Penon Globe 2BA + Dynamic Driver Hybrid 2Pin 0.78mm HiFi Audiophile IEM

What does it take to get your attention?

I asked myself this recently when surprised by Penon Audio with an invitation to review another set of earphones, having previously been impressed by their Impacts and 10th Anniversary.

It was during the tail end of completing my recent IEM Cable Shootout (best described as 'torturous' for the reviewer, hopefully not the reader!) and the signs of PTSD were everywhere - after dreams filled with cotton vs linen bedsheet comparisons I'd wake up in cold sweats and begin A/Big pillows.

Determined to take a break after the shootout likely shaved several years off my life, Penon convinced me otherwise with that magic combination of syllables.... "we would like to give you" and "free".





Interestingly the Globes were never on my radar before arriving in the mail, and though Penon have a cult following among IEM collectors I get the impression the Globes haven't grabbed as much attention as some of their other options.

This may be explained by a few things - at $329 they're neither expensive enough to demand comparisons with IEMs worth thousands of dollars, nor are they cheap enough to be purchased en masse by those new to the hobby. Similarly their 1x DD, 2x BA driver configuration isn't flashy enough to grab headlines (no sexy EST or BCD drivers!) so there's no inherent promise of breaking new ground or taking the hobby in a radical new direction.

What I'm more concerned with is how do they sound, what sort of value do they offer, and how guilty am I going to feel for ignoring them?

Packaging​

As was the case with previous Penon IEMs the Globes arrive in a small cardboard box, inside of which is a leather carry case containing the IEMs.

Along with a smaller leather accessories case, no less than four sets of eartips in three sizes are supplied, along with a cleaning tool & shirt clip. The overall package is fairly commensurate with the Globes' pricepoint though you may prefer a more lavish unboxing experience.

The stock cable is a very comfortable 8 wire silver-plated copper affair, in your choice of 4.4mm, 3.5mm or 2.5mm terminations.

Ergonomics​

Physically the Globes are perhaps as close as a hybrid DD/BA earphone can realistically hope to match the size of a single-DD IEM. They're very small by modern hybrid standards, owing largely to their modest complement of just one DD and two BA drivers.

They do protrude a little but are so thin as to nestle in my ears very comfortably, and I can keep there for hours without the urge to re-seat them - aiding that comfort is their extremely smooth medical-grade resin shells. Also deserving of special mention are their gorgeous faceplates which glisten in the light with flecks of glittering aquamarine, an effect difficult to replicate in still photos.

The Globes' stock cable is extremely lightweight and flexible, but sporting fairly utilitarian hardware. Penon have added heatshrink earhooks to this particular cable unlike many in their range, and it must be said I do prefer the ergonomics of those without by a small margin.

Sound Impressions​

I've used the Globes primarily with a Cayin N8ii DAP (in solid state mode with P+ enabled) using local files stored on a 1TB i400 Micron micro-SD card with my preferred Spinfit W1 tips. It should be noted the N8ii is tuned to emphasise treble & sub bass, so please factor that into account.

There are a few things I immediately notice when listening to the Globes. First off they're very easy to drive, requiring a volume between 14-16 on the N8ii as opposed to the 16-20 I'd typically set for other IEMs in my collection. That's great news for anyone who's audio source may not have the beefiest amplification - dongle users in particular may benefit here.

Then there's the tremendous cohesion. Perhaps that's due to the Globes containing just three drivers, and they work in conjunction harmoniously. The other standout is their midrange. I'm not sure how Penon accomplish this, but every Penon IEM I've heard seems to fix my attention on the lavish midrange experience that's essentially their hallmark. Difficult to verbalise, a good attempt I heard from one of the staff members at Addicted to Audio in Melbourne described the Globe midrange as "hyper real".





Bass quantity is moderately above neutral, and they deliver a very solid bass performance with an even balance between midbass and sub bass emphasis. You'll also be reassured to learn speed has not been sacrificed to produce this capable low end, with the Globe DDs being surprisingly responsive in keeping up with busy passages.
Perhaps the downside is bass can occasionally feel a touch pillowy and thus greater slam & texture would be desirable, which perhaps marks the Globes as capable all-rounders rather than basshead specialists like the ISN EST50s.

Midrange presence is a great strength of the Globes, with vocalists readily commanding your attention. There's a slight bias towards the upper rather than lower midrange, though I'm not sure if this explains why male vocals feel more satisfyingly convincing than female.
With no hint of recession in this area, instruments like electric guitars feel viscerally raw and forward, though I prefer the Globes with a copper cable to add extra warmth for genres like Rock music where additional coloration is desirable.

Treble is more than adequate on the Globes and there isn't an excessive amount of sparkle if you happen to be treble sensitive. However upper treble isn't quite as abundant as you may find on more expensive earphones, and this is where the EST drivers in physically-larger hybrids often do the heavy lifting.
With just one DD & two BAs, the Globes cover the entire frequency spectrum capably but I find there's a missing sense of overlapping abundance present in hybrids with much larger driver counts, particularly those costing thousands of dollars. The flipside is the low driver count is likely responsible for the Globes' admirable cohesion, and area other hybrids can fall short in.

Technical Performance​

To begin with the Globes' strength, resolution is commendable given their relatively modest price and low driver count. At no point listening with them do I ever feel like essential information extracted by more expensive earphones is being excluded or obscured. The Globes' very detailed, forward midrange really helps in this regard, though it can feel like details are being pushed towards me with a hint of grain in a manner IEMs with EST drivers can deliver more effortlessly.

On other fronts the Globes are adequate but perhaps not exceptional among IEMs under the $500 mark. Their soundstage is of middling width but depth is unfortunately quite poor. This can be improved by swapping to a more expensive cable but only to a limited extent. The stage never feels claustrophobic, but seems to exist mostly in front of me rather than wrapping around the sides of my head.

Imaging, separation and dynamics are similarly average, rarely calling attention to themselves in either a positive or negative fashion. The Globes' technical chops aren't pronounced enough to enhance my musical enjoyment, nor do they impede it.

IEM Comparisons​

So how do the Globes stack up against similarly priced competition? I compared them with several IEMs on hand to answer that...





Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite - 8xBA (USD $249)

The Orchestra Lites are quite large & surprisingly heavy considering they lack a dynamic driver, but those larger dimensions perhaps contribute to the excellent seal I'm able to obtain with them and the impressive isolation they provide.

Requiring a volume of 20 on the N8ii with high-gain, as opposed to 16 for the Globes suggests they're slightly more difficult to drive. More difficult still to accept is the Orchestra Lite's claustrophobic soundstage, which despite not being dramatically narrow feels more 'in my head' than usual, with sounds projecting more to the rear of my skull than in front of it.

The Orchestra Lites have the virtue of being extremely fast and responsive as you might expect from an all-BA earphone, but although bass quantity is sufficient, as expected texture is lacking. By comparison treble is quite prominent and zingy, and the presentation feels weighted more heavily towards upper rather than lower midrange. The Orchestra Lites deliver a slightly greater perception of detail than the Globes, but their plasticky tonality and mediocre bass reproduction doesn't seem worth the tradeoff.





