Reviews by Leonarfd

Campfire Audio Chromatic Series - Supermoon

Disclaimer

I have the Chromatic IEMs on loan from a friend, I write this to share some comparisons between the Chromatic models.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are 634ears LOAK2-TX02 and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
Portable main gear being HIBY R8 II, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.




So what is the Chromatic Series

Instead of introducing them all I will quote from CFA, with links below to read about each one:

Introducing Our Chromatic Series
"At Campfire Audio, our initial mission was straightforward: to offer uncompromising sound at an excellent value. With the launch of the Chromatic Series, we're not just extending our product line; we're expanding on that mission. This series brings the same exceptional audio quality that fans of Campfire Audio have come to love, while also aiming to make premium sound more accessible.
The Chromatic Series is designed for discerning listeners who don't want to compromise on quality, no matter their point of entry. It's our next step in a continuing commitment to bring unparalleled sound experiences to an ever-widening audience. Because in the world of Campfire Audio, exceptional sound is an attainable aspiration for all."



https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/ponderosa

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/bonneville

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/supermoon-1

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/cascara




Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

Bonneville is warm and bold sounding, with punchy bass and crisp highs.

Supermoon is energetic and clean sounding, has a more analytical sound with good warmth.

Ponderosa is smooth and warm, very easy to listen to.

Cascara is thick and slightly dark, the sound is very warm.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Supermoon

Details and soundstage
Very resolving and open, part of the tuning and also the planar being so crisp in how the transients are not smoothed at all.
Soundstage is also quite large and better than other planars I have used, maybe only the Hidizs Mp145 is larger.

Bass
This is planar bass, meaning it is fast and slam good. Not as nuanced as a dynamic driver, but in return is very fast and has a good impactful punch. Goes deep, and can give some really good sub bass rumble. The mid bass is also on the warm side, but very clean and punchy.

Mids
Mids is a little analytical and forward, this is one of the reasons why the Supermoon sound so resolving and energetic. Also has that planar cleanliness, making everything sound open and crisp. Music like speedy metal can sound quite awesome because of the clear midrange.

Supermoon has some of that metallic planar sound to it, so it's not the most organic performer of midrange.

Treble
The high range follows a similar style being forward tuned and clear, has good extension and good airyness. But it is also a little sharp and intense on some music due to this.

Synergies
A friend of mine told me Supermoon is perfect with more analogue sources to relax down the upper mids and give it less of a metallic sound. I totally agree. Something as easy as using the HIBY FC6 dongle is excellent, and the R2R sound makes it more musical. He also recommended trying a tube amp, but I just sold mine right before the loan.

It does sound good straight from my DAP R8 II, on the analytical side then.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance.

Bonneville
Supermoon
Ponderosa
Cascara

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When comparing the Chromatic series to each other I have used some of the tracks in the playlist and also some under here.
I will mention a few tracks below and explain how they each do:



Dire Straits - You And Your Friend
https://tidal.com/browse/track/2570512?u

Bonneville
Dire Straits and Bonneville are like made for each other, the stage is super wide and separated.
The sound is so full bodied and dynamic, the guitars and his voice sound so lively and engaging. The upper mids being taken back assist in older rock recordings not sounding too sharp or bad.

Supermoon
This is also very good, very resolving and clear. Some parts are a little harsh and aggressive due to the planar midrange and forward tuning, but also make it very lively and engaging. The stage is smaller than the Bonneville and the Cascara, and more similar to Ponderosa.

Ponderosa
Smooth and relaxing, everything just sounds softer. In a way this works well with older rock, even the bass guitars sound full and dynamic for BA. Very much of the music is in the midrange, so the warmth of the Ponderosa works well making it engaging while also having the softer BA taming it. Less resolving than Supermoon and Bonneville, but more than the Cascara.

Cascara
The stage is close to Bonneville in size, but not that wide and lacks the same clear separation of the stage. The overall tonality is a little similar, just a little thicker and less clear. Clearly my second favorite of the bunch for older rock.



Infected Mushroom - Mush Mushi REBORN

https://tidal.com/browse/track/331065005?u

Bonneville
The bass is big and tight without being overblown, the treble energy makes it sound very open and resolving. Bonneville might have too much high range energy for some electronica, but this track doesn't have that issue for me. Bonneville is also super detailed and speedy, just very addictive.

Supermoon
Planar is awesome for being resolving and speedy for this, but lacks the bass fulness of a DD making it more fun. But I could sometimes trade that away for technical electronica, to get such open and transparent sound.

Ponderosa
This sound more close to a DD in its bass than the Supermoon, and is actually pretty impressive for a BA set. It also is quite resolving even while having a smooth sound to it, surprised that I liked Ponderosa that much for this.

Cascara
The darkest and densest sounding, the bass is big and very fun. I do lack something as it sounds slightly congested and not open, affecting how separated and clear it sounds.
What it does give you, is more of a club feel with rhythmic addictive bass and less detail blasted in your ears. The bass here is also looser than on Bonneville, find this interesting as I thought the DD had some similarities.



Caroline Polachek - Sunset

https://tidal.com/browse/track/346733631?u

Bonneville
Just focusing on her vocal, it's very clear and forward in the mix with good air to her voice. She has some sibilant parts that can get pushed due to the Bonneville having forward treble.

Supermoon
Sound very resolving and airy on her voice, forward projection in your face. Admit it gets slightly too much for my taste, also lack the soul that I need for vocals.

Ponderosa
The warm midrange is excellent with Caroline, good amount of detail. Lack a little dynamic soul in her voice compared to Cascara and Bonneville, but sound more realistic than Supermoon. Has also the smoothest sound of them all, making it forgiving and never tiresome.

Cascara
This is better than expected being that the Cascara is so low end heavy, while also being engaging and fun it does sound a little husky. But I also can like this presentation, less airy and open in her voice compared to Supermoon and Bonneville. But also the least one to show the sibilance in her voice.



Camille Thomas, Julien Brocal - Lento con gran espressione

https://tidal.com/browse/track/293115723?u

Bonneville
It Sounds so rich and beautiful. Bonneville has an authority to the cello that I will argue is lacking from most IEMs, since cello sounds big and full in real life. The warmth of the Bonneville makes it sound more true to life, and also the piano that is accompanying sounds organic and real. Highly resolving and picking up a lot of the nuanced playing with also the background noise of the breathing.

Supermoon
This is one of the main reasons why I dislike planar IEMs, it sounds lifeless and lacks the organic timbre for string instruments. The sound is too metallic and analytical, in return you get a very resolving and open sound. Also means the climax of the track can get a little too much for me.

Ponderosa
When swapping over to Ponderosa after Supermoon I'm met with a warmer and more organic sound, and this to me sounds more realistic and engaging. I lack some airyness compared to Supermoon and Bonneville, and some more intense parts can have some extra sizzle in the mids.

Cascara
Nails the organic timbre that DDs are so good with, slightly to thick sounding perhaps. Some of this probably since the bass shelf goes more into the mids and also due to not being the most airy of chromatic IEMs. The Cascara doesn't handle the dynamic climax as controlled as the Bonneville, and has almost the same bite as Supermoon.



Suldusk - Chrystaline

https://tidal.com/browse/track/333294431?u

Bonneville.
Bonneville has the tonality to make intense metal less shouty and tiresome, but without making it sounding veiled or dull. It's just a thick and visceral sound, but due to the less aggressive upper mids it's not shouty. Both the instruments and her parts are super resolving and expressive, capturing a wide dynamic range. And sound equally good during the softer and melodic parts as the intense ones.

Supermoon
Has the cleanest and most open sound, and sounds the least busy during the intense parts. But also lack some warmth making it a little thin when compared to the other, for many this warmth is probably the best on metal as the low mids have less thickness to it.
Has the least soul on the instruments and her vocals making the music more analytical, but again perfect for the resolution.

Ponderosa
Has a more thick and smooth sound, BA sets can often be good at being forgiving and having smooth transients. Due to this also sounding the least open and slowest of the bunch, during the intense parts I lack the openness of Bonnenville and Supermoon. Not my first pick for metal music, but I would pick it for this over Cascara.

Cascara
The sound is least resolving of all of them and not as clear playing this. It Sounds darker and lacks the sparkle for cymbals, similar to Ponderosa it's not my first pick for metal. But again I find this very easy to listen to, not tiresome at all. And could see my using this for older bright metal and rock, as it would give the music more body and soften it.



Snarky Puppy - Belmont

https://tidal.com/browse/track/228999274?u

Bonneville
Has a good balance for jazz music like this, balanced rich sound that is very resolving without being too aggressive or tiresome. The micro details of instruments are quite remarkable, with excellent separation and staging. Bass is also so dense and addictive, the opening kick drum is just perfection. The stage also sounds much wider than the rest here.

Supermoon
The best one for clarity with its more sharp and intense tonality, there are actually some parts of the drumming where I flinch due to the brightness on Supermoon.
The bass also lacks a good realistic presentation for the kick drum, sounds more dead and lifeless.

Ponderosa
Warm midrange and smooth sound, I quite like this.
Then I hear the bass and I get sort of disappointed, but still better than Supermoon. It's punchy and fast but lacks the impressiveness of Bonneville and Cascara.
But the mids are so creamy on the rest, so more traditional Jazz with Ponderosa is a much better match.

Cascara
Similar to the Bonneville in the bass, the bass kick sounds so impressive and real. The sound is also overall very rich and full bodied, still Cascara is not my pick for traditional Jazz. But the more bold stuff like Snarky Puppy align very much with thicker sounding IEMs, unless you want more clarity.



Conclusion

This is a conclusion for the Chromatic series as a whole, the colorful design suits the series with all of them having colorful tunings. Each of them sound very different from each other, and it can be nice to own them all if you like variety in tunings.

The flagship Bonneville with its bold and fun sound, that is highly resolving and clear up top with voluptuous bass.
The Supermoon is perhaps the best planar available if you like energetic sound, resolving and clean.
The Ponderosa with its relaxed and smooth sound, overall warm bass and mids with decent technicalities.
Then the Cascara with the warm and darker sound, the bass is visceral and mids are thick.

The price may seem high for some when we compare with typical offerings from China, I think it's justified since they are made in the USA. They also have some of the most ergonomic shells out there, nicely sculpted to get a secure and deep fit. Good accessories, and cool packaging presentation that is not over the top.

This was a loan from my friend, the only reason I write this is since few out there have tried the whole series.
I clearly love Campfire Audio, and the Bonneville still remains my favorite IEM. I bet many would instead love one of the others in the series more, so hopefully this has been helpful to get an idea about them.

Campfire Audio Chromatic Series - Cascara


For some reason the Review lost the photos, and just appear as text now. Added some photos due to this.

Disclaimer

I have the Chromatic IEMs on loan from a friend, I write this to share some comparisons between the Chromatic models.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are 634ears LOAK2-TX02 and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
Portable main gear being HIBY R8 II, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.




So what is the Chromatic Series

Instead of introducing them all I will quote from CFA, with links below to read about each one:

Introducing Our Chromatic Series
"At Campfire Audio, our initial mission was straightforward: to offer uncompromising sound at an excellent value. With the launch of the Chromatic Series, we're not just extending our product line; we're expanding on that mission. This series brings the same exceptional audio quality that fans of Campfire Audio have come to love, while also aiming to make premium sound more accessible.
The Chromatic Series is designed for discerning listeners who don't want to compromise on quality, no matter their point of entry. It's our next step in a continuing commitment to bring unparalleled sound experiences to an ever-widening audience. Because in the world of Campfire Audio, exceptional sound is an attainable aspiration for all."



https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/ponderosa

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/bonneville

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/supermoon-1

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/cascara



Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

Bonneville is warm and bold sounding, with punchy bass and crisp highs.

Supermoon is energetic and clean sounding, has a more analytical sound with good warmth.

Ponderosa is smooth and warm, very easy to listen to.

Cascara is thick and slightly dark, the sound is very warm.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Cascara

Details and soundstage
This is the least resolving Chromatic IEM, and as a DD it isn't the details that make it stick apart from the crowd. Some of this due to the tonality, as with some EQ I can get more clarity.

Soundstage on the other hand is quite wide and spacious, and has an oval presentation with decent imaging.

Bass
The biggest and weakest strength of the Cascara, depending on who you ask. Bass is big and impactful, with both good sub bass and mid bass. It can sound a little slow compared to the Bonneville, and then also boomy.

Mids
Problem is that the bass goes heavy into the mids and thickens it. Personally I love this for a lot of music but not all, as it does veil some details and make it less open and separated.

Other than that the midrange is a little dark, so female vocalists and more bright instruments have less bite. In return. It refrains from being sibilant and sharp.

Treble
The highs are also a little on the reserved side, and I understand why Bonneville has extra BA to push the mids and treble. In return I can never see this get fatiguing.

Synergies
Never used this as much as I could to find synergies, a brighter source and maybe wide silicon tips that open the treble and tame some bass is the way to go.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance.

My other reviews on the rest for deeper thoughts on the sound impressions:

Bonneville
Supermoon
Ponderosa
Cascara

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When comparing the Chromatic series to each other I have used some of the tracks in the playlist and also some under here.
I will mention a few tracks below and explain how they each do:


Dire Straits - You And Your Friend
https://tidal.com/browse/track/2570512?u

Bonneville
Dire Straits and Bonneville are like made for each other, the stage is super wide and separated.
The sound is so full bodied and dynamic, the guitars and his voice sound so lively and engaging. The upper mids being taken back assist in older rock recordings not sounding too sharp or bad.

Supermoon
This is also very good, very resolving and clear. Some parts are a little harsh and aggressive due to the planar midrange and forward tuning, but also make it very lively and engaging. The stage is smaller than the Bonneville and the Cascara, and more similar to Ponderosa.

Ponderosa
Smooth and relaxing, everything just sounds softer. In a way this works well with older rock, even the bass guitars sound full and dynamic for BA. Very much of the music is in the midrange, so the warmth of the Ponderosa works well making it engaging while also having the softer BA taming it. Less resolving than Supermoon and Bonneville, but more than the Cascara.

Cascara
The stage is close to Bonneville in size, but not that wide and lacks the same clear separation of the stage. The overall tonality is a little similar, just a little thicker and less clear. Clearly my second favorite of the bunch for older rock.


Infected Mushroom - Mush Mushi REBORN

https://tidal.com/browse/track/331065005?u

Bonneville
The bass is big and tight without being overblown, the treble energy makes it sound very open and resolving. Bonneville might have too much high range energy for some electronica, but this track doesn't have that issue for me. Bonneville is also super detailed and speedy, just very addictive.

Supermoon
Planar is awesome for being resolving and speedy for this, but lacks the bass fulness of a DD making it more fun. But I could sometimes trade that away for technical electronica, to get such open and transparent sound.

Ponderosa
This sound more close to a DD in its bass than the Supermoon, and is actually pretty impressive for a BA set. It also is quite resolving even while having a smooth sound to it, surprised that I liked Ponderosa that much for this.

Cascara
The darkest and densest sounding, the bass is big and very fun. I do lack something as it sounds slightly congested and not open, affecting how separated and clear it sounds.
What it does give you, is more of a club feel with rhythmic addictive bass and less detail blasted in your ears. The bass here is also looser than on Bonneville, find this interesting as I thought the DD had some similarities.


Caroline Polachek - Sunset

https://tidal.com/browse/track/346733631?u

Bonneville
Just focusing on her vocal, it's very clear and forward in the mix with good air to her voice. She has some sibilant parts that can get pushed due to the Bonneville having forward treble.

Supermoon
Sound very resolving and airy on her voice, forward projection in your face. Admit it gets slightly too much for my taste, also lack the soul that I need for vocals.

Ponderosa
The warm midrange is excellent with Caroline, good amount of detail. Lack a little dynamic soul in her voice compared to Cascara and Bonneville, but sound more realistic than Supermoon. Has also the smoothest sound of them all, making it forgiving and never tiresome.

Cascara
This is better than expected being that the Cascara is so low end heavy, while also being engaging and fun it does sound a little husky. But I also can like this presentation, less airy and open in her voice compared to Supermoon and Bonneville. But also the least one to show the sibilance in her voice.



Camille Thomas, Julien Brocal - Lento con gran espressione

https://tidal.com/browse/track/293115723?u

Bonneville
It Sounds so rich and beautiful. Bonneville has an authority to the cello that I will argue is lacking from most IEMs, since cello sounds big and full in real life. The warmth of the Bonneville makes it sound more true to life, and also the piano that is accompanying sounds organic and real. Highly resolving and picking up a lot of the nuanced playing with also the background noise of the breathing.

Supermoon
This is one of the main reasons why I dislike planar IEMs, it sounds lifeless and lacks the organic timbre for string instruments. The sound is too metallic and analytical, in return you get a very resolving and open sound. Also means the climax of the track can get a little too much for me.

Ponderosa
When swapping over to Ponderosa after Supermoon I'm met with a warmer and more organic sound, and this to me sounds more realistic and engaging. I lack some airyness compared to Supermoon and Bonneville, and some more intense parts can have some extra sizzle in the mids.

Cascara
Nails the organic timbre that DDs are so good with, slightly to thick sounding perhaps. Some of this probably since the bass shelf goes more into the mids and also due to not being the most airy of chromatic IEMs. The Cascara doesn't handle the dynamic climax as controlled as the Bonneville, and has almost the same bite as Supermoon.



Suldusk - Chrystaline

https://tidal.com/browse/track/333294431?u

Bonneville.
Bonneville has the tonality to make intense metal less shouty and tiresome, but without making it sounding veiled or dull. It's just a thick and visceral sound, but due to the less aggressive upper mids it's not shouty. Both the instruments and her parts are super resolving and expressive, capturing a wide dynamic range. And sound equally good during the softer and melodic parts as the intense ones.

Supermoon
Has the cleanest and most open sound, and sounds the least busy during the intense parts. But also lack some warmth making it a little thin when compared to the other, for many this warmth is probably the best on metal as the low mids have less thickness to it.
Has the least soul on the instruments and her vocals making the music more analytical, but again perfect for the resolution.

Ponderosa
Has a more thick and smooth sound, BA sets can often be good at being forgiving and having smooth transients. Due to this also sounding the least open and slowest of the bunch, during the intense parts I lack the openness of Bonnenville and Supermoon. Not my first pick for metal music, but I would pick it for this over Cascara.

Cascara
The sound is least resolving of all of them and not as clear playing this. It Sounds darker and lacks the sparkle for cymbals, similar to Ponderosa it's not my first pick for metal. But again I find this very easy to listen to, not tiresome at all. And could see my using this for older bright metal and rock, as it would give the music more body and soften it.



Snarky Puppy - Belmont

https://tidal.com/browse/track/228999274?u

Bonneville
Has a good balance for jazz music like this, balanced rich sound that is very resolving without being too aggressive or tiresome. The micro details of instruments are quite remarkable, with excellent separation and staging. Bass is also so dense and addictive, the opening kick drum is just perfection. The stage also sounds much wider than the rest here.

Supermoon
The best one for clarity with its more sharp and intense tonality, there are actually some parts of the drumming where I flinch due to the brightness on Supermoon.
The bass also lacks a good realistic presentation for the kick drum, sounds more dead and lifeless.

Ponderosa
Warm midrange and smooth sound, I quite like this.
Then I hear the bass and I get sort of disappointed, but still better than Supermoon. It's punchy and fast but lacks the impressiveness of Bonneville and Cascara.
But the mids are so creamy on the rest, so more traditional Jazz with Ponderosa is a much better match.

Cascara
Similar to the Bonneville in the bass, the bass kick sounds so impressive and real. The sound is also overall very rich and full bodied, still Cascara is not my pick for traditional Jazz. But the more bold stuff like Snarky Puppy align very much with thicker sounding IEMs, unless you want more clarity.




Conclusion

I will make this a conclusion for the Chromatic series as a whole, the colorful design suits the series with all of them having colorful tunings. Each of them sound very different from each other, and it can be nice to own them all if you like variety in tunings.

The flagship Bonneville with its bold and fun sound, that is highly resolving and clear up top with voluptuous bass.
The Supermoon is perhaps the best planar available if you like energetic sound, resolving and clean.
The Ponderosa with its relaxed and smooth sound, overall warm bass and mids with decent technicalities.
Then the Cascara with the warm and darker sound, the bass is visceral and mids are thick.

The price may seem high for some when we compare with typical offerings from China, I think it's justified since they are made in the USA. They also have some of the most ergonomic shells out there, nicely sculpted to get a secure and deep fit. Good accessories, and a cool packaging presentation that is not over the top.

This was a loan from my friend, the only reason I write this is since few out there have tried the whole series.
I clearly love Campfire Audio, and the Bonneville still remains my favorite IEM. I bet many would instead love one of the others in the series more, so hopefully this has been helpful to get an idea about them.

Campfire Audio Chromatic Series - Ponderosa

Disclaimer

I have the Chromatic IEMs on loan from a friend, I write this to share some comparisons between the Chromatic models.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are 634ears LOAK2-TX02 and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
Portable main gear being HIBY R8 II, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.






So what is the Chromatic Series

Instead of introducing them all I will quote from CFA, with links below to read about each one:

Introducing Our Chromatic Series
"At Campfire Audio, our initial mission was straightforward: to offer uncompromising sound at an excellent value. With the launch of the Chromatic Series, we're not just extending our product line; we're expanding on that mission. This series brings the same exceptional audio quality that fans of Campfire Audio have come to love, while also aiming to make premium sound more accessible.
The Chromatic Series is designed for discerning listeners who don't want to compromise on quality, no matter their point of entry. It's our next step in a continuing commitment to bring unparalleled sound experiences to an ever-widening audience. Because in the world of Campfire Audio, exceptional sound is an attainable aspiration for all."



https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/ponderosa

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/bonneville

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/supermoon-1

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/cascara




Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

Bonneville is warm and bold sounding, with punchy bass and crisp highs.

Supermoon is energetic and clean sounding, has a more analytical sound with good warmth.

Ponderosa is smooth and warm, very easy to listen to.

Cascara is thick and slightly dark, the sound is very warm.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance.

My other reviews on the rest for deeper thoughts on the sound impressions:

Bonneville
Supermoon
Ponderosa
Cascara

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When comparing the Chromatic series to each other I have used some of the tracks in the playlist and also some under here.
I will mention a few tracks below and explain how they each do:



Dire Straits - You And Your Friend
https://tidal.com/browse/track/2570512?u

Bonneville
Dire Straits and Bonneville are like made for each other, the stage is super wide and separated.
The sound is so full bodied and dynamic, the guitars and his voice sound so lively and engaging. The upper mids being taken back assist in older rock recordings not sounding too sharp or bad.

Supermoon
This is also very good, very resolving and clear. Some parts are a little harsh and aggressive due to the planar midrange and forward tuning, but also make it very lively and engaging. The stage is smaller than the Bonneville and the Cascara, and more similar to Ponderosa.

Ponderosa
Smooth and relaxing, everything just sounds softer. In a way this works well with older rock, even the bass guitars sound full and dynamic for BA. Very much of the music is in the midrange, so the warmth of the Ponderosa works well making it engaging while also having the softer BA taming it. Less resolving than Supermoon and Bonneville, but more than the Cascara.

Cascara
The stage is close to Bonneville in size, but not that wide and lacks the same clear separation of the stage. The overall tonality is a little similar, just a little thicker and less clear. Clearly my second favorite of the bunch for older rock.



Infected Mushroom - Mush Mushi REBORN

https://tidal.com/browse/track/331065005?u

Bonneville
The bass is big and tight without being overblown, the treble energy makes it sound very open and resolving. Bonneville might have too much high range energy for some electronica, but this track doesn't have that issue for me. Bonneville is also super detailed and speedy, just very addictive.

Supermoon
Planar is awesome for being resolving and speedy for this, but lacks the bass fulness of a DD making it more fun. But I could sometimes trade that away for technical electronica, to get such open and transparent sound.

Ponderosa
This sound more close to a DD in its bass than the Supermoon, and is actually pretty impressive for a BA set. It also is quite resolving even while having a smooth sound to it, surprised that I liked Ponderosa that much for this.

Cascara
The darkest and densest sounding, the bass is big and very fun. I do lack something as it sounds slightly congested and not open, affecting how separated and clear it sounds.
What it does give you, is more of a club feel with rhythmic addictive bass and less detail blasted in your ears. The bass here is also looser than on Bonneville, find this interesting as I thought the DD had some similarities.



Caroline Polachek - Sunset

https://tidal.com/browse/track/346733631?u

Bonneville
Just focusing on her vocal, it's very clear and forward in the mix with good air to her voice. She has some sibilant parts that can get pushed due to the Bonneville having forward treble.

Supermoon
Sound very resolving and airy on her voice, forward projection in your face. Admit it gets slightly too much for my taste, also lack the soul that I need for vocals.

Ponderosa
The warm midrange is excellent with Caroline, good amount of detail. Lack a little dynamic soul in her voice compared to Cascara and Bonneville, but sound more realistic than Supermoon. Has also the smoothest sound of them all, making it forgiving and never tiresome.

Cascara
This is better than expected being that the Cascara is so low end heavy, while also being engaging and fun it does sound a little husky. But I also can like this presentation, less airy and open in her voice compared to Supermoon and Bonneville. But also the least one to show the sibilance in her voice.



Camille Thomas, Julien Brocal - Lento con gran espressione

https://tidal.com/browse/track/293115723?u

Bonneville
It Sounds so rich and beautiful. Bonneville has an authority to the cello that I will argue is lacking from most IEMs, since cello sounds big and full in real life. The warmth of the Bonneville makes it sound more true to life, and also the piano that is accompanying sounds organic and real. Highly resolving and picking up a lot of the nuanced playing with also the background noise of the breathing.

Supermoon
This is one of the main reasons why I dislike planar IEMs, it sounds lifeless and lacks the organic timbre for string instruments. The sound is too metallic and analytical, in return you get a very resolving and open sound. Also means the climax of the track can get a little too much for me.

Ponderosa
When swapping over to Ponderosa after Supermoon I'm met with a warmer and more organic sound, and this to me sounds more realistic and engaging. I lack some airyness compared to Supermoon and Bonneville, and some more intense parts can have some extra sizzle in the mids.

Cascara
Nails the organic timbre that DDs are so good with, slightly to thick sounding perhaps. Some of this probably since the bass shelf goes more into the mids and also due to not being the most airy of chromatic IEMs. The Cascara doesn't handle the dynamic climax as controlled as the Bonneville, and has almost the same bite as Supermoon.



Suldusk - Chrystaline

https://tidal.com/browse/track/333294431?u

Bonneville.
Bonneville has the tonality to make intense metal less shouty and tiresome, but without making it sounding veiled or dull. It's just a thick and visceral sound, but due to the less aggressive upper mids it's not shouty. Both the instruments and her parts are super resolving and expressive, capturing a wide dynamic range. And sound equally good during the softer and melodic parts as the intense ones.

Supermoon
Has the cleanest and most open sound, and sounds the least busy during the intense parts. But also lack some warmth making it a little thin when compared to the other, for many this warmth is probably the best on metal as the low mids have less thickness to it.
Has the least soul on the instruments and her vocals making the music more analytical, but again perfect for the resolution.

Ponderosa
Has a more thick and smooth sound, BA sets can often be good at being forgiving and having smooth transients. Due to this also sounding the least open and slowest of the bunch, during the intense parts I lack the openness of Bonnenville and Supermoon. Not my first pick for metal music, but I would pick it for this over Cascara.

Cascara
The sound is least resolving of all of them and not as clear playing this. It Sounds darker and lacks the sparkle for cymbals, similar to Ponderosa it's not my first pick for metal. But again I find this very easy to listen to, not tiresome at all. And could see my using this for older bright metal and rock, as it would give the music more body and soften it.



