ISN H60

One of life's biggest challenges isn't getting what we want, it's knowing what we want.

You've probably experienced this. For months or years you've dreamed of achieving or owning something you're sure will make you happy... then the moment you get it you realise it isn't what you wanted.

It's so hard knowing precisely what we need until we try a lot of what's out there, and it often feels like what we want doesn't exist until we find it.

I mention this because the ISN Neo5s have been my recommendation for IEMs under $500, recently displaced by the Penon Quattros, and I've dreamed of what the next #1 would actually sound like...

...enter the ISN H60s. I was sent these a few weeks back in exchange for my thoughts and immediately felt the winds of change blowing. Even out of the box they sounded great, but are they giantkillers?

Enough foreplay, you need to hear how these sound.

Packaging​

The USD $349 ISN H60s arrive in a fairly small cardboard box, inside is a petit leatherette case, the IEMs with stock 2pin cable, three sets of silicone eartips in 3 sizes, a shirt clip and IEM cleaning tool.

It's the same package we've seen for previous ISN earphones, for $349 there are more lavish unboxing experiences out there though I prefer knowing more of my money has gone towards the IEMs themselves. Still, at this price I can imagine some folks wishing for a fancier box & more accessories.

The stock cable is a fairly minimal 4 wire OCC copper affair available in your choice of 2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm terminations. Fairly thin & flexible, ergonomically I've no complaints but performance can definitely be improved further by spending more on one of ISN Audio's beefier aftermarket cable options.

Ergonomics​

The H60s' vented medical-grade resin shells feel extremely smooth, but are large and stick out quite far.

Surprisingly for my ears their size doesn't impact comfort, so I've had far worse fits from smaller IEMs. This is because the H60s' shells are actually quite narrow in the areas close to the nozzle which make contact with one's ears, so most of the bulk sits well outside the ear itself.

I've noticed for instance the Penon Quattros are considerably smaller, yet I prefer the H60s' fit due to their more ergonomic shape. This also means although H60 isolation is decent, they don't isolate as spectacularly as some similarly-large IEMs.

Sound Impressions​

I used a Luxury & Precision P6 Pro set to hi-gain mode at 7/60 volume to evaluate the H60s, as I listen at lower volumes. This is the Tidal playlist of tracks I use to evaluate IEMs.

The H60s use 2x 8mm DDs for bass, 2x Sonion BAs for midrange and 2x Knowles BAs for treble. They're slightly v-shaped, with dominant bass approaching basshead levels, a forward midrange and treble that's a bit spicier than many ISN IEMs. It's a fairly excited tuning, yet remains extremely well-balanced.



Bass

H60 bass is terrific - it's an IEM I'd point to as an example of bass done right. Texture in particular is impressive with lots of bite, but decay isn't excessively slow like many IEMs with a single DD.

This exemplifies the strength of the 2xDD bass approach, where bass is impactful & visceral yet still fast enough not to lag behind the BAs taking care of everything else. Bass quantity is also spot on - there's enough of it be considered close to basshead levels, yet it manages to stay out of the midrange's way to avoid impacting resolution & overall clarity.

Even the balance between sub bass & midbass is really good. Maybe a slight leaning towards sub but I never feel like one's being excessively favoured. This reminds me of the approach Penon took with their 10th Anniversary except the H60 is less polite and more meaty, yet still feels nimble.





Midrange

As a somewhat v-shaped IEM it'd be normal to expect the H60 midrange to be somewhat lacklustre or at least subtly de-emphasised, yet I don't find that at all.

Instead vocals on the H60 are quite forward and upfront, but thankfully never shouty. I think this is mainly thanks to the upper midrange being kept relatively in check, and without looking at a graph I suspect they do emphasise the lower midrange slightly.

That's definitely my preference when it comes to portraying real instruments believably, and though I would describe the H60s as warm their midrange balance doesn't stray far away from neutral. There's no shortage of clarity, and it isn't too thick & stuffy to make things feel cloudy or slow.





Treble

Treble is more prominent than I'm used to from previous ISN IEMs, which I find a welcome change. The H60s deliver commendably high quality treble too, perhaps not quite as delicate as you'd expect from IEMs over $1000 with EST drivers, but far less grainy than is the norm for BA-treble IEMs under $500.

I love the treble tuning on these, with just the right amount of sparkle to bring out important details without imparting the feeling of fatigue you get when cymbals and such overwhelm the midrange.

Though I've heard far brighter IEMs than this, you should be warned they are on the slightly brighter side so if you're especially treble sensitive that may be a factor, it may limit how loud you can push them.

Technical Performance​

The H60s are hugely dynamic, a real standout attribute. I'd go so far as to call them one of the most dynamic IEMs under $1000 I've heard, and it can be improved further by upgrading the stock cable. Note weight is decent, maybe above average at this price. Another element improvable with a beefier cable.

Their soundstage is impressively deep, and this is a point of differentiation from many IEMs under $500 which often lack in this regard. Stage width however is merely average, though not so narrow as to be claustrophobic. The H60s are quite resolving too, and not just through the midrange but the whole frequency spectrum - brighter treble helps there.

Imaging is fine but not amazing, they probably need a wider stage & blacker background to nail that. Finally the H60s are extremely coherent, with their faster 2xDD bass being of great assistance.

IEM Comparisons​

I compared the H60s to similar IEMs using a Luxury & Precision P6 Pro set to hi-gain at 7/60 volume.



Simgot EA1000 - 1xDD 1xPassive Radiator (USD $219) with LC7 Cable (USD $69)



The EA1000s with LC7 upgrade cable are a very potent combination. Like the H60s they're hugely dynamic but have a much leaner sound with slightly lower bass quantity and bias towards midbass, and bass texture doesn't have quite as much bite either.

The EA1000s are far less warm, and their Harman tuning makes vocals sound a touch hollow with a bias towards the upper midrange. Treble is less prominent on the EA1000s, yet I feel like it isn't integrated into the rest of their presentation quite as seamlessly as on the H60s.

Though the EA1000s do a superb job with just two drivers and I find their background is blacker, imaging sharper, and stage slightly wider but flatter, resolution feels higher on the H60s and they also separate instruments during busy passages better, with a much warmer tonality I find more agreeable.



ISN Neo5 – 1xDD 4xBA (USD $289)



Both the Neo5s & H60s are essentially v-shaped IEMs for bassheads, and going back & forth many times between them I think it's hard to go wrong with either - I'm a huge fan of both.

The Neo5 shells are a slightly smaller & more comfortable, but the H60 nozzles grip tips more securely. The Neo5s are sonically much darker, with a single DD producing bass that's far slower. Bass quantity is similar between them but I don't find Neo5 bass texture quite as satisfying.

Due to the slower DD the Neo5s aren't as coherent, but sound a bit more refined & relaxed with a slightly thinner tonality. Whereas the H60s are warmer & fuller, yet also more excited with more prominent treble. I prefer the Neo5 imaging thanks to their slightly wider stage, but the H60 tonality takes the cake for me.



Penon Quattro – 4xDD (USD $399)



The 4xDD Quattros have a uniquely smooth, analogue sound which softens the edges of notes and leaves the listener utterly free of fatigue.

Unfortunately those DDs can't keep up with the BAs of the H60s so the Quattros feel much slower, with more sluggish bass decay that lacks the same bite. Imaging is also fuzzier and they aren't as dynamic.

The Quattros are far darker, smoother & more laidback (particularly the midrange which is less upfront) with a slightly deeper stage but don't they feel as resolving as the H60s, nor do they have the same punch & excitement but instead I find two IEMs different enough to feel complimentary of one another.



Tansio Mirai X - 2xDD 4xBA 1xPR (USD $399)



Like the Neo5s, the TSMR Xs with all tuning switches kept in their stock positions are quite similar to the H60s and I feel there's no poor choice among the three of them.

The Xs are even more bass dominant with slightly higher bass quantity and a bit more rumble, but decay is slower. This means the Xs aren't quite as coherent as the H60s because that slower, deeper bass tends to stick out more.

The Xs are darker, with less upper midrange & treble emphasis and vocals aren't as forward, or articulate. Tonally the Xs are flatter through the midrange and although their stage is slightly wider, the H60s are more dynamic with better instrument separation & feel better balanced overall.



I also visited Addicted to Audio in Melbourne to compare the H60s to IEMs with similar characteristics.

Dunu SA6 MK2 - 6xBA (USD $499)



The SA6 MK2 shells are similarly large but a tad better at hugging contours of the ear.

Tonally they're much smoother, with even greater bass quantity that's biased heavily towards midbass - commendable quality by BA standards, but is unlikely to be mistaken for DD bass as texture is mushy.

The SA6 MK2s are darker and treble quality is better on the H60s as well, which are also more dynamic. The SA6 MK2s have a wider stage but its much shallower, and imaging isn't as precise. Their midrange is smoother and they fit an L-shape profile, whereas the brighter H60s are more v-shaped.



Thieaudio Oracle MKII - 1xDD 1xBA 1xEST (USD $589)



The smaller Oracle shells fit more snugly, but they're ultra demanding to drive - requiring 30 volume from the (admittedly lower-powered) 3.5mm port of my P6 Pro, whereas most IEMs need only 5-10 volume from the 4.4mm jack.

The Oracles are far more refined with a blacker background, significantly sharper imaging, and far superior instrument separation & resolution. Their technical performance is outstanding for their price.

Unfortunately the Oracles' stage isn't as deep, their lack of lower midrange makes them sound a bit thin with poorer note weight, and they're tuned quite flat and somewhat boring. Some folks love that kind of sound, I personally much prefer the H60s' warmer tonality which is also more energetic & exciting.



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



Monarch MKIII shell size is similar but they don't stick out quite as far. They're tuned to be much smoother with bass that's tamed with lower quantity, that skews towards midbass rather than sub and bass texture that's disappointingly pillowy.

I find the Monarch MKII midrange more resolving and nuanced, and their EST treble is undoubtedly higher quality as well. The H60s possess far punchier bass with surprisingly similar stage dimensions, but are more v-shaped with less overall refinement.



Campfire Audio Fathom - 6xBA (USD $1049)



The Fathoms are very small with light shells that fit superbly, but their stock cable feels cheap. Fathom bass extends much deeper but feels overcooked, being boomy & disjointed from the rest of the presentation. I'd rather spend far less on set of Beats earbuds if I wanted this kind of sound.

Fathom's midrange is very forward and more resolving than H60s', but is marred by incoherence and an impression of muddiness, yet vocals often sound annoyingly hollow as well, as if whomever tuned this IEM had little idea what they were doing.

By contrast the H60s sound more refined with superior tonality that's smoother & better balanced overall.

Cable Comparisons​

I tested the H60s with a number of aftermarket cables to gauge how impressively they scale.



NiceHCK BlackCat (USD $25)



BlackCat is extremely affordable, with modest technical performance but very satisfying tonality.

With the H60s I notice a wider stage that's quite a bit deeper too, and note weight gains heft too. There's more congestion than the stock cable, but a nice sense of gravitas & scale. Not a spectacular pairing but probably worth the price for a slightly different flavour.



Penon Vocal (USD $69)



Surprisingly Vocal makes the H60s sound brighter, the stage feels slightly wider & imaging's a bit sharper.

Dynamics improve slightly and vocals are smoother yet more articulate, though I'm not noticing the same dramatic level of midrange improvement Vocal's had with other IEMs, but it's still a decent pairing.



ISN T-OCC (USD $119)



I'll be evaluating this cable in an upcoming review so this is a sneak peak! T-OCC improves dynamics dramatically and the midrange comes further forward and is even more resolving.

The stage is only slightly wider but imaging is cleaner and note weight is better too. Notes feel like they have more room to breathe against a blacker background, and although there's a bit less lower midrange emphasis the tonality feels uncompromised yet blessed with an uptick in refinement.

Sonically the T-OCC strikes me as an ideal match if you're looking for an H60 cable upgrade, if only the shell & cable colours matched better it'd be a near perfect pairing.



Effect Audio Ares S 4 Wire (USD $179)



Ares S tightens everything up, with better dynamics, improved note weight, slightly clear imaging I didn't expect and a slightly deeper & wider stage.

There's a little more brightness and slightly less lower midrange but the stock cable's tonality isn't negatively impacted too much in this impressive pairing.



Penon ASOS+X (USD $319)



I'lll soon be reviewing this monster 12 wire cable, in the meantime here's a taste of what's to come!

ASOS+X brightens the H60s substantially & creates a much wider, deeper & taller stage. Dynamics improve, and resolution is better across the board with no need to hunt for detail.

The tonality shifts upwards in emphasis which accentuates the H60's natural v-shape further, as bass also goes slightly deeper with a bit more rumble. Everything feels much grander with larger instruments, and even noticeably louder at the same volume level than on the stock cable.

