ISN AUDIO NEO 3 2DD X 1Planar Universal IEM

Hello to all the audio enthusiasts! I hope you're enjoying the winter. Penon Audio sent me the ISN Audio NEO 3 IEMs for review. These IEMs feature 2 dynamic drivers and a single magnetic planar driver, priced at $199.99. Without further ado, let’s dive straight into the review!



Disclaimer
As mentioned earlier, I received the IEMs from Penon Audio in exchange for my honest review. However, my opinions about the IEMs are personal and based on my own experience with the IEM, and I was not paid for this review. This review was originally written for the AudioKnights website and translated into English using translation tools. If you'd like to read the original review in its native language, you can do so at the following link.

Before we begin the review, I would like to commend Penon Audio’s customer service. I know it’s not customary for a reviewer to do so, but before I got to receive IEMs for review, I got to be a customer in their store and also hear how they helped another customer with issues regarding his shipment. Their customer service responds relatively quickly to emails, and also in a way that feels very human. So I can rest assured that I’m recommending both an IEM and a store that provides a good purchasing experience for the consumer.

What’s in the Box?
ISN Audio is relatively generous with accessories, and you can find in the box 3 types of silicone ear tips in different colors, a cleaning brush for the IEMs, a pin, a brown cable, a blue case (not sure if it’s leather/pu leather), and of course – the IEMs themselves in blue (you can also get the IEMs in orange). All in all, I think it’s a very satisfying and rich package of accessories.



The IEM cable is good, it’s not the best I’ve tried. There are no right/left markings on it, and the IEMs themselves don’t have any either, which initially confused me a bit. However, a good friend gave me some advice – the right side is usually marked with red on most cables. Additionally, I found that the cable often got tangled or a bit messy. One positive thing I will mention about this cable is the ring located at the split area – it works very well, stays in place, and doesn’t slide around, which is great. Furthermore, near the connector to the IEM, there isn’t the plastic typically found to keep the cable in a specific shape (as shown in the attached image for illustration). Personally, I find this very convenient because it allows the cable to be adjusted exactly to the shape of the ear rather than being stuck in the curve decided by the cable manufacturer. In my opinion, this is a significant plus point for the cable. Additionally, the cable is quite flexible and doesn’t have too much memory, which makes storing the IEMs in the case easier without needing to maintain a specific cable shape.


Overall, it’s a pretty good cable. Despite the complaints I had about it, I found it comfortable to use.

The carrying case included in the package by ISN Audio also feels very high-quality and convenient. It matches the color of the IEMs (assuming you ordered the blue version), its size is small enough to fit in a pocket, and it efficiently stores the IEMs.
However, I did initially find it a bit challenging to figure out how to fit the IEMs into the case, as its shape is somewhat different from cases I’ve used before. That said, once I got the hang of it, it was excellent.
The case opens and closes with magnets, making it very easy to grab the case and take out the IEMs quickly.
Overall, the case is fantastic—it meets the needs for portability and, in my opinion, looks great too.


When it comes to silicone ear tips, there's no shortage of options here. I didn’t notice a significant difference in comfort or sound quality between the tips. All of them were equally comfortable for me, so I assume the choice of which silicone ear tip style to use is entirely up to you.
The brush is handy for cleaning the IEMs if dust accumulates, and as for the pin—I personally didn’t find much use for it, but it’s a nice addition nonetheless.




The IEM shells are made of plastic that feels high-quality. The IEMs themselves look stunning, almost like a work of art. They are transparent on the back, offering a clear view of the drivers and the sound tubes that channel the audio. On the rear, the model name is printed on one side, and the company logo is on the other—both in gold and reflective. Overall, I really appreciated the design of these IEMs.

Fit and Comfort
In terms of comfort and fit, I think the shape of these IEMs is very ergonomic, with protrusions that align well with the ear's natural shape. The nozzle isn't particularly wide, making it easier to select appropriately sized silicone tips and allowing for prolonged wear without discomfort. I can confidently say that these are among, if not the most, comfortable IEMs I've ever worn.



In terms of sound

The frequency response graph of the ISN Audio NEO 3 from squig.link of The Audio Store, thank you!

