(4 - 6 min read)

Truthear HOLA is Truthear's latest budget 1DD IEM offering alongside their budget dongle DAC/Amp, the Truthear SHIO (read its review here). Coming in at $18.99usd, it features an 11mm polyurethane suspension + LCPdome composite diaphragm Dynamic Driver, removable cable, and smooth Harman-like tuning.

With the budget IEM market being saturated with so many offerings from so many different companies, can Truthear get a big piece of the pie with their HOLA? Read on to find out.

UNBOXING​

Truthear HOLA's box is pretty small and compact, which I like. At this price range, companies should focus on investing in the IEM itself for a better price-to-performance ratio, and not on the packaging. Upon opening the box, you are presented with 7 sets of eartips (3 narrow bore, 4 wide bore), a beautiful faux leather pouch, a black 2pin 3.5mm cable, and lastly, the IEM itself.

Overall, the unboxing experience is pretty good. No complaints for $18.99usd. If you are into anime characters, the cute anime character on the box is another plus. Another addition to your anime box collection I guess.

FIT & COMFORT​

Fit & Comfort is pretty good for me. I find them to fit a lot of Moondrop Aria, which is another great fitting IEM. The stock eartips provided are very comfy too. I went with the narrow bore for this review, but I personally recommend going for the Spinfits cp-145 if you plan to pick up the HOLA as your budget 1DD IEM.

Not only does the Spinfits cp-145 fits perfectly on the HOLA, it also provides improvements to comfort, fit, and sound. With the cp145, you get a bit more clarity up top whilst maintaining a full-bodied sound to the low end and midrange.

If you find the bass to be a bit too much for you, I recommend Moondrop Spring tips. These cut midbass and add clarity up top. Everything sounds more open and airy too.

Again, YMMV as everyone's ears is different.

BUILD QUALITY​

For the price, the build quality is great. It feels "premium", somewhat like the Moondrop Aria but with a plastic shell.

According to Truthear's product page, it "utilizes aluminium alloy CNC anodized faceplate and 3D printing hand-grinding cavity which are barely used in the same price tier." With this information, we know that the faceplate is made from aluminium alloy, and the shell is made from a "3D printed cavity" plastic.

SOUND SIGNATURE

In terms of sound signature, I would describe HOLA to be warm-Harman. It has good tonal balance, easy to listen to, and is very smooth sounding overall. Overall, the tuning here works well to be a great all-rounder IEM that works well with any genre you throw at it.

This can be a double-edged sword as this also means that it can sound dull.

SUBJECTIVE SOUND​

My opinion on the HOLA changes based on how I use the IEM:

1. Underpowered
2. Driven well
3. With Truthear SHIO.

1. Underpowered
When driving the HOLA with my Apple dongle and Samsung Galaxy S9+, I would give HOLA a 3.5/5. It has good tonal balance, but it sounds somewhat dull overall. Bass is a bit boomy and lacks texture, midrange and vocals sound a bit too laid back, and treble is just.... smooth.

Technicalities are below average too, most notably in terms of imaging and transients. Transients and imaging are a bit soft and blunted, soundstage is on the smaller side.

Overall, decent for the price as a good all-rounder, but it is slightly dull and doesn't sound special in any way.

2. Driven well
When driven well, everything opens up for the HOLA and sounds much better. I would rate HOLA amped a 4.5/5. For this, I tested using the iFi Zen DAC, Aune x1s GT, and iFi Zen CAN. As for portable use, I tested the HOLA using the Neotech 4.4 Balanced cable to properly drive the HOLA. DAPs used are the Shanling M3x Limited Edition and Sony Zx300.

For the price of $18.99usd, I was very surprised at how well the Truthear HOLA performed. Bass tightens up a lot with decent texture and punch, midrange sounds cleaner and clearer whilst still retaining its smooth character, vocals sound more airy and open, and its treble, whilst still maintaining its smooth sound signature, has a bit more sparkle to it.

Technicalities improved too. Soundstage sounds slightly wider and more open, imaging and transients are slightly sharper and tighter.

Overall, quite an improvement over an underpowered HOLA. When driven well, the Truthear HOLA seriously surprises me. I was quite shocked at how well it can perform as an $18.99usd IEM. In my mind, I was comparing it to IEMs at a higher price range like the Tinhifi T3 Plus, and Moondrop Aria 2021, which are both around the $60-80usd price range.

Sure, those IEMs are still a step up to the Truthear HOLA in terms of technicalities, plus they don’t really need to be driven well to "sound their best"… but don't forget that HOLA is only $18.99usd and those IEMs are at least 3 times the price of the HOLA.

If you have the HOLA, I recommend trying them with a more powerful source or trying them balanced. You would most likely appreciate the improvement in sound quality.

3. With Truthear SHIO
If you are curious about how the Truthear SHIO performs as a dongle, you can check out my review here.

Unfortunately, when driving the Truthear HOLA with SHIO, I think the HOLA sounds pretty bad. I would rate it 2/5. The overall warmth and smoothness of the SHIO just do not go well with the HOLA. Everything just sounds muddy, boomy, and a bit of a mess.

Bass and midrange are both boomy and muddy, vocals sound a bit compressed, and treble is borderline dark. Not to mention, imaging and transients are also a bit too soft which makes the HOLA even more dull sounding.

Overall, not a good experience.

I first tested the Truthear HOLA with the SHIO for several reasons. First, I received both of them together in the mail. Secondly, I would assume that these 2 will synergize the best as they have been released alongside each other, thus both were tuned for each other? Third, I wanted my first impression of the HOLA to be the "best case scenario" since both the HOLA and SHIO are from the same company and released at the same time.

However, this pairing actually gave me a bad first impression of the HOLA.

I was ready to write a negative review on the HOLA… until I gave it another chance and tried it with different sources, as mentioned above with points 1 and 2. Luckily I did, as the HOLA turned out to be a pretty capable IEM for the price with a lot to like.

All in all, on their own, I think both Truthear HOLA and SHIO are pretty decent choices and are quite capable for the price, but just not together as a pair.

If you are looking to get the Truthear HOLA, I personally advise against buying the Truthear SHIO alongside it as they do not sound good together. Truthear SHIO on its own, however, is still a pretty decent dongle. Click here to find out why I gave it a 4/5 star rating.

IN CONCLUSION​

the Truthear HOLA is a pretty good performer when driven well. Even when underpowered, it still performs decently as a great all-rounder IEM, albeit a bit dull.

If you do plan to pick up the Truthear HOLA, I do recommend trying it out with a few different sources. If you are just starting out and do not have any sources to play with, I recommend picking up the Jcally JM20 for $23.90usd as a budget option. Its neutral bright tuning pairs really well with the HOLA and in my opinion, sounds much better than pairing the HOLA with the SHIO. The Jcally JM20 has a 3.5mm unbalanced output only, so no balanced cable is needed.

Overall, I recommend the Truthear HOLA. I hope you guys have benefitted from this review and are able to follow through from top to bottom. Thank you all for reading.


Thank you Cloris Gee from ShenZhenAudio for sending over the Truthear HOLA and Truthear SHIO (review here) for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Interested in getting the Truthear HOLA & SHIO? Here are the purchase links (non-affiliated):
Truthear HOLA link - https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...gh-performance-dynamic-driver-in-ear-monitors
Truthear SHIO link - https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...-chips-lossless-portable-dac-amplifier-dongle

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Update (10 Feb 2023):
Truthear just released a firmware upgrade for the SHIO which totally fixes the volume issues i had. I would like to praise and acknowledge Truthear from taking action and fixing this issue fast.

Link to download here.

Here are the changes i had to make

Pros:
- (update firmware) independent volume control
- (update firmware) volume issues fixed!
Cons:
- No physical volume control (buttons control software volume)
- Volume issues with windows

---

(5 - 7 min read)

INTRODUCTION​

Truthear SHIO is Truthear's first entry into the dongle DAC market. It comes in at only $69.99usd and it features Dual CS43198 DAC chips, which according to Truthear, "was only used in high-end DAC amplifiers". With so many dongle DACs currently in the market now, can Truthear stand out from the crowd with their very first dongle DAC? Read on to find out!

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS​

D/C Chip :CS43198 *2pcs
Sampling Rate (Maximum): PCM 44.1kHz - 768kHz | DSD64 - DSD256
Interface：
Type-C input
3.5mm single-ended output
4.4mm balanced output
THD+N (@1kHz) (A-WT):
3.5mm SE: <0.00025%
4.4mm BAL: <0.0002%
Output:
3.5mm SE: 1.4Vrms(Low Gain), 2Vrms (High Gain)
4.4mm BAL: 2Vrms(Low Gain), 4Vrms (High Gain)
Output Power:
150mW x2 @32Ω
55mW x2 @300Ω
SNR: 130dB (A-WT)
Dynamic Range: 130dB (A-WT)
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz (±0.1dB)
Background Noise: <1.6uVrms (A-WT)

Click to expand...

​

UNBOXING​

Just like the Truthear HOLA (review here), the Truthear SHIO's box is pretty small and compact, which I like. At this price range, companies should focus on investing in the IEM itself for a better price-to-performance ratio, and not on the packaging. Upon opening the box, you are presented with a short USB-C to USB-C cable, some paperwork, and the dongle DAC itself.

Overall, the unboxing experience is decent. No complaints for $69.99usd!

NON-SOUND OPINIONS​

1. Design/Output ports - The entire body of the SHIO is covered in faux leather, with a 3.5mm port and a Balanced 4.4mm port in the front. On one side, you get your LED light and your volume buttons. On the back, you get your USB-C port for connecting the cables.
2. Portability - The dongle DAC itself is pretty compact and small, so I do not see any issues in terms of portability. Overall, it is very easy to pocket and carry around.
3. Power Draw - In terms of power draw, based on my 2 weeks of use with the SHIO, power draw seems to be on the low side, which is great. I've tested it with my Samsung S9+ and also my Shanling M3x. I did not notice any huge drop in battery percentage when the Truthear SHIO is plugged in and in use.
   
   However, the SHIO does not have an Idle mode, so I do recommend unplugging them when not in use.
4. Compatibility - I have tested the SHIO with my Windows laptop, Windows desktop, Android phone, and my iPhone. It works totally fine with everything. However, if you are on an iPhone, you will need to shell out for a USB-C to lightning cable on your own, as it isn't included in the box.
5. Additional Features:
   • The addition of volume buttons is nice. However, they aren't "true" volume buttons as they just control software volume, instead of the volume on the dongle DAC itself. Truthear released a firmware upgrade which gave the SHIO independent volume controls. Kudos to them
   • To toggle between low/high gain, hold down both vol up and vol down buttons for 1 second. The LED light will go from red to green.

DRIVING POWER/POWER OUTPUT​

On paper, the Truthear SHIO has an output power of 150 Ohm @ 32 Ohm / 55mW x2 @300Ω via its Balanced out.

I have tested the Truthear SHIO with a few different headphones/IEMs like:
AKG k371, Sennheiser HD600, Truthear HOLA, Tforce Yuan Li, Final Audio E5000, Final Audio B3, Acoustune HS1650cu, and Moondrop Variations.

The SHIO is able to drive easier-to-drive headphones/IEMs like the AKG k371, Acoustune HS1650cu, Moondrop Variations, and the Truthear HOLA (with a HUGE caveat. Read below). However, it is unable to drive more power-demanding gears like the Final e5000 and Sennheiser HD600 well, which isn't at all surprising.

For the price, I would say that SHIO's power output is good, if not more than enough for most budget IEMs that you might use it with (e.g. Moondrop Aria, Dunu Titan S, Tin Hifi T3 Plus, Moondrop Chu etc.). However, if you are looking to drive headphones/IEMs like Final e5000 and Sennheiser HD600, I think you are looking at the wrong price point.

SOUND SIGNATURE​

​

I would describe Truthear SHIO's sound signature to be warm, bassy, and smooth sounding. Overall, the Truthear SHIO is a coloured-sounding dongle that makes everything you plug into it sound warmer, thicker, and smoother sounding.

SUBJECTIVE SOUND​

In terms of bass, the SHIO is full, warm, and thick sounding. This makes the SHIO a great pairing for brighter sounding IEMs like the Tanchjim Zero, 7hz Zero, and HZSound Heart Mirror. However, it does not pair well with warmer IEMs like their very own Truthear HOLA. Bass can also get uncontrolled at times, which makes the bass sound boomy and lacking in texture.

In terms of midrange, it is warm, full and lush sounding. Vocals overall sound full, but female vocals/upper midrange sound a bit relaxed. I find SHIO to pair well with shouty IEMs like the Moondrop SSR. It gives the SSR a bit more bass and tames the upper midrange shout.

In terms of treble, overall, it is smooth and slightly dark. I personally find the treble here to sound a bit too dark for my taste. However, as mentioned above, this tuning can pair quite well with brighter IEMs like the Tanchjim Zero, 7hz Zero and etc.

In terms of soundstage, is slightly small and intimate. I would describe the stage to be somewhat around your head. Like a small studio.

In terms of imaging, however, is a bit blurred and fuzzy. The same goes for transients. Transients here sound a bit too soft and relaxed, making the SHIO sound a bit dull and lacking in terms of technicalities.

BALANCED VS UNBALANCED​

Unbalanced overall just sounds slightly softer and flatter in comparison.

Balanced sounds a bit more authoritative and dynamic, with slightly snappier transients. This makes the SHIO sound more engaging and fun. Soundstage also "opens up" a bit, with a slightly wider stage and headroom. Not to mention, you also get more power out of balanced, which makes driving single dynamic IEMs or "harder to drive" IEMs a better experience.

Overall, the balanced output on the SHIO is superior and is what I'd recommend you to try out.

ISSUES FACED (Fixed as of 10-Feb-23)​

However, there are a few volume issues that I've faced while using the SHIO with my Windows PC and android phone. When using the SHIO with a Windows PC, on average, the max volume I can go to is 6/100 on 3.5mm unbalanced and 4/100 on 4.4mm Balanced. This is quite low as 10/100 volume on Balanced is enough to blow your ears out. Even worse, when used with my Shanling M3X (without UAPP), I can still get around 50dB of loudness when my volume is literally set to 0/100.

