The Homunclus were graciously lent by Josph Mou / MMR to orgnize a french Tour on Tellement Nomade. I would like to thank him for allowing us to discover his new products and for the trust he has placed in TN.
I am in no way commercially linked to MMR and have received no compensation whatsoever for this return.
Introduction
MMR, Metal Magic Research, is a Sino-Singaporean company founded in mid 2019 by Joseph Mou. He is also the father of Jomo Audio, an entity whose reputation is well known in the audiophile world, which generates great expectations on these new headphones. As a Jomo Trinity SS owner (after owning Samba and Flamenco), I'm very eager to discover MMR's proposals.
The four different MMR models that currently exist were presented to the public at the CanJam in Shanghai at the beginning of November 2019.
Hardware and Playlist:
Hardware:
I was able to test the MMR Homunculus with the following hardware.
DAP : Sony WM1Z K mod Ultimate, Plenue L and iBasso DX160
Cables: O.A.O Gold Twelve, EA Ares 2, Eletech Prudence and Plato, and PW1950
I was able to compare the Homunculus to the following :
64 Audio U12t, Ambient Acoustics MAD24 and MAD16, Empire Ears Zeus XIV Custom Retuned, IMR Rah, Jomo Audio Trinity SS, MMR Gaé Bold, Balmung and Thummim
Playlist:
I listen to a lot of different styles, with a predilection for female vocals, and my test playlist consists of about 70 songs. However, I was able to take advantage of the length of the loan to review my music in depth.
I put here some targeted tracks that allow me to test more specifically some aspects of the headphones.
Angus and Julia Stone - Take you Away / Guitar, vocals.
Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else / Tones, brass, space placement.
Criolo - Bogota / Voice, dynamic.
Ex:Re - Where the Time Went / Tones, voices, placement.
Flatbush Zombies - Smoke Break and Fly Away / Bass texture, and subs.
Montserrat Figueras - La Folia : Yo Soy la Locura - Henri du Bailly / Tones, voices, soundstage.
Patricia Barber - The Beat Goes On / Tones, voice, soundstage, atmosphere.
Rone - Flesh (Remix by Sasha) / Bass, soundstage, placement.
Sixto Rodriguez - Sugar Man / Beware of the harshness.
Tool - Pneuma / Dynamics, atmosphere, texture.
Technical Overview
Homunculus have what could be called now a pretty «commom» hybrid configuration but only with 4 drivers :
- 2 Electrostatics for highs
- 1 Vented Balanced Armature for mids wich is very intriguing
- 1 Foster Dynamic Driver for bass
Frequency Response : 10Hz - 80kHz
Impedance : 35ohm
Noise Isolation : -18db (UIEM)
They come with Eletech “Virtues Series" PRUDENCE cable made out of OCC Silver Plated Copper worth $250 by itself. They also use Eletech Proprietary Internal Litz wiring.
Retail Price : $1699
Sound
Homunculus have an uncommon look, with a titanium flying saucer shaped shell which is, like Thummim, rather strange for in-ear. When you combine this with the configuration of the drivers and especially this mono BA to handle all the midrange, you think you're looking at an UFO.
I won't hide the fact that I have had difficulty getting a proper Fit with almost all the tips I usually use (Whirlwind, Spiral Dot, Sedna). Luckily, the combination with the Acoustune's provided is just perfect for me, exactly like the Thummim. So the seal is excellent and the in-ear doesn't move, but I can't go out for running with them. No pain at all felt in my small concha.
Once properly installed, they offer a full and spacious sound, with a definite focus on the midrange and a soft extension at both ends of the spectrum.
Bass rendering is rather slow for a DD. Subs (<60Hz) are deep and offer a rather light slam. Basses (60 to 250Hz) are very well mastered, more proeminent then Thummim ones, but without the boomy side of the Balmung, and with a nice texture and definition.
Low-mids (250 to 500 Hz) and mids (500 to 2000 Hz) are not neutral but rather slightly forward. Their density as well as their emotional load are magnificent, and nothing is done to the detriment of the legibility of the restitution.
High-mids (2000 to 4000Hz) is a little bit more prominent, with small peaks around 2500Hz and 4000Hz that bring just the right amount of openness and presence to the voices.
Treble (>4000Hz) is very pleasant. The plateau from 4 to 6KHz and the peak around 7KHz allow to highlight a lot of details, bringing at the same time softness and definition without any sibilance or harshness.
Soundstage is really wide in width, but reasonable in depth and height. It unfolds slightly out of the head, and the listener is rather positioned in the first rows of the audience.
Tones are really beautiful. On voices, whether male or female, one feels the emotion immediately, and brass or guitar are both tasty and crispy.
The technical skills of Homunculus are very good, and the magic square is really very homogeneous.
Resolution -> very good
Separation -> excellent
Definition -> excellent
Transparency -> very good
Comparaison
- U12t are a little more technical, with faster and more present / impacting bass, a more contained overall midrange and a shallower high-midrange. Treble is also less pronounced bringing less air. The stage is not as wide but depper.
- MAD24s are a little more technical and faster too, with more subs and bass, with an equivalent low-midrange/midrange and a slightly fuller high-midrange. Trebles are comparable. The stage is deeper but a little less wide.
- Zeus XIV Custom Retuned are technically equivalent, with deeper bass and less low-mids. The high-midrange is a little more projected. Treble is not as pronounced. The stage is equivalent.
- IMR Rah are technically inferior for me. Bass is more imposing and the midrange slightly fuller. High-mids are much less projected. Treble is clearly set back.
- Trinity SS are a slightly more technical, brighter and bassier. The low-midrange/midrange is clearly recessed in comparaison but the high-midrange is more open and the highs are more natural. The stage is equivalent in width but deeper.
- Thummim have more subs, less bass, less low mids and mids but more high-mids felt. Treble is more pronouced for me with more air in it. Stage is larger and deeper. Higher too.
Final Thoughts
The Homunculus play a score that will delight lovers of sweet and sensual tones. And they succeed in doing so by offering in addition a very beautiful soundstage, a very appreciable high-medium opening and a very good capacity of analysis. However, some may complain about a lack of impact and dynamics, as well as a lack of presence at the bottom.
Magic Square :
"Resolution is the ability to individualize a voice or instrument"
"Separation is the ability to feel space between the various sound sources"
"Definition is the ability to perceive as much information as possible"
"Transparency is the ability to transcribe the nuances and subtleties of music"
My topic on Tellement Nomade here : http://www.tellementnomade.org/foru...&sid=2c4eefe323828ace1851dbc296f1278e#p671123