The tuning of the IEMs feels quite calm, warm, smooth, there is nothing shouty. I can run an entire library and enjoy it in a calm and pleasant way. The treble is relatively calm, and the bass is relatively emphasized, but not too much, I would say there is a certain balance between the frequencies.

Sub-Bass​

The sub-bass, which covers the lowest frequencies and often delivers the rumbling sensation rather than distinct sounds.

The sub-bass in the IEMs is felt well, it is loud, can be very deep. It has a generous amount, although sometimes I would want more. However, when there is emphasis on the bass in a song, the bass can be very deep and satisfying, so adding more bass wouldn't necessarily be better. I think there is a certain balance here, there is enough bass to really enjoy it, and on the other hand, not overdo it. Overall, I really liked it.

Mid-Bass​

The mid-bass, where the bass becomes more distinct and perceptible, is equally well-executed. In this range, you hear kick drums and some male bass vocals more clearly.

The mid-bass is very rich, when there is a kick it is felt relatively gently, low vocal elements and part of the instruments also get more body, which helps them sound fuller. In my opinion, there is a pretty good balance between the mid-bass and sub-bass. Additionally, I didn't notice the bass "bleeding" into the other frequencies, even though it's the dominant part of the IEMs, which is excellent. What I did notice, and sometimes it bothered me, is that the bass feels "too slow," which causes it to affect the listening experience in rock songs and some heavy metal songs, they just couldn't handle such amounts of bass with the rest of the frequencies. When I listened to songs of this type, I preferred to skip to the next track because they just didn't play well. Therefore, if most of your library consists of songs from genres like these, these IEMs are probably not for you. In the other genres I listen to (for example, pop and electronic), this can actually be nice and calming because the bass is quite gentle and not shouty, so it really depends on what you prefer. Overall, I really enjoyed the bass in the IEMs, I think it manages to provide a good foundation for low vocals and instruments, and be gentle and calming at the same time.

Mids​

The mids are the home to most instruments and vocals.

The mid frequencies also feel very full and satisfying, calm, not shouty, you can continue listening for hours and enjoy every part of the song. Instruments feel full, like pianos and guitars, these are instruments that are very enjoyable to listen to on these IEMs. They have body, depth, and at the same time, they still remain relatively calm. The vocals are forward, but sometimes I felt it was too much. On one hand, it’s very enjoyable, and songs where I felt the singer was too far back suddenly felt like they were right in front of me, which is something I really liked here. On the other hand, sometimes it can be too much. But overall, if I want to relax and simply enjoy the song, I feel it’s very nice and actually adds to the experience. Like the instruments, the vocals also have body and depth, in pop songs, for example, it was very immersive, the IEMs highlighted many vocal elements, and as mentioned at the beginning, in a non-shouty, but gentle and smooth way. I would say that the mid frequencies, in terms of their vocal capabilities, remind me of those I described in my review of the TINHiFi T2 Plus IEMs, where I really liked this part, only here it is done in a much more refined way. Overall, I think the mid frequencies in these IEMs were done in a very calming, warm, full, and pleasant way.

Treble​

The treble, which captures high-pitched sounds like cymbals, violins, and higher synthetic tones, adds brightness, sharpness, and sparkle to the music. However, excessive treble can lead to harshness or fatigue.

I would describe the treble in the IEMs as relatively calm, it's not shouty, but on the other hand, sometimes it felt lacking to provide enough contrast to the bass. For example, in very busy electronic songs, I felt a bit of a lack of treble, as these songs had many synthesizers and high vocals, and it felt slightly missing. That being said, in most of the other songs (also electronic, just those that don't overload the treble, which is most of the electronic songs in my library), it was totally sufficient and went with the calm direction the IEMs' tuning aims to give. What I would positively point out is that high-pitched vocals, guitar strums, and all elements of this kind sounded good and calm. If you’re a fan of treble, these IEMs are probably not for you, they are the complete opposite of what you're looking for. But if you're looking for IEMs with a warm tuning, a bass emphasis, and still treble that doesn’t compromise too much, this could totally work. Overall, I enjoyed the fact that the treble wasn't too prominent, it added calmness to the song and allowed me to listen for hours without tiring. However, if you're looking for energetic and rich treble, you won’t find that here.