I have already tried installing the driver provided by Truthear (link here). However, that is just an ASIO driver for the SHIO so it does not fix any of the issues I've mentioned above.

I think a firmware upgrade is needed from Truthear to get these technical issues fixed—just like the Colorfly CDA M1 and Shanling Ua2, which both had similar issues in the past but were fixed with a simple firmware upgrade.

COMPARISONS​

Truthear SHIO ($69.99usd) Vs Moondrop Moonriver 2 ($189usd)

(picture courtesy of Headphonia. Check them out here)

Controversial take, but I do not like how the Moonriver 2 sound. The MR2 I find to have too much midbass, and upper mids sound a bit too relaxed. They might sound and synergize well with most Moondrop IEMs (as they mostly sound lean/clean), but with most other IEMs, they sound weird in my opinion.

In comparison to Truthear SHIO, SHIO sounds more balanced to me. With lesser midbass bump, and upper mids not as relaxed. Sure, in terms of driving power and technicalities, the MR2 is the much better one, but the MR2 is also $100usd more expensive than the SHIO and the tonal balance (at least for me) sounds off.



Truthear SHIO ($69.99usd) VS Shanling UA2 ($65usd currently)

(picture courtesy of Soundphile Review. Check them out here)

UA2 has a U-shaped sound signature, it is more aggressive sounding, upper mids are more forward, treble is sparklier and brighter, bass is punchier and tighter, and midrange is leaner and slightly more recessed. Transients and imaging are sharper, soundstage is roughly the same.

UA2 can sound slightly aggressive at times, especially with the wrong pairing (e.g. V-shaped IEMs), whilst the Truthear SHIO is the other way around. It can sound too smooth when paired with smoother sounding IEMs (Truthear HOLA).

IN CONCLUSION​

The Truthear SHIO offers quite a complete package for a dongle DAC at an affordable price. At $69.99usd, you get warm and smooth tuning, balanced output, decent power output, volume controls, detachable cable, dual DACs, low/high gain, low power draw, and doesn't get hot when used. However, I think a simple firmware upgrade is needed to fix the volume issue that I've faced as that can get quite annoying to use. Fixed as of 10-Feb-2023

Overall, the Truthear SHIO is quite a decent dongle DAC for the price. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a warmer smoother sounding dongle DAC. Thank you for reading.




Thank you Cloris Gee from ShenZhenAudio for sending over the Truthear HOLA (review here) and Truthear SHIO for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Interested in getting the Truthear HOLA & SHIO? Here are the purchase links (non-affiliated):
Truthear HOLA link - https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...gh-performance-dynamic-driver-in-ear-monitors
Truthear SHIO link - https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...-chips-lossless-portable-dac-amplifier-dongle

(total 3 - 5 mins read)

Tanchjim Zero is Tanchjim's latest offering into the budget $20usd segment of IEMs. With so many budget IEMs being pumped out into the market nowadays (not to mention the sudden rise of IEMs named "Zero" being released), can Tanchjim Zero stand out enough to be considered over the other "Zeros"? Read on to find out.

UNBOXING​

The unboxing here is pretty simple, but provides you with everything you need. The box it comes with is small and compact, with Tanchjim's mascot as its cover. Upon opening the box, you get a carrying pouch, 3 sets of wide bore tips (S,M,L), 3 sets of narrow bore tips (S,M,L), and the IEM itself alongside its attached cable.

Sadly, the cable it comes with isn't detachable, which means once the cable breaks, you have to either get a new pair or get it MMCX modded. However, the Tanch Zero only cost $16usd so Im not going to make such a huge fuss about it.

Overall, other than a detachable cable, it comes with everything you'd need. No complaints.

FIT & COMFORT​

Fit and comfort are very much perfect for me. Unlike the Tanchjim Ola which has fitting issues with some people, I do not see most people having any issues with fit with the Tanchjim Zero. They wear cable down and fit very comfortably in my ears without much tinkering.

As for eartips, I went with the M-sized narrow bore eartips as those fitted me best and sounded best to my ears. The stock wide bore eartips do not sound good with Tanchjim Zero IMO as they cut down bass too much, which makes the Zero overly bright. YMMW as everyone's ears is different.

​

BUILD QUALITY​

As for build quality, no complaints. The IEMs are light and small, made completely out of resin (I think). The only complaint I have is the non-detachable cable, which might be an issue down the road if you aren't careful.

SOUND SIGNATURE​

In terms of sound signature, I would describe Tanchjim Zero as "neutral bright", with its emphasis shifting towards upper mids and treble. Bass here is lean and punchy, midrange is clean and flat, upper midrange is slightly forward, and treble is lively & engaging. If you are a basshead/someone who prefers bass, steer clear away from the Tanch Zero, as these are obviously not for you. However, if you are someone who prefers a brighter, leaner, more neutral sound signature (see DF-neutral, IEF neutral etc.), you are in for a treat.

AMPLIFICATION​

In terms of amplification, although I have no issues driving the Tanch Zero directly out of the Apple Dongle and Samsung S9 Plus, but since they scale so well with sources, I would recommend trying them with better sources. If you are a reviewer who review sources, I would recommend getting the Tanch Zero as these are great budget tools to have for testing out sources and A/Bing them.

Personally, I drive the Tanch Zero with my Aune x1s/iFi Zen DAC, paired with my iFi Zen CAN class A amp (with iFi IEMatch).

SUBJECTIVE SOUND​

Let's start by talking about Tanch Zero's midrange and treble performance. In my opinion, Tanch Zero's treble performance is exceptional for its price. Treble here (albeit slightly on the brighter side) is lively & engaging, yet not peaky nor harsh sounding. Detail in the treble region is very good for the price too. As a person who enjoys a lot of Rock n' Roll, metal, J-rock, and Punk Rock music, having such great treble performance at such a low price is such a joy to listen to. These are easily my favourite IEMs for treble at around the $20usd price range, with only the HZ HeartMirror and Tanchjim Ola beating it in the treble segment for both tuning and treble (keep in mind both HZ HeartMirror and Tanchjim Ola are $50usd IEMs).

The midrange here is clean and flat sounding, with no colouration. Vocals are clean and forward, with no "honkiness" or shoutiness. However, I do find the midrange to sound a bit thin for my taste (somewhat similar to how the HD600 sounds with solid-state amps), which negatively affects the timbre a little bit. Because of this, I tend to turn on "Xbass/Truebass" mode on my iFi Zen DAC/CAN to compensate for the lack of fullness in the bass & mids region.

"I think a bit of added warmth in the mid & bass region would improve the overall timbre and tonal balance of the Tanch Zero."​

Lastly, in terms of bass, it is pretty flat sounding, but for my preference, I find the bass here to be slightly lacking, especially in terms of "bass fullness". Overall, I find the bass here to sound thin. Although bass here is punchy and snappy with no bass bleed, I think a bit of added bass and warmth would make the Tanch Zero a much more versatile IEM, especially for bass lovers and for genres like Hip Hop/EDM etc.

For iFi users with the Xbass/Truebass option, I recommend trying the Tanch Zero with the Xbass option turned on. It makes the bass fuller, punchier, and gives the midrange a bit more body. No bass bleed or distortion whatsoever.


In terms of technicalities and detail retrieval overall, I think Tanch Zero blows it out of the park for its price. No, it will not beat IEMs at a higher price range like the HZSound Heart Mirror ($50usd), Tanchjim Ola ($50usd), Dunu Titan S ($80usd) etc...

but for its price, I have no complaints. Detail retrieval here is overall very good for the price, especially in the treble region.

Soundstage and imaging are great too. With an "out of the head" soundstage and imaging presentation. If you are into live orchestral music, the soundstage and imaging capabilities of the Tanch Zero really shine.

Transients are sharp and snappy too, especially when driven well. This contributes to the imaging being quite sharp and accurate, which makes them great for competitive gaming. However, I do not enjoy them for casual gaming as there is not enough bass to satisfy my bass-loving head.

COMPARISONS​

Tanchjim Zero ($16usd) Vs Truthear HOLA ($19usd)

Tanch Zero in comparison sounds brighter, livelier, leaner, and more open than the HOLA. In terms of technicalities, it is also better than HOLA. Soundstage is noticeably wider, imaging is more accurate, transients are sharper, and detail retrieval is also better than HOLA. However, bass is significantly weaker than HOLA, timbre is thinner, vocals/treble can be slightly bright, and noise isolation is noticeably worse.

Truthear HOLA in comparison sounds smoother, warmer, bassier, and is overall the much better all-rounder. Bass is significantly better than Zero with thicker punchier fuller bass response, midrange is warmer with thicker note weight, vocals are more relaxed and smooth, and treble overall sounds darker and smoother too. However, technicalities are not as good as Zero, transients and imaging sound blurred in comparison, detail retrieval isn't as good, and overall tuning sounds "duller" in comparison.

IN CONCLUSION​

If you want a neutral and technical-sounding IEM at around the 20usd price range, the Tanchjim Zero is an exceptional choice. For $15.99usd, you get great technicalities (for the price), neutral bright tuning, lean bass, lean mids, lively treble, very good soundstage imaging capabilities, and the ability to scale very well with sources.

However, noise isolation is bad, bass performance isn't great (too lean and lacks fullness), timbre is a bit thin, and some might find the tuning too bright/shouty.

Overall, still highly recommended for neutral heads, treble lovers, and those looking for good technicalities at a low price!





Thank you HiFiGo for sending over the Tanchjim Zero for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Interested in getting the Tanchjim Zero? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):
Hifigo link - https://hifigo.com/products/tanchjim-zero
Amazon link (slightly cheaper) - https://www.amazon.com/TANCHJIM-Zer...ture/dp/B0B8HYJKKD?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

(total 3 - 5 mins read)

Moondrop Stellaris is Moondrop's answer to the never-ending Planar IEM war that has been going on for 1-2 years now. With so many IEMs to choose from now, especially in the $100usd~ price range, can Moondrop separate themselves from the crowd with their $100usd Planar magnetic driver IEM, the Moondrop Stellaris?

UNBOXING​

Unboxing the Moondrop Stellaris is a very pleasant experience. Just like most Moondrop products, the presentation is spot on. Beautiful anime drawing in front, specs + details + FR measurement at the back, and upon opening the box, you are presented with a beautiful carrying case, 3 sets of UC silicone eartips, 3 sets of foam tips, a 2pin 3.5mm cable, some documentations and last but not least, the Moondrop Stellaris itself.

FIT & COMFORT​

In terms of fit, I have faced quite a bit of fit issues with the Stellaris, especially with the stock UC silicone eartips. I have documented and wrote about the fit issues I've faced with the Stellaris in my 1st & 2nd Impression posts. You can check them out here and here. Feel free to check those out if you are interested.

TLDR; In order to get a good fit, I have to resort to the Spinfit cp-360 eartips, shove them deeper into the ears, and cut off the earhooks on the cable to get them to fit well. Once I've done that, fit is great and haven't been an issue for me since.

After changing to Spinfit cp360 eartips, comfort is good too. However, I do wish that they are on the lighter side though, as you do feel the weight of the IEMs in your ears after a few hours of use—especially with a bad fit.

BUILD QUALITY​

In terms of build, Moondrop nails it right on the head with their Stellaris. With a Stardust/Starfield-like shell design and matching blue-accented cable, the Moondrop Stellaris just looks great.

SOUND​

​

In terms of sound signature, I would describe the Stellaris as "bright V-shaped", with most of the emphasis being on sub-bass, the upper mid region, and treble. If you are familiar with how the Moondrop SSR sounds, the Moondrop Stellaris is literally "SSR on steroids". Imagine SSR, but with more sub-bass and treble.

Amplification is recommended to get the most out of the Moondrop Stellaris.

Bass - Bass on the Stellaris is quite well-extended down to the sub-bass region. Mid-bass is on the leaner side so the star of the show here is definitely the sub-bass. The bass texture of the Stellaris is really good. Instead of the meaty, thick, punchy bass of the KBEar Ormosia I reviewed last (link here), the bass here is textured, tight, fast, and clean. Listening to modern Electro/Pop/EDM songs that are generally sub-bass focused really brings the best out of the Stellaris' bass.

However, listening to songs that aren't sub-bass heavy, the lack of mid-bass really do show as it makes the midrange & treble sound bright, thin, and shrilly. I think a bit more mid-bass would balance the tonality of the Stellaris a bit more, but that's just my opinion.

Midrange - I would describe the Midrange here to be thin, lean, and clean. Midrange resolution on the Stellaris is really good. It has really good microdetail retrieval and it is able to pick up a lot of tiny nuances in most tracks. In terms of vocal presentation, just like the Moondrop SSR, vocals here are unquestionably forward. With a 13dB pinna gain, vocals are almost always presented forward. If you are sensitive to shout, this can come off as shouty and that might throw you off.

Treble - Treble here is sparkly, revealing and bright. I actually quite like the treble here myself thanks to how detailed it sounds. It gives the treble a bit of "characteristic" instead of the typical "Harman smooth" rolled-off treble response. With genres like Jazz, Classical, Blues, the treble here really shines.

However, the treble here can also come off as shrilly and hot, especially with poorly mastered tracks. This will make the treble harsh and fatiguing to listen to.

Timbre - Timbre here is thin and unnatural. Instrument sounds metallic and thin. Vocals sound screechy and unnatural.

Soundstage - Soundstage is slightly out of your head. Not too wide, not to narrow. It is more wide than deep/tall. Slightly 2D

Imaging - Imaging here is accurate and pretty typical for a Planar. Just like most planars, I find the imaging here to be "unnatural". What I mean by that is that the imaging lacks the "natural 3D holographic imaging" that some 1DD IEM is able to achieve at this price. Not only that, the imaging is also slightly bottlenecked by the soundstage, as the imaging here is mostly "inside your head".

