Reviews by aftersound

aftersound

New Head-Fier
Solid Improvement
Pros: - beautiful looks
- fit like a glove
- textured round bass notes
- clean and clear yet smooth upper mid to treble
Cons: - slight incoherency
- male vocal lack thickness
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Kinera Celest have never been my favorite series but this one hits a homerun

let me put into perspective first,
- celest wyvern qing and abyss treble rolled off too early despite having good and textures bass and vocal
- celest gumiho timbre is way off and strange
- celest phoenis does have good technical but the timbral incoherency is really noticable for me

then there’s this ignite beast…. which i consider to be the best of the celest series

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ignite beast x is an answer to abyss’s critique, adding a high frequency BA driver to complete the frequency and feels way more open than abyss

i stil would consider this sound as a Vshaped harman-ish with deviation mostly in dip and peak in treble area

bass sounds rounded and texture, vocal sounds more forward on higher note yet avoid the usual harman shouty-ness (at least in my ear) i feel that this is due to lower treble early dip to smoothen that part

while the treble in my measurement looks peaky but not in actual listening, please note that this is resonance peak area so imagine cutting around 3-4 db from the measurement

it has solid technical performance too, only adding 1 ba but giving major improvement over abyss and qing

in my technical scale i’d put it slightly behind T10

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good and proper resolution and separation but not the widest in stage and imaging

overall really solid product and gets a recommendation from me

aftersound

New Head-Fier
New Experienced Challenger
Pros: - basics done right (tuning, build, fit)
- airy and spacious stage
Cons: - not the most resolving for the price
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Soratune is a new brand that looks and feels experienced already

cost at around $70 for me it got all the basics covered like
- build : made of aluminium, unique faceplate with precision cut and smooth surface
- fit : basically no complain just feels right and i could wear them for hours without complain
- tuning :
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man… that’s nice… i would categorize this as mild U

bass is deep, textured and well controlled, simply good….

mid is tuned nicely striking good balance for male and female, and as you see this pinna gain is definitely much less compared to harman, so it’s anti-shout if you’re sensitive to harman but will feel laid back of you’re pro harman, personally i prefer this kind of more laid back mid yet still retain the ear gain tuning, i can still feel the vocal energy but never shouty

treble here is airy and well extended sometimes i feel “airy” here feels kind of “physical” also, not only about frequency, almost feels like open back sensation (maybe due to the vent)

technical is decent for the price but not class leading
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in my technical scale above i’d put it between chu 2 and artti t10 (leaning a bit more to t10)

not the most resolving, feels a bit soft in transient attack but the soundstage definitely feels wide and open with good imaging as well

so as one of the debut product i will say i’m excited to know what more can soratune offer because this YI01 is simply a great contender for the price!!

aftersound

New Head-Fier
the Next Big Star
Pros: - chunky yet fit like a glove
- the most immersive in its price point
- amazing bass depth and texture
- extended mid and treble without being sibilant/harsh
- easy to drive
Cons: - not for those who seek for neutrality
- doesn’t come with interchangeable plug (im very nitpicking here)
Easily one of the most impressive product in 2024 for me

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using 2DD + 4BA this iem is a bit thick in size but the angle and length of the nozzle feels just right in my ears to wear em comfortably for hours

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tonality wise i categorize this as mild V with noticeable elevation on bass with contrast-y clear mid and extended treble,

if you find the bass is too much to your liking, just give them a simple tape mod to cover the vent hole and you will decrease the bass qty quite significantly while retaining the same clear vocal and treble (Jay himself recommend to try this for different tonal)

this iem immediately gives macro WOW sensation, right from the moment i tried them, they feels sooo immersive with rumbly deep majestic bass, and the vocal comes clearly separated from the bass without being shouty and the treble sparkle is flying and circling on the ceiling of my head

soundstage, imaging, bass = those 3 combined will give this immersive sensation that sucked you into the music dimension, try hearing some orchestral music or movie soundtrack and feel the immersion

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wait…. it feels like im really shilling this iem, let’s talk about the minuses now

because of how this iem is tuned, after long period of time i do find them quite fatiguing due to this contrast-y sound,

even with tape mod the vocal and treble could still come as energetic and still quite fatiguing for me after long period of listening

i find myself reaching for a more neutral/laidback iem after listening to them

quick comparison :
vs simgot EM10 : em10 also have this macro immersion sensation but it sounds even more contrast in vocal making it more prone shoutiness, estrella has much bigger stage with more pinpoint imaging with safer non shout tonality but em10 comes as more “layered” for complex music (guessing because of the BA count)

vs IE600 : ie600 has tighter and deeper bass with sharper resolution on every notes but Estrella has much bigger stage , better separation with more pinpoint imaging with less sharp treble

vs Annihilator : if you’re asking me what is mini annihilator for under $1000 i will say estrella…. this bold kind of sound, wow effect, even the fatigue after long period of listening…. only annihilator is definitely still on the higher level on technical aspect

as an overall this iem is TOTALLY recommended if you seek this kind of wow immersive sound that has technical that could fight toe to toe with higher priced competitor, and currently it is one of my most used collection
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
Planar Value Redefined
Pros: - proper v shaped tuning
- solid note attack and definition
- one of the best resolution for the price
Cons: - mid and treble is on a thin side
- default stock tips are not really good
this planar ONLY cost around $60 yet i honestly feel if i just close my eyes i will say that this one worth around $150

i have tried and review a lot of planars and this is one of my favorite even though it’s one of the cheapest

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the shape itself is pretty okay, just normal round shaped with minimalistic faceplate

fits almost fine for me but the default stock tip is way too stiff and the other one is way too mushy so i couldn’t get a proper fit with their default tips,

personally i find using long stemmed eartips such as spinfit or ddhifi st35 helps with the fit (i prefer ddhifi st35)
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well the FR can be categorized as V shaped with elevation on the bass and uppermid to treble area

i found the bass to be one of the best textured planar bass i’ve ever tried shockingly, solid punch and definition with quick recovery, some planars…. despite of the qty the bass could feel rather pillowy and not as defined as this T10

while mid and treble is a bit on the thin side and could be aggressive for some, i find them to be safe at least for my sensitivity, bringing forward upper octave with high clarity and definition without being overly harsh or spicy

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now this is the unique finding… the FR is really remind me of one of my favorite bright planar… the s12 but T10 is more natural with better and bolder bass definition and depth, also smoother and more natural in timbre despite of the similar tonality, only loses a hair in resolution but….. the s12 itself is considered as one of the good value planar in market even till now

but this T10 is like a more natural version of it but cost almost half of its price point

i know some might still find this a bit too thin or unnatural but personally i like it and as a whole….

in terms of value, i couldn’t find any planar that has better value than this…. amazing good job ARTTI
bru87tr
bru87tr
I changed the tips I think to foam tips and I liked them a lot better.

aftersound

New Head-Fier
MORE DD MORE FUN!?
Pros: - Big deep thumping bass
- linear treble extension
- smooth sound
Cons: - bass lacks of texture and tightness
A 3 dynamic driver iem from ARTTI at under $100 price point,
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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

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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

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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

aftersound

New Head-Fier
BIG MISSION BIG SOUND
Pros: - well balance tonality
- technical ala planar
- good texture for planar
Cons: - a bit awkward fit
an iem with Big Mission, this time Hidizs again in collaboration with WDC (Whale & Dolphin Conservation) helps to promote good quality iem for good cause

every purchase of mp143 will support this conservation organization (you’ll get this cute whale pin)
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and i just love how we can actually feel that start from the packaging that every part of it is biodegradable, no plastic is used, and i truly appreciate their effort for this

you’ll find unusual materials being used here such as resin for the nozzle case, layered paper for the box instead of foam, also this hardened stick like carton(?) for the eartips (photos below)
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now for the iem itself is a bit larger than usual but still looks and feels good in my ears and yes they are also inspired by the whale shape
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i do have a bit of problem in fitting because the nozzle is relatively small compared to the housing, using the default stock tips i couldn’t get proper depth and seal in my ears

if you find similar problem i suggest using eartips with long stem such as spinfit or personally i use ddhifi st35
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you’ll get 3 different tonality in different nozzles and it shows in the FR

but the red one for me pushed the midrange too low making in sounds darker and too basy

the silver is okay, leaning more of V response

while the gold for me is the most balance and ideal, so this will be mostly tested and tried using gold filter

for me it sounds exactly as the Fr shows mild U shaped with elevated bass that goes deep, a step back in midrange while retaining a bit of low treble bite to make things exciting and the treble itself is a touch forward but still smooth having a good sparkle while not being so extended

put it simply it is well tuned nothing feels off, lacking, or too much in extreme way

but that is the special part, i can hear it all day without any complain a simple mild U fun tonal with planar fast transient with somehow big stage sensation
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to put things into perspective
here’s some quick comparison
7hz timeless : is the classic first proper planar iem for me but for long listening i feel fatigue due to big midbass plus forward upper mid
s12 : is the tightest and brightest i love how it gives a precise bite and attack but again for long listening it’s too sharp for me
s08 : is a special one, total opposite of s12 have one of the thickest sounding planar while keeping the planar speed i love hearing some vocals through them but can be a bit boring after some time lacking attack and bite
mp145 : only tried them a few minutes but before i could assess the sound i’m sorry i’m mostly bothered by how big it is and i couldn’t wear them properly

so that’s it, mp143 might be not the most wow planar but after hearing it for days…. i can say it’s the one that i will use if i only need 1 planar
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
Maturity since small
Pros: - lightweight and very comfortable
- proper smooth U shaped tonal
Cons: - non detachable
- feels like a toy
This iem is only $15 and they looks and feels like a cheap iem from a dollar store just in exception for the cable being really smooth and flexible not like cheapy stiff cable

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but they do fit really comfortably in my ears when being worn either over ear or straight down, but personally i like straight down more due to its lack of earguide

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now here’s the special part…

the tonality can be categorized as mild U shaped but a very well done one

proper deep bass with decent control and speed, maybe lack a bit in texture but overall an allrounder one

midrange take a half step back and a bit laidback yet very well balanced in note weight, just keep a hair of “vocal edge” giving a raise in upper mid - lower treble transition area, highlighting a bit of vocal and instruments clarity and bite

a very enjoyable one while never being sibilant nor shouty

treble is also decent, smooth and natural giving just enough sparkle but don’t expect extra clarity and airiness here…

so as an overall for $15 it’s sooo enjoyable both fit and sound, very properly tuned

easy recommendation if you’re fine with non detach cable and the build quality

here’s a non affiliated link for purchase
https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-aero
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
DYNAMIC OVERLOAD
Pros: - bulky yet comfy build
- energetic sound, tons of energy
Cons: - could be too V shaped (missing some midrange balance)
- could be fatiguing
i believe it’s the first time i tried a 5 Dynamic Driver per side for an IEM

and it is not a lie, you can literally see 5 dynamic driver in the clear shell and each has their own tube

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the faceplate shape itself is somehow remind me of the either bean or kidney with unique shiny scaly pattern that give moving illusion depending on the light and viewing angle

i really appreciate that with this bulky housing and 5DD they managed to make a comfy iem in my small ears
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the sound is exactly like the FR shows..
tons of midbass energy and forward upper mid to treble area to counter balance the bass, simply said either V or W shaped, contrast-y sounding iem

hearing it simply feels fun, it’s an embodiment of adrenaline and caffeine.
tons of “boom” and kick in every song, extremely fun yet maintain a somehow still clear vocal and treble

the main weakness here is in the balancing, you see they give tons of midbass and giving rise on the upper mid and treble to counter balance it but also taking a chunk of midrange frequency,

so if you take out the fun and focus on vocal and instrument like piano and guitar transition from mid to upper octave it feels “jumpy” and uneven

nevertheless i can definitely see the market and the purpose of this iem is to have fun fun kick boom and fun while maintaining vocal and treble clarity and in a way it does achieve that

it will be a good choice for those who simply want to wake up and feel the energy but definitely will not for those who want to feel laidback and calm music

aftersound

New Head-Fier
Aggressively Resolving
Pros: - good build
- nice fit
- one of most resolving iem for the price
Cons: - treble is aggressive and could be too hot on some songs
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this iem looks really nice, strong and bold with good quality gunmetal colored metal body and flexible cable

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depends on how you perceive things, this iem can be categorized as V shaped or simply bright iem

bass is quick, very tight with good punch, only lacks depth and rumble for certain tracks

midrange to treble area is quite thin and could be aggressive on some songs, yet the detail, resolution and note definition is no joke… very resolving 1dd, everything sounds clear and well defined with sharp attack

so yes even though this iem can be quite aggressive but i can still see some will definitely love em due to its clarity and resolution, definitely recommended to try if you’re okay with quite a bit of spice
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
Almost Revolutionary
Pros: - good build and fit
- legit tuning with faceplate? that’s new
Cons: - protruding female pin (almost like like qdc)
- missing lower treble in a strange way
the flagship of Nf audio that was released in 2021 for $750 is it good?

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build : simply good, all made of metal and feels a bit heavy, you can tell that this is a premium product

and even though it’s a bit bulky but the fit is so snug in my ears and i have no complain on wearing them for long time

and you can change the tuning by changing the faceplate using a small screwdriver included in the package, btw usually people get 3 faceplate but looks like they have a new one with clear faceplate and here’s the measurement

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reference : grey fp
pop : red fp
transparency : blue fp
clear : clear fp

and yes they definitely change the sound, the pop being the most V while for my ears the reference is the most balance and my favorite

basically the bass does have good body especially on pop fp but it feels like BA indeed, missing slam, depth and definition, just…. there

vocal and instrument are smooth but more like restrained due to the drastic dip around upper mid

it does have a separated sparkle around 8k and above to give a clarity sensation around treble

but…… as you could see… the measurement is…. simply unique and that portrays what i hear, there’s a missing huge chunk of freq around upper mid to lower treble area transition before rising again on the mid treble

no matter which fp you use, it just feels weird for me on that specific area

for me that missing freq or you could say the transition upper mid to treble plays a big role in vocal and instrument bite and definition

it does sound smooth but in a weird way

i have to give praise to the build, fit and also the ba that are being used feels high on quality (never sounds metallic or plasticky in timbre like cheap ba timbre)

but sorry i just can’t understand the tuning… that missing frequency always bugged me no matter what song or genre i heard

with all that being said, this iem has potential here and there but the final product just doesn’t give justice to its price point
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
one of the comfiest but is it enough?
Pros: - great fit and comfort both straight down and over ear
- interchangeable plug (3,5 and bal 4,4)
- familiar harman ish tuning (well this could be pros or cons)
- nice sub bass extension with clear and smooth vocal
Cons: - technical below average for the price
- lacking treble extension
- intense upper mid
DDHIFI is mostly well known for its audio portable accessories but not for its iem, well janus 1 and 2 are definitely below radar and very rarely discussed even some that do review them don't find them very positive
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but for me janus 3 shows that they do listen to complain and want to grow.. this one is kinda good for sure

build : made mostly from plastic but really smooth and feels like good quality ones, using mmcx as cable connector
the cable here feels high quality, looking good, flexible, lightweight and have interchangeable jack that is easy to change and fit securely (i got 3,5 SE and 4,4 Bal in its packaging)
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fit : well they know how to make things comfortable for small ears like me, the nozzle angle, the housing shape and size, even the eartips all feels like a bliss

both straight down and over ears are so comfy i could wear them for hours without complaint... lovely
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tonal : it follows harman target 2019 to a degree and yes this comes with harman caveats as well if you don't like harman ish sounding iems, most elevation is on the bass and upper mid (yes my unit has excellent channel matching)

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bass : digs deep and definitely rumbly but not really full in midbass area, personally love it but not for those who wants thickkk midbass

mid : definitely more forward in upper mid favoring higher human voice and mid to high octave on piano and guitar, sounds clean clear and smooth although just bit too thin for me
again for those who likes thick midrange this is not for you

treble smooth with just enough sparkle to make it not dark.. overall nice just not really airy
personally i could like and really enjoy this kind of tonal but for those who find harman tuned iem sound thin and shouty, this isn't for you

technical : now here's the most noticable caveat.... simply said... doesn't compete against some of the good ones like simgot em6l and shuoer s12pro....
this is only around aria 2021 in terms of technical

in the end i will say i personally enjoy this iem especially the ergonomics is just gold for my small ears ohoho...
and the tuning well for someone who can accept and enjoy harman target even though it is not ideal for me either i can enjoy it.... but not for everyone

i can see myself using it as iem for commute or in train and plane for quick straight down use... but not for critical listening

aftersound

New Head-Fier
beauty for my eyes... not ears
Pros: - amazingly beautiful both packaging and looks
- full bodied sound
- unique driver configuration
Cons: cons :
- uneven midrange tuning
- driver incoherency
kinera has been one of the company i always trust when it comes to aesthetic reasons but not tuning and it still applies to this product
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this iem feels like an experimental product rather than a fully matured one (just like celest gumiho) unique driver configuration using 1dd+2ba+2microplanar

build : very beautiful looking faceplate, feels like thick high quality resin, and nice flexible cable
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fit : unfortunately more driver more crossover more holes happen here... making the nozzle a bit large and as a person with small ear canal i couldn't wear them for long (not as uncomfortable as og B2 though)

tonal balance : i categorize this kind of sound as somehow warm sounding iem with elevated mid bass and midrange and some extra sparkle on high frequency
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bass is thick and punchy, but doesn't really rumble, lacking sub bass extension

midrange sounds also quite thick but uneven in around lower midrange area giving a drastic contrast around 500hz dip to 1,5khz rise with another dip at 2khz some lower human vocal and lower piano and guitar notes sounds uneven...
even though this doesn't really happen in upper midrange... upper mid sounds balance i have no complain here

treble sound smooth with some sudden extra incoherent sparkle im guessing this is due to the microplanar treble? not sure but for me sounds "sudden" with different thin timbre in contrast with the whole bass and midrange thickness...

technical here is quite good, but not class leading simply okay, nice detail retrieval and separation with some caveats in bass and midrange blunted transient that could sound mushy in certain song

as an overall this product does feels unique but not matured at least for me... worth for collecting but not for listening
NymPHONOmaniac
NymPHONOmaniac
bro...even if perhaps a bit too minimalist for me to understand exactly the sound it deliver, i enjoy the severity of your review. more than ever, especially when backed by Hifigo promoting agenda, critical listener are needed more than promoter or positivist or unexperienced IEM enthusiast.
are you a member of Chifi Love facebook group?
aftersound
aftersound

aftersound

New Head-Fier
not bad but not enough
Pros: - full fun sounding
- decent technical
- proper bass low-high extension
Cons: - feels cheap and looks cheap
- microphonic stiff cable
- uneven incoherent treble response
Hisenior/Febos Okavango ($299)

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i think hisenior is moving towards international market with its new "febos"
and releasing a mid tier iem called okavango using 1dd and 6 ba configuration

build :
another typical chifi resin built, and I'm really gonna be honest that i really hate the green color here, looks cheap and poisonous, not elegant green, even worse with that liquid pattern....

and you know when you have tried a lot of resin iems, you could tell that resin like kara or mooondrop s8 feels thick and full and high quality

well this okavango feels thin and lightweight, not really convincing

the cable has elongated pin for recessed housing but the housing has no recession
cable, making the pin looks a bit out of place, and the cable itself is wrapped in fabric with noticable microphonics, kinda stiff in touch

fit : basically no problem with the housing but the earguide arch does feels too far from my ideal position and the cable stiffness and microphonics-ness could be annoying when walking

tonal : i categorize it as v shaped with elevation mostly on bass and treble area around 7-10khz with somehow balanced midrange

switch : this iem comes with 2 switches the first switch does add a bit of bass
while the second switch add the treble

unfortunately in my unit the right switch is constantly turned on and cannot be toned down even i change the switch position, basically a faulty unit/switch
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the bass is fun and thumping especially with switch up, giving fun factor to the music, nice textured bass but not a really tight one

midrange is well tuned avoiding any sibilance/shoutiness and sound balance on both male/female vocal but sometimes i feel the transient edge is a bit blunted some piano/guitar attacks are not really well defined, on FR you see that noticable dip on the 5-6khz, now this does affect the “edge” of vocal and instruments indeed

i see what they're trying to do with the treble but i don't like it, the lower treble 5-6 khz is lowered down for smoothness but adding treble rise around 8-10khz for sparkle....

well for me this dip and rise is too drastic a giving a sense of "detachment" from the rest of the frequency, simply said it doesn't sound cohesive and coherent overall

technical is basically good, maybe just a bit below blessing 3 good, i feel some planars like s12 or timeless is still better overall in resolution but the separation is not as good as okavango

again i feel the technical is bit strange on these because the midrange transient feel blunted thanks to its lower treble drastic dip, but that rise on mid treble area does give a bit sense of extra sparkle and resolution on that area

vs blessing 3 : blessing 3 simply sound more cohesive overall more neutral in tuning but sound colder and not as fun, not my ideal kind of tone either but i'd pick blessing 3 over okavango due to better build, fit, and simply sound more cohesive and resolving overall

in the end for me... it's not bad... but since right now there are some more competitive iems around its price point and even cheaper planars like timeless and s12 due to simply similar resolution, better transient edge and cohesiveness
this doesn't sound competitive enough for now at least for me
aftersound
aftersound
@PROblemdetected yes for me they are, the resin quality and weight are not that much different than some of the cheap sub $100 iems only bigger in size, i love some of thieaudio and yanyin sound but build… no…
PROblemdetected
PROblemdetected
So its the weight the reason to talk about quality build?

Connector, finish, switches emplacement and ventilation are superior to OG YANYIN or MANGIRD TOP.

Also the tourbillon is like any of the THIEAUDIO recent iems, not a 100$ iems. I could understand that anyone dont like the colour scheme, but quality... cant be agree with that. Sorry
aftersound
aftersound
yes let’s agree to disagree

aftersound

New Head-Fier
when good isn't enough
Pros: - good looking
- high quality resin
- safe tuning
Cons: - long and large nozzle
- doesn't really have anything special about the sound
- technical is below average for the price
Tanchjim Kara ($179)
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i remember when Tanchjim anounce the kara, how it looks and how seemingly competitive the price is.... from a company thay make the legendary oxygen
this was hyped.... and it got released and just like that... the hype stop

build :
it feels like one of those thick resin that you can trust.... it feels solid, no bubble on sight an does looks thicker than the average chifi resin iem
i reall like the overall clean and clear aesthetic, from side it looks small but from above boy.. it's thicc and loong with those large nozzle..

small ears be careful....
cable feels cheap though..
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fit :
emm no problem with the housing overall no harsh edge touching my ears...
really the problem is the big nozzle and i have small ears... so it feels like my ear canals are pushed to spread larger than usual... it does cause sore and discomfort after long period of use... at least for my small ears, bigger ears should have no problem
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sound :

tonal : can be categorized as warm neutral with emphasize abit on the bass and a bit lean ear gain and not so extended treble
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bass : fun and punchy in just right amount, nothing wrong but nothing special, personally i'd like a bit more sub bass for rumble in orchestral music

mid : again nothing wrong here... nice balance for female and male vocal, but not special..... again..... it does feels kinda bland and missing soul from the singer..
even though it is balanced.. i couldn't really hear the energy from the vocalist here...

treble : smooth with just enough amount of sparkle.. i prefer more extension past 8khz though, it lacks air for some instruments making violin upper frequency bite sounds dull

technical : nice separation, so so soundstage but the resolution is lower than average at this price.... the resolution is not that far from dunu titan s or aria... and below the cheaper EM6L and planars like Shuoer S12 or Dioko

comparison :

vs EM6L : similar driver configuration but em6l follow harman target more truthfully, having better sub bass and treble extension with just a bit thinner midrange

EM6L easily beats kara in terms of overall resolution, note definition and attack are more incisive here... simply cleaner and clearer

in the end kara is good... and easy to accept.. but nothing from it feels "special" at least for me, and the technical level isn't on par with its price....

no wonder the hype stops
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
The Golden Child
Pros: - amazing atmospheric bass
- fun tonality
- smooth open midrange
- open airy smooth treble
- APEX module
- gorgeous faceplate and shell
Cons: - a bit lacking in midrange clarity
- bass could be a tad slow on certain track
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(just look at that... gorgeous.....)

it's been long since i wanted a 64 audio iem, been in love with their simple yet helpful APEX module making iems feels and sound more open than usual but... which model???

after trying all of their lineup starting from the lowest till the highest (yes including U18S, fourte etc) funnily enough i find my favorite to be their lowest universal line

please note that i'm more of a tonal person rather than technical... i simply wanna enjoy music not goint surgical and pinpointing microdetails here and there... i simply enjoy U4S the most, i will elaborate later...

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Size & Fit :
Basically similar to any other universal 64 audio lineup, medium sized with long nozzle, they are a bit bulky for my small ears yet i could wear them for hours without any complain, maybe only the default cable can be a bit stiff at times, but it's a minor problem

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Measurement (graphed using IEC711)
if you're using IEF neutral 2023 as neutral target U4s can be categorized as a mild V iem, elevation in lower freq, slight dip around ear gain 3k area with relatively slightly boosted mid treble and additional upper treble peak to add airy effect

APEX Module :
M20 (-20db) : (light grey) the bassiest one, somehow the smallest in stage, but maybe due to the isolation, sounds the most focused in imaging
M15 (-15db) : (dark grey) is the one that i usually use when using them outdoor, still bassy but more open on the upper frequency)
M12 (-12db) : (golden) u4s exclusive model for now, later will also be available in market, aside m15 i use this m12 the most, not as bassy as m15 overall the best balance for all freq but sacrificing the sub bass of m15 and m20
MX (-10db) : (black) the most open, the most mid forward but the bass is almost neutral at this point, only giving a very slight thump and soft punch

this is an interesting phenomena where the more seal it gets the more bassy it gets but also it sounds more focused in imaging, the more open they are the wider they sound yet the sound gets more blur in imaging

for this review i will be using M12 and M15
Low :
one of the aspect from U4s that hooked me right from the beginning, it is rumbling with somehow unique "atmospheric" bass sensation, fun punchy and immersive, for me this is quite special as its giving a more physical rumble sensation than the usual iem (but this sensation isn't new, similar feeling to the 64 audio trio and nio, not as physical as Fir Radon 6 though)

gotta admit it's a bit slow for rock and metal music, but HECK IT'S SOO FUN!! and i don't listen to rock and metal a lot so no problem for me, for bass only i prefer M20 and M15 the best for its better sub bass presence compared to m12
man i love hearing EDM and electronic music from these, but hearing Disney OSTs like a whole new world somehow feels so special and majestic a

Mid :
now this is smooth, making a 3K dip sure makes this iem has a more relaxed mid compared to my neutral preference but fortunately i can feel the upper mid 5k slight rise maintaining some "vocal edge" when the singer shout, keeping the vocal energy. for a lot of singers this really sounds balance for me, but amazingly opening the vocal power from singers like Keala Settle's This is Me from The Greatest Showman

but due to its smoothness, it also losing some of note definition and edge compared to some of its competitors, let's say like monarch mkii, notes feels a bit blunted and soft on some songs, but could tame some spike from harsh old recordings

High :
a bit forward in mid treble area (8k), rolled off around 10k but rise again around 15k for extra "air" (this is one of 64's signature rise)
this gives a slight forward but smooth treble sensation that feels really open and yes i really like this treble presentation
cymbal sounds proper lacks of metallic tinge, flutes are airy and open, literally every music i hear sounds airy and open but smooth
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Technical:
this iem excels in headstage and imaging yes again because of the atmospheric bass rumble + open treble, hearing orchestral and disney soundtracks feels sublime and majestic
but this iem lacks in note definition and resolution, feels kinda blunted and soft compared to some of its competitors

Comparison :
vs U12T : U12T is smoother yet much more resolving, different level of technical here no contest, but U4S sounds more exciting with that DD bass and slightly more lifted treble, personally U12T for me sounds too boring, i admit i am biased to DD bass though so this is definitely very subjective

vs Nio : i really like nio's bass, butt nio is way too thick for me, lacking sparkle on the upper frequency, that being said nio sounds more "layered" maybe due to more BA being used

vs Trio : Trio is my 2nd favorite actually having even better pinpoint imaging and resolution, it's just somehow there are some peaks around mid treble area that bothers me on some harsh recordings, also lacking module option, still like it but prefer slightly u4s during longer listening

vs M9 : M9 is always special in terms of imaging, providing one of the best laser point focus imaging i've ever tried but... it sounds more boring with thicker sound, less bass and less treble forwardness

vs IE600 : IE600 is my other favorite iem (really i am a DD lover) despite using only 1DD has better note edge and definition also cleaner in sub bass and treble attack, but the treble can be more spicy and unforgiving also has much smaller stage, and doesn't sound as "separated" as U4s

vs Mon Mkii : i never like this iem honestly, somehow not a fan of bass tuck sensation, also this iem is so much bigger than u4s, i can't wear em longer than 30 min, that being said this iem is indeed objectively good, it is more resolving, better midrange texture and definition, but yeah somehow for me doesn't sound fun enough, lacking bass fullness and impact

at the end.. simply said i really enjoy using them and it is my favorite iem beside ie600
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aftersound

New Head-Fier
Home sweet home
Pros: - dynamic driver like timbre (almost)
- one of the most coherent multi BA
- very realistic imaging, almost theater like sensation
- inoffensive warm natural tuning
Cons: - lacking dynamics
- paint kinda easy to fade
almost 5 years since its release yet still it remains special for $1000 iem
one of my favorite iem beside sennheiser ie600
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build like a tank using magnesium housing & very smooth and non microphonic cable, it might look simple but when i hold it and use it, it definitely feels like TOTL quality

ergonomics is very very subjective but for my ears, using its ML size sony hybrid tips, they fit like a glove for my ears
the only thing preventing me for using them for too long is the lack of any pressure release, after around 2-3 hours i need to take em off for a while to relieve my ears from the pressure buildup due to how sealed they are

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sound wise i could categorize them as neutral warm, with very special imaging capability

just a lil bit of note here, they requires power, using 3,5 mm + phone it sounds... mushy and congested, but with proper source and power, man..... they are magical

bass is thick and textured, actually it extends well to the sub bass, somehow it almost feels like dynamic driver, sometimes but because of elevated mid bass, sometimes lacks a bit of sub bass for me, but honestly they are enough and enjoyable for most of my playlist

midrange is so sweet and natural, there's an effortless warmth layer to it but for me it's a "just right" kind of warmth to make female and male voices sounds natural, sweet and romantic,
just a little note though, if you are accustomed to harman/ df neutral kind of ear gain, M9 do feel lacks elevation in ear gain area

treble is strangely unique for me, it is effortlessly extended yet far from any metallic tinge, very smooth, at some songs it does feel laidback but with a a strangely good air extension, for violins like lindsey sterling - dance of the plum sugar fairy, sounds sweet yet has a good bite for the violin energy.

so yeah unique presentation for me, at first you might thought they sound almost dark but when you really listen, it actually extends really well with good bite when needed

also as a full BA driver iem, i feel that they are one of the the most coherent sounding BA i've ever tried from top to bottom sounded complete and coherent, also timbre wise, they are somehow quite close to dd timbre presentation

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now technically, again they are uniquely technical in a special way

as an overall they have this warm ish kind of sound that does make the transient a bit blunted, lacking incisive attack and dynamics, resolution wise they are not the best for the price

soundstage is very wide, especially left and right area with good depth
but the magical thing is the imaging, the capability to portray where a certain element either instrument or vocal is coming from... i don't know what kind of thing they have done but man the imaging is certainly magical for my playlist

the thing is.. i've tried (and measured some of them) TOTLs like 64's U12T, U18T, Trio, Fourte, EE Odin, VE phoenix and EXT, even Sony's own Z1R, but none of them could give me imaging like the M9 (yes those iems are objectively better in technical compared to M9 resolution, detail, 3D etc. but the imaging...... the imaging .. is different)

hearing Encanto's OST - we don't talk about bruno : every performer is dancing around my head circling front, left, and right, even i could pick some percussion playing on my upper right to upper left side, it reminds me of a multi speaker presentation from movie theater

hearing Alffy Rev's - Indonesia Wonderland & beauty of Bali : again every percussion, traditional instruments, sounds of birds chirping are playing circling around my head going up and down in a very realistic way

Greatest showman OST - from now on : during the ending session (and we will come back home and we will come back home....) the singers are singing around me, tamborine and percussion coming from my upper head, steps from below, almost feels like i can really imagine the scene in the movie

even other iem might sound more detailed and higher in resolution, but this kind of imaging i have only heard them from M9

so in the end this iem is VERY SPECIAL for me, it might be boring for some due to its lacks of dynamics but for me
everytime i hear it, it feels like i'm sitting on my couch and hearing an analogue warm speaker system that makes every music sounds amazing
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currently these two are simply my favorite iems

ie600 is for fun, very dynamics and engaging
M9 is for me during calm time, and when i want to feel that special imaging

ie600 takes me on a thrilling adventure
M9 takes me back to a comfy home
aftersound
aftersound
@o0genesis0o yes i have but only for a short moment, andromeda’s soundstage if i remember correctly has more depth but not as wide, resolution wise similar as andromeda, a bit blunted in transient (compared to currently trending iems)

and yes M9 is not as resolving as the other TOTL i’ve mentioned
HunqVux
HunqVux
Oh ho, this review is so correct! One area I would not so agree with is the detail retrieval which in my opinion is clearly better than the U12T
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andnej
@aftersound how is ier-m9 compared to u6t? I noticed that the frequency response is similar between u6t m15 and ier-m9

aftersound

New Head-Fier
Overwhelming Emotions
Pros: - very lively dynamics
- small and very good fit
- bass depth and treble extension
- high resolution
- lifelike timbre
Cons: - very eartips dependant yet the stock tips are really bad
- additional mmcx mount
- upper treble sizzle
Currently one of my absolute daily drivers (beside Sony M9)
my personal choice for 2022's best iem release
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Build & Fit : housing is made to last with very small and ergonomics shape, yet the cable and eartips are not as good
- the stock eartips has a layer of foam, somehow using a very easy to collapse thin material sounds congested and very bassy using their stock silicone tips
- cable is not really flexible, and my main problem is the propietary mmcx, the pin is similar to other mmcx, yet it has a small mount that makes other mmcx cannot be easily connected to the pin, and i hate the earguide (every time i wear them i need a small time to adjust it)

sound : now here comes the good things
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(yes my unit's channel matching is essentially perfect!! good job sennheiser)

i would categorize their sound as V shaped, by measurement alone it has a LOT of bass boost
but from real life perception somehow it is not as big as the measurement suggest

they are very tips dependent also, the stock tips somehow does sound a bit too bassy yet 3rd party eartips like spinfit, final type e, accoustune aet08 will give more balance presentation

bass has a very good sub bass depth with good rumble and dynamics, every song sounds fun and exciting, orchestral music like two steps from hell - never give up on your dreams sounds superb with majestic rumble

midrange might not be the most elevated frequency here, yet what i love is they are tuned correctly in terms of portion and balancing for male/female voices, piano, and guitar on middle octave sounds natural and well balance, i do perceive some brightness coloration from the treble elevation, making some S word has an extra air and gives a bit of brightness tinge

treble is very exciting with a lot of airiness, impact, and extension (the default stock silicone tips somehow limiting the air)
violin, percussion, cymbals sounds really lively, impactful with a lot of bite that is just enough to make them exciting without sounding harsh, trying lindsey sterling - dance of sugarplum fairy has never sound so good, also la primavera from vivaldi's 4 spring

honestly the treble is a very sensitive area, incompatible eartips or incorrect seal and depth will results in too spicy treble

the very special thing about this ie600 is how lively, dynamics, and impactful they are but still sounds coherent and natural, hearing bands and orchestra really takes me back to the time when i was still active in band and choir, the emotion is flowing abundantly, i could hear the emotion and soul from the music

for a single DD the technical is mind blowing, a lot of details and very high in resolution, solid note definition, also good 3D presentation, maybe the only downside, it doesn't sound as separated or as wide as some multi driver competitors

quick comparison:
vs zen pro : ie600 sounds more energetic and resolving yet, zen pro sounds more neutral and calm, but could be bit boring for me

vs softears twilight : ie600 sounds brighter, more lively, with more sub bass rumble, resolution and detail is also better, twilight has softer, thicker and laidback presentation, but it has more natural vocal and much wider soundstage

honestly as a 1DD lover i love em all, but for now maybe because of my playlist for orchestra and movie soundtracks, i feel more satisfied with ie600

vs moondrop s8 : ie600 has better sub bass rumble, more energetic treble and less shouty midrange, s8 has more noticable ba timbre, more shouty and forward midrange, better separation, resolution are about the same

vs clairvoyance : ie600 has more dynamics and impact on the treble also sharper note definition and resolution,
clairvoyance sounds warmer, more relaxed, with much bigger soundstage

vs IE900 : ie600 simply has better vocal presence due to more elevated pinna gain, while ie900 has too little ear gain pushing vocal and sound more distant, also even technically ie900 is definitely better in all area including better bass texture, but it somehow sounds sharper for me and i do pick more sibilances, so i do prefer ie600

vs ier M9 : ie600 has much better dynamics and impact, deeper rumble and higher treble extension, yet in soundstage, separation, and imaging, ie600 become a dwarf compared to M9's monstrous pin point imaging, M9 sounds much more calmer, warmer, and more neutral

for my personal choice M9 and ie600 completes each other depends on my moods

ie600 takes me out for a thrilling adventure
M9 takes me back to a comfy home

i've tried a lot of iems with much higher prices, but for now i think i could rest for a while with these 2 as my favorite
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bonus photo, the only iem i bring during my holiday to bali
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Titaniumxylophone
Titaniumxylophone
I have those and they sound great, but cables with those earhoks are slightly anoying.
AlexxxAA85
AlexxxAA85
I just got my set yesterday! So excited to keep trying them out with all my music!
aftersound
aftersound

aftersound

New Head-Fier
a reluctant revival
Pros: Very artistic unboxing experience
lively tonal
excellent bass
Cons: thicc nozzle
ba timbre on high frequency
thin midrange
Simgot EM2 ROLTION, a revival of the EM2
and oohh boy, this iem is beautiful both the iem itself and the box

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i found that the nozzle could be a bit of a problem for the ergonomic since it’s a big and long, achieving good fit is a must to know what they could offer

soundwise simply v shaped in tonal
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but it really has a good contrast and vibrant sensation that will pop out since the first listen
very well textured slamming bass

+ vibrant and forward vocal, everything sounds energetic and very clear
but lower treble could sound a bit hot sometimes and the timbre is definitely not the most natural

simply said i will reccomend them for those who find aria or titan s a bit too bland and want something more vibrant with clearer presentation but not as balanced
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tubbymuc
Thanks for the review.

aftersound

New Head-Fier
Clean Cut!
Pros: clean deep sub bass
energetic and treble forward yet not so peaky
Cons: sounds thin
a bit metallic timbre
a new cheap iem from TRN at only $15
honestly the build quality is the best i’ve tried at this price point, smooth and made of metal
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it has clean sub bass and treble emphasize making the whole sound signature to be V shaped ish

honestly at $20 price point, in terms of fast, deep, punchy sub bass, this is really impressive
definitely not for basshead though, lacking some thickness and slam
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midrange tilting towards upper mid giving female vocal forwardness and clarity, personally it doesn't sound shouty for me but simply too thin and dry

tquite good treble presence that doesn't sound too peaky
might be reccomended for some rock or metal that needs "fierce" factor also accompanied with that deep sub bass

since there’s a lot of great iem at $20 and below price point nowadays i’m simply gonna say what’s special about em is that clean sub bass and treble, for those who likes sparkly treble that rise gradually from the mid range, there’s no other choice but this

yes it could also means that this iem is a bit thin sounding and won’t be for everyone

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tubbymuc
That ks for the review. I think so with zero, chu and now wan'ner being at 20$. These don't make sense.

Its crazy how good the $20 iem is nowadays!

aftersound

New Head-Fier
Bassy Delight!!
Pros: Bassy but very well tuned
might be the most proper basshead iem at $20
Cons: could be bloated on some songs
on some tracks can sound a bit too thick
QKZ HBB has entered the scene
against some other hyped and good iems at this price point
turns out it is an impressively tuned bassy iem
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a well done basshead tuned iem
of course the main focus of this iem is about dat bass but it is a well tuned bassy iem
midrange sounds a bit warm, full bodied and sweet
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(access more of my measurement in aftersound.squig.link)

treble positioning definitely behind that bass but in terms of extension and texture it is good indeed
my main complain is maybe that bass could be too big for my preference, on some heavy tracks could simply overwhelming the other frequency

personally when i wore them i use em without proper seal on purpose, so i could lower the bass qty also open up a bit mid and high frequency

i have joined several audio meets bringing this iem to the crowd and gotta say, this is the majority’s favorite for $20 iem
easily reccomended for bass lovers that still want a decently tuned mid to treble area
T
tubbymuc
Thanks for the review. I am low key considering getting this iem and use it with a kz Bluetooth dongle and use it as a tws.

They would sound great on daily.
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