cable

6 pairs of silicone eartips

Wooden case



Test Equipment:

Astell & Kern AK120

Opus #1

Emotiva Big Ego



Package, Design & Isolation;

Penon Sphere shares the same famous red and blue colored box as the other Penon products and the unboxing experience is also similar. There is a rounded wooden carry case, velvet pouch, cleaning tool and silicon tips inside the package. Package contents are not the best but it is fairly enough for not to complain about it. Actually, that wooden case is way better than the most companies’ cheap nylon case.

Sphere’s design looks simple but it is elegant with its black shells and blue sparkle Penon-Sphere name on the faceplate. There is no other color option but I assume many people like it a lot. Right faceplate has Penon logo on top and left has Sphere name. Sphere uses 2pin 0.78mm industry standard socket, so it is suitable to use with after market cables. Shell design is simply geourgeus. Its small and custom like design provides fantastic fit and you can use without any pain for long long hours.

The stock cable looks simple and it is similar with other brands’ stock cable. Cable material is SPC I believe but not sure for that. It is 4 braided which I am guessing it has 30awg size and its material is pretty soft and ergonomic. It has metal L-shaped 3.5mm jack and metal y splitter. There is not much to say about it. It is good and simple but Sphere deserves a better cable I believe.

With the proper tips, Sphere provides great isolation, and it blocks all the noise that comes from outside. I’ve used it outside many times and Sphere did a fantastic job to isolate outside noise. Stock tips are does great job, but I always find mandarin tips are better for my ears. Ergonomic design and size of the shell is fantastic.



Sound:

Sphere has a slightly warm and balanced sound character. The musical and natural sound structure makes it very pleasant to listen. I’ve experienced many single ba driver earphones, and they were lack in bass quantity, but Sphere has surprisingly strong and deep bass. It’s a pleasure to see that bass doesn’t lose its control to disturb other frequencies. The mid frequencies are slightly laid back but quite balanced and the detail level is pretty high. The vocals are surprisingly clean and slightly forward. Treble is another frequency that I found successful in Sphere. Both extension and level of detail are impressive for a single ba driver. I don’t know what driver model and brand that they used, but Penon seems that they push all the limits of the armature driver. In the period of popularity of hybrid and multi-drivers iems, Penon reminds that the single-driver earphones are also perform very well. The perception of the soundstage is quite spacious. Although it is not possible to talk about such a wide and deep stage, it offers spacious instrument separation. Overall, Sphere is a very impressive earphone, especially for the price. It might be the best single armature driver earphone I’ve listened to.

The treble is neither too bright nor too laid back. The extension and the level of details are certainly very successful. No sibilance or sharp presentations which it makes easy to listen. As I said, the balanced structure of the sound character is reflected in the treble. The instrument separation is successful and the distinction is sufficient. You can clearly hear every single instrument. There’s no wildly detailed presentation, but it’s certainly impressive. Especially when I remember Sphere has only one driver.

Mid frequencies are slightly laid back and vocals are relatively forward. Due to the softness of the overall presentation, the mid frequencies are velvety smooth and easy to listen. The instrument sounds are natural and are not thicker or thinner than they should be. The distance between the instruments is also very easily distinguishable. Especially vocals have a very clean and smooth presentation. So, I listened to a lot of vocal songs and I really admired Sphere’s vocal presentation.

Bass is another frequency area where Sphere is extremely successful. The bass goes deep enough for many genres. It is not hard to say that I get fulfilling results, even though with EDM music. Of course, it is not strong and powerful as like as dynamic driver, but it certainly has kept your rhythm with your feet. I would also like to point out that the armature driver does not have those dry, dull presentation, it has natural and soft strokes instead.

The soundstage is not very wide, but it certainly does not have a closed presentation. The instruments and vocals are playing in wide area. And the background of Sphere is quite clean and dark.



Comparison:

Sphere vs Final Audio B2:

Final Audio B2 is the new earphone from Final Audio’s line up and it has also one armature driver like Sphere. Both earphones are beautiful in different ways. B2 feels more premium and elegant in hands with its metal body while Sphere has acrylic simple design, but Sphere is also beautiful iem. Both earphones provide good ergonomics but Sphere is much better and comfortable into ears. Sounds; B2 sound is mildy forward, slightly dark and rolled off on both bass and trebles while Sphere is natural, slightly V-shaped and bright in tonality when I compare with B2. Sphere trebles has more sparkle and extended better and also clearer. B2’s trebles are rolled off and it is slightly veiled. Instruments separation is more audible and better with Sphere. Mids are more forward and pronounced with B2 while Sphere has slightly laid back and centered on stage. B2’s lush and smooth sound making vocals more intimate and romantic. Bass is better in terms of control and dynamic on Sphere and also more in quantity. B2’s bass is rolled off and it is not as deep as like Sphere. Soundstage is wider and airier on Sphere while B2 has more intimate due to its forward mid presentation.

Cable Rolling:

Rhapsodio SGD2.98 MK2:

SGD2.98 MK2 is warm and smooth cable which is great match up with bright earphones. Sphere matches good with SGD2.98 MK2 and It mostly improve bass frequencies with harder beats notes. It hits harder and goes deeper. Overall sounds become warmer and bright atmosphere on the treble’s switches to smooth and lush atmosphere. Mids notes becomes little bit bolder and It adds some weight on mid-bass. Soundstage is wider and it has more depth than the stock cable.



Effect Audio Eros:

Ares is one of my favorite cable from Effect Audio and is safe choice for most earphones. Sphere and Ares are matches great; I like the synergy between those two. Bass become tighter and more controlled, quantity is same or maybe slightly better, hard to understand. Mids are clean and clear, vocals have more forward and dramatic presentation. Treble is more tamed but still clear and extend pretty well. Soundstage is noticeably better both wide and depth. Overall, I like Ares and Sphere matches.



Penon Audio Leo Plus:

Leo Plus is silver plated gold-silver-palladium alloy cable from Penon Audio. I haven’t tested with other earphones yet but it matches with Sphere really great. It improves all frequencies top to bottom. Trebles are more pronounced and detailed; it extends better in every way. Also, instruments separation is much better and more distinguishable. Mids are more forward, thicker and it adds some body. Bass goes little bit deeper, but the biggest improvement is much more controlled and tighter with Leo+. It also improves soundstage both depth and width. Overall, Leo+ is great partner for Sphere.



Verdict:

When Penon Audio start to make cables, I wasn’t sure about their sound quality and I had some suspicious about their success, but they did a great job. They’ve released many good cables which I am using with some of my TOTL earphones. After the success of the cable they decided to release their new IEM, and I knew at the moment that I’ve heard it will be good iem. Sphere is very impressive earphone and its retail price is bargain for its sound performance. All the frequencies are alive and dynamism is so good to listen. Gambling with the 1 balanced armature was a little bit risky for the first product, but they did a great job. Sphere is great earphone bottom to top and it deserve some attention at this price range.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.

