Reviews by PriyeshPatel
I got Moondrop Kato for review purpose thanx to hifigo.com. All the impressions and views Are based on my own experience, I m not forced or encouraged to write anything particularly good or bad. You can buy it from here or
https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato
Packaging and accessories
Well this was review Unit so didn't get full retail box hence can't comment on unboxing experience but it has nice and sturdy pouch , material is similar to starfield's pouch ,I liked it.and lot of tips also included in retail packaging
Build , Design, Fit and Isolation
Moondrop Kato is built like a Tank with Mirror polished 316 stainless steel which is finger print magnet.With laser printed model name "kato" on shell. Shell design is similar of Starfield,kxxs and Aria. It has 2 different type of interchangeable Nozzle filter one is silver and second one is Brass. Fit wise very comfortable and seats very snugly in ear concha .Isolation is good with other after market tips loke spinfits and jvc spiral dot++. Kato comes with very good thick cable, feels premium and durable in hand but it is little stiffer side, i like supple and soft cable more , Termination is 3.5 mm single end.
Specifications
Driver :- 10mm ULT dynamics driver
Impedance :- 32 ohms
Sensitivity :- 123 decibels
Cable connection on shell side :- 0.78mm two pin recessed type.
Nozzle filters:- 1x Silver ,1x Brass
Pairing and Sound impressions
Kato is is very easy to drive I used it with my smartphone and Shanling M8 3.5 single end socket on turbo gain.1st thing i noticed is clarity and transparency on this super sexy set of iems.i just loved how clean is overall presentation. Kato has very linear and balanced type tonality. Very accurate and tight tuning like former strafield and blessing 2. Out of 2 filters i liked brass filter more becoz brass filter has some warmth. Silver filter felt slightly brighter than brass 1. Even though Kato is very easy to drive it gets benefits from good amping ,No its not about just power but good amping. With shanling m8 its just opens up further more and dynamics felt much more improved compared to smartphone driven(lg g8x) kato. Soundstage also opens up little wider and all over presentation becomes more liquidy, has more bite and attack in upper frequencies yet smooth. With smartphone kato behaved lean ,anemic and can be bit boring including to me tbh.
Bass :- kato is very lite on lower frequencies. Kato has very good quality tight and very well controlled bass but lacks in quantity. Bass has punch and cleanliness but missing that heft. But i like that kind of bass very much. Midbass has some punch and heft though not emphasised much. Subbass also neutral side but very tasty and typical moondrop house kinda ,with some power it can be felt when called
Mids:--Mid frequencies are clean and transparent say pure vanilla. Vocals are crystal clear but not that lush and wet. Vocals also pretty neutral nor forward neither distanced. Though with silver nozzle filter female vocals felt little sharp and thin though it is not harsh and shouty but not smooth and lush either. With brass nozzle filter it has some warmth added and that is much needed. All over mids are pleasant.not even slightest bloom observed. I liked that tight control.
Treble:- Treble on Kato are well extended but felt less energetic and thin untill u fed some power. After driven properly treble has some energy and bit more extension. Details retrieval is above average. String instruments sounded clean and very well separated. Of course kato isnt harsh or grainy in treble but i wud say it is slightly thinner side. Though it is non fatiguing and pleasant. Can be listened for long hours without being tired when driven properly while with smartphone type source one can be ended up wanting more energy in treble region. Also i wud like to say with silver nozzle filter slight metallic timbre can be felt in some tracks in both mids and treble regions.but with Brass nozzle filter its not noticeable to me.
Soundstage and other technicalities
Kato isnt very wide sounding neither intimate. I wud say above average . Soundstage width and depth are enough when driven with some power. Imaging is pretty good for its price segment. Speed and dynamics are good too. While instrument separation is pretty impressive there is ample air between instrument. Timbre accuracy also good (Brass filter)and Tonality is impressively balanced. Since its single dd coherency also very good
Conclusion and Comparisons
Kato is tuned for seasoned Audiophiles with very tight tuning.its not meant for bassheads. Though it is still fun to listen single Dyanmic driver. I have moondrop starfield and i loved it for its slightly analoguish presentation. Kato is one step above in separation and other technicalities but that analogue type presentation is missing from starfield. If we compare kato to some of its similar price segment, 7z timeless kato has better separation and timbre while timeless has terific speed (no surprise, its planar afterall). Bqeyez Autumn is extremely fun type yet very impressive iem with good amount bass while Kato is serious analytical stage monitor with excellent technicalities. If you love single DD and audiophile tuning like me ,kato is waiting for you
https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato
Packaging and accessories
Well this was review Unit so didn't get full retail box hence can't comment on unboxing experience but it has nice and sturdy pouch , material is similar to starfield's pouch ,I liked it.and lot of tips also included in retail packaging
Build , Design, Fit and Isolation
Moondrop Kato is built like a Tank with Mirror polished 316 stainless steel which is finger print magnet.With laser printed model name "kato" on shell. Shell design is similar of Starfield,kxxs and Aria. It has 2 different type of interchangeable Nozzle filter one is silver and second one is Brass. Fit wise very comfortable and seats very snugly in ear concha .Isolation is good with other after market tips loke spinfits and jvc spiral dot++. Kato comes with very good thick cable, feels premium and durable in hand but it is little stiffer side, i like supple and soft cable more , Termination is 3.5 mm single end.
Specifications
Driver :- 10mm ULT dynamics driver
Impedance :- 32 ohms
Sensitivity :- 123 decibels
Cable connection on shell side :- 0.78mm two pin recessed type.
Nozzle filters:- 1x Silver ,1x Brass
Pairing and Sound impressions
Kato is is very easy to drive I used it with my smartphone and Shanling M8 3.5 single end socket on turbo gain.1st thing i noticed is clarity and transparency on this super sexy set of iems.i just loved how clean is overall presentation. Kato has very linear and balanced type tonality. Very accurate and tight tuning like former strafield and blessing 2. Out of 2 filters i liked brass filter more becoz brass filter has some warmth. Silver filter felt slightly brighter than brass 1. Even though Kato is very easy to drive it gets benefits from good amping ,No its not about just power but good amping. With shanling m8 its just opens up further more and dynamics felt much more improved compared to smartphone driven(lg g8x) kato. Soundstage also opens up little wider and all over presentation becomes more liquidy, has more bite and attack in upper frequencies yet smooth. With smartphone kato behaved lean ,anemic and can be bit boring including to me tbh.
