Hypersense HEX02

Costing a lil over $20, Hypersense HEX02 has the build quality of a $100 earphones, but unfortunately not a $100 sound. My first impression of this earphone is that it is made to last. A huge portion of the earphone is made of shinny metal, presumably stainless steel, the cable is reinforced by a cleverly designed strain relief and the whole construction just inspires confidence and screams quality. It felt great to unbox this baby and feels even better when I hold it in my hands.

HEX02 sounded a little thin even when I maxed out the volume on my laptop. If you are using it with an amplifier you should not have the same problem. This earphone hovers in a different sonical spectrum of Lypertek MEVI, HEX02 is flatter sounding in comparison and less exciting to listen to. Then again it all comes down to personal preferences, some prefer a more original sound presentation and some prefer something else.



There is a huge brand plate at the back of this earphone. If you take a look at hypersense.cn (their official website) you will notice that they are offering customization service, so that means you can order a batch of HEX02 with your company brand printed on the backplate, hmm okay now it is making a whole lot of sense...

The cable looks thin and feels supple. That is actually a good thing for me, I have never liked hefty cables and I am not religious. I can not lug a copper or silver chain around my neck whole day and I am inclined to accept the trade off in sound... if there’s any. The official website stated that HEX02 uses Monocrystalline copper wires that are reinforced by Kevlar fibers. Esoteric and NASA as they sound, those are but fancy words to describe an average copper earphone cable.



Being a metal earphone, HEX02 has this metallic overtone that I can clearly hear when I listen to podcasts and that is not a desirable thing. I encountered the same phenomena with HifiBoy Dream I reviewed a while ago but believed that such an overtone contributes to a holographic sound. Since the soundstage of HEX02 is not especially spacious, it does nothing positive to the sound. For normal or non-critical listening, the metallic overtone blends into music and I was not aware of it so that does not bother me.



Specification

Earphone Type: In- Ear
Connection Type: Wired
Plug Type: 3.5mm gold-plated plug
Cable Length: 1.35m Monocrystaline Kevlar copper
Driver: 9mm dynamic
Impedance: 16ohm
Sensitivity: 95dB
Frequency response: 20Hz-40 KHz
Rated Power: 10mW

Onto the sound, I think Hypersense HEX02 is rather flat sounding. The treble and bass extension is also quite average and the soundstage is not as wide as the similarly priced Lypertek MEVI.



I believe HEX02 is not meant for classical or instrumental songs, instruments sounded jumbled-up but thankfully male or female vocal rendition is decent all thanks to its skillful handling of mids but anything else is just not outstanding. Having listened to many budget earphones, I can straight up say that the instrument placement of HEX02 is not quite up to par with similarly priced competitors (okay, no mention of MEVI since the instrument placement of MEVI is not great either). I am biased in favor to U-shape or in layman term “the mainstream tuning”, so to me HEX02 does not deliver enough sparkle in the treble and punch in the bass.

I meant to write this review as simple and straight forward as possible... so to recapitulate, Hypersense Eclipse HEX02 looks and feels like an earphone that costs 2 to 3 times more than its price but does not sound more than its price tag. Soundwise, HEX02 is the polar opposite of Lypertek MEVI. While MEVI, at least in my POV is clearly nicer sounding, it is not built half as tough as HEX02. Probably due to the difference in sizes, HEX02 does not fit as well as Mevi but it is nevertheless quite comfortable to use for long compared to most other IEMs. Note: Mevi fits like a glove to me.

I rummaged through Hypersense website and tried in vain to find any other products. Contrary to what the name implies, HEX02 is probably the first product from Hypersense. I can’t help but to wonder where is HEX01 or the mark I?



So... I guess if you care about the look and durability of an earphone, Hypersense Eclipse HEX02 is clearly a good choice, else you should look elsewhere for better options.


