ARTTI R1

★ Introduction :-

Artti is a relatively new Chinese audio brand, Although it is a sub brand of Letshouer.  But their product numbers are limited. So far they have released quite a few IEMs that are priced almost within reach.Their T10 model planar set was pretty good under $100 bucks. Although their R1 set was the first item that I used. I've been using this IEM regularly for a few months. Now, I'll try to highlight all aspects of this IEM in my review. So that it is convenient for you to understand how equitable it is for this price category.

★ Disclaimer :-

This review unit was sent to me from Artti Audio . I had no financial agreement with them to promote their product. So, the entire opinion of this review is completely my personal.

★ Box Content at a Glance :-

The Artti R1 set comes in a fairly large box where the IEM comes with a braided copper cable and two different sized eartips. Also, a small carrying pouch is available out of the box, which is small in size and has less space inside, so carrying the IEM may be a bit of a hassle. However, considering the price ratio, the accessories that Artti Audio is providing are not average in any way, and I will not even say the best possible experience. So Artti audio has no room to complain in this regard.

1 . A pair of R1 IEM
2 .Two types of different sizes eartips
3 . Four core braided copper cable
4 . Small Carrying pouch
5 . User manual and some extra paper works

The accessories were decent enough, stock cable is four core braided copper cable. According to Artti, it is an Australian copper cable, but to me, its looks & purity are similar to ordinary cables, But I did not notice anything extra ordinary. Interestingly, the cable does not create any unwanted microphonics during usage, even Artti has added a strap bracket to this cable to keep it tangle free which is pretty good. Moreover, the stock eartips quality was softer side , especially the white tips, gave better support to the initial listening experience compared to the black color tips. Again, the carrying pouch seems to be practical, IEM can be kept but it would be convenient if the size is a little bigger and the space inside is a little more.

★ Specifications :-

~ Model :- ARTTI R1
~ Driver Unit :- Triple dynamic drivers/side
~ Impedance :- 20.4Ω±1% (@1kHz)
~ Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) :- ≤3% (@1kHz)
~ Sensitivity :- 102dB/mW (@1kHz)
~ Frequency Response :- 20Hz-20kHz
~ Cable Length :- 1.2M±0.1M
~ Plug :- 3.5mm/4.4mm-0.78PIN
~ Cable :- Four-strand 216-core * 0.05mm Australian high-purity copper wire

★ Design, Build & Comfort :-

Although this set does not offer anything impressive in terms of design, it is rock solid in terms of build construction. Aluminum alloy with anodized finish along with precision engraving of CNC housing, makes this set light weight & durable. Due to the light weight shell, it fits very comfortably in the ear and can be used for a long time without any problems like ear heaviness or discomfort. On the other hand, it sound isolation was mediocre level, although it is slightly enhanced with after market eartips. I would not call this set isn’t super comfortable in any way because those with relatively small ear canal may have some problem with fit issues. But I'm hopeful that it will fit maximum folks ears.

★ Sound Aspect :-

The Artti R1 IEM features a mild U-Shape sound profile that emphasizes a balanced and neutral sound.Triple dynamic driver has been used as the internal configuration of this set which handles the full sound frequency. Harman-ish tuned this set has several strengths, the sound stage is one of them. It mainly deserves praise for wide soundstage and fairly accurate instrument separation, which makes it quite competitive in its price category.Because of which it will be acceptable to many.

Credit :- hobbytalk

★ Gear used :-

1. Questyle Audio Engineering CMA Fifteen
2 . Cayin Ru7 (Se & Bal both)
3 . Questyle m15 (Se & Bal both)
4 . Quloos Mc01 (SE & Bal both)
5 . Epz Tp50 (Se & Bal both)
6 . Fosi Audio Ds1 (Se & Bal both)
7 . Fosi Audio Ds2 ~ 2024 (Se & Bal both)
8 . Blon V1 (Se & Bal both)

ARTTI R1 is a set of 20 Ω impedance whose sensitivity level is 102dB so not very powerful amplification is needed to drive it, but if a good quality dac amp or portable player is used, then it gets scaled up with the source and becomes better sounding. However, the best pairing I've found with CMA Fifteen. Better stage depth, slightly improved imaging even a bit better micro detailing capability. There was also a little change in tonality.

