Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro

ROSETECNICHS STAR CITY 5 PRO, IEM WITH GOOD TECHNIQUES & EXTRAORDINARY COMPLETENESS FOR THE PRICE.



~ PROS :
- Good midbass execution
- Clear, clear & open vocals
- Good treble
- Very good technical
- Special equipment & box

~ CONS :
- MMCX
- Poor housing design
- Timbre
- Subbass roll off
- Less coherent

1 . INTRO :
+ Before reviewing, I would like to once again say thank you Roseselsa Silence for the review unit sample.

+ Disclaimer This review is subjective based on my personal opinion using sources & my personal playlist. Meanwhile, for the source, I use a tempotec sonata bhd dac & all the accessories used also use the built-in widebore eartips (the narrow bore ones don't know why they don't fit well, so I don't use them), the built-in cables and the built-in dongle which is similar to the Abigail, everything I use It actually came from the IEM.

+ Just a little information, this is quite light, you don't really need any sources, just use the default dongle which is equivalent in quality to the CX Pro or Abigail dongle. It's more than enough. So it's good that you don't have to worry about preparing a good source to make this IEM.

2 . COMPLETENESS :
For the completeness itself, the price range is $70-$100, this is considered very good. The details are as follows:

+ From a good & solid box
+ Get 4 pairs of widebore eartips & 3 pairs of narrow bore, both of which are considered good for their material
+ Then the cable is also quite good, made from sleeves or fabric, the material is also flexible & not microphonic.
+ Then get a case made of leather (looks like synthetic)
+ Also the dongle I tried from SQ reminded me of Abigail's DAC

Overall, the equipment is very good, maybe the only regret is that it doesn't have an MMCX remover, because as far as I remember, Quietsea, which is cheaper, gets an MMCX remover. Yes, overall, the RoseTecnichs brand never disappoints, its intentions are always genuine. Score (9.5/10)



3 . FITTINGS :
As for the fitting itself, in my ears it's just comfortable if I use widebore eartips, if I use narrow ones it's just a little less comfortable, maybe because the eartips aren't big enough. Just for the fitting, overall there are no complaints, it can be used comfortably for a long time because the housing shape is quite small & the weight is also light. So wearing it for a long time is quite nice & comfortable. The score (8/10)

4 . SOUND :



• Bass :
+ The bass has just enough quantity.
+ The portion is more inclined towards the midbass.
+ The subbass has extension that isn't very good, doesn't feel like depth, feels a bit rolled off.
+ For the midbass impact, it feels like the main star in the bass area, because the impact is quite good. Feels like a punch with a good beat. So it gives a more dynamic impression.
+ Texturally, it's still quite good, even though the subbass rolls off a bit. But on the other hand, the clean sensation of the bass is balanced with quite good control, so it can give the impression of a detailed & round bass.
+ The speed is also good, if you speed or double pedal it feels great without getting stuck.
+ Overall the bass is executed well, although the subbass part is a bit lacking but on the other hand this iem has a very good midbass execution. (8/10)

• Mid/Vocal :
+ For the mid, it has a medium weight that leads to thinness.
+ For the vocals, the presentation is a little more dominant for the female vocals, the effect is a boost in the uppermid area. But even so, I still quite enjoy the guy's vocals.
+ For the execution itself, the vocals feel clear, clear, open, the emotions are also present & taste sweet. For peak & minimal sibilance indications here.
+ The instruments themselves are well presented, the details & textures are all executed well.
+ Unfortunately, the timbre itself still feels less natural. Still feel BAnya.
+ Yes, overall the execution in the mids is good, the presentation of the vocals & the instrument details are executed well, even though the timbre is still less natural, it's still tolerable for me personally. (8.5/10)

• Treble :
+ The treble is executed well, from the lower treble area it seems detailed & clear the effect of the boost in the uppermid area.
+ For the upper treble area itself, IEM has quite good treble extension. It gives an airy impression and makes it seem more open.
+ For piercing, peak or harsh, it's safe here.
+ Overall the treble is quite satisfying for me. (9/10)

• Technical :
+ Technically, you could say it's quite good.
+ The stage seems wide with the depth & height maintained & quite good.
+ The layering is executed very well, it feels layered" The sound feels very good & accurate.
+ For the separation, the execution is also good, it feels like the instruments, bass, vocals, treble feel separated very well.
+ For clarity, instrument detail & micro details from the low, mid & treble areas can be noted clearly.
+ Overall the technical is considered very good for the price & is the most superior sector of this iem, the score is (9.5/10).