Bass :- kato is very lite on lower frequencies. Kato has very good quality tight and very well controlled bass but lacks in quantity. Bass has punch and cleanliness but missing that heft. But i like that kind of bass very much. Midbass has some punch and heft though not emphasised much. Subbass also neutral side but very tasty and typical moondrop house kinda ,with some power it can be felt when called
Mids:--Mid frequencies are clean and transparent say pure vanilla. Vocals are crystal clear but not that lush and wet. Vocals also pretty neutral nor forward neither distanced. Though with silver nozzle filter female vocals felt little sharp and thin though it is not harsh and shouty but not smooth and lush either. With brass nozzle filter it has some warmth added and that is much needed. All over mids are pleasant.not even slightest bloom observed. I liked that tight control.
Treble:- Treble on Kato are well extended but felt less energetic and thin untill u fed some power. After driven properly treble has some energy and bit more extension. Details retrieval is above average. String instruments sounded clean and very well separated. Of course kato isnt harsh or grainy in treble but i wud say it is slightly thinner side. Though it is non fatiguing and pleasant. Can be listened for long hours without being tired when driven properly while with smartphone type source one can be ended up wanting more energy in treble region. Also i wud like to say with silver nozzle filter slight metallic timbre can be felt in some tracks in both mids and treble regions.but with Brass nozzle filter its not noticeable to me.
Soundstage and other technicalities
Kato isnt very wide sounding neither intimate. I wud say above average . Soundstage width and depth are enough when driven with some power. Imaging is pretty good for its price segment. Speed and dynamics are good too. While instrument separation is pretty impressive there is ample air between instrument. Timbre accuracy also good (Brass filter)and Tonality is impressively balanced. Since its single dd coherency also very good
Conclusion and Comparisons
Kato is tuned for seasoned Audiophiles with very tight tuning.its not meant for bassheads. Though it is still fun to listen single Dyanmic driver. I have moondrop starfield and i loved it for its slightly analoguish presentation. Kato is one step above in separation and other technicalities but that analogue type presentation is missing from starfield. If we compare kato to some of its similar price segment, 7z timeless kato has better separation and timbre while timeless has terific speed (no surprise, its planar afterall). Bqeyez Autumn is extremely fun type yet very impressive iem with good amount bass while Kato is serious analytical stage monitor with excellent technicalities. If you love single DD and audiophile tuning like me ,kato is waiting for you
Attachments
I got Kbear Aurora for review purpose thanx to hifigo.com. All the impressions and views Are based on my own experience, I m not forced or encouraged to write anything particularly good or bad. If anyone interested can buy it from here
Packaging and accessories
Well this was review Unit so didn't get full retail box hence can't comment on unboxing experience but it has nice pleather pouch ,which is very similar to kbear believe ,I liked it. But it is Little small
Build , Design, Fit and Isolation
Kbear Aurora is built like a Tank with Mirror polished stainless steel ,With printed brand logo on shell. Shell design instantly reminds me Of Ikko oh 10 . Fit wise very comfortable and seats very snugly iny ear concha. Isolation is good for me given large shell size . Yes it is large and solid like Ikko oh 10. Cable is high quality SPC in lite blue colour, very uncommon in chi-fi world .
Specifications
Aurora boasts 10mm titanium diaphragm dynamic driver.
Impedance :- 18 ohms
Sensitivity :- 105 decibels
Standerd two pin 0.78 connectors with 3.5 mm plug .
Sound Impression
Kbear Aurora is very easy to drive I used it with my smartphone and cayin n6ii with e01,a01. Aurora has very strong V shape fun to listen warm tonality , good timbre. dynamic driver produces massive hefty low end With enough punch , not very fast though. bass decay is slightly slower than desirable Level but I wudnt notice it untill compared with some other iems like bqeyz autumn, Difference is not day and night but it is there. Aurora is capable of producing satisfying subbass rumble , not very extended also it bleeds in mids ,midbass is thick , punchy somewhat bloated , somewhat muddy, Very prominent. Vocals are inoffensive , forward despite of v shape tonality. There is metalic shimmer felt in female vocals although it is not that much ,almost unnoticeable. Also mid frequencies lacks clarity little bit. But instrument sounds are pleasing With good separation. Overall dynamics are good though .treble are inoffensive and gentle. Not very extended though. No I wudnt call it dark but yes slightly lacks sparks and details. In short treble is not it's strong plus point , I wish for hair more air and extention . Due it's gentle nature I can listen it for hours without feeling tired for a second. Soundstage is wide enough with good depth. Coherency also good between all frequencies. Imaging is average, i can notice it while gaming.
Comparison
Well Aurora instantly reminds me of Ikko oh 10 , metal shell design , V shape tonality , weight , etc .but there is big difference in sound . Say oh10 has better low end and treble extension. But I m not big fan of oh10's mid range. Also soundstage is wider on oh10. While if we compare it with KBear beleive. Believe has good stage height and overall better bass and slightly better timbre but needed good power to shine while Aurora barely needs any power. Bqeyz autumn out performs Aurora in almost every aspects , yes I know comparison is not fair because Autumn is costlier than Aurora
Conclusion
Over all KBear Aurora is fun to listen type of iems. solid build, very good cable with odd colour choice . Some may like it some not. Not very analytical type But very laidback ,in offensive fun to listen, highs are not harsh or fatiguing , I can listen it for hours and hours without being tired . For its price segment Aurora offers lot of good things. Aurora is more of a musical and less analytical set with superb build quality and good set of accessories .
Packaging and accessories
Well this was review Unit so didn't get full retail box hence can't comment on unboxing experience but it has nice pleather pouch ,which is very similar to kbear believe ,I liked it. But it is Little small
Build , Design, Fit and Isolation
Kbear Aurora is built like a Tank with Mirror polished stainless steel ,With printed brand logo on shell. Shell design instantly reminds me Of Ikko oh 10 . Fit wise very comfortable and seats very snugly iny ear concha. Isolation is good for me given large shell size . Yes it is large and solid like Ikko oh 10. Cable is high quality SPC in lite blue colour, very uncommon in chi-fi world .
Specifications
Aurora boasts 10mm titanium diaphragm dynamic driver.
