HiSenior Mega5EST

HISENIOR MEGA5EST: Deep Dive into The Ocean Of Music


DISCLAIMER: The Hisenior Mega5EST was purchased by us directly from Hisenior Audio with a small discount, we are thankful to the amazing team at Hisenior Audio for the same. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the item.

Introduction: -

Hisenior is a China-based company founded in 2016 by Gareth Chan. Hisenior Audio specializes mainly in handcrafted Universal and Custom IEMs for musicians, studio engineers and audiophiles. Hisenior Audio is focused on designing and making professional custom and universal fitting in-ear monitors using the best quality drivers at affordable prices. What differentiates Hisenior Audio from other China-based companies is that they launch very limited IEM models and keep on refining their current offerings based on Audiophile’s feedback. They recently upgraded their setup and started offering custom IEMs using 3D impressions at very affordable prices. Hisenior Audio IEMs such as Mega5p and Okavango are quite famous in the audiophile circuit. We at Aural Café, had the honour of reviewing Hisenior Okavango and T2. The links of those you can find below.

• https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hisenior-okavango.26620/reviews#review-32114
• https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hisenior-t2-classic.25405/reviews#review-31502

Hisenior Mega5EST is Hisenior's flagship offering and features a tri-brid setup with 1DD+2BA+2EST. Hisenior Audio has recently launched an Anniversary Edition of Mega5EST to celebrate their 7 years in the industry. But we will be reviewing the non-anniversary version which also comes with Hisenior’s premium White Whale cable. However, on our discussion with Hisenior Audio regarding the differences we can confirm that the tuning is the same as the anniversary version and the only difference is in the colour of the shell and faceplate. Our unit also features the new smaller shell, new air vents and their exclusive smoother coherence from bass-treble just like the anniversary version.

Hisenior Mega5EST each shell is composed of a single custom 10mm Bio-Cellular Diaphragm Driver for handling the lows, two high-quality Sonion Balanced Armature (BA) for handling the mids and the highs and two Sonion Electrostatic Drivers (EST) for handling the ultra-highs in a 4-Way Integrated Crossover. The Hisenior team through this setup insist on achieving a smooth coherent sound across the whole frequency with well-detailed and clean instrument definition.

Hisenior Mega5EST can be bought for 549 US$ from Hisenior's official website.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 1-Dynamic Driver + 2-Balanced Armatures + 2-Electrostatic Drivers
• Crossover: 4-Ways, Tripple Bores, 3-Dampers
• Impedance: 25Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 10Hz-50Khz
• Sensitivity: 105dB/mW @1kHz
• Isolation: -20 dB
• Cable: 1.2 m with 4.4mm Termination

Packaging & Accessories: -

When it comes to packaging Hisenior Audio team left nothing to pamper the soul of an audiophile. Hisenior Mega5EST comes in a midsized rectangular cardboard box. One can see a high-quality Pelican case inside which the IEM cable and accessories are reliably kept. The packaging is minimal and the whole focus is on providing high value for the money to the IEM itself. The case consists of IEMs, White Whale cable which complements the tonality of the Mega5EST, Six pairs of silicone ear tips, two pairs of foam tips, a cleaning wiper, and a cable clip. The included White Whale cable features 290 cores, and multi-layered UPOCC (Silver Plated) shielded wires in coaxial design. The white colour ultra soft PVC insulation on the cable goes hand in hand with the elegance of the Mega5EST. The 1.2-meter cable also features high-quality gold-plated 0.78mm 2-pin connectors, anodised aluminium alloy plug case, splitter, slider, and gold-plated brass plug which can be terminated in 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm as per the requirement of the audiophile. The White Whale premium cable sells for 96 US$ and the given high-quality Pelican waterproof and dustproof case sells for 30 US$ so we at Aural Cafe can easily say that for 549 US$, the team at Hisenior Audio tried their best to offer a complete package to the demanding Audiophiles.



Build & Design Concept: -

Although it has an anniversary edition of Mega5eEST, we have already mentioned the unit we are reviewing is the regularly updated version which features a transparent shell along with an elegant multi-colour faceplate that primarily showcases the whole ethos of Mega5EST we feel so. The shell of Mega5EST is made of using high-quality resin. The design of the shell is quite ergonomic which is not only comfortable for longer usage but also provides excellent passive isolation. The transparent shell allows you to sneak into the inside of the Mega5EST which would surely excite every audio geek out there. The diameter of the nozzle on the Mega5EST IEM is a bit big but it gets comfortable during usage. What is interesting about the Hisenior Audio is that they offer complete customization and thus each set of Mega5EST can be customized as per the needs of the Audiophiles.