5 . COMPARATION:

• Star City 5 Pro VS Sonus :

- In terms of bass, the Sonus subbass extension feels better than the Star City 5 Pro, in terms of bass quantity itself, the Star City 5 Pro feels a little thinner than the Sonus. Meanwhile, in terms of midbass impact area, the Star City 5 Pro feels better than the Sonus, in terms of texture, control, speed & detail of the bass itself, the Star City Pro feels superior to the Sonus, the execution feels neater than the Sonus. Overall, in the bass area, the Sonus feels better in the sub-bass section, while the Star City 5 Pro is superior in the midbass, but overall I personally think the Star City 5 Pro's execution is better in the bass area than the Sonus.

- For vocals, both are the same" Dominant in female vocals, but the vocal execution of Star City 5 Pro feels more open, clearer, clearer than Sonus. But Sonus vocals feel a little sweeter. Both have minimal sibilance & peaks for me. In terms of timbre, neither of them You could say it's natural, but the timbre of the Sonus is still better. But for instrument details and so on, the execution of the Star City 5 Pro is superior to the Sonus. Overall, for me in the mid area, the Star City 5 Pro is slightly superior.

- As for the treble, the Star City 5 Pro feels more sparkling than the Sonus, it feels more open & more detailed than the Sonus, although from the upper treble extension the Sonus feels a little better. Overall the treble area is longer" I personally prefer Star City 5 Pro over Sonus.

- Technically, you could say that Star City 5 Pro is superior to Sonus. You could say that the Sonus is slightly better in the soundstage area, the rest is beaten by the Star City 5 Pro. In terms of detail, resolution, separation, imaging & layering, the execution of the Star City 5 Pro feels better than the Sonus

6 . CONCLUSION :
RoseTecnichs Star City 5 Pro can be said to be a good & underrated item, it provides a unique sound. Even though there are several shortcomings in the tonality section, on the other hand dy also displays several advantages such as in the technical section. This iem in its price range has really good technical performance & can compete with iems above its price.

IEM has very complete equipment for its price. So overall for me it's a good value for $75 (based on the price on the Rose website). This iem could be a good choice for those who like detailed iems, clear vocals, bass that isn't slow or good technical sound. Overall score (9/10).



• Playlists:
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• Test Equipment:
- Redmi Note 10 Pro cellphone
- Dac Tempotec Sonata BHD
- Iem RoseTecnichs Star City 5 Pro
- Stock Widebore Eartips & Stock Cables
- YouTube Music

Hey, that's all my review of RoseTecnichs Star City 5 Pro. I want to remind you once again that this review is subjective, all impressions that arise in the future are based on each individual's opinion & always try to trust your own ears. This review is only intended to help provide a dirty picture of the sound. The final decision is the source, ears & taste of each person.

Thanks...

Disclaimer​

Rose Technics directly provided the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro mentioned in this review for evaluation and review, and I'm grateful to them for this wonderful opportunity. However, all opinions expressed in this review are unbiased and based solely on the product’s performance and features observed during the testing period.
For the full review with comparison you can check MBA Star City 5 Pro Review

Introduction​

Rose Technics deserves to be well-known for its creative and excellent audio products, even though it isn't as well-known as some other brands. They are a brand worth recognizing and looking into because of their unwavering commitment to quality and their passion to creating remarkable products.

Now I present to you the Star City 5 Pro. Representing a blend of meticulous craftsmanship and great audio engineering, these IEMs promise an immersive, refined sound and great overall quality. With a focus on delivering a balanced, neutral, and uncolored sound profile, ergonomic design, and a comprehensive accessories package, the Star City 5 Pro aims to set new standards in the affordable price segment of $75.99.

Ok, lets delve deeper into the intricate details and impressive performance of this IEM, exploring how they stand out in a competitive market.

Unboxing​

The medium-sized box that houses the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro features a mix of elegant and modern design elements. The box features a two-tone color scheme with a soft brown background on the top side and a black background on the bottom side.

Sliding the cardboard sleeve will reveal a magnetized black box with the elegant phrase "Light Year" written in silver. Opening the box reveals a sheet of onion paper with the product design and a slogan, creating a sense of anticipation.

Inside the box, the contents are neatly organized. The two Star City 5 Pro IEMs are securely placed on the left side within a thick black foam mold, highlighting attention to detail and protection during shipping.

