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

Also, I would like to thank Jody and Unique Melody for the review tour.



Specifications:

Frequency Response Range: 20-25kHz
Sensitivity: 104dB
Impedance: 24 ohms
Driver Count: 16 Balanced Armature
Crossover: 4-way Passive
Driver Configuration: 4 low+4 lower mid+4 upper range+4 high



Package Details:

3 Separate 8-Core 6N Single-Crystal Copper and Silver “Dual-Tone” cable. (2.5mm – 3.5mm – 4.5mm)
Titanium Matte or Gloss Storage Case
Warranty Card
Comply Eartips : S/M/L
Silicone Eartips : S/M/L/XL
Magnetic Earphone Clip (MEC)
Cleaning Kit





Test Equipment:

Lotoo Paw Gold

Opus #1

Astell & Kern AK120





Package, Design & Isolation;

Mason V3 package content is very rich. In the package, there are 3 kinds of dual tone cables which are 4.4mm, 2.5mm and 3.5mm. I don’t remember any earphone that includes rich cable options. I would like to mention that it would be a reference for expensive totl earphones that have cheap stock cables. There are lots of tips in the package. Also carry case is extremely strong and its quality is good.

The Mason V3 is very ergonomic and it has a small body that can be considered as small even though it has 16 drivers. The quality of material is really high. However, I will not be able to say the same things for the DB-GO module on the body. Both sides DB-GO modules are quite loose, actually I am not sure if it is a common issue or is due to the demo product I have the setting can change even with the slightest touch, as it plays in the nest within 360 degrees. This is a situation that you do not want to see on an earphone with this price tag. Apart from that, there is no defect in the body. I also liked the red body color.

The Mason V3 uses a 4-pin-like socket type like JH Audio instead of the traditional 2-pin socket. This highly secure and stable system also has Dual-Tone cable technology developed by Unique Melody. It is possible to change the tone of the sound by inserting the silver and copper parts onto the cable.

Isolation is quite successful. It is good to block out the voice, but there is a little outsourcing situation while listening to the music in quiet environment. I think the reason is about the sound module. It has a very good isolation with silicone tips.



Sound:

I really like the cables of Mason V3. It’s soft and tangle-free structured, but it would be better without memory wire. Another great thing about the cable is Unique Melody’s patented dual tone feature. Two different sound characters in one cable is a pretty good idea. When I tried both silver and copper options, I liked the copper one more of Mason V3. The reason is the copper is more dominant and made the trebles a bit more relaxed and smooth. I found the silver one a bit tiring on long listening but it has high-level detail of the trebles. However, it depends on your source, but I would like to mention that I found the listening to copper way easier to listen.

The detail and the resolution level of the upper frequencies are extremely good. The sparkle and the extension are quite high. Compare to S-EM9, it has amazing clarity and sparkle in the upper frequencies, I found Mason V3 better than S-EM9 in terms of both quantity and separation. The trebles are airy and spacious structured, which makes the positioning of the instrument very easy. I have not come across any sibilance, even though I listened with my LPG. The trebles are also in good control. I never noticed any uncontrolled tones in the fast passages and multi instrument parts.

Mid frequency’s level of detail is high as the upper frequencies. If I would like to give an example from the S-EM9 again, the mid frequencies are a little bit tighter and more transparent. The instrument’s tonality is more accurate and it plays from thinner tone. However, compare to S-EM9, it is a bit thinner because S-EM9 is a bit thicker and more colorated. I have also found it very successful in terms of separation. The middle frequencies that provide pretty good separation of the instruments, make vocals listening quite enjoyable. Both female and male vocals are clear and textured.

The bass is not dominated but it has authority in overall presentation and it has sufficient quantity, but this is not for bass-head lovers, that’s for sure. The sub-bass does not go deep, but it is quite tight and strong. It mostly hits from the mid bass area. If you close DB-GO module, bass can hit little bit deeper but don’t expect too much bass. Then again, when I compare with S-EM9 bass feels somewhat slow, but it’s extremely controlled.

I am really impressed by the soundstage. Perhaps it is not an ultra wide and deep soundstage, but spaciousness and airiness provide a comfortable listening. Mason V3 has another characteristic that I really like, it is the black background. You can hear every single detail, vocals instruments distinguishably.

With DB-GO module, you can expand the soundstage and you can reduce bass or vice versa. Yes, it affects the sound but it is hard to say that the effect is radical.

