Reviews by MuddyCrab

The boring stuff:​

MSRP: $59.99 (Taken from Hidizs Website as of time of writing)
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 108dB/mW
Response Range: 20-40,000Hz
Driver configuration: 10mm Dual Magnetic Dynamic Driver
DAC Chip: ES9218AC Pro ESS

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this pair for free to test and play with but all opinions are of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)

Huh since this thing is straight to a type C port I didn’t really need anything else for it so that’s a weird feeling but one that’s welcomed.

Box:​

Packaging:​

Like every other pair in this area of IEMs you get the usual box with a picture on the front and the bare essentials on the inside. Not that I’m complaining but I still feel the need to point that out regardless. On the bright side it’s a plus in terms of trash considering how most of the packaging and the inside is made of varying levels of cardboard aside from the parts that protect the ear tips and whatnot.

Included case:​

Not as common but still up there in the OEM specials is the little leatherette pouch that opens and closes with a little bit of force. I actually really like this style of pouch for the space savings it brings. Inside my backpack or body bag it doesn’t consume any more space than it has to and when I’m using the IEMs they can be put away pretty easily. These kinds of pouches do tend to not last as long with the material drying out and peeling off into the heavens after a few months of use but that’s all well and good as long as you got to use them for a bit I suppose.

Build:​

The Cable:​

With a little break from the norm, the cable is wrapped in a nice Paracord like material. It's light and doesn’t cling to anything while you’re moving about and it doesn’t catch on itself either which is really good if you’re like me who tends to move around with their IEMs. Like with any cloth though there does tend to be some visible folds if you accidentally flatten it for a bit too long. It’s nothing major but just something to watch out for. I’d also worry a little about long term cleanliness. As with the natural properties of anything cloth based I’m sure it will eventually mop up some amount of dirt, sweat, and grime from regular use. I didn’t really see any washing guidelines in the box and putting the cable in water is obviously a bad Idea, I supposed the only logical way to clean the cable would be to wipe it down ever so diligently.

Shell:​

While I’m no connoisseur myself, I found the design of the ST2 pro a little uninspired. You’re basically wearing nickel sized logos in your ears with seemingly not a lot of thought put into the design itself. The rest of the shell is a clear black plastic that feels super thin and super light which is good for comfort but honestly not very confidence inspiring for longevity and durability.

Sound:​

IEMs​

While there’s nothing crazy negative about them there’s also not much else to say about them either. While stereo separation and imaging were good, the soundstage tended to be a little closed off for me. It’s got some bass which is decent enough and there was no obvious loss in detail. Everything sounded middle of the road for me and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, that’s not exactly what you want to hear from $60 IEMs.

USB DAC​

The major selling factor of the ST2 Pro’s would definitely be the DAC built right into the cable. It performs pretty great while not being too bulky considering they’re directly attached to your device. I never had any audio issues with it and it sounded consistent all throughout my time with it. While I didn’t do any A/B testing to see how much it colored the sound of the IEMs they’re attached to I can at least say that there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary in the way my regular songs sounded to me.

Microphone​

The microphone was clear on all my phone calls with no hissing or popping caused by any signal noise or over sensitivity. It didn’t sound like there was any noise cancellation or post processing being done but I didn’t expect it to have any either so that’s not really a loss. If you’re out in windy conditions they’ll definitely struggle as with most raw mics but if you’re someone who has to make phone calls then these definitely are more than usable. I didn’t get to try them with gaming but they’re probably okay for that too especially if you bring them up to a more optimal position.

Nitpicks:​

Red light district​

As someone who likes to work in dimmer environments the red LED attached to the DAC is a little annoying. I know what you’re thinking “Duh, Just put it on the other side!” and while that does help it doesn’t completely remove the red ambient light that spills down from it. Then maybe you’ll say “Then just cover it with some tape!” and to that I say maybe you should shut your mouth with some tape as well. I really like the window showing the bare electronics and if i have to cover that up then that’d just be a damn shame.

Oooooh what does this button do?​

This may genuinely just be a me problem but I found the media button on the cable incredibly spotty in terms of functionality. I use a pixel 5a so this may not even affect other devices but whenever I pressed the media button expecting it to Play/Pause it would sometimes randomly move to the next track or bring up Google assistant. It was like it was registering multiple clicks or possible a hold half of the time when I clearly just clicked it once. I didn’t have another android device to test it on so I really don’t know how prevalent the problem is but it’s an issue I faced so I thought I’d bring it up nonetheless.

$10 IEMS with $50 cables​

The fact is that when you buy the cables alone it only reduces the price by $10 so that really just tells me what the IEMs themselves are actually worth. They probably sound a little underwhelming because they were only meant to come with the cable as a sort of placeholder that you can use on the daily. While there’s nothing majorly wrong with it I do think that it could be a tad misleading especially if you don’t really give the product page a second look.

Final Thoughts:​

If you’ve already got a pair you like and are in need of a decent USB-C cable to supplement it then this is probably a solid one for you to get and just skip the IEMs themselves. While there are obviously cheaper ones, the paracord material and the transparent window are definitely things you can’t just get anywhere. If you’re looking for a solid starting point for your commuting kit then these also aren’t a bad call as long as you temper your expectations sound wise but can definitely set you up to be able to upgrade in the future.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Thanks for reading!

The boring stuff:​

MSRP: $99 (Taken from QoA Website as of time of writing)
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 102dB/mW
Response Range: 20-20,000Hz
Driver configuration: 6mm Planar Driver + 10mm Dynamic Driver

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this pair for free to test and play with but all opinions are of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
DAC: Letshouer DT03, Fosi K7
Dongle: Venture Electronics ODO

Box:​

Packaging:​

Simple and straight to the point. Not much frills to faff about inside the box. It’s got its documentation with a response curve, the included case, and eartips of the usual variety. I always appreciate no nonsense packaging but for something that’s about $100 I was hoping for something a little extra to be honest.

Included case:​

The case is the usual hard shell rectangular leatherette type material with the QoA logo stamped on the front. It has more than enough room for your IEMs and a dongle or possibly a small compact DAC in the little mesh pocket on the top side as well.

Build:​

The Cable:​

With a nice silver color in a translucent coating, the cable is on the thinner side of things which makes it light and easy to wear. It never once bothered me while I was wearing my glasses, which is always much appreciated and it didn’t really leave any soreness even after an hour or two of listening.

Shell:​

I really love the glittery shimmer that sparkles really well in the light that’s encased the shell. It’s not overly eye-catching when it’s just laying there but when you get a good look that's when it really shines. While the mimosa logo is on the shell it's not overdone and pretty tasteful. It matches the glitter with its silver lettering.

Sound:​

The Mimosa definitely shines most in its tight bass I think. It's not boom-y and overblown while still having a nice thump to go along with your tunes. Listening to some drum & bass and Lo-Fi definitely set an amazing mood for me. I did find it starts to struggle in the upper end in my experience. When there are multiple instruments ongoing the high end tends to get a little lost for me. I noticed it the most during EDM drops and orchestral choruses or cinematic climaxes. While Imaging was also pretty good, I did find that the sound stage tended to sound a little close but nothing egregious mind you. Just a little closer than what I’m used to.

Nitpicks:​

While there’s nothing that really irked me about the Mimosa’s they did feel a little underwhelming for IEMs close to $100. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they’re a bad value but just a little bland is all. If it weren’t for the pretty design of the shell and the good sound, There wouldn’t really be much for me to hold on to.

Final Thoughts:​

My overall impressions of the Mimosa’s are definitely on the positive side. Comfort, sounds, and aesthetics are all there for me at a price that doesn’t totally break the bank albeit still a little pricey especially in today’s climate of abundant budget IEMs. If you’ve already bought them and they’re already on the way for you then I wouldn’t worry too much about being disappointed by them. They’ll definitely make a solid daily driver for most people unless you’re a total audiophile looking that high but if you’re upgrading from your $20 IEMs then these wouldn’t be a bad option to throw in the list.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Thanks for reading!

The boring stuff:​

MSRP: $85 for base and $99 for set(which is what I got)
OS: HibyOS
Output: 3.5mm
Wireless: WiFi(2.4ghz), BT 5.1(LDAC, AptX, AAC, SBC)
Screen: 3” LCD, 800x480 resolution
USB: Type-C, 2.0 speeds with OTG support
SD Card: Micro SD up to 2tb supported
Battery: 1150mAh

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this unit for free to test and play with but all opinions are of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
DAC: Hiby FC6, Letshouer DT03
IEMs: Moondrop Starfield II, BQEYZ Frost

Box:​

Packaging:​

The Hiby R1 comes in a nice compact box with no unnecessary frills and mostly cardboard and paper which is always appreciated. It’s similar to most budget phone boxes with the unit up and center and the accessories right behind.

Microfiber pouch:​

The pouch included with the R1 set configuration is honestly a little impractical. It’s difficult to put in and what’s worse is that it makes it unusable too. There’s no hole for the headphone jack and there’s no space allocated for the side buttons to be accessible unless you wanna just push through the cloth material. I wouldn’t recommend using it unless you’re storing it long term for protection.

Screen protector:​

I’m glad it came with one considering that there doesn’t seem to be any kind of rating for the LCD screen. That’s not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion but that just tells me that I should probably be a little more cautious of the screen as compared to my phone. There are 2 sets included in the box which is a nice little touch too although it doesn’t feel particularly durable it should do the job for the most part.

