Introduction:

I'm going to make this review short and to the point. Thanks, @Rowan94 for including me in the USA ZEN Air Tour.

Build:

Much like the iFi ZEN Air Blue and ZEN Air DAC, the housing is made of a sturdy dark grey and lightweight plastic housing. The imprints of the ZEN DAC are like a tightly woven net. The old-school style housing for the ZEN series makes the Air USB DAC visually pleasing. It's carried on from their older ZEN devices, and consistency is critical for stacking these devices, and iFi found an excellent footing for simplicity and stackability.





Specifications:

Power supply requirement: DC 5V/2.5A (centre +ve)

Max Output: >6.7V/75 mW(@ 600Ω) >6.5V/660 mW(@ 64Ω) >6.2V/1200 mW(@ 32Ω)

THD & N: 0.005% (@ 100 mW/1.27V 16Ω)

SNR: >114dBA (@ 6.7V)
Max.

Input: RCA/3.5mm3.8V RMS/1.92V RMS

Gain: 0dB, 9dB, 18dB

Frequency Response: 10Hz -100kHz (-3dB)

Power Consumption: No Signal ~5W/Max Signal ~13W

Dimensions: 158 x 117 x 35 mm
6.2" x 4.6" x 1.4"

Net weight: 352g
0.78 lbs

Accessories: 5V USB Power Cable and Digital USB Cable.

Source: My Custom Gaming PC (Used Spotify and Tidal (Hi-Fi).

Headphones used: Ultrasone Signature Studio and Penon Audio Volt

Sound: Pleasant and plays it safe with X-Bass off. For the best result, turn X-Bass on for neutral headphones like the Ultrasone Signature Studio. I paired it with the Penon Audio Volt (X-Bass Off), and the results were interesting. The soundstage was a bit more open than listening to them with my Fiio M11 Plus LTD.

As for the bass, it's not like what the M11 Plus LTD dishes out, but it does remind me of the ZEN Signature Series. I'm talking about the tight bass notes and smooth sound. The ZEN Air CAN pairs well with many headphones but pairs best with headphones that make use of its DSP functions.

The mids take a back seat, in comparison to the Zen Signature CAN. Instead of forward mids, the mids are more relaxed with a medium presence. The tone isn't dark either, so this sound signature has great compatibility with other headphones.

Finally, there's the treble, and much like the mids, it's reserved but it's not stuffy or cramped. It's a bit mellow. Especially with the Penon Audio Volt.

Now with X-Bass on, the Signature Studio becomes warmer and more expressive throughout the entire frequency. The bass gives stronger vibes, the mids are slightly sweeter, and the treble is more flavorful. The bass tilt with X-Bass on is like climbing a small hill on top of a slightly larger hill (From Treble to Bass). This is probably why X-Bass favors the Signature Studio so much.

Oh. BTW, the ZEN Can is compatible with the ZEN Air DAC, and X-Bass can be enabled on both devices at the same time. Double X-Bass is not advised for IEMs. It's recommended for power-hungry headphones only. This can be remedied by enabling X-Space, which gives more headroom for double X-Bass.


Pros:

• Smooth and clean sound
• Sound plays it safe by pairing well with different sound signatures
• Classic Old-school style housing
• X-Bass isn't steep (At least not enabled on its own)
• X-Space is useful for pairing with the ZEN Air DAC

Cons:

• Lack of RCA cables
• The 5V USB cable is too short

About Myself: I was a lone audiophile, finding my place where I belonged. Then I became a member of Head-fi in 2010, and still an active member. I even joined Headphonesty for a year back in 2020, but unfortunately, my studies were in the way of the deadlines in 2021, so I was quietly dismissed. It's been over a year since that fateful day, and my writing skills are somewhat rusty. So I'll put some effort into this review.

This intro may seem familiar if you've seen my iFi ZEN Air Blue review.

Also, thank you, Rowan, from iFi Audio, for selecting me for iFi USA Tour so that I could review this remarkable device.



Build Quality: Much like the iFi ZEN Air Blue, the housing is made of a sturdy white and lightweight plastic housing. The imprints of the ZEN DAC are like a tightly woven net. The old-school style housing for the ZEN series makes the Air USB DAC visually pleasing. It's carried on from their older ZEN devices, and consistency is critical for stacking these devices, and iFi found an excellent footing for simplicity and stackability. I also like the matching gold-colored volume dials for the ZEN Air DAC and Headphone Amp. It gives a pleasing aesthetic of simplicity and class.



Firmware upgrades: I didn't upgrade the firmware because I already own the ZEN Signature Series, so I didn't want to risk it. The software for the ZEN Signature Series differs from the ZEN Air Series. I wish iFi would have an all-in-one software to nullify this issue. This fix would provide wider compatibility with their current and future audio hardware. I am assuming that it's possible. Anyway, this prevented me from using MQA. So I couldn't test it unless possible, but would it require uninstalling the firmware from my PC?


Accessories: The ZEN Air USB DAC has a 5V to Type-A USB connector. I wish it weren't short because I had to redo my desk layout to connect it to my PC. The more troubling issue is the lack of an RCA cable. Good thing I already had one before I received the review unit. There's also a digital input cable, which provides the proper functionality of the device, such as frequency and connectivity.



Connectivity/UI: The ZEN Air DAC's user interface has a Power Match button (For changing Gain levels), a 6.5mm Auxiliary Output, a frequency LED indicator, and an X-Bass Boost button (Self-explanatory). I hardly used both buttons with my Ultrasone Signature Studio and Penon Audio Volt because both headphones are power efficient.

Supported Formats:

• 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384kHz PCM
• 2.8/3.1/5.6/6.2/11.2/12.4MHz DSD
• 353/384KHz DXD
• MQA

LED Mode:

• Green PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96kHz
• Yellow PCM 176.4/192/352.8/384kHz
• Cyan DSD 64/128
• Blue DSD 256
• Magenta MQA renderer

Test equipment/software used: Custom PC and Tidal


Sound: Quite good. Sounds slightly warm and technical without X-Bass. X-Bass enabled brings a little life to all parts of the sound spectrum. Especially in the mids. My Ultrasone Signature Studio benefits from X-Bass the most. The Signature Studio will go from sounding moderately sterile to balanced and slightly warm-sounding. The ZEN Air DAC can be stacked with other X-Bass iFi devices. It can be overwhelmingly bassy with double X-Bass boost, even with neutral headphones like my Ultrasone Signature Studio. This means the bass can sound a bit too prominent and surprisingly clean, which is pretty impressive with massively elevated bass.

Otherwise, the ZEN Air DAC provides solid and enhanced bass response for bass-starved headphones. However, the ZEN Air DAC has a different effect for more balanced and warmer IEMs, like the Penon Volt. Without X-Bass enabled, it'll sound very open and airy. However, with X-Bass enabled, the stage becomes somewhat crowded, and everything except for the bass response takes a step back. So if you have neutral-sounding headphones, X-Bass is your friend. But if you have balanced and warmer-sounding headphones, X-Bass might make or break the sound for you.

I heard a clicking sound in the background, and unfortunately, I couldn't get rid of it because I already had iFi software installed on my PC. So I didn't want to risk potentially breaking the Amp/DAC.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the iFi ZEN Air DAC is a solid desktop DAC for $100, and while it sounds clean and detailed, its bass response will wildly vary with X-Bass and other compatible iFi Audio devices. That's not particularly a bad thing. It's great because it gives you wider flexibility to pair your headphones. Despite that, the ZEN Air DAC has some shortcomings that prevent it from truly shining, such as the clicking sounds in the background, lack of software flexibility, and lack of a 3.5mm aux. Otherwise, the ZEN Air DAC is a welcomed addition to the iFi ZEN Series.


Pros:

• Clean and detailed sound
• Overall Balanced sound (With X-Bass off) and slight thick-sounding tilt (With X-Bass on)
• Compatible with PCM, DSD, and MQA formats (I couldn't test MQA at the time. See why in "firmware upgrades")
• Nice aesthetics
• Pairs great with neutral headphones
• Simple user-interface

Cons:

• The power cable is too short
• No RCA cable is included
• Some might find X-Bass too bassy if used with other X-Bass devices, such as the ZEN Air Headphone Amp
• Lacking a 3.5mm aux
• I couldn't test MQA due to a lack of software flexibility
• Clicking sound in the background

About Myself: I was a lone audiophile, finding my place where I belonged. Then I became a member of Head-fi in 2010, and still an active member. I even joined Headphonesty for a year back in 2020, but unfortunately, my studies were in the way of the deadlines in 2021, so I was quietly dismissed. It's been more than a year since that fateful day, and my writing skills are somewhat rusty. So I'll put some effort into this review.

Before we start, I need to mention that I didn't get enough photos for the ZEN Air Blue. I only managed to get one because I was so busy enjoying using the device that I forgot to take some good pictures. I only managed to get one usable photo.

Also, thank you, Rowan, from iFi Audio, for selecting me for iFi USA Tour, so I could review this remarkable device.

Here we go!



Let's start with the basics of the iFi Audio ZEN Air Blue:

List of codecs:

• AAC
• aptX HD, aptxLL, and aptX Adaptive
• aptX
• LDAC
• LHDC
• SBC

This extensive array of codecs allows the ZEN Air Blue to connect to many devices, including Apple, Android, PC, Laptops, Tablets, etc.


The ZEN Air Blue's Input/Pairing mode is quite simple. Just press and hold the selector button for a few seconds and ensure the receiving device is also in pairing mode. I first used the ZEN Air Blue with my Edifier R1700BTs speakers, and the hookup was simple. Input=>Output. The LED "On" is blue by default and will change color depending on what the device is doing or its connections.

Here is the list of LED indicators for the ZEN Air Blue:

• SBC = Off
• AAC = Yellow
• aptX = Blue
• aptX HD = Magenta
• aptX Adaptive = Green
• aptX LL = Red
• LDAC = Cyan
• LHDC/HWA = White

I'm not an expert on circuit board engineering, so I've decided to show this diagram from iFi Audio:



Build: The housing is made out of a white sturdy and lightweight plastic housing. The imprints of the ZEN Air Blue. It's like a tightly woven net. The old-school style housing for the ZEN series makes the Air Blue visually pleasing. It's carried on from their older ZEN devices, and consistency is critical for stacking these devices, and iFi found an excellent footing for simplicity and stackability. I wish the ZEN Air Blue had a power on/off button for even easier access, but that might also require a remote.





Firmware upgrades: The iFi ZEN Blue Air was easy to update. It only took a few minutes and involved using my Samsung Galaxy S22.

Accessories: The ZEN Air Blue came with a 5V to Type-A USB connector. I wish it weren't so short because I had to redo my desk layout to connect it to my PC. The more troubling issue is the lack of an RCA cable. Good thing I already had one before I received the review unit.

Connectivity: This is one of ZEN Air Blue's strong suits. The connectivity is relentless and does a much better job than my ASUS PCE-AC58BT network card in my Gaming PC. I can stand behind a wall and a closed door 10 feet away with my source device connected; still, Zen Air Blue's connection will not budge. I almost forgot that the Air Blue could go into sleep mode without an active connection. I find that very useful because I'm too exhausted to unplug it most of the time.

Sound: Clean and stable signal for higher-end Bluetooth codecs. My Edifier R1700BTs received the most benefits from the ZEN Air Blue. When I mean clear sound, I mean clean and transparent. The Air Blue handles lossless files well when paired with Apple Music and Tidal. No grain and static were detected when paired with my S22, but I saw some Bluetooth static and grain when connected to Nintendo Switch. To be fair, The Switch uses an SBC codec.

Conclusion: The ZEN Air Blue is a potent entry-level high-resolution Bluetooth Streamer. With the large array of codecs and the easy use of the device. The ZEN Air Blue will stay relevant for many years to come.

