Reviews by ttorbic
Context
I had been eyeing an "end-game" set for some time before taking the leap and purchasing the Canon (note: end-game for my budget). I really enjoyed the Aladdin, which is a 1 DD + 3 BA set, but felt it was time to upgrade. A shout-out to @rattlingblanketwoman and HBB who took the plunge before me and shared their impressions with the community. When I received the Canon, I had already sold my Aladdin, which is why I am only including comparisons to the Olina (with some against the S12 as a bonus).
- Yanyin Canon: 1DD (10 mm biocellulose vs 9.2 mm from Aladdin, according to Penon) + 4BA (presumed Knowles; different BA models to Aladdin, according to Penon). SE cable + stock tips.
- Tripowin x HBB Olina: modded with O2 filter + Y4 filter on front vent. SE cable + kbear07 tips.
- LETSHUOER S12: modded with Y4 filter on front vent. SE cable + Final E tips
- Sources: Qudelix & ifi Zen DAC. Using Y-splitter to A/B for comparisons. Spotify (highest resolution offered).
- Bought myself. RRP 349 USD at time of writing
- Tripowin x HBB Olina: modded with O2 filter + Y4 filter on front vent. SE cable + kbear07 tips.
- LETSHUOER S12: modded with Y4 filter on front vent. SE cable + Final E tips
- Sources: Qudelix & ifi Zen DAC. Using Y-splitter to A/B for comparisons. Spotify (highest resolution offered).
- Bought myself. RRP 349 USD at time of writing
- Ok, no one wants to start reading a review with a QC issue, and I'm being fairly nit-picky about this, but at 349 USD, it's not loose change, so I will critique Yanyin. My Canon shell faceplates have small bubbles (see example in image below, blue arrow). Minor, but also avoidable if they were careful with the resin moulding
- The stock cable is really nice, BUT the 2pin connector is very long and acts as big levers that add strain to the connection (red circle). I swapped to a **** cable with shorter 2pin connectors.
- Otherwise, the Canon fit me like a glove. I had the same with the Aladdin, so their shell shape must really jive with me. Passive isolation is very good.
- The stock cable is really nice, BUT the 2pin connector is very long and acts as big levers that add strain to the connection (red circle). I swapped to a **** cable with shorter 2pin connectors.
- Otherwise, the Canon fit me like a glove. I had the same with the Aladdin, so their shell shape must really jive with me. Passive isolation is very good.
General impressions
The Canon has 3 tuning switches per channel that actually do something (~2-3 dB increase; check out HBB or other people's graphs that I shared in this post: https://forum.hifiguides.com/t/yanyin-audio-canon/33973/2). This means there are 8 different combinations to choose from, which is a great feature but a nightmare for reviewing. For the sake of my time and simplicity, I have settled on 010 (so mids boosted) for the rest of the impressions and comparisons. Why? I found 000 to be fun but a little too much bass for me - female vocals like Adele and Agnes Noble were slightly recessed when the songs had drums/guitar tracks. It wasn't always an issue, but personally I prefer 010 for general listening, and 110 if I want a more fun bassy sound.
Overall, the Canon sounds amazing. Bass extends very deep, has excellent rumble and impact, and has a great organic sound. It's not fast like planars, but it adds musicality to the bass. Mids are forward with 010 tuning, no issues there. Treble is also well-extended without any sibilance. I wrote down two observations over and over again:
1. Cymbals sound delicious. So clear, so holographic.
2. Bass hits *hard*
The Canon has a decent stage, but the sounds are dense within that volume - good note-weight plus good imaging and layering bring out intimacy (from the vocalist) yet nice reverb/echo and placement of instruments. The Canon sounds like it has Oxygen-like bass (note: I sold my Oxygen prior to getting the Canon, but I do have the Olina and am basing my thoughts on the extensive A/Bing I did with the Olina and the Oxygen), and imaging that is better than the Olina.
I couldn't find any faults with the timbre apart from the upper registers of the violin, which sometimes sounded a bit plastic-y. I don't know how obvious this would be to others, so YMMV.
Detailed impressions with songs & comparisons with the Olina and S12
[Politely](https://open.spotify.com/track/2wYcFlIcbj0Aw1Jsek5jjS?si=9aeb2568337241b7)
Canon: good slam, **cymbals are delicious, clear, ringing / reverb**. Good slam on bass. 35 s with drums intro - very good bass extension
Olina: Cymbals less holographic, more deadpan; separation not as good (Canon very clear left for bass, right for piano until 1 min)
[Rosita](https://open.spotify.com/track/3tzOXO0tEqbI4SCrSDhZ4J?si=d3271db0ac3d4a52)
Canon vs Olina: Canon better depth in stage but Olina slightly wider. Better echo/reverb; more bass; timbre similar. Canon has more note-weight than the Olina, so the saxophone sounds more full
[Swashers](https://open.spotify.com/track/5IqjAH2ynF7320IVnqfjlT?si=38514caaa7f54b3e)
Canon: nicely holographic intro first 50 sec with female voice; deep bass at 1'10.
Olina: more pillowy bass; imaging of female voice not as good. Stage wide but less height.
[TAL](https://open.spotify.com/track/4fpga33olXbMMjZMkHFGrg?si=ceb1c6d57e0747d6)
Canon: heavier note-weight. As good timbre as Olina. Width about same, possibly narrower. Similar height. Canon bass slams harder.
