Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim :: 1DD + 3BA :: $399

The 'Pilgrim' is the first entry-level model from Elysian Acoustic Labs.
Unlike the more pricey models including Annihilator and Diva, the Pilgrim was launched at a relatively affordable price of $399.

They say they've tried to keep the 'Elysian House Sound', but with a more approachable tone. Let's see how it turns out.

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Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

This entire review was translated from Korean article using DeepL Translator with some refinement by myself.

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Like every other Elysian products, the unboxing experience is simply top notch.

It's quite difficult to get things out, though.
You should be especially careful when taking out units.



It's an entry-level model, but it packs a lot of accessories.

- 'Pilgrim' unit
- Silver-plated copper cable ('Pentacon Ear' - to - 3.5mm / 4.4mm)
- 3 pairs of Spinfit CP100 (S, M, L)
- White leather case
- Cleaning tool
- Cleaning cloth
- Warranty card and manual




Silver-plated copper cable is bundled with the Pilgrim.

As with previous Elysian products, it features 'Pentacon Ear' connectors.
These are easy to remove and attach, and Lee himself told us that these are way more durable than conventional type connectors.

You can choose either 3.5mm or 4.4mm connector at the point of purchase, depending on your preference.

The overall finish is quite good, and I liked the fact that it has the flexible, yet light-weight wire, making them comfortable to wear.



They're bundling the 'SpinFit CP100' eartips, which have long been renowned for their premium quality.
These eartips feature a 'constriction curve' that helps them better fit to the shape of your ear canal, so you can expect a slightly better isolation.

It's a bit bummer that they're only available in three sizes.
However, if you're looking for a pair of earbuds at this price point, I believe you already have a good set of eartips.




The hard case is made of pure white leather and does a great job of keeping the Pilgrim safe.
The overall build quality is quite good, including the stitching, and the silver Elysian logo on the top.

The inside is very spacious, and lined with soft suede to prevent scratches.
There's also a mesh pocket for storing spare eartips or cleaning tools.




The Elysian Pilgrim has a unit design that is machined from 304 stainless steel.
It is a material that is often used to make kitchen utensils and medical tools, as it is highly durable and resistant to corrosion.

It has a distinctive faceplate design said to be inspired by the contour maps looking down on a mountain.
Circular lines with a mirror finish contrast with the matte unit to give a touch of cold metal.




At the top of the hill, surrounded by a silvery contour, you'll find the Elysian logo with several air holes around to control airflow.
You'll also notice the 'pentacon ear' connectors, which are characterized by their pointy spikes.

The inside of the unit has icons indicating left or right channel and a serial number.

If you look inside the nozzle covered by a dense mesh, you'll see that the bore is divided into three branches, each leading to a custom LSR dynamic driver for bass, a Sonion 2300 BA for midrange, and a Sonion E50 dual BA for treble.

At their widest point, the nozzles are about 6mm thick.
While the nozzles are on the thicker side, they're not out-of-the-ordinary thick, so they shouldn't be a problem with most eartips you have.

The unit isn't that large and the nozzle is moderately thick, so the fit is very good and comfortable.

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Elysian Pilgrim has a 1DD+3BA configuration.

A new custom 9.2 mm dynamic driver with a Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) diaphragm handles the bass,
Sonion 2300 balanced armature for the midrange, and Sonion E50 dual balanced armature for the treble.

These drivers were hand-selected to be within ±1dB of each other and placed in a 3D-printed internal structure to achieve the best possible combination, according to the company.

Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link



This measurement certainly proves that their 'Hand-matched driver' claim is more than just words.

Channel difference between these units are very impressive, and it contributes to the clean, accurate sound imaging positioned slightly behind my head.

Overall, the Pilgrim has a U-shaped sound signature, a tonal balance that's almost flawless.

The bass from the 9.2mm LSR driver has a very similar characteristics to the Harman target.
With a clean bass that feels solid and punchy, making the overall sound very enjoyable. I felt that they were very well tuned so as not to detract from the crisp, bright sound of Pilgrim.

It's really important to find an eartip that perfectly seal your ears to ensure right amount of bass.


Still, for Pilgrim, the most appealing aspect is the mid / high range, which are achieved with 3 Sonion BAs.

In addition to the aforementioned excellent driver pair matching, the great treble extension that stretches all the way to the top end gave the Pilgrim a slightly unique sense of space. With the crisp vocals positioned center of the stage, there's a sense of depth to the sound, with notes coming from slightly back of my head and building up to the front.

I'm not saying that this unit has an insanely spacious soundstage, but rather that the overall sound is well detailed and feels like it's layered from the back to the front.

As a result, the Pilgrim's highs are a bit bright and sharp, thanks to its super-tweeter. I can see how this might sound a bit harsh on some tracks with a lot of sibilance, but it was not an issue with most of the songs I listened to.



So far, we've taken look at Pilgrim, the new entry model from Elysian Acoustic Labs.

Having previously produced small quantities of their higher-priced line of earphones, Elysian says that they designed the Pilgrim to allow more people to experience the "Elysian House Sound" and get them interested in the higher end of their lineup.

To do this, they say they strived to create an easily enjoyable, addictive sound while maintaining Elysian's signature sound, and I think it's safe to say that they succeeded.

I've heard that the Pilgrim was greatly praised by enthusiasts as 'Baby Annihilator' at CANJAM NY.

I think it has a slightly different sound than the Annihilator, but considering the symbolism of the Annihilator model for Elysian, the Pilgrim certainly sounds like it deserves the title of 'Baby Annihilator'.

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Non-Affiliated Links (if you're interested)

https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256806735808497.html

Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 :: $59 :: 1 SPDSquare Planar Driver
After launching a sub-brand named Celest, Kinera introduced the Gumiho and Pandamon to the market with its in-house developed square planar driver, the 'SPD'.



The Pandamon has been praised for its excellent value for money, but its 'unique' panda faceplate design has been criticised as "It does sound good, but it looks a bit odd".

The Pandamon '2.0' has a completely revamped design that makes it hard to find any trace of the 'panda'. It's not just the way it looks, but also the way it sounds, as it has an enclosed structure with typical duct holes, as opposed to its predecessor, which had a wide mesh that was almost open.

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Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

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As expected from a Kinera product, it's full of nice accessories.

• The Celeste Pandamon 2.0 unit itself
• 3 pairs of 'Celeste 221' vocal enhancement eartips (grey)
• 3 pairs of 'Celeste 608' eartips (red)
• 0.78 2-pin to 3.5mm cable
• Manual
• Leather case

For such an inexpensive product, it's impressive that it comes with a decent quality cable and leather case.

The Pandamon 2.0 is available in 'Black' and 'Blue' colours, the latter being the one I'll be showing you today.



There's a circular, leather carrying case, which is pretty good in quality.

There's not a lot of space inside, but there's a mesh pocket for eartips or silicagel.
It's a hard case that holds its shape, so your earphones will stay safe in there.



The bundled cable is made of 48 strands of high-purity 5N silver-plated copper wire.

As you'd expect from a company that's been making custom cables for a long time, the components are of high quality, and the wire is quite flexible for a good fit.

I also like the fact that you can choose between 3.5mm or 4.4mm terminals to suit your personal preference when buying the earphones.

Since the SPD drivers are quite sensitive, so if for no other reason, I'd recommend sticking with the 3.5mm.



There are two types of eartips available for Pandamon 2.0.

The 'Celest 608' eartips with red core have a moderate height and moderate bore size for a well-balanced sound.

The 'Celest 221' eartips, on the other hand, have a wider bore, which favours a relatively shallow fit, which can have the effect of bringing the treble peak a little bit forward and emphasising the vocals.