Disclaimer

I would like to thank Hypersense and Penon for sending me this earphone for review. I wrote my reviews based on how I feel (sometimes under the influence of alcohol) and I am not obliged to glorify any products.

Greetings!

Today we’re checking out the HEX02, a very competent single dynamic based earphone from newcomers to the scene, Hypersense.

I don’t really know much about this brand other than they are still building their website (www.hypersense.cn) and look to have a second product in the works, the HEX01. Like TinAudio, it seems they released their mid-range model first, and are building the brand around that. It worked for TinAudio with the T2, and I think it could work for Hypersense given the quality on offer from the HEX02.

Coming in under 30 USD, Hypersense has dropped the HEX02 into a very competitive and congested market, one where sub-par offerings tend to disappear before they even get going. I think it is plenty competitive, and one of the stronger offering to cross my plate. Let’s take a closer look.

Disclaimer:

A big thanks to Chi at Penon Audio for arranging and sending over a complimentary sample of the Hypersense HEX02. All thoughts and opinions within this review are my own and are not representative of Penon, Hypersense, or any other entity. There was no financial incentive provided to give this a positive review or otherwise.

At the time of this review, the HEX02 could be picked up for 25 USD: https://penonaudio.com/hypersense-hex02.html

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures in my headphones I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even and natural mid-range response, with reduced mid-bass. The HiFiMan RE800, Brainwavz B400, and thinksound On2 offer unique examples of signatures I enjoy.


Packaging and Accessories:

The HEX02 arrives in compact square box with a pleasing black and blue color scheme. On the front you have a wireframe image of the rear of the earpiece along with the usual branding and model information. Flipping to the back is a list of specifications and some info about who makes sese; LinDo Technology Co. Ltd out of Songshan Lake, Dongguan, China. Inside is piece of cardboard with a circular cutout showing off the earpieces and the included ear tips set within a circular foam insert. Underneath that is the soft carrying pouch and ear guides slipped within yet another cardboard holder. In all you get;

• HEX02 earphones
• Carrying pouch
• Flexible ear guides
• Single flange silicone tips (s/m/l)

For such a slender box, it’s a surprisingly layered and interesting unboxing experience. Quite satisfying actually.


Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

The HEX02’s design seems inspired by the old Dunu Trident with a flared rear end and taper leading into the nozzles. It is well crafted using stainless steel for the housings, y-split, and compact straight jack. The rear of the housing also has a plastic or glass insert which contains the Hypersense logo in black and blue and looks pretty cool. Surrounding the ear pieces is a ring of rubbery, flexible plastic that doubles as a very effective strain relief. Strain relief leading into the bottom of the y-split and jack is handled by small rubber extensions that reach a few millimeters up the cable. They seem to do a good job of supporting the cable when bent. The inline mic module is free of strain relief. That isn’t ideal, but it is common for the price range. Also common is the relatively uninspired plastic which doesn’t feel particularly durable. At least the buttons are very well distinguished with the central button being significantly recessed, yet still easy to press. They give off a satisfyingly tactile “k-chunk” when pressed. It’s a nice controller to use. The copper cable uses a TPE rubber sheath with Kevlar fibre reinforcement inside, and I really like it. It doesn’t transmit a ton noise when rubbing against clothes, it’s remarkably memory resistant, and despite being a little grippy does a decent job of avoiding tangling too. It’s not particularly thick, but it isn’t thin and delicate either. I gues the only thing going against the HEX02 in terms of build is that there is a hint of driver flex if you insert them too quickly. The ear pieces are vented, but the vents are very, very small and seem not to release pressure quickly enough to counter some mild flex.

The shape of the housings and extended nozzles gives the HEX02 a very universal fit that works well cable up or down. While they’re steel, they’re very light so you don’t have to worry about them tugging at your ears and there aren’t any sharp edges to touch your ear and cause discomfort. Once in place, they feel stable and simply feel good to wear. No complaints regarding comfort and long term wearability.