CONCLUSION​

I named the title of this review as "Moondrop SSR fanservice", and that isn't without reason. The Moondrop Stellaris is literally that—a polarizing and niche tuning for the select few that like it. As a Moondrop SSR fan myself, I can appreciate what Moondrop has done with the Stellaris.

With the amount of "Harman tuned" IEMs coming out these days, I am truly refreshed and happy to see Moondrop taking a risk and going against the norm with the Moondrop Stellaris.

If you are looking for a safely tuned, "Jack of all trades" IEM, best look elsewhere as the Moondrop Stellaris is definitely not for you. However, if you are:

1. looking for a highly detailed and technical IEM,
2. a fan of the Moondrop SSR,
3. want something that sounds different,
4. and is sick of the current oversaturation of "Harman tuned" IEMs out now,

do give Moondrop Stellaris a try!

Thank you HiFiGo for loaning me the Moondrop Stellaris for review purposes.

Interested in getting the Tronsmart Onyx Pure? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):
Link to Moondrop Stellaris - https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-stellaris
Link to Spinfit cp-360 - https://hifigo.com/products/dunu-sp...dYp9BMoKFU4WR125E0-CH8qyCJWtq8wgJF33zTux99_QQ

(total 1-3 mins read)



Tronsmart Onyx Pure is Tronsmart's latest budget TWS IEM. It comes in at $20usd with a Hybrid dual driver configuration (1DD + 1BA).

Upon opening the box, I am presented with a manual, a USB C charging cable, 3 eartips, and the TWS IEM itself. For the asking price of $20usd, I have nothing to complain about. Everything you'll need is given here.

NON-SOUND IMPRESSIONS:​

Portability - The size of the case is pretty good. It is small and compact. Making this a very easy TWS to carry around.
Battery life - battery life is pretty amazing for the price. With 7 hours on a single charge and up to 32 hours with charging case, I will give the battery life here a 5/5 stars!
Passive noise isolation - Noise isolation is ok, but it really depends on your ears and the seal. I will rate it 3/5.
Fit - Fit with stock eartips isn't too good for me. However, after changing to the Spinfit cp-360, fit is near perfect!
BT Connection - Bluetooth connection is great. With Bluetooth 5.3 and SBC codec, I have never had any drop off issues with my iPhone 13 Mini.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS:​

[FR graph courtesy of paulwasabii. Check him out here.]

In terms of sound, I will only be covering how the Onyx Pure sound with the stock EQ settings. This is because I find this to be the best sounding and frankly, I do not enjoy the other EQ settings. I find them too tonal imbalanced and weird sounding.

With the stock EQ setting, the Tronsmart Onyx Pure is actually pretty good for the price. You will get what I'll describe as a "fun V shaped sound". Boomy bass, relaxed upper mids, slight spark to the treble.

Bass here is the best bit of the Onyx Pure. The bass here is just pure fun! It is punchy, thick, and full. However, it is boomy and it does bleed into the mids.

In terms of midrange, midrange resolution is fuzzy, upper midrange is recessed, so vocals will come off as slightly hazy and recessed with tracks that are bass heavy. However, vocals are still "clear enough" and acceptable. For the price of $20usd, I wont complain.

In terms of treble, I think the BA treble here is pretty well done. It isn't spiky or metallic, yet it adds back a bit of "clarity" that's otherwise missing from the bass and midrange. Again, for a $20usd TWS, this is actually pretty decent.

In terms of coherency between the DD and BA driver, I am actually surprised as it is better than expected. It isn't perfect…. But I think Tronsmart did a great job blending the DD and BA together instead of making both drivers sound like they are doing their own thing independently.

Overall, for $20usd, I think the Tronsmart Onyx Pure sounds pretty great! For a beater pair of TWS to be used while jogging, cycling, working out, I think the Tronsmart Onyx Pure is a very good deal. For $20usd, you get good fun sound, IPX5 waterproof rating, good fit, 32 hour battery life, stable connection, and a small form factor for easy carry!




I highly recommend the Tronsmart Onyx pure for those looking for a cheap, budget-friendly TWS. Thank you for reading.

Interested in getting the Tronsmart Onyx Pure? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):
Tronsmart - https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-onyx-pure-hybrid-dual-driver-headphones
Aliexpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004389068812.html
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3HYZ427

(total 1-3 mins read)

KBEar Ormosia is KBEar's latest hybrid 1DD+2BA IEM. It retails for $99usd and comes in either red or gray (Red one is super super sexy!). Packaging is really well done and comes with countless eartips + KBEar's Pleather Case.

In terms of fit, these fit almost exactly like the BL03—but with a longer nozzle. In fact, the shell looks so much like the BL03, I am convinced that the shape of the shell is inspired by the BLON BL03. Nevertheless, the fit fine in my ears. I prefer to wear them over-ear instead of cable down though. To do that, I just invert the cables (fit cable L to IEM R side, cable R to IEM L side) and wear the cables over-ear. Now they fit just like the BLO3!

In terms of sound, I think this is what you'd expect from KBEar nowadays, as the Ormosia fits right into what I'd describe as "KBEar's house sound". With a "Warm Harman"-ish kind of tuning, the sound here is overall just fun, warm, engaging, and smooth. Bass is full, punchy, and bouncy, midrange is lush and warm, and treble is smooth.

In terms of technicalities, I think these are good for $99usd, but nothing mind blowing. Detail retrieval is ok, imaging is slightly fuzzy, soundstage is decent (just right around your head), timbre is good in most cases with occasional metallic BA timbre at times, and coherency is pretty good too. These do benefit from amping/high gain though— especially the dynamic driver for the low end. After amping, bass is tighter & faster. If driven with too little power, bass can come off as a bit slow which bleeds into the mids and affects its coherency.

As for areas of improvement, I think KBEar could definitely improve on the included cable and eartips. I find them cheap—especially for a $99usd product. I think a higher quality cable would do the Ormosia justice. As for eartips, I personally find the Softears UC Eartips to sound and fit best with the Ormosia, but YMMV.

In conclusion, if you have a budget of $100usd and you are in the market for a warm, smooth sounding hybrid, KB EAR Ormosia is a safe buy and you won't go wrong.

Thanks for reading


Interested in getting one? Check it out on Keephifi:
Keephifi - https://keephifi.com/products/kbear-ormosia

(total 1-3 mins read)

KBEar Little Q is KBEar's latest budget offering. It comes in at a Whopping $18usd price tag and it features a Huge 6mm Dynamic Driver (I'm being sarcastic). There are a few colours to choose from: black, gunmetal, blue—I went with gunmetal w mic. Packaging is super simple. It comes in a very small square box, with the IEM + extra soft silicon eartips inside. For the price, it is good enough.

In terms of fit, they fit perfect. I used the M size eartips and they just sit perfectly and comfortably in my ears. I can truly wear these all day with no complaints.

In terms of sound, these are THICC bois. They sound very fun, very thick and engaging. I'd describe them as having a Warm V-shaped sound signature. Bass is THICC and rumbly, midrange is thick and lush, vocals sound full and forward, and treble here sounds smooth with the occasional sparkle at times (mostly with crashes and cymbals. Quite well done).

In terms of technicalities, for $18usd, I mean, you can't ask for too much. These are quite the "in your head" sounding IEM. Imaging and soundstage is mostly "in your head", detail retrieval is decent for the price, and timbre is on the thick side. Amping isn't necessary but if you do feed them with power, bass becomes tighter and punchier which makes the Little Q sounds more like a fun, engaging, tiny cannon!

As for areas of improvement, I don't know. For only $18usd, I find it really hard to complain. If I were to nitpick, I think they could at least include a carrying pouch for us. Also, if you aren't into bass, then these are definitely not for you. Other than that, I have nothing else to say. For $18usd, I think KBEar nailed it.

In conclusion, if you want a portable bass cannon that is affordable, very easy to carry around, fits great in your ears, then the KB EAR Little Q is for you. As a basshead myself, I approve of the Little Q and I like it.

Thanks for reading!

Interested in getting one? Check it out on Keephifi:
Keephifi - https://keephifi.com/products/kbear-little-q

For $26usd, the Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro is a steal.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?:​

• A USB charging cable, some paperwork, and the TWS itself.
• Simple and effective. No complaints.

Specifications:
- Audio Codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC
- Bluetooth Version: 5.2
- Bluetooth Range: 10m/33ft (Open Area)
- Number of Microphones: 4
- IP Rating: IPX5
- Play Time: Up to 6.5 Hours (on a Single Charge); Up to 27 Hours (with the Charging Case)
- Charging Time: About 1 Hour 30 Minutes; Charging Case: About 2 Hours
- Frequency Range: 20-20kHz
- Voice Assistant: Supports Siri, Cortana, Google Assistant, etc

Click to expand...

NON-AUDIO IMPRESSIONS :​

• Fit - Fit for me is good. I have used them for workouts and they managed to stay in my ears throughout the entire workout sessions. Never had to readjust them. YMMW (Your mileage may vary)
• Battery - Battery life is pretty amazing for me. The Onyx Pro Ace can last 6.5 hours on a single charge and you can get up to 27 hours from the case. I only need to charge them once a week or less. No complaints.
• Portability - The case size is great. It is somewhat like the Apple Airpod's size. Much smaller than the Sony WF-XM3 which is bulky and not at all pocket friendly. With the Onyx Pro Ace, I could just put it in my back pocket and forget about it.
• Bluetooth connectivity - No issues with any connectivity issues. With 4 Bluetooth codecs to choose from (aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC), it is more than enough for a TWS at this price range.
• Battery Indicator - The battery indicator is easy to understand and straight to the point. 4 bars, with Left & Right indicators as "top/bottom" to indicate that the Left and Right units are charging.
• Build - Build quality, in general, is pretty good. I have no issues with throwing them into my back pocket and sitting on them. However, the charging case does sometimes fail to detect my Left Unit, which may cause some annoyances at times as the Onyx Ace Pro would still be connected to my phone although it was already inside the case.
• Touch Controls - Easy to pick up. However, I would much prefer to have the option to customize the touch controls to my own personal liking - just like the Tronsmart Onyx Prime - I'd assume that app support will come someday in the future, but at the moment, the Onyx Pro Ace isn't available on the app.
• Overall, functionality wise, I have no complaints with the Onyx Pro Ace. It is easy to carry and easy to use. Perfect for what I need them for.
• However, the lack of touch control customization is a bit annoying for me. I hope that this feature will be added to the app in the future.

AUDIO IMPRESSIONS:​

• Sound signature here I would describe as fun, bassy, and dark. It has a more "consumer" sound signature.
• Bass - Bass is easily the best thing about the Onyx Pro Ace. Bass is full, thumpy, thick, and engulfing. Bassheads will definitely be satisfied. However, I do find the bass a bit much when used in quiet areas. In noisier areas, however, the emphasized bass is perfect as it "cancels off" the outside noise a bit, allowing you to still hear the bass instead of getting totally covered up by traffic noises.
• Mids - Midrange here can be stuffy and recessed at times, especially with female vocals. For male vocals, they mostly come off as full and thick.
• Treble - Treble here is smooth and dark. It is pretty inoffensive so I don’t think anyone will have any issues with the treble here. However, if you are looking for a brighter/treble-focused sound, this ain't it.
• Soundstage - As the Onyx Ace Pro is a TWS with an open-back, earbuds design, the soundstage here is pretty open and wide.
• Imaging - Imaging, however, is a bit blunt and hazy for me. Not the best.

IN CONCLUSION:​

Despite some minor gripes with the sound of the Onyx Ace Pro, I still really like it thanks to its inoffensive tuning and great functionality.

I've been using them as my workout TWS for the past few weeks and honestly, I can't find too many things to complain about. I've used them for gym sessions, jogs, walks, hiking… and they have stayed in my ears with no signs of them falling off.

In terms of sound, yes, the Onyx Ace Pro aren't "top class" in terms of sound quality in its price range, but it is good enough for *most* people. Don't get me wrong, the sound quality isn't bad, its just that, if I am looking purely for sound quality, Onyx Ace Pro wouldn't be my first choice. I would go for the Onyx Prime instead.

Overall, very solid TWS for $26usd. Great job Tronsmart.

4.5/5 stars ​

Thank you Ella from Tronsmart for sending the Tronsmart Bang 60W over. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Interested in getting the Tronsmart Bang? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):

• Tronsmart - https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-onyx-ace-pro-true-wireless-earphones
• Aliexpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004152736397.html

INTRODUCTION:​

Tronsmart Bang is Tronsmart's latest Bluetooth speaker in their already impressive line-up of Bluetooth products. The Bang retails for $109.99usd and it is targeted mainly to party go-ers or outdoor users in general.

Upon opening the box, I am presented with a 3.5mm male-to-male jack, a USB charging cable, some manuals, and last but not least, the IEM itself. Overall, pretty decent unboxing. Since the product has a handle attached on top, I do not think that a carrying case/pouch is necessary so I won't complain much about this.

Anyways, with that out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review will be done from a consumer point of view. I will focus more on tonality than technicalities as these are obviously made for parties, NOT for critical listening.

