KZ ZS10 Pro 2 review and comparisons.

I'd like to thank Linsoul Audio for providing me this to review. Linsoul Audio never told me what I could and couldn't say, so you can be assured that this review is all my own.

KZ Audio is one of the oldest earphone brands still in business today. They produce a lot of different earphone models in quite short intervals; sometimes, they release great-sounding earphones, and I'm happy to say that the 55-dollar KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is one of them.

There are various audio camps, one of which focuses on accuracy and the other on fun. The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 falls into the latter category; it trades accuracy for a fun sound; it was never intended for critical listening, in my opinion, but because of its distinct V-shaped tuning, it sounds more like a live musical performance than many of my other accurate-sounding sets.



Packaging, eartips, and cable:

It's mundane, just the usual KZ budget packaging that doesn't waste a lot of material, and I like it for that. It includes three pairs of eartps, one of which is a foam tip, and the other two are the famous KZ Starline silicon tips.

I tried various manufacturers' tips and discovered that the ones supplied are most suited to the ZS10 Pro 2. The foam tip produces a smoother sound, but it reduces bass impact. I dislike using foam tips, therefore for this review, I only utilized Starline Tips, which sound more powerful and bassy.

The provided cable is only usable if you don't have any other cables, but it's preferable to replace it with a thicker third-party cable that doesn't tangle easily, because the ZS10 Pro 2 deserves a better cable, in my view.



The graph:

I am pleased to report that I have an amazing copy of the KZ ZS10 Pro 2. The channel matching (please see photo) is outstanding; I wasn't expecting that, but I am pleased with the measurement result. The peak at 8 kHz is a measuring artifact. I utilized silicon TRN T-tips as my normal measurement tips. I tried foam tips, and the peak was much lowered. However, I can still audibly detect a boost in response at 8 KHz, which adds bite and texture to the treble.

Switch settings:

I use only the default on,on,on,on setting as I didn't like the other settings.


Sensitivity, drivability, power handling, and distortion:

I'm also pleased to report that the ZS10 Pro 2 meets all of the criteria in this sector, since it is both sensitive and easy to drive. It is easily driven by any device having a phone output. It can handle high power and be very loud without sounding distorted; this is fantastic.

Synergy and dynamics:

The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is not very picky about the sound of the sources it pairs with, but it dislikes sources that are very analytical and bright, such as my Fiio M15s. It sounds fantastic on my other, lower-resolution sources, like the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha, Moondrop Moonriver 2, and Dawn Pro. For this review, I used the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha, which I find to have a good balance of sounding analytical and musical, but regardless of the Dac/amps I use, the ZS10 Pro 2 sounds above average in dynamics and enthusiasm.



Sound signature:

It sounds very V-shaped at low volume levels where the midrange is recessed compared to the elevated bass and treble, but it becomes only moderately V-shaped at medium and high volumes. It sounds energetic and never boring to listen to.

Sound stage and imaging:

The sound stage size is above average, and the form is broader than it is deep, with a respectable height. The imaging is acceptable but not outstanding; it lacks the accuracy of the finest I've heard in this regard, and as a result, the holography isn't as good, as is the instrument separation. However, they are to be expected at this price point. If you want an IEM that shines in this area, you'll have to look at IEMs that cost more than $200.


Bass:

It has a strong sub-bass presence that provides perceivable excitement and tension to some music tracks, and it is also present to some degree in the majority of songs. The bass is boosted with considerable fullness and enthusiasm, but at the expense of precision, tightness, clarity, and resolution—indicating a low-cost driver. The good news is that it doesn't merge into the midrange and doesn't dominate the overall sound.

Midrange:

It is clearly recessed at low level, but it balances out with the bass and treble at mid to high volume. It provides a natural and clear sound with excellent vocal presentation, although there is a modest elevation in the upper midrange, which can sound overly enthusiastic at times. Some individuals are really sensitive to this, so be aware. On a positive note, the ZS10 Pro 2 has remarkably little distortion, and the upper midrange elevation is carefully tuned so it simply adds vitality, forwardness, details, and realism to the entire sound.

Treble:

It sounds brightly lit, open, airy, and evocative, as clear as noon on a sunny day. However, I occasionally detect too much enthusiasm in the hi-hat hits, and the details are pushed too far forward at times, but because of the low distortion, it doesn't sound awful and is quite pleasing for me, and I believe this is the price you pay for—listening to a fun-sounding set—an acceptable compromise in my opinion. Treble-sensitive people, take note.




Compared to CCA Rhapsody (50 USD):

The Rhapsody is an older cousin of the ZS10 Pro 2, and it is tuned to be near-neutral.

Bass: The rhapsody has dry-sounding bass with less sub-bass extension, while the ZS10 Pro 2 has full bodied and fun sounding bass that bubbles with energy.

Midrange: The Rhapsody has more forward sounding midrange but the ZS10 Pro 2 has a more forward sounding upper midrange, they are both fine sounding for me, but the problem with the Rhapsody is the distortion in the upper midrange, when you turn up the volume it becomes shouty, while the ZS10 Pro 2 has more linear dynamic response in this region.

Treble: The Rhapsody is somewhat congested and dynamically challenged in this region, especially when compared to the energetic ZS10 Pro 2. It also lacks micro details and upper treble extension and ultimately sounds boring in comparison.

If I had to choose between the two, without a doubt, I'd choose the ZS10 Pro 2.

Compared to the TangZu x HBB Xuan NV (79 USD):

The TangZu x HBB Xuan NV is tuned to be near neutral in the midrange and treble, but the bass is very tastefully elevated. I prefer the bass on the Xuan NV.

In the midrange and treble, they are both good-sounding but not comparable; the ZS10 Pro 2 is obviously V-Shaped in comparison.

In terms of sheer fun factor, the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 wins hands down; however, the Xuan NV sounds refined but also fun to a lesser extent, so deciding between the two is difficult for me because I can listen to the Xuan NV for many hours, whereas the ZS10 Pro 2 may cause fatigue during extended listening sessions, but it is so much fun during relatively short listening sessions. So, If I had to do it over, I'd select both since they complement each other.

Compared to CCA CRA (10 USD):

The popular CCA CRA is an old cousin of the KZ ZS10 Pro 2; they both have the KZ V-shaped house sound tuning.

This is an unfair comparison, but I included it to point out that the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is superior to the CRA in every aspect of sound quality. It really is, so I believe the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 to be an excellent upgrade to the old CCA CRA.


Pros:

+ Excellent Value for money.
+ The Fun Factor is through the roof.
+ low distortion.
+ Sensitive and easy to drive.
+ excellent dynamics
+ clear, open and airy treble.
+ a very nicely tuned V-shaped sound.

Cons:

- could cause fatigue in long listening sessions for some listeners.
- could sound raw and unpolished on rare occasions.



Minor complaints:

On a rare occasions, I believe the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 sounds a touch raw or unpolished, but this is a minor quibble given the set's low price and other excellent attributes.

Final thoughts:

I had low expectations, but man, I was blown away on the first listen. I instantly noticed the open sounding treble that was balanced by the very extended bass, which, together with the energetic sound, made the ZS10 Pro 2 seem more like a live musical performance than my other in-ear monitor (IEM) earphones.

Let me remind you that this is a V-shaped sound signature, so if you are looking for accuracy, this is clearly not for you. However, if you are looking for a fun sounding set to complement your serious sounding earphones, or if you are a beginner looking for a better sounding V-shaped IEM than those offered at lower price points, I highly recommend the KZ ZS10 Pro 2.

Happy Listening!

5-8-2024

TangZu X HBB Xuan NV review and comparisons.

I would like to thank Linsoul Audio for sending me these great-looking in-ear monitor (IEM) earphones for a review. Linsoul Audio never told me what I could or could not say. I have no money to gain from this review. Rest assured that everything I say will be in my own words.

TangZu Audio is a relatively new audio company based in China, and TangZu X HBB Xuan NV (79 USD); a dual dynamic driver configured IEM, is a collaboration between TangZu Audio and a popular YouTuber and audio reviewer, Hawaiian Bad Boy, or HBB. His YouTube channel's name is Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews, but I think he is a good person.

The TangZu x HBB Xuan NV is one of the few IEMs that made me smile upon first listening. It sounds better than some IEMs I've heard that cost many times more. If you were to listen to them side by side like I did, man, I'm sure you'll be smiling too.

It looks stunning in person, especially if you like the color red. Personally, it reminds me of candy. And the finish is shiny and seems durable, as I haven't seen any scratches in the week that I've been daily using it, in a hard case when in my pocket.

The uboxing experience is just okay and aligned with its price, but the box looks good enough to be worth keeping.



Eartips and cable:

The effects of the eartips on sound are subtle but can't be underestimated. There are three types of tips included: the first is the white one, the one pre-installed on the IEM, which sounds the warmest; the second is the Tang Sancai normal bore tips, which sound average; and the third is the Tang Sancai wide bore tips, which, to my ears, make the IEM sound more like an audiophile type of tuning; it has the best technicalities in sound but sacrifices the bass presence just a little; this is the tip I like most, and the one I used in this review.

The cable included is average in quality for the price of the set; I upgraded it to a thicker and higher quality XIHNS cable.