Sound Analysis: -

Credit: @CammyFi

• Tonality: - When it comes to the tonality of the IEMs, Mega5EST features a neutral tonality along with some warmth at the low end. The custom 10 mm bio-cellulose diaphragm Dynamic Driver is tuned well to provide the much-needed warmth to the neutral tonality across the frequency because of which the Hisenior Audio team ends up achieving a neutral yet smooth and natural tonality. The tonality of the Mega5EST opens gates to listening to various genres of music from blues to pop and hard rock. On using the high-quality copper cable (Rhapsodio OCC mk2 Copper cable in our case) the tonality surprisingly becomes a tinge more musical and soulful.

• Lows: - The lows in Mega5EST are tuned using the custom 10mm bio-cellulose diaphragm Dynamic Driver which ends up becoming the heart of the Mega5EST. The lows are tastefully tuned providing a very natural texture to the bassline. The bass has decent slam and rumbles without hindering the Mids. The mid-bass sounds fun when listening to popular pop numbers such as “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, whereas the sub-bass has sufficient rumble while listening to popular Bollywood songs. The speed of the bass is just balanced at best to keep up with the neutral tonality but we at Aural Cafe would have loved a tinge of more speed in this area of frequencies. We also feel that the shell design adds more air to the dynamics of the lower frequency.

• Mids: - The Mids in Mega5EST are tuned using the two Sonion BAs which are well respected for tuning mids in the audiophile universe. The Sonion BAs are known for their naturalness and that is what can be said about Mega5EST as well. The mids are just balanced and natural to merge smoothly with the low and high frequencies. The lower mids are laidback while the upper mids are smooth and intoxicating without any shoutiness. The female vocals sound sublime while listening to ‘O Sathi re’ from the movie Omkara composed by Vishal Bharadwaj and also listening to ‘Listen Before I Go’ by Billie Eilish while the male vocals are not too far in comparison and the same can be felt while listening to ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson, but it is the female vocals which are a bit ahead in texture in comparison to male vocals. The timbre of the instruments especially piano, flute and drums is top tier while the same on guitars is just decent. The transient response is just average at best to complement the smooth and balanced tonality of the IEMs.

• Highs: - The highs on the Mega5est are tuned using one Sonion BA as well as two Sonion ESTs. The highs on Mega5est are smooth, natural, and airy without any dryness. The upper treble is specially tuned very tastefully with the help of two Sonion ESTs which are well extended without any thinness. We at Aural Cafe also feel that the shell design helps in adding air across the frequency. We loved listening to “Man Kasturi” by Amit Kilam composed by Indian Ocean for the Bollywood movie Masaan where the vocals are natural and complete as well as listening to “In Your Eyes” from the Weekend. The Sonion ESTs are tuned very technically and showcase their calibre while listening to Western Classical and Jazz.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on the Mega5EST can be described as cohesive and realistic with the width being a bit ahead then the stage depth. The same can be felt while listening to “Hotel California” by the Eagles and “Kasto Mazza” composed by Shantanu Moitra for the Bollywood movie Parineeta while the imaging is just average at best. We enjoyed listening to ‘Zariya’ composed by AR Rahman for Coke Studio India.

• Synergy: - The Mega5EST is easy to drive but really shines with clean sources such as Aune M1p and Dethonray DTR1. The lows and high frequencies really shine with powerful high-quality portable sources such as iFi Hip DAC 3 and desktop sources such as Dethonray Listening M1. Dongles capable of clean sound such as Aune Yuki can also be used if one likes to use the Mega5EST with their mobile phones on the go. So, we at Aural Cafe will suggest using a clean transparent source. The stock premium cable not only complements well with the overall natural tonality of the Mega5EST but also adds a hint of more energy to the upper treble. We would here like to add that the stock cable is enough but if you want to squeeze the last bit of the Mega5EST then we would suggest premium cable such as the PW Audio Monile two-wire version. When it comes to the tips the vocals sounded open and life-like with Divinus Velvet ear tips.

