HIDIZS S3 PRO REVIEW

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe we are reviewing the Hidizs S3 Pro Dongle DAC and Headphone Amplifier. This is our second interaction for reviewing Hidiz products. Hidizs is a China-based company founded by Tamson in 2012, who himself is an avid audiophile and fronted an underground rock band and decided to dedicate his life to making HiFi music affordable. As an audiophile, it was a no-brainer; music should be heard as intended. In these 12 years, Hidizs has consistently produced the highest quality portable digital audio players (DAPs), earphones, USB DACs, etc. Hidizs products have been recognized by winning the VGP Golden Prize for three consecutive years (2019, 2020, 2021).

Their first landmark product in this audiophile world was Hidizs AP100- a HiFi Portable Music Player in 2014. Today we are reviewing their latest offering in budget dongle categories, S3 Pro. It has a 3.5mm single-ended output. The S3 Pro retails for US $45.00 at the time of review.



Specifications: -

• Input: USB-C
• Formats Supported: DSD128 / PCM32Bit-384kHz / MQA.
• DAC Used: ESS ES9281C PRO
• Headphone Outputs: 3.5mm Single Ended
• Power Output: LR 55mW @ 32Ω
• SNR: <117dB
• THD + N: <0.0008% (±10%)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 40kHz (±0.1dB)
• Dimensions: 90x10x20 mm, 6g

Disclaimer: -

The Hidizs S3 Pro is a review unit that was sent to us directly by Hidizs for free. We are very much thankful to them. However, this review reflects our unbiased opinion as always.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The Hidizs S3 Pro comes in a small-sized box with the DAC/Amp and all the accessories. The unboxing experience is very simple. Taking out from the outer box, we have the inner plastic box. Inside it, we found the DAC/Amp in a foam assembly. The Type-C cable is non-removable. The package comes with a USB Type-C to Type-A male adopter. All come under the price tag of just US$ 45.00.




Build & Design: -

The S3 Pro features a small-sized circular and compact build. The DAC features a full metal Alloy enclosure because the DAC/Amp feels very robust and even so lightweight in hands. The housing is made up of good-quality machining. The cable attached to it also feels just about right. However, we are getting a USB Type-C to Type-A male adopters inside the package. We have a tiny but bright enough notification LED on the front side of the dongle, that changes color to Red, Purple, and Blue according to the decoding formats. But an independent volume control would be nice to have.



Sound Analysis: -

Since we have reviewed Hidizs items before, this is the first DAC/Amp from Hidizs we are evaluating. We found it to be a device with good balanced sound quality. They have chosen the ESS ES9291C Pro DAC chip inside. We have tried the S3 Pro with multiple sets of IEMs, which don’t seem to have had any issues driving. However, we are not claiming that it could drive demanding IEMs also. Let alone the Full-Size Headphones. The sound is balanced, with a hint of warmth at the lower end. The trebles have sparks and enough energy. Due to the lack of driving power headroom, the sound started to get distorted with higher volume. The lower end got a serious punch in the sound in terms of both quality and quantity. The soundstage is decent and more open at the given price tag. The imaging is precise and does justice to the paired transducer’s properties. The cable is made up of silver-plated copper conductors separately in a twisted pair configuration resulting in a clean sound. When it comes to pairing it will pair well with warm neutral IEMs.

The S3 PRO supports three firmware options that offer different sound tunings. Transparent treble for bright, clean, crisp, and detailed sound. Tonal balance with a pure pleasing sound. More prominent bass with incredible elasticity and phenomenal depth. The Firmware can be installed from a PC with Windows 10, or a higher version installed in it.

However, we would not mind if there were more amount of resolution present. We at Aural Cafe would love to hear a more refined sound with better technicalities. The output power is okay only for beginners in this hobby and only for those starting to explore the portable audio world.



Conclusion: -

At Aural Café, we are impressed with the design idea of Hidizs S3 Pro. It is a lightweight and sturdy dongle with a clean sound. But we have in our mind that can it hold its ground strongly in its super competitive product category after 2 years of release? If you listen to your music casually and are starting to explore the hobby while at home through your mobile phones and laptops and you want a super small and convenient form factor, then S3 Pro could be one of your choices. It also brings on board a decent clean sound with an exciting punch for IEMs.

Non-Affiliated link:-

- https://www.hidizs.net/products/hid...able-hi-res-dac-dongle?variant=44441334775995

Tangzu XuanWu Gate: Tangzu’s Take on Neutrality

DISCLAIMER: The Tangzu XuanWu Gate was on a tour organized by Tangzu Audio and @machinegod , we are thankful to them for arranging it. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the item.

Introduction: -

Tangzu is a China-based company founded initially by the name of Tforce Audio back in 2021. They have debuted with IEMs named Yuan Li. Due to some reason; they have rebranded themselves as Tangzu Audio in 2022. They have always commemorated their IEMs with the golden era of China, the Tang dynasty. This time they have named the IEMs as XuanWu Gate. It’s also an important incident in the history of the Tang Dynasty. Tangzu identifies itself as “A Traditional Aesthetic Company” specializing in portable earphones and drivers.

Tangzu XuanWu Gate is Tangzu's flagship offering and features a tribrid setup with 1DD+4BA+2EST. Each shell of XuanWu Gate is composed of a single custom 10mm Carbon-composite Diaphragm Driver for handling the lows, four custom-made high-quality Balanced Armature (BA) units for handling the mids and the highs and two Sonion Electrostatic Drivers (EST) for handling the ultra-highs. XuanWu Gate's utilization of 1:2 electrostatic speaker units optimizes the balance between dynamic drivers and balanced armatures. This configuration enhances detail amplification, The Tangzu team through this setup insist on achieving a mellower and more transparent sound, while improving separation and density. The production process of Xuanwu Gate took more than six months. After numerous overseas exhibitions, shows and feedback collection, with repeated adjustments, they aimed to create a mature and balanced solution.

This is our first introduction to the brand Tangzu Audio. Tangzu XuanWu Gate can be bought for 649 US$ from Tangzu's official website.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 1-Dynamic Driver + 4-Balanced Armatures + 2-Electrostatic Drivers
• Impedance: 10.5Ω ± 20%
• Freq Response: 7Hz-20Khz
• Sensitivity: 103dB/mW @1kHz
• Cable: 1.2 m Single crystal copper silver-plated Modular Cable
• Socket Interface: 2-pin 0.78mm

Packaging & Accessories: -

However, the item we received came without the official package, but we have seen in various sources that the Tangzu Audio team left nothing to pamper the soul of an audiophile. The unboxing experience of the retail box should be one of a kind. One can see a high-quality Leather case inside which the IEM cable and accessories are reliably kept. The case consists of IEMs, Single crystal copper silver-plated Modular cable, 3 pairs of Tang Sancai Wide-Bore Eartips, 3 pairs of Tang Sancai Balanced-Bore Eartips and Modular Terminations of 3.5mm and 4.4mm. The cable features 98 cores, 8-strand design in a finely woven structure. The silver colour ultra-soft insulation on the cable goes hand in hand with the elegance of the XuanWu Gate. The 1.2-meter cable also features high-quality gold-plated 0.78mm 2-pin connectors and, an anodized alloy modular plug case. It can be terminated as both 3.5mm and 4.4mm. With the given accessories and the quality, the team at Tangzu Audio impressed us as this is our first interaction between.




Build & Design Concept: -

The shell of XuanWu Gate is made using high-quality aerospace-grade aluminium alloy CNC, curved in delicate lines. The design of the shell is quite ergonomic but on a larger size which provides excellent passive isolation, but we are not sure it will be comfortable enough for everyone for longer sessions. The panel looks premium and sophisticated, smooth, and exquisite. The Aluminium Alloy effectively reduces internal resonance, making the sound output more stable and cleaner. The diameter of the nozzle on the XuanWu Gate IEM is a bit big but it gets comfortable during usage. The line design on the exterior of the case gives Xuanwu Gate a three-dimensional appearance. The overall build quality and craftsmanship is worth mentioning.




Sound Analysis: -

Credit: @therollo9

• Tonality: - After listening to the IEMs with various sources we have at Aural Café we can say that when it comes to the tonality of the IEMs, XuanWu Gate features a very neutral tonality. The custom 10 mm carbon-composite diaphragm Dynamic Driver is tuned to provide lower-end warmth to the neutral. The Tangzu Audio team ends up achieving a neutral yet smooth tonality. They wanted this IEM to be presented in the most balanced way possible and we also feel that the given cable adds up to achieving neutrality. On using the high-quality copper cable (PWAudio Monile Shielding in our case) the tonality surprisingly becomes more musical and soulful.

• Lows: - The lows in XuanWu Gate are tuned using the custom 10mm Carbon-Composite diaphragm Dynamic Driver contributes to a balanced bass. The lows are tastefully tuned providing a very natural texture to the bassline. The bass has decent slam and rumbles without hindering the Mids. Although we feel at Aural Café, this IEM is not meant for bass-heads. The mid-bass sounds fun when listening to popular pop numbers like “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa. The bass's speed is balanced at best to keep up with the neutral tonality. That’s due to the lightweight and rigidness of the dynamic driver. But we at Aural Café would love to get more Sub-Bass emphasis. Sometimes we felt that it was on the lighter side when we listened to tracks like ‘Angel’ by Massive Attack.

• Mids: - Mids of the XuanWu Gate are the most emphasized aspects and certainly the star of the show. Tangzu makes use of two custom-designed BAs for the mids. The mids are just balanced and neutral to merge smoothly with the low and high frequencies. The lower mids are on the thinner side while the upper mids are smooth and intoxicating without any shoutiness. The female vocals sound sublime while listening to ‘Skyfall’ by Adele and listening to ‘Listen Before I Go’ by Billie Eilish while the male vocals are not too far in comparison and the same can be felt while listening to ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson, but it is the female vocals which are a bit ahead in texture in comparison to male vocals. The timbre of the string instruments like Acoustic Guitar, Violin and Harp are lifelike. Whereas the instruments like Vina, and Electric Guitar fall a bit short in comparison to the previously mentioned instruments. The transient response is above average to complement the smooth and neutral tonality of the IEMs.

• Highs: - The highs on the Tangzu XuanWu Gate are tuned using two custom-designed BAs as well as two Sonion ESTs. The highs on XuanWu Gate have a tinge of spices, natural, and airy without any dryness. The upper treble is specially tuned very tastefully with the help of two Sonion ESTs which are well extended without any thinness. We loved listening to ‘Variations’ by Submotion Orchestra where the female vocals are natural and complete along with the beautiful extension as well as listening to ‘In Your Eyes’ from the Weekend. The Sonion ESTs are tuned very technically and showcase their calibre while listening to Western Classical and Jazz. However, the sparks in the trebles might be sensitive for some.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on the XuanWu Gate can be described as decent with the width being average and with decent stage depth as we felt it could be a tad bit more cohesive. The same can be felt while listening to ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles and ‘Thriller’ by Michel Jackson showcases its imaging as a very precise one. We enjoyed listening to ‘Game of Thrones-Soundtracks’ composed by Ramin Djawadi for the series. The microdetails are retrieved effortlessly by this tribrid beauty.

• Synergy: - The XuanWu Gate is easy to drive but the lows and high frequencies really shine with powerful high-quality portable sources such as iFi Hip DAC 3 amd Dethonray Pegasus SG1 Gold and desktop sources such as Dethonray Listening M1. Dongles capable of clean sound such as Aune Yuki can also be used if one likes to use the XuanWu Gate with their mobile phones on the go. So, we at Aural Cafe will suggest using a clean warm source to match with the tonality. Sources like iFi Hip DAC 3 recover the warmth and thickness of male vocals we we listen to Muddy Waters ‘Captain Captain’. The stock premium cable complements well with the overall tonality of the Tangzu XuanWu Gate and adds a hint of more energy to the upper treble. We would here like to add that the stock cable is enough but if you are treble sensitive and looking for a warmer laidback sound, we would recommend pairing it with a high-quality copper cable like Rhapsodio Copper Wizard Mk. II. When it comes to the tips the supplied Sancai Matte Tips have done a great job with the IEMs.

Conclusion: -

The XuaWu Gate sounds like the way the team at Tangzu Audio wanted them to be. Each part from lows to highs is tuned very carefully to reflect Tangzu's take on neutrality. We at Aural Cafe are honoured to own and listen to many EST-based IEMs such as Shozy Pola, Shozy Pola 39, Penon Audio 10th AE, Hisenior Mega5EST and many more IEMs in this span. But we can say that dual Sonion ESTs are beautifully implemented to achieve a superb extension in the upper treble and detail retrieval section. However, it might face solid competition in the tri-brid market whereas some of the others not only have a value advantage but also offer customizations. We would love to have more sub-bass presence and more bodied male vocals out of the box. Also, more cohesiveness would be welcomed. However, if anyone looks for a neutral and detailed sound experience and premium build certainly look out for this one.

Non-Affiliated Link: -

• https://tangzu.net/products/tangzu-...-0-78mm-3-5-4-4mm-cable-hybrid-driver-headest
• https://hifigo.com/products/tangzu-xuanwu-gate

iFi GO LINK: The Only Link You Need?

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe we are reviewing the iFi Go-Link Dongle DAC and Headphone Amplifier. This is our second interaction for reviewing iFi Audio Products. iFi Audio is a subsidiary of Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) which is one of the UK's largest manufacturers of high-end audio products such as Amplifiers, Active Buffer/Preamplifiers, DACs, and USB filters. Founded in 2000, AMR is based in London, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Abbingdon Global Group.

iFi Audio is one of the most respected brands in the audiophile world with hi-fi products across different prices and product categories with one aim- to improve music enjoyment. Founded in 2012 iFi oversee the design, development, and manufacture of more than 50 products from their headquarters in Southport, UK. iFi products and their packaging are made from recyclable materials, including Aluminium, Paper and Recycled plastics. They have entered the world of dongles with the iFi GO link, a simpler dongle with a 3.5mm output.

iFi Go-Link is competitively priced at US$ 59 only.



Specifications: -

• Input: USB-C
• Formats Supported: DSD256 / PCM32Bit-384kHz / MQA.
• DAC Used: ESS ES9219MQ/Q
• Headphone Outputs: 3.5mm S-Bal.
• Power Output: 1.5V/70mW @ 32Ω; 2V/14mW @ 300Ω
• SNR: <125dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• DNR: <122dB(A)
• THD + N: <0.004% (1.27V @ 32Ω)
• Frequency Response: 10Hz - 80kHz (±0.5dB)
• Power Consumption: <0.2W idle, 1W max
• Dimensions: 135x12.6x7.6 mm, 11g

Disclaimer: -

The iFi audio Go-Link is a review unit that was sent to us directly by iFi Audio for free. This review reflects our unbiased opinion as always.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The iFi Go-Link comes in a small-sized box with the DAC/Amp and all the accessories. The unboxing experience is very simple. Taking out from the outer box, we have the manuals and quick guides. Along with we found the DAC/Amp in a paper assembly. The Type-C cable is non-removable. The package comes with a USB Type-C to Lightning male adopter, and it also contains a USB Type-C to Type-A male adopter. All come under the price tag of just US$ 59.




Build & Design: -

iFi Go-Link features a small-sized and compact build. The DAC features a full Magnesium Alloy enclosure for the reason the DAC/Amp feels very robust and premium in hands. The housing is made up of top-notch machining quality. The cable attached to it is also very sturdy and premium. However, we are getting two different types of adopters inside the package. Those are also very high quality in machining. We are getting a tiny but bright enough notification LED on the front side of the dongle, that changes color to Magenta, Green, Yellow, Cyan, and Blue according to the decoding formats. A permanent Hi-Res logo some might find offensive. But an independent volume control would be nice to have.



Sound Analysis: -

Since this is our second interaction for review and, we have used multiple iFi products before, we understand the house sound of iFi. They have maintained that here as well. As usual, it is another device with great sound quality. They have chosen the ESS ES9219MQ/Q DAC chip instead of Burr-Brown which we usually see in iFi products. But this time they tried to emulate the Burr-Brown sound in this tiny dongle, and they were quite successful in it. We have tried the Go Link with multiple sets of IEMs, which it doesn’t seem to have had any issue driving. However, we are not claiming that it could drive demanding Full-Sized Headphones also. The sound is thick, the mid-bass hits hard. The trebles are smooth yet do not lose much detail. It may not be the cleanest sounding dongle but it’s very musical and organic in tonality. The soundstage is decent and more open when we compare it to the other similar-priced dongles. The sound presentation is unique with a well-balanced warm and organic sound. The cable is made up of silver-plated copper conductors separately insulated with Polymer in a twisted pair configuration resulting in a clean and noise-free background. When it comes to pairing it will pair well with neutral IEMs

However, we would not mind if there were more amount of resolution present. We at Aural Cafe would like to add that the detail retrieval capability of the dongle is just average, and we would love to hear a more refined sound with better technicalities.



Conclusion: -

At Aural Café, we are impressed with the well-thought-out design idea of Go-Link. It is not just a dongle DAC/Amp but a high-quality piece of audio device at such a price. It is a lightweight and sturdy dongle with organic sound. We believe that it will hold its ground strongly in its super competitive product category. If you listen to your music casually and are starting to explore the hobby while at home and in the office through your mobile phones and laptops and want to elevate your audiophile game then Go-Link would be the right choice as it excels in achieving pitch-black background, smooth and enjoyable audio experience without breaking your bank. It also brings on board a decent amount of clean power for mostly IEMs. If anyone is willing to purchase, it is available for purchase globally and locally through the various websites (Non-Affiliated link is given below).
- https://www.headphonezone.in/products/ifi-audio-go-link
- https://www.amazon.com/iFi-link-Amplifier-Gold-plated-Hi-Resolution/dp/B0BN6MM822

HISENIOR MEGA5EST: Deep Dive into The Ocean Of Music


DISCLAIMER: The Hisenior Mega5EST was purchased by us directly from Hisenior Audio with a small discount, we are thankful to the amazing team at Hisenior Audio for the same. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the item.

