Introduction.
Dunu approached me and offered me a chance to review their new DM-480, a dual 8mm dynamic in-ear with a removable cable. They retail for around 63 euro's and come in two colours. It's been a while since I reviewed some gear, so this was a nice opportunity to return to the game.


Disclamer:
Dunu offered me these IEMs without any charge, however all opinions are my own.
Burn in: 24 hours on the cooker before listening.
Source: LG V30 & Dragonfly Red + Spotify premium / Youtube
My acknowledged bias derives from my music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), my preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).

Review:

Specifications:
Cable length:1.2m
Frequency Range: 20Hz-40kHz
Impedance: 20ohm
Pin connector: 0.78 2 pin.
Housing: 3D printed shell structure (around the ear).


Package:
Nice cardboard package containing two sets of 3 different size tips. White silicon tips which are more olive shaped and more traditional blue top silicon tips.






Build, design and fit:
The DM-480s look and feel great. I received the orange coloured ones, or 'Twilight Crimson' as Dunu calls them. The shell feels solid, looks sleek and I've got no indication of them breaking down anytime soon. They survived three weeks being tossed and dragged around through some backpack across Asia. The supplied cable likewise feels and looks top-notch. When first connecting the cable I was a bit sceptical about the seal, however the connection is solid and reliable.

The fit was a bit of a puzzle for me, I haven't used many around the ear headphones and I find the sound quite tip dependent. Without a proper seal they lose a lot of bass and the sound consists mostly out just treble. Usually the M size tips give me the best seal, this time however I had to use the L size of the white tips. The isolation is quite good when you’ve found your seal.





Sound:
The sound signature strikes me as a quite hefty U-shape. I'm not a huge fan of the U-shape since guitars and piano lose body. I found myself turning up the volume in order to hear the middle frequencies.
Partly due to the U-shape the sound is airy and clear. The soundstage struck me as quite wide. The biggest surprise of all was the excellent instrument separation and position. Guitars, sound effects, whatever you might throw at it, the DM-480 finds a place for it. This is especially apparent in electronical music. “Ben Böhmer's - Ground Control”, makes you feel you’re right in the action. When switching between the LZ A4 and the Dunu DM-480, the latter has a bit of a metallic sound to them at first. After a few minutes of listening, it’s not that apparent anymore.


Treble:
Clear and quite natural while maintaining excellent resolution and detail. The high-hats, crashes and cymbals in “Foals - 10,000 feet” sound accurate and lively. No hints of sibilance here. The clear treble also complements the toms and guitars with great detailing and musicality. My only gripe is that the treble is too prominent for my liking. When the drummer goes banana's, the other instruments get run over. As a consequence, I catch myself turning up the volume in order to hear the other instruments, which only makes cymbals even more aggressive. This is likely due to the U-shaped sound signature, which is not particularly my preference. So do take notice if you are not used to U-shaped IEMs like me.



Mids:
Like the treble, natural and clear, but as mentioned before, lacking in volume. The keyboard in "London Grammar's - Hey Now” is missing the warmth that makes this version. Guitars miss their roar, piano's miss their hit. When there are no high frequencies playing in the song, the mids sound highly detailed with great resolution. Proving the DM-480 are technically very capable of producing some stunning audio, but are being let down by their U-shape tuning. On the other side, voices are reproduced and positioned clear and life-like. They are presented in such a manner that they take the centre spotlight while the other instruments seem dance around them. Unfortunately, they too miss a little bit of body. In “The National – The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” the voice of the lead singer misses just a touch of depth and warmth.


Bass:
The real star of the show and right up my alley. Deep, extremely tight and pleasantly present. Look all you want, but you won't find a trace of bleed or bloat. The texture and resolution of the bass is incredible. Bass guitars can easily be distinguished and the kick-drum has its own place on the podium. The bass in “Bob Moses' - Heaven Only Knows” resonates with such an ease which makes me rewind the song solely for the bass. When listening to EDM, the lack of midrange is partly compensated for by the beautiful bass. There is a cleanness to this bass that makes it sound completely separated from the rest of the sound. I don’t know if this is due to the “Dual-push isobaric titanium driver” or that Dunu possesses some sort of witchcraft, but I love it. Unfortunately, nothing in life comes free, and the price for putting the sub-bass on pole position, is that the mid-bass has to deal with second place. The mid-bass is certainly there, but not as present as some might like. It’s enough to fuel the beat, but won’t blast out any windows. In the “CRi – Never Really Get There” the drop is much more imposing when listening to the more mid-bass gifted LZ A4. However, I’ll take Dunu’s bass implementation any day of the week, since the ‘seperated sub-bass subwoofer effect’ is highly addictive.


Compared to the LZ-A4 (Black tip, red rear; around $150):
The LZ A4 is more of a V-shape compared to the U-shape of the DM-480. The LZ shows quite a bit more midbass and midrange. Resolution and detail wise the DM-480 comes very close, which is impressive for a headphone which costs less than halve the price.


Conclusion:
The DM-480 is a very capable IEM with a 10/10 subbass bass, great details and resolution. While technically being very capable, the U-shape tuning is a bit of a let-down for me since it doesn't do guitars and piano's any favours. I wished DUNU produced a more balanced version of the DM-480, which might quite be a show with these drivers.

This is all just my opinion, even though it seems like I have stated is as a fact at times. It just reads easier.

Introduction:
 
After my UMI-BTA8 review, UMI offered me a chance to review the UMI-BTA9. While I found the BTA8 to have a nice fit and finish, the sound was lacking on certain points. I’m curious how the UMI-BTA9 competes against its sibling. I like to thank UMI  for providing me with a sample. The UMI-BTA9 is available from different resellers for around $23. I got mine from amazon:
DE: http://amzn.to/2hQAs8U
US: http://amzn.to/2h6jhkA
 

 
 
Disclosure:
I received the UMI-BTA9 free of charge. Nonetheless the following opinion is a personal honest opinion. Usually I buy a product and review them according to how they suit my personal preferences. In this instance however, I will try to keep things more general since this review is about the product and not about my personal audio adventures. The rating is based on the whole product and price as a combination and not solely on audio quality.
 
