Rose Masya

General Information

Rose Masya 2 New Version Dynamic Driver High Quality Audiophile Flat-Head Earbud

Description

Dual dynamic driver flat-head earbud, pop and vocals are delicate and sweet, full of low-frequency sense of diffuse, excellent quality. Suitable for all kinds of pop, Europe and the United States pop, rock, jazz and so on
Rose Masya is equipped with 1.5 meters of 128 shares of oxygen-free copper vocal cord, wire soft, easy to carry, natural sound; high frequency is not thorn, vocal clarity.
Earphone Shell is using the new 3d printing technology, the German tempered glass paint, glass texture, smooth and beautiful, full sense of science and technology.

Description

Driver: dual dynamic driver
Impedance: 12Ω
Earphone sensitivity: 98db/mW
Frequency range: 8-22000Hz
Earphone Interface Type: 2-pin Interface
Interface: 3.5mm
Cable Length: 1.2m±5cm
Weight: 18g

Package

Rose Masya
3 pairs of solid foam cushions
Compressive Earphone Case

Latest reviews

ryanjsoo

Reviewer for The Headphone List
ryanjsoo's Reviews
Pros: Balance, Exquisite midrange clarity, Massive soundstage, Pretty good extension for an earbud, Excellent removable cable
Cons: Design and fit are quite unorthodox, Large housings, Some QC issues with the 2-pin connectors and finish, Brighter sound won't suit everyone
Introduction –

Rose is perhaps most renowned for the Mojito, their flagship earbud that sat atop many multi-earbud comparisons and remains one of the most talked about models in the hobby. However, as we’ve seen from their Mini 2 in-ear, there is more to the company than premium products, they actually make some fantastic budget offerings too. The Masya exemplifies this as a $100 earbud that retains much of the same quality offered by Rose’s higher priced models. It instantly draws numerous parallels to their flagship Mojito with the same delicious house sound, super open form factor and dual dynamic driver setup producing bundles of clarity, resolution and air. And at under half the price, let’s see how the Masya performs.



Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Chi Kong Hui from PenonAudio very much for his quick communication and for providing me with the Masya LE for the purpose of review. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the earphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.



Accessories –

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The Masya has the same unboxing as the BR5 MKII and other Rose products with a hard box that magnetically latches open. The earbuds and foam covers are well presented within a foam inlet with the cables and carrying case within two boxes just below. The Masya comes with an imitation Westone vault case that is just as hardy and portable as the original, it remains one of my favourites on the market.

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Inside, buyers will find a standard 0.78mm 2-pin cable in addition to a silver plated braided unit should you opt for the limited edition wood grain Masya as I have here. Both cables are excellent in quality and the foams are quite plush. Rose also include a ¼” adaptor should you want to run the Masya from a desktop amplifier.



Design –

The Masya is another really unique earbud on account of its rather unorthodox dual dynamic driver setup. Its larger, two-step design reminds of vintage technics earbuds; they have a certain retro charm despite epitomizing the contemporary with their advanced innards. And where early units garnered some criticism for their slightly rougher 3D printed housings, newer Masya’s and all Wood Grain units are mass produced, resulting in a much smoother finish and tighter tolerances between each join.

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The Masya is a well presenting and solid feeling earbud. Their wholly plastic construction may not flatter buyers like the all-metal Ourart and Musicmaker earbuds, but they have no creaks or sharp edges that compromise the experience. Furthermore, the Rose earbuds have a truly unique look and I was lucky enough to receive the limited edition wood variant that only enhances their sculpted styling. Rose are quick to note that the earbuds aren’t employing authentic wood faceplates, rather they are textured plastic, but the effect is very convincing. Some defects were still notable on my unit, most notably, the vent on my right earbud was quite rough, though I didn’t notice any severe acoustic repercussions.

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The Rose earbuds carry a different style of fit to other earbuds as their large housings don’t permit the same level of depth and stability. Rather, they sit loosely in the outer ear with the inner segment locking behind the tragus. As such, they are incredibly open but when equipped with silicone rings and foams, achieve sufficient seal. However, in terms of comfort, I still wouldn’t consider the Masya to match that of other earbuds with moderate hotspot formation after extended listening. In addition, they protrude too much from the ear to sleep with though their fit was very stable in return. While they are far from uncomfortable, smaller eared listeners may experience difficulties with the Masya.

