Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for about 10 days as part of the local tour. I'd like to thank Campfire Audio and @d marc0 for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product.
 
Package
 

 
- Campfire Audio Lyra with removable stock cable
- x3 difference sizes of silicone tips
- x3 difference sizes of foam tips
- x3 difference sizes of Comply tips
- Campfire Audio pin
- Cleaning tool
- Information booklet
- Leather carry case 
- Cardboard box
 
*As this is a tour unit what are included inside the package might vary from current retail standard. 
 
The beautiful carry case is made with nuback leather, and is padded out with wool-like furry lining on the inside. It has more than enough space inside for the Jupiter plus a few accessories and once zipped closed it provides hard case protection on the outside and shock absorbent n the inside. 
 

 
Design and Usability
 
The Lyra utilises ultra high density ceramic for the shells. Looking at the precise yet smooth to the touch curves and angles mirrored on both the housings, you know that they meant business. The shiny smooth ceramic is a sight to behold and immense satisfaction to hold in the hands, and is most probably scratch resistant, though in exchange it attracts fingerprints easily. It may look a bit industrial and beefy at first glance, but once worn is comfortable enough, and I could wear it for few hours on end without getting ear pains. Isolation is average and wind noise is audible when outdoors. 
 
The included removable MMCX cable is actually ALO tinsel cable, which usually have to be bought separately as upgrade cables. It swivels with movement to provide greater flexibility and comfort. It has memory wire and a clear plastic tube as a chin slider. The cable is robust and does not tangle easily. Only gripe would be that microphonics is evident and would do with the inclusion of a shirt clip to secure it.
 

 
Sound Impressions
 

 
Drive-ability: 
 
The Lyra is less sensitive than typical earphones and require some power to provide enough juice to sound great especially the bass response. Tested with my phone and Cayin N6.
 
Sound:
 
Overall the Campfire Audio Lyra has a laidback warm V-shaped sound signature. I found that it is picky in that it sounded good with well mastered tracks but lifeless and dull with modern pop music etc.
 
Sub-bass extension is ever eager to spring out and surprise you. Bass is big yet rounded and soft. It is boomy yet without the suckerpunch impact and lacking in texture and detail. It comes across as flabby with slow bass speed and long decay when bass prominent songs are played. It is not ideal for fast paced music like trance where speed and tightness are sought-after traits. The bass bleeds into the mids and makes it sound thick. Vocals tend to take a backseat behind the rest. Detail and clarity is there, but need to focus to hear it. The bass bleeding tends to muffle them and impacts on the layering and separation. These take the life out of the vocals and make them feel dull and flat. Yet, upper midrange is thin and grainy, making it slightly sibilant for me. High frequency notes offer good details and the amount of clarity and airiness are just right without being too dimmed or too much sparkle, contributing to the overall headroom space. 

The soundstage is of average size but the bass bleeding impacted on the layering and separation. It tends to sound a bit congested when there are lots of elements going on within a song but they are sufficient and will not get totally overwhelmed and collapse. 
 

Ratings & Conclusion

As Head-Fi shows overall ratings for the audio gear instead of my own, here is a snapshot of what I have rated:

 
Campfire Audio Lyra is not for me. However this does not mean it will not be suitable for others, as YMMV, especially for those who prefer this kind of sound signature and listen at relatively low volume. Auditioning first is recommended to see if it fits your taste.
 
 

 
Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for about 10 days as part of the local tour. I'd like to thank Campfire Audio and @d marc0 for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product.
 
Package
 
- Campfire Audio Jupiter with removable stock cable
- TRRS Balanced cable
- x3 difference sizes of silicone tips
- x3 difference sizes of foam tips
- x3 difference sizes of Comply tips
- Campfire Audio pin
- Cleaning tool
- Information booklet
- Leather carry case 
- Cardboard box
 

 
The beautiful carry case is made with nuback leather, and is padded out with wool-like furry lining on the inside. It has more than enough space inside for the Jupiter plus a few accessories and once zipped closed it provides hard case protection on the outside and shock absorbent n the inside. 
 
A TRRS Balanced cable for 2.5mm balance output is included, a nice addition for those looking to get the most out of the IEM.
 
*As this is a tour unit what are included inside the package might vary from current retail standard. 
 
Design and Usability
 
The Jupiter utilises CNC aluminum for the shells. There is no questioning of its build quality that it is built to last once you hold it in your hands. Looking at the precise yet smooth to the touch curves and angles mirrored on both the housings, you know that they meant business. Isolation is great for a universal and the passive noise reduction achieved is plenty for those looking to block out external noise. It may look a bit industrial and beefy at first glance, but once worn is comfortable and flush enough without sticking out too much, and I could wear it for few hours on end without getting ear pains.
 
The included removable MMCX cables are ALO tinsel cables, which usually have to be bought separately as upgrade cables. It swivels with movement to provide greater flexibility and comfort. It has memory wire and a clear plastic tube as a chin slider. The cable is robust and does not tangle easily. Only gripe would be that microphonics is evident and would do with the inclusion of a shirt clip to secure it.
 
 


 
Sound Impressions
 
Drive-ability: 
 
The Jupiter was easy enough to drive with my phone and Cayin N6, and it did not require any amping to sound substantially better.
 
Sound:
 
Overall the Campfire Audio Jupiter has a very mass-appealing engaging sound signature with a hint of warmth. They are not neutral but well-balanced such that they compensate to make everything sound right. One thing to note though is some coherency issues whereby on fast tracks it would tend to lose focus and appear sluggish and clashing. 
 

 

Bass has great rumbling texture. Details is in abundance, extension reaches deep down and provides enough impact where required, though obviously still not capable of replicating the amount of air pushed and the naturalness that typical dynamic drivers would exhibit. Bass speed is not on par with the rest and suffers in fast paced music. The mids is a tad dark and veiled for my liking. It has the right amount of detail, but felt subdued and held back in terms of clarity, weight and fullness. The treble is extended with plenty of details yet surprisingly smooth without exhibiting sibilance or harshness. Still, despite the extended highs it could do with a bit more airiness and this gives off a kind of unnaturalness. The soundstage is of decent width and depth, where instruments are placed and easily picked out in a oval-shaped 3-dimensional dome. Imaging and separation are quite good given the adequate space with excellent transparency and layering.

