Reviews by suman134
It's raining IEMs left right and centre. No one wants to miss out. There is a fear of missing out and one of the brands that is giving FOMO to other brands is Penon and its sister brand ISN.
Penon started by making some high quality cables. When Penon arrived with their IEMs they were already high quality. I still remember the Orb, its cohesive timber and tonality was addictive. Their ISN H40 and D10 were some of the most loved bass head IEMs till date. Soon after that Penon decided to jump into EST and flagship IEMs. They too were received well. I do remember trying the EST50 couple of years ago but that wasn't that impressive sadly. Then Penon showed us their tuning capabilities with multi DD IEMs. In came the Serial. It was one of the best IEMs for texture, timber with cohesive decay and reverb. Very recently they launched the Quattro and that houses 4 DDs, which is getting a lot of attention.
Penon and ISN are not afraid of experimentation and the ISN NEO 3 is a good representation of it. It has 2 6mm DD paired with a 5.8mm Planar. Interesting isn't it? Do we still get the usual Penon timber and cohesion? Priced at $200, available in orange shell, this is priced to intrigue and attract DD lovers mostly because of the fact that Penon has mastered the bass tuning.
I will compare this with QoA Aviation and Oriveti OD200. I don't think this IEM tries to be accurate like Falcon Ultra or Simgot EA2000 so I will try not to include them in my comparisons.
Get one from here:
https://penonaudio.com/ISN-Audio-NEO-3.html
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
BUILD QUALITY:
There isn't a lot of info about the build but they have used medical grade Resin shell. I love this semi transparent design but this color might not be intriguing to all. We get rounded corners which are fairly comfortable inside the ear and we get a semi custom kind of wing on the inner side of the shell. Another thing that helps is the light weight and size. It barely has any heft to it and thanks to the size it will fit most ears without any issues. There is little to no pressure on the ear and it's longer than average nozzle helps with stability. We have a small vent on the shell to let the DDs breathe.
CABLE:
We get an 8 core OCC cable with 19 wires inside each core. We get a decent looking cable with decent behavior. It's not the supplest or soft cable we find at this price but this cable doesn't have cable guides which add to the comfort. There is no microphonics to worry about either. The 4.4mm jack, y splitter and 2pin jackets looks decent but I feel the jack a bit on the larger side.
Quality wise, I will suggest everyone to ditch this and get something decent. Even a good quality $20 cable will do better than this cable. It clearly limits the dynamics and stage size.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
I tried a handful of sources with this and I didn't had any issues with most of them. The planar was not mid behaving and the DD were not looking for more power either. I was able to drive it out of lower mid range dongles like Simgot DEW4X without much to be desired. Use a decent source and we are good to go.
SOUND QUALITY:
Okay, here are two things I want to have our attention at. Neo 3 is a bass head level IEM. Doesn't make a lot of sense if you don't a lot of bass and if you aren't a bass head, you might be reading about the wrong IEM.
In any case, Neo 3 is an excellent IEM for a bunch of us. I know, I am not a bass head and this much of bass tires me out after a while but those who love bass will enjoy this a lot.
Notes have the extra bit of reverb and cohesion. Mid range and vocals are very good too. There are no issues with timber or tonality. What we get is a L shaped signature where the bass dominates while the rest of the spectrum plays supporting acts. Neo 3 is not all about the bass thankful, there is a grandness to it's mid range notes too, making it standout of the competition.
I am using stock cable and tips for this review.
BASS:
Penon is known for its high quality bass. They know how to make a DD dance and Neo 3 is a perfect example of that. It won't be wrong to state that bass runs the show here and this 6mm DD is tuned to perfection. It has the weight, vim and vigor behind it yet is fairly soft. Movement of air is well controlled. It's like the notes are big and powerful but will not be overpowering the rest of the spectrum. What I like a lot is its lack of excess wooliness. I won't go as for to say that its control is excellent but it's good.
There is a bit of unique delivery here. We get excellent layers and they don't move in but move away from the head with a lot of rumble while fading, keeping things clean as making way for newer notes. So where do the bass notes go? They move up and over the ear. Basically, the whole spectrum is placed inside a semi-circle created by the bass note. You can imagine the magnitude of the area of impact. No mud or wooly feeling but yes, the decay isn't the fastest and notes do have reverb that last long. This affects the dynamics as its upper bass notes aren't that clean but this is not tuned for accuracy so it's fine.
Needless to say but Neo 3 has very good sub-bass extension and rumble while the mid bass is slightly loose but fuller and meatier.
MIDS:
This mid range is tuned like safety wheels. It provides much needed balance of power. Overall balance is still in favor of bass but the mid range does put its powers on display. The 2nd DD does a good job of keeping things clean and clear while delivering very good definition and resolution. There is a slight bit of W shape here as the vocals pop a bit more than the instruments around them. There is no blunt or extra sharpness to be wary about but they can feel a bit sharp in comparison.
I am happy with the vocals too. They are a bit taller with very good body and texture. We get a bit more finishing energy with both male and female vocals. Timber and tonality are on the neutral side but can feel crispy, this enhances the technical aspect of the Neo 3. Instruments on the other hand play in the background and play the 2nd fiddle. The do have decent transparency and clarity but can feel a little less emphasized. They lack a bit of height too. What's good is the speed. There isn't much energy in the upper mids to worry about so that's a good thing.
HIGHS:
Bass is excellent, mids are very good, how are the highs? Neo 3 has a 5.8mm planar to take care of this but it's a bit on the softer side. This lack of definition and kind of veiled presentation reminds me of the OG 7hz Timeless but that was super bad, this isn't. I was expecting a bit more attack and spark nevertheless. Treble notes aren't much transparent or tall either. Extension isn't bad but I definitely was looking for a bit more upper treble energy. Layering and separation are just average. There is distance between instruments but that space isn't very clean or clear. It doesn't have much air to talk about. Of all the things, surprisingly this slight lack of treble clarity and details isn't bothering me. This IEM is not about treble and I have to respect that.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Last time I worked on an ISN IEM, I was kind of unpleased with its very tall yet closed in stage. Thankfully Neo 3 is much better than that. I am relieved that the towering stage is now converted into a well spread one. We get very good height, decent width and nice Z axis depth too.
Bass notes are placed inside the head. Same is true for majority of vocals too. Only taller and background vocal notes escape the head. Treble notes are evenly distributed with presence both in and out of the head. Imaging though is very good with very good accuracy, and instrument placement. I like the sonics too, we get very good reverb and nice transient effects.
EFFECT OF CABLES:
Simgot LC7:
I like this pairing but you might not. LC7 is a bit V shaped and tightens the bass notes. Neo 3 retains the rumble and layers but the sub-bass body is not that big while the mid bass is a bit more pronounced. Mid range and treble enjoy a bit more air between instruments while the treble notes sound a bit cleaner while the extension is slightly better too. One of the best things is the bigger stage, it doesn't get taller but the width is improved.
If you like bass this might not be the best cable but I like it.
COMPARISON:
CONCLUSION:
I know this is not an IEM for everyone but there is big "BUT" here, this IEM is so cohesive and filled with texture that it's hard not to like it and for a bass heads, they will feel like home. It's weighty, full bodied soft attacking layered bass filled with rumbles should put a smile on anyone's face.
One very good thing is Neo 3 barely has any issues with tuning. Yes, some might feel this is not very smooth or may feel it's slightly energetic at some points but they are far from uncomfortable. If you don't have a very sensitive hearing, this IEM will not induce any discomfort.
I would have liked it even more if it had a bit more extension and energy into the upper treble but that's fine because this is for pure hearted bass heads who want good definition and resolution without a lot of energy, except in the right areas.
Penon started by making some high quality cables. When Penon arrived with their IEMs they were already high quality. I still remember the Orb, its cohesive timber and tonality was addictive. Their ISN H40 and D10 were some of the most loved bass head IEMs till date. Soon after that Penon decided to jump into EST and flagship IEMs. They too were received well. I do remember trying the EST50 couple of years ago but that wasn't that impressive sadly. Then Penon showed us their tuning capabilities with multi DD IEMs. In came the Serial. It was one of the best IEMs for texture, timber with cohesive decay and reverb. Very recently they launched the Quattro and that houses 4 DDs, which is getting a lot of attention.
Penon and ISN are not afraid of experimentation and the ISN NEO 3 is a good representation of it. It has 2 6mm DD paired with a 5.8mm Planar. Interesting isn't it? Do we still get the usual Penon timber and cohesion? Priced at $200, available in orange shell, this is priced to intrigue and attract DD lovers mostly because of the fact that Penon has mastered the bass tuning.
I will compare this with QoA Aviation and Oriveti OD200. I don't think this IEM tries to be accurate like Falcon Ultra or Simgot EA2000 so I will try not to include them in my comparisons.
Get one from here:
https://penonaudio.com/ISN-Audio-NEO-3.html
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
BUILD QUALITY:
There isn't a lot of info about the build but they have used medical grade Resin shell. I love this semi transparent design but this color might not be intriguing to all. We get rounded corners which are fairly comfortable inside the ear and we get a semi custom kind of wing on the inner side of the shell. Another thing that helps is the light weight and size. It barely has any heft to it and thanks to the size it will fit most ears without any issues. There is little to no pressure on the ear and it's longer than average nozzle helps with stability. We have a small vent on the shell to let the DDs breathe.
CABLE:
We get an 8 core OCC cable with 19 wires inside each core. We get a decent looking cable with decent behavior. It's not the supplest or soft cable we find at this price but this cable doesn't have cable guides which add to the comfort. There is no microphonics to worry about either. The 4.4mm jack, y splitter and 2pin jackets looks decent but I feel the jack a bit on the larger side.
Quality wise, I will suggest everyone to ditch this and get something decent. Even a good quality $20 cable will do better than this cable. It clearly limits the dynamics and stage size.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
I tried a handful of sources with this and I didn't had any issues with most of them. The planar was not mid behaving and the DD were not looking for more power either. I was able to drive it out of lower mid range dongles like Simgot DEW4X without much to be desired. Use a decent source and we are good to go.
SOUND QUALITY:
Okay, here are two things I want to have our attention at. Neo 3 is a bass head level IEM. Doesn't make a lot of sense if you don't a lot of bass and if you aren't a bass head, you might be reading about the wrong IEM.
In any case, Neo 3 is an excellent IEM for a bunch of us. I know, I am not a bass head and this much of bass tires me out after a while but those who love bass will enjoy this a lot.
Notes have the extra bit of reverb and cohesion. Mid range and vocals are very good too. There are no issues with timber or tonality. What we get is a L shaped signature where the bass dominates while the rest of the spectrum plays supporting acts. Neo 3 is not all about the bass thankful, there is a grandness to it's mid range notes too, making it standout of the competition.
I am using stock cable and tips for this review.
BASS:
Penon is known for its high quality bass. They know how to make a DD dance and Neo 3 is a perfect example of that. It won't be wrong to state that bass runs the show here and this 6mm DD is tuned to perfection. It has the weight, vim and vigor behind it yet is fairly soft. Movement of air is well controlled. It's like the notes are big and powerful but will not be overpowering the rest of the spectrum. What I like a lot is its lack of excess wooliness. I won't go as for to say that its control is excellent but it's good.
There is a bit of unique delivery here. We get excellent layers and they don't move in but move away from the head with a lot of rumble while fading, keeping things clean as making way for newer notes. So where do the bass notes go? They move up and over the ear. Basically, the whole spectrum is placed inside a semi-circle created by the bass note. You can imagine the magnitude of the area of impact. No mud or wooly feeling but yes, the decay isn't the fastest and notes do have reverb that last long. This affects the dynamics as its upper bass notes aren't that clean but this is not tuned for accuracy so it's fine.
Needless to say but Neo 3 has very good sub-bass extension and rumble while the mid bass is slightly loose but fuller and meatier.
MIDS:
This mid range is tuned like safety wheels. It provides much needed balance of power. Overall balance is still in favor of bass but the mid range does put its powers on display. The 2nd DD does a good job of keeping things clean and clear while delivering very good definition and resolution. There is a slight bit of W shape here as the vocals pop a bit more than the instruments around them. There is no blunt or extra sharpness to be wary about but they can feel a bit sharp in comparison.
I am happy with the vocals too. They are a bit taller with very good body and texture. We get a bit more finishing energy with both male and female vocals. Timber and tonality are on the neutral side but can feel crispy, this enhances the technical aspect of the Neo 3. Instruments on the other hand play in the background and play the 2nd fiddle. The do have decent transparency and clarity but can feel a little less emphasized. They lack a bit of height too. What's good is the speed. There isn't much energy in the upper mids to worry about so that's a good thing.
HIGHS:
Bass is excellent, mids are very good, how are the highs? Neo 3 has a 5.8mm planar to take care of this but it's a bit on the softer side. This lack of definition and kind of veiled presentation reminds me of the OG 7hz Timeless but that was super bad, this isn't. I was expecting a bit more attack and spark nevertheless. Treble notes aren't much transparent or tall either. Extension isn't bad but I definitely was looking for a bit more upper treble energy. Layering and separation are just average. There is distance between instruments but that space isn't very clean or clear. It doesn't have much air to talk about. Of all the things, surprisingly this slight lack of treble clarity and details isn't bothering me. This IEM is not about treble and I have to respect that.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Last time I worked on an ISN IEM, I was kind of unpleased with its very tall yet closed in stage. Thankfully Neo 3 is much better than that. I am relieved that the towering stage is now converted into a well spread one. We get very good height, decent width and nice Z axis depth too.
Bass notes are placed inside the head. Same is true for majority of vocals too. Only taller and background vocal notes escape the head. Treble notes are evenly distributed with presence both in and out of the head. Imaging though is very good with very good accuracy, and instrument placement. I like the sonics too, we get very good reverb and nice transient effects.
EFFECT OF CABLES:
Simgot LC7:
I like this pairing but you might not. LC7 is a bit V shaped and tightens the bass notes. Neo 3 retains the rumble and layers but the sub-bass body is not that big while the mid bass is a bit more pronounced. Mid range and treble enjoy a bit more air between instruments while the treble notes sound a bit cleaner while the extension is slightly better too. One of the best things is the bigger stage, it doesn't get taller but the width is improved.
If you like bass this might not be the best cable but I like it.
COMPARISON:
CONCLUSION:
I know this is not an IEM for everyone but there is big "BUT" here, this IEM is so cohesive and filled with texture that it's hard not to like it and for a bass heads, they will feel like home. It's weighty, full bodied soft attacking layered bass filled with rumbles should put a smile on anyone's face.
One very good thing is Neo 3 barely has any issues with tuning. Yes, some might feel this is not very smooth or may feel it's slightly energetic at some points but they are far from uncomfortable. If you don't have a very sensitive hearing, this IEM will not induce any discomfort.
I would have liked it even more if it had a bit more extension and energy into the upper treble but that's fine because this is for pure hearted bass heads who want good definition and resolution without a lot of energy, except in the right areas.
There are a lot of brands I haven't worked with. In this booming world of audio products it's hard to keep track of brands. I know, I know Hidizs is not new but they haven't been able to capture the imagination of the market like other chi-fi brands. But it's seems like this is about to change. They used to have a good range of DAPs but it's limited to AP80 series now. What they have been improving with are their USB dongles and IEMs and their new planar based IEM, MP145 housing a 14.5mm planar driver has taken the industry by storm. Currently available on Kickstarter with various combo offers and early adaptors discount, it comes in 2 colors, currently available at $159 and goes up to $200. It goes head on against a lot of IEMs in this price and I will compare it with the Akoustyx S-6, DDHIFI Janus 3 and Tri i3 pro IEMs.
The best thing I can tell is, it's much better than the wooly, thick and blurry sounding 7hz Timeless and has much better control and composure than the Moondrop Kato. It has better definition and clarity than the Dunu Falcon Pro. It definitely looks like a superb IEM at this point of time. Let's find out about this IEM.
Get one from here:
https://www.hidizs.net/products/hid...ear-monitors-for-audiophiles-and-music-lovers
ACCESSORIES AND UNBOXING:
This IEM has me baffled. I had never seen an IEM with hard case. This is the first and it's much easier to understand why no brand likes this ship their IEMs in hard packaging. They are easy to break and my unit too had chips coming out of it. They are nicks, nothing serious but it's not ideal.
Nevertheless, open the box and we get to see the IEMs upfront. We have the tuning filters and the cable placed inside a paper box under the IEM while the tips are stuffed inside a paper box at the bottom. We are getting a generous set of tips, 3 pair of vocal, 3 pair of bass and 3 pair of balanced tips in S/M/L sizes.
CABLE:
MP145 ships with a 4 core silver plated single crystal OFC cable and as available in both 3.5mm and 4.4mm versions. I have the 4.4mm version with me and I like this cable. Its light weight and the cable has little to no memory issues, isn't bouncy and one doesn't need to worry about microphonics either. The parts used are of decent quality too. The 4.4mm jack is a bit on the larger side but the Y splitter, cable slider and 2pin connectors are minimal in size. The cable guides are fairly relaxed and dont exert much pressure on the ear.
BUILD QUALITY:
This IEM follows the build quality norms of both Hidizs and other competing IEMs in this price. Hidizs has made a lot of IEMs with metal shell and just like the Shuoer S12 pro, Tri i3 pro and 7hz Timeless we are getting an all metal build quality. Thanks to this one doesn't need to worry about durability, it will take good amount of rough handling without much issues. We are getting an interesting looking back plate while the nozzle has swappable filters to take care of the tuning flexibilities. One thing I would like to mention is the size, it's big, and will not fit those with small and shallow ears.
Ergonomics are decent too. There are no annoying edges to worry about. Thanks to the well managed weight and aptly deep nozzle, the ear pieces do not feel heavy.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
We have a huge 14.5mm planar driver to power here but guess what, it's not super hard to drive. We have a respectable sensitivity of 104db and resistance of 30ohm which makes this a reasonably easier IEM to drive out of our mid range USB dongles and I am having a blast with them. I got the DH80s bundle and this pairing is very good. Yes, getting a more capable source will definitely bring improvements of it's own, even the more capable Beam 3 plus has better air between instruments and a bigger stage but the DH80s doesn't leave a lot to be desired. I am getting very good layering and separation with good amount of air between instruments. The stage isn't small or clumsy, imaging too is very good.
Is it wise to drive a planar driver IEM out of a mobile phone? No, definitely not. It's ignorance of the fact that planar drivers need power and even if this IEM doesn't need much power, it still is a planar and needs more power than usual IEMs.
SOUND QUALITY:
I am not new to this type of IEMs. I have seen brands doing a lot if things with their planar based IEMs but I have to admit, after the Akoustyx S-6 the MP145 is the next Planar based that has impressed me the most. It's 14.5 mm drivers are tuned to deliver class leading SQ with a reasonably V shaped signature that doesn't feel aggressive or lean at any point. We do not get a dull region either and the best thing I noticed is it's softer edged presentation.
Tonality and timber are very similar to what we get with other Planar based IEMs. I am using vocal tips and DH80s and Shanling UA5 as source for this review.
BASS:
MP145 has a typical planar tuning yet it is different. We get full bodied notes but true to planar IEMs these notes decay so fast that it doesn't move a lot of air, leaving a lot of air for the rest of the spectrum to breathe.
End to end extension is decent. Sub-bass is good and has decent rumble but isn't very deep. Mid bass is more prominent with a sizeable body. The area of impact is big but it isn't heavy or very punchy. Dynamics are decent, they do tend to end up in the mid bass region. I have heard better dynamics from similarly priced IEMs but MP145 makes up with it's control and discipline. We do get a below average layered hits, the notes do not have enough air and separation between them. It doesn't get tiring or boring but those looking for a heavy hitter will find this not heavy enough. Upper bass is nicely presented with decent clarity and details but I wish the mid bass was a bit less dominant.
MID RANGE:
Oh.. the clarity!! It puts a smile on my face. It delivers so much goodness that if we do not mind the limitations of the bass notes, this IEM can easily take on $250 IEMs without breaking a sweat.
Unlike most of the Planar based IEMs, MP145 doesn't have any obvious flaws. Yes, the V shaped signature has a bit of pop to the vocals but we are getting excellent clarity and details. The drop in energy is much less and doesn't sound sharp like the Shuoer S12/pro, while the clarity, layering and separation are similarly brilliant. We get reasonably accurate sounding vocals. It's faster decay does take away the extra bit of throatiness and grunt, making the timber and tonality a bit dry while enhancing the transparency. Even when timber and tonality are slightly on the less fuller side we still get beutiful texture with both male and female vocals, they are a bit subtle but if you are paying attention, it's highly enjoyable. Notes are sooooo beautifully presented that it's hard to complaint about minor niggles. Yes, this is not a very analogue sounding IEM but the contrast and layering are brilliant enough to stand out.
Instruments have very good clarity yet have no sharpness or aggression to worry about. In fact this presentation of instruments is more contrasty and cohesive than the DDhifi Janus 3. There is a bit more energy in the upper mids but has no sibilance or sharpness to write about. It's not dull or smooth. If you want silky smooth and relaxed mids, planar drivers are just not it.
HIGHS:
What these planar drivers are capable of are some of the best treble response and MP145 is no exception. We get excellent transparency and superb control too. It has sparkly notes, impressive clarity, clear of any unwanted sharpness while being cohesive and engaging. Treble extension is superb too, yes it doesn't carry a lot of energy into the upper treble, especially to keep the harshness away but the lower and mid treble regions aren't rough or raw. They feel a lot more uniform and sorted than the competition. MP145 has superior control and is nowhere as sharp as the S12/pro and Talos in hybrid mode. It isn't as dull and lifeless as the SeekReal Dawn and Timeless either. Notes have very good finishing definition but aren't sharp or too energetic.
Layering and separation are superb with class leading amount of air between instruments.
FILTERS:
This is a decent way to induce changes in frequency and I am liking it. It doesn't feel odd or off with any of the filters but it's not much different either.
RED FILTER (BASS): The red filter is supposed to be bassy but what we get is a bit more weight behind the lower end notes. The do not gain extension but have better texture and more layers making the whole experience more gripping while the mid range and vocals remains exactly same. We get a bit of changes with the treble though. The lower treble is nearly same but the mid and upper treble are a bit less energetic. The upper treble can feel a bit dark to some but It is plenty good. The do not have tall notes but do not compromise with the transparency or air either.
SILVER FILTER (HIGHS): Now this is the kind of treble presentation we get with the Shuoer S12/pro.
Oh man.. It's hard to tell the two IEMs apart except the bass. S12 pro is more bassy and more V shaped.
We get exactly same bass and mid range but the treble gains the extra sharpness and notes gain height. These notes are borderline tiring and can be uncomfortable for most of us.
I usually feel the stock filters to be the best but this time around I find the Bass filters to be the best suited for longer listening sessions. The Red filter is calm and relaxed, doesn't hound, delivers a more contrasty and sonically better experience.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Few years ago it was criminal to expect a well developed stage at this price but guess what, MP145 has one of the best stage expansion and imaging. Aided by one of the best layering, separation, control and precision, we are treated with one of the airiest presentation. It has well expanded 3D imaging with accurate cue placement. Yes, the notes in the mid range are a bit less tall while the bass and treble notes are taller. Most of the bass and vocals are placed inside the head while some of the mid range and treble notes are projected out of the head. Notes have a more complex presentation with presence both over the head and behind the neck. Instrumental distribution is not the most even but there isn't much to complaint about either.
In general this stage has superb height, very good width and class leading Z axis depth. Depth is much better than anything else in this price range.
COMPARISON:
I have tried a lot of planar based IEMs. I have reviewed a wide variety of these. Starting with the 7hz Timeless I have reviewed the S12/pro, Akoustyx S-6 planar only IEMs. I have reviewed a couple of Planar based hybrid IEMs too, Dunu Talos and SeekReal Dawn to name them. All these IEMs were either sharp and aggressive or dull and smooth. They weren't something one can label as "Good for all". It's the temperamental nature that most of the consumers were happy with, mostly because there wasn't a decently balanced option. S12/pro and Talos are V shaped with sharp highs and thin mid range notes while the Timeless and Dawn were unnaturally thick and smooth. Timeless is seriously veiled, the worst of the lot.
MP145 is in the V too. It has a bit of pop to the vocals too but guess what.. We are getting some of the best control and definition from a planar driver IEM. The highs aren't sharp and sibilant like S12/pro and Talos without compromising with extension or clarity. The only other planar IEM that matches up to the MP145 is the Akoustyx S-6. While the S-6 a bit more balanced with leveled mid range, MP145 has less tall mid range notes.
If I have to recommend two Planar based IEMs, they have to be MP145 and Akoustyx S-6. These two can be easily recommended to anyone and they won't feel like missing out or being hounded at.
CONCLUSION:
What we usually want from an IEM? Good details, good clarity, engagement and it should not sound harsh or uncomfortable. MP145 has superb details, excellent clarity and much better control over sharpness than S12 pro and Talos.
I have no issues crowning it as the best planar based IEM under $150. It and the Akoustyx S-6 are the two best IEMs in this price.
If you enjoy a slightly aggressive presentation, MP145 is the best IEM to get.
The best thing I can tell is, it's much better than the wooly, thick and blurry sounding 7hz Timeless and has much better control and composure than the Moondrop Kato. It has better definition and clarity than the Dunu Falcon Pro. It definitely looks like a superb IEM at this point of time. Let's find out about this IEM.
Get one from here:
https://www.hidizs.net/products/hid...ear-monitors-for-audiophiles-and-music-lovers
ACCESSORIES AND UNBOXING:
This IEM has me baffled. I had never seen an IEM with hard case. This is the first and it's much easier to understand why no brand likes this ship their IEMs in hard packaging. They are easy to break and my unit too had chips coming out of it. They are nicks, nothing serious but it's not ideal.
Nevertheless, open the box and we get to see the IEMs upfront. We have the tuning filters and the cable placed inside a paper box under the IEM while the tips are stuffed inside a paper box at the bottom. We are getting a generous set of tips, 3 pair of vocal, 3 pair of bass and 3 pair of balanced tips in S/M/L sizes.
CABLE:
MP145 ships with a 4 core silver plated single crystal OFC cable and as available in both 3.5mm and 4.4mm versions. I have the 4.4mm version with me and I like this cable. Its light weight and the cable has little to no memory issues, isn't bouncy and one doesn't need to worry about microphonics either. The parts used are of decent quality too. The 4.4mm jack is a bit on the larger side but the Y splitter, cable slider and 2pin connectors are minimal in size. The cable guides are fairly relaxed and dont exert much pressure on the ear.
BUILD QUALITY:
This IEM follows the build quality norms of both Hidizs and other competing IEMs in this price. Hidizs has made a lot of IEMs with metal shell and just like the Shuoer S12 pro, Tri i3 pro and 7hz Timeless we are getting an all metal build quality. Thanks to this one doesn't need to worry about durability, it will take good amount of rough handling without much issues. We are getting an interesting looking back plate while the nozzle has swappable filters to take care of the tuning flexibilities. One thing I would like to mention is the size, it's big, and will not fit those with small and shallow ears.
Ergonomics are decent too. There are no annoying edges to worry about. Thanks to the well managed weight and aptly deep nozzle, the ear pieces do not feel heavy.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
We have a huge 14.5mm planar driver to power here but guess what, it's not super hard to drive. We have a respectable sensitivity of 104db and resistance of 30ohm which makes this a reasonably easier IEM to drive out of our mid range USB dongles and I am having a blast with them. I got the DH80s bundle and this pairing is very good. Yes, getting a more capable source will definitely bring improvements of it's own, even the more capable Beam 3 plus has better air between instruments and a bigger stage but the DH80s doesn't leave a lot to be desired. I am getting very good layering and separation with good amount of air between instruments. The stage isn't small or clumsy, imaging too is very good.
Is it wise to drive a planar driver IEM out of a mobile phone? No, definitely not. It's ignorance of the fact that planar drivers need power and even if this IEM doesn't need much power, it still is a planar and needs more power than usual IEMs.
SOUND QUALITY:
I am not new to this type of IEMs. I have seen brands doing a lot if things with their planar based IEMs but I have to admit, after the Akoustyx S-6 the MP145 is the next Planar based that has impressed me the most. It's 14.5 mm drivers are tuned to deliver class leading SQ with a reasonably V shaped signature that doesn't feel aggressive or lean at any point. We do not get a dull region either and the best thing I noticed is it's softer edged presentation.
Tonality and timber are very similar to what we get with other Planar based IEMs. I am using vocal tips and DH80s and Shanling UA5 as source for this review.
BASS:
MP145 has a typical planar tuning yet it is different. We get full bodied notes but true to planar IEMs these notes decay so fast that it doesn't move a lot of air, leaving a lot of air for the rest of the spectrum to breathe.
End to end extension is decent. Sub-bass is good and has decent rumble but isn't very deep. Mid bass is more prominent with a sizeable body. The area of impact is big but it isn't heavy or very punchy. Dynamics are decent, they do tend to end up in the mid bass region. I have heard better dynamics from similarly priced IEMs but MP145 makes up with it's control and discipline. We do get a below average layered hits, the notes do not have enough air and separation between them. It doesn't get tiring or boring but those looking for a heavy hitter will find this not heavy enough. Upper bass is nicely presented with decent clarity and details but I wish the mid bass was a bit less dominant.
MID RANGE:
Oh.. the clarity!! It puts a smile on my face. It delivers so much goodness that if we do not mind the limitations of the bass notes, this IEM can easily take on $250 IEMs without breaking a sweat.
Unlike most of the Planar based IEMs, MP145 doesn't have any obvious flaws. Yes, the V shaped signature has a bit of pop to the vocals but we are getting excellent clarity and details. The drop in energy is much less and doesn't sound sharp like the Shuoer S12/pro, while the clarity, layering and separation are similarly brilliant. We get reasonably accurate sounding vocals. It's faster decay does take away the extra bit of throatiness and grunt, making the timber and tonality a bit dry while enhancing the transparency. Even when timber and tonality are slightly on the less fuller side we still get beutiful texture with both male and female vocals, they are a bit subtle but if you are paying attention, it's highly enjoyable. Notes are sooooo beautifully presented that it's hard to complaint about minor niggles. Yes, this is not a very analogue sounding IEM but the contrast and layering are brilliant enough to stand out.
Instruments have very good clarity yet have no sharpness or aggression to worry about. In fact this presentation of instruments is more contrasty and cohesive than the DDhifi Janus 3. There is a bit more energy in the upper mids but has no sibilance or sharpness to write about. It's not dull or smooth. If you want silky smooth and relaxed mids, planar drivers are just not it.
HIGHS:
What these planar drivers are capable of are some of the best treble response and MP145 is no exception. We get excellent transparency and superb control too. It has sparkly notes, impressive clarity, clear of any unwanted sharpness while being cohesive and engaging. Treble extension is superb too, yes it doesn't carry a lot of energy into the upper treble, especially to keep the harshness away but the lower and mid treble regions aren't rough or raw. They feel a lot more uniform and sorted than the competition. MP145 has superior control and is nowhere as sharp as the S12/pro and Talos in hybrid mode. It isn't as dull and lifeless as the SeekReal Dawn and Timeless either. Notes have very good finishing definition but aren't sharp or too energetic.
Layering and separation are superb with class leading amount of air between instruments.
FILTERS:
This is a decent way to induce changes in frequency and I am liking it. It doesn't feel odd or off with any of the filters but it's not much different either.
RED FILTER (BASS): The red filter is supposed to be bassy but what we get is a bit more weight behind the lower end notes. The do not gain extension but have better texture and more layers making the whole experience more gripping while the mid range and vocals remains exactly same. We get a bit of changes with the treble though. The lower treble is nearly same but the mid and upper treble are a bit less energetic. The upper treble can feel a bit dark to some but It is plenty good. The do not have tall notes but do not compromise with the transparency or air either.
SILVER FILTER (HIGHS): Now this is the kind of treble presentation we get with the Shuoer S12/pro.
Oh man.. It's hard to tell the two IEMs apart except the bass. S12 pro is more bassy and more V shaped.
We get exactly same bass and mid range but the treble gains the extra sharpness and notes gain height. These notes are borderline tiring and can be uncomfortable for most of us.
I usually feel the stock filters to be the best but this time around I find the Bass filters to be the best suited for longer listening sessions. The Red filter is calm and relaxed, doesn't hound, delivers a more contrasty and sonically better experience.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Few years ago it was criminal to expect a well developed stage at this price but guess what, MP145 has one of the best stage expansion and imaging. Aided by one of the best layering, separation, control and precision, we are treated with one of the airiest presentation. It has well expanded 3D imaging with accurate cue placement. Yes, the notes in the mid range are a bit less tall while the bass and treble notes are taller. Most of the bass and vocals are placed inside the head while some of the mid range and treble notes are projected out of the head. Notes have a more complex presentation with presence both over the head and behind the neck. Instrumental distribution is not the most even but there isn't much to complaint about either.
In general this stage has superb height, very good width and class leading Z axis depth. Depth is much better than anything else in this price range.
COMPARISON:
I have tried a lot of planar based IEMs. I have reviewed a wide variety of these. Starting with the 7hz Timeless I have reviewed the S12/pro, Akoustyx S-6 planar only IEMs. I have reviewed a couple of Planar based hybrid IEMs too, Dunu Talos and SeekReal Dawn to name them. All these IEMs were either sharp and aggressive or dull and smooth. They weren't something one can label as "Good for all". It's the temperamental nature that most of the consumers were happy with, mostly because there wasn't a decently balanced option. S12/pro and Talos are V shaped with sharp highs and thin mid range notes while the Timeless and Dawn were unnaturally thick and smooth. Timeless is seriously veiled, the worst of the lot.
MP145 is in the V too. It has a bit of pop to the vocals too but guess what.. We are getting some of the best control and definition from a planar driver IEM. The highs aren't sharp and sibilant like S12/pro and Talos without compromising with extension or clarity. The only other planar IEM that matches up to the MP145 is the Akoustyx S-6. While the S-6 a bit more balanced with leveled mid range, MP145 has less tall mid range notes.
If I have to recommend two Planar based IEMs, they have to be MP145 and Akoustyx S-6. These two can be easily recommended to anyone and they won't feel like missing out or being hounded at.
CONCLUSION:
What we usually want from an IEM? Good details, good clarity, engagement and it should not sound harsh or uncomfortable. MP145 has superb details, excellent clarity and much better control over sharpness than S12 pro and Talos.
I have no issues crowning it as the best planar based IEM under $150. It and the Akoustyx S-6 are the two best IEMs in this price.
If you enjoy a slightly aggressive presentation, MP145 is the best IEM to get.
Attachments
sistoz
Hello, thank you for the review. You mentioned the Tri I3 Pro, how would you compare the soundstage and bass region between them? Thank you!
Ollo Audio, Not many are aware of this brand, they are not a huge brand with a lot of wave behind them but they are something. Originating from the beautiful country of Slovenia, surrounded by the Alps, Ollo Audio is the home to one of the best headphones for under $500. Ollo have been in the market for a few years but have not caught a lot of attention, they do not ride the hype waves. Their headphones are not aimed towards the mass market with a thumpy or fun oriented sound. All of the Ollo audio headphones are aimed at studio use and for more critical listening. Ollo as a brand do not make a lot of models in a variety of price ranges, they only have 3 models and they pay a lot of attention to quality control and details. Their headphones look aesthetically classy with a retro kind of Vibe. Interestingly one can buy whatever spare parts they desire from their website and.. The headphones themselves have 5 years of warreanty!! 5, that is one year, five times.
Ollo has only one Headphone on sale, the S4X reference headphones, which I am reviewing here. It does not have any options for the wood but hey, the stock wood looks classy too. Priced at 399 Euros these headphones face some competition from another growing brand, Austrian Audio HI-X55 and other headphones in its price range like Hifiman Sundara, HD600 and a few more.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/OLLO-Audio-S4X-Professional-Headphones-Brown/dp/B08KGLRSTP
And
https://olloaudio.com/products/s4x-reference-headphones
All other models like S4 and S4R can be bought in B-stock options with a sizeable discount.
P.S. I reached out to OLLO Audio for the S4X review and they responded kindly.
WHATS IN THE BOX:
There isn't a lot of stuff inside the box, a cable, a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter, a carry pouch and a few documents rounds up the list of accessories.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
The Ollo audio ships with a 200cm/78inch long basic looking cable, with 3.5mm TRS and dual 2.5mm TRS terminations, nothing fancy here. It has external braiding from the 3.5mm jack till the Y splitter, it protects the wire from accidental damage and wear too. But due to this braiding the cable ends up being slightly on the stiffer side. The splitter is small and barely has any weight to it. The cable above the splitter is kind of flashy with red rubbery coating over the wire which gives it a bouncy feel but doesn't result into any microphonics thankfully.
Even when the cable has L/R markings, the ear cups don't have anything like that. Thanks to frequency matched drivers plug any on any side and it is good to go.
BUILD, FIT AND AESTHETICS:-
I already have a very similar looking headphone in my inventory with a slightly different type of wood. Aesthetically the S4X looks more premium with a slightly darker but natural and sober looking wood. The drivers are held in place with two screws on both sides of the cups. The open style back plates give S4X a retro classic vibe. The stainless steel head bend feels a lot sturdier and stable. The spring loaded leather headband does not have any cushioning but due to the wider design feels very comfortable. The headband is held in place with simple screw which can be changed without any problem.
Ear pads have a hybrid design with velour on the face and artificial leather on the sides. With an outer diameter of 90mm and inner diameter of 55mm the Level of comfort is fairly good for a few hours but have to be adjusted after that. I would have liked a slightly bigger pad. The size is somewhere in between on and over ear sizes.
In their words:
PREMIUM MATERIALS
"Timelessness of stainless steel coupled with luxury nautical leather and velour for maximum comfort. Paired with a smell of a fresh sustainably sourced wood."
Ollo S4X's refreshingly simple yet intriguing deign has been awarded with German Design council recently.
TECHNICALITIES AND MATCHING WITH SOURCES:-
Since i have bought a few LG devices with dedicated DACs they have become my first source of music. The S4X sounds kind of edgy with mobile phones, be it the Vivo V19 or LG G7. The S4X demands a bit of power, even when the rated impedance is at just 32ohm it is not the easiest headphone in the market and doesn't comply excellently with weaker sources. Not that the S4X doesn't get loud, it gets fairly loud with the mobile devices but the sound is not at its prime, it kind of feels being dragged, notes are not full enough and doesn't have the best tonality either.
Driving it out of dedicated DAC/Amps is much more desirable. It is an open back headphone after all and is not meant of outdoor use. Driving out of the Burson Audio Playmate is a pleasant affair. It starts to behave well with excellent details and control over notes. It does not feel like being forcefully pushed any more.
Driving the S4X out of a dedicated dap like Shanling M6 yields excellent resolution and details. It starts sounding a bit more mature and perfectly reflects the true characters of the DAP without breaking a sweat.
HOW DOES THIS SOUNDS:-
Ollo uses neodymium drivers which has 2 layered coils with a 25u PET membrane and are precisely matched.
First statement about the S4X's sound attributes on its official product page is "Natural and Brutally honest" The burning question is.. How does this beauty sound? First thing first, these are reference type headphones and do not have a lot of lower end grunt to them (Maybe the closed back plates can change the sound signature but I can't confirm that). Mid range is agile and dynamic with plenty of details, same goes for the treble region.
S4X's sound signature is slightly on the brighter and crispier side with balanced notes presentation.
Ollo audio dont compromise when it comes to sound quality. In their words:
"WE MEASURE EVERY PAIR
OLLO headphones are individually tested and measured and come with the frequency response measurements chart in the package."
"Designed and measured using IEC 60318-1 standard."
BASS:-
Even when the graph shows a bit of an elevated lower end the S4X cannot be labeled as a bassy headphone by a long shot. The precisely tuned dynamic driver has a controlled and accurate lower end with nice sub-bass extension with required amount of rumble to it. It does not move a lot of air though. Doesn't matter how it is driven, due to the reference tuning and open back design the sub-bass region doesn't go boom boom. It does not vanish into thin air but it is just a few DB more than what the ER-4P delivers. The Mid-bass is a bit more voluminous with much better body and slam. It still doesn't qualify as a "wholesome" but has good amount of body and slam which keeps the party going. The punch is not hard and the rumble is not comparable to other dynamic driver headphones like Sennheiser HD6 mix or even the HD598/599 but it excels with decay speed while maintaining very good amount of texture. The S4X delivers a cleaner and faster response with a slight bit or precipitation. The level of accuracy and precision offered by it is simply class leading.
Should you look at the S4X for its bass thump? Not really, it is tight and precise without much excitement, its has a more analytical tuning to it.
P.S. Equalizing helps (if needed) without messing around. It responds to EQs without any problem.
MID RANGE:-
The Frequency graph shows a slight bit of decrease in volume for the entire mid range but thanks to the open back design the S4X's bass doesn't feel heavy, letting the mid range express itself without any restriction. The transition from upper bass to lower mid range delivers plenty of details without losing any energy. The mid range has plenty of micro details with one of the most accurate and precise notes presentation. It manages to find a sweet spot which balances everything while delivering plenty of details and transparency with the juiciness intact.
The vocal region sounds vivid with excellent accuracy while maintaining appropriate amount of fullness. Both male and female vocals have class leading amount of transparency, definition and resolution with a lot of texture. The tonality is accurate and very organic (the wooden housing might be playing a part in this) making the vocals very enjoyable. Male vocals sound throaty while female vocals are aptly sharp with right amount of energy. Instruments have nice shine to them with perfect depth and bite. A bit more might have pushed it into uncomfortable territory. It impresses me by not favoring any part of the spectrum. There isn't a single instrument that feels dull or over energized. The upper mid is in line with the rest of the spectrum and doesn't have any anomalies while maintaining equally good amount of energy and transparency.
Ollo S4X separates itself from the crowd with its technicality, the way it manages to deliver micro details of background instruments without tempering with the foreground is praise worthy and the contrasty nature makes the whole experience enjoyable.
HIGHS:-
The S4X has precise notes presentation across the spectrum and it holds true for the treble section too. It does not have the most liveliest or sparkly treble region. What it has is an aptly energetic presentation filled with good amount of details and transparency, transparency which is not the best in its price range. Some headphones like the HI-X55 exhibit better transparency and clarity with deeper and more energetic notes but the S4X doesn't belong to that bunch, the open back design helps a lot by dampening most of the shine and sparkle. It delivers the good amount of energy and spark staying clear of any uncomfortable notes. It has very good amount of air between instruments. Thanks to its slightly bright nature it resolves very good cleanliness.
