Introduction
It's always a very critical situation; when I have prepared myself to evaluate a product but instead listening to my playlists for hours without writing anything. Anew U1 is something like that and after almost three months of daily usage, I am doing this review. Anew as a brand is not that popular and very little information is out there.U1 is the only product available from this brand and I would like to thank Penon Audio for sending this U1 unit for review.

Specifications
Brand - Anew,
Model - U1,
Color – Ivory / Black (Limited Edition),
Headphone sound principle - 10mm single carbon nanotube diaphragm Dynamic driver,
Shell material – Acrylic + Aluminum,
Nozzle diameter – 6 mm,
Sensitivity - 108dB/mW,
Frequency Response Range - 20-20KHz,
Impedance - 32Ω,
Distortion - < 0.2%,
Plug diameter - 3.5mm gold plated,
Connectors – MMCX,
Cable length - 1.2 M,
Cable type - High purity SPC Copper (Litz) 4 shares braided with ear hook,
Plug Type - straight plug.

Buying Link - Here

What's in the Box?
U1 IEM Limited Edition Black,
Single crystal copper silver-plated Litz cable,
3 Pairs of white silicone ear tips (S, M, and L) wide bore,
3 Pairs of transparent silicone ear tips (S, M, and L) wide bore,
1 Pairs of double flange silicone ear tips (L).

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
Anew U1 comes inside an 11 X 17 X 4.5 cm (W*H*D) white box, branding has been done on top of the box and specifications backside of the box. U1 IEM & cable placed inside using some foams and ear tips are beneath that foam layer. The overall presentation is simple and elegant.

IEM – I have received the limited edition Black Anew U1 for review and no doubt it's very good looking. The entire shell is made out of acrylic and the surface is totally smooth. No visible scratch or bubble is present on U1’s unibody shell. The 6mm front nozzles have been made of aluminum. Perforated plates also have been applied in front of it to stop dust and dirt inside. Silver color branding on the faceplate is appropriate and stylish. Gold plated female MMCX port is embedded with the shell and seems very high in quality.

Another hole covered with a perforated plate on sides of the U1 drivers is there; red and blue color on them shows L and R driver. These holes are to minimize the pressure inside the IEM. Overall Anew U1 is not too small or too big. Medium size, smooth surface, lightweight and custom IEM like designed Anew U1 is a comfortable and good looking IEM without any doubt. 10mm single carbon nanotube diaphragm Dynamic driver has been used inside U1, which is unique but driver flex also there.

Cable – The stock cable is one of the best cables that comes bundled with IEM under 200$ price range. The cable is totally handmade. 1.2 m silver-plated copper; Litz 4 core cable beautifully braided, not so soft or not so hard. High quality 3.5 mm gold plated plug, small Y splitter, lightweight chin slider, soft ear-hook and good MMCX connectors everything matches the total aesthetics of the cable. Even a white cable tie has been supplied to organize the cable.

Tips – Tip selection is average. Both transparent and white tips are a wide bore. Only one large size double flange tip has been supplied which is strange. Narrow bore, foam and other double flange tips could be added but not present. Carry case or pouch also has been not supplied.

Fit & Comfort
From the aspect of fit and comfort, I can say it depends largely on the selection of tip. The nozzle size of Anew U1 is around 6mm so only a few aftermarket tips works. Wide bore tips really help to improve the lower frequency of U1 but that double flange tip was most comfortable for me.

Source
Anew U1 is easy to drive but. Sources I have used for this review are -
DAP – Hiby R3, Dethonray DTR1.
DAC AMP combo with PC – Audioquest Dragonfly Black, Fiio Q5, Schiit Modi 3+ Topping NX3s.
Phone – RealMe C2 + USB audio player pro.
More than 100 hours of burn-in has been done before this review.

Tracks / Albums Listened
Adele – 25,
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black,
Michael McDonald - Wide Open,
Eagles - The Very Best Of The Eagles,
Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Tidal MQA),
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992),
Etta James - At Last!,
Michael Jackson – Scream,
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version),
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour,
Legends- Elton John,
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories,
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours,
Sting - The Best of 25 Years,

Sound
At first contact; Anew U1 may sound like a conventional ' V ' tuned IEM. Extended lower and higher frequency part with recessed mids. Surprisingly after a long burn-in period, it has recovered the distance in mid-frequency quite a bit. The natural representation of mids sometimes feels recession but for my ears, Anew U1 is an almost balanced IEM.

Bass – When comes to the lower frequency part, Anew U1 just mesmerizes with its outstanding performance. Both extension and depth are too good. With moderate speed and accuracy, the lower frequency part can reach deep easily. Both quality and quantity can be found in U1’s lower frequency part. Overall a full-bodied approach with the right amount of texture in mid-bass also can be noticed. Non-exaggerated sub-bass region is capable of a smooth rumble effect.

In Songs like ‘ I miss you ‘ by Adele, the opening drum hits sound full and well-controlled, in ‘ Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk the constant drum hits in backgrounds create a dance floor inside you. Bass lovers should try Anew U1 to experience a rich and resolving bass experience.

Mids – First things first, no bass bleed in mids noticed in Anew U1. Mid-range has presented itself almost a natural way and no such coloration present at all. Crisp, clear rendering with lots of details in mid-range. A little boost in lower mid-range results male vocals more crispier than female vocals. No harshness in upper mid-range but details are well preserved. The sense of naturalness and lots of details proves U1 is not a conventional ‘ V ‘ tuned IEM.

Anew U1 renders songs like ‘Crocodile Rock’ by Elton John and ‘Back To Black’ by Amy Winehouse in a linear way and sound more neutral but the texture remains untouched.

Treble – Treble is the most, interesting part of Anew U1. Higher frequency part is well-extended with lots of details but nowhere near sibilance. Good to mention that even with bright sources Anew U1 remains calm. The whole treble part is airy and specious but lack of brilliance keep U1 in the dry side like a multi B.A crossover. For example in the song like ‘ Dream ‘ by Fleetwood Mac, the cymbals sound accurate but the sparkle is not there.

Soundstage, Imaging & Instrument Separation
The soundstage of U1 is wide but not super wide, the soundstage is more and more natural. Imaging another hand very good. Each and every instrument can be clearly identified. Busy tracks handled properly and each and every note is well articulated.

Comparison

Ibasso it01 vs Anew U1 - Both it01 and U1 priced very similarly. Soundwise they are very close too. Ibasso it01 offers more bass than Anew U1 but in a less controlled manner. It01’s bass response is not as impactful as U1. Maybe the quantity is more but the quality is better in U1. U1 has more texture and can go deeper than It01. Mids a bit better in It01 though. In the treble part, U1 is a clear winner. U1 has a more clear and sharper treble area in comparison to It01. The soundstage on both this IEMs is almost the same.

Conclusion
Buying one IEM over another from Chi-fi market under the budget segment is now quite challenging. Undoubtedly many really good and budget-friendly IEMs are now available and Anew U1 one of them. Anew U1 presents a well-balanced and mature sound that an audiophile really likes to have.

Introduction
What is the best sub 99$ Desktop/ Portable DAC? - This is the question; I have seen many budget music lovers asking this time to time. But the answer is not as straight forward as one may think. 99$ is a price point where either a manufacturer has to limit features or a buyer has to compromise to get a fully featured product. Thankfully the situation is now far better and some fully featured, very good sounding DACs are available in the market and a buyer with a tight budget can pick one of them without any hesitations. Shenzhen ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD or in-short SMSL manufacturing high-end audio equipment from 2009 and very well know in our hi-fi community. Products like SMSL IDEA, Sanskrit, A8, and M10 are already quite popular. SMSL recently came up with their M series of desktop Digital Analog Converters and M100 is theirs under 99$ entry-level offering. I would like to thank DILVSHI HiFi Store for sending me a unit of M100 for this review. Let’s see how M100 performed with all my Headphones and IEMS.

Specifications
Model Number – M100,
Color – Black, Blue, Red,
Structure – Aluminum & Glass,
Inputs – 2 X USB, 1X Optical, 1 X Coaxial,
Outputs – RCA,
DAC Chip – AKM 4452,
Amp Output Stage – JRC2114,
Output Level – 2 Vrms,
THD+N – 0.0005%,
Dynamic Range – 114dB,
SNR – 106dB,
USB Compatibility – Windows 7/8/8.1/10, MAC OS X 10.6 later, Linux, Android.
Bit Depth – USB (1 to 32 Bit), Coaxial and Optical (24 Bit),
Sampling Rate – USB (44.1- 768 KHz, DSD 64 - 512), Coaxial and Optical (32 – 192 KHz),
Power Consumption – 1.2 W,
Standby Power – < 0.1 W,
Size – 55 X 55 X 93 (W X H X D),
Weight – 258 g.

Controls, Display Instruction, and Led Indicator

Power/ Input Key

• Hold on to switch power on or off.
• Press to switch inputs between USB (in 1), Optical (in 2) and Coaxial (in 3).
• Connect the power cord when pressing the power button, until the screen shows _ _ _.

Display Instructions

• 100 – Device Name.
• _ _ _ - No signal or sampling rate exceeds the range of the unit.
• In 1 – USB, In 2 – Optical, In 3 – Coaxial.
• 44/48/96/192 – Input digital signal sampling rate.

LED indicator

• Red – Standby.
• Blue – DSD.
• No Light – PCM.

For More Product Information - Here
Buying Link - Here

What’s in the Box?
M100 DAC,
Micro USB Cable,
High Res sticker,
Warranty card/ User Manual.

Driver
Windows 10 users have to install the driver first to use this device and can feed data to M100 by USB or Optical. To hook up with Android devices first, you have to attach micro USB power cable in the power only port from any 5V 1 amp adapter then proper OTG cable from your Android device to M100’s (Power+ DATA) port. To use the Optical/ Coaxial connection, a separate power source is required and power (5 V 1 Amp) can be provided in any of those two micro USB ports.

Driver link – Here

Tested Sources – Windows 10 PC, Poco F1, Oneplus 6T.
Tested AMP – XRK Class A, Topping NX3S, Magni 3.
Tested Gears – Audio Technica M50x, Sennheiser HD58X, Anew U1, Fearless Audio Crystal Pearl, Fiio Fh5, HE 150 Pro Earbud.
Tested Cables – Audio Quest Pearl RCA cable, AudioQuest Pearl Optical Cable and Lavri silver USB cable.

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
Presentation is simple, M100 comes inside a 170 X 80 X 80 mm (W X L X H) small paper box. The device, USB cable & manual have been packed inside neatly. Everything has been packed securely using good quality foam inside too. SMSL branding and actual device images on top of the box with highlighted features.

Outer design and build quality are exceptionally good. The entire M series product from SMSL shares a new fresh design which is very eye-catching. Even you can choose your favorite color between blue and black. Anodized aluminum housing and matt finish on it feel really good and the size of M100 is so small that anyone can carry it in his pocket. Front of the device a piece of glass has been applied which looks good but also a fingerprint magnet. Sampling rate display is under that glass and multifunction (On/Stand by, Input mode selection) switch has been placed this side. All input and output connectors have been placed back of the device, good to see that all the connectors are gold plated. M100 is relatively heavy for such a budget DAC, even my Modi 3 is lighter than it. Good thing is that weight and four good quality rubber bumps are helping M100 to hold its ground firmly.

Whenever I receive a budget device, my first concern is its internals. Manufacturers usually compromise with cheap electronics components to cut down the price further. So I have also started to open the device removing the 4 screws backside but sadly the internal PCBs can’t be fully removed without removing the front glass panel which I don’t want to open and destroy. But the purpose of opening M100 is solved now without opening it fully. I am surprised to see the quality parts used in this small device. PCB is completely clean and no extra flux is there, even each and every resistor is very high in quality. PCB and parts completely matching the images SMSL put in their product page. One more thing I would like to point out that the topology of the PCB, two separate PCB has been used inside M100 instead of a single one. One for power management and another one for audio signal decoding. Both the PCBs are connected with each other using header pins and a good amount of space is also there between them. This type of design is very helpful to reduce electrical and RFI noise inside the DAC. So overall M100 not only looks good but well build and has been designed too.

Input power, Output power, and Noise
Input power draw is very low while playing music, M100 draws only 250 - 300 milliamp current from a 5v source and in its standby mode current draw is 10-20 milliamp. That’s why M100 can be used with any OTG enable portable powered device too. The output power of M100 is 2 Vrms, which is a very good figure for a budget DAC, especially when using a DAC with power speakers. M100’s audio output is very clean and no noise at all. Supplying Data and Power from a single micro USB port is not advised, to achieve the lowest noise. From my experience, M100 with Optical input for data and separate micro USB for power is best.

Sound
Judging the sound of a DAC is quite tough; the overall sound largely depends on the AMP you paring with that DAC. In this review, I am using M100’s direct RCA outputs (RCA to 3.5 female) and RCA to AMP, both connections so that I can easily evaluate the actual sonic characteristics of M100. Sonically M100 is almost balanced with a little lean towards high frequency.

Lower frequency part of M100 is not overpowered. Bass is punchy and can reach deep; the transition is fast and accurate. The emphasis is more on the sub-bass area than mid-bass. Quality of lower frequency part is good with sufficient quantity. M100 is capable of rendering a good amount of energy, rumble, and texture in the lower frequency part.

The midrange is natural and transparent, no such boost or drop is there. Mid-range is well extended and no harshness is there. A good amount of details can be noticed in this area too. Male and female vocals are crisp energetic. For some users, M100’s midrange could feel like a bit softer side but with a proper external AMP, this softness is hardly noticeable.

Higher frequency part where M100 has drawn my attention with its well controlled and spacious presentation. M100’s higher frequency part is well extended and no such sudden peak is there. Treble part is airy and not fatigue for long listening sessions. The presence of brilliance and sparkle also can be noticed. Personally, I am very much satisfied with M100’s treble extension.

The added soundstage is also very good. The stage is wide and both depth and height relatively prominent. Instrument separation is also clean and good. The detail retrieval of M100 is surprising for its price. M100 has maintained the overall tonal balance over the spectrum and qualifies itself the major aspects of an ideal DAC. Due to this tonal balance when paired with an external AMP, it’s very much easy to create synergy as per users taste.

Comparison

M100 vs Schiit Modi 3 – Among the budget DAC users Schiit is a well-known name, their DAC/AMP lineup is extended from 99$ to 2500$. In 2019 Schiit launched their third Modi upgrade, Modi 3. Equipped with AK4490 and 5V input, Modi 3 has become a choice of budget audiophiles. Though the official price of Modi 3 is 99$ in the USA, in the outer part of the world it’s around 149$. M100 is marked as 99$ DAC but most of the time it's being sold around 80$ which is way cheaper than Modi 3. Physically Modi 3 and M100 are different, M100 has a smaller footprint than Modi 3. But all inputs and output connectors are the same. The only added benefit of M100 has is its power button, which is very handy when the device is not in use. Modi 3 using next-gen DAC chips AK4490 where M100 is using AK4452 but sonically they are quite identical. After a long side by side testing, I can say Modi 3 is warmer than M100. Mids in Modi 3 a bit recessed but the thing Modi 3 offers over M100 is some extra weight and mass. Modi 3 also sounds a bit fuller. Other than these minor characteristics it's really impossible to choose any of these two a clear winner.

Conclusion
SMSL M100 ticks each and every box to be a perfect budget entry level DAC. The new monolithic design approach and detailed sound are sufficient for it's offered price. Overall M100 is cute, good sounding and affordable.

