Just a few weeks ago I was PM’ed to be part of the HiFiGO Tour which is a big honor and quite the undertaking for a simple Minnesota Farm kid. So, first I’d like to thank Neil and Will for making this happen without you guys I wouldn’t be sitting in this great spot right now, so thanks. Secondly let’s start this review with me telling you that this is my opinion and my opinion only and I'll try paint a nice pretty picture for all of you hobbyists, part time pursuers, and full-blown Audiophiles about the sonics of the 4U. The Tanchjim 4U (69.00) is exclusively sold on HiFiGO. It just showed up in my mailbox one sunny afternoon as part of the HiFiGO tour and it really hasn’t left my ears since, I’m here to tell you why.

The 4u is Tanchjim’s latest release. Tanchjim has been in the IEM game since 2015 and have had great success with units like the well know OXYGEN and their follow up the ORIGIN. I’ve been interested in getting my hands on the ORIGIN since its release. I would call their house sound neutral and natural, so as a lover of neutral and natural the 4U was a set I couldn’t wait to get in my ears. The 4U consists of a single dynamic double-magnet circuit driver. Titled the DMT 4Ultra the driver consists of a PU suspended edge, LCP dome composite diaphragm. The DMT has a total harmonic distortion of .05@1kHz, 94dB and impedance of 32ohm’s with a sensitivity of 122dB. It is hard to drive and will require a dongle for it to perform at its best. The cable consists of Litz copper silver-plated braid, plus a shielding layer. The cable has a clear outer coating and silver foil that’s braided into the wire giving it a shiny silver and sparkly look. The cable is a 2 pin .78 with a 3.5 termination and sadly doesn’t come with a 4.4 balanced option.



The first thing you will notice about the Tanchjim 4U when handling them is their weight. Not that they are heavy, they just have a very nice premium feel consisting of A all-metal housing. They are perceived to be very well-constructed. It comes with a grey/silver finish and a polished chrome front panel with 4U on the left and Tanchjim on the right printed in a grey/silver lettering that matches the shell. The shell size of the 4U is small in form factor and will accommodate most ears very comfortably with its smoothed over corners and ergonomic shape. The nozzle is on the longer side and all metal with a good size lip to keep tips on securely.

The 4U can be inserted shallowly or very deeply if you’re into that kind of thing. Kinky! The Tanchjim 4U comes with two styles of tips, wide bore for a brighter, wider less bassy presence. The narrow bore tips add a nice heft to the bass but knock back the width of the stage and treble a tiny bit. The tips come in 3 sizes, S, M, L. The wide bore tips I couldn’t get a proper seal with my large ear holes so I can’t comment on those accurately. Sorry, I tried my darndest but just couldn’t get a proper fit. The wide bore tip is more of a medium large than a large if you ask me. On the other hand, the large narrow bore tips fit perfectly, and I used them for most of my review and found they work best. So good job Tanchjim on the narrow bore tips they are great. I tried tip rolling but found myself coming back to the stock tips and that’s very rare for me unless I’m reviewing. The Tanchjim 4U has very natural timber with great technicalities in macro and micro details while sporting a very clean/natural and quick bass response with black background. The 4U follows Tanchjims house sound of natural and natural while reproducing sonics accurately as possible. Now let’s move on to my favorite part of the 4U, the switch!




Finally, a switch I can live with! The Tanchjim 4U has a 4-Level sound adjustment switch that’s located on the inner side of the IEM. The 4U comes with its own custom machined flathead screwdriver included with a hole on the end of the shank you can slip onto your keychain, so you are never losing it. Personally, I wish they would have gone cheaper on the screwdriver and supplied a better case than cheesy grey jewelry bag with the work Tanchjim inscribed on it. A zipper case and a cheaper screwdriver would have been a better trade-off for everyday carry. Back to the switch! The switch is just technically an adjustment filter that doesn’t do anything crazy but adjust the bass and sub-bass presence. It comes in four flavors Atmosphere “stock setting” (reference sound), Monitoring, Natural, and Pop. Yah man! Let’s start with the monitoring mode sound impression.



