ISN H30

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Penon for furnishing this unit. The H30 can be gotten here (no affiliate links): https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-h30.html




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x 9.2 mm beryllium diaphragm DD, 1 x Sonion BA, 1 x Knowles BA
• Impedance: 18 Ohms
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 112 dB
• Cable: MMCX, no information on cable material
• Tested at $129 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 2 pairs of foam tips (S/L)
- Leatherette semi-rigid case
- Cleaning brush
- Shirt clip
- Cable



The accessories are outstanding for the coin, perhaps other than the omission of a modular cable, but that is nitpicking. Everything is quite serviceable out of the box.




The foam tips tame treble and provide the best isolation. Of the 2 variants of silicone tips, the narrow-bore ones boost bass and compress soundstage somewhat, whereas the wide-bore ones increase treble and soundstaging. Do tip roll to see what suits you sonically, isolation-wise and fit-wise.




While there are no marketing information on the cable materials, this MMCX cable is quite well-braided and tangle-free with minimal microphonics. There's a chin cinch for added grip. During ordering, one can opt for a 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm termination, depending on your source. This cable is quite solid haptically, no complaints on this front.

The blue leatherette semi-rigid case operates via a magnetic clasp, with the innards lined by a velvety material to cushion the contents. Pretty elegant yet functional, it can survive a drop or compressive forces. The shirt clip and cleaning brush are nice additions that complete the accessory line-up.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock narrow-bore tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The housings are fashioned from 3D-printed medical grade resin. The faceplate panel utilizes
stabilized blue-violet wood, and is quite a looker. ISN's logo graces the front in gold, on a backdrop of a purple palette.

The resin shells are pretty solid too. While the shells lie on the larger side with a long nozzle, they are surprisingly light with decent comfort for my average sized ears. There's a concha protrusion to add grip.



Personally, I'm not a fan of MMCX connectors for budget gear, but the H30's MMCX seems well-implemented, and they lock satisfyingly without being too loose or too tight.

Unfortunately, I experienced a bit of driver flex during insertion of the IEM, but this can be mitigated with different ear tip choice, and is also partially dependent on ear anatomy.

Despite being vented, this IEM has good isolation, and can easily block outside noise in subways or traffic.


INTERNALS

The H30 packs some choice drivers:
- 1 x 9.2 mm beryllium diaphragm DD handles the bass frequencies
- 1 x Sonion BA settles the midrange
- 1 x Knowles BA takes care of the treble

Usually gear at the H30's selling price doesn't contain premium drivers such as Sonions, so it is nice that Penon has managed to price it as such.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the H30 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

The H30 is easily driven, and amplification is not 100% required.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the ISN H30 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak

The H30 can be described tonally as having a mild U-shaped signature, approaching neutral.

The H30 has slight prominence in the mid-bass, and the bass is just a hair north of neutral. Sub-bass has a tickle of rumble on bass heavy tracks and isn't the most extended: this is not a bona fide basshead set as such. In terms of quality, the bass has good texturing and moderate speed, with minimal mid-bass bleed, so it eschews quantity but gives top-notch quality.

Without a big bass to eat into the midrange, the lower mids are relatively clean, but still of decent heft in note weight. This region isn't very depressed, in keeping with the U-shaped profile. The upper mids are extremely safe, with a 6 dB ear gain - no shoutiness or fatigue is noted here, though sometimes vocals may be slightly behind in the mix.

The H30 has a peak in the lower treble at the 5 kHz region, which adds some resolution to the mix. However, the upper treble rolls-off thereafter, and this IEM isn't sparkly or airy, and may even be borderline darkish in the upper treble. As such, the H30 is quite sibilant-free and smooth, and is a suitable IEM for our treble-sensitive brethren. Cymbals and high-hats are not splashy, though trebleheads might find it not to be their cup of tea.

Despite packing 2 BAs, the H30 has acceptable timbral accuracy for acoustic instruments. Admittedly, there is a tinge of BA timbre noted in the upper frequencies, but the H30 is surely not the worst offender in this region, with other BA-containing hybrids doing a way worse job in this department.

While talking about technicalities, the H30 is probably above average when compared against similarly priced hybrid rivals. There is dampened edges of notes, and though micro-detailing is decent, it isn't a clarity focused IEM. Soundstage is average in all 3 dimensions, with adequate imaging and layering. On a continuum between a "musical" and "analytical" signature, the H30 lies more to the "musical" side, but nevertheless keeps sufficient technical chops in its pocket.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made with other budget hybrids near the $100 USD mark. Planars, single DDs and pure BA types were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.

