Little Dot Cu Rad

ngoshawk

Headphoneus Supremus
Little Dot Rad: What? Little Dot goes non-tubey!
Pros: Affordable
Very portable
Ease of fit
Good sound at this price
Cons: Cable is permanently attached
Tough price point
Little Dot Rad: What? Little Dot goes non-tubey!


Little Dot: What? Little Dot goes non-tubey!
Little Dot website
Rad: $70


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From the website:
By coincidence, we acquired 6300 precious composite diaphragms. After pairing and screening, we made 2800 headphones out of them. Rad has outstanding performance and we want to share them with our valuable customers, and we believe this might be the best budget IEMs.
Rad (ᚱ) is the fifth rune in Elder Futhark, and it means journey. Little Dot thanks all the customer that have been with us, it’s been a true journey for us over these years! This is why we made this IEM, not for the profit, but simply praise those who have been with us during this journey. Meanwhile, we would like to invite more people to come along on this wonderful journey.


Specs:
Technical Spec:

Driver: 10mm composite diaphragm
Distortion: <0.01 @ 1000Hz
Impedance: 16 ohm
Plug: 3.5mm
Frequency Range: 15-20kHz
Sensitivity: 103+/-3 db


In The Box:
IEM
4x silicon tips
Shirt clip
Plastic round case
Pelican-like case


Gear Used/Compared:
TRN VX ($75)
Simgot EN700 Pro ($132)
Cayin N6 mk2
Shanling M6 Pro
HiBy R3 Pro


Songlist:
Joey Alexander-Warna album and others
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado
twenty one pilots album, Trench
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Big Head Todd & The Monsters-Beautiful World
Mark Knopfler-Down The Road Wherever


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Unboxing:
The Little Dot IEM’s come in a very tasteful slender slick-black package, which clamshell opens from the right. Laden with the logo, and name on the front, there is a fairy not unlike Tinkerbell “anointing” the IEM name. I like it so far.
Opening the box reveals semi-soft foam holding both the round plastic case, and the pelican-like case on the right. The choice of two cases is nice but opting for the larger Pelican-like case won out for me every time. The left side shows the specs as well as an exploded view of the IEM itself, highlighting each model inside. Again, tastefully simple and elegant. This is most definitely a situation that I appreciate where less is more and done well.

From the Little Dot Cu Cen review: The Little Dot IEM’s come in a very tasteful slender slick-black package, which clamshell opens from the right. Laden with the logo, and name on the front, there is a fairy not unlike Tinkerbell “anointing” the IEM name. I like it so far.

Opening the box reveals semi-soft foam holding both the round plastic case, and the pelican-like case on the right. The choice of two cases is nice but opting for the larger Pelican-like case won out for me every time. The left side shows the specs as well as an exploded view of the IEM itself, highlighting each model inside. Again, tastefully simple and elegant. This is most definitely a situation that I appreciate where less is more and done well.

You are also met with a plethora of tip options. The copper cable attached is the only one I used. Manufacturers seems to either include more tips than you would need or not enough. Thankfully, this is the former and you should easily be able to find your right “fix.” That said, many will still tip roll. The unboxing experience is about what I expected here, not too much, not too little with a good choice of tips.


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Fit-n-finish/build:

With a 10mm composite diaphragm, the Rad starts the show with a rather large dynamic driver. That’s OK in my book. Laden with a permanently attached 6N OFC cable, there is a more microphonic effect than I would like, and it got to the point where I had to pretty much sit still to listen. The cable is thin as well, and I took care not to snag it on anything even though that probably was not needed. This would not be the best choice for running or an active-based lifestyle unless you did something to the cable. The sound might be worth looking into that. That said, a nicely snug cinch strap is had above the y-splitter, which should help quell (and did) any microphonics.

The shell has a burnished aluminum look and could be mistaken for being sculpted from a single piece. Except that it has three. Not that bad a look either. Fit for the price. There are two vent holes, with one place inboard below the nozzle and one outboard on the same vertical plane (bottom side). Working in concert to aid the bass output, this is the bassiest of the four Little Dots, and could be used as “the draw” into audiophiledom. I did note a small bit of wear on that polished look, especially where the seams of the two “halves” come together. Something to think about as well.

Since we are talking about a $70 earbud, this is not of anything remotely poor in quality and on par with the many of the others in class. Plus, I had no problem with fit as it is an earbud-style IEM, lending itself to tip rolling and hence fit. It does stick out a bit with foam tips, though. Less so with silicon tips.

