Reviews by nikbr

This hobby is an escapist's dream. Escape from daily routine and distress that's causing you via something as sincere and everlasting as listening to music. I believe that the power of music is still not fully understood since it works in mysterious ways. Allow it to do its magic on you and let your worries dissolve in melody.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.


Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

My preferences lie somewhere in the neutral camp with just an ever so slight bass boost, but I try to keep an open mind and truly appreciate any outliers that dare do it differently. Our ears vary, so do our brain and tastes. I am an advocate for respectful discourse, especially in topics that don't even have many objective undeniable truths. Audio is one of those.

My most listened genres are, in no particular order: jazz, singer/songwriter, slow-paced electronica, ambient, rock, metal, blues, trance, techno & pop.


Disclaimer: I have received the Sivga Que free of charge from Linsoul in exchange for a review. They had no special requests and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should you be interested, here is a non-affiliated link to these IEMs on Linsoul's website:



How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging, accessories, design & comfort, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graphs & graphics, give it a score on certain qualities, and describe the main sound categories to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ single DD, please do not hesitate to ask for any specifics you want me to answer.

I have left the set to burn-in for 100+ hours and listened to songs of varied genres to better convey what one can expect from the Que. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7, Venture Electronics Megatron, iBasso DX180, and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC (in short, called the 'VE Stack'). Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on all. Listening was (mostly) done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. Stock accessories that came along on this affordably priced IEM are great and need no change necessarily, but I did try to improve the bass control and stage width, which I managed by adding a Juzear Pure cable and Acoustune AEX07 tips.




Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

Do not even think about it

It has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition

This item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues

Wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks

Eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level


Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

In layman's terms - anything rated below 4 stars overall does not get a space in my regular rotation and is either stored and revisited some time later again just to see if my thoughts have changed, or it gets gifted.


The Warmly Welcomed Changes I Have Incorporated

Instead of going through a million songs and describing what I hear in real-time, I will do it a bit differently this time. I'll describe individual aspects briefly in whole.

Should you have any specific questions regarding any genres/songs in particular, feel free to contact me.

I am still catching my stride on how to describe the sound aspects in a clearer way. It is a slow but enjoyable learning curve. I am attempting to make my reviews as ballast-free as possible. The graphics were the step in the right direction, I feel. Capturing the essence of sound characteristics in a less wordy way is next on the list. We all have our own busy schedules and I understand reading a review for 15+ minutes is in (nearly) no-one's interest.


Let's Get Going!
Packaging, accessories, design & comfort
This set is such a perfect gift! Why? Because it's a joy to unbox, a joy to look at, and a joy to listen to. This is how the whole package is supposed to be done. See below.


Is this a good-looking box or what?



Extra blue M tips that come preinstalled are a nice touch! So is the gorgeous little case that feels like something a kilobuck set could come with.

This design won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it looks so high-end and feels it too. The fit is absolutely marvelous as well. So far so good, not a single real negative.




Graphics, Graphs & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay.



Here are my scores of the Que in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper (meaning sub 150€) sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Eventually, I will have to make a table of all sets I have rated so far.



As mentioned a little earlier, I have worked on trying to cut down on wordiness and all excess gibberish and rather improve upon my nikbr trademarked graphics to truly be able to compare IEMs visually since that offers an easier-to-comprehend, more interactive and simply more appealing experience.

These truly cover most topics in a pretty straight-forward manner. I have described each of these in a bit more detail in my previous reviews. If anything remains unclear, here I am at your service.

SBT - Six Basic Traits


MBB - Magic Balance Boards


SMT - Soundstage Measurement Tool


QCP - Quarter Circle Playground



Sound Descriptions & Comparisons

These were meant to be very concise, but I got carried away and wrote way too much again. Excuse me, I swear I'll get better with time.

The obvious categories will be subcategorized into a few important aspects. It is impossible to just proclaim the bass as great or not, there are levels to this hobby and since you're reading this review, you've obviously fallen deeper into this rabbit hole than many.


Bass
(some songs I used: Soldier of fortune by Deep Purple, Summer by Emeli Sande, I'm in Love by Ayo, House of the Rising sun by alt-J&Tuka, Infinity by DJ Pastis&DJ Ninu&Wasi Distorsion, Kuwait by Mazde, Drum solo by Manu Katche, Hislerim by Serhat Durmus&Zerrin, Animamundi by The spy from Cairo)

Quantity vs quality: This has got a healthy amount of bass but a very specific one at that. It's the midbassy kind that likes to invite itself into the low mids as well to really overstay its welcome, but it does so in a very mannered way. This is a quality bass, but one that won't be good for all genres. For example, electronica and metal might struggle.

Rumble: It's there but very reserved and just adds slight character instead of being the mainstage star. It does depend on source used, though. Neutral DX180 will deepen that hole, whereas the full bodied and warmer-leaning VE Stack is much happier to lend a helping hand to those rumbly notes. Some more low end wouldn't hurt its appeal, but as a guess, it might be a bit of a limitation of the used driver.

Attack: This won't impress anyone that wants that speedy and aggressive bass that feels like each slam wants to rip your head off, it's much more civilised and rounded around the edges. Not the worst offender of that roundedness, but still quite severe and very noticeable on trance, for example. In the grand scheme of things, this slightly mellowy approach does not bother me too much, but choosing your battles (genres) is a must.

Decay: Natural and one of the better ones I've heard in that regard, just the trait of the DD, I'd assume. Solid decay time, despite not really having the rumble and note onset as is usually the case for a strong and present bass shelf. It's probably all just a bit of an illusion due to that relaxed high treble too.

Boominess: Slight, but goes with the character of the Que and is well handled. Boominess is usually one of the worst offenders for sets that try to impress with technical prowess in my opinion while these moodier sets can get away with such missteps that I'd mostly throw into the negative category as a rule.

Bloatedness: Flows into the mids in a seductive way. Expect an alluring piano and bass guitar replay. This will affect female vocals the most and indeed, we'll mention those in one of the following segments.


Mids
(some songs I used: Creep by Haley Reinhart, Rosita by Coleman Hawkins&Ben Webster, Vidda by Ole Edvard Antonsen, Long after you are gone by Chris Jones, Writing's on the wall by Tom Ball, Dream on by Morgan James, Lonely island by Amble, Exhale the ash by Ulcerate, Free bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eyes don't lie by Tones and I, All about you by Sophie Zelmani, Moondance by Anne Bison)

Timbre: Very full and delicious in the lower end and a tad shy and lacking in highs. Stuff like brass and strings are held back a bit which makes them fall flat occasionally. Piano is a great way to test timbre too. This is where songs with multiple runs up and down the piano's enviable frequency range might be in some trouble too. Knowing this and choosing songs accordingly still lends satisfying results.

Forwardness: Not forward at all. Bass is upfront both in volume as well as positioning. Main singer Haley Reinhart in song 'Creep', for example, is almost less emphasized than bass.

Clarity: Suffers slightly due to the chosen chocolate-y tonality. Nonetheless, high mids are just spicy enough to keep guitars quite natural, although not the last word in speed and incisiveness. If you're used to and prefer a clean, glass-like audio, this set couldn't be much further from that – okay, apart from some obvious candidates, Final E5000 for example. Still, it's not a lo-fi sounding set, there's sufficient detail and resolution to keep even those that prefer sailing in calmer waters engaged.

Vocals: Both male and female vocals are huskier, thicker and smokier than 'usual'. Their placement is This is, once more, a thing of preference. See where most of these descriptions are leading? It's not an all-arounder and it won't satisfy all listeners. Those that can connect with this more analoguish nature will thoroughly enjoy it.

Note weight: Note weight is one of those risky topics and it quickly segregates the field in two camps, those that prefer a thicker, rounder note weight and hence a more analog approach, and those preferring all-BA sets because those usually have a quicker, less hefty character and a more digital sound. Mind, those are very very severe simplifications of this layered, 50-shade-of grey topic just to carry my point across. I think 'note volume' would be a better naming of what this quality tries to imply. Note volume is one of the greatest qualities of this set. Feed it quality power (not necessarily lots of it) and it awards with note weight akin to that of overear headphones.


Treble
(some songs I used: Vidda by Ole Edvard Antonsen, Want by The cure, All about you by Sophie Zelmani, Morning bird by Sade, Animali in Marcia by Gianluigi Trovesi, Ain't no love in the city by Robert Haglund, Barbados by Arne Domnerus, Oh Dear by Sophie Zelmani, Liberty by Kerenza Peacock&Timothy Ridout&Hum Watkins, Moondance by Anne Bison)

Sharpness: Only rarely and in not too critical a way. It is more a case of getting pulled into that chocolate-y texture and getting caught out by the hazelnut that was successfully hidden deep in there. Mild annoyance, sure, but it's a hazelnut and who doesn't like those covered in chocolate.

Sibilance: None. No need for lengthier description.

Naturalness: Very natural, but that small jazz club vibe with bassier instruments much more pronounced and showing just slight disregard of fellow musicians on higher-pitched instruments.

Air: What air? This is only airy thanks to big low-end which serves as an illusion of airiness. Treble air won't even be heard by a 5-year-old with their pristine ears.


Technicalities

Soundstage: Here I was left a bit disappointed, but some quick fixes helped open it up a little. Width was helped with the use of Acoustune AEX07 tips, whereas some better perceived height was achieved with a cable swap to Juzear Pure.

Imaging: It won't win any awards here. Not what this is meant for. Gamers, please run away. This is meant for an enjoyable music listen without much focused dissecting going on.

Detail retrieval: Again, this set is not too worried about this. That said, the well-textured bass allows for some interesting layering to occur. Elsewhere in the frequency range, I'd struggle to come up with a set I've heard that is as non-detailed.

Cohesiveness: Bass can occasionally feel like it's doing its own thing in some scenarios. For the most part, this is one of those proverbial DD sets with tremendous cohesiveness.


Fun factor: Not as much a party set as it is a groovy set. Slower rock, blues, acoustic or jazz are a must in one's playlist to consider this set. When the playlist is tailored for the set, it will please in its unique way and indeed be tremendously fun.


Comparisons
with Venture Electronics SIE and TINHiFi T5S. I'm using my most neutral source, the iBasso DX180.



In the song Ain't no love in the heart of the city by Robert Haglund, here's how these three compare:

What this song requires is a whole lot of grooviness and playfulness. Que has those, but slightly limited only to the lower octaves. He can appear a bit too muted and nasaly, especially compared to boomy bass – some of these bass notes strike a weird edge and can get a tad strange sounding.

SIE sounds exceptionally large in comparison. Instruments immediately take up much more room to breathe. Bass is even more pronounced than on Que, but it's more balanced by the treble. He sounds a bit more digitalized but thankfully loses that nasal timbre. It's a more satisfying listen, but less romantic and sweet, perhaps.

T5S needs quite a few clicks more (level 28 instead of 20 on the other two) on that volume wheel. It is much more balanced than the other two, and I for one, appreciate how the bass is not its main focus. This allows for a better sense of the other instruments and his voice isn't so burdened either. However, I think it's lacking quite a bit of that playfulness I mentioned this song needs. It gets a bit boring and uneventful soon.

Final result: SIE > Que > T5S


Second song, Moondance by Anne Bison, Paul Brochu & Jean-Bertrand Carbou

That quick showoff by the drummer has so much heft behind it on the Que. Since the bass is so playful in this track, I'm immediately liking this. Her voice is a bit blunted, though, so it's much like a small jazz club presentation I have mentioned before. Shame that the hihats and piano are not as lively as the bass.

Here SIE seems almost hollow in an A/B with Que. Funny because I know that's not how I usually perceive the SIE. Low-end is less textured but more athletic than that of the Que. That's joined by much crisper hihats and a more pleasant piano. Her voice lacks that presence region too.

T5S' drums are the least weighty but very quick and technically well handled. They remain as such throughout the song, while bass joins them and dances along. The separation of instruments is nearly flawless. Easy to choose one and follow along. Her voice is just slightly too shy for my preference, and leans too warm, which reduces those wonderful overtones I enjoy so much in female vocals.

A 180° turn vs the previous song: T5S > Que > SIE


Third song, Cadabra by Undercatt

I'm not going to judge the individual aspects here, but rather their willingness to party and how friendly they are to higher volume listeners.

Que can really keep up with higher volumes due to its creamy bass. That said, it does get quite piercing in those high mids, so it's not as comfortable of a listen for such genres and those moments when you want to shake your head like a lunatic. But is it enjoyable? Veeeeery much so.

SIE is sooo thick down there. Yes, I'm still talking about sound. It's a meaty and voluminous bass instead of the creamy one on Que. Those high mids are just a tad reduced too, so this is wildly good for this tune. Unless you'd like a more athletic and punchy bass. Can T5S provide us with that?

T5S is a bit too clinical overall. Especially after listening to those two food-like (meaty and creamy) sets right before. In isolation, this would be the most correct sounding, however, no doubt about that. Here it keeps the low mids out of the equation and focuses on subbass and midbass, which is obviously more electronica-friendly, at least in theory. Those high mids are on the verge of spiciness.

Result: Que > SIE > T5S

All three IEMs are a completely different thing. What you might find preferable is completely up to you, but I can see people with colourful playlists happily enjoy all three.



Q: What kind of source to pair it with?
A: A resolving but smooth one. iBasso DX180 does fine, but VE Stack does that very well. It's clean despite boosting the low-end. I can imagine it'd do good on R2R or tubes to fully embrace its analog nature.

Q: What genres are its strength/weakness?
A: Stay away for metal and most electronica (even if it somehow won the three-way shootout), it's a yes for most jazz, blues and calm rock.


How To Sum Up The Sivga Que

This is a set that dares do it differently to most of what's on the market today. It is a slightly laidback set in character but it will surprise with its liveliness in correct settings. This is far from an all-arounder and I would not advise this to anyone that wants a single set to cover it all.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

This hobby is an escapist's dream. Escape from daily routine and distress that's causing you via something as sincere and everlasting as listening to music. I believe that the power of music is still not fully understood since it works in mysterious ways. Allow it to do its magic on you and let your worries dissolve in melody.

My preferences lie somewhere in the neutral camp with just an ever so slight bass boost, but I try to keep an open mind and truly appreciate any outliers that dare do it differently. Our ears vary, so do our brain and tastes. I am an advocate for respectful discourse, especially in topics that don't even have many objective undeniable truths. Audio is one of those.

My most listened genres are, in no particular order: jazz, singer/songwriter, slow-paced electronica, ambient, rock, metal, blues, trance, techno & pop.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received the Simgot EW300 HBB free of charge from Linsoul in exchange for a review. They had no special requests and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should you be interested, here is a non-affiliated link to these IEMs on Linsoul's website: https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ew300?variant=45798828310745


How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging, accessories, design & comfort, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graphs & graphics, give it a score on certain qualities, and describe the main sound categories to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ tribrid, please do not hesitate to ask for any specifics you want me to answer.

I have left the set to burn-in for 100+ hours and listened to songs of varied genres to better convey what one can expect from the EW300. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7, Venture Electronics Megatron, iBasso DX180, and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC (in short, called the 'VE Stack'). Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on all. Listening was (mostly) done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. I am using the accessories that came along on this affordably priced IEM since I understand some of those who are interested in this set might not have a million tips and cables at their disposal.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

Do not even think about it
It has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
This item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
Wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
Eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

In layman's terms - anything rated below 4 stars overall does not get a space in my regular rotation and is either stored and revisited some time later again just to see if my thoughts have changed, or it gets gifted.

The Warmly Welcomed Changes I Have Incorporated

Instead of going through a million songs and describing what I hear in real-time, I will do it a bit differently this time. I'll describe individual aspects briefly in whole.

Should you have any specific questions regarding any genres/songs in particular, feel free to contact me.

I am still catching my stride on how to describe the sound aspects in a clearer way. It is a slow but enjoyable learning curve. I am attempting to make my reviews as ballast-free as possible. The graphics were the step in the right direction, I feel. Capturing the essence of sound characteristics in a less wordy way is next on the list. We all have our own busy schedules and I understand reading a review for 15+ minutes is in (nearly) no-one's interest.


Let's Get Going!

Packaging, Accessories, Design & Comfort

Packaging isn't much to look at and it's a case of hoping at least the listening experience manages to excite you.





Okay, after seeing the IEMs I was much more intrigued. They are TINY and cute. But let's first delve into that accessories box.



Case is so woefully bland. Mediocre cable and a sparse selection of tips, but both ended up working just fine for me and I felt no need to swap either. What I did eventually end up swapping were the nozzles as well as trying those cute little foams. Both made a difference and, I'm happy to report, for the better! While I wasn't really missing anything from the red o-ring on silver nozzle ones that came preinstalled, these other ones - pink o-ring on a golden nozzle - made it a more intriguing tonal affair with one most noticeable difference that shows up on this graph, courtesy of aftersound, quite well.


That pinna area is very different. I did not notice that much additional warmth all the way to 800hz, though.

Fit and design are very subjective and individual's ear- and eye-dependent. I think these should fit just about anyone, even those with smaller ears. Design is a bit of a mixed bag where it's a very robust and manly black metal exterior that is then watered down by the heart logo on the right earpiece.





Graphics, Graphs & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay.



Here are my scores on the EW300 in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper (meaning sub 150€) sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Eventually, I will have to make a table of all sets I have rated so far.



As mentioned a little earlier, I have worked on trying to cut down on wordiness and all excess gibberish and rather improve upon my nikbr trademarked graphics to truly be able to compare IEMs visually since that offers an easier-to-comprehend, more interactive and simply more appealing experience.

These truly cover most topics in a pretty straight-forward manner. I have described each of these in a bit more detail in my previous reviews. If anything remains unclear, here I am at your service.

SBT - Six Basic Traits

MBB - Magic Balance Boards

SMT - Soundstage Measurement Tool

QCP - Quarter Circle Playground

Sound Descriptions

These were meant to be very concise, but I got carried away and wrote way too much again. Excuse me, I swear I'll get better with time.

The obvious categories will be subcategorized into a few important aspects. It is impossible to just claim the bass is great or not, there are levels to this hobby and since you're reading this review, you've obviously fallen deeper into this rabbit hole than many.

Bass

(some songs I used: Soldier of fortune by Deep Purple, Summer by Emeli Sande, I'm in Love by Ayo, House of the Rising sun by alt-J&Tuka, Infinity by DJ Pastis&DJ Ninu&Wasi Distorsion, Kuwait by Mazde, Drum solo by Manu Katche, Hislerim by Serhat Durmus&Zerrin, Animamundi by The spy from Cairo)

Quantity vs quality: It strikes a healthy balance of quantity with the rest of the mix. Especially with the pink&gold nozzles I tried later on, those tilt the whole set a tad warmer. Much better in this regard than the EA500 LM which I tested before. Not a basshead set, but those looking for quality will be pleased at this price point. It ultimately lacks that warm enveloping texture of sets higher up the price ladder.

Rumble: Very respectable. This can be very different on different sources. Something like the FiiO BTR7 has way more of this perceived rumble, but sounds too pushed and strained, while it sounds so freeflowing on the VE Stack and similar but lesser in quantity as well as quality (a more grainy sort of bass) on the DX180. So, I could do with a bit more body, not necessarily any more dBs.

Attack: This won't impress anyone that wants that speedy and aggressive bass that feels like each slam wants to rip your head off, it's much more civilised and rounded around the edges. Not the worst offender of that roundedness, but still quite severe and very noticeable on trance, for example. Additional power is welcome.

Decay: Pretty natural. As far as I understand, DD is the one handling the bass and it would indeed feel that way. Decent rumble and solid decay time, while lacking some of the punch which would be better on the planar or let me say, that are my usual findings. For example, the recently tested TINHiFi P1 Max II kicked like a wild horse with some songs.

Boominess: None. Very well handled. This helps the overall sonics so much. Boominess is one of the worst offenders in my opinion. I only expect boomy from something like the Skullcandy. Impressive for the first 5 seconds which is critical, since tha's when non-audiophiles make their mind up whether they like the sound or not.

Bloatedness: Again, capably flows into the mids. Unlike the EA500 LM where bass was doing its own thing. Here the bass guitars will hapilly sit right in that risky crossover region and sing their best. Low-end timbre can be affected by this area being imperfect too.



Mids

(some songs I used: Creep by Haley Reinhart, Rosita by Coleman Hawkins&Ben Webster, Vidda by Ole Edvard Antonsen, Long after you are gone by Chris Jones, Writing's on the wall by Tom Ball, Dream on by Morgan James, Lonely island by Amble, Exhale the ash by Ulcerate, Free bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eyes don't lie by Tones and I, All about you by Sophie Zelmani)

Timbre: With most instruments throughout the range there are no abnormalities, just potential preferences on their forwardness and bitiness, but if I were to listen for it carefully, some planarness can be noticed in male vocals with that harshness. Not really an issue, just something that can be spotted.

Forwardness: Very forward. Still a Simgot in this regard, so for those looking for the mids to be a bit more shy and better hidden into the mix, this might be a bit of a negative. For me, it's perfect for most music except those that are packed with info and require a skillful separation and reduced pinna – something like heavy metal. Even that is very much improved with the included foam and those other, pink&gold nozzles.


Left are the preinstalled ones, right are the pink&gold ones. Both bring their own character. Sometimes I prefer ones, sometimes the other ones

Clarity: Very clear. No veil anywhere in their frequency response. I'm most likely to spot any veil on brass or piano. I listened to a fair few songs with those instruments and they're never sounding pillowy, shy, like they'd be behind a wall.

Vocals: Both male and female vocals are forward. Maybe not high enough on stage for my liking, but they are separated from the mix by their volume difference. This can be welcome or indeed a bit too much. Sometimes they get shouty or get that ringing quality of the planar – not as noticeable with the foam and pink&gold nozzles instead of the red&silver that come preinstalled.

Note weight: Sufficient, but not its strength. I'm most sensitive to how the piano is played back. Hearing a grand piano live you can tell just how much body each note carries and how rich it is in under- and overtones. Note weight is one of those risky topics and it quickly segregates the field in two camps, those that prefer a thicker, rounder note weight and hence a more analog approach, and those preferring all-BA sets because those usually have a quicker, less hefty character and a more digital sound. Mind, those are very very severe simplifications of this layered, 50-shade-of grey topic just to carry my point across.



Treble

(some songs I used: Vidda by Ole Edvard Antonsen, Want by The cure, All about you by Sophie Zelmani, Morning bird by Sade, Animali in Marcia by Gianluigi Trovesi, Ain't no love in the city by Robert Haglund, Barbados by Arne Domnerus, Oh Dear by Sophie Zelmani, Liberty by Kerenza Peacock&Timothy Ridout&Hum Watkins)

Sharpness: Amazingly, despite it's quite bright nature (much less so on the pink&gold nozzle!), it rarely turns sharp. Especially at normal listening volumes, up to maximum of 85dB. This is not a set for loud listeners, or at least I would not suggest listening to this loudly.

Sibilance: None to report about. Which is a true feat since it's got so much energy up top, yet they tackled this particular area very well. And it's not dead either. Possibly it's just technically easier to tame those particular tones on the planar/PZT than on DD or BA?

Naturalness: This has always been a case against Simgot, but they seem to be catching their stride. This is still a recognizably Simgot house sound while sounding much more musical than the ones I've heard or read about before. This is always a balancing act between trying to extract as much detail and resolution while remaining soulful and a treat to listen to. While it's still leaning more technical than musical, it's a great step forward for Simgot.

Air: Not much there. The significance of air is underrated I feel. You need to remember frequencies are intertwined in more ways than imaginable. One affects the other. Since there are three drivers in this tiny shell, I would have liked a tad more of that magic sprinkle up top.



Technicalities

Soundstage: Decent, but not impressive in any way. It does not sound congested, at least not due to the soundstage. Some midrange congestion can arise but that's as a function of tuning.

Imaging: Very acceptable. I particularly like the sense of space between elements. It won't win any awards, though. For gaming and such I don't think it would fare too well.

Detail retrieval: While it's good and resolving, the forwardness of guitars and vocals makes it a very tiring listen for those that focus on detail. It's good in the overall sense of being able to follow the macro audio image, whereas the absolute resolution in megapixels, so to say, is not that great.

Cohesiveness: I need to applaud Simgot for realizing and fixing their mistakes. I have not heard lots of their stuff, but this is going in the right direction after quite a few of their releases were met by less than ideal feedback. This now sounds as a unit that has its parts working towards the same goal. Like a well-oiled football team.

Fun factor: Actually impressively fun! I was not expecting it to be such a decent all-arounder while having ample bass for my liking and carrying the treble energy in a smooth enough fashion.