Accessories:​

On the right side, you’ll find a round storage box made of high-quality leather-like material, bearing the same logo as the outer box. This storage box not only adds to the premium feel but also ensures safe storage when not in use. Inside are some accessories, which include:

• 3 pairs of white translucent tips with narrow orange cores in sizes S, M, and L.
• 1 two-strand cable with a black textile sheath.
• 1 user manual.
• 1 USB Type-C to 3.5mm dongle.

Under the foam layer, additional accessories are housed in a black plastic compartment. These accessories include:

• 4 pairs of white tips with wide orange cores in various sizes (XS, S, M, and L).

A noteworthy surprise included in the accessories is the USB Type-C to 3.5mm dongle, which serves as a convenient accessory for compatibility with different devices. The inclusion of various tip sizes ensures a comfortable and customized fit for users.

Overall, the unboxing experience of the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro is among the finest I have yet come across at this price point and is characterized by thoughtful packaging, premium materials, and a comprehensive selection of accessories, enhancing the overall value and user experience.

Technical specifications

​

• Driver Units: 1DD + 2BA.
• IEM Material: Metal and resin.
• Distortion: 1% @ 1000Hz.
• Sensitivity: 104dB @ 1mW.
• Impedance: 24 Ω.
• Frequency Response Range: 10 – 25000 Hz.
• Interface Type: 3.5 mm.
• Weight: 28 g.
• Cable Length: 120 cm.
• Connector Type: MMCX.

Construction and Design​

Rose Technics has created a unique and fashionable design for the Star City 5 Pro that makes it stand out. Black 3D-printed resin on the inside of the IEM gives it a sleek, contemporary appearance. The semi-custom shape of the IEM highlights a deeper insertion for improved sound isolation.

A touch of elegance is added to the design by the metallic mouthpieces, MMCX conectors, and backside. Because they are lightweight and small, the IEMs themselves are comfortable for longer listening sessions.

One notable aspect of the design is the inclusion of two balanced armature drivers imported from Denmark, customized by Rose Technics for optimal performance in the midrange and high frequencies. The dynamic driver features a 10mm Japanese LCP diaphragm with a high-performance N52 magnetic circuit for reduced distortion.

The cable of the Star City 5 Pro consists of two thin strands made inside of two 6N OCC monocrystalline copper and covered with a black textile sheath, providing durability and flexibility. It could have been great if they were a bit thicker. The plug is a gold-plated 3.5mm SE plug, and there is no balanced option. The MMCX interface adds versatility, although some users may prefer a 2-pin connection option instead, which is not available in this model.

Overall, the Star City 5 Pro's build embodies Rose Technics' dedication to premium components and creative design, producing a pair of earphones that are both aesthetically pleasing and great sounding—certainly one of the most comfortable IEMs I've ever used.

Sound performance ​

Bass​

Excellent bass performance from the Star City 5 Pro combines impact, warmth, and accuracy in a harmonious manner. It enhances the overall sound and works well with a wide range of musical styles.

Sub-Bass:​

While the Star City 5 Pro handles mid-bass admirably, its sub-bass extension exhibits a slight roll-off. This means that the deepest bass frequencies may not have the same level of emphasis or presence compared to the mid-bass range. A slight rise in the sub-bass response could enhance the overall depth and immersion, especially in tracks that rely heavily on sub-bass elements.

Mid-Bass:​

The Star City 5 Pro really shines in its mid-bass performance. It offers a good amount of warmth, punch, and impact in this frequency range, which contributes to a lively and engaging sound signature. The mid-bass presence adds body and fullness to instruments like drums, guitars, and lower-register vocals, creating a rich and dynamic presentation.

Texture:​

Despite the sub-bass roll-off, the Star City 5 Pro retains a level of textural detail, clarity, and speed in the bass region. You can still discern nuances and textures in bass-heavy passages, thanks to its controlled, fast, and well-defined bass presentation. This ensures that the bass remains articulate and does not overpower or muddy the rest of the audio spectrum.

All things considered, the Star City 5 Pro's bass performance makes it adaptable to a wide range of musical styles. By striking a balance between technical performance and musicality, it provides a satisfying bass experience without compromising overall sound quality. While a slight improvement in sub-bass extension could benefit certain listeners, the strengths of its mid-bass response make it a compelling choice for those who appreciate a warm, punchy, and well-textured bass presentation.

Mids​

Lower Midrange:​

The Star City 5 Pro's lower midrange keeps excellent articulation and balance. For instruments like guitars, pianos, and lower-register vocals, it offers a strong foundation. With its warm, organic tone, the lower mids give the music body and depth without overpowering other frequencies.