 

Ratings & Conclusion

As Head-Fi shows overall ratings for the audio gear instead of my own, here is a snapshot of what I have rated:

 

 
There is no denying that the Jupiter is masterfully tuned with just quad BA drivers instead of going for more drivers. It goes to show that the number of drivers in today's seemingly ever expanding drivers war is not the only factor in determining if the IEM in question will sound great or not. It is clear that Campfire Audio is serious about making a lasting impression for its first foray into the IEM world and should be applauded for putting so much details into the whole package, from the sound, build, cable, down to the accessories. 
 

 
Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for one week as part of the Australasian tour. I'd like to thank @FiiO and @Joe Bloggs for making this tour possible, and @Brooko for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
First and foremost, I would like to let it be known that that the tour unit I received was a pre-production review unit running beta firmware, and the retail version released in the future may differ in the hardware as well as the firmware from what was offered in this tour unit.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product. As I only use IEMs, I will only comment on its usage with IEMs. No EQ/sound effects were applied throughout duration of having this unit on all devices.
 
Packaging
 
The tour unit came inside a black box as shown below and will change to new packaging for international customers.
 
Unboxing the whole package reveals the following:
 

 

1. Fiio X7
2. A USB charging / data cable
3. A digital out to coax cable
4. 2 spare screen protectors for the X7 (plus one already fitted)
5. A foldout warranty card
6. A screwdriver
7. Spare screws for interchanging amp module

 

 
Build
 
Front View

 
Back View

 
Top View

 
Left Side

 
Right side

 
Bottom View   

 
The X7 feels like a solid brick, but in a good way. The design / weight / size combination makes it sit comfortably inside both your hand and your pocket. It is easy to hold and engage the functions. All ports are well labeled. The X7 has a blue light under the screen that stays on when powered on but is customizable with latest firmware. The side buttons are also fully customizable. Display screen is vibrant in colour and easy to read. I took the X7 out for a walk and without adjusting the screen brightness much, it was easily readable under direct sunlight. 
 
One big selling point of the X7 is its patented interchangeable amplifier module. Currently it comes with the Standard (IEM) module: suitable for driving most IEMs, earbuds, portable on-ear earphones and some efficient full-size headphones and impressions will be based on this. However, this is also where my concern lies as this is designed to be detachable so that other future amplifier modules can be swapped by removing a couple of screws, I had difficulty removing one of the default screws and the screw head became stripped. It didn't provide enough grip and is way overtightened in the first place. The other was unscrewed very easily in contrast.
 

 
 
User Interface and Usability
 
The firmware version used at the time was still in beta, with Android version 4.4.4 and impressions were based on this. Future updates will improve aspects of the whole experience.
 
X7 utilises Custom OS based on Android. Those familiar with Android based phones will know what to expect here and navigation feels like any other modern Android phones. It is implemented well, being responsive to touch with virtually no lag. The Fiio music app itself was easy enough to use once I got used to it.
 

 
Wifi
 
Wifi connection is reliable and performed well enough with streaming.
 
 
Bluetooth
 
The Bluetooth does not feature apt-x codec and the drop in sound quality compared to plugged in directly into Headphone Out is apparent with slight distortion when music is played. The Bluetooth here is more like an extra feature that is present for convenience sake.
 

 
Battery Life
 
Using low gain I got about 9 hours under normal usage and continuous play. Using high gain instead I got almost 8 hours. Pretty impressive for such a small unit compared to other DAPs of similar calibre.
 
X7 doesn't warm up much after continuous use like some DAPs do. I only realized this is a win for Fiio users after having the likes of N6 which can get very warm and would be a bother to those who put it inside their clothes' pockets and during hot summer.  
 

 
USB DAC
 
At this point in time the USB DAC is not enabled yet and future firmware releases will feature this.
 
Sound Impressions
 
Headphone Out (Unamped)
 
As the X7 offers plenty of juice for my efficient IEMs, I didn't test adding any extra amps hence I'll only comment on impressions formed using Headphone Out. 
 
Using my 1964 Ears ADEL A12 with somewhat high sensitivity (16 Ohms impedance and 117dB SPL @ 1mW) and other IEMs of similar sensitivity, I don't hear any noticeable hiss against the backdrop of a very black background. 
 
The soundstage of the X7 is oval-shaped, taking up a 3D footprint both high and deep, where it focuses more on the depth than width. It sounds intimate and yet still provides solid layering and positioning. Resolving ability is good with plenty of details and fast attack. It nails about as much detail in every frequency, meaning that music with a huge dynamic range will sound detailed, clear, and well spaced. The bass decay could be a bit longer, but bass hits hard with good impact and texture, but I wont say overly so as to affect the rest of the frequency. Only when dealing with songs with big bass that it becomes a bit too overpowering. X7 to me is a neutral sound signature leaning a bit towards musicality with a tinge of warmth and slight detail preference to the mid range. This is also reflected in its forward sounding meaty mids, with meaty as in sounding a bit thick with slight veil masking small details. Vocals are rendered with full body and realism without being digital sounding. In some songs the vocals sounds a bit shouty. Treble is smooth and a touch rolled off, slightly soft resulting loss in headroom space and airiness. 
 
Sound Comparisons 
 

 
All comparisons were done using a Multi-channel Headphone Audio Signal Switcher to enable fast switching between DAPs, and a 1kHz test tone was tested using a Digital Sound Level Meter to do the volume matching between DAPs to ensure a level playing field under controlled condtitions. 
 
Fiio X7 vs Cayin N6
 

 
Against the N6: The N6 has a slightly bigger soundstage due to having better airiness, with similar positioning and layering, but at the expense of sounding leaner in comparison and having less body, giving the X7 a sense of a more organic and fuller sound. 
 

 
Ratings & Conclusion
 
As Head-Fi shows overall ratings for the audio gear instead of my own, here is a snapshot of what I have rated:
 

 
All in all, the X7 is a very solid DAP based on Android OS with good hardware, sound, build quality and an intuitive and well-thought menu design as well as operation and has got a good overall value. It is an awesome sounding DAP that one day, once the issues and minor caveats have been ironed out, will belong in summit-fi. The future remains bright with upcoming releases of a variety of interchangeable amp modules that will offer new dimensions and sound tweaks to the X7. 
 