Q: What kind of source to pair it with?
A: This prefers a warm-neutral source with plenty of juice. My VE Stack makes such a tasty meal with no additional ingredients needed.

Q: What genres are its strength/weakness?
A: It's strong on electronica and very good on most of my listened genres despite some planar roughness creeping in occasionally. It won't be too good for metalheads because of either its forward midrange or a bit slower and thicker low mids on the pink&gold nozzle.


How To Sum Up The EW300 HBB

This is one of those sets that has no real downsides and thus qualifies as an easy recommendation. Add to that the very reasonable price for the variety of drivers and the included nozzles as well as the funny little foams that actually work and you've got a winner for those who like to tinker as well. It is a neutral-brightish set with ample bass but a slight lack in midbass punch. Take that as you will. At this price, it's well worth a try and if it doesn't work out just gift it and have someone's mind blown by this weird wired thing sounding so good.

September is upon us yet the hot and humid weather is not showing any signs of letting go yet here, and with that the evenings remain warm and long enough to throw a party, woohoo! And then we move on to house parties, so it's never too late to consider a suitable speaker for such events.

A Bit About Me

Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extra-terrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvellous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received this unit free of charge from Tronsmart in exchange for an article. This will not sway my thoughts and I will remain completely transparent as to how I feel about the item. If it’s good, it’s good, and if not …, I would struggle to hide my disappointment anyway plus I have not got the time to spend on unworthy items.

Let's Get Going!

Now, what are the key ingredients for cooking up a joyous party? People? That’d be a start, yeah. Drinks? Sure. Food? Can’t stay hungry. A pretty location? Preferrably. Have I forgotten anything? Oh snap, imagine a quiet ‘party’, let us take care of that too! Tronsmart has just the answer to make your next party a truly outstanding one that your friends will remember for a good little while.

I am talking about a very capable medium-sized, easily portable unit that is there to help you get the party up to another level from your usual smallish and gutless BT speakers. Tronsmart Bang Max is always ready to sing.

Let us start with the price just so we get a feel for what to expect and see whether our expectations are met. At the point of writing this, it retails for 189.99USD. You can find out more about the product directly on Tronsmart's website here: https://www.tronsmart.com/products/bang-max-portable-party-speaker#/47-plug-us

It is available for purchase via Amazon too: https://www.amazon.com/Tronsmart-Bang-Max-Waterproof-Customized/dp/B0CBP6RZ1Z

Unboxing & Accessories

How can you expect to receive your unit? It comes in a large box – obviously, and it is sufficiently protected against all the careless staff it might encounter on its way to you. You'd have to be awfully unlucky to have something happen to it. Mine came in perfect condition, just with those box edges slightly bent.

Accessories start and end at a user manual and a charger. Pulling it out from the box was less than fun due to having to grab by the polystyrene on both ends and pray the speaker remains firmly in there while you manoeuvre it out of the box. All went well after all.






Overall Feel

I have had a JBL Partybox 310 before and this unit honestly feels higher quality than that one did (all plasticky and flimsy – although VERY heavy), while costing about a third of the price. It is a plastic construction, but it's covered in this speaker mesh as you can imagine. All touch points are high quality and seem really robust and able to withstand abuse rather well which is a must for an outdoor party speaker. When the party gets going, there will always be some that love to feel like DJs and have absolutely no respect towards the speaker, so being robust is an absolute must to withstand both the wild crowd and, potentially, the weather turning bad (IPX6 is what Tronsmart guarantees).



I am very sensitive to button feedback and how their 'click' or 'turn' action feels. Bang Max gets high marks for that too – no slack or weird feedback on either of the buttons, they simply do as you wish. I love the nicely laid out buttons that allow for all the controls you'd expect plus a Tronsmart-specific SoundPulse. It all works as intended and that's an absolute must to be able to focus on DJ-ing instead of constantly worrying about your speaker misbehaving. Overall size of the unit and its weight (6kg) are very respectable. Easy to throw it in any car even if it's full of luggage or simply carry it by its handy and comfortable handle while going to the beach. Honestly, no negatives in this section.


See, even she can carry it like a Boss


Technical Details & Sound Performance

All the technical data is adequately covered in speaker's official material, hence I will instead be describing the aspects I deem most important for a portable party speaker in real use. Battery life, loudness, fun features, sound quality. So without further ado, let's go through these.

Battery seems to last forever from my brief testing thus far. However, as always, it will be dependent on the specific use case (per Tronsmart's specs: music: up to 24 hours (on 50% volume, LEDs OFF), karaoke: up to 10 hours (on 60% volume)). Having the LED light show turned on will obviously shorten the playtime, just like it will depend on the music played. Having the volume turned further up is going to cost it too. Let me put it this way, you will easily go through that usual late evening into early night party without worrying about the battery depleting. That means playing at a calmer 50-70% volume without the LEDs 6-9PM, then slowly upping the firepower and turning it to 100% volume as well as showing off the dancing LEDs (which have multiple settings ranging from calmer to crazier visual stimuli along with the rhythm) until the police show up. Just kidding, hopefully you do not upset the neighbours, but it may happen. Why? Because this rather unassuming looking and overall still rather small speaker can get quite loud (110dB SPL is what Tronsmart say) – what a great segway onto this next topic.



You've probably been there before. You turn up to a pool party or a barbecue full of attractive ladies/gentlemen with a BT speaker in your backpack thinking you're the man and you'll show them how it's done. You go ahead, pull out your secret 'weapon', turn that bad boy on, and start creeping up in volume on your phone step by step. Carefully does it, so you don't show all attributes from the start already. But, you keep on pressing that volume button and the background noise as well as the fact you're now stood outside, not surrounded by walls and windows either side of you like you were in your cosy little room, makes this poor little BT speaker faint into the background. Oh-oh! And before you know it, you're at 80% volume and only now do some curious heads start to turn towards where they hear music and, with a smile on their face, they come running in with song suggestions. They turn to you all excited and say »Yeah, John! Crank it up, that's my song!«. So you press the volume button three more times and the speaker starts distorting and barely gets any louder. Their happy faces soon turn back to disappointment. You feel bad, the party dies off and they go back to talking about mundane subjects. The speaker is having a horrible time too. Yikes … Let's avoid that horror story next time by bringing an actual party speaker to that next party. Bang Max is here to assist (with its 130W of rated power output). This little fella can get respectably loud while remaining its composure. No real distortion to speak of, but the bass won't be able to keep up with the mids and treble after about 80%. Still, even when you're done turning up the volume and people are dancing, there's that other party trick left to impress – LED lightshow! Wooohooo! »Wow, John, that's an awesome speaker!«, says that same girl that was left wanting more previously.


Look at those six speakers in this small unit

Upon first listen I was impressed with just how cohesive this speaker can sound indoors. First thing that struck me was a skillfully done bass shelf. Tronsmart has some smart guys doing their tuning. They understood they are limited on the low bass by the overall design and weight limitations, so instead they focused on midbass which is, in my opinion, a more important aspect of such tiny speakers – subbass gets lost outdoors anyway, so why waste precious wattage trying to feed the sub 40hz. Vocals are clearly presented and never get too weighty or shouty. And here again, bass supports the whole presentation in a capable manner – no boominess, no lack of pace, no abnormal texturing, just a sweet experience. Mids are never really in the forefront of such speakers, however I was left positively surprised by the size of the audio image, thanks to two relatively widely separated midrange drivers far left and right below the tweeters, and was not thinking how this is just another V-shaped mess of a sound signature to impress the teenagers. Tuning is pleasantly balanced. Treble is handled by two tweeters left and right, so it can present a stereo image, but clearly not the widest one. Cymbals, hihats, what-have-you all sound just a tad artificial, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Treble keeps up with the bass and mids and avoids sibilance, shout or any seriously annoying peaks to make you squint, skip track, and/or think what the heck was that.



On top of that you've got customizable EQ to play with should you wish. I have only used it in SoundPulse which does a bit of magic to make it livelier.



Accessible through the app


Then I took it outdoors to a small gathering. You know that is not going to be a quiet environment with many men heatedly discussing various weird topics. Still, I chose to put on some electronica and 40% volume was ideal for that optimal background music without the need to shout. When we had enough beer and night fell, it was time to turn up the volume and let the LEDs do their dance which are very well implemented and offer three different modes controllable via the app. Awesome fun guaranteed. There is an option to go wild and connect multiple units to play simultaneously. That would really fill out a larger space while still not breaking the bank nor being too difficult to set up.


Can you imagine how a hundred of these would sound!


How To Summarize The Bang Max

In summary, this speaker ticks just about all the boxes as a portable party speaker at this price. All the quintessential traits are here and ready to show what they're made of. Since summer is in its closing stages, I am looking forward to the house parties that follow, and that one impressed lady might to come to me instead of that dude John from our story earlier on.

I have no problem recommending this one to anyone that's looking for something similar to liven their parties and use it as an indoor speaker in the meantime too.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro free of charge from Rose Technics in exchange for a review. They had no special requests and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should you be interested, here is a non-affiliated link to these IEMs on their website: https://rosetechnics.com/products/star-city-5-pro-hifi-hybrid-wired-headphones-1dd-2ba-iem
And their AliExpress link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007517029680.html



How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging, accessories, design & comfort, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graphs & graphics, give it a score on certain qualities, and describe the main sound categories to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ hybrid, please do not hesitate to ask for any specifics you want me to answer.

I have left the set to burn-in for 50+ hours and listened to songs of varied genres to better convey what one can expect from the Star City 5 Pro. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7, Venture Electronics Megatron, iBasso DX180, and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on all. Listening was (mostly) done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. I am using the accessories on this affordably priced IEM since I understand some of those who are interested in this set might not have a million tips and cables at their disposal.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

Do not even think about it
It has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
This item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
Wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
Eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

In layman's terms - anything rated below 4 stars overall does not get a space in my regular rotation and is either stored and revisited some time later again just to see if my thoughts have changed, or it gets gifted.

Let's Get Going!

Packaging, Accessories, Design & Comfort

This tiny set comes in a huge box in comparison to its size. Just like taking your jet ski with you to the seaside with an 18-wheeler instead of a small trailer. The unboxing experience is decent, nothing to note that's seriously off especially at this low price.

They are very shy and tried to hide from me in their caves.



Tip selection is a bit sad, but these are actually pretty decent and I felt no need for endless tip swapping. The tiny dongle is a nice little extra that shows Rose Technics truly care and realize not many new phones come with 3.5mm out anymore.

Shells are as tiny as they get before you reach the smallest of small in the shape of Sennheiser's IE-series. Despite being small they feel hefty in hands and display quality. These will fit 97% of ears.



Graphics, Graphs & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay.



Here are my scores on the Star City 5 Pro in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper (meaning sub 150€) sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Eventually, I will have to make a table of all sets I have rated so far.



As mentioned a little earlier, I have worked on trying to cut down on wordiness and all excess gibberish and rather improve upon my nikbr trademarked graphics to truly be able to compare IEMs visually since that offers an easier-to-comprehend, more interactive and simply more appealing experience.

These truly cover most topics in a pretty straight-forward manner. I have described each of these in a bit more detail in my previous reviews. If anything remains unclear, here I am at your service.

SBT - Six Basic Traits

This proves none of the six basic traits are awfully incomplete on the Star City.

MBB - Magic Balance Boards

A quick showing of which side of all balancing boards the set gravitates towards.

SMT - Soundstage Measurement Tool

Width and depth are average, while height is not too impressive.

QCP - Quarter Circle Playground

The red dot is where I would place a neutral, uncoloured set. Star City leans energetic and more trebleheady than bassheady.


Sound Descriptions

These were meant to be very concise, but I got carried away and wrote way too much again. But I let my mind wander and it took me to some interesting topics along the way too. Feel free to read and share your opinion.

Instead of going through a million songs and describing what I hear in real-time, I will do it a bit differently this time. I'll describe individual aspects briefly in whole.

Should you have any specific questions regarding any genres/songs in particular, feel free to contact me.

I am still catching my stride on how to describe the sound aspects in a clearer way. It is a slow but enjoyable learning curve. I am attempting to make my reviews as ballast-free as possible. The graphics were the step in the right direction, I feel. Capturing the essence of sound characteristics in a less wordy way is next on the list. We all have our own busy schedules and I understand reading a review for 15+ minutes is in (nearly) no-one's interest.

The obvious categories will be subcategorized into five important aspects. It is impossible to just claim the bass is great or not, there are levels to this hobby and since you're reading this review, you've obviously fallen deeper into this rabbit hole than many. I will go ahead and use my previously tested AFUL Explorer that sports the same driver configuration in some topics to put things into perspective.




Bass

Quantity vs quality: This has got some bass for sure, but in busier tracks it gets pushed aside by the rest of the spectrum. While it definitely will not please any bassheads looking primarily for quantity, it won't be too offensive to those wishing for a well done bass, frankly. We always have to put our thoughts into perspective and since this is a hybrid setup of 1 DD and 2 BAs, akin to that found in the AFUL Explorer, I'm drawn to that comparison whether I like it or not.

Rumble: Respectable. It does not carry as much substance as some might like. If the song isn't too crowded, the rumble feels respectably ample and satisfying. That changes when the song gets going and adds more information in the midrange and treble. While it does reach deep, it's not as robust and supported as it is on the Explorer. My Bass test using the FiiO BTR7 wired to my phone (phone volume 100%, BTR7 volume 25/60), shows that not much goes on under 30Hz.

Attack: Drum Solo (Live) by Manu Katche is the track to use. And honestly while I don't really like the whole presentation overall, it's a very capable sounding DD. It can move. Because of it's clearer mids and less substantial bass shelf, the kick drums are more enjoyable here than on the Explorer.

Decay: Decay is natural, but not textured enough. It always seems to lack a bit of staying power to draw the listener in. Explorer on the other hand sounds rich throughout the whole length of the note.

Boominess: There is none. I am very susceptible to boominess and prefer a lower bass shelf if that means the set avoids boominess. Bass is well controlled overall. It does not have too much midbass in the first place.

Bloatedness: Bass uncontrollably overflowing into low mids is a very common thing, especially in lower priced hybrids where crossovers are not as well implemented. This is not an issue here. DD hands over its duties to BAs in a clean, unnoticeable way. Low mids are attenuated too. No bloatedness to report about.



Mids


Timbre: Getting this right is crucial in overall acceptance of any set. Hybrids have gotten better recently at blending the crossover between DD and BA units for those not to sound to strange whenever a single instrument crosses that line. Plenty of instruments can play low enough or have their undertones in bass area, so carefully chosen units that can cooperate in a uniform fashion are a must. Star City 5 Pro has a tendency to sharpen all midrange and treble-heavy instruments. Things like cymbals, violins, guitars, etc. will sound very bitey and forward here. This is not as much a timbral issue, however. Timbrally I have no real complaints.

Forwardness: I am a huge sucker for very present mids and all else should work in unison with the mids, not the other way around. That is why my preferred singature is a tasteful W-shape. Getting the mids to carry the song while bass and treble stay in their lanes, so to speak, is not easy. Today's market also calls for more and more bass. V-shapes are not getting out of fashion any time soon. This sounds very neutral bright and as such has forward high mids and low treble. That means female vocals and higher pitched instrumentation will stand out. Just how good or bad that is depends on your music choice and preference.

Clarity: This is a clean sounding set. Bass stays in its lane and allows lots of room for the rest of the mix. Space between instruments/performers is plentiful (on the right source – VE Stack in my case does the job well). Despite sounding bright to help achieve an illusion of cleanliness, it isn't too fatiguing at normal volumes.

Vocals: This brings us right back to the bright nature of this set. While female vocals can sometimes struggle with sibilance, male vocals are a bit veiled occasionally and lack that soothing chest voice size of sound. Nonetheless, neither male nor female vocals are not its strength per se, but it does all very inoffensively. Unless you are really sensitive to sibilance. In the great scheme of this set's tuning the slight sibilance does not stress me out too much.

Note weight: A quality that can make quite a big difference and is not visible on graphs. It is not necessarily limited just to midrange, but since the majority of instruments are hiding here, this is where I have placed this subcategory. Sets that graph equally can vary wildly on this exact quality. Piano is one instrument that quickly displays just how alive and present those notes are. Star City 5 Pro is not too good in this regard, piano sounds thin and very brittle. Compared to Explorer where the notes are rich, full, and substantial.



Treble


Quantity vs quality: I love treble, always have, but I'd be the first to choose an L-shape over a W-shape if the additional treble is not done to perfection on the latter. Sadly, Star City 5 Pro falls into the category of sets with plentiful treble but not a tremendously well done treble at that.

Sibilance: This set's achilles heel. It is not a big issue on instrumental/electronic/male vocal songs, but it comes to say hello in female vocal tracks. Especially with high soaring sopranos. It's not too offensive, but definitely could be done better.

Crispness: Very crispy indeed! Like those perfectly done french fries. This is achieved by correctly handling that 8-12kHz range where lots of sets drop off a cliff to then come back with a sharp peak at around 15kHz – never really understood why, it rarely ends up working well, at least to my ears. It looks promising on graph with a sweet 12kHz peak similar to that of the Tripowin Piccolo, but this is a BA handling the 12kHz peak unlike Piccolo. This is why it does not reach the same sweetness of Piccolo. Crispness has to be supported with additional air on top of it, but Star City 5 Pro has none of that.

Air: Not much to write home about. It falls off a cliff after 12kHz. Possibly it's better this way, because this set would be wildly bright should it have air on top too.



Technicalities


Soundstage: A very touchy subject with no objective truths, highly affected by source, and incredibly different from one pair of ears to another. Skipping the effect of our pinna, as IEMs do, is both a blessing and a curse. One has to figure out for themselves what tricks their brain into placing objects furthest away from their actual point source. I'm starting to get a grasp on which qualities make sets present a large soundstage to my ears. Star City 5 Pro does not impress here, but it doesn't disappoint either. It does have some depth and an okay width. Spot on average.

Imaging: Potentially the most crucial technical aspect in IEMs. And this is the reason why I feel soundstage might be just a bit overhyped. The outer edges of where the sound is coming from are not as important to me as their localization and size of the image. Give me a more intimate soundstage with better presented individual sounds over a huge soundstage with more diffused imaging any day of the week. Star City 5 Pro does okay unless the song is filled with high pitched instruments which intertwine and cause a mess. Something like Dream On by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox images nicely. Just don't feed it heavy metal, that takes it out of its comfort zone.

Detail retrieval: Usually, brighter sets are better at tricking us ito thinking they are indeed more detailed too. It takes a while to really figure out whether it's an illusion or actual resolution. Star City 5 Pro is fine here, but leans more towards it being an illusion than actual transparency of the drivers.

Cohesiveness: Such an important and often overlooked quality. We focus on bass, mids, treble, etc., but do they work together as a team or is it a bunch of talented individuals pulling to their sides? Star City 5 Pro's treble sounds a bit disconnected, but not too atrociously so. I'd say there are maybe 2 players in the team of 11 that just do their thing and could care less about what their coach has to say.

Fun factor: This sounds very fun on certain electronica. It's got bass and highs so it's very difficult not to nod your head along to the music. But when song becomes too lively in high mids that sharpness quickly dissipates all the fun.



What kind of source to pair it with? This requires a warm-neutral source with plenty of juice.

What genres are its strength/weakness? It's strong on electronica and calmer acoustic recording preferrably with female vocals. Anything that needs those mids and treble to really stay in unison will struggle here.



How to Sum Up the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro

This one is going to appeal to those whose playlists are mostly genre-specific and who are not afraid of a brighter leaning sets. It is a well done neutral bright tuning that is a nice counterweight to all the warm-neutral sets that seem to be the craze lately. Pair their respectable sound with a small and comfortable shell and an affordable price tag and you get a very decent little package.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received the AFUL Explorer free of charge from Hifigo in exchange for a review. They had no special requests and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should you be interested, here is a non-affiliated link to Hifigo's site: https://hifigo.com/products/aful-explorer?_pos=1&_sid=0236580ce&_ss=r



How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging, accessories, design & comfort, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graphs&graphics, give it a score on certain qualities, and describe the main sound categories to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a ~100€ hybrid, please do not hesitate to ask for any specifics you want me to answer.

I have left the set to burn-in for 100+ hours and listened to songs of varied genres to better convey what one can expect from the AFUL Explorer. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7, Venture Electronics Megatron, iBasso DX180, and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on all. Listening was (mostly) done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. I am using the Divinus Velvet Wide bore tips and a similar-to-stock XINHS SPC 4.4 cable to extract every last ounce from my sources.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

Do not even think about it
It has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
This item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
Wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
Eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

In layman's terms - anything rated below 4 stars overall does not get a space in my regular rotation and is either stored and revisited some time later again just to see if my thoughts have changed, or it gets gifted.

Let's Get Going!

Let me preface all you are about to read with a few words. This was one of those rare examples when you know immediately upon first listen that it's gonna be a good one and look forward to hearing it more. This happens only rarely (at least for me) and such sets should be praised, especially when they come at a reasonable price that is within reach of many.

Instead of going through a million songs and describing what I hear in real-time, I will do it a bit differently this time. I'll describe individual aspects briefly in whole.

Should you have any specific questions regarding any genres/songs in particular, feel free to contact me.

I am still catching my stride on how to describe the sound aspects in a clearer way. It is a slow but enjoyable learning curve. I am attempting to make my reviews as ballast-free as possible. The graphics were the step in the right direction, I feel. Capturing the essence of sound characteristics in a less wordy way is next on the list. We all have our own busy schedules and I understand reading a review for 15+ minutes is in (nearly) no-one's interest.

Packaging, Accessories, Design & Comfort

Explorer comes in a reasonably sized and rather subdued box that's neither disappointing nor exceptional. This theme continues throughout unboxing. Everything is done well, no complaints at the asking price.





The Explorer is decently accessorized too. See the nine pairs of tips and a very well behaved and nice-to-touch cable. I don't really see the reason for including three quite literally identical sets of tips, though. The case is very soft and a decent little extra for sure.



Shells immediately surprised me with their smallish outer dimensions. The cutout to allow a secure and comfortable fit for those of us with a bit wilder shaped ears is fantastic too.



All of this is topped off with a stunning design except for the awful branding pasted on faceplates - not the worst, though, to be fair. The style is chosen wisely and the font is not too big.




Graphics, Graphs & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay.



Here are my scores on the Explorer in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper (meaning sub 150€) sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Eventually, I will have to make a table of all sets I have rated so far.



As mentioned a little earlier, I have worked on trying to cut down on wordiness and all excess gibberish and rather improve upon my nikbr trademarked graphics to truly be able to compare IEMs visually since that offers an easier-to-comprehend, more interactive and simply more appealing experience.

These truly cover most topics in a pretty straight-forward manner. I have described each of these in a bit more detail in my previous reviews. If anything remains unclear, here I am at your service.

SBT - Six Basic Traits

This proves all six basic traits are well taken care of.

MBB - Magic Balance Boards

A quick showing of which side of all balancing boards the set gravitates towards.

SMT - Soundstage Measurement Tool

This particular face of the three possible ones shows that I am neither impressed nor disappointed by these three soundstage axes on the Explorer.

QCP - Quarter Circle Playground

The red dot is where I would place a neutral, uncoloured set. Explorer is very bassy and not too energetic, but rather slightly calm.


Sound Descriptions

These were meant to be very concise, but I got carried away and wrote way too much again. But I let my mind wander and it took me to some interesting topics along the way too. Feel free to read and share your opinion.

The obvious categories will be subcategorized into a few important aspects. It is impossible to just claim the bass is great or not, there are levels to this hobby and since you're reading this review, you've obviously fallen deeper into this rabbit hole than many.


BASS

Quantity vs quality: This set has both. While the quantity is plentiful, it does not surpass the limit of overbearing and completely ruining the balance. Quality is first-class. Let's discuss it in these next five points.

Rumble: To those who need a powerful rumble in their playlists, these will do it very effortlessly. Please, make sure your fit & seal is good. While the overall balance lies more towards the midbass, subbass is no slouch either. My standardized test with the FiiO BTR7 wired at full volume on phone and level 25 volume on BTR7, playing Bass test on Youtube shows Explorer can rumble all the way down to 20hz before becoming a flabby mess.

Attack: This is where this set truly stands out. Despite being very capable at descending nearly into infrasonics, the midbass speed and initial attack are wonderful. This will also largely depend on your source and its capability to control that DD's membrane during these quick and extended movements. While it does not compete with some of the better BA's in this regard it still is very impressive for a DD at this price.

Decay: This is where BA's would struggle despite their marvelous attack. Explorer carries the bass notes all the way to their natural decay which lasts a little while. This will be more obvious in certain genres, whereas with others it could not matter any less. For those with playlists that have those longer sustained low bass notes and need the maintained bass shelf, this is a quintessential trait.