Isolation is great for a single dynamic. According to some marketing material I’ve seen, Hypersense eqipped the HEX02 with a dual-chamber system to help improve isolation. Front the images on their site (http://www.hypersense.cn/en/index_hex02_en.html#detail) it looks like there is one chamber in front of the driver with a tiny pin hole vent to let pressure out during insertion, and another chamber behind with another pinhole vent to allow the driver to breathe. Whatever they’re done, it works. With foam tips, it isolates nearly as well as a number of my seal single balanced armature earphones. Even with basic silicone tips, typing and the murmur of people nearby is dulled significantly, and cars on the road nearby lightly whoosh by. These have been great for traveling about in busy areas.


Microphone Performance:

The mic on the HEX02 is pretty outstanding. My most successful test was a 15 minute call to my mom with a mix of slow driving through packed traffic and high speed driving on a side road, all with the windows open. She’s used to my tests by now and has no issues telling me to put the window up or switch to a better mic when she’s having trouble hearing me. At the end of the call, I asked how I sounded. “Better than usual” was the reply. When I told her the window was open the whole drive, she was quite shocked. I also tested the HEX02 using it to record some videos and my voice sounded clear, full-bodied, and with no background static or interference. The HEX02 is going up there with the Campfire Audio Comet, JVC HA-FRD60/80, and YHC S600 as one the best of the best I’ve tested.

Specifications:

• Driver: 9mm dynamic with a PET/Ti composite diaphragm
• Sensitivity: ~95dB @1KHz
• Resitance: 32ohms
• Rated Power: 10mW
• Frequency Range: 20-40,000Hz

Sound:

Tips: The stock tips are decent, but I swapped them out pretty early for KZ “Starlines”. The nozzles are a pretty standard 5mm at their widest, but behind that are much more slender so my usual wide bore staples from JVC and others sat a bit too loosely for comfort. KZ’s tips didn’t alter the sound at all and are more comfortable than the generic stock silicones, so they were used for this review.

Device and Amping: The HEX02 is very easy to drive. I liked it best out of a neutral to brighter device like the Shanling M1, Walnut V2S, or the HiFi E.T. MA8 which gave it a very clean, well-controlled sound. I didn’t get any benefit out of amping, so while I used my TEAC HA-501 for most of my at home music output (sourced by my ASUS FX53V), it definitely wasn’t necessary.

The HEX02 has a very popular tune common among the budget earphone scene; mildly boosted bass with a dip through the lower mids that raise as you head into the upper mids, topping off with a treble spike in the 7k region to add some spice. Where the HEX02 succeeds compared to similarly tuned products is in how this tune is presented.

Treble is tight and precise with no distracting looseness or splashiness. It is nicely weighted and doesn’t come across overly lean or so thick that it detracts from the overall clarity. The spike adds some airness that helps with separation and clarity which are handled well. It’s not as impressive as some budget hybrids like the ZSA from KZ, but far more clear than other budget single dynamics like the ColaRad C2 and BGVP MRY6.

The mid-range has some body and warmth to it and does a good job of remaining coherent and prominent. Female vocals come across slightly more emphasized on most tracks and are handled with greater delicacy on intimate tracks. The opening track for Piya Re in particular sounds lovely with the artists slight breathiness captured perfectly. Tracks with both male and female vocals show that the HEX02 can balance these various aspects well, nearly as impressively as the TinAudio T1 and T2 to my ears. On Big Grams’ “Put It On Her”, Sarah Barthel’s lusty voice and Big Boi’s rap compliment each other flawlessly. Add to that the subtle bass line, drumming, and horns playing in the background and the HEX02 shows great capacity for engagement.

Hypersense surprised me with the balance they chose for the HEX02’s low end. Sub-bass is elevated with a fairly even slope downwards leading through the mid- and sub-bass regions. This is evident on Massive Attack’s “I Against I (feat. Mos Def)” and the opening drop of Kavinski’s “Solli”. Texture is good and the HEX02 has some decent kick and punch to it, but it can’t touch the visceral ear-tickler that is the KZ ED15 in these aspect.

