Raptgo Hook-X

Bitsir

100+ Head-Fier
Raptgo Hook-X | Super Short Sound Review | Lo-Fi yet Clean
Pros: + Not overly large, yet expansive stage
+ Not particularly airy, yet sounds "open" or unhindered in note propagation
+ Coherent imaging as a positive consequence of above-mentioned
+ Cohesive sound in general
+ Warm but pure
+ Authoritative powerful sound, especially bass
+ Transparent yet analogue-ish timbre for a planar
+ Plain pleasant to listen to regardless of cons
Cons: - Somewhat "Lo-Fi" midrange
- 8kHz peak can get on your nerve at loud volumes
- Sheer resolution is not up to par for the price
- Slight tizzy quality to the treble & hazy quality in the midrange thanks to piezo implementation
Cable is so-so, the fit is less-so. It starts to hurt after 3-4 hours, but it's okay until then.
Should absolutely not be paired with a warm source, everything becomes soupy. Needs extra clarity and definition to help its shortcomings.

darmanastartes

500+ Head-Fier
Game On
Pros: warm relaxed tuning, good midrange timbre, includes both common balanced terminations, nice build, great soundstage, semi-open back design great for gaming, great bass
Cons: redundant earitp selection, cable CQ issues, mediocre detail retrieval, mild peizo timbre in treble

Raptgo Hook-X Review​

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INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER:​

The Raptgo Hook-X is an in-ear monitor (IEM) which uses a 14.2mm planar-magnetic driver and a piezoelectric driver. The Hook-X retails for $239 at Linsoul, which sent me a unit in exchange for my impressions.

SOURCES:​

I have used the Raptgo Hook-X with the following sources:

  • Qudelix 5K
  • Hidizs S9
  • Reiyin DA-PLUS
  • Moondrop Dawn

MUSIC:​

I have tested these headphones with local FLAC and Spotify Premium. Visit my last.fm page to get an idea of what I listen to:

XenosBroodLord’s Library | Last.fm

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:​

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The Raptgo Hook-X comes in a medium-sized square-ish grey cardboard box with a grey slipcover. The front of the slipcover features a blueprint-style illustration of the Hook-X. The rear of the slipcover features an exploded diagram of the Hook-X along with Raptgo’s corporate contact information. The packaging is stylish and the unboxing experience is appropriate for a product of this price point.

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The Hook-X includes nine pairs of silicone eartips (3xS, 3xM, 3xL) in three different colorways. The eartips appear identical other than having different colored bores. Including three sets of the same type of eartips is excessive and I would have preferred a set of foam tips if not just a differently shaped set of silicone eartips.
The Hook-X includes a grey zippered semi-rigid carry case.
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The Hook-X also includes a detachable .78mm 2-pin cable with swappable terminations. 3.5mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced, and 2.5mm balanced terminations are included, which I appreciate as opposed to including just one kind of balanced connection or the other.

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In terms of documentation, the Zero includes an owner’s manual and a warranty booklet, which are both written in English and Chinese.

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN:​

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The Raptgo Hook-X has gunmetal aluminum housings with perforated black faceplates. The rim of the faceplate contains metallic green accents, a detail which is also found on the detachable 2-pin cable in several spots. The 2-pin connector base is slightly raised from the surface of the shell. There is a single circular vent in the center of the inside face of the housing. “RAPTGO HOOK-X” and the unit serial number are printed in white on the top face of the housing, along with “L” and “R” indicators. The nozzles are made from the same gunmetal aluminum as the rest of the housing and feature metal mesh nozzle covers and extruded rims to secure eartips.

The cable uses fabric-sheathed wires wrapped in a double-helix below the Y-split. The fabric is black with a metallic green accent, in keeping with the overall aesthetic. The cable has pre-formed heat-shrink earguides and a metal chin-adjustment choker. Despite the use of fabric sheathing, the cable is less microphonic than I would have expected, even when the chin-adjustment choker is not used.

The modular jack has a straight form factor. To swap terminations, one simply pulls the lower 2/3rds of the jack away from the upper third. The jack hardware uses a 4-pin connector between the swappable termination and the cable. The design is not locking and relies on friction to stay in place. I did not have any issues with the termination coming loose when I did not wish to detach it during my review process. There is strain relief above the jack but none at the Y-split.

Unfortunately, the cable included with my first unit experienced a quality control failure out of the box. The wiring for the right channel was faulty somewhere above the swappable termination and only outputted at full volume when held in certain orientations. Swapping to another cable fixed the issue. I also obtained a replacement unit, which did not have this issue with the cable. This failure has been reported by other end-users on Head-Fi. It is a shame that this issue exists because I like the Hook-X’s cable from an aesthetic and functional perspective, and I presume that the modular cable design is in large part responsible for the Hook-X’s price premium over similarly-specced planar-magnetic IEMs like the 7Hz Timeless and Letshuoer S12.

COMFORT, FIT, AND ISOLATION:​

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The Raptgo Hook-X is intended to be worn cable-up. The earpieces have a shallow insertion depth. While comfortable, secureness of fit is problematic and requires frequent re-adjustment to maintain an optimal seal. As one might expect from a planar-magnetic design, there is no driver flex.