Now, I will discuss the sound in detail, I will start with the Low end of this set, i.e. the bass....

★ The Bass :-

The bass region of this set shines very well, especially the sub bass, there is huge sub bass rumble which is quite deep but the problem is that due to the presence of this sub bass, the lower mids section has suffered a bit and there is noticeable bass bleed. The mid bass seems a bit mellow, the punch there is quite soft, there is generally less tendency to be more vibrant and energetic, and the weight descent of bass notes but lacks texture, and the fast bass line handling is often bloated, while other frequencies emphasis on overpowering. If the boominess of the bass region was a little less, then the lower frequency would have been clearer and the definition would have been good. As a result bass heavy tracks could be made much more enjoyable.

★ The Mids :-

Mids section was very clean & detailed. Where there is a lot of "clarity" in the tone due to the forwardness of the upper mids. Represents the character of the male & female vocals well but not too lush or soothing as there is a good amount of boost in the 3-5k which makes the vocals a little too energetic at times which emphasizes the high-pitched vocals that are upper. Makes the mids a bit shouty. Because of this, the female vocal seems lifeless in some recordings, but this problem does not have to be faced in all tracks. On the other hand, the body of the lower mids was a bit thin with a hint of warmth touch which tried to give a sense of thickness and warmth to the overall tone which benefited the male vocal. Essentially harman-ish tuning features to sacrifice the lower midrange to maintain the balance between bass and treble, which usually results in vocal timbre at the expense of a more linear midrange.

★ The Treble :-

The treble on the ARTTI R1 is usually extended but there was less presence of natural sense of airiness. treble is generally bright even seems a bit harsh but this harshness was more noticeable in stock cable and when I used after market cable it was almost reduced. However, the harshness of the mid-treble is somewhat tiring as there is occasional sibilance. I got a bit of a jittery feeling from high-frequency sounds like cymbals, high hats. This was more noticeable in classical, rock, and even electronic genres. Although I prefer the cohesive and non metallic shrillness that one would expect from such a tribride setup. But I don't think the lack of natural sparkle will fully satisfy the treble head folk.

★ Technicalities :-

This IEM is technically not that strong. Although the soundstage was quite spacious with a good sense of depth and height, but the imaging was on the weaker side. Moreover, the amount of detail & micro detail was very average even I did not notice anything impressive in terms of dynamics and speed. The tonality & timbre were a bit of adulterated. Which is a bit disappointing to get from such a tribride set. But they seem to have prioritized the fun factor more than technicalities. For those who prefer moderately detailed presentation with bass heavy fun & engaging sound, I think this set can be a good option at this price range.

Overall rating out of 5 is what I would give

Bass : 4 /5
Mids : 4 /5
Treble : 3.8/5
Technicalities : 3.5/5
Dynamics & speed : 3.8/5
Build & Aesthetics : 4 /5

★ Conclusion :-

Artti R1 IEM has been able to give descent enough result from unboxing experience to overall sound performance. The sound didn't seem too colored and it didn't tend to dry out either. Although there are many options in its price range in the market, it is offering a complete package at its own price. So if one doesn't have much difficulty with bass boosted sound then this set will not feel that much bothering. I would recommend to buying it but must be sure how well it fits with the personal taste.

