HIDIZS S9 PRO+ MARTHA 3 ★★★​

, it does not offer an independent volume control. The increment of volume per steps is not many but it is not that powerful so, it is more than usable. The gain is fixed, as I don’t see any gain-switch on user’s manual. Thankfully, it does provide a 6-ways of digital filters which gives a very subtle change to your music. Its very easy to operate. Not a bad feature.

- As for SYNERGY, it is best to pair the S9PRO+ with a warm and less technical gears. Due to it’s sound profile, it is not a very versatile DAC.

- For 139USD retailed, it is not very well priced. There are much better offerings for half the PRICE. But it does go on sales quite often for around 89USD.


~ HEAD-2-HEAD : IN-DEPTH COMPARISON ~

VS TANCHJIM SPACE [DUAL-CS43131] x BAT AUDIO OTG
[SOUND QUALITY 8/10 VALUE: 8/10] [NEUTRAL-BRIGHT]

The Hidizs S9PRO+ then is by no means a terrible dongle. Unfortunately, on the pursuit of chasing higher fidelity, its started to lose sight of what is important which is the naturalness of tone and timbre. It does not need to achieve a 10/10 score on timbral accuracy, it only needs to sound natural enough to our ears. And it didn’t quite do that well. Sure, Hi-RES sound will definitely impress you on short-blast but on longer sessions, the naturalness of tone and timbre will play a bigger role. Once you notice that off-timbre, you just cannot go unnoticed. I find it quite hard to recommend to people especially with that 139$USD price-tag. Even on a 50% discount, it’s hard for me to vouch. I recently reviewed the COLORFLY CDA M1P, I do prefer that quite abit. Preference aside, I’m sorry Hidizs, you have to do better than this. Competitions are tough these days!

========================================================================

● Native FLAC Files [44.1Khz 16bits-96Khz 24bits]​

【PLAYLIST／TEST-TRACKS】​

Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit. Big thanks to the @ Hidizs Tour Malaysia (Facebook) for making this possible!
Non-Affiliate Link:
https://www.hidizs.net/

EXTRA PHOTOS

COLORFLY CDA M1P 4 ★★★★​

▓▒░ SOUND-SIGNATURE ░▒▓
- It sounds warm, smooth, rich with organic tone & timbre.

▓▒░ BASS/LOW-END ░▒▓
- The low-end has good presence and control without being too domineering. It has a slight mid-upper bass biased with adequate sub-bass pressure and sustain.

- There is a noticeable sub-bass roll-off on the lowest region of the bassline. Those sub-bass kick and rumbling sensation has been dialled down a little but it is not severely lacking.

- The mid-upper bass region has greater density. It’s thick and thumpy. It does bleed ever so slightly onto the low-mid-range, giving vocal and instrument a welcoming sense of body and warmth.

- The overall bass layering and dynamic is good but not outstanding. The bass attack is not going to be the most visceral in class as it remains gentle but still impactful. The decay-rate is excellent especially on filter 1-2. All and all a solid bass performer.

▓▒░ MID-RANGE /VOCAL ░▒▓
- The greatest strength of the M1P lies in its mid-range presentation. The vocal and instrument will come across more to the fore.

- It may not have the highest level of vocal transparency but the richness and fullness of vocals is something many people would appreciate. The energy from the lowest to highest voice range is well dispersed.

- Having said that, the naturalness of vocal transient remains top-notch, it's got none of that edginess, sharpness or metallic sheen regardless of pairing.

▓▒░ TREBLE/HIGHS ░▒▓
- As for the highs, due to the intimate presentation, treble elements are well received without overly sharp or smoothed-out despite going for the more laidback, warmer approach. The brightness hits right on the sweet spot without being overbearingly hot or shrill, combined with that warmish low-end, it is quite the pleasant experience. The treble remains evenly smooth and well-extended with acceptable air presence. This trait allows it to pair with wider-range of sound-profile.

- It’s got none of that harshness, grains, distortion or any unnecessary noise which could degrade its refinement.

- As for the downsides, the treble could use with abit more bite for added definition. Secondly, it is not the most forgiving to sibilant tracks. Even so, the sibilance does not come across as piercing which is great. And it has to be said that, it is not so forgiving on low-fi. Hence, most of the bad artifacts on recordings can’t go unnoticed. Other than that, there isn’t much to complaint when considering the tuning it’s trying to achieve.

✧ ════ •TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE• ════ ✧
- The HEAD-STAGE plays with more width than height with adequate sense of depth. For an intimate or immersive presentation, the space and dimension doesn’t seem to be lacking.

- As for 3D/IMAGING factor, it is not it’s strong point. The instrument placement or transition of sound between channels are mostly accurate but not razor sharp.

- When it comes to SEPARATION & LAYERING, clearly, it is not class leading. The background is not pitch black while the gap between each element isn’t generous due to that close, intimate staging. Hence, any gears that doesn’t have good separation prowess tend to struggle on busier tracks.

