Cat Ear Meow

Introduction

According to the packaging, the IEMS Cat Ear Meow is manufactured at Shunshi (Shenzhen) Technology Co., LTD. I have no further information about the brand. This is the first model I know of them. They are $55 IEMS that can be chosen in three different finishes, each one more expensive than the previous one. The Silver model, the base model, is the subject of this review. It is a zinc alloy capsule with the silhouette of a cat on the outside of the capsule. The shape is semi-custom, but with some variations. Inside the capsule are two dynamic drivers, a 10mm and an 8mm driver. The former has a liquid crystal diaphragm and the latter a PET polymer composite diaphragm. The cable consists of 4 silver-plated OFC strands. They have the special feature of having been cryogenically treated at -196°C for three days. The connection type is 2Pin 0.78mm. Regardless of the finish, I think all versions sound the same. Here is my opinion about them.



Specifications

• Driver Type: Dual dynamic driver. 10mm dynamic driver with liquid crystal diaphragm. 8mm dynamic driver with PET polymer composite diaphragm.
• Frequency Response: 10Hz - 25kHz.
• Sensitivity: 110dB/mW
• Impedance: 16Ω±15%.
• Distortion Ratio: <1%.
• Capsule material: Zinc alloy
• Jack Connector: 3.5mm SE gold plated
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm
• Cable Length: 1.2m
• Cable Material: 4N OFC deep silver plated, cryogenically treated to -196ºC.

Packaging

The Cat Ear Meow comes in an eminently black rectangular box, measuring 172x172x41mm. On its main face, a cat's face can be seen, so that only the eyes stand out, although the nose and whiskers can be glimpsed. The brand logo and the model can be read in the upper left corner, in white letters. On the back side you can read all the specifications, as well as a presentation of the model and the frequency response. The text is in English and Chinese. At the bottom are the brand's contact details. All this in white lettering. The box is perfectly sealed with a tamper evident. Once the outer cardboard is removed, you can access a very dark box with the logo in the middle and also on the opening flap. Inside there is a dense foam containing the two capsules and another mould with two sets of silicone tips (bass and balanced). Underneath this first layer is another mould containing a black leather pouch, like a purse with a magnetic clip, which holds the cryogenic cable. In summary, the contents are as follows:

• The two Cat Ear Meaow capsules with white silicone tips, size Medium.
• 1 set of white silicone tips, sizes SxMxL, Bass enhanced type.
• 1 set of white translucent silicone tips, sizes SxMxL, type Balanced.
• 1 pouch with magnetic clip, made of black synthetic leather.
• 1 4N OFC deep silver-plated OFC cable, cryogenically treated to -196°C.

The packaging is somewhat large for the contents. The leather pouch is a bit small for the size of the capsules. Two sets of tips are fine for the price. No superfluous things like instruction manual or other paperwork.



Construction and Design

The capsules of the Cat Ear Meow are made of zinc alloy. The surface is all-metal, smooth and highly polished, with a significant mirror effect that is both shiny and very susceptible to fingerprints. You could say that it resembles a classic semi-custom shape, but that would be a bit of an oversimplification. In reality it is a right triangle shape with very rounded corners. The symbolic minor and major legs are joined by a sharp curve that turns inwards to be a smooth side until it curves back towards the hypotenuse. The apex between the minor cathetus and the hypotenuse contains the 2Pin 0.78mm connector, which is shallow, translucent plastic and rectangular in shape. On the outer face is a free-form silhouette resembling the profile of a cat's head and the model name in handwriting. The thickness of the body is medium-large and the inside of the capsule is curved with a larger bulge as it approaches the nozzles. It is an integral body and the mouthpieces form a complete part of the entire interior of the capsule. The nozzles are protected with a metal mesh. There is a hole protected inside with a white mesh. The joint between the outer and inner face is visible, but very well assembled.
The cable has 4 OFC strands with deep silver plating. In addition, it is cryogenically treated at -196°C for three days. The plug is 3.5mm SE gold plated. The connector sleeve is a classic and simple narrow cylinder. The divider piece is made of the same material, only its shape is narrow conical, similar to a cone with no bottom vertex. The pin is made of translucent plastic and has two holes, one for each channel. It is H-shaped when viewed from the side. The cable is shaped like an ear and the 2Pin connectors are simple, embedded in transparent plastic pieces, in the shape of a padlock. The letter of each channel is inscribed on each piece, in a way that is very difficult to distinguish.
The design is striking, but the simplicity of the external silhouette makes the basic model the most elegant of the three to choose from. The capsules are not the lightest, but for metal, they are not heavy either. The cable has a bombastic treatment that can add little or no benefit to the sound. I even think that a pure copper cable would have been more suitable, given the exciting mid-high profile of this model.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

At first, both the shape and the weight seem good. The insertion is about average, although in my particular morphology, it remains superficial. Depending on the tips used, it could be higher. A set of tips with a medium inner channel is preferable in order to project the mouthpiece inside the channel. A larger inner diameter would sink the tips into the body of the capsule. Over time, after more than half an hour, I have started to feel discomfort at the base of the pinna. The extra-rounded face that joins the symbolic minor and major catetus ends up bothering me, as well as a protrusion on the inner side, also in that part. This curve should be smaller and not so stubby. The weight doesn't bother me, but the shape does. I've tried dozens of IEMS and this is one of the very few that end up bothering me. And it's not because of the weight.



Sound

Profile

The Cat Ear Meow have a mid-centred profile, with clearly emphasised mid-highs, softened/mapped highs with a large control zone and bass that is at a neutral or slightly higher level. The bass level can be emphasised by means of the standard tips (bass enhanced) or similar. More contact with the walls of the ear canal could also increase the feeling of bass presence, as is the case with my homemade foam-filled tips, which simulate Symbio W tips. The profile has a slightly warmer feel to it, which I attribute more to the lack of treble, due to its nuanced condition, than to an elevation of the bass. The difference between the most distant points of the mids can almost reach 15dB, which implies a profile that is not balanced in its central part. In fact, the control zone is even more pronounced, generating an immediate and deep drop, as soon as the treble starts.
I’m not usually a big fan of burning, but here I have done a generous process. In addition, I also tested different cables and tips. In the end, I used a pure copper cable and the classic homemade Symbio W tips that I make myself. Although, initially, the sound with them was too twangy, after burning it seems to have improved in "smoothness", if you can use the word to define the upper midrange and its over-the-top excitement.