 
Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for about 10 days as part of the local tour. I'd like to thank Noble Audio and @d marc0 for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product.
 
Package
 
- Noble Audio Savant with removable stock cable
- Noble ownership card
- x3 difference sizes of silicone tips
- x3 difference sizes of other silicone tips
- x3 difference sizes of dual flange tips
- x3 difference sizes of foam tips
- x2 Noble Stickers
- x2 Noble Amp straps
- Cleaning brush
- Noble pouch
- Noble clamshell case
- Noble cardboard box
 

 
*As this is a tour unit what are included inside the package might vary from current retail standard. 
 
Design and Usability
 
The Savant uses the same shell as every other universal Non-Wizard Noble Audio IEMs before its release. On closer look one will notice minor imperfections on the shells whereby they were joined together, as shown in the picture below, even though they are just marks left behind from injection mold process and the shells will most probably last long under moderate use. The Wizard signature is added on the side of the shell to differentiate it from the other universal Noble IEMs, but it is executed poorly IMO and made it look more like a toy rather than a serious audio product. As this is a $599 USD product and Noble Audio prides itself and is known for no compromise in pleasing aesthetics and outstanding craftsmanship, these comes as underwhelming considering all the decent IEMs I have come across before do not exhibit such toy-like traits even at a fraction of Savant's price and it is suggested that Noble will look into another way of producing their universal IEMs.
 
Isolation is great for a universal and the passive noise reduction achieved is plenty for those looking to block out external noise. Comfort wise is fairly good, given the high level of isolation it achieves, and I could wear it for few hours on end without getting ear pains. I find that tip-rolling is absolutely paramount for the Savant, as slight loss of perfect seal is the difference between having adequate bass or very little at all, hence it's understandable why 4 different types of tips are included, though I prefer to use Spinfits from my own collection.
 
The silver-plated copper stock cable is tightly braided and feels nice to the touch with a glossy finish. It is flexible and comfort is decent with the still acceptable memory wire and having a clear plastic tube as a chin slider. However, what I find missing from the seemingly packed accesories collection is the lack of a shirt clip, as microphonics is evident when moving about.
 

 
Sound Impressions
 
Drive-ability: 
 
The Savant was easy enough to drive with my phone and Cayin N6, and it did not require any amping to sound substantially better.
 
Sound:
 
Overall the Noble Audio Savant has a very mass-appealing slightly U-shaped sound signature. They are not neutral but well-balanced such that everything sounds right and there are no abrupt peaks across the frequency range. It's a very safe tuning in that there is nothing intrusive or offending that jumps out immediately for nitpicking. Savant is a showcase of Wizard and his team's plentiful experience in tuning and what they can do with just dual BA drivers. 
 
Bass is very tight and accurate, and clean sounding, with good speed to keep up with the pace, but the sub-bass is lacking in extension, and could do with more bass impact and rumbling textures. I found myself wanting a bit more slam in some songs. Vocals have always been a strong suit for Noble IEMs and it is apparent here. The midrange are true to life, sweet with just the right amount of warmth and thickness, admist the rich presentation all the while having good detail retrieval and clean note recreation. Stringed instruments are clear and accurately represented. High frequency notes are true tone, dynamic and the amount of clarity and airiness are just right without being too dimmed or too much sparkle, and extended listening sessions are possible without feeling fatigued easily, although could do with more extension and detail. The soundstage is fairly small, where instruments are put close to each other. Nonetheless, imaging and separation are quite good given the limited space with excellent transparency and layering. This offers a good placement of instruments and a resolved presentation. 
 
Comparison to FLC Technology FLC8:
 
FLC8 has more subbass extension, with more bass quantity, impact and natural bass decay. The difference between a dynamic driver and a BA driver for bass is still pretty evident here. Thinner lower mids, and being lesser detailed than the Savant's. Treble on the FLC8 has a bit more sparkle, detail and extension but is also more fatiguing than the Savant's. Soundstage is wider and deeper in the FLC8, with both showcasing similar holographic effect and imaging.

 
Ratings & Conclusion
 
As Head-Fi shows overall ratings for the audio gear instead of my own, here is a snapshot of what I have rated:
 

 
There's no denying that the Savant is masterfully tuned with just dual BA drivers and it goes to show that the number of drivers in today's seemingly ever expanding drivers war is not the only factor in determining if the IEM in question will sound great or not. It's not technically brilliant like the TOTLs out there, nor will it please everyone such as bassheads, though it's a master of none, but the sum of all its parts make it a competent jack-of-all-trades.
 

 
Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for about 10 days as part of the local tour. I'd like to thank @d marc0 for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product.
 
Package

- OPPO PM-3
- Clamshell case
- 

Stock straight cable

- Silver-plated cable

- Small cable pouch
- 6.35 mm adapter
- User Manual
 
*As this is a personal unit what are included inside the package might vary from retail standard. 
 
Design and Usability
 
As far as looks go, the OPPO PM-3 definitely has the minimalist yet premium look. Everything looks eye-pleasing and feels very solid with a very clean and sleek design consisting a mix of metal and faux leather parts without being overbearing or flashy. Construction seems solid and no concerns over the build. The only minor concern is the rather sharp metal hinge edges. 
 
In terms of comfort, the PM-3 

felt a touch tight and constraining on my admittedly big head, especially at the top. To be fair, the PM-3 never caused me any pain or gross discomfort and I could listen to them for hours on end. But I was always aware of their presence on my head due to the slight clamping force

, and around my ears, which though the earpads were comfortable, the small earcup size was a bit too shallow as the inner pads barely enclosed my outer ears and seemed cramped to me with my ears just touching the drivers. 
 
Isolation was good, being a closed back headphone. Microphonics were minimal. Not much to complain about here.
 
Sound Impressions
 
Drive-ability: 
 
The PM-3 was easy enough to drive with my phone and Cayin N6, and it did sound a bit better feeding it with more power, but I wouldn't say that the addition of amps is compulsory to get good sound out of the PM-3.
 