ASOS+X transforms the H60 much more than other cables tested, yet I actually prefer the T-OCC pairing as it preserves the H60s' superb tonality best whilst improving technical performance - proof that as always cable/IEM synergy is king.

Conclusion​

I'm massively impressed by the ISN H60s. I award 5 star reviews rarely, but they earned it.

Bass is superb, I was on the fence about the 2x DD approach but they made me a convert. Midrange is perfectly balanced, warm enough to deliver believable tonality but lean enough for tons of clarity.

Treble is brighter than the norm for ISN earphones, so if you're treble-sensitive this could be an issue, but its also higher quality treble than I'm used to from IEMs this price which lack EST drivers.

They're physically large, though I find fit to be excellent so that just means they stick out far.

For all the words & descriptions, with IEMs you know right away if you like them - so there's no point hiding that I love the H60s, and did right from the start... articulating precisely why is actually a lot harder than loving them!

To me they just sound right. Not right as in 'correct', right as in "yep.. this is what I've been looking for."

Warm, but not excessively. Bassy, but not to the detriment of other frequencies. Bright, but not annoyingly. Vocally forward, but not shouty. Tonally damn near perfect, technically competent enough.

Would a bigger stage, more pinpoint imaging & greater resolution be nice? Yes, as an audiophile I always want more... but for under $500 these are as good as it gets - they're what I want.

The first letter I have to say about this one is incredible, with this price tag ($349), ISN H60 makes me feel like it can compare with IEM in twice price.​

Bass(10/10)​

Let's talk about the ISN H60's bass, shall we? It's not just an aspect of the sound, it's an immersive experience. Forget the tired metaphor of an earthquake; this is a sonic tsunami, a relentless wave of low-frequency energy that engulfs you completely. It's deep, reaching down into the subterranean depths of your music. It's powerful, capable of delivering the gut-punch impact of a live kick drum or the rumble of a distant thunderstorm. But most importantly, it's controlled. There's no bloat, no muddiness, no sense of the bass overwhelming the rest of the soundscape. It's a force of nature, harnessed and sculpted to perfection.

Whether you're listening to the throbbing pulse of an electronic dance track, the intricate basslines of a jazz fusion piece, or the visceral roar of a heavy metal anthem, the H60's bass will leave you awestruck. It's not just about hearing the bass, it's about feeling it, about being immersed in its oceanic depths. And at a price point of $349, it's an absolute steal.

Mid (10/10)​

The midrange of the ISN H60 is a revelation. It's like immersing yourself in a crystalline pool, each ripple and wave washing over your ears with exquisite detail. The vocals aren't just presented, they're felt. It's as if the singer is whispering secrets directly into your ear, their every breath a gentle breeze caressing your senses. Instruments emerge with clarity and precision, each strum of a guitar, each tap of a drum, each note of a piano resonating with a natural warmth and vibrancy.

The H60 doesn't just reproduce sound, it recreates the experience of being present in the recording studio. The richness and depth of the midrange are simply astonishing, allowing you to hear nuances and subtleties that you may have missed with lesser IEMs. It's an invitation to rediscover your favorite music, to hear it with a newfound clarity and appreciation

Treble (9.5/10)​

The treble on the ISN H60 is a breath of fresh air, light and airy without being overwhelming. Now, I'm a confessed basshead, so this delicate balance suits me perfectly. If you're a treble enthusiast, craving those shimmering highs and crystalline details, you might find it a touch restrained. But for someone like me, who prefers a smoother, more laid-back treble presentation, it's an absolute delight. It adds just the right amount of sparkle and airiness to the mix, without ever becoming harsh or fatiguing, even during extended listening sessions.

Technical Performance (9/10)​

When it comes to technical performance, the ISN H60 delivers an intimate and immersive soundstage. It's not the expansive, concert-hall experience you might get from some open-back headphones, but rather a cozy, focused presentation that feels akin to being in a well-treated studio or a snug tea room. This level of intimacy is, in my opinion, a major strength for IEMs. It allows you to appreciate the subtle nuances and details of your music, without sacrificing the sense of being enveloped in the performance.

The imaging is particularly impressive. Each instrument and vocal is placed with pinpoint accuracy, creating a vivid and realistic soundscape. It's reminiscent of the precise imaging found in legendary full-size headphones like the Audio Technica A1K, A2K, and W1K. The H60 truly excels at creating a sense of separation and clarity, even in complex and layered musical arrangements.

Cable (3/10)​

Regrettably, the stock cable of the ISN H60 is a point of disappointment, especially considering the exceptional value offered by the IEMs themselves. In this price range, a more premium cable would have been a welcome addition. Personally, I found a noticeable improvement in sound quality and overall richness after switching to my Moon Audio Blue Dragon cable. The stock cable's thinness and lack of ear hooks also detract from the overall experience, raising concerns about its long-term durability.

In comparison to the Simgot Supermix 4, a $150 IEM, the H60's cable feels markedly inferior in both quality and durability. Additionally, the non-replaceable nature of the jack is a concern, especially since it's prone to opening up and exposing its internals, even with minor handling. This design oversight is a bit perplexing, especially considering the H60's otherwise stellar build quality and performance.

Source​

- DAC: Fiio Q5s, Cayiin RU6, Macbook Pro 2020 13 inch with internal Circus logic DAC
- AMP: Topping A50 with Burr Brown OPA2107 dual operational amplifier

Source of music:​

- Apple music
- A laugh of the sea - Yao Si Ting
- Album Dare to Love, Dare to Do - Yao Si Ting (Female vocal, Soundstage)
- Album 30 - Adele (Female vocal)
- The Road Well Travel - Allan Taylor (Male vocal)
- Habit, Album 33 Resolution Per Minute - Postmodern Jukebox (Technical Performance)
- Album 10 - The Piano Guys (Soundstage)
- Album Piano Concerto, Op. 38 - Keith Jarrett, Samuel Barber (Treble)



Note: The ISN H60 IEM is part of a review tour organized by Audiogeek A.G in my country. The sample unit was provided by the brand for evaluation purposes. I had the opportunity to assess the ISN H60 for a duration of eight days. This review is entirely based on my personal experience with the product, and all opinions expressed herein, whether positive or negative, are solely my own and are not influenced by any external parties

ISN H60: A True Miracle by ISN

The ISN H60 is nothing short of a miracle, and I can confidently say it is the best IEM that ISN has ever produced. It's an outstanding achievement that I never thought ISN could pull off, especially at this price point. Competing with IEMs that are nearly double its price, the H60 sets a new benchmark for value and performance, offering a listening experience that could easily challenge $1,000 IEMs on the market.

*Important note: Remember, audio preferences are subjective, and what matters most is how the IEM resonates with your personal taste. This unit was provided to me as a touring unit from Audiogeek, and I would like to express my appreciation for this opportunity

Bass: 11/10

The bass on the ISN H60 is extraordinary. It's tight, impactful, and incredibly speedy, delivering a level of bass performance that is simply unmatched in its price range. The separation is excellent, and each note in the low end is punchy and well-defined, all while maintaining an incredible level of cleanliness. This is the best bass I've heard in an IEM at this price, earning it an easy 11/10.


Midrange: 9/10

Moving to the midrange, the H60 continues to impress, though with a few nuances. Male vocals are solid, neither too thin nor too thick. However, female vocals are where the H60 truly shines. The reproduction of female vocals is angelic and airy, bringing a liveliness to the music that could be really addictive. Instruments in busier tracks are well-rendered, with good detail and clarity, though there is a slight room for improvement. However, this is a small nitpick, especially considering this is a $349 set. Overall, the mids deserve a strong 9/10.

Treble: 8.5/10

The treble performance of the ISN H60 is sparkly and crisp. It manages to deliver a satisfying top end without crossing the line into sharpness or sibilance, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable listening experience. The treble might not be the absolute best in its class, but it is remarkably well-tuned and complements the overall sound signature beautifully. For this reason, I rate the treble at 8.5/10.

Technical Performance

When it comes to technical performance, the ISN H60 is a standout, especially considering its price. It offers a level of detail, imaging, and soundstage that can easily compete with much more expensive IEMs, all while remaining extremely fun to listen to. The technicalities of the H60 are on par with sets that cost significantly more, making it an outstanding value for money.



Conclusion

In conclusion, the ISN H60 IEM is a testament to ISN's dedication to crafting exceptional audio experiences. It surpasses expectations at every turn, delivering a sonic performance that rivals IEMs at higher price points. The H60 is a combination of deep, impactful bass, beautifully rendered female vocals, sparkling treble, and impressive technical performance. It stands as the pinnacle of ISN's IEM offerings, a must-have for any audiophile seeking top-tier sound without paying too much.

ISN H60


Into some lives comes a truly transformative sensual experience. The discovery of Penon and ISN IEMs has been such an experience for me. These IEMs are characterized by a silky smooth, seductive and warm midrange, and a balanced sound to draw one into the sound of any of their favorite music.

This review unit was purchased by myself for tour on the US Leg of (insert audio geek link). Thank you to (insert Mr. Chi) for being gracious in expediting the unit to me.

In walks the ISN H60. Upon first looks, it is an unimposing, yet slightly bulky clear blue resin shell with mixed blue, sparkly shell back. Unimposing, but not boring. It’s a pretty set of IEMs. Understated, but refined. Slight teardrop shape, its size and clear shel belies the beauty inside. Dual 8mm liquid silicone gel diaphragm dynamic drivers and four balanced armatures supplied by both Knowles (treble x 2) and Sonion (midrange x 2). The supplied cable is a beautiful OCC coper , 2-pin cable terminated in 4.4mm. The shiny copper shines through the clear insulator.

So, what’s there to say about the brand new ISN H60? Simple. It is delectable - like an incredible lemon meringue pie. It has some of the nice weight that the crust would provide, but carries with it the light and enjoyable tang of the lemon filling and lightness of a perfectly toasted meringue on top. First off, the bass. The two 8mm bass drivers do excellent work conveying the percussiveness and sensual rumpus of the low frequencies of a given song. I particularly enjoyed it with NFWMB by Hozier. In that song, his voice is light and bouncy, but sensual and rich. And the driving beat of the kick drum really hits on the H60. Good decay, terrific impact and it retains its composure throughout. Moving up the range into the midrange. ISN has done brilliant work forming a smooth and refined midrange curve. It captures male and female voices beautifully and is incredibly versatile. Again, agility is on point, as one would expect from balanced armatures. Finally the upper midrange and treble. This is where the H60 stands out among its brothers and sisters in the line. There is an ethereal quality to the upper registers that I have not heard in any IEM, anywhere. It’s almost mystical, romantic: Magical, dare I say. There is air, and lightness, and agility, but something else that I have not yet experienced in any other IEM. And I like it. Nay. I love it.

So, is it worth the $349 price point? Without a doubt, and then some, I’d say. There is excellent imaging, soundstage and space. Depth is good, maybe not on par, to my ears, with the Neo5, but it is really good.

I am so glad to have made this purchase, and look forward to when the IEM is returned to me after its US tour.

Associated Equipment:
-Cayin RU7
-Shanling M3 Ultra
-ALO Pilot
-iPhone 15 Pro
-MacBook Air
-Campfire Audio Andromeda (for reference)
-ISN Neo5 (by memory, for reference)
-Kinera Celeste RUYI Mic cable
-ISN H8 Plus cable

Disclamer:

+ I'm a normal asian dude with some music producing background
+ I like clean balanced sound signature with focus on sub bass and lower treble
+ Can consider myself as treblehead
+ 60-68db listening session
+ Avarage 4/10 (Quarks/ 7hz Zero), Good 6/10 (Tanchjim Kara), Endgame 8/10, Bias Endgame 10/10
: Good, but with a catch
: Worth the money
: Specialist at something else
: A Very close to perfection
: Perfect for me

Click to expand...

If you're interested in graph comparison, here's the link

Introduction

ISN is a house brand of Penon Audio. They’ve been continuously making a lot of great value iem with “creamy and musical” seemingly to be their house sound, along with some great quality cables.

The H60 is the latest product from ISN, a continuation of the H lineup from them, with the H50 have been released for quite a few years now.

In this review, i’ll dive into how it sounds and see how it performs relatively to other iems in the market.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Penon and AudioGeek for providing the touring unit of this iem to Vietnam. Everything i said in this review is my subjective opinion only.

Specification:

• 2 x 8mm liquid silicone gel diaphragm for low frequency
• 2 x Sonion Balanced Armature for middle frequency
• 2 x Knowles Balanced Armature for high frequency
• 3-way crossover
• Impedance: 18ohms 10%
• Sensitivity: 112 @ 1khz.

Packaging

The content of the box include:

• The iem themselves
• A 4 cores cable with 4.4mm termination
• A carrying case
• 3 different types of silicone tips
• A cleaning brush and a shirt clip.