Snarky Puppy - Belmont

https://tidal.com/browse/track/228999274?u

Bonneville
Has a good balance for jazz music like this, balanced rich sound that is very resolving without being too aggressive or tiresome. The micro details of instruments are quite remarkable, with excellent separation and staging. Bass is also so dense and addictive, the opening kick drum is just perfection. The stage also sounds much wider than the rest here.

Supermoon
The best one for clarity with its more sharp and intense tonality, there are actually some parts of the drumming where I flinch due to the brightness on Supermoon.
The bass also lacks a good realistic presentation for the kick drum, sounds more dead and lifeless.

Ponderosa
Warm midrange and smooth sound, I quite like this.
Then I hear the bass and I get sort of disappointed, but still better than Supermoon. It's punchy and fast but lacks the impressiveness of Bonneville and Cascara.
But the mids are so creamy on the rest, so more traditional Jazz with Ponderosa is a much better match.

Cascara
Similar to the Bonneville in the bass, the bass kick sounds so impressive and real. The sound is also overall very rich and full bodied, still Cascara is not my pick for traditional Jazz. But the more bold stuff like Snarky Puppy align very much with thicker sounding IEMs, unless you want more clarity.



Conclusion

I will make this a conclusion for the Chromatic series as a whole, the colourful design suits the series with all of them having colourful tunings. Each of them sound very different from each other, and it can be nice to own them all if you like variety in tunings.

The flagship Bonneville with its bold and fun sound, that is highly resolving and clear up top with voluptuous bass.
The Supermoon is perhaps the best planar available if you like energetic sound, resolving and clean.
The Ponderosa with its relaxed and smooth sound, overall warm bass and mids with decent technicalities.
Then the Cascara with the warm and darker sound, the bass is visceral and mids are thick.

The price may seem high for some when we compare with typical offerings from China, I think it's justified since they are made in the USA. They also have some of the most ergonomic shells out there, nicely sculpted to get a secure and deep fit. Good accessories, and cool packaging presentation that is not over the top.

This was a loan from my friend, the only reason I write this is since few out there have tried the whole series.
I clearly love Campfire Audio, and the Bonneville still remains my favorite IEM. I bet many would instead love one of the others in the series more, so hopefully this has been helpful to get an idea about them.

DITA Audio Project M and its neutral ethereal sound

Disclaimer

I got Project M for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are metal, electronica, jazz and pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are 634ears LOOK 2-TX02 and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.

Portable gear being HIBY R8 II, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.




So what is the DITA Audio Project M

DITA Audio is a brand I have never ventured into before the Project M, easiest way to explain who they are is a quote from them:

DITA builds products embodying a quest for the sublime, based on the premise that a well-crafted product is an experience in itself.

Beyond the realm of audio, DITA looks to engage partners and clientele with a curiosity and passion for complete design integration and execution. Driving collaborative ventures in the fields of design, engineering and manufacturing to that end.

Established in 1971, DITA’s parent company, Packagers Pte. Ltd, possesses 47 years of research and experience in automation and engineering: treasured and translated into the uncompromising commitment to craft imbued within every DITA product.

DITA is a component of ENTRA, an idea-to-engineering entity with over a century of engineering expertise and experience.

www.ditaaudio.com

info@ditaaudio.com



The new model Project M ($325) is their latest one, being their first resin hybrid IEM. They have gone a new path making the IEM more ergonomic than their previous designs, with a clear resin body and metal nozzle. The size is average and should suit most ears, I actually find this as one of the most comfortable IEMs. The Project M uses 2 pin sockets for the cable, they protrude outside the shell.

The build quality is remarkable, and feels even better in your hand than what photos can capture. DITA also provides a 10 year parts or replacement availability, so the IEM can be long term viable.

The Project M consists of DITA’s all-new PM1+ 9.8mm Dynamic Driver and a Knowles balanced armature driver, both are housed in the stainless-steel chamber you can see inside the resin.
The chamber has a molded tube to deliver the sound, in return they can make use of filled resin as the sonic tuning is made without the shell as a factor. The PM1+ works full range with the BA giving the sound better clarity and treble.



The packaging is elegant while not being overdone, Project M also arrives with a good set of accessories.

The MOCCA cable uses 16 Cardas conductor strands per cable, with a PVC outer layer making it durable. The hardware for the 2 pin socket is angled and of the jacket style, making it very secure and comfortable together with the subtle ear guides. The cable also uses DITA’s APV2 angled modular system so you can change termination from 3.5mm to 4.4mm, one of the better modular systems out there.
MOCCA is one of the best stock cables I have used with its nice design, sound, lightness and quality.

One downside it's that the cable is light and there is no chin slider, so the ear loops might fall off your ear.



Tanos have made a small and secure hard case container for DITA, it's a little on the small side and looks quite rugged. But in return you should keep your Project M very secure during storage or your travels. And for the handymans out there,yes it looks like a Festool container for their tools.

And last you get a set of glow in the dark Final Audio Type E silicon tips, these are small bore and ergonomic tips.





Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

The Project M is a neutral bright IEM, natural and resolving with fast transients and good dynamics.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Details and soundstage

Detail in IEMs is down mostly to quality driver and how it amplitudes the frequencies, also when the driver is faster it also increases the resolution you hear. And Project M does all of them, and is a reason why it's such a detailed IEM.
This is a very resolving IEM and one of the most resolving IEMs under $1000, I know it's a bold statement. But the amount of micro detail is remarkable, the transients clear without being smoothened and even the lowest bass notes have so much texture to it. Some of the perceived resolution is due to the forward treble, but even if I EQ down the treble it's still resolving.

Soundstage is not super wide or deep, it's actually quite average in size. But the imaging is spot on and envelops you in 3D sound, very immersive in music. And if you're a competitive gamer, Project M delivers a perfect solution to give you the upper hand with its imaging cues.



Bass

I had seen measurements before the Project M arrived, prefer not to see it but I was kind of late to the game with this one. From that the bass to me looked to lean in balance to the upper frequencies, but there is not much music where I find the Project M lacking in quantity. Especially when I have adjusted my brain to the tuning, and this is coming from a bass lover.

Some of the reason is also because the bass is so tight, deep, punchy, textured and resolving. One of the best DDs I have tried lately for producing low end, be it for music like acoustic string instruments, organ or just electronic bass notes.

I could have wished for a little extra sub bass extension, as the mid bass is the most dominant on the Project M. I have played with EQ, and the driver takes it perfectly without sounding uncontrolled in the bass.



Mids

The midrange was perhaps what impressed me the most from first listen, it has a very rich and clear sound. Making both female and male voices so clear and nuanced, good weight without being sibilant and harsh. This is actually something that is very similar to my favorite IEM Bonneville, looking at measurements both follow a similar style having the upper mids slightly recessed while the low mids have some weight from the bass.

Most of the music is in the midrange, also why I find it so important and it's easy that I complain on sets. Project M delivers be it vocals or instruments, the upper mids also help instruments like brass or brighter females not being tiresome. For folks like me who are sensitive to upper mids this is perfect, while some might lack some bite if they are Harman tuning lovers.



Treble

Ethereal and forward treble, had plenty of goosebump moments due to certain songs getting that extra realistic treble air. And funny enough this is very similar to Bonneville, both have a similar type of tuning in both the upper mids and treble.

The treble is very realistic to my ears, and has good bite and clarity. Plenty of air that doesn't feel forced and tiresome, I cannot hear that its the BA pushing the treble, it sounds coherent with the DD.

But this can also be negative, not for me as I am tolerable with the low/mid treble region. But many will probably find this bright, even if it's super controlled and not harsh. If you find headphones like old Beyerdynamic models bright or even the newer oval Hifiman planars, it's a big chance this will also be bright then.



Synergies

I find that the Project M is most suited for warmer or more analog sources, using my HIBY R8 II is great as it is neutral with some warmth. But changing to the HIBY FC6 with its R2R and organic sound is more enjoyable and musical.
Same can be said when I move over to my desktop setup with Denafrips Ares 12th-1 being a warm R2R DAC, even with the Topping A90 Discrete being on the neutral side.

I find the stock cable really nice, and moving over to Effect Audio Cadmus 8W the sound gets a little brighter and airy.

The stock tips are a good match for Project M, even with being smaller bore I don't feel it limits the soundstage or the treble, just sound clear and full.
Changing over to Eletech baroque does open the treble a little more, making it brighter and not better for me. Velvet is a better match than Baroque, and is more similar to Type E with maybe a little more airyness.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





I have chosen two other models that cost around the same as the Project M, they all have different tunings and configuration. What they all have in common is being some of the best sounding and comfortable IEMs at this price range. Comfort can depend on your ears, and same can be said for the sound.

Letshuoer Cadenza4 is their latest hybrid IEM, using 1 DD and 3BA. Have a neutral tonality similar to Project M, where they differentiate is Cadenza4 having extra vocal bite on brighter voices and instruments. What Cadenza4 is lacking is treble extension, and in return don't sound as realistic and airy as Project M. Bass weight is very similar, but Project M has a little extra punch. The Cadenza4 does sound less resolving due to the treble, but also due to the sound being smoother with not as fast transients as Project M.

634ears Miroak-II Cocobolo is the other one, this is a single DD from a Japanese boutique maker. My version is with a softer wood and has an organic sound, quite the opposite of the more clear and transparent Project M.
Bass is deeper and stronger, but lacks a little of the definition when you compare the two. Midrange is more similar to Cadenza4 with having a good bite on vocals and brass, but also sound thicker overall. The treble is forward but not as bright as Project M, still very airy but dont have the same ethereal presentation. Miroak-II is also not as resolving and the Project M, its still daily detailed for its price and being a single DD.



Music

When comparing DITA Project M to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more, I will provide some notes under each track for what is different between the three.

I will also share a playlist of songs I like to use for testing IEMs, it's way too long now and I need to do a clean-up. I will link it here anyways for those who want to check it out:

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28



https://tidal.com/browse/track/267372746?u

Apostrophe - Hypnopaedia

Project M
A perfect track for focusing on treble and air, the ethereal sound is clear on Project M. The piano notes linger with lots of nuance and sound is airy and open.

Cadenza4
The sound is softer, and while it has air it's not as sparkly and ethereal as Project M. The stage also is not as cinematic and dimensional.

Miroak-II
This is closer to Project M capturing realistic and ethereal air, and falls just short of the Project M. Lack the extra crispness, and in some ways can sound safer for the sensitive.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/146377432?u

Katie Melua - A Love Like That

Project M
Such beautiful vocal and acoustic instrument playback, felt touched when hearing this album on DITA Project M the first time. Has a way of being so emotional and nuanced with her voice, what a lovely presentation.

The track has acoustic instruments and her vocals, from what I hear Project M sound so natural and resolving. Not too bright or too warm, and the stage projects close but so holographic.

Cadenza4
Her voice actually is more focused on Cadenza4, but doesn't portray the same exact amount of detail and airiness to her. This is where the upper mids of Cadenza4 make certain vocals and instruments more pronounced, same that if a singer is sibilant it will show more on Cadenza4.

Also a smoother sound versus the crystal clear Project M, but that I mean it has smoother transients and every note has a softness to them. The stage is very similar, just a little less holographic.

Miroak-II
Warmer and richer with more body, the sound is projected a little farther out than Project M. Katie sounds a little more husky and doesn't have the same clarity to her, the drums and guitar sound more organic with more weight.

But her voice has a forwardness like Cadenza4 but with a more dense organic sound.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/114331955?u

TOOL - The Pot

Project M
Decided on using some prog metal that's more accessible for the folks reading, Tool always has complex music and is good for evaluating.

I was surprised about how well Project M does metal, while I prefer more bass the sound is full enough where I enjoy it. Bass is tight and fast, and sounds realistic on the kick drums or bass guitar.
The cymbal strikes are clear and realistic without being sharp, this is back to the upper mids dip.

Cadenza4
The biggest change I notice is that it's sharper and brighter due to the upper mids. This also since the bass seems lighter with less punch, I find Cadenza4 to have great bass but it's not as punchy and realistic as Project M.
There is also a little lack of realism to the cymbals and they seem muted, probably because of the treble not being as forward.

Miroak-II
Not as clear and resolving as Project M, but sound much more full bodied with a similar realistic sound up top for the cymbals.
The voice, drums, bass and guitar have that extra fullness that make metal and rock more fun and engaging.
Miroak-II is also easier to listen to more heavy metal or death metal.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/87252035?u

Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed

Project M
Technical electronica like this is nice with Project M, detailed sound and tight bass punch.
Some more bass would have made the experience almost perfect, there is also that some electronic music has sharper elements. This is also in this track with especially the some elements in the middle of the track, listening for too long to music like this would give me fatigue on Project M.

Cadenza4
Not as technical and immersive Project M, and have less body to the bass. The quality though is excellent here also, and with a small EQ could have been more fun.
This is also not as tiresome on the sharper elements as Project M, so I could listen to this for longer. Mainly due to less treble emphasis and also because of a soft sound.

Miroak-II
This is music that's like made for Miroak-II, unless you want a more technical sound like Project M.
Stronger bass that takes away the weight from the brighter elements, also since it has a more soft sound similar to Cadenza4. It also is more immersive and sounds clearer up top than Cadenza.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/170594746?u

Geoff Castellucci - Sixteen Tons

Project M
Sounds very clean, I am used to sets with more thickness into the midrange. It's still full sounding with lots of nuance in his voice and the bass kick, but it has a more transparent sound than with Miroak-II. The fast transients make it loose perhaps a little natural tonality.

Cadenza4
Very similar to Project M, just a little less fullness. But the softer and slower sound is more suited for his voice than with Project M.

Miroak-II
The more full bodied sound is fun here, the track is already very bassy. I would have thought the Miroak-II would be too much. But I don't feel it like that, it just sounds engaging and full.
It's just a step below Project M on perceived resolution, probably as the Miroak-II have not as clear transients.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/114542267?u

Nenad Vasilic - Bass Room

Project M
Last one is a special one, this is just the double bass with echo in a larger place. Instead of using just a song I have used quite a few songs and the album as a whole is good.
The Project M is the most spacious sounding here, with also the most clarity and separation of every note. What it perhaps lacks is a little bass body to sound more real to life on double bass.

Cadenza4
The weakest of the three when we look at how realistic the bass notes and quantity is, not that it's bad and if you had lifted the bass on the mid bass 1dB it would have been hard to hear the difference in quantity with Project M. Both have a faster DD for the bass that are good at showing all the details of the bass playing, and the coherency of the Cadenza4 and the BAs for the mids and treble is done really well. Even so it's not as smooth and coherent as Project M and Miroak-II in comparison sessions.

Miroak-II
This has the most pronounced bass playing, not because it's more resolving but more because of the increased bass quantity. I dare say that the Miroak-II have more natural bass weight, maybe a little too much and a mix between the two would be perfect.
The full bodied bass is also a little slower, every lote lingers a little more and sounds more organic.




Conclusion

I will start with their own quote about themselves:

DITA Audio is a Singaporean company that builds products embodying a quest for the sublime, based on the premise that a well-crafted product is an experience in itself.

Click to expand...

The model Project M is an experience and suits that description, and is among the best quality IEM you can get for the price. This is a technical and mature IEM in how it sounds, capturing a clear sound. There is some coloration in the treble making details pop more, also makes it sound airy and open. The dynamic driver they have developed is also among the faster ones, and balances speed and nuance with excellence.

That sound is all good, and this continues onto the build and accessories. You get better than average shell quality, with a stylish and minimalist design. The accessories are also good and you are ready to enjoy misc from the get go without upgrading them, unless the tips don't work for you in size.

I know I am gushing over Project M, and it's well deserving as DITA have made something remarkable here. I would have thought they could have charged a lot more without people questioning it, but it's good for the consumers that we get DITA quality for a reasonable cost.

It's not all praise, some would have liked more body to the bass while some will probably find it too bright. The brightness and bass quantity is a part of what I love about Project M, gives it a unique flavor that is maybe not suited for all my music. But with the correct music, this strikes a homerun.

I highly rate the DITA Audio Project M, recommend it for folks who want a more neutral bright sound done right.

AüR Audio Aehta, their finest

Disclaimer

I bought the Aehta with a very small discount, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are 634ears LOOK 2-TX02 and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.

Portable main gear being HIBY R8 II and HIBY R6 Pro 2, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.





So what is the AüR Audio Aehta

The Aehta is the newest IEM from Singapore based AüR Audio, the brand consists of Abel the tuner and Nicholas the manager.
This is their first quadbrid IEM costing 1059 USD, using 2 dynamic drivers, 2 bone conductors, 4 balanced armatures and 2 electrostatic drivers. The shell is in black 3D printed resin with gold design on the faceplate, every faceplate is uniquely made by Abel.

As usual with AüR the packaging and accessories are on the cheap side, providing you with an entry cable and hard puck for storage. The provided silicon tips are soft and decent, actually very similar to JVC Spiraldot.

There is an option to upgrade the cable to the Athena cable, a good 8wire cable. This adds 200 SGD to the price, roughly 150 USD.

The shell is light but feels sturdy, the Aetha has less ergonomics curves than previous AüR models. Aetha also has a longer nozzle, this is both good and bad depending on how your ears are. But overall the ergonomics is fine, not the most comfy for me but should be quite universal and work for most people.

The shell is quite small in width and height, but has a very thick depth. So when using Aehta they protrude some outside the ear, this will be more flush for people who are able to get deeper fit.



The Aehta also has 3 tuning switches, one for bass mids and treble. Can go from a more bright sound to something close to a basshead.



https://www.auraudio.store/product-page/æhta









Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

I perceived Aehta as a very clean and coherent IEM from first minute, a resolving and engaging sound. Overall just a natural sounding set, and depending on switches will be brighter or warm.

Going to use the ranges here in review:




Details and soundstage

This is a very resolving IEM, the most resolving set so far from AüR. Have a good mix of micro and macro detail without being analytical sounding, and make good use of quality sources.

Soundstage is always very personal, I find it better than average in depth and with. But where it shines is more in how spherical it surrounds you in music, having very good 3D imaging making music more engaging.

Bass

I love good bass and this is probably the best AüR have made, has a good mix of speed and texture. Not too soft or hard, and quantity will change a lot depending on tuning switches.
The quantity of bass when used with the first switch on will be too much for some, for me that can be considered a basshead I find it perfect with it engaged.

The bass shelf is the glide style going into the midrange, goes more into the midrange with the bass switch on. Also a reason why I prefer it on. There is no drop off in sub bass and it has a punchy mid bass, the bass sounds very natural on both acoustic instruments or electronic elements.

Mids

Very clean midrange, be it instruments or vocals it delivers the most detailed midrange from all the AüR models. Some of this is probably due to the custom BAs used for the midrange, but probably also due to the bone conductors that are working at the midrange.

Even if it's very resolving and clean it's also very natural and musical, so not analytical and sterile. I would also say it's slightly midrange forward and even more when you engage the second switch, since this elevates the upper mids a little extra.
I find it equally good for both male and female vocals, and also good when listening to acoustic instruments. The midrange is very coherent, the transition from the DD to the BA is done excellently and also how the bone conduction is added.

In some way I can question if the bone conductor is actually doing something or not, the midrange is so coherent and full sounding so I guess it's something of the mix.

Treble

The Aehta have a very clean and transparent high end that is not too much where it gets fatiguing, the EST probably some of the reason for the nice treble. The treble is also not overly sharp and has some smoothness to it, this is true for the other AüR models also.

Some would maybe like even more air, I find it excellent but I know I'm sensitive to it and many others are not.

Instruments like cymbals have good clarity and sound real, same for orchestral pieces. When I swap over to some other models from AüR I notice them lacking some air, so this should be a small improvement for some.



Synergies

I don't find Aehta that picky when using sources, but my favorite listening has been with my desktop setup being Denafrips Ares 12-1 + Topping A90 Discrete. The HIBY R8 II DAP is also excellent and I find Aehta it more musical and full than using the AKM based HIBY R6 Pro 2.

I have tried a lot of tips to find what's best, since the nozzles are long I get a deeper fit and can use the ones that are smaller. So far my favorite is TANCHJIM T-APB Bass tips, a close second being Tangzu Sancai for a milder sound. Reason for the two tips is that they give me the best comfort while both providing a full sound, using something like Baroque tips took away too much bass on Aehta.

Tried Aehta with both Ariana and Athena cables from AüR, they are decent cables. But I did find my Lavricables silver cable to have a more full and resolving sound, and different from people's beliefs a high end silver is not bright and thin.







Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.






AüR Audio Aurora

The Aurora is cheaper at $570 and is their hybrid IEM with 2 DD and 6 BA. The shell and faceplate is lighter and look less premium than Aehta, the ergonomics are better on Aurora for me.

They sound quite different, even with the DDs being the same. Aurora has more of a textured and smooth sound, but also sounds grainy and less controlled compared to Aehta. The technical side of Aurora is a good step below Aehta, less resolving etc.

The sub bass quantity is quite similar when using 000 but sounds slightly more controlled on Aehta. The mid bass is fuller and more engaging on Aehta, making music much more full and fun with better slam and body.

Also when using the 000 setting you get clear and detailed mids and treble with Aehta, this is more veiled and smooth on Aurora and due to this I often push the volume more.
The switch position with the most similar bass to Mids/treble ratio we have to use 100, but you then get a lot more bass vs the Aurora and even now clearer sounding.

When comparing string instruments or even vocals the Aehta have cleaner and more control, especially noticeable on forward parts that can seem a little harsh and distorted on Aurora. Didn't really notice this when I owned Aurora, probably as I got used to the sound.
To me the Aehta has a better controlled midrange, with better clarity and resolution. Even many instruments and vocalists have better weight to them on Aehta, noticeable when listening to stuff like rock and metal.

This also continues into the treble, as the Aurora has a more smooth and presentation with less clarity than Aehta. Aetha gives a more open top with better airy presentation, it's still not overly boosted and within what I prefer.

Soundstage is of course very personal, always finding Aurora to be average or slightly above other sets in the price range. Aehta has more depth and width, also the height has some extra.

Need to mention speed, a friend of mine complained about the bass being slow on Aurora. But this was just a byproduct of how the midrange is tuned on Aurora, the sound of Aehta is super fast, and to me clearer and more open than even Neon Pro. Same DD but different mid range drivers, at least my theory behind this.



AüR Audio Alita

This is the flagship of AüR, I guess they are both considered the flagship models now. The Alita is an all BA IEM with 12 balanced armatures, a mix of Sonion and Knowles drivers. It has a metal nozzle with a resin shell, and the ergonomics are slightly better for me on Alita.
Alita is warm and natural with relaxed but extended treble, a very musical and relaxing set that also is resolving. The comparison here is done with all switches off on Aehta, in general the Aehta is more natural and energetic.

Both are resolving sets, but I do find Aehta a step above Alita. Not only because of the relaxed treble on Alita, but Aehta is also more resolving in both the bass and midrange. Soundstage is also good on both, personally I find Aehta more 3D and spacious.

Even if Alita has good BA bass, it's not the same as a dynamic driver. So for me the decay lacks the soulful and natural bounce, making bass notes less textured and resolving.
And if we just talk about the amount of subjective bass, the Alita has less sub bass than the Aehta. Mid bass is about the same, but it's softer and less punchy in Alita. Aehta sounds more bassy in 000 while also being cleaner in the low midrange, both are coherent sounding.

And for reference this bass presentation on Alita is the same as Neon Pro switch off, Neon Pro is almost the same tuning as Alita but with less upper mids and treble.

Alita for me is a midrange set, it's both warm and soft. It has that QDC tuning without being boosted too much in the upper midrange, it is also fairly smooth. Alita is more smooth and warm while the Aehta is more clean and natural, Aehta also has some more vocal bite and crispness than Alita. The low mids are more weighty than the upper mids of Alita, this is more balanced on Aehta.

The highs of Alita are soft and relaxed, but it also has good extension. But perhaps it will be lacking for people who want a more forward air region. Aetha does have a more open and resolving treble, its cleaner and more extended.



AüR Audio Ascension

Ascension is the previous model launched late last year, this is a tribrid with 1DD 5BA and 2EST priced at 750 usd. This also has gone the route of getting custom DD, although larger than Aehta and with stronger magnet. The Ascension BAs is the same type as Aurora mid drivers, E Audio RAB drivers.

Ascension has better ergonomics to me, this is maybe the most ergonomic IEM from AüR if you have large ears. The nozzle is quite large on Ascension, but in return they are shorter so the IEM doesn't sit as far outside your ear as with Aehta. The Ascension also has better grooves on the shell, but I can argue that Aehta is probably the safest bet on ergonomics for most folks.

The artistic design is better on Aehta and makes Ascension look a little cheap, also in how it is more weighty and feels more premium\ in the hand.

Biggest change going from Ascension to Aehta is that everything sounds cleaner and more resolving, it's a little like going from analog slower sound to more analytical and speedy set.

Bass is more punchy and visceral on Aehta while Ascension has a slower more textured bass quality, depending on music or mood both can be equally good.
Bass of Aehta is better for fast technical music, while some acoustic music can sound more organic and nuanced on Ascension. Both are nuanced and good, and if it's one that suits more music it's Aehta.
Even in the 000 switch position the Aehta sound is warmer in the bass than Ascension, both in sub and mid bass. The texture is tighter and has more punch to it, making it handle fast music much better than Ascension.

Aehta midrange also has more weight on instruments like guitar and drums, they also have extra clear sound.
Upper mids have also more bite on Aehta over Ascension, so vocals tend to have extra presence and clarity.
I like both presentations of the midrange, and depending on music or mood I can go both ways.

The treble has a very similar quantity, just that Aehta is a little more airy. Pushing the 003 switch is pushing the gap even a little more.



Penon Voltage
Adding a section extra here for Voltage, due to many questions.

Recently I had the Penon Voltage on tour and I did compare it to AüR Audio Aehta, the Voltage is a tribrid costing $1200 with 2DD+4BA+4EST and the Aehta is $1050 quadbrid with 2DD+2BC+4BA+2EST.

First off it's not about which is really better, it more depends on preference. With Aehta on switches 000 and voltage 11 they sound the most similar in bass, mids and treble weight.

I would say Aehta is more energetic and clean while the Voltage is more textured and thick, both have a very natural timbre.

Aehta have faster bass that slam harder, for overall quality they are both good. Aehta have more sub bass extension with good balance between sub and mid, while the Voltage have more of mid bass focus and lack some sub bass extension.

Mids of Aehta are more clean and open, while Voltage is thicker and smoother sounding, both have good midrange but sound different. There is something in the upper midrange of Voltage that can get piercing, but not on all music.

Treble quality is close to the same, a little more air and treble on Aehta when we push the third switch for more treble.
Soundstage is different, super wide on Voltage making it more oval. While Aehta is more balanced with more depth than voltage but less width, both are holographic and nice.

The resolution of Aehta is a small step above, the difference is not huge. But instruments and vocals are cleaner on Aehta, making it easier to hear micro details in the music.

About the tuning switches, they work on both sets but Aehta can change itself more depending on what you choose. Voltage will never be a basshead IEM in quantity, while Aehta can be considered too bassy by many when 1 switch is engaged. In a similar fashion when using the treble switch, Voltage on 01 is still warm and not bright. While the Aehta on 011 is too bright for me, since the upper range is then much more elevated compared to the low end.

Both have nice looking shells, depending on taste. Build quality is also good on both. For me the Voltage is the most comfortable, but I have large ears and more normal ears would probably fit Aehta better with the smaller shell and nozzle.

Both are at similar price ranges, and both are excellent choices. I hope this has helped someone choose between the two, had a few PMs the past weeks so it's nice to help.



Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When comparing AüR Audio Aehta to other sets I have used some of the tracks in the playlist. The playlist are quite large now, and need some editing.

I'll also mention some albums I have loved with Aetha these past weeks, my own listening being with Bandcamp or Tidal.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/298087041?u

Matthew Halsall - An Ever Changing View

One of my favorite albums from 2023, jazz with some crossover into contemporary classical.
The spaciousness and clarity is wonderful, you can dream yourself away with Aehta.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/357926576?u

The Black Dog – Other, Like Me

Ambient dark techno, awesome new release. Take good use of Aehta deep bass, and also the clear sound. Since this album has quite boosted low end I prefer it with all switches off for less warmth.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/360034668?u

Synestia, Disembodied Tyrant - The Poetic Edda

Also a very new release, quite intense death metal. A speedy recording that's quite brutal and sounds worse if IEMs cannot keep up with all that's happening, no problems with Aehta and I find it quite equal to Neon Pro in clarity on stuff like this.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/356732480?u

Charlotte Day Wilson - Cyan Blue

Canadian singer and songwriter with her latest album, soulful release.



https://tidal.com/album/309757560?u

Dylan LeBlanc - Stranger Things

American singer, songwriter and guitarist, the Coyote album has some rock, blues and folk.
Sound great on Aehta, especially due to the midrange.



https://tidal.com/album/324692920?u

Søren Bebe Trio - First Song

Danish jazz, this release is a compilation of 10 of their singles from their 9 years. Beautiful and relaxing playing, with piano, drums and bass.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/364634956?u

A remaster that is better than the original, IDM and ambient electronica. Some of the tracks here have some seriously deep sub bass, very engaging and make good use of the bass of Aehta and also the technicalities.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/345865086?u

Wheel - Charismatic Leaders

Prog group from Finland, I for one find this as a very good release and their best so far.
Pushing 101 on Aehta for a fuller sound that is more engaging and lively, sound both technical and fun.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/356732598?u

Kamasi Washington - Fearless Movement

Master of the tenor sax,composer and band leader, this album is the newest one from Kamasi. It is a little more experimental and different than his previous ones, contemporary this one also but mixes in more elements from other genres.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/340523963?u

Little Simz - Drop 7

A small release from UK rapper Little Simz, still a solid one with addictive beats and good female rap. Push that bass switch and enjoy.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/352178744?u

L’Impératrice - Pulsar

Just released and is another good realest from the French group, has elements of disco, house and more. Engaging and fun, high chance you wanna move to the rhythm.


https://tidal.com/browse/album/203670371?u

Sophia Jani - Music as a mirror

Contemporary classical from Munich, minimalistic and intimate. Beautiful and emotional.
Depending how your preference is this is best with 000 to me, pushing 011 makes it more open up top but lacks some warmth then.



Conclusion

AüR Audio proves they are really good at making good IEMs, this for me is their best one. Abel is really good at making coherent sounding IEMs.

In short Aehta is a natural set that is clean and resolving, but also has a musical and fun side. And due to having tuning switches it is very versatile, being able to go for a more neutral sound to something warm or dark. I talked with many about the Aehta, and it's clear we like different switch positions. Some might dislike when switches are on IEMs, but it cannot be denied it is a smart decision to cater to more people.

If there is anything I dislike it's that I would have preferred the older design on the shells for better ergonomics, but this can be a personal problem for me.
I also would expect a better cable and perhaps something different than the unbranded black puck for storage, specially since we are now up in the higher end market where people expect a premium experience.

If I look at my spreadsheet, it gets a solid 4.5 stars. Going back in time I would have maybe given it a full score, but I had to adjust my rankings so not all models get 4.5/5 stars.

I find Aehta awesome, and it is clearly my favourite from AüR. Highly recommend it.

Venture Electronics Monk SM Gold

Disclaimer

I got the SMG for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Ascension and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.

Portable main gear being HIBY R8 II, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.



So what is the Venture Electronics Monk SM Gold

Venture Electronics or Veclan is an audio brand from China, they have many different audio products from earbuds and IEMs to dongles and DACs. Going back some years there was not much exposure outside of China, while in the mainland they had been very popular in the earbud market. Over the last years more and more people over the world have taken notice of the excellent earbuds and products.
If you search up the brand or the models, you will find the name Wild Lee. This is the CEO of Venture Electronics, a super great guy.



But then onto the model itself, the Monk SM Gold. I will call it SMG from now on, this is their new earbud release.
This is an evolution from their popular Monk Slim Metal (SM), the new SMG is a higher end performer and has some nice upgrades.
It still has the premium small metal shell, possibly Venture Electronics best ergonomic shell. But the shell is now 23k gold plated, still having the same size and ergonomic.
Another upgrade is the new cable, this is their VITA copper cable. A very good and thin 6N copper cable, with a special double helix structure.
Then last is the driver itself being a new driver, this is a 32 ohm titanium plated driver.

For now this is a release only for sVIP of Venture Electronics, but this might change in the future.



https://www.veclan.com/





Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

Clean and resolving with solid weightiness, this is what I first said when asked about the SMG and still stand by that.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Details and soundstage

The SMG is on the resolving side of earbuds, both due to driver and tuning here. Almost cliche to say, but yeah it's more easy to pick up micro detail over many other earbuds I have.

Soundstage also is wide and deep, but not more spacious than the other earbuds I have with similar shell and clean tuning

Bass

Bass is tight and has a good body, extension is as good as most full bodied buds. Meaning you get decent mid bass but lack sub bass, but it still means you can get a full bodied musical playback on most acoustic music.

The texture is more on the punchy and clean side, the bass decay is agile and realistic.
Overall just a very resolving low end, good for both slower string instruments or faster drum kicks

Mids

Midrange is a little warm, both in the lowest midrange for instruments like guitars and drums. And also in the upper midrange where we get the presence region for vocals, cymbals and many instruments.

The midrange is more on the clean side, making both instruments and vocals be super clear and resolving. It Is also not overly analytical, so the music gets sterile.

The upper mids as I said is forward, riding right on the border of my tolerance.
In return brighter vocals and instruments have that extra soul and bite.

Treble

I find the treble well extended and open, with a good amount of airiness. The highs are forward and not dark by any means, for me the balance matches the energy of the bass and mids.
As reference for people having tried the earbud Blue Moon, this is a small step back from that in quantity and less sharp.

Really like the airyness of cymbals here, they shimmer with air without getting to piercing. The treble amount and clarity make it sound very resolving, swapping over to comparison buds later in the review always lacked some airyness after SMG.



Synergies

I do prefer to use normal foams, as I find donut foam too bright on this model. The included foams are great for this, both the more dense and thin one.

For sources I have really loved pairing it with R2R DACs and a clean amp, or just using a more analog dongle like HIBY FC6 or Cayin RU7. And it does scale and sound fuller on good gear over using a cheap dongle.
Still doesn't mean you need this to enjoy it, and sound also great straight from the laptop.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching through a microphone to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





Venture Electronics Zen 3.0

This is the third generation of the Zen model, it has a metal shell but the shell itself is larger and less ergonomic than SMG. The material is also different, with Zen having a liquid metal die cast shell in a gunmetal color.
The cable is also a higher end copper than the one used on SMG, twice the wire and different geometry on the cable.
There is also the impedance, this is much harder to drive properly than SMG. ZEN 3.0 has a 300 ohm LCP driver, and needs a lot more power. ZEN 3.0 can actually make many DAPs and dongles struggle, so desktop gear is advised. It also has a positive side since it has such high impedance, it is a perfect match for OTL amps(tubes).

The Zen 3.0 is more of a L shaped sound versus the W shaped SMG, for me both are some of the best buds in this price range and fulfill different sound signatures.

If we start with the technical side, the SMG is slightly more resolving than ZEN 3.0. Some of this is down to the set being tuned differently, but I also believe it's the driver itself. I hear more micro-detail in the music, it's not the largest difference but still clear when changing from one to the other after a longer session. Soundstage I give a small edge to SMG.

The bass is about as deep, the difference being that the SMG is more speedy with faster decay. They are both full bodied for an earbud, but the ZEN 3.0 does have some extra mid bass.

Midrange is different, the ZEN 3.0 has more low mids and less upper mids than SMG. So music like rock sounds more engaging and fun on ZEN, while jazz and classical is better on SMG. Both have midrange forward, but the SMG have more upper mids making the music more crisp and clear.
This also gives SMG more shine on female vocals and brighter instruments.

The highs follow a similar pattern as the upper mids, but don't have the same presence and clarity as SMG. Same for airyness, this does make SMG sound more open and spacious

https://www.veclan.com/engappliance_sel_one?eng_ApplianceVo.eac_id=88



Venture Electronics Asura 3.0 FE

This has the exact same shell as SMG, with gunmetal color. Same cable also but a sleeve under the splitter, much better without as it's more light and not as stiff then.
Both are easy to drive, with Asura 3.0 FE just needing a little more juice than SMG.
This is a 150 ohm driver, unsure about material but it sounds like a softer material than SMG titanium driver.

It's quite clear that the Asura 3.0 FE is a more soft sounding bud with less clarity and resolution than SMG, it's more a neutral balanced tonality versus the W shaped more energetic SMG. This is also more analogue versus the clean and clear SMG.

This is technically a step below ZEN 3.0 so also a step under SMG, it's still very decent for its asking price of $150. This also goes for soundstage and imaging, just remember the differences isn't huge. I

Bass is a little looser and not as deep as SMG, but still has a good body to make music full sounding for an earbud. This model has been a recommendation by me to many who want an analogue and natural sounding earbud with decent bass, still stand by this assessment.

The midrange is balanced on Asura, a good balance between lower midrange and upper.
About the same amount of low mids as SMG but sound less open and clear, a little dampened perhaps.
But is also more careful and has less bite than SMG, making the upper range of piano seem a little muted and same for bright vocals.
Playing music with female singers that have some sibilance is better controlled on the SMG than ASURA, SMG have actually better control even if it's pushed more forward and sound less sibilant.

Treble is quite open but not the most airy and clean, compared to SMG sounding a little darker. This is maybe the weakest part of Asura 3.0 FE, as it could have had more treble to make it more open and airy.

https://www.veclan.com/engappliance_sel_one?eng_ApplianceVo.eac_id=64



Venture Electronics Monk Slim Metal

This is an entry level earbud, also where the SMG is coming from. I have problems understanding why as they are in different leagues both in tuning and quality of sound.

SM is also a 32 ohm driver, same shell as SMG but chrome metal. The cable is also more cheap and SPC instead copper, same for the hardware being lower quality.

This is a bright and thinner sounding earbud, very different from SMG.

This is quite a technical and resolving earbud, specially when looking at the price. Some of it since the driver is quite agile, but also due to the tuning. But the SMG has more microdetail and is a good step up looking at resolution, SM can seem very detailed due to the brightness but fall short of other models like ZEN 3.0 and Asura 3.0 FE. Soundstage is a typical earbud in size, nothing special but also not bad.

The bass is quite weak and doesn't reach as low, reminding me more of how I remember earbuds were before I tried some good ones with a fuller low end. The bass that is there is sort of hollow and dont have the best punch, making SMG sound like a basshead earbud in comparison.

Mids are also quite thin on some instruments like guitar or even parts of the piano, the upper mids are opposite and can be a little shrill and shouty. Treble is bright and forward, but doesn't sound very refined after having listened to better earbuds.

It's not fair to compare SM against SMG as they are in different leagues.

https://www.veclan.com/engappliance_sel_one?eng_ApplianceVo.eac_id=58



Music

When comparing Venture Electronics SMG to other sets I have used the albums below and more.

There is also a link to a playlist consisting of tracks I like to use for testing audio gear:

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28



https://tidal.com/browse/album/335855782?u

Asterisms - Sean Ono Lennon and more

Latest Sean Ono Lennon album, a really nice album that mixes jazz, rock and electronica.

This is music I love to use earbuds for, the production and quality is excellent and make good use of SMG technical side.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/326720701?u

Take On Jazz - Laslo

This is quite an experimental downtempo jazz album, sort of electronic dub style with deep bass notes and the more traditional drum style.

The bass is quite boosted on the album, so even without sub bass the SMG sound surprisingly bassy and full. In a way the balance is better here than on my IEMs for music like this.




https://tidal.com/browse/album/327270079?u

Passacaglia - Adam Baldych & Leszek Mozdzer

Nice duo from Poland playing the Violin and Grand Piano, or he actually plays two grand pianos at same time tuned differently.

I have really nothing to complain about with SMG here, the more mellow style of violin is convincing and full. And his more high pitched playing plays with authority and clarity, same for the pizzicato.

Grand Piano also sounds grand as it should from both the low keys to the brighter keys, convincing full sound.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/356732598?u

Fearless Movement - Kamasi Washington

This is the latest album from Kamasi, he is an American jazz musician. Tenor sax is his instrument, he is an excellent player and has many great albums.

This is his fifth studio album, quite different from his previous jazz albums. Much more accessible with fusion from other genres, also many great guest musicians.

SMG shines with jazz as I also mentioned in the Søren Bebe Trio album, the same happens here.

Some of the tracks make good use of the extended lows on SMG, and the rest is just resolving and engaging. It has a very realistic and natural playback of the instruments and vocals.

On the more intense parts of the sax it's perfectly controlled without being sibilant or fatiguing for me.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/312876807?u

KNOWER FOREVER - KNOWER

Their fifth studio album, and their best one imo. Quite special and not what you expect, Bandcamp have it labeled as many things:
pop, dubstep, electronic, funk, house and jazz.

It's hard to explain it all, but it's entertaining and nice to listen to. SMG makes good use of the fast and punchy driver, the speedy bass parts are really full and engaging. I also love how separated everything is during even the fastest passages.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/340220122?u

Messages From Afar: Second Nature - Karfagen, Antony Kalugin

Symphonic prog rock, released this year and is a wonderful album with the usual style of Karfagen with nice synth parts by Anthony.

Since this is more of a relaxed style of prog the SMG never gets too bright, the amount of warmth is also decent. I love SMG on stuff like this, even if I am a basshead and love IEMs for more bass on rock. You also get such clear and nuanced sound here, can hear every guitar line and flaw being played, and the drums sound punchy and engaging with crisp cymbals being airy.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/105278786?u

Lunar Fall - Suldusk

One of my favorite discoveries within music this year is Suldusk, this is her first full album from some years back in 2019.
This is atmospheric black metal with also many other genres mixed in, she has a dreamlike voice in harmony with the instruments and dark folkish vibe.

For metal I prefer to use a set like Zen SU or FranQL Caelum, but since this album is much more relaxed overall the SMG does it also good. It has a good mix of clarity and fullness of sound, when using the sets above I do get more full warm and mellow sound but lack some bite versus the SMG.

But the more intense parts are also slightly more bright than what I prefer, so a clarity trade-off versus using the more mellow warm buds.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/363235459?u

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT - Billie Eilish

Latest album from Billie Eilish, just came out.

She has a beautiful and seductive voice, and SMG shines with female vocals. It captures everything I want when listening to female singers without sounding harsh or sibilant, just a clear and nuanced presentation.

And since it's Billie Eilish it's plenty of bass, so the low end punch is engaging and fun with SMG. The track CHIHIRO sounds so full sounding and engaging, very fun on SMG.



Conclusion

If you read through my review it's easy to see I am very impressed by the Venture Electronics SMG, they have made an earbud that challenges even some of their own flagship models. The technicalities and tuning is excellent, providing you a high end earbud. The w shaped tuning is tastefully done, and delivers a balanced and energetic sound.

The SMG has a quality shell in metal with gold plating that's also small, the cable is also of good quality and both look nice and are light. The shell does make many other earbuds seem cheap in comparison.

For now this model is only for sVIP members of Venture Electronics, everyone can become this by ordering one of the mid tier stuff they have. But as I understand it might become available for non sVIP users also after some time.

So if your sVIP and want one of their best buds, I truly recommend you to buy this one.

By my subjective evaluation this gets a solid 4.5 stars.

The Refined Letshuoer Cadenza4



Disclaimer

I got the Cadenza4 for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Ascension and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Blue Moon.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.

Portable main gear being HIBY R8 II and HIBY R6 Pro 2, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.





So what is the Letshuoer Cadenza4

Letshuoer is a IEM brand that was founded in 2016 in China, they have had many well received releases. The Cadenza4 is their newest model, it is a hybrid IEM with 1 dynamic driver and 3 balanced armatures. As of this time it retail at $249.



Packaging is excellent and among the better ones, especially when we look at IEMs at this price bracket. That can also be said for the accessories, you get two sets of silicon tips in small, medium and large. One set focusing on vocal clarity and the other for a balanced sound, should be easy to find tips that work for most people.



The IEM cable is also of good quality, it is not too thick or thin. Minimal amount of memory and is quite pliable, the ear hooks seem improved from earlier Letshuoer models and work for me without any modification. It also have Letshuoer angled modular system, so you can swap from 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm. The connection of the modular part is solid, don't need to be afraid of it falling out as it does on some brands.



You get an envelope with some pamphlets, one about warranty and one on instructions. Also a quality control mark.



In my opinion the design is elegant, the aluminum alloy faceplate against the 3D printed resin shell looks very clean. The surface has a smoother surface that's very pleasing, and also feels premium.



The nozzle has a good length and is average in size if not even a little smaller, should fit most ears excellent.



The grooves are subtle, but really help Cadenza4 sit comfortable and snug. There is also a vent on the side of the 2 pin connector to not get any driver flex or ear pressure.



3 way acoustic tubes, with 4 way digital crossover. The internal tubes are 3D printed to get the acoustic properties that Letshuoer wants.



Specs from the product website:

Quad driver hybrid in-ear hifi earphones

• Cadenza4 uses a proprietary 10mm dual-chambered beryllium coated dynamic driver, which possesses the characteristics of being light and extremely rigid.
• The combination of Knowles and Sonion balanced armature drivers which makes the Cadenza4 to be packed with resolution, rich in mid-frequency details, and ample treble extension.
• Cadenza4 adopts three acoustic tubes that are combined with an electronic four-way crossover. The 50μm 3D printed acoustic tubes ensures accurate, smooth, and consistent sound. The four-way electronic crossover allows for precise control of frequency distribution and significantly reduces phase errors.
• Cadenza4 once again collaborates with Heygear Technology to refine the earphone chassis. Ensuring comfortable long-term wear and enhanced durability. The panel is crafted from CNC aluminum alloy material with a matte finish which provides a delicate and textured feel
• Cadenza4 comes standard with a 392-strands high-purity silver-plated monocrystalline copper cable, enhancing the fidelity of the sound. With three types of 90° interchangeable plugs, which significantly improves device compatibility.

https://letshuoer.net/products/letshuoer-cadenza4-wired-iem-hifi-earphones-in-ear-monitor



Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

The sound is neutral with a small hint of warmth, it's very coherent for a hybrid IEM. Sort of smooth but clear sounding, just a very balanced and good timbre.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Details and soundstage

This is not a super resolving IEM, but still quite decent when you look at the price point and against other hybrids. You can then still hear everything that's portrayed without exaggerating the flaws, but also doesn't mask them.

Soundstage is also average when looking at width and depth, what it does very well is having an enveloping stage around me. Sort of 3D where I feel I'm more inside the music, engaging and fun.

Bass

The bass is tight and reaches deep, it's quite fast and not as forward sounding. So its not all music that sounds as full and engaging as I prefer. But if we look at the quality, it's excellent with good texture and speedy decay.
Mid bass could have been a little more powerful, at least for my taste.


Mids

Mids are very natural with good clarity and presence, also without sounding harsh or shouty. The low midrange is very clean without any bleed from the bass, this also means it can be a little lean and soulless if you prefer more lushness.
I am one who prefers more low mids, but lately I have been appreciating this type of tuning much more than usual. This might be better for some music, and also to make vocals more clean and crisp.

This is actually one of Cadenza4's strengths, vocals have very good clarity and presence. Especially on brighter females, it also delivers this without any shoutyness or sibilance.
It does female vocal, or brighter vocalists better than darker ones. Not that males are wrong, just lack a little body. Instruments sound natural and clean also, and similar to vocals depends a little on what range and how they play. For example, sax has a good bite without shouting, and instruments like piano sound coherent and clean front the lowest octaves to the brightest.

Treble

Transparent and open sounding, not the best upper extension and lacks some air. But looking at how clean and resolving the treble is excellent, it is also not sounding sharp or sibilant. Might be someone's preference as you get a very good lower treble without any painful upper treble, that often sounds forced to my ears.

Synergies

I prefer to use warmer sources with Cadenza4, so HIBY FC6 is excellent and sounds very good. Using a player like HIBY DAP is also excellent, sounds more resolving and clear with Cadenza4. Using the dynamics plugin of HIBY is also a great way to add warmth for a more fun sound.

Stock cable is very good for me, both in sound, design and comfort. Divinis Velvety worked perfectly for me, but I did try Final Audio Type-E tips for more bass. But didnt feel it helped, except for making it less open sounding.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching through a microphone to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





Letshuoer S15

This is their flagship planar IEM costing $329, uses a 14.8mm planar magnetic driver together with a 6mm passive filter. Competition with its own S12 has made it a tough sell, even if its better both in tuning and performance.

The shell has a similar type of material that I wish more brands could start to use, as it helps with comfort and feel more premium. The ergonomics are not as nice on S15 as Cadenza4, it lack some of the subtle nozzle and groves making Cadenza perfect.

Bass is very good as a planar driver, can almost fool me on some music for being a DD. But it lacks some texture and also the decay seems wrong to me, almost a little blunted. So it can't keep up with the quality of Cadenza4 low end, at least for me.

Mids are relaxed and smooth, very forgiving. But also lack some bite and energy that is needed for brighter vocals and instruments. Treble is also forgiving and smooth, and less airy than Cadenza4.
S15 is overall a very forgiving IEm with warm tonality, just better for relaxed listening instead of picking music apart.



Hisenior Mega5EST

This is a tribrid and flagship from Hisenior costing $550, it has 1DD 2BA and 2EST. Reason why it is inside the reviews as comparison is due to both having a very refined natural sound, and Cadenza4 reminds me of a baby Mega5EST with more bite.

Also a quite small IEM, but larger than Cadenza4. Both are very ergonomic, but Cadenza4 is the best. This also uses a more traditional resin shell, getting the glossy look instead of the matt look on Cadenza4.

Both have good bass performance, the Cadenza4 is a little tighter and Mega5EST slightly more textured.
Midrange is both similar sounding and a little different, both have a very clean midrange that's coherent with no BA timbre. The Mega5EST has a more relaxed style, so instruments like brass or cymbals have less bite and presence. Cadenza4 instead pushes this more forward making it more energetic, also why I say Cadenza4 is good for female vocals.

Treble and air are also different, Mega5EST have more shimmery and detailed top end.
Probably due to the EST drivers used in Mega5EST, but both have good highs anyway.

Mega5EST is slightly more technical but it's very close, some music can be clearer on Cadenza4 since the upper mids are pushed more forward. So I rate them about equal on resolution. Soundstage is also very similar, not the widest and deepest and they are quite similar.



Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When comparing Letshuoer Cadenza4 to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more.
The link is to a playlist consisting of some tracks I have saved for testing, it's still a work in progress.

I will also do it a little differently than what I usually do, I'll mention a small part under each track with how each IEM sounds like compared to the Cadenza4. I will provide a link to each track for you to test out, my own listening being with my FLAC files or Tidal streaming.



Djo - End of Beginning
https://songwhip.com/djo/end-of-beginning

Cadenza4
Pleasing and clean sounding, enough body to make drums, bass and vocal be engaging. This is not the most technical recording, so it's better to just use it for enjoyment evaluation. And the Cadenza4 nails that one.

S15
A very similar weight to the music, but lacks the organic natural side of Cadenza4. Especially noticeable on his voice, it is also not as clean and open sounding with some darker upper frequencies.

Mega5EST
Very similar to Cadenza4, has some extra body due to the warmer tilt. Have a small edge on the details, but the difference is small.



Adam Baldych, Leszek Mozdzer - Passacaglia
https://songwhip.com/adam-baldych/passacaglia

Cadenza4
Clean and natural sound, has a good bite without being sharp. The violin sounds rich and vibrant, and the same can be said for the piano. Good amount of detail to show the nuanced plucking or bowing of the violin or the grand piano.
Cadenza4 is my new recommendation for orchestral music in this price segment, nails both timbre and technicalities.


S15
Softer and darker than the two other models here, very forgiving. Also a step below in resolution, I think this is more due to tonality than the driver. As the S15 has a very capable planar driver, the biggest downside is that I still don't find the planar driver correctly sounding on acoustic music.

Mega5EST
Very natural sounding and spacious, both piano and the violin are lifelike. Amount of texture and body to the violin is natural and slightly more correct than Cadenza4, it also sounds more airy on the Mega5est. Some parts are softer on Mega5EST, while the Cadenza4 has some extra clarity and presence on certain parts.



Gidge - Gausta
https://songwhip.com/gidge/gausta

Cadenza4
Gidge just released this album, and Cadenza4 was my first IEM hearing the album with. The beryllium driver has very good bass texture and decay for electronica, I have no need for EQ on this track. Warmth is tasteful and not too weighty so the rest of the elements can also show, but I'll focus on the bass: Bass is sort of dense and round, it sounds solid and fast.

S15
This is the best sounding planar I have used, specially for bass and low mids. Still it doesn't sound the same as a good dynamic driver, sort of more plasticky and hollow. This goes also here for this electronic track, sort of lacking something.

Mega5EST
The bass is tuned very similar to the Cadenza4, with good sub bass extension and some natural mid bass warmth. Driver is Bio Cellulose and is softer than the Cadenza4 driver, this can also be heard in this electronic track.
Bass is still dense and round, but softer in the bounce and less speedy (not slow by any means). In a way slightly more textured, both are excellent on texture anyway.



girl in red - Too Much
https://songwhip.com/girl-in-red/too-much

Cadenza4
Her newest album and perhaps best track from it, also a radio hit in Norway.
The Cadenza4 has a tasteful forward upper midrange with clear low mids. In return it shines with female or brighter vocals, and has a lot of bite on her vocal. Also means it shows every nuance of her voice, and doesn't hide it when she has some edge in her voice.
Vocal lovers should be very pleased for female vocalists, be it this style or something like J-pop.

S15
Softer and darker, she doesn't have the same bite and clarity and lacks some soul. This is not only due to tuning, but also some due to the planar driver. Still don't really nail acoustic music or vocals, I am exaggerating some. And I might be more sensitive to the planar timbre, but even so I don't think female vocals are S15 strength.

Mega5EST
Going from the Cadenza4 it's clear that Mega5EST has less bite and presence on her voice, making the music softer and more forgiving. Her more intense or edgy parts are more forgiving, and not really noticeable here like they are on Cadenza4.
So depending on what you like, this might be too safe and lack the clarity on vocals like Cadenza4.



WENDY - Wish You Hell
https://songwhip.com/wendy/wish-you-hell

Cadenza4
Very clear and crisp, for me almost too energetic sounding. But I am more used to sets with less vocal presence, even if it's forward it's very clean and not piercing or metallic.
In return you do get a very resolving presentation here, riding a good balance of detail and fun.

S15
Actually find the S15 quite decent and fun on this track, softens some of the energetic elements and makes music more pleasing. Lack the clarity and don't sound as detailed as the Cadenza4, but it's not bothering me as much here as with the previous track.

Mega5EST
It's a reason why this has been my favorite set lately, the relaxed upper mids is to my preference. It does give you a less energetic sound, but in return the music is smoother and more forgiving.
It's as resolving as Cadenza4 on her vocal, and actually has a more airy silky top.