Sound:
 
Overall the PM-3 has a pretty neutral sound signature that is laidback and easy to listen to for extended sessions. The bass is a bit of a surprise to me, as PM-3 being planar magnetic headphones, with a 55 mm diameter driver size at that, doesn’t exhibit the traits that planar magnetic headphones are supposedly known for, which is having great bass. It is very tight and accurate, and clean sounding, with good speed to keep up with the pace, but the sub-bass is lacking in extension, and could do with more bass impact and rumbling textures. I found myself wanting a bit more slam in some songs. Vocals sounded mellow, naturally-balanced, true to life, if a tad lean and could do with more weight and thickness. Stringed instruments are clear, detailed, and accurately represented. The highs are smooth, sweet and clear, but lacking in airiness and extension. I prefer a bit more sparkle on top in which I found the PM-3 lacking, but some may prefer it due to for extended listening sessions without feeling fatigued after a few hours. The soundstage though, is fairly unimpressive, sounding closed-in, with adequate height but quite narrow in width. Nonetheless, imaging and separation are quite good given the limited space with excellent transparency and layering.

 
Ratings & Conclusion
 
As Head-Fi shows overall ratings for the audio gear instead of my own, here is a snapshot of what I have rated:
 

 
The OPPO PM-3 is a beautifully designed, well-built pair of closed back planar headphones with a neutral sound signature that's easy to listen to without the need of extra amplification right out of a mobile phone or DAP. That said, there's room for improvement in that to me it lacked low and high end extension with a fairly small soundstage. If you've wanted the planar magnetic sound in portable form without compromising looks, the OPPO PM-3 is one to look into.

 
Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for about one week as part of the local tour. I'd like to thank @DJScope for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product.
 
Package

- A73 with in-line mic & remote cable
- Assorted silicon tips
- Clamshell case
- Shirt clip
 
Usability
 
The A73 earpiece is outer half metal whereas inner half plastic. The cable is very springy and rubbery, and very tangle-prone. It tends to get caught onto the shirt whenever there is contact and thank goodness for the shirt clip to reduce this issue and microphonics somewhat. Fit gets tricky as wearing them over the ears, the cable is hard to stay put. I'd have preferred the presence of a chin slider and earguides to be included for easier management of the cable. Also, the fit tends to be shallower than the average IEMs and I needed to get other tips instead of the limited stock ones to get a decent fit. Isolation is average and outer noise will subside once music starts playing. The in-line remote's button is very stiff and hard to press. It is a single button, press once to Play/Pause/Call, press twice to skip to next track, and press thrice to go back to previous track. Phone call quality was okay. 
 
Sound Impressions
 
Drive-ability: 
The A73 is very easy to drive with my phone and Cayin N6.
 
Sound:
 
Overall the A73 is well-tuned with a balanced fun sound signature. Sub-bass has decent extension and nice rumbling texture, slightly enhanced mid-bass bump has good speed and impact with no bleed into the lower mids for a musical and lively head-bobbing experience. Mids have enough thickness and weight with decent details for dynamism. Highs have good extension but this is also where I had issues. The treble peak vary somewhat depending on the choice of tips and insertion depth. Even though I managed to bring it down after some tip-rolling, the hot treble still exists for me and sounds harsh. Soundstage is wide with good depth. This presents a good placement of instruments.
 
Comparison to other IEMs
 
vs Fidue A65: 
A65's bass is slower and thicker, yet does not have the same authority as A73. A65's mids are lesser detailed and sounded thinner. Treble is smoother but lacking in airiness and details compared to the A73. A65 has a smaller and more intimate soundstage. A65 has a laidback signature whereas A73 is livelier.
 
vs Ostry KC06A:
KC06A has more subbass extension, mid-bass impact and bass detail. Lower mids are thinner with forward upper mids and come across as a brighter signature with grainier raw energy. Treble is crispier yet does not have hot treble like A73. KC06A's soundstage is flat in comparison.
 
vs Yamaha EPH-100:
EPH-100 has slightly more subbass extension and thicker midbass with slower decay, but lacks in mid-bass impact. The treble roll-off of EPH-100 is no contest to the A73. Overall EPH-100 has a thicker and darker signature across the board as compared to A73, which gives a sense of laidback smoothness compared to the much more musical A73.
 
vs FLC Technology FLC8:
FLC8 has more subbass extension but less mid-bass quantity, with similar bass authority. Thinner lower mids, with forward and brighter upper mids with more raw energy. Better treble extension and airiness. Soundstage is similar in width but FLC8 is more holographic. 
 
Ratings & Conclusion
 
As Head-Fi shows overall ratings for the audio gear instead of my own, here is a snapshot of what I have rated:
 

 
For someone looking for a relatively inexpensive IEM that offers a hybrid experience, the Fidue A73 is recommendable for those looking for a musical and lively sound signature. Those who are sensitive to sibilance and treble peaks need to audition first before purchasing. 

Introduction 
 
I always have an avid interest in earbuds even though I am primarily focused on In-Ear Monitors (IEMs). The thing is, earbuds tend to find themselves becoming the middle child in the family, with the big brother in headphones taking up serious ear time when people want to sit down and have critical listening in the comfort of their own homes, whereas the youngest brother in IEMs being preferred when people want to go out and about due to their strengths in isolation and portability, hence drawing manufacturers to focus on developing headphones and IEMs for their mass appeal, leaving earbuds stuck between a rock and a hard place, the awkward and forgotten child. With lack of much interest in earbuds, development and advancement in earbuds are scarce and few and far between at best, and there is only a handful of earbuds available on the market right now as compared to headphones and IEMs, thus I don't have much expectations of earbuds. When I caught wind about the emergence of a new company named Venture Electronics from China having its focus on making earbuds, I clicked through to find its the earbuds in particular its flagship Zen gaining great feedback, my curiosity got the better of me and I enquired about the earbuds, and would like to thank Lee for giving me this opportunity and have a review sample sent out for me to hear them through my own ears.

 

Technical Specifications of VE Zen

Transducer: Dynamic Driver
Transducer Size: 15.4mm
Sensitivity: 106dB (1mW)
Impedance: 320ohm (1 KHz)
Frequency Response: 15Hz~23.5kHz (-10dB)
Cable Length: 1.2m (+/- 2 cm)
Cable Material: OFC with TPE outer skin
 
Packaging

 
Unboxing VE's white cardboard box revealed the following:
 

 

1. VE Zen
2. VE Monk beta version*
3. A zipper hard case
4. 3 pairs of earbud foam cushions
5. VE welcome message

 
Quite basic packaging and accessories. The zipper hard case is of good guality and prevents crushing very well. Would like to see a shirt clip included. More on this later.
 