The HEX02’s sound stage is one of decent width and depth, not extending much beyond the ears. I found it evenly sized though and with some great separation between instruments that help give the impression of a larger stage than it really is. It’s quite layered as well for a single dynamic, falling short of only the most recent multi-driver KZ hybrids. The ColaRad C2, BGVP MRY6 and YSP04, Nabolang F910 have a much flatter presentation.

Overall I am pretty darn impressed with the HEX02’s sonic performance. It doesn’t show off the raw clarity and micro-detail of similarly priced hybrids or more treble and mid-focused products, nor the slamming bass of some other models that place more focus on the low end. Where it succeeds is in the balance of it all, coming across refined and mature, detailed yet smooth. It’s a product I would have expected to come from a more established brand expanding into the budget realms, not a newcomer starting off there.


Select Comparisons:

Brainwavz Jive (28.00 USD): The Jive has been a benchmark product in this price range for me for a while now. The HEX02 goes head-to-head with it, and comes out slightly on top, when taking into account my personal preferences. Starting with the low end, the Jive is more punchy but the HEX02 digs deeper with a more visceral sub-bass focus. They are similarly textured. The Jive’s mid-range is slightly recessed but shows more detail. Treble is similarly emphasized with the Jive being brighter. The Jive’s spike is in the 5k region versus the HEX02’s 7k peak which makes sense as to why I perceive the Jive as the more detailed of the two. I find the HEX02 to have a more full-bodied sound overall which to me makes it sound more natural.

In terms of build they are equals. The Jives flawless aluminum shells look and feel great, slotting comfortably into the ear cable up or down, just like the HEX02. Isolation isn’t as good on the Jive though. The cables are similar too. Above the y-split the Jive’s cable is a bit thinner and more flexible, but retains some memory. Below the y-split the Jive’s cable is slightly thicker with a less dense feeling sheath that again, retains some memory. Strain relief on the Jive is better at the y-split and jack, but too stiff leading into the housings to be useful. The HEX02’s ear piece relief is excellent in comparison.

BGVP MRY6 (24.90 USD): The MRY6 has a larger sound stage with greater depth than the HEX02. Imaging is less precise, but sounds have more space to move. It has a thicker presentation top to bottom and as such sounds lightly veiled when a/bing with the Hypersense, particularly in the lower treble and mid-range where detail and clarity are also behind the HEX02. Bass on the MRY6 is bigger and more viscera with some additional texture, though there is some extra mid-bass that add some bloat not present on the HEX02. Treble on the HEX02 is slightly more elevated with greater control. The MRY6’s treble has a dull sheen to it that takes the shimmer out of cymbals.

In terms of build, the MRY6 is hard to beat. I’m not a fan of the design for a number of reasons, but the machining quality and materials are flawless. The cable is also stiffer but thicker and more durable than what you get on the HEX02. The HEX02 takes a huge step forward in terms of ergonomics, for me, due to the MRY6’s pudgy housings and short nozzle. Those qualities make finding tips that fit way more of a challenge than it needs to be. The HEX02 isolates much more successfully.

Final Thoughts:

What can I say? The HEX02 is a really nice earphone. It’s got a common sound signature that is proven to be popular, performing at a higher level than most of the competition I’ve tried in the price range. It’s stainless steel housings are nicely crafted with great fit and finish, comfortable, well-isolating, and plug into your device via a behaved, though slightly delicate feeling cable. The inline mic is also amazing, especially for something so inexpensive. The unboxing experience is pretty cool too, even if the included accessories aren't anything special, nor particularly plentiful.

I really have no complaints with this one and am excited to see what Hypersense comes up with next. Hopefully the HEX02 isn’t their only success.

Thanks for reading!