Boominess: It manages to avoid any boominess. I am very susceptible to boominess and prefer a lower bass shelf if that means the set avoids boominess. Explorer has a healthy bass shelf free from boominess, so that is great and refreshing to my ears. Midbass heft often comes with unwanted qualities too, so I am happy to report boominess is not to be found on the Explorer.

Bloatedness: Bass uncontrollably o verflowing into low mids is a very common thing, especially in lower priced hybrids where crossovers are not as well implemented. Explorer once more avoids this very skillfully. Low mids do feel quite full, not as much due to any bloatedness but more due to the reduced upper mids in comparison to what we are used to with Harman-ish tunings of these last few years.



MIDS

Timbre: Getting this right is crucial in overall acceptance of any set. Hybrids have gotten better recently at blending the crossover between DD and BA units for those not to sound to strange whenever a single instrument crosses that line. Plenty of instruments can play low enough or have their undertones in bass area, so carefully chosen units that can cooperate in a uniform fashion. All this to say, Explorer has no major timbral issues, but can take some adjustment with brass and strings which will feel blunted in comparison to many other sets.

Forwardness: I am a huge sucker for very present mids and all else should work in unison with the mids, not the other way around. That is why my preferred singature is a tasteful W-shape. Getting the mids to carry the song while bass and treble stay in their lanes, so to speak, is not easy. Today's market also calls for more and more bass. V-shapes are not getting out of fashion any time soon. Explorer is quite a clear L-shape which I prefer to V-shapes. Mids can be brought out by upping the volume and unlike with the V-shapes, this does not bring a wild ear-piercing level of treble along. Vocals could still be placed just a bit more upfront in my opinion. A dB here and there would do that without messing with the overall perception of the Explorer.

Clarity: Despite big bass and reduced upper mids, the clarity does not suffer to badly. That would be a big dealbreaker for me, and plenty others, I'm sure. This does require a correct source pick, though. On FiiO BTR7 it does indeed sound clear, but way too digitalised at the same time. That takes away my ability to fully indulge in acoustic music. Electronica and other bassy genres are not too badly affected. VE Stack sounds the cleanest with a huge bass shelf too.

Vocals: Since the tuning was obviously aimed toward warmth, male vocals are less bothered by it. But even the tenors among them, do feel just a tad attenuated in their higher range. Females struggle a bit more, but I would not call it a dealbreaker. They are not as intense as they should be, but remain very composed. Listening to soprano arias is not advisible. For most other, less otherworldly performers, this will do just fine.

Note weight: A quality that can make quite a big difference and is not visible on graphs. It is not necessarily limited just to midrange, but since the majority of instruments are hiding here, this is where I have placed this subcategory. What really made me understand just how important this can be, is the difference between AuR Audio Neon Pro and Night Oblivion Butastur, both a 10BA per side sets. They graphed VERY similarly, so I was naturally expecting a similar sound. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Butastur sounded very thin and hollow in comparison. That had it's benefits (acoustic guitars sounded tremendously alive, I'm still on the search for an equal in that regard), but musical it was not. Thereafter, I have become more sensitive to note weight. Explorer has it in spades! That can be understood both ways. Some instruments do not require all that weightiness. Guitars, for example, do sound quite a bit heavy-footed, so do wind instruments. Disclaimer, this will be seriously affected by source choice as well, VE Megatron is my pick. The naturalness and enjoyment of this pairing is through the roof and not even affected by the crazy high noise floor of the Megatron with anything sensitive.



TREBLE

Quantity vs quality: A fanstastic choice for those of you that prefer a calmer dose of treble in your bass. I love treble, always have, but I'd be the first to choose an L-shape over a W-shape if the additional treble is not done to perfection on the latter. Explorer is not too dark by any means, it still has a healthy dose of treble, but lacks the fairy dust that is treble extension to truly add that brilliance. Let's remind ourselves, this only has 2 BA drivers per side, so expecting miracles in treble extension is a fool's errand. Instead, I am drawn to that skillfully measured quantity that never ends up sounding dull.

Sibilance: Perfectly attenuated. Get this wrong and many aspects of the overall sound perception will struggle. There is lots of overtones hiding in that 6-8kHz range. While I would say I am sensitive to sibilance, I am even more sensitive to overdampening this range. It sucks out lots of energy. Explorer is done wonderfully, which fills me with trust in Aful's tuning and makes me excited to try any of the Aful upcomers.

Crispness: This is achieved by correctly handling that 8-12kHz range where lots of sets drop off a cliff to then come back with a sharp peak at around 15kHz – never really understood why, it rarely ends up working well, at least to my ears. Checking out some of the Explorer's graphs primarily shows that measurements still have a way to go, since each graph is its own thing from that 8kHz coupler peak onwards. Some show Explorer maintaining equally loud to well above 10kHz, while others show a smooth descent. Whichever option, I am currently hearing, is a tastefully done one.

Air: One of Explorer's weaknesses, no doubt. As discussed previously, this is packing just two BAs, so focusing on achieving any noteworthy airiness would not be the wisest. Instead, they have covered the basics to perfection.



TECHNICALITIES

Soundstage: A very touchy subject with no objective truths, highly affected by source, and incredibly different from one pair of ears to another. Skipping the effect of our pinna, as IEMs do, is both a blessing and a curse. One has to figure out for themselves what tricks their brain into placing objects furthest away from their actual point source. I'm starting to get a grasp on which qualities make sets present a large soundstage to my ears. Explorer is not among the larger ones I have heard, but it shares similiarities with two other warm and treble-light sets – Venture Electronics SIE, and TRN Orca which are the largest. Therefore, I am not as easily fooled by good treble as I am with big bass that provides a bigger dance floor. Bass on the Explorer is not as free-flowing or enveloping as on those other two sets. That said, all three of these sets have a specific treble quality I cannot really pinpoint yet. I would maybe wish for a more generous width on the Explorer. Ultimately, Explorer might sound average in this regard to most, but it definitely isn't a weakness.

Imaging: Potentially the most crucial technical aspect in IEMs. And this is the reason why I feel soundstage might be just a bit overhyped. The outer edges of where the sound is coming from are not as important to me as their localization and size of the image. Give me a more intimate soundstage with better presented individual sounds over a huge soundstage with more diffused imaging any day of the week. Explorer, despite possibly not extending as wide as we could wish for, does very well in the imaging department. Even the wilder songs with lots of electronically-produced sounds are never too crowded and, as a consequence, annoying.

Detail retrieval: A subject that should be cut into even smaller subjects to cover more easily, but I will try to explain it in one. Macro- and microdetails is how they are usually referred to. Macrodetails will be the larger items we can look into. Maybe something like a clap. How well is that clap separated and detailed in its onset and offset. While microdetails would mean delving even closer into that clap – how crisp is it, any minute detail that stands out, possibly the person is wearing rings and those hit each other when clapping. Okay, so how does the Explorer fare here. Hm, decently, but not the most detailed. Of course, we are back to the subject of driver count (and I acknowledge there are plenty of exceptions to this 'rule'). To those of you who are hungry to hear each and every recording slip up in your favourite songs, this set is better avoided.

Cohesiveness: Such an important and often overlooked quality. We focus on bass, mids, treble, etc., but do they work together as a team or is it a bunch of talented individuals pulling to their sides? Explorer is among the better sets that tie these together and make them work like a team. A good coach, we could say. Nothing stands out like a sore thumb. Now sure, this will bring us back to preferences, since those that cannot stand a bass-first tuning, will inevitably say this set is a complete and utter failure in cohesiveness. Avoiding personal preference is not easy while writing reviews. The biggest risk of getting this wrong comes from crossovers – getting those right means us listeners will not be able to detect when and at what sort of crossover slope one driver hands off its duties to another.


EXTRA

Fun factor: Immeasurable. Give it a juicy source and it sounds like a party. It benefits from sources capable of dynamic changes. I have thoroughly enjoyed via my VE Megatron which was definitely not a quiet background source, but provided the energy and made notes feel childishly lively. iBasso DX180 provided a much more serious listen and a very detailed one.




How To Summarize The AFUL Explorer

This one was a true joy to experience and an easy recommendation to those who prefer a warmer tilt. The Explorer won't only impress with its warmth but a decent technical aspect to go along as well. Is it the most technically adept and airy set? No, that it is not. But just how much more can we expect from a roughly 100€ set.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received the TINHiFi P1 Max II free of charge from Linsoul in exchange for a review. They had no special requests besides releasing the review within a time frame of a few weeks, and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should you be interested, here is a non-affiliated link to Linsoul's site:
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-p1-max-ii?_pos=1&_psq=p1+max&_ss=e&_v=1.0

How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging & accessories, design & comfort, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graphs&graphics and give it a score on certain qualities to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ planar, please read the song examples and comparisons below as well to get as much of a feel on what you could expect realistically. I really tried my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible.

I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the TINHiFi P1 Max II. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. I am using the stock tips as to not add many unknowns, but was 'forced' to swap out the stock 3.5 cables to 4.4 on both sets to not limit the power.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

1 star – do not even think about it
2 stars – it has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
3 stars – this item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
4 stars – wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
5 stars – eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

In layman's terms - anything rated below 4 stars overall does not get a space in my regular rotation and is either stored and revisited some time later again just to see if my thoughts have changed, or it gets gifted.

Let's Get Going!

Packaging, Accessories, Design & Comfort

TINHiFi has figured out a playful way to keep the packaging simple and low-cost, while still sufficiently fresh and joyous for the buyer to impatiently dig into unboxing upon receiving their item. Giant panda is a cool little name too.

A wonderfully upholstered cover in what feels like faux leather.

One M pair of those red tips comes preinstalled on the IEMs themselves.

Cable actually feels and looks decent, but knowing that planars like a bit of power, equipping it only with a 3.5mm plug seems a bit 'irresponsible' on TINHiFi's part.

The design is a hard thing to judge, since we all like different stuff, but in my opinion this is a stunning and very unique faceplate design by TINHiFi. It honestly looks like a jewel while maintaining enough manliness.
The fit is very good too, since the shell contours in this natural fashion to allow for a snug fit against the concha.

Graphics & Graphs & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay.



Here are my scores on the P1 Max II in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper (meaning sub 200€) sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Eventually, I will have to make a table of all sets I have rated so far.



I have worked on trying to cut down on wordiness and all excess gibberish and rather improve upon my nikbr trademarked graphics to truly be able to compare IEMs visually since that offers an easier-to-comprehend, more interactive and simply more appealing experience.

Since these are still fresh to all of you, there are brief descriptions along with each of them:

Starting off, a true breakthrough in Six Basic Traits (SBT) that are crucial to the whole perception. Closer to the left smiley face the set is, the better it is at that trait.



Secondly, a Magic Balance Board (MBB) that shows where the set gravitates towards in these three sound qualities – thickness, speed, and overall aim.



Next up, a quick and easy Soundstage Measurement Tool (SMT) in this dumbproof fashion. Again, there are three possible smiley faces – the ones you see here are the teeth-showing 'yikes' emoji that shows my disappointment in this particular dimension of soundstage, and the 'hmmm' emoji that is not fully convinced but has no real complaints, so it's fine.



Last but by no means not least, a Quarter-Circle Playground (QCP). The red centerpoint is the starting point where a set that's neither laidback nor energetic as well as being neither bassheady nor trebleheady would lie. If the set finds itself within any of the drawn semicircles, it is a through and through laidbacky/energetic/basshead/treblehead set.



Since these are new, and I'm less than perfect, I realize there might be space for improvement. I'd ask for your feedback/critics/suggestions either in the comment section below or via private messaging. Thanks!


Song Examples

And let's compare it to its younger sibling, the DUDU.



Soldier of fortune, Deep Purple

P1 Max II's guitar is possibly just a tad more synthetic right upon get-go, but also cleaner, more dynamic, and positioned more out-of-ears. Note attack and decay are crisper. The background accompanying guitar has more space to breathe and can be followed throughout the intro. Microdetailing is not too different while being just a bit less musical – so possibly DUDU succeeds at getting that balance more correct? Guitar is not as captivating but still respectably handled. Vocal presence is a bit less forward than on DUDU. I struggle choosing which I prefer. I do prefer the body and naturalness of the P1, though. That then presents the vocal in a much more emotional fashion. The alternating left-to-right sound allows for a great comparison of staging too. P1 does better in presenting a stage more in front as well as a bit wider and deeper. Then we get to the bass section joining the party. This is where the difference is once more quickly picked up on. P1's bass is more grown up. It rumbles and forms a wonderful base flowing into the low mids cleanly for the rest of the performers. It is also timbrally more correct. Very satisfying with this gorgeous bassline (at ~1:59 bass guitar gets a bit naughty and it's hella sexy on the P1) and the groovy drumming. Fantastic, truly.

DUDU's beginning guitar playback is tremendously lively and bursting with energy in each and every note. That background guitar playing in the middle but farther back is a bit difficult to distinguish whenever both are playing. The ever so slight details like finger slides and vocalist's breathy onset are there if I really dedicate 100% of my focus to them, but not as microdetailed as one could wish for (tuning is always a balancing act between capturing all minutae and just letting the song flow). Guitar really weeps its melody and grabs listener's attention before main vocal comes along to tell us a story. Let's add the bass guitar and drums. Drums are sufficiently punchy and present, while hihats and cymbals could be just a tad more aggressive and cleaner with their decay having more air and less of an 'sss' sound. Bass guitar remains in the background, but all notes are beautifully full sounding. The overall balance for such calm rock rhythms is almost spot on for my taste.

Post scriptum, once you turn up the volume higher bass gets a bit lost and overpowered by mids and treble on both sets, so a low-level-listening set, at least for me. And that is via a 3W per channel VE Stack, so no, lack of oomph is not to blame.


Creep, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart

P1 Max II goes ahead and fixes the lack of sweetness in Haley's vocal, but now she seems a bit more distant. Bass positioning is just a bit better and falls in line with Haley. Piano is also now placed on the same level as the rest and has just a bit more substance in its notes. Brass, however, is not better, in fact I think DUDU does it better. Overall, there are some areas P1 fixes successfully, but not enough of a fix to recommend it over the DUDU at their respective prices.

DUDU: Haley's vocal is as sweet as ever and DUDU does not ruin it. However, I would prefer just a bit more energy and less breathiness/smokiness/nosiness. Bass is ample in quantity. Its positioning I have a bit of a problem with. Instead of appearing behind Haley, he appears to come from below her in DUDU's sonic picture. It also struggles with those more pronounced notes and ends up overemphasizing them, so they become just a tad boomy. Piano is much higher up on stage than either bass or Haley. It does have that silkiness and sweetness I am missing in her vocal, though. When trumpet and trombone join they sound just a little bit too shy and soft around the edges. I am very picky with my brass and this gets it a bit wrong, but not too awful by any means. In the first chorus all six performers can heard, but bass gets a bit carried away while the rest are well measured.

The planar timbre is unavoidable here. It gets in the way of brass and her vocal too when she goes for it. An acquired taste. Not sure I can recommend either here. So brass & female vocal lovers beware.


House of the rising sun, alt-J, Tuka

P1 Max II handles vocals better, this is clear to me now. A better balanced and more supported presentation of both male and female vocals. To my ears, it handles sibilance area better too – that can be tip- and earcanal-sensitive. This song just sounds more captivating here. When the chorus gets a move on, individual elements have more breathing room. Lowest bass notes are a bit less impressive than on the DUDU that comes closer to that familiar DD rumble. I mostly look for quality midbass from planar drivers and P1 delivers. Precisely like DUDU's older sibling. DUDU has more character, P1 has finesse.

DUDU comes close to overpronouncing the numerous 's' sounds, but remains sibilance-free. I prefer this daring approach over a too cautious 6-7kHz area which kills lots of instruments' overtones. Both of their voices are sufficiently natural and positioned up high and in front of my eyes. When that chorus starts and the bass is just ridiculously overpowering in the recording, DUDU plays along and remains unstressed up to the point when the mix gets wilder and more crowded. Then the planar driver seems unable to handle everything with ease and control. Stage is nicely open and airy sounding, a quality that seems to be all planar's strength if I can judge after hearing 3 planar sets. Treble is energetic, but can become tiring.


Morning bird, Sade

Let's see which pair captures the absolute epicness of this song better.

P1 Max II's piano has more substance, but actually somehow sounds less true and convincing than on DUDU. Bass kicks are more aggressive here and better layered. Rattlesnake is more clear and has its own place to wiggle its tail. She is spicier with nearing on sibilance at some points, but also sounds more detailed, more separated, more clear. That comes at a cost of sacrificing some of the soul DUDU provides her with. Soundstage is much more impressive than on DUDU since it extends deeper and therefore allows more breathing room to any song.

DUDU's weird quality is that despite a rather 2D soundstage it manages to make the instruments themselves feel more 3D, holographic, and separates them with decent imaging. Strings are just a bit soulless, but I am afraid that is the planar thing and their specific upper mids. Piano is rendered enjoyably. Those bass kicks have real strength to them. That rattlesnake sound is a nice little ornament to see how microdetailed the set is. DUDU does them sweetly, but a bit too ironed out and almost lacking that echo. She sounds wonderful and soaking in emotion without ever stepping into sibilance territory.


Infinity – original mix, DJ pastis, DJ Ninu, Wasi Distortion

Let's s top messing around. Banger time.

P1 Max II starts off in a cleaner way but still packed with energy. Left-right extension comes in handy here to allow those supporting sounds more room. Piano is clearer and less pronounced which is a bit of a shame, I prefer DUDU's piano presentation. Bass comes in like a train. Possibly matching DUDU's aggressiveness, but it's way ahead of DUDU in its speed, tactility, onset and decay characteristics. Once more, P1's bass proves to be the superior one. Despite more energy in that sibilance region this song remains free from any painful sharpness even when turned up above 100dB – just for a few seconds, DO NOT LISTEN at those volumes for longer periods.

DUDU is a party right from the get go with the crazy synth and those left-right effects. Everything is just a bit of a mess, but not in a bad way since it still allows the listener to follow whichever part. When the bass comes in and we really get going, bass punches are aggressive but also a bit too soft as if Mike Tyson punched you through Grandma's fat old homemade pillow. This combined with the fact soundstage soon gets overcrowded and treble is not sufficiently extended nor detailed makes for a decent, but highly flawed listen.

This ends my song examples. Should you wish for any others, you can reach out to me via a private message.



To Sum Up The TINHiFi P1 Max II

P1 Max II provides a more exciting listen than DUDU and does the bass segment very capably which is a step in the right direction for the planars, compared to, say the Timeless AE which still had obvious 'planarness' in bass. Midrange could be more natural and playful in character as well as the vocal placement which could be 'improved'. It looks gorgeous and fits very good too. Just a nice overall package that could be further perfected with some minor tweaks. A combination of both the DUDU and P1 Max's qualities would sum into a World-beating little planar.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received the TINHiFi DUDU free of charge from Linsoul in exchange for a review. They had no special requests besides releasing the review within a time frame of a few weeks, and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should you be interested, here is a non-affiliated link to Linsoul's site:
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-dudu?_pos=1&_sid=c536cd607&_ss=r

How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging & accessories, design & comfort, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graphs&graphics and give it a score on certain qualities to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ planar, please read the song examples and comparisons below as well to get as much of a feel on what you could expect realistically. I really tried my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible.

I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the TINHiFi DUDU. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. I am using the stock tips as to not add many unknowns, but was 'forced' to swap out the stock 3.5 cables to 4.4 on both sets to not limit the power.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

1 star – do not even think about it
2 stars – it has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
3 stars – this item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
4 stars – wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
5 stars – eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

In layman's terms - anything rated below 4 stars overall does not get a space in my regular rotation and is either stored and revisited some time later again just to see if my thoughts have changed, or it gets gifted.

Let's Get Going!
Packaging, Accessories, Design & Comfort
This is the way to keep the packaging simple and low-cost, while keeping it sufficiently fresh and joyous for the buyer to feel positive upon receiving their item.

I have received the DSP cable as well, but after trying it out I can say it's a nice addition to use on the go if you don't want to carry any other sources or dongles, but it won't set your life on fire. It's decently balanced sounding still, but nowhere near as dynamic and rich as on a decent 4.4mm.



The design is hard to judge, since we all like different stuff, but this is a calm and very stylish, grown-up approach by TINHiFi. The fit is very good too, since the shell contours in this natural fashion to allow for a snug fit against the concha.



Graphics & Graphs & Scores
This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay.



Here are my scores on the DUDU in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper (meaning sub 200€) sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets.




I have worked on trying to cut down on wordiness and all excess gibberish and rather improve upon my nikbr trademarked graphics to truly be able to compare IEMs visually since that offers an easier-to-comprehend, more interactive and simply more appealing experience.

Since these are still fresh to all of you, there are brief descriptions along with each of them:

Starting off, a true breakthrough in Six Basic Traits (SBT) that are crucial to the whole perception. Closer to the left smiley face the set is, the better it is at that trait.



Secondly, a Magic Balance Board (MBB) that shows where the set gravitates towards in these three sound qualities – thickness, speed, and overall aim.



Next up, a quick and easy Soundstage Measurement Tool (SMT) in this dumbproof fashion. Again, there are three possible smiley faces – the ones you see here are the teeth-showing 'yikes' emoji that shows my disappointment in this particular dimension of soundstage, and the 'hmmm' emoji that is not fully convinced but has no real complaints, so it's fine.



Last but by no means not least, a Quarter-Circle Playground (QCP). The red centerpoint is the starting point where a set that's neither laidback nor energetic as well as being neither bassheady nor trebleheady would lie. If the set finds itself within any of the drawn semicircles, it is a through and through laidbacky/energetic/basshead/treblehead set.



Since these are new, and I'm less than perfect, I realize there might be space for improvement. I'd ask for your feedback/critics/suggestions either in the comment section below or via private messaging. Thanks!

Song Examples
And let's compare it to its older brother, the P1 Max II.



Soldier of fortune, Deep Purple

DUDU's beginning guitar playback is tremendously lively and bursting with energy in each and every note. That background guitar playing in the middle but farther back is a bit difficult to distinguish whenever both are playing. The ever so slight details like finger slides and vocalist's breathy onset are there if I really dedicate 100% of my focus to them, but not as microdetailed as one could wish for (tuning is always a balancing act between capturing all minutae and just letting the song flow). Guitar really weeps its melody and grabs listener's attention before main vocal comes along to tell us a story. Let's add the bass guitar and drums. Drums are sufficiently punchy and present, while hihats and cymbals could be just a tad more aggressive and cleaner with their decay having more air and less of an 'sss' sound. Bass guitar remains in thebackground, but all notes are beautifully full sounding. The overall balance for such calm rock rhythms is almost spot on for my taste. Can P1 do it better?

P1 Max II's guitar is possibly just a tad more synthetic right upon get-go, but also cleaner, more dynamic, and positioned more out-of-ears. Note attack and decay are crisper. The background accompanying guitar has more space to breathe and can be followed throughout the intro. Microdetailing is not too different while being just a bit less musical – so possibly DUDU succeeds at getting that balance more correct? Guitar is not as captivating but still respectably handled. Vocal presence is a bit less forward than on DUDU. I struggle choosing which I prefer. I do prefer the body and naturalness of the P1, though. That then presents the vocal in a much more emotional fashion. The alternating left-to-right sound allows for a great comparison of staging too. P1 does better in presenting a stage more in front as well as a bit wider and deeper. Then we get to the bass section joining the party. This is where the difference is once more quickly picked up on. P1's bass is more grown up. It rumbles and forms a wonderful base flowing into the low mids cleanly for the rest of the performers. It is also timbrally more correct. Very satisfying with this gorgeous bassline (at ~1:59 bass guitar gets a bit naughty and it's hella sexy on the P1) and the groovy drumming. Fantastic, truly.

Post scriptum, once you turn up the volume higher bass gets a bit lost and overpowered by mids and treble on both sets, so a low-level-listening set, at least for me. And that is via a 3W per channel VE Stack, so no, lack of oomph is not to blame.


Creep, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart


DUDU: Haley's vocal is as sweet as ever and DUDU does not ruin it. However, I would prefer just a bit more energy and less breathiness/smokiness/nosiness. Bass is ample in quantity. Its positioning I have a bit of a problem with. Instead of appearing behind Haley, he appears to come from below her in DUDU's sonic picture. It also struggles with those more pronounced notes and ends up overemphasizing them, so they become just a tad boomy. Piano is much higher up on stage than either bass or Haley. It does have that silkiness and sweetness I am missing in her vocal, though. When trumpet and trombone join they sound just a little bit too shy and soft around the edges. I am very picky with my brass and this gets it a bit wrong, but not too awful by any means. In the first chorus all six performers can heard, but bass gets a bit carried away while the rest are well measured.