PART 1 - NON-AUDIO OPINIONS:​

• Build Quality: Solid. Although slightly heavy, it is very sturdy and can take some slight beating. Based on my observation, the speaker grills are made from metal and most of the body is made from plastic covered in rubber for extra grip and protection. Not to mention, there's a handle on top for easy outdoor carries.
• Battery Life: 10800mAh battery. Can last around 15 hours with 50% volume (LED Off). With LED on, battery life is around 8 hours. Charging will take around 4.5 hours for a full charge (via Type C)
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth Version 5.0 with SBC support. I have not experienced any pairing issues.
• NFC: yes. Pairing is as easy as tapping the NFC tag (Android phones only)
• Power: 60W. Loudness/volume is not an issue here.
• Waterproof: Yes with IPX6.
• Weight: 3.08kg/6.79lb. It is slightly hefty, but can definitely be carried around with one hand.
• Patented SoundPulse Audio for impactful stereo sound. (I recommend keeping this on at all times)
• Patented TrueConn Technology (seamless pairing with other Tronsmart Bluetooth speakers for a chain of speakers)
• Beat Driven LED lights (pretty cool during parties but I keep it off to save battery life)
• Built-in PowerBank (to charge other devices with its 10800mAh battery)
• Personalized App Control with 8 EQ Effects (App works pretty well. Similar to other Tronsmart devices)
• Various Music Playing Modes (Bluetooth, TF Card, U-disk, Aux-in)
• Voice Assistant Support (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant)

PART 2 - SOUND:​

Strengths (with SoundPulse on):

• With SoundPulse on, the sound signature here is perfect for parties. You will get a fun and engaging V-shaped sound signature with deep rumbly bass, coloured mids, and crisp highs. You also get a 20~% volume boost with SoundPulse on. I highly recommend keeping SoundPulse on at most times to get the most out of the Tronsmart Bang. The sound impression below will be made based on my experience with SoundPulse ON.
• In terms of loudness, the Tronsmart Bang is capable of getting VERY LOUD. With 60w of power, this isn't a surprise. For indoor use (studio-sized room), 20% volume is more than enough to fill up the room.
• For an outdoor party, around 50% volume is enough to get plenty loud.
• In terms of bass, the bass here is full, deep, rumbly and fun. The bass here is pretty capable. Even when placed in a huge room at the far end of a corner, you could still hear the fullness and thickness of the bass. This ensures that everyone is kept engaged at all times, no matter the mood or venue. With SoundPulse off, the bass becomes thinner and weaker. As mentioned above, I recommend keeping SoundPulse ON.
• In terms of midrange, it is warm, thick, and engaging. Upper mids are slightly boosted which makes vocals sound crisp and clear.
• In terms of treble, the treble here is bright, crisp, and elevated. With SoundPulse off, the treble here can get pretty sibilant and shouty with a thin presentation. However, with SoundPulse on, the shoutiness and sibilance are less noticeable, probably thanks to the boosted bass balancing out the treble.
  

WEAKNESSES :​

• (with Soundpulse off) Sibilant, bright, thin sounding treble. Note weight is thin too with limp-y bass
• Even with Soundpulse ON, treble can sometimes be a bit hot and sibilant.
• Very steep volume jump from 10% - 20%. I find 20% to be too loud for a studio-sized room while 10% to be too soft. (Might be an issue with my phone)
• V-shaped signature can be a bit too harsh and lethargic for long listening sessions.

CONCLUSION:​

Coming in at $109.99usd, I think the Tronsmart Bang is a pretty good deal. It sounds good (with SoundPulse), has good battery life, great Bluetooth connectivity, IPx6 waterproof, packed with tons of features, and most importantly, once you have the Tronsmart Bang, you can't go to a party without it.

Great job Tronsmart. Looking forward to more consumer goods with good sound quality.

Thank you Ella from Tronsmart for sending the Tronsmart Bang 60W over. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Interested in getting the Tronsmart Bang? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):

• Tronsmart - https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-bang-outdoor-party-speaker
• Aliexpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003881680961.html

INTRODUCTION:​

BQEYZ Autumn is BQEYZ's latest addition to its "4 Seasons" series of IEMs. The BQEYZ Autumn rocks a single 13mm Dynamic Driver complemented with dual cavities. It retails for $199usd and it comes with 3 interchangeable tuning filters, plus an option to select 1 cable with the configuration of your choice during checkout (3.5mm/2.5mm/4.4mm).

UNBOXING AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS:​

Upon opening the box, I am presented with 2 different types of tips(3 sets of narrow bore + 3 sets of wide bore), a cleaning brush, a pleather hardshell case, the interchangeable bass filter set (with the magnet tool), a 2-pin Copper+SPC mixed cable, and last but not least, the IEM itself.

Just like the Spring and Summer, the unboxing experience of the Autumn is pretty good. BQEYZ is quite generous with their accessories, with good cable and eartips provided in the box. In terms of the interchangeable tuning set, the tuning filters are placed in a small piece of metal, with a magnetic tool to help change the filters easily. I will explain more on how to change the filters later, but for now, just know that this is probably the best implementation of interchangeable filters in an IEM that I have ever experienced.

Here is the official video guide provided by BQEYZ -

Click to expand...

With that out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using both the stock narrow and wide bore tips. Both stock 4.4mm balanced cable and TACable Obsidian 3.5mm cable is used.

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN + IEMatch 3.5/4.4 (iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX + USB 3.0 cable + 4.4mm balanced interconnect cable)
2. Sony Zx300 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ Dawn2.1 + Plus v2 + J region)
3. Shanling M3x Limited (Apodizing fast roll-off filter)
4. Apple Dongle
5. Samsung Galaxy S9+ SE out (Exynos)

Drivability:
1. 46Ω Impedance / 110dB Sensitivity.
2. Pretty easy to drive. My Samsung S9+ and Apple Dongle drove the Autumn with ease. Drivability shouldn't be an issue here. Scales well with power.

Click to expand...

https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/..._Normal,BQEYZ_Autumn_Treble,BQEYZ_Autumn_Bass​

Click to expand...

STRENGTHS :​

• The best ever implementation of tuning filters I've ever experienced. Changing the bass filter on the Autumn is as easy as changing the eartips or the cable. Since the tuning filters are made from magnets, all you need to do is use the magnetic tool provided to detach or reattach the bass filters. When I say it is as easy as changing the eartips, I mean it.
• In terms of the magnets losing their strength over time, I can confidently say that this is not an issue as I've been using the Autumn for 2 months and I have never experienced the magnetic filters falling out.
• Variable tuning - treble, normal, bass. I personally find all 3 sound signatures to be good, with "treble" and "normal" being my personal favourite. Here is a breakdown of all the 3 tuning sounds:
  
  "bass" filter - The bassiest, warmest, and the least technical of the 3. I would describe this as having a warm V-shaped signature. Bass is full, thick, and rumbly. Great sub-bass extension. Midrange is warm and lush with vocals being presented in a thick and full manner. Treble is smooth with the 5kHz lower treble peak being the least noticeable.
  
  "normal" filter - warm neutral tuning with good technicalities. The most "balanced" tuning of the 3. bass is punchy with good texture and slam. Sub-bass still extends well. Midrange is slightly warm with upper midrange being more forward. The 5kHz peak is slightly noticeable now. However, I find the 5kHz peak here to be more of a pro than a con as I find it to add character and sparkle to the treble. The treble here is well-extended and slightly sparkly.
  
  "treble" filter - neutral bright tuning with the best technicalities and microdetails of the 3. The brightest and shoutiest tuning of the 3. bass is better textured, tighter, and leaner. Midrange is neutral and transparent, with upper midrange being the most forward of the 3. The 5kHz is the most noticeable here and could get annoying at times. You might also experience slight sibilance in this tuning mode. Treble is sparkly, airy, and shimmery.
• In terms of soundstage, I find Autumn's soundstage to be very impressive thanks to its huge and wide staging capabilities. When I first tried the Autumn with the included wide bore tips, the first thing I was reminded of is that it reminds me of a full sized closed-back headphones. Obviously, the Autumn isn't comparable to a full-sized headphone. However, it is the closest it can get in IEM form IMO.
• In terms of imaging, although not the sharpest, the imaging here renders wide and has an "out of your head" presentation.
• In terms of transient speed and decay, although not the snappiest, I find the slower decay of the Autumn to sound quite organic. This further contributes to the natural and organic timbre that the Autumn provides.
• Great dynamics and macro detail presentation. With the "normal" filter on, micro details are decent/average. With "treble" filter on, I would rate microdetails to be above average in the $200usd price range.

WEAKNESSES :​

• Sound quality lacks refinement when compared to other competitors like Tanchjim Oxygen, Tanchjim Hana 2021, KBEar Believe, etc.
• Imaging sharpness isn't the best.
• Not the most technical in the $200usd price range.
• Below average isolation. Isolation with the Autumn isn't the best. Changing the eartips to the narrow bore tips help a bit, but not enough to change my verdict on the isolation.
• 5kHz peak with slight sibilance (with "Treble" filter on)

BEST EARTIPS/CABLE PARING:​

• In typical BQEYZ fashion, the stock accessories are already great to begin with. I find BQEYZ to be very good in synergizing the right eartips and cable with the right IEM. That was the case with their Spring 2 and Summer. The BQEYZ Autumn is NOT an exception.
• However, after playing around with a few cables and eartips I have, here is what I ended up using as I find these combos to synergize really well with the Autumn:
• Eartips: For "treble" and "normal" tuning, I find JVC Spiral Dots to sound the best. JVC Spiral Dots adds bass and fullness to the mids whilst smoothing out the highs slightly. Overall sounds fuller and more open. With the "bass" tuning on, my go-to eartip of choice is Spinfit CP-145.
• Cable: I find **** "Neotech" Copper cable to sound the best with Autumn. The Neotech gives the Autumn a more "organic" and "U-shaped" sound. Overall, it makes the Autumn sound more refined.

COMPARISONS:​

BQEYZ AUTUMN VS TANCHJIM OXYGEN:

https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_Target,BQEYZ_Autumn_Normal,Tanchjim_Oxygen​

Click to expand...

• The Tanchjim Oxygen sounds more "refined" and "matured" overall. It has better micro details, technicalities, air, and imaging.
• BQEYZ Autumn has a much bigger soundstage with a more organic timbre and presentation. Macrodynamics are also slightly better. Note weight is slightly thicker in comparison.

BQEYZ AUTUMN VS KBEAR BELIEVE:

https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_Target,BQEYZ_Autumn_Normal,KB_Ear_BElieve​

Click to expand...

• The KBEar BElieve is brighter, harsher, and thinner sounding than the Autumn. However, the BElieve has much speedier transient and decay, better texture, much better technicalities, resolution, microdetails, and sharper imaging.
• BQEYZ Autumn overall sounds more balanced, fuller, thicker, warmer. It is less harsh and less bright in comparison. It is also a lot easier to drive than the BElieve as the BElieve requires a higher current source to perform well. However, it isn't as technical and resolving as the BElieve.

CONCLUSION:​

Before using the BQEYZ Autumn, I have always found interchangeable filters/tuning to be a gimmick. Thanks to how tedious it is to change filters on other IEMs, I never found myself wanting to change tuning once I've found the tuning I like. However, BQEYZ Autumn is an exception. Changing filters is hassle-free. When I said it is as easy as changing the eartips and cables, I mean it. BQEYZ seriously hit the nail in the coffin with this interchangeable tuning technology.

The longer I use the BQEYZ Autumn, the more I like it. After using the BQEYZ Autumn for 2 months, I can safely say that the BQEYZ Autumn is a great 1DD IEM offering at around the $200usd price range. With exceptional soundstage, good imaging, great dynamics, macro details, timbre, and the best ever tuning filter implementation I have tried, it is no wonder why the Autumn is rated so highly by many.

However, it isn't without its cons. Microdetails isn't the best, imaging isn't the sharpest, isolation is pretty bad, and most of all, it just doesn't sound as matured or refined as other well-established IEMs like the Oxygen and Hana 2021.

Despite that, I still think that the BQEYZ Autumn is a great IEM choice at the $200usd price range. The BQEYZ Autumn gets my recommendation.

4/5 stars ​

Thank you BQEYZ and Elle Zhou for sending the Autumn over. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.


Interested in getting the BQEYZ Autumn? Here is the purchase link (non-affiliated):

• Aliexpress - https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtQ1dne

Personal Links:

• Personal Head-fi thread -> https://www.head-fi.org/threads/bry...4jIT8vJv0PR93C_ORoXcpbFOgk5iAdWfNYftngFKw29Yo
• Squiglink - > https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/

INTRODUCTION:​

Following up with the success of the Sivga sv006, sv007, and the Phoenix, Sivga "sv021" Robin is Sivga's latest wooden closed-back offering at around the $150usd - $200usd price range. It features a 50mm PC+fiber Dynamic Driver that Sivga made in-house. It retails for $179usd (rm599) and it comes in 2 colour options: a smooth piano finish rosewood (brown) and a matte finish zebrawood (black).

UNBOXING AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS:​

Upon opening the box, I am presented with a carrying pouch, a quarter-inch adapter, a dual-sided 2.5mm SE cable (1.5m long), and last but not least, the headphone itself.

In terms of the build, I find the build of the Sivga Robin to be phenomenal. From its wooden earcups to its plush pleather headband cushion, you can tell that Sivga really did put their heart and soul into designing the Sivga Robin. Not to mention, the arm adjustments are made out of metal and the earpads are made out of plush pleather. The earpads are pretty spacious too, as I could fit 4 knuckles vertically and 3 knuckles horizontally into the earpads.

However, I would like to point out that there's no swivel to the earcups. This might an issue as all of us have different shaped heads. A bad fit might cause seal issues and as with most closed-back, no seal = no bass. Anyways, just pointing this out. Keep in mind that seal and fit isn't an issue for me.

Overall, pretty happy with the unboxing and build quality of the Robin. Now with that out of the way, let's start the review.

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN (iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX + USB 3.0 cable + 4.4mm balanced interconnect cable)
2. Sony Zx300 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ Dawn2.1 + Plus v2 + J region)
3. Shanling M3x Limited (Apodizing fast roll-off filter)
4. Apple Dongle
5. Samsung Galaxy S9+ SE out (Exynos)

Drivability:
1. 32Ω Impedance / 105dB Sensitivity.
2. Pretty easy to drive for a headphone. My Samsung S9+ and Apple Dongle drove the Robin with ease. Drivability shouldn't be an issue here.

Click to expand...

