Magaosi K3 HD

Introduction

Magaosi is another well-known brand located in China. It has multiple series covering a wide variety of prices. One of the most famous series is the K. The model I currently present belongs to it, is the K3 HD, very comfortable and small IEMs, which have a simple hybrid architecture: 1 DD + 1 BA.

The K3 HD start the price range above $100 and this implies a more careful presentation. In this sense Magaosi does not disappoint and includes a meticulous presentation, with quality elements.



Specifications

• Type of Drivers: 1 Dynamic Driver + 1 Balanced Armature
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 22kHz
• Sensitivity: 99dB
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Channel Difference: ≤2dB
• Maximum Input Power: 10mW
• Cable length: 120cm±5cm
• Jack connector: 3.5mm gold plated
• Capsule Connection Type: MMCX

Packaging

The Magaosi K3 HD come in a large box, wrapped in a cardboard sleeve, white background. On its main side there is a photo of the outer part of the capsules, among other texts. The back shows an exploded view of the inside of the IEMS, as well as their features, specifications and content, both in English and Chinese. Once the cover is removed, a dark box is shown, which can be opened like a book. After doing so, it can be seen that the contents are protected by a transparent, rigid plastic lid. With the help of a handle located at the top, the protector can be removed, exposing a large block of foam protector. In it, are embedded the capsules, 3 pairs of foam tips (SxMxL), a pair of silicone tips (M), with dark channel and translucent exterior. Finally, there is a large transport box, located at the bottom. If the block is removed, the instruction leaflet can be accessed.

The contents do not end here, as the other accessories are included in the excellent zipper cover:

• Two MMCX cables, one copper, braided and the other silver plated, plain.
• Three pairs of red core and dark outer silicone tips, sizes SxMxL
• Two black threaded filters.

The capsules are fitted with large translucent tips and Silver filters.

The presentation is well taken care of, the protection is excellent, as well as the transport box, one of the best I could see in this price range.

It is a good detail to incorporate two cables, but I would have preferred only one of better quality.



Construction and Design

The capsules are made entirely of aluminium of great hardness and minimum weight. There is not much more information about the type of dynamic driver used, as well as the BA driver. What you can see in the exploded view is that the BA driver is located close to the nozzle. This is something that can be seen with the naked eye, when the filters are removed. These filters are threaded. Each pair is a different color: silver and black. Each provides a different pitch, where the differences are expressed in a greater emphasis between 1000Hz and 10,000Hz, for the black filter.

The shape of the capsules is oval and quite flat. The MMCX connection is located at the top. Inside another oval, marked on the outside of the capsule, is the brand. On the inside, the name of the model is written in white letters. The shape of the capsule is not completely regular, as in the area near the nozzles, the edge is flattened to even improve comfort. Close to that edge, on the outside face, there are two small holes. The nozzles are wide (5.8mm) and long (6.8mm approx).

The surface of the capsules is textured, providing a softer and more pleasant contact.

The design looks simple and not unlike other models. But it has several details that make it more original and, above all, more comfortable. In this sense, its size, thickness and weight favor this virtue.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

As I have already pointed out in the previous section, the adjustment is very good. The ergonomics of the K3 HD is one of the strong points of this model. I could even say, what by their reduced thickness, could be used to sleep, as they protrude very little from the ears.

The good ergonomics also favors the use of multiple tips. I have been able to use them with tri-flange, simple silicone and foam tips, and all of them offer an excellent and pleasant fit. But, as I've been saying in the last reviews, I'm using the tri-flange tips, for sound immersion and for greater isolation. Although it is true that it is not the most comfortable option for long listening.

If you are looking for IEMS, prioritizing fit, ergonomics and comfort, the K3 HD are one of the best options within this price range.



Sound

Profile

The profile of the Magaosi K3 HD is in V. But thanks to their interchangeable nozzles, which act as filters, the frequency response can be modified. This modification is noticeable between 1kHz and 10Khz.

With the Silver filters, the tendency is to a V, but with the highest media more neutral. With them, the K3 HD, are warm, with a greater predominance of the lower zone. They also have a point of greater darkness, although they are more balanced and, in my opinion, pleasant. With the black filters, there is a very clear gain, which can reach up to 6dB, between 4kHz and 5Khz. In my opinion, this filter takes the mid zone out of control, making it more aggressive, too much for my taste.

The ideal would have been a filter just in the middle, so the balance would have been much better.



Bass

If one isolates oneself mentally, the lower zone is perceived in the same way with both filters, since their response is the same. The lower zone has a clear predominance, from its middle part onwards. However, the sub-bass decays quite rapidly below 50Hz. This point limits the extension of the range, but also prevents hearing fatigue, allowing longer use. Be that as it may, the hit of the mid-bass makes us forget this relative deficiency, since its power is perceived, and enjoyed, with clarity. In terms of resolution, detail, speed and definition, the K3 HD are simply good, but not much further. This feature provides a feeling of even greater warmth, as it is also accompanied by some darkness. To a great extent, all these aspects, condition a good part of the sound of the K3 HD. At first, this sound polarization can cause some surprise, even something negative, if you don't expect it. But with the passing of time, it's easy to get carried away by the pleasant mist of the low notes, while tasting the rest of the details of the other ranges.

In short, the Magaosi K3 HD, have a bass that are appreciated with the passage of time, more, even, in long sessions, without technically being the best in the range. But they have a color and a texture that makes them quite attractive.



Mids

With the black filters, the K3 HD are shot in high mids. Listening, for my personal taste, becomes less comfortable, as the greater presence in this sensitive area, crisps the sound. It is true that there is greater brightness, clarity, even detail. But the use of this filter accentuates too much the character in V of the K3 HD, losing part of its attractiveness. I must say that this is a personal appreciation based on my own tastes, here I am not being objective.

With the silver filters, the mids are somewhat more trimmed than desirable, but I find them much more balanced, within the warm profile of the whole. It is true that the profile is still in V, but now the tendency shifts to the lower part, but in a more relaxed way, without the imbalance is perceived as blatant.

Thus, the voices have a rather soft and pleasant timbre, more natural and, above all, less forced, more analogical and exciting. Darkness is also revealed, but not as a lack of transparency, but as that absence of final brightness, due to the cut that these filters make. It is absolutely clear that there are no wheezing or hissing voices.

Another curiosity of the K3 HD is that despite their V-character, the voices are not embedded, quite the opposite. They're not in the foreground, but they're perceived closer than farther away. This is due to the fact that the bass has that foggy character, which floods the sound in a wide way, with a depth that, rather than muddying the voices, accompanies them and sometimes pushes them forward, especially the masculine ones. I think that on this occasion, the positioning of the drivers has an influence on this particularity.

Instruments do not have the same treatment as voices and it is true that they are perceived more or less close, depending on their main tone. For example, guitars have a tendency to sound a little farther away than voices, as they strike around the gain valley.



Treble

The K3 HD, with black filters, offer their greatest gain around 5kHz. This incidence is very noticeable and can be somewhat irritating to some listeners. The sound with them is really crunchy, there's no doubt about that, but also somewhat focused. With the silver filters, the peak is totally filed, starting the highs in a more relaxed way, but also trimmed (the difference is more than 5dB). Black filters offer more treble extension, although their tendency is downward. But as they start from a higher gain, the extension is kept above the sound offered with the silver filters. When the highs reach 10kHz, the curve of both filters comes together.

Again, the choice of filter will depend on our tastes. But the differences in this range are still large. A third intermediate filter, more neutral, would have balanced so much polarization in both profiles.



Soundstage, Separation

The lower zone of the K3 HD causes a liquid sensation, which floods the sound, expanding it in width, as if it were a dark background. On that mantle, navigates the rest of frequencies, sometimes very superficially, others clearly above. Filters help to make that difference.

In this way, the scene is perceived as moderately wide, but not very high or deep, which limits its definitive expansion. The scene sensation improves with a more powerful font. It follows that the K3 HD, require some extra power, to provide an improved response.

As it could not be otherwise, the clarity, separation, resolution and level of detail, increase as you raise frequencies. It is when entering the BA territory that these parameters take off, standing out against the fluid background. Even so, the details remain infected by the persistent warmth of the dark magma, which weaves all the sound of the K3 HD, especially with the silver filters. But it is strangely contagious, to perceive as the definition of the nuances, jumps over the patina of the lows, offering an almost remarkable level.