P1 Max II goes ahead and fixes the lack of sweetness in Haley's vocal, but now she seems a bit more distant. Bass positioning is just a bit better and falls in line with Haley. Piano is also now placed on the same level as the rest and has just a bit more substance in its notes. Brass, however, is not better, in fact I think DUDU does it better. Overall, there are some areas P1 fixes successfully, but not enough of a fix to recommend it over the DUDU at their respective prices.

The planar timbre is unavoidable here. It gets in the way of brass and her vocal too when she goes for it. An acquired taste. Not sure I can recommend either here. So brass & female vocal lovers beware.


House of the rising sun, alt-J, Tuka

DUDU comes close to overpronouncing the numerous 's' sounds, but remains sibilance-free. I prefer this daring approach over a too cautious 6-7kHz area which kills lots of instruments' overtones. Both of their voices are sufficiently natural and positioned up high and in front of my eyes. When that chorus starts and the bass is just ridiculously overpowering in the recording, DUDU plays along and remains unstressed up to the point when the mix gets wilder and more crowded. Then the planar driver seems unable to handle everything with ease and control. Stage is nicely open and airy sounding, a quality that seems to be all planar's strength if I can judge after hearing 3 planar sets. Treble is energetic, but can become tiring.

P1 Max II handles vocals better, this is clear to me now. A better balanced and more supported presentation of both male and female vocals. To my ears, it handles sibilance area better too – that can be tip- and earcanal-sensitive. This song just sounds more captivating here. When the chorus gets a move on, individual elements have more breathing room. Lowest bass notes are a bit less impressive than on the DUDU that comes closer to that familiar DD rumble. I mostly look for quality midbass from planar drivers and P1 delivers. Precisely like DUDU's older sibling. DUDU has more character, P1 has finesse.


Morning bird, Sade


Let's see which pair captures the absolute epicness of this song better.

DUDU's weird quality is that despite a rather 2D soundstage it manages to make the instruments themselves feel more 3D, holographic, and separates them with decent imaging. Strings are just a bit soulless, but I am afraid that is the planar thing and their specific upper mids. Piano is rendered enjoyably. Those bass kicks have real strength to them. That rattlesnake sound is a nice little ornament to see how microdetailed the set is. DUDU does them sweetly, but a bit too ironed out and almost lacking that echo. She sounds wonderful and soaking in emotion without ever stepping into sibilance territory.

P1 Max II's piano has more substance, but actually somehow sounds less true and convincing than on DUDU. Bass kicks are more aggressive here and better layered. Rattlesnake is more clear and has its own place to wiggle its tail. She is spicier with nearing on sibilance at some points, but also sounds more detailed, more separated, more clear. That comes at a cost of sacrificing some of the soul DUDU provides her with. Soundstage is much more impressive than on DUDU since it extends deeper and therefore allows more breathing room to any song.


Infinity – original mix, DJ pastis, DJ Ninu, Wasi Distortion


Let's s top messing around. Banger time.

DUDU is a party right from the get go with the crazy synth and those left-right effects. Everything is just a bit of a mess, but not in a bad way since it still allows the listener to follow whichever part. When the bass comes in and we really get going, bass punches are aggressive but also a bit too soft as if Mike Tyson punched you through Grandma's fat old homemade pillow. This combined with the fact soundstage soon gets overcrowded and treble is not sufficiently extended nor detailed makes for a decent, but highly flawed listen.

P1 Max II starts off in a cleaner way but still packed with energy. Left-right extension comes in handy here to allow those supporting sounds more room. Piano is clearer and less pronounced which is a bit of a shame, I prefer DUDU's piano presentation. Bass comes in like a train. Possibly matching DUDU's aggressiveness, but it's way ahead of DUDU in its speed, tactility, onset and decay characteristics. Once more, P1's bass proves to be the superior one. Despite more energy in that sibilance region this song remains free from any painful sharpness even when turned up above 100dB – just for a few seconds, DO NOT LISTEN at those volumes for longer periods.

This ends my song examples. Should you wish for any others, you can reach out to me via a private message.


To Sum Up The TINHiFi DUDU

DUDU provides a balanced listen with slight hint of warmth which is a welcome addition to the otherwise recognizable 'planarness'. It scores well in midrange where despite the vocals feeling slightly veiled and soundstage not being as large as we could wish for, it manages to bring life to music in a soulful way. It looks good and fits good too. Just a nice overall package that could be further perfected with some minor tweaks taken from TINHiFi's own planar front runner, the P1 Max II.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

Rapid Fire 'About Me'

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received this unit free of charge from Hifigo in exchange for a review. They had no special requests besides releasing the review within a time frame of a few weeks, and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should you be interested in purchasing, here is the non-affiliated link:

https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-wyvern-qing?_pos=1&_sid=26112a314&_ss=r

Let's Get Going!

This one will be different to my other reviews. The budget sector is getting overflown with choice. And what's even more impressive is the performance we are seeing from these budget offerings. So let's dive deeper into a 5-way shootout among 5 single DDs - TRN Orca, Tripowin Piccolo, Celest Wyvern Black, Celest Wyvern Qing, and an old classic that sort of started it all – the Tangzu Wan'er. As source I will be using my trusted Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC that is quite neutral in playback and offers plenty of power.



Wyvern Qing is another variation of the great success the Wyvern Black (originally called Wyvern Abyss) has been getting. Qing offers a more colourful selection of either blue or green transparent shells.
Packaging is way below the usual Kinera affair. The fact the IEMs come thrown into a bag is a bit sad. It is due to that 'detail' that I struggle recommending this one as a gift. Presentation is the lowest of lows. However, once you cry a river over the packaging, you get to pull out the IEMs and enjoy their visuals – as you would expect from Celest. Then you see the subpar cable that is much worse than that which comes with the Black and three pairs of eartips which is all you're getting. But that's essentially all you need to make these play. So without further ado, let's get into the interesting part of this review.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

1 star – do not even think about it
2 stars – it has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
3 stars – this item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
4 stars – wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
5 stars – eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Leveling The Playing Field

To keep it fair and as original as possible, I am using stock cables and tips on all these sets, except for Wan'er whose accessories have disappeared. On Wan'er I'm therefore using Moondrop Spring tips and TINHiFi DUDU's cable which is no better than any of the other's cables.

The field is full of crowd's favourites. Celest has two fighters ready to throw punches – the Wyvern Black and Qing. But hold on, are these two any different? Specs would suggest they are not. They also have identical shells. And sound? A quick two-minute A/B is enough to come to a conclusion they are also tuned equally to the best of my hearing. Whatever difference there might be I'd put down to burn-in and cables. Therefore, I will be using the Black in my tests, since it is burnt in more.



This means whenever I'm writing about one, I'm writing about the other too. Let's just name them 'Wyverns' for the sake of simplicity.

Song Examples With Comparisons



Ayo, I'm In Love

Wyverns are a tasteful choice for this song. They offer a full low end, sweet female vocals, and just enough treble energy to make the surrounding elements not sound dull.

Orca is a calmer approach even on DDU to bring out the treble a bit more. What it excels at is cohesiveness across the range, generous soundstage and nicely separated instruments. Her voice is just a tad smokier and less bitey than on Wyverns. The whole song gets ironed out into what sounds like a completely different song at the end.

Wan'er, the old guy trying to battle the youngsters. It's noticeably less resolving, so all instruments sound worsely recorded than on Wyverns and Orca too. Bass lacks texture and heft, treble is reduced and just a tad uneventful – lacking range and roundness. What it still has is that vocal magic. And I'm struggling to comprehend why. What is the first thing to strike me is the placement which is way in front of other instrumentation. Whenever she starts singing I get caught out since where my brain would expect her to come from and where her voice actually comes from are surprisingly different. The attenuated bass shelf makes this song a bit more sterile, but also cleaner.

Piccolo is the most grown up of the bunch. Just how much of that can be down to the metallic shells I'm not sure, but it does indeed sound like the transients are better refined and more precise. The sonic balance fits the bill for this song with quite lively treble, well positioned and natural mids, and pinpoint accurate bass. Bass here is a few steps ahead of all the others in detail and cleanliness. Those notes are wonderfully separated, whereas on others they often remain one single blob of sound.

This song is best experienced via Piccolo, close second are the Wyverns.


Veronica Swift, This Bitter Earth

Wyverns are different in their low end presence to others. This song requires a heartfelt presentation of the piano, strings, and her wonderful outcry. Wyverns can present emotion very nicely. Piano is full-bodied and on the wetter side. Her voice is central and remains the main point throughout. What I could wish for are better separated piano notes and more incisive strings, but how strict can we be with budget-fi?

Orca surprises with the more open soundstage upon first seconds. Piano carries lesser note weight and feels more hollow in the midrange while the lower bassier notes are thick and unrefined – piano can skillfully show different sonic characters of sets throughout the frequency response. Despite the lower energy I prefer the way Orca does strings – they seem to have more substance. Her voice is a bit veiled in direct A/B, so it's another case of having to give it some time for your brain to adapt. Tuning is not wonky, so it doesn't take much time for that to happen.

Wan'er is so different to the rest. It just sounds unstrained with vocals. A wise tuning for certain. Possibly, Tangzu knew this driver cannot be forced to perform bass-heavily nor can it outresolve the others, therefore a vocal-centric tuning was their choice. That benefits the Wan'er here, since this song does not require too much in the bass region nor does it need to be the clearest and detailed since the recording is very stripped down. It allows for Veronica's message to reach the listener unobstructed.

Piccolo is tremendous once again. The microdetailing is unparalleled in this field. Her voice sounds breathy and much more supported while also carrying this powerful story. Piano is the most well-rounded with ample control on each single note. There is this additional sweetness to it that others cannot reproduce. Strings are silky smooth and weightless. Very close to perfection to be honest.

Piccolo and Wyverns all replay this tune to perfection, but they go about it in different ways.


Stoto, You're Not There

Wyverns are up to party! For this one I have turnt up the volume to maybe 90dB. Let's get those drivers moving. Wyverns are a very capable well-rounded set. Here any sharpness would be shown and I'm hearing none. Does that mean they're boring? No, I wouldn't classify them in that segment.

Orca is a much warmer set in comparison. This means that once the song gets going all note edges are rounded off and it can indeed be described as the boring one among this group. Bass has this satisfying texture and forms a huge layer where other sounds then dance on. I wouldn't say it's the treble that's the 'problem' here, but rather the upper mids and the softer edges that are down to the driver, not as much tuning.

Wan'er remains vocal-forward which is an interesting take on this song while the singer is along too. When we get to those electronic drum&bassy parts Wan'er is not on the level of Wyverns to present that club atmosphere, but I was still pleasantly surprised! Alright, bass is the most flabby among all these, and treble can become a bit grainy and imprecise, but the energy is there!

Piccolo's driver is a step ahead. But how does it fare with this genre? Very well. Very well indeed. It has this incisive demeanor about it and it remains clean and unbothered. Bass does lack in quantity for it to balance out the very excited treble – likely down to that 12kHz peak unlike the others. Not as tap-footy of a listen as with the Wyverns.

Wyverns take this one with their bass-leaning balance.


Animals as Leaders, Conflict Cartography

Let's test speed, resolution and sharpness in this wildly challenging song. Wyverns lack the onset of those kickdrum notes, but make up for it with their non-fatiguing upper end. Still, it all becomes just a bit of a mess. Bass and low mids are to blame. Driver seems a bit overworked. Alright, let's see how the others handle this high BPM metal.

Orca starts off promisingly. Bass notes are better controlled and just a tad less soft. Guitars establish their spot on the stage and are easily followed throughout. So bass and mids are actually way better than expected. Hihats and cymbals are lost somewhere far behind the rest of the mix, though. An interesting take on this instrumental metal craziness.

Wan'er's lightweightedness in the low end helps tremendously for it to not feel overworked, but it also means low end is uneventful. The rest of the mix lacks precision and resolution. Treble is out of place and feels like a part of another song.

Piccolo gets overwhelmed here too, but stays the most composed in this field. Following the drums is much easier than on others. That treble is coming back to bite it and it feels out of place, similar to Wan'er's.

No winners here. This song proved to be too much for our budget single DD segment. That's both sad and good, since it justifies our mid-fi/TOTL purchases, yoohoo!


Graph & Scores

To end, let's place these contenders into my graph and graphic and score the Celest Wyvern Qing.



Remember, Qing = Black soundwise, so that one would land right on top of the Qing. This line-up shows how being brighter does not necessarily equal being more technical. The main trend line without the Wan'er does, however, still follow that principle. Piccolo is well ahead of the pack in technical prowess which is partly due to its pronounced 12kHz peak - an area that is usually much more subdued in affordable single DDs. Potentially, the metallic shell allows for that resonance to occur without overstressing the driver.



To Sum Up The Celest Wyvern Qing

Summing up the Wyvern Qing is rather simple. I can wholeheartedly recommend this set to anyone who is looking for a well-built, stunning-looking, cohesive-sounding package at a low price. Who would I advise against it? Trebleheads and those whose library is mostly focused on fast-paced music. Wyvern Qing gets a bit overwhelmed then.


Thanks for reading and stay wonderful!

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

My Minute To Shine

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received this unit free of charge from Hifigo in exchange for a review. They had no special requests besides releasing the review within a timeframe of a few weeks, and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set.


How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging & accessories, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graphs&graphics and give it a score on certain qualities to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ single DD, please read the song examples and comparisons below as well to get as much of a feel on what you could expect realistically. I really tried my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible.
I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the NF Audio RA15 (going forward called simply RA15). As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. I am using the stock cable and tips as to not add many unknowns to affordable sets that might be someone's only purchase.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

1 star – do not even think about it
2 stars – it has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
3 stars – this item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
4 stars – wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
5 stars – eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

Let's Get Going!
Packaging, Accessories, Design & Comfort
There isn't much to talk about here, but all that is included is of acceptable quality and based on the price I cannot blame them for not making the unboxing more of an experience.

The additional nozzles are a nice bonus - let's see how they measure.

First, the ones that come preinstalled.



And second, the gold ones that come along. Graphs start to differ in the pinna region where the golden nozzles calm down the 3-4kHz section which can be heard. What's also worth noting is the very decent treble extension (on either nozzle) for a single DD which are usually more of a single-noted ~15kHz peak affair. Not here. That is partly why I find the treble well done despite all the low treble energy.



The design is always subjective, but I feel NF Audio has done a great job with this set, making it look and feel very upmarket and non-divisive. It also fits like a charm because it is a Very small set with nice cutout to allow for a snug fit within the concha. Nozzle is slim and rather short, so some might need to tip roll a bit to find a secure fit.



Graphics & Graphs & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added the Kiwi Ears Singolo, Venture Electronics SIE, and TINHiFi T5S to help form a better perception of where the RA15 slots in.



Here are my scores on the RA15 in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper (meaning sub 200€) sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets.



In layman's terms - anything rated below 4 stars overall does not get a space in my regular rotation and is either stored and revisited some time later again just to see if my thoughts have changed, or it gets gifted.


NEW NEW NEW!!!

I have tried my best to cut down on wordiness and all excess gibberish and rather improve upon my nikbr trademarked graphics to truly be able to compare IEMs visually since that offers an easier-to-comprehend, more interactive and simply more appealing experience.

Since these are new to all of you, a brief description is obviously not only welcome but an absolute must:

Starting off, a true breakthrough in 6 Basic Traits (6BT) that are crucial to the whole perception. Closer to the left smiley face the set is, the better it is at that trait. RA15 is very comfortable, but offers little to no isolation, its bass is middling, mids are nothing truly special nor horrendous either, while treble is nicely done on this single DD.



Secondly, a Magic Balance Board (MBB) that shows where the set gravitates towards in these three sound qualities – thickness, speed, and overall aim. RA15 leans (no pun intended) on the leaner side, is neither speedy nor slow, and feels more techy than musical in its overall demeanor.



Next up, a quick and easy Soundstage Measurement Tool (SMT) in this dumbproof fashion. Again, there are three possible smiley faces – the ones you see here are the teeth-showing 'yikes' emoji that shows my disappointment in this particular dimension of soundstage, and the 'hmmm' thinking emoji that is not fully convinced but has no real complaints, so it's fine. Third one would be a smiley face which obviously means I find that dimension very well extended.
Therefore, height is alright on the RA15, while depth and width are nothing to write home about.



Last but by no means not least, a quad Quarter-Circle Playground (QCP). The red centerpoint is the starting point where a set that's neither laidback nor energetic as well as being neither bassheady nor trebleheady would lie. RA15 lies slightly towards the energetic side of the spectrum and puts emphasis on treble over bass. If the set finds itself within any of the drawn semicircles, it is a through and through laidbacky/energetic/basshead/treblehead set.



Since these are new and I am less than perfect, I realize there might be space for improvement. I'd ask for your feedback/critics/suggestions either in the comment section below or via private messaging. Thanks!


Song Examples

Alright, let's get into some tracks and see how we feel about the RA15. I will support my thoughts with direct comparisons with those three other sets - Singolo, T5S, SIE.



Soldier of fortune, Deep Purple


The guitar starts us off. It is definitely on the sharper end and offers a bit less musicality but I like its presence and clarity. His voice placement is wonderful and just sufficiently warm with nice control of sibilance here. Bass guitar is quite far back and not easy to follow. It also lacks the under- and overtones to really round off its contribution. Drums are quite soft, but also seem like there is a different, more eager drummer for hihats and cymbals as for tom toms, snares, and bass. Leans bright on this song, but does not overdo the leanness.

Singolo feels much less technically capable in direct AB. The tamer highs need some adjusting, but even after taking that into consideration, RA15 is a nicer balanced and more detailed set.

T5S takes all the good I said about the RA15's guitar playback and adds the lacking body to it. Vocal is a bit less present and blurrier in comparison to RA15 – which you might prefer is a question of taste. It is further from sibilance than RA15. Low-end is much more muscular here which aids especially the bass guitar, that became much easier to follow and a joy to listen to. Drummer is one single person that measures his kicks and hits to perfection. It simply becomes a fuller- but also a busier-sounding song.

SIE renders the guitar a bit more plasticky and hollow than others while amping the lowest of notes which linger around for longer. His voice is the best of the bunch, just feels like he's singing to me. Lows are the strongest, but the lower treble peaks aid the cymbal crashes to balance it out. A completely different song to all other sets. Either a great or bad thing, depending on taste and mood. A very mood-dependent set SIE is.


Rosita, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster

This tune can quickly backfire if the set has too much of anything or lacks musicality. Despite the RA15 being a bit on the sterile side overall, it manages to captivate the listener with a tasteful bright-leaning balance and no real timbral issues except possibly for the bassier instruments being just a tad too shy and soft, while the second is more of a preference where I'd like the sax to have more bite. I happily sat through the whole 5-minute song to see whether I will struggle not to pull them out half way through. Luckily, all was well. A true accomplishment, I can be quite strict with my needs/wants with such moodier jazz pieces.

Singolo offers a larger soundstage and certainly supports the bassy instruments better, but the rest goes to RA15 with its much more appropriate balance to make the instruments sound airier, more agile, and less strained. Singolo in comparison feels as if it compressed the file. Sax is even less bitey, piano is smooth as baby's backend, and the whole piece becomes just a bit of a snoozefest compared to RA15's take.

T5S. A different ball game to both the others. And it can be heard literally on the first note already. Such a mature sound with a large soundstage and incredible detail retrieval versus both the others. What certainly helps the cause is that it is by far the best-fitting set with a masterfully sculptured shell that should fit 95% of ears. Piano finally has real note weight, bass is elastic and rich. Downsides are difficult to spot, but I would possibly prefer a bit more low mids to add body.

SIE comes close to T5S's wow factor right upon starting the song, but not quite. Then, the low end presence takes over and bass is in the spotlight whenever it plays. It lacks the delicacy of the RA15 here and just feels a bit less at home in these waters. The qualities SIE has are not as well pronounced here. Just a bit more bloated and imprecise than the RA15 and even more so when compared to T5S.


Summer, Emeli Sande

RA15 is in for an uphill battle here. I'm starting my evaluation at around a 35s mark when Emeli starts singing and is immediately joined by back vocalists. Picking out the left and right back vocalists is pretty simple along with the computerized humming vocal on the left side. Then after a minute comes the part which I had in mind from the start when I said RA15 might be battling an uphill battle. To be honest, though, I was surprised with just how nicely it dug down low and retrieved the treasure in the form of low bass notes. What made me sceptical was the brighter nature of the RA15, but its low end is not bad by any means, it just hides behind the rest until called on duty. It does still lack the muscle or horsepower to really get going and carry the chorus. The midbass punches are neither powerful enough nor controlled enough. Her voice is a bit nasally and diffused as well.

Singolo has a grainier vocal lead vocal. The back vocalists are easily 'located', but more difficult to understand than on RA15. Soundstage is larger which is a big plus with all the hovering surround sounds in this tune. Subbass is much stronger, more enveloping and just two steps ahead of RA15. Midbass is in another league too, punches are less pillowy and come through the mix with good dynamics. Treble detail is behind the RA15 both due to lesser quantity and quality.

T5S is a treat every time. She is so much fuller, her image is larger and expands in all directions being more 3D as a result. Subbass is not much stronger than on RA15 and is behind the Singolo. Overall, it is a more grown up listen. Back vocalists are the most separated and all sufficiently easy to follow, even on the left side where the low humming makes it more difficult. This is the best midbass with all the control.

SIE does amazingly with back vocals too. Lead vocal is a bit too soft and rounded, though. Just lacking that high mid finesse. When the bass joins it is all forgotten, this is such a unique bassy set. It's got a huge bass-bleedy nature, but with this song there isn't any damage even if it leaks into the mids. What it means is that it's by far the most rumbly and full low end of the four sets here. Midbass does not stand out as much because of the constant rumble. Details do suffer slightly simply due to the fact of having trouble aiming focus to them due to the bass. I cannot fully say I'm satisfied solely due to her vocal getting swallowed and overpowered.


Cadabra, Undercatt

Bright-neutral and electronica are hardly a match made in heaven, but to tell you the truth, I'm not too bothered by how the RA15 handles this bassy marvel of a track. The joyous upper end brings a whole lot of energy to the mix too, it's often an underestimated trait when we think about sets being good for electronica. Ultimately, that additional treble energy does make such songs much more tiresome and hardly listenable for more than a song or two – at least not at the volume such genres are usually played at. Finally, I am definitely not suggesting the RA15 to listeners of such tunes.

Swapping right over to the Singolo is interesting with this song. Singolo is just about perfectly tuned for this song, but lacks the technical wizardry to really be unbeatable. Ample soundstage, sufficient bass, and reduced treble to allow for a louder listen. All checks out. I must add, Singolo has proven to be a fit nightmare for lots of users, even I need to choose eartips wisely to make it fit well. If fit is compromised, kiss goodbye all the sweetness in bass and you're left with a mediocre uninspiring set.

T5S is maybe a bit bass-light to really climb the ladder right to the top. Since it is technically so far ahead of others, it renders this tune in a wildly different fashion. You will not be missing any detail anywhere throughout the whole frequency span. Imagine a very clean presentation but the subwoofers not reaching their potential, but stopping around halfway. Leaves me just a bit underwhelmed.

SIE has never been about such electronica, at least not in my collection. But dang, can it punch and rumble. Made me dance in my chair, that's for sure. The low treble is a bit sharp here, however, which makes me less than interested in turning that volume knob any further. Singolo takes it.


This brings my song examples to a close. I feel we have covered all the basics and hopefully you've learnt whether the RA15 is something you'd like in your collection or simply gift it to someone or not.


To Sum Up The NF Audio RA15

This is a bright-neutral single DD done right in my opinion. There will be some howevers, though. The obvious lack of bass quantity is a risky move in today's market, but it brings along the benefits of an overall cleaner perception of the sonic picture. What it lacks in bass it does well in vocal placement and a rather decent detail retrieval or resolution for this affordable and sexy looking single DD. All negatives are forgotten when I grab them and get reminded they are metallic - so good! In a few words, if you groove solely to electronica and bass heavy music - avoid, if you like vocal and instrumental stuff and are not too sensitive to a bit of a rogue low treble and sibilance - go for it!

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

An Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I have received this unit free of charge from Linsoul in exchange for a review. They had no special requests and I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set.

How My Reviews Are Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging & accessories, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graph and give it a score on certain qualities to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a DD and BA hybrid that is still within financial reach, please read the song examples below too to get as much of a feel on what one could expect from the Ziigaat x Fresh Reviews Arete (going forward called simply Arete).

