Binary X Gizaudio - Chopin

jeromeoflaherty

New Head-Fier
An impeccably tuned and immensely comfortable IEM, the perfect daily driver.
Pros: Fantastic tuning
Nice design
Very comfortable
Deep but flexible fit
Cons: Only basic accessories provided
Treble lacks a bit of air
Shout out to HifiGo for giving me to opportunity to have an early listen and share my opinions.

I have been listening exclusively to the Chopin since I received it earlier in the week, using it both while working but also while commuting (so both in quiet and noisy environments) and I can’t think of a better IEM for listening for long periods.

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The Chopin is the 2nd collaboration of Timmy of Gizaudio Youtube channel fame and I think he has put all his experience into providing Binary Acoustics with excellent tuning guidelines for this IEM. It consists of 1 x 8mm "Ceramic Diaphragm" Dynamic driver and 3 BA, 1 covering the midrange and 2 specialised BA's for the treble region and in my opinion is impeccably well tuned.

But let’s get into the details:

What's in the box:

The unboxing experience is very unique; I really like the vertical presentation of the IEM ‘box’ and the accessories and the IEM’s themselves come wrapped in individual pouches providing that quality experience when you first open everything up.
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The accessories consist of:
  • A ‘cool’ rectangular carrying case
  • The Two IEM in their pouches
  • A cleaning tool
  • The 4.4mm balanced cable apparently made of “high purity LITZ oxygen-free copper silver-plated” - You can separately order a 3.5mm cable
  • A single set of eartips in small, medium, and large sizes
IMG_8987 2 Large.jpeg

While I appreciate the box I am not so sure about the pouches and I feel instead of the pouches a few more tips could have been provided.

I also feel that only providing either a 4.4mm balanced cable or a 3.5mm cable depending on your order is odd, providing an adapter in the box would be better but its minor compliant. I can imagine there was an effort to keep the costs down and I am very happy when a company focuses on the quality of the IEM itself and that is certainly the case here. I didn't think the quality of the cable was great but it's certainly better than the ones you get on the sub $100 IEM's so will be a nice upgrade for many users. I think it's a pity that more companies don't provide cables like the FiiO's FX-15 with interchangeable adapters (but then the FX-15 is 4 times the price of the Chopin).

IEM Build Quality:

I feel the photos do not do it justice as this is an extremely nice IEM shell and with a stainless-steel faceplate with very subtly different branding on each faceplate. It should be pointed out that the nozzle extends a little further than most IEM’s, but I did not find it uncomfortable, in fact I found the smooth shell incredible comfortable and extremely lightweight.

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Here it is compared with a Truther Zero, you can see that the shape and nozzle make it the perfect IEM for those that require a slightly deeper fit.
Chopin-Recessed.jpg

I would also point out that it has a rectangular recessed 2-pin connector which might limited some users choice in swapping around with other cables in their collection. But having had 2-pin connectors bend in my daily driver IEM’s in the past, I actually feel the protection from bending provided by the recessed connector a nice benefit of this design.

Comfort:

The smooth shell and lightweight nature of the IEM meant for me I could wear it for hours on end without any discomfort or even the need to adjust, it never felt like it was being ‘pulled’ by its own weight. Some IEM’s have ‘opinionated’ shapes which can either work great in one persons ear or just get in the way in another persons, the chopin’s lightweight and smooth nature means it should suit a wide variety of users.

Again here is it compared with Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite which worked for me but that extra shape (and the extra weight from the clear resin makes it less comfortable than the Chopin):
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Another advantage of the design of this IEM is that the nozzle angle and shape allowed me to play around with a wide variety of ear tip’s providing the ability to tweak the bass (and treble) regions to my liking. My normal ear tip preference is a tall / thin ear tips to allow IEMs to fit deeper in my ear, giving me better seal and a nice bass response (and better isolation when commenting in a noisy environment), but with the Chopin, I eventually went with wider but shallower ear tips that allowed the Chopin to sit further out yet provide a good seal. This gave me a beautiful balanced sound. But this is obviously subjective and will be different with everyone’s ear canal. But I appreciate the fact that the design here allows this freedom without resorting to using EQ or tuning ‘switches’.

Sound Quality:
As mentioned above you can tweak the sound easily with different tips (providing different fits) but once you get the right fit it is a very well tuned IEM. So what should you expect from the sound:

Bass
I found the bass is fantastic, track after track of my normal bass test tracks sounded deep and appropriate without overwhelming vocals and instruments. For example, tracks like Bjork’s Hunter, the bass attack was well handled without sounding bloated / boomy. The bass in Massive Attack’s Angel sounded appropriately ominous without being overpowering. In James Blake's Limit to your Love when the bass kicks it in (after 50 seconds) it was awesome, yet the Chopin still allowed the high treble to clearly heard. The bass in Billie Ellish Xanny had lots of texture and micro dynamics and never sounded boomy. Similarly with Roads by Portishead the bass was excellently controlled without sounding over bearing.

Midrange
For the midrange I listen to a variety of pop and rock tracks, making sure vocals and the instruments were well separated and appropriately present in each track. There is no mudding of the midrange like some similar V-shaped IEM's, just clear engaging audio. I think the Chopin provides the perfect balance where the bass and treble do not overpower the midrange. Though with different tips you can tune it into a more V-Shaped sound signature if that is your preference.

Treble (and technicalities)
The treble was very smooth and never sibilant. For me it was perfect for long listening sessions though some might call it boring. Tracks like Fine Time by New Order start with an incredible barrage of treble which had the right level of edginess and it was well balanced as the sub-bass joins the treble after about 10 seconds. Tracks like Tamacun by Rodrigo y Gabiella had excellent treble extension allowing the plucky guitars to sound amazing. I imagine some people would appreciate more treble but then for me a tuning with more treble can get fatiguing after a while, e.g. try listening to Portishead Dummy with an IEM with enhanced treble you might not get through the album, while here it sounded great just edgy enough for my tastes.

Soundstage and Imaging
Not the widest soundstage for an IEM but it has excellent precise imaging, the swirl of instruments in Tool’s Chocolate Chip Trip was great allowing me to clearly hear as the sound moved in the soundstage in front of me. I loved how Earth Drums sounded with all the percussive instruments coming in appropriately. Overall no complaints about the clear separation of instruments.

Measurements:
Here is a small graph to provide people with an idea of how its sounds compared to other popular IEM's, using Timmy's own measurements:
ChopinMeasurementsCompared.jpg

As you can see other than a slight sub-bass roll off it is has a reference frequency response, incredible similar to the Variations. As with any of these graphs you should mostly ignore the measurements > 8K as it will be very different depending on a persons own HRTF and the measurement rig. But I do like how the Chopin mostly hugs Timmy's own target in the midrange ( you would hope so ) and I like how it correctly balanced especially in the crucial 2k-4k region.

Summary:
If you are in the look out for a significant set up of an over say a sub $100 IEM like a Truthear Zero Red, the Chopin is a perfect choice. It's so well tuned and easy and lightweight to wear that I could and was wearing it for hours at a time without any fatigue either audible (e.g. no annoying sibilance) or physical ( lightweight with no adjustment needed). For me it's a perfect daily driver.

Again a huge thank you to Ivy from HifiGo for providing this IEM in advance.

Note: both a 4.4mm and a 3.5mm version is available at the locations below.

Gizaudio × Binary Chopin can be found in these locations:

HiFiGo: https://hifigo.com/products/gizaudio-binary-chopin

Aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006135789174.html

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL6LNF82/binary+gizaudio+chopin/

Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CL6MRTW9/binary+gizaudio+chopin/
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koyawmohabal

New Head-Fier
Character
Pros: -the bass on these are quite addicting.

-treble fatigue is out of context. It is non-existent in this set.

-vocal layering is actually good especially on female vocals.
Cons: -people might like a more midbass dominant set.

-Lower mids might be too sterile for some.

-I do find the vocals are a tad behind in some tracks, and when using certain eartips. As a vocal lover, It needs to be matched with an eartip that offers better vocal forwardness
Gizaudio X Binary: Chopin-


"Character"


‼️DISCLAIMER:

I’d like to thank Hifigo for giving me the opportunity to review these. Rest assured they did not influence what I am about to say, except for Timmy ahaha.

Okay another disclaimer. I know Timmy and my take is biased. Let us start with that. To balance that out, I am gonna point out so many CONS that is enough to detract potential buyers., fair enough?

Let us start.


⚜️WHAT’S IN THE BOX?


I have my unboxing and first impressions video here:



In the box you get:

1.) a rectangular carrying case

2.) 2 pcs of iem pouch

3.) a cleaning tool

4.) the iem and cable

5.) Eartips in SML


That’s pretty much it. I feel like they cut cost with the accessories to focus more on the internals and build quality. Even for the cable, I feel like other cheaper IEMS have better quality. Anyhow, that is how it is.

⚜️SPECS, BUILD and COMFORT

It is a one DD plus 3 BA hybrid. The DD is said to be an 8mm ceramic diaphragm. One custom BA for the mids and 2 customized composite BAs for the treble.

The Shell is a 3D printed resin with a stainless steel faceplate. It is worth mentioning tho that this has a recessed pin connector, which limits cable rolling options. Your normal PINS just won't go that deep because you need something longer(pun intended)

The cable is made of high purity LITZ oxygen-free copper silver-plated cable. That’s a mouthful for a cable. I got a 4.4mm balanced termination by the way.

They are actually very comfortable to wear. The nozzles are scary long when you look at them. The design concept is similar to blon03’s, but they fixed it with a better nozzle length for a more secure fit. It feels comfortable and I didn’t notice any strain even in longer listening sessions.


⚜️SETUP:

-Shanling M3X using UAPP, Hiby ang stock player

-stock cable

-stock eartips, TRN clarions and tangzu sancai



⚜️SOUND PROFILE

My final video review here:




The tonality of the Chopin is very balanced with a bass tuck. I can't call it a U or even a V because I get enough mids and vocal presence. But yeah, depending on eartips, it may sound either way.

Bass is tucked, yes. So what does this mean? It means that the bass response doesn’t overwhelm the vocals and instruments. It slams, it punches, decays are quick and yet the little nuances linger in the background. The bass is also very versatile because it stays true to the recording. If the mix didn’t call for much bass, then it doesn’t give out that much. It's just sooo good. It's gonna question your signature preference just like how you question your sexuality lol


Mids are so clean you can wash your hands with it. HA HA. Yeah not funny. Anyway, people might call it sterile sounding, but I get a sense of correctness. Other frequencies do not overalap. Harmonics on guitars are not overdone. Snares get the proper snap. Toms get the right tone. Female vocals are very well done on these because they don’t sound shouty, nasal or weird. As for male vocals, they are far from thin sounding, but I understand how other people might perceive this as lacking in authority. Male vocals use a lot of head voice, so they benefit with some emphasis in the lower mids because overtones are often richer sounding if given a little boost in that area. But yes, you get a flatter midrange which doesn’t emphasize emotions quite well.


Treble is implemented well. I am very keen on this area because I want my cymbals to sound right. Sounding correct is enough for me and the Chopin delivers that. I did not notice any peaks and details are just enough to compliment the whole signature. Treble extension is rather smooth than boosted. I did not get any annoying resonance. This translates to a very pleasing and longer listening experience.


Techs are good for the price. Resolution is decent. Micro details are enough to balance macro dynamics. Enough with the geeky stuff, what this translates to listening is that, I get proportionate stage and dead center imaging. This then allows for better perceived layering, instrument separation and imaging.

The best thing about chopin for me is the center imaging and I'm a sucker for that lol. I care less about stage as long as vocals are dead center. That is enough to trick my HRTF and get a very proportionate head stage, big or small. With the Chopin, I get a stage similar to small hall, maybe about 100 square meter big, tho intimate sounding vocals.


💥Doubts💥

I wasn’t expecting much about the performance of the Chopan. Having seen the graphs when Binary posted it, I thought to myself, “ Ohh another variation kind-like tuck”. Not saying that the variations is bad, but it just doesn’t give me enough heft and lushness in the lower mids. Sure it sounds good on female vocals, but I cannot really consider it as an all rounder for my library. So, I have my doubts about how these sound. I was sure enough they couldn’t play my metal tracks well.


💥The Surprise💥

And lo behold. I was scratching my head on how the Chopin handles bass on Hanabie tracks like your boss's boss. I was listening to their tracks “ I love sweets”, and I was banging so hard at around 1:18. The bass was very separate from the mix with very good decay and grunge. Small nuance were flying around my head and their cutesy “gyaru”-like voices were hard to resist. Finally, at around 1:46, I lost it. The pulls on that bass guitar was incredible. It was so so heavy that I banged so hard, I looked like giving a head lol hahaha..


💥Understanding the Cut💥

I wouldnt label chopin as thin sounding. Tho I understand why some people might perceive it as thin. Ill go with clean sounding mids.

Our brain remembers patterns and its about relativity. Its like, our brain detects this amount of bass, and predicts to have this amount of lower mids. But thats not the case. You get a cut instead, and that is not natural if you listen to real instruments. So, it is relative.

If you carefully listen to each frequency band on the chopin, male vocals sound okay, but they are on the sterile side, like without the heft. That is expected from a flat midrange from 300-800..

That is the thing about bass cuts, they sound good when played thru speakers, but does not really represent how waves travel from real instruments directly to your ears.


💥The Contender💥

Scrolling around discord, I was sharing my early impressions of the Chopin shilling like a mad man. I was the number one fan of course. It was very obvious that I was giving out my biased thoughts about the Chopin that I almost sound like a paid marketer for my friend’s collab. I don’t give a screw. Any friend would do that.


Anyhow, a few comments popped in saying that the Truthear Nova is its number one contender. When I saw the graph, they really do resemble graph wise. I knew this was going to be a bloodbath. Only time will tell depending on how much the Chopin will be.

Interestingly enough, my review sample for the Nova arrived the next day. I Filmed my first impressions and gathered some early thoughts about it.


Tonally they are close except for the bass and the treble. However, I didn’t really see any bloodbath because the Chopin owns the Nova in every possible way. Not saying that the Nova sounds bad, but I feel like both are for different audiences. The Nova does fit my preferences very well in tonal balance. However, the Chopin just sounds way more resolving and I get a 3D stage projection without giving much effort.



💥Honeymoon Over💥

I don't know, but for some reason, the Chopin does get boring the longer I listen to them. Is it because of the safe treble? Or maybe because of the lack of heft in the lower mids? Are the vocals not that forward for me?

But then Chopin does leave a good impression. Whenever I listen to other sets, I get an itch of switching back to Chopin. You know what I mean? I always feel inclined to bring the Chopin with me along with the set I was supposed to be listening.


💥Lost in Music💥

And when I switched back to Chopin,I immediately sense the lack from the previous set I was listening to. I seldom get lost in music and that is exactly what the Chopin gave me.

The openness it renders in the midrange hits the sweet spot for my ears. They have enough body in the bass and yet engaging in nature. Smooth yet nuanced treble. This delicate intricacy has molded this set to be one of the best sounding earphone in its price range. I have yet to search a set that offers a better price to performance ratio, and as of this writing, nothing comes close to the Chopin in terms of cleanliness, clarity, and overall fun factor.

Alright, enough of my enticing words. Just checking if I can do it like a real headfier lol. That paragraph turned out well NGL haha. But if you’ve been reading some of my reviews, I do it in the most practical way. I guess I was just really lost in music while writing this



❤️PROS

✅the bass on these are quite addicting. They do offer enough texture and macro dynamics to keep the engagement.

✅treble fatigue is out of context. It is non-existent in this set.

✅vocal layering is actually good especially on female vocals. They carry enough presence and center imaging that makes me project the singer is in front of me.

✅I get really good proportion on stage width and depth. Sometimes, instruments travel at the back of my head which I didn’t really experience in this price range.

✅very good volume scaling. I can play this loud and cum. You think I'm kidding? Wait till you try haha


💢CONS

❌people might like a more midbass dominant set. This one is subbass over midbass so this doesn’t really carry that punchy,bloaty feeling.

❌Lower mids might be too sterile for some. Although I get enough presence from make vocals. I can understand that some people would wish to have more heft.


❌I do find the vocals are a tad behind in some tracks, and when using certain eartips. As a vocal lover, It needs to be matched with an eartip that offers better vocal forwardness.

❌treble, although not spiky, peaky or grainy, might be too safe for people who would like some sparkle.

❌the word harman or variations seems to have some cultish hate. This affects negatively when people see the graphs.

❌they do sound closed in at times, and people might prefer a wider sounding stage.

❌I honestly thought the cable could be better. This is a nitpick. But I can’t help but wonder how certain sets like the letshouer S12 and Celest Phoenixcall offer better quality cables.

❌At times, I do feel that the bass was a bit overpowering for my preferences on certain tracks.

❌Mids could benefit from more lushness. They are too clean that vocals can sometimes sound lifeless.

❌recessed pin connector limits cable rolling



Now how's that for some bias.. 😂


⚜️SCORING
-Please be reminded that my scoring is always based on its price range.


TUNING - 2.5
BASS - 3
MIDS - 2.5
TREBLE - 3
TECHS - 3

SCORE = 14

( S rank-Exceptional. Consider saving if you want an engaging set that doesn't sacrifice the midrange and a set that punches above its price point)



Check my scoring here :

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15WhgCgiMzWfF3ccgB8SK5-Cg7m87kpIShtxsyg2u-AI/edit?usp=sharing



⚜️GRAB SCORE:

This is easy, I just rate the set whether I would grab them for listening. Very subjective.

0️⃣- I will never touch this again
1️⃣- I grab if I remember
2️⃣- Can be part of my rotation
3️⃣- I break my rotation and grab this one today
4️⃣- *** rotation, I’ll listen to these for the whole week
5️⃣- Im selling everything, I will only listen to these haha.



💥Chopin GRAB SCORE: 4

Yep. I can literally listen to these for a whole week and not feeling the need to switch to other sets.




⚜️COMPARISONS

⏯️Nova

-Nova is more open sounding and has a leaner bass presentation. But Chopin has more texture and realistic decay in the bass. Although the Nova fits my preferences and target really well. I just have to give Chopin the bass department because it is just that good. Nova is also smoother in the treble, no peaks whatsoever. Pick Nova if you want an objectively good sounding set for cheap. Pay extra for the Chopin if you want more value for your money and engagement.


⏯️Mega5P

-mega5p is one of my S rankers in the price range. Mega5p has a lusher lower mid and mid presentation making instruments and vocals sound organic. Chopin is cleaner sounding in that area so it sounds more open and it can extract more details. The Chopin also sounds more natural in the treble. All in all, I just really have to give it to the Chopin.


⏯️Aful P5

-P5 sounds more colored because of the more elevated bass and forward treble. The thing I don’t like about the P5 is its stage depth. The chopin has a more proportional stage presentation, so layering, imaging and separation is easier to perceive. Choose P5 if you want a more colored sound. Chopin for a cleaner presentation yet engaging at the same time.


⏯️Thieaduio Hype 2

-Both actually are similar than they are different. And that says a lot about the chopin because of how they are priced. The bass on the hype 2 is more forward and sounds more detached. I explained in my video that the bass on the hype 2 punches like triple G, heavy and strong. On the other hand, chopin is akin to a Pacquiao punch, fast and quick. If you want more bass, pay more for the Hype 2, otherwise the Chopin is a cheaper alternative.



⏯️Dunu Falcon Ultra

-I like this set a lot. I think I like the timbre on the Falcon better than the Chopin. The Falcon has some midbass to give you that natural and organic tone on instruments and cymbals. The treble on the Falcon is also more crisp. It is a tough choice for me. I can use one or the other depending on my mood. But yeah, the Falcon is a bit more expensive than the Chopin.


⏯️Planars

-The resolution and clarity of planars is really something to consider. Not to mention the price to performance ratio it offers. Although the planar timbre in the upper treble is not for everyone, they do sound more resolving than the Chopin. But if you want a much cleaner sound and a smoother treble presentation, I think you can consider getting the Chopin.


🤔FINAL THOUGHTS

I do think the Chopin is of great value. I was really thinking about other sets that are priced similarly and if they offer better price to performance ratio. Maybe the Truthear Nova does come close, and perhaps other people might even prefer the latter just looking at tuning alone.

However, I do think that the audience for the Chopin is much wider, offering more engagement in the bass, a smoother treble for sensitive folks out there, and enough vocal presence for midcentric lovers.

That alone makes me think that Chopin has been deliberately tuned to be liked by most, not all, but most.

I am not here to shill the Chopin, although I sound like one haha. I think I have laid out enough cons to detract potential buyers,as promised in my disclaimer.

But that is the thing, PROS and CONS are relative to one’s preferences. The combination of the good and the bad creates a solid foundation of what Chopin sounds like. It sure did left a lasting impression on me.

And that is enough reason to consider Chopin as an IEM with CHARACTER.

An IEM ought to be experienced, rather than heard.



==========================



WHERE TO BUY: non affiliate links

Gizaudio × Binary Chopin



HiFiGo: https://hifigo.com/products/gizaudio-binary-chopin



Aliexpress:



https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006135789174.html



Amazon US:



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL6LNF82/binary+gizaudio+chopin/



Amazon JP:



https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CL6MRTW9/binary+gizaudio+chopin/











⚜️MY LIBRARY:

I grew up listening to 90’s music. Alternative, punk-rock, screamo, rap, Philippine OPM, Anime songs, JPOP, KPOP, metal, reggae and a lot more.

The artists I regularly listen to are:


⭐Rock-Alternative-Metal
Incubus, 311, BMTH, Matchbox 20, The Goo Goo Dolls, Paramore, Polyphia, The Calling,, Babymetal, Metallica, Slipknot, Bon Jovi, Coheed and Cambria, Deftones, Red Hot, Green day,

⭐OPM(Original Pinoy Music):

E-heads, Slapshock, Parokya, Urbanddub, Up Dharma Down, Bamboo, IV of spade, Kamikazee, Rivermaya
⭐POP:
IU, Yoasobi, Yorushika, Milet, Reona, Maroon 5, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Taylor, Dua Lipa, Oliva Rodrigo, Billie Eilish

⭐OTHERS:
Carpenters, Micheal Learns to Rock, Celine Dion, Bob Marley, Sitti, Daft Punk, Pink Floyed, Earth wind and fire, Amber rubarth, Sia, Yosi Horikawa


I listen to more, but I can’t just list them all here.haha. Just giving you an idea on what I listen.


Thanks for reaching here. Hope you enjoyed reading. :)

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d m41n man

100+ Head-Fier
Chopin Poppin' - Sophomore but More
Pros: - Lively U-shape sound with good extension on both ends
- Tactile kickdrums, percussions, and bass guitars
- Just the right quantity of bass, mids, and treble across the board. Nothing comes off overemphasized
- Above-average resolution for the price
Cons: - If I were to nitpick, it's just the feeling of 'almost there' close to perfection for being a market disruptor at its price
- Modular cable would be nice at this price
- Only one set of S M L tips (lucky are those to preorder with the add'l free Divinus tips)
Intro
Finally, the wait is over for Gizaudio's sophomore collab effort and I'm just outright going to say that it is a banger at $199.99. I will let the other reviews go into deep dive and I'm just going to say my thoughts and extended impressions. This is the first time I've heard of Binary Audio as well but they have done a fantastic job which seems like a signature teardrop-shape IEM, easily recognizable that the said IEM is its namesake.

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Packaging
The Chopin comes in somewhat a sleek, classy, slim silver box where in after unsealing you take out the top to reveal the case and boxes for the accessories. The non-conventional case is reminiscent of some used by custom IEM makers which contains the IEM themselves in velvet drawstring bags. Aside from the IEM and functional case is the cable which is terminated in 4.4mm, a set of SML eartips, and a cleaning tool.
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Formfactor and Sound
The IEMs themselves are light but feels well built. The cables are light as well and retains little memory. No problems upon fitting and here's how it looks like once worn -
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The overall sound has a U-shaped signature but despite this I find that the amount of bass, mids, and treble quantity is very balanced and nothing seem to be lacking. Bass is quick and tactile as I can say this can really be a good all-rounder yet also as a percussion-specialist. At first listen, it shares similarities with the Variations especially with how it excels with female vocals and how it implements subbass but it does still sound different enough to warrant it as its own product. The Variations still sounded more refined, polished, and cleaner overall as well with better technicalities given its price tag but the Chopin is an absolute competitor at the $199.99 price mark, preferring it over the Performer5 any day in terms of overall listening experience, energy and timbre quality. Resolving ability is also better than most within its price range and has very competent instrument separation. A definite all-rounder with multi-genres, it aces anything you listen with it. I honestly can't say anything bad about this set. I have the Heyday, Timeless, owned the P5, and listened to the Mega5P - the Chopin handles most music better overall and it's a set that wouldn't make you wanna take them off. They just sound right with most playlists.

20231011_193534.jpg


Conclusion
It's both a feeling of delight and frustration with the Chopin because as good as it is, it leaves me that feeling what it could have been of 'almost there' being a definitive marketbreaker, just a little more refinement and polish here and there could've gotten it. I would still say that it leaves its mark and one would be hardpressed to suggest a better sounding set against it at this price hence, it's a set that you can do no wrong of owning. Good job and kudos to Timmy and the Gizaudio x Binary team as it seem they have put a lot of work and effort to this set.

20231011_193517.jpg


Gizaudio × Binary Chopin is available for pre-sale on October 20th on these sites
HiFiGo: https://hifigo.com/products/gizaudio-binary-chopin
Aliexpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006135789174.html
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL6LNF82/binary+gizaudio+chopin/
Amazon JP:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CL6MRTW9/binary+gizaudio+chopin/
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Jaytiss

500+ Head-Fier
“I’ve Been Converted”
Pros: Tuning is very strong.
Mids sound amazing
Bass is tuned right.
The case is fantastic!
Vocals really come out on the iem.
Very Reasonably priced at 200.
Cons: Not as Technical as I wish it was.
Bass quality could be better.
Cable could be better.
Tip Selection could be better.
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I was given this iem to me as a review sample from the glorious people at Hifigo. I Like their products and buy from their store when I can. Here is a nonaffiliated link to where you can go buy their product.

I’ve been a headphone guy for almost 40 years, but finally gave iems a try not long ago and am hooked. I got the chance recently to go through and finally move my stuff out of my parent's house and found an old pair of cans and man, it brought back the feels of the good old headphone days. Inner ear monitors take a lot of getting used to. And many people in the hobby have claimed their ears have almost grown over time in size. Going to CanJam was enlightening as many people complained of ear discomfort, and I get that myself. Even more people prefer buds or slightly outside-the-ear style earbuds as well. The Dusk and Dioko while sonically are good iems that I rate, I can’t have them in my ears for long at all.

I wasn’t a fan of Timmy’s first collab the Galleo, but seeing the graph got me interested in this collab. I found Galileo off timber-wise, and bass-shy and thin, as well as lacking finesse and sparkle. It wasn’t a bad-looking iem, but it just didn’t make what I wanted at the time in my collection. Graphs aren’t always everything, but you can see here that Chopin is a much bassier set with a little more energy in the 10k region.
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I wanted to say it’s and slightly warm iem that is extremely well-tuned. I have turned down review units before as my integrity is important. I have no desire to review an item I’d never use myself. I’m middle class and money is tight. I’m also a middle-aged father of two school-aged children and I value my time and money. I’m not trying to make a collab, or money off my reviews, but share my opinions so others can make good choices about what to buy.

Saying everything is good only benefits sales but is untruthful. When asked about a demo unit I only agreed when I heard the product and felt it in my ears. It feels and sounds like a product worth reviewing and was one of my favorite items at Canjam. I wanted to convey to you that I was seriously concerned about the fit, tone, and technical ability of this iem.

Sonic impressions are strong as my library sounds good on it. I listen to a lot of music on Tidal and am happy to share my playlists. I like Metal and rock, but also love classical music as well. I tend to think I have a wide collection of music, but maybe I’m wrong.
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The shape was a major concern for me as I thought it wouldn’t fit but I find it works well for me and it’s comfortable. It’s odd as the iem not only feels good in my ear, it lets more air into my ear as there is less contact with my skin. It feels really good. Isolation is also excellent, not what I expected at all. The older that I get the more I realize comfort and enjoyment are important to the experience. Not all of us want to have large iems in our ears for long as it is uncomfortable. This iem hit both of my major concerns.

It has a unique sound signature that sounds good on everything that I throw at it. The bass quality is not as strong as the Monarch MK 3, and it doesn’t give that magical sense of air and space, but its frequency response is generally good.

It sounds natural and juicy on my music. Rich and full. Mids are deep and rich. I like it a great deal. Binary is a fairly new company to the west This was a concern for me. But I feel they have delivered sonically with this iem.



Going to Canjam this past weekend was game-changing for me. I find this iem better fitting than most as the shape seems to allow more air into my ears. This helps me feel less fatigued and allows me to listen longer.

The iem has an extremely classy design, juicy gooey timbre, music, and podcasts are rich and enjoyable without being bloated or sibilant. I just wanted to share some opinions on this iem that may not be on your radar. If you get a chance to hear it or got to hear it at Can Jam, I’d love to hear what you thought. With this in my collection, it makes many other iems redundant.


It has a unique sound signature that sounds good on everything that I throw at it. The bass quality is not as strong as the Monarch mk 3. Hype 2 has the same base as the Monarch, tonal balance is much better than Hype 2 in Chopin. Hype 2 just wasn’t good for me. Chopin’s treble is nice and crisp yet not over the top. It is a weakness of this item as is bass quality.

It sounds natural and juicy on my music. Rich and full. Mids are deep and rich. I like it a great deal. Binary is a fairly new company to the west This was a concern for me. But I feel they have delivered sonically with this iem.
The older that I get the more I realize comfort and enjoyment are important to the experience. Not all of us want to have large iems in our ears for long as it is uncomfortable. This iem hit both of my major concerns. I don’t think it is the best iem in the world but it competes with other iems in a higher bracket.
Going to Canjam this past weekend was game-changing for me. I find this iem better fitting than most as the shape seems to allow more air into my ears. This helps me feel less tired and allows me to listen longer.

The iem is an extremely classy design, Juicy gooey timbre, and the music and podcasts are rich and enjoyable without being bloated or sibilant. I just wanted to share some opinions on this iem that may not be on your radar. If you get a chance to hear it or got to hear it at Can Jam, I’d love to hear what you thought. With this in my collection, it makes many other iems redundant. Thanks for reading.
I don’t know the price yet. I’m excited to hear what it is.


Song Choice: Tidal list here:
I listen to a wide variety of music. I pick the songs because of various reasons. But I picture myself locked away like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank blasting music and shut off from the world. It’s a blissful image.
The Marriage of Figaro -The opera song from Shawshank Redemption, terrible recording but fun and gets me in the mood to listen to music.
O mio Babino caro -This is a modern less operatic version but a song with great female vocals.
Video Rigoletto - “La donna e mobile” Sung by one of the three Tenors, great song for high-performing male vocals. Pavarotti is the greatest classic singer maybe ever. Fight me!
Iron Man - The sound at the beginning is hard to make sound great, great drums, and cymbals, and if done right it feels like an old-school band.
I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments make this a favorite for me.
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - Smiths ( A classic, I just love it. It’s mellow, and I can tell a lot of the tuning if this song is done right.)
Jump (I like how the sound effects are in this!)
Star Child Someone recommended this song to me, and I like how funky it sounds and has nice vocals and a mix of music and things going on.
Dicke Titten Ramstein The beginning is amazing and the bass hits hard. Great song. I love rock and metal. The German language fascinates me
Master of Puppets: Very fast song. Helps me determine if the driver can keep up.



Bass (20-60 Sub Bass, 60-250 Hz Mid Bass)

The detail of the bass is strong and everything sounds right on it. Warm lush, and male and female vocals pop and are exceptional. The bass seems well-controlled and fun. I don’t find it partially lean but it does feel a tiny bit light. I do fully enjoy it. I feel percussions on it sound great. The iem is clean and lush even in the bass. It has this fantastic chewy visceral timber that just sounds amazing, and I love every second of it.


Midrange (250 HZ to 800 HZ Low Mids, 600-200 Hz Mids, 2000-5000Hz Upper Mids)

The timber and tone are great on this iem. I feel warm and pleasant. Think of a gooey chocolate chip cookie. It’s very nice and the vocals sound good along it.
I don’t find it shouty at all but fun, smooth, and enjoyable. Podcasts and voices all sound great on it, and it has a good feel to it. Overall this iem is fresh, non-fatiguing, and just an easy clear listen. The vocals sound detailed and lifelike. The resolution is life-like, and it’s almost daunting compared to my average speakers and car audio setup!


Treble (5000- 10000 Trebble/Highs, 10000 ++ HZ Upper Trebble & Air)

Metal on guitars comes across as a weakness and the iem seems to lack clarity and separation of higher-end sets and it is a potential weakness for some in my test. Drums seem a bit off and lacking bite. This just comes across as a little peculiar timbre. I’m able to game, listen to music, and a podcast all at once with this iem. It has incredible details that come across in the treble. Looking at the frequency response I would think it would sound neutral or boring without the 3k spike, but I enjoyed it. All the music that I listen to sounds great and I feel that it has a wide beautiful soundstage.

Gaming

Gaming is great with this. Detail retrieval could be better, but overall it is very nice. Do I think you should buy this iem to improve your gaming experience? No, but this is perfect. Great shell is super comfortable with a reasonable-sized nozzle but poor isolation. I think the isolation is good, but not world-class for those who need it for various reasons. The stage isn’t too wide, and slightly narrower. Detail retrieval during fights is immaculate, and the imaging vertically and horizontally is fair but not perfect. It has good imaging. The iem is light and feels durable with its metal faceplate and hard black shell. It’s truly a treasure to have for long gaming sessions as it is very comfortable, and sonically very good. Many other iems will be more of a challenge to use.
Shell -
The shell is very unique and I find it comfortable and great. The shell truly sets this set apart from other sets as it is unlike anything I’ve tried before. It reminds me a bit of a bud-style like the t4 Plus or an FF3 earbud, but comfort is just so easy to sit in my ears. I was personally extremely wary of the iem, but I feel that it is a strong set for comfort and an easy recommendation.
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Case: The case is very premium and nice. It has nice foam on the inside and is generally a nice case that I can easily recommend to others. It’s extremely easy to open, durable, and looks great matching the iem’s design.

Cable:
The cable isn’t fantastic, but it is fine. It has no microphonics, but a 4.4 was given to me. I’m not a fan of a 4.4 mm connection personally but I do see value in them as many other people like them, and in a sense, it is a sign of a higher marked iem for audiophiles. Not a bad thing by any means, just nothing too special as the s12 pro and z12 have a nice 3 cable connector at 165 or 135 on sale with a better cable.
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Tip Selection:

The tip selection is adequate at best. Not a wide variety. I enjoyed them. But they were a fairly limited selection.

Comparisons:

I’ve recently compared this iem to others near the price on my channel. I feel this iem is better than other iems at the price.
The Big one you’ve all asked for:

Chopin vs Truthear Nova

These two iems graph the same so they are the same right? Well, maybe not. I feel sonically the Chopin is a fantastic set and is worthy of the extra price. Would it be easier to recommend if the price was 150 like the Nova? Absolutely. But how are they different?

The Chopin has a warmer richer timber and feels more lush and detailed on most tracks that I listen to. It’s very close but I do feel the edge goes to the Binary Gizaudio x Chopin. Tracks on the Nova feel a little bit more alive than on the Nova.

Nova has a dry timbre but is nice to listen to. Its tonal balance is damn near perfect, but it seems to lack space and air in general. The Chopin has a pretty similar sound signature but is slightly more dry. It just comes across a bit more boring.

If I wanted to reach for one for daily use, I’d go to Chopin. I do find the Nova comfortable, and easy to drive, but is a slight level below the Chopin, and would give it the recommendation Sonically, and for comfort. It’s hard to recommend one over another, but in the world of 6000-dollar earphones, 50 dollars isn’t too much more for some higher-end users wanting a variations style tuning for much much cheaper.

Quick-Fire Comparisons



In this section, I'll quickly compare the

Truthear: Aful Perfomer 5 VS. Chopin
Overall Tuning: Chopin
Details: Chopin, very close although


Truthear: Kiwi Ears Quintet VS. Chopin
Overall Tuning: Chopin
Details: Kiwi Ears Quintet

Truthear: Nova VS. Chopin
Overall Tuning: Same, slight Edge to Chopin
Details: Same, slight Edge to Chopin


Graph:
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Sound - Final Impressions

I fully recommend this iem to all to try it first from a friend or at a convention before buying. But I 100% recommend for all to at least try this iem, give it a go, as it is special in my books at the price. I think sonically it is fun and things sound very tonally correct with good sparkle and detail. Timber and sparkle could be slightly improved on this iem, but it’s not far away from where many higher class iems could be. It’s very nice and I feel it competes or beats many iems in the 600-dollar Space not only in technicals but in the overall feel of it. It’s a classy feeling and a great recommendation for those who don’t want a giant Monarch MK 2/3 style iem.

Recommended EQ: I use Peace APO to EQ on the PC. This EQ is done to my preference. I recently set up a preference curve on My Squig. So for at least iems, I can use my graphs now. Please feel free to use the measurements as you want. Jaytiss.squig.link
Overall this is an amazing iem that could be an end game for some and a cozy set for others. It does shine a bit more with this eq. The goal for me with an iem is to have one that doesn’t need EQ. This iem doesn’t need eq and is enjoyable.

Preamp: -6.4 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 21 Hz Gain 3.9 dB Q 1.500
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 100 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.900
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 250 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 0.900
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1200 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 1.700
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1900 Hz Gain 2.1 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3000 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 2.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4400 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 0.700
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6600 Hz Gain 5.3 dB Q 2.000
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 13000 Hz Gain -12.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 15000 Hz Gain 11.2 dB Q 1.200



Does Chopin need EQ? No, but to my ears it sounds about 1% better with this eq. Yes, the final question of what is my preference target has been solved. Yet who knows, I might change it up someday!

Spider Graph
This shows a few iems here. All of these iems are good, but you can see how while Chopin is better, it isn’t by much. The Binary x Gizaudio Chopin is very solid iem, it’s well-tuned, affordable, good technicals, and I just can’t explain it. It sounds amazing to my preference tuning, it might not be the bang for the buck experience and it is in that dreaded midrange iem hell. (This is done with the guess that Gizaudio Chopin will come in at 180-240.)
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Gifting/who is it for: I think this is a nice hifi iem to gift to someone, it’s clean and easy to fit for people. I think many iem users have giant ears and can stomach more pressure on their ears than normal people. This iem has a Unique Geometry that makes it crazy comfortable. If I were to give an iem to a friend who is new to the hobby, the Chopin would be one that I’d consider because of its beautiful packaging and easy fit.

This iem is made to take to work with you and move on the go. The case is industrial and strong which means giving to a colleague means they will be less likely to lose it using it for work. I can see this being used in studio use for long periods.

The fact that the Nova exists, makes this iem tough for some to recommend, but given that it has what I feel is a slightly better technical approach, and better tuning, It is a great recommendation and a value proposition, especially in comparison to other iems. It has value and promise in the market, and if it comes in lower than the Nova, then I think it will be a default option, if not a good option for those who want a more relaxed fit, or who are fans of Gizaudio.


Pairing:
I used a Quidelix 5k for mobile, my dongle Dac iBasso DC04 for my laptop, and my JDS labs Element III MK2 Boosted for my Desktop PC. I also tried the iem briefly on the Apple dongle as well. This iem had no issues being driven. In fact, it was a tiny bit too easy to drive and I often needed to turn the volume down when A/B during songs. Typically I only find overears to have a hard time being driven and maybe some planar iems.

Summary:

I don’t think it is the best iem in the world but it competes with other iems in a higher bracket, and a little under 300 competes with this iem. This is a special iem, that I am happy to review. .It’s technical and clear, and the music is enjoyable on it. I fully enjoy it.
I’ve recently redone my ranking system to include a gaming/comfort quality, an overall rating along with Crinacle style rating. I am also releasing a video on YouTube at the same time. Here is the link:

Thanks for reading, and maybe even watching. Any feedback is welcome. Please comment below if you liked it. It means the world to me. I’m debating even doing more head-fi reviews, as I feel oftentimes I get little feedback on them.
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Zerstorer_GOhren
Zerstorer_GOhren
Nice review, mate.

Zerstorer_GOhren

500+ Head-Fier
BINARY ACOUSTICS CHOPIN: Worthy Of Its Namesake
Pros: △ A unique design of its composite shell chassis.
△ Surprisingly, It has an ergonomic design as its shell's contours rests well into my lug holes.
△ Perhaps a decent quality stock cable.
△ Unusual product packaging that presents a different unboxing experience.
△ Pelican-like IEM Case for better protection.
△ Easy to drive.
△ Well-done mild U-shaped tuning.
△ Smooth and balanced sounding.
△ Eloquently well-balanced bass response.
△ Appears to be versatile to the majority of vocal types particular on female ones.
△ Somehow it has clean midrange.
△ Regardless of its treble response, it has an even and smooth sound
△ Quite competent on its overall technical capabilities.
△ Less susceptible to stridency and sibilance.
△ Surely, a good recommendation for most treble-sensitive folk.
Cons: ▽ Somewhat less texture and depth on majority of male vocals and some instruments.
▽ A bit sterile and less vivid sounding in some tracks especially on lows to midrange frequency. (Just my nitpick)
▽ Some sopranos vocals seems to have a tad lethargic sound.
▽ Only 4.4mm termination plug available, if your audio sources is usually a smartphone then you need to spend another dosh on USB dongles with exact termination balanced port.
▽ Treble air is rather modest in which I consider it as inadequate.
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"Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art."

~~Frederic Francois Chopin, Polish composer and pianist during the Romantic Period.

Fryderyk Franciszek or Frederic François Chopin was Polish-French composer and pianist who was well-renowned in 19th-century Europe for his virtuosic talent on pianos and created some of the finest and timeless piano compositions during the Romantic Period like the nocturnes, polonaises and mazurkas. And what I have here is a product named after him from a recently established audio company in China, Binary Acoustics.

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Binary Acoustics according to their company info was established around 2017 and they already stated that they will pursue an immersive audio experience on their products. The implementation of high quality parts and components that are available in the portable audio industry will ensure a well-rounded set that will deliver utilitarian, comfortability and well-thought ergonomics as always at their main priority on creating a product along with a well-done tuning that is quite suitable for portable audio enthusiasts.

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This is Binary Acoustics Chopin, and it seems that this is their first product release for the international market. It also happens that this is a product collaboration project between them and Gizaudio, a YouTube channel whose content is to publish reviews of some of the latest portable audio products that are currently available on the audio market. Binary Acoustic Chopin is a hybrid driver set-up consisting of a dynamic driver made of cermet and 3 balanced armature drivers.

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Cermets (ceramic and metal ) are composite materials which are usually used on electronic components like capacitors and resistors, medical application like dental fillings and implants for hip replacement. It is one of the most important material in the aerospace industry especially on thermal shielding on jet engines and turbine engines on a rocket due to its thermal resistance properties, and it also has a high ductility and unsusceptible to corrosion.

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It has a tear-drop shaped shell housing with a stainless steel faceplate and a 3D-printed acrylic resin cavity case with 3-way acoustic tubes for better crossover and somehow an improvement on separation of its frequencies. There are two vent holes on this one, the first one is situated at the off-centre at the back of the cavity base and the other one is at the side of the said part. The fitting and comfort on this one is quite comfortable despite its unique design that it sits well in my lugholes without any discomfort and I was able to have a good passive noise isolation from the outside. The Chopin utilises a 0.78mm 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism and I also noticed that its receptacle connector has a narrow square-shaped and the port is rather a recessed one. So doing a cable swapping on this one is somehow a bit of a challenge.

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Its stock cable is a 4-core silver plated copper wirings and it was twisted to have some kind of resistance against entanglement and it has a 4.4mm balanced termination which you need a DAP or Dongle with this type of jack.

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As I unbox this set, the product presentation of The Chopin is somehow unusual as it is quite utilitarian yet well-organised and the quantity of inclusions appears to be sufficient as it is able to have all of this set's basics. Aside from IEM transducers and cable, there are 3 pairs of balanced bore eartips of different standard sizes, one Pelican-like IEM container case, cleaning tool, a tiny pouch and some paperwork.

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As for its amplification, The Chopin is quite power efficient as it can be driven with just about a low to medium-level of the device's volume control either from phone, DAP or USB DAC dongle. With its balanced output, it will surely have a complete and full range sound.

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Sound quality-wise, The Chopin appears to have a mild U-shaped sound signature that is quite well-balanced and smooth sounding but is not all rainbows and sunshines as there will be some caveats that will hit certain tonal colours on vocals and instruments. This type of tuning actually reminds me of some sets from TANCHJIM or SOFTEARS on lows and some parts of its midrange.

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(Graph of this one was provided by @koyawmohabal , credits to him)

LOWS/BASS:

Bass response on this one is rather punchy and quite rumbly as it focuses more on sub bass presence than mid bass part. Midbass appears to have fairly ample note weight as it gives a rasping sound on both bass guitar and double bass, a rumbling and menacing sound of bass kick drums. And then, I also noticed that some bass-baritone vocals are quite lacking in depth and texture to give a more guttural sound but it has clean bass after all.


MIDRANGE:

On this part of frequency range, midrange presentation has a balanced texture on its note weight, almost neutral and quite transparent, As it sound good on some female vocals like mezzo-sopranos to sopranos seems to have a sweet and pleasant voice quality but on coloratura and lyric type of sopranos, they lack of intensity and energy to execute a florid passage to project their vocal flexibility. On male vocals, baritones and tenors along with some female vocals like contraltos sounds a bit milder and lighter on their usual timbre which should have a lush, rich and deeper tone. Strings like guitars have rather balanced to "buttery" sounding as they sound less crisper and bright while violins have a rather lustrous and soft sounding. Some percussives and brass instruments somehow sound pretty balanced and on the natural side of tonality.

Since the namesake of this model is dedicated to Poland's greatest virtuoso pianist and composer during the Romantic period, Fryderyk Chopin, and to see if this set plays well on pianos. It appears that this set harmoniously sounds very even and well-balanced to give a clear and pleasant tone on some piano tracks that I've tested on this one

Tracks Tested:

● Nocturne Op.09 No.2
● Fantasie Improptu Op.66
● Mazurkas Op.68 No.4


HIGHS/TREBLE:

Treble response in this one has a smooth and balanced sound, that it is less susceptible to sibilance and harshness and while it has a sufficient sparkle but I also noticed that its treble air is rather modest in my opinion. It has soughing and undulating with less sizzle on its cymbals as my ideal cymbals timbre should sound at least shimmering and bright with a good amount of sizzle.


OVERALL TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:

In terms of technical performance, it has an above average sound/speaker stage as it has well-proportioned sound field dimensions on both lateral and perpendicular axes. Imaging projection is more of a concave-like presentation with good separation and layering capabilities. Cohesion of its hybrid drivers is commendable as its cermet dynamic driver was able to deliver a fast transient speed while its BAs are able to deliver a good clarity without any unwarranted resonance and sounds less metallic. Resolution capability on this one is rather decent as it has good macro-dynamics and is capable enough to retrieve some details and nuances on its given note texture.


PEER COMPARISONS:

TANGZU FU DU VERSE 1


● Like The Chopin, this set is also of hybrid driver configuration and its shell chassis are also made of resin moulded via 3D-printing technology and metal alloy faceplate. The difference between them is that The FU DU has a better stock ear tips along with a premium Divinus Velvet Ear tips and better quality stock cable while The Chopin has more durable IEM container case and has a unique form factor of its shell chassis.

● On tonal quality, FU DU has a U-shaped, "balanced-warmish" sound profile that gives it more of an analogue-type of sound. It has a more punchy and authoritative bass response to point it's has borderline boomy response, a tad warmer but a tad recessed on its midrange but at least the majority of male vocals and some female vocals like the contralto have a more natural and more correct timbre but mezzo-sopranos and sopranos vocals, The Chopin will sound more better. As for treble quality, as both have pleasantly smooth and balanced responses but the FU DU is a bit darker compared to The Chopin as the latter have more shimmer and clarity.

● When it comes to technical performance, FU DU has a narrower sound/speaker stage, a two-dimensional stereo imaging and rather average layering as it struggles a bit on multi-instrumental test tracks that I usually listen to for sound checking. But at least, it has a more solid macro-dynamics.


CVJ MEI

● Another set that is also comparable to The Chopin as it also has a hybrid driver configuration. But the MEI has an all metal build construction, a Knowles BA driver and tuning switches that makes it more versatile and will offer more sound profile options. As for product packaging and quality of accessories, The Mei is way more inferior in this one compared to The Chopin.

● As for its tonality, due to the tuning switches, MEI offers 4 types of sound profiles, and all of them are aligned with V-shaped to U-shaped sound signatures. But I will do a comparison mostly in 1 DD + 1 Knowles BA setting as it is my preferred sound profile in which I consider as a mature tuning. Both have similar bass response as the MEI has a punchy and quite rumbly on sub-bass. The on the midrange, the MEI will fare better in all types of male vocals and female vocals like contraltos and mezzo-sopranos as they sound more organic with a right amount of texture but on sopranos, most percussives and woodwind instruments, The Chopin will win on this one as they have a tad more sparkle, crisper and proper energy to project those females vocals in a very natural and more open-sounding compare to the MEI.

● As for technical capabilities, it appears the MEI is quite competent in this regard as it has an average to above average of projecting its stereo imaging along with its perceived dimensions of its sound field, good cohesive performance of its drivers and fairly proficient on projecting resolution capabilities. But The Chopin was able to outclass it with better spatial imaging, more spacious sound/speaker size and better separation and layering capabilities.

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To summarise my review on this set. The Binary Acoustics' first creation with collaboration appears to deliver a product that possesses a well-balanced sound with good technical capabilities that an audio enthusiast should be aware of its entry to the even more competitive portable audio market. I have some optimism about this set that it will be the most appealing and competitive one if the price is right.


BINARY ACOUSTICS CHOPIN is exclusively available at HIFIGO, If you are interested in purchasing this set, you can check out the unaffiliated link later down below.


★★BINARY ACOUSTIC CHOPIN - HIFIGO★★

★★BINARY ACOUSTIC CHOPIN - ALIEXPRESS★★

★★BINARY ACOUSTIC CHOPIN - AMAZON★★

★★BINARY ACOUSTIC CHOPIN - AMAZON.JP★★



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SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: BINARY AUDIO CHOPIN
IMPEDANCE: 12Ω
SENSITIVITY: 122dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 4.4mm Balanced
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (3) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER(S)


Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)


Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to BINARY ACOUSTICS nor receive any monetary incentives and financial gains from them as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to LVY YAN of HIFIGO TEAM for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.


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Zerstorer_GOhren
Zerstorer_GOhren
@Jaytiss Thanks mate, I also waiting for your review too on this one.
Z
zeluxao
The main question for me is: Is this 25% better than the Nova? With so many iems cheaper than this offering excellent value i don't feel confortable spending $200 on an iem. (and i can't hear it before buying, so, a big $200 costing risk) It had to be almost unflawed (don't mean the best at everything) and it doesn't seem like it...
Zerstorer_GOhren
Zerstorer_GOhren
@zeluxao , I can't answer your question clearly as I don't have a Nova. As I said in my review, its not all rainbows and sunshine regarding this unit.
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