ISN EST50 – 1xDD, 2xBA, 2xEST (USD $449)

Marginally larger than the Globes and similarly easy to drive (volume 16 on the N8ii) the EST50s don’t feel quite as snug in the ear and jut out a bit further.

Despite the Globes having no lack of bass heft, immediately noticeable is how much deeper & more impactful bass is felt on the EST50s, with superior texture to boot. The soundstage is also wider and slightly deeper, and though I've commented previously that the EST50s are rather excitable they're surprisingly less so than the Globes, which feel even more upfront.

Resolution is slightly higher on the EST50s -perhaps thanks to their EST drivers- and vocals are more refined yet lack the body & presence of the Globes, sounding further away from the listener. Treble is a little smoother yet more detailed. The EST50s have a more effortless, wider V-shaped presentation overall with thunderous bass the standout.





Penon 10th Anniversary - 2xDD, 2xBA, 2xEST (USD $499)

Requiring Vol 19 on the N8ii the 10th Anniversaries are slightly harder to drive than the Globes, and their shells quite a bit larger. I do find the Globes more comfortable for multi-hour listening sessions but this isn't enough to dissuade me against the 10th Anniversaries.

With a slightly wider & deeper stage the 10th Anniversaries also boast superior bass texture, though I perceive that bass to be slower which is perhaps a result of not one but two DDs producing it, and midbass feels emphasised over sub bass.

The 10th Anniversary midrange boasts higher resolution & superior imaging, yet bafflingly there's a sense of diffuseness suggesting a lack of cohesion, with perhaps the two DDs again being the culprit. However instruments feel larger, and the background blacker. The 10th Anniversaries undoubtedly feature a smoother, more refined tonality with effortless resolution provided by the EST drivers.

Additional IEM Comparisons​

Not content with comparing the Globes to earphones close to hand, I paid a visit to Addicted to Audio in Melbourne with the intent of testing them against popular IEMs with similar prices.

Do bear in mind these impressions were gathered in a rather noisy environment, as they were busy that morning with much background chatter from customers so only general differences will be noted here.





Dunu SA6 MK2 – 6xBA (USD $579)

Immensely larger with geometry more rigorously sculpted to the ear, the SA6 MK2s also isolate more effectively than the Globes but are heavier and less comfortable overall.

Bass is surprisingly satisfying given they lack a DD, yet there's no mistaking that BA-bass texture which lags behind the Globes' more gratifying slam. Similarly easy to drive from the N8ii, the SA6 MK2s feature a wider, flatter stage and a smooth character.

Vocals are set further back from the listener and lack the Globes' richness & presence, but instead come across as less excited & more refined. Dynamics are also lacking, and transients feel softened which prevents detail jumping out quite as much.





FiiO FD7 - 1xDD (USD $579)

The FD7's metal shells are heavy, but quite small given their single driver configuration so I have trouble obtaining a good seal. Requiring 26 on the N8ii they're surprisingly difficult to drive and that's not where the bad news ends.

The sluggish speed of the FD7's DD drivers are immediately apparent, and their soundstage is very flat and narrow. Bass quantity is similar to that of the Globes and tends to favour midbass but is nonetheless impressive, and vocals have good presence.

This is a clearcut example of where I believe hybrid IEMs have surpassed their single-DD counterparts, as although the Globes are considerably cheaper their technical performance is far ahead of the FD7s to the extent I unhesitatingly favour the Globes and the result isn't even close.





Letshoer EJ07M - 1xDD, 2xBA, 1xEST (USD $669)

Surprisingly smaller than the Globes without being moulded to the ear quite as much, the EJ07M's steel shells have a very smooth finish and are extremely comfortable despite their significant weight.

Requiring 22 on the N8ii, the EJ07Ms feature similarly competent bass texture to the Globes, with a wider more open stage, but lack the addictive midrange magic of the Globes. Where the EJ07Ms pull ahead is in the responsiveness of their DD which make that of the Globes feel sluggish - something not obvious without comparing them side-by-side.

The EJ07Ms also boast higher quality treble that generates appreciably greater resolution, yet they maintain a fantastic sense of coherence. Indeed I've been extremely impressed by them, though their price premium over the Globes is significant.





Thieaudio Monarch MKII - 1xDD, 6xBA, 2xEST (USD $999)

Physically much larger than the Globes but not too uncomfortable, the Monarchs require a massive 30 on the N8ii suggesting they pair best with powerful sources.

What's immediately apparently is how flatly they're tuned, with a very unexciting presentation I don't particularly care for - the Globes are much more engaging & lively. Bass quality & texture is also a weakness of the Monarchs, another area the Globes have them covered.

Technical performance is where the Monarchs shine, with a wider & deeper stage than the Globes, sharper imaging, and higher midrange resolution despite their lack of warmth. The tradeoff is how uninvolved the Monarchs leave me feeling, though conceivably this may suit certain genres & listeners.

Cable Comparisons​

As an unashamed cable aficionado, naturally I can't resist learning how effectively the Globes scale with fancy expensive cables.



Globe Stock Cable

This relatively slender silver-plated 8 wire cable is very comfortable to use. It pushes the midrange forward yet imaging feels a touch congested. Bass is also a weakness, which comes across a tad mushy on the stock cable.

Treble is emphasised as this cable is bright by nature, but there's a lack of note weight which curbs the Globes' performance with genres like rock. Though adequate it feels like there's room for improvement.



ISN S8 (USD $32.50)

Dynamics are immediately improved by swapping to the S8 and the stage grows in width, though depth is slightly shallower than stock. There's extra treble sheen which you may or may not want.

I do prefer pairing the Globes with copper cables, which seem to provide that extra bit of midbass punch needed to flesh out their presentation.



Penon CS819 (USD $49)

In this very impressive pairing, the Globes' stage is both wider and deeper with instruments given more room to breathe, and even midrage clarity seems to have improved with vocals sounding more natural - though not quite as impressive as the Penon Vocal cable in that regard.

Bass is also more impactful, though similar in quantity to that of the stock cable. CS819 generates a more organic, less "digital" sound that's a surprisingly large improvement over the stock cable.



Penon Vocal (USD $69)

As the name suggests, Vocal adds greater articulation & resolution to the Globes midrange, and a greater impression of refinement & sophistication. Considering the midrange is already a strength of the Globes this nudges them towards becoming a vocal specialist.

The soundstage is deepened slightly but width remains similar, dynamics are moderately increased and bass feels deeper as well. I do prefer the CS819 pair up for multi-genre listening, unless you choose to prioritise vocal-centric music.



Effect Audio Ares S 4 Wire (USD $179)

The Globe midrange immediately sounds more meaty with improved resolution and presence, and dynamics & bass texture are similarly boosted.