Conclusion: -

The Sonion EST-based IEMs were first introduced by Shozy Audio (Hong Kong-based IEMs brand) and Alclair Audio (US-based brand) in 2019. We at Aural Cafe are honoured to owned and listened to many EST-based IEMs such as Shozy Pola, Shozy Pola 39, Penon Audio 10th AE and many more IEMs in this span. What makes Hisenior Audio Mega5EST unique is its honest and pure tonal quality where the the different types of drivers are beautifully implemented to achieve a smooth tonality across the frequency. Every driver whether it’s the DD, the BAs or the ESTs doesn’t show off but effortlessly works hand in hand to give life to the soul of Mega5EST. So, if you are a very value-centric audiophile and are in search of a high-quality tri-brid setup to listen to various genres of music then Mega5EST seems to be like the complete package. The level of customization that Hisenior offers at an affordable price just adds up to the whole experience of owning these IEMs. We would love a faster bass line and more refined imaging on Mega5EST.

Non-Affiliated Link: -

https://www.hisenior-iem.com/products/mega5est-hybrid-iem

Now let's discuss the HiSenior IEM, which apparently many people like abroad but not so much in Indonesia. Not without reason, but let's just talk about it: Mega5EST.
Let's dive in!

==DISCLAIMER==​

All my impressions and reviews are subjective and follow the belief of "I only deceive my savings, of course, my reviews are honest." Agree? Alright. Different? Alright. Because I review because I want to and like to, not because I need to lol.

• But if you say this because you're just borrowing it? Oh, of course not. I'm a true audiophile hobbyist who will always be honest without bias. Don't believe it? Read on until the end, we'll dissect the pros and cons.
• But if you say this because it's just new, probably still in the "honeymoon" phase? In this hobby that is truly "dark and full of toxins," it will always be like this until the end of the world. Human desires are endless. Haha.

But isn't it better to listen and experience it yourself? You're right.

Important!! I suggest you still audition it yourself, maybe my ears need to see an ENT doctor or maybe you need to (haha).

Click to expand...

==THIS POST IS FOR==​

• What are some good vocal IEMs around the 7 million rupiah mark?
• What are some IEMs with good build quality, sturdy, and okay?
• What's up with HiSenior Mega5EST?
• Just want to read the review.

==DESIRED SOUND==​

• Crisp treble if it can be a bit spicy
• Good quality and quantity bass, but not for bass heads
• Technicality, imaging, and clarity are excellent
• Wide soundstage

==TESTED WITH==​

• Youtube Music
• Tidal
• Hiby M300
• Fiio Q15
• Lenovo Office Laptop (Which series)
• HiSenior Mega5EST

==LET'S DIVE IN WITHOUT FURTHER ADO==​

Unboxing:
Since this IEM is borrowed and not provided in its original box, I can't comment on unboxing, hehe. But what I got was the IEM and its cable.
Top-notch IEM shell! The finishing is good, smooth, and the color is like shiny gray. It's really great physically, in my opinion. But the downside is for some reason, the cable tends to detach from the IEM or get lifted. Is it loose? I don't know. Maybe other units are better.
As for the cable, it's white and resembles a hose material but not the Aquarium hose, more like the Simgot EW200 model. The cable is good, comfortable, and slightly rigid.

Fitting:
Note: My ear holes are relatively large, and almost all IEMs fit snugly. Oh, I always use size L ear tips too.
The IEM nozzles are huge! So for those with smaller ears, it's better to find ear tips that fit better, hehe.

Bass:
Unlike Okavango, Mega5EST has a more mellow bass with slightly less power. It has slightly better quality and quantity than Okavango, with good rumble and depth, but the impact feels faster. Clearly not for bass heads. But it's considered good bass.
The slightly backward presentation adds sweetness without being overwhelming. Perfect for listening to relaxed and detailed songs.

Mid:
In my opinion, this is the most special aspect of this IEM. The mids are truly musical and sweet. Listening to acoustic songs feels truly intimate and swinging. With sufficient power and a more forward presentation compared to bass and treble, the impression of melodic vocals feels even better.
However, the weakness lies in the upper mids, which lack power, making high-pitched female vocals sound somewhat subdued and less pronounced. This IEM is perfect for melancholic songs, haha.

Treble:
Unlike Okavango, Mega5EST has clear, clean, and well-tuned treble. Although it's not as crisp as I would prefer, the treble can be considered natural-sounding and suitable for people sensitive to treble but still want to enjoy it because it's not sharp.
With a relatively short tail, the treble is good at delivering micro-details.

- Clarity, Imaging, and Soundstage:

• Clarity: Clear and natural sounding. The super sweet vocals and gently tuned treble are perfect for long listening sessions.
• Imaging: The bass and treble feel slightly distant due to the very forward vocals. This supports a pleasant setup for acoustic songs. Instrument details are well depicted without any sound overlap.
• Soundstage: For its price range, the provided soundstage is average, not very wide but not too intimate either.