Simgot EM6L


Graph of the ISN H30 versus Simgot EM6L via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the Simgot EM6L is a mild V-shaped set. It has more upper mids and can be a tinge shoutier than the H30, though both are quite sedate in the upper treble, and are not basshead IEMs.

The EM6L has a more expansive soundstage, but slightly weaker instrument separation. Micro-detailing and imaging are similar, though not class-leading.

The EM6L comes with disappointingly poor accessories, and a tangly thin cable, though it does not have driver flex. The EM6L is also more difficult to drive.


Tangzu Fu Du


Graph of the ISN H30 versus Tangzu Fu Du via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the Fu Du and H30 are pretty similar. The Fu Du has slightly more bass quantity, but loses in bass quality - listeners hear a one-noted textureless bass, with mid-bass bleed in spades on the Fu Du.

Technically, the Fu Du is a step behind, with inferior soundstaging, micro-detailing, imaging and instrument separation.

The Fu Du has a plasticky build that is quite worrisome, with a sub-par stock cable that is thin, tangly and microphonic. Unfortunately, both IEMs have driver flex. The Fu Du is slightly harder to drive.


CONCLUSIONS

The H30 is a solid hybrid offering in the competitive $100ish market. It brings to the table robust build, splendid accessories, good isolation and easy drivability. Additionally, its balanced and smooth fatigue-free sonics should be a sight for sore eyes - or rather a balm for sore ears. Timbre is more than decent, considering this IEM packs 2 BAs in the midrange and treble.

The H30 unfortunately has driver flex, though this can be mitigated with eartip choices. The soundstage is average too, and the U-shaped tonality might not be a basshead's or treblehead's first choice (though most other consumers should find the H30's pleasant soundscape to be very welcome).

As of the time of writing, the H30 is almost a year old, but it surprisingly holds its own against some newer $100ish hybrid releases of 2023, and that is nothing to sniff at, considering the ton of weekly CHIFI sidegrade releases we encounter nowadays. In essence, the H30 is a musical IEM that contains a fair amount of technical chops, with up-to-scratch timbre and a balanced U-shaped soundscape. Definitely a hybrid to be considered in the conversation, and still competitive against some new upstarts.

This is a review of the ISN H30 which retails for $129 and you can order it from Penon Audio.



The ISN H30 is a two Balanced Armature and one Dynamic Driver Hybrid IEM with a detachable MMCX cable.The ISN H30 features a 9.2mm dynamic driver with beryllium frosted diaphragm for the low frequencies, one Sonion BA driver for the mids frequency and one Knowles BA for the high frequencies.

Appearance and build quality

The lightweight ear shells are made from a medical grade, resin compound that has a custom-like, anatomical shape to offer a better user experience.
The ISN H30 is a little bulky but the mildly extended, longer, sound tube helps a lot with the fit which is very comfortable, stress free and stable, making it suitable for extended periods of use while they have very good passive noise attenuation.
The appearance is nothing special to talk about, the ear shells have a stabilized wood, blue - violet, faceplate with the ISN logo at the front and build quality is really stellar.

Cable and accessories

The ISN H30 features a 1.2m detachable cable with MMCX connectors that can be ordered with 3.5mm, 2.5mm or 4.4mm plugs.
The 8-core braided cable is exceptionally well made, it is soft, it doesn't get tangled and it doesn't induce microphonic noise. The review sample came with a balanced 4.4mm cable.



The ISN H30 comes with two sets of different silicone ear-tips at three sizes each, two pairs of memory foam ear-tips, a cleaning brush, a shirt clip and a premium looking, high quality, hard carrying case with a magnetic lid.

Technical performance

The ISN H30 is rated at 18Ω/118dB so it is very easy to drive and you will be just fine with an entry level USB DAC dongle although I would suggest something better, like the iBasso DC04 Pro or the FiiO Q11, because they scale pretty well.
The earphone was burned for about 100 hours before listening evaluation.

