The energetic Bass Cannon from UK
IMR BC 2023
Disclaimer
The BC 2023 is my first IEM from IMR, I bought it with my own money. All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after using them for many months, I have no association with IMR writing this.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you. While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.
About me and my gear used for the review
My audio preference is neutral with increased low end, mids can be forward but not too much. I can also handle some treble spikes if it is not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned IEMs for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.
Main music genres I listen to are Metal, Electronica, Jazz, Indy rock/metal, R&B, Pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there. I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman and Minidisc.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play. My wife has also played many instruments from string to wind instruments and also piano.
My current standard in Headphones is ZMF Verite and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current standard in IEMs is AüR Audio NEON Pro and Penon Serial. The NEON Pro has 10 BAs, and has a near perfect tonality for me on the brighter side. The Penon Serial that also has a near perfect tonality for me, that is more euphonic, relaxing and organic sounding with its triple DD configuration. Both of them have sound signatures that I can listen to all types of music with.
Another set that has shown me how good DD can be in the low end is the AüR Audio Aurora, while not taking over the mids and showing superb natural sound.
In general 3 good sets that set the stage high when I compare other sets.
Gear used in the main rig is Topping E70 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokuis I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.
I have also used the Feliks Audio Echo, one of the more silent OTL amps.
Portable gear used during the review: Penon Tail, Truthear SHIO, Tempotec Sonata HD II , Hiby R6 III, Quidelix 5k.
I have a good range of cables from ISN, DUNU, Penon, NiceHCK, XINHS and Gladiator Cables.
Note on photo, kind of funny since this can give you the same wake up call as a fresh cup of coffee.
So what is the IMR BC 2023
IMR Acoustics was founded in 2017 by Bob, it's a brand that is based in the UK. They have many followers all over the world, even if there have been some controversies around the brand. The models they make are for the most part ordered before they are made, this has given many people a headache. Reason of this is that IMR is a master of delayed products, promised shipping dates overdue and more.
Many of their builds have been focused on having a good tonality with enough bass, especially since Bob loves bass. But there have also been models with more of a reference sound, with very special combinations of drivers. Overall an exotic line-up of models, but once sold out its second hand marker only. It is one run per product, and just lately Bob has started to have some models partnered with Penon to have as stock models.
The BC2023 is made in metal and has a very small shell, the backside is very open so you don't get that plugged in feeling so much. Good balance in the weight, not too heavy or light. Nozzle is fairly long and big, and has some comfort problems for me. But the problem was more due to angle and that the shell is small, it makes it harder to sit secure and get a good seal. Some tip rolling and a soft cable solved it, and I can use them for quite some long time without pain.
Taken from the product page of BC 2023.
https://imracoustics.com/products/imr-bc
I know many of you are bass heads (me too) and I have wanted to create the ultimate audiophile bass head IEM for a while.
The BC (bass cannon) is that very IEM!
Utilizing the all new 2023 IMR ADLC Bass Dynamic driver combined with the an all new midrange/treble ADLC (amorphous diamond like carbon) driver provides a bass heads dream IEM.
The sub bass is the most substantial and clear I could make with smooth and seamless transitions into the mid bass. Staging has plenty of height, width and depth.
The trouble with bass rich IEM is always maintaining a balance between that rich sound and detail. The new BC sets new standards for a bashed IEM and adds that detail magic and provides all the detail you could ask for with beautiful placement, luscious vocals and a beautiful treble.
If you are an audiophile bass head, could this be your end game?
Further enhancing your tuning capabilities when combined with the IMR acoustic tuning nozzles (included).
The drivers are encased in a light weight compact all anodised aluminum CNC chassis for long term durability and finish.
Hand assembled and driver matched for unrivaled finish and sound!