Introduction: -

Hisenior is a China-based company founded in 2016 by Gareth Chan. Hisenior Audio specializes mainly in handcrafted Universal and Custom IEMs for musicians, studio engineers and audiophiles. Hisenior Audio is focused on designing and making professional custom and universal fitting in-ear monitors using the best quality drivers at affordable prices. What differentiates Hisenior Audio from other China-based companies is that they launch very limited IEM models and keep on refining their current offerings based on Audiophile’s feedback. They recently upgraded their setup and started offering custom IEMs using 3D impressions at very affordable prices. Hisenior Audio IEMs such as Mega5p and Okavango are quite famous in the audiophile circuit. We at Aural Café, had the honour of reviewing Hisenior Okavango and T2. The links of those you can find below.

• https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hisenior-okavango.26620/reviews#review-32114
• https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hisenior-t2-classic.25405/reviews#review-31502

Hisenior Mega5EST is Hisenior's flagship offering and features a tri-brid setup with 1DD+2BA+2EST. Hisenior Audio has recently launched an Anniversary Edition of Mega5EST to celebrate their 7 years in the industry. But we will be reviewing the non-anniversary version which also comes with Hisenior’s premium White Whale cable. However, on our discussion with Hisenior Audio regarding the differences we can confirm that the tuning is the same as the anniversary version and the only difference is in the colour of the shell and faceplate. Our unit also features the new smaller shell, new air vents and their exclusive smoother coherence from bass-treble just like the anniversary version.

Hisenior Mega5EST each shell is composed of a single custom 10mm Bio-Cellular Diaphragm Driver for handling the lows, two high-quality Sonion Balanced Armature (BA) for handling the mids and the highs and two Sonion Electrostatic Drivers (EST) for handling the ultra-highs in a 4-Way Integrated Crossover. The Hisenior team through this setup insist on achieving a smooth coherent sound across the whole frequency with well-detailed and clean instrument definition.

Hisenior Mega5EST can be bought for 549 US$ from Hisenior's official website.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 1-Dynamic Driver + 2-Balanced Armatures + 2-Electrostatic Drivers
• Crossover: 4-Ways, Tripple Bores, 3-Dampers
• Impedance: 25Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 10Hz-50Khz
• Sensitivity: 105dB/mW @1kHz
• Isolation: -20 dB
• Cable: 1.2 m with 4.4mm Termination

Packaging & Accessories: -

When it comes to packaging Hisenior Audio team left nothing to pamper the soul of an audiophile. Hisenior Mega5EST comes in a midsized rectangular cardboard box. One can see a high-quality Pelican case inside which the IEM cable and accessories are reliably kept. The packaging is minimal and the whole focus is on providing high value for the money to the IEM itself. The case consists of IEMs, White Whale cable which complements the tonality of the Mega5EST, Six pairs of silicone ear tips, two pairs of foam tips, a cleaning wiper, and a cable clip. The included White Whale cable features 290 cores, and multi-layered UPOCC (Silver Plated) shielded wires in coaxial design. The white colour ultra soft PVC insulation on the cable goes hand in hand with the elegance of the Mega5EST. The 1.2-meter cable also features high-quality gold-plated 0.78mm 2-pin connectors, anodised aluminium alloy plug case, splitter, slider, and gold-plated brass plug which can be terminated in 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm as per the requirement of the audiophile. The White Whale premium cable sells for 96 US$ and the given high-quality Pelican waterproof and dustproof case sells for 30 US$ so we at Aural Cafe can easily say that for 549 US$, the team at Hisenior Audio tried their best to offer a complete package to the demanding Audiophiles.



Build & Design Concept: -

Although it has an anniversary edition of Mega5eEST, we have already mentioned the unit we are reviewing is the regularly updated version which features a transparent shell along with an elegant multi-colour faceplate that primarily showcases the whole ethos of Mega5EST we feel so. The shell of Mega5EST is made of using high-quality resin. The design of the shell is quite ergonomic which is not only comfortable for longer usage but also provides excellent passive isolation. The transparent shell allows you to sneak into the inside of the Mega5EST which would surely excite every audio geek out there. The diameter of the nozzle on the Mega5EST IEM is a bit big but it gets comfortable during usage. What is interesting about the Hisenior Audio is that they offer complete customization and thus each set of Mega5EST can be customized as per the needs of the Audiophiles.




Sound Analysis: -

Credit: @CammyFi

• Tonality: - When it comes to the tonality of the IEMs, Mega5EST features a neutral tonality along with some warmth at the low end. The custom 10 mm bio-cellulose diaphragm Dynamic Driver is tuned well to provide the much-needed warmth to the neutral tonality across the frequency because of which the Hisenior Audio team ends up achieving a neutral yet smooth and natural tonality. The tonality of the Mega5EST opens gates to listening to various genres of music from blues to pop and hard rock. On using the high-quality copper cable (Rhapsodio OCC mk2 Copper cable in our case) the tonality surprisingly becomes a tinge more musical and soulful.

• Lows: - The lows in Mega5EST are tuned using the custom 10mm bio-cellulose diaphragm Dynamic Driver which ends up becoming the heart of the Mega5EST. The lows are tastefully tuned providing a very natural texture to the bassline. The bass has decent slam and rumbles without hindering the Mids. The mid-bass sounds fun when listening to popular pop numbers such as “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, whereas the sub-bass has sufficient rumble while listening to popular Bollywood songs. The speed of the bass is just balanced at best to keep up with the neutral tonality but we at Aural Cafe would have loved a tinge of more speed in this area of frequencies. We also feel that the shell design adds more air to the dynamics of the lower frequency.

• Mids: - The Mids in Mega5EST are tuned using the two Sonion BAs which are well respected for tuning mids in the audiophile universe. The Sonion BAs are known for their naturalness and that is what can be said about Mega5EST as well. The mids are just balanced and natural to merge smoothly with the low and high frequencies. The lower mids are laidback while the upper mids are smooth and intoxicating without any shoutiness. The female vocals sound sublime while listening to ‘O Sathi re’ from the movie Omkara composed by Vishal Bharadwaj and also listening to ‘Listen Before I Go’ by Billie Eilish while the male vocals are not too far in comparison and the same can be felt while listening to ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson, but it is the female vocals which are a bit ahead in texture in comparison to male vocals. The timbre of the instruments especially piano, flute and drums is top tier while the same on guitars is just decent. The transient response is just average at best to complement the smooth and balanced tonality of the IEMs.

• Highs: - The highs on the Mega5est are tuned using one Sonion BA as well as two Sonion ESTs. The highs on Mega5est are smooth, natural, and airy without any dryness. The upper treble is specially tuned very tastefully with the help of two Sonion ESTs which are well extended without any thinness. We at Aural Cafe also feel that the shell design helps in adding air across the frequency. We loved listening to “Man Kasturi” by Amit Kilam composed by Indian Ocean for the Bollywood movie Masaan where the vocals are natural and complete as well as listening to “In Your Eyes” from the Weekend. The Sonion ESTs are tuned very technically and showcase their calibre while listening to Western Classical and Jazz.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on the Mega5EST can be described as cohesive and realistic with the width being a bit ahead then the stage depth. The same can be felt while listening to “Hotel California” by the Eagles and “Kasto Mazza” composed by Shantanu Moitra for the Bollywood movie Parineeta while the imaging is just average at best. We enjoyed listening to ‘Zariya’ composed by AR Rahman for Coke Studio India.

• Synergy: - The Mega5EST is easy to drive but really shines with clean sources such as Aune M1p and Dethonray DTR1. The lows and high frequencies really shine with powerful high-quality portable sources such as iFi Hip DAC 3 and desktop sources such as Dethonray Listening M1. Dongles capable of clean sound such as Aune Yuki can also be used if one likes to use the Mega5EST with their mobile phones on the go. So, we at Aural Cafe will suggest using a clean transparent source. The stock premium cable not only complements well with the overall natural tonality of the Mega5EST but also adds a hint of more energy to the upper treble. We would here like to add that the stock cable is enough but if you want to squeeze the last bit of the Mega5EST then we would suggest premium cable such as the PW Audio Monile two-wire version. When it comes to the tips the vocals sounded open and life-like with Divinus Velvet ear tips.

Conclusion: -

The Sonion EST-based IEMs were first introduced by Shozy Audio (Hong Kong-based IEMs brand) and Alclair Audio (US-based brand) in 2019. We at Aural Cafe are honoured to owned and listened to many EST-based IEMs such as Shozy Pola, Shozy Pola 39, Penon Audio 10th AE and many more IEMs in this span. What makes Hisenior Audio Mega5EST unique is its honest and pure tonal quality where the the different types of drivers are beautifully implemented to achieve a smooth tonality across the frequency. Every driver whether it’s the DD, the BAs or the ESTs doesn’t show off but effortlessly works hand in hand to give life to the soul of Mega5EST. So, if you are a very value-centric audiophile and are in search of a high-quality tri-brid setup to listen to various genres of music then Mega5EST seems to be like the complete package. The level of customization that Hisenior offers at an affordable price just adds up to the whole experience of owning these IEMs. We would love a faster bass line and more refined imaging on Mega5EST.

Non-Affiliated Link: -

https://www.hisenior-iem.com/products/mega5est-hybrid-iem

AFUL SnowyNight Review​

Introduction: -

AFUL is highly reputed for its unique design for IEMs especially. They started their journey with IEMs in 2018 with a dedicated acoustic team that focused on developing cutting-edge acoustic technology. In 2023, AFUL has brought us MagicOne. They have designed a customized balanced armature driver for the MagicOne. Now, they came up with their first-ever DAC/Amp, Snowynight. AFUL Snowynight is a very well-built dongle with a full metal body with volume buttons on the side to control the volume with ease on the go and an attractive design painted with snowflakes. Due to its dual Cirrus Logic tonality, we feel it will synergize well with warm tonality IEMs and headphones. We would also like to inform you that Snowynight is very energy efficient all thanks to the Cirrus Logic chip. Alongside it's also highly compatible and has low heat dissipation due to its great design.



Specifications: -

• DAC Used: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43198
• Output Power: 4Vrms (BAL High), 2Vrms (BAL Low)
• 2Vrms (UNBAL High), 1Vrms (UNBAL Low)
• THD+N: ≤0.00037%
• Dynamic-Range: BAL - 130dB, UNBAL - 125dB
• Background Noise: 1.5uV (BAL), 1uV (UNBAL)
• Headphone Out: 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal
• Input port: USB Type-C
• Output Power: 140mW-300mW.

Disclaimer: -

The review tour for AFUL Snowynight was arranged by AFUL and @gadgetgod in India. We are thankful to them for the opportunity. However, the review reflects our honest opinion.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The AFUL Snowynight comes in a small-sized box with the DAC/Amp and all the accessories. The unboxing experience is simple yet premium. Removing the box lead, we have the manuals and quick guides. After that, we found the DAC/Amp in a foam assembly. The Snowynight comes with a USB Type-C to Lightning male cable connection (In our case) and it is also available in USB Type-C male-to-male cable. All come under the price tag of US $109.99.



Build & Design: -

AFUL Snowynight features a medium-sized and compact build. The DAC features a full metal enclosure for the reason the DAC/Amp is comparatively heavier than many other portable USB Dongle-DAC. The housing is made up of high-quality aluminium material with top-notch machining quality. The cable supplied is also very sturdy and premium. On the side of the device, it has independent volume adjustment buttons. The volume buttons are also used to control gain and filter settings.



Sound Analysis: -

AFUL Snowynight the name itself depicts the sound quality it is trying to offer in our testing. It is one of the cleanest and most natural-sounding dongles we have auditioned or have in our Aural Café’s bank. One of the best things about Snowynight is its neutrality with very good imaging and crispy notes. The soundstage is decent with more depth when we compare it to the other dongles. We believe that the team has achieved it because of its decoding architecture supported by two powerful Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips. The sound presentation is unique with a neutral with a very slightly warm tonality and a pitch-black background. One more interesting thing about the item is that it doesn’t try to overly colour the sound. The AFUL Snowynight’s non-linear volume control really helps especially with in-ear monitors and the onboard 4.4mm balanced output with 4 Vrms of output power can drive the most demanding IEMs and also drive the less demanding full-size headphones. This review will not do justice if we don’t write about the high-quality OTG cable the Snowynight is bundled with. The OTG cable is made up of high-purity 6N Single-Crystal Copper Cable which are properly shielded leading to a more efficient power supply to support its dual decoding architecture resulting in a clean background.

However, we would not mind if there were more amount of microdetails present. Another footnote we want to add here is the lack of App-Support where many of its competitors already walked the path and were quite successful.




Conclusion: -

We at Aural Café can happily assure you that if you are in the market for a well-built portable DAC/Amp at a competitive price then you can go with AFUL Snowynight because of its unique and clean sound production, robust build quality and efficient design. Also, we are surprised with AFUL where it’s their first endeavor in this vast dongle universe.

Non-Affiliated Links: -
- https://www.amazon.com/HiFiGo-SnowyNight-Amplifiers-Impressively-Distortion/dp/B0CSSGCV6T?th=1
- https://hifigo.com/products/aful-snowynight

PENON Quattro: Why So Blue??​

DISCLAIMER: The Penon Quattro was purchased by us directly from Penon Audio with small discounts, we are thankful to the amazing team at Penon Audio for the same. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the item.

Introduction: -

Penon Audio is a China-based company that was started in the year 201,3 by Chi Kong Hui with the goal of selling the best-selected audio products at the most affordable prices for Audiophiles. Penon Audio needs no introduction in the world of Audiophiles as most of us must have purchased something from Penon Audio in our musical journey. Although they initially started with retailing other Audio brand products, they ventured into manufacturing around 2018 with their lineup of IEMs, Cables, and Accessories. Their IEMs such as Penon Fan 2, Penon 10th Anniversary, and Penon Serial which we have reviewed already in Aural Cafe are quite famous in audiophile circles. Penon Audio IEMs come with their house sound which we can describe as musical yet with lots of details and soul.

Penon Quattro is a Four Dynamic-Driver based in-ear monitor that was launched in November 2023. When it comes to Dynamic-Driver based IEMs, in the earlier days IEMs used to come with a single dynamic driver, moved to double then to triple DD-based IEMs launched and eventually now to 4 DD-based IEMs with the launch of IEMs like Oriolus Monaccha and Penon Quattro. Well, Penon Audio was quite successful with their 3-DD IEMs, Penon Serial which has achieved a ‘Nirvana’ Status in the dictionary of Audiophiles and as a result, the Penon audio fans were quite hyped when they came to know about Penon Quattro. Quattro uses an independent 3-way crossover and 3-independent conduit (independent tubes) design for better layering. The low frequency is taken care of by two 10 mm composite diaphragm-based DDs that are placed horizontally opposed to each other for hard-hitting bass, while the mids are taken care of by single 8 mm graphene diaphragm-based DD drivers. The higher frequency is tuned using a 6 mm custom dynamic driver to achieve smooth and delicate highs.

Penon Quattro can be bought for 399 US$ from Penon Audio's official website.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 4-Dynamic Drivers per side
• Impedance: 16Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 5Hz-30Khz
• Sensitivity: 100dB/mW @1kHz
• Connector: 2-Pin, 0.78 mm
• Cable: 1.2 m with 4.4mm Termination

Packaging & Accessories: -

• Penon Quattro IEMs
• 2-Pin 0.78mm Cable of 1.2m and 4.4mm termination
• 3 types of Ear-Tips, 3 pairs of each
• Cleaning Brush and Clip

Check out the full unboxing video here,






Build & Design Concept: -

Penon Quattro is hand-made using high-quality medical-grade resin material. The use of medical-grade resin helps in designing a durable yet light shell that is comfortable to wear. The size of the shell is surprisingly compact and similar to the Penon Serial despite having 4-DDs on each side. This just shows the focus of the Penon Audio team on the fit and comfort issues of the Audiophiles while designing the shell. The translucent black shell helps in gazing into the complex dynamic driver setup in high-quality 3-way crossovers. The Penon Audio team has made use of 3 independent conduit designs for better layering. the electrical wires are shielded with tubes in order to achieve better layering and reduced distortion. We also feel that this also helps in the durability of the IEMs as there are four DDs inside the shell. The beautiful blue faceplate has a wooden pattern which gives a very soothing and elegant feel to the whole experience. Other than its four dynamic driver setups it's the high-quality shiny blue color graphene cable that gives the Quattro its bold stage. The cable is so attractive that even wireless lovers will come back to cable-based IEMs. The bluish graphene cable just not only has good looks but also sports high-quality connectors and splitters and comes in all 3.5mm, 2.5mm and 4.4mm termination which the audiophile can choose while ordering the unit from Penon Audio’s website. Additionally, there is a blue vent present on each shell to mitigate pressure buildup inside. We would also like to add here that the size of the shell is average and provides a comfortable fit vis-a-vis providing above-average passive isolation.

When it comes to accessories as usual the Penon Audio team didn’t compromise with anything. The Quattro comes in a standard blue leather Penon case along with three different quality silicone ear tips in S, M, and L sizes and a small leather strap to manage the cable.




Sound Analysis: -

Credits: @ToneDeafMonk

• Tonality: - The sound quality of Penon Quattro is analyzed after a burn-in of more than 200 hours as they’ve instructed on their website as well. Since it is a 4 DD-based IEMs, we at Aural Cafe made sure that those drivers were properly burned in before the review. When it comes to the tonality of Penon Quattro, it showcases a warm musical signature. The tonality has more warmth than the usual Penon house sound.