For most external noise, the Hook-X offers better isolation than one would expect from a semi-open design. The foremost exception is the user’s own voice, for which isolation is noticeably worse than other sounds, even compared to other IEMs. This makes the Hook-X a great candidate for gaming use. If one is not using an external mixer or software-based real-time monitoring solution which allows latency-free playback of one’s own voice, playing online games with friends can be disconcerting with highly isolating IEMs. This is even more of an issue if one wants to use their usual audiophile-focused external DAC/AMP solution for gaming rather than a gaming-focused peripheral. The Hook-X has quickly become my go-to IEM for gaming, as it has a better uncorrected tonality than the ancient pair of Sennheiser HD 500A over-ear headphones I typically use.

MEASUREMENTS:​

My measurements of the Raptgo Hook-X can be found on my expanding squig.link database:

Raptgo Hook-X — Squiglink by Bedrock Reviews

SOUND:​

The Raptgo Hook-X has a warm, relaxed sound signature.

The Hook-X’s bass is most elevated in the sub-bass region, but rather than confining the bass emphasis exclusively to the sub-bass, the Hook-X retains a moderate amount of mid-bass presence. This mid-bass presence rolls off gently into the lower midrange. The Hook-X is a dynamic-sounding and impactful IEM. Sub-bass extension is excellent. Bass texture and detail retrieval are about what I would expect for an IEM of this price.

The approach the Hook-X takes with its mid-bass contour is a compromise that sacrifices a smidge of midrange clarity in order to retain the warmth and body in the lower midrange which more Harman-compliant IEMs frequently lack. As with many Harman-ish IEMs, vocal delivery takes center stage with the Hook-X. However, male vocals are noticeably more forward and present than is common on many contemporary IEMs, and have grit and bite in spades when called for. Female vocals have a bit too much low-end energy and can sound slightly husky. Vocal intelligibility is also mildly superior for male vocals as compared to female vocals. I did not notice any sibilance in the Hook-X’s midrange. The presence region is in line with the relaxed midrange. Overall midrange clarity is middling and there is a sense of graininess where one would expect more midrange detail. The Hook-X has very good midrange timbre and comes across just a smidge on the dry side.

The Hook-X has a pronounced lower treble peak which can create an excessive sizzle to high-frequency percussion like cymbals. This can be mostly tamed with the use of foam eartips. There is a faint but distinct sense of oversharpening to transients in the lower and mid-treble, which is a timbral inaccuracy inherent to piezoelectric drivers. With that said, it is much less severe than on other IEMs with piezoelectric drivers I’ve used in the past. The Hook-X has very good upper treble extension, which combined with the semi-open design, creates a spacious soundstage. The Hook-X also has excellent instrument separation. Imaging is quite good as well, which is useful for gaming.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING:​

The Raptgo Hook-X is surprisingly easy to drive even without the use of balanced source devices. I did not notice hiss with any of my devices.

CLOSING WORDS:​

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The Raptgo Hook-X is a very good-sounding IEM, but if your sole use-case for an IEM is listening to music, the Hook-X is not the best value for your dollar. As stated earlier, I suspect that the inclusion of a modular cable is responsible for a large part of the higher sticker price relative to contemporary planar-magnetic IEMs. This cable system is nice to have but not strictly necessary given that the Hook-X is easy enough to drive off of a single-ended connection. Further, QC issues with the cable are evidently not uncommon, which should give potential buyers pause. The Hook-X has additional value for use cases where the semi-open design gives unique benefits, such as gaming, but it is up to the individual buyer to decide whether these benefits are worth an additional $40 over the 7Hz Timeless or nearly $90 over the Letshuoer S12.

The Raptgo Hook-X can be purchased below:

RAPTGO HOOK-X Planar + PiezoElectric Drivers Hybrid IEM — Linsoul Audio
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Redcarmoose
Redcarmoose
Great concise review! Love how you approach the “mid-bass contour” as a feeling of compromise to a smidge of lacking clarity in the mids. Though the way I hear it, that contour is a necessity, or you end up with a Dioko sound regardless (almost) of mid-emphasis. Thus Dioko has more forward mids as a characteristic of the whole tone........with the less mid-bass.

Ceeluh7

500+ Head-Fier
Raptgo Hook-X Best Planar Yet?
Pros: -Planar speed
-More natural timbre
-The entire Low end
-Speedy attack/Appropriate decay
-Detailed and Engaging
-Soundstage is immersive
-Imaging is very nice
-Build quality
-Accessories
-Very slick looking iems
-Awesome cable
Cons: -Isolation / Sound leak (Music is faintly heard from others)
-Details in the treble area
-Not quite for Bass-heads or Treble-heads
-Bad quality tracks will show
-Treble at rare times exhibits a very quick “tzz” sound at higher volumes

Raptgo Hook-X ($239)


Thank you for checking out my review of the Raptgo Hook-X. I purchased this set with my own hard-earned money for $239 off of Amazon. I’ve owned only a few Planar driver iems in the past. The TinHifi P1, 7hz Timeless and a tribrid, the TRI I3 Pro. I suppose I am somewhat limited in my experience with the driver tech compared to other reviewers, but sound is sound.