IMR 2023 generation Wide band ADLC dynamic driver featuring rare earth Neodymium motors with a composite diaphragm + 6mm ADLC (amorphous diamond like carbon) driver
8 acoustic audio nozzles + 6 acoustic dampers
2 Pin detachable cable (3.5mm/2.5mm balanced)
Frequency response: 8- 40000Hz
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Sensitivity: 102 +/- 3DB
24ct Gold plated 3.5mm Jack
1.4M length OFC cable
6.35mm Adapter
Carry case for all equipment
Huge selection of ear tips for the perfect fit
Limited to 50 units per run. 100 units per year total.
REQUIRES 200/300hrs + BURN IN TIME
Package and accessories
What IMR provides is excellent. There are two copper cables, one balanced and one unbalanced. Nothing spectacular about them, they sound OK and should be more than good to get your going. There is some memory in the cable and the ear guide is not perfect, for me they do not sit very secure.
Eartips are silicon, foam and double flanged silicone. The orange and gray ones are very good quality.
There is also a normal 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapter.
You also get two blocks of metal with all the filters secured in one place.
The case provided is great, but is too big to take with you. So it is better to use just as a storage container at home for all the accessories.
Timbre
First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The
Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and
pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"
First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.
First time listening to BC 2023 was horrible, no way around it. Bass was non-existent, even my neutral flathead earbuds had the same amount of low end. The sound was overall very sharp and metallic, with a horrible timbre.
Had to have my friend test it, to be sure it's not just a sealing problem. He said the same, same did my wife when testing.
As always on IMR the description said hundreds of hours of burn in is needed, 300-500 hours in and no change. Was about to complain and ask for a refund, and asked my wife to start my DAP so it could burn in another 12 hours. What I didn't know is that the small R3 III was at high gain and 100% volume, enough volume to ruin your hearing after some seconds most likely. Guess what, the sound and drivers opened up. Bass got huge, mids clear and forward. Upper mids and treble still on the more forward almost metallic side, but much better.
So the sound here is fast and visceral, with a grand stage. Bass is tight with really good slam and speed, the amount is also on the bigger side. Mids forward and detailed, more on the clear side than thick and lush. Treble is clear and slightly sharp, and the stage is bigger than your average set.
Also a note about filter combos, I have preferred to use the stock black on black config. Another combo I liked was black bass filter and Gold for the treble, this gives the least aggressive upper mids. Had to use black bass filters on all the combinations, as the BC 2023 needed balance to balance out the sharp upper range.
Going to use the ranges here in review:
Prefer not to use any measurement when evaluating, but since I had problems I asked bob for the measurement of the BC 2023. Here with the stock black filters.
Bass
Once working as it should the bass is visceral, digs deep and can both rumble and slam hard. Sub range goes deep and I can not hear the roll off that the measurement is showing.
What I mean with visceral is that the bass is very fast, and rebounds extremely fast for a dynamic driver. Usually I am not that happy with this style of bass, but here is sounds very good and pairs well with the right music.
The mid bass is boosted and help give darker vocals some extra fullness, and have some bleed because of it.
Mids
Starting with vocals, it is boosted especially on darker vocals. This will also make some female vocals get too thick to some degree, but at the same time the more clear fast sound of the driver makes it less annoying than on slower sets with boosted mid bass. Maybe one of the reasons is also since the sibilance dip in the treble region is quite large, this takes away some of the presence on the brighter females. For this reason I can find one album having great vocals, then on the next artis it sounds like trash. So it lacks coherence going from music to music.
Instruments in general are good, and the more dry and sharp nature makes especially metal instruments very correct and addicting with extra lifelike qualities. Listened to some acoustic guitar with steel strings, and the sound is remarkable. Then go to something like a clarinet with a more mellow tone and I find it lacking soul.
Because of this I find it better with pop, rock, metal, electronica and other genres where they use less orchestral instruments. Also on much of my jazz the extra upper mid sharpness makes it unbearable on especially brass instruments.
Treble and Air
First start with the sibilance dip, it's a little too big where it removes some of the sparkle on females and on cymbals and such. But at the same time how the tonality and sharp tone is, not dipping it this much would have made it unbearable to listen to on a lot of music.
