7Hz i99 IEM

Introduction

7Hz is a relatively new Chinese company that opened for business in 2018, and the flagship i99 is currently one of four models it manufacturers. The 7Hz branding refers to the frequency of theta waves in the brain which foster a meditative state, and 7Hz's goal is to produce product that mimic this state of mind when listening to one of its creations.

When I first found out about the 7Hz i99, I was entranced with the idea of a bass dominate IEM to add to my collection since I typically prefer clarity oriented IEMs like the final A8000 and MOONDROP S8 which are favorites that I own.



Performance

I purchased the i99 ($480) from Linsoul in late April of this year, and received it about two weeks later. The i99 itself is beautifully built using a stainless steel casing with a mirror like finish. It comes in either silver or black, and because the Linsoul picture of the black version revealed a textured finish (unlike the mirror finish of the silver), I opted for black. I was surprised on receiving it there was no texture at all and it looked more like the silver on the front with a darker tone on the rear. I contacted Linsoul, and after sending pictures of my i99 and waiting for them to contact 7Hz, I received a message that indeed I received the correct version, that the picture on its site was an early depiction so those interested in acquiring a black i99 should be aware of this discrepancy (Linsoul as of now has not updated its site with a new picture).

For this review my primary source was the HiBy R5 loaded with hi-res files. I didn't use any equalization during my critical listening sessions. One thing of note, the i99 requires extended burn-in before it sounds its best, the midrange/trebles out of the box coming through with a grainy signature. After about 300 hours of play, the bass was somewhat tighter and the graininess had mostly disappeared. I would also suggest a large bore tip design such as the JVC Spiral Dots since this is a warm sounding design.



Once fully cooked, the dominate tonal character is the elevated mid-bass that also reaches into the sub-bass area, but with less force. Graphs reveal a 10dB bass elevation from 1kHz thus epitomizing a classic V-shaped character due to a similar 10dB rise at ~3kHz.

When I listened to Boston's seminal first album (DSD), the heightened bass added a layer of warmth to the lower mids that also reached into the midrange, a coloration that is easy to listen to, but takes away from any sense of overall clarity. The i99 will likely require EQ for many listeners to even out this tuning.

The trebles have a further little bump at ~5kHz to add presence to the overall warm sound. Bob Marley's album, Exodus (24/96), includes one of my favorite songs of his, "Waiting in Vain," and the added presence brings his voice to the fore. I believe reggae is a good genre for the i99.

I like the soundstage the i99 puts out, very wide with good depth creating a cavernous sound. Due to the bass presence, however, imaging is somewhat congealed, the i99 doesn't pretend to be an articulate reproducer, yet with Massive Attack's album, Blue Lines (24/96), the overall presentation has a huge sound that really gets me swinging my head to the music.



Summary

My belief is the i99 will only appeal to those who like a bassy tone to their music, so as a stand alone IEM, its tonal balance is somewhat limited. Since many of us, however, like to have different earphones in our collection for different types of music and moods, the i99 fits well with these expectations. It is a very well made IEM with a nice SPC cable included that isn't the typical Linsoul design due to its custom fittings and cabling. The wood storage box is a pleasant addition (I use it for my IEM collection), and the faux leather zippered case is really nice. Finally, the diamond like carbon, 13.8" driver further improved with a beryllium coating on each side brings modern day tech to a relatively affordable level. I'm quite happy with my purchase!

Disclaimer: I99 has graciously provided us with this sample unit in exchange for an honest review. The views discussed below are a reflection of Project A3's thoughts surrounding the product. The sample has been run-in for at least 50 hours prior to review in order to achieve an accurate representation of the product.