Verdict:

When I do not consider the money, the Mason V3 is a pretty good earphone. It has the richest and the highest quality box content I have ever seen, and it is an earphone that I really like for some innovative technologies. The quality and the workmanship of the material are fascinating. The sound character is modular and can be changed by different cables. I just wish a more stable and rigid DB-GO module. The Mason V3, which I can not find any other defect, is definitely a good earphone I would like to have one day.

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.



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 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.

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


Specifications:

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

Sensitivity: 97dB@1kHz / 105dB@2.5kHz

Frequency response: 20Hz-40kHz

Impedance: 8.9Ω

Cord: 2pin CIEM 6N OFC 1.2m

Plug type: 3.5mm mini stereo


Package Details:

Hyla earphone with stock 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

Astell Kern AK70



Package, Design & Isolation;

The Hyla-CE05 comes with a box that can be considered as elegant. While the box has a simple structure, the inner surface of the box is covered with a quality satin-like finish. The contents of the box may be relatively simple. High-quality VanNuys case comes with Hyla CE-05. Also, 3 sets of foam, 4 sets of silicon tips are come out of box. Unfortunately, it does not come with a PW No5 cable like Oriolus, but the CE-05 includes the highest quality stock cable. Probably this is the best stock cable I've ever seen.

The design of the CE-05 has high-quality design and the material quality is top notch. The CE-05 has standard 0.78mm 2-pin design. There is no blemish and no defect in the body that made of German resin. The body is transparent purple color that I really like. There is no logo on the body, only the serial number is on the side of body. However, you can easily recognize of the body when you see due to its unique design.

The CE-05 has a slightly large body, but it fits ergonomically. It is possible to use it for long hours without any pressure on ears. Nozzle is neither too long nor too short and it is quite comfortable on the ear.



Sound Type:

The sound character of CE-05 is like V-shape. The upper frequencies are accompanied by lower frequencies in similar amounts, while the mids are slightly backwards. The vocals are not far behind, but it’s I think a little bit forward. The vocals have a relatively forward presentation even though the mids are behind in the overall spectrum. Also vocals have a very sweet tone and color. Non-aggressive presentation of the vocals can make you feel urge to listen to the vocals for long hours. The treble is incredibly detailed and resolute, thanks to the piezoelectric driver. I didn’t expect such a drastic and detailed treble response. The dynamic driver on the other hand, creates stronger and deeper bass which probably best I ever heard.




Trebles:

Details. Lots of detail in the treble. The treble of CE-05 can be easily my favorite frequency range of the CE-05. The upper frequencies are quite pronounced, but they are also spreading over a very wide area. It is possible to hear lots of instrument details from every part of soundstage. It is possible to feel friction of each part of biceps crashing into each other. You can hear even the smallest nuance in the voices. For some people it may feel a little bit shiny and bright, but it is not disturbing. Though it can be a little tiring in the long listening, it offers a unique experience in terms of speed, frequency and resolution. The well-extended trebles also maintain control of fast sections. The sound does not tend to metalize when you increase the sound level. There is a thin line between sibilance and losing control, which is distinctive and pristine, and this line is stable. I listened to different types of music and I expected to hear some sibilance but I didn’t hear it which I tried with my all sources. Of course, the source used here is also very important. I would also like to mention that I have provided the best harmony with warm character sources. Mostly. I liked AK120 and AK70 with the CE-05. I can say that the CE-05 doesn’t paired good with the LPG. Trebles can be sharp and aggressive.

CE-05 has clean and energetic trebles. If you think to upgrade stock cable, I would recommend to upgrade with pure copper cable. Also, I believe that the result will be really satisfying copper-hybrid cables.



Mids:

The mid frequencies are detailed, but it is slightly behind the lower and upper frequencies. The voices of the instruments are very clear and effortless. Even though mids are behind in general spectrum, the vocals are positioned in front and it performs smooth sweet tones. The overall instrument sound is slightly thinner than natural, but I cannot make a fair approach due the lack of reference earphone. The separation of strings is flawless and it has high level of detail by virtue of bright top mids. There is a slightly pressure of the lower mids because of the powerful low frequencies, but this does not cause an obvious mid-hump. I really liked to presentation of vocals. Although the vocal presentation is in the front even the overall presentation is V-Shaped. The vocals have soft and velvety tone like cream. It is very enjoyable to listen to the both male and female vocals. Overall resolution level of the mids is extremely high. You can hear the drums distinctively on a separate level and you can feel the rumble.