As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. I am using an affordable Xinhs SPC cable so I can feed it all the juice I have available and Divinus Velvet eartips.



Packaging, Accessories and Fit
Don't know why, but I was expecting an impressive unboxing experience and accessories. Possibly due to the fancy faceplate and the price, indicative of a mid-fi competitor. Alas, it was not meant to be. Box itself is meh, just lifeless. And it did not get any better afterwards. Stock cable is atrocious, honestly. Just slightly better than that of the Truthear Zero that still holds the title for the worst cable ever known to men. And tips are just barely any better. I like the yellow that tries to add some life to the mix, but they got swapped out due to feeling plasticky. There is an included case too, but I got better cases along with some sets costing less than half the price.

Fit might be an issue for some. Their lack of cutout for the helical crus in the concha is worrying. I somehow managed to make it fit well, but those with slightly smaller ears or even more pronounced outer ear irregularities will be hard-pressed.

On the right is a set I find very ergonomic - TINHiFi T5S. In comparison, you can see just how much thicker Arete is.




Let's Get Going!
Graph & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added the AüR Audio Aurora (2DD+6BA), AüR Audio Aure (1DD+6BA), Celest Relentless (1DD+6BA), and TINHiFi T5S (1DD) to help form a better perception of where the Arete slots in.



Here are my scores on the Arete in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am primarily scoring sonic performance, regardless of the price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets.



Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

1 star – do not even think about it
2 stars – it has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
3 stars – this item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
4 stars – wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
5 stars – eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, mids, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

Song Examples

Divine Moments of Truth, Shpongle

This is an electronic specialty with lots of musical acrobatics going on, as I like to call them. No clear structure to the song and it keeps you guessing as to where it might turn next. I listen to such songs very rarely, but Shpongle was presented to me as a recommendation from a well-known name around here. Definitely a special artist and this song is no exception. This requires a set of qualities that are different to those I value most and keep a close ear on, therefore it gives the Arete more of a chance to shine than elsewhere.

Bass being on the wetter or more forgiving side without any real focus on detail is not a real negative here. I like the quantity Arete brings and the fact it is as clearly separated from the rest is not a major flaw either. What that does is it allows for our brain to really try and catch all those other details that are presented by the 4 Knowles BAs. His voice does seem to lack just a bit of body in that beginning talk, but the lower subtones sort of make up for it and still maintain the oddity and mystery of that talk. Moving on we get a million weird sounds coming from everywhere. I would have to say that while Arete's imaging and localization are sufficiently accurate (one would hope so, these are aimed at gamers after all), its sondstage is nothing special and actually has more height than width or depth. Every now and then a sound in this song seems to come from right behind my head. Makes for an interesting moment figuring out if someone's behind you or if it's just the song playing with you. The whole stage actually seems quite far back. Mids are not really in much focus here when it comes to musicality or timbral accuracy, so I will talk about that in next examples. Treble, despite being decent quality, leaves me wanting more in both extension and precision, it lacks any of that magic better sets can provide, but I would say this is just as much an implementation and tuning problem as it is the lesser number of drivers compared to AuR Aurora or Aure which do treble nicer. This song is okay on Arete, 6.5/10.



Summer, Emeli Sande

That intro reveals lots of issues right from the get go. Mediocre stage size, inaccurate or unrealistic timbre, and merely acceptable resolution and detail retrieval that is challenged by single DDs priced half of Arete. Her vocal sounds just a tad robotic and lacks warmth she has plenty of. Back vocals can be separated okay, but the left channel's lower voice that is intentionally 'drowned out' in the mix, gets annoying quickly because it remains sat right at your eardrum and sounds hollow.

Thank goodness, bass drop is here and it makes everything else a bit more forgivable. Bass can rumble like wild and does not affect the rest of the spectrum. This works out well in this song. But when those drum kicks come in, the bass shows its lethal flaws too – it cannot punch and it sounds too wet and rounded instead of authoritative. Still, all the time the bass line is present, I could listen to this song happily. For the rest of it, it's simply meh. Treble never manages to escape outwards and feel airy in any way. I would also say the three aspects – bass-mids-treble – give me a feeling of three musicians on stage that just don't get along too well and each plays at their own command. Scored accordingly, 4/10.



Rosita, Coleman Hawkins & Ben Webster

This song was nearly unlistenable. I endured through it just to make sure that what I feel and hear is indeed correct. Neither of the instruments sound as true to life as I would like it to and it never really made me feel as if I were there in that smoky jazz club with a whisky at hand and pretty ladies around. Simply lacks any sort of emotion while also sounding flat on all imstruments. Those right-sided drums sound okay. Not enough to warrant it a good score, 3/10.



Cadabra, Undercatt

Back to electronica. This is the only genre I can truly enjoy with the Arete. But even here, this song has quite a strong midbass punch throughout that gets a bit smeared, cloudy, hazy. Okay, as the song progresses the Arete finds its pace and I can say it does a good job at separating the pieces and keeping the energy up with both the subbass heft and crisp treble that keeps on going for a good little while just slightly off center to the left. That middle part of this song is such a masterpiece. I am lacking even more excitement and note weight from the Arete there. This is one of the only songs that made me crave to turn up the volume. In doing so, bass remains very hefty and in the forefront. That continuous treble rhythm does get a bit spicy, though. Nevertheless, this is the best I have heard the Arete perform, 8/10.

To Summarize The Arete

This will unfortunately have to be a pass for anyone that has nothing but instruments in their playlist. What the Arete does well is a very niche electronica. To those who like the subbass way ahead of midbass and dislike low mids, this can be a good one to consider. Still, I would really wish for a better technical performance and sweeter mids along with shimmery and airy treble. It was not meant to be this time. I have to stay truthful and say this might be an interesting buy on the second hand market at half the price.

Thank you for reading and stay wonderful!

Firstly, a warm welcome to everyone reading this. Summer is upon us and with that the evenings get warmer, longer, and simply more party-friendly. Now, what are the key ingredients for cooking up a joyous party? People? Yep. Drinks? Sure. Food? Yeah, why not. A pretty location? Preferably. What have I forgotten? Oh snap, imagine a quiet ‘party’, let us take care of that too! Tronsmart has just the answer to make your next party a truly outstanding one that your friends will remember for a good little while.



I am talking about a very capable medium-sized unit that is there to help you get the party up to another level. Tronsmart Halo 200 is always ready to sing.

Let us start with the price just so we get a feel for what to expect and see whether our expectations are met. It currently retails for 159.99USD. You can find out more about the product here: https://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-halo-200-karaoke-party-speaker#/38-accessories-standard

It is available for purchase via Amazon: https://bit.ly/3Q7f7bA

Disclaimer: I have received this unit free of charge from Tronsmart in exchange for an article. This will not sway my thoughts and I will remain completely transparent as to how I feel about the item. If it’s good, it’s good, and if not …, I would struggle to hide my disappointment anyway.

A Bit About Me

Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extra-terrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvellous and life is nothing but a journey.

Let's Get Going!

All the technical data is adequately covered in speaker's official material, hence I will instead be describing the aspects I deem most important for a portable party speaker in real use. Robustness, battery life, loudness, fun features, sound quality. So without further ado, let's go through these.

How can you expect to receive your unit? It comes in a large box – obviously, but it isn't protected much from any potential side impact. You'd have to be awfully unlucky to have something happen to it, though. Mine came in perfect condition. All the accessories are on top and laid out very cleanly when you open the box. I have received two BT microphones as well which can be had for a tad more money. I will mention those again under the 'fun features' category.





I have had a JBL Partybox 310 before and this unit feels just as high quality as that one did, while costing about a third of the price. It is a fully plastic construction, but all touch points are sufficiently high quality and seem really robust and able to withstand abuse rather well. When the party gets going, there will always be some that love to feel like DJs and have absolutely no respect towards the speaker, so being robust is an absolute must (IPX4 is what Tronsmart guarantees). I am very sensitive to button feedback and how their 'click' or 'turn' action feels. Halo 200 gets high marks for that too – no slack or weird feedback on either of the buttons. I love the huge volume knob which is immediately recognizable by its shape and size as well as the LED light that surrounds it. It also works as intended. Overall size of the unit and its weight (6,1kg) are very respectable. Easy to throw it in any car even if it's full of luggage or simply carry it while going to the beach. Honestly, no negatives in this section.



Battery Seems To Last Forever.
However, as always, it will be dependent on use case (per specs: music: up to 18 hours (on 50% volume), karaoke: up to 10 hours (on 60% volume)). Having the LED light show turned on will shorten the playtime. Having the volume turned all the way up is going to cost it too. Let me put it this way, you will easily go through that usual late evening into early night party without worrying about the battery depleting. That means playing at a calmer 50-70% volume without LEDs from 6 till 9PM, then slowly upping the firepower and turning it to 100% volume as well as showing off the dancing LEDs (which have multiple settings ranging from calmer to crazier visual stimuli along with the rhythm) until the police show up. Hopefully not, but it may happen. Why? Because this rather unassuming looking and overall still a smaller speaker can get quite loud – what a great segue onto the next topic.

Powerful For Its Size!
Story time. You've probably been there before. You turn up to a pool party or a barbecue full of attractive ladies with a BT speaker thinking you're the man and you'll show them how to party (check out the pic below, I am now talking about something like the Tronsmart Mirtune C2 on the left - good little speaker, just not up to the task of partying).

You go ahead and turn that bad boy on and start creeping up in volume on your phone step by step. Carefully, so you don't show all attributes from the start already. But, you keep on pressing that volume button and the background noise as well as the fact you're now stood outside, not surrounded by walls and windows either side of you, makes this poor little BT speaker disappear. Oh-oh! You're at 80% volume and only now can others make out that there's actually music playing from somewhere. They turn to you all excited and say »Yeah, John! Crank it up, that's my song!«. So you press the volume button three more times to reach the maximum, the speaker starts distorting, and barely gets any louder. You feel bad, the party dies off and they go back to talking, and the speaker is having a horrible time, too. Yikes … Let's avoid that next time and please bring an actual party speaker to that next party.



Halo 200 is here to assist (with its 120W rated power output). This little fella can get respectably loud while remaining composed sounding. No real distortion to speak of, but the bass won't be able to keep up with the mids and treble after about 80%. Still, even when you're done turning up the volume and people are dancing, there's that other party trick to impress – LED lightshow! Wooohooo! »Wow, John, that's an awesome speaker!«, says that same girl that was left wanting more previously.



Sound Quality
Upon first listen I was impressed with just how grown up this speaker sounds indoors. Vocals are clearly presented and never get too weighty or shouty. Bass supports the whole presentation in a capable manner – no boominess, no lack of pace, no abnormal texturing, just a sweet experience. Mids are never really in the forefront of such speakers, however I was not left completely cold and thinking how this is just another V-shaped mess of a sound signature. In stock tuning it is pleasantly balanced. Treble is handled by a single tweeter up top, so it cannot really paint that ethereal 3D picture of dancing cymbals, hihats, what-have-you. It keeps up with the bass and mids and avoids sibilance, shout or any seriously annoying peaks to make you squint and think what the heck was that. And if you want to make it your own there's an app in which you can 5-band EQ this guy to sing to your liking even more.



Then I took it outdoors to a local park where we played some sports. You know that is not going to be a quiet environment with men playing sports. Still I had to put on some energetic deep house tunes and 50% volume was ideal for that additional motivation to give it our best. When we had enough of sports and night fell, it was time to bring out the best party trick you can ever bring. Microphones. Two wireless BT microphones that not only feel decent quality, but also sound impressive. Karaoke puts a smile on everyone's face except the one that's up next, haha! Awesome fun guaranteed. Since I got two microphones that means there's always at least one in action while the other circles around searching for someone else courageous enough to go for it and sing their lungs out!





In summary
This speaker really ticks all the boxes as a portable party speaker at this price. All the quintessential traits are here and ready to show what they're made of. Since summer is already in full swing here, I am looking forward to the next party and that impressed lady to come to me instead of that John guy from our story.

I have no problem recommending this one to anyone that's looking for something similar to liven their parties or use it as an indoor speaker too.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

A Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I received this unit of Celest Relentless free of charge via Kinera Celest in exchange for a review and I greatly appreciate this opportunity. I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should this review tip you over the edge and you decide on this IEM as your next purchase, I welcome you to check it out here: AliExpress Official Store Link

How my reviews are structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging & accessories, then continue by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graph accompanied with other similarly priced or similar in specs IEMs I own and know well. Then, I sum this part up by giving it a score on certain qualities to help reach the final star score. Beyond that, I will choose a few songs to talk about where I feel the set's downsides and strengths are best conveyed.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:
1 star – do not even think about it
2 stars – it has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
3 stars – this item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
4 stars – wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
5 stars – wow, it can't possibly get any better

Keep in mind these ratings are certainly affected by the item's price in the overall assessment too. Sometimes that will result in slightly higher score than based solely on my scoring of bass, midrange, and treble, while other times it results in a slight penalty if I deem the item a tad overpriced.

Important Background About My Listening

As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. In this case I am using a Juzear Limpid 4.4 cable and stock orange-grey eartips. I always review with fresh ears – no other IEM gets any ear-time while I am desperately collecting my thoughts regarding the reviewed item.

Packaging & Accessories

Relentless comes in a gorgeous looking box that could be displayed somewhere instead of tucked away in the depths of your drawers.





After admiring and opening the box you are greeted by beautiful faceplates lying alongside a decent feeling case. You also get a solid-feeling and well-behaving cable that has 3.5 and 4.4 swappable terminations and three different sets of eartips. One of these actually worked well for me and I felt no need to tip-roll like crazy.





Comfort

Such a big part of the overall enjoyment is comfort. I must say these are quite large and that might affect some people's ease of use. They are, however, very light, so keeping them in place is not too difficult. I would advise you to think about all the IEMs you have tried and try to understand the shapes that work and those that do not work. This sort of flat back shape is not my favourite due to my pronounced helical crus deep within my concha. I much prefer a bigger cut-out for the concha. Since the nozzle is decently long, this did not affect me too much.



Let's get going!

Graph & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added a few previously reviewed single DDs in the form of Kiwi Ears Singolo, TINHiFi T5S, and Simgot EA500 LM to help form a better perception of how the Relentless fares technically and balance-wise vs some well-regarded single DDs.



Here are my scores on the Relentless in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am scoring regardless of the price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going! I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets from all price brackets. I will eventually form them all into a nicely presented table.



Those that are seriously considering a capable multi-BA+DD hybrid that is still on the affordable side of the spectrum ought to read the song examples and comparisons with other sets below too to get as much of a feel on what one could expect. I really try my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible.

Sound!

I have decided to tackle the part of talking about the IEM itself a bit differently again – still finding the groove to make it as fluent and worthwhile of a read as I can. I will go through the positives and negatives of a few songs. In the end, I will concisely package the overall impression into a shorter paragraph.

Song #1:

Writing's on the Wall by Tom Ball

Starts of creepily with a piano and strings, later joined by a bunch of instruments. Piano seems just a tad thin in note weight meaning it does not carry as much substance as I would have liked. Strings and brass are recognizably BA-ish in a sense that they carry the sharpness which I honestly like more than how some lesser DDs smooth these out too much - it is both a case of tuning and driver choice as well as their implementation to make it sound correct. The epicness of this song is held back a tad by the somewhat restricted soundstage which is not as elyptical nor tall. Those high-pitched ornaments are nicely delivered in a smooth fashion, however some additional up top air could make them magical. His voice has such a rich tone with overtones to die for – this set does it well, but I must say I would prefer his voice to be placed just a bit higher up and more upfront. What ruins it for me here is just too much midbass and low mid bloat that puts a bit of a veil over the whole orchestra.

Song #2:

I’m in Love by Ayo

This song requires a carefully crafted bass – Relentless is just a bit too relentless in its midbass territory which means it is more of a boom than a rumble. That means this song is different than what I’m used to, but 30s in and I adapt. Thankfully there isn’t a great deal going on in the midbass along with the main rhythm. Other participants are kept up in a higher register including her voice. This shows me that female vocals work better than male vocals. Males get caught in that V-shape just a bit more making them sound less convincing. It is an easy-going song which is well-suited to all aspects of Relentless except for the bass.

Song #3:

London Paris Cardiff by Dominic Miller

Gorgeous start to this song. I like just how concrete the low-end is here with the Relentless. It is a tad overdone, sure, but it ends up sounding simply as if they filmed this on a Friday and were ready to party afterwards with the bass dial already turned up and ready to go! Guitar is very soulful and story-telling. So are the hihats, just the right amount of bite despite being very calmly played and recorded from quite far away, it seems. For the ultimate of clarity and resolution this is not the best set to choose in these pieces – bass will take the focus away from the minutae. Relentless is a set I could see used for this sort of genres when that specific mood hits. I very much enjoyed this tune.

Song #4:

Pack your memories by Lils Mackintosh

Fingersnaps, hihats and bass. Yep, this combo works well for an intro. Relentless does all three well. Fingersnaps are quite rich-sounding and linger for a little while. Hihats are spot on while some more crystal clarity could be desired. Bass notes are not as sharply outlined, but it goes together well with slightly shy hihats and those moody fingersnaps! Lils joins and I must say I am impressed again by how the Relentless handles female vocals. Not too soft and warm, while not overreaching into the fame poison at all either. Sibilance won’t happen, while ‘S’ sounds as ‘S’ instead of ‘THS’ on sets that cut the low-treble area too much. Close to perfect for this song.

Song #5:

Cadabra by Undercatt

Ooof that is one big boy wave of bass coming towards my eardrums. And while I listened to most songs at a calmer volume levels and preferred them that way, here the itch to turn it up just a bit was too strong not to oblige. It also levels out much nicer when you’re up into the 90+dB range. Now sure, I would not advise anyone to listen to the whole album this way, but a song here and there won’t hurt! What is life without fun? This must be one of the better renditions of this song too, just a wallop of bass accompanied by all those wild sounds floating around. I am not missing any detail retrieval nor soundstage dimensions to enjoy this one. Mid-point when that bass rejoins after shorter absence, it’s a powerful experience. Now, ultimately I could do with a bit more rumble and less midbass heft, but it’s different and I love it still.

Song #6:

Love Is a Bitch by Two Feet

I have not yet had my vision shaken at a rather ‘low’ volume, but this song and this IEM achieved that. It really does not look like a big bass set on graphs, but here is where that proved to be the case. Basshead set? Not so sure, depends on which sort of bass you’re after. This song rumbles more than it kicks and punches, but yes, this DD … rumble it can. Pinna is done skillfully and allows for rather high-level listening. The rain in the beginning sounds natural and it made me look through my window while writing this review. His voice is much calmer and stays clear of that midrange dip, so it really is not affected by the V-shape much if any at all. What that means is that I really have no flaws to point out here and if this is the sort of music that forms at least a part of your playlist, add the Relentless to your wishlist for a different sort of experience.

Song #7:

Pachelbel Canon by The London Baroque Consort

Okay, so how does it handle classical? Surely, after all that’s been said about the slightly lacking bass and midrange microdetails and a rather healthy (overly so?) midbass presence, it won’t be any good? Not the case. This recording in particular is not too midbass-forward and it allows for BAs to do the work without too much DD intereference with its rumble and unapologetic quantity of bass. Dynamically, it does very well due to its V-shape. Our hearing perception changes drastically with volume, so making sure that energy is maintained and carried throughout even while the piece is in its quieter passaggios is nicely done. So, what ultimately ends up making it just a bit underwhelming is the mediocre soundstage size – those who prefer a more enclosed or personal experience will be more than happy.


To Sum Up The Celest Relentless

To sum up its qualities and try to see who this is for, I would have to say something along the lines of: It is a set of ample bass presence that forms a stage for BAs to dance on. While the bass can get a bit overwhelming and drowns out the detail and finesse, I would have to recommend this set solely to those whose library consists of mostly female vocals and a dose of electronica. Even then, expect a different bass shelf and maybe a little inconsistent playback in the sense of bass doing another thing than the highs. It is, however, certainly unique and deserves a listen when you get the chance!

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful!

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

A Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Disclaimer: I received this unit of TINHiFi T5S (moving forward called T5S) free of charge via Linsoul in exchange for a review. I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should this review tip you over the edge and you decide on this IEM as your next purchase, I welcome you to check it out here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t5s

How my reviews are structured
I will start off by placing the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graph accompanied with other similarly priced or similar in specs IEMs I own and know well. Then, I continue by giving it a score on certain qualities to help reach the final star score.

Here is the quick and rough description of how I understand various star ratings:

1 star – do not even think about it
2 stars – it has too many drawbacks and gets demolished by competition
3 stars – this item has the potential but feels a bit too bland and has multiple issues
4 stars – wonderful item with rare and mostly subjective drawbacks
5 stars – eargasmic performance with all the aspects covered at an incredibly high level

Those that are seriously considering a single dynamic driver that is still on the affordable side of the spectrum ought to read the song examples and comparisons with other sets below too to get as much of a feel on what one could expect. I really try my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible.



I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the T5S. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain, VE Megatron with a 50ohm impedance adapter, and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 75-85dB. In this case I am using a Hisenior Whitewhale 4.4 cable and Pentaconn Coreir M-sized eartips. I always review with fresh ears – no other IEM gets any ear-time while I am desperately collecting my thoughts regarding the reviewed item.



Packaging & Accessories

There isn't much to discuss here. Photos can do the talking. Nothing premium, but also not too poor honestly. Still, I had to stay strict here and put this as a Con, because I do believe unpacking a new product has quite a big impact on our first listen.









Let's Get Going!
Graph & Scores
This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added two other single DD representatives – Kiwi Ears Singolo and Simgot EA500 LM to help form a better perception of how the T5S fares in comparison.



Here are my scores on the T5S in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am scoring regardless of the price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going. I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets from all price brackets. Since this is my fourth single DD I have reviewed, we are starting to get a good picture of how the scores are turning out and where my preferences lie. I will eventually form them all into a nicely presented table.



I have decided to tackle the part of talking about the IEM itself a bit differently. I will go through the aspects we usually try to focus on and use to form an overall impression. Only then will I use actual song examples and briefly compare the T5S to Singolo and EA500 LM.

Individual overview of the main sound signature

#1: BASS

This is an area I am quite specific about, but I still very much like various tastes. It does however need to be good at texturing and pace, no matter if its focus tilts subbass-first or midbass-first. T5S covers both subbass and midbass just about equally I'd say. Rumble is sufficient when the song requires it – this depends very much on the source too – VE Megatron with a 50ohm impedance adapter shook my brain into an omelette – in a good way however weird that sounds haha. It never becomes too much and annoying. Subbass experience is always highly dependent on the rest of the spectrum as well. Brain will have difficulty focusing on subbass if something else is sticking out like sore thumb. Texturing is very respectable, but do not expect to really be able to finely dissect each kickdrum or bass guitar pluck. Those remain very much a single piece of sound. Microdetails are not up to the level of the greatest, they are smoothed over. Considering the price and the fact it is a single DD I cannot blame it for that – I have tried lots of sets and BA's fared better at ultimate microscopic view into bass territory in my findings. Pacing of this DD is highly capable, with most genres I cannot come close to its limit and I have not been missing anything. When subbass, midbass and low mids all get crowded, like in many rock tunes, T5S nicely separates each instrument making it simple to follow along. With lows, everything up to 200hz feeling as a whole is crucial to have a musically fulfilling experience where no notes get too pushed or fall behind. If I were to try and find flaws, midbass kick is just a bit too cloud-like to really punch and decay as I'd wish. Thankfully, as I said, this does not affect overall speed and notes do not become just a big bubble of mess. Carefully flowing into low mids is another thing I'm noticing quite soon on new sets. Let's cover this in the MIDRANGE section.


