ISN Audio NEO 5

ISN Neo 5 - Purple Bass​

I have been using the Neo 5 for around 6 months, 4 of which were full time. It's a 1DD x 4BA configuration.

They were purchased through AliExpress on a sale with my own money.

A little about me...
I am a mid 30’s dad, and work full time in IT. Music has been important to me from a young age, consuming as many different types of albums and genres as I could. That is still true today, though my every day playlists lean most in pop, bass heavy electronic music, metal, and classic rock. I have a treble sensitivity due to years of negligent concert hearing protection (both on and off stage), so my preferred sound signature is warm and bassy. This is just a hobby for me, and I will always state how and where I got my gear.

Gear used for this review -
ivipQ-140 Cable / Stock white tips / Cayin RU7 / Schiit Magni + Modi+ stack / Qudelix 5k

Aesthetics + Build Quality + Accessories​

With the translucent purple and gold branding, at first sight the Neo 5 spoke to me. It reminded me of an old Nintendo 64, and when I heard it was bass tuned I knew I had to have one. It's an elegantly simple looking set, with the full innards of the drivers on display. The resin shell is small and shaped to fit the ear comfortably. The shells feel high quality, and are not easy to scratch or mark up. On the back of each shell is a small vent hole, marked blue/red for left/right. I would have preferred no coloration but its hardly an issue. The nozzles are small and have a metal mesh, and can fit most any tip easily. The 2-pin connection is not recessed, and was VERY tight when I first got my set, on the left side. I was concerned about breaking it when removing it the first time or two, but it did loosen up... a bit too much, 6 months on and a few cable swaps later. It hasn't been an issue where it has fallen off, but I would be mindful of it when cable swapping.

The Neo 5 came with an S4 cable, small carrying case and variety of tips. I prefer the sound of the white ones more, to my ears they are a good balance in sound by thinning out the bass a bit. Both of the stock tips have been used with other sets, Penon makes high quality tips and it would be wise in invest in some regardless! The carrying case is a nice blue leather with a magnet top. It's a little too small for my use, but if you just want to carry around an IEM and that's all it would work for that. The S4 cable has a couple minor issues, no ear hooks, the right wire is a smidge longer than the left, and the chin slider does not hold.

Bass​

The star of the show, the Neo 5 is tuned around it's full-bodied bass. With a winning combo of sub rumble and mid bass thump, it's stereo-like presentation hits hard and envelops the rest of the frequency in warmth. The first word that came to mind to describe it was "bulbous" and I believe that is an accurate description. For as much bass as there is, the bleed into the mids isn't as much as you would imagine. It digs deep, but the decay sticks around for a bit too long. My biggest gripe is with how slow the bass is, on faster tracks like metal or drum and bass it sounds very inarticulate/disjointed with the rest of the mix.

Mids​

The mids have a thick note weight. Vocals, while not exactly recessed, take a back seat whenever they need to share the stage but both male and female vocals sound crisp and clear (male more so in my opinion). The mids are never thin, and on slower tracks (acoustic, vocal) you can really get a sense of how articulated and beatiful the mids are put together. The only time this changes is on the faster BPM tracks I mentioned earlier.

Treble​

While I would call the treble the weakest link in the tuning, its far from being bad. It extends far out, but lacks the details and sparkle a treble head would look for. I have never considered this set as sibilant in any form, it leans warm like the rest of the tuning but there is zero BA timbre, everything is natural. Things like cymbal crashes are recessed, but I never felt like I was missing sounds in the higher register. I would recommend a wide bore tip to elevate the treble a bit.

Technicalities​

The soundstage is wide, but not as deep, or tall. The bass adds to the width, bassier tracks typically "feel" grander than songs without as much. Instrument separation is good but not fantastic, as are the details. The Neo 5 isn't a technical monster, but it isn't supposed to be; it's for a smooth, engaging listen and it excels on every front in that regard.

Power​

Impedance: 26 Ω - 1kHz
Sensitivity: 110 ± 3dB - 1kHz

The Neo 5 isn't just a great sounding all-rounder, it's low power draw allows functionality with any DAC/dongle you utilize. I recently upgraded to 4.4mm cables, but with this set it is not necessary, a 3.5mm is fine. I use low gain on everything with it.

