Reviews by samu

Been a long time since the last time I bought a device which specifically use for playing music. I remember having a usb stick mp3 player that I loved long time ago. I broke the thing then I start to use my phone as a music player ever since. Take note that I never have or even tried any expensive DAP (such as AK's line of DAP). I have my Ipod Shuffle but I stopped using it because it cannot play FLAC and I hate using iTunes to transfer files, so annoying, but I personally love the Ipod Shuffle sound signature and everything (except that you can only shuffle song and nothing else). 
 
I got my phone (Sony Xperia Z1 Compact) broken on the 3.5mm jack so whenever I move around the music stopped, so I was looking for a temporary cheap music player that can play my flac files and that's when FiiO release the M3 (I've been eyeing for X5 by the way but still counting on my budget whether I actually need it or not, so M3 is a good bargain)
 

Side by side with E17k
 
Okay enough with the pre-story, now down to the review 
Once again this is mostly what I like and dislike with my purchase of FiiO M3, you can agree or not. If you are ok with it, please proceed 
 
Design & Build Quality
 
What I Like:
I love how small it is, it doesn't take any place or whatsoever. It is very lightweight and you can toss it around without worrying it will break. The body made from plastic (as expected by the price, but I wish it was made of alumunium, just like my E17k) but it is a good quality plastic that I feel it won't get easily cracked. Screen is okay, I won't say it good or ugly, but I don't have problem with it. The color selection is NONE. It coming in Ivory color with a black front panel. I would be very happy if it was black.
 
One thing I like that surprise me from it (because I dont expect it at all) it is compatible with any headphone with In-Line Music Control. Yes! You can skip file, Forward, Previous with just a click from your In-Line Control. You don't have to reach your pocket to skip songs. But somehow since the FW 1.5 it doesn't work with my Vmoda M100 anymore but still working with my Momentum In-Ear I wonder why.
 
What I Don't Like:

1. Volume Control Button. I love the mechanical volume button, but I like it independent on the side better... instead of in front, I like it on the side (so in the front would only be Prev,Play/Pause, Next) It still okay anyway, but the most irritating thing about the volume control is you need to be in the music playing interface to change the volume so whenever I want to change the volume while costumizing my equalizer I need to go 'outside' ga back and front, so much hustle.
2. A bit crampy down there. Got what I meant? Yeah, I know that size comes with price but I just realize that price a little bit too high. I will take comparison with the Ipod Shuffle which I don't have much problem with control.
3. Edgy Design. I wish instead of exact square shape, it better have a rounded edge, I prefer it aesthetically.
4. Strap Hole. It is good to have a strap or something so you can put it somewhere when you don't have any pocket, but I wish instead of strap I would like a clip better, more practical for me because for e.g if you want to jog with it, having something around your neck swinging while running isn't a good experience IMO. By the way, why the hole need to be down there? Now whenever I hang it, the headphone jack would be lying awkwardly (I wish it will be in the opposite direction from the headphone jack) 

 
UI
 
One thing that irritate me the most is the screen won't turned on whenever I press the front control, I still need to turn the screen separately whenever I want to access the menu. Well, one click less hustle than two, right?
Well, I have mentioned about the volume control above.
The rest of it I'm good with the UI.
One thing I wish from the custom equalizer is more audio bands selection instead of just 5. I have this filthy Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear which is very ugly sounding until I tweaked the equalizer (on my Xperia) and it is so much harder to get the perfect sound with the current bands selection. Upgrade FW please?? 
 
Sound Quality
 
This part would be very subjective for every person, so take precautious with my impression.
 
I will compare it with my FiiO E17k which I use by daily basis.
Coming out from the E17k, FiiO M3 have more emerging detail in the higher mids to lower highs.
Sound impression would have a tendency with the highs. Something with a lot of textured sibilance. The highs is grainy, especially in the vocal. So if you don't like sibilance (like me) I would recommend you to take audition first, but depends on your gear I think sound quality would be work just fine. I will say that base is okay, it's relatively flat IMO.
Overall, I still prefer my E17k instead of M3 in term of sound signature but it is more than twice the price so what can I say? LoL
 
It doesn't support USB out DAC (I tried it with my E17k) so you might only be able to use Aux for Amplification only
 
 
I bought it so I can play FLAC files so I don't have much expectation from it because it is a good bargain. The screen is a good bargain compared with Sansa Clip or some other players.
So far I don't encounter any problems like heat or hangs, everything works just fine. One annoying thing is I got some songs not supported with it, I believe it is a High Res 96/24bit music. 
Take note that I notice my 44/24bits files can be played but displayed 44/16 instead. I don't know it is a downgrade or not, but since it is still playable I'm okay. Anyway I bought it not for some serious listening session but for mobile on the road.
 