• Lows: - The low frequency in Penon Quattro is taken care of by two 10 mm composite diaphragm-based DDs which are placed horizontally opposed to each other. One needs a high-quality powerful source to extract the most out of it. The bass on Penon Quattro is full and hard-hitting if driven by powerful neutral sources. In our case, the Penon Quattro pairs really well with Aune M1p and Dethonray Listening M1. The warmth of the low frequency also plays a major role in the overall warm and musical tonality of the IEMs. The mid-bass is balanced but does take the lead in comparison to the sub-bass. While listening to ‘Heartless’ by the Weekend the mid-bass hits decently hard while remaining buttery smooth across the frequency. When it comes to Sub-bass the Penon Quattro does have sufficient quantity but lacks in quality.

• Mids: - The Mid-range in Penon Quattro is taken care by one 8 mm graphene diaphragm-based Dynamic Driver, where the magic starts. The mids on the IEMs are precisely balanced and one of the highlights of Penon Quattro. The mids are very lush, musical and intoxicating. The notes on the Quattro have the right weight which makes it very fun and immersive while listening to popular pop numbers. Such as ‘One Kiss’ by Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris. Both male and female vocals are very natural and organic in texture. The Penon Quattro surprisingly showcases beautiful and precise timbre when it comes to instruments. We enjoyed listening to ‘Rabb’ (feat Tochi Raina & Jaggi) at Coke Studio India, composed by Amit Trivedi on Penon Quattro. The transient response is above average in comparison to similar-priced IEMs. The upper mids have very precise energy and clarity while the lower mids are thick and warm.

• Highs: - The Highs on the Penon Quattro are balanced and smooth across the frequency. The 6 mm custom Dynamic Driver is tuned beautifully by Penon’s Acoustic Engineers to showcase a cohesive, natural and life-like presentation. There is no hint of shoutiness or nasty peaks and thus very helpful for longer listening sessions. The level of articulation is the most impressive and surprising part of the Quattro, even after having the smooth and forgiving approach. While the lower treble is just average the Quattro despite being warm and musical IEMs showcases a very high-quality upper treble while listening to electronic guitar-based tracks. We also loved the texture of the bass guitar while listening to ‘Late Night Feelings’ by Mark Ronson feat Lykee Li. There is sufficient air across the frequency to balance the highs.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage of Penon Quattro can be best described in one word that is ‘immersive’ The soundstage is above average in width and depth and thus provides sufficient separation in busy rock tracks but here we would like to add that the separation of the instruments could have been better. When it comes to imaging, is one of the other areas where the Penon Quattro excels. The imaging on Penon quattro is quite precise while the layering is just average at best. We enjoyed listening to ‘Zariya’ composed by AR Rahman for Coke Studio India.

• Synergy: - The source matching plays a very important role in the case of Penon Quattro since it is a 4 DD-based IEMs. After testing it for months we at Aural Cafe are very confident to suggest powerful transparent neutral sources such as Dethonray DTR1+, and Aune M1p. The quality of the sources will play a big part in extracting out of those 4 DDs as they love power. Dongles such as Aune Yuki also did a decent job in driving the Penon Quattro but if you want to show the true capability of the Quattro just plug it into a source such as Aune M1p or Dethonray Listening M1 and you will be surprised. When it comes to the tips Penon Quattro pairs well with Spinfit CP145 and neon and grey stock tips. The stock cable does a decent job in extracting micro details from the musical world, but it pairs a bit better with high-quality SPC cable such us Linum SuperBaX, DualBaX and PW Audio Monile two-wire. The soundstage, separation and vocals improve a bit with these SPC cables.

Conclusion: -

Well, Penon Audio did a magnificent job with Penon Serial and when the news of Penon Quattro came in every fan like us of Penon was excited. We can say that the Penon Serial is quite different from the Penon Quattro when it comes to tonality. Penon Serial is like wine that intoxicates you slowly to the galaxy of music. Penon quattro is raw, musical and a bold presentation by the Penon Audio team. If you are into analytical IEMs and more into rock, metal and classical genres of music Penon Quatrro is not for you, For the rest of the genres such as hip-hop, pops etc. Penon Quattro does a wonderful job, just don’t judge it by its cover, by which we mean to give it time and you will understand what Penon Quattro is capable of.

Non-Affiliated Link: -

- https://penonaudio.com/Penon-QUATTRO.html

Hidizs MS1 Galaxy REVIEW​

Introduction: -

Before we start with Hidizs MS1 Galaxy we would like to first write a bit about Hidizs as we at Aural Café give supreme importance to the people behind the Audio products. Hidizs is a China-based company founded by Tamson in 2012, who himself is an avid audiophile and fronted an underground rock band and decided to dedicate his life to making HiFi music affordable. As an audiophile, it was a no-brainer; music should be heard as it was intended to be. In these 12 years, Hidizs has been able to consistently produce the highest quality portable digital audio players (DAPs), earphones, USB DACs, etc. Hidizs products have been recognized by winning the VGP Golden Prize for three consecutive years (2019, 2020, 2021).

Their first landmark product in this audiophile world was Hidizs AP100- a HiFi Portable Music Player in 2014. Today we are reviewing their latest offering in budget IEMs categories, MS1 Galaxy. It has a 10.2mm PU+PEEK Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Driver on each side. It comes with a 0.78mm 2-pin SPC cable with a regular 3.5mm Termination. Hidizs MS1 Galaxy’s shell is constructed with high-density Germany's Makrolon resin providing a suitable, comfortable, and skin-friendly experience. Moving to its price it retails at a maximum of US$ 25.99 and regularly goes on sale for significantly lower prices.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 10.2mm PU+PEEK Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 32Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-40Khz
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mW
• Cable: SPC Cable with 0.78mm 2-Pin Design
• Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm
• Weight: About 10 grams.

Disclaimer: -

The item was sent by Hidizs free of cost for review purposes. We are thankful to them for the opportunity. However, the review reflects our honest opinion as always.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The MS1 Galaxy comes in a simple small box, inside of it we have the IEMs, behind the IEMs tray, the Sets of Tips and a cable composed of 2 strands of high-purity silver-plated Copper. The packaging and unboxing experience is very simple. However, there is no IEM carry case included. But again, we have to take the price of the package into account.
Check out the full unboxing video here,
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YsJQHD_80ME




IEM Build & Design: -

The design of Hidizs MS1 Galaxy is very ergonomic, and we didn’t have any issues fitting it. The IEMs come in a German-made Makrolon resin shell, and we have chosen the transparent one. We found no problem using it for longer sessions. The IEMs are itself very lightweight. The cable is also built sturdy, and we think the cable is by far the best in quality in this price range we have seen. It also comes with a Microphone inbuilt as another option.




Sound Analysis: -

Credit: @aftersound

• Tonality: - This is our first encounter with Hidizs-made IEMs, and we are kind of surprised here. The sound of MS1 Galaxy has a thick warm tonality that reflects across the frequencies. The bass quality they offer here for the price tag is quite surprising in a good way. We can say the highs need to be much airier. But it is smooth and inoffensive. Overall tonality is warm and musical to our experiences with it.

• Lows: -Low frequencies are probably the strongest point of these IEMs. The bass takes the lead in both quality and quantity. The sub-bass is slightly lacking here compared to the mid-bass. For testing bass, we made use of Nakshatram by Jean du Voyage’s offline FLAC file and the Weekend’s Wasted Times. The bass does hit hard with good control and layering. The mid-bass presentation is better and more detailed here. The transient response is not that good in complex bass tracks for example “The Plan” from TENET Official Soundtrack.

• Mids: - The mids have good tonality but it’s rolled off to some extent. We felt that Mids are influenced by the lower frequencies. For this reason, electric guitars sound thicker and might be losing some details there but it’s fun for casual sessions. For testing mids, we’ve listened to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and Skyfall by Adele through Apple Music. We can say the mids have the right tonality when we consider male vocals. It’s full-bodied with good hints of warmth. Instrumental tracks felt rich sounding taking this a 25 US$ item.

• Highs: - Highs on MS1 Galaxy are just right considering the price. But the treble is not extended well, and it is less airy. The detailing is decent at this price point. The highs do improve a bit with a neutral source but weren’t that great with mobile phones or cheap dongles. The cymbals don’t have the right sparkle for us. We did not notice any unwanted harshness, but we also did not like the lack of excitement in the treble region.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage is wide and has a decent depth and is probably one of the widest in this price range. The layering is decent as well. The instruments have average imaging however we didn’t find any issues locating them in the stage. But we can say there is a lack of air between them.

• Synergy: - After trying it with different sources (Astell and Kern SP1000m, Dethonray DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, Aune M1p, Aune Yuki and Hidizs S3 Pro) we can say it pairs well with neutral and analytical sources. With neutral sources like Aune M1p, it shows emotions in Male vocals and maintains a warm tonal balance. While pairing with analytical sources like Dethonray DTR1+ the brilliance is improved, and airy-ness is also observed. At Aural Café we strongly believe in source matching and here we overall recommend using neutral sources to extract the most from MS1 Galaxy.

Conclusion: -

This IEM is a very capable set if we take the pricing into our priority. For everyday use, it does not create any kind of fatigue sonically as well as fittings because of its ergonomic design and weight. The accessories given are very good. It admirably delivers good bass. Overall, we liked the set for its warm tonality and timbre though we would not mind if there were more sub-bass emphasis. For users who like very much technical performance, we would not recommend this IEM. It needs good neutral sources to shine. But whoever is starting this hobby or a student who doesn’t want to spend much we can recommend this IEM blindly.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://www.hidizs.net/products/hidizs-ms1-galaxy-dynamic-driver-in-ear-monitors
- https://www.amazon.com/Hidizs-MS1-Galaxy-High-Performance-Microphone-Detachable/dp/B0CDX9WM5G

AUNE AR5000: Momentous Entry into the World of Headphones​

DISCLAIMER: The Aune AR5000 was sent to us free of charge by AUNE AUDIO, in exchange for this review. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the item.

Introduction: -

As an ardent team of audiophiles, we at Aural Café traversed through various soundscapes, seeking the perfect blend of fidelity, comfort, and style when exploring headphones. Our quest recently led us to the Aune AR5000 which marks Aune Audio's entry into hi-fi headphones, promising to give an unparalleled auditory experience. After weeks of rigorous testing, we are excited to present our honest thoughts on Aune AR5000.

Before we review the Aune AR5000 as always let's first talk a bit about Aune Audio. The foundation of Aune Audio was laid down in 2004 when a few passionate audiophiles from China started the hifidiy forum (http://bbs.hifidiy.net/forum.php) in 2004. The aim of the hifidiy forum which is still running strongly was to build a technology community that allows everyone to participate and exchange experiences and ideas. Fast forward to 2012, the Aune brand was formally established as Wuhan Ao Lai Er Technology Co. Ltd. in Wuhan China by the same six die-hard audio fanatics who are also experts in various audio-related fields such as hardware design, electro-acoustic design and tuning. The logo of Aune was inspired by the concept of Yin-Yang - the Chinese philosophy of balance. The rounded design of the letters conveys a message of peace and gentleness. The openings on four sides indicate inclusiveness. We at Aural Cafe simply love such thoughtfulness in designing the brand name.

Aune Audio is primarily known in the Audiophile world for high-end desktop and portable sources but in between, they have surprised audiophiles with the launch of IEMs such as Aune Jasper and the very recently launched dongle Aune Yuki which we also have reviewed in Aural Café (https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/aune-yuki.26866/reviews#review-32771). Aune AR5000 open-back headphones lead to Aune's entry into the world of headphones. After hard work and R&D of more than 3 years, the team at Aune Audio has been successful in presenting a headphone that is not only capable of delivering a hi-fi sound using a portable source but has also given equal importance to durability at a very competitive price of 299 US$.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 50mm Dynamic Driver with MLD (Multi-Layer Distributed) Diaphragm
• Impedance: 28Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 5Hz-41.8Khz
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mW @1kHz
• Cable: 4-core OFC Dual 3.5mm to 3.5mm, 1.5m
• Weight: 348 gms.

Packaging & Accessories: -

• Aune AR5000 Headphones
• 4-core OFC Dual 3.5mm cable with 3.5mm Termination
• 3.5mm Female to 6.35mm Male Adapter
• Documentation

Check out the full unboxing video here,






Build & Design Concept: -

Aune AR5000 features a fully open-back structure with a dual detachable cable design along with an innovative 50mm MLD (Multi-layer Distributed) driver which helps in the reduction of distortion across the entire frequency and thus achieves a high transparency by resolving the breakup issue of large dynamic drivers-based headphones. AR5000 is not just another headphone in the already crowded market of headphones. The focus of the team at Aune Audio is visible clearly when we see the unique large-tilt-angle driver panel and the tilted earcup design which not only enhances spatial perception when compared to regular headphones with horizontal or slightly angled drivers but also significantly improves vertical soundstage and imaging and thus end up giving a very immersive experience. The open grid design on the earcup shell with side vents precisely balances the diffusion of airflow at the rear, further expanding the naturalness and openness of the sound.

The team at Aune was not satisfied with the conventional headphone band and thus the patented headband of AR5000 is designed in-house in such a way that the overall curvature of the headphone band is finely adjusted to the millimeter level, ensuring a perfect fit for any head shape and eliminating any feeling of pressure or foreign objects whereas the earcup is made of breathable acoustic slow-rebound sponge, allowing for extended listening sessions without any discomfort. We at Aural Cafe were very happy to know about the low impedance design of 28Ω in AR5000 because of which it can be easily driven by most dongles in the market. However, a higher-end source will definitely be able to extract the most out of AR5000. Aune AR5000 Comes with a solid dual 3.5mm to 3.5mm single-ended termination 4-core OFC cable covered in fabric insulation and measured at 1.5 meters in length. Each end of the connectors including the Y-splitter is made out of metal with a brushed matte finish. Plus, each side of the jacks is also indicated as ‘L’ and ‘R’ on each side of the connector. Aune was generous enough to include their recommended upgrade balanced cable for the AR5000 which is the Aune AR3 in our review set which we made use of while testing the headphones on balanced sources.



Sound Analysis: -

Credit: @kr0mka

• Tonality: - The Aune AR5000 (Where AR means Air Reference, we assumed after investigating the box) Stands true to its name and showcases a reference neutral sound signature. The overall sound signature is balanced and organic without giving too much focus to a certain part of the frequency range. The tilted earcup design helps add an immersive and engaging feel to the overall reference and near-flat sound signature.

• Lows: - The lows in Aune AR5000 are balanced and organic in nature. Following its overall reference tuning the overall bass is balanced and doesn’t overpower Mids. The AR5000 showcases beautiful mid-bass both in terms of quantity and texture, whereas the sub-bass has decent quantity but the same can’t be said about its quality. The sub-bass rolls off early and lacks texture. Following its reference tuning the team at Aune Audio has done a decent job in achieving decent thump in the mid-bass area with the help of the tilted earcup design without affecting the overall sound signature. The lows also help in achieving a giving a hint of musicality to the sound signature which is a kind of house sound of Aune Audio. While listening to Kendrick Lamar's “All the Stars” with Dethonray Pegasus SG1 Gold and AR3 Cables the mid-bass shows decent thump and texture.

• Mids: - The Mids is where the AR5000 shines brightly. The mids is balanced and is at the right spot across the frequency. The vocals especially have superb natural and organic tonality and texture. The texture especially of the male vocals is life-like and to die for. The vocals on AR5000 are superbly refined. The timbre of the instruments is natural and without any colouration and does well with most of the musical instruments except when it comes to decay on drums. The male vocals shine more than the female vocals due to the flat neutral sound signature. While the lower mids are smooth and organic. We at Aural Cafe would love to have much better control over upper mids. Listening to “Teri Deewani” by Kailash Kher on Aune M1p the male vocals have a life-like texture which is rare to find in headphones of this range as per our experience. We also enjoyed listening to Blues and Ghazals on Aune AR5000.

• Highs: - The high frequency on the AR5000 is smooth without any shoutiness. The AR5000 showcases its capability in higher frequency in a natural with a fair amount of energy when needed. Due to the open-back design, there is an ample amount of air across the higher frequency. Surprisingly micro details are rendered effortlessly and the tonality of high frequency in instruments such as cymbals, saxophones and violins is natural and smooth. This becomes quite evident while listening to “Hotel California” by Eagles on Dethonray Listening-M1. True to its reference tonality. The upper treble extension is marginally lacking but has enough spaciousness and airiness.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage on AR5000 is cohesive in nature. It has better width than depth in comparison, all thanks to its open back design and MLD Driver which helps in keeping the tonality smooth across the frequency. We at Aural Cafe would also like to add here that the AR5000 Scales really well with high-end desktop sources. With Dethonray Listening M1, where both the soundstage and imaging improve a lot in comparison to portable sources such as Aune Yuki or Tanchjim Space. The tilted design cup once again tries its best to provide an immersive natural soundstage, but it depends on the personal taste of the audiophile if he or she is into a wide and deep soundstage or a cohesive soundstage. The imaging is above average if we compare it with the headphones in a similar price range.

• Synergy: - The Aune Audio engineers from day one were clear that their first offering into the reference series of headphones should be easy to drive. We at Aural Cafe are happy to inform you that the AR5000 can be easily driven with the help of dongles such as Aune Yuki or Hiby FC6. But to really enjoy its class-leading sound texture at best, the AR5000 matches beautifully with neutral and clean daps such as Aune M1p and Dethonray DTR1+, while the lows, soundstage and imaging improve when AR5000 is powered by high-end desktop sources such as Dethonray Listening M1 and with high-end decamps such as Dethonray Pegasus SG1 Gold in our cases.