Here is the link of Penon Audio ORB: https://penonaudio.com/penon-orb.html


Specifications:

Brand: Penon Audio

Model: ORB

Driver: Balanced Armature full frequency + 10mm Dynamic driver

Impedance: 10 Ω @1khz

Sensitivity: 112 ± 3dB @1khz

Frequency response: 20hz-20Khz

Connector: 2Pin 0.78mm

Plug: 3.5mm Audio

Cable length: 1.2M


Package Details:

Penon Orb with cables

Silicon tops

Cleaning tools

Case


Test Equipment:

Opus #1

THX AAA 789 & D50s

Earmen TR-Amp

Chord Mojo


Package, Design;

Penon Orb comes with fairly small yellow cardboard box. All the accessories, earphones and cables are inside of the beautiful blue carrying case. There is a plenty size of tips which you might easily find the best for your ears. Blue carrying case feels nice to touch with great build quality. You don’t have to worry about potential damage when you store it inside. It has solid feelings. There is also plenty of room, so if you want to upgrade your Orb with thicker and bolder cable, you can still keep it inside of the case. Orb body is made of medical grade resin with translucent color, and yes there is no any other color option, but it is so beautiful in its naked form. You can see the drivers and other components inside and that looks pretty gorgeous. There is a gold Penon and Orb print on the faceplate. Orb uses industry standard 2pin socket that you can always upgrade to aftermarket cable. Stock cable looks good and feels pretty ergonomic with its soft form but I think that Orb deserves a much better cable. There are 2 cables coming with Orb which exactly the same but one of them has microphone. Body is not small but not big either, I believe that most people may find it pretty comfortable with its ergonomic shape.


Sound:

Trebles is not the most successful part of Orb and they are more of a smooth and warm texture. There is no roll off, and it does not have high level of details and resolution but It is extremely comfortable to listen with its smooth and creamy presentation, and it doesn’t give any fatigue while long listening session. It lags a bit behind in terms of performance when it comes to giving micro details, but I can say that it has quite sufficient performance when the tag price is remembered.


The Mid frequency is quite rich and full, and this full-bodied presentation combined with the natural timbre which creates a sound that is extremely musical and comfortable to listen to. The partially leading vocals combined with the natural and warm presentation give a pleasant performance. The details and resolution level of the mids are also quite adequate and better than most of the earphones I have heard at this price band. The instrument distinction is also extremely successful and you can easily distinguish its placement in the stage. However, I prefer to listen to Orb with high bass performance EDM style instead of instrument-heavy music.


Bass are undoubtedly the most delicious part of Orb. Greetings to the dynamic driver that produces strong and deep bass, it is very pleasant to listen. Rich and full bottoms go well with any kind of electronic music. EDM with Orb relation is like meat and wine combination. The level of bass in terms of quantity is definitely at the bass-head level. Basses dominate the general atmosphere a bit, but still cover the mids and highs and never give a muddy presentation.

Soundtage, Orb does not promise a great wideness and holographic presentation, but it is still quite spacious and successful enough to distribute the instruments well onto the stage.


Comparison:

Penon Orb vs Dunu DK2001:

Both earphones are great in terms of design and material quality. DK2001 is made of aluminium while Orb has resin body. There are no fit issues with DK2001 which is great with its smaller form factor but Orb provides better seal and fit, even with its bigger body. Both earphones’ stock cables are great but DK2001’s modular cable is better and it offers more flexibility. Orb’s sound is fuller with its rich and vivid presentation while DK2001 is more balanced and brighter when I compare side by side. Bass notes are more punchy and powerful with Orb which is more exciting while DK2001 has better control and speed, it’s slightly tighter. Mids are bold and thick on Orb which is more natural and smoother while DK2001 is slightly recessed and brighter on upper mids. Trebles are more extended and brighter on DK2001 which is slightly better in terms of resolution and details but on the other hand it might be sharp and fatigue for some people. Orb is smoother and relaxed on trebles but it extends pretty well and provides good details and resolution. Soundstage is slightly wider and more open on DK2001 but there is no obvious difference to be honest.


Penon Orb vs Audiosense T800:

Audiosense T800 is really great earphone for its price and it’s pretty popular in community with its sound performance. T800 has 8 balanced armature drivers per side, while Orb has 1 dynamic driver with 1 balanced armature driver. Both earphones’ material is resin and has similar body shape. Both earphones provide great seals and fit in ears and pretty ergonomic for long hours listening. Like Orb, T800 has also fuller and richer sound with powerful bass notes and warm signature. Bass is almost same in quantity but Orb has some extra rumble and it goes slightly deeper. T800 has better control and speed but it is lack of texture and punch that Orb has. Mid frequencies are thicker and bolder on T800 which gives you warmer tonality while Orb is slightly better recessed feelings with natural and smooth response. Trebles are smooth and warm on T800 which gives you more mellowish notes while Orb provides slightly more quantity and extension in this area. Soundstage is almost par but somewhat T800 is slightly wider.


Penon Orb vs JH Audio Billie Jean:

Billie Jean is 2 balanced armature drivers earphone and price tag is $100 more, but I would like to compare it anyway. BJ is made with ABS plastic and its body shape is smaller than Orb. BJ provides pretty good seal and isolation on ear but Orb is much better in this sense. Orb looks and feels more premium in hands. BJ comes with cheap thin black plastic stock cable while Orb comes with 2 stock cables and the cable quality is much better. Bass is quite powerful and deep on BJ but Orb is better for both quantity and quality. It goes deeper, articulated, textured and dynamic driver bass is so delicious when compared to BJ’s dry and dull bass performance. Both BJ and Orb have recessed mids but vocal performance is more forward on BJ. Trebles are more pronounced and extended on Orb which provides better details and resolution, BJ is laid back, feels rolled off. Soundstage is wider and deeper on Orb and separation is more distinguishable.


Verdict:

Penon Audio continues to make great earphones since Sphere and it is obvious that we will see better earphones in the near future. Orb is really great performer for its price with thunderous bass with lush, musical atmosphere. Bass performance is so great and it keeps you to listen with bassy tracks. Orb proves that you don’t have to spent big numbers for the good sound. I can easily recommend Orb who wants dynamic, punchy and musical earphone.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.



Specifications:

10Hz–28 kHz Frequency Response

115 dB SPL/mW Sensitivity

12.8 Ohms @ 1kHz Impedance

Dual High Frequency Balanced Armature Drivers + T.A.E.C.

Single Mid Frequency Balanced Armature Driver

Dual Low Frequency Balanced Armature Drivers

Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections

Machined Aluminum Shell

Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber™ (T.A.E.C.)