 
Overall:
 
In terms of DAP i believe there's a lot of other better in term of sound quality, but in terms of feature, price, file compatibility, mobility, FiiO M3 something that you would considered for. 
PTP Ration I give it 8 out of 10. Well done, but still have a lots of room to improve.
 
NB: It come out with some good bundle of accessories such as Straps, Screen Protector, and Earbuds. What? Yeah you read it right earbuds. The earbuds sound great paired with the M3. Not a fan of earbuds but it is a good companion (I would much prefer IEM for the sound isolation and comfort reason) 

Disclaimer (MUST READ):
First of all, I don’t own the headphone. I am a part of Pro-Ject Hearing Tour and I would like to say thank you to Felix for lending me this headphone (Sending it all the way from Europe to Indonesia) I am thrilled to be a part of it.
For the dearest reader, audio reviewing is something which is happen to be very subjective to the sound preference of every each person, so that the experience might be different one to another, and as a reviewer I would highly recommend people to audition headphones (at least once) before make any final decision or opinion. And as I create this review, I am honestly try to express what I have experienced with Hear It One headphone, and for Pro-Ject, hopefully I don’t offend you in any way, and instead using it as a concern for the future product development (perhaps Hear It Two? ;P)
Have fun reading peps!
 


 
Design & Build:
 
Very contrast with the elegant packaging, the headphone itself felt & looked plastic. The plastic that covers the cup and the metal band make the overall cheap impression. I would much prefer the leathery headband to be paired with more subtle material instead of glossy plastic, perhaps matte black or gun metal. The headband itself padded enough for this lightweight headphone.
The headphone was relatively small for over-the ear but it is not foldable, it is not rotating flat, make it very hard companion to travel with. Sit on your neck, the edgy cups doesn’t feel comfortable.
Braided cable, non-detachable, no In-Line mic controls, relatively too short. Braided cable tends to get stiff and curling over time (like my Vmoda M100 does). No In-Line control makes it less hand phone friendly.
 

 
 
Durability:
 
Since it is new, in term of durability I can’t proof it is not durable but my biggest concern would be the cups that sliding up and down. Since there is nothing that will lock it from moving (such as Sennheiser Momentum or Urbanite in a similar design), or any click stopper (which we will found in most headphones) it will loosen by wear & tear.
Another thing to be added is that, none of the headphone parts were user replaceable. None at all. If anything happen to be torn out, you need to DIY yourself. If I look at my Sennheiser HD429 (which is happen to be $20 cheaper, every single thing can be replaced, especially the ear pads and cable)
 

 
Comforts:
 
The headphone sit steady on your ear without that clumsy feeling compared to my HD429. The biggest downside from this headphone nonetheless would be comforts. Even though it is designed as Circum-aural, instead, it sat on top of the ears just like supra-aural. And yes, supra-aural if you familiar, it will give a pressure on your ears instead of around it. But, supra aural headphone designed so the pads sit on your ear, instead of your driver, which happen to be the opposite with Hear It One, the pads are half over the ear, and the driver press the ear. And I would say the clamping force is quite high. Even that I like the sound characteristic, maximum for me using the headphones was no more than 15-20 minutes. It sores a lot. I struggle the same thing with my VModa M100, BUT their pads is replaceable and Vmoda smartly provide a larger and deeper XL Pads which saved my day.
 
Features:
 
Lack of features. With the price, I wish at the lowest point I can change the ear pads. The closest competitor would be the legendary ATH-M50, even have a detachable cables and folding feature. Further away if I compared it with Vmoda M100 which have tons of features.
I am questioning about which direction the design itself try to bring. The cable relatively short so definitely not the type of hi-fi listening where you might need to sit further from the desk setup. When the cable designed short, I assume it is for portability, but the straight angle jack is not that friendly for portable player in your pocket. Even for portable use, the cable still too short.
 