#2: MIDRANGE

What I am focusing on primarily is midrange openness, timbral accuracy, and vocal placement. These three matter a whole lot to me and either of these being off too much can be a dealbreaker. Unless something is horribly off from the first listen, going through a million songs of varied genres and as many different instruments is a must to really start to understand just how much you like a set's midrange. We are much more susceptible to change in bass and treble, because those sounds are not as crucial in our everyday lives and they stand out the most while also mattering a whole lot in overall representation of song's rhythm. Treble can also get piercing quite easily and bass can be a big mushy mess. I think most sets can present midrange capably and relatively similarly nowadays unless the tuners had a drink too many before getting to work. This does not mean it's simple to get the midrange to sound truthful, natural and have bite in conveying a message. Oh no. That is a whole different story which starts with driver selection, but that could quickly get too technical and above our heads, so let's keep the discussion limited to these three aspects I mentioned in the beginning: openness, timbre, vocals. Midrange openness is one of the first things we notice when auditioning a set I would say. That's what forms the perception of stage and since our ears are good at directionality (not so much in z- or height-axis) that's naturally one of the first things our brain tries to figure out and make sense out of. Here the T5S is very acceptably large and what strikes me is the spacing between instruments/singers being very generous. A trait I am not used to hearing as pronounced on single DD sets I have heard before – except for the 5x more expensive Sennheiser IE600. Couple that with the fact that timbre has yet to step a foot wrong all this time I've had it. Strings, drums, flute. Nearly flawless. Drums are a tough beast to handle in bass, mid and treble departments since these tiny little drivers in IEMs can never sound as full or have as rich of under/overtones as drums do in reality, but we're talking basic physics at this point. Piano is very crisp and has just the right amount of note authority – dependent on how the song is produced, of course. What it lacks is a tad bit of note weight to really round it off. That said, the whole midrange is very well done and a real statement of how far we have come with technology and tuning knowledge. Vocals are just an absolute joy, bar majorly sibilant recordings where T5S gets sibilant too – I would rather this be the case than to completely suck out all energy at 5-7kHz and be left with a very uninspiring presentation no matter the song choice. Male voices in particular are very full and rounded in my findings. There is meat to the bones that I am not used to in this price bracket. It honestly comes dangerously close to my favourite midrange set that is unchallenged in vocals – AuR Audio Aure. The latter brings out more details and makes the singer even more unbelievably true sounding. Female vocals are still a very mature affair, but they do come closer to feeling strained in their upper registers. Vocal placement is the thing that makes or breaks an IEM for me. T5S places singers upfront and in eye level height. They never get lost in the mix, even if the mix gets wild and crowded. In short, I can easily recommend this set to vocal lovers.


#3: TREBLE

Since I am still rather young I can quickly get overwhelmed if there is too much information here and especially if it all feels like a goulash of sound instead of a well presented Michelin-starred restaurant's dish. This is where I feel the differences between affordable and less affordable sets are still the largest. Chi-fi has already figured out how to make enjoyable bass that in some cases comes dangerously close to expensive sets. Midrange tuning is also quite well figured out by now. Treble, that is the hardest to master and hugely depends on drivers too. Since these are the frequencies that are most directional this also brings a number of other challenges into the mix. In multiple-driver sets, getting phase and crossovers right is crucial. This is also the main reason single-driver sets still mostly sound more coherent in Chi-fi until you reach at least Mid-fi. T5S has none of the worries affordable hybrids have, and it shows. The coherency and fluidity is spot on. We like to describe bass, mids, and treble as separate units that form the package. Truth is they all flow together and affect each other directly. Okay, so on to treble. This is where T5S is a huge leap ahead of all other similarly priced single DDs. I will try to paint a picture of how it differs from two well received single DDs later in song impressions and comparisons. What can be said is treble is masterfully done. With a dynamic driver (in this price range, at least) it is always a case of catching that balance of sufficient detail while not forcing the driver to do too much. Smoothness is the name of the game, but maintaining the bite necessary to show off violins, guitars, sax, trombone, trumpet, cymbal crashes etc. Get the low and mid treble wrong and those will quickly sound wonky, unnatural, too sharp or too soft, and just overall unenjoyable. Expecting extension like BA- or EST-bestowed sets is a fool's game. What manufacturers will often do is a huge downslope right after 8kHz and a thin sharp peak at 15kHz. This is the case here too, but with a very reserved peak. Both Singolo and EA500 LM have a more pronounced peak which makes their treble so much spicier and less natural to my ears. LM is very exhausting of a listen to my younger ears with jazz for example, while Singolo is not tiring, just completely single-noted in treble – no resolution and no precision. T5S is miles ahead here. Sibilance does occasionally strike but in a non-aggravating way, so no point withdrawal punishment for that.


6 Song Examples With Comparisons to Two Other Single DDs
Okay, on to a few song examples to see how all this plays out.

1st song:

Katie Melua – Piece by piece

Guitar is the first thing to quickly discuss. T5S does a good job in keeping the guitar feel as a single unit including its decay, not separating the low notes from the rest too much. Individual notes and guitar plucks are a joy with sufficient microdetail. Singolo warms the guitar too much comparatively making it sound heavy and less seductive. EA500 LM's guitar is the most detailed, but also sounds a bit disjointed at the same time. Lowest undertones feel disconnected. Overall, I would say T5S is timbrally most correct, LM and Singolo both have their downfalls.

Secondly, Katie joins vocally. T5S places her up high on the stage and gets the balance with the guitar correct in amplitude. This recording is not shy at 6-7kHz which means some sibilance is unavoidable, but it goes well with the overall tune and isn't a nuisance on T5S. Singolo has no trouble avoiding sibilance since it is the most reserved in that area. It does not, however, bring the singer to the forefront as splendidly as the T5S. The whole presentation is calmer, warmer and more veiled in comparison. LM is very sharp in sibilance area – right on the edge of comfort. Reducing the volume is a must versus T5S. She is placed a bit farther back but still stands proudly and takes lead.

Bass comes and consists of longer sustained notes. T5S is not shy with bass but it's less in quantity to both Singolo and LM. It is also less textured than both of those and in comparison almost sounds a bit hollow with this song. I prefer the balance of T5S, however here it must be said it comes last in bass quality.

When everyone is playing we can say a word about the separation, imaging and soundstage. Left and right extremes are very generously extended either side on the T5S. LM is narrower sounding, but leaves more space between instruments which improves imaging. Singolo plays widely but not as precise with its pinpointing as the other two.

Here is how they place in this song: 1st LM, 2nd T5S, 3rd Singolo.

2nd song:

Writing's on the wall by Tom Ball

First off, what a masterpiece.

T5S sounds nicely connected like in just about every song. I will focus on male vocals, timbre accuracy and imaging here. His vocal is a very specific one with fantastic mixed voice which is his bread and butter. It means it is very highly pulled chest voice which sounds strained on most untrained singers – his isn't. Still, a set has to convey the ease with which he reaches insanely high notes. T5S is up to the task. He is joined by a million instruments, none of them is off timbrally with the T5S. Imaging is precise, but not the main attraction.

In comparison, Singolo makes his voice a warmer one which sounds great, but a bit fake. Imaging is behind the T5S, so is the timbre of the higher-strung instruments.

Last but not least, LM does a better job at imaging and it makes this song sound overall more epic because of it. It is also a more significant V-shape which helps to impress at first (it gets annoying to my ears sooner than a balanced set). His vocal is OK, nothing drastically wrong, but I dislike the positioning which is not atop and at the front of the stage and feels a bit like a second thought.

They place 1st T5S, 2nd LM, 3rd Singolo.

3rd song:

Long after you are gone by Chris Jones

T5S is good with acoustic guitars. Low end rumble feels very concrete and meaty. His voice comes in in this smoky fashion but it is a trait of the recording. Overall an enjoyable listen and an easy rec.

LM in comparison turns the guitars up to 11 which makes them feel quite a bit more resolving but also fatiguing. It's as if each note really tried its hardest to be heard. Low rumble is not as beautifully included as on the T5S. His vocal however, is helped a bit due to the more open midrange feel.

Singolo is an interesting one here. Again, not a fan of its replay of guitars, but Chris' vocal is well placed and a really healthy baritone. Lowest notes are a joy with a proper long-lasting decay.

Hm, difficult to place them here, each does something better.

4th song:

Cadabra by Undercatt

Now the party's getting started.

T5S does the punch very capably, but can be a bit too shy with the following decay. Details and overall flow of such songs is a thing of beauty. It can be very source-dependent. All three sources I have tried worked well, but Megatron packed the most energy.

LM in direct AB is smoother in initial note pickup, but carries the note further. Here the unwanted separation of bass from highs can be quite obvious and either a plus or a negative depending on your preferences. No doubt it is a highly resolving set, outresolves T5S by a margin.

Singolo likes to party and this is a song for it. It does however lack microdetail and note definition when placed alongside the other two. Not an issue for a party, an issue for audiophiles? Yes, might be.

T5S comes out on top, followed by Singolo, then LM.

5th song:

Through glass by Stone Sour

T5S goes ahead and pulls me into the song soon. I find myself floating away and forgetting what I'm trying to accomplish here. Not the largest soundstage, but all the musicians do not step on each other's toes. Just a tad of sharpness in the craziest parts. Sibilance is starting to creep in with the words 'stars' in the wildest parts.

LM makes his vocal much more present in the beginning accompanied by a single guitar. Sounds great. Here the musicians have more space to breathe, but it's as if they all had just an energy drink too much before the gig and really get to shredding a bit too enthusiastically. Enjoyable for a single track, for an album? Not sure.

Singolo is the most listenable, so as we like to say 'musical', but sacrifices highs just a bit too much, making especially hihats just a bit too mellow and laid back. Vocalist sounds a bit tired in comparison to other two sets.

1st energetic LM, 2nd playful T5S, 3rd Singolo.

6th song:

Pachelbel Canon by The London Baroque Consort

T5S is just a beauty. Sufficiently open while remaining musical and not worrying too much about the technical aspect in harm of musicality. This song was just marvelous. I could dissect it but felt no need to do so. It was an emotional response that made me go, »YES! You're in to the next round!«

LM leans much more technical, so while I could possibly tell more about each instrument and the musician playing it, I was left feeling a bit cold. Not what this song strives for the listener to feel. Just a tad bland.

Singolo is way too low-end present for an orchestra. All the low instruments enjoy the play while others are left in the back seat. Definitely not Singolo's strength.

1st emotional T5S, 2nd technical LM, 3rd thick Singolo.

This completes my song examples and covers most of what I had to say about the splendid T5S.


To Sum Up The TINHiFi T5S

This is a set that could fit just about every collection as the less expensive single DD with great cohesion both in look/feel/fit department as well as the sound department. It is tuned just about spot on. What it does miss is the perfect clarity and resolution of higher-end sets or indeed something like the EA500 LM which instead aims to be a technical marvel at the price. Much to the liking of those who prefer 'musical', T5S is here to serve. Absolutely easy to recommend this one and the star score reflects it.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful!

Tronsmart Mirtune C2 Article

This is my first time writing about a portable BT speaker, but it is by no means the first BT speaker experience I have had, so I will draw from my previously acquired knowledge to say a thing or two about this joyous looking thing.

Let us start with the price just so we get a feel for what to expect and see whether our expectations are met. It currently retails for 39.99USD. You can find out more about the product here: https://bit.ly/3USK2sO



It is available for purchase via Amazon: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0D17BV9TF

Disclaimer: I have received this unit free of charge from Tronsmart in exchange for an article. This will not sway my thoughts and I will remain completely transparent as to how I feel about the item.


A bit about me

Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extra-terrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

Let's get going with first impressions

I have received this unit a few weeks before it was officially announced and therefore had no idea about the specifications or the price. I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I found out the price, because even my first impression of pulling the unit out of the box was positive. Okay, the packaging is not the most secure and attractive ever, but do I care? Not so much. The unit feels sufficiently weighty not to feel brittle and fragile like affordable speakers often do, but it is still easily portable including the little strap which allows you to hang it somewhere or secure it additionally to your backpack for example. The fabric-like material that covers the whole fascia of the speaker feels comfortable and durable. I have not yet put it through its paces at the pool or similar, but based on its quality feel I would not be too afraid to do so and patiently await the first opportunity.






(Please don't mind the dusty spots)


Buttons are intuitive, so connecting my phone for the first time was a walk in the park. While we are mentioning the buttons, they offer a satisfying feedback click when you press them – so often do manufacturers get that aspect wrong and buttons feel so inconsistent in their response while also feeling awful with each click. One negative I found (which won’t even really be a negative in most listening environments or situations) is that the turn ON and OFF sounds as well as the connection sounds are very loud which means late evening listening is made more difficult, especially if you have someone else nearby that is not in the mood for music but would rather catch a good night’s sleep. I also had no idea there were LEDs surrounding the passive radiators on either side, so imagine my surprise when those lit up and started dancing along to the rhythm – they also have different presets. They can be turned off as well for when you are not in full party mode and just want to listen to music without distractions.

How does it sound

Okay, all the first impressions out of the way, it was time to choose a song I know well and see how Tronsmart Mirtune C2 does. What immediately stood out to me was the surround sound feel this speaker delivered in my room. It obviously was not as pinpoint precise as an actual surround sound would be, but there are intangibles in sound we still fail to explain. Do not go in expecting any earth-shattering bass – this holds true to just about any speaker of this size, not solely the Mirtune C2. What you can expect is a tastefully presented midrange with ample drive and a truly remarkable timbre that makes it sound natural and tasteful. I have gone through a multitude of vocal tracks in different genres and have yet to find a voice that simply cannot be reproduced faithfully on here. Treble is tuned very skilfully and it never oversteps the line of sharpness/shrillness/sibilance. A combination of reduced bass, good mids and well-judged treble means this little thing can replay most non-bass-heavy music with ease and never feel like a fish out of the water.



What I had to try next was the effect speaker placement has on the sound. All the first impressions are wrote about up top were made in vertical speaker position while looking at the buttons, so both full-range units were firing to the left or right respectively. First I tried to see just how much the sound changes whether you’re sitting right in front of it or on whichever side around the speaker. And I am happy to report that the sound stays just as balanced and changes only slightly wherever you might find yourself sitting around the table with your friends. That is definitely a good thing and one of the obvious advantages of such omnidirectional speakers.
Secondly, I tried laying it down in horizontal fashion which usually aids bass slightly by having both passive radiators close to the floor which serves as a reflective surface. It does indeed do just that on the Tronsmart Mirtune C2 as well, but not to any significant extent. I would recommend this placement for electronic music and similar, especially coupled with the position of the speaker in your room – put it in a corner.



Outdoors, this speaker sounds very clear and plays sufficiently loud for just about any situation except for a full-blown party with 10+ people. This is why Tronsmart say you can connect lots and lots of these to play as one. You could essentially cover your whole backyard with these speakers and have an amazing sound coverage. What helps and makes that idea quite a tempting one is that I have experienced absolutely no connection issues and the overall ease of use is exceptional.

Keeping it brief

To sum up this little unit that could, I honestly have no real complaints about its ease of use or sound playback. And that are the two aspects I am very critical of in the world of BT speakers. Additionally, the Mirtune C2 offers the LED lights which perform above the price range. For the asking price you cannot go wrong with this adorable jewel. All the tiny negatives are outweighed by its appearance.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful!

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

A Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.


How The Review is Structured
I will start off by mentioning the packaging and accessories, then place the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graph accompanied with other similarly priced IEMs I own and know well. Then I continue by giving it a score on certain qualities to help reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a beautiful looking and driver-packed set, please read the song examples below too to get as much of a feel on what one could expect. I really try my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible. For this one, I will go ahead and take the liberty of comparing it directly to two other slightly lower-priced but well received single-dynamic-driver sets, so to get an idea of what this multitude of drivers of varied technologies does differently.



I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the Kinera Celest Phoenixcall. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 80-90dB. I am using the stock cable to keep it original in that regard and Divinus Velvet small-sized eartips (had to size down due to a lengthier and thicker nozzle than usual. I always review with fresh ears – no other IEM gets any ear-time while I am desperately collecting my thoughts regarding the reviewed item.



Disclaimer: I have received this unit free of charge via Kinera in exchange for a review. I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should this review tip you over the edge and you decide on this IEM as your next purchase, I welcome you to check it out here: AliExpress Kinera official site product link


Packaging & Accessories

With stock cable and Divinus Velvet Small eartips:


Unboxing experience is pretty nice, however it is ultimately let down by rather poor eartips which means looking for an aftermarket replacement is almost a must. The stock 4.4mm cable feels good and does the job well enough. I experienced no discomfort fit-wise, but these do have a rather long and stubby nozzle, so buyer beware.



Let's Get Going!

Graph & Scores
This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added two other single DD representatives to better place the perceived tuning balance of the Phoenixcall – the Simgot EA500 LM and Kiwi Ears Singolo.

Here are my scores on the Phoenixcall in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am scoring regardless of the price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going. I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Since this is my first more complex driver setup IEM and I had nothing to really directly compare it to this was not an easy task.




3 Song Examples With Comparisons to Two Single DDs

Instead of flowing through the songs and putting down my thoughts like I did in my reviews up until now, I will try to spice it up by offering a view of how the Phoenixcall compares against three very different single DDs. This helps those of you that might own or have at least heard any of the other sets to get a better idea of the Phoenixcall. Since this is a direct A/B comparison, expect some differences to be expressed in an overemphasized fashion just to clearly depict which is better – TO MY EARS AND MY LIKING.


Song #1:
First minute of this song offers a quick sample to test piano, bass, trombone, and sax timbre as well as female vocals and the perception of stage.

Creep by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart

Just the beginning of this song shows so many differences among these three sets already that this will be an interesting challenge to attempt. I am not here to moan, though, so let's go!

This song allows me to understand lots of things about sets. First moments allow me to get to grips with set's bass balance, piano&vocal timbre, vocal placement, sibilance, spaciousness, 3D-ness, … So if I try to put some of these into context, it would read something like this. Bass on the Phoenixcall is not of basshead quantities. It prioritizes midbass over subbass and it paints a decently clean overall sonic picture. No issues of bass overflowing into low mids and messing with the piano in this instance. Bass stays in this smaller bubble which is either a good or a bad thing, depending on application. Here I am not bothered by that, since it allows for the rest of performers to take charge. Piano lacks that delicious note weight I myself am very sensitive to, but remains a piano throughout, so to say timbre is not an issue. Haley sounds very convincing and wonderful as she should, I would like to see her sonic image just a tad bit taller and further forward. Sibilance is handled very aptly and there is just the right amount of bite to instrumentation and vocals that float in that risky frequency range. Always a serious challenge not to overdampen the 6-8kHz range and end up with a thick sounding vocal and various strings. All performers have sufficient space between them to really be able to focus on either one should you wish to do so – then there is the everlasting debate about what do we listen to, a single performer or the song as a whole and in my mind a good set should be able to do both. Keep the cohesiveness and flow of the song untouched while really delivering the absolute detail of whichever single part of the arrangement. Here I feel the Phoenixcall does very well actually, but do not come in expecting endgame detail retrieval nor resolution. And about 3D-ness, I would prefer a bit more depth capabilities to really round of the images since they do sit a bit flat in a 2D scene. Talking about the whole package I would happily judge this performance as an 8/10.

In a quick A/B comparison the Singolo feels a lot more bassy which in turn means the perceived mids and highs are much calmer vs Phoenixcall. It also feels much more rounded around its edges, which manifests in lesser detail retrieval and technical prowess throughout. I do not really feel it has any serious advantage in regards to cohesiveness either, despite being a single DD. Treble is worse in just about every metric, but it luckily does not come off as sibilant either. There is still no 3D-ness so it remains a flat sounding stage. Piano has a bit better note weight, so it is a bit more pleasing to my ears on the Singolo. Stage is wider on the Singolo.

And as for the EA500 LM, the first thing I notice is the vocal placement being more to my taste in a taller and more forward manner. Piano sounds clearer and just a bit more convincing here overall. The forwardness of vocals is slightly ruined by the fact the sibilance region is not as well executed as on the Phoenixcall which means every now and then the sibilant sounds come out a bit too prominently, at least for my younger ears. I would have to say it sounds a bit better connected or flowing overall too as the Phoenixcall which might be down to the reduced mids on Phoenixcall just before the pinna gain. Treble is good on both, but I'd give it to the Phoenixcall by a hair.


Song #2:
Progressive rock in all its glory. A very good indication of detail retrieval, male vocal, guitars, drums.

Depth of Self-Delusion by Riverside

What first comes to my attention is the good placement of these little sound ornaments at the start. I do get a sense of lighter note weight immediately too, and when drums join I am lacking their elasticity and heft. Hihats though, are delicately done and very pleasing. His vocal is slightly too lightly coloured overall which is down to the midrange tuning which is bound to work with some vocals while not so much with others. Guitars are done tastefully and free of veil. This tune sounds just a bit rough around the edges on the Phoenixcall with certain qualities done tremendously well while other aspects do not work well here. It becomes a bit of a messy listen and therefore a 5/10.

Singolo immediately thereafter is an interesting change of pace. Overall balance sounds much more appropriate for this sort of genre. It adds additional warmth while carefully dealing with potentially problematic areas. It is definitely not as revealing a listen as the Phoenixcall, however. His vocal is much more singular unlike on the Phoenixcall where it feels torn to different particles. I would have to give the advantage for this sort of genre to the Singolo.

EA500 LM is the most revealing of the three which is quite a feat considering it is a single driver. Tonality-wise it is a welcome awakening of the Singolo while not being as bright as the Phoenixcall which is solely down to how well the low bass balances the otherwise very prominent treble of the LM which is not the case on the Phoenixcall. Phoenixcall does a better job of calming down the risky areas than the LM, which is a messy listen when drums and guitars get going. Not as smooth as the Singolo, so for such genres it would be quite tiring to listen to the whole album.


Song #3:
Oh, welcome crazy bass lines, please make yourselves comfortable along with tasteful drops and story-telling male vocals about an ill-intentioned lady.

Love is a Bitch by Two Feet

This song has a tendency to make the listener turn up the volume to feel those low notes. Since the subbass is greatly reduced on the Phoenixcall this will be a tough task to accomplish. Nonetheless, I am listening to the other aspects as well and lack of subbass is not necessarily the final nail in the coffin. Right from the beginning the low notes are well handled and there is no sense of distortion. They feel athletic and readily available. His voice is not too bothered by the unorthodox midrange tuning and compliments the low end very wonderfully with ample naturalness to the sound and an overall enjoyable manner. The beginning rainstorm floats around the head freely while acompanied with a sweet guitar. The circumference of the raining sounds is very healthily above average and decently detailed. With other elements joining the mix the low bass becomes insufficient to really power this song home. Still, it is a very well executed and joyous listen which earns it a score of 7/10.

Soon after switching to Singolo, I can sense the rainstorm circling in a completely different elyptical shape with ample width but less forwards and backwards sense of separation. Guitar is also not as delicate and soothing on the Singolo. Oh, but then the low rumble comes and the tube of the Singolo and its large DD are in another league in that regard. His vocals are better placed here, but a bit more dim or smoky. The hihats are just a bit too pronounced here and due to the fact I feel the Singolo's worst part is the treble they become very annoying in that main part. Bass is a totally different beast, but overall I prefer how the Phoenixcall renders this tune.

EA500 LM's rain sounds the most true to life. Guitar is very detailed too, but just a bit more digitalised than on the Phoenixcall. LM is not shy in low bass, but it does not stand out as much because of the treble being even more prominent and aggressive. I would have to EQ certain areas of the LM for this song to really gel with my ears. It comes off just a bit too sharp. Perfect combination for this tune would be the LM's bass with Singolo's vocal placement and Phoenixcall's treble.


To keep it a bit more brief and readable, this concludes my song examples and hopefully you found some information that proves useful to your decision-making in the everlasting dilemma of To Buy or Not To Buy. Should you be interested in any other songs in particular, please do not hesitate to ask!


To Sum Up The Kinera Celest Phoenixcall

Phoenixcall is a gorgeous set that packs various driver technologies in an attractive shell. It boasts a nicely balanced frequency range where in particular I would say the treble is nicely done, while mids and bass are an acquired taste and need some more understanding of your own preferences before committing to purchasing. In regards to bass, one needs to prefer a lean towards midbass over subbass while the mids are a special sort and do better with certain vocals. Do keep in mind this set fits rather deep too.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.


A Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.


How The Review is Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging and accessories, then place the showcased IEM in my special trademarked graph accompanied with other similarly priced IEMs I own and know well. Then I continue by giving it a score on certain qualities to help reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a single dynamic driver that is very affordable, please read the song examples below too to get as much of a feel on what one could expect. I really try my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible.

I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the Kiwi Ears Singolo. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 80-90dB. I am using stock cable to keep it original in that regard and Divinus Velvet medium-sized eartips. I always review with fresh ears – no other IEM gets any ear-time while I am desperately collecting my thoughts regarding the reviewed item.

Disclaimer: I received this unit free of charge via Linsoul in exchange for a review. I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set. Should this review tip you over the edge and you decide on this IEM as your next purchase, I welcome you to check it out here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-x-crinacle-singolo


Packaging & Accessories






Packaging and accessories really won't tip anyone over the edge in their decision to purchase the Singolo. Having the cable already connected is a nice little touch to save you those awfully long seconds from unpacking to hearing the thing you purchased. Tips selection is very sparse and I honestly did not feel like trying them at all and went straight to the Divinus Velvet. Hearing all the bad experiences with how these fit I was skeptical. Lo and behold, they fit me absolutely wonderfully. It is a very shallow fit, but bass does not suffer, nor do I get any nasty treble peaks, but more on that in my song examples.