Overall the treble detail is very clear and forward, and I don't find it lacking. It is very detailed with lots of elements showing in all types of music, just when entering orchestral works I notice lack of air on certain pieces.
Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage is very large to be an IEM, closer to earbud level in width and depth. It is wider than how forward it is, the forwardness is more similar to the best I have tried in an IEM. While the width is maybe the widest I have ever tried for an IEM, impressive and addictive. Especially fun on some live rock recordings where the stage is already big, then BC 2023 can show it vaste power.
Imaging is quite good and average for an IEM.
Synergies
A small part about what gear I have been enjoying the most with the BC 2023.
Pure copper has been my favourite, my Gladiator Cables copper Starry Night is perfect. I also like the NiceHCK Blacksoul as it takes always some of the upper mids, but it's subtle.
Tips have been a nightmare since I had comfort issues, the ones that have worked the best are Tri Clarion. The second tip in silicon that worked well is JVC Spiral Dot, it is very soft and contours easily to the ear canal. Sound also reduces some treble, making it less aggressive.
I loved N7, even though Cayin N7 is a warm sounding DAP with clear treble. It gave the soundstage even more room, and in a way kept the treble more clean than my ESS based devices.
Music
I will just talk about some of the music I like, the music I use here are some of my reference tracks and also just some I like. When I am listening to music and not evaluating, I prefer to listen to whole albums. When comparing the BC 2023 to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more.
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
One of my favorite tracks from Infected Mushroom, I always test it on every set of IEM. Found first about Infected Mushroom at my first full time work, the customer had to show off his $50000 stereo. I was sold and loved Infected Mushroom since.
Psy-trance with a touch of rock, it is a very long track with lots of progression and different parts.
The BC 2023 has a lovely sound here, the energetic nature of BC keeps it very entertaining. Lots of detail, in both the lowest parts and the rest. For some folks who are more treble sensitive this will perhaps be too much, I can handle more treble than many.
Both the electronic parts and the guitar are great.
Benjamin Wallfisch - Techno Syndrome 2021
Let's fight!
Grew up with Mortal Kombat on SNES, my friend had it in secret- All the boys gathered to play when no parents were there. But this is not about gaming, this track is a remake of the original..
My friend Kenneth from Singapore mentioned this one a while back, great electronica track. Very energetic and fast, with a more bright forward sound. Been using it to check for both fatigue and how it sounds.
The BC 2023 have great fast bass that goes very well here, but the amount of upper mids or treble do make it quite fatiguing. It is quite resolving and that makes it almost painful, the last part when the dubstep begins is full and impressive. It handles the speed excellent, not that weird since BC is very fast sounding.
Epsilon - Habalmas ft. Dycide
My famous bass rattle test, I often use it to check if a set can handle this. The low end is huge, try for yourself but do not cry if your set starts to rattle.
BC is very solidly built, the amount of pressure you get is immense. I do listen to this loud when testing, and it's fun to also see how much detail the other sounds have.
Bass is perfect, detail level is also quite good. Good spatial cues, and a sense of being drowned in sound all around.
Ahab - The Isle
Ahab is a German funeral doom metal band, an extreme sub genre of death metal. Doom funeral metal is a slow type of metal often very thick sounding, and it always sounds wrong on lean IEMs for me. This album is based upon the 1907 horror book The Boats of the ¨Glen Carrig¨ by William Hope Hodgson.
The soft start is magical, and if you don't know what type of album it is you would have been shocked later. The electric guitar is clear and magical and the bass is giving a great atmospheric vibe, his vocal drags you in with lyrics telling a story.
Rock or metal is superb on BC2023, the soft parts have such depth and finesse. While the more dramatic intense parts have all the grit and fullness it deserves. Growling is deep and nuanced, and clear so you can hear what he is saying. Some sets just drown the growling, not here.