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The Masya utilizes a 0.78mm 2-pin removable cable with keyed connectors on the cable itself. The limited edition Masya comes with the same cable included with Rose’s in-ears. It’s a supple braided unit with zero memory and a slightly rubbery texture though it feels well-constructed with low-profile connectors and a well-relieved, case-friendly plug. The Masya LE also comes with the standard Masya cable that is a more standard non-braided cable with a smooth texture and similar terminations.

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Penon offer the braided unit for an additional $23 so the Masya LE actually makes for a more economical buy at a $20 premium over the standard model. And though the connectors are keyed, the earbuds themselves are usable with any 2-pin cable. Of note, Rose does have some quality control issues with their 2-pin connectors, my left earpiece was reversed so attaching cables with ear guides was not viable, I’m hoping this is case specific.



Sound –

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Tonality –

The Masya has an especially balanced sound among earbuds with a tasteful brightness that enhances clarity. Bass doesn’t drive the sound though they are in no way deficient with plenty of impact and presence when called for. And as with other Rose products, mids are the centre of attention with neutral lower frequencies feeding into a more forward upper midrange. Treble is surprisingly present with nice crispness though high-frequencies aren’t overbearing. They aren’t as natural and full as the Shozy earbuds or as laid-back as the 1More E1008, rather, the Masya is sweet, clear and smooth.



Covers –

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As an earbud, the user is very much responsible for the level of high-frequency dampening through the use of various covers. It’s always about finding a balance between resolution and an agreeable tonality and the Masya was among the trickiest to tame given its more prominent high-end. I ultimately settled on the included silicone covers combined with Hiegi donut foams. The stock full foams didn’t seal as well and sapped too much clarity while the full Hiegi covers were too low-frequency biased. I definitely would not recommend wearing the earbud naked though those with thinner ears may find an optimal experience without the silicone rings. All comments will be with the aforementioned setup.



Bass –

Bass is balanced but rich in tone, their huge 16mm bass driver compensating well for their especially open fit. Through a culmination of their shallow fit depth and some intriguing tuning by Rose, the Masya achieves a very interesting tone that is exceptionally clean, delineated and transparent. Sub-bass has good extension considering their level of seal though some deeper fitting buds like the Shozy BK do offer more impact and slam. However, the Masya reciprocates with one of the tightest bass responses I’ve heard from an earbud, the majority of which pursue a warmer, more analogue tonality. The Masya rather provides a much cleaner, more restrained presentation and decreasing emphasis from 250Hz enables it to avoid mid-bass bloat yet alone muddiness in the lower frequencies.

This character is enhanced by the Masya’s bass control and texture. While they don’t have the most defined, immediate bass response due to a focus on the midrange and higher frequencies, the Masya’s weave a coherent presentation through their separation. Listening to Bruno Mar’s “That’s What I Like” and the Masya provided a pleasing sense of air around each bass note where meatier earbuds like the Shozy Cygnus tended to sound more immediate but also more congested by comparison. This tuning does come at the cost of some texture and definition since mids can occasionally overshadow bass, however, once adjusted to their more mid-focussed tuning, the Masya provides a super quick, tight low-end whose lack of bloat is truly refreshing. Their cooler tone contrasts greatly to the more organic tone pursued by the similarly priced Shozy earbuds though their additional clarity and extension prevent them from coming across as congested like the 1More E1008 and Ourart Ti7 occasionally could.



Mids –

The Masya follows Rose’s other models with the same slightly brighter tone and euphoric, clarity focussed tuning. However, what separates them from other clarity boosted earphones/earbuds is their smoothness and refinement; the Masya maintains an incredibly natural vocal presentation and just the right amount of body despite their level of clarity, they are tonally excellent. For instance, even the more expensive Shozy BK fails to match the finesse of the Masya’s midrange, the Rose is appreciably clearer and more extended while the Shozy is fuller and more laid-back. In return, the BK is more natural yet and resolution is actually slightly higher though even that earbud can sound congested and veiled compared to the brighter, clearer and more open Masya. This also gives the Rose an upper hand with poorly mastered albums, energizing them with clarity and space.

