Welcome to the current review. Today is a review of the 7hz sonnus. An iem that comes to break the 100€ barrier in terms of sound performance. Will it have succeeded?
Well, before answering this question, it's time for a review to situate ourselves. 7hz, the brand of this iem, surely you have heard it...a brand that revolutionized the audio world in 2021 with the 7hz timeless, the first planar before boom.
7hz also has very interesting iems like the i99 and several more economical models with the Legato or the Zero. This Sonnus comes to unseat both, a profile as interesting as the Zero, but more technical.
What can go wrong?
- UNBOXING SECTION (IMPRESSIONS)
The unpacking experience is different or striking. why give goodies that make the product more expensive when you can give the basics and correct? 7hz has done something amazing here. It offers enough accessories or goodies as I say despite being a lower priced set.
We have on one side a medium sized box with the headset logo and branding. Inside come the accessories. The carrying case or rather the purse ... because it looks quite like the truth, it is nothing special and will not protect the iem very effectively. It's quite soft, rather serious looking...but it's wide enough. I hate carrying cases that are small no matter how much they protect. On the other hand, we have the cable. It is peculiar to say the least. 7hz has decided to make a 4-core cable that instead of building it in the traditional way has arranged them in a row...a matter of taste but it feels different and is truly curious.
On the other hand, we have an important pack of tips of various colors that are certainly appreciated along with some filters to put on the nozzle to the iem.
As for the 7hz isolation at least tried this time to make the housing fit your ear but, like other 7hz products, the iem is held in place by the mouthpiece and, being 6.3mm wide, the tips can make or break the fit. I don't consider it to be the best fit I have tried for under 300€ but it is one of the best for under 100€ reducing a lot of decibels passively. I consider the fit to be superior to models such as the Tripowin Olina but inferior to the Kz ZSX.
This may be the first time I've been surprised by an IEM that only employs a BA and a DD, and coming from the company 7hz, whose sound signature has never let me down, they have finally exceeded my expectations...considering the asking price. Of course, I speak with my preferences and tastes in mind. The thing is that normally when I listen to IEMs that use only a BA and a DD, which are mostly inexpensive like the well known KZ, CCA, etc., or any brand that normally brings a dual configuration to the market, They sound simpler or artificially detailed, but, wow, this may be the best implementation of a BA and a DD that I have seen surpassing even the Ikko Oh10 in some aspects. Overall, the sound is neutral with sub-bass boost, allowing for very extended and full highs, a forward and very revealing midrange, and punchy rather than powerful bass. But when I go into details, I will be as objective as possible about the sound.
Will it need a powerful amplifier?
In terms of amplification with only 30 ohms and 109 decibels makes this set an ideal one for outdoor use...you won't need to worry too much because it also doesn't scale as well as other products if we connect it to more powerful amplifiers. A current cell phone with a dac can move it well.
SOUND SECTION – BASS
Except for the fact that it doesn’t allow for more weight in the low mids, the bass is really well done. It is accentuated in the sub-bass region and extends deep enough to produce a satisfying amount of rumble. Heavy, loud hits can be made to feel with the power of the driver. My favorite part of the whole mix is the sub-bass because it adds a clean and satisfying bass response to the track. The slams and thumps in the low mids, however, could have used more presence even though they still have enough but maybe lack a bit. The lower midrange doesn’t seem to be affected by the mid-bass. The texture and specificities of the bass are also very well established.
Regarding the ZSX we quickly notice that the sonus is less prominent in the low mids and in zsx the bass is presented in general deeper and more impactful but cleaner and less bloated in the Sonus.
SOUND SECTION – MIDS
Now that the midrange is more energizing and forward in the mix, it doesn’t mean that it sounds bad; on the contrary, it has a transparent response where the vocals and instruments sound in such harmony that it will refresh you.
This section is one of the best… considering the price I wasn’t expecting such a good performance in the mids.
In other words, the tone and energy are very good and expressive, rather than warm. The lower highs are well tuned to the lower mids, giving the response a smooth and clear quality… that is, the upper midrange sounds like it has more energy than the lower midrange. The vocals and instruments sound consistent, evenly spaced and well positioned, allowing each component to provide as much detail as possible to the drivers. Of course, the notes are not particularly thick or dense.
The instruments don’t sound muddy, however, I can definitely hear that the overall mix is lacking in low mids, which would have made it sound more organic. But overall, the midrange comes across as transparent, vibrant and forward-thinking.
SOUND SECTION – TREBLE
In the treble it is expressive and has good detail, clear and crisp. Vocals really extend in the upper treble and make the most of the notes in the higher octaves. Both vocals and instruments sound forward in the mix, and their energy converses smoothly with the midrange. Instruments, on the contrary, sound sharp and a bit tinny to my ears.
Vocals sound a bit sibilant in the higher frequencies, whether in the lower or upper treble. However, I must admit that the BA has been implemented to obtain the best possible results. When we return to the lower treble the instruments are more revealing and clear. The atmosphere brings out the best in the vocals and instruments while maintaining their integrity, making them sound clear and detailed. Overall, the treble region comes across as clear, detailed and crisp, while also sounding slightly sibilant, which is a sign of the BA timbre.
SOUND SECTION – TECHNICALITIES
The most obvious purpose of the iem is to listen to music. At this price and with the features I think it is the ideal iem to take for a walk, on the bus… while enjoying music as I said or listening to some audiovisual content.
The soundstage is quite at head level, but because it is holographic and has good separation I can easily identify where the sound is coming from. And it is all due to how clear and sharp the images are. If we compare it with the Kz zsx we notice that it has a wider stage, with more separation even but its image is not as clear.
As for detail, of the IEMs configured with 1DD and 1BA, the details are the best I have heard; Whether at the micro or macro level, everything sounds richer and more full-bodied in terms of recovery. The attack and decay of the notes are very fast paced, making the whole response very clear, and the control and speed are amazing for the sub-€100 retail price
I opened the video with the question of whether this Sonus is an iem that comes to break the €100 barrier in terms of sound performance. It is true that if you have more expensive equipment you might not be interested in such sets, but as a second pair or travel set I think they have enough room…
You see…the world of chifi is becoming more and more predictable. With so many releases you can clearly see trends. Generally, IEMs that cost less than €50 are usually technically incapable and tonally they tend to sin of excesses in some aspect of the frequency, which are usually the bass, this is to make them more attractive to the general public…if we go up to the €100 range we can see technical improvements but tonalities that do not usually differ from lower prices…scaling up in price usually implies small improvements in the technical area…but combining neutral tonality with technical skill is something that costs more… This Sonus presents a well-tuned sound without those excesses that I talked about before but with enough technical skill that a €200 IEM could well have.
Therefore, do I recommend this iem? In the 2024, not.