The transition phase from upper mid range to lower treble region is excellent with transparency and clarity. The extension is very good but it starts to lose energy as it goes deeper into the spectrum. Level of details retrieval is very good, it doesn't miss out on much while keeping the timber close to natural. Cymbals and pianos have good transparency with an organic feel to it. Needless to say that separation and layering is up to the mark with good amount of air and space between instruments. The treble stage is well spread and has good density to it. The bigger stage helps a lot with instrument placements and density.
Is this the best treble? Short answer is no, but If you are coming from a Planar headphone, yes this is better.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
In general an open back headphone has to have a wider, deeper and open field of sound compared to most of the closed back headphones and that holds true here. The open back design grants a lot of dynamism and sonicalities. Depending on the track the stage can stretch, if the stage feels a bit narrow near the head with one track, with the right track it feels wider. Overall the stage is well extended in every direction, one might complain that it does not have the height some other headphones like the HD598 but it is much more deeper, wider sonically superior than that. It can place cues much further and precisely. All of the vocals are placed inside the head and most of the instruments are placed outside.
COMPARISON:-
VS Fischer M12s:
The M12s used to be my favorite headphone under 500 euros. It too has a wooden enclosure with a open back design. It has only one in and cannot be sued with balanced cables. The 5mm larger cups are a bit more comfortable on the head as it doesn't press on my ears.
Sound wise it has a slightly more rumble with similar body, the decay is slightly slower. Unlike the S4X the M12s is a bit less colored and more accurate. The S4X has brightness to it across the spectrum and feels a bit colored where the M12s is much more neutral. M12's notes feels a bit sharper with finishing and less forgiving. It too is a lot precise and accurate, what it does better is the tingling feel. It has excellent contrast and the shine of the instruments are more perceivable. Where the S4X doesn't have anything sharp, the M12s doesn't try to hide them which adds a bit of extra character.
Sonically it is equally good but has overall taller and less deep stage.
Which is better.. If you like tingling instruments the M12s will rock, if you like a bit more overall attacking sound with everything sounding eager and forward the S4X is excellent.
VS Austrian Audio HI-X55:
How dare I compare a closed back headphone with open back? I can, because both are a lot similar than different. Both are from Europe and have a balanced sound with excellent build quality. The X55 has slightly bigger and thinner ear pads which are more comfortable on the ears.
Sound wise, the X55 has bigger lower end and feel a bit more complete, it still is not bassy but has better slam and rumble. The sub-bass have a bit more heft to it. Mid range is similar to the M12s, it favors vocals a bit while other instruments take a step back, managing to deliver a slightly less aggressive sound. Timber is equally natural but the S4X is a bit more colored thanks to its slight brightness. Treble is a bit more extended with much better energy till the end of the spectrum, the S4X sounds dull in front of the X55. Layering and separation is better than the S4X with treble notes. The x55 has much deeper notes, the S4X feels smaller here, when I A-Bed both headphones the difference with the treble energy and notes depth took me by surprise.
Stage wise, the X55 is much wider and taller than the S4X, one might doubt that this closed back HP might not sound open and grand but the X55 manages to wow me. The depth is slightly lacking but still then it is around 20% bigger than the open back S4X which is surprising.
Which one to pick.. Both are excellent headphones but if you don't want to leak anything and want a bit more flexibility then the X55 is the one to go for as it can deliver a bit more rumble and can take heavy metal without sounding tiring. If the need is for an open back headphone with a reference sound the S4X nails it.
CONCLUSION:-
So.. This is the end of review of an excellent sounding headphone which looks gorgeous too. It is a reference headphone which will appeal to those who want details over anything else. It has everything balanced but there is some roll off at both the extreme ends. It does not pump much bass and is kind of small too but that does not stop me from recommending these over any other headphones in its price range. The open back design gives it a big stage and added sonicality. The dynamic feel is intriguing.
S4X is an excellent headphone, but if you want a bit of lower end rumble and don't want to compromise with treble region, even when the x55 is a closed headphone, you can look into that.
Improvements I would like to see:
1. Slightly bigger cups. This 90mm is neither on-ear nor over-ear and feels a bit less comfortable.
2. The mid range can be a bit less forward and the treble can be a bit more forward.
3. A bit more sub-bass will make it more enjoyable.
Before you decide to go..
Make yourself busy with this interesting bit of comparison graphs from Ollo:
https://olloaudio.com/pages/measurements
Ollo has only one Headphone on sale, the S4X reference headphones, which I am reviewing here. It does not have any options for the wood but hey, the stock wood looks classy too. Priced at 399 Euros these headphones face some competition from another growing brand, Austrian Audio HI-X55 and other headphones in its price range like Hifiman Sundara, HD600 and a few more.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/OLLO-Audio-S4X-Professional-Headphones-Brown/dp/B08KGLRSTP
And
https://olloaudio.com/products/s4x-reference-headphones
All other models like S4 and S4R can be bought in B-stock options with a sizeable discount.
P.S. I reached out to OLLO Audio for the S4X review and they responded kindly.
WHATS IN THE BOX:
There isn't a lot of stuff inside the box, a cable, a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter, a carry pouch and a few documents rounds up the list of accessories.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
The Ollo audio ships with a 200cm/78inch long basic looking cable, with 3.5mm TRS and dual 2.5mm TRS terminations, nothing fancy here. It has external braiding from the 3.5mm jack till the Y splitter, it protects the wire from accidental damage and wear too. But due to this braiding the cable ends up being slightly on the stiffer side. The splitter is small and barely has any weight to it. The cable above the splitter is kind of flashy with red rubbery coating over the wire which gives it a bouncy feel but doesn't result into any microphonics thankfully.
Even when the cable has L/R markings, the ear cups don't have anything like that. Thanks to frequency matched drivers plug any on any side and it is good to go.
BUILD, FIT AND AESTHETICS:-
I already have a very similar looking headphone in my inventory with a slightly different type of wood. Aesthetically the S4X looks more premium with a slightly darker but natural and sober looking wood. The drivers are held in place with two screws on both sides of the cups. The open style back plates give S4X a retro classic vibe. The stainless steel head bend feels a lot sturdier and stable. The spring loaded leather headband does not have any cushioning but due to the wider design feels very comfortable. The headband is held in place with simple screw which can be changed without any problem.
Ear pads have a hybrid design with velour on the face and artificial leather on the sides. With an outer diameter of 90mm and inner diameter of 55mm the Level of comfort is fairly good for a few hours but have to be adjusted after that. I would have liked a slightly bigger pad. The size is somewhere in between on and over ear sizes.
In their words:
PREMIUM MATERIALS
"Timelessness of stainless steel coupled with luxury nautical leather and velour for maximum comfort. Paired with a smell of a fresh sustainably sourced wood."
EAR FATIGUE NO MORE
"Custom designed velour earpads fit around your head snuggly while the self-adjusting strap provides for a perfect fit. Combined with a balanced sound, it will enable you to work on headphones for hours."Ollo S4X's refreshingly simple yet intriguing deign has been awarded with German Design council recently.
TECHNICALITIES AND MATCHING WITH SOURCES:-
Since i have bought a few LG devices with dedicated DACs they have become my first source of music. The S4X sounds kind of edgy with mobile phones, be it the Vivo V19 or LG G7. The S4X demands a bit of power, even when the rated impedance is at just 32ohm it is not the easiest headphone in the market and doesn't comply excellently with weaker sources. Not that the S4X doesn't get loud, it gets fairly loud with the mobile devices but the sound is not at its prime, it kind of feels being dragged, notes are not full enough and doesn't have the best tonality either.
Driving it out of dedicated DAC/Amps is much more desirable. It is an open back headphone after all and is not meant of outdoor use. Driving out of the Burson Audio Playmate is a pleasant affair. It starts to behave well with excellent details and control over notes. It does not feel like being forcefully pushed any more.
Driving the S4X out of a dedicated dap like Shanling M6 yields excellent resolution and details. It starts sounding a bit more mature and perfectly reflects the true characters of the DAP without breaking a sweat.
HOW DOES THIS SOUNDS:-
Ollo uses neodymium drivers which has 2 layered coils with a 25u PET membrane and are precisely matched.
First statement about the S4X's sound attributes on its official product page is "Natural and Brutally honest" The burning question is.. How does this beauty sound? First thing first, these are reference type headphones and do not have a lot of lower end grunt to them (Maybe the closed back plates can change the sound signature but I can't confirm that). Mid range is agile and dynamic with plenty of details, same goes for the treble region.
S4X's sound signature is slightly on the brighter and crispier side with balanced notes presentation.
Ollo audio dont compromise when it comes to sound quality. In their words:
"WE MEASURE EVERY PAIR
OLLO headphones are individually tested and measured and come with the frequency response measurements chart in the package."
"Designed and measured using IEC 60318-1 standard."
BASS:-
Even when the graph shows a bit of an elevated lower end the S4X cannot be labeled as a bassy headphone by a long shot. The precisely tuned dynamic driver has a controlled and accurate lower end with nice sub-bass extension with required amount of rumble to it. It does not move a lot of air though. Doesn't matter how it is driven, due to the reference tuning and open back design the sub-bass region doesn't go boom boom. It does not vanish into thin air but it is just a few DB more than what the ER-4P delivers. The Mid-bass is a bit more voluminous with much better body and slam. It still doesn't qualify as a "wholesome" but has good amount of body and slam which keeps the party going. The punch is not hard and the rumble is not comparable to other dynamic driver headphones like Sennheiser HD6 mix or even the HD598/599 but it excels with decay speed while maintaining very good amount of texture. The S4X delivers a cleaner and faster response with a slight bit or precipitation. The level of accuracy and precision offered by it is simply class leading.
Should you look at the S4X for its bass thump? Not really, it is tight and precise without much excitement, its has a more analytical tuning to it.
P.S. Equalizing helps (if needed) without messing around. It responds to EQs without any problem.
MID RANGE:-
The Frequency graph shows a slight bit of decrease in volume for the entire mid range but thanks to the open back design the S4X's bass doesn't feel heavy, letting the mid range express itself without any restriction. The transition from upper bass to lower mid range delivers plenty of details without losing any energy. The mid range has plenty of micro details with one of the most accurate and precise notes presentation. It manages to find a sweet spot which balances everything while delivering plenty of details and transparency with the juiciness intact.
The vocal region sounds vivid with excellent accuracy while maintaining appropriate amount of fullness. Both male and female vocals have class leading amount of transparency, definition and resolution with a lot of texture. The tonality is accurate and very organic (the wooden housing might be playing a part in this) making the vocals very enjoyable. Male vocals sound throaty while female vocals are aptly sharp with right amount of energy. Instruments have nice shine to them with perfect depth and bite. A bit more might have pushed it into uncomfortable territory. It impresses me by not favoring any part of the spectrum. There isn't a single instrument that feels dull or over energized. The upper mid is in line with the rest of the spectrum and doesn't have any anomalies while maintaining equally good amount of energy and transparency.
Ollo S4X separates itself from the crowd with its technicality, the way it manages to deliver micro details of background instruments without tempering with the foreground is praise worthy and the contrasty nature makes the whole experience enjoyable.
HIGHS:-
The S4X has precise notes presentation across the spectrum and it holds true for the treble section too. It does not have the most liveliest or sparkly treble region. What it has is an aptly energetic presentation filled with good amount of details and transparency, transparency which is not the best in its price range. Some headphones like the HI-X55 exhibit better transparency and clarity with deeper and more energetic notes but the S4X doesn't belong to that bunch, the open back design helps a lot by dampening most of the shine and sparkle. It delivers the good amount of energy and spark staying clear of any uncomfortable notes. It has very good amount of air between instruments. Thanks to its slightly bright nature it resolves very good cleanliness.
The transition phase from upper mid range to lower treble region is excellent with transparency and clarity. The extension is very good but it starts to lose energy as it goes deeper into the spectrum. Level of details retrieval is very good, it doesn't miss out on much while keeping the timber close to natural. Cymbals and pianos have good transparency with an organic feel to it. Needless to say that separation and layering is up to the mark with good amount of air and space between instruments. The treble stage is well spread and has good density to it. The bigger stage helps a lot with instrument placements and density.
Is this the best treble? Short answer is no, but If you are coming from a Planar headphone, yes this is better.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
In general an open back headphone has to have a wider, deeper and open field of sound compared to most of the closed back headphones and that holds true here. The open back design grants a lot of dynamism and sonicalities. Depending on the track the stage can stretch, if the stage feels a bit narrow near the head with one track, with the right track it feels wider. Overall the stage is well extended in every direction, one might complain that it does not have the height some other headphones like the HD598 but it is much more deeper, wider sonically superior than that. It can place cues much further and precisely. All of the vocals are placed inside the head and most of the instruments are placed outside.
COMPARISON:-
VS Fischer M12s:
The M12s used to be my favorite headphone under 500 euros. It too has a wooden enclosure with a open back design. It has only one in and cannot be sued with balanced cables. The 5mm larger cups are a bit more comfortable on the head as it doesn't press on my ears.
Sound wise it has a slightly more rumble with similar body, the decay is slightly slower. Unlike the S4X the M12s is a bit less colored and more accurate. The S4X has brightness to it across the spectrum and feels a bit colored where the M12s is much more neutral. M12's notes feels a bit sharper with finishing and less forgiving. It too is a lot precise and accurate, what it does better is the tingling feel. It has excellent contrast and the shine of the instruments are more perceivable. Where the S4X doesn't have anything sharp, the M12s doesn't try to hide them which adds a bit of extra character.
Sonically it is equally good but has overall taller and less deep stage.
Which is better.. If you like tingling instruments the M12s will rock, if you like a bit more overall attacking sound with everything sounding eager and forward the S4X is excellent.
VS Austrian Audio HI-X55:
How dare I compare a closed back headphone with open back? I can, because both are a lot similar than different. Both are from Europe and have a balanced sound with excellent build quality. The X55 has slightly bigger and thinner ear pads which are more comfortable on the ears.
Sound wise, the X55 has bigger lower end and feel a bit more complete, it still is not bassy but has better slam and rumble. The sub-bass have a bit more heft to it. Mid range is similar to the M12s, it favors vocals a bit while other instruments take a step back, managing to deliver a slightly less aggressive sound. Timber is equally natural but the S4X is a bit more colored thanks to its slight brightness. Treble is a bit more extended with much better energy till the end of the spectrum, the S4X sounds dull in front of the X55. Layering and separation is better than the S4X with treble notes. The x55 has much deeper notes, the S4X feels smaller here, when I A-Bed both headphones the difference with the treble energy and notes depth took me by surprise.
Stage wise, the X55 is much wider and taller than the S4X, one might doubt that this closed back HP might not sound open and grand but the X55 manages to wow me. The depth is slightly lacking but still then it is around 20% bigger than the open back S4X which is surprising.
Which one to pick.. Both are excellent headphones but if you don't want to leak anything and want a bit more flexibility then the X55 is the one to go for as it can deliver a bit more rumble and can take heavy metal without sounding tiring. If the need is for an open back headphone with a reference sound the S4X nails it.
CONCLUSION:-
So.. This is the end of review of an excellent sounding headphone which looks gorgeous too. It is a reference headphone which will appeal to those who want details over anything else. It has everything balanced but there is some roll off at both the extreme ends. It does not pump much bass and is kind of small too but that does not stop me from recommending these over any other headphones in its price range. The open back design gives it a big stage and added sonicality. The dynamic feel is intriguing.
S4X is an excellent headphone, but if you want a bit of lower end rumble and don't want to compromise with treble region, even when the x55 is a closed headphone, you can look into that.
Improvements I would like to see:
1. Slightly bigger cups. This 90mm is neither on-ear nor over-ear and feels a bit less comfortable.
2. The mid range can be a bit less forward and the treble can be a bit more forward.
3. A bit more sub-bass will make it more enjoyable.
Before you decide to go..
Make yourself busy with this interesting bit of comparison graphs from Ollo:
https://olloaudio.com/pages/measurements
Attachments
INTRODUCTION:
Hailing from China Sivga is known for their high quality headphones with a touch of wood in them. They raised their head a few years ago and have a handful of headphones under their belt. Sivga has been delivering eye-catching designs as well as intriguingly equipped headphones since their arrival. The Phoenix reviewed by Ryan has been one of their most popular headphones and their budget headphone SV021 Robin, which I reviewed last time, can be considered as one of the best headphone under $200.
What I am reviewing here is the SV023, is it the successor to the SV021? It feels like an individual release as it is thrice as expensive as the Robin and is the most expensive headphone on offer from Sivga. Just like any other Sivga headphones, SV023 too has wooden cups but unlike the Robin it doesn't have any color options. It houses a 50mm dynamic driver and is currently priced at $449. SV023 competes with the highly popular Sennheiser 6 series of headphone.
I will compare it with one of the most accomplished headphones under, $500 Sennheiser HD650.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://www.sivgaaudio.com/product_d?id=13
https://audio46.com/products/sivga-sv023-open-back-over-ear-headphones
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
Last time when I reviewed the SV021 there wasn't much to talk about when it comes to accessories but this time around we have a few interesting things inside the box. First of all, unboxing is fairly straightforward. Open the upper half of the box and a beautiful looking semi-hard carry case with leather like texture greets us and all the accessories along with the headphone are placed inside it. Its 4.4mm pentaconn cable and a 3.5mm single ended adaptor are safely tucked in a drawstring cloth pouch between the headband and protective foam.
I have a small issue with the case though. It barely can fit the headphone and can't be closed if the cable is attached. This is not a serious issue but unplugging from the sockets every time I put the headphone in the case is not very convenient.
BUILD QUALITY AND COMFORT:
Sivga does not make clunky or shoddy headphones and SV023 is no exception. Built around a light weight frame and wooden cups this headphone feels lighter than most of the full size headphones. At 318g this isn't exactly feather weight but its minimal looks do give an impression of that. There is no excessive use of metal or padding but it still is very sturdy and flexible. What I didn't like is the sliding faux leather padding. It has no stops and slides freely on both sides according to the pressure applied which can lead to asymmetrical movements on the metal band. If this is looked over, SV023 has no weak points. Its wooden body adds class and even when this is open back there is good amount of insulation on its back to stop heavy leakage and protects the drivers from dust and moisture.
Comfort wise there is little to no complain. SV023 has an ergonomically design hybrid pad with cloth like texture on the face side and faux leather on the sides. I am not sure if the curves on the pad will fit all heads but it's reasonably designed. These pads are fairly comfy but can get a bit ticklish after a while, I had it on when I was doing some twists and it started to feel a bit funny after sometime. I should not complain but this is a possibility, especially in humid conditions.
CABLE:
SV023 ships with an excellent looking high quality 4.4mm 6N OCC copper cable with 2.5mm mono connectors for the headphone. Length of this cable is somewhere around 6 feet. For a change, this cable has no microphonics at all and is very supple and doesn't bouncy either. Most of the headphone cables are stiff and have horrible memory problems but this barely has any. Components used here are of higher quality (metal) with reasonable protection at the headphone jack. Both the cable splitter and cable slider are fairly smaller to get in the way or weigh the cable down.
Use of metal jackets on all the connectors do make this cable feel a bit heavy but it's still is fairly lightweight. All in all its one of the best looking stock cable.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
Even with an Impedance of 300ohm SV023 is not a hard to drive headphone but pairing still is vital to extract good performance from it. What I observed is not the power but it's the signature and timber of the source. When I used the Beam 3 Pro which has a very precise and very neutral tonality SV023 sounded off, especially tonality and timber were suffering. Notes felt a bit compressed and held back. When paired with similarly powered Shanling UA5 and UA3 SV023 opens up like a friendly neighborhood headphone and when I switched to the Questyle M15 it was a party, excellent pairing with this beauty. The stage gets even bigger and the layering and separation takes it to the top of its class. This is an highly capable headphone after all.
When I used it with my Playmate 2 and S.M.S.L D-6 paired with Bravo Audio V2, SV023 exhibits reasonable improvements with separation, resolution and definition over the Shanling UA3. So in short, SV023 is not a very whiny headphone, pair it with something jolly and crisp and watch it dance.
SOUND QUALITY:
I don't know why but initially I wasn't expecting a lot out of this fairly expensive headphone but I was in for a pleasant surprise. I have a few headphones in this price range, while all of these are very good, none have the balance and end to end accuracy of the Sivga. SV023 delivers a well rounded performance which barely leaves much to be desired. It's not bass heavy and has a well balanced spectrum with a mild W shaped signature. SV023 does all this without suppressing or trimming out resolution or definition. Just like most of the head-gears of recent times the SV023 too doesn't have much coloration while having a neutral timber. If you have to know, yes, this headphone is considerably better sounding than the SVo21.
I have used Micro Signature, S.M.S.L. D-6 paired with Bravo Audio V2, Shanling UA3 and Questyle M15 for this review.
BASS:
This 50mm dynamic driver has a more balanced approach and doesn't exaggerate the lower end but delivers very good details with very good accuracy. It has very good sub-bass extension and rumble for an open back headphone but doesn't have a huge volume or heft to it. This lower end is tighter and more precise. Mid bass is slightly fuller and voluminous than the sub-bass but is still not in the bassy category. There is good amount of punch but it's not heavy or slow. It doesn't try to bring the bass unless the track asks for it, exhibiting its control and dynamic abilities. Upper bass is equally energized and capable as the SV023 doesn't have any issues in place notes dynamically. SV023 doesnt skimp on technicalities, delivering the notes in layers without slowing down or dropping frames. Decay speed is on the faster side and is neck in neck with more expensive headphones like Focal Clear.
If you are looking for hard hitting bass with vim and vigor, this might not be it. SV023 doesn't have a lot of interest in pleasing the bass heads. It is more about accuracy and precision while keeping the air clean of any wooliness or bloating.
MID RANGE:
I have heard a lot of headphones, extensively in this price range of $150-600, but since the Ollo s4x and Fischer M12s there wasn't anything comparable to these. There was something off with most of them. But that streek is broken by the SV023. This HP has one of the best presentation and imaging in this price range and can easily outplay cheaper headphones with both its technical and musical abilities.
Sivga has tuned this mid range with high precision and accuracy, I was slightly skeptical of its abilities but once I A-Bed with Sennheiser HD650 it left no doubts in my mind. First thing that caught my attention is its pleasing natural and cohesive timber. There is little to no aggression and the aggression it has is either well controlled or is necessary. Sviga is simply superior to its HD650 in every way possible. It has better balance, slightly less attacking note, a calmer approach with better air between instruments and cleaner, clearer presentation. I was surprised by the stage expansion and instrument distribution, it's more even and has better definition of individual notes too.
Unlike most of the headphones SV023 has a more balanced vocal region giving it a more accomplished and mature feeling. Both male and female vocals barely have any aggression and maintain a very good balance of energy and body. Tonality and timber too are very accurate with high quality texture. While I was listening to "Fallout boy: my song knows what you did in the dark" SV023 impressed me a lot with its back and foreground separation of both male and female vocal and instruments. The way it creates a stage with accurate instrument placement, aided with subtle cue placement is what makes this an excellent headphone. It doesn't have any deformation or unnecessary attack to worry about. There is no uncomfortable aggression in the upper mid either. It's accuracy with instruments like guitar, triangle and similar percussion instruments are absolutely spot-on, vivid yet not sharp. If anything, there is no dull feeling with the SV023. This mid range is tuned for precision and accuracy.
The only place where I find it compromising is with the lower mids. It just dials the energy down to maintain a bit of clarity and separation but this leads to a bit of less transparency to this region.
HIGHS:
Treble region retains all the goodness of the mid range and make it slightly milder. It's lively, crispy and agile yet clear of any offence or aggression. SV023 brings out the melodious yet accurate side of tracks with its exemplary sonic and dynamic abilities. Its ability to distinguish central and surrounding acts is superlative. Treble extension too has little to desire but yes, the upper treble region is slightly relaxed yet retains excellent definition and resolution.
SOUND STAGE AND IMAGING:
As mentioned in the mid range SV023 is a highly capable headphone when it comes to imaging. It has high quality contrast between back and fore ground instruments and the layering and separation is top quality. SV023 delicately places subtle notes further from the head adding up to its sonicality.
Stage size too is above average for a headphone in this price. Initially the stage was a bit intimate, I though, okay.. This is not bad but it opened up with burn-ins and after 120+ hrs it has a well developed stage with evenly dense instrument distribution. No part of the spectrum feel heavy or over crowded. This stage has very good expansion in every direction. It's more holographic than the HD650 thanks to its wider and deeper stage. Height is very good too but is not as tall as the HD650.
COMPARISON:
VS Sennheiser HD650:
This has been one of the crowd favorite under $500 and I can understand why but this headphone has started to show its age. Both the headphones have excellent details, and resolution but HD650 is a hit or miss when it comes to definition. Those who like tighter notes and do not worry about sharper notes might like the Hd650, for other Sivga has the SV023. Due to its leaner notes HD650 lacks with tonality, timber and body, notes feel a bit compressed yet tall giving it a unnaturally developed stage height while the SV023 has these things more natural and cohesive. Notes have precise yet fuller body and do not have the excessive finishing energy either. SV023 does not try to make thing lean to bring better transparency like HD650 but still maintains very good clarity. It might hurt a few but SV023 has a much bigger stage than the HD650, its much bigger in every dimension delivering better layering, air between instruments. Thanks to its delicate nature SV023 has better sonics and feels more dynamic while the HD650 can feel a bit monotonous.
Yes, definitely, HD650 needs tube amps priced at over its asking price to tame its excessive energy while retaining good amount of its resolution and detail but the SV023 does not need anything like this. SV023 is happy with most of the sources. If the source is not thin sounding, SV023 is game.
CONCLUSION:
Hmm, as I usually feel with all the head gears I love, I feel like writing all the things in the conclusion too. It just comes naturally. SV023 is a very capable headphone to say the least. It has nearly everything one can ask for. It has the vividness, transparency and details without compromising with dynamics or sonicality. All this is held together in a well developed stage.
In short SV023 is a jolly yet highly technically capable headphone. It is one of the best all-rounder in the market under $500.
Hailing from China Sivga is known for their high quality headphones with a touch of wood in them. They raised their head a few years ago and have a handful of headphones under their belt. Sivga has been delivering eye-catching designs as well as intriguingly equipped headphones since their arrival. The Phoenix reviewed by Ryan has been one of their most popular headphones and their budget headphone SV021 Robin, which I reviewed last time, can be considered as one of the best headphone under $200.
What I am reviewing here is the SV023, is it the successor to the SV021? It feels like an individual release as it is thrice as expensive as the Robin and is the most expensive headphone on offer from Sivga. Just like any other Sivga headphones, SV023 too has wooden cups but unlike the Robin it doesn't have any color options. It houses a 50mm dynamic driver and is currently priced at $449. SV023 competes with the highly popular Sennheiser 6 series of headphone.
I will compare it with one of the most accomplished headphones under, $500 Sennheiser HD650.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://www.sivgaaudio.com/product_d?id=13
https://audio46.com/products/sivga-sv023-open-back-over-ear-headphones
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
Last time when I reviewed the SV021 there wasn't much to talk about when it comes to accessories but this time around we have a few interesting things inside the box. First of all, unboxing is fairly straightforward. Open the upper half of the box and a beautiful looking semi-hard carry case with leather like texture greets us and all the accessories along with the headphone are placed inside it. Its 4.4mm pentaconn cable and a 3.5mm single ended adaptor are safely tucked in a drawstring cloth pouch between the headband and protective foam.
I have a small issue with the case though. It barely can fit the headphone and can't be closed if the cable is attached. This is not a serious issue but unplugging from the sockets every time I put the headphone in the case is not very convenient.
BUILD QUALITY AND COMFORT:
Sivga does not make clunky or shoddy headphones and SV023 is no exception. Built around a light weight frame and wooden cups this headphone feels lighter than most of the full size headphones. At 318g this isn't exactly feather weight but its minimal looks do give an impression of that. There is no excessive use of metal or padding but it still is very sturdy and flexible. What I didn't like is the sliding faux leather padding. It has no stops and slides freely on both sides according to the pressure applied which can lead to asymmetrical movements on the metal band. If this is looked over, SV023 has no weak points. Its wooden body adds class and even when this is open back there is good amount of insulation on its back to stop heavy leakage and protects the drivers from dust and moisture.
Comfort wise there is little to no complain. SV023 has an ergonomically design hybrid pad with cloth like texture on the face side and faux leather on the sides. I am not sure if the curves on the pad will fit all heads but it's reasonably designed. These pads are fairly comfy but can get a bit ticklish after a while, I had it on when I was doing some twists and it started to feel a bit funny after sometime. I should not complain but this is a possibility, especially in humid conditions.
CABLE:
SV023 ships with an excellent looking high quality 4.4mm 6N OCC copper cable with 2.5mm mono connectors for the headphone. Length of this cable is somewhere around 6 feet. For a change, this cable has no microphonics at all and is very supple and doesn't bouncy either. Most of the headphone cables are stiff and have horrible memory problems but this barely has any. Components used here are of higher quality (metal) with reasonable protection at the headphone jack. Both the cable splitter and cable slider are fairly smaller to get in the way or weigh the cable down.
Use of metal jackets on all the connectors do make this cable feel a bit heavy but it's still is fairly lightweight. All in all its one of the best looking stock cable.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
Even with an Impedance of 300ohm SV023 is not a hard to drive headphone but pairing still is vital to extract good performance from it. What I observed is not the power but it's the signature and timber of the source. When I used the Beam 3 Pro which has a very precise and very neutral tonality SV023 sounded off, especially tonality and timber were suffering. Notes felt a bit compressed and held back. When paired with similarly powered Shanling UA5 and UA3 SV023 opens up like a friendly neighborhood headphone and when I switched to the Questyle M15 it was a party, excellent pairing with this beauty. The stage gets even bigger and the layering and separation takes it to the top of its class. This is an highly capable headphone after all.
When I used it with my Playmate 2 and S.M.S.L D-6 paired with Bravo Audio V2, SV023 exhibits reasonable improvements with separation, resolution and definition over the Shanling UA3. So in short, SV023 is not a very whiny headphone, pair it with something jolly and crisp and watch it dance.
SOUND QUALITY:
I don't know why but initially I wasn't expecting a lot out of this fairly expensive headphone but I was in for a pleasant surprise. I have a few headphones in this price range, while all of these are very good, none have the balance and end to end accuracy of the Sivga. SV023 delivers a well rounded performance which barely leaves much to be desired. It's not bass heavy and has a well balanced spectrum with a mild W shaped signature. SV023 does all this without suppressing or trimming out resolution or definition. Just like most of the head-gears of recent times the SV023 too doesn't have much coloration while having a neutral timber. If you have to know, yes, this headphone is considerably better sounding than the SVo21.
I have used Micro Signature, S.M.S.L. D-6 paired with Bravo Audio V2, Shanling UA3 and Questyle M15 for this review.
BASS:
This 50mm dynamic driver has a more balanced approach and doesn't exaggerate the lower end but delivers very good details with very good accuracy. It has very good sub-bass extension and rumble for an open back headphone but doesn't have a huge volume or heft to it. This lower end is tighter and more precise. Mid bass is slightly fuller and voluminous than the sub-bass but is still not in the bassy category. There is good amount of punch but it's not heavy or slow. It doesn't try to bring the bass unless the track asks for it, exhibiting its control and dynamic abilities. Upper bass is equally energized and capable as the SV023 doesn't have any issues in place notes dynamically. SV023 doesnt skimp on technicalities, delivering the notes in layers without slowing down or dropping frames. Decay speed is on the faster side and is neck in neck with more expensive headphones like Focal Clear.
If you are looking for hard hitting bass with vim and vigor, this might not be it. SV023 doesn't have a lot of interest in pleasing the bass heads. It is more about accuracy and precision while keeping the air clean of any wooliness or bloating.
MID RANGE:
I have heard a lot of headphones, extensively in this price range of $150-600, but since the Ollo s4x and Fischer M12s there wasn't anything comparable to these. There was something off with most of them. But that streek is broken by the SV023. This HP has one of the best presentation and imaging in this price range and can easily outplay cheaper headphones with both its technical and musical abilities.
Sivga has tuned this mid range with high precision and accuracy, I was slightly skeptical of its abilities but once I A-Bed with Sennheiser HD650 it left no doubts in my mind. First thing that caught my attention is its pleasing natural and cohesive timber. There is little to no aggression and the aggression it has is either well controlled or is necessary. Sviga is simply superior to its HD650 in every way possible. It has better balance, slightly less attacking note, a calmer approach with better air between instruments and cleaner, clearer presentation. I was surprised by the stage expansion and instrument distribution, it's more even and has better definition of individual notes too.
Unlike most of the headphones SV023 has a more balanced vocal region giving it a more accomplished and mature feeling. Both male and female vocals barely have any aggression and maintain a very good balance of energy and body. Tonality and timber too are very accurate with high quality texture. While I was listening to "Fallout boy: my song knows what you did in the dark" SV023 impressed me a lot with its back and foreground separation of both male and female vocal and instruments. The way it creates a stage with accurate instrument placement, aided with subtle cue placement is what makes this an excellent headphone. It doesn't have any deformation or unnecessary attack to worry about. There is no uncomfortable aggression in the upper mid either. It's accuracy with instruments like guitar, triangle and similar percussion instruments are absolutely spot-on, vivid yet not sharp. If anything, there is no dull feeling with the SV023. This mid range is tuned for precision and accuracy.
The only place where I find it compromising is with the lower mids. It just dials the energy down to maintain a bit of clarity and separation but this leads to a bit of less transparency to this region.
HIGHS:
Treble region retains all the goodness of the mid range and make it slightly milder. It's lively, crispy and agile yet clear of any offence or aggression. SV023 brings out the melodious yet accurate side of tracks with its exemplary sonic and dynamic abilities. Its ability to distinguish central and surrounding acts is superlative. Treble extension too has little to desire but yes, the upper treble region is slightly relaxed yet retains excellent definition and resolution.
SOUND STAGE AND IMAGING:
As mentioned in the mid range SV023 is a highly capable headphone when it comes to imaging. It has high quality contrast between back and fore ground instruments and the layering and separation is top quality. SV023 delicately places subtle notes further from the head adding up to its sonicality.
Stage size too is above average for a headphone in this price. Initially the stage was a bit intimate, I though, okay.. This is not bad but it opened up with burn-ins and after 120+ hrs it has a well developed stage with evenly dense instrument distribution. No part of the spectrum feel heavy or over crowded. This stage has very good expansion in every direction. It's more holographic than the HD650 thanks to its wider and deeper stage. Height is very good too but is not as tall as the HD650.
COMPARISON:
VS Sennheiser HD650:
This has been one of the crowd favorite under $500 and I can understand why but this headphone has started to show its age. Both the headphones have excellent details, and resolution but HD650 is a hit or miss when it comes to definition. Those who like tighter notes and do not worry about sharper notes might like the Hd650, for other Sivga has the SV023. Due to its leaner notes HD650 lacks with tonality, timber and body, notes feel a bit compressed yet tall giving it a unnaturally developed stage height while the SV023 has these things more natural and cohesive. Notes have precise yet fuller body and do not have the excessive finishing energy either. SV023 does not try to make thing lean to bring better transparency like HD650 but still maintains very good clarity. It might hurt a few but SV023 has a much bigger stage than the HD650, its much bigger in every dimension delivering better layering, air between instruments. Thanks to its delicate nature SV023 has better sonics and feels more dynamic while the HD650 can feel a bit monotonous.
Yes, definitely, HD650 needs tube amps priced at over its asking price to tame its excessive energy while retaining good amount of its resolution and detail but the SV023 does not need anything like this. SV023 is happy with most of the sources. If the source is not thin sounding, SV023 is game.
CONCLUSION:
Hmm, as I usually feel with all the head gears I love, I feel like writing all the things in the conclusion too. It just comes naturally. SV023 is a very capable headphone to say the least. It has nearly everything one can ask for. It has the vividness, transparency and details without compromising with dynamics or sonicality. All this is held together in a well developed stage.
In short SV023 is a jolly yet highly technically capable headphone. It is one of the best all-rounder in the market under $500.
Attachments
Intro:
From being one of the prolific online seller in the world to a cable then IEM brand, Penon has ventured deep into the Audiophile market. They have been making good amount of IEMs for various type of consumers. They have single DD to multi BA and multi hybrid IEMs under their belt and the Penon Serial is their latest addition. It's an unique kind of IEM with 3 dynamic drivers in a 3 way crossover. The tech is not exactly new in the market but the implementation of the UM 3DT wasn't exactly excellent. Penon has a different strategy here. They have a 10mm bio DD for bass, 8mm titanium plated driver for mids and 6mm PU DD for highs, interesting combination of drivers I must admit.
Penon has been making excellent sounding IEMs and I am expecting a pleasing experience with the Serial. Priced at $299 it comes in only black color and goes head-on against the CFA Satsuma, UM3DT and many other DD based IEMs.
Get one from here:
https://penonaudio.com/penon-serial.html
UNBOXING and ACCESSORIES:
Serial ships with the usual Penon style box and has 6 pair of tips.
BUILD QUALITY:
Serial has a unique kind of shell. The body is mostly made out of resin for better stability and durability but the back plate has pieces of stabilized wood on it with layers of resin on it. As usual the shell the solid to the hand and feels light weight. There is a single vent on the side of the shell. The metal nozzle looks good but isn't really premium feeling. What's odd is that even with a resin body the IEM doesn't have a more ergonomically designed wing. This should have been better but thanks to light weight and deeper insertion serial is fairly comfortable.
CABLE:
Penon Serial ships with an 8 core OCC + SPC cable. Its Not the most premium cable in the market but it still looks good and somewhat compliments the IEM aesthetically. A silver coated cable could have made this pairing more appealing. It's an supple and soft cable without much memory problem. It barely has any microphonics to worry about. What I really like is the lack of cable guides. There are some stress relieving at the jack end but doesn't have much protection anywhere else. The cable splitter looks nice while chin slider is a bit too big. Sound wise this cable is not bad, upgrading to something like Effect Audio Grandioso or similarly priced Silver cable will make sense, or else it does the job.
PAIRING:
Serial just like any other DD based IEM doesn't really care a lot about the source but it enjoy power without any guilt. The worst performance is with mobile devices but that too is above average while driving it from something like Fiio KA3 and Qudelix 5k brings out the best of it with better details and transparency.
SOUND QUALITY:
It has 3 DD in a 3 way cross which delivers one of the most cohesive sound in any price range. Cohesive has been a great USP for Penon. Their ORB too was excellent in this regard. This takes it even further. It has a reasonably balanced sound with a Slightly W shaped feel. The mid range is not drowned while the lower end and lower treble region are a bit more forward.
There is little to no coloration while having one of the most uniform notes presentation. I love this. No note feels out of place or gives an odd vibe.
I am using Tri-TK2 and stock tips for this review while changing cables.
BASS:
Serial is very pleasant sounding IEM with exceptional lower end abilities. I can write the conclusion here. You read it right, you can stop reading here and grab the Serial for it's lower end quality. There is no other IEM in the market which can deliver an lower end like this under $500. If you are a bass lover, want to enjoy the goodness of lower end without any guilt, this IEM will do wonders. The sub-bass extension is excellent, very deep, rumbly and has the eargasmic air moving quality. The whole lower end feels meaty and full which gives it the cohesive but this does lack the speed one might look for at times. The layering and definition of notes are exceptionally good in the lower region.
Now the question arises, Is it an IEM for bass heads? Yes and no. Yes because it's layered and defining prowess with weighted notes make it a delight to use but then it doesn't have the area or volume of a bass-head IEM like Satsuma or ISN D10. Serial's lower end has tunnel like feeling while others are flat.
MIDS:
Loved the lower end. But there is more to it. Bass is excellent, so are the vocals and mid range instruments. It's not the most detailed mid range by some margin but the rounded notes with thicker fuller and weighty nature gives it a calming and soothing signature. If an Audiophile who wants details and finishing definition, let me tell you, this might not be for you. It has very good edge definition with excellent texture on both vocals and instruments. Both male and female vocals have some of most pleasing tonality and timber with a throaty feel. Female vocals don't feel unnaturally thick, that's the beauty.
Another remarkable feature is it's reverb. This reverb gives the Serial an captivating quality. It's simply feels hypnotizing at times. It simply submersive.
Instruments have good details but the resolution and level of transparency is not high. Upper mids have good energy and details but the instruments before and after the vocals can be slightly mushy.
HIGHS:
What? Are you still here? Are you not convinced? This is the IEM for you!! Go get it.
If you still are reading on, either you are just curious or like to do some critical listening at times, if you do, this IEM might not be for you. The treble region is not bad, it has good extension and reasonable relevance but doesn't have a lively feeling to it. The spark isn't good. It's doesn't have any offensive feel to it, which is a positive. Layering and separation are not class leading. Micro details are not exactly present in the treble region.. This has two conclusions. 1. It's a bass lover's delight, let's you enjoy without interruption. 2. It's not for those looking for treble details.
STAGE and IMAGING:
Serial has good stage expansion, it's not very big though. Stage height is good near the head but gets better at the upper mid lower treble region which are placed out of the head. The Z-Axis is very good for the price but the X-axis could have been better.
Nearly 80% of the lower end notes are placed inside the head. Vocals have reasonable presence out of the head while 95% treble notes are placed out of the head. Cue placing abilities of this IEM is very good too. It's dynamically adjusting stage gives it very good sonicality.
COMPARISON:
CONCLUSION:
Hmm, waited for the conclusion? Aight, let me give it to you in simpler words.
Serial is for a bass lover who wants excellent texture, layered notes, excellent sub-bass with meaty mid bass. It does not unload a huge punch or volume but the experience is satisfying. The slower decay helps a lot too. Serial is suited for enjoying the music, its melodious and calm. If you want a lot of details, attack and traction, you can look at other options like Audiosense T800 and even the Shozy B2 makes more sense.
This is it guys, enjoy!!
From being one of the prolific online seller in the world to a cable then IEM brand, Penon has ventured deep into the Audiophile market. They have been making good amount of IEMs for various type of consumers. They have single DD to multi BA and multi hybrid IEMs under their belt and the Penon Serial is their latest addition. It's an unique kind of IEM with 3 dynamic drivers in a 3 way crossover. The tech is not exactly new in the market but the implementation of the UM 3DT wasn't exactly excellent. Penon has a different strategy here. They have a 10mm bio DD for bass, 8mm titanium plated driver for mids and 6mm PU DD for highs, interesting combination of drivers I must admit.
Penon has been making excellent sounding IEMs and I am expecting a pleasing experience with the Serial. Priced at $299 it comes in only black color and goes head-on against the CFA Satsuma, UM3DT and many other DD based IEMs.
Get one from here:
https://penonaudio.com/penon-serial.html
UNBOXING and ACCESSORIES:
Serial ships with the usual Penon style box and has 6 pair of tips.