Introduction
My first contact with Moonbuds happened on last February by their flagship ‘Heron’ Earbud. No doubt it was a splendid experience for me. Personally, I am an Earbud lover because of Earbuds always helpful either I am walking on the streets or working inside the cubicle. IEMS and Headphones have their own space and time in my daily music journey but Earbuds are an all-time companion. Recently Moonbuds launched few new Earbud models like Kingslayer & Super Nightingale and I would like to thanks Moon Harvester for sending me a unit of Kingslayer to review this time.

Specification
Driver - 15.38 MM (Made in JAPAN),
Impedance - 32Ω,
Frequency Response – 19 Hz to 21 kHz,
Sound pressure level: 98.5db 0.18v 1 kHz,
Wire - Beautiful hand braided wire,
Cable Length: 1m,
Plug: 3.5mm Gold plated.

Buying Link – Contact manufacturer through his Facebook page. Here

What’s inside the Box
Moonbuds Kingslayer Earbud,
Lots of foam tips,
Leather cable organizer,
1 Durable Leather Carry case.

Source
Moonbuds Kingslayer is relatively easy to drive and most of the devices can run it easily. I have used my Fiio Q5, Dethonray Dtr1 Prelude, Modi 3 + Topping NX3s and iPhone SE to evaluate Kingslayer. 50 Hours of Burn-in has been done before starting any serious listening.

Tracks/ Albums used for this Review
‘I Can't Stand Still’ - Don Henley,
‘Hotel California’ – Eagles,
‘The Very Best Of The Eagles’ – Eagles,
‘The Best Of Me’ - Bryan Adams,
‘Acoustic Live’ - Nils Lofgren,
‘The Singles (Expanded)’ - Phil Collins,
‘At Last!’ - Etta James,
‘FRIENDS’ - Marshmello, Anne-Marie,
‘Paradise ‘ – Coldplay,
‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ - Sam Cooke,
‘Long As I Can See The Light’ - Creedence Clearwater Revival,
'Calling All My Lovelies’ - Bruno Mars.

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
Presentation is simple but premium. Hand-crafted Earbud with mx500 shell, beautifully braided cable, a leather cable organizer and a bunch of colorful foam pads have been packed inside a personalized leather carry case. Mx500 shell is the most common shell in the market and fits most of the ears perfectly. The most prominent and attractive design element in Moonbuds earbud is its selection of cables. Each and every cable is unique and beautiful but last time my main concern was with Heron’s cable, as it was a bit softer side but this time Moonbuds improved the cable quality too. The improvement also can be noticed on the chin slider and 3.5 mm plug. Overall Moonbuds Kingslayer can be sub 100$ Earbud but comes with better build quality than its predecessors.

Sound
Burn-in may be controversial or questionable for some users but personally, I have seen major improvements after the burn-in period, especially in Earbuds. After 50 hours of burn-in improvement in Mids can be noticed in Kingslayer too. So after burn-in, Kingslayer is now almost a balanced sounding Earbud. Now let’s talk segment wise, how actually Kingslayer is performing.

Bass
Bass is tight and punchy with good textures. Both quality and quantity are sufficient. Emphasis on the mid-bass region than sub-bass and so rumble is minimum, no such sudden boost in 100 to 250 Hz range hence its less boomy. Speed is fast and accurate. Listening to the song ‘Calling All My Lovelies’ by Bruno Mars on Kingslayer was quite surprising, the attack and speed are impressive.

Mids
Mids in Kingslayer is transparent and almost natural. Out of the box, the mid-range is recessed a bit but after burn-in now this sense of recession almost vanished. Upper Mid has been forwarded slightly than lower Mids resulting female vocals sounding sharper than male vocals. Vocals are crisp, energetic and less colored. The song ‘Talking to the moon ‘ by Don Henly on Kingslayer was smooth where the song like ‘ My Dearest Darling’ by Etta James was crisp and full of energy.

Treble
Upper frequency is well extended, some emphasis is also there but no sibilance of fatigue while listening for long sessions. Lower frequency part is quite consistent and no sudden peak is there still the treble part is a bit dry. Well mastered tracks sounding very good while poorly recorded tracks suffer too much. For those who appreciate shimmer in upper frequency part would appreciate Kingslayer for sure.

Soundstage & Imaging
Soundstage in Kingslayer is wide and Spacious, but Lack of depth and height is also present. Kingslayer is capable of producing moderate space between voice and Instruments. Instrument separation is good and performed well with busy songs like ‘Victim of Love’ by Eagles. Micro detail retrieval is also excellent.

Comparison

Moonbuds Kingslayer Vs ISN Audio Rambo – Rambo is priced around 65$ and cheaper than Kingslayer. Soundwise they are not similar at all. Rambo is more focused on vocals where kingslayer is an all-rounder. The lushness of Mids and sparkle of the treble of Rambo is missing in Kingslayer but Kingslayer is a clear winner when Bass is a concern. The soundstage is also better in Kingslayer.

Conclusion
Moonbuds Earbuds are always an excellent example of craftsmanship with good sound. With Kingslayer, Moonbuds managed to bring such a high level of craftsmanship even under 100$ price point. Soundwise, Kingslayer tuned such a way that anyone can enjoy it with his playlist.

Introduction
Shenzhen Paiaudio Electronics Co.Ltd in short Paiaudio form Shenzhen is a manufacturer of high end audio products. They have variety of products (Earbuds, single dynamic driver IEMs, fully BA IEMs and hybrid IEMs) from 20$ to 300$ and today for review I have got their DR2 model. I would like to thank Penon Audio for sending me a unit for review. DR2 is the successor of DR1, and it is a single Dynamic Driver IEM.

Specification
Housing - Resin shell,
Driver – 12mm Dynamic driver,
Sensitivity - 120dB,
Impedance - 32Ω,
Frequency Response Range - 10-20 kHz,
Connector – MMCX,
Plugs - 3.5mm line type,
Cable Length - 1.2m.

Buying Link - Here

What’s inside the Box?
DR2 earphone,
3 pairs of Silicone ear tips (S/M/L),
Shirt Clip.

It’s just an 85mm x 85mm x 50mm (W x L x H) transparent acrylic box and everything packed well inside. IEM secured using a piece of black foam and the cable is placed beneath it. You can adore the beauty of DR2 even without unboxing it. Branding done on small piece of paper with specifications, placed inside the box but sadly No carry case included, so I am going to use this box as a carry box while travelling. Tips and shirt clip placed in a separate plastic pouch inside the box. Overall unboxing experience is simple yet interesting.

Build & Design
DR2 is completely a handmade product yet very well made. Not sure but it seems DR2 is made out of medical grade resin. The surface is smooth and no sharp edges are there even any visible scratch or bubble not present on this resin shell. The brass nozzle has been fixed with the resin shell very carefully and wax guard mesh has been applied in front of that nozzles. Gold plated MMCX connectors also embedded with the shell quite nicely. You can see the large golden dynamic driver, small cables, and sound tube even from outside of the shell due to its translucent resin shell. Right and Left earpiece marked with red and blue color on the face plate. A small hole near MMCX connector maintaining the air pressure inside the IEM otherwise DR2 is completely seal and no visible joints are there. So overall solid and good build quality.

Cable quality is decent, 4 cores nicely woven till Y splitter. It is a detachable MMCX cable with L type 3.5 mm plug, soft and no sign of microphonics. A small chin slider and memory foam used for ease of usage. MMCX connectors goes inside the IEM shell a bit for better fit but noticed some movement yet no drop in sound .

Source, Comfort, Noise Isolation & Tip Selection
DR2 is only 32Ω and very easy to drive , worked fine with almost all of my sources like Iphone SE, Cayin N3, Fiio Q1 Mk2, Fiio Q5 & Audioquest Dragonfly . DR2 sounds best with bright source because of its sound characteristics, which I will discuss soon.
Comfort and noise isolation is too good, DR2 not only looks like a CIEM it also fits like a custom IEM. Supplied tips are good but a pair of double flange tip is must have, which is not there. I have used an aftermarket soft, medium bore sized double flange tip for improved sound. Before any serious listening I left DR2 for 50 hours of burn in.

Tracks / Albums Listened –
Coldplay - A Head Full Of Dreams,
Eagles - The Very Best Of The Eagles,
Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Tidal MQA),
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992),
Etta James - At Last! ,
Michael Jackson – Scream,
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version),
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour,
Legends- Elton John,
Michael McDonald - Wide Open,
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories,
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours,
Sting - The Best of 25 Years.

Sound
There is no doubt that the sound signature of DR2 is ‘v’ shaped, but it’s not that conventional ‘V’ shape tuning we acquainted with, especially the higher frequency part is not well extended to be a proper ‘V’ shaped sound. Let’s explain further.

Bass – DR2 designed keeping bass on top priority. Sub-bass section is the cream in terms of quantity and quality. The bass is impactful and goes deep without making it overpowering. Speed is fast, accurate and noticeable rumble is in sub-bass area. Song like ‘Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk sounds very enjoyable and every hit on drum is clear and punchy. A warm player with DR2 is not suitable as it’s already good in bass section. Pair of double flange tip and a SPC cable can bring more texture in Mid-bass area too.

Mids – Mids where DR2 suffers most, especially in lower mid range. Some bass bleed can be noticed in this area, rest mid range especially upper mid range is a bit forwarded than lower Mids. Male vocals are thin and muffled, female vocals are though sounding better. Song like ‘Are You Ready for Love ‘by Elton John lacks the texture where ‘House On Fire’ by Sia, sounding acceptable. I know the Mids of DR2 is not overwhelming but personally I am not expecting such mature Mids from a ‘v’ shaped sounding IEM.

Treble - Higher frequency part is not that well extended, it’s smooth and no harshness or sibilance at all. The quality is good but quantity is less. Don’t think DR2 is treble shy, for treble sensitive people it’s enough. With a third party SPC cable DR2 can even manages to overcome the shimmer slightly. Song like ‘Riding with the King’ by B. B. King and Eric Clapton with DR2 may feels less energetic first but it turns out, it’s actually less fatigue with the entire album.

Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage is quite good for such a budget IEM, instrument separation is also very good. Separation of vocals and instruments are clear, DR2 is doing great with complex songs too. In songs like ‘I Don’t Want to Know’ by Fleetwood Mac the 3D holographic stage is present.

ComparisonVs Fiio Fh1
Fiio FH1 priced around 75 $ and Dr2 is selling for 50$, now FH1 comes with lots of accessories which DR2 doesn’t provide, except that DR2 sound a bit better than FH1. Fit and noise isolation is also better with DR2. DR2 looks modern and stylish. Sonically Bass is boomy in FH1 where in DR2 is punchy, Mids are almost same in FH1 and DR2. In Treble section FH1 a step ahead. FH1 with balanced cable sound a bit better too.

Conclusion
From the perspective of design and fit, Pai audio DR2 is remarkable. It’s clear that DR2 is tuned for bass lovers; but it can please non-bass lovers too with natural Mids and 3D soundstage.

Introduction
Thanos sacrificed Gamora for Soul stone, we sacrificed Headphone jack for the sake of slim flagship smart phones with type C port. Now what’s next? The obvious answer is wireless audio. So throw away all your existing IEMs, headphones or get an inexpensive and average sounding USB C to 3.5mm DAC+AMP. Now a newbie may ask what the heck a DAC,AMP is? So in short a DAC is responsible for converting your digital music data into analog signal and an AMP boost that analog signal so that your headphone, earphone can run. A DAC,AMP combo can be priced 1$ or even more than 1000$ and you may surprised to know that those free type C to 3.5mm dongles provided by Oneplus, Huawei, Apple (lightning to 3.5 mm- not free any more) are actually cheap USB DAC+ AMPs. Now someone can spend thousands of dollars for a portable great sounding DAC,AMP combo to enjoy his music on the go, but most of casual users may end up with using such free cheap horrible sounding type C to 3.mm adapters. Following this trend of type C audio, few really good & inexpensive after market DAC dongles are also available right now, today for review I got DD TC 35 and after using it one thing I can say it’s one of the best among such type C dongle DACs.

Disclaimer - This unit is provided to me free of cost by the manufacturer for this review, other than that i haven't received any compensation for this review.

Specifications
Model Number - TC35,
Structure – Aluminum,
OTG Plugs – Type C USB 2.0,
Analog Output – 3.5 mm (CTIA Compatible),
Cable – 105 Core 7N Single crystal Silver plated OCC Litz cable,
USB Protocol – UAC1.0/ 2.0/ 3.0,
MAX Decoding – 192 KHZ/24 bit,
SNR – 114 dB with -98dB distortion,
Compatibility – Windows, Mac OS, Android, IOS (I pad pro with Type C).

What’s in the Box
TC35 Type C DAC dongle,
USB A (3.0) to type C converter, Warranty card.

Window Driver - Here
Apple OS doesn't need a driver. Windows 10 users first need to disable driver signature before installing this driver. If you use FiiO Player or FiiO Music APP you need to first find the USB output in the settings of APP and then turn this function off.

Tested Sources – Windows 10 PC, Poco F1, Oneplus 6T.
Tested Gears – Anew U1, LZ Z04A, Fiio Fh5, HE 150 Pro Earbud, Audio Technica M50x, Sennheiser HD58X.
Tested Apps - Foobar (PC), Fiio music App, Hiby music App (Android).

Buying Link - Here

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
Presentation is simple; TC 35 comes in a small brown recycled paper box. Inside that outer box the device is placed in a slim plastic box with a USB type A to C converter. Design and build quality is very good. Silver color plugs and matched Silver plated OCC Litz cable complementing each other very well. 7N SCP Litz cable is strong and carefully woven; the connectors are wrapped in a thick aluminum shell to avoid any radio frequency interference. So over all presentation, design and build quality is exceptional for offered price.

Output power and Noise
Output power of TC 35 is not mentioned anywhere by the manufacturer. After my detailed test I can say it should be around 100 mw at 32Ω which is enough for most of headphones and very good for such a small device. Surprisingly even with sensitive IEMs no background noise is there.

Sound
Judging the sound of a DAC + AMP is quite tough; the overall sound largely depends on the IEM/Headphone or Earbud you paring with your DAC. For this review I am using few of my favorite and frequently used IEMS and headphones so that I can easily evaluate the actual sonic characteristics of TC 35. Sonically TC 35 is almost neutral with a little lean towards high frequency.

Bass
Lower frequency part in TC 35 is not overpowered, bass is punchy and quick. The harmony between sub-bass and mid bass is totally mind-blowing. Bass is fast, accurate and the decay is just perfect. Both in terms of quantity and quality, TC 35 is capable of rendering good amount of energy in tracks.

Mids
It’s hard to believe that a 100$ DAC (Fiio Q1 mk2) sounding dull and muddy in comparison with a 20$ DAC but it’s true, the possible reason is missing details and texture in the Midrange but TC 35 is exceptionally good when delivering such detailed and textured Mids. Midrange is natural and transparent, Upper mid range is well extended and no harshness is there. Male and female vocals are crisp and full of energy.

Treble
Higher frequency part is well extended but no such harshness is there. Treble part is airy and non fatigue for long listening sessions. With dynamic driver IEMs/Headphones treble is sparkling but with B.A driver IEMs treble is a bit dry.