Quickly…how I review

Whether it’s a Planar, DD, Hybrid, Tribrid… whatever, what sounds good will sound good and what doesn’t… doesn’t. Since this is my published review, I get to be the judge of that. This is not something that I take lightly. I try to review in an objective as well as a subjective way. Meaning, I will give my thoughts as to what I like, and I will also give an objective view on the quality of sound as well, whether I like it, or not. Also, I say what I hear and nothing more.

I try to view each audio device through the lenses of multiple styles of signatures and even try to adjust my brain to other styles and find the joy in them. Trying to find and figure out what a company was going for and did they succeed? It takes an open mind sometimes. However, something technically bad or off in some way will always be bad no matter the style. Again, I paid for this set as I do for the great majority of my reviews. Okay I am sorry for that people, I just felt I had to get that out.

Back to the review

Anyways, back to the review. I was thrilled to check this set out. I was somewhat impressed by the Timeless but thought of it more as a novelty type earphone. A great set with few drawbacks. I will say that the I3 Pro is still one of my absolute favorite iems at any price yet the Planar within the I3 Pro only covers a portion of the spectrum. The Hook-X is another animal altogether, mixing different technologies in an unheard of or unseen manner. Spoiler: I am completely impressed people… let’s take a closer look.

https://www.mobileaudiophile.com/raptgo-hook-x-review/
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Gear Used
Zooaux Dongle Dac
Fiio Ka3
-IFi Go Blu
-Qudelix 5k
Ibasso DX240 w/ Amp8 MK2

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Left to Right: Qudelix 5K / Ibasso Dx240 w/ Amp8 Mk2 / Ifi Go Blu / Fiio Ka3


Packaging

The Hook (as I’ll call it for the review) comes to us in a smaller package which utilizes the space well. Not a whole lot of waste. You get a shallower rectangular box with a graphic of the company logo Yada Yada Yada. Do any of you actually care about any of that?

You care about what is inside of that box. Raptgo added a decent unboxing here. I mean at $239 you should receive quite a bit in accessories. I’d say that what you get here is about standard for any iem above $150.

What’s Included

Three sets of knock off Spinfit type ear tips come in small, medium and large sizes. They feel like quality ear tips to me. For the review I used Kbear-07 tips, however. A light gray case can be found as you search through the small box. The case is a decent size to make home to your iems. The zipper functionality is a bit of a question for me as it isn’t the easiest case to open and zip closed. I suppose I’d call the material of the case faux leather and printed on that case is the Raptgo logo again. Inside that case you’ll find the cable, more on that in “Build Quality” in the next section.

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Build/Durability/Design/Isolation

Look

I noticed right away during unboxing, the fresh aesthetic and appearance. The unique look of the faceplates is somehow refreshing to me. Tiny holes dot the entire Faceplate in a perfect pattern revealing the tech within. I would call this a semi-open back design even though the entire back breathes easily, open to the atmosphere. Black was the color of choice for the Faceplate with a raised brighter green metal trim standing out for an awesome look. Green on black will always be tough. I personally really dig the look of this set. Raptgo did a fantastic job on the design aspect for a unique and modern and confident look. The Hook is a handsome looking set.

Isolation

The open back or semi-open back design is used to add an airy and clean listen which normally creates a more immersive and big stage. Yet with that can also bring isolation or sound leakage. Sure enough, there is some sound leakage happening to those around me while listening. For instance, my 6-year-old always tries to hear what I am listening to, and she only slightly has to strain to hear the music leaking through. I don’t think this would cause a distraction; it definitely isn’t uncomfortably loud to those around you. That said, The Hook doesn’t isolate completely as there is some outside noise into the listening session. I dont consider this an issue at all. Again, nothing too annoying at all but I figured I should at least add that. Just turn up the volume a bit more or find a quiet spot to listen and problem solved.

Build

I have no idea what the Faceplate is made of. I’m assuming it is aluminum but don’t take that as fact. It feels well-made and premium. As we make our way to the shell, I love the color choice that they added into the mix. An alloy metal flat gray shell looks flat out poised and durable as it contrasts with the green accents. As far as build quality is concerned, I would say that the materials used, and the flawless construction add confidence that the Hook will last a long time.

At the top you’ll see the two-pin connector with “Raptgo Hook-X” written just beneath. Closer to the nozzle is a small front vent and covering the nozzle is a nice-looking metal filter plate.

Durability

No doubt a certain feeling of withstanding durability is conjured within my mind. All materials used feel well made and solid. I do admit I carelessly dropped the Hook a couple times on our hard tiled sunroom floor. I was impressed and relieved to see no nicks or scratches and the Hook works perfectly fine.

Hook-X Drivers

The Hook has an interesting driver combination. As far as I understand this is the first time these two driver technologies have ever been used in tandem and in the same shell. Raptgo used a 14.2 mm planar magnetic driver, driven by Neodymium N52 Magnets. The other driver is a custom designed 18 Layer Double-Sided Piezoelectric. Very cool to see a company break new ground and put their development skills to the test and out in the open. Especially in the time of the “Planar Wars”.

