After the successful design of Kanas Pro and KXXS, Moondrop scores another home run with the release of the all-new Blessing - tuned according to the famous Harman Target Curve.

Disclaimer
This review is originally posted on Headphonesty. Thank you, Apos Audio for sending me the Moondrop Blessing in-ear monitors (IEMs). They were provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Foreword
Moondrop is a Chinese IEMs manufacturer that is growing in popularity. I heard raving reviews about this brand - especially highlighting the Kanas Pro and KXXS. These are both highly recommended models by the audiophile community in the price range of USD$200. Besides these two models, Moondrop is sought-after for another reason; they tune some of their IEMs based on the Harman Target Curve.

Harman researchers Sean Olive, Todd Welti, and Elizabeth McMullin have continued their tireless trek towards a subjectively preferred headphone target response curve. - Tyll Hertsens from InnerFidelity

Moondrop uses the studies from Harman researchers to design IEMs that are favored by the public. The Blessing is one such model. How does this IEM stand out from the crowd? Let’s find out!



Unveiling the Apocalypse

It’s obvious that Moondrop spent an adequate amount of time and effort in the design of the packaging - a wooden box with the brand name in both Chinese and English engraved on it.



Angel’s Blessing Protectors
The Blessing from our IEM angel, Moondrop, can be released by pulling the cover downward. After doing so, an anime character welcomes the users. While unboxing the Blessing, I could not stop myself from exclaiming because of my sheer amazement at the packaging.


Removing the anime cover, users are one step closer to the Blessing. The Blessing and its accessories are comfortably encased in a soft, leather box. And the cable is stored in an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) package underneath the case.









Releasing the Blessing
Opening the soft leather case, you will find the Blessing and ear tips waiting for you.


The Science Behind

• Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 40 kHz
• Impedance: 23 Ω at 1 kHz
• Sensitivity: 105 dB at 1 kHz
• Cable: Detachable 0.78mm 2-pin 3.5mm unbalanced cable
• Drivers: 1 Dynamic + 4 Balanced Armature per side

Architecture and Design
Every shell is expertly hand polished and meticulously printed with 3D technology; this mixture of technology advancement and hand craftsmanship creates the beauty of the Blessing.

Flaunting an attractive gold speckled design, the face displays the brand name. Its style is classy and modern. The polishing has produced silky smooth edges that do not cause irritation for wearers.


The nozzle is directly attached to the shell. There is no lip to hold to the ear tips, but I found this to be no issue because they sit firmly on the nozzle. There are three bores on the nozzle - one big and two small.


On the top of the shell, there is a recessed 2-pin port. I appreciate this choice because this can reduce the protruding length of 2-pin connector on the cable when attached. It will attach more firmly and there will be less chance of breaking the pin if accidentally knocked.


The stock cable is manufactured by a cable company named Lyre Acoustics. There is no information given on the material used for this cable. I believe it to be a 4-wire twisted silver plated copper cable because this is the most commonly found stock cable in the market.





The Companion
Starting out, I paired the Blessing with my beloved digital audio player (DAP) - the Opus #3. I also paired it with my Lotoo Paw 5000 mkii. But, in comparison, I came to the conclusion that the power in the Opus #3 better unleashes the potential of the Blessing.



The Call from the Angel
And now, the long-awaited sonic performance analysis. There are four balanced armature drivers and one dynamic driver on each side to create a three part sound configuration. This includes a dynamic driver to cover the low frequency, two in-house customized mid to mid-high frequency balanced armature units, and two ultrahigh frequency balanced armature units.

This combination ultimately produces a frequency response curve close to the Harman Target curve.

The sound signature is leaning slightly towards the brighter side. It portrays an engaging and exciting profile. A comparable signature I could think of is the Campfire Audio Andromeda. The soundstage is above average horizontally and slightly shy vertically. The result is a horizontal oval shape, with accurate separation and attention to detail.

The Blessing is rated at 23 ohms on impedance and 105 dB on sensitivity. It is relatively easy to be driven by most smartphones and DAPs. The additional power from the source could beneficially enhance the depth as it boosts the performance of a dynamic driver.



Shy Elves
Before I tried out the Blessing, my initial impression was that it had elevated lows. This was based on the frequency response curve. After trying it out, I see that I was totally wrong. The lows response is relatively shy compared to a lot of hybrid configured IEMs, such as the above-mentioned Campfire Audio Polaris.

My experience further proves that one should not only rely on the frequency response curve when judging the sonic performance.

The sub bass extension of the Blessing is average. The overall presentation would be closer to three-dimensional if the extension at sub bass could penetrate deeper. The lows attack fast and decay swiftly, making the presentation analytical. However, thanks to the swift bass response, the details in other frequency regions are supreme. I will elaborate on this in the coming section.

Although the lows response is relatively shy, I realized that improvement could be reached through cable rolling. A decent copper cable, such as Ares Audio Kasai, could possibly upgrade the bass response.



Angels Singing
This is my favorite part of the Blessing - it makes listening addictive!

The mid section is crystal clear, airy and spacious. It is positioned at the center stage, without being too shrill or recessed. It hits the sweet spot and melts my heart. The instruments are presented accurately and gently. Because the lows respond fast, there is no bleeding which could potentially affect the mids performance. Everything is on point.

Vocals is one of the key factors appreciated by pop song lovers, including myself. The Blessing will not disappoint you if you are looking for a pair of IEMs with decent vocal presentation.

The female vocals are precise, sweet, and airy. For male vocals, due to its slightly analytical sound profile, it could be a little thin. However, this can also be improved by cable rolling.

Soaring Highs
Untamed highs with endless extension could be a deal breaker for those who have low tolerance towards sparkling treble.

The highs are well extended. Cymbals sound crisp and natural. The Blessing accurately recreates the sound of a guitar, too. The highs inject huge amounts of air and space to the overall presentation. Overall fidelity is improved by this factor, making the Blessing a micro-detail producing machine. These factors contribute to the end result of a wide soundstage.

No IEM is perfect, including the Blessing. I experienced a bit of the harshness from the highs. This could be due to the energetic sound profile pushing the treble forward. I have a suitable treble tolerance, but the Blessing is slightly over my limit. This is another area where cable rolling could help.

After analysing the three frequency spectrums, I strongly encourage Moondrop to consider a copper cable as the stock cable for the soon to be released Blessing 2. This will portray a warmer signature.


Verdict
The Moondrop Blessing is a great choice for audiophiles who are looking for a pair of mid-range IEMs in the price range of USD$400. Moondrop’s ability to create every detail accurately produced one of the best IEM available at this cost. Compared to other Chi-Fi brands such as Knowledge-Zenith (KZ), the price is steeper. However, the sturdy build, classy packaging, and pleasing sonic performance makes it clear that it’s worth the investment.

The Blessing retails for USD$399 and can be purchased on Apos Audio official website. Apos Audio provides a free 3-5 business days shipping. There are two color choices: black and white.

Accurate lows, sweet mids and well-extended highs made the Moondrop Blessing a wonderful IEM. My Blessing is now my everyday listening companion, and I can’t deny that I have fallen in love with it.

Disclaimer
Thank you, Yang, from Optimization Elements (OE) Audio for sending me the 2DualOFC in exchange for my honest opinions. I am not affiliated with the company and no incentive will be given for a positive review. Here is my review.

Introduction
I heard of OEAudio from Alex Twister, founder of Twister6. He introduced the OEAudio adaptor, which is the smallest in the world in his review of Westone W80 and UMPro50 cable rolling with 2pin cables.

Quote Alex's words in his review:
"Then I noticed MusicTeck listed new OE Audio adapters and decided to give them a try. Never heard of this company before, Optimization Elements, but they turned out to be the best I have tried so far"

I head to the OEAudio website immediately to check out the adaptor. I have been searching for a high-quality adaptor for cable rolling and Alex's recommendation makes me pull the trigger. Thank you, Alex, for such a good recommendation. Besides the adaptor, the cable listed on the website caught my attention too. I talked to the person-in-charge and it is my honor now to review this cable to the audiophile community.


Unboxing
2DualOFC comes in relatively simple packaging - no redundancy. It is stored in a white box with the brand and model name printed on it.

Removing the outer sleeve, users can find the cable in it.

Besides 2DualOFC, here is the unboxing for our world's smallest adaptor!

Technical Specification

• Length: 1.2m/4ft
• Material: ≤8PPM Purity Nexans® Oxygen Free Copper
• Cords: 4 Cords (2 Cores x 2 Cords)
• Inner Cords: 0.08x19x2
• Insulation: Teflon
• Coating: TPU

Build
The overall texture of this cable is soft and supple. A stiff cable could be a deal-breaker and I am glad that OEAudio took this into consideration.
While wearing it, I can move around freely without getting annoyed by the microphonics.

You can choose your termination and connector when you check out from the store. For connector, currently, OEAudio provides MMCX and 0.78mm 2-pin connector. I foresee there would be more choices soon. There are more connectors to cater to customers' needs. These are the choices available for plugs.

• 3.5mm unbalanced
• 2.5mm balanced
• 4.4mm balanced
• Lightning
• USB Type-C

I got my unit in 0.78mm 2-pin connector and 2.5mm balanced terminated. There is no ear guide at the connector.
This is a piece of good news for me because ear guides are a disaster to me as a myopia sufferer.

I like the plug particularly. It is sturdy and durable based on physical appearance. There is a logo engraved on the plug.

Sound Analysis
This is the most crucial part - sonic performance. I paired the 2DualOFC with several IEMs for this analysis. These are the IEMs I used:

• TinHiFi P1 (Planar Magnetic)
• TFZ No.3
• NiceHCK NX7
• Simgot EM2

I would call 2DualOFC a good entry ticket for beginners to enter the world of HiFi. The company offers a good entry-level upgrade cable with high build quality to the community. The overall sound signature of 2DualOFC is warm - a typical copper cable sounding. The presentation is smooth and rich.

The feeling is like drinking a cup of hot chocolate in the winter, comfortable.

Lows
2DualOFC has a good boost in the lows - especially prominent on those IEMs with a brighter sound signature. NX7 and P1 are always shy in the lows. With 2DualOFC installed, the lows are pushed forward, more rumbles and stomping of the foot. The overall presentation is now more musical, fun and enjoyable.

Besides adding the quantity, it also alters the texture a little. It slows down the decay of lows - making the sound signature warmer as compared to the stock cable. This again, make it a good pairing with my P1 and NX7. It reduces the harshness and emptiness of those IEMs. However, for those IEMs with bombastic lows, 2DualOFC would not be a good choice because it would make the lows to be too boomy - just like my TFZ No.3.

Mids
The warmth from the lows had been carried forward from the lows to the mids, injecting good emotion to this frequency spectrum.

With 2DualOFC installed, the mids for P1 and NX7 sound more natural - both of them are slightly towards the analytical side before attaching them to the 2DualOFC. This makes the vocals sound more emotional. When listening to Simon & Garfunkel, they sound sweet and breathy. It is enjoyable to listen to.

Instruments wise, the notes are becoming thicker. This results in a good coherence between instruments. All the gaps are precisely filled, making the whole presentation to be smooth, like a stream of flowing water. For those IEMs which originally have a warmer sound signature, like EM2, it is not encouraged to pair up with this cable. Warmth overflow caused the fidelity to reduce.


Highs
The 2DualOFC can be a good sibilance killer. It suppresses the harshness and pierces from the highs. The result is most significant when I paired it with P1. I always find the soaring highs in P1 is an untamed beast, it roars mercilessly on your ear and it stabs on your eardrums.

The 2DualOFC is like a beast tamer, control the beast and make the performance more polite.

As mentioned in the previous section, for those IEMs which originally exhibit a warm signature, 2DualOFC is really not a good choice. Warm sounding IEMs tend to have a shy highs performance and with this cable attached, the highs are pushed more backward. This results in an undesired result - losing fidelity and causing muddiness.


Verdict
The 2DualOFC retails for USD$57.99 to USD$66.99, depending on the choice of termination. It can be purchased on OEAudio official website. OEAudio provides free global shipping for all customers.

The OEAudio 2DualOFC is a great choice for entry-level audiophiles who are looking for an affordable upgrade cable within the price range of USD $100. For those who which to fine-tune current IEMs to the warmer side, this cable will definitely be a good investment.

Its price to performance is indeed high - attractive physically and superior sonically.

After gathering experiences from the previous releases (Kasai and Yuki), Ares Audio decided to take a huge leap to launch of Sakeishi, the new flagship which caters the needs of audiophiles from different category.

Disclaimer
Thank you Ares Audio for sending me the Sakeishi. The products were provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Introduction
Ares Audio was founded in March 2018. They started from Singapore online selling platform Carousell, providing re-termination services. I sent one of my cable to them back then and I am impressed by their work - high price to performance ratio. They took a leap from there to start providing customizable IEM and headphone cable services, which are known to have a high price to performance ratio. Every cable is fully handmade in Singapore.

I am fortunate to have the chance to review Yuki and Kasai, 2 pioneer models launched by Ares Audio earlier this year. Both of them are amazing and I am happy to see Ares Audio launched 8 cores version for Kasai - the Kasai X. When they released Sakeishi, I contacted them immediately to express my interest in this beautiful cable. This is the first hybrid cable launched by Ares Audio and it is my pleasure to guide you through the journey of Sakeishi!


Ares Audio Sakeishi

Unboxing
The packaging of Sakeishi is probably one of the most beautiful I ever seen. It comes with a premium metal case with Ares Audio logo on top. I particularly like the tagline on top of the case:
The Audiophile's Dream
It is indeed audiophile's dream to get a premium cable for beloved in-ear monitors (IEMs) to unleash the potential.


Metal Box for Sakeishi

Opening the metal box, Sakeishi sits comfortably in the box. Below Sakeishi, users can find a soft pouch which was used as the packaging for Kasai and Yuki. Besides that, Ares Audio included stickers and name card in the case. I have to re-emphasize this again, I really appreciate the stickers because I have a hobby to collect stickers from different brands.



I spotted a small changes in the packaging - Ares Audio now includes a cable clip in the packaging to ease the cable management. The leather cable clip looks classy and it is definitely useful for most of the users. I appreciate this small change. Well done, Ares Audio!

Technical Specification

• 28 American wire gauge (AWG)
• 6n Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) copper and 4n OCC Pure Silver hybrid
• 8 core
• PVC + EMI double shield sleeving
• Standard length 1.25m

Build
The build quality for Sakeishi is outstanding. I commented to Ares Audio after writing my review on Yuki. Yuki is too stiff and this could be a deal breaker for that cable. Sakeishi is totally free from the stiffness. It is supple and soft. When I am moving around with Sakeishi on, I can seldom affected by any microphonics. Amazing!

Another concern was bothering me before I receive Sakeishi is the weight. This is a common issue for some 8 cores cable. The heavy weight could pull your IEMs backward and resulting a non-isolating or non-fitting condition. After receiving and trying the Sakeishi, there is no more concern with regards to this. Everything is fine with it.

The braiding style for Sakeishi is very unique. Instead of using the conventional double helix braiding method, Ares Audio goes with the flat braiding. This could be a factor that yielding a supple cable as a result. I wish to see more flat braided cables by Ares Audio in the future and I am glad that the new Ōkami X is having flat braiding too.


The flat braided Sakeishi

Users can choose the terminations when they order Sakeishi from Ares Audio. I got mine in 0.78mm 2 Pin 2.5mm balanced. Recently, Ares Audio made an announcement that they will be using their self-designed Ares plugs and my Sakeishi comes with the new plugs. It looks more classy as compared to the previous OEM plugs on Kasai and Yuki. Nice move!


Self-designed Ares Plug

I noticed there is a change in connector too. The new connector is more sturdy and bigger in size. Although the size increases, the durability increases too. Now, I can remove the cable from my IEMs more confidently without worrying that I will break the connector. Below the connector, there is a heat-shrink ear guide which aids the cable to sit nicely behind the ears.


Sturdy and durable connector

Sound
This is the long waited section. I paired Sakeishi with numbers of IEMs and each pairing give me different type of surprise.

A true beauty to behold. Huge dynamic range, great imaging and separation. Highly acclaimed!

This is the tagline from Ares Audio website and I have to say this explains the sound signature of Sakeishi. The dynamic range is indeed huge and it injects energy to the IEMs. It turns some of the IEMs from a tame rabbit to a Titan from the Tartarus.

To further explain the sound, I would use a few of pairing to explain it.

1. Campfire Audio Solaris
My very first review on The Audiolocheese is about Campfire Audio Solaris. Solaris, a Latin word meaning "pertaining to the sun". When it is paired with Sakeishi, it shines - more than usual. Although the lows of Solaris decay at a relatively fast pace, it does bleed a little towards the mids.

Sakeishi uses its first ability to tighten its lows response, improving the accuracy and precision.

When the lows are tighten, the mids have a bigger space. The mids are now more airy and spacious. I like this combination a lot and I highly recommend current Solaris users to consider this pairing!


Campfire Audio Solaris shines more than usual with Sakeishi's aid

2. Campfire Audio Nova
This is the second IEMs I bought when I am still a poor undergraduate. Spent my saving on this and I am happy with it for around three years. Everything is fine with this IEMs except for its high - it has a serious early roll-off which kills the resolution.

Sakeishi uses its second ability to extend the highs performance, improving space and resolution.

This could be one of the best cable for Campfire Audio Nova. I contacted Campfire Audio with regards to the early roll-off for highs previously and they encouraged me to use a silver cable to improve on the highs. Yes, silver cable does help in extending the highs but it slave the meatiness in the mids and lows too much making the presentation too thin. I am glad that Sakeishi aids to extend the highs without compromising the mids and lows, making Nova an almost perfect IEMs.


Sakeishi makes Campfire Audio Nova closer to perfection.

3. InEar ProPhile 8
InEar ProPhile 8 (PP8) is one of my favorite when comes to critical listening. The uncolored flat response of PP8 makes it closes to a studio monitor. This could be a con when users are using it for casual listening. The darkness kills the emotions in the presentations especially for pop songs. Although there is are toggles to boost the lows and highs frequency which can help to increase the dynamic, the fast response and dark sound signature still yield an analytical sounding IEMs.

Sakeishi uses its third ability to inject emotions to the IEMs by smoothing the response and thickened the body, making the IEMs to sound more enjoyable.

With Sakeishi attached on the PP8, the sound signature changed a little. It becomes more fun as compared to the original dark and uncolored sound signature. The bass is not only boosted, but extended a little making it slightly warmer. This smooths the overall presentation and making it less analytical. Another great pairing!


Sakeishi smooths the presentation of PP8 making it more enjoyable

4. Empire Ears Legend X
My second review on The Audiolocheese is on Empire Ears Legend X. The imaging of Legend X could be one of the best in all the IEMs. The lows responses are like subwoofer in your ear. I always find it a little boomy and taking too much of emphasis. It is indeed 3D but some minor changes can make it perfect. Sakeishi did the job well here!

Sakeishi uses its first and forth ability to tightens the lows and improves the separation, the overall resolution is improved gradually!

Similar to the pairing of Sakeishi and Solaris, the lows is now more accurate and precise. It is more like a punch in your eardrum rather than a slap. Sakeishi turns the bass from boomy to punchy. Because of the improvement in bass accuracy, the mids are having space to flex its muscles. Now, the vocalists are tickling your eardrum with a more prominent mids than before.



5. Empire Ears Empire Vocal Reference (E.V.R)
This triple drivers IEMs from Empire Ears have a mid-centric sound signature. I always find this IEMs sound a little congested with every notes are being pushed to the center. It could be a pro for those who are doing critical listening on the mids and this mid-centric sound signature can give them a better focus. For a better casual listening experience, the emphasis need to be spread evenly across the who spectrum.

Sakeishi uses its fifth ability to boost every spectrum in the frequency response which ultimately making the dynamic range to be HUGE.

When I paired Sakeishi with EVR, the lows and highs become more prominent and weighty. now all the spectrum are equally weighted to perform together for a better presentation. This pairing is actually close to Empire Studio Reference (ESR) but more neutral than that. Current EVR users should consider this as an upgrade to make the overall sound signature more neutal.



Conclusion
Let's take a look at Sakeishi ability:

1. tighten lows response, improving the accuracy and precision
2. extend the highs performance, improving space and resolution.
3. inject emotions to the IEMs by smoothing the response and thickened the body, making the IEMs to sound more enjoyable.
4. improves the separation, the overall resolution is improved gradually
5. boost every spectrum in the frequency response which ultimately making the dynamic range to be HUGE.

I will recommend Sakeishi to audiophiles who are looking a solution to fine tune their beloved IEMs, be it at the lows, highs or both. The overall texture of this cable will be suitable for different type of IEMs. The overall sound signature of the cable can be categorized as neutral with thick notes, touching warm side a little. It could be only not suitable for IEMs which originally exhibit a thick and meaty sounding, such as Campfire Audio Polaris V2.