Audio performance

The ISN H30 has an even, reference - critical tuning with great tonal balance and sound homogeneity where no part of the frequency range stands out as too boosted or subdued.
Well extended and linear bass response, present mid-range and a well realized treble with plenty of energy and sparkle but without sounding bright, harsh or irritating.
Sub-bass extension is more than enough for most kinds of music but it doesn't draw attention and will not appeal to people who like too much of a bass presence and impact.
The neutrally tuned bass is exceptionally fast, tight and controlled with good timing and excellent inner definition, you can hear every last note of every last instrument without a single trace of masking.
Macro - dynamic response is good and despite the relative lack of physical impact and rumble, the ISN H30 is still very capable of sounding dynamically contrasted and realistic.
The texture is rather lean, but not dry or sterile while it gets slightly leaner in the upper frequencies but not that much as to cause lack of cohesiveness.

The mid range is engaging and musical, it has a slightly warm and lush texture while it is transparent enough and the lack of bass bleeding helps a lot with definition and clarity.
It is evenly and neutrally tuned, just a bit prominent without upper-mids emphasis, so it doesn't induce listener fatigue, and with a linear transition to the treble.
Vocals are beautifully presented, breathing and articulate, there is plenty of harmonic variety on tap and a good tonal balance that adds a sense of realism and a natural instrumental timbre.

The highs greatly balance between prompt extension and smoothness, the ISN H30 is lively and energetic but not bright or harsh.
The sound is airy and resolving with good detail retrieval but is somewhat lacking in finesse and refinement while it will not appeal to people who like an analytical and brilliant sound signature.
As said earlier, the texture gets slightly leaner in the treble but not that much to make it thin and uneven.
The timbre is still quite natural, the ISN H30 doesn't have much of the infamous balanced armature timbre and it doesn't sound too artificial in the treble while the three drivers are well implemented so the sound is cohesive and homogeneous.
The ISN H30 is fast and furious, it has an energetic and speedy presentation that reminds a lot of an electrostatic headphone, with all three drivers keeping up the same pace and timing so no one sounds detached and out of phase.

The soundstage is wide but intimate, the listener is positioned quite close to the performers, the presentation is not that grand and holographic, depth proportion is limited, but it has an accurate positioning and a well centered image.
The ISN H30 feels at home with all kinds of music and ensemble sizes but it really excels with more medium forces and shines
with vocal recitals.



Conclusion

The ISN H30 has an audiophile oriented tuning, it is balanced and even with plenty of natural timbre and musicality, offering the listener a smooth and fatigue free experience.
It is also lightweight, comfortable, well made and comes with a high quality cable, a premium carrying case and plenty of eartips, easily earning my highest recommendation.

(The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review)

TONALITY: 7.8/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.5/10

INTRO

ISN Audio is an IEM company branch of Penon, they make IEM cables as well. Their catalog has 6 IEMs released, from entry-level single DD priced at 80$ (D02) to flagship DD+2BA+2EST tribrid priced 460$ (EST50).
Today I will review my first ISN earphones, which is a promising budget hybrid called ISN H30. Priced at only 130$, the H30 is a hybrid with one 9.2mm beryllium plated dynamic driver for bass, one Sonion balanced armature for mid-range, and one Knowles BA for treble. To say this type of high-quality driver is rare in the sub-150$ price range is an understatement I think the H30 is an exception here, which makes me wonder how low is profit margin with such pricey balanced armature.
But does it guarantee the H30 will sound phenomenal? Nope. And this is why I will share my critical review with you today which includes a comparison with 3 other hybrid IEMs in the very competitive sub-200$ IEM market.

CONSTRUCTION&PACKAGING

The construction is excellent for the price and beyond. It's made of 3D-printed resin plastic with a beautiful backplate made of stabilized wood. The look is elegant and feels very sturdy since it's not made of cheap plastic. The design has an elongated organic shape, the nozzle being longer than average it permits a deep fit for extra isolation, but you can wear it the way you want since the housing is light and doesn't tend to fall. I use wide-bore ear tips.



The included cable is of good quality too, it's a braided high-purity copper cable that feels very durable and doesn't justify urgent cable upgrades like it often happens in the sub-150$ price range.


The packaging is very impressive too, very glossy and prime looking. We feel respected as consumers and it's great. Box has this beautiful glossy blue electric color and several accessories are on the generous side. The leather magnetic carrying case is a nice addition. We have plenty of eartips too, 6 pairs of silicone (2 models) and 2 pairs of memory foams tip. We also have a cleaning tool and a practical cable clamp. And the very braided cable. For 130$, there are very good accessories!