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Sound:
Since the Cu Rad is tuned as the “entry point to audiophile listening” by Little Dot, it makes sense that the tuning of choice would mirror popular music. And it does. Bass-heavy of tune, and with pushed vocals, this is meant for hip-hop, pop, and popular tracks of the flavor. And in that regard, it does remarkably well. While the tuning might not favore Will’s favored, I appreciate this as I listen to a lot of twenty one pilots and other semi-pop along with my favored Dave Matthews as well as Santana, SRV and the like. And for those types of genres, the bass-oriented signature seems meant as the complimentary earbud. It is quite good, and bass reaches pretty deep. Deeper than any other offering from Little Dot. I like bass and I appreciate the way this is treated here. It does bleed more into the mids than the Cu Cen as one might expect from a single DD, even a composite one. To me that simply means the vocals, which by definition are higher in the mids come out on a more prevalent manner.

Tyler’s voice is such a treat with which to listen anyway, and here it definitely takes center stage. In a good way I might add. Male vocals overcome that potential bleed problem with a bit of aplomb, and I appreciate that. Changing to Erroll Garner’s Mambo Erroll from Campus Concert seems to be a bit out of sorts though. His sublime piano playing seems to get lost in that V-shaped signature, overcome by the big floor standing string bass. I still like the sound, but in the Simgot compared here, there is a much better synergy, which highlights the limitation(s) of the Rad. Moving on the Farewell Courtyard again, that is all but dispelled. Strong and powerful, the sound emanates that chosen genre well.

Thankfully, the lower treble adds to the good side of the mids. Not tedious, the songs, which promote that range sound pretty darn nice. Only when we move past that to the high end of the treble stage does it become tedious to these sensitive ears. This is something, which did not happen in the Cu Cen, so I will simply call it a limitation of price and driver tune. Not bad mind you, but it can become tedious at higher volumes for longer sessions. Some may be able to overcome this on a commute, but with the V-mids, you may need to raise the volume to make up for that. Good tip selection can counter this nicely and the foam tips I used did in fact overcome the pecking on my MBP keyboard (I hate this keyboard…). Only with softer songs such as Dave Matthew’s wonderfully melodic When I’m Weary did the microphonics and keyboard cacophony become bothersome. How did I overcome this? I sat back and listened while drinking a local Octoberfest Lager. Indeed, not a bad way to listen.

Soundstage/layering/instrumentation:
Going back to back with the Cu Cen, I found the Rad to have a wider width of stage, and refreshingly so it was good. Not that the Cu Cen is bad, it isn’t; but to find a comfortable wide soundstage at this price is a real treat. Depth while average does not get in the way of a slightly larger than average height. As a result, all seem to play nicely together, not stepping on any toes. Somewhat tightly packed are the layers, but that width stretches each layer enough to make it viable. Think of stretching dough, making it thin enough to work, but not enough to poke holes in and you get the point. A light airy baking mixture as opposed to the thick layers of a German Chocolate cake (sans coconut, blech…).

As listed above, the result gives decent instrumentation, and most can be discerned with a little effort. Only when complexity comes into play do you realize this is a sub-$75 earbud. But still much, MUCH better than those which come with your smartphone.

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Comparison:

Little Dot Cu Rad ($70) vs TRN VX ($75):
I will state up front I am not a fan of the VX. It falls into the “typical” TRN signature too much. Trying to do too much all at once, the sound gets lost in the mixture. Some reviewers have played with filters and taping and tips to “make” the VX worth the listen. At this price, if a tip does not make for an adequate listening performance to me, then away it goes. I do not relish playing that much with a sub-$100 IEM. I just don’t.

And here is where alternatives give you the opportunity to recoup some of what you lost in the price of the other. Yes, you would be out the cost of the VX, but donate it to your local high school library for use. It will get used and enjoyed. Too bright for my tastes, it does have some merit in the mids, but the bass and vocals of the Rad win me over every time. Not the best, but more to my liking than the VX. That’s enough on that.

Little Dot Cu Rad ($70) vs Simgot EN700 Pro ($132):
The EN700 Pro was the second Simgot I reviewed after the superb EM5. I still use the EM5 and find that it is underappreciated greatly. The EN700 Pro follows in that same vein. With bass almost as deep, but of better quality than the Rad, I value that sound more. Vocals of Tyler’s voice come across in support rather than up front. Sparkle up top closes the deal for me. I get that holistic synergy found in few I have inhouse with the EN700 Pro. There is just something about it, that ticks all of the right boxes to me.