Final Grade: 4/5

Pros:

• Clean sound and stable connectivity with an extensive array of codecs make it future-proof
• Easy to update
• Has a sleep mode
• Easy to use

Cons:

• The power cable is too short
• No RCA cable is included
• No power on/off button is present

The Unique Melody Terminator 3DT - Triple Threat

The Unique Melody 3DT has three strategic elements to win within the $300 to $400 price range.



Introduction

I've known about Unique Melody and its products ever since I've first heard about them in 2011. One product in particular that had caught my attention was the 3DD Ti. The first triple dynamic driver I have ever seen, which launched in 2014 and the revision model in 2018. The 3DD Ti is a stunning IEM that I have never tried. Well, why is that? It's because it was too expensive at the time. Both models were beyond the $500 price-point and that was beyond my reach. Now I am given a third chance. About two months ago, I had seen the newest 3DT on the Head-Fi home page and I quickly purchased the 3DT from Musicteck for $399.

The Unique Melody 3DT has three dynamic drivers. There are two 7mm compound diaphragm dynamic drivers for the bass and one 10mm CNT dynamic driver for the mids and treble. The housings are made out of stabilized wood and are layered with pigments and resins. According to Unique Melody, the 3DT is supposed to give authentic dynamic bass with stunning transparency and clarity. Is this true? Well, you will find out soon enough.

Specifications

Driver Counts: Three Drivers

SPL: @1KHz 113dB

Impedance: 25.4Ω

FR: 20Hz-20KHz

Driver Type: Three Independent Dynamic Drivers

Driver Configuration: 2 Bass Drivers+1 Mids-Treble Driver

Packaging/Accessories



Looks great, doesn't it? There's a stylish carrying case designed by Dignis. There's also a silver removable cable, a soft cloth cleaner, four pairs of ear tips (SS, S, M, and L), and a warranty card.



A closer look at the UM 3DT reveals the resins that make these IEMs look so gorgeous. Not only that, the dual tones of color gives these IEMs character. The deep blue pigment is like staring into sapphire. The light brown color looks more like a light caramel color. It reminds me of looking into a hot cup of coffee that has been stirred with a few teaspoons of coffee creamer.

There are metal caps at the bottom corners of the faceplates. Based on the internal schematics, that metal cap in there to hold the internals of the 3DT in place. As for the nozzles it's built well and I find no faults with the way it's built. Nor do I have any problems with the mesh filter. It's woven in the best way possible to prevent internal ear wax build-up. As for the removable cable, it's good but not built like the DUNU DK3001-Pro's Hulk Cable. It's long enough to wear it while you go and it dazzles in the light.



As for comfort, I have not found any significant issues with wearing the 3DT. It fits just right and the only way I can wear them is with the stock SS (super small) ear tips.


I should note that the cable used in the picture above is from Penon Audio. It's a very good replacement cable if you want to use it for the 3DT.

Before I get into the sound segment, I must lay down a few important evaluation measures that helped me analyze the sound characteristics and quality of the 3DT.

Equipment used:

HiBy R6 Pro

iBasso DX150

Desktop PC w/iFi One Nano (DAC) and Schiit Magni 3

50% Volume

All contributed to 50 hours of Burn-In with Tidal being used.

"Just B Friends" by Pholo, Dyzphoria (Wave), and "Mist" by Ennja (Wave) for Bass

"Star Sky" by Two Steps From Hell (Epic Scores) for Mids

"Black Diamond" by The Rippingtons, Russ Freeman (Modern Jazz) for Treble

"Snowbound" by The Rippingtons, Steve Reid, Jeff Kashiwa (Modern Jazz) for Soundstage

It's the moment you've all been waiting for!

Sound

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the 3DT. I had other IEMs to review but I couldn't stay away from the 3DT. It's an addicting and beloved addition to my collection. I will go into detail as to why.

Bass

The power of two 7mm Dynamic Drivers is heard but not quite as powerful as one might think. I must admit when I had seen the configuration of the 3DT, I immediately thought that these were going to be bass monsters but after listening to the 3DT during and after the long burn-in, I had realized that these two dynamic drivers were tuned to keep the bass in check.

Bass-heavy soundtracks like "Just B Friends" by Pholo, Dyzphoria, and "Mist" by Ennja were proper demonstrations of the high level of bass control. I never heard the bass pressing against any other sections higher than the upper bass. What I like most about the bass from these gems is the texture. The rumble is fine and smooth like a gentle massage. The bass impact is just right and no details are obscured in the mix. Overall, the bass is tight and fast with great depth and texture.

Mids

Even though the mids aren't overshadowed by the bass, I hear a bit of recession in the mids. Nothing to fret over though. It's a bit noticeable in the lower mids. I noticed it during "Star Sky" by Two Steps From Hell. The choir boys singing in the background was a bit relaxed and I felt that it could have been more distinct since they are singing back there. As for the upper mids, there are no issues here. I can hear all of the instruments with no issues. What's best about the mids is the abundance of clarity and the subtle clicks I'm hearing with the instruments. The nuances in the background provide a more lifelike listening experience. Overall, the mids are slightly warm with great clarity and detail that isn't hindered by the dip in the lower mids.

Treble

Nice! If you like listening to cymbals and other percussion instruments, then you are in for a treat. Black Diamond by The Rippingtons and Russ Freeman does this part of the sound justice. I mean I don't think I've ever heard any IEMs in my collection portray cymbals and percussion mix as well as the 3DT. I mean full stop wow! As you progress through the soundtrack, you notice more of the musicians playing their part and it creates a brilliant aura in a black space. Gleaming like a Black Diamond. Overall the treble performance sparkles and its radiance is given life to the music. Seriously though, kudos to Unique Melody for tuning the 10 mm CNT Driver for an excellent performance.

Soundstage

I think I enjoyed this section just as much as the rest of the sound frequency. While it's not the greatest or most accurate in precision, I still found the soundstage to be slightly bigger than average and with a great handle on the instrument separation. I had listened to "Snowbound" by The Rippingtons and I noticed that every musician on stage had their own distinct spot. The guitarist was in the middle, the drummer was in the back, the guy with the maracas was on the right, and the guy with the congas was on the left. It was sort of easy to hear them. There were two other guitarists up front on the left and their close-up positions made it super easy to notice them.

Conclusion

Back to this excerpt: "According to Unique Melody, the 3DT is supposed to give authentic dynamic bass with stunning transparency and clarity". Is this true? Definitely! Not only the 3DT perform well in these two categories, but it even managed to best most of my collection of IEMs that are similarly priced. I have a few IEMs in that price range but I don't have the time to do those comparisons. In conclusion, the Unique Melody 3DT is a shining example of higher-end audio performance for an affordable price. If you like slightly warm, balanced, smooth, clear, and lifelike sound and you can't spend over $400, then this is the IEM is for you. These IEMs can be purchased at Musicteck.

Cayin N6II Review


“The Holographic Principle”



Introduction:

As I grow older and nearing my 30s, I look back to acknowledge that I have listened to many songs and soundtracks. I have also noticed that while my taste in music has matured somewhat, I still listen to some of the earlier styles of musical preferences. Along with that, my brain had experienced some types of frequency fluctuations. I often remember that to recall the sounds I experience with the tools I use every day. This is my first DAP review on Head-Fi, so it may not be very impressive.



DISCLAIMER:

This review is strictly done because of the Cayin Audio Tour. Thank you Andy Kong for selecting me to experience the entire Portable Cayin Set.

Let us begin.

Accessories:

The Cayin N6II comes with a very sturdy and well designed protective case. The case has a nice blend of black leather with red threads to keep the case intact. The case fits like a glove. It complements the curves of the N6II quite well. The N6II also comes with a thick Type-C USB Cable. This cable is perhaps the best-looking cable I have ever seen for a DAP. It has a velcro latch on the cable to it bundled neatly and the connectors are golden. Most likely for better conductivity. The last accessory the N6II comes with is a 2.5mm to 4.4mm aux adapter. The adapter is slim and has a low profile. Mainly because the adapter is a right angle adapter. It’s also very sturdy and I am not concerned about it for constant use. There are also extra screen protectors that come with the N6II.





Specifications:







The Cayin N6II isn’t holding back its punches, in terms of hardware. For today’s DAP standards, this is certainly above typical DAP specs for hardware, and the customized software sure can keep up. It's fast and convenient for those high-quality music lovers.


Cayin N6II Hardware and Software Goodies and Capabilities:

• The N6II has a User Replaceable Audio Motherboard
  
  
• The A01 Audio Motherboard has an AK4497EQ 32 Bit DAC
  
  
• Playback up to 32Bit/384kHz and DSD256 (A01)
  
  
• 4.4mm Balanced Phone Output (A01)
  
  
• 3.5mm/4.4mm Line Out
  
  
• DTA (Bypass SRC) Meaning Always Hi-Res
  
  
• 3 Digital Interface I2S, USB, S/PDIF
  
  
• EMCP Internal Storage (64GB) and External Storage of 512GB (Tested) (Micro SD and OTG).
  
  
• Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  
  
• Hi-Res Bluetooth Audio (AAC, aptX, and LDAC)
  
  
• HiByLink Remote Control
  
  
• Snapdragon CPU with 4GB of RAM
  
  
• Customized Oreo OS
  
  
• Streaming and 3rd Party App Support
  
  
• 768 X 1280 IPS Touch Screen
  
  
• A 5,900 mah Li-Ion Battery w/14 Hrs of Playback w/QC 3.0 (Quick Charge 3.0)

I should note that the A01 Audio Motherboard is sold with the N6II and is already installed within the N6II. The Cayin T01 Audio Motherboard is sold separately.


Build Quality/Design:

The N6II feels heavy when holding it, but it feels incredibly sturdy. It’s insanely durable mainly due to the material it’s made out of. The housing of the DAP itself feels like it’s made out of aluminum. The N6II feels incredibly smooth and a bit slippery. This is probably why Cayin had provided a protective case. What surprises me most is the design for the power button of the N6II. The volume wheel on the upper right-hand side of the DAP is also a power button. I find that very convenient, but a bit annoying when taking it out of my pocket because the can easily increase or decrease by accident. The Volume Wheel also functions as Standby On/Off. (EDIT: I was told that the first N6II firmware solves this problem by making the volume wheel inactive when the screen is off).

Below the Volume Wheel are the Rewind/Previous, Play/Pause, and Fast Forward/Next buttons. These button commands can be changed in the Audio Settings, with the exception of Play/Pause. The volume wheel makes a small clicking sound when it’s being rotated. It feels firm, but not too firm and strikes a good balance of volume control. As for the A01 Audio Motherboard, it blends in well in the back of the N6II. The 4.4mm Balanced Output, 3.5mm Output, and 3.5mm Line Out are all located on the top of the N6II. I had already uploaded an instructional video of swapping the Audio Motherboards. One other bit of information that I should mention. The back of the N6II has a beautiful glass back that has its logo at the center top and the DAP’s power output and company information on the bottom. One more thing, the Digital Output (I2S and S/PDIF) are located at the bottom of the N6II, with the Micro SD slot located on the bottom left side of the device.







Cayin T01 Audio Motherboard Unboxing and Swap:



Battery Performance:

I’m gonna quickly mention that the N6II has a strong point here. I have done a test on the performance of the N6II for battery performance and heat production. I had connected my Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO (250 Ohm) to the N6II (3.5mm) on High Gain (VOL: 50/100). I had also looped Boston’s Album “Boston” (DSD 2.8 MHz) for 4 hours. The battery started at 93% and dropped to 57% at the end of the test. The heat was minimal. I would say it was around 80*F, but I don’t have a device thermometer. Although I have very good experience in temperature detection. That doesn’t count in this case. The DAP stayed slightly warm at room temperature. This is impressive because the 5,900 mah Li-Ion battery is being used properly. With this very large capacity battery, there’s no need to charge your DAP frequently. Best of all, the N6II is QC 3.0 compliant. It usually takes 1.25 hours to fully charge the N6II from 50% to 100% with the provided USB-C Cable.