IEMs and micro SD card?​

These do in fact come with configuration that includes some bullet style IEMs which are of modest quality and a 32gb sandisk Micro SD card. The Yves IEMs are on the warmer side for me but honestly passable for just getting you off the ground if you absolutely had nothing laying around. For a $14 value I think the SD card and IEMs set isn’t a bad deal especially if you don’t even have an SD card to begin with. It’s definitely more of a convenience thing especially if you’re just diving into the world of dedicated music players. And while 32gb might sound minuscule by today’s standards but it’s absolutely more than enough for an average user especially if you’re only running MP3s and not chunky FLACs

Hardware:​

Main body:​

The translucent shell looks nice in my opinion and it doesn’t really feel that cheap in the hand even though it’s an all plastic build. The plastics overall feel solid and don’t have any major imperfections of weird gaps in between. The colored accent trim also provides a nice pop of character to the unit regardless of which unit you get. The form factor is honestly perfect for just holding and using with one hand and I’ve had no issues just taking it out my pocket and scrubbing through the menus.

Buttons:​

The buttons feel good as well, they have a nice tactile feel and are easy to reach for even when they are in your pocket. Although that being said I found their button layout a little confusing. It doesn’t really make sense to me why you would join the Play/Pause with the next song button. Even after a few days of using the R1 I would still sometimes confuse the Play/Pause with a previous song button. Oh and if you’re wondering where the previous song button actually is then the answer is there is none! While I can honestly live without one but it’s still such a weird button configuration and just makes no sense to me. It’s almost as if they forgot to add in the Play/Pause at first but the molds were already made so they had to replace the previous song button with it.

Screen:​

The 3in LCD touch screen is decently responsive with passable brightness. I never had any issues using it outdoors or with bright indoor lights. The screen gets comfortably dim as well. I work with dimmed lights so having the screen dim as well is nice so that I don’t end up flashbanging my retinas in the middle of the night for no reason at all. Resolution wise, I have no complaints either. You can easily appreciate the album art on the screen while it’s doing its thing.

Battery life:​

I used the R1 for about 3-4 hours a day of continued usage. I wasn’t listening the entire time but I’d just leave it playing with the screen turned off with my IEMs plugged so that whenever I was at my desk I’d just pop them in. This kind of usage tends to last me around 4-5 days of battery life which is honestly more than good enough for me. It does charge on the slow side but that’s not really much of an issue. I did have to remember to turn it off because sometimes having it in my backpack it would accidentally play when a button would get bumped. Yeah you can turn off the buttons when the screen is off but I’d rather just turn off the entire device if I know i’m not going to use it immediately. I know there’s a turn off timer but I found it to be a little too short and I didn’t feel like watching the boot screen every time I was away from my desk for an hour or so which happens often for me.

Software:​

HibyOS seems to be decently responsive with most of my actions. There weren’t any major friction points while I was using the interface as a whole but It’s definitely not fast by any metric. Animations seem to run at a low frame rate making things feel choppier than I feel like they should be. Considering how small the screen is, these little steps in the frame rate feel bigger than they would on a smaller device. Aside from that the layout was fairly intuitive and If you’re already familiar with Android gestures then this shouldn’t be too steep of a learning curve for you. Sure you’ll still need to learn some custom gestures like the swipe left from the right edge for the now playing section but these are minor and easy enough to learn as you use the device.

Sound:​

Over the wire:​

One it’s own, the Hiby R1 can power most IEMs without much issue but I found it adding a tinge of brightness to most of what I was listening to. It doesn’t completely destroy the sound but it was definitely noticeable at first but after that initial shock they sound pretty decent on their own. I will say if your IEMs are already pretty bright to begin with then this might add even more for you. Although all of this can be mitigated with your choice of portable DAC but that kind of turns it into more of a table listening experience rather than just shove in your pocket and go kind of thing but that can be more of a case to case basis thing.

Bluetooth:​

With support for most wireless audio codecs I never had any issues in terms of connectivity over Bluetooth. Signal was usually pretty decent even if I was across the room doing something while the R1 was on my desk and sometimes even between a concrete wall.

Nitpicks:​

Plastic shine:​

I get the feeling that the textured finish of the plastic around will eventually shine from daily use which is basically unpreventable unless you do your best not to touch the device.

Ah! the light!:​

The LED indicator that’s on by default is super annoying and yes, you can turn it off but it makes me wonder who the LED indicator is for? Couldn’t a smaller one have sufficed?

*head tilt* nani?:​

I was hoping for a rotation feature so I could orient it in any way while I was using it but that doesn’t seem to be a thing here. Mostly I was just hoping to use it in landscape most to be honest since I tended to press the buttons in a way that oriented the device sideways so whenever I reached for the device to look at the screen I ended up always tilting my head a little to check the screen especially if I had to hit the previous button or adjust the playback order.

Is this a key chain hole for ants?:​

If you’ve got butter fingers like me then there’s a very good chance you don’t have much hope in getting anything in the keychain hole. It’s an incredibly tight squeeze that I feel like even seamstresses would have difficulty with and after 5 minutes of fighting it I just gave up and decided I didn’t even wanna use it with a lanyard anymore.

Final Thoughts:​

While it’s not the cheapest option out there in terms of Dedicated Audio Players, It’s definitely one of the easier to use and feature rich ones in its category while being built pretty well.. It makes a solid everyday carry for anyone looking into small form factor devices that you can shove just about anywhere. With a decent battery life and a passable user interface, If you’re a commuting warrior who doesn’t like whipping out their phone then this might be a nice little addition to bring in some color to that dull train ride. Maybe even play some anime music to feel like you’re in the end credits of one(like this one from insomniacs after school).

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Thanks for reading!

The boring stuff:​

MSRP: $179 (Taken from BQEYZ Website as of time of writing)
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 113dB/mW
Response Range: 5-40,000Hz
Driver configuration: 10mm Dynamic Driver + Micro Planar Transducer

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this pair for free to test and play with but all opinions are of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
DAC: Hiby FC6, Letshouer DT03

Box:​

Packaging:​

The overall footprint is compact with no unnecessary packaging material which is always nice to see. It doesn’t feel cheap either without having to resort to random fluff in the box to keep your attention. Yes, it’s simple and yes, it’s probably not amazing for most people but It has all the bare essentials and it’s clean and presented to you in a pleasing manner so I don’t think there’s anything else you can really fault there.

Included case:​

The case being slightly more rectangular than the regular had shell squares most IEMs come with is actually a pleasant surprise. I never felt like I had to over coil the wire just to get it to fit properly in the case and there’s more than enough space on the upper mesh for a dongle or two but in my case I was able to fit the Hiby FC6 which has a pretty small footprint to begin with.

Eartips:​

The Frost also came with 2 kinds of ear tips with 3 sizes each. It’s the usual affair of “Open” and “Vocal” kind of silicone ear tips. If you have no preferred ear tips that you usually go to then these should at least get you by finding whichever you’re most comfortable with in terms of sound and fitment.

Build:​

The Cable:​

The cable included is honestly one of the best parts about the whole thing for me. It’s such a pretty collar with this cobalt blue that’s almost Lapiz in shade but not quite. It pairs so well with the IEMs themselves that it honestly feels like a waste if you replace it even if the new pair was more expensive. In terms of material choice it’s no slouch either. It has a nice looseness to it that has the right amount of rigidity to maintain its shape even after being coiled. There’s also no cable noise of any kind when rubbing up against my shirt or when moving around. The cable is also thin enough that it doesn’t really need to taper down to a smaller size when it reaches the ear hook parts. I’ve never had any issues with my glasses with the included cable and firmly secure the pair whenever I’ve got them on.

Shell:​

BQEYZ continues to astound me with their designs. They gracefully balance on the line of sophisticated and self-expression with the eye-catching but not overly loud silver pattern across the shell. With the matte finished aluminum inner side, it doesn’t get greasy from long listening sessions or doesn’t attract any unwanted fingerprints either. The overall build of it feels solid with no uneven gaps in the seams or no concerning connection points whatsoever. Yes, at this price point you should probably be expecting that already but it’s still worth mentioning considering how some do miss the mark on this.

This is more of a subjective thing but I also found them sitting quite nicely on my ear even with the relatively flat shape on the inside. Probably due to the slimmer overall profile of the shell making them easier to secure on the inside of my ear which is usually more for ergonomic shapes. They also don’t feel overtly hefty while still having a premium feel. Obviously they are never going to be as light as pure plastic shells but in the realm of aluminum builds these are definitely on the lighter side of things.

Sound:​

What immediately stands out to me sound wise with the Frost is its sound stage. It’s got a nice open sound that places things just the right distance. Orchestral hits sound especially nice and filling without being too mixed in together and losing too much detail. The melancholy in the echoes of Come Over - Noah kahan just speaks so much especially when you add in the subtle backing vocals and secondary guitars in the back. On the flip-side however it’s lacking a touch of lower end for me. While there is bass, it lacks just a lick of sub bass for me. Kick drums have a thump but don’t have that granularity and texture that I've come to expect from pairs with a more supple bass response.