==SO, WHAT'S THE VERDICT?==​

• For the price, you'll rarely find an IEM with vocals as pleasant as this.
• Natural-sounding treble that is gently tuned but lacks support from micro-details that could be better for its price range.
• The nozzle is quite large.
• Recommendation? This is perfect for acoustic IEMs, no complaints there. Or for listening to melancholic songs all day long. But for other genres or as an all-rounder, it might not be suitable because the treble and bass are too relaxed and I prefer more energetic sounding.

That's it.
Trust your own ears.
Bye.

Review Of The Hisenior Mega5EST​

Introduction​

This is my second time reviewing an IEM from Hisenior, a Chinese-founded firm. Though I was just recently introduced to them, this business is widely recognized for its electro-acoustic gadgets. I was quite pleased with the T4 IEM's responsiveness. This time around, I had the opportunity to evaluate their flagship IEM, the Mega5EST, which is essentially a distinct version of the Mega 5P Ultra. The Mega5EST employs two EST and two balanced armatures in place of four balanced armatures. I thus want to make a few items clear before continuing.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the generous people at HiSenior Audio and Aural Cafe, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “Mega.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Mega based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

Two sonion EST drivers, two custom balanced armatures, and one 10mm bio-cellular dynamic driver are all part of the tribal configuration housed in the Mega and are coupled by a 4-way crossover. Because the shells are ergonomically formed and composed of resin, they fit my ears wonderfully and don't create any tiredness, even after extended periods of time spent listening. Regarding the White Whale cable, which is Hisenior's exclusive premium product, it is a UP-OCC silver plated cable with 4.4mm termination plugs on one end and two pin connections on the other. Additional accessories that come with the device are a cable clip, a clean wiper, a choice of eartips, and a pelican protective case. Regarding the technical specifications, the sensitivity is 105dB and the impedance is 25 Ohms. The range of the frequency response is 10Hz–50kHz.


***Above Image Credits***

Sound​

I could tell as soon as I heard the Mega that it was a very well-tuned IEM because of its remarkable tone and strong technical capabilities. The tuning is more in line with my own taste, which is a refined neutral with a sub bass boost character. I've listened to the Variations, OH700VB, EJ07M, and all of its rivals, but despite the fact that all of these IEMs have my favored response, the tonality is by far the safest and most pleasant sounding. The bass is powerful yet extremely well-controlled, the midrange is forward-sounding, and the treble is expansive and silky. With the exception of the fact that they aren't warm-sounding IEM, it sounds as calming overall as any other. Let's investigate the sound more thoroughly to learn more.

Treble​

What sets it apart from other IEMs in this pricing range is the treble.It's not hidden or subdued, nor is it energizing or particularly revealing.I want to emphasize that, for an IEM in this price range, the treble is smooth and silky, something I have never experienced.The sound from the upper treble range is expansive, airy, and stretched out far. The fact that the higher extension doesn't add any irritating elements is another benefit. The voices and instruments sound stretched and satisfying. The lower treble's natural timbre makes the notes feel calming and encompassing, and it also helps the singers and instruments build a stronger presence by sounding more revealing and energetic. I believe that the tone would have sounded a little contradictory in terms of offensiveness if the notes had been sharp rather than softened. However, the notes provide enough information to give the instruments and voices a crisp, professional sound. As a result, the treble zone appears silky, peaceful, and roomy overall.

Mid Range​

Once again, I have no complaints with the mid range.In comparing them to their rivals, I have to admit that others have a stronger understanding of both the amount and quality of notes.While the Mega's midrange presentation is more relaxed and somewhat flushed, it sounds successfully focal and open when the treble kicks in, maintaining a little laid-back tone.The voices tend to retain their rich and filling response in the high mid range, where the instruments seem more expansive and full.Surprisingly, though, both the note separation and placement are really well done, giving the music a clear, focused sound. My favorite range is the lower midrange because it maintains the weight and richness of the notes while maintaining a clear sound in the upper frequencies, which surprised me by making the notes seem more disclosed. As a result, the mid range area has a rich, pleasing, and organic sound overall.

Bass​

In terms of bass, I am rather impressed since the bass's quality is so gratifying that it effortlessly provides the necessary quantity of bass wherever and whenever it is needed. Although the bass may seem underappreciated at first, it becomes noticeable when listening to music with a lot of bass. It is big and robust without becoming bloated or intrusive. The sub bass range is where the concentration lies, and as pressure is sensed inside the ear canal, the rumbling feeling is quite effective. Although the blows are equally powerful, the presence of the mid-bass area responds more successfully. Though not very strong, the smashes and thumps work nicely with the sub bass to provide a hearty response when needed. The amount and control of the bass more than make up for the somewhat inaccurate and unresolved texture and details. Overall, the bass area is presented in a pleasing, weighty, and extremely well-controlled manner.

