7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko Universal IEM

On Feb 20th of this year, something magical happened. Linus Tech Tips with his massive 15 million subs made a video on the Dioko and the Audeze Euclid. This video has over 1.3 million views and that alone is better than almost any other video in the hobby out there. But does Linus x Crinacle x 7hz make the best iem?

I bought this iem with my own money. My opinions are my own.

You can buy this on Amazon or Linsoul. These are listed here for convenience only

Product Features
Impedance: 16 ohm
Sound pressure level: 106dB/v@1kHz
Frequency response range: 5-40000hz
THD: <0.2%/1khz

Song Choice: Tidal list here:
I listen to a wide variety of music. I pick the songs because of various reasons. But I picture myself locked away like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank blasting music and shut off from the world. It’s a blissful image.
The Marriage of Figaro -The opera song from Shawshank Redemption, terrible recording but fun and gets me in the mood to listen to music.
O mio Babino caro -This is a modern less operatic version but a song with great female vocals.
Video Rigoletto - “La donna e mobile” Sung by one of the three Tenors, great song for high-performing male vocals. Pavarotti is the greatest classic singer maybe ever. Fight me!
Iron man - The sound at the beginning is hard to make sound great, great drums, and cymbals, and if done right it feels like an old-school band.
I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me.
There is a light That never goes out - Smiths ( A classic, I just love it. It’s mellow, and I can tell a lot of the tuning if this song is done right.)
Jump (I like how the sound effects are in this!)
Star Child Someone recommended this song to me, and I like how funky it sounds and has nice vocals and a mix of music and things going on.
Dicke Titten Ramstein The beginning is amazing and the bass hits hard. Great song. I love rock and metal. The German language fascinates me
Master of Puppets: Very fast song. Helps me determine if the driver can keep up.


Shell: This is a yikes for me. It’s hyuuuuuge. It’s the biggest iem that I own, but it has prepared me for a future of large iems. This is a trainer iem that can help you grow the size of your ears to prepare for the iems that come in the future with 20 drivers. Do you want to train like Rocky and put your ears through a rocky training montage to make your ears big. Then this adds value for you, if not I’d recommend something smaller for you.




Case - This 7hz is one of the better cases out there. The outside is nice with a black and Red 7. This to me is a favorite case, and I really enjoy it. While I wouldn’t necessarily take it with me to work, I do love the look and feel of it, and I find it premium, just not pocketable. It’s like an overnight stay case, that can carry a few iems and cables.



Tip Selection: It’s fun, it’s fine. They are a solid collection for a 100-dollar iem. I have no problems with it, and it meets my not-terrible bar line.


Cable: This is a fine cable. I love the color, the feel. I wouldn’t recommend replacing it with a Hola cable, and that is indeed fine praise.

Comparison: This iem is interesting as it compares to many other plannars. HBB Heyday, 7hz timeless, but this is much less expensive. It has value in that.

Quick-Fire Comparisons

In this section, I'll quickly compare the Dioko to other relevant IEMs in its price bracket.

Dioko VS. Legato
Overall Tuning: Legato
Details: Tied

Dioko VS. Hexa
Overall Tuning: Hexa
Details: Hexa

Diko VS. TINHIFI T4 Plus
Overall Tuning: TINHIFI T4 Plus
Details: Dioko

Dioko VS. Dunu Kima
Overall Tuning: Kima
Details: Kima

Value: It has a nice cable, a nice box, and is a solid iem. I’d wait personally until you can find it on sale or used. But it is a very nice value iem, with a massive base shelf added from eq it sounds a bit better. It’s very lean to me.

Graph: This graph was brought to you by Ianfann. He makes me buy a lot of audio gear. I find him very honest and kind. I also love his overall content. Check him out.

For me, the sound is good when I get a good fit. It needs a base shelf or just sounds weird.

Bass

The Diokos bass is weak and makes it feel boring. It has that planar sound where the details sound strong. The midrange is still clean, just a bit cold, and doesn’t seem to hit the right spots even with eq added.

Midrange

The midrange is smooth and natural, without a hint of shout or thinness. It’s one of the best qualities of the Dioko. The planar driver seems to do well in this range.


Treble

The treble is strong in the Dioko. It's airy, sparkly, and highlights a lot of micro-nuances but a tiny bit bland. It is really not the best. I can think of several IEMs with better treble for less.

Gifting/who is it for: Grandma or someone who really likes purple! The tuning is really eh for me. I know it’s a Crinacle iem, but it just fails to impress me even with EQ. The box, cable, and everything about the iem is fun, so I could really see many people enjoying the set especially if they like the style of it or can get past that.

Pairing: I used a Quidelix 5k and a Topping DX1 dac through a SMSL SH-8s AMP. I don’t think the pairing matters too much, but it certainly can.

Summary:

This iem is like Hawkeye for me. He’s purple, he’s boring and kinda cool but not like WOW! He's a side kick, not a daily driver. It’s a decent iem, but I wouldn’t pick it up at the current price and wait a bit. If they released it with a smaller nozzle and a better base shelf I could see it. But it just slides by as a passing iem in a sea of amazing iems. The Dioko will be forgotten soon, despite it’s fancy tuner in Crin and even fancy review of LTT.

Thanks for reading. Any feedback is welcome. I’ll be posting my preference list of iems, dacs, and headphones soon. It’s in process.

A quick disclaimer:

The 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Dioko (or simply Dioko henceforth), was part of a review tour organized in my country by HifiGo. The unit was a loaner for audition in exchange for my honest opinion based on my musical taste and audio gear. There has been no monetary transaction or influence (or pressure) to write anything positive (or negative) about the IEM. The views expressed in this writeup, are solely mine and are based on my usage of the IEM for a week or so as my daily driver. The IEM can be purchased from HifiGo here:

https://hifigo.com/products/salnotes-dioko


Introduction:

7Hz managed to capture the attention of Chi-Fi enthusiasts with IEMs like Timeless and Eternal. The Dioko is one of their latest offerings which incorporates their latest 14.6mm, planar magnetic driver. Keeping up with the latest fad in the budget IEM space, the Dioko has been designed in collaboration with Crinacle. Without wasting any more time, let’s have a look at what this oddly shaped IEM has to offer.



The earpieces are made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy cavities which inspires confidence. The earpieces have a layer of partially reflective glass on their faceplates, which is a good touch in terms of aesthetics. Aesthetically, it stands somewhere in between the bland “Timeless” and bold “Eternal”. The IEM’s design seems to be inspired by Thanos from the MCU (played by Josh Brolin). From the weirdly long “chin” to the purple shade, the IEM is pretty much an ode to the mad titan. For some reason, 7Hz decided to include some colorful ear tips, which I can only assume, are a stand-in for the infinity stones that Thanos “oh-so-badly” desires. The stock cable is a 0.78mm 2-pin hybrid cable with a 3.5mm SE termination. The cable is made of OCC and Silver plated OCC cores and is quite soft, supple, and free of microphonics.

The case is way too huge and given the size of it, I don’t think I can refer to it as a “carry case”. Honestly speaking, the carry case I use for my M11Plus LTD is a tad bit smaller than the case of the Dioko. If the case was something like the Etymotic ER4XR large case, which allowed me to store a variety of accessories and my DAP along with the ER4XR, I’d appreciate it. However, the huge case of the Dioko is wasteful for the most part, as it doesn’t have any extra space to include anything other than the stock cable and the earpieces, and a bunch of ear tips. I guess the Dioko likes to be seated in that huge case, like Thanos on his throne.



In terms of fit, the Dioko sits fairly comfortably in the ear, in spite of the odd shape. Personally, I didn’t get a good seal with the stock tips, hence, for the purpose of this review, I chose to go with Dekoni Mercury (memory foam) ear tips, as they seemed to be the best option of the few tips I tried with the Dioko.



Sound:

Here again, inspired by Thanos, the Dioko strives for a balanced sound signature with sufficient presence in the lows, especially sub-bass. The overall bass response is satisfactory and is in line with the overall tonality. Don’t expect a lot of boom or heft in the lows. Bassheads are definitely not going to be impressed by the Dioko’s bass response, however, most audiophiles are likely to appreciate the bass on the Dioko, especially since it is coherent with the overall tonality. There is adequate rumble here, but not much in terms of mid-bass. One would ideally expect something like this to sound rather hollow, especially since this is a planar IEM. The Dioko, however, doesn’t sound hollow. Personally, I’d love to have a little more heft in the bass.