And tonality aside, the Masya makes the most of its clarity through great resolution and detailing that bring nuances to the fore. They still don’t resolve quite like the better in-ears around this price, but their wide-open stage and airy presentation enhance any song regardless of genre. Most notably, the Masya invigorates tracks such as A-Ha’s “Take On Me” with exquisite space and vocal clarity. Keyboards extend and strings are both crisp and textured. And most notably, each element is wrapped within a delicious sense of smoothness and space due to their exquisite soundstage and separation. The Masya may come off as bright to those accustomed to more laid-back earbuds but such changes always require some adjustment. And coming from similarly priced in-ears, the Masya’s midrange provides a more familiar tuning with dollops of space and air that these sealing models simply can’t match.



Treble –

The Masya has a smooth upper midrange/lower treble transition that contributes to their overall sense of refinement. This opposes the usual lower treble spike of some in-ears that can make them overly aggressive and the more laid-back tuning of a lot of earbuds. The Masya finds a nice balance in terms of high-frequency quantity and emphasis, they compensate for the dampening produced by foam covers while avoiding drowning out higher notes. As such, they are easily one of the most extended, airy earbuds I’ve heard, even besting models costing quite a bit more. They do have a little middle treble bump that enhances shimmer though Rose are tasteful in their sculpting, producing a sound that is slightly on the analytical side but also one that doesn’t encroach upon fatigue or sibilance.

And once again, quality really impresses, treble is quite outstanding given that most earbuds really struggle with their high-frequency reproduction. This starts with their detailing which isn’t aggressive by in-ear standards but is very crisp and concise for an earbud. The melodic tones of Eric Clapton’s Unplugged found a great pairing with the Masya whose high-end clarity and air greatly enrich the atmosphere in live recordings. Guitars, in particular, are very well presented and cymbals are accurate in timbre; the Masya avoids the high-end blunting that earbuds like the Cygnus and even BK can suffer from. And while their brighter tones won’t suit every listener, especially since earbuds are designed to be worn for longer periods of time, I found the Masya to have enough restraint to service lengthier listening. They aren’t quite as musical and lush as the BK but they are just as smooth despite their greater clarity. Those looking for a little more nuance and extension within the earbud form factor should definitely look into the Masya.



Soundstage, Imaging and Separation –

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The Masya’s clean, clear presentation and open form factor craft a soundstage that truly excels even amongst earbuds. The Masya is easily one of the most spacious I’ve heard, they are immediately out of the head in terms of both width and depth, even beating out the Ourart Ti7 and 1More E1008. Acoustic, classical and live recordings all benefit greatly from this presentation with great atmosphere and air. This is further accentuated by their excellent separation which eclipses the Shozy and VE earbuds if at the cost of outright coherence. Imaging is the weakest aspect of the Masya’s presentation, their space and more reserved low-end pushing some instruments too far into the distance. Instruments can mostly be pinpointed, but like the Ti7, imaging isn’t overly sharp or precise. That being said, centre image is admirably strong given their profound width and vocals do avoid becoming too dispersed.



Drivability –

The Masya has an average sensitivity of 98dB and a lower 12ohm impedance. They aren’t a difficult earbud to drive, on a similar level to the Ourart Ti7, but they do require more volume than the Shozy and Musicmaker earbuds. And despite being a dual driver, they also aren’t overly source picky with nice tonal balance and extension from my HTC 10 and iPod Nano. That being said, my dedicated sources did provide more low-end richness in addition to greater midrange resolution. They also produced a generally smoother, more coherent response. The Shozy Alien+ and Chord Mojo both provided particularly great synergy on account of their refined, slightly full-bodied tones where the more neutral, technical X7 II, didn’t find the same level of musicality. The Masya doesn’t require a dedicated source and is far from the pickiest earbud I’ve tested though it will scale well with a musical DAC/AMP.



Comparisons –

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Ourart Ti7 ($60-90 w/upgrade cable): The Ti7 has a hardier metal build and a generally more comfortable design. Both share a removable cable with the Ourart using a more conventional MMCX unit. The Ourart has a more u-shaped sound with a very thick note presentation that contrasts to the more delicate, clarity driven Masya. Bass is snappier on the Ourart with a very tight sub-bass impact though the Masya is more articulate and much more defined above. Mids are also much clearer and more natural on the Rose where the Ti7 is a bit too thick and distant for my tastes. Treble is more comparable, the Ti7 isn’t as open as the Rose but it is quite clear for an earbud. In fact, the Ti7 is actually slightly clearer within its lower treble though the Masya is more detailed overall with greater extension and air. Both are incredibly spacious though the Ti7 sounds a little distant while the Masya rather sounds airy and delineated. Imaging isn’t spectacular on either though the Masya has a slight edge due to its more balanced tuning.