The most significant change with the Pandamon 2.0 update is the design.
With a background of shimmering particles that resemble crashing waves, a golden Celest logo is placed at the top of the faceplate.

Compared to other products in its price range, I think it's rare to see a faceplate design that's as good as the Pandamon 2.0.



Unlike its predecessor - which was more of an open design with a huge mesh - Pandamon 2.0 has a more conventional enclosed design.

There's a huge space at the back of the driver, with a single small duct hole pointing outwards to control airflow.



Inner chamber of this IEM is separated and isolated by SPD driver, and if you look closely at the unit, you will see that there is a small channel between these two chambers.

This design, which was made possible by the use of a precise 3D resin printer, allows airflow in front of and behind the driver, which helps to reduce the uncomfortable eardrum pressure that can occur when wearing earphones and contributes to a comfortable fit.



Inside the unit, you'll notice a 10mm SPDSquare Planar Driver with a square shape.

It's a fairly unique driver with a square shape. That's different from the typical planar driver, and Celest uses SPD drivers in a variety of products, including the 'Gumiho' and the 'Plutus Beast'.



Like their appearance, SPD drivers have a slightly different internal structure than a typical planar driver.

While the features of a flat plate driver can be observed in the fact that powerful magnets are placed in front and behind the diaphragm in the form of a flat surface,

You can still see some of the features of a planar driver - it has a flat, sheet-like diaphragm, between powerful magnets placed in front of and behind it.

However, the features of a dynamic driver can also be found, by the fact that the voice coil is not evenly etched on to the diaphragm, rather, rolled into a rectangular shape.

Compared to a planar driver, where the key is to spread the coils evenly over as wide as possible, the voice coil is concentrated in a specific area, which is slightly disadvantageous in terms of vibrating the diaphragm evenly.

But, it has the advantage that the sensitivity can be reduced to a very low level, making it easier to drive with low power output devices like smartphones.

Overall, SPD drivers can be thought of as a combination between a dynamic driver, and a planar driver. something in between.

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Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link




When you first try Pandamon 2.0, you'll notice that you don't get much of characteristics of planar driver.

I suspect this is likely due to the unique design of the SPD driver, which is a combination between a planar and a dynamic driver.
Some may appreciate the lack of the distinctive bass texture and excessive treble of a planar driver.

The bass, which runs almost straight through from the mid-bass range, has a slightly relaxed feel to it, but still has a decent amount of punch to it. It's a far cry from the deep, resonant bass of a Harman-ish sound, but the Pandamon 2.0's smooth bass is quite appealing.

Vocals, which tend to be neutral in Pandamon 2.0, are accompanied by highs that seem to roll off a bit early, making the overall sound feel relaxed without sibilance.

Products with planar drivers often have a somewhat shouty sound to show off their treble extension, but the Pandamon 2.0 takes a different route. They don't have a great sense of openness and resolution due to this, but that doesn't mean they sound too dark or muffled.



Pandamon 2.0 comes with a red 'Celest 608' balance tip and a grey 'Celest 221' vocal tip.
If you compare the measurements taken using the two ear tips, you'll notice a slight change in the treble characteristics.

The grey vocal tips have a wider shape that encourages the earphones to be worn shallow, which can have the effect of bringing the treble peak slightly forward. When I switched to the grey 'vocal tips', I personally noticed a slight widening of the soundstage and a slightly brighter sound.

For those who find the sound of the Pandamon 2.0 a little muddy, I recommend trying the grey tips and wearing it a bit shallow.



So far, we've taken look at the Pandamon 2.0 from Celest, a sub-brand of Kinera.

With SPD - a unique driver, balanced somewhere in between planar and dynamic, the Pandamon 2.0 inherits its predecessor's strengths of affordable price and ultra-compact design, while also shedding the 'unique' panda design for a more aesthetically pleasing look for broader audience.

It's a bit of a hard sell if you're looking for the genuine planar experience, but if you take the keyword 'planar' out of your mind, it's a well-built single-driver IEM.

So, if you're new to the audio hobby, I can easily recommend it.
Even if you're not, you might want to consider buying this if you're looking for a IEM that doesn't irritate you from sound to comfort.

What's more, despite being an entry-level device with a list price of $59, it has a beautiful design and packed with full of nice accessories, making it a great choice for a gift.

As the Pandamon has evolved into an even more appealing product with the 2.0 upgrade, I think the Gumiho, with its sound for treblehead made by using balanced armature with the SPD, might have a successor in the near future, and I can't wait to see what it will look like.

Thank you for reading!

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Non-Affiliated Link (if you're interested)

HiFiGo：
https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2

Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Amazon JP:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Aliexpress：
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html

Click to expand...

KEFINE Delci :: 1DD IEM :: $59 (At the time of writing this review)

A somewhat unfamiliar brand, KEFINE debuted in last October with its first product - the Klanar, which used 14.5mm flat-backed drivers.

For a new brand's first product, it has attracted the attention of many people thanks to its surprisingly good quality, and if you look at some reviews, there is a mention that it is a sister brand of SIVGA / Sendy Audio, which has already made a name for itself as a high-performance headphone manufacturer.

hmm, now I get it.

KEFINE's second product, the Delci, is an IEM with high-performance 10mm dynamic driver made of DLCDiamond-Like-Carbon + PU composite, featuring a CNC-machined aviation aluminium unit for a lightweight, comfortable fit and an affordable price point.

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Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

This entire review was translated from Korean article using DeepL Translator with some refinement by myself.

-





This is the package of KEFINE Delci.

Once you open the package and remove the manual, you'll see the unit and a leather case.

There's also a protective film over the KEFINE logo at the unit.



Here are list of the full components

• KEFINE Delci unit
• 0.78 2PIN to 3.5mm copper cable
• 4 pairs of narrow-bore eartips (S, M, M, L - M size preinstalled)
• 3 pairs of wide-bore eartips (S, M, L)
• Leather Hard case

Interestingly, an extra pair of M sized narrow-bore eartips were preinstalled to it.



If you look closely at the eartips, you'll see that there are differences in the size of the holes, as well as the overall shape of the eartip and the length of the core.

Eartips with wider holes have a more flattened shape and a shorter core, which naturally encourages the user to wear the earphones relatively shallow, resulting in a different overall sound characteristic.

We'll discuss this in more detail later.




This bundled cable is said to be the best match for Delci's Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) diaphragm.

It's a 54×2 + 28×2 copper cable, and thanks to the flexible yet lightweight characteristic of material, it was very comfortable to wear.

Combined with tight-fitting connectors and a great finish, and it was hard to find any flaws with it.




The leather hard case is very spacious inside, making it very easy to store the earphones.

There's also a mesh pocket on the top of the lid, perfect for storing ear tips or silica gel.



The KEFINE Delci has a precision CNC-machined aviation-grade aluminium unit design.

Based on an aluminium alloy, it was anodised to create a distinctive gun metal color, making it durable and scratch resistant.

Compared to other products, it has slim, light-weight, compact unit design. This makes them very comfortable to wear, and they don't protrude out of my ears at all.



A rather thick nozzle, about 6.1 mm thick, has a unique patterned mesh at the end, and a fairly dense damper is attached to it.

The faceplate design is a little underwhelming.

With the KEFINE lettering imprinted on it. It almost feels like a recycled Klarnar unit, and I honestly think it would have been better to have a circular logo instead of just engraving text on it.

But the more I look at it, the more I realise that it's actually not that bad.




'KEFINE Delci' uses a single 10mm dynamic driver.

This high-performance driver features a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) + PU-based composite diaphragm with a Japanese Daikoku CCA voice coil.

A Dual-Cavity construction with it allows precise airflow to create a distinctive bass texture.

Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link




Unusual for a single DD IEM, KEFINE Delci has a very impressive bass that stretches out linearly, as if was drawn with a ruler.

The sound is heavily weighted in the sub-bass, offering a deep rumble balanced between tightness and fullness, with just the right amount of punch.

Depending on the song, there's a little chance that the vocals can sound like they've taken a half-step back, but I got the impression that they have a crisp and clear midrange overall. They don't particularly stand out, but they don't diminish their presence either.

Instead, there's a good amount of treble, so despite having a fair amount of bass, it doesn't feel like it's muffled.

Overall, the KEFINE Delci has a rich resonance and a slightly crisp treble, with more of a U-shape than a V-shape sound.



I mentioned that there are two types of eartips available, each with different characteristics.

And from my measurements, there doesn't seem to be much difference except for a change in the treble characteristics - the treble seems to be slightly better with the narrow bore eartip.

However, in my listening experience, I got the impression that the bass rolled off a little bit with the wider bore eartips, shifting the centre of gravity away from the sub-bass and towards the treble.

The product description states that the 'bowl shaped eartips have a UV finish and wide bore for a more transparent sound', which kinda makes sense to me.

I'm not sure what's a 'UV finish', but I suspect it's similar to UV treatment that some gaming mouse manufacturers use to give a nice matte finish.



Normally, when measuring earphones, the insertion depth is adjusted to ensure that the resonance peak is matched at 8kHz so that it can be compared to other measurements.

However, KEFINE Delci had to be inserted considerably deeper than usual to achieve 8kHz.

Therefore, I think the purple graph is a little closer to the actual hearing characteristics than the blue graph shown earlier, and if you find the treble to be irritating, I would recommend reducing the size of eartip and try a deeper insertion.

It may not look like it, but the nozzle length is quite long, so the Delci's insertion depth is on the deeper side than normal.




So far, we've taken look at the KEFINE Delci 1DD Wired Earphones.

Delci is a pair of high-performance dynamic driver IEM that deliver punchy bass and sparkling highs, but there's a lot more to them than just the sound. A comfortable fit, flawless build quality, and decent accessories beyond the price point.

The only downside for me is the slightly bland unit design, but otherwise, they're a great value for money and a very well-built product.

I conclude this review with the thought that KEFINE, who has created another well-made 1DD IEM, is a brand worth keeping an eye on in the future.

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Non-Affiliated Link (if you're interested)
https://hifigo.com/products/kefine-delci

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 :: $299.99 :: 7mm TrueResponse Transducer

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MTW4 features the same '7mm TrueResponse transducer' and 'Acoustic Back Volume' - that are also used in wired in-ear IE series, IE600 and IE900 - to deliver Sennheiser signature sound.

As a top-of-the-line flagship, they are powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon Sound platform - the 'S5 Gen2' chipset, making them one of the very few to fully support Bluetooth 5.4 and the next generation wireless audio standard - 'LE Audio'.

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They allowed me to try it out few weeks earlier, by providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

This entire review was translated from Korean article using DeepL Translator with some refinement by myself.

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With carbon neutrality becoming the norm, the packaging has been streamlined, with a greater use of easily recyclable paper materials.

You can find several components inside the package.

- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 itself
- USB-A to C charging cable
- 3 pairs of silicone earwing sets (S/M/L, M Pre-installed)
- 4 pairs of silicone eartip sets (XS/S/M/L, S Pre-installed)
- User manuals



Unlike its predecessor, the eartips of the MTW4 don't have sponge dampers inside.
The damper has been removed in favor of a 'silicone filter' structure made from the same material as the eartips.

It should improve treble performance and make it easier to keep the eartips hygienic - one of the more welcome changes for me personally.

The earwings help to keep the earphones in your ears.
The smallest ear wing does not have bulge, so people with smaller ears can still wear them without problem.



On the outside, things are pretty much the same as last gen.

Except for a slightly less dense mesh at the tip of the nozzle, which, along with the eartip without the sponge damper, should improve treble reproduction.

I was a little disappointed that there's still no 'wind deflector' mesh to cover the microphone hole. This is something that pretty much every wireless earbud is trying to implement, as it can greatly reduce wind noise.




Fortunately, there are some improvements inside the unit.

MTW4 is equipped with Qualcomm's latest 2nd gen Snapdragon Sound platform - the 'S5 Gen2QCC5181' chipset.

It supports not only the popular aptX Adaptive codec, but also the aptX Lossless codec, which can transmit 16bit/44.1kHz sound sources accurately and losslessly, bit by bit.

While it's exciting to be able to listen to lossless music without wires, it's very difficult to reliably transmit such a large data of lossless music without wires with current Bluetooth technology. I think most people who have used existing high-resolution codecs will agree.

As a subset of the aptX Adaptive codec, the aptX Lossless codec is only automatically activated when certain conditions are met. If you have a device that supports aptX Lossless and it doesn't seem to be activating, check to see if the following conditions are met.

- Your device must support aptX Adaptive V2.2 or higher (Snapdragon 8 Gen1 or higher, support may vary by device)
- WiFi must be switched off or using the 5GHz band. (2.4GHz overlaps with Bluetooth)
- The music source you want to play must be 16bit/44.1kHz or 16bit/48kHz. (48kHz sound sources are downsampled to 44.1kHz)
- Your wireless connection strength must meet a certain level.

The last requirement is that the connection quality must be above a certain level for the lossless codec to be activated.

Fortunately, MTW4 doesn't just support the lossless codec, but Sennheiser claims to have worked with Qualcomm to redesign the antenna and use the latest communication technology to maximise connection stability.



You can see the difference by comparing photos of the inside of the housing.

The placement and area of the antennas is crucial for good connection reliability.
Unlike its predecessor, which used a single antenna, the MTW4 has two antennas, giving it a considerably larger overall coverage area.

With the significant improvements to the physical antenna design, I definitely noticed a significant improvement in the connection stability that many people who used the previous gen pointed out.

I rarely experienced any dropouts, even in a crowded subway during my commute and in a large cafe with a lot of communication equipment.

My only complaint was that when I started to move away from my multipoint-connected device, I would experience dropouts, even if the main device playing the sound was still close by.

Considering that other products with the Qualcomm 'S5 Gen1QCC5171' chipset, which also supports aptX Lossless, have the same issue, I suspect this is a bug shared by devices with the latest Qualcomm chipsets.

I have sent feedback to Sennheiser about this problem and a new firmware update went online few hours ago. I haven't tested it yet to see if it's fixed, but hopefully the firmware update will fix it.



The quest to enjoy lossless music without wire doesn't stop there.

We mentioned earlier that Sennheiser have not only revamped communication design but also applied the latest technology for stable lossless music listening.

The 'latest technology' we are referring to is 'LE Audio' - the next generation Bluetooth audio standard.

LE Audio is based on Bluetooth LE, an ultra-low power communication technology that is completely different from the Bluetooth Classic we've been used to. This allows it to consume much less power and operate much more efficiently given the same bandwidth.

By "more efficient," we mean lower latency while maintaining the same sound quality, or even better sound quality while maintaining the same connection reliability.

When you connect MTW4 to a Snapdragon 8 Gen2 or newer device, the aptX Adaptive (aptX Lossless) codec will most likely operate on the next-generation standard - 'LE Audio' - rather than the existing 'Bluetooth Classic'.

I don't have the latest Android device to test this, but it will allow more stable connection performance when playing lossless music.



I've described LE Audio as a new technology for stable, lossless music listening, but it's hard to say that's all it is - there are so many exciting new features.

One of the most iconic features is 'AURACAST'.

To put it simply, the 'Auracast' technology included in 'LE Audio' is something that breaks the frame of 'one-to-one' communication with a clearly defined 'receiver' and 'sender' - like a 'phone call'.