Technical Performance​

I must also admit that, in terms of technical ability, I think Mega5EST to be on level with other IEMs, if not superior to the Variations or OH700VB. All things considered, though, the quality and response are adequate to make this IEM worth the price. Let's continue our discussion regarding the technological potential of the Mega.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The stage is rather large; in terms of comparison, it is similar to UM MEXT but obviously smaller than the Monarch MKII. Because of how well the notes are separated from one another and how easy it is for me to tell where the sound is coming from, I think the Mega's large and expansive response is among the best I have heard in this price range. I think it falls a little short in terms of clarity and precision in the picture.

Speed & Resolution​

The resolution is undoubtedly high, but although the macro details are sufficient to ensure the response's quality and clarity, the micro details aren't really illuminating. The fast-paced onslaught and fade of the notes eventually maintains the mix's cleanliness.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - Mega sounds more expressive when listened to with WM1A since the voice response is raised, particularly in the high mid range. The entire midrange has a livelier, more forward tone to it. The treble continues to sound as it did previously, but the bass is now more powerful and impacting. The reaction, in my opinion, is still smooth and pleasant but is more lively and energized.

Tempotec V6 - The response is really clear and revealing while listening to Mega over the V6, but it's not as crisp or detailed as I had anticipated. Even yet, the bass has a more restrained sound, with a hint of restrained intensity in the midrange. The vocals sound the same in the midrange, but when actual high frequency notes are emphasized in the recordings, the reaction seems a touch sickening. However, the intensity forces the notes to sound more revealing.

Aful SnowyNIght - While listening to Mega5EST with snowynight, the response seems more expansive and detailed, particularly in the upper frequencies. One thing I noticed with every pair coupled with snowynight was that the expressive quality of the upper midrange was more prominent in the mix, making the Mega5EST seem more spacious and airy.

Colorfly CDA-M2 - While listening to Mega with M2, the response seems more centered, as if the layering and imaging of the notes helped to bring the notes closer together while yet achieving a wide sounding response, as the voices sound somewhat more expressive. In addition, the bass and treble are more subdued, which makes it seem a little uninteresting in my opinion. But altogether, it sounds enjoyable to listen to.

Tracks​

Millet - Anytime Anywhere
Anri - I can’t stop the loneliness
Kohana Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Uru - Kimino Shiawasewo
Uru - Kamihitoe
Kujira Yumemi - Kenka
Majiko - Kokoronashi
Anly - Sukinishinayo
Kohama Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Miliyah - Kono Yumega Samerumade
Rokudenashi - The Flame Of Love
Yu-Peng Chen - A New Day with Hope
Yu-Peng Chen - Another Hopeful Tomorrow
Yu-Peng Chen - For Riddles, for Wonders
Valentino Khan - Satellite
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Jawns - Erotica
ISOxo - how2fly
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Weeknd - Popular
YUNGBLUD - When We Die(Can We Still Get High)
Bring to Horizon - Kool-Aid
Middle Kids - Bend
FLETCHER - Leads Me On
Loathe - Aggressive Evolution
The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
Sigrid - Burning Bridges
AURORA - Black Water Lilies
AURORA -
X Ambassadors - Renegades
Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Can’t Hold Us
Goyte - Somebody That I Used To Know
Jay-Z - Run This Town
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Ladytron - Ghost
Travis - Love Will Come Through
LINKIN PARK - Somewhere I Belong
DJ Shadow - Six Days (Remix)
Hoobastank - The Reason
Ricky Martin - I Don’t Care
Tool - 7empest
Tool - Vicarious
A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song
Zack Hemsey - Vengeance
Elton John - I’m Still Standing
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin
Micheal Sembello - Maniac
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
A.R. Rahman - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

As I wrap up my evaluation, I think that Hisenior has a tendency to make easy-to-listen IEMs that appreciate every nuance of the tuning and sound profile. The Mega5EST is a product of this tendency, regardless of how its rivals fare. The sound that Mega5EST provides is sophisticated and unique in a manner, regardless of whether it sounds more tonally or detailed. Therefore, I wholeheartedly suggest them, and anybody who enjoy neutral response with a sub boost boost will be thoroughly delighted.