 
Source: Samsung Galaxy s7.
Music: Spotify Extreme & Poweramp Alpha with 44.1khz/16bit Flac files.
Setup: Stock tips size M. Stock ear hooks
Burn in: 24 hours on the cooker before listening.
My acknowledged bias: Music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).
 
Review:
Specifications:
Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP
Battery: 150mAh rechargeable battery
Water Proof: IPX4 (splash proof)
Music Play time: 7 hours
Standby time: 160 hours
Charging time: about 1-2 hours
 
Package Contents:
- Bluetooth in-ear headphone
- Micro USB charging cable
- S/M/L Size tips
- User manual
 

 
Umi delivers their Bluetooth IEMS in a nice black tin case. A nice touch when you want to gift these headphones, especially for the price. Upon opening the case, these headphones look much more premium than the $23 they cost. A well designed usb cable in the box is a nice plus. There aren’t different size earhooks added in the box however, since these are not user replaceable.  
 
build, design and fit:
Well build and sturdy. You’re not going to break these any time soon. They don’t have any moving parts on them, including the earhook which is fixed in one position. The remote is built into the right earpiece, which is surprisingly intuitive. At 20 grams they are lighter than their size may suggest. While the gunmetal colour looks great, the design is not my thing. They remember me of those Bluetooth mobile phone hands-free headsets, which some people wear 24/7 while never receiving a call (and continue to wear in cinemas and libraries). But my biggest gripe is their fit. Getting a proper fit is not an issue, maintaining one is, at least in my case. The cable connecting both earpieces is rubbery and springy, which pulls the solid earpieces out of my ear-canal. I found myself readjusting their fit every time I moved my head to the left or right. By wearing the cable in front of my neck and tucking the cable into my shirt, I largely solved the problem without looking completely ridiculous.  Its brother, the BTA8, has one of the best fits I’ve ever tried, so I was kind of disappointed with the fit of the BTA9.
 

 
 
Battery life and Bluetooth:
Reaches the promised 7 hours battery life and is easily charged with the same charger as my phone. Haven’t noticed any Bluetooth dropouts. Couldn’t ask for more.
 
Sound:
UMI did vastly improve the sound of the BTA9 over the BTA8. The sound is now more natural and more suitable for a variety of music styles. The sound signature is still warm and bassy, but more enjoyable now. Just don’t expect any miracles from a sub $30 bluetooth IEM. Furthermore, passive isolation is top-notch.    
Let’s dive a little deeper in the sound:
 
Treble:
Smooth, but a bit veiled. Not the main attraction, but pleasantly there. The treble doesn’t possess the highest resolution, nor the most extensive depth, but for a Bluetooth running IEM very acceptable. Songs like ‘Oasis - The shock of the lightning’ could do with a tiny bit more treble in order to let the cymbals remain energetic, but that may be a matter of taste.  
 
Mids:
The mids are prominent and very capable. Dispite being prominent, the mids are surprisingly balanced and natural. Voices are excellently positioned in the mix and a huge step up from the BTA8. Guitars, synths and drums sound full and warm. The mids are not as clear as I wished they would be, which becomes more noticeable in busy parts. This is more noticeable in rock music than in any other kind of music style. Instrument separation and positioning is average and fine.  
 
Bass:
Very nicely done. Good amount of subbass with the addition of a rounded midbass. While the bass tends to be a bit overblown, it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. Listening to “The Weeknd – Starboy” I heard myself let out a little “niccceee” when the bass kicked in. It digs deep and offers a nice rumble. While too much for general use, the bass provides a nice punch during workouts.
 
Compared to the BTA8 (same price):
The BTA9 offers a noticeable rise in sound quality for the same price. The highs are a bit more subdued. The mids sound cleaner and more natural with a better voice presentation. The great 3D soundstage of the BTA8 made room for better sounding guitars, synths and drums. A/B-ing between the BTA8 and BTA9 makes the BTA8 sound coloured. The bass of the BTA9 is tighter and less intrusive into the midrange. Dispite the BTA9 offering a better sound quality, I find the BTA8 to have a far better fit, which is quite important for a “running IEM”.  If the BTA10 is made, I hope UMI puts the BTA9 sound in a BTA8 body.
 

 
Conclusion:
The BTA9 offers a pleasant sounding Bluetooth IEM for a very affordable price. The BTA9 does a lot right soundwise. A warm sound-signature with a great bass and natural mids. Design and fit are however step back from the BTA8.  Wearing the cable behind the neck was not an option for me. If you can live with the cable tucked in the front of your shirt, you’ve got yourself a great Bluetooth iem for a low price.
 
Tl;dr: Affordable Bluetooth IEM that offers a fun and enjoyable warm/bassy sound-signature. The fit and design aren’t doing it for me.    

Introduction:
 
A short while ago, UMI approached me and offered me the chance to try out the UMI-BTA8 Bluetooth Runner IEMS. Since the Christmas feast is approaching, going out for an occasional run might not be such a bad idea to stay in shape. These IEMs might be the push I need to defy the cold December rain wind and snow… Who am I kidding? I’m going to test these out in a warm and comfortable gym.  I like to thank UMI  for generously providing me with a sample. The UMI-BTA8 is available from different resellers for around $28. I got mine from amazon:
 
DE: http://amzn.to/2g7SzYn
US: http://amzn.to/2hfdOIe
UK: http://amzn.to/2h3Ecld
 
Website: http://www.umidigi.com/accessories-show.html?id=3
 
Disclosure:
 
I received the UMI-BTA8 free of charge. Nonetheless the following opinion is a personal honest opinion. Usually I buy a product and review them according to how they suit my personal preferences. In this instance however, I will try to keep things more general since this review is about the product and not about my personal audio adventures. The rating is based on the whole product as a combination and not solely on audio quality alone.
 