Impedance :- 18 ohms
Sensitivity :- 105 decibels
Standerd two pin 0.78 connectors with 3.5 mm plug .
Sound Impression
Kbear Aurora is very easy to drive I used it with my smartphone and cayin n6ii with e01,a01. Aurora has very strong V shape fun to listen warm tonality , good timbre. dynamic driver produces massive hefty low end With enough punch , not very fast though. bass decay is slightly slower than desirable Level but I wudnt notice it untill compared with some other iems like bqeyz autumn, Difference is not day and night but it is there. Aurora is capable of producing satisfying subbass rumble , not very extended also it bleeds in mids ,midbass is thick , punchy somewhat bloated , somewhat muddy, Very prominent. Vocals are inoffensive , forward despite of v shape tonality. There is metalic shimmer felt in female vocals although it is not that much ,almost unnoticeable. Also mid frequencies lacks clarity little bit. But instrument sounds are pleasing With good separation. Overall dynamics are good though .treble are inoffensive and gentle. Not very extended though. No I wudnt call it dark but yes slightly lacks sparks and details. In short treble is not it's strong plus point , I wish for hair more air and extention . Due it's gentle nature I can listen it for hours without feeling tired for a second. Soundstage is wide enough with good depth. Coherency also good between all frequencies. Imaging is average, i can notice it while gaming.
Comparison
Well Aurora instantly reminds me of Ikko oh 10 , metal shell design , V shape tonality , weight , etc .but there is big difference in sound . Say oh10 has better low end and treble extension. But I m not big fan of oh10's mid range. Also soundstage is wider on oh10. While if we compare it with KBear beleive. Believe has good stage height and overall better bass and slightly better timbre but needed good power to shine while Aurora barely needs any power. Bqeyz autumn out performs Aurora in almost every aspects , yes I know comparison is not fair because Autumn is costlier than Aurora
Conclusion
Over all KBear Aurora is fun to listen type of iems. solid build, very good cable with odd colour choice . Some may like it some not. Not very analytical type But very laidback ,in offensive fun to listen, highs are not harsh or fatiguing , I can listen it for hours and hours without being tired . For its price segment Aurora offers lot of good things. Aurora is more of a musical and less analytical set with superb build quality and good set of accessories .
Attachments
I got dunu Falcon pro for review purpose thanx to hifigo.com. All the impressions and views Are based on my own experience, I m not forced or encouraged to write anything particularly good or bad. You can buy it from here
Packaging and accessories
Well this was review Unit so didn't get full retail box hence can't comment on unboxing experience but it has nice and sturdy pouch ,which is very similar to campfire style ,I liked it.and lot of tips also included in retail packaging
Build , Design, Fit and Isolation
Dunu Falcon Pro is built like a Tank with Mirror polished 316 stainless steel ,With sand blasted frosted logo on bevel. Shell design instantly reminds me Of Mango haha. It has 3 different type of interchangeable Nozzle named transperency , Reference and atmospheric immersion. Fit wise very comfortable and seats very snugly iny ear councha specially with transparent ( Short Nozzle). With Other longer nozzles fit is not very secure for my ears, for small ears there shouldn't be any problem I guess . Isolation is average for me given small shell size . Cable is equipped with Dunu's Q-Lock Lite modular swapeble termination plugs , contains 3.5mm ,2.5mm balanced and 4.4mm balanced plugs
Specifications
Falcon pro boasts patented Eclipse series 10mm dynamics driver
Impedance :- 26 ohms
Sensitivity :- 112 decibels
Sound Impression
Dunu Falcon Pro is very easy to drive I used it with my smartphone and cayin n6ii with e01. Falcon pro has very mild V shape tonality but frequency response changes according to which nozzle used ,but overall mild V shape with all nozzles, which i liked. But timbre I felt okeish , not bad but I must say I m not impressed here. Falcon pros eclipse dynamic driver produces hefty but gentle low end , not very fast and attacking Neither very punchy but somewhat softer ,midbass is meaty though but slightly woolly ,thumpy , softer kind of . Let's talk about all three nozzles one by one .
Transperency :- low end slightly lacking specially subbass rumble but vocals and mid frequencies shines here , vocals felt natural and clean and "relaxed " .Upper Mids also more present , treble are extended , sparkly and most detailed out of three . soundstage is narrow though depth is better and all over sound is bigger thn rest two other modules.this filter is I liked the most for music
Reference :- With this Nozzle Soundstage is slightly wider but depth is slightly less.vocals are somewhat less intimate and distanced , instruments , cymbal hits , not felt true to nature , all over sound is less energetic and slightly laidback in comparison with first nozzle.perfact for laidback relaxing reference kind of listening seasons
Atmospheric immersion :- Well this nozzle is as long as reference one but bore size is narrow resulting more quantity in low end . Bass is more in quantity thn previous two filters but still not bass head levels not even close .all over sound is much wider and immersive ,but mid frequencies and vocals are even more muffled thn reference ,midbass is emphasized too . imaging capabilities are very different here , instruments felt like floating around but sometimes vocals are too much distanced Note weight is not enough .. though watching movies and gaming on this Filter is absolute Fun
Conclusion
Over all dunu Falcon Pro is fun to listen type of iems with three type of nozzle trickery ,solid build, very good cable, with all three plug termination. Not very analytical type But very laidback , fun to listen, highs are not harsh or fatiguing with all three filters , I can listen it for hours and hours without being tired . Falcon Pro isn't bad iem by any mean neither excels in any particular area also.And 200 usd price segment is very competitive.there are many strong competitors in this segment.