Shozy Cygnus ($90): The smaller Cygnus is more comfortable and its cable, though fixed, is among the best I’ve handled. The Cygnus has a more L-shaped tone compared to the Masya with a greater emphasis on bass, especially mid-bass in addition to fuller lower mids. Bass has more impact and texture on the Cygnus though it has considerably more bloat. With a darker tilt, the Cygnus has a clear but slightly scooped upper midrange that feeds into a slightly more energetic, detailed treble response. The Masya is clearer and more spacious throughout with better separation and similar if not slightly superior resolution. Treble is more extended on the Rose though the Cygnus has a similarly detailed lower-middle treble response. The Cygnus is also the more coherent sounding earbud with superior imaging though its stage is quite intimate for an earbud as opposed to the especially spacious Masya.

Shozy BK ($160): The BK fits identically to the Cygnus but has a sturdier 8-core cable (also fixed). It has a more balanced sound than the Cygnus overall though it is less aggressive in its presentation and is still less neutral than the Masya. The very clear Masya makes the BK sound almost veiled though the BK is definitely not a veiled earbud in isolation and is more linear and natural. Bass is more coherent and textured with greater sub-bass extension on the Shozy though both are very clean and defined. Mids are clearer on the Masya but more layered and resolving on the BK due to its superior resolution. The Masya has greater treble extension and air than the BK at the cost of realism and some texture. The BK is more concise and detailed within its upper midrange/lower treble though the highest details are resolved better by the Masya. The BK images well, a lot better than the Masya, though the Rose easily has the more spacious soundstage.



Verdict –

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Rose impress again with their delicate tuning and innovative if not perfectly refined form factor. The Masya is a handsome earbud with retro undertones that enhance a loose but comfortable design. They aren’t the most coherent sounding earbud and they do have some quality control issues, but none of them affect the listening experience. And once inserted, the Masya’s provide a really exceptional sound that is quite uncommon from the earbud form factor. Bass lovers will want to look more towards the Shozy earbuds but if you’re looking for stunning clarity and awe-inspiring space, the Masya outperforms its asking price.

Verdict – 8.5/10, The Masya sounds brilliant and its tonality is both balanced and refined. Their unorthodox fit can be frustrating and Rose’s questionable quality control is something to consider however, once equipped with the right cover, these qualms are quickly whisked away by the Masya’s silky midrange and airy treble response that provide a truly unique in-ear experience.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my review, please see my blog for more just like it:

https://everydaylisteningblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/25/rose-masya-review-dual-driver-delight/

B9Scrambler

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Well-rounded signature - Extremely Comfortable - Design
Cons: Small details not attended to re. packaging - Treble can occasionally be strident
Greetings Head-fi!

Today we are checking out something that I find pretty cool, that being a dual-dynamic ear bud from Rose Technology called Masya.

I'm still fairly new to the ear bud world, having spent the majority of my time listening to impressive budget friendly gear like the VE Monk, FiiO EM3, and only more recently some slightly more costly buds like the Penon BS1 and OURART Ti7. On first listen of the Masya it showed itself to be on another level, immediately posturing with an impressive sound, cool design, and somewhat unique dual-driver design. At it's price, it's one of my favorite audio products regardless of whether we're looking at iems, headphones, or ear buds. They're that good.

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Disclaimer:

The Masya was purchased from Penon Audio at a discounted rate for the purposes of review. There is no financial incentive for writing this review, and all thoughts and opinions within are my own. They do not represent Rose, Penon Audio, or any other entity.

At the time of this review the Masya retailed through Penon Audio for 109.00 USD; https://penonaudio.com/Rose-Masya?search=masya

I'm a 30 year old professional working for what is currently the largest luxury hotel chain on the planet. I have a background in Psychology which probably explains my somewhat dry writing style. My entry into the world of portable audio was due primarily to a lack of space for a full-sized stereo system during my university years, and truly began with the venerable JVC HA-FXT90. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread, reviews from other established writers, and thus being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own.

Fast forward a couple years and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to write about products for wonderful companies like HiFiMan, RHA, Accutone, ADVANCED, NarMoo, Mixcder, Brainwavz, Meze and many more. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because this is my hobby and I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to a product that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done and payment enough.