 
Noise isolation is pretty descent due to the clamping pressure and the ear pads design. Noise leaking pretty much less.
 
Player Sony Z1 Compact -->FiiO E17K For comparison with Vmoda M100 & Sennheiser HD429
Hear It One Sit Next to my Vmoda M100
Hear It One Sit Next to my HD429
 
 
Sound Quality:
 
I know I might have sound unhappy with everything that I wrote up there, but now here I come to the part which I love the most!
38mm driver relatively small for over the ear headphones but the sounds was not small at all compared to a far bigger driver (VModa M100) With 32ohm impedance, the headphone will be easily driven by any music players without the need of amplifiers.
 
Bass:
Without amplification the bass was very friendly to my ears. It is exactly in the right portion, not overwhelming, as well as not powerless. Less tubby (edgy bass) is something that I have been looking for from a piece of headphone and it nailed it (not even my Vmoda M100 nailed it). As I amplified the bass (using equalizer and my bass setting in my FiiO E17K), instead of being punchy, it is getting boomy (which I love by the way), but not distorted or bloated muffled bass, it is not overwhelming and still well controlled, but still not as tight as my Vmoda M100 (but as I recall the driver size & price is far different).
 
Mids:
The first thing I notice when I turn it on is the mids, I assume the lower mids (especially where vocal is) was closer/forward/in-front compared to other frequencies, followed by the bass, and laid back trebles. The vocal sound very natural for me (as I come out from my daily use Vmoda M100). Non harsh sibilance from the female vocal, clean & soft. I will say that to my sound preference, Hear It One has nailed the vocal. I can hear a slight detail on the lower guitar string compared to my Vmoda M100.
 
Treble:
Treble is laid back compared to other frequencies. Non textured. Feels like overwhelmed by the forward vocals and sub-bass but I still can see it from far away waving at me (LoL). The treble is soft, not harsh, no annoying sibilance, it just like listening to the waves hitting the shore at the beach. But in exchange for that soft non-aggressive trebles, that guitar string, the tingling cymbal, and all those rattling high frequencies doesn’t sound that fun compared to my Vmoda M100. Definitely not a match with percussion like my Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear where you can hear almost every percussion (but straight outta box, Momentum In Ear sounds terrible, need a EQ tweaks here and there, gladly to say not with Hear it One).
 
Sound staging & Detail:
I would say that Hear It One brings up an intimate performance with less spacial in between the vocals and instruments to instruments (perhaps due to the smaller driver?) at least compared to my Sennheiser HD429 (40mm) and Vmoda M100 (50mm). But I still catch some echo/sound reverb from the vocal which give a bit width. As I listening the music through Hear It One, I see (a.ka heard) the music as a whole picture instead of part per parts. In terms of details, I will say that it won’t be delightful for people who love analytical or reference type of headphone. You will hear what you need to hear. I don’t mean it as a bad thing though, as I recall upgrading my IEM more and more, I began to be more analytical and start to forget to enjoy the music and song as it is.
 
Conclusion:
 
Pro-Ject Hear It One crafting an intimate mellow approach towards its sound signature with a slight emphasize in the vocal producing. It warm sound happens to excel with a very natural sounding vocal to my ears. Although it is not so detailed or analytical vice versa, its non-aggressive sounding with non edgy from the top-to-bottom of frequencies make the music listened as a whole instead of individual parts. The less forward treble and more forward vocal made Hear It One well suited with Pop, Bossa Nova, or Classical, while it might not be as fun as Vmoda M100 for any electrical music, trance or instruments due to its soft trebles, but again, its well controlled bass and mids made it still enjoyable, and definitely not annoying.
I am honestly thrilled with the sound, pretty impressive for the price range, definitely excel with the natural sound and vocal, but as to my sound preference I would much prefer that it have a bit more kick in the higher frequencies. The biggest issue still will be comforts, features, and the plasticky feels, but definitely not the sound quality. 
 
 IMHO