Novel Concept, Precise Execution

The Hook-X is the first attempt at a hybrid in-ear monitor design utilizing the planar magnetic driver in combination with a piezoelectric (PZT) driver. These two driver types are among the most sensational driver technologies in the audio industry and have never been utilized together in an IEM format. We took on this momentous concept, and through careful engineering and testing, have successfully created an IEM that encompasses the powerful characteristics of these drivers fashioned with tonal perfection. Unlike other IEM novelties that simply cram in hyped drivers, we are proud to achieve a product that is tuned to balance and allows the listener to both appreciate the acoustic superiority of these drivers as well as enjoy the music through their harmonious tonality.
Raptgo Hook-X promotional above


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Hook-X Cable

I suppose I should add in the cable build as well, being that the cable is an essential piece of the puzzle. The cable itself is an OCC and Silver-Plated cable of some weighty girth. I love that Raptgo went the extra mile and added a modular cable, with 2.5, 3.5, and 4.4 connector jacks. I love modular cables as I can switch between balanced and single ended very quickly. Even better, the cable is just as striking as the earphones. The cable matches the green-on-black boldness of the iems, with green-on-black fabric (possibly Nylon), which covers the whole of the cable. Again, the color scheme carries over to the Y-split with a flat gray accent and terminates with male two pin connections.

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No need to upgrade…

I always purchase upgrade cables for all my iems and this is one set I didn’t feel I should buy one for. Cables matter to me, honestly, I get just as jacked up for a cable “mail call” as for any audio device. I’m just happy I didn’t have to fork over any more cash. The cable is durable and slick looking attached to the Hook. If anything, It may be a bit stiff… if I had to name a downside. All in all, I am happy with it. The modular connections feel tight enough and so long as you don’t throw this set around like a ragdoll, it should last.



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Drivability

The Hook is said to be rated at 15 ohms and a sensitivity of 105db. This is another case (like with other planars) where I can drive the Hook to reasonably good volume levels with lower powered dongle dacs. In this case the Zooaux Dongle Dac. However, it is plainly obvious how much more open and expressive the Hook becomes with more power.

I chose the 4.4 balanced for 90% of this review and this option paid off fairly quickly. Using the Fiio Ka3 proved to do the job pretty well, easily driving the Hook to a satisfying listening sesh. The same goes for the IFi Go Blu (4.4) or the Qudelix 5k (2.5). The Hook doesn’t need a huge desktop setup I don’t think, a decently powered dongle dac should do the trick.

More Power

Switching to the Ibasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 in medium gain was a pretty nice step up in overall dynamics and presentation. Yet when I switched the DX240 to high gain things reached another level of musical enjoyment. The DX240 with Amp8 MK2 was easily the best option for me. Moral of the story… if you can, give this set some good power. If you only have a decent dongle… no worries the Hook will still do very well and sound very nice.



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Raptgo Hook-X using the 4.4 balanced connector attached to the Ibasso Dx240 w/ Amp8 Mk2


Sound Impressions

Real quick, I have to mention that I did let the Hook-X burn in for about 70-80 hrs using the 1more Assistant app. Also, I did use the KBear 07 tips during this review period.

I haven’t had the opportunity to test out every planar driver out there, however of those which I have tested, the Raptgo Hook-X sounds the most complete to me. This is a dynamically balanced approach. A balance is nothing new for Planar iems, in fact the Timeless has a good balance across the spectrum. What I hear different is the overall dynamics and a more engaging or even emotional tilt towards the music in my library. Heftier note weight also. You could even say a smoother presentation I suppose. That is debatable though. I don’t have the Timeless in hand to directly compare the two so even mentioning it isn’t really fair.

Sound signature

I hear a warm of neutral sound with a close to U-shaped tuning. The Hook has a very energetic, dynamic and lively sound across the board. There is a growling, forceful and punchy low end which hits fast and hard. I hear a more forward midrange which is clean and clear and detailed. The treble is well enough extended too. Highs certainly have some air with good presence to them in the region.

The Hook has a more natural sound to me with its open presentation. This is a flat-out fun sound. Nothing dry or analytical. There is this tangible almost fervent charge to the sound. Hook-X jams people! It carries a very musical and engaging sound. I feel the sound is well laid out and cohesive between driver techs. Couple that cohesion with fun and exciting and what you get is a very expressive but clean playback.



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Bass

The low end has some very natural sounding coloration going on. I absolutely require bass in my music, no matter the genre in my library of music. The Hook definitely has a low end that conjures a smile to my face. Please, don’t accuse me of inferring that the Hook is a bass headset. It is not. That said, I am impressed by the quantity as well as the quality here. This is fantastic bass for under $250 in my opinion.

Sub-Bass

The sub-bass reaches pretty deep and does so with good vibration and feel. This is not a juddering quake here, however. Instead, the Hook plays back what is given to it. If it’s a big bass track, then big is what you will hear. Hook has a very tight low end with fast attack and appropriate decay. Not at all forced or pushed too forward so as to sound unnaturally big. For instance, in “Paradigm” by The Head & the Heart. The song begins right away with a clean and deep and quick bassline. The Hook does it well. Rigid note edges chisel the outlines with good pace and rhythm. Again, nothing forced. What you feed the Hook is what you will get back but with gusto and fun. Tactile texture is evident from the sub bass to the mid bass.