Synergy:

The TangZu x HBB Xuan NV is not fussy about sources when it comes purely to sound quality, as it is not tuned for critical listening in my opinion, but it is revealing enough, at least for me, to reveal the subtle differences between the sources I tried it with.

Sensitivity, power handling, distortion, and amplification:

The TangZu x HBB Xuan NV is less sensitive than average; I have to pump up the volume about 30 to 40 percent more to match the loudness of my other IEMs on average. It may not be fussy about pairing purely for sound quality, but its low impedance, hence a difficult load and lower sensitivity, needs a powerful enough amplifier to reach its full potential.

I find the Moondrop Moonriver 2, Moondrop Dawn Pro, and Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha in balanced mode with a 4.4mm connection to be more than adequate for my needs. At 75 percent volume, they can drive the TangZu x HBB Xuan NV to very loud but safe volume levels, but when I reached 85 percent volume, the output protection on the Moonriver 2 and S9 Pro Plus Martha would kick in and cut off the music intermittently. On my bigger sources, such as the Fiio M15s DAP, Topping G5 DAC/Amp, and FX-Audio R07 desktop headamp, there was no problem driving the Xuan NV to a very loud volume, and it can take high power and go very loud without obvious distortion.



Sound signature, tonality, coherency and dynamics:

Bassy, warm, neutral, and energetic: The bass is obviously boosted but never overbearing, the overall tonality is warm, and the midrange and treble are very neutral in tuning. There was no circumstance that the Xuan NV shouted at me unless recorded in the music; the upper midrange was tuned on the safe side, but it never sounded boring. It sounds consistently energetic across the audio range. The Xuan NV sounds very coherent from low volume to high volume levels. There were no signs that the sound was being produced by two different drivers; it's as if they speak as one.

One thing that is also worth mentioning is that the Xuan NV sounds open, unlike some budget hybrids and dual dynamic driver sets I've heard that sounded a little congested and lacked dynamics.

Resolution and details:

The Xuan NV has enough resolving power to make you enjoy the details in the music, but not so much that it sounds analytical. It never pushes the details in your face; it has a soft-handed presentation of the details, but when you search for them, they are there. It also has a fair amount of fine micro-details, but not so much that they call your attention, just enough to make the sound naturally enjoyable.
.
Soundstage, imaging, and holography:

It sounds spacious and never claustrophobic; the vocals are never in your face; and the imaging and holography are good but average for the price.



Bass:

This is the best part of the Xuan NV; it's the best boosted bass I've heard, but take this with a grain of salt as I haven't heard all the bass-boosted IEMs available. The bass, though boosted, doesn't sound overbearing; it sounds fast and very coherent with the rest of the music; there is no sensation that it is getting left behind by the speed of the midrange and treble; it sounds very musical and energetic. I am confident to say that even neutral-head audiophiles who are looking for a bassy set as a variety would be very pleased with the bass that's in the TangZu x HBB Xuan NV.

On the song "Jessie Ware - 12 [Demo]" (please search YouTube), the bass sounds very pleasantly accompanying the vocals and keeping up with the rest of the music.

On the song "Take This Love by Sergio Mendez" (please search YouTube), the timing of the bass drum and bass guitar is very tight, and the bass has a very pleasant depth and growly texture. I've never heard this song's bass section sound this good.

Midrange:

Warmish-neutral and lush sounding; smooth and non-fatiguing; there are no frequencies that jump out at you; the upper midrange is a little laid back; and when it comes to vocals, it tends to favor the male vocals just a little more than the female vocals.

Treble:

Surprisingly refined and delicate, it sounds as if you are listening to a more expensive set. Very smooth yet energetic, with a good amount of macro details, micro details, air, and sparkle. The upper treble extension seems to be very finely tuned, as it's neither too much nor too little; it's just the right amount for my taste. There is no harshness in the highs; it is totally non-fatiguing.

Comparisons:

Compared to QKZ x HBB Khan (40 USD):

The QKZ x HBB Khan, released in the year 2022, is a collaboration product of HBB and QKZ. The Khan has a good and clean subwoofer-like sounding bass, but when it comes to the midrange and treble, there's no contest; the Xuan NX absolutely obliterates the Khan. The Khan has a thin midrange note weight and a less refined-sounding treble that can sound fatiguing at times.

Compared to Simgot EA500 (65 USD):

The Simgot EA500 has been, for a long time, a benchmark in sound quality in the 60- to 100-dollar price range. It is now supplanted by a newer version called the EA500LM.

The EA500 has a thin note weight and sounds tiring in long listening sessions because of it. The EA500 has a more forward presentation and also has good amounts of details, but it has a flat soundstage, meaning the instruments and vocals all seem to come from a space near you in a flat manner. It lacks three dimensionality, not like the Xuan NV which sounds more holographic by comparison and never fatiguing as it has a thicker note weight and a smother overall presentation.

Compared to Moondrop May (60 USD):

Using a third-party cable and not the DSP cable that it came with, the May is my previous top contender in the 60 to 100 dollar category; it is now surpassed by the TangZu x HBB Xuan NV. The May has a very tasteful sub-bass boost, a mildly recessed midrange, and a very articulate sounding treble due to its planar treble driver that operates at 8 KHz and above. The only obvious fault of the May in my opinion, is the lack of cohesion between its dynamic and planar drivers. I can hear some incoherency in the treble, but even so, the sound of the May is very good, and it is still on my recommended list in its price range.

Compared to QKZ x HBB Hades (50 USD):

The Hades is a recent collaboration product between HBB and QKZ. The Hades is a straight-out bass-head IEM, and the bass is so loud that it drowns out the midrange and treble. When it comes to sound quality, the Xuan NV has much better-sounding bass and overall sound quality in general. I can't personally recommend the Hades; just go with the Xuan NV insteads.



What I like:
.
+ the bass.
+ the design and color.
+ the overall good sound.
+ the price.
+ the eartips.


What I don't like:

- for the price, none.

The wrap-up:

I was pleasantly surprised about how good the TangZu x HBB Xuan NV sounded the first time I listened to it, and I'm still reveling about it now after a week. This is an excellent value for money, and to be honest, if I weren't a reviewer and just a regular audiophile looking for an IEM on this budget and magically knew what I knew now, I would just buy the Xuan NV and just enjoy the music. Needless to say, I wholeheartedly recommend the TangZu x HBB Xuan NV to my friends and everyone. Cheers!

5-3-2024

Dunu Falcon Ultra Titanium review and comparisons.

I would like to thank Dunu for sending me these beautiful in-ear monitor (IEM) earphones for a review. Dunu never told me what I could or could not say, and there is no money gain on my part. You can rest assured that this review will be truthful according to my perception.

I've been listening to music on earphones for more than 30 years now, and I find Dunu to be one of the oldest audio companies that are still operating today. Dunu, based in China, has always been, for me, a middle- to high-end company that produces high-class and high-quality IEMs at longer than usual intervals between product releases compared to other brands. I've never seen Dunu products that are cheap or poor in quality, and as you can see in the measurement graph that I did (see photo), the channel balance between the left and the right is impeccable; it is practically perfect, a testament to a high production quality standard.

Note: This newly released Dunu Falcon Ultra Titanium grey edition (220 USD) is exactly the same internally as the older Klein blue version; only the color and finish are different, as I was told.




Fit and comfort:

The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is a small, mid-sized IEM that doesn't protrude outside the ears so much that sleeping with it is very possible. The parts towards the nozzle don't touch the outer part of my ear canal, so it doesn't cause discomfort during long listening sessions.

Nozzles:

There are two sets of nozzles included: one is gold, and the other, which is the one pre-installed, is silver. I tried the gold nozzle, but I highly prefer the silver nozzle because it sounds more dynamic and fits my taste better, so this review will be based on the silver nozzles.

Eartips and cable:

The eartips included are one of the best because they include one of my favorite tips, which is highly regarded and known to have excellent sound: the Dunu S&S eartips. It also includes another highly regarded tip, the Dunu Candy tips, as well as two other kinds of tips that also sound and feel excellent. I tried other brands of eartips, but I found the included tips optimal for best sound with the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti. However, good as they may be, I still find the ePro EP00 tips better; they sound tonally similar to the Dunu S&S eartips but with more defined imaging. So, I used the ePro EP00 eartips for this review.

The modular cable included is good and doesn't tangle easily; it seems to sound good, but I haven't connected it to other cables because I have no other MMCX cables yet. I will upgrade the cable in the future.



Synergy:

The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is very sensitive to the sources' own sound signature; be careful when paring it with an ESS Sabre Dac chip source as it can sound very analytical, as in the case with my Fiio M15s. I like it, but some people may not. I tried it with my other Dac/amps such as the Moondrop Moonriver2, Dawn Pro, Topping G5, and Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha. They all sound good, but my favorite sound of all is with the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha, as this pairing has the best balance between details and musicality.

Sensitivity and drivability:

The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is very easy to drive and has above-average sensitivity. It is easily driven by small dongle DAC/amps and goes very loud with a modest volume setting. I give it two thumbs up for this.

Power handling and distortion:

The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti can take a lot of power and can go very loud without obvious distortion, more so than most sets; it is highly recommended for loud listeners. I give it an A class status for power handling. This is proof that the drivers employed are of very high quality.