Technical capabilities

In my opinion, the technical capabilities of these IEMs are more than excellent. The separation between the instruments is done well so that the vocals are forward and the instruments are in the background, each in its place, and for example, Hi-Hats, which are present in many pop and electronic songs, have their own space in a way that doesn't mix with the rest of the song, giving a very unique and interesting feel. Also, I think the reverb sounds pretty good, although with high vocals, it can feel a bit lacking since the bass is more emphasized. The detail retrieval is also quite good, though it’s not the star of the show. Playing many details simultaneously is also done well, but when the song gets too busy, I think they struggle a bit. This brings me to imaging capabilities, and I would say they are excellent, it’s very easy to pinpoint where each instrument stands, and it’s among the best I’ve personally tried. In terms of soundstage, I would describe it as wide and open, but not excessively so. Instruments have space to breathe, there’s a sense of openness, but not to the extent that a bone conduction driver might provide, for example. Despite that, I really enjoyed the soundstage, and in the overall picture of the IEMs' technical capabilities, we get IEMs with quite good technical performance.

Comparisons


Pula Anvil114 (full review here)

I would say that the IEMs are relatively similar to each other. Both have a tuning in the same direction, with a relatively balanced sound. However, there are differences. I feel that the vocal elements in the NEO 3 are more noticeable and "closer," relatively forward, while in the Anvil114 they were felt more in terms of their depth, probably due to the bone conduction driver. There's no denying it, I don't think there's any competition when it comes to soundstage capabilities of a bone conduction driver, especially in this price range, as the soundstage of the Anvil114 felt very wide and open. Even though the soundstage here doesn’t feel closed in any way, it’s just not open to the same extent, in a way that I can’t ignore, unfortunately. However, I prioritize comfort over technical capabilities, and here I get the same or even better technical performance, but in a much more comfortable form. I prefer that over a larger IEM that’s hard to wear just to feel a wider soundstage. Additionally, the NEO 3 still manages to deliver full mids, much better bass (in my opinion), uncompromising technical capabilities, without the need for strange vibrations on the ear, which I see as a huge advantage. They are priced the same, and with discounts, they also come to the same price from my checks, so if I had to choose between the two without asking any questions – I would take the NEO 3. Unless you're really interested in trying an IEM with a bone conduction driver, maybe I’d consider the Anvil114.

Letshuoer S12 (full review here)​

The S12 vs. NEO 3 are polar opposites, night and day, and the comparison is quite interesting because the NEO 3 also has a magnetic planar driver. While the NEO 3 focuses relatively on bass and provides a warm tuning, the S12 offers a very bright sound with a lot of detail in the treble, and relatively fast bass. I really liked both IEMs, but I think they are intended for different genres and moods. If you want to relax, enjoy the music, without anything being too shouty, and still have satisfying bass, the NEO 3 will definitely suit you. If you're looking for IEMs that focus on treble, fast bass (which is an advantage for heavy metal and rock songs), the S12 is definitely the one for you, as it can handle large amounts of bass without any muddiness.
In terms of technical capabilities, I think the soundstage feels wider on the NEO 3, and the imaging is better as well. However, when choosing between the two, I would focus on the type of genres you listen to, as the technical capabilities of both IEMs are not bad at all. In terms of wear comfort, I think the NEO 3 is more comfortable, as they have a shape that fits the ear better. The S12 has a metal build, which I think gives them a more premium look and feel, while the NEO 3 is made of plastic, yet still feels and looks very nice. In this aspect, it’s up to you to decide what you prefer. I really like both, and I do see value in owning both, as they offer completely different things from each other, which definitely adds variety.

