thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Best in class/buy it now
☆☆☆☆ - Highly recommended
☆☆☆ - Sound for thee, not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure
Disclaimer:
This product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.
Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle
●Hiby FC4
●Kiwi Ears Allegro
●iFi GO bar Kensei
Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.
Introduction:
Rose Technics is a Chinese audio company founded way back in 2012. They have been gaining popularity lately due to their TWS and now their iems are also gaining recognition. The QuietSea features a single 10mm dynamic driver and it might look familiar to some keen audiophiles. The shell was manufactured in collaboration with iKKO who uses the same design for their own OH2 model. The QuietSea debuted in 2023 in the increasingly crowded budget tier. They are currently available for $49.99 on Amazon and AliExpress. Let's break down what they offer and see if they can hold their own against some stiff competition.
Build, fit, ergonomics:
RoseTechnics did not hold back on the quality of the packaging. The QuietSea unboxing experience is very nice for $50 and better than a lot of >$100 sets out there. The inclusion of a branded zipper case is much appreciated as well. The stock cable, available in 3.5mm or 4.4mm termination, is one of the best stock cables I've seen with any iem under $200. It's definitely on the chunkier side but it's also soft, nicely braided, does not tangle easily, and has metal finishes that add to the premium feel. Seriously, I would buy this cable separately and be happy to use it with some of my other iems. But unfortunately the QuietSea utilizes MMCX whereas all my current iems are standard 2 pin, which I much prefer. The inclusion of an MMCX removal tool is nice though and should help protect the connectors. The shells are fairly small and low profile, are made of a mix of metal and plastic, and have a decent weight balance. Although they feel sturdy and have a good build quality, the design is not really my style. The nozzle is oval shaped and on the shorter side which did cause some fit issues for me. The included oval tips are too short and flimsy to create a good seal. I found a more secure fit with the Penon Liqueur tips and was then able to wear them without much issue.
Sound impressions:
I would describe the QuietSea as having a U-shaped profile, as both the bass and upper mids/lower treble are boosted above neutral. The low end leans more towards mid bass than sub bass but the extension is adequate. The treble rolls off early leading to a slightly warmer sound overall. The soundstage width is decent with mostly correct placement of instruments/vocals although the layering is just average. Detail retrieval is average for the price and on par for most sub $100 sets not made by Simgot. The note weight of the mids/highs leans thin to my ear and is a contrast to the meatier, thicker midbass. They are pretty easy to drive and don't require any amplification to get to high volume levels.
●Lows - The bass has a prominent mid bass thump so those looking for subwoofer-like punch and extension will be disappointed. Bass is fast and its decay is short so it has no trouble keeping up with complicated tracks. The mid bass is well controlled and stays free from bleed. I would have liked to hear more sub bass and even a bit more mid bass to really set the QuietSea apart in the crowded budget market. I don't think it needs to reach basshead levels but more rumble and punch would be welcome especially to counter the elevated upper mids/lower treble.
●Mid - Vocals are positioned slightly forward on genres like soft pop, soft rock and present more balanced in pop, rock, and R&B. At higher volumes, vocals can have an edge or sibilance making them harsh due to the boosted upper mid/treble frequencies. They in turn can sound artifical and the timbre can present as a bit mettalic/thin. I would have liked more warmth and note weight to give vocals an organic quality. Instruments like guitars and piano have a bit better timbre but still don't sound quite right to my ear.
●Highs - As stated earlier, treble lacks extension and rolls off too early to allow high notes room to roam. In essence the highs can sound somewhat blunted. More air and sparkle would be welcome to lead to a more open and engaging soundstage. Cymbal crashes, high hats, and claps can be troublsome and sibilant on some tracks. There is also some sibilance, most notably on "s" notes, when volume is higher leading to a harsh and irritating vocal presentation.
Summary:
When I hear the name QuietSea, it brings to mind a calm, deep, dark ocean. When translating that image to sound, I imagine a low end that extends deep, a wide open soundstage, and a warm frequency response free of any troublesome peaks. For $50 the QuietSea mostly delivers on this vision but I personally found some troublesome "waves" in the form of underwhelming bass/treble extension, thin note weight, and occasional sibilance. That's really my biggest complaint of what Rose Technics has presented here. I think if the upper mids and treble were toned down slightly it would avoid any sibilance and present a warmer overall tuning that I wouldn't be able to put down. To be fair, I would consider myself more treble sensitive than the average listener so YMMV. The fit could also be troublesome to some due to the short, oval nozzles but the included accessories for this price bracket are pretty great; I'd easily pay $25 for the stock cable alone. If you can overcome it's shortcomings, the QuietSea is definitely worth consideration. At the $50 price tag, it holds good value in the very crowded budget tier. Heck, if you find it on sale, consider buying it just for the cable and case and consider the iem a free inclusion.