The 'Auracast' enables 'one-to-many' communication via Bluetooth, just like listening to the radio.



In fact, those who first led the development of 'LE Audio' was hearing aid companies.

The 'Auracast' technology is expected to be a perfect replacement for 'telecoil' devices that have not been widely used due to high installation costs. You'll be able to experience the importance of 'telecoils' in helping hearing impaired people with hearing aids to better hear voices in noisy and crowded places after watching the video above.

This doesn't mean that 'Auracast' is a technology that can only be used in limited areas - there are already smart TVs on the market that can connect three or more Bluetooth earphones simultaneously through 'Auracast' technology, so it has a lot of potential to bring new experiences to everyone in the future.



I've probably already spilled too much alien language, so let's answer the question "so what does it sound like".

The Momentum True Wireless 4 has the same 7mm TrueResponse transducer.

This, coupled with the 'Acoustic Back Volume' construction, achieved Sennheiser signature sound in wireless earphones by naturally regulating the airflow behind the drivers without the need for manipulating the signal with DSP.

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Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link - a collective 711 measurement database by Korean audiophile community users.



This is a basic sound measurement with active noise cancellation enabled.

Note that, as with its predecessor, it was impossible to align the resonance peak to 8kHz. I inserted them a little deeper than usual to bring the peak down to 7kHz.

In many ways, the signature Sennheiser sound from the wired IE series is quite visible on this unit as well. I would describe it as a right-skewed, slightly V-shaped sound.

Compared to the in-ear target, they have a slightly drop at sub-bass and a more body in the bass range, especially in the mid-bass, giving them a slightly smoother and fuller bass.

They do a great job of reproducing the resonance and texture of instruments without sounding muffled, and compared to their predecessors, I think this is a positive change that better represents the TrueResponse driver's charm.

Compared to previous Sennheiser earphones, the emphasis in the midrange is more towards the highs, which makes the sound more natural. and the way in which the TrueResponse driver's excellent treble extension is handled by gradually pushing the highs down until to 6kHz, while simultaneously giving a slight dip at 8kHz, ensures that the sound is not overly shouty.

Despite this, there is still a generous amount of upper treble, making for a clear highs.



MTW4's dedicated app - 'Sennheiser Smart Control' includes a 5-band equalizer with two features.

The 'Bass Boost' feature works with the five-band equalizer and, based on the sound you set, it gently adds ~3dB of bass from 500Hz onwards. It's shown that they are adjusting the overall sound as if you were putting on a preamp to avoid clipping and other adverse effects.

For the 'Podcast' feature, the sound is locked to a bass-reduced sound to make the voice band more audible, and the ability to modulate the sound, including the 5-band EQ, is disabled.

Take a look at the measurements above to see how each feature works!


In addition to this, there are 7 EQ presets pre-generated by Sennheiser using 5-band equalizer.

Each of the seven genre-specific EQs - 'Rock', 'Pop', 'Dance', 'Hip-Hop', 'Classical', 'Film' and 'Jazz' - has a different sound, and you can see how they compare to the Harman in-ear targets in the measurement image above.



Additionally, to give you an idea of how each of the five bands present in the dedicated app equaliser affect the sound, I've taken measurements with 6dB increments of each.

I hope this helps you on your journey to finding your own sound.



+ ANC

I've noticed that the sound changes slightly depending on whether Active Noise Cancellation is enabled or not, but the change is subtle enough that most people won't notice it.

There seems to be some disagreement on how well the noise cancelling performs, but I personally think it does a good job of blocking out noise, just not quite up to par with some of the best performing ones. It doesn't reduce the noise to the point of complete silence, but the range of noise cancelling is quite wide, and I found that it does a good job of blocking noise in the mid-to-high range.

According to Sennheiser, the MTW4's noise cancelling strength automatically adjusts to the level of ambient noise, but there's no way to lock the noise cancelling strength to the maximum, so I suspect there may be variations in noise isolation performance depending on the situation or wearing conditions.

Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, there is still no wind deflector mesh in this new model, but the algorithm does a good job of cancelling out wind noise, so I didn't feel the need to use the 'anti-wind mode' through the app. Personally, I think the 'anti-wind' feature is only necessary if you're running or in a extremely windy conditions.

+ Transparency Mode

The transparency mode, which lets you hear your surroundings, does a good job - it doesn't make you feel like you're not wearing earbuds, but it balances out a fairly wide range of ambient sounds and feels quite natural.

You can adjust the volume of the ambient sound through the app, but I personally felt that the default of 70% was a bit low, and turning the volume up to 100% definitely made the ambient sound more natural. but it will amplify the white noise and make it even more susceptible to wind noise.

I really wish they had a wind shield on it. You hear a lot of wind noise when you're in transparent mode.

-

So far, we've taken a look at Sennheiser's latest flagship wireless earbuds - the Momentum True Wireless 4 (MTW4).

While the Sennheiser signature sound achieved with the 7mm TrueResponse transducers and Acoustic Back Volume in the previous iteration has been praised by many consumers and critics alike, the MTW4 introduces next-generation wireless technology to push the boundaries of wireless audio even further.

While 'lossless audio without wires' is still some time away from becoming the norm, the pace of progress suggests it may be closer than we think.

Of course, the sound of the aptX Adaptive codec, which can transmit up to 24bit/96kHz, is already compelling enough, but the fact that the redesign was aimed at "wireless, reliable, lossless music listening" and that other fundamentals such as "connection stability" were also addressed during the redesign process, I think there are some changes to convince even those who are still far away from lossless music to try it.

As with the previous MTW Series, the MTW4 is definitely recommended for those who want to experience Sennheiser's signature sound wirelessly, but it's even more recommended for those who want a glimpse into the future of 'LE Audio' and other next-generation audio technologies at the forefront of wireless technology.

NiceHCK DB2 :: 1DD+1BA Hybrid IEM :: $22.99 (At the time of writing this review)

NiceHCK is an audio manufacturer primarily known for its custom cable line, such as DragonScale. but the company has been producing earphones as well for quite some time. The YD30, and NX7 Mk4 earphones have gained some popularity at Korean community.

NiceHCK DB2 have a similar attractive design from aforementioned NX7 MK4, and a 1DD+1BA hybrid design that combines one dynamic driver and one balanced armature driver, but at an accessible price of $22.99.

-

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

This entire review was translated from Korean article using DeepL Translator with some refinement by myself.

-




Opening the package, the first thing you see is a postcard with anime girl illustration.
The postcard has the words - 'Tian Hui' on it, which I assume means 'gift from heaven'.

Underneath the postcard is a leather pouch with cable and eartips in it.



For such an inexpensive product, it is quite rich in accessories.

- NiceHCK DB2 unit
- 3 pairs of Gray tips
- 5 pairs of NiceHCK 07 tips
- 0.78 2-pin high purity OFC 3.5mm cable (QDC type)
- Velcro cable organizer
- Leather carrying case
- Warranty card, user manual, and postcard



The DB2 comes with three pairs of generic gray tips and five pairs of NiceHCK 07 eartips.
They're not super high quality, but they're not bad either. they're pretty standard eartips.

I like that the 07 eartips provide you 5 different size options of eartips.



This is the high-purity, oxygen-free copper cable that came with the DB2.
For a company that focuses on custom cables, this is a decent quality cable for a fairly inexpensive pair of earphones.

They're very flexible and lightweight, so even if you're not used to 'over-ear' type earphones, this will be easy to get used to.




The PolyCarbonate(PC) unit - finished with an aluminum edge and a resin faceplate, is a design carried over from the much-loved NX7 Mk4.

