NOTES: Timsok Audio may not be a well known company to many. I myself was unaware of them until a member of our review group, Canuck Audioholics Anonymous, took a chance on ordering the TS-316. I am so happy that he did as this iem has proven to tick all my boxes when it comes to the musically organic sound I crave. Founded in 2018 Timsok is made up of founders and partners with over 20 years of experience. They have flown under the radar for far too long. At an asking price of $499usd the Timsok Audio TS-316 is at the top of their iem range which...

Disclaimer: The EA500 LM was provided by Simgot for a review NOTES: Simgot has been around a while but has risen to prominence over the last year or so and is now a brand that is widely recognized. The EA500 LM, $90usd, is the second iteration of the celebrated OG EA500 and the shell design is pretty much identical. It is the sound that has changed, and for the better. Driver compliment is still a single dynamic driver consisting of a Lithium-Magnesium dome diaphragm. This is the first major change from the original EA500. Simgot claims that this...

NOTES: Thieaudio is no stranger to those who are in the know. They have been designing and manufacturing quality products for some time now. The Hype 10 is the top of the Hype series coming in at $899usd. Thieaudio has a number of lines which include both iem and headphones topping out at the $1500usd Voyager V16 Divinity. The Hype 10 has a driver compliment of two dynamic drivers and ten balanced armatures per side. Amongst the BA driver loadout genuine Knowles SWFK 31736 series ultra-tweeters from the USA, along with two Sonion E50DT midrange and...

Disclaimer: The NiceHCK was provided form NiceHCK for an honest evaluation. NOTES: NiceHCK is a company which is best known for their line of high quality cables for iems. I myself have purchased and still own a number of these. They also produce iems and I have recently reviewed their planar driver offering the F1 Pro and did like it quite a bit. Today I have in my ears for evaluation the $23 DB2. The DB2 boasts a driver compliment of a single 10mm Titanium plated dynamic driver paired with a lone balanced armature housed in an attractive resin...

Disclaimer: The NiceHCK F1 Pro was graciously provided by NiceHCK. NOTES: NiceHCK is a company which is best known for their line of high quality cables for iems. I myself have purchased and still own a number of these. They also have their hands in iem manufacturing and the iem I am reviewing to day if called the F1 Pro. It is my understanding that there was an OG F1, but I am unfamiliar with that item so that’s all I’ll talk about that. The F1 Pro has a driver compliment of a single newly developed 14.2mm Planar driver. The driver is housed...

Disclaimer: The Canon 2 was graciously provided by Yanyin for an honest review. NOTES: One of the definitions of the word Canon is “a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine:” With the Canon II Yanyin has set out to produce an iem aimed at reproducing sound that is genuine and faithful. Yanyin is not your typical company. Their releases are spaced much farther apart than traditional Chi-Fi companies and it’s obvious that some time and attention are paid to each new product release. The Canon II is the second iteration of the well...

NOTES: The Kinera Freya 2 is the 2nd iteration of the well-known Freya. The hybrid driver compliment included a single 7mm dynamic driver and three Knowles balanced armatures per side. Tech aside the Freya2 has to me one of the more attractive sets I have seen. Looks can only get you so far though, in fact not very far as here it’s all about the sound. The sound signature of the Freya2 is balanced with a slight bass emphasis. I’ll just put this out there now. The Freya2 is more suited for casual listening or chillaxing as opposed to critical...

NOTES: The Simgot EA1000 Fermat is yet another release from this manufacturer of high quality iems. Coming in at $220 USD, the EA1000 has a few tricks up its sleeve with a driver compliment that not only includes and advanced 10mm dynamic driver but a 6mm Passive radiator as well. This brings back memories growing up around lots of different speakers some of which used the same tech. As opposed to a ported design, the passive radiator has a diaphragm with no motor, voice coil and magnet, utilizing the pressure from the main woofer to move said...

Disclaimer: The R1 was supplied by ARTTI. NOTES: The ARTTI R1 is an interesting release from a company that is new to me. They have, at the time of this review, three models. The T10 which uses a planar driver, the R2 which is a soon to be released sports a single 10mm Beryllium Plated driver. The R1 on review today uses a three dynamic driver setup consisting of two “6mm PU suspension edge and titanium dome dynamic drivers, combined with an 8mm custom composite beryllium diaphragm dynamic driver.” Three dynamic drivers without a balanced armature...

Disclaimer: The Kiwi Ears Quintes was sent to my by Linsoul in exchange for an unbiased review. NOTES: The Kiwi Ears Quintet isn’t anything if it not ambitious. Retailing for Disclaimer: The Kiwi driver technologies into an overall surprisingly cohesive package of form and function. The Quintet boasts a driver compliment of five drivers per side. A single dynamic driver, two balanced armatures, one planar and one PZT driver. This is a mouthful for sure and a recipe for disaster unless there is a high level of skill behind the implementation and...