Sakeishi is retailing at USD$445. For those who are interested, you can head down to Zeppelin & Co. for an audition session and make an order thru them. For overseas order, you can place an order on Ares Audio official website. Limited lifetime warranty will be given for Sakeishi. Users will only have to bear the shipping costs back to Ares Audio. Marcus and Hai En are super helpful and feel free to drop them a message if you faced any difficulties.

Currently Ares Audio is celebrating 1k followers on their Instagram page. There is an ongoing 10% off for all the models. Do not miss the golden chance to grab a Sakeishi to complement your beloved IEMs!

The launch of the S80 shows Astrotec’s desire to provide a high-quality listening experience for audiophiles who value freedom.

Disclaimer
This review is originally posted on Headphonesty. Thank you, Nappoler Hu from HiFiGo for sending me the Astrotec S80. The products were provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Introduction
Astrotec is an in-ear monitors (IEMs) and earbuds manufacturer from China. It was founded in 2002 by several experienced members of the audio industry. Astrotec believes in continuous exploration. Driven by this belief, they produce quality products with cutting-edge technology that ultimately deliver a premium listening experience to users.

The S80 IEM is the second true wireless model from Astrotec. With the experience gained from the first generation (S60), Astrotec aims to deliver well-extended high frequencies, clear, layered mids and rich, articulate bass with Dupont’s 4μm ultra soft Beryllium dynamic drivers. Without further delay, I will introduce you to the new Astrotec S80.



Unboxing
The packaging of Astrotec S80 is simple yet modern. The white outer sleeve is printed with an Astrotec logo and an image of the S80 with its charging case.



Removing the sleeve, there is a silver Astrotec logo printed on the grey box. The box is opened from the side. Upon opening the box, you find a matte plastic cover with a basic user manual printed on it that protects the S80.

Users are advised to read and understand the user manual before using S80.





Removing the plastic user manual, S80 makes her first appearance, shining brightly like a diamond. The S80 is sitting comfortably in the charging case and the package includes an additional case to store accessories like ear tips and the charging cable.

Users find these accessories in the accessory case:

• Charging cable (Type-C USB)
• Two pairs of “angled” ear tips (one pre-installed)
• Three pairs of silicone ear tips
• A pair of foam ear tips
  

Technical Specifications

• Driver Unit: Beryllium Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 16Ω
• Sensitivity: 98±3 dB
• Frequency Response: 5Hz -25kHz
• MIC Type: MEMS
• Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.0
• Transmission Distance: 10m
• Audio Coding: AAC, CVSD, mSBC, SBC
• Supported Profile: HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, SPP, PBAP
• Earphone Continuous Playback Time: About 5-6hrs
• Charging Capability Supported By Charging Case: About 4-5 times
• Earphone Charging Time: About 1.5 hrs
• Charging Case Charging Time: About 2 hours
• Charging Case Charging Method: Type-C USB

Build
The S80 has a glossy and shiny faceplate that doubles as a control panel. This is a full touch control panel (explained in full later on). The glossy surface looks attractive; however, the surface tends to “collect” fingerprints and this makes the surface oily after usage.



The nozzle is relatively short compared to conventional in-ear monitor nozzles. With wireless earbuds increasing in popularity, there are now more choices for ear tips, but you still won’t have as many rolling options as a traditional IEM. That said, most of the true wireless ear tips such as SpinFit CP100z and CP360 fit pretty well on S80.



The charging case is pocket friendly. I keep it in my pocket when I am commuting and I do not find it uncomfortable. The surface of the lid is shiny - literally like a mirror. Unfortunately, this creates the same issue as the glossy faceplate: it’s a fingerprint-magnet.

The bottom part is covered by a grey cloth-like texture. This lends it a classy and modern appearance. Users can find the USB Type-C charging port at the side of the charging case.



Fit and Isolation
The size of S80 is considerably bigger compared to some other recent releases such as Aviot TE-D01G, Mavin Air-X and Advanced Sound Model X. This could be an issue for those with small ears. I have a big ears, so I do not have any issues inserting the S80 and wearing it for hours.



Isolation wise, none of the ear tips provided in the box gave sufficient isolation for my weird ear canals. I explored other aftermarket ear tips and eventually found that the Sony EP-EX10A ear tips fit me the best. I can happily listen to my music when I am commuting, without getting disturbed by the hustle and bustle of the noisy city.

Connectivity
Before writing this review, I owned Sony WF-SP700N and used it mostly for sports purposes. I totally understand the potential frustration of intermittent signals due to interference. I frequently experience signal cut-off with my Sony when running near traffic lights and railway tracks.


By using Bluetooth version 5.0, the S80 provides a more stable connection than my Sony. This is something I need from a wireless earbud and I believe this is a good selling point for S80. With the AAC codec and paired with my iPhone, I can happily walk around the city without getting interference from the environment. Well done, Astrotec!



Durability
The S80 carries an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IPX5. With IPX5, users can safely use the S80 for sports purposes because it is tested to withstand sweat and light splashes of water.

IP (or "Ingress Protection") ratings are defined in international standard EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989). They are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt etc) and moisture.



Functionality
As mentioned earlier in this review, there are touch sensor control panels embedded in the S80. Users can use the following gestures to trigger actions:

• Play / Pause: Single tap on either side
• Increase / decrease volume: Double tap on left to decrease and right to increase
• Changing track: Touch and hold on the left panel to go back to the previous track or right panel to go to the next track

These functions are useful especially when users are working out. However, I find the touch sensor to be slightly too sensitive. I frequently pause or play the song by accident when I am adjusting the fit.



Pairing
During the three weeks review period, I paired Astrotec S80 with my iPhone XR through AAC codec. I used Sony EP-EX10A ear tips, so I cannot comment on the provided ear tips.

Sound
After looking closely at the physical attributes of S80, now let’s look into what the S80 delivers in terms of sound performance. In general, the S80 has a slightly warm sound signature that is comfortable for long listening. The soundstage is moderately wide and deep.

The amplifiers embedded in the earbuds are sufficiently powerful to generate a good audible level without pushing the volume to the max. On my iPhone XR, I need around 50% of the volume to get a good audible level.



Lows
The S80 has good body in the lows. The sub-bass kicks in accurately when called upon. After thumping the eardrums, the sub-bass excuses itself slowly. This slow decay injects some warmth into the sound signature.

"As a Sony user, I find the sub-bass extension to be shy on the S80."

I would appreciate deeper extension more than the S80’s tuning, which emphasizes the mid-bass. The slightly slow decay speed in the mid-bass bleeds subtly into the mids. However, the decay speed also helps smooth the transition from lows to the mids, so it’s a subjective trade-off.



Mids
"The mids are where I love S80 the most, making it my first choice in a true wireless earbud in the USD $100 price range."

The mids are meaty and juicy like a medium-cooked sirloin steak. I am a Mandopop fan and the mids could be the most important frequency region for Mandopop. The S80’s warmth from the lows is carried forward to the mids due to the slight bleeding in the mid-bass. This warmth injects good emotions into male vocals.

Moving forward to the upper-mids, the warmth recedes and the overall turning is airy and spacious. This results in sweet sounding female vocals. Everything about the mids hits the sweet spot and they perform flawlessly to serve my needs.



Highs
Similar to most of the true wireless earbuds I have auditioned in the market, the highs of S80 rolled off slightly early. This is another reason for the overall warm sound signature. As a Campfire Audio Nova user for many years, early roll-off in the highs is an issue I am used to. That said, while not an issue for me, other users should not expect sparkling highs from the S80.

Although there is roll-off in the highs, the overall space and air created by the highs is still sufficient to yield a good fidelity and resolution. The details are delivered in an accurate manner without distortion. I would rather choose highs that roll off earlier than an uncontrolled treble.



Conclusion
The S80 retails for USD $89.00. It can be purchased through HiFiGo.

The Astrotec S80 is a great choice for audiophiles who are looking for affordable true wireless earbuds. This could be one of the most affordable true wireless earbuds on the market that features both Bluetooth version 5.0 and a touch sensor enabled control panel. Despite the freedom given, the S80 is able to preserve good sonic performance and fulfill your high-quality audio cravings.

With the release of the Spring 1, BQEYZ offers the audio audio community an affordable ticket into the growing carnival of triple hybrid in-ear-monitors.

Disclaimer
This article is originally posted on Headphonesty. Thank you, Elle Zhou, from BQEYZ for sending me the Spring 1. The products were provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review and opinion.[/note]

Introduction
BQEYZ is an in-ear monitor (IEM) manufacturer from China. Unlike many manufacturers, BQEYZ is involved at every point of their products’ development: from design to development and even to production.

"Engaging the service of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can potentially save a manufacturer a lot of cost. However, BQEYZ strives to keep it all in-house."

Triple hybrid IEMs, like BQEYZ’s Spring 1, utilize three different types of drivers to cover the sound spectrum. The strengths of some types of driver cover the weaknesses of the other types. This can improve the overall performance of an IEM compared to conventional non-hybrid configurations.

Elle Zhou, the person in-charge of BQEYZ, notified me in June 2019 of the Spring 1 release. I am fortunate to be selected to review this new flagship from BQEYZ. In this review, I will bring you through the Spring 1’s amazing journey!



Unboxing
The packaging of BQEYZ Spring 1 is classy. The outer sleeve is black with a photo of IEMs, the model name, and BQEYZ’s logo.

Removing the outer sleeve, you’re greeted by a hard black box with a silver logo printed on the top corner. Opening the hard box, Spring 1 officially makes its first appearance to the happy recipient. The metallic faceplate caught my attention immediately. There is an accessory box in the lower part of the inner box.




Opening the accessory box, users find a black semi-hard case. The following accessories are included in the semi-hard case:

• 6 pairs of silicone ear tips
  • 3 pairs for “Atmosphere”: - with smaller bore to enhance the bass performance
  • 3 pairs for “Reference”: - with wider bore to produce a more neutral sound signature
• A pair of foam ear tips
• 8 core 0.78mm 2-pin 3.5mm unbalanced silver-plated copper (SPC) cable

Technical Specifications

• Driver configuration: Triple hybrid - a 13mm dynamic driver, a balanced armature (BA) driver, and a 7-layer piezoelectric driver
• Impedance: 43Ω
• Sensitivity: 108dB
• Frequency Response: 7Hz-40kHz

Build
Upon opening the box, I was immediately sold on the physical appearance of Spring 1. She is a distinctive and attractive IEM. The faceplate is glossy. Unlike other brands from China who source shells from OEMs, BQEYZ works hard to present a unique IEM to customers, internally and externally.


BQEYZ uses an aluminium shell when crafting Spring 1. This gives Spring 1 a premium look. I chose the black color and the combination exceeds my expectation.

By using 5-axis computer numerical control (CNC) cutting mechanism, the shell produced is smooth and free of sharp edges which would otherwise cause discomfort when worn.

The nozzle is made of aluminium, too. I have seen a lot of broken plastic nozzles when users change ear tips, so this is an important selling point for me. The nozzle is often a fragile section of an IEM and I am glad BQEYZ paid special attention to it.

On top of the shell, there is a slightly-recessed 2-pin port. I am glad that BQEYZ is using a conventional 2-pin connector for this model. It makes cable rolling easy.

The cable provided in the box is an eight core 0.78mm 2-pin 3.5mm unbalanced SPC cable. There is a heat-shrink ear guide without metal wire in it. I like this type of ear guide because those with a metal wire will create noise when walking, with the metal wire clicking against spectacles.



Moving down the cable, the Y-splitter is grey in color and includes a neck slider which I found very useful. The 3.5mm jack has the same color scheme as the Y-splitter and there is a strain relief to provide additional durability.



Fit and Isolation
I spent a lot of time here to find the ear tips that give me the best isolation. The provided ear tips are too short to sit well in my long and deep ear canals. Eventually, I found the SpinFit CP145, which is provided in FiiO FH7 packaging and which fits me better than the original ear tips.

With the correct ear tips, the isolation is moderate. I seldom use this commuting because the noise from the surrounding environment leaks in. This is distracting. However, fit and isolation is subjective. Ear tip rolling can improve the isolation. I am still on my way to find the best ear tips.

There are three vents on the inner side of the shell to mitigate driver flex. BQEYZ is careful in designing the vent. It is good practice to implement the vent on the inner side because this minimizes the external noise once you are able to find a good fit.

Driver flex: when the driver bends under the pressure of air against it. This usually occurs when inserting the IEM into the ear. The air in the shell creates pressure, which bends the driver.



Pairing
For this review, I paired the Spring 1 with the Lotoo Paw 5000 mkii digital audio player (DAP). I used SpinFit CP145 size L ear tips for this review.

I cannot comment on the differences between BQEYZ’s provided ear tips because they did not fit me well.




Sound
"Exuberant is the most appropriate word to describe the sound signature of Spring 1."

This is a relatively neutral IEM. When I first listened to it, it reminded me of Empire Ears’s Empire Studio Reference (ESR). There is a lot of energy in this IEM from all the regions of the frequency spectrum. It is fun but not fatiguing to listen to. The soundstage is deep and wide. I would call it an oval shape stage because is extends more in the Y-axis than it does in the X-axis.

Although the impedance is relatively high compared to other IEMs on the market, it can be properly driven with my Lotoo Paw 5000 mkii. It could be hard for a smartphone to unleash Spring 1’s potential. So, I would encourage users to use a dedicated amplifier or DAP to obtain the best result.


Lows
The bass extension is decent. I do not experience any sub-bass roll-off. A dynamic driver is used here to produce the low frequency. Due to the response speed of the 13mm dynamic driver, the bass decay is slightly prolonged; this injects some warmth into the overall sound signature. This is especially pronounced when listening to jazz. I really like how saxophones in jazz recordings sound on Spring 1 - warm with full body.

On the other hand, due to the slower response in the low frequencies, there is some bleeding of the mid-bass into the mids region. This slight bleeding could affect the mids performance a little but the correct layering during tuning minimizes the effect. BQEYZ has actually managed to make the transition from lows to mids smooth.



Mids
A BA driver covers the mid frequency region and the mids take centre stage (no pun intended) during playback. I would not call this a mid-centric IEM, but it does have a slightly forward midrange. This could be a selling point to those users who listen to pop songs like me.

Male and female vocals are handled well by Spring 1. When Olivia Ong starts singing in Fly Me to the Moon (from the album A Girl Meets Bossanova), she owns the whole stage. Sweet, airy, and spacious female vocals melt my heart immediately.

For male vocals, the energy from the lows gives the overall sound a full and organic body. Andy Lau sounds emotional and full of soul in When I Met You (from the album Blue Heart) with Spring 1.



Highs
"Spring 1’s secret weapon dominates the war of IEMs in the USD$200 price range!"

The Spring 1 uses a piezoelectric driver for the treble region. Soaring highs are a good adjective for Spring 1’s performance in the high frequencies. It is airy, spacious, and very well-extended. I call this the secret weapon because within this price range, it is rare to find an IEM with such amazing performance in the highs.

The air in the highs improves the overall fidelity of Spring 1. The sparkling highs also balance the warmth of the lows, making this IEM well-balanced overall.

"Are the soaring highs bright or fatiguing? Well, although I have a good tolerance for high frequencies, I find the highs in Spring 1 to be as comfortable as a gentle tickle on my ear drums."



Comparisons
BQEYZ Spring 1 vs NiceHCK NX7
This is an attractive comparison and was a frequent request by netizens in the comments on my unboxing post. A quick introduction, NiceHCK NX7 is a triple hybrid IEM with 7 drivers: 2 dynamic drivers, 4 BA, and a single piezoelectric driver. I have always been more of a believer in Campfire Audio’s ideology: less is more. Driver count does not always tell us which is better.

NX7 is a cold and dark sounding IEM. The lows response is touch and go. The extension in Spring 1 is much broader than NX7. This makes Spring 1 more enjoyable to listen to. Soundstage wise both of them are equally wide, but Spring 1 is deeper due to the bass extension. Personally, I would vote for Spring 1 without any doubts.



BQEYZ Spring 1 vs Simgot EK3
Both of these models are triple driver configured. For those who wish to know more on EK3, you can refer to my earlier review. In this comparison, there is no absolute result because they cater to the needs of different groups of audiophiles. Both of them have a neutral sound signature, but there are some differences.

EK3 is darker compared to Spring 1. I would describe Spring 1 as an untamed horse galloping through a field, while EK3 is a small rabbit hopping around a meadow. Spring 1 has more energy and excitement when producing sound while EK3 is on the shy side. The extensions in lows and highs is a sure win for Spring 1 due to the limitation of the full BA configuration in EK3.



Conclusion
The Spring 1 retails for USD $139.00. It can be purchased through BQEYZ’s Official Store on AliExpress. There are 2 color options for this model: Black-Gold and Blue-Gold.

The BQEYZ Spring 1 is a great choice for audiophiles who are looking for an affordable triple-hybrid configured IEM. The price may be steep compared to other Chi-Fi brands on the market such as Tin HiFi and Knowledge-Zeith (KZ), but with its great build and sonic performance, I think the differences are totally worth it.

With the culmination of efforts from both the manufacturer and customers’ feedback, the Polaris V2 brings “ground-breaking” improvements that bassheads will love.

Disclaimer
This review is originally posted on Headphonesty. Thanks to Jayden from ConnectIT and Campfire Audio for sending the Campfire Audio Polaris V2. The product was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Introduction
Campfire Audio announced the launch of two new models - Campfire Audio Polaris V2 and Campfire Audio IO during Fujiya Avic Headphone Festival 2019. After the launch in Japan, I had the opportunity to work with a distributor to launch these two models in Singapore. This is an amazing experience for me because of the support from the Campfire Audio fans.

I have been impressed by Campfire Audio since the first launch of Orion, Jupiter and Lyra and also had some experience with the previous generation of Polaris V2. It is a fun “V” shaped in-ear monitors (IEMs). The sound signature had changed significantly in this new version of thePolaris V2.

Is it an improvement? Absolutely. Read on to find out why.

Campfire Audio Polaris V2

Polaris V2 and IO launch in Singapore - Spot me in the photo!

Unboxing
The packaging for Campfire Audio is like a child. It grows across the releases.

I compared the new packaging with my pioneer generation packaging from Campfire Audio Nova and the differences are significant. The new packaging is more grand and classy as compared to the old packaging which focuses more on simplicity.

Campfire Audio changed their design approach of the box and IEMs - mainly on the color theme. Now the box, case, and IEMs will have the same color. You can identify the models from far based on either the box, case or the shell color immediately. The palette of choice for Polaris V2 is one of my favorite - Blue.

The outer layer of the packaging is a sleeve with a sticker which consists of the IEMs, model, and brand. The sleeve can be opened up by removing the small round sticker at the back of the sleeve.

After opening the sleeve, the presentation of the inner box is amazing. The inner box “shines” in the galaxy and it is the only focus. Words cannot describe the beauty.

Blue sleeve that can be easily recognized from far.

The sleeve is secured by a black round sticker

The box is nicely presented in a “galaxy” kind of feel

There is a Campfire Audio Logo printed in the inner side of the sleeve

Opening the box, you will find a blue leather case with the Polaris V2 sitting inside. There is a major change in the case - it looks like a blue curry puff (I like this description, it is from one of my co-worker). I like the new case. It is more spacious as compared to the squarish case.

The blue curry puff

The actual curry puff

There is actually an underlying reason behind this specific case design - to give back to society. According to Jayden, the case is crafted by a handicapped case manufacturer and Campfire Audio uses his case to support him.

Besides the case, you will find an accessories box. These are the accessories in the box:

• Final Audio Tips (Five sizes from XS to XL)
• Campfire Audio Marshmallow Tips (Three sizes from S to L)
• Silicone Earphone Tips (Three sizes from S to L)
  
• Campfire Audio Lapel Pin
• Cleaning Tool

All these accessories are kept in Campfire Audio mesh IEM bag. This could be useful for you to keep your IEMs and prevent them from being scratched.

Campfire Audio mesh IEM bag

Technical Specifications

• 5Hz–20kHz Frequency Response
• 105 dB SPL/mW Sensitivity @ 1k
• 17 Ohms @ 1kHz Impedance
• Single Balanced Armature + tuned acoustic expansion chamber(T.A.E.C.™)
• 9.2mm Dynamic Driver + Polarity Tuned Chamber™
• Newly Insulated Custom Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections
• ‘Cerulean’ Blue Anodized Aluminum Body
• Black PVD Screws
• Black Stainless Steel Spout

Build
The Polaris V2 features a ’Cerulean’ Blue anodized finish with black PVD screws on a machined aluminum body. The color is very eye-catching. I fall in love with it on the first-sight - simply lovely.