Gear used for testing was a Shanling M1, HiFi E.T. MA8, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop. A TEAC HA-501 headphone amp was recently added to the collection. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even mid-range response, and reduced mid-bass. Lately I've been enjoying more mellow and relaxed products with a bass tilt. Two of my favorite in-ears, the Echobox Finder X1 with grey filters installed and the Fischer Audio Dubliz Enhanced are good examples of my preferred signatures.

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Packaging and Accessories:

The Masya comes in some pretty decent packaging. It's not made from super premium materials or anything, but it's well designed and fairly attractive, though my particular example has one notable issue.

First, the matte black cardboard box has a cool checkered finish that looks great in person. Contrast that with Rose Technology printed in Gold lettering. This color choice could have easily ended up looking gaudy, but it's tastefully applied here. Rose finished the exterior of the package off with an aluminum plate displaying the slogan "Create Difference", which is the notable issue; the plate was installed upside down. Attention to detail...

Flip open the magnetically sealed flap and things start looking up again. The Masya's detachable earpieces, a 1/4 inch adapter, and a small case holding some extra foams are safely nestled within some porous foam, with two smaller cardboard boxes Tetrised below. The small of the two boxes contains a soft case and the cable, while the larger box contains an awesome hard case and even more foams. All in all I got;

- Masya earpieces

- 0.75mm 2-pin cable

- 4 pairs of black foams

- 1 pair of black donut foams

- 1 pair of blue foams

- 1 pair of red foams

- 2 pairs of silicone ear hooks in s/l

- soft carrying case

- hard carrying case (foam lined interior with a rubber seal to keep out moisture)

On Penon's site they note only the Masya, 3 foams, and a compressive earphone case are included so either they tossed in some extras or that info needs to be updated.

Overall I was pretty pleased with the unboxing experience. The presentation is nice, the foams are of good quality, and the mini Pelican-style hard carrying case is a pretty sweet inclusion that will be very useful.

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Build, Design, and Comfort:

**An updated version of the Masya will be released shortly. It will no longer be 3D printed resulting in a cleaner, though nearly identical design, and improved ergonomics. Once I have been sent images of the new version I will be sure to add them in here. Sound remains unchanged.**

When I first saw pictures of the Masya, I thought they looked massive and ungainly. When they arrived and I pulled them out of their case, the massive part rung true but any concerns I had about them being uncomfortable were put to rest once I slide them in my ears.

Since this particular Masya is 3D printed, there is an almost hand-built aspect to them. This is notable in the imperfections in the shape and construction. They don't feel cheap or delicate though, and personally I think this gives them some character that mass produced products simply lack. Considering they are 3D printed, fit and finish isn't all that bad and the cable plugs in securely and sits fairly flush with the ear piece.

The design itself is quite unique looking with the drivers split into their own somewhat segregated sections in the housing. The black/gold color scheme continues on the public facing portion of the earpiece, with "Rose Masya" proudly displayed. Left and right are clearly marked with is always appreciated. Overall I think it's a handsome design, if not somewhat unconventional.

The cable is one of my favorite aspects as it uses a thick, durable rubber sheath that has outstanding qualities. It doesn't retain memory, cable noise is minimal at worst, and the straight jack is well-relieved. Strain relief at the y-split and leading into the earpieces could be better though.

Even though the new version will be improving comfort, I really can't imaging improvements doing much, The Masya is already one of the most comfortable and unobtrusive sound producing products I've used. It weighs next to nothing and the ear piece is extremely slim so it nestles easily into my outer ear.

Overall the Masya's design is interesting, it's decently well-built, and I find it to be one of the most comfortable music producing devices ever to find sound down my ear canals.

Specification
  • Driver:16mm dynamic driver & 10mm dynamic driver

  • Impedance:12Ω

  • Earphone sensitivity: 98db/mW

  • Frequency range: 8-22000Hz

  • Earphone Interface Type: 2-pin 0.75mm Interface

  • Plug: 3.5mm

  • Cable Length:1.2m±5cm

  • Weight: 18g

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Sound:

Foams: I found the Masya best with the fairly dense included black foams installed. Not only did this give them some extra thickness which really rounded out their sound, but I found it really helped with a secure fit too. The included donut foams also sound great, adding a little extra treble energy.

I really didn't know what to expect going into the Masya as at the time it was both the most expensive and only dual-driver ear bud I had used. While price doesn't necessarily equate to sound quality, the Masya was definitely a step above any other ear bud I had used.