Bass:

CE-05 has amazing slam and well extended bass which I love. It has strong bass that does not lose control. For my personal taste, the tonality and quantity of the bass is almost exactly what I want. I feel that, when I found bass level not enough it doesn't satisfy me, so this situation impacts my musical pleasure negatively.

The extension of sub-bass is quite successful, there is no roll off. There can be bloating in bossy tracks sometimes but it does not feel any hoarseness. If we talk about bass, I always prefer dynamic drivers because it is airier and impactful. There is a strong dynamic driver inside of CE-05 and it reminds you the strong bass in the tracks. I think that listeners who has a similar authoritative bass taste as mine, will like CE-05`s bass quantity. The lower-mid and bass harmony is really good. Bass level does not leave other frequencies in the shade. Its quantity and impact level provide comfortable easy listenability. Bass is slow according to armature driver`s bass but its recovery time is quite short. Bass is not dry as armature driver`s bass.

CE-05 is the best earphone I have ever listened in terms of bass quality.



Soundstage:

CE-05`s soundstage is quite airy and spacious. Stage width is not the best I have ever heard, but it is higher than average. Instruments spreads in a wide spacious area. Background is very dark and silence. There is not any issue like mixing the instruments which makes the positioning easier in the soundstage. You can make the distinction that every instrument plays from a different position. The space between instruments is perceptible. It is amazing to feel and be in the great atmosphere of floating, continuous notes of an instrumental track. CE-05`s performance is successful and above its price about separation of instruments.





Verdict:

CE-05 is detailed, musical and it does not compromise of it is details. It can be counted as powerful, able to go deeper into a certain place. CE-05 can be preferred by anyone who desires a wide soundstage. The CE-05 is a very successful headphone for V-shape lovers, with its full lower and high treble frequencies. This is a type of headphone that I will keep and never sell. Hyla is a young company but it proves that it can produce very successful and satisfying products with the advantage of previous Oriolus experience. I am looking forward to try the new Hyla products in the future. They deserve much more attention.

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



Specification:

Frequency Response : 5Hz-20kHz

Impedance : 60Ω

Sensitivity : 105dB

Earphone Weight : 0.95oz (27g)

Driver: 9.2mm dynamic driver

Housing: brass 24k electroplated gold.


Package:

- RE800 Earphone

- Detachable MMCX cable

- 3 Pair silicon Tips – 1 pair Comply Foam

- Aluminium Case



Design & Isolation;

The RE800 has high quality 24K gold-plated brass body. The junction points are clean and there are no flaws or faults on the body. It feels very good in the hand. It is extremely successful in terms of ergonomics and fit. The model I owe is the current version which can be plugged into the MMCX. It's not loose when the cable is plugged in. Its very durable and solid. The cable can be inserted into the current MMCX version unlike the previous model, so you can upgrade your cable. Visually, RE800 looks like jewellery in your hand and much more beautiful than its pictures.

The RE800 has a tiny little body and it is almost disappearing when you wear. Fit feels incredibly comfortable. Although the RE800 itself is a little bit heavy, you don’t feel any discomfort or imbalance in the ear. It is also quite comfortable with silicone and Comply tips. The stock cable that comes with RE800 also looks good. The material is soft and nice to touch. When you put the RE800 into the storage case, there is no tangling. I don’t have any MMCX cable, so I haven’t been able to experienced it sound with another type of cables. I think the right cable choice would be a copper or copper hybrid cable.

In conclusion, I liked the RE800 in terms of design, materials and workmanship.



Sound Type:

The RE800 has crystal-clear presentation and amazingly high resolution at top frequencies. The level of resolution is unbelievably high. Especially, I would like to point out the resolution; I don't think it is possible to buy any earphones with higher resolution in this price range. Immaculate vocals, clear timbres and nice strong bass are the best words to describe the RE800. Particularly the details and the speed of the trebles are really top notch. This may not be suitable for everyone, but the RE800 has a quality that can impress you even if you do not like trebles. Middle frequencies are a bit behind in the general spectrum but not too far behind. However, when you listen with warm sources, the bass is satisfying. Soundstage is wide as open-headphones. The overall sound character is transparent and bright.