BUILD QUALITY:
Serial has a unique kind of shell. The body is mostly made out of resin for better stability and durability but the back plate has pieces of stabilized wood on it with layers of resin on it. As usual the shell the solid to the hand and feels light weight. There is a single vent on the side of the shell. The metal nozzle looks good but isn't really premium feeling. What's odd is that even with a resin body the IEM doesn't have a more ergonomically designed wing. This should have been better but thanks to light weight and deeper insertion serial is fairly comfortable.
CABLE:
Penon Serial ships with an 8 core OCC + SPC cable. Its Not the most premium cable in the market but it still looks good and somewhat compliments the IEM aesthetically. A silver coated cable could have made this pairing more appealing. It's an supple and soft cable without much memory problem. It barely has any microphonics to worry about. What I really like is the lack of cable guides. There are some stress relieving at the jack end but doesn't have much protection anywhere else. The cable splitter looks nice while chin slider is a bit too big. Sound wise this cable is not bad, upgrading to something like Effect Audio Grandioso or similarly priced Silver cable will make sense, or else it does the job.
PAIRING:
Serial just like any other DD based IEM doesn't really care a lot about the source but it enjoy power without any guilt. The worst performance is with mobile devices but that too is above average while driving it from something like Fiio KA3 and Qudelix 5k brings out the best of it with better details and transparency.
SOUND QUALITY:
It has 3 DD in a 3 way cross which delivers one of the most cohesive sound in any price range. Cohesive has been a great USP for Penon. Their ORB too was excellent in this regard. This takes it even further. It has a reasonably balanced sound with a Slightly W shaped feel. The mid range is not drowned while the lower end and lower treble region are a bit more forward.
There is little to no coloration while having one of the most uniform notes presentation. I love this. No note feels out of place or gives an odd vibe.
I am using Tri-TK2 and stock tips for this review while changing cables.
BASS:
Serial is very pleasant sounding IEM with exceptional lower end abilities. I can write the conclusion here. You read it right, you can stop reading here and grab the Serial for it's lower end quality. There is no other IEM in the market which can deliver an lower end like this under $500. If you are a bass lover, want to enjoy the goodness of lower end without any guilt, this IEM will do wonders. The sub-bass extension is excellent, very deep, rumbly and has the eargasmic air moving quality. The whole lower end feels meaty and full which gives it the cohesive but this does lack the speed one might look for at times. The layering and definition of notes are exceptionally good in the lower region.
Now the question arises, Is it an IEM for bass heads? Yes and no. Yes because it's layered and defining prowess with weighted notes make it a delight to use but then it doesn't have the area or volume of a bass-head IEM like Satsuma or ISN D10. Serial's lower end has tunnel like feeling while others are flat.
MIDS:
Loved the lower end. But there is more to it. Bass is excellent, so are the vocals and mid range instruments. It's not the most detailed mid range by some margin but the rounded notes with thicker fuller and weighty nature gives it a calming and soothing signature. If an Audiophile who wants details and finishing definition, let me tell you, this might not be for you. It has very good edge definition with excellent texture on both vocals and instruments. Both male and female vocals have some of most pleasing tonality and timber with a throaty feel. Female vocals don't feel unnaturally thick, that's the beauty.
Another remarkable feature is it's reverb. This reverb gives the Serial an captivating quality. It's simply feels hypnotizing at times. It simply submersive.
Instruments have good details but the resolution and level of transparency is not high. Upper mids have good energy and details but the instruments before and after the vocals can be slightly mushy.
HIGHS:
What? Are you still here? Are you not convinced? This is the IEM for you!! Go get it.
If you still are reading on, either you are just curious or like to do some critical listening at times, if you do, this IEM might not be for you. The treble region is not bad, it has good extension and reasonable relevance but doesn't have a lively feeling to it. The spark isn't good. It's doesn't have any offensive feel to it, which is a positive. Layering and separation are not class leading. Micro details are not exactly present in the treble region.. This has two conclusions. 1. It's a bass lover's delight, let's you enjoy without interruption. 2. It's not for those looking for treble details.
STAGE and IMAGING:
Serial has good stage expansion, it's not very big though. Stage height is good near the head but gets better at the upper mid lower treble region which are placed out of the head. The Z-Axis is very good for the price but the X-axis could have been better.
Nearly 80% of the lower end notes are placed inside the head. Vocals have reasonable presence out of the head while 95% treble notes are placed out of the head. Cue placing abilities of this IEM is very good too. It's dynamically adjusting stage gives it very good sonicality.
COMPARISON:
CONCLUSION:
Hmm, waited for the conclusion? Aight, let me give it to you in simpler words.
Serial is for a bass lover who wants excellent texture, layered notes, excellent sub-bass with meaty mid bass. It does not unload a huge punch or volume but the experience is satisfying. The slower decay helps a lot too. Serial is suited for enjoying the music, its melodious and calm. If you want a lot of details, attack and traction, you can look at other options like Audiosense T800 and even the Shozy B2 makes more sense.
This is it guys, enjoy!!
Attachments
Onik
Made in China?
szore
Great analyses, succinct and insightful. Listening to them now off my desktop and they sounds great.
DaveStarWalker
Great review 
INTRO:-
Not all of us are aware of Burson audio. They don't push their products through fancy sellers and barely do much promotion on their own. But this is supposed to change as I have got a review unit from them. Hailing from Australia since 1996 their inception and they started their sales from 2005. Critically acclaimed by all the reviewers I personally hadn't heard a lot of buzz about their products before I got a message from them Through Bhav. They make a lot of DACs and Amps and DAC/Amps but what I have here with me is the Playmate 2, the sequel to the Playmate.
Burson is an interesting brand, they have their own ways.
In their words:-
"Burson Audio is an Australian audio manufacturer making products with no op-amps and all discrete circuitry for a lavish musical experience."
Head over here to know about their circuit design:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/about-us/discrete-circuits/
The Playmate 2 I am reviewing here is a very versatile thing on its own. It is a 3w Class A desktop headphone amp and can be used as pre amp if you pair it with some other DAC. You can connect your mobile phone through an OTG data cable.
The Playmate uses the flagship ES9038 DAC chip and you can opt for two types of op-amps. The Basic NE5532 and NE5534 op-amps set costs $544 and comes in only one color, Black. The V6 Vivid set costs $744 and has two color options, Black and silver. (You can always choose yours from their sets available separately).
I would like to thank Bhav from Burson audio for the unit.
Check the Playmate out:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/playmate-2/
I do not have a lot of DAC in the arsenal but I do have a two to compare the playmate with.
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
The package of the Burson Playmate 2 is very good. It is nicely packed with proper padding to protect the DAC/Amp from any damages. All the cables are places inside a card board box.
The playmate 2 is nicely placed in the foam and inside the cardboard box one can find a Type-C to C USB cable and a power adapter, no RCA cable this time around.
BUILD QUALITY:-
With a dimension of 190mm x 150mm x 60mm the Playmate 2 is smaller than the original. Build quality of the Playmate is very solid, it feel dense and solid to the hand. It is kind of heavy at around 3kg but the weight is nicely distributed across the board. There are no loose parts on the body, all the bolts are tight and the Playmate feels very sturdy. The rubber shoes on the base of the playmate have very good traction and don't let it slide easily. The new unified heat-sink outer design helps the Playmate 2 breathe better, even if it gets hot, it has better heat dissipation now.
The digital display on the playmate 2 is okay but could have been bigger. It is hard to see the letters clearly from a distance of around 4ft.
Another complain I have with the playmate 2 is that the volume knob doesn't respond to every step, it doesn't feel accurate as it needs extra steps to specially when moving the dial very fast, it doesn't register every time. It nit picking but yes, it's a small flaw but wasn't rectified from the original which is kind of disappointing.
SPEC TALK:-
I like to take my music where ever I go so these heavy stuff seldom manage to seduce me but when on the PC these are the best things one can ask for. The playmate in fact is a complete setup with a flagship grade DAC chip and swappable opamps. The good thing is these desktop things have plenty of power to handle heavy stuff like Planar and full size power hungry headphones. I have had a hard time finding a very demanding earphone as they are mostly designed to be power efficient and carried around.
I know most of us don't use their AMPs for speakers but if you have a nice set of multi driver speakers, you should invest on a DAC amp to get the best out of them. The Playmate 2 has an impedance of 15ohm and it is on the easier side for a preamp, it preps the signal to be processed well by next stage while cutting out the noise and distortion. Smaller speakers have a lower impedance of just 4ohm and 8ohm but good quality speakers with multiple drivers will definitely respond better with refined source and more power.
Let's move on to the output most of us are going to use, the 6.5mm headphone one. And the output impedance is just 2ohm which means it can drive nearly everything to without much problem except a few very efficient IEMs. (Just to be clear, please don't but a desktop stuff for IEMs) I have tried a handful of headphones with the Playmate 2 and they respond with more agility and precision.
Moving to the power output the Playmate does 3.5w at 16ohm, 2.5w at 32 ohm, 600mw at 100ohm, 400mw at 150ohm and 150mw at 300ohm.
Burson Playmate 2 can virtually drive anything with a headphone jack that can be inserted in to its port, let be your LCD XC or HD800 the playmate can drive them with ease.
The decoding power of the SABRE ESS9038 is top class. It can do 768kHz up to 32bits and can play Native DSD 64 / 128 / 256 / 512 without any problem.
Variations:-
The Playmate 2 was available with more variations but as of now you can chose between basic NE5532/34 op-amps set, which I am reviewing the Playmate 2 with, and the more expensive V6 vivid. The V6 Vivid is fairly more expensive with a premium of $200 and it delivers better clarity that the basic one. I have the V6 Vivid with me and I will swap them to check the difference in sound. If you opt for the V6 vivid you will get a remote.
OPERATIONS AND I/O OPTIONS:-
As I said earlier the Playmate 2 is very versatile. To use it with a win 7 PC it needs the driver which can be downloaded from here. You don't need anything if you have win 10 or Apple system (I haven't tried it with MAC OS).
Let me get the portable part out here, not really portable at all but somehow portable in the sense that you can use this with your mobile phone or audio source.
Connecting with USB:-
So.. How to do that? You set your mobile device's USB output to audio out from developer options in some of the Android devices, if needed. (IOS doesn't need anything but a simple lightening to type-c adapter) Get yourself a USB type-C to C cable, connect it and you are good. Now press the little button on the on the left side of the 6.5mm headphone jack to turn the device on. Now press the small button aside the volume knob. The first option is input, press the volume knob and dial it anticlockwise which is come down to USB and you are ready to go!! Yippee!! It's not transportable but you can use your portable device with it.
PC Use:-
PC use is similar, use a Type-C to A cable, connect any if you PC and Windows 10+ or IOS it doesn't need any driver. The other input method is toslink, use it for a more Organic sound.
Other options:-
The only other connectivity option is the back RCA out to connect it as a pre-AMP. No RCA in this time aroud.
Operations:-
This time around the power button is a small round button placed at the bottom left corner. The operation is pretty basic. Press the small button aside the volume knob and you have the whole menu at your disposal. Rotate the knob clock wise to browse through the menu and press it to enter the menu, rotate it again to see the options and press in the option you feel you would like to choose. I have made a video to show you guys the menu.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The ESS9038 chip inside the playmate is the top of the line DAC chip from Esstech, one of the most renowned audio chip makers. It has 32-bit mobile audio DAC with unprecedented dynamic range and ultra-low distortion with both synchronous and asynchronous sample rate converters. With support for up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD256 the Playmate can handle anything you throw at it.
There are a handful of options with the P2 when it comes to op-amps. If you feel that you need to change the chip to extract even more out of it, all you have to do is to head over here and get yourself their upgrade op-amp chips.
The Playmate 2 with its flagship grade components delivers fantastic clarity and details with immaculate notes presentation which are clean and clear with excellent precision. It is just right on the money. The tuning is nicely balanced with no particular emphasis on anything but compared to the P1 the P2 has a bit more emphasis to the lower end and more evenly spread stage. The tonality and timber are a bit more on the musical side with better weight and body, the dry feeling is gone now. Of you find the notes to be on the forgiving side turn the emphasis off. Thanks to its versatile output capabilities P2 pairs well with a whole lot of headphones and IEMs with little tweaking.
BASS:-
P1 used to be dry and lifeless but the P2 is very much satisfying with the lower end delivery. It now has more punchy and weighty notes with fantastic rumble to them. Its capabilities can be told by the fact that, BQEYZ Autumn with its treble module delivers satisfying level of sub-bass rumble and extension with the P2, which is not the case with any other source. With sources like Micro sig it has the extension but the rumble wasn't this good. P2 doesn't tinker with the mid bass much, letting the IEMs maintains their natural body and weight but does help it tighten it up if it's unnaturally loose. I do still find the decay not to be immediate with emphasis on, with its turned off the P2 gets more analytical with tighter and less voluminous lower end.
MID RANGE:-
While the P1 was drier and mid focused with a bit of aggression in the finishing region, the P2 is fairly relaxed in this regard. It isn't mid focused and notes have more appropriate body and formation. Unlike the P1 the P2 doesn't take a large share of the stage but doesn't miss out on details, precision, accuracy and clarity. While using the P2 I realized that I don't need to use top end IEMs or headphones to perceive the resolution and definition of individual notes. The way it distinguishes each note and the texture on the body of vocal notes is special. Male vocals have accurate, throaty and fuller feel while the females have required amount of sharpness and aggression to them. Instruments around the vocals are slightly more energetic that the vocals but vocals have more body with a spacious feeling. The way the P2 defines the edges and bodies, especially with two notes of the same instruments is something special. There is no extra attack or energy, not even in the upper treble region. That's how a DAC should operate.
HIGHS:-
I was expecting improvements from P1 and its here. This time around the treble region isn't dull or lacking air. It has very good amount of emphasis and doesn't lack with energy or extension. Instruments here are nicely in line with the mid range with even better depth and height. P2's directional cues are as vivid as it gets but doesn't have the dry and cold feel to them. Notes have accurate sharpness and definition. The contrast between back and foreground instruments are very good. It doesn't put the background notes on the face, giving them a subtle feeling helps with its musical and technical department. Love the way the P2 defines the notes, its very accurate with the body as the base are as thick as they are supposed to be while the mid body isn't thin while the finishing region has better sharpness and edge definition with excellent separation. Layering needless to mention is of the highest quality. I used a $7 IEM, TCL Elit200 and the resolution and definition I was able to extract out of it was exceptionally good. It patched the slightly laggy and frames dropping of this IEM in the treble region while bringing better extension. When paired with the BQEYZ Summer Its a pure pleasure. It brings out the best of it with excellent clarity and details.
STAGE:-
Unlike the original the Playmate 2 has a much better distribution of instruments. The playmate had the mid range taking the majority share but here all the 3 parts of the spectrum give enough room and space to each other. The lower end is mostly placed inside ear while some the mids and highs do originate inside the ear but have most of the projection out of the head. Most of the treble notes are placed completely out of the head. I love the layered feeling here, if a note starts of move in an odd direction the notes around it make way for it, this is exceptionally cool, giving it one of the best imaging capabilities. Sonically too it has excelled. If you have a HP with big stage, this thing is seriously exciting.
Sound altering options:-
Not many reviewers will warn you about this but in the menu there is an option called "Emphasis". When it is off the notes are sharp and have more than average bite and attack. The transparency is super high. The finishing on notes is sharp and pin pointed. The whole sound quality is tuned to deliver accuracy and precision. Turn it on you will be treated with more subdued notes, losing some attack and bite but plenty to enjoy it.
In the FirFilter Menu there is another option to reduce a hint of sharpness and that is Brickwall, it will deliver the sharpest notes and CMFR will reduce some sharpness. Your choice, choose what you like.
For Gaming:-
Playmate 2 supports headphones with MICs too. The socket is placed just aside the 6.5mm socket. Use it with for gaming, my brother does gaming on it and its good, it supports all the headphones with 3.5mm jack, even the wired IEMs we use with our mobiles phones can be used for gaming.
COMPARISON:-
VS Micro Signature:-
The biggest difference here is the lack of balanced output with the Playmate 2. It has plenty of power nevertheless, so does the Micro Signature. Which one gets louder? I won't test that, I don't want to go deaf. Keep in mind that I do not have super demanding headphones..
Nevertheless the Micro signature is very similar to have the Playmate has to offer. Playmate 2 though has a bit better cleanliness, instruments have exceptionally good edge definition and the overall resolution is much superior. Overall P2 has better details, resolution and transparency. Stage size though is nearly 30% bigger on the Playmate 2. I do find the Micro Sig to have better control over power with its IE-Match and 3 step power output options to handle various head gears better.
When used with balanced out the Micro Sig delivers slightly better definition and space between instruments but still is not on par with the Playmate.
V6 Vivid vs NE5532/34:
There isn't a lot of difference here, the biggest one being the tonality and timber. While the NE set gets slightly more energetic notes and a bit more finishing definition with a bit of dry and cold feeling notes the V6 set provides a more musical and fuller notes. The stage is bigger by around 15% on the V6 SET and the energy is more even across the spectrum. NE set can feel a bit less forward in the vocals region, while the V6 has better uniformity.
Is it worth the upgrade? Yes, if you want the extra bit of musical feeling and stage. Or else if you can pair the NE version with a warmish headphone or IEM it delivers desired output.
CONCLUSION:-
If you are more of a purist and love to enjoy the technical bits you will love the Playmate to the core. It has the delicacies that you might not have experienced with this much of distinction. This time around the whole spectrum is marvelous. The transparency and clarity is exceptional and the level of details is outstanding.
The Playmate 2 is not for the casual user. If you like to be on the move, not much into headphones, you think you are an audiophile but don't think you need a desktop setup, please stay away. The playmate 2 is heavier, immobile and even if it has friendlier connectivity options it's hard to power it on the go, so if you are not into power hungry stuff, please don't make yourself sweat unnecessarily.
If you love your desktop setup, you love headphones over IEMs, you love precision over fun, the Playmate 2 is one of the best options for you.
Not all of us are aware of Burson audio. They don't push their products through fancy sellers and barely do much promotion on their own. But this is supposed to change as I have got a review unit from them. Hailing from Australia since 1996 their inception and they started their sales from 2005. Critically acclaimed by all the reviewers I personally hadn't heard a lot of buzz about their products before I got a message from them Through Bhav. They make a lot of DACs and Amps and DAC/Amps but what I have here with me is the Playmate 2, the sequel to the Playmate.
Burson is an interesting brand, they have their own ways.
In their words:-
"Burson Audio is an Australian audio manufacturer making products with no op-amps and all discrete circuitry for a lavish musical experience."
Head over here to know about their circuit design:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/about-us/discrete-circuits/
The Playmate 2 I am reviewing here is a very versatile thing on its own. It is a 3w Class A desktop headphone amp and can be used as pre amp if you pair it with some other DAC. You can connect your mobile phone through an OTG data cable.
The Playmate uses the flagship ES9038 DAC chip and you can opt for two types of op-amps. The Basic NE5532 and NE5534 op-amps set costs $544 and comes in only one color, Black. The V6 Vivid set costs $744 and has two color options, Black and silver. (You can always choose yours from their sets available separately).
I would like to thank Bhav from Burson audio for the unit.
Check the Playmate out:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/playmate-2/
I do not have a lot of DAC in the arsenal but I do have a two to compare the playmate with.
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
The package of the Burson Playmate 2 is very good. It is nicely packed with proper padding to protect the DAC/Amp from any damages. All the cables are places inside a card board box.
The playmate 2 is nicely placed in the foam and inside the cardboard box one can find a Type-C to C USB cable and a power adapter, no RCA cable this time around.
BUILD QUALITY:-
With a dimension of 190mm x 150mm x 60mm the Playmate 2 is smaller than the original. Build quality of the Playmate is very solid, it feel dense and solid to the hand. It is kind of heavy at around 3kg but the weight is nicely distributed across the board. There are no loose parts on the body, all the bolts are tight and the Playmate feels very sturdy. The rubber shoes on the base of the playmate have very good traction and don't let it slide easily. The new unified heat-sink outer design helps the Playmate 2 breathe better, even if it gets hot, it has better heat dissipation now.
The digital display on the playmate 2 is okay but could have been bigger. It is hard to see the letters clearly from a distance of around 4ft.
Another complain I have with the playmate 2 is that the volume knob doesn't respond to every step, it doesn't feel accurate as it needs extra steps to specially when moving the dial very fast, it doesn't register every time. It nit picking but yes, it's a small flaw but wasn't rectified from the original which is kind of disappointing.
SPEC TALK:-
I like to take my music where ever I go so these heavy stuff seldom manage to seduce me but when on the PC these are the best things one can ask for. The playmate in fact is a complete setup with a flagship grade DAC chip and swappable opamps. The good thing is these desktop things have plenty of power to handle heavy stuff like Planar and full size power hungry headphones. I have had a hard time finding a very demanding earphone as they are mostly designed to be power efficient and carried around.
I know most of us don't use their AMPs for speakers but if you have a nice set of multi driver speakers, you should invest on a DAC amp to get the best out of them. The Playmate 2 has an impedance of 15ohm and it is on the easier side for a preamp, it preps the signal to be processed well by next stage while cutting out the noise and distortion. Smaller speakers have a lower impedance of just 4ohm and 8ohm but good quality speakers with multiple drivers will definitely respond better with refined source and more power.
Let's move on to the output most of us are going to use, the 6.5mm headphone one. And the output impedance is just 2ohm which means it can drive nearly everything to without much problem except a few very efficient IEMs. (Just to be clear, please don't but a desktop stuff for IEMs) I have tried a handful of headphones with the Playmate 2 and they respond with more agility and precision.
Moving to the power output the Playmate does 3.5w at 16ohm, 2.5w at 32 ohm, 600mw at 100ohm, 400mw at 150ohm and 150mw at 300ohm.
Burson Playmate 2 can virtually drive anything with a headphone jack that can be inserted in to its port, let be your LCD XC or HD800 the playmate can drive them with ease.
The decoding power of the SABRE ESS9038 is top class. It can do 768kHz up to 32bits and can play Native DSD 64 / 128 / 256 / 512 without any problem.
Variations:-
The Playmate 2 was available with more variations but as of now you can chose between basic NE5532/34 op-amps set, which I am reviewing the Playmate 2 with, and the more expensive V6 vivid. The V6 Vivid is fairly more expensive with a premium of $200 and it delivers better clarity that the basic one. I have the V6 Vivid with me and I will swap them to check the difference in sound. If you opt for the V6 vivid you will get a remote.
OPERATIONS AND I/O OPTIONS:-
As I said earlier the Playmate 2 is very versatile. To use it with a win 7 PC it needs the driver which can be downloaded from here. You don't need anything if you have win 10 or Apple system (I haven't tried it with MAC OS).
Let me get the portable part out here, not really portable at all but somehow portable in the sense that you can use this with your mobile phone or audio source.
Connecting with USB:-
So.. How to do that? You set your mobile device's USB output to audio out from developer options in some of the Android devices, if needed. (IOS doesn't need anything but a simple lightening to type-c adapter) Get yourself a USB type-C to C cable, connect it and you are good. Now press the little button on the on the left side of the 6.5mm headphone jack to turn the device on. Now press the small button aside the volume knob. The first option is input, press the volume knob and dial it anticlockwise which is come down to USB and you are ready to go!! Yippee!! It's not transportable but you can use your portable device with it.
PC Use:-
PC use is similar, use a Type-C to A cable, connect any if you PC and Windows 10+ or IOS it doesn't need any driver. The other input method is toslink, use it for a more Organic sound.
Other options:-
The only other connectivity option is the back RCA out to connect it as a pre-AMP. No RCA in this time aroud.
Operations:-
This time around the power button is a small round button placed at the bottom left corner. The operation is pretty basic. Press the small button aside the volume knob and you have the whole menu at your disposal. Rotate the knob clock wise to browse through the menu and press it to enter the menu, rotate it again to see the options and press in the option you feel you would like to choose. I have made a video to show you guys the menu.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The ESS9038 chip inside the playmate is the top of the line DAC chip from Esstech, one of the most renowned audio chip makers. It has 32-bit mobile audio DAC with unprecedented dynamic range and ultra-low distortion with both synchronous and asynchronous sample rate converters. With support for up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD256 the Playmate can handle anything you throw at it.
There are a handful of options with the P2 when it comes to op-amps. If you feel that you need to change the chip to extract even more out of it, all you have to do is to head over here and get yourself their upgrade op-amp chips.
The Playmate 2 with its flagship grade components delivers fantastic clarity and details with immaculate notes presentation which are clean and clear with excellent precision. It is just right on the money. The tuning is nicely balanced with no particular emphasis on anything but compared to the P1 the P2 has a bit more emphasis to the lower end and more evenly spread stage. The tonality and timber are a bit more on the musical side with better weight and body, the dry feeling is gone now. Of you find the notes to be on the forgiving side turn the emphasis off. Thanks to its versatile output capabilities P2 pairs well with a whole lot of headphones and IEMs with little tweaking.
BASS:-
P1 used to be dry and lifeless but the P2 is very much satisfying with the lower end delivery. It now has more punchy and weighty notes with fantastic rumble to them. Its capabilities can be told by the fact that, BQEYZ Autumn with its treble module delivers satisfying level of sub-bass rumble and extension with the P2, which is not the case with any other source. With sources like Micro sig it has the extension but the rumble wasn't this good. P2 doesn't tinker with the mid bass much, letting the IEMs maintains their natural body and weight but does help it tighten it up if it's unnaturally loose. I do still find the decay not to be immediate with emphasis on, with its turned off the P2 gets more analytical with tighter and less voluminous lower end.
MID RANGE:-
While the P1 was drier and mid focused with a bit of aggression in the finishing region, the P2 is fairly relaxed in this regard. It isn't mid focused and notes have more appropriate body and formation. Unlike the P1 the P2 doesn't take a large share of the stage but doesn't miss out on details, precision, accuracy and clarity. While using the P2 I realized that I don't need to use top end IEMs or headphones to perceive the resolution and definition of individual notes. The way it distinguishes each note and the texture on the body of vocal notes is special. Male vocals have accurate, throaty and fuller feel while the females have required amount of sharpness and aggression to them. Instruments around the vocals are slightly more energetic that the vocals but vocals have more body with a spacious feeling. The way the P2 defines the edges and bodies, especially with two notes of the same instruments is something special. There is no extra attack or energy, not even in the upper treble region. That's how a DAC should operate.
HIGHS:-
I was expecting improvements from P1 and its here. This time around the treble region isn't dull or lacking air. It has very good amount of emphasis and doesn't lack with energy or extension. Instruments here are nicely in line with the mid range with even better depth and height. P2's directional cues are as vivid as it gets but doesn't have the dry and cold feel to them. Notes have accurate sharpness and definition. The contrast between back and foreground instruments are very good. It doesn't put the background notes on the face, giving them a subtle feeling helps with its musical and technical department. Love the way the P2 defines the notes, its very accurate with the body as the base are as thick as they are supposed to be while the mid body isn't thin while the finishing region has better sharpness and edge definition with excellent separation. Layering needless to mention is of the highest quality. I used a $7 IEM, TCL Elit200 and the resolution and definition I was able to extract out of it was exceptionally good. It patched the slightly laggy and frames dropping of this IEM in the treble region while bringing better extension. When paired with the BQEYZ Summer Its a pure pleasure. It brings out the best of it with excellent clarity and details.
STAGE:-
Unlike the original the Playmate 2 has a much better distribution of instruments. The playmate had the mid range taking the majority share but here all the 3 parts of the spectrum give enough room and space to each other. The lower end is mostly placed inside ear while some the mids and highs do originate inside the ear but have most of the projection out of the head. Most of the treble notes are placed completely out of the head. I love the layered feeling here, if a note starts of move in an odd direction the notes around it make way for it, this is exceptionally cool, giving it one of the best imaging capabilities. Sonically too it has excelled. If you have a HP with big stage, this thing is seriously exciting.
Sound altering options:-
Not many reviewers will warn you about this but in the menu there is an option called "Emphasis". When it is off the notes are sharp and have more than average bite and attack. The transparency is super high. The finishing on notes is sharp and pin pointed. The whole sound quality is tuned to deliver accuracy and precision. Turn it on you will be treated with more subdued notes, losing some attack and bite but plenty to enjoy it.
In the FirFilter Menu there is another option to reduce a hint of sharpness and that is Brickwall, it will deliver the sharpest notes and CMFR will reduce some sharpness. Your choice, choose what you like.
For Gaming:-
Playmate 2 supports headphones with MICs too. The socket is placed just aside the 6.5mm socket. Use it with for gaming, my brother does gaming on it and its good, it supports all the headphones with 3.5mm jack, even the wired IEMs we use with our mobiles phones can be used for gaming.
COMPARISON:-
VS Micro Signature:-
The biggest difference here is the lack of balanced output with the Playmate 2. It has plenty of power nevertheless, so does the Micro Signature. Which one gets louder? I won't test that, I don't want to go deaf. Keep in mind that I do not have super demanding headphones..
Nevertheless the Micro signature is very similar to have the Playmate has to offer. Playmate 2 though has a bit better cleanliness, instruments have exceptionally good edge definition and the overall resolution is much superior. Overall P2 has better details, resolution and transparency. Stage size though is nearly 30% bigger on the Playmate 2. I do find the Micro Sig to have better control over power with its IE-Match and 3 step power output options to handle various head gears better.
When used with balanced out the Micro Sig delivers slightly better definition and space between instruments but still is not on par with the Playmate.
V6 Vivid vs NE5532/34:
There isn't a lot of difference here, the biggest one being the tonality and timber. While the NE set gets slightly more energetic notes and a bit more finishing definition with a bit of dry and cold feeling notes the V6 set provides a more musical and fuller notes. The stage is bigger by around 15% on the V6 SET and the energy is more even across the spectrum. NE set can feel a bit less forward in the vocals region, while the V6 has better uniformity.
Is it worth the upgrade? Yes, if you want the extra bit of musical feeling and stage. Or else if you can pair the NE version with a warmish headphone or IEM it delivers desired output.
CONCLUSION:-
If you are more of a purist and love to enjoy the technical bits you will love the Playmate to the core. It has the delicacies that you might not have experienced with this much of distinction. This time around the whole spectrum is marvelous. The transparency and clarity is exceptional and the level of details is outstanding.
The Playmate 2 is not for the casual user. If you like to be on the move, not much into headphones, you think you are an audiophile but don't think you need a desktop setup, please stay away. The playmate 2 is heavier, immobile and even if it has friendlier connectivity options it's hard to power it on the go, so if you are not into power hungry stuff, please don't make yourself sweat unnecessarily.
If you love your desktop setup, you love headphones over IEMs, you love precision over fun, the Playmate 2 is one of the best options for you.
Attachments
INTRO:
I don't think there is anyone in the audiophile community whi is not aware of Moondrop. Being a chi-fi brand they bring a lot of stuff to the market and are one of the rare brands who have IEMs in nearly every price ranges. Then have flagship IEMs at $1000+ and budget friendly IEMs ar around $15. This is a brand which keeps up with the market trends offering products according to demand. As the IEM market has a demand for DD based IEMs with tuning capabilities Moondrop came up with the Kato with a similar kind of fundamentals as the DUNU Falcon Pro.
But this IEM doesn't have the extensive support of vented design. It has a single 10mm DLC driver which can be tuned with a change of nozzle.
Priced at $179 Kato comes in only one colour and faces fierce competition from BQEYZ Autumn, DUNU Falcon Pro, 7hz Timeless, Tri i3 pro and many other IEMs.
I will like to thank @gadgetgod for the review tour.
Get one from here : https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato
ACCESSORIES and CABLE:
KATO ships with a very interesting looking eartips. They say its springy but what I can tell that these tips are seriously weak. What can I say when the only set I received is already raptured. The magnetic clasp carry case looks cool and has the right size to carry around. An extra set of nozzle is screwed into a metal plate.
What I really like in the package is the cable. It's a SPC with high purity copper and thick silver.. I really don't know what that means but it looks good. Compliments the aesthetics of the IEM much like the DUNU Falcon Pro. It's one of the least bouncy cable with little to no memory problem. I definitely would have liked a modular cable like Flacon Pro but I am not complaining.
BUILD QUALITY:
It's one of the most impressive aspects of this IEM. The chrome finished metal body of the IEM is very sturdy and will withstand drops on solid floor without incurring any external damage. Now it's not the most ergonomic IEM, the triangular cut design on the inner side does provide a bit of traction and the overall fit is good. Can't really ask a lot from a metal shell. I definitely would have liked it to be a bit less heavy but thats the side-effects of metal shell.
Thankfully the nozzle is deep enough providing nice stability inside the ear.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
This single DD isn't exactly demanding and doesn't really responds a lot to various sources. The level of variation with sources is marginal and doesn't really affect the tonality, timber or weightage of notes.
It enjoys power and delivers better details and clarity with the Tri TK-2, delivering better definition and well pronounced notes. The difference with weaker sources like Fiio KA3 and Qudelix 5k is noticable with marginally less full bodied notes.
Pairing with mobile phones is reasonably good but doesn't have the level of accuracy and precise body. Here too the difference isn't as apparent as I expected.
SOUND QUALITY:
Moondrop says the Kato has a 10mm DLC driver with ultra linear technology. I do find this to be more linear than the Fiio FD3 but yes, the Autumn is more balanced and has better control over notes.
I love the fact that Moondrop has moved from a bass heavy sound. The KXXS and Kanas Pro were simply just bass heavy with little focus elsewhere. This does feel like an evolution with better balance and control but it still lacks the natural timber and tonality.
I am using Tri TK-2, Gold nozzles and a not so wide bore aftermarket tips for this review.
BASS:
I like the delivery much more than the rest of the DD IEMs from Moondrop. This has a more balanced approach with nice control over notes. It doesn't let the guard down while delivering aptly fuller notes with adequately paced notes. Giving it good amount of weight and punch. I definitely would have liked the punch to be a bit softer.
Sub-bass extension of KATO is average. It's not the deepest and lack good amount of rumble too. It's mostly about the mid bass which brings both body and meatiness to the lower end. Yes, there is a bit of bloating but it's not bad. Upper bass is well energized with right amount of transparency.
The level of details and texture is very good, it has the layered feeling but then this is not as distinguishable as it is with the Tri i3 pro.
MIDS:
As I mentioned earlier Kato has a fairly balanced tuning and the biggest reason for that is It's well balanced mid range. It still has a few DB dip just before the vocals but it's not a pronounced as the Tri i3 pro. I do find it to have good consistency and uniform notes presentation which exhibits the quality of tuning.
Is it all rosy? No, there are problems. Notes do not have natural body. They have wider bases while the body is thin and the finishing region has unwanted sharpness. This sharpness gives the vocals and the upper mid region a bit of sibilant kind of feeling. It's not intolerable but it's not natural like the i3 pro or analogue like the Falcon Pro.
As mentioned earlier vocals have their fair share of sharpness. Both male and female vocals are a bit on the shouty side which is more pronounced because of the thinner and a bit metallic timber, which in fact is present across the spectrum. Instruments gain good definition and transparency but then the extra energy and attack can put some of us off. The upper mid isn't bad but it's one of the few reasons KATO can't be used for longer listening sessions.
There isn't any lack of macro details or transparency while the micro details are respectable. Falcon Pro lacks this micro details while the i3 pro has better control over notes and has more texture and slightly better definition with micro details. Another aspect is it's contrast, which isn't exactly great, it doesn't have good distinction between back and foreground instruments. The subtleness is missing, which can be found with the Fiio FD3.
HIGHS:
Hmm.. I have been listening to a lot of IEMs in this price range lately and I have to say KATO not bad. It has a well extended treble region with nice energy but due to thinner notes things get slightly uncomfortable. And unlike the i3 pro KATO loses energy at the furthest end of the spectrum. Layering and separation is nice but it doesn't have a lot of air, air which is in abundance with the i3 pro without being thin. I won't complain thought, notes have uniformity but it's shape of the note which stops me from giving it better recommendation.
SILVER NOZZLE:
This nozzle is a waste of an effort. It doesn't make anything better while reducing the dynamics and treble energy. It compresses the vocals too making them fight for height.
This virtually an attempt to dial the excess energy down at the finishing region but it compresses and loses note's height instead.
STAGE and IMAGING:
Stage size of the KATO is average. Its isn't bigger than the Autumn or i3 pro. It has nice height, good depth but the x-axis width isn't exactly impressive. Most of the instruments are placed inside the head. Bass has dynamic projection, it move in or outward depending upon the track. Vocals generate closer to the centre of head and move out. Nearly 80% instruments don't have presence our of the head.
Only impressive part here is the Imaging, KATO has very good imaging abilities, its cue placement is admirable.
COMPARISON:
CONCLUSION:
With the KATO Moondrop is moving in the right direction but it needs some improvements. A bit more polishing and finishing is needed. This IEM is good, it has very good technical abilities and the level of details is admirable. It has nice end to end extension and has reasonably balanced sound. Vocals have nice authority too.
The problem is with excess energy at the finishing region, even this this could have been sidelined but the thin and sharp finishing is what hurting the experience.
I like this IEM, but Moondrop has problems to address before attending an reputation like DUNU.
I don't think there is anyone in the audiophile community whi is not aware of Moondrop. Being a chi-fi brand they bring a lot of stuff to the market and are one of the rare brands who have IEMs in nearly every price ranges. Then have flagship IEMs at $1000+ and budget friendly IEMs ar around $15. This is a brand which keeps up with the market trends offering products according to demand. As the IEM market has a demand for DD based IEMs with tuning capabilities Moondrop came up with the Kato with a similar kind of fundamentals as the DUNU Falcon Pro.
But this IEM doesn't have the extensive support of vented design. It has a single 10mm DLC driver which can be tuned with a change of nozzle.
Priced at $179 Kato comes in only one colour and faces fierce competition from BQEYZ Autumn, DUNU Falcon Pro, 7hz Timeless, Tri i3 pro and many other IEMs.
I will like to thank @gadgetgod for the review tour.
Get one from here : https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato
ACCESSORIES and CABLE:
KATO ships with a very interesting looking eartips. They say its springy but what I can tell that these tips are seriously weak. What can I say when the only set I received is already raptured. The magnetic clasp carry case looks cool and has the right size to carry around. An extra set of nozzle is screwed into a metal plate.
What I really like in the package is the cable. It's a SPC with high purity copper and thick silver.. I really don't know what that means but it looks good. Compliments the aesthetics of the IEM much like the DUNU Falcon Pro. It's one of the least bouncy cable with little to no memory problem. I definitely would have liked a modular cable like Flacon Pro but I am not complaining.
BUILD QUALITY:
It's one of the most impressive aspects of this IEM. The chrome finished metal body of the IEM is very sturdy and will withstand drops on solid floor without incurring any external damage. Now it's not the most ergonomic IEM, the triangular cut design on the inner side does provide a bit of traction and the overall fit is good. Can't really ask a lot from a metal shell. I definitely would have liked it to be a bit less heavy but thats the side-effects of metal shell.
Thankfully the nozzle is deep enough providing nice stability inside the ear.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
This single DD isn't exactly demanding and doesn't really responds a lot to various sources. The level of variation with sources is marginal and doesn't really affect the tonality, timber or weightage of notes.
It enjoys power and delivers better details and clarity with the Tri TK-2, delivering better definition and well pronounced notes. The difference with weaker sources like Fiio KA3 and Qudelix 5k is noticable with marginally less full bodied notes.
Pairing with mobile phones is reasonably good but doesn't have the level of accuracy and precise body. Here too the difference isn't as apparent as I expected.
SOUND QUALITY:
Moondrop says the Kato has a 10mm DLC driver with ultra linear technology. I do find this to be more linear than the Fiio FD3 but yes, the Autumn is more balanced and has better control over notes.
I love the fact that Moondrop has moved from a bass heavy sound. The KXXS and Kanas Pro were simply just bass heavy with little focus elsewhere. This does feel like an evolution with better balance and control but it still lacks the natural timber and tonality.
I am using Tri TK-2, Gold nozzles and a not so wide bore aftermarket tips for this review.
BASS:
I like the delivery much more than the rest of the DD IEMs from Moondrop. This has a more balanced approach with nice control over notes. It doesn't let the guard down while delivering aptly fuller notes with adequately paced notes. Giving it good amount of weight and punch. I definitely would have liked the punch to be a bit softer.
Sub-bass extension of KATO is average. It's not the deepest and lack good amount of rumble too. It's mostly about the mid bass which brings both body and meatiness to the lower end. Yes, there is a bit of bloating but it's not bad. Upper bass is well energized with right amount of transparency.
The level of details and texture is very good, it has the layered feeling but then this is not as distinguishable as it is with the Tri i3 pro.
MIDS:
As I mentioned earlier Kato has a fairly balanced tuning and the biggest reason for that is It's well balanced mid range. It still has a few DB dip just before the vocals but it's not a pronounced as the Tri i3 pro. I do find it to have good consistency and uniform notes presentation which exhibits the quality of tuning.
Is it all rosy? No, there are problems. Notes do not have natural body. They have wider bases while the body is thin and the finishing region has unwanted sharpness. This sharpness gives the vocals and the upper mid region a bit of sibilant kind of feeling. It's not intolerable but it's not natural like the i3 pro or analogue like the Falcon Pro.
As mentioned earlier vocals have their fair share of sharpness. Both male and female vocals are a bit on the shouty side which is more pronounced because of the thinner and a bit metallic timber, which in fact is present across the spectrum. Instruments gain good definition and transparency but then the extra energy and attack can put some of us off. The upper mid isn't bad but it's one of the few reasons KATO can't be used for longer listening sessions.
There isn't any lack of macro details or transparency while the micro details are respectable. Falcon Pro lacks this micro details while the i3 pro has better control over notes and has more texture and slightly better definition with micro details. Another aspect is it's contrast, which isn't exactly great, it doesn't have good distinction between back and foreground instruments. The subtleness is missing, which can be found with the Fiio FD3.
HIGHS:
Hmm.. I have been listening to a lot of IEMs in this price range lately and I have to say KATO not bad. It has a well extended treble region with nice energy but due to thinner notes things get slightly uncomfortable. And unlike the i3 pro KATO loses energy at the furthest end of the spectrum. Layering and separation is nice but it doesn't have a lot of air, air which is in abundance with the i3 pro without being thin. I won't complain thought, notes have uniformity but it's shape of the note which stops me from giving it better recommendation.
SILVER NOZZLE:
This nozzle is a waste of an effort. It doesn't make anything better while reducing the dynamics and treble energy. It compresses the vocals too making them fight for height.
This virtually an attempt to dial the excess energy down at the finishing region but it compresses and loses note's height instead.