Bottom Line

I think these are successful IEMs, and I really enjoyed using them. The design is very beautiful, and the package offers many useful accessories like a high-quality carrying case, a wide variety of silicone ear tips, and a brush for cleaning the IEMs. The IEMs themselves are very comfortable; they fit the shape of my ear quite well. The tuning leans towards warm, and they did it quite well. It’s very enjoyable to just put on music and relax; nothing is too shouty, it feels relatively balanced, and you can listen for hours without tiring, thanks to both the comfort and the tuning. The bass is pretty good on these IEMs, so if you love a lot of bass, these will definitely suit you. However, it’s not considered "fast" bass, which could be a downside, as I mentioned in the review. If you’re open to EQ, I’m happy to report you can easily add more bass without hearing distortion (though I don’t think you’ll want to do that, but it’s up to you). For pop, lo-fi, electronic (without a lot of treble details), and lighter metal, I think these IEMs would be a great choice. However, for rock, heavy metal, and electronic music with a lot of treble details (many synthesizers, for example), I’d recommend looking for a different IEM. Personally, I’d recommend the Letshuoer S12, which is great for those genres, as the NEO 3 didn’t do a good enough job with them, in my opinion. On the other hand, the fact that these IEMs provide excellent technical capabilities without needing a bone conduction driver impressed me, because this way you don’t have to compromise on comfort. IEMs with bone conduction drivers are usually made relatively large and thick to create a tight seal with your ear for the driver to work, and that’s not always comfortable for everyone. If you’re looking for IEMs with a warm tuning, focused on bass, and simply want to enjoy music in a relaxed and extended listening session, I believe these IEMs will surely impress you.

The IEMs are available for purchase from Penon Audio's store, at the following link, or from AliExpress at the next link (no affiliate marketing).

Thank you for reading my review! see you next time.

Source: The Onix Alpha XL1

This unit was provided by Audio Geek India as part of their tour organized for ISN Audio IEMs. I appreciate Audio Geek India for the opportunity to listen to and review the ISN Audio Neo 3. My review is unbiased and not influenced by anyone.

I used the stock 4.4mm balanced cable and stock eartips.

Unboxing and Packaging: The package includes:

• 1x In-Ear Monitor
• 1x Detachable Cable
• 1x Protective Case
• 3x Pairs of Eartips

I had the demo version, so please refer to the pictures for details on the included accessories.

First Impressions: The ISN Audio Neo 3 has a stylish transparent acrylic design. The build quality feels solid, and the cable appears durable, though it lacks tension control.

Comfort: The IEMs are extremely comfortable, lightweight, and provide good noise isolation. I could wear them comfortably for about 4-6 hours.

Sound: With the 4.4mm balanced cable, this is my first experience with planar IEMs. The hybrid configuration and dual dynamic drivers deliver high-quality sound. The mids are impressive, and the lows and bass are well-controlled. They excel in rock and heavy metal genres. While Bollywood tracks sound basic, the soundstage is good, and instrumental separation is excellent.

Final Thoughts: Overall, the ISN Audio Neo 3 is a great IEM worth considering. I had a fantastic time with it and would recommend it to others.

I'd just like to say upfront I believe we are all biased when giving our subjective thoughts about IEMs be it a particular type of signature that works with our music library or how an IEM looks and feels in our ears. On the subject of ears everyone's ear anatomy is different and this effects fit and seal which in turn effects the perception of bass response so I recommend finding the right ear tips that suit your ears to get the best of any IEM.

My review star ratings are linked to the price range of the iem eg a 5 star review of a $100 iem is not equal to one of a $500 iem.

I’m and audio enthusiast with a collection of over 200 iems, 30 different sources with a music collection that numbers over 100,000 tracks and 15 flathead buds I share my impresseions as a way to share my enthusiasm for the hobby I approach from the premise of music first technology 2nd, what does this mean? For me it means not are the technicalities prime importance but does the music move with this particular item.



I’m a connoisseur of many different sound signatures. The only prerequisite is musicality I’m not a fan of analytical cold playback. My scale of success when it comes to evaluating iems is do I get goosebumps when they playback my favourite tunes. There are many good iems but do they give me goosebumps? Unfortunately I have a draw full of just good iems.



I want the iem that I reach for without thinking because I instinctively know it will bring the thrill I’m seeking from my music. The Neo 3’s bass and mids coming from the double DD’s gave me the same goosebumps from the first few bars of the Michael Shenker Groups track “Rock me to the Ground” the swinging bass and big drums literally making the hair stand up on my arms as the NEO5s had when I was using them. Its clear that ISN’s super power is their ability to tune drivers to get the most out of them and give the wonderful house sound of big bass and stunning mids.