Design/Build quality/Comfort

The H60 shells are made out of medical grade resin material. It feels light yet solid at the same time. The color of choice for the resin is clear light blue. Construction wise, the H60 seems to be using a hand poured type of resin shell with a hollow body and the drivers inside of it, rather than a fully 3d printed type of shells

The faceplate of the H60 is very simple in design using a purple, blue-ish theme and gradient stripe patterns. Overall, I like the minimalist feeling of it.

The nozzles are not too long, not too short and have a lip to hold onto the eartips. Looking inside the nozzles are three different tubes, guiding the sound of the total 6 drivers.

The shells are on a bigger side than your average iem, both length and width. It has a small rear wing at the back. The nozzle is put at a 90 degree angle – Not protruding too forward and backward. Along with its length, this makes the nozzle not intrude too much into your ear canals.

Isolation is above average.

Cable wise, it’s a 4 cores OFC cable. It has the ISN logo on the end termination. The cable overall feels very basic, it gets the job done, but it does have a bit of memory to it. Wrapping it up to take some neat pictures does pose some challenges.

The comfort while wearing it isn't affected by the memory because it’s a really light cable overall and it doesn’t have any ear hooks – which means it can wrap around my ears freely.

Sound impression

Source: Poco F3+UAPP, Dell laptop + Foobar 2000

Dac/Amp: Chord Mojo, Ibasso DC07 Pro, EPZ TP50.
Cable: Stock

Tips: Stock tips + Divinus Velvet

· Before diving into the sound impression, the H60 has reverse polarity right out of the box. I have an iec711 coupler and when I measure it, it shows the impulse response like this.

· Does it matter? Most of the time, no. As long as both sides have the same polarity, you probably won't recognize it. I personally did not recognize it until I measured it. I say this in case you’re someone who are picky about it (a.k.a me) and worry it may affect the staging and such of the iem, can just rotate the 2 pin part 180 degree and the “problem” would be solved

· If you’re wondering if it’s the cable’s fault, no it’s not. I’ve already checked the cable using the multimeter and the cable was wired correctly

That is why during the review of this iem, I've rotated the cable and listened to the iem in the correct polarity.

Drivability: I’d say that the H60 is relatively easy to drive, but it does benefit from a higher output dac/amp. With the stock cable with 4.4mm termination, I prefer using it with the 4.4mm balanced port of my dongle, or with a 4.4-to-3.5 adapter to use it with the Chord Mojo.

Tonality: Balance W shaped

Bass

The bass of the H60 feels really fun yet not too overwhelming, with 10db of bass boost and stays in line with the uppermidrange’s energy. It’s thick, vibrant, hard-hitting, nearly entered basshead territory if the subbass were to be more boosted.

The texture of the bass is phenomenal. This is the sort of performance that I'd expect from an iem with 2DD in a horizontally opposed setup to reproduce the bass. It’s not as fast as, let’s say, planar bass or BA bass, but it’s definitely not slow either. One of a few iem that I've tried that also has a similar 2DD set up for the bass is the Penon Quattro. But the Quattro’s bass is more on a slower side, reminding me of older vintage speakers, as opposed to a quicker, more “modern” presentation of the H60.

The subbass drops of “Why So Serious” by Hans Zimmer and the bass “trip” of “Chameleon” by Trentemoller feel very tactile and elastic at the same time. The subbass reach deep with lots of air movement. It has that classic DD lingering sense but the tail notes arent drag out too much.

Kick drums are rounded, thumpy, and very incisive. They have a lot of grunt to them. Other types of acoustic drums feel definitive with great presence and resonance too. Contrabass sounds heavy with lots of reverberation. Cello sounds warm and dense, with a very smooth feeling to the bow sliding on its string.

With fast paced pop rock songs, the 2DD has no problem capturing the busy bass section. Heck, with more extreme stuff like the beginning of Brutal Truth – Sugar Daddy, the H60 even manage to follow the drummers with great result, the drum hits don’t sound like they meshed into each other, showing the capabilities of the 2DD that ISN used in this iem.

Mids

If we’re looking at the graph, there are some mild bass bleeds into the lower midrange yet it doesn’t sound muddy. Male and female vocals sound similarly emphasized, not prioritizing one or another. Male vocals overall are lush sounding without being too husky. Baritones have ample richness and weight to their tone, noticeable with Frank Sinatra and Jimi Hendrix. Female vocals are forward yet not sounding shouty. Contralto has that balance richness to them while also sounds expressive, listening to Toni Braxton and Tracy Chapman. Mezzo-soprano and soprano sounds clear with great clarity and are beautifully captivated.

With “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran and “It’s my life” by Jon Bovi, there’s very little sense of sibilance

Instruments have really good note weight and natural timbre to them. Pianos are very pleasant and natural, when listening to “Somewhere” by July and “Time to love” by October. Violin and viola sound mellow and velvety, each bow stroke feels smooth and not abrassive in texture. Brass instruments like trumpets, trombones sound warm and full with their respective tone. Flute sounds soft and unintrusive.

Overall, the H60 gives me a very natural midrange playback.

Treble

The treble overall is decently extended, airy yet not fatiguing. It’s energetic but not in a metallic or splashy or peaky way, more like... “crips” sounding. It feels very smooth yet resolving at the same time. The unconventional use of the boosted presence region higher than the uppermids helps achieve this high-res feeling or additional micro details from the treble. Yet because it is balanced relative to the bass, it doesn’t sound too spicy or offensive at all. But overall, i’d consider the treble here to be on the more energetic side rather than being “safe”

Cymbal crashes have good shimmering and sparkles, while hi hats have a natural buzzing sound and texture overall.

There is a very minimal amount of BA timbre that I've spotted. Very rarely. Considering the fact that I can literally see the nozzles of the 2 BA when looking down into the bore tube (one tube does not use the usual BA dampeners), this is quite surprising.

Technicalities.

The H60 has quite a nice stage with good width and height placement, the depth just lacking behind a little bit.

The perceive of dynamics is also really good, testing with the track Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa

The layering and the separation of instruments are also good. They’re at what I'd consider “above average” level. It’s definitely not bad, but it’s not lazer or sharply cutted between the midrange instruments and the vocals compared to higher end iems (highly nitpicking here). Despite this, the way the bass drivers handle the aggressive drumming sessions raise my evaluation point for the separation

Comparison

1/ ISN Neo 5

A fellow ISN product, the Neo 5. The Neo 5 has 1DD and 4BA and it’s priced around 289$ - So 1DD less and 60$ cheaper than the H60. The Neo 5 has a purple resin shell with a smaller form factor (which fits me better than the H60). The stock cable on the Neo 5 was the ISN S4, a silver plated OCC cable.

Soundwise, the Neo 5 overall has an L-shaped, dark-ish tonality, so it’s a lot different from the H60, despite some similarities regarding the graphs.

With the bass, the Neo 5 has a bit more quantity, but the H60 has way superior bass quality. The H60’s bass just oozed out more sense of control, while the Neo 5’s bass feels more raw, less refined. The bass dynamics and transients is better on the H60. Bass hits sounds more distinct, less blurry between the notes. The 2DD in the H60 can handle more aggressive type of rock songs.

For the mids, both of them are quite warm and lush sounding, but i’d say the mids of the Neo 5 is lusher, creamier with a more intimate feeling. For vocals, the H60 sounds clearer, highly transparent, noticeably in female vocals. When reaching the high notes, soprano sounds more expressive on the H60 while they sound a bit softened on the Neo 5.

As for the treble, the H60 is more energetic, brighter – less dark in presence than the Neo 5. Percussion instruments feel more aerated, more forward and better articulated in the H60.

Technicalities, the H60 is better than the Neo 5 in almost every way. In terms of imaging and layering, the H60 is better. The soundstage, similarly holographic, but now more open in all 3 dimensions. It’s not THAT much bigger, but it’s bigger nonetheless. Details and resolution, there’s no doubt that the H60 is better as well.

2/ ZiiGaat Doscinco

The Doscinco is a 2DD+3BA hybrid iem with a 3-way crossover. The Doscinco seems to use a similar horizontally opposed 2DD for the bass region. The Doscinco has 1 less BA and is priced at 50$ lower than the H60. The stock cable on the H60 feels better than the Doscinco’s.

Let’s start with the bass. Similar things happen to the Doscinco, because the H60’s bass is again more superior. The bass region of the Doscinco hits you hard, having a big quantity as its selling point, whereas the bass region of the H60 feels way more finessed, more dimensional despite the Doscinco also having quick transients or driver speed. Acoustic drums feel more elastic and tactile(yes, with less quantity overall) with a more natural timbre. Kick drums feel less intrusive.

Midrange is more recessed on the Doscinco, as well as having less texture overall. It’s also cleaner on the H60. Vocals popped out more from the background with the H60. Both male and female vocals sound more expressive as a result.

Treble is smoother, more laidback and less emphasized on the Doscinco. It sounds more like a complimentary component to the bass and midrange. The treble of the H60 is noticably more airy and vibrant. Percussion instruments have more bite to them on the H60.

Technicality wise, the H60 is noticeably wider and deeper, but has similar height placement. The imaging is a notch better on the H60, as the Doscinco feels more “average”.

3/ Dunu x GizAudio Davinci

The Davinci is priced around 300$ on Hifigo.

Although similar on paper about having 2DD and 4BA, same as the H60, the way Dunu implements that is very different. H60 has 2DD – in a horizontally opposed construction, 2 dual BA – 4BA in total – with a 3 ways crossover. Where as the Davinci has 1DD for the subbass, 1DD for the midbass, 2BA for the mid, 1BA for high and 1BA for the ultra-high in a 5 way crossover.

Accessories wise, the Davinci has more of them than the H60 right out of the box. It has a bigger case, way more eartips and the cable is better as well. It has thicker cores as well as modular termination.

Onto the sound.

Let’s start with the bass. The H60 has better bass overall, both in quanity and quality. The H60’s bass feels very balanced to the rest of the frequency, not overwhelming the vocals. The texture is way tighter and more controlled, less boomy and pillowy like the Davinci’s. Bass hits are more separated, less mushy. Since the bass now goes all the way to 400hz, the sense of bass tuck is nowhere to be found, unlike the Davinci, where the bass tuck feeling was occasionally brought up.

Midrange is cleaner on the Davinci, whereas the note weight is heavier on the H60. Instruments have a relatively natural timbre on both sets, nothing too offensive or off sounding.

As for the vocals - my main gripes regarding the Davinci. To my ears, the H60 has better vocals, both for male and female vocals. Male vocals feel lusher on the H60, female vocals sound more emotional, livelier, and have higher clarity than the Davinci’s huskier female vocals. Granted, the Davinci vocals do feel less edgy and smoother, but it trades off too much for that effect.

Not to mention, the bass feels like it’s looming over the vocals as I've said in my Davinci review, whereas I don’t get that with the H60.

For the treble, the H60’s treble is way crisper. There’s more bite and shimmering to the cymbals and hi hats. There’s more resolution to the H60. The treble of Davinci feels safer in comparison.

Technicalities wise, the H60 feels wider and deeper, while the Davinci has better height placement. The layering is worse on the Davinci

Conclusion.

I think the H60 is a really great product from ISN. The satisfying bass, vibrant midrange and energetic treble along with good technical performance makes this a very all rounded product. At the price of 350$, the H60 offers really high sound value in return. I think it can be an endgame set for a lot of people too.

Who is this set NOT for? Well, I'd say if you’re looking for a neutral sounding set, please look away. The treble of the H60 is not entirely “safe” either, so if you’re sensitive to the 5-6k region, the H60 may sound too harsh for you.

Music library wise, I'd say the H60 has good compatibility with any type of music genre thrown at it, from fast aggressive metals, to slower paced jazz, to complex orchestra tracks with different instruments; the H60 can play all of them adequately.

That’s it for my review and thank you for reading.

ISN H60 IEM
Redcarmoose Labs June 30th, 2024
I am a few days late with this review. Reason being was after 24hrs of burn-in the ISN H60 changed into a whole different animal. To me that is a clue as to if an IEM needs full burn-in before a review is written. With-in 24 hours the sonics smoothed out, there was opening up of stage and even better contrasts. A full 7 days the H60 continued to add improvement, yet nothing like that first day.

ISN Audio H60 4BA + 2 Dynamic Driver Hybrid 2Pin 0.78mm HiFi Earphone Audiophile IEMS

Specification
Brand: ISN AUDIO
Model: H60
Handmade, durable and solid
Medical grade resin material, light and comfortable to wear
4 Balanced Armature + 2 Dynamic driver hybrid
2 x Knowles Balanced Armature for high frequency
2 x Sonion Balanced Armature for middle frequency
2 x 8mm liquid silicone gel diaphragm for low frequency
3-way crossover
Impedance: 18ohm ± 10%
Sensitivity: 112 @ 1KHZ
Frequency response: 5Hz-40kHz
Plug: Gold-plated
Cable length: 1.2M

$349.00
https://penonaudio.com/ISN-Audio-H60.html


ISN
I started reviewing ISN products in June of 2022. Since then I have written 16 ISN reviews of both IEMs and cables. Getting to know ISN I came to understand that they were for the most part the extra bass edition of IEMs from the Penon company. Often a manufacturer will offer a side brand to become a contrast to regular branded products. This doesn't mean they are lesser than what Penon builds, just most of the time exploring a different way to tune IEMs.