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

I would call the tonality as being Smooth neutral to gentle L shape with slightly boosted bass with warm round punch, lean but very present mid-range, and extra treble snap and crispness. These are the kind of IEMs we struggle to consider warm or bright since they will oversimplify the macro musicality richness of the 3 drivers used. These are maturely tuned, with an organic lushness coming from the bass and lower mids warmth. Full sounding, intimate, and safely tuned, these are the kind of IEM we can call ''Jack of all trades, master of none'' but in a musical way, not in a cold or clinical pejorative way. Tonal balance feels natural and a hint creamy and favors a thicken macro resolution.

These aren't for basshead, nor for a bass lover, the H30 has an understated bass presence that doesn't hook attention. It is slightly boosted in mid-bass and offers a gentle punch, with a mellow dynamic. The kick is warm, round, and glued to the lower mids, which are thickened. Rumble is minimal and a bit rolled off, it doesn't move air and feels distant. The low end doesn't mix or veil mid-range and always stays in the background, for better and worst since it's good for instrumental and acoustic music yet will lack punch and slam for anything beat driven. A very boring bass performance we can say, and since the extension isn't very linear or very deep, it doesn't benefit acoustic bass nor sound very clean or textured. Cello and male vocals benefit from this low end that tends to make low harmonics more focused yet this do had note weight without the dynamic heft that we would need to fully enjoy musical fullness.

Then the mid-range came in and charm our ears with an impressively smooth and dense timbre that isn't typical of the balanced armature. Upper mids being damped and pina gain being safe, it results in a lush and intimate presentation with a great sense of proximity to the instrument or singer. It's a hint warm too, definition edge being softened. Both male and female vocals sound fully bodied and upfront in presence, with a hint of breathiness and extra low harmonic. Vocal is very centered in spatiality, not the widest or more open in projection. Clarity is good, but not the cleanest or crispest. It's not the type of mid-range that will permit analytical listening since their a warm haze to it due to the syrupy mix of sound layers. Yet, the tone is right for all instruments, the piano sound is full with good note weight but not sharply defined, and saxophone and woodwind instruments tend to be better layered and more open sounding.

Now, the treble is rather unique, not the fuller, most linear, or extended. If you seek for lotta sparkle, air, and brilliance, the H30 will feel underwhelming. It's a thick organic treble we have here, with a boosted sense of snap-in attack that benefits percussion timing speed and crispness. But it's a half-cooked treble with a dark section, texture and crunchiness feel tamed here, surely to avoid over-brightness issues. Sure, as expected with the balanced armature, the attack is fast and well controlled, there is no splashiness or fuzzy long sustain with this, but micro details aren't that impressive either, it's either the percussions part. The whole treble seems a bit dark apart from the boosted presence, around 8khz their surely a peak that adds a hint of brightness in definition to avoid overly warmed macro resolution. The violin sound smoother than nature, and the attack strike is soft. Clavichord sound dries but well resolve. My biggest qualm with treble is the lack of sharp definition and airiness.

Soundstage is intimate as said, without beginning stuck in your head, it feels close to you, like a cocoon. Minimal wideness, like 20cm for each side of your head, near no deepness, unless instrumental music with few instruments.

Imaging is also average, due to a lack of clean crisp clarity and space for sound layer articulation. Layering isn't bad tough and doesn't go muddy on busy tracks, it's just not fully transparent and rolled off high affect precision of definition.

Technically, they are more than competent for the price, the mix of 1 dynamic + 2 BA permits impressive attack speed, especially for mids-treble while the bass is a bit slower and more tamed in dynamic, yet weighty and punchy enough.
Resolution while good, isn't the sharpest or cleanest, we have definition blunt there and there in busy music tracks, but it's still above average for the price, just not overly boosted yet perhaps a bit too soft.


COMPARISONS


VS MEAOES Eagle (2DD+2BA-150$)

The eagles are brighter analytical V shape, with notably more energic and vivid tonality. Everything is about treble with those, so bass isn't as well-rounded and thick as H30 yet has a more excited punch to it. Mids are thinner, more recessed, and have dryer brighter timber with lighter note weight and leaner dynamic. H30 mids are notably fuller and more upfront, both male and female vocals are more present and bodied, timbre is more natural and resolution is richer, as well, vocals are less prompt to sibilance and tone is right, so both piano and violin sound less boxy. Treble is way more boosted with the Eagle and only part of the sound with energic dynamic, it's more shouty and thin still, and it seems it extracts more micro details in an unbalanced way, percussions are more in your face than H30. H30 is smoother, fuller in layering, and more cohesive in balance. The soundstage is wider and taller with H30, while mids recession (center stage) seems to give the illusion the Eagle is deeper in spatiality, but their nothing to be found while the center stage is rich in sound layers. This makes imaging and layering notably superior with H30, even if denser in sound info.

