Audeze iSine 10

So I have been around these parts for a bit and may be a bit older than most of the people here, but I remember being wowed by the idea of a planar IEM and still am. We are seeing new ones popup that finally fix the major issue with every planar IEM before it: tuning.

So if new planar IEMs like Timeless, S12, Rapthook Go, and I'm sure 10 more have come out since I wrote this, have good tuning and image well, why iSine?

The iSine is an interesting IEM. It uses Audeze's planar diaphragm packed into a smaller chassis and then they put an IEM nozzle on it. Now this is a very basic description of the engineering that went into this series, but the end result is something that none of the new planar IEMs have. They created an in ear monitor that closely, and in my honest opinion, successfully mimics the technical ability of a full size headphone for a fraction of the cost.

I love EQ. It's like a game within a game. Trying to nail down tuning and being able to create essentially infinite IEMs within one transducer is fun and also exciting. Anyone who has seen the graph for the iSine knows that if you can't EQ then you shouldn't buy it, but with EQ becoming easier to implement (crinacle's web tool, Equalizer APO, Q5k and more) there is no excuse to not use the best tool in any audiophile's back pocket.

The stock tuning is an abomination. It has no pinna gain and all of the instruments sound far away. It's lacks of ear gain and flat bass response for lack of a better word, cucks the whole unit. However, this is where it gets good, this IEM takes EQ better than any I have ever used. It requires some large DB swings and interesting peak sculpting, but the end results is what I call an HD800 in a KSC75 style chasis.

A portable HD800 is an interesting proposition. The open nature of the diaphragm lets sound in, but also helps create that sense of openness that comes with traditional open back headphones. On the flip side the sound leakage is barely noticeable.

With a bit of EQ and a touch of love, the iSine can become whatever you want it to be. I use mine tuned to harman 2017 for pop and rock. I use IEF neutral with 5Db gain for bluegrass and jazz and it is simply the most interesting IEM on the market. It will also take any EQ you throw at it. I have measured multiple times EQed and the driver can take almost +-20DB gain swings, this is unheard of. You can then pair it with a Q5k to bring these EQ presets with you on the go!

Now if all of this sounds like it's up your alley these are the benefits of iSine. 1. It has arguably the largest soundstage in an IEM. 2. One of the best imaging IEMs on the planet. 3. It has amazing texture for strings. It's visceral and emotional. 4. The bass quality is on another level. Despite the fast decay, the quality and the texture are smooth and buttery. It doesn't slam, but it has some punch that can really work well with rock, metal, jazz, classical and I'm sure your niche genre of choice.

Now this is the best part. This IEM has a cult following due to it being a fascinating specimen, but on b Stock an iSine10 can go for $399 and an i3 b stock for $500 last I checked. Not only is this the best planar IEM, with some huge caveats I hope I clearly stated, this may be the best value IEM on the planet. iSine is a quarter of the price of an HD800. It's $1800 less than a U12t, It's 70% less than an Odin and I would argue, this is a better IEM than both with some tender love and care.

EQ of choice if interested
EQ Text

Preamp: -14.3 dB

Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 100 Hz Gain 6.9 dB Q 0.800

Filter 2: ON PK Fc 150 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 1.100

Filter 3: ON PK Fc 500 Hz Gain 0.2 dB Q 2.000

Filter 4: ON PK Fc 810 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 1.500

Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1400 Hz Gain -5.1 dB Q 1.400

Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2500 Hz Gain 3.8 dB Q 2.000

Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3600 Hz Gain 10.6 dB Q 0.800

Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5400 Hz Gain 10.5 dB Q 4.300

Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7400 Hz Gain -7.0 dB Q 1.500

This review originally appeared on my blog.

Note: The rating above is only for the Cipher V2/Analog cable version at retail prices. Cipher V1 rating is much higher and for good reasons.

If you know what a planar magnetic driver is, you definitely know Audeze.

They’ve becomes ubiquitous to this particular driver type and definitely know the ins and outs of how to make the best out of such drivers. Their house sound, while divisive, can get addictive, and thus have garnered them a loyal following.

