TONALITY: 7.8/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10
TIMBRE: 8/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 7.5/10
IMAGING: 8/10 but Bass boost=7.5/10
CLARITY: 8.2/10 but Bass boost=7.8/10
MUSICALITY (subjective): 7/10 but with Bass boost=8.2/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.2/10
ACCESSORIES: 8/10
SOUND VALUE: 7.5/10
Catchears is a new IEM company from China, i don’t have much info to share since they are still working on their website.
I will review their very first IEM, the C6T which is a 6 drivers tribrid using 2x7.5mm DD, 3 custom balanced armature and 1x 12mm piezo bone conduction drivers.
Priced 360$ (but their 60$ discount for early birds), the C6T has 2 tuning switch permitting 4 different soundsignature.
Let see in this review if this IEM company has potential or if their first release is just an incoherent sounding mess like it often happen with chifi companies flooding Ali express.
CONSTRUCTION&ACCESSORIES
The construction is quite good and feel very sturdy, it feel like a one piece shell made of thick resin plastic. The finish is smooth and the shape while chunky is small and comfortable. The design is meticulous, at the side of non recessed 2 pin connector their red and blue dot to differentiate left and right fastly. Their no gap around 2pin, another sign of good craftsmanship. The back plate is elegant and sober, it make me think Firaudio Radon 6, but plastic built way.
Nozzle are angled, their no mesh on it which expose the 3 holes connected to acoustic tube, it might be a concern in term of unwanted wax or dust entering and blocking the port.
The included cable come either in 3.5 single ended or 4.4mm balanced termination. It’s a good quality litz copper cable braided cable. It’s a cable model we often find with IEMs like Seeaudio Yume. Earhooks aren’t too tight, which is appreciated.
In term of box and accessories, apart the cable, it’s a quite minimalist. You have a OK carrying case with false leather and a magnetic cover. Then you have 6 pairs of silicone eartips coming in 2 models.
Construction of IEM is quite good, while for accessories, it’s not that impressive for the 360$ price tag. I would prefer a modular cable, more eartips and better more sturdy carrying case.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
Let’s begin with the 2 switch, it does permit 4 slightly different musicalities. Most obvious difference is when you go 1up2down, it goes notably bassier, notch warmer and lusher mid-wise. Mid bass punch is way harder and rounder, while mids are smoother but still energetic and forwards. Their less air around instruments with this mode yet musicality is more dynamic and engaging.
Then both down is more neutral, but still with a slight mid bass boost.
Then 1down 2up is the crispest one but the difference with both down is subtle, highs gain in sharpness and definition go cleaner too, as if BC was boosted to help presence delimitation, it doesn't go ultra bright and treble nor analytical, just sharper, more refined.
Then the last one, 2 UPs, is the one to avoid i think ... .since we get extra warmth of bass that steals air and extra treble brightness from BC (?) that adds noise to air too…this makes for an overly excited W shape tonality.
For this review, I will stick to my favorite tuning mode 1UP2Down and add extra notes about other tuning mode differences.
I chose to review this mode because the bone conduction driver cheats the drawback of extra bass boost, but it doesn’t mean it ends up perfectly clean. Let’s dig deeper in this.
The 2DD bass is more focused on mid bass punch than sub bass deep lean extension, this doesn’t mean it’s anemic in this department, just rolled off around 30 HZ i would say and a bit excited in sustain with the switch1 up, which warms a bit definition of note. Yet with all tuning choices, kick is punchy enough, we send the weight and it can go more textured with switch1 down but not as round, heavy and tactile, it goes cleaner and the sub bass is less boomy and euphonic.
This isn’t a bass that has long impact resonance that will stretch soundstage perception, the sustain is more boosted than release, this means toms and kicks don’t have impact decay that veil mids. Yet, the natural decay of drum isn’t highlighted too, and the BC still cheat warmth of longer sustain than release that affects clarity of background, but not the definition of mid range.In that regard, it feeds the mids lushness in fact by adding timbre thickness ... .and opacity.
Even with the bass boost switch on, the C6T offers an articulate and well layered bass performance, slightly warmed way. This kind of bass makes me think of dual BA bass in Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite in fact, with more elasticity.
The mid bass punch hard and round while the bass line gets its own tactile layer but not very textured nor very bright in presence.
Even if I say round, it doesn’t mean it’s perfectly defined, due to this lack of clean texture.
Is this basshead territory? I don’t think so, it’s too balanced for that, but at least it does induce headbanging unlike most overly U shaped IEMs that flood the chifi market.
I always complain about the lack of mid bass punch, I won't here, cause it’s not scooper, but the bass head would want more rumble which this IEM doesn't deliver.
This is where i get puzzle about the choice of 2 small DD instead of one small for mid bass and bigger for sub bass, i think Catchear seek for a thigh bass performance, when we go non bass boost, it is indeed. It’s happen often i was impress of synth sub bass layer that was separated well from kick drum, that have it’s own ‘’identity’’.