*Take note that Monk is currently shipped free with purchase of Zen, but that may change in future when stock eventually runs out/discretion of Venture Electronics. Do check with them first before buying if you are interested in the extra earbud. 
 
Design, Build Quality and Cable
 

 
The earpieces use generic MX500 shells as its housing. This uninspiring design has been used countless of times in many earbuds, and since Zen is their flagship, it should be different from its budget youngest brother Monk for instance in the housings. Since they are still a startup company though, it is understandable why they would go for the tried-and-tested path instead of developing their own design. In future developments, I would like to see they put in their own design into their next flagships.
 
I found the OFC cable with TPE outer skin to be stiff with cable noise. The microphonics were quite audible especially when out and about, and certainly would have benefited by including a shirt clip and a cable cinch. Qualms aside, the OFC cable is of good quality as it feels like solid silver cables and won't tangle easily compared to its many peers available on the current market.
 
Fit and Comfort
 

 
I tried the foam cushions and preferred to use the earbuds without them on as the foam cushions tended to hinder part of the sound spectrum IMO. I could have the Zen on for hours on end comfortably and not noticed any ear fatigue or pain. YMMV as the earpieces are a bit on the large side and may not fit well with small ears. 
 
Sound Impressions
 

 
Drive-ability: With Impedance of 320ohm (1 KHz) and Sensitivity of 106dB (1mW), it is easily one of the highest impedance within earbuds and IEMs, but that does not mean that it cannot be driven at all by the likes of normal mobile phones and typical DAPs. It can be driven by them, but the end result would just be average/subpar, and would sound rather dull and lifeless. It requires powerful source such as extra amping capacity and desktop setups to perform the way the engineers intended and the better the source the better it scales. In my testing I paired the Zen with my Cayin N6 and Meier Audio Corda PCStep. 
 
Soundstage and Imaging: Wide soundstage and airiness have always been advantages of earbuds against IEMs, but at the sacrifice of sounding too flat and 2D. In the case of Zen however, it renders a 3D soundstage with proportionate width, height and depth, giving a feeling of spaciousness with quality imaging. Layering and separation of instruments are fairly good, not excellent as it will tend to sound a bit congested when there are lots of elements going on within a song but they are sufficient and will not get totally overwhelmed and collapse. 
 
Lows: Big bass compared to many earbuds, with nice balance between sub-bass and mid-bass and does not bleed into the lower mids. It is not what I would refer to as bass heavy, but well-controlled with good impact, attack and speed. On the minus side, bass decay stops a bit too quick for my liking. Only when dealing with songs laden with copious amounts of bass that it becomes a bit too overpowering and loose. Nonetheless, very few earbuds have this kind of lows that kept me engaged and toe-tapping when the right songs came up.
 
Midrange: Forward sounding and intimate meaty mids, a bit thick with slight veil masking small details. Vocals are rendered with full body, realism and a bit of warmth with no peakiness or sibilance. Female vocals perform better than male vocals.
 
Highs: Smooth highs but not lacking in details. Treble extension is good with decent sparkle but a touch rolled off, slightly soft resulting in loss of headroom space and airiness.
 
Conclusion
 

 
VE Zen has a sound signature of fairly neutral tuning, leaning a bit towards musicality with a tinge of warmth. I often caught myself few hours later doing nothing other than listening to the Zen transfixed by its relative ease in portraying music effortlessly. Its qualities may not jump out at you at first listen but it fits like a pair of well-worn gloves. I think that it is a surprising entry from a relatively unknown company before its release then suddenly become one of the major contenders in the world of earbuds. For it to perform true to its capability however you will need good power source. For those who does not have a powerful source or who does not want to carry an additional amp with them, Venture Electronics do have a more portable-friendly solution in the form of Zen's younger brothers the Asura and Monk. At present I have heard that they are about to release newer retuned versions of the Asura and Monk. I look forward to future releases by Venture Electronics. 

Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for one week as part of the Australasian tour. I'd like to thank @FiiO and @Joe Bloggs for making this tour possible, and @Brooko for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
First and foremost, I would like to let it be known that that the tour unit I received was a pre-production review unit running beta firmware, and the retail version released in the future may differ in the hardware as well as the firmware from what was offered in this tour unit.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product. As I only use IEMs, I will only comment on its usage with IEMs. No EQ/sound effects were applied throughout duration of having this unit on all devices.
 
Packaging
 
Current tour units come inside a blank black box and will change to color printed packaging once the design of the X5 2^nd generation has been finalized.
 
Unboxing the whole package reveals the following:
 

 

1. Fiio X5 2^nd gen (will be referred to as X5ii from now on)
2. A silicone protective case for the X5ii
3. A USB charging / data cable
4. A digital out to coax cable
5. 3 different themed sets of stickers for the X5ii – carbon fibre weave, wood grain, and USA
6. 2 spare screen protectors for the X5ii (plus one already fitted)
7. A foldout warranty card
8. A X5ii layout diagram
9. The X5ii quick start guide

 
Build
 

 
Front view: The X5ii has a solid build with brushed gun-metal aluminium body along with the buttons, and feels nice to the touch with a nice weight to it. Fairly smooth edges, no protruding parts or looseness. Front buttons are recessed.  
 

 
Back view: Solid brushed gun-metal aluminium body.
 

 
Top view: Line/Coaxial Out on the left, and Headphone Out on the right. I think this is quite an oversight by Fiio, as do take note that this is exact opposite of the other Fiio DAPs so those used to the original arrangement might get your eardrums blown out when plugging your earphones into the wrong jack! Selection of the Line Out or Coaxial Out can be accessed from the settings menu.
 

 
Side view: On the left side are the Power button followed by Volume Up and Volume Down. The Power button is recessed whereas the volume buttons protrude out. This enables easy recognition and blind fiddling inside the pocket. Fiio has indicated that the side buttons will be manufactured differently in production units to improve tactile properties. There's no buttons on the right side.
 

 
Bottom view:  2 Micro SD Slots with official support up to 128GB on each side (hence total of 256GB) with one on the left also designated to be used for firmware updating. Micro USB in the middle for charging and also as USB DAC. When connected to PC, the Micro USB can function as storage or USB DAC, with the selection accessed from the settings menu.   
 

