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7Hz Five
- Added by SherryLion
- Create date
FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Warm and musical with a natural tonality
Airy and extended treble
Wide soundstage
Bass is impactful, punchy, and has slam, without being overwhelming or bloated
Midrange is emotive, detailed, and incisive
Small shells for packing lots of drivers
Surprisingly easy to drive for 5 DD's
Airy and extended treble
Wide soundstage
Bass is impactful, punchy, and has slam, without being overwhelming or bloated
Midrange is emotive, detailed, and incisive
Small shells for packing lots of drivers
Surprisingly easy to drive for 5 DD's
Cons: Not the cleanest or clearest midrange
Not the most resolving or shimmery treble
Not the most detailed in micro details or stage depth
Not the most resolving or shimmery treble
Not the most detailed in micro details or stage depth
7hz FIVE
Let's get started. So I begin by saying I purchased this IEM with my own pocket change. I was able to buy it directly from Linsoul for $70.00 with a LEC code and discount price on 11.11, so this review is not for a review unit, but a personal purchase. The special sauce uniqueness of the 7Hz FIVE is the fact it's packing 5, yes, you read that right, FIVE dynamic drivers per side!! That's got to be some sort of record for a mainstream manufacturer?! Five 6mm dynamic drivers in a small unintrusive shell. So buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a 100% unbiased review with heartfelt observations and thoughts. now on to the fun stuff.
The unboxing experience was decent. Seen better and seen worse. The sleeve is slick, with the company logo, 7Hz FIVE and a pic of the IEMs, proclaiming their 10 drivers, and the back has some specs and an exploded view of the IEMs. Inside the box, we have the IEMs and the flat 4 wire cable in a holder, and below them, a really interesting case. It's a soft vinyl like material, I've rarely come across. Inside we have the tips. The tips are actually really nice, and the large are actually large, so I was able to use the stock tips briefly, but like I always do, I rolled them to Spinfit CP100+. The stock cable is decent, if not unique, with it's flat, 4 parallel wire design. It's sturdy and attractive, but I rolled to a XINHS HS128 mixed alloy cable. Shells are smallish to medium small, bean shaped, with a beautiful goldish faceplate, and black contours. For packing 5 dynamics, the shell is quite comfortable, and I could wear them for hours without itch or discomfort. The FIVE are relatively easy to drive from any source, but definitely scale with power, or high gain, and will optimize with higher power sources.
So now that we have the unboxing experience out of the way, let's move on to the sound? That's what you're all here for anyways!! It's time to get it on!!...but first, let me share with all of you some information about the IEMs themselves. Internals, specs, and a graph? fun times indeed!
THE SPECS :
7Hz FIVE :
Frequency response graph courtesy of @baskingshark.
PRICE : $149.00
Available for purchase at this location.
The Gear :
What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??
I love to source roll, from the Little Bear B4-X + Hiby R3 II, Sony NW-A25, and Sony NW-A55 as primary sources with the Cayin N3 Ultra (Modern Tube mode, H gain, no EQ, slow roll off filter) the most used source. I tried to stay away from overly warm daps.
Music used for the review and all my reviews in general?
Ezra Collective - Dance, No One is Watching
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Hugo Kant - Far From Home
Alfredo Rodriguez - Coral Way
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel Trio - Dutch Weather
Yazmin Lacey - Voice Notes
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Adon (2024)
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
Dynamics : 4.5
Resolution : 3.5
Details : 3.5
Instrument separation : 3
Imaging : 4
Sibilance : 1
Bass Impact : 4
Soundstage : 4.5
Overall score : 4/5
BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :
As the name suggests, these are 5 DD jam packed into a rather small shell for 5 DD's! Now I think they are all 6mm DD's, so basically micro dynamic drivers. my previous record holder for dynamic drivers was the CCA Trio, with 3 DD's per side. The nozzles are sorta long, but thin, and the shells are medium small, so very comfortable to wear for long sessions without any discomfort or itch. These are U shaped, with a slight bass boost and balance throughout the frequencies, and yes, they can pump out some bass, both mid and sub, and especially if you use 4.4mm balanced and high gain. That 6mm driver can really deliver a bassy experience, BUT, it's not a overwhelming bass presence, a bleedy bass, or bloated bass. No, i'd say it's a balanced punchy bass with sub bass slam, that has plenty of quality and quantity if wanted. Is it the most resolving, elastic or note incisive bass? Nope. That would be the AFUL Performer 5+2, 81T, or the Lowmaster. This has a bit of presence like the Explorer or the CCA Trio.
Now, I don't think these are fully burned in yet? Dynamics typically take a bit longer to burn in, and with FIVE dropped in here, these might open up after a few more hours, but I'll find out soon enough. There's a nice warmth to the midrange and the mid bass that's really pleasant. The tonality is VERY NATURAL, there's a warmth and weight to instruments and voices that are present and emotive. Both male and female. Instrument separation and detail retrieval are not it's forte. it's no slouch, but I'd say the Trio has better micro details and stage width, but imaging and spatial cues are more spaced out and accurate and naturally positioned. To clarify further, it's more musical than the Trio due to it having more warmth and midrange thickness.
Upper mids and treble are more incisive and refined than the CCA Trio, though air and extension are very close to equal, there's a sense of resolution and greater extension and shimmer, that again, has a more natural tonality, though honestly, the Trio doesn't have unnatural or metallic treble tonality either. The whole package of the FIVE just feels more refined and musical, while delivering a balance with a slight bass boost.
OVERALL :
The 7Hz FIVE excels at being fun and musical, with a high degree of technicalities. Now, it's not the most detailed or technical, but it's still quite above average, just not stellar like the Performer 5+2, ISN EBC80, or the Juzear 81T Dragonfly. Since these landed, they have ascended to being one of my favorite IEMs. They are most definitely top 5 purchases for 2024, and were exactly the upgrade to the CCA Trio I envisioned them being when I purchased them. Similar to how the ISN EBC80 were the upgrade to the ISN H60, these are indeed better, more refined, bassier, with more resolution and treble extension than the Trio, with more musicality, even if the thickness in the midrange doesn't allow it to be more detailed than the more clean, clear Trio midrange.
Genres these excel in? Well, I'm almost tempted to call these all-arounders, and so far, there hasn't been a genre that has sounded bad or unusual with the FIVE, but the genres where these are BOSS LEVEL are :
1. Reggae
2. Hip Hop/Pop
3. Jazztronica/Downtempo
4. Hard Rock
5. Funk & Acid Jazz
6. Classic Rock
Now they didn't dethrone the CCA Trio as a metal BOSS, but it's not like they play it back badly, it's just a bit too warm for many sub-genres, that require more clean midrange and mid bass elasticity and snap. But for most other genres, these provided a beautifully musical and warm playback that tackled genres with aplomb. Advantage : 7Hz FIVE.
CONCLUSION :
The 7hz FIVE are underappreciated because they came out at exactly the same time as the Binary Audio DynaQuattro, but got less samples sent out, so less press. These are $100 cheaper than the DQ, are far easier to drive (surprisingly easy for 5 DD's), and from impressions, are as natural sounding and technical as the DQ. They should have been at the forefront ahead of the DQ, just from a drivability and comfort standpoint. These are some of the best musical IEMs in the sub $200 sector, and deserve more attention and owners. I'm excited for how they will sound when they are fully burned in and optimized, because even now, they are an outstanding and refined listen. They are better than the CCA Trio and TRN ST7, more comfortable than the Juzear 81T, bassier than the P5+2, and more musical and balanced than the AFUL Explorer, so If you can get it for under $120, then it's HIGHWAY ROBBERY! At their retail price, they are a fantastic no-brainer must buy!
RECOMMENDATION LEVEL : BOSS LEVEL - HIGH 8/10.
Thank you so much for reading and remember to be water with your audio luv! When you do...AUDITORY ZEN UNLOCKED!
Let's get started. So I begin by saying I purchased this IEM with my own pocket change. I was able to buy it directly from Linsoul for $70.00 with a LEC code and discount price on 11.11, so this review is not for a review unit, but a personal purchase. The special sauce uniqueness of the 7Hz FIVE is the fact it's packing 5, yes, you read that right, FIVE dynamic drivers per side!! That's got to be some sort of record for a mainstream manufacturer?! Five 6mm dynamic drivers in a small unintrusive shell. So buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a 100% unbiased review with heartfelt observations and thoughts. now on to the fun stuff.


The unboxing experience was decent. Seen better and seen worse. The sleeve is slick, with the company logo, 7Hz FIVE and a pic of the IEMs, proclaiming their 10 drivers, and the back has some specs and an exploded view of the IEMs. Inside the box, we have the IEMs and the flat 4 wire cable in a holder, and below them, a really interesting case. It's a soft vinyl like material, I've rarely come across. Inside we have the tips. The tips are actually really nice, and the large are actually large, so I was able to use the stock tips briefly, but like I always do, I rolled them to Spinfit CP100+. The stock cable is decent, if not unique, with it's flat, 4 parallel wire design. It's sturdy and attractive, but I rolled to a XINHS HS128 mixed alloy cable. Shells are smallish to medium small, bean shaped, with a beautiful goldish faceplate, and black contours. For packing 5 dynamics, the shell is quite comfortable, and I could wear them for hours without itch or discomfort. The FIVE are relatively easy to drive from any source, but definitely scale with power, or high gain, and will optimize with higher power sources.


So now that we have the unboxing experience out of the way, let's move on to the sound? That's what you're all here for anyways!! It's time to get it on!!...but first, let me share with all of you some information about the IEMs themselves. Internals, specs, and a graph? fun times indeed!
THE SPECS :
7Hz FIVE :

Technical Information:






Frequency response graph courtesy of @baskingshark.
PRICE : $149.00
Available for purchase at this location.
The Gear :
What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??
I love to source roll, from the Little Bear B4-X + Hiby R3 II, Sony NW-A25, and Sony NW-A55 as primary sources with the Cayin N3 Ultra (Modern Tube mode, H gain, no EQ, slow roll off filter) the most used source. I tried to stay away from overly warm daps.

Music used for the review and all my reviews in general?
Ezra Collective - Dance, No One is Watching
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Hugo Kant - Far From Home
Alfredo Rodriguez - Coral Way
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel Trio - Dutch Weather
Yazmin Lacey - Voice Notes
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Adon (2024)
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
Dynamics : 4.5
Resolution : 3.5
Details : 3.5
Instrument separation : 3
Imaging : 4
Sibilance : 1
Bass Impact : 4
Soundstage : 4.5
Overall score : 4/5
BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :
As the name suggests, these are 5 DD jam packed into a rather small shell for 5 DD's! Now I think they are all 6mm DD's, so basically micro dynamic drivers. my previous record holder for dynamic drivers was the CCA Trio, with 3 DD's per side. The nozzles are sorta long, but thin, and the shells are medium small, so very comfortable to wear for long sessions without any discomfort or itch. These are U shaped, with a slight bass boost and balance throughout the frequencies, and yes, they can pump out some bass, both mid and sub, and especially if you use 4.4mm balanced and high gain. That 6mm driver can really deliver a bassy experience, BUT, it's not a overwhelming bass presence, a bleedy bass, or bloated bass. No, i'd say it's a balanced punchy bass with sub bass slam, that has plenty of quality and quantity if wanted. Is it the most resolving, elastic or note incisive bass? Nope. That would be the AFUL Performer 5+2, 81T, or the Lowmaster. This has a bit of presence like the Explorer or the CCA Trio.
Now, I don't think these are fully burned in yet? Dynamics typically take a bit longer to burn in, and with FIVE dropped in here, these might open up after a few more hours, but I'll find out soon enough. There's a nice warmth to the midrange and the mid bass that's really pleasant. The tonality is VERY NATURAL, there's a warmth and weight to instruments and voices that are present and emotive. Both male and female. Instrument separation and detail retrieval are not it's forte. it's no slouch, but I'd say the Trio has better micro details and stage width, but imaging and spatial cues are more spaced out and accurate and naturally positioned. To clarify further, it's more musical than the Trio due to it having more warmth and midrange thickness.
Upper mids and treble are more incisive and refined than the CCA Trio, though air and extension are very close to equal, there's a sense of resolution and greater extension and shimmer, that again, has a more natural tonality, though honestly, the Trio doesn't have unnatural or metallic treble tonality either. The whole package of the FIVE just feels more refined and musical, while delivering a balance with a slight bass boost.
OVERALL :
The 7Hz FIVE excels at being fun and musical, with a high degree of technicalities. Now, it's not the most detailed or technical, but it's still quite above average, just not stellar like the Performer 5+2, ISN EBC80, or the Juzear 81T Dragonfly. Since these landed, they have ascended to being one of my favorite IEMs. They are most definitely top 5 purchases for 2024, and were exactly the upgrade to the CCA Trio I envisioned them being when I purchased them. Similar to how the ISN EBC80 were the upgrade to the ISN H60, these are indeed better, more refined, bassier, with more resolution and treble extension than the Trio, with more musicality, even if the thickness in the midrange doesn't allow it to be more detailed than the more clean, clear Trio midrange.
Genres these excel in? Well, I'm almost tempted to call these all-arounders, and so far, there hasn't been a genre that has sounded bad or unusual with the FIVE, but the genres where these are BOSS LEVEL are :
1. Reggae
2. Hip Hop/Pop
3. Jazztronica/Downtempo
4. Hard Rock
5. Funk & Acid Jazz
6. Classic Rock
Now they didn't dethrone the CCA Trio as a metal BOSS, but it's not like they play it back badly, it's just a bit too warm for many sub-genres, that require more clean midrange and mid bass elasticity and snap. But for most other genres, these provided a beautifully musical and warm playback that tackled genres with aplomb. Advantage : 7Hz FIVE.
CONCLUSION :
The 7hz FIVE are underappreciated because they came out at exactly the same time as the Binary Audio DynaQuattro, but got less samples sent out, so less press. These are $100 cheaper than the DQ, are far easier to drive (surprisingly easy for 5 DD's), and from impressions, are as natural sounding and technical as the DQ. They should have been at the forefront ahead of the DQ, just from a drivability and comfort standpoint. These are some of the best musical IEMs in the sub $200 sector, and deserve more attention and owners. I'm excited for how they will sound when they are fully burned in and optimized, because even now, they are an outstanding and refined listen. They are better than the CCA Trio and TRN ST7, more comfortable than the Juzear 81T, bassier than the P5+2, and more musical and balanced than the AFUL Explorer, so If you can get it for under $120, then it's HIGHWAY ROBBERY! At their retail price, they are a fantastic no-brainer must buy!
RECOMMENDATION LEVEL : BOSS LEVEL - HIGH 8/10.
Thank you so much for reading and remember to be water with your audio luv! When you do...AUDITORY ZEN UNLOCKED!
S
syd67
Tthanks for a good review. I hope I'll listen to them once.

FreeWheelinAudioLuv2
I hope you do, because you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how GOOD these underrated IEMs are.
Zerstorer_GOhren
1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: ● The composite shell structure is quite solid yet light.
● Utilitarian and minimalist design approach on its faceplate.
● Despite its size, it offers a comfortable fitting and also, it offers good passive noise isolation.
● A unique looking stock cable.
● Fairly well-accessorised with inclusions inside of its packaging box.
● A well-tuned coloured and fun sound profile.
● An authoritative and impactful bass response that some adherent bassheads will find pleasant and satisfying.
● Full sounding bass-clef instruments and deep male vocals
● Smooth, lush and energetic midrange.
● At least it has commendable correct timbre in most vocals and instruments.
● Bright and crisp treble response.
● Moderately roomy sound/speaker stage.
● Good layering and separation performance for an all-dynamic driver set-up IEM.
● Utilitarian and minimalist design approach on its faceplate.
● Despite its size, it offers a comfortable fitting and also, it offers good passive noise isolation.
● A unique looking stock cable.
● Fairly well-accessorised with inclusions inside of its packaging box.
● A well-tuned coloured and fun sound profile.
● An authoritative and impactful bass response that some adherent bassheads will find pleasant and satisfying.
● Full sounding bass-clef instruments and deep male vocals
● Smooth, lush and energetic midrange.
● At least it has commendable correct timbre in most vocals and instruments.
● Bright and crisp treble response.
● Moderately roomy sound/speaker stage.
● Good layering and separation performance for an all-dynamic driver set-up IEM.
Cons: ● Absolutely not for neutral heads.
● Recessed midrange.
● Instances of slight sibilance on sibilant-laden tracks.
● Not for Harman-tuning lovers.
● Quite finicky on power output especially on pairing it with high gain mode setting as it might sound distorted while listening it on low volume level in a usual normal gain mode might sound too dull and less engaging.
● Recessed midrange.
● Instances of slight sibilance on sibilant-laden tracks.
● Not for Harman-tuning lovers.
● Quite finicky on power output especially on pairing it with high gain mode setting as it might sound distorted while listening it on low volume level in a usual normal gain mode might sound too dull and less engaging.

7Hz just released a new IEM earphone that has some unusual driver set-up. This audio company put up some interesting products in the audio market for this year alone from ultra budget-level like the 7Hz AERO up to the midrange hybrid model, The 7Hz AURORA in which these sets have some strong assets that each of the model has an appealing factor to different strata of audio enthusiasts.

The product that will be featured here is a set with a penta-driver layout inside and will be priced at over US$100/£70. This is 7Hz FIVE, and as it was implied on its model name, it has 5 drivers implemented on its interior per side.