Trebles:

The RE800 is one of the most detailed dynamic earphone I have ever listened and I think treble is the most special frequency area of the RE800. The amount of the treble is much more prominent than the other frequencies and these tops add clarity to the earphones. When playing music, it gives the feeling of every sound coming from different place into the soundstage. It is quite detailed and fast. It reflects all the errors and details in your ear clearly. The upper frequencies have extremely high resolution, fretless and distinctive. I can easily say that I haven’t heard any universal earphone that have better treble. The RE800 reflects every mistake of the records. If the record is clear, you cannot hear any sibilance, but if the record is bad, the sibilance is quite obvious to hear. The RE800 has its own unique tune that I have never heard before.

The treble is generally bright / shiny, but in spite of it character, it doesn’t show any unnatural presentation. Dr.Fang did a very fine tuning of the treble. If you use it with bright sources, it may be a little tiring and that’s why I recommend to use it with warmer sources. The general presentation of treble may be excessive for some users, but if you are a treble lover, this is the right earphone for you.

I would like to mention that RE800 is the most compatible with Dap’s I owe AK120 and DX200. Also, I really appreciate its harmony with Dragonfly Black.



Mids:

RE800 is very musical and mid frequencies have nice level of detail but a little bit behind of the bass and the trebles in general spectrum. The lower mids are slightly recessed, but it is not bothered too much, so you don't feel any lack of mid. RE800 doesn't play mid frequencies that bold and meaty, so those who love that kind of mid can find it a bit weak. Actually, I was waiting full body sound and bold presentation but when I played the song, I heard clean, bright and highly resolved sound. The separation of mids are very successful. The upper mids are bright but its control is really good. Whenever I listen to the fast passages I observed it's rarely losing the control, in my opinion it is due to the recording and sources. The vocals are neither behind nor front but its recessive in overall presentation which defining RE800 as slightly V-shape. My personal taste is to hear closer vocals but I barely find it. The vocals are a bit recessed. I found female vocals slightly better than male vocals. The reason of it is the mid frequencies have thin notes.



Bass:

I am not a bass-head but the most important frequencies of a headphone are bass for me. The RE800’s bass is not so powerful as a bass headphone but it can go deep when it calls. Actually, I can say that many users are going to like the bass tone and quantity of RE800. Bass is not very authoritative in the overall presentation but as I mention before, if there is bass in the music, it is not shy to rumble. I tried to test bass quantity, listened to the EDM music and I can easily say that I am satisfied with it. Apart from that the amount of bass in popular genres is more than enough. Bass frequencies doesn’t take up much room on the general spectrum, they don’t have a negative effect on the background. Also, it doesn’t dominate the other frequencies. The speed of bass is much faster than I expected. It achieves fast passages without losing its resolution and detail. it is able to hit hard, extend and go deep whenever it is necessary. While I listen to EDM I think the bass speed is quite high for a dynamic driver but it doesn't reach to the speed of balanced armature driver. Bass is lightly emphasis and controlled. Overall, bass level meets expectations in terms of timbre, quality and details.



Soundstage:

The width of the soundstage is as like as an open-back headphone. In spite of the width of soundstage, instruments do not spread around, rather they can be distinguished easily. it offers a spacious concert by means of the wide soundstage. The separation of the instruments is extremely good and it is possible to position them in the track. Instruments are perceivable due to high resolution.



Verdict:

The RE800 has a bright presentation with wide and deep soundstage, high instrumental separation, natural and refine tune. The resolution is extremely high that I have never heard that before in this price range. The detail level of the trebles is much better than the more expensive earphones. I can say that I really liked the Hifiman RE800. Resolution and detailed presentation that should definitely not be ignored in this price range.

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


Specifications:

12 Balanced armature drivers (4x Low, 4x Mid, 4x High)

3-way passive crossover

Apex M15 - M20 module

Impedance: 16 Ohms at 1kHz

Sensitivity: 115dB SPL @ 1mW

Freq. Response: 10Hz – 20 kHz

Noise Isolation: -20dB with apex M20 module


Package:

64 Audio Protective Case

48” Detachable Black Cable

Comply Ear Tips (S, M, L)

Cleaning Tool

Shirt Clip

Dehumidifier

Round Sticker

Apex Module











Design and Fit:

The shape of the U12 is quite soft and it feels really comfortable. It doesn’t have sharp edges. It is also, extremely lightweight, so you can listen without any pain, even if it stands for 3 hours on the ear. U12 has 12 armature drivers inside, but the housing is quite small. I like the design and fit.