Yes, it is almost twice the price, but at this point, you may want to stretch your budget. Unique of look, sound that please me greatly and excellent build quality round out the package. Now if they would only increase the tactility of the cable and this may be the perfect (to me) IEM at this price. This is not necessarily a knock at the Rad, no but rather blushes for the Simgot and what spending a bit more can do. I could easily see someone having and using the Rad for commuting and the EN700 Pro for home use. They complement each other nicely, and all for around two Ben’s USD.

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Finale:
Had I listened to the Cu Rad first when the foursome from Little Dot arrived, I would have most likely been thoroughly satisfied. At this price, it is quite competent ticking the boxes of my choice: affordable, bassy, good at vocals, and easy to take with you. Those can be very important to those who want a durable pair for commuting (which I often espouse even though my “commute” lasts all of 10 minutes and 3.75 miles by car) and one that does not break the bank. As Will stated, it is hard to review something, which is out of your comfort zone, and here is where I can fill that hole. I appreciate the tuning enough to warrant a recommendation, especially at the extra sale price of $64 right now. If you like solid bass, which reaches deep, but does not necessarily have the best quality along with vocals (especially male) that come out strong and vibrant; the Cu Rad should be afforded a listen. I like it, even though the rating won’t be that high overall. To me, it is worth a listen, and could very well be a decent commuting pair that may just be used for other purposes as well. Those who like todays pop, Kpop, and EDM might in fact find a new favorite. It works with those and hip hop as mentioned and you may not get the pair back if your significant other borrows them for a listen.

Again, many thanks to Ian and Little Dot USA for the samples. The opportunity to listen to another company’s wares is proving fruitful and fanciful. I appreciate the support.

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Wiljen

Headphoneus Supremus
Little Dot gets Rad!
Pros: Accentuated vocals, tuned for popular music, better detail than expected at price point
Cons: Fixed cable, big V tuning, some compression on complex tracks
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disclaimer: Little dot is opening a US based web site and store and was looking for reviewers on this side of the pond to help promote their product line to the American market. I agreed to do so based on previous experience with Little dot’s CD transport and Amplifiers. Their tube amps have been a mainstay of the budget (and not so budget) headphone enthusiasts recommendations for quite some time, but to my surprise the first thing Little Dot wanted to send was their earphones. I’ll admit, I’ve known of Little Dot for most of 10 years, but never realized they make earphones, let alone four different models thereof. I was sent the 4 models of in-ear by LittleDotUS for purposes of review. I have not received any other remuneration or input from Little Dot on the content of these reviews.

In many ways, the Rad is a kind of happy accident. While ordering parts for other models, little dot was presented the opportunity to purchase 63oo biocomposite diaphragms at a very highly discounted price. They bought them, tested and matched and eventually came up with 2800 pairs that all matched closely enough to be used in producing the RAD. In as such, the Rad is a very limited edition piece. Also because of the nature of their origins, original pricing was set at roughly $200, but it was later decided to pass along the savings as a thank you to existing customers and a welcome to new ones. As such, the Rad currently retails for $69.99.

Unboxing / Packaging:
The Rad is the least expensive model in the line so forgoes the packaging of the upper level models for a more modest box. The box front announces the make and model while details are on the side panels. I was a little concerned as the box came in damaged a bit and one always wonders about whether the contents suffered as a result. In this case, unfounded worry as the Rad is packed in a pelican style polymer case that takes up the entire box so all the contents were well protected inside. Overall the kit contains the earphones, shirt clip, case, and a bag with 3 sizes of silicone tips along with an extra set of medium tips preinstalled. At this price point, the kit is fairly standard but the case is of higher quality than most and the shirt clip is more robust as well. Overall, a good first impression.