Interestingly, the drivers that were implemented are not of hybrid driver configuration but rather of the same driver technology which is a proven and tested one, dynamic driver. The dynamic driver technology that was implemented here are micro variant ones which have a smaller diameter of 6mm which are also found on other sets too that are usually used to handle on certain frequency sections. Each driver has its own acoustic tube inside and all of them were regulated by an electronic crossover made from imported electronic components to ensure better separation and exceptional clarity and a harmonious coherency of its overall frequency range.


Then, the drivers were encased in a composite shell chassis which is a modified UIEM-type format. The cavity base part is made of resin material while its faceplate panel is an aluminium alloy with diagonal patterns on its sand-blasted surface. Like almost all IEMs, this one has an interchangeable feature for its detachable cable and it utilises a 0.78mm bi-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism.




The stock cable of this one is quite unique as it has a 4-core design arrayed in a flat parallel structure which is composed of oxygen-free silver plated copper that was insulated with PVC shielding. The cable itself is quite supple, flexible and has some resistance against entanglement and it doesn't produce any microphonic effects. On its termination plug, it uses a standard 3.5mm single end with some quirky design of its termination jacket which is made of metal alloy and PVC material.


Regarding its wearability, while the shell sizes are on the medium size, it still offers a comfortable fitting into my medium-sized Asian lugholes and pairing it to any stock ear tips that were included inside(custom 7Hz barrel ear tips have actually become one of my favourite ear tips). It offers a commendable sealing as it provides me with excellent passive noise isolation as it is able to block external noises from the outside.


The product packaging of this one looks neat of its overall presentation with its medium-sized packaging box with some pictures and basic information regarding this set and it is fairly well-accessorised with inclusions.

These are the following contents inside of its packaging box:
- Pair of 7Hz FIVE IEM transducers
- Stock cable
- Rounded square rubberised storage case.
- 3 pairs of 7Hz H07 silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
- 3 pairs of 7Hz exclusive custom barrel-type ear tips in different standard sizes.
- 2 pairs of spare nozzle filters.
- 2 pairs of spare nozzle grills.
- User's manual


On power scaling, with five dynamic drivers, the 7Hz FIVE can be driven by typical modern portable devices like smartphones and tablets at barely optimal performance but pairing it with sources like headphone DAC/Amplifier dongles and DAPs will deliver a fuller and even more dynamic sound that truly shows its full sonic performance.

The 7Hz FIVE has a U to V-shaped sound profile (depends on choice of ear tips) which has a coloured and a warm tonality. It has more emphasis on low and high frequencies and a notched midrange presentation.

(FR graph was provided by @baskingshark , credits to him)

LOWS/BASS:
Overall, the bass response of this one is more focused on the mid-bass texture than sub-bass presence as it delivers a borderline boomy, slam and zest sound. This type of bass response will deliver an authoritative, depth and robustness on bass-clef instruments and male vocals.
Seemingly that sub-bass presence is fairly felt with rumbling and reverberation generated by some sub bass-centred instruments like synthesisers, drum machines and low tuned bass guitars and double basses. A well-textured mid bass conveys a good density on its note weight that affects the tonal colour of some instruments and also vocals, particularly on deep and low octave male vocals but there are some drawbacks as it tends to bleed towards the midrange frequency occasionally. Bass guitars have a broad and rasping sound while the double basses have these weighty and earthy sounds, and bass kick drums sound full and thunderous. On male vocals, basses have those deep resonating sounds with a dark tone and fullness on their voices while bass-baritones have some fullness, warm and dark timbre as they sound a bit woolly.
MIDRANGE:
The midrange of this one definitely has a recessed presentation but due to the mid bass smudge, it adds some warmth to add more weight and texture on male vocals while retaining an energetic sound which will add some vividness and lucidity on female vocals and some instruments.
On male vocals, baritones have some smooth and warm sound while tenors have brassy and a tad spiciness on their voices, countertenors seem to have emotive and at the same time, softness on their vocals. The female vocals like contraltos, mezzo-sopranos and sopranos, the contraltos have a sultry and chesty vocals as they sound rich and plush, mezzo-sopranos have a fiery and expressive sound on their vocals, and the last but not the least, sopranos have a shimmering and shining sound on their vocals in which somehow suits well with coloratura and lyric soprano-types.
And now for instruments, strings like guitars, cellos and violins, they sound growling, vibrant and lively respectively while on woodwinds, piccolos sound brilliant, concert flutes sound mellow, clarinets sound a bit warm and saxophones have a reedy sound on them. Regarding the brasses like trumpets, trombones and horns, correspondingly they sound full, sinister and robust with dark tonal colour on them. As for percussives, tom-toms have a warm and resonant sound, snare drums sound hard and penetrating, field drums have a tad booming sound and kettledrums have deep and booming sound.
Meanwhile, the pianos sound more balanced as they have a rich, sweet and clear tone on them.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
The 7Hz FIVE treble response is evidently on the brighter side of tuning as it has a scintillating and lively sound on them. This will certainly heighten a sense of crisp, clarity and definition on vocals and attack of instruments while maintaining some control not to sound harsh, piercing and shrilly although I noticed some slight sibilance a bit but only if I played some sibilant-laden tracks at incremental volume level between moderate and high volume steps.
The brilliance section has a moderate airy extension which is quite impressive for a set fitted with a micro dynamic driver and it has an intense sparkle on it. Cymbals sound bright while hi-hats have a short buzzing sound, and then glockenspiels sound glistening and striking and celestas sound sweet and velvety.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
The perceived sound/speaker size of this one is moderately roomy enough as it has an above-average width on its lateral span, good height reach and a desirable depth. Its stereo imaging projects a concave-like presentation with a well-layered soundscape with a satisfactory separation on them that I could locate the position of certain instruments and vocals that listening to an orchestra or jazz tracks are pleasant enough in terms of playback.
The cohesion of its multi-dynamic driver is remarkable in that these drivers deliver a fast transient response without any distortion at all. This set is fairly resolving in regards to resolution capability as it has a solid macro-dynamics and a competent micro-detail retrieval that has a sharp definition to extract details, nuances and subtleties of information from audio tracks whether its vocal ends, notation attacks or reverb tails.
PEER COMPARISONS:
7Hz LEGATO
- FIVE's probably preceded model, it also has an all dynamic driver set-up but in less quantity.
- It has 2 dynamic drivers of different shapes and it was encased in a solid aluminium shell chassis.
- Like all 7Hz sets, this one is pretty well-accessorised with inclusions.
- A bit more sensitive therefore it is easier to drive.
- It has a V-shape sound profile, a more solid and boomy bass response, a more recessed and warmer midrange and a bright but a tad less airy treble response.
- In technical performance, compared to the FIVE, it only has an average sound/speaker stage size, a bog standard two-dimensional stereo imaging, less impressive layering but it has more solid macro-dynamics.
BINARY ACOUSTICS DYNAQUATTRO
- Probably this one is the closest rival to the FIVE as it has the same driver configuration but more pricey.
- This one has an interesting driver set-up as it has three (3) dynamic drivers of different sizes and a passive radiator driver that were also encased in a composite shell chassis.
- This one is also fully-packed with contents inside of its packaging box and it has a stock cable with a modular termination plug.
- This set is actually harder to drive as you really need a better source that has a power delivery output option on either medium gain or high gain mode.
- This one has a U-shaped sound profile as it has more sub bass rumble and a punchy bass response, a less recessed midrange presentation with ample warm, rich and energetic sound for vocals and instruments, and a mildly bright and sufficiently airy treble response.
- On its technicalities, compared to the FIVE, it has similar sound/speaker stage projection, a more holographic stereo imaging presentation with good layering and separation, and on its resolution capability, it is quite less resolving particularly on micro-dynamics.
As I conclude this product assessment, the designing of the 7Hz FIVE was indeed a bold approach one by 7Hz as this is definitely an unpretentious set that doesn't follow any sound profiles that are espousing towards audiophile-approved tuning or any tuning references to experience high fidelity listening session but simply a likeable sound profile which is coloured, engaging and fun tuning just to add more vibrancy and enjoyment on our listening experience. The implementation of all dynamic driver set-up also proves the point of 7Hz that micro dynamic drivers are capable enough to match some other driver types in terms of tonal performance and also dynamic drivers are still the de facto popular choice among the audio driver technologies around.
This set is truly a solid device that doesn't have that “boring” tonality but rather a simply joyful experience that both casual and experienced audio enthusiasts could relate upon and in that said, a plainly coloured tuning will suffice enough for listening leisure.
The 7Hz FIVE is now available at LINSOUL, you can check the non-affiliated link that I've provided below.
LINK: 7HZ FIVE - LINSOUL

For more 7Hz product reviews, check out the following links that I've provided:
■ 7HZ LEGATO
■ 7HZ ZERO II
■ 7HZ AURORA
■ 7HZ AERO
■ 7HZ TIMELESS

SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: 7HZ FIVE
IMPEDANCE: 12Ω
SENSITIVITY: 105dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (5) DYNAMIC DRIVER(S)
TRACKS TESTED: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
P.S.
I am not affiliated to 7Hz nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KAITLYN WU of LINSOUL for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.