- The MACRO-DETAIL though is good, the MICRO-DETAIL is lacking behind versus some of its competitors. - And the dynamic-range isn’t that high. As a result, it is not going to reward listeners with pure music engagement but rather a relaxing and smooth experience. But it will be exaggerating to say that it sounds uninspiring, soulless and dull because it isn’t.

- The reason you get the M1P is because of its organic TONE & TIMBRE. It’s got none of that artificial attribute that can sometimes irk timbre-heads. The richness and fullness to the sound is quite addicting. Plus, that laid-back nature gives it a soothing experience which is great on longer listening session.

- As for the BUILD, it is very solid but it is quite heavy. Definitely one of the heaviest dongles I’ve tested.

- It's DRIVING POWER is great. Amplification-rate on low/high gain for both 3.5 SE or 4.4 BAL out-put is pretty high. And more importantly, it delivers a hiss-free power delivery. Pairing with sensitive gears shouldn’t be a problem.

- Unfortunately, the power-draw isn’t the most efficient. The heat management could be better as it can get as hot as your coffee or tea.

- As for FEATURES, it provides an independent volume adjustment (with small increment volume steps), 2-way gain switch and 6-level of digital filters (give subtle difference) with a tiny LED indicator which is very user friendly.

- As for SYNERGY, I’d recommend pairing the M1P with something that is neutral or bright. With warmer gears, it can sound a tad too warm.

- And finally the PRICE, for a 79$ USD retailed, it presents an amazing value. It gives ample of performance for so little money.

~ HEAD-2-HEAD : IN-DEPTH COMPARISON ~

Vs TANCHJIM SPACE [Dual-CS43131] x BAT AUDIO OTG
[SOUND QUALITY 8/10 VALUE: 8/10] [NEUTRAL-BRIGHT]

"My nearly 1 year old Tanchjim SPACE OTG connectors has gone loose. Hence, I’m using an aftermarket OTG during the test which may alter the sound by 5% at best."

● Native FLAC Files [44.1Khz 16bits-96Khz 24bits]​

【PLAYLIST／TEST-TRACKS】​

Leisurely plays your library…

Pros:
+ Well-balance and mature tuning.
+ Good bassline performance from a planar stand-point.
+ Good mid-range substance and presence.
+ Plays male vocals rather well.
+ Anti-shout tuning.
+ The treble still runs high without put forward.
+ Low symptoms of planar timbre; have some of the least metallic treble.
+ Good for long listening session. Comfortable & Pleasant.
+ Not source picky.
+ Well-accessorized.

Cons:
- Pricing is a bit steep but still worth it IMHO.
- Sub-bass could use with higher pressure and sustain.
- Lower-treble recession is affecting the transient of higher-pitch female vocals.
- Treble clarity and definition are second-rate vs its rival.
- Micro-detail aren’t the best in planar game.
- Dynamic-range aren’t the widest. Not the most engaging.
- Does not have the blackest of background.
Hence affecting the clarity of instrument placement & separation.
- Staging & Imaging capabilities are just average.
- A smidge harder to drive than some of its counter-part.
- Not for treble-head nor bass-head.

LETSHUOER S15 4 ★★★★

▓▒░ SOUND-SIGNATURE ░▒▓

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry.
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now.
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!!
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”／Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 ／Sanmon Shosetsu
2021 OWV – Fifth Season
2021 加藤　ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.-
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière - Sweet Dreams
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Far far away
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Hey, dear my friends
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)

Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit. Big thanks to the @Edmund for making this possible!

If you like me to review your IEM/DAC/AMPS please hit me up:
https://www.facebook.com/DevaPainAkatsuki/

EXTRA PHOTOS

BINARY ACOUSTICS X GIZAUDIO – CHOPIN

Timmy’s best collab?

PROS:
+ Powerful but not forceful bassline.
+ Clean and clear mid-range/vocal
+ Evenly smooth treble response.
+ High sibilance and shout tolerance.
+ Good sound refinement. Hardly any major issue.
+ Great driver coherency for a 1+3 setup.
+ Non-fatiguing Sound.
+ Has minimal BA timbre.
+ Reasonably price.
+ Shell construction - well-built and light weight.
+ Provide extra protection; Case & microfiber pouch x2
+ Owning one will make Timmy happy XD

CONS:
- Upper mid-bass lacks energy.
- Limited energy on higher voice-range.
- Chesty male vocals lacking a bit of oomph
- Average micro-detail for the price.
- Potential fit issue due to unique shell design.
- Not the most fun tuning, can get bored rather quickly.
- Not the best for rock/metal genre.

[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! Please Avoid This!
2 ★★ Subpar Offering, There Are Better Options Out There!
3 ★★★ Decent With Some Caveats! You Should Consider This !
4 ★★★★ Not Perfect But Solid Choice ! This Should Be In Your Shortlist.
5 ★★★★★ Class Leading! You Should Go Right Ahead & Buy One!