At the end, I would still say bass quality isn’t the finest. This sustain boost makes the attack a bit mushy in release, it affects the bite of bass line and texture of kick drum. It’s less problematic without the bass boost but the punch is lighter and less tactile in macro dynamics.
As for switch 1 down, bass go cleaner, leaner and more textured, we have less of this warm sustain that that rounded impact but stole some texture details. This means bass is thinner too, and dynamic less lively, sub bass especially seem more about presence definition than rumble or bass line release which go less vibrant and tactile.
The mid range is special because both bone conduction and BA driver cover it, so even if you choose bass boost the warmth doesn't mask mids because bone conduction helps that ‘’overdub’’ with sound info the presence of instrument and vocal. Still, bone conduction in C6T isn’t the most obvious, its benefits are more subtle than with IEMs like UM Mest MK3, UM Mext or even BGVP DMA.
With bass boost you add lower mids warmth too, again, BC cheat the readability, and both male and female vocals are clear in presence but they don’t have a lot of air around it.
Mids are intimate and forwards, upper mids boost is energetic but well rounded, there is no problematic sibilance (unless treble boost but in very rare occasions with bad recording) and we are into ‘’bright lushness’’ with C6T.
Presence isn’t the widest, and overall mid range isn’t clean and airy and open.
The piano and most instruments have good note weight, attack release will be cleaner and more transparent without bass boost.
Female vocals are natural and enjoyable, some might find it too energetic.
overall clarity is still average, mids don’t reveal sound info you aren’t aware off, unlike something like BQEYZ WInd.
This is due to (again) attack-release transient response which is on the loose side. The BA used might be good for tone and timbre, their no metallic sheen but texture of saxophone and vocal isn’t very rich nor presence very wide, it’s centered and forwards. Main instrument or vocal can steal the show of other background instruments due to more focused and brighter presence which isn’t finest in transparency.
These aren’t open crisp mids, it’s warmish with bass boost and can go sibilant and too sharp with treble boost which don’t clean the soundscape and in fact add texture info, even in air around instrument.
I’m quite demanding when it comes to vocal and apart subtle presence compression (i prefer ultra wide vocal) i find it very good, but not technically impressive, it’s not an IEM i would use for monitoring anything apart from vocal and wind instruments which are more forward.
Then the treble takes a back step in terms of dynamism, both bass and mids are more energetic, which doesn't mean this is plain dark sounding IEM, just that it’s lean and non spiky in extension, nor sparkly or very impressive in micro details.
The percussion is brushed without perfect definition, so the attack lead isn’t the most snappy, it’s a bit softened. We have percussions layers that don’t get lost in the mix but the resolution isn’t fully restitute and we have a bit of euphony in their presence, don’t expect sharply define cymbals that have lot of air around it, don’t expect acoustic guitar to have wide space to blossom or achieve proper string texture, attack of guitar don’t have lot of bite and even less natural brilliance when it come to metallic strings.
Treble shines more for a violin which doesn't need as much bite, here it goes lush and well layered, but not extremely agile for fast paced composition.
C6T isn't a master of macro dynamic articulation and transient response prowess, the balanced armature is the issue here, we have loose euphony as found in IEM like Sound Rhyme SR9 which use custom BA too. If it was known as composite BA, the game would have changed, but the price would rise too perhaps.
This explains lack of air limpidity around the instrument, as well as average attack control.
When you use the treble boost switch, percussions do go clearer and more forwards, treble go notably brighter and some insurance of splashing can happen, from cranked up BC i feel. Snare gets better defined and louder too, but overall treble noisier, less cohesive in balance and this switch affects timbre warmth, and naturalness. I can’t enjoy the C6T with the treble switch ON. It goes screamy in my head, a sign that bone conduction is either subtle or too aggressive in vibration transmission intensity.
The Soundstage isn’t very wide, and it’s taller than deeper, it can feel a bit stock in your head. With bass boost it goes wider while with treble boost deeper, but as said in your head.
Imaging is good but not mind blowing, with bass boost it’s too warmed and multi layering goes hazy for proper position. With both switches down it's better, but instrument placement is flat, not very realistic, again, these aren't proper IEM for monitoring.
All in all, if I stick so much on 1up2down switch choice, it’s because it’s the only one I find both musical and coherent in balance with proper macro dynamic energy.
COMPARISONS
VS BQEYZ Wind (1DD+1BC-240$)
The Wind is more mid centric and less V shape, the bone conduction driver is more active in the sense the in and out of your head sound experience is more obvious.
The bass is less dynamic and punchy, their less rumble release too, it’s leaner and not as tactile and layered. You don’t feel the punch impact as much nor perceive the kick drum as well rounded and meaty in presence.
Mids are notably wider in presence as well as less aggressive in (air transmission) loudness, the Wind BC make instrument and vocal presence more enveloping and detailed, their more texture and sense of transparency is better too for multi layering, mid range sound info is higher and micro details like extra vocal layers is more effortlessly render. C6T mids are notch shoutier and more compressed in presence, it sounds like BA while Wind is a mix of BC and DD done well. Note weights are more felt and defined in attack lead with C6T, piano note drop harder but has less natural resonance in attack release, nor as clean presence.