STAGE and IMAGING:
Stage size of the KATO is average. Its isn't bigger than the Autumn or i3 pro. It has nice height, good depth but the x-axis width isn't exactly impressive. Most of the instruments are placed inside the head. Bass has dynamic projection, it move in or outward depending upon the track. Vocals generate closer to the centre of head and move out. Nearly 80% instruments don't have presence our of the head.
Only impressive part here is the Imaging, KATO has very good imaging abilities, its cue placement is admirable.
COMPARISON:
CONCLUSION:
With the KATO Moondrop is moving in the right direction but it needs some improvements. A bit more polishing and finishing is needed. This IEM is good, it has very good technical abilities and the level of details is admirable. It has nice end to end extension and has reasonably balanced sound. Vocals have nice authority too.
The problem is with excess energy at the finishing region, even this this could have been sidelined but the thin and sharp finishing is what hurting the experience.
I like this IEM, but Moondrop has problems to address before attending an reputation like DUNU.
Attachments
INTRO:
CCZ is an entrant in the budget audiophile marker. They do have a few IEMs under their belt, most of these are cheaper entey level IEMs while they have a more expensive $200 IEM too. But that's not what I am here with. What I have here is one of their more budget offerings, CCZ Emerald. It's an interesting and impressive IEM. It's priced at just $24 and comes in two color options. One can opt for Mic or without Mic cable. It is a hybrid IEM but doesn't go the KZ or TRN way. I used to have the TRN V30 which I loved but I can say that this CCZ IEM is better than that in nearly every aspect.
I will compare the Emerald with KBear KB04 and TFZ S2 pro.
Get one for yourself from here:
ACCESSORIES CABLE AND ERGONOMICS:
This is a budget IEM and doesn't come with a lot of accessories. It ships with a set of premium looking tip and that's it. The unboxing experience is fairly average too. The cable is very similar to what we can find with KZ IEMs. It is a good OFC cable with 4 cores which is not stiff. There is slight bit of microphonics but its low enough.
What I am really impressed with is its build quality. It feels solid and sturdy to then hand. This is a $24 IEM with a semi custom shell and Aluminum alloy back plate. I am impressed. This IEM is very comfortable inside the ear thanks to its winged design. Matte finish on wing provides excellent traction inside the ear.
Another interesting thing is this IEM doesn't have the BA inside the nozzle. This BA driver is alongside the DD which is refreshing to see.
SOUND QUALITY:
This is a $24 IEM with a simple hybrid setup and to my ears this IEM punches much higher than its price suggests. What impressed me its calmness and the way it balances the spectrum without getting aggressive or peaky. The lower end is not boomy while the mids and treble region are detailed yet inoffensive.
There is no point in using an expensive source for this IEM as it sounds excellent out of mobile phones. The impedance of just 16ohm makes it much easier for weaker devices to work around it. I am using my Redmi Note 10 pro and Qudelix 5k for this review.
BASS:
Emerald has a single 10mm DD for the lower end and I am impressed. It simply doesn't try to stamp it's athority which not really common at this price. The amount of balance between control and presence shown by this $24 IEM can easily shame a more premium Fiio FH5s. It is punchy, well rounded and pleasing. Sub-bass extension is good with nice rumble to it while the mid bass is slightly more voluminous with fuller and meatier notes. The only shortcoming is, it doesn't have the texture we can find with Fiio FD3. Don't expect a lot of details either but the layered feeling of bass notes is intact.
Decay speed is pleasing, it's not too slow to feel boom but has enough presence to make its sound wholesome. Upper bass is is well under control and smoothly blends into the lower mids. I really love the more mature and level headed approach here.
MID RANGE:
Mostly the mid ranges of entry-level hybrid IEMs are drowned. They usually hang by a thread or go all out with excessive assault and aggression. Emerald doesn't tru to attack or drown the mids. It brings a well balanced mid range with some emphasis to the vocals. Both male and female vocals sound good with very good texture. Yes, it doesn't have the definition or resolution of $100 IEMs but it has the more even and uniform energy which is cohesive.
Instruments around the vocal region lack energy and aren't very transparent but still get the job done. Upper mids is where it's hybrid nature gets exposed. There is a drop in energy just before the Upper mids but the Upper mids are not aggressive. What it has is a bit more energy and transparency with acoustic guitar and cymbals.
HIGHS:
WHAT!! Really.. You still want more from this well behaved kid? Alright.. The BA driver here gets the job done without breaking character. It has nice spark and transparency but doesn't try to be a lot contrasty or forward which is an impressive feat of an IEM at this price point.
Layering and transparency is very good for the price but don't expect a lot of separation from it. There isn't a lot of technical data here. Thankfully it doesn't sound lacking as the treble extension is aptly good.
COMPARISONS:
VS Fiio FH5s
This fiio IEM is 10 times more expensive but guess what.. Emerald has better sub-bass presence, better balance and less agitated feel. And surprisingly this $24 IEM has a more evolved stage and sonicality. Strange..
FH5s has far better transparency and doesn't stutter at more complicated and complex tracks. It's technical abilities are far superior too but the treble extension is not better than Emerald.
FH5s is Superior but is it really?
CONCLUSION:
It might sound odd but this $24 IEM is a complete product. It has the fit, it has the finish and it has the sound quality too. This is not a very technically capable IEM, it simply cant compete with IEM in the $100+ price bracket when it comes the details and separation but guess what it has the uniformity and cohesion. It has the wholesome feeling which is hard to sideline. No other IEM under $50 has this much of maturity. It is does not get agitated or tries to do something it isn't capable of. It performs with consistency.
Are you looking for your first IEM and do not want to break your bank? Pick the Emerald. Not a single thing will disappoint you unless you want that extra sharpness with your notes.
CCZ is an entrant in the budget audiophile marker. They do have a few IEMs under their belt, most of these are cheaper entey level IEMs while they have a more expensive $200 IEM too. But that's not what I am here with. What I have here is one of their more budget offerings, CCZ Emerald. It's an interesting and impressive IEM. It's priced at just $24 and comes in two color options. One can opt for Mic or without Mic cable. It is a hybrid IEM but doesn't go the KZ or TRN way. I used to have the TRN V30 which I loved but I can say that this CCZ IEM is better than that in nearly every aspect.
I will compare the Emerald with KBear KB04 and TFZ S2 pro.
Get one for yourself from here:
ACCESSORIES CABLE AND ERGONOMICS:
This is a budget IEM and doesn't come with a lot of accessories. It ships with a set of premium looking tip and that's it. The unboxing experience is fairly average too. The cable is very similar to what we can find with KZ IEMs. It is a good OFC cable with 4 cores which is not stiff. There is slight bit of microphonics but its low enough.
What I am really impressed with is its build quality. It feels solid and sturdy to then hand. This is a $24 IEM with a semi custom shell and Aluminum alloy back plate. I am impressed. This IEM is very comfortable inside the ear thanks to its winged design. Matte finish on wing provides excellent traction inside the ear.
Another interesting thing is this IEM doesn't have the BA inside the nozzle. This BA driver is alongside the DD which is refreshing to see.
SOUND QUALITY:
This is a $24 IEM with a simple hybrid setup and to my ears this IEM punches much higher than its price suggests. What impressed me its calmness and the way it balances the spectrum without getting aggressive or peaky. The lower end is not boomy while the mids and treble region are detailed yet inoffensive.
There is no point in using an expensive source for this IEM as it sounds excellent out of mobile phones. The impedance of just 16ohm makes it much easier for weaker devices to work around it. I am using my Redmi Note 10 pro and Qudelix 5k for this review.
BASS:
Emerald has a single 10mm DD for the lower end and I am impressed. It simply doesn't try to stamp it's athority which not really common at this price. The amount of balance between control and presence shown by this $24 IEM can easily shame a more premium Fiio FH5s. It is punchy, well rounded and pleasing. Sub-bass extension is good with nice rumble to it while the mid bass is slightly more voluminous with fuller and meatier notes. The only shortcoming is, it doesn't have the texture we can find with Fiio FD3. Don't expect a lot of details either but the layered feeling of bass notes is intact.
Decay speed is pleasing, it's not too slow to feel boom but has enough presence to make its sound wholesome. Upper bass is is well under control and smoothly blends into the lower mids. I really love the more mature and level headed approach here.
MID RANGE:
Mostly the mid ranges of entry-level hybrid IEMs are drowned. They usually hang by a thread or go all out with excessive assault and aggression. Emerald doesn't tru to attack or drown the mids. It brings a well balanced mid range with some emphasis to the vocals. Both male and female vocals sound good with very good texture. Yes, it doesn't have the definition or resolution of $100 IEMs but it has the more even and uniform energy which is cohesive.
Instruments around the vocal region lack energy and aren't very transparent but still get the job done. Upper mids is where it's hybrid nature gets exposed. There is a drop in energy just before the Upper mids but the Upper mids are not aggressive. What it has is a bit more energy and transparency with acoustic guitar and cymbals.
HIGHS:
WHAT!! Really.. You still want more from this well behaved kid? Alright.. The BA driver here gets the job done without breaking character. It has nice spark and transparency but doesn't try to be a lot contrasty or forward which is an impressive feat of an IEM at this price point.
Layering and transparency is very good for the price but don't expect a lot of separation from it. There isn't a lot of technical data here. Thankfully it doesn't sound lacking as the treble extension is aptly good.
COMPARISONS:
VS Fiio FH5s
This fiio IEM is 10 times more expensive but guess what.. Emerald has better sub-bass presence, better balance and less agitated feel. And surprisingly this $24 IEM has a more evolved stage and sonicality. Strange..
FH5s has far better transparency and doesn't stutter at more complicated and complex tracks. It's technical abilities are far superior too but the treble extension is not better than Emerald.
FH5s is Superior but is it really?
CONCLUSION:
It might sound odd but this $24 IEM is a complete product. It has the fit, it has the finish and it has the sound quality too. This is not a very technically capable IEM, it simply cant compete with IEM in the $100+ price bracket when it comes the details and separation but guess what it has the uniformity and cohesion. It has the wholesome feeling which is hard to sideline. No other IEM under $50 has this much of maturity. It is does not get agitated or tries to do something it isn't capable of. It performs with consistency.
Are you looking for your first IEM and do not want to break your bank? Pick the Emerald. Not a single thing will disappoint you unless you want that extra sharpness with your notes.
Attachments
krunchcrispy
Good review, thanks! I picked these up a few weeks ago; and your review is spot on. However, I changed the cable to a NiceHCK silver (14$), and changed the tips -- wow. The increased transparency in the mids, the soundstage, the bass texture, AND the coherency. I use them more on my dektop rig than my FLC8s. THe FLC8 might have a pinch more definition, but lacks the soundstage. Very nice. Oh, And I needed to take off those side bumps things. This actually allows some music to come through the sides and give a more spatial, all dimension soundstage.
suman134
@krunchcrispy great choice mate, it indeed is an excellent IEM for introduction to the Audiophile madness. 
Intro:
Lotoo, well known for their Paw 5000 and Paw Gold daps had jumped into the USB dongle market early last year. What's great about a dap maker making a dongle is, they know what the consumer likes and their tuning abilities are much better than those without much experience in the source Market.
The Paw S1 is a very good looking, well equipped user friendly dongle. It has an AKM 4377 DAC chip, even though it's an entry level chip it can do more than what all of us use on daily basis. Keep in mind the DAC doesn't produce power or anything, DAC is the brain, it's the AMP which brings the power and it seems the S1 has a good AMP which is decently powerful.
Get one from here:
https://conceptkart.com/collections/lotoo/products/lotoo-paw-s1-portable-usb-dac-and-amp#
ACCESSORIES AND PACKAGING:
Paw S1 has a small petite cardboard retail box with all the specs and information printed on it.
Unboxing experience is fairly simple. The dongle is first thing out of the box while a type C to C cable and a USB A adapter are stuff in hard foam. There is a warranty card inside the box and that concludes the list of accessories out of the box.
BUILD QUALITY:
I really like the way the S1 looks. It has a small LED display with glass protection while the body is made out of metal. There isn't anything wobbly or unstable about it. It has 3 buttons on it and they have excellent feedback too. The USB cable with fiber braiding on it looks premium and should last longer than most.
SOUND QUALITY:
Paw S1 is a very capable dongle. I love the way it looks a it sounds very good too. I have a few dongles and one with the exact DAC chip too and I know what this AKM4377 chip is capable of. Lotoo has tuned things nicely and the built-in EQ system is a refreshing addition to spice things up. Unlike others these EQs are different from each other without sounding unnatural or stressed. They add the required flavoring while the stock tuning is slightly warmer and fuller than the more accurate and similarly equipped HUD 100 MK2.
The sound signature is slightly tilted towards providing a fun yet accurate sound. The whole spectrum has excellent agility and clarity with very good details.
The lower end is not flat like HUD 100 MK2 and is a bit fuller than the Qudelix 5k giving it a more rounded and satisfying feel. It has very good sub bass extension but I do feel a bit of rumble is missing while the mid bass is responsible for the fuller and meatier body. It doesn't lack much details but it doesn't have the extra texture of the HUD 100 MK2 or Qudelix 5k. The decay speed is slightly slower, providing the notes a more appropriate body while the other two can sound a bit thin and less intriguing.
Mid range is where the S1 excels. It has one of the best vocals, both male and female vocals sound pleasing with excellent texture and body. Male vocals have nice throaty feel while the female vocals are accurately sharp. I definitely would have liked a bit more consistency when it comes to emphasis across the spectrum as it starts to get a bit wobbly just after the vocals. The upper mids and lower treble are the most affected regions where two notes of same guitar have different dynamics, timber and energy. It definitely will love to see a improvement there. It doesn't lack details or clarity and doesn't have peaks to be wary of. Treble region is where the competition pulls ahead. Both the HUD 100 MK2 and Qudelix 5k have been consistency and energy till the end while the S1 doesn't excels with both extension and upper treble energy.
Layering and separation is not a weak point of this dongle but does have a bit of wider base making the floor sound slightly less spacious.
Pairing with IEMs:
With KBear Neon:
Neon is a single BA based IEM but is slightly tricky to drive. It can handle a lot of power and the Paw S1 has plenty of it even with the 3.5mm output. I find this pairing to be very good. S1 brings out the finer details in the mid range while expanding the stage in every direction. Use a bassy EQ and the Neon is not analytical anymore. Its lack of upper treble definition doesn't help the Neon but that is okay.
Campfire Mammoth:
This IEM pairs really well with the S1. Both complement each other. The slight lack of finishing definition of the mid range instruments are more defined now. It does tighten up the lower end but then the availability of EQ makes up for it without much problem. The treble region of the Mammoth is very good and the S1 adds some of its resolution to it making this pairing very enjoyable. Both are not excellent with upper treble region and this is where the S1 is gives in the Mammoth.
COMPARISON:
VS Qudelix 5k and HUD 100 Mk2:
CONCLUSION:
Paw S1 is a very capable DAC/Amp with a sturdy build quality. Sound quality is very good at $150 but there is more accurate and cleaner sounding DAC/Amps in the market, known as Qudelix 5k. What sets this apart is S1's set of built in EQs, it's a bonus addition which helps with flexibility. Unlike most EQs this set of EQ are very good while having their own flavor.
The biggest advantage of the Paw S1 is its 4.4mm balanced output. There aren't many DAC/Amps available here in India with this termination making it a lot more desirable.
Lotoo, well known for their Paw 5000 and Paw Gold daps had jumped into the USB dongle market early last year. What's great about a dap maker making a dongle is, they know what the consumer likes and their tuning abilities are much better than those without much experience in the source Market.
The Paw S1 is a very good looking, well equipped user friendly dongle. It has an AKM 4377 DAC chip, even though it's an entry level chip it can do more than what all of us use on daily basis. Keep in mind the DAC doesn't produce power or anything, DAC is the brain, it's the AMP which brings the power and it seems the S1 has a good AMP which is decently powerful.
Get one from here:
https://conceptkart.com/collections/lotoo/products/lotoo-paw-s1-portable-usb-dac-and-amp#
ACCESSORIES AND PACKAGING:
Paw S1 has a small petite cardboard retail box with all the specs and information printed on it.
Unboxing experience is fairly simple. The dongle is first thing out of the box while a type C to C cable and a USB A adapter are stuff in hard foam. There is a warranty card inside the box and that concludes the list of accessories out of the box.
BUILD QUALITY:
I really like the way the S1 looks. It has a small LED display with glass protection while the body is made out of metal. There isn't anything wobbly or unstable about it. It has 3 buttons on it and they have excellent feedback too. The USB cable with fiber braiding on it looks premium and should last longer than most.
SOUND QUALITY:
Paw S1 is a very capable dongle. I love the way it looks a it sounds very good too. I have a few dongles and one with the exact DAC chip too and I know what this AKM4377 chip is capable of. Lotoo has tuned things nicely and the built-in EQ system is a refreshing addition to spice things up. Unlike others these EQs are different from each other without sounding unnatural or stressed. They add the required flavoring while the stock tuning is slightly warmer and fuller than the more accurate and similarly equipped HUD 100 MK2.
The sound signature is slightly tilted towards providing a fun yet accurate sound. The whole spectrum has excellent agility and clarity with very good details.
The lower end is not flat like HUD 100 MK2 and is a bit fuller than the Qudelix 5k giving it a more rounded and satisfying feel. It has very good sub bass extension but I do feel a bit of rumble is missing while the mid bass is responsible for the fuller and meatier body. It doesn't lack much details but it doesn't have the extra texture of the HUD 100 MK2 or Qudelix 5k. The decay speed is slightly slower, providing the notes a more appropriate body while the other two can sound a bit thin and less intriguing.
Mid range is where the S1 excels. It has one of the best vocals, both male and female vocals sound pleasing with excellent texture and body. Male vocals have nice throaty feel while the female vocals are accurately sharp. I definitely would have liked a bit more consistency when it comes to emphasis across the spectrum as it starts to get a bit wobbly just after the vocals. The upper mids and lower treble are the most affected regions where two notes of same guitar have different dynamics, timber and energy. It definitely will love to see a improvement there. It doesn't lack details or clarity and doesn't have peaks to be wary of. Treble region is where the competition pulls ahead. Both the HUD 100 MK2 and Qudelix 5k have been consistency and energy till the end while the S1 doesn't excels with both extension and upper treble energy.
Layering and separation is not a weak point of this dongle but does have a bit of wider base making the floor sound slightly less spacious.
Pairing with IEMs:
With KBear Neon:
Neon is a single BA based IEM but is slightly tricky to drive. It can handle a lot of power and the Paw S1 has plenty of it even with the 3.5mm output. I find this pairing to be very good. S1 brings out the finer details in the mid range while expanding the stage in every direction. Use a bassy EQ and the Neon is not analytical anymore. Its lack of upper treble definition doesn't help the Neon but that is okay.
Campfire Mammoth:
This IEM pairs really well with the S1. Both complement each other. The slight lack of finishing definition of the mid range instruments are more defined now. It does tighten up the lower end but then the availability of EQ makes up for it without much problem. The treble region of the Mammoth is very good and the S1 adds some of its resolution to it making this pairing very enjoyable. Both are not excellent with upper treble region and this is where the S1 is gives in the Mammoth.
COMPARISON:
VS Qudelix 5k and HUD 100 Mk2:
CONCLUSION:
Paw S1 is a very capable DAC/Amp with a sturdy build quality. Sound quality is very good at $150 but there is more accurate and cleaner sounding DAC/Amps in the market, known as Qudelix 5k. What sets this apart is S1's set of built in EQs, it's a bonus addition which helps with flexibility. Unlike most EQs this set of EQ are very good while having their own flavor.
The biggest advantage of the Paw S1 is its 4.4mm balanced output. There aren't many DAC/Amps available here in India with this termination making it a lot more desirable.
Attachments
INTRO:
KBear is a well known IEM maker, this chi-fi brand has a whole lot of IEMs in the budget region. KBear too has a couple of IEMs priced over $100 but they make some of the most capable entry level IEMs. Most of these IEMs are hybrids which always pair a DD with some BA drivers but what I have here is not something KBear usually makes. Neon is an excellent looking IEM, its straight barrel design resembles the more premium Etymotic ER series IEMs but this is different. Housing a single BA driver it steps away from the bassy and boomy shadows of the Hybrid drivers, bringing better accuracy and precision to the table. Available in a variety of colors it is priced at just $50 and should appeal to the accuracy loving bunch.
I would like to thank Mei from Keep Hi-Fi for this review unit.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://keephifi.com/collections/kbear/products/kbear-neon-single-full-frequence-ba-in-ear-headphone
ACCESSORIES AND PACKAGING:
Unlike their cheaper IEMs this gets a more premium unboxing experience. The Neon has a grander looking package with a bit more premium presentation. It ships with a very good looking cable, a spacious case and 6 pair of tips.
BUILD AND CABLE QUALITY:
Neon has a straight barrel shell made out of resin and is very strong and more durable than other expensive acrylic based IEMs. It will survive falls like a champ and will not even complain about it. This is a fairly comfortable IEM but stability is not very good when worn cable down. But when worn cable up the cable takes up the weight and stabilizes it. I find the cable to be excellent too. Its supple and barely has any microphonics to worry about. This is a silver plated copper cable. Neon has a QDC type socket but I don't think this cable will fit the QDC IEMs.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
Neon does not need a lot of power to sound good but, but it has a few problems with weaker sources. This $50 IEM with just 14ohm impedance at 1KHZ does not tell the whole truth. Neon needs a good amount of power to sound at its best.
With my Redmi Note 10 Pro it sounds good, clean and clear with good separation and layering but the stage is smaller and notes have some finishing jitter, it sounds a bit agitated too. But when driven out of the Burson Playmate things improve a lot. The stage is much bigger now with better air between instruments and some micro details are clearer. Don't worry if you do not have a lot of power at your disposal, a good dongle will do.
Is it reasonable to invest in a dongle instead of buying a more slightly more expensive IEM? Let's find out.
SOUND QUALITY:
Housing a single BA driver makes things uncomplicated. It has nothing else but details and accuracy in its heart and mind. Unlike other single BA based IEM like Campfire Satsuma and Akoustyx R110, Neon has a more balanced sound. It barely has any flavoring keeping the tonality and timber much closer to natural.
BASS:
Neon does not favor the lower end much while delivering a aptly fuller lower end. The sub bass extension is not as good as $200 IEMs but is very good for a $50 IEM. The mid bass has more volume and fuller notes but it just does not have a lot of weight or energy giving it more accuracy and precision. On the down side, the upper bass is a bit more prominent and can give it a drier and less juicy feel. The decay speed is on the faster side, it does not wait for the notes to gain weight but that give it the precision leading to a cleaner and better defined notes. People are critical about the texture and layered feeling of BA based IEMs, don't expect an evolved layering but it does not lack texture.
MID RANGE:
Neon slightly struggles with the lower end but the mid range is one of the best under $200 for any type of IEM. It just simply does not miss a single note while keeping things calm and clear of any sharpness. This is something really impressive. Both vocals and instruments have excellent transparency. Let it be Dotan or Halsey, they all sound pleasing with impressive texture and definition.
What's surprising is that, when driven out of a good source this IEM has no anomalies with emphasis and note formes. Expensive IEMs like Kinera Norn and even Thieaudio Monarch struggle with this type of consistency. If you like a bit of attack this IEM will provide that but it does not get anywhere close to aggressive. It does not have a lot of definition with fast paced songs like "Halsey - Easier than lying" and that's where this IEM is brought down to its suggested price. It has a well defined upper mids and the extra energy results into more transparent and cleaner notes without pushing the boundaries of comfort.
TREBLE:
This is where this single BA based entry level IEM gives starts to struggle. The lower treble region has the energy of the upper mids delivering very good instrumental clarity. The mid treble region maintains average sparkle and energy as it starts to drop energy. Till this points Neon has good details and clarity. It does struggle with air and $200 level separation. Things get worse from here on. It barely maintains any relevance, restricting its extension.
Am I disappointed? Not at all, this lack of energy gives it a friendlier feeling. Those who do not want to have the sharpness with their music will enjoy it a lot.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
The Neon is not huge with stage. It's just above average and that alright. I was not expecting a lot from it and it doesn't disappoint. Both lower and treble regions take smaller volume while the mid, especially the vocals enjoy the lion's share. It has very good sonicality and is capable of delicate cue placements.
COMPARISONS:
VS Akoustyx R110:
This is the last single BA based IEM I reviewed and it was very good and had a similar sound signature to the Neon. R110 has a more voluminous lower end with slightly slower decay with better sub-bass extension and more gradually fuller mid bass. Its mid range has similar satisfaction and has taller notes. It does not have the extra bit of energy in the lower treble and upper mid region but has slightly more extended treble. Both IEMs have good layering and separation but the R110 does better. Stage size is where the R110 and Neon differ the most. R110 has a 40% bigger stage as its taller and has better depth in the Z-axis. I know this is an unfair comparison but I don't see many BA based IEMs under $100.
VS Campfire Satsuma:
Satsuma is a more fun and engaging IEM. It has the extra bit of pleasing presentation leading to extra cohesion which the Neon does not have. Satsuma brings a lot of lower end grunt, more than the R110. It has the meatier and fuller feel with the punch which the Neon does not have. Mid range is slightly smoother on the Satsuma but has the extra bit of details and resolution too. The biggest difference here is the distinction of fore and background instruments. Satsuma has it cleaner. Treble of both the IEMs are weak but Satsuma still has a hint of sparkle but can that justify the price difference? Nope. It can't. Satsuma has a bigger stage too, nearly 60% bigger as it has better expansion in all the directions.
CONCLUSION:
This is not the best IEM under $150. It does not compete with IEMs like Akoustyx R110 either but guess what, this has some mid range traits that can make IEMs priced more than $500 red with envy. It does not push for higher transparency in the treble region but focuses on mid range squeezing out some of the most enjoyable vocals and instruments under $100.
If you want mid range, if you want an IEM that focuses on vocals, KBear Neon is the only IEM you need.
KBear is a well known IEM maker, this chi-fi brand has a whole lot of IEMs in the budget region. KBear too has a couple of IEMs priced over $100 but they make some of the most capable entry level IEMs. Most of these IEMs are hybrids which always pair a DD with some BA drivers but what I have here is not something KBear usually makes. Neon is an excellent looking IEM, its straight barrel design resembles the more premium Etymotic ER series IEMs but this is different. Housing a single BA driver it steps away from the bassy and boomy shadows of the Hybrid drivers, bringing better accuracy and precision to the table. Available in a variety of colors it is priced at just $50 and should appeal to the accuracy loving bunch.
I would like to thank Mei from Keep Hi-Fi for this review unit.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://keephifi.com/collections/kbear/products/kbear-neon-single-full-frequence-ba-in-ear-headphone
ACCESSORIES AND PACKAGING:
Unlike their cheaper IEMs this gets a more premium unboxing experience. The Neon has a grander looking package with a bit more premium presentation. It ships with a very good looking cable, a spacious case and 6 pair of tips.
BUILD AND CABLE QUALITY:
Neon has a straight barrel shell made out of resin and is very strong and more durable than other expensive acrylic based IEMs. It will survive falls like a champ and will not even complain about it. This is a fairly comfortable IEM but stability is not very good when worn cable down. But when worn cable up the cable takes up the weight and stabilizes it. I find the cable to be excellent too. Its supple and barely has any microphonics to worry about. This is a silver plated copper cable. Neon has a QDC type socket but I don't think this cable will fit the QDC IEMs.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
Neon does not need a lot of power to sound good but, but it has a few problems with weaker sources. This $50 IEM with just 14ohm impedance at 1KHZ does not tell the whole truth. Neon needs a good amount of power to sound at its best.
With my Redmi Note 10 Pro it sounds good, clean and clear with good separation and layering but the stage is smaller and notes have some finishing jitter, it sounds a bit agitated too. But when driven out of the Burson Playmate things improve a lot. The stage is much bigger now with better air between instruments and some micro details are clearer. Don't worry if you do not have a lot of power at your disposal, a good dongle will do.
Is it reasonable to invest in a dongle instead of buying a more slightly more expensive IEM? Let's find out.
SOUND QUALITY:
Housing a single BA driver makes things uncomplicated. It has nothing else but details and accuracy in its heart and mind. Unlike other single BA based IEM like Campfire Satsuma and Akoustyx R110, Neon has a more balanced sound. It barely has any flavoring keeping the tonality and timber much closer to natural.
BASS:
Neon does not favor the lower end much while delivering a aptly fuller lower end. The sub bass extension is not as good as $200 IEMs but is very good for a $50 IEM. The mid bass has more volume and fuller notes but it just does not have a lot of weight or energy giving it more accuracy and precision. On the down side, the upper bass is a bit more prominent and can give it a drier and less juicy feel. The decay speed is on the faster side, it does not wait for the notes to gain weight but that give it the precision leading to a cleaner and better defined notes. People are critical about the texture and layered feeling of BA based IEMs, don't expect an evolved layering but it does not lack texture.
MID RANGE:
Neon slightly struggles with the lower end but the mid range is one of the best under $200 for any type of IEM. It just simply does not miss a single note while keeping things calm and clear of any sharpness. This is something really impressive. Both vocals and instruments have excellent transparency. Let it be Dotan or Halsey, they all sound pleasing with impressive texture and definition.
What's surprising is that, when driven out of a good source this IEM has no anomalies with emphasis and note formes. Expensive IEMs like Kinera Norn and even Thieaudio Monarch struggle with this type of consistency. If you like a bit of attack this IEM will provide that but it does not get anywhere close to aggressive. It does not have a lot of definition with fast paced songs like "Halsey - Easier than lying" and that's where this IEM is brought down to its suggested price. It has a well defined upper mids and the extra energy results into more transparent and cleaner notes without pushing the boundaries of comfort.
TREBLE:
This is where this single BA based entry level IEM gives starts to struggle. The lower treble region has the energy of the upper mids delivering very good instrumental clarity. The mid treble region maintains average sparkle and energy as it starts to drop energy. Till this points Neon has good details and clarity. It does struggle with air and $200 level separation. Things get worse from here on. It barely maintains any relevance, restricting its extension.
Am I disappointed? Not at all, this lack of energy gives it a friendlier feeling. Those who do not want to have the sharpness with their music will enjoy it a lot.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
The Neon is not huge with stage. It's just above average and that alright. I was not expecting a lot from it and it doesn't disappoint. Both lower and treble regions take smaller volume while the mid, especially the vocals enjoy the lion's share. It has very good sonicality and is capable of delicate cue placements.
COMPARISONS:
VS Akoustyx R110:
This is the last single BA based IEM I reviewed and it was very good and had a similar sound signature to the Neon. R110 has a more voluminous lower end with slightly slower decay with better sub-bass extension and more gradually fuller mid bass. Its mid range has similar satisfaction and has taller notes. It does not have the extra bit of energy in the lower treble and upper mid region but has slightly more extended treble. Both IEMs have good layering and separation but the R110 does better. Stage size is where the R110 and Neon differ the most. R110 has a 40% bigger stage as its taller and has better depth in the Z-axis. I know this is an unfair comparison but I don't see many BA based IEMs under $100.
VS Campfire Satsuma:
Satsuma is a more fun and engaging IEM. It has the extra bit of pleasing presentation leading to extra cohesion which the Neon does not have. Satsuma brings a lot of lower end grunt, more than the R110. It has the meatier and fuller feel with the punch which the Neon does not have. Mid range is slightly smoother on the Satsuma but has the extra bit of details and resolution too. The biggest difference here is the distinction of fore and background instruments. Satsuma has it cleaner. Treble of both the IEMs are weak but Satsuma still has a hint of sparkle but can that justify the price difference? Nope. It can't. Satsuma has a bigger stage too, nearly 60% bigger as it has better expansion in all the directions.
CONCLUSION:
This is not the best IEM under $150. It does not compete with IEMs like Akoustyx R110 either but guess what, this has some mid range traits that can make IEMs priced more than $500 red with envy. It does not push for higher transparency in the treble region but focuses on mid range squeezing out some of the most enjoyable vocals and instruments under $100.
If you want mid range, if you want an IEM that focuses on vocals, KBear Neon is the only IEM you need.
Attachments
Ace Bee
Congratulations on front page feature!
INTRO:
Panther Audio, even though they are not new in the market, most of us haven't heard about them. Based in Hong Kong Panther Audio started operation in 2018 and have an healthy set of IEMs under their portfolio. They start with the Aura D2X, which is a dual BA single DD hybrid IEM and is priced at $254 or 1980hkd going as high as 22500 hkd or around $2900 for their Flagship Aura 2LVE.
They have an EST based IEM, Amethyst 132, priced at around $1550 or 11900 hkd.
What I have with me here is their only all BA based IEM, Legend K8. As the number suggests this houses 8 BA drivers on each sides and is priced at around $860 or 6688 hkd. All of their IEMs can be ordered in custom form with various customizations but universal models have their set color scheme and the K8 only comes in clear shell. I love this type of shell. The naked loom is unique and interesting.
I am comparing the K8 with the Campfire ARA and DUNU ZEN IEMs.
Get one for yourself from this link:
https://panther-audio.com/products/legend-k8
Find Panther Audio here:
https://www.facebook.com/PantherAudio/
ACCESSORIES:
It's interesting to see some retail packaging from an boutique IEM maker. K8 comes with a shelf ready black box with a Panther face on the box. Unboxing is very straight forward. First thing to greet us is a envelope with the warranty card on it while an welcome note is placed inside it. Under that are the earpieces stuffed in foam but strangely the cable's are attached to them and wound under the IEMs.
Under the foam are the faux leather carry case and a couple of paper boxes which contain 6 pair of ear tips, a cleaning tool, a quarter inch adapter and a cleaning cloth.
I will like Panther audio to put some of the accessories inside the carry case and reduce the size of the package.
HOW IS THE CABLE:
Compared to other European boutique brands the K8 comes with a decent cable. It's an 8 core OCC copper cable with silver plating on it. Not only does it sound good it looks nice too.
The good thing about this cable is its supple and soft feel. It's supple like the Smokey litz cable but is softer. It doesn't have any memory problem. And even when it's supple and soft it doesn't feel weak or less durable. Components used here are of good quality, I definitely would have liked a slightly lighter cable splitter though. The cable guides are reasonably supple and aren't harsh on the ear.
Even when mine has 3.5mm termination one can opt for balanced termination when placing any order. Just PM them!!
BUILD QUALITY AND ERGONOMICS:
Panther Audio is using clear resin (imported from Eggar Germany) shell on the K8 and it looks beautiful. There is no weak point to the shell as the half filled shell feel very sturdy and stable. It definitely will not survive a drop on solid floor but it won't break apart like acrylic shells. For an 8BA IEM the K8 has a considerably small shell and should fit all ear sizes. The 4 bore nozzle though can feel a bit short and doesn't go much deeper into the ear. It can fit anything in the T400-500 sizes but I prefer wide bore tips with it.
Ergonomics of the K8 is fairly comfortable. It doesn't have a very ergonomically designed shell but does have a winged design which gives it a fairly good feel inside the ear while the resin shell provides excellent grip. Unlike most of the BA based IEMs K8 has a pressure releasing vent near the 2pin socket.
PAIRING AND MATCHING WITH SOURCES:
The K8 is from one of the most unique set of IEMs which barely care about the source it is being driven from. It just simply do not feel bas ev5 when driven out of weak sources like mobile phones. Yes, the stage and air between instruments take a hit but that's it, it doesn't get moody or sharp. Giving power and better sources definitely helps with better stage, cleaner notes and more defined finishing definition. I definitely will recommend a decent dongle like Qudelix 5k for this.
The slightly fuller and organic kind of tonality pairs very well with analytical sources like Qudelix 5k and TR-amp.
SOUND QUALITY:
K8 is an excellent sounding IEM. Housing 8BA drivers in a 4 way crossover it has 2 sonion for lows, 2 for lower mids, 3 Knowles for mid-highs and 1 for highs.
I was expecting it to be less full and a lot more serious but it is a jolly yet accurate sounding IEM without any harsh sides to it. The only down side to this all BA based IEM is the slight V shaped sound signature. There is a slight dip after the upper mid range which is very hard to tell when not paying much attention. Kudos to Panther audio for bringing us this kind of tuning.
It has a bit of warmth and fuller feel to it so it can't be labeled as the most neutral or natural sounding IEM but it's a much more cohesive sounding IEM for sure.
I am using Micro Signature and Qudelix 5k for this review.
BASS:
One of the biggest advantage of having handful of drivers is that the tuning can be done without worrying about caveats. And that shows. The K8 has two low end drives incharge of suba and mids bass while there are two more to handle the upper bass and lower mids giving the lower end a much more complete feel.
It has a beautiful lower end with full and meaty notes without compromising on texture or details. It has very good sub-bass extension and the rumble is as good as some DD based IEMs. Mid bass has better volume and body and has more volume and air movement than the ARA. The upper bass is exceptionally balanced with the mid bass and smoothly blends into the lower mids. I do feel that it could have had a bit more definition but then I am looking at the ARA. Yes, you cannot expect to have heavy bass slams like the Dorado 2020 but ut doesn't leave much to be desired unless loads of bass is what you want.
With the bigger volume and warmth comes a slightly slower decay speed. It's faster than all DDs and marginally faster than DUNU SA6 but is slightly slower than the more accurate ARA.
MIDS:
Aided by half of the lower-mid duo drivers and another half of mid-high driver duo K8 has a very capable mid range. The level of clarity and details is very good. What I really like here is the presentation. The notes are well defined but do not have sharper or aggressive feel to them. Even the upper mid is well behaved and is devoid of any peaks. Lovely notes with a fuller body give this IEM a very satisfying feel. But the lack of dedicated mid range driver is evident too. The whole mid range is slightly in the V or say U. There is drop just after the upper mids which is very hard to point out but does suppress some guitar notes if in the track.
Vocals are magical, cohesive and soothing, it barely has any flaws. Male vocals are throaty while female vocals are sharper with excellent texture and definition. Only nit picking can be the base of notes which is slightly wider than accurate. Instruments have excellent definition and thank fully do not have the lack of energy around the vocals. There is no lack of height while the finishing definition is spot on. Yes, even when it's way above average, the upper mids could have been slightly more dynamic and open but I think it's tuned like this to contain any undesirable notes.
HIGHS:
Even when K8 has part of the mid high drive and a dedicated high driver for the treble region it doesn't try to get overboard with details and transparency. Some earphones try too hard to exhibit better transparency and clarity with sharper notes but the DM7 doesn't belong to that bunch. It delivers the right amount of energy and spark staying clear of uncomfortable notes. It has very good amount of air between instruments with excellent contrast of fore and background instruments. Thanks to its slightly bright nature it resolves excellent cleanliness. K8 delivers the notes like it know how much aggression most of us can handle while maintaining enjoyable sparkle and liveliness. It doesn't lack any details while the transparency is top notch. There isn't a single thing wrong with this tuning. One can say that the treble extension is not of the endless type like the MEST mk2 but it is as good as the ARA and Solaris 2020.
Notes are very accurate with a slightly wider base giving it a friendlier and calmer feel while the finishing definition is very good with appropriate energy providing the required bite and attack without making notes uncomfortable. Cymbals and pianos have very good transparency and an analogue feel too. Needless to say that separation and layering is up to the mark. The bigger than average stage size helps a lot with instrument placements and density.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
It's strange that this all BA IEM has a much bigger stage than the Thieaudio Monarch. K8 has a stage which is not huge near the head but gets bigger as it goes further. Some of the vocals a nearly 80% of the lower end notes are placed inside the head while most of the mids and treble notes are well spread out of the head. Thanks to the bigger stage K8 has very good space between instruments with class leading layering and separation. The instrument distribution is impressively uniform with very good density. Thanks to added flexibility K8 has impressive dynamic cue placement giving it a rich sonic experience.
COMPARISONS:
VS DUNU ZEN:
This is a single DD IEM but I was impressed by its details and musical feel. It has similar approach to sound.
First thing first, this DD has bigger volume and move more air than the K8 but K8 has similar sub-bass rumble and a hair better extension. Mid bass is fuller and weightier on the ZEN, upper bass is slightly elevated too. Decay speed of K8 is much better than the ZEN. Mid rage is where the ZEN has a bit of upper has with more cohesive timber and musical tonality. Both have similar note formation but the Zen has slightly better edge definition for both vocals and instruments. Treble and forward is where the K8 shows ites supremacy. It is sparkly and livelier with much better details extraction. Zen lacks energy at the upper treble region hampering its extension while the K8 has excellence written all over it thanks it's better expressing abilities without getting harsh or offensive.
Stage size of the ZEN is very good and is well rounded while the K8 has bigger stage further to the ears. Both have similar feel but the K8 has much better X-axis width while the ZEN has better height closer to the head.
Campfire ARA:
Even when the ARA has 7 drivers inside it, out of which 4 are dedicated lower end drivers, it barely has enough lower end body to take on the K8. K8 has bigger volume and similar sub-bass extension while the ARA has more rumble and weight to the notes. Mid bass of the K8 is fuller while the ARA has better balance and decay speed. K8 has slightly forward vocals and a bit less energetic upper mids while ARA is more even. Treble is where the ARA can feel a bit aggressive with more tingly and sparkly notes, especially the cymbals and similar percussion instruments have added finishing resolution and energy. Both have similar Treble extension but the K8 has bigger stage and has better dynamics.
ARA is a very serious and mature sounding IEM while K8 is more cohesive and musical. Both lack no details but ARA is more precise and doesn't back away for extra attack.
CONCLUSION:
What can I say. Close your eyes and get one!! This IEM is a prime example of what we want from a BA based IEMs. BA based IEMs do not need to be dull or accuracy minded while maintaining excellent details and transparency.
K8 is not an outright serious IEM. It's a more playful, happy going IEM which can do anything while doing a lot of things better than all of its competitors like Thieaudio Monarch. The biggest plus is the evenness, even when it has a bit of flavoring it doesn't let the note's height, dynamics or emphasis drop to average levels. I am impressed. The build quality is top notch too. Yes, they can make the packaging a bit more compact but this $860 IEM punches way above its price bracket going neck in neck with EVE20 and VE6XC.
There a barely any IEM as good as this under $1000. As I mentioned earlier, this can bought with eyes closed.
Panther Audio, even though they are not new in the market, most of us haven't heard about them. Based in Hong Kong Panther Audio started operation in 2018 and have an healthy set of IEMs under their portfolio. They start with the Aura D2X, which is a dual BA single DD hybrid IEM and is priced at $254 or 1980hkd going as high as 22500 hkd or around $2900 for their Flagship Aura 2LVE.
They have an EST based IEM, Amethyst 132, priced at around $1550 or 11900 hkd.