Nitpicks:​

The pattern is encased in a supposedly crystal glass which does give it a nice quality to it but knowing that material choice, I couldn’t help but be a little extra cautious with the pair. Glass is glass and glass breaks. If the gorilla glass on my phone shatters from dropping it off a table in a certain way then I’m sure that these are no different. While I’m not particularly rugged with my IEMs(especially ones that are just loaned to me), unfortunate stuff still happens and I can’t help but feel a shudder of fear whenever I hear the glass clink on a hard surface.

Final Thoughts:​

While the BQEYZ Frost isn’t cheap by any means I still feel like they don’t disappoint in the value department. Sure you could probably get something similar in sound at a lower price point but the look and feel matter too and these definitely deliver in that department. Admittedly the lower end did disappoint me at first but once I got over that the sound stage just let me experience my music in a completely different way that made me realize that maybe it isn’t too bad to stay on the brighter side of things every once in a while.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this pair for free to test and play with but all opinions are of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

GEAR USED:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
IEMs used: Moondrop starfield II
Headphones used: Philips SHP9500
Bookshelf speakers used: Edifier MR4

BOX:​

The K7 didn't come with much aside from the bare essentials. A Type C to A cable which I would have preferred to be a touch longer considering that this will probably be plugging into the back of your PC and if it’s on the floor or off to the side it might be a tough reach especially if you want to cable manage it properly. A 3.5mm mic and audio splitter for the combo jack users out there. Aside from the cables all that’s left in the box would be its Power cable and brick which are both assuming and generic looking which there is nothing wrong with except for the annoying green light on the power brick which forces me to unplug the thing when I go to bed.

BUILD:​

Shell:
The entire thing is built on extremely solid feeling Aluminum. With a nicely powder coated black exterior that’s cool to the touch and a nice premium heft the K7 definitely doesn’t disappoint in the build quality department in terms of its main body

Knobs and buttons:
All buttons on the K7 felt nice and tactile with no hint of mushiness or cheaply made switches anywhere. You’ll be certain of your key presses and won’t have to double click anything due to doubt. The same affair goes for the knob when it comes to its physical feedback. It spins indefinitely with no start or stop which I think boils down to personal preference but what is objectively good about it is that the ridges are well defined and even the CNCed little ridge on the top of the knob is easy to feel for making orienting yourself without even looking at it extremely easy to do. It’s got nice chunky steps as well which help with fine granular control without being too sensitive and I’ve never really struggled with adjusting my volume on the fly.

Screen:
The screen would be the most “meh” part of the physical build in all honesty. It looks like a cheap LCD with a hazy quality too, especially in the dark which can make the smaller elements on it like its output and input a bit more difficult to see. There’s also seemingly no straightforward way to adjust the brightness of the screen which I found mildly annoying, especially at night when I like turning the lights low and there’s just this bright orange speck on my desk. What I can say is that it’s nice that it’s angled, making it easier to read even when it’s a little up towards your desk. Overall it’s not a horrid screen but it definitely feels like it’s one of the more disappointing physical features of the device.

SOUND:​

Bookshelf speakers via RCA Cables:
Where I honestly enjoyed the Fosi K7 the most was through my Speakers. For context, I’ve only ever just plugged in my speakers to the standard 3.5mm jack of PC which sounds just fine but plugging them in via RCA definitely changed the game for me. Suddenly everything felt like it had a nice oomph to it, especially the low end. I’m not saying these drastically changed the way my speakers sounded but I can definitely tell that they’re hitting more of what they’re capable off with the K7 than without.

IEMs via 4.4mm balanced out:
While this didn’t drastically change how I perceived the music like my speakers, I can honestly say that listening to them gives me more confidence knowing that anything I plug in can be powered and listened to with a solid foundation.

Headphones via 3.5mm out:
Surprisingly these had the same effect on my headphones as they did on my speakers, albeit to a slightly lesser degree. They definitely improved the overall sound and made everything a little bit more “meatier” I guess would be the best way to describe it. Again, I want to reiterate that they didn’t suddenly turn my headphones into HD600s but it definitely makes me feel like I'm getting more out of my gear then I normally have been doing so and that’s pretty cool.

NITPICKS:​

On the Bluetooth:
While the Bluetooth input was pretty cool considering that I could just play music straight from my phone to my nicer speakers but It felt like a Bluetooth output would have been a better feature to have If I was given the choice. I can see a scenario where someone would more likely have a bluetooth speaker in tandem with earphones / headphones rather than some bookshelf speakers and for those people that feature would have been killer.

On the “Gaming” part:
Admittedly this one is a little lost on me. Aside from the UAC stuff(which is admittedly nice for our Nintendo brothers out there), I don’t really see how the other feature sets are gaming centered. You could probably argue for the mic input being one but at the same time Fosi doesn’t really explain what their “Intelligent Noise Cancellation” is in the marketing material so it feels a little brushed off to me.

On the viewing angle:
Since there’s no way to adjust the screen brightness and it can get a little bright and also a little glare-y sometimes it can be a little difficult reading the text on it at times. I would have preferred a slightly steeper angle or at least maybe a crude way to adjust it to make it a little more comfortable to read.

Final Thoughts:​

I definitely enjoyed my time with the Fosi Audio K7 and while it’s not the all in one solution I think it’s trying to be, it definitely hit a lot of boxes for me. Solid hardware with decent features that I think can be the nice cherry on top for most people.

If you find yourself looking for a central control station for your audio setup that you don’t really feel like adjusting anymore then the K7 might just be the thing to slot right in. With not much thinking needed regarding compatibility it should be a simple setup to go for in most configurations unless you have something really quirky.

But those are just my thoughts and remember that the best gear is the one that makes you enjoy your hobby the most that's within your budget.

Thanks for reading!

The boring stuff:​

MSRP: $29.99 (Taken from BQEYZ Website as of time of writing)
Impedance: 40Ω
Sensitivity: 113dB/mW
Response Range: 20-40,000Hz
Driver configuration: 12mm Dual-Cavity Dynamic Driver

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this pair for free to test and play with but all opinions are of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle - Mobile use: Fiio KA11
DAC - PC use: Letshouer DT03

Box:​

The BQ-10 box is a modest affair with no frills which I can appreciate. Inside the box you’ll find the IEMs themselves, the included cable inside a relatively common style of carrying case but solid nonetheless with a stamped BQEYZ logo on it and the included eartips of various sizes.

At this price range the inclusion in the box are more than adequate for me, the clamshell zipper style hard shell case they included that’s fairly common feels practical and robust and there’s also enough room for a dongle or two in the mesh pouch inside so if you tend to flip flop between type-C and lightning dongles like me then you won’t have much of an issue here.

Build:​

The brushed aluminum design on the shell is honestly pretty tasteful to me. They market the pair partially as gaming IEMs but i’m glad that BQEYZ didn’t lean into the gamer aesthetic too much. Will it turn gamer and audiophile heads when you pass by at the local LAN cafe? No, probably not but you can sit down in a regular cafe without turning heads as well which I’d argue is a good thing for the most part.

The inner shell of the IEM is a semi-translucent glossy black plastic that has some ergonomic details on it but like any pair your mileage will probably vary if these will work for you. They do however get pretty shiny and greasy after a while so you’re going to want to wipe them down after an intense round of gaming if you’re sensitive to that kind of thing. Also the cable included is a nice thin silver twisted pair that wears very nicely even for spectacled folks such as myself. They won’t mess with the fitment of my glasses and also don’t rub in any weird way.

Sound:​

While they are nothing to write home about they definitely sound pretty decent for the price although if you’re a bass you may want to take a step back from these considering that I found it lacking a little in that department. Which also leads me to wonder why they’d market these as gaming headphones. Stereo imaging and sound stage are decent so they’ll probably be useful in gaming in that regard but the lack of bass might also make you miss footsteps and other low sound cues and the brighter sound might make gunshots sound ear piercing but since I'm not much of a sweaty FPS player myself I really can’t really confirm this myself.

Gaming aside tho the brighter feeling sound these give off does make acoustics sound livelier such as in Weak (Acoustic Version) - AJR and Wake Me Up (Acoustic) - Aloe Blacc however the flip-side that if you like listening to the more belty and louder side of artists then these my come across as a little grating to you in certain parts especially at volume. The BQ-10 also seems to depreciate in the detail department especially at lower volumes. I tend to listen at lower volume when I’m just working to avoid distraction but they tend to sound significantly more bland in that area which makes it even more distracting but this is obviously more of a use case thing.

Nitpicks:​

The L and R indicators of the cable are oddly located on the visible side and not on the inside which just looks weird to me to be honest. It looks worse to me in general and will also probably fade faster since it’s on the outside. There’s also no included chin strap bead thing on the cable which makes it a little harder to keep and not tangle on itself and it will tangle every now and then which can get old incredibly quickly.

Final Thoughts:​

Would I recommend these to my more gaming oriented friends? Probably not since most gamers I know are also bass heads. Am I going to recommend these to my music loving friends? Not immediately, but if I know that they like to listen to more folk and acoustic music then I might tell them to give these a try. Ultimately the BQ-10 is a pretty decent pair of IEMs and includes everything you’d want for something in this price bracket as long as you know the sound profile you're getting into.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Thanks for reading!