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Introduction:
Today, I'll be reviewing the highly ambitious release of the 7Hz I99; a flagship offering from a young chi-fi brand. Known for its previous affordable release, the 7hz i77, the I99 takes a huge leap in price, placing itself in the mid-range flagship market. Modeled after the widely acclaimed Beyerdynamic Xelento, I99 is looking to dethrone some big names in the industry. But has I99 bitten more than it could chew> Available at **

Specification:

• 13.8MM BERYLLIUM DYNAMIC DRIVER
• FREQUENCY RESPONSE RANGE: 20- 20,000 HZ
• IMPEDANCE: 25 OHMS
• SENSITIVITY: 118DB
• DISTORTION RATE:BELOW 0.2%

Gear Used & Tracklist:
Sony Walkman NW-A105| Aune X1s | Xduoo X20 | Periodic Audio Nickel (Ni) | Detonray DTR-1 | LG G6 |



Unboxing:
The 7Hz i99 comes encased in a beautiful wooden display case.Under its front lid, the earphones are stowed safely in the foam inserts, alongside a rounded leather case with brass detailing, multiple silicon eartips in varied sizes (S,M,L) and a silver-plated copper cable. Given its ambitious price point, the entire package far surpasses my expectations, rivaling its American and European competitors in the North. A stunning effort by 7Hz.

Scalability:
Given its high sensitivity, the 7Hz i99 is easily driven from most sources without many changes to its characteristic tonality. It retains its signature across all the devices I paired it with, and it doesn't deviate much when paired with my most powerful amplifier, the Aune X1s.



Fit:
The 7hz I99 shells boast a mirror-polish, kaleidoscopic finish. Unfortunately, it has already retained a few hairline scratches. Nevertheless, its metal shells inspire confidence in product longevity, while its long spout sits snugly in my ears when paired with adequately sized eartips. The cables are flexible and conform well to the outer earlobes, and its terminations are reinforced with ample strain relief to avoid unwanted tugs or pulls.

Unfortunately, the shells themselves are incredibly hefty, and its weight started to be a discomforting experience during lengthy listening sessions. Its ability to isolate is heavily contravened by the large number of vents behind each shell, resulting in wind noise constantly detracting from my "on-the-go" listening sessions.

Overlooking those small problems, the i99 ticks many of the right boxes. a positive one.







EARFQuake's distinct bass drop is a brain rattling experience, with an in-your-face bass punch with ample amounts of reverb. However, it clouds Tyler's vocal section and any semblance of backing synths are lost in the entire mix, mired by its low-end focus.





Alex Cameron's raspy voice is represented decently well on the i99, but the "s" notes in the song are overly emphasized, resulting in early fatigue on longer listening sessions. The lower-mids lack body to keep the entire track weighted. The overblown bass region drowns alot of the smaller details in the upper-midrange.





The i99 wasn't tuned to focus on the highs as its prominent feature, but it gives Jonna Lee's vocals a fair representation, punctuated by the airy sound of blaring synths. However, it simply lacks enough energy or verve to be considered detailed at its steeper price point.





The I99's large dynamic driver displays vast potential in its ability to handle busier tracks, with a large mix of vocals and instruments being managed well. Unfortunately, the recurring bass-problem mitigates its ability to distinguish each instrument from the next, despite its extensive lateral width





Like the previous issue, the contentious bass-line strikes again, harming the i99's ability to readily identify audible cues and instruments from vocals. Staging is placed in the foreground, bass at the forefront.





Unsurprisingly, tracks with stabby synth lines, punctuated by cascading kickdrums sound spectacular on the I99. But, the shoutiness of the upper-mids and its scathing treble quickly wears your ears down. The i99 lacks the flexibility to pair itself well with many genres.




I99's upper-mids and its unabashed forwardness lends itself well to higher-pitched vocals. However, it tends to overstay its welcome with its enervating forwardness





The i99 has the technical capability to reproduce instruments with above-average clarity, but it doesn't quite meet flagship expectations. The baritone saxophone in the reference track while clear, has a brash quality to it that is poorly represented, where its sharpest peaks are exacerbated by the i99's wonky timbre.




Its over-zealous sound signature certainly carves a niche for itself in the market, but its strange timbre and gargantuan bass slam may put off consumers more inclined towards neutral to more conservative signatures.




Comparison Chart
How we compare: We chose other similarly priced earphones or similar offerings from the same brand that Project A3 has reviewed in the past, to ensure that we remain as impartial as possible in our comparisons.




Conclusion:
The i99 has many technical capabilities, but its niche sound-signature doesn't quite hit the mark as a flagship iem. A few refinements are needed to really elevate the i99 as a true market contender. However, I still remain deeply impressed by 7Hz's courage in trying out something new.

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*All ratings are accurate as of date of publication. Changes in price, newer models may affect Project A3's views on the performance and value of the reviewed product.