Comparisons

Dunu DN-1000

Reference classic hybrid model. The profile of the DN-1000 is also warm, but with more power in the lower zone, especially in the sub-bass, generating greater depth in the sound. The definition in that band is greater, as is its precision, in contrast to the foggy bass of the Magaosi.

The tone of the voices is very similar, with the silver filters. Although they still seem a little darker and more veiled in the DN-1000. While in the K3 HD, they have more sparkle and clarity, which makes them feel closer and more intimate, especially the female voices.

The upper zone of both IEMs has a similar extension, but the greater presence of the initial part, in the K3 HD, gives the sound more detail, life and intelligibility. Although the Dunu seem to have a better balance, despite their comparative shortcomings, as they do not sound in V as the Magaosi.

The greater depth of the DN-1000 provides more sound planes, giving it greater height and three-dimensionality. At the level of separation, for the same reason, you can see more resolution in the Dunu. But there is an extra brightness in the K3 HD, which provides more nuances than in the Dunu.

Dunu are heavier in the ear. Magaosi require more power to match volumes.



Anew U1

The Anew U1 are single DD. Their profile is also in moderated V. The mids are somewhat irregular, as you can see in their graph. However, they have, in general, quite good definition. Starting with its lower zone, it has greater authority, resolution, level of detail and more sub-bass presence. Its texture is also better, more realistic, without that foggy feeling. The Anew are perceived lighter, if that glimpse of darkness that the K3 HD do show. Male voices are more vivid and dynamic, too. Although the K3 HD, they present them with greater warmth and a thicker body, feeling thinner in the U1. At the level of detail, above, is when the Magaosi win the game to the Anew, offering more micro details and nuances. Although, later, the highest zone is very similar.

In scene and separation, given the improved clarity in the Anew, it is perceived greater than in the Magaosi.

The Anew U1 is easier to move than the Magaosi K3 HD. The U1 have larger and less comfortable capsules than the K3 HD, whose ergonomics and comfort are very difficult to beat.



Conclusion

The Magaosi K3 HD are the IEMs that have the shape, size and ergonomics that many people claim: they are small, quite flat, the fit is almost excellent, their weight is very light and their touch is pleasant. You can also choose between three bright colours: grey, blue and orange. The presentation and accessories are above their price, providing one of the most appropriate transport boxes I have seen. Its sound is perfect for those who want to buy their first IEMs, in this price range: They have a V profile whose emphasis can be modified, thanks to its filters. In this way, the K3 HD, can be adapted to personal taste. The basses are powerful and surprising. Their sound is warm, pleasant, with a point of darkness, but detailed and with a good level of definition and nuances. But its best feature is that its sound becomes more revealing the more you use it.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• Burson Audio Playmate
• Fiio Q1
• Sabaj DA3
• F.Audio XS03

Ratings

• Construction and Design: 90
• Adjustment/Ergonomics: 91
• Accessories: 85
• Bass: 80
• Mids: 75
• Treble: 75
• Separation: 75
• Soundstage: 70
• Quality/Price: 80

Purchase link

https://penonaudio.com/Magaosi-K3-HD

You can read the full review in Spanish here:

https://hiendportable.com/2019/07/28/magaosi-k3-hd-review/

Introduction:

I am a simple person that is after a few goals. There is one goal in particular that makes my heart race. The Ultimate Sound in Portable Audio. I will keep hunting for it. It seems like an endless goal. Although that's the fun of it. The journey.

Penon Audio and Head Pie gave me a chance to review the K3 HD. Thanks to the both of you.



Build Quality:

Not worried about this at all. These IEMs are very durable. The shell is made out of metal. It has a neat capital A that looks like a Radio Tower on both shells. The nozzle is angled pretty well. There are two cables. The normal Gun Metal Black Cable and the High Quality Silver Cable. I like the Gun Metal Cable. It looks very stylish. The Silver Cable looks even better. The problem is that the Silver Cable has a memory cable issue. It tends to curl up after properly wrapping it up a few times. Not a good thing at all. I hope that gets fixed if Magaosi is planning to do a revision or a Flagship Model.



Accessories:

· K3 HD

· Leather Clam Case

· MMCX cable (L-shaped plug)

· MMCX silver-plated upgrade cable (straight plug)

· Tuning Filters (Silver and Gunmetal)

· Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)

· Foam Eartips (S/M/L)




Source:

IBasso DX150

Tracks Used:

Stratovarius – Abyss (FLAC 16/44) (UPPER MIDS/TREBLE)

Stratovarius - Dreamscape (FLAC 16/44) (UPPER MIDS/TREBLE)

Radical Face – Secrets (Cellar Door) (FLAC 24/96) (MIDS)

Razihel & Aero Chord – Titans (MP3 320 KBPS 44.1 KHZ) (BASS & LOWER TREBLE)

Sound Quality:

BASS: After careful listen. I’ve noticed that the K3 HD has more bass presence and slower decay with the Silver Filters than the Gunmetal Filters. The Gunmetal Filters have more agile bass. Wasting almost no time transitioning to other bass tones. This resulted in a less present bass for the Gunmetal Filters. There is however more bass impact with the Gunmetal Filters. Probably due to the lower sub bass and heightened mid bass. As a result. The bass impact sounds more hammer like with the Gunmetal Filters and more cushioned impact with the Silver Filters.

MIDS: Now because of the varied effects of filters. The mids take on a rather semi typical approach on their response of the implications of the bass from both filters. The Silver filters have less present mids. Basically recessed. The vocals take a bit of a beating with the detail rendering. Not so much the lower mids. So this is a saving grace for the male vocals. Although the female vocals sound a bit washed out. Yet still very present. It won’t sound terrible. It just won’t satisfy critical listeners. The Gunmetal filters on the other hand is far better at presenting vocal reproduction. It’s still not quite there for critical listeners. Although it will still be impressive for those that wish to hear more forward vocals. While there isn’t a lot of micro detail. It’s still more superior to the Silver filter. Very adequate for picking out macro detail.

TREBLE: The enhancement of the upper midrange is making the lower mids a bit too hot. Almost sizzling. There’s a lack of control here on both filters. Yet even more so on the Gunmetal Filter. The Gunmetal filter makes it a bit hard to listen to treble centric songs for extended periods of time. The Silver filters have a more bearable treble response. Which makes it more suitable for long listening sessions. Best thing to do for the Gunmetal filter is to use eartips that enriches the frequency. Basically eartips that introduces more bass and smooths out mids. Foam tips and SpinFits will do the trick. Also make sure that the volume on your source is adequate. Otherwise it can get a little painful.

SOUNDSTAGE/CHARACTERISTICS: Overall pretty well rounded. There’s good imaging with both filters. Although the Gunmetal Filters do better with overall imaging, dynamics and sense of space. While the Gunmetal Filters are better with a more accurate Soundstage. The Silver filters have a relatively better sense of naturalness. Mostly due to the warmer atmosphere of the soundscape. It’s not extremely natural. Although it doesn’t sound nearly as bright and tactile as the Gunmetal Filters.

Conclusion: For an IEM for around $100 to $125 dollars. I found the K3 HD to be a rather nice approach into the world of IEMs in the midranged price bracket. It’s great for interchangeable sound. Has great comfort. Although that comfort and Capable Sound comes at a price. Which is the hot treble from the Gunmetal Filters. As I said before. It can be remedied easily with Foam Eartips. If you don’t mind interchangeable sound/filters and slightly hot treble and you need tough IEMs with great and capable sound. Then this is your perfect match. Otherwise if you don’t want to spend $110 and you are sensitive to enhanced treble. Then you may need to look elsewhere.

COST: 110 USDs

WHERE TO PURCHASE: https://penonaudio.com/magaosi-k3-hd.html

Specifications

• Drivers: 1 Dynamic & 1 Balanced armature
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Frequency: 20 Hz ~ 22 kHz
• Sensitivity: 99 dB
• Cable: 1.2m, MMCX connectors
• Plug: 3.5 mm

Price: $110. Available at Penon Audio and the Aliexpress/Ebay stores.