The anodized body has a better resistance towards scratches. I believe Campfire Audio fans always face this issue - IEMs with a lot of scratches. Within the 2 months of usage, it had remain scratch-free.

A close look on Campfire Audio Polaris V2

Besides the improvement on the shell, Campfire Audio improves the MMCX port. Custom beryllium-copper insulated round MMCX connector is used on the IEMs. Tested and proven, the MMCX connector gives me a satisfactory “click” whenever I attach the cable.

Custom beryllium-copper insulated round MMCX connector

A comparison to show the difference in MMCX connector

The Polaris V2 has a black stainless steel spout or nozzle which improve the durability of the nozzle. As I mentioned in my previous review for Simgot EK3, the connector and the nozzle are the weakest points on the IEMs and the implementations successfully improve the overall build quality.

A close look at the nozzle

The front view of the nozzle

The cable included in the case is the new Smoky Litz Cable. Building from ALO Audio Silver Plated Copper Litz wire conductors and tangle-resistant twisted cable weave from Silver Litz and Super Litz cable, Campfire Audio added a new stylish Smoky jacket to compliment the unique finish of their new line of earphones.

Smoky Litz cable has a new light-weight molded ear-hook design replaces the memory wire. The result is a lightweight cable that is a pleasure to use every day.

This could be the greatest news for audiophiles who are wearing spectacles like myself. Memory wire ear-hook design is disastrous for us. For those cables with memory wire ear-hook, the memory wire constantly hit on the spectacles when we are moving. This creates a “microphonics-like” noise. Besides the noise, it is hard for us to shape the ear-hook due to the presence of spectacles. The new cable saves us from hell.

New smoky litz cable

Fit and Isolation
Polaris V2 has the typical shell shape as the previous releases of Campfire Audio. There are some slight changes - weight and edges. Due to the change in material, the new shell is lighter in weight as compared to the previous releases. There are less sharp edges in Polaris V2 and this yields a more comfortable wearing. I can wear Polaris V2 for hours without an issue.

The isolation for Polaris V2 is above average. When commuting, I can immerse myself in the music by turning the volume slightly higher as compared to normal listening. There is a vent at the faceplate of the IEMs to minimize dynamic driver-flex. This does not affect the isolation.

Driver flex is when the driver bends due to the pressure of air against it. Usually, it occurs when you're inserting the IEM into your ear and air in the shell creates pressure to bend the driver.

There is a vent on the faceplate

Pairing
For this review, I paired the Campfire Audio Polaris V2 with my daily Digital Audio Player (DAP) - Opus #3. I used Symbio ear tips by MandarinEs for this review.

Polaris V2 hooked on Opus #3

Sound
It is always fun to listen to Polaris V2. I have to control myself not to dance in public.

Exhibiting the same sound signature from V1.0, the new Polaris V2 has a fun sound signature. However, it no longer has the “V” shaped sound signature. The sound stage has changed in this release and I think it is a great improvement. I will further elaborate in the upcoming sections.

This is a very different IEMs as compared to other Campfire Audio models - this IEM emphasizes a lot in the emotion. It is smooth and lush. I like the warmth injected in the overall presentation. It gives every note a soul and everything becomes lively.

The soundstage is always handy for Campfire Audio. Without a doubt, it ticks the box in my expectation sheet towards Polaris V2. It is wide and deep - as deep as an ocean. This could be the deepest I can get within the price range. I always like the depth in my Empire Ears Bravado and Polaris V2 beat it with an uppercut from way down deep.

Campfire Audio Polaris V2

Lows
If you read my previous reviews, I always find the “secret weapon” in every IEMs. “Secret weapon” is the unique selling point for a particular model which distinguish it out from the pools of choices. Some people use “wow” factor to describe this. For Polaris V2, the lows will definitely be the “secret weapon”.

Rumble is not accurate enough to describe the lows. An earthquake would be more apt.

This is no exaggeration. It is indeed an earthquake when the lows kick in. It is so full, rich and deep. It is like a subwoofer embedded in the IEMs and it creates the waves that awaken your eardrums - making them vibrate together with the subwoofer.

The attack and decay speed of the lows is average. It is well controlled in its own region and the decay speed is in the sweet spot between bleeding to other regions and being too technical or “dry”. The quality of lows can easily fulfill the craves of a bass-head.

Campfire Audio Polaris V2 with Sony DMP-Z1

Mids
This is the area where the Polaris V2 improved as compared to the previous version. In the new Polaris V2, the mids are more forward - at the center of the stage, having the spotlight shining on it. This positioning is my favorite because I love pop music. The mids is very important to me and I really appreciate this sound stage.

The vocals are warm - full of emotion and it is comfortable to listen to. The body is full and I always prefer a fuller and richer vocal presentation than an airy one. The airy vocal is like sea breeze hitting softly in your face while a rich vocal is like a glass of warm milk sliding down your throat. All these are personal preference and I believe every type of presentation has its own fans.

Did some cable rolling with Polaris V2

Highs
With the T.A.E.C implementation in the BA driver, highs is not an issue for Polaris V2 - well extended with sufficient amount of air. Highs is always not an issue for Campfire Audio except for Nova - highs rolled-off too early.

The well-extended highs improved the overall fidelity of the presentation and also thanks to the highs, it prevented the overall sound signature from being too warm. The air and slight sparkle balanced off the emphasis in the lows. The weight will not topple to the lows side too much.

Is the highs sharp and peaky? This is a tricky question for me to answer because I have very good tolerance towards treble. I will answer no. The highs is very gentle towards my eardrums. No harsh and no piercing even after long listening.

It is like a wave hitting on the beach and no tsunami. Everything is fine.


Campfire Audio Polaris V2 with Effect Audio Eros II hooked on Opus #3

Conclusion
The Campfire Audio Polaris V2 is a great choice for audiophiles who are looking for a mid-tier IEM with quality bass that rumbles the ground. Polaris V2 can definitely satisfy your craves in bass. This release poses a potential threat to a lot of other models from other brands which have same configurations such as Empire Ears Bravado.

Polaris V2 retails for USD $499. It can be purchased from the official Campfire Audio website and for those who reside in Singapore can drop by ConnectIT by Jade Gift Shop to make a purchase.

Outstanding performance from Polaris V2 has convinced me to change my daily driver. My Nova is now officially retired.

With much effort, innovation, and creativity, Campfire Audio launches their new midrange in-ear monitor (IEM) IO, redefining the category benchmark.

Disclaimer
This post is originally posted on Headphonesty. Thanks to Jayden from ConnectIT and Campfire Audio for sending the Campfire Audio IO. The product was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Introduction
Campfire Audio announced the launch of two new models, Campfire Audio IO and Campfire Audio Polaris V2 during Fujiya Avic Headphone Festival 2019. After the launch in Japan, I had the opportunity to work with a distributor to launch these two models in Singapore. This has been an amazing experience for me because of the support from the Campfire Audio fans.

I have been impressed by Campfire Audio since the first launch of Orion, Jupiter, and Lyra. To me, the new Campfire Audio IO is a replacement for the previous dual balanced armature model, Nova. I have been using Nova for almost three years and it has served me well.

Is it an adequate replacement? Absolutely. Read on to find out why.

Spot me in the photo!


Campfire Audio IO

Unboxing
The packaging for Campfire Audio is like a child, growing with each new release. Look how big you’ve gotten!

I compared the new packaging with my original generation packaging from Campfire Audio Nova and the differences are significant. The new packaging is more grand and classy compared to the simpler old packaging.

Campfire Audio changed their design approach for the box and IEMs - mainly on the color theme. Now, the box, case, and IEMs have the same color. You can immediately identify the models from afar based on either the box, case, or the shell color. The palette of choice for IO is red.

The outer layer of the packaging is a sleeve with a sticker depicting the IEMs, model, and brand. The sleeve can be opened up by removing the small round sticker at the back of the sleeve

An eye-catching red package.

Box color matches the IO shell color.

After opening the sleeve, the presentation of the inner box is amazing. The inner box “shines” like a galaxy and is the central focus of your attention. Words cannot describe its beauty.

Opening the sleeve.

The inner case.

Campfire Audio logo on the inside of the sleeve.

Opening the inner box, you will find a red leather case with the IO sitting inside. The case is a major change--it looks like a red curry puff (I like this description, it is from one of my co-workers). I like the new case. It is more spacious compared to the previous squarish case.

The red curry puff

The actual curry puff

There is actually an underlying reason behind this specific case design - to give back to society. According to Jayden, the case is crafted by a handicapped case manufacturer and Campfire Audio uses his case to support him.

Besides the case, you will find an accessory box. These are the accessories in the box:

• Final Audio Tips (Five sizes from XS to XL)
• Campfire Audio Marshmallow Tips (Three sizes from S to L)
• Silicone Earphone Tips (Three sizes from S to L)
  
• Campfire Audio Lapel Pin
• Cleaning Tool

All these accessories are kept in a Campfire Audio mesh IEM bag. This could be useful for storing your IEMs and preventing them from being scratched.

Campfire Audio mesh IEM bag

Technical Specifications

• 5Hz–22kHz Frequency Response
• 109 dB SPL/mW Sensitivity @ 1kHz
• 26 Ohms @ 1kHz Impedance
• Dual Balanced Armature Driver Design.
• Newly Insulated Custom Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections
• ‘Garnet’ Red Anodized Aluminum Body
• 24k Gold Plated Screws
• Stainless Steel Spout

Build
The IO features a ’Garnet’ Red anodized finish with 24k gold plated screws on a machined aluminum body. The color is very eye-catching. The color scheme looks like Iron Man and the IO launch date was coincidentally close to the Avengers : End Game onscreen date. I fell in love with it on first-sight - simply lovely.

The anodized body is claimed to have better scratch resistance. Campfire Audio fans have always faced this issue - IEMs with a lot of scratches. Within 2 months of usage, I noticed some scratches on the shell, but this is mild compared to older models like Andromeda.

Close look at Campfire Audio IO.

Besides the improvements in the shell, Campfire Audio also improved the MMCX port. A custom beryllium-copper insulated round MMCX connector is featured on the IEMs. Tested and proven, the MMCX connector gives me a satisfactory “click” whenever I attach the cable.

Round MMCX port is found on top of the shell.

Comparison between IO and Nova MMCX ports.

The IO has a stainless steel spout or nozzle which improves its durability. As I mentioned in my previous review for Simgot EK3, the connector and the nozzle are the weakest points on IEMs. The IO’s implementation successfully improves the overall build quality.

The cable included in the case is the new Smoky Litz Cable. Built from ALO Audio Silver Plated Copper Litz wire conductors and tangle-resistant twisted cable weave from Silver Litz and Super Litz cable, Campfire Audio added a new stylish Smoky jacket to compliment the unique finish of their new line of earphones.

Smoky Litz cable has a new light-weight molded ear-hook design that replaces the memory wire in previous cables. The result is a lightweight cable that is a pleasure to use every day.

This could be great news for audiophiles who are wearing spectacles, like myself. Memory wire ear-hook designs are disastrous for us. For those cables with memory wire ear-hooks, the memory wire constantly hits our spectacles when we are moving. This creates a “microphonics-like” noise. Besides the noise, it is hard for us to shape the ear-hook due to the presence of spectacles. The new cable saves us from this microphonic hell.

New smoky litz cable

Fit and Isolation
IO has the typical shell shape we’ve seen with previous releases from Campfire Audio. There are some slight changes, namely weight and edges. Due to the change in material, the new shell is lighter in weight compared to the previous releases. There are fewer sharp edges in IO and this yields a more comfortable fitting. I can wear IO for hours without an issue.

The isolation for IO is above average. When commuting, I can immerse myself in the music by turning the volume only slightly higher when compared to normal listening.

Pairing
For this review, I paired the Campfire Audio IO with my daily Digital Audio Player (DAP) - Opus #3. I used Symbio ear tips by MandarinEs for this review.

Campfire Audio IO paired with Opus #3.

Sound
IO is an exciting and exceptionally expressive earphone. The sonic performance stands with our best work to date. It has an excellent vocal presence. There is a splashy energy to its musical delivery that I think many people will enjoy. - Ken Ball

IO is a fun sounding IEM. Utilizing a woofer and a tweeter, the high and low frequency regions are fully covered. This results in a slightly “U” shape sound signature. This was a wise tuning choice because it has the potential to be the most well-received sound signature within the price range of USD$300.

The soundstage of IO is slightly below average. I find the overall presentation to be relatively forward compared to other models from Campfire Audio. I have very high expectations for staging, however, and there is some slight disappointment here. Happily, this is not a deal breaker. Compared to other brands, the soundstage is still good.

IO can be easily driven. I tested it with my iPhone and I get a good audible level without crossing 50% of the volume. This makes IO a good choice for those beginners with no powerful DAPs or amplifiers. Good approach by Campfire Audio.

Lows
As a Campfire Audio Nova user, the lows performance of IO actually reminds me of Nova. The presentation is pretty close. As a pure BA driver IEM, the lows dig considerably deep. The attack and decay speed of the lows is fast and precise. No redundancy in the response. I really appreciate this because bleeding of lows into mids, and the resulting slow response, is a big taboo for me.

Lows that are too fast may result in an overly analytical response. Campfire Audio knows this and they found a good balance between analytical and muddy, resulting in a warm and fun sounding IEM. This could be a unique selling point on its own, but I think this is not the only one. We will explore more.

Campfire Audio lineup.

Mids
This is the critical part. No BA driver is dedicated solely to the mids in IO. So, are the mids weak? My answer to this question is no. Being a mids lover, I actually love the presentation of the IO. The mids are slightly recessed, staged below the lows and highs. Despite being slightly recessed, the vocals still sound airy and clear. The mids have a great space to expand due to the tuning. This results in very breathy and spacious mids.

Why do I say this part is critical? If you read the thread on Head-Fi, you will realise there are very controversial comments on this frequency spectrum. I believe Andromeda users might find the mids muddy but we should understand that the price difference between the two IEMs is huge and this comparison is unfair towards IO. I believe IO can serve certain groups of audiophiles well.

Is IO a good replacement for the Nova? I think it is.

Highs
With the Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber (TAEC) implementation in the BA driver, highs are not an issue for IO. They are well extended with a sufficient amount of air. Highs have never been an issue for Campfire Audio except for Nova where the highs rolled-off too early.

The well-extended highs improve the overall fidelity of the presentation.Thanks to the highs, the overall sound signature is prevented from being too warm.

Are the highs sharp and peaky? This is a tricky question for me to answer because I have a very good tolerance for treble. I would answer no. The highs are gentle enough on my eardrums. No harshness and no piercing even after long listening.

Father and son.

Conclusion
The Campfire Audio IO is a great choice for audiophiles who are looking for a mid-tier IEM with fun and dynamic sound. IO can save your pocketbook from becoming too light for sure. This release proves that Campfire Audio is continuously improving and we should continue to pay close attention to their new releases.

IO retails for USD $299. It can be purchased from the official Campfire Audio website. For those residing in Singapore, you can drop by ConnectIT by Jade Gift Shop to make a purchase.

Outstanding performance from IO makes it a good replacement for the now obsolete Nova.

With the release of OH1, IKKO brings a listening experience fit for a audiophile with the simplest approach while keeping the build quality uncompromised.

DISCLAIMER
This review is originally posted on Headphonesty. I bought this pair of IEMs at full retail price. This is not a sponsored post, but an honest review written from a consumer’s point of view. Dollar to performance ratio is included below.

Introduction
IKKO is a new in-ear monitor (IEM) manufacturer and the IKKO OH1 is their first release. It first caught my attention with its unique “gem-like” appearance.With its eye-catching blue alloy metal housing, the OH1 will bound to catch attention on the street. It could even be the winner of the IEM beauty contest.

However, sound performance will be the main focus for most of the audiophiles. Will the sound quality be compromised due to the focus on the physical appearance? We will find out more in this review!

IKKO OH1

Unboxing
The packaging of OH1 is relatively simple. The logo and the photo of the IEM are printed on a white color sleeve. Due to its minimalistic design, it can be easily spotted when placed on the shelf of any audio shop.

A white sleeve with IKKO logo and the photo of the OH1.

Removing the sleeve, there is a black cardboard box with the IKKO logo printed which contains the pair of IEMs and all the accessories.

Removing the white sleeve, there is a black cardboard box with IKKO logo printed.

Opening the box, the shiny and metallic faceplate of OH1 will catch your attention immediately. The glossy and metallic surface of the IEMs had me bedazzled. Apart from the IEMs themselves, you’ll also find:

• 6 pairs of silicone ear tips
• 3 pairs for balanced sound signature
• 3 pairs for vocal-focused sound signature

Removing the top layer, you’ll find a soft pouch containing the 0.78mm 2-pin 3.5mm unbalanced cable for the IEMs.

Attention-catching OH1 with ear tips make their presentation when the box is opened.


Accessories contained in the box.


A closer look on the soft pouch

Technical Specification

• Sensitivity: 106dB
• Impedance: 18 Ohms
• Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
• Frequency range: 20 - 40kHz
• Driver configuration: Single Knowles 33518 balanced armature (BA) driver and single 10mm dynamic driver

Build
The faceplate of the OH1 is very attractive - shiny, metallic and three-dimensional. The blue shells is made of advanced lightweight alloy.

The unique faceplate makes for easy recognition, even from far. This could be the only IEMs in the market who have this type of design.

The unique faceplate allows easy recognition.

On top to the shell, you can find the 2-pin connector. The 2-pin connector is protected by a layer of transparent plastic. This increases the overall strength of the connector and boosts the confidence of the users when installing and removing the detachable cable.

The 2-pin connector on OH1.

The nozzle is relatively short as compared to other IEMs. Luckily there is a lip on the nozzle that can hold the ear tips else it would be a huge challenge when performing tips rollings. There is a metal gauge on the nozzle to prevent ear wax from entering the IEMs.

The nozzle is protected by the metal gauge.

For each shell, there is a vent on the inside and another vent on top. These vents are designed for preventing driver flex.

Driver flex is when the driver bends due to the pressure of air against it. Usually, it occurs when you're inserting the IEM into your ear and air in the shell creates pressure to bend the driver.

This design is very common for IEMs that utilized dynamic drivers. Thanks to the two vents, I did not experience any driver flex when wearing these IEMs.

First vent is located on top of the shell


Second vent is located in the inner side of the shell

The stock cable provided by IKKO is a 4 core twisted 5N oxygen-free copper (OFC) silver-plated cable. The 0.78mm 2-pins connectors used color to differentiate the side - Red for right and blue for left. There are heat-shrink transparent ear guides that improve the fitting significantly.

However, there is no chin slider on the cable else it would be closed to perfect.

The cable is terminated with a 3.5mm unbalanced right-angled jack. There is a strain relief to increase the durability of the jack. Nicely done on the cable!

Stock cable for OH1.


The right-angled 3.5mm unbalanced jack on the cable.


2-pin connector on the cable.

Fit and Isolation
The fitting of OH1 is average for me. I would appreciate a deeper insertion. All the stock ear tips provided cannot give me the deep insertion. With Final Audio Type E ear tips installed on OH1, it gives me the best isolation and fitting.

The 2 vents on the shell allow noise to enter even the isolation is good.

I find some noise leakage and affected me quite significantly when I am commuting. Isolation will be compromised when more vents are implemented to reduce the driver flex.

IKKO OH1

Pairing
The OH1 is not a power-hungry IEM but with sufficient amount of power, it can unleash its potential, especially on the dynamic driver.

While test-driving the OH1, I chose to pair it with Chord Mojo. This assures that OH1 receives sufficient power to perform at its best.

Pairing up OH1 with Chord Mojo

Sound
OH1 is a fun sounding IEMs. What do I mean by fun here?

"It is energetic and the musicality produced gives the user a sense of life."

The presentation is slightly smoothened so that it is not too technical and analytical but the details are maintained uncompromised.

The soundstage for OH1 is averagely wide and surprisingly deep. The depth could be caused by the performance of the dynamic driver. This allows OH1 to create an amazing layering over the track and I really love it. The averagely wide soundstage yields an engaging performance of OH1.

IKKO OH1

Lows
"If every IEMs in the market has a secret weapon, then lows responses will be the secret katana for OH1."

The lows extended deep and create rumble when the bass kicks in. Due to the extension, the bass has a good layering with mids and highs.

The pace of lows for OH1 is considerably fast. It kicks inaccurately and the decay is handled precisely. It is balanced between analytical and warm - giving it an emotional yet detailed body in the lows.

The lows are full-bodied. This can be observed when listening to the saxophone. A lean body in the lows can lead to off tonality in Jazz due to a lack of capability in presenting a natural tone of the saxophone. This is as easy as ABC for OH1 and I love it a lot.