Bass

After a good burning, a search for tips and a change of cable to pure copper, I can confess that the bass is not bad at all, if the technical characteristics are anything to go by. First of all, it should be noted that this is not an anaemic area at all, but could be called neutral, although slightly elevated. This designation is true when playing bass-dominant music and isolating the zone. The bass is rather smooth, but with a classic lift in the mid-range, something that introduces size and body to the LFOs, although it is not the deepest of representations. In any case, the pure tone test from 20Hz to 50Hz is totally natural and many IEMS would like to sound like the Meow does. Their vibration is realistic, sensitive, perceptive and uncoloured. The audible end is represented as such and the 40Hz punch exhibits power and body in keeping with reality. The oscillations feel natural, both in timbre and in the way they are reproduced. In this case, the performance is good as you would expect from a dynamic driver well tuned for this purpose. Even superior. No complaints in this respect.
The hit is agile and restrained, the decay is very good, there is no aftertaste and the bass disappears quickly. The weight is not very heavy and the amount of air it displaces is contained. But the good sensory level it reaches favours its perception and raises the sensation of both quality and presence. By being more focused in its middle, it loses depth and feels more audible for the most part. If the emphasis had been shifted towards the sub-bass and raised by 5dB at the head of the audible range, the response would have been excellent. The problem comes when to enjoy the bass you have to turn up the volume and that's when the mid-highs overlap in presence, ruining the experience.



Mids

A priori, the mids have an unbalanced curve, just by looking at the frequency response. In reality, this becomes apparent in certain cases and depending on the music played. As a mid-centric EMI that extols the high-mids, the Cat Ear Meow is susceptible to auditory fatigue. Sometimes the experience can be very good, sometimes more difficult to digest.
If we go into the musical virtues, first and foremost, we can highlight the luminosity of the central range, the clarity, a good level of separation, the emphasis on detail and the richness of its nuances. The overexposure of the upper part raises the appreciation of the technical characteristics, but in a forced, somewhat fictitious way, due to the tuning it possesses. The timbre is on the shrill side, with final flashes that are stopped by a muted high end. While the first part is thin, the central body seems adequate, but the ending is prone to a mixed sibilance, high in its first half, but cut off in its final part. So is this high part, it starts strong but cuts off abruptly, due to the powerful treble control zone. The result is a sound that is not quite real. It can sound powerful and determined, with a lot of clarity, giving a sense of good definition and resolving power. But there are elements whose timbre does not match, and this is where fatigue sets in, as well as having an abruptness that demands the listener's attention at the first click. The male voices lack a more corporeal feel, more density in their execution, as well as more physicality in their base. The same is true of the first half of the mids. While the transition from the lows to the mids is very good, the transition from the first half to the second half of the middle range is not so good. The rapid growth towards the treble emancipates the details and clicks, rather than the fundamentals of the instruments. This is how the drums, snares and such flashes sound over the top and unfinished, because their progression feels meagre due to the clear cutting of the treble. Something similar happens in the female vocals, they can sound very striking initially, given that their fundamental is on the way to the top. But reconstruction is not complete. The overall result is overwhelming at the start, but as time goes on, the level of demand, the drift of the timbre towards a more penetrating, harder sound, moving away from softness, begins to take its toll on my ears, which are looking for a more sedate profile, though not devoid of technicalities. It's a pity, because the first half is in keeping with the bass, while the second half is a very daring gamble, only for people who are persistent to this tuning. I’m not one of them.



Treble

The treble seems to have only one section: the initial one. While they do not have much extension or air. They are concentrated in the first flash, and this is abrupt and enhanced. They are crisp in this first instance, even enjoyable. But on closer inspection, the harmonics feel limited and the absence of air is noticeable. The rest is smooth. It's an overall advantage, but one that doesn't marry with the emphasis of the upper-mids. With another type of tuning, such as classical V tuning, it would be highly acceptable. But, in this case, the negative side is enhanced more than the positive side, as the imbalance is increased, making it more evident. It is clear that we are dealing with IEMS whose price is limited. But what is the point of using two dynamic drivers? I understand this construction as a classic two-way loudspeaker: while the larger driver is dedicated to the bass and the first half of the midrange, the second one should take care of the upper part. And in that sense, the second half of the treble should not be so nuanced. Unless it is the result of a deliberately mid-centric tuning, suitable for listening to cat meows with great clarity and emphasis.



Soundstage, Separation

Along with the bass, the Cat Ear Meows are lavished with technical aspects, a certain kind of definition and a presentation that can become broad and splashy. With a lot of detail and nuance sounding in the foreground, the sound suffers from a certain depth, although it would be unfair to say that the sound is not capable of sounding deep at all, but rather that this ability is not enhanced. In the foreground, mid-centric tuning wins out, whereas with electronic music, this aspect of musical expansion is gained. Laterality is good, thanks to that sparkling presentation that adds some movement and volatility. However, the most important elements don't always feel well represented, which gives an ambivalent character to the instrumental recreation and the positioning of the vocals, although I'm being very strict here.
I could conclude that the sense of separation is noticeable, that it suffers from a certain sense of airiness, and that the image has good width and laterality, thanks to the expansion of detail, although the positioning can become a little more diffuse.