Soundstage/ Instrument Separation
Added soundstage is also very good. Depth is not that much but relatively wide. Instrument separation is good and can handle complex tracks too. Frankly speaking for just 20$, TC 35 is performing way higher than its price.

Comparison
Venture Electronics Odyssey – Odyssey is available for only 10 $ from VE clan store but the primary drawback of it is, lack of 24 bit decoding. Odyssey is limited to only 16 bit decoding and No ASIO support is there. It’s powerful than TC35 but sound wise inferior. Odyssey feels congested and the lack of micro details can easily noticeable. Where Odyssey is bassy, TC 35 is almost neutral.

Tempotec Sonata HD/ Hidizs Sonata HD II – Tempotec Sonata Hd is around 30$ and at least a decent sounding DAC for its price but TC 35 is still
better. The main advantage TC 35 has is its extended higher frequency part and low noise floor. Even with sensitive IEMS no noticeable noise is present in TC 35 and that airy treble area is just beautiful which is missing in Sonata HD.

Conclusion
TC 35 is an audio gear that exceeds its value by its performance. From design to build no one can complaint about anything. Sonically it’s hard to believe that TC35 sound better than some 100 $ DACS. Whatever you pair, it sounds just too good. So a big thumbs up from me, great job DD Electronics.

Introduction
Effect Audio doesn’t need any introduction in our hi-fi community; they are one of the leaders of premium hi-fi cables right now. IEM brands like EmpireEars, VISION EARS & Jomo Audio also including Effect Audio cables with their premium in ear monitors. Quality is the top priority in any Effect Audio products and you also have to spend premium for their products. This time Effect Audio came up with something interesting for beginners or budget audiophiles. Effect Audio launched a trade up program at Canjam NYC this year and later in February for their dealer over the globe. I am fortunate enough that Effect Audio’s Indian dealer Headphonezone conducted same program for us and after waiting for almost 30 days got my Origin in exchange of a old stock cable for only 50$, which is unbelievable.

Specifications
Connector – 2 pin or MMCX,
Termination – 2.5mm or 3.5mm,
28 AWG,
UPOCC Silver Plated Copper,
Multi Stranded Litz,
EA Ultra-Flexi Insulation,
Customized EA Plugs,
Weight – 22 grams approx.

IEMs used with Origin in this review
Ibasso it04, Campfire Audio Andromeda, Fiio FH5 and Anew U1.

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
Origin cable comes inside a 16mm x 22mm brown zip locked Kraft pouch and specifications also printed back of that pouch. Origin is a hand braided, machine terminated 4 wire cable. Litz wire quality is very good and braiding is just perfect. Gold plated 3.5mm Plug and MMCX connectors are also very high in quality. Good to see that chin slider, Y splitter and 3.5 mm plugs are not that bulky. Ear hook part is also very soft. Overall the quality is very good for such an inexpensive product.

Sound
Hi-fi cables and their effects over stock cable is a controversial topic. Personally I can hear those minor improvements but few of us can’t, so keeping aside those controversies here are some sonic improvements I have noticed while using Origin cable withdifferent IEMS.
The first thing I have noticed is a 1 or 2 db gain boost over stock cable from same source and same position of the volume knob. Other than that improvement is there in higher frequency and Mids. Treble part is now much smoother yet sparkling and unwanted harshness is eliminated. Mids are also controlled and sweeter than before, but didn’t notice any such improvement on lower frequency side. A slight increase of sound stage is also noticeable.

Conclusion
Personally didn’t expected that much from Origin when ordering; even the waiting time was too long but after using it, now I want 4/5 Origin for all of my IEMS. Definitely Origin is the perfect entry into the hi-fi cable arena. I would like to see a same single crystal copper Origin version too in future.

Introduction
A cup of basil tea and some favorite BLUES always rejuvenates me after a hectic day in office. I prefer Earbuds more than an IEM or Headphone, when my body is totally exhausted and crying only for the bed. So as of now I have collected more than twenty Earbuds and use them periodically. Today for review I got the ISN Audio Rambo from Penon Aduio and after using it almost a month writing this review. The unit completed almost 100 hours of controversial burn-in and I have used normal thin foam for this review. Dount foams are not suitable with Rambo.



Buying Link – https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-rambo.html

Specification
Driver Size - 14.8mm,
Shell – Yuin,
Frequency - 6-25KHz,
Impedance - 32Ω
Sensitivity -115dB,
Plug Type - 3.5mm/2.5mm.
Cable Length: 1.2m.



What’s inside the Box
Rambo Earbud,
6 pairs of Eartips,
Shirt Clip,
Metal Carabiner Clip Snap Hook Key Ring,
Velcro cable tie,
1 durable Carry case.

Source
Rambo needs good amount of power to shine. As per specification its 32 Ω and sensitivity is -115dB still need powerful sources to open up. I have used my Fiio 1 mk2+ Topping NX3s, Fiio Q5 + Fiio A5, IFI XDSD as sources for this review.

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
The presentation is simple. A 120cm X 75 cm cardboard box and inside that a hard earphone case. Brand name and specifications clearly printed on the box. Earbud and accessories securely packed inside that carry case. Rambo is a Hand crafted Earbud with Yuin shell, beautifully braided silver cable and matching non bulky 3.5 mm jack & Y splitter. We know that Yuin shells are best in terms of fit and comfort. Thankfully ISN Audio has used a good quality Yuin shells here but I am concerned with the cable; it’s a bit softer side and may not last long after daily torture. The chin slider is small and a bit tight. Supplied hard case is very good in quality, so overall ISN Audio managed to maintain quality for their first Earbud.



Sound
Before proceeding to the sound part I want to clear a point i.e. the contradiction of name. Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo (John Rambo) is nothing to do with ISN Audio Rambo but the first impression may go to a buyer that this Earbus is for bass lovers which is actually opposite. Sonically ISN Rambo is a bright sounding Earbud. But there is a catch, ISN Rambo proved how beautiful a bright sounding Earbud can be. Give Rambo at least 100 hours of burn in and let it rock and roll.

Bass
Out of the box Rambo is a bit Bass shy but after burn-in it improved a lot, still quantity is not that much for a bass lover to appreciate. Surprisingly quality of lower frequency is at least good. Bass is tight, punchy and texture is there. Sub-bass region is not that emphasized and also Speed is not that fast and accurate. For example in tracks like ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac and ‘Billie jean’ by M. Jackson you can feel the punch but slower decay also can easily noticed.

Mids
Now things going to change because Midrange is the strongest part of Rambo, midrange is definitely forwarded in Rambo. Upper Mids are more emphasized than lower Mids. Both male and female vocals are crisp, clear and full of texture. Midst are totally transparent, songs like ‘Bennie And The Jets’ by Elton John, ‘Talking To The Moon’ by Don Henley and ‘Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood’ by Nina Simone sounds just natural and mesmerizing.

Treble
Treble is the cream of Rambo. Upper frequency part is well extended, clean, and airy; no noticeable harshness is there. With treble demanding tracks like ‘The chain’ by Fleetwood Mac the sparkle also can be noticed. Both quality and quantity is top notch. Personally didn’t expect such polished treble from Rambo but it managed to impress me.



Soundstage & Imaging
Soundstage is very good in terms of width and depth, even better than some IEMS and headphones I have heard before. Imaging is above the average still managed to bring the imaginary stage with complex tracks.



Conclusion
For 65$ I don’t think there is much to think before buying ISN Audio Rambo, unless you are a die heart bass fan. Sufficient Bass, clear Mids and sparkling Treble if this is your requirement then Rambo is a perfect one. For Jazz, blues, country music Rambo is one of the best Earbud I have heard till now but ‘Romeo’ could be a better name for it.

Introduction
TFZ (The Fragrant Zither), a well known Chinese brand from Shenzhen established in 2015 and manufacturing dazzling audio video equipments for couple of years. Their IEM line up is unique and vibrant and priced even from 30$ to 350$. TFZ King Series, Queen Series, Secret Garden Series, Exclusive Series, these are some well known product line up from TFZ. TFZ also introduced their X1 true wireless IEMS along with BC-02 Bluetooth cable few months ago. This is my first TFZ product and I would like to thank Penon Audio for sending me this review unit. For this review I have not received any kind of compensation from TFZ or Penon Audio. At least 50 hours of Burn-in is given before any serious listening.

Specifications
Driver - Dual-magnetic two-way Graphene driver,
Magnet material - NdFeB N50,
Diaphragm material: Graphene,
Diaphragm diameter - 8.9MM,
Voice coil material - copper clad aluminum wire,
Frequency response range - 5HZ ~ 40000HZ,
Harmonic distortion - 0.5%,
Impedance - 20 ohm,
Sensitivity - 105dB,
Magnetic flux -9000KGS,
Wire - core count 4 * 18 * 0.05 5N oxygen-free copper,
Outer sheathe: high flexibility transparent PVC,
Box Size - 11 cm*6 cm *17 cm (W*D*H).

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/tfz-tequila-1.html

Packaging
Packaging is exactly what you can expect from a premium product. Overall a black and white theme can be noticed. Black Matt finished outer sleeve & entire TFZLUX branding has been done on it using silver ink. Inside the sleeve the IEMS are placed top of a paper mounted foam sheet and protected by a thick clear plastic. Beneath that, everything (Carry case, Cable, User manual) is securely placed inside a foam padded white box. Tips are placed inside the carry case and properly organized. Cable nicely organized using a white piece of Velcro and surprisingly the 3.5 mm plug is also protected by a cover. So packaging has been done with utmost care and feels way premium than its price. Great job TFZ.





What's in the Box?
TFZ TEQUILA 1 (Blue, Fan/Radioactive design),
OFC cable,
3 pairs of Wide bore super soft silicone eartips,
3 pairs of medium bore super soft silicone eartips,
1 pair of white very soft foam eartips,
White water proof Carry case,
Paper works.





Design / Build

IEM – It’s built like a tank and yes I am serious about this comment. Perfectly machined aluminum and smooth Matt finish, with a 3 part design but fixed such a way that it feels a single unit and robust. My unit is bright blue one and the middle copper goldish band on both the shells perfectly matches with cable’s color and design. Tequila 1 is an open back IEM and the faceplate (Leaf/Fan) grilled design adding a unique look to it. A fine mesh is applied inside to save the drivers from dust and dirt but no doubt dirt and moisture going to enter inside if not handled properly. Strangely no such sound leakage is there that we expect from an open back IEM. The nozzle is short but angled properly accordingly in ear alignment. Fat tip lip is there but again no filter mesh has been applied. Those 3 holes on the nozzle look like 3 sound tubes coming from multiple B.A drivers but Tequila 1 doesn’t have any B.A driver inside. A fine mesh is inside the nozzle to keep dust away still handle Tequila 1 with care.



Cable – The cable is just gorgeous. Medium soft and very well built. This 8 core shiny OFC cable is designed by TFZ keeping style, durability, and sound in mind. No it’s not an aftermarket re branded cable; stainless steel 3.5 mm gold plated plug, stainless steel Y spliter, stainless steel chin slider and extra long 2 pin connectors with TFZ branding proves that this cable specially designed by TFZ for TFZ . The Y spliter may feel heavy but the weight is helpful to keep the wire untangled even without a shirt clip. The ear hooks are soft and very comfortable to wear. Be careful while inserting the cable. Cable L, R, logo should match IEM R, L logo, otherwise polarity mismatch would produce distorted sound. Sound wise these cable is doing its job fine so haven’t tried any third party cable while listening.



Case – The Pelican like white waterproof case is extraordinary. Even foam padding is applied inside. The case is a bit small and you have to careful when putting your IEM with cable inside the case.



Tips – Tips are properly organized using paper tip holder. So far this single flange silicone tips are best tips I have ever tired. Very soft and very well made, comfortable and perfectly sits inside the ear canal and giving good noise isolation. Provided foam tips are also very good. For this review I have used mainly those wide bore silicone tips. Changing tips also changing sound a bit and I have discussed those changes in sound analysis part later in this review.

Fit/Comfort
TFZ Tequila is very comfortable to wear, the rounded shells perfectly fits inside your ear. The nozzle is short and tips don’t go too deep in your canal still it manages to fit and give proper sound isolation.

Source
Tequila1 is easy to drive and very efficient, almost performed same and good with each and every source. Tequila 1 maintained a remarkable balance between impedance and sensitivity, very easy to drive and on other hand friendly with noisy sources too. I have used my
DAP – Fiio M3K, Cayin N3, Fiio M7,
DAC AMP combo with PC – Fiio Q1 Mk2+ Topping NX3s stack, Fiio Q1 mk2 stand alone, Audioquest Dragonfly Black, Fiio Q5, Schiit Modi 3+ Fiio A5.
Try to avoid warm sources if possible. Surprisingly My boring Fiio Q1 mk2 created best synergy with Tequila1.

Tracks / Albums Listened –
Adele – 21
Amber Rubarth - Wildflowers in the Graveyard
Eagles - The Very Best Of The Eagles
Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Tidal MQA)
Eric Clapton – Slowhand
Billy Joel - The Stranger (Legacy Edition)
Etta James - At Last!
Pink Floyd - The Best Of Pink Floyd- A Foot In The Door (2011 Remastered Version)
Michael Jackson – Scream & Thriller
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version)
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Legends- Elton John
Michael McDonald - Wide Open
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Sting - The Best of 25 Years

Sound
Graphene drivers, Beryllium drivers, Carbon Nanotube drivers or something else …. Personally this specifications doesn’t matters to me. The ultimate value of a product is its real-time performance in contrast with price. Comfort is another criteria and Tequila1 is comfortable enough for long listening sessions, so now the last and most important part is left to evaluate. Out of the box Tequila1 is a ‘U’ shaped tuned IEM but after 50 hours of burn-in it improved a lot. Graphene drivers may really need proper burn-in to mature or whatever the reason is burn-in must for Tequilla 1.



Bass – Entire lower frequency part is emphasized in Tequila 1 but sub-bass section where Tequila really shines than mid bass. Sub-bass rumble is just mesmerizing. Both quality and quantity wise lower frequency response is awesome. Weight and depth is just perfect; speed is fast & accurate, the texture is also easily noticeable. With medium bore tips sub-bass become a bit blunt so if you want well textured bass stick with wide bore tips. With Foam tips sub bass emphasis is totally suppressed but speed is now super fast. For example songs like ‘The Long Run’ by Eagles, ‘Another Brick in the Wall ’ by Pink Floyd, ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson and ‘Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk ,Tequila 1 sounded almost perfect without compromising a single hit of drum sticks. So full marks for Bass.

Mids – Out of the box Mids are slightly recessed but after almost 20 hours of burn-in things started changing and after 50 hours of usages Tequila 1 completely recovered that relaxed Midrange. Now lower Midrange is totally transparent and natural. Upper Midrange improved a lot and even a bit forward then lower Midrange. Female vocals are much crisper than male vocals now. Same thing happened with my Ibasso It01, after burn in Midrange is now even sweeter and quite natural. Good news is no bass bleed noticed in Tequila 1. Songs like ‘Set Fire To The Rain’ by Adele and ‘Are You Ready For love? – Maxi ’ by Elton John sounding just perfect, personally not expected that much from a bass heavy IEM, but Tequila 1 performed very well. BTW with foam tips Mids are more prominent than before.