Mids on the Dioko are a little tricky. The vocals especially male vocals tend to sound lean and lack the kind of timbre that one could find on the Timeless. Not that they sound terrible, as mentioned earlier, the overall FR is coherent, just that I personally felt that male vocals could have had more gravitas. The female vocals, however, are quite pleasant and don’t have any hint of sibilance or shoutiness. The instruments seem to sound natural for the most part. The mids are pretty much in line with the rest of the frequencies. Neither are the mids too forward nor have they been pushed far behind.

The treble too, is in line with the rest of the FR curve, providing sufficient sparkle and air, without making the Dioko sound too bright or ear-fatiguing. The notes in this region are sufficiently crisp, resulting in some good detail, which is kind of expected from a planar driver.

The Dioko has a fairly wide soundstage with good height. The imaging is decent, but not too precise. The detail retrieval and separation are very good though. The Dioko definitely benefits from amping, though it sounded great off the M11Plus LTD. The lack of details was obvious on the FiiO LC-BT2 though.




Conclusion:

If you can get past the odd shape, the Dioko is a good buy for the price tag. While it doesn’t have the kind of bass one would expect from planars, it does have excellent detail retrieval and a fairly wide and tall soundstage.

INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER:​

The 7Hz Salnotes Dioko is an in-ear monitor (IEM) which uses a 14.6mm planar-magnetic driver. 7Hz created the Dioko in collaboration with Crinacle. Please refer to my previous disclaimer addressing my reviews of Crinacle collaborations. The Dioko retails for $99 on Linsoul’s Amazon shop. Linsoul sent me a unit in exchange for my impressions.

SOURCES:​

I have used the D13 with the following sources:

• Qudelix 5K
• Hidizs S9
• E1DA 9038D

MUSIC:​

I have tested these headphones with local FLAC and Spotify Premium. Visit my last.fm page to get an idea of what I listen to:
XenosBroodLord’s Library | Last.fm

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:​

The 7Hz Salnotes Dioko comes in a white cardboard box. The packaging features pictures of the Dioko and lists 7Hz’s corporate address on the back of the box. There is also a large sticker on the side of the box highlighting the collaboration between 7Hz and Crinacle.

Inside the cardboard box is a large zippered carry case which takes up the entire volume of the box. The exterior of the carry case is covered in black synthetic leather and has a red “7” emblazoned across the top lid. The stitching is also red. “SAL♪NOTES” is inlaid in gold text near the bottom of the lid. The bottom of the case is lined with felt and features dedicated cutouts for the IEM housings and cable. The case also has a large mesh pocket on the top lid for storing accessories. The case is exceptional in terms of build quality, especially for the price point. However, the sheer size is excessive and requires the use of a sling or backpack if you intend to bring it with you on your commute.
In addition to the IEMs and detachable 2-pin cable, the Dioko includes seven pairs of silicone eartips in several varieties. The dark grey pair with red cores feels similar to AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal eartips. This pair aggravates my ears less than other non-foam eartips. The red, blue, and orange pairs are squatter and more conical in shape and feature wider nozzles. The light blue and yellow eartips are more round with narrower nozzles. The pink pair is also round but with wider nozzles than the other round eartips. The Dioko includes a product information card and a user manual written in English and Chinese.

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN:​

The 7Hz Salnotes Dioko has large aluminum housings with purple tempered glass faceplates. The faceplates have an ovular cross-section. “SAL♪NOTES DIOKO” is printed in white at the bottom of each faceplate. There is one circular vent at the base of the nozzle and three more in a line along the outer circumference of the inner housing. “L” and “R” indicators are printed in white on the inner faces of the housings. The nozzles have metal and paper nozzle covers and extruded lips to secure eartips.
The included 2-pin cable is wrapped in a quad-braid below the Y-split and double-helix patterns above the Y-split. Like the cable included with the Letshuoer D13 I recently reviewed, the wire used in the cable’s construction punches above the Dioko’s price point.
The cable uses gunmetal aluminum hardware. The cable jack has a straight form factor. “SAL♪NOTES” is printed in white along the length of the jack housing. There is strain relief above the jack housing but none at the Y-split. The cable has pre-formed earguides without memory wire and a metal chin-adjustment choker. The 2-pin connectors fit flush with the surface of the IEM housing body. The curved 2-pin housings have faintly raised “L” and “R” markings. The cable is moderately microphonic.

COMFORT, FIT, AND ISOLATION:​

The 7Hz Salnotes Dioko is intended to be worn cable-up. The earpieces have a very shallow insertion depth. I found the Dioko to be very comfortable. However, secureness of fit is very poor and the housings required frequent readjustment. I had to use the Dioko with the largest Misodiko foam tips I own in order to minimize the housings’ tendency to migrate out of my ear canals. Isolation is also quite poor.

MEASUREMENTS:​

My measurements of the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko can be found on my expanding squig.link database:
7Hz Dioko — Squiglink by Bedrock Reviews

SOUND:​

The 7Hz Salnotes Dioko features a sub-bass boost concentrated entirely below 200 Hz, a midrange tuned to Crinacle’s IEF Netural target, and an extended treble response with a distinct lower treble peak at 8 kHz as well as a noticeable upper treble boost.
The Dioko’s bass is fast, cleanly articulated, and adequately textured, but lacking in sustain and impact. As a result, the bass is somewhat limp in its delivery. There is also less rumble than the Dioko’s frequency response plot would suggest. On the other hand, bass detail retrieval is very good.
The Dioko’s lower midrange is slightly recessed and the overall midrange timbre is on the thin side. I would prefer if male vocals had a bit more body and warmth. The Dioko’s pinna gain region is correctly centered for my preferences, between 2.5 and 3 kHz. There is less pinna gain than I generally prefer, but it works well with the Dioko’s overall tuning. There is not as much separation between vocals and midrange instrumentation as the average Harman-ish IEM, but neither do vocals overshadow midrange instrumentation, as is often the case with such tunings. Vocal intelligibility for both male and female vocals is still excellent despite the restrained amount of pinna gain. The presence region is just emphasized enough to deliver an impressive amount of midrange clarity without straying into harshness or sibilance. Aggressive male vocals could use a bit more bite, but I am happy with the level of presence overall.
Like a lot of other planar-magnetic IEMs released in the last year, the Dioko has a prominent lower treble peak around 8 kHz. While this peak generally did not bother me, this is not an IEM for the treble-sensitive. Overall detail retrieval is excellent. The Dioko’s treble transient delivery is also more realistic than the significantly more expensive Raptgo Hook-X. Upper treble extension is spectacular for the price point, but this region is overemphasized relative to the rest of the Dioko’s frequency response. This creates an artificial-sounding sheen over the rest of the sonic presentation. The Dioko’s soundstage extends just slightly outside of the head. Imaging is very good, and instrument separation is excellent.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING:​

The 7Hz Salnotes Dioko needs a moderately powerful source to achieve usable volume levels. I did not notice hiss with any of my devices.

CLOSING WORDS:​

While I take issue with certain aspects of its tuning, from a technical standpoint, the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko is better than any other IEM that I can think of at the $100 dollar price point. For me, the biggest issue with the Dioko is the shallow and insecure fit. My recommendation comes with a warning that buyers should prepare to tip-roll extensively.
The 7Hz Salnotes Dioko can be purchased below:
Amazon.com: 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Dioko HiFi 14.6mm Planar Diaphragm Driver in Ear Earphone IEMs with CNC Aviation-Grade Aluminum Case, Detachable 4-Core Litz OCC Copper Cable for Audiophile Musician Studio : Electronics

TONALITY: 8/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8/10
PACKAGING: 9/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.3/10

SALNOTES is the new budget minded sister company from 7HZ, their goal is to push sound value boundaries with a focus on sub-100$ audio product, mostly IEM, but dongles will come too and who know next? A budget planar headphones that will beat the Hifiman HE400 value??
Well, let say the excitment have grown SO much about their first release, the Salnotes Dioko planar earphones. Why? Because it is the very first planar to achieve sub-100$ price tag, and let say it’s not by cutting or craftmanship quality nor on accessories. This is the type of IEM with very low profit margin, aimed to permit audio enthusiast to taste the Planar flavor at lowest price possible.

Priced 99$, the Dioko use a double sided array N55 magnet 14.6mm planar driver with a fine tuned acoustic chamber in a big CNC-machined allumium housing with a fancy looking twist.

But how about the sound? Let’s see in this review.