The K3 HD arrives inside a standard sturdy black cardboard box with an extra outer paper box with all the technical specifications and description of the earphone. It’s a hassle free unboxing, nothing too fancy but not cheap looking. The box itself is about average size, if maybe a bit larger than needed for the included contents.


Inside you’ll find the 2 earpieces nicely arranged at the top without any of the cables attached, which is a bit unusual though some can find it as a nice touch. There is the medium size set of eartips already attached to the nozzles and in my case the black nozzle was the one installed. Below are the 3 pairs of foam tips in the usual 3 sizes and an extra pair of small size silicone tips; for whatever reason the company decided to skip the large size silicone pair. While the silicone tips are of decent quality with a large bore and core to fit easily to the K3 HD nozzles, the foam tips do not give the same quality feel, but more importantly, they are very hard to install due their very narrow and tight core.


At the lower part of the box there is a small zippered carry case with a leather look texture. It is not too large to fit a good DAP inside but roomy enough to carry the IEM without any issue. Inside the case there is an extra set of nozzle filters (silver color here), and the 2 cables.


One cable is OFC copper, made in a 4-wire setup, very soft and easy to wrap. It is ended in an L-shape 3.5mm TRS plug, has a proper y-split and cable slider and at the top has well relived MMCX plugs.
The other cable, probably meant to work as an ‘upgrade’ cable, is made of silver-plated copper wire. The plug is also 3.5mm standard but with a straight plug, and while also a twisted cable it has an outside coating that while makes it more sturdy it also has a more springy and noisy effect and unlike the first cable this one is missing a cable slider. The MMCX connectors are identical to the OFC cable, and both have a solid grip to the IEM socket. Also, both cables have a fixed molded earguides installed; personally, I think the guides would be necessary only for the silver-plated cable due to its stiffer quality but for the OFC it’s not needed at all. (There are some slight sonic differences between the cables that will covered in the sound section.)


Design and build quality

The design of the K3 HD takes a very friendly oval shape form, made of aluminum material that at first glance and even after some regular use looks quite solid. It is made of two earpieces that are well assembled without any glue residue to be spotted. The finish is very smooth with zero sharp edge and completely symmetric in its rounded shape. The HD model now is available in 3 color options, orange, blue and gray, with a shiny matte surface that looks both cool and elegant to the eye.


The earpieces are very light and with the low profile shape and angled nozzle they can sit very comfortable on the outer ear. The nozzle is a bit wider than average, and after removing the filter you can see the BA unit close to the tip of the nozzle. This may prevent a deeper fit and with the addition of the small vents on the outside part of the shell, the isolation level is a just bit above of average.


The IEM utilizes standard MMCX sockets, though the connection with any of the included cables is quite solid without rotating too freely. As usual, proper care should be taken when removing or attaching the cables, and if not needed it is still recommended to keep the cable attached.


Sound Impressions

Before describing the sound itself, there are some notes worth mentioning regarding the nozzle filters and also on the 2 cables. While differences are not day and night when alternating between the ‘cable & filter’ setup, they are still noticeable enough to take in count. If the 2 cables differ in their inner wiring and outer design, the nozzle filters are identical with just an added thin mesh layer beneath the metal shrill. The result, as expected, is a less bright, warmer and more laid-back presentation, with a little extra punch towards the lower frequencies. Technically neither of them is better over the other, and probably will depend on a personal listener preference or source synergy. As for the cables, the silver-plated does help in giving a very slightly more effortless sound, and a tiny bit of better layering, resolution and control. With more budget DAPs I’d prefer the OFC cable, for the simple reason that the more effortless effect on the silver-plated cable tends to bring a more v-shaped sound with more mid-bass presence and sizzling treble. On the other hand, the silver cable works better with a more dedicated source that can take advantage of the tighter presentation and airier sound overall. As for the filters, I didn’t have any preference on one set, but only opted the black (no-mesh) ones for darker or bassier tracks.


Overall the Magaosi K3 HD offers a V-shaped sound with a bit warm and darker tonality with extra emphasis on the bass region, slightly distant midrange with a full texture and good clarity for vocals and pleasant treble quantity that prevents it from sounding dull or off.

The bass is very present, with a dominant mid-bass response which is thick but not overwhelming or muddy for its single dynamic driver. It is still quite powerful if called for, with good control and decent speed that manages to avoid a driver incoherence with its BA side. Layering is well achieved, though separation is not best in class, when compared with something like the Pinnacle P2 which is faster and technically stronger. However, the K3 HD is smoother and more musical and fun with nice sub-bass rumble if just limited a little in extension.

The AAW Nebula One has more sub-bass reach, but overall it is more powerful and less controlled next to the K3 HD. The new Vsonic VSD5s has a similar balance through its bass response, but smaller in overall quantity and more limited in reach.

The midrange may not be the heart of the K3 HD sound, though it’s well done within a slight v-shaped type of sound. For whatever reason Magaosi decided to leave the dual BA driver and put a single BA unit instead for its 'HD’ model, the combination of both drivers’ type is nicely tuned on this model. You get a mix of warmth from the upper-bass that the dynamic driver carries and good resolution and accuracy of a typical single BA driver at this price. Focus towards instruments is not too much with the more laid-back nature of the K3 HD tuning, sounding somehow dry or soft and not as lively as I could like. However, the voices are nicely positioned and manage to sound sweet enough, if still distant on the whole. The upper mids are slightly more elevated but there’s no peaky region, keeping sibilance checked, with a mellow presentation that can be listened for long time. The well-known Vsonic GR07 (even the Bass Ed.) is still leaner in the midrange next to the K3 HD, and while has a more air on it and better positioning and balance it is less forgiving on lower quality files, and has that common upper mid/low treble emphasis resulting in more sibilance.

The treble goes from very neutral, laid-back and smooth with the silver filters, to slightly bright with the black ones, providing a bit of more v-shaped sound, but still not at the same quantity level of the bass response. The sliver filters act also as a damper that cuts any potential harshness, though the single BA driver inside is not really bright per-se. With the black filters there is more clarity and obvious micro-detailing, if just a bit of grain at the lower treble. The K3 HD does not have a ‘hot’ treble, and has a nice natural timbre (at least for a hybrid setup), and is also more forgiving with the record quality.

Stage is not too large, though still good and the K3 HD doesn’t try to sound too unnatural despite the kind of v-shaped signature where you may expect a wider and more surrounding effect. The image is not the most coherent putting the voices a bit more forward over the of the acoustic and string instruments, but still gives an enjoyable effect for a less critical/more casual listening on the go.

The Magaosi K3 HD is something delicious…


Introduction:

Magaosi is a brand of HiLisening Co. that is located in Guangdong - China. The Magaosi product line is covering products series marked with M, BK, K, DT and B. The M series have mainly a metallic housing with Balance Armature and /or Hybrid Drivers. The BK series have wood housing with Balance Armature and/or Dynamic Hybrid drivers.

The K3 HD belongs to the K series, which is the top of the line for Magaosi products with multi driver configuration like Balance Armature and Hybrid technology.





Disclaimer:

Magaosi K3 HD was provided to me by Magaosi via Penon Audio for free of charge as a review sample. I am not affiliated with Magaosi or Penon Audio beyond this review and these words reflect my true, unaltered, opinions about the product.

The Price:

The Magaosi K3 HD is available on Penon Audio for 110,00 USD.

Purchase link: https://penonaudio.com/Magaosi-K3-HD


Package and Accessories:

The Magaosi K3 HD comes in a black box that is wrapped with a glossy white card box sleeve that shows the product, brand and informations about the produt itself.

This box contians the following items;

• 1 pair x Magaosi K3 HD
• 1 x Carry Bag
• 1 x MMCX cable(L-shaped plug)
• 1 x MMCX silver-plated upgrade cable (straight plug)
• 1 x Tuning filter (silver & gray）
• 2 pair x Silicone eartips (L & S size）
• 3 pair x Foam eartips (S/M/L size)

The carry bag that comes with the Magaosi K3 HD is made of a faux leather coating. It is quite useful with its size and is also well made.

The foam and silicone ear tips are very comfy, especially the silicone ones that have a nice soft coating that has an olive tips like appearance.