Sound signature, timbre, and resolution:

The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti has a slightly bright and natural timbre, and depending on the eartips used, it has a slightly V-shaped to slightly U-shaped sound signature. It is also very revealing and sometimes unforgiving of the quality of the recordings. The resolving capability is excellent.

Sound staging, imaging and holography:

It has above-average spherical sound stage size, and with the ePro EP00 eartips, the imaging and holography are superb; it can project sound from near to far and sometimes from behind; and the left to right instrument panning performance is seamless. The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is the best single DD IEM I have heard in these regards, but I haven't heard them all, so you may take this with a grain of salt.

To give you an example, on the music mix called Chillhop Essentials · Spring 2024 [chill relaxing beats/llofi hiphop] that you can search on YouTube, starting at the 50 minutes and 25 second mark, I can hear a very realistic bird chirping sound coming from 10 feet behind me with above six feet of elevation.

Dynamics:

The vibrant dynamics of the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti are what caught my attention right away; the Falcon Ultra Ti is consistently energetic throughout the whole audio frequency range.

Vocals:

Excellent, especially the female vocals, which are really clear and natural. The vocals have great intensity when they are in the recording, and male voices are also great. This is an excellent IEM for vocal lovers.




Bass:

It has one of the best neutral-head bass I have heard among the 30+ IEMs that I own, including the more expensive ones. It's not for bassheads; it's for people who don't like to have excessive bass sound in their music and who value neutrality, such as myself.

The bass is slightly boosted with a balanced sub-bass and mid-bass presence; it sounds very detailed and articulate; it is neither dry nor boomy. When a passage with excellent sub-bass presents itself, the Dunu Falcon Ultra can go from 0 to 60 in an instant; the sub-bass transient response is very fast with superb depth, but on tracks with normal bass, you won't suspect that this IEM is capable of such performance; the bass only goes loud when need be. I feel that this is due to the excellent dynamic drivers employed and, of course, the tuning.

To give you an example, on the music mix called Chillhop Essentials· Spring 2024 [chill relaxing beats/llofi hiphop], which is the same example I have given in the Sound staging, imaging, and holography section and can be searched on YouTube, the song at the 52 minutes and 10 second mark, the Dunu Falcon Ultra, has no problem reproducing the sub-bass, as well as other sub-bass in some Rap and other electronic music songs I listened to. But keep in mind that this is not a bass-head-tuned set, but for a neutral-head like me, the bass is perfect.



Midrange:

Neutral with excellent accuracy and clarity, it's neither thick nor thin and sounds very clean, but be aware that this has a pinna gain that peaks at 3 KHz but is not high enough to make it fatiguing. Pinna gain in IEMs is necessary to make them sound as natural as speakers with flat frequency response sound; it also helps IEMs achieve very good imaging, sound staging, and holography, and the Dunu Falcon Ultra has those in spades. Overall, the midrange sounds very natural, and there are no sudden jumps in the response like shoutiness or distortion. The midrange is never fatiguing and is very well mannered.

Treble:

Clean, clear, detailed, and slightly boosted, with very good macro and micro details. The upper treble is very extended and smooth and doesn't sound like it needs the help of another driver that would act as a tweeter. I hear no obvious driver diaphragm break-up distortion, unlike other IEMs with lesser quality drivers. Again, a good indication of how good the drivers are on the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti.



Comparisons:

I will be focusing mostly on sound quality to make this section as concise as possible, and I will be comparing it to IEMs with different price brackets. If there are aspects of sound quality I didn't mention, it means I have no issues with those particular aspects, or it could also mean I forgot to. I'm not perfect, you know. I intend to guide the readers in the right direction and not waste their hard-earned money.

Compared to Simgot EA1000 (220 USD):

The Simgot EA1000 is a direct competitor to the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti; both have the same driver configuration and price; they have similar tuning; and the quality of the drivers used on both is also similar. I use the default silver nozzle and ePro EP00 tips on the EA1000.

I find the bass on the Dunu Falcon Ultra to be slightly superior to the Simgot EA1000's bass, it has a little more sub-bass, and a tighter, punchier, and more detailed mid-bass, but again, only slightly so. On casual and non-critical listening, I find the difference to be subtle and almost negligible.

The midrange on both is equally clean and clear, but the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti has slightly more energy in the upper midrange than the Simgot EA1000, making the EA1000 sound more relaxed in the midrange, but again, only slightly so, and due to the Falcon Ultra Ti having slightly more energy in the upper midrange, it has better imaging, details, and holography.


The treble on both has about the same boost or elevation, but I find the upper treble on the Simgot EA1000 to be a smidge more enegetic. I can hear more fine sparkles on the EA1000, but the difference is really small. On the other hand, I find there is slightly more clarity and immediacy on the overall treble with the Dunu Falcon Ultra.

They have similar soundstage sizes, but the presentation of the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is slightly more forward and three-dimensional.

If you already have the Simgot EA1000, is it worth getting the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti too? No, and vice versa, as they perform equally well and sound equally good, the differences are small.

If I had to choose only one, which one would it be? It'd be the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti for me; I like it more because of the punchier bass, the better imaging and holography, and the overall clarity. In the Simgot EA1000's defense, it has a more easy-going sound that is more forgiving and relaxed. But again, the differences between the two are small.



Compared to the Xenns Mangird Top (530 USD):

The Xenns Mangird Top is a hybrid IEM consisting of one dynamic driver and eight balanced armature drivers for the midrange and treble for each channel.

The Xenns Mangird Top has more fine micro details and better imaging, holography, and sound stage, but the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is not far behind, and when it comes to the bass, I find the Falcon Ultra Ti to be better. The Xenns Mangird Top has a louder bass but could sound detached at times. The bass on the Falcon Ultra Ti is very coherent. I also find that in terms of consistency, the Xenns Top sounds more bassy at low volumes and becomes brighter at high volumes. This can be caused by the different kinds of drivers behaving differently at different volumes, but I never had that issue with the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti.

They are equally capable of handling a lot of power and delivering loud sounds without obviously distorting.

Whether you want coherency or more details with less coherency is essentially what determines which one to pick.



Compared to the Hidizs MP145 (150 USD):

One of my favorites, the single-planar IEM Hidizs MP145, offers sound quality and tuning comparable to much more costly sets.Compared to the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti, the MP145 is warmer-sounding with elevated midbass, recessed upper midrange, and an energetic upper treble. The MP145 has more micro-details in the upper treble too. On the other hand, the Falcon Ultra sounds more accurate overall, has more immediacy in transient attacks, has clearer details due to its more forward presentation, and for me, has better vocals. The MP145 has a bigger soundstage, but the Falcon Ultra has better holography.


Compared to Kinera Celest PhoenixCall (120 USD):

Another favorite of mine, the PhoenixCall, is a tribrid IEM with a micro-planar driver for the upper treble, balanced armatures for the treble, and a dynamic driver for the bass and midrange.

Due to its driver configuration and V-shaped tuning, the PhonenixCall has more fine-sounding micro details, a more illuminated treble, and a warmer-sounding bass. On the other hand, the Falcon Ultra Ti has more accurate sound across the audible frequency range, a deeper sub-bass, and better imaging, holography, and vocals.



Compared to Moondrop Starfield 2 (100 USD):

The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is a direct upgrade to the Moondrop Starfield 2. If you own a Moondrop Starfield 2, you know how good it is at imaging and holography, yet the overall sound lacks polish. Well, the Falcon Ultra Ti is a refined version of that. It has all the positives but none of the drawbacks, with the exception of the price..

Compared to other less expensive IEMs such as:
Simgot EA500, Mondrop May, Moondrop Lan and Kinera Celest Pandamon.

These are very good-sounding sets for their price range, and I highly recommend them if you are on that budget. But if you are looking for a real upgrade to these and have the funding, just get the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti if you are already on the fence. I said this because I see so many people asking for upgrades to their good-sounding budget sets like those mentioned, and then people would suggest another budget set that has similar, if not worse, performance than what they already have. What I'm trying to say is that if you want a true upgrade, you have to spend more money rather than wasting it on side grades, though not necessarily on the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti.



Pros:

+ spherical sound stage
+ imaging and holography
+ high-power handing
+ high sensitivity
+ high volume capability
+ excellent vocals
+ shell design

Cons:

- perhaps the MMCX connectors...
- Sonically, none that I can think of for the price.


To wrap it up:

I have nothing but praise for the Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti. It performs on par with more expensive sets; for me, it has a flagship level of performance. The excellent vocal performance and engaging dynamics only add to its excellent tuning. I highly recommend this if you are a vocals lover and/or want a near-neutral-sounding IEM. Thanks for reading! Cheers!

4-29-2024

Symphonium Audio Meteor review and comparisons.




Fitting and comfort:

The Meteor is a compact mid-sized IEM with a light aluminum alloy shell that has a slender shape near the nozzle, which prevents it from resting hard on the outer part of the ear canal, avoiding discomfort in long listening sessions. In short, the Meteor is very comfortable to wear.

Sensitivity, drivability and power handling:

I had to adjust the volume to 75% to achieve the same level of loudness as my other IEMs on my dongle DAC/amps at 50% volume since the sensitivity is lower than typical. It is also a difficult load for my dongle DAC/amps. My Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha and Moondrop Moonriver 2 enter protective mode at 85 percent volume, and my Moondrop Dawn Pro begins to audibly distort. The power handling is acceptable; I can hear distortion when coupled with the Fiio M15s and Topping G5 at very loud settings, which is comparable to my other IEMs with decent power handling capabilities, such as my Moondrop Blessing 3. All I'm saying is that as long as you keep the volume reasonable to avoid distortion, the sound is really clean.