Similar to CS819, the Ares S stage doesn’t necessarily feel much larger yet somehow instruments seem like they have more room to breathe. I do prefer the CS819 pair up which has slightly better dynamics and less bottom end emphasis, delivering a more even sonic balance.



Penon Leo Plus (USD $249)

One again I'm slightly disappointed with the Leo Plus cable in this pairing.

Soundstage depth is improved impressively, but treble is boosted to such an extent sounds like cymbals are far more intrusive, and with that comes a whispy tonality I don't particularly care for.



Liquid Links Martini (USD $349)

As the only larger 8 wire cable in this comparison, Martini delivers the substantially boosted dynamics, improved bass and wider & deeper stage dimensions you'd expect from such a weighty cable.

Speaking of heft even note weight is improved, ably fleshing out any perception of thinness in the Globes' presentation. As such I enjoy this pairing even more than using the CS819, though the price difference is almost as significant as the cost of the Globes themselves.



Cardas Clear (USD $320 parts cost) / PW Audio 1950s (USD $2149)

To my complete lack of surprise, the Cardas Clear (DIY PWA 1950s clone) delivers the same superb performance with the Globes it demonstrated in my recent IEM cable shootout.

Dynamics are boosted significantly, bass feels more impactful, the stage is wider & deeper, and vocals are beautifully smooth & rich. Treble reproduction is terrific too, but without the feeling details are being shoved in one's face. Essentially this feels like a direct upgrade in most ways to the CS819 pairing, with a faultless balance of great tonality and superb technical performance.

​

Conclusion​

Ah, you've made it to the end. Good, I was worried those cable comparisons might slow you down.

So what has this review taught us about the Globes? Perhaps the biggest takeaway is there is no big takeaway, no overwhelming attribute we can point to as the definitive reason to purchase or avoid them. Certainly they're small, comfortable, cohesive with a terrific midrange and commendable bass output which augurs strongly for the their value at this pricepoint.

Ironically some of the stiffest competition comes from Penon's own collection in the form of Turbo, 10th Anniversary, Fan 2, and Serial. Despite being great all-rounders, you may find the Globes lack a compelling reason to purchase them over one of those instead. That's the danger of products that are capable in most ways, but lack the dramatic strengths & weaknesses to support easy classification.

That may be why the Globes have been oft overlooked in a market saturated with capable performers, but crying out for distinctive offerings. However if you'd prefer to ignore the hype and choose an under-the-radar option, you'll probably enjoy the Globes as I have.

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

Intro


Penon is a well established audio distributor, cable maker and IEM maker. I have review multiple IEM from them in the past and Penon Serial as well as Penon Fan 2 are my favorite for now. Yet, none of them were bad and this explain why I always highly curious to review their products.

Today I will review the Penon Globe 2.

Priced 330$, the Globe is an hybrid IEM using a 10mm dynamic driver for bass, one Sonion balanced armature for mids and one Knowles BA for highs.

Entering a very competitive mid tier market (300-500$), let see what the Globe truely worth to my ears.

CONSTRUCTION & ACCESSORIES




The construction of the Globe is good looking and feel sturdy. It's made of thick medical grade resin plastic that promise comfort and durability. I tend to prefer this type of housing over heavier metal one and while the housing is a bit chunky, the organic shape is very comfortable.
The 2 pin connector are sturdily embeded in the housing and don't have recessed connector, so all type of 2pin cable will be possible to use.
The nozzle is quite big and it most be noted their 2 holes that permit direct tubing the inner drivers, it's important to don't block them with ear tips that have too small nozzle hole.
All in all, while not mind blowing, the construction is more than OK.




As always with Penon, the packaging presentation is minimalist while accessories are maximalist. We have the big leather carring case, a small leather pouch for cable, 9 pairs of silicone eartips including the nice Horn shaped ePro, cleaning tool and leather cable holder. This time we have an 8 strands OCC silver plated cable which is thick, smooth and very sturdy looking, you can choose between 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced or 3.5mm single ended, which is very appreciate.
Even if i begin to be use being spoil with great amount of good quality accessories, it still a big plus in overall price value of this IEM.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS



Believe me....i'm a bit fatigue to be that much of a Penon fan boi...it's really not my type to be like this and well, at least my critical listening grumpyness was able to blossom a bit with the Fan and ISN H30, but not to the point of delivering a harsh review, well, I sincerly dislike H30, but do find good the Fan, which have nothing to do with immense appreciation I have for FAN2 (the real deal with the Serial).

So, their come the Globe, which is another 1DD+2BA offering, but at even more expensive price than the marvelous FAN2.

So, let's try to be less of a fan boi even if again....I love those, which are the logical upgrade to the ISN H40.

But, these aren't for those seeking high technical sound benefit return since in that regard, it's notably inferior to the FAN2. But it's the polar opposite tonality wise too.

The Globe is all about musicality, lush warm and wide open one, near basshead one too, which will make run away stone cold audiophile purist that only swear on high fidelity restitution to the cost of listening to a cryogenic soul less musicality.

These are about sub bass and natural mid range first and foremost. Big warm slam that mix with the mids in an organic way, everything is smooth, creamy yet hefty in dynamic without loud peak, even how the bass hit doesn't really fatigue your hearing and yet, we don't have a boring bass response.

The tonality of the Globe is a warm, thick and rumbly W shape. Bass is dominant but feed the mid range instead of making it recessed or muddy. These are dark but not dull and the timbre is dense with extra low harmonic euphony that is highly appealing for emotional response and making the listener melt into it's favorite vocalist.

More it goes, more i feel their hella alot of type of tonal bass response we can expect from an IEM: plain sub bass or mid bass boost, lean or slight boost of one of those 2 section and this special wide bass boost where both sub and mid bass is boosted, again, with different balance within the 2.
The sweet spot for me it's when both is equaly boosted and well layered, but I don't even think it's possible unless perhaps using 2DD for bass section and doing genius tuning work.


Here the Globe nail my sweet spot with one DD, so it's sub bass dominant but well boosted in mid bass too, the kick drum doesn't sound thin but a hint darken warmer by sub bass transition. As well, we have good amount of high bass-lower mid range, so lower harmonic and fundamentals of instrument are fully covered.
This will favor tone and timbre density over it's texture or presence brightness, this mean that as a whole the Globe is warmed.
The guilty pleasure part come in when we try to go critical listener way and appreciate level of resolution and instrument separation. In lower range, as noted, kick drum will not be perfectly define and bass warmth will make separation with mids a bit blurry, but since the dynamic is very physical, we can perceive impact amplitude of this kick drum which get well layered, but not sharply define.
Simply say: the globe don't offer a clean bass presentation but keep it's layering (tx to hybrid property) well articulate and perceivable. The note weight is more emphasised than its definition which is everything but edgy.
The slam is vast, with big stereo headroom that embrace the listener. The rumble is vibrant, chunky with a stretched sustain and not alot of resonance due to lack of clean air. It's a physical and tactical bass presentation, muscular, hefty in slam and a hint more mellow in thumping. It's not a super fast and tight bass that permit you to enjoy fastest drummer of planet earth.