Final Thoughts​

It's not perfect, but I love my Neo 5. It's my go to IEM for out of the house due to its ease of use, low power needs and fun bassy sound signature. Commonly I use it for gaming on my Steam Deck, or watching movies when I am traveling on my iPad. At this point, newer and shinier things have hit the market but I feel like the Neo 5 deserves a little more recognition. It would make a fine addition to any collection missing a bass set.

ISN Neo 5 for $289.99 on Penon Audio

ISN NEO 5 Review

ISN Audio is an earphones brand exclusive to Penon Audio with many successful products like the ISN H30 and their flagship, the ISN EST50.

The ISN NEO 5 is a new hybrid earphone with 5 drivers per side. A 10mm dynamic driver for the low frequencies and 4 Knowles BA drivers for the mids and the highs.



Non Audio Stuff

The ISN NEO 5 ear-shells are made from medical grade resin in a semi-transparent purple color. They are anatomically shaped with a custom-like design following the natural curves or the ear.

The ear-shells are lightweight, durable and well made. The fit is tight and comfortable, you can wear them for hours without feeling annoyance and moreover they provide good passive noise attenuation.

Cable

The 1.2m long, 2-pin, detachable cable is made from single crystal copper silver-plated wires in a four strand design. It is a well made cable with high quality aluminum plugs that is durable, soft and free of microphonic noise. You can order the cable with either a 4.4mm, 2.5mm or 3.5mm plug, the review sample came with a 4.4mm balanced plug.



Accessories

The retail package includes a premium carrying case with a magnetic lid, three types of silicone ear-tips in three sizes each, a cleaning brush and a shirt clip.



Audio stuff

The impedance of the ISN NEO 5 is 26Ω and the sensitivity 110dB so we are talking about an earphone that is pretty easy to drive and at the same time quite immune to source noise.

With the FiiO M15S, low gain was more than enough while portable sources like the Cayin RU-7 or the iFi Go bar made them sing without much effort.

As per usual practice the ISN NEO 5 was left playing music for about 80 hours before listening evaluation.

You don't have to listen a lot in order to realize that the tuning of the ISN NEO 5 is emphasized towards bass. At the same time though, the mid-range is crystal clear and well defined, followed by a mildly smooth, but not that lacking in extension treble.

The low end gets the lion's share, it has a subwoofer-like extension and plenty of emphasis up to the lower mid-range. It isn't devoid of some mild bleeding but the overall impression is of a bass that it is not too overpowering over the rest of the frequencies thanks for the good driver coherency.

The bass is weighty, full bodied and visceral with great dynamics and physical impact. It is a mostly tight and well controlled bass but the recovery is not that fast while you can hear a mild echo.

The overall low-end balance is not that restrictive for listening to acoustic bass instruments however some of them, like the double bass and the cello sound rather colored and less accurate than they should be. Additionally there is a lack of definition and layering, especially during rapid bowing passages or when multiple instruments are playing together.

The mid-range is surprisingly crystal clear and transparent, with strong presence and not suppressed by the boosted low-end. The tuning is mostly balanced without any significant upper mid-range emphasis nor any notable recession. Voices and instruments sound smooth, well defined and articulated with plenty of harmonic variety and good timbre realism.

The treble is vibrant and energetic with ample extension, yet smooth, polite and mildly forgiving. Not the most analytical and sparkling earphone but still quite resolving and with the benefit that it never sounds fatiguing or bright. The treble has a rather weighty texture, it is not dry or lean, the timbre is good without any significant BA artificiality or metallic harshness.

The soundstage is wide and spacious with plenty of air around the performers who are accurately positioned in the horizontal plane. There is not much of a depth though the layering is nothing special and the presentation is quite intimate.



Compared to the ISN EST50

The ISN EST50 is the brand’s flagship earphone with a hybrid configuration consisting of 1 dynamic, 2 BA and 2 EST drivers per side. The physical appearance is the same as the NEO 5 and the ear-shells are identically shaped. The ISN EST 50 is slightly bulkier and a bit heavier than the NEO 5 which is marginally more comfortable.