What I have with me here is their only all BA based IEM, Legend K8. As the number suggests this houses 8 BA drivers on each sides and is priced at around $860 or 6688 hkd. All of their IEMs can be ordered in custom form with various customizations but universal models have their set color scheme and the K8 only comes in clear shell. I love this type of shell. The naked loom is unique and interesting.
I am comparing the K8 with the Campfire ARA and DUNU ZEN IEMs.
Get one for yourself from this link:
https://panther-audio.com/products/legend-k8
Find Panther Audio here:
https://www.facebook.com/PantherAudio/
ACCESSORIES:
It's interesting to see some retail packaging from an boutique IEM maker. K8 comes with a shelf ready black box with a Panther face on the box. Unboxing is very straight forward. First thing to greet us is a envelope with the warranty card on it while an welcome note is placed inside it. Under that are the earpieces stuffed in foam but strangely the cable's are attached to them and wound under the IEMs.
Under the foam are the faux leather carry case and a couple of paper boxes which contain 6 pair of ear tips, a cleaning tool, a quarter inch adapter and a cleaning cloth.
I will like Panther audio to put some of the accessories inside the carry case and reduce the size of the package.
HOW IS THE CABLE:
Compared to other European boutique brands the K8 comes with a decent cable. It's an 8 core OCC copper cable with silver plating on it. Not only does it sound good it looks nice too.
The good thing about this cable is its supple and soft feel. It's supple like the Smokey litz cable but is softer. It doesn't have any memory problem. And even when it's supple and soft it doesn't feel weak or less durable. Components used here are of good quality, I definitely would have liked a slightly lighter cable splitter though. The cable guides are reasonably supple and aren't harsh on the ear.
Even when mine has 3.5mm termination one can opt for balanced termination when placing any order. Just PM them!!
BUILD QUALITY AND ERGONOMICS:
Panther Audio is using clear resin (imported from Eggar Germany) shell on the K8 and it looks beautiful. There is no weak point to the shell as the half filled shell feel very sturdy and stable. It definitely will not survive a drop on solid floor but it won't break apart like acrylic shells. For an 8BA IEM the K8 has a considerably small shell and should fit all ear sizes. The 4 bore nozzle though can feel a bit short and doesn't go much deeper into the ear. It can fit anything in the T400-500 sizes but I prefer wide bore tips with it.
Ergonomics of the K8 is fairly comfortable. It doesn't have a very ergonomically designed shell but does have a winged design which gives it a fairly good feel inside the ear while the resin shell provides excellent grip. Unlike most of the BA based IEMs K8 has a pressure releasing vent near the 2pin socket.
PAIRING AND MATCHING WITH SOURCES:
The K8 is from one of the most unique set of IEMs which barely care about the source it is being driven from. It just simply do not feel bas ev5 when driven out of weak sources like mobile phones. Yes, the stage and air between instruments take a hit but that's it, it doesn't get moody or sharp. Giving power and better sources definitely helps with better stage, cleaner notes and more defined finishing definition. I definitely will recommend a decent dongle like Qudelix 5k for this.
The slightly fuller and organic kind of tonality pairs very well with analytical sources like Qudelix 5k and TR-amp.
SOUND QUALITY:
K8 is an excellent sounding IEM. Housing 8BA drivers in a 4 way crossover it has 2 sonion for lows, 2 for lower mids, 3 Knowles for mid-highs and 1 for highs.
I was expecting it to be less full and a lot more serious but it is a jolly yet accurate sounding IEM without any harsh sides to it. The only down side to this all BA based IEM is the slight V shaped sound signature. There is a slight dip after the upper mid range which is very hard to tell when not paying much attention. Kudos to Panther audio for bringing us this kind of tuning.
It has a bit of warmth and fuller feel to it so it can't be labeled as the most neutral or natural sounding IEM but it's a much more cohesive sounding IEM for sure.
I am using Micro Signature and Qudelix 5k for this review.
BASS:
One of the biggest advantage of having handful of drivers is that the tuning can be done without worrying about caveats. And that shows. The K8 has two low end drives incharge of suba and mids bass while there are two more to handle the upper bass and lower mids giving the lower end a much more complete feel.
It has a beautiful lower end with full and meaty notes without compromising on texture or details. It has very good sub-bass extension and the rumble is as good as some DD based IEMs. Mid bass has better volume and body and has more volume and air movement than the ARA. The upper bass is exceptionally balanced with the mid bass and smoothly blends into the lower mids. I do feel that it could have had a bit more definition but then I am looking at the ARA. Yes, you cannot expect to have heavy bass slams like the Dorado 2020 but ut doesn't leave much to be desired unless loads of bass is what you want.
With the bigger volume and warmth comes a slightly slower decay speed. It's faster than all DDs and marginally faster than DUNU SA6 but is slightly slower than the more accurate ARA.
MIDS:
Aided by half of the lower-mid duo drivers and another half of mid-high driver duo K8 has a very capable mid range. The level of clarity and details is very good. What I really like here is the presentation. The notes are well defined but do not have sharper or aggressive feel to them. Even the upper mid is well behaved and is devoid of any peaks. Lovely notes with a fuller body give this IEM a very satisfying feel. But the lack of dedicated mid range driver is evident too. The whole mid range is slightly in the V or say U. There is drop just after the upper mids which is very hard to point out but does suppress some guitar notes if in the track.
Vocals are magical, cohesive and soothing, it barely has any flaws. Male vocals are throaty while female vocals are sharper with excellent texture and definition. Only nit picking can be the base of notes which is slightly wider than accurate. Instruments have excellent definition and thank fully do not have the lack of energy around the vocals. There is no lack of height while the finishing definition is spot on. Yes, even when it's way above average, the upper mids could have been slightly more dynamic and open but I think it's tuned like this to contain any undesirable notes.
HIGHS:
Even when K8 has part of the mid high drive and a dedicated high driver for the treble region it doesn't try to get overboard with details and transparency. Some earphones try too hard to exhibit better transparency and clarity with sharper notes but the DM7 doesn't belong to that bunch. It delivers the right amount of energy and spark staying clear of uncomfortable notes. It has very good amount of air between instruments with excellent contrast of fore and background instruments. Thanks to its slightly bright nature it resolves excellent cleanliness. K8 delivers the notes like it know how much aggression most of us can handle while maintaining enjoyable sparkle and liveliness. It doesn't lack any details while the transparency is top notch. There isn't a single thing wrong with this tuning. One can say that the treble extension is not of the endless type like the MEST mk2 but it is as good as the ARA and Solaris 2020.
Notes are very accurate with a slightly wider base giving it a friendlier and calmer feel while the finishing definition is very good with appropriate energy providing the required bite and attack without making notes uncomfortable. Cymbals and pianos have very good transparency and an analogue feel too. Needless to say that separation and layering is up to the mark. The bigger than average stage size helps a lot with instrument placements and density.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
It's strange that this all BA IEM has a much bigger stage than the Thieaudio Monarch. K8 has a stage which is not huge near the head but gets bigger as it goes further. Some of the vocals a nearly 80% of the lower end notes are placed inside the head while most of the mids and treble notes are well spread out of the head. Thanks to the bigger stage K8 has very good space between instruments with class leading layering and separation. The instrument distribution is impressively uniform with very good density. Thanks to added flexibility K8 has impressive dynamic cue placement giving it a rich sonic experience.
COMPARISONS:
VS DUNU ZEN:
This is a single DD IEM but I was impressed by its details and musical feel. It has similar approach to sound.
First thing first, this DD has bigger volume and move more air than the K8 but K8 has similar sub-bass rumble and a hair better extension. Mid bass is fuller and weightier on the ZEN, upper bass is slightly elevated too. Decay speed of K8 is much better than the ZEN. Mid rage is where the ZEN has a bit of upper has with more cohesive timber and musical tonality. Both have similar note formation but the Zen has slightly better edge definition for both vocals and instruments. Treble and forward is where the K8 shows ites supremacy. It is sparkly and livelier with much better details extraction. Zen lacks energy at the upper treble region hampering its extension while the K8 has excellence written all over it thanks it's better expressing abilities without getting harsh or offensive.
Stage size of the ZEN is very good and is well rounded while the K8 has bigger stage further to the ears. Both have similar feel but the K8 has much better X-axis width while the ZEN has better height closer to the head.
Campfire ARA:
Even when the ARA has 7 drivers inside it, out of which 4 are dedicated lower end drivers, it barely has enough lower end body to take on the K8. K8 has bigger volume and similar sub-bass extension while the ARA has more rumble and weight to the notes. Mid bass of the K8 is fuller while the ARA has better balance and decay speed. K8 has slightly forward vocals and a bit less energetic upper mids while ARA is more even. Treble is where the ARA can feel a bit aggressive with more tingly and sparkly notes, especially the cymbals and similar percussion instruments have added finishing resolution and energy. Both have similar Treble extension but the K8 has bigger stage and has better dynamics.
ARA is a very serious and mature sounding IEM while K8 is more cohesive and musical. Both lack no details but ARA is more precise and doesn't back away for extra attack.
CONCLUSION:
What can I say. Close your eyes and get one!! This IEM is a prime example of what we want from a BA based IEMs. BA based IEMs do not need to be dull or accuracy minded while maintaining excellent details and transparency.
K8 is not an outright serious IEM. It's a more playful, happy going IEM which can do anything while doing a lot of things better than all of its competitors like Thieaudio Monarch. The biggest plus is the evenness, even when it has a bit of flavoring it doesn't let the note's height, dynamics or emphasis drop to average levels. I am impressed. The build quality is top notch too. Yes, they can make the packaging a bit more compact but this $860 IEM punches way above its price bracket going neck in neck with EVE20 and VE6XC.
There a barely any IEM as good as this under $1000. As I mentioned earlier, this can bought with eyes closed.
Attachments
INTRODUCTION:
Tri audio is an extension of KBear but unlike the parent brand Tri brings more innovative and expensive IEMs with various setups and configurations. They start as low as $70 for the i4 and go as high as $800 for the Starlight.
What I have here is revision to one of their most popular models i3. The outgoing model has the same driver configuration as the successor but this time around the shell is petite and is more rigid. The price is only $20 more at $189 and the same chrome finish on the shell lives on.
No doubt this IEM looks exceptionally good. But does it sound equally impressive? Let's find out. I will compare it with the **** MT300 and a Fiio FD3 for more contexts.
Get one for yourself from these links:
https://keephifi.com/products/tri-i...-composite-8mm-dd-ba-dynamic-in-ear-headphone
https://hifigo.com/products/tri-i3-pro
ACCESSORIES AND UNBOXING:
The i3 pro comes in a black box with some futuristic designs on tbe box. It looks cool but the unboxing experience is fairly simple. The first thing that greets us is the earpieces stuffed in the foam and the faux leather carey case. Every other accessory is inside the case including the cable. There is 7 extra pair of tips, a cleaning cloth, and a cleaning tool. An instruction manual can be found at the bottom and it concludes the list of stuff out of the box.
HOW IS THE CABLE:
i3 pro ships with a very good looking brown colored cable and strangely this cable feels better to the hand than the BGVP DM8 cable. I like the cable more than any other in this price. This 8 core 5N OFC cable is not stiff or unreasonably supple. It has barely nay micro phonics to worry about.
There is barely any stress relievers on the cable but this cable is strong enough and should hold strong against minor stress. The cable splitter is small in size while the chin slider is easy to work with. Chrome plating across the connectors give this IEM a more premium look.
BUILD QUALITY AND ERGONOMICS:
These IEMs have a very similar design to the OG i3. i3 pro has the exact type of housing made out of slightly better quality 7050 series of aviation aluminum. The pr version has 26% less volume as the OG providing equally impressive strength, stability and better comfort inside the ear. The nozzle size is not wide and aptly long which helps with a more comfortable and secure feel. It can fit anything between T500 and T400 sized tips. The set of tips it ships with are comfortable and stable inside the ear. There is a series of pressure releasing vent on the side of the body.
I3 pro is not a very ergonomically designed IEM but still has a bit of wing like structure which helps with a bit of traction inside the ear. Best thing are the rounded edges which cause no problem while moving the IEM inside the ear. The biggest positive is the shape and weight, i3 pro's weight distribution is very good and the IEM doesn't tend to slip out of the ear.
SOUND QUALITY:
I have no experience with the OG i3 but one thing I can say clearly that this i3 pro is a very capable IEM, it has all the traits which makes an excellent IEM. This tri-brid with use of an 8mm DD, 10mm planar and one BA driver delivers a satisfying sound. The bass is tight, mids are slightly in the V, treble is clean, clear and sparkly.
It does not try to be warm or thicker and that makes it more neutral and natural sounding.
MATCHING WITH SOURCES:
This is a critical point for an IEM equipped like this. This tri-brid IEM has an impedance of just 15ohm and an sensitivity of 103db. 103db makes it slightly hard to reach satisfying volume but the 15ohm is kind of misleading. i3 pro needs good amount of power to sound close to it's full potential. Use a dongle and it will do the job, use a proper AMP and it will sing. Use a mobile phone and the stage will lose it's expansion in the X-axis and the treble air js gone.
BASS:
What I really like about the i3 pro is it's control over the lower end notes. It has the body, slam and punch but it does not get out of control. It has to be one of the most tighter and cleaner sounding lower end from an DD under $200.
It has very good extension but lacks a bit of sub-bass rumble and body but is better than what a BA based IEM like Satsuma offers. The mid bass is a bit more voluminous providing it the required amount of body and fullness. The notes do not have a lot of weight because of faster decay speed. It doesn't let the notes precipitate and get heavy which brings class leading control. It has good amount of texture but is slightly inferior to the **** MT300, so is the amount of details. This 8mm DD haa good dynamics, as good as Onkyo E900M.
Upper treble is nicely energized and nicel5 blends into the lower mids.
MIDS:
The only problem I find in this IEM is it's slightly V shaped sound signature which pushes the mid range, especially the vocals back. A projection like this would not have been a problem but vocal notes don't have enough room and the lack of height robs it off of some dynamics and naturality but both male and female vocals have good accuracy and body. Male vocals are not a lot throaty but female vocals are lot more defined and accurate. The downside is the slight lack of texture.
The main attraction of the mid range are the instruments, they have a cohesion of their own. If you like instrumental tracks and space music this IEM can easily captivate your mind. It doesn't try to make the notes sound overly tall or energetic but thanks to more precise finishing it delivers high quality resolution and very good details. It has a pleasing kind of attack, it bites but with love, without leaving any sibilance behind even at the upper mid region. The downside is the lack of cleanliness at the base of the notes.
The transition phase at the upper bass to lower mid region has very good details and energy. There is no anomalies to worry about.
TREBLE:
The treble region is the strongest point od this IEM. It doesn't miss a single note or detail. It has the best sense of space and air in the whole spectrum. It is slightly more energetic than average but is not overly so. The Akoustyx R220 is a lot more attacking than the i3 pro. The biggest plus here is the cleaner and exceptional definition of instruments. The i3 pro simply has some of the best air and separation here. There is no overlapping at the base of the notes either. It performs admirably in the sonic front too. It's cue placement is very clean and precise. For formalities, treble extension is very good for the price, it does much better than what the Spring 2 and is on par with Fiio FD5.
The only down side is notes do not have the fastest decay emulating what a DD based IEM does, it is slower than the MT300. The EST inside the MT300 is super fast with decay.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Another plus of the i3 pro is it's stage. It is not the biggest but the stage feels evenly filled without getting lopsided. This stage has very good height, average width and depth. Most of the vocals, nearly 70% starts and end inside the ear while most of the instruments are placed out of the head. The out of head feel is on par with it's competition. The dynamic feel of this stage is impressive, it doesn't feel limited to a boundary. It can extend if the track has it.
COMPARISONS:
VS **** MT300:
This EST, DD and BA based IEM has been one of the favourite IEM under $200 and it still is.
I can end this comparison by saying that pick any aspect, MT300 is simply better, let it be, bass body, details, clarity or stage this IEM still is not bested. MT300 is more balanced, has even better finishing definition, but there is more to it.
i3 brings a cleaner and calmer sound with a deeper and taller stage. It is more musical and cohesive sounding too. While the MT300 can sound a dry and less juicy and can induce a bit of comfort issues for those with sensitive ears.
VS Fiio FD3:
This newly released IEM has it's say in this price bracket. This is not the pro version but has the same 12mm driver. It sounds more organic and warmer.
This has slightly bigger bass body and more texture. Sub bass has less extension but the volume and fuller notes make up for it. Mids are more forward and the vocals are a lot more natural and accurate with notes body and finishing. Treble is where the FD3 is considerably weaker against the highly capable i3 pro. It lacks a lot of upper treble energy and lack with sparkle at the mid treble too.
Stage size is taller on the FD3 but i3 pro has better width.
CONCLUSION:
The i3 pro from TRI is an excellent IEM and is one of the top contender under $200. It is one of most cohesive and accurate sounding IEM in recent times. It barely adds anything more that what it is supposed to be. Yes, it is not the best in most scenarios but has one of the best treble clarity and does admirably in every other aspect. The mid range is it's weakest part but it barely affects it's performance since it is well separated and doesn't get shadowed by anything. It just doesn't have the energy or balanced feel with the vocals.
If you don't know what you want but have to have details and good accuracy across the spectrum, i3 pro should be the top option.
Have an excellent time!! Enjoy your Music!!
Cheers!!
Tri audio is an extension of KBear but unlike the parent brand Tri brings more innovative and expensive IEMs with various setups and configurations. They start as low as $70 for the i4 and go as high as $800 for the Starlight.
What I have here is revision to one of their most popular models i3. The outgoing model has the same driver configuration as the successor but this time around the shell is petite and is more rigid. The price is only $20 more at $189 and the same chrome finish on the shell lives on.
No doubt this IEM looks exceptionally good. But does it sound equally impressive? Let's find out. I will compare it with the **** MT300 and a Fiio FD3 for more contexts.
Get one for yourself from these links:
https://keephifi.com/products/tri-i...-composite-8mm-dd-ba-dynamic-in-ear-headphone
https://hifigo.com/products/tri-i3-pro
ACCESSORIES AND UNBOXING:
The i3 pro comes in a black box with some futuristic designs on tbe box. It looks cool but the unboxing experience is fairly simple. The first thing that greets us is the earpieces stuffed in the foam and the faux leather carey case. Every other accessory is inside the case including the cable. There is 7 extra pair of tips, a cleaning cloth, and a cleaning tool. An instruction manual can be found at the bottom and it concludes the list of stuff out of the box.
HOW IS THE CABLE:
i3 pro ships with a very good looking brown colored cable and strangely this cable feels better to the hand than the BGVP DM8 cable. I like the cable more than any other in this price. This 8 core 5N OFC cable is not stiff or unreasonably supple. It has barely nay micro phonics to worry about.
There is barely any stress relievers on the cable but this cable is strong enough and should hold strong against minor stress. The cable splitter is small in size while the chin slider is easy to work with. Chrome plating across the connectors give this IEM a more premium look.
BUILD QUALITY AND ERGONOMICS:
These IEMs have a very similar design to the OG i3. i3 pro has the exact type of housing made out of slightly better quality 7050 series of aviation aluminum. The pr version has 26% less volume as the OG providing equally impressive strength, stability and better comfort inside the ear. The nozzle size is not wide and aptly long which helps with a more comfortable and secure feel. It can fit anything between T500 and T400 sized tips. The set of tips it ships with are comfortable and stable inside the ear. There is a series of pressure releasing vent on the side of the body.
I3 pro is not a very ergonomically designed IEM but still has a bit of wing like structure which helps with a bit of traction inside the ear. Best thing are the rounded edges which cause no problem while moving the IEM inside the ear. The biggest positive is the shape and weight, i3 pro's weight distribution is very good and the IEM doesn't tend to slip out of the ear.
SOUND QUALITY:
I have no experience with the OG i3 but one thing I can say clearly that this i3 pro is a very capable IEM, it has all the traits which makes an excellent IEM. This tri-brid with use of an 8mm DD, 10mm planar and one BA driver delivers a satisfying sound. The bass is tight, mids are slightly in the V, treble is clean, clear and sparkly.
It does not try to be warm or thicker and that makes it more neutral and natural sounding.
MATCHING WITH SOURCES:
This is a critical point for an IEM equipped like this. This tri-brid IEM has an impedance of just 15ohm and an sensitivity of 103db. 103db makes it slightly hard to reach satisfying volume but the 15ohm is kind of misleading. i3 pro needs good amount of power to sound close to it's full potential. Use a dongle and it will do the job, use a proper AMP and it will sing. Use a mobile phone and the stage will lose it's expansion in the X-axis and the treble air js gone.
BASS:
What I really like about the i3 pro is it's control over the lower end notes. It has the body, slam and punch but it does not get out of control. It has to be one of the most tighter and cleaner sounding lower end from an DD under $200.
It has very good extension but lacks a bit of sub-bass rumble and body but is better than what a BA based IEM like Satsuma offers. The mid bass is a bit more voluminous providing it the required amount of body and fullness. The notes do not have a lot of weight because of faster decay speed. It doesn't let the notes precipitate and get heavy which brings class leading control. It has good amount of texture but is slightly inferior to the **** MT300, so is the amount of details. This 8mm DD haa good dynamics, as good as Onkyo E900M.
Upper treble is nicely energized and nicel5 blends into the lower mids.
MIDS:
The only problem I find in this IEM is it's slightly V shaped sound signature which pushes the mid range, especially the vocals back. A projection like this would not have been a problem but vocal notes don't have enough room and the lack of height robs it off of some dynamics and naturality but both male and female vocals have good accuracy and body. Male vocals are not a lot throaty but female vocals are lot more defined and accurate. The downside is the slight lack of texture.
The main attraction of the mid range are the instruments, they have a cohesion of their own. If you like instrumental tracks and space music this IEM can easily captivate your mind. It doesn't try to make the notes sound overly tall or energetic but thanks to more precise finishing it delivers high quality resolution and very good details. It has a pleasing kind of attack, it bites but with love, without leaving any sibilance behind even at the upper mid region. The downside is the lack of cleanliness at the base of the notes.
The transition phase at the upper bass to lower mid region has very good details and energy. There is no anomalies to worry about.
TREBLE:
The treble region is the strongest point od this IEM. It doesn't miss a single note or detail. It has the best sense of space and air in the whole spectrum. It is slightly more energetic than average but is not overly so. The Akoustyx R220 is a lot more attacking than the i3 pro. The biggest plus here is the cleaner and exceptional definition of instruments. The i3 pro simply has some of the best air and separation here. There is no overlapping at the base of the notes either. It performs admirably in the sonic front too. It's cue placement is very clean and precise. For formalities, treble extension is very good for the price, it does much better than what the Spring 2 and is on par with Fiio FD5.
The only down side is notes do not have the fastest decay emulating what a DD based IEM does, it is slower than the MT300. The EST inside the MT300 is super fast with decay.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Another plus of the i3 pro is it's stage. It is not the biggest but the stage feels evenly filled without getting lopsided. This stage has very good height, average width and depth. Most of the vocals, nearly 70% starts and end inside the ear while most of the instruments are placed out of the head. The out of head feel is on par with it's competition. The dynamic feel of this stage is impressive, it doesn't feel limited to a boundary. It can extend if the track has it.
COMPARISONS:
VS **** MT300:
This EST, DD and BA based IEM has been one of the favourite IEM under $200 and it still is.
I can end this comparison by saying that pick any aspect, MT300 is simply better, let it be, bass body, details, clarity or stage this IEM still is not bested. MT300 is more balanced, has even better finishing definition, but there is more to it.
i3 brings a cleaner and calmer sound with a deeper and taller stage. It is more musical and cohesive sounding too. While the MT300 can sound a dry and less juicy and can induce a bit of comfort issues for those with sensitive ears.
VS Fiio FD3:
This newly released IEM has it's say in this price bracket. This is not the pro version but has the same 12mm driver. It sounds more organic and warmer.
This has slightly bigger bass body and more texture. Sub bass has less extension but the volume and fuller notes make up for it. Mids are more forward and the vocals are a lot more natural and accurate with notes body and finishing. Treble is where the FD3 is considerably weaker against the highly capable i3 pro. It lacks a lot of upper treble energy and lack with sparkle at the mid treble too.
Stage size is taller on the FD3 but i3 pro has better width.
CONCLUSION:
The i3 pro from TRI is an excellent IEM and is one of the top contender under $200. It is one of most cohesive and accurate sounding IEM in recent times. It barely adds anything more that what it is supposed to be. Yes, it is not the best in most scenarios but has one of the best treble clarity and does admirably in every other aspect. The mid range is it's weakest part but it barely affects it's performance since it is well separated and doesn't get shadowed by anything. It just doesn't have the energy or balanced feel with the vocals.
If you don't know what you want but have to have details and good accuracy across the spectrum, i3 pro should be the top option.
Have an excellent time!! Enjoy your Music!!
Cheers!!
INTRODUCTION:
All of us who are interested in budget chi-fi earphones must have heard about BQEYZ, pronounced BQ eyes, they are one of the most popular chi-fi brands in the market, especially in the sub $100 region. With earphones like KB100, KC2 and K2 they have a very good reputation when it comes to price to performance, among budget audiophiles. They have not been introducing a lot of IEMs, mostly because of the pandemic but they still managed to push out a revision of their most expensive IEM Spring 2, named as "Summer".
Summer basically is cheaper version of the slightly more expensive Spring 2, which had been one of my favorite IEM under $150. It has the same set of drivers, the only difference I can see is, this time the 13mm DD has 5 layers of piezoceramic coating instead of 9 in the Spring 2. The biggest difference is with the material used as the outer shell. Summer has 3d printed plastic body and comes in translucent black or blue colors and is priced at $129, $10 less than the Spring 2.
The biggest competitor of the Summer is its sibling, Spring 2. I will compare this with various IEMs for better understanding.
P.S. I would like to thank @Ellezhou from BQEYZ for this unit.
Specifications:
2. Dynamic Driver: 13mm
3. Impedance: 43Ω
4. Sensitivity: 108dB
5. Frequency: 7-40KHz
6. Cable Length: 1.2m
7. Pin Type: 0.78mm-2 Pin
8. Plug Type: 3.5/4.4/2.5mm
9. Driver units: 13mm Coaxial dynamic driver+ 5 Layers piezo electric + Balanced armature
9. Mic: Without
You can get one for yourself from these links:-
https://www.theaudiostore.in/collections/bqeyz/products/bqeyz-summer-triple-driver-iem
https://hifigo.com/products/bqeyz-summer-3-hybrid-drivers-balanced-in-ear-monitor-iem
https://www.linsoul.com/products/bqeyz-summer
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
Summer comes in a tidy looking retail box and a simple packaging style. This time around the box is longer. All the accessories including the cable are placed inside the bigger than average carry case. It has plenty of space to carry the earphon.
Even when it is priced considerably more than their best selling earphones Summer doesn't ship with a lot of tips. There is a set of two types of tips in S/M/L sizes. This time around these tips have narrower bores and different design.
HOW IS THE CABLE :-
Cheaper earphones from BQEYZ come with a generic cable used by many chi-fi brands but the Summer ships with an eight core upgraded cable. It is one of the best cables shipping with earphones under $150. The build quality seems very strong and feels good in hand. There is some heft to it but it is not bothering at all. The quality of the cores is very good. There is a nice layer of rubber on it, it is supple and doesn't have much microphonics too. The braiding is tight, not as tight as the Penon OS849 but is slightly tighter than the BGVP stock cable. I opted for the 4.4mm balanced cable.
Summer's stock cable compliments it nicely, giving it a premium feel. It is one of the best cables that ship with earphones under $300.
In their words this cable is:
"An 8-strand, 18-core single crystal copper silver-plated cable offers high-resolution signal transmission to bring out the best in your IEMs. The detachable design makes upgrading to even more premium cables easy."
HOW IS THE BUILD and COMFORT:-
Build quality of the Summer is sturdy but can't be labeled strong. Made with plastic these IEMs are lighter than the Spring 2. Thanks to the use of more fragile material Summer cannot handle a lot of beating.
It has a more ergonomically design to it compared to the Spring 2, Summer has a bigger inner wing giving it a more comfortable and secure fit compared to its competitors like Spring 2 or Tri i3 pro. The size of the ear-piece is not large and should fit all sizes of ears without any problem.
The nozzle itself is deep enough giving it a secure feel inside the ear. One can find three vents on inner shell, I don't know why three (one for dynamic driver, one for piezoelectric driver). T400 and T500 size tips can be used here.
TECHNICALITY AND MATCHABILITY:-
The Summer has an Impedance rating of 32ohm and the sensitivity of 107db. It seems easier to drive but it opens up with some power. Most of the mobile phones will drive it to louder volumes but will miss out on the stage and layering. Use a decent USB dongle like Qudelix 5k or Earmen sparrow and things will be much better. It needs nearly 50% more power than Campfire Audio Mammoth which has a sensitivity of just 94db.
Pair it with any source, it barely changes its tonality or timber, but weaker source are unable to bring out the best of the Summer. In any case it remains warm and crisp.
Summer responds nicely to EQs, if you think you need a bit more oomph, just EQ it to your liking.
HOW DOES THIS SOUND:-
The Summer houses 3 type of driving principals. I can make it out that the dynamic driver is for bass as usual but cannot put my finger what the BA and Piezoelectric drivers are responsible for. It seems that it has an open chamber design and the BA driver is placed in the nozzle.
Summer sounds more or less similar to the Spring 2. The uncanny similarities in driver configuration and specification are responsible for this. Summer does bring some flavors of its own. It emulates a warmer and pleasing tonality with a focus on mid range.
Burned for more than 100hrs, I am using the iFi Micro signature for this review.
BASS:-
The 13mm dynamic driver responsible for the lower section does a good job. It has a very good balance of body and rumble. It is more like a Ikko OH10 but smaller area of impact and weight.
The 13mm driver moves very good amount of air and the slam is punchy. Impact is very pleasing and enjoyable. It has a better sense of balance and dynamics than the Campfire Honeydew which in its own is very good but the summer has better control and hits a more accurate frequency without exciting others. The sub-bass extension is very good, in line with the likes of OH10. Mid bass is more voluminous than the sub-bass giving the lower end a fuller and meaty feeling. Upper treble has very good amount of energy and details. The overall size of the lower end is not huge but is well rounded.
Decay speed is very good, it is slightly faster than the OH10 and Soranik iON 2S. It is not fast like the BA earphones though. Even with the big 13mm dynamic driver the level of control is very good. It doesn't let the notes get out of character.
MID RANGE:-
BQEYZ hasnt mentioned which driver is responsible for the mid range but I assume its part BA and part piezo driver. Just like the Spring 2, Summer too has barely any dip in energy at the crossover region, assuming there is one.
Even it has a small dip in energy in the lower mid region the transition feels fairly smooth and has good details and energy.
If its up to the mid range it is nearly impossible to tell the Summer apart from the Spring 2. My last review subject, campfire Satsuma is a prolific performer when it comes to vocals accuracy and clarity, but the Summer competes with it without much problem. Vocal notes have wider base, slightly thicker body but a sharper finishing giving it a more detailed feeling which can give rise to uncomfortable edges. In general the male vocals have sharper finishing. Female vocals on the other hand doesn't have that type of extra sharpness to it, they are more accurate with body and edge definition. The timber is slightly warmer and notes are thicker than they should be. Summer has some of the best texture and details under $200.
Like the male vocals, instruments too have extra attack but this time around it brings better resolution and transparency instead of being less desirable. The upper mid range is not hot, it maintains good amount of balance and doesn't have more peaks or attack. The level of micro details and transparency is excellent and even a BA based IEM like Satsuma can't compete with the Summer.
P.S. To shed some sharpness, use a wider bore tip like whirlwind or the generic ones will do too.
HIGHS:-
Just like the upper bass to lower mid transaction, the transition from upper mid range to lower treble region is very good. There is good amount of energy and little to no disturbing elements.
The treble region has very good amount of spark to it. The extension is nothing special though, there is very good amount of energy until the mid treble region while the upper treble region lacks energy and sparkle. The level of transparency could have been marginally better. It has good amount of details but the level of micro details leaves a bit more to be desired. Thankfully this eliminates the uncomfortable elements. Thanks to the big stage size, layering and separation is very good with good amount of air between instruments.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
Summer has a bigger than average stage size. What I like more is about this stage is, it's not intimate, most of the instruments are placed out of the head while vocals and bass notes are placed inside. It has the cleanliness and definition with most of the mid and treble instruments which we do not expect from an IEM in this price range. Stage in its own is taller and very good with Z-axis but is lacking with width in the X-axis. It still is fairly good and is as good as the more expensive OH10.
COMPARISONS:-
VS Campfire Audio satsuma:
Satsuma is a single BA based IEM with a more balanced and smoother sound signature and this smoothness robs it off of some extra bit of transparency and resolution which the Summer has.
The lower end is smaller tighter and faster than the Summer but the Summer has better texture and dynamics. Mid range is equally impressive but is more refined and does not have the extra energy of the Summer. The treble region is very similar in characteristics but summer has better energy and details.
VS AAW A3H+ and Soranik iON 2S:
CONCLUSION:-
Summer from BQEYZ is a revision of the spring 2 with slightly more energy and attack. It still reigns supreme in its price range. More expensive IEMs like Satsuma and honeydew are unable to deliver better details than the Summer. It is a budget king. BQEYZ is still the brand to look for bang for buck IEMs.
Summer has all one can ask for. It barely has a foot wrong. It has the bass, does not sound dull or less enthusiastic. It puts its best into energise thing. It's hard to complain, if you can handle a bit of sharpness, this is an IEM hard to best for under $150.
All of us who are interested in budget chi-fi earphones must have heard about BQEYZ, pronounced BQ eyes, they are one of the most popular chi-fi brands in the market, especially in the sub $100 region. With earphones like KB100, KC2 and K2 they have a very good reputation when it comes to price to performance, among budget audiophiles. They have not been introducing a lot of IEMs, mostly because of the pandemic but they still managed to push out a revision of their most expensive IEM Spring 2, named as "Summer".
Summer basically is cheaper version of the slightly more expensive Spring 2, which had been one of my favorite IEM under $150. It has the same set of drivers, the only difference I can see is, this time the 13mm DD has 5 layers of piezoceramic coating instead of 9 in the Spring 2. The biggest difference is with the material used as the outer shell. Summer has 3d printed plastic body and comes in translucent black or blue colors and is priced at $129, $10 less than the Spring 2.
The biggest competitor of the Summer is its sibling, Spring 2. I will compare this with various IEMs for better understanding.
P.S. I would like to thank @Ellezhou from BQEYZ for this unit.
Specifications:
2. Dynamic Driver: 13mm
3. Impedance: 43Ω
4. Sensitivity: 108dB
5. Frequency: 7-40KHz
6. Cable Length: 1.2m
7. Pin Type: 0.78mm-2 Pin
8. Plug Type: 3.5/4.4/2.5mm
9. Driver units: 13mm Coaxial dynamic driver+ 5 Layers piezo electric + Balanced armature
9. Mic: Without
You can get one for yourself from these links:-
https://www.theaudiostore.in/collections/bqeyz/products/bqeyz-summer-triple-driver-iem
https://hifigo.com/products/bqeyz-summer-3-hybrid-drivers-balanced-in-ear-monitor-iem
https://www.linsoul.com/products/bqeyz-summer
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
Summer comes in a tidy looking retail box and a simple packaging style. This time around the box is longer. All the accessories including the cable are placed inside the bigger than average carry case. It has plenty of space to carry the earphon.
Even when it is priced considerably more than their best selling earphones Summer doesn't ship with a lot of tips. There is a set of two types of tips in S/M/L sizes. This time around these tips have narrower bores and different design.
HOW IS THE CABLE :-
Cheaper earphones from BQEYZ come with a generic cable used by many chi-fi brands but the Summer ships with an eight core upgraded cable. It is one of the best cables shipping with earphones under $150. The build quality seems very strong and feels good in hand. There is some heft to it but it is not bothering at all. The quality of the cores is very good. There is a nice layer of rubber on it, it is supple and doesn't have much microphonics too. The braiding is tight, not as tight as the Penon OS849 but is slightly tighter than the BGVP stock cable. I opted for the 4.4mm balanced cable.
Summer's stock cable compliments it nicely, giving it a premium feel. It is one of the best cables that ship with earphones under $300.
In their words this cable is:
"An 8-strand, 18-core single crystal copper silver-plated cable offers high-resolution signal transmission to bring out the best in your IEMs. The detachable design makes upgrading to even more premium cables easy."
HOW IS THE BUILD and COMFORT:-
Build quality of the Summer is sturdy but can't be labeled strong. Made with plastic these IEMs are lighter than the Spring 2. Thanks to the use of more fragile material Summer cannot handle a lot of beating.
It has a more ergonomically design to it compared to the Spring 2, Summer has a bigger inner wing giving it a more comfortable and secure fit compared to its competitors like Spring 2 or Tri i3 pro. The size of the ear-piece is not large and should fit all sizes of ears without any problem.
The nozzle itself is deep enough giving it a secure feel inside the ear. One can find three vents on inner shell, I don't know why three (one for dynamic driver, one for piezoelectric driver). T400 and T500 size tips can be used here.
TECHNICALITY AND MATCHABILITY:-
The Summer has an Impedance rating of 32ohm and the sensitivity of 107db. It seems easier to drive but it opens up with some power. Most of the mobile phones will drive it to louder volumes but will miss out on the stage and layering. Use a decent USB dongle like Qudelix 5k or Earmen sparrow and things will be much better. It needs nearly 50% more power than Campfire Audio Mammoth which has a sensitivity of just 94db.
Pair it with any source, it barely changes its tonality or timber, but weaker source are unable to bring out the best of the Summer. In any case it remains warm and crisp.
Summer responds nicely to EQs, if you think you need a bit more oomph, just EQ it to your liking.
HOW DOES THIS SOUND:-
The Summer houses 3 type of driving principals. I can make it out that the dynamic driver is for bass as usual but cannot put my finger what the BA and Piezoelectric drivers are responsible for. It seems that it has an open chamber design and the BA driver is placed in the nozzle.
Summer sounds more or less similar to the Spring 2. The uncanny similarities in driver configuration and specification are responsible for this. Summer does bring some flavors of its own. It emulates a warmer and pleasing tonality with a focus on mid range.
Burned for more than 100hrs, I am using the iFi Micro signature for this review.
BASS:-
The 13mm dynamic driver responsible for the lower section does a good job. It has a very good balance of body and rumble. It is more like a Ikko OH10 but smaller area of impact and weight.
The 13mm driver moves very good amount of air and the slam is punchy. Impact is very pleasing and enjoyable. It has a better sense of balance and dynamics than the Campfire Honeydew which in its own is very good but the summer has better control and hits a more accurate frequency without exciting others. The sub-bass extension is very good, in line with the likes of OH10. Mid bass is more voluminous than the sub-bass giving the lower end a fuller and meaty feeling. Upper treble has very good amount of energy and details. The overall size of the lower end is not huge but is well rounded.
Decay speed is very good, it is slightly faster than the OH10 and Soranik iON 2S. It is not fast like the BA earphones though. Even with the big 13mm dynamic driver the level of control is very good. It doesn't let the notes get out of character.
MID RANGE:-
BQEYZ hasnt mentioned which driver is responsible for the mid range but I assume its part BA and part piezo driver. Just like the Spring 2, Summer too has barely any dip in energy at the crossover region, assuming there is one.
Even it has a small dip in energy in the lower mid region the transition feels fairly smooth and has good details and energy.
If its up to the mid range it is nearly impossible to tell the Summer apart from the Spring 2. My last review subject, campfire Satsuma is a prolific performer when it comes to vocals accuracy and clarity, but the Summer competes with it without much problem. Vocal notes have wider base, slightly thicker body but a sharper finishing giving it a more detailed feeling which can give rise to uncomfortable edges. In general the male vocals have sharper finishing. Female vocals on the other hand doesn't have that type of extra sharpness to it, they are more accurate with body and edge definition. The timber is slightly warmer and notes are thicker than they should be. Summer has some of the best texture and details under $200.
Like the male vocals, instruments too have extra attack but this time around it brings better resolution and transparency instead of being less desirable. The upper mid range is not hot, it maintains good amount of balance and doesn't have more peaks or attack. The level of micro details and transparency is excellent and even a BA based IEM like Satsuma can't compete with the Summer.
P.S. To shed some sharpness, use a wider bore tip like whirlwind or the generic ones will do too.
HIGHS:-
Just like the upper bass to lower mid transaction, the transition from upper mid range to lower treble region is very good. There is good amount of energy and little to no disturbing elements.
The treble region has very good amount of spark to it. The extension is nothing special though, there is very good amount of energy until the mid treble region while the upper treble region lacks energy and sparkle. The level of transparency could have been marginally better. It has good amount of details but the level of micro details leaves a bit more to be desired. Thankfully this eliminates the uncomfortable elements. Thanks to the big stage size, layering and separation is very good with good amount of air between instruments.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
Summer has a bigger than average stage size. What I like more is about this stage is, it's not intimate, most of the instruments are placed out of the head while vocals and bass notes are placed inside. It has the cleanliness and definition with most of the mid and treble instruments which we do not expect from an IEM in this price range. Stage in its own is taller and very good with Z-axis but is lacking with width in the X-axis. It still is fairly good and is as good as the more expensive OH10.
COMPARISONS:-
VS Campfire Audio satsuma:
Satsuma is a single BA based IEM with a more balanced and smoother sound signature and this smoothness robs it off of some extra bit of transparency and resolution which the Summer has.
The lower end is smaller tighter and faster than the Summer but the Summer has better texture and dynamics. Mid range is equally impressive but is more refined and does not have the extra energy of the Summer. The treble region is very similar in characteristics but summer has better energy and details.
VS AAW A3H+ and Soranik iON 2S:
CONCLUSION:-
Summer from BQEYZ is a revision of the spring 2 with slightly more energy and attack. It still reigns supreme in its price range. More expensive IEMs like Satsuma and honeydew are unable to deliver better details than the Summer. It is a budget king. BQEYZ is still the brand to look for bang for buck IEMs.
Summer has all one can ask for. It barely has a foot wrong. It has the bass, does not sound dull or less enthusiastic. It puts its best into energise thing. It's hard to complain, if you can handle a bit of sharpness, this is an IEM hard to best for under $150.
Attachments
OceanPoet
Great review. I’ll admit I actually didn’t know how to pronounce BQEYZ. So great TIL, too!
INTRODUCTION:
Kinera, one the most prominent Chi-fi brands in the market has been making some excellent IEMs lately. They have been making plenty of waves. I hadn't been able to get my hands on Kinera IEMs, thanks to Pulkit bhai who took me in his Hifigo review tour.
The Norn I am reviewing here is priced at $449 at the time of writing. It houses 1 7mm dynamic driver and 4BA drivers. Even when Kinera has been tight lipped about the crossovers I think we have at least 2 here.
