Disclaimer:
The MUSE HIFI East 6 was sent to me as a review sample from MUSE HIFI, for which I thank!
I certainly won’t tell you about the history of the company but my interest in this brand was born with my advent into this hobby. Muse Hifi has the nicest ALC5686 dongle on the market. I’m talking about the Muse Hifi M1. For anyone new to this hobby, it is certainly the DAC that I recommend first.
Obviously, they make much more expensive products and I am extremely happy that, with my hobby, I can try so many products.
However, the review will still be 100% honest and, in no way, biased.
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.
So I’m not going to use super-technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
Tech Specs:
- Shell Material: CNC metal
- Driver: 10mm dual cavity High-quality Single DD
- Impedance: 16Ω±15%.
- Sensitivity: 123 dB (Red Nozzle), 125 dB (Black Nozzle).
- THD+N: <0.5%.
- Frequency Response: 10Hz–50kHz
- Cable: high-purity, pure silver
- Weight: 15g x piece
Packaging:
A packaging model already seen on another IEM, I must admit that the trip effect of the packaging already makes you think of something extremely particular. The care and standard equipment of the accessories are correct compared to the asking price.
Inside, we find:
- Hard case
- Cable with 3.5mm termination
- 8 pairs of tips: 3 different tips type (great)
- 2 types of nozzle
The equipment is excellent. We have three different types of tips: the 07, the wide bore, and the more classic ones, all of good quality, perhaps even better than other brands. The cable is honestly proportioned and does not add weight unnecessarily. The hard case where you store them is anonymous but it is always an extremely useful accessory.
Design/Build quality:
The Muse Hifi East 6 is proof of extreme design. They are beautiful—so beautiful that personally, they win over all the others. None of them achieve such a particular design but unfortunately, there are some comfort and perhaps even design problems. As you can see from the photos, it is a metal block. The weight is there, but it does not create problems. The faceplate is truly open-back—much more open than the BGVP P05. I think they are one of the few to be so open-back. If you close the nozzle from the back of the IEM, you can hear the sound coming out. The nozzles that can be changed are also excellent, much better than the switches, but here we begin the first problems.
As you will see from the photos, the nozzle is not very pronounced, which creates fit problems due to the extreme design. The angle of attack of the nozzle is reached with difficulty; without a perfect seal, you already know that you cannot listen to them. The choice of such an unhuman design led to significant fit problems. I had to use the largest tips ever in the included set; in my case, the wide bore ones are fine but the ideal are tips that lengthen the nozzle and create more positioning possibilities. This shape is vaguely reminiscent of the Hifiman TWS 800, which, however, has softer shapes and a more elongated structure. Here we also have the corners, which, if they press in the wrong places, create problems.
Tips Rolling?
To continue the review, I had to go straight to the rolling tips section! Unfortunately, with the originals, unless your ears are a little particular, you will necessarily have to do some tips rolling. With the original L-size ones, I can have an optimal seal to enjoy the performance of the driver. However, the part opposite the nozzle of the shell takes an angle that goes inside the ear, pushing the edges and creating pain after half an hour. To solve the problem, I have to find tips that allow more movement of the IEM.
This time, I immediately discarded the Divinus Velvets, which are stiff.
- Dunu S&S in sizes M or L are definitely an improvement over the stock ones; the nozzle is longer and there is slightly more ease in positioning.
- Tri clarion in size L: Finally, we are 100%; more than that is difficult to get from this shell design. However, we can do even better with a tip mod.
- Kz Starline “Reverse MOD”: Here we go beyond 100% as the reversed Starlines have absolute mobility. They are also the cheapest of all. With these, you can easily listen to them for hours.
Comfort/Fit:
The Muse Hifi East 6 is perhaps the most difficult IEM to wear after the Hifiman Svanar Wireless. Unfortunately, I can’t say that they are comfortable and perfect, even after changing tips. They went overboard with the design; they are as beautiful as they are uncomfortable. Hence the name “alien IEMs.”.
Initial sound impression:
Starting to talk about sound, the Muse HIFI East 6 really sounds very good! Assuming you find the correct position and good sealing, you will enjoy very good audio quality. The driver used is certainly not cheap; I have no way of finding out whether the coil is Japanese, as stated but it certainly sounds good. Its open-back structure is probably part of its magic and it makes me cry to think that such a good-sounding set was put aside because of the fit.
