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Madoo TYP512
- Added by BonGoBiLai
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BonGoBiLai
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Probably the best basshead IEM under $2000
Build quality and craftsmanship
Lush midrange
Natural timbre
Lightning fast transients
Great dynamics
Technical prowess
Insane value
Build quality and craftsmanship
Lush midrange
Natural timbre
Lightning fast transients
Great dynamics
Technical prowess
Insane value
Cons: Unusual rectangular shaped nozzle limits tip rolling
Slightly subdued treble response (it's more of tuning choice rather than a con)
Source-picky
Slightly subdued treble response (it's more of tuning choice rather than a con)
Source-picky
Disclaimer:
This review is on behalf of Amplify Audio Reviews run by Mr Sajid Amit. This unit was purchased by Mr Amit from the Singaporean dealer of Madoo, Wired for Sound. A shout-out to Sid for arranging this unit within a short space of time. A shout-out to Zeppelin & Co, the famed Singaporean audio store, for arranging an audition. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for future video reviews of the TYP512.
About Madoo:
Madoo is from Japan and is a sister concern of Acoustune, a brand quite well known for their radical aesthetics and single-DD high-end IEMs. Instead of Single DD, Madoo generally focuses on hybrid setups. Before TYP512, Madoo released the TYP711 which follows a planar + BA design. For TYP512 however, Madoo has opted for a quite unusual planar + DD setup where midrange is handled by the DD and rest (Bass and treble) by planar.
Both drivers used on TYP512 are bespoke and developed in house. The micro square planar driver is very easy to drive yet produces superbly powerful, controlled and dynamic driver like bass. According to Madoo, the Belix diaphragm is a composite diaphragm consisting of a dome formed from a thin film of magnesium-lithium alloy bonded
to a beryllium-deposited edge. This driver handles the midrange and does it with amazing finesse. There are very few IEMs I am aware of that do midrange as beautiful as TYP512. The stock cables are custom made in house by Acoustune Custom, another Acoustune sub brand. The cable internals are supplied by Nippon DICS Japan (the very same company that makes the widely acclaimed Pentaconn connectors).
Specifications:
Build Quality, Accessories, Comfort:
TYP512 is built to absolute perfection. I would even go as far as to say that the build quality is akin to high-end luxury watches costing several hundred, even thousands of dollars. The entire chassis is made of lightweight Magnesium alloy while the Madoo branded faceplate is encased in genuine Sapphire glass. I like the stock cables as well (both 3.5mm and 4.4 mm cables are provided). They are thin and lightweight but do not tangle.
Skin-feel is great and there is no memory or kink at all. Madoo uses Pentaconn connectors like Acoustune so in case you are someone who cable rolls a lot, your options will be limited than usual. I LOVE the blue leather carrying case. I wish more manufacturers made such practical yet pretty cases instead of unwieldy, heavy paperweights that will never spend a day outside of the packaging box.
Comfort is great. People with smaller ears might have to spend some time adjusting to the fit though. A small issue I faced with the TYP512 is the quirky nozzle shape. It is rectangular/elliptical thus some aftermarket tips will refuse to stay on. Final E types are working well however and the stock tips provided are quite good as well!
Sound:
Madoo TYP512 is a thick, bassy hybrid that’s also balanced and coherent. The star of the show is bass fast and foremost and it's quite different from what ‘Basshead’ IEMs nowadays have become. Instead of focusing solely on the low subs like FATfreq or Thieaudio IEMs, TYP512 goes for the entirety of the bass frequencies, but with absolute precision and control. Crazytown’s Butterfly is a track where the consistent bass undertone plays second fiddle in most other IEMs. On TYP512, you can focus and feel that undertone consistently without losing focus on the rest of the track. TYP512 will make you rediscover tracks you’ve always known and love as the perception of bass it provides is second to none under $1000.
The midrange is another strong aspect of the TYP512. Here the midrange is handled by a bespoke single-DD developed by Madoo which effectively negates any sort of wonkiness which can be a common issue in planar headphones and IEMs. Midrange is mostly uncolored with equal emphasis on male and female vocals. Lower midrange is ever so slightly accentuated which adds a little bit of heft to baritone male vocals. Upper midrange is well restrained and any short of shout is completely absent.
Treble is where things get interesting. Madoo TYP512 is essentially a dark sounding set. It does not sound choked or limited in the upper frequencies but if you are expecting tons of air and sparkle, TYP512 might slightly disappoint you. There is some mid treble spice to keep things interesting but make sure to source-match correctly. On sources where low/mid treble is unrefined (some FiiO DAC Amps for example), TYP512 can sound slightly hot and sizzly in poorly mastered tracks. Final E type will annihilate any trace of treble hotness on 512 so I’d advise to fiddle with that option as well.
Technicalities are awesome. TYP512 is an extremely fast,dynamic and snappy set that does not lose control even in the busiest tracks. Another similarly priced Planar BA DD hybrid, Oriolus Szalayi, while being basshead and equally pleasant, sounds congested in extremely complex and busy passages. TYP512 on the other hand, handles them with commendable finesse.
