If you read this review, chances are you are passionate (and geeky) about IEM and personal audio in general. As a passionate enthusiast, at one time or another, it’s likely that you have the dream of making a great IEM that embodies your ideal sound so that the world can hear it. Whilst that dream remains a dream for many (including me), some of the geekiest and the most passionate members actually crossed the chasm and made their ideal sound a reality. Previously, we looked at tgx78’s Serratus and RikudouGoku’s Grand Alter Saber 2. Today, we look at...

There is inherent beauty in simplicity. In the world of In-ear Monitors (IEM), nothing is more simple and, arguably, more elegant than a single dynamic driver (DD) design. One driver, front vents, back vents, foams and filters. That’s all it takes for a master tuner to make something magical. At least, that’s the romantic vision. The reality is often disappointing. How does the latest single DD IEM from Dunu, equipped with the acclaimed ECLIPSE driver technology, translate the lofty vision of simplicity to the reality? Let’s find out. Forewords...

Today, we take a look at one of the “super dongles”, the W4 by Luxury and Precision. Costing nearly as much as an entry-level music player like Shanling M3 Ultra and HiBy R6 Gen 2, does W4 offer enough sound quality to justify the price tag? Let’s find out. Preambles: In this review, I use the term “source” to denote a DAC+amp combo for brevity and convenience. Sources do not make sounds. Therefore, when I say sources “sound” a certain way, I talk about the change they make to my IEMs and earphones. I want my music to be crisp, clear...

The Unique Melody MEST family of IEMs has always intrigued me due to its unique combination of various driver types, particularly the enigmatic Bone Conduction Drivers (BCD), and the reputation for a “holographic” soundstage. However, the high price point and limited availability in Australian hifi stores have prevented me from experiencing them firsthand. Instead, I’ve had to rely on reading about them and hearing others praise their performance. Fortunately, my curiosity is finally satisfied as I get the chance to spend quality time with the...

Flathead earbuds (or “buds”) are one of the most delightful surprise for me in the audio hobby. They offer the open sensation and comfort that many IEMs struggle to provide, at a way lower costs. However, they also have a lot of limitations, making them niche product in an already niche market of “audiophile” products. For a while, the niche market of earbuds was dominated by DIYers. However, Dunu is coming back to the segment with Alpha 3, the continuation of the Alpha line that started back in 2015. How does a big manufacturer do in a market...

If you go to the website of my local Head-fi store, Minidisc, and sort all of their IEMs by price, you would see Vision Ears Phonix at the top of the list, just one step behind the UM Multiverse Mentor. The Phonix itself is the reincarnation of the legendary VE Erlkönig, another IEM that broke the price barrier. What kind of sound can you get for the same amount of money as a used car or months of rent? Today, we look at the birds - VE Phonix. Forewords What I look for in an IEM is immersion. I want to feel the orchestra around me, track...

What happen when a renowned cable maker builds IEM? Today, we are going to look at Plussound’s Allegro, a 12-driver tribrid behemoth. Forewords What I look for in an IEM is immersion. I want to feel the orchestra around me, track individual instruments, and hear all of their textures and details. I’m not picky about tonality, as long as it does not get in the way of immersion. I rate IEMs within with a consistent scale from 1 (poor) to 3 (Adequate) to 5 (outstanding). Ratings are assigned by A/B tests against benchmark IEMs, regardless of the...

When I saw the announcement of FD11 on Head-Fi, I was torn. On the one hand, I am not too enthusiastic when manufacturers race to the bottom because the end products tend to sound similar and offer little more than a temporary stop on the audio journey of many listeners. On the other hand, I can’t help but being curious about what FiiO can do with FD11, since their previous release, the JD7, has been and is still my favourite single dynamic drive IEM at the budget-friendly side of the market. Well, wonder no more. Today, we are going to talk about...

If you have been around the head-fi communities for a while, you would likely have come across @RikudouGoku, a fellow head-fier and reviewer. In fact, the first expensive IEM that I ever bought was done blindly based on Riku’s review. Besides reviewing, Riku is also a tinkerer who retunes IEMs and makes earbuds. In fact, he has built up quite an impressive “RikuBuds” line up. Today, we look at the fruit of his labour, the EUR $125 TOTL earbuds called Grand Alter Saber 2 (GAS2). Forewords What I look for in an IEM is immersion. I want to feel the...

Released in 2020, Moondrop Blessing 2 has gained a legendary status in the audio community. It was THE recommendation for enthusiasts seeking their first high-end in-ear monitor (IEM). Some even claimed that Blessing 2 surpasses IEMs in the upper echelons. I do not share such enthusiasm or love for these IEMs, but I still have used Blessing 2 as a benchmark to rate other IEMs ever since I started reviewing. However, it has been three years since Blessing 2’s release, and the IEM market evolves rapidly. In this dynamic landscape, three years can feel...