Monitoring mode: With the Thinnest timbre and note weight and least bass presence. The tradeoff is more clarity and a flat response. I really like this setting after work and I’m out walking my dog, Stevie. It's just perfect when I just want a little background noise and decompressing after a long day of work. So, the monitoring mode has the least bass, more clarity and best imaging. It's also the brightest because of its thin flat response. I don’t really find it all that great for monitoring and find it’s less smooth and more edgy in the treble and less refined than all the other modes. This is my least favorite of the 4 modes for my preference.



Natural Mode: I'll just get it out of the way and tell you this is my second favorite mode. Natural mode is third in line for the least bass presence and sub bass extension compared to the other 4. Natural mode is just that, natural sounding with accurate timber and ample amount of bass. Genres like coffeehouse and acoustic shine with brilinace. The mids are very tasty, clean, and timber is accurate and realistic. It’s a very relaxing and balanced listening. Jack Johnson’s Brushfire and fairytales is a real treat with its setting. The bells and cymbals on track 2 Middle Man are realistically precise. If you’re a natural lover but not a big fan of bass, then this setting is for you. The high-range including the snap of the snare drum are addictive and mesmerizing without ever becoming unwelcome or wanting for more. The new tune from Richard Thompson “The old Pack Mule” is as natural as natural can get! So fun!



Pop Mode: Falling pretty darn close to natural mode Pop mode has more subbass presence. This little bit of added sub-bass adds a nice warmth to the overall sound. Because of this sub-bass boost the background isn’t as black as natural mode so it adds a bit of fun musicality and warmth to the vocals and instruments. The sub-bass digs deep when called upon and mid bass has a nice clean kick. Mids are more forward in presence in pop mode making most instruments stand out more because they are slightly more forward sounding in the mix. Pop mode is great with genres like rock, pop, soul, indie, jazz, and dance. Sadly, the 4U doesn’t do that great with newer hip hop and just can’t dig that low in the sub-bass region to keep up. In the end it comes off as a loose and flabby sound to me. Pop mode might be my second to last favorite and I will tell you why. Atmosphere mode!



Atmosphere Mode: By far my favorite of the four settings. Bring on the bass! The atmosphere setting is the 4U’s reference setting and comes set to this right out of the box. This is the setting Tanchjim is most proud of, and it shows. It has a super clean and fast bass response with a nice subbass rumble that goes deep into your chest when called for. Marilyn Manson’s track Killing Strangers from the album The Pale Empire hits with authority and the tail end of the bass hit trails off nicely with a nice clean texture and resonance. As some of you may know I’m a big Metal Head and the answer is no! No, the 4U doesn’t do well with Speed Metal, it’s just far too slow. It has a tough time keeping up to the classics like Korn, Slipknot, Pantera, and Fear Factory. It does just fine with slower styles of Metal and Hard Rock such as Clutch, Hatebreed, Deftones, and Metallica. The 4U in Atmosphere mode has the biggest head stage in width and depth out of the other four settings. There is no mid bass bleed or any bleed as a matter of fact. The mid bass has a nice clean rubbery bounce and punch with the stock narrow bore tips. Listening to Metallica’s Shadows Follow which is a great test track to check mid bass attack. At the beginning of the track the bass guitar line matches kick drum, so the mid bass has extra texture oomph. It sounds fantastic on the 4U. It’s a fun riff check it out. Atmosphere mode to me is the definition of the 4U’s sound profile and could also be debated as a ‘set it and forget it’ setting for most people. It's nice to have versatility but there is only one 4U setting most people are going to use, that’s the Atmosphere mode. It is the most fun and musical.



The 4U midrange tuning is natural with very nicely done upper mid frequencies that never become offensive or overly bright and are very natural by nature. The 4U remains organic in resolution and natural in timber so instruments such as string and saxophone remain true to the source. From string pluck to breath, the 4U mimics each instrument and voice with accuracy and finesse. The 4u can play most musical styles without any issues. I find the 4U does peculiarly well with older and poorer recordings because of its natural tuning. But can it play Led Zeppelin? “Hell, yah it can play some Zep”. All the classics from The Cars to Ramones the 4U sounds fantastic the 4U is great for all the classics. Joe Cockers “With a Little Help from my Friend” is a real treat Joes vocals really shine on the 4U because it renders vocal very well and” of course” the theme here, naturally. So yes, the 4U renders vocals naturally and realistically.