Note:- gear used for audition is cayin n6ii+e01 , redmi k20pro, spinfit tips (shown in pics )
Packaging and accessories
Well this was review Unit so didn't get full retail box hence can't comment on unboxing experience but it has nice and sturdy pouch ,which is very similar to campfire style ,I liked it.and lot of tips also included in retail packaging
Build , Design, Fit and Isolation
Dunu Falcon Pro is built like a Tank with Mirror polished 316 stainless steel ,With sand blasted frosted logo on bevel. Shell design instantly reminds me Of Mango haha. It has 3 different type of interchangeable Nozzle named transperency , Reference and atmospheric immersion. Fit wise very comfortable and seats very snugly iny ear councha specially with transparent ( Short Nozzle). With Other longer nozzles fit is not very secure for my ears, for small ears there shouldn't be any problem I guess . Isolation is average for me given small shell size . Cable is equipped with Dunu's Q-Lock Lite modular swapeble termination plugs , contains 3.5mm ,2.5mm balanced and 4.4mm balanced plugs
Specifications
Falcon pro boasts patented Eclipse series 10mm dynamics driver
Impedance :- 26 ohms
Sensitivity :- 112 decibels
Sound Impression
Dunu Falcon Pro is very easy to drive I used it with my smartphone and cayin n6ii with e01. Falcon pro has very mild V shape tonality but frequency response changes according to which nozzle used ,but overall mild V shape with all nozzles, which i liked. But timbre I felt okeish , not bad but I must say I m not impressed here. Falcon pros eclipse dynamic driver produces hefty but gentle low end , not very fast and attacking Neither very punchy but somewhat softer ,midbass is meaty though but slightly woolly ,thumpy , softer kind of . Let's talk about all three nozzles one by one .
Transperency :- low end slightly lacking specially subbass rumble but vocals and mid frequencies shines here , vocals felt natural and clean and "relaxed " .Upper Mids also more present , treble are extended , sparkly and most detailed out of three . soundstage is narrow though depth is better and all over sound is bigger thn rest two other modules.this filter is I liked the most for music
Reference :- With this Nozzle Soundstage is slightly wider but depth is slightly less.vocals are somewhat less intimate and distanced , instruments , cymbal hits , not felt true to nature , all over sound is less energetic and slightly laidback in comparison with first nozzle.perfact for laidback relaxing reference kind of listening seasons
Atmospheric immersion :- Well this nozzle is as long as reference one but bore size is narrow resulting more quantity in low end . Bass is more in quantity thn previous two filters but still not bass head levels not even close .all over sound is much wider and immersive ,but mid frequencies and vocals are even more muffled thn reference ,midbass is emphasized too . imaging capabilities are very different here , instruments felt like floating around but sometimes vocals are too much distanced Note weight is not enough .. though watching movies and gaming on this Filter is absolute Fun
Conclusion
Over all dunu Falcon Pro is fun to listen type of iems with three type of nozzle trickery ,solid build, very good cable, with all three plug termination. Not very analytical type But very laidback , fun to listen, highs are not harsh or fatiguing with all three filters , I can listen it for hours and hours without being tired . Falcon Pro isn't bad iem by any mean neither excels in any particular area also.And 200 usd price segment is very competitive.there are many strong competitors in this segment.
Note:- gear used for audition is cayin n6ii+e01 , redmi k20pro, spinfit tips (shown in pics )
Disclaimer
Recently I got chance to audition 7z timeless planar iem which was organised by hifiGo.com in india. I m not affiliated or tied up with brand or seller ,all impressions are based on my own personal experience. And I m happy that I got chance to audition this beauty. Thanx a lot hifiGo for arranging this tour. I ordered my personal Unit with my own money on the same day I got unit in my hands after listening it briefly
Box, packaging and accessories
7z timeless planar iem came with small minimalistic box which contains iem itself , plenty of tips , very sturdy metal good-looking iem box with magnatic lid,cool isn't it ?and yeah very good supple 4.4mm balanced cable.3.5 mm cable also available as option in case anyone wants it .few papers ,and an extra pair of nozzle filters
Build quality and design and fit
7z timeless built with high quality aviation grade cnc machined aluminium shell in round shape which is very comfortable for my slightly larger ears
Build quality feels solid and premium yet very light weight,no comfort issue at all.
Specifications
7z timeless built with 14.2mm Ultra thin diaphragm planar driver coupled with powerfull Double sided N52 Neodymium magnet.which has 14.8ohms impedance and 104db of sensitivity Resulting very easy to drive ,infact one of easiest planar magnetic iem available in market. I believe these drivers are derived from another planar iem PMV PP (very similar specs) which is not very popular imo
Sound impressions
Alright let's talk about sound , Despite of being closed back iem this beast sounds like open back overhead headphones, although not as spacious as some full size planar but still it feels like full size headphones. Bass is main USP of timeless , it produces kinda big hefty bass almost feels like sub woofer type , slightly faster than DD but but not as attacking and punchy as some very good dd iems out there but hey it's a planar not dd and you might alredy know producing good satisfying bass in a planar iem is very difficult and I mean it. also bass is slightly softer side ,subbass is very satisfying and we'll extended , though not thieaudio monarch level or basshead level but yeah it is enough for bass lovers.all over bass is elevated , emphasized but thats ok ,not annoyingly emphasised though. But yeah it's more thn my liking ,or more thn anyone can ask from a planar iem :-D .mid bass also slightly softer than my liking but bass details and cleanliness is on another level. Mids are very pleasing ,both male and female vocals are felt good and joy to listen, though vocals are slightly laid back, plays from little distance. not felt mid forward presentation. Mids clarity and details are very good. Highs are energetic, detailed and airy ,some says it's slightly bright but I didn't felt anything like that , string instruments felt true to nature and life like , resolution is on whole another level , yes very resolving , no surprises it's planar after all. Soundstage is above average not overly wide nor intimate , yes depth seems little bit lacking here but, imaging is more thn above average ,very good. I tried it with gaming and no complain in imaging , directional clues , foot steps everything cristal clear. Also dynamics are very good for it price segment no complain at all. Well tonality is v shape and timbre is very good ,no plasticy timbre felt despite of being planar , it's more like dd rather thn Planar. Though somehow slow rebound foam tips improves it's timbre a lot , also reduces depth problem. All over coherency is good. Not feeling disjointed on all over frequency spectrum response. No cohesion is not Andromeda or Solaris level ,don't expect that , but aren't we nitpicking here ?hehe ! Response to EQ is great ,I tried wavelet app for equing and it responded well , do we need equing here? well Nop.Not in most cases, But though I thought I must mention it here in case if any1 wants to EQ lower frequencies :-D I did it actually LoL and results is satisfying. Ok it's enough said now
Conclusion
Well some said timeless is best planar available In market ,Yes I would say it's best tuned Planar yet , which doesn't need EQ in most cases and with most genres.Easy to drive and Bass is its main USP. I tried it with my phone and voila! it's performs well with smartphones 3.5mm jack also but it's gets benefits from power , planars loves power afterall , I tried it with cayin n6ii t01, e01, fiio M11PRO , ifi micro idsd black label and Burson playmate 2 also ..given more power resulting better performance. Timeless is good for movie watching and for gaming also aswell . highly recommend from my side. I m happy with this purchase.