Juicy, generous and fun in a luscious way that can benefit mid range too, since yes their a bit of compromise due to lower mid range lift which the dynamic driver deal with too, to add cream to the Global cake.
So, while i would say their more quantity than quality, i can't overseen the flexibility of it's extension which make cello sound fully bodied and lush in tone, as well as offering this extremely appealing rumble that make soul, R&B, rap, house and not too complex EDM.

The mid range is another highlight of the Globe, but it's to be expected with Penon IEMs since none of them have plain thin or dull sounding mids. Penon seem to favor vocal over everything and the Globe is no exception, since we have plenty of lower mids warmth both male and female vocal sound full and natural, yet the female vocal tend to be more fowards, lush way. That's the thing, it's buttery smooth yet stretched in presence and softed in texture grain, so the female vocal are enveloping and have dense natural timbre free of sibilance or shoutyness. When it come to male vocal, it's a bit more darken by bass bleed shelf, why I say shelf? it's because the presence feel sticked on low harmonic, but all in a coherent and organic way, nothing sound off balance in term of driver cohesion with the Globe.
But these are warm mids too, so don't expect crisp and deeply open center stated, you aren't pull away from instrument or vocal but their a slight haze going on so definition edge is a bit blurry and instrument separation lack proper clean air between them. But the dynamic tend to compensate for this slight mids darkness, it have well felt note weight so piano drop is well perceive, just not sharply define nor boosted in texture and it cut a bit short in natural decay so it's fast and thumpy piano playing we can say, very enjoyable. Then both saxophone and violin sound very good, again tone and timbre is more focus than presence boost so fast playing will not have alot of sharp bite to it, yet you will get lost in violin lushness due to bigger than life presentation that magnify presence density over micro details of texture that can be distracting and even affect tone rightness, no lipsy vocal, no boosted details of the bow rubbing the strings too.

Then the treble sure have some trade off if all the attention is attire by bass and mids, but it doesn't mean it's complete darkness oblivion. Again Penon do some magic here by adding just a hint of crunch and snap in mid treble around 8khz section surely...but it's not a treble that extend far away up to 20khz, nor offer lot of definition sharpness, highs air and sparkle, just minimal bite and snap so acoustic guitar doesn't sound fully blunted or percussions lost in the mix.
I don't struggle to hear the snare, but some upper range percussions can feel a bit too distant which affect timing accuracy but at the same time will not distract you from main instruments or vocal of a song.
As said, acoustic guitar are a bit softed in brilliance, so the string pulling will lack sharp definition then the decay will cut short and we will have a bit of extra low harmonic thickness to some pitch between 6-10khz. It's more problematic for Harp, and clavichord, which sound a bit foggy and all about note weight with concentrate decay that warm sound enveloppe (hard to explain, but its similar to acoustic guitar low harmonic boost).
So, this is a smooth treble, thick as a whole and not very generous in micro details, attack lead lack bite too. The Globe are certainly not for treble head or those seeking crisp analytical sound, in that regard the Fan2 is superior.

Spatiality wise, i'm very impress by the wideness and tallness of the soundstage, it's an out of your head stretched presentation, but it's not the kind of spatiality you can dig very deep, the center stage feel at same level as stereo channel separation so its act like a big U shape wall of sound that surround and embrace the head of listener.

Imaging is quite average, not alot to write about here....as said, it seem center stage is stretched and embrace you, so this mean their not alot of space between sound layers and the softed definition edge make it difficult to pin point the position of instrument. Yet, we have enough transparency in layering to permit an organic perception of each instrument, but their presence are stick togheter still, very wide. Unless the recording is very sharp in stereo separation, overall presentation will most likely sound mono.



SIDE NOTES:

The Globe are very easy to drive and in fact dislike high impedance output or too much amping gain. At 10ohm of impedance and 116db of sensitivity, these benefit clean source. For ex, I need to use low gain on Moondrop Dawn 4.4, if not, it will sound boomy and muddy, have more harmonic distortion etc.
The ear tips choice is extremely important too due to large nozzle with 2 hole instead of fully open mesh. Thankfully, the wide bore blue eartips included are excellent, but be sure to dont use an eartips with too small nozzle hole that could block one of iem nozzle hole.
Then what? Well, if like me your a ''cable believer'', i do think it's legitimate to try another one that the included one which seem to warm even more the tonality. I use mostly the Penon Fan2 cable (OSS133) cable that make the Globe a hint crisper sounding and more articulated in dynamic rendering.


COMPARISONS


VS KIWI EARS ORCHESTRA LITE (6BAs-250$)

What hit first is how more intimate and compressed sound the Lite, then it feel a bit more mid centric and slightly brighter as well as even thicker and more glued togheter in sound layers, which is unexpected for a multi BA.
The bass is very different with the Lite, which dig less deep, have less flexibility so it feel more boomy and less well rounded. Sub bass roll off is evident with the Lite and mid bass punch is more focus and dominant than more sub bass focus performance of the Globe, which is more bassy, have heavier slam with longer rumble and warmer sub and mid bass layering, so, while more excited and boomy, the Lite bass attack is faster and tighter.
The mids of both these IEMs is marvellous and the Lite offer richer but leaner mid range with superior sounds layers number, it's less warmed by bass bleed but not as wide in presence which feel a bit compressed. Vocal pop up more with the Globe and are more dense and lush, but they can shadow other instrument more, it hook your attention in a more colored way we can say.
Then the treble of both is a bit dark, yet the Lite is less well balanced and more spiky on top, which can lead to overly fowards percussions, which the Globe keep on line with rest of instrument, as well, lower treble is thinner and brighter with the Lite, making violin sound a bit off and metallic in timbre, the Globe treble sound more natural and refined, surely due to superior balanced armature used but again the number of micro details is higher with the Lite, even if in a rougher way.
The spatiality is notably wider and taller with the Globe, making the Lite sound a bit in your head. Imaging is about on par, but the sound layering is more articulate yet feel more compressed with the Lite.

All in all, technicalities wise they are about on par, but the Globe offer a more balanced and fun tonality with more natural and thick timbre, deeper rumblier bass and smoother treble. Their no doubt the Globe is the winner for me since the Orchestra Lite take dust.

VS PENON FAN2

The FAN2 is cleaner, crisper and more W shape, making the Globe feel even more warm U shape and dark on top. Its evident sub bass is more boosted and dominant with the Globe, and Fan2 is more neutral with extra mid bass punch boost. Mids are a notch brighter with Fan2, more open and crisp, with better resolution and spatial cue. Globe vocal are fuller and wider in presence, making the mids feel a bit compressed with the Fan2, timbre is thicker and more natural, less dry than too. The treble is faster, snappier, sparklier and more extended and airy, it dig more micro details in texture and overall sound info, making the Globe lacking a bit of fine details and definition edge.
The soundstage is notably wider with the Globe, which is unexpected since it's not as crisp and deep as the Fan2. So, the imaging is notably superior with Fan2, due to sharper instruments definition and separation, as well as thinner more transparent mids timbre.