Binary x Gizaudio - Chopin 4 ½ ★★★★

▓▒░ SOUND-SIGNATURE ░▒▓
It is neutral with a bass boost. The tri-frequency is relatively well-balanced. The bassline is sub-bass oriented with a relatively shy upper-mid-bass presence. The mid-range/vocal are rather intimate with a more forward upper-mids/female vocals. The treble has a nice smooth roll-off with adequate air presence.


▓▒░ BASS/LOW-ENDSOUND ░▒▓
● The bassline is well very executed. It has never come across being overly forward or too energetic. It is powerful but not forceful. The low-end has a very pronounce sub-bass that extend quite down low. The rumbling and booming effects are well-textured with great control, thanks to its precise attack and decay. Alongside that, it’s very capable on retrieving those reverbs and echo which are often present in the background or vocal replay.

● The mid-bass doesn’t quite carry the same vibe and energy. It is more reserved by comparison, especially on the upper-mid bass region. The attack is by no means soft, it’s just lacking forwardness. As a result, any kick, slam, punch and thump will not have the most satisfying replay, lacking that initial impact on transient.

● Despite that, the bass control is excellent. There is hardly any bleed or bloat that could potentially impedes its mid-range. Only on a very busy tracks, that the bass will struggle just a little. Energy wise, it may not have the best balance between sub-bass to mid-bass but the overall bass texturing and layering is quite solid for the price.

▓▒░ MID-RANGE /VOCAL ░▒▓
● The mid-range is probably its greatest strength. The overall presentation is on the intimate side with a smooth and clean replay. It offers great balance between euphony and clarity. Vocal transparency isn’t the best in class but in trade, it offers listeners with a pleasant vocal reproduction.

● The leftover warmth coming from its bassline truly helps in giving its vocals and instrument an adequate amount of body/heft that it needs. Some male vocals may not have the best reproduction as they prefer a lusher, richer and deeper tone for added presence. As female vocal is more rewarding here. They’re more engaging to listen to. But some of the upper-range of the voice has been trimmed out which makes it’s a more forgivable to shout or scream. Some might find it restraining but to most people, it is the safer approach. And not to mention, there is not even a single BA-grain is heard which is impressive.

● Most instrument that lies in this region never seems to lack note-weight. Overall, transient on strings/guitar plucks, piano hits and violin strums have a more rounded edge to them. Regardless, it’s mid-range still come across as musical and natural.

▓▒░ TREBLE/HIGHS ░▒▓
● The darkish response gives its treble a nice sense of warm hues to the highs. Having said that, air-extension is still presence though. It’s got just about enough brightness and forwardness to not sound dim. There is almost zero unwanted resonance coming from the highs. It remains fairly even up across the top-end.

● The attack is sharp enough with adequate note-weight. Hit-hats and cymbals have good timbre while synthetic noise such as electronic zings, sizzles or shimmering has a nice ring to them. This kind of tuning, make it’s a very suitable set for a long listening session. It is never fatiguing.

● Treble refinement is definitely one of the best among its competitors. It’s got none of those degrading qualities such as sibilance, peaks, grains, distortion, sharpness or metallic sheen. Treble definition is good but not top-tier which is to be expected. All and all, it’s a proper one. You really have to pay a lot higher to surpass this level of treble quality. Still, a hardcore treble-head might find it to sound abit too safe. If energetic and vibrant treble is your type of jam, you might find it uninspiring.

✧ ════ •TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE• ════ ✧
The overall HEAD-STAGE of the Chopin is pretty decent. It’s got decent depth to stage but plays more width than height. The mid-range/vocals are more to the fore but not domineering. The instrument/background elements wrap around the vocalist with adequate sense of spaces between them. On busier tracks, the INSTRUMENT SEPARATION may falter just a tad but it is perfectly normal for this tier.

- The STEREO-IMAGING on the Chopin is competent enough. The instrument placement is quite accurate conduct but not the most vivid I’ve heard. The transition of sound between channels are rather well articulate. It flows from left to right smoothly but not the sharpest I’ve heard.

- The DETAIL HANDLING is not its strongest forte as it took on the more musical approach rather than analytical. But the level of detail retrieval is potent enough to carry its tuning. Its DYNAMIC RANGE is pretty good, it is not too energetic nor it is too boring. It carries just about enough emotions to keep you engaged to your music.

- As for the overall TIMBRE, it is quite natural. The BA timbre is kept to a bare minimum to keep timbre-head happy. Vocals and instruments mostly have good note-weight. The transient attack is neither too weak or too strong with the decay being smooth and precise. Hence note hits or definition may not be the most distinct in class but good enough.