Comparisons

Reecho SG-01 OVA

Let's see what a Cat Ear Meow could be like with the tweaks I've been discussing in the review. I demanded that if the Meow had 5dB more in the sub-bass, the low end could be excellent. The OVAs have that gain. Also, the mid-highs are similar, but with a more controlled entry into the treble, plus clearly more extension in the second half and especially in the air zone.
In terms of construction, oh, surprise! The OVA are also made of zinc alloy, have a similar cable, maybe a little less because it is stiffer, more tips and a zippered case, as I always like to find. On top of that, it's cheaper.
In terms of ergonomics, the OVA capsule is smaller. You could say that the weight is the same. But the shapes, both internally and at the edges, are softer, with no strange or forced protrusions. This way, they don't cause me fatigue, nor do they bother me as the hours go by.
In terms of sound, the OVA sound much more believable from the outset. The bass is deeper and can be clearly felt, without having to strain or turn up the volume to appreciate them. Which can be counterproductive, because the mid-highs of the Meow are more easily boosted, which sends the bass into the background again. The only thing I could point out about the Meow is that its low end is of very good quality, sounding very credible, restrained, with a good timbre and technical ability, perhaps superior overall. But, of course, my bass-loving little heart is drawn to the greater power and depth that the OVA does present.
In the first half of the mid-range there is more physicality, body and fullness. If you look at the graph, there is a 1.5khz band that is equal, from 500Hz to 2khz. But, both the left and right sides add realism and naturalness to the OVA. While the Meow accentuates its mid-centric character, the OVA relies on a more noticeable bass and a more restrained, yet more extended first treble. The result is a much more realistic and fuller timbre. I can't deny that there is also an excited side in the upper mids, but it is much more believable and natural than the Meow. In this way, the male voices are fuller, complete, mature and natural. The female voices feel projected, but never clipped, as the high end pitch is adequate. The rest of the elements are represented more normally and that alone is enough to sound better than the Meow.
The entry of the treble in the OVA is slightly more measured, it also has a powerful control zone, which counteracts the initial flare. But then it recovers much better, bringing very noticeable harmonics as well as more air. The result is a high zone that is enjoyable for its blend of smoothness and extension, with well thought out and executed tuning.
Without either possessing a very large image, again, realism falls to the OVA. With a concave image and appreciable height, the laterality is superior to that of the Meow. On this occasion, the details are not splashed and what is appreciated is what is fundamental, which are the instruments and the voices. Everything has a better place and the details do not obscure the positioning of the main elements. The scene is more realistic and proportionate. The greater amount of air adds steam to the music and breathes distance between the notes. This makes the background appear darker and with better definition.
Sometimes comparisons are odious. The OVA are a complete ensemble, while the Meow are more specialist, let's be clear.



Conclusion

The Cat Ear Meow is a product that specialises in a type of sound that must be represented in the market. It is sure to have its audience and in this sense it can be a great value and a great choice. It is well constructed, the design is pleasing and the cat line drawing is attractive. Both the packaging and the accessories are in line with the price. So there is no reason why this model should even be a way to cover all profiles for any hobbyist. You just have to understand the idiosyncrasies of their profile. Like cats, they don't usually do what we want them to do and they tend to be freer spirits. I think this model also follows its own instinct.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• Hidizs AP80 PRO-X Red Copper Limited Edition.
• Burson Audio Playmate.
• S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII + iFi ZEN CAN.
• xDuoo XD05 BAL.
• xDuoo Link2 BAL.
• Earmen Colibri.
• E1DA #9038D.

Ratings

• Construction and Design: 75
• Adjustment/Ergonomics: 55
• Accessories: 65
• Bass: 82
• Mids: 68
• Treble: 60
• Separation: 75
• Soundstage: 70
• Quality/Price: 75

Purchase Link

You can read the full review in Spanish here

What?
I heard my name being called? So I went outside to a second floor balcony, looking out into the yard…..my Wife was down below and had a box in her hands. She was smiling and said, “this is for you”. I went and retrieved it, thanking her. Such is my day at times, filled with unexpected happenstance of various degrees. Opening the box all I could see is these giant green eyes staring back at me. I knew what this was, I mean you don’t run across too many audio products called “Cat Ear”. The interesting touch of having the word “Meow” in giant cursive lettering…..being the actual name of the IEM. Then the small cutout to grip the inner box was lime green outlined as a pair of cat ears. These IEMs are definitely made for women and one step further………..they are made for Cat-lovers who just happen to be women. Upon opening the box I was met with six sets of tips and the IEMs themselves. When ordering you can choose one of three styles of designs, the base model which is maybe the simplest……only silver with a single line drawing of a cat profile. The left IEM says “Cat Ear” and the right IEM says “Meow”. This is the one that arrived today! There is a premium gun-metal grey version and a gold edition, all at an extra $10 or $20 dollars respectively. Such choices are only aesthetics (and don’t affect sound quality)………probably more important to the female species. With that said, I guess this is a good trend…….I mean how many IEMs seem to be made for men? All of them, right, all almost? This is a way for the manufacture to generate a new customer-base as well as offer design concepts which haven’t been addressed before. Me being more of a dog lover means I could care less about the design. Though shape, fit and over-all look of the product is fine. When you judge the $55 cost to build quality......plus the accessories and sound, all is relatively correct for the money. Though as you may have guessed, I have just recently been given a whole slew of under $100 IEMs, and I can say the market has never been fiercer. In recent times there have been a number of new styles and ideas brought forth, all going to show the quantity of imagination in action. What with the new planar IEMs, the single full-range DDs, the new DDs with a touch of BA accents…….it really goes on and on to make you realize there are many ways to skin a cat!

My job today is to bring forth an objective idea as to the true value of the Meow. We will try and ascertain the sound quality, go over the build and delve into the packaging and accessories. Won’t you join me in this review…..of the Cat Ear Meow.

Review summery:
With a pure metal, zinc-alloy electroplated-build, the two Dynamic Drivers make the sound. A 10mm main Liquid Crystal Dynamic Driver accentuated by an added 8mm PET Polymer Diaphragm auxiliary driver. Such a unique arraignment guarantees a slightly different sound profile/tone. While offering a more midcentic focus, the Meow finds its value by being the farthest from grainy or owning any BA timbre. Such a smoother, slightly darker response offers the owner a slightly above average soundstage combined with vocal separation and imaging you would expect. While not trying to out-resolve the competition, the Meow earns its keep by providing a style of easy-going musicality with just enough treble detail to make it a worthwhile and interesting purchase. If you choose to read on I will do back-to-back comparisons with the BQEYZ Topaz, the 7Hz Salnotes Zero and the ISN D10 IEMs. Such real-life comparisons will do more to explain just what’s up with the Meow.

Finalizing my opinion, I see the Cat Ear Meow as a value and existing as a unique one-of-a-kind purchase. It does’t stand out in its price category, yet still offers an incredible value for those wanting just what it does. Well built, nice fitment and offering a complete set of extras. If I could sum it up……….Great separation, note weight and musicality.................a midcentric style of playback with just enough top-end and low-end extension to bring the thrills. While not the end-all, end-all in detail, the Meow dances to it’s own style and bounce, providing a fun enchanting demeanor. The Cat Ear Meow, a strange one-of-a-kind marketing concept, which ends quite accessible once you get acquainted with it all. Probably the thickness and overall smoothness is what I like best, when you combine the true naturalness at hand, you can’t lose. If you choose to read on I will do my very best to describe why the Meow is special in this increasingly crowded marketplace.