All in all, these 2 complement each other perfectly and are near polar opposite the Globe being warmer, more bassy and fun and offering wider soundstage and thicker more pleasant yet less resolved mid range. The Fan2 sound more energic and technical, underlining that price range doesn't always translate in higher technical performance but a special kind of musicality.

VS RAPTGO HOOK X HBB

So here, apart treble which is brighter on top, these 2 are a bit similar in the sens they got both bass slam and mids fullness, but thats about it in term of similarities.
The Hook is still slightly less bassy, yet offer a slam that is dominate by sub bass, its warm and punchy, less chunky, rounded and sustain in rumble than bassier Globe. The mids are just a hint brighter and thinner with the Hook, again, lusher female vocal with the Globe and wider presence, less grainy in texture too so more polished and organic, but it's darker too, we have less details in texture and background instrument that the Hook, which seem to have better attack control too. Then the treble is where the Hook is clearly superior and brighter, it extend further, offer faster snappier attack, it sound fuller too, crunchier and more open, it add extra dimension to the spatiality making the Globe a bit unidimentional.
This time, spatiality is both wider and deeper with the Hook. Imaging is better layered and more accurate and sharp in instrument separation too.

Here I would say that the Hook X is technicaly superior in everything but bass definition, extension and well rounded impact, as well as less natural in timbre due to infamous planar grain, and while both are fun sounding, the Globe is more about bass and Hook X more about treble and holographic musical fun.


CONCLUSION



Penon done it again and again and again, it truely seem they just can't release bad IEM, but this doesn't mean all of them offer same sound benefit return, in that regard the Globe isn't the most competitive even if far from plain underwhelming.
The Globe excell in bass and vocal department, both of them achieving heavy dynamic, fowards presence and a natural and thick timbre. If like me you favor lush female vocal that are free of sibilance or overboosted presence to the cost of thin or bright timbre, you'll be in for alot of joy with the Globe.

As well, even basshead will find something to love with those, since the sub bass slam is bigger than expected, wide and enveloping and deep and sustain in rumbel. This might be the guilty pleasure part, but it's well done and well layered enough too, thanks to hybrid drivers property.

Unless your a treble or neutral head, the Globe will most likelt become an highly addictive IEM and certainly worth the buy if you don't seek for highest technical performance in 300$ price range.

Recommended!


----------------------------

PS: I want to thanks Penon for sending me this review sample. As well, I want to thanks this audio distributor for giving me full freedom of mind when it come to subjective audio impressions. This is something rare and while i'm gratefull about this, it mean this review is 100% independant minded.

You can order the Globe for 330$ here:https://penonaudio.com/penon-globe.html

The Penon Globe is a mid-priced IEM with a big sound. Not only is the sound large, but it's inviting and somewhat romantic. Romance takes place due to (the sound) having a special listenability and charm. This sound is created by only only three drivers, yet those drivers are so well chosen, nothing is left out! Such a design results in the ultimate form-factor, neither big in size, or heavy in weight, the Globe goes about its business in the most pleasant and competent of ways!

A lot has happened to mid-range IEM sound in the last 2 or 3 years. What was only acceptable and adequate, has been replaced with dramatic and moving. Truly I don't know how else to describe the Penon Globe? The sound is incredibly big and even bigger due to the way the bass is parlayed. Such joys were absolutely non-exsistant in 2019, I know because I was out traveling and listening to all kinds of gear. It's not only that they have a special dialed-in sound, but it's complete, even and correct..........though not totally linear. The Globe offers a color, we bask in such color..............rejoice in the inclusion of it. Just like a heavy after-dinner dessert, they have a provocative weight and smoothness. Such attractions are my personal taste in sound, nothing is missed and nothing more wanted. These are thick sounding, but not bass heavy, just layered and midrange-full, but not bright. Such results end-up inviting, due to the sheer movement of size, also the dexterity in pace. Quite frankly, the Globe has it all, alI you could ask for! Today we will put the Globe through the tests, to verify the response and prove validity of such talk. Won't you join me on another adventure, and adventure into the heart of the Penon Globe.

The Penon Globe:
There is just a lot to like about the Globe. For starters the shape is slightly different being the faceplate is not that big, but the Globe is slightly deep shaped (as noted in the photos here). Why more IEMs aren't this shape I don't know, because it's one of the most comfortable IEMs there is. If you were wondering which IEM I newly heard that offers a combination thickness/richness and provocative pace and bounce, this is it! So how do those concepts intertwine? Because at first glance it appear they couldn’t coexist?

Take a look at your music library. You have favorites that you listen to more frequently................because they are your favorites. But what if you could find an IEM that opened-up the curtain into making you fall-in-love with the rest of your less-listened-to collection. Now this would be a miracle, wouldn’t you agree? I am exaggerating a little, but you get my point. I first noticed this only by random, in that there were songs that I use and they are right-next to a song I don't find interesting. Somehow when I sampled them, I found them incredibly listenable. Not everything of course, but truly more music than I would have guessed. You're basically able to both listen to more lesser known musical pieces and find them interesting. Just like the time when you went to a friends house and he played that new stereo he just bought and the music had you spellbound.......even though it wasn’t really your style of music. What happened was you became infatuated with sound in general. So it wasn’t the actual choice of music, but your personal enjoyment of the sounds..........the actual sounds themselves. It was the interesting tone of the instruments, it could have been any instrument, and you would have found it interesting and audiophile. That’s what we have here in a nut-shell. The procurement of tones that are both incredibly listenable and relaxed in a highly layered way. Such an ability is two fold, it takes place due to the frequency response character of the drivers (together) and the individual characteristics of the actual drivers used. Their personality is like the personality of anything that has the possibility of being different from one another. Only here they are also grouped together and matched due to individual character of response. So simply Penon Audio is choosing a grouping of individual drivers, but that’s the magic, that grouping is special. Would it only be special if you personally related with the FR? Ahh, well yes, but this tune is so accessible that I can pretty much guarantee you will find it special. It’s listenable in the most profoundly musical of ways. Again this is two fold, it’s the fact that it’s smooth and the fact that you can listen to detailed segments of music, to still find it interesting. So this takes place first by the tune.



Here is the frequency response curve:
The next reality occurring is the personality of each individual driver used, as often that’s not totally measurable. This results in the 1 Sonion BA for midrange, 1 Knowles for treble and the 10mm dynamic for bass. Such a simple set-up could be looked at a rudimentary, yet less drivers actually promote a clarity and singularity of purpose. As long as the sound output in even, correct and complete, we are fine, and better than fine if you agree with the way Penon tuned the Globe. Frequency Range is probably 80% of reason why someone likes an earphone. This is my first experience with a Penon earphone. And word on the street is Penon is somewhat continuous in sound style. Meaning their tuning is always (a little) the same, yet driver variation (personality) and driver arraignment provide the variation in sound per model. So Penon is coming-up close to their sound on every IEM release, yet it’s the driver configuration which ends adding variations. The Globe is another take on the exact house sound Penon always provides. The sound included is slightly colored as the existence of an added room response. Room response is added to IEMs and headphones due to emulating the response of speakers in a room. Such frequencies bounce around inside the speaker cabinet and exit the rear walls of the speaker and side-walls of the speaker. Such renegade frequencies then bounce off the rear and side-walls of the listening room and add a few dB of bass thickness in addition to the full-frequency frontal sound response flowing out the front of the speaker. This is not a theory but common knowledge of how speakers in a room are different from headphones or IEMs. Even in nightclubs when live music is performed there is always extra bass energy accumulated and perceived, which goes to add extra body to live sounds heard in such places.