CONSTRUCTION​

The Dioko elegant and jewel like construction doesn’t reflet it’s affordable price tag. Housing is made of all CNC machined alloy metal with a wide oval shaped back plate made of tempered glass with sapphire coating….wait what? Yes, i was serious when I say it have a litteral jewel look, like a big art deco like minimalist earing. And its a big one and yes this make the whole housing in gigantic planar category…yet the elonged organic shape with long enough nozzle made it comfortable enoug. Still, in all honnesty, i find them a bit attracting attention and as a shy person i live similar look-at-me-fancy-boi moment than with the over-the-top Blon BL-08 Prometheus which make me question if my ears are becoming some kind of contemporary art exibition. So, this was an audacious choice from Salnotes, a statement of wanting to be different as well as part of global tuning choice, but yes, the size matter in term of plain portability, but hey Salnotes think about this too.


Cause, in the Packaging, we have the biggest carrying case too! Again, were talking about a 100$ IEM and the quality of the case is similar to the one of Unique Melody, made of fake leather with coating inside so you IEM and everything you can pack in this don’t get scratch or damage. I would price this case 30$. And it’S thinked to be use as a multi packing case, so you can fit your dap with couple of cables and IEMs in there. Very very appreciate this accessories generosity.


Other accessories are 6 pairs of colorfuls silicone eartips and a 2pin single ended 3.5 cables that is more than decent, being a 4cores litz hybrid cable with OCC copper and silver plated OCC.


It feel well built, and deliver good sound that doesn’t justify cable upgrade unless you plan to use the Dioko balanced way.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS​

(Gear pairing: Tri TK2, Moondrop Dawn, Xduoo Lin2 Bal, Questyle M15)
TONALITY: 8/10

Laid back and energic at the same time, how could it be? Well it is here, we have a special bassy neutralish to balanced mellow V shape tuning with boosted mids presence, softly boosted sub bass which deliver slow chunky slam, and gently sharp treble. Yep, gently, since the attack edge is softed yet the snap and bite happen too.

The Dioko tuning take from Crin is all about damping specific section of dynamic which inflict on tonal balance and color the musicality. It’s safe, yet between fun and neutral.

Bass hit with an heavy mellow pillowy feel (yep, again this word that appear in my KAI review), it have weight yet the impact isn’t fully felt in its resonance and vibrance, as well, definition edge is softed, making the bass have an abstract grip and denser yet shorter sustain. Result is chunky and lazily thumpy, since the attack seem to go in ”slow motion” here.
Bass lack natural extension and flexible articulation, so yes, a bit muffled depending of the type of sound or instrument. Acoustic bass attack lead will sound muted while digital kick drum will hit in a round warm way. Nonetheless, we have some texture time to time, especially when attack is slow and track not too busy with different instruments. I would say the bass is there when needed, but only for simple pop music with slow heavy bass like soul, R&B and some rap. Jazz can work some time since saxophone sound great and percussions have extra snap and speed, but the bass line will lack proper definition and separation.

Mids are lean and rather clean with boosted presence, hint bright even if softed in upper mids ,the presentation is upfront and centraly focused. Female vocal especially, are crisp and vivid, even bordeline shouty sometime at high volume but quite enjoyable still. Soul and R&B sound great with the Dioko since it hit sweet spot of its slight W shape dynamic. The track Ego from IYAMAH for example sound very lively and open, with energic vocal presence and thumpy bass, sibilance is near non existent, yet loudness pressure is high, making this sweet but a bit brighten voice jump at your face with urgency. Female vocal have a breathy feel to them in a dry way, but overall timbre of mid range is perhaps the best part of Dioko, it’s not grainy planar, nor too thin, just a bit underwhelming in well articulation definition, accuracy and resolution.

Treble is understated yet surprisingly SO planar too, in the sens, attack speed is fast so resolution potential is high but it is tweaked to achieve a specific sound presentation. Here it’s mostly smoothed with extra snap excitment for extra bite when needed. This add a bit of much needed air as well as dynamism to the sound, the highs being energic and detailed yet softed in resonance. SO this is ”airy dry”? hum, didn’t know it exist, but the Dioko sure have its unique tonality to share since we can say ”darky crisp” too. A good example of how this treble have it’s own contradiction is when I test clavichord track (Goldberg variations-Jean Rodeau) which sound tonaly off and very magnify in it’s upper highs metallic texture, very sharp yet cutted in sustain and resonance with emphasis on jumpy brilliance.

TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10

Ok, as a long time reviewer, i’m a bit of an insider when it come to tuning technic. In fact, i should have tune numerous IEM from now if I didn’t cancel projects everytime. So, their alot of tuning technic in fact, some is all about drivers patent and acoustic design, other is more of a ”we deal with the driver we got in hand” and tweak the sound. To tweak this sound, you use damping and tuning filter, their lotta place to put them and it depend drivers type used but for planar it could be in back of driver and acoustic cavity and in nozzle shape and end. More you use damping filter, more you interfer with dynamic, one of more mysterious sound projection factor since we can target 20hz to 20khz frequencies range. All this to say, playing with dynamism is very mysterious and subjective, since everybody have different sensibility to loudness impact.

Here, the Dioko is a very damped-tuned IEM, which explain why some will find them warm and other bright. The bite and attack lead are focus on specific area, which interfer with natural ”melting” of lower and high harmonic. So while the attack is super speedy, it’s slowed too, which make the sustain stopped in it’s natural flow. Thus the lack of resonance-sparkle we should expect from a sound flowing in open air.

Dioko still offer great effortless resolution, fast yet mostly smooth attack speed, a sens of livelyness that only capable IEM can give and wide open wall like presentation.

Soundstage is indeed wall like, but a curved open one. So deepness is limited since i can’t consider Dioko clean sounding due perhaps to…..resonance artifacts? (ok, thats some very instinctive esoteric audiophile questionning right there). Spatiality being wide open in stereo mode is quite immersive at they end, yet, quite intense too.

And then the Imaging, well, it’s not bad nor the greatest, sens of layering are felt yet not precisely seen, static instrument position is a bit blurred in edge so we have a vague yet awake idea of spatial cue.

MUSICALITY APPRECIATION: 7.5/10

Hum, i’m 39 and listen to all type of music with a sharp curious audiophile and musical epicurian mind….so I don’t judge musicality in simple terms, it’s a very complex thing that go from practical state to sacred state.
This is the most subjective part of my review, yet, the most important to me. But it should not be to you. I guess.
So the Dioko for me was a strange story in first place, since I receive limited first batch of IEM with quality check issue, so i need to wait and reinstall different damping filters. It was an easy task. Yet, it put a bit of insecurity in my mind.
One thing sure, this little filter make night and day difference in term of brightness, since before i wasn’t able to handle the sound.
And now the sound, well, when I was listening soul, r&B and relax music, i quite enjoy it, laid back way too you know, i was impress by resolution capabilities too, it sound open, detailed enough yet not too sharp or in your face treble.…
and then i enter critical listening way and begin to be annoy about planar timbre, smoothed attack edge and tamed bass impact…and can’t tell myself anymore this sound 100% natural for all music type I listen too.
the dynamic is capricious here and too colored for me, vocal lack naturalness, in fact any instruments lack naturalness to my ears. Crin being a fan of wonky and boxy denigrative term, i’m surprise to think about these words listening to Dioko. Cause as a whole it doesnt sound boxy or wonky….ok, perhaps wonkioko….
its all about lack of sharp definition, which we should expect from a planar. Thing is that technical performance has been lowered in tuning processing, making us wonder if we really get any planar sound benefit here.
All in all, this isn't my kind of musicality, but I can see other people enjoying this in a laid back way.

COMPARISONS (PLANAR WAR!)​

VS TINHIFI P1MAX:

P1MAX is brighter V shape and notably less open sounding than more U shape Dioko. Bass is more textured, which inflict on greater definition edge and permit higher bass line resolution as well as more immediate punch dynamic, where Dioko have warmer slower heavier slam that benefit soul-R&B-Pop compared to rock and fast beat driven music for the P1max. Bass is really where P1max is superior imo, since Dioko have scooped impact and extension-rumble, where the P1max extend deep and clean. P1max mids are brighter and thinner, less natural and smooth in timbre than lusher Dioko, upper mids are more prompt to sibilance too with the Max but even if a bit more recessed they sound cleaner and better separate from bass. Mids have wider sens of presence, better transparency, clarity and layering too. Treble deliver higher amount of micro details and is less unbalanced than the Dioko, presentation is fuller and attack have better bit and control.
Soundstage is wider with Dioko, while taller and deeper with P1 max.
Imaging is clearly superior with P1max, due to more transparent layering, crisper resolution and cleaner highs that inflict on instrument spacing which seem wider and more airy with P1max.
ALL in all, the P1max is superior technicaly, but i can’t decide which tonality I prefer here due to it’s dryier timbre.