Package Details:

Andromeda Earphone

CA SPC Litz cable

Leather case

Comply TX-400 Tips

Foam earphone Tips

Silicone Earphone Tips

Earphone clearing tool (with magnetic holder)

Small CA branded broach



Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold Titanium

Opus #1

Astell Kern AK120

Astell Kern AK70



Design & Isolation;

Campfire Andromeda has a box that I can define as ‘small’ but it includes enough accessories and tips. The carrying bag is made of genuine leather and quite high quality. Inner surface of the bag is covered with soft cotton material that ignores unwanted scratches. Andromeda’s body is one if its kind and made of zirconium blasted aluminum. I have heard that the first version of Andromeda faced some complaints so sharp edges did not disturbed me while using this revised second version. The body is not big and not too small but smaller than I expected. Its size is similar with S-EM9 and a bit smaller than CE-05. Its original green body color is much more better than the photos and the changing color tones up to light seems really nice. The stock spc cable which included in the box is very ergonomic and high quality. I can easily say that I really like the body ergonomics unlike some listeners.

Andromeda’s isolation is precisely successful and it provides enough isolation by the silicone tips. I prefer using Spinfit tips instead of stock tips. The isolation is better with Comply foam tips but I actually do not like Comply foam tips, so I prefer silicon ones.



Sensitivity:

Andromeda has really low impedance level, so it is possible to hear hiss with some of DAPs. I have heard hiss with almost all of the DAPs I have used. I heard too low hiss with AK70 and AK120 but actually high with LPG, still it is an acceptable hiss level. SE846 and Zeus-R both I used to have before, have the same sensitivity level as Andromeda.

Sound Type:

Andromeda is one of the best IEM that I had ever have, in terms of upper frequencies. Trebles are extremely detailed and bright, mids are relatively back and bass are strong enough. The trebles performance is impressed me a lot. CE-05 has also a similar performance but I can say that Andromeda is one up on. Overall sound detail is incredibly high and it does not have a boring reference sound character despite this sound detail. Mids are bit back but vocals are not that back in the overall sound character. Bass is not that dominant but it is able go deeper and has enough quantity. Bass depth and volume may change upon the used tips. Andromeda’s holographical 3D presentation could be one the best ones I have ever heard. Soundstage is wide and deep enough.





I really like Andromeda and I understand why no one wants to sell it and everyone wants to go on using. Andromeda is on the same level with some high-priced IEMs and I really appreciate its performance.

Trebles:

Trebles, trebles, trebles… Really fascinating. Upper frequencies are significant and spreading over a large area. Upper frequencies’ significance relaxes the ears and also increases the detail level. It is really easy to make the distinction of the smallest tints, movements and every instrument even if it is in the back. Treble extension and overall stage resolution are very impressive. Some listeners can find the trebles bright, however they are not uncontrolled and there is no sibilance definitely. Actually, it is pretty surprising while trebles are that bright and front but still there is no sibilance and harshness. I also appreciate that trebles are that bright but there is not any metallization, Ken Ball has created a really successful tuning. It did not lose control in any high rhythmic tracks. I tested rhythmical metal tracks and I again impressed by its performance, trebles are really controlled and detailed. The presentation of high frequency strings like violin, oud and acoustic guitar are also extremely natural and detailed. Clear and spacious presentation of upper frequencies provides a crystal clarity audition, details and tints are distinctive and explicit. However, this kind of presentation has an advantage that it exposes the minor faults in the records.

Actually, until last year, the trebles weren’t more important than bass and mids but in recent period trebles significance is increasing for me. Treble performance of earphones affects overall presentation, so I exactly prefer dominant and distinct treble IEMs and in this sense. Andromeda is a really great choice for me. I do not have MMCX cable so I could not find the chance to test it with other cables but I heard that it fits good with Alo Ref 8 cable. Copper cable could be a better choice for listeners who find the trebles too bright. I think that Andromeda’s best harmony is with AK120 and LPG. Actually, LPG has very rigid and aggressive upper frequency presentation so I think the harmony could be not so good, however the LPG that I use in PMEQ setting caught a good harmony. This helps Andromeda to reveal the all potential and trebles do not have an aggressive and rigid presentation.



Mids:

Andromeda’s enchanted presentation is still same for mids as well. Mids are located a bit back in the overall presentation and actually it provides a better stage width. It creates good space between instruments and stage is spacious. Mids’ level of detail is pretty above average as trebles, it is really enjoyable to listen to stringed instruments and possible to hear the smallest detail of strings with the trebles. Instruments are bit bright and thin notes in terms of overall presentation effect. For instance, while I was listening to Jazz, double bass was playing a bit thinner note but I still feel amazed.

Andromeda makes you crave to listen to the instrumental tracks due its organic and clear presentation. None of the frequencies shade or extinguish each other. Instruments are not closely located even can be counted as away in the overall but it still has a successful unveiled presentation. Vocal performance is really clean and fluent instead of dark tones due to vocals’ one move ahead position in the overall soundstage. You may hear the slightest tongue movement of the singer even. There is no mid hump an sound is not so warm, it is more sharp and neat. There is no down slope however trebles’ front location causes little bit weaker upper mids. That does not point out to a there is no body in overall presentation but we cannot say that it has an bold mid presentation too.

Bass:

Low-frequencies are not that much as quantity. If you prefer strong, deep and full bass, I think Andromeda might not be the best choice. Bass is clean and spacious. Nevertheless, the quantity and the strength are satisfying. If the track that you are listening to includes no bass, you do not hear it, however if it includes bass, you hear it sufficiently in terms of quantity and depth. If there is light bass in the track, you really hear weak bass, there is no exaggeration. In this sense, it does not present enhanced bass, you get exactly what it is. Andromeda has a high quality natural resolution and detailed bass presentation instead of bloated bass.

There is no initial spread or uncontrolled presentation. The recover time is quite fast and short and here is the advantage of armature driver. It feels like the bass in the tracks arise from different places and it does not dominate to other frequencies, almost even it is like separate than mids and trebles. It is possible to make the distinction of layers and it hits deep. The bass presentation is firm, not spreading and not in the upfront.

Andromeda offers an enjoyable audition with its satisfying depth and strike power while listening to many genres like EDM.



Soundstage:

Andromeda has amazing holographical 3D presentation and quite width soundstage. Overall presentation is spacious and stress-free. Imaging of instruments are really successful. The space between the instruments and the positioning in the stage are quite good. The lack of mid-hump plays the biggest role in this success. Background is quite clean and there is no any mixing, however I think that there can be a bit darker background. Soundstage is really successful in terms of depth but it is not that successful on width Andormeda’s.

Verdict:

Briefly, Andromeda is a magnificent earphone. Its performance is almost same and sometimes even better than the double priced earphones. I did not like that much any of the earphones that I have ever listened, actually it took much time for me to meet Andromeda while it has released a long time ago. It is my mistake to delay it somehow.