Is this Redcarmoose’s sound.........laughingly it is 100% my sound! I will promote and defend this style of response due to the easy going nature it contains, it also seems more correctly emulating speakers in a room! While this W tune does offer extra-bass, it's done in such a polite and sophisticated manner, resulting in listenability.



First Take!
All first impressions take on a level of importance when judging an IEM. Why? It’s your own ideas of sound reproduction reflecting off a new mirror. Inside that mirror can be found your ideal sound response or lesser. Such judgments are retrieving references to everything you have ever heard, both on headphones and real musical playback. There are a list of critical realities in response, only at times our mental perception can’t take in the whole picture. This is primarily due to two reasons, one, we need more genres, file qualities and sources. And two, we are not able to fully perceive the 100% sound response due to favoritism. Such favoritism exists in small areas we have grown accustomed to enjoying. These areas of response cloud our perceptions, pulling mental focus from areas of possible inadequacy, creating misjudgments, partially due to our subjective sound signature preferences.

There are no examples of a perfect tonal response, but better and lesser examples of IEM tuning practice. Upon new IEM audio introductions, (much like meeting people) your first impressions are normally instinctual, far from the math and science references commonly used in daily analysis. This is where the subtle aspects of both placebo and the subconscious interpretations can askew our judgement calls. We must accept the fickleness in such endeavors.



Impressions of the Globe IEM:
I have to quote Dsnuts here due to his complete understanding of Globe balance.

“The balanced tuning
In doing my share of earphone reviews. I have seen other manufacturers tune differently with each model they make. Not so much Penon. Penon tunes with the best ability of each driver that is used in an earphone and with balance in mind. Generally sound balancing for each of their earphones are identical with the real changes to the sound coming from added drivers to that tuning. Sound balancing also is a house sound trait and is expertly crafted in the Globe with dynamism in mind. All parts of the sound is equally present here and when called on, treble mids and bass ends all come to life in a larger spacious headstage for earphones. These are clearly colored and more of a W shaped sound design with a slight uplift toward the lower bass region. “
End quote:

I’ve included this quote as it will help get my following points across. My personal nonsense will arrive with enhanced clarity, and for his knowledge I am grateful!

This Globe color first comes off skewed, but quickly midrange and treble formations enable a double take. So the slight darkness is perceived along with sexy BA rendition of midrange and treble elements. Such characteristics are due to both the driver frequency response and individual (driver-tone) characteristics. Such profound joy is leaning there are many ways to do something, there are many ways to achieve a goal. And this balance has been imagined by Penon as an artful tuning in relation to the continued reinforcement of the Penon sound “tune”. This frequency response became incredibly easy for me to identify with and relate to...........hopefully your perception will be parallel? We are presented a fairly large soundstage encompassed by width, height and thickness. Such places are the canvas and essential to imaging. In the lower frequencies we delight in how the midrange and treble find placement. Yet there is an overall stance of liquidity and smoothness, that forms the music in the most digestible of ways.



Sound:
Due to the well-roundness found I can now choose any file existing in my library to do a sound performance test. While some files of course are better examples of a particular character of response, like the concept stated above, I’m purely enamored by sound quality alone, and would like any file. Obviously due to it individual recording qualities we in-turn experience sound performance variables, but never is needed a correct “file” to somehow enhance the Globe’s abilities or subdue some off attribute. Am I saying the Globe is perfect? Such a paradigm does not exist, yet there are departures arriving in that direction.



Daft Punk
Tron Legacy OST
"Sea of Simulation"
44.1 kHz - 24 bit

Layering:
Such an attribute bestows more detail than you would imagine. As maybe that’s the answer to the Penon tune-riddle? How to we approach the detail question with-out added treble frequency? We do it with layering, splendidly. This Sea of Simulation brings the layering goods to the table. Showing the Globe’s abilities with a less watered down song. Instead we are approached with warm analog-synth sequencing and brilliantly round sub-bass revelations. Yes, I would call this instant, this moment in time, perfect. The Globe parlays a softness and warmth all the while providing the layering that propels this song forward. Such bass is deep and impactful, without getting in the way of the pace or upper synthesizer top-offs. There is a phenomenon where astute imaging can trick us into believing there is slightly more soundstage than there is. This takes place due to how each individual element is found in relief against its fellow musical compadres.




DCD
Anastasis
"All In Good Time"
44.1 kHz - 24 bit

This song on the Globe made me break-out the IER-Z1R. Reason being, I wondered how the two differed in bass personality. First-off the Globe is noticeably easier to drive. The Z1R was just ever so slightly more intense, offering an only slightly clearer view of everything. But I know why I wanted to hear the IER-Z1R, because the Globe and IER approach music the exactly same way. Where only a slight (soundstage) size difference and an ever so slight detail rendition was accomplished in IER-Z1R playback. So if someone wanted the IER, but the fit of the IER, or budget restraints kept you from it, here you go! You can get 90% of the sound with the Globe. I will do a rudimentary side-by-side comparison test in the next section.

This is a simplistic song really, it’s slow and incredibly textured, not only with Brendan Perry’s voice textures but the bass has a distinct tone and characteristic too.

All your ships
Have left their moorings
Cast adrift
On the Sargasso Sea
Waiting for the wind
To set your sails free
When you reach
The end of your rainbow
Chasing shadows
And down on your luck
Look for the sign
Look for a sign
As you rise to the very top
Of your mountain
Just remember those
Poor lost souls
On their way down
You taught me patience
Was a virtue
I took my time
Let Nature take her cause
All was revealed
All in good time
Turn back your clocks
Open up your memories
Beneath the veil
Where time stands still
You showed me a sign
You showed me the sign

This is the last song on the album; often artists will place a slower dramatic song at the end. We are first me with a cycle of two elements; the bass and this returning synth sound. Both instruments are relaxing and make the vibe here. There is no better song to prove the human voice is by far more detailed and finessed than the bass. Instantly we come to realize the bass here is only utilitarian to the emotional and alive singing. Brendan Perry’s voice has both a vibrato and a rough tinge in places. It’s so clear in that like the Sony IER-Z1R, the Globe does both alive bass and amazing male vocals. A segue from the bass rhythm to the actual beat of the song takes place at 1 minute 50 seconds, such a tone is in-between a bass note and a drum. It is a drum though, and finds itself of a higher pitch than the bass in the beginning……finally they intertwine together. At the 4 minute 35 seconds a giant wash of composite synth sounds take over, which sign a a dramatic forwardness for the song. Such instrumental breaks also signal the song’s ending. Still in memory this (last instrumental break) wasn’t the climax of the song, but the fact that Brendan Perry’s voice was the star of this show. Few voices can compete with the emotion and detail of his vocal renditions. There is a reverb, a multitracking to the echos, and the Globe does it all. The intimacy displayed among the alternating textures of his voice. To be honest the IER-Z1R does it better, but the difference between the two IEMs is marginal. To me it’s the physical weight and size, along with the form-shape of the globes that make them so wearable, and more wearable than the IER-Z1R. Even though the IER-Z1R fits me fine, I would never leave the house with it, but the Globe I would travel with, even going on a trip of weeks…..into the unknown and unplanned……..the Globe by my side.