Buy them here for $55.00
https://penonaudio.com/cat-ear-meow.html



The Comparisons:
Right to Left
Right to Left

1) Cat Ear Meow 1 10mm Liquid Crystal Dynamic Diaphragm, 8mm PET Polymer Diaphragm $55.00
2) BQEYZ Topaz 1 Piezoelectric Ceramic Driver, 13mm LCP Diaphragm Dynamic Driver $89.00
3) 7Hz Salnotes Zero 1 10mm Dynamic Driver With Metal Composite Diaphragm $19.99
4) ISN D10 1 9mm Dynamic Driver $149.00

This comparison side-by-side ends up much more revealing than guessed. While some IEMs in the test are way more cash and others less, somehow this combination (of IEMs) goes to show character traits in distinctive ways. While the Cat Ear is two dynamic drivers, the Topaz a monopole Piezoelectric/Dynamic, 7Hz Zero and the ISN D10 a single full-range Dynamic Driver………………..each showed attributes both on the positive side and negative side. It is through comparisons that a true understanding of both driver methodology and value relationships can be understood. While the ISN S4 cable, a $58.90 included cable was used for the D10 comparisons, the standard $32.50 the S8 cable was used for all the other IEMs. The same wide bore tips were used for everything as well as the same Sony WM1A Walkman in 4.4mm mode. The reason I used the standard included ISN S4 cable, was it was the only MMCX used, as well as it optimizes the general D10 response. The ISN S8 cable was used for the remaining three due to it also be an optimal “value’ purchase which seemed to enhance the natural characteristics of all three. The only fly in the ointment was the S8 cable being not really needed for the BQEYZ Topaz, as the treble/soundstage is enhanced naturally and doesn’t need a hybrid silver/copper cable to add anything. The union was still decided upon due to the well roundedness of the S8 cable to still be an addition to the Topaz in use. I have the 4.4mm Topaz included cable on the way from BQEYZ, but it is not here yet at time of testing. The S8 cable ends as a substantial boost in use with both the 7Hz Zero adding a treble and soundstage optimization, as well as the S8 cable being a profound benefit to the Cat Ear Meow in that now I could use the extra power of balanced with 4.4mm with the Sony 1A as well as the sound quality being slightly (guessed) extended from stock cable. Due to the included 3.5mm stock cable with the Cat Ear Meow, it subjected the Meow to a substantial (non-4.4mm) sonic disadvantage in our tests today, so it wasn’t used. I don’t have a way to electronically equal volume levels, but such an issue has not hindered me from comparisons in the past.

With all variables relatively equal let’s get started. All IEMs burned-in for a minimum of 100 hours.

BQEYZ Topaz:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/bqeyz-topaz.25875/reviews#review-28862
Amazingly the Topaz also sounded optimal with the arraignment of tips and cable/DAP. While the Topaz was noticeably a little harder to drive, the bass was less present even at equal volumes. Where the two were truly different was the treble response, where the (Topaz) Piezoelectric offered enhanced spacial imaging………..but what was there was of a synthetic timbre. Of course the Topaz is a great IEM and totally fun in what it does, the very best developed IEM so far from BQEYZ. While not positioned imagined so far out, and of lesser tone frequency, the Meow seemed more natural and cohesive. Obviously most readers here would naturally come to the same conclusion reading about the one-of-a-kind Hybrid reality the Topaz is! While the Topaz is unequivocally the best BQEYZ made, it is what it is. The Topaz has both great technicalities wrapped around off-tone-timbre in places. It’s just that what the Topaz does is so ahead of the pack, the small issues get overlooked. Both have pleasant midrange abilities, but Meow kicks the bass harder, and thicker. It just the cohesive playback of the Meow can’t be overlooked and in fact becomes the single winning factor of our side-by side today, replaying less disjointedness than the Topaz. Other than the spacial “off” fireworks and lesser bass, the Topaz does, the two were in many ways close to the same despite the cost differences. Also I don’t want in any way diminish the overall view of the Topaz, as it’s quite the accomplishment over the abilities of the BQEYZ Spring 2 with better bass and more real sounding top-end. There is also the matter of Topaz graininess which I hear and some reviewers don’t. Such grain is always present (to me) especially underlying the midrange as while it’s not a huge issue, it’s there none the less, and not present in the Cat Ears Meow.

The 7Hz Salnotes Zero:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/7hz-salnotes-zero-universal-iem.25980/reviews#review-28978
As the Cat Ear Meow beat out the BQEYZ Topaz in cohesiveness, the Zero wins out (over the Meow) one step further in “oneness”. Yep, the coherence is definitely real with the Zero, and so much better than both the Topaz and Meow! Does this make the $19.99 Zero IEM the winner? In comparison the 2X price Meow shows its stripes! Really while winning on the cohesiveness, that’s the only thing the Zero does better. The Meow shows it’s easier to drive, just as much easier to drive as the Meow was easier to drive than the Topaz. The big, and I mean huge difference here is the 3D resolution and separation. While the 7Hz Zero is market defining, it’s not everything. Meow imaging is better spread out and separated, coming into view are individual actual sound items, where the Zero has all elements more fused together into the soundstage. In many ways the two share many common attributes, being they are both mid-centered, and both really well tuned. The Zero still holds cohesive points, yet those same elements are truly challenged by the separation and individual relief obtained by the Meow. Items are simply thrown farther out, embellished, heard and enjoyed.

Upon further investigation the Meow bass was possibly more pronounced, if you know, bass is not a total emphasis of the Zero. The reason this is so hard to pin-down is farther out and itemized bass notes will give the illusion of more bass, and that’s what is happening with the Meow. Though the Meow has a slight unevenness that is (possibly) the product of two drivers, which the Zero doesn’t contain. Probably due to the extra driver results in better imaging and separation in bass. The notes have additional overall note weight than the Zero, and that’s quite an accomplishment, as note weight is one of the Zero’s strongpoints. Upon further testing (with other music) the bass weight is more pronounced with the Meow while offering it up just slightly less cohesive. High pitched elements also offered a more 3D relief and slightly more realistic decay with the Meow. Such elements can be elusive due to the natural ability of the Meow to be more efficient, still when volume aligned, a slight higher extension of treble was observed with the Meow. The same aspects can be noted in the mids, where the Zero is way more together in subtle arraignments of detail replay, the Meow is bigger and more spacious…..getting it’s claws more outstretched, providing a more dynamic experience, despite the slight lack of coherence.