The drums also are very real sounding with great impact, cymbals have nice crisp airiness. The electric guitar on the more mellow parts is dreamlike, with ethereal moments.
Eagles - hotel California (2013 Remaster)
This is already a very bright track, also a classic very many know. Perfect for checking soundstage and imaging cues, or just tonality since there is lots going on here.
The BC 2023 is too bright for this, so try a few times through then take a break.
Even if it's bright it has superb details going on, like how crisp and clear the whole picture is. Guitar is not dull and you can hear the steel strings resonating, drums have superb impact with also great cymbals tonality that just lack a little shimmer.
His voice is already lean here, so more forwardness would have helped. The BC is more neutral in the presentation of vocals, not too thick or thin.
Also the staging is rather deep with a great level of layering, very dynamic sounding and 3D.
Swallow the Sun - Songs from the North
Swallow the Sun usually makes melodic doom metal, disc 2 on this release is not really metal. It is focusing more on a relaxed listening with melodic acoustic music. This track has both instruments, male and female voice.
The BC 2023 makes the guitar and cymbal have a great crisp tonality, the drums have great impact. The bright nature does make the track slightly more energetic than my preference, at the same time it's so clear and nice sounding. She lacks some airyness when she sings, almost like the presence is lacking slightly.
The sound is almost a little metallic when both of them sing, something that happens for me if upper mids are boosted too much.
Overall I find the BC 2023 great here, I just wished for it to have a more organic sound.
Nao Yoshioka - Love is the Answer ( Tokyo Funk Sessions Ver.)
I love this version of Love is the Answer, the recording is superb. The players have made a masterpiece here, and Nao has a superb voice for this.
The BC2023 is a little too bright for my taste here, some of the instruments are a little piercing. I can be sensitive to brass when it's too forward, like it is here. Same for her voice, when she goes intense it shows that the presence region of the BC 2023 can be too forward.
The bass line can also be a little too much where it takes over some of the picture.
Sade - Smooth Operator
Sade with Smooth Operator is a classic, love the sound of her more mellow voice.
That drummin on the start is perfect for checking punch, the BC 2023 has a great sound to the drums with superb impact. The mellow tenor sax is also very very good, and the extra presence of BC 2023 helps it slightly. Also how the electric bass and guitar is great, with good detail and feel.
Her singing is great but lacks a little, could have had a more fullness as it's a little thin. Still how the track is done is on the darker side, and the brighter side of BC2023 breathes a little life to it.
millet - Tell Me
Quite a busy and complex track, millet can have a very tiresome voice. And it's clear immediately here for me that the upper mids have too much presence, she gets grainy and almost harsh.
There is never any problem that too much happens, as the rest of the sounds are good.
Just how her voice is done is not very pleasant, giving off a sort of gritty vibe. I tried some more bright Japanese female artists, and the same often happens where it's not very clean sounding. And this is at my threshold for fatigue.
Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker
Perfect for checking overall how full sounding and how forward the mids are. Leonard Cohen's husky voice has a lot of presence. The natural dark tone of his voice and the choir is represented, but has some gritty edge to it. But at the same time the BC 2023 gives him great authority and detail.
The staging has great layering, Leonard is a little away in front of you. While the choir is further spaced behind and to the side from him, and the last vocal is even further out and higher up.
Hanz Zimmer - Now We Are Free
Love this track, and I bet many others also do the same. Magical ending of the movie Gladiator, that can give me emotional feelings every time.
First I notice here is that Lisa Gerrard does not have the fullness I prefer, at the same time it has a good dynamic presence and not veiled at all. Her vocal is slightly pushed back with BC 2033, here it does help with changing to a more intense filter combo. Maybe this is also since I use the Serial or Aure when a playlist where this one is in.
There is a subtle drum in the back, more in the lowest range of bass. This is more forward than on my Penon Serial and similar to EST50. Show that BC2023 can dig quite deep.