Andromeda is an end game earphone with its hyper detailed treble performance, enchanted mids and 3d holographic stage presentation, for many users. It is possible to upgrade the existing performance with some cable types. It deserves a good point with quality of material and workmanship. Andromeda is an absolutely killer earphone in this price range.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.

Also, I would like to thanks to Penon Audio for this great opportunity. Here is the link of the ISN D10: https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-d10.html



Specifications:

Brand: ISN Audio

Model: D10

Driver: 9mm Dynamic driver

Material: resin

Impedance: 16 Ω @1khz

Sensitivity: 100 ± 3dB @1khz

Frequency response: 20-20kHz

Connector: MMCX

Plug: 3.5mm Audio/2.5mm/4.4mm Balanced



Package Details:

ISN D10 earphone

8 pairs of silicone eartips

Carry case

Clean brush

Test Equipment:

Opus #1

THX AAA 789

Topping D50s

Earman TR-Amp



Package, Design;

D10 comes in a small box which is same with H40, the only difference is its outer print. Box is like a pomegranate. When you open it there is beautiful ISN D10 and cable, nylon carry case, lots of tips, carabiner, cleaning tool. There are 8 pairs of tips and I really like the green silicon tips. Its sound and fit are pretty good for me. You can attach the carabiner onto the nylon carry case to hang however you wish. Case itself is exactly the same as H40 has, it looks flimsy but it keeps safe your earphone from the outer world. Cable is so beautiful as expected. It is ISN Audio S4 cable which is surprising for a stock cable, especially for its price tag. Cable is 4 braided SPC, it looks and feels premium. It is soft, tangle free, and the most important is, it sounds good. Termination, pins, y splitter are black and it is nice contrast with cable's silver color. When I received the D10, the first thing I realized was its size. It is fairly smaller than the H40 and it provides better fit and ergonomics when you wear it. Body shape is exactly same as H40 except it is %30 smaller and color is different. It is very dark navy color but it is hard to see its original color, especially in low lights. Navy shells combinate with gold ISN logos on faceplate. Nozzle is pretty good in size not short nor long either. Like it's big brother, it has also MMCX connectors. It feels secure and solid, you can switch between your aftermarket cables. Overall build and material quality are pretty high and it provides more than its price tag.



Sound:

The D10 is a very exciting earphone in sound and I feel it since at the first second of my listening. My favorite frequency of the D10 is absolutely its thunderous bass frequency. Basically, bass is a bit more than my personal preference, but its performance is so impressive that you want to listen that bass slam all the time. Besides bass, the performance of treble is also impressive. You think that such powerful bass will dominate and suppress all frequencies, but the D10 does an extremely successful job here too. Treble is definitely not recessed or rolled off. It has a very well extended, clean and detailed presentation. As expected from V shape presentation mid frequencies are slightly recessed and laid back.

The treble is very detailed and the resolution is very good compared to this price band. The instrument separation is not competing with the totl level, but it can give headaches to many headphones in the $ 300 band. It has good extended and sparkled trebles and, I did not hear any sibilance or harshness with any source that I've listened to. The airy presentation in the treble also helps the soundstage to be opened, making the instrument distinction more successful. You can hear up to small vibrations in stringed instruments, which promises good performance in terms of micro detail.

Mid frequencies sit behind other frequencies due to V-shape presentation. I found its performance more successful in female vocals because the lower mids are not full bodied. Mids does not have a huge amount of detail and resolution, but I can say that it is very successful according to this price band. There is coloration in the mid frequencies as well as in instruments.

Bass performance of D10 is my favorite frequency. The bass is so powerful, it reminds me of Legend-X as soon as I listened and I can say that the bass is almost the same in quantity, as far as I remember. Although bass does not suppress and crush frequencies in general, I can say that it dominates the general sound character. It can also create a compression towards the lower mids. The sub-bass can go quite deep and creates a club atmosphere to your ear. Listening to music like EDM is incredibly enjoyable. I can easily say the amount of bass at bass-head level.

D10 has pretty wide soundstage and, it is easy to positioning instruments. Soundstage depth is also sufficient but not as good as width. Imaging and layering are above its price and provides clean and easy to hear instruments and vocals in stage.

Comparison:

D10 vs Final Audio E5000

Final Audio E5000 is a well-known model in the community and its easy to love the tuning, deserves its fame. Both earphones material and build quality are fantastic. Both have MMCX connectors with SPC cables. They have 1 single dynamic driver per inside. E5000 is stainless steel while D10 is made of acrylic. Both earphones are great in comfort but D10 provides much better sealing and isolation due to its design. E5000 needs some correction in ear every 20min or so if you are walking. Sound; E5000 is smooth, vivid and rich while D10 is more dynamic and energetic. D10 is better on sub-bass presence and it is more in quantity while E5000 is smoother and more rounded. D10 sub bass power is enormous and it is slightly slower than the E5000 but it doesn’t mess up with fast passages anyway. Mids are meaty and bold on E5000 and it has more smooth, natural presentation while D10 has slightly recessed and thinner on lower mids. Vocals are more pronounced and forward on E5000 and it feels narrower on stage. D10 is centered and slightly laid back on vocals but it has nice airy presentation. Trebles are more forward and detailed on D10. E5000 is smooth and creamy, but it is hard to catch the details at the same time. D10 provides better details and resolution in this sense. Soundstage is wider and deeper on D10 while E5000 has more limited present. E5000's sound is overall more organic, smooth, dark and tube like while D10 is more lively, dynamic and excited.

D10 vs JH Billie Jean

It is going to be a balanced armature vs dynamic driver comparison but I would like to compare it. Billie Jean is 2 times expensive than the D10 and it has 2 balanced armature drivers per side while D10 has dynamic driver. Package content is similar with Billie Jean (BJ), it also comes with nylon carry case, various tips, cleaning tools. BJ is made with high quality ABS plastic and its body shape is slightly smaller than D10, but D10 provides better fit and seal on ears. BJ comes with flimsy plastic stock cable while D10 comes with S4 which is much more superior. Sound is similar but D10 has more on every frequency. BJ has quite strong and powerful bass but still it cannot match with D10. D10 hits more, goes deeper, and it is more dynamic. Dynamic driver is always my first choice in terms of bass performance and there is no compromise here too. Only thing that BJ is better on speed. It has better recovery time while D10 is noticeably slower. Both earphones have recessed mids. Low mids are more pronounced and it makes male vocals better on BJ. Vocals are slightly laid back and recessed on D10 while BJ has more forward and natural presentation. Trebles are more extended, sparkled and detailed on D10 which provides more resolution and micro details. BJ has smoother and easy-listening trebles. Soundstage is wider and deeper on D10 and instrument separation is better.