SOUND:​

STRENGTHS :​

• The sound signature of the Robin is Warm V-shaped. In other words, bass and highs are elevated while the midrange takes a backseat. I find the tuning here to be warm, fun, and dynamic. Perfect for days where I just want to enjoy some back thumping Hip-Hop tracks while gaming/browsing the web.
• In terms of bass, it is thick, bloomy, and deep. Bassheads will love this. I find the bass here to be authoritative, full, and fun sounding. Sub-bass extension is pretty good too as the Robin has no issues reaching down to the rumbliest of the lows. In terms of speed, it is slightly on the slower side, but not to the point where it bleeds into the mids every time. In fact, I find this "slowness" in the bass to be a plus as it gives the bass a very natural decay. This in return makes the bass sounds full, fun, and bloomy.
• In terms of midrange, it is coloured, warm, and thick. Male vocals sound warm and thick, while Female vocals sound warm and smooth.
• In terms of treble, it is sparkly, airy, and well-extended. However, it can be slightly bright for some which can cause some slight sibilance.
  
  
• Soundstage is wide with average depth and height. Soundstage width is pretty good for a closed-back headphone.
• Imaging within the width plane is pretty decent. I can easily pinpoint instruments from left to right.
• Instrument separation and layering are decent too. Thanks to the wide soundstage, instruments do not sound compressed or "in your head". Instruments are well spread out with the vocalist presented in the middle.
• In terms of timbre, I find the lower end of the spectrum to sound pretty natural and accurate. However, I find the top end to be slightly sharper and brighter than what I would consider as "natural".

WEAKNESSES :​

• The bloomy and thick bass, although fun and inviting, can get lethargic and tiring to listen to after long listening hours.
• The weird dip in the midrange. With 80% of the songs in my playlist, this isn't an issue. However, with the remaining 20%, midrange sounds recessed and scooped out. This causes vocals to sound hollow and female vocals to sound borderline sibilant.
• Not to mention, midrange resolution also isn't the best. The hollowness in the midrange also means that resolution suffers. If you are a midrange kind of guy, this probably isn't for you.
• Not the best with fast genres like hard rock/metal (or aggressive/fast tracks in general) as the bloomy bass will start to bleed into the midrange.
• Coherency isn't the best as I find the top end to be faster and snappier than the slower bloomy low end. This is very apparent with the 20% of music that it doesn't work well with as the dip in the midrange just further emphasizes the incoherency.
• Treble is borderline sibilance at times. Most notable with the midrange dip.

COMPARISONS:​

1. SIVGA ROBIN VS ATH-M50X:​

• M50x is tighter, faster and brighter sounding than the Sivga Robin. In terms of tonality, Bass has lesser bloom and quantity than Robin (but is tighter more aggressive), midrange is slightly more forward, lower midrange isn't as full, upper midrange is brighter, and treble is sharper, harsher than Sivga Robin. In terms of technicalities, soundstage is smaller and more intimate, instrument separation is more compressed, and imaging is more "in your head". Timbre isn't as natural.
• Overall, I would consider Sivga Robin as an upgrade over the m50x. Other than the slower bass, the Robin is an upgrade over the m50x in every way.

2. SIVGA ROBIN VS K371:​

• K371 is overall flatter, leaner, and more neutral sounding. Bass leaner, more sub-bass focused, isn't as thick and bloomy as the Robin, midrange is much more forward, flat, and resolving. Treble is smoother, less airy and less sparkly. In terms of technicalities, soundstage is narrower in width but much better depth and height, instrument separation is better, imaging is more accurate, resolution is noticeably better, top end timbre is more natural and coherency is better.
• Overall, Robin is better in terms of bass, dynamics, and soundstage width, but k371 has the better midrange, tonal balance, and resolution.

Here's a simplified technical breakdown of the 3 headphones below.

SIVGA ROBIN VS ATH-M50X VS AKG K371:​

• Bass: Robin > m50x > k371
• Mids: k371 >>> Robin = m50x
• Highs: k371 > Robin > m50x
• Soundstage: Robin = k371 >> m50x (Robin has better width while k371 has better depth)
• Layering: k371 >> Robin > m50x
• Imaging: k371 > Robin >> m50x
• Timbre: k371 > Robin > m50x
• Detail/Resolution: k371 >>> Robin = m50x
• Dynamics: Robin >> m50x > k371
• Value: k371 > Robin > m50x

IN CONCLUSION:​

The Sivga "sv021" Robin is a good upgrade over the infamous ATH-m50x with better bass, treble, instrument separation, soundstage, and almost everything else (expect for bass speed).

However, the weird dip in the midrange is something to take note of as it might be a deal-breaker for you. If you live near an audio store like Stars Picker Audio Library 摘星知音, I would highly recommend you to drop by and give these a try as the midrange dip might not be for everyone.
All in all, if you are looking for a sub-$200usd closed-back headphone with a stylish design, great comfort, solid build, and a fun dynamic sound, feel free to give the Sivga Robin a try.


Thank you Stars Picker Audio Library 摘星知音 and SIVGA for sending the Sivga Robin over. This review unit is provided by them as part of their Malaysian Sivga Robin review tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Interested in getting the Sivga Robin? Here are the links:

• Shopee MY - https://shopee.com.my/-PM-BEST-PRIC...river-Detachable-Cable-i.61782351.11533687233
• Sivga Audio - https://www.sivgaaudio.com/product_d?id=11

Dunu Titan S vs Moondrop Aria vs Tin T3 Plus​

Link to squig: https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_Target,Dunu_Titan_S​

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Dunu Titan S - $79usd, 1DD. I will say it right away. The Dunu Titan S is probably one of the best 1DD IEM you can buy for under $100usd. Technicality wise, it beats the Moondrop Aria slightly and beats the Tin T3 Plus by a HUGE margin. In terms of tonality, just like the Aria and T3 Plus, the Titan S is also tuned close to the Harman 2019 Target, but with lesser bass boost (refer to FR graph below). Bass is clean punchy and decently textured, midrange is natural and clean, female vocals sound engaging yet non-fatiguing, and treble is well-extended, smooth, and airy.

In terms of its technicalities, it has good soundstage width with decent depth and height, very good imaging and detail retrieval for the price, decent dynamics, and timbre is also very good. Not to mention, it is also pretty easy to drive.

Here's a simplified technical breakdown of the 3 IEMs below.

DUNU TITAN S VS TIN T3 PLUS VS MOONDROP ARIA:​

• Bass: Aria > Titan S > T3 Plus
• Lower Mids: Aria > Titan S = T3 Plus
• Upper Mids: Titan S > Aria = T3 Plus
• Treble: Titan S > Aria > T3 Plus
• Soundstage: Titan S > Aria > T3 Plus (widest but bad depth/height)
• Layering: Titan S > Aria > T3 Plus
• Imaging: Titan S > Aria > T3 Plus
• Timbre: Titan S > Aria > T3 Plus
• Detail/Resolution: Titan S > Aria > T3 Plus
• Dynamics: Aria > Titan S > T3 Plus
• Value: Titan S > Aria > T3 Plus

As you can see from the comparison above, the Titan S is a slight upgrade over the Aria and absolutely triumphs the underwhelming Tin T3 Plus (Tin T3 Plus owners, I am so sorry). Not to mention, it is also better than both Tin T3 Plus and Moondrop Aria accessory-wise. Dunu Titan S comes with a better cable, better eartips (3 different types!), a better case, and a sexier looking shell design.

However, despite me sounding like an absolute shill over the Dunu Titan S, it is still not perfect. In terms of cons, the dynamics could be better, bass texture could be better, bass quantity might be lacking for some (if you like more bass buy Aria), and fit might also be an issue for some (I find the shorter nozzle black/blue tips to fit me very well).


In conclusion, I highly recommend the Dunu Titan S. If you are looking for an all-rounder 1DD IEM under $100usd, the Dunu Titan S should be at the top of your shopping list. The Dunu Titan S will receive my first ever 5 out of 5 rating. Great job Dunu. The Titan S is amazing for its price - 5/5


Huge thanks to DUNU for sending the Dunu Titan S over. This review unit is provided by them as part of their Malaysian Dunu review tour. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Interested in getting the Dunu Titan S? Here are the links (non-affiliated):

• Dunu Official- https://www.dunu-topsound.com/product-page/titan-s
• Aliexpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003705607566.html

Link to squig: https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_Target,Dunu_Titan_S,Tin_T3_Plus​

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Link to squig: https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_Target,Dunu_Titan_S,Moondrop_Aria​

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INTRODUCTION:​

SeeAudio x Crinacle Yume: Midnight is the latest hybrid IEM from SeeAudio. It is a collaboration between SeeAudio and Crinacle and it promises to be a "more technical" Yume. It retails for $199.99usd and it sports a 1DD+2BA configuration (same as the OG Yume). Ever since the launch of the OG Yume, many reviewers have praised the tuning of the Yume, with some reviewers even calling its midrange "class-leading". However, most were disappointed with its underwhelming technicalities, bass performance, and treble extension.

The SeeAudio Midnight promises to fix all that. By completely remaking the Yume from the ground up, SeeAudio claimed to have come up with an improved Yume whilst still using the exact same drivers.

Can the Midnight hold up to its promises though? Let's find out.

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN (IEMatch + iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX + USB 3.0 cable)
2. Sony Zx300 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ Dawn2.1 + Plus v2 + J region + DAC initialized)
3. Sony A55 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ Neutral + Plus v2 + J region + DAC initialized)
4. Shanling M3x Limited (Apodizing fast roll-off filter)
5. Monolith USB DAC
6. Apple Dongle
7. Samsung Galaxy S9+ SE out (Exynos)

Drivability:
1. 32Ω Impedance / 106dB Sensitivity.
2. Pretty easy to drive. My Samsung S9+ and Apple Dongle drove the Midnight with ease. Drivability shouldn't be an issue here.

Click to expand...

UNBOXING & ACCESSORIES:​

The Midnight comes with a standard SeeAudio rounded hard shell case, 1 set of silicone eartips (S, MS, M, ML, L) that looks godly similar to the a07 eartips, a silver-plated 3.5mm cable and lastly, the IEM itself.

Overall, pretty happy with the accessories here as they are an upgrade over what we got with the Yume. The stock eartips of the Yume weren't the best and I am super glad that they have decided to change it to what they are now.

In terms of fit, well, I find them to fit very similarly to the Bravery. This means that I have to size down the eartips to size S (I normally use M) in order for them to fit (and sound) correct. Since this is about fit, YMMV.

I am, however, very glad that the large fins from the OG Yume are removed. After a while, the large fins do kind of dig into my ears and I am glad that the Midnight is free of fins and all fins related issues.

*This review is done using only the stock eartips (size S) and stock cable.

SOUND:​

In terms of sound, tonality wise, Midnight is quite tonally balanced IMO. The SeeAudio Midnight is tuned to Crinacle's IEF-Neutral target with a Harman 2019-like bass boost. In other words, SeeAudio Midnight has a clean sub-bass focused +10dB bass boost, a more conservative pinna gain (in comparison to Harman's 2019 pinna), and a treble that is relatively smooth without any unnecessary spikes and peaks. Below shows the FR graph of the Midnight and another showing the FR graph comparison between Midnight vs Yume.

Link to squig: https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_Target,SeeAudio_Midnight​

Click to expand...

Link to squig: https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_Target,SeeAudio_Midnight,SeeAudio_Yume​

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As you can see from the FR graph, the SeeAudio Midnight is quite literally Yume with B A S S… (and also better extended up top). As mentioned by other reviewers, one of the biggest drawbacks of the Yume in terms of tonality is its bass. Its bass is just too "lightweight" and doesn’t "pack any punch". Its bass slam is so weak to the point where with some tracks, its bass sounds like it is "hitting a wet cardboard".

With the Midnight, bass is much better. Bass here sounds full, punchy, well-extended and much more authoritative than Yume's bass. Its sub-bass is boosted but well-controlled, bass slam is good, and no dirty bass bleed can be detected into the mids. It is warmer than the OG Yume though, especially in the mid-bass section where it is noticeably warmer and punchier.

The extra warmth carries through to the midrange of the Midnight. Midnight's midrange is full and lush sounding with a slight hint of warmth. In comparison to the OG Yume, you do lose out a bit of the OG Yume's clean and lean midrange, but what you get in return is a midrange that is slightly warmer, more natural, fuller and most importantly, more pleasing to the ears.

In terms of vocal presentation, similarly to the mids, both male and female vocals here sound lush and full. Just like the OG Yume, vocals here are more on the intimate side. In terms of vocal placement, I find them to be "just right". Not too forward nor too laidback. However, personally I do prefer a tad bit more forwardness to my vocals. A more "Harman 2019"-like pinna would be perfect for my taste. For those that have preferences similar to mine (or to the Harman 2019 target), do keep in mind that Midnight's vocal presentation might be a bit too laidback for you. This is just a matter of taste and personal preference so YMMV.

In terms of treble, the easiest way to describe the treble here is that it is smooth, airy, and well-extended. The lower and mid treble of the Midnight is pretty smooth and non-fatiguing overall. The upper treble has a slight shimmer to them which adds flavour to the overall treble presentation of the Midnight. In comparison to the OG Yume, gone is the smooth and dry treble from the OG Yume which makes the treble pretty boring to listen to. Midnight's treble is noticeably airier and better extended than the OG Yume's whilst still keeping its smooth and non-fatiguing presentation. Overall, the treble here is quite nicely done.

Now, to the part that we are all anticipating for….

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:​

Technical performance is what haunted the OG Yume since it first launched. Countless reviewers have praised and raved about the Yume's "exceptional, class-leading tuning", but most were disappointed with its technical performance. With hazy transients, 2D-like soundstage, below-average imaging… and most importantly, its limp and underwhelming bass.

In terms of Midnight's technical performance, I am glad to say that it is noticeably better than the Yume in literally every way possible. Transients are sharper, soundstage is wider with improved depth and height, imaging is more accurate and "3D-like", and bass slam is mcuh better.