Comparisons: Test track Karate: If you can hold your breath

Aful Magic one:

The Aful Magic one is also using a similar natural tuning of the 4U. The Magic one is a very natural sounding set and is brighter in comparison with less bass presence because of its single BA and resonance chamber, and I notice that straight away. The mid bass isn’t as punchy and present as the Magic one. In fact, bass is less present letting the midrange shine more. Vocals are very similarly placed, and the highs have more of an edge and are sharper in clarity. The naturalness and tonal balance of each set is similar. The 4U sounds warmer, more natural, and slightly warmer. The Magic one has the 4U bet in clarity buy a little bit. I find vocals are more realistic on the 4U and can be slightly sibilant and sharper on the Magic one. Both are great sets for natural tuning but with the harder to drive Magic one I will have to recommend the 4U out of the two. If you ever get a chance to try a Magic one, I recommend you do so.



Kefine Delci:

The Delci has been making waves in the market for some time now with tons of rave reviews. I can attest to this; I bought it and enjoy it frequently. So, this is a Hard one comparison using both sets stock narrow bore tips and cables. The 4U already has the upper hand with tuning options in its price range but it carries no weight if you're just going to stick to one tuning. The Delci is easier to drive then the 4u which deserves a dongle to show its true potential. The Bass on the Delci isn’t as tight and clean and is just a bit boomy in comparison to the 4U’s bass. The highs have a bit more extension but don’t have as much control, making it sound less natural. The bass also has more air and less definition with the Delci. The mid bass thump also hits a little harder on the Delci but missing some texture that shows on the 4U. The subbass isn’t felt as much on the 4U but better texture can be heard. Vocals can be a bit more prone to shout on the Delci with its slightly brighter and less warm and natural tuning. The timber is super close on each set, but I must give it to the Delci in the timbre department because of its brighter tuning. Instruments sound a little more accurate than the more natural sound of the 4U which is a tish on the warm side. The Delci can come off as a bit shouty and sibilant at times in comparison to the 4U which never loses its cool and is all na-tu-ral! The Delci’s tuning also makes more micro detail pop! Not that it can’t be heard on the 4U, it just that its warm tilt hides the details in the background a little more. The clear winner for older and poor recordings is the 4U. With the tighter bass and more natural tuning I prefer the 4U for my own personal reasons and you can’t go wrong with either as they seem to share the same genetics.



Simgot EA500LM:

Using stock tips and cable the EA500 is notably brighter and less natural similar to more mid-bass kick and slightly smaller stage in width and height. The EA500lm excels in comparison to the 4U in imaging separation. This is very noticeable right from the get-go. This is all due to its brighter tuning with upper mid-range more focus. Many people will find The EA500LM too bright so I will recommend the 4U over the EA500LM. For detail and clarity, the EA500LM and takes the cake and eats it too! The 4U may come off as dull sounding in comparison for some people when compared to the 4U. Both are gate keepers at the 70.00 to 100.00 mark so pick your poison. All Na-tur-al 4U or bright and hyper detailed EA500LM.



Sources:

Topping G5:

The 4U paired with the Topping G5 combo is the setup I did most of my critical listening on. The G5 “one of my personal favorites” for its neutral and uncolored mid-range. It's a darn near perfect match and they really complement each other with both of their neutral approach. The G5 can be a little bright on certain IEM’s but that’s not the case on the 4U. Because of its bright tuning it helps to pull out some nice details on the 4U and adds some nice width and depth. Two neutrals do make a right with the G5 and 4U combo. The bass is nice and punchy and digs deep into the sub-bass region. The G5 and the 4U are my favorite combination I have on hand; everything just sounds correct and accurate.


EPZ TP50:

The EPZ is an easy recommendation for all its functions and power on tap for its price range. My only gripe with the TP50 is that it tends to make an already bright IEM, brighter. This could be good, and this can also be bad and in the result, you could end up with a sibilance IEM with shouty vocals and upper Mids. The TP50 even with the NON-OS filter was still a little bright so the Slow LL filter was my favorite, and it added a nice punchy bass compared to the Slow PC filter and is a great combination for leaning bright with detail and extra bass punch. The TP50 also has no issue powering the 4U on high gain with the 3.5 mm termination. It's brighter in the upper mids than the G5 but is a great combination, none to less it's just a little on the too bright side to my ears and my preference. The G5 was a more relaxed listen.