I am comparing it with DUNU EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite in this review.
Get one for yourself from here: https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-norn-1dd-4ba-iems
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
Even when I did not got the retail package because of the tour nature of the IEM, I would like to believe that the IEM ships with a good looking cardboard box with fancy designs on it and some promotion material on it with an interesting unboxing experience.
In addition to the earpieces and cable, I did receive a flap carry pouch, a pair of Final audio tip and couple of cable adapters for the 2.5mm cable.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
I usually rant about cable but I find the Norn cable to be one of the most supple I have seen on a $500 IEM. It has the aesthetic too. It complements the IEM nicely. In technicality it is an 8 core high purity silver plated copper cable with 192 strands of 26awg SPC wires inside and PVC insulation on the outside. The cable slider looks elegant.
Thanks to the supple nature it barely has any microphonics to worry about and winding the cable is easy since it does not have any memory problem. It has metal jackets on the 3.5mm jack, Y splitter and 2pins giving it a more premium feel. The cable guides are supple and has no problem holding on to the ear and I didn't have to adjust it every now and then.
BUILD AND ERGONOMIC:-
To start things off, I like the fit of the Norn. It is comfortable and slightly smaller than both EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite. The all resin build is very confidence inspiring. Do not drop it on hard floors and these earpieces will survive. The main attraction of the Norn is its hand painted face plate. It is an eye candy for sure. It is one of the most beautiful looking IEMs for sure.
The nozzle is slghtly on the wider side and I am not sure if the Final tips as default are a wise decision since it has a T400 size tip. Thankfully the nozzle has nice depth giving it an aptly deep and secure fit. It has a nicely contoured body with a slightly aggressive wing on the inner side providing reasonable traction inside the ear. A small pressure releasing vent can be found on the side of the body.
SOUND QUALITY:
Kinera Norn houses a single 7mm dynamic driver aided by 1.5 Tesla magnetic flux, Japan imported Daikoku pure copper coil and Titanium-plated composite high-poly fibre diaphragm material and it is paired with 4BA drivers. Out of these 4, 2 are custom Kinera drivers and the other two are Knowles drivers.
With all these thing inside, it has a V shaped signature with a voluminous lower end, laid back mid range, and a bit elevated treble region. I love the way it presents a fun and musical side. It does have a bit of gloominess across the spectrum which restricts some dynamics and body.
BASS:
Most impressive part of Norn is its exquisite lower end. The single 7mm dynamic driver delivers a fuller and rumbly lower end. Sub-bass extension is good but the body or volume at this region is not the best. Some BA IEMs like the Audiosense T800 and Fibae 3 are better with sub-bass but when it comes to mid bass body and rumble Norn is miles ahead. The impact is not hard or dry, it is more pleasing and on the softer side which makes it fairly satisfying. The day speed is not slow or anything but is not the fastest. This slight slowness lets the note precipitate better giving it nice body and weight. It has no upper mid hump or anything to talk about, it nicely blends into the lower mid region. All in all the Norn has very good control over the lower end.
MID RANGE:
Things get moody here. The transition from the single DD to the dual BA drivers is aptly consistent but the dip of energy is perceivable. The crossover region can be indentified without much problem. It doesn't need a trained ear. Thankfully the lack of energy doesn't translate into lack of transparency, details or relevance.
It has no problem with micro details and separation, the whole mid range enjoys very good clarity and transparency and even after delivering very good details it does not sound sharp or aggressive. It lacks a bit of body and weight with instruments. Norn does not have the added depth and extra weight of EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite, limiting its dynamics. It is on the dry and slightly less jolly side. Both male and female vocals sound crisp and clear with a natural tonality, it does not emulate an organic or warmer tonality like Fibae 4 or EST112. Texture and emotions portrayed by the Norn is slightly less engaging due to the thin body. It does like to keep things as neutral and colorless as possible. Norn has no problems with the upper mid energy, in fact it has a dip just before the treble region which keeps any kind of aggression at bay.
I have to mention that layering and separation is very good and does not lack much air in between instruments.
HIGHS:
BA drivers used here have done their job. Even when Norn carries a bit of dryness and lack of body into the treble region it has much better notes height providing more relevance. All this can be attributed to more energy and it leads into better dynamics and a cleaner feel.
Norn has very good treble extension and maintains good energy till the end but does dip just after the mid treble region. It has very good details retrieval and doesn't miss out on anything while keeping the timber neutral. Cymbals and pianos have very good transparency, don't expect it to sound very organic or loaded with texture but manage to deliver reasonable engagement. Separation and layering is up to the mark with good air and space between instruments. The treble stage is well spread, assisted by good sonicality. If you like tingly instruments, Norn will not disappoint.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
Norn's stage size is more intimate even with balanced out. It does have very good height, nice depth but it's the X-axis width which makes things more intimate. If you prefer a more closed in sound, it should be good. Most of the instruments are placed inside the head while some treble instruments have out of the head projection. There are no anomalies to worry about here since density of instrument distribution and is even without any hollow feeling.
COMPARISONS:
VS EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite:
CONCLUSION:-
Norn is good for the price, especially at $449. If this is the only IEM you have, you won't mind anything, it has the details and everything but once you switch to something more capable like DUNU EST112 or Shnaling ME700 lite things get tough for Kinera Norn.
Norn has a good lower end and even though it lacks a bit of dynamics in the mid range its sonicality in the treble region is very good. It's the mid range which needs work. The lack of note's body and dry feeling is not helping the experience, unless it is the thing Kinara wanted to deliver (which is doubtful). A bit more juice and fullness will make even more lovable.
Kinera, one the most prominent Chi-fi brands in the market has been making some excellent IEMs lately. They have been making plenty of waves. I hadn't been able to get my hands on Kinera IEMs, thanks to Pulkit bhai who took me in his Hifigo review tour.
The Norn I am reviewing here is priced at $449 at the time of writing. It houses 1 7mm dynamic driver and 4BA drivers. Even when Kinera has been tight lipped about the crossovers I think we have at least 2 here.
I am comparing it with DUNU EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite in this review.
Get one for yourself from here: https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-norn-1dd-4ba-iems
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
Even when I did not got the retail package because of the tour nature of the IEM, I would like to believe that the IEM ships with a good looking cardboard box with fancy designs on it and some promotion material on it with an interesting unboxing experience.
In addition to the earpieces and cable, I did receive a flap carry pouch, a pair of Final audio tip and couple of cable adapters for the 2.5mm cable.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
I usually rant about cable but I find the Norn cable to be one of the most supple I have seen on a $500 IEM. It has the aesthetic too. It complements the IEM nicely. In technicality it is an 8 core high purity silver plated copper cable with 192 strands of 26awg SPC wires inside and PVC insulation on the outside. The cable slider looks elegant.
Thanks to the supple nature it barely has any microphonics to worry about and winding the cable is easy since it does not have any memory problem. It has metal jackets on the 3.5mm jack, Y splitter and 2pins giving it a more premium feel. The cable guides are supple and has no problem holding on to the ear and I didn't have to adjust it every now and then.
BUILD AND ERGONOMIC:-
To start things off, I like the fit of the Norn. It is comfortable and slightly smaller than both EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite. The all resin build is very confidence inspiring. Do not drop it on hard floors and these earpieces will survive. The main attraction of the Norn is its hand painted face plate. It is an eye candy for sure. It is one of the most beautiful looking IEMs for sure.
The nozzle is slghtly on the wider side and I am not sure if the Final tips as default are a wise decision since it has a T400 size tip. Thankfully the nozzle has nice depth giving it an aptly deep and secure fit. It has a nicely contoured body with a slightly aggressive wing on the inner side providing reasonable traction inside the ear. A small pressure releasing vent can be found on the side of the body.
SOUND QUALITY:
Kinera Norn houses a single 7mm dynamic driver aided by 1.5 Tesla magnetic flux, Japan imported Daikoku pure copper coil and Titanium-plated composite high-poly fibre diaphragm material and it is paired with 4BA drivers. Out of these 4, 2 are custom Kinera drivers and the other two are Knowles drivers.
With all these thing inside, it has a V shaped signature with a voluminous lower end, laid back mid range, and a bit elevated treble region. I love the way it presents a fun and musical side. It does have a bit of gloominess across the spectrum which restricts some dynamics and body.
BASS:
Most impressive part of Norn is its exquisite lower end. The single 7mm dynamic driver delivers a fuller and rumbly lower end. Sub-bass extension is good but the body or volume at this region is not the best. Some BA IEMs like the Audiosense T800 and Fibae 3 are better with sub-bass but when it comes to mid bass body and rumble Norn is miles ahead. The impact is not hard or dry, it is more pleasing and on the softer side which makes it fairly satisfying. The day speed is not slow or anything but is not the fastest. This slight slowness lets the note precipitate better giving it nice body and weight. It has no upper mid hump or anything to talk about, it nicely blends into the lower mid region. All in all the Norn has very good control over the lower end.
MID RANGE:
Things get moody here. The transition from the single DD to the dual BA drivers is aptly consistent but the dip of energy is perceivable. The crossover region can be indentified without much problem. It doesn't need a trained ear. Thankfully the lack of energy doesn't translate into lack of transparency, details or relevance.
It has no problem with micro details and separation, the whole mid range enjoys very good clarity and transparency and even after delivering very good details it does not sound sharp or aggressive. It lacks a bit of body and weight with instruments. Norn does not have the added depth and extra weight of EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite, limiting its dynamics. It is on the dry and slightly less jolly side. Both male and female vocals sound crisp and clear with a natural tonality, it does not emulate an organic or warmer tonality like Fibae 4 or EST112. Texture and emotions portrayed by the Norn is slightly less engaging due to the thin body. It does like to keep things as neutral and colorless as possible. Norn has no problems with the upper mid energy, in fact it has a dip just before the treble region which keeps any kind of aggression at bay.
I have to mention that layering and separation is very good and does not lack much air in between instruments.
HIGHS:
BA drivers used here have done their job. Even when Norn carries a bit of dryness and lack of body into the treble region it has much better notes height providing more relevance. All this can be attributed to more energy and it leads into better dynamics and a cleaner feel.
Norn has very good treble extension and maintains good energy till the end but does dip just after the mid treble region. It has very good details retrieval and doesn't miss out on anything while keeping the timber neutral. Cymbals and pianos have very good transparency, don't expect it to sound very organic or loaded with texture but manage to deliver reasonable engagement. Separation and layering is up to the mark with good air and space between instruments. The treble stage is well spread, assisted by good sonicality. If you like tingly instruments, Norn will not disappoint.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
Norn's stage size is more intimate even with balanced out. It does have very good height, nice depth but it's the X-axis width which makes things more intimate. If you prefer a more closed in sound, it should be good. Most of the instruments are placed inside the head while some treble instruments have out of the head projection. There are no anomalies to worry about here since density of instrument distribution and is even without any hollow feeling.
COMPARISONS:
VS EST112 and Shanling ME700 lite:
CONCLUSION:-
Norn is good for the price, especially at $449. If this is the only IEM you have, you won't mind anything, it has the details and everything but once you switch to something more capable like DUNU EST112 or Shnaling ME700 lite things get tough for Kinera Norn.
Norn has a good lower end and even though it lacks a bit of dynamics in the mid range its sonicality in the treble region is very good. It's the mid range which needs work. The lack of note's body and dry feeling is not helping the experience, unless it is the thing Kinara wanted to deliver (which is doubtful). A bit more juice and fullness will make even more lovable.
I have reviewed the Burson Audio playmate with their V6 Vivid Super sound Op-amps few weeks ago. It is one of the best op-amps in the market and provides a comprehensive upgrade over the default NE5532 chips that comes pre installed inside the PlayMate. Just like the V6 Vivid, the V6 classics are their top of the line chips with a different type of output. In their words
"The V6 Classic deviates further from its V5 foundation. With an entirely different output stage design, it is intimate, exquisite and very engaging. With the V6 Classic, Norah is asking you to come closer. She wrote the song for you and she is singing it to you. It was time to stop analyzing and start living in the moment."
The V6 classic has a different take on the sound with a different imaging. It delivers a more intimate sound with a cohesive and engaging tonal balance.
Get these OP-amps from here:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/product/supreme-sound-opamp-v6/
Installing V6 classic:-
THINGS TO KNOW:-
The Super Sound series of OP-amps have a lot of improvements over the basic NE5532 opamp which are pre installed on the Playmate. These OP-amps from the Super Sound lineup are some of the best aftermarket discrete OP-amps one can find. They can be used in sound cards and a lot other DAC/AMPs.
In their words:-
"Discrete circuits are custom built by Burson for specific applications rather than an op-amp’s jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none specifications. The art of circuit design yields superior sound in every way in comparison to simple plug-a-chip engineering.
A system can only sound as good as its weakest link. All our products use thick, quality, temperature-stable printed circuit boards with high-purity copper traces and gold-plated soldering pads. And extra coating is applied to both sides of the PCB preventing oxidation. The boards are hand-built use high-spec metal-film resistors and other audio-grade parts using as few hand-matched components in the signal path as possible."
"The V6 Vivid and V6 Classic are the results of over 12 years of research and six generations of designs. They are the most refined we have ever created."
Burson is really proud of their OP-amps and if you have bought them, you can get a lifetime warranty on them. All you have to do is register the OP-amps here.
These OP-amps are not huge is size and fit everywhere without much struggle. One of the remarkable features of these V6 is their reverse voltage protection. If you have installed them the wrong way around these will survive without any problem where other opamps will be fried. That's a fantastic thing to be precise.
Read the build and other specifications of the Burson Playmate here.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The V6 vivid is already an excellent sounding chip with plenty of details and clarity. The stage is huge and provides a well spread instrument distribution. Does it lack something? Maybe the vocals could have been a bit more forward and the huge stage at times is unable to convey more intimate details with conviction.
Steps in the V6 classic. It has the same size, same design but finds a middle ground between the NE5532 and V6 vivid chips. NE5532 is a not the best chip, it has excellent mid range but kills the treble stage and lacks some bass thump too. The V6 classic delivers a well spread stage with better intricate details than the NE5532 without sacrificing anything. It delivers better contrast than both the other two chips. 5532 is brighter and the Vivid is on the slightly darker sides of the spectrum.
I am putting the Fischer M12s to good work here. Being the neutral one, it helps in exposing the changes more vividly than other colored and damp sounding headphones.
BASS :-
The NE5532 was missing a bit of volume and the V6 vivid is missing a bit of mid bass feel. The V6 classic has it all. It has excellent the extension, rumble, mid-bass body and fullness. Notes are juicier and fuller and have better texture now. The lower region doesn't feel clumsy or constrained. Notes express themselves with a lot more freedom. The V6 brings more heft without compromising on accuracy, details, resolution and clarity. The Playmate attains a more natural and neutral status and can be paired with any type of headphone and speakers without worrying about the bass region being unnecessarily analytical or less exciting.
MID RANGE:-
Mid range used to take a huge chunk of the stage size with the NE5532, making the playmate a mid-head DAC/AMP and the V6 vivid took slightly more than desired off the mid range, making it a bit dull and less engaging. The Classic brings the required amount of depth and energy to the mid range. The odd thing is it has more vivid instruments than the Vivid chip. Maybe the more intimate instrumental placement is reason. With the 5532 the notes were sharper with smaller base, the V6 has a bit more notes body with a better depth. The vocals are more agile, textured and crisp than the V6 vivid. The upper mid range has a very good amount of energy with equally good transparency and clarity. It has the right amount of sharpness and attack. Layering and separation of instruments remains excellent. Air between instruments takes hit, not because the notes are thick or fuller but because of the smaller stage size.
TREBLE:-
I complained about the lack of treble stage with the NE5532, which was literally fighting for air. The V6 vivid provided a lot of room to breathe but can feel a bit hollowed at times. The V6 classic strikes a balance between the two with improved stage presence compared to 5532 and exhibiting better instrument density than the Vivid. The treble feels evenly expanded with equally impressive treble extension and vastly improved sonicality and dynamism versus the 5532. There is better energy and sparkle at the lower treble region than the Vivid, the projection is in line with the mid range and is equally emphasized. The only niggle comes at the higher treble region where the classic doesn't maintain similar energy and loses some points.
COOPARSIONS:-
VS EARMEN TR-AMP ($250):-
NE5532 was more attacking. The V6 vivid is a bit mild and slightly smoother with notes. The V6 classic matches the emotions of the EARMEN dac/amp. Both have the same type of crispiness and contrast.
If you are not paying much attention it is tough to tell these two apart. Both have similar bass volume and quantity but the V6 classic has more resolution and better texture. Both have similar mid range notes presentation but the classic has a bit more forward vocals and more natural and organic tonality. The treble feels similar with notes sharpness but the TR-amp is on the drier side with slightly better energy at higher treble region.
Stage size is a bit smaller on the TR-amp, the instruments are a bit more closed in with similar intimacy. The Classic chip pulls ahead with better emotion and micro details.
COMPARISON TABLE :-
CONCLUSION:-
I love the way these chips change the sound signature without breaking the bank. The V6 classic manages to deliver excellent amount of details without being harsh or aggressive. Not a single instrument is missing from the scene or feels suppressed. If the track has it, you are hearing it, with excellent transparency, very good clarity and stupendous amount of texture. The tonality is as real as it is supposed to be. The V6 vivid is excellent but the textured feel is much better with the V6 classic. Both male and female vocals have excellent bite to them.
Notes have the agility and pace, along with good amount of body to them. I am impressed. I though V6 vivid was excellent, the V6 classic is nothing less than that.
If you have burson DAC/AMP or are into op-amp rolling these chips are must have items.
I swapped the V6 vivid with the V6 classic and... I am sticking with it. The classics are just excellent.
"The V6 Classic deviates further from its V5 foundation. With an entirely different output stage design, it is intimate, exquisite and very engaging. With the V6 Classic, Norah is asking you to come closer. She wrote the song for you and she is singing it to you. It was time to stop analyzing and start living in the moment."
The V6 classic has a different take on the sound with a different imaging. It delivers a more intimate sound with a cohesive and engaging tonal balance.
Get these OP-amps from here:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/product/supreme-sound-opamp-v6/
Installing V6 classic:-
THINGS TO KNOW:-
The Super Sound series of OP-amps have a lot of improvements over the basic NE5532 opamp which are pre installed on the Playmate. These OP-amps from the Super Sound lineup are some of the best aftermarket discrete OP-amps one can find. They can be used in sound cards and a lot other DAC/AMPs.
In their words:-
"Discrete circuits are custom built by Burson for specific applications rather than an op-amp’s jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none specifications. The art of circuit design yields superior sound in every way in comparison to simple plug-a-chip engineering.
A system can only sound as good as its weakest link. All our products use thick, quality, temperature-stable printed circuit boards with high-purity copper traces and gold-plated soldering pads. And extra coating is applied to both sides of the PCB preventing oxidation. The boards are hand-built use high-spec metal-film resistors and other audio-grade parts using as few hand-matched components in the signal path as possible."
"The V6 Vivid and V6 Classic are the results of over 12 years of research and six generations of designs. They are the most refined we have ever created."
Burson is really proud of their OP-amps and if you have bought them, you can get a lifetime warranty on them. All you have to do is register the OP-amps here.
These OP-amps are not huge is size and fit everywhere without much struggle. One of the remarkable features of these V6 is their reverse voltage protection. If you have installed them the wrong way around these will survive without any problem where other opamps will be fried. That's a fantastic thing to be precise.
Read the build and other specifications of the Burson Playmate here.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The V6 vivid is already an excellent sounding chip with plenty of details and clarity. The stage is huge and provides a well spread instrument distribution. Does it lack something? Maybe the vocals could have been a bit more forward and the huge stage at times is unable to convey more intimate details with conviction.
Steps in the V6 classic. It has the same size, same design but finds a middle ground between the NE5532 and V6 vivid chips. NE5532 is a not the best chip, it has excellent mid range but kills the treble stage and lacks some bass thump too. The V6 classic delivers a well spread stage with better intricate details than the NE5532 without sacrificing anything. It delivers better contrast than both the other two chips. 5532 is brighter and the Vivid is on the slightly darker sides of the spectrum.
I am putting the Fischer M12s to good work here. Being the neutral one, it helps in exposing the changes more vividly than other colored and damp sounding headphones.
BASS :-
The NE5532 was missing a bit of volume and the V6 vivid is missing a bit of mid bass feel. The V6 classic has it all. It has excellent the extension, rumble, mid-bass body and fullness. Notes are juicier and fuller and have better texture now. The lower region doesn't feel clumsy or constrained. Notes express themselves with a lot more freedom. The V6 brings more heft without compromising on accuracy, details, resolution and clarity. The Playmate attains a more natural and neutral status and can be paired with any type of headphone and speakers without worrying about the bass region being unnecessarily analytical or less exciting.
MID RANGE:-
Mid range used to take a huge chunk of the stage size with the NE5532, making the playmate a mid-head DAC/AMP and the V6 vivid took slightly more than desired off the mid range, making it a bit dull and less engaging. The Classic brings the required amount of depth and energy to the mid range. The odd thing is it has more vivid instruments than the Vivid chip. Maybe the more intimate instrumental placement is reason. With the 5532 the notes were sharper with smaller base, the V6 has a bit more notes body with a better depth. The vocals are more agile, textured and crisp than the V6 vivid. The upper mid range has a very good amount of energy with equally good transparency and clarity. It has the right amount of sharpness and attack. Layering and separation of instruments remains excellent. Air between instruments takes hit, not because the notes are thick or fuller but because of the smaller stage size.
TREBLE:-
I complained about the lack of treble stage with the NE5532, which was literally fighting for air. The V6 vivid provided a lot of room to breathe but can feel a bit hollowed at times. The V6 classic strikes a balance between the two with improved stage presence compared to 5532 and exhibiting better instrument density than the Vivid. The treble feels evenly expanded with equally impressive treble extension and vastly improved sonicality and dynamism versus the 5532. There is better energy and sparkle at the lower treble region than the Vivid, the projection is in line with the mid range and is equally emphasized. The only niggle comes at the higher treble region where the classic doesn't maintain similar energy and loses some points.
COOPARSIONS:-
VS EARMEN TR-AMP ($250):-
NE5532 was more attacking. The V6 vivid is a bit mild and slightly smoother with notes. The V6 classic matches the emotions of the EARMEN dac/amp. Both have the same type of crispiness and contrast.
If you are not paying much attention it is tough to tell these two apart. Both have similar bass volume and quantity but the V6 classic has more resolution and better texture. Both have similar mid range notes presentation but the classic has a bit more forward vocals and more natural and organic tonality. The treble feels similar with notes sharpness but the TR-amp is on the drier side with slightly better energy at higher treble region.
Stage size is a bit smaller on the TR-amp, the instruments are a bit more closed in with similar intimacy. The Classic chip pulls ahead with better emotion and micro details.
COMPARISON TABLE :-
| Bass | Mid range | Vocals | Treble | Stage size | Tonality | Accuracy |
V6 vivid | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 9.2 |
V6 classic | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 9.5 |
TR-Amp | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 9.0 |
HUD-100mk2 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.8 |
CONCLUSION:-
I love the way these chips change the sound signature without breaking the bank. The V6 classic manages to deliver excellent amount of details without being harsh or aggressive. Not a single instrument is missing from the scene or feels suppressed. If the track has it, you are hearing it, with excellent transparency, very good clarity and stupendous amount of texture. The tonality is as real as it is supposed to be. The V6 vivid is excellent but the textured feel is much better with the V6 classic. Both male and female vocals have excellent bite to them.
Notes have the agility and pace, along with good amount of body to them. I am impressed. I though V6 vivid was excellent, the V6 classic is nothing less than that.
If you have burson DAC/AMP or are into op-amp rolling these chips are must have items.
I swapped the V6 vivid with the V6 classic and... I am sticking with it. The classics are just excellent.
Just like some other Chinese stores Penon had also jumped into the IEM market a few years ago but the recently launched ORB has been making plenty of waves in the audiophile market. After the success of the Sphere which was received well both critically and commercially they had to up the ante and added an extra dynamic driver to a full range BA driver.
The Penon ORB has only one color option, clear and is priced at $259. It faces tough competition from DM7, DK2001 and ISN H40. Let's find out what is so special about this piece of earphone.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://penonaudio.com/penon-orb.html
https://penon-official.com/product/penon-orb/
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:-
The ORB comes with a small but aptly spacious looking box. Most of the accessories are placed inside the Blue colored carry case, which is slightly on the bigger side with room for an extra cable or even a DAP with small pouches for I think adapters or ear tips. The case is made out of semi hard material but still can withstand plenty of beating and rough handling. The earphone, cable and all the tips are placed inside the carry case. There are few things placed under the case too.
There is small and soft velvet pouch if you just want to carry the earphones. A cleaning tool along with a cable clip is placed inside it. Another interesting thing is a small pouch to carry some extra accessories, it can't hold cables so I assume it is for tips.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE:-
Just like most of the earphones in this price range the ORB too uses medical grade resin material as the shell which eliminates any type of irritation. The shell is not exactly semicustom type as it lacks a concha wing for better traction and grip inside the ear. Thanks to lack of higher number of drivers the shell is marginally smaller than the DM7 but the DK2001 is even smaller. The ORB has a basic type of driver setup and only has two bores design and thanks to that the nozzle is not big and can fit anything from T200 to T400 size tips without much problem. Some might find the nozzle to be on the shorter side but it is perfect for most of us and provides plenty of isolation with right tips.
The build is sturdy. Don't put brute force on it and it will survive without any problem. It might not survive drops on marble or concrete floors either. Thanks to the resin material and lesser number of drivers the ORB is very light and stay comfortably inside the ear without falling out.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
The ORB ships with an audiophile grade SPC cable with total of 8 cores braided fairly loosely without having any memory problem. The cables are really supple, suppler than any other cables in this price bracket. It has a more premium feel than the TSMR 4 and AF180 mk2 cables. It complements the ORB aesthetically.
The cable guides are very supple, holds the ear nicely and don't exert much pressure on the ear. The cable splitter has a low profile. The cable slider or chin slider is neither very loose nor very tight and slides smoothly on the cable. The straight 3.5mm is very light and feels solid to the hand. This cable barely has any microphonics to worry about.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:-
The ORB has a sensitivity of 112 ± 3db and get very loud without dialing up the volume, much louder than most of the hybrid earphones. Impedance value is just 10ohm at 1khz. It is a nearly a child's play to drive the ORB. It does scale well with more capable source but it still plays well with most of the mobile phones and less capable sources.
Is it necessary to feed it properly? No, not at all, the difference is insignificant but yes, it is better if you can.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The ORB has only one DD and one BA driver to do the heavy lifting. What impresses me is the way the ORB does it effortlessly. There is no holding back at all. The bass is deep and full, the mid range is well balanced and the treble is well projected. Its tuning is inclined towards a musical sound without sacrificing technicalities.
The sound signature is on the warmer side but still is on the more balanced side than most hybrid earphones. It doesn't have much emphasis on any part of the spectrum and the W type sound signature is bound to please most of the consumers with very good details and clarity.
I am using Wide bore tips for this review. The ORB has been put through 70-80 hrs of various noises and sweeps. I am using the Shanling M6 and HUD100 mk2 (paired with LG G7) for this review.
BASS:-
The lower end is pleasing. The 10mm dynamic driver earphone is capable of delivering some of the deepest bass notes under $500. There is barely any earphone that can do deeper bass than the ORB. The rumble along with the sub-bass extension is the icing on the cake. It just makes the lower end much more satisfying and complete. The mid bass region has a bit more volume which gives the lower end its fuller and meatier feel. It is not huge but the impact is bigger. Decay is on the slower side, it is slightly slower than the DUNU DK2001. The precipitation gives it the juicy feel. It rides on very good amount details and texture. The slam has the much better dynamism which I had not seen with earphones in this price range. Most of them at times get monotonous. The ORB can adapt much better to the need of the track. The slam can be more delicately hard and soft depending upon the track. It is not forward or emphasized while contributing to the more rounded and punchy feel. The upper bass is nicely contained and melts nicely into the lower mids. The dynamic driver has a nice organic feel to it.
Where does it stand? Far above the DM7, more than both Spring 2 and DK2001 and slightly less than the ISN D10.
MID RANGE:-
The ORB most uses the single dynamic driver to best effect and delivers an engaging and tonally accurate mid range. The whole mid range has excellent transparency and very good amount of details. The transition from upper bass to lower mid is nicely done without losing much energy or forwardness while maintaining very good amount of details and clarity. Instruments have appropriate amount of bite to them along with accurate body giving the ORB natural timber and organic feel. None of the instruments have sharp finishing except the cymbals. They have a bit of unnatural transparency and shimmer to it. If in the song, the cymbals stand out of the whole spectrum. Notes have nice agility and good amount of crispiness. It does not have a very technical feel to it as the background and foreground instruments do not have separation like the DM7 or AV3.
Vocals have excellent tonal accuracy and crispiness. Both male and female vocals are equally impressive with very good amount of texture and details. The decay is paced with musicality in mind, the crispiness of background instruments is slightly compromised but this thing emulates a neat and clean feel. The upper mid range is well under control with good amount of details and clarity. It doesn't sound lush in any way but is not unnaturally presented. If you can forgive the elevation of a few instruments it doesn't have anything else to worry about.
HIGHS:-
The ORB has no extra tricks under its belt. The single BA driver with its full range abilities manages to deliver a very good treble which is not exceptional but does get the work done without exhibiting any obvious flaws. It has good amount of spark and energy but things are a bit muffled at the upper treble region. It has very good amount of air between instruments. Thanks to its neutral nature it resolves good cleanliness and transparency. It still lacks a bit of micro details but it is nothing a non critical listener will notice. The transition from upper mid to lower treble region is nicely done without losing transparency or clarity.
The ORB has very good treble extension but it starts losing some spark once it's past the mid treble region. Level of details retrieval is up there with other hybrid earphones but BA based IEMs do better. Cymbals and pianos have very good transparency. If you like an organic kind of feel and an inoffensive notes presentation the ORB doesn't disappoint. Separation and layering is good with good amount of air between instruments. The treble stage is well spread and has a spacious feel to it.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
The ORB has very good stage with excellent width and height providing good amount of space in between. It does lack a bit of depth when compared to the DUNU DK2001 but it still is well rounded. Instruments are evenly distributed without overlapping. The imaging is placed more inside the head with only a few instruments and cues are dynamically placed outside the head. Slight nit picking will be the not so clean stage floor, which feels sticky and a bit muddy.
EFFECT OF CABLES:-
The stock cable is very good, it looks nice and sounds aptly good too. I am a bit critical about how the cable looks but what if you have something with improved visual appeal and sound at the same time? The ORB deserves a good sounding cable and buying an upgrade cable makes much more sense.
PENON ORBIT ($129):- What is an upgrade to the stock SPC cable? A Type 4 LITZ SPC cable with 154 strands in each core. The first thing that comes to attention is the bigger stage size. It feels much more expanded in every direction with improved distribution of instruments. The bass get deeper with slightly better sub-bass rumble while the mid bass sheds some body delivering equally good amount of texture and details. The bigger change comes with improved clarity of the mid range. The Vocals are a bit more delicate and accurate. The whole mid range sounds slightly more organic. Treble gains some maturity with better control over notes and the bigger stage makes it much more enjoyable. The Orbit brings more details and accuracy with excellent contrast between background and foreground instruments. The treble region feels a bit more extended, energetic and sparkly.
If you have an IEM you hold close to your heart, you definitely should invest in a decent cable and the Penon ORB should lead the way with excellent price to performance ration.
COMPARISON:-
BGVP DM7 ($270-$289):-
The DM7 houses 6 BA drivers and is tuned for accuracy and precision. It is a more technical sounding earphone with similar build quality and set of accessories. The DM7 is tuned for a more analytical output, delivers cleaner and clearer notes. The ORB is tuned to be a fun and engaging earphone.
The lower end is not very voluminous and lacks a bit of extension in comparison. It moves lesser amount of air but still have good thump to it. The mid bass is smaller with body but still delivers satisfying amount of slam. The decay is tighter without losing texture. The mid range of the ORB is a bit more forward but the DM7 counter it with more pleasing timber. Both male and female vocals are better with texture and details. It can feel a bit dry and thin against the ORB's thicker notes. Instruments have more energy in general but do not have the upper mid emphasis of the ORB. Treble maintains better energy till the end and has better micro details too. Layering and separation is better than the ORB. The stage size is a bit less wide and tall but has better depth to it.
Vs DUNU DK2001 ($300) and BQEYZ Spring 2 ($140-170):-
CONCLUSION:-
The Penon ORB has a lovable tuning. It is cohesive and engaging. The tonality is unique. Notes are not very detailed but involving. It has excellent lower end with class leading sub-bass extension and rumble, the mid range too is very engaging and involving. The treble is well presented with good amount of spark and energy but it is not the most detailed sounding IEM for under $300. What It is, is one of the most fun still relatively detailed sounding IEM. It has a unique kind of tuning which gives a different kind of tonal balance and engagement. What sets it apart is its ability to cater to all kind of listeners. No one will regret picking it over anything else.
The Penon ORB has only one color option, clear and is priced at $259. It faces tough competition from DM7, DK2001 and ISN H40. Let's find out what is so special about this piece of earphone.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://penonaudio.com/penon-orb.html
https://penon-official.com/product/penon-orb/
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:-
The ORB comes with a small but aptly spacious looking box. Most of the accessories are placed inside the Blue colored carry case, which is slightly on the bigger side with room for an extra cable or even a DAP with small pouches for I think adapters or ear tips. The case is made out of semi hard material but still can withstand plenty of beating and rough handling. The earphone, cable and all the tips are placed inside the carry case. There are few things placed under the case too.
There is small and soft velvet pouch if you just want to carry the earphones. A cleaning tool along with a cable clip is placed inside it. Another interesting thing is a small pouch to carry some extra accessories, it can't hold cables so I assume it is for tips.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE:-
Just like most of the earphones in this price range the ORB too uses medical grade resin material as the shell which eliminates any type of irritation. The shell is not exactly semicustom type as it lacks a concha wing for better traction and grip inside the ear. Thanks to lack of higher number of drivers the shell is marginally smaller than the DM7 but the DK2001 is even smaller. The ORB has a basic type of driver setup and only has two bores design and thanks to that the nozzle is not big and can fit anything from T200 to T400 size tips without much problem. Some might find the nozzle to be on the shorter side but it is perfect for most of us and provides plenty of isolation with right tips.
The build is sturdy. Don't put brute force on it and it will survive without any problem. It might not survive drops on marble or concrete floors either. Thanks to the resin material and lesser number of drivers the ORB is very light and stay comfortably inside the ear without falling out.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
The ORB ships with an audiophile grade SPC cable with total of 8 cores braided fairly loosely without having any memory problem. The cables are really supple, suppler than any other cables in this price bracket. It has a more premium feel than the TSMR 4 and AF180 mk2 cables. It complements the ORB aesthetically.
The cable guides are very supple, holds the ear nicely and don't exert much pressure on the ear. The cable splitter has a low profile. The cable slider or chin slider is neither very loose nor very tight and slides smoothly on the cable. The straight 3.5mm is very light and feels solid to the hand. This cable barely has any microphonics to worry about.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:-
The ORB has a sensitivity of 112 ± 3db and get very loud without dialing up the volume, much louder than most of the hybrid earphones. Impedance value is just 10ohm at 1khz. It is a nearly a child's play to drive the ORB. It does scale well with more capable source but it still plays well with most of the mobile phones and less capable sources.
Is it necessary to feed it properly? No, not at all, the difference is insignificant but yes, it is better if you can.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The ORB has only one DD and one BA driver to do the heavy lifting. What impresses me is the way the ORB does it effortlessly. There is no holding back at all. The bass is deep and full, the mid range is well balanced and the treble is well projected. Its tuning is inclined towards a musical sound without sacrificing technicalities.
The sound signature is on the warmer side but still is on the more balanced side than most hybrid earphones. It doesn't have much emphasis on any part of the spectrum and the W type sound signature is bound to please most of the consumers with very good details and clarity.
I am using Wide bore tips for this review. The ORB has been put through 70-80 hrs of various noises and sweeps. I am using the Shanling M6 and HUD100 mk2 (paired with LG G7) for this review.
BASS:-
The lower end is pleasing. The 10mm dynamic driver earphone is capable of delivering some of the deepest bass notes under $500. There is barely any earphone that can do deeper bass than the ORB. The rumble along with the sub-bass extension is the icing on the cake. It just makes the lower end much more satisfying and complete. The mid bass region has a bit more volume which gives the lower end its fuller and meatier feel. It is not huge but the impact is bigger. Decay is on the slower side, it is slightly slower than the DUNU DK2001. The precipitation gives it the juicy feel. It rides on very good amount details and texture. The slam has the much better dynamism which I had not seen with earphones in this price range. Most of them at times get monotonous. The ORB can adapt much better to the need of the track. The slam can be more delicately hard and soft depending upon the track. It is not forward or emphasized while contributing to the more rounded and punchy feel. The upper bass is nicely contained and melts nicely into the lower mids. The dynamic driver has a nice organic feel to it.
Where does it stand? Far above the DM7, more than both Spring 2 and DK2001 and slightly less than the ISN D10.
MID RANGE:-
The ORB most uses the single dynamic driver to best effect and delivers an engaging and tonally accurate mid range. The whole mid range has excellent transparency and very good amount of details. The transition from upper bass to lower mid is nicely done without losing much energy or forwardness while maintaining very good amount of details and clarity. Instruments have appropriate amount of bite to them along with accurate body giving the ORB natural timber and organic feel. None of the instruments have sharp finishing except the cymbals. They have a bit of unnatural transparency and shimmer to it. If in the song, the cymbals stand out of the whole spectrum. Notes have nice agility and good amount of crispiness. It does not have a very technical feel to it as the background and foreground instruments do not have separation like the DM7 or AV3.
Vocals have excellent tonal accuracy and crispiness. Both male and female vocals are equally impressive with very good amount of texture and details. The decay is paced with musicality in mind, the crispiness of background instruments is slightly compromised but this thing emulates a neat and clean feel. The upper mid range is well under control with good amount of details and clarity. It doesn't sound lush in any way but is not unnaturally presented. If you can forgive the elevation of a few instruments it doesn't have anything else to worry about.
HIGHS:-
The ORB has no extra tricks under its belt. The single BA driver with its full range abilities manages to deliver a very good treble which is not exceptional but does get the work done without exhibiting any obvious flaws. It has good amount of spark and energy but things are a bit muffled at the upper treble region. It has very good amount of air between instruments. Thanks to its neutral nature it resolves good cleanliness and transparency. It still lacks a bit of micro details but it is nothing a non critical listener will notice. The transition from upper mid to lower treble region is nicely done without losing transparency or clarity.
The ORB has very good treble extension but it starts losing some spark once it's past the mid treble region. Level of details retrieval is up there with other hybrid earphones but BA based IEMs do better. Cymbals and pianos have very good transparency. If you like an organic kind of feel and an inoffensive notes presentation the ORB doesn't disappoint. Separation and layering is good with good amount of air between instruments. The treble stage is well spread and has a spacious feel to it.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
The ORB has very good stage with excellent width and height providing good amount of space in between. It does lack a bit of depth when compared to the DUNU DK2001 but it still is well rounded. Instruments are evenly distributed without overlapping. The imaging is placed more inside the head with only a few instruments and cues are dynamically placed outside the head. Slight nit picking will be the not so clean stage floor, which feels sticky and a bit muddy.
EFFECT OF CABLES:-
The stock cable is very good, it looks nice and sounds aptly good too. I am a bit critical about how the cable looks but what if you have something with improved visual appeal and sound at the same time? The ORB deserves a good sounding cable and buying an upgrade cable makes much more sense.
PENON ORBIT ($129):- What is an upgrade to the stock SPC cable? A Type 4 LITZ SPC cable with 154 strands in each core. The first thing that comes to attention is the bigger stage size. It feels much more expanded in every direction with improved distribution of instruments. The bass get deeper with slightly better sub-bass rumble while the mid bass sheds some body delivering equally good amount of texture and details. The bigger change comes with improved clarity of the mid range. The Vocals are a bit more delicate and accurate. The whole mid range sounds slightly more organic. Treble gains some maturity with better control over notes and the bigger stage makes it much more enjoyable. The Orbit brings more details and accuracy with excellent contrast between background and foreground instruments. The treble region feels a bit more extended, energetic and sparkly.
If you have an IEM you hold close to your heart, you definitely should invest in a decent cable and the Penon ORB should lead the way with excellent price to performance ration.
COMPARISON:-
BGVP DM7 ($270-$289):-
The DM7 houses 6 BA drivers and is tuned for accuracy and precision. It is a more technical sounding earphone with similar build quality and set of accessories. The DM7 is tuned for a more analytical output, delivers cleaner and clearer notes. The ORB is tuned to be a fun and engaging earphone.
The lower end is not very voluminous and lacks a bit of extension in comparison. It moves lesser amount of air but still have good thump to it. The mid bass is smaller with body but still delivers satisfying amount of slam. The decay is tighter without losing texture. The mid range of the ORB is a bit more forward but the DM7 counter it with more pleasing timber. Both male and female vocals are better with texture and details. It can feel a bit dry and thin against the ORB's thicker notes. Instruments have more energy in general but do not have the upper mid emphasis of the ORB. Treble maintains better energy till the end and has better micro details too. Layering and separation is better than the ORB. The stage size is a bit less wide and tall but has better depth to it.
Vs DUNU DK2001 ($300) and BQEYZ Spring 2 ($140-170):-
CONCLUSION:-
The Penon ORB has a lovable tuning. It is cohesive and engaging. The tonality is unique. Notes are not very detailed but involving. It has excellent lower end with class leading sub-bass extension and rumble, the mid range too is very engaging and involving. The treble is well presented with good amount of spark and energy but it is not the most detailed sounding IEM for under $300. What It is, is one of the most fun still relatively detailed sounding IEM. It has a unique kind of tuning which gives a different kind of tonal balance and engagement. What sets it apart is its ability to cater to all kind of listeners. No one will regret picking it over anything else.
Attachments
With a lot of brands coming out into the IEM scene buyers have a lot of options these days and the budget to mid range price range is dominated by Chinese brands that provide excellent value for money.
ISN audio made a wave with their H40 hybrid earphone, both buyers and consumers were impressed by its lower end thump and good amount details. Riding on the success of the H40 ISN audio has come up with a single dynamic driver IEM D10. It houses a 9mm dynamic driver to do all the hard work in the world of multi driver IEMs. It doesn't have any fancy technology behind it either. Priced at $175 it comes in only one color which looks kind of brown under artificial light and dark blue under the sun.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000866600699.html
https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-d10.html
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:-
My unit came in the older package which is smaller and looks tidy, the newer package is bigger and spacious. The zipper carry case coming with the older package is nothing like the newer premium looking faux leather clasp case. The older package comes with a karabiner but the newer set gives that a miss and adds a cable clip.