Now the fun part here is the generalizations can get you nowhere.

Meaning rules were made to be broken, right. So to say the new H60 has a relationship to past ISN IEMs could be only half correct. Heck, there are Head-Fi members that believe this H60 is a full-fledged tribute to the first Penon branded IEMs? Oh, and I have also reviewed 35 different Penon products. So I have an idea about those too.

Yet for this review I’m going to compare the ISN H60 to the ISN EST50, the Penon 10th Anniversary, the ISN H50, and the ISN Neo 5. As such I feel the spread will show how these 4 other IEMs help promote the new ISN H60 goodies we have in store for us………..

The sonic candy I’m going to introduce to you will be special and satisfying!

Funny I haven’t gone out yet and explained just how special the H60 is. Yes, it’s different from anything that has come from ISN before, and many would argue that it’s the best to ever be realized out of the ISN camp……ever! Yep, it’s literally that good! Sure part of this affinity is from the tune, but there is a master-stroke of technicalities that are due to their reproduction of realism, is something to get excited about!

But I digress. Too soon, I’m talking about the good stuff too quickly, as we will get to that. Ohh, and cables, I’m going to roll-in a few cables and just take into account what happens.



Build:
Looking at the comparison photos (later in the review) you can see the H60 is way bigger than the H50, yet smaller than the 10th Anniversary Edition. Funny though it seems to use the exact same light blue resin build, yet (upon closer inspection) the 10th is a shade darker blue. There is also the introduction of new side vents, as noted in the pictures. And while the 10th Anniversary uses 2X 6mm Isobaric woofers, the H60 uses 2 8mm Isobaric woofers. Also where the 10th uses only 1 midrange Sonion BA for midrange, the H60 uses 2 Sonion BAs for the midrange, this will eventually be a huge deal to our sonics in the review!

One little Sonion BA extra?

Also interestingly enough both the H60 and Penon 10th seem to share the exact same style of nozzle. When I did my Penon 10th Anniversary its weight came out wrong as I said it was 4 grams each, when in reality the 10th Anniversary becomes 5 grams each. The H60 comes out to 6 grams each, so even though it is smaller it is a gram heavier.

Really though for most purposes the 10th and the H60 are pretty close to the same in size and shape. This style of build is one of my favorites as the weight is evenly distributed, and 2Pins remain flush. The most important thing though is the nozzle length and angle, being just about right on the H60, allowing me the full freedom to use many styles of ear-tips as the ear-tip is not needed to make a correction for too long or too short of nozzle.

Packaging:

The included cable:

Top to bottom:
ISN C4 (included cable)
Penon OCC849 cable
Penon OS849 cable
Penon OSG Graphene cable
Penon Quattro Graphene cable
ISN CS02 cable
ISN T-OCC cable
Penon ASOS+ cable

Cable tests:
Look, this is crazy. I tried to curtail the amount of cable tests, but I couldn’t do it. That means it is maybe the most tests I have ever done with a single IEM. Yep, 7 other cables besides the included cable. I need help, I really do. Yet to me this is one of the most interesting parts of the review. You see I’m almost more familiar with the cable personalities, well at least I have had them longer. But while testing a couple before hand, this will be interesting as there is a wide range of cable prices and characters. Also I learned a new way to look at cables. To where I just reviewed the OCC849 cable…..and by chance it is one of the early success stories with this IEM being one of the cables I used after the included cable to truly make the ISN H60 special. When I reviewed the OCC849 Penon sent me the whole 849 series of cables, 4 of them. Yet I never read any reviews about them. Just this week I located the OS849 Dsnuts review from way back in July of 2020. It is there that I read (a few sentences) about his cable rolls. And I still haven't read his review, but he said using aftermarket cables is like dressing-up the sound of your IEMs, and I loved that analogy.

When I reviewed the 849 series (researching) I found-out the original OS849 was released in late 2017. And guess what, we are still going to try it out today! How many IEMs are still in use from 2017? I’m sure there are a few, but that’s my point. The point is cables have more longevity than IEMs. Also typically they can be used with a recent release IEM to adorn the IEM sound (the new IEM sound) with previously unknown (new) cable abilities.



The included cable…the ISN Audio C4. What, this is an older cable? Frankly I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know what this was, meaning I had no idea that ISN included a $55.00 cable that was released in 2019, but it was.

Always learning something here. As such, amazingly the copper in this little guy is single crystal copper, and that’s it. 4 shares and each share has 63 cores, thus 4 x 63. Where the new $99.90 OCC849 looks the same tone of copper......but there is silver in that OCC849! The C4 has no silver for brightening and stage.

More on the OCC849 when I get to it. But the thing is, it was a huge deal migrating over to this 8 strand, 49 cores a strand, thus in total 8 x 49…..hence the name. The huge deal here was how the stage changed and how the H60 simply came alive. Sure if all you had was the ISN Audio C4 cable you are going to be still enjoying 85% of what the H60 is.

I mean Penon/ISN chose the right cable to include in the package, but if you want to look forward to an upgrade with your next paycheck, I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed. In truth many are getting the OCC849 due to this H60 and OCC849 cable synergy!

The Penon OCC849 cable:
Somehow I can't stop using this cable with the ISN H60?

Laughingly I did another OCC849 cable side-by-side just for writing this review, and guess what.

The music literally sounds louder when you switch from the C4, I guess that means more of the good stuff is being channeled your way?

Yep, here the stage is wider, but also filled with better cut definition, holding realism and better everything. The music is not only wider, but somehow comes forward too, becoming a larger stage in the front to back, the side to side and the top to bottom. About 7 days ago when I first tested the H60 and OCC849 I had previously tested a few cables, don’t even remember what cables they were, but this OCC849 was smooth, yet focused and beautifully spread-out rendition of our music came alive, and this was only after 24 hours of H60 burn-in. Anyway this will be the cable to beat as we travel down our list.

And sure there may be found a few cables that reach a good outcome, only this here is classic, it really is. I could go on for a few more paragraphs, but let’s try to keep this review in-check. I mentioned realism already……so we are fine.

More talk about the OCC849! What?
OK, lol……the OCC849 has a forwardness about it, really in some ways this forwardness in a little like the OS849, maybe it’s all the material here that is doing this…….but I just went through the whole grouping of 7 aftermarket cables again, to try and get a handle on how they are different. I will probably never do 8 cable tests again as I really wanted to, but it starts to get overwhelming, where 4 is truly a good number to test together. Anyway the OCC849 is still even in regards to all the rest in this test group and very special. I recommend it for the H60. I literally can't stop talking about the OCC849.

Intermission:
The ISN H60 is so well balanced really you could use any of the cables shown here today. Sure each cable has a personality to where the ASOS+ offers this extra level of spacial properties, and even outputs little treble separations of cymbals somehow separated and in their own zone. Where it is one of the widest displays of soundstage. The Alloy cables which comprise the T-OCC and the CS02 are slightly different in that they have their own signature. And finally the Graphene twins are represented by the Quattro cable and OSG, where the OSG is way more money and is my favorite along with the ASOS+ as far as offering a big stage. OK, let's continue after the pre-wrap-up. The main reason why the ASOS+ is because it adds stage and warmth, and still moves forward to add incredible detail to the H60!



The Penon OS849 cable:
As such this is the very oldest release in today's tests, yet it is classic for what it does. A slightly forward stage and still offering technicalities which makes it valuable...........all these years later.

Though it wasn’t my total favorite due to not offering the widest stage, it was still a very workable solution to ( get an) enhancement over the C4 included cable. To where you can totally understand why this continues to sell well and offers a boost to the vocals and increased stage centering to the vocals.

OS849 cable vocal limelight!

To where the ASOS+ lets the outer imaging fall further out, here the OS849 is tighter yet vivid.

Yet it is the great pushed vocals which are still not harsh that becomes the plus over the C4 included cable.

There is still a nice stage with vibrant and itemized cymbal fall-offs out to the side. Bass is sculpted and controlled as you would guess for adding some silver into the mix, yet not as authoritative as we will learn can happen with the following alloy cables. All and all it offers a forward, tight, clear and concise personality…..a classic….but of course not the widest stage out there, but plenty nice just not the total wideness of stage.



Did I hear someone say "stage wideness"?

Penon OSG Graphene cable:
I can’t get over how great this order of flow in cable testing is going. Realize I don’t give that much thought into the sequence I have placed these cables in, yet at times it really is the perfect order. The only two I placed in order consciously, were the first two cables in the test today.

Cherishing a wider stage:
Now comes the OSG, a perfect follow-up to the OS849. Why, well this is an example of a smoother way to go and cherishing a wider stage. Of course the Quattro cable to follow will be anticlimactic due to being way less money, but still a great alternative if you want the Graphene sound, but don’t want to pay top dollar here.

Let me describe what I have here. It starts out with wild imaging, yep…….separate extra space between items in the stage. This cable will smooth-out a portion adding this Graphene character. As such this is perceived as a slightly downplayed stage in frequency........while offering up a wideness in positioning. So in actuality I was looking forward to this cable, and I waited a week to put it into action. There is just a smooth yet provocative itemization of images that hold the Graphene personality.

This is found with greater imaging, the Graphene imaging! And yes, this is my absolute favorite along with the ASOS+. Bass here with the OSG is tight can controlled, yet enough…gloriously enough! Enough because it holds realism and dimension.



Penon Quattro Graphene cable, now sold separately:
Perfect to go after the OSG. Here we are enjoying a smaller stage and of thinner image density than what the OSG provides. Still great and worth the money, yet just a little smaller in vividness and the Graphene character. Still nothing wrong with this, it is just that (as normal) you get what you pay for. Still this is bigger and better than the included C4 cable, and they cost just about the same too.

The reason it’s better to me is it is using the Silver and Graphene to boost the imaging and pace, compared to the basic OCC copper included cable. Yet of course the C4 cable would be an upgrade from many generic included cables, and comes stock here.

To where when we do back-to-backs with the Quattro Graphene to the C4 cable we instantly see how the separation and resolution is just not provided in the case of the H60, that if you simply wanted a major upgrade to the included cable for just $59.00, the Penon Quattro cable could bring a lot of happiness. And when you get it home do these side-by-sides to verify such truths!

Yet if $299.00 is what you can spend, get the OSG cable and don’t look back.



ISN CS02 cable:
Look I will include right off the bat that this is going to be in the top four of the cables tested today. It has a thicker low-end than the OCC849. And really looking at it, it may be the very best value here. I mean for $69.90 the CS02 does a lot! The ISN CS02 also looks great while doing it!

Just look at it!

Anyways, the first word that comes to mind is stage.......after that image density. Yep, it’s all here and way more gifts than what you would expect. The bass is slightly unique from everything tested up-stream so far. Yep, a fast yet deep and thoroughly fun ticket into what the H60 is about.

If you want more warm bass just add the CS02!

Later I will go into what the actual sound profile I feel the H60 is about, but this CS02 is both warmer than the Quattro cable, yet offering-up a wider and smoother stage filled with smooth profile, while at the same time offing vivid vocals, though while nice, the vocals are not as far in-front as some of the other cables tested, yet there is this slightly sanded down stage filled with cymbals and effects.......all created into imaging way out to the left and right, plus coming into the center stage! The results.........big and dramatic, yet slightly tuned-down event.

Ahhh I love it. I love the thickness that is adding note weight here. Copper alloys doing their magic!



ISN T-OCC cable:
Another alloy of copper doing it’s thing. To where I have to believe the plugs are doing part of this, where the CS02 plug is a Rhodium plated plug, and the T-OCC is a solid copper 4.4mm plug. While the stage is super nice, it is the slightly laid-back FR that is making a pretty big difference from any cable tested today. Though not bad, it is wild how there is almost a recession in the center stage, to where even vocals are not tremendously forward or of the brightest frequency range. To where sure there is a great size and width of stage, but I had to make sure I wasn’t cross polarized 2Pins? Probably the only cable that wouldn’t be worth the upgrade change to a new cable? Sure it’s better than the C4 cable, but there are other upgrade cables to choose from.



Penon ASOS+ cable:
A $215.00 cable upgrade, yes less than the OSG, but totally one of my favorites here. Just a bigger stage presentation. But more than that it is still smooth and note-weighty. The ASOS+ has a permanent Purple Copper Plug. As such the plug goes to add thickness to the ASOS to make it a ASOS+. There are even Purple Copper 2Pins to finish this monster off in style. What do I get? Simply the grandest stage positioning and operation at hand. It’s fun, what else do I need to say?