TempoTec V6:

The TempoTec V6 is one of my first DAP’s I purchased and remains one of my favorites no matter the price range. It has that slightly colored mid-range that tilts a tiny bit on the warm side, adding some musicality to the 4U. I grew up on this type of sound so its very familiar to me. The V6 is also a little bass boosted so it adds a little extra mid bass kick and sub bass presence. On the 4U the bass boost is very welcoming in atmosphere mode. When I wasn’t critical listening or at my desk this was my preferred way of listening to the 4U because of its bass boost and warmer tilt in the midrange, adding an overall more musical sound to the entire experience. Highly addictive combo!




Conclusion:

The Tanchjim 4U isn’t perfect but for its price range and natural tuning I prefer it over anything I’ve heard. The 4U pulls out all the stops in technicalities and natural timbre with 4 unique sound Modes. The Switch really works! The form factor is comfortable, and I don’t even notice it's there. I do wish it came with a hardshell case and not a cheesy jewelry sack. Tips and cable a great but I would recommend upgrading at some point to 4.4 balanced pure copper cable for more power and warmth. The 4U is a great set that’s technically capable for most genres of music and stays true to the nature of the songs. I Highly recommend it for Classic Rock and more natural music and not electronic or speedy metal. If you are a natural and neutral lover, I highly recommend you pick up this set if you have the power from a dongle to drive it as it is hard it drives IEM. I liked the 4U so much I will be picking up a set myself as I prefer it over the Delci, EA500 and Magic One. Good job Tanchjim the 4U is one heck of a set!

Almost one and a half years ago I started my IEM journey. Many sets have come and gone, bought and sold along the way but one golden nugget remains the Venture Electronics SIE. I've bought and sold many sets at all different price points. The ones I love have been nestled away into my collection, the ones I disliked sold. There have been plenty of love and hate relationships along the way, no doubt about that. As I continue to perfect my search for IEM’s that fit my style and tonality, I continue to go back to one single DD. That Set is the Venture Electronics SIE.
The Golden Child of “Bass and Chill.” The VE SIE has been on the market for a for a couple of years now. Around the time I purchased the VE SIE I was on the lookout for bass heavy IEM’s. My first purchase was the iKKO OH10s Sapphire Mirage. Because of the heavy shell of the OH10S the fitment put pressure on my inner ear causing extreme discomfort, so I sold it off. If I'm not comfortable I'm not happy, plain and simple. So, my search continued. While reading forums around the web, I ran into a post of this golden god like looking IEM. What the hell is that I thought to myself? All Gold? At first, I absolutely despised it, but also found myself drawn to it. There was this perpetual force gravitating me to it. I needed to know more about those golden looking gems. As I continue reading the article I get to the sound section and it's explained as warm, bassy, and analog. Holy S WORD! Have I found what I’ve been looking for? I may just have.


“It's all about the Bass and The Movement” In the words of Minnesota's very own, Atmosphere. VE SIE is all about the bass. It hits hard, growls deeply, and is very present in the mix. The bass is very enveloping, full and warm. It may not be the tightest, fastest, or cleanest. The lows of the SIE are not the most dynamic either. Fun, super engaging is what the bass of the SIE represents. After all that's what this set is all about, FUN! If you, like me, grew up with vintage stereos then SIE will take you down an old nostalgic road. I believe this set was designed to capture the essence of analog sound. DID THEY EVER! This is not a Bass head IEM, although I have read many people call it that. To me it is not. The bass lays it on heavy but does not rattle your chest. The SIE’s bass is more round and organic sounding than tight and technical. This set is mid bass over sub-bass so if your music library consists of Classic Rock, Hard Rock and a mix of old school hip hop this set is amazing for that. Listening to Metalica's Black album On the SIE takes me back to my childhood of hearing the album for the first time. Yes, it also sounds great with Old School hip hop as well. The SIE is all about the bass.