I've provided the purchase link below for everyone convenience

Artti official Ali express store
(link isn’t affiliated)

A 3 dynamic driver iem from ARTTI at under $100 price point,

man it looks gorgeous with that shiny deep green color and simple yet elegant faceplate, the housing is a bit large yet have smooth surface all around it


it can be categorized as somehow bassy harman(?) the ear gain elevation to treble is almost in line with harman but bass took a thicker approach

and that’s exactly what i heard first…… the bass, the bass is BIG i mean really BIG and deep it’s the elephant in the room and it won’t go away in any kind of music, and it’s really really fun if you’re into bass heavy musics

for the midrange i hear a harman-ish contrast with that ear gain elevation making upper mid more prominent but thanks to the bass it doesn’t sound as shouty as the usual harman

the treble extension is smooth and suprisingly linear and really decent, i can hear the upper notes in smooth non aggressive way but extended



my only critique is only for the bass quality, sometimes it could be too much in qty and because it’s a bit loose in texture and tightness it could overshadow the good things on the mid and treble

and even though it sounds big in stage and you can feel the separation of the driver, but it doesn’t really excel in resolution and details

but at the end since it’s only around $60 i can really appreciate what they’ve achieved and could recommend it for those who love BIG bass but with nicely tuned upper mid and treble

ARTTI R1 REVIEW

I am an audiophile from sunny South Africa and no I do not have Lions or Elephants walking in my backyard. We have a very thriving audiophile scene and we even have our own High end audio show in Cape Town. However, the portable audio scene and especially in ear monitors and dac/amps is vastly unknown here and that is why I do these reviews to create awareness for these wonderful little monitors that are giant killers in price vs performance ratio. Today I have some killers here named the ARTTI R1.

These in-ear monitors were sent to me by Arrti as part of the Audio Geek Reviews South Africa tour. This review is totally my own opinion and I receive no compensation in any way from the company as my integrity and name are much more important than any financial gain. The R1 was delivered to my door very fast. I think it was 2 weeks and the package was at my local Post Office.

Unboxing

These monitors sell for ZAR1,383.43 in my country and the packaging reflects the price. The monitors came in a sturdy light green cardboard box with a white thin cardboard wrapper showcasing a nice photo of the R1’s and for all the Audio Geeks a High-Res Audio logo. When you open the box these beautiful monitors with metal shells in I call the color Astin Martin green peeking at you. When you lift the sponge up that holds the monitors you get two bank bags with three sets of tips each. The tips come in White and a transparent black. Next up you get a very cool denim material carrying case and on the bottom there is the usual user manual and warranty card peeking at you. Overall this premium packaging and I am highly impressed.



Specs

Model- R1

Driver Unit- Triple dynamic drivers/side

Impedance- 20.4Ω±1% (@1kHz)

Total Harmonic Distortion- ≤3% (@1kHz)

Sensitivity- 102dB/mW (@1kHz)

Frequency Response- 20Hz-20kHz

Cable Length- Plug- 3.5mm

Connector- 0.78PIN

Cable- Four-strand 216-core * 0.05mm Australian high-purity copper wire


Connectivity

The R1 was sent with a 3.5mm single ended cable but with the Nicehck upgrade cable I used it gave me the ability to use the R1 with dongles like the EPZ Tp20 and Hidizs S8 Pro Robin. I listened to these with many sources like my Astell & Kern Dap and Hiby M300 as transport with the dongles providing the amp and dac functions and it was so pleasant and tranquil having this relaxed sound on all the mediums I hooked it up to. I connected these to my Oppo, Lg and Samsung Cellphones and I have to admit these need an amp if you are looking for exponential sound delivery.



Look & Build

I am a sucker for metal faceplate monitors so these R1’S with the Aston Martin green metal faceplates impressed me ever since I took them out from the box. They feel good quality and heavy which says quality to me. One thing I also think would add some awesome aesthetics and maybe an audio gain is Penon Lacquer Orange tips. I think the orange and green together would look insane. Unfortunately, my Penon tips have not arrived yet at the time of writing this review. I asked on one of the many groups I am on and a good friend was so kind to send me a photo as he owns both and I include the photo with his permission in this review. Man I liked these so much that for the first time I used an upgrade cable on an in ear monitor. Nicehck sent me an upgrade cable to review and I hooked it up and man the synergy is so good I wish the R1 came standard with this cable. It’s called the Four mix and it is Lime green in color and so nice and thick but not in a heavy way. It also came in 4.4mm Balanced so I knew I could get the R1 enough juice. The fit was just the way I like it. With the metal shells you can actually feel you have a good piece of audio quality in your ear.