The overall finish is quite good for the price point, as is the design, which is similar to that of products costing over five times as much.



DB2 features a "QDC type" 0.78mm 2-pin connector,
which has a slightly protruding terminal and a cable that wraps around it.

This design aims to provide a more secure fit.




To ensure linearity of the sound, a balanced armature is fitted inside the metal nozzle.
Behind it, is a 10mm dynamic driver with a titanium and graphene composite diaphragm.

Despite it has the two drivers, the unit is quite small in size.
They fit comfortably in my ears without any discomfort, so I was able to use them for a long time.

-

Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link - a collective 711 measurement database by Korean audiophile community users.




DB2 is characterized by rich bass and smooth highs.

The bass is gradually emphasised, mainly on a mid-bass, giving a warm and rich sound. The heavy punch makes the sound quite entertaining, but it may also sound a bit muffled in some tracks.

The vocals aren't the most prominent, but they're clear and on point, with just the right amount of distance to keep the listener from feeling thirsty. It might sound a bit dull for some tracks, but some might appreciate the lack of sibilance.

The treble is not as prominent as the bass, which puts a bit of distance from the 'crisp' highs. However, they do not sound too dull either, and they have a comfortable amount of treble that does not tire the ears even after prolonged listening.

You may find yourself subconsciously turning up the volume, but I'm really just nitpicking at this point. The overall sound quality is quite impressive considering the price.



There is little to no difference between the two eartips that come with DB2.

I personally recommend using the NiceHCK 07 (white) eartips, which are slightly softer and come in a variety of sizes.




So far, we've taken a look at NiceHCK's DB2 hybrid IEM.

At a fairly low price of $22.99, they are a great value for money, with an attractive appearance and 1DD+1BA hybrid configuration.

One of their strengths is the beautiful design, which is inspired by their higher-end product, and the high-quality accessories. These features make them stand out from other products in the same price range.

This product has excellent sound quality, which makes it a great choice for anyone looking for a warm and balanced sound with a touch of excitement.

In many ways, I believe it could serve as a perfect gift for people who aren't interested in earphones.
... As long as you and your friend are okay with the cover art. haha

-

Non-Affiliated Link (if you're interested)

Aliexpress：https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006486403517.html
HiFiGo: https://hifigo.com/products/nicehck-db2
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT5F6FHY/nicehck+db2/
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CT5K3Y9G/nicehck+db2/

AFUL SnowyNight :: USB-DAC :: 3.5mm UNBAL + 4.4mm BAL

Founded in 2018, 'AFUL Acoustics' is a newly established Chinese earphone manufacturer.

The company's Performer Series and MagicOne IEM, which are based on a patented crossover circuit design and an acoustic engineering design exquisitely realised using high-precision 3D printers, have received good reviews since their release.

After the successful launch of three IEMs in a row, AFUL's next product was not another pair of earphones, but a USB DAC. It was a bit of a surprise, but in hindsight, given AFUL's strength in circuit design, a DAC might be a good fit.

-

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

This entire review was translated from Korean article using DeepL Translator with some refinement by myself.




After removing the package box, you'll find a simple Instruction Manual and Warranty card inside.

The user manual is written in English, but there are a few things missing.
We'll get to those as we go through the review.



Inside the package, you'll find the SnowyNight DAC itself, and the cable - which AFUL has taken great effort to make.

My review unit came with a USB-C to C cable, but you can also choose a USB-C to Lightning cable for your iPhone at the time of purchase.



This is the USB-C cable bundled with SnowyNight.

It features 6N OCC single crystal copper wire, which has undergone an additional heating treatment to further enhance its purity compared to the usual oxygen-free copper wire. At the same time, it's said to be a cable that AFUL put a lot of work to match the SnowyNight, including hardware and software design to increase signal transmission stability.

Since it is a digital cable that transfer digital signals, so it would be hard for the human to tell the difference in sound compared to a cable of a decent quality.

However, most 'USB DAC' products are powered externally via a USB cable, rather than being self-powered via an inbuilt battery, so the quality of the cable could be relatively important for a USB bus-powered DAC, even if it's the same digital cable.

The high quality, gold-plated USB-C sockets and fabric-covered, flexible wires speak for themselves without the need for a lengthy explanation.



Looking at the SnowyNight USB DAC itself, you'll notice a distinctive design that keeps the overall thickness as low as possible.

It's 13mm thick in the area where the relatively bulky 3.5mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced terminals are located, and then naturally drops to 10mm as you move to the area where the USB-C terminals are located.

At 55mm in length and 22mm in width, the portability is top notch compared to its competitors, thanks to a design that sheds as much bulk as it can.



On the opposite side is the USB-C socket, with a snowflake-shaped LED on top and a snowflake pattern around it to hide it.

Next to it are the volume buttons, which can do more than just control the volume.



AFUL SnowyNight supports USB Audio Class 2.0, so you can connect it directly to Windows PC and Mac, or mobile devices including Android and iOS.

However, if you are using an older PC with Windows 7 or earlier, the DAC may not be recognised immediately, in which case AFUL has provided a separate driver for Windows via the link below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nh5q0bbpuhDJnhy_HmdvpUcJ-cGo_9V3/view?usp=sharing

Due to the nature of the CS43198 DAC chipset which doesn't have an integrated amplifier in it, SnowyNight uses the separate amplifier chip. However, it still remains power-efficient which makes it a great match for mobile devices.

This means that smartphones - especially iPhones - which are limited to the amount of current they can draw, were able to be reliably driven without ticking or disconnecting, even when plugged into Planar headphones that demand quite a bit of power.



As mentioned earlier, most DACs on the market today use the UACUSB Audio Class2.0 specification to support high bitrates, which is not yet fully supported by some game consoles, including the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Connecting a DAC that only supports UAC2.0 to these devices can cause compatibility issues where no sound is played.

So if you're looking for a DAC to use with a game console, it's important to make sure you can force the device to use UACUSB Audio Class1.0, and the AFUL SnowyNight comes with a feature to force UAC 1.0 for compatibility with game consoles.

This is the 'missing feature in the manual' we talked about earlier, and you can force it to use the UAC 1.0 specification by simply holding down the Volume + button while plugging in your DAC. With this feature enabled, you can see that the external DAC is now recognised by the Nintendo Switch, as shown in the photo above.



As another hidden feature, SnowyNight has the ability to adjust the output gain.

Low Gain mode for high sensitivity devices, such as single BA earphones,
High Gain mode for devices that require a lot of power, such as Planar headphones.

To switch between the gain modes, simply press the volume - and volume + buttons simultaneously,
You'll see the white light flash once for Low Gain and twice for High Gain.

This is handy because the gain mode is stored even after the DAC is switched off, but it's worth checking that the volume isn't too high when switching between listening devices to protect your hearing.



The hidden features don't stop there.
AFUL SnowyNight includes the ability to switch between 5 different digital filters.

All delta-sigma DACs use a 'low-pass filter' to smooth out the waveform during the process of converting a digital signal to an analogue signal. The 'Digital Filter' setting is what determines the shape of this 'low-pass filter' and is therefore an important factor affecting both frequency response and impulse response.

I was unable to find any information on what digital filters are implemented in SnowyNight, but looking at the datasheet for the CS43198 DAC chipset used in this device, it mentions that there are exactly 5 digital filters built in, so I'm guessing it's a function for switching between the filters built into the chipset.

Pressing and holding the Volume + and Volume - buttons together for one second will cause the LED to flash once, cycling through the digital filters. If switching to the 5th filter, the LED will flash twice, so you can guess which filter you're using.

Since no filter can be perfect in both 'frequency response' and 'impulse response', many DAC manufacturers offer a wide range of 'digital filters' so that you can choose your favourite. It's not easy to hear the difference in sound between digital filters, but it can be fun to listen to music as you switch between them.