IKKO OH1 on Chord Mojo

Mids
As mentioned earlier, the OH1 is able to produce a musicality that gives the user a sense of life. This sense of life shows in the mids. The vocals are breathy and spacious. With the smooth transition from the lows to the mids, it gives OH1 a lush sounding in the mids. It does not get affected by the lows due to the good layering.

"The vocals are staged slightly behind the lows - this is my favorite staging method."

This makes OH1 a suitable choice for those who listen to pop and hip-hop. It is good for the vocals to be staged slightly backward so that it does not sound shouty which might cause fatigue. It is very well-controlled.

IKKO OH1

Highs
This is the part where I has a bit of doubt in. The treble rolled off a little too fast for OH1. This makes the overall sounding in the highs a little unnatural. This reminds me of my Campfire Audio Nova which has a similar issue. Fortunately, OH1 treble extension is not as bad as the Campfire Audio Nova but I would appreciate the treble to be extended slightly more so that the overall sounding can be more airy and natural.

"Although the rolling off of the treble troubles me, I still find the OH1 manages other areas pretty well."

There is no congestion in the highs due to the sufficient amount of the air. There is some slight emphasis on the highs that can be peaky for those who have low treble tolerance. I have a good tolerance towards treble so I find it comfortable even after long listening.

IKKO OH1 can even be recognised with its shadow.

Conclusion
The IKKO OH1 is a great choice for beginners that are looking for an audiophile level IEMs. The price can be steep as compared to other Chi-Fi brands in the market such as Tin HiFi and Knowledge-Zeith (KZ). However, the excellent build and sound quality can justify its price tag.

OH1 retails for USD$139. It can be purchased on Amazon. There will be no other color options for OH1.

Here is a new emergence of an IEM manufacturer that poses a threat to other manufacturers. I wish to see more amazing works from IKKO. I’m thankful that there is another good alternative for beginners who wishes to enter the world of audiophiles.

With the implementation of three leading technologies, namely high Tesla magnetic flux, carbon nanotube diaphragm, and diamond-like coating, iBasso promises that the new IT01s will satisfy the needs of audiophiles’ through high-fidelity sound quality.

DISCLAIMER
This review is originally posted on Headphonesty. I won this pair of in-ear monitors (IEMs) from an event hosted by Zeppelin & Co. Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event. This is not a sponsored post, but an honest review written from a consumer’s point of view. Dollar to performance ratio is included below. [note]

Introduction
iBasso is well-known in the audio industry for manufacturing digital music players (DAP)s. In 2016, iBasso released their first pair of IEMs - IT03. With a single dynamic driver coupled with dual balanced armature (BA) drivers, IT03 proved to the industry that iBasso was a new challenger and competitor in IEM manufacturing.

iBasso continued to work hard to fill the IT0X line up. The last number in the model name is always the driver count. Last year, Paul from iBasso launched 2 models, flagship of the series IT04 and entry level of the series IT01 on audio website Head-Fi. This created a rumble on the forums and since then, audiophiles have had high expectations for the new release.

Without a doubt, iBasso successfully satisfies their hunger with the two new IEMs.

IT01s is a step up from the entry level of the series IT0X. It should be an improvement as compared to IT01. We take a close look at what has been improved and where it stands in the line-up.

iBasso IT01s

Unboxing
It was a very pleasant experience unboxing the iBasso IT01s. The product’s name and company logo are printed in an icy grey shade, matching the misty blue color that the packaging box comes in. Overall, the packaging is eye-catching and stands out among other products when placed on the shelf of any audio shop.

Misty blue sleeve with iBasso logo and model name

The cardboard box reveals a darker blue hard box, which contains the IEMs themselves and all the accessories. There is an engraved iBasso logo on the hard box, making it look simple yet elegant.

Darker blue hard box with an engraved iBasso logo

Opening the box, your attention will immediately be drawn to the pair of shiny iBasso IT01s. I got my set in smoke grey. Could the ‘s’ in the model’s name stand for shiny? The glossy, reflective surface of the IEMs sure charmed me. Apart from the IEMs themselves, you’ll also find a hard-shell carrying case which holds the rest of the accessories. Smooth and round, it looked like a good home for the IEMs and on the whole the product’s packaging left a good impression on me.

IT01s and “puck” case make their first appearance when you opened the box.

In the case, you will find the following accessories:

• 2.5mm MMCX cable
• 2.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRS adaptor
• 9 pairs of silicone ear tips (3 types and 3 sizes each)
• 2 pairs of foam tips
• 2 pieces of spare screens with “O” rings installed
• Additional “O” rings\

A total of 11 pairs of ear tips can be found in the box


A closer look at the storage case. Made of plastic, the opening of the case also comes with a rubber seal, ensuring that the case is sufficiently waterproof. Useful if you ever drop it into a puddle or toilet bowl!


IT01s with cable and adaptor installed

Specifications

• Frequency response: 10Hz - 43kHz
• Sensitivity: 109dB
• Impedance: 16 Ohms
• Noise attenuation: -26dB
• Rated power: 10mW
• Total harmonic distortion: <1% (at 1kHz/1mW)
  

Build
I am very happy with the finishing of IT01s - no flaws and near perfect. The shiny surface makes this pair of IEMs look grand. The only downside is that IT01s is a fingerprint magnet. You will need to constantly wipe it down to make sure it looks shiny. But this is a small issue if you consider what it offers in terms of sound.

The reflective surface of the IT01s doubles up as a mirror

The MMCX connector on iBasso is always slightly different from other generic MMCX connectors. Although it is slightly recessed as compared to other MMCX connectors, its build is pretty sturdy. I have no issue with plugging and unplugging. In fact, it always produces a satisfying “click” sound when I plug it in, which I really dig.

MMCX connector on IT01s

iBasso utilized quite a unique design for the nozzle of IT01s. Initially, I was a little confused by it, thinking that the removable screen on top of the nozzle was a filter that had the ability to alter the sound profile. In the end, after playing around with it a little more, I realized that its only purpose was protecting the nozzle. I hope I am not the only one that got it wrong. Wouldn't it be cool if iBasso implemented a sound profile filter on IT01s?

There is a black “O” ring on top of the nozzle. I believe it is used to give additional friction to the ear tips to stop them from slipping out from the nozzle, and also to provide a good seal between the nozzle and removable screen. This “O” ring tended to move about when I was doing tips rolling and has a tendency to fall off when removing the ear tips. The good news is that there are 6 spare “O” rings in the box.

Removing the screen from the nozzle

The most attractive accessory among all those which came with the IEMs was the cable, which really surprised me in terms of its quality. In fact, I believe other users will also find it a pleasant surprise. The cable is a 5N (99.999%) mono crystal copper cable with a silver-plated shield. The termination is in 2.5mm balanced tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS). In my experience, it’s quite rare for IEMs under USD200 to come with such premium accessories.

Users who favor unbalanced outputs are also in for a treat: iBasso even included a 2.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRS pig-tailed adaptor in the box. Kudos to them for being so considerate!

Stock cable for IT01s


The stock cable is 2.5mm TRRS terminated


Additional pig-tailed adaptor for unbalanced output users.

Fit and Isolation
There are 11 pairs of ear tips in the box, so you’re sure to find a pair which fits perfectly. However I was after superior isolation, so I used a pair from Symbio instead. They give me the best comfort and isolation.

IT01s with MandarinEs Symbio W ear tips installed

In terms of isolation, IT01s isn’t the most impressive model I’ve ever tried, but what it offers isn’t bad either. For almost a month, I used it when commuting on the train (which in Singapore, is always crowded), but did not experience any problems enjoying the music the entire journey.

The cable is pretty supple. With the correct implementation of the neck slider, I hardly even noticed any microphonics when walking. To be honest, this could be the most supple cable I have ever come across!

Pairing
While test-driving the IT01s, I paired it with my Opus #3 DAP because it is lightweight and has good streaming capabilities. I used the balanced output on this DAP.

IT01s on Opus #3

Sound
The overall sound signature of this pair of IEMs can be categorized as lean and bright. For a long time, a bright-sounding pair of IEMs had been missing in my personal collection, and I’m pleased to say that iBasso’s IT01s has filled the gap perfectly. Although it has a bright signature, it does not cause me any fatigue while listening, which I really appreciate.

For those who are looking for a more forward-sounding IEM, IT01s might not be the best pick.

I was surprised to experience how wide the soundstage was when I first listened to the IT01s. It is extremely wide; a lot of space and a lot of air. Depth-wise, it cannot be compared to IEMs with multi-drivers. The depth is just sufficient to create layering.

iBasso IT01s with Opus #3

Lows
The response for lows on IT01s is exceptionally fast, especially considering that this IEM has a dynamic driver. The fast and accurate response produces a very well-controlled bass. The appearance on the bass is basically a tap-and-go.

It appears immediately when it is summoned and leaves instantly when it is no longer needed.

However, due to the driver count limitation, the lows response seems to be a bit too close to the surface, resulting in insufficient depth to create a rumble. Thus the overall sound is a little analytical, which is fine by me since I’ve always liked sounds which are a little technical and analytical, but if you prefer musicality and emotion to be highlighted, then this pair might not be up your alley.

It will be tough for those who appreciate musicality and emotion to accept this pair of IEMs.

iBasso IT01s

Mids
The mids are slightly shy in this pair of IEMs. They are staged slightly behind lows and highs. The spacious and airy signature makes mids very lively. You can really “feel” vocalists breathing because of the injection of air in the mids. Besides that, all the notes in the mids are presented without any congestions or stacking. Impressive!

This is not a V-shaped IEM but do expect a slight recess in mids.

For male vocals, I find the overall texture slightly leaner. I would appreciate a thicker texture to make the vocals more powerful. The same cannot be said for female vocals, which the IT01s is able to handle flawlessly.

I actually appreciate that the team tuned the mids to be slightly recessed, otherwise I would have to deal with shouty vocals. A very wise choice by the team!

Fingerprint was sticked on the shell

Highs
This is the part that I love the most about the IT01s. The treble is very well-tuned. It is very natural-sounding, with a good amount of air and space in it. If my everyday pair of IEMs (Campfire Audio Nova) could adopt this trait from the IT01s, it would really make them attain holy-grail status. Currently, the Nova’s treble rolls off too early, making its presence insignificant. Hence I find IT01s’ treble especially praiseworthy.

The highs shine out the most among the three frequency spectrums.

For those who are very sensitive to treble peak, don’t worry, it is very well extended but not peaky. As mentioned in the earlier part of this review, I did not experience fatigue after long hours of listening to this pair of IEMs. Perhaps the ‘s’ in the model name could also stand for ‘sparkle’?

IT01s with cable (adaptor removed)

Conclusion
The iBasso IT01s is a great choice for those who do not like the tonality of the original IT01. Instead of an upgrade from the entry-level model, it’s more like an alternative for those who prefer a leaner and brighter sound signature. The number of accessories, especially the inclusion of a high-quality stock cable, makes the iBasso IT01s a more appealing product than its predecessor.

IT01s retails for USD199. It can be purchased at most of the major audio retailers such as ConnectIT by Jade Gift Shop or Amazon. Currently, there are two color options available - blue and grey.

Once again, iBasso proved to the industry that a new challenger is emerging and with the release of IT01s, iBasso stands even firmer than before in the audio industry. I am looking forward to review more great stuff from them soon!

Well done, iBasso!

Injecting the knowledge obtained from the studio into the development of the Empire Studio Reference (ESR), Empire Ears tuned this in-ear monitor (IEM) uniquely for discerning producers and engineers who need a neutral, uncolored reference IEM.

DISCLAIMER
This review is also posted on Headphonesty. I bought this pair of IEMs at full retail price. This is not a sponsored post, but an honest review written from a consumer’s point of view. Dollar to performance ratio is included below.

Introduction
Gathering a team of passionate engineers, musicians, and audiophiles, Empire Ears desires to design the finest IEMs in the world. With over 30 years of experience in this industry, Empire Ears successfully realized its ambitions with the release of the award-winning Zeus in 2015. The Legend X soon took over the Zeus’s legacy and it continues to prove Empire Ears’s quality in the industry.

"As the leader in our industry we are committed to never give up in our search for the extraordinary. Immersive sound signatures, cutting-edge design, and unrivaled build quality are the hallmarks of our IEM systems." - Empire Ears

Leveraging the experience gained in building the well-received Spartan, ESR is designed to present a more refined neutrality across the frequency spectrum. Adding pleasant warmth and greater body to the sound, it yields a more exciting midrange and ultimately generates greater resolution.

With this implementation, the ESR stands out for its well-balanced sound. It is one of the most balanced IEMs in Empire Ears's lineup. The ESR’s price to performance ratio creates a serious challenge to other IEM manufacturers. We will further discuss this in this review.

- Empire Ears ESR -

Unboxing
I really like the packaging of Empire Ears: grand, elegant, while minimalistic. When you purchase any IEM from Empire Ears, the first thing that will catch your attention is the huge logo on the black box.

- A silver Empire Ears Logo will catch your attention immediately -

Opening the black box, you will find these accessories included:

• Aegis Case
• Carrying pouch for Aegis Case
• Carrying pouch for ESR
• Cleaning cloth
• Final Audio Type E ear tips (XS, S, M, L, XL)
• Cleaning tool

- Cleaning cloth, quick start guide, and two pouches in the box. -


- The Aegis Case. -

Opening the Aegis case, you find the ESR lying comfortably with the Effect Audio Ares II cable pre-installed. Besides the IEM, the additional ear tips and cleaning tool are also stored in the case.

- Final Audio Type E ear tips and cleaning tool. -


- ESR with pre-installed Effect Audio Ares II cable -

Specifications

• 3 proprietary Empire Balanced Armature Drivers
• 1 low, 1 mid, 1 high
• 4-way synX crossover network
• Resonance Mitigation Technology (A.R.C)
• Impedance: 19.3 ohms @ 1kHz
• Frequency response: 10 Hz - 40kHz
• Sensitivity 112dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
• UPOCC 26AWG handcrafted cable by Effect Audio

Build, Fit and Isolation
Empire Ears utilizes acrylic shell for most of its universal line-up. ESR has the same acrylic shell. The logo on the shell varies according to the models. The shell is relatively big when compared to other models such as the Jomo Audio Haka and Symphonium Audio Aurora that I recently reviewed.

However, the relatively large IEMs sit well in my ear with the correct choice of ear tips. I am using the Final Audio Type E ear tips provided in the box. I like these ear tips for their good isolation.

- Gold Empire Ears logo on black acrylic shell -

There are 3 bores on the nozzle. The nozzle is relatively big and slightly shorter compared to other IEMs on the market. This might cause some issues in finding a good ear tip for the universal model for some users. I am lucky because the Type E ear tips fit me well.

- 3 bores found on the nozzle of ESR -

Empire Ears ESR utilizes a 0.78mm non-recessed 2 pin connector. This is a common market standard, so a lot of third party cables can be found to replace or upgrade the original cable.

- 0.78mm non-recessed 2-pin connector found on top of the shell -

The cable provided in the box is the Effect Audio Ares II: a 26AWG Ultra Purity Ohno Continuous Cast (UPOCC) copper cable. This is an excellent cable with rigid braiding and a strong right-angled 3.5mm jack. When ordering this IEM, I was given the freedom to choose the termination: 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm. I chose 3.5mm so I can pair it with most of my amplifiers and digital audio players (DAPs).

- Effect Audio Ares II -


- A rigid right-angled 3.5mm jack -


- 2 pin connector with heat-shrinked ear guides -


- Black Y-split with Effect Audio and Empire Ears logo -

Pairing
For this review, I paired ESR with the Sony NW-WM1A, one of my favourite DAPs, and I used the unbalanced cable. For ear tips, I used the Final Audio Type E ear tips which are included in the package.

- Empire Ears ESR with Sony NW-WM1A -

Sound
Based on the ESR’s name itself, I suspected the presentation would be rather flat and dull before even listening to this IEM. Most of the studio reference IEMs exhibit this kind of sound signature in my experience.

Wrong! So very wrong. I “wowed” instantly when I first listened to this IEM. It is lively and full of emotions.

The overall sound signature can be considered neutral. I read some reviews while I listened to this IEM and noted that some reviewers do not consider it to be a neutral IEM. Here I wish to clarify what neutral means to me. Normally I call an IEM neutral when there is no emphasis or deficit at any region in the frequency spectrum. I think ESR did very well here. I call this a neutral IEM.

The response is very fast and accurate. This speed and accuracy is essential for musicians, artists, and engineers when producing music. The soundstage is wide and deep. I cannot find an IEM that has a better soundstage than Empire Ears’s IEMs. This is one of the unique selling points of Empire Ears.

Details are well-separated and the layering of instruments is presented decently. I do not find any congestion when listening to any of the review tracks. I can submerge myself in the sea of musicality when listening to ESR. It is an enjoyable reference IEM.

- Another close look at Empire Ears ESR -

Lows
Deep, very deep. The depth of the soundstage is created mostly by the deep extension of the bass. The bass response is very fast and I appreciate fast bass (short decay duration). Slow bass (bass that decays slowly) can give a track more emotion and may be more gentle on your eardrums, but slow bass bleeding into the mids is a big taboo.

The body is full and well controlled. The amount of bass does not affect the rest of the frequency spectrum. This IEM is precisely and accurately tuned by Empire Ears!

The sub-bass rumble is when the ESR begins to shine. I am not a bass head but I really appreciate good quality lows. I fell in love with the sub-bass when I first listened to this IEM.

The lows response is very different when compared to the X series from Empire Ears.

If you are a fan of the X series (Bravado, Legend X, etc), you might need to audition this before making an impulsive purchase.

X series has a softer approach in the bass regions, like a wave hitting the beach, while the ESR’s bass is like a punch hitting a sandbag. This kind of solid impact is the best description of the ESR’s bass. Nonetheless, it is very accurate and the presence is significant!

- Empire Ears ESR -

Mids
If you read my previous reviews, you will understand how much I appreciate good mids. I am a Mandopop and Cantopop lover. Good vocals are essential for me. What does“good mids” mean to me? The texture needs to be thick enough. What do I mean?

Texture is how the vocals and other mid frequency instruments are combined in a composition, thus determining the overall presentation of the mids in a piece.

This is very tricky because the vocals become too honky when the texture is too thick. When the vocals are too thin, they lose the spotlight. The stage will be taken over by other frequency regions.

The ESR has a good grasp on texture. The mids are rich, thick, and juicy. It has sufficient air and space in the mids to make the vocalists sound lively. When I am listening to Teresa Teng, she sounds sweet and silky smooth.

I always use Teng’s tracks as a reference when writing my impressions on mids for an IEM. Her vocals are special: you need a good amount of air to make them lively and the body needs to be sufficiently thick at the same time.

It is tricky, but I am glad that ESR got it right!

Positioning is tricky for the mids as well. Normally I prefer the vocalists to be positioned in the center of the stage, taking the spotlight, but sometimes it can become extreme. Overly forward vocals are a no-no for me because they become shouty, like the vocalist shouting at you without any musical instruments playing.

As mentioned earlier, the ESR is a relatively neutral IEM. There is no bias at any region of the frequency spectrum. The mids are positioned well in the middle and I appreciate this presentation. I get what I like in this IEM in both the lows and the mids.

- Empire Ears ESR -

Highs
The highs are one of the key factors determining how long you can listen. If the IEM has peaks in the highs or is too energetic, it will cause fatigue during long listening sessions. ESR does not belong in the listening fatigue category.

Personally I have a good tolerance for highs. I seldom find an IEM to be too bright. I like the highs on the ESR. They are airy and spacious. If lows are a punch landing on a sandbag, the highs are a gentle breeze bringing you comfort.

When the punchy lows meet with the meaty mids and breezy highs - simply amazing.

The extension and decay on the highs is well-controlled. A lot of IEM manufacturers neglect the treble, causing the highs to extend and decay badly. What does poor treble extension or decay sound like? It sounds exactly like distortion. The silky highs break and form unbearable distortion at high frequency. It can be piercing sometimes, ruining the overall experience.

All these mentioned issues were addressed in designing the ESR. I salute the professionalism and mindfulness of the team who crafted the ESR.

- Another look at the ESR-WM1A pairing -

Conclusion
The Empire Ears ESR is a great choice not only those who are working in a studio; it also fits well for those who value neutrality in their IEMs. The amount of accessories, especially the Ares II from Effect Audio, made the ESR package more attractive. The ESR is fully built by the Empire Ears team in the USA to maintain the high quality.

The universal ESR retails for USD899. It can be purchased at most of the major audio retailers such as ConnectIT by Jade Gift Shop (Singapore) or directly from Empire Ears. For those who wish to get a custom version, the price starts at USD999 and the final price will depend on the customization of the artwork.