[Winter 1](https://open.spotify.com/track/1jWQ4n73jdT7y9gR2VHu0g?si=33ab0b65782944b5)
Canon: more holographic; violins' upper register sounds a bit plastic; 1'33 double bass comes in with more slam.
Olina: good timbre (violins, harpsichord), good air
Canon: good slam, **cymbals are delicious, clear, ringing / reverb**. Good slam on bass. 35 s with drums intro - very good bass extension
Olina: Cymbals less holographic, more deadpan; separation not as good (Canon very clear left for bass, right for piano until 1 min)
[Rosita](https://open.spotify.com/track/3tzOXO0tEqbI4SCrSDhZ4J?si=d3271db0ac3d4a52)
Canon vs Olina: Canon better depth in stage but Olina slightly wider. Better echo/reverb; more bass; timbre similar. Canon has more note-weight than the Olina, so the saxophone sounds more full
[Swashers](https://open.spotify.com/track/5IqjAH2ynF7320IVnqfjlT?si=38514caaa7f54b3e)
Canon: nicely holographic intro first 50 sec with female voice; deep bass at 1'10.
Olina: more pillowy bass; imaging of female voice not as good. Stage wide but less height.
[TAL](https://open.spotify.com/track/4fpga33olXbMMjZMkHFGrg?si=ceb1c6d57e0747d6)
Canon: heavier note-weight. As good timbre as Olina. Width about same, possibly narrower. Similar height. Canon bass slams harder.
[Winter 1](https://open.spotify.com/track/1jWQ4n73jdT7y9gR2VHu0g?si=33ab0b65782944b5)
Canon: more holographic; violins' upper register sounds a bit plastic; 1'33 double bass comes in with more slam.
Olina: good timbre (violins, harpsichord), good air
[My same](https://open.spotify.com/track/7pbQxZifd3jTQ2MJuAOoSh?si=d87d2e5ffdef4f96)
Canon: Finger snaps clearer; better layering 1' when drums kick in, it's behind Adele but still audible. Drums slam more. Guitar sounds nice. No sibilance
Olina: Thoughts based on comparisons to Canon 000 to illustrate recessed mids. Voice a bit more forward than Canon 000; guitar not overpowering Adele. 1': drums bit more interfering with Adele than Canon 000. These issues were mitigated with Canon 010.
[The curse](https://open.spotify.com/track/7hiY7fVxa0LEUeUP4F4ReR?si=1dfa323126944a5f)
Olina: Agnes voice wide, holographic. Good timbre on strings
Canon: Holographic voice; Good layering, voice nicely forward
[Nowicaresomemore](https://open.spotify.com/track/2gXYLIrLrHVViRCnbh8kCQ?si=cf4403786691463c)
Canon: Imaging is better than Olina. Holographic. Good depth
Olina: wide stage; good height; male vocals sounds lighter, less full-bodied
Canon: Finger snaps clearer; better layering 1' when drums kick in, it's behind Adele but still audible. Drums slam more. Guitar sounds nice. No sibilance
Olina: Thoughts based on comparisons to Canon 000 to illustrate recessed mids. Voice a bit more forward than Canon 000; guitar not overpowering Adele. 1': drums bit more interfering with Adele than Canon 000. These issues were mitigated with Canon 010.
[The curse](https://open.spotify.com/track/7hiY7fVxa0LEUeUP4F4ReR?si=1dfa323126944a5f)
Olina: Agnes voice wide, holographic. Good timbre on strings
Canon: Holographic voice; Good layering, voice nicely forward
[Nowicaresomemore](https://open.spotify.com/track/2gXYLIrLrHVViRCnbh8kCQ?si=cf4403786691463c)
Canon: Imaging is better than Olina. Holographic. Good depth
Olina: wide stage; good height; male vocals sounds lighter, less full-bodied
Brief comparison against the S12
[Cherry](https://open.spotify.com/track/5k44yc5bXO1XRedzjaugdQ?si=84d250dca59045f8)
Canon bass not as fast but more note-weight. Deeper extension. Stage taller and deeper. Male vocals more forward. Detail similar.
[The curse](https://open.spotify.com/track/7hiY7fVxa0LEUeUP4F4ReR?si=1dfa323126944a5f)
S12: good width and height. Bow tapping clear. Good cello timbre. Violin sounds a bit thin
Canon: deeper, more echo/reverb. Bow tapping clear. Timbre ok here.
Canon bass not as fast but more note-weight. Deeper extension. Stage taller and deeper. Male vocals more forward. Detail similar.
[The curse](https://open.spotify.com/track/7hiY7fVxa0LEUeUP4F4ReR?si=1dfa323126944a5f)
S12: good width and height. Bow tapping clear. Good cello timbre. Violin sounds a bit thin
Canon: deeper, more echo/reverb. Bow tapping clear. Timbre ok here.
Conclusion
It's difficult to find faults with the Canon because it is better than anything I've listened to until now. Sure, I could try to compare with my Sundara, but that will really be apples to oranges! So based on the IEMs I have and my music tastes, the Canon is excellent. The tuning switches make the Canon a great all-rounder - I can essentially apply a hardware-based EQ to fit my mood. More bass? 110. More mids? 010. More treble and air? 001. Yanyin knows how to tune, so you start with a solid foundation, then you can customise to your tastes - what more can you ask for? (I mean, you could upgrade the individual components and throw in more drivers maybe...but not sure I need to one-up the Canon for a good long time!)
As always, thanks for reading, and happy listening
EQbumb
Please could you share the link for the y4 filter for the s12