Not to mention, detail retrieval is also improved over the OG Yume. Despite its slightly warmer midrange presentation and the exact same driver configuration as the OG Yume, Midnight managed to be more detailed than the OGs. It is also more revealing in the mids and highs, being able to pick up on microdetails and tiny nuances in a song whereas the OG Yume couldn't.

Timbre and coherency is also improved over the OG Yume. I find the Midnight's timbre to be pretty good for a hybrid. Just like the Dusk over the Blessing2, my guess is that the added warmth to the overall presentation of the Midnight is probably what "hides" the BA timbre and ultimately contributes to the overall improved timbre.

Furthermore, coherency is pretty good too for a hybrid. The OG Yume's coherency isn't the best as with some tracks, the bass does sound somewhat "detached" from the song. This makes the bass of the OG Yume sound like it is coming from behind.

Midnight, on the other hand, has none of those issues. There are, however, the usual coherency issues with hybrid. If you pay attention, you could hear the 2BA drivers in the mids/highs having faster transients and decay than the DD bass. This isn't an issue with the Midnight specifically as almost all hybrids (no matter the price range) suffer from some coherency issues.

Overall, Midnight's technical performance is pretty good for its price. It isn't enough to beat other IEMs at a higher price bracket (as expected) but for its price, I'd say that it is pretty good.

CONCLUSION:​

In my opinion, SeeAudio and Crinacle have created something pretty good in the $200usd price range. In comparison to the OG Yume, the Midnight is an upgrade over the Yume in literally every aspect. Tonality, technicalities, bass, mids, treble, detail, soundstage, imaging… you name it, the Midnight is better. Heck, even the included cable and eartips are better.

However, all these improvements come with a cost (literally), as there is a $30usd premium over the Yume. This puts the Midnight right at the price of $199.99usd. Now, this $30usd premium is understandable as SeeAudio has to completely remake the Yume from the ground up to improve the Yume's technicalities, bass, and treble extension whilst still using the same drivers as the Yume. Not to mention, you are also paying a "Crin Premium" for Crinacle's involvement in the Midnight project.

Is the $30usd "Crin Premium" worth it over the OG Yume then? IMO, yeah. The only advantage the OG Yume has over the Midnight is that the OG Yume's midrange is leaner and cleaner than Midnight's. Other than that, the Midnight is better.

Overall, a pretty nice set. Recommended.


Thank you See Audio for sending the Midnight over. This review unit is provided by them as part of their Malaysian SeeAudio review tour. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.


Interested in getting the SeeAudio x Crinacle Yume: Midnight? Here is the Hifigo purchase link (non-affiliated):

• https://hifigo.com/products/seeaudio-x-crinacle-yume-midnight-iems (Hifigo Exclusive)

Want to compare the Midnight's frequency response to other IEMs? Do it yourself using my Squiglink here (Not 100% complete):

• https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/

Personal Links:

1. Personal Head-fi thread -> https://www.head-fi.org/threads/bry...s-impressions-ranking-list-music-list.961211/
2. Squiglink (WIP) - > https://bryaudioreviews.squig.link/
3. Personal Ranking list -> {WIP}

TRN VX Pro is TRN's latest hybrid IEM at the sub-$100usd price range. It retails for $88usd and it rocks a 1DD+8BA setup. In terms of the unboxing experience, it seems like TRN has improved a bit. Upon opening the box, I am presented with a rounded aluminium carrying case, a quarter-inch jack adapter, a 3.5mm SPC cable, 3 different types of eartips (white silicone, black silicone, foam tips), and last but not least, the IEM itself.

Overall, pretty ok unboxing experience here from TRN. It seems like they have slightly improved their unboxing experiences in comparison to their older products. However, the stock cable and eartips are still pretty disappointing. To put it into perspective, you are getting the exact same eartips and cables from the TRN MT1, which is a $5usd IEM. For $88usd, I would expect to get cables and eartips better than this.

Anyways, I digress. With that out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using stock vocal tips and stock cable.

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN (IEMatch + iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX + Copper Colour Red USB)
2. Sony A55 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ WM1Z + Normal + J region)
3. Shanling UA2
4. Shanling M3x Limited
5. Monolith USB Dac
6. Apple Dongle
7. Samsung Galaxy S9+ SE out (Exynos)

Drivability:
1. Easy to drive. Drivability shouldn't be an issue.

Click to expand...

​

PROS

:​

• I would describe the sound signature here to be V to W- shaped. Punchy boomy bass, forward intimate vocals, energetic treble.
• In terms of bass, it is full-bodied, punchy, and boomy. Bass extension is good too, with deep and rumbly sub-bass. However, it has bass bleed which dirties both the midrange and bass regions. Overall, pretty fun sounding bass IF you don’t mind the dirty and bleedy bass presentation.
• In terms of midrange, it is full and thick. However, the bass bleed also means that midrange can come off as muddy. Clarity and resolution in the midrange are lacking too. With an advertised "8BA" setup, I do expect midrange clarity to be much better than it is now.
• Vocal presentation wise, it is forward and intimate, with an "in your head" presentation.
• Treble is energetic, fun, and bright. Detail wise, it is above average. However, I do find the treble to be metallic and grainy. Treble is also splashy and sibilant. Overall, I find the treble here to be unrefined.
• In terms of soundstage, it is somewhat like a sphere. I would describe it as wider and deeper than tall. However, its width could be a bit wider
• Imaging is above average, with a sharp and precise imaging presentation.
• Instrument separation, however, is average. As mentioned above, I find that the VX Pro to be lacking in terms of clarity and resolution despite having 8BA for mids and highs. Still, for $89usd, it is still considered as average, or slightly above-average.
• Detail retrieval is above-average, but bottlenecked by the bass bleed in the midrange section. Listening to bass lite songs do showcase the VX Pro's ability to retrieve details. But unfortunately, most songs nowadays do have a healthy amount of bass, and I find the bass bleed to strip away a good amount of clarity from the mids. Too bad.

CONS

:​

• Bass is boomy and bleeds into the mids
• The midrange is dirty and muddied up by the bass bleed.
• Treble is grainy, splashy, unrefined
• Soundstage can be bigger and wider
• Clarity and resolution isn't the best
• Metallic BA timbre
• Coherency isn't the best, with a noticeable disconnect from bass, mids and highs.

BEST PAIRING FOR TRN VX PRO

:​

• I find the TRN VX Pro to pair best with Spinfit CP-145 and TACable Obsidian.
• Spinfit CP-145 tightens the bass, adds clarity to the mids and highs.
• TACable Obsidian cuts down the mid-bass bloom, which further improves midrange and treble clarity and resolution. Treble is also more refined and less grainy.
• With this combination, I do find the TRN VX Pro to be a lot more enjoyable than stock. Mid-bass control is better, bloom is reduced, clarity for mids and highs improved, better resolution, and treble sounds better refined with reduced grain. I highly recommend you to try this combo.

CONCLUSION:​

Overall, TRN VX Pro is an average hybrid in the sub-$100usd price bracket. It is fun sounding with fun boomy bass, energetic treble, decent soundstage, and good imaging.

Would I recommend the TRN VX Pro? It depends. With everything stock, I think that the TRN VX Pro is average at best. Changing the eartips and cable to Spinfit cp-145 and TACable Obsidian do make the VX Pro a lot more enjoyable, but that also means cashing out $30usd more than the asking price of $88usd, which brings the price of the TRN VX Pro to $118usd. At $118usd, I think you are better off saving a bit more for hybrids (tri-birds) like BQEYZ Summer, BQEYZ Spring 2, or heck, even the Seeaudio Yume.

If you already have accessories like TACable Obsidian and Spinfit cp-145 lying around at home, then sure! Feel free to pick up the VX Pro, change the tips and cable, and use them as your V-shaped fun sounding IEM.

3.5/5 stars

This review unit is provided by Trn Petter and organized by Larry Fulton. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The BGVP DH5 is BGVP's latest hybrid IEM at the sub-$100usd price range. It comes in at $85usd and rocks a 1DD+4BA hybrid configuration, with 1 beryllium-plated dynamic driver, 2 Knowles RAF BA drivers for the upper mids, and 2 2nd gen Phoenix BA for the treble. Upon opening the box, I am presented with a hardshell case, a 6N OCC 3.5mm cable, a cleaning brush, 3 different types of eartips (3 sets of vocal tips, 3 sets of bass tips, and 1 foam tips), and last but not least, the IEM itself.

In terms of unboxing experience, I find it to be pretty good for the price, so no complaints here.

With that out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using stock vocal tips and stock cable.

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN (IEMatch + iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX + Copper Colour Red USB)
2. Sony A55 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ WM1Z + Normal + J region)
3. Shanling UA2
4. Shanling M3x Limited
5. Monolith USB Dac
6. Apple Dongle
7. Samsung Galaxy S9+ SE out (Exynos)

Drivability:
1. The BGVP DH5 requires amping to shine. Without amping, bass will sound boomy, slow, undetailed. Highly recommend using an amp with the DH5.
2. If you do not have an amp, best to just skip the BGVP DH5.

Click to expand...

PROS :​

• I would describe the sound signature here to be warm U-shaped, with an analogue-ish presentation.
• In terms of bass, it is warm, punchy (when amped), fast (when amped), and thick. However, the bass here needs amping to shine. After amping, bass tightens and bass texture improves. Otherwise, it is pretty loose, wooly, and muddy. I highly recommend amping the DH5 as I do not like how the berry-plated DD bass sounds before amping.
• In terms of mids, it is warm, thick, and slightly recessed. Vocals here, in most cases, sound pretty good with one exception. Male vocals sound great, with a lush and thick presentation. However, female vocals, at times, sound nasal-ly and congested. Not to mention, both vocals and instruments at times can come off as slightly dry.
• In terms of treble, it is smooth and non-fatiguing in most cases. However, treble can come also off as a bit dry and crunchy. There is also a 5kHz peak which can be peaky and splashy at times. In terms of the 5kHz peak, I personally do not find the 5kHz peak to be too much of an issue. I find it to add excitement to an otherwise smooth and dry sounding treble. However, do keep in mind that the 5kHz peak IS present so if you are sensitive to that region, you might want to give the DH5 a listen before you decide to pick it up.
• In terms of timbre, I find it to be pretty decent for a hybrid set. No major complains here other than the nasally female vocals.
• Coherency (when amped) is pretty decent too for a hybrid at this price. However, amping is seriously a must. Without amping, coherency isn't great.
• In terms of soundstage, it is deeper and taller than wide. I find both depth and height to be average while width to be slightly below average.
• In terms of imaging and instrument separation, it is also average at best. BGVP DH5 images narrow and only within the soundstage that it is given.
• Transient speed and decay are fast, with the BA drivers decaying maybe a little bit too fast for my liking. I find the decay here to be almost non-existent, which is probably why the DH5 sounds dry and crunchy up top.
• Overall packaging and accessories are great. Love the 3 different types of included eartips, love the beautiful cable, love the included case.
• Noise isolation and fit are great for me too. Comfort is good. No complaints.

CONS :​

• The 5kHz peak is something to take note of. Things like cymbal crashes can come off as splashy and peaky.
• Decay is a little bit too fast for my taste. Upper mids and treble sound dry.
• Female vocals sound nasally and congested.
• The berry-plated DD driver requires amping. Without amping, bass is boomy and slow. Not pleasant.
• Coherency is bad without amping.
• In terms of detail retrieval, the DH5 isn't the best for a hybrid set at this price range, especially with a 1DD+4BA configuration. It mainly focuses on macrodetails instead of micro. Without isn't what I expect from a Hybrid setup with 4BA to work with. Nonetheless, not an issue for me as I prefer macrodetails anyways, but still worth mentioning as if you are expecting this to be more detailed than your 1DD IEMs, you'll be disappointed.

IN CONCLUSION:​

I quite like the BGVP DH5. I think that it is much better than the BGVP DN3 that was released a few months back. With both selling at around $80usd, I would recommend most to get the DH5 instead. It is better in many ways.

However, it isn't without its issues. The berry-plated DD needs amping, the 5kHz peak, nasally female vocals, dry top end, below average detail retrieval… these are issues that you have to keep in mind while picking up the DH5.

With all that said, I still quite like the DH5. I like its warm U-shaped sound signature, its midrange presentation, its tight punchy thick bass (when amped), and its overall smooth presentation.

Overall, pretty decent for $85usd. Great job BGVP.


This review unit is provided by BGVP in their BGVP DH5 review tour. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

TKZK Wave is TKZK's debut IEM at around the $40usd price range. From what I know, TKZK is a subsidiary brand of Tinhifi, who's well known for their Tin Hifi T2 and T2 Plus.

TKZK Wave retails for $35usd and features a hybrid config, with 1DD for the bass, and 1BA for the mids/highs. Upon opening the box, I am presented with 3 sets of wide-bore eartips, a carrying pouch, a 3.5mm SPC cable, and last but not least, the IEM itself.

In terms of unboxing experience, it is ok. Could definitely be better, especially with the asking price of $39usd.

However, we are here for the sound. So without further ado, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using stock tips and stock cables.

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN (IEMatch + iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX)
2. Sony A55 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ WM1Z + Normal + J region)
3. Shanling UA2
4. Shanling M3x Limited
5. Monolith USB Dac
6. Apple Dongle
7. Samsung Galaxy S9+ SE out (Exynos)

Drivability:
1. Easy to drive. Drivability shouldn't be a issue.

Click to expand...

PROS :​

• Decent neutral bright tuning that might satisfy treble lovers or people that are diehard fans of the HZSound Heart Mirror's tuning.
• Bass is clean and tight, with decent sub-bass extension. Bass here is decently textured too, with a well-textured sub-bass presentation. In terms of speed, I find it to be slightly above average for a DD bass driver at this price. In other words, enough for the bass to NOT bleed.
• In terms of midrange, it is lean and neutral sounding. Slightly on the thin side. Vocals are presented forward with a slight edge and clarity.
• In terms of treble, it is bright, sparkly, and exciting. It is decently detailed too with fast attack speed and decay.
• Coherency is decent for a hybrid at this price. No noticeable disconnect between the DD bass and BA mids/treble.
• Decent technicalities with good separation and above-average detail retrieval for the price.
• Great fit, great shell design.