Conclusion: -

We believe that the Aune AR5000 is kind of an emotional offering from the Aune Audio founders to their Audiophiles friends. In this span of 20 years from 2004 to 2024, Aune has come with many high-end desktop and portable sources and IEMs that still stand strong in today's world. Through AR5000 the Aune Audio team successfully achieves in offering hi-fi reference tuned headphones at a relatively pocket-friendly price. Each part of the headphones from the headband to the earcup to the Driver is designed thoughtfully to showcase solid reference tuned headphones. We just loved AR5000's life-like vocal texture, decent midbass thump and timbre for various instruments. This review would be incomplete if we didn’t add the YouTube link to the launching video of Aune AR5000 so here it is,


Non-Affiliated Link: -

• https://www.amazon.com/Aune-Full-Size-Headphones-Detachable-Audiophile/dp/B0CLPC7Q2S/
• https://www.aune-store.com/en/aune-ar5000-open-ear-headphone_110208_1240/

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite: A Harmonious Delight ​

Introduction: -

Before we write about the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite let's first write a bit about Kiwi Ears, the team behind the Orchestra Lite. Kiwi Ears is a Shenzhen, China-based company started by a team of dedicated engineers around 2020 with the launch of Kiwi Ears Orchestra. The Orchestra is still remembered for its high-quality build quality and musical signature at an affordable price. Fast forward to 2024, they have launched numerous IEMs in four years such as Kiwi ears Quintet, Quartet, Cadenza, Forteza, Dolce, and of course Orchestra Lite around March 2023 which we are reviewing in Aural café today. Surprisingly the team at Kiwi Ears has recently come up with their first Dongle DAC Kiwi Ears Allegro at just 59.99 US$ which we might review in future. After carefully going through the various Kiwi Ears IEMs, we feel that the team at Kiwi Ears aims to provide high-quality IEMs at various price points to cater to the different tastes of audiophiles around the world.

The original Kiwi Ears Orchestra made quite a mark when it was launched in 2021 at 499 US$.

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite coming in at 249 US$ is based on the OG Orchestra. Orchestra Lite features once again the same 8 Balanced Armatures driver configuration concerning the OG Orchestra but at half the price of the OG Orchestra. With eight drivers on each side, the Orchestra is an all-BA-based IEM. The Orchestra Lite features 2 custom-tuned BAs for highs, 4 custom-tuned BAs for mids and 2 Knowles BA subwoofers for the lows.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: Kiwi Ears Customized High x2 + Kiwi Ears Customized Mids x4+ Knowles Lows x2
• Impedance: 18Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-20Khz
• Sensitivity: 112dB/mW @1kHz
• Plug Type: Detachable 0.78mm 2-Pin

Disclaimer: -

We have purchased the unit. We are delighted with the opportunity to review it. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the IEM.

Packaging & Accessories: -

• Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite IEMs
• 9 pairs of Ear-Tips (3 Different Silicon Type)
• OFC IEM Cable with 3.5mm Termination
• Carry Case
• Documentation

Check out the full unboxing video here,







IEM Build, Design & Fit: -

When it comes to the IEM build, the quality is there. The team at Kiwi Ears has given their full focus. The Kiwi Ears team has used high-quality medical-grade resin to cast the transparent shell of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. The build quality of the shell as well as the faceplate is top-notch. While our unit came up in a beautiful green faceplate, the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also comes in a blue, purple and orange faceplate. The shell is transparent and that’s why the internals are visible, and one can see high-quality handcrafted crossover inside the shell which is actually the brain of these multi-BA IEMs. When it comes to the fit the size and design are designed for average to big size ears. The fit may not be comfortable for small ears, but it provides decent isolation for outside use. The usage of the medical grade resin also helps in the overall comfort factor while using the IEMs for a longer duration. When it comes to the build quality of the IEMs, we can confidently say that we have seen one of the best build qualities at this price range of 200 to 500 US$. The accessories of the Orchestra Lite are simple and efficient to use. It comes with simple silicone ear tips and 4-core 7n Oxygen-free Copper cable which is sufficiently flexible and light in weight.



Sound Analysis: -

Credits: @nymz

• Tonality: - After being into this hobby for more than 8 years we at Aural café give supreme importance to the tonality of the IEMs. When it comes to the tonality of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite it is quite balanced with a decent hint of warmness to keep the overall tonality organic across the frequency. The team at the Kiwi Ears has made use of carefully chosen BA drivers so that the tonality doesn’t have any hint of BA timbre. The timbre of the instruments is organic and musical.

• Lows: - The Lows in Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite is handled by two high-quality Knowles subwoofers. The bass is linear in response with decent quantity and quality. The Kiwi Ears team has done a phenomenal job in achieving a high-quality dynamic bass in an all-BA Kiwi Orchestra lite. The midbass especially has a quality that becomes quite fun while listening to the popular EDM numbers, while the subbass does rumble in tracks such as HEARTLESS by the Weekend but lacks a bit of extension. The bass surprisingly has nice speed and right control while handling complex tracks. The transient response has solid control and is fun while listening to the blues genre of music. We at Aural café feel that the lows are carefully tuned by the Kiwi Ears engineers as the bass is tight and clear without overpowering the mids and highs.

• Mids: - The Mids is where the heart of the Orchestra lite lies. This is also quite visible as the Kiwi Ears team makes use of four custom-tuned BA drivers for handling the mids in Orchestra Lite. The tonality of the custom-tuned BA is surprisingly quite like the Sonion BA which is well known for handling Mids great. The Orchestra Lite showcases lush and musical textured mids which becomes very fun while listening to vocal-based songs. The mids is neither forward nor recessed so the vocals mix with the instruments in a very smooth and inoffensive way. The lower mids have the right body while the upper mids are just balanced at best. We at Aural café would have loved it if the upper mids had a bit more extension a soul (with the stock cable). Both male and female vocals are balanced across the frequency with the right texture, but it is in male vocals where the Orchestra Lite shines which is quite evident while listening to “Yun hi re Yun hi re” from the movie “David” composed by Anirudh. When it comes to showcasing the lower mids the Kiwi Orchestra lite has done a decent job in comparison to the upper mids. The male vocals have a buttery smooth texture and soul.

• Highs: - When it comes to highs in the Orchestra Lite it is again handled by two custom-tuned BA drivers. The highs are decently airy but lack a bit of sparkle and are just average at best. While some might find it dark and lacking, we at Aural café believe that the Kiwi Ears engineers tuned it according to their aim of showcasing a balanced IEM across the spectrum, saying so we would love a bit more sparkle, especially in the upper mids region. Detail retrieval capacity is above average and smooth rather than being too analytical.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - With the help of 8 BA drivers the Orchestra lite showcases an above-average soundstage both in terms of width and depth. We love an intimate soundstage which is beautifully showcased in Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite, but Audiophiles who are more into wide soundstage would feel it a bit lacking. The Orchestra Lite does a decent job while listening to blues and numbers such as “Hotel California” but it loses while listening to complex tracks, especially in the rock and metal genre of music. The layering and imaging are above average, and we loved listening to “Hotel California” and “New Kid in Town” by the legendary Eagles band.

• Synergy: - When it comes to drivability the Orchestra Lite is easy to drive but we at Aural café believe a lot in the source and suggest using high-quality DAPs and dongles to enjoy IEMs optimally, and yes Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also scales a lot with the better sources, especially in soundstage and highs. After using it with numerous sources such as Dethonray DTR1, DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, Ak SP1000m, Aune M1p, Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space, Space Lite we can assure you that it sounds best with neutral, transparent, and clean sources such as Aune M1p, Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space Lite and Ak SP1000m. When it comes to cables the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite becomes a bit more neutral and airier when used with high-quality SPC or Pure Copper cables, such as PW Audio Saladin or PW Audio Monile 2-wire, whereas the Spinfit CP145 once again goes well with the balanced tonality of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. Surprisingly it didn’t go well with the high-quality silver cable in our test.

Conclusion: -

After listening to Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite for weeks at Aural Café we feel that this is an IEM that will hold its place and is total value for money. We also strongly feel that the engineers have worked really hard in choosing the right BA drivers for the resin used for crafting the shell and last but not least the customized BAs and crossover are implemented well to showcase a musically balanced unit. Lots of IEMs will come and go in this price range but Kiwi Ears we believe will hold their place for a long time. If you are a value-conscious Audiophile and in the market for a hi-fi sound at a decent price, then Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite is an easy recommendation. We would however end by saying that we at Aural café would have loved it if the Kiwi Ears team had been a little less strict with the higher frequency and could have added a bit of sparkle in the upper mids region.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://kiwiears.com/products/kiwi-ears-orchestra-lite
- https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-orchestra-lite

INEAR SD5: UNVEILING SONIC EXCELLENCE​

Introduction: -

In the ever-evolving world of IEMs and headphones, finding the perfect balance between impeccable sound quality, and durability is the ultimate quest for any audiophile or musician. Enter the InEar SD5 in-ear monitors, a true testament to craftsmanship and sonic excellence. So, no points for guessing but today we will be reviewing INEAR Monitoring’s ‘InEar StageDriver 5 (SD5)’ at Aural Cafe which is an In-Ear Monitor offering especially for stage performers and musicians.

Before we start with InEar SD5 we would like to first write a bit about InEar Monitoring as we at Aural Café give supreme importance to the people behind the Audio products. InEar Monitoring is a Germany-based company founded by Andreas Schmitt who has more than 30 years of experience and is in four different fields Monitoring, communication, hearing aids and hearing protection. In these long 30 years year InEar Monitoring launched universal IEMs SD 1,2,3,4 and 5 in the Stage Driver Series, custom IEMs LP1,2,3,4, and 5 in the Live Pro series and InEar Promission X, flagship in 2019. They became the talk of the town for their legendary InEar PP8 which was launched in 2016 and totally changed the Hi-Fi IEMs scene. We at Aural café are honored to own InEar PP8. Although launched in 2016 InEar PP8 still holds flagship status and is still loved and respected in the audiophile community around the world. As per our knowledge, InEar Monitoring was the first company to design a semi-custom shell design and implement the same in their IEMs meant for monitoring. We are thankful to InEar Monitoring for revolutionizing the audiophile space Fast forward to 2024, Miriam Lettau and Marius Schmitt, have also joined the company, and InEar Monitoring now boasts of the state of the production process. In addition to the digital capture of the ear impressions, InEar Monitoring also offers the design of IEMs via special CAD software to 3D Exposure systems in manufacturing while all products are assembled by hand.

InEar SD5 is a 5 Balanced Armature based IEM that was launched by InEar monitoring in 2018 under their Stage Driver series. They are primarily handcrafted for musicians and vocalists who perform on stage and for music directors for recording in the studio. The engineers at InEar Monitoring aimed to design neutral and balanced IEMs that offer powerful rich bass, powerful midrange, and crisp highs. InEar Monitoring doesn’t provide many details about the BAs inside. The unit usually retails for 949 € for the non-wooden version.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 3-way system with 5 BA drivers per side
• Impedance: 13Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 10Hz-20Khz
• Sensitivity: 120dB/mW
• Cable: SPC Cable with 3.5mm Termination
• Cable Length: 140 cm

Disclaimer: -

We got this unit for review from our fellow audiophile friend, and we are thankful to him for his support. This would be our first review for InEar Monitoring IEMs at Aural Café, and we are honored and excited about the same.

Packaging & Accessories: -

As the item came to us without the official box pack, we will evaluate the items as we have and the independence of taking the information from InEar's official website. Their website says it comes with a hard case. We have also got the same hard case. InEar includes 4 different sizes of black silicone tips. It ships with a common stock cable shared between many brands like Lime Ears, Custom Art and some other manufacturers. The cable is thin, lightweight and long ideal for stage usage. Also in the box, you’ll find an unbalanced 6.35mm adapter, a drying cap, replacement filters, and wet cleaning cloths for single use.



IEM Build & Design: -

Our version of InEar SD5 comes in a Mahogany Wood shell with a seamless beautiful faceplate with polished accents. the wooden shell costs 299 € more than the anthracite silver version (Standard) of SD5. Both the Wooden and stock SD5s versions have the same design to them. The SD5 is one of the best earphones when it comes to ergonomics. The semi-custom type of build gives a very secure fit inside the ear. The StageDiver 5 is very lightweight and even when it comes in wood, we expected it to be heavier. Due to the high accuracy of the fit, comfort is guaranteed, and at the same time provides a noticeable shielding of the external noise. It might be uncomfortable for small ears, however there is a smaller version of this available with the exact sonic performance. The 3-way system is equipped with five drivers per side, of which two are responsible for the low, one for the middle and again two for the high frequencies. The overall build quality and craftsmanship are worth mentioning.



Sound Analysis: -

Credits: Crinacle

• Tonality: - After listening to InEar SD5 with various sources we have at Aural Café for about a month (Thanks to our Audiophile friend) we can say that we are amazed by the tonality of the IEMs. It’s tonally much closer to reference sound but with a slight bass hump made the journey fun. The IEM is truly universal as it skillfully plays instruments, human voice and whatnot. Overall, this is a very dynamic tuning, yet it stays true to its nature, which according to the manufacturer, gives perfect control to every musician on stage and in the studio. The rhythm section benefits from the bass-driven tuning with a full, round, fast, direct and lively dynamic.

• Lows: - The low frequencies on the SD5 sound very natural with no extra emphasis on sub-bass or mid-bass. The bass has the right quantity and quality with exceptional control and speed. Although we feel at Aural Café, this IEM is not meant for bass-heads. The two dedicated Balanced Armature drivers for handling low frequency might not fool you into thinking that they were Dynamic Drivers but manage to create a big body. The warm mid-bass hump on the silver module makes the IEM fun to listen to popular pop numbers. The quick decay and peppy attack characteristics mean that despite average sub-bass, bass still sounds snappy and satisfying the subbass extension is just average to say at very best. While listening to Starboy by the Weekend and ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ from Queen on Dethonray DTR1+ the mid-bass is hard-hitting and deep with effortless sub-bass and solid male vocals.

• Mids: - Mids of the SD5 are the most shining aspects. InEar makes use of a single BA for the mids. We are happy to see that the BA is not showing its typical timbre, but it is comfortable to say that the Mids are one of the best we have ever heard on any in-ear monitors. For testing mids we’ve listened to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and Skyfall by Adele through Apple Music. Male vocals sound lovely. While listening to Rock/Metal Genre the vocal emphasis on SD5 is jaw-dropping good. We can also say the same for female vocals. It’s full-bodied, but definitely not better than male vocals. But both are very natural and accurate making them perfect for vocal artists on stage or in recording studios. We feel that the midrange has a slightly warm touch in the lower regions giving a little more authority to male vocals and harsh information like edgy guitars is smoothed out and receives a lusher signature.

• Highs: - The Highs on the InEar Monitoring SD5 are tuned in a very reference and balanced way. The treble remains organic and smooth across the high frequency without any sharpness where solid micro details are showcased more naturally and effortlessly. The sound is perfectly clear but at the same time soft without any harshness. While listening to “In Your Eyes” from the Weekend the saxophone shines which should be due to the air of the upper trebles. It has sufficient details that are neither in your face nor present in the background (it's just there).

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage of the In Ear Monitoring SD5 is huge. It is very wide and decently deep. Micro details are so nicely pronounced. The Instruments have enough air and clean space between them. The Imaging on SD5 is again top notch which is beautifully showcased while listening to ‘Shakti’ from Five Peace Band. Layering is showcased with solid control whenever needed in the track. The soundstage is improved with different cables and tips we used. Specially with Azla SednaEarfit Vivid the slight increase in treble helps to create enough distance and increases the overall soundstage size even more.

• Synergy: - The InEar StageDiver 5 are not as source picky as many other multi-BA IEMs. It comes with a decent 120dB of sensitivity which makes it fairly easy to drive. But if you want to see the true colours we would suggest listening to SD5 IEMs with a clean sounding source. We loved it a lot with the Aune Yuki, Aune M1p, Dethonray SG1 Gold. The Linum DualBax cable tamed down the warmth a bit while SG1 Gold makes the bass punchier, hence overall it became more fun to listen to when they were put together. A high-quality SPC cable such as PW Audio Monile two-wire version would make the treble more sparkling and fun.

Conclusion: -

The SD5 sounds exactly how we imagine it to. Present, not exaggerated highs, clear mids, and the bass is clear and crisp. All frequencies are reproduced very precisely and in detail, the bass is unparalleled in its details. Rarely we have been able to enjoy such precise, powerful bass for an All-BA Driver IEMs. The SD5 is a real stunner. We at Aural café also strongly believe that the semi-custom universal design was intentionally designed by the engineers at InEar monitoring to achieve the quality of lows it has so yeah the design of the IEMs matters a lot. If you’re not into custom IEMs, then the StageDiver Series is the closest you’ll get. Do not let the driver count fool you. Owing to the richness of details provided, the StageDiver 5 sound experience is ultimately addictive.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://inearasia.com/product/stagediver-5/

SOUNDZ AVANT: A MODERN TAKE ON REFERENCE-TUNED IEMs​

Introduction: -

Soundz Custom is a Greece-based company that was founded by the hearing aid professional Mr. Alexios Papatasios in 2016, primarily to manufacture premium custom earplugs for professional DJs and musicians. Mr. Papatasios has studied “Professionals in Hearing Health Sciences” at the International Hearing Society IHS – Michigan America. He is also a graduate of the Post-Educational Program of “Audiology – Neuro-otology” at the Medical School of Athens. In 2019 they built one of the most modern 3D-printing labs in Greece. Fast forward to 2021 after spending more than one year due to the COVID-19 quarantine period, they come up with 3 in-ear models: Boost, Pure, and Ultra.