- The CROSSOVERS between drivers are done with great finesse. There timbre contrast is hardly noticeable and there is no major out of phase issue which is just excellent. And there is no driver-flex problem as well.


~IN-DEPTH COMPARISON~

TANCHJIM PRISM X HAKUGEI SKYRIM FEAT.SALVATION ACCESSORIES X SPINFIT CP100 (M)

[Since it is not running on stock cable, I shall denote it as “PRISM+”]

● Right of the bat, The PRISM+ will come across as the more energetic set. To my ears, the PRISM+ bassline is more dynamic. It’s bouncy, more elastic, better layered and offers better balance between sub to mid-bass presence. The mid-bass just have deeper extension with excellence bass attack, decay and sustain. Whereas, the Chopin is all about the sub-bass rumble and boom sensation. Despite that, none of them are domineering. They both reigns their bass region very well. Still, that “enclosed subwoofer” like bassline is PRISM+’s greatest strength which is hard to beat. The Chopin sub-bassy bassline is great. But PRISM bass performance is a ~chef-kiss~

● The Chopin is the more mid-centric set of the two, in a sense that vocals came across being more intimate on stage and having slight better body and weight. For some reason, the PRISM managed to portrays its vocal emotion better. Besides that, the vocals are slightly better textured, airy-er, has a tad more energy with higher voice range. In the Chopin, the voice somewhat has a soft-limiter up in the range which affect female vocal immersion most of the time. Instrument replay such as piano, guitar, flute and violin just have better attack on overall. Note hits sounds slightly more distinct with the PRISM+. The same true can be translated on its vocal as well. The downside is, the PRISM can exhibit a hint of micro-grain on vocal transient, especially on a poorly recorded track which is never an issue on the Chopin. Hence, the Chopin offers a cleaner and safer mid-range while still maintain the naturalness of its timbre.

● Both of them appears to be on the darker-side of spectrum. The PRISM offers slightly better air-extension and brilliance up top which contribute to slightly better treble definition. Instruments like hit-hats, cymbals or even synthetic noise such as electronics have more bite to them. The Chopin treble will come across as the more relax and cleaner of the two which makes it a better set for longer listening session. The PRISM tends to highlights unwanted artifacts such grains or haze. Depending on tracks it may not be present.

● Staging wise, their width and height are nigh identical but the PRISM+ offers slightly more depth. Instrument separation and consistency are about the same. The transition of sound element or sound positioning is definitely sharper and more vivid on the PRISM+. In terms of micro-detail; the bass detail is definitely a step up, mid-range vocals are slightly better as well as the treble. Dynamically, the PRISM+ holds a wider breath of capability, mainly on micro-dynamic bits, making it a more fun and emotional of the two. As for the timbre, despite having greater transient, the PRISM exhibits a slight BA timbre especially on the mid-range region; there is a slight hollowness in terms of vocal body and plus that slight micro-grain on vocal transient do take away some of the points when A/B-ing with the Chopin.

Stereo Imaging 7/10
Cleanliness: 6/10
Ambience: 8/10
Priceerformance: 4/10 [AS-TESTED]
Build/Comfort: 10/6
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
SETUP (As tested)
Hakugei Skyrim feat. Taiwan Salvation Accessories 4.4 PLUG
Spinfit CP100 (M)
Tanchjim SPACE (Main)/ xDuoo Link2BAL MK-I
DDHifi TC07S


Pros:
+ Warm laid-back bass with engaging upper-mids.
+ Pleasant and enjoyable listen for all walks of genres.
+ IMHO, one of the most natural bassline in it's price point. Realistic attack/decay/sustain with excellent bass layering.
+ Great dynamic-range.
+ Impressive imaging prowess.
+ The stage is not the widest but it's one of those set that actually have depth.
+ Cohesive sound, DD-like phasing with minimal timbre contrast
+ Jewelry level of build.

Cons:
- Microdetail/Resolve is lacking for the asking price.
- Midrange/vocals may lacks transparency vs it's price-rival.
- Can exhibit a hint of micro-grain on vocal/treble depending on tracks/tips.
- Very unforgiving to low-fi or bad recording.
- High noise-floor sensitivity (source/sound-chain)
- Only enjoyable when the tracks are cleanly mastered.
- Pour price/performance ratio. Average micro-detail retrieval and separation prowess for the price.
- Require a cable upgrade to perform better.
- Scratch/Fingerprint magnet.

- Quite a heavy shell. Potential fit and comfort issue.

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry.
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now.
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!!
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”／Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 ／Sanmon Shosetsu
2021 OWV – Fifth Season
2021 加藤　ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.-
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière - Sweet Dreams
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Far far away
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Hey, dear my friends
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)

Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit. Big thanks to the @Hifigo @Ivy Xie for making this possible!
Purchase Link (Non-affiliated)
- https://hifigo.com/products/gizaudio-binary-chopin

If you like me to review your IEM/DAC/AMPS please hit me up:
https://www.facebook.com/DevaPainAkatsuki/

EXTRA PHOTOS

- Can get boring quickly without colored source.