With all of these great features, what does SnowyNight sound like?

As you can see from the fairly good THD performance and Dynamic Range numbers, SnowyNight sounds neutral and smooth across the entire bandwidth, from sub-bass to treble.

In particular, with a very low noise floor of just 1.5μV, the low-noise design is well-engineered to block out all sorts of external noise, so I didn't notice any noise at all, even with the earphones having a fairly high sensitivity of 115dB/mW. I also didn't notice any noise when the device was near network equipment such as smartphones and routers, so I'd say the noise shielding is pretty good.



Despite its fairly small size, it has excellent low-noise, low-distortion performance. What's more, it's capable of delivering a high output of up to 300mW, 4Vrms, but thanks to its solid energy-efficient design, it's also highly compatible and has low heat dissipation.

There are a lot of USB DACs on the market these days, but it's rare to find one that combines portability and functionality with solid fundamentals. It's hard to find any downside from this device, and SnowyNight will serve as a great way to enjoy high-fidelity sound whenever and wherever you connect it to a variety of devices.

If you're looking for a high-performance USB-DAC with high portability and wide compatibility, this is one to consider.

- Non-Afiiliated Purchase Links

Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSSHBYF6/aful+snowynight/

Amazon JP:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CSSXHHDC/aful+snowynight/

HiFiGo：
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-snowynight

Aliexpress：
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006476607781.html

Kinera Celest Plutus Beast :: $89 :: 1 Bone Conduction + 1 Balanced Armature + 1 SPDSquare Planar Driver

After launching a sub-brand named Celest, Kinera introduced the Gumiho and Pandamon to the market with its in-house developed planar driver, the SPDSquare Planar Driver.

These two models were praised for their excellent performance for its price. The new 'Plutus Beast' builds on the SPD driver of the previous two models, adding a balanced armature driver and a bone conduction driver.

-



Driver Configuration : 1 Bone Conduction + 1 Balanced Armature + 1 SPDSquare Planar Driver
Sensitivity : 108dB
Impedence : 8 ohms
Frequency Response Range : 20Hz - 20kHz
Cable Length : 1.2m
Interface : 0.78 2-PIN

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

This entire review was translated from Korean article using DeepL Translator with some refinement by myself.

-




The unit is nicely packaged with handful of components.

- High-purity 5N silver-plated copper cable (0.78 2-pin, 1.2m)
- 3 pairs of Celest 221 vocal eartips (black core)
- 3 pairs of Celest 608 balanced eartips (red core)
- 'Plutus Beast' metalic bookmark
- English/Chinese manual
- Carrying case
- Cleaning tool

The metalic bookmark is based on the illustration of 'Plutus Beast', which inspired Kinera designing this unit.
An Mythical creature of ancient Chinese legend - the 'Plutus Beast' is said to bring luck and fortune while warding off disaster.

It's a unique component that's hard to find in other products, making it feel special.




The circular leather carrying case has fairly good overall quality.

The internal space isn't quite as roomy, but there is a compartment to stash eartips or silicagel inside.



There are two types of eartips that come with the 'Plutus Beast' -
Celest 608 balanced eartips with a red core, and Celest 221 vocal eartips with a grey core.

Compared to the red balanced eartips - which follow the general shape of the eartips,
The grey vocal eartips have shorter stem, a wider shape, and a slightly larger sound bore.

With these characteristics, the grey eartips naturally encourage a shallow insertion of the earphones, bringing the treble peak a bit a forward, which in turn can have the effect of slightly accentuating the vocals.

I'll explain more about this later.



The quality of the cable is also quite good.
It has 48 strands of high-purity 5N silver-plated copper wire.

As you'd expect from a company that's been making custom cables for so long, the quality of the ports and other components are good, and the wire is quite flexible, making for a comfortable fit.

I also like the fact that you can choose either 3.5mm or 4.4mm port at the time of purchase to suit your personal preference.




With a seamless black resin shell created using 3D printing technology,
Its faceplate is impressively designed with a sparkling backdrop that reminds me of the blue Milky Way.

Said to be hand-painted, the 'Plutus Beast's faceplate has a seamless finish that makes it look like it's one piece with the high-precision 3D printed unit.



While the overall shape does feel a little bulky, it isn't that huge in person, even though the unit is packed with several drivers.

As a result, there's considerably less strain on the ears, making them comfortable to wear.

If you turn the unit around under the light, you can see the SPDSquare Planar Driver, an in-house developed planar driver in a square shape, as shown in the photo. It's hard to tell due to the dark colour, but I'm guessing there's a balanced armature just in front of the nozzle to ensure the sound is directly headed to eardrum, and a bone conduction driver behind the SPD driver.



At the bottom of the internal view above, is Kinera's bone conduction driver.
You can see that it has a very different design compared to Sonion's bone conduction actuator and the piezo-driver-based bone conduction driver.

It's hard to tell exactly how Kinera's bone conduction driver works, but based on the internal view of the product, it appears to have a very similar structure to the 'Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA)' which can be easily found as a linear vibration motor in smartphones.

This speculation is somewhat supported by the fact that you can hear the sound, which feels like a mass attached to the spring bouncing inside, when you tap the unit with your finger while wearing it.

Of course, since no one wants to have smartphone-level vibrations pounding into their eardrums(...), so it's hard to say that the design is exactly the same, but it does seem to have a very favourable design for generating 'vibrations', which is the key to 'bone conduction'.

-

Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link - a collective 711 measurement database by Korean audiophile community users.




The 'Plutus Beast' has a unique design based on the previously proven full-range SPD planar driver, with a bone conduction driver and balanced armature driver.

With a planar at the heart of the sound, there is an inherent bass texture throughout that is very responsive, with clean reproduction all the way down to the sub-bass. With that said, I felt a unique depth of resonance that was different to what I've ever experienced with planar driver IEMs.

I suspect that the bone conduction drivers used to complement the SPD driver's bass range contribute to this unique texture, which is hard to describe in words - it's as if they pull the focus of the planar bass - which stretches all the way to the very bottom - slightly towards the mid-bass. This gives the impression of a more emphasised bass dynamics and soundstage than traditional planar products, but it's not quite the same as the reverberant bass of a dynamic driver.

The balanced armature drivers also make a difference in the treble range.

Compared to planar IEMs, which are often criticised for being a bit harsh in the highs, the highs are quite subdued. Points where people might find irritating are pressed down enough that it's hard to feel sibilance, so it's a bit of a departure from the crisp, clear treble of Planar Driver.



That said, the vocals don't get too distant, and they maintain a decent amount of distance and presence, so they do a good job of delivering what you'd expect from what you are listening.

'Plutus Beast' is one of those IEMs where your impression of the vocals can change a lot depending on your eartips, so if you find the vocals to be lacklustre, you may want to try a different pair of eartips.

The measurements shown at the first - were taken with the insertion depth controlled, without taking into account the characteristics of the eartips. So it's hard to tell the difference in sound between the two ear tips.

In practice, if you use the grey eartips, which are more suited to wearing the earphones in shallow insertion, you may find that the treble peaks are pulled back and the vocals are accentuated - as shown in the green graph.

By contrast, if you reduce the size of the eartips, or use red eartips for deeper insertion, you would get the effect of pushing back the treble peaks, reducing the impact of the highs- as shown in the blue graph.

-



So far, we've taken a look at Kinera Celest's new Planar hybrid IEM, the 'Plutus Beast'.

It's now 2024, and it's not uncommon to find IEMs with planar drivers. With so many different manufacturers releasing their own variants, it's clear that Kinera's 'Plutus Beast' is a product that has thought hard about how to differentiate itself from the market.