Source: Samsung Galaxy s7.
Music: Spotify Extreme & Poweramp Alpha with 44.1khz/16bit Flac files.
Setup: Stock Tips size M. Stock ear spacers size L
Burn in: 24 hours on the cooker before listening.
My acknowledged bias: Music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).
 
Review:
 
Specifications:
Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 4.1
Battery: 100mAh rechargeable battery
Water Proof: IPX4 (splash proof)
Music Play time: 8 hours
Standby time: 200 hours
Charging time: about 2-3 hours
 
Package Contents:
- Bluetooth in-ear headphone
- Micro USB charging cable
- S/M/L Size tips
- 3 sizes ear spacers
- User manual
 
The IEMS come well presented in a surprisingly nice tin case. The whole presentation makes the IEMs feel much more luxurious than what you may expect at this price point. The addition of a nicely designed micro-usb cable is a fine detail. There were some minor scratches on the tin case, but this is nit-picking from my side. The package is excellently suitable as a gift, just make sure you remove the huge amazon barcode sticker from the side.
 

 

 

 
 
build, design and fit:
 
Very well build, everything is made of sturdy plastic, with the remote having a slight soft touch to it. The remote works as it should with a discrete notification light in the remote offering some functional feedback. Other notifications, like the connection status, are being spoken out in the iem (“device disconnected”).  The UMI-BTA8 weighs a measly 16 grams and feel extremely light to the head. The earhook together with the spacers make sure the iems stay in place, even with extensive workouts. They are very comfortable and you’ll practically forget you’re wearing them if not for the cable which connect both drivers. Its rubbery and springy and tends to form to its original boxed state. It’s often looking for a fight with my t-shirt or neck. A smoother, more flexible cable would have been perfect, but maybe I’m asking too much at this price point. The IEM itself is quite discrete and not as dorky as some other Bluetooth headsets (I’m looking at you airpods). The gunmetal and black colour combination looks great.
 

 

 

 
 
Battery life and Bluetooth:
 
Not much to talk about here. No Bluetooth drop outs or music interruptions. The battery has a lot more stamina than I do and I charge it once in a while. Specifications say 8 hours play time, which seems about right from my experience. Charging is easily done with a standard micro-usb port in the remote.
 

 

 

 
 
Sound:
 
Not bad at all. The sound is warm/dark with a prominent but not overblown bass. I’m quite impressed UMI managed to produce a sub $30 Bluetooth IEM with such a pleasant sound. Imaging and soundstage are exceptional at this price point. Passive Isolation is above average.
 
Let’s dive a little deeper in the sound:
 
Treble:
Definitely not the highlight of the tuning. While being present and sounding accurate, they lack sparkle. As a consequence, the UMI-BTA8 sounds warm and a bit veiled. Especially the high-hat and crashes of the drum-kit are not as prominent as I wished them to be. As a consequence, rock music misses some excitement. Details are there, but nothing special.  
 
Mids:
The spotlight of the show and very nicely done. Guitars in ‘B.B. King/Eric Clapton – The Thrill Is Gone’ sound full and smooth. However, EDM/Pop is where the UMI-BTA8 really shines. Due to the excellent soundstage and 3D imaging, Instruments/samples surround you and are positioned perfectly. The full midrange produces a immersive experience with a lot things happening in all directions. Voices are a bit veiled, which may not be appreciated by Urban lovers. For rock music, it definitely lacks some clarity when things get busy. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it muddy, but I’ve heard better. I didn’t notice this so much in edm/pop music.
 
Bass:
Present while not dominating subbass. While the mid bass elevation is definitely there, it is fortunately not overdone. The subbass sounds quite good and offers an acceptable depth. My biggest gripe with them however, is the leaking of midbass/lower midrage into the mix. Guitar chords get overshadowed by the bass guitar in rock music. In EDM, where things are more separated, this is not as noticeable.
 
Compared to the TTPOD T1-E (around $35):
 
The whole idea of the UMI-BTA8 is that it’s a Bluetooth IEM. Comparing it to a wired IEM may not be that fair since they focus on a different use (running vs pure sound quality). However I’m glad to say the UMI holds it own. The TTPOD T1-E is the closest I have to the warm/dark sound signature of the UMI-BTA8. Still, the TTPODs offer a brighter and clearer sound while retaining an excellent bass department. The UMI beats the TTPOD hands down when looking at imaging and soundstage.
 
Conclusion:
 
For less than $30 Umi offers an excellent choice for people who want to listen to EDM/Pop music while working out. The form factor, battery life and ease of use are excellent for workouts. Sound quality is very acceptable with great soundstage and imaging. Highs do lack sparkle and the bass could be more controlled, but all in all a solid choice for EDM/pop lovers. People who want to listen to rock or classical music, should look further.
 
Tl;dr: Solid low budget choice for people who want to listen to EDM/Pop during work out. The dark/warm signature is not for everyone. Lacks sparkle, bleeding bass.

Introduction:
 
A little while ago I got the chance to test Mixcder ShareMe Pro. I like to thank Ausdom and Grace for generously provided me with a sample. I've been rocking them for a while now, and still am while writing this review. The Mixcder ShareMe Pro is currently sold from different places, including amazon, for $45.99.
 
 
 
 
Disclosure:
 
After applying to the review thread I received the ShareMe Pro free of charge and was asked to write my opinion about these Bluetooth headphones. Usually I buy a product and review them according to how they suit my personal preferences. In this instance however, I will try to keep things more general since this review is about the product and not about my personal audio adventures. The rating is based on the whole product as a combination of features and comfort, and not solely on audio quality alone. I used some pictures from the Mixcder website since I lack a quality camera. I am not affiliated with Mixcder and all opinions are my own.
 
Setup: Connected via Bluetooth to my ZTE Axon mini smartphone as well as via cable with my laptop combined with the ZuperDAC or Dragonfly v1.5.
Music: Spotify Extreme & 44.1khz/16bit Flac.
Burn in: 30+ hours
My acknowledged bias: Music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).
 