[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! Please Avoid This!
2 ★★ Subpar Offering, There Are Better Options Out There!
3 ★★★ Decent With Some Caveats! You Should Consider This !
4 ★★★★ Not Perfect But Solid Choice ! This Should Be In Your Shortlist.
5 ★★★★★ Class Leading! You Should Go Right Ahead & Buy One!

BQEYZ WIND 3 ½ ★★★

between the 10MM LCP dynamic driver and the coil bone-conduction are just sublime. There is hardly any timbre contrast and driver flex is heard.

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry.
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now.
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!!
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”／Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 ／Sanmon Shosetsu
2021 OWV – Fifth Season
2021 加藤　ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.-
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière - Sweet Dreams
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Far far away
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Hey, dear my friends
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)

Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit. Big thanks to the @Edmund Chan for making this possible!

If you like me to review your IEM/DAC/AMPS please hit me up:
https://www.facebook.com/DevaPainAkatsuki/

Extra Photos

" SYNERGY, VOL.SCALING, POTENTIAL TWEAKS "

- DAC/AMP: The good thing about the Canon II is it’s very easy to drive and not very source picky to achieve a good level of fidelity. Of course, it will scale with better implemented DAC/AMP. No question. To me, the Canon II is best paired with something that is neutral-bright Like the Tanchjim SPACE for example. It does liven the treble a tad while giving it’s a low-end a tighter response. If you find it to sound boring, it is best to pair it with something that is more coloured, vibrant or energetic. In short, the Canon II is not that source picky but quite reactive to different pairing!

- EARTIPS: With the wrong eartips it’s either going to sound too boomy or lean. After plenty of tip-roll, I find the Spinfit CP100 to fit it best. It gives is the bass better control and body with enhancing the mid-range/vocal forwardness just a tad.

- CABLE: The stock cable is very good. There is no need to change to a better one. Sonic wise, I find it had good balance between crisp and smoothness. It is light and non-microphonics which is great. If you’re trying to tweak it, I would recommend a pure silver with graphene mixture cable which quite expensive versus a silver-platted copper wire. But it will definitely improve some of its transient, giving instrument and vocals more texture and crisp that is missing from the stock cable. If you feel the bass is abit too loose, it is best to swap to copper cable for added bass control and presence.

- VOLUME SCALING: Thanks to its well-balance tuning, it does scale very well with volume. You can pretty much crank the volume quite high. However, when the volume gets higher the the bass muddiness starts to get more apparent. If you’re used to a proper low-end, this might annoys you.

~ SHORT COMPARISON ~

EPZ 530 x EPZ CANARI x No-Brand 2 Flange (M)

Right off the bat, the stage of the 530 is slightly narrower and not as tall but in terms of depth they’re nigh identical. In terms of instrument separation, the 530 may not sound as spacious as the Canon II, the gap between instruments aren’t as big. But the 530 has greater consistency on maintaining the borders of each element of sound. It is very apparent on busy passages. And the transition of sound between channel is noticeably more vivid with the 530.

The overall timbre of the Canon II will come across as the more natural and pleasant of the two. The overall micro-detail on the 530 is definitely a step up. Dynamic wise, it is more energetic especially, on the treble region.

The treble has greater extension. It sounded crispier and livelier up top. The 530 may suffers from a slight sharpness and sibilance. And get fatiguing on higher volume.

The mid-range and vocal of the 530 is more intimate and expressive. It’s airy-er and has greater transparency, giving its vocals a better leading surface of texture but the Canon II will come across as the more mid-focus of the two as the bass and treble took a step back in mix. The vocals on the Canon II have that warm reverb, sweet and pleasant tonality to the sound which makes it very soothing to listen to. Having said that, some would be deem Canon II to be abit too safe and not as soulful which is not further than the truth.

As for the bass, both of them are rather mid-bassy and soft on their attack. The 530 BA bass may not have that DD sub-bass rumble of the Canon II but the 530 has better control over its bassline whereas the Canon II can get a tad boomy at times.

The 530 is trickier to drive as it is very picky too source and tips. You’ll be surprise how different it can sound on different setup. Meanwhile the Canon II is much more hassle free to achieve good fidelity. The truth is, they both are very different in what they’re trying to be. In fact, they complement each other very well.

The Canon II remains to be the one to pick if you’re after a more natural, relaxing, smooth with vocal focus in mind. But if you value micro-detail, treble extension, and engagement the 530 is an easy pick.