Treble – Both lower and higher frequency boost is present in Tequila1. Higher frequency part is well extended and no random spike noticed. Trebles are airy and sparkling. Even a touch of harshness is not there. With capable sources Tequila 1 can bring those rich controlled trebles. In the opening of the song ‘You Make Loving Fun ‘by Fleetwood Mac I can easily count those 3 strokes on Cymbal. If you want to experience those sparkles I strongly suggest ‘Key to the Highway’ by B.B. King and Eric Clapton, and with my Topping NX3s those sparkles are mind blowing.

Soundstage & Imaging – Soundstage of Tequila 1 is wide and has good depth but lacks height a bit. Good amount of space is there. With warm sources sometime it feels overdone. Imaging is also very good, instruments can be clearly identified. In busy and complex tracks the space between voice and instruments can be noticed easily. For example the song ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’ by MJ, the imaginary stage is just phenomenal.



Comparison

Ibasso IT01 Vs Tequila 1 – Tequila 1 has more sub bass than IT01; Midrange is also more forwarded than It01, better built quality than It01 too. IT01 is light weight and fits better in ear. Sonically Tequila 1 has better resolution and better soundstage than IT01. Imaging is better in IT01 though.

Tequilla1 Vs Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 – Tequila 1 offers better sound and design than Kylin. Bass is boomy in Kylin but Tequila 1 managed to output bass in more controlled way. Midrange is also way better than kylin. Vocals are more forwarded in Tequila1. Treble is extended in Kylin but lacks the sparkle where Tequila’s treble part is sparkling. Tequila 1 is much more fatigue free than Kylin even soundstage is better in Tequila 1.

Tequila1 Vs Fiio Fh5 – Built and design wise both FH5 and Tequila 1 is unique and beautiful. Fh5 offers better ergonomics design than Tequila 1. Sound wise they are totally different. Fh5 is darker in tonality, good but slow sub bass. Tequila 1‘s sub-bass performance is tight, fast and accurate. Midrange is sweet spot in Fh5 but Tequila 1 managed to perform acceptable too. In treble part Fh 5 is relaxed but in Tequila 1 it’s more energetic.

Conclusion
TFZ Tequila1 is a complete package,Good design, great built, fun sounding, and with complete supplied accessories, you don’t have to think twice for aftermarket tips, cables and carry case for Tequila1. Tequila1 is not for any specific genre of music, it’s designed to be a part of your playlist. Whatever you play Tequila1 would left you with a musical hangover.

Introduction
The real name of Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 is Batman earphone, right? No just kidding (Whizzer logo really looks like Batman’s logo). Kylin name is enough than A-HE03 for me. Before Kylin I have heard about their A-15 model but was not fortunate enough to try. Now whatever Whizzer doing one thing is clear that their earphones are at least very beautiful and well built. From box to packaging and from cable to earphone shell everything is crafted very carefully and feel premium in hand.

Disclaimer – This unit is a loaner one from my fellow audiophile and for this review I have not received any kind of compensation from Whizzer or from any seller and doing it only out of curiosity. More than 50 hours of burn-in is given before starting any critical listening.

Specifications
Model - A-HE03,
Material - Aluminum magnesium alloy,
Driver - 10.0mm Beryllium Dynamic driver + Knowles 2BA,
Sensitivity - 98 dB SPL/mW,
Impedance - 28 Ω,
Frequency response range - 12Hz-40 KHz,
Connector - 2Pin,
Plug - 3.5mm L type,
Cable - 120 cm 5N OFC+SPC 120mm braided line,
Outer packing size - 160X140X80(mm).

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/whizzer-a-he03.html


Packaging
My audiophile friend didn’t send me the outer box, tips & carry case so no pictures are attached of these in this review. Still after seeing other reviews and YouTube unboxing videos I can say packaging is premium and presentation is really good especially the leather carry case.

What's in the Box?
Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 (Silver dark Blue/ Gray),
0.78mm 2-pin 5N OFC+SPC cable,
Leather Case,
3 Pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M & L),
2 Pairs of Foam ear tips,
Warranty and User Manual.



Tips – As I have said earlier, it is a loaner unit and didn’t received the stock tips. So opened my mighty Eartip collection box and picked up similar looking wide bore silicone and foam tips for this review. Tips always play an important role to create the overall sound output and same thing happened with Kylin, narrow bore tips changed its sound a bit. I have described the tip rolling effects in sound analysis part later.

Cable – The cable is just beautiful. Whizzer maintained that gray and gold color scheme from plug to end 2 pin connector and its giving the cable a premium look. L shaped 3.5 mm plug ( 5N OFC & SPC written on it), twisted hybrid cable , Kylin branded Y splitter, light weight chin slider & soft ear hook everything is just perfect. The cable is medium soft and not so thick. 0.78 mm 2 pin connectors are used but design is not conventional. You can use a third party 2 pin cable but it’s not going to fit flush with the IEM and that’s why me didn’t tried Kylin with different cables.



Design / Build – Hats off to Whizzer for their fresh design, even reputed brands using clone designs again and again for their new IEMS now a days. All Wizzer products are created with a new concept and fresh design which really demand our appreciation. Kylin is no exception. Unique colors, edgy design, smooth body, brass nozzle & shinny Whizzer logo... wow such a beautiful design. The shell is made out of two parts CNC machined Aluminum-magnesium alloy, its strong and light weight. One thing is unfortunate though, Kylin shells are really small and doesn’t want to fit properly in large ears but once it fits then really comfortable for long listening sessions.

Gear Used – Kylin is easy to drive and I have used,
DAP – Fiio M3K, Cayin N3, Iphone SE.
DAC AMP combo with PC – Fiio Q1 Mk2+ Topping NX3s stack, Audioquest Dragonfly Black, Fiio Q5, Schiit Modi 3+ XRK class a stack.

Tracks / Albums Listened –
Eagles - The Very Best Of The Eagles
Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Tidal MQA)
Etta James - At Last!
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Phil Collins - The Singles (Expanded)
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version)
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Legends- Elton John
Michael McDonald - Wide Open
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Sting - The Best of 25 Years



Sound
Hybrid IEMs are everywhere now, from 20$ to 200$. Manufacturers trying different combinations and different materials/ different B.A units to achive a perfect blend in their products. It’s mentioned by Whizzer that a 10 mm Beryllium Dynamic driver is used for lower frequency part and two Knowles (TWFK-30017-000) drivers for Mids and Highs. I have not used any IEM before that have used Beryllium Dynamic driver, so was a bit curious about its performance but now really didn't get why manufacturers are actually running behind this Beryllium Dynamic driver. Sonically Whizzer is a ‘V’ shaped tuned IEM, still it has some elements to cherish.

Bass – With stock like wide bore tips lower frequency response is more than enough, quantity is way higher than its quality. Mid bass and Sub bass region is way more emphasized but texture is at least there. Quality wise it’s not that great though. The decay is slow but mostly accurate. Try to avoid warm sources like Cayin N3 with Kylin. For example songs like ‘Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk and ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson gave me headphone like bass which is very much enjoyable. Now if you don’t want Bass to spoil all your music you can use a pair of narrow bore tips. I have noticed a small drop in mid bass region with narrow bore tips.

Mids – Midrange is undoubtedly recessed. Upper mid is forwarded than lower mids as a result male vocals sound less energetic. Female vocals are much more clear, lively and natural than male vocals. Kylin managed to reproduce good amount of space and micro details in upper mid range. For example Michael McDonald’s ‘Just Strong Enough’ with Kylin sounding less resolving but songs like ‘Confetti’ by Sia is much more clear .Personally I suggest narrow bore tips again , with narrow bore tips male vocals improved a bit and harshness from female vocals are almost gone.

Treble – Treble is well extended and like we expect from a B.A driver. The higher frequency part is airy and good amount of space can be noticed but no particular spike is there, speed and accuracy is also good. With narrow bore tips Kylin is a bit sibilant. For example songs like ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac, ‘Key to the Highway’ by B.B. King and Eric Clapton sounding ok but still treble part is a bit dry, somehow the sparkling effect is missing.

Soundstage & Imaging – Soundstage it’s moderate, with some tracks feels wide but not super wide. Imaging is very good, every instrument can be identified and Kylin managed to handle complex tracks quite easily.



Tape Mod
Air pressure vents are also important to achieve desired tuning. I have tried blocking these vents and managed to get desired results from different IEMs before. Same thing happen with Kylin too. Two air vents are there in Kylin and here are some combinations that I have tried and the results are –

• Vent near 2 pin connector blocked using tape – Now treble is way lower than before.
• Vent near the nozzle blocked using tape – Now sub bass increased a lot.( Not desired)
• Both vents closed using tape and with narrow bore tips - Now good controlled bass with sparkling treble, mids now even more forward then before and better details too. (My favorite)

Conclusion
Undoubtedly Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 is a very well designed and good looking earphone. Accessories are also very good & beautiful; sonically it’s a safe/decent one too. 159 $ may a bit higher price but still I can recommend it easily. Bass lovers can go for Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 without any hesitation. I would like to give it as a gift to someone who is as beautiful as the earphone itself.

Disclaimer – This DM6 is a loaner unit from my fellow audiophile. For this review I have not received any kind of compensation from BGVP or any seller and doing it only out of curiosity. More than 100 hours of burn-in is given before starting any critical listening.

Introduction
ABCD or BGVP who cares, but good sound for an affordable price is my first concern. May be this concern is in trend and DM6 is out of stock for most of the time. The other reason behind it’s in out of stock mode is its manufacturing process. DM6 is not a conventional IEM like manufactured using injection molding or CNC milled, it’s made out of 3D printed resin and then hand tuned. Personalization of DM6 is pro level. Universal, Custom fit, custom color, Custom face plate, custom tuning anything you want can be done after paying some extra cash. One thing I don't understand why this model named as ‘DM6’? no 'D' doesn't not stands for dynamic drivers and each side has 5 B.A drivers instead of 6.



Specifications
Brand: BGVP,
Model: DM6,
Headphone sound principle: 5 Balanced Armature, Knowles (22955+30017),
Sensitivity: 122dB/mW,
Frequency Response Range: 10-40000Hz,
Impedance: 20Ω,
Distortion :< 0.5%,
Plug diameter: 3.5mm,
Cable length: 125cm,
Plug Type: straight plug,
Waterproof performance: IPX3
Dustproof performance: IP3X.

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/bgvp-dm6.html

Packaging
My audiophile friend didn’t send me the outer box so no pictures are attached of the box in this review. Still after seeing other reviews and YouTube unboxing videos I can say box is ordinary and BGVP saved couple of bucks to maintain low selling price.

What's in the Box?
BGVP DM6 IEMs (Clear/Transparent) in this case,
3 Pairs of silicone eartips (S, M, L) wide bore,
3 Pairs of silicone eartips (S, M, L) narrow bore,
1 Pairs of Memory foam eartips,
Cleaning brush,
Cable (As per your selection)
Paper works.



Tips – BGVP provided lots of tips; still none of them suitable for me. I have used one pair of white super soft after market silicone Eartip. One thing keep in mind wide bore tips are must for DM6 otherwise you are missing lot of things throughout the whole frequency spectrum (different tips behaved differently with DM6 and I described it in sound analysis part later in this review). Isolation is important to get better sound too so use tips according to your ear canal and comfort. But those white soft silicone tips gave me best results so far.

Cable – The cable failed to impress me too. Yes it looks good but sonically a trash. Just stay away from it. I have used ISN Audio S8 and Penon Audio CS 819 for this review. DM6 is not efficient in this sense, it changes according your cable, tip and source selection. DM6 sounded best with ISN Audio S8 and Penon Audio CS819 so far. But I have chosen S8 for its lower price. (How different cables behaved with DM6 descried in sound analysis part).


ISN Audio S8 buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-s8.html

Design / Build – First thing first, it may seem from pictures that the IEM is small; no its not, still it managed to fit in my small ears very well. Design is like a conventional expensive Universal InEar Monitor. Trishell structure and face plate design is applied, face plate is fused with the shell such a way that it seems a single acrylic piece and giving it those IPX dust and waterproof ratings. The smooth rounding edges and CIEM like design is actually very good. They are very comfortable to wear for long time. Dm6 is made out of 3D printing resin but as per my understanding this resin shells are not scratch proof so better handle DM6 carefully or choose colorful options. Two independent sound bores from all BA drivers can be seen clearly from outside. It also can be seen that BGVP used green sound dampeners inside the tube of Knowles BA driver. The total size of the nozzle is a bit medium in diameter and slightly angled. Lip on the nozzle helping holding the tips but filter mesh is missing so clean your DM6 daily after using it. BTW the MMCX plugs are good and easy to plug and unplug.

Gear Used – DM6 is easy to drive but be aware it’s a naughty boy; it changes itself accordingly its source. I have used,
DAP –Hiby R6, Ibasso DX150.
DAC AMP combo with PC – Fiio Q1 Mk2+ Topping NX3s stack, Audioquest Dragonfly Black, Fiio Q5, Schiit Modi 3+ XRK class a stack.
The best pairing (Neutral kind of sound) was Fiio q1 mk2+ Topping NX3s stack and Hiby R6.

Tracks / Albums Listened –
Adele – 21,
Eagles - The Very Best Of The Eagles,
Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Tidal MQA),
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992),
Etta James - At Last!,
Michael Jackson - Scream,
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version),
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour,
Legends- Elton John,
Michael McDonald - Wide Open,
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories,
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours,
Sting - The Best of 25 Years.

Sound
‘Expensive tuning’ … what does it mean? For my limited experience I have experienced most of well known flagship in ear monitors are either neural or close to neutral. Some hype mongers claimed DM6 is even better than Campfire Andromeda and bla bla bla. Frankly speaking DM6 is very good for its offered price and can reproduce that close to neutral tuning with proper tips, cable and source but still way behind from those well known giants. Let’s talk about the sound now.



Bass – With stock cable & narrow bore tips lower frequency response is disappointing, not even enough quantity to please. As soon as you change the cable to a SPC cable and wide bore tips suddenly now DM6 producing sufficient amount of bass with demanding tracks. Now the texture is much more prominent. Quality wise it’s very good now. Sub-bass rumble is not exaggerated and presented in a neutral way. The decay is fast and accurate. Mid bass is more prominent in DM6 than sub-bass. Hiby R6 and Q1mk2 +Topping NX3s stack giving DM6 the proper boost in lower frequency and with such sources DM6 is now a different beast. For example songs like ‘Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk and ‘Dangerous’ by Michael Jackson packed with lower frequency slams and DM6 managed to justify those tracks easily.

Mids – Midrange is undoubtedly recessed a bit with stock cable but after changing cable and tips it’s now much more balanced with other parts of frequency. Upper mid is forwarded than lower mids resulting male vocals sits behind the female vocals but no harshness noticed in female vocals. Vocals are crisp and natural. Dm6 managed to reproduce good amount of space and micro details in mid range. I like full bodied mid range but still prefer DM6’s natural representation. For example Kacey Musgraves’s ‘Golden Hour’ is one of my favorite album and with DM6 its sounding fantastic. Artists like Etta James, B.B. King sounding just amazing now with DM6.

Treble – Treble is the most controversial part of DM6. In early reviews no one told that there are treble spikes present in DM6 but later few users pointed out that. Personally with stock cable I have also noticed those spikes. After changing few cables now I am settled down with ISN Audio S8. ISN Audio H8 also performed well but still treble part is way spicy. With ISN S8 treble is totally controlled and the sparkle is now mind-blowing. The higher frequency part is now airy and good amount of space is there. Speed and accuracy is just fantastic now. It’s like a magic…. The worst part now became the most beautiful feature of DM6. For example songs like ‘Take it Easy’ by Eagles, ‘Key to the Highway’ by B.B. King and Eric Clapton is now something phenomenal and I never experienced them before.