I have a love hate history with Planar drivers there speed and ability to provide great technicalities I like but the way they produce bass has always left me feeling something is missing ISN’s master stroke of combining 2 Dynamic drivers handling the bass and mids with a 5.8mm planar dealing with treble frequencies, you get the best of the strengths of both driver types
I favour Dynamic Drivers for bass the tactility of the drums ISN using 2 6mm Dynamic Drivers in this small iem one handling the bass giving great sub bass mid bass the other supplying those silky smooth mids is very important to my enjoyment. Instruments sound anologue, natural and smooth Planars just don’t give me the organic feel of analogue instruments in the lower frequencies so Im very pleased to see they are handling the treble frequency range here and they perform admirably in providing the very natural sparkling treble. I didn’t detect any planar timbre which really shows how well tuned this iem is.

ISN is a brand under the umbrella of Penon this is not my first ISN iem, I recently received and reviewed the NEO 5 which I really enjoy I do own a couple of Penon. The Fan2 and 10th Anniversary, so I was very interested to see how the ISN Neo 3 performed compared to these iems that are loved by the the community and myself.

Disclaimer
ISN was kind enough to send me a sample set of THE Neo 3 to review. I am not affiliated with ISN and of course was not asked for any copy checking before publishing, they are seeing this the same time as you. All pictures taken be me or taken from the PENON website. ALL opinions shared in this review are my subjective thoughts.


Make sure to research any iem before you buy!

The Neo 3 retails at $199 which for this configuration is extremely competitive and are available for purchase from their website see the non affiliated link below

https://penonaudio.com/ISN-Audio-NEO-3.html

Details from the Penon website



ISN Audio NEO 3 1 Planar Driver + 2 Dynamic Driver Hybrid 2Pin 0.78mm HiFi Audiophile IEMS

Description

ISN Audio NEO series, different tuning style

Medical grade resin material, light and beautiful, comfortable to wear.

3 drivers hybrid earphone

Specifications

Brand: ISN AUDIO NEO Series

Model: NEO 3

Drivers:1 Planar Driver + 2 Dynamic Driver

1 x 5.8mm planar driver for high frequency

1 x 6mm dynamic driver for middle frequency

1 x 6mm dynamic driver for low frequency

Impedance: 15ohm

Sensitivity: 105dB

Frequency response: 10Hz-20kHz

Connector: 2pin 0.78mm

Cable : 8 strands , 19 cores per strand OCC wire

Cable length: 1.2M



The frequency graph for those who like to see such things



The Neo 3 is a beautiful 3 driver HYBRID iem, small and perfectly formed they disappear in the ear. Which is very impressive with the driver count. A solid blue resin shell with a beautiful galaxy od stars shimmering in a deep blue background with a metal nozzle which really helps with fitment of eartips. I’m reviewing with the included cable which while being a nice quality cable it does hold the NEO 3 back when paired with a better quality cable like the ISN C2, H2, or S2 they all improve on the separation of the frequencies giving a more specious presentation while adding more texture and detail to the bass and mids.


What do they sound like?


Around the hifi forums I've heard the description "Fun" in relation to this IEM, to me, fun means the iem I reach for, when I want to really enjoy my music. Something that releases the full scope of what the artist created in the studio. The Neo 3 certainly does that with that special something. The cohesion of the drivers ensuring to there’s no jarring transition between the frequency range. Neo 3 is unabashedly a warm bass driven signature, bass is textured, dynamic and layered, digging out details . The mids are slightly warm so they do colour the vocals slightly adding body to males voval and female alike but not so much to effect the natural timbre of the vocals . The vocals don't take a slight step back they are there front and centre with instruments placed exactly where they should be showing depth to the stage with natural unforced width. Hybrids can have coherence issues the Neo 5 sounds like a single driver no trace of Planar timbre just everything working together as one.

What do I mean by unforced width? Some IEMs give an impression of super wide stage which sounds unnatural throwing instrument placement off.

The mids are natural and organic slightly warm with just enough edge to add excitement to vocals and guitars causing me to be drawn into the music, A very engaging musical experience which ISN and Penon seem to excel at.

The Transition from upper mids to lower treble is boosted slightly but still sibilance free, even with songs that have siblence bult into the recordeing.
While the overall signature is slightly in the darker realm there's still lots of detail. The upper treble has a pleasing amount of air and sparkle, without straying into fatigue levels.