FINAL THOUGHTS.
The Yanyin Canon II is not a set that will wow you from the get-go. It is a set that will crawl under your skin, the longer you spend time with it. It is not a set that you use to have fun it. It is a set for people who appreciate a relax, well-balance and pleasant sound. I’ve owned a set like the EPZ 530 and the 7hz Timeless. Those sets will impress you the moment you hear it but it gets fatiguing the longer you listen to it. On a long tiring day, I see myself gravitates towards the Canon II more than any of the sets that I’ve own. There is no denying that from a technical standpoint, it is not really that groundbreaking. And it has plenty of setbacks that can irks people. I remember vividly not liking the Canon II that much during my 1st hour of assessment. When dissecting the elements of tri-frequency one by one, I have come across with a lot of minor flaws. But when everything it put back together, it kind of worked. Those flaws become character and I started to understand what it is trying to be. There is something about the overall tonal balance and timbral approach that is very soothing to the ears. It is just so musical to listen to especially on a slow, vocal-centric/acoustic tracks. In that sense, it does it brilliantly. Now that, my time for the tour has come to an end. I am going to miss it genuinely. It's a set that I would love to add to my collection someday. With that being said, if you love this sort of sound-signature, it gets a solid recommendation from me!

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

https://www.facebook.com/DevaPainAkatsuki/

Extra Photos

Luxury & Precision W4 [LP5108]

The Smooth Operator….

[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! please avoid this!
2 ★★ Subpar offering, there are better options out there!
3 ★★★ Decent with some caveats! Not a bad pick!
4 ★★★★ Not perfect but solid choice ! This should be in your shortlist. A nice addition to your collection.
5 ★★★★★ One the best in class! You should go right ahead & buy one! A must have!

Luxury & Precision W4 4 ★★★★​

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

https://www.facebook.com/groups/670846031415174

Extra Photos

Hidizs XO 3 ★★★​

- And for some reason it doesn't work with my Huawei phone. ISH.


It is not a bad performer…. But how well does it fair up against my daily dongle?

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

Hidizs MS3 4 ★★★★​

[My Personal Pick]

" SYNERGY, VOL.SCALING, POTENTIAL TWEAKS "

- DAC/AMP: The MS3 does react with different source very well which could affect your experience heavily. Hence one’s experience may vary ever so slightly from others. It is best to pair with something that has more forward mid-range which in my case is the Tanchjim SPACE. With the SPACE it tones down some of the treble peaks without running it’s dynamic. Paring with something that has a flatter mid-range like the Hidizs XO will sacrifice its mid-range body and warmth. And some of the dynamics is seemingly compressed. Hence if you ever find its mid-range is lacking and the treble is too peaky, please check and swap your source.

- EARTIPS: It is one the sets that is very tips dependant due to its non-conventional tuning. I’d recommend using the Spinfit CP100 which helps to mitigate some of the treble issue. Or you could use Tangzu Sancai if you think it has too much mid-bass. Regardless, be sure to do tip-roll, it does improve your experience quite a lot.

- CABLE: Its stock cable is very premium in build and have good sound quality as well. The only issue I had is the earhook angle can be abit too aggressive. You might need to use a hair-dryer to alter the earhook angle. Now, if you ever find the sub-bass to be lacking, I’d suggest getting a thicker 4-core or 8-core pure copper cable to boost its low-end subs while nerfing its mid-bass just tad for better bass balance.

- VOLUME SCALING: It does not scale with volume that well. Well listening at higher volume, the treble peaks will start to emerge and the mid-bass bump can sound abit much. As a result, some percussions hits will come across abit too loud in mix. Hence it is best to listen at a lower to mid volume.

So how it fairs against my long time favorite hybrid ?

~ SHORT COMPARISON~
vs Tanchjim PRISM x Hiclass Gold Flagship x CP100 (M)

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

Hidizs MP145 (2023 1st Batch) 4 ★★★★​

Hidizs MP145 (2024 Revised) 4 ★★★★ ​

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If you’re stage fanatic which priorities spatial cues, imaging, layering and separation with slightly better vocal transparency, the MP145 is definitely a good buy. But if you prefer slightly less energetic bass/treble presence, more realistic instrument timbre with stronger micro-detail retrieval & dynamics, the Timeless (+ Kinera Leyding, A MUST HAVE) is the best buy here. End of story.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Just before I send it back to the rightful owner, I gave it another long listen. My stand on its pros and cons still remained. And I still love the 7hz Timeless x Kinera Leyding at tad more. But one thing for sure, the Hidizs MP145 could be an “Endgame or Pause-game” set for people who don’t want to spend no more than 200$ on the pursuit of this hobby. It is technically capable with natural timbre, very likeable tuning and can plays all walks of genre effortlessly. Sure, it is not a flagship killer by any means, but considering Its price performance value is that high, it is a no brainer really. It can simply tail-gating higher price bracket without breaking a sweat. It is that good. Especially, when you can have one now at a huge discount on kickstarters.com. Even at full price, I still think it is well worth it. Regardless of my preference, it has achieved remarkably well in what it’s trying to be. I would totally recommend to have a look at the MP145 if you’re after this kind of tuning. A very solid product nonetheless. Well done, Hidizs!