Source Pairing:

The Meteor requires a clean and powerful source in order to sound its best. It sounds superb paired with the Fiio M15s and Topping G5, but not as much when paired with my mid-sized dongle DAC/amps, such as the Moonriver 2, Dawn Pro, and S9 Pro Plus Martha due to lack of power; it will still sound good, but not its best.

Cables and Eartips:

For this review, I used the supplied eartips (medium) and the 4.4mm balanced cable because they sound good. I experimented using various eartips and discovered that the Meteor is not eartip fussy.



Sound signature:

Unashamedly U-shaped, it has a distinct upper midrange to lower treble recession, a clear treble, a highly extended and crisp top octave, and a noticeably boosted bass. The overall sound doesn't induce fatigue, but it does have the typical oddities of a U-shaped sounding IEM.

Sound staging and imaging:

The sound stage is big, cavernous and dark, which is perfect for evening listening for me. The images especially the vocals are always situated a good distance away, due to this, it somewhat lacks 3d holographic projection a little. If you want an intimate sounding vocals, this is not for you, but if you have claustrophobia, this is perfect.

Instrument separation and layering:

The instruments are sufficiently separated, and I can easily distinguish them from one another, but the front-to-back layering is not the best due to the laid-back sound presentation; all instruments appear to be coming from a distance away.

Dynamics:

It's remarkably dynamic sounding, with good energy bubbling across the whole audio frequency range. Most U-shaped sound signatures I've heard have some lethargy, but this one is an exception. The microdynamic performance is also great; I can clearly hear the intensity differences in each high hat stroke, cymbal strike, and other instrument on some recordings; they are not dynamically compressed, but this is something to be expected at this price point.




Bass:

Tastefully boosted and energetic, with good but not outstanding definition, it requires high quality and powerful sources to sound its best. It sounds tight and fairly well controlled; it never became boomy and muddy; the bass is almost always present; and it goes very deep. Even though it doesn't have the gravitas of some dynamic driver IEMs, it is still very satisfying, and I think bass heads with refined taste would love this IEM.

Midrange:

The lower midrange sounds neutral with good instrument note weight and does not shout nor cause fatigue, but the upper midrange is obviously recessed and sounds laid back, making the vocals appear from afar, and the electric guitars lack presence and realism, so take note.

Treble:

Very refined, clean, and non-fatiguing; there is a reduction in the lower treble and a rise in amplitude at the upper treble, adding some enthiusiasm to the sound. I'm not just reading the graph; this is actually based on what I'm hearing.










What I like:

+ energetic and engaging sound.
+ non-fatiguing sound.
+ excellent build quality.
+ very nice cable included.
+ very comfortable to wear.


What I don't like:

- average power-handing capabilty.
- difficult to drive.



The wrap up:

Although the Symphonium Audio Meteor's tuning is not to my taste, as I previously stated, I certainly recognize the energy, engagement, smoothness, and refinement in the sound quality, and the Meteor sounds excellent. So, whether or not I would recommend the Meteor to a friend depends solely on his or her tuning preference; this has to be clarified first before deciding, but if you know you like the sound signature that I described in this review, then there's no reason not to highly recommend the Meteor. Cheer!

4-19-2024

Hiby R8 II, review, and comparison.

This review and comparison is a result of a lucky coincidence, because just after I bought myself a Fiio M15s digital audio player (DAP), and I haven't told anyone about it yet, Eiji Zerstorer Romero asked me if I wanted to review the Hiby R8 II. What a great opportunity it was to be able to compare my Fiio M15s to the more expensive Hiby R8 II. Thank you, Eiji, and of course, Hiby, for providing us with a review unit of a high-end DAP, the Hiby R8 II. I also would like to thank Neil Nino Clark for sending me the DAP. I only have 10 days to review the R8 II, and after that, I have to return it.

Hiby is an audiophile company based in China. They make high-quality DAPs with prices ranging from 150 US dollars to as high as 3,200 US dollars. They also made the Hiby FC6 dongle DAC/amp, which is popular among the portable audiophile community, and on top of that, they also developed apps, software, and firmware that are used by other companies to run some of their DAPs.

The Hiby R8 II is a 2000-dollar Android-based DAP that has a stainless steel chassis and weighs 515 grams. It's an open Android platform, so you can install other apps or music players; you can connect it to Wifi and watch YouTube and look at social media; it is like a smartphone but without cameras, speakers, or mobile data; it and others like it are solely made for music lovers who like to listen to the best sound quality possible.





The stainless chassis and the alcantara covered back made the R8 II feel very classy in the hand; the over 500 grams of weight added to the luxurious feel; the gold-plated ports; and the perfectly weighted tactile buttons always remind me that I'm holding a high-end product.

User interface and battery life:

The user interface is responsive, and the screen and battery life are very good, especially for a DAP.

Power and pairing:


It drove my Sennheiser HD6xx and other headphones easily at mid and high gain settings, but for this review, I only use 3 of my in-ear monitors (IEM), namely the Hidizs MP145, which is a planar, the Simgot EA1000, which is a single dynamic driver (DD), and the Xenns Mangird Top, which is a hybrid of DD and BA, or balanced armature drivers, with the gain setting set to low. I use the ePro EP00 medium size and Dunu S&S large eartips with cables from Tripowin, Xinhs, and JBC audio in balance 4.4mm connection. The phone out and the line out are noise free and provide me with all the power I require.

Settings:

I used the class AB amplifier mode exclusively, as I find it to sound more dynamic and have better-controlled bass than the class A mode. It sounds fabulous at the default settings, so I never felt the need to tweak the MSEB and the Darwin DAC's audio parameters. Also, no EQ was used. WiFi and Bluetooth were turned off. Additionally, I didn't critically listened to it while it was charging to eliminate the potential of the audio signal being contaminated.





Sound signature and tonality:

First of all, I'd like to clarify that the sound coming from the R8 II is very neutral, with a very flat frequency response and zero sonic coloration; in short, it is very transparent. Anything I say about the sound quality amounts to very little in real-life casual listening; some people might not notice them and some might not care, so take them with a grain of salt.

The sound is very refined and neutral, with a hint of warmth in the bass and a tiny amount of recession in the upper midrange and lower treble. The upper treble is neutral in intensity and is very extended. You will easily recognize that you are listening to a high-end device by just how smooth and refined it sounds; it's like taking a ride in a luxury vehicle in its smoothness and refinement.

Sound staging:

It's huge; it's like you are in a very big venue where the music is happening, more so than all my other audio sources.

Imaging:

The images of the musical instruments and vocals are planted in front in a very spatially stable manner and are well separated from each other; they don't get mixed together even at high volume levels; they remain very stable and clear.

Dynamics:

The power delivery is effortless; I hear no strain coming from its amplifiers, but I also observed that the dynamics are just average; they are neither the most anemic nor the most energetic I have heard; they are just average and neutral in their punchiness.

Bass:

The bass is not the tightest and most controlled I've heard; it's not too loose either; it lets go of total control just enough to make the bass sound a little warm. On some tracks, I can hear a tiny hint of boominess on fast successive beats, but it's never bloated. The overall sound of the bass is very pleasant.

Midrange:

The midrange is very smooth and neutral, with a huge sound stage. I hear a tiny amount of relaxation in the upper midrange, making it forgiving of badly recorded music tracks. Some female voices sound very seductive and sweet, with a very palpable presence.

Treble:

The treble is very extended, airy, and detailed; the lower treble is a little laid back. I can hear all the nuances and micro-details from the instruments while remaining non-fatiguing.

Compare to Fiio M15s:

The Fiio M15s is a mid-priced DAP that costs half the Hiby R8 II, and it's not a surprise that the R8 II feels more luxurious in the hand. The R8 II has a much better screen too.

I used the Hiby music app, the Fiio music app on the M15s, and mostly the Poweramp music player for this comparison.

I use the medium or high gain settings only for the Fiio M15s because the low gain setting sounds a little bright, grainy, and metallic. By doing so together with turning on the "All to DSD" feature bring it very close to the sound quality of the R8 II, about 97% in my estimate.

The Hiby R8 II sounds more refined, smooth, and liquid, with a bigger sound stage and a cleaner, darker background. The instrument decay is also cleaner-sounding, with more air around the vocals and instruments, but let me tell you again that with the settings on the M15s previously stated, the differences in sound quality are really minute.

Without using the "All to DSD" feature on the M15s, Both the R8 II and the M15s are very musical and engaging, but the R8 II sounds more laid-back and forgiving of badly recorded music, while the M15 II is more analytical and unforgiving, which can sometimes more likely to cause fatigue on poorly recorded tracks.

The Hiby R8 II has a noticeably better battery life than the Fiio M15s.

In the Fiio M15s' defense, it has snappier and bolder dynamics, tighter bass response, and more forward in detail presentation, not to mention that the M15s has an excellent volume control knob and much better free leather case as opposed to the R8 II's TPU case. Plus, there are some songs and genres that suit the M15s better, like metal and electronic music.