While I find them slightly warm, leaning more towards an analytic presentation with a treble/mid-range bias, especially when paired with a brighter player like the Walnut V2s, the first thing that struck me was how large the Masya sounds. Way beyond any ear bud or iem I've heard, and not far off my HiFiMan HE350. That headphone doesn't have a particularly large sound stage for an open back, but that the Masya even came close blew my mind. Imaging and layering has shown itself to be pretty impressive too. The Daylight EP by Aesop Rock has a number of songs with multi-layered vocals and effects, giving you get a really good impression of depth.

Treble is well-extended, surprisingly detailed, and non-sibilant. There is definitely a small peak tuned in there somewhere so at times they can comes across a tough strident, but that wasn't a common experience during my weeks and tens of hours of listening. The majority of the time the treble was lively but easy to live with.

The Masya's mid-range is typical ear bud; awesome; forward, extremely detailed, very clear, and unhindered by the low end. I absolutely love how realistic and textured vocals are making listening to commentary a more engaging experience than it usually is. If you're a fan of InnerFidelity's videos and own the Masya, give one of Tyll's videos a go and you'll see what I mean.



The Masya's bass presentation brought on a 'wow' moment for me, one that's repeated nearly every time I give them a listen. The extension it outputs is so unlike anything I've heard from a bud (excluding their higher end model Mojito), which when combined with some pretty impressive texturing gives a very visceral experience. And if you wedge them in your ears just right, they thicken up even further and the bass becomes more prominent given them some serious boom. That said, I like them best just lightly resting in my outer ear which balances them out wonderfully.

Overall I found the Masya crisp, detailed, with a light and airy but well-extended low end presentation, all while remaining non-fatiguing. This is a great sounding audio product, and one I highly recommend trying out if given the opportunity. You might be surprised at how well-rounded their signature is.

Select Comparisons:

Penon BS1 (39.00 USD): The BS1 is a pretty awesome little budget ear bud, but stepping up to the Masya you notice some significant differences. The BS1 has a decent sound stage though pretty average for an ear bud. This is made especially evident swapping between it and the Masya. The Masya sounds much larger and more open with improved imaging and layering.

The BS1 is slightly thinner and less textured resulting in a smoother more easy going sound that I can see many liking quite a bit. It's signature is pretty well extended at either end, but the Masya's dual-driver set up gives it a big advantage, especially at the furthest extremities. The BS1 comes across quite tame in comparison, lacking the dynamics of the Masya.

In terms of build the BS1 has no real flaws. It's aluminum and plastic ear pieces are wonderfully built with great fit and finish and attached to one of my favorite cables of all time. The Masya comes across almost DIY in comparison. The Masya is the most comfortable of the two though, primarily due to the extremely slender portion that slots into your outer ear.

Rose Mojito (259.00 USD): Take everything I've said about the Masya's sound, add more texture, improved control, even more impressive extension, smooth out the treble peak, make them even more balanced, and you've got the Mojito. While the Masya is a stellar all-rounder, the Mojito's improvements make it even more versatile, especially in the bass which sounds even more full and robust.

Build quality of the housings is quite similar. The Mojito is still crafted using a 3D printer, but the back plate looks to be molded plastic and as a result more consistent in quality and feel. The general shape is the same with the Mojito being even so slightly smaller and more weighty (though still far from heavy). Comfort I found nearly identical, with the Masya having a slight advantage due to the lighter weight.

The Mojito's current cable (thick cloth below the y-split, similar in look to what Double Tap Audio does, with a thin, stiff plastic sheath above) is also pretty awesome, though there have been enough complaints about it being ugly for Rose to have a replacement in the works for release soon. Still, as much as I like the Masya's cable the Mojito's cable gives me greater confidence in terms of longevity and durability.

Overall, as awesome as the Masya is the Mojito is a clear upgrade. It sounds similar but with a number of sonic improvements that more than justify the price increase and flagship status the Mojito holds.

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Final Thoughts:

The Masya is a near-perfect bridge between iems and headphones, offering the convenience of an iem with sound qualities of a full-sized headphone (that soundstage!). The sound quality they output is very engaging and in my opinion easily justifies them sitting at a price in which there is lots of competition from neighboring earphones and headphones. They don't feel like a compromise, unless isolation is important, but to that I ask why you're even remotely considering an ear bud. Ear buds have been around forever, and I can't think of a single one which has offered anything beyond mediocre isolation.