The instruments are okay, nothing spectacular. Sounds very correct, just lacks a little detail and true to life timbre since it's a little metallic.
Soundstage is quite breathtaking and it all sounds very grand, with very good imaging capability.
Hans Zimmer - Mountains
Since I am already tested with one track from Zimmer, why not one more. Could have taken other tracks also from this soundtrack, lots of gems here.
The ticking clock at start accompanied by the instruments builds up more and more, and when it goes off it feels like I'm almost lifted from my chair. Such epic and grand it all is.
First off the dynamic range is huge, and never feels busy or congested when it takes off. The sound is overall very crisp and resolving, almost too intense on the last part. But this intense tonality also gives it a more sense of dramatic liveliness.
Epic performance and BC2023 does it very well.
Comparisons
Added a category for how fast they sound, the speed of BC 2023 is higher than fast BA sets. A very impressive thing.
Penon Serial
The Penon Serial is an IEM with 3 Dynamic Drivers, one for bass, mids and highs. The set is highly recommended by many people. Priced a little lower than BC 2023, a very musical IEM with great timbre. The Serial is warm with superb bass and mids, treble is clear but remains a little dark in comparison to the bass and mids.
Comfort is very good on Serial, but it has a spot on the shell that hurts after a while. So with the right tips, I might prefer the design of BC 2023 the most.
Bass is similar in loudness and rumble on both sets while the BC 2023 has some extra, the biggest difference here is how fast and visceral the BC 2023 is in comparison. Can be that the bass is louder on BC 2023 also, but since the upper mids is forward it balances it.
Both are superb for bass heads, I kinda see it as it depends on your mood which is best. Or maybe how BC nails speedy metal drums best and Serials low end wins on hip hop or reggae.
Mids are more thick on Serial, vocals are both thicker and more intimate sounding. For vocals I would choose the Serial every day, also retain more airyness on brighter females.
Instruments depend very much, slower music or orchestral pieces the Serial have the most pleasing and correct sound. Go to instruments like drums, the impact and more dry sound of BC 2023 gives it realism in a way. Same can be for electric guitar or many metal percussions, almost like it was made for metal instruments. With exception for some brass or wind instruments, they can get too much boost due to the upper mid energy.
Piano is also way better on the Serial, more natural and full timbre on the whole range from the lowest octave to the highest.
Treble is very similar in the forwardness, I pick up more detail on violins and percussions on the Serial. Some of the reason is due to the upper mids not being so aggressive, and also since the air is boosted more on the Serial. But even so the Serial sound darker than BC 2023, but I think this is more due to material and hoe the upper mids is done on BC.
Soundstage on the Serial has never been huge for me, maybe slightly over an average single DD IEM. But the serial is much more spherical than BC 2023, as the BC has a wider presentation. And on some recordings the BC 2023 can sound a little distant, then Serial sounds more correct. Imaging is very similar, maybe slightly better positioning on the Serial.
Overall resolution seems more nuanced and detailed on the BC2023, I pick up more micro detail. Just some instruments where the air region is used the Serial will show more sparkle.
AüR Audio Neon Pro
Not very fair since this is a 10 BA set costing around $700, it is my reference set and I love it for rock and metal. Neon Pro is one of the most resolving sets out there, energetic sound with superb imaging and soundstage. Using the Neon Pro with bass switch on as it makes them closer in the low end.
Comfort is a big step up for me with Neon Pro. I prefer this type of IEM design as it makes IEMs sit more comfortably and secure for me.
Bass is similar in amount on both, but in a way the BC is more visceral on some music with a sharper slam and even faster rebound. Maybe not weird as even if the NP can fool many to believe its DD, it's still BA bass while the BC 2023 has one of the best bass drivers I have tried.
Mid bass is forward on both, maybe more present in the BC 2023. BC has a more visceral bass compared to Neon Pro, but for some music the Neon Pro bass is more correct responding.