Is the Hiby R8 II worth the price premium over the Fiio M15s? This is the question that came to mind upon knowing I would be reviewing the R8 II, and my answer is a resounding yes! The big sound stage, smoothness, and overall refinement in sound quality of the R8 II over the M15s are impossible to deny.


Compared to Topping G5:

The Topping G5 is a battery-powered DAC/amp combo that has state-of-the art measured performance.

Overall, the R8 II sounds better; it has a bigger sound stage and has clearer details; it also has a more musical and engaging sound. The only area where the Topping G5 can top the R8 II is in the bass; it is more controlled and taut.

Compared to my other USB dongle Dac/amps:

Compared to my Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha, Moondrop Moonriver 2, Dawn Pro, Fiio Ka11, and all
the other USB dongle DAC I have heard of, forget it guys, they could all go home now; there's no contest. I feel like I'm downgrading in sound quality every time I have to use those dongles when I'm at work or outside. I can't say 100 percent sure that this is better than all the dongle DAC/amps available, though. As I haven't yet heard the Hiby FC6, L&P W4, Questyle M15i, iFi Kensei, and other expensive DACs, I am only 99.9999% certain that this is better because all the USB dongle DACs have limited power supply as they have to rely on the USB from the phone for power, ultimately limiting the sound quality.

Minor complaints:

I wish it had a double tap for screen-off gesture.

I wish Hiby made the volume control animation that takes over the whole screen every time I adjust the volume optional; correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't found a menu in the DAP to turn the animation off.

I wish the free case was made of leather, not TPU.


Pros:

+ excellent sound quality, befitting its price.
+ solid and luxurious-feeling chassis.
+ very good-looking responsive touch screen.
+ perfectly weighted buttons.
+ gold-plated sockets.
+ good battery life and fast charging.


Cons:

- no double tap gesture for screen off.
- The volume control screen overlay gets in the way.
- I wish it had a volume control knob.
- The included case is made of TPU, not leather.



I now see why the Hiby R8 II is priced as it is. Upon first listen, it is clear to me that this DAP was meticulously optimized, from the parts used, the design and materials utilized, the engineering of their unique digital to analog converter chip, and the fine tuning of that chip's algorithm. This level of sound clarity and finesse does not happen by chance, and I can hear it every time I listen to the Hiby R8 II.

Would I recommend the Hiby R8 II to friends over the more affordable DAPs? Sure, without hesitation, if they have the funds. It's so good that I would even advise audiophiles to save up some cash to get it. And that wraps up my review and comparison of the superbly-sounding Hiby R8 II. Cheers!

4-11-2024

Kiwi Ears x Crinacle Singolo: review and comparisons.

Kiwi Ears is a relatively young audio manufacturer based in China that produces low- to mid-priced IEMs. They recently released a cute-looking dongle DAC/amp called the Allegro.

Crinacle, based in Singapore, is a well-known reviewer in the audiophile community, particularly in the Chinese HIFI scene.

The Kiwi Ears x Crinacle Singolo (80 USD) is the outcome of a cooperation between Crinacle and Kiwi Ears; Crinacle co-tuned it and receives a profit split.






The package is adequate, but the accompanying accessories are subpar for the price; the cable is thin and tangly, and the eartips are overly soft and thin, lacking in quality. I understand that they must compromise accessories in order to provide us with the highest quality IEM while also recovering R&D costs and Crinacle's profit share.

The Singolo is not picky about pairing; it worked well with whatever sources, cables, or tips I tried. For this review and comparison, I used the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha, Moondrop Moonriver 2, Moondrop Dawn Pro, and Topping G5 Dac/amps.




The sound quality:

While the Singolo's graph looks good (see photo) and appears to be from much more expensive sets, you will never be fooled into thinking you are listening to a much more expensive set, such as the Moondrop Blessing 3, the Xenns Mangird Top, or the Simgot EA1000. For example, the overall sound quality is satisfactory for its price range.

The overall sound character is a warm U-shape, with more boost in the bass than the upper treble. The tuning is quite safe and will not cause tiredness to the listener. The tone quality is excellent, and the instrument and voice note weights are thick but neutral.




The dynamics are slightly constrained and lack passion; this is a characteristic of U-shaped-sounding IEMs, in which the energy in the upper midrange is eased, making them ideal for relaxation. Some folks may find it boring-sounding.

Power handling is average. It is clean at low to medium-high volumes, but gets shouty at extremely high volumes.

The sound stage has adequate depth and width, but the overall size is average for the price; with a few exceptions, it outperforms $25 and below sets but falls short of $130 and up sets. There isn’t much dimension.

The imaging is also average for the price; the image edges sound fuzzy, are not clearly defined, and appear to mix into one another.





Bass:

The bass sounds like a subwoofer in a nice 2.1 speaker setup. It sounds excellent to me, albeit a little disjointed at times, and I enjoy it. I believe their sophisticated acoustic design is effective and not a gimmick.

Midrange:

It has a relatively neutral sound with a flat frequency response; the upper midrange is recessed and lacks energy and vitality, but it will not tire you out because it is not shouty. The details are average.

Treble:
.
It sounds smooth and without roughness even at high volume levels; it sounds non-fatiguing and safe; the lower treble is recessed and the upper treble is somewhat elevated, making the sound a little dry; detail retrieval and micro detail are average; and airiness is also average.



Comparisons:

Compared to QKZ x HBB Khan (40 USD):

The Khan is a cooperation between the company QKZ and another well-known reviewer, HBB, or Hawaiian Bad Boy. It was launched in early 2023.

Both have comparable graphs, particularly in the bass. I hadn't listened to Khan in a long time, so I revisited it for this comparison, and it sounds awful—not Aful, but awful. It sounds thin in note weight and goes shouty at higher volumes. It has good bass and sounds more dynamic and alive, but if I were to choose between the two, I'd choose the lesser evil, the Singolo.



Compared to Moondrop May ($60 USD):

I use the May with a third-party cable connected to a dongle Dac/amp, rather than the original cable, which has built-in DSP, Dac, and amplifiers.

The May is significantly more musical and dynamic; it is superior in every way: the bass is more fleshed out, the mids have more depth, musicality, and dimension, and the treble has more micro details, air, and finesse. Suffice it to say, I prefer the Moondrop May.



Compared to the QKZ x HBB Hades (80 USD):

The Hades is a recently released collaborative IEM by QKZ and HBB, or Hawaiian Bad Boy.

The Hades' intended demographic is bassheads, or people who enjoy extreme quantities of bass. The Hades' sound is much more bassier, and the midrange and treble can be drowned out by the quantity of bass produced. The bass is the focal point, with the mids and highs taking a back seat. The Singolo is more balanced and produces a natural sound.

For casual listeners, I strongly recommend the Singolo over the Hades; the Hades' sound is simply too specialized.




Compared to Simgot EA500 (70 USD):

The EA500 is a popular IEM that has long served as the bar for sound quality in its price range. It has now been replaced by the EA500LM.

The EA500 is far more clear, dynamic, and melodious than the Singolo. However, the bass on the EA500 is lighter and becomes tiring for me after lengthy listening sessions due to its lean and bright sound balance. I prefer the Singolo's tone, but if I had to choose one, I'd go with the EA500 because it has better overall sound quality in my opinion.



Compared to the Kinera Celest Pandamon ver. 1 (40 USD):

The Pandamon has been succeeded by the new Pandamon 2.0, or version 2. It produces a pleasant, neutral sound with less bass and upper treble than the Singolo. It features greater bass, middle, and treble detail, as well as a more transparent and expansive sound.

So, which one would I recommend. Pandamon, of course, sounds better to my ears, especially if you prefer a neutral-sounding set.

Pros:

+ Subwoofer-like bass.
+ Innovative acoustic design.
+ The non-fatiguing sound.

Cons:

- The bass may sound disconnected in some tracks.
- Lacks vitality and may seem boring to others.
- Imagery lacks accuracy.



My only complaint with the Singolo is that the tuning is a touch too safe for my liking, resulting in polite sounding mids and highs. If the Singolo is a guy who is single, I'm concerned he'll stay alone for a long time because he's too nice.

Overall, the Kiwi Ears x Crinacle Singolo is not a horrible sounding set; in fact, the mild politeness in its sound presentation is beneficial for calm music listening sessions; nonetheless, whether or not I recommend it depends on whether you prefer relaxed or energetic dynamics. This concludes my review and comparisons.

Happy Holy Week to everyone!

3-27-2024

Kinera Celest Pandamon: short review and comparisons.

I bought this, along with a few other things, during a big 3.3 sale at a local online shopping platform for 23 USD, including shipping, with platform discounts and vouchers applied. This was released in November of 2022, priced at 59 USD, so it has been on the market for 1 year and 4 months at this writing. It is now being sold at a lower price and could be found at 34 USD on my local shopping platforms like Lazada and Shopee.

Kinera is an audiophile company based in China. They are one of the best when it comes to build and sound quality, and they have very good aesthetic designs.



The Kinera Celest Pandamon is an IEM earphone using a unique driver called SPD 2.0, or Square Planar Driver version 2.

The packaging is okay for the price, and the accessories it came with are just ordinary. I've seen better at the 59-dollar price point, but at the 33-dollar price point, where it is priced now, they are good.