Isolation:

This was my first listening with Apex technology, so I was a bit concerned about isolation. But when I heard it, I realized that my worries were irrelevant. Isolation is quite good with Comply foam. It has very similar isolation with the silicone tips as well.





Sound Type:

I would explain U12 with the simplest words; warm, analogue and musical earphone. Really musical and you can listen very enjoyably. U12 is a tad dark but It's not as dark as like Um Pro30.

I would call All-Rounder for U12. All kinds of music can play really well at the optimum level. The dynamism and energy of the U12 is also very nice. In general; slightly powerful lows, little laid back mid and relaxed treble.


Treble:

The U12 has smooth and relaxed treble. It is also nicely tamed. The amount of treble is very prominent than I expected. Because of the sub-bass area is too powerful. Really powerful. Trebles stand a bit more forward than the mids. It fast and it has good level of detail, but still not the star of the show. There is no harshness, sharpening or aggression. In the fast passage in the music it doesn’t lose control. Also, there is no sibilance.


Mid:

The Mid frequencies generally a little bit lack but not too much. It stayed laid back presentation that is slightly the bass and treble and it does not lose anything from its detail. Vocals have a very analogue feel and presentation. Laid back mid presentation creates a sense of spaciousness and a wide range of soundstage. Space between of the instruments is extremely natural and clean. I especially love the guitar sounds. My favorite aspect of vocal presentation was sweet-soft vocal presentation. I especially liked the voice of female vocals more than male vocals.

The U12 has warm, meaty mid. There is no harshness in the upper mid.




Bass:

Bass is the best area of the U12. It has powerful, accented, tight basses. Although sub-bass is not going very deep, they are powerful character. The overall presentation of the earphones dark and warm, I expected to dominate the other frequencies a little bit but I didn’t find it in the sources of the music I listened to. The bass is a little bit slower in the EDM (High BPM Progressive House / Trance), but this slowness is not the dynamic driving slowness. With the U12, I always listened to the music that was like Deep House, Progressive House, etc. Because it has really enjoyable bass response and they pushes you to listen to bassy tracks. This is the best bass I ever listened from armature drivers.



Soundstage:

The soundstage of U12 is as wide as the Apex module itself. It has a pretty big soundstage.

Positioning in the soundstage is pretty good. It gives you the sense of a stage being there in front of you and when positioned properly you can easily feel like you are at the show. All the instruments come very close to where they need to be, and they can easily be distinguished. Instrument realism and dynamics are really good.



Verdict:

It is the one of the most enjoyable, favorite earphones I have ever listened to. It has superior detail and resolution. It is very enjoyable to listen to EDM. I would recommend using SPC or Silver cable if you are going to upgrade your cable. If fun factor is important for you and if you are looking for a wide soundstage, deep, powerful bass, musicality then you are looking at the right product.

I used both Hugo V1 and Mojo, we all know how successful Chord is on the market. When I first heard the Hugo V1, I rediscovered the meaning of imaging and layering. Hugo V1 was the best portable device I’ve ever listened to. Until now. Chord renewed and improved the legendary model and presented us the Hugo 2.

Before the review shenanigans, I would like to thank to Chord and @Relic for the tour opportunity.

You can read it also on quantumears.com



Specifications & Highlights

● Chord Electronics Custom Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA Chipset

● 10 Element Pulse Array Design (49,152 Tap Length)

● Class A

● Incredibly low output impedance (0.025Ω)

● Power output @ 1kHz 1% THD: 94mW - 300Ω | 740mW - 32Ω | 1050mW- 8Ω

● It can be considered light for a DAC/AMP! Only 450 grams.



Testing Equipment

● Earsonics S-EM9 with PW Single Core & Eros

● NocturnaL Atlantis

● Oriolus Forsteni with PW No.5

● AAW A3H Pro v2




Accessories | Box

Just like Hugo v1, v2 comes with a fairly durable, stylish cartoon box. Accessories are good. Here is the list of ‘em!

● Charger (Switchable Plugs)

● USB Cable

● Optical Cables

● Remote! (This one shocked me the most, it’s good touch, Chord!)