Note:- I burnt it for around 40-50 hours before posting these impressions.
Cable:- stock 4.4mm balanced with cayin n6ii t01,m11pro and fiio lc-c 3.5mm mmcx with smartphone and cayin e01.
Tips:- JVC spiral dot++ and Spinfit (L size yellow 1 i forgot model number lol) And flare audiophile foam tips.
Recently I got chance to audition 7z timeless planar iem which was organised by hifiGo.com in india. I m not affiliated or tied up with brand or seller ,all impressions are based on my own personal experience. And I m happy that I got chance to audition this beauty. Thanx a lot hifiGo for arranging this tour. I ordered my personal Unit with my own money on the same day I got unit in my hands after listening it briefly
Box, packaging and accessories
7z timeless planar iem came with small minimalistic box which contains iem itself , plenty of tips , very sturdy metal good-looking iem box with magnatic lid,cool isn't it ?and yeah very good supple 4.4mm balanced cable.3.5 mm cable also available as option in case anyone wants it .few papers ,and an extra pair of nozzle filters
Build quality and design and fit
7z timeless built with high quality aviation grade cnc machined aluminium shell in round shape which is very comfortable for my slightly larger ears
Build quality feels solid and premium yet very light weight,no comfort issue at all.Specifications
7z timeless built with 14.2mm Ultra thin diaphragm planar driver coupled with powerfull Double sided N52 Neodymium magnet.which has 14.8ohms impedance and 104db of sensitivity Resulting very easy to drive ,infact one of easiest planar magnetic iem available in market. I believe these drivers are derived from another planar iem PMV PP (very similar specs) which is not very popular imo
Sound impressions
Alright let's talk about sound , Despite of being closed back iem this beast sounds like open back overhead headphones, although not as spacious as some full size planar but still it feels like full size headphones. Bass is main USP of timeless , it produces kinda big hefty bass almost feels like sub woofer type , slightly faster than DD but but not as attacking and punchy as some very good dd iems out there but hey it's a planar not dd and you might alredy know producing good satisfying bass in a planar iem is very difficult and I mean it. also bass is slightly softer side ,subbass is very satisfying and we'll extended , though not thieaudio monarch level or basshead level but yeah it is enough for bass lovers.all over bass is elevated , emphasized but thats ok ,not annoyingly emphasised though. But yeah it's more thn my liking ,or more thn anyone can ask from a planar iem :-D .mid bass also slightly softer than my liking but bass details and cleanliness is on another level. Mids are very pleasing ,both male and female vocals are felt good and joy to listen, though vocals are slightly laid back, plays from little distance. not felt mid forward presentation. Mids clarity and details are very good. Highs are energetic, detailed and airy ,some says it's slightly bright but I didn't felt anything like that , string instruments felt true to nature and life like , resolution is on whole another level , yes very resolving , no surprises it's planar after all. Soundstage is above average not overly wide nor intimate , yes depth seems little bit lacking here but, imaging is more thn above average ,very good. I tried it with gaming and no complain in imaging , directional clues , foot steps everything cristal clear. Also dynamics are very good for it price segment no complain at all. Well tonality is v shape and timbre is very good ,no plasticy timbre felt despite of being planar , it's more like dd rather thn Planar. Though somehow slow rebound foam tips improves it's timbre a lot , also reduces depth problem. All over coherency is good. Not feeling disjointed on all over frequency spectrum response. No cohesion is not Andromeda or Solaris level ,don't expect that , but aren't we nitpicking here ?hehe ! Response to EQ is great ,I tried wavelet app for equing and it responded well , do we need equing here? well Nop.Not in most cases, But though I thought I must mention it here in case if any1 wants to EQ lower frequencies :-D I did it actually LoL and results is satisfying. Ok it's enough said now
Conclusion
Well some said timeless is best planar available In market ,Yes I would say it's best tuned Planar yet , which doesn't need EQ in most cases and with most genres.Easy to drive and Bass is its main USP. I tried it with my phone and voila! it's performs well with smartphones 3.5mm jack also but it's gets benefits from power , planars loves power afterall , I tried it with cayin n6ii t01, e01, fiio M11PRO , ifi micro idsd black label and Burson playmate 2 also ..given more power resulting better performance. Timeless is good for movie watching and for gaming also aswell . highly recommend from my side. I m happy with this purchase.
Note:- I burnt it for around 40-50 hours before posting these impressions.
Cable:- stock 4.4mm balanced with cayin n6ii t01,m11pro and fiio lc-c 3.5mm mmcx with smartphone and cayin e01.
Tips:- JVC spiral dot++ and Spinfit (L size yellow 1 i forgot model number lol) And flare audiophile foam tips.
Attachments
daorenmi
Timeless is a easy drive and cheaper planar. If we talk about best, frankly speaking, long way to go!
Burson playmate 2 : Headphone dac/amp,Pre amp
I got Burson playmate 2 as part of Asia Review tour organised by Burson and Head-fi, I am not affiliated or tied up with brand, all impressions are based on my own experience.
Burson is well Well known brand in personal audio industry. Burson soloist and conductor series are most popular amongst audiophiles.Playmate 2 is successor of Burson playmate.
Box , Packaging and Accessories
Playmate 2 come packed in white sturdy very secure cardboard box. Box containing
1) burson playmate 2
2) Power brick
3) Usb C to Usb C cable
4) 3.5 mm trrs splitter
5) hex L type key
6) Extra fuse
Build Quality and design
Burson Playmate 2 made with machined Aluminium enclosure with is not only enclosure but plays role of heatsink also,Cool isn't it? Looks stunning like piece of an art. P2 looks solid but not heavy neither bulky nor big,can place vertically also (with help of stand which is not included as standerd accesories pack I guess)for space saving on desk. Also it comes with very cool looking informative display.
Connections:- input , output
Burson playmate 2 boast of USB Type C and Toslink Inputs. And 6.3mm headphone out ,3.5mm trrs headphone out for hps with mic ,RCA Pre out .