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Redcarmoose
Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: A fun, warm and balanced listen (some say it's a V shape, but I disagree) maybe U shaped?
Offers a smooth and cohesive stage that despite the graphs, is very even, complete and correct
5 custom DDs all of 6mm size
Leaning into a smoother, more coherent stage/image placement with zero off timbre from regular Hybrid tone
An individual chamber for each DD
Incredibly small for all that is inside
Comes with the latest selection of custom 7Hz ear-tips
Comes with a custom flat cable
Comes with a new style of zipper-case which holds everything well
Can be revealing of source and cables
Holds great detailed pace despite what you may guess
Due to innate smoothness good for people who have had bad luck with spicy (too bright) IEMs
Surprisingly small for having 5 6mm DDs inside
Sounds relatively good from a simple phone but will scale up with additional quality sources to a great place
Further advancement over the 7Hz Legato becoming a more mainstream tuning in the end
Offers a smooth and cohesive stage that despite the graphs, is very even, complete and correct
5 custom DDs all of 6mm size
Leaning into a smoother, more coherent stage/image placement with zero off timbre from regular Hybrid tone
An individual chamber for each DD
Incredibly small for all that is inside
Comes with the latest selection of custom 7Hz ear-tips
Comes with a custom flat cable
Comes with a new style of zipper-case which holds everything well
Can be revealing of source and cables
Holds great detailed pace despite what you may guess
Due to innate smoothness good for people who have had bad luck with spicy (too bright) IEMs
Surprisingly small for having 5 6mm DDs inside
Sounds relatively good from a simple phone but will scale up with additional quality sources to a great place
Further advancement over the 7Hz Legato becoming a more mainstream tuning in the end
Cons: Stage may depend on source for actualization
Never presenting one single quality as a speciality, meaning "OK" good at everything, but not master of any one quality
Never presenting one single quality as a speciality, meaning "OK" good at everything, but not master of any one quality
The 7Hz FIVE
A 5 DD IEM
Redcarmoose Labs August 23rd, 2024
The Hybrid name:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ultimate-ears-super-fi-5-eb-vs-ue-super-fi-5-pro.359811/
The name Hybrid really took hold in American culture when in 2005 the Toyota Hybrid automobile finally placed the term in the public psyche. The term being commonplace in such vehicles as submarines before that. The term “Hybrid” goes to describe any use of more than one driver methodology. So even a mixture of EST drivers, Balanced Armature Drivers and Dynamic Drivers are still technically Hybrids. The term Tribrid was first used in story-books to describe the layered characteristics of fictional fantasy characters yet also is fully descriptive of such IEMs.
In 2008 the Ultimate Ears “Super.fi EB” was the first “Hybrid” also later around 2012 came the $1200 AKG 3003......matching 2 Balanced Armature drivers with a Dynamic Driver. They didn’t even know to call them Hybrids though, they were simply called 3-way monitors, simply describing the number of drivers. The term Hybrid hadn’t been invented though the Hybrid IEM was. In those early times Unique Melody Merlin had a Hybrid as well. It wasn’t until 2014 when Sony dropped the XBA-Z5 that people started to really notice the idea. Around 2016 the Hybrid was in full-force. So if anything this review goes to show that Hybrid IEM philosophy is still in its infancy (and advancing) even though by nature we seem hyper-obsessed with new methods of IEM sound procurement.
The 7Hz FIVE
Really the above paragraphs have mostly nothing to do with the following review, except the FIVE does sound like a Hybrid in a way. Though the reality is they are using 5 6mm Dynamic Drivers to actually overcome a few issues that Hybrids have at times. Yep, this here is a watershed product for both the 7Hz company and a very different product here at Redcarmoose Labs. To where typically a multi DD configuration is a difficult thing for manufacturers to pull-off. Not only is 5 drivers per monitor in action, each driver has been sequestered into its very own 3D printed chamber! And the crazy part is even though all 5 6mm drivers are put into a smaller than average shell. Are you starting to feel the specialness here?
What is special about DDs?
The benefits of DDs are that they typically have better timbre than BAs or Planar IEMs. Now I don’t want to poo poo other ideas manufactures have, as of late because recently manufactures have started to fold in micro-planars into the midrange or treble only. So just remember all these new drivers ideas are occurring now as we speak, and each one has its own charm and abilities. Yet nothing is perfect. And………there are many things about the 7Hz FIVE that have confused the Head-Fi Community. Where people are quick to make options in this current onslaught of new IEMs everyday. Folks will brush over a new product with-out really giving it a second notice. And…..that is understandable due to the pure amount of information to take-in daily. Would it be better to somehow put the search criteria into a program and have the computer program make a list of IEMs to try? Could AI make your desire to try new IEMs slightly more streamlined and simple? The issue here is the FIVE in a few ways is still going to fly under the radar. Why?
This occurs because somehow the FIVE sound slightly different depending on the character of what is up-stream. I mean, you would think that an IEM would generally be wanted that would be sensitive enough to show you the personality of your amp…….or DAC. The issue of this is in the public's ideas the FIVE is only one way, when the reality is the FIVE can sound a few ways. Though in daily use I didn’t happen to find this as a big deal. To be sure you could hear the different sources in use, but really none of them were really wrong, as the FIVE continued to be itself.
What is the FIVE:
Treble and Midrange:
The FIVE showcases a very capable treble and upper midrange section, though in comparison to many IEMs in your collection it will be different. This difference is the fact that there is none of that BA bite. We are left with a smoother (and just as you would guess) more analog. When changing sources or cables there is definitely a sound change perceivable, yet the basic character is always present. There was even a noticeable stage difference between sources relaying each individual stage character, and even a sonic stage relay that had to do with cable and source changes. Many of you reading understand that stage (mainly midrange perception) can be dependent on tone frequency. This simply means get an IEM more (higher) pitched midrange from the source and/or cable and witness a broader midrange. And the FIVE really does change. Meaning there were times when the FIVE sounded narrower in stage, or wider in stage depending on the source and cable replay character. Yet at the same time putting a cable like the relatively smooth SIMGOT LC7 cable in 4.4mm offered exactly what you would expect, a thicker lower midrange.....really much different in use from a cable like a pure silver (100%) 5N AWG wire!
So yes, there were personality changes with different up-stream cable materials and source personalities, but the FIVE still held onto the way it ultimately was.
Bass:
It should be noted that to a point the FIVE has this delicate balance to wear the graph is the very farthest from the truth here.
What I’m saying is I have never seen an IEM that is so different from the graph. Really it sounds like a balanced U response in the end?
This caused an issue for me in that I actually didn’t want to include a graph even in this review as the sound of the FIVE is so different. Yet the other important thing to note is while this is slightly on the bass heavy side (note I said slightly) there are ways that the FIVE response can be moved away from its center. Meaning there is a definite “soul” to the FIVE, that while brighter cables and sources will get you to feel like the FIVE is offering more upper midrange details and faster pace (even a bigger midrange stage).........we don’t want to lose the warmth that really the FIVE is about.
Yet if I was to put my finger on why people would pass this up in general, it is the (false) graphical representation of the bass curve. You see people very much believe that the measurement here reflects how the IEM sounds, and folks have common ideas of what a great graph looks like………..not. Not here anyways……nothing could be farther from the truth, the graph is a lie.
Music:
Robert Miles
Dreamland
Children
44.1kHz - 16bit
Funny how a sample of music used in my understanding of an IEMs personality makes its way into the final write-up here. Yep, I used this song with multiple cables and sources, trying to get a grip on what the FIVE ultimately was. And sure part of the popularity of the song “Children” is due to being on (memory cards inside) multiple DAPs here at Redcarmoose Labs. But more than that it is the perfect song to use right off-the-bat to try and explain the FIVE bass personality. I’m choosing bass to delve into…………kind of a way to put out fires. Yep, the FIVE is nothing like the graph would have you believe it is. Here this review is very organic, letting the IEM take control of how it is written. You see every IEM is a story and if you are sensitive to that story in general, the review writes itself.
You have to realize that if the bass WAS the way it is listed in the graph it would take hold of much of the detail held in this song and overpower it. To where using the Sony WM1A with ASOS+ cable and my regular favorite wide-bore silicone ear-tips (as shown in the IEM pictures) the replay shows a perfect balance. Now perfect is a word rarely if ever used in IEM reviews, yet we can get away with it here. Yes, there is a smoother than guessed style of replay going the extra mile to guarantee long listening sessions without ever a hint of glare or too much brightness. There are still details due to 5 6mms in action, while at the same time this FIVE gets my recommendation especially for people who have had bad luck with IEMs being too bright, or reducing their listening times just due to treble sensitivity. I say this because even though the FIVE is not the most detailed IEM to comet this year, that’s not what it is trying to be. It’s not a detail monster, but the FIVE in a mood monster. It grabs hold of what the song’s message is and relates that to the listener. Sure the detail junky style of listener may or may not gravitate towards what the FIVE is doing on a regular basis? Still the FIVE is so polite and reserved, holding a bordering on perfect rendition of music, that I can also see the typical Head-Fi listener liking it for the purity at hand.
The Sony WM1Z:
Look, while the ASOS+ cable has a little bass sculpturing, and my typical wide-bore ear-tips of choice do seem to enhance pace and increase the stage…….here we are met with a satisfaction beyond what is expected. Sure the WM1Z was $3200 in it’s day, and sure the WM1Z makes almost every IEM ear-candy……….still isn’t this what Head_fi is about? The drama and the satisfaction of coming into an IEMs ability to generate a reality of prerecorded music.
DCD
Anastasis
Kiko
44.1kHz - 24bit
So going forward here we are met with not as expected big bass, but still tight and not lumbering style of bass. To where yes, we can hear into these 00:00 opening drums, and we can feel the drama of the bass synth at 00:18. Yet upon a second listen to the opening of this song there is another element which is performed really, really nice. A ride cymbal is positioned above out heads…….and the actual detail it contains in of note. Gone are those metallic tonalities, and opposite we are gifted with an extra form of detail in that the cymbals are like flat waves of sound, not bright, but holding a golden and subdued life. I say life as all of the details are really here, and the very best part is the separation into the stage where they are found. Maybe this is the separate chamber for the 6mm driver that is in-charge of the cymbals, I mean what else could it be? I will say that due to this specific realm of hardware EQ, the drivers relay simply what they are, none of that Planar timbre, or none of that BA timbre. What we are left with is definitely a form of musical instrument reality, and the best part is you don’t question it. It’s the little things that standout with a song like this, that overall if playback is correct we become immersed and focus on the music, not the IEM used. When that happens (as it is now) we then emotionally respond that this little 7Hz $149.00 is greater than the sum of its parts. I mean what can I say here. My first impressions were truly great, and I questioned the community as to why the FIVE wasn’t more loved and talked about. And sure enough the group responded that the issues were the look of the graph, that and the FIVE will sound slightly different from each source you use.
After seven days of burn-in and using my most favorite DAP we have a level of performance. That this level shows way more than you would expect, but of course me and 7Hz are together in bed. Lovers of sorts……..they can almost do no wrong in my eyes. Word is still up in the air in regards to the 7Hz Aero. This budget $14.99 9.2mm full range small little IEM is not the junior 7Hz Zero if you get my drift. No, and I wish it was….. Still that review is not out yet, and the 7Hz Aero is still on the burn-in rack. But to get to my point here is that 7Hz is really exploiting a very careful sound, one that they can call their own, and a sound that has similar characteristics no matter which 7Hz you ultimately choose in the end. Yet within that sound there are also IEMs which sound closer to the same sound, and IEMs that are tuned off to the outskirts of tonal ideas. Talking about the 7Hz Zero……my review introduced the Zero to the IEM community and as follows since August of 2022 the Zero has received over 72,000 clicks. That is quite the accomplishment for a little (then priced) $19.00 IEM. But to try and corral the 7Hz sound I would say, yes the Zero first edition and more the Zero 2 have gone and showcased what the 7Hz sound is about. With the 7Hz Zero 2 even explaining the sound more and offering more well-roundedness as a result. Even the TOTL $399.00 7Hz Aurora encapsulates everything that the basic 7Hz sound is about.
The $19.00 (then) 7Hz Zero:
The 7Hz FIVE sound:
Probably easier to explain not what the 7Hz sound is, but what it is not. Still using the Sony WM1Z, the ASOS+ cable and the FIVE with wide-bore ear-tips. Did I mention that the FIVE fits marvelously? One of the keys to sound is getting the fit correctly, because if an IEM does not fit right, you will never discover 100% of how it truly sounds.
The best way to describe the sound is the attitude with a group of dogs……..Yep. When things are going well around Redcarmoose Labs the Redcarmoose dogs (all three of them) are excited and happy. They are playful, and excited to be alive. Same as the feeling you get from a great IEM response, the feeling of all complete and not missing a thing. In my mind I am playful……..really lost in the emotional idea that the performers had when creating the music. They had an agenda. This agenda supersedes basic description, and catapults you emotionally to a special place. When IEMs showcase a flaw very much like the group of dogs, we will sense fear in that the sonic response is not all it is suppose to be, hence growling or even barking as to the occurrence of off tone, or off timbre, too bright or too dark, too much bass etc, etc.
Really all Head-Fi is about is play, and the FIVE has that play!
When we hear too much brightness or something about an IEM is not even, complete or correct we growl! Well we don’t growl out-loud, at least most of us don’t, but that’s the feeling that we get.
Impure Wilhelmina
Antidote
Antidote
48kHz - 24Bit
I have been a guitar player most of my life and it’s a joyous thing when simple guitar playing gets showcased to such full ability. The harmonics, the chords ringing in purity of tune. If there was any “Impure”…….sorry, but if there was anything off here we would notice and start to growl. That is all we want from IEMs…reproduction true to life, or at least a facsimile.
Impure Wilhelmina
Antidote
Everything is Vain
48kHz - 24Bit
The final song on this album starts with reverberations but when the guitar starts up at 00:08 we are instantly reassured as to the purity of signal. Now as such often guitars can be too forward or intense, that while this is distorted we find a comfort in knowing it may be close to what was attempted in the studio. People forget maybe that often a specific guitar and amplifier brand model combination is chosen for a desired tone. Along with that a specific microphone system was set-up to record that sound, along with a recording room which had its background effect. That along with the knob changes to the mids, bass and treble guitar amplifier…….to realize that specific end-sound. The recording engineer then adjusted his track's input to be of a style of tonal location balance, then afterwards the guitarist may hear replay to judge if the guitar sounded to be the right emphasis in the mix, in reference to the vocals and other instrumentation. Often we forget that music is both a scientific endeavor and an art. Same as IEMs, there is a scientific reason for how they sound, but also the human factor of tuning to find the right balance, that can not be learned from a graph.
Using medium volume I can hear how the opening guitar is multi tracked that there are two guitars off to the right and left along with a lead in the center……then maybe more. The exact beautiful part of this is how there is enough detail to give us (these) clues, except never is any of this too bright or scathing. What this all comes down to is hearing the harmonics and chords, the simpleness of the lead in the center, yet nowhere is the FIVE grabbing treble just for the sake of detail. Is this expression of so many guitar tracks better than what the Beatles did with limited tracks? Let’s just say it is different, a different era and a different way to go about the job of recording. I mean there is only a single guitar player in the band, yet there is so much added to the studio idea of how this song sound be in the end…………and sure enough the FIVE gets you that, that level of detail, even though the FIVE would not be considered a detail monster of a headphone, that’s not what it is about, the five is about timbre and changes in harmonics which the opener guitar chords of this song contain. At the 01:33 mark there are a few cymbals that take notice, upon backtracking we realize they have been there for awhile That my friends is the wonderful part of music, that sounds can exist dormant in the mix or little or no consequence yet still be there as an additional instrument device to take-on an almost sonic effect, to then be pushed into the limelight, saying "yep, we have always been there" “didn’t you notice? “
Cymbals then…….
At 01:37 the drums hit. But the song hasn’t really fully got going yet. We are still in the flow of guitar chords and a lead. Also strangely than how you would guess at the 01:37 mark the song progresses to where the melody first shown by the lead guitar is now of more importance. At 02:08 the vocals continue to substantiate this on-going melody theme. Now typically with the Heavy Metal genre it will be the vocal personality more often than not that lays way to personal popularity. Meaning normally listeners will like the vocals or not. Here though I’m just "OK" with the vocals, having more respect for how this particular album has been accepted by the music community. Meaning as listeners we can slightly put the vocals on the back burner in regards to our opinion of them, and still enjoy the song for what it is in the end. And………as a matter of fact the FIVE as a competent IEM, goes forward to not make these vocals particularly forward, or really behind either. And in this instance, I like that ability. Meaning the response is very middle of the road, as is the bass and treble……………again nothing like the graph would have you guess. At 02:55 we are really coming to terms with what this particular song has evolved into, too. Showcasing the story and pace that included takes this number to its rightful conclusion.
It is the unfolding of this song that the FIVE happens to subtly go along with, meaning any vibrance is often downplayed in a respectful and satisfying way!
After this point the band decide the time is right to not only re-emphasize the basic theme but to introduce off-tune even out of key introductions. Sure the band challenges our ideas as to what basic music like this could be, but the song holds such a simple framework, that it kind-of asks for this twisting, and churning of sonic elements. Yet luckily they come back to a basic idea of the song as it fades away.
Comparisons:
Left to right:
The AS10 PRO, the 7Hz FIVE and the TINHIFI DUDU
The FIVE:
The 7Hz FIVE is more money, but at $149.00 it is still comparable to the $68.99 AS10 PRO. The difference you ask? 5 DDs in action…….yep, so here really in many ways we are witnessing the opposite. Though still the FIVE is not perfect, in that the FIVE will move forward to sound a little different from each source. The FIVE is source dependent to a fault. Still that doesn’t mean it’s a bad IEM, it is just a confusing IEM in tonality. Also many were confused by the FIVE graph. See, many take graphs literally to understand the sound of an IEM. Sure the graph is all they have in hand, but let me tell you with the FIVE there has almost never been an IEM released that sounds so totally different from the graph. Probably the most confusing item is the FIVE bass representation, to where the graph shows a heavy bass, when in listening really the FIVE comes across as more balanced.
The FIVE v AS10 PRO:
Here is the thing, the AS10 PRO is a smidge brighter and holding those faster decays we have come to know from BAs. The tuning is lighter and airer, yet still holding a nice bass tone, though if this was a boxing match, the FIVE throws bass with a more complete and cohesive demeanor, there is just more of it, holding this buttery smoothness that only a DD could add. But more than that the FIVE is smoother across the whole frequency spectrum (5 DDs), where when you first compare the two, you are thinking this FIVE is simply way better in all ways, but to place the AS10 PRO back in, it has a slight steeliness that the FIVE never does, except you can’t argue with the synthetic AS10 PRO detail. My 7Hz FIVE review will follow this one. Do I favor the FIVE over the AS10 PRO? What do you think? OH, and the FIVE is actually smaller than the AS10 PRO, go figure, that they were able to cram all those 5 DDs into a smaller place, to where sure the AS10 PRO is smaller than some of the KZ brothers, but in a way that’s not saying much.
The TINHIFI DUDU v AS10 PRO:
A more cohesive Planar approach with the DUDU, while at the same time also holding the essential Planar off-timbre. As such the timbre is coming from a less aggressive BA texture, to where BAs are like point light sources and Planar images are larger flatter affairs. The DUDU entertainment though comes from a different stage positioning of imagining elements, as they are bigger and almost floaty in presence. Yet still the DUDU still holds a thinner nature, especially compared to the FIVE. Yet that DUDU thinner nature is also a rearrangement of stage elements from the AS10 PRO, where sound takes place more out to the sides of the stage, and the AS10 PRO delivers items which are actually holding more careful sculpturing, holding more thickness in (inside the stage) and holding a more separated BA character.
Build:
3D printed and holding a very detailed style of faceplate with a solid aluminum build, and grip providing texture, showing the 7Hz emblem shine at various angles. A slightly angled 2 pin is seen next to the trademark 7Hz three vent holes as shown in the photos. Now I’m not saying all 7Hz have this three hole vent system, but I’m pretty sure we as consumers have not seen the end of it in use. Presenting a smooth kidney-shaped design that will remind many of a swimming pool. The only writing besides the logo atop will be the name “FIVE” acros the side with a market as to L or R. Finally we come to the nozzle which happens to reach the perfect length, even allowing me to use my shallow wide-bore preferred ear-tips. Two extra a side filters and screens are included just incase you lose one, yet this style of filter is set back and fully out of harms way!
Packaging:
The included cable:
One of the more entertaining parts of this review has been the cable, as the cable IS different, just look at it! You have a choice when ordering a 3.5mm or 4.4mm plug. While I received the 3.5mm, it was on the slightly heavy side with the cable by itself being 23 grams. Here the cable is not exactly as it seems, as the plug seems like it would be hard brittle plastic, but no, the plug has strain relief built in and will bend a little at the end. The cable itself has a special nameplate on it that says “FIVE” as well as ear-hooks which are also (very) slightly bendable at the 2Pins.
Phone use:
Where if you only had a phone, the FIVE shows promise and holds a warm thick demeanor, asking for better source quality to climb out of its lackadaisical mood. Still where you can almost max your phone out as far as volume, the stage is well populated with much of the regular styles of items, especially in the mids, as an entertaining minimal listen. Probably the most important aspect of phone use is that the FIVE is very much itself, refraining from any stark or too brittle of playback……holding the basic warmth that we have come to know its personality as holding.
Conclusion:
Here we are taken for a fun ride. The traveling is to a different part of town, as expected with an unconventional driver make-up. This ability of 5 6mm drivers has a few interesting attributes. Number one, the divers due to all being DDs and all of the same size contribute to a kind of uniform cohesiveness that never goes away, no matter what you throw at the FIVE, and I like that. We don’t need to talk about graphs or different sources to learn that the FIVE still bucks the system. The system which has been put in-place (by your IEM purchasing history) and takes hold of all your personal preconceptions of what an IEM could be. I will use only two words to hopefully change those ideas: the words of……
1) Balanced (always)
2) Smooth (you can never guess just how smooth)
Now even if that didn’t disrupt your ideas, I’m going to offer a single more IEM comparison.
The 7Hz FIVE v the 7Hz Aurora:
You see this package from Linsoul actually contained a total of 5 things. I was a little overwhelmed as to what I was going to review first. But if I would have known I was going to like the FIVE so much, I wouldn’t have waited a week to open the box. So the FIVE is kind-a like that, in that you will underestimate both the ability and the sound…….not necessarily grabbing it and taking a look-see straight-away……….but then upon hearing it you say “of course” to yourself. You see 7Hz has never made the same IEM 2X, even their idea of a different new Zero, the 7Hz Zero 2 is amazingly different and complete. Yet while different, each IEM is also closely resembling 7Hz ideas as to sound, that you know that they all came from the same company.
Yet the importance of the Aurora separates it from the pack!
Yep, I keep the few TOTL Flagships (I have) in a separate case. That placing away from the pack goes to not only makes them easy to find upon using them, it also signifies the sound and importance of their existence. You see I love the Aurora, and I still like it more than the FIVE, only being they are so rudimentarily different, having both is actually a value. Now you may be wondering why I would compare a $399.00 with a $149.00 IEM?
From Linsoul on the Aurora:
Tribrid Driver Configuration: The Aurora boasts a tribrid driver configuration, optimizing a 12mm dynamic driver, two balanced armature drivers, and a 6mm planar driver for cohesive, high-quality sound across the spectrum.
12mm Composite Dynamic Driver: Explore the depths of sound with our newly developed 12mm composite diaphragm dynamic driver. Offering a wide frequency response and ultra-low distortion, this large dynamic driver ensures a rich, immersive audio experience with profound bass and pristine clarity.
Dual Balanced Armature Driver: Experience the perfect synergy of a custom-tuned midrange dual balanced armature driver, precisely developed for directional response. Paired with an accurate 3-way crossover circuit and the excellent cohesion between dynamic and planar drivers, it results in a smooth and flat frequency response curve.
Micro 6mm Planar Driver: Elevate your listening experience with the 6mm micro planar driver, delivering enhanced versatility, high-frequency detail, and an airy ambiance. Immerse yourself in a transparent and lifelike soundscape, where every nuance is captured with remarkable clarity and precision.
The FIVE v Aurora:
Here is why I would chose to compare the FIVE against the Aurora in this review:
I don’t think 7Hz would have ever arrived at one without the other. Meaning sure they have different parts inside, yet their shells have very similar design ideas. Both are 3D printed and both have an array of three holes under the lip of the faceplate to make the sound very open and airy as it can be
7Hz Aurora v 7Hz FIVE:
As such after spending so very much time with the FIVE, in a way I knew what to expect when I jumped ship over to the Aurora. Sure nothing is perfect, except the stand out reality, and the coincidental part of this testing was I landed just by chance with my timbre challenge playing.
Delain
Apocalypse & Chill
Chemical Redemption
44.1kHz - 24bit
The very last album for Charlotte Wessels who had fronted the band from 2005 to 2021. This album has its value in helping me to understand IEM replay guitar tone. Typically female fronted Heavy Metal is known for its use of forward and exaggerated treble tone in rhythm guitar, and here is no different. Where here the mix is great, but the guitar is so bright and forward it allows for a kind of exaggerated example of guitars that would normally be found holding tone in the regular background. Yep, and while luck would have it out of hundreds of albums this album was chosen for me by happenstance to be the tester of today's ideas and values. Now this is probably a combination that I would not recommend, except it shows us the absolute extreme of timbre ideas here.
Where sure the Aurora is the better IEM, though when you hear this exact guitar playing, you would probably choose the FIVE for the song? Where the Aurora is normally better is with separation and creation of instruments, and visualization in the mix or pretty much all vocals………everything is just more real and more real-life constructed before your eyes. The stage here is bigger than the FIVE……..elements find a better separation apart from one another and simultaneously arrive at a more entertaining and vivid creation in your mind. Heck, I hold the Aurora as one of my all-time favorite IEMs, regardless of it costing less than a few TOTLs I have. Yet there is trouble in paradise as if you give the Aurora the wrong thing to chew-on this will be the results. A slightly off-kilter forwardness in the mix, added to with off-timbre……a shining off-timbre. The FIVE never does that, at the same time (as mentioned) it doesn’t do the rest of the playback as well either. So what do you do? You simply don’t play that song. Because the rest of the album is amazing on the Aurora in play………sure there is some slight off-timbre but that is the double edge sword in that at $399.00 we are getting the whole package, the great and the slight issue of this off-timbre. Still the Aurora is the best thing IEM I have on review here today. Sure anyone could guess that I would pick-it. Still what can we learn from the comparison between the FIVE and the Aurora? Simple really. The FIVE drivers don’t have the technicalities in general over the Aurora, but they can in certain situations perform better timbre, yet they will never approach the total realism of the Aurora despite the Aurora’s slight drawbacks.
The FIVE is smaller than the Aurora and makes points for maybe a better fitment? So while both the FIVE and the Aurora weigh 6 grams, physically the Aurora looks to be almost 1/3 bigger. I would call the Aurora probably ever so slightly larger than medium and consider the FIVE to be basic medium. So my generalizations here arrive at the FIVE offering a smaller stage footprint than the Aurora while still holding a big stage due to the open airport design. In the end this more cohesive placement of 5 6mm drivers offers slightly less contrasts in replay, but the advantage is a smoother, actually more real idea of timbre most of the time. Yes, the Aurora has more separated and sculpted bass ideas, yet it is the tone of the mids that truly draws comparisons here. Take note both IEMs are in general very midrange engaging, with the Aurora tilting on upper frequency placement (including treble) and the FIVE going forward with a smoother, more uniform yet still enlarged as far as imaging goes, quieter less energetic midrange tone.
$149.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-five
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kaitlyn of Linsoul for the love and the 7Hz FIVE review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03 4.4mm balanced
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm balanced
A 5 DD IEM
Redcarmoose Labs August 23rd, 2024