– B9Scrambler


Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock – Skelethon (Album)
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (Album)
Elton John – Yellow Golden Brick Road (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Converting Vegetarians (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bone) (Album)

Hypersense is a new Chinese brand that has joined the IEM manufacturer market recently. They’re located in Dongguan, China and are a subsidiary of LinDo Technology CO., Ltd. Today we’re looking at their first product release; the Hypersense HEX02. Should you be getting hyped about it? Let’s take a look.

At the time of writing, the Hypersense HEX02 is listed at $25 and available from Penon Audio here.

This product was provided for the purpose of an honest review. I’m not affiliated with the company and all observations and opinions here are my own.

Pros

• Clear sound with big bass
• Solid build quality with good attention to detail
• Price

Cons

• Bass will be heavy for some
• Some cable noise (microphonics)

SPECIFICATIONS

• Impendence: 16Ω
• Driver diameter: 9mm
• Diaphragm material: PET / Ti composite material
• Rated power: 10mW
• Sensitivity: ≥95dB (@ 1kHz)
• Frequency response range: 20 ~ 40kHZ
• Wire material: 1.35m environmental TPE

Package and Accessories

• Hypersense Hex02 earphone
• 3x pairs of silicone eartips (S, M, L)
• 1x pair of silicone earhooks
• Drawstring pouch

The Hypersense Hex02 comes in a small black box with blue highlights. Inside, the first thing you see is a black envelope, containing the drawstring pouch. While I don’t find these pouches all that useful, it’s still nice to see them included.

Sitting in a piece of circular black foam with cutouts is the earphone, along with the spare eartips. It’s a great looking presentation, made even more impressive by the tiny size of the box. The cable is wound around the foam which is an excellent idea, as it means there are no kinks in it when you first take it out of the box.

Under the foam is a small plastic bag containing the earhooks. Overall, it’s a really solid bundle considering the build quality (details below) and the price.



Build Quality and Design
Starting with the super-hard alloy shells, it’s immediately apparent that the HEX02 is a well-constructed IEM. The main body of the shells is a standard cylindrical shape until you get to the back, where it flares out into a flat disc shape.

On the back end of the shells is the Hypersense logo in blue, black and silver colours. And what’s interesting here is there’s a layer of crystal or glass – similar to the face of a wristwatch or glass back found on some mobile phones. It’s super smooth and looks really classy.

A black, stiff rubber band wraps around the rear of the housing and extends down to form a strain relief. The HEX02’s shells are lightweight but feel very robust and durable. On the front end, there is a straight nozzle that has a well-defined lip that holds your eartips securely in place.

There is a tiny vent near the base of the nozzle and another one near the cable entry point. They’re really small but must be effective because I did not experience any driver flex during testing. Last but not least, the nozzles have a metal mesh grill to keep out debris and earwax.



Cable
Following on from the quality of the IEM shells, the HEX02’s cable is also high quality (for the price). The black rubberized sheath is smooth, supple and free of any kinks or unruly bounciness.

On the right side of the cable is the three-button remote and microphone which is made from black plastic. The buttons have a nice tactile click and worked perfectly with my Android smartphone for adjusting volume, play/pause and skipping or rewinding tracks. The middle button is recessed, making it super easy to find the right button by feel; little details like this make a positive difference.

I would have liked to see some strain relief at either end of the inline control, as that seems the most likely point of possible failure down the road. There’s a cylindrical metal Y-split and the cable terminates with a straight metal 3.5 mm plug.



Comfort and Noise Isolation
Thanks to being lightweight and ergonomically sound, the Hypersense HEX02 is a very comfortable earphone. It’s something I could keep in my ears all day, were life to grant me that luxury. I didn’t feel any pressure buildup or discomfort at any stage during use.

These can be worn cable down or over-ear. I prefer to wear them cable down but if I’m on the move it’s great to have the option of going over-ear as it almost eliminates any microphonics (cable noise).