Detail retrieval is on par with kilobuck sets. However, $2000 USD tier sets like Z1R, U12T and Final A8000 will still resolve more. Imaging is fantastic, directional cues are spot on while gaming. Soundstage is on the intimate side which works well with the intended tuning as per my observation.
Comparisons:
Oriolus Szalayi: Szalayi is even bassier than Madoo but not as controlled. Basically a mindless fun vs cautious fun type situation. Midrange quality is more or less equal. Szalayi is more subdued in the treble.
Shuoer EJ07M: The biggest difference between these two is obviously the bass. EJ07M is way less bassier and goes for a neutral response which doesn’t go well for casual listening that often. TYP512 is more exciting and fun in comparison.
IER M9: Similar observation as EJ07M. Precision vs fun. M9 is more coherent, detailed and precise but less fun.
Sennheiser IE900: Basshead compatriot from Sennheiser which costs almost 2X more. IE900 is noticeably more v-shaped. Bass quality is about equal but both have their own, peculiar flavour. TYP512 has a more physical bass response while 900 excels in tactility. Timbre is equally good.
IER Z1R: The legendary basshead gold standard from Sony is more resolving and has a cavernous soundstage as opposed to the intimate stage of TYP512 .Bass characteristics of these two IEMs are eerily similar. Z1R is a bit more midbass focused, loose and has more decay. Z1R wins in the treble section as well but loses out in midrange.
Conclusion:
Madoo TYP512 is a criminally-underrated IEM that is unfortunately not that well known internationally due to availability and exposure issues. It is only available in Japan and Singapore right now therefore getting your hands on one might be a challenge in certain parts of the world. I sincerely hope that this insanely good value IEM will soon get the love and attention it deserves from the audiophile communities across the globe.
This review is on behalf of Amplify Audio Reviews run by Mr Sajid Amit. This unit was purchased by Mr Amit from the Singaporean dealer of Madoo, Wired for Sound. A shout-out to Sid for arranging this unit within a short space of time. A shout-out to Zeppelin & Co, the famed Singaporean audio store, for arranging an audition. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for future video reviews of the TYP512.
About Madoo:
Madoo is from Japan and is a sister concern of Acoustune, a brand quite well known for their radical aesthetics and single-DD high-end IEMs. Instead of Single DD, Madoo generally focuses on hybrid setups. Before TYP512, Madoo released the TYP711 which follows a planar + BA design. For TYP512 however, Madoo has opted for a quite unusual planar + DD setup where midrange is handled by the DD and rest (Bass and treble) by planar.
Both drivers used on TYP512 are bespoke and developed in house. The micro square planar driver is very easy to drive yet produces superbly powerful, controlled and dynamic driver like bass. According to Madoo, the Belix diaphragm is a composite diaphragm consisting of a dome formed from a thin film of magnesium-lithium alloy bonded
to a beryllium-deposited edge. This driver handles the midrange and does it with amazing finesse. There are very few IEMs I am aware of that do midrange as beautiful as TYP512. The stock cables are custom made in house by Acoustune Custom, another Acoustune sub brand. The cable internals are supplied by Nippon DICS Japan (the very same company that makes the widely acclaimed Pentaconn connectors).
Specifications:
Name of Product | Typ512. |
Type | Hybrid earphones (sealed) |
Fit | universal fit |
Driver unit | 1 x Micro Planar Driver + 1 x UHD Dymamic "Belix" Driver |
Housing part material | Aluminium + sapphire crystal |
Maximum input | 15 mW |
Impedance | 32Ω |
Frequency response | 20Hz-40KHz |
Connector | Pentaconn EAR |
Cable | [NAME] MRC011 1.2m, MRC023 1.2m [SPECIFICATIONS] MRC011 4-pin cable Pentaconn Ear Φ3.5mm 3-pole [specification]4-pin silver-plated copper wire cable with 4-pin construction, opaque black sheath (Japanese resin), 3.5mm 3-pin L-shaped gold-plated plug, Pentaconn Ear Connector, cable length approx. 1.2 m [NAME] MRC023 4-core cable Pentaconn Ear 4.4 mm 5-pole [SPECIFICATIONS] 4-core silver-plated copper wire cable with 4-pole construction, opaque black sheath (Japanese resin), 4.4 mm 5-pole L-shaped gold-plated plug, Pentaconn Ear connector. Cable length approx. 1.2 m. |
Weight (including cables) | 42 g |
Accessories | Silicon earpieces (S/M/L), 1 set each, free-form tips, earpiece case, cable, earphone case (carrying case) |
warranty period | Main body of earphones: 1 year; cable/accessories: 90 days |
Build Quality, Accessories, Comfort:
TYP512 is built to absolute perfection. I would even go as far as to say that the build quality is akin to high-end luxury watches costing several hundred, even thousands of dollars. The entire chassis is made of lightweight Magnesium alloy while the Madoo branded faceplate is encased in genuine Sapphire glass. I like the stock cables as well (both 3.5mm and 4.4 mm cables are provided). They are thin and lightweight but do not tangle.