The Hybrid name:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ultimate-ears-super-fi-5-eb-vs-ue-super-fi-5-pro.359811/
The name Hybrid really took hold in American culture when in 2005 the Toyota Hybrid automobile finally placed the term in the public psyche. The term being commonplace in such vehicles as submarines before that. The term “Hybrid” goes to describe any use of more than one driver methodology. So even a mixture of EST drivers, Balanced Armature Drivers and Dynamic Drivers are still technically Hybrids. The term Tribrid was first used in story-books to describe the layered characteristics of fictional fantasy characters yet also is fully descriptive of such IEMs.
In 2008 the Ultimate Ears “Super.fi EB” was the first “Hybrid” also later around 2012 came the $1200 AKG 3003......matching 2 Balanced Armature drivers with a Dynamic Driver. They didn’t even know to call them Hybrids though, they were simply called 3-way monitors, simply describing the number of drivers. The term Hybrid hadn’t been invented though the Hybrid IEM was. In those early times Unique Melody Merlin had a Hybrid as well. It wasn’t until 2014 when Sony dropped the XBA-Z5 that people started to really notice the idea. Around 2016 the Hybrid was in full-force. So if anything this review goes to show that Hybrid IEM philosophy is still in its infancy (and advancing) even though by nature we seem hyper-obsessed with new methods of IEM sound procurement.
The 7Hz FIVE
Really the above paragraphs have mostly nothing to do with the following review, except the FIVE does sound like a Hybrid in a way. Though the reality is they are using 5 6mm Dynamic Drivers to actually overcome a few issues that Hybrids have at times. Yep, this here is a watershed product for both the 7Hz company and a very different product here at Redcarmoose Labs. To where typically a multi DD configuration is a difficult thing for manufacturers to pull-off. Not only is 5 drivers per monitor in action, each driver has been sequestered into its very own 3D printed chamber! And the crazy part is even though all 5 6mm drivers are put into a smaller than average shell. Are you starting to feel the specialness here?


What is special about DDs?
The benefits of DDs are that they typically have better timbre than BAs or Planar IEMs. Now I don’t want to poo poo other ideas manufactures have, as of late because recently manufactures have started to fold in micro-planars into the midrange or treble only. So just remember all these new drivers ideas are occurring now as we speak, and each one has its own charm and abilities. Yet nothing is perfect. And………there are many things about the 7Hz FIVE that have confused the Head-Fi Community. Where people are quick to make options in this current onslaught of new IEMs everyday. Folks will brush over a new product with-out really giving it a second notice. And…..that is understandable due to the pure amount of information to take-in daily. Would it be better to somehow put the search criteria into a program and have the computer program make a list of IEMs to try? Could AI make your desire to try new IEMs slightly more streamlined and simple? The issue here is the FIVE in a few ways is still going to fly under the radar. Why?
This occurs because somehow the FIVE sound slightly different depending on the character of what is up-stream. I mean, you would think that an IEM would generally be wanted that would be sensitive enough to show you the personality of your amp…….or DAC. The issue of this is in the public's ideas the FIVE is only one way, when the reality is the FIVE can sound a few ways. Though in daily use I didn’t happen to find this as a big deal. To be sure you could hear the different sources in use, but really none of them were really wrong, as the FIVE continued to be itself.
What is the FIVE:
Treble and Midrange:
The FIVE showcases a very capable treble and upper midrange section, though in comparison to many IEMs in your collection it will be different. This difference is the fact that there is none of that BA bite. We are left with a smoother (and just as you would guess) more analog. When changing sources or cables there is definitely a sound change perceivable, yet the basic character is always present. There was even a noticeable stage difference between sources relaying each individual stage character, and even a sonic stage relay that had to do with cable and source changes. Many of you reading understand that stage (mainly midrange perception) can be dependent on tone frequency. This simply means get an IEM more (higher) pitched midrange from the source and/or cable and witness a broader midrange. And the FIVE really does change. Meaning there were times when the FIVE sounded narrower in stage, or wider in stage depending on the source and cable replay character. Yet at the same time putting a cable like the relatively smooth SIMGOT LC7 cable in 4.4mm offered exactly what you would expect, a thicker lower midrange.....really much different in use from a cable like a pure silver (100%) 5N AWG wire!
So yes, there were personality changes with different up-stream cable materials and source personalities, but the FIVE still held onto the way it ultimately was.
Bass:
It should be noted that to a point the FIVE has this delicate balance to wear the graph is the very farthest from the truth here.

What I’m saying is I have never seen an IEM that is so different from the graph. Really it sounds like a balanced U response in the end?
This caused an issue for me in that I actually didn’t want to include a graph even in this review as the sound of the FIVE is so different. Yet the other important thing to note is while this is slightly on the bass heavy side (note I said slightly) there are ways that the FIVE response can be moved away from its center. Meaning there is a definite “soul” to the FIVE, that while brighter cables and sources will get you to feel like the FIVE is offering more upper midrange details and faster pace (even a bigger midrange stage).........we don’t want to lose the warmth that really the FIVE is about.
Yet if I was to put my finger on why people would pass this up in general, it is the (false) graphical representation of the bass curve. You see people very much believe that the measurement here reflects how the IEM sounds, and folks have common ideas of what a great graph looks like………..not. Not here anyways……nothing could be farther from the truth, the graph is a lie.
Music:

Robert Miles
Dreamland
Children
44.1kHz - 16bit
Funny how a sample of music used in my understanding of an IEMs personality makes its way into the final write-up here. Yep, I used this song with multiple cables and sources, trying to get a grip on what the FIVE ultimately was. And sure part of the popularity of the song “Children” is due to being on (memory cards inside) multiple DAPs here at Redcarmoose Labs. But more than that it is the perfect song to use right off-the-bat to try and explain the FIVE bass personality. I’m choosing bass to delve into…………kind of a way to put out fires. Yep, the FIVE is nothing like the graph would have you believe it is. Here this review is very organic, letting the IEM take control of how it is written. You see every IEM is a story and if you are sensitive to that story in general, the review writes itself.
You have to realize that if the bass WAS the way it is listed in the graph it would take hold of much of the detail held in this song and overpower it. To where using the Sony WM1A with ASOS+ cable and my regular favorite wide-bore silicone ear-tips (as shown in the IEM pictures) the replay shows a perfect balance. Now perfect is a word rarely if ever used in IEM reviews, yet we can get away with it here. Yes, there is a smoother than guessed style of replay going the extra mile to guarantee long listening sessions without ever a hint of glare or too much brightness. There are still details due to 5 6mms in action, while at the same time this FIVE gets my recommendation especially for people who have had bad luck with IEMs being too bright, or reducing their listening times just due to treble sensitivity. I say this because even though the FIVE is not the most detailed IEM to comet this year, that’s not what it is trying to be. It’s not a detail monster, but the FIVE in a mood monster. It grabs hold of what the song’s message is and relates that to the listener. Sure the detail junky style of listener may or may not gravitate towards what the FIVE is doing on a regular basis? Still the FIVE is so polite and reserved, holding a bordering on perfect rendition of music, that I can also see the typical Head-Fi listener liking it for the purity at hand.
The Sony WM1Z:
Look, while the ASOS+ cable has a little bass sculpturing, and my typical wide-bore ear-tips of choice do seem to enhance pace and increase the stage…….here we are met with a satisfaction beyond what is expected. Sure the WM1Z was $3200 in it’s day, and sure the WM1Z makes almost every IEM ear-candy……….still isn’t this what Head_fi is about? The drama and the satisfaction of coming into an IEMs ability to generate a reality of prerecorded music.

DCD
Anastasis
Kiko
44.1kHz - 24bit
So going forward here we are met with not as expected big bass, but still tight and not lumbering style of bass. To where yes, we can hear into these 00:00 opening drums, and we can feel the drama of the bass synth at 00:18. Yet upon a second listen to the opening of this song there is another element which is performed really, really nice. A ride cymbal is positioned above out heads…….and the actual detail it contains in of note. Gone are those metallic tonalities, and opposite we are gifted with an extra form of detail in that the cymbals are like flat waves of sound, not bright, but holding a golden and subdued life. I say life as all of the details are really here, and the very best part is the separation into the stage where they are found. Maybe this is the separate chamber for the 6mm driver that is in-charge of the cymbals, I mean what else could it be? I will say that due to this specific realm of hardware EQ, the drivers relay simply what they are, none of that Planar timbre, or none of that BA timbre. What we are left with is definitely a form of musical instrument reality, and the best part is you don’t question it. It’s the little things that standout with a song like this, that overall if playback is correct we become immersed and focus on the music, not the IEM used. When that happens (as it is now) we then emotionally respond that this little 7Hz $149.00 is greater than the sum of its parts. I mean what can I say here. My first impressions were truly great, and I questioned the community as to why the FIVE wasn’t more loved and talked about. And sure enough the group responded that the issues were the look of the graph, that and the FIVE will sound slightly different from each source you use.
After seven days of burn-in and using my most favorite DAP we have a level of performance. That this level shows way more than you would expect, but of course me and 7Hz are together in bed. Lovers of sorts……..they can almost do no wrong in my eyes. Word is still up in the air in regards to the 7Hz Aero. This budget $14.99 9.2mm full range small little IEM is not the junior 7Hz Zero if you get my drift. No, and I wish it was….. Still that review is not out yet, and the 7Hz Aero is still on the burn-in rack. But to get to my point here is that 7Hz is really exploiting a very careful sound, one that they can call their own, and a sound that has similar characteristics no matter which 7Hz you ultimately choose in the end. Yet within that sound there are also IEMs which sound closer to the same sound, and IEMs that are tuned off to the outskirts of tonal ideas. Talking about the 7Hz Zero……my review introduced the Zero to the IEM community and as follows since August of 2022 the Zero has received over 72,000 clicks. That is quite the accomplishment for a little (then priced) $19.00 IEM. But to try and corral the 7Hz sound I would say, yes the Zero first edition and more the Zero 2 have gone and showcased what the 7Hz sound is about. With the 7Hz Zero 2 even explaining the sound more and offering more well-roundedness as a result. Even the TOTL $399.00 7Hz Aurora encapsulates everything that the basic 7Hz sound is about.
The $19.00 (then) 7Hz Zero:

The 7Hz FIVE sound:
Probably easier to explain not what the 7Hz sound is, but what it is not. Still using the Sony WM1Z, the ASOS+ cable and the FIVE with wide-bore ear-tips. Did I mention that the FIVE fits marvelously? One of the keys to sound is getting the fit correctly, because if an IEM does not fit right, you will never discover 100% of how it truly sounds.
The best way to describe the sound is the attitude with a group of dogs……..Yep. When things are going well around Redcarmoose Labs the Redcarmoose dogs (all three of them) are excited and happy. They are playful, and excited to be alive. Same as the feeling you get from a great IEM response, the feeling of all complete and not missing a thing. In my mind I am playful……..really lost in the emotional idea that the performers had when creating the music. They had an agenda. This agenda supersedes basic description, and catapults you emotionally to a special place. When IEMs showcase a flaw very much like the group of dogs, we will sense fear in that the sonic response is not all it is suppose to be, hence growling or even barking as to the occurrence of off tone, or off timbre, too bright or too dark, too much bass etc, etc.
Really all Head-Fi is about is play, and the FIVE has that play!
When we hear too much brightness or something about an IEM is not even, complete or correct we growl! Well we don’t growl out-loud, at least most of us don’t, but that’s the feeling that we get.
Impure Wilhelmina
Antidote
Antidote
48kHz - 24Bit
I have been a guitar player most of my life and it’s a joyous thing when simple guitar playing gets showcased to such full ability. The harmonics, the chords ringing in purity of tune. If there was any “Impure”…….sorry, but if there was anything off here we would notice and start to growl. That is all we want from IEMs…reproduction true to life, or at least a facsimile.
Impure Wilhelmina
Antidote
Everything is Vain
48kHz - 24Bit
The final song on this album starts with reverberations but when the guitar starts up at 00:08 we are instantly reassured as to the purity of signal. Now as such often guitars can be too forward or intense, that while this is distorted we find a comfort in knowing it may be close to what was attempted in the studio. People forget maybe that often a specific guitar and amplifier brand model combination is chosen for a desired tone. Along with that a specific microphone system was set-up to record that sound, along with a recording room which had its background effect. That along with the knob changes to the mids, bass and treble guitar amplifier…….to realize that specific end-sound. The recording engineer then adjusted his track's input to be of a style of tonal location balance, then afterwards the guitarist may hear replay to judge if the guitar sounded to be the right emphasis in the mix, in reference to the vocals and other instrumentation. Often we forget that music is both a scientific endeavor and an art. Same as IEMs, there is a scientific reason for how they sound, but also the human factor of tuning to find the right balance, that can not be learned from a graph.
Using medium volume I can hear how the opening guitar is multi tracked that there are two guitars off to the right and left along with a lead in the center……then maybe more. The exact beautiful part of this is how there is enough detail to give us (these) clues, except never is any of this too bright or scathing. What this all comes down to is hearing the harmonics and chords, the simpleness of the lead in the center, yet nowhere is the FIVE grabbing treble just for the sake of detail. Is this expression of so many guitar tracks better than what the Beatles did with limited tracks? Let’s just say it is different, a different era and a different way to go about the job of recording. I mean there is only a single guitar player in the band, yet there is so much added to the studio idea of how this song sound be in the end…………and sure enough the FIVE gets you that, that level of detail, even though the FIVE would not be considered a detail monster of a headphone, that’s not what it is about, the five is about timbre and changes in harmonics which the opener guitar chords of this song contain. At the 01:33 mark there are a few cymbals that take notice, upon backtracking we realize they have been there for awhile That my friends is the wonderful part of music, that sounds can exist dormant in the mix or little or no consequence yet still be there as an additional instrument device to take-on an almost sonic effect, to then be pushed into the limelight, saying "yep, we have always been there" “didn’t you notice? “
Cymbals then…….
At 01:37 the drums hit. But the song hasn’t really fully got going yet. We are still in the flow of guitar chords and a lead. Also strangely than how you would guess at the 01:37 mark the song progresses to where the melody first shown by the lead guitar is now of more importance. At 02:08 the vocals continue to substantiate this on-going melody theme. Now typically with the Heavy Metal genre it will be the vocal personality more often than not that lays way to personal popularity. Meaning normally listeners will like the vocals or not. Here though I’m just "OK" with the vocals, having more respect for how this particular album has been accepted by the music community. Meaning as listeners we can slightly put the vocals on the back burner in regards to our opinion of them, and still enjoy the song for what it is in the end. And………as a matter of fact the FIVE as a competent IEM, goes forward to not make these vocals particularly forward, or really behind either. And in this instance, I like that ability. Meaning the response is very middle of the road, as is the bass and treble……………again nothing like the graph would have you guess. At 02:55 we are really coming to terms with what this particular song has evolved into, too. Showcasing the story and pace that included takes this number to its rightful conclusion.
It is the unfolding of this song that the FIVE happens to subtly go along with, meaning any vibrance is often downplayed in a respectful and satisfying way!
After this point the band decide the time is right to not only re-emphasize the basic theme but to introduce off-tune even out of key introductions. Sure the band challenges our ideas as to what basic music like this could be, but the song holds such a simple framework, that it kind-of asks for this twisting, and churning of sonic elements. Yet luckily they come back to a basic idea of the song as it fades away.
Comparisons:

Left to right:
The AS10 PRO, the 7Hz FIVE and the TINHIFI DUDU
The FIVE:
The 7Hz FIVE is more money, but at $149.00 it is still comparable to the $68.99 AS10 PRO. The difference you ask? 5 DDs in action…….yep, so here really in many ways we are witnessing the opposite. Though still the FIVE is not perfect, in that the FIVE will move forward to sound a little different from each source. The FIVE is source dependent to a fault. Still that doesn’t mean it’s a bad IEM, it is just a confusing IEM in tonality. Also many were confused by the FIVE graph. See, many take graphs literally to understand the sound of an IEM. Sure the graph is all they have in hand, but let me tell you with the FIVE there has almost never been an IEM released that sounds so totally different from the graph. Probably the most confusing item is the FIVE bass representation, to where the graph shows a heavy bass, when in listening really the FIVE comes across as more balanced.
The FIVE v AS10 PRO:
Here is the thing, the AS10 PRO is a smidge brighter and holding those faster decays we have come to know from BAs. The tuning is lighter and airer, yet still holding a nice bass tone, though if this was a boxing match, the FIVE throws bass with a more complete and cohesive demeanor, there is just more of it, holding this buttery smoothness that only a DD could add. But more than that the FIVE is smoother across the whole frequency spectrum (5 DDs), where when you first compare the two, you are thinking this FIVE is simply way better in all ways, but to place the AS10 PRO back in, it has a slight steeliness that the FIVE never does, except you can’t argue with the synthetic AS10 PRO detail. My 7Hz FIVE review will follow this one. Do I favor the FIVE over the AS10 PRO? What do you think? OH, and the FIVE is actually smaller than the AS10 PRO, go figure, that they were able to cram all those 5 DDs into a smaller place, to where sure the AS10 PRO is smaller than some of the KZ brothers, but in a way that’s not saying much.
The TINHIFI DUDU v AS10 PRO:
A more cohesive Planar approach with the DUDU, while at the same time also holding the essential Planar off-timbre. As such the timbre is coming from a less aggressive BA texture, to where BAs are like point light sources and Planar images are larger flatter affairs. The DUDU entertainment though comes from a different stage positioning of imagining elements, as they are bigger and almost floaty in presence. Yet still the DUDU still holds a thinner nature, especially compared to the FIVE. Yet that DUDU thinner nature is also a rearrangement of stage elements from the AS10 PRO, where sound takes place more out to the sides of the stage, and the AS10 PRO delivers items which are actually holding more careful sculpturing, holding more thickness in (inside the stage) and holding a more separated BA character.

Build:
3D printed and holding a very detailed style of faceplate with a solid aluminum build, and grip providing texture, showing the 7Hz emblem shine at various angles. A slightly angled 2 pin is seen next to the trademark 7Hz three vent holes as shown in the photos. Now I’m not saying all 7Hz have this three hole vent system, but I’m pretty sure we as consumers have not seen the end of it in use. Presenting a smooth kidney-shaped design that will remind many of a swimming pool. The only writing besides the logo atop will be the name “FIVE” acros the side with a market as to L or R. Finally we come to the nozzle which happens to reach the perfect length, even allowing me to use my shallow wide-bore preferred ear-tips. Two extra a side filters and screens are included just incase you lose one, yet this style of filter is set back and fully out of harms way!
Packaging:






The included cable:
One of the more entertaining parts of this review has been the cable, as the cable IS different, just look at it! You have a choice when ordering a 3.5mm or 4.4mm plug. While I received the 3.5mm, it was on the slightly heavy side with the cable by itself being 23 grams. Here the cable is not exactly as it seems, as the plug seems like it would be hard brittle plastic, but no, the plug has strain relief built in and will bend a little at the end. The cable itself has a special nameplate on it that says “FIVE” as well as ear-hooks which are also (very) slightly bendable at the 2Pins.



Phone use:
Where if you only had a phone, the FIVE shows promise and holds a warm thick demeanor, asking for better source quality to climb out of its lackadaisical mood. Still where you can almost max your phone out as far as volume, the stage is well populated with much of the regular styles of items, especially in the mids, as an entertaining minimal listen. Probably the most important aspect of phone use is that the FIVE is very much itself, refraining from any stark or too brittle of playback……holding the basic warmth that we have come to know its personality as holding.


Conclusion:
Here we are taken for a fun ride. The traveling is to a different part of town, as expected with an unconventional driver make-up. This ability of 5 6mm drivers has a few interesting attributes. Number one, the divers due to all being DDs and all of the same size contribute to a kind of uniform cohesiveness that never goes away, no matter what you throw at the FIVE, and I like that. We don’t need to talk about graphs or different sources to learn that the FIVE still bucks the system. The system which has been put in-place (by your IEM purchasing history) and takes hold of all your personal preconceptions of what an IEM could be. I will use only two words to hopefully change those ideas: the words of……
1) Balanced (always)
2) Smooth (you can never guess just how smooth)
Now even if that didn’t disrupt your ideas, I’m going to offer a single more IEM comparison.
The 7Hz FIVE v the 7Hz Aurora:
You see this package from Linsoul actually contained a total of 5 things. I was a little overwhelmed as to what I was going to review first. But if I would have known I was going to like the FIVE so much, I wouldn’t have waited a week to open the box. So the FIVE is kind-a like that, in that you will underestimate both the ability and the sound…….not necessarily grabbing it and taking a look-see straight-away……….but then upon hearing it you say “of course” to yourself. You see 7Hz has never made the same IEM 2X, even their idea of a different new Zero, the 7Hz Zero 2 is amazingly different and complete. Yet while different, each IEM is also closely resembling 7Hz ideas as to sound, that you know that they all came from the same company.
Yet the importance of the Aurora separates it from the pack!
Yep, I keep the few TOTL Flagships (I have) in a separate case. That placing away from the pack goes to not only makes them easy to find upon using them, it also signifies the sound and importance of their existence. You see I love the Aurora, and I still like it more than the FIVE, only being they are so rudimentarily different, having both is actually a value. Now you may be wondering why I would compare a $399.00 with a $149.00 IEM?
From Linsoul on the Aurora:
Tribrid Driver Configuration: The Aurora boasts a tribrid driver configuration, optimizing a 12mm dynamic driver, two balanced armature drivers, and a 6mm planar driver for cohesive, high-quality sound across the spectrum.
12mm Composite Dynamic Driver: Explore the depths of sound with our newly developed 12mm composite diaphragm dynamic driver. Offering a wide frequency response and ultra-low distortion, this large dynamic driver ensures a rich, immersive audio experience with profound bass and pristine clarity.
Dual Balanced Armature Driver: Experience the perfect synergy of a custom-tuned midrange dual balanced armature driver, precisely developed for directional response. Paired with an accurate 3-way crossover circuit and the excellent cohesion between dynamic and planar drivers, it results in a smooth and flat frequency response curve.
Micro 6mm Planar Driver: Elevate your listening experience with the 6mm micro planar driver, delivering enhanced versatility, high-frequency detail, and an airy ambiance. Immerse yourself in a transparent and lifelike soundscape, where every nuance is captured with remarkable clarity and precision.

The FIVE v Aurora:
Here is why I would chose to compare the FIVE against the Aurora in this review:
I don’t think 7Hz would have ever arrived at one without the other. Meaning sure they have different parts inside, yet their shells have very similar design ideas. Both are 3D printed and both have an array of three holes under the lip of the faceplate to make the sound very open and airy as it can be

7Hz Aurora v 7Hz FIVE:
As such after spending so very much time with the FIVE, in a way I knew what to expect when I jumped ship over to the Aurora. Sure nothing is perfect, except the stand out reality, and the coincidental part of this testing was I landed just by chance with my timbre challenge playing.

Delain
Apocalypse & Chill
Chemical Redemption
44.1kHz - 24bit
The very last album for Charlotte Wessels who had fronted the band from 2005 to 2021. This album has its value in helping me to understand IEM replay guitar tone. Typically female fronted Heavy Metal is known for its use of forward and exaggerated treble tone in rhythm guitar, and here is no different. Where here the mix is great, but the guitar is so bright and forward it allows for a kind of exaggerated example of guitars that would normally be found holding tone in the regular background. Yep, and while luck would have it out of hundreds of albums this album was chosen for me by happenstance to be the tester of today's ideas and values. Now this is probably a combination that I would not recommend, except it shows us the absolute extreme of timbre ideas here.

Where sure the Aurora is the better IEM, though when you hear this exact guitar playing, you would probably choose the FIVE for the song? Where the Aurora is normally better is with separation and creation of instruments, and visualization in the mix or pretty much all vocals………everything is just more real and more real-life constructed before your eyes. The stage here is bigger than the FIVE……..elements find a better separation apart from one another and simultaneously arrive at a more entertaining and vivid creation in your mind. Heck, I hold the Aurora as one of my all-time favorite IEMs, regardless of it costing less than a few TOTLs I have. Yet there is trouble in paradise as if you give the Aurora the wrong thing to chew-on this will be the results. A slightly off-kilter forwardness in the mix, added to with off-timbre……a shining off-timbre. The FIVE never does that, at the same time (as mentioned) it doesn’t do the rest of the playback as well either. So what do you do? You simply don’t play that song. Because the rest of the album is amazing on the Aurora in play………sure there is some slight off-timbre but that is the double edge sword in that at $399.00 we are getting the whole package, the great and the slight issue of this off-timbre. Still the Aurora is the best thing IEM I have on review here today. Sure anyone could guess that I would pick-it. Still what can we learn from the comparison between the FIVE and the Aurora? Simple really. The FIVE drivers don’t have the technicalities in general over the Aurora, but they can in certain situations perform better timbre, yet they will never approach the total realism of the Aurora despite the Aurora’s slight drawbacks.

The FIVE is smaller than the Aurora and makes points for maybe a better fitment? So while both the FIVE and the Aurora weigh 6 grams, physically the Aurora looks to be almost 1/3 bigger. I would call the Aurora probably ever so slightly larger than medium and consider the FIVE to be basic medium. So my generalizations here arrive at the FIVE offering a smaller stage footprint than the Aurora while still holding a big stage due to the open airport design. In the end this more cohesive placement of 5 6mm drivers offers slightly less contrasts in replay, but the advantage is a smoother, actually more real idea of timbre most of the time. Yes, the Aurora has more separated and sculpted bass ideas, yet it is the tone of the mids that truly draws comparisons here. Take note both IEMs are in general very midrange engaging, with the Aurora tilting on upper frequency placement (including treble) and the FIVE going forward with a smoother, more uniform yet still enlarged as far as imaging goes, quieter less energetic midrange tone.
$149.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-five
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kaitlyn of Linsoul for the love and the 7Hz FIVE review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03 4.4mm balanced
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm balanced
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Ianbanz
New Head-Fier
Pros: Engaging V-Shaped Sound: The 7Hz Five delivers a fun, lively listening experience with a strong emphasis on mid-bass and treble.
- Strong Bass Performance: The bass is deep, thumpy, and full of energy, especially after burn-in. It’s a delight for bass lovers, with a satisfying old-school mid-bass focus.
- Natural Tone and Timbre: The timbre is natural and lifelike, making instruments and vocals sound authentic and realistic.
- Good Technical Performance: Offers a wide soundstage with decent imaging, good instrument separation, and impressive detail retrieval.
- Improves with Burn-In: Burn-in drastically smooths out the treble and balances the overall sound, greatly transforming the listening experience.
- Strong Bass Performance: The bass is deep, thumpy, and full of energy, especially after burn-in. It’s a delight for bass lovers, with a satisfying old-school mid-bass focus.
- Natural Tone and Timbre: The timbre is natural and lifelike, making instruments and vocals sound authentic and realistic.
- Good Technical Performance: Offers a wide soundstage with decent imaging, good instrument separation, and impressive detail retrieval.
- Improves with Burn-In: Burn-in drastically smooths out the treble and balances the overall sound, greatly transforming the listening experience.
Cons: Midrange Recession: The midrange is a bit recessed, especially at normal volumes, which might leave vocals feeling distant at times.
- Bright Treble Out of the Box: The treble can be bright and a bit harsh straight out of the box, requiring burn-in and tip rolling to tame it.
- Burn-In Required: Requires a significant burn-in period to reach its full potential, which might be a hassle for some users.
- Volume Sensitivity: The sound signature becomes more balanced at higher volumes, which might not be ideal for those who prefer listening at lower levels.
- Bright Treble Out of the Box: The treble can be bright and a bit harsh straight out of the box, requiring burn-in and tip rolling to tame it.
- Burn-In Required: Requires a significant burn-in period to reach its full potential, which might be a hassle for some users.
- Volume Sensitivity: The sound signature becomes more balanced at higher volumes, which might not be ideal for those who prefer listening at lower levels.
Why pack 10 dynamic drivers into a single pair of IEMs? What sonic advantages come from cramming so many drivers inside? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. However, I believe this is 7Hz flexing their engineering prowess—because they can, and why not? After all, innovation often begins with doing something different.
Whats inside the box:
When you pop the 70Hz Five into your ears, the first thing that hits you is the unapologetically fun V-shaped signature. It’s as if the Five was designed with a singular mission: to make your music experience a lively, engaging affair that transport you back to those techno warehouse raves or a moshpit in 90s grunge concert. For those who like to dissect sound signatures with there eyes with FR Graphs, be warned—the Five defies the graphs. The treble, which might appear harsh on paper, doesn’t translate that way in real life, specially with a couple of days burn-in Listening to music and using your ears is always the ultimate test, and in the case of the Five, your ears will tell you a different story from what the graphs might suggest.
One important thing to note is that the Five really benefits from burn-in actually its a must, you really really need to burn this in. Straight out of the box, the treble can come off as a bit too prominent and in your face and the bass is everywhere, i actually rarely burn-in my iems, i just use them straight out the box for a couple of days before writting my impression, it was actually Ray from 7hz who commented in one of my 7hz post on facebook he suggested to burn-in the Five for 2 days, i have never tried burning in an iem for that long since i was never a patient person but i have no choice since i honestly did not enjoy how the Five sounded out of the box and so i did it and after letting it sit on the burn-in rack for 48hrs or so, the treble smooths out noticeably and the bass is now controlled more balance sounding with the mids stepping a bit more forward now It’s a transformation that makes the Five sound like a totally different IEM from the when i tried it out of the box the first time, I have not encountered and IEM that responds to burn-in like the 7hz Five. They should have printed a Burn-in Needed in front of the box.
The bass is where the Five truly shines. This IEM embraces an old-school mid-bass focus bass, delivering a big, reverberant thump that makes bass-heavy genres like EDM and those Roland 808 bass thump popular on OG hip-hop, OG Heavy Metal and even those 80s synth bass an absolute blast. There’s a bit of a sub-bass roll-off, but bass lovers won’t mind—they’ll be too busy grinning at the sheer weight and impact of the meaty bass. That said, the bass quality itself is good, with excellent smooth texture and energy. There’s a little bass bleed that goes to the lower midrange i noticed on some tracks, but nothing that detracts from the overall experience. As with many IEMs tip rolling and finding the perfect eartips that seals perfectly contributes not only the lowend but the overall dynamics of the sound, for me to best fully enjoy the Five experience you must listen to it loud as in high volume as loud as you can handle but still on the safe level.
When listening with the Five at normal volumes it stick to its V-shaped profile, the Five’s midrange takes a bit of a backseat, The lower mids are recessed, The upper mids, on the other hand, are boosted and extended just enough to give vocals clarity and airiness, though the strong bass presence ensures the Five doesn’t veer into shouty territory and ensure to smoothen out potential high peaks that could contribute to harshness and when you apply a bit more of volume the mids specially vocals get more pronounce and more forward sounding with the overall sound more balance sounding a little less V shape.
The treble continues this trend, with a notable rise in the lower treble that injects energy, details and resolution into the sound. This can be a bit bright right out of the box, but as mentioned earlier, it mellows out after some burn-in time. Even so, the Five remains on the brighter side, so if you’re particularly sensitive to treble, some eartip rolling might be in order to tame it, i would suggest the standard Divinus Velvet tips as i notice this tips does a good job of smoothing out the treble on most iems i use it with, overall the Fives treble is energetic, bright but with natural timbre, and no harshness and fatigue.
7hz Fives tone and timbre is natural and lifelike, with no noticeable artificiality. Whether it’s the warmth of a guitar or the slap of the strings on the bass guitar and subtle rasp of a vocal, the Five delivers it with authenticity and its to be expected since all 10 drivers are dynamic driver.
When it comes to technical performance, the Five is above average. It offers good soundstage width, with above-average height and depth. This creates an expansive and somewhat semi holographic listening experience. Imaging is decent, with instruments and voices placed accurately within the soundstage, though it might not be the sharpest in its class. Still, the level of detail is impressive, with the lower treble boost helping to bring out micro-details in the music. Instrument separation is solid, even when the music gets busy with multiple layers and competing riffs.
In terms of speed and resolution, the Five holds its own. The resolution is commendable, allowing you to pick out both macro and micro details. The attack and decay of notes are surprisingly quick for a all DD setup, which results in a clean and well-resolved sound that doesn’t feel muddy or congested.
In summary, the 70Hz Five is a fun, engaging IEM that knows how to make music enjoyable. It’s not perfect—the midrange recession and occasional brightness might be dealbreakers for some—but if you’re looking for a truly fun bass-heavy, V-shaped sound that doesn’t skimp on energy or detail, the Five is definitely worth a listen. Just remember to give it some time to burn in the longer the better and find the right eartips to truly make it sing. remember burn in is a must with this set.
Linsoul link: https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-five
Whats inside the box:
When you pop the 70Hz Five into your ears, the first thing that hits you is the unapologetically fun V-shaped signature. It’s as if the Five was designed with a singular mission: to make your music experience a lively, engaging affair that transport you back to those techno warehouse raves or a moshpit in 90s grunge concert. For those who like to dissect sound signatures with there eyes with FR Graphs, be warned—the Five defies the graphs. The treble, which might appear harsh on paper, doesn’t translate that way in real life, specially with a couple of days burn-in Listening to music and using your ears is always the ultimate test, and in the case of the Five, your ears will tell you a different story from what the graphs might suggest.