The boring stuff:​

MSRP: $1,399.00 (Taken from HiBy Website as of time of writing)
Impedance: 9Ω
Sensitivity: 112dB/mW
Response Range: 20-40,000Hz
Driver configuration:
Super Tweeters: Enhanced EST x4(shared converter)
Tweeter/Mid/Woofer: High Performance BA x4
Subwoofer:10mm Liquid Silicone DD x1

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this pair for free to test and play with but all opinions are of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle - Mobile use: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
DAC - PC use: Letshouer DT03

Box:​

Hearing how much the HiBy Zeta was I was expecting this to come in a Pallet box as a show extravagance but to my surprise it came in an extremely reasonable box. Still premium feeling yes but nothing more than what was necessary. Always have to give props to companies who don’t go overboard on things like packaging and just wasting a bunch of space and plastic on a silly little box.

Inside the box is the included 4.4mm Balanced cable in a swanky feeling faux leather green case, 3 kinds of ear tips in 3 sizes each for a total of 9 included ear tips (I used the “balanced” one for most of my time since it was the comfiest), some documentation, and the IEMs themselves. The variety of tips is appreciated for you to be able to pick which suits your fancy. The cables are also held together by a faux leather magnetic cable organizer which is a nice little touch.

Build:​

The Zeta’s shell is made of Titanium stainless steel and has this matte, light gray, gun metal like finish with geometric etchings on the side which give it a nice little pop. They feel pretty good when worn with no sharp angles and pretty ergonomic feeling for my ear shape at least. The matte finish also doesn’t feel very oily after use unlike glossy metal or plastic finishes I’ve tried which is a nice little bonus and I like that they’re pretty muted in general but still have a nice bit of flair.

Where the set does draw attention to is the beautiful cable it comes with. The 4.4mm Balanced cable is supposedly coated with a material containing Lapis lazuli as per the marketing material and while their statements of the Lapis “transmitting” the emotion of the music maybe a little overzealous, It certainly has a stunning quality to it due to the richness of the color. The cable itself is on the thicker side making it a little heavy but it kinda adds to bring the color to life with how present it is wherever it lies.

Also If you’re concerned if the cable will bother the fitment of your glasses, then worry no more! It will.. If you’re prone to minor headaches due to shifting glasses then these are most likely a no go out the box. Every time I wore the Zetas I had to remove my glasses first then skillfully slide in () my glasses. Even after that maneuver I’d still have to adjust myself every few mins due to just my head moving around. Obviously using another cable would solve this issue but I assume when you pay $1,399 for your IEMs, you’d wanna use the gorgeous cable that comes with it.

Sound:​

Right off the rip, the Hiby Zeta sounds great! The best way I can describe it is that everything feels like they are where they should be. Each instrument is clear and precise and exactly where they should be. Listening to Billie Bossa Nova - Billie Eillish puts you in a smoky room smelling like cigars, sipping on whisky while feeling the bass line just course through you when you have these on. However, That’s not to say they’re without their flaws. The bass sounds great and really rich and deep like hot chocolate but they can sometimes feel a little too much. While everything is in its right place direction wise, their distance is a little too close at times which I feel can exaggerate what I'm hearing at times. Things can get a little heavy pressure wise as well which can make me feel a little uncomfortable when I'm listening to them for longer periods.

Nitpicks:​

The little chin strap that’s on the beautifully thiccc cable is fighting for its life. You can barely move the thing and when you do it feels like you’re squeezing everything though like a sausage. I don’t see the point of putting something like that on when it’s barely functional and can possibly be a cause of damage when improperly handled.

The case that comes with it is yet again a glorified storage container and not really practical to bring around. It’s round and bulky and the faux leather probably won’t last very long through normal wear and tear. At this price point, I honestly wouldn’t mind getting a storage case and a decent carrying case. Also another thing, While the green color is very nice and honestly my preferred color, it kinda doesn’t match with the IEMs themselves. Stunning blue cable with a silver shelled IEM all going into a curiously green box. It kinda feels like they just used whatever spare box they ordered way too much because the factory’s MOQ wouldn’t allow for anything less.

Final Thoughts:​

Clearly at this point it’s clear that you don’t get something like the HiBy Zeta for its great value proposition. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad product though, It still sounds great to me and the material choices are definitely on the swanky side but it’s definitely not for everyone with me included. If you’re like me who’s always after a good price to performance ratio then you probably aren't going to add these to cart and I suspect the people who these are for already know they want it and don’t need someone like me telling me to get it.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Thanks for reading!

The boring stuff:​

MSRP: $99.99 (from Oriveti website)
Impedance: 16Ω
Sensitivity: 105dB
Response Range: 10Hz-20kHz
Driver configuration: Exclusive Be-Coated 9.2mm Dynamic Driver

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view. I was also loaned this pair for free to test and play with but all opinions are all of my own with no guidance given whatsoever.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle - Mobile use: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
DAC - PC use: Letshouer D03

Box:​

Oriveti packages the Dynabird in a lovely slim box that’s not too large and justified with the fact that it comes with a practical carrying case and 2 sets of included ear tips for your pleasure.The carrying case isn’t the flashiest looking which is good and is a practical size, enough for the pair on one side and then some dongles or accessories on the other. The inside is seemingly lined with felt which is a nice touch and has a little elastic band where the IEMs sit that don’t choke the pair but keep them in place enough that I feel comfortable throwing them around in my backpack without much worry.

Build:​

I appreciate the clean lines with the dark gun metal like finish that highlights the subtle branding on the sides of the pair itself. They honestly don’t look very ergonomic because of its overall design but I found them pretty comfortable even for longer listening sessions while working. They’ve got a pretty small foot print in general so I don’t think a lot of people will be having fitment issues with these.
The cable the Dynabird comes with is nothing special from what I can tell at least. It’s your usual glossy black braided wire that can be a little annoying when it tangles because of the knots in between persistently catching itself. There’s no rubbing noise when you wear them and they’re pretty light which doesn't add any unnecessary weight since the IEMs themselves already feel on the weighty side because of the aluminum shell(compared to plastic shells at least). They also don’t interfere with my glasses while wearing which is always a plus for us visually impaired folk.

Sound:​

The Oriveti Bleqk Dynabird presents a surprisingly pleasant sound without swinging too much in either direction. The bass can still boom without losing detail and it’s got a nice texture to it and not just a soulless bump shaking your skull while not clouding over any of the light details like strings or gentle vocals.

In Feather - Sabrina Carpenter there's this unexpected crescendo of strings that I only now realized was there during the later chorus. It adds these short build ups to the chorus that keep it feeling alive and vibey when you hear them clearly.. For Gloria - Kendrick Lamar & SZA, the subtle jingle of the wind chimes at the back adds such nice ambience to the song without being grating considering its high pitch.

Nitpicks:​

While they’re comfortable fitting, the sharp lines and edges can be a little harsh when they shift every now and then from regular movement. If you happen to put them on a little bit wrong you’ll definitely feel them pretty quickly. Holding them or accidentally laying your arm on the IEM can also be an annoying experience with how sharp the edges are.

This might be a me issue but I found the pins loosening off the IEM after a few wears. Not to a concerning amount mind you but just enough that you see the pins. I’ve had to push them multiple times to reset. This could honestly be a nothing burger but I’d hate to imagine not noticing them then storing them in a bad position only for a pin to break.

Final Thoughts:​

I wouldn’t call the Oriveti Bleqk Dynabird class leading in any way to be honest but I also wouldn’t have any regrets spending $99 on them that’s for the most part. If you’re looking for what seems to me a pretty solid sound that feels good enough for almost all of your listening in a fairly premium feeling build then should tick those boxes. I’d definitely place these in the solid everyday carry category especially with the secure and practical carrying case it comes with.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle - Mobile use: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
DAC - PC use: Letshouer D03

Box:​

Celest is back at it with their minimal but tasteful packaging wherein you know exactly what you’re getting and there’s absolutely no fluff. Some might call that a negative but I honestly couldn’t care for large imposing boxes with nothing but foam on the inside unless there’s something actually useful in there. It comes with 2 sets of ear tips for your preference but I did most of my listening on the ones that came on the pair since that fit me the best. Aside from those, the box art is also nice and quite tasteful with the refreshing lack of cute anime girls.

Build:​

For how intense the name and marketing is, the IgniteX feels like it’s really practical in most cases. The stock cable it comes with has this glossy sheen that makes it not stick to itself like most rubbery cables and also doesn’t easily tangle in on itself. It’s stiff enough that it lays down easily but not heavy and doesn’t fight you. It’s on the thinner side all the way through and it doesn’t interfere with my glasses in any way.
The design itself is subtle enough that it won’t catch any unwanted attention but definitely detailed enough that when you do catch a glance you’ll appreciate the ember like fire shimmering within the pair itself.

Sound:​

While it’s not exciting or extremely fun to listen to, the IgniteX’s sound is definitely extremely solid and offers an amazing value for the price. It’s got a nice open enough feel that places most instruments at the right distance and has an adequate thump in the low end without giving in to the easy way of just booming the hell out of it.

The hi-hats and cymbals in FLY HIGH!! - BURNOUT SYNDROMES are really crisp and precise without sounding too harsh. The subtle thumping in the background of Are You Bored Yet? (feat. Clairo) - Wallows especially in the quieter parts is really satisfying to listen to with its gentle rhythmic bumps.