D10 vs Rhapsodio Saturn

Rhapsodio Saturn is a very interesting earphone and I like its creamy, vinly like sound. It has also 1 dynamic driver per unit. Saturn is pretty big in size but still it is good on seal and comfort. D10 takes advantage from its small size and it is one step better both comfort and seal. Saturn has the most smooth, relaxed IEM I’ve ever heard so far. Bass is smoother, warm and organic on Saturn and quantity is less than D10. It has good impact and power but it is not bass head earphone. D10 goes deeper, hits harder and has much more in quantity. D10’s thunderous bass is so exciting to listen and shows better performance on EDM like genres. Mids are lush, warm and forward on Saturn. It has tube-amp sound and vocals are velvet smooth. Trebles are more pronounced, extended, and sparkled on D10. D10 shows better technical performance and easy to hear micro details but also it is less organic and natural. Saturn is more realistic and easier to listen for long hours. Soundstage is better on D10, it is wider and deeper an also instrument placement are much better.




Verdict:

ISN Audio is a fairly new company, and the D10 is their second earphone I have reviewed. Like the H40, D10's performance is definitely above its price. Dynamic, vibrant and fun with incredible bass power and detailed treble presentation that makes it great earphone for who loves its sound signature. Also, it has enough bass to make bass-heads makes happy. Material quality and workmanship are also at the top-notch level. The S4 stock cable also comes with D10 sold separately which is great. I can easily recommend the D10 to anyone who loves electronic music.

Before start to review, I would like to share technical aspect and package details.


Package Contents:


- Atlantis earphone

- 2-pin Stock Cable,

- Cleaning Cloth,

- Cleaning Tool,

- Velcro Cable Wrap,

- Large Alloy Carrying Case


Specs:

Driver Type: Quad Balanced Armature

Configuration: 1 x Low, 2 x Mid, 1 x High

Crossover: 2-way

Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz

Impedance: 30 ohms



Design & Isolation;

Atlantis has incredibly good material qualities and workmanship. Durability is noticeable on the first touch. You can choose your design and make it CIEM or Universal. I am using a universal earphone which has a mould like CIEMs and fits perfectly. I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort even on long listening. To have the best fitting experience, I used Spiral Dot tips. I would like to remark that, both sound and isolation are quite good with the Spiral Dot tips.






Sound Type:

Atlantis has an incredible success on treble and mid. Sound characteristic is very close to the neutral.

One of the best earphones I have listened to in terms of realism and transparency. I can define the general sound character as flat and slightly on the warm side. Trebles and Mids are able to compete with the more expensive headphones in terms of resolution. Although Atlantis has a very good sound technicality, it keeps its musicality.


Trebles:

In one-word, trebles are spectacular. With the S-EM9, Atlantis is the best earphone for the trebles in the earphones that I’ve used. Resolution, speed and separation are immaculate. Nocturnal Audio has done a very good job here. The trebles in the overall presentation have a slightly shiny, but this certainly won’t cause any distortion. There is no harshness or sharp edges on the presentation. The range of treble is pretty good and there is no roll-off. You feel what you hear until the end of every stroke in the song. Le Trio Joubran - Masar album is my reference album for every earphone I ever had. Whenever I receive an earphone, I listen to whole album. I have must admit that I really loved the tones. All I can say that I couldn’t find anything in the trebles that I can call a minus.

At first, I tried headphones with the stock cable, but then I upgraded with the PW Audio No5 copper cable. The treble become more hearable and the shiny presentation was slightly softened.

Although I tried to listen with a very wide source of types of music in my hand, I never heard any sibilance. But I got the best fit with the Opus #1 balanced and AK120. It's a pleasure to listen to music with a slightly warmer DAP. Compatibility with the Opus # 1 was successful, but it is not as sleek as the AK120, but it works with a much flat presentation. I personally liked the little body, but many users will love to compete with Opus # 1 that’s for sure.

In general, trebles were incredible. NocAudio stood on a very thin line and got a good spot with a fine adjustment.



Mids:

Mid is my second favorite area in the Atlantis. Presentation is neither too far behind nor face to face because the overall presentation is nearly flat. Upper mids are highly controlled. In these regions, Atlantis always holds the control. It has very good resolution and cleanliness. Mid’s liveliness, texture and resolution are good. It is difficult to say that the notes are thick and fleshy. However, with the advantage of the spaciousness of the soundstage in the horizontal, I can say that it keeps the instrument separation very good. The upper mids are a little open, but they are not tiring or aggressive. Texture of the stringed instruments were pretty noticeable and even the last extensions of the frequency caused by stings were hearable. Oud, drums, vocals were all so beautiful, sounds nice. You can hear the smallest movement in the music. like the strangeness of oud's detuning. In detail, Atlantis is really well positioned.




Bass:

While it was with the stock cable, the bass was a little behind, and in some parts, it seemed to be a bit more. But after upgrading with No: 5, I can say that it came to the amount and depth I wanted. They are tough, tight and strong. It's hit by the mid bass more. Sub-bass is not very flashy. It's a tight squeeze. Instead of hitting from a large area, it will hit the bottom, which will not dominate the overall presentation. But with the untouched cable change, I obtained grain shades instead of crystal clear sound. In this case I have tried to eliminate the cables and the best was the SPC as well as the stock cable and I am using BTG Starlight balanced cable which made me very satisfied.

It doesn’t exaggerate or offer more. It can keep up with EDM-like music which has very high bpm.




Soundstage:

Although it has a wide soundstage, it does not have a very deep stage. I still didn’t hear a better heading than the S-EM9 on the depth. I liked the position of the instruments very much. It gives each instrument the right angle, animates the stage setup on a clean slice, and no instrument crushes each other.





Verdict:

I have been looking for a reference-like earphone before buying Atlantis. UERR was one of them. After accidentally meeting with Nocturnal Audio, Atlantis grasped my attention and decided to order it later. Before giving the order, I had some question marks in my head because I had not heard anything about the brand, but after I laid my hands-on Atlantis and listened with it, all my suspicions flew away. It has a better performance than many earphones I've bought, even better than more expensive ones. Certainly, NocAudio is a company I would follow from now on.

Before starting this review, I would like to share the technical aspects and package details.

Also, I am so thankful to Jude from JDS Labs for giving me this opportunity.