FUN!
Lol. Probably the cable that I will leave to the H60……..as it is adding very small extra articles of reverberation fall-offs! Yep, the big stage leaves room for extra details to nonchalantly walk forward and they do!



Side-by-sides:
Top row, left to right: ISN H50, ISN H60, Penon 10th Anniversary
Bottom row, left to right: ISN Neo 5. ISN EST50

Each side-by-side used the Penon ASOS+ cable except the H50 which is MMCX and used the included Penon OS133 aftermarket cable. I’m using the Velvet tips and WM1A with MrWalkman’s firmware.


The ISN H50:
The best way to describe the H50 is having a wonderfully profound ISN low-end, but also pushing the mids into focus with a W signature. As such there is a single 10mm woofer, 2BAs for treble and 2BAs for mids. When I first reviewed the H50 I liked it better than even the EST50. But since then I have learned to arrange cables to utilize a new tone from the EST50. The major thing about the H50 is it showcases a slightly thin sounding midrange, that while fun, the H60 dramatically adds note-weight and overall size parameters to come-up with a more involving signature.



Make way for progress:
While in the middle of demoing the H50........it owns a very robust and fun detour, really different from anything from ISN, then and even now. The rhythm rocks, while still showcasing a very complete and consistent demeanor. Really with this OS133 cable in MMCX there is a perfect focus of qualities, yet those vocal additions are not as harmonically thick, while still being correct…….it is more of a BA quality that comes at you both fast and of slight BA character, yet fast both in transients and decays…..still great……and even more great than I remember!

The Penon 10th Anniversary:
These will be the most important paragraphs in the review. Why? Well the H60 is a direct descendant of 10th Anniversary technologies, you can hear it! They not only look close to the same, Penon with the 10th introduction was introducing possibly what the next 10 year direction was going to be? Meaning the 10th was/is like no IEM from Penon that ever walked the earth.

And the 10th sound actually walks…..lol.

There is a rhythm and bounce that I have never heard from ISN or Penon before.

The other amazing thing is how the 10th went with all genres of music and every source. Such qualities even meant that the 10th was easy going to make friends with whichever cable you had lying around. Sure better cables made it better, but the point is the 10th always held composure, always. In comparison the 2x 6mm woofers kick a little faster and slightly more profound. What ISN/Penon (I think) was doing with the H60 is introducing both 2X isobaric bass, but also uncanny H60 mids. Where for me, I had this strange feeling when I first heard the 10th, that it was made for me? Now whenever you feel that way, it is like meeting your soul mate…….a meeting with destiny.

Sure the 10th midrange is subtly there but not out front, leaving the sonic room for those 2 ESTs to strut their stuff, and even more room for the twin bass movers to move you. And sure the Penon 10th Anniversary is $499.00, and the ISN H60 is $349.00. And the 10th could be considered more vibrant and holding more separation and groove……the only thing is the 10th doesn't do mids like the H60. Nope, the H60 is just slightly more out front with holding the mid-processions into clarity. If anything I just realized they are completely complementary. Which is wild as normally if an IEM like the H60 reminds you of a past IEM like the 10th Anniversary, it would mean maybe that you don’t need both?

In truth to be told…..the H60 zigs, and the 10th zags.

It is just the H60 2 BAs don’t quite sound like the Sonion ESTs in the 10th? And while I feel the bass is a little more sculpted and lifted with the 10th, it is more defined in the end. As with the H60 that bass is taking a slight back seat to the mids……where being all 4 BAs, they emit a more unified tonal creation.

Where the 10th just has this extra excitement that will not stop…..due to bass and treble, where the H60 gets its excitement due to clean forward smooth vocals.

ISN Neo 5:
Now, the crazy part was I kept liking the Neo 5 (more and more and more) after the Neo 5 review? First ISN changed the included cable, where 1st it was the S8 then they moved to include the ISN S4……and that did a world of difference, then I found the ISN CS02 to be another level for the Neo 5 all together. Yep, the CS02 sounded like it was made for the Neo 5. The only other cable for the Neo 5 is the Penon Renata, as that takes it a whole different notch, into virtual reality!

I mean sure the Neo 5 emits a rolling bass, that is the bass frequencies touch at the ends at times (and blur) no matter which cable you find laying around. But that is only bass, and what is crazy is how detailed and dramatic vocals can be found to be.

I will disclose that I have cried a few times listening to singer songwriter music, and you don’t forget those moments, nope........they become a part of who you are as a listener.

And of course here today we are at once in the presence of this treat…….that no matter how the bass reveals itself to be found, there are room for itemizations of vocals and beautiful treble staging……I’ll stop now, before I make a fool of myself…………

Where the H60 and the Neo 5 differ is the H60 has tighter bass, and they took the midrange ideas that made the Neo 5 special and the juiced-them-up to become the stars of the H60 show!

ISN EST50:
Look, a long time ago.............about 7 years ago someone told me TOTL Flagships never go out of fashion. The EST50 is the ISN Flagship. Believe it or not the EST50 is a whole different IEM to me now, and I have even more respect for it after all these years. The EST50 has stood the test of time, yet the EST50 also moved with the times gaining new ideas from cables I interfaced it with.

Still there is an intrinsic bass quality that can’tbe stopped.

But what you can do is access a bigger stage with a cable like the ASOS+. So what that does is make the harmonics more fluid and adds realism to the vocals, those vocals will never be what the H60 is doing, but that is besides the point.

Where the H60 is promoting this bigness like the H40, yet where the H60 is an Outie belly button, the EST50 is an Innie belly button. Yep, they are opposites that way.



Music tests:
The tests will be with the physically bass heavy and treble pushed WM1Z! Here I'm using the ASOS+ cable and Velvet ear-tips.



Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL
Batman v Superman OST
New Rules
96kHz - 24bit
At 00:38 till 01:41 there is a bass drop to end all drops. Yet we are carrying less baggage. Yep, this is a leaner and faster bass than ever guessed-up by ISN before. Picture yourself going on a plane-ride and carrying only the necessities. You don’t need 5 sweaters in that luggage, nope we are having more fun, and joining in is more clarity, without the nonsense. Look, this is a whole different IEM than what came out of the box (little more than) a week ago. First the bass was profound and blurry, then after 24 hours the stage became bigger. But the crazy part is the bass kept getting cleaner and more clear. So burn-in is needed when you get these! Oh, and this is some of the very best bass I have ever heard. With the WM1Z it’s fast and clean and not getting in the way of anything, not even itself. It is two giant DDs, 2 8mm DDs doing almost BA bass, only the very best clean BA bass you or I have ever heard, ever…….ever. And because everything is totally wide and up-front it is that much more real and clear. I can't even describe how good this bass is. At right in the middle of 03:40 and 03:41 the………..but wait there is a sub-bass floating at 03:36 that is the cat's meow! You just get a glimpse of it. Then at the 03:40 mark the wait……….I'm still describing the sub results here………..at 03:36 they are traveling to the right then left…………….

Sure at the 03:40 the big violins hit and the timpani drums…..but these IEMs, the H60 are about super clear sub-bass…..wait till you hear how refined it is.



Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch
Blade Runner 2049
Flight to LAPD
44.1kHz - 16bit
OK, more timpani drums, but I just can't get enough (kettle drum) action here. The hit at 00:04 is mind bending. Why, because everything is so very big, bigger than you have heard before. And at this price it is crazy! At 00:10 we are now inside the very center of it all……it is called head-stage. Only here we can place it as a big room......and just imagine all the deep tones going off at one time. Even the center of the tone is clear, there is never any distortion to it!

Throbs are in perfect rhythm pulsating and taking the outskirts of the stage. We are here…..far from home? At 00:29 we are in the middle of a high pitched synth. At 00:38 a blast of air. At 01:32 a heart beat………at 01:36 another and at 01:39 another…………..



Hans Zimmer
Wonder Woman 1984 (sketches)
The Monkey Paw
44.1kHz - 24bit
At 01:35 this theme takes off. The violins at 00:53 show somehow that they now have this timbre thing down. That and I don’t need anything more, meaning I could care less about more BA, just don’t need them due to the size going on here? Oh, and ESTs………what are those?

Really if done right, this is all we need, why? Because the size of the stage makes room for all this to exist and somehow we are smitten, more than smitten we are thrilled. Just the fact that somehow this song now sounds new, and possibly only new because it is more correctly done? There is a space where the stage holds imaging out to the side, yet that imaging also is quickly into the time domain allowing for fast change-ups and ultimately transients holding tight edge details.




Conclusion:
You know at times when you relate to an IEM signature you don't know why. Well the H60 responds into fully natural timbre, holding note-weight and reverberations normally not found normally on the Hybrid side-of-the-street. I don't care what anyone says.....this idea of note-weight and reverberations, along with dialed-in timbre is what technicalities are about. Add to that an engrossing stage and we are left satisfied.

Satisfaction:
Isn't that what Head-Fi is about. The final cherry on top (on this bowl of ice-cream) is a thrill, a thrilling ride from this level of clarity and correctness..........that is in no way possible for just $349.00? But here it is, and yes kids, this is the future of IEMs. With only 2 Sonion BAs for the mids and only 2 Knowles BAs for the highs we are left with never questioning the need for more drivers..........due to completeness. Yet along with the 2x 8mm bass kickers, there is an organic fullness where somehow everything seems to exist as it should...................a balance that never asks for more of anything........ever? There is none of that Hybrid buzzing from too many BA bumble bees raging onward. Nope, no buzzing of BAs....yet there is a stillness and a sense of absolute purpose that is arrived from the 6 drivers, 6 drivers that have you ultimately satisfied. Maybe because the results are so big? This size lets new stages inside of the main stage occur, finding new details in your music that were always there but covered over by an image that was in-front. It is these traits that the H60 becomes befriended, it is literally the very definition of analogue! This is the memory when you take the H60 back out of your ears, and the resulting feeling when you place them back in!

Analogue layers (that are) in open sight, and seemingly never in conflict with one another? The ISN H60 is even, complete and correctly tuned, plus the technicalities are perfectly dialed in, they really are!

The fastest ISN bass ever. The most mid-range ever from ISN.

The most forward and big midrange.

And somehow in perfect placement, where everything exists, it almost seems like the largest stage I have ever heard from IEM. Just buy it, you know you want to! I cannot recommend the H60 enough. It is what Head-Fi is about. The ISN H60 is worth every cent, and then some!

$349.00
https://penonaudio.com/ISN-Audio-H60.html

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the ISN H60 review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03 4.4mm balanced
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm balanced

Introduction: I received the ISN H60 as a part of its India tour conducted by "Audio Geek "Brother_Hood of Audiophiles". The H60 is a hybrid IEM with 4 BAs(2 Knowles for high frequencies, 2 Sonions for high frequencies) and 2 DDs (2 x 8mm liquid silicone gel diaphragm for low frequency). The H60 comes with a 0.78mm 2-pin cable and I got the 4.4 mm balanced cable option.

A little about me: I prefer a balanced to warm sound for enjoying my music. I own sets like the 64 Audio Trio, Final A8000, and Thieaudio Monarch MKII. I dislike any one frequency overpowering or dominating all others, be it bass, mids, or the treble. Occasionally, I do also listen to reference/analytical sets with a flat sound signature. I very rarely prefer all-BA setups, no matter how high-end they are. Technicalities and capabilities aside, I always look for an IEM/HP that grabs my attention the moment it starts playing (trust me, IEMs/HPs that really connect with me always make me listen the moment they start playing). An IEM/HP should sound clear, fun, musical, melodious, draw me into the song, and most importantly make me feel the emotions! If a Rs. 1,500/- (USD 18) IEM does this, I buy it too (e.g., the 7HZ Salnotes Zero v1).




Design, build quality, fit, and comfort: The H60 is light, and fairly chunky in my opinion. Once in the ear, I did not feel its weight as such but it did remain visible due to two reasons- one its chunky size and two, its nozzles which are definitely on the thicker and longer side. People with small ears would need to consider these aspects as it will affect their fit and comfort-related experience with the H60. I am used to bigger IEMs like the Monarch MKII and hence had no issues with the H60.

The transparent blue colored IEM shells look good, and the navy bluish faceplates have ISN’s logo printed on them in gold color.

The stock cable is light and supple. It rests easily and I did not find it to have any microphonics. At this price point, the cable seems fine to me. Nothing too grand and nothing too shoddy. While it’s acceptable, I’ve seen better.

Chain-1: HiBy R8 --> ISN H60 stock cable (4.4 mm) --> ISN H60 --> ISN H60 stock ear tips

Brief impressions on the sound quality: In summary, I found the H60 to have an energetic sound. Please read on for some details.