The iSine 10 has been been out for years now. Heck, it’s older brother, the iSine 20 has already been discontinued and succeeded by the LCD i3. The iSine 10 has somehow made the cut and is still in production even though the retail price is quite inflated for what you get. It’s still the only open-back planar IEM in the price bracket and nothing really offers quite the same feature-list.

Let’s see if the iSine 10 is still relevant or has it already been left in the dust.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. I bought the Audeze iSine 10 with my own funds, still, Disclaimer.

Sources used: Questyle QP1R, YuLong Canary, iPhone SE (Cipher cable)
Price, while reviewed: $300-$400 (B-stocks, when available: $150)



Build: The iSine 10 is all black-plastic exterior with the signature metal mesh placed under the housing. This is a fully open-back design so you don’t have to worry about driver-flex. One thing to note is that the first revisions that came with Cipher v1 cable has the silver grille. This was later replaced with black grille on newer models (ones with Cipher v2 cable).

The nozzle is pretty long and stubby and most third-party tips will have a hard time fitting. There is a reason for that bulk though: it’s got an entire mechanism inside to control the phase of the soundwaves generated by the front of the driver. They’re calling it Fazor again, though it’s different from the Fazor they have in the LCD series full-size headphones in terms of implementation. There was a huge Innerfidelity article regarding this that I wanted to link here (since Tyll manages to explain the whole thing better than anyone else can or probably could) but unfortunately that site is no more (RIP) so I’d rather link to the excellent video review where you get all that info.



The 2-pin socket is recessed and has a snug fit once you use the stock cable. The inner-side of the IEM also has some ridges where you can set-in the earguides/hooks for a better fit.

Decent build quality in short though due to the all-plastic build it doesn’t quite match the price-tag.
4/5



Accessories: The accessory package is well-fleshed out. You get the two cables (depending on the Cipher V1 vs V2, cable will be either flat for the former, or usual rounded style for the latter), 6 pairs of tips, 2 pair of ear-guides of various sizes, a carrying pouch which is nice, a thumb-drive with… the user guide (why?), a plastic credit-card sized certificate of authenticity, and a cleaning brush. It’s basically got you covered. I can definitely complain about the looks/design of the analogue cable but I think it will be useless anyway (more on this later). The Cipher cable (lightning version) has a bulkier remote in the V1 with more tactile buttons. V2 is slimmer and the button arrangement is different. Both add considerable bulk to the cable, V1 more so.

Overall, I can’t find anything to complain about in terms of quality/quantity of the accessories.
5/5

Comfort and Isolation: For me, the iSine 10 (and this will likely apply to all the iSine/LCD i stuff) is just not comfortable esp when wearing with the Cipher cable where the added bulk makes things very awkward. The earhooks are stiff and doesn’t have a good weight distribution (due to lack of snug fit). Speaking of weight: each earpiece is 10g or so. Not suitable for people with small ear-canals. Your mileage may vary but definitely try them out before buying. Also, there’s zero isolation so there’s that.
2.5/5



Now, onto the sound.

Spoiler alert: without the Cipher cable, I don’t at all recommend the iSine. So if you were not planning to get the Cipher cable, you can just skip the rest of the review as I won’t be recommending the iSine 10 to you or anyone (unless we have some long-standing enmity). If you are planning to get it with the Cipher cable, read on.


The driver is a 30mm planar with Fluxor magnets on one side of the diaphragm (or so it appears on the images). This makes sense, as the already heavy-ish weight of 10gm (which is actually very light by typical planar standards) would be unmanageable with a double-sided array.

The voice coil is ultra-thin and custom built to have a very-low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). In general terms, this means that the drivers can take some serious equalization (which is true to some extent).

Nominal impedance is 16ohm and with a 110dB/mW sensitivity the IEMs should be surprisingly easily drivable, though people seem to find miraculous improvements with amping…

As for the general sound signature, I’ll cut to the chase: iSine 10 is a crippled earphone without the Cipher cable. More specifically — the Cipher V1 cable, as Audeze has managed to ruin things in the Cipher V2 by making things more V-shaped and just generally more unrefined. The sound through the analog cable (aka the non-DSP corrected sound, or default signature)is all sorts of wrong and I would find offensive even on a $35 earphone let alone a $350 one.