 
The scroll wheel in the review units is the same one used in the old X5 and will be upgraded for the production units so it’s redundant to comment on its usage. The scroll wheel in mass production units to follow will have higher damping factor (similar to X3 2^nd generation units) for more positive tactile feedback.
 
Display screen is vibrant in colour and easy to read. I took the X5ii out for a walk and having adjusted the screen brightness to maximum, it was easily readable under direct sunlight. 
 
The silicone protective case for X5ii appears to be a bit better in quality in that it feels sturdier and less sticky than the ones with X1 and X3ii. However, it still attracts lint and dust fairly easily, as shown in the picture above which was taken just after unboxing!
 
User Interface and Usability
 
The UI is reasonably intuitive, similar to its younger brothers X3ii and X1. I was able to find my way around the menus and settings without much fuss without referring to the manual. Buttons are easy to get used to. The boot-up time is quick and the UI has a nice overall presentation. Updating is simply drag-and-drop latest firmware into the root folder of the Micro SD card, and long pressing power button on the side and top left button on the front to initiate firmware update. Scan time of music from Micro SD card is within reasonable bounds.   
 
When I unplug my earphones it pauses and few minutes later goes into standby to conserve battery. The instant on feature is a really nice touch. When I want to use it again, just short press on the power button and the X5ii switches on instantaneously. With screen off and music playing, long pressing the volume buttons become next/previous song. These default actions for the various buttons are customizable. Also, there's no 'pop' sound when switching on X5ii with earphones plugged in. The move to support CTIA-standard in-line earphone remotes shows Fiio's continuous commitment to accommodate an even wider base of consumers. I tried it with in-line remote on my Android phone: Single-click to pause/play, Doube-click for next song, Triple-click for previous song. No luck with volume level adjustments. 
 
I noticed that there was some lag between pressing a button (or using the scroll wheel) and the action happening, such as when switching songs once I pressed the button to select it the screen seemed to freeze for a second or two before the chosen song's details appear on the screen. I hope that Fiio will look into this and improve the response time in future firmware upgrades as it's quite apparent when compared to DAPs from other companies.    
 

 
Battery Life
 
Using low gain I got about 11 hours under normal usage and continuous play. Using high gain instead I got almost 10 hours. Pretty impressive for such a small unit compared to other DAPs of similar calibre.
 
X5ii doesn't warm up much after continuous use like some DAPs do. I only realized this is a win for Fiio users after having the likes of N6 which can get very warm and would be a bother to those who put it inside their clothes' pockets and during hot summer.  
 
USB DAC issue with Windows 8/8.1
 
The X5ii couldn't be recognized as USB DAC when connected to my Windows 8.1 and this issue seems to be quite common. There is a workaround to this problem and just follow the instructions in the link below:
http://fiio.me/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=40391&page=1&extra=#pid106818
 
 
Sound Impressions
 
Headphone Out (Unamped)
 
As the X5ii offers plenty of juice for me using IEMs and earbuds, even high impedance ones (320 ohms), I didn't test adding any extra amps hence I'll only comment on impressions formed using Headphone Out. 
 
Using my 1964 Ears ADEL A12 with somewhat high sensitivity (16 Ohms impedance and 117dB SPL @ 1mW) and other IEMs of similar sensitivity, I don't hear any noticeable hiss against the backdrop of a very black background. 
 
The soundstage of the X5ii is oval-shaped, where it focuses more on the depth than width. It sounds intimate and yet still provides solid layering and positioning. Resolving ability is good with plenty of details and fast attack. The bass decay could be a bit longer, but bass hits hard with good impact and texture, but I wont say overly so as to affect the rest of the frequency. Only when dealing with songs with big bass that it becomes a bit too overpowering. It still maintains its sound signature towards fairly neutral tuning, leaning a bit towards musicality with a tinge of warmth. This is also reflected in its forward sounding meaty mids, with meaty as in sounding a bit thick with slight veil masking small details. Vocals are rendered with full body and realism without being digital sounding. In some songs the vocals sounds a bit shouty. Treble is smooth and a touch rolled off, slightly soft resulting loss in headroom space and airiness. For me personally X5ii is seeking a bit too much musicality, going for similar direction as its younger brothers X1 and X3ii, and in doing so sacrifices a bit of transparency and airiness. 
 
Sound Comparisons 
 
All comparisons were done using a Multi-channel Headphone Audio Signal Switcher to enable fast switching between DAPs, and a 1kHz test tone was tested using a Digital Sound Level Meter to do the volume matching between DAPs to ensure a level playing field under controlled condtitions. 
 

 
X5ii vs Cayin N6
 
X5ii > 1964 Ears ADEL A12 (Low Gain, EQ Off, Volume = 67/120)
N6 > 1964 Ears ADEL A12 (Low Gain, EQ Off, Volume = 36/100)
 
I used the A12 with somewhat high sensitivity (16 Ohms impedance and 117dB SPL @ 1mW).
 
Against the N6: Differences between the X5ii and N6 were impressively close, considering the X5ii costs about AUD$300 less than the N6. They have very similar sound tuning. The N6 has a slightly bigger soundstage due to having better airiness, with slightly better positioning and layering. It is a touch more defined with better dynamics and timbre. There's a slight recess in the upper range making it a bit less forward, giving the sense of a more organic/analogue and fuller sound. 
 

 
X5ii > VE Zen (High Gain, EQ Off, Volume = 103/120)
N6 > VE Zen (High Gain, EQ Off, Volume = 59/100)
 
I used the Zen for its high impedance (320 Ohms impedance and 105dB SPL @ 1mW) that requires a powerful source to sound good.
 
Power is not an issue with the X5ii and N6. They both drove the Zen with authority and findings are similar as above, with the X5ii a bit warmer and more musical. The laws of diminishing returns is apparent comparing the two DAPs and finding only minor differences. One reasoning would be that N6 requires way more burn-in time to sound their best as I only had 30 hours on mine, since it has 13 op amps built into its analogue circuit, rivalling that of desktop audio components, but then again, same can be said for the X5ii tour unit as it had only slightly longer burn-in time than my N6, for those who believe in burn-in. As of the review period though, they sounded remarkably close and this to me speaks volumes of X5ii's value. 
 