It’s not all perfect of course, I found it struggling when there’s a climactic orchestral hit where all the strings are just going at it. Everything tends to blend and mix in at the higher end especially when there’s a lot of stringed instruments going on. If you like listening to OSTs and classical then these might not be very up your alley sound wise.

Nitpicks:​

The glossy cables and the IEMS themselves can feel very oily at times and makes it feel kind of weird. They tend to feel odd after a few days of use so you kind of want to give them a wipe down every few days just to make them feel less icky(yes, I'm a grown man who uses the word “icky”).

You lose a lot if you’re someone who likes to listen at a lower volume. Whenever I’m in the office and I'm keeping the volume relatively low to keep a level of awareness in my surroundings but I tend to not enjoy these as much when I do so, compared to other pairs I've tried at least. I’m not quite sure what causes that and might honestly be just a me issue but I thought I'd mention it nonetheless.

Final Thoughts:​

If you’re looking for a step up from your sub $10 IEMs then these might just hit the spot for you in value. They definitely hit that good value mark for me and could easily be a minor upgrade or even a first piece to get you started into your listening. Of course they’re not magic but I’d consider them a practical choice at a pretty reasonable price.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

The boring stuff:​

Price: $249 (Based off HiBy website)
SOC: Snapdragon 665
DAC: ES9018C2M *4 Dimensions: 129.6*68.3*18.5 mm Weight: 231g
Operating System: Android 12
Connectivity: Wifi 2.4/5ghz, BT 5.0
Display: 4.7in IPS Display 720x1280
RAM: 3gb Internal Storage: 32gb, Supports SD Card up to 2tb
Battery: 4,500mAh

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in. This unit was also lent to me to test and check and I did not purchase this device with my own money.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
SD Card: 128gb Sandisk with FLAC files
IEM: Moondrop Starfield II, Celest Wyvern Abyss, Dita Audio Project M, and Binary Audio Dynaquattro

Box:​

Packaging wise, the HiBy R4 is actually pretty reasonable. A box with a nice looking sleeve that opens up to the device itself then underneath that is the included TPU case and screen protector. Inside a little box is the included C to C charging cable which is about a foot long which is probably fine for most use cases but realistically you most likely won’t use it Aside from that there’s also a little bit of documentation and a warranty card which you probably want to keep as with everything device.

Build:​

The majority of the body seems to be made of Aluminum and bits of plastic which gives it a nice industrial look. From an aesthetics standpoint it may be a little divisive especially if you’re more on the minimalist side but for me personally I actually like the way it looks. Unfortunately however, how it looks seems to undermine its practicality in my day to day usage.

The device’s Hard edges and thick chassis make it cumbersome to use on a day to day basis. When holding the device in most ways the corners tend to dig into your hand and make it uncomfortable even in just the short instances wherein you're scrolling through your music library and deciding what you want to listen to. This is somewhat remedied with the included TPU case but not really by much. Shoving it in your pocket is also inconvenient because those sharp corners and window bump(?) will just catch on everything on the way down or up making it just a chore if you have to do anything with the screen..

It also has this translucent window at the back with a little plastic bump that spans across the back of the device which honestly confuses me. Best guess would be for Antenna placements for WiFi and Bluetooth but did it honestly need to have a bump? There also seems to be an LED inside which might indicate something but definitely not something obvious from what I can tell.

Thankfully in the endurance department it definitely did not disappoint. I took the HiBy R4 with me for a trip over the weekend listening to it while waiting for and during my flight and a little bit on and off throughout the weekend and I didn’t have to charge it once at all. By the time I got home it was at sub 10% but that’s definitely more than impressive. If you took the time to drain it with non stop music playing I’d wager probably a full day’s worth of playback time based on what I experienced. Your mileage may vary of course if you have things like WiFi or Bluetooth on but generally I’d say you’ll have no complaints over battery life. The unit itself does tend to get a touch warm after an hour-ish but nothing you should pull the fire alarm over.

Software:​

The HiBy R4 comes with their own skin of android 12 which seems to be mostly barebones aside from the HiBy music player and other related apps which is fine because those are probably the music centric apps you're going to be downloading and using anyways. You can switch between the different modes such as Music only, Android, and DAC mode right in the notification shade which is convenient and I generally left it on Music only mode since most of my music was on the SD card but from time to time would fire up YT music when i was within wifi range.

While the device only has 3gb of RAM it wasn’t sluggish in any meaningful way and is definitely responsive enough to use without much frustration. You’re also most likely going to need a SD card on this because the device only comes with an anemic 32gb of internal storage and you have to remember a portion of that is already taken up by the operating system.

That being said, once you do have all your files on an SD card it’s pretty simple to just plug in and the HiBy music player app will easily recognize most of your files and show up instantly and organize them for you to an extent. This made it so that I almost didn’t have to do anything once I put in my files and made me instantly switch the device to music only mode and just enjoy the music experience from there.

Having the ability to listen to my personal music library then switching to my preferred streaming service and knowing that practically whatever I plug in from my arsenal I won’t have to worry about anything is such a nice feeling. Also, having a 3.5 and a 4.4 ready to go means that I can just grab whichever pair tickles my fancy that day which is admittedly a first world problem but this is to an extent a tertiary device so of course it would be nice to have creature comforts like those.

Sound:​

And enjoy the music experience I did because this thing definitely plays the part of a HiFi audio player. While I may not be the judge when it comes to FLAC vs MP3 and whatnot I definitely enjoyed a lot of my music from a different lens than i normally do. The best way I can describe it is probably that everything feels more put in their proper place. I tried it out with a few different IEM pairs and while it’s more apparent in some than others such as more power hungry pairs it is still definitely there.

I’ll be the first one to admit that my ears are not the most refined but from a normie perspective I can still confidently say that these add another layer of enjoyment to my music and one that I definitely did not expect.

Nitpicks:​

In the upper right portion of the screen there’s a little LED strip indicator for charging and what mode you’re in that can be a little distracting at times. There seems to be no obvious way to control it and it doesn’t even turn off when you lock the device. When you’re in a dark environment like a Plane or maybe you’re winding down at the end of the day listening to music it becomes a little difficult to ignore that it’s there.

The screen is dimmer than your stereotypical anime romcom main character. I’ve had the brightness turned up full tilt the entire time it was with me except when I was on the plane and even then not by much honestly. Drinking your morning coffee on the balcony will involve a little eye squinting and the classic hand shade maneuver to clearly see what’s on the screen. Putting in a 720p is fine on a DAP but screen brightness is a universal feature that any modern touch screen device should definitely take into consideration.

Another pain point for me is the buttons are incredibly uneven when it comes to tactility. Some of them click just fine while the rest will paint you a gradience of mushiness. It may have just been the unit I got and possibly something an RMA could fix but If it's a consistent problem for other units then I think they should definitely look into that. I feel like this is especially crucial for a device like a DAP because you generally want to use the physical buttons as your main interface option. It’s a music player at the end of the day and if I can’t fine tune my volume because the buttons take varying levels of pressure to press and I inevitably have to check the screen then I think that’s not an ideal user experience.

Lastly, and this might be more paranoia than practicality, I'm concerned that if you lean towards the Android side of its feature set - like using multiple streaming services or having apps for Bluetooth devices like headphones or TWS (True Wireless Stereo) - it will bog down that 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage rather quickly. Remember that you can't move all app data to an SD card, so there will be a low ceiling. I'm not saying it's a deal breaker, but I think it should be something that you should be aware of.

Final Thoughts:​

If you’re after sound and versatility to maximize your probably growing collection of IEMs and possible power hungry headphones then the HiBy R4 might just be that sweet spot for you without having to take out a second mortgage. For a fledgling audio enthusiast such as myself I don’t really see myself needing any more features than the R4 already has and I wouldn’t want to be spending more either to be honest.

While I understand that the size and thickness are most likely physical limitations presented by the hardware inside, I don't think HiBy made it any easier for themselves by designing it in such a way that it seems like it's almost pocketable but not really. Expect to use the R4 when you’ve found a comfortable place to sit or maybe have a little body bag with you so it’s not as inconvenient to bring out when you want to use it on the go like at the airport.

Is it the perfect portable HiFi audio device you can get for close to $250 SRP? Obviously not but if you know what you’re getting and understand what you want to use it for then I think having the HiBy R4 in your everyday carry will prove to be one of your best go-to audio devices, whether that’s sitting down on a fine Sunday afternoon at your local spot(support local cafes!) or waiting at your boarding gate killing time and relaxing before a flight. Just don’t shove it down your pocket.

But remember that music is a personal experience and the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most.

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle - Mobile use: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
DAC: Letshouer DT03

Box:​

If you were looking for an exciting unboxing experience then this ain’t it chief, but that’s honestly not a bad thing. While one can say that the packaging looks like it’s straight from a mall kiosk selling screen protectors, I genuinely think that’s a good thing. If they saved one everything and put all their focus on the actual product at this price point then by all means have at it. I would rather have a basic ass unboxing experience and a decent pair of IEMs rather than some fancy box that’ll be shoved to one corner and a mediocre pair. Plus the lack of frills in packaging is also good for the environment as a whole so I always want to shout that out.

Build:​

These might have one of the best IEM and cable pairing I’ve seen so far. The cable looks like its the body of the dragon all coiled up with its scales leading all the way to its beautiful pair at the end. The scales on the IEMs themselves have this beautiful shimmer to them all enclosed in what seems to be some resin on top. It’s definitely a beautiful set and definitely one of my favorite looking IEMs. It doesn’t stand out in any way but It’s only when you take a closer look that its beauty becomes apparent.