 
Review:

Specifications:
 

Mic. Spec

 

Speaker Spec

Bluetooth Spec

Battery Spec

 

Package Contents:
-          Headphones
-          Aux-cable
-          Micro-usb Cable
-          Multi-language User Manual
 
The headphones come in simple plain box, nothing fancy here. The accessories provided are very welcome. It’s great the headphones charge by micro-usb since, since my phone uses the same connection. The provided aux cable is very useful for DAC-coupling.
 
Build, design and fit:
While the package feels cheap and simple, the headphones absolutely don’t. They are top notch, nothing you would expect from a sub $50 device. They feel solid in the hand, light on your head (250 grams) and flexible while handling. A nice detail is the microphone grill, just don't expect miracles from the microphone quality. The buttons on the headphone work like advertised. The cups have nice soft faux leather pads and are able to turn 90 degrees so they can be packed flat in a bag. The headband feels strong and solid, no squeaking or rambling. The comfort is likewise fantastic. You can put them on your head and forget they are there. The clamping force is precisely right; they won’t fall off your head in the gym while refraining from deforming your skull shape. My ears fully fit inside of the soft and comfortable ear cups. They do get hot after a while, but its burning summer here, so that could be just the weather. Next to these headphones, my Shure SRH840 feel clumsy.
 

 
 
Bluetooth
The unique feature of the Mixcder ShareMe Pro is in the name; you’re able to share the same music with two pairs of headphones from one source. Great if you’re in the gym with a mate or at the beach with the missus. Turn both devices on then connect your device. Whether you’ve got a smartphone which lacks a headphone jack, or a mate which lacks music taste, this feature is quite useful. I always carry a splitter in my backpack for this sole reason. What does bother me however, is that there is a delay in sound. This means you cannot share the headphones for watching movies since audio will look out of sync. A huge miss for an otherwise great feature. The Bluetooth connection itself is very stable and the battery lasts forever. I didn’t exactly clock the time, but they do well reach over the 20 hours mentioned in the specifications.
 
Sound:
I’m not going to beat around the bush here, I was disappointed when I took them for their first test drive. They sounded dark, veiled and muffled. When I further inspected them, I found a cloth in front of the drivers. The first thing you need to do when you buy these headphones is to rip these cloths out. The muffled sound vastly improves, but they remain veiled and dark.  
 
 

 
 
Treble: While sounding accurate, the highs are subdued. They lack sparkle and detail. The hi-hat might get lost in the mix at times. Still, the highs might be acceptable for the non-critical listener.
 
Mids: Disappointing. A boost in the mids makes everything sound quite veiled and congested. Voices sound muddy. The drum-kit sounds flat and lack any reverb whatsoever. A hit on the snare-drum reminds me of hitting a cardboard box. Pianos in particular sound like they are being played under water. Surprisingly, guitars sometimes sound ok, but when the music gets more busy, they quickly get muddy.
 
Bass: There is an obvious emphasis on the bass here, but that is a good thing since it is very well done. The bass is round, controlled and very capable. The sub-bass reaches quite deep and has a nice warm tone to it. It could be a bit more textured, but that’s nit-picking and too much to ask from a sub $50 device. Overall, the bass is excellent and definitely the strongest point of their sound.
 
Luckily not all is lost, since they respond quite well to an equalizer, even over Bluetooth. Using Poweramp Alpha, I decreased the mids, and boosted the highs. The sound clears up and details are retrieved, while the great bass is maintained. Voices and instruments sound like they should again. It seems that the used drivers are quite capable since the sound is actually very enjoyable like this, but the tuning is just wrong. The sound is not on the level of let’s say an equally priced Creative Aurvana Live!, but for a headphone with these features and comfort, it’s great.
 
In case you want to try my EQ settings, here it is in Poweramp alpha:

 
Connect the Shareme pro with bluetooth to your phone and go to the equalizer option of the Poweamp app.
There you'll see switches, don't touch the switches, but tap under or above it to move the switches.
 
31hz: Not adjusted
62hz: 1 tap down
125hz: 2 taps down
250hz: 3 taps down
500hz: 2 taps down
1khz: 1 tap down
2khz: 1 tap up
4khz: 3 taps up
8khz: 2 taps up
16khz: 1 tap up
 
 
Conclusion
It is a genuine tragedy that the tuning of these headphones is lacking, they tick all the right boxes to be the best sub $50 headphone. The headphone looks and feels very premium, offers great comfort and mobility, and have great Bluetooth functionality. If you don’t mind equalizing the sound, I can even recommend these headphones for less critical listening. They are a great fitness companion. I do find myself picking these up when I’m doing chores in and around the house. Personally I use too much Spotify to use these as a daily driver, since the Spotify app doesn’t offer an EQ setting at the moment.
 
Tl;dr: For less than $50 you’ll get an extremely well build headphones with all the right features, which is unfortunately let down by the veiled and congested sound. They do respond well to EQ if you’re willing to go down that road.

Introduction:
 
Together with a few others, I got the chance to try out the Mixcder ANC-G5 active noise cancelling earphone. I like to thank Ausdom and Grace for generously provided me with a sample. It’s been in my ears for a few days now and I have to say I’m quite satisfied with them. While not being perfect, they provide consumer friendly sound and active noise cancelation for a friendly price tag. The Mixcder ANC-G5 is sold from different places, including amazon, for around $60.
 

 
 
Disclosure:
 
After applying to the review thread I received the ANC-G5 free of charge. I was asked to write my opinion about these IEMs. Usually I buy a product and review them according to how they suit my personal preferences. In this instance however, I will try to keep things more general since this review is about the product and not about my personal audio adventures. The rating is based on the whole product as a combination of ANC and IEM, and not solely on audio quality alone.
 
Setup: Straight out of my ZTE Axon mini smartphone as well as my laptop combined with the ZuperDAC or Dragonfly v1.5. Stock Tips size M.
Music: Spotify Extreme & 44.1khz/16bit Flac.
Burn in: 24 hours on the cooker before listening.
My acknowledged bias: Music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).
 
 
Review:

Specifications:
Microphone Unit: Φ4.0*1.5mm
Directivity: Omni-directional
Speaker Diameter: Φ14.3±0.02mm
Charging Port: Mini 8P 5V/1A
Battery Size: 90mah
Charging Time: About 2 hours
Running Time: About 8 hours noise reducing
Operating Temperature: -10˚C-45˚C

Package Contents:
- ANC in-ear headphone
- Carrying case
- Mini 8P USB charging cable
- S/M/L Size tips
 
The whole package is well packed and come with a very decent carrying case, very suitable as a gift. The nozzle has an oval shape, but this did not form any problems when changing the stock tips. What I did find very curious however is the choice for a Mini 8P charging port. This requires you to always use the provided cable, while it would be much easier and convenient to go for the general available micro USB standard. Luckily the battery does last well over the claimed 8 hours and charging takes little time.
 

 

 

 
 
 
Build, design and fit:
 
The build quality and design is very decent. There is clearly someone with an eye for detail working at Ausdom. From the brided cable finish to the metal accents, it feels good and sturdy. The only letdown is the on/off slider at the ‘console’, which feels a little flimsy and wobbly. The console itself is quite heavy, but the clip does resolve this issue.
I had no problems getting a decent fit and seal. The securing ear-loops do a fantastic job securing the IEMs during bike rides or in the gym. The loops do press uncomfortable to my antihelix after a while, so I can’t use them for too long.    
 
 
Active Noise Cancelation:
 
The Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) is the main star of the show. The Mixcder ANC-G5 does a good job in blocking background hum and rumble. At my current workplace, there is big air conditioner and ventilation duct in the ceiling, which produce a loud constant hum. When I turn on the Active Noice Cancelation function, the sound of both devices largely disappears. The only thing that remains is a soft breezing sound. Likewise, the rumble and bouldering of a train is largely removed. This allows commuters to listen to music with a lower volume, an option I strongly admire and recommend. It does not however filter higher frequencies that well. Voices and keyboard strokes are not canceled out that much. If you have a nagging boss or a blogger sitting next to you, these IEMs won’t save you. 
With the ANC turned off, the volume drops a bit, luckily the sound itself is not altered that much. The isolation is quite bad without ANC turned on. A missed opportunity for Ausdom for taking home the noise blocking trophy. While being a commuters delight with ANC on, they are quite useless in noisy places when you run out of battery.
 


 
 
Sound:
 
Pleasantly surprised here; while not being the most technically capable, the tuning is certainly not bad. Nothing sounds distorted or wrong.  I was afraid a sub $60 ANC IEM would not focus on sound at all. They are clearly designed for the average consumer who generally like a big bass. The biggest concessions have been made in the resolution and soundstage area, which is the right choice in my opinion. As a consequence, they do show their weaknesses with busy rock or jazz parts. Pop, EDM and urban actually sound very enjoyable through these IEMs.
 
Treble: Very well balanced. A bit smooth, while remaining true to source. Cymbals sound enjoyabele and alive without sounding piercing, sibilant or coloured. John Wassons – Caravan could do with more detail on top. Even with the ZuperDAC they sound a bit simple and veiled. When switching to pop music, highs sit excellently in the mix and hold their own. What I did notice is that the highs turn a little more ‘metallic’ like when ANC is turned on. This is however very minor and only detectable at high volumes.
 
Mids: Clearer than I expected. Male voices might be the strongest point here, full and powerfull. Female voices are a bit recessed compared to their manly counterpart. Samples and sound effects sound clear and well positioned. Despite the small soundstage and lack of spaciousness, the sound does show the ability so surround you. Piano’s and synthesizers sound full and bodied; ‘Lionel Hampton – Love for sale’ sounds fun and very enjoyable. The lack of resolution is more noticeable in rock music. The snare drum is the biggest snitch in the mids, it easlily reveals the limited depth and detail. Distortion and overdrive guitar effects make the sound muddy. The intrusion from the midbass doesn’t help either.
 
Bass: Far too much for my personal taste, but the average consumer might appreciate it. Despite being a bit wooly, the bass digs deep and packs a decent punch, which makes for a ‘fun’ sound. Some rock and jazz songs sound misbalanced due to the overpowering bass. Again, pop, EMD and urban are quite enjoyable through this sound signature. ‘Kelis – Trick me’ and ‘James Blake – Limit to your love’ are the cause my eardrum are still shaking. While having a solid sub-bass, the mid-bass is somewhat bloated and creeps up to the mids. I wish the bass would do a step back and offer more control.
 
Compared to the TTPOD T1-E + Mixcder ANC-G5 tips (around $35):
 
The TTPOD T1-E is the closest I have to the Mixcders sound signature. The T1-E offers a great passive isolation with a tad less bass. It doesn’t have the bass punch and depth of the Mixcder ANC-G5, but the bass doesn’t leak into the mids. It also has a bit wider soundstage and more resolution. I consider the sound quality of the TTPOD T1-E to be better. While the T1-E does block humming sounds, it doesn’t filter out train/bus rumbling that much. The Mixcder is the better choice if you want to limit the music volume while commuting.
 
 
Conclusion
 
You do not buy these IEMs solely for their sound quality. For less than $60 you’ll get an active noise cancellation IEM which does a great job filtering out humming and rumbling. Voices and higher pitched sounds are however not filtered that much and passive isolation is subpar. Fit and finish is nice, although passive isolation is lacking. Very consumer orientated sound with a big dominating bass. Mids and highs are very decent considering the price and features. While not for the average Head-Fi’er, I would recommend these headphones to commuters who listen to pop, urban and EMD. Rock and jazz listeners might not appreciate these IEMS and should look further.
 
 
Tl;dr: Very affordable active noise cancelling with a big bass consumer sound signature. Very decent if that is what you are looking for. The lack of resolution and bloated mid-bass are their biggest cons.

Zorloo Zuperdac vs Audioquest Dragonfly Black
 
The battle of the budget USB DACs
 

 
 
TL;DR; Both are excellent and sound quite similar. The Dragonfly Black is a bit warmer and intimate, while the Zuperdac keeps things neutral and wide with a bit more detail and layering.
Zuperdac wins on sheer audio quality, the Dragonfly Black is a better smartphone companion.
 
Specifications:
 
                                Zorloo Zuperdac                       Audioquest Dragonfly Black
 
- Resolution               Up to 24-bit / 192 kHz            Up to 24-bit / 96 kHz
- Output                     30mW                                     1.2V
- DAC-Chip                ESS Sabre ES9018K2M        ESS Sabre ES9010
 
 
 
Gear and music:
The A/B-ing was done using the Shure SRH840, Vivo XE800 and Zero Audio Tenore. My music collection mainly consists of 16-bit / 44.1khz flac files and Spotify Extreme.
 
 
Introduction and price.
Both the Dragonfly Black (v1.5) and the Zuperdac play ball in the sub $100 USB-DAC league. Both have the same thumb stick form factor and are therefore natural rivals.
Audioquests Dragonfly Black can be bought from many retailers for $99 while Zorloo asks a modest $74 + $5 shipping for their offering.
 
Round 1: In this budget segment every penny counts, so the Zuperdac takes an early lead here.
 

Audioquest Dragonfly Black on the left, Zorloo Zuperdac to the right. 
 
 
Fit and finish.
The Dragonfly definitely enjoyed a bit more love on the aesthetics side. It comes with a well-documented box and a leather carrying pouch. The Dragonfly itself is covered in a soft touch coating over a full metal body. A nice little touch is the colour changing dragonfly logo. Depending on the sample rate of the music played, the subtle led changes colour: green for 44.1kHz, blue for 48kHz, amber for 88.2kHz, and magenta for 96kHz. In the meantime, the Zorloo Zuperdac has cut some corners here. The device comes in a little foam filled box with nothing more than a small user manual. In this price range I am all for focussing your money where it matters most (sound). However, a protective cap for the USB port would have been nice for a product intended for portable use. The chassis is likewise made of metal, but this time without a soft touch finish. There’s a tiny light next to the headphone jack which tells you if the device is in operation.
 
Round 2: Both devices are built like a tank and will probably take some abuse. The soft touch finish and the subtle logo light of the Dragonfly gives it a more premium look.
 

Small and simple.
 
 

Tiny power LED.
 
 

The Dragonfly comes with a small leather carrying pouch.
 

The soft touch finish of the Dragonfly next to the Zuperdacs aluminium housing.
 
 
Features
The Dragonfly limits output to 96khz/24bits while the Zuperdac goes all the way up to 192khz/24bits. The Dragonfly is plug and play, the Zuperdac requires you to download a driver from their website. I suspect the need to install a driver is the price you pay for 192khz support. While installing a driver is hardly rocket science, I like Audioquests approach here. These budget DACs are usually not intended to be used with summit-fi gear where anything over 96khz could make a difference. The majority of people will probably use these DACs to listen to streaming services or CD-rips with some portable headphones/IEMs. To use the Hi-Fi capabilities of both devices, you'll need software like Fubar2000 (Windows), Fidelia (Mac OSX), Onkyo HF player (Android/iOS) or USB Audio Player (Android). 
 
The “Analogue volume control” on the Dragonfly is a two-edged sword; on one hand, the volume scales perfectly with every volume slider step in window. On the other hand, when using sensitive IEMs, the volume may still be too high at the lowest volume setting. The volume of the Zuperdac only rises every 4 points in the Windows volume slider, but do start at a far lower volume level. Both power my IEMs and headphones to ear-deafening volumes. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you which one is more powerful since they both max out the volume of my modest equipment.
 

1% might still be too loud for sensitive IEMs.
 
I love the fact that they are both natively supported by Android; buy a cheap Android phone, connect the DAC via a OTG cable and you’ll have your own little budget DAP. As battery life concerns, the Dragonfly takes the crown here. The Zuperdac gets a little warm after a while, indicating some energy loss in the form of heat. To get an impression of the battery consumption, I listened to the same 16bit/44.1khz flac album with a fully charged smartphone in airplane mode.
 
Smartphone headphone jack: From 100% to 95% in 40:56 minutes.
Dragonfly: From 100% to 95% in 40:56 minutes.
Zuperdac: From 100% to 92% in 40:56 minutes.
 
Probably not the most reliable test, but it gives you a rough estimation of the battery usage.
 
Round 3: Both are easy to use and do what they promise. Hats off to the efficiency of the Dragonfly when combined to a smartphone.
 

Xiaomi OTG cable, Dragonfly black and Vivo XE800.
 
 
Sound:
Now, this is where it gets interesting. Both offer a very similar, balanced sound and are a huge step up from my smartphones & laptops on-board headphone jack. The DACs produce music whereas my phone, tablet & laptop produce sound. With these devices, music is more dynamic, detailed and clear, they really do ‘unveil’ the music.
 
Treble: The Zuperdac has a fantastic neutral sound to it. Highs are extended beautifully without sounding piercing or coloured. Cymbals in jazz and rock are spot on and very satisfying. The highs of the Dragonfly are somewhat smoother, but not to a degree where they get coloured. They’ve got a likewise great extension to them and hold their own during a full range drum solo. Quantity wise they seem to be on the same level.
 
Mids: Very engaging and lively on both DACs, this is where I noticed the biggest difference to my smartphone’s stock sound. Once you get used to the dynamic sound of these DACs, you don’t want to return to the boring sound of your laptop. The soundstage of the Zuperdac is wider and airier, while the Dragonfly is more intimate. This may give the sense of a fuller midrange in the Dragonfly, but I don’t think this is actually the case. Voices are as powerful and engaging on both DACs. It does however seem that the midrange of the Zuperdac is a bit more layered compared to the Dragonfly. Likewise, guitars and drums have a bit more detail and resolution to them.
 
Bass: There is a noticeable bass accentuation in the Dragonfly, but it’s very well done. No bloating of any kind, just a little more oomph to the sound. The Zuperdac keeps things true to source here. Both are very capable in playing some bass pumping tracks when asked to. It comes down to preference and synergy when deciding which one suits you best.
 
Round 4: The Zuperdac takes the lead here with a wider soundstage and a more layered sound. Although differences are small, they are noticeable after some extensive listening.  
 
Compared to the Audioquest Dragonfly 1.0: The Zuperdac offers a more detailed and layered sound compared to the Dragonfly 1.0. The Dragonfly Black is a bit more detailed and bassy compared to the smoother Dragonfly 1.0. Also, the Dragonfly 1.0 is not suitable for mobile use due to its power consumption. The Dragonfly 1.0 is by no means a slouch and offers a clear and balanced sound. Still a great gateway DAC when you see the low prices for which used Dragonfly 1.0s can be picked up these days.     
 
Conclusion:
Both the Zorloo Zuperdac and the Audioquest Dragonfly Black offer a serious step up from the on-board laptop/smartphone sound. The Dragonfly looks and feels great and is very considerate with your phones battery. The Zuperdac has a wider soundstage, sounds more natural, layered and detailed compared to the more intimate, bassy and smoothened sound of the Dragonfly Black. These differences are small and the headphones/IEMs used obviously have a much larger effect on the sound. Either way, if you are still listening to music through your on-board headphone jack, you are going to love these.
 
 
 
Disclamer:
Both devices were bought with my own money. I’m not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned. Impressions and opinions are personal so YMMV. Comments and corrections are welcome.

Introduction.
Some time ago, bhazard reviewed the Vivo XE800 and they’ve since been on my radar. Word on the street is that the XE800 uses the same driver as the Vsonic Gr07, which costs north of $100. When I heard the XE800 became available for under $30 I ordered them immediately. After falling into the fake Xiaomi Piston 2 trap, I didn’t get my hopes up too much since the price could be too good to be true. To this day, I cannot guarantee these are real since I’ve never owned the XE800 before, but these sound fantastic so I thought they deserved some impressions. Fake or not. (Pictures taken with a potato, proper pictures available in the Aliexpress link provided below).
 

 
 
Disclamer:
Got them here for US $26.91:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-Vivo-XE800-in-ear-HiFi-earphone-with-mic-for-smartphones/32649424538.html
Edit: You can get them here for $18:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100-Original-VIVO-XE800-High-definition-moveable-Hifi-Sound-system-in-ear-earphone-with-mic-Voice/32704376144.html?spm=2114.13010308.0.42.Tj7uvO
Official Site:
https://www.vivoglobal.com/product/xe800/
Burn in: 24 hours on the cooker before listening.
I'm not affiliated with Vivo or any other manufacturer/seller. All opinions are my own.
My acknowledged bias derives from my music preference (Indie/alternative/rock), my preferred sound signature (neutral with a touch of subbass) and previous audio gear (see profile).
 
Review:
 
Specifications:
Cable length:1.25m
Frequency Range: 5HZ- 30000Hz
Power:10mW
Biggest Power: 50mW
Impedance: 50ohm
Sensitivity: 110dB
microphone frequency range: 20HZ-16000HZ
sensitivity:42dB
 
Package: 
Plastic seal-able bag containing 3 different size tips. Usually the M size tips give me the best seal, this time however I had to use the L size.
 
Build, design and fit:
They feel sturdy and durable. The cable feels and looks exactly like the Apple earpod cable.  The microphone + one button remote work fine, although they feel a bit cheap. The movable nozzle is more of a nuisance than a blessing. I wish they just pointed fore-/upwards. Once moved in the right position, they fit nicely without hurting your ear canal.
 

 
 
Sound:
The sound signature is balanced with a tilt towards upper mids/treble. The soundstage is average, while positioning and separation is very good.
 
I’ve tried these with the Audioquest Dragonfly 1.0 DAC, iBasso D2 + hi Boa DAC/Amp and right out of my ZTE Axon mini. Using CD ripped (44.1Khz) Flac files and Spotify Extreme. The XE800 are very well driven from a smartphone without sacrificing too much sound quality. Very suitable for people who do not own a DAC/Amp (yet).  
 
Treble:
Very natural and accurate. The opening cymbals in 'Franz Ferdinand – This Fire' sound very accurate. For songs like ‘The Police – Roxanne’ and ‘Radiohead – The Reckoner’, the treble is fantastic. Hitting the sweet spot and sounding oh so natural. Brining clarity and details without sounding piercing or annoying. When the music gets more complex (Like in ‘Artic Monkeys  - 505’), the sound gets just a tad too bright. I found the treble is hugely influenced by the used tips; when using my tips which usually add bass, the treble might get a little sibilant and less natural at times. I found that the stock tips give the best result.
 
Mids:
Nothing short of great. Drums, guitars and voices sound clear and very detailed.  During the intro of ‘Nothing but thieves – Itch’, the XE800 clearly displays the background voices distinctively. Guitars sound powerful without turning into a muddy mess. Especially male voices combined with acoustic guitars sound stunning (Ed Sheeran – The A-Team). In ‘The strokes – Machu Picchu’ the picking and strumming of the guitar is displayed with a certain intimateness which makes you think they are playing In the chair next to you. Drums/claps and other rhythmic objects are an absolute joy to listen to with the XE800. If I had to pick a shortcoming here it would be the lower mids which could use a little bump.
 
Bass:
Here comes the tricky part, while being tight and articulate, there is just not enough of it. I am usually not the kind of guy who likes it when the bass speaks without being spoken to, but in this case I would require a little more initiative from the bass department. Especially when using the Dragonfly v1.0, the bass under performs to my taste and does not deliver the oomph guitars and pianos require. Bruno Mars’ piano in ‘When I was your Man’ sounds tiny. The reverb of the big bass drum in the intro of ‘Elbow – The Fix’ is absent. The main focus of the XE800’s bass is on the subbass, however it doesn’t dig as deep as I hoped for and the midbass is somewhat absent. Luckily they do respond very well to a slight bassboost or a warm source. The Ibasso D2 is known to adds some bass to the party, which seems to be very adequate for this IEM. In ‘Band of Skulls – I know what I am’ the bass delivers the right amount of punch when combined with the Ibasso D2. A bass boost of 10-20% in Poweramp also seems to do the trick.
 
Compared to the Zero Audio Tenore (around $30):
Different species of Jedi. While the XE800 tilts towards brightness, the Tenore tilts towards darkness. Both share the same excellent midrange. The Tenore shows a huge improvement when combined to the Dragonfly, the XE800 is less picky. The soundstage of the Tenore is smaller, but the bass is near perfect. When driven directly from a smartphone, the XE800 is easily the right choice.
 
Compared to the Philips Fidelio S1 (around $70):
The XE800 is far more detailed compared to the Fidelio S1. The S1 is one of my all-time favourites due to the sound signature, which is flat with a bump in the subbass. The soundstage of the S1 is more open and ‘headphone like’. The Philips has one of the most natural sounding treble I have ever heard, the XE800 has better treble extension. The openback design of the Philips does not allow for use in public transport, the XE800 requires a EQ or warm source. It comes down to preference here.
 
Conclusion:
While the XE800 is not perfect, it is phenomenal for the price. The detail retrieval and clarity is unheard at this price point. I would recommend this directly to singer/songwriter fans. Bass heads should steer away.
 
TL;DR: Balanced, clear, neutral, very detailed, little bit bright, could do with some more bass, go buy.  
 
 
This is just my opinion, even though it seems like I have stated is as a fact at times. It just reads easier. 
 
 
 
Edit 12-08-2016:
Now that I have them coupled to the Dragonfly Black v1.5 (DFB) from my laptop and gave them a proper burn in, the XE800 does show its true potential. The DFB is a little warmer than the 1.0 version, providing the missing ingredient for the XE800. Combined with the DFB, the bass and the lower mids are more present while maintaining balance and tightness. The highs have lost their sibilance with nice layering and clearness, probably due to burn-in. The combination with the DFB offers a neutral and engaging sound that keeps amazing me, its like they have found their missing sibling.

From the Discoverythread:  
Yesterday I went headphone shopping in Taiwan again. 
Because every headphone is just hanging there to demo, I listened to the ones I didn't hear before. I've shortly listened to around 30 pairs in these past weeks.
The majority of the cheap ones were bass booming crap. Until I stumbled upon the "Intopic Jazz i57" for 450 NTD (12 euro).
I was just amazed, the sound quality of these thing were nothing like the other crap that I've heard.
So I bought them and wanted to share them with you (as this is the discovery thread.)
 

(I can't read that)
 

(First time that I've seen budget headphones talk about a balanced form of frequency spectrum instead of just bass)
 

(the rear)

(Nothing else in the box, just S & L tips, that are not in the picture. The clip is 360 degrees spinnable on its foot, nice detail.)
 

(I'll compare them to the Piston 2.0 with Sony MH1 tips, since everybody seems to have them)
 
 
Build quality:
Great as far as I can judge, the headphones are made of some kind of metal, apparently Zinc Alloy, and feel really sturdy.
The mic and one button remote work fine, the cable is made of soft flat rubber, non tangling, but not made for running since you can hear it when they move (microphonics?)
Y cord with the mic/remote in the left cable, its not heavy. The stock tips have a good seal.
 
Sound: (burn in just 24 hours, sorry, too excited.)
 
Bass:
Nothing short of amazing, deep, tight and fast. Faster and more detailed than the Pistons, just not that prominent. Still a bass heavy sound.
I love the subbass on these things. Listening to An Audience With The Pope - Elbow resonates your ears with the bass from the bigdrum (something that was absent with the ATH-CK500M).
Phoenix - Lasso offer nice deep details to the bass, similar to the piston, but less prominent and not that warm(bloated?).
 
Mids:
The Jazz i57 have a slight V-sounding signature vs the more U-shaped Pistons. Due to my personal preference towards the midrange, I greatly favour the Jazz i57 in this round. The song I use to test the midrange is Radiohead - Reckoner in which the first few notes in your left ear reveal a lot about the headphones.  The notes are more recessed compared to the cymbals in the Pistons.In the Jazz i57, the notes on different strings of the guitar sound more separated. Overall, more clarity and detail in the song with the Jazz I57.
Voices sound equally impressive on both, can't pick a winner here.
 
 
The Highs:
The Pistons take the crown here. Staying with the same song. The highs sound more natural and true to source with the Piston. I love accuracy and reverb of which the piston reproduce the highs. After owning the Xears XPA2Pro, sibilance is my worst feared enemy, the pistons comfort me on this matter. The Jazz i57 however has a very similar VSD1 sound. More prominent, more coloured highs (like the VSD1(S)), which at high volumes, busy drums, may be at the edge of sibiliant. Especially Miles Kane brings out my fear for sibliance. And at high volume they sound harsher than the Pistons, luckily not sibilant. At normal volumes, they sound very well, just a tad to prominent for my liking.
Soundstage is very small on the Jazz i57, comparable to a basketball a few inches in front of your head. The sound doesn't leave that area, while the Piston sound much wider.
 
 
Conclusion:
These headphones astonished me when I heard them. For their price (around 12 euro) there isn't any better around. Balanced sound, the perfect bass, nice midrange, only too prominent highs. I'm not trying to hype anything, nor do I work at Intopic. Just trying to share them with you. I hope more experienced people could review this headphone.