Objective 2

Frequency Response +/-0.1 dB (20Hz-20kHz)
THD 1 Khz 150 Ohms 0.0016%
IMD CCIF 15 Ohms 0.001%
IMD SMPTE 0.002%
Noise (ref 400 mV) -105 dB
Max Output (33 Ohms) 613 mW
Max Output (150 Ohms) 355 mW
Max Output (600 Ohms) 88 mW
Output Impedance 0.54 ohms
Crosstalk (15 ohms) -65 dB
Channel Balance (50% volume) 0.6 dB
Battery Run Time 6-8 Hours



Package Contents
Objective2 Headphone Amplifier

15VAC Power Adapter

2x Tenergy 9V NiMH, Low-Self-Discharge Batteries

Rubber Feet



OL DAC

Frequency Response 10Hz-20kHz+/- 0.15dB
THD+N 20Hz-20kHz< 0.001%
IMD CCIF 19/20 kHz -6.03 dBFS0.00033%
IMD SMPTE -6.03 dBFS0.00031%
Noise (A-Weighted)-109 dBu
Dynamic Range (A-Weighted)114 dB
Linearity Error -90 dBFS+/-0.01 dB
Crosstalk -10 dBFS 100K RCA-108 dB
USB Jitter Components 11025Hz-116 dB
PCB Stackup4 Layers
Maximum DAC Line-Output, 100K2.00 VRMS



Package Contents

OL DAC v1.10

15VAC Power Adapter

3ft USB Type-A Cable



Design:

Surprisingly, JDS Labs devices are designing and producing in USA. I think that JDS Labs can request higher prices easily with regard to audiophile product prices in the market recently.

Objective O2 and OL DAC is quite portable for desktop usage in terms of its size. O2’s capable of being used on-the-go but not as good as like Hugo or Mojo. Both O2 and OL-DAC are same size. Their height and width measures are small and it only needs a tiny space. Both devices are made of high quality aluminium material, finish points are clean and smooth, material and workmanship quality are extremely successful and durable.

Both devices require A/C adaptor however you can use O2 with battery. Portability is not so necessary even but, in some cases, it is quite useful. Battery life is somewhere between 6 hours to over 8 hours but it depending on use. Volume knob is very soft and can be adjusted easily, it does not feel cheap and cheesy; in that kind of amp’s, volume knobs might be unbalanced and slack. You do not hear hiss while adjusting volume knob. Almost all of the functions and outputs are integrated onto to front panel which I found very practical. I really like O2 and OL-DAC in terms of design, workmanship and material quality in the overall.



Output Power:

O2’s is powerful than it is expected. Probably, it is strong enough to drive almost all the headphones with authority in the market. O2 is very suitable for IEM which I really like its harmony with the IEMs I have. I also would like to indicate that I did not hear any disturbing hiss with low impedance IEMs. Andromeda is very sensitive earphone and I didn’t hear any disturbing background noise. I listened O2 with all IEMs volume knob 4e 1 ratio. I also would like to remind that O2 is so powerful for IEMs and it is better to control your previous sound level for your earphones and ear health before listening it with IEMs.



Sound Type:

I absolutely like the sound quality. O2’s sound character is quite transparent and clean, contrary to my expectation. General presentation of O2 is very neutral and it doesn’t bring anything in front. It presents the sound naturally without colorizing and its relatively light and bright tone. Both bass, midrange and treble were exceptionally fast and sharp. Overall instruments tune is neither thick nor thin, it is in between. It is able to stay partly musical without being boring. There is balance from lower to upper frequencies in overall presentation and none of the frequencies are overlapping. High-resolution files sounded very fine with 24-bit, AIFF, WAV and DSD audio.

It is fretless in overall and it is providing a clean, smooth listening. In this price range, many of the earphones feature the warm musicality instead of delivering technical performance due to the high cost and workmanship of detailed technically successful products. However, O2 surprises me by delivering technically good performance because I used to see this performance in a higher price range. I believe that O2’s and ODAC’s performance is above it price and I have to admit, it’s pretty impressive at this price range.



Trebles:

I felt the treble to be well tamed with good extension and it also has a very detailed and naturally textured extension. Trebles are really significant in the overall presentation and they are not sharp. It is very well extended without being sharp or unnatural. Upper frequency presentation is extended, effortless and pretty clean. You do not face any aggressiveness while listening to music. I listened to almost all the treble-dominant IEMs but I did not run across to any diffused or uncontrolled trebles. I really liked these controlled trebles that know where to stop. The detail level is above this price range. It is very successful in terms of instruments distinction and positioning. I can easily define the cymbals’ position in Rock based tracks, cymbals are not unnatural generally. It’s also effortless, so It is not tiring the ears while listening and not getting out of the hand while giving the detail. It is great that it can play in detail without causeing tiring trebles.

Mids:

Mids are neither front nor behind in the overall presentation, same as the other frequencies. Their quantity is almost same as the trebles and their character is not disturbing. There is no sharp or bright presentation, the character of the mods is linear accompanying to the overall presentation. Bass frequencies do not crush the mids and there is no mid hump in low mids. Instruments plays organic and realistic. Mid presentation is spacious and detailed in general. Vocals are enough detailed and impressive for many listeners, they are centrally located in the overall presentation. You can hear the vocals very clear and bouncy. Vocals and instruments have good and natural textures that make the music enjoyable and musical. It is very easy to understand that there is no veil and it is very close to the realistic tones of instruments. Mids are very easy to listen it and it offers a joyous listening for hours without boredom.





Bass:

Low end is clean and detailed. The quantity of lower frequencies is quite satisfying, it is not too much, it is detailed and controlled. Bass quantity varies from earphone to earphone but its overall bass quantity and tones are slightly more than neutral, so the bass quantity is enough for many users. Sub-bass is there, but it is rolled off and laid back little bit but somehow sub-frequency is fair enough, relatively the presentation is soft and easy. I really like sub frequencies because the quantity is not more than necessary. General presentation is controlled and do not spread. There is no bloat or overhang and It has good timbre and presence. Punch and speed of the bass is fairly enough. Bass does not loose its control and it’s fast in tracks, so it does not tire the ears in this term.



Soundstage:

The soundstage is spacious with an excellent layering and precision. Stage is transversely wide located however the depth is relatively good. It spreads the instruments into a spacious and wide area, there is enough distinction space for the instruments. The layering is very well done with a lot of air between them and every instrument. It does not feel like the soundstage is virtually increased. Background is quite silent and instrument distinction is successful. There are not any issues like mixing all instruments. I also found the background of device really clean.





Verdict:

The O2 and OL DAC combo is an exact price/performance combo in terms of size, sustaining IEMs and over the headphones and being a good desktop alternative. They produces a great deal of clean detailed sound and power from a compact size. Also, it feels solid and aesthetically is top notch at this price. Another reason why I like this combination because the presentation is slightly musical and technically good. I think the harmony will be good with most of the headphones and the main reason of it is the balanced sound frequencies. Would I recommend this combo? definitely yes! I can easily recommend this combo to every audiophile and have no doubt this is a fantastic-sounding dac-amp combo compared to other products of the same form factor at this price range.

I look forward to seeing many products in the JDS Labs for years to come.

Before starting this review, I would like to share technical aspects and package details.