Upper Midrange:​

Moving into the upper midrange, the Star City 5 Pro excels in clarity and detail. Instruments and vocals in this range are well-separated and presented with precision. Female vocals, in particular, benefit from the emphasis in this region, appearing vibrant, detailed, and expressive. There’s a sense of airiness and transparency that enhances the overall musicality.

Vocal Performance:​

Both male and female vocals are rendered beautifully on the Star City 5 Pro. Male vocals benefit from the warmth of the lower midrange, giving them a natural and engaging presence. There’s a richness and fullness to male vocals that adds emotional depth to vocal performances.

Female vocals, on the other hand, shine with clarity and definition in the upper midrange. The Star City 5 Pro does an excellent job of separating elements, allowing each voice and instrument to be heard distinctly within the mix. This clarity and separation contribute to a more immersive and engaging experience, especially in vocal-centric tracks.

Instrument Detail and Texture:​

Instruments in the midrange range are rendered with impressive detail and texture. Woodwind, brass, and string instruments all have a realistic sound to them, with subtleties and nuances coming through with ease. The midrange presentation of the Star City 5 Pro strikes a balance between analytical detail and musicality, making every instrument sound natural and expressive.

In summary, the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro exhibits an impressive and versatile midrange performance, resulting in a natural and realistic sound. It excels in vocal reproduction, instrument detail, and overall musicality. Whether you’re listening to intimate acoustic performances or complex orchestral arrangements, the Star City 5 Pro’s midrange delivers a captivating and immersive sound experience.

Highs​

Lower Treble:​

The clarity and detail from the upper midrange are carried over into the lower treble region of the Star City 5 Pro. Its low sibilance ensures that high-frequency notes are presented smoothly with good control. Instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, and upper-register strings are rendered with precision and sparkle, adding excitement to the music without veering into harshness or fatigue.

Upper Treble:​

As we move into the upper treble range, the Star City 5 Pro demonstrates a slight roll-off in extension. This results in a more laid-back presentation of the highest frequencies, which can result in a lack of high-pitched extension and reduce the detail. While it may lack the airy sparkle of some headphones or earphones, it maintains a pleasing tonal balance that avoids any sense of stridency or sharpness.

Resolution and detail:​

The Star City 5 Pro maintains good resolution and detail retrieval in the high frequencies even with the roll-off in the upper treble. Micro-details in recordings are still present and discernible, although they may not be as pronounced or emphasized as in headphones with a more prominent treble extension.

Treble Perception Based on tips:​

A range of ear tips are included with the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro, which can slightly alter the treble response. When used, the narrow tips can enhance the lower frequencies and add punch to the overall sound signature by slightly emphasizing the bass. On the other hand, the wide-hole tips might result in a little less bass impact yet they might give the treble region a little more air. Whether you value a punchier, tighter bass or a more open, airy treble presentation, you can experiment with different tips to find the balance that best suits the preferences.

In summary, the high performance of the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro offers a pretty well-balanced sound and presentation, with good detail retrieval and control. While there’s a slight roll-off in the upper treble, the overall tonality remains pleasing and cohesive.

Technical aspects​

Detail Retrieval:​

The earphones offer nice detail retrieval, allowing you to pick up nuances and textures within the music. Instruments and vocals are rendered with clarity and precision, although the treble roll-off punctures the details and prevents sound from reaching those high notes.

Instrument Separation:​

One of the strengths of the Star City 5 Pro is its ability to separate instruments and vocals effectively. Each element in the music is distinct and well-defined, contributing to a cohesive yet detailed presentation.

Soundstage: ​

The soundstage of the earphones is roomy and has good width and depth. The music sounds more expansive and realistic because of the wide soundstage's ability to evoke a sense of openness and immersion.

Layering: ​

The layering of instruments and vocals is handled admirably by the Star City 5 Pro. Different elements within the music are stacked and organized in a way that allows you to perceive multiple layers of sound, enhancing the overall depth and complexity of the audio.

Overall sound performance​

In conclusion, the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro offers a cohesive and engaging sound signature, but with a mid-centric focus and a slight roll-off in the sub-bass and treble regions, yet the sound is still so natural and realistic. The earphones are excellent at separating out different instruments and making sure that every aspect of the song is heard clearly. The large soundstage creates an impression of fullness and immersion. The earphones also have amazing layering, which lets you distinguish different sound layers in the music. All things considered, the Star City 5 Pro has a fascinating and high-fidelity sound signature, and it certainly deserves more attention.