Cayin N6II Functionality:

I have recorded a couple of videos about the functionality of the N6II. I might have left a few details out, but most of the details are there. I'll upload them soon.

EDIT: Here's Part 1 of 2. I'm struggling to upload Part 2.



Sound Performance:

Sound Tracks used:

“Down by the Riverside” by Noah Wall (FLAC 24 bit/96 kHz)

"Danny Boy" by Three's Company (FLAC 24 bit/96 kHz)

GAIN: LOW VOL: 55 (YB04)/ 75 (ULTRASONE SIGNATURE STUDIO)

Cayin N6II (Paired with Cayin YB04 and Ultrasone Signature Studio) w/A01 (3.5mm):

The pairing between the N6II and YB04/Ultrasone Signature Studio had created a unique and memorable experience. I would say that the N6II (A01) configuration provides a slightly warm, transparent, accurate, and refined sound. When I was listening to "Danny Boy" by Three's Company, it was like being in a black void. Nothing but perpetual darkness. It felt a bit warm too. Then suddenly, I hear a bass guitar to my left strumming up something emotional. Then after that, I hear an Alto Saxophone to my left. Then the cymbals in the back in the middle. I felt like I was in the middle of these three musicians. It felt like I part of the audience. It seemed so real. Then I realized that once the track was over, I wasn't actually there, but for a moment I was captivated.

Cayin N6II (Paired with Cayin YB04) w/A01 (4.4mm):

I used the Hi-Res Sampler songs from HDTracks to observe the capabilities of the Cayin N6II. It did not disappoint. I felt like I got lost in the music. There are even greater channel separation and better dynamics. The imaging and cues are almost pinpoint accurate. The noise floor almost virtually non-existent. I listened to “Down by the Riverside” by Noah Wall (FLAC 24 bit/96 kHz) and the stage was so transparent. The atmosphere seemed warm, given the A01's AK4497EQ DAC. I didn’t even have to close my eyes and it felt like I was floating. I felt like I was front stage and listening to her sing with the guitarist on the far left and far-right. Along with the backup singers directly behind her. This experience made me smile and I felt ecstatic.


Conclusion:

This N6II is my opinion is considered to be a highly valuable DAP. Despite it being a bit on the heavy side and a bit bulky. It's great with the spatial rendering of sound and it can fully utilize the hardware from within to present masterful sound characteristics. Not only that, the N6II has great software, excellent functionality, and top-tier hardware. Cayin's slogan "Never be the same" is spot on. After this experience, I see Digital Audio Players in a whole new light. If you are looking for a DAP that provides slightly warm, captivatingly transparent and detailed sound, along with excellent battery life and great software for $1,300, this is the DAP I would highly recommend.

Introduction:

As I grow older and nearing my 30s, I look back to acknowledge that I have listened to many songs and soundtracks. I have also noticed that while my taste in music has matured somewhat, I still listen to some of the earlier styles of musical preferences. Along with that, my brain had experienced some types of frequency fluctuations. I often remember that to recall the sounds I experience with the tools I use every day. Despite all of this, I am still relatively new to reviewing. Especially to high-end portable audio

About Meze Audio:

After reading Meze Audio's history, I have surmised the following: Meze Audio was founded at Baia Mare, Romania in 2011 by an individual named Anthony. He wanted to make a pair of headphones that can relate to his passion for music. After Team Meze Audio gathered the necessary parts and knowledge to make his dream come alive, the breakthrough happened in 2015. The Meze 99 Classics. Now Meze Audio made another breakthrough with the Rai Penta and this review will soon unveil why.

Disclaimer: This review is strictly done because of the Meze Audio Rai Penta Tour. Thank you Andy Kong for selecting me to experience this IEM.

Technical Specifications:

Driver: PENTA-HYBRID DRIVER (4 x Customized Balanced Armature and 1 x Dynamic Driver working harmoniously together)
Frequency Range: 4Hz – 45kHz
Impedance: 20Ω
Sensitivity: 110dB SPL/1mW
Sensitivity Max Input Power: 30mW
Distortion: <1%
Stock cables: MMCX connector ending in 3.5mm, Rhodium-plated
Upgrade cables: MMCX connector ending in 2.5mm TRRS balanced and 4.4mm balanced as extra accessories [/B]

Warranty period: 2 years

Accessories:

• MMCX braided cables made of silver-plated copper
• custom wires ending in high quality 3.5mm
• Hard Case: protective EVA case with Meze Audio metal logo
• 4 pairs of soft silicone eartips XS, S, M, L
• 1 double-flanged eartips
• 2 deep insertion double-flanged eartips
• 1 pair of comply foam eartips
• 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter
• airplane 2 pin adapter
• cleaning tool

The hard leather case feels insanely durable.

There are also 2.5mm and 4.4mm Upgrade Cables designed for the Rai Penta, but they are sold separately.

Build Quality:

Let's start with the Pressure Equalization System

Based on what I've read from the Meze Audio website, the PES is made for Airflow control. This helps regulate the internal chamber pressure in front and behind the drivers.



The Rai Penta's PES (Pressure Equalization System)

The Rai Penta is well designed. It's perhaps the most well-designed IEM I have ever held and reviewed. These IEMs are almost as smooth as obsidian and are sculpted as if they were meant to compliment a certain Sports Car from recent memory. It kind of reminds me of the upcoming 2020 Maserati Alfieri.


2020 Maserati Alfieri


Rai Penta Hybrid Up Close

The reason for the physical smoothness of the Rai Penta is because the surface of the housing is anodized.

What is Anodizing? Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish. Aluminum is ideally suited to anodizing, although other nonferrous metals, such as magnesium and titanium, also can be anodized.

https://www.anodizing.org/page/what_is_anodizing

The housing of the Rai Penta is cut with a high precision CNC machine, and it's made out of Aluminum. The IEMs themselves feel very sturdy and I doubt that the Rai Penta will be scuffed or damaged for quite some time. The 3.5mm MMCX cable provided is well made and well designed. It's not too short and not too long. The Auxilary jack itself is made out of Rhodium Plating. It definitely feels sturdy to the touch and like metal too. That will inspire the feeling of long term durability.

Fit/Noise Isolation: The fit of the Rai Penta is almost indistinguishable to not feeling anything at all. With the right selection of stock ear tips, the Rai Penta will feel like there's nothing at all. The noise isolation punches above average. What impresses me the most is that even with low volume, most surrounding everyday noises are effectively drowned out.

Sources Used: Samsung Galaxy S9 w/iFi xDSD, Shanling M3S w/iFi xDSD, PC w/iFi nano iOne and Schiit Magni (Low Gain and Low Volume).

Cables used: 3.5mm for all sources, except for the Shanling M3S. I used the 2.5mm MMCX cable instead.

Sound Quality:

Bass: Balanced and Smooth. That's the Rai Penta's personality all the way through. Despite that, the bass is also deep and not too aggressive or too light. The bass is also well-textured, but not basshead worthy for quantity. I have tried numerous bass-heavy soundtracks and the Rai Penta seems to be the type that would rather keep the bass very controlled, with refined speed and textures. The magical portrayal of the bass is what makes me impressed. The way the bass drums kick in the background seems quite realistic. One of the songs that really got me hearing this is “Papillon” by Stratovarius. You can really hear and feel the pulse.

Mids: Once again, I hear excellent smoothness and excellent clarity. Like almost butter smooth. It's pleasing to the ear and brain. Almost alluring and hypnotizing. Even though it's pleasing to my brain, the details aren't the best. I'd consider the Rai Penta's mids to be detailed, but not analytical. I find the greater strength of the midrange from the Rai Penta to reside within the female vocals and slightly less so with male vocals. Why? I hear a notable dip in the lower mids. It’s not as significant as the opposing increase of decibels towards the upper mids, but it’s definitely there. The transitions between lower to upper mids are quite quick and the overall thickness of the mids isn't paper-thin, but not phone book thick either. The upper mids seem to have a rather interesting emphasis and it can be plainly heard in the soundtrack "Canon" by OVERWERK. You can hear the passion emanating from the drums. Almost got me tapping. As for guitar strumming, Stratofortress by Stratovarius is an excellent test for this and it’s simply great. The guitar soloist towards the middle of the song is really going at it. At the same time, you can hear him changing chords. I find that quite fascinating. While that’s happening, the cue for the drummer seems like he has a spotlight towards the right. I find that pretty cool.

Treble: This part is interesting. There's smoothness here too, but there's a small emphasis in the lower treble region. I used another song from Stratovarius, which is named “Elements”. At the beginning of the song, you can hear the violinists escalating the chords rather well and I find it pretty vivid. Not bright and intense, but rather vivid and with tons of clarity. There's some extension there, but not very extended. Seem like there's a huge dip past the lower treble.

Soundstage/Accuracy/Imaging: Let’s start with the soundstage. The best way I can describe this segment is that the dispersion of the sound is not quite like full-sized headphones, but it’s certainly sufficient enough for an IEM. The depth is above average and seems to replicate a miniature version of a stage. Although that’s because of the great accuracy and imaging that this IEM is capable of. What’s so neat about the Rai Penta is the spatial cues are vivid and this makes you hear where the spatial cues are coming from. A perfect example of this from the song “Soul of a Vagabond” by Stratovarius. The Rai Penta is giving you the nuances of the spatial cues around you in a 180-degree curvature angle. So yes, the soundstage is not only large, but it’s also three dimensional.

Conclusion:

I have tried many IEMs from CTM VS-2 to RE2000 from HifiMan, but this IEM seems somewhat different from the rest of them. This IEM doesn’t seem to exert itself too much or too little. It's neutral and can fi int many genres. Perhaps this IEM is musical? Probably. That’s somewhat hard to pull off. It’s an IEM that’s versatile and will fit the needs of many, but ultimately it’s almost the ultimate sound I have been seeking. In the end, even though this IEM possesses great detail rendering and is neutral, yet musical. With the wide array of accessories, elegant build quality, and excellent sound for $1,099, I’d say that it has great value.

This review is a little late. I was busy with a few other items.

Anyway. Here it is.

Introduction: I am an avid music listener. Whether I'm at home or on the go, I usually use IEMs that can please my auditory senses. I have listened to many IEMs and only a few can accomplish this. Is the ESR an exception? Let's find out, shall we?

Once again. Thank you, Devon, Higgins for selecting me to review the ESR.

BUILD QUALITY/FIT

Much like the Bravado, the shell is a sturdy and acrylic. The EE symbol on the ESR is silver this time around. What's also great about the ESR is the craftsmanship? Yes, the craftsmanship. It's almost custom-like. Sadly the IEM has a bit too much height and makes wearing the ESR a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. This is also due to the fact that my ears are small. So larger ears will benefit from this.




Close-ups of the ESR.






ISOLATION

Much like the Bravado, the ESR has high noise isolation. It can block out most sounds effortlessly and I find that quite impressive. You won't be disturbed during your commute. Unless if someone taps you. Seriously though. This IEM defies external noise.

ACCESSORIES

Final Audio Type E tips + Alcohol Pads for cleaning Ear tips





Empire Aegis Hard Case







Quick Guide and Soft Pouch Carrying bags + Cleaning Cloth:




Technical Specifications
3 Proprietary Empire Balanced Armature Drivers

1 Low, 1 Mid, 1 High

4-Way synX Crossover Network

A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology

Impedance: 19.3 ohms @ 1kHz

Frequency Response: 10 Hz - 40kHz

Sensitivity 112dB @ 1kHz, 1mW

UPOCC 26AWG Handcrafted Cable by Effect Audio

To find out more info on the ESR, click the following link.

https://empireears.com/collections/ep-series/products/esr-universal-in-ears

Source: Shanling M3S

BASS

Lesser quantity than the Bravado. The extension is similar, yet less emphasis in the subterranean area of the bass. The bass emphasizes more on upper sub bass and lower midbass. The approach of this bass is more gentle and controlled than the Bravado. Despite that, the ESR still has great impact and tonality. Also, best of all the ESR has super fast bass. The typical BA response of bass attack and decay.