There are also 2 sound filters which one of them comes preinstalled. The silver filter gives a balanced tuning, while the black filter boasts the treble range. I would be advice you to be carefully while replacing the filter, because they are very small and there is no backup/second pair.



They are also 2 cables in the box. The braided one is made of OFC (Oxygen Free Cooper) and has a MMCX interface with L - angled 3.5mm Single Ended headphone jack. This cable has a black plastic coating and has only some low microphonic effects.





The second cable is a non braided SPC (Silver Plated Cooper) cable that was advertised as upgrade cable. This cable has also MMCX connectors that sit good to the female connectors on the K3 HD monitor. This cable is a bit stiff and has a straight 3.5mm gold plated headphone jack.

The microphonic effect of this cable is a bit higher than the first I mentioned above.




Design and Build Quality:

The Magaosi K3 HD has a relative small and ergonomic design. The housing is made of metal that looks like an aluminum alloy and has a good build quality.



The K3 HD is available in 3 different color options; those are Gray, Blue and Orange. My unit has the orange color that looks fashion look.

The MMCX connector is solid and doesn’t look like to get damage easy with time. On the front of the monitor is the Magasoi Logo, the left / right markings and two bass vents. The inner side of the monitor sports the K3 HD model name that is printed in white a color.



The nozzle is 45 degrees angled and has a detachable sound filter on the top. If you remove this filter you can easily see the balanced armature driver that is placed inside the nozzle.




Fit, Comfort and Isolation:

The Magaosi K3 HD has an ergonomic design and is comfortable to wear. The fit of the K3 HD is good with average noise isolation.


Some Technical Specifications:

• Driver Configuration : 1x Balanced Armature + 1x Dynamic Driver
• Impedance : 32 Ω
• Frequency Response : 20Hz - 22 KHz
• Sensitivity : 99db
• Max Input Power : 10mW
• Connector Type : MMCX
• Wire Material : TPU
• Plug material : 3.5mm gold-plated
• Length : 120cm±5cm

Drivability (Impedance):

The Magaosi K3 HD has an impedance of 32 ohm and is a quite sensitive and easy to drive IEM with almost any portable source. My Samsung Galaxy S8 was able to push the Magaosi K3 HD to very uncomfortable and loud volume levels.

Sources:

a) Albums & tracks used for this review:

• Future Heroes – Another World (Spotify)
• Daft Punk – Contact (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Alboran Trio’s – Cinque Lunghissimi Minuti (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• GoGo Penguin’s – Muration (Flac 16bit/44kHz)
• LP (Laura Pergolizzi) – Lost On You (Tidal HiFi)
• Melody Gardot – Who Will Comfort Me (Flac 16bit/44kHz)
• Aretha Franklin – I Say a Little Prayer (Apple Music)
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (DSF)
• Bryan Adams – MTV Unplugged Version Album (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• George Michael – Older (Apple Music)
• Lazarus A.D. – The Onslaught (Spotify)
• Metallica - Sad but True (Spotify)
• Megadeth - Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Flac 16bit/44kHz)

b) In Ear Monitor : Magaosi K3 HD, MEE audio Pinnacle P2, TFZ Series 4

c) DAP/DAC : Cayin N5II, Chord Mojo, Hifiman HM603s, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus





Sound Analysis and Comparisons:

This review was written after a burn-in process of approx 100 hours. I have used the black olive silicone ear tips and silver sound filters with the silver upgrade cable for this review, which all came inside the box.

a) Sound Signature and Tonality:

Magaosi K3 HD has a V-shaped sound signature with a tonality that is on the warmer side of natural due the bass presence.

b) Bass:

The Magaosi K3 HD comes with two different tuning filters. The one is in silver which sounds cleaner and more transparent compared to the black filter that is adding additional brightness and sparkle to the sound.

Magaosi K3 HD has a V shaped sound signature with emphasis to the lower and upper register. The Midrange sound a bit thin and recessed and reminds me to the tuning of the Dunu Falcon-C that has similarities in this area.

The K3 HD has some good bass response, with nice extensions and definition. There is missing some weight in the sub-bass area between 20 – 50 Hz, which is otherwise pretty controlled. The bass of the Magaosi K3 HD is mainly focuses between 200 - 400 Hz, which has good texture and attack, but with an above-average resolution.

The Magaosi K3 HD has enough bass for instruments like bass guitars or drums, but it lacks a bit of fullness. The best thing about the bass of the K3 HD is its clearness, which avoid any muffled presentation, especially in the midrange.

c) Mids:

As I mentioned before; the Magaosi K3 HD has a recessed midrange that sounds otherwise very transparent and clean. The detail retrieval is in a very good level for this price range, but is missing a bit of fullness. The midrange has enough space for instruments and vocals and there is no stress while presenting some complex passages like in Alboran Trios – Fanfares.

The midrange warmth for female vocals is ok, but is missing a touch more for male voices. The clarity and definition of instruments is pretty darn good and wouldn’t expect more at this price point. Bu I must say that the Magaosi K3 HD is not for people who want a warm and intimate presentation, but is quite suitable for those who prefer transparency and clearness.

The upper midrange is dynamic and well presented. There is no upper midrange harshness and the stress level in some tracks of my test tracks like Metallica’s – Sad but True or Megadeth’s - Sweating Bullets are in a tolerable level.

d) Treble:

There is a nice transition between upper midrange and treble range with a bright but relative controlled presentation. The treble range gives the overall presentation an airy feel, has an above average extension and is adding a nice touch of clarity.

I wouldn’t prefer to use the black filter, because it sounds a bit unnatural at the higher frequencies and is causing to sibilance in some bad recorded tracks like Metallica’s - Sad But True, which sounded much better with the silver ones.

e) Soundstage:

When it comes to soundstage, the Magaosi K3 HD has average depth, but with a relative wide stage, where instruments have a nice sense of space and quite realistic placement.




IEM Comparisons:


Vs. Pinnacle P2

Both IEM’s have a V-shaped sound signature, but the Pinnacle P2 has a warmer sound than those of the Magaosi K3 HD due the diffrent of bass tuning.

One of the first noticeable differences of this two IEM’s is the bass tuning. The Pinnacle P2 has more sub-bass quantity and slightly better extension compared to those of the Magaosi K3 HD. The Magaosi K3 HD has the upper hand for the bass response between 200 - 400 Hz that sounds cleaner and tighter than those of the Pinnacle P2. Magaosi K3 HD has also some extra definition and better decay than Pinnacle P2.

The midrange of the Pinnacle P2 sounds also a bit different then those of the Magaosi K3 HD. It sounds warmer and has a more forward vocal presentation. The midrange of the K3 HD sounds airier and also more clinical but a bit recessed compared to the Pinnacle P2. The Pinnacle P2 has better weight with some instrument like guitars and piano notes, but is missing of some definition and micro detail. The overall detail level and instrument separation is slightly better with the Magaosi K3 HD.

Some female vocals like Aretha Franklin or Melody Gardot sounding more emotional, but a bit too veiled with the Pinnacle P2, while the Magaosi K3 HD sounds distant, but in a more transparent and clean way.

The Pinnacle P2 has relative good control at the treble range and has good definition, but doesn’t sound as lifelike the Magasoi K3 HD which has a more vivid presentation,The Magasoi K3 HD sounds also more transparent and has some additional sparkle at the upper treble range.

The Magaosi K3 HD has the wider soundstage, while the depth is nearly on par with the presentation with better



Vs. TFZ Series 4

The TFZ Series 4 has more sub-bass quantity than Magaosi K3 HD, while the K3 HD has the better extension. The sub bass of the TFZ Series 4 goes lower and hits also harder. The bass of the Magaosi K3 HD sounds smoother compared to the bass that TFZ Series 4 has.

Both the TFZ Series 4 and Magaosi K3 HD have a v- shaped sound signature; the main difference is the presentation. The TFZ Series 4 has a more forward vocal presentation than those the Magaosi has. The K3 HD has more midrange clarity then the Series 4 and sound in a more transparent way. This ability gives the K3 HD the upper hand for micro detail retrieval.

The upper midrange of the TFZ series 4 sounds softer and has some roll off between the 3 – 4 kHz ranges. This tuning gives the TFZ Series 4 a more engaging sound presentation, but is missing some detail that the K3 HD has.