The Pandamon is easy to pair with any of my dongle devices, which include the Moondrop Moonriver 2, Moondrop Dawn Pro, and the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha. I used the Hidizs for this review. I also found that among the eartips I tried with this, the Dunu S&S eartips sounded the best, so that's the one I used. I use the Letshuoer modular cable with a 4.4mm balance connection.




The sound signature when used with the Hiidzs S9 Pro Plus Martha, the Dunu S&S eartips, and the Letshour cable is very neutral, flat in frequency response, and non-fatiguing, with a very good subbass extension that can almost be felt, which was unexpected.

The first thing I noticed when it came to sound quality was the sound stage. It is above average for its price. It has good layering and surround sound.

The imaging is great for the price, but it doesn't have the pinpoint accuracy of IEMs, which cost many times more.

The overall technicalities are above average, and it sounds like a classy, warm, and a more expensive set.

When driven to loud volume levels, the sound doesn't get shouty in the upper midrange like most IEMs in this price range do, indicating low distortion. Thumbs up!



Bass:

The bass is flat, neutral, and extended in the sub-bass, with very good texture, details, and control. The balance between sub-bass and mid-bass is perfect for me; the speed is not the best, though. I've heard tighter bass with as much or more sub-bass extension, but they are coming from much more expensive sets.

Midrange:

The mid-range is neutral, with a slight hint of elevation in the upper mid-range, which aids in clarity but doesn't sound offensive or shouty.

Treble:

The treble has above-average macro and micro details; it is delivered with good delicacy and gentleness that are usually found only in good planar IEMs like the Hidizs MP145. It has a very good upper treble extension and is never fatiguing. This is the best treble I've heard at this price range so far. I only wish it had a little more grit and sparkle.



Compared to Moondrop Chu 2 (17 USD):

The Chu 2 (17 USD) is a very popular IEM, and I believe it to be the best-selling moondrop IEM of late.

The Chu2 is a fun but average-sounding IEM at its price range. This is not a fair comparison; I only included it here as a reference point.

The Pandamon is better in every way in terms of sound quality, so if you are looking for a good-sounding budget IEM under 25 dollars, I highly suggest you stretch your budget more to get the Pandamon. The sound quality you gain for the slight price increase is more than worth it.



Compared to Simgot EA500 (65 USD):

The EA500 is a very popular IEM and has been a benchmark in terms of sound quality in its price range for a long time now.

The EA500 sounds brighter and has a leaner bass. It could sound fatiguing on long listening sessions due to its lean overall tonality.

The EA500 has a flat and small sound stage and feels claustrophobic at times, while the Pandamon has a big sound stage, meaning that it feels like you are in a big venue when listening to the Pandamon.

I find the Pandamon to sound better than the EA500.



Compared to Moondrop May (60 USD):

The May is a hybrid of 1 dynamic driver and 1 micro-planar driver with U-shape sound signature. It has more sub-bass and upper-treble sound when used with a 3.5mm or 4.4mm cable. It generally sounds very good, with similar sounding highs. My only minor issue with the May when comparing it to the Pandamon is that I can hear less coherence between the two drivers; it's not obvious and, in fact, sounds negligible when you are listening to it on its own. It only became audible to me when I was comparing them.

Minor issue:

Dongle DACs and amps are usually designed to work with a load of 32 ohms. The Pandamon has an impedance of 9 ohms. This means it is a difficult load and is drawing about 4 times the amount of current at a given volume compared to IEMs with a 32 ohm impedance. The issue is that it causes my Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha and Moondrop Moonriver 2 to trigger their overcurrent protection and cut off the music when playing at a very loud volume. It doesn't happen to the Moondrop Dawn Pro though, but I can hear it struggle at loud volume levels. I have no issue with my topping G5.

This issue is minor as it only happens at very loud levels that can cause hearing losses when listening for a prolonged period of time. If you are only listening at practically loud volumes, there is no issue.

Pros:

+ Great sound at an affordable price.
+ above-average sound quality for the price.

Cons:

- Slightly difficult to drive.
- The included cable could be better.

If you have a collection of below-25 dollar IEMs and want better sound quality, or if you haven't tried a planar IEM before, then the Pandamon is a good place to start. I highly recommend the Kinera Celest Pandamon.



3-23-2024

I will be focusing this review on sound quality to make it as short as possible. So you wont get bored reading it.

The Simgot EA1000 (220 USD) is a mid-priced single-dynamic driver IEM with a passive radiator to enhance the bass.

The shell is metal and chrome-finished, and the faceplate is made of glass. The weight is on the heavy side, and the size is medium. The looks and feel are very elegant, and my unboxing experience is very positive.





Eartips and Cable:
The stock tips look and feel very good, and the cable is above average in quality as far as stock cable is concerned.

Pairings:
For this review, I used ePro EP00 medium eartips and Tripowin Seraph cable. I would like to emphasize my use of the ePro EP00 tips, as this IEM sounds the best with this tip. I use the red ring nozzles as I cannot take the aggressive sound of the other two nozzles that's included. I included photos of the graph I measured so you can see the frequency response of each nozzle. (see photos). Note: The peak at 8 kHz is a measurement artifact.
For the source, I use a Moondrop Dawn Pro dac/amp connected to an Android phone. This IEM sounds its best with warm-sounding sources.

Tonality:
A moderate V-Shaped sound signature that is slightly leaning on the bright side, even with it's mildest tuning nozzle, the red ring nozzles.




Technicalities:
The sound stage has average width with decent depth. They are not the biggest I've heard, but they don't sound cramped in and claustrophobic; there is a good amount of space within the sound stage, so it feels like you are in a club or a discoteque kind of environment at most on some songs.
The imaging is quite good, especially when used with the ePro EP00 eartips; they are well focused and could project sounds coming from behind. I thought someone was playing a musical instrument behind me, outside the wall of my house, and I had to pause the music to check. The left-right imaging is also decent, but it doesn't project very deep, making the front-back separation just average, but still decent enough not to make this IEM sound claustrophobic.
The detail retrieval is impressive, but the micro-detail is not the best that I've heard.
The power handing is very good. The sensitivity is above average. The dynamics are bubbling with energy. This is not a boring IEM, for sure.

Bass:
It is MId-bass focused and tight, but not devoid of sub-bass; there is still audible sub-bass that can be enjoyed. The upper bass is tight and clean and doesn't encroach on the lower mid-range. The overall bass sound is textured and detailed, and not a trace of muddiness can be found.

Mid-range:
The male vocals are noticeably behind the female vocals in their presentation. The lower mids are more recessed than the upper mids. The upper mids can sound too forward with the wrong pairing of Dac/amps and eartips. The overall sound of the mid-range is clear, detailed, and highly resolving, yet it still sounds musical.

Treble:
Energetic and slightly elevated, but not sibilant and harsh. It has impressive detail retrieval, but the micro-details lag behind. This has the best detail retrieval in a single DD IEM I've heard so far, but my experience with single DD IEMs is limited, so you can take this with a grain of salt.



Comparison method: I A-B them while writing this to avoid errors as much as possible. The eartips used in all the sets in this comparison are the ePro EP00 medium eartips.

Versus Kinera Celest PhoenixCall (110 USD):
They have similar tonality and timbre, with PhoenixCall sounding more recessed in the mids. Both have similar detail retrieval, but the PhoenixCall has a little more micro-detail nuances. Both have similar-sounding bass, but the bass on the EA1000 is more detailed and textured and seems to go deeper too, but by just a small margin. The bass on the PhonixCall is a little warmer.

The EA1000 is more prone to being shouty in the upper mids when paired with the wrong source; the PhoenixCall is more tolerant regarding the source pairing.

The PhoenixCall is an energetic-sounding set, but the EA1000 is more so. Both can take high amounts of power and can go very loud, but the EA1000 leads in this regard, albeit only by a small margin.

Both have a musical and engaging sound.

The PhoenixCall has a bigger sound stage.
The EA1000 is more natural-sounding; not that the PhoenixCall isn't; it is, but there is something about the sound of single-dynamic driver IEMs that makes them sound more natural than IEMs with multiple driver configurations.

So which one should you choose? The EA1000 is more expensive but has a classier-looking shell and feels more expensive as a whole, including the packaging and the unboxing experience. On the other hand, the PhonixCall cost only half the EA1000 and also has very good packaging and shell design and offers similar sound quality.

My advice is that if you can only afford the PhoenixCall, get the PhoenixCall; you are not missing out much, but if you can afford the EA1000, buy it. There is something so good about its sound that is impossible to describe in words that makes it worth its price.




Versus Hidizs MP145 (160 USD):
The MP145 is a warmer and bassier-sounding set; it has more micro-details and nuances in sound. The treble is delivered with more finesse and delicacy. The sound presentation is on the relaxed side and could sound a little boring and lacking in dynamics. The mids are more recessed. The sound stage is bigger. The bass could sound a little boomy and lack control when paired with an amp that has a high output impedance.

The EA1000 is more energetic and engaging. It has more macro-details and resolution. The sound presentation is closer and more immediate. The transient response is faster. The EA1000 has better imaging. The bass is much tighter, cleaner, and more detailed. The sensitivity and power handling are higher. Overall, the Simgot has a clearer sound.

So which one should you get? Get both. The MP145 is an excellent example of a planar IEM, and the EA1000 as a single dynamic driver IEM. Personally, if I could only have one, I'd get the EA1000.




Versus Xenns Mangird Top (550 USD):
The Xenns Top is a hybrid set that consists of a 10mm dynamic driver and 8 balanced armature drivers. It sounds more neutral and less energetic. It has more macro and micro-details and is more resolving, but not by much.

The Xenns Top has a bigger sound stage and better imaging and layering.

Both have very good power handling and sensitivity.

The EA1000 sounds more engaging and fun to me, and the Xenns Top sounds more serious.

The Xenns Top feels lighter and less expensive; the EA1000 looks and feels much better, IMO.

Personally, if I could only have one and have to do it all over again with the knowledge that I have now, I'd get the EA1000; it is less expensive and more fun to listen to.




Versus Simgot EA500 (70 USD):

The EA1000 is more energetic on its mildest-sounding red tuning nozzle than the EA500 on its wildest black tuning nozzle, but even so, the EA500 sounds so thin and fatiguing that I can't listen to it for more than an hour, while I can listen to the EA1000 for many hours without fatigue.

The EA1000 is better in every way than the older and less expensive EA500; it has more extension in the bass and treble, a much bigger sound stage, better technicalities and tonality, is more resolving, and, as I said, is better in every way.

The EA1000 is an excellent upgrade to the EA500.

Pros:
+ good looks
+ excellent build quality
+ excellent packaging and accessories included.
+ excellent sound quality
+ Impressive resolution
+ very good tonality
+ fun-sounding

Cons:

- sound stage is not the biggest.
- Micro details are not the greatest.





The big question is: is the EA1000 worth its price premium over the vast majority of budget IEMs costing 100 USD and below in terms of sound quality improvement? My answer is unequivocally yes. And considering the whole package, even more so. Would I recommend the EA1000 to my personal friends? Yes, if they can afford it.

If you're looking for an upgrade in sound quality, design, and build quality from your $100 and below IEMs, you can afford it. I highly recommend the Simgot EA1000.

3-16-2024

The QKZ x HBB Hades is the third collaboration of the audio company QKZ and audio reviewer/youtuber Hawain Bad Boy with his YouTube channel Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews.

QKZ is an audio company based in China. They mainly make in ear monitors that are targeted at the budget market.

The Hades (55 USD) is a basshead in-ear monitor, or IEM, that was tuned according to HBB's target frequency response curve to produce prodigious amounts of bass. As you can see in the graph that I measured (see photo), the bass is elevated by 15 decibels.

I am a neutral head or a person who likes neutral-sounding music systems most of the time, but I do appreciate other kinds of tuning too. I also enjoy listening to loud bass sometimes.

The sound:

This is 100 percent a basshead IEM; there's no other way to describe it. The bass is so prominent that the lower midrange is affected by having a bloomy sound. The imaging is average, but the soundstage is good, there's a sense of space when listening to the Hades; and the details and micro details in the treble are subdued.

Compared to their second collab, the QKZ x HBB Khan, The Hades has louder bass and better upper midrange and treble; the upper midrange on the Khan is shouty at times. Overall, I find the Hades better.

Pros:
+ loud bass
+ good-looking face plate

Cons:
- not the best sounding bass
- bloomy-sounding lower midrange

Even though I'm not a bass head, I know what a good-sounding bass sounds like, and the bass on the Hades is not the best I've heard, I think it is tuned loud just for loudness' sake, not giving care too much to the sound quality and texture of the bass. I wish there was more subbass focus on the bass and less lower midrange. But whether or not I can recommend this depends on whether you want something different and have the extra money to buy it, or if you are a big fan of HBB, then buy it.
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3-7-2024

First of all, I'd like to thank Hidizs for providing this SD2 dongle DAC/amp for my honest thoughts and review. This unit was sent to me as part of a review tour with my audio enthusiast group, but you can rest assured that everything I say here is of my own volition. There is no financial gain on my part.

Hidizs is an audiophile company based in China that makes digital audio players, dongleDACs, and IEM earphones.


The Hidizs SD2 (40 USD) is a recently released HIFI dongleDAC with a very compact form factor ( see photos); it is fully made of metal and has a very unique design.


Before we go to the sound quality descriptions, let me tell you in advance that all the differences in sound are very small and might not be audible to some people. You can take them with a grain of salt.

The Hidizs SD2 has enough power to drive any of my IEM earphones and most of my headphones to very satisfyingly loud volume levels.

Sound Quality;

The sound stage is quite big, with good height, width, and depth. The transparency is also very good, and better than all my small dongles. The tonality is neutral.

The bass is full-bodied and powerful-sounding, but I find it to sound a little boomy and could lack bass control on some songs and IEMs. It seems to blend together the bass guitar plucks on fast songs instead of presenting them separately.

The midrange is lush, musical, and transparent; it is neither laid back nor forward.

The treble is transparent and extended.


Vs. Moondrop Dawn Pro (50 USD);

The Dawn Pro has a bigger form factor but offers more power output. The Dawn Pro has a deeper sound stage and is about equal in height and width. The Dawn Pro sounds warmer, while the SD2 is neutral. The SD2 has a little less bass control, meaning the bass is less tight and more boomy. But again, let me remind you that the differences are really small; the form factor and size become a bigger factor in your buying decision.

Vs. Moondrop Moonriver 2 (180 USD);

These two have the most similar sound of the bunch, except that the Moonriver 2 has a little elevated upper treble and a tighter and deeper bass. The sound stage size is the same as well as the transparency, but I can hear the Moonriver 2 having a darker background.

Vs. Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha (100 USD);

The S9 Pro Plus Martha has more transparent sound, a bigger sound stage, and more bass control. The S9 Pro Plus has the most transparent sound of the group. If you don't mind the bigger form factor and more expensive price, I recommend the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha as it has better overall sound quality, but if size and price are more important to you, then get the Hidizs SD2.

Vs. Fiio KA11 (30 USD);

The Fiio KA11 is the real rival of the SD2 in this group; they were both released within a month of each other, and both are small (see photo). The KA11 is more powerful but less neutral-sounding than the SD2, as it has thicker tonality with somewhat boosted bass and treble, but again, the differences in sound quality are really small. The biggest deciding factor is the form factor. I like the Fiio KA11 for its slim and unobtrusive design, but I also like the Hidiz SD2 for being small and good-looking when connected to the phone.



It's not perfect; the bass control could be improved, but again, the differences are really small; it's just me nitpicking, and if you consider the price, design, and form factor, The Hidizs SD2 is an easy recommendation.

2-29-2024

Hiidzs Website : https://www.hidizs.net/products/hidizs-sd2-hifi-type-c-to-3-5mm-adapter-dongle-dac

Amazon link : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09G9YMHV5?th=1&tag=headfi-20

First of all, I'd like to thank Kinera for their generosity and trust in me and for sending me this beautiful IEM in exchange for my honest thoughts and review, but you can rest assured that all I say here is of my own volition, and I didn't get paid to do this.

Kinera is an audiophile company based in China. They make high-quality in-ear monitor earphones, costing from as low as 30 dollars to as much as 3,000 dollars, and most of which, if not all, have a lore behind the product name.

The Plutus Beast (90 USD) is one of the most unique IEMs to come out on the market of late. It is a tribrid, meaning the driver configuration consists of 3 types: a Square Planar Driver or SPD, as the main driver, which Celest pioneered the use of on their previous model; a Balanced Armature or BA driver, for the high frequency; and a low frequency Bone Conduction Driver or BCD, per channel.


Bone Conduction Driver or BCD, is a kind of transducer that converts audio signals into vibrations that travel along the bone structure to the cochlea inside the ear and are then interpreted as a signal by the brain.


I would like to clarify that this is not the same BCD as the one on the CVJ Konoka IEM. Because I've read some people confuse the two, the Konoka uses a vibration unit, not BCD, the vibration unit on the Konoka only works in a very narrow band near 100 Hz in my measurement graph (see photo), and the bass sound quality is nowhere near as good as the Plutus Beast.



I use the black/red eartips that came with the Plutus Beast, as well as the stock cable, They are high quality enough for the price that I see no practical reason to change them.
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Avoid paring it with bright-sounding dac/amps, particularly those with ESS Sabre chipsets, as they can trigger upper midrange glare. I tried it with my Topping G5 and Hidizs S9 Pro Martha, both of which have ESS Sabre dac chipsets, and I didn't like the pairing. I love it paired with the Moondrop Dawn Pro dac/amp, which has a Cirrus Logic CS43131 converter chip, so it's the one I used in the sound analysis. It also sounds very good with the warm sounding Fiio Ka11 dongle dac/amp.
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And before I forget, this set really needs at least 24 hours of burn-in, because after the burn-in, the cloudiness to the sound has gone, the sound stage has expanded by a lot, and the micro details have come out.


Tonality, timbre, and sound signature:

Mild V-shape with laid-back upper treble; the timbre is kind of warm and dark, this has an old-school and analog vibe of sound presentation.

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Technicalities:

It has good imaging, a big sound stage, especially on vocals, and good layering and separation, but due to the warmer treble, it is not the most resolving.
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Power handling, sensitivity, dynamics, and distortion:

This set can take a lot of power without sounding distorted; the sensitivity is slightly above average and is easily driven by the dac/amps previously mentioned. It has an energetic and engaging sound and likes to be played loud.
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Bass:

This is the best part of this IEM; it sounds to have more bass than the graph would suggest. It is thick, textured, and realistic sounding; it is midbass focused but not devoid of sub-bass; overall, this is one of the best sounding bass I have heard; it's not technically perfect, but I love the way it sounds, and I attribute all that to the addition of the Bone Conduction Driver.

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Midrange:

Most of the time, it is warm. There is some elevation in the upper midrange, as can be seen in the graph, but it doesn't get in the way of me getting lost in my enjoyment of music listening.
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Treble:

Dark, laid back, and warm, but the upper treble is still audible and open sounding.


Vs. Kinera Celest PhoenixCall (130 USD);
I think this is kind of the polar opposite of the Plutus Beast, The beast has better bass, IMO, while the PhoenixCall has better treble. The sound of the PhoenixCall is near the standard sound tuning, while the Plutus Beast is more specialized. If you ask me which one to get, I'd say get both. I think they were made to complement each other, to be used at different times and depending on the mood of the person.

Vs. Hidizs MP145 (160 USD);
The MP145 is a planar IEM that is also warm but with more resolution and technicalities in the treble. Compared with the Plutus Beast, the MP145's bass sound is on the boomy side, the Beast has more tactile and articulate-sounding bass, and the midrange sounds a little laid back on both, with the MP145 a little more so. The resolution may be a little better on the MP145 but the Beast is very close behind. As for recommendation, if you want a more conventional sounding set, I'd recommend the MP145, but if you want something different, the Plutus Beast.

Vs. Simgot EA500 (80 USD);
The EA500 with the red nozzle sounds boring in comparison to the Plutus Beast, IMO. With the black nozzle on the EA500, it sounds more exciting and can now rival the Plutus Beast, The EA500 is brighter and as energetic sounding as the Plutus Beast, I cannot listen to the EA500 for more than an hour due to its lean sounding note weight and the in your face flat sound stage; ultimately, I enjoy listening to the Plutus Beast way more than the EA500.

Pros:
+ excellent-sounding bass that has to be experienced.
+ textured and tactile sounding bass.
+ warm-sounding treble.
+ non fatiguing, good for long listening sessions.
+ unique overall sound signature.
+ easy to drive.
+ great power handling.
+ 80s old school vibe sound style.

Cons:
- The dark tonality will not suit all people.
- not for analytical listening
- Polarizing

I love it. The carefree, 80's old school vibe of sound that I get with the Plutus Beast is a rare find in today's market, which is mostly composed of mainstream and conventional-sounding IEMs. I applaud Kinera Celest for their bravery in making the Plutus Beast the way it is, using a combination of drivers that has never been done before and the unique in today's market, tuning. If you are tired of buying IEMs that sound similar to your old one, that follow a certain tuning, and have the urge to find something different, to listen to some genre or just to get lost in time while listening to 80's, chillwave, synthwave, ambient, lounge, vaporwave, space, lofi, retrowave mixes, etc. in my case, then I wholeheartedly recommend the Plutus Beast.

Happy listening! Cheers!

02-25-2024

First of all, I'd like to thank Kinera for sending me this beautiful IEM earphone, in exchange for my honest thoughts and review, with the emphasis that everything I say here should be of my own volition, and to take my time in reviewing this.
My perception of Kinera as an audio company is; that they belong in the mid-range to high-end class company based in China, their products always have artful and beautiful designs with lore behind them, Celest is a daughter brand of Kinera.

The Celest PhoenixCall cost 129.99 dollars but can be bought with discounts at my local shops in Lazada and Shopee, The packaging quality of the PhoenixCall is excellent, and the included cable is very good, and better than the included cables from my Moodrop Blessing 3 which cost 320 dollars and the Hidizs MP145 which cost around 150 dollars. The included ear tips are good too and doesn't feel cheap like the included tips from the Blessing 3. The build quality of the IEM itself looks and feels the same as the Blessing 3, which is very good as they both have 3d printed resin as shells, ensuring better production accuracy and consistency.

The PhoenixCall is a tribrid IEM, meaning it uses three types of drivers, a 7mm dynamic driver, a pair of micro planar drivers, and a pair of balanced armature drivers. it uses sound tubes to direct the sound to the ear canal.



The pre-installed white ear tips are good sounding, but I like the stock black ear tips much better, I love the sound of the PhoenixCall with it, It has better bass texture and note weight, better soundstage and even more natural overall sound, the PhoenixCall seems to be tuned with those tips in mind, but even so, I still tried the other tips in my collection and found the KZ Starline tips and the Moondrop Spring tips tend to make the bass sound thicker and the high frequency reduced, the Acoustune and Kbear 07 tips tend to increase the mid-range and upper mid-range, I also like the TRN T-tips and the Acoustune AET08. I highly recommend experimenting with other tips to get the best out of it, and again, I love the sound with the stock black tips.


I mostly used the Topping G5, Moondrop Moonriver 2 and the Fiio KA11 for this review, while the PhoenixCall can be driven easily with small and less powerful dongles, it needs your best quality dac/amps for the best result, as it can easily reveal the deficiency of lesser quality dac/amps. No equalization or any sound processing was used.


The sound:

Tonality and sound signature;

This is undeniably V-shape sounding to me, But some call it W-shape, because the mid-range and vocals may sound a little recessed, but they also sound very clear. The overall sound is very natural, clear and nonfatiguing, the sound presentation is like the sound of a high-end speaker system.

Technicalities;

Simply above average, it has clear and defined images, that are presented in 3d, layered and separated manner in a big soundstage.

Bass;

There is a little warmth in the bass, but the overall presentation is natural. The bass sounds fast, fairly detailed and never lean sounding, the dynamics are also very good and sound energetic. The sub-bass is rolled off but not devoid of it, I can still hear some sub-bass.

Midrange;

A little recessed but with very good clarity, this is not like most V-shaped IEMs where the mids are recessed and muddy, this is very clear and natural, I've listened to this for many hours and went through my music library to find faults, I haven't found any, There is no honkiness, shoutiness, glare and other coloration, all I hear is natural sound.

Treble;

Detailed, airy, clean, clear, noncongested and elevated, yet still sounds natural. I find no fatiguing sharpness, unnatural sibilance and muddy distortion.

Sensitivity, Power handling and Dynamics;

Now, this is the bonus part about the PhonixCall, I never expected this and only became aware as I listened more intently, the sensitivity is just average and it is easy to drive, but the power handing is excellent, it can take more power and go louder than the Blessing 3 and MP145, without distortion, mechanical noises and obvious dynamic compression. I have only tested this for a short time though, otherwise, my hearing would have been damaged by now.


vs the Hidizs MP145 (150usd)
The MP145 sounds warmer and darker on some songs, the bass on the MP145 sounds bigger and the vocals are more forward and fuller. The PhoenixCall on the other hand has more apparent details, treble air and overall clarity, both are very musical, natural and engaging sounding they sound different enough that I cannot recommend one or the other, I recommend them both.

vs Moondrop Blessing 3 (320usd)
The technicalities of the Blessing 3 are simply a class or two above PhoenixCall's, It is more holographic in image presentation, has more separation, layering and resolution, and has a bigger soundstage, but the downside is its lean-sounding note weight, on some songs it is okay, but on some, it sounds a little cold and clinical. On the other hand, the PhoenixCall sounds warmer, more engaging, more forgiving and more pleasant to listen to, on a long listening session. In terms of technicalities, the Blessing 3 wins, But in terms of listenability, the PhonixCall wins easily. Again, I can't recommend one over the other because they sound different enough to be used on different occasions and moods.

vs Simgot EA500 (80usd)
If you like the EA500 with the black nozzle, You'll gonna love the PhoenixCall, I consider the PhoenixCall a legit upgrade to the EA500, It has similar tonality but the PhoenixCall is warmer, less shouty, smoother, has more resolution, airier, clearer and so on, there is nothing in the EA500 I could find to be better than the PhoenixCall, I highly recommend the PhonixCall as an upgrade to the EA500, or at least, that's what I feel about it.

vs Mondrop Starfield 2 (110usd)
The Moondrop Starfield 2 is within the price range of the PhoenixCall, If you are asking which one to buy, Just buy the PhoenixCall, It simply has better overall sound, The Starfield 2 sounds fatiguing at times and not as airy in the highs.

vs CCA Rhapsody (40usd)
The Rhapsody is very good for the price, but cannot compete with the PhoenixCall in every way except the price. If you are looking for an upgrade to the Rhapsody, I highly recommend the PhoenixCall.

vs Moondrop May (60usd)
The sound signature of the May sits between the MP145 and the Rhapsody, and I find it to sound a little better than the Rhapsody overall, The May sounds warm and a little dark at times, I can't say the PhoenixCall is an upgrade to the May, The MP145 is the more likely candidate for that. But in terms of overall sound quality, the PhoenixCall is simply better and more natural.


No IEM is perfect, and that includes the PhoenixCall, I spent many hours finding faults with it, I only wish it had just a little more sub-bass and this is a nitpick, I really love the sound of this IEM with the stock black tips, but in any case, the PhoenixCall sounds so good that it made me curious about other Kinera IEMs in the higher price range, including those from the sister brand of Celest, QOA, or Queen of Audio, I'm seriously thinking of getting.

Thank you for reading and Happy Chinese New Year to all. Cheers!

2-10-2024