Sean Ono Lennon - Acidalia
https://songwhip.com/sean-ono-lennon/acidalia

Cadenza4
Very clean and open sounding, instruments are crisp and nuanced. It lacks bass, which would have sounded better with a little extra bass boost. As it gets a little thin on drums or the guitar, but again that's for my preference.

S15
A little too safe sounding, but also very pleasing. The drums are softer, cymbals also have less bite and clarity. But again it sounds warmer than Cadenza4, and fits the track more.
The guitar itself is actually very dreamlike with the softer sound on S15.

Mega5EST
Warm and smooth sounding, fuller than Cadenza4. Due to the mids it sounds less resolving and open, so looking at clarity and energy the Cadenza4 is better here. But it's not as safe as S15, and a step closer to Cadenza4.



My Dying Bride - Her Domination
https://songwhip.com/my-dying-bride/her-dominion

Cadenza4
While the Cadenza4 has good clarity and sound fast for rock and metal, it does lack some warmth and mid bass presence to sound full and engaging. Cadenza4 is quite airy on the cymbals, and adds some realism to the track.

S15
Sound thicker and have more life on the drums and guitars, also the growling sound fuller and more husky. But the cymbals are very dark and veiled after having listened to Cadenza4, also doesn't sound as resolving as Cadenza4.

Mega5EST
Absolutely the best of the three for metal and rock, have the fulness like S15. But have a clarity more similar to Cadenza4, just softer on the cymbals. But the cymbals have more airiness to them even if they are not as powerful as with Cadenza4. His vocals are also the best mix of fullness and clearness, in the middle of Cadenza4 and S15.



Conclusion

I truly recommend the Letshuoer Cadenza4 for the ones looking for a good natural sounding IEM.

The Cadenza4 is an excellent release, one of the best ones this year. It is now my favorite sub $500 neutral hybrid IEM, especially a favorite for natural sound. It is good with most music, while really shines with vocals or acoustic music. It mixes smooth tonality with good clarity, a pleasing and refined sound.

You also get a clean and nice looking IEM, perhaps the most ergonomic IEM out there due to size, material and shell design. You also get good accessories and a nice presentation, it is just a very good deal you get here.

It's a solid 4 star release, at technical point its a 3.5 but I'm taking price and the whole package in consideration.

LAVRiCABLES MASTER SILVER AWG22

Disclaimer
The Master Silver cable I got for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

This is my first time owning LAVRiCABLES, I have used other premium cables but this is the first pure silver in this price range. I will refer to the cable as Lavricables or Master Silver through the review.

I know that cables is a heated topic, I have self been a skeptical person. So if you're against the description of cables, it's better to just stop here. I also think that cable is the thing that changes the sound the least in the chain when looking at IEMs, source and tips.
All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.

Going to use the ranges here in review:







About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, mids can be forward if not shouty. I can also handle forward treble if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are metal, electronica, jazz, indie rock/metal, r&b, and pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Ascension and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
The AüR Audio Ascension is a tribrid with 1DD 5BA and 2EST, that is tuned to be warm and natural. The Bonneville is hybrid with 1DD and 3BA, tuned to be a colorful and fun IEM with heavy note weight.
Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
I have a few DAPs and dongles to change up the sound, my favorite being HIBY R8 II.
I have a good range of cables from Clan Audio, NiceHCK, XINHS, DUNU, Effect Audio and Gladiator Cables.

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When evaluating and comparing Master Silver 22AWG I have used the tracks listed here and more.
The link is to a playlist consisting of some tracks I have saved for testing, it's still a work in progress.



Who is LAVRiCABLES

This is a premium cable maker from Latvia, I had heard about Lavricables for a while. But very few I know own cables from them, the few have been very satisfied.
Lavricables is specialized in silver wire, instead of having many types its only silver here. There is 4 Line’s of Silver cables: Reference - Ultimate - Master - Grand
They provide cables for headphones, IEMs and interconnects.

ABOUT US​

Dear customers, thanks for coming to the store! Here you may find 100+ different pure silver cables that will make you feel delighted.

We are a team of audiophiles who love music and have been enjoying hi-fi and hi-end equipment for decades. We travel around the world and visit various audio exhibitions and shows, we perform lots of tests and simply admire music. We keep an eye on all new and latest innovations and constantly improve our products as well as develop new ones. Our experience and technical knowledge help us to offer great cables to our customers.

The brand Lavricables was created in 2012 as a hobby. Since lots of audio brands hugely overcharge their products, in particular cables, we decided to invent our own RCA interconnects as a starting point. To ensure the highest quality of our products we used pure silver which is the best conductor available nowadays. Silver is also known for its neutrality, resolution and soundstage openness. Moreover, braided solid core cable geometry allows to eliminate radio frequencies and electromagnetic interferences and with increased number of cores, skin effect is also minimized on high frequencies. Combination of these factors and our knowledge offered tremendous results in comparison to lots of other cables which are priced twice or even more.

The first massively released products were Interconnects and Speaker cables. The last ones were used to biwire the trebles and revealed lots of new details and nuances we haven’t heard before. As to the interconnects, they sounded with great transparency and resolution. Later after various tests and hundreds of happy customers we’ve moved to headphone and usb cables.

Currently we make cables for most of the headphones and iems available on the market. The ones that are not present in the shop still could be made on request. We improve our products and services year over year. Some of the cables have been revised several times based on customers’ feedback and represent an exceptional value for the price. Revisions could be found on our blog. We offer different kinds of cable terminations starting from our custom made gold/ rhodium plated plugs, ending with highly advanced pure copper plugs from AECO.

By offering four product lines we ensure our customers will find the best cable for their setups and will have lots of pleasant listening hours. Our goal is to enhance the full potential of your setups and make you happy!

Our Blog is constantly being updated with new information, pics and articles. Your reviews and suggestions are always very appreciated.

Enjoy Music!

https://www.lavricables.com/about-us/



So what is the Master Silver AWG22

This cable is from the Master Line, it is a 4 core 5N 22 AWG multistrand Litz Wire.
The cable is soldered with Mundorf 4% fine silver, had to read up on it and it's a premium and good choice for soldering.



You get the option of customizing the cable to your liking, the one I have here is in the Sky Blue. Also an option to get it in transparent sleeve color, or even having it with a Silk sleeving.



There are plenty of hardware to choose from, the Viablue and Aeco options are some of the best plugs out there. But I did go for the carbon hardware from Lavricables, they are also premium and look great.



Accessories

This is as simple as it gets, there are no extras in the package. You get a branded pouch, the business card and the cable itself. Unless my review cable has a simpler packaging, while I like premium presentations I also love something like this.

The pouch is a lint magnet, Would have preferred it if it was in a different material.



Quality and Comfort

The transition from the hardware to the cable has transparent heat shrink, it has clean cuts and is not thick and an eyesore. The cable is also nicely braided, not too tight and beautifully done.
Over time the braiding can get looser on a loop here and there, this is due to rolling the cable together when we store them. If so it's an easy step of straightening to be perfect again.

First of the ear guides are perfect, not too thick heath-shrink and have a nice curvature that is not too aggressive. The cable is also very pliable and soft, also light but not too light where it feels like bad quality.

There is also a chin slider to help with secure ear fitment, it's a silicon ring. I have some questions about the longevity of this, as with all softer materials they degrade faster.



Sound

Good silver cables should deliver a pure and resolving sound, this is what the Master Silver does. You get a transparent sound with clear extended highs that is silky and airy, without being bright or piercing. Even the low end has some warmth and sound natural and full, this is not a bright thin cable as cheap silver cables tend to be.

Soundstage is also very multidimensional and expansive, I don't believe any cable improves upon stage that much unless they hinder it. This is just that, as good as it gets for both the technical side and also getting a clear sound.



Comparisons

The Effect Audio Cadmus 8w is a really good SPC cable, it has what I call a balanced but bright sound. This is the cable up in the left corner of the photo, a thick and beautiful cable. This is UP-OCC Silver Plated Copper Litz EPO* 24 AWG 8 Wires.
The Lavricables have a small amount more microdetail, it also has less bite in the treble. Both have the effect of making IEMs less shouty in the upper midrange.
Comfort is not EA strength, that alone is a reason for many to avoid the 8 wires from EA.

The Gladiator Cables is a Type 1 Litz 5N OCC pure silver palladium plated 24AWG per wire imported from Japan. It is thinner and feels more fragile than the Lavricables, both are equally comfortable and pliable. But the hardware on the Gladiator is of worse quality, it also looks worse on the finish and work done.
The sound is similar on both of them, they both have a transparent and open treble that is soft and delicate. The Lavricables sound a little warmer, and seem to have slightly wider staging.

The last one is an extremely good copper cable from Clan Audio, type 6 litz copper. This is not available as a purchase yet, it is a reference for me in a neutral cable. Usually we think about warmth when using copper cables, here the Lavricables are actually warmer than the Clan Audio.
Same with the highs being more silky and refined, microdetail is also a small step up.



IEM pairings

I will just mention a few IEMs I have tried it on, been testing it compared to the cables above and also some stock cables. I will continue and use the Master Silver in IEMs reviews forward, but as the sound is so good I really don't find any bad pairings with it.



Hisenior Mega5EST Anniversary Edition

This is a tribrid with 1DD 2BA and 2EST, neutral warm sound.
Compared to the supplied good SPC Cable, the Master is more technical and less aggressive. Actually the sound is warmer due to fuller low range and the extended treble being more silky and refined, just sound more elegant and balanced.
I have been using the Silver Palladium a lot on Mega5EST, this is a slight improvement as it sounds more spacious and warm.



Venture Electronics Grand Duke

This is a bold sounding single DD, it has a big and slightly slower sound. Never owned the stock cable since the IEM was a gift to me, this is much better compared to the Penon Mix that has been my go to cable on this. Specially the lows seem more defined and punchier with less bloat, the treble also is not sharp as with the Mix. This is the best pairing I had with Grand Duke, and the IEM that will keep the cable on it after the review.



Kinera Verdandi

The Verdandi is a quadbrid IEM with 1DD 2BA and 2EST and a BC, has a lively and energetic sound. Stock cable is brighter and less resolving than this, it's also less airy and silky.
The Verdandi with the Master Silver just enhances the original sound, clear and transparent. There is a small improvement in the midrange not being as shouty compared to the stock cable, similar to how the Cadmus behaves on Verdandi. But the Cadmus is not this refined and natural sounding.



AüR Audio Ascension

My reference set is in refined natural sound, tribrid with 1DD 5BA and 2 EST. Stock cable is a cheap SPC, Master Silver is a different level when looking at premium feel and design. Sound you get more open and transparent treble, start to wonder if the EST gets pushed more by the treble. Not in a sharp way, just in how resolving and airy it is. Bass also is tighter and more well defined, with midrange just sounding clear and full.
My go to cable is usually the Type 6 Litz Copper on Ascension, here instead I get a less sharp sound with more silky air. While the rest keep itself very similar, maybe a small step up in the technicalities.



Conclusion

You get here a silver cable of high quality, with excellent hardware. The cable is soft and pliable, and has a nice balanced weight.

Often people say silver cables are for more clarity and brighter sound, I don't think that is true when you have a quality silver cable like this. Good silver cables like this have a transparent sound with maximum clarity, but it's never bright and sharp. It's more on the neutral side, with clear but silky highs.

I love the clean and cheap packaging, you know all your money goes into the cable and not extra packaging or accessories. For some this might be a negative, as some expect premium packaging when paying this for a cable.

I recommend the Lavricables Master Silver AWG 22, this can be for the veteran or the new audiophile who wants a premium silver. I see the price they charge as good, not overpriced and you get what you pay for.

The Beautiful Kinera Verdandi

Disclaimer

The Kinera Verdandi was bought with a discount in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, mids can be forward if not shouty. I can also handle forward treble if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are metal, electronica, jazz, indie rock/metal, r&b, and pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Ascension and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
The AüR Audio Ascension is a tribrid with 1DD 5BA and 2EST, that is tuned to be warm and natural. The Bonneville is hybrid with 1DD and 3BA, tuned to be a colorful and fun IEM with heavy note weight.
Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
I have a few DAPs and dongles to change up the sound, my favorite being HIBY R8 II.
I have a good range of cables from Clan Audio, Penon, NiceHCK, XINHS, DUNU, Effect Audio and Gladiator Cables.



Who is Kinera

Copied from the About Us Page on:

The story began in 2011, YuTai Electronic Acoustics was officially established in Dongguan, China. A year ago, we developed the world’s first high resistance 5mm micro dynamic speaker for military hearing aids. In 2013, we began mass manufacturing balanced armature drivers and became an internationally and locally renowned supplier of drivers. In 2014 till 2015, Yutai Electronic Acoustics has developed a number of patents for various driver technologies such as bone conduction. In 2016 released the first hybrid driver IEM BD005 by the “ Kinera “ brand, which became the most competitive entry- level hybrid driver IEM after launch. In 2017, released the second hybrid driver IEM H3, which is based on the sound of the BD005 proofing further refined, with a more outstanding sound and sense of hearing. At the same time, BD005 was awarded the runner-up in the headphone market of the year by Japan’s leading headphone retailer E-earphone. In 2018, Kinera released a series of product with a symbolic meaning: SEED, IDUN and ODIN were born one after another, and at the end of the year, we launched the IDUN special limited edition 500 sets during the Christmas season, which were sold out within a month before they were launched. In 2019, Kinera released its latest single dynamic driver in-ear monitor, the Kinera Sif. Afterward, later the first EST IEM, the Kinera Nanna was released.

Over the past few years the main focus was on the overseas market, only in recent years we formally put resources in our domestic market including HK & China, YuTai has been focusing on developing Hybrid BA & Dynamic Earphones. Over the past few years released Odin, Idun, Seed, BD005, Idun Deluxe and single dynamic driver SIF. In 2018 our 4mm micro dynamic research success and planned to apply in the future on the brand’s earphone business, this year with more partners to launch a cooperation plan, is committed to bringing our customers cost-effective and diversified products.

We have a specialized R&D and design team, from new product development, material selection, parts production, the final product assembly, all are responsible for strict control, product quality is guaranteed to meet the requirements of direct OEM clients, and enjoy a good reputation in the industry. In the past few years, we have assisted our clients of different scales to successfully push out the earphones they requested and received market approvals.

Our company has the development ability of the core technology of dynamic drivers. Now we have achieved dynamic driver self-sufficient, and in the new dynamic driver structure, diaphragm design, new materials and customisation has the core competitive ability for the earphone sound quality escort.

https://www.kineraaudio.com/about-us



So what is the Verdandi

Kinera Imperial Verdandi is an Quadbrid IEM costing $1199, using 2 Knowles BA + 2 Sonion EST + 1 DD + 1 Bone Conduction Driver. The most interesting and special about the configuration is the inclusion of a bone conductor for the low frequencies. The name Verdandi comes from some old lore about the Norn Gods, this is the god of present and suits the more clear and present sound of the Verdandi.

The version I have here is the Cosmos editions and has elements of black and blue with gold parts, there is also a lot of detail goin with both the faceplate and the shell. Real piece of IEM art, perhaps the most beautiful one I have seen. The IEM itself is hand painted and all the Verdandi pairs should be slightly different due to this, unless my inside info is wrong here. There is also a light blue edition that is also beautiful and elegant.



The comfort is surprisingly good for such a large IEM, the nozzle has good length and is positioned excellently for me. Easy to get a deep and good seal, that is also needed for the bone conduction to work its best. I do have to use one size smaller tip than usual, this should be a consideration if you're already one who uses small tips as standard.



The packaging is premium and suits the price of Verdandi, the same can be said for the excellent amount of accessories. You get a high quality modular cable, many premium tips etc.









Specs:
Impedance: 14 ohm
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz-50kHz
Flash Acoustics Monocrystalline Copper + High Purity 4N Silver Cable
Plug with 3.5mm and 4.4mm
AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal Eartips
Final Type E Eartips
Kinera K-07 Balanced Eartips
Foam Eartips
Eartips
AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal Eartips
Final Type E Eartips
Kinera K-07 Balanced Eartips
Foam Eartips
Weight Of Earbuds

The weight of the earbud is only 7.0± g, comfortable for wearing for a long time.
Nozzle size

Nozzle size is 6.5mm, select different eartips to hear more possible sound.
Package Contents

One pair of Kinera Imperial Verdandi In-ear monitors.
One Flash Acoustics Monocrystalline Copper + High Purity 4N Silver Cable.
Plug with 3.5mm and 4.4mm.
Final Type E Eartips x 5 sets (SS/S/M/L/LL)
AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal Eartips x 3 sets (SS/MS/ML)
Kinera K-07 Balanced Eartips x 3 sets (S/M/L)
Foam Tips x 1 sets (L)
Storage Bag.
Cleaning Brush.
Dusting Cloth.
User Manual.





Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

The sound is very clear and energetic, with a W shaped sound signature.
Has some nice warmth paired with a lot of clarity in the midrange, and a gentle but nicely extended treble. Can sound more bright than warm due to the tonality, but in return being very transparent sounding.

Going to use the ranges here in review:




Details and soundstage

The Verdandi is quite technical and has a good amount of clarity, some of it due to tuning but also since the drivers seem to be good in themself also.
Soundstage is very dynamic and 3D, and has very good separation and imaging capability. While not being that large it's very spherical and surrounds you more in the sound, very captivating and fun. Live recordings sound spectacular and awesome due to this soundstage.

Bass

The bass of the Verdandi is fast and detailed, and has a tactile feel that is due to the bone conductor. It is a very fun and a good experience, it's also not overdone. Tasteful amount of boost to the bass from the BC, that more often appears when you play music loud or on bassy music.
The bass is quite fast and reaches low without any drop off, and even with its small 6mm driver can sound good while maybe not as visceral. Has also quite a good mid bass slam, but lacks a little body.
I do believe the bass would have felt more solid overall if a larger driver was used.

Mids

The low midrange is clear and nuanced without being thick or muddy, the upper midrange is much more forward and energetic. This means that most vocals are very clear and at times can be a little focused in on with a brighter presence. This also goes for instruments that are already more bright, they have plenty of energy with Verdandi. While I personally find it a little to lean in the low mids for some music like heavy metal or soul, but that is back to my preference for thicker low mids.

Treble

The treble is detailed and crisp, and also a little soft. Makes it a pleasant experience where it's not too bright or tiresome, might lack some energy for folks who are used to a brighter and elevated treble range. Cymbals as example have good amount of clarity and sound realistic, but this without being sharp and tiresome.

I find that it might lack a little air, and this is also maybe why some call the Verdandi relaxed sounding.



Synergies

A small part about what gear I have been enjoying the most with the Verdandi, starting with cables. The stock cable is good to get you going, and sounds decent. Some said to me it's bright, and it might be true to a small degree.
I have paired it with a Clan Audio Graphene SPC cable, as it's a more warm and not as bright cable.



Tips have been interesting, the stock tips are good as you get Type-E tips that work excellent for me to get a deep seal. This is needed for a fuller sound and to get the BC working, the Kbear 07 also works. The Xelastec tips in the accessories didn't work for me, due the stiffness of the material. Another very good tips has been the Eletech Baroque tips, they are better than the Final E tips as they sound more spacious with a similar amount of fullness of sound.

Hiby FC6 is an excellent dongle for the Verdandi, it has a good way of making it less bright and more fun and organic. And an even smoother and more forgiving sound with the Colorfly CDA M1P dongle.
HIBY R8 II DAP is also excellent, especially with the Dynamic plugin to boost the bass. It's not needed with it, but it can make it more suitable for my taste this way.




Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching through a microphone to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





Hisenior Mega5EST

A really good tribrid with 1 DD 2 BA and 2 EST, tuned warm neutral with decent technicalities looking at price range and spec.

Soundstage is slightly above average with a good amount of separation and imaging capabilities, projection is more traditional instead of the more holographic Verdandi but in return is larger than Verdandi.

Bass is more elastic and organic, with slightly slower decay. It also sounds more sub bass focused than Verdandi, while the Verdandi perhaps has more tactility in the mid bass.

Low mids are more thick and vibrant than Verdandi, so both vocals and instruments have more soul to them. While the upper midrange is slightly relaxed and less bright than the Verdandi, it makes more music palatable without fatigue.

Treble is more elevated and better extended than Verdandi, and due to this also sounds more airy and open in the treble.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hisenior-mega5est.26822/review/33101/



AüR Audio Aure

An older hybrid 1DD 6BA that is now discounted, I have it with me in the review as Verdandi and Aure measure almost the same. Biggest change is that Aure doesn't have a crossover for the DD, this means it works full range and gives you a mix of DD and BA for mids and treble.

The resolution is a step below the Verdandi, and that goes for all the spectrum. Soundstage is very similar in how holographic and 3D it is, just that it's even more intimate.

Bass is much softer and has a longer decay than the Verdandi, but it sounds thicker. Just lacks a little of the kick that Verdandi has on the mid bass due to the fast driver and the BC.

Star of the Aure is the midrange, being very detailed on vocals while having both nice body to them and clarity. Very similar to Verdandi overall in the midrange, except also being more full bodied.

Treble is less refined than Verdandi, but has a similar amount of treble and air. It's just that it lacks something that I think is due to the EST drivers of Verdandi, due to this it sounds more blunted and the least shimmery.

Quite old review, and maybe a little outdated:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/aür-audio-aure.26139/review/30836/



Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When comparing Kinera Verdandi to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more.
The link is to a playlist consisting of some tracks I have saved for testing, it's still a work in progress.

I will also do it a little differently than what I usually do, I'll mention a small part under each track with how each IEM sounds like compared to the Verdandi. I will provide a link to each track for you to test out, my own listening being with my FLAC files or Tidal streaming.



The Hanging Stars Golden Shore

https://songwhip.com/thehangingstars/golden-shore

Verdandi
Would have liked some extra warmth personally, but the balance is really good and might be more to some preference here. Very resolving, except for maybe a little in the bass being less dynamic. Very holographic staging, just a Little on the intimate side.

Mega5EST
Has the best tonality for me on this, natural amount of fullness and not too bright. Sounds more engaging and fun, the set I want to lay down with and listen to on repeat. Also sound the largest and most spacious on the stage.

Aure
Most intimate sounding, everything sounds closer and more in my head but with exceptionally good 3D imaging. His voice is the least detailed, same for the instruments.



Norah Jones - Don’t Know Why

https://songwhip.com/norah-jones/dontknowwhy

Verdandi
This pushes her voice more forward, has plenty of resolving nature to show every nuance in her vocal. Verdandi has more breathiness and a shimmery voice presentation, but also means that the more intense parts are quite intense.
The instruments are already a little in the back, but are perhaps even more pushed back here due to the upper mids pushing the vocal forth.

Mega5EST
Sounds the most balanced and relaxed here, lacking some bite to her vocals that both Verdandi and Aure have. I prefer less presence so this is more pleasing for me, while people who like their female vocals forward and nuanced would not like this as much. She also without sounding more forward has thicker sound to her darker parts, and same can be said for the instruments in the back.

Aure
Very similar to Verdandi overall, and has actually even more bite to her sharper moments. But also have a thicker and less open timbre than Verdandi. She also sounds even more close and intimate, very emotional as he sings to your face.



Ben Howard - Small Things

https://songwhip.com/ben-howard/small-things

Verdandi
Has a very resolving sound here, it sounds the most delicate and clean. Just sounds a little thinner than I prefer, the cymbals have less bite than the other two sets. Quite interesting it has the most punchy kick on the drums, even if Verdandi is the least bassy. An Exceptionally good 3D soundstage, sounds good in all directions.

Mega5EST
Sound more full and has more body to his voice and drums, this also goes for the cymbals having more bite. But overall sound less technical and open sounding than Verdandi, but more fun and pleasing. Sound the most balanced of the 3.

Aure
Quite interesting as this is more like I'm listening to a hybrid of the other two, this sounds the fullest of them. His vocal is denser like Mega5est but as detailed as Verdandi, and same as Verdandi do not have as crisp cymbals. Drums are a little softer than the other two, but his vocals are the lushest.



Laslo - Dorkmeister

https://songwhip.com/laslo/dorkmeister

Verdandi
The deep bass elements make the bone conductor of Verdandi show its magic. The bass has this extra tactile vibrating feel and sound, and the amount of detail is quite good.

Mega5EST
Sounds the most deep and sub bassy, with a very nuanced and awesome bass performance. Less tactile but even so sound fuller than Verdandi.

Aure
The most intense of the three with more of a wall of sound, and is the least open and clear sounding. Also the least amount of detail in the bass nuances.



Lianne La Havas - Paper Thin

https://songwhip.com/lianne-la-havas/paper-thin

Verdandi
Very nuanced and emotional presentation of her voice, and the drums for that sake. Sounds very crisp and open, super black image behind the instruments making it all sound dynamic and separated.

Mega5EST
Lack some of the emotion and bite to her voice that the other two have, but in return sound more lush and thick. And is close to the same resolution as Verdandi, perhaps just a step behind and I think this is more due to tuning than the drivers themselves.

Aure
Emotional and resolving on her vocal similar to Verdandi, but sound thicker at the same time.
Little less open sounding, but it suits the music track more. Personally love the Aure for female vocals, as it has a mix of DD and BA for the midrange.



Intronaut - Cubensis

https://songwhip.com/intronaut/cubensis

Verdandi
Due to the less warmth the Verdandi has the most clarity and open sound, can also help everything sound less busy. But at the same time it sounds overly thin and soulless for rock and metal music, and it's very clear here on both the instruments and the vocal.

Mega5EST
I find Mega5EST neutral and slightly warm IEM, but compared to the Verdandi it sounds more like a rich sounding bass set. Especially noticeable on the music here, as it's much less aggressive and fatiguing. And can keep up with the technicalities and speed as good as Verdandi without being bright, perhaps with a little less separation.

Aure
A very intense listen, but due to the bass having a good enough amount of bass it doesn't sound overly bright. Still what I consider to energetic for metal like this, and it also sound the least open and clear of them.



Charlie Haden, Antonio Forcione - La Pasionaria

https://songwhip.com/charlie-haden/la-pasionaria

Verdandi
Double bass and guitar duo, since there are so few instruments it's easy to listen to the bass or guitar parts alone. The double bass sound detailed only lacked a little density, as in each note being a little too fast and light. The guitar on the other hand is resolving and nuanced, with high amount of clarity where you hear everything from the buzz to the fingers hitting the strings to dampen.

Mega5EST
Sound fuller and more detailed on the bass, with a more natural amount of decay. Guitar also has more thickness and soul, but in return lacks some of the bite from the Verdandi. And even if Mega5EST has less bite it is as resolving as Verdandi, just a small step behind as it has less clarity and also less energetic sound for this.

Aure
Again very similar to being a hybrid of the other two, similar thickness and Mega5EST on the bass and guitar. But have the clarity on the guitar similar to Verdandi, sound perhaps the most full of all of them due to this mix. Just at times the bass can sound a little woolly compared to the others.



Sylvaine - Fortapt

https://songwhip.com/sylvaine/fortapt

Verdandi
Beautiful kind of atmospheric dark metal, her voice is angelic and nice on Verdandi. But when the intense parts happen it sounds too thin and energetic, and doesn't have enough fullness to the guitar drums or even the cymbal strikes.
If it was music with just the softer parts Verdandi would have been really good.

Mega5EST
At once sound fuller and more to my liking, even if this sounds a little too neutral also for this music.
Little less resolving than Verdandi on her voice, but sound more technical on the drumming and guitars.

Aure
Very similar to Verdandi, is also maybe the most congested during the busy parts. They measure almost the same, and its quite clear here except for Verdandi being more open and resolving.