CONS :​

• Metallic BA timbre. Unnatural sounding.
• Mids are a bit thin. Lacks body.
• Vocals can come off as shouty and edgy.
• Treble sounds wavy (get it? ), wonky, unbalanced, and zingy. can be harsh and peaky at times. Slight hint of sibilance too. Has that metallic BA zing to it.
• Bass lacks body and impact. Could use a bit more mid-bass. It is also somewhat dry sounding.
• Bad stock accessories for the price. I expect to at least get a carrying case.
• Bad synergy with stock tips and stock cable. Neutral bright tuning + SPC cable + wide bore tips = treble-fest.

BEST PAIRING FOR TKZK WAVE :​

• I find TKZK Wave to pair best with Fiio Bass Tips/Epro Horn and a Full Copper Cable.
• Fiio Bass tips add bass quantity and also add body to the bass/mids.
• Epro Horn adds warmth and smooths out the peakiness of the treble without rolling off the treble even more.
• Full Copper Cable thickens both bass and mids, which in return gives an overall fuller sound presentation. Vocals sound sweeter too instead of edgy.
• In terms of sources, TKZK Wave pairs best with warmer sources like Sony / iFi.

TKZK WAVE ($35USD) VS HZSOUND HEART MIRROR ($40USD - $50USD):​

I don’t normally compare hybrids to 1DD as it is like comparing apples to oranges. However, the tuning of the 2 are similar so I'll do it this time.

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• TKZK Wave is thinner, harsher, brighter, peakier, more sibilant, more incoherent, with metallic timbre and a wonky tonal balance in the treble region. However, it has better microdetails, attack speed, instrument separation, and wider soundstage than the Heart Mirror.
• HM is more natural sounding, with better tonal balance, coherency, timbre, fuller sounding bass and mids (ah… the irony), smoother more balanced treble, and a more natural presentation. However, soundstage is smaller, not as detailed in terms of microdetail, decay isn't as fast as Wave, and it is harder to drive (HM requires an amp to shine. If not will sound meh and dull).
• TKZK Wave is priced at $35usd, HM is priced at $40 - $50usd. For just a bit more, you are getting an IEM that is overall better in many ways than the TKZK Wave. However, it requires amping to shine.
• If you want an easy-to-drive hybrid with a neutral bright signature, go for TKZK Wave. If you have an amp or a powerful DAP, go for HM as it is the better choice (at least IMO, YMMV).

CONCLUSION:​

The TKZK Wave is a decent neutral bright-sounding hybrid IEM at the $35usd price range.

As their first ever debut IEM, I think TKZK did a decent job providing an IEM that isn't your "typical" Harman or V-shaped sounding IEM. Instead, they opted for something that is closer to the Diffuse Field target.

However, its wavy (wonky) treble, metallic timbre, thin bass/mids, and edgy peaky treble are something to take note of.

If you are a huge fan of the Heart Mirror and you are looking for a hybrid that sounds somewhat like it, then sure, go for the TKZK Wave! You might like this one.


This review unit is provided by TKZK in their TKZK Wave review tour. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.


Interested in getting the TKZK Wave? Here are the links (non-affiliated):

1. TKZK Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TKZK2021
2. (purchase link is not yet available. No information on when will it be released too. Will keep you guys updated

The KB Ear Aurora is KB Ear's latest 1DD IEM offering at the sub-$200usd price range. It retails for $169usd and features a 10mm Titanium Plated Dynamic Driver. In terms of unboxing experience, I think KB Ear did a great job. Upon opening the box, I am presented with 5 sets of KB Ear a07 tips, 3 sets of KB Ear 10 Eartips, a cleaning cloth, a cleaning brush, a faux leather case, a blue colour 4-core SPC cable, and last but not least, the KB Ear Aurora itself.

Overall, pretty happy with the unboxing experience here. No complaints! In terms of the provided stock tips, I find KB Ear a07 to sound better with the Aurora, so that is what I'll be using for the review. The KB ear 10 eartips, although makes the Aurora sound more open and resolving, it tames the mid-bass a bit too much for my taste.

With that out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using stock KB Ear a07 eartips and stock cable.

KB Ear Aurora FR graph​

Click to expand...

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN (IEMatch + iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX)
2. Sony A55 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ WM1Z + Normal + J region)
3. Shanling UA2
4. Shanling M3x Limited
5. Monolith USB Dac
6. Apple Dongle
7. Samsung Galaxy S9+ SE out (Exynos)

Drivability:
1. Pretty easy to drive. Sounds great with my Apple Dongle and my phone.
2. Scales very well with amping/sources too.

Click to expand...

PROS :​

• I would describe the sound signature here to be warm, lush, and smooth. The tuning here is Warm Harman. The easiest way to imagine how the Aurora will sound is to imagine BL03, but with much better technicalities.
• In terms of bass, I would describe the bass here to be thick, warm, punchy, and full. It is more mid-bass-focused than sub-bass, but it is far from being a basshead-only IEM. In terms of speed, I'd say that the DD bass in the Aurora is impressive. It manages to strike the balance between speed and quantity - where the bass is fast enough so that the bass won't bleed into the mids, but also at the same time, manage to sound full and lush without coming off as dry. The bass here isn't as fast as the Oxygen or the KB Ear BElieve (when driven well), but I actually enjoy the bass here more than Oxygen's and Believe's. Why? Well, the same reason why I can't let go of the BLON Bl-03 - The bass quantity is just perfect ( don’t forget that Aurora has much better technicalities too).
• In terms of the mids, I would describe the midrange here to be warm, full, and lush. It is slightly recessed though, but in my opinion, this is what makes the Aurora analogue sounding and "so pleasant to listen to. In terms of vocals, I find both male and female vocals to sound pretty organic here. Instruments, too, sound pretty organic. Both instruments and vocals are presented in a thick and lush manner.
• In terms of treble, I would describe the treble here to be sweet, smooth, and well-extended. Just like most Harman-tuned IEMs, the treble here is smooth, non-fatiguing, non-sibilant, and very easy to listen to for long hours. However, unlike most warm/dark sounding IEMs, Aurora's treble is pretty well-extended. I was pretty surprised by its somewhat airy treble signature. Now, keep in mind that these are NOT the airiest, especially when compared to IEMs like Tanchjim Oxygen and KB Ear BElieve, but these are up there for sure (for a <$200usd 1DD IEM).
• In terms of timbre, these are pretty good. KB Ear Aurora sounds natural and organic.
• The soundstage here is pretty well-rounded. With decent width, depth, and height. I would describe the soundstage here to be somewhat like a sphere.
• In terms of imaging, it is pretty good! It images around your head, with above-average imaging capabilities.
• The Warm Harman tuning + well-rounded soundstage + above average imaging make the Aurora a very good IEM for both casual and competitive gaming.
• Easy to drive and scales well with sources.
• Very good accessories set. Great case, great tips, great cable. No tip/cable rolling required.
• Noise isolation + fit for me is great. However, the shell size might be a bit too big for some.

CONS :​

• Not the most resolving 1DD set at this price range.
• Slightly lacking in terms of detail retrieval and clarity.
• Shell size might be a bit too big for some.

KB EAR AURORA ($169USD) VS KB EAR BELIEVE ($180USD - DISCONTINUED)​

KB Ear Aurora vs KB Ear BElieve FR graph​

Click to expand...

• KB Ear BElieve is much more resolving, with better detail retrieval, treble, and air. Bass is faster with better texture, upper mids and treble are more pronounced. However, its upper mids and treble can be hot at times, and it is also SUPER HARD TO DRIVE. Looking to use the BElieve outdoors? Good luck…
• KB Ear Aurora is warmer, smoother, and much easier to drive. It has better bass (in terms of enjoyment), and is overall the better choice for long, non-fatiguing listening sessions. However, in terms of resolution and details, nowhere near KB Ear BElieve's level.
• Personally, I prefer the BElieve. It is currently (at the time of writing), my FAVOURITE 1DD IEM to date. However, the fact that only my desktop amp (the iFi Zen CAN) can drive the BElieve well, makes using it a pain in the ass at times…
• KB Ear Aurora, on the other hand, sounds great with anything, be it a cheap dongle or a powerful desktop amp.

KB EAR AURORA ($169USD) VS BLON BL-03 ($25USD)​

Not a fair comparison at all, but if you are looking to upgrade from the BL-03, this might be useful for you.​

Click to expand...

KB Ear Aurora vs BLON BL-03 FR graph​

Click to expand...

• The KB Ear Aurora sounds like the BLON BL-03, but with much better technicalities.
• If you are looking to upgrade from the BLON BL-03, do expect better speed, better technicalities, better soundstage, better imaging, better detail retrieval, and better resolution.
• In other words, the KB Ear Aurora IS the BLON BL-03, but better in every way.

IN CONCLUSION:​

KB Ear Aurora is perfect for those BLON BL-03 lovers that can't seem to let go of the BLON BL-03 (I know you're out there!) thanks to its amazing bass, timbre, and its warm, inviting sound.

Well, I do not want to sound like a broken record, but the KB Ear Aurora is literally the BLON BL-03, but with much better technicalities.

If you are looking for a warm Harman-sounding IEM with amazing bass, decent technicalities, with a smooth non-fatiguing sound, look no further as the KB Ear Aurora is it.

This review unit is provided by HILL AUDIO - MY in their KB EAR Aurora review tour. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

CVJ Angel Wings is CVJ's latest budget hybrid IEM. It comes in at $24.99usd with a 1DD+1BA hybrid configuration. In terms of unboxing experience, I think this is CVJ's best unboxing experience to date! It has a pretty looking anime art piece on the outer box, and upon opening the box, I am presented with a set of silicone ear tips (S,M,L), a 4 core SPC cable, and the IEM itself.

As mentioned above, this is CVJ's best unboxing experience to date. However, the included cables are DOA, a.k.a Dead On Arrival. Because of this, I have to use my CVJ CSN's stock cable for the purpose of this review…. Your experience may vary. Hopefully, this isn't a common issue with their so-called "improved" 4-core SPC cable.

Anyways, I am optimistic. With that out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using stock tips and CVJ CSN's stock cable.

Source used:
1. iFi Zen DAC + iFi Zen CAN (IEMatch + iSilencer Plus + iPurifier3 + iPower + iPowerX)
2. Sony A55 (MrW WalkmanOne w/ Warm + Plus v2 + DAC initialized)
3. Shanling UA2
4. Shanling M3x Limited
5. Monolith USB Dac

Click to expand...

PROS :​

• Bass is thick, warm, punchy. It is also decently textured with good sub-bass rumble.
• Soundstage is decently wide for the price.
• CVJ's best presentation and box design as of yet! Love the art piece and the overall unboxing experience of the Angel Wings.
• IEM design is great. Fit is decent too.

CONS :​

• Overly thick Bass and terrible bass bleed that bleeds into the mids and causes the midrange to sound like a bloated mess.
• Midrange sound like a bloated mess. Warm, thick, muffled, and chunky
• Upper mids sound sucked out and hollow.
• Female vocals sound muffled and lethargic. Male vocals sound boxy and oversaturated
• Treble sounds muted and dead. Early roll-off. Has weird upper treble peaks too
• Technicalities are below average. Nothing to write home about. Below average soundstage width, below-average speed, below-average detail retrieval, blurred transients….
• Coherency is bad. Timbre is unnatural
• Stock cable came broken (no sound on the left side). However, CVJ is kind enough to send me a new one with my next purchase so all is good.

IN CONCLUSION:​

I am a massive fan of the CVJ Mirror and CVJ CSN. Those 2 are my favourite sub-$50usd hybrid IEM to date…… so seeing Angel Wings this bad makes me sad...... because I really want this to be good.

Just like CVJ CSK, I think that CVJ Angel Wings is a flop and I do not know who to recommend this to.

Sure, CVJ did put effort into improving their box designs and enhancing the overall unboxing experience, but I think that they should have instead put all those efforts into refining the tuning more… because the CVJ Angel Wings ain't it.

However, credit where credit's due, the unboxing experience, IEM design, box design are pretty great. So kudos CVJ?

But yeah. Overall, not recommended. You can get much better IEMs at much lower prices.

This review unit is provided by CVJ in return for my honest opinions. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tri i3 Pro is Tri (KB Ear)'s latest take on a tri-bird IEM. It is the successor to the well-regarded Tri i3 and it comes in at $189usd ($40usd more than Tri i3). It sports a 3 driver configuration, with 1DD for the bass, 1BA for the mids, and 1 Planar driver for the highs. Upon opening the "space-themed" box, I have presented a pleather case, 2 different types of ear tips (3 pairs of stock eartips and 5 pairs of KB Ear a07), a cleaning brush, a 3.5mm OFC cable, and last but not least, the IEM itself.

In terms of unboxing experience, I think that Tri nailed it. It feels premium and appropriate for the price point. Overall, pretty happy with the unboxing experience here.

With the unboxing out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done usng stock eartips and stock cable.