I find talking about the analog cable just a waste of time. If you are planning to run the iSine 10 like that I would highly recommend against it, unless that’s the signature you prefer which is absolutely fine. The sound impressions below will be out of the Cipher V1 cable, and I will also compare with the Cipher V2 along the way. In terms of tips, the Groove tips with their ribbed surface fared well for me. Also note that with the Cipher cable the Audeze app is highly recommended (look for it on the App Store).

Bass: Lacks quantity in Cipher V1 cable, whereas Cipher V2 is too sub-bass heavy. I prefer the Cipher V1 rendition though you can EQ down the Cipher V2 bass via the app (and it’s stored on the Cipher cable which is neat).

Meanwhile, without the Cipher cable the bass is a bit uncontrolled. The app doesn’t allow proper PEQ but very effective nonetheless. Generally, bass speed is fast, with no noticeable bleeding into the mids. The sub-bass on Audeze iSine 10 lacks rumble and physicality even after EQ, I guess that’s one of the issues with the open-back design. Extension is great however. Fast flowing bass sections were easily handled.
4.5/5 (Cipher V1)
4/5 (Cipher V2)
3.5/5 (Analogue)

Mids: This is the most contentious part of the Audeze iSine 10 for me. The midrange is honky without the Cipher cable and just sounds very, very wrong. I’ve tried the Reveal plugin on my desktop and no matter what dry/wet ratio I tried the honkiness never went away. It sounds honky even on Cipher V2 cable, no amount of EQ fixes it. Cipher V1, surprisingly, has the best midrange of all these configurations (analog cable/Cipher V1/Cipher V2). The lower-midrange is leaner than I consider “neutral” but it’s not thin at all. The upper-mids are also well-controlled though can get slightly shouty at times. Taking down the 2/4KHz notches mostly takes care of that though. Micro-detail retrieval is above-average. Macrodynamics is very good.
4.5/5 (Cipher V1)
3/5 (Cipher V2)
2/5 (Analogue)

Treble: Treble is effortless and smooth on the Cipher V1 cable. It’s not the airiest treble but doesn’t sound blunted or splashy. Cipher V2 has a more peay treble and can exhibit slight grain in the upper registers. Treble resolution is not as good as certain multi-BA stuff in this range but unless you’re a treble-head you probably won’t mind much. The Analogue cable has similar treble to the Cipher V2 cable. Slight EQ is necessary for Cipher V2 to take down the 8KHz region slightly, whereas I personally add some upper-treble air via the 16KHz notch.
4/5 (Cipher V1)
3.5/5 (Cipher V2)
3.5/5 (Analogue)



Soundstage: The Audeze iSine 10 is extremely open sounding, thanks to open-acoustic design. Soundstage is remarkable for an in-ear-ish device and frankly you won’t get anything better than this in the price-range, at least not among the stuff I have heard. Effortless soundstage width, remarkable depth and the height is akin to full-size headphones. Class-leading, that’s that.
5/5

Imaging: The iSine 10 has very precise imaging even for events happening at the back of your head. Instrument separation/layering is excellent as well. Peerless performance, frankly, given the price bracket. A godsend for those who prefer IEMs while gaming in these aspects (though the comfort issues might hamper practicality).
5/5

Source and Amping: Given the Cipher cables are for iPhones or old iPods with lightning port your choices for source gets shrunk rather quickly (or expanded, if you’ve got loads of Apple devices around). I used my iPhone SE but any iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch with lightning connector is all one will ever need to get the best out of the Audeze iSine 10. I’d not discuss much about analogue sources since it sounded horrible on everything I’ve got (Yulong Canary, Cayin N6ii, Questyle QP1R…).