The cable it comes with is also this nice breaded rubber material that doesn’t easily tangle. It also doesn’t cling to everything unlike some rubber type cables. Although since it’s on the squishy side it feels a little fragile but i honestly don’t think it is. It also has the added benefit of being easily coiled up into a small package for putting into a carrying case of your choice considering that this doesn’t come with one.

While this is totally subjective, I’ll just add that the fit on these is amazing on me. If you’re the type of person who has a hard time fitting IEMs with more of a flatter shape on the inside then these should be solid for you. They don’t feel big on my ears at all and are definitely not heavy. I wore them through a 2 hour flight without taking them off and experienced no soreness whatsoever.

Sound:​

As I alluded to in the beginning, when it comes to this price point I'd rather have good sounding IEMs rather than a fancy box and these definitely deliver in my opinion. Now they won’t blow your mind away that’s for sure but what they are to me at least is amazing value for the price. I wouldn’t call them reference or balanced in any way but they sound fun and make me enjoy my music and at the end of the day that’s all I really care about.

They are a little bass heavy but not to the point of muddy and they don’t offer the best sound stage but stereo imaging seems to be accurate and you will definitely be able to hear most of the things you want to hear in the places where they are supposed to go. What I really enjoyed listening to on this are some good old 2000s pop rock songs from the likes of The Script and The Frey (Bands really liked using “the” back then it seems). Something about the way the drums sounded back then really makes it feel so punchy and satisfying.

In If you see kay - The script the bass drum and sticking sound really punchy and crispy while being supplemented really nicely by the bass guitar all the while still appreciating the strings going on around you. Life is a highway - Rascal Flatts is also a stand out banger to listen to one these with the quintessential rock drums but to be honest this song sounds amazing on anything and Rascal Flatts is a gift from the gods.

Nitpicks:​

While the cable doesn’t tangle a lot it does tend to keep a lot of its memory in terms of small kinks. It never really sits right and can be kind of annoying when you’re just trying to set it down on a table or something. It also tends to build up a lot of oil and looks unevenly shiny at times. With the cable being what it is I do get the inkling that it won't age very well but that's more of a hunch than anything else.

Final Thoughts:​

If you’re not after a balanced sound and lean towards more of a bass head but don’t want something that’ll make your skull vibrate then I think these will really fit nicely in that category. Great value for the build and sound quality you get. If you’re looking for maybe a cheap commuting pair or a pair you can throw in the bag or just leave at the office and won’t really cry over if they get a little beaten up then i think these are amazing for that. You probably won’t even feel too bad if you decide to replace the cable with something like a mic and some media controls.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

The boring stuff:
Price: $259.99 MSRP from Binary Audio website
Impedance: 23Ω@1kHz.
Sensitivity: 111dB/Vrms.
Drivers:

• 10mm dual-diaphragm
• A dual-magnetic dynamic driver with composite material diaphragm
• 6mm passive diaphragm.
• 8mm dynamic driver with a cermet textureless diaphragm
• 6.8mm high-frequency dynamic driver with a pure aluminum material diaphragm

Materials:
Housing: 3D printing process using high-quality resin material
Face covers: CNC machining process finished with an Anodizing process

Disclaimer:
I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:
Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle(Mobile use): USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
DAC (Desktop use Ugreen QCC3034

Box:
This thing’s packaging definitely leaves an impression with how imposing it is but it honestly feels like a waste of space and materials. I know these are getting up there in price and people want the unboxing to be an experience on its own but it always feels so unnecessary to me so I never cared much for big cardboard boxes that I’ll just stow away in a dark corner of my room.

But inside this stack of cardboard and foam is a pretty decent carrying / storage case that I wouldn’t actually mind using outside if i had nothing else to use. Yes it’s definitely on the chunky side and it’s hard plastic but at least it’s unique in a way that doesn’t make it unusable unlike some IEMs who’s included carrying case is definitely eye catching but impractical and feels like it was included just to help justify the price abit without really considering it’s usability.


Build:
Overall build quality is lightweight and nice to hold. The design is very prominent and clearly seen from a distance while not being super loud and super obnoxious like some other IEMs lately where it feels like it’s their job to catch you attention and not produce sound. If there’s one thing

The included cable is also a very decent silver-ish braided cable that pairs with the IEMs very very well. They’re slightly on the thicker side so if you’re a person who wears glasses these will interfere with them a bit. They do tend to keep their memory very persistently so if you coil them for storage then they’ll just twirl about when you use them but that’s fairly common with these types of cables I think.

Sound:
Sound wise tho these definitely do not disappoint. Although they’re a little harder to power than most of the IEMs i’ve tried they definitely don’t sound bad out just a normal Dongle but if possible definitely try these with a DAC. They’ve got a nice low end while that’s nice and boomy without being overbearing. I think they shine the most when you’re listening to deep and somber male vocals like Solo(piano Version) - Myles Smith. You combine that great bass with male vocals and you get an amazing listen to Work song - Hozier, The bass just thumps your soul while you’re taking shots with Hozier and feeling everything as the backing choir washes over you.


Nitpicks:
If there’s one thing to note from them build quality wise tho is that they don’t feel very premium in the hand or in ear. I know $259 isn’t the peak of luxury in the audio world but they definitely aren’t cheap by any measure. I’m not sure if the 3d printed resin or a cost saving measure or a tech thing but it kinda just makes it overall a little underwhelming material wise.

These also feel very present in your ears. What I mean by that is that they’re kinda hard to ignore even after a few minutes of listening. They’re not uncomfortable but they feel very big inside you (). It’s probably a shape thing and is most likely a subjective thing but if you’re a person who has a hard time fitting larger IEMs then I think that’s something to consider.


Final Thoughts:
If what you’re after is great sound for your desktop setup or your HiFi DAP then these would make a pretty solid daily driver. Providing a fun sounding experience while not missing anything from the music itself. They may not feel the most premium but they do feel robust and should last a decent while. I’d look past these tho if you’re a mobile user who primarily uses a dongle instead of a DAC, they’re not a terrible listen mind you but you will definitely feel that something is a little lacking compared to when you’ve got these plugged into something a little more substantial.

But remember, music is a personal experience, and you should find the gear that makes you enjoy your music the most regardless of what a graph says.

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything, I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L

Box:​

As usual, I’m a big fan of practical packaging and this being right up there. The MP143 comes in a simple yet classy box with everything it comes with inside. It comes with 2 sets or ear tips with 3 sizes each which amounts to a total of 6 total ear tip pairs for you to choose from and a leatherette pouch that uses a tension clasp mechanism that you have to push into to open.

I honestly love the little pouch this thing comes with. It provides a nice compact carrying case without being extremely bulky but at the same time convenient to throw in and out of your bag. The Hidizs logo is subtly stamped on the front of the bag which is a nice little touch to break up an otherwise plain pouch. One thing to note is that the inside of the pouch tends to catch on any Hook & loop type material so if you have a cable organizer made of that then you should probably not use it in tandem with this case because it’s kind of a pain to remove without feeling like you’re ripping your little pouch friend inside out.

Build:​

The shells themselves are built pretty solid without being too heavy and it’s got a nice matte finish to it making it nice to hold and handle as well. I do wonder how long the finish will last if you’re the kind of person who accidentally bumps them together all the time but so far during my time with them, I haven’t had any issues yet.

The cable it comes with is also this nice shiny silver color with a thin diameter that follows all the way up to the ear hook so if you’re an optically challenged person who needs pieces of glass for your eyes then these should hamper your daily wear in any way. Although it’s a perfectly fine cable it tends to be a little stiff and unforgiving which in turn also makes it a little cheap feeling. It’s not that much of a big deal but it can be a little messy if you just put your DAP or Phone on the table and it kind of just sits there.

If there’s one thing to note about the build itself is probably how wide this thing is. It’s not super big mind you but it’s definitely on the upper end of IEM size and with its sharp edges it probably will be a little inconvenient if you’re using a carrying case that’s just right for it because it might dig into things if placed awkwardly

Sound:​

The MP143 is my first crack at checking out planar magnetics and they definitely disappoint any of my expectations. The biggest difference I definitely noticed is how tight the low end can get () regardless of how many things are going on. Although it definitely feels a touch closer and less open than most of the things I’ve tried, it really doesn’t dilute any of the experience you get out of it.

In Aono Shioriuta - FantasticYouth, the toms roll during the pre-chorus sound thumpy. It feels like it's my first time hearing them after hearing this song so many times. The clarity of imaging on these especially in something like Hurt Somebody (Alex Adair Remix) - Noah Kahan & Julia Michaels shocked me with where everything was at. all the sub bass in If the World Was Ending (Marian Hill Remix) - JP Saxe & Marian Hill just reverberates through my entire being with how it feels in my head.

Nitpicks:​

I probably sounded a little too enthusiastic with how it sounded and while everything I said was true, I only ever got to enjoy how this thing sounds a few songs at a time before they’d either pop out or just make my ears hurt from being shoved in for too long. These things just don’t fit me in any shape or form. I tried all the tips included and even the ones on my daily driver but nothing would get them to have a solid seal and a consistent fit. If I wanted them to get a somewhat decent seal for a bit I’d have to twist them in this weird awkward angle and then the cable pins would be too far out and make the ear hooks practically useless at that point.

