Reviews by Antick Dhar

Disclaimer:

My appreciation goes to Cloris from ShenzhenAudio for providing me with this opportunity, and my opinion of the record will be based on my honest musical choices.



Build Quality

The Moondrop Quarks look stunning, especially with their translucent shells and color-coded backplates. Unfortunately, when studied attentively, the illusion fades. The material is obviously low-quality, with a ragged finish; the wire is springy; and the internals lack the specificity of higher-end headphones. But it looks really cute.

Sound Section

SOURCE​

Cowon Planue R2

iFi Hip Dac

EARTIPS​

Final E Series

Tonality Balanced

Bass-. The bass is not pleasing here as it lacks subbass rumbles and texture and doesn't have a full-bodied feel. The intensity level of the mid-bass has been tuned to be laid back and good-natured.

Mids take center stage here. Clean and crisp mids are present. Tone is more neutral in character.

Treble-treble is non-fatiguing but needs more sparkles. The attack is not pleasing. But I found this treble good for long listening sessions (depends on preference).

Soundstage: Soundstage is good if paired with something powerful. The delivery is exquisite here.

COMPARISONS​

Moondrop Quarks VS TRN MT1
Bass: In the MT1, the subbass also has a nice depth to it, but it lacks mid-bass. You can feel the depth, but it lacks the mid-bass slam.
Mids-The mids of the MT1 are thin-sounding as it lacks body.
Treble-smoother and more natural and has a slightly more pronounced upper mids and treble.
Soundstage: The soundstage of the MT1 is above average, which is very good for the price.


Conclusion :
To me, the winner of this shoot out is the TRN MT1. For some reason, it did not impress me, but for its price, the tuning is really good, natural, and more ear-friendly. Moondrop Quarks are just for those who want super midrange performance with light bass to my preference.

Ikko OH2 Review - A Basshead's Delight

Disclaimer: I bought this Ikko Opal OH2 earphone with my own hard-earned money, and I love it. As a result, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.


My understanding is that many of the OH series' models are well-liked and respected, including models like the OH10 and the OH1s. Today, I'm taking the OH2 with me. What is its ability to compete in this highly competitive environment? The redesigned metal chamber and ergonomic shape provide a completely different listening experience in terms of sound quality and wear ability than previous models.

Specification

Model: IKKO OH2
Driver: deposited carbon Nano dynamic unit
Impedance: 32Ω
Frequency response: 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 100dB/mW
Connector: MMCX
Plug: 3.5mm
High purity OFC silver-plated cable
24K immersion gold board OH2 newly adopts a 24K immersion gold board to optimize microcurrent, plus ultra-low resistance FPC and unique cavity connection design improve the transmission rate more effectively.



Packaging
ikko OH2 earphone
6 pairs of slicone Eartip
1 Pouch
In a nutshell, I really enjoy the packaging, and I had a really pleasant unwrapping experience.



Build and Comfort

OH2's build is of the highest grade. It is made of aluminum and resin. The overwhelming bulk of the shell is aluminum. This is a great product for long-term use because of its small size and the fact that it doesn't irritate my ears. As a result, it received an A+ for being very lightweight. It is possible, though, that you may need to try with various sizes before finding the one that works best for you.

Source
Cowon Planue R2
iFi Hip Dac
Apple Dongle
Streaming Source: Tidal

Sound Impressions (4.5/5)

Tonality – warm, smooth, non offensive

Bass
In terms of depth and rumble, the sub-bass is excellent. The attacks are really incredible in their speed and intensity. There is a lot of excellent quality bass here that can be enjoyed by everybody, from bassheads to those who like a more neutral sound. it provides Bass that isn't bloated Other frequencies may be heard clearly even in tracks like Zhu's Dreamland 2021 album, which features a lot of bass-heavy songs. If you're a fan of the sub-bass-heavy music that's now popular, this will be a great match (EDM, club, music festival, party and the like).


Mids-
Both the male and female vocals have a nice richness to sound; they don't seem dry or muffled in any way. Even though the vocals don't seem dry, there's a little crispness to them that I find appealing layered and clear with voices and solo instruments that sound full bodied , present and well articulated. The upper mid range is smooth and consistent all the way to the high end. So the midrange here is extensive.

