Heygears Anora

Introduction:

I won’t bother you with too much introduction and general blah-blah and will mainly focus on writing about the sound – why? Because nobody really reads the rest anyway – at least I know that I don’t.

Anyway, since HeyGears is probably not a company name that many of you know, I guess I shall write at least a few lines about them in this introduction.
Allegedly founded in 2015 and based in Guangzhou, China, they have released a couple wireless in-ears.

HeyGears’ seemingly only non-wireless in-ear at this time is the Anora, the in-ear that this very review will be about. It’s a competitively single-BA in-ear with 3D-printed shells, which on its own isn’t too unique nowadays, just like the fact that the ergonomic shell design is based on ear scans of allegedly several thousand pairs of ears. What makes it unique though is that its shells that are made of resin and available in three different colours are obviously open and printed with several diamond-shaped openings in them, which I personally think looks both unique and beautiful.

What the HeyGears Anora sounds like and how it performs, also in comparison with two other single-BA in-ears (my SoundMAGIC PL50 and the Brainwavz B150) is what I will find out in this very review.


Full disclosure: Lend Me UR ears sent me an e-mail, asking if I would like to review their Alpha & Delta D6, which I didn’t. However, I was interested in the HeyGears Anora and I subsequently got a sample sent to me free of charge, for review purpose.
As always, my words written above and below remain nonetheless true, unbiased, honest and written without any guidelines or requirements for the review, no matter how it would turn out.


Technical Specifications:

Price: ~ $63 (Lend Me UR ears)
Type: In-Ears
Type of Driver: Balanced Armature
Drivers per Side: 1
Frequency Range: 20 – 20000 Hz
Sensitivity (@ 1 kHz): 108.5 dB (+/-3 dB)
Impedance (@ 1 kHz): 46 Ohms (+/-15%)
Maximum SPL: 125 dB
Passive Noise Isolation: 35 dB
Available Colours: 3 (Deep Black, Rose Gold, Ceramic White)
Weight (Earphones): 18.8 g
Cable: 1.2 m, permanently attached, 3-button remote control w/ mic


Delivery Content:

One really doesn’t get much inside the plastic box – the in-ears, three pairs of silicone tips and a cleaning brush. That’s it.



What’s lacking is a storage case/pouch. Nicely enough though, if you care for that, the package design itself is stylish.


Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

I think that most people would agree that the Anora looks simply great. Its shells are 3D-printed and the grid-like printing as well as styling and its finish appears to be of very high quality – and it doesn’t feel soft but very sturdy and well-made.
Although the shells are on the larger side, much of what is inside is just air – the BA driver is encased in a small enclosure. Wasted space? I think not since it contributes to the Anora’s unique looks.



The cable is only okay at best – it features reasonable strain relief implementation but isn’t as flexible as it could be. Furthermore, it lacks a chin-slider.
While it has got a built-in three-button remote control, the buttons aren’t easy to distinguish despite small tactile dots on the volume control buttons.


Comfort, Isolation:

The ergonomically shaped shells are on the larger size, as I have already mentioned. As someone with quite large ears, I have to say that the Anora fits me perfectly and sits very comfortably, which I didn’t expect since its nozzle looks quite short, nonetheless there is no seal, comfort or fit issue.

Since the cable is intended to be worn down and not very flexible, microphonics are unfortunately quite high. The lack of a chin-slider also contributes to that.
Inserting the in-ear pieces normally and then guiding the cable around the ears is nonetheless possible (although the mic/remote is then in an inconvenient spot) and almost completely reduces microphonics – so this is the way to go, at least for me.



The included silicone tips appear similar to the ones known as “Sony Hybrid”, and typically for them, they provide quite strong sucky sucky (but not for five dolla [sic]).

Noise isolation is on a high level – which is thanks to the Anora being a fully closed single-BA in-ear (all the 3D-printed mesh grid design is just for show and ergonomics).


Sound:

My main sources for listening were my iBasso DX90, my Apple iPod Nano 7G and the Cowon Plenue 2.

I only used the largest included tips for listening.

Tonality:

The Anora heads into a more neutral direction but isn’t as flat as an Etymotic ER4SR/S or ER3SE, but more comparable to the ER4XR/ER3XR with added upper treble energy.
And indeed, in the lows the Anora appears quite comparable to the ER3XR, sporting ca. 5-6 dB more in quantity compared to the ER4SR/S that is tuned for a diffuse-field flat bass, although the Anora has got a slightly fuller lower midrange in comparison to the ER3XR and slightly less true sub-bass levels. Nonetheless the Anora can reproduce sub-bass notes – but with neutral levels, so it’s not an engaging but a rather flat, neutrality-oriented bass response. On the whole, the Anora’s bass response and implementation is also quite comparable to that of the InEar StageDiver SD-2 or HiFiMan RE400.

Mids are neither forward nor recessed and have got good balance and sound realistic. Lower mids are slightly lifted so that the Anora doesn’t sound thin but doesn’t lack a pinch of warmth either, and due to a very slight 3 kHz lift, higher voices and their overtones aren’t lacking in the mix either and reproduced mostly neutral.
High female vocals are slightly more nasal due to the 3 kHz lift, but it’s nothing dramatic.

Around 5 kHz, the Anora showcases an even dip that creates a quite easy-going listening experience and generates headroom for an emphasis that is located around 8.5 kHz and highlights cymbals a bit without adding any sibilance or making them appear unrealistic – they just gain a bit more presence in the mix.
Super treble extension past 10 kHz is surprisingly good and the Anora passes 14 kHz without any issues but is audibly quieter around 15 kHz (which isn’t relevant anymore anyway).

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So all in all, one could say that the Anora takes on a slightly v-shaped approach of neutrality with a pinch of warmth.

Resolution:

Resolution is pretty good for a single-BA in-ear but overall I would characterise the Anora as 2nd-tier and put it behind the likes of Etymotic’s ER3-/ER4-line or some other single-BA in-ears that come very close to that.

Speech intelligibility and midrange details are, not all that much surprisingly, on a high level and rendered quite easily but also 2nd-tier.

Bass speed and tightness are, which is no real surprise either, on a high level as well, and noticeably higher than what most dynamic driver in-ears are capable of. For BA standards, the lows are however still just a tad on the softer side, without control issues. Tightness is therefore slightly behind the old ER-4S while the Anora also clearly avoids the SD-2’s softness.
The sub-bass appears to have a bit less definition than the midbass although it is superior to the EARNiNE EN120’s sub-bass quality.

Highs are separated well, however they appear a little less detailed than the rest and a bit grainy in comparison.

Soundstage:

The Anora has got a soundstage that is quite average, if not even a little on the smaller side, but circular with similar width as well as depth to my ears. Separation and layering appear good albeit a bit behind Etymotic-levels.

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In Comparison with other Single-BA In-Ears:

SoundMAGIC PL50:

Neither has a great cable but SoundMAGIC’s has at least got a chin-slider. While the Anora doesn’t come with any storage solution, at least a pleather bag is included with the PL50.

Both in-ears have got a quite similar bass implementation with the Anora being just slightly more forward by ca. 1 dB.
Mids are a bit louder in the mix on the PL50 and generally slightly on the darker side whereas the Anora features upper mids that are slightly on the accentuated side.
Both in-ears are more on the relaxed side around 5 kHz, the PL50 probably even a tad more.
Where they really differ is the upper treble where the Anora is brighter and more vivid compared to the SoundMAGIC that is heading into a darker direction in the highs.

Resolution is quite comparable – the Anora features the minimally tighter bass attack while decay and control are quite comparable.
Midrange details are ultimately a draw with just a slightly different tonal approach (slightly dark vs slightly bright).
Treble details are where the PL50 is a bit ahead compared to the Anora that appears a bit grainy here.

The PL50’s spatial presentation is larger and more spacious, especially with more width while the depth appears to be similar. Thanks to the greater width though, the SoundMAGIC has got an advantage when it comes to separation.

Brainwavz B150:

The Brainwavz’ cable doesn’t lack a chin-slider, as opposed to the Anora’s. And the B150 comes with a proper carrying case whereas HeayGears’ in-ear doesn’t.

The Brainwavz is an in-ear that is tuned for a fuller and warmer sound in the lows and root and has therefore got more punch and fullness than the Anora. However, the B150 rolls off stronger towards the real sub-bass, so it provides more of a midbassy presentation whereas the HeyGears has got a more even bass distribution.
Lower mids on the Brainwavz are more present and fuller than on the Anora but without appearing unrealistic. Upper mids on the Anora have got a little more brightness. Mids in general have got equal presence in the mix on both in-ears though.
The Anora is tuned for a brighter, more vivid upper treble response compared to the B150 that is on the slightly darker side here.

Bass attack appears slightly tighter and faster on the Anora while decay is quite similar, which also goes for the control. However, while the B150 has got less sub-bass quantity, it shows more definition here.
Although the Anora is tuned for a less warm and brighter midrange compared to the Brainwavz, which also goes for the treble, it is actually the B150 that appears to be a bit more resolving in general, which is also noticeable in the treble that has some grain on the Anora.

The B150’s stage showcases a bit more width and depth than the Anora’s, along with the slightly cleaner instrument separation.


Conclusion:

Design-wise, the Anora is a very stylish, beautiful and unique product with well-built shells and good ergonomics (however rather large ears are recommended) as well as a well-balanced sound signature.

Detail retrieval is also pretty good, although the real sub-bass could show a little more definition with tracks that go this low, and the treble sometimes shows some grain and could be a tad more detailed. On the whole though, the Anora is a single-BA in-ear whose technical presentation fits well to its price range (nonetheless it’s rather 2nd-tier compared to some very good sub-$100 single-BA models or Etymotic’s single-BA in-ears).

What’s not so nice is that the Anora’s cable is only average at best, lacks a chin-slider, has got remote control buttons that aren’t that well distinguishable from each other, and that it doesn’t come with a carrying case/pouch even though it is standard at this price point.

Introduction
HeyGears is founded in June 2015 in Guangzhou China. It is a technology company that deals with wearable devices. In addition, they produce wireless earbuds and iem. Recently, I come across the HeyGears Anora. At first sight, I am curious by the design of it as it does not look like your ordinary iem. Next, I am very interested to hear this and provide my own opinion on the Anora to the community. I would like to thank Lend Me Ur Ears for this review unit and I will give a fair judgement on it. As of now, the Anora is available in 3 colours – Black, Rose Gold and White and you can purchase it through http://www.lendmeurears.com/heygears-anora-3d-printed-balanced-armature-earphones-black/ .

Black, Rose Gold & White Respectively


Specifications

• Driver： Single Knowles Balanced Armature
• Impedance： 46Ω
• Frequency Response： 20-20000HZ
• Sensitivity： 108.5DB

Unboxing & Accessories
The Anora comes in a standard black box with a transparent plastic on top where you can see the iem. Inside the box, you will get the Anora iem with Size M silicon eartips fitted on it, 1 cleaning kit, 2 pairs of eartips (Size S & Size L) and 1 paper envelope that contains 1 warranty card and 1 user manual.
This is quite standard for an iem packaging but I do expect a case or storage pouch at the very least so I can keep the iem. The accessories are just minimal to sum it up.
















IEM Build & Design
The Anora that I will be reviewing is in black colour. I assume that the build & design will be the same for the other colours too. The Anora’s housing is 3D printed with a gold AR logo on its faceplate. The material is medical quality silica gel which is flexible and stretch resistant. This might explain its extremely light weight. Each earbud housing only weighs 1.4 grams and due to the open structure, it is tested to be able to absorb impacts. I really like the design aesthetics of it. The gloss black design is very nice visually. Next, on each housing, there is a small logo to differentiate left and right. In addition, there is strain relief on each housing too. The most important part is still the fitting. HeyGears actually established a database of a few thousand pairs of ears which is used for analysis to create a form that can have best fitting in any ear. Personally, the Anora fits snugly into my ear and I feel very comfortable using it. However, this is quite subjective though as we have different ears, hence different fittings. The nozzle is straight and I am able to put my SpinFit tips. I tried a variety of tips from Acoustune to JVC and they fit well with it. The nozzle has no metal mesh but it used a form of soft protective mesh instead.





Cable Build & Design
The cable is pretty standard in my opinion. From the strain relief on each housing, the wire conductors joined up at the y-splitter. The y-splitter is matte black with strain relief on each end. On the right wire conductor, you have a standard microphone control. Anora is MFI (Made for iPod, Made for iPhone, and Made for iPad) certified. Moving down to the extreme end of the cable, you have a 3.5mm gold plated jack with a matte black housing. It has strain relief too.








Sound Analysis
Lows
The Anora has decent sub-bass extension. It does not go very deep. There is slight rumble though. The mid-bass does not have a slam. Each bass note is presented in a conservative way. There is not much body and authority to it. Instead, I find the bass smooth and controlled. I feel that the decay is average. It does not have the punch and kick for those who favour hard-hitting bass. I would say this will appeal to those who just like a smooth bass that has no extra bite. In terms of quantity, I feel it is rather appropriate and the bass definition is average.

Mids
The midrange is quite linear I must say. The lower mids has a decent amount of body but I would say it needs a bit more body for male vocals to sound better. There is a nice quantity of upper mids to make the midrange sound more forward and detailed. Female vocals sound sweet as such. Its micro details is reasonable for a single balanced armature driver. The layering is average. It does not sound analytical or lively. It is just very conservative and controlled. In my opinion, the detail retrieval is excellent for a single balanced armature driver. There is a good balance.

Highs
The treble has a good extension to it and there is no sibilance or harshness. However, there is a slight grain to it. The highs is quite articulate in its presentation. You would not get the type of refinement and definition from a higher priced iem. I just find the Anora performing its highs to its price point. There is a slight airiness that enhances the sweetness of female vocals especially. To sum it up, the treble is smooth and easy to listen. However, it is still engaging to the listener despite being dark.

Soundstage
You would expect the Anora to have a wide stage since it has an open design. It has a nice width to its stage and the depth is average. Personally, the width aids in the overall presentation of the sound. I am satisfied with it considering its price point.




Comparisons
I use the Ibasso DX200 to compare the iems.

HeyGears Anora vs Fidue A65
The Anora sub-bass extension does not go as deep as the A65. The A65 bass definition is more crisp. The control on both is around the same. A65’s has a quicker bass decay due to the bass note on the Anora being heavier. The mid-bass of A65 has more slam and hits with more authority. Overall, the bass extension and definition of A65 is better but Anora is more smooth and conservative. The lower mids on both are approximately the same. The upper mids of A65 is more forward, thus, it makes A65 more energetic and lively in comparison to the darker sounding Anora. The detail retrieval is around the same on both. There is more sparkle and air on the A65. In terms of soundstage, Anora has more depth while A65 has more width. I feel due to the darker nature of the Anora, it is suited for jazz and classical music while the A65 suits pop songs. Overall, both are very competent iems at their price point and it is up to your personal preference.

HeyGears Anora vs Westone UM Pro 10
The Anora has similar sub-bass extension as the UM Pro 10. There is more rumble to the Anora. The bass definition on both is on the same level. The mid-bass of Pro 10 has slightly more slam than the Anora. On the aspect of bass decay, UM Pro 10 has a slight edge. It makes the Anora seems sluggish but it is not the case since Anora’ bass note is heavier. The UM Pro 10 has more lower mids and male vocals shine in comparison. The upper mids on the Anora is more forward and coupled with the extra airiness over the UM Pro 10, the Anora does female vocals justice. Anora has a slight grain. Both lacks the sparkle. The treble extension on Anora is presented effortlessly while I feel the UM Pro 10 have some difficulty on it. For the width of soundstage, the Anora edges out UM Pro 10 completely while for depth, they are pretty close. Instrument positioning is better on the Anora.

HeyGears Anora vs Final Audio Heaven 2
The Heaven 2 has less sub-bass extension than the Anora. Anora extends more and provides a much smoother bass. The control of bass on both is around the same. I would say that the quantity is more on the Anora. The mid-bass of Heaven 2 has more slam and the overall dynamics improve. The bass decay of Heaven 2 is quicker than the Anora. Lower mids on the Anora are thinner than the Heaven 2. Upper mids of the Heaven 2 is more forward than the Anora. Heaven 2 presents it with a more organic feel and details. There is more crisp. Heaven 2 treble is more extended with more air and sparkle. The Anora is unable to keep up with it. The Anora has more width than the Heaven 2 while the Heaven 2 excels in its depth.