What remains the same are the set of tips and the cleaning too.
BUILD AND COMFORT:-
The D10's shell is made out of resin and it feels fairly solid to the hand. Few layers of resin over the back plate give it a uni-body kind of feel. The semi custom type shell design give is an ergonomical feel inside the ear. The longer than usual nozzle plays a role of giving it a secure feel. The 9mm dynamic driver has a breathing vent just aside the MMCX port.
The D10 is very comfortable inside the ear, there isn't a single bothering attribute to it. It can be worn for hours without any discomfort. The size is not big and should fit most of the ears.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
These days there most of the brands are trying to provide better cables with their IEMs and ISN has one of the best cable for under $200. With S4 printed on the cable slider I would like to assume that this stock cable uses a slightly less premium components with the exact wires. Each core has 63 strands of single crystal copper with silver plating on it. The cable has similar aesthetic to the BQEYZ Spring 2 cable but the ISN cable is lighter and suppler. It has little to no memory problem.
The most remarkable feature about the cable is its lack of cable guides, big relief, what cant other brands do this? The 3.5mm jack, MMCX pins and cable splitter barely have any stress reliever. What's interesting is the body of the cable splitter can be moved out of its place with a bit of effort, exposing a simpler rubber tube at work. The cable slider is fairly smooth but doesn't slide down on its own.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:-
The D10 houses a single dynamic driver and has a impedance of 16ohm and sensitivity of 100db making it one of the most compliant IEM I have used for a while. Driving it out of mobile phone is not a problem at all. Pairing it with more powerful sources and AMPs doesn't yield any improvement either. I tried it with the Busron Playmate and it lost some of its lower end volume while delivering faster and lighter mid and treble notes.
If you want an IEM that can be driven without any problem across a handful of sources the ISN D10 should be considered a top contender. Drive it out of any dongle and just enjoy!!
HOW DOES THIS SOUNDS:-
Yes, some brands use dynamic drivers and still manage to deliver a balanced sound but D10 doesn't have any intensions of being on the balanced side. It delivers wholesome amount of bass with plenty of volume. The 9mm dynamic driver doesn't shy away from expressing itself. The overall sound signature is slightly V shaped without any veiling. Tonality and timber have a hint of metallic feel though. The warm and slightly brighter tonality takes me back in memory but thats in past...
I am using the stock white tip with green cores. Switching to wide bore tips takes away the essence of this IEM.
BASS:-
The ISN D10 has bass in its heart. It drivers the whole sound while delivering plenty of thump. The 9mm dynamic driver has excellent sub-bass extension and rumble. This extension can be compared to the much more expensive Jomo Percusion P3. The mid bass has a wholesome and full bodied feel to it, giving a well rounded feel to the lower end delivering a punchy but a not so hard slam. Upper bass deliver very good amount of details and merges nicely into the lower mid region.
The decay speed is slightly on the slower side with a bit of cushy feel to it. It is allows the note to precipitate without much restriction take it very close to bass-head Level. Just like most of the dynamic driver IEMs the D10 has good amount of juiciness and very good amount texture.
Where does it stand? It stands well over the BA based IEMs and is in the league of TFZ Kind series but with better sub-bass presence.
MID RANGE:-
The mid range is slightly recessed while maintaining good energy and transparency. Thanks to good tuning there is no dip in energy or clarity while transiting from upper bass to lower mid region. Notes are aptly agile and detailed for a dynamic driver IEM. Much better than the Moondrop KXXS which feels recessed and veiled. The D10 delivers musically inclined notes with slightly thicker base while curbing on sharpness. There isn't much bite but still leaves an impression. It has nice technicality even without excited or energetic notes. D10 does not have very precise or accurate notes like the DM7 but it is smoother and calmer. Micro details retrieval is very good, the background acts too have nice clarity.
Vocals are a pleasant surprise. Given the vigor shown by the bass the vocals manage to pierce out of bass region. It effortlessly penetrates the plane made by the bass notes. This exhibition of ability shows the quality of tuning that went into it. It does two things, first, it restricts the notes from being sharp and 2ndly it takes out a bit of shine. Those who like a mid forward, slightly energetic, a bit sharp and crisp vocals will find this to be neutral. Both male and female vocals sound similarly impressive while maintaining very good amount of details and texture, let it be Ben Howard or Nina Simone, all of them sound fairly accurate. The upper mid is not sharp while having good energy and transparency. The whole mid range is slightly on the lush side. Notes could have been a bit more agile.
HIGHS:-
The D10 delivers a fairly good treble region with very good instrumental clarity and details. It does not have plenty of spark or energy like BA based counter parts and is not the most revealing either, the presentation too is on the smoother and musical side.
Transition from upper mid to lower treble region is nicely energetic and is clear of any sibilance or peaks. The D10 has very good leading treble extension as it maintain very good amount of energy and clarity even when it goes higher in FR. Level of details retrieval is nice while keeping the timber acceptably natural. Cymbals and pianos have nice transparency, just don't expect sharp and tingly instruments and plenty of details retrieval and the D10 won't disappoint. It just simply doesn't have a lot of micro details for the detail hogs. Separation and layering is nice with good amount of air and space between instruments. The treble stage is well spread with good density to it. If you love clean and inoffensive sound, the D10 fits the bill.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
The ISN D10 has a well expanded stage for an under $200 IEM. It has very good height and depth while the width is slightly on the narrower side. The stage in whole has a fairly big dimension, bigger than the BGVP VG4 and TSMR 2. I love the way it places cues further, exhibiting its sonic abilities, something the BA based IEMs can't take pride in. Nearly 80% of the vocals and some instruments are placed inside the head while majority of the stage is projected outside the head giving it a more open kind of feel. As mentioned earlier the bass takes the center stage but it doesn't spoil the broth, it works much more like a layer and the instruments are placed either side of it.
EFFECT OF CABLES:-
ISN SC4 ($110):- What is an upgrade to the stock SPC cable? A better SPC cable with pure silver and single crystal strands. The first thing that comes to attention is the bigger stage size. It feels much more expanded in every direction without messing up the distribution of instruments. The bass get deeper with slightly better sub-bass rumble while the mid bass sheds some body delivering equally good amount of texture and details. The bigger change comes with the not anymore V shaped mid range. The Vocals are a bit more forward, more in line with the rest of the spectrum. The whole mid range sounds slightly more organic and textured. Treble gains some maturity with better control over notes and the bigger stage makes it much more enjoyable. The SC4 brings more details and accuracy with much better contrast between background and foreground instruments.
SC4 is a fitting upgrade for any MMCX IEM.
COMPARISON:-
VS BQEYZ Spring 2 ($169):-
The BQEYZ earphone is a massive upgrade to the spring 1 and is one of the best earphones of this year. The Tri hybrid earphone has better resolution and micro details and comes in a metal jacket.
VS TSMR 2 ($169):-
The dual BA TSMR 2 is a more balanced IEM with intimate vocals with slightly better texture. It houses 3 switches which can alter the sound a bit if needed. The 2 has overall better micro details and is more contrasty.
The lower end is much smaller with bass body. The sub-bass not much rumbly and the extension is not as deep as the D1o either. The mid bass give it volume but is still much smaller in volume and the impact is not par. The vocals and mids are much forward and have better texture and resolution, much similar to the Spring 2 while rest of the instruments are slightly on the dull side. Same case with the treble, it has good details and enery but the D10 does better with energy and crispiness. Stage size of the 2 is wide and tall but lacks depth.
CONCLUSION:-
If amount of details and a balanced sound is what you are looking out of an IEM, just look away. It has good amount of details but the lower end is nowhere close to being balanced. What the D10 does is it maintains nice transparency while keeping the presentation fatigue free and musical when compared to most of its competitor.
The slightly V shaped sound is not for everyone but is the most popular signature, loved by many and the D10 will please a lot of users too.
ISN audio made a wave with their H40 hybrid earphone, both buyers and consumers were impressed by its lower end thump and good amount details. Riding on the success of the H40 ISN audio has come up with a single dynamic driver IEM D10. It houses a 9mm dynamic driver to do all the hard work in the world of multi driver IEMs. It doesn't have any fancy technology behind it either. Priced at $175 it comes in only one color which looks kind of brown under artificial light and dark blue under the sun.
Get one for yourself from here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000866600699.html
https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-d10.html
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:-
My unit came in the older package which is smaller and looks tidy, the newer package is bigger and spacious. The zipper carry case coming with the older package is nothing like the newer premium looking faux leather clasp case. The older package comes with a karabiner but the newer set gives that a miss and adds a cable clip.
What remains the same are the set of tips and the cleaning too.
BUILD AND COMFORT:-
The D10's shell is made out of resin and it feels fairly solid to the hand. Few layers of resin over the back plate give it a uni-body kind of feel. The semi custom type shell design give is an ergonomical feel inside the ear. The longer than usual nozzle plays a role of giving it a secure feel. The 9mm dynamic driver has a breathing vent just aside the MMCX port.
The D10 is very comfortable inside the ear, there isn't a single bothering attribute to it. It can be worn for hours without any discomfort. The size is not big and should fit most of the ears.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
These days there most of the brands are trying to provide better cables with their IEMs and ISN has one of the best cable for under $200. With S4 printed on the cable slider I would like to assume that this stock cable uses a slightly less premium components with the exact wires. Each core has 63 strands of single crystal copper with silver plating on it. The cable has similar aesthetic to the BQEYZ Spring 2 cable but the ISN cable is lighter and suppler. It has little to no memory problem.
The most remarkable feature about the cable is its lack of cable guides, big relief, what cant other brands do this? The 3.5mm jack, MMCX pins and cable splitter barely have any stress reliever. What's interesting is the body of the cable splitter can be moved out of its place with a bit of effort, exposing a simpler rubber tube at work. The cable slider is fairly smooth but doesn't slide down on its own.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:-
The D10 houses a single dynamic driver and has a impedance of 16ohm and sensitivity of 100db making it one of the most compliant IEM I have used for a while. Driving it out of mobile phone is not a problem at all. Pairing it with more powerful sources and AMPs doesn't yield any improvement either. I tried it with the Busron Playmate and it lost some of its lower end volume while delivering faster and lighter mid and treble notes.
If you want an IEM that can be driven without any problem across a handful of sources the ISN D10 should be considered a top contender. Drive it out of any dongle and just enjoy!!
HOW DOES THIS SOUNDS:-
Yes, some brands use dynamic drivers and still manage to deliver a balanced sound but D10 doesn't have any intensions of being on the balanced side. It delivers wholesome amount of bass with plenty of volume. The 9mm dynamic driver doesn't shy away from expressing itself. The overall sound signature is slightly V shaped without any veiling. Tonality and timber have a hint of metallic feel though. The warm and slightly brighter tonality takes me back in memory but thats in past...
I am using the stock white tip with green cores. Switching to wide bore tips takes away the essence of this IEM.
BASS:-
The ISN D10 has bass in its heart. It drivers the whole sound while delivering plenty of thump. The 9mm dynamic driver has excellent sub-bass extension and rumble. This extension can be compared to the much more expensive Jomo Percusion P3. The mid bass has a wholesome and full bodied feel to it, giving a well rounded feel to the lower end delivering a punchy but a not so hard slam. Upper bass deliver very good amount of details and merges nicely into the lower mid region.
The decay speed is slightly on the slower side with a bit of cushy feel to it. It is allows the note to precipitate without much restriction take it very close to bass-head Level. Just like most of the dynamic driver IEMs the D10 has good amount of juiciness and very good amount texture.
Where does it stand? It stands well over the BA based IEMs and is in the league of TFZ Kind series but with better sub-bass presence.
MID RANGE:-
The mid range is slightly recessed while maintaining good energy and transparency. Thanks to good tuning there is no dip in energy or clarity while transiting from upper bass to lower mid region. Notes are aptly agile and detailed for a dynamic driver IEM. Much better than the Moondrop KXXS which feels recessed and veiled. The D10 delivers musically inclined notes with slightly thicker base while curbing on sharpness. There isn't much bite but still leaves an impression. It has nice technicality even without excited or energetic notes. D10 does not have very precise or accurate notes like the DM7 but it is smoother and calmer. Micro details retrieval is very good, the background acts too have nice clarity.
Vocals are a pleasant surprise. Given the vigor shown by the bass the vocals manage to pierce out of bass region. It effortlessly penetrates the plane made by the bass notes. This exhibition of ability shows the quality of tuning that went into it. It does two things, first, it restricts the notes from being sharp and 2ndly it takes out a bit of shine. Those who like a mid forward, slightly energetic, a bit sharp and crisp vocals will find this to be neutral. Both male and female vocals sound similarly impressive while maintaining very good amount of details and texture, let it be Ben Howard or Nina Simone, all of them sound fairly accurate. The upper mid is not sharp while having good energy and transparency. The whole mid range is slightly on the lush side. Notes could have been a bit more agile.
HIGHS:-
The D10 delivers a fairly good treble region with very good instrumental clarity and details. It does not have plenty of spark or energy like BA based counter parts and is not the most revealing either, the presentation too is on the smoother and musical side.
Transition from upper mid to lower treble region is nicely energetic and is clear of any sibilance or peaks. The D10 has very good leading treble extension as it maintain very good amount of energy and clarity even when it goes higher in FR. Level of details retrieval is nice while keeping the timber acceptably natural. Cymbals and pianos have nice transparency, just don't expect sharp and tingly instruments and plenty of details retrieval and the D10 won't disappoint. It just simply doesn't have a lot of micro details for the detail hogs. Separation and layering is nice with good amount of air and space between instruments. The treble stage is well spread with good density to it. If you love clean and inoffensive sound, the D10 fits the bill.
STAGE AND IMAGING:-
The ISN D10 has a well expanded stage for an under $200 IEM. It has very good height and depth while the width is slightly on the narrower side. The stage in whole has a fairly big dimension, bigger than the BGVP VG4 and TSMR 2. I love the way it places cues further, exhibiting its sonic abilities, something the BA based IEMs can't take pride in. Nearly 80% of the vocals and some instruments are placed inside the head while majority of the stage is projected outside the head giving it a more open kind of feel. As mentioned earlier the bass takes the center stage but it doesn't spoil the broth, it works much more like a layer and the instruments are placed either side of it.
EFFECT OF CABLES:-
ISN SC4 ($110):- What is an upgrade to the stock SPC cable? A better SPC cable with pure silver and single crystal strands. The first thing that comes to attention is the bigger stage size. It feels much more expanded in every direction without messing up the distribution of instruments. The bass get deeper with slightly better sub-bass rumble while the mid bass sheds some body delivering equally good amount of texture and details. The bigger change comes with the not anymore V shaped mid range. The Vocals are a bit more forward, more in line with the rest of the spectrum. The whole mid range sounds slightly more organic and textured. Treble gains some maturity with better control over notes and the bigger stage makes it much more enjoyable. The SC4 brings more details and accuracy with much better contrast between background and foreground instruments.
SC4 is a fitting upgrade for any MMCX IEM.
COMPARISON:-
VS BQEYZ Spring 2 ($169):-
The BQEYZ earphone is a massive upgrade to the spring 1 and is one of the best earphones of this year. The Tri hybrid earphone has better resolution and micro details and comes in a metal jacket.
VS TSMR 2 ($169):-
The dual BA TSMR 2 is a more balanced IEM with intimate vocals with slightly better texture. It houses 3 switches which can alter the sound a bit if needed. The 2 has overall better micro details and is more contrasty.
The lower end is much smaller with bass body. The sub-bass not much rumbly and the extension is not as deep as the D1o either. The mid bass give it volume but is still much smaller in volume and the impact is not par. The vocals and mids are much forward and have better texture and resolution, much similar to the Spring 2 while rest of the instruments are slightly on the dull side. Same case with the treble, it has good details and enery but the D10 does better with energy and crispiness. Stage size of the 2 is wide and tall but lacks depth.
CONCLUSION:-
If amount of details and a balanced sound is what you are looking out of an IEM, just look away. It has good amount of details but the lower end is nowhere close to being balanced. What the D10 does is it maintains nice transparency while keeping the presentation fatigue free and musical when compared to most of its competitor.
The slightly V shaped sound is not for everyone but is the most popular signature, loved by many and the D10 will please a lot of users too.
Attachments
Burson playmate is a fantastic DAC/Pre amp in its own, it is one of the best sounding DAC/AMP with ESS9038 chip at the center but I still had a couple of basic complains about the imaging and stage. The mid range is like a fairytale with exceptional amount of details and clarity which is helped by the huge stage presence. There were a couple of tradeoffs too, the bass didn't had a lot of life, treble was suppressed and both were fighting for stage presence. I looked into a few possible solutions. What can I do.. I changed the input from USB to optical, going optical was good, it made the Playmate sound a bit more calmer and a bit more musical but it is not what I was expecting for. I got in touch with Bhav from Burson, who is very friendly with interactions. He took the criticism constructively and placed an order for their top of the line Op-Amps from V6 series.
Get these OP-amps from here:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/product/supreme-sound-opamp-v6/
THINGS TO KNOW:-
The Super Sound series of OP-amps have a lot of improvements over the basic NE5532 opamp which are pre installed on the Playmate. These OP-amps from the Super Sound lineup are some of the best aftermarket discrete OP-amps one can find. They can be used in sound cards and a lot other DAC/AMPs.
In their words:-
"Discrete circuits are custom built by Burson for specific applications rather than an op-amp’s jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none specifications. The art of circuit design yields superior sound in every way in comparison to simple plug-a-chip engineering.
A system can only sound as good as its weakest link. All our products use thick, quality, temperature-stable printed circuit boards with high-purity copper traces and gold-plated soldering pads. And extra coating is applied to both sides of the PCB preventing oxidation. The boards are hand-built use high-spec metal-film resistors and other audio-grade parts using as few hand-matched components in the signal path as possible."
"The V6 Vivid and V6 Classic are the results of over 12 years of research and six generations of designs. They are the most refined we have ever created."
Burson is really proud of their OP-amps and if you have bought them, you can get a lifetime warranty on them. All you have to do is register the OP-amps here.
These OP-amps are not huge is size and fit everywhere without much struggle. One of the remarkable features of these V6 is their reverse voltage protection. If you have installed them the wrong way around these will survive without any problem where other opamps will be fried. That's a fantastic thing to be precise.
Read the build and other specifications of the Burson Playmate here.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The Playmate is a fantastic sounding DAC/AMP. You can try going optical if you feel the USB sound is slightly on the analytical, less expansive and drier side. But the level of details and clarity is there, always. The expansive stage is just overwhelming for someone who doesn't use desktop DAC/AMPs.
Everything has down sides and the playmate is not an exception, the NE5532 is not a very dynamic of open sounding op-amp. The V6 vivid on the other side has considerably better extension at both ends and the stage is bigger with more even distribution of instruments. Where the NE5532 is bright the V6 vivid is a bit damp, lot less bright and slightly darker.
For a better perspective, read review of the Playmate with NE5532 here. I will focus on the improvements in this article.
BASS:-
With the V6 vivid the bass feels more extended, there is more rumble and thump, making the sub-bass more enjoyable. The mid-bass emphasis flattens a bit, it is not as a steep as it used to be, the decay speed is more natural, having more room for air and better precipitation. Notes are juicier and fuller in short. Notes have better texture now. The lower region doesn't feel clumsy or constrained any more, notes express themselves with a lot more freedom. The V6 brings more heft without compromising on accuracy, details, resolution and clarity. The Playmate attains a more neutral status and can be paired with any type of headphone and speakers without worrying about the bass region being unnecessarily analytical or less exciting.
MID RANGE:-
Mid range used to take a huge chunk of the stage size with the NE5532, making the playmate a mid-head DAC/AMP. Now the stage is more even, it still has a big chunk of it but the overall stage expansion at both ends helps a lot. The stage is huge and the cleanliness is maintained. With the 5532 the notes were sharper with smaller base, the V6 has a bit more notes body with a slightly conical notes structure. The vocals are lusher and more natural with tonality. The upper mid range has a very good amount of energy with equally good transparency and clarity. The sharpness is gone, it is not blunt but notes are more musical and calmer. Layering and separation of instruments remains excellent. Air between instruments doesn't feel better thanks to the thicker notes. The excellent transparency is maintained but the less sharp notes finishing gives the V6 vivid a bit softer feel, it is not on the face any more.
TREBLE:-
My biggest grief with the NE5532 was about the clumsiness of the treble, which was literally fighting for air. It had very little stage presence with all the instruments cramped in a small space. The V6 vivid breathes new life in to the Playmate. The treble feels well expanded with better treble extension and vastly improved sonicality and dynamism. There is better energy and sparkle now, the suppressed feeling is gone, the projection is in line with the mid range and is equally emphasized. Layering and separation is much more improved with considerably better space between instruments.
COMPARISON:-
Last time I reviewed the Playmate I was slightly thin on options, now I have a couple more options to compare.
VS EARMEN TR-AMP ($250):-
TR amp is a very similar sounding DAC/AMP which has the DAC chip inside. There are some basic differences, the smaller DAC/AMP has Native DSD support of 128 times only where as the Playmate has 512 and the PCM support is half of Playmate at 384khz. The biggest difference is input, the TR-amp has only USB input and it has a battery life of around 10hrs.
With the V6 the Playmate is much closer to the TR-amp's sound signature, the only difference in signature is with the notes weight and dampness of the V6 vivid. The TR-amp is slightly more agile and sharper. The bass region is bigger with volume and marginally faster with decay. Mid range is much closer to the 5532 than V6, sharper and more analytical, same goes for vocals too. Instruments have more attack and sharper finish to them. Treble region is not as expanded or holographic as the Playmate. The layering and separation is not as good either. Both are very technical but the slightly sharper notes presentation of the TR-amp gives a sense of better transparency.
The stage size of the Playmate is considerably bigger than the TR-Amp, it is nearly 60-70% bigger with the V6 vivid. Where the V6 has deeper stage with very good width and height the TR amp is taller, compromising on depth.
It is tough to pick one, the Playmate is much more capable with imaging and stage size, both have similar amount of details but the notes presentation is different. The Playmate X V6 vivid is not very contrasty where the TR-amp has better contrast closer to the Playmate with NE5532.
VS CREATIVE E5($200):-
The E5 is my oldest DAC/AMP. It is not a very technical sound DAC/AMP anymore, the Playmate with V6 vivid takes it down fair and square when it comes to details and technical abilities. The sound signature is more colored. What the E5 has on its side is the musical touch, the bass is much more voluminous, there is more air and the rumble and slam are more enjoyable. Decay speed is slower. Mid bass is more prominent too. Mid range is less detailed and micro details are not in par. Vocals are slightly blunt and lush, the bite with instruments is gone too. Upper mid is lacking forwardness and energy and the clarity is not there. Treble region doesn't feel as defined or resolving either, the spark and energy is missing with higher frequencies. The stage size is nearly half in size of the Playmate.
It is a decent DAC/AMP and can be used for its scout mode in its software, a very good tool for gaming. much more refined and polishes than the Playmates microphone controls. The dynamic range, sonicality and technical abilities are good but belong to league a few notch below the Playmate. The micro details have the same case. The biggest plus for the E5 is the creative software which gives a lot of freedom with EQ and software tweaks.
CONCLUSION:-
The stock NE5532 dual channel op-amps are not bad at all but it restricts the playmate in a few aspects.. NE5532 lacks a bit of extension at both the ends, the bass sounds clumsy and less dynamic and same goes for treble. The treble region feels very limited when it comes to stage presence.
The V6 vivid is not a very analytical OP-amp but a much more neutral, musical and playful one. It unleashes a few tied ends of the Playmate. It is a very good add-on to the already fantastic sounding Playmate, upgrade the sound without breaking the bank.
Is it flawless? No, it can be better but I barely have any complains now. Maybe add a BT.. Maybe.
Get these OP-amps from here:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/product/supreme-sound-opamp-v6/
THINGS TO KNOW:-
The Super Sound series of OP-amps have a lot of improvements over the basic NE5532 opamp which are pre installed on the Playmate. These OP-amps from the Super Sound lineup are some of the best aftermarket discrete OP-amps one can find. They can be used in sound cards and a lot other DAC/AMPs.
In their words:-
"Discrete circuits are custom built by Burson for specific applications rather than an op-amp’s jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none specifications. The art of circuit design yields superior sound in every way in comparison to simple plug-a-chip engineering.
A system can only sound as good as its weakest link. All our products use thick, quality, temperature-stable printed circuit boards with high-purity copper traces and gold-plated soldering pads. And extra coating is applied to both sides of the PCB preventing oxidation. The boards are hand-built use high-spec metal-film resistors and other audio-grade parts using as few hand-matched components in the signal path as possible."
"The V6 Vivid and V6 Classic are the results of over 12 years of research and six generations of designs. They are the most refined we have ever created."
Burson is really proud of their OP-amps and if you have bought them, you can get a lifetime warranty on them. All you have to do is register the OP-amps here.
These OP-amps are not huge is size and fit everywhere without much struggle. One of the remarkable features of these V6 is their reverse voltage protection. If you have installed them the wrong way around these will survive without any problem where other opamps will be fried. That's a fantastic thing to be precise.
Read the build and other specifications of the Burson Playmate here.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The Playmate is a fantastic sounding DAC/AMP. You can try going optical if you feel the USB sound is slightly on the analytical, less expansive and drier side. But the level of details and clarity is there, always. The expansive stage is just overwhelming for someone who doesn't use desktop DAC/AMPs.
Everything has down sides and the playmate is not an exception, the NE5532 is not a very dynamic of open sounding op-amp. The V6 vivid on the other side has considerably better extension at both ends and the stage is bigger with more even distribution of instruments. Where the NE5532 is bright the V6 vivid is a bit damp, lot less bright and slightly darker.
For a better perspective, read review of the Playmate with NE5532 here. I will focus on the improvements in this article.
BASS:-
With the V6 vivid the bass feels more extended, there is more rumble and thump, making the sub-bass more enjoyable. The mid-bass emphasis flattens a bit, it is not as a steep as it used to be, the decay speed is more natural, having more room for air and better precipitation. Notes are juicier and fuller in short. Notes have better texture now. The lower region doesn't feel clumsy or constrained any more, notes express themselves with a lot more freedom. The V6 brings more heft without compromising on accuracy, details, resolution and clarity. The Playmate attains a more neutral status and can be paired with any type of headphone and speakers without worrying about the bass region being unnecessarily analytical or less exciting.
MID RANGE:-
Mid range used to take a huge chunk of the stage size with the NE5532, making the playmate a mid-head DAC/AMP. Now the stage is more even, it still has a big chunk of it but the overall stage expansion at both ends helps a lot. The stage is huge and the cleanliness is maintained. With the 5532 the notes were sharper with smaller base, the V6 has a bit more notes body with a slightly conical notes structure. The vocals are lusher and more natural with tonality. The upper mid range has a very good amount of energy with equally good transparency and clarity. The sharpness is gone, it is not blunt but notes are more musical and calmer. Layering and separation of instruments remains excellent. Air between instruments doesn't feel better thanks to the thicker notes. The excellent transparency is maintained but the less sharp notes finishing gives the V6 vivid a bit softer feel, it is not on the face any more.
TREBLE:-
My biggest grief with the NE5532 was about the clumsiness of the treble, which was literally fighting for air. It had very little stage presence with all the instruments cramped in a small space. The V6 vivid breathes new life in to the Playmate. The treble feels well expanded with better treble extension and vastly improved sonicality and dynamism. There is better energy and sparkle now, the suppressed feeling is gone, the projection is in line with the mid range and is equally emphasized. Layering and separation is much more improved with considerably better space between instruments.
COMPARISON:-
Last time I reviewed the Playmate I was slightly thin on options, now I have a couple more options to compare.
VS EARMEN TR-AMP ($250):-
TR amp is a very similar sounding DAC/AMP which has the DAC chip inside. There are some basic differences, the smaller DAC/AMP has Native DSD support of 128 times only where as the Playmate has 512 and the PCM support is half of Playmate at 384khz. The biggest difference is input, the TR-amp has only USB input and it has a battery life of around 10hrs.
With the V6 the Playmate is much closer to the TR-amp's sound signature, the only difference in signature is with the notes weight and dampness of the V6 vivid. The TR-amp is slightly more agile and sharper. The bass region is bigger with volume and marginally faster with decay. Mid range is much closer to the 5532 than V6, sharper and more analytical, same goes for vocals too. Instruments have more attack and sharper finish to them. Treble region is not as expanded or holographic as the Playmate. The layering and separation is not as good either. Both are very technical but the slightly sharper notes presentation of the TR-amp gives a sense of better transparency.
The stage size of the Playmate is considerably bigger than the TR-Amp, it is nearly 60-70% bigger with the V6 vivid. Where the V6 has deeper stage with very good width and height the TR amp is taller, compromising on depth.
It is tough to pick one, the Playmate is much more capable with imaging and stage size, both have similar amount of details but the notes presentation is different. The Playmate X V6 vivid is not very contrasty where the TR-amp has better contrast closer to the Playmate with NE5532.
VS CREATIVE E5($200):-
The E5 is my oldest DAC/AMP. It is not a very technical sound DAC/AMP anymore, the Playmate with V6 vivid takes it down fair and square when it comes to details and technical abilities. The sound signature is more colored. What the E5 has on its side is the musical touch, the bass is much more voluminous, there is more air and the rumble and slam are more enjoyable. Decay speed is slower. Mid bass is more prominent too. Mid range is less detailed and micro details are not in par. Vocals are slightly blunt and lush, the bite with instruments is gone too. Upper mid is lacking forwardness and energy and the clarity is not there. Treble region doesn't feel as defined or resolving either, the spark and energy is missing with higher frequencies. The stage size is nearly half in size of the Playmate.
It is a decent DAC/AMP and can be used for its scout mode in its software, a very good tool for gaming. much more refined and polishes than the Playmates microphone controls. The dynamic range, sonicality and technical abilities are good but belong to league a few notch below the Playmate. The micro details have the same case. The biggest plus for the E5 is the creative software which gives a lot of freedom with EQ and software tweaks.
CONCLUSION:-
The stock NE5532 dual channel op-amps are not bad at all but it restricts the playmate in a few aspects.. NE5532 lacks a bit of extension at both the ends, the bass sounds clumsy and less dynamic and same goes for treble. The treble region feels very limited when it comes to stage presence.
The V6 vivid is not a very analytical OP-amp but a much more neutral, musical and playful one. It unleashes a few tied ends of the Playmate. It is a very good add-on to the already fantastic sounding Playmate, upgrade the sound without breaking the bank.
Is it flawless? No, it can be better but I barely have any complains now. Maybe add a BT.. Maybe.
Attachments
There are a few Chinese brands that have left a mark in the market lately with their tuning and fantastic value propositions. Tansio Mirai or better known as TSMR has been one of them. TSMR has been very precise and careful with their earphones. The solid build quality has been consistent since their inception. They started with the TSMR 3 back in 2017 and now they have some of the best IEMs which are equipped with tuning switches to provide some variations of the base sound signature.
The TSMR 4 pro is one of the most promising earphone for under $500, priced at $319, it house 4 BA drivers in a 3 way crossover and comes in a lot face plate and shell color options. The market is flooded with options in this price. The TSMR 4 pro faces tough competition from earphones like Moondrop Blessings 2, Penon Orb, Secret Garden 3, Avara Av3 and the DUNU DK-2001.
Get a Pair of these IEMs from here: https://penonaudio.com/tansio-mirai-tsmr-4pro.html
ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING:-
TSMR hasn't changed the packaging scheme, it is exactly same as the TSMR2 and 3. Similar set of accessories too.
The retail package is not exactly elegant, it is more functional though. One basically doesn't fight with the box while taking the earphones out. You get a large zipper pouch stuffed inside a card board box. The carry case is as big as old gen external hard drive case. It is big enough to carry the earphone and a portable DAP.
Inside the box are the earphone and a pocket friendly carry pouch. Placed inside the pouch are 6 pairs of tips, a cleaning too and a tool to flick the tuning switches.
One will find a hand book explaining the switches finishes the list of accessories.
HOW IS THE BUILD QUALITY:-
Build quality of the TSMR 4 is very good. It doesn't have the semi custom type body but sits inside the ear comfortably. The shell is made out of resin and feels very solid to the hand. The back plate is fused with a few layers of resin on it and the shells walls are thicker than most of the earphone.
There is a reason why the body feels stronger, you cannot put the switches on a weak shell and expect it to hold up. The switches are nicely fused and there is no need to worry about the setup coming off. Feedback of these switches is good but it is on the stiffer side. The 2pin port is flush on the body and removing the cable is fairly easy and smooth.
The nozzle is wide. Any T4/500 size tip will fit, I am using stock wide bore tips.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
The cable is okay. If the Inear SD5 and Fibae 3 cables are bad, there is no need to complain here. The biggest thing I don't like about the cables is its cable guides. It is tight and can be uncomfortable over a longer period. Yes, this much of clamping is helpful when you like to go jogging with the earphone, but I don't find it good to use headphones or earphones while on the road where one has to be aware of the surroundings.
Moving on to the braided 4 core cable, it is supple and doesn't have much memory problem. It is not bouncy and doesn't have much microphonics either. The 3.5mm jack is metal clad and has good amount of protection to it, same goes for the y splitter. There is a cable slider too. The minimalistic design of the slider and Y splitter is always welcome.
HOW DOES IT FEELS INSIDE THE EAR :-
I find the TSMR 4 pro to be more comfortable inside the ear compared to the Fibae 3 or Shozy pola, the reason being the combination of nozzle depth and size of the shell. The shell fits better inside the ear and the longer nozzle gives very good stability.
Ergonomically it is average, it doesn't have any type of wing to have better grip inside the ear. What really helps is the light weight. It is far less heavy compared to the Shozy Pola and is easy on the ear too. Thanks to the aggressive cable guides one need not to worry about the earphone falling out of the ear.
TSMR 4 has very good isolation from outer noise.
TECHNICALITY AND TUNING:-
Pairing with sources:-
The TSMR 4 pro has a fairly low impedance of 20 ohm and is easily drivable out of mobile phones and thanks to 112db sensitivity it gets very loud without much problem.
Even when it plays well with any source, good amount of power does bring a lot more details and character to the table. Driven out of my LG G7 the TSMR 4 pro feels gloomy and notes lack much of the contrast and energy. The whole spectrum feels dynamically limited. The bass is lacking thump, treble is not energetic enough while the vocals and mid range are not much affected.
Jumping to Shanling M6 the scene changes drastically, the contrast and dynamic range improves a lot with plenty of treble energy and the lower end gains good amount of body. The stage is much more rounded and the layering and separation improves.
Driving it out of weak sources is okay but the power brings a lot more to the table.
The Switches:-
There are not many earphones in this price range which has tuning switches. There is a manual for that inside the box. In their words you can have 7 different sound modes and all the positions have a number assigned to them. The switches are numbered 1, 2 and 3 from left to right. On is on the left side and KE to the right side. If the switch is up, it is on and the carries the number of the switch, if a switch is off it is denoted by 0. If all the switches are on the position number is 123 and if all of them are off it is 000. The first switch (the 1 switch) is for bass boost. The middle switch is for balance and the last switch is for mid range and treble elevation. It is slightly tricky for the first time but it is not difficult once you get a hold of it. The 000 position is not a valid position and the sound in this position is very limited. You are supposed to keep one switch on, always.
If you think the switches bring a lot of difference to the sound, you might be a little disappointed. They do bring good amount of changes to the sound. Turning the bass switch on won't make take it to bass head levels. Expect changes, just don't expect a lot of it. Switches in 100 position does bring good amount of sub-bass and extension compared to the 003 position. Thanks to the switches the TSMR 4 can be flat, mid forward and can deliver healthy amount of bass with a few flicks of switches. That is a lot of versatility there, and the best part is, unlike tuning filters, the sound doesn't feel veiled or unnatural with any of those 7 switch positions.
I am going to review the TSMR 4 in 123 position, all guns blazzing!!
Quoted from penon:-
"Tuning mode instruction
0 means off (down) ,1/2/3 means on (switch position up)
Mode 1:
100:- Bass enhancement mode
120:- Mixed tuning
Mode 2:
020: All balanced mode
103: Mixed tuning
Mode 3:
003: Mid-treble enhancement mode
023: Mixed tuning
123: Mixed tuning (lowest impedance)"
SOUND QUALITY:-
The TSMR 4 has Knowles drivers in each earpiece. Each earpiece has 2 22955 drivers as middle and low frequencies and 2 29689 drivers for highs incorporated in a two bore design. The overall sound signature is of the balanced type with hint of dampness to the treble notes, it does not have any brightness to worry about. The treble can feel a bit dark compared to the wholesomely bright and light sounding Avara AV3 and AF180 Mk2. If a bit of excitement is the need of the hour, flick the switches. The tonality and timber are some of the most accurate in this price. It has the tranquility which is rarely found in this price.
BASS:-
The TSMR 4 is not bassy unless the no.1 switch is turned on. In the 123 position the 4 pro delivers good amount of slam and moves good amount of air too. It is not flat like ER-4P or the Audiofly AF180 while maintaining very good amount of details and texture. The sub-bass extension is not the best but is good enough. The focus is a bit more tilted towards mid bass. The Mid baas has good amount of weight and has a nicely fuller feel to it. The upper treble is a bit less emphasized with good amount of energy and details. The lower end strikes a beautiful balance between being overly agile and lethargic. In other words it doesn't have an unreasonably snappy or slow decay speed, it leaves a nice impression with good amount of slam and thump. BA driver earphones have fantastic amount of control over notes and are very accurate and the 4 pro is no exception, all the notes, even the micro details have very good clarity and definition. Just don't expect a lot of dynamism or a wholesome amount of thump and the TSMR delivers with fantastic details, technicality and accuracy. If you want more precision and an analytical tuning turn the no.1 switch off.
Compared to some DD the 4 pro has a tight and fast decay and can feel a bit less fuller but coming from something more analytical like the Nocturnal Avalon and AF 180 the 4 pro is much more full bodied and slightly on the thicker side.
MID RANGE:-
There is no specification about the number of drivers used for the mid range but it is safe to assume that there is at least one and at max two drivers are responsible for the mid range. It can be either the driver coupled with the treble driver is doing the heavy lifting on its own or the 4 pro has two drivers in each bores partially responsible for the mid range. Whatever the configuration is there is no loss of energy in the transition region and the 4 pro maintain similar energy across the spectrum exhibiting excellent finishing around the crossovers. The mid range is cohesive and juicy, one of the few musically inclined IEMs in this price range. The notes are slightly on the lush side with a weightier feel to them along with very good accuracy and precision. The 4 pro leaves a bit smoother but a very enjoyable impression.
Vocals have a musical touch to them with excellent texture. The tonality and timber is one of the most natural and accurate in this price bracket. Both the male and female vocals have very good dept, a lot of resolution. Instruments don't have the kind of bite I have seen with other 3-4 BA earphones in this price but they already have very good transparency. If the extra bite is the need of the hour put the IEM in 003 switch position. Not sure what the graphs suggest but I don't feel any kind of forwardness or lack of energy at the upper treble region. It is perfectly balanced with excellent control over any type of undesirable notes presentation. The 4 pro doesn't lack any details by a long shot, it's the lack of added notes depth and sharpness which makes it sound a bit less exciting.
There are plenty of micro details and the accurate notes depth and sharpness makes the 4 pro very enjoyable.
TREBLE:-
It is safe to assume that there is one driver responsible for the whole treble region and it does a very good job. There are plenty of details and the contrast is dynamism is very good. The transition from upper mid range to lower treble region has no dip or extra energy to worry about. If the mind range was slightly mellow for a BA based earphone the treble region gains a bit of energy and exhibits good amount of spark and desirable amount of energy. The instruments feel lively and agile with a very natural timber. Let it be Cymbals or percussions, all of them similar emphasis with very good amount of texture. The transition is one of the cleanest but it still doesn't have the thrill of the AV3 and Jomo Percusion. The extension is not the endless type as the 4 pro starts losing energy as it goes much deeper into the spectrum. IT has good amount of air but there are IEMs like the Avara AV3 with more air.
Instruments are similar to the Mid range, it doesn't lack a single bit of micro detail but the slight lack of contrast of background and foreground along with a slightly lacking notes attack puts the 4 pro in the marginally less crisp side.
SOUND STAGE:-
The sound stage of the 4 pro is very wide and tall but the depth can be marginally missing when compared to other IEMs in this price range. I find the stage to be big enough though. There is plenty of air and space between instruments. Layering and separation is of top quality too. Due to the slightly thicker mid range notes it might give an impression of a busier floor. Vocals hold the center stage with plenty of room and layering of the very good type.
COMPARISON:-
VS Avara AV3 ($340):-
The AV3 is one of the best IEMs when it comes to pure sound quality. Equipped with 3BA drivers it is one of the most detail oriented IEMs.
The biggest difference can be observed with the imaging. The 4 pro has a much more directional projection, all the music and vocals are placed inside a well rounded stage, the vocals are dynamically placed depending on the demand of the track, the notes are not very tall either but the AV3 has immersive vocal notes with greater height, it is a lot more engaging with a bit more sharpness. What the AV3 misses out on is the dynamic placement, the vocals are a bit more intimate and are rarely placed father out of the head. Stage size of the AV3 is bigger in every direction and has slightly better air between the instruments thanks to more precise notes body.
Another discipline where the AV3 loses out on is the bass body and rumble, the 4 pro is not very grunty or rumbly, the AV3 has smaller volume but the impact leaves a more lasting impression. Everywhere else except the smooth and lush factors the AV3 is a step ahead of the 4 pro. It has a better sense of transparency. Don't confuse it with details, both have equal amount of details but the AV3 has more energy giving the note a shiny touch. Notes have better energy across the spectrum. Treble feels livelier and even though the extension is not of the endless type it holds up better.
Fibae 3 ($580) :-
Fibae 3 is the master of this realm when it comes to natural timber and tonality. The 3 BA IEM has something no one else can emulate, the excellent balance of details and musicality. The 4 pro tried to emulate that but falls a bit short with thicker notes and darker treble in comparison.
The Mighty Fibae 3 has better sub-bass extension and rumble but the mid bass is more subdued, lacking a bit more body and slam. The transition phases are similarly flawless as the 4 pro. The mid range is slightly less forward compared to the 4 pro with the no.2 switch on but has a bit more accurate tonality and timber. Notes have better precision with body and weight, specially vocals. Upper mid and treble region have more energy compared to the mid range and has the endless type of extension. The Fibae 3's treble region sucker punches the 4 pro without a single scratch on itself. The Fibae shows its superiority with technicality, precision and accuracy. The stage is much more dynamic too with excellent sonicality and cue placement. The only problem is the narrow width height and deeper depth, the 4 pro is much more rounded in this regard.