Soundstage & Imaging – Out of box DM6 is not that wide in terms of soundstage, ISN H8 or Penon CS819 added some value to increase soundstage but I have to choose ISN S8 for the treble part. Now soundstage is more and more natural. Imaging other hand very good. Each and every instrument can be clearly identified. Busy tracks handled properly and each and every note is well articulated.



Comparison

FH5 Vs DM6 – Comparing DM6 with Fh5 is like comparing apples with oranges. Fh5 metal shell durable than Dm6 but custom design and colorful options giving DM6 more premium and modern look. Fh5 is heavier than Dm6 and Dm6 is way more comfortable than FH5. Accessory wise Fiio nailed it; you don’t have to search further for proper tips and cable. Sound wise Fh5 is a darker sounding earphone and more focused on Bass. Sub-bass section is rich and textured in fh5 where Dm6’s lower frequency is much more controlled. Mid frequency is forwarded in Fh5 but in Dm6 it’s a bit recessed and with proper tip and cable this problem also can be removed. Higher frequency is where Dm6 is a clear winner. Fh5’s treble section is lacking but in Dm6 it’s sparkling. So those who want a durable bass and midrange focused earphone can try Fh5 but for a balanced taste DM6 performed way better than its price.



Conclusion
Now the final question, is DM6 a giant killer? I would say No but DM6 performing way better than its price. For such a price DM6 can deliver audiophile grade sound with proper cable and tips. I won’t recommend a 100$ cable with Dm6; better use ISN Audio S8, it is perfect for Dm6 and very affordable too. Finally if you like a neural IEM that can justify most of your music Dm6 may be the best one if it’s in stock.

Introduction
Earbuds can’t replace IEMs, yes it’s a bold statement but true, still Earbuds are everywhere from 5$ trap to 300 $ trash. I think choosing an Earbud over IEM depends on convenience. Personally I am also an Earbud fan but prefer using them only when listening in a quite environment. Today for review I got the Moonbuds Heron from one of my audiophile friend and after spending a week writing this review. The unit almost completed 200 hours burn-in and I have used normal thin foam cousin for this review.

Buying Link – Contact manufacturer through his Facebook page Here.

Specifications
Driver : 14.8mm,
Impedance: 32Ω,
SPL: unknown (But not too sensitive),
Wire: Beautiful hand braided SPC wire,
Cable Length: 1m,
Plug: 3.5mm Gold plated

What’s inside the Box
Moonbuds Heron Earbud,
Lots of foam tips,
Leather cable organizer,
1 durable Carry pouch.

Source
Moonbuds Heron is very easy to drive and most of the device can run it easily. I have used my Fiio Q5 and RealMe C1 phone with Heron.

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
The presentation is elegant and simple, hand crafted Earbud with Yuin shell and beautifully braided SPC cable. Yuin shells are best in terms of fit and comfort. Top to bottom the design and built is stylish. But I am concern with the cable; it’s a bit softer side and may not last long after daily torture. Though this issue is not a major one as it’s totally made to order Earbud, and you can request manufacturer to build(Cable) it as per you requirement. The chin slider is beautiful but bulky. Supplied case is also premium in quality. Overall Moonbuds Heron is a premium Earbud indeed.

Sound
Sonically Monnbuds Heron is close to neutral. I am not calling it neutral because, it failed to extend itself in both upper and lower frequency. I would rather call it flat. Good to see that how consistent it’s all over the frequency though Heron was quite engaging to me.

Bass
Bass is tight and punchy, texture is also very good. Quantity is not that much but quality is good. Emphasis on sub-bass region than mid bass and rumble is there. Speed is not that fast but sufficient. Listening the album ‘Daft Punk’ on Heron was quite amazing. The amount of quality bass is sufficient for bass lovers too.

Mids
Mids in Heron is transparent and almost natural. Mids where Heron actually proved why it’s priced more than 100 $. Both male and female vocals are clear and no particular emphasis noticed. The song ‘Moon over Bourbon Street’ on Heron was smooth and lush, for vocals performance only Heron worth its price any day.

Treble
Upper frequency is also well extended and no noticeable emphasis is there. No sibilance at all while listening for long sessions. But with treble demanding tracks the sparkle was missing. The treble is a bit dry. For treble sensitive people Heron could be a best option.

Soundstage & Imaging
Soundstage and imaging in Heron is not widest and it’s expected from a flat sounding Earbud but I would say its normal. Instrument separation is very good and Heron performed well with busy tracks like ‘I don’t want to know’ by Fleetwood Mac.

Conclusion
Price is a factor while considering Moonbuds Earbuds but please consider them as luxury not necessity. It’s like a made to order custom jewelry from a skilled craftsman. Heron performed well and can beat a 250$ IEM sound wise easily. If you really appreciate an Earbud over IEM, just go and grab the Heron and it will blow you away.

Introduction
September16, 2016 Apple announced their iphone 7 without a headphone jack; but why? Because they have the ‘Courage ‘to do so. Wireless innovations knocking our doors and we still thinking about a headphone jack, the immediate answer for a missing headphone jack was Bluetooth headphones/Earphones. We all know the cause /effect theory but one thing to remember, a single cause can give birth many effects or I call them possibilities. One such possibility was ‘portable HI-FI ‘in palm of your hand. Popularity of type ‘C’ port strengthened that possibility and an ‘Ultra portable HI-FI ‘is here branded as Audirect Beam. Beam is the successor of Wistle DAC AMP from Audirect and I would like to thank Penonaudio for providing me a unit for review. In this review I have tried to cast my honest opinion on this ultra portable DAC AMP. One more thing, my review unit was supplied to me before Beam passed the High-Res certification so no high res sticker in my unit. At the time of writing this review Beam already successfully passed the High-Res certification.

Specifications
Output Power
114dB TND+N, 2Vrms into 600 Ohms,
108dB THD+N, 49mW into 32Ohms 1.1Vrms,
Frequency response: 20-30000Hz (-0.15dB),
Distortion: 0.0004%,
S/N ratio: +125dB SNR, +120dB DNR,
Input supports PCM: PCM 16-32bit, 32-384 KHz,
Input supports DSD: DoP64, DoP128, Native DSD64/128/256,
D/A Chip: ES9118 SABRE HiFi SoC,
I.R. <1O,
Amplifier Chips: ES9118,
Input port: USB-C,
Output Port: 3.5mm,
Size (L/W/H):52x14x6mm,
Weight: 12g

Box Content
Beam Dac Amp,
Type-C to type-c cable,
Type-C to lightning cable,
Type-C to USB cable,
Instructions manual.

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/audirect-beam-usb-dac.html

Source
Beam can be used with almost any device (Phone, Tab, PC, and Laptop) available out there. For my testing I have used my Iphone SE, Samsung J7*, Pocophone f1, Windows 10 PC + Foobar and it worked flawlessly. For PC Audirect mentioned, Beam needs a specific driver (Link) but strangely it recognized by my windows 10 Pro PC immediately without any driver. Still I am using the drivers to use its ASIO mode. For mobile phones Beam successfully detected by Hiby Music App and working smoothly.
*To Pair with Samsung J7 (Any other micro USB equipped Phone) I have used Fiio Cl06 cable (Buying Link – here). It is strange that Audirect didn’t supplied the micro USB to type C OTG cable but its working fine in practical situation with a third party cable.

Setup
To use Beam with mobile devices it doesn’t need any further setup, just plug and play. In case of PC/Laptop, you may have to install the mentioned drivers and after completing the installation process, Beam should appear as (hili-DAC (HS)) in your system's sound device list. Best thing is that Beam support Bit Perfect mode and DSD Native. To setup it in Foobar please install the components like (foo dsd asio proxy) and follow the instructions *)
* Foobar – File – Preferences – Output (Select ASIO : foo_dsd_asio from drop down) – ASIO – Double click on foo_dsd_asio and select Bravo HD from drop down or keep the parameters as its showing in the pics and Apply then Ok .


Tracks/ Albums used in this review
Adele – 21
Adele - 25
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kaya (40th Anniversary Edition)
Eagles - Hotel California (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition)
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992)
Don Henley - I Can't Stand Still
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Ed Sheeran - ÷ (Deluxe)
Nina Simone - The Best Of Nina Simone
The Beatles - Abbey Road (Remastered)
Michael McDonald - Wide Open
Michael Jackson - Thriller

IEMs used with Beam in this review
Ibasso it01, BQEYZ KB100, Geek Wold GK3, Fiio FH1.

Presentation, Design & Build Quality & Internals

Audirect Beam's unboxing experience is straight forward. It comes in a 130x145x21 (HxWxD) white book type box. Design is minimalist and you can see the device through the cut out from the front of the box even before unboxing. All the specifications mentioned backside of the box.

Box opens after pulling a magnetic side fold and opens look like a book. Inside box, Beam device is secured in its own cavity and all the accessories, instructions manual in another small box. Everything is secured well inside the boxes. For such a little 55 Cm x 15 cm device the box is a bit big but when spending 99$ you can expect at least a decent size box like that.

Inside the Accessories box there are 3 short cables and an instructions manual.

Audirect Beam is available in four colors now (Grey, Golden, Green, Blue) and I have received the green one. The whole body is made out of two solid piece of Aluminum which also works like a heat distributor while using it for long terms but never noticed any high heating issue with my unit. Sharp edges and overall matt finish paint giving it a stylish and modern look. Front side of the device Audirect Logo, Beam branding, Volume +, Volume –, play/pause, PCM/DSD marking, hole for led lights are there. Back side we can see 4 black screws, warranty void sticker, printed Specs and Id number. Top side USB type c port, bottom side 3.5 mm audio out port and left side single multi function control button is present. Use of type C port is a fantastic idea because type C port is next future. Type C port also allows easy cable swap, high current supply and many future proof connectivity options. All of the 14 cm cable ends are gold plated and the cables are made out of silver plated OFC. So it’s clear that Beam is well designed, solid and stylish. Only missing thing, Beam is not waterproof.

For internal designs it’s only mentioned that Beam is using ESS Sabre ES9118 DAC chip. For better
understanding of that particular DAC chip and its feature you can visit ESS’s website here and there is a disassemble video of Beam in YouTube which is linked here.

Sound
Before proceeding to the sound analysis part here are some points I would like to mention.

• Don’t expect an ultra portable device to sound like a desktop class or bulky battery powered device.
• Measurements and graphs can’t bring the real time experience every time.
• Don't use force volume setting in Tidal app.
• While playing DSD through Foobar you can't control the volume in application.
• Play/ Pause works with only Apps or Windows Player.
• While using volume plus and minus a two step jump is noticed and the volume increase /decrease effect only applies to source. Keep volume 100% in your device and adjust it inside the application.
• There is no background noise or hiss when playing or sitting it idle even with very sensitive IEMS.

Bass
Early ESS SABRE DACs has a tendency towards Neutral kind of sound and Beam is also not an exception. Lower frequency in Beam is not that prominent. Bass is fast accurate but a bit less in quantity though quality is good enough. Bass is punchy and not over powering, sub-bass extension is above the average and enough for a music lover. One thing is clear that bass is not muddy at all and renders good amount of energy in tracks. While listening tracks like ‘Thriller’ or ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson or ‘Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk you can immediately notice that the bass not that high but transition and control is actually very good. I am not a bass head; I like natural sound signature with a touch of warmth, and Beam is quite enjoyable for me. After pairing Beam with BQEYZ KB100 I immediately noticed that the synergy is actually pretty good and fun to listen.

Mids
When Beam first introduced itself, one of my friends from Singapore told me that Beam is good only in its treble region but after using it for more than 3 months myself I can clearly say Mids section in Beam is also very good. Mid range is neutral and transparent, relatively clean and detail retrieval is fantastic. Upper mid range is well extended and no harshness is there. Male and female vocals are crisp. My entire music collection is vocals and Beam managed to put a smile in my face, while listening my favorite tracks. The entire album ‘Wide Open’ by Michael McDonald with Beam sounded very good. Background instruments like acoustic guitars, piano and saxophone sounded crisp and energetic.

Treble
Lower frequency is the strongest part of Beam. You can say it’s the ‘Sabre Glare’ but the glare is not that high in Beam. Treble part is not that forwarded and not fatigue for long listening at all. Treble part is airy and packed with good amount of energy. Both quality and quantity is there and very good for metal and electronics music. When paired with Geek Wold Gk3, the combination just worked like a charm. So if the treble part is bothering you very much then just hook it up with your boring iems and see the results. The entire album ‘Kaya (40th Anniversary Edition)’ by Bob Marley is very much enjoyable with Beam.

Soundstage/ Instrument Separation
Soundstage and instrument separation always depends on paired IEM or headphones. Describing soundstage and instrument separation of a DAC/AMP is a bit difficult because it scales according your headphone and earphone. I have used my old IEMs with all other sources earlier and while using the same earphone with Beam it’s clear that soundstage is not that wider side but capable of maintaining the airy stage, in simple words it’s above average. Instrument separation is actually very good. It performed very well with complex tracks which is unbelievable for such a small device.

Comparison
Comparison between Hidizs Sonta II Dongle DAC & Audioquest Dragonfly Black

The purpose of all this portable DAC AMPs is same but sound wise and function wise they are not so same. Apple started this DONGLE game and eventually tons of dongles available right now. Even few phone manufacturers providing an OEM type C to 3.5 mm dongle with their flagship phones in 2019 and they are just garbage.

For around 30$ Hidizs Sonta II is a decent one. Built quality may be not superb but sonically it’s decent. It can also provide good amount of power and bit perfect decoding. In comparison with Beam, Sontata II can produce deeper bass. But mid section is not that resolving like Beam. Beam is also superior when comparing the detail retrieval capabilities. Function wise it’s nowhere near Beam. No physical control, only type C connector and no sampling indicator. Sonata II is too noisy where Beam is totally silent even with sensitive IEMS. So for 30$ it may be a good device but Audirect Beam is much superior.

I am using my Audioquest Dragonfly Black for almost 1.5 years and it’s really a great portable device. Yes it’s almost 150$ and lacks lots of features that Beam offers still being a 99$ device. Sonically Dragonfly Black is tuned keeping in mind the lower frequencies. Lower frequencies are quite good but a bit slow. Beam’s lower frequency response is much more balanced with good speed. Mid-range in Beam is natural where in Dragonfly Black, it’s thick and lush. Treble section is well extended in Beam where in Dragonfly Black it’s overall controlled. If you want better details from you IEM/Headphones, Beam is a better option. Again in terms of connectivity and support, Beam is way ahead. Dragonfly Black manufactured only for PC/Laptops, using it with IOS and Android devices is painful. Lack of volume control and play pause is also a drawback of Audioquest Dragonfly Black.

Conclusion
For such a small device Audirect Beam packed with tons of useful features. From vast connectivity to superior sound, Beam worth its price and when portability is your top priority Beam is the only option available.

Introduction
‘Easy to start but difficult to conclude’ yes this words are true when I am talking about Earbuds. Every time I get my hands on a new Earbud, it seems it’s my endgame Bud. But as soon as I try a new one the whole game changes immediately. The point is, there is no end of favorite Earbuds and some of them are truly magnificent. This time Penon Audio has sent me the OURART ACG for review and I tried to cast my honest review on this fantastic Earbud. I am doing this review after a burn-in for 100 hours and this bud really need at least 100 hour of burn-in to open up completely.