VS TINHIFI P1plus

These are the doomed planar IEM it seem nobody love but me, but i wonder if people play enough with ear tips since my revealation happen with wide bore ear tips like KB07. Anyway, these use a double magnet 10mm planar which hacve crazy transient speed. The P1plus is crisper and more treble focus, more open and airy yet not as big tall and wide in spatiality. Technical performance are miles ahead here, resolution being notably cleaner and higher, transparency too, attack speed having more dynamic and control. Simply put, right now if i have to keep one planar, it would be the P1plus because we take full advantage of technical performance promise of planar here while Dioko can be mimic with a dynamic driver due to overdamped dynamic that inflict on performance accuracyand control.
P1plus is more neutral (or real neutral?), leaner bass, but fuller mids and treble too, with perhaps more boosted upper highs. P1plus feel analytical compared to darker and bassier Dioko. Bass is better separated and have higher definition, more detailed yet natural texture and less messy extension but it does lack weight and impact compared to Dioko.
Mids are cleaner, more resolved, attack have more natural resonance but lead attack perhaps less note weight. Mids take front stage here, so we can focus on piano or multiple instrument more easily than Dioko which seem to boost vocal and woodwind instruments. Timbre is thinner yet smoother since upper mids aren’t as boosted with P1plus than Dioko.
Treble is just from another league here, P1plus dig way more micro details in an effortless way which restitue whole image of sounds while Dioko will favorize specific part to create a fake wow effect. Dioko is more rolled off on top and less sharp on top.
All in all, Dioko offer a bigger soundstage with a more fun and warm tonality than crisper more sparkly neutral and notably more technically performant P1plus.

VS MUSE HIFI POWER:

The Muse are notably brigther W shaoe and more energic, with higher resolution and transparency. Dioko is warmer with thicker timbre and more boosted mid bass, which have more body and heft but less texture. Mids range is notably more harsh with the Muse, more sibilant and shouty, plain unpleasant for female vocal which make the Dioko sound way lusher and more natural in timbre yet darker in resolution and less precise and accurate in separation.
Treble is more boosted and detailed, more textured and higher in definition of each instrument, higher in sens of openess and transparency, but not really more sparkly.
Soundstage is less wide and tall, deeper tunnel like way with Muse.
Imaging is more accurate, with better layering and more define separation between instrument.
All in all, technicalities are again superior here with the Muse but tonality is plain unpleasant and more artificial, so i do prefer guilty pleasure of the Dioko big time.

CONCLUSION​

My expectation of sound quality of Dioko were unrealistic and victim of 7HZ Timeless big intense praising. Since I never heard the Timeless, i surely put them on a foot of estale.

But still, it was mostly technical promise I was wishing to be fullfill, which isn’t the case here since the Planar driver dynamic response is over damped and colored, their just something wrong about it I can’t pinpoint, but it affect attack accuracy and definition edge negatively.

Tonaly wise, it’s quite enjoyable, yet not the most versatile or rewarding in term of clarity and musicality. It’s a well balanced mellow pleasure, with wonderfull vocals timbre and a very big soundstage to get immerse in.

While I would not suggest these for any complex or fast music, with the exception of some jazz track focus on percussions and saxophone, the Dioko excell with pop music that have slow but boosted bass slam and since it’s music type most people listen, I think this can please wide audience, yet, not mature ”snobbish” audiophile like me.

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PS: I wanna thanks LINSOUL for sending me this review sample. I’m not affiliated to this audio distributor, and keep my 100% honesty intact even if it doesn’t pay off at all. I’m gratefull to Linsoul for accepting this savage independance of mind of mine.

You can order the Salnotes Dioko for 99$ here:https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-x-crinacle-salnotes-dioko?variant=43008001999065

For more diversify honest review, give a read to my No Borders Audiophile website HERE.

Disclaimer: This unit was sent to me as a loan by another reviewer, SenyorC. No incentives of any kind were given and the review you are about to read are my own thoughts and opinions. Thanks once again to SenyorC for the opportunity and don’t forget to check his website.

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Driver Setup: 14.6mm Planar Diaphragm Driver
Price: $99

Comfort, fit and isolation: Fit is a bit wonky, but comfortable for me. Isolation is average.
Source used: Topping E30 + L30 stack, Singxer SA-1
Tips used: Final E
Test playlist with some of the songs used: Tidal

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Well, at this point I’m no longer sure if the 1st of February marked the Chinese Year of the Tiger or the Year of the Planar. Two trends are settling down and Crinacle just decided to mix them: planars and colabs.

Partnering with 7hz, the gate opener thanks to the release of the Timeless, Crinacle’s plan was clearly to take a gauge on a better tuned planar while still making it affordable to the masses. It is no news that most of the planar IEMs suffer from tuning wonkiness so let’s delve straight into the sound and check if the marks were reached!

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Just by glancing at the graph while measuring, I had no doubt the tuning would be something I would enjoy and close to my prefered target. Despite the still wonkiness of the planar treble tuning, everything looks clean and balanced until that point, but let’s hear it, shall we?

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Going against the tide of the planar trend, the tuner decided to soften the bass region by focusing on a less elevated but clean shelf. Its sub-bass over mid-range is still evident but is now more polite and with a leaner transition into the mid-range.

Truth be told, I am not 100% sold on Dioko’s bass. In my mind planars need a touch more energy in the bass department than your regular off-the-shelf dynamic driver. Due to its nature, planars tend to bleed a lot less but require more brute force to be felt, especially in the dynamics department, an effect that is amplified by their own ultra-fast speed.

Given my preferences, I prefer something more polite than something totally overcooked, and for that I’d rather have this softer bass presentation than an over elevated one, so I’m not hating on it, just leaving with the water on my mouth feeling that I could have ate a desert and I didn’t, especially on the microdynamics.



Looking at the 3:25m bass drop, the Dioko replays it without much effort due to its great speed and extension, having some rumble to it. Again, this is one of those cases I’d like a touch more elevation to its shelf to get that enclosed feeling the track demands. Other than that, there’s not really something I can pick on.



In this track I tend to pay attention to two things: the bass line throughout the whole track and the busy passage once the drum pedal and the piano also chime in around the 1:40m mark and onwards.

This is the first time we will notice planar advantage: its speed. To me planars are something in between the typical BA and DD drivers, both in speed, dynamics and texture. The speed helps the perception of the bass line much easier, with good note definition and separation to easily spot what is what and once the track gets busier, the Dioko just stays as cool as ever.

As for the bass line (not just on this track, and the same applies for kickdrums), I would enjoy more impact and elevation, but it still has enough to feel present and ever so tilted into the warmer side of neutral.




Before jumping into the next section, I’d like to just add a quick note on bass texture and articulation by using the Dark Prince’s OPR to do so.

At around 0:36m, the bass drop shows good signs of both by Dioko, especially due to its speed to make it cleaner, just sinning by lacking a hair of elevation for my own tastes (that is higher than usual with planar drivers, especially in the mid-bass).

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The mid-range is pretty clean and not really too much to point at, especially at this price point. Due to its bass shelf, Dioko has enough weight to not feel thin, but just about that.



Pianos, keystrokes, pedal sustain and female vocals - Leaving has it all.

Despite not being my favorite mid-range of all time, the Dioko is no slouch in this regard and the mid-range is by far the star of its show. As expected, the details and separation of the keystrokes and back vocals are great. Other than that, the clarity of them is commendable without feeling overly thin, but not thick either.

Despite the forward mids, they come across as not much as in-your-face kind of mids but rather just north of neutral. The pianos sound very balanced from top to bottom and nothing else that can be added at this price range.



In this track, Govi plays an acoustic guitar and the only thing I’ll be checking here is the guitar’s balance in the overall frequency range, the plucks and the finger slides.

Well, as seen in the track above the mid-range balance is very good, so it goes the same way on Espresso. Regarding the chord plucking and finger slides, as expected, planars do it better due to their resolving power and driver speed. At this price range it’s really hard to find these types of characteristics and Dioko just proved everyone wrong. Touché.



Checking for vocal tonal balance between male and female vocals with some hidden gems in the background, Pentatonix is a great example with even some extra beatbox.