Both have the musical feel to them but the Fibae 3 lacks a bit of focus around the mid range and mid-bass, the 4 pro lacks a bit of prominence with the treble region.
VS Secret garden 3 ($359):-
The SG3 is a bit more energetic sounding IEM. It has slightly better notes transparency and a bit more energy resulting into a shinier imaging giving a feeling of better details. The SG3 has better notes depth and height.
Nevertheless the SG3 has similar switches to tune the sound and can be equally voluminous with lower end but the faster decay speed makes it lose some weight and thump. Sub-bass is slightly more rumble but mid bass is equally rounded. Mid range are a bit more forward and the instruments having more attack and bite. Vocals are slightly more precise but the texture is slightly missing on the SG3. Upper mid can be slightly more energetic. Treble region is brighter and more sparkly. The extension is similar though. Layering and separation is slightly cleaner thanks to faster notes.
Stage wise both are very similar, except the mid forwardness of the SG3 both are neck in neck.
CONCLUSION:-
The TSMR 4 pro is surrounded by a lot of competition but it has something unique too. Where everyone else is trying to deliver shinier and brighter notes the 4 pro takes a musical approach. It doesn't miss out on a single bit of details but it doesn't push the notes to their limit hence it has no harshness of any type. It makes even the sibilant tracks tolerable which none of the other IEMs can achieve. It has a lot of love in its mind with plenty a huge heart and will please someone who loves a good dose of bass, a cohesive mid range and slightly less attacking treble.
If you don't want brightness and energetic notes the TSMR 4 pro is the best option without compromising on the level of details. Just sit back and enjoy the music.
The TSMR 4 pro is one of the most promising earphone for under $500, priced at $319, it house 4 BA drivers in a 3 way crossover and comes in a lot face plate and shell color options. The market is flooded with options in this price. The TSMR 4 pro faces tough competition from earphones like Moondrop Blessings 2, Penon Orb, Secret Garden 3, Avara Av3 and the DUNU DK-2001.
Get a Pair of these IEMs from here: https://penonaudio.com/tansio-mirai-tsmr-4pro.html
ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING:-
TSMR hasn't changed the packaging scheme, it is exactly same as the TSMR2 and 3. Similar set of accessories too.
The retail package is not exactly elegant, it is more functional though. One basically doesn't fight with the box while taking the earphones out. You get a large zipper pouch stuffed inside a card board box. The carry case is as big as old gen external hard drive case. It is big enough to carry the earphone and a portable DAP.
Inside the box are the earphone and a pocket friendly carry pouch. Placed inside the pouch are 6 pairs of tips, a cleaning too and a tool to flick the tuning switches.
One will find a hand book explaining the switches finishes the list of accessories.
HOW IS THE BUILD QUALITY:-
Build quality of the TSMR 4 is very good. It doesn't have the semi custom type body but sits inside the ear comfortably. The shell is made out of resin and feels very solid to the hand. The back plate is fused with a few layers of resin on it and the shells walls are thicker than most of the earphone.
There is a reason why the body feels stronger, you cannot put the switches on a weak shell and expect it to hold up. The switches are nicely fused and there is no need to worry about the setup coming off. Feedback of these switches is good but it is on the stiffer side. The 2pin port is flush on the body and removing the cable is fairly easy and smooth.
The nozzle is wide. Any T4/500 size tip will fit, I am using stock wide bore tips.
HOW IS THE CABLE:-
The cable is okay. If the Inear SD5 and Fibae 3 cables are bad, there is no need to complain here. The biggest thing I don't like about the cables is its cable guides. It is tight and can be uncomfortable over a longer period. Yes, this much of clamping is helpful when you like to go jogging with the earphone, but I don't find it good to use headphones or earphones while on the road where one has to be aware of the surroundings.
Moving on to the braided 4 core cable, it is supple and doesn't have much memory problem. It is not bouncy and doesn't have much microphonics either. The 3.5mm jack is metal clad and has good amount of protection to it, same goes for the y splitter. There is a cable slider too. The minimalistic design of the slider and Y splitter is always welcome.
HOW DOES IT FEELS INSIDE THE EAR :-
I find the TSMR 4 pro to be more comfortable inside the ear compared to the Fibae 3 or Shozy pola, the reason being the combination of nozzle depth and size of the shell. The shell fits better inside the ear and the longer nozzle gives very good stability.
Ergonomically it is average, it doesn't have any type of wing to have better grip inside the ear. What really helps is the light weight. It is far less heavy compared to the Shozy Pola and is easy on the ear too. Thanks to the aggressive cable guides one need not to worry about the earphone falling out of the ear.
TSMR 4 has very good isolation from outer noise.
TECHNICALITY AND TUNING:-
Pairing with sources:-
The TSMR 4 pro has a fairly low impedance of 20 ohm and is easily drivable out of mobile phones and thanks to 112db sensitivity it gets very loud without much problem.
Even when it plays well with any source, good amount of power does bring a lot more details and character to the table. Driven out of my LG G7 the TSMR 4 pro feels gloomy and notes lack much of the contrast and energy. The whole spectrum feels dynamically limited. The bass is lacking thump, treble is not energetic enough while the vocals and mid range are not much affected.
Jumping to Shanling M6 the scene changes drastically, the contrast and dynamic range improves a lot with plenty of treble energy and the lower end gains good amount of body. The stage is much more rounded and the layering and separation improves.
Driving it out of weak sources is okay but the power brings a lot more to the table.
The Switches:-
There are not many earphones in this price range which has tuning switches. There is a manual for that inside the box. In their words you can have 7 different sound modes and all the positions have a number assigned to them. The switches are numbered 1, 2 and 3 from left to right. On is on the left side and KE to the right side. If the switch is up, it is on and the carries the number of the switch, if a switch is off it is denoted by 0. If all the switches are on the position number is 123 and if all of them are off it is 000. The first switch (the 1 switch) is for bass boost. The middle switch is for balance and the last switch is for mid range and treble elevation. It is slightly tricky for the first time but it is not difficult once you get a hold of it. The 000 position is not a valid position and the sound in this position is very limited. You are supposed to keep one switch on, always.
If you think the switches bring a lot of difference to the sound, you might be a little disappointed. They do bring good amount of changes to the sound. Turning the bass switch on won't make take it to bass head levels. Expect changes, just don't expect a lot of it. Switches in 100 position does bring good amount of sub-bass and extension compared to the 003 position. Thanks to the switches the TSMR 4 can be flat, mid forward and can deliver healthy amount of bass with a few flicks of switches. That is a lot of versatility there, and the best part is, unlike tuning filters, the sound doesn't feel veiled or unnatural with any of those 7 switch positions.
I am going to review the TSMR 4 in 123 position, all guns blazzing!!
Quoted from penon:-
"Tuning mode instruction
0 means off (down) ,1/2/3 means on (switch position up)
Mode 1:
100:- Bass enhancement mode
120:- Mixed tuning
Mode 2:
020: All balanced mode
103: Mixed tuning
Mode 3:
003: Mid-treble enhancement mode
023: Mixed tuning
123: Mixed tuning (lowest impedance)"
SOUND QUALITY:-
The TSMR 4 has Knowles drivers in each earpiece. Each earpiece has 2 22955 drivers as middle and low frequencies and 2 29689 drivers for highs incorporated in a two bore design. The overall sound signature is of the balanced type with hint of dampness to the treble notes, it does not have any brightness to worry about. The treble can feel a bit dark compared to the wholesomely bright and light sounding Avara AV3 and AF180 Mk2. If a bit of excitement is the need of the hour, flick the switches. The tonality and timber are some of the most accurate in this price. It has the tranquility which is rarely found in this price.
BASS:-
The TSMR 4 is not bassy unless the no.1 switch is turned on. In the 123 position the 4 pro delivers good amount of slam and moves good amount of air too. It is not flat like ER-4P or the Audiofly AF180 while maintaining very good amount of details and texture. The sub-bass extension is not the best but is good enough. The focus is a bit more tilted towards mid bass. The Mid baas has good amount of weight and has a nicely fuller feel to it. The upper treble is a bit less emphasized with good amount of energy and details. The lower end strikes a beautiful balance between being overly agile and lethargic. In other words it doesn't have an unreasonably snappy or slow decay speed, it leaves a nice impression with good amount of slam and thump. BA driver earphones have fantastic amount of control over notes and are very accurate and the 4 pro is no exception, all the notes, even the micro details have very good clarity and definition. Just don't expect a lot of dynamism or a wholesome amount of thump and the TSMR delivers with fantastic details, technicality and accuracy. If you want more precision and an analytical tuning turn the no.1 switch off.
Compared to some DD the 4 pro has a tight and fast decay and can feel a bit less fuller but coming from something more analytical like the Nocturnal Avalon and AF 180 the 4 pro is much more full bodied and slightly on the thicker side.
MID RANGE:-
There is no specification about the number of drivers used for the mid range but it is safe to assume that there is at least one and at max two drivers are responsible for the mid range. It can be either the driver coupled with the treble driver is doing the heavy lifting on its own or the 4 pro has two drivers in each bores partially responsible for the mid range. Whatever the configuration is there is no loss of energy in the transition region and the 4 pro maintain similar energy across the spectrum exhibiting excellent finishing around the crossovers. The mid range is cohesive and juicy, one of the few musically inclined IEMs in this price range. The notes are slightly on the lush side with a weightier feel to them along with very good accuracy and precision. The 4 pro leaves a bit smoother but a very enjoyable impression.
Vocals have a musical touch to them with excellent texture. The tonality and timber is one of the most natural and accurate in this price bracket. Both the male and female vocals have very good dept, a lot of resolution. Instruments don't have the kind of bite I have seen with other 3-4 BA earphones in this price but they already have very good transparency. If the extra bite is the need of the hour put the IEM in 003 switch position. Not sure what the graphs suggest but I don't feel any kind of forwardness or lack of energy at the upper treble region. It is perfectly balanced with excellent control over any type of undesirable notes presentation. The 4 pro doesn't lack any details by a long shot, it's the lack of added notes depth and sharpness which makes it sound a bit less exciting.
There are plenty of micro details and the accurate notes depth and sharpness makes the 4 pro very enjoyable.
TREBLE:-
It is safe to assume that there is one driver responsible for the whole treble region and it does a very good job. There are plenty of details and the contrast is dynamism is very good. The transition from upper mid range to lower treble region has no dip or extra energy to worry about. If the mind range was slightly mellow for a BA based earphone the treble region gains a bit of energy and exhibits good amount of spark and desirable amount of energy. The instruments feel lively and agile with a very natural timber. Let it be Cymbals or percussions, all of them similar emphasis with very good amount of texture. The transition is one of the cleanest but it still doesn't have the thrill of the AV3 and Jomo Percusion. The extension is not the endless type as the 4 pro starts losing energy as it goes much deeper into the spectrum. IT has good amount of air but there are IEMs like the Avara AV3 with more air.
Instruments are similar to the Mid range, it doesn't lack a single bit of micro detail but the slight lack of contrast of background and foreground along with a slightly lacking notes attack puts the 4 pro in the marginally less crisp side.
SOUND STAGE:-
The sound stage of the 4 pro is very wide and tall but the depth can be marginally missing when compared to other IEMs in this price range. I find the stage to be big enough though. There is plenty of air and space between instruments. Layering and separation is of top quality too. Due to the slightly thicker mid range notes it might give an impression of a busier floor. Vocals hold the center stage with plenty of room and layering of the very good type.
COMPARISON:-
VS Avara AV3 ($340):-
The AV3 is one of the best IEMs when it comes to pure sound quality. Equipped with 3BA drivers it is one of the most detail oriented IEMs.
The biggest difference can be observed with the imaging. The 4 pro has a much more directional projection, all the music and vocals are placed inside a well rounded stage, the vocals are dynamically placed depending on the demand of the track, the notes are not very tall either but the AV3 has immersive vocal notes with greater height, it is a lot more engaging with a bit more sharpness. What the AV3 misses out on is the dynamic placement, the vocals are a bit more intimate and are rarely placed father out of the head. Stage size of the AV3 is bigger in every direction and has slightly better air between the instruments thanks to more precise notes body.
Another discipline where the AV3 loses out on is the bass body and rumble, the 4 pro is not very grunty or rumbly, the AV3 has smaller volume but the impact leaves a more lasting impression. Everywhere else except the smooth and lush factors the AV3 is a step ahead of the 4 pro. It has a better sense of transparency. Don't confuse it with details, both have equal amount of details but the AV3 has more energy giving the note a shiny touch. Notes have better energy across the spectrum. Treble feels livelier and even though the extension is not of the endless type it holds up better.
Fibae 3 ($580) :-
Fibae 3 is the master of this realm when it comes to natural timber and tonality. The 3 BA IEM has something no one else can emulate, the excellent balance of details and musicality. The 4 pro tried to emulate that but falls a bit short with thicker notes and darker treble in comparison.
The Mighty Fibae 3 has better sub-bass extension and rumble but the mid bass is more subdued, lacking a bit more body and slam. The transition phases are similarly flawless as the 4 pro. The mid range is slightly less forward compared to the 4 pro with the no.2 switch on but has a bit more accurate tonality and timber. Notes have better precision with body and weight, specially vocals. Upper mid and treble region have more energy compared to the mid range and has the endless type of extension. The Fibae 3's treble region sucker punches the 4 pro without a single scratch on itself. The Fibae shows its superiority with technicality, precision and accuracy. The stage is much more dynamic too with excellent sonicality and cue placement. The only problem is the narrow width height and deeper depth, the 4 pro is much more rounded in this regard.
Both have the musical feel to them but the Fibae 3 lacks a bit of focus around the mid range and mid-bass, the 4 pro lacks a bit of prominence with the treble region.
VS Secret garden 3 ($359):-
The SG3 is a bit more energetic sounding IEM. It has slightly better notes transparency and a bit more energy resulting into a shinier imaging giving a feeling of better details. The SG3 has better notes depth and height.
Nevertheless the SG3 has similar switches to tune the sound and can be equally voluminous with lower end but the faster decay speed makes it lose some weight and thump. Sub-bass is slightly more rumble but mid bass is equally rounded. Mid range are a bit more forward and the instruments having more attack and bite. Vocals are slightly more precise but the texture is slightly missing on the SG3. Upper mid can be slightly more energetic. Treble region is brighter and more sparkly. The extension is similar though. Layering and separation is slightly cleaner thanks to faster notes.
Stage wise both are very similar, except the mid forwardness of the SG3 both are neck in neck.
CONCLUSION:-
The TSMR 4 pro is surrounded by a lot of competition but it has something unique too. Where everyone else is trying to deliver shinier and brighter notes the 4 pro takes a musical approach. It doesn't miss out on a single bit of details but it doesn't push the notes to their limit hence it has no harshness of any type. It makes even the sibilant tracks tolerable which none of the other IEMs can achieve. It has a lot of love in its mind with plenty a huge heart and will please someone who loves a good dose of bass, a cohesive mid range and slightly less attacking treble.
If you don't want brightness and energetic notes the TSMR 4 pro is the best option without compromising on the level of details. Just sit back and enjoy the music.
Attachments
xxAMAROKxx
Hi, I've found out that TSMR-4 Pro's sounds more realistic with Fast Roll-Off lowpass filter. If someone feels that the heights are a bit darker, this can be a solution, along with better cable. (No need to use foam tips if you don't want to.)
INTRO:-
Not all of us are aware of Burson audio. They don't push their products through fancy sellers and barely do much promotion on their own. But this is supposed to change as I have got a review unit from them. Hailing from Australia since 1996 their inception and they started their sales from 2005. Critically acclaimed by all the reviewers I personally haven't heard a lot of buzz about their products. They make
In their words:-
"Burson Audio is an Australian audio manufacturer making products with no op-amps and all discrete circuitry for a lavish musical experience."
Head over here to know about their circuit design:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/about-us/discrete-circuits/
The playmate I am reviewing here is a very versatile thing on its own. It is a 2w Class A desktop headphone amp and can be used as pre amp if you pair it with some other DAC. You can connect your mobile phone through an OTG data cable.
The Playmate uses the flagship ES9038 DAC chip and you can opt for two types of op-amps. The Basic NE5532 op-amps set costs $399 and comes in only one color, Black. The V6 Vivid set costs $540 and has two color options, Black and silver. (You can always choose yours from their sets available separately).
I would like to thank Bhav from Burson audio for the unit.
Check the Playmate out:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/playmate/
I do not have a lot of DAC in the arsenal but I do have a two to compare the playmate with.
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
The package of the Burson Playmate is one of the best you can find. It is nicely packed with proper padding to protect the playmate from any damages. All the cables are places inside a card board box.
The playmate is nicely placed in the middle and you will find a Type-B to Type A USB cable. There is RCA cable to connect it with other DAC amps or speakers. The last cable inside the box is thee optical toslink cable.
BUILD QUALITY:-
DACs used to be huge, the one I have seen in my childhood they were used with a lot of speakers but the home setups too were not small either. Most of them used to be nearly 8 times in volume of the playmate. With a dimension of 210mm x 145mm x 45mm the playmate is not huge, it doesn't hook on to a lot of speakers either, but what it does is it delivers a lot of power to very demanding headphone.
Build quality of the Playmate is very solid, it doesn't feel very dense to the hand. It is kind of heavy at around 1.5 kg and the weight is nicely distributed across the board. There are no loose parts on the body, all the bolts are tight and the Playmate feels very sturdy. The rubber shoes on the base of the playmate have very good traction and don't let it slide easily.
The digital display on the playmate is okay but could have been slightly bigger. It is hard to see the letters clearly from a distance of around 4ft.
Another complain I have with the playmate is that the volume knob doesn't respond to every step, it doesn't feel accurate as it needs extra steps to specially when moving the dial very fast, it doesn't register every time. It nit picking but yes, it's a small flaw.
SPEC TALK:-
I have already mentioned that I am not a desktop kind of guy, I like to take my music where ever I go so these heavy stuff seldom manage to seduce me. But the thing about these things is that, they have the power!!These desktop things have plenty of power to handle heavy stuff like Planar and full size power hungry headphones. I have had a hard time finding a very demanding earphone as they are mostly designed to be power efficient and carried around.
I know most of us don't use their AMPs for speakers but if you have a nice set of multi driver speakers, you should invest on a DAC amp to get the best out of them. The Playmate has an impedance of 15ohm and it is on the easier side for a preamp, it preps the signal to be processed well by next stage while cutting out the noise and distortion. Smaller speakers have a lower impedance of just 4ohm and 8ohm but good quality speakers with multiple drivers will definitely respond better with refined source and more power.
Let's move on to the output most of us are going to use, the 6.5mm headphone one. And the output impedance is just 2ohm which means it can drive nearly everything to without much problem except a few very efficient IEMs. (Just to be clear, please don't but a desktop stuff for IEMs) I have tried a handful of headphones with the Playmate and they respond with more agility and precision.
Moving to the power output the Playmate does 1800mw at 16ohm, 2000mw at 32 ohm, 500mw at 100ohm, 300mw at 150ohm and 100mw at 300ohm.
The Borson Playmate can virtually drive anything with a headphone jack that can be inserted in to its port, let be your LCD XC or HD800 the playmate can drive them with ease.
The decoding power of the SABRE ESS9038 is top class. It can do 768kHz up to 32bits and can play Native DSD 64 / 128 / 256 / 512 without any problem.
Another thing which Burson Audio takes pride is in their MCPS technoloty.
In their words:-
"If the SABRE32/ESS9038 chip is the soul of Playmate, then the Burson Max Current Power Supply, MCPS, is the heart that brings Playmate to life. Debuted in the Burson Play, our proprietary MCPS overcomes the deficiencies of both traditional transformer-based linear power supplies and conventional switching power supplies. It redefines the size and performance ratio and it is the reason why Head-Fiers fell in love with the Play instantly.
With the Playmate, we have a further enhanced MCPS. It delivers even cleaner power. Tuned to Class-A, the Playmate shines from a pitch-black background."
Head over to the product page to see all the specs.
Variations:-
The playmate was available with more variations but as of now you can chose between basic NE5532 op-amp which I am reviewing the Playmate with and the V6 vivid. The V6 Vivid is fairly more expensive ($540) and I assume it delivers better clarity that the basic one. I dont have the V6 Vivid with me but one can expect a different sound signature too. Where the stock one sounds slightly cold maybe the V6 sounds more energetic and lively.
If you opt for the V6 vivid you will get a remote.
OPERATIONS AND I/O OPTIONS:-
As I said earlier the playmate is very versatile. To use it with a win 7 PC it needs the driver which can be downloaded from here. You don't need anything if you have win 10 or Apple system (I haven't tried it with MAC OS).
Let me get the portable part out here, not really portable at all but somehow portable in the sense that you can use this with your mobile phone or audio source.
Connecting with front USB:-
So.. How to do that? You set your device's USB output to audio out from developer options. (IOS doesn't need anything but a simple lightening to type-c adapter) Get yourself a USB type-c to USB A cable (PD cables don't work) connect it with a OTG adapter and you are good. Now press the little button on the right side of the huge volume knob. The option is input, press the volume knob and dial it anticlockwise which is come down to USB-F (USB front) amd you are ready to go!! Yippee!! It's not transportable but you can use your portable device with it.
PC Use:-
There is a socket in the back to connect a 4pin power cable found in the lot of wires coming out of out PC SMPS. You can mount the playmate inside your PC. As my unit doesn't come with any brackets or screws I assume the primary use of the Playmate is not supposed to be this.
Other options:-
You have two input and two output options with the playmate. You either use the rear RCA socket to connect it to another DAC where the playmate works as a preamp (you can use it with speakers too) or you use the front 6.5mm headphone out. Input options are either toslink or USB. It would have been out of the world to have BT connectivity with it but it is what it is.
Operations:-
First of all there is power button on the back, very very important cuz this thing gets hot!! I am in India, I dont have AC in my room and the temp can get over 45 C so.. It is not this hot but it's hot. You need to give it some rest every now and then. You can stretch it, but not here with 14 hrs days and hair melting heat.
The operation is pretty basic. Press the small button aside the volume knob and you have the whole menu at your disposal. Rotate the knob clock wise to browse through the menu and press it to enter the menu, rotate it again to see the options and press in the option you feel you would like to choose. I have made a video to show you guys the menu.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The ESS9038 chip inside the playmate is the top of the line DAC chip from Esstech, one of the most renowned audio chip makers. It has 32-bit mobile audio DAC with unprecedented dynamic range and ultra-low distortion with both synchronous and asynchronous sample rate converters. With support for up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD256 the Playmate can handle anything you throw at it.
There are a handful of options with the playmate when it comes to op-amps. If you feel that you need to change the chip to extract even more out of your Playmate all you have to do is to head over here and get yourself their upgrade op-amp chips.
The Playmate with its flagship grade components delivers fantastic clarity and details with immaculate notes presentation. It is just right on the money. The tuning is exceptionally balanced with a bit of emphasis on vocals. The tonality and timber are as neutral as it gets, maybe a bit drier than expected. If you find the tonality is slightly on the metallic side you can try changing the filter, brickwall sounds dry and metallic while reserved is slightly less. Nevertheless the Playmate has a tendency to sound dry and a bit cold which will not pair well with certain kind of headphones and DACs.
BASS:-
The Playmate is fairly linear when it comes to bass response. It is not flat but is not very voluminous. The sub-bass have nice extension and the rumble is good if the track has plenty of it. The mid bass is slightly more voluminous and delivers fuller and meatier notes giving the lower end acceptable amount of weight. The decay speed is admirable for someone who likes more details, accuracy and precision over the heft. it is fast and leaves no bloating or wooliness even on a bass heavy track. The faster and more defined notes give the lower end very good resolution and clarity. What bothers a bit is the lack of body. It could have been a bit more fuller. The bass notes do not have a lot of body to them but have good amount texture. One can definitely pair with well balanced headphones like the Fischer audio M12s enjoy the delicacies with pin point accuracy but it is not much fun when trying to drive the bass inclined AKG K371.
Another point where it is slightly bothering is that the playmate doesn't really respond a lot to DSPs. Nevertheless the amount of details delivered by the playmate is top notch.
MID RANGE:-
The Burson Playmate is one of the cleanest, most transparent sounding DAC I have used before. It just delivers some of best clarity and details. It doesn't try to bring extra smoothness in expense of bite or attack. Notes have fantastic definition and accuracy. The delivery is effortless and the imaging is exceptionally precise and very clean. The clarity and transparency along with a tad faster decay do make things slightly dry. Notes have good body, the finishing is accurate and with plenty of control over the notes. Notes have nice sharpness to them but are not very energetic or sibilant. The ability of details retrieval is outstanding, if your headphone is decent you will not miss a single details, even micro details have exceptional clarity and transparency. Paring the Playmate with something prone to sibilance might kill the cat.
Vocals have fantastic clarity and definition with plenty of texture and details. Let it be male or female vocals, both have very good depth and finish. Male vocals have nice throaty feel where female vocals have nice sharpness. The upper mid range has a hair less energy but the transparency and clarity is superlative. Notes have a bit of sharpness to their finishing but it doesn't have any sibilance to worry about. Layering and separation of instruments is excellent. There is a lot of air and space between the instruments.
It would have been nice if it had a bit of fuller notes paired with slightly less sharp finishing.
HIGHS:-
After coming from mid range the treble region feels kind of dull. There isn't much emphasis here, the energy is slightly lacking and the presentation is not as forward. It kind of feels like the instruments are playing at a greater distance compared to the mid range. The directional cues are not as vivid. Notes are good with sharpness but still not up there with the mid range. Details are very good but don't come out with equally good enthusiasm. The treble extension is very good but the less than average stage size makes it sound clumsy and closed in. There is not much space or air here. It feels like it is fighting for air, doesn't matter which headphone or earphone I use it doesn't sound better than it is with the Creative E5.
The problem is not related to details or clarity but it is on the stage and energy. The stage could have been bigger, the instruments could have had better distribution.
STAGE:-
When listening to the Playmate I tend to think what if it had a slightly bigger treble stage where the instruments have had better space and air between then. Things would have been even more impressive forgetting how the other sources perform. Compared to the Playmate none has bigger stage size. The mid range stage alone is big enough to subside each of them. It has fantastic air and space between instruments and the placement is very vivid. The expansion feels very natural with fantastic width, height and depth but the treble stage kind of makes the Playmate lose some points.
In general the stage size and the projection depend on the end equipment. The IEM and headphone does play a huge part but the playmate in general has good expansion outside the head. The Vocals are placed inside the head, mid range is half in half out while the treble is out of the head.
Sound altering options:-
Not many reviewers will warn you about this but in the menu there is option called "Emphasis". When it is off the notes are sharp and have more than average bite and attack. The transparency is super high. The finishing on notes is sharp and pin pointed. The whole sound quality is tuned to deliver accuracy and precision. Turn it on you will be treated with more subdued notes, losing some attack and bite.
In the Filter Menu there is another option to reduce a hint of sharpness and that is Filters. Brickwall will deliver the sharpest notes and CMFR will reduce some sharpness. Your choice, choose what you like.
For Gaming:-
The Playmate has a 3.5mm microphone socket just aside the 6.5mm headphone jack. You can attach a mic which has good clarity and details. It works fine with headsets too. The vast mid range stage helps a lot with directional cues which give a big advantage when playing MMORPG games.
Are there better options? At least for mic? yes.
COMPARISON:-
VS Creative E5:-
The smaller and smarter E5 is the jack of all trades, you name it and it can do it. It doesn't have TOTL chips inside but it is not bad considering it has a exceptionally well developed software which enhances the usability and mic is built into the body of the E5 which makes any headphone game ready.
When it comes to sound the E5 has slightly bigger bass response, the sub bass is slightly rumblier with mid bass having a bit more body and slam. The mid range is clumsier and less forward. The micro details are a bit lacking while the notes lack a bit of definition too. There isn't as much texture either. Notes are a bit thicker with lesser depth which makes it sound a bit lush. Treble of the E5 has more naturally expanded stage while notes have better transparency and energy. There are some peaks that might make it a bit uncomfortable.
Functionally there is competition, sound wise there is no competition too. The E5 is a master which has all the tricks under its belt where the Playmate simply drowns the E5 with shear amount of details and clarity.
CONCLUSION:-
If you are more of a purist and love to enjoy the technical bits you will love the Playmate to the core. It has the delicacies that you might not have experienced with this much of distinction. If you forgive the treble region a bit the rest of the spectrum is marvelous. The transparency and clarity is exceptional and the level of details is outstanding.
The Playmate is not for the casual user. If you like to be on the move, not much into headphones, you think you are an audiophile but don't think you need a desktop setup, please stay away. The playmate is heavy, immobile and doesn't have an easy option to connect portable devices either, so if you are not nose deep into music, please don't make yourself sweat unnecessarily.
If you love your desktop setup, you love headphones over IEMs, you love precision over fun, the playmate is tailor made for you.
Not all of us are aware of Burson audio. They don't push their products through fancy sellers and barely do much promotion on their own. But this is supposed to change as I have got a review unit from them. Hailing from Australia since 1996 their inception and they started their sales from 2005. Critically acclaimed by all the reviewers I personally haven't heard a lot of buzz about their products. They make
In their words:-
"Burson Audio is an Australian audio manufacturer making products with no op-amps and all discrete circuitry for a lavish musical experience."
Head over here to know about their circuit design:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/about-us/discrete-circuits/
The playmate I am reviewing here is a very versatile thing on its own. It is a 2w Class A desktop headphone amp and can be used as pre amp if you pair it with some other DAC. You can connect your mobile phone through an OTG data cable.
The Playmate uses the flagship ES9038 DAC chip and you can opt for two types of op-amps. The Basic NE5532 op-amps set costs $399 and comes in only one color, Black. The V6 Vivid set costs $540 and has two color options, Black and silver. (You can always choose yours from their sets available separately).
I would like to thank Bhav from Burson audio for the unit.
Check the Playmate out:-
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/playmate/
I do not have a lot of DAC in the arsenal but I do have a two to compare the playmate with.
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-
The package of the Burson Playmate is one of the best you can find. It is nicely packed with proper padding to protect the playmate from any damages. All the cables are places inside a card board box.
The playmate is nicely placed in the middle and you will find a Type-B to Type A USB cable. There is RCA cable to connect it with other DAC amps or speakers. The last cable inside the box is thee optical toslink cable.
BUILD QUALITY:-
DACs used to be huge, the one I have seen in my childhood they were used with a lot of speakers but the home setups too were not small either. Most of them used to be nearly 8 times in volume of the playmate. With a dimension of 210mm x 145mm x 45mm the playmate is not huge, it doesn't hook on to a lot of speakers either, but what it does is it delivers a lot of power to very demanding headphone.
Build quality of the Playmate is very solid, it doesn't feel very dense to the hand. It is kind of heavy at around 1.5 kg and the weight is nicely distributed across the board. There are no loose parts on the body, all the bolts are tight and the Playmate feels very sturdy. The rubber shoes on the base of the playmate have very good traction and don't let it slide easily.
The digital display on the playmate is okay but could have been slightly bigger. It is hard to see the letters clearly from a distance of around 4ft.
Another complain I have with the playmate is that the volume knob doesn't respond to every step, it doesn't feel accurate as it needs extra steps to specially when moving the dial very fast, it doesn't register every time. It nit picking but yes, it's a small flaw.
SPEC TALK:-
I have already mentioned that I am not a desktop kind of guy, I like to take my music where ever I go so these heavy stuff seldom manage to seduce me. But the thing about these things is that, they have the power!!These desktop things have plenty of power to handle heavy stuff like Planar and full size power hungry headphones. I have had a hard time finding a very demanding earphone as they are mostly designed to be power efficient and carried around.
I know most of us don't use their AMPs for speakers but if you have a nice set of multi driver speakers, you should invest on a DAC amp to get the best out of them. The Playmate has an impedance of 15ohm and it is on the easier side for a preamp, it preps the signal to be processed well by next stage while cutting out the noise and distortion. Smaller speakers have a lower impedance of just 4ohm and 8ohm but good quality speakers with multiple drivers will definitely respond better with refined source and more power.
Let's move on to the output most of us are going to use, the 6.5mm headphone one. And the output impedance is just 2ohm which means it can drive nearly everything to without much problem except a few very efficient IEMs. (Just to be clear, please don't but a desktop stuff for IEMs) I have tried a handful of headphones with the Playmate and they respond with more agility and precision.
Moving to the power output the Playmate does 1800mw at 16ohm, 2000mw at 32 ohm, 500mw at 100ohm, 300mw at 150ohm and 100mw at 300ohm.
The Borson Playmate can virtually drive anything with a headphone jack that can be inserted in to its port, let be your LCD XC or HD800 the playmate can drive them with ease.
The decoding power of the SABRE ESS9038 is top class. It can do 768kHz up to 32bits and can play Native DSD 64 / 128 / 256 / 512 without any problem.
Another thing which Burson Audio takes pride is in their MCPS technoloty.
In their words:-
"If the SABRE32/ESS9038 chip is the soul of Playmate, then the Burson Max Current Power Supply, MCPS, is the heart that brings Playmate to life. Debuted in the Burson Play, our proprietary MCPS overcomes the deficiencies of both traditional transformer-based linear power supplies and conventional switching power supplies. It redefines the size and performance ratio and it is the reason why Head-Fiers fell in love with the Play instantly.
With the Playmate, we have a further enhanced MCPS. It delivers even cleaner power. Tuned to Class-A, the Playmate shines from a pitch-black background."
Head over to the product page to see all the specs.
Variations:-
The playmate was available with more variations but as of now you can chose between basic NE5532 op-amp which I am reviewing the Playmate with and the V6 vivid. The V6 Vivid is fairly more expensive ($540) and I assume it delivers better clarity that the basic one. I dont have the V6 Vivid with me but one can expect a different sound signature too. Where the stock one sounds slightly cold maybe the V6 sounds more energetic and lively.
If you opt for the V6 vivid you will get a remote.
OPERATIONS AND I/O OPTIONS:-
As I said earlier the playmate is very versatile. To use it with a win 7 PC it needs the driver which can be downloaded from here. You don't need anything if you have win 10 or Apple system (I haven't tried it with MAC OS).
Let me get the portable part out here, not really portable at all but somehow portable in the sense that you can use this with your mobile phone or audio source.
Connecting with front USB:-
So.. How to do that? You set your device's USB output to audio out from developer options. (IOS doesn't need anything but a simple lightening to type-c adapter) Get yourself a USB type-c to USB A cable (PD cables don't work) connect it with a OTG adapter and you are good. Now press the little button on the right side of the huge volume knob. The option is input, press the volume knob and dial it anticlockwise which is come down to USB-F (USB front) amd you are ready to go!! Yippee!! It's not transportable but you can use your portable device with it.
PC Use:-
There is a socket in the back to connect a 4pin power cable found in the lot of wires coming out of out PC SMPS. You can mount the playmate inside your PC. As my unit doesn't come with any brackets or screws I assume the primary use of the Playmate is not supposed to be this.
Other options:-
You have two input and two output options with the playmate. You either use the rear RCA socket to connect it to another DAC where the playmate works as a preamp (you can use it with speakers too) or you use the front 6.5mm headphone out. Input options are either toslink or USB. It would have been out of the world to have BT connectivity with it but it is what it is.
Operations:-
First of all there is power button on the back, very very important cuz this thing gets hot!! I am in India, I dont have AC in my room and the temp can get over 45 C so.. It is not this hot but it's hot. You need to give it some rest every now and then. You can stretch it, but not here with 14 hrs days and hair melting heat.
The operation is pretty basic. Press the small button aside the volume knob and you have the whole menu at your disposal. Rotate the knob clock wise to browse through the menu and press it to enter the menu, rotate it again to see the options and press in the option you feel you would like to choose. I have made a video to show you guys the menu.
SOUND QUALITY:-
The ESS9038 chip inside the playmate is the top of the line DAC chip from Esstech, one of the most renowned audio chip makers. It has 32-bit mobile audio DAC with unprecedented dynamic range and ultra-low distortion with both synchronous and asynchronous sample rate converters. With support for up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD256 the Playmate can handle anything you throw at it.
There are a handful of options with the playmate when it comes to op-amps. If you feel that you need to change the chip to extract even more out of your Playmate all you have to do is to head over here and get yourself their upgrade op-amp chips.
The Playmate with its flagship grade components delivers fantastic clarity and details with immaculate notes presentation. It is just right on the money. The tuning is exceptionally balanced with a bit of emphasis on vocals. The tonality and timber are as neutral as it gets, maybe a bit drier than expected. If you find the tonality is slightly on the metallic side you can try changing the filter, brickwall sounds dry and metallic while reserved is slightly less. Nevertheless the Playmate has a tendency to sound dry and a bit cold which will not pair well with certain kind of headphones and DACs.
BASS:-
The Playmate is fairly linear when it comes to bass response. It is not flat but is not very voluminous. The sub-bass have nice extension and the rumble is good if the track has plenty of it. The mid bass is slightly more voluminous and delivers fuller and meatier notes giving the lower end acceptable amount of weight. The decay speed is admirable for someone who likes more details, accuracy and precision over the heft. it is fast and leaves no bloating or wooliness even on a bass heavy track. The faster and more defined notes give the lower end very good resolution and clarity. What bothers a bit is the lack of body. It could have been a bit more fuller. The bass notes do not have a lot of body to them but have good amount texture. One can definitely pair with well balanced headphones like the Fischer audio M12s enjoy the delicacies with pin point accuracy but it is not much fun when trying to drive the bass inclined AKG K371.
Another point where it is slightly bothering is that the playmate doesn't really respond a lot to DSPs. Nevertheless the amount of details delivered by the playmate is top notch.
MID RANGE:-
The Burson Playmate is one of the cleanest, most transparent sounding DAC I have used before. It just delivers some of best clarity and details. It doesn't try to bring extra smoothness in expense of bite or attack. Notes have fantastic definition and accuracy. The delivery is effortless and the imaging is exceptionally precise and very clean. The clarity and transparency along with a tad faster decay do make things slightly dry. Notes have good body, the finishing is accurate and with plenty of control over the notes. Notes have nice sharpness to them but are not very energetic or sibilant. The ability of details retrieval is outstanding, if your headphone is decent you will not miss a single details, even micro details have exceptional clarity and transparency. Paring the Playmate with something prone to sibilance might kill the cat.
Vocals have fantastic clarity and definition with plenty of texture and details. Let it be male or female vocals, both have very good depth and finish. Male vocals have nice throaty feel where female vocals have nice sharpness. The upper mid range has a hair less energy but the transparency and clarity is superlative. Notes have a bit of sharpness to their finishing but it doesn't have any sibilance to worry about. Layering and separation of instruments is excellent. There is a lot of air and space between the instruments.
It would have been nice if it had a bit of fuller notes paired with slightly less sharp finishing.
HIGHS:-
After coming from mid range the treble region feels kind of dull. There isn't much emphasis here, the energy is slightly lacking and the presentation is not as forward. It kind of feels like the instruments are playing at a greater distance compared to the mid range. The directional cues are not as vivid. Notes are good with sharpness but still not up there with the mid range. Details are very good but don't come out with equally good enthusiasm. The treble extension is very good but the less than average stage size makes it sound clumsy and closed in. There is not much space or air here. It feels like it is fighting for air, doesn't matter which headphone or earphone I use it doesn't sound better than it is with the Creative E5.
The problem is not related to details or clarity but it is on the stage and energy. The stage could have been bigger, the instruments could have had better distribution.
STAGE:-
When listening to the Playmate I tend to think what if it had a slightly bigger treble stage where the instruments have had better space and air between then. Things would have been even more impressive forgetting how the other sources perform. Compared to the Playmate none has bigger stage size. The mid range stage alone is big enough to subside each of them. It has fantastic air and space between instruments and the placement is very vivid. The expansion feels very natural with fantastic width, height and depth but the treble stage kind of makes the Playmate lose some points.
In general the stage size and the projection depend on the end equipment. The IEM and headphone does play a huge part but the playmate in general has good expansion outside the head. The Vocals are placed inside the head, mid range is half in half out while the treble is out of the head.
Sound altering options:-
Not many reviewers will warn you about this but in the menu there is option called "Emphasis". When it is off the notes are sharp and have more than average bite and attack. The transparency is super high. The finishing on notes is sharp and pin pointed. The whole sound quality is tuned to deliver accuracy and precision. Turn it on you will be treated with more subdued notes, losing some attack and bite.
In the Filter Menu there is another option to reduce a hint of sharpness and that is Filters. Brickwall will deliver the sharpest notes and CMFR will reduce some sharpness. Your choice, choose what you like.
For Gaming:-
The Playmate has a 3.5mm microphone socket just aside the 6.5mm headphone jack. You can attach a mic which has good clarity and details. It works fine with headsets too. The vast mid range stage helps a lot with directional cues which give a big advantage when playing MMORPG games.
Are there better options? At least for mic? yes.
COMPARISON:-
VS Creative E5:-
The smaller and smarter E5 is the jack of all trades, you name it and it can do it. It doesn't have TOTL chips inside but it is not bad considering it has a exceptionally well developed software which enhances the usability and mic is built into the body of the E5 which makes any headphone game ready.
When it comes to sound the E5 has slightly bigger bass response, the sub bass is slightly rumblier with mid bass having a bit more body and slam. The mid range is clumsier and less forward. The micro details are a bit lacking while the notes lack a bit of definition too. There isn't as much texture either. Notes are a bit thicker with lesser depth which makes it sound a bit lush. Treble of the E5 has more naturally expanded stage while notes have better transparency and energy. There are some peaks that might make it a bit uncomfortable.
Functionally there is competition, sound wise there is no competition too. The E5 is a master which has all the tricks under its belt where the Playmate simply drowns the E5 with shear amount of details and clarity.
CONCLUSION:-
If you are more of a purist and love to enjoy the technical bits you will love the Playmate to the core. It has the delicacies that you might not have experienced with this much of distinction. If you forgive the treble region a bit the rest of the spectrum is marvelous. The transparency and clarity is exceptional and the level of details is outstanding.
The Playmate is not for the casual user. If you like to be on the move, not much into headphones, you think you are an audiophile but don't think you need a desktop setup, please stay away. The playmate is heavy, immobile and doesn't have an easy option to connect portable devices either, so if you are not nose deep into music, please don't make yourself sweat unnecessarily.
If you love your desktop setup, you love headphones over IEMs, you love precision over fun, the playmate is tailor made for you.
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