Sound

There is a thickness to the sound and even though the set is treble boosted this thickness creates the atmosphere for long hours of non fatiguing listening. All bass instruments sound extra thick to and was very apparent on Sault- Wildfires, the bass line so smooth and warm and a pleasure to listen to while I am writing this review. The treble really amazes me because it's really very prominent but not in an eardrum hurting way. It's a warm treble and there is a fullness to the sound that my ears really like. I think this set will perform very nicely as a monitor for bass too. I think this might suit bass players on stage.

I have to say something about the soundstage because it's as if it's a bit toned down in the center but the right and left sides are expansive and wide and it's very apparent on the song Ifrikya by Lambess and the Bongo’s sound is so surreal. Other than that it is very holographic and a treat to place the various instruments.

I listened to vocals and while I was trying to depict discrepancies in Freddie Mercury’s voice in Barcelona with Montserrat Caballe the trumpet really stood out and it felt like a fat man was blowing that trumpet with huge breaths.

Also while being in my Queen playlist my eye caught the song Fat Bottomed Girls and I think this is the perfect nickname for these R1’s. From now on I shall call them the Fat Bottomed Girls because of this thick warm sound especially the drums. The baseline was so smooth that it started a fat baseline search within my gallery and landed me on Creedence ClearWater Revival Chronicles album and immediately jumping to Heard it through the Grapevine and instantly when that bass line hits my foot started tapping and I knew this was an album I need to listen through with these R1 girls.

This set is made of three dynamic drivers per side and I have to say the crossover is done so flawlessly that the timbre between the three drivers is world class. This is not an analytical set to evaluate your most high res and audiophile albums but more for musical enjoyment as in get your 70’s rock albums out and just enjoy the ride with Uriah Heep- Lady in Black or Led Zeppelin- Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and guaranteed it will get your foot tapping. As I am writing this a Bob Segar song called Old time rock and roll comes on and man this takes me back and that trumpet in the later part of the song is such a treat.

For my loudness brothers, you can crank these up and they will not hurt your ears and even though with a good sensitivity and impedance these are easy to dry however II encourage using them with the balanced port of your dongle/dac or dap as giving these power makes those three drivers dance in tune even more and your ears will thank me later.

This is absolutely the best I have ever heard rap music sound on an in ear monitor. It is as if these R1’s were made for Rap music. The 50 Cent song “Many Men” had me listen to it three times on repeat. These R1 had me revisiting my Rap Favorites folder on Tidal often. Everything from 2Pac right through to Akon sounded sublime and took me back so many years when I was in high school and my whole east vs west side vibe was in full swing. From the Blade Soundtrack the song Gangsta Bounce by Wolfpak hits so low and the sub bass rumble comes through and makes you feel like you are sitting in a car with a subwoofer in the boot.

For overall sound enjoyment I rate these pretty high and what a refreshing listen in a world with a plethora of Harman tuned sets.



Conclusion

This is a win for me, ticking all the boxes for me and everything I would want in an everyday use in ear monitors. It’s also the type of monitor I would want to modify to bring out the best in it. Artti knocked this out the park for me and I highly recommend everyone to buy a pair. Arrti is setting the bar high here for competitors and I thoroughly enjoyed this set and I recommend it to any one who loves rap and edm music especially. You are getting a three driver excellently turned for musical enjoyment monitor that has room for improvement with tips and cables so it's perfect for the DIY guys too.