With a combination of bone conduction drivers and balanced armature drivers, 'Plutus Beast' adds a new colour to planar IEM market and has a unique appeal.

If you've ever been intimidated by the harsh highs of conventional Planar IEMs,
or you're a basshead looking for something fresh, this is a product I can easily recommend.

Thank you for reading!

-

Non-Affiliated Link (if you're interested)

HiFiGo Web：https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-plutus-beast
Amazon JP：https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CR63TMB2/kinera+celest+plutus+beast
Amazon US：https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR5QNDD9/kinera+celest+plutus+beast
Aliexpress：https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006408658667.html

AFUL MagicOne :: $139.99 :: 1BA

After the success of AFUL's 'Performer Series', they shifted away from the Hybrid configuration utilizing multiple drivers.

AFUL’s latest IEM features Single BA configuration, which is quite unique these days. As I will discuss later, the 'MagicOne' is a true testament to the company's acoustic engineering skill.

-



Driver Configuration : 1 Balanced Armature
Sensitivity : 103dB/mW
Impedence : 38 ohms
Frequency Response Range : 5Hz - 35kHz
Cable Length : 1.2m
Interface : 0.78 2-PIN

Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

This entire review was translated from Korean article using DeepL Translator with some refinement by myself.

-



Opening the package, the warranty card and manual are the first things you'll see.

Inside the package, there is an iron case and a MagicOne unit.



With a metal top and bottom lid held together by a silicone structure in the middle, it looks as much like a macaron as it feels like one.

The inside of the case is lined with fabric, so you don't have to worry about scratching or damaging the unit.



Inside the case, there are 0.78 2-pin cable and eartips.



You get a 32+37 core hybrid cable that's made of 'Oxygen-Free Copper' and 'Silver-Plated Oxygen-Free Copper' woven together in a 'Litz Type 4 method'. It's quite flexible, and the quality is decent.

When purchasing the product, you can choose either 3.5mm or 4.4mm connector, depending on your preference.

The cable used in the review is a 3.5mm cable.



You also get two different types of eartip, which are nearly identical in shape and other characteristics - except for the difference in material.

The white ear tips are slightly firmer and the black ear tips are slightly softer, so it's a matter of comfort and preference.



The faceplate is quite attractive, with a silver decoration that repeats a snowflake pattern against a backdrop of fluffy white particles.

This is paired with a transparent resin shell that is fully visible on the inside, creating a design that is reminiscent of cold snowflakes and ice.



Nevertheless, the eye is naturally drawn to the internal structure of the unit.

It contains a single balanced armature driver, which is tiny, measuring less than 5 mm long and 2.5 mm thick, but the sheer complexity of the acoustic engineering that fills the rest of the unit never ceases to amaze the eye.



To ensure the straightness of the sound, the balanced armature driver is placed in a straight line directly to the nozzle.

The eye is natually guided to a maze of winding passages around the driver.

Named the 'Nautilus Acoustic Maze technology', the design utilizes AFUL's high-performance 3D printing technology to create a large resonator box connected to the BA driver, which is then connected to an external hole via a long resonator tube.

The vast resonator box, housed in a space as small as a fingernail, is connected to a series of very thin resonator tubes, as thin as 0.91mm, and the total length of these tubes is a whopping 7.7cm.

This creates an effect similar to a low-pass filter, and goes a long way to improving the bass reproduction, which is one of the weak points of single BA earphones.



Above the resonator structure, which takes up more than half of the unit, is a complex circuit of large capacitors arranged in rows.

Unlike most IEM earphones that use only resistors and capacitors to tune the sound, AFUL has been using crossovers based on its in-house developed RLC circuit since its first product - the Performer 5.

Designed with additional inductors as well as resistors and capacitors, the RLC circuit has more favorable characteristics for controlling the dip and peak of the sound from the driver.

The circuit with this design, is combined with AFUL's core acoustic technology - 'SE-Math', which compensates the difference between the driver's inherent sound and the sound that has gone through a complex acoustic design structure, is said to further improve the sound characteristics of the MagicOne's Treble.

-

Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link - a collective 711 measurement database by Korean audiophile community users.



Measured with included black tip.

Not to be outdone by the Harman in-ear targets, the MagicOne has a nice, smooth tonal balance across the entire frequency from sub-bass to treble despite being a single BA IEM.

the MagicOne's bass - Completed with a resonator design that takes up more than half of the unit's internal space - is hard to believe it's coming from a single BA. With the decent amount of body-ness, the bass still has a slight resemblance of a balanced armature with a fast responsiveness, resulting in a clean and natural sounding bass.

This is followed by a smooth midrange, and a wide bandwidth that stretches all the way to the top end, completing the crisp and clean sound.



Measured with the included white tip.

You won't see much difference from the black tip measurement.



Here's a direct comparison of the two measurements.

We can safely assume that there is no significant difference.

-



I remember when AFUL's first product, the 'Performer Series' first landed, it created quite a sensation, not only because of the ‘unique’ company name, but also because of the quality of the product. I hadn't personally had the opportunity to own any AFUL products, but their presence was enough to make an impression on my mind.

So when I came across the news that AFUL was releasing a new pair of single BA earphones, I have to admit I was a little bit intrigued.

Because a Single BA design - As you might already know, is a form factor that's not often explored these days, as hybrid designs that mix new types of drivers to differentiate themselves have become more mainstream.

What's more, the 1BA structure has clear limitations if approached casually, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that AFUL took on the challenge and delivered a very high level of achievement.

The use of a high-performance balanced armature driver, coupled with a clear recognition of its limitations and the acoustic engineering design to overcome them - the ‘MagicOne’ - is a testament to AFUL’s technical understanding and mass production skills.

With ‘MagicOne’, following on from the 'Performer Series', I believe that AFUL has once again demonstrated their acoustic engineering design capabilities.

The design of the unit, showing off the interior, almost makes you wonder if the choice was partly a reflection of its character as a 'technology showpiece’ to demonstrate their skills.

Thank you for reading!

-

Non-Affiliated Link (if you're interested)

HiFiGo Official Store:
https://hifigo.com/products/aful-magicone

HiFiGo Aliexpress Store:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006184207746.html

Tangzu X Divinus FuDu verse 1 :: $89 :: 1DD+2BA

Tangzu’s latest - FuDu is their first product under ‘Zen’ Hybrid IEM Series.

It is also the first product they have released in collaboration with other company, Divinus. - featuring two sets of premium eartips - Tangzu’s ‘Tang Sancai’, and Divinus’ ‘Velvet’.

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Driver Configuration : 1 Dynamic Driver + 2 Balanced Armature
Driver Specifications : 10 mm DD + 2 Balanced Armature
Distortion Rate : ≤1% at 1kHz
Sensitivity : 106dB ±≤1dB at 1kHz
Channel Difference : <1%
Impedence : 16 ohms
Frequency Response Range : 20Hz - 20kHz
Cable Type : 25*0.05 Silver plated
Cable Length : 1.25m
Interface : 0.78 2-PIN

Huge thanks to Divinus - a part of this collaboration and also, a long-time distributor of Tangzu in South Korea - for providing a sample unit for this review.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

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Named after China’s one of the greatest poets, FuDu has a quite large package.

At the back, you can see the specification I wrote above.



Opening the package, you're greeted with some plenty of accessories.

* 3 pairs of Tangzu ‘Tang Sancai’ tips
* 3 pairs of Divinus' ‘Velvet’ tips
* Silver-plated Oxygen-Free Copper Cable inside the Carrying case

The two premium eartips that come with the FuDu are not cheap by no means - costing a total of $40 when purchased individually (Korean retail price), but when combined with the FuDu unit, they make a quite noticeable difference to the sound - bringing the joy of switching eartips.




