INTRO
Everything started with a referral from a sincere friend of mine. He had the custom version of the PEARS SH3 and he was very happy with it. I researched a bit and immediately realized how little data there was on the internet about them. I wanted to try and hear it myself so my friend contacted PEARS about this review and they made it possible. The review reflects my unbiased, honest opinion about SH3 Universal.

P-EAR-S
PEARS (Personal Ear Systems) is Switzerland’s first Custom In Ear Monitor manufacturer. They are located in Ins. PEARS has 2 key names, 2 founders. Samuel Harsch & Stéphane Rochat. These gentlemen are both very skilled and meticulous about the work they do. Samuel is an acoustic engineer, he has A LOT of experience from speakers to hearing aids. He definitely knows his way around the technical aspect of audio. Stéphane’s story is quite similar, he is an Electronic Design Engineer and he has been interested in music since his childhood. He takes care of PEARS’ marketing front, too. They both worked for big names in the industry and gained priceless expertise. Since October 2016, they have been using their expertise towards PEARS and reach audiophiles around the world.

SH-3
Samuel made his first custom in-ear monitors for himself and for some of his friends in 2012. After designing and creating successful prototypes, he devoted his partial working time to make in-ear monitors and launched SH-2, PEARS’ dual driver earphone. In 2015, Samuel decided to create a more capable and flat monitor; the SH-3. It features a triple driver configuration along with a complex acoustic design. PEARS may look like they do not have many models but that is because they are perfectionists. From the technical aspect, SH-3 is an amazing monitor. It is the living proof of the fact that driver count does not mean anything in this industry. I will try to describe it to you as best as I can in the - Sound Quality - section.



Universal Customization & Order Experience
PEARS has a beautifully designed website where you can look into the details of the models available and order online. Customization options are ample. You can choose the color of your cables, the color of the shell, the design of the faceplate, whether you want the Pears logo or not. There are also special options such as rare woods, carbon fibre, glitter or fabric. In total you have nearly 30 options for the faceplate. Whichever combination you select, just know that the build will pearfect. Furthermore, if you have anything exquisite in mind, I say share with the team!

Package & Accessories
SH-3U comes with an elegant rectangular hardbox. After opening it you see a thin paper that wishes you a pleasant musical moment by PEARS. Behind this thin paper, there is an envelope that has user manuals located inside. Taking these aside, we are welcomed by PEARS’ beautifully finished aluminium carrying case. The sanded aluminium case feels and looks very premium. Inside of it is even more impressive. PEARS covered the entire thing in velvety rubber, that should definitely help protect your IEMs during any kind of transportation. The case seems fireproof, waterproof and shockproof to me. In the case, there lies your PEARS IEMs. There is also an empty flask in the box. Pears included it for you to fill it with your preference of cleaning liquid. It is a nice addition to the accessories. Furthermore into the box, with the universal version you get 6 pairs of tips, a cleaning tool, velvety smooth earphone pouch and a cleaning cloth.
Whole unboxing experience feels premium.

Build, Fit & Isolation
As I stated above, they are very careful and meticulous about the work they do. My unit is universal, my friend’s unit is a custom. Our shells are perfect. There are no rough edges, absolutely no residue, no faceplate-shell unevenness, nothing. It is perfect. It is quite impressive for a completely handcrafted shell. The shape of the universal is another subject all together.. For me the fit is really really good. The shape makes it grip your concha and it sits in there very comfortably. I often forget that I wear earphones. This does not happen to me a lot. Another clever design is the nozzle. It has a wax-trap nozzle design, much like the VisionEars’. I absolutely admire little practical design choices like this. The wax-trap works and it is a big plus for me. Isolation-wise, of course, universals may be a little behind their custom variations but this particular shell has really good isolation with the optimal tip choice. I am pretty happy about this as well. To sum it all up, PEARS impressed me with their craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The Asking Price & Customer Relations
Communicating with PEARS is really easy. They reply fast and they are solution oriented. It feels like you’re in good hands. SH-3U comes with a 1-Year Warranty. As for pricing, SH3 Universal is 890.00 CHF Excl. VAT. That is roughly 980 USD. Of course, customization settings increase the price by a small margin. In my opinion this pricing is very competitive for what you get in return. I will talk more about it in the next chapter so read on!

Technical Data & Specifications
Configuration: Triple Driver dual mid-low/single high 1 passive crossover
Frequency Response: 10Hz – 18kHz
Sensitivity: 117dB @ 1kHz, 1mW IMPEDANCE 25 Ohms
Isolation: -26dB of ambient stage noise

Sound
Reference. Accurate. Refined. SH3U has this natural timbre that feels right. It is not your ordinary flat tuning, not at all. SH3U is a technical marvel. It is one of the best in-ear monitors I have ever heard. Period. What makes it so good then? I will try to do my best to describe it to you. Before everything else, the frequency spectrum feels even. There are no ups and down, no dips and peaks. Resolution is very very impressive. Clarity is top-notch. Neutral sound signature feels quite spacious and transparent.

Low
Tight. Snappy. Reference monitors have linear bass response so quantity-wise it is adequate. It can go pretty deep when the track calls for it so I would say it is delightfully tuned. It does not feel elevated or saturated therefore it does not feel artificial. It feels completely natural, it definitely feels like it is just the tool, the bridge between you & the mastering guy. Frequency control across the spectrum is something SH3U is expert at. This is excellent as the bass section never overlaps the mid section. Attack/Decay is very fast, making transients quite agile, dynamic. Even the micro details of sub-bass, like vibrations of the strings are easy to track with SH3U. Many of the in-ear monitors with flat-ish frequency responses suffer from dry bass presentation. SH3U does not. At all. Big cheers to the people behind this tuning.

Mid
Tonal accuracy is the first thing you notice here. Switching from an industry standard such as the MDR7506 proves that point very well. Apart from being tonally true, midrange features excellent control just like the rest of the spectrum. Weight and the thickness of the notes feel very natural and organic. Vocals are delicate, detailed and transparent. Micro-detail retrieval is very impressive. You get to hear every breath, every vocal movement with SH3U. Upper midrange is energetic, lively and crisp. It has excellent extension and decay. It is very easy to track any instrument due to the spacious and relaxed presentation.

High
Just like the rest of the frequency sections, highs are perfectly precise, not ahead or behind. They are fluid, articulate and incredibly detailed. They offer excellent clarity and detail while being coherent. That is something quite hard to achieve with in-ear monitors. Pears somehow managed to do this, and we are glad that they did. Treble never overpowers the presentation and hurts the imaging, in fact, highs being very detailed results in a very analytical, clear presentation and combining it with a great tonal balance, you get a very technically capable monitor.



Soundstage, Imaging & Instrument Separation
SH3U has a wide, airy soundstage. The width is ahead of the depth by a small margin. The staging feels quite realistic as well, it does not have an overly vast stage where the coherency takes a hit. No, it has a realistic, airy stage where every instrument is in place and there is enough space between instruments to distinguish each and every instrument with ease. It is precise and instrument locations are downright accurate. Thanks to the staging and high technical capability, imaging is brilliant. Close your eyes and you’re in front of the stage listening to your favourite tunes along with a pitch-black background.

Pace, Rhythm & Timing
SH3U’s technical capabilities do not end with a very detailed and accurate presentation. SH3U is also a very fast monitor. Attack/Decay is most certainly impressive and during my fast/congestion prone track testing, it did an outstanding job handling 7+ instruments with ease. Airy and wide soundstage definitely helps here. Just a little heads-up here though. SH3U is not a forgiving monitor. It is very accurate so if the mastering of the track is bad, you are going to know about that.

Source Match
Astell&Ultima SP2000 - $3,500
Snappy bass region, velvet midrange, delicate highs. Sweet, articulate presentation. Everything is in perfect balance. Instruments are very well defined, the soundstage is quite breezy. This is a combination that you can listen to for hours.

Chord Hugo 2 - $2,500
Out-of-this-world resolution. Outstanding technical performance. This combination impressed me more than anything I have ever heard in this hobby. Tonal accuracy, naturality of the presentation, imaging, dynamism, articulacy, PRaT... Just perfect.

iFi Hip-Dac - $150
For a $150 device, Hip-Dac offers good resolution and imaging capability. It also sweetens the analytic signature of the SH3U and turns it into something more forgiving. For 150 usd, you can’t get a better pairing.

SMSL M300mkII & JDS Atom - $350
This highly resolving combo features a balanced signature just like the SH3U. Instruments are scattered across the wide stage, all of them easy to track. The extension of the highs are definitely something to admire. Very good desktop combo.

Last Words
PEARS SH3U may be the most accurate and tonally correct monitor I’ve ever heard. That being said, the asking price is quite low for the performance you get in return. High-end IEM prices skyrocketed lately and they keep going upwards. Honestly, SH3U offers a performance perhaps even triple its price. If you're looking for a IEM that is accurate and reference, this is your best bet. Resolution, imaging, PRaT, clarity.. SH3U is very well-tuned in nearly all technical aspects. I am an audiophile for nearly 7 years and I have never been more impressed in my life. SH3U & Hugo 2 instantly became my all time favourite combination.
Thank you P-EAR-S for creating this gem.

Thank YOU for reading this review! Best of luck with all your audiophile endeavours!

HYLA Audio is one of the companies which are located under Cyras’ wings. One of them is also known as the Oriolus. Hyla is a boutique audio company located in Tokyo, Japan. They specialize in hybrid in-ear monitors and they’re quite ambitious.

Thanks to an audiophile friend for loaning TE5B to us. This review was posted officially for QuantumEars.com
Now, we’re here to look at their rare, blue gem, TE5B.

T-E-5-B is an acronym, it stands for Trident Engine 5 Bass. It is a system developed originally by Hyla. Hyla is aiming for punchy bass, effortless midrange and crystal clear highs. They may have nailed this goal with TE5B. Please, do read on.



Specifications & Highlights
Hyla TE5B

• Sensitivity: 97 dB @ 1mW
• frequency range: 20 Hz -45 kHz
• Impedance: 12 ohm
• Driver: 2x BA, 1x PiezoElectric Ceramic, 1x Dynamic
• PCOCC High Purity Silver-Plated Copper Cable
• Shell Material: Photopolymer
• MSRP: 1250 $

Testing Equipment

• Lotoo Paw Gold
• Chord Hugo
• iFi xDSD
• Various Upgrade Cables.

Accessories, Cable & Box
TE5B comes within a cardboard box, golden letters of HYLA etched onto top. Inside the box, wrapped around satin, TE5B is placed in a widely-known & trusted Van Nuys case. TE5B comes with an incredibly ergonomic cable, much like my PW Audio No5. Cable is a multi-stranded SPC and feels rather premium.

• S/M/L Foam Tips
• S/M/L Silicon Tips
• 1 Cleaning Tool
• Carrying Case
• Warranty Card
• PCOCC-SPC Cable

Fit, Design & Build
TE5B features glossy, transparent light blue housing with metallic silver HYLA logo on faceplates. It is definitely not a small monitor but fit is quite good due to the longish nozzle. Build quality is great but I have to mention that this color-logo combination is widely used by chinese IEM manufacturers, perhaps avoiding this next time would improve the sense of quality in a positive way. I am saying this because after examining the shell’s inner electronic layout, I was quite impressed.