“It's so mid man!”. The midrange of SIE is one of its strong traits. The timber is well done and natural. It's not perfect because it has a very warm blanket of sound across all frequencies and is great for treble sensitive people out there. Vocals sit slightly recessed in the mix and are clear and present. The SIE has a very home stereo like presentation that's holographic and out of your head. Instruments such as guitars and strings are clear, clean, and well extended. The SIE is tuned to be a very Mid-Centric set. Drums and cymbals never overtake the rest of the frequencies and sound natural with great timber. The Mid’s can get lost in busy tracks due to the presence of the Low end and can become overtaken by the bass at times. This is more due to its tuning choice and not necessarily the driver's capabilities. The middle range is very well done for almost all styles of music, but I wouldn't recommend The SIE for Classical or Speed Metal with the likes of Cattle Decapitation. The SIE can just go plain blurry, this is not a technical set so look elsewhere. The SIE does better with less technical and more separated and musical tracks. It's not that you can't listen to those styles of music on the SIE you most definitely can, but you will be missing out on certain details in the listening experience. When listening to albums like Geese: 3d Country, Midlake: For the Sake of Bethel woods, Charles Owens Trio, and even Justice: Hyperdrama just to name a few albums where the SIE shines!



“Taking the High Road!” The High Frequencies of the SIE are fast and well extended and hypnotic so if you're like me and love the crunch and bite of electric guitar this set does it so damn well. Smashing pumpkins Quiet from the album Siamese dreams sounds its best “to me” on the SIE. The highs have just enough crunch and bite while maintaining its warm analog profile without getting too warm to create a delightful listen. I find the SIE great for Grunge and 90’s Metal music. The Highs are very well done for a set that has fun and analog tuning. Still to this day I'm in love with the bite and treble extension for electric guitars and stringed instruments of the SIE. It never gets sibilant or harsh to me, it sits just right. Well done Venture Electronics, well done! Acoustic sets such as Alice in Chains unplugged is where the SIE is right at home. The SIE has this sense of warmth with just the right snap in the treble and snare hits and sounds correct and trail off naturally. Drum cymbals sound natural as well and never become sibilant. Cymbal crashes are perfectly extended and never trail off too quickly giving the SIE a very open and well-balanced sound to the drums. The SIE has some of the best treble extensions I've heard in their price range. The entire MTV unplugged collection through the SIE is an analog orgasmic treat to the ears.


“Wrap it up already!” With so many sets on the horizon in the world of IEM’s I would have to say the SIE is my definitive pick for fun, engaging, bassy analog fun in the 100 US dollar range. So, if you like me are not a fan of bright/technical and just want to enjoy the music, this set to me is still the gatekeeper of single DD’s. The Venture Eletronic SIE beats out the Kefine Delci and Simgot Ea500LM by a big margin for my taste and preference. With the right tracks it transports me to an analog world so many years behind me when life was much simpler and free from adulting. The VE SIE is a trip down memory lane. If analog sound is your jam, then the SIE is the crunchy peanut butter to complete your delicious analog PB and J sandwich. The VE SIE is easily 4.5 out of 5 Stars for its price and tuning choice.

My Review of the Hidizs S9 Pro+ Martha (89.00 MSRP) review has been the works for quite some time now. But goals sometime shift when the weather warms up and the snow begins to melt, “Suns out, guns out” as they say. Spring came early this time around which is great for us Midwestern Americans. We can finally come out of the comfort of our homes without the hassle of putting two pairs of everything on to say warm outdoors in these cold winter months. So, finally after some outdoor fun and bicycling I’m heading back to my desk to type up my no hold barred review Of the Hidizs S9 Pro Martha.
First off, I would like to thank Hidizs for sending this review unit to me for my keeping. I assure you this won’t anyway infringe on my opinion of this DAC. I think it makes me less biased really, I don’t feel as if I’m attached to it because I didn’t spend my own hard earn doe. So, in typical Justin fashion I’m going into this gun’s blazing. Let’s start with the technical stuff of the Hidizs S9Pro Martha I found from the Hidizs website. The S9 Pro Martha was named after the Last messenger Pigeon that is now extinct. Not going to go into the backstory but it’s a great read if you ever get the time, I recommend it. Lets start with the specs!