MIDS

More forward than the Bravado. This part of the frequency seems drier too. There's an abundance of detail and it shimmers quite a bit. Works well with percussion and guitars and performs slightly better at vocals than the Bravado in terms of detail. Sadly in terms of portrayal of emotion, not as impressive.


TREBLE

Definitely more extended than the Bravado. Also slightly brighter. The details are quite excellent. Yet I feel it's more clinical. So it seems duller to me. Otherwise, the technical performance is on par with one of my own IEMs like the MDP (Massdrop Plus). The only problem is that the treble seems kind of hot. It gets peaky at times. Not in an artificial way, more like a natural and slightly exaggerated way.


SOUNDSTAGE

Large and in charge. The stage takes on a slightly different approach with a larger dispersal field than the Bravado. The stage also has more accurate spatial cues and positions. Making the ESR seem more realistic in a sense.


Vs. MDP (Massdrop Plus):


Very similar overall Sound Signature. Yet I hear that the MDP is more controlled in terms of treble presence. The detail and layering are slightly better from the ESR. The liveliness is more brilliant from the ESR. The soundstage is smaller and more well rounded on the MDP, in comparison to the Concert Hall Soundstage of the ESR.

CONCLUSION

While I am extremely impressed with the ESR's technical performance. I feel that the ESR could benefit from a more relaxed, yet energetic demeanor. I also think that the ESR could be smaller, despite it being a Multi BA IEM. Otherwise, the ESR sounds incredible. If I were given a choice to use the ESR for Studio use. This IEM would be perfect.

Empire Ears Bravado: The Hybrid with Pristine Sound

Before I get into this. I need to mention that this is a Tour Unit and I have observed the sound of the Bravado and the ESR for about one week. Also, thank you, Devon Higgins, for selecting me to get a chance to listen to both the Bravado and ESR.

Introduction: I am an avid music listener. Whether I'm at home or on the go, I usually use IEMs that can please my auditory senses. I have listened to many IEMs and only a few can accomplish this. Are the Empire Ears Bravado and ESR an exception? Let's find out, shall we?


Let's start with the basics:

The Bravado:

SPECS: One Balanced Armature (Mids/Highs) with a W9 Subwoofer (Bass) and a 4-Way Crossover System through synX Technology.

Isolation: I tested this out in the noisiest parts of NYC. This IEM can block out most external noise on moderate volume. I used the Final Audio Type E ear tips and it's extremely effective with reducing the external noise interference. The way the shells are designed also helped with blocking out the heavy external noise. Even on the train, which I found extremely impressive. Just look both ways before you cross the street with these on.

Build Quality: The Bravado have an acrylic shell that's glossy and looks like an obsidian stone. The nozzles have a triple bore for a more expansive stage. There are also ports on the bottom of each earpiece for the Bravado. The ports on the bottom are probably there to enhance the soundstage. Also, the Bravado has a gold EE symbol. The sturdiness of the Bravado gives a feeling of great durability. Although I do take care of an IEM properly. So I really don't put that to the test.


Ports on the bottom of the Bravado.


The Empire Ears ESR on the left and the Bravado on the right.



Accessories:


Final Audio Type E tips + Alcohol Pads for cleaning Ear tips





Empire Aegis Hard Case






Quick Guide and Soft Pouch Carrying bags + Cleaning Cloth:




The Effect Audio Ares II 2-pin Handcrafted Cable automatically comes with the Bravado. Along with a nozzle cleaner and an adapter of your choosing (2.5mm female to 3.5mm male or 2.5mm female to 4.4mm male).



Fit:


Bravado in my left ear.

The Bravado sits in my ear more effectively. The ESR feels a bit awkward in my ear and eventually the pain sets in after two hours.


Source: Shanling M3S w/Effect Audio Ares II 2.5mm Cable.

Before I go on to the core of the review, I need to talk about the technology that was implemented that was responsible for my observations.

synX Crossover Technology

Basically, this is a special crossover technology that provides more audio bands per driver. This will allow for lower distortion, Best Signal to Noise Ratio and an Ultra Wide Frequency Bandwidth. More info about this tech in the following link: https://empireears.com/collections/x-line/products/bravado-universal-in-ear-monitors

Bass: Deep and velvety bass tones. Giving the Bravado a smooth flowing sound. Not the entirety of the spectrum. Excellent rumble and fast attack/decay. The bass is quite controlled. As a result, the bass feels and sounds much like a subwoofer. Overall the bass is deep, clean, and very impactful. Very impressive nonetheless.


Mids: Slightly recessed. I wish the mids were more forward. Although it's still good enough for me. The ambiance of the mids is moderately warm. The details are fairly forward. This sounds quite emotional and its suitable for many vocal related genres. What impressed me the most is the character that the mids presented. It's not only emotional, but it's also life-like. I never find this particular frequency boring.


Treble: Smooth yet refined. There a few spikes here and there and it’s nowhere at exaggerated as the ESR. Just enough to make it shimmer. The refined treble transitions well between the upper mids and lower treble. This is suitable with percussion tracks because the tonality doesn't sound artificial. It sounds very natural.


Soundstage: Large. Very large. The spatial cues are excellent. This can perform well with well-recorded tracks and give a proper ambiance of the music. The dimensions of the Bravado is what stands out to me the most. I am quite impressed with the deliverance spatial rendering this possesses. Not only the soundstage is 3-D, but it's also quite holographic. The stage is quite clear on where the instruments are placed.


The box that holds all of the goodies of the Bravado, including the Bravado itself.

Conclusion: I appreciate the warm atmosphere exudes from the Bravado. It's like going to the beach on a warm summer day and feeling the wind blow past your ears. Yes, I think the Bravado is worthy to be used anywhere. As long as it's not in the rain. Anyway, the Bravado gets a near perfect score. The only real issue that the slightly recessed mid-range prevented this from being the greatest IEM I have ever heard. Otherwise, I think it's one of the best IEMs I've ever used so far. There's so much that the Bravado provides and I feel that for $599, it's slightly more giving for the price tag. Overall I am impressed with the form factor of the Bravado. I give it a 4.5/5.

Next Review Coming: The Empire Ears ESR.

Introduction:

I am a simple person that is after a few goals. There is one goal in particular that makes my heart race. The Ultimate Sound in Portable Audio. I will keep hunting for it. It seems like an endless goal. Although that's the fun of it. The journey.

Penon Audio and Head Pie gave me a chance to review the K3 HD. Thanks to the both of you.



Build Quality:

Not worried about this at all. These IEMs are very durable. The shell is made out of metal. It has a neat capital A that looks like a Radio Tower on both shells. The nozzle is angled pretty well. There are two cables. The normal Gun Metal Black Cable and the High Quality Silver Cable. I like the Gun Metal Cable. It looks very stylish. The Silver Cable looks even better. The problem is that the Silver Cable has a memory cable issue. It tends to curl up after properly wrapping it up a few times. Not a good thing at all. I hope that gets fixed if Magaosi is planning to do a revision or a Flagship Model.



Accessories:

· K3 HD

· Leather Clam Case

· MMCX cable (L-shaped plug)

· MMCX silver-plated upgrade cable (straight plug)

· Tuning Filters (Silver and Gunmetal)

· Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)

· Foam Eartips (S/M/L)




Source:

IBasso DX150

Tracks Used:

Stratovarius – Abyss (FLAC 16/44) (UPPER MIDS/TREBLE)

Stratovarius - Dreamscape (FLAC 16/44) (UPPER MIDS/TREBLE)

Radical Face – Secrets (Cellar Door) (FLAC 24/96) (MIDS)

Razihel & Aero Chord – Titans (MP3 320 KBPS 44.1 KHZ) (BASS & LOWER TREBLE)

Sound Quality:

BASS: After careful listen. I’ve noticed that the K3 HD has more bass presence and slower decay with the Silver Filters than the Gunmetal Filters. The Gunmetal Filters have more agile bass. Wasting almost no time transitioning to other bass tones. This resulted in a less present bass for the Gunmetal Filters. There is however more bass impact with the Gunmetal Filters. Probably due to the lower sub bass and heightened mid bass. As a result. The bass impact sounds more hammer like with the Gunmetal Filters and more cushioned impact with the Silver Filters.

MIDS: Now because of the varied effects of filters. The mids take on a rather semi typical approach on their response of the implications of the bass from both filters. The Silver filters have less present mids. Basically recessed. The vocals take a bit of a beating with the detail rendering. Not so much the lower mids. So this is a saving grace for the male vocals. Although the female vocals sound a bit washed out. Yet still very present. It won’t sound terrible. It just won’t satisfy critical listeners. The Gunmetal filters on the other hand is far better at presenting vocal reproduction. It’s still not quite there for critical listeners. Although it will still be impressive for those that wish to hear more forward vocals. While there isn’t a lot of micro detail. It’s still more superior to the Silver filter. Very adequate for picking out macro detail.

TREBLE: The enhancement of the upper midrange is making the lower mids a bit too hot. Almost sizzling. There’s a lack of control here on both filters. Yet even more so on the Gunmetal Filter. The Gunmetal filter makes it a bit hard to listen to treble centric songs for extended periods of time. The Silver filters have a more bearable treble response. Which makes it more suitable for long listening sessions. Best thing to do for the Gunmetal filter is to use eartips that enriches the frequency. Basically eartips that introduces more bass and smooths out mids. Foam tips and SpinFits will do the trick. Also make sure that the volume on your source is adequate. Otherwise it can get a little painful.

SOUNDSTAGE/CHARACTERISTICS: Overall pretty well rounded. There’s good imaging with both filters. Although the Gunmetal Filters do better with overall imaging, dynamics and sense of space. While the Gunmetal Filters are better with a more accurate Soundstage. The Silver filters have a relatively better sense of naturalness. Mostly due to the warmer atmosphere of the soundscape. It’s not extremely natural. Although it doesn’t sound nearly as bright and tactile as the Gunmetal Filters.

Conclusion: For an IEM for around $100 to $125 dollars. I found the K3 HD to be a rather nice approach into the world of IEMs in the midranged price bracket. It’s great for interchangeable sound. Has great comfort. Although that comfort and Capable Sound comes at a price. Which is the hot treble from the Gunmetal Filters. As I said before. It can be remedied easily with Foam Eartips. If you don’t mind interchangeable sound/filters and slightly hot treble and you need tough IEMs with great and capable sound. Then this is your perfect match. Otherwise if you don’t want to spend $110 and you are sensitive to enhanced treble. Then you may need to look elsewhere.

COST: 110 USDs

WHERE TO PURCHASE: https://penonaudio.com/magaosi-k3-hd.html

Introduction: I am a man that is after a few goals. There is one goal in particular that makes my heart race. The Ultimate Portable Sound. I will keep hunting for it. It seems like an endless goal. Although that's the fun of it. The journey.

Thank you Jennifer Zeng for sending me a review sample of the Smartomi HOOP.

Pros: Warm, Smooth Sound, decent clarity, punchy bass, good durability for the price, lightweight, fast connectivity.

Cons: Bluetooth Signal not stable for uninterrupted long term listening, track transition a bit sluggish.


Bluetooth tech: Version 4.1 w/AptX CSR


About AptX CSR: In digital audio data reduction technology, aptX (formerly apt-X) is a family of proprietary audio codec compression algorithms currently owned by Qualcomm.

Specs and Care of Product:

Dimensions 170*200*75mm

Item Weight 189g (6.67 oz)

Package 1 x User manual;

1 x Wireless headphone;

1 x Micro USB cable;

1 x 3.5mm audio cable;

Note Keep the headset away from heat and humidity.

Do not drop or knock the headset.

Do not use chemicals or detergents to clean the headset.

Due to the portable design of the headphones, users with relatively small head circumference may feel more comfortable during use.