Mid-Bass

Mid bass is no slouch either. Pretty much the same story. Textured and fast. Big enough for hip-hop but quick enough for speedy bass lines or multiple basslines. I hear layering going on as well. Also, nothing is too big in slam to overtake any area of the mix. Yes, the slam is punchy and satisfying but in the same breath there is air to breathe with this bass. Notes solidify quickly with a strong attack and decays with a certain evanescence. Basically, you get what a recording asks of the Hook-X. Another thing, I do not perceive any encroachment into the midrange at all.

Bass in a nutshell

Bass guitars crunch and growl with a pretty realistic timbre here. Kick drums boom with rounded and well-defined hits. Males who sing so low to occupy this space are forward and sound great. For a planar driver I am impressed. While I could always do with a hair more in quantity, I can’t help but love the low-end presentation.

This isn’t the fullest bass out there, but it has real good punch and scales to the music being played. Agility and separation are its strong suit as the Hook plays like a chameleon and interprets exactly what is asked of it. Beginning edges of attack have character and definition. Also, the Hook decays to the speed of the file being played. The Hook thunders during thunder yet can be soft and mellow with slighter and more softer bass hits. It may not be for absolute bass heads, but it is for those who enjoy good bass.



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Midrange

The midrange of the Hook-X does have good body and a little warmth carried over from the low-end. Mids sound forward as a whole and have good clarity. Notes have a crispness to them, and resolution is above average to me. Still the speed and separation of the midrange is quite good without losing that emotional tilt to my music. The midrange has an engaging quality to it, more so than the hi-res Timeless. Instead, the Hook has a more expressive and smoother and more moving presentation. The Timeless is a great set but for me the Hook-X fits me better.

Male Vocals

Starting with the lower midrange. Males have a stark and hefty sound. Broad bodied, full and distinct with a forward and inherently emotive sound. A low reaching voice like Avi Kaplan in “On My Way” sounds sonorous and very clear. The Hook is pleasing in tonal character and represents Avi’s vocals to my liking. There seems to be a nice balance with the rest of the song as well.

Female Vocals

Female vocals follow suit, as they are more forward to my ears and play along so well with everything else. Females aren’t dazzling with shimmer so much as they are revealing with an emotional glaze. Soft, gentle and tender in softer vocals. More coarse and edged and energetic when it needs to be as well. Females have a very real and raw sound. “Everything I Didn’t Say” by Ella Henderson simply sounds great. The emotion of her voice hasn’t been drawn back like so many iems can do. The Hook illuminates the inflection and tone of her voice while not artificially boosting the sound and drowning out the sentiment of the song.

Extra thoughts about the Mids

This set has a very nicely detailed midrange which focuses on tunefulness in the melody. The Hook does so effortlessly, like it isn’t even trying. Yes, there are iems which do it better, but honestly better is the wrong word. Perhaps some sets do it with better resolution and are simply different. I didn’t hear any sibilance at all and heard zero shoutiness or anything piercing either. I’ve said it a few times and likely will say it again, the Hook plays to the track being played. There is some mid coloration to a degree, but it all comes across natural and well behaved.

Instruments which play in the Midrange sound full and with good timbre to me. Timbre is all in the ear of the beholder and what is correct will not always be correct to the next guy. To me… the Hook displays the tone color of a voice or instrument very nicely.



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Treble

The higher regions walk step in step with all other regions. Staying at pace and perfect stride with any track. Smooth enough for easy listening yet chiseled just enough to define. The treble simply wraps up the world of sound that the Hook evokes onto the listener. Like the cherry on the top or the tie on the suit, it all ties together as a whole.

How does the Treble sound…

The highs are elevated but never emphasized to induce fatigue. Shimmer and shine exist but only goes so far. There is a nice vibrant sound that doesn’t peak-out or act shrill or sibilant. This is a smoother treble. Stuff like details aren’t as easy to pinpoint in a track. I think Raptgo was going for musicality and the engagement of the person listening over analytical dryness. Still this region is resolute enough and raised enough to present a balanced attack with the rest of the mix.

Note weight in the treble area has body to it. At least that’s what I hear. Cymbals crash and not splash. Granted cymbals also play a lot in the upper mids but the decaying crash is not tizzy, but more focused. Instruments in my library never sound harsh or peaky. The extension of the Highs rolls off on a pretty nice downward slope to capture most information well. Percussion and even strings residing in the upper areas sound as they should with enough vibrancy for me.

As a whole I’m not mad at the treble area of the Hook. Maybe it isn’t as detailed as some iems but it is musical and engaging. The treble fits the replay just fine. Treble Heads may be left wanting, but for those who want a non-pain, non-fatigue and zero shrill treble performance… my friends the Hook-X.

Treble Issues…

The only real knock against the treble is a strange artifact that faintly shows up on rare occurrences. Occasionally I do hear a faint ZZZ or TZZZ at higher volumes at the note ends. Forgive me for my interpretation of this. This rarely happens but I do hear it at times. Maybe a longer burn-in period will fend off this sound. This is nothing too troubling as the overall experience is a solid one.



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Soundstage/Imaging/Separation/Details

Soundstage…

The stage which comes across through the Hook is above average across the board. In width, height and depth. Like all iems this is not a grand hall experience but it’s pretty close with the right track. With the semi-open structure, there is air to play those more open songs. On the reverse, more intimate tracks come across just as intended.