Treble
When it comes to treble, you won't feel any harshness, even if you're extremely sensitive. There are no weird peaks to be noted, and the general clarity of the highs is outstanding. So, OH2's presentation, with its airy and lack of harshness, deserves praise.


Soundstage/Imaging-
A lack of depth in the soundstage bothers me. One of its IEM's main drawbacks is its tiny soundstage. Imaging is good for the price range.



Comparison (Moondrop Aria)
Bass performance on the OH2 is better to me compared to Aria which does lack a little bit of mid bass thump causing it to sound bland.OH2 is deliver superior bass presentation and more fun sound compared to Aria which is completely my preference. Aria is lacking a little air to my ears compared to OH2 and it doesn’t feel as dynamic as OH2. Aria has better technicalities and detail retrieval. Aria’s Soundstage is excellent. Not much depth but width is pretty impressive Better suited for critical listening. In Aria, the imaging and directionality is average I would say. The overall tonality and harmonics are balanced and the natural timber is worth mentioning at this price point. In a nutshell, OH2 beat Aria on Bass Section.



Conclusion
If you have $79.00 to spend on an earphone and want what is undoubtedly the most adaptable and competent all-rounder on the market, the Ikko opal OH2 is the earphone for you. It is available in black or white. It has a stylish design, delivers performance on par with items in a higher price range, is well-constructed and highly comfortable, comes with high-quality accessories, and comes in a beautiful package. To be honest, based on my own preferences, it is quite simple to appreciate the OH2, However, despite my admiration for the OH2, I believe it can be better tuned in the high end area in order to provide more energy, and I believe it will be a really enjoyable set. In fact, Ikko does not even advertise them as a pair of headphones for critical listening purposes. The IKKO OH2 OPAL is an excellent performer for its price range, and it is especially recommended for those who like a little extra bass. It is a pleasure to drive and performs well with almost any combination of tires. Its overall excellent performance offers it a strong recommendation for the price range in which it is offered. I am confident it that it satisfy bassheads

We look forward to seeing what Ikko does next as they continue on their way to being a leader in the industry. Happy Listenling.

Summary- The hip-dac portable USB DAC/headphone amp helps improve your mood by adding the delicious, full-bodied flavor of single malt whiskey to your mind.

Disclaimer- No one has paid me or given me with a review unit for this iFi Hip dac, which I bought from Gears For Ears - Bangladesh with my own money. As a result, everything I've said in this review is totally based on my own personal experiences


Build (5/5)-
-The quality of build is Solid and great with The aluminum case feels, and the metal volume control (which also serves as a power switch) has a pleasing cooled feeling to it.

-Both the 3.5mm and balanced Pentaconn 4.4mm jacks are available. The argument is that the balanced output takes full use of the DAC's internal circuitry, and offers the hip-dac something of a unique selling proposition (USP) in today ’s market.

-The Power Match button switches between low and high gain modes.


SPECIFICATIONS-
-Inputs: USB Type-A, USB 3.0, 3.5mm audio | Outputs: 3.5mm, 4.4mm | Bluetooth: No | Native sample rate support: PCM (up to 384kHz), DXD (up to 384kHz), DSD (up to 256kHz), MQA | Dimensions (hwd): 1.4 x 7 x 10.2cm (length) | Weight: 125g

-iFi still supports all of their features with the entry-level devices. The larger iFi devices have those X-Bass and 3D features, and they kept the X-bass on with the hip Dac.

-Up to 32-bit/384-kHz PCM and DSD256 files can be played on the hip-audio dac's output. MQA is on the menu as well. That said, there's a good possibility the hip-dac will serve as your personal music server.

-The 2200mAh Li-Poly battery is not particularly big. It lasts between five and seven hours, which is much less than I would want. Considering that I listened to it loudly, it might take you up to 8 or 9 hours if you listen quietly. The charge time is about two hours, which is again very slow.

Pairing IEMs- Dunu Zen , Dunu Titan 6 , Moondrop Aria , Final E5000, Fiio Fh3, Blon Bl-05s




N.B Use the 3.5mm S-Balanced for those ‘hissy' IEMs. Your single-ended connection gives you access to all the advantages of balanced audio. In my review sessions, though, I tend to utilize the 4.4 balanced output most often.