Working Time Play Time: 16 Hours

Waterproof IPX4

Battery Charging Time: 1 Hour;

Charging Voltage: DC 5V;

Operating Voltage: 3.7V;

As for the Waterproof Rating. I can't confirm it. I have never tested it in rainfall. The Manual says to not have it in high humidity. So I never took the chance.

Charging Connector: Micro USB Interface;

Signal tests: I've done tons of tests. It seems that the signal from the HOOP is solid for indoor use. For outdoor use, it jitters a bit. When I commute to Midtown Manhattan. It makes it difficult to keep a good signal. There's a lot of drop outs. Mainly due to other rogue signals nearby that make it tough to keep it connected. Stronger Bluetooth sources like My Axon 7 and more frequently used Moto X4 make it easier to keep a steadier signal in Midtown Manhattan.

Accessories: Micro USB Charging Cable and Auxiliary Cable.


Build Quality and Design: Rubbery like coating and plastic build. The head band has a soft leather padding on the top arch. The band is also made out of tough and lightweight metal. The Left and Right markings are raised within the rubber like ABS plastic. The left side has the mic, pause/play, and rewind/fast forward buttons. The right side has the volume buttons, power buttons and charging port. The cups have a Matte Black color. Very nice touch.

Controls: What I like about the Smartomi are the very responsive controls. The mic is very responsive with phone calls. The pause/play and rewind/fast forward buttons work on just about all of my Bluetooth sources like the Shanling M1, Hidizs AP60, Cowon Plenue R, and Moto X4. The issue with the response of the controls is that the signal interruptions make it slightly more difficult to transition to other tracks. Otherwise it's snappy at home. Where there is excellent signal.

Battery Life and Charge: I have tested this out numerous times. The headset has truly long battery life of over 10 hours. The charge is super quick too. It never charges longer than 1.5 hours.











Sound:


Sources used most: Cowon Plenue R and Moto X4.


Bass: Slightly boomy with a good amount of slam. Not entirely for bass heads. Lacks texture and articulation when it's wired and wireless. Despite that it's still punchy.


Mids: Fairly laid back in general. Average detail. Very 2 dimensional. Although it is warm sounding.


Treble: Lower treble has a slight peak. Yet not sibilant. Mainly due to the warm atmosphere and probably the tuning. After that it's smooth and drops off after 8 KHz.


Sound Signature: Warm and Smooth with a bit shine on the top. Overall balanced.


Soundstage: Decent depth and width. Yet it doesn't jump out at you. It's more of a surrounding feel.


Conclusion: The Smartomi HOOP is a decent headset for watching movies on your phone. It's also decent for music as well. The best results from this headset are used with sources that have AptX Bluetooth connection. Anything else less than that will make it pointless to use it. AptX signal works best with devices that also have AptX signal. For CD Sound Quality. If you like warm and balanced sound with decent details and don't like being bound by wires. Then this is for you.

Auglamour RT-1: The Imperfect Gem.

Introduction:

I’m a man that’s pursuing the Ultimate Sound. In a form that’s portable. A journey that’s paved by endless hard work and great commitment. The pursuit of Ultimate Sound isn’t just experiencing it. It’s also understanding it. So I thought it’s good to start at the basics. The foundation of Ultimate Sound usually begins from Consumer sound signatures. Basically V-Shaped sound (elevated Bass, recessed mid-range and elevated treble).


What led me to the RT-1?

Just curiosity. To see what type of Ultimate Sound the RT-1 possesses under $100.


Let’s start with what the RT-1 has.


Packaging:

The RT-1 has very premium packaging for Under $100. The box shell was made out of a thick plastic. It has a carrying case, A removable cable, 4 pairs of silicone eartips, and yellow foam tips. There’s also a cleaning brush to keep the top canals of the RT-1 clean. Along with a metal Auglamour charm and a metal eartip holder. I don’t know if it’s a charm. It seems like one. That eartip holder seems very convenient, but a bit sharp. So do not hold it out in public. It seems almost “knife-like”.















Specs:

• Product Type: dynamic driver and balanced armature hybrid in-ear earphone
• Product Material: MIM Zinc Alloy & ABS & PC
• Driver: ¢ 10MM dynamic driver & customized balanced armature driver
• Divider impedance: 60ohm
• Frequency response range: 20HZ-20KHZ
• Input impedance: 32ohm
• Passive noise reduction: -35 ~ 40DB
• Sensitivity: 105DB ± 3DB
• Cable length: 1.2M
• Plug: 3.5MM Gold-Plated
• Wire: PVC + oxygen-free copper

On paper. The RT-1 seems to be a bit power hungry. Yet it really isn't true. I only needed moderate gain and moderate volume.


Build:

Before I go on. I should mention that the cable used in these pics are an upgrade cable that I had sitting around. The RT-1 is pretty sturdy. It’s made out of a hard ABS plastic and molded very well for under $100. The shell has a triangular There’s a shiny multi colored reflective plastic that makes it dazzle with the surrounding lighting. It reminds me of the stainless glass church windows that I see downtown.



The cable is thick and sturdy. Yet I feel that a better job could have been done for the cable. It’s too springy and it doesn’t even have a chin slider. So that makes it difficult to walk around with. Thankfully the cables are replaceable. So I used a 0.75mm 2 pin Upgrade Cable. It fits very well. I didn’t even force it. Fits like a glove.












Isolation and Fit:

I find this part a bit conflicting. The isolation is great. Despite the shallow fit. The seal can be good, but for my ears. I would need elongated silicone eartips. Foam tips can work. It will need to be the perfect size. It might be due to the nozzle angle. Which is making the fit a bit annoying. I used the eartips I got from the Hidizs EP3 and was near a perfect fit. Still not ideal but it’s getting there. I’ll get proper aftermarket eartips soon. Otherwise, Comply Foam tips are perfect for the RT-1. It eliminates the fit and minor driver flex problem.

Now finally the sound.

Source:

OPUS #1 (MIDDLE GAIN W/NO EQ) (MODERATE VOLUME)

AUNE M1S (MP FILTER AND MIDDLE GAIN) (MODERATE VOLUME)


Rage Against The Machines – Wake Up

Andy Hauck – Are You There

Coins – Drums Drums Drums

Celldweller – Pulse Injector

Stratovarius – Papillon

Fall With Glory – Fight With Honor

Galneryus - Stardust



After long listening, I found the RT-1 to warm and smooth. With a sense of relaxation. The whole presentation is very relaxed. It reminds me of my Final Audio Design F7200. Although I feel that only the ambience of the entire spectrum is comparable.

Bass:

This part of the frequency spectrum is handled pretty well. It’s very balanced and carries a bit of warmth. The bass from the RT-1 can reach to subterranean levels and it’s quite audible down to 30 Hz. The slam has moderate impact. The quantity is also moderate. Making this ideal for Most Electronic music. The texture of the bass is pretty smooth and almost elastic. Which can make the tone transitions easy to achieve. The mid bass seems to be even with the RT-1. Maybe slightly elevated in bass heavy tracks.

Mids:

The next part of the spectrum for the RT-1 takes a slight back seat to the bass and treble. I would consider the lower mid-range the most recessed part of the frequency. It’s known because of the male vocals. I find the male vocals very relaxed and dulled. Just average in presentation. In fast tracks, the male vocals can get a bit lost in the mix. Pretty surprising because of the Soundstage size. Now moving on to the upper mids. The presence of this part is not in your face or behind the scenes. It’s generally inbetween. The female vocals do better. Unfortunately it’s not significantly better. The best aspect of the mid-range is the instruments. Mainly the percussion section. Now as for the strings. It seems to be smooth in general. That all changes when there's more energy into the strings. It starts to sound a bit coarse. That's not my cup of tea, but that may be good for others. I'm just basing this solely on personal preference. The drums perform well on non-metal tracks. The way the drummer taps on the drum gives a sense of nuance. As for treble heavy tracks, like Metal. It’s too splashy and bright. I usually end up equalizing it for a softer impact. Generally the mids are smooth and balanced. Unless if electric guitars are involved.

Treble:

This part is bit tricky. The lower treble is elevated. Although, not tremendously so. It’s just slightly elevated for non-Metal tracks. This part of the frequency seems slightly energetic, yet tamed. It might get a bit out of hand. Depending on the mastery of the track and the genre of the track. Although it's not hot or piercing with most of the tracks I tested them out with. The details seem to be above average for the lower treble. As for the upper treble. It takes a slight tumble in both detail and decibels.

Soundstage:

This part is interesting. The dynamics and accuracy played a huge part in determining the size of the soundstage. I used Stardust by Galneryus to determine the size of the soundstage. It's above average for under $100. It can keep up with the Havi B3 Pro I overall. Yet still falls short in dynamics and size. In terms of accuracy. It's decent. The instruments can stay clear and distinct in moderate and fast tracks. Although once again. It depends on the mastery of the track. Well mastered tracks will fare well with the RT-1.

Conclusion:

This IEM is very unique. The sound it has is a bit complex and looks gorgeous. I feel that it's a great competitor for under $100 and can perform very well with most soundtracks. The sound it has is unique and it's not entirely bad. It's not your typical consumer sound. So this may make a good IEM for startup Audiophiles. If you are into a relaxed sound with a bit of top end shimmer. Then these IEMs are for you. Bassheads definitely won't like the RT-1. It's more treble heavy than the usual basshead IEM. If you can't stand driver flex. Then this isn't for you either.

Have you ever wondered what type of headphones you need on the go? Tired of bringing oversized headphones wherever you go? Well if you got a large spending budget for on the go headphones. The HiFiman Edition S Headphones are definitely for you. Not enough information? Well it's about time I got to that.

Introduction: The HiFiman Edition S is an interesting set of headphones from years of engineering from HiFiman. The sole purpose of the Edition S is to provide high quality audio. While maintaining the portable size and with decent durability as well. Is it what it's meant to be? I'll explain that further as I analyze further into detail.

Build Quality/Design: The Edition S is made out of a tough plastic. Even though the headband is made out of hard plastic. It would be better if it were thicker and reinforced by metal. At the headband, it seems that the plastic is quite rigid. There are L and R markers on each side of the bottom headband. Below the headband is the metal housing, with the magnetic grills and the covers to keep it in open back or closed back modes. There's also a removable cable port on the left side of the headphone. The Edition S can be folded and stored in the Silver Headphone carrying case that is provided with the Edition S.



Fit: It's best to have flat hair. Having too much high hair doesn't do the fit any justice. It makes it harder to wear. As for comfort. I can wear this for hours with little to no fatigue because of the soft inner ear pads. It only gets hot in the ear pads when I'm running. I sweat a lot. So this may slightly differ with everyone else.





Isolation: Low to low-end Moderate. Not ideal for very noisy environments. Such as crowded trains and subways and Large social gatherings. This is for closed back mode. Open back mode is a no go. It's low isolation at best.
Source: OPUS #1 (EQ: OFF) (GAIN: MIDDLE) (VOLUME: 124/150)

Specifications:

• Style: Open/Closed Back
• Frequency Response: 15Hz-22kHz
• Sensitivity: 113 dB
• Impedance: 18 ohms
• Weight: 8.74oz (248g)

Easy to drive?

Yes. With the 18 Ohm impedance and very powerful OPUS #1. It was quite easy. As for my ZTE Axon 7. Kind of. My Axon 7 isn't quite ideal for this analysis anyway.

Sound Characteristics:

We'll start with two separate modes because of their noticeable differences in sound characteristics.

Closed Back Mode:

Bass - There is enough quantity for Pop and Trap music. The interesting observation is that the midbass is limited on closed back mode. Although it's not quite deep. Based on my observations. The deepest Bass I heard from the Edition S on Closed Back Mode was 60 Hz. Although despite the semi deep Bass. The quality is very good. It sounds consistent and feels punchy. With a slight warm tilt. Along with decent slam and quick speed.