Adam Baldych, Leszek Mozdzer - Passacaglia

https://songwhip.com/adam-baldych/passacaglia

Verdandi
Resolving, the sound is really crisp and nuanced on both the grand piano and the violin.
Lack a little airiness to some of the piano overtones, but overall sound very pleasing and bright without being tiresome. The Violin also sounded very emotional and detailed on both the staccato and bowing.

Mega5EST
The most spacious soundstage of them, with the most realistic stage. The most airy also and sound due to this the most natural, specially when paired with the dense and emotionally violin and grand piano parts.

Aure
The Aure can have a little more bite to the brighter parts of the piano, and also sound fuller on the violin bowing than the Verdandi. While also being a little less technical and open sounding, everything is closer in the soundstage and more intimate.



Conclusion

This is a very good and engaging set, it doesn't hit my exact preference in tuning. I can still love the sound but it depends on the music playing, this is because of the more energetic upper midrange.

When it is matching my music I get a holographic and emotional presentation, for me it's a master of brighter vocalists and instruments like piano that make good use of the upper midrange clarity.
I prefer it more with acoustic music where the delicate and energetic notes can shine, also due to how clean and separated the Verdandi is.

You also get a bone conductor for the low end that is implemented well without being overdone, this will also depend on how good fit you get. This gives bassy music like techno a visceral and enjoyable low end, very fun experience and adds an extra element into the music.

From a subjective sound preference the Verdandi is a 4 star, that is very good according to my ranking system. But if I add in the luxurious design, accessories and adding equalization it’s a solid 4.5 star release.

Campfire Bonneville

Disclaimer

The Campfire Bonneville was given to me in trade for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, mids can be forward if not shouty. I can also handle some treble spikes if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Ascension and 634ears Miroak-II. The AüR Audio Ascension is a tribrid with 1DD 5BA and 2EST, that is tuned to be warm and natural. Miroak-II is my favorite single DD, it has a warm and bassy sound that is also very natural sounding. Both of the models clearly belong to the similar category for, and aligns with my taste for warm sound that is more organic.

Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
I have a few DAPs and dongles to change up the sound, my favorite being HIBY R8 II.
I have a good range of cables from Clan Audio, Penon, NiceHCK, XINHS, DUNU, Effect Audio and Gladiator Cables.



Who is Campfire

Copied from the About Us Page on Campfire website:
Welcome to Campfire Audio! Tucked away in the heart of Portland, Oregon, our small yet mighty team of audio engineers, designers, and craftspeople are laser-focused on one thing: taking your listening experience to the next level.

We kicked things off in 2015, starting as a humble group of earphone industry outsiders. Our experience up to that point was with amplifiers and cables. But don't let that fool you. Our fresh perspective became our superpower, allowing us to innovate and evolve into a brand that audiophiles hold in high regard today.

So, what makes us tick? It’s a shared passion for the sublime science of sound. We delve into the intricacies of acoustics, obsess over materials, and constantly fine-tune our designs. Why? To create a range of earphones that resonate with the varied tastes and preferences of the audiophile community.

And you, our incredible customers, are at the center of it all. You challenge us to be better, push the envelope, and turn the audible into the incredible. We craft not just earphones, but experiences that bring you closer to the music you love.

We invite you to be part of our journey, a journey of endless exploration into the world of high-fidelity audio. In return, we promise that our products will fill your life with the rich, detailed, and immersive sound that you crave.

Got questions, thoughts, or just want to talk audio? Reach out anytime. Let's make the world sound a little more beautiful, one pair of earphones at a time.

https://www.campfireaudio.com/pages/about



So what is the Bonneville

The Bonneville is the most expensive IEM in their Chromatic Series of IEMs, costing $1399.

The configuration is a specialized 10mm dynamic driver (DD) for the low end, and 3 custom balanced armatures (BA). One of the BAs is used for the midrange while the other two is for the highs, this is then 1DD + 3BA hybrid IEM.


It is available in two colors, black or the more fun purple. The shell is sculpted in an ergonomic way where you even get a groove for your finger to insert the IEM, and might be one of the most comfortable IEMs in the market. The purple version that I have changes from a less vibrant purple to a more vibrant pink color depending on the light, also has a cool contrast against the stainless steel faceplate.

The accessories and packaging is excellent, how it's designed is a unique experience and is reminiscent of an older time. Starting with the box in the awesome design with elements of text showcasing info you want on the outside, and when looking inside the box it continues there. Here you get warranty text on the inside cover, and in the box tips on how to use IEMs correctly. Even info about the cable and the importance of cleaning your Bonneville.
The cable provided is a matching 4 wire ribbon SPC cable, that they have called the Time Stream Cable. You also get some good eartips in silicon and foam, here also they are packed inside small paper bags reminiscent of old candy packaging. I got the Essential Edition so I have the Breezy Bag Standard together with the small pouches called Breezy Bag Micro, very bold in this color but also quite cool and different.

https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/bonneville

Mini reviews of the rest of the Chromatic series:

Bonneville
Supermoon
Ponderosa
Cascara











Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

First session was eye opening, bold and full sound. The Bonneville has voluptuous big bass that thickens also the low mids so voices and instruments get some extra body to them. Upper midrange is on the darker side, but the treble comes forth with good presence and clarity.

Going to use the ranges here in review:




Details and soundstage

The Bonneville has a more warm tuning and this often takes away some resolution, but since the treble is quite forward you get a good amount of treble detail. I would say the Bonneville does a very good job on the resolution, and is a step above other similar configuration hybrids I have used.
The amount of detail in the bass range is really impressive, it's a very good dynamic driver with alot of control. Same can be said for the midrange, even with it being a little dark in the upper range it's full of detail.

The soundstage is one of Bonneville's best strengths, it is large and has very good imaging capability. It goes from your head and expands very wide and deep, especially for an IEM. This just means that I get a very good holographic experience, reminding me a little of stereo speakers in an IEM.

Bass

The bass of the Bonneville is colorful, it's an amount I see as a basshead experience. Deep strong sub bass rumble and visceral slamming midbass, it also thickens the low mids making music sound thicker.

Sub bass is deep and can make bass elements come forth more easily in the mix, while it's awesome it can get too much for some orchestral pieces.
In return you get an epic experience in movies, same can be said for atmospheric gaming.
Or just like me who prefer a lot of good sub bass, the Bonneville delivers with gusto.

Mid bass is fast and visceral, it slams when asked for with authority. The speed is really good, and has still some decay so it doesn't sound sterile as BA or Planars do.

The quality of the bass is some of the best you can get at this price point, and I find it more or less perfect for my taste. Not for the bass shy.

Mids

The low midrange where instruments like guitars and most vocals lay are thick and nuanced, a very rich and fun sound. But is elevated above what's maybe neutral, some will prefer a leaner low midrange. But even if it's warm and lush it's surprisingly clean, so I even like to listen to brighter female singers. Dark vocals should be pleasing for most people, and are both nuanced and rich sounding.

But it should be mentioned that some brighter singers can lack some presence and be more relaxed, this is due to how the upper midrange is slightly dark where lots of the overtones from brighter females come from. But in return it helps certain bright vocals or instruments like brass have less piercing sound, making especially music like brighter jazz more easy to listen to.

The interesting part is that the longer I get accustomed to the sound, I don't find it to sound as dark. And then it's easier to notice how rich and detailed the midrange is, and I find it very tasteful without being bright or shouty. Now instead I have problems with sets that follow the harman curve, or just in general when upper mids are elevated too much.

Treble

The treble is elevated in similar fashion as the low end, there is plenty of treble energy. I have good hearing in my upper range, so first days with Bonneville required me to adjust volume down and also be picky on the music. After cable and tip rolling, including some burn in of the IEM and my brain it's much better now.

But it's still on the brighter side of IEMs, and can get fatiguing on certain music that's already bright in the treble. I bet this is much less of a concern for people who are older, or just people with some hearing loss that is very normal.

It's not the most airy set when comparing against some models that have an unnatural amount of upper treble, Bonneville has a natural amount of airiness and is not lacking. I prefer this style, as I find the overly boosted style some brands now do to be unnatural and piercing.



Synergies

A small part about what gear I have been enjoying the most with the Bonneville, starting with cables. The stock cable is good to get you going, and sounds decent. It's not my preference in design and ergonomics, so I changed quite early to after market cables.

The Effect Audio Cadmus 8W is excellent, but is also on the thick side and not the most comfortable. Since Bonneville is such a comfortable IEM it deserves a softer cable, my goto has been Clan Audio Type 6 litz Copper that's subtle and suits the tonality of Bonneville.

The Bonneville has been easy with tips and most work well, as the nozzle is ergonomic with nice depth and also not being too thick. My Favorites are Divinus Velvet, Tangzu Sancai and Canal Works CWU-GDECL. The Canal Works is the fullest sounding and has a visceral sound, but also doesn't tame the highs at all. The Sancai on the other hand is the least bassy of the three and gives me the softest treble, and also has the least amount of driver flex. Last the Velvet being in the middle of the other two, and is an excellent fit and my favorite.

Main source has been with HIBY R8 II, the resolution and natural sound is just pure good match. R8 II makes the bass sound more rounded and organic, while having good control of the treble not being as bright.

My desktop gear with Topping E70 and A90 Discrete might be more resolving, but is also a brighter sound. The Cayin N7 sounded too bright and energetic and is not an DAP I would pair with the Bonneville, same can be said for R6 Pro 2 being also on the brighter side.

Tried only with one warm and analog source, the Colorfly CDA M1P dongle. This was surprisingly good and had good organic synergy, but lacked the technicalities to the DAPs above.




Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching through a microphone to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.







Venture Electronics Grand Duke

The Grand Duke is the flagship of the brand, consisting of 1 single dynamic driver costing a little under the Bonneville. It Is warm and thick sounding, and has a lot of similarities to Bonneville.

The bass is boosted as much as Bonneville, but has less speed and slam. Grand Duke in return has a softer low end that is maybe a little more nuanced on stuff like double bass etc.

Mids of Grand Duke are thicker than Bonneville, so voices have even more of a husky sound to them. Instruments like piano can be more coherent and brass have more presence, but it's less detailed than Bonneville.

Treble is crisper on Bonneville with more amount, air is also slightly less. Quality of the treble is very close, but the Grand Duke is a little less refined and also less resolving.

Soundstage is huge in both of these, with very good depth and height. Hard to pick them apart when listening to the stage capabilities. Might give a small edge to Bonneville since it's wider in and more stereo-like.



Kinera Verdandi

The Verdandi is one of the newest IEMs from Kinera, using 2 Knowles BA + 2 Sonion EST + 1 DD + 1 Bone Conduction Driver. Price is just $200 under the Bonneville.
The sound is quite different from Bonneville, bass is punchy and tactile but lacks the force and warmth of Bonneville. The tactile feel of the bone conductor helps the smaller 6mm driver have something extra in the bass, even so the Bonneville seems to me much more fun and tasteful.

Midrange is quite the opposite of Bonneville, having less low midrange making it less thick sounding on instruments and vocals. It also has much more upper mids making certain brighter instruments or vocals to have more presence and bite.

Treble is well extended and has a natural amount of air, Bonneville is brighter and has a more detailed upper treble. Verdandi does have a more velvety high range, and can be more relaxing to listen to when it's music with much treble energy.

Soundstage of Verdandi is very holographic, but is on the smaller and more intimate side. So both share good imaging capability but differ in that one is spacious and the other intimate.



Music

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

When comparing Campfire Bonneville to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more.
The link is to a playlist consisting of some tracks I have saved for testing, it's still a work in progress.

I will also do it a little differently than what I usually do, I'll mention a small part under each track with how each IEM sounds like compared to the Bonneville. I will provide a link to each track for you to test out, my own listening being with my FLAC files or Tidal streaming.



Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue

https://songwhip.com/allan-holdsworth/metal-fatigue-remastered

Bonneville
Has a full and satisfying sound to Holdsworth guitar, same for the drums and voice. Cymbals are clear and authoritative, but not piercing. A full but natural sound on the darker side, has a certain richness to it all that's so excellent.

Verdandi
Swapping over to Verdandi you get a more thin sound than the other two, the guitar gets more focused in on. Drums and his voice get pushed a little back into the mix, even the cymbals have less shimmer to them. In a way that sounds cleaner but also very boring.

Grand Duke

This is closer to the Bonneville sound signature than the Verdandi, similar where drums, guitar and voice are more thick and full. Has the least amount of bite of all of them, so lacks a little of the energy. It's a little softer and safer sounding, also less dense and dark than Bonneville.



Camille Thomas, Julien Brocal - Lento con gran espressione

https://songwhip.com/camille-thomas...ongranespressionearrforcelloandpianobymmaisky

Bonneville
Opens up sounding so rich and beautiful. Bonneville has an authority to the cello that I will argue is lacking from most IEMs, since cello sounds big and full in real life. The warmth of the Bonneville makes it sound more true to life, and also the piano that is accompanying sounds organic and real. Highly resolving and picking up a lot of the nuanced playing with also the background noise of the breathing.

Verdandi
A clear and nuanced performance on Verdandi, lacks warmth but has some extra clarity to the more bright intense parts. But I will argue this sounds less natural than the real deal, ofc nowhere to know this after all the production in the studios has been done.

Grand Duke
Has the most spacious and open sound, but lacks some of the dynamic range that Bonneville has on the softer parts. Sounds less big than Bonneville on cello, but has some extra bite on the crescendo. Can compete more or less with Bonneville on classical music that's less busy and complex like this.



GoGO Penguin - The Antidote IS in the Poison

https://songwhip.com/gogo-penguin/theantidoteisinthepoison

Bonneville
Has a good balance for jazz music like this, balanced rich sound that is very resolving without being too aggressive or tiresome. The micro details of instruments are quite remarkable, with excellent separation and staging. Bass is also so dense and addictive.

Verdandi
Due to the less warmth the Verdandi has the most clarity and open sound, can also help everything sound less busy. Would have liked some extra warmth personally, but the balance is really good and might be more to some preference in tonality for jazz. Very resolving and is on par with Bonneville overall, except for maybe less bass dynamics.

Grand Duke
This is very good on GD also, and has an intense and full sound. Lack some resolution and sound a little busier than Bonneville and Verdandi. At times it can sound a little too intense, so I need to play it less loud than Bonneville. Less authoritative bass than Bonneville, but even so sound more congested.



Gojira - Drum Solo

https://songwhip.com/gojira/drum-solo

Bonneville is impressive, the tonality is spot on perfect for drums. Technicality is excellent, visceral drumming. It slam so hard, just in general sounds so impactful and fun.

Grand Duke
The tonality is close to the Bonneville on drumming, I would say it's less impactful and a little softer with slower decay. Soundstage is a small amount more spacious, like everything is happening in a larger arena. Background screaming and the cymbals are a little more behind in the mix.

Verdandi
Similar speed but way less impactful, I crank up the volume more to compensate for lack of bass. But that means also that the cymbals get louder, and borderline for what i can handle. Resolution is quite good and on pair with Grand Duke but less than Bonneville, stage sound much smaller than both.



Norah Jones - Don’t Know Why

https://songwhip.com/norah-jones/dontknowwhy

Bonneville
Has again a very rich and engaging midrange, Norah has plenty of soul in her voice.
She is never sibilant or shouty on Bonneville, but still has that edge that her voice can have at certain points. I find it surprisingly impressive for vocals, as long you like denser sound instead of super clean and leaner sounding female vocals.

Verdandi
This pushes her voice more forward, has plenty of resolving nature to show every nuance in her vocal and even more than Bonneville. Verdandi has more breathiness and a shimmery voice presentation, but also means that the more intense parts are quite intense.
The instruments are already a little in the back, but are perhaps even more pushed back here due to the upper mids pushing the vocal forth.

Grand Duke
Similar thick sound as Bonneville but with some added softness to her, can in a way sound more seducing and emotional. But lacks some clarity and is less expressive sounding, lacking some technicalities to both dynamics and resolution.



Suldusk - Anthesis

https://songwhip.com/suldusk/anthesis

Bonneville.
Suldusk is one of my latest discoveries, and her latest album is a masterpiece. Bonneville has the tonality to make intense metal less shouty and tiresome, but without making it sounding veiled or dull. It's just a thick and visceral sound, but due to the less aggressive upper mids it's not shouty. Both the instruments and her parts are super resolving and expressive, capturing a wide dynamic range. And sound equally good during the softer and melodic parts as the intense ones.

Verdandi
It starts so nice and emotional with the guitar playing and her harmonic voice coming in, but that's it. When the intense part starts with a big NO, this is insanely energetic, shouty and bright. So bright it's actually hard to hear what's going on, even if you like less warmth I dont think this is any good for intense metal.

Grand Duke
Is a softer presentation, and has the least bite of the three. The dynamics is also a step back and lacks the wider change from the loud to the soft parts, but also is the safest if your sensitive to intense parts as it's less energetic.



Nanosphere - Swamp Dimension

https://songwhip.com/nanosphere/swamp-dimension

Bonneville
My two main genres I listen to are metal and electronica, Bonneville has been my go to for metal but I also like it alot for this.
The bass is big and tight without being overblown, the treble energy makes it sound very open and resolving. Bonneville might have too much high range energy for sensitive people, for me it's on the border of what is okay. This also means I prefer to use Bonneville with less bright gear, then I find it excellent like here. But it also means that stuff like the track here can get me fatigued after a while.

Verdandi
Electronic bassy music is good for Verdandi, also makes the bone conductor show what it's capable of. Adds a certain tactile feel to the bass, but even so it's less impactful than the Bonneville and Grand Duke. It sounds a little thin and lacks the deep dense bass.
There is also the problem that most electronica have brighter treble, this comes forth the most with Verdandi and can make it fatiguing after a short while. Resolution is quite good on this, and is on par with Bonneville.

Grand Duke
Thick and fun sound for electronica, a little loose and slow. So the bass takes over more of the sound, even if it takes over so much it's a very fun experience. It also has the least bright highrange making it less piercing, but can be fatiguing still due to the amount of bass.



Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg - Still D.R.E

https://songwhip.com/dr-dre/still-dre

Bonneville
This slams hard, depending on how you like your Dre this is very fun and energetic. Both Dre and Snoop have a good body to them and the bass kick is visceral and fun, crisp and good cymbals. Usually i don't listen to rap or hip hop, but Bonneville made me enjoy it alot.

Verdandi
Lacking the body to sound good on this, both the beat and the vocals sound thin and boring. It's okay resolving, but I doubt many listen to Dr. Dre for the technical aspects.

Grand Duke
The slightly slower decay of GD is well suited for hip Hop or rap, the balance of lows and highs is also good for the genre. Perhaps better than Bonneville as it's less visceral and energetic, but still dense and full sounding. Also how both Dre and Snoop sound more full bodied on Grand Duke.



Conclusion

Most of us are in this hobby to enjoy music, and what is enjoyable differs from person to person. I for one enjoy colorful and fun tunings, the Bonneville delivers this with full force and makes me enjoy music to the fullest.

The Bonneville is not a neutral sounding IEM, it has a colorful and warm tuning. Where the bass rumbles and slams with authority, what I would consider a basshead experience. The midrange being thick and full sounding, without ever being shouty or sibilant. And a super clear and detailed treble, a nice elevation to harmonize with the lush low end. Soundstage is also one of the best you can get, wide and spacious with excellent imaging.

I see Campfire as a passionate brand that really cares about their products and their customers. The amount of detail in the box alone is quite eye opening and very special, same with how the accessories match the colorful design theme of the IEM.

I rank my reviews by subjective technical performance and also by what I call musicality, on the technical side the Bonneville is 4.5 stars but looking at the musical score it's a pure 5 star. This is a highly subjective ranking, and for some it would maybe not be as valued as high. But it won't work perfect for all music, so while it's a 5 for metal it's more a 4.5 overall.

Thanks again to Campfire for the review opportunity.

Hisenior Mega5EST 7th Anniversary Edition

Disclaimer

The Mega5EST is my fourth IEM from Hisenior, I did buy it with a review discount. All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, mids can be forward but not too much. I can also handle some treble spikes if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Ascension and 634ears Miroak-II. The AüR Audio Ascension is a tribrid with 1DD 5BA and 2EST, that is tuned to be warm and natural. Miroak-II is my favorite single DD, it has a warm and bassy sound that is also very natural sounding. Both of the models belong to a similar category of sound, and align with my taste for warm sound that is more organic.

Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
I have a few DAPs and dongles to change up the sound, my favorite being HIBY R8 II.
I have a good range of cables from Clan Audio, Penon, NiceHCK, XINHS, DUNU, Effect Audio and Gladiator Cables.



Who is Hisenior

https://www.hisenior-iem.com/

I heard about Hisenior for the first time last year, and heard praise about their Mega5P hybrid IEM. Found it to be excellent for the money when I had it on loan from a friend, it had a natural and good tonality. Great built and felt better than what they asked for, the market has changed and more and more hybrids have entered. Also from Hisenior themselves, the Okavango their newest hybrid was a more lush and fun IEM and the new T4 is the best budget BA set on the market.

Hisenior as I understand has been making IEMs for a good time, but aimed for the professional market. This is also why they offer IEMs in the CIEM versions, the new models have options for both CIEM and universal design.

About Us page:

We are Hisenior Audio, the designer, manufacture of professional in-ear monitors for musicians, studio engineers and audiophiles.

EVERY MUSIC DREAM IS WORTHY OF RESPECT

No Matter You Play Bass,Drum,Keys,Guitar or Sing the Songs, No Matter Where Your Musics Happen(at Home, In Street or On Stage), We Believe Every of Your Music Dream is Worthy of Respect and Protection, No Matter How Small It is. Join Us and Together for more......

www.facebook.com/HiseniorAudio)
www.instagram.com/hisenior/)
https://twitter.com/febosIEM)



So what is the Mega5EST 7th Anniversary Edition

Mega5EST is the Hisenior flagship IEM, a tribrid with 1DD+2BA+2EST. This model is the Anniversary edition in a blue and grey design, the model has been redone compared to the original release that came out some years ago. Throughout the review I might refer to it as M5E.

What's New: (New Smaller shell/New Sound Nozzle/ New Inner Drivers-configuration/New Air Vent/ New Tuning Sound (Harman IEM target curve + Hisenior Exclusive Smooth Coherence from bass-treble))

It has 1 Dynamic Driver in Bio Cellulose that is 10mm large for its low end, this is a custom made driver for HiSenior. The BA drivers are for mids and high frequencies, both are from Sonion and high quality. The last two drivers are also Sonion but EST drivers, mostly for the ultra high frequencies.



https://www.hisenior-iem.com/products/mega5est-hybrid-iem

Measurement from Jaytiss:





The Ergonomics of the Mega5EST is really good with a CIEM like mold with contoured wing, the nozzle also has some angle and good length to make it secure fitting. The socket for the 2pin is the flat style, and feels like good quality with good grip on the pins.
They have plenty of venting and dont feel closed in at all, maybe due to the large metal vent hole.



Accessories are plenty when we look at the tips, should be something for everyone to find something that seals good. Stock cable is also really good and I personally love the design of SPC cables like this, it's delivered in 4.4mm. You get their standard hard case, while rather large it's excellent for storing the IEMs safe.



Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

The sound of the Mega5EST is very natural sounding, with a neutral tonality with some low end warmth. They call this Harman IEM target paired with their own smooth coherent tuning, I like this much more than Harman tuned IEMs.

Going to use the ranges here in review:




Details and soundstage

The Mega5EST has a good amount of detail, but sits lower in detail level than some of the best models around this price range. But overall it's better than most hybrids and tribrids at the price, I find it gives a good balance of resolving capability that harmonizes with the natural tuning.

Soundstage is spherical for me with good width and height, but maybe not as much forward projection. More spacious than models like their T4, Okavango and Mega5P, so you get some extra finesse over Hisenior cheaper models. Same with imaging cues being a step up in pinpoint accuracy, with more realistic stage.

Bass

This is interesting, I didn't expect too much beforehand about the bass. The Mega5P was never my thing, then Okavango was much better on this aspect, and delivered a textured and fun low range.
As M5E was supposed to be more reference sounding I expected the bass to be neutral and less bombastic, took me by surprise.

The bass here reminds me of another IEM I loved for the bass, the Aurora from AüR. Meaning the bass has excellent elastic texture that can both slam and rumble with authority, but here is more present in the mix over Aurora with a small amount more mid bass.

Bass is very natural to me, in my book this is what a natural amount of bass is. Some sets with a leaner amount sound totally wrong when listening to recordings of cello or drums etc.
This is not a basshead set, but still has a good amount of warmth to make music real and lively as it should be.

Bass is not too fast or slow, and excels at textured notes that also can slam well. You will not get a bombastic bass that some people love for hip hop and metal music, but this is again better on stuff like electronic or acoustic music like jazz or classical.

Mids

Midrange is a good one, it's smooth and natural. With clear tonality that's not uneven or veiled at any part, just very natural. This also means it will probably not offend any who are sensitive to midrange, but on the flip side people who love extra forward mids will lack something.

The upper mids also are on the safe side, not shouty or bright at all. Lately I have enjoyed this type of tuning much more, often when changing from more forward pina gain sets it can sound less detailed. But I dont think this is true as it's an illusion, as the upper mids are detailed just not as in your face.

Guitars have good technicalities but lack some bite if used to more energetic sets, so perhaps better for Spanish guitar than metal riffs.

Listening to piano recordings the mids sound so even and natural, just a very correct amount of warmth to give the lowest octaves fullness. While the upper range can both be delicate and sparkly, just an excellent timbre for piano.

I find the Mega5EST to be equally good on female or male vocals, or bright and darker vocals. If I would pick one perhaps the brighter females are the best, as it's clean without being sharp or sibilant. Instruments like brass or cymbals also have a clean sound without being fatigued or harsh, but still have some bite to them not being dampened too much.

Treble

The treble is well extended and clear, not shouty or tiresome at all. I would say the amount of upper treble and air is very natural, so to my preference as I don't like too much upper treble.
Some might want more air, especially if they have less upper treble hearing or just prefer it exaggerated.

Music has plenty of overtones and airyness, cymbals sound crisp and not dull. Instruments like piccolo flute sound airy and nice, same for violin overtones sounding airy with great realism.



Synergies

A small part about what gear I have been enjoying the most with the Mega5EST, starting with cable. The stock White Whale cable is excellent, and I found no need to change it out.
I tried my Effect Audio Cadmus 8w, and the change is so small that I doubt it's anything different.
I liked it with all my sources and amps, the neutral sound carries the sound of what it's plugged into. It is also fairly power hungry, but even a cheap dongle sounds good. But feed it with good sounding gear and it will scale and show the quality of the source.

But I do think it sounds more lively and resolving paired with my desktop gear or my HIBY R8 II.

Tips have been the Divinus Velvet, excellent comfort and it is full sounding.




Music

I will just talk about some of the music I like, the music I use here are some of my reference tracks and also just some music I like in general. When I am listening to music and not evaluating, I prefer to listen to whole albums. When comparing Mega5EST to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more. I use Tidal or my own files for listening, but will provide links for either the Bandcamp or YT version.

Also sharing a review Tidal list that I have started to make, it will evolve over time and is still in the early stage.

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28



Jóhann Jóhannsson : Flight from the City

Ambient Contemporary Classical music, one of my favorites in the genre. It's a simple but nuanced track and album, if you like this one track I advise you to check the rest out. The natural playback of Mega5EST excels at this stuff, how it portrays both the strings and piano sound real and full. Gave me goose bumps hearing though the album on Mega5EST, helps also how the soundstage sounds so black and immersive.



Blackfield - Once (Remastered)

Blackfield got back into my listening recently due to another reviewer who shared it with me. Nice to hear them again after what I think is 10 years or more. The remaster of the Blackfield II album is great, highly dynamic and resolving. The track opens up with a clear drum part and the vocals and guitars is excellent, perfect track for testing timbre in general. If I have one nit pick on Mega5EST it is the amount of bass, personally I prefer even more mid bass for prog rock to make it sound thicker.