Specification
Drive unit - 14.2 mm ultra-thin titanium crystal diaphragm dynamic driver
Frequency response range - 20~32000Hz
Sensitivity - 122dB
Impedance - 35 ohm
Distortion - less than 0.5% (1KHz)
Interface - MMCX

What’s inside the Box
Earbud itself,
3.5 mm mmcx cable with Mic,
8 pairs of foam cushion,
Shirt clip.

Buying link - https://penonaudio.com/ourart-acg.html

Source
OURART ACG is a 35 ohms earbud but need plenty of power to shine thanks to its 122db sensitivity, still you can run it easily with your phone at around 80% volume. I have used my RealMe C1, Fiio q1 mk2, Fiio q5 to evaluate OURART ACG.

Tracks/ Albums used
Adele – 21
Adele - 25
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kaya (40th Anniversary Edition)
Eagles - Hotel California (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition)
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992)
Don Henley - I Can't Stand Still
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Ed Sheeran - ÷ (Deluxe)
Nina Simone - The Best Of Nina Simone
The Beatles - Abbey Road (Remastered)

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
Earbuds usually comes in either cheap card board boxes or plastic pouches and its justified because they sometime priced around 5$ to 20$. When spending more than 50$ on any Earbud/IEM you can easily expect a good presentation, design and build quality. OurArt packed everything in two different boxes. Cable, foam cushions and a shirt clip packed in a transparent plastic box where the Earbuds is in a fancy glossy black Jewelry box. Yes Jewelry box, like that comes with your wedding rings. That jewelry type box is holding the buds firmly and not going to move a bit in transit. So in terms of presentation and accessories thumbs up form me, only missing a carry case.
Supplied cable is a Good MMCX cable. I am calling it good because there are really very good things in it. First of all the angular 3.5 mm audio jack like we familiar with Bose earphones , this angular plugs even works better than ‘L’ type in practical situation. While your device in your pocket; this type of angular plug is very helpful. The cable is made out of soft rubber type of material, the silver colored splitter and in line controls buttons really look beautiful on it. In line controls working fine (Single click play/pause, two simultaneous clicks for next, three rapid clicks for previous track, Top and bottom for volume +, - ) on my android phones . Call quality of the microphone is also good. MMCX plugs are also very high in quality, I have tried this cable with my other iems and it worked very well. Just a gentle push and snap, but I am missing the silver/black touch on those plugs. In seller’s product page, it is clearly mentioned that changing cables effect sound signature of ACG and I have noticed same thing and will discuss this later in this review.
Thanks God, no more plastic shell in Earbuds, the build quality is best I have ever seen in any Earbud. OurArt ACG completely made out of metal and machined such a perfect way that not a single mark of imperfection on them. ‘The shape is inspired by the running wheel hub’ yes true it’s like a running wheel design. Front side vents are wide open and you can see through the drivers easily. There are 4 holes back of the bud to normalize air pressure inside the Earbud. OURART branding on the buds are clearly mentioned but no ‘L’ or ‘R’ marking which is sad. I even tried wearing it over the ear like most of the iems and worked very well. So very much satisfied by the design and built.

Sound
Judging the sound of OurArt ACG was interesting. Like my other buds I let it burn-in for 100 hours using 1more Smart Burn-in Android app and started listening. It was my daily driver for past 20 days and wants to share some minor things before jumping into the sound analysis. Firstly most of my Earbuds are made out of EMX500 shell and the face diameter of ACG is smaller than EMX500, as a result I have to put two donut foam tips or wear it over the ear. Those who complain that EMX500 shell is painful for them, I can assure this ACG shell will be helpful for you guys. Second thing is sound leakage, though we all know Earbuds leak sound a bit but ACG sound leakage is higher side. Maybe the wide open vents are responsible for it. Ok let’s see how ACG performed.

Bass
14.2 mm driver is generally pretty large enough to produce good amount of lower frequency but ACG’s ‘ultra-thin titanium crystal diaphragm dynamic driver ‘is not for heavy bass. Don’t think there is no bass at all; instead I can call it light Bassy Earbud. The quantity of Bass is less but quality is actually very good. Bass is fast, accurate. The bass is rather Mid-bass rather than Sub-Bass; therefore it’s much punchier. The rumble is not there still the accuracy impressed me a lot. Both the songs ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac and ‘Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk is quite enjoyable. Sudden jump from a Bassy earbud/iem may feel that ACG is bass shy but after finishing few albums, the punch of bass in ACG proved how mature it is. In addition I have tried to cover the 4 back air vents with tape but no such improvement bass response noticed. Use of a third party hybrid cable improved the bass region a bit so I highly recommend a high quality hybrid cable with OurArt ACG.

Mids
Mid range where ACG nailed it all other Earbuds I have. Mid range is transparent and natural; no coloration at all. Easy to hear and every no note is crisp and well articulated. Male vocals are a bit emphasized than female vocals. I don’t have any measuring equipment but I can say a good amount of Brilliance is there and sometimes it creating a sense of aggressiveness. The speed and precision on vocals are unmatchable in any Earbud I have tried till now. All the songs from Ed Sheeran’s ‘÷’ sounds delicate and live like. Nina Simone’s ‘Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood’ is sounding just perfect, lots of emotion is there. Really enjoyed the song ‘Talking To The Moon’ by Don Henley.

Treble
Upper frequency is well extended. It is clear that OurArt is tuned keeping mids and highs. Treble part is airy and adding enough crispiness when it needed. No Sibilance is there at all. The presence of sparkle is adding a sense of shimmer therefore very tasteful. No noticeable spike noticed while listening. The song ‘ Sun is Shining’ by Bob Marley is one of my favorite and the upper frequency part is enjoyable with only good iems , this time OurArt ACG rendered the song very well .

Soundstage, Imaging & Instrument Separation
Soundstage in Ourart ACG is very very good in terms of width and depth. It is really unbelievable such kind of headphone like soundstage in Earbud. Imaging is also very good and accurate; it performed with busy and complex tracks very well. In the song ‘Oh Daddy’ by Fleetwood Mac on ACG is enough to prove it’s real potential. Instrument separation is also very good.

Comparison
When talking about ACG the oblivious question is going to come, ‘What is the difference between OurArt ACG and OurArt Ti7?’ Actually I can’t answer this question directly because I don’t have the Ti7 unit. These tow buds look really similar and specs are also almost same. In the product page of seller OurArt mentioned a short comparison chart between this two buds, and as the characteristics mentioned by OurArt for ACG is true I believe the comparison should also be legit. So here it is for reference.

Conclusion
In terms of price to performance ratio, OurArt ACG performed way better than its price. Tight bass, natural mids and sparkling treble that’s what I prefer and OurArt ACG just did it for such a trivial price. Wide soundstage and well execution of micro details in a well built Earbud , what else a Earbud lover want ? may be nothing more.

Features
Technology – Hybrid IEM,
Body - CNC Machined Aluminum,
Colors - Black or Grey,
Nozzle size - 5.5mm,
Cable - Removable cable (Behind the ear) type,
Controls -1 button control w/Mic.

Specification
Driver unit - 10mm single dynamic + 6mm single dynamic + 1 Balanced Armature,
Frequency response - 7-40KHZ,
Impedance - 15Ω,
Sensitivity - 105 dB / mW,
Plug - 3.5mm,
Connector - 2pin 0.78mm,
Weight - 25±5g.

What’s inside the Box ?
BQEYZ KB1 earphone itself,
3 pairs of Silicone eartips (Wide Bore) (S/M/L),
User Manual.

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/bqeyz-kb1.html

Tracks/ Albums used to evaluate –
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Ed Sheeran - ÷ (Deluxe)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Fleetwood Mac - Tango In the Night (Deluxe)
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (2011 - Remaster)
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version)
The Beatles - Abbey Road (Remastered)
The Best Of Nina Simone - Nina Simone

Introduction
BQEYZ, yes you heard it right. This time BQEYZ KB1. What is the full form of BQEYZ, may be ‘Best Quality Earphones for Your ….’ Sorry I can do only that far. So its better appreciate their work not their name. I would like to thank Penon Audio for providing me this unit for review. I have tried to give my closest possible honest opinion on it, in this review. ‘Opening the box of a audio gear and giving impression’ sorry I am not that kind of person, may be people call me lazy but music and audio gears is like old wine for me and need good amount of time to evaluate . Before this review I have given KB1 approximately 50 hours of burn-in.

Unboxing
It’s just a 3” X 3.5 “black box and everything packed well inside. BQEYZ branding on front of the box and specifications as well as manufacturer details clearly printed back of the box, so unboxing experience is simple. Good to see minimum paper wastage. No carry case or shirt clip included with the IEM , so I am going to use this tiny black box as a carry box while travelling .

Build & Design
Apple continued using their same iphone 6 design for 3 generations, why? , Because if something is good, it should be continued till better come off. Same as, few BQEYZ earphones share same kind of design but as the design and built is good, I don’t have any complaint against them. KB1 is completely made out of CNC machined Aluminum, yet very light weight. The surface is smooth and no sharp edges are there. No doubt it made to last long. BQEYZ branding and ‘L’, ‘R’ is present in the faceplates for easy identification. My KB1 unit is Black one and non shiny paint on it adding a touch of premium feeling. The half circular design is really great; they can fit in almost every ear. Very comfortable for long listening sessions too. Three air vents in each side maintaining the air pressure inside the IEM and dust grill also applied in front of the wide but short nozzles. No tip lip is there but don’t worry, tips not going to coming out accidentally because the nozzles are wide enough to hold them tight.

Cable quality is good, 4 cores nicely woven till Y splitter. It is a detachable 2 pin 0.78 mm cable with L type 3.5 mm plug, soft and no sign of microphonics. A small chin slider, Velcro cable tie and memory foam used for ease of usage. This time my unit is equipped with a mic cable, and call quality of the mic is decent and all types of in line controls working fine with my phone and DAPs.

Source, Comfort, Noise Isolation & Tip Selection
BQEYZ KB1 is only 15Ω and very easy to drive , worked fine with almost all of my sources like Iphone SE, Hiby R3, Sony NW- A46, Cain N3, Fiio Q1 Mk2 & Audioquest Dragonfly .
Comfort and noise isolation is too good once you choose perfect ear tips for you. Supplied tips are good enough. Surprisingly tip rolling also changing the sound of KB1 and most of the time I have used supplied wide bore tips for this review.

Sound
Driver configuration of KB1 is 2 dynamic drivers and 1 balanced armature. 10 mm dynamic driver is used for low frequency, and 6 mm for mids & BA driver for highs. But whatever they are doing it’s pretty much enjoyable.

Bass
As soon as I started listening, it was clear that Kb1 is a ‘V’ shaped sounding IEM. ‘V’ shape sound signature suggests emphasis in lower frequency and upper frequency. And yes the emphasis on lows can be noticed clearly. The bass is rather mid bass, sub - bass section is also pretty good in terms of quantity and extension. The bass is full bodied and you can feel the rumble easily in your favorite tracks. The whole lower frequency section is tight and punchy. The decay is fast and can go deep. Don’t uses narrow bore tips; it will reduce the bass section which is a sweet spot in KB1. The entire album ‘Daft Punk - Random Access Memories ‘is very much enjoyable with KB1. The song ‘Instant Crush’, with KB1 opens with a great slam and continues to deliver fast and tight bass, which is enough to satisfy any bass lover around.

Mids
Mids have enough clarity but a bit recessed to me. Midrange is crisp but sound extremely natural without any coloration. We all know that in ‘V’ shaped sound signature vocals sits too far but KB1 is an exception here, vocals don't sound too distant like conventional v-shaped iems. For example the track ‘dive’ by Ed Sheeran sound pretty normal, no sense of holding back is there. The good thing is vocals sound extremely natural and refreshing. The song ‘I Put a Spell on You’ by Nina Simone is one of my favorite and with Kb1 I am missing the texture of her voice but still sound much more cleaner and fresh.

Treble
The BA driver model is not mentioned in the box but for sure it is better than those used in KZ earphones. Another thing after trying few other BQEYZ Iems, I am pretty sure they using same BA drivers in all other Iems. With this BA driver BQEYZ played a safe game. Lower frequency is detailed, airy, and well balanced and sibilance nowhere near. Maybe those BA drivers have been chosen carefully to create Iems that suit most of the audience. Die heart treble lovers may miss the sparkle in tracks like ‘Special Kind of Love’ by Fleetwood Mac. Treble is much more relaxed and enough for treble sensitive listeners. This relaxed upper frequency also helps KB1 to be Ideal for hours of listening without any fatigue.

Soundstage, Imaging & Instrument separation
Both soundstage and Imaging is surprising for such an inexpensive IEM. Soundstage is not super wide but wide enough to entertain. Imaging is good and every instrument can be clearly identified within the tracks. The track ‘Here comes the Sun’ from the album Abbey Road, where both guitars and vocals going side by side… you can identify the vocals in your right ear and guitar on left side ear easily. So for such a low price BQEYZ KB1 performed really well without compromising the soundstage, Imaging and instrument separation.

* Snake Oil is real
Cables do improve sonic characters of an Iem and its quite noticeable with KB1 too, I have used an aftermarket 15$ silver cable from Penon audio and results are justifying the extra 15$. With this cables mids improved a lot. So a good after market cable is must for KB1.

Conclusion
Chi-Fi Iems comes and goes but definitely BQEYZ going to hold its ground for long for its superb built quality and enjoyable sound. KB1 deserves those 40$ and in return delivers good amount of sub-bass, natural mids and relaxed trebles. Kb1 is especially ideal for long listening sessions without any fatigue, so thumbs up from me.

Introduction
There are so many good earbuds available now that you really can’t even dare to make a list of them. While searching for a perfect earbud, ShoonTH ESEP-01BL / Explorer L arrived for review and no doubt it’s going to stay in my personal collection in future. I would like to thank Penon Audio for this unit and I have tried to cast my honest impressions on this particular earbud.

Maybe ShoonTH doing earbud for the first time but it seems they are pretty serious about their business because 4 of their products, starting from 27$ to 219$ available now and all of them look like work of professional hands. Let’s discuss what they have managed to bring within 27$. I let ShoonTH Explorer burn-in for 150 hours before any serious listening with donut foam tips.

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/shoonth-esep-01bl.html

Specification
Cell Size / Driver: 15.4mm Dynamic
Frequency Response: 10Hz-22kHz
Impedance: 32Ω
SPL: 110db
Wire: 4N OFC silver-plated
Cable Length: 1.2m
Plug: 3.5mm Gold plated

What’s inside the Box?
ShoonTH ESEP-01BL earbud,
3 pairs of foam tips,
1 Carry pouch.

Source
ShoonTH ESEP-01BL / Explorer L very easy to drive and most of the device can run it easily. I have used my Iphone SE and Fiio M3k to test it most of the times.

Tracks/ Albums used
Adele – 21
Adele - 25
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kaya (40th Anniversary Edition)
Eagles - Hotel California (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition)
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992)
Don Henley - I Can't Stand Still
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Devin Dawson - Dark Horse
Sting - The Best Of 25 Years
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (MQA)

Presentation, Design & Build Quality
Unboxing experience is straightforward, nothing fancy. Everything is packed inside a tiny 3” X 4” brown recycled paper box. Brand name printed on top of the box, bar code on the left side and rest relative specs back of the box. The naming scheme of whole ShoonTh lineup is a bit unusual but at the time of writing this review they changed them with some fancy names so no complaint now. Inside the box; Earbud itself, 3 pair of foam, a carry pouch and a tiny paperwork packed with care using some soft foams.