NOTES: Celeste is yet another sub-brand of Kinera. I have had experience with a number of the Celeste offerings including the Gumiho and Pandamon, both of which were quite good. Still, I try not to let my past experiences influence my present iem reality. I can’t say that there is discernible house sound that defines or separates Kinera from it’s sub-brands Celeste & QoA. I do know that there have been more than a few great iems released regardless of the branding. The Phoenixcall is a very distinctive looking iem with a sound that features a...

NOTES: The 7Hz Zero2 is the second iteration of the well received original Zero. This time around 7Hz continues its collaboration with Crinacle while upgrading the driver, cable and tweaking the tuning. Boasting a single 10m dynamic driver, the Zero2 is the epitome of simplicity as far as driver count and tech goes. This could actually be a good thing as in the right hands, less is usually more. The Zero2 is easy to drive and I would recommend a more neutral source since with it’s new found bass prowess, things may get out of hand when driven by...

NOTES: QOA is yet another offshoot brand of Kinera. They join Celeste in this regard in bringing to market quality products with careful attention to both form and function. Tuning wise the Aviation is blessed with a sound that bucks the prevailing Harmon based trend yet does not stray far enough away to alienate those who have become accustomed to that type of sound. The Aviation boasts a driver compliment of three Knowles Balanced Armature drivers and a single 8mm Dynamic Driver. That’s some quality hardware to begin with but is not a guarantee...

Disclaimer: The ZiiGaat Nuo was provided by Linsoul for my unbiased review. NOTES: ZiiGaat is a new name, at least to me, in the iem space. Ziigaat states that they have been designing oem products for numerous audio global brands for over 10 years. The name ZiiGatt stands for “Zero-in on Ideas, Innovate, Grow and Achieve All Together”. Quite a mouthful but this is backed up by the great performance of the Nuo, which if the first in the Pluse series as per ZiiGaat. Driver compliment consists of a single 10mm LCP diaphragm driver. The...

Disclaimer: The EW200 was provided by Simgot for a fair review NOTES: The Simgot EW200 is the third product I’ve listened to from this manufacturer. This model is lower down in their line, but this does not mean it is not worthy, exactly the opposite I would argue. The Ew200 has a design reminiscent of an old classic the HZ Sound Heart Mirror, but that’s where the similarity ends. While each are single dynamic driver designs, they sound obviously different. The EW200 boasts a single 10mm SCP diaphragm with dual magnetic circuit and dual...

NOTES: Plunge Audio is the epitome of a boutique brand. From manufacturing to marketing, the company is a one man show. Each iem is hand built in Canada and the Unity has very unique characteristics that set itself aside from virtually all the competition. Firstly, it is not made of the typical resin or metal but of a 3d printed vinyl material. This required a special printer to be employed to take advantage of this material’s unique properties. In addition, the design of the shell itself is interesting for its nozzle angulation which more closely...

Disclaimer: The Kiwi ears Melody was provided to me by Linsoul for an unbiased review. NOTES: The Kiwi Ears Melody is an interesting release, insomuch as it is the only iem in their lineup that uses a planar driver. The Melody sports a 12mm planar driver as its sole noise maker. Kiwi Ears does state that the driver is an in-house design. The iem itself is of an unassuming design and retail presentation. Not much to see here really and as usual, any iem I listen to will be judged primarily by sound quality. The Melody offer a warm v-shaped tuning...

NOTES: The Soundrhyme DTE900 stands at the top of this manufacturers product line and is touted as their TOTL product. At $800 USD this iem while not being cheap, is far from the asking price of other TOTL products out there, in particular when its overall performance is considered. The driver compliment enforces that standing with a single 9mm dynamic driver, four Knowles balanced armatures and four Sonion EST drivers per side. That’s a lot of high quality and Soundrhyme have obviously made a serious effort with the DTE900. Readers of my past...

NOTES: Established in 2017, Softears is a Chinese based manufacturer of higher end iems. Their moto is “Hear The Truth” which is a bold statement. The $930 USD Twilight, at least with respect to driver count, is the simplest model in their lineup sporting a single 10mm dynamic driver housed in an unusually shaped housing made of aviation grade aluminum. Simple does not mean easy and Softears has spent much time developing the driver and the shells internal cavity structure to extract as much quality sound as possible. In this day of high driver...

NOTES: The Tin Hifi C0 is an interesting product on many fronts. Firstly, Tin Hifi have gone for an open back “Bullet” style of form factor. Secondly is the build quality and driver used. And lastly is the sound quality which does hit above its modest asking price of $18 usd. Sporting a single 10mm Titanium coated PU diaphragm dynamic driver, the C0 is simplicity itself. What is interesting here is its open back housing design which promises some interesting sound. As per usual the proof is always in listening. The listener...