Bang-for-buck: At the $150 B-stock prices, this is a no-brainer if you want to experience a planar in-ear. At the retail prices with the added cost of Cipher cable: this has horrible value.
5/5 (B-stock $150 prices)
1.5/5 (retail price of $350 + Cipher cable)

Select Comparisons

vs Tin HiFi P1 ($150): The Tin HiFi P1 is another planar magnetic IEM in the price bracket. It’s got a significantly different design though where it uses a miniaturized 10mm planar magnetic driver which requires quite a bit of amping to get going. When amped, P1 is fairly detailed with a bright-neutral midrange, decent layering of instruments and good amount of upper-treble air. The bass is anemic though and just doesn’t cut it. Audeze iSine 10 eats it for breakfast in terms of bass response, soundstage, imaging, and overall detail retrieval (with the Cipher V1 cable of course). For the price though (almost 1/3rd of the iSine 10 + Cipher V1) the P1 is an interesting option. It just doesn’t belong in the same class.

vs RHA CL2 Planar ($700): RHA CL2 Planar is another miniature full-range planar implementation but has a higher level of performance compared to the Tin P1. When amped, the bass is linear and has good extension/rumble. Soundstage and imaging isn’t as enveloping and precise as the iSine 10 but fairly impressive for a closed-back design. Midrange is bright-neutral on the CL2 but has better micro-detail retrieval than the iSine 10. The treble though is a bit too sharp and gets fatiguing on the RHA CL2. It helps it pull out more details at the expense of shrillness. Equalization is a must to get the best out of CL2 since the driver can take that hit, and with equalization it does outresolve the iSine 10 without fatiguing the listener.

vs iSine 20 (discontinued): The iSine 20 is discontinued now. I’ll do a very brief comparison since the differences are minimal. iSine 20 has a slightly wider stage. Depth/height feels similar. Bass has a bit more slam and punch on the iSine 20. The overall detail retrieval is where the iSine 20 pulls ahead with better exhibition of microdetail and improved macrodynamics. I do believe that the improvements are not worth the price premium, but that’s something you gotta figure out for yourself.



Conclusion

Just like the duality displayed on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Audeze iSine 10 goes from horrible without the Cipher V1 cable to awesome once the cable is connected.

But the list of caveats is too large. Only in special circumstances can I recommend the Audeze iSine 10, and you gotta be in that particular niche of users who actually prefer an open-back pseudo-IEM with zero isolation over an open-back headphone/typical IEM. Frankly at the retail price of these I’d just get a Hifiman Sundara and call it a day if an open-back planar is what I really want to experience. The B-stock prices are too tempting though and I highly recommend them if you can manage one with the Cipher V1 cable under $150.

I don’t recommend the Audeze iSine 10 with the Cipher V2 cable as strongly however, and without the Cipher cable I don’t recommend these at all.

The strange case of Audeze iSine 10, indeed.

Overall Rating: 4.25/5 (with Cipher V1)
Recommended

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (with Cipher V2)
I cannot recommend this.

Overall Rating: 2/5 (analogue cable)
Hello darkness my old friend…

INTRODUCTION

In ear monitors have been popular as of lately with new companies bringing out their new top of the line in ear monitors. In ear monitors usually use dynamic or armature drivers. However, planar magnetic drivers commonly used in higher end audiophile grade headphones is not something you've seen before in an in ear. Audeze being one of the innovators and leaders of this kind of technology decided to make one. As of today, they have three in total. The isine 10, 20 and LCDi4.

DISCLAIMER

This unit was lent to me by bay bloor radio

ABOUT Audeze

from their website:

Audeze’s origins go back to 2008 when founders Sankar Thiagasamudram and Alexander Rosson met engineer Pete Uka who developed specialized flexible circuit materials for NASA. They quickly realized the material might be perfect for headphones. That’s when Dragoslav Colich, who has 30+ years’ experience in designing planar drivers, joined the team as CTO to create the LCD-1 headphone.

Then we created the legendary, award-winning LCD-2 and LCD-3 headphones, and the higher-efficiency LCD-X and XC models. More recently, we made planar magnetic technology accessible to a wider audience with the EL-8 and SINE series headphones. Audeze turned to their strategic partner Designworks, a BMW Group Subsidiary, for the cutting-edge industrial design for the new headphones as well as the Deckard DAC/Amplifier.