Soundz Avant launched in late 2023, is a flagship IEM offering from Soundz Custom. Soundz Avant is powered by SoundzCore2™ technology, which primarily means that Avant is equipped with 10 latest Sonion-designed Balanced Armatures (BA) Drivers. Each shell of Avant is equipped with 4 custom-tuned advanced Sonion BA woofers that offer deep lows and tactile mid-bass, with fast transients and satisfying roundness. The low mids are palpable and rich in timbre. The aim was to achieve high-quality bass texture blurring the difference between BA and DD Bass, 2 BA drivers are responsible for highly resolving upper mids with remarkable resolution and realistic definition, presenting full, accurate vocals and instruments and the remaining 4 BA drivers handle the highs and ultra highs with masterful execution and finesse, offering an abundance of details without unwanted harshness.

Today we will be reviewing the universal version of SOUNDZ AVANT at Aural Café, which is priced at 1390 € for universals and 1590 € for custom versions.

As per SOUNDZ, Avant is the ideal companion for on-stage performers who desire nothing else but ultra-high fidelity on stage, music lovers who pursue an enveloping and captivating listening experience as well as sound engineers seeking a precise and accurate monitoring tool. After listening to Avant for around one week continuously we can confidently say that Avant is Soundz's take on the world of reference-tuned IEMs.

Soundz Avant features proprietary technologies such as Complex™ which as per Soundz is a crossover design technology, eliminating issues such as Phase difference, THD and matching L&R, thus resulting in optimal usage of the latest BA drivers in Avant. Avant also features technologies such as Immersive Mode™, which provides the user with to control the bass for a more visceral and powerful low-end experience via a switch on each faceplate while listening to different genres of music. Soundz Avant custom models come with a revolutionary Flex Fit Pro technology achieved by employing a flexible resin material in each custom in-ear stem. This unique resin is fully adjustable to ear temperature within a few minutes of usage becoming cooler, softer, and considerably more comfortable compared to conventional custom moulds. Since we will be reviewing the universal Avant, we could not say much about this technology but going by our experience with custom IEMs we feel this technology will surely add to the comfort of the users using the custom version of Avant.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 10 Sonion BA Drivers Per Side
• Crossover: 4-Way Electrical Crossover
• Impedance: 16.2Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 5Hz-24Khz
• Sensitivity: 105dB/mW @1kHz

Disclaimer: -

We decided to purchase this unit after going through the impressions on the Head-fi CanJam London 2023 section. We have received a discount, and we are thankful to the amazing team at SOUNDZ for that. We were also delighted with the opportunity to review it. However, the review reflects our honest opinions as always.

Packaging & Accessories: -

• Soundz Avant Universal IEMs
• 6 pairs of Ear-Tips (Silicone and Memory Foams)
• IEM Cable with 3.5mm Termination
• Metal Carry Box and Cleaning Tool
• Documentation

Check out the full unboxing video here,







IEM Build, Design & Fit: -

Soundz Avant sports 3D-printed shells. The resin that is used is 1.4 mm in thickness offering enhanced impact and shock resistance, perfect for professional and audiophile usage. The semi-custom designed shells are surprisingly small and light in weight despite having 10 BA drivers on each side and thus are very comfortable to wear for longer duration. We at Aural Cafe have been in this hobby for around 8 years and can say that the shells are one of the smallest we have come across for 10 BA (matter of fact for this high BA counts) IEMs. The design is fully sealed resulting in fantastic passive isolation. Soundz Avant comes with simple minimal packaging. A matte plastic outer sleeve makes way for a black rectangular cardboard box. The box contains a high-quality round Aluminum case, 2 pairs of hybrid ear tips in S-M-L size, 3 pairs of silicone ear tips of the same, cleaning tools, a collectable plectrum for guitar, Soundz stickers and lastly warranty card. Soundz Avant comes with high-quality Null Audio Ethos cable which is a flexible lightweight 4-core 28awg UPOCC silver-plated copper wire using a Litz Type 5 geometry with oversized single-stranding and a beefy cross-section size to reduce impedance issues which is quite important for reference tuned IEMs. We have previously used Null audio cables, so we are happy to see that Avant comes with high-quality Null audio SPC cable.




Sound Analysis: -

Credits: hobbytalk

• Tonality: - After listening to Avant for nearly a month with different sources and cables we feel that the Avant showcases the SOUNDZ team's modern approach towards a reference neutral tuned IEM. The “Soundz” signature is fresh, neutral, and referenced with a controlled bass boost to offer a musically enjoyable listening experience. Engaging the immersive mode adds up a smooth layer of warmth for those seeking a more musical audio presentation without overpowering the low-frequency bands. So, with Avant, you can listen to various genres of music solidly depending on your mood.

• Lows: - With the immersive mode turned off the Avant showcases tight textured controlled bass with just the right body, speed, resolution, and depth which becomes useful while listening to rock and metal genres. The Soundz Avant beautifully controls the lows while listening to complex rock and metal tracks. With the Immersive mode turned on seems to add around 3-4 dB of bass resulting in more tactile midbass with a warmer tonality across the frequency. While listening to “Heartless” by Weekend on Avant (Silicone ear tips) with the bass boost switch on the midbass is more immersive, Sub bass goes really deep with beautiful low-end depth making the whole presentation more fun. The Avant excels at showcasing excellent control across the low frequency. The same is again showcased while listening to “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen.

• Mids: - With the Immersive mode turned off, the mids on Avant are neutral, balanced, and revealing. This makes the listening experience a lot more intense with the songs that are not recorded and mastered well. The transition from lows to mids in Avant is seamless with just the right control on detail retrieval. The female vocals especially sound with more soul with the immersive mode turned off. With the immersive mode turned on the mids sound a bit less revealing and forgiving with more musical tonality. The mids become a bit forward and fun with the right balance between the male and female vocals (Due to the better balance between upper and lower midrange). The notes have better body and authority in male vocals which is clearly audible while listening to “Godzilla” by Eminem. The vocals on Avant are refined irrespective of the mode one is listening to. This just shows the focus that the Soundz team had while building Avant. The timbre across the mids is natural, organic, and real. This is beautifully showcased while listening to Indian classical and fusion-based songs while producing just the right natural timbre of instruments which is showcased while listening to “Mausam and Escape” from Slumdog Millionaire OST. Here we would like to add that lower mids on Avant could have been a bit better.

• Highs: - The Highs on Avant are tuned in a very refined and balanced way. The treble is decently extended and airy keeping in mind the reference tonality of the IEMs. The immersive mode doesn’t add much to the mid-treble on the Avant which remains organic across the high frequency without any sharpness, but the upper treble has a touch more energy with more micro details showcased more effortlessly. The transient response isn't quite as sharp with just right and controlled mid-treble. We at Aural Cafe believe that the team at Soundz tuned the Highs on Avant with a reference focus and control and thus doesn’t try to add extra energy which can sound a bit less exciting and fun, especially for the newbies in this hobby.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage on Avant is truly referenced with width and depth. Every note across the frequency is revealed in a very immersive and effortless manner. The soundstage both in terms of width as well as depth just sounds right. With the immersive mode on there is a tinge of more space and air between the instruments without affecting the whole immersive experience. This ability of Avant becomes helpful while listening to the rock and metal genres. The imaging with everything at the right place with the right balance between the lows mids and highs makes it really good for mixing and monitoring. The imaging ability of the Avant is beautifully showcased while listening to “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Every instrument is audible distinctly without overpowering each other while leading you to a more “flow” mood, especially in the last minute of the song.

• Synergy: - The Avant comes with a decent 105dB of sensitivity per mW which makes it really easy to drive. We can confidently state that Avant is one of the few TOTL-grade IEMs that can be driven very easily. But due to its intense revealing nature, Source matching becomes of prime importance and fun while listening to hi-fi music. After using different sources and dongles we concluded that Avant loves clean and pitch-black background sources. In our case, it really went well with Aune Yuki, Dethonray Dtr1+ and Aune M1p. Whereas when the ear tips are concerned, we strongly feel that Avant is again very sensitive to ear tips as well. The air and space across the frequency increase while using Avant with stock hybrid ear tips and more balance with stock silicone ear tips, but it’s the Spinfit CP145 and JVC Spiral Dots that showcase the true capability of the Avant. When it comes to the cables the stock cable with the Avant just sounded right but with a high-quality copper cable such as Modular Workshop cable, the tonality becomes a tinge more musical and with subbass has more authority and body which was audible when listening to “Come and See Me” by partynextdoor and Drake. Aural Cafe just received a high-quality portable desktop source, Dethonray Listening M1 which is still in the testing phase. We will add to this review to keep you updated on how Avant performs with Dethonray Listening M1.

Conclusion: -

After owning and listening to many High-End reference-tuned IEMs such as InEar Monitoring PP8, Oriolus Mellianus and 64 Audio U18 Tzar, we are really happy with what Soundz have achieved through the Avant. Soundz Avant is like an old-aged wine that becomes more addictive and immersive with time. We believe that the team at Soundz have tuned the Avant with lots of focus and control to achieve a high-quality reference IEM which can be used for monitoring and mixing purposes with the immersive mode off and can also be a very fun-sounding and musical with the immersive mode on. The balance across the lows, mids and highs is top-notch notch with just the right space and control. All this said we at Aural Cafe would love to have more sharp transient attacks along with better quality ear tips on board. So, if you are in the market in search of more modern reference-tuned IEMs that showcase music in a very effortless manner we would suggest you go for Soundz Avant and probably would suggest you go for a custom version.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://www.soundzcustom.com/product/soundz-avant/

SPIRIT TORINO TWIN PULSE BERYLLIUM IEM- A Concentration of Technology at the Service of Music​

Introduction: -

Spirit Torino is an Italy-based audio company founded by Andrea Ricci. It all started with collaborations with hi-fidelity stores in 1993 in Turin, Italy which is known for its numerous art galleries, restaurants, churches, palaces, opera houses, piazzas, parks, gardens, theatres, libraries, and museums. After starting with a series of electronic cabinets and pedestals crafted from mahogany and walnut in 1995 to becoming a record label for recording concerts in 2002, in 2007 they first began with modifying closed and open-back commercial headphones. Fast forward to 2014 Spirit Prototyping Laboratory was born to rework a significant quantity of headphones to meet the needs of audiophiles. Moving on to 2017 after lots of research and development the founder assembled the prototype of Twin Pulse, which became the first isobaric motor unit for headphones in the world. Spirit Torino presented “Radiante” in 2019 at the Tokyo Headphone Festival: the first headphone in the world with an external passive radiator, winning second and third place in the competition in April with the Super Legerra and the Twin Pulse and first place in November with the Radiante.

Today we will be reviewing SPIRIT TORINO TWIN PULSE BERYLLIUM IEMs at Aural Cafe which is SPIRIT TORINO’s first attempt at making a high-fidelity in-ear monitor.

Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium IEM launched in 2023 is Spirit Torino’s first offering in the world of hi-fi IEMs after coming up with many flagship headphones. Twin pulse beryllium is powered by 2 x 10mm dynamic micro drives Beryllium dynamic drivers in Spirit Torino’s patented twin pulse isobaric system (Cone to magnet setup) which is currently the hottest setup in today’s Audiophile world. Isobaric setup was prominently used in speakers but now many respected audio companies are implementing the same in their headphones and IEMs. One can read more about the isobaric setup through this link: https://vue-audiotechnik.com/isobaric-subwoofer-design/.

According to Spirit Torino, this setup helps in overcoming the transient speed issues of dynamic driver-based IEMs. Moreover, twin Pulse offers playback linearity calibrated on isophonic Fletcher-Munson curves (of equal sensitivity to the human ear) and can therefore be used as a reference tool to verify the timbre reliability of a recording. Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium IEM is priced at US$ 850.00.



Specifications: -

• Driver Technology: Twin Isobaric System
• Driver Configuration: 2 Dynamic Driver (10mm Beryllium micro drives)
• Impedance: 16Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 14Hz-33Khz
• Sensitivity: 114dB/mW @1kHz
• Cable: 1.2m Litz 392 Cores OCC Silver-plated + 8 Cores Silver
• Max Power Rating: 2mW

Disclaimer: -

We have received a small discount, and we are thankful to the amazing team at SPIRIT TORINO for it. We were also delighted with the opportunity to review it. However, the review reflects our honest opinions as always.

Packaging & Accessories: -

• Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium IEMs
• 7 pairs of Ear-Tips (Silicone, Memory Foams and Dual Flange)
• IEM Cable with 3.5mm Termination
• IEM Cable with 4.4mm Termination
• 3 Different Nozzle Filters
• 6.35mm Adopter Jack
• Leather Carry Box and Cleaning Tool
• Documentation

Check out the full unboxing video here,







IEM Build, Design & Fit: -

Coming from Turin, Italy, famous for its art galleries and museums, the team at Spirit Torino didn’t disappoint us from the very moment we unboxed. Everything inside the box from the IEMs to the cables, the carrying case, to the ear tips screams art and craftsmanship from the very go. We at Aural Cafe are pleasantly surprised by the quality of accessories rare to find in the sub-1000 US$ range. Even the packaging they’ve used very high-quality materials.



The IEM shell boasts of lightweight aluminium structure machined by high-precision CNC machinery, to rebuild the complex Twin Pulse isobaric system in miniature form. The proprietary complex Ventilated Pad system earlier implemented in Spirit Torino headphones evolved into the Micro Ventilation Pad System as it was necessary to rethink the micro-frame from scratch to calibrate the complex interplay of pressures generated in the acoustic chambers of the Twin Pulse system to ensure the dissipation of the extra pressures when inserting the In-ear monitor into the ear. The Micro VPS also allows the audiophile to select different sound signatures according to their needs by changing the provided three pairs of front filters. The IEM is designed in bullet form which is unique and will surely have a love-hate relationship with the different audiophiles. In our case, we did find it a bit difficult to use initially but after bending the IEM hooks slightly inward we were good to go and had no difficulties. The IEM is light in weight and provides above-average isolation. The artistic faceplate clones the Spirit Torino legendary Valkyria headphones and is actually a functional part of the driver setup.



Inside the Twin Pulse, employs two identical 10mm micro drivers with powerful neodymium magnets and Beryllium-treated membranes to act synchronously over the entire audio range, zeroing out typical micro-acoustic problems and dangerous phase interference without any crossover to minimize any kind of distortion. It comes with two sets of custom-made Litz SPC cables in 3.5 and 4.4 terminations along with a custom-made high-quality 6.3mm jack adapter. We are very surprised by the thoughts, research and development that has gone into designing each section of the IEMs and accessories in this beautiful piece of art which is “Made of Sound”.



Sound Analysis: -

Credits: Spirit Torino Officials

• Tonality: - From the very moment we put on Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium we are amazed by its unique yet musical and immersive hi-fi experience. The stock high-quality SPC cable also adds to the musical tonality of the IEM. According to the team at Spirit Torino, it is tuned for both audiophiles and professionals in the field of music who can use it for mastering and post-production. The tonality is borderline neutral with a musical tinge to the whole experience. The timbre of the instruments is lifelike real, and the IEM successfully takes us inside the live concert. We like the neutral grey filter in this regard, with the memory foam tips. There is a sense of control and yet at the same time lows, mids and highs flow like a river. The tonality is natural organic and fun.
• Lows: - With the implementation of the patented twin pulse isobaric system, the lows are surprisingly natural, organic, and dynamic in every respect. The bass is subtly tuned without any hint of muddiness in Mids. The bass not only has the right quantity and quality but exceptional control and speed all thanks to the unique isobaric system. While the red tuning nozzles add up to 3 dB of bass the black nozzles can reduce the same by 3 dB and can be helpful while listening to jazz. The mid-bass with red tuning filter sounds very fun and immersive while listening to EDM whereas the same is beautifully balanced on the grey reference filter (our favourite tuning filter). It comes a bit forward on the red filter. The sub-bass with just the right layering shows up beautifully while listening to the EDM genre, especially on the red filter. While listening to Starboy by the Weekend and Nakshatram by Jean du Voyage on Dethonray SG1 Gold with the black tuning filter the mid-bass is hard-hitting and deep with effortless sub-bass and solid male vocals. The bass on the black tuning filter is a bit light and becomes handier for audiophiles who strictly love reference-tuned IEMs.
• Mids: - The Mids on the IEMs are top tier with the right energy, resolution, and soul. The vocals are natural and organic without losing any control even in complex tracks. The Mids are more referenced in grey tuning filter and black while a tinge forward with the red filter. The IEMs show their power with solid lower Mids and male vocals in complex rock, metal, and Hip-Hop tracks. We loved listening to Godzilla by Eminem (grey tuning filter) with stock cable and silicone tips in Dethonray DTR1+ while with a tinge more resolution, the female vocals shine with black tuning filter, wide bore silicone tips in Aune M1p pairing with the Linum SuperBax cable setup. Michael Jackson’s Thriller would give you the thrill you might have missed before in this.
• Highs: - The Highs on the Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium are tuned in a very reference and balanced way (In Grey filter). The mid treble has decent sparkle and air keeping in mind the reference tonality of the unit. We at Aural Cafe love the treble on twin pulse beryllium with the grey filter, whereas it becomes a touch more transparent with the black filter and a bit warmer with the red filter. The treble remains organic and smooth across the high frequency without any sharpness where solid micro details are showcased more naturally and effortlessly. The treble is sweet along the transient response is super immersive and unique which hits the right point the same is showcased while listening to Yosi Horikawa’s Swashers, with PW Audio Monile Two Wire + Aune M1p + Spinfit CP145 tips.
• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium is top tier in both width and depth all thanks again to the patented twin pulse isobaric system. While listening to ‘Koi Faryaad’ a Hindustani Classical Ghazal by the great Jagjit Singh the highs as well as the lows hit just the right point without any lack ness especially in depth. the soundstage depth is where most sub-1000 US$ items really don’t shine but we loved the way it handles in Twin Pulse Beryllium IEMs and becomes handy, especially with the different genres of music. The Imaging on Spirit Torino is again top notch which is beautifully showcased while listening to ‘Shakti’ from Five Peace Band. Layering is showcased with solid control whenever needed in the track. We believe that the high-quality beryllium dynamic driver also helps a lot with sound staging and imaging. The soundstage becomes a tinge more open with Spinfit W1 tips.
• Synergy: - The Spirit Torino Twin pulse beryllium IEMs come with a decent 114db of sensitivity which makes it fairly easier to drive. It can become useful while walking and listening to music on the move with a decent dongle such as Aune Yuki or Hidizs S9 Pro Plus. But if you want to see the true colours we would suggest listening to Spirit Torino IEMs with a transparent DAP. It scales a lot with different sources, cables, and tips due to its true reference nature. We loved it a lot with the Dethonray DTR1+ and stock cable which to our surprise really complemented the reference tuning of the Twin Pulse Beryllium IEMs. When it comes to ear tips, we love the way it sounded with Spinfit CP145 although the stock tips also efficiently do their work. We also suggest using a high-quality cable such as PW Audio Monile two-wire version if you want to extract more from the unit.