Shpongle - Shpongle Falls

Big fan of Shpongle, their music has defined much of the psy chill genre that is today. The album here is one my favorites from them, the chill ambient side with some psychedelic elements.
First of the Mega5EST dig super low into the sub bass, it produces the kick in a satisfying way where it's present without taking over the sound. The sound cues are 3D and spacious, and you get that trip in your head that Psy genres often do. Just the right amount of detail and clean sound to keep it musical but still resolving.



YAOSOBI - 夜に駆ける

I dont often listen to J-Pop as I often find it too busy or bright, and if I do it would be on sets that are not overly bright that also can handle busy transitions.
夜に駆ける is J-pop track that is clear and busy, Mega5EST has a very good sound for this that keeps the female vocal super clear without being fatigued or too sharp. My new J-pop set if I ever move more into this genre.



Smilla - Coronation

Minimal Techno from Germany, not the most technical track. But provides a full and deep thumping bass rhythm, sort of bass style that sounds bad on ultra fast sets like planars or BA.
Mega5EST manages excellent and it's very fun, I think the amount of bass is adequate for this bass heavy track. The electronica elements in the upper range is also controlled nicely without being piercing like it does on OH700VB.



Bat For Lashes - Feel For You

Natasha’s fifth studio album, Lost Girls album is more or less a love letter to 80s movies and synth pop from the time. My favorite has been the track Feel For You, which reminds me a lot of the 80s and spark joy. The rhythmic drumming and simple line Feel For You is one the simple side, but also is a good one to just see how I like a set if it's engaging and full.



Gojira - Drum Solo

Big fan of Gojira and have used them plenty of times in reviews, French heavy metal band. The track here is what the title says, a drum solo by Mario François Duplantier. Sounds so real and fun on Mega5EST, maybe I could have liked a small amount more mid bass. But no, this sounds very realistic and fun, and also shows how important a textured and elastic DD can be for drums. Cymbals have a good bite without being piercing, just a good and natural presentation.



Caroline Polachek - Fly To You (fear. Grimes and Dido)

Caroline has blown up lately in popularity, deserving of her unique modern pop music. Never knew I needed this collaboration she had with Grimes and Dido, 3 unique vocals together. Grimes sounds airy and shimmery, while Dido has her full voice I remember from her popular days. And lets not forget Caroline's special and unique voice, all of them make it sound very special. Love how expressive and natural Mega5EST has here, just the correct amount of clarity and warmth to make it euphonic.



Comparisons

When evaluating I use impressions over a longer time period with some fresh comparisons also, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching through a microphone to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences, it's also a subjective chart about my preference. Musical/Soul is what matters the most, and is down to what I feel when I listen to the IEM.





Hisenior Okavango

Okavango is hybrid IEM with 7 drivers total that is tuned in their new WILD-NATURE series, named after the world's largest inland Desert Delta. It has 1 DD and 6 BA with tuning switches to change up the sound, I have used it in the 00 config that has the most neutral tonality. It's still tuned to have a good amount of mid bass for a thicker and more lively sound, also why it's in the Wild Nature series to be a more fun tuning than the other models they have.
Soundstage is smaller and less expansive on the Okavango, it's a good difference here. For the cost I think Okavango was great, especially compared to other IEMs at the price. But Mega5EST clearly has something extra making it sound more open and large.

Bass is more textured and deeper on Mega5EST, the Okavango can sound a little hollow and less defined after having heard Mega5EST. Especially the deepest sub bass rumbles with fuller note weight, mid bass is the other way around where the Okavango has more punch to it. But even so the mid bass of Mega5EST is more elastic and textured , they use similar material being Bio Cellulose but have different size and probably also different magnets.

Midrange of Okavango is more on the husky side over Mega5EST, as in more warmth and forward in the low mids. Quality is a step under the Mega5EST and I think this is a mix of the tuning and drivers used. Upper mids have some grain on Okavango that is buttery smooth and clean on Mega5EST.

Highs of Mega5EST is a good step above Okavango, Okavango without the treble switch engaged has less bite and air. Engaging the treble switch makes Okavango have more treble that is overly sharp and piercing, where it sounds uneven and not natural.



AüR Audio Aurora

This is a hybrid IEM from AüR, it has 2DDs and 6BAs. It is tuned to be neutral with a sub bass boost, also with a relaxing top end. Priced around the same, but will lack the EST drivers.
The Mega5EST has way better presentation of the packaging and unboxing, with also better accessories. Comfort is great with both sets, maybe a small win to Aurora as it has slightly better design on the shell.

Soundstage is more spacious on the Mega5EST and positioned more in front, but Aurora has a slightly better 3D effect around you where it goes more to the sides of your head. Looking at the resolution they are good but not extraordinary, maybe a small win to the Mega5EST as it has more clarity. I would call the Aurora warm neutral with darker treble, the Mega5EST is more of a warm neutral.

The Aurora has a slightly tighter bass, but maybe a little reserved at times. Mega5EST has a more spacious bass presentation, slightly more impactful slam that also comes forth more easily. But still within a natural amount similar to Aurora, the difference in texture is hard to explain as both are very textured on stuff like string instruments. But still sound different, think it comes down to the smaller drivers on Aurora might be slightly faster to decay.

Lower Midrange is a small amount more forward on both instruments and vocals with Aurora. There is a difference in cleanliness of the midrange, the Aurora can seem more textured in the mids and slower. So when comparing the two it can sound quite different, technically I think the Mega5EST sound more correct. But it doesn't mean it's more resolving in the mids, just different.
Upper midrange is well controlled on both without being too forward, but also not recessed where we lose presence. Here you get some extra clarity on Mega5EST due to the cleaner sound.

Both have pleasing treble, but it's higher clarity and more extension with Mega5EST. Also the EST drivers makes it sound more ethereal and pleasing.



Oriveti OH700VB

This is Oriveti flagship hybrid IEM, the OH700VB has 1 Dynamic Driver for bass and 6 Balanced Armatures. The price is slightly higher than the Mega5EST at $700. The quality of the IEMs is good, but looking at build quality the Mega5EST both feel and look more premium built. Both brands deliver an excellent amount of accessories, both have a decent cable already in the box.

Soundstage and resolution are very close to each other, it's different in how they do things but both remain good in the price segment. OH700VB has a wider presentation, while Mega5EST is more forward projecting. Resolution is very close to each other, might be a small step above on Mega5EST. Both are what I call neutral with bass boost, while OH700VB has a slight tilt toward V shaped tonality.

Bass texture of both sets are very similar, but they sound fairly different due to how they are tuned. Would perhaps say OH700VB is looser and appears more easy, the M5E more controlled and dense. The OH700VB has more of a separated bass with a bass tuck, and the M5E more of a mixed glide and tuck. On a lot of music it's hard to pick the bass part from each other, this is since the amount of warmth is very similar and also the texture. A few tracks can show a small amount of more sub bass extension on OH700VB, while some other tracks sound more bassy on M5E as it has more mid bass ratio.

Mids of OH700VB are natural and a little uneven with some small amount of darkness, M5E is not dark but very similar overall. Just that they are tuned slightly differently where M5E is more coherent throughout.
Male vocals often sound fuller on M5E and brighter females can be more delicate, M5E handles sibilance smoother.
Both handle bright instruments like sax excellently without being shouty, a little darker on OH700VB.

The treble of the OH700VB has more extension and it is brighter than M5E, but it's not as refined and natural sounding. Almost have some raspy unevenness to the highs that come forth due the forward presence, this also makes OH700VB sound closer to a neutral/V shape than neutral. The OH700VB has some extra cymbal shimmer or air in general over the Mega5EST.



Summary

The Mega5EST is perhaps one of the best value IEMs for the one who wants a natural sounding tribrid.

In short the Hisenior Mega5EST is a very natural sounding IEM, that keeps itself from being either boring or fatiguing. More or less a jack of all trades, that does everything very correctly without being master of anything. Also means that it excels at most music you throw at it, perfect for putting your music library on random and enjoy.

It's clearly the best IEM I have used from Hisenior, and excels in coherency thanks to good drivers and tuning. Mega5EST has the right amount of warmth and brightness to make it musical and enjoyable for me.

Thanks again to Hisenior for the review discount, I look forward to more later this year.
It is too bad so few know about Mega5est, the model deserve more recognition. A tuning and quality that should be loved by many.

HIBY R8 II - Bordeaux Red

Disclaimer

The R8 II is the 5th DAP I have owned from HIBY. I did buy the R8 II with a discount in return for a review through @MusicTeck. Reviewing DAPs is really hard as the differences are smaller than comparing a set of headphones or IEMs, because of this the differences might be exaggerated throughout the review.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, I can also like forward midrange if not excessive. I can also handle some treble spikes if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Ascension and 634ears Miroak-II. The AüR Audio Ascension is a tribrid with 1DD 5BA and 2EST, that is tuned to be warm and natural. Miroak-II is my favorite single DD, it has a warm and bassy sound that is also very natural sounding. Both of the models clearly belong to the similar category for, and aligns with my taste for warm sound that is more organic.

Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
I have only one DAP, the HIBY R6 Pro2. But I do have plenty of dongles to change up the sound, from neutral ones to some that are warm and analogue.
I have a good range of cables from Clan Audio, DUNU, Effect Audio, NiceHCK, XINHS and Gladiator Cables.

https://shop.musicteck.com/products/hiby-r8-ii





Who is HIBY

Personally I have been using their products for a few years, it was the small R3 Pro Saber that made me interested in DAPs. And over the years HIBY has grown to become my favorite DAP maker, providing good quality at a reasonable price.

From their own About Us Page:

HiBy is a company with over 15 years of expertise in the field of music players, and it has two subsidiary brands: HiBy Music and HiBy Digital. HiBy Music focuses on developing high-fidelity, high-quality portable music players and headphone decoders. HiBy Digital, built on HiBy's years of expertise in the professional field, has created a stylish digital music consumer electronics brand, enabling more music enthusiasts to experience their own unique musical beauty.




https://store.hiby.com/pages/about-hiby



So what is the R8 II

The HIBY R8 II is their newest Digital Audio Player (DAP) priced at $1999, combining new technology and excellent build quality.

According to their own website R8 II is their flagship DAP, this is interesting as the RS8 is a more expensive DAP. The R8 series of DAPs is a higher end line than their models coming from the R6 or R3 series, there has been a previous R8 that also was highly regarded.

The DAC section of the R8 II is a special one, combining the DARWIN MPA from their R2R DACs together with a Delta Sigma implementation. From my understanding it's 16 DAC parts that go into the mix, with lots of tech that is outside of my understanding of DACs.

The amp section is OPAMP based with switchable Class A or AB, 3x OPA1612 + 2x ADA4625-2 for the Output Amplification and NJW1195 for the Volume. There is also the Turbo mode to increase the 6V to 7.5V for more power, at the cost of battery time.

The internal parts are high quality, much of it carries over from their previous flagship RS8.

Instead of listing all the specs:




Design

Starting off with the design, the model I have here is the Bordeaux Red version. It's covered in glass, surgical steel and Alcantara. The R8 II is a fairly large player and weighs 515g, not a light weighter.
Even so it's comfortable to hold in the hand both without or with the supplied case, but this is clearly a DAP for sitting down instead of your neighborhood walk.

Looking from the front the R8 II looks normal except for the fact that the screen is longer than most DAPs, similar to smartphones now have more height and remain the same width.

The display is 5.9” IPS HD screen with Corning Gorilla Glass, provides good colors and dynamic range for a DAP display. As we are here for music and not the display it's probably not as important for everyone, but for me it's important as we are used to quality screens on our smartphones. The front glass also has a slight rounded edge toward the metal bezel, looks nice but also makes the glass protector have a limit for how far it can go to the edge. On the flip side if you remove the screen protector and use it without a case you get a very premium feel.



The backside of the R8 II is covered in alcantara fabric, making it comfortable to hold and look awesome. Also make it so it doesn't feel so fragile when you put it down on a hard surface like a glass table. Only concern I have is that this might get ugly over time. I decided on red but I bet black is the safest if we think about the long term and how stains would show, even if alcantara is one of the better fabric materials to clean.



The bottom of the player should be familiar for most Cayin and HIBY users, here you have line out ports on the right side in both balanced and single ended. The left side has the headphone outputs, in both 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced. In the middle is the USB Type-C port USB 3.2, that is used for both charging and other functions. Can be used as DAC, Digital Out, SPDIF and probably more.



The packaging is nice and clean without being over the top, you get a few accessories.
The TPU case fits snug and has the same alcantara fabric, but on the sides instead. The case works perfectly and has working buttons that don't miss press like another DAP I will talk about later.
There is no charger in the box, only a USB C cable to get you going. There is also an extra screen protector if you need to change it, there is also a transparent protector for the bottom of the player.



The button layout is different from my previous HIBYs, here you have volume on the left side. Yes there is no volume wheel, but personally I prefer it this way.
The right side of the player has Back, Pause/Skip, Forward and ON/OFF buttons, intuitive and positioned so it's easy to press correctly. The right side also has the Micro SD card that can hold up to 2TB, but can not be accessed when the TPU case is on.



Usability, battery and UI

The player is ready to use right after turning it on, you just have to go to the Google Play Store and install your favorite streaming app or insert your Micro SD card.

When adjusting the volume with the physical buttons, the volume interface pops up on the screen. Then you can easily adjust it with your fingers instead by dragging the yellow line up or down.

The battery runs for around 12-14 hours for me when using medium gain and class AB, this is also with the display on for much of the time.

With the display off and using low gain on sensitive IEMs it would probably work even longer, but the other way using class A and Turbo was more like 8-10 hours. Did not try it scientific when testing this, so take the numbers with a little scepticism.



From the drop down menu you have access to quick settings, I advise you to edit the list for what is most suited for you. Here you can then access Gain, class A/AB, Darwin Controller and more settings. To access the menu you just need to drag your finger down from the top, then 4 of the quick settings are visible. Drag another time down to see the rest of the quick settings, and also the settings and edit button.

Been smooth sailing with the R8 II, never a freeze or anything that made the player stop or have problems. The quality of the Wi-Fi connection has worked well, even if I have been outside in my garden.

It is fast enough in use for a DAP, of course it will be more sluggish than the flagship android smartphones. But I find the performance here is good, also it helps that the player has 8GB RAM so more than one app can be open or for some multitasking.

Since this is an android device there are endless settings to adjust, not going to go through this in the review. I bet some other reviews will be more thorough on this part.





The included HIBY Music Player is the professional edition, it's easy to use and works great.
My main listening is with streaming, I have used Tidal, Bandcamp, YouTube and Spotify. R8 II has worked flawlessly on both my files or when streaming.



I want to talk about the 8 way EQ band, this is called MSEB and is HIBY’s built in EQ. They have words or descriptions instead of the actual ranges, you can search online and find a description of what each of them is doing. It's a fairly easy way to change the sound, it also works system wide on the player.

Photo two and tree is what I use sometimes when I want to EQ, it's a plugin that works as a 3 way EQ. It works in a different way than normal EQ as it also affects the dynamics of the sound, personally I have used it to increase bass on some sets or even boost/cut the highs.



Sound impressions

When evaluating the R8 II I have often used the albums found in the playlist under. Also I have used a lot more music that is not in the Tidal playlist, but should give a good idea of the music used.

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28

I have a few hundred hours of playtime now, mention it in case the player needs to burn in for the ultimate sound reproduction.

The HIBY R8 II has a neutral sound, it presents music in a natural way with some warmth. I have been extremely satisfied with the sound, it doesn't color the sound but also doesn't sound boring or sterile.

The R8 II has a fatigue free sound for me, being more analogue and not as digital as some Sigma Delta sources are.

The background is super black, even on my most sensitive IEM the Neon Pro I can not hear any noise. The transients are super clear and fast, the dynamic range being on the large side.
This makes the R8 II a very resolving player, and is as good as other flagship DAPs I have tried in the past if not better.

The soundstage has a wide and large projection, much of this depends on the transducer being used. I found it quite large when I compared it to R6 Pro 2 and N7, the concert hall description of HIBY is of course a little exaggerated.

The sound profile makes the R8 II suitable for all the gear I have used, and with the added MSEB or Plugins I can then instead change the sound as I want to. This also means that it won't help smooth down spicy treble by itself, if you want that you have to access the built in EQ options.

I need to mention that the upper mids are more forgiving than some other sources, which helps on some IEMs that I can find borderline shouty.

Another standout feature is the bass, it has extra textured quality and more of a deep sub bass focus.

I will come back to the sound more in the comparison later against the N7 and R6 Pro 2.

Sound Settings

Class A and AB sound to me very close to the same, I find it hard to notice on IEMs. Even super resolving sets, it's first when I used a hard to drive earbud that the class A sounded fuller and smoother sounding. Due to this I let it stay in AB for most of my listening, as I use this mainly for easy to drive IEMs or earbuds. I do believe the battery drained slightly faster on Class A, so a positive point using AB instead.
Turbo didn't change the sound that much but again more than Class A/AB, a small amount more impactful sound. Its first when I used harder to drive gear it helped push the dynamic range and make it sound more full.

The Darwin Controller is also an interesting thing, I personally don't think the filter changes anything. If it does, it's so small that it's negligible.
When looking at where DAC filters are positioned ita arguable it might be noticeable on 19200 kHz files, but when you use more high res music like 48000 kHz the filter effect is moved far out from the human hearing.
The Harmonic Controller is different and does seem to affect the soundstage making it more spacious when changed to max. This is also subtle and doesn't affect all IEMs a much as some.



Line out to external gear

R8 II has a super clean output when paired with my Topping A90 Discrete or Feliks Audio Echo. It might be a little more treble emphasized and airy than my desktop DAC Topping E70 ESS, it also has slightly more heft to the lowest sub bass. Other than that the stage and resolution is close to the same.



Headphones, Earbuds and IEMs

This is my main use of a DAP, in fact not so much headphones as I have slightly hard to drive headphones that I use with desktop amps instead. Going to just talk about some pairings and what I think with each of them, very short impressions. I find the neutral organic sound of R8 II to suit everything I have on the IEM and earbud side. Most of my impressions under here have been against the HIBY R6 Pro 2, but also sometimes against the Cayin N7 or Topping E70 + A90 Discrete.



The FranQL Blue Moon, this is a 130 ohm Beryllium earbud. The sound is delicate and very resolving, with good extensions both ways with natural presentation. This is fairly easy to power from most DAPs and dongles, the only problem with some amps is that they can get a little bright sounding.

The R8 II has better control of the highs, creating a sound that is more velvety and airy than my other portable gear. Bass is tight and controlled, with delicate notes from bass to the highest note. I'm very impressed, and it is now my favorite pairing with this earbud.



Venture Electronics Zen 3.0, this is a 300 ohm earbud that is hard to drive from portable gear. Usually I use this together with my Feliks Audio Echo OTL amp, as they have perfect synergies.
It has good note weight and warm tonality in both the bass and midrange, with clear treble.

I have a portable DAC/Amp that works, but I haven't had any DAP that can drive it without an external amplifier.

When using something like the Cayin N7 it loses dynamic range and sounds thin with weak bass, then change to the R8 II and it gets close to the dynamics of a strong desktop amp. Sounding full and engaging with deep bass presentation for a earbud, so good that I don't mind using this as my goto solution for this good earbud. It's still a small step behind my Topping A90 Discrete, but the gap is close enough I don't mind using it straight from the R8 II.



AüR Audio Neon Pro is a 10 BA set from Singapore, and has been one of my favorites for a long time. It has a resolving and expansive sound, tuned in an energetic U shaped signature.
Together with R8 II it sounds airy extended in the highs, with a bass presentation that sounds very good for BA. Neon Pro also sounds good on the cheaper R6 Pro 2, but on the R8 II I get a more analogue and engaging sound. It gets more soul into the music, the soundstage expands with more 3D imaging. And I can not hear any noise when using 4.4mm, a good sign since the Neon Pro is very sensitive.



Oriveti OH700VB is the newest flagship from this brand, delivering a neutral sound with a clean bass boost that reminds me of a subwoofer backing up speakers. The model has 1DD and 6BA, there is also a switch to reduce the mid bass.

The R8 II matches again perfectly and delivers natural sound, bass is controlled with excellent slam or sub bass rumble. It keeps the bass separated from the midrange better than on R6 Pro 2, a part of the tuning also of course. It's tighter in the bass than the R6 Pro 2, and also delivers more of a deep sub bass rumble. Instruments like sax are resolving and less shouty than R6P2, there is also a more dimensional and deep stage. The mid bass slam can actually be less than R6P2, but again more controlled.



Hisenior Mega5EST is a tribrid with 1DD, 2BA and 2EST, tuned more on the neutral side with some warmth in the low range.

Since this has a natural sound that's also never shouty or bright, it sounds just correct on R8 II.
What surprised me is that the treble was more silky and present here than my desktop amp, an interesting finding and makes me wonder if it just drives the EST driver better.



Campfire Bonneville is a fun and voluptuous IEM, thick and bombastic bass with a forward and crisp treble. The midrange is on the darker thick side, the stage is also large and spacious.

Bass is more controlled on R8 II than R6 Pro 2, the treble also less sharp. Soundstage expands even more, especially in the height and depth.

Also a note about HIBY, the Bonneville has bright treble and doesn't work on all music. Using the MSEB reducing the sibilance LF and HF slider works excellent, it now has no problems with the treble anymore.

Or other way using the DRX10K plugin to reduce some bass and treble make it less dark and warm to suit more music.



634ears Miroak-II Cocobolo is one of my favorite IEMs, it's made by an excellent maker in Japan. The configuration is 1 DD, the sound is rather analogue and warm.

Interesting here is that the R8 II sounds less punchy than R6 Pro 2, instead giving back more of a deep and thick sub bass rumble. The midrange is also more resolving and euphonic in R8 II, but again it sounds good on both sources.



TIMSOK TS-316 is a really good single DD that's clear and resolving, has a U shaped sound with excellent sub bass depth and clear detailed upper range. Can on some sources like Cayin N7 sound quite shouty and bright.

R8 II gives it a more analog nature over N7 or other sigma delta devices, making it more euphoric sounding and refined in the upper mids and highs. It still has plenty of treble energy, but is better controlled. So here also the MSEB can be a good thing for people that are sensitive to upper mids or treble.



Koss KPH40 is a variant from the Porta Pro, 60 ohm and fairly easy to drive. Cheap and small but scale with good amps, bass can sound a little hollow and uncontrolled on weaker sources.

Clear that R8 II has more power than the little brother R6 Pro 2, it has a more full and lively sound. More real sounding with natural transients and timbre, the soundstage opens up a good amount. Bass especially is more fun and impressive, none of the amps you use will do magic on the sub bass as KPH40 don't reach that low.



The ZMF Verite Open is a 300 ohm headphone that needs a lot of power to sound good, I prefer to use this with OTL amps.
I still had to give it a listen on r8 II, it lacks some dynamic range and fullness of sound compared to desktop gear. Much like I expected it to do, so for this usage case it's better to have an external amp plugged to the line out on R8 II. It's better sounding than the Cayin N7 and HIBY R6 Pro with the Verite, but I still don't advise R8 II for hard to drive headphones.




Comparisons

I only have one other DAP, the HIBY R6 Pro 2. For the review I met a friend to try the N7 again, I owned one before and also wrote a review on it.
When I talked about sound on the different transducers above, I used the R6 Pro 2 for most of my comparing.



HIBY R6 Pro 2

The R6 Pro 2 is their best model in the R6 series, it is a much cheaper DAP than the R8 II at $799. Both have similar Android 12 and Snapdragon 665 SOC, with the same large IPS HD display.

If we look at hardware differences, the R8 II has twice the RAM with 8GB and also a larger storage of 256GB vs R8P2 with 64GB. The DAC and AMP section is also very different, the R6 Pro 2 Sigma Delta chips from AKM and has no Darwin Architecture.

It is physically smaller than the R8 II as it's not as thick or heavy, 285g vs 515g and 15mm vs 23mm. Some of the weight is the much larger battery of 12000mAh vs 5000mAh, the other reason is that R8 II is stainless steel and the R6P2 is aluminium.



The power output is also stronger with 4.4mm 383mAh vs the R8 II with 710mAh measured with 32ohm, this is not in volume percentage. It's also noticeable in use on harder to drive stuff like some headphones or earbuds, where the R6 Pro 2 struggles with poor dynamics the R8 II can exceed and sound excellent. This also depends on how difficult the headphones are, none of them is going to drive a Modhouse Tungsten.

It should also be mentioned that the LO and PO are swapped from R6 series and R8, actually plugged wrong at first listen with R8 II. The button layout is also improved, on R8 II the volume controls are on the left side alone. The R6 Pro 2 has it on the right side together with the power button, the buttons are also smaller and much easier to mis press on R6 Pro 2. The play buttons are also placed a little weird on R6 Pro 2, normally play/pause is in the middle of back and forward. Not on the R6 Pro 2 that has back and forth beside each other, this is something you learn over time.
But when the case comes into use, the R6 Pro 2 is horrible to use as you mis press all the time. On the R8 II you actually have better control with the case on, quite different.

The biggest downside of the R6 Pro 2 is the bad battery time, you will not get more than 4-6 hours depending on settings or if the screen is on. The R8 II can roughly be active for 3 times longer, so depending on use case the R6 Pro 2 might not be a viable option.

If we go into the sound quality of both DAPs, they both excel at their own price point. The R6 Pro 2 is a very resolving player, can be a little sharp and digital sounding. But I admit I didn't really notice the digital nature when I only owned the R6 Pro2, this came much more to my attention when I acquired the R8 II. This is the first thing that I noticed with the R8 II, the sound being more refined and natural. Made me actually find the R6 Pro 2 slightly unnatural with sharper uneven transients and a smaller dynamic range, bear in mind it's easy to exaggerate here.

The R6 Pro 2 has a more crisp high end, here the R8 II is softer but remains equally as resolving if not more. I find the air to be more whispery and pleasing on R8 II, the R6 Pro has sharper air that is more present and pushed forward in the mix. The volume played is a thing that affects this more, played louder and closer to maximum volume the R6 Pro 2 gets shouty in a way that R8 II don't.

Bass is also different here, the R8 II seems to focus more on the deep sub bass. The R6 Pro 2 has more slam in the mid bass, but lacks some of the sub bass quality of R8 II.

The midrange is more forward on R8 II and vocals seem to pop more while also being more forgiving in the sound, giving what I call a more analogue and smooth delivery.

Soundstage is wider in the presentation and also deeper on the R8 II, making me wonder if there is some type of plugin to expand the stage more. Not that the change is huge, but probably different enough so you would pick it up in a blind test.



Cayin N7

I don't own the Cayin N7 anymore. The impressions here are from a long Sunday evening when I met a friend to compare, I also used my R6 Pro 2 as reference since I have compared it to N7 before.

Cayin N7 was my first more high end DAP, I don't have it anymore so this part will be fairly small. I had the opportunity to visit a friend's N7 again to refresh my memory, so I could do a fast comparison.

If I am not wrong Cayin N7 is their entry level DAP, what makes this model so special is the discrete 1 bit architecture. The DAC part is built up by discrete resistors instead of a single chip, if this makes it better or not is up to discussion. The main thing that is good about 1 bit, is that Cayin can tailor the sound more than what a chip would do. The amplification stage is also discrete with JFET (junction-gate field-effect transistor) and BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistors) parts, which also contribute in giving the sound a more analog sound. You can choose between Class A and Class AB amplification, in comparison to most other DAPs you actually hear a change.