Both earphones share a lot of similarities regarding their tuning. The bass is slightly less elevated in the ISN EST50 so it is a bit more correct and tonally accurate than the NEO 5. Technicalities are also better, the ISN EST50 is more tight and controlled, a little faster with better definition and less of reverberation.

The mid-range of the ISN NEO5 is more present and engaging with a fuller texture but the EST50 sounds more refined and resolving. The treble is smoother on the EST50 and maybe less energetic and extended but it is of higher quality and with greater timbre realism.

The soundstage of the ISN EST50 is wider, deeper and more holographic than in the NEO 5.

The ISN NEO 5 is actually a very good sounding earphone, especially if you prefer emphasized bass and present mids, but there is a good reason that the ISN EST50 is the flagship.

Conclusion

The ISN NEO 5 is a comfortable and well made earphone with an agreeable tuning that has plenty of bass and an easy going nature that makes it suitable for everyday listening of most kinds of music. It would not be my first choice for listening to classical music or jazz but it is really superb for electronic, rock and pop songs where it sounds very engaging and enjoyable with an inherent vibe.

The ISN NEO 5 was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

I've always wondered if there's an underlying audiophile stigma towards bass.

Do we politely nod our heads when others confess their lust for massive woofers, but privately scoff & assign them second-tier status because they choose to prioritise lower frequencies?

Certainly it's true newcomers to the hobby are frequently bass-obsessed, whilst its been claimed long-time audiophiles often become midrange aficionados. I suspect there's far more to it, and that one's taste in music plays the greater role.

So almost with a sinking heart I noted Penon Audio offering to send me a pair of thumping ISN Neo5s in exchange for a review, threatening to drag me deeper down a whirlpool of bass-driven degeneracy my audio cred may never survive.

Did I plug my ears & mime mantras at 15khz to resist all temptation, or have I mutated into a naked cultist of the heathen Bass Gods, howling blasphemous incantations into the night as we dance around a bonfire of bongos & tom-toms? Read on if you dare!





The ISN Neo5 are a set of USD $289 earphones in a hybrid 4xBA 1xDD configuration. Many earphones aim to represent bass frequencies in a delicate, tastefully subdued fashion.

...this is not one of them.

The Neo5s understand you're a low-frequency fiend who craves bass and the correct amount is always MORE, and they're very happy to give it to you!

Bass is the star of the show here, so you're going to feel all the rumble & punch that forms the backbone of so much modern music that moves your soul.

Packaging​

As was the case with the ISN EST50s I previously reviewed, the Neo5s arrive in a small cardboard box, and inside is a robust leather carry case.

Three sets of eartips are supplied, plus a cleaning tool & shirt clip. The overall package is acceptably minimalist given the Neo5's modest price. The stock cable - an ISN S4 - is a very comfortable 4 wire silver-plated OCC copper cable, in your choice of 4.4mm, 3.5mm or 2.5mm terminations.

Ergonomics​

The Neo5s feel very similar to the Penon Globes I recently reviewed but are slightly smaller, stick out less and are even more comfortable.

In fact for my ear geometry their fit is as perfect as any hybrid IEM I've tried, owing largely to their small size & very sculpted shape. I may be particularly lucky here, since they happen to fit me almost as well as custom IEMs would and can be kept in my ears for many hours without discomfort.

They're also vented which is vital for relieving pressure build-up. The stock cable is light & flexible, with no microphonics or memory effect. My only minor complaint is the metal nozzles - eartips don't grip them quite as securely as nozzles sculpted from the shells theselves, so my Spinfit W1 tips occasionally dislodge from the nozzles as I'm removing the IEMs from my ears unless they're removed very gently.

Sound Impressions​

The Neo5s deliver a bouncy, energetic L-shaped sound with superb dynamics and epic amounts of bass.

Let's begin with bass because that's definitely what you'll notice first. It is unashamedly elevated far beyond neutral, and despite not being the fastest I've heard is definitely not the slowest - this isn't bass that struggles to catch up with the rest of the music, nor is there any lack of cohesion because one driver is working out of sync with the others.