Empire Ears managed to challenge the common stereotype of studio reference IEMs. They are no longer dull and lifeless. The ESR is proof to the community that studio reference IEMs can sound fun and engaging!

Well done, Empire Ears!

Jomo Audio took on a journey to design a single Balanced Armature (BA) driver and Haka is proof to the community that the limitation of the performance of a single Balanced Armature (BA) driver can be addressed.

Disclaimer
This review is originally posted on Headphonesty. I won this pair of in-ear monitors (IEM) during CanJam Singapore 2019. Thank you Euphoria Audio who hosted the lucky draw. This is not a sponsored post, but an honest review written from a consumer’s point of view.

Introduction
Jomo Audio is founded by a broadcast engineer, Joseph Mou. Joseph has long experience in Audio & Video (AV) mixing as well as signal broadcasting. Being inspired by the Japanese word of “Takumi” or Craftsmanship Spirit in English, Joseph extending his expertise to the audio industry. He worked with experts from hearing-aid business to craft wonderful IEMs that sound decent in ear and looks splendid on hands.

"We studied existing single BA driver IEMs in the market and the result was not very pleasant. We kept challenging ourselves to see what we can deliver by using the minimum number of driver and how we can make it better." - Joseph Mou

By understanding the situation and consumers’ needs, Jomo Audio worked closely with well-known Balanced Armature technology supplier to have a breakthrough in the design. However, Jomo Audio was not satisfied with what they can provide off the shelf.

Hence, Jomo Audio decided to embark on designing a new Balanced Armature driver with self-specified performance. The journey was not easy. Numerous trials had been done by the engineers. Jomo Audio Haka is the answer to the mentioned situation.


Jomo Audio Haka

Unboxing
The unboxing experience for Jomo Audio Haka can be considered as pleasant. Upon removing the cardboard packaging, you’ll see a blue box with an engraved gold Jomo Audio logo.


Jomo Audio Haka in a cardboard packaging


Revealing a blue box after the cardboard packaging is removed

Opening the box, user can find everything that is neatly arranged in a preset foam encased layout. The top portion is a single slot for the accessories while there is another for the semi-stiffened leather zippered pill-case. Inside the pill-case, user can find the Haka with the stock cable pre-installed.


On the cover of the pill-case, there is an engraved “JOMO”.

I am unsure whether is it due to the case, the stock cable was stained - there are some black spots on the cable that I cannot clean it even with a wet wipe.


The pill-case


Haka can sit perfectly in the case.

The included accessories are as follows:

• 1 x cleaning brush/tip
• 3 x single bore Tennmak Whirlwind tips (s/m/l)
• 3 x dual flange silicone tips (s/m/l)
• 1 x quarter jack adapter
• Airplane adapter
• Leather semi-stiffened carry case

Accessories provided in the box.

Users have the freedom to choose the cable when purchasing Jomo Audio Haka - a normal 4 wire braided silver plated copper (SPC) cable or an Effect Audio Ares II cable. You have to top up an additional of SGD200 (~USD145) if you decided to choose the Ares II.

Since this is a gift for a lucky draw, only the normal stock cable was included. I have an Ares II from my Empire Ears IEM and I swapped it around for this review.

Specifications

• Single Proprietary Precision Balanced Armature Drivers
• No crossover
• 3D printed ergonomic semi-custom shell design
• Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
• Sensitivity: 107dB
• Impedance: 18 ohms @ 1K Hz
• Solid Brass nozzle

The design approach for Haka is different. This is not a showing off of technology. This is a showcase of proprietary single balanced armature driver that Jomo Audio has crafted with their own specification and determination to break the current norm - Single BA driver IEM will not sound decent.

Build, Fit and Isolation
The shell of Jomo Haka is 3D-printed. The size is relatively small as compared to other 3D-printed IEMs’ shells such as iBasso IT03. Haka has a familiar look of a custom in-ear monitor (CIEM) which gives it a classy and sleek vibe.

There is only one color option for the universal model - Black with a gold “HAKA” on the shell.

This makes the overall presentation simple but eye-catching. Gold and black combination is always good.


Jomo Haka in a close look - Black with a gold “HAKA” on the shell.

The nozzle is built by brass which makes the nozzle durable. The bore of the nozzle is pretty wide so users who are looking for third parties ear tips might need to search for those with a wide bore. With the brass nozzle, it enables the ear tips to extend well into my ear canal, giving me decent noise isolation.


A brass nozzle that makes Haka looks sturdy.

The stock cable I got from the packaging is a silverish 4 twisted wire cable. As mentioned in the earlier section, my cable got stained most likely by the internal of the pouch. The cable has moldable ear guides - a memory wire with heat shrunk outer layer.

This is a nightmare for those who are wearing spectacles. I cannot get a good fit with the stock cable. This issue is solved when I change the cable to Effect Audio Ares II.


Jomo Haka with pre-installed stock cable.

The jack is a 3.5mm unbalanced stereo jack finished at a right angle with a stress relief finish. The same stiffened rubber finish of the jack is used for the y-splitter and adjustable neck slider. The microphonics on the cable is minimal if you managed to shape the memory wire to your ear shape with the aid of the neck slider

There are no sharp edges on the shell and the weight of the IEM is light. I do not feel any fatigue after hours of listening. I really like the fitting of this IEM (with Ares II). Jomo Haka is utilizing a 0.78mm non-recessed 2 pin connector. This is a common market standard so a lot of third parties cables can be found to replace or upgrade the original cable.


Non-recessed 0.78mm 2 pin connector on top of Haka.

Pairing
In this review, I used my favorite Opus #3 as the source. I did some cable rollings and source matching for this review. I am using MandarinEs Symbio W ear tips (not included in the box) during this review.


Jomo Haka with Effect Audio Ares II on Opus #3.

Sound
No crossover, no phase cancellation, just powerful and coherent pure sound.

I found the tagline interesting and this could be the best words to describe the sound of Jomo Haka. The overall sound signature of Jomo Haka is relatively neutral. The presentation is uncolored. Coherent, with only a single driver and no crossover, the response is very accurate and on-point. It is almost perfect on the pace, rhythm, and timing.

The soundstage is above average. On X-axis, space is sufficient for instruments and vocalists to stand without stepping on each other. I do not find any congestion for most of the track even with a complicated track. On Y-axis, the depth is sufficient. Haka can present the stage in a precise manner. I think this is the best I can get with a single BA driver.


Jomo Haka looks perfect with Ares II installed.

Lows
The lows are deep and fast - for a single BA driver IEM. When listening to Die Another Day from Madonna, I wouldn’t believe this is a response that can be presented by a single BA driver IEM. The lows are not warm, rather fast and tight. This is the bass that I valued the most. It is true that a warm lows can bring in some emotions to the track but sometime it might bleed to other frequency spectrum.

The mentioned problem does not exist in Jomo Haka. The bass is very well controlled. It presents when it is needed and decay with the fastest speed after the presence. Very accurate presentation.

With Effect Audio Ares II paired with Haka, the body becomes fuller and the response is faster. I like this combination and I think users who like clean, deep and punchy bass should go for this combination. Ares II can unleash the full potential of Haka at the lows without a doubt.


Jomo Haka on the black cardboard packaging.

Mids
If someone was to ask what I like the most from the sound of Jomo Haka, the midrange is the one for sure.

What I love about the midrange is the smoothness and the emotion in the delivery. There is no spike in the mids and I enjoy myself especially on pop songs.

User will expect more of an upper mids focus than lower mids focus. With the pairing of Ares II, the lower mids will turn richer. There is a small focus on the vocals for Haka but these sound natural and realistic. Ares II actually warms the mids, making it sounds meatier and juicier.

There is also a good amount of space and air in the mids. When this meets with the fast and punchy bass, everything is coherent.


Jomo Haka on the blue box.

Highs
Energetic is a good word to describe the highs of Haka. The highs do not have the best extension but it is sufficient to make the sound sparkle.

"You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend." - Bruce Lee

The treble can be soft sometimes, giving a different presentation. It is not always energetic. It can sit in any tracks without any issues. The treble synchronizes in a balanced manner with the rest of the spectrum. It gives the overall presentation a sufficient amount of air and space. Nonetheless, the treble is not airiest but it coexist flawlessly with the mids and lows.


Another close look on Jomo Haka and the stock cable.

Conclusion
Jomo Audio Haka is a great choice for those who want an IEM that sounds neutral and simple. At SGD499 (~USD365), this IEM’s performance to price ratio makes it attractive. However, I would highly encourage user to opt for the Ares II combination because the stock cable pulls Haka’s performance back. Ares II has a better build quality than the stock cable.

Haka retails for SGD499 (~USD365). It can be purchased at most of the major audio retailers such as ConnectIT by Jade Gift Shop (Singapore) or directly from Jomo Audio

I would like to congratulate the team from Jomo Audio with a loud “Mission Accomplished”.

The team overcomes what is constraining a single BA driver IEM, designing Haka from with a ground-up approach. The BA driver is well-designed to handle the whole frequency spectrum without any compromises.

Achievement unlocked, Jomo Audio!

With a burgeoning audio community in Singapore, Singapore-based IEM manufacturer Symphonium Audio took a leap in designing Aurora - a simple but fascinating IEM that satisfies the needs of audiophiles.

This review is originally posted on Headphonesty. I purchased this pair of in-ear monitors (IEM) at full retail price. This is not a sponsored post, but an honest review written from a consumer’s point of view. Dollar to performance ratio is included below.

Introduction
Founded in early 2015, Symphonium Audio was born out of its founders’ frustration at the current offerings in the personal audio market. They noticed an unhealthy trend; most earphones were made to be cheap and low-quality, prompting frequent replacement.

Those which sounded amazing and had better quality would often cost a bomb, rendering them inaccessible for a portion of the community.

In 2017, after months of research and design, Symphonium audio bucked the trend by creating Aurora with premium quality parts and technology often found in high-end IEMs.


Unboxing
The unboxing experience on Symphonium Audio Aurora is very pleasant - Minimalist yet satisfactory. Upon removing the cardboard packaging, you’ll see a black box with an engraved Symphonium Audio logo.



Within it lies an eye-catching leather carrying case. There is also a satin pouch which contains:

• 2 pairs of ComplyTM Isolation Series T-500 (One is pre-attached)
• 3 pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M and L)
• Warranty and care booklet
• Warranty card

I really like the leather carrying case the IEM comes with. It is not only a perfect size for Aurora, but is made of semi-hard material, providing sufficient protection to the IEM. Those who are keen to buy it to store other IEMs will be pleased to know that Symphonium Audio sells it on its own.


Specifications

• Driver Configurations: Dual balanced armature drivers
• Crossover: 2-Way Passive Crossover
• Connector: Industry standard removable 2-pin connectors
• Impedance: 75 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 109dB
• Freq. Response: 10Hz – 19KHz

Build, Fit and Isolation
The two balanced armature drivers are embedded in a polycarbonate shell. The choice of material is wise here - Polycarbonate is light and cost-effective as compared to other materials. I think this is the main reason why Aurora sits like when a dream within my ears when I have them on.


A recessed, two-pin connector is located on top of the shell. With this implementation, many cable-rollings can be done because 2-pin cables can be easily found in the market.


The stock cable is a black, 4 twisted wire cable, making the overall presentation appear sleek. The build of the stock cable is rigid and firm, and some may find it a little stiff. But the upside is that with the correct implementation of the neck slider, microphonics are kept to a minimum when the user is walking or moving.

The Y-connector of this cable is built to be strong - very rigid. At the end of this cable is a right-angled 3.5mm with strain relief, providing durability to the user, as long as it is not handled too roughly.


The nozzle of Aurora is relatively long as compared to most of the IEMs in the market. Once you remove it from the box, you’ll find T-500 ComplyTM tips attached. There’s also a catch at the top of the nozzle preventing the ear tips from dropping. I like this implementation. After a series of testing, Final Audio Type E and SpinFit CP100 can fit pretty well with Aurora.

The shell of Aurora is relatively small as compared to other multi-drivers IEMs such as Campfire Audio or InEar, and the shape reminds me of custom IEMs (CIEM). With the correct choice of ear tips, it should offer users good noise isolation. I was able to achieve above-average isolation by using the stock silicone medium ear tips, ComplyTM T-500, and SpinFit CP100 medium ear tips.


Pairing
In this review, I chose to pair the Aurora with Sony NW-ZX2. I did some source matching and ear tips changing throughout the review. I will explain further in the next section of this review.


Sound
Symphonium Audio Aurora is a balanced IEM while touching the edge of the dark side. In fact, I think it is one of the most balanced that you’ll find within the price range of USD250-300. This surprised me because IEMs within this price range normally sounds colored, or are too musical to produce satisfying sound. Aurora is tuned using a different methodology, producing an audiophile-level IEM at a consumer price range.

The overall tonality of this IEM can be very dependant on source and ear tips. It took me a while to finalize the tonality of this IEM. I paired it with a few Digital Audio Players (DAPs) and every pairing produces different tonalities.

I found it weird at the beginning because of how different this IEM sounds when paired with different DAPs but eventually came to find the experimental process fun. With this IEM, the possibilities and permutations are endless.

The X-axis of the soundstage is sufficiently wide. I do not find any congestion within the months listening to it. For Y-axis, it might not be the deeper that can be found in the market but it is above average. The depth is sufficient to create good layering in most of the test tracks.


Lows
The lows in this IEM can be described as full and impactful. It is not the strongest and the biggest amount that you can find in the market but the presence is sufficient and significant. The dynamic in the lows fills this with emotion and life.

The response rate is sufficiently fast and the decay speed is efficient, which I really appreciate - - slow response in the lows may affect other frequency regions negatively. If you’re worried that the fast response may cause an artificial and analytical sound, you won’t have to, as Symphonium Audio managed to find the balance between the two.

Different ear tips actually offer different presentation in the lows. When I am listening using the pre-installed ComplyTM ear tips, the lows are dominant as compared to other regions in the frequency spectrum.

When I changed the ear tips to SpinFit CP100, the lows are more constrained and controlled. Personally, I prefer the lows presented when SpinFit CP100 is installed. The overall tonality is more balanced.



Mids
The mids are clear in this IEM. They are neither forward nor recessed. The positioning of mids is good in this IEM - taking center stage. The spacing is just nice for the mids to sit in without any congestion. Vocalists and other mids frequency instruments are standing in a line in the middle of the stage, bringing an enjoyable listening experience to the user.

Aurora presents male voices in a lush and warm manner giving them, extra emotion. The overall experience is very comfortable. I like the neutrality here. Some IEMs do not have sufficient emphasis in the mids, which make male vocalists sound thin. I prefer something lush and warm in the lower mids.

Aurora has a great spacing in the upper mids near to the highs. This allows it to present female voices in a silky smooth and airy manner. Jennifer Warnes and Norah Jones sounded sweet through the presentation of Aurora. The only downside is that unlike what it can do for male voices, Aurora is unable to give out a neutral sound for female voices. I suspect it is because it has slightly darker tonality. The high pitches are a little dull and I think this aspect could be further improved.



Highs
The first impression for Aurora in this frequency region is crisp and detailed. It is not sharp and piercing the eardrum. This is good news for users because sharp and piercing highs will cause listening fatigue after long hours of listening. I reviewed this IEM over a period of three weeks, and did not find any peak in the high frequency response. The overall presentation was smooth.

Unlike many other IEMs which produce unstable and ‘sparkly’ highs, the highs given out by the Aurora are pretty stable and firm. This creates a good clarity. Cymbals and strings are positioned slightly forward as compared to other instruments. The space and air in the highs are sufficient but I would appreciate more. Overall, the clarity and resolution are considerably high.


Conclusion
Symphonium Audio Aurora is a great choice for beginners starting a journey to exploring audiophile IEMs. At SGD299 (USD249), this IEM’s performance to price ratio makes it attractive. I’d suggest for those who are keen to spend some time matching the IEM with the most suitable DAPs and ear tips, based on their own needs and preferences. You’ll enjoy a high degree of versatility and freedom!

Aurora retails for SGD299 (USD249). It can be purchased at most of the major audio retailers such as ConnectIT by Jade Gift Shop (Singapore) or directly from Symphonium Audio

I would like to congratulate the team from Symphonium Audio with a loud “Mission Accomplished”.

The team understands what is lacking in the market, designing Aurora as a unique product which fills the gap - a true audiophile IEM that is reasonably priced. I am expecting more from the company in the future.

All the best and excellent work, Symphonium Audio!

Disclaimer:
Thank you Frankie for sending me the Shanling MW100 in return for my honest opinion. I am not personally affiliated with the companies in any way, nor do I receive any monetary rewards for a positive evaluation. The review is as follows.

Introduction:
Shanling is founded in 1988. In the same year, Shanling embark their journey in developing audio products and showcased their first Hi-Fi stereo amplifier.


Today, main offices of Shanling are located in Shenzhen and factory is in Dongguang. Shanling is a high-tech company combining R&D, production, processing and sales of products, including Hi-Res portable music players, portable amplifiers, Hi-Fi headphones, SACD/CD players, Hi-Fi amplifiers, power conditioners and many other Hi-Fi products. We have established close relationship with many international top hi-end manufacturers and enjoy a good reputation in the industry.
In 2018, Shanling successfully transform their 30 years of experiences into wireless form. With the launch of MW100, it marked the new breakthrough in audio industry. Audiophiles and audio lovers can start to expect more wireless IEMs to be developed and designed by Shanling.

Shanling MW100

Unboxing:

Accessories in the box
In the Box:

• MW100
• Soft Pouch for Storage
• Eartips
• Charging Cable
• User Guide

Specifications:

• Battery life: 15 hours (Playback), 14 hours (Calls) and 300 hours (Standby)
• Charging time: 2 hours
• Frequency response: 20 - 20 000 Hz
• Bluetooth version: Version 4.1
• Transmission rate: 10m (30ft)
• Supported protocol: HSP/HFP/A2DP/AVRCP
• Weight: 34.3g
• Supported codec: SBC, AAC and aptX
• IP Rating: IPX5
• Driver: 10mm graphene driver
• Bluetooth Chip: CSR8645
• Microphone: Sixth-generation of cVc noise cancellation technology

Design, Fit and Isolation:
Shanling MW100 is a wireless earphones with a silicon neckband. The neckband is fully flexible and you can roll the neckband to keep the unit into the provided storage pouch. I like the implementation of the neckband because it sits well on my neck. Normally, those wireless earphones without neckband always give me headache due to the weight unbalanced between the left and right. With the implementation of the neckband, this is like a paracetamol to treat my headache.

Foldable silicon neckband of MW100
At the driver shell, there is an implementation of magnet. With the presence of the magnet, the earphones stay stable on my chest when I am not listening to it. This is like adding sodium to the paracetamol making it more efficient and faster in action to treat my headache - I love it straightaway when I opened the box and tried on it. Well designed!

Magnets at the driver shells clip together
At the left side of the earphones, there is a microphone which is powered by sixth-generation of cVc noise cancellation technology. The position of the microphone is very ideal - the distance from your mouth to the microphone is minimal. This can maximize the reception of desired sound and minimize the reception of unwanted noise.

Besides microphone, there are three buttons built together with the microphone - Volume controls and multi-purpose button. With this design, user can control the volume and skipping the track immediately with the volume control buttons. Multi-purposes button can be used to pause or play the song and picking up or rejecting phone call.

Control panel on the left
The fitting of MW100 is supreme. I managed to find a good fit with Final Audio Type E ear tips. It stays well in my ear. With the correct ear tips, the isolation is good and MW100 is my daily commuting companion. In Singapore, the trains and buses are always crowded and noisy during the peak hour. With a wireless device like MW100 - I able to isolate most of the noise and submerge myself in my favorite playlist.

Battery life
The advertised battery life of MW100 is 15 hours continuous playback. This could be one of the longest I can find in the market. RHA has a battery life of 12 hours and Sennheiser has a battery life of 10 hours. I tested the battery life myself - Playing 320kbps MP3 from Spotify Premium it served me around 14 hours. Close to the advertised playback hours but do note that this is subjected to the playback volume. Higher the volume, shorter the playback hours.

Normally I spent around 3 to 4 hours commuting daily (disastrous right?). With a full charge in MW100, I can stay worry-less on charging for 3 to 4 days. So basically if I did my math correctly, I only need to charge the device twice a week! MW100 utilized a micro USB port at the control panel, together with volume controls and multi-purpose button.

Micro USB port located at the control panel

Connectivity
MW100 utilizes Bluetooth Version 4.1. It is not the latest in the market but at least it does not give me any headache due to connectivity flaws. MW100 supports SBC, AAC and aptX. This makes MW100 iOS and Android friendly. I have both devices and I able to connect flawlessly. So for those who are considering MW100, connectivity will not be a major factor to be considered. Shanling has a very experienced background in Bluetooth devices development. I am always very impressed by their DAP 2-way Bluetooth abilities.

MW100 in storage pouch
Sound
I tested this unit with my LG G6 playing Spotify Premium. I try to get myself in the consumer range so I did not use any lossless playlist in this review. The overall sound signature of MW100 can be considered as neutral - neither bias against nor for any frequency region in the spectrum. I am surprised because a lot of wireless headphones in this price bracket are designed to be bass cannons. This makes MW100 stands out more among other competitors.

The soundstage is sufficiently wide. In my three weeks spending time with MW100, I did not find any congestion in any tracks. On the y-axis, the depth is sufficient. I can obviously feel and observe the layering in most of the track. With the experience in designing ME100 and ME500, Shanling should come in handy when designing MW100.

Model name spotted on the neckband
Lows
As mentioned, MW100 is the rare one in this price bracket because it is not a bass cannon. For those bass-heads, you might want to look for other alternatives. The lows are sufficiently present. The lows response relatively precise. I would appreciate a faster decay in the lows but due to the depth in the Y-axis, there is no bleeding of the lows towards other frequency in the spectrum. If I were asked to describe the lows of MW100, I would describe it as a wave that hits on the beach - comfortable, decent and sweet.

Mids
This is where I love MW100 the most. If you read my reviews, you will know that I am a pop songs lover - Mandopop, Cantopop or whatever pop. I appreciate good vocal. What do I meant by good vocal? For male vocalists, they should sounds rich and firm while for female vocalists, the sound should be silky smooth. Please allow me to describe in a more Singaporean's way - for male vocalists, I would like it to be Nestle Milo with more Milo powder, to make it thick. For female vocalist, the most appropriate description would be Hong Kong's Silk Stocking Milk Tea. Weird but this could be the most accurate way to describe.

So, when I say I love MW100's mids, it ticked all the mentioned requirement. There was one day when I am doing my final year project, I wore MW100 with me for the whole day and I just love it. Ed Sheeran sounds emotional and soulful while Jennifer Warnes is soaring sweetly and smoothly. Flawlessly done!

Highs
A good highs should compromised a few factors:

• Shall not roll-off too early.
• Try to avoid frequency peak.
• Has sufficient space and air.

This is my personal requirement - You can have your too. Highs for MW100 might be the most polite spectrum. Sometimes I do find it shy a little bit. This actually make this wireless IEM to be tamer and more gentle. This could be the reason why I can spend 3 to 4 hours a day listening to it without any fatigue.
The presence of the high is significant and accurate. It is placed slightly behind the lows and mids frequency spectrum. The air and space is sufficient. No congestion in the highs. The most important point to be observed here is the highs do not crack of sparkle when the volume is turned up. This is one of the common issues I found in most of the IEMs in this price bracket. The highs stand well even with high volume.

Conclusion
With the price of USD59.99, MW100 provides freedom without compromising sound quality to the user. This is the first wireless IEMs from Shanling and I would like to congratulate Shanling - You got it right!

Shanling truly understand what consumer needs and designed MW100 according to the demand. For those who are interested, you can make your order at Shenzhenaudio.com. As mentioned, I am not personally affiliated with the companies in any way, nor do I receive any monetary rewards for a positive evaluation.

To address the needs of those who appreciate the greatness of E series but were put off by the price, Final Audio made the E1000.

Disclaimer
This review is originally posted on Headphonesty.

Introduction
Final Audio Brand Concept:
Our brand concept is simple and has not changed since the company’s inception.
“the comprehensive pursuit of things that are fundamentally right”. In our pursuit of this, we have actively adopted cutting edge technology such as 3D printers. We believe that such a pursuit is what creates a brand.

In 4th quarter of 2018, Final Audio surprised the community with their new entry level In-Ear Monitor (IEM) - Final Audio E1000. The price is within the Chi-Fi and budget headphones price range. How good can this tiny gemstone be? We will explore the diminutive miracle in this review.

Unboxing
Adopting the pattern from the elder brothers - E2000 and E3000, E1000 has a very minimalist packaging which includes everything you need.




In the box:

• Final Audio E1000
• 5 pairs of Final Audio E Type Ear Tips (XS, S, M, L and XL)

Specifications

• Housing: ABS
• Driver Diameter: 6.4mm Dynamic Driver
• Cable : Black OFC
• Sensitivity: 102dB/mW
• Impedance: 16Ω
• Weight: 15g
• Chord Length: 1.2m

Build, Fit and Isolation
E1000 could be the smallest IEM that you can find in the market. It can sit well in most of the ears by simply swapping the ear tips. Getting a good fit will ultimately yield a good isolation. Hence, isolation is not an issue for E1000.


This is the kind of company Final Audio is:
To create the kind of product that can be used for years, until it becomes an antique, we have to create something that we as the creators deem to be truly good.

Final Audio emphasis a lot in their build quality. E1000 is not an exception. It adopted the spirit of Final Audio. The cable used in this IEM is rigid - even more rigid as compared to its elder brother, E2000 and E3000. The shell is constructed by Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) - a common thermoplastic polymer that is light and strong.


Pairing
I used one of my favorite music players, Opus #3 for this review. I am using size L Final Audio Type E ear tips.

Test tracks

• Hotel California (DSD) - 90/160 on high gain
• Somewhere, Somebody (DSD) - 90/160 on high gain
• Billie Jean (24 bit/96 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Misery (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Perfect (24 bit/ 44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Don't Know Why (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Red (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Hello (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Bunch of mandopop songs from Jay Chou, May Day and A-Lin (FLAC and WAV)

Sound
This IEM is designed to be easily driven by both phones and DAPs. I need to trigger high gain on my DAP only when DSD files are played.

Opus #3 is not a very powerful DAP. High gain is always needed for DSD files.

Overall the sound signature of this IEM is considered as slightly at the warmer side - not too much. The slight warmness in this IEM actually added soul into the music presentation. The soundstage is moderately wide and the depth is sufficient. No congestion in the presentation. It hits the sweet spot of everything without exaggerating.

Lows
The lows of this IEM attacks accurately and precisely. The decay is effortless. Everything is precise in this region. It might not be the most you can find in this price range but the quantity is definitely sufficient for a non-bass head. The presentation of sub-bass is deep enough in term of depth which creates good layering - No bleeding towards mids. Clarity is conserved. For bass heads, this might not be the one can feed your desire in low frequency.


Mids
As a pop song lover, mids are essential for me. Vocalists should sound lively. E1000 has the ability to produce the emotions and feelings accurately because of its warmness in tuning. Ed Sheeran sounds as perfect as he is singing Perfect. He sounds rich, smooth and full of emotions.
For female vocalists, the presentation is silky and airy. Sufficient air and space makes Jennifer Warnes, Norah Jones and Taylor Swift sounds sweet. I can immerse myself into the songs with this presentation.

Highs
Cymbals sound crispy and it is well-extended. E1000 is not the brightest within its price region. I just find the air and space is sufficient in this IEM - neither congestion nor distortion occurs. Peak at high frequency region might cause piercing in the eardrum which will ultimately cause fatigue after long listening. Absence of high frequency peak of E1000 makes it great travel companion for me. I used it during commuting almost every day.

Comparisons
A series of comparisons had been done for you so you can choose an IEM which suit you the most. I have limited IEMs which fall within this price range. Take the comparisons with pinch of salt. Always have an audition before making decision!

Top Left: Final Audio E1000, Top Right: Sennheiser CX1.00, Bottom Left: 1More IM301, Bottom Right: Sony MDR-XB55AP
1More IM301
This is a slightly more “relax” sounding IEM as compared to Final Audio E1000. The overall sound signature is darker as compared to E1000. As a comparison, E1000 has a more energetic and fun performance. Fitting wise, E1000 has a more “universal” fitting as compared to IM301 because IM301 has a larger metal housing which could be disastrous for those with small ears. IM301 has a volume control that is compatible with both Android and iOS while E1000 does not have any in-line controls.

Sennheiser CX1.00
This is the entry level IEM of Sennheiser CX series. This comparison might not valid because CX1.00 actually costs SGD30 more than E1000. However, E1000’s performance is comparable with CX1.00 despite the price difference. CX1.00 sits slightly at the brightest side as compared to E1000. It might cause some listening fatigue for those who has less tolerance towards frequency peak. Both of them offer good fitting with their small and light housing. There is no in-line control for both of the models.

Sony MDR-XB55AP
As mentioned in the sound analysis, E1000 might not feed bass-heads well at the low frequency region. MDR-XB55AP might be a better choice for bass head. MDR-XB55AP is the entry level Extra Bass series IEM offered by Sony which targets bass-head with bass desire. It sounds more fun and musical as compared to E1000. This fun and musical tuning caused it to lose part of the neutrality. Choice need to be done - Fun and musical or neutrality. The choice is yours!

Conclusion
Final Audio E1000 is retailing at SGD39 (USD29.99). It can be purchased at most of the major audio retailers such as ConnectIT by Jade Gift Shop (Singapore) or Audio46. There are 3 color options - Blue, red and black.

With the price that would not burn your pocket, Final Audio presents E1000 to you with a supreme quality - both build and sound quality. Width, depth, lows, mids, and highs are at the well-balanced spot. Equilibrium might be the best word to describe this IEM. I cannot deny that this could be the most that I can find within the price range.

Well done Final Audio!

Introduction
Since 2011, RHA has developed a range of acclaimed noise isolating in-ear headphones using premium materials and innovative design. Combining elegant, functional design and intuitive features, RHA creates audio products with personality, transforming the way audiophiles interact with sound, technology and the people in their life.
True wireless or truly wireless earbuds have been a new wireless trend in audio market now. A lot of big players such as Sony, Sennheiser and Jabra have leaped into the catagory. Their involvment in this region changed the rules of the game - Freedom and Sound Quality can co-exist.

I have long experience with RHA since 2015. I am always impressed by RHA products such as MA750, T10 and T20. Nicely tuned by the engineers while the durability is never compromised. RHA succesfully leveraged their expertise in sound quality to the wireless industry. MA750 wireless is one of my favourite wireless earphones. In 2018, RHA launched their new TrueConnect which surprised the audio community including me. After spending some quality time with the unit, I decided to wirte a review on this charm.

Specifications

• 5+20 hours battery, with fast charging
• IPX5 sweat, splash and weather resistance
• Driver: 6mm dynamic
• Frequency range: 20-20,000 Hz
• Range (unobstructed): 10m
• Weight (earbuds): 13g
• Charging (from 0%): 15m to 50%; 1h40 to 100%

In the box

• RHA TrueConnect true wireless in-ear headphones
• Charging case
• USB C charging cable
• RHA TrueConnect silicone ear tips: 2xS, 3xM, 2xL
• Comply™ Foam TrueGrip Plus ear tips: 1xS, 1xM, 1xL
• Stainless steel ear tip holder

Design
When I first get the unit, I find the design of RHA TrueConnect looks like Apple AirPods - A black Apple AirPods. After taking a closer observation, there are a lot of difference between the two. The charging case is larger as compared to AirPods' charging case. However, it looks more sturdy as compared to the plastic case of AirPods. Fraid not! You can save much effort by owning RHA because you do not need to find a additional case to protect the case.


TrueConnect is covered with matte finishing which could potentially give a better grip as compared to AirPods. Smooth finishing in truly wireless earbuds is a flaws because oil in the ear will make it slippery and eventually slip out from the ears. Nice selection of material by RHA.

Besides the matte finishing, RHA utilized in-ear design with silicon eartips. This design helps to improve the fitting also because the weight is now further spread out and supported by different part of the ears. Aside from better fitting, this design can give a better seal and ultimately lead to a better bass performance. I will further elaborate this later in this review.

Fitting
As mentioned in the previous section, RHA TrueConnect indeed provides a good fitting by using matte finishing and in-ear design. However, some flaws are spotted. I have a relatively large ear but I felt my ears were stretched horizontally when wearing this. This could be potentially caused by the bone in my ear. Fitting of wireless earbuds are very subjective so I would advice to have an audition before buying. This truly wireless earbuds are finished with sweat proof coating of IPX5. Sport enthusiasts can use this earbuds when hitting up to gym on jogging around the neighborhood. I believe the matte coating can reduce the chance of the earbuds to slip out from your ears because the friction is stronger as compared to those with smooth finishing.

Control
A lot of the truly wireless earbuds do not have much control on the earbuds except for play/pause and voice assistant. RHA did a breakthrough here. You can do volume control and track skipping on TrueConnect. The complete details can be found in the user manual. No rocket science here, as long as you can understand the language, RHA TrueConnect works flawlessly!

Battery Life
RHA TrueConnect enables you to submerge yourself in your audio world continuously for 5 hours. The charging case hold 4 charges, meaning 20 hours of battery life. For those who are taking long journey of train, you can safely arrive at your location without worrying the battery of your earbuds. RHA utilized Type-C USB charging port for TrueConnect which supports fast-charging. Technology advancement is showing up here again.

Connectivity
TrueConnect is embedded with Bluetooth V5.0. Bluetooth 5.0’s primary benefits are improved speed and greater range. In other words, it’s faster and can operate over greater distances than older versions of Bluetooth. The official Bluetooth marketing material from the Bluetooth standard organization advertises that Bluetooth 5.0 has four times the range, two times the speed, and eight times the broadcasting message capacity of older versions of Bluetooth. Again, these improvements apply to Bluetooth Low Energy, ensuring devices can take advantage of them while saving power.

While spending time with this earbuds, I find that strong signal from the surrounding can cause interference with the Bluetooth signal. One instance, when I was waiting at the junction to cross the road, the signal from traffic light actually cut the signal. After further checking, almost 10/10 of the truly wireless earbuds will be interfered by stronger signal from the surrounding. Something to take note here.

RHA TrueConnect does not support any other codec besides SBC. I think this could be a space for improvement for the next generation. Hi-Res Audio is dominating the audio market now and I think in no time truly wireless earbuds will leverage on this bullet train and embark their journey in Hi-Res Audio. We shall wait for this.

Sound
I tested this earbuds with my LG G6 playing Spotify Premium. I do lossless library but I do not think it makes any significant difference here. The soundstage of this wireless earbuds can be considered as wide. I think this is one of the widest I can find in truly wireless range. Depth wise is sufficient. I can feel the layering when the lows are kicking in. The expertise and experience that RHA owned are well utilized in designing this earbuds. The overall sound signature can be considered as dark. It reminds me of MA750 when I first listened to this. I can see the shadow of RHA's IEMs in TrueConnect.

Lows
The lows is taking the back of the stage. The bass is kicking energetically from deep. Personally I find the bass is sufficient even for bass head unless their eardrums are completing damaged. Sometime I really struggle when they tell me the bass of a headphone is insufficient and I actually classified the headphone as bass-head headphone. Well, subjective right? The lows attack fast, precise and take short time to decay. This tuning controlled the lows and minimize the chance of lows bleeding towards mids.

Mids
Mids are neither forward nor recessed. Vocalists are standing right in the center of the stage as the star. I like this tuning. If the mids are too forward will make the overall performance dull and lack of musicality. Recessed wise will make me use much effort to focus on the vocalist. RHA did it right here for TrueConnect. Male vocalists sound energetic and rich while female vocalists sound sweet and airy. For those who like pop songs, RHA TrueConnect is a right choice.

Highs
I find the highs are a little bit shy in TrueConnect. This could be caused by the more emphasis in the lows region. However, the presence is still considerably sufficient. The highs are not exaggerate. It is well extended and decay is managed well without causing any distortions which can be commonly seen in many earphones. The sound produced by cymbals hits you like a wave instead of a needle that pierce through your eardrums. I can listen to this for long.

Conclusion
New Bluetooth V5.0 earphone is rare in the market and RHA TrueConnect is one of them. Besides the stellar connectivity, the supreme sound quality of the TrueConnect can easily beat a lot of major players in the market. Fitting wise is subjective but from the shape we know it can fit most of the people. RHA hears what audio community need and designs according to the needs. I like RHA approach here - Do it once, do it right.

Well done RHA! I love it!

Introduction
FiiO was established in 2007 and has experience in researching and developing countless portable music products of different types and sell FiiO-branded products through sales agents worldwide. The brand name FiiO is composed of Fi(fidelity from HiFi) and iO(number 1&0), representing the real feeling and convenient life that digital brings to life. Meanwhile, the Chinese “飞傲” is the transliteration of FiiO, indicating the positive and innovative spirit as thriving as spring.

Since I am into this hobby, FiiO always provide affordable solutions for poor students like me. I have very unique experiences with FiiO - Loves and Hates. I love the price of FiiO for sure and their passion in producing good products especially their DAPs; I frustrated with the old user interface - slow and laggy sometime.
Last year, FiiO launched their new DAPs - FiiO M7 and M9. This launch finally mitigated the laggy interface. I am satisfied with this 2 new products, especially the bucket machine FiiO M9. Nicely done with competitive price.

This year, FiiO launched their mid-range DAP, M6 with an entry level pricing (SGD 279.00). Why I list this DAP in mid-range category? The features embedded in this DAP is beyond what are provided by conventional entry level DAP. Amazing right? The features are tested and will be introduced one by one in the latter part of this review!

Design
To describe this DAP in term of the physical appearance, I would use sleek and pocket-friendly. The design is minimalist, modern and sleek. FiiO chose to have a full touchscreen on this DAP instead of the usual scroll-wheel. Actually, FiiO has been using touchscreen frequently in the recently launched DAPs – X5 3rd Gen, X7 MkII and M7. With the touchscreen, M6 looks simpler and nicer.

The power on/off button is located at the top of this DAP. Unlike the recent release, M6 does not have a volume control knob. FiiO utilised physical buttons for volume control - similar to what you can find on your mobile phone. On the left side of this DAP, there are 3 buttons:

• The Play/Pause button
• The Volume Up button
• The Volume Down button

The micro SD card slot is located at the right side of the DAP. This time round FiiO chose to use a push in micro SD card slot instead of using a tray. This is easier for user to remove or insert the micro SD card. There might be some compromises – dust maybe collected if the slot is not used.

The screen of FiiO M6 is nicely done. Adorning the front of the M6 is a vibrant, clear 3.2-inch IPS screen capable of 16 million colors and supporting 5-point touch. Although no reliable source for this, I believe M6 is utilising the same screen as M9. This IPS screen allows you to easily operate your device with its ability to show even the finest of details. Attractive colour and relatively responsive touch response as compared to a lot of the DAPs which equipped with touchscreen in the market. Unlike M9, FiiO removed all the bezel around the screen creating a bezel-less DAP - looks like a mini smartphone.

FiiO did not forget the back panel of this DAP too. Glass is used on the back of the DAP, making the DAP looks modern and classy. I did not expect this design to appear in a DAP which costs less than SGD300. I like this implementation!

Unboxing
The bundle in the box adopted the same minimalist as the player – simple but useful:

• FiiO M6
• USB Type C cable
• Quick Start Guide
• TPU protection case
• Screen protector (One pre-applied and one spare)

User Interface
In the heart of the M6 lies the Android operating system, deeply customized by FiiO. This allows you to navigate through menus at an astonishing speed and with amazing ease due to the carefully thought out customized user interface. The user interface of the FiiO M9 is smooth and user friendly. No more changing between Android mode and Pure Music Mode like what you can find in X5 3rd Gen and X7 Mk II. FiiO Music is now the core of the player. The user interface is exactly the same as the one FiiO M9 is using. This is a good decision made by FiiO – smooth and free from crashing like X5 3rd Gen. Well done FiiO!


Streaming Services
The FiiO M6 does not support Google Play Store although the backbone of the user-interface is Android-based. Streaming services can be installed and supported by this DAP. It is a little confusing at first but after the first try it is pretty easy. Basically, you need to download apk file for the supported app from website using computer. Then, connect your M6 to the computer and copy the apk file to the storage. To install the app, go to file management and tap on the apk file. The app is now installed. Simple as that. I use Spotify frequently. M6 supported Spotify well. The speed is slightly slower as compared to phone, but it is considerably stable. If you need a dedicated DAP for streaming, M6 is a good choice. There is a list of available applications that are supported by this DAP on FiiO's website.


Battery Life
Under normal usage the M6 can last around 13 hours. This is advertised by FiiO on the website. It is sufficient for me because I always have a habit to charge all my devices at night. M6 supports deep sleep mode. While in deep sleep (standby) mode the M6 can be still be used after a whopping 26 days! And being in deep sleep mode does not mean sacrificing convenience – just hit the power button, and the M6 instantly is ready to go. If you are pairing this DAP with a Bluetooth headphone, the battery life is around 16 hours. Not too bad!