If we start about usability, both of them are on the more bulky and heavy side. I for some reason prefer the new style of using volume buttons instead of a wheel, never thought I would say that. I actually find it easier to operate, also since it's on the side instead of top. Without a case both the models look awesome, but if we look at ergonomics the N7 is dangerously slippery. Putting on the case the Yellow N7 looks a little more premium, but has buttons that are fairly hard to navigate in the blind compared to R8.

The interface is made by HIBY for both models and is close to the same, but for some reason the N7 had a few bugs coming now and then requiring restart of DAP or reinstall. R8 II in comparison has worked buttery smooth without any problems, screen is also easier to operate due to size and also a better display.

The sound differs more than I expected, the N7 is much brighter up top. Actually more than what I prefer, I did not notice this as much when I had it myself. I would actually call the hot top end slightly unnatural with N7, the R8 II is as detailed in the highs but smoother and more natural sounding. The mids are also more forward sounding on Cayin N7, overall and more intense sound. Listening to some of my favorite jazz tracks from Casiopea and Dave Brubeck the timbre seems more pleasing and organic for me on the R8 II, especially listening to brass parts or cymbals.

Vocals can go both ways, and often come more down to the IEM. Some IEMs like the 64audio U4s I find a little soulless on midrange and vocals, adding in the N7 then gives it a small boost of musicality. This won't happen the same way on R8 II, where the U4s remain slightly boring. But then going into the MSEB it can be fixed more to my preference, then R8 II goes past the N7.

The bass seems tighter on the R8 II with better sub bass extension, the N7 might have a smaller amount more mid bass. The N7 might sound more tubelike due to this, but also due to the synergy with the midrange. Soundstage and imaging is a tough one, I really think they are similar in size while perhaps the R8 II is wider and more stage like.



Conclusion

This has been an excellent experience, it sounds as good as it looks. Well deserving its higher price point over its cheaper models, and I bet HIBY could have charged even more here.

Right now the HIBY R8 II is most likely the safest DAP purchase in the higher price segment, price is on the higher side but it's also for a reason. The total package is premium, both the quality of the player and the sound.

It is a DAP that is naturally sounding on the neutral side, but without sounding sterile or artificial. This means that I haven't found any IEM or earbud that is not suited for R8 II, they will either sound good or perfect. The player will lack the ultimate power to drive harder headphones like some planars or high impedance models, but pair it up with an external amp and you are good to go for that also.

So again HIBY has proven themselves to be a competitive player in the crowded DAP market, I for one look forward to more releases from them. But for now this will stay as my main listening solution for a long time.

Oriveti OH700VB

Disclaimer

The OH700VB is my first product from Oriveti, I did get this free for a review in trade for a review. All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, mids can be forward but not too much. I can also handle some treble spikes if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman and Minidisc.

I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments and also piano.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Neon Pro, AüR Audio Ascension and 634ears Miroak-II. The NEON PRO has 10 BAs, and has a near perfect tonality for me on the brighter side. DTE900 is a tribrid with 1+5+2 config, tuned W shape being warm and natural. Miroak-II is my favorite single DD, it has a warm and bassy sound that is also very natural sounding.

Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
Portable gear used during the review is HIBY R8 II, HIBY R6 Pro 2, Colorfly CMA M1P.
I have a good range of cables from Clan Audio, Penon, NiceHCK, XINHS, DUNU, Effect Audio and Gladiator Cables.



Who is Oriveti

https://www.oriveti.com/about-us

ORIVETI is an innovative brand providing HiFi quality audio products for daily use by the most discerning listeners.

Founded in 2015, we started from a position of strength with years of engineering and design experience within the earphone/headphone industry.

In this tough and competitive market we feel there is still room for knowledgeable brands with new ideas to emerge. Because we understand the importance of sound, fit, comfort and reliability, we believe ORIVETI is ready to excite and impress listeners across the world.



So what is the OH700VB

OH700VB is Oriveti’s new flagship hybrid IEM, using 1 Dynamic Driver in 10mm and 6 Balanced Armatures. Two of them for the highs and the last 4 for the mids.

The IEM is in a purple resin shell with a wood faceplate, it has a metal vent for ear pressure.
Many IEMs have tuning switches nowadays, but here it's only one that is positioned on the front for easy access. The shell is made fairly ergonomic and with an average size, could have had some more grooves for me to add comfort. But as it is more should have better comfort than just a few like me who prefer more curves. The nozzle is in metal and looks awesome, has also a tip ring to secure your tips.

The whole package and accessories are excellent, and show that they care about what they deliver. Plenty of tips in silicon and foam, a modular cable that is soft and little extra long. A IEM case that seems like real leather, it also has a nice lock to keep it closed.



Specification

Driver: Exclusive 6BA driver (2 for high, 4 for mid) + 10mm Dynamic Driver (for low)
Impedance: 12 Ohm
Frequency Response: 20 - 20000Hz
Sensitivity: 112+-3dB/mW, 1000Hz
Distortion: <1%

Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm Stereo / 2.5mm balanced / 4.4mm balanced Plug
Package Includes
OH700VB Earphone body - 1pair
2 Pin Detachable Cable with 2.5mm balanced, 4.4mm balanced, 3.5mm stereo plugs - 1pc
Genuine Leather Carrying Case - 1pc
S, M, L Silicone Tips - 2pairs per size
S, M, L Foam tips - 1 pair per size
Cleaning Tool - 1pc



Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

This has been a very different experience, it took time getting accustomed to the sound.
It's interesting as it nails the part of being bassy, slightly dark midrange and also clear up top. Never heard anything similar before, as I wouldn't call it V shaped as mids are still very resolving even if it's on the darker side compared to the bass and treble. The lower mids have a more full and engaging soound while the upper mids are forgiving an slightly dark.

Then you turn off the switch and it's not as bassy anymore, mids come forth more and have a more neutral balance with the rest.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Details and soundstage

Overall the Oriveti OH700VB has okay resolution for its price, while maybe not having the most micro details it has a quite large dynamic range.
The most resolving part of the Oriveti OH700VB is clearly the high range and air, but as a whole it does a decent job. I wouldn't use this for poor old rock reckonings, or electronica with brighter artifact elements in the treble.
The soundstage is a special one, it is very wide. Among the widest I have heard, depth is also fairly deep.The stage is rather oval and has quite good imaging cues, maybe not the best one on imaging but it's not bad at all. The other side of the soundstage is that it's not consistent, often voices and some instruments sound like they are coming from inside your head instead of projecting in front. Often this is also up to the recording, but on some tracks where I'm used to hearing the singer I positioned further out it's then heard in my head. So it's fair to say that the soundstage and imaging is a good one, but also a little weird and inconsistent.

Bass

The low end on OH700VB is tuned in the tuck style, meaning it doesn't glide into the mids and instead is decreased quite rapidly before the midrange. This goes for both switch positions, the switch just pushes the tuck even more back so you get less mid bass. This also means the sound is more lean with the switch turned off/up, my preference is with it on/down and will be my focus here.

The OH700VB bass reminds me a lot of a IEM I had some time back, the ISN EST50. Not exactly the same but more on how the bass blends with the rest of the tonality, it sounds more like a subwoofer is paired with the rest. For some that can be negative if you prefer smooth coherent transition, but it also makes it very fun and interesting. With the switch ON this effect is also increased, as it's much more coherent with it OFF. But then you sacrifice some warmth for the natural playback, and I will rather than use it as a subwoofer experience.

Sub bass reaches low and is really vibrant and present, and due to this you can sometimes hear bass in songs that you haven't heard on other sets as easily. And this sub bass presence happens on both switch positions, I love the amount of sub bass and find it perfect.

The mid bass is also quite impressive and has great punch with a slower decay, but due to the bass style it can be a little overpowering over the midrange. The amount is clearly warm, I still would not call it bass head. But with the right music it can please most bass heads in quality and amount, some of this due the mids being drawn back.

In fact with the correct music, like bassy electronica or hip hop the OH700VB is an epic bass experience. It can both slam really hard or vibrate with finesse, and the texture is excellent.



Mids

The midrange is what made me get lukewarm when I got the OH700VB, it's darker and more distant than what I'm used to. I'm often used to sets having both bass going into the midrange, and also a much more forward pina gain. But with some time and getting the brain adjusted to the sound I started to get quite addicted to the sound, different but also good.

Darker vocals are clearly better to have than brighter for me, brighter vocals can lack a little attack and presence. But it's more of adjusting to the sound, and then it's quite soothing and full. Soprano singers here will often be a little veiled or dark, also lacking in attack. But even so the brighter vocalists will have plenty of sparkle and air, it's an odd mix. So it's very much back to the artist or how it's recorded, many albums are excellent and I don't mind at all.

Acoustic guitars sound full and excellent, its rich and engaging with most instruments that are lower pitch.
Instruments like sax with higher pitch lack some clarity on OH700VB, and seem dark. But here the brain burn is strongly in play, after having listened for days I like the midrange. And even when swapping between sets I find it good, but different.

Listening to piano is always a good one to listen to after inconsistencies in the timbre, the sound is overall coherent but lacks a little presence especially when higher notes are played. You will not get as clear transients in the midrange, it's dampened to some degree. But also make it very relaxing and soothing, this also goes for a lot of brass instruments.

Treble

The treble range is forward and has a very good extension, it actually has more treble and air than what I prefer due to fatigue.
This is also why I tend to limit what I listen to, some albums clearly have a brighter top and are not as suited for OH700VB giving the sound a harsh tonality.

The low treble has never any sibilance, also not too relaxed where you lose some brilliance.

The treble has sharp and clear attack, so cymbals will have a spicy and natural bite to them. Never dull to say it like that, but cymbals are supposed to have great bite even if I prefer less. Violin also has clear and forward uppertones, that make it sound plenty airy and clear. I do find the air a little artificial, but again might just be back to my sensitivity for air.

Downside of the forward treble, is that I love the bass on OH700VB for electronica. Lots of electronica has plenty of treble energy or treble noise, often very tiresome. This almost never is the same with acoustic music, and comes back to the artificial side of electronica.



Synergies

A small part about what gear I have been enjoying the most with the Oriveti OH700VB.

Tips been straight forward, my usual Divinus Velvet sound correct and seal perfect. Tried also my Eletech Baroque but they didn't seal as good on this IEM as the Velvet.

Cable has been the stock cable for the most part, as I did find it more than good for a stock cable. It's both comfortable and full sounding, but I still swapped cable sometimes during the review. When changing over to the Effect Audio Eros S Anniversary the stage seemed clearer as the background got blacker, but overall the sound didn't change much.
I also tried a pure thick copper from Gladiator Cables that often increases warmth, but also this didn't really change the sound much. Tried a silver cable and a graphene mix. So my conclusion is that the OH700VB is not that sensitive to cable swapping.

As for sources, I got my new DAP HIBY R8 II during this review and it for sure increased my enjoyment factor over my dongles or R6 Pro 2. Especially the mids seemed to be richer and treble more controlled, for me a good thing as it helped me on the weakside of OH700VB.






Music

I will just talk about some of the music I like, the music I use here are some of my reference tracks and also just some I like. When I am listening to music and not evaluating, I prefer to listen to whole albums. When comparing OH700VB to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more.





Men I trust - Show Me How

Electronic chill pop music, great atmospheric music where you can dream yourself away. She has a voice that's gentle on your ears, overall a very pleasing and soothing track.
Here the OH700VB is great, the more mellow side of the mids work well and just adds harmony to both her voice and the background instruments. The bass is also very addictive and does give the drums some good kick, and the open top end is never bothersome at all.





Oliver Patrice Weder - Breathe In

New album that came out recently, the genre is rather special and is a mix of many things: classical ambient, ambient electronic, atmospheric, cinematic, contemporary classical, experimental, electronic instrumental, minimalist, modern classical, neo-classical, Montreal.
The album sounds like a story being told, and the first track here does give good insight for the rest.

Opens up great with OH700VB with the switch ON, atmospheric and captures the emotions. The brass trio in the background is a little recessed compared to the other sets I have been listening to, also means the picture gets a darker vibe to it. It's not bad here, but does change the music away from what I think the artist wanted to portray.





Milk Talk - Velvet Line

Also a fairly new album, J-pop, city pop, synth pop and probably more. Very cool and addicting song or album for that matter, the vibes are strong here. The bass guitar is vibrant and the continuous kick throughout pushes you to dance along.

The OH700Vb has a good tonality for this, captures the beat like a boss. Her voice also has a great weight to it, she is also not totally inside your head and pushed more out. You also hear that the midrange is resolving on both her and the instrumental parts, the darker midrange is much less noticeable here.





FEATHERED SUN - Ocean Tree

Some downtempo electronic or deephouse, the vocals are dark and thick and very atmospheric.

Another banger for the OH700VB, the bass captures the vibe perfectly. It is such a great slow slam that it feels like it comes from something different than a small IEM. The singer and humming also take good use of the extra bass with the switch ON, sound forward and full.
I don't think I have anything to complain about here, it's just addictive and full sounding with the Oriveti.





Infected Mushroom - Vicious Delicious

First album I heard from Infected Mushroom was back in 2007 when this album came out. Been a big fan of them since, the track by same name Vicious Delicious is awesome on sets with good bass and good stage quality.

And yes the OH700VB is awesome here, but also shows that OH700VB sounds better played loud. As the sound get squirt dull and lifeless with low volume, so juice it up for some fun.
Bass is visceral and tactile, fast and textured. The overall tonality is excellent, and the more withheld midrange suite the song to not make it too fatiguing. There are some parts that are a little bright and tiresome, like the last part around 6 minutes. It's still not too bad, it helps that Infected Mushroom makes clean electronica without too many noisy digital artifacts.





Merkaba - Perception

Awesome electronica, addicting and fun. On the OH700VB the tonality doesn't work as well, its way too bright where I almost flinch but the sharp elements. It's too bad as the bass and mids suit the track perfectly, the stage is also wide and spacious. But if I use my dap plugin to reduce the treble it's perfect, but in stock it doesn't do it for me.





Snarky Puppy - Belmont

Jazz track from one of my favorite modern bands, lively and relaxing track. Has a great amount of detail and dynamic elements without sounding over the top, so it's easy to listen after details. The OH700VB is a little dark here, the sound is a little distant and away. Quite few of the instruments are lacking brilliance to give the music more energy, so the sudden cymbal crashes that are forward sound off from the rest of the track.

What is excellent is the drum kicks and the overall airy sound, makes up for the darker midrange. The kicks have a really good amount of punch to them, with what I would say is correct snappiness. Also the open top end makes the stage seem very large here, while also maybe a little veiled in the distance.





Cymande - Dove

The drum is intoxicating with OH700VB, the guitar also has an euphonic sound to it. Stage is also super wide with nice separation of the fewer instruments present here. Here the sound is just fun and engaging. This track is often good on many sets, but there is something special here.





Humanity’s Last breath - Labyrinthian

This is some heavy crap, not for everyone. Death metal or Death Core, there's a lot going on here. Distorted guitars, drums, bass and intense growling. What surprised me a lot is that I love OH700VB for heavy stuff like this, the bass helps give drums some visceral effect and it doesn't sound too slow. The upper mids also help mellow down the track, the growling sound thick together with the distorted instruments. And the space sounds huge and spread out.





Insomnium - Godforsaken (feat. Johanna Kurkela

I love this album, one of the best releases for me from 2023. The OH700VB is surprisingly good with metal, never sounding too busy or boring. Some parts can lack a little bite on electric guitars, but overall it's excellent. And the bass has great kick to the drums and the sharper cymbals and such sparkle bringing good energy into the music.





Francis Harris - Lost and Found

The track has a nice bassy sound, the kick is intoxicating on many sets. Same with OH700VB, the subwoofer-like bass gets shown for full here. The tonality is already relaxed in the mids, so the OH700VB masks some of the elements like the sax more than I prefer. But it's also about getting used to the amount, then I think it's fine. Her vocal is actually very balanced in the mix, not veiled like some artists can be with OH700VB. It's also good clarity in the upper treble, making it fairly airy and transparent.





YOUNHA - Stardust

An airy and brighter vocalist from Korea, nice track for listening after brilliance and sibilance.
OH700VB seems a little thin on her voice, also few parts of the track are a little veiled compared to what I'm used to. She still has airiness to her with OH700VB even with her sounding slightly thin, which is why I also said that OH700VB can be a little inconsistent compared to what I'm used to on vocals. Good thing there is no sibilance at all here.





YENA - WICKED LOVE

K-pop has been quite popular, catchy music like most hits from Korea. Most likely lots of mastering done to make the final cut, still a good track as there's a lot going on here. OH700VB is actually a little sharp or harsh here, the upper treble pushes it too far. Also the bass dont sound as big here, and would have helped the tonality if it was some mid bass bleed in the mix. So the whole track comes off a little bright and busy with the OH700VB, it's not a train wreck but just doesn't sound as full and open. Here vocals are mainly what can be a little harsh, it's not very bad but lacks some finesse and fullness.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use experience from the past and also fresh comparing, it takes a long time and not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





AüR Audio Aurora

This is a hybrid IEM from AüR, it has 2DDs and 6BAs. It is tuned to be neutral with a sub bass boost, also with a relaxing top end. Priced a little under OH700Vb at 570 usd, but with the current discount they are close to the same.
The OH700VB has way better presentation of the packaging and unboxing, with also better accessories. Comfort is great with both sets, maybe a small win to Aurora as it has slightly better grooves on the shell.

I find them similar in how resolving they are, of course some parts are better for each of them. Soundstage is much wider and spread out on OH700VB, Aurora is more 3D but much closer to my head. Busy and fast music seem more blended together on Aurora, and are more open and separated with OH700VB.

The sub bass reaches around the same amount in both sets, the difference is that Aurora is tighter and more reserved. OH700VB is not loose sounding, but looser than Aurora. Mid bass is similar in amount and depends on music. The big difference is that the OH700VB has a more separated bass from the midrange, so some music seems to have a stronger slam and impact. But then on the other side since the upper range is more relaxed on Aurora the bass gets a warmer tilt in the overall tonality, so which has the most bass depends on music also. But most often the OH700VB has more fun and visceral bass, and is my pick for bass quality.

Midrange is more natural on Aurora over OH700VB, it has a more coherent balance throughout.
The OH700VB sounds less coherent or even slightly dark on certain parts, but at same time OH700VB is as resolving. Darker vocals can be better on OH700VB with fuller sound, but again maybe more transparent on Aurora. More bright vocals are better on the Aurora, with better clarity. A few very airy artists can actually shine more on OH700VB, so it's not as straightforward.

String instruments like cello sound more vibrant on OH700VB, but can at times be inconsistent due the crossover into the bass. But then taking off the switch saves the OH700VB in most cases, so both can work well on string instruments like cello or double bass.
The Aurora has some unusual BA drivers for the midrange that make music more textured and slow, so some instruments like guitars can often be a little richer but also have less bite than OH700VB. Instruments like saxophone are relaxed on both sets, maybe slightly more on OH700VB. Both can seem a little too relaxed if used to more high energy sets with more upper midrange.
Treble is the biggest difference between the two, Aurora is much more relaxed. OH700VB is way more bright and airy, but also due to this amount it can seem forced compared to Aurora.
I bet for people that are not as sensitive as me, the OH700VB will be a clear winner in the treble and air.

Using the Lost and Found track, the bass here is actually close to the same in amount and quality. The bass kick has slightly more impact on OH700VB, it's not a big change but it seems more separated and suits the music.
Listening to the rest of the track it sounds less forward on OH700VB, this goes for different elements but not so much the vocal or the cymbals as they have more airiness to them on OH700VB. So here I could go both ways for what to pick, but I like that the OH700VB has more kick to it.

WICKED LOVE the K-pop track is good here to compare, her vocal is richer and more controlled on Aurora. Not slightly harsh and thin like how OH700VB is for me, the bass also seems larger on Aurora due to the midbass going more into the midrange. Overall a richer sound that is more fun and pleasing on Aurora.



Fatfreq Maestro Mini

This is the entry level IEM from Fatfreq, the Maestro models specializing in giving you a basshead experience that also separates itself away from mids as well as possible. The bass and tuning style remind me of OH700VB, but the latter does it better and has more balance.

Maestro Mini is a tiny IEM, the shell is ergonomic and should fit every ear out there. Here OH700VB is large in comparison, and won't fit everyone.
Maestro Mini does not have the same quality cable as the OH700VB, the rest of the accessories and tips are good. You get a hard pelican type case with Maestro Mini.

Sub bass is very similar in how the weight is compared to mid bass, slightly more amount on Maestro Mini. Mid bass slam hard on both sets, maybe slightly more in amount with Maestro Mini. Interesting thing is that the quality of OH700VB seems higher and more resolving and textured. The upper range balances out some of the bass weight, so in the end they sound almost similar bassy on some music.

Midrange of the Maestro Mini is not very good, I guess most people agree on this. It lacks both coherent sound and sound hollow, no contest between the two. The upper mids can also often sound sharp and harsh on the Mini.

Treble is quite forward on Maestro Mini, more than OH700VB. Comes at the cost of a sharp tonality, for me the upper range sounds unrefined.
It's also much less airy than OH700VB, with a much smaller soundstage.

Yeah I am not a fan of Maestro Mini, it's not that it's outright bad. But it's better bass head experiences out there.

Show Me How, is a mellow and nice track. It's brighter on maestro Mini, but not better as it's actually slightly harsh. Maestro Mini don't have a good vocal presentation and the drum kick takes over too much, the midrange is veiled by the bass and treble. The OH700VB is cleaner and more balanced. Her voice is more detailed and clear on OH700VB, and has much more emotion to it.

Perception is way too bright on Maestro Mini, and I thought the OH700VB was bright. It also seem less controlled in the bass and slightly hollow, and overall lacks some clarity.



TIMSOK TS-316

Except for the price being close, the two IEMs are quite different. Why I want to use it here is that I have had a few messages that ask about what to choose between the two. That depends on your taste, both are great IEMs.


The TS-316 is a single DD IEM priced 499usd at Musicteck, if your taste is like mine it's probably the best single dynamic IEM under 500usd now. And for me it's a straight upgrade from the Simgot IEMs with warmer tuning and better technicalities.

This is a tiny set, size is much smaller than the OH700VB. Ergonomics are not better than OH700VB, at least not for me. It is built more universally, the negative is the shorter length of the nozzle together with the stubby shell. Makes it much more prone to fall out, and some serious tip rolling is needed to find something that works. But once that is set I can use the TS-316 for a longer time than OH700VB.
As for build quality, the metal shell on TS-316 is more industrial and looks better built. But design is kind of boring, here the OH700VB has a much more refreshing design.

I find the presentation excellent from both on packaging, the stock cable is nicer on TS-316 but not as good due to microphonics. And you get modular on Oriveti that can be a big plus, the TS-316 is 4.4mm and an adapter to 3,5mm is in the accessories.

Soundstage is larger and everything is spread more out away from me on OH700VB, part of the reason why it also sounds darker. TS-316 also has a fairly large soundstage, but is more traditional like most IEMs. TS-316 is slightly more resolving with more clarity and microdetails, the only part that can be more present on OH700VB is the bass having some extra texture and the air being more forward.

Sub bass is great on both sets, close to the same amount of sub bass rumble. Mid bass on the other hand is quite different, the sound is more snappy and slam harder on TS-316. The OH700VB also slams hard, but it's softer and in return more textured. But this is more noticeable listening to bass guitar or double bass, truth be told they are very close in quality. One being faster and harder while the other being softer with a more natural speed.
Instead what's interesting is that the OH700VB more often makes music sound more bassy and I hear the bass kicks or subtle rumble of the sub range more often, I guess it's back to the bass tuck that separates the midrange. As the TS-316 glides into the mids blending better, so their weight between bass and midrange is more contrastful on OH700VB.

Midrange is more coherent on the TS-316, going from instruments with lower pitch to high it all sound clear and slightly forward. But I would pick the OH700VB when listening to bright recordings like jazz, even if they lack the clarity of TS-316. It helps relax down brighter elements of piano or brass, TS-316 is much more forward in comparison. Also an interesting thing is that listening to acoustic guitar the OH700VB have a denser sound, while OH700VB have a cleaner one.
Treble is clear on both sets, but it's no doubt that the OH700Vb has more upper extension and air. The TS-316 sounds more natural and forgiving, without sacrificing treble detail. But again I'm more sensitive than some.

In short it's a W shaped sound on the TS-316 with crisper midrange, and the OH700VB is more of a Neutral U shape with a more mellow sound that's still bright up top. If I was more new into this and wanted one good IEM I would pick the TS-316, but if you're like me and want something special besides your other sets the OH700VB is more interesting.

Snarky Puppy with Belmont can quite show that the bass has a stronger kick on OH700VB, and the rest have a more mellow sound to it. Changing over to TS-316 it all sounds a little crisper with more clarity, the sound is then more transparent instead of mellow. Soundstage also sounds more spacious and away from me with OH700VB.

The track Labyrinthian is a heavy one and has loads going on, the upper midrange of TS-316 works a little against it. As it can get fatiguing quite fast, OH700VB is more suited for this for me. And still can keep the sound open and clear, not like how the Aurora I compared before sounds too busy. But it's still the TS-316 that sounds the most clear and open here.



Conclusion

Always fun when you get something that exceeds your expectations. I was a little sceptical having watched the measurements of OH700VB and it may have contributed to my lukewarm start. I had some good brain burn in adjusting myself, then slowly changed into loving the OH700VB. It delivers something unique I have never heard before, and is highly musical and fun.
A good friend of mine calls it balanced sounding, another calls it a basshead IEM. In a way both are correct, it pretty much comes down to tuning switch or the music you listen to.

A standout feature for me is the switch ON and how the bass then sounds like you have a large subwoofer that is separated from the midrange, especially noticeable on music with more bass like electronica or hip hop. Then play something like smooth jazz and it sounds natural and rich, without being overlay bassy. And if it does sound too warm, flip the switch up to reduce some mid bass.

Another feature is the pina gain or upper midrange, it is not aggressive and is actually slightly dark. In return brighter instruments like brass are less aggressive, but music still retains great clarity since treble and air is forward and crisp.

I highly recommend the OH700VB, maybe more for the seasoned listener who wants something special and unique. This since the OH700VB is not an allrounder, but when music matches it is fun and euphonic.

What a fun and excellent set, for me this is a solid 4.5 star IEM. I am ready for more from Oriveti, and heard some interesting rumours about the year forward. Thanks for reading

AüR Audio Ascension

Disclaimer

The Ascension is my fourth IEM from AüR Audio, I bought it with a very small discount. All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. I am a customer of AüR, I get nothing for writing this. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, mids can be forward but not too much. I can also handle some treble spikes if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman and Minidisc.

I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments and also piano.

My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.

My current favorites in IEMs are AüR Audio Neon Pro, Sound Rhyme DTE900 and 634ears Miroak-II. The NEON PRO has 10 BAs, and has a near perfect tonality for me on the brighter side. DTE900 is a tribrid with 1+4+4 config, tuned W shape being energetic and lush. Miroak-II is my favorite single DD, it has a warm and bassy sound that is also very natural sounding.

Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
Portable gear used during the review is HIBY R6 Pro 2, Colorfly CMA M1P Cayin RU7.
I have a good range of cables from Clan Audio, Penon, NiceHCK, XINHS, DUNU, Effect Audio and Gladiator Cables.



Who is Aür Audio

AüR Audio is a Singapore brand who makes in-ear monitors and is founded by two friends, Nicholas Teo and Abel Hsu. It is a small business where Abel handles the research and development while Nicholas manages the sales, marketing and distribution.