Sound Signature
Fun. Wait a second though. Don’t let this widely used understatement cripple your excitement. This earphone is perhaps the most technically capable, musicality focused monitor I’ve held in my hands. Every major frequency area is led by different type of driver. High frequencies are led by a Piezo Ceramic driver, mids are led by good old balanced armatures and low frequencies led by an airy dynamic driver. So why Hyla mixed & matched these? What is so special about this monitor?

Let me tell you this. All driver types has their strengths & weaknesses. Combining these by their abilities is the most logical way to achieve perfect harmonics. Hyla just did that. Rumblin’ bass, silky mids, refined highs. TE5B, lads.


Lows
Fluid. Dynamic. Blended just right. Sub-area is really, really weighty, this gives the monitor necessary harmonics to really feel the music. After 60hz a.k.a. sub area, bass rumble decreases by a quarter, this is perhaps the reason why PRaT is as good as it is. (More on PRaT later.) Don’t misunderstand me though, bass section is really meaty, perhaps one of the best. Just let me tell you more about that magical touch they did between the bass sections. See, the problem with dynamic drivers is often PRaT. Speed. The lack of articulacy when it comes to faster passages, or fast instruments, such as twin pedal. By decreasing just a little non-sub frequencies of low-end, Hyla achieved the perfect proportion. They do not bleed into mids, they do not lag behind, they do not kill the enjoyment of Mike Portnoy’s incorrigible pedal beating. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.


Mids
Midrange is perhaps the weakest side of this gem and even the weakest is wicked good. It is a huge improvement over CE-5 and feels organic enough not to stick to an audiophile ear. Upper mids feels like they have good extension, just enough not to ricochet around inside your temporal lobe. Instruments feels articulate and breathy. Human vocal reproduction however, are tad colored and forward. Note thickness is well-tuned. Not too thick, not too thin.


Highs
This is where this monitor really shines. Highs are detailed, transparent but quite polite at the same time. You will not have enough of piccolos, flutes, cymbals..

Not only extension but also fading margin of the treble region is quite capacious. This gives the monitor a unique sense of detail and contributes to the perception of airy, breathy presentation. Of course these directly add to the imaging capabilities of the monitor. In a nutshell, treble section is very, very, well done.


Soundstage & Imaging | Instrument Separation | Dynamics & Speed
Let’s start with congestion. I think using different technologies in the same shell brought forth the success that is associated with instrument separation resulted in congestion being handled very well. Headroom is wide, precise, layered and instrument locations are downright accurate. As I mentioned above, PRaT is great and this brilliant imaging capability is maintained throughout the genres. Despite the fact that using different types of technologies may increase the chances of false coherency, this was really not the case with TE5B. I can see that Hyla worked on the coherency and really reaped the impressive results.



vs. CE-5
Improved midrange, improved articulacy, improved headroom. Instrument placement is more precise, allowing the user to feel the increased realism. Specifically, TE5B’s midrange is noticeably thicker than CE-5. As for highs, TE5B offers a clearer, sharper (not in a fatiguing way) presentation.


Last Words
Suitable for many genres, TE5B offers a rich palette of harmonics to the interested parties. After CE-5, TE5B is considerably better in almost every aspect. It is one of the most sophisticated IEMs on the market right now, being a unique hybrid, combining the strengths of three different technologies.

JDS LABS
OL DAC & O2 AMP STACK

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Many of you already have an acquaintance with JDS Labs because of their widely popular O2 and CMOY amps. I’ll look at the new OL DAC and O2 stack today! Interview with JDS is also available to read at www.QuantumEars.com

“OL DAC”
Specifications

• AK4490EQ DAC
• USB Type B and TOSLINK Input
• RCA Output
• Case Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 3 cm
• Weight: 370 grams

“O2 Amplifier”
Specifications

• RCA Input
• 3.5mm Output
• Max Output @33 Ohms: 613 mW
• Max Output @150 Ohms: 355 mW
• Max Output @600 Ohms: 88 mW
• Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 3 cm
• Weight: 310 grams

Build Quality, Packaging
Designed, sourced and manufactured in USA. Packaging is quite straightforward, the stack comes in a static bag inside a cardboard box. Like the packaging, the design itself is simple and practical. JDS aimed for one thing. Efficiency. Both of the devices have excellent thermal capabilities so they run cool and occupies little to no space. Switches and plugs feel solid, well made. One thing I can’t seem to wrap my around is why RCA plugs are not aligned? I can’t use my ultrashort RCA interconnect with them because of this. It’s not a big deal though, I am sure if you leave a note they’d adjust plugs accordingly.

Features
OL DAC offers a rare feature for a relatively affordable price tag. Optical input! Good news folks! We will not be enslaved by petty USBs anymore., I always prefer Optical because with my high-end desktop computer USB audio is tricky, USB ports are not as clean as I’d like, fortunately my motherboard offers an optical out so I pair it with OL DAC without any jitter/noise issues.
Oh by the way, OL DAC is driverless! Just plug it in & you’re ready to go!



Customer Service
Unfortunately I ran into several problems with the shipping & customs. They flagged the shipment “volatile/flammable” and in result this delayed the review quite a long time.. In every step, JDS was understanding, patient and solution-oriented. Thanks again Jude!

Sound Signature
Transparent. This is perhaps only label that we could put on the JDS Stack. Both OL DAC & O2 sounds raw. Clean. Clear. If you’re looking for pure performance, you’re in the right place. If you’re looking for fun signature, look elsewhere. Converting the signal from digital to analog, nothing more. No colouration, no particular band elevation, no emphasize, nothing. Pair it with a studio monitor and you’ll have the perfect mix/master combo.

Low Frequencies
Low frequencies are tight and snappy. “JDS Stack” does not overdo the low section, you hear exactly what is in the recording. Entire bass freq line is flat. This results in accurate reproduction but it is not as musical as, say, something like Centrance Dacport. The bass detail level and attack/decay is impressive as well.

Mid Frequencies
When we look at the mid region, it is easy to see that they are similar to rest of the spectrum. They’re accurate, articulate and linear. Tonal balance is impressive. No out-of-place elements in the presentation. Lower mids are perfectly balanced, there is no sign of any humps. Upper mids are similar as well, they’re not boosted therefore no sign of harshness. Cymbal & Hi-hats are crisp and well controlled.

High Frequencies
Treble has excellent control just like the rest of the spectrum and I did not encounter with congestion of any kind. (I even tortured it with Blind Guardian - Mirror Mirror)
Detail-wise it is ahead of many and it offers great value for price.
Treble extension and attack/decay is really impressive.

Instrument Separation, PRaT, Soundstage
Soundstage is wide, rather than deep. Instrument separation is good, instruments have plenty air and space between them. Presentation does not suffer from PRAT issues, which is quite amazing at this price because many do. JDS Stack’s background is vantablack.



Comparisons
Modi&Magni
They’re in the same pool but there are some distinguishing factors between them. Modi&Magni’s soundstage encircles you, JDS stack does not. JDS Stack have more distinctive soundstage area. Blacker background. Detail wise JDS is 1 step ahead. I find JDS tad better in the control area, especially during complicated metal passages.

Audioquest Dragonfly Red
Red sounds tad lighter, little more emphasis on the treble section. Similar soundstage. JDS stack is much more powerful. JDS stack offers much better PRAT and handles congestion without any “screeching”. Also compared to DF Black, JDS combo sounds relaxed and spacious.

O2 vs H10 (both with oldac)
H10 adds warmth to the sound, low frequencies get slight boost and authority, treble takes a step back compared to O2. Both are great, detail-wise but with good recordings H10 is more revealing. H10’s soundstage is deep rather than wide.

Final Words
When you add the performance, features and JDS support into the equation, OL DAC & O2 combo is a no-brainer. You can even customize them to your liking. Even the gain. Today, the JDS stack is inseparable from my desktop rig. It really doesn’t matter whether I am gaming or listening. I know that I am in good hands.

iBasso. We all know them because of their success in DAP industry. Now they’re in IEM business too. Are they good? We’ll see!
Today we’re taking a good look at the IT03 Semi-Custom IEMs. Let’s get to it.

Specifications & Highlights

• Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW
• FR Range: 10 Hz -30 kHz
• Rated Power 5mW
• Impedance: 8 ohm
• 9.2mm 1DD + 2BA driver configuration
• Weight: 9 grams without the cable
• MSRP: 259 USD

Testing Equipment

• Chord Hugo (Main Source)
• iBasso DX200 (AMP1 BAL - AMP2)
• Centrance DacPortable
• BiFrost + H10

Accessories & Packaging
iBasso’s unboxing experience is always neat. This rule does not change with IT03 either. It comes in a durable, medium sized box. No doubt your IEMs will stay safe during the international shipping charade. Inside the box there are 2 compartments. Top compartment is where your IEMs held by a protective foam. Bottom compartment stores tips & carrying case. iBasso included many tips, kudos!

However the carrying case is not very convenient. It is small and feels cramped.

Plus there is no chance fitting IT03 with CB12 in there. Stock cable is glossy, elastic and light. I’ve spotted few micro-creases but nothing major. I can say with confidence that overall unboxing experience is great!



Build Quality
I’ve experienced semi-custom IEMs before. InEar, Fender, ES.. I am really happy that iBasso went this way because my previous experience with semi-customs were really great. Let’s talk about build quality. IT03 is a 2-piece design. IT03 features hardened acrylic shell, metal mesh nozzle and flush MMCX sockets. Build quality is good but there are little dents on the metal mesh. Nothing serious. IEMs feel durable and sturdy. Fit is also good, I can wear them without irritation for long period of time.


Sound Signature
IT03 can be classified as V-shaped. Highlighted treble and bass response, recessed midrange and neutral signature can be said to cover IT03’s signature except the bass region. Dynamic driver adds some warmth to the equation but IT03’s aggressive treble equalizes the scales.

Lows
This is the tricky part. You’ll have to try many tips because they change the bass response dramatically. I found my perfect spot with JVC Spiral Dots. Bass is big, punchy and powerful. I often found myself listening to old deep house tracks with the IT03. Let’s go lower. Sub-bass rumble is satisfying in most cases and we Hans Zimmer’d the IT03, experienced no sub-bass shortages along the way. IT03 had some trouble coping with fast twin pedal passages but overall experience was satisfactory. Mid-bass is kind, only here when the track asks for it. This contributes to overall airiness in a good way.

Mids
IT03 offers a mixed bag of treats when it comes to the midrange. Lower mids are light resulting in slimmer note thickness. You feel this the most with string instruments. This may be important if you’re coming from something like Westone UM30 or TG334. Although I must say, detail retrieval is very impressive for a 250$ IEM. Some vocals may sound “dry” but the V signature works in favor of IT03 in this regard. Upper mids. Well, this is where ‘schiit’ gets real. Source selection is everything when it comes to IT03. It has a volatile upper mid region. For example with Chord Hugo I’ve noticed peaks that can be classified as sibilance. However, with Centrance Dacportable, upper mids were smoother. Tamed. So yes, try to choose sources that has recessed upper mid region for the best balance.

Highs
Energetic. Crispy. Clear. High region of IT03 is good, certainly performs above its asking price. Extension is also good with plenty of details. Cymbal shimmers are bright and energetic. Listening to wind instruments feels great with IT03. Wrong source selection may result in aggressive, sticky highs and this can cause ear fatigue very quickly. So, if you’re not a treble junky, I recommend you to select your source accordingly.

Soundstage, Imaging & PRaT
IT03’s headroom is above average. Instrument separation and imaging is decent. Soundstage is depth oriented. Sadly, sense of location is often lost with fast paced track but when we consider its price tag, it’s good.



CB12
Specs: 6N Single Crystal Copper & Silver 8-Braid

Signature: Forward lows and highs. Classic hybrid cable signature. Detail retrieval is great and cable is very well built. Plugs are stiff and sturdy. Braiding and coating is great, CB12 is quite flexible. I am really blown away by iBasso’s cables to be honest. Both CB12 & CB13 is quite beautiful.

CB12 contributes to the airiness and increases the perceived soundstage. It also adds extra oomph to the bass region and tightens subbass. On top of all these, resolution stepped up a notch! For 89$ this is the very definition of “upgrade cable”.

CB13
Specs: 5N Mono Crystal Silver & 6N Mono Crystal Copper 8-Braid

Signature: Balanced. Excluding the price tag, I love everything about CB13. Build quality is amazing, from plugs to splitters. Coating is soft and cable is very flexible. It’s signature is balanced and it almost contributes to every aspect of the IEM. For IT03, it increases the resolution, coherency, musicality and clarity. It also neutralizes notorious peaks in the upper mid region. CB13 equipped IT03 deals with congestion more easily, therefore pushing the threshold of distortion. I have to say that these do apply to other earphones as well, I am currently using CB13 with Sony N3-AP and I am VERY satisfied with it!


Quick Comparison
Vs. Westone UM30
UM30 is more emotional and its upper mid region is recessed compared to IT03. UM30’s highs are tamed whereas IT03’s wild. Soundstage wise they’re similar. Fatigue can be a problem if you’re switching from something like UM30 to IT03.
IT03’s resolution and clarity is superior.

Vs. Earsonics ES-2
They are both clearly different in almost every way. ES-2 is a warm, dark, relaxing IEM whereas IT03 is energetic, more neutral, bright and V-shaped. Resolution wise IT03 is ahead. Dynamism-wise they’re almost equal. When it comes to soundstage and imaging, IT03 is airier whereas ES-2 is emotional. ES-2’s vocals are very forward and its treble is trimmed.

Verdict
For the price, IT03 offers a good fit, a fun signature, great level of clarity and solid, punchy low end with a equally highlighted treble response. Do not forget that selection of source is vital!

Aero - QuantumEars.com

Earsonics is a boutique audio equipment company located in Castries, France. They specialize in custom in-ears and hearing protection equipments. Earsonics is a well known company around the world and they are in business for a long time.

Now, we’re here to look at their latest offering. ES-5.

Specifications
Earsonics ES-5

• Sensitivity: 117 dB/mW
  
• frequency range: 10 Hz -20 kHz
  
• Impedance: 33 ohm
  
• Driver: 5 drivers, 3 way HQ crossover. 1x low, 2x mid. 2x high.
  
• MSRP: 950€

Testing Equipment

• Chord Hugo
  
• iBasso DX200
  
• Centrance DacPortable
  
• Linum SuperBax & Infinity Audio Copper Litz

Accessories & Box
Earsonics recently updated their packaging and accessories. They now come with much better, slide-to-open box. I experienced the change in years first hand and Earsonics finally evolved the unboxing experience to “premium” level. Kudos!

Accessories however, are quite modest, minimal. You only get what you need.

• 4 Comply Tips
  
• 4 Silicon Tips
  
• 1 Cleaning Tool
  
• Carrying Case
  
• User Manual
  
• Stock Cable
  

Fit, Design & Build
ES-5 features glossy, semi-transparent dark caramel housing with yellow dots on faceplates. I should also mention that the IEMs are hand-assembled & hand-matched. Fit is amazing. It’s like I am not wearing them at all. Even after 5 hours.

Tips & Cable Improvements
Tip rolling is real and it’s important. Aside from getting a good seal, there is the acoustic side of things. I have tried many tips including Spinfits, RHA, Ortofons, Comply etc.. I personally like Ortofons but they cripple bass response by a small margin. Earsonics double flanges are better sub bass-wise. As for cables, please, ES-5 deserves a better cable. Upgrade as soon as possible. The impact is ASTRONOMICAL. My recommendation would be a -not so lush- copper cable such as the PW.5. Infinity Audio’s Litz Copper is also a great option. Linum SuperBax is great with ES-5, as well.

Sound Signature
I’ve used SM3, SM64, S-EM6&v2, S-EM9, Velvet, ES-2, ES-3... So yes I am quite familiar with the earsonics house sound. ES-5, just like ES-3, is following the steps of S-EM9. Pairing ES-5 with Chord Hugo results in a very balanced presentation. Like every Earsonics IEM, ES-5 comes with a powerful bass response. Because of this, some may tag this as a warmer earphone compared to something like Katana. I am also hearing a dip around upper mids. Enough to keep cymbals in check but not to cripple the overall clarity so again, just like S-EM9, Earsonics managed to bless us with polite but detailed & rich presentation.

Lows
Airy & dynamic. ES-5 has this brilliant bass-response where the bass scales itself perfectly with recordings. It is fast and fluid with Metal. It is deep and impactful with EDM. Control is great. It does not overwhelm other frequencies. Quality-wise Earsonics once again impresses and gets an A. I can’t help but enjoy the fullness of the bass while listening to the “Stolen Dance” from Milky Chance. ES-5’s presentation reminds me of S-EM9’s. Resolution is really good and can be improved further with upgrade cables. Mid bass have an average thickness to it, it’s not too thick or too thin.

Mids
Midrange is rich & articulate. Control is excellent. Fundamentally mid-based instruments (i.e. flute, oboe, guitar etc.) feel organic and breathy. Midbass is flat. Upper mids have the classic Earsonics dip. This results in a smooth and delicate presentation. Cymbals & snares are not irritating in any way therefore not tiring even after long listening sessions. I’ll explain this more in the treble section.

Highs
ES-5 has an impressive treble response. Highs have this special spatial feeling to them. Extension is brilliant and clarity is really impressive.
What Earsonics did is quite smart, detailed treble works as a catalyst for polite upper mids and evens out the negative effects of the dip. Transparent treble contributes to layering and imaging as well.

Soundstage & Imaging | Instrument Separation | Dynamics & Speed
ES-5 handles congestion really well thanks to its spacious instrument separation. Headroom is breathy, layering is sharp. PRaT is fantastic, I had quite a blast listening to Blind Guardian & Dragonforce. Imaging is accurate and precise. Dynamism is something that Earsonics nails every time. That’s why they’re my go-to IEMs with my 850 GB Metal archive.

Quick Comparisons
vs. Sony N3AP
ES-5’s midrange and treble are a lot better than N3AP’s. In terms of resolution, clarity. N3AP’s bass impact and rumble is better.

vs. Earsonics S-EM6v2
SM6v2 is flatter. ES-5’s bass impact is greater. Resolution-wise they’re similar. They have different target markets. S-EM6v2 is almost reference whereas ES-5 is more in the “fun” side of things because of the bass.

vs. Oriolus + PW.5
ES-5’s treble is more refined. ES-5 is dynamically superior. Both monitors’ mids are meaty and their timbre is natural. Oriolus sounds more relaxed. Oriolus’ instrument separation is tad better and its soundstage is wider.

vs. Earsonics ES-3
ES-3’s midbass is tad lighter than ES-5’s. ES-5 has tad stronger bass response and thicker timbre. ES-5’s resolution is also greater.

vs. Earsonics S-EM9
S-EM9 is dynamically superior, it is faster and it feels even more accurate. Treble is similar. 9’s bass rumble is greater. Sub bass is tighter. S-EM9 handles congestion better as well.

Final Words
ES-5 is a capable monitor. It is fast & accurate. The fit is great, unboxing experience is premium, handles congestion like a boss, has a great midrange that will be serving me in my late night acoustic sessions.

Thanks for reading.
Aero - QuantumEars.com

iBasso is a professional audio company located in China. They specialize in high performance portable audio gear and equipment. iBasso is well-known between audiophiles for their price/performance solutions and their unending FW support.

Today we will be talking about the iBasso’s 10th Anniversary special the DX200. This long-awaited digital player hit the shelves around 2 months ago and since then it’s been causing shockwaves in the DAP market, hurting wallets and placing smiles on the faces of grumpy audiophiles!

DX200 is the successor of DX100, iBasso’s previous android flagship. DX100 launched in 2012 and it caused quite a stir in the industry because of its operating system and sound quality. DX200 is doing exactly the same right now.

DX200 is a special product due to company’s efforts to stay in constant contact with the Head-Fi community regarding the needs and likes of the end user. (consumer)

They observed what people look for in a dap very closely and the device was designed accordingly. From chassis to dac chips, head-fi members were involved in every step of the production.


Accessories
Right off the bat I want to say that iBasso nailed this section. Accessories are on-point. The box is very handsome and offers great protection so you don’t have to worry about harsh int. shipping conditions. Inside the box, iBasso included a very flexible usb-c cable and a coaxial cable. Unit also comes with a premium leather case. I liked it personally but to be honest, they could’ve made it slimmer.. It adds unnecessary bulk to the unit.

Build Quality
Back in the early development days, there was a poll about DX200’s design. You were asked to choose 1 from 3 prototype designs. I actually liked a different design from the poll but the current design was ultimately selected by unanimous vote. Funnily enough, I am really satisfied with the result.

DX200 has a somewhat grainy aluminum finish. Device feels premium in hand. I just wish that the black section on the back was aluminum like the rest of the device. It is surprisingly light considering the components inside. After having so much trouble with A&K volume wheel, DX200’s wheel is perfect. There are enough volume steps to fine tune the perfect volume. Screen is a controversial topic, some say that their screen is not as responsive as a smartphone etc. I removed my pre-installed screen protector and I can confirm that screen works as intended. Screen responsiveness is almost on par with my V20. Be warned though, responsiveness is not good with the pre-installed protector. Remove it or replace it with a tempered glass.


Flagship Components
iBasso did not skimped while creating the DX200. They used premium-grade components such as the ES9028PRO DAC, ARM Cortex-A53 Processor, Accusilicone femtosecond oscillators, eMMC storage, IPS screen, 6 layered gold plated pcb..

FWs & Customizability
First of all let’s make one thing clear. FWs do change the device’s SQ. Sometimes it is nuances, sometimes it is entire signatures. If you ask me, this elasticity of options is great. However, just because it has many firmwares available., do not make the assumption that DX200 is unstable, because it is not. Think this as the perfect gateway to finding YOUR favourite signature. Some of my friends sold the device after one week... This is a huge mistake. DX200 needs time and effort. You have to try the major FWs like Lurker0, WindowsX, iBasso.. Find what you like the most by using trial-error method. Another thing to mention here is that the device needs burn-in.

Of course, your options does not end here. DX200 has an interchangeable amplification system. This feature allows you to physically change the amplifier of the device to your liking. iBasso already released its first AMP module, AMP2. iBasso’s ultimate aim is to please you, they tried to offer something for all audiophile types from analytic lovers to analog junkies..

Let’s talk about Android! Frankly I had doubts about how iBasso would handle the software development/optimization of DX200. First few weeks were quite painful but with user feedback, iBasso’s team quickly released a bunch of firmwares that fix the reported bugs.. iBasso’s dev team tried to trim the android 6.0 from its unnecessary bloat thus improving the device stability. I think they did a good job, my device runs Tidal without any problems and I can watch HD videos on it. Cool!

After some time, Lurker0 and WindowsX started working on it as well, cooking roms, improving FWs and on and on.. I knew Lurker0 from his DX90 works, I admire his work quite a lot. I also own the Advanced Purist ROM from WindowsX, his works are great, too. They both have advantage and disadvantages over one another.

Of course these are all great for the end-user because we get to have many options... Freedom, baby!

Android is a great companion for a DAP, you get to play with the device however you like. You can go ahead and load apks, install Tidal & Spotify, set-up launchers, edit icons.. I love the improvement headroom it offers. After getting the DX200, first thing I did was installing a launcher & stream apps. DX200’s processor and ram is more than capable of running such apps.

Another great thing about DX200 is that iBasso features dual boot. there is actually a closed android system (like A&K’s) in the DX200 and it’s called “Mango”. You can boot it in Mango mode if you like. I unfortunately won’t be talking about Mango mod because I see no use for it. I am more than happy with Android and I don’t know why anyone would use Mango over it.

I already mentioned iBasso’s commitment when it comes to FWs. They’re still releasing firmware updates to DX50&90. This entire example proves that we’re in good hands.



Battery [16.44]
Probably my only complaint. In my experience DX200 lasts about 7 hours. I don’t think this is a great achievement when it comes to a device like this. I expected at least 8.5-9 hours. Fortunately, AMP2 improves the playtime little bit. I managed to squeeze 8-8.5 hours out of it! I am keeping my hopes up for the new amp modules.


Sound
I will divide this section into FWs after talking about general sound performance.

First of all, regardless of it’s price, DX200 is a high-end DAP. It offers great tonal balance, resolution and detail. I can put it against Hugo, Paw Gold, HM901S without any second thoughts.

AMP1 & iBasso Stock
Neutral/Reference sound signature, shallower bass response compared to other fws, mids are clear and defined, upper mids are crispy, high frequencies are brilliantly controlled.

AMP1 & WindowsX Purist Advanced
Neutral transparent sound signature, airy presentation, snappy and punchy bass response, mids are clear and upper mids are crispy. Highs are brighter, resolution and detail revealment is improved over stock.

AMP1 & Lurker0 (Pers. Fav)
Warmish-Neutral sound, airy presentation, more bodied and impactful bass response, articulate mids and tamed upper mids. Highs are controlled and never goes “hot”. Detail revealment and resolution is increased over stock.

AMP2 Module
AMP2 is the first of many modules iBasso is currently planning to release..

It comes in a sturdy little box and it is quite easy to install. You just have to turn off your device, unscrew the screws, pull it back and up, install the new one and screw em’ back! Voila! You successfully changed the sound signature of your DX200 from neutral to warm!

Yup, AMP2 sounds warmer than AMP1. Treble section is recessed, upper mids are even more gentle than usual.. Both coherency and musicality is improved and woman vocals are more emotional than ever. Kudos to iBasso!

AMP2 & iBasso Stock
Warm, warmer, warmest. Florida, Australia, Bali.. Sahara? Feeling hot yet?
Both sub and mid bass sections are broad and bodied. Mids are meaty. Upper mids are gentle, treble is laid back. Overall it is very lush and mellow compared to AMP1.

AMP2 & WindowsX Purist Advanced
First of all, sense of air is back, bass region is impactful and fast. Mids articulate with hints of warmth. Upper mids are controlled and tad laid-back. Treble is airy and more prominent compared to stock fw. Overall this FW sounds more detailed due to upper mid & treble changes. This applies to resolution as well. Go for this one if you want somewhat balanced signature.

AMP2 & Lurker0
Coherent, thick and rich.. Bass region is airy, impactful. Mids are emotional and meaty. Upper mids are recessed whereas the treble region has the perfect balance, not too bright, not too dull. Resolution and detail departments are both improved over stock.

Soundstage, Dynamism, PRaT & Instrument Separation
Different fw-amp configurations offer wide array of options but I’ll try to keep it simple.

DX200’s soundstage is wide. Imaging is impressive. Instruments have enough space between them resulting in brilliant separation. The soundstage is not as wide vertically as it is horizontally but the margin is small so you won’t notice it without a critical listening session.. Dynamism and PRaT is quite amazing with the AMP1, making my metal tracks sound effortless. Congestion is very well handled by the DX200. AMP2 on the other hand is not as fast as AMP1 because of the bass and treble presentation. Margins are small so you have nothing to be afraid of.

Balanced (AMP1)
This is where the magic happens. Soundstage expands both vertically and horizontally, airiness and feel of realism improves by a great margin.. It’s also tad more detailed compared to SE.

Quick Comparisons
Vs. Fiio X5iii
Resolution-wise DX200 is few steps ahead. DX200 is faster, cleaner and dynamically superior. X5iii is warmer and drier. X5III lacks the ability of making me move my feet when the drums kick in.

Vs. AK300
AK300 has a more “liquid” sound, details are left behind the counter. iBasso’s soundstage is wider and its presentation is airier. AK300 feels soulless after DX200. Bass presentation is shallow as well..

Vs. Plenue P1
P1 is warmer, smoother and has a smaller soundstage. Bass-wise it is not as tight as DX200 and treble is not as controlled. iBasso is ahead in the detail&resolution department as well.

Vs. Hifiman 901S -Minibox Gold
901S offers a smoother experience. Soundstage is similar, DX200 have better speed, precision and PRaT. 901S is more emotional. Mid section is a tie but I prefer DX200’s snappy treble and bass.

Vs. Lotoo Paw Gold
DX200’s soundstage is wider, both are equally airy. LPG is half a step better than DX200 in resolution subject, which is very impressive for DX200 because LPG is often called “the resolution king”. Speed-wise LPG is tad better. Of course we are comparing a brick to state of art android dap so you might wanna take that into consideration as well.

Vs. Chord Hugo
Soundstage, imaging, instrument separation, detail, resolution.. Hugo is one clear step ahead.
DX200 packs a serious punch though. Almost half the size, 1/3 of the price, android capabilities, upgradeability.. Honestly I can guarantee you that you won’t itch for a while.

Verdict
I am seriously satisfied with DX200’s price/performance ratio. This is kind of device that I’d want as my daily driver. Affordable, upgradeable, customizable, small enough to carry without too much hassle.. DX200 is like a chameleon, you can fine tune it to your liking or you can explore uncharted territories with new modules. I consider DX200 as a bargain at this price point and I am rewarding it with Editor’s Choice Award on QuantumEars.com. Good job iBasso!

Intro

Earsonics is a boutique audio equipment company located in Castries, France. They specialize in custom in-ears and hearing protection units Earsonics is a well known company around the world and they are in business for quite a long time.
In 2013, they launched S-EM6 and I suppose it was the first universal 6 driver iem in the industry. It had a full bodied, smooth sound signature and it caused quite stir around audiophile world.
In 2017, they updated their design again. Unlike the V1, v2 is targeting the reference signature lovers, Let’s get to it without further ado.
S-EM6v2 will be referred as “6v2”

Specifications
Earsonics S-EM6v2
*Sensitivity: 112 dB/mW
*Frequency response: 10 Hz -22 kHz
*Impedance: 30 ohm
*Driver: 6 Balanced Armature with 3 way crossover (2x high 2x mid 2x low)
*MSRP: 999€

Testing Equipment
Sources
*Chord Hugo (Main Source)
*iBasso DX200 -Reference Amp-
*Audioquest Dragonfly Black
Cables
*PW Audio No.5
*Linum Bax 2-pin
*DoublehelixC Nucleotide v3

Accessories
The new S-EM6v2 comes with an elegant box similar to S-EM9.
Accessories are quite modest, minimal. You only get what you need.
*4 Comply tips
*4 silicon tips
*1 cleaning tool
*Carrying case
*User manual
*Stock cable
*6.3 to 3.5mm adapter

Design, Build & Fit
Hand-built by meticulous frenchmen, from tip to bore. Mould material is acrylic. 6v2 is using the same glossy finish of S-EM9. I gotta be honest with you. These got brilliant form/factor. It’s %33 smaller than S-EM9 and fit is absolutely spectacular. Better than any monitor I’ve ever worn. 6v2 is a 3 sound bore design with diffractive acoustic chamber. They’re quite lightweight as well.




Sound Signature
S-EM6v2 is actually quite different from other Earsonics family members. This time Earsonics aims for accuracy and parts ways from their house sound. They are targeting the “reference” signature.
6v2 is technical, analytical and fairly balanced across the spectrum. It’s frequency response is not completely flat but it’s damn close. It’s more of a clinical monitor rather than musical. Note presentation is somewhat light so you must pay attention to synergy to achieve your final taste.

Low Region
Earsonics did target the reference signature BUT they didn’t completely take away good old earsonics bass response. It’s not as quantitatively abundant as its predecessors but the bass is definitely there. Don’t worry though, it’s not dry-ish like ER4 or K712. Additionally, sub attack/decay is quite fast. Overall bass quality is good, also very dynamic, no issues with fast passages & twin pedal frenzy.

Mid Region
Mids are articulate and transparent. Vocals are very clean. Upper mids have more presence than any other Earsonics iem. Say “Hi” to crispy, vivid, energetic cymbals!
Upper mid region can sound harsh with badly mastered tracks and bright sources (such as C4) So you have to be careful about source-iem synergy with this one, I recommend getting a musical dap or dac/amp to achieve best synergy. Subjectively prominent upper mids do have an advantageous side. It gives the sound a sense of air and spaciousness. Vocal tonality is quite good as well, neither completely dry nor completely wet. It’s quite delightful to listen to some Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans.. .

High Region
Probably my favourite region of 6v2. High frequencies are fluid, articulate and incredibly detailed. 6v2 gets a huge clarity boost from this section. Treble extension is also very impressive. Saxes, Piccolos, Flutes does not feel artificial. 6v2 is presenting them with a transparent, neutral tonality.
I haven’t picked up any harshness along the way, which was a huge relief to be honest.

Soundstage, Imaging and Instrument Separation
Being clean and transparent, 6v2 offers a good headroom for enthusiasts to enjoy.
Layering and separation within the soundstage is very good. Although I must point out that general performance of 6v2 is highly source dependant. You need good synergy. For example, it’s quite good with Chord Hugo but not with Lotoo Paw Gold for my taste..
Anyways, there is enough air between instruments but staging is linear rather than 3 dimensional. This changes greatly with players though, Hugo offers a greater holo effect and imaging while LPG is trying to put everything on one line, trying to choke you with macro details.
















Cable Improvement
This is a quite important subject so I reserved a special chapter for it. I tried Linum Bax, DoubleHelix Nucleotide and PW Audio No.5
Let me split this into mini sections.

DHC Nucleotide (Pure Copper)
I use this cable daily with ES3 and it’s quite good. However, paired with 6v2, upper mids took a bad turn and lost the control that they had before. This was not a good pairing 6/10

Linum BaX (SPC)
Little boost to clarity and bass tightness with a major problem. Congestion. Tracks with fast passages and linum bax doesn’t go together well. 5/10

Pw Audio No.5 (Pure Copper)
This cable contributed to note weight resulting in bolder presentation and relatively more musical approach. Combined with Chord Hugo, I’d say 6v2 has hit the sweet spot.
Additionally, with this cable, bass hits harder and tighter. Vocals gets tad bolder. Upper mids take half a step back. 9/10


Short Comparisons
vs. Earsonics S-EM9 (1.500€)
9’s bass is bigger, better, stronger. 9’s mids are smoother and distant, Treble-wise both iems are quite similar. SM9 has bolder tonality. S-EM9 is musically better whereas 6v2 is flat and reference.

Noble Audio Kaiser 10 (1600$)
K10’s vocal presentation is bolder. Its bass also goes deeper and have more whack effect.
6v2’s bass response is tighter and faster. Attack/Decay and PRaT is also superior with 6v2,
Resolution-wise K10 is 1 step ahead.

vs. Oriolus + PW.5 (1.300$)
6v2 is more flat, analytic and even more energetic. Oriolus’ bass authority is much stronger but 6v2 has clearer highs. Oriolus vocals are bolder. 6v2 is faster PRaT-wise.
Less congestion during fast passages and high bmp tracks.

vs. Earsonics ES-3 (399€)
ES-3 is warmer and has less treble sparkle. Upper mids are rasped as well. Clarity-wise, 6v2 is ahead. 6v2 is also more detailed and airy. ES-3 is more musical and its bass hits deeper.
PRaT is on the same level.



Summary
Right out of the box, 6v2 may not impress the perfectionist inside you but if you actually take the reins and pair 6v2 with a good source, it will surprise you quite dramatically. There are very few earphone which made me burst into dance while listening to “Kafka” from Brahny. Hugo - 6v2 combo is one of them. Treble detail and fluidity is amazing. Stop for a second there and put yourself in the hands of 6v2’s technical prowess..




















QuantumEars.com

The review was originally posted on quantumears but I wanted to share it with Head-Fi as well.

 

[size=17.03px]Intro[/size]

We have the iFi’s latest sorcery in our hands!
We all know iFi. For those who don’t know, iFi is a renowned audio company. They specialize in all sorts of devices, DACs, Pre-amps, Amps, Signal Purifiers, Signal Enhancers etc… They have this crazy habit of supplying you with everything you’ll ever need while using their products.. On a side note, they are a customer-oriented company. A rare thing nowadays.
 

Box Contents | Accessories

iDSD comes with a well designed, elegant cardboard packaging. You can find everything about the Black Label on the box. Specs, features, technologies…
 
Accessories are very rich. iFi thought of everything although we’d appreciate an micro usb OTG cable! Anyway, I must congratulate iFi for thinking and including the accessories like no company ever does. The only difference in the accessories between regular iDSD is the improved USB3.0 cable. It looks more durable now!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inside the box;

1. 1x Blue male USB to female USB cable (1 meter) to connect iDSD to a PC.
2. 1x Male 3.5mm to male 3.5mm (15 cm) interconnect cable to use iDSD as an amplifier.
3. 1x Purple male RCA to RCA cable. (50 cm)
4. 1x Female USB Type B to Female USB Type A converter “cable” to connect iDSD to a PC with a audiophile grade USB Type B cable.
5. 1x Female USB Type B to Female USB Type A converter “dongle” to connect iDSD to a PC with a audiophile grade USB Type B cable.
6. 1x iFi branded, velvety carrying pouch.
7. 2x Silicone bands to attach iDSD to a phone.
8. 1x Silicone piece that protects your phone when you attach your phone to iDSD.
9. 1x Female 3.5mm to male 6.3mm connector.

[size=17.03px]Design | Build[/size]
The device itself is big but not so heavy. If you are carrying a phone that is bigger than 5.2”, pairing it with iDSD won’t be a problem because they are almost the same size but does not have the same thickness. Its thickness is four times bigger compared to my phone. (LG V20)
Most of the people consider iFi products as transportable, not portable but when you include it in your daily rig and get used to it, it does not cause major problems to you while carrying. Black Label’s finish is truly mesmerizing. I am not a big fan of orange but I must say that black/orange combo worked for this device. It’s fully aluminum and does not have any loose part which makes it very durable. All sockets are gold plated. Its side and bottom switches feel like good quality rubber, Xbass and 3D switches are metal. Please look at my night shots, BL looks utterly amazing.

Improvements

iFi re-designed some parts of iDSD to create the Black Label. Changes are shown below:

1. re-designed output stabilisation
2. OV2627 op-amps upgraded analogue section
3. Panasonic OSCON capacitors loaded power supply
4. OV2028 op-amps loaded DAC power supply
5. DAC voltage decoupling based on audio-grade ECPU film capacitors
6. GMT® Femto precision clock system power supply upgraded
7. 3D and XBass Switches re-designed

 

 

 

 

Sound Signature | Sound Quality | Resolution

Following changes above granted a certain warmth to iDSD BL.
Increased note thickness resulted in bolder mid presentation. This alteration contributed to female vocal tonality to be more realistic. Plus, added emotion increased the perception of holographic staging. Surprisingly enough, added warmth did not influenced iDSD’s airy presentation dramatically. Same goes for the treble extension. It’s not in anyway crippled or hindered by the new changes of iDSD BL. In short, Black Label sounds more organic and musical compared to regular iDSD. I personally, always wanted my regular iDSD to sound fuller, more natural.. Well, I definitely got what I wanted!
Resolution is pretty much the same, however 3D switch do improve the perceived detail and texture little bit, which contributes to resolution by a small margin.
Black Label’s bass is little bit rounder, tighter. With XBass on, the difference is HUGE. I’ll talk more about it later!
Side note, iDSD BL is a lot more forgiving than the Original iDSD.
 

Hiss | Volume Knob

If you remember our previous iDSD(Silver) review, we implied Android and Windows not being all the same about sound. While using iDSD(Silver), portable devices tend to have a darker background whereas iDSD BL sounds fantastic on everything. USB or Battery Power, Android or Windows.
Regular iDSD was doing some channel imbalance between volumes 0-30%. It wasn’t a big problem because of the gain modes and iEMatch wouldn’t let you to listen below 50%. Actually it wasn’t a problem at all. It was just a fact. The exact fact remains same with iDSD Black Label. We hoped that they fixed this slight discomfort but I guess it’s related to analog attenuator they’re using. Anyways, the problem persists but like I said this is not a game changer or an unfortunate loss.

Soundstage | Separation

iDSD has a wide soundstage. Not very tall, but wide. iDSD BL’s separation is a little better than the regular iDSD but still it is the weakest point of iDSD compared to more expensive systems. (LPG, Hugo etc.) I’m not saying that the separation is bad, I’m just saying everything iDSD gives is beyond its price range, except its separation. Its separation has nothing special but it is surely good for the asking price.

XBass+ & 3D+

iFi really did fix the switches, the change is NOT subtle anymore.
Let’s talk about the “XBass”. It will be the new favourite of bassheads. iFi really outdid themselves on this one because this switch boosts the low end A LOT. I don’t have the required equipment to measure it but I can say that it acts like a 8-9db bass boost. It’s much much better than the Original iDSD’s bass boost which was very subtle.
Now, the 3D+ switch. Well to be honest I did quite a lot experiment on this switch and I am quite sure that it narrows the soundstage and increases perception of depth when used with IEMs. It is quite different with near-field monitors though. It organizes the stage resulting in more precise and holographic staging. I wouldn’t use it with all IEMs though.

 

Driveability | ECO – NORMAL – TURBO | Usability

iDSD is a beast in this subject and that’s probably why it has so many fans. It can literally drive anything. In ECO mode, sensitive monitors, in Normal Mode, standard headphones and in Turbo Mode it can drive most power hungry cans.

1. Turbo mode 10.0V/4,000 mW @ 16 Ohm
2. Normal mode 5.5V/1,900 mW @ 16 Ohm
3. Eco mode 2.0V/250 mW @ 16 Ohm

According our tests, it takes 12 hours to drain iDSD in ECO setting while Battery Mode is activated. On USB Power setting, the battery won’t drain itself whether it’s in ECO or Normal setting. I’ve also tested it in Turbo setting. It approximately takes 6-7 hours to drain its battery.
 

 

Digital Filters | Analogue Filters | Polarity

When it comes to digital filters iDSD has, such as Standard, Minimum Phase, Bit-Perfect, I wasn’t able to hear a noticable difference. If I heard it, I’m not even sure it’s not placebo. The way I understand it, when you’re listening DSD, digitals filters turn into analogue ones.
When it comes to analog filters such as Standard Range, Extended and Extreme, I was able to hear clear differences and I liked what I heard. When you’re listening to DSD, these analogue filters get activated. Also iDSD has a polarity switch. Like the digital filters I wasn’t able to hear much difference.
 

 

Built-in iPurifier

iFi integrated an iPurifier technology onto the PCB of the BL. Right off the bat, I didn’t think that it’d benefit me all that much. Boy was I wrong.. I recently bought a pair of JBL LSR305 for mixing purposes. Using LSR305s with my gaming desktop rig + Dragonfly v1.5 caused crazy amount of buzzing, hissing and RF. God, all that interference… I couldn’t stand it. I’ve been searching for a cure and then iFi sent the iDSD to me. Of course I instantly remembered the integrated iPurifier, I gave it a shot and the LSRs were DEAD SILENT. Truly amazing. All that interference from my GTX 1070, power supply and unshielded motherboard was gone as soon as I plug the BL in. I love you iPurifier. I truly do.
 

 

iEMatch

iEMatch is a passive attenuator that increases output impedance of the 6.3mm out a little. iFi doesn’t have a detailed explanation about how much it changes the output impedance but I assume Off <1 Ohm, High Sensitivity ~ 2 Ohm, Ultra Sensitivity ~ 3 Ohm.
You may ask, “What output impedance affects?”. The general use of this that iFi thought was eliminating the hiss of very sensitive monitors. But it does much more. Output impedance changes the frequency response of an IEM or a headphone. There is a basic calculation for that. If the impedance of the headphone/IEM is at least 8-10 times bigger than the amplifier’s output impedance, it won’t change the sound. If it’s less than that, you may need to greet with a colored sound which may be nice or sometimes unpleasant. I really love the idea of having this switch on a device and it does its work very well.
 

 

[size=17.03px]Male USB A | RCA Out (Direct/Pre-Amplifier) | SPDIF IN/OUT[/size]

Having a male USB A 2.0 connector for the digital connection was a great idea. When you’re going to connect the device to a phone, all you need is an OTG cable and you’re good to go.
iDSD also has a RCA output section. You have two different choices for that. Direct or Pre-Amplifier. Direct, as the name indicates, directly gives the DAC’s reference sound. Pre-Amplifier’s sound is more colored compared to Direct mode. It is warmer. Volume knob, XBass and 3D works with it. 3D that comes from RCA outs are different than 3Ds you’re using for headphones. They have a different circuit iFi says. 3D that comes from Pre-amplified RCAs are called “3D for Speakers”.
Also Direct or Pre-Amplifier, RCA’s are working simultaneously with the headphone output.
I’ve also had the pleasure of testing the SPDIF input, Toslink. I felt a little difference between USB input. Between digital audio transmission methods, the change is always subtle like this was for me. Toslink has slightly smoother but less detailed presentation than USB but in a very subtle way.

Installation | Updating iDSD | Smart Power

When it comes to DACs, installation time and progress matters very much. With a Mac OS, IOS, Android or Linux, iDSD is just a plug-and-play toy. There is no installation. If it is a portable device, to make it work in the Battery Power Mode, you switch iDSD on, then you make the USB connection, if it is a non-portable device, you plug iDSD in and switch it on. That’s it. Cannot be simpler.
If it is Windows, there is a 2-3 minute driver installation progress. Download from iFi’s website, install and you’re good to go.
Unlike most of the DAC or DAC/Amp brands on the market, people of iFi are busy with developing new stuff. There are many software versions of iDSD BL Micro. Currently, they are on version 5.2. They do care about your device and continue developing it with softwares. Version 5.2 has a playback delay problem. iFi pointed out that it was related to Sleep Mode. To solve this issue, they published 5.2B. 5.2B doesn’t switch to the sleep mode. They are calling it “the portable version” but I like to call it “the life-saver version”.
iDSD has a Smart Power feature. If your phone battery is about to be drained you can use iDSD as a power bank. iDSD has 4800mah battery that can be used for that purpose which is more than enough for your phone or your tablet. It gives 5V / 1.5A which is quite standard. This feature is another plus if you ask me.

Quick Comparisons

vs. Lotoo Paw Gold ($2000)
LPG has a better resolution, separation, deeper soundstage and it is easier to carry around. iDSD has a wider soundstage.
Tonality-wise, LPG has a sharper imaging and a punchier sound because of its energetic upper mid region, iDSD is warmer because of its midbass and mid forward presentation.
 
vs. Chord Mojo ($599)
Mojo is warmer, it has a narrower stage and it is more intimate. iDSD BL has a more balanced sound compared to Mojo. Resulting in better detail revealment. They are both very musical. BL has superior resolution and soundstage. I’d personally go with BL. (Device size is real though, you may need to evaluate that matter in your mind first)
 
vs. Audioquest Dragonfly Red ($200)
Audioquest have a similar sound signature. It’s not as detailed as iDSD. iDSD have better PRaT and handles complicated passages more successfully. iDSD has more natural timbre.
Red sounds kind of thin, especially with classical music. iDSD has more bass weight.
 
vs. Audioquest Dragonfly Black v1.5 ($100)
Dragonfly Black has a lot less treble extension.Technicality-wise iDSD has a better resolution, detail, separation and soundstage. When used without a Jitterbug, Dragonfly is more likely to hiss.
 

Summary

iDSD BL is the definition of bang for the buck in every way. More or less expensive, there aren’t many options other than Mojo. Furthermore, iFi is a concerning company, they care about you, also they care about their product, iDSD’s resolution is very good and it can literally drive anything. It has tons of features and I think iDSD BL is the real deal.
If you are looking for a DAC/AMP between 350-750$ this is your safest bet. Go get one! 
 
Side note: MSRP is 549$ without tax U.S / 599 eur incl. vat E.U

 

 

 

[size=24.57px]Earsonics S-EM9 "Coup de Grâce"[/size]

The review was originally posted on quantumears but I wanted to share it with Head-Fi as well.
 
Intro
Earsonics is a boutique audio equipment company located in Castries, France. They specialize in custom in-ears and hearing protection equipments. Earsonics is a well known company around the world and they are in business for a long time.
 
On 30 September 2015, Earsonics introduced their flagship earphone, S-EM9.
S-EM9 utilizes 9 balanced armature drivers to create a sound that is both smooth and impressively detailed. It indeed has a quite unique configuration. 1x low 4x mid 4x high.
First time hearing about this, questions pop’d in my mind “How can only 1 bass driver provide rich and deep totl-quality bass” After listening to it, this was certainly not the case. We’ll get to that later!
 
Specifications

1. Sensitivity: 121 dB/mW
2. frequency response: 5 Hz -20 kHz
3. Impedance: 38,5 ohm
4. Driver: 9 drivers, 3 way crossover. 1x low, 4x mid. 4x high.
5. MSRP: 1490€

 
Testing Equipment

1. Lotoo Paw Gold (Main Source)
2. Audioquest Dragonfly Black
3. Plenue P1
4. Linum Cables

     
Accessories | Box

S-EM9 comes with a sturdy, stylish box.
Inside the box, there is a little carrying case and tips. Accessories are quite modest, minimal. You only get what you need.

1. 4  Comply Tips
2. 4 Silicon Tips
3. 1 Cleaning Tool
4. 3.5mm to 6.3mm Adapter    
5. Carrying Case
6. User Manual in French
7. Stock Cable

 
Design | Build | Fit
IEMs themselves are completely handcrafted and they are made of acrylic.
They have a glossy, black finish with red 9 on the left earpiece, white ES artwork on the right earpiece. They feel sturdy and durable.
 
The very first time I picked up one of these into my hands, I was literally utterless. I couldn’t believe this thing had 9 drivers in it. It’s so compact, it’s.. Incredible.
We got used to huge shells such as K10, Solar, Angie.. S-EM9 is quite compact compared to them. The only complaint that I have is the short nozzle. Remember S-EM6? It had a long nozzle and everybody had perfect fit with it. That is sadly, not the case with S-EM9. That short nozzle turns fit selection into a first class problem. To be completely honest, I tried many tips. If you have big ear canals like me, you’ll more likely to prefer large spinfits or the stock double flanges.
 
   ​    

Tips & Cable Improvements

Tip rolling is real and it’s extra important with short nozzle earphones such as S-EM9.
I have tried many tips including, Spinfits, RHA, Ortofons, Comply, Shure, Westone and many more generic brands.
 
I personally like Ortofons but they cripple bass response by a small margin. Earsonics double flanges are better bass-wise. As for cables, please, S-EM9 deserves a better cable. Upgrade as soon as possible. The impact is ASTRONOMICAL. My recommendation would be a hybrid or not so lush copper cable such as the PW.5. IMO, silver cables mess with S-EM9’s polite presentation. So that’s a no.
 
Sound Signature
I’ve used SM3, SM64, S-EM6, Velvet.
They all had one thing in common. They were smooth. So smooth that you could wear them all week long and they would never disturb you in any way.
 
S-EM9 is no exception.
 
“Yes but what about details, what about technicality?”
You may ask.
 
I asked the same question myself.
From my very own perspective, S-EM9 is the Earsonics’ “chef-d'œuvre”
Their ultimate masterpiece.
 
Earsonics products were always musical, always smooth and dynamic.
But technical? Only minority of them. They had enough details, they had decent technicality.
Earsonics were not into those kind of stuff, they focused on personal enjoyment instead.
 
With the creation of S-EM9 on the other hand, is perhaps Earsonics saying that they can create a monitor, which is both musically and technically advanced.
 
A sound that doesn’t reinvent the earsonics house formula, but rather refines it..
 
Let's move on.
 
Lows
Think big. Impactful. The bass rolls in like a thunder storm, but only when the song calls for it.
The control of frequencies is something that I truly admire S-EM9 for. From 20 to 250hz, bass never bleed into the mid section. Its bass is somewhat weird. It’s neither in Armature Village, nor in Dynamic Village. It’s BA-like with my metal tracks and it’s dynamic like with my EDM tracks. I am quite confused to be honest. When I am listening to Kygo, Avicii, Spirit Catcher etc, its bass immediately reminds me of the Oriolus, when I am listening to Dragonforce, Opeth, Megadeth, Graveyard etc, I become certain that it’s a BA iem.
You could say that S-EM9 evolves and responds to the track you are listening to.
I’ve literally had goosebumps throughout the entire track of “Stolen Dance” from Milky Chance.
Furthermore, the quality of the bass is also impressive.
    
Mids
Midrange of S-EM9 is smooth and delicate. You will never hear harsh vocals.
Tonal balance is great. It’s natural. It’s not saturated. It’s clear,
Upper mids have the traditional ES dip but it’s minimal. I am sure that many people will not notice it right away. Trust me, it’s there, and it’s a great touch.
What does it do? Well, if you are a metalhead like I am, you know that certain IEMs iems with hot treble and upper mid section, will tire you after some listening sessions.
S-EM9 having this dip, reducing the snare and hihat hotness, puts them in a perfect position where you can both enjoy the details of it and also listen to them for long sessions. The dip is not big like in SM64 so it does not harm the upper mid extension of the S-EM9.
And yes, it’s Sorcery.
 
Highs
Most detailed highs I’ve ever heard. Period.
The resolution is very impressive. The treble extension is ample but very well-defined.
At first listen, S-EM9 may sound like a bright monitor because of the treble transparency.
Spending some time with it will help you understand how smooth and polite it sounds. The magical part is, ES did not crop out the frequencies in order to make it “polite”. The high frequencies are blending into the spectrum perfectly, resulting in a very coherent, harmonic presentation.
5 hours of non-stop EDM? No problem! 6 hours of Mike Portnoy’s hi-hat beating? No problem!
 
Soundstage & Imaging | Instrument Separation | Dynamics & Speed
S-EM9 is the fastest monitor I’ve ever heard to this date. This is not very surprising because many ES IEMs have great dynamism. Velvet was quite energetic, ES-3 is articulate and fast…
Of course S-EM9 is not an exception.. It is blazing fast, coherent, articulate.
I spent enough time listening to metal genre with it and its attack-decay is quite unique.
Its imaging is accurate and precise. Soundstage however, is good enough for an IEM. I can’t really say that it’s very expansive but it’s good enough. Plus, instrument separation is so good that you won’t look for an expansive staging. Instruments certainly have more than enough air between them and S-EM9 handles congestion effortlessly.
 
   
Quick Comparisons

vs. Earsonics Velvet (700€)
S-EM9’s bass is similar to Velvet’s but S-EM9 does not have a mid-bass dip like the Velvet. S-EM9 is more natural, detailed, bodied and coherent. Its resolution and separation is superior as well. Velvet has a wider soundstage resulting in slightly airier presentation.
 
vs. Noble K10 ($1.650)
S-EM9 has a wider soundstage and better separation. K10’s upper mids are more energetic resulting in slightly clearer mid region. K10 has a better soundstage depth. Its unstable upper mids can emphasize snares and hi-hats tad too much, resulting in unwanted congestion during fast paced tracks.
 
vs. Oriolus + PW.5 ($1.300)
S-EM9’s treble is more refined, detailed. S-EM9 is dynamically superior, Both monitors’ mids are meaty and their timbre is natural. Oriolus is quite fast for a hybrid monitor. It’s not as fast but the margin is small. Oriolus’ wind instrument reproduction is somewhat more realistic.
 
vs. FitEar TG334 ($1.399)
TG334 has the most beautiful mid reproduction I’ve ever heard. Especially woman vocals. Engaging, intense, emotional. In this regard, this earphone knows no rival. In nearly every other regard, S-EM9 is superior. It is faster, its resolution is higher, it is more detailed, more coherent..
TG334 sounds veiled compared to S-EM9.
 
vs. Rhapsodio Solar + 2.98 ($1250)
Solar is a great contender. Its male vocal and guitar reproduction is quite impressive. Solar has a slightly bigger soundstage but S-EM9 feels airier. Also, S-EM9 tolerates congestion little better than Solar. S-EM9 is faster and it is dynamically superior.
 
vs. 64 Audio U12 ($1599)
U12 has even more polite highs and upper mids. It loses some clarity but it’s a good alternative to S-EM9. Its mids are meaty, lows are deep and strong. It’s quite suitable for EDM.
U12 handles congestion almost as effortless as S-EM9.
 
vs. Lear LCM BD4.2
Lear has a brighter sound signature.. Its notes are thinner, and it is more transparent.
Lear’s bass is more airy but it feels a lot slower compared to S-EM9’s blazing fast bass response. Listening to Metal and other fast paced genres with Lear is quite tiring due to its bright tuning. S-EM9 handles congestion a lot better than Lear.
 
vs. Earsonics ES-3 (399€)
Think of S-EM9 as the homo sapiens and ES-3 as the homo erectus. S-EM9 is the evolved and upgraded version of ES-3. Almost same signature, a lot more resolution, better EVERYTHING. If you love the ES house sound, you should definitely give this speedster a chance.
 
Summary
S-EM9 is an extraordinary monitor. Its presentation is unique and it deserves much more attention. Its PRaT & Dynamism is unrivaled. Yes, it requires a good cable, yes it demands some tip rolling but trust me it’s definitely worth the effort. Give this speedster a chance!
 
 
 
 

EARSONICS ES-2 & ES-3 “DOUBLE TROUBLE”

The review was originally posted on quantumears but I wanted to share it with Head-Fi as well.
 

Intro

Earsonics is a boutique audio equipment company located in Castries, France. They specialize in custom in-ears and hearing protection equipments. Earsonics is a well known company around the world and they are in business for quite a long time. I first encountered with Earsonics when I purchased SM3 in 2011. God it was so good… I immediately put them on my radar. I’ve been hooked ever since.
 
Earsonics is an eccentric company. They have a vision. They are prioritizing personal enjoyment over the classic hi-fi norms in their earphone tunings. Their aim is a musical, smooth but detailed sound.
New ES lineup is a product of this exact idea. Crafted with this vision in mind.
 
In every october, Earsonics introduces a new lineup of earphones. This year, they surprised the market by choosing mid-tier their target range, which is quite extraordinary considering the dramatic price increase of the In-Ear market that causes serious financial trouble to the end user.
 

 

[size=17.03px]Specifications[/size]

Earsonics ES-2

1. Sensitivity: 119 dB/mW
2. frequency response: 10 Hz -20 kHz
3. Impedance: 26,5 ohm
4. Driver: 2 drivers, 2 way crossover with impedance corrector.
5. MSRP: 299€

 
Earsonics ES-3

1. Sensitivity: 116 dB/mW
2. Frequency Response:: 10 Hz -20 kHz
3. Impedance: 31,5 ohm
4. Driver: 3 drivers, 3 way crossover with impedance corrector.
5. MSRP: 399€

 

[size=17.03px]Testing Equipment[/size]

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

1. Lotoo Paw Gold (Main Source)
2. Audioquest Dragonfly Black
3. AR M20
4. Plenue P1
5. Shanling M5
6. Linum Cables

 
  
 
 
 
[size=17.03px]Accessories | Box[/size]
The new ES serie comes with an elegant, grey box.
Inside the box, there is a little carrying case and tips. Accessories are quite modest, minimal. You only get what you need.

1. 4  Comply tips
2. 4 silicon tips
3. 1 cleaning tool
4. Carrying case
5. User manual in French
6. Stock cable

 
 

Design | Build | Fit

Both of the new lineup models are equipped with the same type of housing that had been used by Velvets. The housing is made of reinforced plastic. It’s a 2 sound bore design with a diffractive acoustic chamber.
Fit is seamlessly good. You can even lie down with them without any problems. Earphones themselves are quite lightweight and low profile. They look fashionable too!
When used with thin cables like Linums, you literally forget about them being in your ear after a short time.
 
 
 

Sound Signature

Shall we start with ES-2? The younger brother has a non-fatiguing, smooth sound signature with an enhanced low end and laid back treble.
Let’s say after an incredibly long day, you’re feeling exhausted. The audiophile inside you urges you to listen some high quality music but you are so tired that you can’t even bare the idea of hearing all the micro details, extending cymbals, crackling hihats with your Velvets or your full size HE-6. You.. you just want to listen and relax. At that point, ES-2 comes into play. ES-2 is musical, smooth and dark. You won’t get tired of cymbals or snares.. In this regard, ES-2 and SM64 is very similar. Long story short, ES-2 is a great contender for those who love lush and warm in-ear monitors. Oh, and it doesn’t cherry-pick recordings either. During the review session I find myself amazed by particularly these artists: Brad Paisley, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Crash Test Dummies…
 
ES-3 on the other hand, reminds me of S-EM9 a lot, smooth but detailed presentation, good instrument separation, tight bass.. Meaty mids.. I can easily state that ES-3 is a lot more balanced than ES-2. It has more upper mid spark and treble extension. It feels a lot airier and energetic. In terms of technicality ES-3 is more resolving and refined than ES-2. It feels more coherent as well.
 
   
 

Low Freqs

Bass of ES-2 is powerful, thick. Not boomy, not excessive. Given enough power, ES-2 mimics the characteristics of a dynamic driver. Airy, broad, punchy. There aren’t absurd amounts of bass that come out of nowhere. On the contrary, deep and tremendous bass only comes into play when the recording calls for it. It does not feel like it’s elevated or overly saturated. Timbre is just right. Even the micro details of sub-bass, like vibrations of the strings just before the tonal resonance, is presented delicately. I especially enjoyed listening to string and percussion instruments with the ES-2.
 
ES-3’s bass however, is more linear compared to ES-2. It is fast, neat, whacky. When listening to fast paced songs e.g. megadeth, dragonforce etc. bass impact stands strong and keeps up with the rest of the spectrum. It surprised me a lot to hear a bass so clean and textured in this price range. I remember the first time putting them on, the very first thing that popped in my mind was “these do not sound like they are 400€ at all!” Earphone itself can easily be compared with such high priced sets like SE846, IE800, ES Velvet, bass-wise. Mid bass and Sub bass are both very well tuned and offers a great balance. I also wanted to see how the ES-3 pairs up with cables like Linum BaX and Linum Music. After an extensive testing session with BaX, it is safe to say that the sub-bass quantity increases significantly with Linum BaX.
 

Mid Freqs

ES-2’s mid region is warm, welcoming and full. It gives you the feeling of a crackling fireplace in a cold rainy day. ES-2 is an emotional presenter but it does not push the vocals into your face like the Westone um30. You do not lose the sense of airiness when you are listening to a romantic acoustic track with a velvety woman vocal. Long story short, the mids are meaty, lush and full. I really like ES-2’s acoustic reproduction. It’s somewhat creamy and tranquilizing.
 
The midrange of the ES-3 is well-positioned, neither recessed nor forward. Vocals are transparent, articulate and elegant. Mids are blending into the spectrum very well, resulting in a very coherent presentation. Upper mids are smoothened but the detail level and resolution still remain uncompromised like in every Earsonics product. This is their house sound after all. Lower midrange on the other hand, feels natural and I really enjoyed women vocals with the ES-3. (e.g. Melody Gardot, Norah Jones and Diana Krall.)
 

High Freqs

ES-2 is on the darker side of the force. Highs are more recessed than the rest of the spectrum, but they definitely do not lack in detail and coherency. They are not prominent, they are not harsh or edgy. ES-2 is a great option if you like your eardrum where it already is. Joking aside, ES-2 has a way of throwing you hi-hats, snares, crashes like they’re literally smoothest instruments in the world. I actually love that a lot. I can literally throw any cymbalfest Dragonforce or Behemoth song at ES-2 and it just finds a way to smoothen all up and somehow rejuvenate your soul …while listening to metal. Yeah.
 
BUT
After some smooth afternoons together, you may want to pull the little guy into the interrogation chamber and ask it whether it is a natural sounding monitor or not. Well I have bad news for you. It is most probably not.
 
Comparatively, ES-3’s high frequencies are smooth but still carry great level of detail. They have good extension and resolution. Just like the upper mids, they are completely lenient. They are definitely not harsh or edgy in any way. Additionally highs never dwarf the mids, they have great control and this gives ES-3 a more coherent presentation across the spectrum.
 
  

 

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

Despite its powerful low end, rolled off upper-mid and polite highs, ES-2 offers quite a good headroom. Layering and stage depth is excellent for this price range. Imaging is good, reminds me of SM64. PRaT-wise, it is a relatively fast monitor, it can keep up with the majority of the tracks I threw at it, but there are still few that it couldn’t and gave up to congestion.
 
ES3 offers a spacious presentation which feels even greater when combined with a good player like Lotoo PG. Instrument separation is somewhat source dependant and it can be quite impressive if the source you’re using is well-matched with ES-3. PRaT and speed is something that Earsonics fans got used to and this remains unchanged with ES-3 as well. It is fast, dynamic and articulate. Both imaging and layering are also excellent and very well defined. Staging is airy and spacious. ES-3 handles congestion very well and I am quite fascinated by this to be honest.
To understand it better, please proceed to the comparison section down below.
 
  
 

Quick Comparisons

vs. Earsonics Velvet (700€)
Velvet’s notes are lighter, less meaty. Velvet feels airier and it’s more spacious. Velvet’s bass extends better and it has more bass than ES-3 in general. Margin is not big, if you like Velvet’s bass presentation, but if you want a more balanced signature, go for ES-3. If you want more bass and less treble fatigue, go for ES-2.
Resolution-wise, ES-3 is almost on par with tight Velvet which is quite good. ES-2 falls behind a bit in this regard.
 
vs. Earsonics S-EM9 (1.500€)
Think of S-EM9 as the homo sapiens and ES-3 as the homo erectus. S-EM9 is the evolved and upgraded version of ES-3. Almost same signature, a lot more resolution, better EVERYTHING. If you love Earsonics products like I do, you should definitely give this speedster a chance. Its review is in the works too!
 
vs. Noble K10 ($1.650)
K10’s upper mids are wilder than those of ES-2 & 3. Control degrades when combined with high volumes.
Resolution-wise K10 is better and more refined. K10’s vocal presentation is more successful and feels more natural. Its bass also goes deeper and have more whack effect. ES-3’s stage is more spacious compared to the Noble.
 
vs. Oriolus + PW.5 ($1.300)
Oriolus’ strong suit is its natural presentation. I am afraid that many of the in-ears to this date will fall short in this regard. Nonetheless, ES-3 is faster and it’s timbre is not unnatural compared to Oriolus. For an IEM priced so modestly, it is a great accomplishment if you ask me.
 
vs. In Ear SD-2 (400€)
ES-2 has more bass than SD-2 and ES-3.ES-3’s vocal presentation is nearly identical but SD-2 has A LOT more upper mid spark than ES-2. ES-3’s stage is wider. Both of the ES twins have more exciting tuning than the SD-2.
 

End Words

ES-2’s soft, smooth and lush sound signature should be considered very unique. Especially it can be an excellent companion if you enjoy acoustic music. Its percussion and string instrument presentation is very satisfying. ES-2 is a unrivalled earphone for treble sensitive audiophiles. Plus considering it’s price, it is a quite good in-ear if you like meaty mids, recessed treble and abundant bass presence.
 
ES-3’s smooth but also detailed sound at this resolution and separation should be considered quite extraordinary, especially at this price point. Even with the TOTL monitors, you might not get the PRaT and dynamism of the ES-3.. It can easily keep up with the fastest songs that we could find. Congestion is entirely out of the picture. To sum it up, ES-3’s 3d imaging, transparency, coherence, and capability are all excellent for the asking price.
 
We really recommend these gems to all Earsonics house sound fans out there!
 
Thank you for reading!

  
 
First of all, I would like to thank Dimitri Trush, CEO of the MusicaAcoustics for providing me review sample of Oriolus in exchange of my honest opinion.
 
 
Oriolus’ official website: http://www.mini-audio.com/ or http://www.oriolus.jp/
MusicaAcoustics website: http://www.musicaacoustics.com/
 
Testing Equipment
*Cowon Plenue P1
*Oriolus Stock Cable
 
So, what is Oriolus?
Well.. A bird. Yup, a bird. Known as "genus Oriolus" or "orioles"
I strongly believe that this particular bird is brand's muse. Just like this bird, Oriolus mk II is vivid, polite and smooth.
Some of you may think that Oriolus belongs to iBasso, some of you think that it belongs to Mini-Audio.. or Cyras Inc.. Well, I honestly don’t know who created Oriolus.
Let's put aside that and get to things that really matter!
First of all, I hope this little review of mine aid you with your grand quest of finding the "perfect" iem. I have listened over 200 earphones to this date, and I am still searching for it.. Yup. It is not an easy task to be an audiophile..
I can almost see you scrolling down for sound impressions. Let's cover few things first!
 
BUILD QUALITY | FIT | ISOLATION
Oriolus is a well-built acrylic earphone. It has a great finish. It also stays very secure in my ears. I am using ortofon and spinfit tips. Both sound and fit great to my ears.
It has a short and wide nozzle. 3 sound bore configuration each side.
Isolation is also good. Not InEar SD-2/3/4 vacuum kind of good, but good. On par with K10UA.
 
ACCESSORIES
It comes with:
4 pair silicone tips.
1 pair comply tips.
1 cable management tool
1 cleaning tool
1 cable attacher (to prevent microphonics)
The cable it comes with is fantastic. It's three strands look strong and well-built. Plus it looks way better than common stock cables. Kudos to creators of Oriolus in this regard.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS
Let me divide this whole thing into few sections.
 
Sound Signature
Honestly, it’s quite hard to give it a specific label. It is very balanced across the spectrum. Don't get me wrong it is absolutely not ER4 kind of balanced. It has a great bass response, it has great mid energy and it has delightfully polite highs. It is a great allrounder. Coherency is the key apparently.
Resolution is on par with JH Angie, U12, TG334..  (K10UA, SEM9, are 1 step ahead of oriolus in this matter)
Tonality In general, Oriolus feels pretty natural. Stringed instruments and brass instruments have a realistic tone. Percussion instruments are a bit warmer than usual.
 
Low Freqs
Rumblin' Tumblin' all day long. You feel the dynamic driver's whack effect very well. Oriolus has a lush, fulfilling bass response. I am not talking about a extreme basshead pleaser here, the kind of bass that would make you tap your toes, move your legs..
Long story short, lows of Oriolus hit hard, they can keep up with relatively fast paced genres, they have just the right amount of air in them and they also have great depth.
All because of the good ol' DD.
 
Mid Freqs
I've been disappointed one too many times in this section to be honest. I had iems that I absolutely adored highs and lows but not the mids..  Mid region has always been the most tricky one. As for Oriolus, I must say I am very impressed. Region is completely under control with good amount of detail. Mids are vivid, beefy, articulate. Vocals are a bit forward but not intimate like the K10. Upper mid region is again, very controlled and refined. Cymbals and hihats never go sibilant and never gets sharp. I really must congratulate creators of Oriolus about this. Female vocals “shine bright like a diamond” (pun intended)
 
High Freqs
Again, like the rest of the spectrum, they are very controlled. No out of place shining, no sharp ear hurting forever extending treble. Just good amount of energy, just good amount of resolution, just good amount of extension. Simply put, highs are effortless. They're there. Just when you need them. Crash/Ride Cymbals, Picollos, Saxs, Snares all very present and very well defined. Highs are gentle and delicate.
 
Soundstage | Layering | Separation
Soundstage is not extra wide, tall or deep. Just enough to have a great instrument separation and good amount of space between the instruments. Great instrument separation gives you the impression of 3D staging very well. Of course, cohesiveness across frequencies greatly help Oriolus in this regard. However, stage depth is not great. Don't get me wrong, it is good but there are better options.
 
Dynamism | PRaT (Pace, Rhythm and Timing)
Oriolus is not a particularly fast earphone like S-EM9. But It is fast enough. It doesn’t feel congested while listening to fast paced genres like speed metal, thrash metal, fast paced EDM songs.. It can surely keep up and satisfy the demanding audiophile.


 
Short Comparisons
 
vs. Noble K10UA
K10 is more intimate, it's mids have higher resolution and they're even more effortless. K10 is emotional whereas Oriolus is distant(Not laid back). K10's upper mid frequencies and high frequencies are definitely wilder and can be a problem at high volumes. Oriolus’ Bass region is similar, both have enough to keep you happy.
 
vs. Earsonics S-EM9
S-EM9's treble is refined, detailed, energetic and fast. S-EM9 is dynamically superior, even more energetic and fast. Hell, it is the fastest monitor I've ever listened to this date and Oriolus competes with it just fine. As for mids and lows, S-EM9’s bass extends deeper and it is a bit more impactful. Both monitors’ mids are meaty and detailed.
 
vs. Lear LCM BD4.2
Lear is brighter than Oriolus. It's notes are lighter, more transparent.
Lear’s bass is on par with Oriolus but it feels a lot slower.
Listening to Metal and other fast paced genres with Lear is quite tiring.
Oriolus is much more easy going in this regard because of the tamed upper mids.
Handles congestion a lot better than Lear.
 
vs. FitEar TG334
TG334’s presentation is similar. However Oriolus feels airier.
Oriolus is even more coherent than TG334.
Oriolus’ treble is more refined and detailed compared to TG334.
Low frequencies of Oriolus feels tighter.
Oriolus freq regions are living in a complete harmony whereas TG334’s mids can sometimes isolate themselves from rest of the spectrum.
HOWEVER, FitEar's vocal presentation is more emotional. I can understand why it has so many fans all over the world.

vs. Earsonics Velvet
Tonality-wise, Velvet feels a bit artificial compared to Oriolus.
Velvet's bass extends deeper and have greater impact.
Oriolus' mids are meaty whereas Velvet feels flimsy.
Treble is similar, resolution is almost the same.
Velvet feels airier but it also lacks body.
 
End Words
Oriolus is coherent and versatile. These traits are what makes Oriolus a great all-rounder.
Oriolus sounds a lot better than those just under it in cost, yet compares closely to those that are much more expensive.
 

 
Thank you very much for reading!

Introduction
I bought this little gem online last year and been using it since. It only came with a pouch, 2 sets of tips and earphones themselves.
KC06 features a single Dynamic Driver and a "Vibrating membrane technology"
 
Sources used: LG V10, iFi Micro iDSD.
Genres: Rock&Metal, Jazz&Blues, Electronic&Dance
 
Build Quality and Comfort
Build Quality is quite nice for a 50$ IEM. Feels very solid in hand and cable is quite durable. (After nearly 1 year of abuse, it is really!)
KC06's design is simple yet beautiful. It is surely not a usual design and they may seem uncomfortable at first sight but they really are not. They're really comfy and I can even sleep with them. They can both be worn straight down and over-the-ear. One more thing worth mentioning is they're very lightweight for a metal earphone. 1/3 of DUNU DN1Ks. 
The only thing I didn't like is the Y splitter. It could have been thicker. Again, I've seen far worse built earphones priced 5 times more than these.
 
Sound Quality
Let me divide this into sections and start with Bass, Mid and Treble.
 
Bass: KC06's bass is quick, punchy and smooth. Just like you'd expect from a Dynamic Driver. Ostry tuned KC06's bass lightweight. It is not rumble tumble rolling thunder kind of bass. It is "be like water, my friend" kind of bass. Furthermore, bass region never bleeds into mid region. It is very well controlled. Bass resolution is also on par with higher priced iems. Don't get me wrong, compared to a single BA or even Dual BA like Havi B3 or Westone W20, Ostry has pretty meaty bass response. 
 
Mids: One word. Clean. Ostry did a really great job in mid region as well. Overall mids are very detailed, clarity oriented and bright. Ostry did smoothed upper mid section little bit to avoid sibilance land however KC06's mids can crush any earphone between 50-100$ IMO.
 
Highs: Prominent, crisp and vivid. Although a bit colorized, I find KC06's trebles pretty good. Ostry managed to tune it a hair below the "hot" area of trebles. No one wants to go to sibi-town of course.
Some may find treble little too much for their taste, but without this kind of tuning ostry wouldn't be this revealing/detailed. 
 
Soundstage: Width is alright but, depth is not very good to be honest. Well hey, it's only a minor setback!
 
Instrument Seperation: Sub 150$ earphone king in this section. It is very airy. You won't feel congestion or anything like that. Even when listening to high PRaT tracks. 
 
Rock&Metal: Quite good. You can definitely listen blind guardian, iron maiden etc without feeling claustrophobic. 9/10
Jazz&Blues: Soundstage comes into play, ostrys could really use a bit more depth but instruments are clear and detailed. 7/10
Acoustic + Female Vocal: Absolutely terrific with KC06. Alanis Moriette, Birdy.. etc. Bliss. 10/10
Electronic&Dance: Quite fun to listen to. Definitely could use a bit more bass authority and rumble BUT with those, perhaps mids wouldn't be this clear. So, I am being generous and rating this 8/10
 
Driveability: It is very easy to drive. Almost anything can drive these earphones.
 
Isolation: Isolation is not very good. If shure iems are 10, this would be 6 max!
 
Last Words
Definitely the king of sub 150$ earphones. Current price is 45$.. Brilliant! 
 
 

 
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Ostry and this review is my %100 honest opinion.