Technical jargon:
· The Hidizs S9 Pro Martha Sports a DAC chip ES9038Q2M
· 32bit/768kHz PCM sampling rate and ensures perfect sound reproduction with high signal-to-noise ratio of up to 128dB and ultra-low THD+N of -120dB.
· 138mW+138mW@32Ω 3.5mm SE /180mW+180mW@32Ω 4.4mm BAL
· 6 filter options with on-the-fly selection by pressing both volume buttons, you can cycle through the six filters with color changing RGB light on the front panel.
· Low Noise, Low Distortion In the SE PO (3.5mm) output, distortion is as low as 0.0019%, while the balanced BAL (4.4mm) achieves an ultra-low distortion of 0.0008%. The Signal-to-Noise Ratio is 123dB/120dB, and separation reaches 75dB/115dB.
· Compatibility for Windows, Mac OS, iPad OS, Android, iOS, and Harmony OS.

Features: 6 Digital Filter Options
Fist off there is no High gain/Low gain settings or independent volume controls, your source will control the volume output. The volume steps are 1 to 100. The ES9038Q2M does offer six filter pulse response effects (PCM FILTER IMPULSE RESPONSE), By simultaneously pressing both volume buttons, you can cycle through the six filter effects. My favorite filter is the Blue because it sounds the most natural and clean to me. I used the Green filter for my review because it’s the standard filter that’s toggled every time you plug it in. To be perfectly honest I really didn’t miss high gain and low gain with the Pro Martha because it has just enough power for planer drivers and DD’s. I was never left wanting more or less power for the IEM’s I own. The Pro Martha might struggle with your bigger, high ohm overhead cans with only 180 mW on tap. I had zero trouble powering my IEM collection. 4.4 balanced does sound more dynamic and open then 3.5. So balanced to me is the way to go, but 3.5 is just fine. If 3.5 is all you have on hand. I do recommend upgrading your cable 4.4 when you get the chance but it’s not necessary if you choose not to.

Sound profiles:
· Green: PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96(kHz), anodizing fast roll-off (Default Filter). Vocals are slightly forward, and high frequencies are extended with reduced resonance
· Red: PCM 352.8/384(kHz), linear phase fast roll-off. Enhanced analytical capabilities, delivering a clean and crisp sound
· Blue: PCM 176.4/192(kHz), linear phase slow roll-off. Enriched harmonics, full low frequencies, and natural reverb
· Yellow: DSD 64/128, minimum phase fast roll-off. Balanced and moderate sound
· Purple: DSD 256/512, minimum phase slow roll-off. Clean sound with a forward position
· White: PCM 705.6/768(kHz), hybrid fast roll-off. Soft and smooth sound with enhanced detail

What’s In The Box?
The Hidizs S9 Pro Martha Comes in a small plastic box in a cardboard slipcover much like the MP145 just on a smaller scale. Inside the box is the Pro Martha, a short USB cable (male C to C) and A style USB C to An adapter for connection to your PC or tablet. Also included in the box is instructions and a SN card. It’s a nice little storage box but its durability is questionable and was just designed for shipping/storage not long-term on-the-go use.

The S9 Pro Martha itself is made from a quality grade C and C cut aluminum housing and features clear plastic front and back faceplates. The S9 Pro Martha only has two buttons that serve as volume buttons and “multi-function” when both are compressed simultaneously (Filter selection). The volume buttons have a nice premium clicky feel to them, so you know when they have been engaged. The buttons themselves are bit loose in the shells housing to my liking. Hidizs could have had tighter tolerances between the shell and the housing for a more premium feel. I’ve read other reviewers say the Marthas faceplates are glass. Sorry guys and gals but this is NOT made from glass! The faceplates scratch way too easy in order to be glass. The Pro Martha also would have been heavier if it were made from glass. The takeaway of it not being made of glass is it scratches easily but the durability is much more rugged it being made of plastic. It’s a sharp looking little unit. The Hidizs logo on the front panel has RGB lighting and is always lit up green unless switching filters. I didn’t find it too bright for use at night like I did the Aful Snowy Night. Did I mention how tiny this thing is?! At 2 1/8th inches long, 1 inch wide, and only ½ inch thick this thing is so small and pocketable. It does gets slightly warm like most DAC’s when in use so nothing out of the norm there.
If you’re looking for a small pocketable powerhouse for on the go, then this is it. The USB Port feels good, not to loose, not to tight, so nothing out of the ordinary there. The included cable is short, and I mean short! At just over 5 inches long it great for your phone but you may want something longer for your PC. It looks like something Batman would have connected to his Bat phone and I mean this in a good way. It’s a very sleek, blacked out unit. Everything is black besides the very welcomed gold plated 4.4 balanced output. I really like the look of the S9 Pro Martha and genuinely think it’s a nice sleek looking little unit. Enough about the aesthetics Justin! How does this thing sound?
Electric Ear Hole Test: How the Hell does it sound Dude!? (30+hrs of ear hole time)