This is clearly a subjective thing but if you’re like me who tends to lean towards more ergonomic shapes with a smaller and deeper fit then I’d suggest you find a physical pair to fit just to be sure because I honestly did not enjoy my time with these too much no matter how good they sound.

Final Thoughts:​

For $159 these things aren’t the cheapest things around but in the grand scheme of planar magnetics I think they present a pretty good value proposition especially if you’ve never experienced this kind of technology before. Just be sure to do your due diligence when it comes to fitment because these things definitely have a pretty unforgiving shape so if they don’t fit you properly there’s really not much work around there.

While I didn’t really enjoy my time testing them I can still appreciate the sound they offer and if you’re like me who’s never tried planar magnetics before BUT you’re confident these will fit you then I don’t think you’ll be disappointed whatsoever with your purchase.

But remember, music is a personal experience and you should find the gear that makes you enjoy your music the most regardless of what a graph says.

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L

Box:​

For $89, everything is there. A small box with all the fixings inside, I’d rather have these compact packages with everything inside to be honest. It makes it easier to keep the box while still being able to appreciate it. They come with a hard plastic circular case with a screw on top which is honestly a first for me. I wouldn’t call it impractical but as a carrying case it definitely becomes a point of friction if you plan to store and bring the IEMs around in them. The whole plastic case also has the matte black finish on it which I know will just love oily fingerprints and marks on it. I still prefer my little carrying case with all my dongles than the included one but if these are your first pair I suggest you look for a more practical alternative than having to unscrew your way to your IEMs everytime you just want to chill at a cafe. Definitely more of a storage box than a carrying case.

Inside the case there are also the included ear tips in this circular holder of sorts which is cute but definitely takes up way too much space. It comes with 6 pairs of tips, 3 sets for a white set which is soft and another 3 for a stiff set. I ended up using the soft set since it provided the nicest seal for me while being comfortable as well. This will obviously vary from person to person, but it was a little fun going back and forth between the sets dialing the fit down for maximum comfort.

Build:​

After holding and feeling the pair for the first time () what immediately came to mind was the initial confusion as to what the actual material itself was. It honestly felt like one of those magnesium alloy built the same type they use in more expensive laptops because of how lightweight it was while seemingly still being metallic-ish. Although after checking the specs I found out it’s actually resin 3D printed for the inner shell and aluminum for the outer side. It’s honestly pretty cool that something of this footprint can weigh this much. I don’t know if this 3D printed resin is a newly used material in the IEM space but if it leads to cool outcomes like this then I’m all for it.

The included cable is this nice metallic silver looking braided cable that’s got this inner foil like material inside it. It matches the pair pretty nicely and it’s not noisy or heavy at all so if these are the only cables you have then I don’t see anything wrong with them for day-to-day use.

Sound:​

The main thing I appreciate about these are guitar strings and higher register.The guitar strumming in Chivalry is dead - Trevor Wesly can be clearly heard and appreciated. The drums do sound a little lackluster but still there, nonetheless.

The backing vocals sound especially crispy in Missin You Crazy - Russ. These seem to be very good within that range of vocals being clearer and not missing any details in place of a deeper bass. So if you’re an official bass head then these probably won’t do it for you but if you like to lay down a bit of country and folk then these might be your partner.

Honestly the tuning itself isn’t for me but I can appreciate it in certain songs, nonetheless. While the overall sound stage is very nice, I can't help but feel this sense of distance from me and the sound itself. Not sure if it’s an actual feature but there are some song vocals that sound like they have this layer in between them and the mic. Either that or it’s because certain things just sound so more pronounced that it puts certain ranges on the backburner.

Nitpicks:​

My biggest personal gripe with these is for how lightweight they are, you still feel very aware of them while wearing them. I don’t know exactly what it is, it might be the fit or the overall shape, but these just don’t disappear after a minute. Fitment is comfy overall, and they create a good seal for me but every time I wear them, I can’t help but be very present with them. The best way to describe it would be if you’re suddenly aware that you’re breathing and now you’re breathing manually (I bet you just did).

Final Thoughts:​

If you listen to a lot of Pop or EDM then these might not sound very fun to you but if you’re on the flipside of that spectrum then I don’t think you’ll find a lot of things to complain about what you’re getting for the price. I do think that this price point is extremely competitive right now and these don’t exactly offer anything outstanding aside from the unique-ish material choice. But if you thought they looked nice and already ordered them then rest easy because these won’t break your heart like that girl that every country singer seems to talk about in the back of their F150 pick-up truck.

But remember, music is a personal experience, and you should find the gear that makes you enjoy your music the most regardless of what a graph says.

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Techhead than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L

Box:​

The box is a simple affair with everything you’d need for the IEMs themselves. I honestly prefer simple packaging as a whole while still being premium with its feel and texture. Less waste in general and less bulky things to keep as well but I know this isn’t the general sentiment especially when you’re paying $300+ for IEMs.

The Pair comes with this hard plastic case that’s trying to look like a little mini pelican case with a little handle to boot. The case honestly misses the mark for me a bit. It looks like a case for a toy and it’s also impractical with how bulky it is. Even as a general display thing and not a carrying case it tends to be on the small side when it comes to the insides and the sharp plastic edges make it seem like if you close it wrong or aren’t paying attention you’ll break a cable by accidentally pinching it while closing.

I know companies have to show off and make their mark when it comes to inclusions and all but I’d really appreciate it if they considered functionality first especially when it comes to something like an included case. I ended up just not using it at all and reverted to my cheap little pouch that can fit all the cables and 2 dongles while being half the size.

Build:​

The IEMs themselves are beautifully immortalized in a clear resin leaving their drivers exposed for you to ogle at when you’re bored. Personally, the comfort of these are beyond amazing. I can wear them practically for hours on end and I don’t have any issue with any soreness at all. They’re on the ergonomic side when it comes to their shape so that depends on you whether what your preference is but for my fitment these are just about as good as I can ask for.

While I haven’t noticed anything yet the one concern I do have regarding the build is the longevity of the resin itself. Resin has a tendency to discolor overtime especially when exposed to UV(like the big ball of gas we call the sun) so I wonder if these will be the same. With that being said I’m sure most people will be using these indoors near their pour over setup with their imported coffee beans so I’m sure It’s not an immediate concern whatsoever.

The Included cable is nice and thin making it easy to wear and does not interfere with my glasses. They are this matte feeling plastic braided cable which are not noisy at all and they also don’t tangle very easily. Very easy to coil around and very easy to uncoil. The end is also removable with your choice of 3.5mm or 4.4mm which I think is a very nice inclusion especially if you don’t have any extra cables on hand. It does make the end bulkier than it normally would be but I think that’s a small concession for the added functionality.

Sound:​

If I could sum up the sound out of these it would be “simplicity and clarity”. It feels like it opens up the sound very nicely to each song and it makes minute details stand out without being too overbearing in their attempt to be heard. It’s got a nice punch to it but it does not try to disrupt any of the ensemble of sound you’re trying to hear.

The splash cymbal in Stubborn Love - The Lumineers has this spread to it that makes you really feel the entire resonance of the hit on the cymbal. The distortion effects in the background in Kingslayer (feat. BABYMETAL) - Bring Me The Horizon provides a nice layer of detail that you won’t really appreciate unless there’s this level of clarity involved because sometimes it’ll just be heard as noise. It doesn’t take away from the main song but more of a subtle bonus to the song with how good the sound stage is on the project M. Screechy singing doesn’t hurt either. And the escalating chords in the back of Weak - AJR then it’s completed by the overlaid vocals without the horns interfering with each other. You really get to appreciate each element individually while still having the ability to zoom out and just capture the whole picture.

Nitpicks:​

It’s rough because the 2 things that make me appreciate these more are also the 2 things that give me friction with my day to day use. It’s like the bittersweet double edged audio sword. These 2 things being its resin build and its ergonomic shape.

The clear resin is beautiful for sure but after man handling it for a couple of days without wiping them down the fingers from everything that’s been touching them seems to make them feel super slick and also make them look on the cloudy side at times. Of course wiping them down frequently would be the obvious solution to this but if these were your daily driver do you realistically see yourself wiping them down religiously?

The ergonomic shape while being a blessing for its comfort is also a curse to its compactness. Them being very outward shaped makes them a challenge to lay flat to close down your carrying case if the fit is just right. You’re really gonna want a bit of vertical clearance in anything you put these in(which the included case definitely doesn’t provide by the way).

Final Thoughts:​

Is project M the complete package when it comes to comfort and sound for me? Honestly, kinda. At this price point it’s a little thin when it comes to its bells and whistles but bar for bar these things fulfill that essential “daily driver” hole in my heart with just how well rounded it is. Out of the box it’s been plug and play wherever I’ve taken it. If these fit you as well as they fit me then you’d be hard pressed to not consider these as your next upgrade if you’re coming from the $100-200 price bracket.

Simplicity and clarity, That’s about all I can say that will encapsulate the Project M whether that be in its sound or its design.

But remember, Music is a personal experience so make sure to find whichever makes you enjoy it the most regardless of what a graph says.