Often I wonder about build material, where the Zero offers a large side (plate) of pure metal, which seems to possibly dampen unwanted vibrations, the Meow is solid metal offering a total single side weight of 8 grams where the Zero is 5 grams. Such weight discrepancy is fully noticeable in hand. Though maybe a combination of weight and form-factor, the Zero inches past the Meow in fit comfort. Really no fit complaints except I may fall back to non-wide-bore tips with daily use with the Cat Ear Meow? Where for me, wide-bore offer great sound, except the tip walls tend to offer less stabilization at times, and the Meow is one of those times.

Conclusion of 7Hz Salnotes Zero vs Cat Ear Meow:
I was personally fascinated by this match-up, finding the results far more descriptive than simple Treble, Midrange and Bass tests. While the Meow is 2X the money, they still don’t cost so much as to make that a determining purchase factor. While the Zero holds the place on the Hype Train, the Meow is as yet to be discovered. There is no denying the over-all strength the Zero brings, you can read my review, I was in amazement of it’s tune, and still am! Yet, in comparison the Meow is just that good, bringing a more lifelike rendition of the music. While the Meow tune is less coherent and even, such brute force of note weight catapulted the Meow into a much better place in the end. The outreach of elements in the stage added involvement, and the frequency response extensions on both ends provided more Meow dynamic contrast. And while the Zero provided an unmistakable element of finesse, despite of its slight sloppiness and lack of composure, the Meow still wins out in the end.

In one single sentence, the Zero is slightly more refined and the Meow more wild.

The ISN D10:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/isn-d10.24286/reviews#review-29043
While there is a noticeable price difference between the two, such a comparison elevates the Meow and qualifies the D10 value. Finally only having to switch ear-tips for this last test is refreshing! The Zero and Meow used the same cable and ear-tips, and the two being somewhat close in demeanor, resulted in 12 cable and ear-tip changes during the back-to-back tests over a course of two days. Here we are awarded with the best of both worlds. Meaning now we are met with single D10 full-range driver cohesiveness, with a union of over-all better technicalities. At slightly less than 3X the Meow cash, this may be expected? But is there a method to my madness? Does the poor little Meow even deserve to be put up against the D10 beast? Yes! Why? Due to the D10 capabilities, the Meow will be put in its place. Probably your first ideas arise out of each holding a different sector of the market? Not just price-wise but tune-wise. Amazingly these two IEMs perform very close to the same in various uses. While the D10 was ever so slightly easer to drive, they were almost equal. Where the confusion started was how just the driver of the D10 was superior, making the Cat Ear Meow metal shell meaningless. It was just offering better note resolution and positioning. Adding to the confusion was the bass between the two. Meaning before hand the D10 bass was a force of nature, an unstoppable value which set a precedence. And while I may use the word confusion, what it ultimately means is more testing and different (more) music to be used as a path to understanding. Eventually a style of truth in difference will emerge resulting in a delineation of character. Later I was talk about such music in my music review section, but to keep it simple, yes the D10 has better bass extension, but inside of that lower note range exists a full-on detail and formation of objects. This was not fully noticeable with many tracks like EDM, where there exists a style of rudimentary bass drum, but in OSTs where a deeper dimension of full-on detail emerges, the D10 is not always that much lower frequency wise, but offers a window of detail into those lowest of bass notes. Such finds are actually beneficial to the Meow, as it shows often in general use such abilities can and will go unnoticed and unneeded. I mean the D10 was clearly superior in pretty much every metric, but for the most part I had to search for such music which held such determining metrics. The difference was not apparent on first listen. What was noticeable from the start was the “Zero like” coherence the D10 maintained, mixed with a general ability to offer a cleaner and more transparent ability for the D10 to resolve. The outer abilities took searching and audiophile tracks to find for the D10 to find.

Conclusion of ISN D10 vs Cat Ear Meow:
The Meow went head to head with the D10 on the surface, with obviously better technicalities noted right off with the D10. Yet musically they were often very close to the same, replaying the mood of the music. Such bass abilities were actually surprising for the Meow showing much more bass dynamics, even at a loss of resolution. Such mid-range and treble abilities were often equal with the Meow showing less ability to configure clarity through pace and separation. Ultimately the Meow while not defining the notes, showed an abundant ability to be natural and musical none-the-less. So in many ways the D10 was more sophisticated (like the Zero) yet winning out the Zero with grander high and low note contrasts. So once again we are brought to the factor of cohesiveness, holding a value in both the Zero and D10 being full-range single Dynamic Drivers. Other than those features, the Meow gains entertainment through imaging and spacial positioning, while all those parts don’t fit together as seamlessly!

Summation of all IEMs tests:
Such a battle was well worth the effort in returns, and shows how the Meow is so much better than the Zero. Yet the ISN D10 has the identical benefits of the Zero and better Dynamic Contrasts/detail, making it a value over both the Meow and the Zero. While the Topaz offers a style of entertainment, it’s at the expense of realism. There is also that midrange grain the Topaz offers being an artifact of Piezoelectric sound reproduction. Also surprisingly the Topaz had the least bass in our tests, yet way better bass than the Spring 2. The overall sound of the Topaz is an accomplishment for BQEYZ, but the Topaz still has its place. The Zero is by far an accomplishment for 7Hz, only because it does what it does for $19.99. The level of finesse and togetherness is special for the Zero, yet in pure entertainment the Cat Ear Meow wins out, no question. The D10 works its magic being the better parts of the Zero plus the addition of extension (highs and lows) in-turn offering the same winning attributes in (dynamic contract) of the Meow, only that much better! So strangely they each follow the indicated value judgment held by their price range. Except the Topaz, holding its own category of value due to parlaying an unreal treble response, thus only fun for sake of entertainment.




Music:
Here we will have fun..........devoid of the previous sections competition. Such a section can relate attributes in how the Cat Ear Meow parlays realism and musicality………..really basic emotion to be had from common music playback. Such section uses music I regularly use to judge IEM playback. This section also will relate the historic evolvement of music, and how it can be perceived though modern day music IEM listening.