One important thing to note is that the Five really benefits from burn-in actually its a must, you really really need to burn this in. Straight out of the box, the treble can come off as a bit too prominent and in your face and the bass is everywhere, i actually rarely burn-in my iems, i just use them straight out the box for a couple of days before writting my impression, it was actually Ray from 7hz who commented in one of my 7hz post on facebook he suggested to burn-in the Five for 2 days, i have never tried burning in an iem for that long since i was never a patient person but i have no choice since i honestly did not enjoy how the Five sounded out of the box and so i did it and after letting it sit on the burn-in rack for 48hrs or so, the treble smooths out noticeably and the bass is now controlled more balance sounding with the mids stepping a bit more forward now It’s a transformation that makes the Five sound like a totally different IEM from the when i tried it out of the box the first time, I have not encountered and IEM that responds to burn-in like the 7hz Five. They should have printed a Burn-in Needed in front of the box.



The bass is where the Five truly shines. This IEM embraces an old-school mid-bass focus bass, delivering a big, reverberant thump that makes bass-heavy genres like EDM and those Roland 808 bass thump popular on OG hip-hop, OG Heavy Metal and even those 80s synth bass an absolute blast. There’s a bit of a sub-bass roll-off, but bass lovers won’t mind—they’ll be too busy grinning at the sheer weight and impact of the meaty bass. That said, the bass quality itself is good, with excellent smooth texture and energy. There’s a little bass bleed that goes to the lower midrange i noticed on some tracks, but nothing that detracts from the overall experience. As with many IEMs tip rolling and finding the perfect eartips that seals perfectly contributes not only the lowend but the overall dynamics of the sound, for me to best fully enjoy the Five experience you must listen to it loud as in high volume as loud as you can handle but still on the safe level.
When listening with the Five at normal volumes it stick to its V-shaped profile, the Five’s midrange takes a bit of a backseat, The lower mids are recessed, The upper mids, on the other hand, are boosted and extended just enough to give vocals clarity and airiness, though the strong bass presence ensures the Five doesn’t veer into shouty territory and ensure to smoothen out potential high peaks that could contribute to harshness and when you apply a bit more of volume the mids specially vocals get more pronounce and more forward sounding with the overall sound more balance sounding a little less V shape.
The treble continues this trend, with a notable rise in the lower treble that injects energy, details and resolution into the sound. This can be a bit bright right out of the box, but as mentioned earlier, it mellows out after some burn-in time. Even so, the Five remains on the brighter side, so if you’re particularly sensitive to treble, some eartip rolling might be in order to tame it, i would suggest the standard Divinus Velvet tips as i notice this tips does a good job of smoothing out the treble on most iems i use it with, overall the Fives treble is energetic, bright but with natural timbre, and no harshness and fatigue.


7hz Fives tone and timbre is natural and lifelike, with no noticeable artificiality. Whether it’s the warmth of a guitar or the slap of the strings on the bass guitar and subtle rasp of a vocal, the Five delivers it with authenticity and its to be expected since all 10 drivers are dynamic driver.
When it comes to technical performance, the Five is above average. It offers good soundstage width, with above-average height and depth. This creates an expansive and somewhat semi holographic listening experience. Imaging is decent, with instruments and voices placed accurately within the soundstage, though it might not be the sharpest in its class. Still, the level of detail is impressive, with the lower treble boost helping to bring out micro-details in the music. Instrument separation is solid, even when the music gets busy with multiple layers and competing riffs.
In terms of speed and resolution, the Five holds its own. The resolution is commendable, allowing you to pick out both macro and micro details. The attack and decay of notes are surprisingly quick for a all DD setup, which results in a clean and well-resolved sound that doesn’t feel muddy or congested.


In summary, the 70Hz Five is a fun, engaging IEM that knows how to make music enjoyable. It’s not perfect—the midrange recession and occasional brightness might be dealbreakers for some—but if you’re looking for a truly fun bass-heavy, V-shaped sound that doesn’t skimp on energy or detail, the Five is definitely worth a listen. Just remember to give it some time to burn in the longer the better and find the right eartips to truly make it sing. remember burn in is a must with this set.
Linsoul link: https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-five
Attachments
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MakeItWain
Previously known as SemperMalum
Pros: Unsafe V-Shaped tuning
Fun mid-bass with ample sub-bass
Solids mids without feeling like the bass bleeds over (too much)
Treble is energetic and compliments the bass increase
Comfortable size with lot of accessories (lot of ear tips to play around with) in the package
Fun mid-bass with ample sub-bass
Solids mids without feeling like the bass bleeds over (too much)
Treble is energetic and compliments the bass increase
Comfortable size with lot of accessories (lot of ear tips to play around with) in the package
Cons: Did I mention unsafe V-shaped tuning? Might be too unsafe
Middling to below average technicities
Not a fan of the cable or case (personal taste)
Five might be priced out to take a flyer on them
Middling to below average technicities
Not a fan of the cable or case (personal taste)
Five might be priced out to take a flyer on them
TL;DR: The more refined (and riskier) Legato
Overview/History
Hi all.
As someone who's first real basshead IEM was the 7Hz Legato, I've always been following 7Hz to see what their next steps were. They released the Aurora which was warmly received, they quietly scrubbed the Timeless II, and overall just seemed quiet after the success of the 7Hz Zero 2. Lo and behold, they burst back onto the scene with their new Artemis39 DAC/AMP, the 7Hz Aero and their 7Hz Five.
*Image from Linsoul's 7Hz page*
Their marketing materials painted the Five as the industry's first earphone with five dynamic drivers per side to set a "new audio standard". Indeed, you can actually see each of the 6mm DDs through the somewhat translucent shell.
Who knows? Does it work? Yes. But, it's not for everyone. Let's get on with it!
Disclaimers: This review is strictly based on my own impressions and opinions. This unit is my own and I did not receive any instructions from 7Hz or any retailers.
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!
The Five has a polished, flat metal faceplate while the underside is a translucent shell where you can see some of the insides including the 5 DDs. I actually really like how the faceplate/shell combination works and it's a very attractive IEM, IMO.
The Five comes with a silicone carrying case, a flat cable, nozzles/filters, and a plethora of ear tips including their new 7Hz Barrel ear tips (others are not shown on here). For the size sensitive, I measured the widest part of the nozzle lip to 6.1mm so it is definitely more manageable.
I am -not- a fan of the silicone rubber carrying case, personally, but it's definitely manageable vs the Legato case which is more like a passport book at this point.
Tip Rolling
The Five is comfortable and takes to tip rolling very well. I did try the original stock tips which perform well and keep the sound signature pretty well intact. I can definitely recommend the stock tips without any issues.
I'm actually not a fan of the 7Hz Barrel tips as they felt like they were trying to tip the balance of the treble a bit higher while reducing the bass. Not a good combo considering the V-shape is already aggressive enough without needing a boost to the high end.
What about my typical flight of tips?
Spinfit W1: The W1 tends to take a small hit on the bass while bringing up the mids/treble a bit. I don't think this combination worked for me with what the Five are trying to do. Pass.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: My favorite combination. Type E Clear/Red does a great job of keeping the overall bass (with more of an emphasis on sub-bass) while smoothly giving you the full package on the mids/highs.
Dunu S&S: Dunu S&S helped open it up a bit on the soundstage at the cost of sub-bass while also slightly giving you more mid-bass. There's already plenty of punch here so I felt like it was more distracting than anything else.
Kiwi Ears Flex: - Did not use, plenty of bass
Azla SednaEarFit Origin: - Did not use, plenty of bass
Radius Deep Mount: My second favorite combination - Radius Deep Mount tightens the bass up a bit more than the Clear/Red but, otherwise, perform as well as the Clear/Red.
I was primarily switching between the Final Type E and Radius but ultimately felt that the Type E was more comfortable long term for my ears.
Cable
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't originally a fan of the cable.
I'm still not, really, but it's manageable and it gets the job done without being distracting. It fits the theme of the IEM with an almost industrial look to them.
Sound
So, how do they sound? 'V'ery good.
The 7Hz Five is unabashedly a V-shaped IEM. They did not tune this to be safe nor did it feel like they tuned this to follow a Harman graph. Instead, the Five is aggressive about it's V-shape without allowing any of the sound frequency to really sound like it's missing completely unlike the Legato which tends to be more muted in the upper mids/treble region.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Abigail Pro
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Labs Element 3 MK2 (Boosted)
Streamed Music chain: WiiM Mini -> JDS Labs Atom DAC+ -> JDS Labs OL Switcher -> Geshelli Labs Archel 3 Pro
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass: Bass is where the Five excels the most. The bass is musical, fun, punchy, deep yet still somewhat detailed. The Five definitely dances more towards the quantity side vs quality side though without sounding muddy. There's a deep rumble (though it doesn't go as deep as it's sibling the Legato) but there is more visceral impact that you can feel in the music that makes it more engaging.
Yet, with how much bass you're getting, the Five does not feel uncontrolled at all. On some tracks where bass is not emphasized, you get satisfying thump without it feeling like the Five just artifically created slam just for the sake of reminding you of what the Five can do.
The other primary thing that sticks out is that it doesn't feel like you're listening to smaller DDs (6mm that is) with how much slam you get. The Five is absolutely able to satisfy bassheads (without going all the way up to the Fatfreq line up) and while I was originally cautiously skeptical about the implementation of the 5DDs, I think they nailed it on the bass front.
Bass Score: 8.5/10 - TL;DR: Punchy, fun, musical - like speakers inside your ears. Not as detailed as it could be but it's not trying to pretend that it is.
Mids: The Five has a very cohesive presentation of the mid-range. With the mid-bass being boosted, the Five adds some warmth and fullness to male vocals without feeling like it's bleeding over towards the female vocals too much.
Don't get me wrong, though. For some female vocals, there can be some added warmth or huskiness at times. But it really felt dependent on the track or the presentation of the music for me to pick that out. For a lot of tracks, the boosted upper mids helped keep the mid-range overall balanced. None of the vocals come across as shouty at all but it's likely from the balance of bass to the treble that helps in this case.
Instruments also come through clear as well though it won't be detailed or as clean as some of the Five's competition in the same price bracket.
Mids Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Despite being elevated, mids sound very balanced and tonally correct; it's not the star of the show but it's not lacking.
Treble: In order to stay somewhat balanced (vs the Legato where the treble was tamer and would make the bass a bit 'boomier'), the Five has been tuned with boosted treble. It is appropriately airy, energetic, borderline sharp at times but it's typically offset by the high bass boost.
The Five is absolutely not tuned to be safe which helps with it's V-shaped tuning to prevent it from sounding too skewed towards the bass side of the frequency.
I never really felt like it was sibilant and I was able to listen to the Five at a more moderate to higher volume listening but YMMV.
Treble Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Aggressive, energetic and bright for the sake of balance - can be volume limiting but YMMV
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Timbre, Etc.: To my ears, the Five sounds overall very cohesive and natural despite how aggressive the sound signature is.
The Five is not trying to provide a good amount of detailing, imaging or separation, though. Soundstage tends to be closer and in your face. I would argue that it provides decent enough resolution and technical performance but it does not compete with it's peers that are trying to provide that all-rounder experience.
It's easier to forgive the technical performance, though, when you're actually having fun with your music vs trying to analyze and pick up all the small details around it.
Technicalities Score: 7/10 - TL;DR: Meh. Good enough. But you're not really buying the Five for the detail separation or imaging.
Library Hit List: Surprise! The Five worked really well for a lot of tracks but excelled the most with more modern music/tracks, rock songs and hip hop. These songs stuck out the most for me when listening to the Five.
Blackway - "What's up Danger (with Black Caviar)"
Outkast - "Hey Ya!"
Gorillaz - "19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)"
Daft Punk - "Get Lucky"
Bastille - "Back to the Future"
AJR - "Netflix Trip"
The Weeknd - "Blinding Lights"
deadmau5 - "There Might Be Coffee"
Two Door Cinema Club - "Changing of the Seasons"
Comparisons: To compare it to it's older sibling, the Legato, you're looking at a different sound signature altogether where the Legato is bass emphasized(like a L-shaped/check mark shaped) while the Five is an 'In your face' V.
That being said, the Legato is also $109 vs the $149 price tag - it's harder to take a flyer on something that's priced in that $149 bracket considering there's so much competition out there that might be a safer 'V-shape' sound signature or you can get the basshead Legato and tip roll or/EQ. I'm not a financial advisor, though, so I can't make that decision for you if you want to compare the two but I think the Five is definitely a more refined version of it's older sibling.
It would also be hard for me to compare it to the Maestro Mini (which is one of my favorite V-shaped IEMs) as the Five doesn't perform nearly as well. In a way, the Five stands out because it's just so different from a lot of modern 'safe' releases that tries to do everything well without providing much variance of anything different.
Other Things to be aware of:
To echo a lot of what others have said, I've listened to the Five for an extensive amount of time and it does respond very well to burn-in to my ears.
Could it be a placebo? Possibly. But, while the Five was never unbearable to listen to from the first unboxing to present, the Five has picked up a bit more coherence overall to it's sound presentation.
The Five also works well with a lot of sources and I found it pretty easy to drive.
The Five doesn't take on too much of a different character with source rolling so I didn't find that it worked way better on a more neutral JDS Element 3 vs the Shanling Onyx XI1. It didn't seem to perform any better on balanced or anything. I think what you see is what you get with the 7Hz Five but YMMV.
And while I'm not the biggest fan of the cable, the case, or the barrel tips, I'm a huge fan of the risk that 7Hz took in tuning this for fun vs trying to appease everyone.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 9/10 - TL;DR: This aggressive V-shaped IEM is -fun-. Works extremely well for moderate level listening. May be a bit too much for louder volume listening for some. But, if you wanted something different without fully breaking the bank at $149, this is the way.
Conclusion:
Have you been tired of everyone following an HRTF that seems like the same old? Tired of how many 'Harman' tuned IEMs are in the market? Over the Moondrop, Crin, HBB, Giz, etc. etc. baselines that seem to influence all the manufacturers?
Well!
7Hz took the foundation that they built off of the Legato and, in answering the "But Why?" question with a "Why Not?", have a unique entry into the oversatured 'safe' marketplace with a unique, fun, aggressive yet balanced IEM. The 7Hz Five is more than the sum of it's (5) parts and more than just a proof of concept experiment release and I hope 7Hz can continue to try and shake up the marketplace some more.
Final Weighted Score: 7.9/10 Rounding up just a bit to an 8/10 performance (to adapt to a review out of 5 stars). Plus, y'all, I'm biased because I love bass.
Thanks for reading!
Overview/History
Hi all.
As someone who's first real basshead IEM was the 7Hz Legato, I've always been following 7Hz to see what their next steps were. They released the Aurora which was warmly received, they quietly scrubbed the Timeless II, and overall just seemed quiet after the success of the 7Hz Zero 2. Lo and behold, they burst back onto the scene with their new Artemis39 DAC/AMP, the 7Hz Aero and their 7Hz Five.

*Image from Linsoul's 7Hz page*
Their marketing materials painted the Five as the industry's first earphone with five dynamic drivers per side to set a "new audio standard". Indeed, you can actually see each of the 6mm DDs through the somewhat translucent shell.

Who knows? Does it work? Yes. But, it's not for everyone. Let's get on with it!
Disclaimers: This review is strictly based on my own impressions and opinions. This unit is my own and I did not receive any instructions from 7Hz or any retailers.
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!





The Five has a polished, flat metal faceplate while the underside is a translucent shell where you can see some of the insides including the 5 DDs. I actually really like how the faceplate/shell combination works and it's a very attractive IEM, IMO.



The Five comes with a silicone carrying case, a flat cable, nozzles/filters, and a plethora of ear tips including their new 7Hz Barrel ear tips (others are not shown on here). For the size sensitive, I measured the widest part of the nozzle lip to 6.1mm so it is definitely more manageable.

I am -not- a fan of the silicone rubber carrying case, personally, but it's definitely manageable vs the Legato case which is more like a passport book at this point.