Treble is leaner and less multi layered with Wind, macro dynamic isn’t as lively, percussions aren’t as round and full.
Soundstage is wider and taller with Wind, while deeper with CE6T (both switch down).
Imaging is crisper with Wind, transparency of sound layers is better too.
All in all those 2 are very different, Wind is more mid centric and less V shape and clearer, more immersive mids wise, but not as snappy and airy in upper treble. I prefer wider and more focus vocal and instrument of Wind, but CE6T can induce more bassy fun (bass boost switch).
VS BGVP DMA (1DD+2BA+dual sonion BCD-300$)
DMA is more technical and brighter as well as more W shape in balance.
Bass isn’t as thick and heavy in mid bass punch nor as round and tactile, but sub bass rumble more, dig deeper, and overall texture is superior as well as layering. It’s more transparent too both looser in sub release, more resonant too.
Mids are clearer, sharper in resolution due to superior bone conduction transmission, but while air transmission of C6T can be more shouty in upper mids, it’s more creamy too, less prompt to sibilance which is oddly in your head with DMA. Again, imaging and layering of mids is superior with DMA, center stage is more open, less congested, timbre is less colored and more textured.
Treble is faster in attack and have more bite and snap, so overall crisper and more airy too. We have more micro details, more texture info, percussions are less hazy too.
Soundstage is notably wider, deeper and more holographic with DMA.
Imaging is superior even if no end game, this is due to better layering with less loose presence.
All in all, DMA is superior in technical department, less warm in balance and more versatile but timbre is less colored and smooth, male vocal not as bodied and natural, but brighter in presence still. Vocal enjoyment wise i prefer C6T, mid bass punch too, all the rest go to DMA.
VS Unique Melody Mext (1DD+4BA+1 wide range BC-1100$)
The Mext is more technical and U shape, crisper and better resolved, more open sounding and airy.
Sub bass is more present and dig deeper, clearer and cleaner, which make double bass more realist an transparent in rendering but cello thinner, dryer, less colored and vibrant the more euphonic and compressed sub bass sustain of C6T. Next is neat punch less compared to C6T, but kick is more textured, less warm in restitution.
Mids are leaner, more open in staging, crisper and better resolved as well as cleaner and more transparent in presence. Note weight is heavier with C6T and vocal are thicker, lusher and more forwards, both male and female singers. Overall resolution is darker and not as spacious.
Treble is more aggressive and splashy, more focused too, as well as more detailed with Mext. It can deal better with busy track. It’s thinner and more shrill and metallic sounding timbre wise, still it’s sharper and less euphonic, speedier in attack yet less tamed in resonance too.
Soundstage is notably wider and deeper with Mext, no competition here.
Imaging is superior too, due to higher resolution and transparency.
Next isn’t a musical IEM to my ears, never been, i mostly use it for movies due to ti’s cinematic soundstage and good resolution. So, musically i prefer lusher vocal and more fun V shape tuning of C6T (with bass boost), but technical performance is inferior.
CONCLUSION
Catchears is a very promising IEM company and they go quite audacious with their first release, since tuning well a 6 drivers tribrid isn’t gifted to everyone. I mean, just look at Celest Plutus, it comes from a supposed very experienced company but offers messy artificial musicality. This isn’t the case with the C6T, even if the only tuning I enjoy out of 4 possible is the one with Bass boost without treble boost.
The C6T doesn't follow nowadays trend of harman target or U shape balance or ultra safe balance, if upper treble pass 10 kHz was more boosted-extended, I would consider those W shapes in dynamic since mid range isn’t recessed. Sure, the bass boost adds warmth and to my ears makes the vocal lusher and more enjoyable, but tribrid drivers permit to avoid bass veil.
As well, I always complain about lack of proper mid bass punch and roundness, while the C6T isn't a basshead IEM, it does punch hard and round, and with 2 DD to cover bass the layering is well articulated. This doesn’t mean they are bass maestros, but the punchy musicality injects fun and if you want to go more neutral and bright, you can choose other 3 tuning choices. The fact that macro dynamic rendering differs with tuning choice is a plus at the end. This means you might prefer other switch configurations than me, sometimes for classical or instrumental music i like 2 switch down which is cleanest sounding one, but leanest too.
All in all, while the 360$ asking price doesn't make me underline the highest sound value out there, Catchear has released a more than capable first IEM, which I'll suggest for rock music fans, as well as R&B, Soul, pop and electronic fans. In fact, with this 4 tuning choice, the C6T is a very versatile sounding IEM, another plus.
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PS: I want to thanks CatchEar for sending me this review sample. I have no affiliation nor have been paid for this review. This IEM now enter my big collection.
The price of CE6T should be 360$, discount code of 60$ should be available on their official Aliexpress shop here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1104439263