Rammstein
RMX Remix by Two Colors
ANGST
48 kHz - 24 bit



VA - Techno Trax Vol.01
ZYX 60005-2

Such a sound is (exactly) reminiscent of the early days of Techno Trax! They have gone back to the original sounds of the era by sampling and bringing this old sound back to life. This was and still is one of my favorites from days long gone! I can only imagine when this style emerged popular in Germany, but for us Americans.........this was a new introduction to what would eventually be called EDM 5 years later. With references to Kraftwerk, it was a totally new departure from anything we ever heard in the States! With "ANGST" being a remix, it’s part Rammstein and part Techno Trax. You can clearly hear the submarine sound used in U-96’s Das Boot from a year later in 1992. Bringing back such sounds is often before a listeners time, sounding new and original or (for older listeners) bringing back memories. Here the timing is perfect, bringing back 20 year-old sounds (today) is in-fact special. Here they are handled in such a way 1991 musicians only dreamed about. This song sounds very much the same with the ISN D10 as the Meow, reason being the extra bass reach (of the D10) is not needed. And while this “dance” version shows no need for the rhythm guitar or other additives of the original album version, such adds would detract from the effectiveness. At 1 minute 42 seconds the beat lets up, in the quietness Till Lindemann gets the same German language message across. Before the spoken words a bass at 1 minute 42 seconds is deep and powerful with the Meow. His “singing” is a wonderful mixture of spoken words and singing, as now they as a group have a message to be heard. Accompanied here we find a style of hi-hat moving quickly right to left, keeping the single skeleton of rhythm alive. Such imaging is very clear with the Meow and we are grateful, for at 2 minutes 50 seconds the full baseline beat has returned, showing an improved magnificence due to absence. This locked-down four-on-the-floor is again anew, and may actually be welcomed once more in clubs? Though maybe it never left Germany? Such is the tribute by Rammstein, giving respect to their influences and roots. There is a style of full-circle being sought after, and the Cat Ear Meow is totally up for the challenge……in fact this song is perfect in every way with the Cat Ears. And if this style of EDM or any style of EDM is your joy, you couldn’t do much better for $55.00. There is an ever so slight (physical) dampening effect the Meow does regularly……maybe it’s the shells which in-turn bring an authoritative bounce to such tunes. Though guessing it’s probably the 2X Dynamic Drivers hitting home the EDM (bass and drum) qualities? These kind of tunes thrive off bigness and bounce.

Batman vs Superman OST
Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL
Day of the Dead
96 kHz - 24 bit

Half of the reason I chose this song to illustrate a fault. But remember reviewers are trying to be critical, but more than that, they are trying to be realistic, trying to show fault regardless of price. Does this fault more or less delineate the price bracket we are in? Probably. It's just that nothing is perfect, and under $100 that concept rings true even more so. Most of all this review is trying to be descriptive, trying to educate readers of the plus and minuses involved, so they can make an educated purchase, so they can make a purchase they will be happy with. The Meow is slightly dark, but more than that it's missing a slight extension, both in the super upper highs, and the lows. Really this is no big deal if you are listening, only when you really look for such issues, by doing comparisons, are such qualities noted.

Day of the Dead:
At 36 seconds there is a bass note, not any bass note but the mother of all bass notes. I have used this single note endlessly to judge bass ability. Why, due to positioning and texture. Due to the fact that as a recorded sound it can be presented a myriad of ways by the IEMs tested. Basically this single tone goes a long way to show us the bass ability, far better than the last song does. I truly don’t know how the sound was exactly made, except it’s reverberated and a 1,2 style of bass emphasis. Such a sonic experience, it lends itself to so much more than a drum beat. It’s an emphasis to a theme and holds atmosphere and shape. Cloaked in reverb, it’s a style of stereo attack with slow decay, it has an acoustic character while maybe being down sampled kettle drums? What-ever it’s derived from the ISN D10 does it exquisitely, and beyond that, maybe perfect? Here due to extension emphasis in frequency, the Meow holds the notes, they just are not as forward or as detailed. Such notes are rare and not often found, yet here (with the Meow) they reside as background emphasis and can’t be viewed with such clarity. Does this matter in daily use? Probably not that much, but it’s a reality so reported on. This is how and why the Meow is reported to be more of a forward mid provider, yet I will point out there is way enough bass to make both songs work-out, and better than work-out but be satisfying and real. The same could be said for the piano notes leading up to this dramatic double-reverberated-boom, they occupy the middle-upper register and are displayed with note weight and splendid decay, but the highest of frequency values are not emphasized. The strings, offering the same effects at 1 minute 14 seconds, show an amazing full tone and presence yet fail to fully emphasis the small (percussive) treble elements starting at 1 minute 18 seconds. Yet I’m “OK” with this replay, it just goes to explain the style of overall tune we are dealing with, for better or worse. This is the subtle darkness that is key to the whole sound signature, it's what enables hours of fatigue-free listening.

To get back to the original bass note at 36 seconds, the Meow does it fine, just not the best or as detailed. Still it’s a $55.00 purchase and a great one. This concept is going to center on many being perfectly smitten with the response, it’s just you don’t know what you’re missing till you are showed the ability or lack of ability there of. There are many attributes parlayed by the Meow in this song that garner more importance. The fact that the piano sounds natural, the decays are correct, the strings coming in to offer a warmth and texture that far outweighs any drawbacks. And speaking of bass drops…..at 1 minute 59 seconds they drop, fully (as it seems) complete and big. It’s this ability to thrill that makes the Cat Ear Meow a special IEM, regardless of price.

Drivability:
While sounding good from a phone, the two DDs really ask for power. Such power requirements will reveal a spacious and better paced soundstage when provided. Such clarity is necessary to open-up the response and clean-up the lower bass response. An increased pace/bounce temperament (PRaT) though better from power will gift the listener with better general performance. Your choice of DAP or Dongle will provide instant satisfaction over simple phone use.

Cat Ear Meow Dual Dynamic Driver Stereo 2pin 0.78mm HiFi Audiophile In-Ear Earphone IEMS

Description
Dual dynamic stereo closed-Back in-ear earphones
10mm LCD diaphragm
8mmPET polymer diaphragm
Zinc casting process, deep plating on the surface
Natural sound field, soft and comfortable earmuffs (Sorry I copied this description) Lol......earmuffs!
2pin 0.78mm connector
OFC silver-plated cable, not easy to wrap
Hanging ear, comfortable and soundproofed

-196°C cryogenic treatment
The earphones and cables have undergone three-stage cryogenic treatment at -196°C, with a total freezing time of up to 72 hours.