Tip Rolling
The Five is comfortable and takes to tip rolling very well. I did try the original stock tips which perform well and keep the sound signature pretty well intact. I can definitely recommend the stock tips without any issues.
I'm actually not a fan of the 7Hz Barrel tips as they felt like they were trying to tip the balance of the treble a bit higher while reducing the bass. Not a good combo considering the V-shape is already aggressive enough without needing a boost to the high end.
What about my typical flight of tips?
Spinfit W1: The W1 tends to take a small hit on the bass while bringing up the mids/treble a bit. I don't think this combination worked for me with what the Five are trying to do. Pass.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: My favorite combination. Type E Clear/Red does a great job of keeping the overall bass (with more of an emphasis on sub-bass) while smoothly giving you the full package on the mids/highs.
Dunu S&S: Dunu S&S helped open it up a bit on the soundstage at the cost of sub-bass while also slightly giving you more mid-bass. There's already plenty of punch here so I felt like it was more distracting than anything else.
Kiwi Ears Flex: - Did not use, plenty of bass
Azla SednaEarFit Origin: - Did not use, plenty of bass
Radius Deep Mount: My second favorite combination - Radius Deep Mount tightens the bass up a bit more than the Clear/Red but, otherwise, perform as well as the Clear/Red.
I was primarily switching between the Final Type E and Radius but ultimately felt that the Type E was more comfortable long term for my ears.
Cable
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't originally a fan of the cable.

I'm still not, really, but it's manageable and it gets the job done without being distracting. It fits the theme of the IEM with an almost industrial look to them.
Sound
So, how do they sound? 'V'ery good.

The 7Hz Five is unabashedly a V-shaped IEM. They did not tune this to be safe nor did it feel like they tuned this to follow a Harman graph. Instead, the Five is aggressive about it's V-shape without allowing any of the sound frequency to really sound like it's missing completely unlike the Legato which tends to be more muted in the upper mids/treble region.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Abigail Pro
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Labs Element 3 MK2 (Boosted)
Streamed Music chain: WiiM Mini -> JDS Labs Atom DAC+ -> JDS Labs OL Switcher -> Geshelli Labs Archel 3 Pro
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass: Bass is where the Five excels the most. The bass is musical, fun, punchy, deep yet still somewhat detailed. The Five definitely dances more towards the quantity side vs quality side though without sounding muddy. There's a deep rumble (though it doesn't go as deep as it's sibling the Legato) but there is more visceral impact that you can feel in the music that makes it more engaging.
Yet, with how much bass you're getting, the Five does not feel uncontrolled at all. On some tracks where bass is not emphasized, you get satisfying thump without it feeling like the Five just artifically created slam just for the sake of reminding you of what the Five can do.
The other primary thing that sticks out is that it doesn't feel like you're listening to smaller DDs (6mm that is) with how much slam you get. The Five is absolutely able to satisfy bassheads (without going all the way up to the Fatfreq line up) and while I was originally cautiously skeptical about the implementation of the 5DDs, I think they nailed it on the bass front.

Bass Score: 8.5/10 - TL;DR: Punchy, fun, musical - like speakers inside your ears. Not as detailed as it could be but it's not trying to pretend that it is.
Mids: The Five has a very cohesive presentation of the mid-range. With the mid-bass being boosted, the Five adds some warmth and fullness to male vocals without feeling like it's bleeding over towards the female vocals too much.
Don't get me wrong, though. For some female vocals, there can be some added warmth or huskiness at times. But it really felt dependent on the track or the presentation of the music for me to pick that out. For a lot of tracks, the boosted upper mids helped keep the mid-range overall balanced. None of the vocals come across as shouty at all but it's likely from the balance of bass to the treble that helps in this case.
Instruments also come through clear as well though it won't be detailed or as clean as some of the Five's competition in the same price bracket.
Mids Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Despite being elevated, mids sound very balanced and tonally correct; it's not the star of the show but it's not lacking.
Treble: In order to stay somewhat balanced (vs the Legato where the treble was tamer and would make the bass a bit 'boomier'), the Five has been tuned with boosted treble. It is appropriately airy, energetic, borderline sharp at times but it's typically offset by the high bass boost.
The Five is absolutely not tuned to be safe which helps with it's V-shaped tuning to prevent it from sounding too skewed towards the bass side of the frequency.
I never really felt like it was sibilant and I was able to listen to the Five at a more moderate to higher volume listening but YMMV.
Treble Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Aggressive, energetic and bright for the sake of balance - can be volume limiting but YMMV
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Timbre, Etc.: To my ears, the Five sounds overall very cohesive and natural despite how aggressive the sound signature is.
The Five is not trying to provide a good amount of detailing, imaging or separation, though. Soundstage tends to be closer and in your face. I would argue that it provides decent enough resolution and technical performance but it does not compete with it's peers that are trying to provide that all-rounder experience.
It's easier to forgive the technical performance, though, when you're actually having fun with your music vs trying to analyze and pick up all the small details around it.

Technicalities Score: 7/10 - TL;DR: Meh. Good enough. But you're not really buying the Five for the detail separation or imaging.
Library Hit List: Surprise! The Five worked really well for a lot of tracks but excelled the most with more modern music/tracks, rock songs and hip hop. These songs stuck out the most for me when listening to the Five.
Blackway - "What's up Danger (with Black Caviar)"
Outkast - "Hey Ya!"
Gorillaz - "19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)"
Daft Punk - "Get Lucky"
Bastille - "Back to the Future"
AJR - "Netflix Trip"
The Weeknd - "Blinding Lights"
deadmau5 - "There Might Be Coffee"
Two Door Cinema Club - "Changing of the Seasons"
Comparisons: To compare it to it's older sibling, the Legato, you're looking at a different sound signature altogether where the Legato is bass emphasized(like a L-shaped/check mark shaped) while the Five is an 'In your face' V.
That being said, the Legato is also $109 vs the $149 price tag - it's harder to take a flyer on something that's priced in that $149 bracket considering there's so much competition out there that might be a safer 'V-shape' sound signature or you can get the basshead Legato and tip roll or/EQ. I'm not a financial advisor, though, so I can't make that decision for you if you want to compare the two but I think the Five is definitely a more refined version of it's older sibling.
It would also be hard for me to compare it to the Maestro Mini (which is one of my favorite V-shaped IEMs) as the Five doesn't perform nearly as well. In a way, the Five stands out because it's just so different from a lot of modern 'safe' releases that tries to do everything well without providing much variance of anything different.
Other Things to be aware of:
To echo a lot of what others have said, I've listened to the Five for an extensive amount of time and it does respond very well to burn-in to my ears.
Could it be a placebo? Possibly. But, while the Five was never unbearable to listen to from the first unboxing to present, the Five has picked up a bit more coherence overall to it's sound presentation.
The Five also works well with a lot of sources and I found it pretty easy to drive.
The Five doesn't take on too much of a different character with source rolling so I didn't find that it worked way better on a more neutral JDS Element 3 vs the Shanling Onyx XI1. It didn't seem to perform any better on balanced or anything. I think what you see is what you get with the 7Hz Five but YMMV.
And while I'm not the biggest fan of the cable, the case, or the barrel tips, I'm a huge fan of the risk that 7Hz took in tuning this for fun vs trying to appease everyone.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 9/10 - TL;DR: This aggressive V-shaped IEM is -fun-. Works extremely well for moderate level listening. May be a bit too much for louder volume listening for some. But, if you wanted something different without fully breaking the bank at $149, this is the way.

Conclusion:
Have you been tired of everyone following an HRTF that seems like the same old? Tired of how many 'Harman' tuned IEMs are in the market? Over the Moondrop, Crin, HBB, Giz, etc. etc. baselines that seem to influence all the manufacturers?
Well!

7Hz took the foundation that they built off of the Legato and, in answering the "But Why?" question with a "Why Not?", have a unique entry into the oversatured 'safe' marketplace with a unique, fun, aggressive yet balanced IEM. The 7Hz Five is more than the sum of it's (5) parts and more than just a proof of concept experiment release and I hope 7Hz can continue to try and shake up the marketplace some more.
Final Weighted Score: 7.9/10 Rounding up just a bit to an 8/10 performance (to adapt to a review out of 5 stars). Plus, y'all, I'm biased because I love bass.
Thanks for reading!

MakeItWain
@Ferdinando1968 - thank you, sir! Appreciate you

atechreviews
Great and informative review. I enjoyed reading it 

MonochromeFashionLawyer
Great review and I like that you compared it to the Legato for reference. Also thanks for providing nozzle tip size to give ideas for tip rolling!
baskingshark
Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Decently accessorized
Good comfort despite larger shells
Relatively easy driving requirements
Unique 5 DD configuration
Fun head-banging soundscape
Visceral mid-bass thump synergizes well with bassy genres; one for bassheads
Wide soundstage
Decent clarity and resolution in the treble
Good timbre
Good comfort despite larger shells
Relatively easy driving requirements
Unique 5 DD configuration
Fun head-banging soundscape
Visceral mid-bass thump synergizes well with bassy genres; one for bassheads
Wide soundstage
Decent clarity and resolution in the treble
Good timbre
Cons: May be fussy with high output impedance sources due to lowish impedance
Benefits from burn-in - a bit peakish in the treble out-of-the-box otherwise
Not for midrange lovers or neutralheads
Average bass texturing
Benefits from burn-in - a bit peakish in the treble out-of-the-box otherwise
Not for midrange lovers or neutralheads
Average bass texturing
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.
The 7Hz Five can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-five (no affiliate links).
SPECIFICATIONS
Driver configuration: 5 x 6 mm dynamic drivers
Frequency response: 5 Hz - 40000 kHz
Impedance: 12 Ω
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Cable: 2-pin 0.78 mm; silver-plated cable; option for 4.4 mm or 3.5 mm termination
Tested at: $149 USD
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 4 pairs of 7Hz H07 silicone eartips
- 3 pairs of "barrel" silicone eartips
- Cable
- Carrying case
- 4 sets of spare nozzle covers
- 4 sets of spare filters
For a $100ish set, the accessories are more than decent, other than the lack of foam tips or a modular cable.
We have 2 variants of silicone tips. First up, we have 4 pairs of the 7Hz H07 silicone tips - which are short-bore - and these provide a balanced signature. 7Hz has also included a long-nozzle eartip - which they have christened the "barrel" eartips - and these look similar to the DUNU S&S types; the barrel tips are also well-balanced in sonics, but have improved soundstage and isolation compared to the H07 ones. As a minor trade-off, the barrel tips have a sticky feel, and are not as soft in the ears as the H07 ones.
Packed inside is a flat-braid silver-plated stock cable. During ordering, one can opt for a 3.5 mm (single-ended) or a 4.4 mm (balanced) termination, depending on your source needs. This cable has some microphonics, but otherwise has a chin cinch for added grip, and is quite supple..
We have an interesting rubbery square-shaped carrying case for the Five. This has a hanging lanyard for convenience, and is very soft to cushion the inner contents. However, this case may not be robust to survive a drop or compression.
Last but not least, the inclusion of spare nozzle covers and filters is a very nice touch, as these may inadvertently be damaged or wet, so kudos for adding these in the packaging.
The rest of this review was done with the stock "barrel" silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
The Five has a kidney-shaped profile and is fashioned from resin, with a silver faceplate. Despite being on the larger side - no doubt to squeeze 5 DDs inside - the ergonomics are surprisingly agreeable, with no weird protrusions on the inner aspects to poke the ears. I could wear the Five for long listening sessions without earache.
As this IEM sports numerous vents, isolation is average. I appreciate that there is no driver flex - this is a sign of good acoustic airflow.
INTERNALS
As per its namesake, the Five houses five x 6 mm dynamic drivers, which is a unique driver setup. Each driver operates independently within its own acoustic chamber.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Five with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Onix Alpha XI1 dongle
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone
The Five is relatively easy to drive in terms of headroom. While it can be powered off a weaker smartphone, the Five will scale with amplification - in terms of soundstage and bass tightness, so optimal sonics may lie with at least a dongle DAC/AMP.
One thing to note, the Five may be fastidious with source pairing due to a low impedance of 12 Ω. If paired with sources with output impedance (OI) of > 1.5 Ω, based on the rules of eights, this might skew the IEM to sound more bassy and boomy than the stock tuning. This colouring with a high OI source may be desired though, so do play around with different sources to see what fits your preferences.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
Graph of the Five via IEC711 coupler.
Tonally, the Five boasts of a fun head-banging V-shaped signature. For the measurebators reading this, please note that the Five doesn't sound as harsh in the treble as on the graphs - as the usual adage goes, graphs don't tell the full story - and actually hearing the IEM in the ears trumps graphs any day.
Another thing, the Five is an IEM that benefits from burn-in. Out-of-the-box, the treble was a bit prominent and splashy, but after a day or so on the burn-in rack, this area was smoother for sure.
The Five is an unashamed mid-bass focused set, with a big reverberant thump noted on bassy tracks. This is quite old-school, and brings a smile to the face when bass-oriented genres like EDM and hip-hop come out to play. Bassheads will have a field day, even with the minor sub-bass roll-off. In terms of quality, bass texturing and speed is average, and there is some mid-bass bleed. Once again, the source pairing will determine the bass amounts, as per the output impedance matching.
The Five has a lower midrange recession, as per the V-shaped profile. Midrange lovers might need to look elsewhere as such. The upper midrange has a peak to give clarity to vocals, but thankfully the big bass balances it off, so the Five does not come across as overly shouty.
Continuing on from the upper mids, the lower treble culminates in a 6 kHz rise, which adds energy and resolution to this region. This frequency band may be bright out-of-the-box, but it calms down with burn-in (as previously mentioned); overall, the Five is still on the brighter side, and the most treble-sensitive in the audience might wanna play with eartip rolling to bring this down further. Thankfully, sibilance is quite restrained.
Timbre is pretty natural on the Five, no complaints here.
In technicalities, the Five has good soundstage width, with above average height and depth. Imaging is decent, with good capturing of micro-details from the boosted lower treble. The Five performs instrument separation quite solidly, even with music with complex competing riffs.
COMPARISONS
Binary Acoustics Dyna Quattro
The Dyna Quattro is marketed to be a 4 DD set, but it functions as a 3 DD IEM with an additional passive radiator.
Tonally, the Dyna Quattro is warm-neutral, and less V-shaped. The Dyna Quattro has less mid-bass and treble, and is more relaxed-sounding. The Dyna Quattro is one for midrange lovers - as this region is thicker - though it is more boring than the action-packed 7Hz Five.
The Dyna Quattro is a step behind in technicalities, with weaker imaging and micro-details. Soundstage is slightly deeper and taller on the Dyna Quattro, and it also has a thicker and lusher timbre.
The Dyna Quattro is one of the hardest IEMs to drive, and amplification is surely required. The Dyna Quattro is also much more expensive.
CONCLUSIONS
In a sea of mundane Harmanish-tuned IEMs, the 7Hz Five espouses an entertaining V-shaped signature for head-banging fun. This is not a set for neutralheads or midrange lovers, but is one tuned for imbibing and reveling in. Bassy genres like EDM and hip hop synergize well with this 5 DD behemoth, and listeners will inevitably start to tap their toes to the bass lines. Bassheads will appreciate the tuning choices!
Compared to other multi DD sets - like the Binary Acoustics Dyna Quattro for example - the Five has improved technical chops, though it isn't as laid-back. As expected for such copious bass amounts, the Five isn't the most textured in this area, but amplification tightens the bass. The Five is also one IEM that benefits from burn-in: right after unwrapping the packaging, it did sound peakish in the treble, but thankfully a day or so of burn-in did shave off the top-end's spiciness.
Sporting an uncommon 5 DD configuration - as per its namesake - The 7Hz Five is not a same old same old sidegrade that forms part of the weekly churn. This IEM is uniquely positioned for folks searching for something zesty to party with!
I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.
The 7Hz Five can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-five (no affiliate links).

SPECIFICATIONS
Driver configuration: 5 x 6 mm dynamic drivers
Frequency response: 5 Hz - 40000 kHz
Impedance: 12 Ω
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Cable: 2-pin 0.78 mm; silver-plated cable; option for 4.4 mm or 3.5 mm termination
Tested at: $149 USD
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 4 pairs of 7Hz H07 silicone eartips
- 3 pairs of "barrel" silicone eartips
- Cable
- Carrying case
- 4 sets of spare nozzle covers
- 4 sets of spare filters
For a $100ish set, the accessories are more than decent, other than the lack of foam tips or a modular cable.

We have 2 variants of silicone tips. First up, we have 4 pairs of the 7Hz H07 silicone tips - which are short-bore - and these provide a balanced signature. 7Hz has also included a long-nozzle eartip - which they have christened the "barrel" eartips - and these look similar to the DUNU S&S types; the barrel tips are also well-balanced in sonics, but have improved soundstage and isolation compared to the H07 ones. As a minor trade-off, the barrel tips have a sticky feel, and are not as soft in the ears as the H07 ones.

Packed inside is a flat-braid silver-plated stock cable. During ordering, one can opt for a 3.5 mm (single-ended) or a 4.4 mm (balanced) termination, depending on your source needs. This cable has some microphonics, but otherwise has a chin cinch for added grip, and is quite supple..

We have an interesting rubbery square-shaped carrying case for the Five. This has a hanging lanyard for convenience, and is very soft to cushion the inner contents. However, this case may not be robust to survive a drop or compression.
Last but not least, the inclusion of spare nozzle covers and filters is a very nice touch, as these may inadvertently be damaged or wet, so kudos for adding these in the packaging.
The rest of this review was done with the stock "barrel" silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT

The Five has a kidney-shaped profile and is fashioned from resin, with a silver faceplate. Despite being on the larger side - no doubt to squeeze 5 DDs inside - the ergonomics are surprisingly agreeable, with no weird protrusions on the inner aspects to poke the ears. I could wear the Five for long listening sessions without earache.