Design | Build

The design itself looks very good and build quality is top notch. Although I must say, I am not a huge fan of the ballsy design (pun intended).

One other thing is I really like the little window located in the middle of the device. It’s a great touch and it feels like it’s the engineer’s signature. Rigid contour overall makes it look fierce and wild!



Sound Signature

The Hugo2 has this generally neutral sound with a touch of warmth. It’s a quite musical and high-resolution device.


Treble;

Treble became my favorite section of the audio spectrum thanks to Hugo 2. Very natural, well-spaced and it’s not laid back. You can hear instruments reaching their brightest point on the spectrum and somehow Hugo keeps them out of the “hot” area so no piercing crispness. The treble is smooth. I auditioned AC-DC - T.N.T album with Hugo 2 and S-EM9. It was an incredible experience. It had an amazingly clear presentation and there were no congestions, even in the fastest passages. You can hear every single bit of detail and layer in the timbre. When I listen to music using Hugo V1 or V2, I tend to listen the parts that has the most intense upper frequencies. I found myself listening to Le Trio Joubran, Ibrahim Maalouf and similar artists. Treble is just delightful!


Mid

Mid frequencies are tad forward. The note thickness is balanced beautifully. It is neither thick nor thin. I believe this greatly contributes to naturality. Mids are relaxed and they feel realistic. Detail level is really high, it doesn’t skip any micro details. Both male and female vocals are articulate and fluid.. I believe I can listen to Norah Jones all day long… The overall presentation is smooth and effortless, I did not notice any harshness in the upper mid section. I listened to Ibrahim Maalouf – True Sorry (one of my favorite test tracks) with the Hugo2 and violin guitar tone accuracy took my breath away.. I enjoyed every second of it.

I don’t really have any complaints about of the midrange.


Lows

Lows are sufficiently prominent, natural, clear and detailed. Also, they are very controlled and tight. The lows are well defined and they are present enough but, honestly I would love to have a little more bass. Well, this is my personal preference of course. Bass quantity, in fact, very near to natural with a touch of warmth.

When you compare bass against the rest of the spectrum, they are not extremely dominant and they do not overwhelm the other frequencies. There is no overpowered boom-like basshead crazy bass. Sub-bass has an average impact field. It does not hit from a wide area and It only goes deep when the track calls for it.


Soundstage, Speed, Timing & Dynamics

Hugo2 has quite a wide soundstage. Compared to Hugo 1, the soundstage is a tad more spacious and wide. Although the margin is small. Soundstage depth is also quite satisfactory. Instruments are scattered widely across the stage and the space between them eliminates any congestion. This helps with the speed and PRAT. Let’s talk about dynamics. Well. I’ve not heard anything quite like this. Maybe LPG. This department of Hugo 2 can be labelled as unrivaled.



Comparisons



vs. Chord Hugo 1

Both devices are musical and technically very capable. Hugo2 is generally better than V1 in almost everything. Better transparency, wider soundstage and resolution... Power delivery is similar. With the S-EM9, I was listening at the “green” level with the Hugo v1. It did not change with Hugo 2. Micro detail revealment is better with Hugo 2, treble and mid section has increased articulacy. Margins are not huge though.


vs. iDSD Black Label

Black Label is a terrific DAC/AMP. Just like Hugo 2. I see them in different fields but I’ll say couple of things anyway. Both of the devices have relaxed, effortless sound with a dark background. iFi’s XBASS is magical. BL bass has the upper hand, it is more impactful and deep. Soundstage-wise Hugo 2 is more layered, more spacious and airy. I think they’re the top contenders of both price ranges. 500$ and 2000$. Both of em’, great buys!


vs. LPG

Dynamism and resolution. Both devices are absolutely great at this. Hugo 2 is tad more detailed and tad faster. LPG is a worthy rival but it falls short in mid section. Hugo 2 sounds very effortless and relaxed whereas the mid section of LPG feels stressed and aggressive. Also there is a huge soundstage difference. Hugo 2 has this wide headroom and airiness. LPG does not have this, at all. Depth-wise they’re on par.


vs. AK120

I listened to Ibrahim Maalouf - True Sorry with Hugo 2 and immediately I started to play with AK120.(I really love the AK120 and I won’t sell it) but sound was horrible when I listened. Muddy, treble was like a rolled-off, veiled. Of course, I am not comparing with AK120. I just want to know how good Hugo2 sounds when I listened head-to-head. The Hugo2 has a seriously amazing top end when it comes to the high frequencies and I'm afraid that there is no another device that can stand in front of the Hugo2 in portable devices territory.