Instead there's a huge volume of bass quantity that's biased more towards sub rather than midbass, but the rest of the frequency spectrum feels impressively unaffected. You'll occasionally notice a little bit of bleed into the midrange, but ISN have a done an excellent job of preventing the rest of the presentation from being overwhelmed.

In fact rather than sounding like a blunt instrument the Neo5s come across as surprisingly clean, with instruments like acoustic guitars & string instruments portrayed with the sort of delicacy one does not expect from a set of bass cannons. Make no mistake though, the Neo5s are all about the bass - it will grab your attention through sheer volume, at times when other IEMs would encourage you to focus on different instruments. In many ways the Neo5s feel like going on a diet consisting solely of chocolate cake - the lurking sensation guilt only seems to amplify my enjoyment.





The Neo5 midrange hasn't been forgotten, and is quite forward and resolving considering only 4 BAs and no ESTs are present, and indeed I seldom listen to them with the feeling additional detail is required. That said, midrange instruments can feel a tad small and a modest amount of grain is present. This helps create a feeling of rawness I quite enjoy, but may bother you if you'd prefer to prioritise refinement.

Treble lies somewhere in the goldilocks range for my taste, being neither annoyingly forward or so recessed that details are being obscured. I would say the Neo5s lean somewhat dark, with more upper midrange being needed if you prefer a brighter presentation - something perhaps achievable by swapping to a pure silver cable.

Though treble is resolving enough and won't cause fatigue, I do at times miss the added sparkle & effortless silkiness provided by EST drivers, an area the Neo5s have compromised to maintain their small shells & modest price.

Technical Performance​

The Neo5 soundstage is impressively wide for such a modestly-priced IEM with a low driver count, and I suspect that's largely thanks to its' silver-plated stock cable which excels in this regard. Unfortunately stage depth is not up to the same level, though there's enough depth that the horrible feeling of a ruler-flat stage many cheaper IEMs portray is thankfully absent.

Dynamics are superb, which is a real strength of the Neo5s - this is a quality I value extremely highly, and though they can usually be improved by swapping to a beefier cable it's always nice to start with impressive baseline performance as is the case here.

Other technicalities are about what you'd expect from an IEM in this price range, neither dramatically impressive nor unimpressive. Resolution is quite decent without being outstanding, imaging & separation are fairly average and in general I find the Neo5's technical chops rarely call attention to themselves, but aren't so deficient that they prevent me enjoying the music either.

IEM Comparisons​

So how do the Neo5s stack up against the competition? I compared them with several IEMs on hand… and then even more at Addicted to Audio! All comparisons were made using the Astell & Kern SR35 I recently reviewed, set to Hi-Gain mode with the Neo5s requiring a volume level of 40.



Penon Globe - 2xBA, 1xDD (USD $329)



Physically the Globes are slightly larger & stick out a bit further. I find the Neo5s slightly more comfortable but the Globes are still exceptionally good. Requiring a volume of 38 on the SR35 (vs 40 for the Neo5s) the Globes are similarly easy to drive.

Immediately noticeable is the Globes possessing MUCH lower bass quantity, and bass texture isn't as satisfying either. I'd describe the Globes' bass as merely adequate, whereas the Neo5s emphasise bass enormously. On the other hand the Globes have a blacker background with slightly improved imaging, and a slightly deeper soundstage though it is definitely narrower than the Neo5s'.

Coherency is a great strength of the Globes and they edge the Neo5s in this regard. Tonally the Globes don't feel as dynamic or energetic, instead coming across as smoother with a midrange that feels more emphasised with extra presence and more warmth. The Neo5s have a slight edge in resolution but the difference is slight.



ISN EST50 – 2xBA, 1xDD, 2xEST (USD $449)



Physically larger but similarly sculpted to one's ear geometry, the EST50s' comfort lags slightly behind the Neo5s but their extra bulk helps them isolate a bit more effectively. Requiring a volume of 40 on the SR35 they're just as easy to drive.

Both IEMs clearly share the same DNA with the EST50s delivering similarly elevated levels of bass, and though bass quantity is slightly higher on the Neo5s, I do prefer the EST50s' bass texture. The EST50s are more V-shaped as opposed to the Neo5s' L-shape, so as you'd expect they're appreciably brighter.