Build/Fit:
At first glance the Rad looks a bit like the one more triple of a couple years ago although internally they don’t share much of anything. The shells are reminiscent of a typical earbud shape with a nozzle added to the front. They are designed for straight insertion and tip down wear with a metal guide protecting the 1st centimeter or so of cable as it exits the bottom rear of the shell. The shell is aircraft aluminum composed of 3 pieces. The main body has a small barrel at the rear for cable insertion and connections then expands in a cone shape from the barrel to house the 10mm driver. The faceplate starts immediately in front of the driver and closes to a nozzle at the center of the shell and roughly equal in size with the rear barrel. Nozzles have little or no rake and a large lip for tip retention. There are two vents, one at the bottom rear at the junction of the barrel and cone (immediately in front of the cable insertion point) and the other at the base of the nozzle on the bottom side in line with the other vent and cable exit. Fit is quite good with seam between cable stem and barrel nearly impossible to discern and seam between the face and main body tight, even, and well fitted. Polish is good as well with a brushed aluminum finish over the whole shell that is well matched between parts. L/R are marked on the cable guides for easy indexing as well.




Internals:
The beating heart of the Rad is a designed and produced in-house 10mm dynamic driver that uses the 4 layer bio-composite diaphragm with a dual voice coil in a CNC milled suspension. Nominal impedance is listed as 16Ω with a sensitivity of 103 dB/mW. I found the Rad easy to drive via smartphone,tablet, or plugged into a laptop and while it did scale some qualitatively with higher end sources, its ceiling is fairly low so those using a phone are getting a pretty solid impression of what the Rad is capable of. Its a time tested simple design of a single dynamic driver in a vented housing.



Cable:
The Rad is the only model in the line that doesn’t sport a removable cable instead choosing to use a permanent design, but a well protected one. As previously mentioned the top centimeter or so of the cable is protected with a metal guide as it enters the body of the earpiece. At the other end, we start with a 90º Jack in 3.5mm with a proper strain relief before exiting as a single strand in a soft rubber housing. The cable itself is 6N OFC copper and the jack is gold plated for improved corrosion resistance. A small black rubber splitter is well positioned with a chin slider mated to the top. The Rad does not come with an option for a microphone/remote so those wanting to use one will need to opt for a different model with replaceable cable so a mic can be added. (At present none have the option for including such a cable either).


Sound:


Bass:
There is no denying the tuning on the Rad. Its V with an emphasis on the sub-bass (centered on about 60Hz) and on the vocals with the other side of the V reaching its plateau at about the 3kHz mark. The Sub-bass emphasis gives the Rad plenty of rumble when called upon and has more than expected detail at the price point. Mid-bass drops back from the sub-bass emphasis but still has more than enough slam when called upon. The driver is slightly faster on attack than decay so does have a little bleed into the mids and a bit of warmth introduced but bleed is not significant and overall the Rad can use the warmth with its fairly bright vocal tuning.

Mids:
The mids have a V shape themselves with emphasis on both ends and a trough at the center. Lower-mids start out well defined with good weight and body and male vocals are well projected. As you move up, this drops back just a bit so lower vocals and cello actually sit slightly forward of guitar or violin. This is good for pop, but not so much so for classical. Guitar timbre is good with a slight edginess to the sound while strings come across slightly hot and a bit unnatural tonally. Upper-mids climb back forward rapidly and plateau in the lower treble giving female vocals a big lift and making them stand a full step in front of lower voices in the mix. Mids overall have good detail with the tuning being quite obviously targeted at vocal and popular music.

Treble:
Lower treble begins on the same plateau as the upper-mids and is certainly one of the focal points of the Rad. It does add a good bit of energy here and at times is appreciated, but at others can be a bit bright and assertive. The treble shy will want to try the Rad before considering a purchase as this treble may be too much for some. To my ear, that plateau carries well into the treble range and doesn’t start to drop away until around 7kHz. This is a saving grace for the Rad as it avoids that level of energy around 8-9kHz range which would make it extremely strident. Instead at about 6kHz the treble falls back to about the same level as the lower mids so while still present in the mix, it lacks the energy of the lower treble and keeps the Rad out of the “KZ treble” range. Snare rattle is good but slightly blunted and cymbals while good are not quite realistic as they do carry a bit of a metallic sound. There is some top end air and sparkle as extension is quite good with rolloff not becoming evident before the limits of my hearing (roughly 14khz).

Soundstage / Imaging:
Stage has good depth and is one of the better features of the Rad. Width is about average with a bit of height in the mix. Seating the orchestra does have some anomalies as the mid tuning puts the lower voices a bit forward as already mentioned, instrument separation is reasonably good though and keeps things well defined if not always in exactly the anticipated position. There is some compression that becomes evident as tracks get more complex as well with a tendency to appear first in the lower-mids/mid-bass range. Imaging is good with spatial cues being well represented and easily tracked around the stage.