Tonality- Warm, Smooth, Full

Bass- The IFi Hip DAC's sound is controlled by its bass slam, which is the greatest section of its sound. This brand of Burr Brown Dac chips is famous. And the primary bass has a lot of substance. For most entry-level headphones, this amp offers excellent dynamics. When it comes to bass-loving headphones and IEMs with poor bass or bright tuning, the X-Bass may actually be useful as it is not boomy. The X- bass works very well, and with Moondrop Aria and Dunu Zen, it was a wonderful experience and extremely detailed.

Mids- The mids have an energetic yet detailed tone, with a forward but punchy sound. Even though it has a little thickness to it, the midrange sounds so dynamic. With music from artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Safkat Amanat Ali, the iFi provides lots of punch and energetic sounds that are powerful, open and expressive. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's unique voice comes through with complexity, while the background music is so good.

Treble- It's full, rich, and extremely smooth in the treble. In other words, a less fatiguing, smoother presentation is offered.

Soundstage – The soundstage is basically average and does not have an immersive soundstage. But after the GTO filter update, it increased and presented a decent soundstage. In imaging, I gave it a go with the GTO filter, but I felt little toward it on soundstage and separation.

Again, I really appreciated how the portable DAC/AMP adjusted for the tricky harmonic circumstances while listening to just a few songs. The Hip DAC has a warmer sound yet is still forward and dynamic. As a result, when I paired the Hip-dac with DUNU Zen, a notable peak in the upper midrange was entirely gone from Dunu Zen surprisingly.

Conclusion

It has a sleek and absent of harsh edges appearance. It takes a lot of energy to listen to a hip-dac for long periods of time, and you won't feel fatigued subsequently. In addition to that, the battery life, which is only adequate for one day of use, is a little disappointing. A second two-hour charge is required, although you may still use it during this time. I would recommend updating the GTO filter after purchasing the hip Dac. Lastly, for the price, this is the best value for the money and Hip Dac won't let you down.

Introduction
Moondrop Lab was founded in 2014, and was incorporated in China. Their most recent single DD IEM, the Aria, and Aria Aria recital is all available for $79.99 USD. The Aria is their first commercial release and has previously been released.

Disclaimer
My appreciation goes to Cloris from ShenzhenAudio for providing me this opportunity, and my opinion of the record will be based on my honest musical choices.

Unboxing (Package & Accessories)
The box can be carried by having a carry handle placed in the center of the box. Moondrop uses a vivid illustration on the cover with the brand name, model name, and other relevant information. Inside the black box there are the golden lines patterns, as well as the IEM itself which is situated in the foam.
Accessories list:
-Moondrop Aria 1-Pair In-Ear Monitors
-One cable with two attached ends.
-Black silicone ear tips 6 pairs
-Metal Screen and Filters in 3 pare
-A single pair of tweezers (for filter replacement)
-1 zipper-carrying case


Design & Build & Comfort

The Aria has a well-designed shell that is both comfortable and functional. The faceplates and shells are completely constructed of metal and coated in a matte black finish. On the faceplate, there are a few golden strips that cross each other and are ornamented, giving it a distinctive appearance. The words "Aria" are written in gold on the golden front of the shells, which is situated on the backside of the shells. There are no L&R indicators visible on the vehicle. There are two vents on the shells, one of which is situated on the back towards the rear side of the shells and the other which is located near the nozzle of the rocket.
The Aria's fit is excellent, owing to its well-designed, ergonomic outer shell. The nozzle has a reasonable length, which allows it to sit comfortably and securely in your ears. There is a small improvement in isolation above average, and the vents prevent pressure from building up after a lengthy period of listening.
Technical specifications:
Driver Type: 10mm Dual-Cavity Magnetic Dynamic Driver with LCP diaphragm material
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz (Effective frequency range 5Hz-36kHz)
Sensitivity: 122db/Vrms (@1kHz)
Impedance: 32 Ohm



Sound Section

Source- iFi Hip Dac & Pairing with Final E series ear tips

Tonality
A warmer sounding bass note that is close to the Harman target curve

Bass.
The sound has a powerful thump and slam to it, with the bass taking center stage. The bass has a lot of texture and air to it. The bass is not only of a good quality, but it is also of great quantity. Even though the bass is far under the levels of bassheads, it has a full-bodied feel.