Verdict

Hugo 2. Did I like it? Definitely, yes. It is very desirable. Built like a tank, top tier sound quality, and you can use it as DAC on almost all devices.

Still, I have several complaints about the device;

First one is about the filters. Hugo2 comes with 4 different sound filters.

● 1th- Dave/Reference filter (White),

● 2nd - HF roll off (Green),

● 3th - Mojo filter (Orange),

● 4th - Mojo HF + (High Frequency roll off) (Red)

When I tried to change these filters while playing music, I could hardly feel the sound differences between them. The change of sound was very subtle. I auditioned those filters with all the IEMs I have but the result was almost the same. Filters just had subtle differences and unfortunately, I did not find them very functional.

My second complaint is about the battery life. The battery life is about one hour less than the Hugo 1. I think, maybe the new “light-balls” are shortening the battery life. They’re so lit that you can even use the device as a nightlight beside your bed. (or signal the batman, dunno)

Apart from those, there is nothing I’d count as a weakness. I cannot easily say “Throw your V1 into the garbage, get a V2!” Hugo V1 is already a very good device and it can be found at fairly affordable prices.

To finalize, I can say that Hugo2 is a great little product from Chord and it’s definitely a good buy!

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.

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.

Empire Ears & Effect Audio Collaboration




Intro

Specifications
Arthur

1. frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
   
2. Sensitivity: 21ohm @ 1mw
   
3. 14 Balanced Armature drivers (6 highs, 6 mids, 2 lows) with Effect Audio’s Silver and Copper internal wiring
   
4. Crossover type: 8-way passive crossover
   
5. Noise Isolation: -28 dB +/- 2
   
6. MSRP: $3799
   

Excalibur Cable

1. 24awg UPOCC Gold/Silver Multi Bundle Litz cable
   

Testing Equipment

We have used quite a few gear to unleash its full potential.
List goes like this:

1. HM901S (Main Source)
   
2. Chord MoJo
   
3. Astell&Kern AK120
   
4. Audioquest Dragonfly Black
   

Accessories

1. Empire Ears Aegis Case
   
2. Dust Bag
   
3. IEM Pouch
   
4. Cleaning Tool
   
5. User Guide
   

Design | Build | Fit

Arthur’s housing is made of acrylic and it has a fairly comfortable body shape. The nozzle part is a bit long for me but I didn’t have any comfort issues. There is no QC flaw on the body and faceplate. I love the design of Arthur. It looks insanely premium and look gorgeous. Every person who saw the Arthur fallen in love. There is not much to say about product quality and design. Just perfect!

Sound

The first thing that caught my attention when I first listened to Arthur, was its liveliness. When you listen to the music, you feel a sense of dynamism and rhythm. Arthur does not have a sharp character, it is rather musical and it is quite detailed. To wrap it up, Arthur is smoother, more musical and more harmonious than the Zeus-R. Zeus-R is a bit more technical and detailed and it felts sterile. What I like the most about Arthur is the texture and clean midrange frequencies. While the instruments are pure and beautifully played, the vocals are in perfect clarity and emotional. Arthur’s background is also quite dark, improving the sense of imaging even further. I would like to mention that Arthur is prone to hiss but not as much as Zeus-R. Also, iPhone can easily drive Arthur, but of course, Arthur deserve much more than that.

Low Freqs

I am not a “true basshead” but for me, bass is a very important aspect of an any IEM because it provides the excitement factor. I prefer strong, prominent and tight bass.

Arthur has a strong bass but it doesn’t reach too deep, so some bass lovers might find a bit light, for me it has great amount of bass. Don’t get me wrong, it has nice amount but it is not like bass-head level. Bass is organic and natural and you do not feel the “classic dryness” of balanced armatures, but it could’ve been definitely better. Bass region attack and decay is actually well-done, it can react to a twin pedal, or high bpm EDM tracks without hassle.

As I mentioned before, Arthur is not a basshead earphone but the bass is quite satisfied level. Bass is never bleeds into the midrange and always remains controlled. Generally the bass is perfectly balanced with the rest of the sound spectrum. You do not feel that cold-boring bass of the armature drives. It has fairly high quality presentation and I can easily call an all-rounder for Arthur.