Also, I would like to thanks to Penon Audio for this great opportunity. Here is the link of the Shozy Neo BG: https://penonaudio.com/shozy-neo-bg.html



Specifications:

Driver: 5BA

Sensitivity: 118db

Frequency；20 Hz-20KHz

Impedance：22 ohm

Noise reduction: -25db



Package Details:

3 Pair Single Flange Silicon Tips

3 Pair Double Flange Silicon Tips

3 Pair Foam Tips

Shozy Neo BG Earhpone

Stock Cable

Carrying Case



Test Equipment:

Astell Kern AK120

Opus #1

THX AAA 789



Package, Design & Isolation;

Shozy Neo BG comes with small printed cartoon box. When you open the box there are carrying case and everything inside. There are 3 pairs of single flange silicon tips, 3 pairs of double flange silicon tips and 3 pairs of foam tips in the box. Package content is not rich but there is not much to complain.

Shozy Neo BG has only one-color option. Translucent black with gold nugget shell looks gorgeous and it is really beautiful. There is a gold Shozy logo on the faceplate, Neo BG name and serial number are located at the back of the shells. Nozzle is constructed with metal; it feels solid and its small size is easy to find after market tips. Shozy Neo BG has 5 balanced armature drivers per side. This is the second version which has 2 pin sockets instead of MMCX. I believe there is no sound difference with V1 and the only change has been made with the sockets. Stock cable is the thickest stock cable I’ve ever seen. This is like a rope and I believe it might hold pretty heavy weight. Cable is so beautiful; it is 8 cores braided with nylon shielded. I like its looks and feels that it gave. There is no memory wire which I’m super grateful for that. Cable Itself is thick but soft material makes it easy to carry and it never gets tangled.

Isolation is great with the proper tips, so I don’t have any complaint here. Stock tips are great but I found RHA Dual Density ear tips are better to my ears.



Sound Type:

Sound is natural and slightly bright which brings so many details on surface. Highs are star of the show for me, so detailed, extended and rich and it adds extra dimension to the sound and makes the details easy to hear. Mids are tad of laid back, timbre is neutral and slightly bright. Lows are tight, fast and it doesn’t mess up with fast passages. Sub-bass doesn’t reach deep but it has fairly enough power to taps your toes. Soundstage is airy and wide; it never feels congested. Instrument separation, detail level and resolution are top notch.



Trebles:

Highs are the most prominent area of all frequencies. It is extended pretty well and has a nice sparkle without being harsh. Its bright presentation makes the soundstage airy and it puts enough air between instruments. Presentation of treble is fantastic, it is accurate, detailed and sparkly. Some people may find it just a bit bright but I can contentedly say that it is in safe zone. No sibilance, harshness or ear drilling peaks at all. If you use with super bright source you may hear some stress on highs but still it will be in tolerable level I believe. Resolution level is pretty impressive for its price. Cymbals, crushes every instrument are clearly presented. Overall, Shozy Neo BG is so generous earphone to bring details, so you can hear so many details that you never heard before.



Mids:

The mids are neutral and detailed, but a little laid back since there is more bass and treble sparkle on overall sound. Frankly, it is a bit lack of musicality and dynamism, but it has great detail and high level of resolution. If I have to choose only one word for Neo BG, it would be the details. It is pretty successful to make it audible to every detail in the music. Vocals are not in front of your face; it is slightly centered on the soundstage and felts laid back. Both male and female vocals are good to hear but it is missing on emotion, and naturality for my taste. It’s not dry or clinical but I prefer just a bit warmth on sound. Overall mid frequencies are very detailed and good for serious listening to hear micro details.



Bass:

Bass is well controlled and tight which doesn't muddy up the rest of the sound. It is not much in quantity and if you want bone shaking, rumbling bass, it is not for you. It goes deep but don’t expect too much. It has a good amount of weight, it is not bleeding or dominating the mids, it is tight and it never lose its control, even though fast passages. Tonality is dry which typical balanced armature sound. When I listen EDM I felt little lack of punchiness and wish it was a little more in quantity. I just criticized but it has right amount actually but for my taste I would prefer little more. By the way, you can always add some extra warmth with pure copper cable, Penon Fiery has a good match with Neo BG, it adds some weight on bass and make the overall sound slightly warmer.



Soundstage:

Neo BG has quite wide soundstage that is better than average in this price range. All the instrument placement is in wide area and easy to listen. I like instrumental music and mostly listening Le Trio Jeoubran, Renaud Garcia Fons, Pink Martini etc. on my stereo system or my portable setup. Listening stringed instruments like violin, guitar, oud is a great experience with Shozy Neo BG and the space between instruments are easy to discriminate. Depth is not the best but layering and imagining are good for its price.



Comparison:

Shozy Neo BG & Audiosense T800:

Both earphones are beautifully made and they look gorgeous and also, they have only one color option, so that means doesn’t have any other color option. Neo BG looks fancier because of its gold nugget shells. Both earphones are super comfy to my ears but Neo BG is slightly might be better due its small size. T800 has 8 balanced armature drivers per side while Neo BG has 5. T800 is using industry standard MMCX socket on the contrary of Neo BG’s 2 pin socket. Package and contents are similar but T800 feels more elegant, but its stock cable is not as good as Neo BG. Neo BG stock cable is fantastic and I don’t feel to upgrade it. They sound so different. Neo BG has neutral, bright and more accurate sound while T800 has slight warm, rich and vivid sound. Neo BG’s trebles are more detailed, prominent and sparkly, no doubt. T800 is not as bright as Neo BG but still it holds great details and resolution. Mids are thicker and bolder on T800, it is more musical and engaging which Neo BG is more neutral, accurate and reference like. They both are shining with the right genres. T800 is very pleasant to listen EDM, R&B or Rock, at the same time Neo BG is great for classical, jazz, vocals or instrumental music. Bass is more in quantity on T800 and it hits harder and goes deeper than Neo BG. There is more weight and punch as you expected. Neo BG is tighter, faster and more right in quantity. Soundstage is wider on Neo BG but there are no big differences. Both earphones are great on sound, it’s all about preferences.



Shozy Neo BG & Nocturnal Atlantis:

Atlantis’ price is almost twice of Neo BG, but I decided to compare them because their sound signature is very similar. Both earphones are made with acrylic and shell design is very similar. Both are super ergonomic in my ears and also both are so beautiful. They have the same 0.78mm 2pin socket type. Atlantis have 4 balanced armature drivers while as you may know Neo BG has 5 drivers per side. Both earphones’ sound is neutral and both trebles have highlighted. Neo BG has slightly more extended and sparkle trebles than Atlantis but quantity is very similar. They both sharing same tonality, bright and neutral. Although they have similar tonality, they are differing in mid frequencies. Atlantis is slightly more forward and vocals are more upfront while Neo BG has laid back and slightly centered. Atlantis’ low mids are little bit thicker and it makes sound more bodied. Bass is more in quantity on Atlantis, it goes little deeper and hits harder but just a small margin. Soundstage feels wider on Neo BG but I can say that it is almost the same. Detail and resolution levels are also similar, Atlantis is slightly better but not as twice like its price. Neo BG is surprisingly amazing earphone and it is easily stand out much more expensive earphones. Impressive.