Mids
Clean and crisp mids are present. Tone is more neutral in character and may be described as slightly warmer. But Mids from the Starfield position could have made this an excellent IEM. Most of the male voices that we hear are quite impressive; the heaviness is there, and that provides clarity to the listener's understanding of the singer's weight. However, the females' vocals were superior.


Treble
Treble is fairly bright, but it's offered free of fatigue. The bottom treble has a nice level of strength which is presented smoothly.

Soundstage and imaging
A wide soundstage presentation is provided by Moondrop Aria, which also has outstanding instrument separation and layering. The duo presents them in an open, broad manner, with a strong feeling of depth on the stage. Comparing the pair to comparable IEMs in their price range, they perform very well in terms of layering, imaging, and other dynamics.



Comparison
vs BLON BL-05S -


-When it comes to build quality, Moondrop's Aria takes the cake, but the BL-05S has become less of a turn-off in recent years. Increased comfort and isolation, as well as improved comfort, are all provided by Moondrop. In terms of color palette, the Aria is more appealing.
-Timbre better on Aria
-I found the Aria 2 to be much simpler to listen to, both with great comfort and excellent isolation, as well as being better bass response and extension.

-The BL-05S features a heightened upper-mids presence for better clarity. With the Aria having a better bass response, the bass on the BL-05S suffers. Despite the overall increase in bass, upgrading to the Aria just because you want more “thump” in the lows is completely unnecessary. The BL-05S is a good voice microphone and for electric guitars. The BL-05S has a greater quantity of sparkle.

When you want a more smoother experience, try for Aria. BL-05S for the metal/rock recordings

Conclusion
Music lovers will appreciate the Aria since it is a smooth and well-tuned iem that will satisfy the majority of users who listen to a wide variety of musical genres.

Furthermore, the total technical performance and sound quality are much superior to the asking price, and the device should certainly be included in your short list of options.

It's hard to find another IEM in this price range that can provide this kind of sound that is so well balanced. If you're looking for airy, open-sounding earphones that have life-like timbre, resonant sub-bass, clear forward voice and mids, and smoothly extended treble, this is the one.

Moondrop has created a fantastic affordable product that comes highly recommended and You may simply get it from shenzhenaudio, which offers free shipping.

Introduction

Dunu was founded in 1994 by a Chinese business. In-ear monitors are their specialty (IEMs). Dunu Titan 6 comprises Dunu Topsound's most cost-effective earphone. These metal-bodied IEMs provide the possibility of changing the cable (MMCX) and sound is provided by a dynamic driver beneath the hood with single-sided Beryllium

Disclaimer:
I purchased for this IEM with my own money, and no one has compensated me or provided me with a review unit. As a result, everything I've said in this review is entirely my personal opinion based on my own experiences with the IEM.

Package and Accessories:
The packaging and accessories are quite simple, consisting of a tiny black box with a beautiful textured surface and a silver Dunu brand emblem. This is wrapped in cardboard to match the Titan 6's aesthetics.

The following items/accessories are included in the box:

• 1 pair x Dunu Titan 6 In-Ear Monitor
• 1 pcs x Detachable Cable with MMCX Connector
• 3 pairs x Silicone BLUE Ear Tips
• 3 pairs x Silicone RED Ear Tips
• 3 Pairs x Custom Silicone Ear Tips with Ear Hooks
• 1 pcs x Premium Leather Case

• Specifications:
  
  BRAND: DUNU
  MODEL: TITAN 6
  COLOR: Ebony Gloss (Black)
  FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5 Hz - 40 kHz (HI-RES Certified)
  IMPEDANCE: 16 Ω
  SENSITIVITY: 112 ± 2 dB (at 1 kHz)
  WIRE MATERIAL: Silver-Plated Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) Copper
  CABLE CONNECTOR: MMCX
  DRIVE UNIT: 12.6 mm dynamic driver, with single-sided Beryllium coating
  
• Unboxing Experience.
  Three pairs of silicone ear tips in various sizes are included. One pair comprises of ear tips with ear hooks attached. The carrying bag is made of fake leather and has a nice appearance but is more boutique than practical. High build quality and a great design; nevertheless, it no longer matches the “typical” DUNU Titan series design. The slick brown shell color, silver accents, and brushed faceplates with polished bezels are all appealing to me. With four twisted conductors, this cable is flexible, soft, and attractive. Has a chin-slider and the standard DUNU silicone cable tie. I prefer it to the other Titan series in-ear headphones' cords. Designed to be worn with the cable down, I put the in-ear pieces normally and then route the cable over my ears anyhow, as I do with almost all in-ears of this type.