Treble: The treble is there and it’s in your face! I am treble-sensitive and was initially confused on listening to the H60. I was not sure if I liked it or disliked it. I kept listening to my test playlist for some time and then my thoughts started to come together more coherently. I would not call the treble harsh or sibilant. I’d say that it’s energetic and definitely makes its presence felt. Another way to say this would be that the 4 BAs are more prominent in their affect and the 2 DDs take a back seat. I did feel like taking a break about 30-45 minutes into my testing sessions. So, in that sense, the energetic sound did fatigue me, and I had to lower the volume. Peppy and energetic party tracks like ‘Pepas’ by Farruko sounded even faster and more energetic. The track ‘Jag Ghoomeya’ from the movie Sultan has many treble-oriented/shimmery instruments and I had to lower the volume for this track. People who like shimmer in their sound would appreciate this sound delivery.

Mids: The mids have a lean profile. They sound aligned to and in cohesion with the treble. This means it’s not the most musical vocals that one would get. They’re again delivered in a style that’s more aligned to the treble this set delivers. Hence, the cohesion remains. If these were heavier, they’d imbalance the sound in my opinion. I also think that this set is more suited to female vocals than male. The female vocals in tracks like ‘Luka Chuppi’ from Rang De Basanti sounded nice.

Bass: As I mentioned earlier, the 2 DDs take a back seat. It’s as if they’re there to support the treble. The bass is lean, fast, and snappy. It is more mid-bass oriented than sub-bass oriented. As per my preferred sound signature, I did wish for more quantity, heft, weight, and thump here.



Conclusion: Here’s what I think. Who is this set for- I think audiophiles who like a more detail-oriented, lean, and energetic sound could give this a try. It has a neutral to bright tuning in my view. I liked the term another audiophile friend of mine used for the H60 – ‘splashy’. I think this also is definitely an attribute of the H60 and people who try it will have a love or hate relationship with it. Given my personal sound preference (balanced to warm), I also can’t help but think that the H60’s entire sound would benefit from a slight increase in weight and body. But people who don’t prefer these aspects in their sound can definitely give the H60 a listen and decide for themselves if they like it or not!

INTRODUCTION / A FEW WORDS

Audio Market has become a saturated market, especially during the last years making it even harder for any of us to choose a monitor that suits our personal flavor (its a paradox but the more choises one has, the more difficult it gets for that person to make a decision , and having a plethora of choises doesn΄t really help much,that situation occurs more and more in our everyday life and affects most people΄s life in every level)
Νevertheless H60 was not a blind shot for my case....
Having bought during the last 5 years from ISN AUDIO company D10,D02 ,H40,H50,EST50 & NEO 3 as an offering from their newest line of monitors has proved to be a safe solid choise and thus it was easy to follow ISN on their latest release the H60 monitor.
Giving H60 a straight 5 star was really easy for me, as it impressed me the most straight out of the box from the very first listening.
I can recall 2 or 3 times the most, that other monitors had an immediate impact to my ears (one of those time would be their first one many years ago... H40....


Disclaimer
Purchased H60 with my own money directly from PENON AUDIO at a discounted price provided for VIP members and all thoughts are purely based in my honest opinion whatsover.. here¨s a link in any case you are interest...ISN H60



SPECIFICATIONS

Brand:ISN AUDIO

Model:H60

Handmade,durable and solid

Medical grade resin material, light and comfortable to wear

4 Balanced Armature + 2 Dynamic driver hybrid

2 x Knowles Balanced Armature for high frequency

2 x Sonion Balanced Armature for middle frequency

2 x 8mm liquid silicone gel diaphragm for low frequency

3-way crossover

Impedance: 18ohm ± 10%

Sensitivity: 112 @ 1KHZ

Frequency response: 5Hz-40kHz

PACKAGE / FIT / ACCESSORIES

Gear used for the purpose of this review : iBASSO DX 160 / DX 170 / Shanling M3X / HIBY R5 Gen II
Just for the record..i ended up quiting the usual burn in procedure due to my anticipation and general idea after a total 30 hour burn in time that this is more than enough for this monitor..
( just unashamedly lying there guys... truth is could not wait any longer...)

Package is pretty simple (and that has become a tradition for all ISN monitors even the most expensive ones)
as for accessories goes, yοu get 3 sets of silicone tips in 3 sizes, and a unique dark blue stylish magnetic case
H60 comes with a gold plated ISN C4 cable at 3,5 / 2,5 / 4,4 balanced (termination of your choise)
Fit wise, i would consider H60 the closest anyone can get to custom fit,in my case at least fits like a glove to my extra large ear cavities and having tried several tips (symbio,azla sedna,sony hybrids e.t.c.) in order to find the ABSOLUTE BEST ISOLATION quickly ended up using Tri Clarion silicone ear tips cause those provided the deepest insertion for me, as well as amazing fit and superb isolation .But nevertheless be cautious ..this is definetelly the bigest ISN set of monitors coming from ISN BRAND thus far, so it might be an issue for smaller ears guys.....
Anyway at H60's case it is absolutely reccomended to find a secure fit and deep insertion in order to enjoy it's robust sub bass thump...every narrow bore silicone ear tip can be of a great help at this case...







For the purpose of this small review i quickly ended up using the latest offering from PENON AUDIO , Penon OCC849 cable despite the fact that OG stock cable ( ISN C4 cable ) provided excellent sonic capabilities as well and makes a perfect match for H60 too so trust me there's no need to search for any aftermarket cables in this case , just felt that Penon OCC849 in direct comparison offered an ever so slight increased stage dimentions there and increased macrodynamics just a bit.....



SOUND PROFILE & ANALYSIS (BASS / MIDRANGE / TREBLE)

According to my humble ears this is an energetic-dynamic and relatively bright tuning coming as a slight departure from the well established traditional ISN HOUSE bass orientated sound signature.Nevertheless it is a BIG and BOLD sound profile and a totally FUN SIGNATURE as well.. but in favor of the SPECTACULAR midrange which is easily the star of the show here......
It is a mild W signature to my ears with emphasis to the very lowest (SUB BASS),and the highest (BRILLIANCE), part of the spectrum but despite that all things happen in the midrange easily steals the listener's attention just because it's one of the most open and airy midrange with a solid / authentic note weight and a natural tonality only to be found in much more expensive high end sets/offerings...this is the first thing anyone will notice upon first audition...how spacious airy and natural ( all at the same time ) the midrange is represented......Very very reminiscent from times to times to PENON 10th AE as @Redcarmoose originally stated in the official ISN THREAD but gaining its own space and character in the hybrid category.....here in the midrange everything gets to have somehow extra proportions , everything is by a mysterious way amplified to the listener ears in a phenomenal way but keeping at the same time a phenomenal balance across the FR hard to be achieved in most hybrids nowdays..especially the upper midrange favors BIG TIME female vocalist providing a remarkable sense of spaciousness and sweetness to their voices...
Apart from that one the other thing you ll be noticing straight out of the box it will be the extremelly well controled and robust bass reproduction ....Here using a set of two isobaric woofers just like it's sibling PENON 10TH AE does one facing another the impact is substancial and the oomph in the sub bass region more than enough for anyone that apreciates a balanced but sub bass focused represantation of sound. its not a meaty or bleared bass,its not a vast one either,focusing thoroughly and mostly somewhere between 20 to 60 Hz providing the necessary impact and kick when its called upon....You dont have to worry for any kind of bass bleed here trust me ....eveyrthing stays crystal clear and the transition into the lower mids is smooth as butter .....
in the other hand i wouldnt characterize the treble region as the "safest zone on earth" its pretty extended to the upper range but remains harsh and fatique free , energetic but not hot or artificiall retaining all the necessary information in the right place and time...
Stage is obviously more than average at this price range, very wide if i may say so, obtaining a decent depth... but what really stands out immediatelly is the phenomenal spatiality of elements across there.....Each and every sound travels with ease from your left to your right and the opposite creating most of the times an elliptical headstage just a bit outside of the listener's head.
Stereo Image is stellar as well as the instrument placement and potitioning of each instument, leaving plenty of air and space ....this is more than noticeable particularly across the midrange .
At this point i have to pass my great respect and admiration to those ISN engineers who managed to create such an different animal from the rest of their line...
to my ears H60 is the exact opposite of their previous release : ISN NEO 3
Two absolutelly different animals equal in sound value ,but made from the same proffecionals.......
i ll elaborate more on that comparison later on.....
in terms of EQ any basshead outhere happen to feel a "lack of impact from 250 to 20 Hz (which is certainly not the case here with H60) can use any kind of paramteric equalizer provided that your dap/source obtains this functionality and just by adding +2 or +3 at maximum dbs over this specific region (20-250 Hz) bass gets smoothly and sensationally boosted without overshadowing any other part of the spectrum.( i tend to use this function from times to times on both i Basso's 160/170 daps with a superb outcome.....H60 set handles that one pretty good i must admit...)


ISN H60 FR
( the smooth transition / elevation into the upper midrange provides the necessary air for any vocals to shine effortlesly and with absolute grace...other than that no strange peaks in the lower/upper treble this tuning obviously helps for a smooth but energetic at the same time representation of sound)





RECOMMENDED TEST TRACKS

Autumn’s Grey Solace - Absent the body

This is the romantic aspect of H60 representing in the best possible aspect their majestic midrange which is lush .spacious ,dream like.....the female singer in this song extends here angelic voice up to the highest possible and the result using this set listening is beyond anyone's imagination. the wideness of the scene here is remarkable the electric quitars and bass quitars portaying such an intensity and cohesiveness with remarkable reverb and decay rarely to be found in any reproduction its so damned electrifying the whole experience with H60 ,and all the magic happens in that addictive midrange where all instruments works together as a unity bringing us a whole different universe of sound.

DEMEN - Ambur



This one could easily be a lost 4AD records jewel but it isnt...............The lower/lowest frequencies here do create the whole ambience and all the info between 250 and 20 Hz are responsible for the magic atmosphere along with the cymbal crushes at the higher registries and the addition of angelic female vocals.....And ISN H60 gets to be just perfect for this one as those twin isobaric subwoofers pushes effortlesly the air between the instruments leaving room at the same time for the female vocals to shine and the real star of the show - the midrange - to steal your mind and heart.
speaking of 4ADs older treasure songs.......... this might be just perfect for a set like ISN H60

Leland Whitty - Glass Moon

Leland being a long time member of BADBADNOTGOOD modern jazz group , produced an absolutely beautiful solo record last year and in this particular track every physical instrument like double bass is a real treat with H60s...The sound gets immediatelly EXPANSIVE just right from the begging of the song takes you in, absorbs your mind.. right from the very first seconds.......,double bass,flutes,drums,Rhodes etc.... showcasing an utterly natural timbre,true to the original recording, i suppose you ll be 100% surprised of how close to real life this track sounds in terms of correct and natural sound reproduction
this track showcases more than everything else H60s stage capabilities and proportions along with it's unique totally magical midrange and instrument timbre

Ova - Godless

Ova is Elizabeth Crompton's previous act. In this track the amount of lower tones digitally recreated are simply overwhelming.. Despite that one.. the moment her magical voice appears in the track everything turns out pure heaven for the listener.. this showcases how totally transparent and airy the upper mids are in H60s case ,as her voice stands out so clearly with such an authority and majesty, creating this way such a lush and spacious atmosphere.
Midrange stays here absolutely safe from any kind of bleeding coming from the overpowering lower frequencies. The total amount of ambience created here using H60 as our guide to the road to heavens is simply beyond words....
An unbelievable magical experience, one that very few monitors are capable of........

Dead Can Dance - Mesmerism



Last but not least...this is an all time classic DCD track where H60 exhibits it's superiority in terms of cohesion across the FR and a most natural tonality from top to end of the spectrum.From the lowest part of the FR (the unbelievable timpanis and the brass instruments like Trombones,tubas,) to the very highs (synths) all drivers work together as a unity flawlessly leaving the necessary room for Gerard's heavnly voice to leave away from our "earthly conditions" straight into the spiritual world. Such an emotional. smooth and natural reproduction makes this one a totally recommendation from my side to anyone who eventually decide to get H60.