The overall vocal performance of the K3 HD is slightly better due the more realistic presentation. The TFZ series sound emotional due the warmer tuning and upfront vocal reproduction, but sound a bit veiled compared to the Magasoi K3 HD, which has additional clarity. The TFZ Series 4 sounds quite good with male vocals, while the K3 HD has the more realistic presentation with female voices. The detail retrieval for instruments and the precision is slightly better with the K3 HD, which has more space and air between instruments.

The Magaosi K3 HD has more treble presence and upper treble sparkle. This tuning makes the sound of the K3 HD extra definition. The TFZ Series 4 is missing some treble extension, which makes Magasoi K3 HD more detailed sounding. The Good thing about the treble tuning of the TFZ Series 4 is that it has a relaxing presentation.

The Magaosi K3 HD has the wider soundstage presentation, while the depth difference is not that great, but again has a better performance on the Magaosi K3 HD. The K3 HD also offers better imaging and instrument placement.


Conclusion:

The Magaosi K3 HD is pretty nice sounding product with good build quality, which is suitable with almost any music with the exception of genres like metal or hard rock. The price to performance ratio is quite good and I can only recommend it at this price point.


Pros and Cons:

• + Good sound for the price
• + Nice metal housing with good build quality
• + Lots of accessories (two cables & nice case)

• - It’s missing some refinement
• - The silver upgrade cable is too stiff

This review was originally posted on "Moonstar Reviews" :
https://moonstarreviews.net

Introduction –

Magaosi’s K3 Pro was an immensely popular model that offered great value with a triple hybrid driver setup housed within a robust metal shell. And in real world testing, I found the K3 Pro to produce convincing ergonomics and an engaging if not supremely natural sound. That being said, they still weren’t quite as flawless to my ear as some early impressions had suggested and the K3 Pro, while an immensely impressive earphone for the price, had some very notable shortcomings.

So just a few months later, Magaosi have followed up their winning hybrid formula with the new K3 HD, ditching their previous triple driver setup in favour of a more integrated single dynamic +single balanced armature design. With the addition of a much-improved cable and accessory suite in addition to a slightly increased price of $120 USD, $10 higher than the original K3 Pro, let’s see whether Magaosi’s refined design brings similar audible and ergonomic benefit.



Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Chi Kong Hui from Penonaudio very much for getting in contact and providing me with the K3 HD for the purpose of an honest review. All words are my own and despite receiving the earphone free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.



About Me, Background, Gear of choice, Preferences and Biases –

I generally prefer a u-shaped sound that is close to neutral. I like a lot of detail and clarity but can appreciate a smooth, laid back sound. I’m not particularly treble sensitive so I may be more forgiving of brightness over darkness. I will note if I use a different eartip/pad/cover during the review and describe the sound changes.

Read More



Accessories –



As my review sample is a pre-production unit, the build quality and packaging do not reflect that of retail units though the accessory suite should be identical.



Upon opening the package, I was relieved to see that the K3 HD comes with a very practical zippered hard case; one of my main gripes with the original K3 ProK3 Pro was its impractical fabric case that was neither spacious nor portable. The new case is very well sized and has classy leather texture, it is a little thicker than most earphone cases, but comfortably holds an extra cable and accessories in addition to the earphones themselves.



The K3 HD also comes with 2 pairs of silicone tips and 3 pairs of foam tips. Both are identical to those included with the K3 Pro, the silicone tips are a bit flimsy but the foam tips provide solid seal and isolation. Magaosi also includes two cables with the K3 HD, a silver-plated unit with a straight plug and a basic OFC cable with a right angle plug for portable use. Neither have a remote, but it’s good to see Magaosi shipping two cables from factory, the silver plated cable, in particular, is a rare addition even amongst vastly more expensive earphones.



Design –

The K3 HD employs a similar design to the Pro before it, producing almost identical ergonomic properties. That same metal construction makes a return, however, Magaosi now offer the earphones in blue and orange in addition to the standard silver/grey.



From a glance, the K3 HD is almost identical to the K3 Pro with the same base housing design. In fact, the nozzle and internal face are identical, producing essentially the same fit. The outer housing, however, has been slightly revised; the HD trades the accented ridging of the K3 Pro for a more uniform, smoothed off design. As a result, they are a slightly larger earphone than the Pro, but they remain pleasingly low profile when worn, effectively minimising wind noise. The HD is also appreciably smaller than the TFZ King and Simgot EN700 Bass, they still don’t disappear like the Oriveti Basicand Klipsch X10, but they do comfortably lend themselves to wear when sleeping.



Build quality is unsurprisingly similar to the Pro, they employ the same kind of finish and metal in their housings with a similar nozzle design. One reader contacted me about a nozzle issue on the original K3 Pro, however, the nozzle on the K3 HD felt rock solid, even after a few tugs and twists. They are a vented earphone, producing above average but not outstanding noise isolation. That being said, buyers looking for an earphone to use during travel or in louder areas should probably still consider more isolating earphones like the King, Basic and SE215. Otherwise, the K3 HD is a stable fitting and relatively lightweight earphone that stay put during general commute and a quick run. Their over-ear fit contributes to their stability though the strangle angling of the ear guides on the included cables saps that last bit of solidity from their fitment.



At the top is a conventional MMCX removable cable interface which means the K3 HD will be compatible with a huge variety of aftermarket cables. The included units are hugely improved over those that came with the K3 Pro. The black right angle cable is braided, supple and smooth, resisting tangles very well, perfect for portable use. And while the silver cable isn’t quite as flawless, being a bit rubbery and springy, it is adequate for home use for which it was intended. Both cables have nicely relieved jacks and pre-moulded ear guides as opposed to memory wire. Unfortunately, the ear guides sit at a very strange angle like the cables on the SIMGOT EN700 Bass, making the HD’s fit a bit more awkward than the Pro.



Sound –



The K3 HD assumes a simpler driver setup comprising of a single dynamic driver complimented by a balanced armature transducer. This may seem like a step backwards compared to the triple driver K3 Pro, but through a more integrated driver configuration, Magaosi have created a similarly more linear sound that ends up being more resolving than their last model. Magaosi has also done some fine tuning to the HD’s tonality that makes it the clearly more technical and versatile earphone. With a super clear, detailed and well-separated sound, the HD provides a great take on the classic V-shaped sound that many have come to love. It also provides a great middle-ground between the more natural, laid-back Oriveti Basic and EN700 Bass and the brighter, more aggressive TFZ King.



Burn-in –

I gave the K3 HD the usual 150-200hrs of burn-in prior to review and noted any outstanding changes. I don’t feel that the earphones have experienced significant change though they do sound slightly smoother to my ear. Otherwise, the earphones didn’t notably respond and they will likely sound very consistent throughout their working life.



Cables –



Choosing between the two included cables was more difficult than I had thought; I would usually default to the Silver cable, but the OFC cable actually provided a more pleasing tonality to me. The silver cable did produce a slightly higher quality sound with improved resolution, notably within the high-end, and bass was more visceral while retaining the same amount of texture and detailing. On the contrary, the OFC cable provided slightly more natural, well-bodied vocals at the cost of some resolution though it was the more natural presentation to my ear. With the more attenuating silver filters installed, I personally preferred the K3 HD with the silver cable though those listen from a brighter source or prefer a more natural tone may actually find greater enjoyment with the copper cable. Regardless, the addition of a silver cable adds an extra layer of fine tune-ability lacked by the majority of competitors. In addition, the K3 HD did receive some benefit by switching to ALO Audio Litz cable, which costs over twice the earphone itself. When equipped, the K3 HD produced a cleaner background, increased resolution and improved refinement with smoother vocals and high-end instruments. I did feel that the K3 HD lacked the technical ability to discern huge changes with this cable, but investing in a modestly priced upgrade cable, not necessarily ALO’s $250 unit, can definitely produce some great ergonomic benefits in addition to tangible sonic upgrades.



Tonality –

This review might get a little repetitive since K3 HD very much retains the same kind of tuning as the K3 Pro. That being said, the new HD is immediately more balanced, especially within their midrange. The K3 HD offers sound tuning via two pairs of screw on filters; a grey filter that provides an un-attenuated sound that boosts resolution and treble prominence and a silver filter that slightly dampens the high end to provide what I would consider to be a more balanced sound. And as with the K3 Pro, I definitely preferred the silver filter, in fact, that filter now comes pre-installed. With the silver filters installed, the K3 HD provides a lightly v-shaped sound with midbass and lower treble lifts complimenting an ever so slightly brighter midrange.