Specifications and usage
Playmate 2 has sabre ESS 9038Q2M dac chip Which is capable of PCM 32bit /786K / DSD512 decoding via USB C input and 24bit/192K via Toslink Input.And Class A amp with 3w/ch power, it has 1/4" headphone out as well as 3.5mm trrs out for hps/iem with mic , also can be use for standalone mic input. Very useful for gamers.P2 comes with thier Proprietary MCPS(max current power supply) Power brick.Free rotating Volume Nob gives primium feel but I felt it is not accurate while changing volume level ,it sometimes jumps between volume level, also not very good at browsing menu, accidentally jumps to next option while selecting some particular menu options. And yeah No mqa and no analogue input is surprising , can't use as standalone amp. But that's ok.
Sound impressions
I used HD650 ,akg k361 , Creative aurvana Live ,7z Timeless planar iem ,final vr3000 and few other iems and buds with playmate 2. Playmate 2 can easily drive HD650 at 60 position with high gain/ 80 position in low gain when feed by usb type c from fiio M11 pro/cayin n n6ii/smartphone usb out.so from amp section there is plenty of power.soundstage is wide enough but not very expanded in both width and depth , height is ok and somewhat similar to ifi micro idsd black label.detail retrieval is good.high frequencies are slightly leaned towards bright side , typical sabre dac type though not overly bright or harsh. Good air in treble,string instruments felt natural. Playmate 2's overall presentation is can say mid focused , vocals are well pronounced , forward,upper mids are slightly shouty ,hair more harsher then ifi black label and far more if compared to cayin e01.low frequencies had good impact and punch but slightly lack when subbass rumble hits , slightly lacking in extention aswell ,I m talking about LP fast filter (all impression are based on this particular filter and emphasis off ) when I switched on emphasis filter bass become muddy , less clean ,and some what dirty ,I didn't liked emphasis filter or what ever it is . Other then that I tried brickwall filter ,which I liked.if we compare to other ess based dac/dap , cayin e01 felt more musical and more smoother more rounded and warmer ,non fatiguing implementation of ess9038 pro , e01 is my personal favourite ess dac chip I came across till date but that's different category. Though playmate 2 isn't far behind .while if we talk about playmate 2 against ifi black label , black label is slightly more musical sounding and more powerful thn P2 , Resolution wise cayin T01 is far more impressive but non forgiving at same time ,while P2 is resolving yet more forgiving then cayin T01 and black label. But that's again it's different categories and different price segment. In last I would like to compare it's amp section with Headamp Gilmore lite mk2 (1.5W single end standalone Class A amp). With feed by ifi black label dac Gilmore felt hair more cleaner, more controlled , impressive low noise floor, neutral thn Playmate 2. I seriously wish Playmate must have dac input so we can use its class A amp without using inbuilt dac chip.
Conclusion
All over ,Burson playmate 2 is great entry level dac/amp combo in compact minimalistic desktop solution with mic input and versatile usb type c and Toslink Inputs , it's great for gamers and movie lovers like Me
. feed from tv via Toslink and you are good to go. Same with Pc or consoles. Plus it is good for power hungry low impedance low sensitivity planars like hifiman sundara ,Ananda and some planar iems like Tin P1,P2 ,7z timeless etcAttachments
Vision ears VE6XC review
This vision ears VE6XC iem was sent to me as part of a review tour , arranged by vision ears . I m not paid by any one to write anything good or bad. All the expressions are my own.
Specifications
This iem has 6 ba drivers ,2 for lows 2 for mids and 1 for high-mids and 1 for highs in acrylic shell.
Impedance-20ohms and sensitivity is 122db
packaging
This iem is review unit so all accessories not included. Though it came with very good round metal case which is very nice Matt black colour and very solid yet beautiful.iems came with stock cable which I feel could be better for its price point and set of spinfit tips
Fit ,Isolation and comfort
VE6XC is very light weight and comfortable.it has better fit and more mainstream universal type shape if compared to eve20 and slightly smaller shells then eve20 so I guess there shouldn't be any fit issues for most of the users while isolation is very good with stock spinfit tips but spinfit tips creats vacuum effect little bit some time So i used fiio stock tips ,JVC spiral dots and stock spinfits for listening seasons.
Sound Impressions
Lows
This set has all ba setup though I never missed DD bass ever during my listening seasons .it has well extended,very well controlled and tastefully done bass response.it has slightly less impact but more authority in bass region than eve20 .but there is more details in low end .subbass rumble is noticeably more in quantity and deep than eve20 . Reminiscent of some DD cans. Midbass is punchy but not very agressive.bass is slightly warmer than eve20 but slightly felt slower then eve20. Eve20 was tighter and fast in this segment
Mids
Mids are on this set is mind-blowing.very smooth and lush. Vocals are excellent ,thick and with proper weight. Male and female both vocals feels so fresh , very emotional and capable of giving you that special extra ordinary experience. Far more emotional than eve20 . Entire midrange of ve6xc is superior than many other iems out there. You will literally lost in songs while listening this set. Instrumental and electronic, trance music sounds very pleasing. Listening Chinmaya dunsters Fengshui :Eightfold path was an amazing experience on this set
Highs
Treble is sparkly , extended and airy yet smooth. There is proper air in between instruments. It is not felt bright or fatiguing for a nano second. Detail retrieval and refinement is whole another level but in buttery smooth way. Treble is not so energetic not grainy and sibilant for my taste.and I loved it because I'm treble sensitive little bit. In short high frequencies on this set is more refined and resolving then eve 20.