Thoughts / Conclusion:
This was a tough review for me as it is really difficult to separate one’s own preferences from the facts regarding the subject of review and for me the Rad is a departure from my preferences. I listen to a lot of strings and complex orchestral works and the Rad just isn’t tuned for it. Its a big V with emphasis on the sub-bass and vocal ranges and when used for the anticipated genres it performs admirably considering its entry level price point. It seems wise for Little Dot to build the Rad to do its best work with today’s most popular genres as it is billed as an introduction for new listeners and as such that is the largest target audience. I think listeners to Hip-hop, EDM, and today’s pop and kpop will find the Rad quite satisfying as it delivers a lot of detail not found in a lot of other budget offerings while maintaining the ever popular V signature and big sub-bass presentation.

Project A3

New Head-Fier
Pros: Clean treble
- Forward and Detailed Highs
- Upper-mid Clarity
- Good soundstage, excellent imaging capabilities
Cons: Generic shells with little to no strain relief
- No detachable cable
- Strange and unnatural timbre
- Thin-midrange
Sound Review by Kzw
Disclaimer: Little Dot has graciously provided us with this sample unit in exchange for an honest review. The views discussed below are a reflection of Project A3's thoughts surrounding the product. The sample has been run-in for at least 50 hours prior to reviewing in order to achieve an accurate representation of the product.

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Introduction:
Little Dot is an unknown brand that is comfortably sequestered itself as a “domestic product” in the Chi-fi market, only available for purchase from official Taobao retailers.

Little is known about the brand, apart from the fact that Little Dot specializes in the manufacture of DAC/Amps. Being their first foray into the heavily contested IEM-space, which is getting exponentially larger by the day (with factories churning IEM after IEM), the Little Dot CU-Rad is hoping to gain the attention of impassioned audiophiles.

Featuring a composite, single dynamic driver and priced competitively at $70 USD, the CU-Rad will face stiff competition from other established brands like Ikko and Shuoer. Nevertheless, will the CU-Rad be good enough to stand out from the rest of the crowd? Available at Taobao.*


Specification:
  • PRODUCT NAME: CU-RAD IN-EAR EARPHONES
  • DRIVER TYPE: 10MM COMPOSITE DIAPHRAGM
  • IMPEDANCE: 18 OHMS
  • SENSTIVITY: 103+/- 3DB
  • FREQUENCY RANGE: 15HZ- 20KHZ
  • DISTORTION: <1% @ 1000HZ
  • PLUG: 3.5MM GOLD-PLATED

Gear Used & Tracklist:
Sony NW-A105| Aune X1S| Periodic Audio Nickel (Ni)| Venture Electronics Odyssey | Google Pixel 2XL |

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Unboxing:
The Little Dot CU-Rad comes with a small, cardboard box with a giant sticker plastered across its lid, featuring the brand’s logo and a hi-res image of the earphones themselves. Lifting the lid, you’ll be greeted by a large plastic hard case that occupies the entire interior of the box. The specifications of the CU-Rad are directly printed onto the case; quite an ingenious way of reducing the need for paper manuals. Apart from some spare silicon tips, the CU-Rad IEM themselves and a cable tie that comes attached, nothing else is included inside the package.

While the package itself is pretty sparse, I like the plastic, clamshell case that was included; it looks fantastic, with the text directly imprinted on the top flap. A solid offering, overall.

Scalability:
The Little Red Dot, given its below-average impedance input at 18 ohms vs 32 ohms, and its high sensitivity, is easily powered by portable sources. A dedicated DAC/Amp is unnecessary; the CU-Rad wasn’t designed to be a power or current hungry monster.It sounds just as good on the Venture Electronics Odyssey Dongle and on the Sony Walkman NW-A105; the differences are barely noticed and difficult to identify.

On the Aune X1S, the volume knob barely inches its way out of the 6 O’clock mark before reaching “ideal listening volumes”.

This is an “out and about” earphone; it doesn’t scale much, and the improvements reaped simply aren’t there.

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Fit:
The hot-red shells themselves are made out of aluminium. The moulds in which they are casted look vaguely reminiscent of the 1More Triple Driver earphones, except scaled by half. It is important to note that like the 1More, the earphones were designed to be worn down like traditional consumer earphones.

The bead-blasted finish is cold to the touch, and the lightweight shells fit nicely in the ear canal. My “headshake test” failed to budge it at all, which is a good start. Nozzle length is adequate, the spout rests well in my ear canals. The shells meld into foreground of my day-to-day activities because of its ultra-light shells, resulting in a session that is unperturbed by any long-term discomfort or soreness in the ears.