Inside the carrying case, you’ll find a 4.4mm silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable.

It's not a shockproof hard case, but the overall build quality is pretty good, and it feels like it's been put together with a lot of thought, like a separate compartment for eartips and silica gel.

Personally, I already have a hard case for my earphones, so it was nice to have a pretty case that I could slip into my bag and carry around.



Included 0.05 x 25-wire 4-core silver-plated OFC cable comes with two options, 3.5mm and 4.4mm, so you can choose according to your preference.

I like the fact that we can choose the 4.4mm cable at no extra charge.

The cable is finished in a matte, rubbery material that feels soft to the touch, and the 2-pin connector that fits securely with the unit is a testament to its quality.



When you pull out the unit, you'll see that it's surprisingly equipped with a pair of standard eartips.

While they're not bad, they certainly look a little bit shabby compared to the two premium eartips that come with the unit. They're also only available in one Medium size, so it's unlikely you'll ever use them.



The black translucent resin shell that forms the unit was created using 3D printing techniques to ensure various drivers precisely fitted with minimal error.
And it is finished with CNC-machined aluminum plates and brass-coloured metal nozzles.



Compared to Tangzu's predecessors, FuDu has a more subdued and simple design, which is likely to appeal to a wider audience.

Frosted aluminum faceplate around the smooth triangle in the center is really attractive, regardless of price point.



Also, despite the 1DD+2BA hybrid configuration, the unit is fairly small and very comfortable to wear.

Thanks to this, the nozzle looks really long in the photos, but when you compare it directly to other products, you'll see that the nozzle length is about average.

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Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) with 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link



This is a FR graph, measured with the pre-installed tips.

The sound is well-balanced overall, with a nicely pumped up bass above Harman Target, and a treble that's comfortably mellow without being irritating, thanks to a decent dip at 3kHz and 5-8kHz.



True to their name, Divinus' ‘Velvet’ eartips are micro-embossed for a unique, yet soft touch.

The special surface treatment makes it easy to remove debris and allows the earphones to gradually release pressure after some time in the ear.
Also, combined with its unique shape - which tapers towards the tip like a jar - allows for deeper insertion .



This is a comparison between the ‘pre-installed eartip’ measurement and the ‘velvet tip’ measurement.

The measurements don't show much of a difference except in the upper treble, because we control the insertion depth during the measurement.
However, as mentioned above, the unique structure of the velvet tip allows for a deeper insertion, which seems to slightly improve staging, and extend the sub-bass with better isolation performance.



Like the velvet tips, Tangzu's ‘Tang Sancai’ eartips are also quite unique.

They've got a really interesting pattern on the surface. It relieves pressure and, most importantly, reduces sub-bass when worn.



When we compare the ‘velvet tip’ measurement with the ‘Tang Sancai’ measurement, you can see that this characteristic has created a visible difference in the sub-bass.

It didn't make that much of a difference on a metallic ear simulator, but personally, it felt like the bass was being reduced quite a bit and the vocals and treble were being emphasized a bit more, resulting in a slightly more balanced sound.

This is the first time I've used Tangzu's ‘Tang Sancai’ ear tips, and while I don't feel like the seal is any worse than with other eartips, the reduction of the sub-bass was quite surprising.

It's fun to try different eartips depending on your preference.



A hybrid earphone with a minimalist design and exquisite tonal balance, FuDu is a compelling product in its own right.

Plus, the two premium eartips that come with the FuDu add to the richness of the package, giving you the satisfaction of unboxing them and the fun of switching between eartips to enjoy different sounds.

Whether you're an enthusiast who wants to experience the sound changes that come with different eartips, or a beginner looking for a pair of IEM with smooth, warm, musical sound in the $100 range, I can easily recommend this.

Thank you for reading!

Denon PerL Pro - is their second True Wireless Stereo earbuds on the market.
It features Personalized Sound with Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology, World's first AptX Lossless support, and much more.

I received this unit from Distributor in Korea, but these are my honest review.
Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

Package & Design



The package is very simple, and it provide following additional accessories -

* Charging cable
* 3 pairs of Silicone eartips (XS, S, L) - M size eartip preinstalled
* Single pair of Memory foam tips
* Single pair of extended wing tips. - shorter version of wing tips preinstalled



The charging case does not feel super premium considering its price, but it can be charged in either wired or wireless.

Definitely bigger than competitors, but I would still consider this barely 'pocketable' in my pants. (35mm x 31.5mm x 72mm)



Unlike the 'outer circle' of the unit, the inner part is relatively small. I had no problem wearing this, but I don't think this would fit nicely to everyone.



We can see there's wear detection sensor, and feed-forward microphone - placed quite aggressively close to ear.

Sound

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Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) with 94dB@500hz,
with Denon PerL Pro connected to Sennheiser BTD600 using AptX Adaptive 24/96.

The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

If we look back at the FR Graph of Denon's previous TWS - AH-C830NCW, we can see quite a lot of similarities. In an interview with Denon Sound Master - Shinichi Yamauchi san, he explained this sound signature as "Vivid & Spacious".

It's definitely more of a love-it-or-hate-it sound, but it's actually not bad - at least for me.



You can adjust the amount of bass by changing 'Immersion Level' in Denon Headphones App.



And here's how the sound changed after personalising it with my own ears: the uniqueness of the 'Default Mode' sound is somewhat diluted, becoming more generic, bassy and... kinda weird in the treble. I had to reduce the bass by turning 'Immersion Mode' down by 2 to get it to sound like what you see in the image above.

One thing I have noticed is that the personalised sound - especially the mid/high range - is slightly shifted to the left, no matter how many times I try to re-measure my ear. Measuring with foam tips was my closest approach to a balanced sound, but I can still feel the midrange shifting to the left. It's a little scary to think that I might be so used to having ears with different hearing that I'm awkwardly perceiving a truly balanced sound.



Anyway, toggling the ANC mode on and off, or activating 'Social Mode' also changes the sound. This change in bass also applies when using 'Default Mode'.

You cannot turn ANC off without using the application, so this could be a bummer for some.

Features

Denon PerL Pro is packed with latest Qualcomm SoC with AptX Lossless support, so everything you would expect for a flagship TWS in this price range - like, multipoint, ANC, Spatial Audio - is here for you.

ANC

Thanks to good physical sound isolation, ANC performs better than I thought. It's quite close to the second-generation AirPods Pro, but the algorithm feels a little less mature. I can feel it struggles to compensate the occlusion effect noise when my feet hits the floor.

Microphone Quality

Microphone Quality is also great, I had no problem while calling someone at noisy environment.



You can experience the quality of ANC / Social Mode and Microphone with the video above.
(I'm talking in Korean tho)

Connectivity

It supports AptX Lossless - which can transmit 16/44.1 CD Quality audio without compressing it, but there's not much device that can transmit audio signal using it. I used AptX Adaptive on PC and AAC on iPhone.

For the most part, the connection was stable, but there were areas in my house where it was strangely stuttering. There are no routers or anything else around to cause signal interference, so I'm assuming that moving away from a device connected to the multipoint causes stuttering, even if you have a device with sound playing nearby, but I'm not sure.

Final Thoughts

Denon PerL Pro is indeed a unique piece of hardware, packed with special OAE measurement features and Denon's own 'Vivid & Spacious' sound signature.

In the crowded market of flagship-class TWS, the concept of finding your 'own sound' certainly makes the Denon Pearl Pro stand out. The use of the latest Qualcomm chipset and support for Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless codec is also an attraction that music lovers can't ignore. I'm not sure if they'll ever make it to the region of you - the readers - but they're definitely worth checking out at least once.