soundstage and imaging
Soundstage is wide enough for an iem though not extra ordinary wide and expansive.but I wudnt consider it intimate though. It is three dimensional with slightly less in width than eve20 but depth is more in ve6xc. Imaging is proper. I m Capable of imagine instruments placement and vocalist's position.gaming and movie watching experience was good on ve6xc but I wud pick eve20 for movie over this
Speed and Dynamics
Ve6xc all ba drivers performs very well in this this segment also but eve20 can easily outperform ve6xc in speed and dynamics but remember eve20 is whole another level beast when we talks about this segment
Tonality and Timbre
Very sweet tonality. It has slightly warmer and pleasing tonality then eve20 .No dreaded BA timbre felt any where over entire spectrum. It is reminiscent of hifiman Ananda + some warmer source like ifi micro black label
Xtra Control aka X control switch
Vison ears makes two versions of ve6 .X1 and X2 .Both versions has similar 6 ba drivers set up but different tuning via crossover settings.The X Control version of ve6 aka ve6xc made for users who wants both variants in one model. Set X control toggle switch in down position for X1 variant and in Up position you will get X2 variant. Interesting ain't ? Let's see what this different positions offers.x1 profile has slightly emphasized bass response in comparison of X2 profile.but in general aspect X1 has just right amount of bass which is my favourite sound signature. In X2 rest of frequency response is almost same apart from slightly emphasized bass. In X2 it is more neutral and flatter frequency response if compared to X1. Pick your poison. Mine is X1 LoL
Conclusion
Vision ears Ve6xc is much more musical than eve20 and fun to listen type iem .it is not boring or analytical by any mean. It is very easy to drive and sensitive though not source picky like other sensitive iems. You can literally run it with any source. It is much more forgiving then moondrop blessings 2. though if there is very bad recordings ve6xc definitely will point it out .I never needed to turn on ie match on my ifi micro idsd black label. This iem can be end game for many audiophile music lovers including me. If we compare eve20 with ve6xc, Eve20 is porsche So ve6xc is mercedes of iems,yeah both are German.I want to say thanx again to Amin from vision ears and suman bro for including me in this Vision ears tour de india danke .
Happy listening.
Gear Used For Audition
1) laptop
2) smart phone
3) dd hifi tc35b
4) fiio btr5
5) ifi micro idsd black label
This vision ears VE6XC iem was sent to me as part of a review tour , arranged by vision ears . I m not paid by any one to write anything good or bad. All the expressions are my own.
Specifications
This iem has 6 ba drivers ,2 for lows 2 for mids and 1 for high-mids and 1 for highs in acrylic shell.
Impedance-20ohms and sensitivity is 122db
packaging
This iem is review unit so all accessories not included. Though it came with very good round metal case which is very nice Matt black colour and very solid yet beautiful.iems came with stock cable which I feel could be better for its price point and set of spinfit tips
Fit ,Isolation and comfort
VE6XC is very light weight and comfortable.it has better fit and more mainstream universal type shape if compared to eve20 and slightly smaller shells then eve20 so I guess there shouldn't be any fit issues for most of the users while isolation is very good with stock spinfit tips but spinfit tips creats vacuum effect little bit some time So i used fiio stock tips ,JVC spiral dots and stock spinfits for listening seasons.
Sound Impressions
Lows
This set has all ba setup though I never missed DD bass ever during my listening seasons .it has well extended,very well controlled and tastefully done bass response.it has slightly less impact but more authority in bass region than eve20 .but there is more details in low end .subbass rumble is noticeably more in quantity and deep than eve20 . Reminiscent of some DD cans. Midbass is punchy but not very agressive.bass is slightly warmer than eve20 but slightly felt slower then eve20. Eve20 was tighter and fast in this segment
Mids
Mids are on this set is mind-blowing.very smooth and lush. Vocals are excellent ,thick and with proper weight. Male and female both vocals feels so fresh , very emotional and capable of giving you that special extra ordinary experience. Far more emotional than eve20 . Entire midrange of ve6xc is superior than many other iems out there. You will literally lost in songs while listening this set. Instrumental and electronic, trance music sounds very pleasing. Listening Chinmaya dunsters Fengshui :Eightfold path was an amazing experience on this set
Highs
Treble is sparkly , extended and airy yet smooth. There is proper air in between instruments. It is not felt bright or fatiguing for a nano second. Detail retrieval and refinement is whole another level but in buttery smooth way. Treble is not so energetic not grainy and sibilant for my taste.and I loved it because I'm treble sensitive little bit. In short high frequencies on this set is more refined and resolving then eve 20.
soundstage and imaging
Soundstage is wide enough for an iem though not extra ordinary wide and expansive.but I wudnt consider it intimate though. It is three dimensional with slightly less in width than eve20 but depth is more in ve6xc. Imaging is proper. I m Capable of imagine instruments placement and vocalist's position.gaming and movie watching experience was good on ve6xc but I wud pick eve20 for movie over this
Speed and Dynamics
Ve6xc all ba drivers performs very well in this this segment also but eve20 can easily outperform ve6xc in speed and dynamics but remember eve20 is whole another level beast when we talks about this segment
Tonality and Timbre
Very sweet tonality. It has slightly warmer and pleasing tonality then eve20 .No dreaded BA timbre felt any where over entire spectrum. It is reminiscent of hifiman Ananda + some warmer source like ifi micro black label
Xtra Control aka X control switch
Vison ears makes two versions of ve6 .X1 and X2 .Both versions has similar 6 ba drivers set up but different tuning via crossover settings.The X Control version of ve6 aka ve6xc made for users who wants both variants in one model. Set X control toggle switch in down position for X1 variant and in Up position you will get X2 variant. Interesting ain't ? Let's see what this different positions offers.x1 profile has slightly emphasized bass response in comparison of X2 profile.but in general aspect X1 has just right amount of bass which is my favourite sound signature. In X2 rest of frequency response is almost same apart from slightly emphasized bass. In X2 it is more neutral and flatter frequency response if compared to X1. Pick your poison. Mine is X1 LoL
Conclusion
Vision ears Ve6xc is much more musical than eve20 and fun to listen type iem .it is not boring or analytical by any mean. It is very easy to drive and sensitive though not source picky like other sensitive iems. You can literally run it with any source. It is much more forgiving then moondrop blessings 2. though if there is very bad recordings ve6xc definitely will point it out .I never needed to turn on ie match on my ifi micro idsd black label. This iem can be end game for many audiophile music lovers including me. If we compare eve20 with ve6xc, Eve20 is porsche So ve6xc is mercedes of iems,yeah both are German.I want to say thanx again to Amin from vision ears and suman bro for including me in this Vision ears tour de india danke .
Happy listening.
Gear Used For Audition
1) laptop
2) smart phone
3) dd hifi tc35b
4) fiio btr5
5) ifi micro idsd black label
Attachments
This vision ears eve20 iem was sent to me as part of a review tour , arranged by vision ears . I m not paid by any one to write anything good or bad. All the expressions are my own.
Specifications
Vision ears eve20 is made exclusively for year 2020 with lot of love and solid technical foundation. It has four-way crossover. This iem has 6 ba drivers ,2 for lows 2 for mids and 2 for highs in acrylic shell.