The timbre of drums, strings, guitars and brass instruments is natural. Vocals both male and female are reproduced authentically , if a voice has gravel you feel it. Pure female vocals like Joni Mitchell are imbued with emotion and sweet rounded clarity making an overall very satisfying vocals experience very similar to the NEO 5.


The sound signature as a whole is of big bass with warm clear clean mids with a little edge in the treble, an overall satisfying feeling of immersion in the music.

When I'm evaluating IEMs I have a play list of roughly 100 songs of mixed genres. With the ISN NEO 3 I again, like the NEO 5, I found myself listening to songs rather than analysing the different frequency ranges listening to albums in their entirety just loosing myself in the music. I found they worked across most genres both smooth and aggressive. I don’t listen to much EDM preferring real instruments playing together as a unit.

Muse - 2nd Law album sounded Immense with thunderous bass. Matt Bellamys voice was crystalline with a little extra warmth bringing more depth to the vocals along with the searing guitar enhanced by the planar speed a very exciting experience.

Lorde - Royals with its throbbing and droning subass really digging deep with great effect her higher range voice sibilance free again with alittle added warmth.

Joni Mitchell – Blue, the acoustic guitar sounding detailed with the strings resonance reproduced well. Joni's vocals can sound a bit shrill on lesser iems not here the added warmth and roundness to her upper register was very pleasing.

Steely Dan's - Aja, one of the best produced albums in my opinion was played with musical deftness’, hi-hats and cymbals were natural with excellent decay staging was good with height, depth and width enabling me to pick out instruments in the mix, the added warmth on this album did feel slightly less open than the NEO 5 but it was still very enjoyable.

Michael Schenker Group – Rock Me to the ground this is one of my favourites the big swinging bass line with powerful drums starting the song, then the gravely shout of Graham Bonnet comes screaming through as the guitars are take over. The Neo 3 llike the NEO 5 nails this with aplomb genuinely causing the hairs of my neck stand to attention. The added warmth worked really well here on the 1980’s dry production style giving a sense of a more “real” organic presentation.

Peter Gabriel - live album with the New Blood Orchestra. The full orchestra reproduced with clarity but had less separation than the NEO 5 but still managed to place me in the front row and centre of the stage with the strings having slightly less air but Gabriel's voice was still intimate and detailed.

Lady Black Bird - Blackbird the subtleties of the interplay between vocals and instruments are played well, her voice warm and intoxicating. The space around the components of the song is decent but not outstanding. Black acid Soul is superb Acid jazz/soul mix produced and mastered to perfection and the Neo 3 does a good job of drawing you into the music with a great sense in intimacy.

Iron Maiden -Rhyme of the ancient Mariner - the dynamics of this track are a little dulled still reproduced with pin point accuracy , I did perceive slight congestion in the guitars, bass and drums lacking a little finesse Bruce's vocals were still on point and unveiled just good headbanging fun

The Neo3 is very easy to drive for an iem with a planar and I had no issues using them with Daps, Dongles.

They sounded good with my cooler less coloured sources. This is not an iem that needs an expensive source but it does scale impressively.
I'm not a fan of analytical sounding IEMs that force details into your ears like a photograph with HDR and sharpening set at max a decidedly digital representation. I'm more Vinyl on a turntable, Leica manual focus, sumptuous colours on kodak colour gold film, kinda guy, where if you look really close all the details are there but it's the whole image you appreciate rather than just how sharp it is. The Neo 3 gives me this feeling with the Hiby R6 111, Cayin N3 Ultra the best it was a little too warm with the Sony NW-WMIA and Shanling M6Ultra.



Sources used:
IBasso dx170
Shanling H5
Shanling M6 Ultra
Sony Zx507
Sony Nw-WM1A
HiBy R6 111
HiBy R8
HiBy RS2

ONIX Alpha X1
CAYIN N3PRO
CAYIN RU6
IFI GO BLUE
FIIO BTR7
FIIO M15

Conclusion

The upto $200 range is full of great sounding iems with more released it seems on a weekly basis the Neo 3 competes admirably, with it’s fun and exciting sound signature. The size and design of the shell does help its move up the ranks as I found it one of the most comfortable iems on the market. The Neo 3 while being less technically adept than the NEO 5 I kinda enjoy it more especially with classic rock and jazz it’s an iem that wraps you up in a cosy blanket that make the hours slip away.