Great review as always. What rating would you give the "retired" H40 just for completeness purposes...?

A 3 star at most. But hey it is free. Lol. It has issues. It sounds good with some music and not so good with others. Treble can be fatiguing and the bass end is a bit flabby. It is like a red headed step child of the H40 family. It looks nice due to the clear shell but tuning wise. You can clearly tell how much more effort went into the H40 retail version.

Awesome review!! Looks like H40 it´s gonna be my first 2020 purchase!!! Could you elaborate on instrument separation and layering?

We have a dedicated thread for questions. There will be a lot of new purchasers of these very soon so I will answer you on this thread. \
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/isn-h40-impression-thread.920551/page-4#post-15354342

For your inform the packaging has changed. My ISN H40 arrived to my home yesterday and the Package box is more luxurious as seen in your photos.

Here it is







(The cable is my previously bought upgrade cable)

My mistake sorry, I posted the same two times ...

Seems to me there are one or two cable manufacturers in China. They make the cables for (almost) all IEM brands.
Any thoughts about it?

There are way more than one or two out of China. There certainly are bigger OEMs that make cables. I am very certain ISN makes their own. Different from what you see from NiceHCK KBear and the like. Different materials and levels of cables. More on this thread. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/low-end-cheap-generic-otherwise-bang-for-buck-cable-thread.891911/

New packaging looks great.

Thanks mate!

My H40 with the green tips don't sound anything like that. For me the resolution is pretty bad in the midrange and the sound stage sounds very narrow.
Have to test some other tips but for now I am disappointed.

I just tried the memory foam ones but that is not that much better.

Still no imaging or space, no air.

They sound very intimate to me sadly.

To me they sound very v shape like. They really lack in treble extension and a lot of clarity. Almost sound muffled.

Do they need a long burn in time or a special amp to really shine out? Am I doing anything wrong?

What are you driving them with? What is your source may I ask. If you have any questions and or comments you should post on this thread instead. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/isn...sn-d02-carbon-crystal-dynamic.920551/page-153

My source was tidal using the Ifi Zen dac.

Someone suggested that the Zen dac would be too warm for the H40.

I still don't know what dac I should get.

I am searching for a portable dongle dac (because I don't want to charge it) with mqa support and a 4.4mm balanced output to power the H40 so it really shines.

Update: I replaced the tips with JVC Spiral Dot ear tips and I am using a Hilidac Beam 2S as my source now and they sound absolutely amazing. Good resolution, clarity awesome huge soundstage and fun.

Is there a UK dealer?

@Dsnuts thanks for the review. How do you think the H40 compares with the Aladdin?

ALaddin is more neutral harmoinish tuning. H40 has a bit more coloration to its tuning meaning it will have bigger mid bass vs more sub bass focused Aladdin bass performance, mids will be slightly more forward a bit warmer in tone vs Aladdins smoother more neutral tonality. Both have excellent presentations in what they do but both are different in they way they approach sound tuning. H40 has a bit wider stage otherwise both are excellent for music listening.