Separation & Imaging…

Separation of Instruments and voices is pretty good. I can easily make out different pieces to a song. The Hook has enough air between elements caused by good enough resolution and a speedy driver. This causes almost partitioned off instruments. Imaging is spot-on as well. Everything has its place and seems positioned very well. Again, the speed of the drivers coupled with good resolution and a few other factors help to really create an imaginary stage which makes sense. It all goes into the final product. I enjoy that I can actually envision what is happening in this psycho-acoustic magic that the Hook-X is able to conjure up. What a track feeds this set is what will commence from the Planar speakers.

Details…

Details are very nice as well as the Hook can pick up smaller little pieces to a song fairly easily. Maybe the treble area could be a bit more detailed but in truth, this set gives me everything I could want. The treble is a bit more smoothed over and truthfully, I like this tuning. Plus, if I’m not critically listening and simply casually listening to music as one would… who really cares. However, completing a review, I have to critically hear as best I can to hopefully help someone in a purchasing decision. In truth, critical listening is not my favorite way to listen to music. The Hook makes this easy on me though as the Bass has above average details and texture and the Midrange follows that with an even more detailed presentation.



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Conclusion

Boy what a set. The Hook seems to do everything very well. Obviously, you have to agree with this type of tuning to appreciate it. Also, it’s very obvious that the guy reviewing this set right now happens to agree with it. I like fun, I like a dynamic yet controlled sound, I like a more natural sound that isn’t veiled even in thee slightest. Also, I like to hear an iem which can play at a rapid-fire pace, or just as easily slow down and capture the soft mood in a moment. Timbre, tonality, musicality, dynamics, staging and resolution are all qualities which the Hook-X performs well in. Not to mention it’s nice to look at and built seemingly very well.

Thank You

Fellas and Ladies, I really want to thank anyone who chose to read anything that I write. I truly love to explain what I hear and to do it in a way that I leave nothing on the table. Leave it all on the field so to speak. Maybe one day I’ll get better at it. We have a great community of people in this hobby of ours and I do enjoy helping one another out. Ultimately though, it’s all about the music and the endless pursuit to find better ways to best enjoy that music.

I can only explain from my perspective, with my gear and with my knowledge base. I may not be the most knowledgeable, but I am the most knowledgeable that I’VE ever been in this hobby, and in time I will only learn and grow more. This is the hope for us all. As I always say, please read, listen to, or watch other reviewers with other perspectives. We all hear different, like different signatures and maybe have different gear so take that into account as well. I hope the best for all of you, please take care as best you can and thank you for reading.
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itwasluck
itwasluck
This was a very detailed review! I can't help but think about the LCD-2C when you mention how these are able to "play like a chameleon". Seeing as these are planar, they should respond to EQ just as well as the LCD-2C (hopefully). I'm not into IEMs but I have already placed an order for these! When I listen to music, I want to enjoy the experience not be fatigued after a short session. These should complement the LCD-2Cs quite well!
EDIT: The Hook-X are insanely good, I've never had an IEM that made me NOT miss my Audezes! And thankfully these are also really good for gaming unlike the LCD-2Cs.
D
David Haworth
What an excellent review. I know what they sound like now!

zenki

500+ Head-Fier
Raptgo Hook X - What a weirdo
Pros: - Cable
- Excellent Fit
- Overall sound
- Imaging
Cons: - Details may be lacking a bit
- Treble
TL;DR
This thing sucks power.

Package
IEM, Tips, 0.78mm modular cable, crappy pouch, modular plugs etc2x.

Build
Full Metal build. Nice and solid.
Excellent fit too which is unexpected. Definitely a big plus.

Cable
Pretty good cable. Good looking + modular.

First thought/What to expect
Fist planar + Open back. Not sure what to expect. Chin slider works.

SOUND
Bass
Right planar bass. Lets get into it. Hmm not sure what too say. Quality wise it's quite good but
quantity is mixed. In some tracks it sounds alright, in some it lacks impact but in others it has a tad too much? How bizarre. Generally it's on the light side. Bass got speed though which is good.

Mids
No issue whatsoever. No harshness, peakiness etc2x. Pure simple natural sound. No. not smoothen sound; Natural. However, this can have the opposite effect eg. electric guitars lack the 'zing' energy but it's not a biggie really. Vocals are good, which can be further complemented by the techs. Instruments also pretty well done.

Treble
The treble presence is the kinda weak which is surprising. Not sure why it's like this. Maybe it's designed this way to complement the planar driver or due to open-back?
As for micro-details, we need to separate them into majority and minority. Most IEMs will try show the majority but this set seems to do the opposite. The result is that the majority sounds weak & lacking (but still there), while there will be a minority that you haven't heard before but it's very rare. It doesn't have any issue such as sibilance etc.

Techs
The freak of the show. This set is rather clean sound quality and has an overall natural sound.

Sound stage
The soundstage itself is pretty wide. The height is also pretty tall. Not your average chi-fi but it's not fixed. Depth is available too but generally it's not that deep.