Soundstage, imaging and Separation –

The K3 HD provides a far nicer presentation than their price tag would suggeset. They do trade the excellent width of the original for improved imaging precision but retain a nicely spacious, width biased presentation. They are more rounded than the K3 Pro and though depth remains relatively intimate, vocals and forward instruments no longer sound so compressed while maintaining a strong centre image. Width can reach outside the head on certain material and vocals sound generally intimate but have some projection when called for. Imaging isn’t razor sharp, at least not as precise as the King and most higher priced in-ears such as the 1More Quad Driver, but elements are well placed and mostly easy to locate. Separation is good, not quite to the extent of the more spacious EN700 Bass and the sligthly cleaner Oriveti Basic, but I did find them to delineate notes slightly better than the more mid-forward King. Due to their more linear tuning, they also sound considerably cleaner than the K3 Pro. When listening to David Bowie’s “Everyone Says Hi”, the K3 HD provided ethereal space and width to guitar strums with well-centred if not spacious vocals. In addition, instruments were well placed and separation between the rolling bass line, vocals and high-frequency details was excellent. The K3 HD provides a wide, separated presentation that is still lacking some depth and imaging precision though that excellent separation really enhances songs with any complexity, making them a great choice for rock and even classical.



Drivability –



The K3 HD’s have an average 99dB sensitivity and 32ohm impedance, the same as the K3 Pro. As such, they achieve similar levels of volume at the same level, making them notably less sensitive than the Oriveti Basic, Simgot EN700 Bass and TFZ King. The K3 HD is also relatively hiss resistant, almost silent from my Oppo HA-2 and dead quiet from my HTC 10. They don’t require a tonne of power either and their higher impedance and lower driver count grant them with less impedance swing from portable sources. Of course, the K3 HD scales nicely with a dedicated DAC/DAP; switching from my laptop’s integrated output to my HA-2 or Mojo provided a notable quality boost, especially with regards to bass definition and high-frequency resolution. That being said, like the K3 Pro, the HD is hardly a source sensitive earphone nor is it especially difficult to drive while possessing enough technical overhead to take advantage of nicer sources.



Bass –

The K3 HD has a full bass response that preferences punch over pure definition and texture much like the K3 Pro. It is a well-tuned and enjoyable response that manages to be both more technical and more tonally pleasing than earphones like the Shure SE215, but in comparison to the very exemplary earphones around this price such as the Oriveti Basic and TFZ King, the K3 HD still lacks that last element. Sub-bass extension is improved over Magaosi’s former earphone, but they still don’t slam like the King and Basic. Otherwise, sub-bass is well present but has a softer impact and rumble is adequate if not ultra-defined due to the HD’s slightly slower bass response. And while the K3 HD avoids sounding sloppy, it is noticeably less tactile than quicker dynamic units and armature based earphones like the Klipsch X10. The bass emphasis has also moved sligthly lower, they now have more balance between deep and mid-bass though mid-bass still holds the greatest emphasis imbuing them with a full, weighted tone similar to the Dunu DK-3001. Upper bass is slightly lifted but the K3 HD isn’t an explicitly warm sounding earphone and midrange spill is very minimal. For my preferences, the bass emphasis is very well judged, offering plenty of fullness for more sterile songs with enough control to avoid sounding overbearing on R&B and Hip-hop. They also provide some additional warmth which grants them with an enjoyable organic low-end tone even if definition isn’t class leading.

However, this charming tonality is juxtaposed by some technical shortcomings; I must stress that all of these comments are relative to the very best earphones I have heard around this price and that the K3 HD is not at all a poor performing. Due to their mid-bass emphasis, the earphones can sound a little bloated and texturing isn’t always as consistent as more linear competitors. Bass also isn’t quite as tight as some of the better dynamics or pure armature earphones I’ve heard with slightly slower decay that keeps up with faster songs but does miss out on some details. Transience is similar to the Oriveti Basic but definition is a fair way behind that model. On the contrary, the K3 HD is more textured than the boxier EN700 Bass and the original K3 Pro though bass is the least improved frequency range over their precursor. The King also maintains its lead in resolution, detail and extension though it’s more mid-forward tones likely won’t be as accessible to most listeners as the more vivid K3 HD. Ultimately, Magoasi’s newest earphone may not produce a super proficient bass reproduction, but it is a response that works well in the context of K3 HD’s tuning; the lush bass response simply compliments the rest of the sound rather than driving it despite its notable emphasis.



Mids –

Luckily, the higher frequencies are very well done on the K3 HD. While I had few qualms with the K3 Pro’s midrange in isolation, in comparison to more balanced earphones, they did come off as quite unnatural if still pleasing due to some smart tuning on Magaosi’s behalf. On that note, their strongest asset was their supreme clarity which more or less masked these technical shortcomings. The K3 HD no longer possesses that same glossiness, but in return, they offer considerably more technical ability and sound markedly more refined overall. That’s not to say that the K3 HD is not a clear sounding earphone but they are no longer an explicitly clarity focussed earphone. Upon first listen, the K3 HD was also immediately more balanced, linear and bodied than the Pro. It is still a v-shaped earphone but mids are immediate and clear while maintaining pleasing smoothness and layering. The HD also maintains impressive genre versatility due the very revealing nature of their midrange combined with a lack of outstanding peaks or dips. While the HD puts slightly more weighting on upper mids over lower mids, they never come across as over forward or over bright nor do lower mids sound scooped. The HD is more balanced overall than the EN700 Bass and Oriveti Basic to my ear, but through a slightly brighter, more aggressive tuning than the Pro, the HD manages to be just as captivating.

The HD does maintain the slightly thinner midrange tone of the K3 Pro, but vocals are smoother and more bodied. That being said, vocals can still sound slightly too thin for my liking, especially on tracks with harmonisation and some Asian albums with brighter mastering can come off as slightly artificial. So while the K3 HD does very noticeably improve upon its predecessor, they still aren’t a perfectly natural earphone. And where I felt that the K3 Pro was lacking some technical ability, the same cannot be said for the K3 HD. The King’s still have them beat in terms of pure resolving power, but the HD is much closer than the Pro and essentially every other earphone around this price. Listening to Akdong Musician’s “Play”, a very well-mastered Korean album with a brighter, more forward tone, and the HD provided improved resolution, detailing and layering over the Pro, Basic and En700 Bass. Transparency did suffer due to that clarity boost, but the HD provided a very pleasing rendition that was clear, clean and crisp without encroaching upon sibilance or fatigue. The K3 HD makes a notable leap in technical proficiency over the Pro that came before while maintaining if not compounding on its tonal strengths.



Treble –

The K3 HD has the same brighter high-end presentation of the K3 Pro though the new model is noticeably more detailed and insightful with greater integration between the upper-midrange and treble. This is mainly because the HD is more linear throughout their high end, lacking the tizzy, peaky nature of the original. The HD also impressed me with their detailing, both in terms of detail retrieval and presentation. They picked up appreciably more nuance than the Simgot EN700 Bass and Oriveti Basic, even the TFZ King wasn’t as immediately revealing as the K3 HD. Furthermore, treble notes are crisp and clean with more body than the Pro and King creating a more textured and refined listen than both. Listening to Vance Joy’s “Lay it On Me” and the K3 HD handily bested both of these models with a very clear presentation of guitar strums and micro details with improved separation over both during the busier sections. And while they are quite aggressive in their presentation, the K3 HD isn’t as fatiguing as the K3 Pro since middle and upper treble notes are smoother. Of note, the Pro had a lower treble bump that made some instruments sound over-forward, especially noticeable when listening to jazz where trumpets and saxophones dominated the mix. On the contrary, the K3 HD consistently provides a more restrained yet more discerning reproduction with accurate timbre and instrument balance.