Skin-feel is great and there is no memory or kink at all. Madoo uses Pentaconn connectors like Acoustune so in case you are someone who cable rolls a lot, your options will be limited than usual. I LOVE the blue leather carrying case. I wish more manufacturers made such practical yet pretty cases instead of unwieldy, heavy paperweights that will never spend a day outside of the packaging box.
Comfort is great. People with smaller ears might have to spend some time adjusting to the fit though. A small issue I faced with the TYP512 is the quirky nozzle shape. It is rectangular/elliptical thus some aftermarket tips will refuse to stay on. Final E types are working well however and the stock tips provided are quite good as well!
Sound:
Madoo TYP512 is a thick, bassy hybrid that’s also balanced and coherent. The star of the show is bass fast and foremost and it's quite different from what ‘Basshead’ IEMs nowadays have become. Instead of focusing solely on the low subs like FATfreq or Thieaudio IEMs, TYP512 goes for the entirety of the bass frequencies, but with absolute precision and control. Crazytown’s Butterfly is a track where the consistent bass undertone plays second fiddle in most other IEMs. On TYP512, you can focus and feel that undertone consistently without losing focus on the rest of the track. TYP512 will make you rediscover tracks you’ve always known and love as the perception of bass it provides is second to none under $1000.
The midrange is another strong aspect of the TYP512. Here the midrange is handled by a bespoke single-DD developed by Madoo which effectively negates any sort of wonkiness which can be a common issue in planar headphones and IEMs. Midrange is mostly uncolored with equal emphasis on male and female vocals. Lower midrange is ever so slightly accentuated which adds a little bit of heft to baritone male vocals. Upper midrange is well restrained and any short of shout is completely absent.
Treble is where things get interesting. Madoo TYP512 is essentially a dark sounding set. It does not sound choked or limited in the upper frequencies but if you are expecting tons of air and sparkle, TYP512 might slightly disappoint you. There is some mid treble spice to keep things interesting but make sure to source-match correctly. On sources where low/mid treble is unrefined (some FiiO DAC Amps for example), TYP512 can sound slightly hot and sizzly in poorly mastered tracks. Final E type will annihilate any trace of treble hotness on 512 so I’d advise to fiddle with that option as well.
Technicalities are awesome. TYP512 is an extremely fast,dynamic and snappy set that does not lose control even in the busiest tracks. Another similarly priced Planar BA DD hybrid, Oriolus Szalayi, while being basshead and equally pleasant, sounds congested in extremely complex and busy passages. TYP512 on the other hand, handles them with commendable finesse.
Detail retrieval is on par with kilobuck sets. However, $2000 USD tier sets like Z1R, U12T and Final A8000 will still resolve more. Imaging is fantastic, directional cues are spot on while gaming. Soundstage is on the intimate side which works well with the intended tuning as per my observation.
Comparisons:
Oriolus Szalayi: Szalayi is even bassier than Madoo but not as controlled. Basically a mindless fun vs cautious fun type situation. Midrange quality is more or less equal. Szalayi is more subdued in the treble.
Shuoer EJ07M: The biggest difference between these two is obviously the bass. EJ07M is way less bassier and goes for a neutral response which doesn’t go well for casual listening that often. TYP512 is more exciting and fun in comparison.
IER M9: Similar observation as EJ07M. Precision vs fun. M9 is more coherent, detailed and precise but less fun.
Sennheiser IE900: Basshead compatriot from Sennheiser which costs almost 2X more. IE900 is noticeably more v-shaped. Bass quality is about equal but both have their own, peculiar flavour. TYP512 has a more physical bass response while 900 excels in tactility. Timbre is equally good.
IER Z1R: The legendary basshead gold standard from Sony is more resolving and has a cavernous soundstage as opposed to the intimate stage of TYP512 .Bass characteristics of these two IEMs are eerily similar. Z1R is a bit more midbass focused, loose and has more decay. Z1R wins in the treble section as well but loses out in midrange.
Conclusion:
Madoo TYP512 is a criminally-underrated IEM that is unfortunately not that well known internationally due to availability and exposure issues. It is only available in Japan and Singapore right now therefore getting your hands on one might be a challenge in certain parts of the world. I sincerely hope that this insanely good value IEM will soon get the love and attention it deserves from the audiophile communities across the globe.
Last edited:
View previous replies…
vikinguy
How’s the stock cable? Cable rolling will be a bit tough as well. But if it’s well built and not horrible I’m cool with it.
w3eonline
Since its sealed. Does it have a driver flex . Does it need more power to drive for its full potential??
S
salwani8888
been using it for a year and never had any driver flex issue. Its also quite sensitive so a normal DAP can drive it easily.