Impedance-25ohms and sensitivity is 120.5db
packaging
This iem is review unit so all accessories not included. Though it came with very good round metal case which is purple colour and very solid yet beautiful.iems came with stock cable which I feel could've been better for its price point and set of spinfit tips
Fit, Comfort and Isolation
VE EVE20 is very light weight and comfortable.it will disappear in ear for those whome has large ears like me ( Ikko oh10 is very comfortable and fits perfectly to my ears hehe). Isolation also very good with right size tips. Spinfits and fiio fh3's L size stock tips serves me well.i can wear it for very long time of period without any issues.
Sound Impressions
Lows
Despite of being all ba iem this gem has very good low frequency response. Bass quantity is not like some dd/hybrid iems but quality is absolutely fantastic. Bass is punchy ,tight, well extended ,very energetic yet very clean. Decay is short though there is enough sub bass rumble when needed.bass control is very accurate and doesn't bleed in mids which is good thing.eve20 has slightly less bass then ve6xc .
Mids
Mids on this iem is its best part .Very lush,smooth and engaging .both male and female vocals are full bodied. smoothness and clarity is phenomenal .notes has enough weight and very well defined.if we compare eve20 with other vision ears model ve6xc vocals are not as good as vision ears VE6XC though not far behind.
Highs
Treble on this set is not very airy and energetic if compared to other iems but it is slightly laidback with lot of details are there. it's not sibilant at all infact I loved the way it presents treble ,yes I m a bit treble sensitive person.inshort trebles are smooth and pleasing on eve20, but slightly less detailed then ve6xc.
soundstage and imaging
Soundstage is not the best though it is very wide and expansive, tall ,and depth is enough for an iem. Imaging is very accurate and precise ,i can imagine each and every instrument's position. Gaming with this iem is pure joy ,i can pinpoint enemies footsteps , gunshots, direction of bullets etc very easily
Speed and Dynamics
EVE20 performs like champ in this category.eve20 can compete some planar magnetics in speed. punch ,slam , attacks and bites are much more agressive then hifiman Ananda. I don't understand how can this pair perform so energetic and lively.
Tonality and Timbre
In general many all ba iems has that infamous Typical metalic timbre but that is not the case with EVE20. infact this has very good pleasing sweet tonality that reminds me of somewhere between etymotic er2xr and Audeze Mobius.but yes it's slightly different then all other iems I tried out there.
Conclusion
The eve20 is fun to listen iems, not analytical or dry sounding by any mean.All over sound signature is very engaging , cohesive , immersive, energetic and full of Emotions.While watching movies on this I felt all frequencies are boosted, like on steroids except highs. I was literally blown away by its life like , lively ,home theater like performance while watching movies ,and I mean it. It's like personalized mini HT system LoL. All other iems in my collection felt anemic and dull against this set. I really loved this set
. thankyou vision ears for letting me audition this piece of gem. should I recommend this ? Definitely yes .
Gear Used For Audition
1) laptop
2) smart phone
3) dd hifi tc35b
4) fiio btr5
5) ifi micro idsd black label
Specifications
Vision ears eve20 is made exclusively for year 2020 with lot of love and solid technical foundation. It has four-way crossover. This iem has 6 ba drivers ,2 for lows 2 for mids and 2 for highs in acrylic shell.
Impedance-25ohms and sensitivity is 120.5db
packaging
This iem is review unit so all accessories not included. Though it came with very good round metal case which is purple colour and very solid yet beautiful.iems came with stock cable which I feel could've been better for its price point and set of spinfit tips
Fit, Comfort and Isolation
VE EVE20 is very light weight and comfortable.it will disappear in ear for those whome has large ears like me ( Ikko oh10 is very comfortable and fits perfectly to my ears hehe). Isolation also very good with right size tips. Spinfits and fiio fh3's L size stock tips serves me well.i can wear it for very long time of period without any issues.
Sound Impressions
Lows
Despite of being all ba iem this gem has very good low frequency response. Bass quantity is not like some dd/hybrid iems but quality is absolutely fantastic. Bass is punchy ,tight, well extended ,very energetic yet very clean. Decay is short though there is enough sub bass rumble when needed.bass control is very accurate and doesn't bleed in mids which is good thing.eve20 has slightly less bass then ve6xc .
Mids
Mids on this iem is its best part .Very lush,smooth and engaging .both male and female vocals are full bodied. smoothness and clarity is phenomenal .notes has enough weight and very well defined.if we compare eve20 with other vision ears model ve6xc vocals are not as good as vision ears VE6XC though not far behind.
Highs
Treble on this set is not very airy and energetic if compared to other iems but it is slightly laidback with lot of details are there. it's not sibilant at all infact I loved the way it presents treble ,yes I m a bit treble sensitive person.inshort trebles are smooth and pleasing on eve20, but slightly less detailed then ve6xc.
soundstage and imaging
Soundstage is not the best though it is very wide and expansive, tall ,and depth is enough for an iem. Imaging is very accurate and precise ,i can imagine each and every instrument's position. Gaming with this iem is pure joy ,i can pinpoint enemies footsteps , gunshots, direction of bullets etc very easily
Speed and Dynamics
EVE20 performs like champ in this category.eve20 can compete some planar magnetics in speed. punch ,slam , attacks and bites are much more agressive then hifiman Ananda. I don't understand how can this pair perform so energetic and lively.
Tonality and Timbre
In general many all ba iems has that infamous Typical metalic timbre but that is not the case with EVE20. infact this has very good pleasing sweet tonality that reminds me of somewhere between etymotic er2xr and Audeze Mobius.but yes it's slightly different then all other iems I tried out there.
Conclusion
The eve20 is fun to listen iems, not analytical or dry sounding by any mean.All over sound signature is very engaging , cohesive , immersive, energetic and full of Emotions.While watching movies on this I felt all frequencies are boosted, like on steroids except highs. I was literally blown away by its life like , lively ,home theater like performance while watching movies ,and I mean it. It's like personalized mini HT system LoL. All other iems in my collection felt anemic and dull against this set. I really loved this set
. thankyou vision ears for letting me audition this piece of gem. should I recommend this ? Definitely yes .Gear Used For Audition
1) laptop
2) smart phone
3) dd hifi tc35b
4) fiio btr5
5) ifi micro idsd black label
Attachments