Imaging
It's really a variable. Tracks can sound close suggesting lack of depth but it's doesn't feel like in front of speaker placement either. So it does have depth or some sort. Depending upon the track, vocals can come forward closer to you which makes you appreciate the quality. On a certain track, the vocal actually comes out behind your head. Normally vocal stays in front and comes to you like speaking with another person. But not this one, no. This time it's like you both merge into one and the other party do the talking. So the sounds flow out behind your head instead of receiving them in front. Some instruments can also (be forced to) appear behind the ear. It makes me wonder if the imaging axis are shifted. But it's definitely not the case because other songs sounds normal.

The overall soundstage & imaging can sometime sound close to you where it normally doesn't.
It also has somewhat incomplete 360 audio? The rear low region behind the ear is exceptional. One track actually managed to produce a sensation of ants crawling on skin. Unreal.
However the other region are not as good. They feel rather weak or incomplete. It's such a pity.
Make no mistake though, most IEM may not even be able to produce this kind of imaging.

Lastly, there will usually be at least one thing that will stand out in a track, whether it's the vocals, plucking strings, sound effects etc. There's something mysterious that will attract you to this IEM. Not sure what it is but there's something alluring within.

Itsy Bitsy Tips
Didn't use.

FR
Later or never.

Comparison
vs. Sora2.
Not really a fair comparison but Sora2 owns the treble. Everything else is Hook-X.

vs Miyabi. Hook-X has a better low rear field and maybe a slight edge in vocals. Else, it's all Miyabi.

vs. EST50. EST50 has an edge in treble, vocals, soundstage width and height. Hook-X owns the imaging.

Closing thought
This set definitely has an up and down qualities built into one. It's rather unpredictable.
So the 101 question is:
Would you keep this IEM? Of course because it's a bizarre creature.

Verdict
Hmm... 3/5 is too low, 5/5 is a no go. 4/5 doesn't seem right either

Redcarmoose

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: New sound possibilities as a result of new driver technologies
Bone conduction
Piezoelectric technology
Planar technology
Full open-back technology
This is the future kids
Cons: Does not add anything to poorly recorded music, but plays things as they are
If I had a dream.....
RAPTGO HOOK-X

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RAPTGO arrived on the scene awhile back with a 4 Knowles all Balanced Armature model, the GR 40CP, and the GR DR3H hybrid model............consisting of 2BAs and a DD. Priced at $169.99 and 129.99 respectively, they didn’t really make a mark on the highly crowded and competitive modern day IEM market.

While strangely the company has named itself as a medical technology company! Or maybe it's actually a medical technology company who makes IEMs on the side?


Minami Medical Technology (Guangdong) Co. Ltd.

But I can tell you........from here on out they have made a mark. I mean who would be smart enough, brave enough or stupid enough to mix a Custom Made 14.2mm Planar Magnetic Driver and Custom 18 Layer Double-Sided PZT (Piezoelectric) Driver?

It has never been done, ever.......until now!


Now if that wasn’t unique enough for you............they also did something else totally original, they made the IEM open-back.


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The thing has a real working open-back design!

Now I’ll never forget hearing about the arrival of this strange duck. When it was first introduced it was introduced as “New Concept-New Attempt” as experimental as that sounded, the name was quickly revamped into "Novel Concept-Precise Execution". Not only were those descriptions changed but the HOOK-X went from oddball to inventive all with-in a short time.

It went from Strange and Possibly Bad to Strange and Wonderful all in a week!

What I mean is "The HOOK" had the kind of sarcasm attached to anything you could imagine being 1/2 Planar 1/2 Piezoelectric! You know all great ideas are met with doubt until they work out. The car was at first laughed at, the airplane, ridiculous at first.

So I’ll be the first one to stand up and say bravo! Not only is this 100% great sounding, it’s mature sounding.
Oh, by the way I forgot another amazing 1/2 way unbelievable add. It’s got Bone Conduction too!
Ok so let’s add this up....

Planar

Piezoelectric
Open-back
Bone Conduction


Oh, and it’s black/grey and green, with a black and green cable. But if that still wasn’t enough for you, it comes with some new style of cable which comes with adapters for 2.5mm balanced, 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced. Not only that but it comes with a total of 9 sets of ear tips, a nice storage case.

I went though an interesting journey upon testing it out. At first it was totally without bass, the sound slowly becoming thicker as burn-in hours passed. At around 50 hours the true personality started to emerge. I didn't really loose my cool till the 85 hour mark. At approximately 85 burn-in hours the proverbial jaw then dropped!

Jaw Dropped!


First off I just want to say that every new IEM is met with suspicion and distrust. It’s only upon finding out the magical properties of music replay that such an item gets loved and respected!

Love and respect!

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RAPTGO HOOK-X
If you purchase from Linsoul you also get free world-wide shipping, and a 1 year warranty.
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C

$239.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/raptgo-hook-x

Disclaimer:
The RAPTGO HOOK-X was sent to me by Kareena Tang of Linsoul in exchange for this review.



