Hidizs MS1 Galaxy

The MS1 Galaxy is the entry level earphone of the timeless Hidizs Mermaid series which includes many successful earphones like the MS3 and MS5.

The MS1 has been part of the Hidizs catalog for almost 5 years now, it was first released back in 2019 with the name MS1 Mermaid, and subsequently upgraded to the Rainbow version. This new, Galaxy version, represents an attempt to bring Hi-Fi level materials and technology to a wider audience, making it a true value-for-money option.



Technical stuff

The MS1 Galaxy, features a customized 10.2mm high-performance dual magnetic circuit dynamic driver with a PU+PEEK composite high-polymer diaphragm. This material is recognized as the most stable and mature diaphragm solution in the driver manufacturing industry. It has the characteristics of good uniformity of texture and light weight. Furthermore, the dual magnetic circuit structure improves the magnetic flux, has higher electro-acoustic conversion efficiency and significantly reduces nonlinear distortion.



Non audio stuff

The ear-shells are made from high-density, Germany's Makrolon, resin compound which is skin friendly with non-irritating properties. The compact and rather lightweight ear-shells (10g) have a custom-like, ergonomic shape that allows for a stress-free and stable fit while offering decent passive noise attenuation. The Hidizs MS1 is very comfortable to wear, you can use it for hours without even knowing that it is in your ears. The MS1 Galaxy is available in four colors to choose your favorite one.

The MS1 Galaxy features a standard 0.78mm detachable cable which is made from silver-plated oxygen-free copper wire. This is a cable of surprisingly high quality considering the price of the earphones and you have the option to order it with or without a mic.
Except for the cable, the only other thing included in the package is a set of silicone ear-tips in three sizes.

Audio stuff

Rated at 32Ω/108dB, the MS1 Galaxy is an easy load that doesn't require much power. You can use it straight out from your phone's 3.5mm jack or even better with an entry level USB DAC dongle like the Hidizs SD2.

The Hidizs MS1 Galaxy has a V-shaped tuning with plenty of bass that is not overly dominant. This is a fun, warm and slightly dark sounding earphone that is made for everyday casual listening to a great variety of music.

The mid-bass is generously emphasized so do not expect neutrality and tonal accuracy but still you can listen to all kinds of music as long as you are not in a critical mood. The bass is full , weighty, impactful and dynamic with good control and speed for an entry level earphone. It is not the most fast and controlled bass but it is not too sluggish or bloated either. Layering and definition are satisfying when the bass line is relatively simple but it struggles to keep up and follow when things get a little more complex.

Transition to the mids is rather seamless, the mid-range is not that present but it manages to stay clear enough and well defined without getting overpowered by the mid-bass. The overall tonal balance is slightly uneven but still voices and instruments are clearly reproduced with good intensity and plenty of weight albeit lacking a little in harmonic richness. The upper mid-range is more prominent than the lower mids but not that emphasized as to sound shrill or piercing.

The treble extension is good, it has the exact needed amounts of energy and brilliance that are necessary to counterbalance the warmness of the low-end and help the MS1 not sound too dark. Detail retrieval and definition are sufficient while the general feeling is that of a smooth and polite sounding earphone that is not that resolving and refined. But such criticism is rather unfair considering that the MS1 Galaxy is an entry level, budget friendly earphone that is made for leisure use during the day.

Soundstage size and imaging are not spectacular but still better than expected. The Hidizs MS1 Galaxy doesn't sound too congested or crammed and has adequate spaciousness to sound open and alive.



Conclusion

The Hidizs MS1 Galaxy is a budget friendly earphone with a popular tuning that makes it suitable for casual use. A great choice for the youth that is entering the hobby or more experienced users that need something simple and comfortable to carry around during the day. For such target groups, the Hidizs MS1 Galaxy is an excellent and very affordable earphone that gets highly recommended.

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

The price of the MS1 Galaxy is $15.99 (tax excluded) and you can buy it from Hidizs.

Hidizs MS1 Galaxy REVIEW​

Introduction: -

Before we start with Hidizs MS1 Galaxy we would like to first write a bit about Hidizs as we at Aural Café give supreme importance to the people behind the Audio products. Hidizs is a China-based company founded by Tamson in 2012, who himself is an avid audiophile and fronted an underground rock band and decided to dedicate his life to making HiFi music affordable. As an audiophile, it was a no-brainer; music should be heard as it was intended to be. In these 12 years, Hidizs has been able to consistently produce the highest quality portable digital audio players (DAPs), earphones, USB DACs, etc. Hidizs products have been recognized by winning the VGP Golden Prize for three consecutive years (2019, 2020, 2021).