Let's Get Going!

Graph & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added three other single DD representatives - the Venture Electronics SIE, Simgot EA500 LM, and EPZ Q5 to help form a better perception of how the Singolo fares in comparison.



Here are my scores on the Singolo in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am scoring regardless of the price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going. I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Since this is my third single DD I have reviewed, we are starting to get a good picture of how the scores are turning out.




7 Song Examples For the Curious

Song #1:
First minute of this song offers a quick sample to test piano, bass, trombone, and sax timbre as well as female vocals and the perception of stage.


Creep by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart

Song starts with a calming female vocal with lots of breathiness. On the Singolo vocally nothing stands out as a sore thumb, nor does it wow with highly articulated and deeply detailed presentation. Sibilance region is nicely adjusted so to still have that truthful bite that certain letters or combinations of letters carry. Often this 6-7kHz region backs off too much and while it does avoid sibilance it also messes timbrally with whichever instrument that extends up higher or has its overtones extending into that region. Well judged on the Singolo. Her voice is a bit smokier and not as rich as I know she can be on other sets which I would ultimately prefer, but that is just as much a matter of preference as 'correctness'. I would hazard a guess that is down to the rather quick drop-off right after the pinna gain peak. Going into »what the hell am I doing here« the open »heeeeere« can be too aggressive and rather uncomfrotable on some sets, but not so on Singolo. While it isn't as nuanced as it could be, it does not sound off in any serious way. Arrangement consists of various instruments, of which every single one requires timbral accuracy to maintain your attention. Singolo is very decent in this regard. What I find subpar however, is note weight through the mids and treble. Bass does not have the same issue and is a satisfying listen for both the bass and drums in this piece. Sincerity of bass is very good for this price category – it does sound decently rounded and does not affect low mids in any negative way despite decent extension in both subbass rumble and midbass attack. But more about bass on some other songs. Mids are where the set needs to shine to really bring this song the justice it deserves. The magic of mids is slightly lacking, but overall nicely judged in quantity, especially pinna instantly seemed to me to be done in a tasteful manner – graph sort of agrees in that it shows a very lengthy extension all the way from 900 to 3500Hz where it reaches a +9dB rise. Treble lacks in smoothness and any microscopic detail won't really be displayed here. Not too welcome in this tune with two brass instruments which should counter the strongly presented bass section. It feels a bit single-pointed just as the graph would seem to suggest as well – a large drop-off after 8kHz and a singular sharp peak at ~15kHz. This sort of treble tuning will be totally personal on whether your ears like it or feel awfully offended by it. A combination of hearing health, ear canal shape, fitment, and eartips all contribute to how this peak works out for an individual. Either way, expect to miss a good deal of details up top. Overall I have to say this song left me just a bit too cold for a very good score, so a 4.5/10 it is.

Song #2:
Angelic male vocal slowly transforming into a sharp male vocal and the usual rock accompaniment. Allows to better understand different sets' capability of perceived emotion, layering, timbre, etc.


Castaway Angels by Leprous

Guitar leads the way. I am very specific with guitars and love their breadth of ability to awaken a wide variety of emotions. Individual guitar plucks are not as storytelling as I would like, but it is timbrally right on. The slight lack of those sweet overtones is down to the slower pinna if I were to point at the culprit. Background hum that invokes a creepy atmosphere is easy to follow but a bit single-pointed. His vocal joins in a quiet and tranquil way to leave lots of space to develop afterwards. Male vocals are judged very well and the previously annoying smokiness I mentioned in the previous song's thoughts is not an issue here. Positioning of vocals is decently forward which allows for this sense of the vocalist being the leader while all instrumentation has sufficient space around him. In the wilder and more crowded spots of this song it becomes a tiny bit messy, but never sharp or overzealous. Here we do feel just a bit limited in the pace of the driver and the fact it is a solo performer with no BAs to take some weight off of its shoulders. Microdetail is not really a thing, but I cannot hold this against it. Overall tuning balance is of much greater importance. I would be reaching for another set for this song, however it is not a case of having to skip it, and hence a 6/10.


Song #3:
What a gorgeous tune to listen to … while testing bass texture, layering, soundstage characteristics, and restlessly dissecting each performer's work, like us audiophiles do. Tenor sax, trumpet, drums, piano, and bass all have something to say.


Check Point Charlie by David Chesky

Such a well produced jazz masterpiece with huge soundscape and very separated instrumentation that should never be in each other's way. It requires a great stage width especially, I feel. Singolo is very impressive in that regard, easily fooling my brain to ompletely dislocate the sound from the actual earpiece where it's born, obviously. Both left and right extremes do sound on the absolute extremities of head width and well beyond in certain instances – piano which plays on the far left side throughout the piece seems to be 5m away from me. Depth is not as well presented, but the generous width is what rectifies that to an extent. Individual instruments – bass, drums, piano, tenor sax, and trumpet are themselves, meaning no awful timbral incorrectness was found during my listen. Now, if I were to nitpick, and that's what us audiophiles are masters of, piano's note roundness and weight is not as sincere as I would ultimately like for it to sound even more real. Trumpet and sax have their sharper edges slightly rounded off too, so to not sound too piercing – carefully and intelligently approaching upper mid to low treble area while tuning is a good way of cutting harshness when tech at hand simply cannot reproduce the absolute clarity and note definition. I could honestly recommend Singolo to those who are this sort of jazz aficionados, it's a score of 8/10.

Song #4:
If this does not bring me close to tears on the set, the set is doing something wrong either in guitars, female vocals, or overall sonic balance.


All About You by Sophie Zelmani

Back to a deeply emotional guitar intro. Singolo is very nearly right on mark, alas it misses a bit of microdetail to really get my goosebumps going. Lower guitar notes are full and gorgeously rounded and cannot really be faulted. Those also wonderfully support her vocal which comes in with authority in that it is much more pronounced than the guitar both in positioning and volume. She has a story to tell and Singolo makes me listen, however soon thereafter I get pulled back to enjoying the well presented low end without any bloat and vocals are slightly put aside. This tune ought to bring us grown men close to tears or at the very least make our mind wander in trying to think who in our lives could be singing something as powerful to us at any point. Singolo does not possess the ultimate in capturing listener's attention to the fullest, thus a score that reflects the good presentation which falls short in emotion – 6/10.

Song #5:
Upbeat pop rhythms with plenty going on.


The thrill is gone. by RAYE

Careful high mids are a must in order not to overpower the lows which carry the rhythm and allow the treble to do the dance. Bass is very nicely driving the whole song along and I honestly don't feel like much is missing. It could, of course, be a bit more textured, but I cannot hold that against the Singolo at the price point. Main vocalist is well placed while I could ask for just a tad more drive or precision of all first note impacts just to make her story even more believable. Treble is nicely judged in quantity, however it is easily Singolo's least impressive part. Lacking in transient speed and that ethereal sweetness that better (and usually more expensive) single DDs, let alone BAs or ESTs, can deliver. I am thinking about something like the IE600 here and plenty others I'm sure, but I prefer to mention sets I have heard myself. The fact that it is well tuned in the upper frequencies is of much greater importance in this instance. This song often makes me want to listen to it again even after finishing putting my thoughts onto the keyboard, but in this case it just did not impress me enough. Still, a good score due to not finding anything bothersome, 7/10.

Song #6:
Oh, welcome crazy bass lines, please make yourselves comfortable along with tasteful drops and story-telling male vocals about an ill-intentioned lady.


Love is a B*tch by Two Feet

The width I have already praised before is very welcome in the intro of this tune as well, since it features a rainy cloud moving around in circles – forming two circles to be exact. The rain itself is lacking in the aforementioned detail retrieval to really get a sense of all those droplets hitting the ground, but that is secondary. His vocal and the bass drop are differently presented where his vocal is of this silky breathy quality whereas bass spares no heft and comes swinging all guns blazing. Low end extension is very well done thanks to the length of that tiny but effective tube, I would dare say. Male vocal is definitely nicer to my ears than female vocal on the Singolo – the slower pinna gain and quicker drop after pinna peak does not affect male vocals as much. Treble is again a bit of a weakness that lowers my overall score, but this song captures Singolo's character nicely overall, so I can bestow upon it a 8.5/10.

Song #7:
Definitely a competitor for best song title. It also gets the juices flowing and makes it impossible not to tap your feet. Or nod your head. Or both.


God is in the Soundwaves by Armin Van Buuren, Xoro, Yola Recoba

Lots of spacial cues right from the beginning which are handled well by Singolo as far as width is your first dimension you care about. Those clapping sounds are just a little veiled and not the most nuanced due to our slow pinna gain I would imagine. Her vocal is highly post-produced and feels that way on the Singolo which is good. Going into the drop bass has no trouble punching and rumbling and I think everyone but the most faithful bassheads will be happy here. Overall, this song is done well but suffers from one-dimensional soulless treble to really get me grooving. 7.5/10.

This concludes my song examples and hopefully you found some information that proves useful to your decision-making in the everlasting dilemma of To Buy or Not To Buy.



To Sum Up The Kiwi Ears Singolo

Singolo is the single DD for those that are on the search for a nicely balanced sub-100€ IEM which delivers a satisfying bass upon which other frequencies can dance. It is a nicely cohesive sounding pair which is usually a single DD strength. Male vocals are just a bit more correct than female vocals. Mid and treble detail are average, but no annoying peaks or dips mean a very nice casual listen. I would advise those with preference for natural, smooth and layered treble to audition before buying if possible. Same goes for the ones with shorter nozzles as their nemesis.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – "so yesteryear!", I thought ... I was wrong. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

A Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

A Quick Word About the Company

AüR Audio is a young and rising Singaporean brand that specialises in in-ear monitors.

Just like most businesses it started as a small team, in this case of two actors. It came around as an idea by two friends, Nicholas Teo from Singapore and Abel Hsu from China. Abel handles the research, development and building IEMs, while Nicholas manages the sales, marketing and distribution.

Feel free to check out their current line-up on their website HERE.

A combination of their honest work and reasonable pricing strategy - in today's over saturated market with some highly dubious marketing schemes - has manifested in a decently sized fanbase to quickly get established. After owning 4 of their sets, I consider myself a fan too. Keep in mind, since I am not made of money and I cannot be purchasing sets left, right and forward, all my impressions are still based on an honest-to-myself approach.

How The Review is Structured

I will start off by mentioning the packaging and accessories, then place it in my special trademarked graph and give it a score on certain qualities to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a quality hybrid that is still within financial reach of many, please read the lengthy song examples below too to get as much of a feel on what to expect. I really tried my best to cover a wide variety to paint the sonic picture of the set for as many of you as possible.

I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the AüR Audio Aurora. As sources I have been using my FiiO BTR7 on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC (on the pic below). Certainly no lack of power and quite a different taste on both. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 80-90dB. I am using the Aurora with the Kinera Leyding cable and Feaulle H570 tips.



Disclaimer: I purchased this one at its early bird price nearly a year back now at a minimal discount. I am in no way incentivized to speak highly of this set.

Unpackaging & Accessories

There isn't much to say about this side of things. It is very spartan. Tips come in one flavour in 3 different sizes plus one of those double-flanged ones - I have tried plenty of tips (tip-rolling is always a wild ride, see below), but lately I have settled on medium-sized Feaulle H570 and these seemingly aid the treble and clean up the bass, but also make its fit just about perfect for my ears. The included case is a small aluminium(?) puck and not too thrilling but does its job of protecting the set very well. The cable is of very decent quality and handling characteristics are nice with no obvious drawbacks. I still decided to do some cable rolling, and the Kinera Leyding fit the bill of a beautiful aesthetic and second to none handling qualities.

Usual tip-rolling shenanigans and thinning the herd down to two finalists:



Equipped with stock cable and in the original packaging:


Equipped with Kinera Leyding cable (and temporarily Tri Clarion tips):


Another bonus pic just because she is a stunner!



Let's Get Going!

Graph & Scores

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added the AüR Audio Neon Pro (10BA), AüR Audio Aure (1DD+6BA), AüR Audio Ascension (1DD+5BA+2EST) to help form a better perception of where the Aurora slots into their lineup of sets I have heard.


Aurora is the warmest of AüRs. Upon first listen it might sound just a tad dull, depending on what your ears and brain are used to hearing. That in turn weakens the perceived technicalities from the get go, but after spending a fair amount of time with it, it impresses with certain technical aspects too. Aure is a brighter take and the closest technically to Aurora. Ascension and Neon Pro are a different sort of sets with much stronger technicalities which are noticeable instantly. The difference among those two is in perceived brightness where Ascension sounds more balanced than Neon Pro. That is also down to different driver setups in both.

Here is another visual idea I came up with to try and present how these four sets actually sound like to my ears. The curvy line represents the amplitude of individual spectrum, going all the way from bass through treble. The middle line upon which I wrote the line is what I would equal to flat - neither pushed nor attenuated. Essentially a graph, but without any x- and y-axis naming and numbers because I feel that can often affect our expectations and ultimately play with our minds into 'hearing the graph' instead of listening by ourselves.



Below are my scores on the Aurora in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency divisions can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am scoring regardless of the price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going. I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. For now, I have not reviewed a hybrid, so it might prove interesting to see where adding BA's and another DD places the Aurora compared to my two previously scored affordable single DD's.




Aurora still does something unique that no other set I have tried managed thus far. It sounds exceptionally speaker-like to me – yes, similar to Venture Electronics SIE, an affordable single DD, in that regard, but a very different take on it. It must be a combination of factors which I am yet to untangle. First one being fantastic fit that lets you forget your ears are clogged with anything at all. And secondly, let's play detectives and try to find the culprit based on Aurora's graph below while remembering that I mentioned this for SIE too, so let's compare their graphs – there are some similarities: non recessed mids, a slower pinna gain starting from roughly 800Hz to 2,5kHz, similar slight peaks at 6 and 8kHz and then quite a large drop all the way to 15kHz, where they both peak again, both extend after 15kHz somewhat too. Now to talk about noticeable differences which might explain why SIE still sounds even larger to my ears: warmth on SIE extends all the way up to 800Hz where pinna actually begins, after pinna there is a slight reduction between 3 and 4kHz before ascending towars the 6kHz peak whereas Aurora descends towards that little 6kHz peak, 8kHz is the most pronounced peak on SIE's graph (taking into account the coupler-induced peak it is similar to 6kHz), whereas Aurora starts descending already from its tallest pinna gain point at 2,5kHz, the valley between 8kHz and 15kHz is much steeper on SIE and 15kHz is boosted by about +14dB while on Aurora it is about +8dB from the lowest point. Hm, definitely interesting and something I will be keeping an eye – no, ear – on with any upcoming sets I get to hear.

Aurora's graph:


SIE's graph:



14 Song Examples For the Curious

Song #1:
First minute of this song offers a quick sample to test piano, bass, trombone, and sax timbre as well as female vocals and the perception of stage.


Creep by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart

This song's lowest register is covered solely by bass, so getting that right is critical. Aurora does it in a specific manner with rumbling bass which maintains composure and does not bleed too much into low mids, so following the bass throughout is simple. Note definition of the lower register is what is sacrificed here for the sake of rumble and fascinating unique decay – surely down to two high-quality DDs installed in this fashion. Texturally, bass instrument feels a touch too muddy to really offer what the song requires – slightly less so on FiiO BTR7 as source instead of VE Stack, probably due to FiiO's more prominent high mids. Still, to get the ultimate of bass resolution I would choose another set (where BA's cover bass) for really dissecting the information within low frequencies. By far the most energy is focused in the mids. Allowing all the instruments their space and delivering them in a natural way is what a set needs to excel at. Overall width is not too mind-blowing, but I never really cared about largeness of stage too much in the IEM world – what matters to me is that the use of space at hand is good. To elaborate further, I require that instruments do not step on each other's toes when the recording allows it and is meant to sound open. Aurora does well here where it never feels boxed in and notes never feel trapped. It is primarily a vocal-driven piece, so Haley needs to be upfront for it to be to my liking. Happy to report that she is not holding back in terms of positioning. She is, however, just a bit more nasal sounding than on sets with maybe a bit less carefully done pinna gain with a later peak in the frequency spectrum. She never gets shouty or uncomfortable throughout this song on Aurora which can be an issue quickly if pinna gain is too prominent or any nasty peaks are present in high mids. When the song gets a move on a bit before its end, it is indeed slightly more difficult than usual to pay attention to every performer's work due to not having the widest stage to work with. That said, all performers are within their bubbles, still feel sufficiently life-like and carry good note weight. How you might feel about that depends mostly on whether you are the sort of guy that ascends the mountain and enjoys the vista as a whole or prefer dissecting individual elements with that panorama. Nevertheless, Aurora somehow manages to sound speaker-like to my ears here, despite clearly being more of an intimate presentation. Piano sitting close right can quickly get overwhelmed by all other accompaniment in this song, thankfully with Aurora there is no such issue to report. Mids are timbrally wonderful, no unnaturalness to be found here. Treble isn't too busy in this track. But I can see how some might find it a bit disconnected with the bass which is categorically different. Sibilance does not occur no matter the volume. Sax and trombone lack a bit of bite. Cymbals are crisp but reduced in their 'zinginess' and too safe. Treble is extended but it does not feel like the highlight at first but spend an hour at which point brain gets accustomed and catching detail becomes second nature. Final score: 7.5/10


Song #2:
Angelic male vocal slowly transforming into a sharp male vocal and the usual rock accompaniment. Allows to better understand different sets' capability of perceived emotion, layering, timbre, etc.


Castaway Angels by Leprous

Guitars and that alienish sound in the background are carefully done and present the foundation in a mesmerizing way. Possibly not the most truthful guitar replay due to that slightly warmer tilt to the overall tone. Imagine listening to the guitar in a smaller echoey room instead of in a studio. His soft and dreamy vocal joins the aforementioned duo and it adds to the angelic setup – prime example of how a song can quickly lure the listener in and feel very aptly titled too. Going into the chorus we get carried even higher and closer to the heaven when he brings his head voice into the mix in such a well done fashion. Nothing to point out as a negative regarding Aurora quite yet. Going forward layers keep on adding on top of each other. Those ever so delicate cymbals are rendered naturally. Strings join and add to the epicness of the arrangement. Aurora is keeping up and having everything positioned in its place while forming a gorgeous sound picture. Drum kicks were the first thing to 'bother' me because of their lack of definition and punch, thus covering the bass guitar in certain parts towards the end. His vocal really gets a move on in the last third of the song – here is where I could do with a bit more bite and definition to really continue carrying the message in this very crowded tune. The back vocal saying »!now there's a chance« at 4:29 just before the magical ending of his vocal part and the guitar bringing us to an end had my skin covered in goosebumps. This song gets an easy 8.5/10 for me on the Aurora.


Song #3:
Let's plug those guitars in and stop being gentle with the drums. Pace, space, rhythm, male vocal.


The Pot by Tool

The overall character of the song calls for a set with tremendous technical prowess and slightly tamed low mids to avoid thickness and that slow feeling of presentation as well as high mids to avoid sharpness with all guitars and drums showing off. Aurora manages the high mids very well and never am I worried to get absolutely overflown with energy and get an overload of messy information. Low mids, however, are just a tad too soft and pillowy to really carry this song's rhythm in a groovy fashion. Not the ultimate set for hard rock and metal, but also not too disappointing because overall technicalities are above average and instrumentation is kept separated. Vocals are done tastefully and never burried under whatever might be going on around them. Male vocals are overall very well rounded and lack absolutely nothing except for sibilance which is a good thing. Overall, the attenuated low treble means guitars can feel a bit sleepier than they ought to. It all results in simply just a calmer presentation of this great tune. Not really meant for it, 6/10.


Song #4:
What a gorgeous tune to listen to … while testing bass texture, layering, and the fine minutiae of each guitar pluck, like us audiophiles do.


London Paris Cardiff by Dominic Miller

I begin by really getting into whether those guitars carry the story in a captivating way. While being wonderfully natural without excessive bloat or piercing details, they do not feel the most crisp and following individual plucks is not that joyous. Still, not really meant in a bad way, but maybe the BAs are not up to the absolute pinnacle standard in detail retrieval. All of this is floating atop a thick layer of bass that continues throughout. Very well counters the BAs in providing a majestic decay and very good texture. It could be argued, however, that there is a significant difference here between how BAs and how DDs go about their job – in a slightly disjointed fashion. Not too bothersome, but apparent. And that is only amplified in this particular song due to the minimalistic arrangement with guitars and bass. Those occasional hi-hats are very easily discernible, but somewhat shy and lacking the ultimate in air. Never sharp, though, which could easily occur had treble extension been tuned too spiritedly. The disconnected feeling in certain parts brings the score down to a 6.5/10.

Song #5:
If this does not bring me close to tears on the set, the set is doing something wrong either in guitars, female vocals, or overall sonic balance.


All About You by Sophie Zelmani

Upon first listen, the beginning part felt just a bit too hollow in those powerful guitar plucks. When it gets supported with the low end it picks up a bit, but it once again strikes a weird balance of emptiness to the notes. Then, she joined as well and felt out of place and as if she was singing another song altogether. Hm, not what I expected. Let's start problem solving. Check the gain on my BTR7 – High gain. Check again not to have any weird EQ chosen on the BTR7 – No EQ. Okay, maybe this song is simply not meant for the BTR7's rather analytical and sterile presentation. Switch to VE Stack. YES! We're back on track. Guitars get a much needed body and each note is supported much better. With other parts joining I can also sense just a better balance among them – Sophie feels like she belongs into this song again and throws all of her heart out. Another alarming difference was a wider overall sound field. All is well again, so let's concentrate. Now, does this song move me as it should on the Aurora? Close my eyes and listen again. I am not sure. Great sounding – yes, moving – not so much. I blame only one thing for this – lack of midbass warmth to add a layer of that comfortable feeling of cosiness. Enough has been said in other tunes about guitars and female vocals too. Final score: 4.5/10 – lacking emotion here.

Song #6:
Let's continue the theme of calmer but so powerful tunes.


An Evening I Will Not Forget by Dermot Kennedy

Piano and calm weighty male vocals are very engaging without any pronounced issues. I find such setups are difficult to keep interesting and it depends fully on production quality and playback chain capability. Piano's individual notes could be kept even clearer but it becomes a double-edged sword quickly. Get the clarity right and quickly it sounds just a bit too sterile. So here I can happily report Aurora walks right in the middle and delivers both note definition and note weight. A dreamy sort of synth joins to provide another layer. It's kept nicely at bay but can be followed in the background on the Aurora. When Dermot starts to pour his soul out the grit is very palpable and touches the heart through the Aurora. 'S' and 'Sh' sounds are very safely tuned even for my 27-year-old ears, however attenuate that area too much and overall balance starts sounding skewed and unnatural – thankfully not the case on the Aurora. It simply means Aurora can be listened to at (very) loud volumes too and maintain its composure. 8.5/10.

Song #7:
Upbeat pop rhythms with plenty going on.


The Thrill Is Gone. by RAYE

Not really the sort of stuff I listen to often, but I cannot deny the nice flow and a simplistic arrangement really getting a groove on allowing to just float away. Not too easy to judge individual aspects when you start grooving, though, so Stop it immediately, Nik! Okay, let's see. Bass is quite playful here and it needs a nimble DD to keep up and deliver individual notes with authority and lets notes stay apart to really follow the awesome bass line throughout the song. Female vocals are never shrill and annoying, even in such Pop beats which are tuned quite bright usually. RAYE is very well positioned for my taste with just a slight forwardness to her vs the rest. She is supported by all the back vocalists and their voices are a nice combination to keep the energy up in certain parts of the song where they join. It is because of that and a fantastic bass performance that this song is just a joy on the Aurora. All the microdetails can be picked out and you won't miss any paramount info to make the song a whole, but what really stands out is the bass and the vocalists. Just as it should be, I feel. I listened to this song three times in a row and tried justifying it by having to write about it, but frankly, the third replay was solely for my personal enjoyment and you get no extra info due to it Haha! Amazingly done, 9/10.

Song #8:
Jazzy love tunes for the ones deep in love and us audiophiles.


Since I Fell For You by Willie Nelson

I could use just a bit more spaciousness in the beginning to really feel as if I were there. Imaging is quite decent, though, so it makes up for the intimacy of soundstage. Timbre of brass is a tad digital due to lack of bite I would like it to have. When all performers are doing their thing Aurora still provides sufficient space and focus for each of them. Male vocals are once again just about perfect. The seductiveness and wettness of his vocal is so descriptive and it makes the listener engaged. Drums lack a bit of tactility and end up sounding just a bit congested and as if the drummer is hiding behind a curtain. Overall very inoffensive but lacks in vividness and broadness. 5/10.