Passive noise isolation is above average. I often didn’t hear people talking to me, even when I was listening at a relatively low volume. The HEX02 is perfect for noisy environments and public transport etc.

Sound
Full-bodied with an emphasis on bass and mid-bass in particular, the HEX02 has a warm, V-shaped signature. A clear but slightly recessed midrange followed by upper midrange and lower treble peaks at 3.7kHz and 7kHz respectively round out the sound.



GEAR USED FOR TESTING

• Acoustic Research AR-M20
• Benjie T6
• Samsung Galaxy Note 5

The HEX02 is easy to drive, being well-suited to use with a smartphone or low-powered DAP. Due to its already warm signature, I prefer a neutral or brighter source for pairing.

BASS
Reaching towards basshead levels, the HEX02’s low end is exaggerated and somewhat dominant. Bass notes are thick with a fairly slow decay. The soft edges of kick drums result in a heavy, weighted impact. There is some bass bleed into the midrange that adds a fair amount of extra body to it.

Sub-bass sits a little behind the mid-bass and has decent extension but falls off moderately quickly below 30kHz. The 808 bass in NWA’s “She Swallowed It” has significant rumble but lacks true depth.

MIDS
Despite the heavy emphasis on bass, the HEX02’s midrange is surprisingly clear and detailed. Vocals are rich and have decent tonality but are somewhat distant in the upper registers. The HEX02’s resolving ability is quite good but you might not notice so much on bass-heavy tracks as the bass tends to overshadow the presentation. The upper midrange boost adds some much-needed clarity that helps to balance the boosted low frequencies.

TREBLE
The treble is fairly neutral and non-offensive., making the HEX02 good for extended listening. There’s no sibilance despite the 7kHz peak, plus it adds a hint of sparkle and airiness. After the 7kHz peak, it starts to fall off quite rapidly though, so it ends up sounding a little flat and sacrifices some of the finer details in favour of maintaining smoothness.

SOUNDSTAGE
The soundstage holds up well considering the amount of bass that the HEX02 delivers. It favours width more than depth, keeping vocals (in particular male vocals) fairly dense and intimate. Imaging is actually quite solid and instrument separation is admirable for a $25 IEM but things can get muddled in busy tracks.

Comparisons
LIPERTEK MEVI
What I really like about the MEVI is its bass; it’s balanced and has a nice combination of weight and texture. The MEVI has a more forward midrange that sounds more natural in the lower registers. It has a crisp treble with sharper definition but is a little unruly. Unlike the HEX02, the MEVI does get edgy in the lower treble, which at times can cause some discomfort.

Both of these IEMs have an original and unique styling and quality construction that belies their modest prices.

If I could take the bass and midrange of the MEVI and pair it with the HEX02’s treble it would be a killer IEM.

TIN AUDIO T1
The T1 (review here) is a rare beast. It’s unusual to find such a well-balanced IEM in the sub $40 range. The T1’s bass is very tame compared to the HEX02 but it has much more texture and definition. Thanks to its balanced nature, the T1’s midrange is more forward and it also doesn’t need that lower treble peak to give it clarity. The T1’s presentation is effortless where the HEX02 feels as though it’s trying to prove something with its exaggerated low end.

When it comes to build quality, both these IEMs really nailed it. They both boast metal shells that are robust and lightweight but the glass back on the HEX02 really adds a touch of class and gives it a premium feel.



Hypersense HEX02 Conclusion
The Hypersense HEX02 is a fun IEM that leans towards a fun sound rather than tonal accuracy, which is quite common for budget earphones. What I find most appealing about it is its unique styling, comfort and aesthetics.

It’s a fairly typical consumer-oriented sound that is nothing extraordinary but it’s certainly not bad, and with the high level of build quality taken into consideration, I think it offers pretty good value. So if you’re looking for a competent low-price earphone with a focus on bass, you should check out the Hypersense HEX02.

*This review was originally posted on my blog. You can see my other reviews over at Prime Audio.