Conclusion: -

Being in this hobby for the last 8 years we audiophiles at Aural Cafe are lucky and blessed to own and audition numerous high-quality items from different brands across the world. Well, each audiophile has their taste for IEMs and headphones, we believe that the actual quest for every audiophile in this hobby is to be able to listen to different flavours that sound top tier and yet have their uniqueness and identity which is very very rare to find. We can happily say that Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium IEMs is one such gem that sounds truly reference yet unique with its own soul. From the unboxing to the built quality and accessories the team at Spirit Torino has worked hard to present their first attempt at building a top-tier IEM and that also at a reasonable price of 850 US$. Although the bullet housing design of the IEMs is subjective, if you are in search of an IEM that sounds unique yet reference this as an easy recommendation from us at Aural Cafe. If they could have made it in a more conventional design IEM, it would be absolutely flawless.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://www.spirittorino.com/en-us/collections/high-end/products/iem-twin-pulse-berillium

HIBY Yvain REVIEW​

Introduction: -

Established in 2011, Hiby Music specializes in research, development, and sales of high-quality portable audio products. They have developed dozens of digital audio players (DAPs), IEMs, USB DACs, etc. Their first landmark product in this audiophile world was Hiby R6 which we are proud to be the first owner in the international market when they launched. Today we are reviewing their latest offering in IEMs categories, Yvain. It consists of Four Balanced armature drivers per side. Knowles Non-damper BA for Bass, Sonion Customized Full-Ranged BA and Knowles Hi-res Tweeter with three-way electronic crossover. Yvain comes with a 2-pin PCOCC cable and can be terminated as per your needs as it’s modular to 3.5mm and 4.4mm. Yvain’s shell is constructed from medical grade 3D Printed material providing a suitable, comfortable, and skin-friendly experience. Moving to its price it retails at US$ 239.00.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 4 Balanced Armature (1 x Knowles Non-Damper BA for Bass, 2 x Sonion Customized BA full range, 1 x Knowles Hi-Res BA)
• Crossovers: 3-way Electronic Crossover
• Impedance: 23Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-40Khz
• Sensitivity: 116dB/mW
• Max Input Power: 100mW
• Cable: PCOCC Cable
• Plug: Modular with 3.5mm and 4.4mm

Disclaimer: -

The review tour for Hiby R3 II was arranged by Joe Bloggs and Gadgetgod (Head-fi) in India. We are thankful to them for the opportunity. However, the review reflects our honest opinion.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The Hiby Yvain didn’t come in an official package on this tour, but with all the official accessories, which include a set of Hiby Yvain in-ear monitor, thick 98 shares PCOCC Modular Cable with 3.5mm and 4.4mm termination. Protective Case, All Size Ear-Tips a pair each in a small plastic box.




IEM Build & Design: -

The Yvain comes in a medical-grade resin shell with a beautiful faceplate with brown, and silver accents. The design is ergonomic, and we found no problem using it for longer sessions. The IEMs are itself very lightweight. The balanced armature drivers are placed directly on the nozzle, and it is connected to the nozzle with three acoustic tubes.




Sound Analysis: -

Credits: @ianfann

• Tonality: - This is our first encounter with Hiby-made IEMs, and we are surprised here. The sound of Yvain has a very good tonal balance across the frequencies. There are no hints of BA timbre observed. We can say the highs need to be much airier. Overall tonality is very musical to our experiences with it.

• Lows: - Hiby Yvain has a Knowles Balanced Armature driver for handling bass. The bass takes a lead in quality rather than in quantity. The sub-bass is lacking here. For testing bass, we made use of Nakshatram by Jean du Voyage’s offline FLAC file and the Weekend’s Wasted Times. The unit results in faster takeoff. The bass doesn’t hit hard. Where the mid-bass presentation is better and fully detailed here. The transient response is not that good in complex bass tracks for example “The Plan” from TENET Official Soundtrack.

• Mids: - The mids are well-balanced with good tonality. We can easily say that the mids are the highlights of this IEM. Mids are a bit forwarded here, which makes it a fun-sounding set. The Yvain makes use of twin Customized Sonion BAs for the mids. We are happy to see that the BA is not showing its typical timbre. For testing mids, we’ve listened to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and Skyfall by Adele through Apple Music. We can say the male vocals sound very good, full-bodied, and with a hint of warmth, it feels very lush. We really like how the vocals (both male and female) are well-rendered here. Instrumental tracks felt alive and rich-sounding.

• Highs: - Highs on this IEM are above average, but the treble doesn’t extend so well and is not that airy. It does have a beautiful natural timbre and tonality which makes it a great IEM for everyday use. The detailing is decent at this price point. The highs do improve a bit with a neutral source but weren’t that great with mobile phones or cheap dongles. The cymbals have the right sparkle, and bright and glistening sound with it.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage is decently wide and has a good depth. The layering is decent as well. Instruments have less air and clean space between them. Yvain’s detail retrieval capacity is good while micro-dynamics are solid. The imaging is average at best.

• Synergy: - After trying it with different sources (Astell and Kern SP1000m, Dethonray DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, Aune M1p, Aune Yuki and Hiby R3 II) we can say it pairs well with anything. With neutral sources like Aune M1p and Hiby R3 II, it shows emotions in vocals and maintains the tonal balance. While pairing with analytical sources like Dethonray DTR1+ the brilliance is very much heard and airy-ness also observed. At Aural Café we strongly believe in source matching and here we overall recommend using neutral sources to extract the most from Yvain.

Conclusion: -

This IEM is a very capable set but given a price point of $239.00 we feel that the pricing should be a bit better because of the current competition in the same bracket. For everyday use, it does not create any kind of fatigue sonically as well as fittings because of its ergonomic design and weight. The accessories given are top-notch. It admirably delivers well-balanced tuning. Overall, we liked the set for its warm and fun tonality and timbre though we would not mind if there were more sub-bass emphasis. For users who like very much technical performance, we would not recommend this IEM. It needs good neutral sources to shine.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-yvain
- https://www.amazon.com/HiFiGo-Yvain-Medium-End-Three-Way-Reference/dp/B0CM6MFJD3?th=1

IFI HIP DAC 3: INTOXICATING FLASK OF AUDIO

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe we are reviewing the iFi Hip-DAC 3 portable DAC and Headphone Amplifier. But before that let us tell you a bit about iFi Audio. iFi Audio is a subsidiary of Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) which is one of the UK's largest manufacturers of high-end audio products such as AmpliFiers, Active Buffer/PreampliFiers, DACs, and USB filters. Founded in 2000, AMR is based in London, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Abbingdon Global Group.

iFi Audio is one of the most respected brands in the audiophile world with hi-fi products across different prices and product categories with one aim- to improve music enjoyment. Founded in 2012 iFi oversee the design, development, and manufacture of more than 50 products from their headquarters in Southport, UK. iFi products and their packaging are made from recyclable materials, including Aluminium, Paper and Recycled plastics. There are no hazardous toxins in their components, and they ensure that every product released meets environmental standards. iFi prides itself on being an eco-friendly company.

iFi Hip-DAC 3 is competitively priced at US$ 199 only.



Specifications: -

• Input: USB-C
• Formats Supported: DSD256 / PCM384kHz / Full MQA Decoder
• DAC Used: Burr Brown Multibit
• Headphone Outputs: 4.4mm Balanced, 3.5mm SE.
• Power Output: BAL 400mW @ 32Ω; 6.3V @600Ω / UnBAL 280mW @ 32Ω; 3.2V @600Ω
• SNR: BAL <109dB(A) @ 0dBFS / UnBAL <103dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• DNR: BAL <109dB(A) / UnBAL <103dB(A)
• THD + N: BAL <0.006X% (360mW/2.0V @600Ω) / UnBAL <0.01% (100mW/1.27V @16Ω)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 45kHz (±3dB)
• Power Consumption: <2W idle, 4W max
• Battery: Lithium-polymer 2,200mAh up to 12 hours
• Power System: Charging via USB-C, BC V1.2 compliant up to 1000mA charging current.
• Dimensions: 102x70x14 mm, 135g

Disclaimer: -

The iFi audio Hip-DAC 3 is a loaner unit that was sent to us directly by iFi Audio. This review reflects our unbiased opinion as always.

Packaging & Accessories: -

• iFi Hip-DAC 3
• 4 x Silicone feet
• USB-C to USB-A cable
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• USB-C to Lightning cable
• iFi sticker
• Documentation

Check out the full unboxing video here,






Build & Design: -

iFi audio Hip-DAC 3 is the third generation of the Hip-DAC series and features a Burr Brown DAC chipset, iFi’s familiar iEMatch, Power Match and XBass. iFi Hip-DAC 3 follows the same timeless flask size design language as its predecessors Hip-DAC 1, and 2. While the flask design remains the same, Hip-DAC 3 has been revamped inside out. The Hip-DAC 3 now comes in a robust and sleek aluminium case with a titanium shadow hue manifesting a piece of timeless art with a touch of modern sophistication. The top panel hosts a top-notch analogue volume knob along with the 3.5mm and 4.4mm Headphone jacks plus the Power Match and XBass buttons. iFi Hip DAC 3 uses the same Power Match switchable gain button to ensure the optimal power for the power-demanding headphones. On either side of the elegant volume knob are a pair of LEDs that change colour depending on the sample rate of the file currently being played. We at Aural Cafe especially just loved this simple and sleek idea.

Although Hip DAC 3 has been marketed to listen to hi-fi music on the go we believe that it's not worth taking this piece of art outside as there are lots of chances of damage and scratches. To listen to hi-fi music on the go iFi Audio fans can try iFi Go bar.

The back of the Hip-DAC 3 now comes with iFi audio legendary iEMatch features which reduce background noise while using sensitive IEMs like Campfire Andromeda and many others. The iFi Hip-DAC 3 now utilizes an advanced 16-core XMOS microcontroller which helps the Hip-DAC 3 for efficient audio data processing and supports up to PCM 384kHz, DSD128, DSD256 and full MQA decoding. The circuit has been upgraded with the addition of new metal film capacitors for better power supply and frequency response. The iFi Hip DAC 3 was also upgraded with GMT circuitry along with a new crystal oscillator to reduce the noise and thus provide a purer sound experience. The upgrades now include two USB-C ports one for data input and the other for charging thus keeping the signal part clean and noise-free and for simultaneous use and charging. The Hip-DAC 3’s comes with the same 2200mAh battery which typically provides 7 to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge, varying based on the volume level and the power demands of the connected headphones.

So, when it comes to design and packaging one thing is sure Hip DAC 3 is a fully loaded flask with lots of useful added features and thoughtful accessories at just US$ 199 which is just US$ 10 more in comparison to the price of which Hip DAC 2 was launched.




Sound Analysis: -

• Tonality: - When it comes to the sound quality, we at Aural Cafe give a lot of importance to the tonality of the source. After listening to Hip DAC 3 for numerous hours with different IEMs and Headphones we can confidently say that Hip DAC 3 follows an organic and analogue tonality which sounds natural and balanced across the frequencies. The Hip DAC 3 excels in showcasing the sinuous nuances of instruments and vocal timbres. While listening to “Save Your Tears” by the Weekend the vocals sound very natural without any noise. Listening to “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin the Hip DAC 3 again showcases its excellent timbre.

• Lows: - The bass reproduction on Hip DAC 3 is clean and leaner without any muddiness. The bass quality will depend mostly on the IEMs or Headphones with whom the Hip DAC 3 is being paired. With the XBass button on there is a slight increase in the mid-bass body which becomes useful while listening to Hip hop and EDM music. While listening to “Da Da Dasse” from Udta Punjab the bass sounds more vibrant and fun with the XBass button on.

• Mids: - The Hip DAC 3 showcases above-average mids when it comes to DAC-Amps at a similar price range. The Hip-DAC 3 adeptly navigates the midrange, offering in a buttery smooth way without any sharpness. Surprisingly with the Power Match button on both the male and female vocals sound a tad bit more forward and natural with lots of soul while the rendering of the instruments such as flute and sitar is intensely felt while listening to “Indian Summer” by Anoushka Shankar.

• Highs: - The Hip DAC 3 showcases a solid treble expression and extension while maintaining a natural and analogue presentation. The treble on Hip DAC 3 is clean with any shouty-ness and sharpness. While listening to “Paayaliya” by Amit Trivedi the Hip DAC 3 showcases just the right treble energy.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage and imaging are just average on Hip DAC 3. The stage width is better in comparison to depth, but it's still average in comparison to the competitions. The Hip DAC 3 just adds a bit of soundstage which primarily depends on the IEMs or Headphones you are using the Hip DAC 3 with. The instrument separation and imaging are just average at best which is clearly visible while listening to complex rock and metal genres of music.

• Synergy: - Since the Hip DAC 3 showcases a natural and soulful tonality it synergises really well with neutral IEMs and Headphones. The Hip DAC 3 excels when it comes to background noise, control, and clarity. With the legendary iEMatch feature on board, it can synergise with ultra-sensitive and multi-BA IEMs. It has no lack of power for the most demanding IEMs and many Headphones available in the market. It runs Audeze’s LCD-2 a well demanding full-size Planer Magnetic Headphone without losing its characteristics.

Conclusion: -

This is our first experience with iFi products at Aural Cafe and we are impressed with the well-thought-out design idea of Hip DAC 3. We believe that iFi audio Hip DAC 3 is a special product that will hold its ground strongly in its super competitive product category. It is not just a portable DAC-Amp but a high-quality piece of audio art that must be in every audiophile collection. The design is damn cool yet elegant with top-notch quality at such a price. If you listen to your music while at home and office through your laptops and want to elevate your experience then Hip DAC 3 would be the right choice as it excels in achieving pitch black background, control, and clarity across the frequency without breaking your bank balance. It also brings on board a decent amount of clean power to drive headphones. With iEMatch on board, it’s a must-have product if you have sensitive IEMs. While the Hip DAC 3 excels in achieving analogue timbre and clarity across the frequency, instrument separation and imaging are average to say at the very best.

Non-Affiliated Links: -
- https://www.amazon.com/iFi-hip-dac3-Headphone-Enhancement-PowerMatch/dp/B0CKFKNNJH
- https://www.moon-audio.com/hip-dac-3.html

AUNE YUKI: A CHILLING SOUND EXPERIENCE​

Introduction: -

Dongles seem to be the flavour of the season and more and more brands are coming up with their take on dongles. While Audioquest and Fiio were the first to enter this product segment, big brands such as Questyle, Tanchjim, Luxury and Precision, and Shanling etc. have launched versatile dongles in different price segments to cater to the never-ending needs of audiophiles.

Before we review Aune Audio's new dongle Yuki let's talk a bit about Aune. Aune as Wuhan Ao Lai Er Technology Co. Ltd.'s Hi-Fi brand was founded in 2004 in Wuhan China by six die-hard audio fans who are experts in various audio-related fields such as hardware design, electro-acoustic design and tuning. The concept of Yin-Yang inspired the logo of aune - the Chinese philosophy of balance. The rounded design of the letters conveys a message of peace and gentleness. The openings on four sides indicate inclusiveness.

Now coming to Aune Yuki it is Aune Audio's fifth product offering in their portable hi-fi items lineup. The first four successful products in this long span of 20 years are Aune B1s, BU1, BU2, and the very recent M1p which we have the honour to review at Aural Cafe. Aune Yuki is Aune Audio's take on portable dongles and retails for US$ 169.00.



Specifications: -

• DAC Used: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43198auto
• Output Power: 4Vrms (BAL) – 160mW @32Ω
• 2Vrms (UNBAL) – 90mW @32Ω
• Impedance: 1Ω (Low impedance sources help with sensitive IEMs)
• Crosstalk: 71 dB @32Ω(UNBAL)
• 106 dB @3 Ω(BAL)
• THD+N: 0.00033% (BAL), 0.00036 % (UNBAL)
• Noise floor :2.9uV (BAL), 2.6uV (UNBAL)
• Headphone Out: 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm BAL
• Size: 5.3x2.4x1.3cm Weight: 25.9g

Disclaimer: -

The Aune Yuki was sent to us free of charge by Aune. We are thankful to Aune Audio for the same. However, the review reflects our honest opinion.

Packaging & Accessories: -

Aune Yuki comes in a simple white round shape box with a USB Type-C to C cable and a USB-C to USB-A adapter to use with various sources like personal computers. You can check out our unboxing video in the below link to have a better idea of the packaging accessories and design of Aune Yuki.
-




Build & Design: -

Aune Yuki comes in a sturdy aluminium alloy rectangular structure with a fine baked snowy white painting finish and a small clear glass window on top to show off its solid discrete amp structure. On the back of the glass panel, there are separate volume buttons in round shapes one “all white”, which represents the volume down, and another with a “golden dot” in the centre, which represents the volume up, to increase and decrease the volume and vice versa and acts a mode to move from low gain to high gain when both volume buttons are pressed simultaneously. Aune Yuki surprisingly has compatibility mode in UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0. The UAC is the type of protocol used by USB ports to run high-resolution files, UAC 1.0 can run PCM files up to 24bits/96kHz and UAC 2.0 can run larger files, like PCM 32bits/384kHz or DSD256 files. For example, by default, the Yuki already comes in UAC 2.0 mode, so if you need to change to UAC 1.0, just hold the volume + button for a few seconds (the device needs to be connected, ex: Nintendo Switch). The bottom of Aune Yuki consists of solidly built 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports. The built quality is top-notch which can last for a longer period.