Their first landmark product in this audiophile world was Hidizs AP100- a HiFi Portable Music Player in 2014. Today we are reviewing their latest offering in budget IEMs categories, MS1 Galaxy. It has a 10.2mm PU+PEEK Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Driver on each side. It comes with a 0.78mm 2-pin SPC cable with a regular 3.5mm Termination. Hidizs MS1 Galaxy’s shell is constructed with high-density Germany's Makrolon resin providing a suitable, comfortable, and skin-friendly experience. Moving to its price it retails at a maximum of US$ 25.99 and regularly goes on sale for significantly lower prices.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 10.2mm PU+PEEK Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 32Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-40Khz
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mW
• Cable: SPC Cable with 0.78mm 2-Pin Design
• Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm
• Weight: About 10 grams.

Disclaimer: -

The item was sent by Hidizs free of cost for review purposes. We are thankful to them for the opportunity. However, the review reflects our honest opinion as always.

Packaging & Accessories: -

The MS1 Galaxy comes in a simple small box, inside of it we have the IEMs, behind the IEMs tray, the Sets of Tips and a cable composed of 2 strands of high-purity silver-plated Copper. The packaging and unboxing experience is very simple. However, there is no IEM carry case included. But again, we have to take the price of the package into account.
Check out the full unboxing video here,
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YsJQHD_80ME




IEM Build & Design: -

The design of Hidizs MS1 Galaxy is very ergonomic, and we didn’t have any issues fitting it. The IEMs come in a German-made Makrolon resin shell, and we have chosen the transparent one. We found no problem using it for longer sessions. The IEMs are itself very lightweight. The cable is also built sturdy, and we think the cable is by far the best in quality in this price range we have seen. It also comes with a Microphone inbuilt as another option.




Sound Analysis: -

Credit: @aftersound

• Tonality: - This is our first encounter with Hidizs-made IEMs, and we are kind of surprised here. The sound of MS1 Galaxy has a thick warm tonality that reflects across the frequencies. The bass quality they offer here for the price tag is quite surprising in a good way. We can say the highs need to be much airier. But it is smooth and inoffensive. Overall tonality is warm and musical to our experiences with it.

• Lows: -Low frequencies are probably the strongest point of these IEMs. The bass takes the lead in both quality and quantity. The sub-bass is slightly lacking here compared to the mid-bass. For testing bass, we made use of Nakshatram by Jean du Voyage’s offline FLAC file and the Weekend’s Wasted Times. The bass does hit hard with good control and layering. The mid-bass presentation is better and more detailed here. The transient response is not that good in complex bass tracks for example “The Plan” from TENET Official Soundtrack.

• Mids: - The mids have good tonality but it’s rolled off to some extent. We felt that Mids are influenced by the lower frequencies. For this reason, electric guitars sound thicker and might be losing some details there but it’s fun for casual sessions. For testing mids, we’ve listened to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and Skyfall by Adele through Apple Music. We can say the mids have the right tonality when we consider male vocals. It’s full-bodied with good hints of warmth. Instrumental tracks felt rich sounding taking this a 25 US$ item.

• Highs: - Highs on MS1 Galaxy are just right considering the price. But the treble is not extended well, and it is less airy. The detailing is decent at this price point. The highs do improve a bit with a neutral source but weren’t that great with mobile phones or cheap dongles. The cymbals don’t have the right sparkle for us. We did not notice any unwanted harshness, but we also did not like the lack of excitement in the treble region.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage is wide and has a decent depth and is probably one of the widest in this price range. The layering is decent as well. The instruments have average imaging however we didn’t find any issues locating them in the stage. But we can say there is a lack of air between them.

• Synergy: - After trying it with different sources (Astell and Kern SP1000m, Dethonray DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, Aune M1p, Aune Yuki and Hidizs S3 Pro) we can say it pairs well with neutral and analytical sources. With neutral sources like Aune M1p, it shows emotions in Male vocals and maintains a warm tonal balance. While pairing with analytical sources like Dethonray DTR1+ the brilliance is improved, and airy-ness is also observed. At Aural Café we strongly believe in source matching and here we overall recommend using neutral sources to extract the most from MS1 Galaxy.