Conclusions​

The Star City 5 Pro impresses with its outstanding unboxing experience, which really made me say, “Wow, you get this for just $75.99?!”. At less than$100, it is unquestionably the best unboxing experience I've had, and it comes with a fantastic assortment of premium accessories that raise the product's overall value. The distinctive and stylish design, coupled with the ergonomic fit and comfortable wear for even all day long, contribute to a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

In terms of sound performance, the Star City 5 Pro delivers a balanced and engaging sound signature, with a focus on detailed midrange, realism, and natural sound without coloration. While the sub-bass could benefit from a slight rise, the mid-bass provides warmth and punch without muddying things. Vocals, both female and male, and instruments are well-represented and separated, showcasing the IEM’s capability to handle different genres with finesse.

Technical aspects such as detail retrieval may suffer because of the treble roll-off, but separation, soundstage, and layering are commendable, offering a cohesive and immersive soundscape. The mid-centric tonality may not appeal to all listeners, especially those seeking a more pronounced sub-bass or treble extension.

All things considered, the Star City 5 Pro is a formidable competitor within its price bracket and offers outstanding value, fusing superb build quality, fantastic accessories, ergonomic comfort, and worthy sound quality for the money. Those IEMs, in my opinion, needs to be far more recognized and loved.

Where to buy:​

• AliExpress Store
• Official Store
• Amazon Store

Intro

Its been a while since the market crowded with incredible chifi gears and I found this brand Rosetechnics an underrated brand that needs recognition to the chifi world. I'm totally impressed with their product called Star City 5 Pro is a hybrid 1 DD + 2 BA configuration. I've used 200$+ iems and I need to tell this it is similar tuning to some midfi iems I'd heard to this price point. Let see how good this SC5P sings on its price bracket.





Disclaimer

I would like to thank Rosetechnics for arranging a unit for me. My opinions are unbiased, and I haven't been influenced or instructed to praise these IEMs. Every detail in this review is actual experience made by listening for hours everyday




Specifications

Driver Configuration
1DD + 2BA

Distortion
1% @ 1000Hz

Sensitivity
104dB @ 1mW

Impedance
24 Ω

Frequency Response Range
10 - 25000 Hz

Interface Type
3.5 mm/ 4.4mm

Weight
28 g

Cable Length
120 cm

Connector Type
MMCX






Packaging

2 Star city 5 Pro Earpiece.

Round storage box

4 pairs of white tips with wide orange core,
3 pairs of white translucent tips with narrow orange core

1 dual-strand 6N OCC monocrystalline copper cable

1 user manual.

1 USB Type-C to 3.5mm female connector adapter
The inclusion of USB Type-C to 3.5mm female connector is a plus because mostly new released smartphones doesn't have 3.5mm jack.
Build and Comfort


The build is solid and the earpiece are lightweight, making them comfortable for extended use. One thing to take note is the ergonomics it fits really well to my ears.





Sound Aspects


Source used :


Realme 9 Pro

KiwiEars Allegro

Ibasso DC04 pro


This iems spend 60-70 hours of burn in using pink noise before taking details of this review

The SC5P is a balanced set in my liking. I'm totally impressed how it present the sound, its ethereal to envelope you to the music where you will hear in 200$+ IEMs. This is where it excel with other competitors in its price brackets.


Bass


The bass is quite neutral to my liking. Where is midbass is more prominent than subbass. It has well- textured and good depth bass without comprising the smoothness of midrange. But using the right tips will make this bass more body and deeper slam. (Currently using Penon Lacquer Orange. It stays forever with my SC5P. The tips I found the best synergy)
Mids


The mids is clear and clean presents more balanced than neutral, it have decent weight and timbre, vocals is airy and placed perfectly in the stage. The uppermids is never become peaky it has enough energy to satisfy one's ears. The openness of midrange helps both male and female vocals easily pinpoint in the mix.
Treble


The treble is finely tuned, offering a balanced sound signature. It is smooth and well-controlled, avoiding harshness or sibilance. Trebleheads will not impressed might want more sparkle and extension. The nuances are rendered with precision, it is safe overall allowing you to enjoy the presentation.


Technicalities


This is where it excels the SC5P the soundstage is open and spacious with good sense amount of width and height and depth as well. Imaging performance is above average with its price point. Separation is quite good too. You can easily distinguish the placements of instruments within the mix.





Conclusion

Star city 5 pro is supposedly underrated iem. It provides above average audio quality at a budget-friendly price. The balance between musical and analytical is really hard to beat at this price range and this is definitely an upgrade to your budget-fi iems without breaking the bank.