As a result of their detailed nature, the K3 HD is easily my pick for acoustic music around this price, combining the more natural tuning of the EN700 Bass with the high resolving power of the King. The K3 HD also has impressive high-frequency extension even with their reduced driver count, demonstrating the benefits of tuning over pure specification. While they still don’t extend like the exemplary TFZ King, the K3 HD nonetheless provided pleasing air to “Hermit’s Habit” from the soundtrack of Lala Land and the atmospheric effects in Radiohead’s “No Surprises”. The King did possess a notable advantage to very high-frequency details, the HD had a noticeable roll-off which made high-hats sound thin, even metallic at times, though extension easily bests the Basic and En700 Bass. The K3 HD also holds a notable advantage over the King with lower and middle treble detail reproduction. So the HD isn’t the most extended, flawless earphone and they are still far from the most detailed earphone I’ve heard in the grand scheme of things, but they do handily best similarly priced earphones in overall treble performance.



Verdict –



The K3 HD may be slightly more expensive than competing models from other manufacturers, but in return, the Magaosi’s provide a great mix of clear, crisp tuning and excellent technicality. They don’t quite perform as well as the more exemplary $200 earphones, but they are pretty darn close, especially with regards to detailing. In addition, their all metal build and compact size lend them well towards long term listening while their removable cable enhances durability. And perhaps most notably, the K3 HD provides several tuning options through simple screw-on filters and the addition of two cables from factory. The K3 HD is ultimately an engaging package with surprisingly few drawback for the price. Their more sculpted tones still won’t suit those with a preference for neutrality and outright realism and their lack of isolation won’t suit frequent travellers, but the HD nonetheless impresses with clarity, immediacy and tactility.

Verdict – 8/10, The K3 HD does lack a little noise isolation and their bass still needs some work, but Magaosi’s newest earphone is a very well-equipped contender in an immensely competitive market. And while they may come with a higher price tag, that premium conforms to their high levels of relative performance.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my review, please see my website for more just like it:
https://everydaylisteningblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/magaosi-k3-hd-review/

Introduction
Magaosi is a Chinese brand that produces iems. They started out with the K3 and has since improved it to the K3 HD which I will be reviewing. I would like to thank Penon Audio and Magaosi for this review unit. The K3 HD is available on https://penonaudio.com/Magaosi-K3-HD and you can choose from 3 colours – Blue, Orange and Grey. The unit I will be reviewing is blue in colour.


Specifications

• Driver Configuration：1 Balanced Armature + 1 Dynamic
• Impedance：32 Ω
• Frequency Response：20Hz---22KHz
• Sensitivity：99db
• L&R Channel Balance Sensitivity：≤2db
• Max Input Power：10mW
• Length:120cm±5cm
• Wire Material：TPU
• Plug material：3.5mm gold-plated
• Earphone Plug：MMCX

Unboxing & Accessories
The K3 HD comes in a package with a plastic wrap. After removal of plastic wrap, the package comes with a smooth white cover. On the cover front, you can see the brand, model name, picture of the iem, driver configuration and that it is a detachable mmcx iem. On the top right corner of the cover, there is a sticker to indicate the colour of the iem. Moving on to the cover back, you get the specifications, diagram showing the components of the iem, description on what the package includes and the details of the manufacturer.

After removing the cover, you will be greeted with a black gift box with a red frequency image on the front. Next, inside the box, there are the iems, 1 pair of black silicone eartips, 3 pairs of black foam eartips (S,M and L) and a carrying case. The case contents consist of 2 cables and 1 pair of tuning filters. Below the case is the instruction manual to guide you on the usage of iem.







IEM Build & Design
The K3 HD has a rather small oval shell and it sits nicely in my ears. It has a glossy blue surface with the Magaosi brand name in white colour on both the left and right faceplates. There are 2 vents on opposite sides near the oval edge. On the outside of the mmcx sockets, there is a L and R marking to differentiate left and right respectively. The inside of each iem sports the K3 HD model name. The nozzle is slightly angled and has filters that can be removed. I find the Magaosi build quite solid.







Cable Build & Design
The K3 HD comes with 2 cables. Firstly, one of them is an oxygen free copper (OFC) cable that has 4 cores. It is quite flexible. The mmcx connectors are slightly angled and have L/R markings on both to identify. The chin slider and y-splitter are matte black in colour. It has a right angled gold plated 3.5mm jack in a black housing.





On the other cable, it is silver plated copper (SPC) and like the OFC cable, the mmcx connectors are slightly angled too. The L and R markings on the connectors are quite hard to see. It does not have a chin slider and it has a y-splitter in silver housing. Finally, the jack is 3.5mm gold plated straight in a silver housing.







Sound Analysis
Lows
The K3 HD has a deep sub-bass extension with a good rumble. The mid-bass is quite authoritative and I feel it adds a nice punch to my music. In addition, the bass is controlled and tight. It has a good decay and each bass note is presented well. The bass nature is fast and this makes the music more exciting. Bass texture is rendered well and the clean bass makes it an enjoyable listen. The bass also helps to add more body to the lower mids and ease the transition into the midrange. There is no shortage in quality and quantity and personally, I find it spot on.

Mids
The midrange is slightly recessed and I feel that the bass and treble works well with it. The lower mids on the K3 HD is not lacking in the quantity and it can tackle male vocals well. The upper mids are quite forward and it is rather detailed. The definition of the midrange is operating on a high level. It sounds crystal clear and transparent. Most importantly, it does not sound analytical. It is engaging and lively. For those looking for thick and syrupy mids, these may not be what you are looking for.

Highs
The treble has a good definition to it and it presents clarity. There is no sibilance and harshness on it. I find the extension pretty good and there is no graininess. It is crisp and there is a bite. The treble accentuates the nature of the music and I feel the sound is very dynamic. There is a good amount of air and slight sparkle that allows the performance to be full. There is no lacking in body in the treble too. It presents itself in a clear manner. There is extension, air and clarity.

Soundstage
The K3 HD has a good width of soundstage and it has average depth. I feel the width helps to improve the overall imaging. Vocals and instruments positioning are accurate. The soundstage gives an enveloping feel.



Comparisons
Magaosi K3 HD vs Kinera H3
The sub-bass quantity on the K3 HD is more than the H3 and it has better extension. I feel that the K3 HD is more precise in bass articulation and the bass digs deeper too. The mid-bass of K3 HD has more authority and it gives the song more punch to it. The bass texture on the K3 HD is more defined and is rendered better. Each bass note is presented with more power. The lower mids on the K3 HD is thicker than the H3 and it sounds more full. It retains the speed. The upper mids on the K3 HD is more forward and it contributes to sounding more organic on female vocals. The details retrieval of K3 HD is better and the clarity is a level above the H3. For the treble section. the K3 HD has less air than the H3 but it is more clinical in presentation. I feel the details K3 HD produce is so much more than the H3. In addition, the K3 HD has more sparkle than the H3. In terms of soundstage, the K3 HD is superior to the H3 be it in terms of width and depth. Vocals and instruments positioning on the K3 HD is more accurate and resolution is better.

Magaosi K3 HD vs Ibasso IT03
The IT03 has more sub-bass quantity and extension than the K3 HD. It is clear that IT03 has the upper edge in sub-bass and is superior in the quality too. The mid-bass on both are approximately similar with K3 HD having a smoother mid-bass slam and it is more controlled. Bass texture on both is rendered smoothly. The bass note on the IT03 is slightly more accurate than the K3 HD. The IT03 excels in the bass control and the decay is faster. The lower mids on the K3 HD has more body than the IT03 and sounds thicker. It is more forgiving for male vocals. For the upper mids, IT03 comes across as slightly shouty to me while the K3 HD presents itself with control and precision to prevent it from being shouty. Female vocals are presented in an euphoric manner. It sounds very sweet and engaging. In the treble section, the IT03 has more air and sparkle but K3 HD is much smoother. I find the IT03 squeezes more details out. In terms of soundstage, I find them every similar but IT03 has a slight edge in the width. Depth of K3 HD is better. Vocals and instruments positioning on the IT03 is better. The stage helps to improve the imaging on the IT03 and shows its technicality. Resolution of IT03 is better.