Mids are very different, both have forward mids. But how it sounds is the difference, Neon Pro is thick and easy on the ears. While BC 2023 is more crisp, it is more dry. At the same time the dry and metallic sound, makes metal strings and brass have superb bite on the BC 2023. But depending on recording or how you tolerate this it can be too much. More airiness and detail on females with Neon Pro, and NP can make male vocals more lush than the BC 2023.
The BC 2023 on female vocals is more sharp in the sound and can make the vocals appear more forward in a few songs.
Both have good treble detail, but as I mentioned the upper mids and low treble of the BC 2023 is too forward. The sibilance dip on the BC2023 is too big, and takes away some realism that Neon Pro has. There is also more air and sparkle going on with Neon Pro.
Soundstage is big on both, but I believe that BC 2023 is wider while both have the same forwardness. Layering is very similar, and for that matter very good.
Sade with Smooth Operator has more detail going on with Neon Pro, the resolution is on a higher level. Her voice has more feeling and nuance, like how when she goes high you hear more throbbing. Sax also has that extra realistic sound that I lack on BC 2023.
Habalmas my bass check track, has less bass on Neon Pro than the BC. But even if it is BA bass, the immense pressure is also here but maybe just a little less. The rest of the sound cues are more present and clear on Neon Pro, and you can hear the more metallic aspect of the BC 2023. But I would still choose the BC 2023 for every type of electronica if the treble is not too spicy.
The Isle is such a magical experience on Neon Pro, I immediately understood why I call Neon Pro the master of metal and rock. Neon Pro is also an energetic set, but the timbre is more rounded and never hard or metallic like on the BC 2023. The sound is more pleasing and natural sounding, be it drums, guitars or the growling. But wow the BC 2023 is also good, but in a way where it wants to destroy you with intense sound.
Hotel California has overall higher resolution on Neon Pro, be it instruments, vocals or just how the spatial cues are separated. The sound is more musical and not painful with Neon Pro.
Deeply Disturbed is great on both, both have superb tonality for it. BC 2023 is more metallic bright, while the Neon Pro is more warm. If we talk about detail it goes to Neon Pro, but not that weird since it's one of the kings for detail under $1000. But on this one I like both, and the DD of BC makes me love the BC 2023. It also plays so well with guitars that use metal strings, like made for it.
Conclussion
I started my journey with IMR on the rough side, luck and patience made it worth it. The BC 2023 truly lives up to its name, bringing the best bass Bob can make with great tonality elsewhere also. The bass can both slam and rumble with authority, while also giving you a clear and energetic sound in the mids and highs. And the soundstage width and depth is remarkable.
Not the IEM to use for every type of music out there, and clearly not when tired. The sound is both addicting and brutal, use this for a week and most of your other sets will sound dull after.
Even if the name says bass cannon this is the full deal, the mids are on a high level with maybe a little too much upper energy for some. Treble is also very good, with lots of detail and never boring. But the star of the show is the bass for me, such immense slam and speed. Every drum hit sounds so real and impactful, it reminds me of live concerts. And this is where it excels the most, both studio and live rock and metal recording is so extremely satisfying.
So in the end I love the BC 2023, and it will stay in my collection for use with rock, metal and electronica. It is where I find this type of energetic sound to be best, and with that I'm ending this listening to some good old Metallica.
Ranking System
1 Very bad or unlistanable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce
Price can push something up or down half grade.
And by that for the right music and mood this is a solid 5/5 for me, but on some music more 3.5/5. In the end I belive it deserve a solid 4.5, but remember music type is a thing here.
Thank you for the review, love the spider graph, too! I wish you could test the Elan+, as well. When you say that it is Genres/Styles-picky, do you also mean that the recording is important? That's the issue I'm facing with my Elan+ it does not like bad recordings. My WAV files play fine, Amazon Music Unlimited, YouTube Premium and even Qobuz sound mediocre (when it comes to treble and upper midrange). How does the BC sound with streaming services?