Verdict:

Shozy is a well-known brand in audio community and they have many good products like, dap, dacs, and earphones. This is the first time that I’m hearing one of their products that makes me pretty impressed by its sound and build quality. Shozy Neo BG is shining star for its price. It’s not hiding any details and its crystal-clear trebles are better than most earphones that I’ve ever heard at this price. Furthermore, it doesn’t refrain from any other expensive earphones to challenge them. Sound quality is above its price and it’s hard to see at this price. Build quality is also fantastic and it looks gorgeous which is hard to dislike its design. Due to its shape, comfort level is very good for long listening session. All in all, Shozy Neo BG is very good earphone up to down, also it won’t hurt your wallet.

Specifications:

8 shares, single share contains 49 cores, a total of 8 × 49.

18K OCC gold-plated cables

The solder joints is silver–contained tin

Carbon fiber metal splitter and CNC integrated slider

Copper Gold-plated plug

Cable length: 1.2M

Package Details:



Package Contents:

Cable

Storage bag

Wooden case

Metal clip


Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold

Opus #1

Astell & Kern AK120

Hifiman Megamini

Earsonics S-EM9

NocAudio Atlantis


This is the link where you can buy the GD849; https://penon-official.com/



Package, Design;

GD849 comes like other Penon cable cases. The contents are also exactly the same. I won’t complain about anything because I like the velvet pouch and that wooden case. I already said that in my previous review but I would like to say again. In this price range, this is the best package content I’ve ever seen. When unboxing, it feels premium with those presentation. Velvet pouch, cable clip, wooden case and Penon patch are all great. All in all, I really liked the package and contents.

GD849 is a really beautiful cable which I like that flat braided design. Cable color is gold and it looks like a luxury necklace. My cable has 2.5mm jack and 2pin sockets but you may select MMCX, 4.4mm, 3.5mm or some other options. The cable itself is pretty thick and heavy but I never had any issue with them. Cable is not thin, so you may need some big case for your earphone and cable to store. Cable itself feels solid and sturdy and it is built like a tank. Also, the material is pretty soft. I like the finish and metal Y splitter. Another great thing about GD849, there is no memory wire like other Penon cables. I don’t know what you guys think but I hate memory wire, and I never get any good fit with them. Overall, I am very pleased with the package content, comfort and quality of GD849.



Sound:

When I got the cable, I was thinking that it must be warmer and darker cable, but I was wrong. Yes, it is slightly warm but it is not dark or muddy. Overall sound is warm, energetic and detailed. If I have to describe in one word for GD849, I chose the “musicality”. Treble is smooth yet detailed and prominent. I tried with my Earsonics S-EM9 and when I switched from stock cable to GD849, sound became alive. S-EM9 has one of the detailed IEMs in the market. After switching to the GD849, it absolutely improved the details and it has more treble sparkle than the stock cable. I have heard more details in the music and it added clarity and air which feels soundstage wider. Although up front high frequencies, it is not harsh or sibilance. Mid frequencies are smooth, energetic and lively. S-EM9 mids a tad of recessed and GD849 adds some body and slightly pulled forward. Low mids are more bodied. Also, vocals came forward and overall sound got little bit thicker than the stock cable. Vocal presentation is more emotional and smoother. Instruments timbre feels bolder than it should be, but it is not reference cable and it is focusing more on musicality. Bass is the best part of the GD849. It is more controlled and it goes deeper than the stock cable. S-EM9 bass is one of the best-balanced armature bass I’ve heard after 64 Audio U12, and GD849 improved the bass performance of S-EM9. Bass goes deeper and it is more layered than the stock cable. One thing that I don’t like, it is make bass response slow. GD849 makes soundstage is wider but not a huge improvement, but depth is much more sensible level. Overall, I like the S-EM9 with GD849 but some people might don’t like that warm and thick sound.

Also, I tried with my Nocturnal Atlantis IEM, and I am pretty impressed by the result. Atlantis has neutral with slightly warm sound signature and sometimes I want to hear more authoritative bass response. GD849 add that authoritative bass that I missed. The bass is balanced and rich but not heavy or overpowering, extends very well. It is also controlled and does not sound muddy. The mids are a bit forward and thick which makes vocals and most instruments sound little bolder. The treble extends well and it has a nice sparkle without being too much. GD849 matches great with neutral and slightly bright earphones. Synergy between GD849 and Atlantis are better than the S-EM9. I tried GD849 with my Oriolus Reborn but I didn’t like the sound. Bass became boomy and it makes mid hump very prominent. Reborn’s sound is already thicker and extra sauce makes it too much for me.





Comparison:

Vs Effect Audio Ares :

EA Ares is one of the most popular cable in the market and I also quite like them. GD849 and Ares have two different sound signatures and they are differing in many ways. When I compare them side by side, Ares is brighter and more linear than the GD849. Upper frequencies are more prominent and airier with Ares. Actually, GD849 is also prominent but warm sound signature makes them smooth and relaxed and it feels like laid back. Mid frequencies are neutral and slightly warm with Ares. GD849 has forward and thick mid presentation and that bolder notes make vocals emotional and smooth. Bass is more emphasis with GD849 in terms of quantity and quality. Ares has more controlled and tight bass but when I compare side by side it feels laid back. Soundstage is airier with Ares but depth is better with GD849.



Vs PW Initial :

Initial is one of my favorite cables and they share some similarities with GD849. Both cables are 8 braided and they look very similar. Sound wise, Initial has smooth and relaxed trebles like GD849 except a tad of laid back. Both cable’s trebles extend pretty well. GD849 is a little bit airier and separation is more definable. Initial mid frequencies are slightly less forward and bright than GD849. GD849 is more forward and thicker than Initial. GD849 bass is punchier and it goes deeper than Initial. Initial is more controlled and it has better layered and detailed bass. With warm source GD849 feels little bit slow. Both Initial and GD849 have great sense of soundstage but Initial feels wider and airier due to its brighter presentation compare to GD849.



Verdict:

Panon Audio keep producing great cables like other models that they have made. GD849 is another great cable in terms of sound and material quality. It feels really expensive, and also looks expensive. Package contains are also great. GD849 is not the best cable in terms of transparency and it is not the largest sounding cable, but its musical and engaging sound signature add some liveliness of your lifeless earphone and moves to the next step. If you are looking for musical, warm and detailed cable, I can easily recommend it at this price range. Its retail price is absolutely steal.