Magaosi K3 HD vs Fidue A83
The K3 HD sub-bass does not extend as deep as A83 and the quantity is less. However, I feel the bass quality on the K3 HD is more refined. The mid-bass on the A83 has slightly more slam and the bass note on the A83 has more weight. K3 HD bass note is clinical and the decay is faster. It really depends on the bass nature one likes. K3 HD presents the bass in a clean way while for the A83, it shows more authority. The lower mids on the A83 is thicker than the K3 HD and it does male vocals well. The upper mids on the K3 HD is equally forward as on the A83. K3 HD has a smooth and organic upper mids. I find the A83 to have a slight grain here and female vocals sound less sweet. In the treble section, the A83 is extended better but the control on the K3 HD is tighter. There is emphasis on the treble articulation on the K3 HD. It has the better clinical performance. The K3 HD has more air than the A83 and sparkle on both are similar. I feel there is more bite on the A83 but it makes female vocals sound harsh. The K3 HD presents female vocals in a very controlled manner. A83 has the edge in depth of soundstage while K3 HD has the better width. Layering and separation on both is approximately the same. The width of K3 HD soundstage aids in the imaging of the sound. The definition both are operating on is around the same.



Conclusion
The Magaosi K3 HD is a brilliant v shaped sounding iem that still retains a midrange that can do vocals. The sound is engaging and sweet. The triumvirate of lows, mids and highs combine extremely well to deliver a pleasing and clear sound. Along with a solid build, an ergonomic design, 2 cables and a semi-hard carrying case, I find this to be a strong contender at its price point. I am really impressed by the overall package of the K3 HD.



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Magaosi K3 HD Review: In Pursuit of the Perfect V
The K3 HD is Magaosi’s third entry into high-end audio, coming in after its older siblings the Magaosi K3 and K3 Pro. It features the same high-quality build and tuning filter system as the K3 Pro but makes use of a dual-hybrid driver setup. Is this formula enough to make the K3 HD as much of a hit as its predecessors? Spoiler alert, yes. It is.

You can find the K3 HD for sale here on Penon Audio for $120.

Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. I am not affiliated with Magaosi beyond this review. These words reflect my true, unaltered, opinion about the product.

I would like to thank Magaosi and Penon Audio for this opportunity.

Preference and Bias: Before reading a review, it is worth mentioning that there is no way for a reviewer to objectively pass judgment on the enjoy-ability of a product: such a thing is inherently subjective. Therefore, I find it necessary for you to read and understand what I take a natural liking to and how that might affect my rating of a product.

My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, mid-bass. The mids should be slightly less pronounced than the treble, but still ahead of the bass. I prefer a more bright upper range.

Source: The K3 HD was powered like so:

Nexus 6P -> earphones

or

Hidizs AP100 3.5mm out -> FiiO A5 3.5mm out -> earphones

or

HiFiMAN SuperMini -> earphones

or

PC optical out -> HiFiMe SPDIF 9018 Sabre DAC 3.5mm out -> earphones

All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.

Running the K3 HD amped did not provide me with any noticeable advantages over running it unamped. In fact, the K3 HD sounded much better being run straight off my AP100 and SuperMini than it did through the FiiO A5.

Sound Signature
Initial Impressions:

The K3 HD has two tuning filter options: black and silver. The silver filters came pre-installed for me and, as such, were the ones I was exposed to first. They are traditionally V-shaped with a slightly-withdrawn upper-treble.

The black filters are treble-cannons with a very-boosted upper-treble. I find these filters to be tinny and unnatural-sounding with a slightly over-blown feeling, so I didn’t spend too much time using them.

Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy

Treble was my one sticking point with the K3 Pro, so I’m glad it’s not something I have to criticize the K3 HD on. It seems Magaosi took to heart the criticisms received by its customers and made changes accordingly. The K3 HD is not sibilant at all, and even Nero’s Satisfy, a poorly mastered song for sibilance, behaves nicely.

Treble extension is pretty great, even on the silver filters. Synths, guitars, and drums all have that air to them that accompanies a strong 15KHz-22KHz range.

Mids: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams

Mids are well-fleshed out and, despite not being the center of attention most of the time, were represented evenly in the music. In fact I’d never felt like the mids were drowned out by overly aggressive treble or fat and bloated bass throughout my entire listening session.

Pianos and guitars are well toned with a pleasant timbre. Attack and decay are also well-tuned. The dynamic-balanced armature crossover Magaosi built for the K3 HD works quite well.

Instrumental separation is among the best in this price-range and is on par with many competitors in the next bracket up like the Echobox Finder X1.

Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)

Bass was one of the selling-points of the K3 Pro, so how is the K3 HD in this area? Well, in the words of Austin Powers, the K3 HD has “got its mojo”. Bass is present enough to solidly ground the K3 HD within the ranks of V-shaped IEMs and is well-enough controlled to raise it above many of its rather mediocre peers. Acoustic songs like Moth and Weezer’s Say It Ain’t So really do show how well the bass behaves when it is only needed in the background.

“But how is the bass signature” you ask? Well, calm yourself, I’m getting to it. Put simply, the K3 HD’s bass signature is like that of a bona-fide sub-woofer. (Please note that I’m only talking about the way it sounds, not feels. There’s no way a single dynamic-driver hybrid can push enough air to make you feel the same way a real speaker can).

However don’t let that description dissuade you. The K3 HD does actually have a pretty solid quantity of bass, quality aside. You can really get your head moving to bass-heavy genres like dubstep without resorting to EQs.

Bass extension is also pretty great, and lends electronic songs a pretty good rumble. In For The Kill also let’s the K3 HD’s dynamic driver stretch its legs and show off just how well it can manipulate the bass.

Packaging / Unboxing
Unfortunately the K3 HD unit that I was sent did not include any retail packaging, as it was a promotional unit sent out prior to launch.

Build
Construction Quality
The K3 HD is built in much the same way the K3 Pro was: two very solid metal plates sealed together around a metallic nozzle. This is some industry-standard stuff, but you’d be surprised at how many well-known companies (ahem, RHA?) can’t seem to seal their IEMs correctly.
Speaking of nozzles, the K3 HD’s nozzles is among my favorites. I’m personally a fan of deeper insertion, and the K3 HD pulls it off well. The nozzle has a smoother finish than the main body of the driver housings. This is likely in order to make it easier to move eartips on and off of it.

The K3 HD’s tuning filter system is also well-implemented. It appears as though Magaosi chose to make use of a dampening-type filter rather than a bass-port filter. I approve of this choice, as I find dampening-type filters generally have more character to them. The filters themselves are textured around the edges. This not only makes them easy to screw into the fine-threaded inner walls of the K3 HD’s nozzle, but helps keep eartips secured to the driver housing as well.

The K3 HD’s cables are removable and adhere to the MMCX standard. Two different cables are included with the K3 HD.

One appears to be a silver cable with a metal 3.5mm jack and Y-splitter:







and the other is likely a braided copper cable with a plastic right-angled 3.5mm jack and Y-splitter:







Both cable are well made and are sturdy in the hand. I didn’t notice any change in sound signature when switching between the two cables. The silver cables has a fair amount of body and microphonics while the braided cable is much more tame and has almost no microphonics. However, it worth noting that due to its geometry, the braided cable will make noise if you rub an object across its length, though that’s not a fault of this cable alone.

Comfort

The K3 HD is quite comfortable. I really enjoyed using it with foam eartips, though I found the silicones to also be a nice option. The K3 HD has a deeper-than-average insertion depth and is worn over-the-ear style.

Accessories


The K3 HD has a decent stock of accessories. Inside the box you will find:

• 1x extra pair of silicone eartips
• 3x pairs of foam eartips
• 1x extra pair of tuning filters
• 2x MMCX cables
• 1x semi-hard carrying case

The accessories are all of decent quality, though I do miss the carrying case from the K3 Pro. This one is deeper, but shorter, than the K3 Pro’s case but still has no problems holding the IEM, its extra eartips, and both cables comfortably. The eartips are all pretty good, and I actually enjoy using the silicones which is a rare experience for me.

While I do wish the black filters were implemented better, nothing’s perfect.

Summary
The K3 HD is a worthy addition to the Magaosi line-up. Coming in at $10 more and one balanced-armature less than the K3 Pro, the K3 HD is a surprise to me. It sounds far better than its predecessors to my ears and competes well in the general $100-$150 price bracket. Magaosi has been chasing the perfect V-shaped sound signature, and with the K3 HD, they are one step closer.