Mids - Due to the limited midbass. The lower Mids aren't overshadowed. So the female vocals aren't subdued. They aren't too forward either. I'd say they are inbetween. Moving up to the upper Mids. There's a slight upward tilt. Making it sound brighter with male vocals, most percussion instruments, brass and strings. Surprisingly, it doesn't sound artificial in anyway. The Mids aren't recessed in Closed Back Mode. It's strange how it differs from Open Back Mode.

Treble - I find the treble to be presented as slightly bright. Most of the time, the treble can liven things up. The sharpness of this frequency makes it a bit analytical in bass light soundtracks. Such as MDK's "Shinespark (Evan King Orchestral).The timbre is quite natural in that soundtrack and has no hint of artificial tonality in any way. Generally, the treble is refined and a bit sharp. Not ear pinching sharp.

Soundstage: It's average for an on-ear/over-ear headphones. The soundscape is pretty airy, despite the average soundstage. It's probably due to the somewhat energetic treble. The width is above average and the depth is a bit shallow. That all changed with Open Back Mode.

Accuracy/Imaging - Before I get to Open Back Mode. I should point out that the imaging and accuracy is impressive for a portable headphone like this. The accuracy is quite good. With the oval shaped soundstage. The placement of the instruments and vocals are distinguishable. Which makes the music quite easy to follow. The imaging is quite vivid and three dimensional sound. Which does make the music really pop out at you. That and along with the accuracy makes the Edition S an experience that makes your music come to life.

Open Back Mode:

Bass - This is a bit different. It's warmer. Much warmer. The bass seems to have a softer and slightly slower slam. The texture seems to be a deep layer of smooth clay, being trounced by a bouncing bowling ball. In other words. The bass feels and slams smoothly. Almost silky smooth. This is most likely the boosted mid bass. I find it very good for Trance, Dubstep and even Acid Music. What intrigues me is, how did the mid bass get a boost? I'm still figuring that out. Maybe the panels were acting as a dampening effect?

Mids - This part is a somewhat different than closed back mode. Continuing from the bass, Mids also sound warm. The lower vocals are slightly recessed. This is due to the enhanced midbass. So the female vocals are darker and the clarity seems to reduced a tiny bit. The upper Mids have been darkened a bit too. At this mode. It's perfect, for me at least. The problem is that the deets for the mid-range in general has taken a bit of a back seat. So this means that open back mode is not ideal to hear the distinguished details of the mid-range. Although it does sound more organic and musical than Closed Back mode. So it's more of a trade-off of sorts. Although this is because I prefer the reference type sound of Closed Back.

Treble - This part of the frequency is so smooth and a bit dark. Making the whole frequency average out to mostly neutral. The details aren't distinguished either. They are there. Just not obvious like in Closed Back Mode. Once again. This frequency also sounds organic and isn't recessed like the Mids. Instead it's balanced. One thing I noticed is the air. It pumps more air in open back mode. Probably with the help of the vents. So this prevents the music from sounding too dark and boring.

Soundstage - Due to the combination of the smooth and airy treble. Along with the vents, the soundstage almost doubles in size. It's more like 1.4x bigger. So yeah. The width is well above average. The depth is average and the soundstage is easily above average. The shape of the soundstage becomes more circular shaped. Yet still remains oval shaped. Pretty much like an enlarged oval.

Accuracy/Imaging - This part becomes a bit obscure. It depends on what you are listening to. If you are listening to bassier tracks, the placement of the cues can get a bit smeared. So the soundtrack will sound a bit jumbled. Slightly harder to follow, yet still very listenable. With light bass soundtracks, the sonic cues are still easy to read and it becomes quite a fascinating sound to experience. Like for example. Robert Miles soundtrack "Children (Dream Version) has a decent amount of bass, yet it's not smeared or jumbled up and the sonic cues are easy to follow. Despite all of this. The imaging is very much three dimensional and can be dynamic with soundtracks that demand for it.

Overall Sound Characteristics:

Closed Back - Neutral, Reference-Like and Energetic.

Open Back Mode - Musical, Emotional and Smooth.

Conclusion: I have enjoyed listening to the Edition S for the past 9 months. I'm glad I purchased it after testing it out at the Stereo Exchange last June. This seems to be the headphones for everyone. Although if you have too much hair. The fit may be an issue. Then if you go to noisy areas daily, then you won't find these enjoyable. Or if you want Closed Back Mode with the sound characteristics of Open Back Mode. You may not find this your cup of tea. Otherwise if none of those bother you, then go nuts.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01D...ds=hifiman&dpPl=1&dpID=41ncyM-nRML&ref=plSrch

After giving the Shozy Zero a good listen for a few months and switching to better sources. I finally got the proper analysis. Thanks NLNH and Shozy for the Shozy Zero. This analysis will be short because it's to keep the reader's attention. My previous reviews were too long winded. So let's get down to specifications.


Sensitivity(at 1Khz) 94db

Frequency Response 20hz-18khz

Input connector :3.5mm (1/8 inch gold-plated stereo TRS plug)

The Shozy Zero also comes with 3 Sets of eartips (S/M/L). A rectangle hard clam case. Also a User Manual showing a frequency chart sweep of the Shozy Zero.

Fit: I used the double flange ear tips that came with the Shozy Zero and it was a perfect match. Excellent comfort and for long duration listening.

Build Quality: Considering that it's made out of wood. You'd expect the durability is expected to be far greater than the typical ABS housing of other IEMs? Right? That is correct. The Wooden earphones of the Shozy Zero feels thicker than the typical ABS earphones. Although I wouldn't recommend tossing these around because they are still made out of wood. It is also advised on the User manual to avoid using this in humid weather so the Shozy Zero will not be damaged. Considering that I got the Shozy Zero in the summer. It was unavoidable. However. The Shozy Zero remained unscathed. The dewpoints that I dealt with all summer were typical for tropical areas (Despite being in New York). Anyway. The cable is thick and springy. The springy cable doesn't really bother me. What bothers me is the short and stubby strain relief above the Shozy engraved Wooden jack. It concerns me. The strain reliefs below the Wooden earphones are thick and inspire longevity. Due to the fact that it's rubbery and stiff.

Onward to the sound.

Source used: ZTE Axon 7 w/Poweramp Alpha Build 703. Headset Hi-Fi Mode on Super.

How does one describe the Shozy Zero. Three words. Organic. Smooth. Warm.

The sound of the Shozy Zero is quite simple and straight forward.

Let's start with the bass.

BASS: For $50. The Bass is quite textured and deep. It seems that it can reach the subbass territory. Will this please bassheads? Probably. Most likely more likely for those who are into Drums and Bass and Trance. It has deep Bass, but it also has some mid bass. As a result the sound is warmer. The bass control is also quite good. It's quick and punchy like a Professional Boxer. There’s practically no Bass bleed. That leads me to talk about the mid-range.

MID-RANGE: This is pretty interesting. Not as good as my Titan 1 (it's close by about 25%), but far better than my retired M-DUO. The detail retrieval is quite good for $60. The strong Bass is helping the mid range become thickened and smooth. Like a delicious cake mix being made for a birthday. This results in a tasty and savory performance of many flavors and for many flavors. Such as Pop, RnB, Hip Hop and Drums n Bass. Another aspect I should mention is the clear vocals. Whenever I listen to Epica's music, I can hear the clear vocals. Clear yet not too forward or too recessed. It's just right. I can actually hear the choir and the lead singer without having to stress my ears. That's good stuff.

TREBLE: It's clearly present due to a bump in the frequency in the upper Mids and lower treble. Although it's not insufferable like the M-DUO. It's softer and more graceful and packed with plenty of detail for a $50 IEM. When I listen to Metal, Classical or Orchestral music. I hear the strumming of strings quite clear. Not TOTL clear, but clear enough that you don't have to focus on trying to hear it. I noticed that that the Shozy Zero does particularly well with Epica’s music. Which is a combination of Metal and Orchestral music. The guitars are like super crunchy and very detailed. It usually puts a smile on my face. The upper treble is there, but somewhat overshadowed by the lower treble.Now onward to the Soundstage/Dynamics.

Soundstage/Dynamics: Now for this part I used a soundtrack that still impresses me bit in this department. I used Evan King's MDK - Shinespark. I was just flat out impressed what this $50 IEM was capable of. You could feel the spaces in between the instruments while maintaining an above average soundstage. Quite impressive. The spaces were still quite small. Yet it was still good. BTW, the soundstage is 3D. Not 360 3D. Mainly because I don't have any true binaural recordings.

Conclusion: After a few months. I have become more attached to the Shozy Zero. It just fits my preference of a more musical experience. The Shozy Zero just does everything right for a $50. If you are into a wholesome warm and musical experience and never owned a wooden IEM and curious about it. Then the Shozy Zero is for you. Otherwise, analytical lovers won't like these. The Shozy Zero is practically the complete opposite.

INTRODUCTION
 
Over a month ago, I became curious about the Fiio EM3 because of the great feedback it was getting. So there was a review sign up for the EM3 and I decided to get involved to give my feedback on the Fiio EM3. Thank you Sunny from Fiio for making it possible me to obtain the review unit for my feedback. 
 
Once I got the Fiio EM3, I used my Xuelin 770C w/the Topping NX2 amp to audition it for a few hours. Then I memorized the initial sound quality. Afterward I had the Fiio EM3 burn in for over 50 hours through my PC. The Fiio EM3 sounded a bit claustrophobic at first. Then it really opened up after 50 hours. The bass was very dominant too, but then it settled down quite a bit. Making the rest of the frequency sound clearer. I will get into that more soon, but first I need to talk about the build quality. 
 
ABOUT FIIO: 
 
For over nine years. Fiio has provided great customer service and excellent audio items at an affordable price. Their most quality items mostly come from their line of DAPs, Amps and DACs. Recently they have dabbled in the line of IEMs and Ear buds. Their latest Ear bud is the Fiio EM3. 
 
 
 
DESIGN/BUILD QUALITY 
 
I must admit. Pretty impressive. I have owned a few earbuds in the past. The JVC Gummies, Sony MDR Earbuds and Sansa Fuze Earbuds. Their sturdiness pales in-comparison to the EM3. The cables are thicker and the strain reliefs are thick and more flexible. So basically I'm not concerned about using them on a daily basis. The Fiio EM3 also has an In-Line Remote and Mic on the left cord above the Y-Split cables. Due to that placement, it will be very easily to know which is the left side or the right side. The earbuds also have a L or R marking engraved on the bottom of each earbud. The a distinct bump on the left side and right side of the earbuds that's placed just below the L and R engraved markings. The earbuds are arched at a 100 degree angle for maximum comfort and better fit. The jack is a 3.5mm Gold Plated Stereo Jack and the cable is made out of TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) for enhanced durability. 
 
FIIO EM3 ON THE AURAL LIFE EARPHONE STAND

 
LEFT EAR BUD

 
RIGHT EAR BUD

 
 
IN-LINE REMOTE AND MIC W/GOLD PLATED 3.5MM STEREO JACK 

 

 
 
FIIO EM3 PACKAGING 

 

 
FIIO EM3 MANUAL

 
FIIO EM3 ACCESSORIES

 
 
 
 
NOISE ISOLATION
 
Obviously not that great. The EM3 are earbuds, so they do not block out external sound away from your ear canals. So do not push the volume too high for the EM3. The SPL is at Rock Concert Levels (109 dB). Speaking of which.
 
SPECIFICATION
 

 
The Fiio EM3 has a large 14.8mm Dynamic Driver. Comes with extra foam ear pads and along with a very responsive In-line remote and mic. I used the In-line remote on the ASUS ZenFone 2 with Poweramp and it came in handy. I pressed it three times for previous track. Two times for next track and one time for pause or play. The mic is very good as well. I pressed the button once for beginning or ending a call and my voice was heard pretty well through the mic. The impedance is 47 ohms. For my ASUS ZenFone 2, that really wasn't much of an issue. It was still able to drive it. Although at times I desired more volume, so I used my Topping NX2 for better results. Otherwise the ASUS ZenFone 2 has a sufficient amount of power for the EM3.  
 