The S9 pro Martha carries bright/neutral, warmish sound profile. As I type up this section of my review, I have the S9 Pro Martha pumping out some Diamond Head “Am I evil” running 4.4 balanced with my Hidizs MP145 Planer IEM’s. I’m playing some Hi-Res Metal Masters off Qobuz from my PC. Let me tell you this, It's nothing short of impressive! You “may” or “may not” know this, but I’m a big Metal Head by heart. Being a Metal Head I’m always in the search for great “mid bass punch”. SO, let’s start off with the Bass.

BASS: By the power of the gods, the Martha delivers great quantity of mid bass punch and sub bass rumble! It's not the most dynamic or tactile but it upmost delivers and is just north of neutral. I would consider it a little “bass boosted”. This isn’t a good or bad thing it just makes a little more musical and fun sounding. The Martha brings the bass! It may not the most dynamic bass, but it’s well done and very engaging.The S9 Pro Martha can come off as little dry sounding to me compared to my Fiio KA17 and Aune Yuki, two other DAC’s I own. The Martha has a nice touch of warmth to it. This tuning makes it a little more musical and not so boring and dead neutral.

The treble is very well done and has zero sibilance that became tiring to me after long listening sessions. The S9 Pro Martha has plenty of micro and macro details in the treble and highs for its price range. For its price point I have no complaints about the treble and high range side of the spectrum, it’s very well controlled. The treble never sounds too rolled off or lacking in extension and technicalities, but the treble can come off as edgy from time to time with the green filter selected. Form a single chip its “damn good” if you ask me. The six different digital filters are a nice touch if you want to change up its sound to more of your liking.

The midrange is right where it should be and has a nice balance. Vocals are not too “in your face” and the middle frequency has a nice balance in the sound spectrum. The midrange of the Pro Martha has never left me wanting for more or wanting or less. The middle, low, and high range are very well done and strike a nice balanced for all styles of music.
The Staging and Imaging align well within its price range. I can't say its average because I’m not really sure what average is or how to gauge it. What I do know is that s it’s not as wide as the Fiio KA17 or Aune Yuki. But the rest of the stage seems right on par depth and height wise with as mentioned. The stage really depends on the IEM. I will say this that the imaging and stage is on point, and nothing ever sounds overly congested or compressed. It has nice height, width, and depth and every instrument is right where it should be.



Like I said before the S9 Pro Martha is a little dry and edgy sounding to me, so as a neutral and natural lover this wouldn’t be my first choice for a DAC and my preferences. I wish Hidizs would have made it just a wee bit more lush sounding, but then again, who the hell am I? For a single chip the S9 pro Martha sure sings and it's an impressive feat. Its neutral/bright, slightly warm sound signature is a joy to listen to and I really enjoyed its paring the most with the Hidizs MP145. The MP145 paired better than my Thieaudio Hype 4, SIVGA Nightingale, Simgot EA1000, and EA500 LM. Not that the others were bad, far from it. The MP145 just seemed to open more and the added a nice mid bass punch to the bass that was more the welcome. With my music library of mainly rock and Metal the S9 Pro Martha was right on point.

Conclusion:
The Hidizs S9 Pro Martha is a micro powerhouse which I recommend if you’re on the lookout for a small affordable pocketable DAC for on the go and in the one-hundred-dollar range. It boasts neutral/bright, slightly warm/dry sound profile. It has a great mid bass punch and sub bass presence. Its technicalities ar on point while staying musical and fun. I give the Hidizs S9 Pro Martha 4 out of 5 rating for its great compact design and well implemented DAC chip. On the negative side it’s a little dry and edgy sounding to my liking. Not bad Hidizs, not bad at all! Fly free Martha over this crowded digital sea.
4/5

Hidizs S9 Pro+ Martha Affiliate link: