Specifications
Bluetooth Chip: Qualcomm QCC3005
Bluetooth Version: 5.0
Headphones: MS1-Rainbow
Cable: Detachable 0.78mm 2-pins, silver-coated OFC
Headphones Shell Material: Integrated German Makrolon PC resin shell, aluminum alloy gold-plated sound tube
Call Function: HD Call is supported
Buttons: 3 physical buttons: Vol+, Vol-, Power
Net Weight: Approx.20g
Power Connector: Micro USB
Battery: DC4V 120 mAh
Charging/Battery life: Approx.1H / Approx.8H
Bluetooth Codec: AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX-LL
Firmware upgrade supported in HiBy Blue APP
Android, Windows, Mac OS, iPad OS and iOS are supported
MS1:
Rated Power: 10Hw
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion Noise: 0.008% (1kHz)
Sensitivity: 112dB
Impedance: 20Ω
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 95dB
Channel Separation: 89dB (@32Ω)
Price: $59 ; $69 w/extra cable (3.5/2.5/4.4mm)
Available in Black and White.
Official H1 page
The H1 unit was kindly provided by Hidizs company for the review.
Design
The H1 consists of basically the MS1 Rainbow earphone with a Bluetooth cable instead of a standard 3.5mm cable. The earphones are apparently a remake of the original MS1 Mermaid version, now made entirely of resin instead of metal, making it a more affordable option. While the MS1 Rainbow is available in a nice variety of colors, the H1 is limited to black or white. Build quality is about average, which is decent for the price. The resin plastic shells do not look too thick. They consist of two pieces, the main inner part and the faceplate, and the semi-translucent color allows seeing the drivers inside. The nozzle is of aluminum and gold-plated with a standard diameter that should fit many aftermarket eartips.
The earpieces are very light and rather hollow with just a single dynamic driver. They have a very specific shape that intends to give a more ergonomic natural fit, found on a few other earphones, with a long and angled nozzle. They are fairly comfortable and fit very snugly in the ears with no need to readjust them every now and then. However, they are a bit large; and maybe unnecessarily large considering that there is just a single driver inside. I don’t have too tiny ears but the H1 can cause a little of extra pressure around the outer ear part. Isolation is about average, probably because of the two vents placed on the inner side of the earphones.
The Bluetooth cable is made of two strands and softly braided. The wire inside is copper and with the outer dark plastic coating it has kind of brown/bronze color. The cable is thin and very light, so despite not having a slider to adjust a more secure fit, it is still very comfortable for more active use. Do note that only the cable has IPX5 rating, and not the earphones. The plugs are standard 0.78 2-pin type. While they attach very strongly to the MS1 earphones, they may not fit as strong with every other IEM. There are fixed guides attached to the cable and help for a more secure fit but they can be too tight and a bit long.
There are two plastic parts on each side of the cable. They are a bit large and they are positioned too close to ears. On the right side there are 3 buttons. The middle one is for power on/off, play/pause and calls, and the other two for volume if single pressed and to skip tracks if pressed and held. There is also the status LED, the microphone and the concealed charging micro USB port (which can be difficult to open).
Bluetooth performance & battery
The Bluetooth cable uses a Qualcomm QCC3005 chip with 5.0 BT version and supports AAC, SBC and AptX codecs. The battery time may vary depending on the volume and codec used, but still its best time is short of 7hrs, which is rather low for Bluetooth earphones of this type that easily reach more than 10hrs even on AptX. The Soundcore Spirit Pro with a similar design has much better battery time and there are already several TWS earphones with higher time than the H1. The BT connectivity is good and quickly connects to any paired source. The wireless range is limited though. Also, there is a short noise when skipping tracks via the cable in-line controls. Moreover, the volume on the H1 cable is too limited to just 16, making it very inconvenient to adjust it from the cable side alone; it is either too low or too loud. For me that’s a critical flaw to the H1 as I need to constantly adjust the volume from the player. Even the SpiritPro volume which is limited to ~24 steps is still more usable, not to mention the SoundMagic E11BT.
Sound Quality
The general sound of the H1 is of a very mild v-shaped signature. The overall balance is well kept with a clean sound despite not being too focused into the smallest details. Like with many IEMs, finding the right ear tips is very important, and the included ear tips didn’t provide me a decent fit and seal, so I opted for softer tips with wider bore. While in pure technical abilities the H1 are about average, the sound tuning and fair balance were to my liking and more favorable than a couple of recently released IEMs at a similar price range.
Typically, the bass is elevated but far from heavy and overwhelming. Certainly not meant for true bass-heads neither in quantity nor quality, but otherwise it is well presented in the whole mix with a fun factor. It strikes with good punch and decent speed. Mid-bass more accentuated, sub-bass less obvious. There is also a constant mid-bass bump that occasionally can be annoying. The quantity is sufficient for a variety of genres adding a comfortable sense of warmth to the sound. However, the low-end is missing in quality. It sounds kind of loose and lacks in layering and depth. The extension is average, which can be addressed to the wireless mode.
In spite of the enhanced mid-bass bump, the midrange remains clear. It follows the v-shaped tuning, sitting a little more distant than the lows and highs. There is a slight sense of warmth but still sounds a bit lean and dry at the low-mids, which are even less forward than the upper-mids. Higher instruments and female vocals will sound more lifted; a bit shouty and too energetic, but not an issue of sibilance. The clarity is good and surprisingly there is a good sense of air, but it is missing some texture and emotion; more suited for electronic music than acoustic or orchestral pieces.
Treble is bright and more elevated than the bass. The lower treble is even more pronounced with a small peak, whereas the upper-treble is shier and rolled-off, limiting the extension. The quantity can be a bit fatiguing but it is not sharp. Unlike with lows, the highs layering is better with finer detail; not a very natural texture but it is fairly airy. Soundstage is about average, with just a little more width than the shallow depth, mediocre imaging and generally sounding more 2D.
Brief comparisons
iBasso IT00
The IT00 has much better bass, both in quantity and quality. It is more balanced from sub to mid-bass, better layered, and extends better and more effortlessly to the lower bass area. While it is more powerful and abrasive, it is also more enjoyable than the H1’s bass that offers that continuous mid-bass bump. Midrange is less forward on the IT00, warmer/thicker on the low-mids with thinner and drier upper-mids. The IT00 is quite opposite in terms of treble, smoother, laid-back and more forgiving. Soundstage is wider on the IT00.
Hiby Beans
The Beans has a much sharper v-shaped response next to mild H1 lively tuning. There is more bass quantity than the H1 and is a little more textured, but lower than the IT00 and not as nicely layered. The midrange is more distant and thinner than on the H1, and bleed from the bass. It sounds more muffled and the upper-mids can be quite harsh and sibilant, whereas the H1 is clearer and more comfortable to listen despite its brighter nature. Soundstage is about the same level, though the Beans can show a bit more depth.