Thanks to their EST drivers the EST50s' treble is also silkier & more resolving, helping them feel more refined and less raw. The EST50s' soundstage is also wider, with better imaging & separation, and note weight also feels superior.

Which may point to the EST50s being a straight upgrade to the Neo5s, and in many respects they are, but things aren't quite so simple. Indeed I do think the EST50s offer a superior implementation of their respective tuning, but I prefer the Neo5s' tuning more. Listening to the EST50s however does make me wish the Neo5s had a couple of EST drivers.



Unique Melody Mest MKIII - 4xBA, 1xDD, 1xBCD (USD $2359)



Mest MKIII occupy a completely different price category, but since I'm participating in the Australian tour organised by Damz87 the chance to compare them has presented itself. The MKIII shells are large & stick out quite a lot, and although comfort is reasonable, for multi-hour listening sessions I'd prefer something slightly smaller. The MKIII stock cable is also one of the least ergonomic I've encountered, being incredibly stiff & inflexible. Requiring 48 on the SR35 they benefit from a decent amount of power.

Mest MKIII feel like an even more refined EST50, with a similarly bright V-shaped signature. Bass has terrific texture but substantially lower quantity than the Neo5s', yet is north of neutral enough to feel satisfying. The midrange is MKIII's biggest weakness, being fairly recessed & distant and lacking in lower midrange richness. I'd be reluctant to purchase MEST MKIII on these grounds given a forward midrange with lots of presence is something I value highly.

MEST MKIII's EST-fueled treble is terrific, and is much more prominent than that of the darker Neo5s. Even more impressive are MKIII's technicalities thanks to its' trump card - the bone conduction driver. Being able to localise individual instruments in space so effortlessly & precisely is unquestionably MKIII's standout attribute, aided by terrific soundstage depth & background blackness.

Tonally MEST MKIII lies on the cooler side of the spectrum and its' presentation can feel very "hi-fi" at times, with a lack of warm earthiness hindering its' ability to portray instruments in a believable fashion. This is where I prefer the Neo5 tuning, though the former is unquestionably playing in a different league when it comes to technical performance.



I compared the Neo5's with even more IEMs at Addicted to Audio in Melbourne. My new Astell & Kern SR35 was used for comparisons and for reference the Neo5s require a volume level of 40. Do bear in mind the SR35's 4.4mm jack is more powerful, so IEMs using 3.5mm cables need more volume.

Letshoer s12 Pro - 1xPlanar (USD $169)



The s12 Pros' metal shells are extremely light & comfortable, and with their 3.5mm cable requiring a staggering 70 volume on the SR35 it's clear they require a lot of power to shine! Immediately obvious is how much lower bass quantity is than the Neo5s, but texture is decent despite being on leaner side.

I do find their treble rather wispy and ethereal which isn't quite to my taste, but dynamics are very impressive and resolution & imaging are also terrific. The s12 Pros deliver a much cleaner, more detailed sound but lack the Neo5's visceral punch. They represent surprisingly good value.



Dunu Falcon Ultra - 1xDD (USD $239)



The metal Falcon Ultra shells are tiny and extremely comfortable, and require the same volume of 40 so they're as easy to drive as the Neo5s. Falcon Ultra bass skews towards sub rather than midbass, features impressive bass texture and a satisfying amount of quantity - but still less than the Neo5s.

Falcon Ultra's stage dimensions are similar to Neo5's, dynamics are weaker with a less-punchy presentation and a slightly less prominent midrange, though the Falcon Ultras feel a little warmer. I prefer the Neo5s tonality but am very impressed by the Falcon Ultras which are superb value.



Dunu Vulcan DK-X6 - 2xDD, 4xBA (USD $379)



The Dunu Vulcan's 3.5mm cable requires a volume of 60, and their smooth metal shells are on the slightly large side.

Unfortunately they're a little shouty with upper midrange being a bit of a problem. Treble is somewhat recessed, resolution feels a trifle one-note and even the midrange demonstrates a hint of hollowness. Conversely, soundstage depth is fairly impressive and there's quite a bit of sub bass rumble though bass is less emphasised than on the Neo5s.