All in all, H30 is from another league both in tonal balance and technical performance, and it's to be expected since it uses a high-end balanced armature. Eagle can be put in the same league as KZ IEM, while H30 is a solid competitor in the 100-200$ price range.

VS KINERA IDUN GOLDEN 2.0 (1DD+2BA-170$)

Now, this is a real competition. Idun is a similar smooth W shape near neutral IEM, but more mid-centric and warmish that hint at brighter H30. The bass of H30 is a bit more boosted and impactful, with less presence texture but fuller-bodied roundness, both lack sub-bass rumble and extension. Lighter bass impact tends to make mid-range more focused with Idun, as well, timbre is denser and favors a bit more male vocal over female vocal compared to H30, so perhaps upper mids are softer with Idun. Treble is more detailed, open, and vivid with H30, so yes, brighter they are and this makes them more resolve too, it inflicts on the sense of airiness too and highs seem more extended, snappy, and slightly sparkly. Overall dynamic feels more immediate and lively with the H30, while thicker and slower with Idun. The soundstage is about the same width, a bit taller, and deeper than H30. Imaging is different in spatial presentation, sound layers are less thick and wide, with Idun, we ''swim'' and explore dense layering while H30 offers sharper imaging that favors presence separation, so it feels more precise and cleaner in spatiality.

All in all, this is a hard one, but I conclude technical performance is superior with H30 which is quite insane cause I praise those Idun a lot even if pricier, it seems we have less harmonic distortion euphony with the H30, yet for those that favor thicker and warmer timbre, the Idun is sure a good bet and this is were tonality preference come in...here, I'm just unable to conclude anything, yet, I'm certain to prefer a mid-range of the Idun.


VS SEEAUDIO YUME2 (1DD+2BA-200$)

Yume2 is brighter and easier and has more W shape sound than the H30 which feels warmer and more mid-centric as well as more neutral and less treble-focused. Sub bass is notably more boosted with the Yume2 and both punch and slam are louder and more impactful, bass is more textured too. Mid-range is thinner, less lush and natural, more brighten in the presence and upper mids have more bite so the attack feels edgier too with the Yume, adding a sense of immediacy H30 is a bit lacking. While dynamic is more vivid with the Yume 2, mid-range has less note weight. Treble of Yume2 is digging more micro details, attack snap feels less blunted-tamed, and highs are more vividly extracted adding a sense of air that the H30 is lacking. This inflicts on the soundstage which seems wider, taller, and deeper with the Yume2, with a more recessed center stage where the mid-range instrument will feel more distant. Due to more open spatiality, instrument separation is wider and easier to pinpoint in positioning, while H30 has more compressed layering that makes it harder to precisely spot instrument position.

All in all, unless your treble sensitive or favor timbre and vocal, the Yume2 offers a more resolved and lively musicality, with slightly superior technical performance. Tonality-wise, I feel the treble is a bit too much and not as well balanced as the H30.

CONCLUSION

Their no doubt that the ISN H30 is very good for the price, even if the niche mature tonality might not please everyone, especially basshead and people searching for an energic musicality.
These are aimed at audiophiles that enjoy smooth balance with gently neutral tonality.
The effortless musicality that the H30 delivers is addictive in the long run and offers fatigue-free immersive.
If you seek a hybrid IEM without the flaw of balanced armature timbre that can often sound artificial or metallic, the H30 delivers a very natural mid-range that presents vocals lushly and appealingly.

These are a well-tuned hybrid that stands apart in the sub-150$ price range, thanks to the high-quality drivers used as well as the hint of warmth that adds an organic cohesion to the macro presentation, the H30 is one of this rare '' jack of all trades'' that find the sweet spot between technical and musical sound rendering.

ISN Audio is a refreshing chifi company that is worth to be followed. Recommended!


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PS: I want to thank Penon Audio for sending me this review sample. I'm not affiliated with nor compensated financially to write this review. As always, these are my 100% honest subjective audio impressions and opinion.

You can buy the H30 for 130$ here (non-affiliated link):
https://penonaudio.com/isn-audio-h30.html