Final sound impression:
Equipment was used for the testing above…
Device:
- iMac
- Redmi Note 7 Snapdragon
- Poco M4 Pro Mediatek
Software:
- Foobar2000 24bit 192kHz (iMac)
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz (Both)
- Tidal Hifi Plus
DAC:
- Moondrop Dawn Pro
- Moondrop Dawn 4.4
- Fosi SK02
- Simgot Dew4x
- iBasso DC04pro
- EPZ TP20 3.5 mm (Dual Cirrus)
- Hidizs S9 Pro Plus (ESS): Most Used
- EPZ TP30 (ESS)
P.S. My impressions are given using non-original accessories (different tips).
From the first moments with the Muse HIFI East 6, I liked them a lot. From what my ears hear, the set is extremely well done. The tuning is very pleasant, the detail is excellent, and the soundstage expands beyond the ears thanks to the open rear cavity. If only they had dared less with the design, this would have been completely different.
Let’s move on to a slightly more detailed analysis. At the moment I am writing it, I am using the reversed starlines and using the nozzles with black gaskets.
Bass
The East 6 performs very well. It is neither an unnatural bass nor too covering but it has a certain body and thickness. I would define it as a naturally warm bass with excellent detail. The subbass has a slight push without being too dense. However, the push gives the sensation of moving air and honestly, this doesn’t happen with many IEMs.
Mids
Extremely lustful and silky vocals. The note of warmth continues into the mids, creating a very pleasant mix. The female voices have depth and liveliness; even the singers’ breaths on some tracks are clearly audible. They sound quite natural on almost all tracks, maybe just a very slight nasal note but I think that’s due to the slightly warm and dampened tuning at the top.
Treble
The highs are difficult to break down; it is practically impossible for them to be sibilant or harsh. There is an audible roll-off but honestly, there is a very good presence of macro details, even sparks where you expect them. All in all, even if not excessive, the air is present. I have to say that everything is very relaxed and pleasant, even on really long listens and honestly, it’s just missing a little more sparkle that you can get with the other nozzle but you lose something elsewhere.
The red filter slightly elevates the treble region, making listening slightly more tiring in the long run. Honestly, it doesn’t cause me any problems because I’m not extremely sensitive to the extra treble. In my opinion, the black filter has the most pleasant tone for the mass. The red on
Soundstage and Imaging:
The soundstage, thanks to the open back cavity, is actually better than most DD singles on the market. With the red nozzle, the peak of this DD is reached and in my opinion, the image also acquires greater sharpness. There is some spicy peak but on the other side, you have the much more direct and less filtered single DD. It’s the first set where the difference is so audible.
Regarding the separation of sounds, it does very well.
Comparison:
vs EPZ x Tipsy Star One
Faceplates + Sun
For the same price, we can have the Star One, and certainly the fit is much more comfortable. The standard equipment is a bit poor for the cost and above all, a dongle is recommended due to the 64 OHM impedance. Exceptional vocal presentation, warm tone, and phenomenal bass quality. Read the full review!
vs EPZ Q5
My first great love for EPZ will never be forgotten! It remains an IEM with absolute comfort; the sound for the price requested is crazy; I could say that it surprises more than the Star One. Equipped with better accessories but some better tips, the performance increases. I put them on a balanced cable and I always spend several hours on them.
vs Celest Plutus Beast
Are you looking for something more exotic for a similar price? Celest is for you with the Plutus Beast! Great hybrid IEMs with an extremely fun sound and the BC driver adds depth to the bass. They have very high comfort, a good supply of tips (even if they were missing in my sample), excellent cable, and very low impedance, which make them also suitable for smartphones.
vs Rose Technics QuietSea
Metal & plastic
The QuietSea are perhaps the most well-equipped IEMs and the tone is also the most serious of those previously mentioned. The topology driver and the collaboration with IKKO have led to the development of an excellent IEM, even if, unlike the others, it is less particular.
Conclusion:
The Muse HIFI East 6 would have been excellent IEMs but unfortunately, their extreme and angular design makes them absolutely unsuitable for many people. Having to get new tips to make up for a design problem shouldn’t be an obligation but in this case, you have to.
On the audio side, they are definitely a solid 8.5/10 because they satisfy the ear and the nozzles work properly.
Unfortunately, I can only rate it a 3/10 in terms of comfort. My ears are also quite large, but the angle of the nozzle is not optimal, so I had to use reversed starlines, which significantly lengthen the attack of the nozzle.
I conclude by saying that I hope Muse Hifi collects feedback from the community and develops an IEM with an equally particular design but with a shape more suitable for human ears.
I give it a passing grade because, in the end, I was able to use them without pain and I also had fun. I will definitely continue to use them.
Where to buy?
MUSE HiFi The East6 / East 6 IEMs