Campfire Audio Ponderosa Universal - 5xBA (USD $799)



Ponderosas' bright green shells are large and stick out quite a bit, but I find them snug & comfortable. On their 3.5mm cable Ponderosas require 60 volume on the SR35 so they're fairly hard to drive.

I find Ponderosas have a warm tonality, with more mid bass than sub, but the midrange feels somewhat recessed. They have a fairly relaxed tuning, soundstage depth is quite good and resolution is impressive.

All things considered the Ponderosas don't impress me greatly, compared with the Neo5s which are much more punchy, dynamic & energetic which suits my taste a little better.

Campfire Audio 2023 Supermoon Universal - 1xPlanar (USD $1099)

The bright orange 2023 Supermoons are tuned slightly differently to their predecessors which were only available in custom configuration - it's nice to see CFA adding the universal option.

Their 3.5mm cable requires a volume of just 33 so they're super easy to drive, and their shells feel identical to the Ponderosas. With just one driver their tremendous cohesiveness jumps right out immediately, so if that's a quality you value highly I'd recommend auditioning the Supermoons!

In fact I'd go so far as to say the 2023 Supermoons are possibly the most technically proficient single-driver IEMs I've heard, challenging the Final A8000s & Softears Turii Ti but priced lower than either. Soundstage dimensions are very impressive for a single driver, and resolution is similarly terrific.

I do find Supermoon sub bass a touch weak, treble is fine but again not as prominent as I'd prefer. As with every other single-driver IEM I've heard there's also a slight 'hollowness' to the sound as if the entire frequency spectrum isn't being quite as effortlessly covered as it might be by a multi-driver hybrid.



Thieaudio Monarch MKIII - 2xDD, 6xBA, 2xEST (USD $999)



With their 3.5mm cable requiring a volume of 66, the MKIIIs do require a fair bit of juice. Their shells are fairly large & smooth and comfort is reasonable. Immediately I notice that Thieaudio have 'woken up' the MKIIIs slightly, which are no longer quite as flatly-tuned as the MKIIs.

They still have the same smooth Monarch sound we're used to, pushing impressive amounts of effortless detail towards you in a fairly inoffensive fashion with a soundstage that's very wide but not terribly deep, and they're also bassier than the MKIIs with a less flabby DD being used.

I consider the MKIIIs solid value if you want an earphone that mimicks the refinement of flagship IEMs but you can't quite afford one, yet they're a different animal to the Neo5s which are more dynamic & visceral with far more bass quantity, but lack the same refinement, resolution & stage width.



Campfire Audio Trifecta - 3xDD (USD $3375)



Let's cover the good news first. The Trifecta shells are oddly shaped but actually fairly comfortable despite sticking out quite far, and requiring just 40 volume from a 3.5mm cable they're easy to drive. Trifecta's soundstage is massive, extremely wide and with great depth. They also deliver a similarly visceral bass experience to the Neo5s, with even more bass quantity - the only IEM compared that does.

Trifecta also feels cohesive, largely because it projects a gigantic wall of sound. Unfortunately its' three drivers are horrendously slow, utterly failing miserably to keep up with music of any significant pace. Dynamics are also poor, and at the lower volumes I listen at treble seems nearly non-existent. Everything feels bloated & slow, though some may perhaps find the presentation non-fatiguing. Ultimately I much prefer Neo5's superior dynamics, far more prominent treble, deeper sub bass and cleaner sound.

I joked with one of the Addicted to Audio staffers and he agreed, that if FiR Xenon 6 sounds like being inside a nightclub, Trifecta sounds like being outside a nightclub... on the other side of a brick wall.

Cable Comparisons​

As a confessed cable collector I had to learn how the Neo5s scale with fancier cables, but was surprised how well the stock cable performs.



ISN S4 Stock Cable - (USD $55)

The stock S4 has been very well-chosen. It provides a dramatic amount of sub bass emphasis to create a very 'fat' sound, which enhances the Neo5s' bouncy nature even more. I'm also surprised how much warmth this cable adds despite being silver-plated.