Conclusion
I feel that the HeyGears Anora is an excellent choice at its price point. With its aesthetically pleasing design and smooth sound signature, I would say it is a good iem for a long listening session. The dark nature of it just gives a soothing listen. The detail retrieval at the midrange is just on point to allow vocals to be presented nicely to the listener. The Anora is a good iem for those who wish to have a dark and smooth sound signature.

Firstly I would like to thank Heygears for sending me this sample to review, as always I try to write honest reviews. These received over 50hrs of burn-in, no differences were noted.

Gear Used:
Audio Opus #1 > Anora



Tech Specs:
www.heygears.com
· Driver: Single Knowles Balanced Armature
· Sensitivity: 108.5±3dB
· Impedance: 46 ohms
· Frequency Response: 20-20kHz

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The Anora come in a very slim and simple box, there is a clear plastic window on the front showing off the IEM’s, and information and specs on the back of the box (mainly in Chinese). The inner tray is plastic and there is nothing luxurious about the packing, just plain and does the job.

The build quality is good overall, the 3D printed housing is very well crafted but I wish they had used a better cable. They have used a cable that is very similar to apples offerings, the strain relief is good, the microphone and playback controls feel fine but the overall cable feels cheap.

Included accessories again are lacking, you get a wax cleaning tool which is good, along with S, M and L single flange tips. No case and only one type of tips included.



Comfort, Isolation and Cable Noise:
These are well designed, and should fit most ears out there, unfortunately for me I have tiny odd shaped ears. I found the L side fit well and was comfortable but the top parts that keeps them secure put a little too much pressure and created a tender spot. The R side was a different story, the top part that is supposed to tuck into the Cymba just kept coming out and thus looking ridiculous. Again my ears are small and a bit odd, so I had fit issues, but a friend had none, it all depends on your ear shape. For me, not very comfortable, for my friend, he said they were very comfortable.

Isolation is very good, they use a single sealed balanced armature driver, even though the housing looks open they block out a good amount of outside noise.

Cable noise is present and a little bit of an issue, investing in a cable clip would be wise as these have no chin slider and can only be worn cable down.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories, with a conclusion at the end.

Lows: Being a single balanced armature, these handle lows very well, they don’t have the body or slam that some multiple driver or dynamic sets have, but they have speed and detail. Yes they are not up front, nor do they extend effortlessly, but nonetheless the lows that are there are very well controlled, and do have some body and kick to them. Not for bass heads, but for those who like a well controlled, and balanced low end these will be fine.

Mids: This tends to be where BA drivers come into their own, and these do not disappoint. The mids are forward, detailed but perhaps a little dry. There are no peaks, just a very linear mid range that fairs very well with both male and female vocals. I think the detail retrieval in the mids are their forte, and they really do bring the finer details up front to be easily audible.

Highs: The highs are not lacking either, with very good tone and extension. Heygears have managed to find a filter for this driver that simultaneously allows for an articulate and well bodied low end, a slightly forward mid range and a well defined but not fatiguing top end. Yes they are not as smooth and refined as higher price IEM’s, but at least they are not dark and boring.

Instrument separation is very good, everything is well separated, and the soundstage is fairly average with slightly better height than width.



Not a fair comparison, but similar in price are the Simgot EN700 Bass. The Simgot offer a fuller, more organic sound with more natural tonality. They are also better built and more comfortable. The Anora is leaner, quicker and more nimble, it offer better detail retrieval and a more reference like sound.

Conclusion: Unfortunately I have issues with the fit of these, I know that is personal so I will try not to hold it against Heygears. My issue is that the driver tuning is excellent, but they kind of ruined that by saying “we are going to make something new, exciting and odd looking”. The costs of making the exquisite housing, they could have put the driver into a housing like the Brainwavz B100 and sold it for a lot less and possibly had more success.

The housing as it is won’t fit everyone, and I do think it is a shame as they do sound very good. They may not have the best extension on either end, that is the limitation of many single BA driver models. But they do offer a highly resolving, nimble, detailed and balanced sound that is not lacking low end body. So a thumbs up for sound, but please sort out the weird housing, sometimes innovation can be a great thing, in the case of the Anora it has held it back.


Sound Perfection Rating: 5/10 (Great sound, just lacking everywhere else)