 
X5ii vs Vivo XShot
 
X5ii > 1964 Ears ADEL A12 (Low Gain, EQ Off, Volume = 67/120)
Xshot > 1964 Ears ADEL A12 (EQ Off, Volume = 74/100)
 
There's no photo of the X5ii taken side-by-side with the XShot as I only have the XShot with me and it was busy taking all the photos in this review 

 
Against the XShot: If XShot could keep up with X5ii's youngest brother X1, slightly outpaced by younger brother X3ii, it was certainly outclassed by the X5ii on all fronts except the treble where XShot was only very slightly better in terms of airiness. Next to the XShot, X5ii sounds much livelier and engaging, with comparatively much thicker and fuller mids yet with pronounced textured throatiness, and the bass is much weightier, with longer decay and better texture, all the while X5ii offering clearer and more refined details. Soundstage of the XShot sounds flat next to the X5ii. 
 

 
Conclusion
 
With the introduction of the X3 from just two years ago, Fiio has gone from strength to strength with quick and much improved releases of DAPs until the X5ii that we now see today. The DAP scene is very crowded nowadays with lots of companies getting themselves involved for a piece of the pie. Question is: Could Fiio still hold the line against the barrages of the many choices of DAPs available on the market today? The answer for me is a definite YES! with the introduction of yet another stellar product by Fiio in the form of the X5ii. With its competitive pricing, and rather complete package from its packaging, build quality, usability, features, sound quality, and ability to decode DSD natively, it's very hard to fault the X5ii amongst the sea of DAPs and it stands heads and shoulders with its much more expensive competitors. It's an easy recommendation to those looking for a relatively clean sound with lots of features and easy portability.
 

Disclaimer

 
This unit was in my possession for a few days as part of the Australasian tour. I'd like to thank @FiiO and @Joe Bloggs for making this tour possible, and @Brooko for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
*Based on latest firmware version 1.0 that I've updated at the time this review was written.
*I listen at relatively high volume, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and such issues may/may not exist on this product.
*As I only use IEMs, I will only comment on its usage with IEMs. 
*No EQ/sound effects were applied throughout duration of having this unit on all devices.
 

 
Build:
 
The X3II is nearly identical to its younger brother X1 in size and build. It has a solid build with brushed gun-metal aluminium body along with the buttons, and and feels nice to the touch with a nice weight to it. Fairly smooth edges, no protruding parts or looseness. The buttons are firm and responsive. 
 
One thing to note is the silicon case for X3II. Dust and lint tend to stick to it. And with the silicon case on the unit it's a bit difficult to put it into and take it out of the pants' pockets as they are a bit sticky. If this unit is mine I'd rather not use it. I would suggest a soft plastic/faux leather case instead. 
 
User Interface and Usability:
 
The UI is reasonably intuitive, similar to the X1. I was able to find my way around the menus and settings without much fuss without referring to the manual. Buttons are easy to get used to. The boot-up time is quick and the UI has a nice overall presentation. Updating is simply drag-and-drop latest firmware into the root folder of the Micro SD card, and long pressing power button on the side and top left button on the front to initiate firmware update. Scan time of music from Micro SD card is within reasonable bounds.   
 
Fiio has listened to user feedbacks and looked into fine-tuning their DAPs and making them even more user-friendly. Power button is flat along the side of the unit to differentiate itself from the volume buttons which are slightly protruding out. The default volume up button has a protruding indent so it can be felt by hand while inside the pocket. The scroll wheel experience is improved compared to the X1, with a bit more grip and tactile feedback. When I unplug my earphones it pauses and few minutes later goes into standby to conserve battery. When I want to use it again, just short press on the power button and the X3II switches on instantaneously. The instant on feature is a really nice touch. With screen off and music playing, long pressing the volume buttons become next/previous song. These default actions for the various buttons are customizable. Also, there's no 'pop' sound when switching on X3II with earphones plugged in. These may be small details, but they are small details done right by Fiio compared to some other DAPs in terms of improving the user experience and ensure a smooth time listening. 
 
Battery Life:
 
The X3II is listed to last around 11 hours. Sounds about right when I used it under normal circumstances. Better than a lot of current DAPs on the market. Pretty impressive for such a small unit.
 
USB DAC issue with Windows 8/8.1:
 
The X3II couldn't be recognized as USB DAC when connected to my Windows 8.1 and this issue seems to be common. There is a workaround to this problem and just follow the instructions in the link below:
http://fiio.me/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=40391&page=1&extra=#pid106818
 
Sound:
 


Headphone Out (Unamped)
 
X3II continues the new line of tuning consistent with its younger brother X1, offering a fairly neutral sound with only a tinge of warmth, but most different from X1 is that it has added treble sparkle.  
The noise floor is present with very sensitive IEMs but considered low enough and acceptable to me, and when music is playing it is not an issue.
 
High:
Highs are smooth and yet the treble extension is pretty good with sufficient sparkle. It is sufficiently detailed with barely any grain.
 
Mids:
Mids have good clarity and details and don't exhibit any harshness. 
 
Bass:
Well-controlled bass that has good decay and hits hard. Bass doesn't bleed into the mids. Bass quality is clean and fairly textured.
 
Soundstage:
Soundstage is fairly wide with enough depth and uniformly distributed around the space. Imaging and layering/separation is good.
 
My main comparison here would be against my Vivo XShot. The X3II has slightly thicker and fuller mids than the XShot, and the bass has longer decay and it is punchier. Both has similar soundstage in terms of depth and width. On the other hand, the X3II has slightly less clarity and airiness. The X3II sounds much more engaging. 
 
Line Out (Amped)
 
X3II was paired with my Meier Audio Corda PCStep via line out and noticeable improvement was noted. There is more air and better clarity, soundstage opened up, and both ends were extended a bit with the bass being tighter and having better impact while treble having more air. 
 
DSD playing 
 
DSD is something new for me, as before the X3II I don't own anything that can play DSD, but luckily for me there are DSD and FLAC versions of the same albums already in the Micro SD of the tour unit. Under controlled conditions with everything the same and volume-matched by ear, I noticed that finer details are more pronounced on DSD files. It's akin to watching a video on YouTube on 480p and then you switch it to 720p (example just for jump in quality sake). It's more life-like and you get a real sense of feelings portrayed by the musicians. I wasn't much of a believer in hi-res audio formats before and the skeptic in me was truly impressed and looking forward to more comparisons of such in the future.
 