COMFORT
 
The comfort is excellent. Just as good as the Titan 1 and it sits firmly against my ear canal. Sometimes I don't even notice that it's there. Thanks to the foam ear pads. 
 
SET-UP USED
 
Initial: Xuelin 770C>Topping NX2>Fiio EM3
Afterward 50 hours of burn in: Xuelin 770C or ASUS ZenFone 2 w/Poweramp>Topping NX2>Fiio EM3 NO EQUALIZER USED.
 
SOUND QUALITY: 
 
Bass: It has very good extension. The bass can often go deep in the sub bass region and doesn't sound muddled or distorted in anyway. The impact is strong with music that requires strong bass slam. Otherwise it's controlled and has a good amount of rumble. 
 
Mids: The mids are clear, but most of the time it sounds like there's a layer of fog in front of the vocals and instruments. The details in the mids didn't take too much damage from the veiled mids. Whenever I listen to The Rippingtons, I can hear the natural tone of the guitars and saxophones very well. Towards the upper mids, there is no sibilance to be found. It's mostly like due to the warm nature of the airiness and the relaxed demeanor of the midrange.
 
Treble: This region is fairly smooth and extended. Like the mids, it's not peaky nor is it sibilant. It also sounds a bit dull, but it gets the job done. The rendering of detail is rather nice. Not overly impressive though. It's just above the $20 price tag. 
 
SOUNDSTAGE
It's quite wide and large. The airiness makes the EM3 feel roomy and the movement of airflow can be quite dynamic. The depth is quite limited though. Making the sound presentation 2D-ish (2.5D) and intimate.  
 
ACCURACY
Due to the slightly thick warmth of the sound and the shallow stage depth. The accuracy is good, but not mind blowing. Fast paced music is sluggish with transitioning at different positions throughout the stage. Otherwise it's acceptable. 
 
CONCLUSION:
Once again Fiio proved that you can get premium quality for an affordable price. The EM3's nature of smooth and full bodied sound can be complimented well both my 770C and ZenFone 2. The comfort is quite good, yet the noise isolation can be troublesome in noisy environments. The stage depth is very close and upfront and the mids are veiled. Besides all of that, the Fiio EM3 is quite the budget tier performer and should not disappoint for bassheads. Those that are into heavy treble or demand for better noise isolation may not enjoy this. Otherwise for $15, it's hard to complain with what the Fiio EM3 is capable of. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

INTRODUCTION: I purchased the LZ-Z03A because of a very curious headfier who's screen name is dubbed TwinACStacks. I needed an upgrade from the Titan 1. So he recommended the LZ-Z03A. So I loaded up my bank card and purchased the LZ-03A. I did a 153 hour burn-in and I got some interesing results. First I'll talk about the Build Quality.

BUILD QUALITY: I must admit. It's pretty sturdy. Almost as sturdy as the Titan 1. The cable is slightly sticky at first, but that will wear out after a week or so. The cable is also thick and transparent. The strain reliefs on the bottom of the earpieces are thick and stiff. Yet the strain relief just above the I shaped AUX Plug is thin. It's strong enough for everyday use. The LZ-Z03A also has a convenient chin slider.

FIT/COMFORT: With the Spinfit eartips (Size Medium). It fits quite well. The comfort is nearly endless. I can wear the Z03A for hours and not even the slightest fatigue. The LZ-Z03A can go somewhat deep in my ear canal. It's more like a semi deep fit.

ACCESSORIES: The LZ-Z03A comes with 3 pairs of Yellow Core Eartips (S/M/L). 3 Pairs of Black eartips (S/M/L) and a shirt clip. Semi tralucent ear guides. Not bad. I wish it had a hard shell clam carrying case.

SOURCE/AMP: ASUS Zenfone 2 (Neutron Music Player and EQ OFF) w/the Topping NX2.

RESULTS:

GENERAL SOUND DESCRIPTION: Neutral. Cool. Bright. Analytical.

BASS: The bass takes the sidelines due to the bass being small in quantity. The bass is clear and keeps itself detached from the rest of the other ranges. It has very good tone. The bass can reach the shallow end of the subbass region (around 60 to 70 Hz). It is also quite fast paced and controlled. There's some misbass, but it's not enough to warm the sound. Let alone obscure the rest of the frequency. At least the bass is sufficient enough for most genres. Except for the most heavy bass demanding sub genres like Hard Dance, Hardstyle, Hip Hop and Techno.

MIDRANGE: This is where it gets interesting. The entire midrange in general is a bit thin and almost cold. More like cool. The lower midrange is quite clear and exuberant. The detail this IEM is rendered rather efficiently. That's where it stops getting good. The upper midrange is great. Sadly it sounds a bit artificial. The extreme energy that the LZ-Z03A portrays is slightly off putting in songs that require tons of energy for stringed and horn instruments such as electric guitars and trumpets. Thankfully the SpinFit eartips can tame the issue. Mostly. Still pretty good for $30.

TREBLE: The lower treble is just as energized. Which makes the headspace quite airy. After 9 KHz. The treble rolls off steadily. The detail is good. It's still slightly artificial though. It can be mostly fixed with the SpinFit eartips or foam eartips.

SOUNDSTAGE, ACCURACY AND IMAGING: The Soundstage itself sounds three dimensional. Not the best at it. Yet it just below the Havi B3 Pro 1. The width is slightly above average. The depth is slightly above average. The height is also average. Especially with foam tips. This is all based on price range by the way. The accuracy is great. It's good at fast instrument movements and placements. The imaging is vivid and clear. Although it sounds a bit two dimensional.

CONCLUSION: For $30. The LZ-Z03A does not disappoint. It's built very well. It has a decent amount of accessories. It has a neutral and detailed sound. Those that don't like lack of bass or an analytical sound signature and prefer a warmer and more musical sound. These are definitely not for you. For $30. It's quite impressive.

INTRODUCTION

About a couple of weeks ago. Thomas from Edifier contacted me to review another one of their new products. I accepted the offer and chose the M815 because of the legacy that the M850 introduced. It seems that I was right to pick it. The M815 is quite interesting. So I give my gratitude to Thomas and everyone else on Edifier for giving me the opportunity to review the M815. I will now go into detail of the M815. First the Build Quality.

BUILD QUALITY

The way the M815 was designed seems quite average. The thing that troubles me is the small strain relief at the bottom of the left ear cup. It's not thick. Neither is it stiff. It moves a bit. So I suggest to be very careful when handling with the cord. The housing of the headphones are made of a thick and lightweight plastic. It feels somewhat sturdy, along with a very thick and rubbery cable and the auxilary jack is also fairly sturdy. So it should last for a long time. Although the M815 is not very flexible. So don't twist it. Now for the design/fit and specifications.

SPECIFICATIONS

What's in the box

M815 Headphone x 1；3M Cable；User Manual x 1

M815 FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz～20kHz

IMPEDANCE: 40Ω

CONNECTOR TYPE: Straight

SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL: 101dB

CABLE LENGTH: 1.3m

WEIGHT: 0.19KG

CONNECTOR: 3.5mm

INLINE CONTROL: Included

DESIGN/FIT

The M815 lacks the ability to fold near the ear cups. Due to the lack of folding. It would be wise to get a headphone case that's big enough to store it. The M815 has the cable on the left side. Which also contains a volume slider and a mute switch. I tried the volume slider and it works like a charm. You can adjust the volume for anything to your liking. Only up to maximum volume the device is on or what the device is generally capable of. I tried the mute switch and it only works on phone calls. It doesn't work on my ASUS Zenfone 2 when it comes to music playback. I used Poweramp and Neutron and it was inconclusive. The fit is quite good. I have a lot of hair, bit it's not and issue to get a secure fit. BTW, the comfort for these are amazing and I hardly get hot ears from wearing the M815 for hours at a time. The noise isolation is decent. Not the best out there. I find myself turning up the volume at noisy environments. Not at noise deafening levels though.







Before I go on to the SQ. I should mention that I used my ASUS Zenfone 2 with the Poweramp and Neutron apps. With at least 25 hours of burn in. Along with the Topping NX2 and no EQ for proper feedback.

The results.

SOUND QUALITY

BASS

It's fast. Around the same speed as my Ultrasone HFI-450. It's well controlled and can extend the shallow regions of subbass. The texture is quite good too. You can hear various tones of bass. Which leads me to believe that the M815 can do well with Trap, Chillstep and Trance. I tested that out. I listened to Fighting For Freedom (Nish Remix) by StripE (MP3: 320KBPS Hard Trance). The bassline in that track demonstrated very good speed, control and depth. The great thing about the midbass is that it's kind of muted. So it will not bleed into midrange. Speaking of which.

MIDRANGE

This is where it gets good. It's amazing. The midrange is so transparent, detailed and slightly warm. It reminds me of my DUNU Titan 1. It's generally around the same level in clarity and detail. The M815 demonstrates forward vocals quite well. I listened to Young by Vallis Alps (FLAC 771 KBPS) on my Zenfone 2. It's like the lead singer was singing really close to me. Her vocals was very clear and distinct. I can hear her. Word for word. The guitars sound quite well rendered in this song. No sibilance to speak of either. Which reminds me.

TREBLE

It's also forward. Very forward and bright. No hissing. Just sparkly and extended treble. It also provides an airiness to the sound. As a result. The music can sound pretty lively with the right track. For example. The track Silvery Wings (Short Version) by Onoken (MP3 320 KBPS) demonstrates the liveliness of guitars. I just love that track even more now. Thanks Edifier. Now about that airiness.

SOUNDSTAGE/HEADSTAGE

The sense of space is pretty good for a closed back headphone. It's not like my Beyerdynamic DTX910, but it's close. The width is a couple of centimeters past the dynamic drivers inside the headphones. The depth is above average for its' price point. The M815's depth is a slightly scaled back version of the Beyerdynamic DTX 910. The height is very good. The M815 can push the air as high as the top of the ear cups. Pretty similar to my Ultrasone HFI-450. Before I end this review. There are a couple of more things to mention....

ACCURACY/IMAGING

Another great aspect of the M815. The accuracy is pretty decent. It's good at portraying the recording of the music at a decent level. Due to the bright and neutral qualities of the sound the M815 and the great accuracy. The imaging is pretty vivid. You can hear what the image of the instruments and vocals very clearly. The timbre also sounds very natural. The vocals and strings do not sound artificial at all. Unless if they are suppose to be artificial.

SEPARATION/LAYERING

It's pretty impressive what the M815 is capable of in these categories. The instruments and vocals keep themselves away from each other pretty well for most soundtracks I listen to. Mostly. In very fast tracks they may stumble a bit. For what it's worth. It's very satisfactory.


AMPING

This is the tricky part. I used my Zenfone 2 and it seems that Neutron was the most capable. I found myself turning up the volume near the max with Poweramp. Now with the NX2. The only music player I could use with the USB DAC was Neutron. Otherwise the amp was more than enough for both players. The volume was 50/50 on both devices. It's probably because of the higher than average impedance of 40 ohms from the M815.

CONCLUSION

In the end. It seems that the M815 was close. I do not own the M815, but in comparison to my other headphones. It held it's own quite well. For those of you that are looking for a balanced and neutral sound with fast bass and a slightly above average soundstage. The M815 is for you. If you demand lots of bass and the lack of portability bothers you. Then look elsewhere. Otherwise for $50. It's hard for me to say no because the pros slightly outweigh the cons.

Disclaimer: I had posted my previous reviews of the Havi B3P1 and the DUNU Titan 1 on the New Edifier IEMs Earphones Lineup in North America - Seeking Reviewers thread on Head-Fi. Thomas then contacted me about reviewing one of the new Earphones/Ear buds lineup. I chose the H210 and I found it to be a fitting choice for an Entry Level IEM.
 