Aune Audio makes use of high-quality and expensive hybrid ceramic PCB in Yuki which leads to high strength and clean-sounding unit. Aune Audio with its Yuki has adopted a special dual-layer Structure in which DAC and Amp are Completely Separated, One layer for the digital DAC circuit, and one for the analogue headphone amp circuit. While the DAC section uses a double CS43198 chip for better separation and dynamics, the amp section is where the real magic happens with the discrete headphone amp board which has a +5V power supply along with 16 transistors to form the 4-way headphone amp. The unique power supply with a discrete amp helps in a clean, ultra-low noise floor which in turn helps in more resolving sound. The Yuki is a unique sound-focussing “dongle” that’s great for Smartphones, Tabs, computers, laptops and handheld gaming stations like Nintendo Switch. One can enjoy high resolution up to 32 bit/768k and DSD 256 with the help of Aune Yuki any place at any time.



Sound Analysis: -

Now coming to the most important part of the review, and there is no point in guessing, the sound analysis of Aune Yuki. After spending numerous days and hours listening to various IEMs with Aune Yuki we at Aural Cafe can confidently state that Aune Yuki is a very transparent and clean sounding source. The tonality of the Yuki is borderline neutral and clean. The timbre is very balanced and natural, thanks to the dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs which are also used in hi-fi DAPs such as Ibasso DX-300 and Ibasso DX-160 and have recently been used in Xduoo Poke II portable DAC/Amp. The use of CS43198 DAC also results in low power consumption. The timbre is one of the highlights of this dongle. While listening to Indian classical songs such as Indian Summer by Anoushka Shankar the timbre is very natural and balanced. The transient response is above average when we compare it to the other dongles in the same price range thanks to its discrete and powerful amp being supported with its unique power supply where we believe the real magic happens. The same can also be experienced while listening to “False Alarm” by the Weekend. We also loved the lower impedance of the Aune Yuki, which helps listen to sensitive IEMs such as Campfire Andromeda and such as Lark Studio LSX in our case. When it comes to the resolving capability of the Yuki it is again at the level of mid-fi daps thanks to the discrete amp section of the Yuki, the sound is natural and clean across the frequency. The details retrieval capability is a tad bit better on the 4.4mm port in comparison to the 3.5mm port. The vocals sound natural and solid. The soundstage is intimate and real with better width than depth. The layering on Yuki is average and could have been better. The imaging is above average when in comparison to other dongles in this price range. The imaging is also a bit better on the 4.4mm port in comparison which can be felt when critically listening to songs on Rhapsodio Little Eden in our case. There is also a unique airy feel all across the frequency which is helpful while listening to rock numbers. With a solid powerful amp section, the Aune Yuki is capable of driving most of the IEMs in the market and less demanding headphones like Aune’s new AR5000.



Conclusion: -

Well, when we came to know that Aune was coming with a dongle, we thought Aune had been a little late to the game, but after using and listening to it we can say that this dongle is unique. The Aune Audio with its Yuki wants to offer a solid lasting dongle that is actually built like a tank both inside and out primarily because of the PCB without compromising on sound quality. What we loved most about the Aune Yuki is the clean natural sound across the frequency with good transient response and natural timbre which can be strongly felt when listening to Indian and Western classical music. While the layering is just average. We at Aural Cafe also believe that the pricing is a bit expensive but that can be due to the use of high-quality PCB and dual-layer structure which is rarely been seen on a portable dongle. It would have been better if Aune Audio could have priced it a bit lower comparing the cutthroat competition. The aim of Aune Audio with Yuki we presume was to make a product that can easily replace mid-fi DAPs and make our life easier by listening to music directly through our mobile phones. So if you are in the market in search of a simple no bull transparent neutral source that is built like a tank, then Aune Yuki is an easy recommendation.

Non-Affiliated Links: -
- https://www.aune-store.com/en/aune-yuki-dongle-dac_110207_1236/
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJXYNNTH
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN168TQD (Leather Case for Yuki)

KINERA Freya 2.0 REVIEW​

Introduction: -

Freya 2.0 is a hybrid In-ear monitor from the popular IEM brand from China, Kinera. The same brand produces some of the class-leading and popular IEMs such as Imperial Loki, Baldr, Nanna and so on. They have their sister brands operating in the same market Celest Audio and QOA (Queen of Audio). Freya 2.0 consists of three Balanced armature drivers and one dynamic driver. Three Knowles BA for highs and Mids frequency and One 7mm dynamic driver for handling low frequencies. Kinera Freya 2.0 comes with a 2-pin Copper Alloy cable and can be terminated as per your needs as it’s modular to 3.5mm and 4.4mm. The item consists of three variants of silicone ear tips, two sets from Kinera, and another set from Final Audio and its fan favourite Type-E. For our review, we would be using the Final Audio Type-E tips as we believe it sounds best with them. Kinera Freya 2.0 retails for 269 US$.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 1 Dynamic Driver + 3 Balanced Armature (Knowles)
• Impedance: 20Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-50Khz
• Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
• Cable: Copper Alloy Cable
• Plug: Modular with 3.5mm and 4.4mm

Disclaimer: -

The review tour for Kinera Freya 2.0 was arranged by Kinera and @SherryLion in India. We are thankful to them for the opportunity. However, the review reflects our honest opinion.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The Freya 2.0 comes in a beautiful large box, inside of it we have the IEM carry case consisting of the cable, the IEMs, the Sets of Tips in a metal frame, a 4.4mm Plug and a cleaning brush. It comes with a Copper Alloy modular cable. Lastly, it comes with the Final Audio Type-E silicone ear tips which can be found inside the carry case also.





IEM Build & Design: -

The Freya 2.0 comes in a transparent resin shell with a beautiful faceplate with blue, cyan, and silver accents. It employs varying shades of colour overlay, creating a play of light and shadow that gives it a unique artistic ambience and an exquisite appearance. The inside of the IEMs is fully visible. The design is ergonomic, and we found no problem using it for longer sessions. The balanced armature drivers are placed directly on the nozzle and the dynamic driver is placed behind and it is connected to the nozzle with a longer tube.




Sound Analysis: -

Credits: @Soundcheck39

• Tonality: - This is our first encounter with the brand Kinera. The sound of Freya 2.0 is Flat and unexciting from lows to highs. The bass doesn’t split to the mids. Highs are not that airy, and lack of brilliance is very much observed. The overall tonality is improved with warm sources.

• Lows: - Kinera Freya 2.0 has a 7mm dynamic driver for handling bass. The bass takes a lead in quantity rather than quality. The mid-bass is lacking texture here. For testing bass, we made use of Nakshatram by Jean du Voyage’s offline FLAC file and the Weekend’s Wasted Times. The single 7mm dd is used as it results in faster takeoff along but the balance is not there. The bass doesn’t hit hard. Where the sub-bass is better comparatively and fun. The transient response is seen in the dynamic driver.

• Mids: - Mids are one of the shining aspects of Freya 2.0. The Kinera Freya 2.0 makes use of Knowles BA for the mids. The Knowles are a popular brand for BA manufacturing. We are happy to see that the BA is not showing its typical timbre. For testing mids, we’ve listened to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and Skyfall by Adele through Apple Music. For the first try, we really thought of a recessed mids but things got clear with different sources. We can say the female vocals sound very good, full-bodied, and definitely better than male vocals. The gentle brightness in the upper mids resulting this.

• Highs: - The highs are not airy, rather dry in Kinera Freya 2.0. The treble is not clean. While listening to “In Your Eyes” from the Weekend the saxophone doesn’t really shine which should be due to the lack of upper treble. It lacks brilliance and is sometimes dull. However, things were improved when the IEMs paired with sources like Dethonray DTR1+. The cymbals have the right sparkle, and bright and glistening sound with it.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage of the Kinera Freya 2.0 is intimate. The soundstage is decently wide but not so deep. Micro details are not so nicely pronounced. The layering is not at all good. Instruments have no air and clean space between them. Freya 2’s detail retrieval capacity is average and not the best in its price category. The imaging is just average at best. When listening to Yosi Horikawa’s “Swashers” the congestion is too much.

• Synergy: - After trying it with different sources (Astell and Kern SP1000m, Dethonray DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, Aune M1p, Aune Yuki and iFi Hip DAC 3) sometimes it works well with warm Musical sources, sometimes with Analytical. With neutral sources like Aune M1p, it doesn’t show emotions in vocals which is a fairly strong area of this IEM. At Aural Café we strongly believe in source matching and here we overall recommend using warm sources with Freya 2.0.

Conclusion: -

The thing we liked about Selective Sources+ Freya 2.0 is its vocal performance. It is a strong point for this IEM. With good powerful sources like Dethonray Pegasus SG1 Gold, the dynamic driver powers up hence the overall presentation looks a lot better and smoother. The build quality of the IEMs is also splendid. The thing which we didn’t like is its lack of dynamics, limited technicality, and subpar layering. So, we would end this review by saying that if you love genre-specific (In this case, vocal-heavy) music it could be a choice. But in the ever-evolving market and too much competition in the specific price range it is hard to survive for this IEM.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://www.kineraaudio.com/product/kinera-freya-2-0
- https://www.linsoul.com/products/kinera-freya-2-0
- https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-freya-2-0

AFUL MagicOne: Finding the magic​

Introduction: -

AFUL’s journey began in 2018 with a dedicated acoustic team that focused on developing cutting-edge acoustic technology. In 2019, a breakthrough was achieved with the first engineering prototypes that featured a novel circuit topology and acoustic structure. This enabled a single BA driver to deliver stunning HiFi performance. Cut to 2023, AFUL has brought us the all-new MagicOne. They have designed a customized balanced armature driver for the MagicOne. AFUL has also implemented its newly developed technologies including SE-Math Electro-Acoustic Intermodulation, and Nautilus Acoustic Maze. These help the pair achieve true high-resolution sound performance. This is not the first time we’ve seen a Single BA IEM. Let’s see how they have tuned their customised BA. The AFUL MagicOne comes with a price tag of US$ 139.99.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 1 Customized Balanced Armature
• Impedance: 38Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 5Hz-35Khz
• Sensitivity: 103dB/mW
• Noise Isolation: -26dB
• Connectors: 2-pin 0.78mm
• Termination: 3.5mm/4.4mm

Disclaimer: -

AFUL and @gadgetgod arranged the review tour for AFUL MagicOne in India. We are thankful to them for the opportunity. However, the review reflects our honest opinion.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The AFUL MagicOne comes in a smaller-sized box with the IEMs and all the accessories. Removing the box reveals the IEMs and a beautiful black Metal Case. Inside the case, there were stock Cable and supplied ear-tips of two types. The cable is high-purity oxygen-free copper and oxygen-free copper silver-plated cable with a 32+37 core wire configuration.





IEM Fit & Design: -

The MagicOne comes in a transparent resin shell with a faceplate decorated with a silver accent. The design looks like falling snowflakes as AFUL also mentioned the same. The inside of the IEMs is fully visible. The design is ergonomic, and we found no problem using it for longer sessions. The balanced armature driver is placed directly on the nozzle. AFUL has equipped the MagicOne with a uniquely designed rear-cavity structure. This structure includes a specially designed long and ultra-thin acoustic tube named 'Nautilus Acoustic Maze Technology'. They’ve claimed that enhances the Bass performance.



Sound Analysis: -

Credit: @aftersound

• Tonality: - The tonality of AFUL MagicOne leans towards the warm neutral and musical. AFUL surprisingly achieved very good tonal balance across the frequency. It’s a musical and foot-tapping sound signature. It seems that it can be used for longer listening sessions not only because of its design but for tonality as well. Vocals and acoustic instruments sound natural but with a cost of technicalities.

• Lows: - The MagicOne offers a well-textured bass. It’s quite surprising for a Single-BA set. It is nowhere near the dynamic driver level of Bass, but it gets the job done. Mid-bass is a bit forward with decent thump while the subbass has less extension making the mids remain clear and detailed. The decay is faster hence the speed of the bass is easily handled by the set. In our cases, pairing with sources like Dethonray DTR1+ or iFi Hip DAC 3 improves the thump and mid-bass extension.

• Mids: - The AFUL MagicOne offers a dynamic and smooth mids across the frequency which is not so forward. Vocals especially female vocals are very nice and have a soul. The male vocals are also not far behind. We feel that the mid-bass played the role where it gave the vocals a bit more weight. However, it’s not the airiest or resolving to be called special. In fact, the micro detail retrievals are not that great hence it made the mids congested with the busy instrumental tracks.

• Highs: - The overall tonal balance made the highs of the MagicOne smooth and not ear-piercing. Cymbals have a nice, natural, decay to them. There is a lack of air felt in every way, but it doesn’t disappoint. This also shows while listening to saxophone-based tracks such as In Your Eyes by the Weekend where the timbre of saxophone is organic and less airy. The single BAs just often can’t manage separation so well, which is particularly evident in the upper ranges.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The MagicOne manages to deliver an okayish soundstage for the category. It is a compact stage, but it has come with a good layering being formed in this spectrum. Making the stage height increase. But in no way is the most open, and extended imaging. The transient response is surprisingly above average when we consider similar-priced items. We would have loved it if the imaging had been a bit better and there would have been more openness across the frequency.

• Synergy: - After trying it with different sources (Astell and Kern SP1000m, Dethonray DTR1, DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, iFi Hip DAC 3, Aune M1p and Tanchjim Space and Space lite dongles) we can confidently say that it synergises well with analytical daps like Dethonray DTR1+. Also, we would like to add that Dethonray SG1 Gold and iFi Hip DAC 3 help in making the bass more thumpy and hard-hitting. Surprisingly the IEM needs much more power for a Balanced Armature Driver system. It may sound dull with comparatively weaker sources. For dongles, Tanchjim Space paired well with this.

Conclusion: -

The AFUL MagicOne is a unique offering from AFUL. This is our first interaction with AFUL audio. They surprised us with the tonality they have achieved with a single BA driver. Although it has its flaws, but the best thing about MagicOne lies in its versatile tonality which allows you to enjoy all kinds of music. It is good for longer listening as there is no harshness and can be enjoyed at low volume thus showing the calibre of the IEM. The thing we didn’t like about the is its average staging and less air between the instruments. Although female vocal lovers can easily enjoy the unit very much as it’s the highlight of this IEMs.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://hifigo.com/products/aful-magicone
- https://www.amazon.com/HiFiGo-MagicOne-Earphones-Revolutionary-Technology/dp/B0CM5PMWGY?th=1

ORIVETI OD200: CHAMELION UNLEASHED​

Introduction: -

Oriveti is a China-based brand providing Hi-Fi quality audio products for daily use by the most discerning listeners. Founded in 2015, Oriveti started from a position of strength with years of engineering and design experience within the earphone/headphone industry.

Well, Oriveti as a brand is close to us as we started our Audiophile journey around 2016 when Oriveti launched their first product. Oriveti has revamped its product offering keeping in mind the intense competition with three new models ORIVETI OD100, OD200, and ORIVETI OH700VB priced very competitively. Today we are reviewing Oriveti OD200 earphones which are equipped with an exclusive Beryllium-Coated 9.8mm Dynamic Driver. We were excited about the OD200 patent-pending dedicated airflow distribution (DAD) design being implemented on these IEMs. Priced at US$ 199.00 only let’s see what it’s giving us.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: Beryllium Coated single 9.8mm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 16Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-20Khz
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mW ± 3dB at 1000Hz
• Distortion: 0.08%
• Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm Stereo / 2.5mm balanced / 4.4mm balanced Plug

Disclaimer: -

ORIVETI sent us the ORIVETI OD100 IEM for this review, free of cost. All thoughts and experiences with the product are naturally our own and reflect our honest opinions. We’re thankful to them for their support.

Packaging & Accessories: -

Oriveti OD200 comes with a classic unboxing experience which is rare to find in a US$ 199 IEM. It comes in a big square box with tray designs. While unboxing the first level has the IEMs along with the tuning nozzles within a foam inlet. Below is a slide-out drawer consisting of a high-quality leather case, modular cable, and generous accessories. The OD200 comes with high-quality modular handmade 8-core OFC silver-plated copper braided wires. The modular cable permits its use with 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm and 4.4mm sources. There are 3 types of ear tips (memory foam, large-bore, and small-bore silicone) in 3 different sizes along with a cleaning tool for maintenance probably because it comes with tuning nozzles and thus needs a bit of cleaning on regular usage.

To experience our hands-on unboxing check our YouTube video here-






IEM Fit & Design: -

Each product coming from the house of Oriveti Audio has its own unique character design and tuning philosophy. With OD200, Oriveti is the first time implementing the DAD design (Dedicated Airflow Distribution). The aim of implementing DAD according to Oriveti Audio was to optimize the airflow within the housing by providing a dedicated path for airflow between the front and rear acoustic chambers of the IEMs improving the dynamic performance of the IEMs. OD200 Shells have been brought to life using a high-quality CNC Machined process for precise and accurate shaping of the earphone body. Oriveti Audio makes use of Aluminium alloy in CNC machining resulting in not only sturdy and durable but very lightweight and premium-looking IEMs. The OD200 features an ergonomic design that is very comfortable for longer usage and provides decent isolation for outdoor usage. The British racing green-coloured shells add a touch of elegance and style to the OD200.