Song #9:
Slow and moody jazz. Requires spaciousness, timbral accuracy and a playful vibe.


Rosita by Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster

Here the recording is done differently than with the previous song and Aurora manages to impress even with the perceived soundstage height and width. Then again, since the recording is done this way it sounds even bigger again on other IEMs. Focus is put mainly on timbral qualities and here the story repeats. Piano is on the 'slower' and more musical side, while brass and drums both could be more daring. Still, this one is enjoyable in a different sort of way. Makes it easy to float away into your dreams. I would know, Aurora is one of my favourites to keep by the bedside. I could not suggest this set to someone who wants their jazz to sound vigorous and atmospheric, however it can do such tunes to quite a high standard as well. 7/10.

Song #10:
Oh, welcome crazy bass lines, please make yourselves comfortable along with tasteful drops and story-telling male vocals about an ill-intentioned lady.


Love is a Bitch by Two Feet

How low do you want to go is a question Aurora happily provides to its listener. Whatever the answer might be, Aurora delivers in an authoritative fashion. Not a basshead set per se, but a well executed L-shape that never really feels lacking in subbass. Song starts with a storm going on and the rain panning around the head while a guitar lays a foundation. Starting seconds are a good test for soundstage dimensions and rain presentation, which is essentially band-limited pink noise. Welcome, bass, please make yourself comfortable. And comfortable he is. Just a joy again with these longer lingering low notes. None of them feel stressed or overly amplified. I had to switch back to the BTR7 to see if the lower power changes the joy factor in a deal-braking sort of way. I first noticed the slightly more reserved soundstage width simply by following the rain noise. Bass notes come in, moment of truth. BTR7 definitely rumbles just as hard or even more pronounced than the VE Stack. Where it falls short is in the individual bass notes feeling like each of them has a story of their own, yet coming from the same family. On BTR7 the lowest notes are much heftier than those higher bass notes within the bass line. It all culminates in an overall presentation that feels more strained and uncontrolled than on the VE Stack. This definitely proved to me that Aurora, despite being rather easy to drive, really loves power and scales well. This song gets a great score of 9/10.

Song #11:
Not really something I could jam to for long, but I used just the last minute which can tell a whole lot about the set's bass and highs.


Handle With Care by Andy Stott

DDs are getting a workout of their lifetime. It's such a difficult bass line to get right, Aurora rumbles and decays about as wonderfully as I could wish for, especially at this price. There is a reason this double DD setup keeps reappearing in various sets. When it comes to subbass it is all about the capability of the drivers to move a 'large' amount of air (relative to their size) and keep the movement under control without bottoming out or reaching high distortion figures. What you can do to aid those drivers is to feed them nice clean power. Venture Electronics Stack does just that and Aurora awards me with a gorgeous low end in this electronic specialty. Quite a large part of the song is up in the higher registers – I must say I do miss the precision and airiness of something like ESTs or some other BAs. I would like more crispness and dryness to some of these sounds in order not to sound blurred. This affects the end score which I'd put at 6/10.

Song #12:
A pleasant and somewhat creepy look into the unknown. Needs serious bass to form the template and good imaging.


Satsang by Sumiruna

To really get one to look around and feel scared this song requires a technically capable set. Aurora tries its best and still renders this weird tune enjoyably despite not being a technical monster. The reason for Aurora's success despite average technicalities lies in its tonal balance. This song should be bass-driven and Aurora lends its helping hand to present it that way. What that ends providing is a creepy story-telling aura for your mind to wander and try to make sense of the sounds. I must have heard this song about 50 times by now on various sets and still I struggle to come up with my own story – case in point that this song is a journey without obvious whereabouts. Genres such as this can quickly get dull on subpar sets and Aurora does not fall victim to that. Do not expect all the details to be as crisp as on brighter-tuned sets or EST-equipped sets. In that regard, Aurora makes you work hard (but feels so fulfilling) to really catch every grain of sand on a sandy beach. 8/10.

Song #13:
Definitely a competitor for best song title. It also gets the juices flowing and makes it impossible not to tap your feet or nod your head.


God is in the Soundwaves by Armin Van Buuren, Xoro, Yola Recoba

The clapping sounds and her voice are on the more reserved sound, definitely not sharp ever. She could use just a bit more forwardness to really make me alert and listen to what she has to say about this soundwave god. She stays clear from any sibilance, and it is not a too pronounced frequency response dip like certain sets go about dealing with cutting out sibilance. That way of reducing annoying sibilant peaks could quickly backfire in sounding unnatural and that luckily is not the case here. When the bass comes in it shifts the balance into a very enjoyable L-shape just as Aurora is supposed to be. The individual bass kicks are very powerful here, unlike the slight midbass calmness would suggest – a 3W per channel amp such as the VE RA2B-FE doesn't hurt. The rumble and fullness are impressive. Those higher cymbal-like and rattlesnake electronic sounds are not too detailed, however the effect on the overall enjoyment factor is minimal. A 9/10.

Song #14:
Turning up the wildness to 11. Aliens are upon us.


Alien Alert by 1200 Micrograms

Such a creepy sort of track. The distortion and his eerie introductory speech are a marvelous way of getting this track on the way. Punch is strong and quick. The layer of bass these two DDs playing in unison can provide is something to behold. I only heard a bass as tight and driving in very high-end car audio systems which are known to be able to provide a ridiculous amount and quality of bass due to their low cabin volume if executed correctly. Yes, this is the set I would choose for this song despite its slightly subpar technicalities versus some of its direct competitors. It is a journey. The mids are never veiled nor too far back or in your face. The balance among bass and mids is done tastefully. Highs can be a bit disjointed due to their intentional reduction which are countered by a tsunami of bass. Tremendous performance warrants the Aurora an amazing 9.5/10.

This concludes my song examples and hopefully you find some information useful to compare to your listening habits!


To Sum Up The AüR Audio Aurora

To sum up the Aurora, a bass and mids first experience with reduced but sufficiently detailed treble makes this one an easy recommendation to anyone with bass-heavy electronica or, due to its naturalness and timbral brilliancy for those who get their music fix mostly from calmer acoustic and jazz tunes – with just a slight preference towards male vocals prior to female. This set has been pushed into the background due to other AüR releases since then, but it's a thing of its own and no other sets really offer a similar experience.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first got in. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the right direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

A Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick background resume goes as follows. Currently 27 years old and I am more in awe of the sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I do consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the link in my signature to hear my first project). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

How The Review is Structured

For those that are interested in my thoughts on this set, but cannot be asked to read the whole thing, I will start off by placing it in my special trademarked graph and give it a score on certain qualities to help reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ single DD, please read the song examples that follow below too to get as much of a feel on what one could expect.

Disclaimer: I bought this one at its full price of roughly 90€ back. I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the Venture Electronics SIE. As source I have been using my FiiO M15S on high gain and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power. A DAC/AMP like FiiO BTR7 is also sufficiently powerful. Listening was done at a volume ranging between 80-90dB.







How I rate: My rating is based on the score I give to the IEM in my simple 9-stage rating system (scores from 1 to 5) + a subjective score that reflects how often I reach for the said IEM in my collection.

Unpackaging & Accessories

There isn't much to say about this side of things. Tips come in one flavour and obvious multiple sizes - 5 sizes which is better than usual - I have tried plenty of tips (as you can see on those pics above), but lately I have settled on Pentaconn Coreir and these not only improve the subpar imaging of the SIE, but also improve its fit for my ears because it essentially extends the nozzle for extra 5mm with its brass insert. The included case is small and not too thrilling but does its job. The cable is just about perfect in quality and handling characteristics and fits the character of the IEM to perfection. I felt no need to cable roll this one.

Let's Get Going!

This trademarked graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added the CVJ Mei (1DD+2BA, silver) and the Simgot EA500 LM (1DD, dark silver) to help form a better perception of where the SIE slots in.



Below are my scores of SIE in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums can be rated 1-5. Keep in mind that I am scoring sound, regardless of the price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going. I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Since this is only the second review I have done, there is not much to compare to yet. Both CVJ and Simgot are better at all technical aspects. Does that mean I reach for those two more often? No. A definitive no is the answer.



SIE does something that no other set in my collection does. It feels exceptionally speaker-like to me. It must be a combination of factors which I am yet to untangle, but according to these graphs below – a large and enveloping bass seems to be a necessity as well as a carefully executed pinna gain and the large dip ~9-14kHz.





To follow up on my expressed fit concerns for some, it depends on how large your concha and how pronounced the helical crus are. Overall it is a tiny set, but it needs a good fit to get the bass correct and not to fall out since it is a heavy metallic shell.




Seven Song Examples

Song #1:
First minute of this song offers a quick sample to test piano, bass, trombone, and sax timbre as well as female vocals and the perception of stage.


Creep by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart

This song's lowest register is covered solely by bass, so getting that right is critical. SIE can get scarily close to feeling somewhat boomy and unrefined, but maintains an ease of following the bass throughout. It lacks is the ultimate distinction of similar notes played in quick succession and bass clarity. Timbrally too it feels just a bit too muddy. When the song gets going it is slightly difficult to provide attention to other instrumentation and the vocalist. It delivers the low register of this song in a different way to my other sets and it would not be my choice for really dissecting the low frequencies. Most of the information is midrange focused with all instruments but bass occupying this frequency spectrum. Allowing all the instruments their space and delivering them in a natural way is what a set needs to excel at. SIE sounds surprisingly open and spacious to my ears here, despite the bass disagreeing with my ears. Piano sitting close right can quickly get overwhelmed by all other accompaniment in this song, thankfully with SIE following which ever instrument is rather simple. Her angelic vocal stays free of muddiness or other parts blurring it at any point. Quite an achievement actually, considering how bassy it gets at certain points. Mids are timbrally wonderful, no similar bloat or unnaturalness to be found here as in the bass department. It places the vocal nicely centralised in the mix, however those that prefer very upfront and proud vocals might not find it too perfect in that regard. She never gets shouty or uncomfortable throughout this song on SIE which can be an issue quickly if pinna gain is too prominent. Treble isn't too busy in this track, which is a double-edged sword. Sibilance does not occur no matter the volume. Sax and trombone lack a bit of bite. Hihats are not as crisp and extended which is down to the large dip at and around 10kHz I believe, but this is a nitpick since this is an affordably priced single dynamic driver and single DDs rarely do the treble justice for me, even higher up the price ladder. Treble never gets sharp or too strained.

Song #2:
Angelic male vocal slowly transforming into a sharp male vocal and the usual rock accompaniment. Allows to better understand different sets' capability of perceived emotion, layering, timbre, etc.


Castaway Angels by Leprous

Song starts with a calm guitar and his breathy and dreamy vocal. SIE delivers both in a satisfying manner, but adds a serious bit of body to both guitar and his vocal making it feel weightier. Each guitar pick is well detailed, just not as microdetailed as I would have liked. His voice is on the smoother side of the spectrum, but sits proudly upfront. Bass makes itself welcome with a low and deep punch - spine-tingling on SIE - which mixes nicely with the guitar and his vocal. Strings are not as free of heft as I would prefer. When the song gets going the bass guitar gets very intricate in certain parts and SIE does deliver all notes, but in a rather thick and slow manner. Drum kicks are too calm and slightly pillowy. Discerning among the drums and bass guitar is actually quite simple nonetheless. Here too, vocal has no trouble staying away from the rest of the mix and finding its spot on the stage. High mids are never too sharp so it does not force me to reach for the volume knob and turn it down. Overall, this song requires careful line between the bass and mids while not scooping out midbass or lower mids too much. This balance could be cleaner on SIE. Midbass is not too eager, but it lacks ultimate control to achieve a smooth transition into low mids. I judge the treble on such sets mostly by focusing on good clarity and lack of sharpness. As I said, SIE does not sound sharp to my ears at any point even if I went a bit wild with volume – from my experience, all affordable sets so far have struggled to maintain composed once you go a bit wild with the volume knob – this is the same on SIE, but not due to the treble region, but lack of bass control. Treble is way behind the bass weight. It comes across as an afterthought compared to bass. Microdetails in highs are nearly impossible for SIE to present willingly. Treble extension could be better since there isn't much air (just a high-Q peak on the graph at around 15kHz), but let me clarify again, with DD drivers I put much more focus on low-end extension.

Song #3:
Let's plug those guitars in and stop being gentle with the drums. Pace, space, rhythm, male vocal.


The Pot by Tool

This song is more drum-driven than the previous, so we need punch and quickness. SIE does not keep up all too well. Drums sound full but at the same time imprecise and too gentle overall. It does not struggle with pace per se, but individual drum hits linger around for a while. Bass guitar can get a bit overwhelmed behind the drums. All the energy is covered by electric guitars. The distortion sounds wonderfully distorted. They are not lacking speed nor presence. His vocal never seems strained and finds its place without being murdered by guitars. Overall, mids are nicely done. Cymbals and hihats are not as sharp as they should be, but still too smoothed over and possibly a bit too wet and indistinguishable sounding. Tough things to get fully right and SIE struggles. I could not suggest this set for heavy rock or metal aficionados.

Song #4:
Upbeat pop rhythms with plenty going on.


The Thrill is Gone. by RAYE

In true pop style, her voice is very proudly positioned right upfront and quite a bit ahead in the mix. The overall balance of this song seems a bit more bright which could not be more suited for a warm set, so it fits the SIE nicely. Bass does not require too much pinpoint precision, so SIE delivers smoothly and provides a nice layer for her voice. Energetic presentation throughout. Stage is large and has no precise borders in my ears which allows enough room for back vocalists and makes it so easy to forget I'm listening to IEMs. Brass and drums are timbrally correct but both are not the last word in detail or resolution. This sort of pop is what I could suggest the SIE for, but expect still a thicker presentation than some might prefer.

Song #5:
Slow and moody jazz. Requires spaciousness, timbral accuracy and a playful vibe.


Rosita by Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster

Must say after certain bass issues I had, I was not too hopeful how SIE might present this tune. Not an easy one to keep the listener engaged throughout. Get one thing wrong and the charm is gone. Thankfully, bass is kept on a short leash and never gets too obtrusive- All instruments are in their own imaginary bubbles and they successfully leave room for each other – truly an outstanding feat for a single DD I feel. Timbrally I feel all is well, no real annoyances here but all instruments are just that one bit smoky sounding like a glass of fine whisky. Not too big a deal. Enjoyable if you don't come in expecting a surgical view of all instruments. As a whole, calm jazz is very charming on SIE.

Song #6:
A pleasant and somewhat creepy look into the unknown. Needs serious bass to form the template and good imaging.


Satsang by Sumiruna

We are in SIE's playground now. It is a song that might sound majestic or downright weird if the set is unable to reproduce it. SIE's qualities come into its own. A thick and unapologetic layer of bass of enormous size and an interesting mix of traits to make this tune so club-like. It can handle the ridiculousness of sounds and as a result provides an enjoyable listen. Be ready for serious amounts of bass, though. It is made for those calm evenings, as well as the Friday nights when you want to get the party going. Smoothness of bass and mids is supported just well enough by the treble. Turn the light off and you will be transported to another dimension. I hear your outcries, and No, I have not consumed anything during the making of this review. This is deep into SIE's comfort zone.

Song #7:
Turning up the wildness to 11.


Alien Alert by 1200 Micrograms

The anticipation of insanity is high with this one. SIE should do well, let's see. Absolute necessities are thunderous bass and good spacial cues. Bass of the SIE does the job amazingly, even punches are absolutely crazy in their visceral attack. While spaciality is good, it is obviously not up to the highest standards. No perceived excess of high mids makes this song immensely enjoyable and not tiring at all. Bringing this one to the gym would increase your best bench press result by roughly 7% - scientifically proven. Just a journey to experience. And I still have not consumed anything besides music. Yes, I would suggest this set to those that need a hit of craziness every now and then.


This concludes my song examples and hopefully you find some information useful to compare to your listening habits!


To Sum Up The Venture Electronics SIE

To sum up this golden nugget, I would mostly pitch this one to those who like a huge amount of thick bass that is focused primarily on hugeness not as much precision. The uniqueness of bass makes it both special and polarizing. The rest of the tuning is done to perfection to play along the immense bass. Definitely a highly intoxicating electronica or certain jazz reproduction which fits the bill when your mood calls for it. This way it can be both the Friday Night party set or a Calm Companion to help you bring a hectic day to an end.


Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

After a year in this mystical hobby here comes my first review. Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help any lost souls out there, just as I was when I first got in. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet some highly experienced people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the right direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

A Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick background resume goes as follows. Currently 27 years old and I am more in awe of the sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I do consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the link in my signature to hear my first project). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

How The Review is Structured

For those that are interested in my thoughts on this set, but cannot be asked to read the whole thing, I will start off by placing it in my special trademarked graph and give it a score on certain qualities to reach the final star score. Those that are seriously considering a sub-100€ set, please read the song examples that follow below too to get as much of a feel on what you could expect. I will mention some songs of varied genres and try to convey what one can expect from the EA500 LM. As source I have been using my FiiO M15S on high gain as well as the Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC. Certainly no lack of power.

Disclaimer: This unit was sent to me by Simgot in exchange for a review. This will not affect the transparency of my written presentation of what I am experiencing. For that, I owe an honest Thank You to Simgot.

Unpackaging & Accessories

The box of the item came in another classic unassuming cardboard box which did not really pique my interest. However, upon opening the transport box I was greeted with a wonderfully presented box with flowing rainbow colours (not best seen on my pic) that had me go "Oooh ... okay, unexpected!"



Then it's all about getting the thing out of the box, usually I have no time to lose. I was soon pausing again due to another nice touch. And I very much agree with the statement!



Finally came to the grand prize. Beautiful metallic shells are always worth appreciating for a little while before reaching for them and never ever seeing them fingerprintless again!



Afterwards, we were on to the accessories which have left me wanting more. There is a grand total of 1 tip set in S, M and L. It is, however, a nice set of tips, may I say. Similar to KBear 07, I feel. After some testing, I have swapped the tips to Divinus Velvet.
Cable looks decent and handles well, but is only a 3.5mm and doesn't do the gorgeousness of the shells much justice. I have to add that the cable strap has another nice touch with the writing "Salute to Art and Science" - it's the details that count. I have swapped the cable to NiceHCK BlackCat Ultra.






Let's Get Going !

This funny but useful graph I came up with does not come with a thick user manual. All you need to know is that sets further left are warmer than sets further right, and sets higher up are better technically than sets lower down. Those little yellow lines on both axis represent where sets with average technicalities and neutral overall balance lay. I have also added the Venture Electronics SIE 1DD (gold) and the CVJ Mei 1DD+2BA (silver) to help with my perception of where the LM slots in.




Here are my scores on the sound of the LM in individual categories. All three subcategories of each of the frequency spectrums will be rated 1-5. The overall Bass/Mids/Treble score is an average of all three scores.
Keep in mind that I am scoring sets irrespective of their price, so cheaper sets getting a 3 in any given subcategory is already good going. I feel this is more holistic than rating based on price since sound is sound. I had to approach this in a simplistic manner so to keep it easy to understand and compare sets. Since this is the first review I have done there is not much to compare to yet.





Seven Song Examples

Song #1:
First minute of this song offers a quick sample to test piano, bass, trombone, and sax timbre as well as female vocals and the perception of stage.


Creep by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart

This song's lowest register is covered solely by bass, so getting that right is critical. LM does it very satisfyingly with ample authority and ease of following it throughout. What it lacks is the ultimate distinction of similar notes played in quick succession and bass clarity. Overall it is the most prominent instrument even after all the other parts get going at full pace. It delivers the low register of this song in a different way to my other sets. Most of the information is midrange focused with all instruments but bass occupying this frequency spectrum. Allowing all the instruments their space and delivering them in a natural way is what a set needs to excel at. LM sounds extremely open to my ears here, which means following which ever instrument is rather simple. Her velvety vocal is always free of muddiness or other parts blurring it. It places the vocal a bit back in the mix, though, so those that prefer very front and proud vocals might not find it too perfect in that regard. Hihats could be a bit crisper and extend more effortlessly, but this is a nitpick since this is an affordably priced single dynamic driver and single DDs rarely do the treble justice for me, even higher up the price ladder.

Song #2:
Angelic male vocal slowly transforming into a sharp male vocal and the usual rock accompaniment. Allows to better understand different sets' capability of perceived emotion, layering, timbre, etc.


Castaway Angels by Leprous

Song starts with a calm guitar and his breathy and dreamy vocal. LM delivers both in a satisfying manner, adding slight bit of body to both guitar and his vocal. Each guitar pick is well detailed. His voice is on the smoother side of the spectrum. Bass makes itself welcome with a low and deep punch which mixes nicely with the guitar and his vocal. When the song gets going the bass guitar gets very intricate in certain parts and LM does deliver all notes, but not the most cleanly. Drum kicks are nicely set and punchy. Discerning among the drums and bass guitar could be easier. Here too, vocal has no trouble staying away from the rest of the mix and finding its spot on the stage. High mids are on the verge of overeagerness, but stay safe. Overall, this song requires careful line between the bass and mids while not scooping out midbass or lower mids too much. This balance is done well on the LM. I judge the treble on such sets mostly by focusing on good clarity and lack of sharpness. LM does not sound sharp to my ears at any point as long as you don't crank up the volume to 11 – from my experience, all affordable sets so far have struggled to maintain composed once you go a bit wild with the volume knob. Treble is balanced out by the bass weight. It comes across even as slightly reduced compared to bass. Treble stays clear and does not leave to many details on the table. Treble extension could be better since there isn't much air, but let me clarify again, with DD drivers I put much more focus on low-end extension.


Song #3:
Let's plug those guitars in and stop being gentle with the drums. Pace, space, rhythm, male vocal.


The Pot by Tool

This song is more drum-driven than the previous, so we need punch and quickness. LM does not leave much to be desired. Drums sound full and lively. It does not struggle with pace. Bass guitar can get a bit overwhelmed behind the drums. All the energy is covered by electric guitars. The distortion sounds wonderfully distorted. They are not lacking speed nor presence. His vocal never seems strained, but does seem to my ears a bit too far behind the sheer power of guitars. Overall, very capably done. Cymbals and hihats are sharp as they should be, but still a bit smoothed over and possibly a bit too wet sounding. Tough thing to get fully right and LM struggles a bit.


Song #4:
Upbeat pop rhythms with plenty going on.


The Thrill is Gone. by RAYE

Her voice is very proudly positioned right upfront and quite a bit ahead in the mix. The overall balance of this song seems a bit more bright but carefully done in the LM's potentially problematic high mid area, so it fits the LM nicely. Energetic presentation throughout. Stage width is above average which allows enough room for back vocalists. Brass and drums are timbrally correct. This sort of pop is what I would suggest the LM for.



Song #5:
Slow and moody jazz. Requires spaciousness, timbral accuracy and a playful vibe.


Rosita by Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster

Must say I was positively impressed with LM's rendition of this tune. Not an easy one. Get one thing wrong and the charm is gone. All instruments are in their own imaginary bubbles and they successfully leave room for each other. Timbrally I feel all is well, except for sax which gets a bit too sharp or digitalised at times. Not too big a deal. Enjoyable, but slightly flawed.


Song #6:
A pleasant and somewhat creepy look into the unknown. Needs serious bass to form the template and good imaging.


Satsang by Sumiruna

Playful character of bass of the LM is unleashed here. It is a song that might sound majestic or downright weird if the system is unable to reproduce it. LM can handle the ridiculousness and as a result provides an enjoyable listen. Definitely not a relaxing set, though. This would not be my pick for those calm evenings, but rather the Friday nights when you want to get the party going. Smoothness of bass and mids is interestingly countered by energetic high mids and low treble.


Song #7:
Turning up the wildness to 11.


Alien Alert by 1200 micrograms

The anticipation of insanity is high with this one. Absolute necessities are thunderous bass and good spacial cues. Bass of the LM does the job very decently while spaciality is good, but obviously not up to the highest standards. Slight excess of high mids makes this song quite fatiguing. This will not be too big of an issue when you are out and about, it only might become a bit much when you want it to be a bit more reserved. But when it gels with your mood … oh, man.


This concludes my song examples and hopefully you found some information that proves useful to your listening habits!



To Sum Up The Simgot EA500 LM

To sum up the LM, I would mostly pitch this one to those who like a good amount of bass to be counterbalanced by high mids with a slight lean in authority to the latter. Definitely a highly energetic listen which fits the bill when your mood calls for it. On calmer nights I would reach for other sets.

Thanks for Reading! Have a Lovely Day.