The first part is easy, and I got the idea right in the first passage: the female and male vocals on the Dioko are very even and for that, the advantage goes for the female ones. The lean bass shelf takes some of the power male vocals usually have over females, who usually have more bite and which this set has.

The sounds in the background, showing out of nowhere like hidden gems come out clear with resolving power and that’s no match for planar like Dioko.

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Treble range, the Achilles tendon of the “recently” released planars. Dioko sounds better in this area than other planars I’ve tried, just from memory, but don’t fool yourself as some of that “wonkiness” is still there.



High pitched sounds and lots of harmonics to analyze treble and its extension, as well as its elevation and the overall timbre.

Extension on the Dioko is great and nothing to point of, as it has lots of information up there backing up a nice sense of air to never feel a claustrophobic replay during all the tracks I have tried on it.

Despite its graph, the treble elevation was just in the fine line of energetic but never coming across that, which is great for sensitive and easily fatigued people like me. I would say there’s a couple DBs more than I wish to around the 8k hz, as per usual on the new planar catalog, but nothing that bothers me as much, but if you are ultra sensitive to this area, be aware. I would say that on very treble heavy songs, the average user can expect at least medium sized listening sessions

As for the timbre, it’s a very fast and sharp transient so expect the usual “planar timbre”, with a fast attack and detail with no smearing left behind.



During Caravan I’m usually looking for the cymbal strikes coming out of nowhere and also checking how they feel compared to the rest of the frequency response.

Dioko doesn’t have much for me to point out. Cymbals feel energetic enough but not overbearing or fatiding. Again, it’s not an immersive dark set, but for sure ain’t as bright as some other planars out there.

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Regarding soundstage, Dioko falls under the category of “It’s an IEM!”. Stage width is fine but height and depth could use some love. Imaging is average as well.



Planar’s speed makes a commendable replay and Dioko ain’t no exception. This level of transition speed between notes and instruments is something most dynamic drivers can’t achieve. As for macro dynamics and separation, I would consider Dioko average and, as per planar usual, very good for the price bracket.

Great replay if you ignore the softer than usual drop around 0:27m.

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For this section I will do a quick shootout between three of the current market favorites, plugged into Singxer SA-1 all at the same time, just switching and adjusting volume between them. The lineup:

• Raptgo Hook-X (using W01 tips)
• LETSHUOER S12 (using Final E)
• 7hz Salnotes Dioko (using Final E)

Tracks to pin down the final notes:



Both S12 and Hook-X smoke Dioko out on bassier tracks like Chameleon due to the nature of its tuning, leaving it a couple of steps behind the other two in the bass department.

As for between S12 and Hook-X, they both do great on this song but the S12 takes the plate home due to showing better texture and rumble capabilities.



Dioko has a better position of the mid-range and less warmth, feeling more transparent while the other two are more recessed. Also shows a better sense of air between the vocals and the instruments, causing a better replay of this song in the vocal aspects.

Between the Hook-X and S12, the latter has more recession in the mid-range and more sharpness to Agne's voice. On the other hand, it comes out as the most resolving of the three and the one with better dynamics by a step or two.

Hook-X is the middle of the road, being the warmer of the three, more “analog”, packing more energy in the treble than Dioko but not feeling as wonky as the S12 in this region. Comparing the stage air, it’s also a step above S12, just not as much as Dioko.



Dioko shows better control over this frequency range, despite still being a bit odd, by compensating the lack of bass shelf with a treble reduction as well, being more polished.

The Raptogo Hook-X has the most energy and feels somewhat crunchy, but has the bass to back it up and kind of plateaus after the pinna gain, so won’t feel as piercing as expected, at all.

The S12 is the worst replay of the three by having not only the energy but also the grainy feel, adding that to being the least well extended of the three.

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The 7hz Salnotes Dioko is no 7hz Timeless, but costs less than half on release. It surely is an improvement on Timeless’ stage and imaging wonkiness, but at the cost of less resolving power.

What it lacks against competition in technical prowess compensates with a much more palatable tuning, sinning only by being a couple of dbs shier than it needed to in the bass-region.

As for those who think planars are great but too V-shaped or too bassy, Dioko might be for you. As for those who love the other planar offers, this might not be for you. Hate it or love it, there’s no denying the obvious: the 7hz Salnotes Dioko is an incredible offer at $100 and overshadows most of the sets until that price range, at least. Given that, there’s no way for me to not recommend it.

This is all about giving credits where they are due and Dioko is a great example of that, probably by starting a war on how cheap can planars go after this.

As for Crinacle, good job.

Value ranking: 4.5/5. Personal rank: B-.

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Thanks for reading!

INTRODUCTION:

7Hz, the brand based out of China is a newly established brand and got a nice reputation in a short period of time among the audiophiles and consumers. The brands last offering under 200USD is the Timeless which had the same Planar Diaphragm driver and it sounded the best for the price. This time the brand released the IEM named DIOKO in collaboration with well known audio reviewer CRINACLE and priced it even more aggressively with 100USD! In this review let’s check out how good this is.



SPECIFICATIONS:

Driver: 14.6mm planar

Impedance: 16 ohm

SPL: 106dB/v@1kHz

THD: ≤0.2%/1khz

Frequency response: 5-40000hz

Cable: OCC copper and silver-plated OCC copper

Connector: 0.78mm 2pin

DISCLAIMER :

This unit had been provided to me as a part of review circle organised by the team Hifigo. The whole views are based on my observations and pairings with this product hence it might differ from person to person

If you are interested in purchasing this product feel free to go ahead via this unaffiliated link: Dioko

DESIGN AND FIT:

The whole construction is made out of aluminium with glass faceplate which changes its colour based on the angle of light strike. The design language is conventional with nice ergonomics. As an added stability they have engraved a two step design in the inner aspect of the earpiece to create a snug fit in the ear canal which is pretty helpful in providing excellent fit and isolation.

The provided stock tips do provide a nice seal and the stock cable feels pretty premium on the hands where it has a nice supple nature with malleable ear guides for easy adaptability.



SOUND:

The whole sound signature of the Dioko is more on the balanced side and follows the Crinicle’s Harman curve which is more of a sub bass emphasized balanced sound profile. The Dioko follows that curve with more emphasis on the technical aspects which are just mid blowing in this IEM which we’ll talk about in the following sections. From the tonality aspect to rendering each frequency in a precise scale everything is done well and sweet in the Dioko. The special mentionable aspects are the transient response and the layering which feels very premium for the price they quote for this Dioko.

BASS:

The low end in the Dioko is more mature and audiophile grade rather than being too fun and joy riding. The sub bass has given more importance in the Dioko when compared to the Mid bass section thus the subtle rumbles can be heard while the mid bass punch gets lacking. The quality of the bass here is more concentrated over the quantity. Since the mid bass has lesser body and thickness the track especially if you are listening to rock and metal this would sound less fuller. The best thing about this lean mid bass is that it doesn't interfere with the mid range making them sound more cleaner.

The technical aspects like the control and separation in the bass region is just on point. The attack and decay rate in the bass section felt more precise with better control thus making the low end section sound more cleaner and well separated. The kick drums sound tighter and clean making the whole track appear controlled. The bass could have been even better if the mid bass has added thickness and body.



MID RANGE:

The mid range in the Dioko is well tuned with precise placement of the instruments and the vocals. The vocal placement is at a pleasing location where it's neither on the face nor too laidback. The tonality of this ITEM is pretty natural with a neutral presence and the timbre appears slightly on the brighter side but after some several listening hours they get used to my ears.

The lower mid range feels leaner but at the same time they felt more clean and detailed. The added body could have made the lower mid section even more pleasing but as of now even though they feel lighter they are pretty great.

The upper mid section has nice elevation making the instruments and the female vocals shine. The female vocals feel more engaging and the instruments feel more vibrant because of this nice elevation without sacrificing the pleasing tone. The harshness is not seen thus the longer listening sessions are a pleasing one with this Dioko.

The track separation and the clarity feels pretty amazing making this one of the best mid range IEM in this price range. The staging being bigger in all the aspects gave this IEM a big advantage in executing a nice grand presentation without causing any constrict nature in the mid range.



TREBLE:

The treble out of the Dioko is well tuned and it met the requirements of how a planar would sound. The planar inside them really nailed this area by delivering some impressive detail retrieval and nice presence of air. The brilliance and shimmer in the top end is just top class and it's one of the best under 100USD. The adequate amount of air in the Dioko helped in portraying a nice spacious and grand presentation. The percussion instruments sound open and well extended thus making the whole listening experience an engaging and enjoyable one.