Mid Freqs

For me, the best part of the Arthur is definitely mid region.

Midbass is dense, bodied and controlled. It is also rich, smooth and lush with a nice fullness to it. And seriously detailed.

The vocals are realistic and vibrant. Especially, female vocals are amazing. Mid is relatively close but this presentation is not as like the UM Pro30. There is absolutely no mixing or losing control in fast passages. It can handle very well in fast and complicated passages. Music plays clearly and quality even in the most complicated or upsetting places. I like Arthur for stringed instruments mostly. I listened to Le Trio Joubran – Masar album with a great pleasure. Every vibration and details in the stringed instruments are gives amazing listening experience. I can easily say that, this is the best mid performance I’ve heard so far.





High Freqs
Arthur has amazingly clear, detailed as is it expected but these trebles are not in the brain piercing densities and brittleness, they are conformable and consistent, soft and natural. Very easy to focus on the sound and you can catch every single details in the music. Arthur has not a sharp treble presentation, contrary it is smooth and tamed. The treble never harsh or any hints of sibilance, even with the bad recordings.





Soundstage, Imaging and Instrument Separation - Dynamics - Speed - Articulacy

The Arthur has both horizontally and vertically wide stage. The locations of the instruments are successfully positioned and all can be picked very clearly because of the relatively forwardness of the vocals. The vertical extension may be somewhat limited but after hearing the instruments, these thoughts are starting to disappear. The details are also presented clearly.




Excalibur Cable:

I think the most beautiful cable in the market right now. The cable is as soft as I expected. It is soft like PW No5 and unbelievably comfortable and ergonomic. The Excalibur cable Is a bit warmer and it’s adding details and resolution. Who have brighter earphone, you can use Excalibur. When I use with my Zeus-R it brings more sub bass and body of the sound.






Comparison:



Arthur vs. Oriolus MK2: Oriolus has deeper and stronger bass but at the same time it is slower than the Arthur. Here is the advantage of the armature drivers. The strongest part of Oriolus is in the mid section, and I can say that Oriolus is much more emotional than Arthur and also it is more forward. While Oriolus has more dramatic and mildly presentation, Arthur has more realistic and more detailed. In the treble area Arthur has a higher resolution and extended better. As a soundstage, Arthur has a larger scene. The instruments are spread out over wider area. Oriolus is more intimate and instruments are centered in the soundstage. Overall, Arthur is better earphone and it’s special tuning make sounds beautiful.

Arthur vs S-EM9 : The S-EM9 is one of my favorite earphones. Probably it should be the fastest earphone I have ever listened to.. Compared to Arthur, the S-EM9 is little dark and the music plays from a slightly thicker note. Bass is faster and stronger than Arthur. S-EM9 is more successful earphone for EDM like genres. Soundstage , the S-EM9 has a narrower stage in the transverse direction, but I can say that both are almost equal in details. In Mid side, I can easily say that Arthur is clean winner. It is more detailed, cleaner and more accurate. The S-EM9 feels a little bit colored and unnatural. The treble frequencies are another story. The S-EM9 is one of the best trebles I’ve ever heard. It is very successful in terms of separation and resolution. Although the amount is the same of the both earphones, Arthur creates a bit more space between instruments and separation is one step ahead. Both earphones are quite musical and impressive, they are differing in their presentation.


Arthur vs. Zeus-R: Two big brothers, two different sound signatures. They are technically same but they are differing in tunes and that make them different from each other. Arthur is more smoother and the mid areas is more musical. Arthur has forward and slightly emphasis presentation in the mid range. Zeus-R is more aggressive, detailed and transparent on the treble, which makes the resolution is more prominent. Zeus-R is plays a bit colder compared to the Arthur. Zeus-R is also quite musical, but it is more detailed and transparency is a better. Arthur is fuller and stronger when I compared with Zeus-R. Soundstage of the Zeus-R is a bit wider and airier, and I believe because of slightly laid back mid range. Arthur is more vivid and smooth on treble, and Zeus-R is more aggressive and sharper. Both earphone are technically superior and amazing.



(Zeus-R & Arthur)









Summary

Arthur is a really premium product and you are feeling its amazingly nice looking housing and premium accessories. And of course one of the best IEM on the market I believe. If you like warmer, lust sound and high level of details you won’t feel any regret, go for it. But watch out! Expensive…