Audeze feature proprietary planar magnetic designs with extremely thin-film driver materials and powerful custom magnets. Planars overcome many limitations inherent in typical cone drivers; our lightweight diaphragms are, for example, faster and more responsive than heavier moving-coil or dome drivers. Planar magnetic diaphragm also have a voice-coil circuit spread across the diaphragm surface. The diaphragm’s voice-coil circuit interacts with the magnetic field to produce an electromagnetic force that moves the diaphragm back and forth creating the sound you hear when energized by an audio signal.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Style In-ear, universal fit
  Transducer type Planar magnetic, semi-open
  Magnetic structure Fluxor
  Magnet type High-grade neodymium
  Diaphragm type Ultra-thin Uniforce
  Transducer size 30mm
  Maximum power handling 3W
  Maximum SPL >120dB
  Frequency response 10Hz – 50kHz
  THD <0.1% @ 100dB
  Impedance 16 ohms
  Cable type non-microphonic
  Dimension 31mm x 35mm
  Weight 11g (per side)

WHERE DO I BUY IT?

Bay bloor radio in you are in Canada.

Here internationally

BUILD QUALITY

I apologize that pictures are not provided for this review. It was deleted before I could write this review. I will make sure to add in photos in the near future.

First off, I would say the build quality at this price range is excellent.

It is made of high quality plastic. Some of you are not keen to see plastic in a set of highly priced in ears but there is a reason to why highly reputable companies, including sennheiser use it. Especially here, it was a great choice of material to keep things light as possible because it does use planar magnetic drivers that are bigger. Audeze really wanted to punch in the idea that they can create something planar and not always heavy.

For those who found Audeze headphones really good sounding but just way too heavy to wear, this may just be something that may float your boat.

Cabling is simple with 2 pin connectors and this does mean you can use third party cables, if that is your thing.

Flat braided cables as typical of their cables and you can opt in for their EQ functionality lightning cable or just the 3.5mm cable.



I did feel like the tips included were all too big for secure fit and nozzle were too big for and typical spin fits or comply foams.

Also, it takes a bit of getting used to securing a good fit with the hooks provided.

PRACTIALLY

THE FIT: Fit is everything with the Isine10, you will love it if you can or you will hate it if you cannot. It is a big hit or a miss type of scenario. I would imagine Audeze will improve this in their future line ups.

SOUND ISOLATION: These are semi open back and does leak, despite what others say about these not leaking... which I found odd unless you listen to your music really quietly. These do leak and it was proved in my tests. You can do this easily... you can just turn your music off and talk to other without taking the isine10s off your ears, you will be able to hear everything perfectly fine. Try asking at least 10 individuals if they can hear your music.

PAIRING: These are not the hardest to drive but they are still planar magnetic and need some good sources and amps to really shine

SUGGESTED USE: Probably around the house or in the office where it doesn't matter if a little bit of music leaks out. If you are the type of person that is not keen to share your music taste, this may not be the right choice.

SOUND QUALITY

review without EQ

LOWS – Very solid presentation but not the best or punchiest. Quite simple and this region relies heavily on how well you get it to fit. Get the right fit and you will feel some great thumping and sub bass.

MIDS – I found these to be a little too mid-centric with vocal a little recessed. it is either that this region is too forward or everything else is recessed. All in all this mid region seems to be the most unreliable in its presentation as imaging did not seem to be on par with other in ear monitors I've reviewed.

HIGHS – Well extended but lacks sparkle and a little recessed.

I was not aware of being able to EQ with 3.5mm cables from your DAP or what have you. Audeze do have put out their recommended EQ setting on headfi forums for those that are not keen on lightning cables. I would love to see the EQ settings come back and hit hard for those of us that would not like to see the 3.5mm terminations taken over entirely.

SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING/SEPARATION:

• Sound stage is larger than most in ear monitors in this price range but I do have to disagree with it being an in ear headphone. I would say this falls closer to an in ear still. I will be reviewing the LCDI4 soon, as I hope that will be a different story.
• Imaging was not the best, with center imaging being the most lacking in presentation
• Separation was descent but again, not the best I have seen in this price range.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is their first in ear monitor and world's first planar one. I would say this is a great start and I would love to see them improve with community feedback.