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Teach head than an audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bit rate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L

Box:​

Starting at certain price points you kinda want a nice unboxing experience and this definitely has on without being over the top or unnecessary. You open up this unit of a box to reveal the IEMs then with the silver pull tabs on the side you can start to unpack the rest down all the way revealing this posh white case.

The case it comes with is definitely more of a storage case rather than a carrying case. With its white pleather material and white exposed stitching you definitely don’t want to be shoving this thing in your backpack everyday. Reminiscent of a watch case it definitely would be a nice display piece on your PC setup or IEM collection. The Elysian branded microfiber cloth inside is a nice little touch as well to further add to its overall vibe.

Build:​

The stock cable it comes with is pretty nice with a metallic silver finish that matches the IEMs themselves making it for a fairly simple but pleasant color palette. It all leads down to a nice little stop with a subtle and classy looking Elysian logo. I’ve been rocking the stock cable the entire time and it’s not loud when you ruffle against clothes and it’s light enough not to be cumbersome in any way. The ear hooks are covered in a clear plastic material like usual but it’s not too thick wherein it starts to bother my glasses.

With a nice and even matte silver finish the IEMs themselves are lightweight and nice to hold. There’s a little indicator for left and right on the inner side of them which is a nice little bonus for people like me who have the hardest time somehow putting on cables on the right side even. While the overall finish is super nice and premium, the mirror accent pieces are honestly a little annoying. The sharp ridges tend to catch on cloth or anything fibrous while the mirror finish itself which seems to be the bare aluminum gets micro scratches super easily making it looking fairly worn down after a while. They still look good from afar don’t get me wrong but they definitely start looking a little battle worn close up.

Sound:​

If you’re gonna skim this entire section then the one thing you should know is these sound super fun to listen to. In terms of sound quality the two things that stand out to me the most are its bass and its accentuated imaging.

In terms of bass it’s not the strength that gets me but the richness I feel from it. There’s this extremely satisfying thump that hits you without messing with any of the other sounds coming from it. It’s got this nice reverb roll off that just gives kick drums and some EDM bass such a nice texture. The chorus bass hit in Wake Up Alone (feat. Jhené Aiko) - Chainsmokers has this nice reverb effect that’s just very apparent with the Pilgrims. As for the imaging, the clarity in some of the minor instruments that's isolated is eye opening in some songs. The level of detail you get out of something like the bamboo flute in Head in the clouds - 88rising which is something I never really noticed before and the electro stereo effects in This is what space feels like - JVKE where the left and right effects are slightly offset but you still get that flavor out of them just takes you to a different dimension.

Oh and another added bonus of these I found out is that even at lower volumes you still get a nice full sound out of them. There are times where I would need to lower the volume but I’d still get a nice little kick out of the bass. Clarity doesn’t suffer either, everything can still be heard at lower volumes which is just the cherry on top.

Nitpicks:​

This is clearly a case to case thing but these things just don’t want to give me a proper seal after a few minutes. I can’t go a few songs without pushing them back in and trust me, I’ve tried all the tips and sizes I could have possibly tried.

These tend to be flatter(physically and not sonically) and shorter on the inside so it might be less ergonomic I think.. For me personally, IEMs like the salnotes 7hz with that kind of flatter inside shape have never really given me a good fit.

Because of the constant effort to keep them in my ears like keeping my loved ones in my life, they tend to hurt after a bit so no matter how good they sound I just can’t enjoy them for a longer listening session let alone try them for things like movies or TV shows.

Final Thoughts:​

While the whole fitment thing is an instant deal breaker for me, It’s obviously something that will depend from person to person so I'm not really going to count that in this final conclusion.

At the end of the day I think it’s an okay package with great sound. I do wish they took more consideration into the longevity of the mirror finish accents because it does have the price tag to warrant it. If these will live solely in its case and be taken out for dedicated listening sessions then the durability probably won’t be an issue but if these will become your daily drivers then you might want to take those factors into consideration.

But remember, Music is a personal experience so make sure to find whichever makes you enjoy it the most regardless of what a graph says.

Disclaimer:​

I’m a basic bitch and only use Youtube Music for 90% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for being a normie. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium(set to always high)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L

Box:​

The first thing I have to talk about is the included cable which I've been loving so far. It might be a little silly to put so much weight into a cable but for someone like me who listens to music on the go moving about in the office and also as someone who wears glasses these things have been super comfy to wear around. The ear loops part is super thin making it easy for optically challenged folks like me who need glasses at all times. It also comes with 2 kinds of ear tips for you to choose from which they call “Atmosphere” and “Reference”. I found Atmosphere to sound nice btw and it's the one I used most of the time.

There’s also a nice little zippered hard case inside that’s wrapped in some faux leather. The case is roomy enough that you can coil the IEMs pretty loosely and just shove it in without any concern for weird bends and kinks. There’s also a little pocket on the top side where I was able to fit 2 dongles and a little portable DAC. The case all in all is pretty nice and can easily accommodate a portable setup for you to bring along and not just enough space for IEMs at a reasonable footprint that you can fit in a backpack pocket or little fanny pack without taking up too much space for your silly little vape.

Build:​

The detail and finish on these is honestly a work of art in simplicity. They resemble small jewels you’d find in earrings. The simple shape and minute details paired with slightly pale blue color just gives it this air of classiness that I just adore. They definitely reflect their premium feel without being too loud(Pun always intended).

Speaking of feel, they’re also light and comfy on my ears. They have a nice small footprint that feels just about right when I wear them and they don’t feel like they’re wearing down my ears at all. It’s pretty easy to forget you’re wearing them and just let them melt into you.

Sound:​

Honestly when I first tried them they sounded very nice and balanced but as I listened to more and more songs I began to notice how shouty it can sound sometimes. Songs like Beautiful Things (acoustic) - Benson Boone and Koshaberibiyori - FantasticYouth were super tough to listen to at times and I don’t just mean at the super loud parts when they’re belting but also during some of the piano parts. I don't normally have that issue with other pairs so I found it more noticeable this time.

They do offer some nice spacious sounds at times when you get a song like La La Lost You (Acoustic Version) - NIKI and it makes the gentle nylon guitar strings sound even more melancholic than usual. In terms of bass they definitely have some but they have kind of a whoofy quality to them. They’re clearly moving air and it’s not muddy or overbearing but it sounds more airy rather than a nice tight oomph.

Nitpicks:​

It feels like it’s priced a little high to be honest. At $169(nice) It’s a bit of a hard pill to swallow if you’re like me and didn’t exactly vibe with the overall sound.

Final Thoughts:​

If you like listening to gentle acoustic songs or some casual indie and folk then these offer the right stage for them but if you feel the need to have an emotional breakdown as if you weren’t already in a happy relationship then this might be a tough sell for you.

P.S. I'm sorry if I don't use audiophile terminology. I'm not really familiar with them to begin with and I like describing things in a way that even my non-technical friends can understand.

Disclaimer:​

I’m a basic bitch and only use YouTube Music for 90% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for being a normie. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium
IEMs: Moondrop Starfield II - 3.5 unbalanced

Build:​

Starting on the outside, the S8 Robin Pro has a solid build with its aluminum body. Nice hand feel and it’s not too heavy either so it doesn’t drag down and flex your cables too much if ever you happen to have it hanging off the side of your tablet or PC. The buttons are nice and clicky with easy to feel shapes. The one thing that disappointed me however is the Play/pause button. Not because it’s a bad button but because I honestly thought it was a volume knob at first. It even has nicely textured sides that give it that knob feel. I don’t really know if it would have been better if it was a volume knob but it definitely gave me the wrong first impression. It also wobbled slightly so that doesn’t give me too much confidence in its longevity but that might just be my unit specifically.

Sound:​

In terms of sound the main thing I really noticed from it was the nice boost in volume. Although I don’t think I needed the volume in the first place considering that I don’t listen at very high volumes to begin with. Along with this boost was also this feeling of warmth and brightness added to my listening experience. It was subtle at first but really came out during acoustic songs and guitar strings. I don’t know the proper terminology for this but it sounded a little more lively albeit a little grating on certain songs that make stuff like Lewis Capaldi’s belting a little hard to listen to at times. All this to say that I think it was a nice little addition to my listening experience, however minor it might have been at certain times.

Nitpicks:​

My phone has a lightning connector and for the life of me I could not get any lightning to Type C cable to work on this. I don’t know if I’m just dumb or if I'm missing something but one would think that that’d be a pretty simple thing to do although I get the inkling that this is partially Apple’s fault in their ways of proprietary stupidity.

If you plan on using this for calls then keep in mind that this will not pass through Mic inputs. I was told this was a pretty common thing among Hi-Fi DACs but that’s honestly still kind of disappointing. It would have been nice to use my IEMs from listening to music then swapping over to my headphones with a mic for discord when it’s time to game just to make things more of a seamless transition.

Don’t just shove this lovely little piece of technology in pockets willy nilly cus that fancy little not-a-knob will catch on crap like a plow on a rice paddy. The thing is already kind of shaky to begin with so I imagine bringing along some extra cargo in tow cannot be good for its lifespan.

Final Thoughts:​

All in all, I liked my time borrowing the S8 Robin but to be honest I don’t think It fits my use case. If you’re someone who wants to start dipping their feet into the greater heights of Hi-Fi audio then this might be the thing you need to open that door for you assuming you have all the necessary baseline gear for it of course.