While they do lack polish in their build thanks to the use of 3D printing for the housings, this should in theory be rectified in the coming weeks when the updated Masya goes on sale. Since I don't know if the enhanced housing will be coming with updated packaging, I'll say that the current package lack some attention to detail, namely down to that massive aluminum plate being installed upside down. You have to admit that error is somewhat amusing, but for a product selling at just over 100 USD you'd expect a prominent feature of the package to be installed correctly.

Overall the Masya is a great audio product, and I'm glad it's build quality will be getting some extra TLC. As is, it's plenty comfortable and it's very competent sound signature is engaging, well-rounded, and easily warrants ear time over similarly priced earphones like the Audbos K3, TFZ Exclusive 5, Exclusive King, and others.

I give the Maysa a solid 4.5 stars out of 5.

Great job to Rose, and thanks to you for reading!

- B9Scrambler

***** ***** ***** ***** *****​
Test Tracks:

Aesop Rock - Crows 1

Aesop Rock - Maintenance

BT - The Antikythera Mechanism

The Crystal Method - Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes)

Daft Punk - Touch

Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)

Godsmack - Hollow

Godsmack - One Rainy Day

Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey

Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed

Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma

Jessie J - Bang Bang

Kiesza - Hideaway

King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black

Pink Floyd - Money

Skindred - Death to all Spies

Supertramp - Rudy

The Prodigy - Get Your Fight On

Witcher 2 Official Soundtrack

Moonstar

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Wonderful vocal, instrument and midrange presentation, Sound like a full sized open-back Headphone, Ideal for long listenings, Sexy Look
Cons: Some comfort issues
The ROSE Masya;
A earbud with an excellent and out of the head sound!



First of all, I would like to thank PenonAudio for giving me a discount in return for this review.


Here is the purchase link for the Rose Masya on PenonAudio;

http://penonaudio.com/Rose-Masya


Not: This is my first review in another language, so sorry for my bad English.







Introduction:

The company Rose Technology is founded by University students in China and is specialized in IEM and Earbuds.


The name Rose:

The company name Rose has actually nothing to do with the rose flower, the name spells in Chinese - '弱水‘, which actually means a mythical river (thanks to @ClieOS for this information).



Tracks and sources that I have use for this review:


a) Tracks:
  • Massive Attack – Angel (Tidal Hifi)
  • Celine Dion – The Power of Love (Apple Music)
  • Jehan Barbur – Seni Seviyorum (WAV 16bit 44khz)
  • Bang La Decks – Aide (Tidal Hifi)
  • Dr. Chesky’s – Pamafunck (Flac 24bit 192khz)
  • Lorde – Royals (24bit 48khz)
  • Mabel Matiz – Gel (320kbps)
  • Amber Rubarth – In the Creases (Tidal Hifi)
  • Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles

b) Sources:


Digital Sources: Chord Hugo, Shanling M2S, Walnut V2s, Ipad Air 2,
Earbuds: Rose Masya, Auglamour RX1



Specifications:

  • Driver Type: 1 x 16mm & 1x 10mm = 2 DD (dual dynamic driver)
  • Impedance: 12Ω
  • Earphone sensitivity: 98db/mW
  • Frequency range: 8-22000Hz
  • Cable Connection Type: 2-pin 0,75 mm interface
  • Interface: 3.5mm TRS jack
  • Cable Length: 1.2m±5cm
  • Weight: 18g (with cable)


Package and Accessories:


The Masya comes in a relative small and compact card box with a magnetic cover. The box contains a small carrying bag with the ROSE logo, a 2pin – 3,5mm TRS cable, a small plastic box with 3 pairs of soft foam cushions and a gold plated 3.5mm Female to 6.5mm Male adaptor.






BTW, on the front of the box is the motto of the company “Create difference” written.







Design and Build Quality:


As mentioned in previous reviews, the Masya’s outer shell is made of plastic using a complex 3D Printing Technology.

The Masya has a Retro look and is on the bigger side of earbuds. The quality of the shell is good and it looks really sexy.


BTW, it’s not a big deal but you can see some small imperfections on the sides and corners of the outer shell. It’s easily to understand that this earphone is not an industrial mass production unit and is more like a handmade boutique earbud with a special design.