FINAL THOUGHTS on 2024 vers.
- Soon

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

- Perculiar head-stage (lacking depth)

Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit from Andy EF a.k.a donglemadness founder. Big thanks to him fo rmaking this possible!
- If you're interested to own one checkout their kickstarters stores (non-affliated) : https://www.kickstarter.com/project...rge-planar-hifi-iems-9-sound-types?ref=9j01yh

If you like me to review your gears, contact me on my facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DevaPainAkatsuki/


Extra Photos

EPZ 530 4★★★★​

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SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

TANGZU PRINCESS CHANG LE 2.5 ★

SOUND-SIGNATURE :
In general it is neutral with a bass boost that is tuned to be more musical than analytical. The bassline is definitely more sub-bass oriented with a nice glide which extends ever so slightly onto the lower-mid-range. The mid-range is threading on the line of neutral that is not overly forward nor recess with a linear roll-off treble response.

BASS (LOW-END)
The 6mm DD offers a swift but gentle transient phase with a decay that is on the slower side. It’s got decent rumble extension but can sound a bit too boomy on bass heavy tracks, lacking control which is quite a let-down. Fortunately, the shyer mid-bass presence doesn’t seem to slack in impact. The sensation of thump, kick and slam are agreeable for the most part and should be adequate for most genres. The bass presence allows it to capture background ambience rather well. And ghetto bass rendering is not bad either. Mind you, with this level of bass control, tip-rolling plays a major role in tightening the bass response. Otherwise, you will high likely to suffer from boominess or muddiness which is not great. The overall bass quality is definitely not the best in its class but acceptable for the tier it’s in.

MID-RANGE/VOCAL
If you’re looking for an intimate mid-range/vocal rendering then this set is not for you. It doesn’t sound recess but slightly pushed back. Even so, the vocals sounded lush but in a relaxing manner. Both male and female vocalist seems to deliver a comparable level of performance on stage. Having said that, it does trades vocals clarity for euphony. Thus, some of the vocal textures are smoothed out. The upside is, it’s doesn’t affect the naturalness of vocal transient which void of any edginess or metallic character. Depending on your ear sensitivity, you might detect a hint of shout on female vocals but it is very minimal. Most of the instruments in this region have good level of note weight but lacks incisiveness or distinction on note impact.

TREBLE (HIGHS)
The treble is definitely on the darker side of the spectrum. It is quite tame and very inoffensive across all genres. As a result, it is not the most engaging performing treble in its class. The treble just lacks a touch of spark and air to complement its bassline nature. Regardledss, this degree of treble presence will be a treat for those treble sensitive people. Instrument like cymbals and hi-hats may sound abit blunted but not entirely muted. It doesn’t have any degrading qualities such as grains, haze, harshness, distortion or even sibilance that could ruin your music experience. All and all it’s a relaxing, smooth, pleasant listen with decent treble quality and quantity for the tuning its at.

TECHNICALITIES

- The sound-field is average at best. It does have more width than height and depth with adequate dimension to not sound compress or claustrophobic.

- The spatial cues/imaging prowess is decent. It is not pin-point sharp but well-judged to trace the direction of sound.

- Detail handling is definitely not it’s forte. It’s layering and separation is not the best as it tends to struggle and starts to jumble everything together in the
background when trying to reproduce a highly complex track which is perfectly normal for the asking price.

- At the very least, its overall instrument timbre is quite pleasing. They have good note weight with natural decay but may lack in terms of attack definition which contribute to that overall laid-back tonality.

SYNERGY, VOL.SCALING, POTENTIAL TWEAKS.
- DAC/AMP : it is best to pair with a bright-neutral source to liven up the treble just a tad. It’s scale well with better AMP as it requires more power to achieve average listening volume.

- Eartips : I’d recommend using Acoustune AET06 Double Flange eartips or something with medium bore, it helps to control the bass while improving its treble transient. Be sure to do tip-rolling or else it can sound very underwhelming or too boomy.

- Volume scaling: Once you’ve found the right eartips or synergy in general, it can really play high volume with no sign of distortion or fatigue issue.

HEAD-2-HEAD

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

BQEYZ WINTER​

BQEYZ WINTER 4 ★★★★​

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SOUND SIGNATURE:​

BASS:​

MIDS:​

HIGHS:​

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:​

Can it outperformed it's rival?​

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VS SEAUDIO BRAVERY AE​

CONCLUSION:​

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

AFUL PERFORMER 5​

~ Definitely not an awful performer. ~​

AFUL PERFORMER5 3½ ★★★½​

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SOUND SIGNATURE:​

BASS (LOWS)​

MID-RANGE​

TREBLE (HIGHS)​

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:​

So how does it stacks up against its main rival?