KMFDM
PARIDISE
"Megalo"
44.1 kHz - 24 bit

The beginning firmly represents a Science Fiction vibe, such a display in sound-design talent. At 27 seconds a sequenced passage of notes takes us by surprise, only to be rhythmically fastened to the following drum beats to come at 42 seconds. The incredible dynamic contrasts here, the authority of the bass...........interlocked with the sequenced circling-synths. Somehow the guitar makes it into this song in a way only KMFDM can do. And not only do they use rhythm guitar, they are free to explore a type of enhanced James Bond theme……..as at the 2 minute 7 second mark comes a clean reverberated clean picked-guitar! The Globe locks onto such harmonic embellishments and delivers with-out fault. The vocoder vocals are slightly set-back where they find themselves..........as both electronic vocals and vocals simultaneously! Such drum panning, and drum breaks make for an enchanted evening, this song is so full of fireworks. Colorful and dramatic, but never too much with the Globe. It’s the pace that is taken care of for us. The heavy electrons placed on-beat with a drum machine are polished and served up with accessibility. This must be German music as I feel the Germany? At 3 minutes 59 seconds higher pitched drum accents travel across edges of the stage.........a style of conclusion only KMFDM could get away with! Such responsiveness to rhythm……..the Globe does it all. The prior song shows intimacy and texture......but this song shows bright energy and switch-backs! Truly we are in the presence of an IEM that can proficiently do it all!





DUNE OST
Hans Zimmer
"Ripples in the Sand"
48 kHz - 24 bit

I’m always learning about this song, as every time I hear it shows a new sound dimension. While technically (for IEMs) this song is more difficult than you would first guess. The trick here is bass placement........positioning the deep bass is crucial to the total experience, as too much bass will interfere with the rest of the songs elements. When done exactly right (like with the Penon Globe ) the song shows itself to hold a symphony of details, normally left under the proposed sonic-mud. Yet the details can be unearthed, as they are there! Such is the balance of the whole, the finite balance the Globe shows us. When done right this song is like looking out across a field, the ripples in the sand..........I can view them sonically. Every element here has a function and job to do. In reality the bass is actually not forward but sits behind, the Globe knows this. The drums are also positioned correctly. At 1 minute 10 the single vocal embellishment takes place. The (vocal) central theme, both sonically and spiritually. As her voice is used as a backdrop and further enhanced into a style a flatness, finding itself behind the instrumentation, it’s still there and somehow holds the entire song with it’s understated presence? At 3 minutes 40 seconds the vocals (maybe) are sampled (to be replayed) lower, as an introduction to the song’s climax. At the 3 minute 47 second mark we still hear her voice, yet buried, as buried as it could be and still be heard! Somehow the Globe makes sense of all this, not only is the song deciphered, but shows all it contains.

Comparison:
The IER-ZIR vs The Penon Audio Globe:
First off I didn't plan this comparison. It's not ridiculous, only I didn't schedule such an event. When DCD's "All In Good Time" (the second test song here) was played I focused in on the bass in the beginning, then Brendan Perry's voice. There was an intimacy that was special, probably due to the Globe doing both bass and vocals well? There was this clarity where you could hear the vibrato in his voice in crucial places (like when he says the word rainbows). Such dynamics got my curiosity brewing, as I thought if this bass and these vocals are so good, what would happen if I did a comparison with the IER-Z1R? How would they differ and how would they compete to be closer to the same? Needless to say the IER-Z1R was better, but I also was surprised.............as I was correct. Both the Globe and the IER-Z1R had parallel ways at which they handle tone. Not only were the two similar, but shared the same over-all vibe. While the IER-Z1R went and projected Brendan Perry's voice slightly more forward enabling a greater relief. The IER just sculpted more.......creating more details and resolve. Still it was uncanny how these two were painting with the same color palette and living as neighbors next-door from one another. The IER bass was slightly larger than the Globe, yet the tone was the same. More than that, they both created the same after-effects in emotion. Such clues circumvent any scientific curiosities, and remain............as so, in the world of feelings; a place separate from science.

Treble:
Treble energies are served-up slightly reserved yet never boring. They show sparkle when called upon, except due to the 7Khz (anti-sibilance) dip, we end with a treble that's more pronounced in the lower and upper treble areas. Such individual character of replay tone may be the name brand Knowles Balanced Armature, maybe it's the crossover placement, maybe the interaction of both? Such a special treble placement makes you wonder why only one BA is not always used? Without a doubt we are gifted with a focused treble installation, gone are those extra frequencies scattered by extra driver count. I can't help hear these as offering the perfect balance of technicality and tone. Not as airy as the the most airiness in replay, but that's not the sound Penon was going for, and I commend them for such tune choices. While spatially extended into high-frequency imaging, just as much emphasis (or more) takes place in the lows and the mid soundstage, which is part of the thickness at hand.

Midrange:
There is a definite Sonion feeling I get from the BA driver. More so too, because of the limited use of drivers here, so whatever (character) I'm hearing is more direct and vibrant. More than that, there is less (buzzy) technical issues. What I'm saying is there is something to using a single driver (for the midrange), as it's by no way weak or responding dull or set-back. Such abilities are in the forefront making the vocals placed in such a way, as to never need extra volume to hear them. Go ahead and listen to male or female vocals and enjoy them at any volume you choose. Such stature also acts as a buffer, meaning this IEM sounds relatively the same at different volume levels? Such consistent reproduction is possibly connected with doing all musical genres correct? Also such abilities possibly enable the playback of many different levels of file quality. As such better files sound better, but inferior files don't sound (at all) bad. Any source sounded good too, being the Globe is easy to drive, and easy to access midrange/bass authority. The midrange offers instrument texture when present, and shifts transient gears quick, as only BAs can do.

The pinpoint placement of elements seemed to even be more accurately positioned due to a single BA driver maybe? Thus a realism and clarity found, being the method-of-operation was simpler and more direct. I'm actually surprised at just how big this single driver sounds? Any off-timbre (and believe me I know) seems to be minimized? There was some obviously, but the more I listened the more it seemed to vanish?