The S4 creates a very mid-forward sound with terrific dynamics, and keeps treble in check without feeling veiled. Trebleheads may long for more upper-treble however.



ISN S8 (USD $32.50)

I've read the S8 was once the Neo5s' stock cable before a change was made, and though this cable sounds quite similar to the S4 I definitely prefer this pairing less.

The S8 makes bass feel more rounded but less impactful with less sub bass emphasis, the soundstage seems narrower & dynamics are inferior. The presentation feels smoother which could be useful if you find the Neo5s too raw on the stock cable, but I prefer the S4 pairing.



Penon Vocal (USD $69)

As expected the Vocal places more emphasis on the midrange, giving it greater volume & smoothness which creates a feeling of increased refinement.

Soundstage depth is slightly improved but width is similar to that of the stock cable, and although bass feels a little tighter overall bass quantity is diminished. I'm indifferent to this pairing as it robs the Neo5s of too much of their dynamics & rawness that I enjoy.



Penon Obsidian (USD $149)

The Obsidian is a modular cable, with both Rhodium and Purple Copper plugs available so you can change its' presentation.

With the Rhodium Plug the Obsidian is brighter than the stock cable with a slightly wider & deeper stage, and added midbass but diminished sub bass. Vocals are pushed forward but the background doesn't feel as black as stock, and I don't care for how the extra brightness influences tonality.

To my ears the Purple Copper plug is a better Neo5 match. Now sub bass is deepened with more slam, the stage is wider than stock, but the Rhodium plug's extra brightness has been replaced by added warmth. The Rhodium plug sounds cleaner with slightly better imaging & marginally increased dynamics -the better option if you prioritise technical performance- but tonality is much better on the Purple Copper plug whereas Rhodium would be better for 'thinning out' an excessively warm IEM. I find the difference between plugs slightly less than the difference between cables.



Effect Audio Ares S 4 Wire (USD $179)

Ares S widens & flattens the stage, sharpens imaging & makes bass feel tighter but lowers perception of subass by shifting emphasis towards midbass.

Likewise the midrange emphasis shifts more to the upper midrange, and treble feels more prominent now. Tonally the character has shifted to a more 'hi-fi' presentation which thins out too much of what I like about the Neo5s on the stock cable.



Hakugei Sky-bolt (USD $884)

This is a heavy behemoth cable with performance to match. Sky-bolt emphasises midbass at the cost of some sub bass which is not a change I prefer, but dynamics are improved, as is background blackness, and the soundstage expands significantly in all directions.

Resolution increases far more than I would've thought possible by swapping cables, and is delivered more effortlessly - almost as though a couple of EST drivers were added. The Neo5s are far more refined & technically capable on the Sky-bolt, though some of the excitement & rawness of the stock cable is absent. The overall change is profound, completely flying in the face of naive cable skeptics.



PW Audio 1950s clone (USD $2149)

This 4 wire Cardas Clear is a clone of PWA's 1950s, and offers superior dynamics, a blacker background, and a much deeper stage though width is increased only marginally.

The midrange feels even more forward, and vocals sound smoother & richer with less grain. Note weight is also improved but sub bass is slightly less emphasised. Once again Cardas Clear delivers another great pairing, though Sky-bolt is another step-up again in technical performance.

Conclusion​

It's an audio reviewer's job not only to describe the way things sound, but to articulate his or her feelings towards the subject of the review to explain why they like or dislike it.

I've failed this test miserably - though I really enjoy the Neo5s, I'm struggling to explain why.

Many IEMs cross my desk I'm grudgingly forced to listen to. The Neo5s have been in my ears every day in the weeks since they arrived, and will still be in my ears tomorrow after this review is completed.

Does this make me a basshead... and if I am, does that mean I've been living a lie all these years by telling everyone I love treble?? That's the problem with elevated levels of bass - it's damn addictive, and skews your bass expectations way beyond "normal".

Seriously, the Neo5s are better than they have any right to be. To my ears they sound 'just right', and probably have the perfect mix of frequencies to cancel out whatever wonkiness my ear canals impart on the signal. You may not like them quite as much, but if bass is your thing... try them.