Bluetooth
The M9 uses Bluetooth 4.2 and supports virtually all Bluetooth formats including the high-resolution ones for your ultimate listening pleasure, including: 24-bit aptX HD (also backwards compatible with aptX), LDAC, and HWA. The DAP can act as a Bluetooth receiver too. With the latest M6-FW1.0.1 firmware update, receiver mode supports both SBC and LDAC codec. I connected M6 with my LG G6 which supports LDAC too. There are some mismatch in the codec. It showed LDAC on my phone but SBC on FiiO. I will drop FiiO a message regarding this and update when response from FiiO is received. FiiO has very good reputation built on Bluetooth connectivity by the launch of the BTR series. It is glad to see this DAP has the capability to do this too.


Digital Output and Input
The M9 utilizes the modern USB Type-C connector, which allows it to not only be used as a USB DAC but also allows output of digital audio signals to other devices through USB. Of course, USB Type-C also enables charging and file management on the M9 when connected to other devices. The M6 supports USB audio out (send digital audio bits through USB), with even support for DoP/D2P. I tested USB out of M6, it works flawlessly with the correct choice of cable.



The M9 can be used as an asynchronous USB DAC with both Macs and Windows PCs. With Mac computers, you can just plug-and-play the M6 with no drivers needed. With Windows PCs, a simple install of drivers by FiiO is needed. The M6 can also act as your computer's Bluetooth transmitter – simply hook the M6 up to your computer as a USB DAC, and then have the player transmit Bluetooth audio to your headset!

Specifications

• CPU: Exynos 7270
• RAM: 768mb
• Rom: 2 Gb (+ 2Gb for the system)
• DAC: ES9018Q2C
• Outputs: 3.5mm headphone out – line out
• Digital Input: USB Type-C
• Screen: 3.2″ 480×800 IPS Screen from LG
• Micro SD: SDHC / SDXC (single slot)
• USB DAC: Exynos 7270 Soc
• WiFi : 2.4 GHz support

The specification sheets can be found on FiiO Website. For those who are interested can read from there.
https://www.fiio.com/m6_parameters

The M6 utilised the same proven high-performance ESS Sabre 9018Q2C chip that combines a capable DAC and a robust amp in one package, the same as M7. However, FiiO redesigned and further optimised the audio circuit for M6. This results in a higher audio output power as compared to M7 - 50% higher as mentioned on FiiO website.

Sound
Finally, after so long we have arrived at the most important part of this review – sound performance. To examine and share this, I paired this DAP with my Campfire Nova (with Effect Audio Eros II 2.5mm terminated). I used a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter by Effect Audio.

M6 exhibits the house sound signature of FiiO. The overall sound signature is considerably warm and lush. The spacing and soundstage of this DAP is moderate. With my Campfire Audio, the soundstage is acceptable. For those IEMs with slightly narrower soundstage, congestion might happen but this is common issue of entry level DAPs. The pairing is very important here. The presentation is clean – without noticeable hissing or noise despite having higher output power as compared to M7. M7 is powerful and energetic. It should able to unleash the potential for most of the IEMs in the market without any problem. I will include some comparison after this part of the review.

Lows
The lows of this DAP is dominant. The kick at the low frequency region will satisfy bass-heads. Can you imagine the power? Although having dominance at the lows, it does not bleed towards the mids - Fast and precise. I like this approach. Depth wise I would appreciate slightly deeper implementation. The lows and mids are on the same line which making it a little congested.

Mids
The mids is smooth and rich. For Singaporeans and Malaysians, I would describe this as Milo "Gao". For others, this can be described as having a cup of hot chocolate. Milky and thick texture in the mids. Very relaxing even after long listening. It flows and hits your eardrum gently, giving you the aroma and feel. For those who owned a warm IEM like Shure SE215, it might be too warm and saturated. Pairing need to be done over here too.

Highs
The highs shy a bit on M6. Its presence shall get more emphasis. It would be better to have a little bit more space and air as well as extension as the high frequency. For those who want a bright DAP, M6 might not be suitable for you but for those who owned a bright IEM and wish to tame the beast, M6 could be your beast master.

Comparison
I do not have a lot of DAPs within this price range so I selected the elder brother, FiiO M7 and Activo CT10 for comparison. In term of physical appearance, M6 is definitely the sleeker and most pocket-friendly. CT10 looks cheap because of its platicky back cover and the colour combination makes it looks weird. M7 is good but the top bazel is a little bit redundant. I would appreciate if the top bezel is removed but I know this is impossible because space is needed for circuit and parts.

In term of sounds, I find M7 and CT10 is more neutral as compared to M6. M7 has the widest soundstage among all. CT10 and M6 share second place together. Although the chip used in M6 and M7 is the same, but the design of circuit caused a major difference. Personally I prefer M7 in term of sound signature.

Function wise, M6 exhibits the bucket machine approach from his eldest brother, M9. It has list of features that can easily kills CT10 and M7. M6 creates a strong competition with its feature-rich property and competitive pricing.

Conclusion
With the launch of FiiO M6, the benchmark of sub SGD300 category is raised significantly. No features need to be compromised to lower the price. You can own a DAP with all the features you need without burning a hole at your wallet. I appreciate the hardwork by FiiO to cater different needs of audiophile community.

On behalf of the community, Thank you FiiO and well done on the latest release of FiiO M6.

Introduction
Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG produces a lot of high fidelity products which impressed audiophile community since 1945. Being a family business, the legacy is built and passed down generation to generation without compromising the details. Sennheiser HE-1, the most expensive headphone system is a status that show where Sennheiser stands in this audio market - king of the kings.

During 2018 4th quarter, I had the opportunity to attend grand opening of Sennheiser HE-1 Experience Center in Singapore. The CEO of Sennheiser, Mr Daniel Sennheiser flew all the way from Germany to Singapore to attend this memorable event.

When Sennheiser is mentioned, people will immediately think of their TOTL such as HD820, HD800s and IE800s. Indeed, being TOTL, these gears created high benchmark for competitors to follow their footsteps in the market. Sennheiser does not forget those who do not have deep wallet to invest on the TOTL. Last year, Sennheiser launched a consumer range IEM, IE40 Pro. It is retailing at SGD159.00 in Singapore - attractive right? In this review, I wil slowly introduce the greatness of this underrated gemstone to you in this review!

Packaging

• 1 IE 40 Pro
• 3 Silicone Adapter (S, M, L)
• 1 Foam Adapter (M)
• 1 Soft pouch
• 1 Cleaning tool

Specifications

• Impedance: 20 Ohms
• THD: < 0.1 % (1kHz, 94dB)
• Frequency response: 20 - 18,000 Hz
• Cable length: 1.3m (4.3 feet)
• Attenuation: < 26 dB
• Sound pressure level (SPL): 115 dB (1kHz / 1 Vrms)
• Transducer principle: Dynamic

Build, Fit and Isolation
The shell of IE40 Pro is built using plastic. I got the black colour variant which the finishing is a little matte - giving an expensive looks although it is built using plastics. This results the IEM to be lightweight and does not ‘carry any weight,’ even during lengthy sessions. This small housing IEM does sit well in my ears and create a good isolation. I believe the fit will be good for most of the people because of its small form factor.

The cable of this IEM is detachable but as usual, Sennheiser chose a proprietary connector for this IEM like what is done on IE80s. As mentioned by Sennheiser, the cable is deigned with innovative internal cable duct (patent pending) which is fit for stage use. Cable upgrade will be difficult for this IEM now but I hope cable manufacturer can take this connector into consideration.

Pairing
I used one of my favorite music players, Opus #3 for this review. Cable and eartips are original from the box.

Test Track

• Hotel California (DSD) - 90/160 on high gain
• Somewhere, Somebody (DSD) - 90/160 on high gain
• Billie Jean (24 bit/96 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Misery (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Perfect (24 bit/ 44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Don't Know Why (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Red (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain
• Hello (16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC) - 80/160 on mid gain

Sound
This IEM can be easily driven by DAP or phone. Opus #3 is not a powerful DAP so I need high gain to be triggered for DSD files. Soundstage is always the secret weapon of Sennheiser. Without any disappointment, Sennheiser ace it in IE40 Pro. I think this is the widest soundstage I can get in this price range. It is wide at the X-axis and sufficiently deep at the Y-axis. Impressive! This IEM is sitting in between neutral and bright. I would say it might be described as bright. As a bright signature lover, this fulfill my desire.

Lows
I am really impressed by the performance of this mighty IEM at the low frequency region. Solid bass with sufficient depth and it is well controlled. The lows attack fast with synergy and decay fast without bleeding to other frequency region in the spectrum. This is what I describe as quality bass - presence when it is needed, leave when it is not the right time. The DAP I used to review this IEM is not the most bassy one but I believe the lows of this IEM can feed the desire for those bass heads.

Mids
For those who read my previous reviews will understand how much I appreciate mids as a pop songs lover especially mandopop. As a matured listener, I believe the mids can be recessed because of the positioning of the staging but the quality should be preserved always. IE40 Pro hits the sweet spot for mids - neither forward or recessed. Nicely sit in the center of the stage, being the star for the stage. Now the show is for the vocalist. Male vocalist like Ed Sheeran sounds full of energy and emotions. When reviewing this IEM, I hesitate to pause the music because I am too into the quality which is presented. The upper mids are breathy and spacious. When I am listening to Jennifer Warnes’s Somewhere, Somebody, the layering is done flawlessly. Her vocal is silky smooth with soul. Very neutral.

Highs
Being a bright IEM, the highs are definitely more prominent. A great space is designed for the highs - Spacious and airy without any congestion. The cymbal sounds crisp without distortion. Within this price range, a lot of IEMs have difficulties to present the highs with low noise content but Sennheiser manage to overcome this general issue. It extended well and rolled of well too which results a gentle presentation. It will not torture your eardrums - no piercing highs.

Comparison
Shure SE215 Speical Edition
SE215 Special Edition is a warm IEM which is one of the favorite for beginners. I like the presentation of SE215 - silky smooth but in term of details presentation, IE40 Pro does a better job. The soundstage is wider and deeper with more space and air. One winning point for SE215 is the use of MMCX connector - easier to find a replacement cable for this IEM.

FiiO F9 Pro
This comparison is a slight disadvantage for IE40 Pro because of the retail price. F9 Pro is in the SGD200 price bucket. F9 Pro utilised three drivers which attracts a lot of beginners - the more the merrier. In term of details presentation, F9 Pro does not perform a lot better as compared to IE40 Pro - both IEMs are on the same par. F9 Pro is a more neutral IEM as compared to IE40 Pro. If you not a fan of bright IEM, F9 Pro might be more suitable for you.

RHA MA750
This IEM might be rare for a lot of beginners. I like how RHA build their IEMs - rigid and sturdy. The finishing is supremos. In term of sounds, I find MA75o is colder as compared to IE40 Pro. The emotions presentation is better on IE40 Pros. This is no longer a fight on quality but feel. Colder IEM does ace better in details presentation but MA750 is not far ahead in this region as compared to MA750.

1More Triple Drivers
One of the favorite IEM by beginners - 1More Triple Drivers wins a lot of beginners' hearts. Again, the more the merrier. This is always a misunderstand. I always find the presentation of 1More Triple Drivers is a little bit noisy. The overall presentation is sweet but the distortion is killing me sometime. IE40 Pro presented the music in a leaner and cleaner way which should be appreciated by the community. IE40 Pro is easier to drive as compared to 1More Triple Driver too.

Symphonium Audio Mirage
Symphonium Audio, a Singapore company created 2 IEMs last year. One of them is Mirage. Mirage utilises one B.A driver. Is it another underrated gemstone? Not really. The presentation of Mirage is darker and I always find it blanketed. When my ears are used to the presentation of IE40 Pro, I find Mirage presentation is muffled. This is a clear win for IE40 Pro.

Conclusion
As mentioned in the title, IE40 Pro is really an underrated gemstone within the SGD200 bucket. Clear presentation with proper bass management, IE40 Pro will not disappoint you no matter which genre you are listening to. At the same time, your pocket will love this IEM because you do not need to burn your pocket a hole when you decide to purchase it.

Well done Sennheiser!

This review is originally posted on my blog.
https://audiolocheese01.wixsite.com/website/home/fiio-fa7

Introduction
FiiO was established in 2007 and has experience in researching and developing countless portable music products of different types and sell FiiO-branded products through sales agents worldwide. The brand name FiiO is composed of Fi(fidelity from HiFi) and iO(number 1&0), representing the real feeling and convenient life that digital brings to life. Meanwhile, the Chinese “飞傲” is the transliteration of FiiO, indicating the positive and innovative spirit as thriving as spring.
After long waiting, I finally received my FiiO FA7 after the launch event in Singapore. I purchased this IEM with full retail price. So, this is not a sponsored post. I will give my most honest view from a consumer's point of view. I have very positive impressions on FiiO FH5 and F9 Pro. Nicely done IEMs with affordable price. This creates strong competition in this market. FA7, a quad Knowles balanced armature drivers IEM selling at SGD499.00 is again creating competition in this audiophile market. This unit completed 100 hours run-in before this review is written.

Technical Specifications

• 4 Knowles Balanced Armature Driver
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 40kHz
• Sensitivity: 110dB/mW
• Impedance: 23Ω
• Maximum Input Power: 100mW

Accessories
The full accessory package includes:

• 1 pair FiiO FA7 IEMs
• 1 x 3.5mm MMCX stereo cable
• 3 sets of “balanced” silicone tips
• 1 set of “bi-flange” silicone tips
• 3 sets of “vocal enhanced” silicone tips
• 3 sets of “bass enhanced” silicone tips
• 3 set of foam tips
• 1 x cleaning tool
• 1 x magnetic cable tidy
• 1 x velcro cable tidy
• 1 x rigid Pelican type case
• 1 x soft neoprene carry case
• Instruction manual & warranty card

Design
The shell of FA7 is made with German high-transparency resin, specifically medically designed for ears and with EU IIA medical certification. The FA7 is the mass-produced, 3D printed quad balanced armature IEM in the market. I would like to congratulate FiiO making this breakthrough. FA7 looks fascinating with the 3D printed shell and a shiny face-plate. The fitting is considered good for most of the ear size. Most of my friends have no issue with the fitting for this IEM.
FiiO is using a high-purity monocrystalline copper-plated silver cable, LC-3.5B. The build quality seems rigid and I believe it can sustain a reasonable amount of strain. Great improvement is observed on the MMCX connector. I always find it hard to attach and detach the cable from my FiiO F9 Pro. This is not found in the new FA7.



Pairing
Being the TOTL of FiiO IEM, I will use the TOTL of FiiO X series DAP to pair with FA7 for this review. In the latter part of this review, I will do some source matching.

Test Track

1. Hotel California (DSD)
2. Billie Jean (FLAC)
3. Beat It (FLAC)
4. 24K Magic (FLAC)
5. Sing (FLAC)
6. Somewhere, Somebody (DSD)
7. Style (FLAC)
8. Rolling in the Deep (WAV)
9. Hello (FLAC)
10. Animal (FLAC)

Sound
At the first moment I listen to this IEM, I have no idea how to describe the sound signature - Uncommon and rare. After spending days with it, I will consider the overall sound signature as dark sounding with slightly U shape, slightly darker than most of my IEMs. It reminds me of InEar StageDiver 2. FA7 is a refined version of that particular model. Every region of the frequency spectrum sounds better. Little brother of SD5 maybe?
The soundstage is wide from the X-axis but a little bit lacking from the Y-axis. Ambiance, but the instruments are in a line, forming the X-axis width with the vocalist slightly behind all the instrument forming the shallow Y-axis. This results some overlaps in some of the track. I will further elaborate afterwards. The imaging and separation is precise, nicely done in this price range.

Lows
A Knowles CI-22955 balanced armature driver is utilized for this region. CI series from Knowles is one of the largest BA driver which creates powerful kick at the low region. Wise choice of BA driver. If the specification sheet mention this IEM as a hybrid IEM, I would believe it from the performance of this IEM at the low frequency region - Punchy and energetic kicks that make you shake your body with the track. I am not a bass head but I do appreciate good quality bass.
On some of the track, the kicking at the lows does affect the performance of the mid frequency region. I believe this is partially caused by the alignment of the stage - lows at the front stage while the mids at the center stage. As a mandopop lover, I am disappointed a little bit by this but I believe for those who like EDM or classical can appreciate this more than me.

Mids
A knowles ED-29689 balanced armature driver is utilized for mid frequency region. The ED series is one of the most popular series used by IEM manufacturer. As mentioned in the earlier part of this review, the mid frequency region of this IEM is being aligned in the center stage - Not the star, but emphasis still given. Some people might find the mids are slightly recessed but I think the alignment still consider reasonable and acceptable. For most of the track I have no issue.
I find the male vocal can be slightly thicker, more emphasis can be put in. Bruno Mars sounds a little weak in 24K Magic. For tracks with less lows frequency instruments like Sing from Ed Sheeran, the mids are well articulated - smooth and full of emotions. I believe the staging could have been done better to make the overall sound signature more balanced. For female vocalist, less influences by the low frequency region. Airy and breathy. Jennifer Warnes sounds silky smooth in Somewhere, Somebody.

Highs
Two Knowles SWFK-31736 balanced armature drivers are utilized in this IEM. The highs are well-extended. I have better tolerance towards high region frequency. For those who do not have such tolerance might feel fatigue after long hours listening. It is a little bright. An opinion from me - a little emphasis can be shifted to the mid frequency region to make the overall sound signature more balanced. I would appreciate this more if the tuning and alignment is being done that way (this is very personal and different people can have different view because I might be bias here). Sibilant sounding highs.

Comparison
FiiO FH5
The bass is deeper. I find the overall performance and tuning is more to my favorite as compared to FA7. The overall sound signature is brighter and more transparent. The Y-axis of stage improved while the X-axis is not compromised.

iBasso IT03
This IEM sounds leaner in the body. The airy presentation made the stage wider and with the depth of the low frequency region, both X and Y axis are sufficient. This is something lacking in the FA7. The highs are soaring but it is well controlled. Not to the fatigue causing level.

Astell & Kern Billie Jean
One of my favorite IEM in the SGD500 bracket. The lows might not be sufficient for bass head. I like how the mids are presented. Silky smooth with sufficient emphasis. The staging done well. Vocalist is the star this time. Love it!

Westone UMPro 30
UMPro 30 is a more analytical sounding IEM as compared to FA7. The sound signature is close but the presentation of details is more nicely done by UMPro 30. The staging is as wide but taller and deeper for UMPro 30.

Source Matching
Sony NW-WM1Z
Using the single ended with the stock cable, the soundstage is improved because the nature of this DAP. I believe the soundstage can be improved more by changing the cable and use the balanced output. Now the mid region frequency sounds more prominent as compared to pairing it with FiiO X7 Mk II.

Astell & Kern SP1000M
Not a very good matching because the nature of DAP is slightly warmer and musical. The sound signature shifted to the low frequency region more. I find it more congested as compared to pairing with X7 Mk II.

Opus #3
The sound signature is now more neutral because this player does not have much emphasis on low frequency region. This rectify the issue mentioned earlier in this review - insufficient emphasis in mids. A nice pairing!

Cable Rolling
Effect Audio Eros II
This cable is well known for the presentation of the mid region frequency. Spacious and airy. Now the mids are more prominent now. Overall sound signature is more balanced but the price of the cable is quite high. Not a recommended upgrade.

ALO Audio Litz
I always like the presentation of this cable - balanced with no bias towards or against any region. It is a better pairing with FA7 as compared to Eros II because of the price. The soundstage is wider now.

Conclusion
Being the TOTL, I have a little higher expectations towards FA7. I believe more works can be done on the next IEM to breakthrough the barrier. Still, this IEM can still sound fascinating for certain genre like classical or EDM.
All the best FiiO!

Disclaimer

I purchased this DAP with retail price. This is not a sponsored review.

Introduction
FiiO was established in 2007 and has experience in researching and developing countless portable music products of different types and sell FiiO-branded products through sales agents worldwide. The brand name FiiO is composed of Fi(fidelity from HiFi) and iO(number 1&0), representing the real feeling and convenient life that digital brings to life. Meanwhile, the Chinese “飞傲” is the transliteration of FiiO, indicating the positive and innovative spirit as thriving as spring.

As usual, FiiO surprises the community with the launch of M9 – the TOTL DAP in the M series. M series has been in the market for long, started with M3 – an entry level DAP that is affordable for beginners. In 2018, FiiO took a big leap to add another 3 DAPs to the series – M7, M9 and M3k. I always assume that the M series is catered for beginners while the X series is designed for more serious listener. However, FiiO proves me wrong this time with the new release. The new DAPs are audiophile’s level.