The cymbal crashes and the trumpets do sound sparkly with precise attack and decay. The electric guitar strings have that nice natural strike over the strings producing a natural tone with no artificial timbre. Initially the timbre appeared to be slightly on the metallic side but after several listens they got used to me.

Overall the treble sounded well detailed enough with more air presence and they sounded open for providing engaging enough sound. The attack and decay of the instruments felt precise enough and the sibilance is kept under control for fatigue free listening sessions.



TECHNICALITIES:

TRANSIENT RESPONSE: It's the star aspect of this Dioko! The dynamic range is just clearly depicted out without any sort of distortion or compression. Every single note is clearly portrayed without any congestion making this ITEM as one of the best clean and well separated sounds in this price range.

IMAGING AND LAYERING: The imaging felt precise with this IEM where the placement of the notes are accurate and can be easily pointed out even in busy tracks. The different note depths are nicely identified and portrayed out very well making the layering aspect a big hit in this Dioko.

STAGING: The staging is pretty wide and has an adequate amount of height too. The depth sensation is not created that much since the bass is not that big. Overall the stage is big enough to represent a grand presentation.

Detail retrieval and the track separation are stellar in this Dioko where the treble is tuned to the peak with nice extension without compromising on the sibilance and air presence. The attack and decay of the instruments felt precise with great tone and timbre overall.

VERDICT:

The Salnotes Dioko, the latest offering from the house of 7Hz is an excellent deal for the sound and driver it offers. The Dioko comes with a 14.6mm Dual Cavity Planar Diaphragm Driver for just 99USD! The planar driver really stood up to the sound and overall this is just a blind purchase from my side!

The build is excellent where it accommodates an in ear design with an interesting inner ear design language where a two step design is adopted to give a natural ergonomics to the earpiece. The faceplate has a glass piece which changes its colour based on the angle of light strike. The whole construction is made out of aluminium and feels pretty premium on the hands. It adopts a 2 Pin connection which made this IEM a whole lot of blind deal!

The sound out of this is incorporated with Crinacle’s Curve and is tuned in collaboration with Crinacle. The sound is more on the balanced side with sub bass focus. Along with the impressive frequency response the technical aspects tend to be superior in this Dioko considering its price which makes this a best technical IEM. The transient response felt impressive with one of the best imaging, layering and staging. The detail retrieval is on point since the treble is extended well with precise amounts of air and brightness. Giving a boost to the upper mid section even made the Dioko more engaging to listen to.

Overall, the Dioko is a piece of TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE that can be easily recommended to the consumers devoid of their personal audio taste!

7hz Salnotes Dioko : A Complete Bang for the Buck!



Summary:

Launched in 27th July'2022, 7hz launched their 2nd planar IEM 7hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko, and this time right below the $100 mark. Dioko comes with a 14.6MM Planar driver and is well-tuned. 7hz promises this to be a great performer and from our impressions we can validate this to be a great value for money.


Disclaimer: @Linsoul Audio had sent me a review unit for my impressions & views. The opinions below are based on my experiences with the unit and my own. I have tried to be as comprehensive & comparative as I could be - to give a complete picture to the audience.



Introduction:


Let's quickly dive into what the 7hz Dioko has to offer. In pursuit of better sound for the price, the Dioko features a newly developed 14.6mm dual-cavity planar driver.
The large 14.6mm diaphragm size further increases the surface area for reduced harmonic distortion, meaning you can have higher audio resolution across all volume levels .

The 7Hz Dioko is priced at $99.




Design & Build:

The shells look very different than most other IEMs and look quite premium for the price range I must say. Despite the larger sized shell, owing to the design of the shells they fit quite nicely into the ears and are very comfortable to wear throughout longer listening sessions and I have tried them for 3+ hours of listening at a single stretch and seemed very comfortable the whole time.

It is described as the following on the website:

Boasting a intricately CNC-machined aviation-grade aluminum body, the earphone is durable and lightweight for every day to day activities. The solid metal casing provides noise isolation and allows you to focus on your music. Moreover, the shell surface has been given the highest level of hard oxidation treatment, making it durable and wear-resistant.
7HZ Salnotes Dioko earphone features a newly developed 14.6mm dual-cavity planar diaphragm driver. This planar magnetic diaphragm has been modeled and engineered to utilize the most efficient magnetic circuit structure and ribbon distribution for a uniform sound. The speed of the planar magnetic diaphragm driver provides a true audiophile sound character and gives you outstanding clarity and detail in every note.
The Salnotes Dioko driver adopts a N55 magnet with the highest performance in the double-sided array configuration. This extremely strong magnet, coupled with our engineered magnetic circuit structure, maximizes the effective magnetic flux to more effectively drive the current. The Salnotes Dioko boasts of the highest sensitivity of planar magnetic drivers and brings a tight, natural, and transparent sound that is found in the most boutique planar magnetic headphones.






Specifications:


The 7Hz Dioko comes at $99 price tag and is exclusively available through @Linsoul Audio.
The specifications are as below:

https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-x-crinacle-salnotes-dioko?variant=43008001999065





The Box & Accessories:



The Accessories:

The 7hz Dioko package now includes…

• Salnotes Dioko Earphones
• Replacement Eartips
• Earphone Cable
• Manual
• Warranty

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....

Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP & Dongles: @Questyle M15 Dongle DAC/AMP, @iFi audio Go Bar
Portable Players / Sources : Cayin N8ii, Cayin N6ii with R2R motherboard, Lotoo Paw Gold Touch, A&K SP1000M
Streaming Source: QOBUZ



Ear Tips:



I've tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips such as: @Final Audio E series red & black ones, JVC Spiral dots, Spiral Dots+, @SpinFit Eartip CP500, CP155. Out of all of these I have found the CP500 to be the best fit for my ears in terms of overall fit, isolation & comfort.


Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...





Pairing Performance with different sources:

Dongle DAC/AMPs:

7hz Dioko had the best pairing with @Questyle M15 and Cayin RU6 dongles.
But, it had paired well with @MOONDROP DAWN and the @iFi audio Go Bar also.



Portable Players:

Obviously the Dioko had the best pairing with the LPGT & specially Cayin N8ii since that comes with Class-A amplification and a new DAC which is super resolving and not to forget the Nutubes! But those are $3500+ range also and out of reach for most people!
But it performs well with each and every player including @Shanling M3X and M7.



7hz Dioko Sound Impressions in Short:

The BASS:

Owing to the good tuning, the Dioko extracts good amount of details from the sub-bass region and the mid-bass though not very impactful is quite meaty and textured. In tracks like: "Fools Paradise (LP Version) – Donna Lewis" and "Chocolate Chip Trip - Tool" you can feel the bass attack and also hear all the tiny nuances' of the sub-bass.

The MIDS:

The midrange is amongst the stronger traits of the Dioko and it comes with ample clarity and openness. There is good amount of muscle and texture and the intruments sound very lively and enjoyable. Vocals are very immersive and both male and female vocals come with ample amount of details and feel very real. Transients are good for a planar. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy", "A dog named Freedom – Kinky Friedman" and "Ruby Tuesday – Franco Battiato" it’s really easy to get lost into the music as it comes with ample detailed transients, texture, excellent vocals and details.

The TREBLE:

The treble feels a bit laid back and inoffensive. Despite what other people said - I haven't come across that peak in the FR graph and the performance was quite enjoyable and Cymbals sound very life-like and real in tracks like “Chocolate Chip Trip – Tool”.

Treble in tracks like: "Paradise Circus – Massive Attack", "Mambo for Roy – Roy Hargrove” and "Saints and Angels – Sharon Shannon" feel smooth & creamy with the right amount of air and texture and just feels very buttery smooth.


The SOUNDSTAGE:

The Staging capabilities of the Dioko is the best I’ve come across in a in below $100 price range and better than many $150-200 range also. It comes with the right amount of width, height, depth and is well defined and just as much as the track requires. Tracks like: “The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “She Don’t know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound amazing & enjoyable. This is amongst the strongest trait of this IEM.

Separation & Imaging:

When it comes to separation, the Dioko is performs slightly above average - but given it's other traits, this could be better. However, Imaging is quite spot on and location of each instrument can be felt quite clearly. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through.



Comparisons:

No review is complete without comparisons. So here we are - with the 7hz Dioko vs Tinhifi P1 Max. the P1 Max is slightly higher priced than the Dioko at $119.




Planar vs Planar (Dioko vs P1 Max):

People keep asking for comparisons so here we are...