Specification
Model: Meow
Driver: 10mm LCD diaphragm + 8mm PET polymer diaphragm
Frequency response: 10-25kHz
Impedance: 16Ω±15%
Sensitivity: 108dB/mW±5
THD: <1%
Shell material: Zinc Alloy Plating
Cable material: OFC silver-plated, -196°C cryogenic treatment
Cable length: 1.2m
Connector: 2pin 0.78mm
Package
Cat Ear Meow

Conclusion:
If you were looking for a warm yet fairly detailed IEM under $100.00 the Cat Ear Meow fits the bill. With Cat Ear coming up with such a unique combination of adds, the Meow is sure to cause a purr. The zinc-alloy shell, the 8mm PET Polymer Driver, the 10mm Liquid Crystal Dynamic! The 8 gram solid-metal enclosure! While offering a darker-smoother and less grainy response, the above average soundstage ensures vocal relief and separation. Not only that but such technicalities make listening fun and exciting no matter what music genre you’re up to. Winning out on the other IEM examples here was truly informative. Words come to mind like naturalness and authority, spacial dexterity and completeness when remembering the Meow in hindsight. While not trying to be the most detailed IEM on the block, we are met with a style of romance scarcely found for $55.00! Combined this makes the Meow a unique one-of-a-kind IEM purchase, as it really is! With the market increasingly crowded, it takes a lot to stand out. Maybe the name is different, the cat drawings on the shell a first, but this strangeness lends itself to acceptance once you get to know the Meow. This acceptance lends itself to understanding, and finally…….maybe love?


Buy them here for $55.00
https://penonaudio.com/cat-ear-meow.html

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 4.4m

Cat Ear Meow

Obscure brands are nothing new from the various/ myriad of Chinese manufacturers and makers of IEMs but one that is called Cat Ear Meow? Well let's just say you have to take a good look at what the IEMs are made of and what their goals are for such a name and its design. I have no idea if that is going to be the brand name going by Cat Ear from this point forward or if this is just a one-off design from some random company that produces other random IEMs.

However, what is interesting is that it is being sold on the Penon audio website here. From what I know about Penon audio business philosophy, they try not to offer goods on their site they consider not to be any good. This is based on just dealing with Penon and knowing their product line on their site, not to mention the numerous emails back and forth from them and this is how they maintain the Penon site and the goods being sold on it. Which makes a lot of sense. Why offer goods on your sales pages that are not any good? So that alone had me curious about a $55 earphone called Cat Ear Meow.

This and the fact that it is using two different types of dynamic drivers in its make up in an all metal housing in 2 pin form. To be specific it is using a 10mm LCD dynamic and an 8mm PET dynamic. From the descriptor on the back of the box, the Meows are using the 10mm LCD for mids to treble and the 8mm PET polymer dynamic for the bass. Truth be told dual dynamics are fairly rare in the industry and even more rare given the price point. But how do they sound?

Design
Meows are made with an all metal zinc alloy plated housing in an ergonomic medium size. The only real issue with all metal builds is how cold they can get in the middle of winter. Otherwise the shells are heavier than plastic or even resin shells but not by a big margin and certainly not uncomfortable to use. It has a very nicely done ergonomic universal shape and with a bit of a unique presentation for how they look. Cat Ears provides a few customization options on the Penon site. Standard silver, a gunmetal gray which costs $10 more and the most uber version which is the gold set. All 3 designs have different cat motifs/ artwork on each color.

So you gotta wonder, these folks must be pretty proud of this one, I mean how can you provide not one but 3 different design choices for the looks of the earphones for an obscure $55 earphone right? Also I have a sneaking suspicion that these were designed for the ladies, as they all have a femanine aesthetic to them. Though no reason why the fellas aren’t fans of cats. Just an observation that is all. The 2 pin design for this price is always appreciated for easy cable changes. I can confirm the Meow here sounds awesome on more power much like most dynamic based earphones these are no exception. A bit of juice from a small amp and these end up sounding much better than what you paid for a set. They drive perfectly fine from a cell phone but amplification helps to increase its sense of dynamics as far as sound goes. I noticed bass gets better control and tonal qualities from using something like my IFI Signature. The Meows seem to like a bit of power to really strut its sound.

The Meow comes with what the manufacturer claims is a -196 degrees C cryogenically frozen silver plated OFC cable as well as the housing. Ok, that's great n all but to be honest the cable that was provided is no better than most sub $100 packaged in cables. I will give some pointers for proper cable pair ups toward the end of the read. Meow to my ears sounds much better with just about anything that will allow for balanced out, more on that at the end of the read. Meow also includes two sets of silicone tips, one set called balanced and another called bass. Both having a slightly different effect on the Meow sound. Finished off by a fairly useless pouch that is too thin to really use. Pretty much basic packaging which is what you can expect for a $55 earphone.

Disclaimers: The Cat Ear Meow was provided for the purpose of a review by Penonaudio. They have been burned in for a period of a week straight and are now ready for evaluation using my sources Ibasso DX300, Fiio M15, Shanling M6 pro, M5s, M3s, IFI DSD Signature, IFI Gryphon and Fiios BTR7, K3 pro 2021 version on my laptop.

Even at the $55 range of earphones, let it be known there is some stiff competition so Cat Ear has to have it where it counts. The Sound. As good looking as the design is, none of that matters if the sound is no good. But like I mentioned before there is a reason why Penon saw it being worthy enough to be sold on their site.

How they sound.
The sound profile is a balanced yet slightly warm harmon tuning. I know some folks associate warmth with lack of resolve or have too much bass to make them sound warm. These are the good type of warm leaning more natural than anything artificial sounding. A mid forward sound with a slightly laid-back treble presentation will get you a bit of natural warmth. For the most part it is balanced well but clearly is a mid-first IEM which is a bit unique especially for the price range.