For 27$ the design is simple and stylish. Surprisingly all of ShoonTh earbuds share of same kind of Shell. Black glossy shell with a silver ascent on top of them, and yes they look quite stylish. ShoonTh marked left and right earbud using their logo printed red and blue instead of ‘R’ and ‘L’ symbol. Cable quality is decent. I am not a big fan of this kind of glossy cable because they create a lot of noise when walking and you can hear those noises inside your earbuds. Overall build quality is decent and should last long.

Sound
As soon as I received this earbud , gave it a try and don’t know the reason I feel disappointed but in case of earbuds I prefer them burn-in first before trying so let it sit with my laptop to burn-in. After a month I discovered that now I am a dull boy because ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ due to heavy work load in my office. To be smart again I started listen this earbud and realized what I missed for couple of weeks. So how it’s sound?

Bass
Being 15.4 mm dynamic drivers, ShoonTh Explorer L should capable of producing good amount of Bass but it seems that the material used in this drivers different from other same sized dynamic drivers available in market. In a single word bass is not overpowering, just right amount of bass. Both quality and quantity of bass is perfect. The amount of sub-bass is above average still you can hear the rumble. Bass is fast and packed with good energy. The entire song ‘24K Magic’ by Bruno Mars with this earbud is fantastic, the energy is there and fun to listen. The opening of the song ‘One of These Nights’ by Eagles the rumble of drums is also there, and you can notice whenever it playing in background. The song ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac and those simultaneous drum hits are prominent and enough for even someone who love extra bass. Surprisingly, this erabud is performing really according to its source. When I paired it with my Topping NX3s the increase of sub-bass is quite noticeable. So you can play with it to create the best synergy according your taste.

Mids
No doubt that ShoonTh Explorer L is tuned keeping Mids in mind. It’s clear that there is no bass bleed in mids and the whole mid range is a bit forward. Upper mids are more focused than lower mids. Vocals are crisp and clear. Female vocals are much more articulated than male vocals. Mids on ShoonTH ESEP-01BL / Explorer L is rich and lush. Tracks like ‘Remedy’ by Adele and ‘When We Were Young’ by Adele sounds very resolving. Every note is crystal clear. ‘Old Love’ by Eric Clapton with ShoonTh Explorer L is a really good experience. So much emotion is there. ‘Running on Faith’ is like never ever so beautiful before in earbuds. The track ‘All on me’ by David Dawson seems much wider and open. Piano in tracks like ‘Talking to the Moon’ by Don Henley is mellow and just wonderful.

Treble
Upper frequency is well extended and no such bump/spike noticed. Treble part is airy and adding enough crispiness when it needed. No Sibilance is there at all. Someone who really like bright sound signature, may miss the sparkle but for most of the people the amount and speed is enough. For example the song ‘ Billie Jean ‘ by Michael Jackson, where from start to end both lower frequency and higher frequency plays an important role , ShoonTh explorer L performed well. Very controlled treble .

Soundstage & Imaging
Soundstage of 01BL is quite good, not super wide but wide enough to maintain the stereo effect. Vocals a bit forward and instruments like just behind the artist. Imaging is actually very good and accurate; it performed with busy and complex tracks very well. In the song ‘I don’t want to Know’ by Fleetwood Mac, the clapping sound in left ear creates the illusion that someone really clapping behind your right ear. Instrument separation is also very good.

Comparison
Willsound Mk1 rev2 vs ShoonTH ESEP-01BL / Explorer L
For almost similar price point of 30$- 35$ , willsound buds are very famous. While comparing ShoonTH 01BL with Mk1 rev 2, 01Bl surprised me by its quantity of sub-bass and speed. Willsound mk1 may have a bit extra sub-bass but its slow where 01Bl is fast and rumble was there. In mids ShoonTH 01BL nailed it; mids a bit laid-back in Willsound Mk1 rev 2. Both treble and soundstage is similar in both this two earbuds, still ShoonTH 01BL performed well with almost all music genres. Instrument separation is also better in ShoonTH 01BL. Fancy braided cable and carry case may attract buyer towards Willsound Mk1 but I strongly recommend ShoonTH 01BL if music is only concern.

Conclusion
For 27 $ ShoonTH ESEP-01BL / Explorer L can be your perfect entry into the Earbud Verse, and it won’t disappoint you. Punchy bass, rich mids and relatively well behaved treble in ShoonTH ESEP-01BL is enough to rock your playlist. If you like vocals then ShoonTH ESEP-01BL is a must have and definitely mids were never ever so good before in earbuds that I have before 01BL.

Introduction

2015 was ‘Age of Ultron ‘and 2018 is definitely the age of chi-Fi. Plenty of cheap & game changing audio products introduced this year. BQEYZ is a new brand but it seems they actually serious about this game and the touch of experience can be seen in their product lineup. Surprisingly a whole product line up available from BQEYZ for music lovers. This time I am fortunate enough and would like to thank BQEYZ and Penon Audio for this KB100 review unit. My unit is Captain America Blue but you can choose the Deadpool Red Black one too.

Specifications

Driver: 2 Dynamic and 1 Balanced Armature
Sensitivity: 105dB
Frequency Response: 7-40,000Hz
Impedance: 15Ω
Material: Aluminum Shell
Connectors: 2-Pin @ 0.78mm
Cable Length: 1.2mm
Plug: 3.5mm Gold plated L type
Weight: 25±5g

Buying Link
Penon Audio
Alliexpress



What’s inside the Box ?

BQEYZ KB100 earphone,
3 pairs of Silicone eartips (S/M/L),
User Guide.

It’s just a 3” X 3.5 “black box and everything packed well inside. BQEYZ branding on front of the box and specifications as well as manufacturer details clearly printed back of the box, so unboxing experience is simple. Good to see minimum paper wastage. No carry case or shirt clip included with the IEM , so I am going to use this tiny black box as a carry box while travelling .

Build & Design

KB100 is completely made out of Aluminum, yet very light weight. The surface is smooth and no sharp edges are there. Mainly two part design, body and face plate. Face plate is flat, rounded and decorated with a silver lining. BQEYZ branding and ‘L’, ‘R’ is present in the face plates. Face plate design is eye catching and proper left, right marking really helpful. The half circular design is really great; they can easily fit in almost any ear. Very comfortable for long listening sessions too. Three air vents in each side maintaining the air pressure inside the IEM and dust grill also applied in front of the wide but short nozzles. No tip lip is there but don’t worry, tips not going to coming out accidentally because the nozzles are wide enough to hold them tight.

Cable quality is good, 4 cores nicely woven till Y splitter. It is a detachable 2 pin 0.78 mm cable with L type 3.5 mm plug, soft and no sign of microphonics. A small chin slider, Velcro cable tie and memory foam used for ease of usage. 2 pin connectors goes inside the IEM shell a bit for better fit but noticed some movement yet no drop in sound . Overall the cable is a durable for everyday use.

Source , Comfort, Noise Isolation & Tip Selection

BQEYZ KB100 is only 15Ω and very easy to drive , worked fine with almost all of my sources like Iphone SE, Hiby R3, Sony NW- A46, Cain N3, Fiio Q1 Mk2 & Audioquest Dragonfly . Please keep in mind that KB100 pairs best with neutral players because of its own sound characteristics, which I will discuss soon.

Comfort and noise isolation is too good once you choose perfect ear tips for you. Supplied tips are not that great. Surprisingly tip rolling also changing the sound of KB100. I have used an aftermarket soft, medium bore sized tip and will discuss the SQ changes according after tip rolling in sound section later. Before any serious listening I left KB100 for 50 hours of burn in.

Sound

Here comes the most important part. The driver configuration of KB100 is unique, 2 dynamic drivers and 1 balanced armature. Those 2 dynamic drivers used for lower frequency and Mids, the balanced armature for upper frequency. But whatever they are doing it’s pretty much enjoyable. Out of the box KB100 is suitable for most of the genres.

Bass -

Kb100 designed keeping bass on top priority. Sub - bass section is pretty good in terms of quantity and extension. The bass is full bodied and you can feel the rumble easily in your favorite tracks. The decay is slow yet can go deep. Mid-bass is clear and punchy. Don’t use narrow bore tips otherwise it will destroy the entire sub-bass section. A warm player with Kb100 is not suitable as it’s already good in bass section. The song ‘Somebody's Watching Me’ by Michael Jackson sounds like a bit slow and sub-bass section less aggressive yet every hit on drum is clear and punchy. Again the opening of the song ‘Chunky’ by Bruno Mars feels like smooth but it is a good approach when most of your playlist full of bass heavy tracks.


Mids -

There is definitely a bump in Mids. Midrange is clean and transparent; every layer is separated and well articulated. Lower Mids not that much emphasized and sounds thicker. Upper Mids a bit forwarded than lower Mids. Male vocal sits behind female ones. Less emotion can be noticed in male vocals; female vocals are not that aggressive though. It’s like an extra 1db gain in female vocals. For example the song ‘Is This Love (Kaya 40 Mix)’ by Bob Marley sounds a bit thicker while the entire album ‘Golden Hour’ by Kacey Musgraves sounds crystal clear and airy. If your entire music library filled with predominate female vocals, you going to love KB100 for sure.

Treble -

The BA driver model is not mentioned in the box but for sure it is better than those used in KZ earphones. No harshness or sibilance at all. For me the amount of treble Kb100 producing is enough. Yet there is a lack of sparkle. Highs are well extended and enough for almost every genre. The overall representation is smoother resulting less fatigue. While pairing with ESS DACs, Kb100 manage to overcome the shimmer one may miss in KB100. Song like ‘Riding with the King’ by B. B. King and Eric Clapton with Kb100 may feels less energetic first but it turns out, it’s actually less fatigue with the entire album.

Soundstage & Imaging -

The soundstage is quite good. Instrument separation is fair enough but not the best in comparison with 300$ IEMS and nobody expecting that. Separation of vocals and instruments are clear. While the grain of vocals striking your senses, you can feel the string instruments and drums playing from a certain distance. Surprisingly KB100 is doing great with complex songs. In the song ‘Key to the Highway’ by B.B. King and Eric Clampton it feels like King is singing with his guitar in my right ear and Clampton in left ear while the drums playing somewhere near me. Watching movies using KB100 is very pleasing, dialogues are crisp and clear and action parts are less fatigue. For that price KB100 doing a great Job.

Comparison

Vs Tin Audio T2 -

I am talking about 50 $ IEM and nobody wants to know, how KB100 is; in comparison with T2 is not possible. Yes KB100 is better than T2 for me. I am not a fan of T2 for their design, very uncomfortable for me at least. Sound wise KB100 has more or better sub-bass. The rumble is missing in T2s. The slam of bass with punch is there in KB100 and I really missed it in T2. Sub-bass in T2 is faster but the quantity & texture is missing. KB100 is more engaging than T2. Mids are hollow in T2 while the lush can be noticed in KB100. Both Bass and Mids rendered nicely in KB100. In treble section T2 is more extended than KB100. While T2 offers more air in upper frequency KB100 presents it as smooth as possible. Soundstage is also way better in KB100 than T2.


Vs Fiio Fh1 -

The most affordable and popular from Fiio till now may be FH1. For a 50$ IEM, KB100 sounds almost similar to FH1 (75$) . FH1 comes with lots of accessories, beside that they sound almost identical. Sub-bass section in both these two IEMS pretty identical, but KB100 way more controlled & not bleeding at all. Mids are forwarded in Kb100 and vocals sound more articulated than FH1. In Treble section too they performs almost same or FH1 a step ahead. FH1 with balanced cable sound a bit better but trying KB100 in balanced mode is not possible because I don’t have any 2 pin balanced cable.


Conclusion -

For just 50$, BQEYZ no doubt worth every penny. Relatively balanced sound in an eye catching and durable shell. Textured and well defined Bass followed by crisp vocals. Non fatigue and ideal for daily use. String instruments really sound great on it. KB100 performs really well in every scenario, either music listening or watching movies. And yes in 50$ price range KB100 is really a chi-fi gem.

Disclaimer – This Fh5 unit was part of the review tour and used 10 days before sending it to next reviewer. For this review I have not received any kind of compensation and Fiio allowed me to share my honest opinion. 50 hours of burn-in is given before starting any critical listening.

Introduction

‘Born For Music and Happy’… Yes Fiio born for Music and in 11 year’s life span proved, hi-fi can be possible on budget. Not only aggressive pricing but Fiio also trying to fill every corner of a music lover’s daily life with quality products like BTR3, M7, X7 mkII. Even it’s very easy to get hands on Fiio’s product in my region because of their authorized distributor and their demo programs. Fh5 is now their top of the line IEM after the success of Fh1 and F9 pro. Having both of them I was waiting for the fh5 when they launched it. Personally I don’t like the naming scheme of Fiio, it’s a bit confusing but let’s accept it and move on.



Specifications



For more Information visit https://fiio.com/fh5
Purchase Link - Here

Packaging



‘ Black Box ‘ … I have noticed all fiio’s product either have white or black product boxes, Fh5 also came inside a whole black box . Inside the sleeve cover the Book Fold box is placed and two magnets used to hold the cover of the box. As soon as you open the lid you will see the beautiful IEMS lying on foam and beneath the foam everything is placed in an organized manner protected by black sponge. So it’s a flagship product and packaging also reflecting it.

What's in the Box?



FiiO FH5 with cable.
9x Pairs of silicone eartips,
3x Pairs of Memory foam eartips,
1x Soft carrying bag,
1x Hard case,
Cleaning brush,
Paper works.

Accessories

Tips - All 12 eartips divided into 4 types and 3 sizes for each type (S, M , L). The types of eartips are Balanced, Vocal, Bass and Memory Foam. The idea of giving a separate foam sheet with marking and storage space for tips is a remarkable and inexpensive move. As per Fiio’s naming scheme the sound should change according to this eartips and for a certain point it is true and I will discuss it later in this review. Personally tried every tip but to me Balanced tip was comfortable with good seal. When we are talking about the tips, I hate Fiio’s memory foam tips. The thing I am missing is a pair of double flange tip, hope they will provide it next time. There is an issue in that foam tray, no room ‘ M’ size Balanced tip.

Carry Case - A hard carry case, (this time clear look through HB1 ) and a soft pouch bag has been provided inside the box. A good thing with Fiio is they sell these accessories separately in their store. If you lose any of them, you can buy them again. So Fiio please add this clear HB1 and soft pouch bag in your accessories section for separate purchase.

Cable – One of the best cable ever included with Fiio product. The quality of cable is really good. ‘ L ‘ type 3.5 mm plug is strong and look premium, two separate cable for each channel from plug to y splitter is also a great move and giving the cable a fancy yet strong look. The overall silver theme and Fiio branding on the Velcro cable tie shows the careful craftsmanship of Fiio. No sign of microphonics in the cable. Good quality of MMCX plug is used this time, give a gentle press and snap. No hassle or struggle. Again you can buy this cable (LC- B) separately from fiio .