Build & Comfort: While the Dioko looks more premium, the P1 max is lighter and better fit on ears for larger group of people and hence P1 Max would get slight preference in this category.

Bass: While the P1 max has more prominent Slam in the mid-bass, it clearly lacks the details of the sub-bass region that is found in the Dioko. The Dioko has more details & clarity while the slam is not as prominent as P1 max. I prefer the Dioko for the details here.

Mids: The midrange performance is great on both but the Dioko just has a bit more open & clear representation. The Vocals on the P1 max sound a tad bit dry compared to the Dioko - but this is just nitpicking here. I like the clear presentation of the Dioko.

Treble: This is where the P1 max turns dark and the Dioko gets more enjoyable. preference will go to Dioko here.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation: The Dioko has much better staging capabilities here while the P1 max feels narrower but likely a bit deeper. Imaging is great on both and separation I felt is slightly better on the Dioko - though separation could be better on both IEMs.

Conclusion:




The 7Hz Dioko is yet another great performer in the 7hz family and so far they have all been great in their respective price brackets raising the bar high in terms of performance.
Given the price range of below $100, the Dioko is an easy choice based on it's performance to price ratio.
It goes far above & beyond the price range and is an easy recommendation for people who seek good musical experience.

In 2018 a team of music enthusiasts and engineers got together to test their skills. Somewhere along the way they choose 7Hz as the company name. In 2021 7Hz released the 14.2mm Planar magnetic "Timeless" IEM. The Timeless gained a reputation for best technical resolvability under $300.00. The Timeless, priced at $219.00 seemed like the answer to everyones prayers? The unique CNC shell and double-sided N52 magnet array didn't hurt matters any! Still the Timeless was/is not perfect...........even with its popularity, there was a chance to add tuning sophistication. The next step was to bring in a high-profile tuner. Ahhh...the celebration of Crinacle. Another IEM tuned specifically to his understanding. Now not only is the Dioko tuned to his understanding, he tuned it for himself. It makes sense, a reviewer judges IEM tunes for years, gains status, then gets the opportunity to collaborate/design his own tune. In many ways these ideas are like a designer handbag, only it's inner-sound-design. The IEMs outside is one-of-a-kind too, enabling a style of flock-together-consumerism. This outward design offers recognization in public through uniqueness.....thus furthering new sales through copycat purchases.

If that guy is wearing the silly purple mirrors, they must be good, I think I’ll get a pair. Oh, wait I see another person with a pair, I’m definitely getting those Diokos today!

See how it works!
Such realities highlight our life in 2022. Much like procreation in nature, the bird with the brightest colors gets the most girlfriends. But is the Dioko actually something new, or just something different? I would have to say this level of price to performance is new. Basically there is a lot going on for $99. In this review I will offer comparison style side-by-sides to try and learn what's up. I will try and disclose sound reproduction value, and I’ll talk about construction and fit. Won’t you join me in a review of the 7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko!

7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko
14.6mm Planar Diaphragm Driver In Ear Earphone

• Salnotes Dioko-14.6mm Planar Driver IEM
• 7Hz x Crinacle Tuning
• N55 Magnet, Double-sided Array
• Fine Tuned CNC-Machined Aluminum Shell
• Tempered Glass & Sapphire Coating Surface
• Premium OCC Copper Cable & Storage Box

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS​

Brand: Salnotes
Model: Dioko
Driver: 14.6mm planar
Impedance: 16 ohm
SPL: 106dB/v@1kHz
THD: ≤0.2%/1khz
Frequency response: 5-40000hz
Cable: OCC copper and silver-plated OCC copper
Connector: 0.78mm 2pin
Weight 275g
Size 15.2cm x 11cm x 5.5cm



The Dioko tuning:
"IEF neutral with a sub-bass boost. Thus Crinacle’s subjective take on what neutral is, with a sub-bass boost."

Circles of Confusion:
There are many ideas as to what neutral is. Truly it doesn't matter because no music is fully produced to any one standardized method. Meaning music playback in an IEM is involving someone’s guess as to neutral, will still vary reproducing the correct tones of the actual instruments or vocals, due to the recording. Due to such variation of parameters, the idea of neutral ends in reality an idealistic idea, still at the mercy of the various studio (recording) circles of confusion. Along with that is the personal listeners ideas and ear anatomy, resulting in many ways to fully judge what neutral is.

One of the prime offenders comes from studio monitoring not standardized across the globe, hence everyone is hearing a different mix. Thus they alter the final mix in relation to what they hear......but playback will be different with another studio’s set of monitors.

The value of Crinacle’s idea of neutral tune:
Well, it’s consistent, meaning you know what tune you’re getting beforehand. These values reproduce for Crinacle a response that’s natural.........vocals/instruments (seem) to not have an overbearing color. But because neutral is boring, he adds sub-bass. In contrast to the 7Hz Timeless tune the mid-bass and the upper-mids are pulled back simultaneously. Due to lowering the mid-bass, the results could sound thin, so in response lowering the upper-mids corrects any shouty tones.

The lowest priced full-range planar:
The 7Hz 14.6mm double-sided array prototype was manually tuned by Crinacle using the 7Hz tuning filter kit. The planar has voice coils placed into the diaphragm, where DD have a coils (like a spring) under the DD. In theory planars could be made thinner (thus more responsive) than DDs. Still it really depends on sound preference. Meaning single full-range DD, planar or Hybrid (EST/BA/DD)(BA/DD) all have their inherent weaknesses and attributes. In simple terms, it really depends on what sound your into. What this offers the regular Head-Fi member is a style of freedom, freedom to try the planar experience and see if it works-out. This is very much the planar sound, it's not the best planar sound, but 100% wonderful.




My sound impressions:
First things first, I had to try the Dioko with every amp/DAC combo I had. I do this normally as surprises are often found, and sure enough the WM1Z had a treble spike that was too much. The desktop TA didn’t have good synergy, and it was hard to put your finger on why? But my favorites where the Shanling Dongle UA3 and the Sony Walkman WM1A. One of the biggest differences between the two was the bass character, where the Sony Walkman WM1A had a slightly more focused and forward bass response, the UA3 offered a slightly set-back and more subtle bass response. I did most of this review with the UA3 as the differences were not an issue.



Delain
Apocalypse & Chill
"Chemical Redemption"
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
The very beginning shows arpeggios of synthesis at a record pace, the Dioko finding clarity by trimming of the low-end a smidge. And while other IEMs show the arpeggios being of thicker weight, there is nothing abruptly wrong here. At 6 seconds the ruthless rhythm guitar starts, processed and chunky. They are tilted slightly up, showing more detail, less thickness than normal, yet all is well. There have been a couple BA IEM renditions (of these guitars) before that were way off in tone, but guitar tone and timbre are fine. Though often (with other IEMs) the kick (drum) is enhanced, where here even after 75 hours of burn-in, the kick is slightly subdued. This is just the Dioko world we are visiting, after a while I can adapt. And not just adapt, but thrive here. Stuff is just fast, everything. The wild thing was at first I sensed a small dose of off-timbre, and it’s about 90% gone. The drums have a super high frequency cymbal splash which seems intentionality gated. The Dioko is like that, that you will hear new details simply due to resolution. The feeling is still overall a more midcentric stance, as there are lows and highs, but truly this is slanted to express mid sensibilities. Thus the mid discernment starts to fall-away in time.

Using the Dioko is like going into the den for the evening to hear smaller bookshelf speakers, leaving the big floor-standers (out in the living room) for the daytime. Those book-shelves offer a full-response but it takes a moment to acclimate. If someone asked you about the bookshelf speakers, you would respond “amazing and fast”! Still in your heart of hearts you long at times for the deeper immersion in the living room. And if you were having drinks and had friends over............you may enjoy the den system, but as the night progresses the floor-standers get turned-on for that kick you can dance too. Now that’s in-no-way diminishing the response of the Dioko. It’s simply complementary to many IEMs you have. And if it is by chance your only IEM, just like those bookshelf speakers, you would be fine.



Hans Zimmer
The Dark Knight Rises OST
"On Thin Ice"
192 kHz - 24 bit
I’ve crossed paths with this song 100s of times, but the importance here is whether the Dioko can truly pull-off the low end. Such a spectacular approaching bass frequency tour-de-force of a file. Showing the heart of the theme played with multiple violins and deep synth.........gradually getting bigger and stronger. At 2 minutes 15 seconds the Mike Tyson of bass slams takes-place, and while not as intense as I have heard it, it does walk that line of acceptability. Meaning it’s there and entertainingly correct, just not over-the-top. Could I go on vacation with the Diokos? I could live with them as my only IEMs for about a week, before retuning home to become reunited with my old IEM friends again. You probably guess that I don’t find the Diokos to hold everything under the sun, because they don’t, still that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be someone else’s (only) wife, due to a style of completeness!