SPECIFICATIONS  
H210
 
FREQUENCY RESPONSE:20Hz～20kHz
 
IMPEDANCE:24Ω
 
CONNECTOR TYPE:Straight
 
MAXIMUM POWER:1mW
 
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL:105dB
 
CABLE LENGTH:1.3m
 
WEIGHT:10g/40g
 
CONNECTOR:3.5mm
 
INLINE CONTROL:No
 
DRIVER DIAMETER: 9mm

 
Accessories: There was no clam case or shirt clip, but there were 8 Ear tips. There are 2 small, 2 medium, two large and two long flanges. For $16, it's typical to see this. 
 
Build Quality: The earphone itself is made out of plastic. The strain reliefs are rubbery. They are quite thin, but they are stiff. So in the long term, they will hold up alright. Just try not to yank the cord too much. Speaking of the cable, I found the cable pretty thick. Mainly from underneath the splitter to the I-Shaped 3.5mm auxiliary jack. The splitter itself was okay. Not as thick, but can hold up well in the long term. As long as you don't yank the cord too hard or too much it will be fine. The Left and Right writings are found at the back of the earphones. They are pretty easy to see, but maybe not so much in low light.
 
Noise isolation: It's quite good. I used the long single flange Ear tips and I can't really hear much around me with low noise in the surroundings. They block out moderate to high noise as well with minimum sound leakage. 
 
Comfort: Excellent. I can wear these for hours and my ears won't feel strained or tired. 
 
Insertion: It's slightly annoying due to the pressure and mild driver flex. Just lift your ears and gently insert the IEMs for proper insertion and to avoid those issues. The driver flex doesn't deter the sound quality. So there's nothing to worry about in that category. 
 
Now on to the Sound Quality:
 
Before I get into that. I should mention that I used my Asus ZenFone 2 because I found it quite capable of driving the H210. I used the Poweramp App because it was one of the best music player apps to demonstrate the H210's abilities. 
 
Bass: There's a lot. A whole lot. Not so much to decrease the bass on the Poweramp amp player. Still quite a lot though. It could be a bit sluggish at times. There's a good some subbass, but the mid bass does pop up quite a bit on bass heavy tracks like Vibrations (Josh Lang Remix) by Mike Stevenson. The subbass is completely overwhelmed on that track. All I can hear from the bass is a hammer. The detail of the bass is shrouded in warmth. So basically the tones of the bass isn't upfront, but it's there. This makes the entire sound signature feel fun. It works well for Electronica music. As long as the song isn't vocal heavy. Which leads me to the next part. Mids. 
 
Mids: It's there, but not upfront or extremely recessed. Just slightly recessed. It's due to the high amounts of mid bass that makes the lower Mids sound veiled. Although for $16 it's pretty nice. It's best to listen to them with high quality formatted music. The H210 does best with Rock, Pop, Hip-hop, Electronica, Jazz and Metal. As long as there isn't too much bass involved in any of the tracks of those genres, it should do quite well. Otherwise it sounds fuzzy and warm. One thing that the H210 does well with are horns and strings. Whenever I listen to the albums from The Rippingtons, I can hear strings and horns, but just not in extreme clarity or detail. They pop out better than male vocals. It's probably due to the elevated upper midrange and lower treble. Despite that, there's a little edginess or sibilance in that aforementioned region.
 
Treble: As I mentioned before. The lower treble is energetic, but edgy and sibilant. This leads me to believe that the H210 has a V-Shaped Sound Signature. Elevated bass and elevated upper midrange/lower treble. The rest of the treble region is almost blended into the background. So it's not easy to pick up on it. 
 
Soundstage: In comparison to my Havi B3P1 and Titan 1. It's intimate. About average width and depth. Even though the soundstage is average. The dynamic drivers pump out quite a bit of air. It's airy, despite the average soundstage.
 
Accuracy: For a warm sounding IEM such as the H210. It tries it's best not to turn fast paced music into a cluttered mess. It tries to keep up with position of instruments for well mastered music. Overall it's alright. 
 
Conclusion: The H210 is pretty interesting for an Entry Level IEM that has a sound signature that will appeal to those that are looking for back up earphones for under $30. Or for those that want a good gateway into the hobby of music listening. These will do nicely. From the copious amounts of bass to the smooth sounding treble and the shifty Mids in between. The Edifier H210 can definitely keep you entertained if you listen to any songs with female vocals, horns or strings. If you don't mind the warm and dark sound signature, then these are for you. 

Thanks to Vivian from DUNU, I was able to listen to the best IEMs I place in my ears. I have reviewed a few IEMs such as the MEELEC M9, A151, CC51, M-DUO, JVC FXT90 and recently the Havi B3P1, but I have never heard and seen anything like the Titan 1. It's like combining the FXT90's Soundstage depth (it's slightly deeper than that), the Havi B3P1's rendering of detail and the sturdiness of the M-DUO (the Titan 1 is definitely sturdier though). I have auditioned the Titan 1 for at least 50 hours and it had a few changes from the bass to treble and everything in between. 
 

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Specifications:

1. Driver: 13mm Titanium Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
2. Impedance:16Ω
3. Sensitivity: 90+- 2dB
4. Reproduction Frequency: 20Hz-30kHz
5. Cable Length: 1.2m
6. Plug: 3.5mm Stereo Mini
7. Weight: 18g

 
I used my neutral, yet warm Xuelin IHIFI 770C (EQ Settings: Rock) for this review.
 
I will focus on several categories in this review and those are: 
 
Build Quality/Accessories/Fit/Isolation/Sound Quality/Sensitivity 
 

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Let's start with Build Quality:
 
This is one of the most impressive parts of the Titan 1. The bottom half of the cable is braided with a nylon material below the the metal Y-Split and above the metal right angled jack. The Y-Split says DUNU on it, along with Titan 1. Although right above the Y-Split, there's the think rubber cord. The strain relief is great. It's reinforced and compliments the sturdiness of the Titan 1 well. Along with that, there's the metal housing and the titanium coated diaphragm to ensure longevity and excellent sound quality. There are vents on each earpiece and that's probably for enhanced the soundstage and clarity. Finally, there's the Blue and Red Color Coded earpieces. The left earpiece has a blue ring around it. The right earpiece has a red ring around it. The nozzle is at a 120 degree angle and it has a hexagon shaped vent on the nozzle. Along with DUNU's signature D's on the back of each earpiece. The last feature the Titan 1 has is the rubber wraparound on the nylon cable for properly wrapping the cable. The great thing about the cable with that it doesn't have any memory cable issues and very little cable noise. 
 
Accessories:
 
9 Pairs of eartips (3 Pairs Red and Black) 1PS/1PM/1PL which are similar to the Havi B3P1 eartips. 6 Pairs are black 2PS/2PM/2PL. 
 
A Small Carrying Case with a rubber stopper on the bottom (Similar to a Pelican Carry Case you would see with Westone IEMs, but a weaker and smaller version, still great though).
 
3.5mm to 6.5mm Gold Adapter 
 
Shirt Clip.
 
Fit: I used the small single flange eartips and I was good to go. Those with any type of ears will greatly appreciate the fit and comfort of these IEMs. I can wear them for hours upon hours with no discomfort. The best way to wear the Titan 1 is in a cable down style. Over the ear is slightly tricky.
 
Isolation: It's average. It works okay in noisy areas, but you will have to crank up the volume. 
 
Now here's the big part of the review.
 

Sound Quality: 

Bass: 4 Words to explain it. Quick. Impactful. Clean. Detailed. It's because of these, it never intrudes into the midrange frequency at all. Even if the bass doesn't hit hard enough for bassheads, it can still satisfy those who like punchy bass. It's definitely more powerful than the Havi B3P1. It's bass performance is around the lines of my FXT90. That's why I loved my FXT90 for a long time. It works pretty well with any Electronic Music like Dubstep, Trance, Hard Dance and some of the faster sub genres such as Japanese Hardcore and Hardcore. I listened to Out The Speakers (Feat. Rich Kidz) by A-trak, Milo and Otis (MP3-320 kbps)(Sub Genre: Trap) and you can hear the pulsing bass without interfering the midrange. It's powerful, yet controlled. You can hear the bass fluctuating from deep sub bass to just below mid bass quite clearly. 
 
Midrange: This part of the frequency is what give these IEMs life. The midrange frequency is quite detailed. The level of detail sometimes dwarfs my B3P1 in comparison. The female and male vocals are quite surreal at times, although it depends on the audio quality and type you are listening to. I listened to Yesterday (Extended Mix) by DJ THT (MP3 320 kbps)(Sub Genre: Hard Trance) and if you close your eyes, it sounds like she's saying "Yesterday" towards you in such a natural voice at the front and middle of the stage. Even tracks with any form of guitar performs well through the Titan 1. I listen to a lot of Rock and Metal and I just can't get enough of the crunch from the electric guitars and amazing acoustics from the drums and cymbals. The track that fully demonstrates that is Angel Halo by Rio Hamamoto (MP3 320 kbps)(Genre: Rock). There's no upper midrange sibilance to speak of. That's probably one the reasons why I can listen to the Titan 1 for hours.
 
Treble: This part of the frequency adds on the life. It's bright, but not sibilant. It's not laid back either. It's slightly energetic, but it's also quite detailed. I listened to Moon Trance by Linsdsey Stirling (256 kbps) (Sub Genre: Instrumental) and I was captivated by her violin performance in that track. That was all I was focused on. It was accurately rendered and I found myself playing that track over and over again 5 times. Due to the energetic nature of the Titan 1, the airiness of the treble was not lacking at all. 
 
BTW, which brings me to the Soundstage.
 
Soundstage: This part of the Titan 1 is amazing. It's quite large, but not as large as the Havi B3P1 (10% smaller, not a big deal). It doesn't matter anyway, I'm quite content with the width and depth. The depth of the soundstage is definitely deeper than the B3P1. 
 
Imaging/Separation: I'm impressed with the imaging. The Titan 1 is vivid. Pretty similar to the Havi B3P1. Maybe exactly the same, but the detail rendering of the Titan 1 gives it the edge and outpaces the B3P1 by a small margin. I listened to (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult (MP3 320 kbps) and demonstrates the imaging quite well. Now as for the separation, it's also quite similar, despite the Titan 1 having a slightly smaller soundstage. Even though the Titan 1 has a smaller soundstage, the separation is definitely better though. I can hear more spacing between the vocals and instruments. 
 
Last part of the review.
 
Sensitivity: The Titan 1 is very easy to drive. I matched it with my Xuelin IHIFI 770C and it didn't require any amping. Every volume notch I turn it up to, it gets steadily louder. I find myself having the volume at 22-26/70 on my Xuelin IHIFI 770C. I even matched it with my not-as-powerful Elephone P3000s Smartphone and I still didn't have to put it up to maximum volume. 
 

Conclusion:

The Titan 1 not only demonstrates high build quality, but it also demonstrates high sound quality. For those of you that are looking for a balanced set of IEM. That has excellent build quality, above average accessories and great fit. Along with a great soundstage and with excellent imaging and separation that's easy to drive. Plus if you don't mind the average isolation for under $130, then look no further than the Titan 1. 
 
Overall Score: 93/100

BASS: Deep. A bit bloated. nicely textured for under $20. Very impactful. 
 
MIDS: Warm. Very Warm. Even a bit stuffy. The vocals and instruments are recessed. Even if they are recessed, they sound a bit soulful. They take a few steps back and make way for the very strong bass. 
 
TREBLE: A bit edgy. A bit on the bright side. Fairly detailed. 
 
SOUNDSTAGE/ACCURACY: Average soundstage. Fairly decent width. Shallow depth and okay accuracy. 
 
TONALITY: Sounds very colorful and fun. 
 
GENRE PREFERENCES: Mainly for heavy driven bass and vocal/instrumental genres. Like Electronica, Hip Hop, Alternative and Rock music.