SELECTIVE COMPARISONS

Starting my A/B tests mostly with ISN monitors i have to state right from the beggining that H60 to my ears feels the wider one (stage-wise), from anything i ve heard thus far from this company.

vs ISN H50

H50 has been ISN's first departure attempt from the well established as ISN HOUSE SOUND and a great success as well...
Vocals on H50 are more upfront than H60s at least to my ears and the airy feeling is more noticeable on H60 too. Treble is pretty energetic and dynamic in both of these sets but due to H60s more advance/updated Knowles BAs feels more polished extended and correct resulting this way in a more vast/open sound experience
H60 is more prominent in in the sub bass region partially due to its tuning and due to the newest technology used there with the twin isobaric subwoofers one facing the other coming up with more note weight and it is the more musical one between those two by far....
Regardless that, both are great monitors with H60 due to its tuning and newer more sophisticated implementation being wider , more airy and linear sounding between the two of them.

vs ISN H40

with a 9.2 DD & 3 BAs (1BA for the mids - 2BAs for the highs) H40 is a bass focused hybrid ,the epitomy of a FUN SIGNATURE SOUND a much beloved for many headfiers monitor and a personal favorite. H60 is the more balanced but the more bulky one between them.Its the one with a prominent sub bass emphasis against the vast bass signature of the H40s which from time to time, dominates and thus overshadows the rest of the frequency range. Vocals on H60 are simply to die for..... more upfront than H40 and those SONION BAs are doing most of the magic there too.....the airy feeling is way more noticeable on H60 as well but that obviously its H60s strong asset the midrange. Treble is not H40s biggest advantage too,resulting in a more polite sound experience,its not like H60 is more aggresive at all.its just that H40 is more prominent in the bass region due to its tuning, Regardless that both are great hybrid monitors with H60 due to its tuning and implementation ,being the more airy and linear sounding between them obtaining a more ¨out of the head experience¨to the listener.
Anyway... FYI I still consider till this day H40 for their cost, an absolute VFM ideal all rounder........

vs ISN NEO 3

This is were thing gets really interesting....as i stated earlier those two are completely opposite to each other...
NEO 3 is clearly a dark set with subdued and safe treble with a remarkable analogue alike note timbre and a tremendous bass department imagine like a wall of sound created giving the atmosphere across the entire FR. H60 is a lot wider as far as stage goes providing a more open feeling but the depth of the stage on NEO 3 is really remarkable as well.........Tonallity wise
NEO 3 is dense and thick thus reminding more of a vinyl like represantation of sound ,BUT is more closed in compared to H60, imaging its not NEO 3's strongest asset but spatiality of sound elements is really something else there ...... all these factors makes NEO 3 an utterly atmospheric ,beast dark and velvetly smooth as well......not designed for critical - accurate listening but for the joy of music ................
H60 on the other hand is a pristine like sound reproduction , more close to the OG PENON 10TH AE with a crystal clear spacious midrange and with a much energetic and dynamic bright treble region performance....
NIGHT & DAY................. one cannot exist without the other......both equally necessary to our enjoyment of life ........
what really matters is that this team , the ISN TEAM is able of producing actually everything they desire with ease , professionalism and finesse as well.....


vs EST50s

EST 50s was to me love Love at first audition and still is one of my all time favorites monitor. ISN AUDIO is a true master as far BASS goes and in this case their flagship EST50s is the perfect proof of what happens when a group of proffesional engineers who happens to love bass frequencies a little more than the rest of the spectrum........... are doing their best effort to bring such a miracle as the EST50s.Off course the impact from 20 to 250hz is obviously bigger at EST50 's case, and of course the transients over this region become quickly more than noticeable and distinctive but it's supposed to be this way around.. cause we re talking about the flagship of a company dedicated to Authentic Bass reproduction since it's origins....BUT this does not mean in any way that H60 is lacking at this department.Not in terms of texture. body and quality..On H60 bass comes very solid and robust but focused more in the sub bass region rather than the mid bass impact ,that does not mean that it misses anything it's an ISN monitor it just couldn't be any other way around..
Now on the mids....Here the midrange on both of those set just ticks all the right boxes....spacious,effortless natural representation a pure delight for the ears and soul
treble region of the EST50s are purely suberb and more natural extended fatique free and sparkly than H60 but the EST50S simply use a more advanced techsnology two electrostatic Sonion drivers for that outcome so the difference is more than obvious there,,,at this case i am afraid i would go for the EST50s because it is a hell of a monitor.......
..........though giving a second thought and taking under consideration their price difference ..can't help but thinking both are really close in terms of quality in the representation of sound and providing equally a 3 Dimentional open stage.. with H60 being the wider mostly because of it's tuning and the slightly less refined one in the treble region...


vs Oriveti OH700VB

OH700VB is Oriveti's current flaghip and at the time costs the double of H60's price.
OH700VB combines 6 balanced armature drivers ( 2 for high, 4 for mid) and a dynamic driver (for low).OH700VB delivers a rich and detailed sound with excellent clarity and accuracy across the entire frequency spectrum.Nevertheless it obtains a dark tonality.. its like ISN NEO3's sibling ,so as far as tonality goes it's the exact opposite to H60's sound, with a dark and subdued treble representation and a relaxed and laid back sound signature...
at this case its simply a matter of personal prefference and taste.
Both earphones are equally good as far as bass/midrange reproduction goes imho, with H60 being the more open one and obtaining a wider stage simply because the energy and the air especially in the higher registries (due to H60's tuning) are quite more substantial there than OH700VB






Final words

At this hobby it has always been a matter of personal taste and flavor when it comes to the choise of getting any iem that suits any individual΄s different point of view.
From my side at least i cannot reccomend enough ISN H60. IMHO, ISN audio engineers really surpassed themselves making this fabulous and most of all quite different in comparison to the rest of their line set of monitors.
It is very close to how a TOTL should sounds like to my ears at least , regardless of any price there....able to faithfully reproduce any kind of recording or music genre effortless ,and the main point is that H60 has nothing to envy from much higher priced monitors coming from well established companies , or monitors using more sophisticated implementations.at this price point and certainly under the 500$ price bracket this is a pure gem able to satisfy even the most demanding ear out there......

Thanks for reading.............

Thanks to AG community and Penon for the tour unit of the ISN H60 (https://penonaudio.com/ISN-Audio-H60.html).

OVERVIEW​

The ISN brand has been around for a while now (5+ years) with some well received iems in the past. Most noteably the D02 and the H40.

I still own the D02 and when compared to the older sibling the H60 is very very similar in the looks department. It is slightly larger in size (very slightly),
with a all resin construction, as opposed to the older one sporting a metal nozzle.

The H60 utilizes a 2 pin connector, which is a very good move (considering the D02 was mmcx). The unit came in a blue carboard box housing the iem amid foam inserts.
A nice well made pleather case, in a slightly darker shade of blue does the protection duties.

The box also contained a selection of 3 types of silicon tips in 3 sizes each - Red, Green, Grey - I prefered the Red from a sound perspective. All 3 are soft, without being grippy,
but with a sturdy nozzle. The red tips sound the most balanced, with the green and grey being a bit more V sounding (YMMV).

The resin nozzles are a bit large, but the soft tips take care of comfort very well, even for my small ears.

The H60, unike the D02, does not sport a tuning switch - which is a good thing in my personal humble opinion. Lesser decisions is always a good thing.

The cable that came with a OCC Copper with what looks like 4 cores, with a nice protective sheath and terminated in 4.4 balanced connection.

Nitpick : From a pairing perspective, I felt a SPC cable would be a much better match sonically.

TECH​

While I didnt come across much literature in terms of construction at least at Head-Fi, it is quite apparent that the main driver units (DD) are premade dual drivers with 2 diaphragm opposing each other (Isobaric likely).
The 4 BA drivers do excellent duties in the mids and treble ranges

SOUND PROFILE​

The house sound of ISN audio is slight pronounced V shape with a slightly forward mid than traditional V sound. This gives enough weightage to the mids, while keeping things fun at the same time.

From a driveability perspective, the H60 drives fairly easily, running off dongles with a full sound.

Due to the dual diaphragm config, the bass is solid and rumbly. There is enough thump and slam on the tracks. With the copper cables though, the bass does get a bit more excited and bleeds into the mids slightly.
I switched to a Letshouer SPC cable and the bass tightened well, while air was added to the treble well.

There is also a nice resonance in the bass sections, that gives a roomy sound and lots of atmosphere.

From a scoring perspective, the H60 stands as follows.
Bass - 4/5
Mids - 3.75/5
Treble - 4/5
Imaging - 4/5
Stage - Large room

CONCLUSIONS​

At the asking price, I believe the H60 continues to offer high value similar to its older sibilings. It is an easy recommendation in the mid budget pricepoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it for the coherent and fun signature and continuing the D02's house sound and pushing it up by many notches.
Well done ISN Audio

ISN H60.

ISN H60.
The hybrid game is going strong in 2024. If you haven’t seen what is available for your hard earned cash. It is the IEM technologies and the various configurations that is constantly pushing the envelope on what's possible for personal audio. Taking the best aspects of certain types of drivers to work with others are the very essence of what hybrid IEMs are about. Utilizing 4 balanced armatures and two stacked dynamic drivers handling the bass end. The H60 in the ISN line of hybrids are a continuation of what put ISN on the map for me.

Today's hybrids for the price has to bring a level of polish and sound performance that one would expect and it is not a matter of if the H60 delivers in that front, but more so a matter of how does ISN one up what they have previously offered in the past. The H60 is an evolution of the sound performance of their prior offerings. The H30 H40 H50 and now we have the new H60.

As of typing I don't have exact details on what the pricing will be for the H60 but I do have some clear insight into just how these perform in the scheme of things. First of all it is called the H60 as it is clearly a step up from both the H40 the H50 in both configuration and its sound. H60 uses an all resin clear blue colored shell for the body with a violet blue outer shell for the back of the shells. A luxurious color approach to the design which might indicate the sound you're about to hear from the H60? What is clear is that no one will mistake the color scheme here for any of the prior ISN H series of IEMs. These exude richness and I think folks that end up with a set will understand why ISN went with this color scheme.

The H60 comes with the standard set of silicone tips and a decent matching ISN C4 cable. A thinner 4 cored crystal copper cable that matches well with the sound presentation of the H60 but I am fairly confident in saying I bet you will cable roll once you hear how good the H60 can sound. Best way to describe the ISN C4 and the ISN H60 combo is. You can hear the “potential” I would be lying to you guys if I felt this cable optimizes how the H60 can truly sound.

On that statement. I ended up getting the new Penon OCC849 cable with the same package of the H60. This post will be more based on the H60 using its included cable but why would I not try out the OCC849 on it? And what a difference a higher grade of cable can make on the H60s. Even with the stock cable you can hear how the H60 here is a progression of the Hybrid sound from ISN. With an upgraded cable it goes to an entirely different level of sound, just know this before making the purchase as you will more than likely consider upgrading that cable it comes with. It is ok on the H60 and nothing more, let me put it this way if you had no extra money and were forced to use the ISN C4. Then so be it. It does just fine, especially in balanced.

Now onto the sound
The Sound of the H60 is a mild v shaped tuning but one with proper pinna gain for excellent presence for the mids performance. Has a solid detailed treble tuning but most importantly has some outstanding quality bass. Minus the H30, all of the ISN IEMs have bass being a focal point in performance for an ISN IEM. The newer NEO line of IEMs all fit the bill here as well.

So let's get right to it. These to my ears have some remarkable similarities to how the new flagship tribrid Voltage was tuned. These sound like they were made by the same guy if I am being honest. Which is actually a good thing. You say you can’t afford the Voltage? Well then, I present to you something that mimics Penons newest tribrid in many ways in the ISN H60. It's not exactly the same sound but its balance and presentation has some semblance of what the Voltages are. Which also happens to be a mild v shaped tuning. Most of the ISN house tuning has bass and treble emphasis slightly above the mids presentation, the mids on an ISN IEM however are not anywhere near recessed like a traditional V shaped tunings are. In fact one of the reasons why these are a continuation of the H line for ISN is that its got a level of mids refinement that is right up there with its flagship the EST50. Will do a comparison of the EST50 vs the H60 here on this reader.

Trebles of the H60 is the type of treble that is resolving with a solid note weight and extension for treble emphasis. Dedicating a dual BA for its trebles this group of BAs seems to be treble specialist BAs as it sounds well balanced, complete with excellent sparkle when called for. Really what is missing from this treble presentation is the addition of ESTs for the upper trebles.
But this is a case of if you don't have them, you won't miss them. Trebles has a solid footing in the scheme of things which makes something like Jazz music pop with rhythmic detail both micro and macro. ISN seems to have chosen an excellent set of BAs for the task here as I find the trebles notes to be tactile with very good transient qualities. Delicate when called for to weighty when there is emphasis from the percussionist. Its treble performance is one of the best I have heard on an ISN hybrid.

The trebles on the H60 have equal emphasis as the bass end of the H60 and this helps to bring a very good semblance of balance for the H60 sound profile. Never a type of treble to cause fatigue but only to highlight with an ability that I equate to a higher tier of treble performance the H60 delivers the goods for the treble note. If treble is important to you. I am confident in saying the trebles are not only tastefully done but sounds very complete and has a good level of refinement to my ears and that is the best compliment I can say about the treble end of the H60.

Mids here are also done splendidly well. Not certain exactly what branded BAs ISN is using for the H60 but the mids performance is really what separates a higher end sound from its lowered hybrid siblings. Penon has recently released the Voltage that also uses dual BAs for its mids and here is where I find the sound performance of the H60 to be very capable and can sound just as engaging as the Voltage in how it performs. In the long run the Volatage will be a higher end IEM with a higher end technical ability but this does not leave the H60 to sound like it is lacking especially noticed for its excellent mids performance.