Design / Build



First thing first, it may seem from pictures that the IEM is big and not for small ears, WRONG.. Actually they are almost same in size of F9 Pro. The design of FH5 is something new this time after F9 Pro, an approach to Universal InEar Monitor can be noticed. Trishell structure and face plate design is applied. The golden ring, top of the face plate is adding a rich look to FH5. The dark silver like color on a smooth machined aluminum alloy shell giving it a smooth feel on your hand and inside the ear cavity. The smooth rounding edges and CIEM like design helping Fh5 to fit even in small ears. They are very comfortable to wear for long time. May be Fiio should release a rose gold FH5 next. Three independent sound bores for bass, mids and treble can be seen but covered by mess. The total size of the bore is a bit bigger in diameter and putting in a tip is a really difficult job especially the small and medium one.

Gear Used with FH5 - Impidence of just 19 ohms and 112dB/Mw sensitivity giving Fh5 the efficiency to run almost on anything. I used this gears to run FH5 .
DAP – Fiio X1 mk2, Hiby R3, Sony NW-A46HN, Cayin N3, Iphone SE.
DAC AMP combo with PC – Fiio Q1 Mk2, Audioquest Dragonfly Black.

Other Cable - Fiio RC-MMCXB

Tracks / Albums Listened –
Adele – 21
Devin Dawson - Dark Horse
Don Henley - I Can't Stand Still
Eagles - Hotel California
Eagles - The Very Best Of The Eagles
Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Tidal MQA)
Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992)
Etta James - At Last!
Michael Jackson - Scream
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version)
Amber Rubarth - Wildflowers in the Graveyard
Amber Rubarth 17th Ward (DSD)

Sound

‘Best from Fiio Till now’ … yes Fh5 undoubtedly is best from Fiio till now. More and more fine tuning turned Fh5 into an IEM that can suit most of music lovers. From Fh1’s fun tuning to F9 pro’s analytical tuning, Fiio tuned Fh5 this time in an unconventional but musical way for a mass appeal. The sound singnature is ‘W’ shaped and pretty much balanced.

Bass – As the ‘W’ shaped Sound Signature suggests there is an emphasis on lower frequency. Good amount of Sub-Bass can be noticed. Bass is fast and impactful. A very matured Bass indeed. A blend of clear, punchy sub-bass followed by mid-bass is there. The bass is well controlled and doesn’t bleed in lower mid range. Mid bass have good body and a touch of warmth. The ‘Bass ‘tip as per Fiio for increasing bass is not actually helping that much and please avoid memory foam tips, they just killing the texture of bass. While listening tracks like ‘Dangerous ‘by Michael Jackson, the opening of track where both beats and voice going simultaneously can be heard clearly which is rare in IEM in this price point. The impact of bass is amazing.

Mids – Mids in Fh5 a bit forwarded especially the Upper mids. Mids are detailed with good texture. Lower mids a bit recessed and vocal tips really helped to bring the lower mid to its place. Rest of mid range is forwarded. Mids is actually well balanced with vocal tip and quite rich. Female vocals are elevated yet sweet and smooth. When listening tracks like, Amber Rubarth‘s ‘Wildflowers in the Graveyard‘ you can feel the emotion in her voice . Just close your eyes and listen the songs like ‘ Hold On ‘ by Amber Rubarth or Etta James’s ‘ Trust In Me ‘ , I can assure it will be a great experience for anyone. Fh5 just meant for female vocals. Male vocals are a bit recessed, yet very resolving. Listening songs like ‘Come Rain or Shine ‘by Eric Clapton & B. B. King, is a heavenly experience. Every note is so clear that you can feel the characteristics of both singers’ voice even when they play together. Really enjoyed listening Clapton’s albums with FH5.


Treble – To me upper frequency response of a hybrid IEM proves its real potential. Fh5 no doubt done a good job in this section but still noticed some drops in lower treble. No big spike noticed thus the treble part is smooth. It’s like something is missing. Here comes the balanced cable and vocal tips to rescue, Fh5 with Fiio’s balanced cable improved a lot in treble section. Now a lot of energy can be seen, while listening the album Don Henley’s ‘I Can't Stand Still’. Wish Fiio supplied a balanced cable with FH5.

Soundstage – Intimate soundstage with better details and good imaging is better than wide soundstage and poor imaging. Same thing applies to Fh5. As a result of ‘W ‘shape tuning the soundstage is intimate yet deep enough. While listening solo vocals it seems the singer is in front of you but with complex songs and songs with duet or more vocal artists, suffers due to this intimate soundstage. Instrument separation is pretty good and layering is also up to the mark. FH 5 tuned such a way that it almost fits itself in every genre, even out of the box you going to love it and intimate soundstage is not going bother you to enjoy your soul mate songs.

Pairing – FH5 can be paired with any source without any problem. With phones like Iphone SE some noise can be noticed but it’s not a big deal. For its unique tuning neutral sources like Hiby R3 and Sony NW-A46 is much more suitable to pair with FH5.



Comparison

At that moment, writing this review, I didn’t have any other IEM in this price range to compare with FH5. FH5 vs Ibasso IT04 is a burning question but my Ibasso IT04 still on its way. Fh5 is a review tour unit and I can’t hold it more than 10 days so left the idea of comparing it with IT04. So what’s next?

FH5 Vs Fiio FH1 – Size wise, design wise they are different and it’s obvious. Comparison between a 90 $ plastic build IEM and a 270 $ flagship is unfair but the point is, both of them belongs to ‘FH’ series and FH1 was one of the successful budget IEM from Fiio . As they both belong to same FH series, it may come to mind why FH5 is priced top of the line? Answer is, it’s because of Fiio’s poor naming scheme. I strongly suggest Fiio to change the FH5’s name to something else because the Sound Signature is also different. FH1’s bass is loose and not so textured in comparison to FH5. Fh5 has more controlled and textured sub-bass, more detailed mid range. Treble section is similar in both IEM , yet FH5 a bit smoother side. Fh1‘s build quality is pathetic where FH5 is a piece of ART.

FH5 Vs Fiio F9 Pro – FH5 is a big jump from F9 Pro in terms of price. Dethroning F9 pro, FH5 is now Fiio’s Flagship. I personally consider F9 pro a reference IEM for budget audiophiles; it’s not tuned for everyone. FH5 has a sound signature that can suit a large group of people out of the box. Fh5 can be used for long time without any fatigue. F9 pro is much brighter than FH5 and seems boring for long listening sessions. F9 pro lacks the lower frequency section where FH5 is a king. The overall presentation of Fh5 is very pleasing and can perform well with all your music collection. Fh5 definitely a refinement over F9 Pro and deserve the extra price.




Conclusion

Fiio as a brand now established itself for high end audio products in everyone’s budget. For 270 $ Fh5 is a very good IEM to choose for sure. May be it’s a bit highly priced than their previous F9 pro but worth every penny. They have done a commendable job in developing unique design for FH5 and overall likable sound. Why they didn’t included the balanced cable I don’t know but the provided cable is good enough to last long. Fh5’s approach is like , premium product for everyone –for every music genre. Really enjoyed the Fh5 for 10 days and going to buy it soon. I hope Fiio will continue to refine the sound in their upcoming AF series as well.

Spec
Unit diameter: 15.4mm
Impedance: ≈150ohm
Cable Material: Handmade twisted wire
Sensitivity：120+-5 db
Frequency range: 16-23000Hz

What's inside the box –
HE150 Earbud,
3 pairs of foam cushions,
2 pairs of donut foam cushions.


Purchase Link -
https://penonaudio.com/he-150ohm.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/HE-150ohm-L-shaped-plug-HiFi-Earbuds-Earphone/1994049_32761965304.html?spm=2114.12010615/itm2home-1.8148356.9.24a8760bPYb7kw

Disclaimer – Thanks Penon Audio for providing this unit for review.

Tracks / Albums used for this review
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Devin Dawson - Dark Horse
B. B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King
Etta James – At Last!
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Sting - Sacred Love
The Beatles - Abbey Road (Remastered)
A. R. Rahman – Pardesh ( Indian movie soundtrack )


Build -
Nothing fancy, rather normal for the price. MX500 driver shell is used. The cable is thick and no signs of microphonics .

Introduction -
This time I gave it a burn in for almost 100 hours and started serious listening. As its name describes HE150 is a 150ohms earbud and really need plenty of juice to unlock its potentials. Out of the box it can sound a bit bass heavy but after burn in, it’s almost a different beast. To give it proper juice I have used my Cmoy Headphone amp, XRK class A pocket headphone amp and source was Phone, Audioquest Dragonfly Black V1.5 with PC and Fiio X1 Mk2.



Impression -

Lows - Lower End is the strongest part of He150 . The Bass is fast and no compromise is done in mid and sub – bass section. Bass is tight and well controlled. The song ‘Dangerous’ by Michael Jackson, where you can easily notice this predominant presence of sub-bass and mid-bass .

Mids - Out of the box mid section a bit loose but after burn in everything changed , vocals are now clear and a bit forwarded. I enjoyed the entire album ‘At Last!’ by Etta james , specially the song ‘ Trust in me’ . B. B. King lovers just give it a try, I can assure ,you going to love it.

Highs - Again I am saying HE150 really needs burn in to shine . Highs are a bit sharp but not Sibilant. To me the sparkling treble is good when you listening songs like ‘ All On Me ‘ bt Davin Dawson.

SoundStage -
Very wide soundstage. No doubt it is superior than all the earbuds I have when comes to soundstage.


Comparison –

VE Monk lite 120 ohms white limited edition -
Why VE monk lite 120 ohms ? Because it is a 120 ohms earbud and price is almost same. I prefer Monk lite edition than Monk plus for its comfort and better tonality. But when comparing with HE150, suddenly a great amount of sub-bass can be noticed in HE150 which is missing in Monk lite 120 ohms . Bass is fast and full of energy in HE150. Mid section of HE150 and Monk lite 120 is quite similar but HE150 brings better clarity and a bit forwarded. Upper end of Monk lite 120 ohms is smooth but He150 is sometime a bit sharp (non fatigue). Overall they are close but HE150 provide better soundstage and fun to listen.

Conclusion –
For 15 $ , He150 is a steal. Must have for someone who always in search of great amount of Bass in earbuds. Still being a warm sounding earbud no compromise in Mids. Maybe it doesn’t look fancy but sounds so good. Highly recommended.

Spec -

Sensitivity: 115+-5 db
Frequency response range: 16-23000Hz
Plug：3.5mm L-shaped
Cable：1.2M
Shell : MX500 Matt Black

What inside the box ? –

TY Hi-Z HP-32 earbud,
2 pairs of foam cushions,
2 pairs of donut foam cushions.
1 Shirt Clip.

Purchase Links -

https://penonaudio.com/ty-hi-z-hp-32.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/TY-Hi-Z-HP-32-32ohm-HiFi-Earbuds-Earphone/32676147271.html


Disclaimer – Thanks Penon Audio for providing this unit for review .

Tracks / Albums used for this review -

Michael Jackson – Thriller
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Devin Dawson - Dark Horse
Eagles - Hotel California
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon
The Beatles - Abbey Road (Remastered)
Eric Clampton - Slowhand

(Normal foam cushions used)



Introduction

Earbuds are not for everyone but those who feel comfortable with earbuds , this review for them. Not from an audiophile perspective but as a music lover, inexpensive earbuds are much preferred by me . TY HI-Z HP32 is one of the cheapest from brand TY HI-Z and I am loving it. To keep it simple I used my Iphone SE and Fiio X1 2nd gen as source and let the earbud burn in for 50 hours before listening.


Impression

First thing first though it is mentioned as 32 Ohms but it need plenty of power to run on its full potential , 60-70 % volume of your phone and good to go. Tuning of TY HI-Z HP32 is ‘U ‘shaped, that means emphasis on both upper frequency and lower frequency. But wait, don’t think that Mids are compromised or laid back. Vocals are pretty good and resolving.

Built – Nothing fancy, rather normal for the price.

Lows – Good amount of bass is there and blend of mid and sub bass can be noticed. TY HI-Z HP32 outputs tight and fast bass. Drums sound accurate.

Mids – A bit laid back but not too much, vocals are resolving and realistic. Even sometimes the vocals combined with mid bass creates a nice overall experience, thus the song ‘One of these Nights ‘ by Eagles sound really good on TY HI-Z HP32.

Highs – Emphasis on Treble is there but not harsh at all, very good .. Actually very very good .


Good soundstage, instrument separation is normal and the balance of Lows and Highs is fun to listen. Very much resolving and fits in every genre.

Comparison –

VE Monk Plus – To me Monk+ is natural, both Highs and Lows lacks a bit but HI-Z HP32 shines here. Monk+ is strong in Mids. But after using HI-Z HP32 for an hour , Monk+ seem life less. Sounstage is better on HI-Z HP32.

**** Diy Emx 500 - **** Diy Emx 500 better in terms of clarity than monk and HI-Z HP32 . Vocals seems really good on Emx 500 but lacks highs. HI-Z HP32 nailed it with its smooth prominent trebles.


Conclusion –

I am really impressed by HI-Z HP32 and not even touching my Emx500 soon. For the price of just 6$ it is a really good earbud to have . With a fancy silver cable and a carry pouch, HI-Z HP32 can place itself among 30-40 $ price mark earbuds. HI-Z HP32 is really a great earbud to start. Highly recommended.

Buying link -
http://www.rholupat.com/willsound-mk1-rev-2.html

Specification -
Impedance - 32 ohm
Connector - 2.5mm balanced

After reading a lot of comments on Willsound earbuds finally pulled the trigger and I am really happy having this earbuds. Please note that this review is done after 50 hours of burn in ( By music playback) .

Device Used to Pair -
Iphone SE, Fiio X1 2nd Gen, Sony NW-A46, Hiby R3, Fiio Q1 Mk2, Audioquest Dragonfly . Fiio L26 ( 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm converter) is used to pair with single ended sources, Tidal Desktop App.

Tracks used -
Hotel California by Eagles, Riding with the King by B.B King and Eric Clapton, Slowhand by Eric Clampton, Sacred Love by Sting and Scream by Jackson.

Sound -
Sound is like a food and the taste of a particular food can be different for person to person. So the question is what i think ? , I think the SQ of this earbud is very good actually . Good amount of sub bass and sufficient amount of treble is present and thus its very enjoyable and fun to listen for long listening sessions. Pretty clean mids and instrument separation is also very good. But.......... one thing and which is very disturbing , vocals are not that great. Its not that vocals are muddy , its like a bit low or like coming from far. After removing the foam covers vocals seem improved a bit but yet not up to the mark. Sound stage is good. Easy to drive on any source.

The entire album of Hotel California especially the song Hotel California and New Kid in Town sound amazing and the parts with drum and bass guitar, sounds very rich and enjoyable. Vocals in both these songs feel low but after a while your ears overcome and feels everything is ok.

The song Come Rain or come Shine from Riding with the King is one of my favorite and again the vocals seem coming from far away but the texture of King's voice can be easily noticed.

The fun parts begins when the song Cocaine by Clapton opens with the bass guitar and drum , just no words to describe. Very very good , the balance is there and hits the sweet spot.

The album Scream by Jackson is a mind blowing experience with Willsound Mk1 rev 2. The punch is so good in bass that it I wounder how this 30 $ earbud can achieve it. Very very good.

Conclusion -
Paired with all the sources but specially with Fiio x1 mk 2 ( EQ off ) this earbuds sounds very good. After listening them for few days now its my daily driver for long listening session. Fun and musical sound signature for this price point is very much appreciated. A bit more focus on vocals and this earbud can win hearts of many music lover.