FiiO has described this DAP as a “bucket machine”. This title is named after the “Bucket Theory”. The amount of water can hold by a bucket is dependent on the shortest side instead of the longest side. To achieve an overall great performance, each composition of the DAP do play a part. Any shortcoming part will pull the performance down. Therefore, when a certain device is termed as a “bucket machine”, it generally means that it is a device that is well-balanced in all aspects with no obvious shortcomings.

Design
The design of this new DAP from FiiO can be described accurately with elegance. The design is minimalist, modern and sleek. FiiO chose to have a full touchscreen on this DAP instead of the usual scroll-wheel. Actually, FiiO has been using touchscreen frequently in the recently launched DAPs – X5 3rd Gen, X7 MkII and M7. With the touchscreen, M9 looks simpler and nicer.

The new M9 has a gold horizontal facing volume control knob. It is attached firmly and steadily. I believe it is very durable. Besides the volume control knob, there are:

• The power button
• Play/Pause button
• Next/Previous Track button

The micro SD card slot is located after all the buttons. This time round FiiO chose to use a push in micro SD card slot instead of using a tray. This is easier for user to remove or insert the micro SD card. There might be some compromises – dust maybe collected if the slot is not used.

The screen of FiiO M9 is nicely done. Adorning the front of the M9 is a vibrant, clear 3.2-inch IPS screen capable of 16 million colors and supporting 5-point touch. This IPS screen allows you to easily operate your device with its ability to show even the finest of details. Attractive colour and relatively responsive touch response as compared to a lot of the DAPs which equipped with touchscreen in the market. FiiO chose to leave wide bezels around the screen. At the bottom of the screen, there is a “FiiO” LED indicator. Unique to the FiiO M9 is RGB light indicator status that shows what audio format you are listening to! Instantly know what audio format your M9 is playing as well as its overall status, with the indicator status showing red to remind you to charge your device. This looks cool and the LED is definitely a value add to the DAP in term of physical appearance. The wallpaper of FiiO M9 can be changed by user – this is rare!

Unboxing
The bundle in the box adopted the same minimalist as the player – simple but useful:

• FiiO M9
• Coaxial to 3.5mm adaptorUSB Type C cable
• Quick Start Guide
• TPU protection case
• Pre-applied screen protector

User Interface
In the heart of the M9 lies the Android operating system, deeply customized by FiiO. This allows you to navigate through menus at an astonishing speed and with amazing ease due to the carefully thought out customized user interface.


The user interface of the FiiO M9 is smooth and user friendly. No more changing between Android mode and Pure Music Mode like what you can find in X5 3rd Gen and X7 Mk II. FiiO Music is now the core of the player. This is a good decision made by FiiO – smooth and free from crashing like X5 3rd Gen. Well done FiiO!

Streaming Services
The FiiO M9 does not support Google Play Store but streaming services can be installed and supported by this DAP. It is a little confusing at first but after the first try it is pretty easy. Basically, you need to download apk file for the supported app from website using computer. Then, connect your M9 to the computer and copy the apk file to the storage. To install the app, go to file management and tap on the apk file. The app is now installed. Simple as that. I use Spotify frequently. M9 supported Spotify well. The speed is slightly slower as compared to phone, but it is considerably stable. If you need a dedicated DAP for streaming, M9 is a good choice.

Battery Life
Under normal usage the M9 can last around 10 hours. This is advertised by FiiO on the website. True, the music playtime is around 9 hours using 2.5mm balanced output playing MP3 files. It is sufficient for me because I always have a habit to charge all my devices at night. M9 supports deep sleep mode. While in deep sleep (standby) mode the M9 can be still be used after a whopping 45 days! And being in deep sleep mode does not mean sacrificing convenience – just hit the power button, and the M9 instantly is ready to go. If you are pairing this DAP with a Bluetooth headphone, the battery life will surprise you – 30 hours on SBC codec. The battery can last as long as WH-1000XM3. One point added for M9 to be the on the go choice!

Bluetooth
The M9 uses Bluetooth 4.2 and supports virtually all Bluetooth formats including the high-resolution ones for your ultimate listening pleasure, including: 24-bit aptX HD (also backwards compatible with aptX), LDAC, and HWA. The DAP can act as a Bluetooth receiver too. FiiO has very good reputation built on Bluetooth connectivity by the launch of the BTR series. It is glad to see this DAP has the capability to do this too.



Output and Input (Both Digital and Analogue)
The M9 utilizes the modern USB Type-C connector, which allows it to not only be used as a USB DAC but also allows output of digital audio signals to other devices through USB. Of course, USB Type-C also enables charging and file management on the M9 when connected to other devices. The M9 supports USB audio out (send digital audio bits through USB), with even support for DoP/D2P. Also, the M9 is one of the few players that can receive Bluetooth audio and output it through coaxial (SPDIF) out. I tested both USB out and Coaxial out of M9, they work flawlessly with the correct choice of cable.


The M9 contains both single-ended 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm audio jacks, for even more ways to listen with your headphones. The M9 also supports in-line controls in both CTIA (common with Android headsets) and iOS headsets. (With iOS headsets, only play/pause functionality is supported.)

The M9 can be used as an asynchronous USB DAC with both Macs and Windows PCs. With Mac computers, you can just plug-and-play the M9 with no drivers needed. With Windows PCs, a simple install of drivers by FiiO is needed. The M9 can also act as your computer's Bluetooth transmitter – simply hook the M9 up to your computer as a USB DAC, and then have the player transmit Bluetooth audio to your headset!


Specifications

• CPU: Exynos 7270
• RAM: 0.768 Gb LPDDR3
• Rom: 2 Gb (+ 2Gb for the system)
• DAC: 2x AK4490EN
• LPF: Ti OPA 1612
• BUF: 2x Ti OPA 1622
• Sample rate: PCM: 8Hz – 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits) native – DSD64/128
• System clock: Full synchronization technology with FPGA processor
• Outputs: 3.5mm headphone out – line out – coax out / 2.5mm TRRS out
• Digital Input: USB Type-C
• Screen: 3.2″ 480×800 IPS Screen from LG
• Micro SD: SDHC / SDXC (single slot)
• USB DAC: Exynos 7270 Soc
• WiFi : 2.4 GHz support

The specification sheets can be found on FiiO Website. For those who are interested can read from there.
https://www.fiio.com/m9_parameters

The two AK4490EN DACs employed in the M9 feature a high signal-to-noise ratio, exceptional dynamic range, and low distortion – making for a precise yet exciting sound signature. Inside the M9 is a high-performance A3P030 FPGA, responsible for ensuring your music (whatever sample rate) is played back accurately by stabilizing digital clock signals. The FPGA also decodes DSD64/128 in hardware, which the M9 supports in ISO/DFF/DSF formats. The TI OPA1612 is used as the LPF, while the TI OPA1622 serves as the current buffer. To achieve single-ended and balanced output, there are two OPA1622 op-amps used that provide up to 77mW of power under a 300Ω load under balanced output.

Sound
Finally, after so long we have arrived at the most important part of this review – sound performance. To examine and share this, I paired this DAP with my Campfire Nova (with Effect Audio Eros II 2.5mm terminated).


Being the TOTL of the M Series, M9 exhibits the house sound signature of FiiO. The overall sound signature is considerably balance and neutral. There is slight emphasis on mids. As a Mandopop lover, I might be a little bias here. I like such tuning. The spacing and soundstage of this DAP is moderate. With my Campfire Audio, the soundstage is acceptable. For those IEMs with slightly narrower soundstage, congestion might happen. The pairing is very important here. The presentation is clean – without noticeable hissing or noise. This made M9 surpass a lot of players in the market because this is one of the common issues for the new players in the DAP market. M9 is power and energetic. It should able to unleash the potential for most of the IEMs in the market without any problem. I will include some comparison after this part of the review.

Lows
The FiiO M9 is different from the elder brother, X5 3rd Gen and X7 Mk II from series. Both of them from X series have more emphasis on the lows while M9 is more balanced. The lows attacks and decays in a fast pace without disturbing other region of the frequency spectrum. It is not a bass head choice but if you want a neutral and balance DAP, M9 is a good choice.

Mids
This is the sweet spot of this DAP. Well-tuned. M9 has a rich and smooth mids. I love how’s the vocals, for both males and females are presented – Fill with souls, full of emotions and no compromise on the synergy. Basically, nothing bad to say about this region.

Highs
I find there is a slightly early roll-off for this DAP. I think it will be better to extend a little bit and roll-off smoothly afterward. This could potentially cutdown the sharpness of IEMs if you are using a bright IEM. With my Nova, I wish the highs to be extended more. The highs are not harsh, very gentle to the extend of slightly shy. This will prevent fatigue causing after long listening.

Comparison

Opus #3
The soundstage of Opus #3 is wider as compared to M9. In this comparison, I find M9 is a more musical DAP because Opus #3 is slightly technical and analytical as compared to M9. The presentation of details is better for Opus #3. Opus #3 does not have Bluetooth receiver mode and coaxial output, but it has an optical output. This could be a factor to be considered when user choose between this 2. M9 is thinner and more pocket friendly as compared to Opus #3. FiiO has a very good design here.


Sony NW-ZX300
Tough choice. I like the implementation of 4.4mm balanced output by Sony because it is more rigid at the jack. The screen of M9 looks more attractive as compared to Sony because of the choice of screen. Sony used a matt screen to prevent fingerprints collection. In term of sound, the performance for low frequency of Sony is more pronounce and present. If you love kicking at the lows, Sony will be a better choice. Both of the DAPs have Bluetooth receiver mode and can be used as USB DAC. Sony has no optical or coaxial output, so the only way is to go through the 22 pins USB out.


Astell & Kern SR15
To be honest, this is an unfair comparison because the price of SR15 is almost twice of M9 is Singapore. Both players support 3rd party applications but M9 can support more variety of applications as compared to SR15. I find SR15 to be warm in the sound presentation. I am not a warm lover so I could be bias towards M9. The choice of USB port is a win for FiiO over here too. SR15 still using Micro-USB instead of the smarter and better USB-Type C. The coaxial output enables FiiO to be a great transport when attaching to external DAC.


FiiO X5 3rd Gen
I always treat M9 as the upgrade of X5 3rd Gen although the price is lower. I have very bad experience with X5 3rd Gen especially the user interface - Non-stop crashing. This is disastrous. Although X5 3rd Gen supports Google play and user can download whatever applications through the service, I will rather opt for a smoother and more stable user interface which is equipped by M9. In term of sound, the soundstage of M9 is wider as compared to X5 3rd Gen. Overall, I prefer M9 as compared to X5 3rd Gen.


FiiO M7
M7 is the younger brother of M9 – a dedicated DAP with less function. I always love the sound of M7 – Clean and balanced. M9 has similar sound signature as M7. Go for M9 if you need streaming. If streaming is not your main concern, M7 is a good choice too. M9 has additional 2.5mm balanced output and coaxial output is supported. Value added!


Conclusion
Being the bucket machine, FiiO saw that there wasn't any one player that combined all of the functions people want.
Was there a player that could transmit the HWA/aptX/aptX HD/LDAC lossless Bluetooth codecs, even when used as a USB DAC?
What about something that also contained a highly optimized audio circuit for excellent sound quality?
Did any players also give the user an experience worthy of a flagship, capable of many features including Wi-Fi music streaming all in a slick interface?
FiiO sought to change that with the M9 – which does all of this and more.


Well done FiiO!

Disclaimer

I bought this IEM with full retail price. This is not a sponsored review.

Introduction
A week ago, I posted a review on Empire Ears Professional (EP) Series top of the line – Phantom. Thank you Head-Fi and fellow Head-Fiers for the all the support although I am still a relatively new review provider. Phantom is an all-rounder, but the Legend X perform beyond an all-rounder, close to perfect. Being the top of the line of X series, Legend X caters the needs of the audiophile community. I will explain this further in the latter part of this review.

“At long last the Legend has returned to the throne to push the limits of in-ear monitor performance to its highest point ever. Experience a world-class prestige IEM and a new era of uncompromising design and performance. From its arsenal of 7 proprietary drivers (including twin sequential W9 subwoofers) to its industry leading, state-of-the-art 10-way synX crossover network, the Legend X is the culmination of everything extraordinary we do at Empire.” Empire Ears on Legend X.

From EarWerkz Legend R and Legend Omega, Empire Ears had put in lots of effort addressing the greatest challenge yet - incorporating the low-reaching, impactful bass of the W9 subwoofers, with technical performance rivaling any in-ear monitor on the market. By presenting the Legend X to the market, Empire Ears proudly proclaim that the challenge was overcome. By offering top-tier levels of transparency and separation, as well as one of the widest sound stages in the industry, Empire Ears X Series flagship has earned its position at the top of the line-up: Legend X, a Legend is reborn.

Technical Specifications

• 7 Proprietary Drivers, Hybrid Design
• 2 W9 Subwoofers, 2 Mid, 1 Mid-High, 1 High, 1 Super High
• 10-Way synX Crossover System
• A.R.C. Resonance Mitigation Technology
• Impedance: 14 ohms @ 1kHz
• Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 40kHz
• Sensitivity: 102dB @ 1kHz, 1mW
• 26AWG UPOCC Litz Copper Cable, Handcrafted by Effect Audio

Packaging

• In Ear Monitor
• Empire Aegis Case
• Empire Dust Bag
• Empire IEM Pouch
• Empire Cleaning Cloth
• Empire Cleaning Tool

Technologies
Empire Ears embedded a few technologies in the creation of Legend X. The technologies such as synX Crossover Network and A.R.C Resonance Mitigation Technology are explained in detailed on Empire Ears websites. For those who are interested can browse and read through.
https://empireears.com/products/legend-x-custom-in-ear-monitor



Fitting
I chose Universal with 3.5mm terminated when I order this IEM. The shell is Piano Black with Empire Ears Logo on it – shiny and nicely done. I love the colour matching. The shell could potentially be huge for those who have relatively smaller ears. I would recommend them to opt for Custom fit for the best result.



Reviewing Gear
I used my Effect Audio Ares II in 2.5mm balanced terminated as the cable. I used Sony NW-WM1Z (without any modification) and iBasso CA01 adaptor to run this IEM on balanced output.

Test Track

• Hotel California (FLAC 192kHz/24Bit) - 70 on low gain
• Billie Jean (FLAC 96kHz/24Bit) – 60 on low gain
• Payphone (FLAC 44.1kHz/16Bit) – 60 on low gain
• Better Than Revenge (FLAC 44.1kHz/16Bit) – 63 on low gain
• 入阵曲 (PCM 44.1Hz/16Bit) – 63 on low gain
• Send My Love (FLAC 44.1kHz/16Bit) – 63 on low gain
• Perfect (FLAC 44.1kHz/24Bit) – 63 on low gain

Sound
The first impression I have towards Legend X is the unbelievably wide sound stage. This could be the widest sound stage an IEM can possess. It is a breakthrough and thank you for all the hard work from Empire Ears to make this happens. The wide sound stage makes separation and imaging even better. This IEM sounds extremely spacious. Generally, Legend X sounds very sturdy – solid, powerful and robust. All-rounder could potentially be the best adjective to describe the performance of this IEM. The sound signature I would describe as lush – warmth and fullness. Notes are more authoritative and have a sense of life about them.

Lows
I would describe the lows of this IEM as seismic and weighty – you feel it more than hear it. Only IEMs can have this quality of lows. The lows remind me of subwoofer in car audio system where you put the subwoofer at the back of the car. The kick comes in without bleeding towards other frequency spectrum. After nearly 2 years of relentless R&D Empire is proud to announce the Weapon IX (W9), a proprietary 9mm rare-earth magnet subwoofer with the ability to deliver extreme output, accurate dynamics and sublime sound quality all at the same time. The keys to these performance capabilities lie at the very core of its design, where the woofer is enclosed in a tuned bass-reflex system with a front-firing sound port and rear-firing vent for maximum efficiency. It is very fascinating that having a significant size of subwoofer (9mm) that create seismic and weighty lows without trading off the details and clarity of the frequency spectrum. Amazing. The attack and decays of the lows are fast for this IEM with full of energy.

Mids
Immature listeners might find the mids being recessed. This comment might be a little unfair towards this Legend because it is merely the lows are taking the front and centre stage. By using more precise term to describe, the mids are actually nicely done if we were to analyse it alone. The vocal and mids instruments are full, smooth and sweet – for both male and female vocalists. Adam Leveine and 阿信 sounds full of soul while the lows are kicking in energetically at the back. The layering has been done perfectly by Empire Ears. Adele and Taylor Swift – 2 of my favourite female singers sound silly smooth, sweet and breathy. The presentation of vocals is flawless and rich in body – naturalness, realism. It is not analytical or clinical at all.

Highs
Cymbals is crisp without piercing the eardrums. Not much of sizzly or sibilant high in this IEM. I can easily listen to this IEM for hours. This is very important because fatigue-causing highs will kill the entire IEM. The presentation is very open, airy, spacious at the highs. Sufficient amount of air is injected for Billie Jean. It sounds breathy. Good spacing created good imaging which prevent congestion – very accurate and precise performance. It rises steadily then extends well before it decays smoothly. The smooth decays or roll-offs prevented unwanted distortion – making the highs as sweet as candy. Well done Empire Ears!

Cable Rolling
Lionheart by Effect Audio

• 26 AWG
• EA propriety customised 7 bundle litz hybrid proportional mix
• Silver plated copper and Gold-plated copper hybrid
• EA UltraFlexi insulation

The emphasis at the lows is reduced and shifted to mids and highs. The lows now are taking only the front stage and mids have been elevated to the center stage. Listening to the vocals, they are now richer and fuller. The lows are still having sufficient amount of emphasis and weight. The IEM is now more balance and transparent as compared to Ares II.

Horus by Effect Audio

• 26 AWG
• Propriety multi-size stranded design
• Ultra-high strands count
• Ultra-purity OCC Gold plated silver
• EA ferrite guard technology
• EA Ultraflexi insulation

This could be the perfect matching for Legend X except for the price of the cable (It costs about 2000SGD). The presentation is now even more spacious and transparent. The kicking at the lows are even faster and more controlled. I will describe this cable to tame the beast and making it performing better at its region. As compared to lionheart, this would be a more balanced performance matching – highs are breathy and the mids are sweet. Flawless!

Source Matching

SP1000 Stainless Steel
I am using the balanced output of this DAP. This could be one of the cleanest sounding pairing. Very pronounce lows – weighty and seismic. The soundstage is mind-blowing, even wider than WM1Z. The separation is astonishing with the aid of widening of soundstage. Overall presentation is balance with slight emphasis on highs – brighter than WM1Z pairing.

Chord Mojo (Opus #3 Optical Output)
Good extension at the lows and highs. The overall presentation is warmer and richer now. This is a more musical pairing. I find the details are slightly compromised for the sake of musicality.

Chord Hugo 2 (Opus #3 Optical Output)
The sound signature is close to Chord Mojo pairing – warm and smooth but with better separation. The sound stage is wider in this pairing as compared to Mojo. I would classify this pairing as fun and musical too, but it does present the details and clarity well. Very clean and breathy vocals with fast attack and decay of lows. However, it is not as seismic as NW-WM1Z – a little superficial.

Comparison
Campfire Audio Solaris
The soundstage and amount of air in Legend X is definitely a great selling point over Solaris. Solaris does present the fullness and richness. However, due to the slightly narrower soundstage, it could sound a little congested, but this is very source dependent. I did manage to find some pairing that can make Solaris wider in term of soundstage. Close fight here!


Jomo Trinity
Trinity emphasis more on transparency. Yes, Jomo did it very well on their Trinity. It is like a piece of glass that you can see through every note. This reminded me of HD600. However, Legend X is bringing the whole stage performance to the listener. Very different experience and this is very subjective. I would opt for Legend X because I do need some musicality in daily listening.


Empire Ears Phantom
Phantom has slightly narrower soundstage as compared to Legend X. The performance at the lows is a clear win for Legend X – Cleaner and leaner. I find the lows of Phantom are a little tubby in some of the track. It could definitely be mitigated through series of cable rolling.

Sony M9
This is a cold and dark IEM (for me). I would prefer some musicality and sense of life when listening to music. Sony M9 can be a very good reference IEM but for daily listening I will opt for Legend X.


Campfire Audio Andromeda S
Another tough choice. I am huge fan of Campfire Audio especially Andromeda. The limited Andromeda S is warmer as compared to Andromeda. The lows of Andromeda are definitely leaner as compared to Legend X but in term of energy and weight Legend X will have my vote. The mids are equally good but one is at the front stage while the other is at the center of the stage. The highs of Andromeda S are soaring, and some people do find it a little fatigue causing. Legend X highs are more like a tamed beast. Close fight!


Verdict
With years of research and development, I really appreciate how Empire Ears present the new Legend, Legend X to the community. It is an all-rounder in term of performance. Looking forward for more surprises from Empire Ears. It is definitely worth waiting.