It's the type of mids that shows you the goods recorded in your favorite tracks with all the layering has very good depth to its presentation. Imaging is a standout for the H60 and Both vocals and instruments have very good timbre, once again with transient qualities that will let you hear exactly what your recordings have in store. Mids sound more dimensional than flat or uninspired here and that is a hallmark of ISN IEMs in general. H60 so happens to do it on a nice higher end level. Mids have a perfect mix of the right neutral tonal character, good clarity, layering and sound separation that is the strength of the BAs mids presentation. Which all leads to an engaging sound character from the H60. There is nothing that is recessed, overly colored or shouty at all about the H60s mids presentation. It sounds just right in so many ways. Which allows you to enjoy what you’re hearing. The H60 is an excellent vessel for audio and it comes through with an effortless expression of your music that brings a level of sophistication its lesser siblings just can't do as well. When I first heard the H60 I knew right away it was a level above the H50, H40. More refined than any of the Neo Series thus far.

An ISN IEM would not be an ISN IEM with a small uninspiring stage. We get none of that on the H60 in fact it's roomier medium sized shell allows for a more spacious sound. Its music density is ideal and has all the hallmarks of why we love a well performing hybrid. Mids of the H60 is just as good as its treble. Just as good as its bass.

Bass of the H60 is yet another upgrade for the Hybrid line for ISN. Bass for ISN is an essential part of its style of sound. I can only remember one ISN IEM that didn't have it where it counts, that was the H30 which I consider an outlier and it was the only real neutrally tuned ISN IEM I can recall. Otherwise every single Neo line and H, D line of IEMS has bass emphasis with EST50 being the only ISN IEM to use ESTs and a very capable silicone dynamic.

The H60 is utilizing dual dynamics that are stacked on top of each other. What is interesting is that there is a sound tube that reaches for the center of this configuration meaning the Bass dynamics are facing each other and the only way for that bass energy to go out of the shells is through that sound pipe. To your ears.

This means the H60 is a true ISN iem. No weak one note bass on this set. It has both mid bass and sub bass in equal emphasis to my ears. Bass presents with an ability that I have only had with one other IEM at this level and that is the TSMR-X with its dual push pull dynamics. The bass end produces ample quantity and even better quality. Bass is clearly upgraded vs the prior H line of IEMs including both the H40 and the H50. There is definitely something to using two dynamics inside an IEM shell stacked on top of each other. The power and delivery is simply better. What's good with one capable dynamic seems better with two. Another surprising aspect of the bass on the H60 is that it easily keeps up with the speedy BA performance of the mids and treble. You can tell the H60 is using dynamics due to the texture and reach which is on a different level vs something like BA bass but the negative of dynamics is that it will not have the speediness of a BA bass. The H60 while not as speedy, is not really lagging behind either and that is what is surprising. It's fast actually with a level of tightness to its performance that tells me it is a higher quality performing bass. As brawny as the bass performance can be it keeps up with my most complicated tracks with ease and that is a testament to how good the bass end is on the H60.

It’s faster and tighter bass than both the NEO5 and the EST50 for example. For former ISN Hybrid owners, I can say the bass end of he H60 has been upgraded.

In conclusion the H60 is yet another fantastic new release from ISN that shows they have the capability to take feedback from their prior hybrid IEMs and create a nice upgrade in the H60. There is no question in my mind that folks that want a higher end ISN IEM will be very happy with the performance of the H60. Its color scape is a rich blue violet combo that exudes a luxurious sound. And that is what I feel I am getting with the H60. Its got excellent balancing but still maintains why ISN has garnered fans for its sound. Its bass performance is an upgrade. Its mids are an upgrade. Its trebles is an upgrade. Which equates to a stunning sounding H60 in the ears. Large spacious stage, well imaged and dimensional, powerful sound with density. The H60 is simply the best sounding Hybrid from the group.

Comparos

The first IEM that came to mind with the H60 believe it or not was the TSMR-X. Due to the TSMR-X having very similar configurations. And this is where these two IEMs will trade punches in how they perform. The TSMR-X was a huge surprise to me as it brought one of the best bass performing abilities I have heard on a Tansio Mirai IEM and we got that with the TSMR-X. The bass level of the H60 is about on par with the reference setting on the TSMR-X or about 8 dbs of emphasis. I love the effective switches on the TSMR-X which gives it several sound profiles including its bass head level setting. The H60 does not have that ability but the actual quantity of bass and its quality is just as good as the TSMR-X bass performance. Where I feel the H60 has a bit of an advantage would be for its mids performance, H60 has just a bit more emphasis for its mids profile while the TSMR-X has a touch more treble emphasis. They both sound relatively balanced to my ears but it is the TSMR-X with slightly more of a v shaped tuning vs the better balanced H60. Both are highly detailed but I feel the H60 is a slightly more musical sounding experience. These two perform so amicably that you can get one to sound like the other by using cables of all things. A warmer copper cable on the TSMR-X can transform that sound to something similar to the H60 and a more transparent silver based cable can transform the H60 to mimic the treble ability of the TSMR-X. If you had to choose between one or the other I would base that on which one you can get cheaper. While not exactly the same sound, both of these IEMs are playing on some of the best sounding IEMs at their respective price ranges and trade punches for technical performance with the H60 having a slight edge of musicality and the TSMR-X having a slight edge in technical details.

The EST50
EST50 is the only tribrid and the flagship ISN. For folks that love warm and musical sound profiles the EST50 brings some outstanding depth and body to its sound formula. It is an L shaped tuning meaning it has a sound based on more bass emphasis in regards to its tuning which is a level above its mids and trebles which adds to its overall warmer tonal character. In comparison the H60 is not as warm. It still has that trademark smoothness and even an equivalent high quality bass end but to my ears the H60 actually has better sound balancing with more treble emphasis and bit more upper mids for better clarity in comparison. The increase of treble presence also leads to better perceived details for the H60. Sound stage also seems to be just a bit wider for the H60 but the EST50 has greater depth of sound. Since the focus of the EST50 happens to be its bold bass, it is no surprise that it has the most bass emphasis out of the ISN line up. If bass is your thing the silicone dynamic brings a low-end authority and rumble that not a lot of IEMs can do. The H60 by virtue of better balancing has less bass and a bit more lower to mid treble emphasis in comparison so it is an objectively better balanced set. But at the same time we are talking about a ISN IEM so they will not skimp on the bass end. EST50 uses one of the best Sonion BAs for its mids performance and it shows through its tonal character in producing a rich sonic character. I would say the H60 is not as rich sounding but makes up for it with slightly better imaging and sound separation for its mids presentation. Has the more complete and sparkly treble regardless of the EST50 using 1 Knowles BA and 2 ESTs for its highs. If you already own the EST50 and want a different more balanced sound presentation but would like to keep that quality bass performance of the EST50 that is basically what the H60 is. It is most definitely a different sound from the EST50 to take a good look into.

Neo5
The upgrade to the NEO5 is actually the H60. NEO5 has a lot in common with the EST50 when it comes to its sound balancing. NEO 5 is a more affordable alternative to the sound performance of the EST50. Its bass end is not as fleshed out as the EST50 or the H60 for that matter. It's got a brawny bass end but in comparison the NEO 5 bass end quality is not really close to the texture of the EST50 bass or the tightness and speed of the H60 bass. In fact sounds a touch loose in comparison to both actually. But for an IEM that cost a bit over the half the cost of the EST50 it is an excellent IEM for the musically inclined enthusiast. The H60 in all its sound categories, Technicalities: sound separation. Imaging, detail, accuracy, precision. Stage and depth of sound is a leap in performance in comparison. NEO 5 needs a particular type of cable to really enhance its sound; the H60 sounds more higher end out of the box in comparison. For the asking price the NEO5 gives you approximately 80% of the EST50 sound experience and that makes it an excellent value but for the more discerning audiophile that extra 20% more refinements will cost you almost double. The H60 is once again balanced better for having a nice bassy foundation in comparison. You want an upgrade on the NEO5? You prefer having a similar sound balance with the bass being the highlight of its sound the EST50 easily. But if you want something more higher end sounding altogether that would be the H60.

H50
I am glad ISN started to use 2 pins after the H50. H50 for what it is, is one of the underrated ISN IEMs that is tuned for a more mature sounding angle. So in hindsight, it was the H50 that sounded the most like a Penon IEM vs what they have done in the past. And I will say this out right. The upgrade on the H50 is as you guessed it. Is the H60. If you look at the driver configurations. The only real change on the driver count from the H50 to the H60 is an added bass dynamic but then there is a change in the sound bore design from the drivers to the nozzle. The H50 incorporates a metal nozzle with a mesh where all the sound channels are mixed inside the nozzle to the ear out, the H60 is more closer to higher end hybrid designs where there is no pooling of sound elements as the nozzle has sound bores out to the all resin nozzle you can see from them. 3 to be exact. This design change means you get a cleaner separation of the sound elements. Treble, mids and its bass. The end results? The H60 simply sounds more dynamic, even better spaced out more technical. This is also a testament to why recent Penon IEMs and now this H60 are all using dual dynamics. It gives better agility and ability for the bass end. It isn't like the composite dynamic for the H50 was lacking here. It is clearly sub bass focused but at the same token I do feel the H60 has the upper hand in bass quality. The H60 has better technicalities over the H50. It simply out-images the H50 and has better clarity overall not to mention a wider and slightly deeper stage to boot. If you were a fan of the old H50, there is no question you would find the H60 to your liking even more so. Its sounds leveled up from it is the best way I can put it.

Cable pairings cus sharing is caring.
OCC849, This cable is an easy recommendation for the H60. I ended up getting this cable at the same time I got the H60. Coincidence? Maybe but the OCC849 is a thicker crystal copper based IEM cable and here is the reason why it matches so well with the H60. The OCC849 enhances the best aspects of the H60 sound balancing its mids, its bass and adds a more solid note punctuation to its treble performance. Additional noteweight for all things your music is profound if you think about it. What you thought that had a certain fullness of sound be it treble to bass now gets a nice uplift. The H60 sounds meaty with the OCC849. And who don't want their sound with a nice slab of porter house steak with your sound? This cable is what the H60 should have come with even if it meant the extra charge to do so imo. H60 with this cable gets you even closer to the sound performance of the much higher end Penon Volage imo. If you don't have the money for a Voltage. Get the H60 and this cable and be happy you saved a lot. While it isn't exactly the Voltage level sonics. It gets ever so much closer with this pairing.

Surprise surprise. A surprise cable? What is this? This is for the folks that actually reads what I write and not skims over my long-winded posts about an IEM sound. This cable no one can buy yet? Yes you read that right. This is the first ever impression of a higher end Penon cable called

Drum roll please…..

The Pyramid. Why the Pyramid? Well it is made of 4 different cable blends.
4 cores with 147 strands of the stuff per core. So it has.
Copper-gold alloy + Pure silver
Copper-Silver alloy, silver plating
Single Crystal copper. Silver plating
Furukawa high- purity copper winding.

What do all these cable elements do for your sound you ask? For folks that own the Totem cable the way this cable separates the elements of sound for your IEM sound presentation is pretty silly. I think folks that own the more recent Effect Audio Code 24 cable might be surprised if they were to try the Pyramid. I mean who comes up with this particular material blend and says. WOW by golly we made a great sounding cable!! In any case I have no idea what Penon will sell this particular cable for, but I do know it brings a higher level of technical element. Even over the more recent Renata. Its ability to separate elements of sound is some of the best I have heard from a cable. It's like each part of the sound you're listening to has its own stage, its own plane of sound. Clearly separated from other elements from the track. Sound becomes more spacious, more ethereal. This cable connected to the H60 and to be honest I am not missing out on the Voltage sound. A wider, more dimensional stage is one aspect of what it brings. Punchier bass notes and better-defined texture for sub bass rumble. Treble gets a slight upgrade for sparkle here as well. The sound becomes even more holographic than the stock sound presents with. A surprising cable from Penon. I do believe these guys have been working on this one for a while. It's not the next Totem as it's not exactly like the Totem. I feel the Totem has a bit more gold influence for its richer tonal qualities it brings. This one is more on how it enhances imaging from your IEMs. Yet another crazy metallurgical magical cable from Penon to look out for. And since this write up is about the H60. This cable, the H60 and orchestral music sound stupendous due to what I just wrote about that helps on the H60 give you a higher level of sound separation. As good as it makes the H60 sound. It makes the Voltage sound on a TOTL level for certain. Yes, it was the very first IEM I tried with the Pyramid. Your best cables + H60 yields some higher end performance wise that is clearly evident. The included cable does fine, you can hear the potential of the H60, but it simply scales awesomely to better cable pairings.