As USB DAC
 
Sound quality is the same as expected as playing directly from unit itself. Compared to my Meier Audio Corda PCStep as USB DAC, there is a bit more warmth, heavier bass impact and decay, whereas there is less airiness, detail and clarity and slightly smaller soundstage. 
 
Verdict:

 
In this day and age, the audiophile world is littered with many products costing way too much past thousands of dollars and beyond. Could anyone get any decent DAP at all for the budget conscious? Absolutely. DAP + USB DAC in one. Plus native DSD decoding as icing on the cake. With Fiio X3II , you definitely can, in a ultraportable hi-res DAP that decodes DSD64/128. Right on the heels of releasing the X1, Fiio has outdone themselves again with yet another solid deal in the X3II , with sound quality, build quality, portability and usability all rolled into one package that doesn't break the bank of the consumers. 

Disclaimer:
 

This unit was in my possession for a few days as part of the Fiio X1 Australasian tour. I'd like to thank @FiiO, @Joe Bloggs and @Brooko for making this tour possible.
 

 
Build:
 
In the world of audiophile DAPs, at $100, the looks alone could have you fooled that it costs more. The X1 has a solid build with an aluminium body along with the buttons, and and feels nice to the touch with a nice weight to it. Fairly smooth edges, no protruding parts or looseness. The buttons are firm and responsive. Recessed power button is a nice touch. Navigation buttons are easily accessible one-handed, and not too far apart or too close to tell the difference, though I would suggest the power button to be at the top instead for even more straightforward control if fumbling it in the pocket. The scroll wheel, though, is my main gripe with the build. It is made of plastic, and not as responsive as it could be, making selections within sometimes will not register. More grip and tactile feedback on the scroll wheel would be my suggestion. Screen display resolution is sharp but lacks a bit in contrast, especially under direct sunlight. There's no internal memory and the X1 accepts one MicroSD card. As there is no cover on the MicroSD slot it is best to avoid exposing the unit to any contact with water at all costs. X1 does not accept DAC.
 
User Interface:
 
The UI is reasonably intuitive. I was able to find my way around the menus and settings without much fuss without referring to the manual. There are a few user-friendly settings such as sleep-timer, brightness, changing button assignments etc to customize the device to your liking. The device sometimes is a bit laggy and takes about half a second to respond. The lack of memory on power-off is a bit letdown. It'd be a nice feature to have to have your last song/playlist when you power it back on.
 
Battery Life:
 
The X1 is listed to last around 12 hours. The battery was still at more than 50% despite me already passing the 6 hours mark some time ago. Pretty impressive for such a unit.
 
Sound:
 
Headphone Out (Unamped)
 
X1 unamped is more than adequate for most, if not all IEMs on the market. As I only use IEMs, I will only comment on its usage with IEMs, in this case mainly my ASG-1Plus. X1 offers a fairly neutral sound with only a tinge of warmth, which was less warmth than I was expecting given Fiio's general line of products, but a welcoming change nonetheless. 
Bass is tight with good impact while lacking a bit in extension. The vocals are full and natural. It has a fairly wide soundstage but not deep, with good imaging and instrument separation. Detail is there but not for critical listening purposes. The noise floor is present with sensitive IEMs but not an issue when music is playing.
My main comparison here would be against my Vivo XShot. The X1 has slightly thicker and fuller mids than the XShot, and has punchier bass. On the other hand, the X1 has slighly smaller soundstage and less clarity and airiness. The two are not huge gaps apart though and both compare favourably.
 
Line Out (Amped)
 
Line out was tested mainly with the E11K on low gain that is included as part of the tour. Again, E11K is fairly neutral, and this latest offerings from Fiio might indicate a more neutral house sound in future products which I am more inclined to be interested in. Since both X1 and E11K go for similar tuning, the difference or increase between headphone-out and line-out is small.
 
Verdict:
 
For the price of $100, what you get is a DAP that decodes up to 24/192 for a Line-Out with a clean and neutral sound in a portable device. The X1 is a solid deal, with sound quality, build quality, portability and usability all rolled into one package that doesn't break the bank of the consumers. Fiio is the brand that has brought many into the audiophile world with its affordable pricing, and with the release of X1 will continue to benefit many, especially the budget conscious.

Big thanks to djvkool for generously lending me his personal unit for reviewing.
 
*I listen at relatively high volume, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there are differences in impressions at high volume and lower volume as noted by several members.
 
Setup: Samsung Note 3 (Neutron app) > Meier Corda PCStep. No EQ applied.
 

 
 
Build:
Superb shell quality with clear housings, could clearly see the insides at the drivers and tubings. Very appealing to look at and nice to the touch. 
Braided cable is good with little microphonics. Cable cinch and Y-split are made of clear plastic tubes which holds on much sturdier than normal standard ones.
Hard metal carry case is really solid. 
 
Fit/Isolation:
Probably that I have small ears (with shallow yet large ear canals, weird huh), similar fit issues with svyr. UM 3X would not fit flush in the ear but would protrude outwards. Hence isolation is average and comfort isn't great. Driver flex experienced in both ears with silicone tips. 
 
Bass:
Bass hits hard with good sub bass rumble and decay. Bass mask a bit of detail on some songs, but is otherwise well textured and full bodied. 
 
Mids:
Detailed mids with a tinge of warmth, forward with great transparency, clarity and resolution. Since I listen a lot to female vocals, upper mid-range hump causes voccal sibilance which is too prominent for my taste. 
 
Highs:
Lower treble a bit sharp for me especially on poorly mastered recordings. Upper treble is smooth and extends well. 
 
Imaging and Soundstage:
Soundstage is wide and high, with 3D imaging. Gives the feeling of being surrounded in the centre of the performance. Good separation between instruments.
 
Conclusion:
Since I listen at high volume and don't wish to EQ, UM 3X is not for me. However this doesn't mean it won't be suitable for others, as YMMV, especially for those who listen at lower volume. The UM 3X is a very capable hybrid IEM and definitely caught my interest in keeping tabs on the future development of hybrid IEMs!