The Cure
Faith
"All Cats Are Gray"
44.1 kHz - 16 bit

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/7hz-salnote-zero-universal-iem.25980/reviews#review-28978

This song was just used to review the Diokos co-release, the Zero. The opening drums are expressed slightly thinner, holding a quickness of decay. Gone is the warm gratuitous analog feel, replaced with a slight thinness. Though the bass is in better relief and comes across wonderful. Such confusion is a style of good confusion...................left up to happenstance to find and enjoy. Such a taut bass is our friend here, even though it is more about the transient edges of the bass.............leaving the tone of each beat to be sculpted and heard clearly. Such delineation the Zero only wishes it had, though missing is a tad of the Zeros musicality. Here we are in a more sterile environment, the floor has been swept and everything is gleaming white, it’s not a hospital, but maybe a walk-in clinic? Such musical efforts here thrive in such surroundings, especially Robert Smiths voice. At two minutes 17 seconds he finally shows up late for work. Such lackadaisical form could be judged as lazy, but no, if you listen very close it’s nothing of the sort, just different from what The Cure would later enrich us with. His voice is in dynamic relief among the backdrop though possibly less reverberations and echoes? The fall-off of the echoes (which are everywhere) seem to make room as each instrument gets out of the way faster than the Zero. And of course there is more resolution obtained by the Dioko. The piano keys are very true to life.

Let’s rewind:
The bass attack at 16 seconds is full of instrument separation which becomes endearing as you slowly figure it out. Meaning this is way more of an event than first guessed. There is a bright cymbal heard, it’s tail slightly curtailed. The bass of a couple stringed instruments, all at once. Maybe a six-string bass? And finally the synth and drum emphasis, going all out as an entrance.

Conclusion of sound test:
To conclude my music tests, the 7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko performed all my favorites incredibly well. So balanced and accurate............being a great example of modern-day IEM technology and application of that technology. While it wasn't exactly thin, there were times when I would have liked more bass, more authority, and longer decays. Still I had to ask myself if this Dioko was special, and it is. It (for me) may not work as my only IEM, but it is absolutely competent and technically proficient. The tune is fun being it's fast, clear and non-offensive. While I needed 75 hours of burn-in before the bass smoothed out. There was a slight addition of authority not present in first listening tests, but upon burn-in response was way better. I tried different cables, but found the included cable to have a special magic? Even my other thicker 4.4mm cables with additional balanced amplification didn't alter it that much. Even adding the 7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko to my desktop didn't change the character all that much? What I found in the end was a focused style of balance, though it took time to adjust, as really this exact tune is normally not what I listen to. Still being different is what made it fun, as a perfect complementary IEM to normally what I listen to.

The comparisons:
Such tests were equalized with the HOOK-X, TINHIFI P1 MAX and Dioko using the same UA3 Dongle, all with included 3.5mm cables and medium-wide aperture, long silicone ear-tips. All three IEMs had over 75 hours burn-in. It should be noted that the longer style of ear-tips helped the Dioko get its fit. Where both the HOOK-X and P1 MAX didn’t need such assistance.



TINHIFI P1 Max vs The Dioko:
The P1 Max is more efficient by about 20%. Yet the Dioko is more subdued in the upper midrange, as well as ever so slightly smoother than the P1 MAX. Now when I say smoother I don’t mean darker, I mean the Dioko has slightly less grain. The fit and weight of the P1 MAX are miles better than the outrageous form the Dioko partakes of. Other than that really they are very close to the same signature. I would almost suggest to buy based on looks? Of course that smoothness offered by the Dioko is real, and while small, it is there, within that a hint of added detail exists. But I would be very surprised if anyone wouldn’t compare these two as close brothers, though soundstage is better with the Dioko. I can’t help but hear the exact same presentation in both IEMs?



The HOOK-X vs The Dioko:
Now here is some difference. The soundstage of the HOOK-X becomes seemingly larger. Within that soundstage elements are better spread-out. Weirdly it all takes-place farther out, finding room to stretch and breath. The treble elements are wider, as is the bass, bigger, yet slightly less defined. This softness the HOOK-X is parlaying creates renditions of greater involvement and romance. Still the HOOK is $239.00? So maybe this style of comparison is not fair? Fair if you were wondering if it would be a good idea to keep saving before making a purchase, then yes, unarguably the HOOK-X is miles better! Buy it!

The box opening experience:
A shaving kit? This giant box is overkill, and a first for these jaded eyes. Seemingly your Salnotes Dioko IEMs will always be protected. Not only is there a cushy tray on top, but taking the tray out reveals the entire box has a cloth lining. It could be recycled into a travel shaving-kit if wanted. The important thing is it keeps the IEMs and cable mounts in perfect protected placement. They have their very own little holder, so no off-forces are ever encountered.

Upon sliding the gold zipper across the entire length of the case, it will open. Upon first glimpse you will note a protective clear plastic film over the entire headphone side of the case. The opposite side offers 6 full-color ear-tips, with the add of one pair of sticky medium tips to make 7 pairs. I had to break-out an extra long pair of silicones to make the Dioko fit as the nozzle was just a tad too short, yet with my tips the Dioko fit was great.

• Salnotes Dioko Earphones
• Replacement Eartips
• Earphone Cable
• Manual
• Warranty

The cable: OCC copper and silver-plated OCC copper

The connector: 0.78mm 2pin

Constructed entirely of aluminum alloy, except the faceplate which is glass. The intriguing thing is just how the two-pin receivers are tilted. Cables with ear-hooks will then fall to the inside of your ear, instead of hanging off. There are nice manufactured lips on the nozzle ends which hold ear-tips on well. The screens are just slightly inset.




Conclusion:
The 14.2mm 7Hz Timeless IEM created a phenomenon, breaking sales records and ideas of what a sub $300.00 IEM could bring. The 7Hz 14.6mm 7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko goes to continue the popularity at an even better price point! Going-up against the competition the Dioko won-out (just slightly) over the HIFIMAN P1 MAX. Though an eye opening experience was just how good the HOOK-X was at beating the Dioko with bigger and better sound. Add $140.00 more and you can enjoy the HOOK-X. Still maybe my little test wasn't cool? I mean we forced the HOOK-X upon the poor little Dioko............getting it to go against a rival in a completely different league! Still the bass was slightly clearer (better defined) with the Dioko!

The $99.00 price point has its place. Many are looking at $99.00 as the very most they would ever need to spend on an IEM. So does the 7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko provide? Absolutely! At times I have to take a step-back to get a grip on truly what the Dioko price point is. Why? Because it sounds like more! More definition, better imaging and truer tonality than what I've heard for $99.00. Is it perfect? No, but is it 100% fun? Yes! Though I hear it as missing a tad in the lows for my taste. Still for the price and for how it sounds it's a great complementary IEM for many, and could exist as a single solitary IEM for someone. It really needs a DAP or a Dongle to shine, and plays most every musical genre I tried. The Dioko is a very clear window into your music library. The pace, transients and timbre are amazing. Fit once found with the correct tips, also worked out well, though I will admit the shape is not something I would choose. Single DDs offer us different decays and timbre, Hybrids offer us different contrasts and separations. Still Planar IEMs are a thing right now. Why? Bang-for-the-buck! Also Planar IEMs offer us a sound style that can't be found with any other driver replay.

The 7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko includes the 100% full-package, the ear-tips, the cable, the case, and the build quality of the IEMs themselves. They offer a particular sound that many will love and make their daily driver. Such a find is special and of value, even among the crazy (other IEM) values already being offered. Tuned by a master craftsman, built by 7Hz, and looking like no other IEM on earth! Get a hold of a pair today!

Get them here: $99.00
https://www.linsoul.com/collections...rinacle-salnotes-dioko?variant=43008001999065

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:
These thoughts and ideas are of one individual, your results may vary.

Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Kareena Tang from Linsoul for the opportunity to review the 7Hz x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko IEM.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm/3.5mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm/3.5mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Hansound Audio ZENTOO 4-wire-occ copper litz cable 4.4mm
Shanling UA3 Dongle 4.4mm and 3.5mm