When approached by enthusiasts who have bitten the IEM bug, I always suggest exploring the “mid-fi” market. Typically priced around $500, these IEMs are truly high-end products that offer longevity and stability, unlike products from fast-paced $50 IEM market flooded with hype trains. Moreover, mid-fi IEMs are not exorbitantly expensive like the top-of-the-line models. The original Dunu SA6, a definitive mid-fi IEM, has been a staple since its 2020 release. However, times have changed. Can the newly launched Dunu SA6 MkII live up to its...

Ever since I fell down the personal audio rabbit hole, I have always been fascinated by a curious phenomenon: the enduring appeal of high-end (read: very expensive) digital audio players (DAP) amongst hardcore IEM fans. Today, we look at Luxury & Precision P6 Pro, a $3899 digital audio player (DAP), from the perspective of a sceptical IEM geek to understand this strange fascination. If you want to listen instead of reading, please find the video review on YouTube below. Otherwise, read on, friends. Preambles: In this review, I use the term...

HiBy is well known for its music app and a lot of digital audio players (DAP) with similar names (Am I the only confused about the R6, New R6, R6 Gen II, R6 Gen III, R6 Pro, R6 Pro 2?) What I didn’t know is that they also make IEMs. Are they good? Today, we look at HiBy’s state-of-the-art flagship IEM, the Zeta. Forewords My review aims to tell you where an IEM is within a consistent and simple scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (outstanding). Scores are assigned by A/B tests against benchmark IEMs, regardless of the retail price. What I look for in an IEM...

A good pair of bassy IEMs is surprisingly rare. When a manufacturer claims that their IEM is bassy, they usually make the IEM too muddy. Alternatively, they would be afraid of the mud to the point of removing all the punchiness from the bass, leaving behind only sub-bass hum. Today, we look at the 7Hz Legato, an IEM that promises to do a bassy signature properly. Forewords My review aims to tell you where an IEM is within a consistent and simple scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (outstanding). Scores are assigned by A/B tests against benchmark IEMs...

Hidizs is well-known for its electronic products, such as the AP80 micro music player series and the S series of DAC/amp dongles. Less known is their IEM product line, often featuring peculiar tonality and user-adjustable tuning mechanisms. Today, we look at the upcoming flagship of the Hidizs IEM line, the MS5. Sporting a 1+4 configuration, does MS5 has what it takes to enter the ultra-competitive “mid-fi” bracket. Let’s talk about IEM. If you prefer to listen rather than read my review, you can find a detailed review on YouTube here: If you...

Over the past few months, you have seen FiiO K7 as the reference DAC/amp to review other IEMs and earphones. It is finally time for the K7 to get on my review table for dissection. Let’s discuss FiiO K7 and whether an IEM listener should / should not get a desktop DAC/amp such as K7. Preambles: I use the term “source” to denote a DAC + Amp combo. Sources do not make sounds. Therefore, when I say sources “sound” a certain way, I talk about the change they make to my IEMs and earphones. I want my music to be crisp, clear, well-separated and form a...

KiwiEars Orchestra Lite. USD 250. 8 BA drivers on each side. Emerging manufacturer with a promising track record. How good is the Orchestra Lite, really? Let’s find out. Forewords The goal of my reviews is not to “judge” IEMs from an ivory tower. I aim to tell you where they reside within a straightforward scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (outstanding). I focus on the poorly-defined-yet-important “technical performance”, which I believe to be the hallmark of exceptional IEMs. Scores are assigned by A/B tests against representative IEMs, regardless of...

What happens when a boutique cable maker collaborates with a boutique IEM maker? Let’s discuss Effect Audio x Elysian Acoustic Labs Gaea. Forewords This review is possible thanks to the Australian Head-Fi Tour arranged by @Damz87 and @JordonEA. The sample of Gaea will be sent to the next reviewer in the tour after this review. Gaea retails for USD $1299 on Effect Audio website The Monarch MkII and U12T used in the comparison were demo units from Addicted to Audio Adelaide. Check them out if you are in town. Nice products and friendly people. You...

If Forrest Gump were a fan of In-ear Monitors (IEM), he would say, “Life is like an IEM from the FH line of FiiO. You never know what you’re going to get.” Whilst the FD line (FiiO’s Dynamic Driver IEMs) is predictable with a Harman-inspired tuning, and a varying degree of a treble peak at 5kHz, the FH line (FiiO’s Hybrid IEMs) is pretty much a wildcard. There seems to be no pre-defined target for this line, and thanks to the flexibility of a hybrid multi-driver configuration, FH IEMs can be anything. Sometimes they surprise you in a good way (FH9)...

We, audio geeks, like to think that we are immune to superficial characteristics such as appearance when it comes to audio products. Yet, sometimes, appearance is all we have in the current IEM market, where new products pop up everywhere, like mushrooms. The appearance was the initial spark of my interest in AFUL Performance 5 (P5). Not only it looks great, its shells greatly resemble another iconic IEM with TOTL performance. When more information arose about all the patents underlying these IEMs, I knew I wanted to get my mitts on a pair. So...