VS MOONDROP BLESSING 2.​

• Instantly, you'll hear that the P5 has much better bass response as if it had a better dynamic driver in it. The P5 just offers a better sub-bass and mid-bass definition with a more realistic attack and decay on its replay. However, it has to be said, on busier tracks the B2 has better control and speed to give a clearer separation between its mid-bass and mid-range, whereas the P5 can struggle a little making it sound slightly congest by comparison.
• The B2 has slightly better mid-range resolution and it is more mid-centric by comparison. The vocals and instrument will sound more forward in the B2. It's upper-mid noticeably had greater energy which can leads to bearable shout for some people. But for me, the added energy allows female vocals to shine brilliantly on stage. Both male and female vocalist have much better contrast within the mix while highlighting those little nuances that are presence in the vocals. The B2 not just reward you with a better textured vocals but also more expressive and emotional in its way.
• The B2 makes the P5 treble sounded dark and uninspiring. It just has the legs on defining it's treble as it carries more energy and air presence while giving it's treble that extra bite that is missing on the P5. And yet, it is never fatiguing on longer session. The aggression of its treble is something a treble-head might appreciate over the sublime treble of the P5 making the B2 ever so slightly more enjoyable at the top-end.
• As for detail retrieval & note definition, the B2 has the upper hand on defining any elements that lives in the mids to treble region whereas the P5 is much better at defining the lows.
• Overall, the B2 is the more resolving set. The ability to reproduce complex layered tracks has been the B2’s strength even till this day. The P5 is close but not quite there yet.
• As for head-stage, the B2 will sound more open and spacious.
• As for imaging capabilities, the B2 is slightly sharper and more accurate.
• The B2 requires more power to drive vs the P5.
• The P5 is definitely more comfortable to wear and I believe majority of people won’t be facing fit issue as much as the B2.
• The P5 has better driver coherency, it's phasing is closer to dynamic driver. Meanwhile in the B2, the bass can sound as if it not integrated with the mids and treble properly as if its coming from a different channel.
• From the looks of it, the B2 is definitely a more analytical, the more technical set between the two but the P5 will sounds more natural for most people partly because the bass, mids and treble has equal level of sound quality and it is more cohesive in its response. Unlike the B2, its bass quality is not up to par with to keep up with its mids and treble performance which can be a major let-down for people who seeks naturalism, cohesion and harmony in sound. And because of that, the B2 can sound abit plasticky and unnatural at times which is unfortunate.
• Depending on your preference, you could say one is better than the other. In short, if you loves forward mids, slightly more energetic treble, better detail retrieval and technicalities but with the cost of unnatural bass response, the Blessing 2 is the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer something that has better bass response, inoffensive mids and treble with a slight cut back in technicalities. The Performer5 is an easy pick. And it's cheaper too.
• So which one to pick? Pay attention to each of their flaws and ask yourself can you compromise it’s cons for its pros. I still think overall, the P5 is a better product but if you’re gravitated toward the potential strength of the B2 and you can stomach its flaws, there’s no denying that it is the better buy but it is not going to be a best buy for everybody.

CONCLUSION​

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

TANGZU x HBB Wu Heyday Edition​

TANGZU x HBB Wu Heyday Edition 3 ★★★​

SOUND-SIGNATURE:​

BASS:​

MIDS/VOCALS:​

TREBLE:​

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:​

SYNERGY/VOLUME SCALING​

HEAD-2-HEAD​

VS 7HZ TIMELESS FEAT. KINERA LEYDING.​

I'd still pick the Timeless x Leyding over the stock Heyday. Although , it doesn't sound as clean nor as technical as the Heyday, the vocals and instrument timbre on the Timeless are more realistic overall. The warmer bassline is more to my liking. The lower treble is less fatiguing and it is tonally more pleasing to listen to. Don’t get me wrong, the Heyday is surprisingly competent for a planar. But on its pursuit being the more clinical and technical set, it loses sight of musicality. The Timeless just rewards you with more fun and its more pleasing to my ears for more of the time. It’s makes the Heyday sound a bit soulless at times. Though it would be interesting to see how the Heyday x Leyding would performs. But unfortunately I don't have a 2-Pin Kinera Leyding on deck.#snakeoilgang you know what I'm saying. Having said that, I am not sure if I would prefer the stock Timeless over stock Heyday... Hmmmph.

Click to expand...

CONCLUSION:​

SOURCE & GEARS​

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

• Potential fatigue on longer listen.
• Only work best with warmer dac/amp.
• Prominent planar timbre.
• Perculiar head-stage (lacking depth)
• Tend to congest on complex tracks.

• Pleasantly warm yet engaging.
• Great note weight and density.
• Good technical performer. Except for the staging.
• Comfortable light-weight shell.

• Kinera Leyding 4.4BAL
• No-brand 2-flange/medium-widebore tips.
• Moondrop DAWN 4.4