Unfortunately, because the CU-Rad was designed with the intention of being worn downwards, there is significant microphonics when walking. The pin-hole sized vent just below the spout of each shell also picks up significant wind noise, compromising its ability to isolate well from audible disturbances. In addition, it would’ve been a value-add, if the earphones themselves were equipped with detachable MMCX connectors to increase the longevity of the product, and give consumers the options of cable-rolling.

The cables are supple and soft, with a rough texture on the cable sleeving, making it easier to grip. It doesn’t retain much memory, making it easy to unravel when its dumped straight into a pocket. The strain relief at the end of the 3.5mm gold-plated jack is also reinforced well and has great flexibility.

Overall, it’s a great EDC earphone, but there is certainly room for improvement.

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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Slowthai- Doorman
Tyler the Creator- Earfquake​

The CU-Rad has good mid-bass depth, but is drowned out by thick wall of sub-bass. Because of this, the mids are slightly clouded and the lower-mids are nowhere to be found. On Slowthai’s Doorman, the wobbly, trap bassline is realized through a thick, bloated mid-bass punch, followed by a slubby sub-bass rumble. Because of its loose sub-bass, the sustain on the bass frequency is very fun sounding, complementing modern trap-rap flavoured songs.


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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Allah Las- Busman's Holiday
Benjamin Booker- Violent Shiver​

The upper-mids are clear, unperturbed by the overly enthusiastic bass line. However, there’s a clear upper-mid boost which results in an aggressive V-shaped sound signature that transitions well into the highs.

But, the lack of lower-mids; that of which gives the mids life, falls flat and is missing. The mids are the frequency that people first pick up on, and the lower-mids add depth and body to the entirety of the mix.


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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
The Comet is Coming: Summon the Fire
Sufjan Stevens- The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is out to get us!​

Sonically, the Cu- Rad's allows the highs to extend liberally and extensively. But because of its daring character, it pushes the highs far too much at times, pushing the boundaries of what I would consider "coarse and harsh" at times, especially with shrill instruments like baritone saxophones that can really gnaw at the eardrums. This is not for the faint of heart.

However, what the Cu-Rad lives us with is a unique signature is unashamedly forward, resulting in a "larger than life" pairing with acoustic tracks.


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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Sufjan Stevens- Chicago​

Don't expect flagship levels of sound-staging here, but the experience I had with the Cu-Rad is still a pleasant one. But as one would expect with earphones, it can't compete with the massive headroom a pair of headphones creates for the listener. The Cu-Rad performs decently well, but it doesn't differentiate itself from the rest of its similarly-priced competitors.


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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Santa Esmaralda- Please don't let me be misunderstood​

The con is somewhat unfair, considering the Cu-Rad is only $70 USD. But, the fact that I included that as a con shows that there is nothing much to be critiqued here. The Cu-Rad does a good job, handling my favorite "busy test track", please don't let me misunderstood. It manages to decipher the cacophony of blaring instruments; the Cu-Rad gets a seal of approval from me.


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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Sons of Kemet: Your Queen is Harriet Tubman
The Raconteurs- Born and Razed​

The chart speaks itself! But be warned, if you enjoy classic rock or anything of that ilk, the Cu-Rad doesn't do it justice. That, and the painfully dissonant highs can melt your eardrums, especially with tracks going heavy with the sax.

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Comparison Chart:
How we compare:
We chose other similarly priced earphones or similar offerings from the same brand that Project A3 has reviewed in the past, to ensure that we remain as impartial as possible in our comparisons.
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Conclusion:
The Little Dot CU-Rad is an oddity; it carries a signature that not many brands there to push out. It is unabashedly forward; it shows off an in-your-face signature that doesn’t pair well with all genres of music. But when it is paired right, it sounds truly wonderful. The composite driver clearly carries so much promise, given its impeccable staging qualities.

While there are some changes that could be made to make the CU-Rad truly shine, this is a breath of fresh air that is much needed from the same “safe” signatures that we’ve come across over the past 2 years.

Be sure to follow Project A3 on Facebook for more reviews*.

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*All ratings are accurate as of date of publication. Changes in price, newer models may affect Project A3's views on the performance and value of the reviewed product.
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B9Scrambler
B9Scrambler
Seems like an interesting earphone. Too strong of a 1More influence to the design though, imo
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