Conclusion: -

This IEM is a very capable set if we take the pricing into our priority. For everyday use, it does not create any kind of fatigue sonically as well as fittings because of its ergonomic design and weight. The accessories given are very good. It admirably delivers good bass. Overall, we liked the set for its warm tonality and timbre though we would not mind if there were more sub-bass emphasis. For users who like very much technical performance, we would not recommend this IEM. It needs good neutral sources to shine. But whoever is starting this hobby or a student who doesn’t want to spend much we can recommend this IEM blindly.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://www.hidizs.net/products/hidizs-ms1-galaxy-dynamic-driver-in-ear-monitors
- https://www.amazon.com/Hidizs-MS1-Galaxy-High-Performance-Microphone-Detachable/dp/B0CDX9WM5G

First and foremost, I would like to thank Hidizs for sending in a pair of Hidizs MS1-Galaxy for my honest review and opinion. I am not in any way affiliated with Hidizs, and you may find the link below for the review unit on their website below if you'd like to support them on this product by Hidizs.

Hidizs MS1-Galaxy Product Link:
https://www.hidizs.net/products/hidizs-ms1-galaxy-dynamic-driver-in-ear-monitors



The Hidizs MS1-Galaxy is an entry-level IEM that has recently received a lot of positive reviews for its price-to-performance, and finally today I have a chance to test it myself and express my honest opinion on this highly anticipated well-performing budget IEM. After generations of MS1 models, Hidizs has finally decided to implement its Hi-Fi level materials and technology, improving the overall sound performance while maintaining its low price.



Packaging/Design:
The small packaging comes with a pair of the IEM itself, together with 3 pairs of ear tips with different sizes for comfortable fit, a two-stranded high-purity silver-plated copper wire (1.2m length), a Waifu photocopy and a warranty card & user manual. Its customized 10.2mm Dual Magnetic Circuit Dynamic Driver PU+PEEK composite high-polymer diaphragm is the main highlight as it improves the magnetic flux and conversion efficiency, resulting in a better detailed expression. The IEM outer shell is build using high-density Germany's Makrolon resin, however it feels just like the usual plastic shell, yet it allows comfortable and longer fitting in my ear without causing stress. The IEM itself is extremely lightweight and I don't feel anything wearing it.



Specification:
- High-Performance Dual Magnetic Circuit Dynamic Driver
- 10.2mm PU+PEEK Composite Diaphragm
- Optional Inline Control & Microphone
- High-Density German Makrolon Resin Shell
- Silver-Plated Oxygen-Free Copper Wire
- 0.78mm 2-Pin Plug
- Ergonomic Liquid Silicone Ear Tips
- Ergonomic Design with Comfortable Extended Wear
- Perfectly Aligned With The H-2019 Target Frequency Response Curve
- 3.5mm Gold-Plated Plug & Durable Metal Shell & Splitter
- Hi-Res Certification



Testing Equipment/Sources:
- Tidal Hifi FLAC
- iBasso DC03 Pro DAC



Sound Performance:
After testing the Hidizs MS1-Galaxy for some time, it is safe to say that this product is a very good entry-level IEM designed and built for those who are new to the Hi-Fi world without breaking your bank. It's fun and warm V-style tuning will definitely impress the bass head especially for its strong and powerful bass production, however there's some slight bass bloat. Its soundstage is one of the widest among other competitors at this price range. Male vocals are thick, warm, full and overall great, you'll definitely be impressed by how good its mid-bass performs. However for female vocals are thin, hollow and recessed, which Hidizs could improve for the upcoming models. The treble has enough energy to be noticed and instrumentals sound natural, however there are some slight muddiness and clarity issues. At this price range, it lacks airiness which is quite normal yet still acceptable.



Conclusion:
Rather than using the earphones that comes along with most smartphone packages, using Hidizs MS1-Galaxy would obviously be a better choice here as it is overall a good performing and aesthetical product especially for Hi-Fi beginners without breaking the bank, pricing at just $16 during promotions. Consider upgrading to Hidizs higher tiered products such as MS2 or above if you seek for better bass and treble performance. Give it a try and you won't regret it!