As this IEM sports numerous vents, isolation is average. I appreciate that there is no driver flex - this is a sign of good acoustic airflow.

INTERNALS
As per its namesake, the Five houses five x 6 mm dynamic drivers, which is a unique driver setup. Each driver operates independently within its own acoustic chamber.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Five with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Onix Alpha XI1 dongle
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone
The Five is relatively easy to drive in terms of headroom. While it can be powered off a weaker smartphone, the Five will scale with amplification - in terms of soundstage and bass tightness, so optimal sonics may lie with at least a dongle DAC/AMP.
One thing to note, the Five may be fastidious with source pairing due to a low impedance of 12 Ω. If paired with sources with output impedance (OI) of > 1.5 Ω, based on the rules of eights, this might skew the IEM to sound more bassy and boomy than the stock tuning. This colouring with a high OI source may be desired though, so do play around with different sources to see what fits your preferences.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the Five via IEC711 coupler.
Tonally, the Five boasts of a fun head-banging V-shaped signature. For the measurebators reading this, please note that the Five doesn't sound as harsh in the treble as on the graphs - as the usual adage goes, graphs don't tell the full story - and actually hearing the IEM in the ears trumps graphs any day.
Another thing, the Five is an IEM that benefits from burn-in. Out-of-the-box, the treble was a bit prominent and splashy, but after a day or so on the burn-in rack, this area was smoother for sure.
The Five is an unashamed mid-bass focused set, with a big reverberant thump noted on bassy tracks. This is quite old-school, and brings a smile to the face when bass-oriented genres like EDM and hip-hop come out to play. Bassheads will have a field day, even with the minor sub-bass roll-off. In terms of quality, bass texturing and speed is average, and there is some mid-bass bleed. Once again, the source pairing will determine the bass amounts, as per the output impedance matching.
The Five has a lower midrange recession, as per the V-shaped profile. Midrange lovers might need to look elsewhere as such. The upper midrange has a peak to give clarity to vocals, but thankfully the big bass balances it off, so the Five does not come across as overly shouty.
Continuing on from the upper mids, the lower treble culminates in a 6 kHz rise, which adds energy and resolution to this region. This frequency band may be bright out-of-the-box, but it calms down with burn-in (as previously mentioned); overall, the Five is still on the brighter side, and the most treble-sensitive in the audience might wanna play with eartip rolling to bring this down further. Thankfully, sibilance is quite restrained.
Timbre is pretty natural on the Five, no complaints here.
In technicalities, the Five has good soundstage width, with above average height and depth. Imaging is decent, with good capturing of micro-details from the boosted lower treble. The Five performs instrument separation quite solidly, even with music with complex competing riffs.
COMPARISONS

Binary Acoustics Dyna Quattro
The Dyna Quattro is marketed to be a 4 DD set, but it functions as a 3 DD IEM with an additional passive radiator.
Tonally, the Dyna Quattro is warm-neutral, and less V-shaped. The Dyna Quattro has less mid-bass and treble, and is more relaxed-sounding. The Dyna Quattro is one for midrange lovers - as this region is thicker - though it is more boring than the action-packed 7Hz Five.
The Dyna Quattro is a step behind in technicalities, with weaker imaging and micro-details. Soundstage is slightly deeper and taller on the Dyna Quattro, and it also has a thicker and lusher timbre.
The Dyna Quattro is one of the hardest IEMs to drive, and amplification is surely required. The Dyna Quattro is also much more expensive.
CONCLUSIONS

In a sea of mundane Harmanish-tuned IEMs, the 7Hz Five espouses an entertaining V-shaped signature for head-banging fun. This is not a set for neutralheads or midrange lovers, but is one tuned for imbibing and reveling in. Bassy genres like EDM and hip hop synergize well with this 5 DD behemoth, and listeners will inevitably start to tap their toes to the bass lines. Bassheads will appreciate the tuning choices!
Compared to other multi DD sets - like the Binary Acoustics Dyna Quattro for example - the Five has improved technical chops, though it isn't as laid-back. As expected for such copious bass amounts, the Five isn't the most textured in this area, but amplification tightens the bass. The Five is also one IEM that benefits from burn-in: right after unwrapping the packaging, it did sound peakish in the treble, but thankfully a day or so of burn-in did shave off the top-end's spiciness.
Sporting an uncommon 5 DD configuration - as per its namesake - The 7Hz Five is not a same old same old sidegrade that forms part of the weekly churn. This IEM is uniquely positioned for folks searching for something zesty to party with!
Last edited:
aftersound
New Head-Fier
Pros: - bulky yet comfy build
- energetic sound, tons of energy
- energetic sound, tons of energy
Cons: - could be too V shaped (missing some midrange balance)
- could be fatiguing
- could be fatiguing
i believe it’s the first time i tried a 5 Dynamic Driver per side for an IEM
and it is not a lie, you can literally see 5 dynamic driver in the clear shell and each has their own tube
the faceplate shape itself is somehow remind me of the either bean or kidney with unique shiny scaly pattern that give moving illusion depending on the light and viewing angle
i really appreciate that with this bulky housing and 5DD they managed to make a comfy iem in my small ears
the sound is exactly like the FR shows..
tons of midbass energy and forward upper mid to treble area to counter balance the bass, simply said either V or W shaped, contrast-y sounding iem
hearing it simply feels fun, it’s an embodiment of adrenaline and caffeine.
tons of “boom” and kick in every song, extremely fun yet maintain a somehow still clear vocal and treble
the main weakness here is in the balancing, you see they give tons of midbass and giving rise on the upper mid and treble to counter balance it but also taking a chunk of midrange frequency,
so if you take out the fun and focus on vocal and instrument like piano and guitar transition from mid to upper octave it feels “jumpy” and uneven
nevertheless i can definitely see the market and the purpose of this iem is to have fun fun kick boom and fun while maintaining vocal and treble clarity and in a way it does achieve that
it will be a good choice for those who simply want to wake up and feel the energy but definitely will not for those who want to feel laidback and calm music
and it is not a lie, you can literally see 5 dynamic driver in the clear shell and each has their own tube

the faceplate shape itself is somehow remind me of the either bean or kidney with unique shiny scaly pattern that give moving illusion depending on the light and viewing angle
i really appreciate that with this bulky housing and 5DD they managed to make a comfy iem in my small ears

the sound is exactly like the FR shows..
tons of midbass energy and forward upper mid to treble area to counter balance the bass, simply said either V or W shaped, contrast-y sounding iem
hearing it simply feels fun, it’s an embodiment of adrenaline and caffeine.
tons of “boom” and kick in every song, extremely fun yet maintain a somehow still clear vocal and treble
the main weakness here is in the balancing, you see they give tons of midbass and giving rise on the upper mid and treble to counter balance it but also taking a chunk of midrange frequency,
so if you take out the fun and focus on vocal and instrument like piano and guitar transition from mid to upper octave it feels “jumpy” and uneven
nevertheless i can definitely see the market and the purpose of this iem is to have fun fun kick boom and fun while maintaining vocal and treble clarity and in a way it does achieve that
it will be a good choice for those who simply want to wake up and feel the energy but definitely will not for those who want to feel laidback and calm music
SherryLion
New Head-Fier
Pros: 1. Proper V-shape tuning
2. Airy and Energetic treble
3. Rich and natural sounding mid range
4. Rumbling and rich bass
2. Airy and Energetic treble
3. Rich and natural sounding mid range
4. Rumbling and rich bass
Cons: 1. Lacks in the technical department for a 150USD IEM
2. Might become a little too much for some in the upper frequencies
2. Might become a little too much for some in the upper frequencies
Review Of The 7Hz Five

Introduction
Following the release of numerous well-received IEMs, 7Hz, a Chinese firm that specializes in electro-acoustic products, has introduced a number of new products, including high-end dongle dacs and cheap to mid-tier IEMs. The company has produced a number of products, including Timeless, Zero, Dioko, and others, that are well-known among audiophiles. The brand offers a vast array of IEMs, has been around for a while, and has been successful in staying innovative, notably with the release of Aurora, their most expensive IEM, recently. Although I had the good fortune to get from 7Hz Five, a fresh and original perspective on IEM standards and ethics for review, though before doing so I would want to make a few clarifications first.

Disclaimer
*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. As I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “Five.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Five based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification
A five driver arrangement of a single type driver is housed in The Five. Every dynamic driver is a specially designed 6mm driver, each with its own housing and an electrical crossover connecting them to deliver the needed favorable tuning by 7Hz. The shells have a metal faceplate and are constructed well, offering a good seal and fitting even though the nozzle is a little on the short side. I was still able to achieve an isolated seal by rolling the tip of the shell. This high purity silver plated oxygen free cable has a four strand parallel construction with 49 wires per strand. It is a two pin cable that terminates in a 3.5mm straight termination plug. The same kind of cable was also available with 7Hz sonus; it is incredibly flexible and of excellent quality. A zippered silicon travel case and an assortment of eartips are the other accessories that come with the package. Regarding the technical specifications, the sensitivity is 105dB and the impedance is 12 Ohms. The frequency response spans from 5 Hz to 40 kHz, with less than 0.5% of total harmonic distortion.

Sound
Five's presentation is energetic enough to get your attention while maintaining a respectable level of quality and tonality, making it seem incredibly coherent and less tiresome overall. To be very honest, I think that the reason the IEM sounds so well is because of the way the drivers were implemented. Together, the five drivers produce a fluid, vibrant sound that is rich in fine technical details. Although the frequency response graph indicates that the lower mid range sounds a touch dull, the sound presentation leans toward a slight V-shape in my opinion. However, unlike other hybrid or multi driver IEMs, the warmth and richness are still present. Although the mid range is not overly central or upfront, it delivers a good balanced response where the vocals and instruments sound natural and enjoyable to listen to. The treble is lively and dynamic, which creates a fascinating response. The response sounds rich and dynamic with excellent coherence and a smooth response because of the large, powerful bass. To discover more, let's investigate the sound more thoroughly.

Treble
As previously indicated, the treble range produces a very vibrant and energizing response that makes it easier for the intricacies to be heard and heightens the allure of the music you're listening to. A real treat, as it adds a lot of clarity and presence to the vocals and instruments while preventing any metallic or sharp notes from developing in the mix. However, there are instances where computed sounding vocals can sound a touch too hot. Because of the upper treble's lovely extension and airiness, the instruments and vocalists can express themselves fully and produce a rich, detailed sound. You won't be endowed with refinement, but the quality is incredibly reassuring. The expressiveness is obviously really well established, but it's not like the vocals push the instruments or vice versa—rather, both the vocals and the instruments blend well and don't contradict the integrity of each note hitting, which was surprising to hear. The lower treble on the hand adds more excitement and energy, which allows the vocals and the instruments to sound forward and present. The female vocals on tracks like "By My Darling" by Maria Miki & NITO are particularly expressive and expansive, sounding broader and more complete. This fascinating response is further enhanced by the instrumentation, which sound rich, dynamic, and full of vitality in the mix. However, Miyu Tomita's vocals on songs like "Paradoxes" have a seductive quality despite the instruments' precise and refined response. When she hits high notes, the integrity of the notes is compromised by the bite or spice in her voice. As a result, the treble region's overall presentation is vibrant, exciting, expressive, and slightly spicy.
Mid Range
The mid range response is balanced but slightly pushed back in the mix. It's not that the response is subdued or anything, but typically IEMs push the mid range forward in the mix to bring out the best in the mix, and that's actually how it's supposed to sound. However, the response is a little relaxed in the range, which tampers with the expressiveness of the notes while also helping to achieve a rich and favorable tone from the vocals and instruments. However, as I've already indicated, the response doesn't seem lifeless or monotonous because, despite being mellow or pushed back, the treble makes up for the absence of specifics and clarity. Overall, the response sounds expansive, well-balanced, and well-resolved, which is, in my opinion, what 7Hz was attempting to accomplish. Although not as much as the lower treble, the upper mid range still has a strong energy that keeps the vocals and instruments from becoming lost in the mix and elevates their presence. While the instruments sound natural and clean, the vocals have a lush, silky response that adds wonderful noteweight and warmth to the mix. Although the lower mid range has a presence that contributes to maintaining the rich tonality of the upper frequencies, it does feel muted, which causes the vocals and instruments to sound hazy and muttering. Tracks like Metro Boominm's "Creepin'" feature The Weeknd's vocals, which are typically a little too thin with other sets I've listened to, sounds more natural while listening through Five. The instruments have a distinct and clear response that makes the response sound clean and well-resolved. As a result, the mid range region has a little pushed back presentation but overall sounds rich, natural, and clean.
Bass
In terms of bass, these satisfy my desire for a strong presence; they are not overly powerful or impactful, but they have enough presence to keep boominess or muddyness at away, allowing the bass to sound powerful without being bloated. Although the mid bass has a strong presence and contributes some great qualities to the mix, the sub bass area is the emphasis of the mix. The mid bass has weight and richness in the mix, especially when it comes to the slams as they strike hard. The sub bass dives deep and provides a good rumbling sensation in the ear, while the bass is not so snappy but pounding enough to sound dynamic. The drums sound clear and precise, while the bass guitar is heavy and powerful. Although it does seep into the lower mid range, the mid bass doesn't distort the response. It sounds clear and natural in the mix because to the adequate texture and details. Tracks like Bring Me The Horizon's "Kool-Aid" have a rich, powerful sound to it, with the guitars and bass playing a large, pounding part that accentuates the drums' presence and accuracy in the mix. Tracks like 0506+056 by Deathpact sound extremely satisfying with good bass drops and hits that allow a good grasp of the listener's attention; however, the bass is not overbearing to the point where the listener loses sight of what the music is actually about, but with great control, the bass sounds clean with decent powered impacts and hits. Overall, the bass region sounds rumbling, powerful, and rich, with a controlled presence.
Technical Performance
The Five's technical abilities are impressive but not the best in the competition. I mean, for an IEM to be tuned in such a way does bring that focus to tonality, but as it sounds with such a lively approach, one expects great technicalities that may satisfy but not surprise the listener. Let's be more specific.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation
The presentation is wide enough to sound expansive and holographic since the depth and width are well established, resulting in an airy and spacious sound; the imaging, on the other hand, might have been sharper but is clear enough to make sound precise. The note distinction is quite noticeable.
Speed & Resolution
The resolution is decent, with nice macro and micro details, and the effect of detail surfacing is effortless, which is new to me as a listener. The notes' attack and decay are fast-paced, allowing for a clear and neatly resolved presentation.
Sound Impressions
Sources
Sony WM1A - While listening to Five with WM1A, the response seemed smoother and richer, with a beautiful tone; the vocals felt more vibrant and forward in the midrange region, particularly the female vocals. Miyu Tomita's Paradoxes sounded natural and open without adding any heat or bite to the mix. The notes retained their integrity, allowing the treble to sound more smooth and nuanced. The bass, on the other hand, seemed a little muffled in the midbass region, allowing the subbass to become more rumbly and punchy with increased dynamics.

FiiO M15S - While listening to FIve with M15S, the response was shockingly forward in the midrange and well controlled in the bass. The response sounded more controlled and composite, and the quality of the sounds seemed significantly better with a tactile and quick presentation. The bass felt tamed, yet with more control over its presence.

Tracks
Millet - Anytime Anywhere
Miyu Tomita - Paradoxes
Maria Miki & NITO - By My Darling
Anri - I can’t stop the loneliness
Kohana Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Uru - Kimino Shiawasewo
Uru - Kamihitoe
Kujira Yumemi - Kenka
Majiko - Kokoronashi
Anly - Sukinishinayo
Kohama Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Miliyah - Kono Yumega Samerumade
Rokudenashi - The Flame Of Love
Yu-Peng Chen - A New Day with Hope
Yu-Peng Chen - Another Hopeful Tomorrow
Yu-Peng Chen - For Riddles, for Wonders
Valentino Khan - Satellite
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Jawns - Erotica
ISOxo - how2fly
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Weeknd - Popular
YUNGBLUD - When We Die(Can We Still Get High)
Bring to Horizon - Kool-Aid
Middle Kids - Bend
FLETCHER - Leads Me On
Loathe - Aggressive Evolution
The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
Sigrid - Burning Bridges
AURORA - Black Water Lilies
AURORA - Runaway
X Ambassadors - Renegades
Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Can’t Hold Us
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
Jay-Z - Run This Town
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Ladytron - Ghost
Travis - Love Will Come Through
LINKIN PARK - Somewhere I Belong
DJ Shadow - Six Days (Remix)
Hoobastank - The Reason
Ricky Martin - I Don’t Care
Tool - 7empest
Tool - Vicarious
A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song
Zack Hemsey - Vengeance
Elton John - I’m Still Standing
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin
Micheal Sembello - Maniac
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
A.R. Rahman - Kun Faya Kun
Conclusion
Finally, The FIve is a one-of-a-kind and innovative approach to how IEMs are seen in the audiophile community, and it is praiseworthy that 7Hz created the first five dynamic driver IEM. When it comes to sound, I think of people who enjoy a vibrant and engaging presentation with a smooth and cohesive response that sounds natural and favorable, particularly in genres such as R&B, Pop, EDM, and Jazz. As a result, these come with my highest recommendation.

S
SherryLion
The bass is a tad better than DaVinci in terms of attack but decays the same. The drums have the same impressions as the DaVinci.
S
SherryLion
I am not sure, I was excited to hear a 5DD IEM and thus the title.

MakeItWain
@SherryLion - no worries, I was like dang, I thought I heard someone say that but I was off.