Sound Analysis: -

Credits: @ToneDeafMonk

• Tonality: - The Oriveti OD200 comes with two tuning nozzles (Black and Silver) with each affecting the overall tonality of the IEM in a very distinctive and unique way. With the black nozzles installed, the OD200 showcases an unimpressive sterile neutral bright signature along with shouty mids which completely transforms once the black nozzle is swapped with the silver one. The silver nozzles showcase a beautifully balanced tonality across the frequency. The shouty mids disappear along with a smooth buttery tonality across the frequency thus offering excellent long-term listenability. We also like to add here that we feel the use of the DAD system has resulted in above-average air-ness and clarity across the frequency irrespective of the tuning nozzles the IEMs used. The silver nozzles along with large bore silicone tips will be our preferred setup for smoother and natural tonality.

• Lows: - The bass on OD200 is surprisingly fast on both the tuning nozzles. The DAD System does indeed offer some benefits when it comes to the presentation. The standard black nozzles offer a lighter bass both in quantity and quality without any presence of sub-bass whereas, with the silver nozzle, the bass improves both in quantity and quality without losing any speed. While using the OD200 with DTR1+ with the silver module the mid-bass is more pronounced with just the right amount of punchiness and control. The warm mid-bass hump on the silver module makes the IEM fun to listen to popular pop numbers. The quick decay and peppy attack characteristics mean that despite average sub-bass, bass still sounds snappy and satisfying the subbass extension is just average to say at very best.

• Mids: - The Mids on OD200 have decent balance and clarity irrespective of the tuning filters. Although the mids are slightly forward on OD200 and with the black module the vocal timbre is not as pleasing due to the shouty upper mids and thus no right to use it for a longer duration as per our understanding. The female vocals sound a bit better on the black module. Whereas with the silver nozzle, the OD200 showcases a very technically right and balanced mids. The mids on OD200 with the silver module are smoother and relaxed with soulful vocals. Vocals have more body and are musically rich and filled with the right balance on the silver module. Here we would like to add that with the OD200 + silver module, Oriveti Audio has done a wonderful job at creating a smooth and coherent presentation that still sounds unique and balanced across the frequencies.

• Highs: - The treble on OD200 is well-rounded with enough sparkle to balance the overall tonality of the unit. The OD200 with black nozzle transforms into a more bright and energetic-sounding IEM. Percussion instruments have a nice crisp note attack along with more emphasis on female vocals. Although instruments such as cymbals have the right sparkle, and bright and glistening sound the treble on OD200 with black nozzles sounds borderline piercing and is thus not recommended for longer listening and treble-sensitive audiophiles. While the treble on OD200 with silver nozzle is smoother and more balanced. the OD200 with the silver nozzle has just the right shimmer and sparkle at a higher frequency without sounding unnatural and piercing. Here we would also like to add that the extension has been notably improved over its younger sibling OD100. The OD200 with silver nozzle doesn’t offer the most top-end presentation but a more focused detail presentation along with smooth well-textured and matured higher notes.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The OD200 has an above-average soundstage with a width that is more than the depth in comparison. With the black nozzle, the OD200 gives an impression of increased soundstage due to its bright-ish signature but we don’t feel that the black nozzle adds anything to the soundstage on the OD200 whereas the separation on the instruments does improve on black nozzles in comparison with the silver nozzle, but it also affects the overall musicality and dynamics of the IEM. The transient response of the instrument is better on the black nozzle in comparison to the silver nozzle, but the timbre and the dynamics of the vocals and instruments are very musical and natural on the silver nozzle. Here we would also like to add that the timbre of the instrument especially the guitars is one of the best we have heard from any IEMs in recent times when the OD200 is used with the silver nozzle.

• Source Matching & Pairing: - We at Aural Cafe give prime importance to source matching and pairing as every item comes with its distinct tonality. When it comes to OD200 after testing it with numerous sources we can confidently say that it is very source-dependent. It sounds different in a very distinctive way with different sources. We love how OD200 Sounds with the silver nozzle and thus will recommend the same to our readers and fellow audiophiles. Here we would also like to add that the OD200 Scales well with the quality of the sources as with the Dethonray DTR1+ and SG1 gold the bass has the right punch and layering. It doesn’t sound good with the comparatively weaker and neutral-sounding DAPs and DAC/Amps than warm musical sources. We would also suggest using wide-bore tips for better soundstage and high-quality copper cables for better musical tonality. But that doesn’t mean the standard cables with which OD200 is of inferior quality. The standard cable with which the OD200 comes in is perfect for the overall tonality of the IEMs.

Conclusion: -

We at Aural Café, would like to say that reviewing OD200 has been one of the toughest tasks for us as we have to continuously keep changing the nozzles along with source, cables and tips. While the black nozzle would suit the younger newbies in this hobby who want a more energetic sound, but we believe that it’s the silver nozzle where the soul of OD200 resides. If you enjoy fast and quality bass along with balanced yet musical tonality added to a superbly ergonomic design and excellent high-quality modular cable, then the Oriveti OD200 can be a nice choice.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://hifigo.com/products/oriveti-od200
- https://www.amazon.com/ORIVETI-OD200.../dp/B0CNWFNHQ5/

HIBY R3 II: Pocket Rocket​

Introduction: -

Established in 2011, Hiby Music specialises in research, development, and sales of high-quality portable audio products. They have developed dozens of digital audio players (DAPs), IEMs, USB DACs, etc. Hiby R3 II is HiBy's latest entry-level DAP. This device is a successor model of both the R3 Pro Saber 2022 and R3 Pro Saber regular, but this item has some improvements and substantially upgraded features. R3 II is a super-compact DAP with good features just like the previous R3 iterations. The DAC chips are retained as dual ESS SABRE ES9219C, which supports 32-bit PCM and native DSD256 audio signals. The amplifying section had some overhaul as well. Now both the 3.5mm and newly introduced 4.4mm have more power. To be exact, both outputs have approximately 20% more power, which is a nice improvement and all this for a pocket-friendly price of US$ 179.00.



Specifications: -

• DAC Used: Dual ES9219C
• THD+N: 0.0005%@1kHz.
• Headphone outputs: SE 3.5mm (Supports LO), BAL 4.4mm
• Power: 70mW@32Ω(SE), 280mW@32Ω(Bal)
• DNR: ≥115dB
• Noise: 2.2uV(SE), 3uV(BAL)
• Max Level: 3.0 Vrms@Bal, 1.5Vrms@SE output
• Memory card: microSD (supports sizes up to 2TB)
• Supported formats: PCM 384KHz/32Bit, MQA16X, DSD-256
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 (Two Way), LDAC, AptX, AAC, SBC Codecs
• Dimensions: 86.9 x 60.6 x 14.5mm
• Battery Capacity: 2000mAH

Disclaimer: -

The review tour for Hiby R3 II was arranged by Joe Bloggs and @gadgetgod in India. We are thankful to them for the opportunity. However, the review reflects our honest opinion.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The Hiby R3 II comes in a medium-sized box with the device and all the accessories. Removing the box reveals the DAP. The supplied Type-C cable is also well-packed along with a warranty card and user manuals. The presentation overall is classy. Additionally, a silicon case and an extra set of screen protectors are found where they have already applied screen and back protection to the unit. Check our full unboxing video here,

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Build & Design: -

The DAP is made of aluminium alloy and comes in three different colors, red, silver, and black. Where our unit is Black. It weighs about 118 grams. The design is very portable and easy to use in daily life. The lower and upper edges have been rounded, which makes the design ergonomic. It feels very comfortable in the hand. It comes with a 3.2” LCD touch Display. On the right side, there are three buttons and a volume wheel on the upper half. The three buttons claim the play/pause, fast forward/next track and backward/previous track while the volume wheel also consists of a push button which operates as a Power and Wake up button. On the left side in the lower half, there is the microSD memory card slot. The device has a single MicroSD slot without any internal storage. You can use MicroSD cards up to 2TB.





Software: -

The player uses Linux-based Hiby OS with a very simple UI. I personally didn’t face any problems with the OS as it is on point and easy to use. The boot-up and shut-down speed is fast, also the memory reading process is not too time-consuming. It also supports Tidal and Qubuz streaming services via WiFi. It also supports firmware updates over the air.



Operations & Settings: -

The R3 II is quite fast in terms of operation, with a very responsive touchscreen and buttons and a fast UI. The UI is quite simple indeed, but the functionality is perfect without any flaws. The DAP can only be woken up with power button (Which eventually is the Volume Wheel). The settings allow you to play around with screen time, brightness, Filters, Auto Shutdown, WiFi, Bluetooth and even USB Modes and more. It has an Android-inspired drop-down quick control centre. The small display may limit some of the UI experiences but with proper album art, the display looks very nice. Overall if you like to have a fancy but simple UI with several EQ settings etc., this is the player for you.

Battery & Charging: -

The real-life experience with the battery would be around 10h to 12h in our opinion in Balanced output usage, and although I haven’t done any specific battery tests, I can honestly say that this is one good DAP in terms of battery life. The charging time is over 2 hours with a 2A charger.

Testing Equipment: -

We feel it’s important to list down the IEMs we are using to test the DAP, so here is the list.

IEMs: Penon Fan 2, Penon 10th anniversary, Oriveti OD100, Tanchjim Oxygen, Hiby Yvain, Hisenior Okavango, Hisenior Mega5p Ultra and many other IEMs.



Sound Analysis: -

The overall tonality of R3 II is what we feel is very neutral. It does not add any additional glare or warmth to the outputs and is actually good for testing various IEMs and accessories. The note weight on the lower frequencies is on the lighter side compared to other DAPs. Making the DAP lacking in dynamics although it has its impact in the bass region. The mid-range is quite neutral with a bit more emphasized. Makes the vocals smooth and somewhat weighty. The noise floor is on the higher side on the SE output, but it’s improved on the 4.4mm BAL and the clarity of the sound is also improved on the balanced output. It may sound not exciting to those who are looking to get more dynamic and energetic output. But if you have the IEMs or Headphones that tick your favourite boxes there is no point in avoiding the Hiby R3 II. In our cases, it really went well with warm and musical IEMs synergy-wise.



Technical Performance: -

The device is very competent across frequencies. The detail retrieval is good enough on the mid-range, in the bass and the treble. The soundstage is decent with more depth when we compare it to the other dongles. It never feels so congested even though the width of the soundstage is not big.

Conclusion: -

We didn’t have much expectation about R3II. However, the device quickly won us over with its portability and the value it offers. No, you cannot expect the class-leading sound quality and technical performance from this tiny device, but it gets the job done quite well. The software is snappy, and we loved it as well. In Aural Café we can recommend this item for your companion while running, working out or hassle-free commute as it’s footprints and the output for the price you’re paying.

Non-Affiliated Link- https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-r3-ii

PENON 10th Anniversary REVIEW​

Introduction: -

Penon Audio started in the year 2013 with the goal of selling the best-selected audio products at the most affordable prices for Audiophiles. In these 10 years, Penon Audio has also evolved from not just selling but also manufacturing high-quality IEMs, dongles, and cables under their house name at very competitive prices. Now after 10 years Penon, to celebrate their 10th anniversary launched a new tri-brid IEM especially for their fans by the name of “Penon 10th anniversary” at a price of 499 US$. It consists of three different types of drivers. The IEM comes in a 3D printed resin shell using a very efficient 6mm crystalline plated biofilm dynamic driver for low frequency in 2 numbers, 2 balanced armatures: one from Sonion for mids and one Knowles for highs and 2 Sonion electrostatics for ultra highs.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 2 Electrostatic Driver + 2 Dynamic Driver + 2 Balanced Armature
• Crossovers: 4-way crossover, 3 tube channel
• Impedance: 9Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-20Khz
• Sensitivity: 110dB/mW
• Frequency Response: 15Hz-70kHz
• Cable: CS819 -2 shares, single share is 133 cores, a total of 266 cores

Disclaimer: -

We have purchased the item with the full amount. We were also delighted with the opportunity to review it.

Packaging & Accessories: -

Penon's 10th anniversary comes in a mid-size Penon box. The box contains a beautiful round leather carry case consisting of IEMs and cable. It comes with a Solid Penon OS133 OFC silver-plated cable. Lastly, accessories consisting of three different types of ear tips in S, M, and L sizes and other add-ons come in a beautiful rectangular leather box.







IEM Build & Design: -

The IEMs in sea blue shells are 3D printed using high-quality medical-grade resin material. The construction of the shells feels both sturdy and smooth. The size of the shells is a bit big making way for two DDs, two BAs and two ESTs. Although we didn’t find any issues while using it, people with small ears can have some issues. The design of the IEMs provides above-average isolation.




Sound Analysis: -

Credits: MMagTech

• Tonality: - Penon 10th AE comes in a unique lush Penon house sound with the same modest inoffensive tint of warmth, musical and yet balanced and smooth across the spectrum. The sound is balanced across the spectrum where the bass doesn’t split to mids and highs are airy and have beautiful high-quality sparkle due to the use of Sonion EST and the design of the shell. The Penon 10th AE is beautifully tuned and can be used for longer listening.

• Lows: - Penon 10th AE make use of two 6mm crystal-plated biological diaphragm Dynamic Drivers for handling bass which results in a well-rounded textured bass. The bass surprisingly this time has an impactful punch unlike its younger sibling Penon Fan 2. We feel it is due to the design of the IEM shell due to which the bass in Penon 10th AE have the rumble and layering which makes listening to the EDM music a lot more fun. The layering is beautifully defined and clean. While the mid-bass is a bit forwarded, the high-quality sub-bass merges well with the tonality of the IEM without bleeding into the mids. Here we would also add that using a high-quality source such as Dethonray SG1 gold in our case adds more thump to the mid-bass.

• Mids: - The Mids on Penon 10th AE is lush and sublime. The Penon 10th anniversary makes use of a single Sonion BA for the mids which are famous for their full-bodied mids without a hint of BA timbre. Since the Penon 10th follows a W-shaped frequency range the mids here are spacious. The vocals as well as instruments have rich natural timbre. For testing mids, we again listened to “In Your Eyes” by the Weekend and Skyfall by Adele through Apple Music Hi-Res streaming. We felt that the male vocals sounded marginally better than the female vocals on the Penon 10th Anniversary. While the male vocals have a full-bodied thick texture, the female vocals fall a bit short in this area. The instruments, especially the violin and saxophone sound full along with the right timbre, space, and energy. The extension is effortless and right at the point without trying too much.

• Highs: - One word that is synonymous with great treble in today's world is Sonion EST. In this Audiophile world, our journey with EST-based IEMs started with Shozy Pola, one of the earliest EST-based hybrid IEMs. In recent years owning and auditioning numerous EST-based IEMs we can confidently say that Penon Audio has used the Sonion EST in a very effective way for ultra-high frequency in the Penon 10th AE. The treble is not only airy but very natural in it. There is a beautiful shimmer and sweetness across the instruments, especially cymbals and guitar strings. The treble is not overpowering and metallic in tonality but turned right at the point supporting the lush tonality while surprising in between with the sweetness of the instruments. While listening to the cult song “Hotel California” by the Eagles through the Dethonray DTR1 we could hear the smallest shimmer from the instruments being played in the song, thus making the whole experience more fun and sublime.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - While reviewing the Penon 10th Anniversary just after it’s younger sibling Penon Fan 2 we can confidently say that the soundstage in Penon 10th AE is on another level. From the very moment, we put the 10th AE IEM where we can feel the lush spacious and airy tonality of 10th AE. We strongly feel that the above-average shell size of the item helps the Penon 10th AE with spacious and airy tonality across the frequency range. The soundstage in Penon 10TH AE is wide but still coherent, while the stage depth is better when we compare it with the IEMs in the same price range. The separation across instruments is above average and helps while listening to complex rock tracks. Penon Audio has tuned the 10th AE really well as the micro details along with the macro details keep us on our toes and surprises us all along while listening to Western and Indian classical songs. The imaging whereas on Penon 10th AE is just average.

• Source Matching & Pairing: - After trying it with different sources (Astell & Kern SP1000m, Dethonray DTR1, DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 gold, Aune M1p and Tanchjim Space, and Space Lite dongles) we can confidently say that it synergies really well with analytical sources Dethonray DTR1+ and Aune M1p in our case). Also, we would like to add that Dethonray DTR1+ and Pegasus SG1 Gold help in making the bass more thumping. In the case of cables while high-quality copper cables help in making vocals more musical (Rhapsodio Copper Wizard mk2 in our case), pure silver cable helps in making the IEM more neutral rather than musical. Since the Penon 10th AE is two DD, two BA and two Sonion EST-based IEM, it pairs really well with the high-power source to extract the best micro detail out of the ESTs. We felt the pairing of Aune M1p + Linum DualBaX SPC cable + Spinfit CP145 was the perfect pairing for our taste.

Conclusion: -

After hearing numerous EST-based IEMs in this Audiophile journey of 7 years we are happy with the way Penon Audio has tuned their 10TH AE. We also loved the way the Penon Audio makes use of its above-average size resin shell to present a more spacious and airy tonality. The Penon 10th AE without losing its musical Penon house sound makes the best use of dual Sonion ESTs. The Penon 10th AE is very fun and engaging to listen to. It goes well across various genres of music. Penon Audio has been successful in tuning a TOTL IEM that comes at a non-TOTL price of just 499 US$. We here would also like to add that the Penon 10th AE scales with better powerful sources so if you want to extract the last bit of the music try the 10th AE with the best powerful and analytical sources in your possession. What we love about the Penon 10th is its airy spacious musical tonality which merges smoothly with the micro details of the instruments. We at Aural café give Penon 10th AE a strong recommendation.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://penonaudio.com/penon-audio-10th-anniversary-iem.html