PROS :​

• The tuning here is somewhat Harman-like. It has sub-bass boost, lean mids, upper mids boost, and smooth treble. I would describe the sound signature here to be transparent, open, smooth.
• In terms of bass, I would describe the bass here to be well-extended and clean. The bass here is sub-bass focused, with impactful sub-bass, great texture, and great slam. However, the mid-bass is a bit lacking and lightweight. Depending on your library, this could be a good or bad thing. If you listen to mostly modern music with tons of sub-bass, then you are in for a treat as the sub-bass here is really impactful and tasteful. However, if you mainly listen to genres like rock or classic hip-hop, where there's not much sub-bass, the bass here can come off as flat and lacking.
• The midrange here is transparent, open, and lean. Vocal presence is good too with crisp, clear, forward vocals. It is also pretty detailed, with 3D-like staging and instrument separation. However, the midrange here lacks body. Thanks to Tri i3 Pro's mid-bass (or lack thereof), vocals and midrange sound thin, which throws the timbre off a little.
• In terms of treble, the treble here is smooth, yet resolving. The easiest way to describe the treble here is that it has good planar resolution, yet it is smooth and non-fatiguing. It shines when amped, and I find it pretty enjoyable (for the most part). However, I think the low-treble dip makes the treble here sound muted. It is like the "planar treble" is somewhat missing. I would be much happier if the treble dip isn't there, but it is what it is.
• In terms of soundstage, it is big and airy. The staging here is pretty big, with good width, height, and depth. I would describe it as being somewhat like a hall.
• Imaging is pretty good too with good imaging and separation.
• In terms of drivability, I would disagree that Tri i3 Pro is easy to drive, as the planar highs definitely need amping to shine. However, I would say that it is "easier" to drive than expected. I expected it to require more juice, is what I'm trying to say. Anyways, as long as you have a decent enough amp, you should be good.
• Unboxing experience is pretty good. With good accessories, good case, great tips selection, great cable.

CONS :​

• Treble dip can be too smooth for some. Makes me feel like the "planar treble" is somewhat missing.
• Mid-bass lacks impact. A bit too soft for my liking.
• Cable IEM synergy is off. Treble is too smooth with stock cable. KB Ear Limpid 8 core pairs much better with Tri i3 Pro. Brings out the "planar treble", adds air, and overall improves the treble extension and articulation
• Coherency is off without amping. Treble, bass, mids sound separated. DD Bass is limp, planar treble sounds like dying, and the BA mids sounds separated
• Noise isolation isn't good. Isolates like a semi-open IEM. Outside noise can be heard
• Air pressure build up over time. Driver flex?
• Not the most dynamic sounding. Dynamics could be better

BEST PAIRING FOR TRI I3 PRO :​

• I find Tri i3 Pro to pair best with KB Ear Limpid 8 Core "Pure Silver" Cable
• KB ear Limpid fixes the "Planar treble" issue that I have. With stock cable, I find that the treble is too smooth for a Planar tri-bird. KB Ear Limpid 8 Core brings out the "planar treble" more, adds, air, and overall improves the treble extension and articulation.

TRI I3 PRO ($189USD) VS BQEYZ SPRING 2 ($169USD) :​

• Spring 2 is warmer fuller more natural sounding, with warmer thicker bass (but not as defined or textured as Tri i3 Pro), warmer fuller mids, fuller lusher vocals, more textured / better-defined treble. Soundstage is slightly narrower with better depth. Imaging is slightly better imo. Timbre and coherency are better than Tri i3 Pro.
• Tri i3 Pro is leaner sounding, with deeper more impactful sub-bass, better bass texture and slam but lacking in mid-bass punch, mids are leaner more transparent but lacks body, vocals have good clarity but can come off as thin and lacks fullness of the Spring 2, and treble is smoother but more resolving. Soundstage is wider than Spring 2.
• Winner: It depends. Tri i3 pro has better bass in terms of texture, extension, and slam, but Spring 2 has fuller thicker mid-bass which is more tasteful. Tri i3 Pro has leaner more transparent mids, but Spring 2 has fuller thicker mids with better timbre. Tri i3 Pro treble is smoother with better resolution, but Spring 2's treble has better texture and definition. Technicality wise, they are similar too as compared above.

TRI I3 PRO ($189USD) VS BQEYZ SUMMER ($129USD) ❄:​

• Summer is brighter more V-shaped sounding, with tighter punchier more dynamic and more impactful mid-bass, brighter clearer tighter mids, brighter more forward and sibilant vocals, brighter splashier better defined/textured treble. Note weight on Summer is slightly thicker in bass/lower mids but thinner in upper mids/treble region. Soundstage is slightly wider but flatter than Tri i3 Pro, timbre and coherency aren't as good as Tri i3 Pro as Summer's upper mids/treble can come off as thin while bass / lower mids sound warm and fuller.
• Tri i3 Pro is smoother, warmer, not as V-shaped. Bass has better sub-bass impact and texture but lacks dynamics and mid-bass impact, mids are more open and transparent but a bit lacking in body and note weight, vocals are slightly smoother not as crisp as Summer, and treble is smoother warmer with better resolution. Soundstage is bigger on the Tri i3 pro with similar width but much better depth and height. Timbre and coherency are slightly better on the Tri i3 pro.
• Winner: Again, it depends. Tri i3 Pro has better sub-bass texture and slam, but Summer has fuller punchier tighter mid-bass with good sub-bass extension. Tri i3 Pro has more transparent mids, but can come off as flat. While Summer has clearer tighter mids presentation. Vocals on the Summer are crispier clearer, but with a hint of sibilance at times. While Tri i3 Pro vocal presentation is smoother whilst still being forward and clear. Tri i3 Pro treble is smoother with better resolution, but Summer's treble has better texture, better definition, crispier, brighter, and splashier. Summer has better note weight in terms of bass / lower mids but has thin note weight in terms of upper mids/treble. Coherency and timbre are slightly better with the Tri i3 Pro.

IN CONCLUSION:​

At around the sub-$200usd mark, you have 3 options (and more) for tri-birds: Tri i3 Pro, BQEYZ Spring 2, or BQEYZ Summer.

Whichever you choose is up to you. I have compared all 3 of them and frankly speaking, none of them is perfect.

Each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses. Which aspects are more important is entirely up to you, your personal preferences, and your music library.

In terms of Tri i3 Pro itself, I think that Tri i3 pro is pretty good. It has great sub-bass, lean mids, smooth resolving Planar highs, big soundstage, good imaging, and good detail. If you listen to mostly modern Hip-Hop/Pop music (or any music with fat sub-bass), Tri i3 Pro will seriously shine with its impactful and rumbly sub-bass.

However, if you mostly listen to rock or genres without sub-bass, Tri i3 Pro's bass might come off as too lean/lacking to you thanks to its flat mid-bass.

Overall, Tri i3 Pro is a pretty decent tri-bird that I wouldn't mind recommending to some folks. Sure, it isn't perfect. But with the right music and library, Tri i3 Pro can seriously shine.


This review unit is provided by HILL AUDIO - MY as part of their Tri i3 Pro review tour. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hisenior Fe3U is Hisenior's full BA IEM offering at the sub-$300usd price range. It retails for $249usd and it sports 3 Sonion BA drivers (Sonion 33AJ and 2323) with 1BA for the lows, 1BA for the mids, and 1BA for the highs. Upon opening the box, I am presented with a rounded aluminum case, a few sets of tips, a 3.5mm 8core silver-plated OCC cable, a microfiber cloth, and last but not least, the IEM itself.

Overall, pretty happy with the unboxing experience here. I love how simple the box design is. It is just all black with the "Febos" logo on it. As Hisenior puts it: "Would you be willing to pay more 50$-100$ for a fancy packing?"

With the unboxing out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using stock eartips and cable.

PROS :​

• The tuning here is flat neutral, with a tilt towards brightness. There is a treble peak at 6kHz so do keep this in mind. With that said, the Hisenior Fe3U measures just like the $500usd Shure Se535. It uses the same driver configuration as the Shure Se535 too.
• I would describe the bass here to be BA bass well done. The bass here is tight, punchy, and pretty well textured. It has a slight bump in the mid-bass (around 4dB) which gives the bass body, punch, and ultimately, prevents the bass from sounding lifeless or dry. However, just like most full BA IEMs, there is a slight sub-bass roll-off, so sub-bass extension isn't the best. Not to mention, the bass here is slightly dry too. With all that said, I really enjoyed the bass here in terms of both technicality and tonality wise (with the bass here leaning more toward the technical side). The bass here is really well textured, well layered, with fast, punchy bass that works with any genres I throw at it.
• Midrange here is crisp, clear, and technical. I would describe it as lean, transparent, and detailed. It is pretty open and spacious too, with great instrument separation and great layering. Detail retrieval is pretty impressive, with more emphasis on micro details than macro. Details are presented forward and more "in your face", which further contributes to its crisp and detailed midrange.
• In terms of vocal presentation, vocals here sound crisp, detailed, and natural. The best way to describe how vocals are presented here is that it has the vocal presentation of the Hisenior T2 Classic, but with a crispier brighter presentation. With that said, with its +5dB pinna gain (or lack thereof), vocal and midrange presentation are more natural and laidback, instead of the more forward and aggressive presentation that we are so accustomed to with Harman's usual +10dB~ pinna gain. However, do not mistake that as veiled or recessed as with the Fe3U, both male and female vocals sound crystal clear and intimate with no signs of aggressiveness or shoutiness. IMO the midrange here is pretty well-tuned.
• In terms of transients and decay, Hisenior Fe3U has clean snappy transients and fast speedy decay. Quite technical but this also means that Fe3U can come off as dry.
• The treble is slightly bright, sparkly, well-textured, and detailed. It can be splashy at times too thanks to the 6kHz peak. I like the treble here as I think it is pretty resolving. However, I can only use it for short listening sessions. This is because thanks to the 6kHz peak, the treble here can come off as splashy and peaky. After a few hours of listening, my ears start to get fatigued and uncomfortable. Not to mention, I also got a bit of ringing sensation in my ears, which is probably not a good sign for my general hearing.
• In terms of soundstage, the soundstage is pretty big and expansive. It is pretty expansive in all directions. It has good width, good height, and good depth. I would describe the soundstage here to be somewhat like a hall.
• The imaging is pretty wide and accurate too. It is able to accurately pinpoint instruments that are far away, and also those that are close and intimate. Using it for games is pretty nice too. Thanks to its expansive soundstage and imaging, pinpointing enemies' location in FPS games is pretty easy and effortless.
• As mentioned above, Hisenior Fe3U's detail retrieval and resolution are really good. It is pretty detailed all throughout the entire frequency spectrum. It has detailed bass, detailed mids, and detailed highs.
• It is also super easy to drive. Can be driven on anything.
• Really good sound isolation and fit. Fits my ears well too, somewhat like a CIEM. Do keep in mind that fit is subjective.
• Beautiful shell design too. Love the purple colour and faceplate design! I am sure the picture speaks for itself.
• You can get them as Custom IEMs too. Just refer to the product page below for more information (Do keep in mind that getting them as CIEM will cost you slightly more).

CONS :​

• BA timbre. Slightly glassy and dry. But that is the price you pay for crystal clear/glassy mids.
• Treble lacking in terms of air.
• This is a ventless 3BA IEM. Although isolation and fit are perfect, there will be air pressure build-up in your ears over time.
• 6kHz treble peak could be a potential dealbreaker for you. Treble can come off as splashy and peaky! If you are sensitive to the 6kHz region, this might not be for you. It is also fatiguing after long listening sessions so do keep this in mind.
• Filterless nozzle might not be the best for longevity. I'll recommend getting some filters
• Not the best for long listening sessions. The treble 6kHz peak gave me ear fatigue and a bit of ringing sensation. If you are looking for an IEM for long hours of use, this might not be for you.

HISENIOR T2 CLASSIC ($119USD) VS HISENIOR FE3U ($249USD):​

• T2 Classic sounds softer, smoother, better timbre, warmer. Bass isn't as punchy, transients aren't as fast, more laidback smooth vocal presentation (especially females), layering and depth aren't as good, roughly the same soundstage width, with fe3U being slightly wider. Treble is much smoother and non-fatiguing than Fe3U. Technicality-wise, T2 Classic is a few notches under Fe3U. Fe3U is in another league.
• Fe3U sounds crispier, clearer, brighter, drier. It is punchier, bigger, more detailed, with better texture, better imaging, and better soundstage. Bass is punchier tighter with better texture, midrange sounds crisper clearer and more open, vocals sound more detailed crispier and intimate, treble is brighter sparklier splashier. In terms of technicalities, it is in another league in comparison to T2 Classic. However, treble can come off as splashy and harsh thanks to the 6kHz peak.
• Winner: Hisenior Fe3U with a big BUT. Yes, technicality-wise, Fe3U blows T2 Classic out of the water. It has better bass, better mids, better treble, better detail, better everything. But because of its fatiguing 6kHz peak, I can't really use Fe3U for long hours. On the other hand, T2 Classic is smooth, non-fatiguing, and easy to listen to for long listening sessions.

IN CONCLUSION:​

Hisenior Fe3U is a pretty solid full BA IEM at the sub-$250usd price range. It has great technicalities with good bass, good mids, and good highs.

Furthermore, it has the same driver configuration and similar tuning to the legendary Shure Se535 (which costs $500usd btw). So if you are a big fan of Shure's tuning, the Fe3U could be a great choice for you.

However, I can only use the Fe3U for short, critical listening sessions. This is because its 6kHz peak can be peaky and fatiguing after a while. For longer listening sessions, I much prefer its smaller brother, the Hisenior T2 Classic thanks to its smoother, warmer, non-fatiguing sound signature.

With that said, I still love the Fe3U. I love its flat neutral tuning with its punchy bass, transparent mids, sparkly detailed highs… Not to mention, its expansive soundstage and accurate imaging.

So yeah. The Fe3U gets my recommendation. If you are fine with the 6kHz peak and are looking for a highly technical and detailed set with a flat neutral tuning, the Hisenior Fe3U might just be for you.

This review unit is provided by HiseniorAudio in their Hisenior review tour. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.


Interested in getting the Hisenior Fe3U? Here are the links (non-affiliated):
• Universal - https://www.hisenior-iem.com/collec...buds/products/noise-cancelling-earphones-fe3u
• Custom - https://www.hisenior-iem.com/collections/custom-in-ear-monitors/products/wired-earbuds-fe3u

Interested in getting the Hisenior T2 Classic? Here are the links (non-affiliated):
• Universal - https://www.hisenior-iem.com/collections/universal-in-ear-headphones-earbuds/products/t2-classic
• Custom - https://www.hisenior-iem.com/collec...buds/products/t2-in-ear-monitors-for-drummers