The Masya has an 1.2cm long interchangeable, oxygen-free copper cable with 0,75mm diameter 2-pin connection that is thick, soft and without microphonic effects.
The bad thing about this cable is that the 0,75mm diameter is not a common like the 0,78mm 2-pin connection variant.

Compared to my other favorite erabud, the Auglamour RX1;

The RX1 has a more robust metal finish with a more modern looking design. It’s up to your personal taste but I love both. The RX1 is well made and looks more solid compared to the Masya, but I don’t think that the Masya is made of cheap plastic and it would surely survive a long period of usage.


The Masya has two dynamic drivers, same as the more expensive Mojito. The difference is that the Rose masya has 16mm & 10mm dynamic drivers and the Rose Mojito has 15.4mm & 10mm dynamic driver.



The Fit:

The RX1 has the upper hand when it comes to seal, comfort and insertion.
The earpiece of the Rose Masya is a bit bigger because the front driver has a diameter of 16mm, while the RX1 has only one driver with 15,4mm diameter.

Compared to the RX1 the insertion depth and holding position on your ears could a bit problematic for smaller sized ears.

But I think with the right foam cushions, especially the donuts, can provide a relative good seal.






The Sound:

I have burn-in the Masya for at least 80 Hours.

First of all, I am the sort of people that prefer in ear monitors (IEM’s), but after I listened to the RX1, I changed my mind. The sound of it was so spacious and detailed that I have started to search for Higher End erabuds.

The Rose Masya has a very expansive en effortless sound. It sound so out of my head that I was shocked at the first listening. So, I think the wow factor of this earbud is very high!



Tonality:

The Masya is a relative neutral earbud with a tad of warmth that comes from the midrange. It reminds me a little bit to the well known and one of my favorite open back headphone, the Sennheiser HD650.

The RX1 by the other side is in direct compassion more on the warm side of the sound spectrum.



The Bass:

The Bass is more on the Sub-bass side and without a good seal the Mid-bass region is a bit rolled off.


a) Sub-bass:
Track: Massive Attack – Angel



One of the strengths of the Masya vs. the RX1 is the sub-bass range, its reaches deeper has more definition and is also smoother when compared to the RX1. This region gives the Masya an immense body that is always welcome for an earbud.



b) Mid-Bass:
Tracks: Bang La Decks – Aide, Lorde – Royal, Dr. Chesky’s - Pamafunck



The mid-bass of the Masya have not the quantity of the RX1, it hits very well for an earbud, but the RX1 has the upper hand when it comes to quantity.

But, the game changes when it comes to quality.

The issue with the mid-bass of the RX1 is that it bleeds in to the midrange and the texture of the RX1 is not at the same level of the Masya. When compared next to the Masya, the RX1 sound hollow and muddy.


The Mid and Vocals:

Tracks: Mabel Matiz – Gel, Amber Rubarth – In the Creases,


This is where the Masya really shines. The midrange of the Masya is maybe the strongest and most impressive region and the rally highlight of this earbud.

The resolution and clarity of the mids is very good. It’s so emotional and musical that both, male and female vocals sounding crystal clear and emotional.


Also the instruments like piano, guitar or flutes don’t sound overly bold or thin. It a little colored in nature but it’s not annoying.


The RX1 on the other hand has the big problem with its mid-bass bleed. Vocals and instruments are sounding to warm, muddy and unnatural. I am not saying that the RX1 has a bad midrange, it sound very good for its price, but it can’t keep up with the glory of the Rose Masya.


Highs:

Tracks: Celine Dion – The Power of Love, Jehan Barbur – Seni Seviyorum


Highs have a nice resolution. There is no sibilance, it’s also non-fatiguing and is ideal for long listening periods.

The highs give the Masya a vivid and smooth presentation. With a good seal you can’t go wrong, because it sounds not harsh or overly aggressive like other earbuds with poor seal.



Soundstage:

Tracks: Track - Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles

The soundstage is very wide and has a holographic presentation that gives you the impression that you listen from a full-sized open back headphone. That’s a great wow factor and among the best of many earbud. When it comes to depth think it is also above average.



Conclusion:

The Masya is a wonderful sounding earbud that have many thing common with its full-sized brothers.
The only drawback of the Masya is the diameter of the earpiece.

Peoples with small ears should use donut foam cushions for a better seal.


By the end, I think that both Rose Masya and the Auglamour RX1 is one of the best sounding earphones in its price range.



Thank you for reading my review.



The END:beerchug:


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