The IEMs are now 3D printed and handmade by Abel from start to end, carefully ensuring that everything is perfect with a quality control that is above the usual chi-fi market. The earlier models from before Aurora were not 3D printed and is a new way for AüR to have higher QC and productivity forward.

https://www.auraudio.store/

Allure 6 BA (Discontinued)
Neon 10 BA (Discontinued)
Neon Pro 10 BA
Aure 8mm DD and 6 BA (Discontinued)
Alita 12 BA
Aurora 2 DD and 6 BA
Ascension 1 DD, 5BA and 2EST
Allusion Configuration unknown



So what is the Ascension

The Ascension is AüR Audio latest IEM release, it will be the fourth IEM in their current lineup.
This is their first Tribrid, meaning it's a hybrid IEM with 3 different driver technologies. It is also their first product with an EST driver.

10mm Dynamic Driver in PU+PEEK material driven by a N54 magnet
5 Balanced Armatures, 4 E-Audio Improved RAB Dual Drivers and 1 Knowles Tweeter
2 Sonion EST

They have focused on selling the Ascension in the cheapest way possible. Accessories and cable are not much, but enough to get you going. The cable is the same as on the Alita and Aurora, a much nicer cable than the Neon Pro and Aure cable. Silver plated copper with soft and flexible blue fabric, you also get a hard case with some tips.

The form factor is very ergonomic and the shells are medium/large in size, they are also very light. AüR knows how to make comfortable shells, same goes for the nozzles having good length while not too long. If there is one design problem, the nozzle is on the larger side. Good for me as I normally use large tips, this just means I have to use medium.

https://www.auraudio.store/product-page/ascnesion

Taken from the product listing:





Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

Organic is my first word on how Ascension timbre is, it's quite effortless sounding with warm but natural sound. I have another IEM that I also would categorize as organic, that is 634ears Miroak-II. The Miroak-II also has been my favorite single DD and maybe my overall favorite IEM, for me this means that Ascension has nailed the timbre in a similar way.
Warm low end that is not overly boosted, with excellent textured quality. Mids that are rich and lush, with very natural portrayals of both voices and instruments. Highs that are not veiled and not peaky or exaggerated, with an airy and good extension.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Details and soundstage

The soundstage is rather wide and deep, with good imaging qualities of the stage.
Ascension has a 3D like soundstage, the soundstage feels wide and also reaches to the sides and backwards slightly. Its also the first IEM from AüR where I get a bigger sense of the height in the music.
Very easy to position elements in the music as in where they are located, and has also good height. For me a very dynamic soundstage, just remember that stage is very personal due to anatomy of the ear.

Bass

The low end on Ascension is excellent, it has the best textured bass of all their models.
People were maybe expecting a basshead IEM having heard about the extra strong N54 magnet, this is not the case. The bass amount is warm, but it's still within what's natural so it has a good balance with the rest.

Sub bass extends low and has good elevation, music or movies that use sub bass take good use of it. Can both give you a nice rumble in speedy electronica or when the pipe organ goes low, and it always sounds real in a way that BA drivers never can.

Mid bass is very fun and natural, the speed is just right. It's not unnaturally fast with speedy decay, and it's not slow and dulls down music. Just have a good balance in the speed, I also believe this matches the qualities of the driver material. The driver material is similar to the Aurora, it's very textured and nimble. But it takes it up a notch with more quantity of mid bass that also blends deeper into the midrange, much more to my liking.

When Ascension wants to slam it slams, when it wants to portray the double bass strings resonate it does that. The slam is not visceral, but it's also not dry or wet. It's back to why I also call it organic, it just sounds correct. It excels at natural playback and is also very resolving, this is maybe one the Ascensions main strengths. The bass notes are always textured and resolving, BA drivers can never touch this and same goes for many other dynamic drivers.

Some that are used to speedy bass from BA IEMs or just a super fast DD will maybe be letdown, if so give it time to adjust.

Mids

After my glowing words about the bass, the midrange will just sound like I am a total shiller.
The first thing that struck me was DD, this sounds much more DD like in the midrange. Aure had a midrange that was very lush and natural, this due to the driver also going into the midrange. I have not been able to confirm this about the Ascension, but to me it does sound like the DD enters the midrange together with the BA drivers.

Vocals have a natural sound to them, that I most often that only DD drivers manage. Both male and female vocals have extra body to them, this is to my preference. People who prefer vocals with no weight or soul added to them should avoid Ascension, but even so I would categorize the vocal as clear and open sounding. I find both male and females to be equally good, very nuanced and lush.

Then over to string instruments in jazz and orchestra, they are so detailed and emotional. Same goes for electric guitar and other instruments, I like this forward and rich way of presenting the midrange. At the same time as it's forward it's kind of smooth and forgiving, so I don't get fatigued as easily.

It also remains shrill free on most brass instruments, and should be very safe unless you really can not handle instruments like sax or trumpet. But even if its not sharp its also not veiled, it has a good balance in my opinion.

Treble

The treble range is well extended and airy, without being peaky or unnatural, the EST is probably what is making the air so shimmery and smooth.
Due to some early talk about how they first wanted to tune the Ascension I expected a high range to be bright and overly extended, more than what I like.

The low treble has good clarity and is not dark or veiled, no sibilance and not dull. People who know me know that I don't like huge sibilance dips. But here AüR has always nailed a good balance, I do think the dip is slightly larger than Neon Pro.
In return we get clear and detailed treble that is not fatiguing in any way, the amount is also very pleasing and in balance with the bass and mid range.

Cymbal crash or metal percussion have zing to them, but not the most I have heard. Amount is more suiting and not piercing, but still has the clarity it deserves for natural portraying. And going into the upper treble it's clear that we have a natural amount, and can clearly get a good sense of shimmery air. I am sensitive to boosted air, if it's too much like with 64audio U4s I get a headache very fast and find it unnatural. But for some this is what they prefer, can be to just preference or lack upper treble hearing in 15-18k hz. On Ascension you will get that natural amount of boosted air, that is pleasing and never fatiguing.



Synergies

A small part about what gear I have been enjoying the most with the Ascension.

On sources I have liked it on whatever I plugged it into, be it a DAP like HIBY R6 Pro 2 or FIIO M11s. It seems to scale with power and sound really good out of the Topping A90 Discrete desktop amp, helps it sound more spacious and has a more punchy bass then. Another pairing that I loved was with Cayin RU7, it just added to the richness of the sound while also keeping the sound clear.

Have also tried my usual tips, being Kbear 07, Tri Clarion, JVC Spiral Dot and Final Audio Type E.

In this period of getting Ascension I also acquired some Divinus Velvet and Eletech Baroque, both of them are excellent and do open up the sound more than the models mentioned before.
Another very good tip is the TANCHJIM T-APB bass tips, they have open highs like Baroque but a tighter but less low end. Overall my favorite is Baroque due to comfort and the fullest sound.




Music

I will just talk about some of the music I like, the music I use here are some of my reference tracks and also just some I like. When I am listening to music and not evaluating, I prefer to listen to whole albums. When comparing Ascension to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more.



Polyphia - Playing God

Polyphia is a instrumental progressive rock group formed in Texas, earlier works were more into metal also. Often they blend different styles of music into their works.
Playing God is an instrumental track with drums, bass guitar and two guitars with nylon strings.

Since Ascension has a slower and more organic sound I had a thought I would feel it lacking on Playing God, but no it just makes the track more enjoyable. Some might prefer more clarity and less richness than Ascension, for example Neon Pro delivers that instead. But the more time I have had with Ascension I prefer it more as it's more organic and engaging. Ascension has some really nice decay that suits the drums and strings here, and it can never get fatiguing.



Søren Bebe Trio - Here Now

Jazz trio from Denmark introduced by my friend Carlos, they use piano, drums and double bass. Beautiful arrangement with great dynamic sound, nice small nuances all over. Like how the cymbals are hit or how the bass is plucked, really great emotion in everything and it is not done at random. The piano is gently played, with high resolution. This is their newest album and the first track on it, it gives you a full taste of their soothing jazz.

The piano is clean and crisp, the drums have good clarity on both the cymbals and kicks. The bass plucks has convincing tonality, but ain't as forward as the piano and cymbals. But that is also very natural in how it's in the track. But best of all is just how spacious and lively it is, this is what I call a wonderful IEM for jazz like this. Capture the emotions and richness it deserves.



Joaquín Cornejo - Say no More (feat. Wabi Sabi)

A tribalish track with nice rhythm and atmosphere, absolutely suits more analog and rich IEMs. There are nice percussion instruments like drums and wood instruments, also a hang drum.
I love the Ascension here, it's like built for the music and captures all the ambience. Drums are rich and nuanced, the hang drum is vibrant and intoxicating. This music is good on many IEMs, but there is something special on Ascension.



Dead Can Dance - Anabasis

The vocals and spatial cues are epic and also perfect for checking soundstage and microdetail. With the Ascension the space is very large. The drum here is supposed to sound big and heavy, it is an epic experience on the Ascension. Reminds me almost of a ritual about to happen, with many drums being hit in unison.

Her vocal when it starts is powerful and clear, emotional in a way that for example Neon Pro can not do. Ascension is made for this ambience, it feels like you are in an endless large room with how the bass decays. Her voice is so vibrant and emotional, this is also where I am pretty sure the DD helps the midrange.



Alcest - Kodama

French post metal band, recently been listening to their albums a lot. More on the melodic side, but some tracks still have a good bite. While it might be less aggressive it's still much happening, and some sets can get congested. Aurora is like this where it might sound a little strained when much is happening, Ascension handles this much better but is still a step beyond Neon Pro.

Ascension is good at capturing the instruments or his vocal, it also sounds spacious with good separation of the instruments. Guitars have a nice bite but also a touch of analog sound to them, the drums are tactile and vibrant sounding.



Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing

A good old classic, dedicated this song to Nicholas from AüR Audio. Probably Dire Straits most popular track, typical rock instruments like guitar, drums and bass. He has a very cool singing voice, it suits the track.

The balance between the guitars, bass, voice and drum kit has a tasteful balance on Ascension. Not sounding too thick or lean, it also has a good balance of not making the transients from the cymbal be too piercing. For example the Neon Pro has cymbal and guitar parts here that can make me uncomfortable, but this also means that the transients are slightly softer on the Ascension.
I would say that is also one of the Ascension’s strong points, it helps music that is sharp or piercing to be more pleasurable. Especially good on older rock or pop recordings.



Eivør - Slør

Eivør is a Faroese singer-songwriter and actress, who got her on my radar since a friend from Island listened to her. This particular song also has an English version, but the original captures more emotion and nuances. Even If I don't understand much of the language.

About the dark time of the year on Faroe Islands. For people who live up in the north we are used to cold and long winters where almost no sun comes up, Eivør loves the dark and airy feeling of this time. Slør literally means ¨veil¨as in the dark veiled land.

One of Ascension's main strengths is emotional female vocals, also with the spacious sound Slør sounds quite remarkable. Eivør's voice has good depth and height, and it makes you feel like you are in a big room surrounded by sound.



Melanio De Biasio - With All My Love

Melanie De Biasio is a Belgian vocalist who mixes jazz, blues, and soul. She has a darker voice that suits this track exceptionally well, the dark background let her and instruments be very clear and separated.

First off Ascension as mentioned earlier has an emotional and rich midrange, Melandio is both rich and nuanced here. Piano has a good timbre and sparkle, same for the cymbals. The dynamics are excellent, and Ascension is very resolving here.



JEON SOMI - Fast Forward

Jeon Somi is a South Korean and Canadian artist, she has some very popular K-pop tracks like the one here. Fast Forward has energy and rhythm, a very addictive and fun track. Not the biggest dynamic range as much pop music is like these days, but is still a very good track for testing vocals and how fun it sounds.

Ascension sounds full and has great bass that really punches, full dance factor for me. She also sounds fun and clear, not too thick or thin. Before this I used Aurora for K-pop, now Ascesnion has taken over that spot as it's more fun and full sounding .



Geoff Castellucci - Sixteen Tons

Very cool singer who is a bass singer, very perfect track to check how good the mids and bass is.
For it to sound full and good you need natural decay, too fast and it gets wrong. Ascension also nails that speed part excellent, and has a very natural decay. And the midrange being so lush makes it all sound very full and epic, some real good bass also.



Hart, Wolff & Hennings - Towards the Bending of the Heart

This song is a very odd one, and it has one purpose for me, checking the amount of air in a set.
Percussions are used here making harmonics up in the air region, this shows if a set got more air up top. Unless you have reduced hearing in the upper ranges,you might not notice the air detail.

Ascension has an airy sound that is not sharp, almost so transients are slightly rounded and the air has some extra euphonic shimmery sound to it. This is also compared to some of other sets also using EST for the highs.


David Sanborn - Isn't She Lovely

One of my faovorite Alto sax players, he has a beautiful and smooth sound on his Alto. Having played sax I appreciate the skilled players out there like David, he has lots of skill and can play very soft and mellow to be on an alto.

I often listen to jazz with brass instruments when evaluating audio, first of just to see how beautiful and real it sounds. Secondly to hear if it's too forward and shrill, on this track David plays quite forward. If sensitive to sax playing this is a good song for testing if it's tolerable or not for you.

The Ascension has a good bite on the sax playing and it sounds very natural, maybe slightly rounded and more pleasing than what's real. I would say that the amount of bite it has should be acceptable for most people, except for the very sensitive.



Eprom - Lose My Breath

I use this track for one thing, bass amount and how good it is. It has some really deep sub bass that is textured and changing, really hard for BA to do correct.
While Ascension has no basshead amount, it's still warm and forward. And the best part is maybe the nuanced and textured bass. Ascension has good balance on the speed where both rumble or slam are good.









Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use experience from the past and fresh comparing, it takes a long time and not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching through a microphone to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





AüR Audio Neon Pro

Neon Pro is a IEM from AüR Audio that has 10 balanced armatures per side, it is maybe my favorite set from AüR and my standard in coherent tonality from BA drivers. My version is from 2022 when they made them all by hand, so the shell is translucent and has an oval nozzle that is small and comfortable. The switch on Neon Pro is OFF during this review, even if I prefer it on.

This is my most comfortable IEM, it's like they used my ears for the design. For many other people it's not as good, especially due to the wing. This wing is not there on Ascension making it more ergonomic for more people. With the downside of Ascension comfort being the nozzle width, here NP has very small nozzles on the handmade version.
The Neon Pro is very sensitive and I need a lot less power for them to sound good, but similarly to Ascension it has better slam and dynamics when used on powerful desktop gear.

The resolution on Neon Pro is extremely good, it has a high level clarity in both the midrange and treble. Also has a good dynamic range and is never congested or slow sounding, also why it's so good with hectic metal music. Ascension is about as resolving as Neon Pro depending on the freq range, Neon Pro slightly better on mids. While Ascension has better bass and upper treble resolution. An interesting thing is that Neon Pro has an insanely black background in the music, the Ascension can not touch the same level there. I think this is one of the big positives of the all BA sets, this also adds to a more resolving sound.

Soundstage and imaging is an interesting one, originally I did find Neon Pro to have a quite wide and deep stage. It's still large but I also heard some other IEMs that exceed it, Ascension is one of them. Depth forward is very similar, the width is where the change is larger on Ascension. Ascension has a more 3D-like space that reaches higher and further behind you, both are still IEMs of course and will not have a headphone depth.

The Neon Pro has very good bass extension with very convincing BA bass, which imo sounds better than many dynamic drivers on the correct music. It's still not a dynamic driver, so the decay and texture is behind a good dynamic driver. Sub bass goes deep but would have benefited by more amount, here the Ascension has more. It also sounds better, with a more convincing sub bass texture. Especially noticeable on the Lose My Breath track where in my opinion Neon Pro gets a rating of 2 of 6.
Mid bass is good on both and has almost the same amount, the Neon pro can slam really good for a BA. The mid bass and slam is the more convincing part of the BA bass, it's really good and has fast decay. Very good on certain music where its excellent, rock and metal is one of those.
Ascension also has a good slam, but decay slower. Just more natural sounding, and has a richer tonality to it.

Midrange of the Neon Pro is highly transparent due to the drivers chosen, and also due to the pina gain being elevated early in the QDC style. Very good for having a clear and detailed midrange, but also means it can get tiresome over time or with some music. This is also why I always use the Neon Pro with the switch ON, as this balances out some of the upper mids.

Female vocals are very good and airy on Neon Pro, Ascension lacks some of that. Instead you get more rich females on Ascension, the females are more forward in the music. I would always pick Ascension for female vocalists, as it sounds more pleasing and engaging.
Males have good fullness on both of them, specially when using the Neon Pro with the switch ON. But with it off on Neon Pro the Ascension has a little more husk in the males, again that I prefer. There is also some added resolving sound on Ascension, again back to the DD that also covers some of the male voices.

String instruments like double bass and cello sound good on both, but the Neon Pro can at times sound a little less dynamic. But this is also due to the bass and the dynamic driver, very similar to what happens on male vocals.
Up in the midrange they are both good, the Neon Pro is more clear and forward. This is good for clarity but does also make some music tiresome, example can be the Isn't She Lovely by David Sanborn. It's too much for me on Neon Pro, while Ascension is a joyful experience.
There is also how the midrange sounds, the Ascension has almost a more dynamic and rich sound to it. Transients can be said to be best on Neon Pro, but it also depends what you like. The Ascension has more rounded transients, less sharp. Both sound natural, but it is musical vs analytical almost.

Neon Pro is quite airy and forward in its upper treble, still less than models that have a more exaggerated amount. I find the low treble more forward on Neon Pro, while the upper treble and air being more on Ascension. The air also has a more velvety tonality, making it more pleasing.



AüR Audio Aurora

This is a hybrid from AüR, it has 2 dynamic drivers for the low end. 4BA for the midrange and 2BA for the highs, the midrange drivers are of the same brand on both. The bass driver is also interesting, similar material on both but different sizes and magnets. So its two 7.5mm in Aurora and a 10 mm in Ascension, a very nimble and textured material.

Both have very similar shells, the biggest difference is the nozzle. It's very long on Aurora and more normal on the Ascension, and the nozzle is the other way and is maybe 1 mm wider on Ascension. I can use one larger tip size on Aurora, but even so both are very comfortable for me. They both have about the same sensitivity, but for some reason the Ascension seems to scale better with more powerful desktop gear.

Looking at resolution then the Ascension is a step above, it has more details showing even if sound is also thicker. Especially in the midrange and treble, just more that is going and it sounds more open. I would still not categorize any of them as detail monsters, they just have a good amount of detail that is good for their price point.
Soundstage on the Aurora is very 3D and extends slightly above what an average IEM does, the Ascension has more depth and width. Extend also more to the sides and behind you, so in a way more 3D than Aurora with a larger projection.

The low end are very good on both, specially in how dynamic and textured they are. They both excel at natural playback of acoustic instruments in the bass range, not sounding too fast and not sounding too slow. Both extend low with good sub bass, the amount of sub bass is very similar. On some sub bass focused parts the Aurora can seem to have more due to less mid bass, but when volume matched the amount is just about the same. Mid bass is the biggest difference of the two, here the Ascension has more in volume. This makes music sound more full and lively, and is much more to my preference.

If we look at how they slam it's actually a little different, Aurora can slam quite hard and fast due to the double drivers that are smaller. The Ascension slam is bigger, but it is also softer in the rebound making it sound slightly slower. Talking small differences here and my preference is Ascension, I have had some slow sets in the past like the Serial and this is faster than that. There is something about the Ascension that makes it seem more resolving in bassy electronica and bass rhythms, something about the decay and texture.

Female vocals on Aurora are leaner and cleaner, they have similar texture but the more weight on Ascension makes it more pleasing for maybe the audience in the west of the world, none of them have the poisonous female description. It's more about how clean the bass/mids is and not going into the midrange. This also means that it depends on the artist singing also, as some are brighter and some sing darker.
Males are also similar, but personally I find that the Aurora lacks weight to male voices. This is fixed on the Ascension where males have more body, it gives them more soul then.
There is really no winner in best presentation of vocals, and goes more down to preference.

Similar can be said when listening to string instruments like cello or double bass, the fuller sound makes it more lively and natural. I often use cello recordings as a guideline since my wife plays it, and the cellos on the Aurora can be a little soulless and thin compared to the real world.
Drums also have more girth to them on Ascension, it sounds again more dynamic and powerful versus the Aurora. Especially when listening to rock or metal the balance just sounds so much better on Ascension. Also since drums often use the bass, the decay and texture is more dynamic on Ascension.

What I find very interesting is that the midrange on Ascension is more open and less congested, even while being richer sounding. It manages busy music like death metal much better than the Aurora, so it's much easier to hear everything. Aurora has too little bass for metal, that's one thing but here I'm more thinking about how the midrange is. Aurora has been more suited to other genres than metal, and if it plays metal or rock it has to be with less complex and busy recordings.

Listening to brighter brass playing with sax they sound very similar, clear that they have similar midrange drivers. Difference is more in the weight they deliver in the rest of the frequency, due the warmer sound of the Ascension it balanced the sharp brass better. I find both exceptionally good and nuanced in the upper midrange, I love jazz and it should have bite.

Both the Aurora and Ascension have good upper midrange, and don't sound blunted or veiled. They also are not sibilant, this is a balance Abel is always good at. Some brands love to make big sibilance dips to make the sound more safe, this also kills the sound of cymbals, voices and brass instruments.

Treble is more relaxed on Aurora, for some this is perfect and makes it more easy to listen to. For others it takes away some of the music, I can like both ways. This is also one of the things that make Ascension more open and clear sounding than Aurora. What I find interesting is that while being forward on the Ascension it's not brighter or tiresome, it can be that I am not that sensitive to the 6-10k area. I can turn the volume loud on both sets without hearing it become shouty.

The upper treble or air is more forward as well as Aurora, more air and shimmer to the sound. Here the extra air has a more silky or velvet quality to it, that is sharper again on Aurora.



Sound Rhyme DTE900

This is a tribrid with 1DD + 4BA and 4EST, in my review I called it tribrid of the year. It has a warm, balanced and energetic sound. It is hard to position it as V shaped, it also has a good midrange but I wouldn't call it W shaped. In short I would say DTE900 is an energetic, clinical and warm IEM. While the Ascension is more natural, warm and musical.

Some IEMs find it very hard to say what's better when they also sound so different, DTE900 and Ascension are like this.

Dte900 has powerful and fast transients, energetic and technical. Maybe a little unpolished when comparing against some sets.

Ascension has a richer sound, more coherent. Not as technical and clean the same way. More thick transients, this also means it will sound slower. This also is one of the reasons it sounds richer, almost more like a nice single DD

Both have an ergonomic shell and a nice build quality, the DTE900 has a smaller nozzle and is longer. For me they are equally comfortable, maybe a small win to Ascension.
DTE900 requires less power and is more sensitive, for example DTE900 is low gain 35% on my A90 amp while Ascension is 44%.

The bass on DTE900 is faster than Ascension, but it doesn't sound slow on Ascension.
It's a trade with more organic and textured bass on Ascension, and DTE900 have snappier and cleaner bass.
Sub bass reaches deeper on Ascension and is more prominent, so if you listen to music that actually uses sub bass you get a more satisfying sub rumble.
Mid bass is very similar in amount, there is a difference in the texture. Both can slam good and it might be slightly stronger on DTE900, but the Ascension is more real if that makes sense.

I bet the material is stiffer in the DD on DTE900, while it's softer and more nimble in Ascension. But also due to the stronger than usual magnet it does not sound slow or fast.

Midrange on DTE900 goes far into midrange, but also due to the speedier nature of DTE900 it doesn't sound overly too thick in vocals and instruments. But it's still what some refer to as muddy midrange and makes everything thicker, this type of mids is also what some prefer as they find the clean style lifeless.
Ascension while going into midrange leans out earlier, and has more natural weight to both male and female voices.
The midrange is forward in both but is more coherent and natural on the whole midrange with Ascension, most noticeable on stuff like piano arrangements.

DTE900 has a very forward pina gain and upper midrange, this helps balance out some of the bass bleed. But it also makes some parts of the midrange seem less balanced, I wouldn't use DTE900 for piano playback to say it like this.

I would say the midrange is less soulful in DTE900, the Ascension has something extra making both instruments and voices have a more realistic timbre.
But this also makes Ascension slower sounding than DTE900, so for music that's technical and fast DTE900 is slightly better. But it also depends since it sounds richer on Ascension, so I still would pick Ascension more often than DTE900 for fast music.
I am not the most picky on speed as long it's not slow, and I would not categorize Ascension as slow.

Females have good clarity on both, but sound more natural on Ascension with more tasteful sound. It's forward in both of them, but also different. In a way it has more bite on DTE900 while Ascension is more rich, so listening to an airy vocalist that is close to sibilant the Ascension controls it more than DTE900.
Males are also similar and have good weight on both, and again here the added texture on Ascension makes it more natural and pleasing. This goes also for instruments like cello or guitars, they just sound more real and engaging.

Listening to instruments that make good use of the upper midrange it's clear that DTE900 is quite forward, borderline of my tolerance. But due to the bass it has been okay, but it also means it can limit the music genres.
So if I take a jazz album from Miles Davis that often has his trumpet, I will get fatigued quite fast on DTE900 and not on Ascension.
This is also since the pina gain and upper midrange is not as elevated on Ascension, a more approachable amount. It still has a good bite on brass and cymbals, but less than DTE900. So it's in no way veiled as some IEMs are, often happening on IEMs with large sibilance dips.

The highs are good on both, but extends more on Ascension with more air and has a more transparent sound. It's not brighter than DTE900, if one is brighter it is the DTE900. It's just that Ascension has more air, and it sounds more open up top.
Cymbal crashes have extra shimmery sound to them on Ascension, while DTE900 has more bite. The approach on Ascension has a better balanced high range than DTE900, and sounds better tuned to my ears.

Soundstage is very good on both, but the presentation is different. DTE900 projects the sound more forward, almost like you listen to two speakers. The Ascension also goes deep and wide, just maybe less than DTE900. What Ascenion does better is separation and more 3D in the stage, you are surrounded by the sound more. Goes more behind and to the sides, while DTE900 is projected more in front. Both are very good, just a different approach.

Resolution is a tough one, at first glance the DTE900 is powerful and highly resolving. The more I compared the two they are closer than what I first thought, the upper pina gain does add to what is sometimes called fake detail. Just means since it's elevated the details are also pushed forward, due the upper midrange is where clarity or presence is.
Listening closer to piano that often uses the whole range, the Ascension has the same amount of detail but is less in-your-face sounding. Due to the balanced tonality and air on the Ascension, I might say the Ascension has the most resolving sound. The Ascension has extra textured low end due to a more nimble driver, making string instruments in the low end more resolving.



Summary

The Ascension is my faovorite IEM from my collection, organic musicality.
Ascension has made me question what I love in audio, my collection has also been thinned after this arrival. The sound is the most organic and analogue sounding IEM from AüR, it's tasteful and the more I listen the more addicted I get. The sound is rich and engaging without resorting to energetic tuning, it's a very musical set where all my music plays well in a warm and natural way.

Is it for everyone, no IEM is. I love it and I bet many others will also do that. But it's clearly a sound that grows on you the more time that goes, a good friend said a nice quote about Ascension.

The Ascension is like eating at a high class restaurant where they serve a multi course meal with delicacies, you eat slowly and enjoy every tasteful bite. Some other IEMs will have that junk food kick that overflows your taste buds immediately, but then later on the course it's less tasteful. Quite the opposite approach of Ascension, and the more time that has gone the more I have loved it.

From my evaluation this is a 4.5 rating, but it get pushed up to 5 star since musicality is what I value the most.

Congrats again AüR Audio, another stellar one. Abel is a master at his craft, well done.