• Source -
• Hiby R3 pro (Saber)
• Shanling UP4
• iFi Hip Dac
• ibasso Dx160 (2020 version)
• Following this, I got the best result from ibasso dx160.

Sound

• Tonality :
  Warm and Relaxing with deep Bass extension
  
  
• Bass
  
  Titan 6 has boosted mid bass. The simulation of sub-bass creates an authentic rumbling. The sub- and midbass are heavily emphasized in the lows, with a very warm bottom which overflows into the lower mids. In combination to the powerful bass elevation, the origin spectrum sounds incredibly thick (which can get very irritating as it is boomy) and also spills considerably into the lower midrange and almost overshadows the mids. The bass wow factor may be active after utilizing a balanced connection. Despite the fact that the control is pretty good,
  
  
• Mids
  Singer's voice is very warm in the lower midrange caused by the very boomy fundamental range, but the midrange and voices sound still natural enough to my ears. It has a flat central midrange. The mid is more relaxed, with less presence and a modest amount of transparency. Both male and female vocals have a depth and texture to them. Both male and female voices have modest transparency levels.
  
  
  
• Highs
  
  The treble is on the smoother side. There is no loudness in the treble, and it is non-fatiguing. It's incredibly smooth, full-bodied, and well adjusted. There is no noise at all in the bass of the guitar, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
  
  
• Soundstage
  
  The instrument separation is quite enjoyable; there is some blurring, but the stages do not collapse. As a consequence, for dynamic driver in-ears in this price range, the separation and instrument position are satisfactory. The soundstage is pretty good but not that much. However, there is very little spatial depth, making it look flat and extended to the sides.
  
  
• Comparisons :: Dunu Titan 6 vs Fiio FH3
  - Both provide good seal and comfortable fit.
  - The soundstage of FH3 is Sallow where Titan 6 provide more wider and neutral soundstage.
  -The Titan 6 offers greater sub-bass volume and a stronger feeling of depth than the FH3.
  -The Titan 6's sub-bass reproduction is smoother, and the rumbling has more punch.
  -The Titan 6's bass decay is faster, and it has an edge in terms of agility.
  -On the Titan 6, the bass texture is handled more smoothly using Spinfit cp145. But on FH3 using Spinfit 145 or 100: slightly-too-much boosted bass which is not smooth.
  -On the Titan 6, vocals are more clearly represented, and emotions are well communicated.

Tracks used for this review:

• Enrique Iglesias - I Don't Dance (Without You (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• The Chainsmokers – Something Just like this (24bit/48kHz)
• OneRepublic, Seeb- Rich Love (24bit/48kHz)
• Jason Derulo - Talk with Your Body (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Wiz Khalifa - Black and Yellow(Explicit) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Kygo - What's Love Got to Do with It (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Don't You Need Somebody (feat. Enrique Iglesias, R. City, Serayah & Shaggy) (24bit/48kHz)
• Taio Cruz– There she gose (24bit/48kHz)
• Imagine Dragons - Natural (24bit/96kHz)
• Imagine Dragons - Radioactive (24bit/96kHz)
• ARIZONA- Nostalgic (24bit/96kHz)
• Troye Sivan – Happy Little Pill(24bit/88.2kHz)
• Mahmut Orhan- 6 Days (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Westlife- Walk Away (Flac 24bit/48kHz)

Conclusion

The Titan 6 is a v-shaped IEM with a smooth middle and a relaxed, fatigue-free treble. The silver plated balanced 4.4mm connection offers even greater performance in the mids and treble when paired with an Upgrade cable. Despite its V-shaped form, it's a lot of fun.

Correspondingly it has a generally pleasant timbre, as well as well-executed midrange and treble tuning, with just the excessively broad fundamental range to fault in terms of tuning. The game is not a true addition to the Titan series, but it does have some good things going for it, such as decent sound quality. So, I recommend it without any confusion within this offering price.