Mids of the Meow takes the spotlight for its tuning. Here is where I will give a bit of a warning to prospective buyers in the dual dynamic Meows. I always listen to an earphone fresh out of the box just to get a good idea of how they sound from the factory. To say it was one of the worst sounding IEMs I have heard on open listen is an understatement. For folks that have nothing to do with burn in. I would avoid the Meows altogether as you will not understand any of what I write about how they sound. Compressed and confined the open box sound quality was astoundingly bad. But for all types of IEMs in existence it is the dynamic type that needs the burn in and the Meow housing two types of dynamics. You bet they need it, I would highly suggest at least a week's worth straight. If you plan on trying a set for you. Consider it a warning.

Treble
Is presented with a smoother angle and I don’t perceive the usual treble spikes to enhance the region much. Bulk of the trebles comes from a lower treble emphasis, but I am also not hearing the most airiest or the most extended articulate trebles. A lot of budget IEMs try to create a sense of treble extension and air via treble spikes to make it seem like it has more treble. Which in turns colors the sound profile to be on the colder side of neutrality but not so much the Meow.

You can’t expect a highly resolving treble for a $55 budget set but on the opposite end I feel Cat Ears portrays a more natural take on treble vs forcing the trebles much to your ears. It does convey somewhat of a slightly darker treble character which is both good and bad. Darker sounding treble is a bit unique in the price range, let me put it that way. It does seem to lack treble extension for refinement beyond the price point. This, somewhat reserved, yet natural in its treble tuning allowing the mid bands to shine and take the spotlight for its sound focus. The bulk of the treble detail is more macro than micro but is good enough to make the meow sound complete in its presentation. Again not the most extended treble but certainly serviceable for its warmer sound profile. The good news here is that for folks that worry about budget sets that have a tendency to go harmon treble brightness. You won't have to worry about that at all with the Meows. Its treble is decent at the price point but somewhat unremarkable at the same time. Which is again both good and bad. It is good that the treble end of the Meow is somewhat reserved and stays in check but bad in that some might feel the treble to be a bit reserved at the same time.

Mids
Mids of the Meow is what gives them the warmer tint on their tonal character. Due to the somewhat reserved treble tuning the mids are what you're going to hear front and center. The tuning here is a bit unconventional to today's upper mid overly hyped IEMs. The Meow is somewhat reserved for its upper mids presence, while the graph shows plenty of upper mid gain, it lacks resolve from the driver to truly take advantage of the upper mids enhancement. Again helping in the warmer natural take on its mids presentation. The meows presentation is diffused and can sound spacious but presents with mostly a moderate stage level for IEMs. Has better depth than it does height for sound but otherwise the mids of the Meows gives a slight warm and inviting tonal character that mostly sounds natural. A mids tonal character that is just ever so slightly warmer than a neutral tone. Parts of its technical presentation could do better here but for the price level its inviting warmish non fatiguing tonal character and its decent spacing helps a lot to engage the listener and get into your music.

Its imaging takes a bit of a hit due to the slightly reserved treble emphasis and its lack of extension. You're not getting an airy sound here at all. If anything, it sounds a bit closed in at times but nothing that sounds artificial. Male vocals sound more proper on the Meow than female vocals due to a lack of proper treble harmonics having an effect in the upper mids in combination with a softer attack. However, for the most part, mids bands are surprisingly engaging nonetheless and are layered decently for its sound presentation.

I would say it is lacking a bit in its transient response. Stringed instruments lack bite, making some music sound a touch soft in its attack. Its timbre aspects are just ok, nothing that will win any awards there, however it has a surprisingly spacious sound separation and makes good use of its stage limitations and can actually sound enveloping. Moews do not have the most dimensional sound but not too many $55 earphones do. Due to the natural warmth of the Meow sound presentation. I noticed more neutral and or brighter sounding sources match better with the Meows, warmer sources not as much. Meows mids are a bit like the treble end in that while it does nothing to really offend, It does nothing really egregious either. These pretty much read casual beater all the way. If taken as such they will deliver. The two dynamic drivers seem to jive well and its cohesion here with the bass dynamic is fluid in delivery.

Bass
Has got equal mid to sub bass presence on the Meows. As warm as the mids are for the Meows the bass end is warmer. It is interesting that the manufacturer claims to be using a PET type 8mm dynamic I would assume for its bass presentation. Bass is good here but nothing that is going to make you take notice. It does a good job at representing the bass notes and is for the most part versatile in how it sounds with decent sub bass presence. The quality of the bass end here is not the best I have heard at the price point. But they certainly represent good bass for the price. Its speed is OK but is not a standout, its tightness as well as its speed is what I consider just average here but not a standout either. It does have some surprising deep reaching sub bass rumble when called for, not the best textured bass but not bad.

This is a case where I feel these guys would have done better just to use a better more resolving single dynamic and just tuned that instead of using a different dynamic to do its bass. It is hard to really hear the benefits of the Meow using two different dynamics vs using a more capable more resolving single dynamic driver is my point. Bass here does a great job to help the overall presentation, but does nothing really stand out as being anything special at the price range. Not bad but not great at the same time.

Overall
The Cat Ear Meow is a musical sounding $55 earphone that takes on a unique role for budget level IEMs. Its design is a standout, its materials are some of the better used at the price range and not too many IEMs at the price uses two dynamics for its sound presentation. It's got a unique warm natural sound character that sounds even better when amplified. Very stylish for the folks that love them some cat design motifs. At the price range the Cat Ear Meow is more than capable of sounding good for its naturalness and spacious sound presentation. These are more for casual use and in that regard they are fun take from this obscure brand. For the price you're getting a nice little package and a well-represented easy listening sound signature. The meows are more for casual use and for enthusiasts that like a warmer, non fatiguing IEM. It's not the most resolving IEM at the price range but it will surprise you just how good they can sound with a proper source. For the best results I do recommend using an aftermarket balanced cable, just about anything that's got a good amount of silver in the cable to help with the detail aspect of the Meow.
Thanks for taking the time to read.

Optimized Meow. Yanyin Moonlight cable Fiio BTR7 in balanced.

Cable pair ups.
Due to the warmer tonality of the Meows. Really anything that has good transparency will be better than the included cable. The included cable is OK and if you're on a tight budget there is really no need to get yourself a different cable. However even a cheaper $30-$40 cable will do wonders for this IEM. Let's be realistic there is just so much a manufacturer can include in an earphone that is worth $55-$75. I am just saying. Heck even try your other cables that came included with your other IEMs is what I am saying. Preferably something thicker with more silver content in the mix which would counter Meow warmer tonal character.