Bass:
I'm going to list this as having both sub-bass and a firm middle bass presence. Though the sub-bass is curtailed in the most provocative of ways, meaning it's not always as prominent or as emphasized. The sub-bass becomes heard as a natural extension of the regular bass. Such a focus is better (to me) than IEMs that offer only sub-bass ability. This means that the sub-bass acts as an embellishment, thus complete and the way it should be. Such avenues offer good speed yet not always the clearest heard. Remember these are thick sounding, but not from a lower bass emphasis, thus a dialed-in pace and bounce. Such a bass is not the tightest, yet it rides the borderline to kinda be all things to all people. It's relatively fast but not the fastest, enough (bass) to satisfy bassheads yet not totally overbearing and extreme. It's this ultimate mix of agility with bass ability. I literally can't figure out how or why this works out so well, but it does? At times it's better to leave-off with the investigation, and not question as to the reason why, but just enjoy things as they are. As somehow, even the bass offers-up an example of an endearing and unique tone, despite not being the clearest on the block.

This is what Penon Audio they say about themselves:

About Us
"PenonAudio online shop (www.penonaudio.com) was born in 2013 and our main goal is to sell the best selected audio products at the most affordable prices for both the audiophiles and business users. Many internet retailers sell thousands of products and provide you with nothing more than a generic description and a "Buy" button. We're different. We specialize in audio and head-fi gears, so our sales staff are fully trained on our products and are capable of answering detailed questions and making recommendations. When shopping for audio and head-fi gears online, consumers often face a dilemma: buy from a reputable site and pay more, or risk buying from a not-so-trustworthy site to get the lowest price. With PenonAudio, you don't have to choose between low prices and a safe, high-quality shopping experience. You can have it all when you shop with us."

Penon Audio:
So the difference here is not only do they sell IEMs, they make lEMs. This means that when you purchase your buying factory direct, yet you still have all the service of a retailer. So.....the reason the Penon Globe sounds like more than a $339.00 IEM is because it is more. It’s a wildly more expensive IEM which is sold factory-direct to save costs. There is no middleman. The owner of Penon Audio is a music lover. That means that even if he didn’t make cables and IEMs, he would still be involved with music in some capacity. Each IEM’s sound shows a connection to music reproduction which is operating on a slightly different level than most IEM companies. Thus their vision is room response, whether it’s an IEM’s replication of speakers playing in a room or a room reflecting the sound of a live band, the tonal response will always show this connection. A connection with with the Penon line of IEMs shows variations of a central theme. The theme reflects a deeper understanding and insight which is proof positive that the builder/designer is a music enthusiast. The Globe comes-in as IEM number 7 in the historic line-up. The Vortex DD is the newest creation out their output.

The box opening experience:

Finally the top comes off to find a beautiful zippered case. Note the protective plastic coating protecting the zipper-clasp.



In addition to the blue case comes a small pouch holding both a cleaning tool and shirt-clip. Finally we come to the very bottom of the Penon box. Some don't like the velcro-cable clasp, due to all the small hooks it contains, so they leave it at the bottom. They also include a regular (buttoned) cable tie.



A full-set of E-Pro horn-tips.

Included with the Penon Globe is a full nine sets of ear-tips. The orange core fit perfect. Included is a double inner pouch case, shirt clip. cleaning tool and 2 Pin Silver Plated Copper 8 core cable. Note the button-fastened cable-tie, which in included in the pouch, along with 6 of the full 9 sets of ear-tips. The IEMs themselves are protected in individual plastic ziplock bags, while fully connected to the cable.


Penon Globe 2BA + Dynamic Driver Hybrid 2Pin 0.78mm HiFi Audiophile IEM

Description
2BA+Dynamic Driver Hybrid 2Pin 0.78mm Detachable Audiophile IEMS
The use of medical grade resin material, light and beautiful, comfortable to wear, no strange feeling in contact with the skin.

Made by hand, the earphone shell is solid and more durable.

Specification
Driver: 2BA + 10mm dynamic
Balanced armature: Knowles high frequency, Sonion middle frequency
Dynamic driver : 10mm Bass
Frequency reponse:20Hz-20kHz
Impedance: 10ohm@1khz
Sensitivity: 116db@1khz@1mw
Connector: 2Pin 0.78mm
Cable length: 1.2M

Package
Penon Globe
3 pairs of Epro EP00 silicone eartips (SML)
3 pairs of gray-orange silicone eartips (SML)
3 pairs of gray-green silicone eartips (SML)
1 pairs of double flange silicone eartips
Earphone case
Pouch
Brush

Build:

Such attention to detail shows a flush mount receptor for the 2 pin plugs, a small vent-off for the DD and a sculpted nozzle tip holder.


As shown the Penon Globe comes stock with your choice of 2.5mm balanced or 3.5mm single end terminations.


10/27/2022
Edit: While I did the review with an adapter from 2.5mm to 4.4mm balanced, Penon just informed me they offer all three, 3.5mm single ended, 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced now.

Conclusion:
Penon has taken the conservative approach here. They didn't reinvent the wheel, they simply progressed it further. Polishing the basics, they improved the fundamentals. Making only three drivers sound like more, making a smaller midsized shell sound somehow grander in size? This IEM is so darn fun! Such a sway and swagger goes to show you the pace your music! The Globe plays everything well though there is no one single ability that you could say the Globe excels at. Take your thinnest file, it enhances it, take any genre of music and the Globe somehow finds the musicality present. Use any source bright, or dark and the Globe finds balance. I don't know the how's or why's but this is not always the case with other IEMs?

Great size/weight and the perfect fit. The small form factor has a chance of fiting more people, add to that the semi-custom shape means fit is pretty much guaranteed. How do I know this? Because I tried 8 different styles of ear-tips and all of them worked. This phenomena takes place due to not actually using the tips to get fitment. The IEM fits anyway, the ear-tips take the IEM and make it air-tight in union. I was even able to use my special wide-bore tips which have thinner silicone walls.

With Penon Audio the manufacture and the retailer you're buying factory direct, there is no middleman. That's why this sounds like a $600 ear-phone. If it is truly the sound you're looking for it's priceless! I can't give more than 5 stars because there is no more room, but believe me in this case if there was a 6 star system, I would give the Globe all 6 stars. No one informed the Globe it needed to sound like a $339.00 IEM, it doesn't, in fact being so well rounded, I would be happy taking the Globe on vacation as it truly holds all I'm looking for in an IEM. This review has been an absolute pleasure to prepare for you! What more can I say? Buy them, you won't be sorry! Such progress is the natural conclusion to our investigation, simply take the next step and don't look back!

Get them here for just $329.00
https://penonaudio.com/penon-globe.html

Disclaimer:
These thoughts and ideas are of one individual, your results may vary.

Disclamer:
I would like to thank Penon Audio for auditioning the Penon Globe IEM.

Equipment Used:
MeeAudio 2.5mm balanced/4.4mm Adapter
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 4.4mm