Planar + Piezoelectric Drivers Hybrid IEM
  • Novel Concept, Precise Execution
  • Custom Made 14.2mm Planar Magnetic Driver
  • Custom 18 Layer Double-Sided PZT Driver
  • Open-Back Design
  • Interchangeable Connector Cable

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Driver: 14.2mm Planar drive+Double-faced 9-layer PZT drive
Wear Type: In-ear
Sensitivity(1KHz): 105dB SPL/mW
Frequency range: 20Hz- 40KHz
Impedance(1KHz): 15Ω
Audio interface: 0.78mm - 2.5mm/3 5mm/4.4mm
Earphone cable length: 1.25m
Packing List:
RAPTGO HOOK.X Earphones*1
0.78 2pin OCC Silver Plated Coaxial Shielded Wire + 2.5mm/3.5mm/4.4mm Plugs
Earphones Bag* 1
Headphone Silicone Sleeves*3 (S M L)
Warranty Card And Instructions*1

In August of 2021 there was a Youtube video introducing the 7HZ Timeless IEM. This “Planar” was a new take implementing a 14.2mm planar membrane. Needless to say the 7Hz became a legend in our industry. Soon to follow was the Shuoer S12, a 14.8 Planar membrane. It too became the talk of legends. These two Planar IEMs have really laid the groundwork for this next new-generation of IEMs. If the 7Hz Timeless or Shuoer S12 are truly better, it will have to wait for another day as I’ve never heard the the two.

HOOK-X Planar:
The two N52 magnets suspend the ribbon driver. The magnets and 14.2mm Planar driver are custom in-house made as is the Piezoelectric driver. Simply stated, the mass of the ribbon is lower which results is extreme responsiveness in comparison to BA or DD technologies. Thus this magic ribbon results in better transients and response times. The frequency response at 20Hz to 40kHz.............becomes somewhat of an enigma! The trick here is we are copying regular full-size open-back planar headphones by using open-back design. This in itself makes the RAPTGO HOOK-X stand out, by design description anyway!

The open-back design philosophy creates a fatigue free listening environment due to relieving pressure on the ear-drum. The open-back character also cancels out any standing waves or vibration caught inside the shell. The 5-axis CNC shell guarantees precision alignment of constituents, resulting in construction variations kept at a minimum. The 0.78mm 2-pin cable jacks mean easy switch-ability..................if you want to roll cables. But more than that a modular plug system is in place so you never have to do cable changes. Use the included 2.5mm balanced connection for DAPs, use the included 3.5mm unbalanced if you want to go to a 6.5mm adapter then to a desktop. Also a 3.5mm output of course or 4.4mm balanced from your DAP or desktop.

Of course the included cable is OCC silver-plated with coaxial shielding offering dynamic results, questioning ever rolling cables. Amazingly the cable and IEM are color matched stifling OCD desires you may have.

Why did they do it?
A revolutionary juxtaposition of sound elements. Never before has anyone been brave enough, stupid enough or smart enough to merge these philosophies into one IEM shell. Supposedly it does work. But how well will it work for you? I will attempt to explain what is taking place.


Custom 18 Layer Double-Sided PZT Driver:
We have come in contact with this build philosophy a few times in the past. But what’s novel is merging it with a planar. Supposedly military technology comes into play here as a double sided-layer system is formed consisting of 18 ceramic piezo elements that come together to make a final “PZT” unit. My experience with the BQEYZ Spring 2 was my introduction to this new (in use) sonic technology. And while the Piezoelectric part really did well with the Spring2, offering a special window into guitar harmonics. The Spring 2 low end (which has nothing to do with Piezoelectric) was another story. When in fact after hearing the way Piezoelectric was which was truly kinda like EST technology, but was offering a softer edge. In truth I liked the tone of the top-end, though would have to wait for a year and a half for someone (RAPTGO) to merge the Piezoelectric technology with Planar technology and make it real!

Piezoelectric is slightly fuzzy in contrast to BA, DD and Planar technology. What they are in-fact trying to do is a treble response which offers an alternative to the steely BA character.

This venture is basically looking for correct timbre and instrument tone. But the kicker is mixing it with a full open-back design, so we bypass any threat of standing waves or driver reverberations.

Did I mention Planar Technology yet..............just kidding!

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The Music:
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Daft Punk TRON: Legacy OST 44.1 kHz - 16 bit
Rinzler:

At only 2 minutes 17 seconds in total, this “song” is almost only a sound demo. It has been ages since I saw this movie, but I play this soundtrack all the time. While the beginning is “shot-up” with giant percussion......which actually sounds live. We are then met with a wash of high-pitched synth placed on the outskirts of the stage, adjacent to a syncopated low-end synth centered in the middle. The high pitch synth actually sounds like a vocal sample and we are delighted to be able to comprehend such with the HOOK-X. There is also strings that subtlety accompany the toned down syncopated synth, showing us the timing and pace here at the 44 second mark. Yet the meat and potatoes starts up at 46 seconds. This is actually the complete focus of the song, and probably what ends the most memorable facet presented, arguably? The fact the the HOOK-X has (so far) been a fine player of all aspects. Funny how even though well recorded this piece can come across (with other transducers) pressed up against-a-wall or too intense! Today though we encounter the HOOK-X weaving a pleasant tale, for us.

Though I have to say this recording is highly distorted at times. It's like the process of recording a live orchestra and synthesizers was too much to actually put down on tape. They just went ahead and let everything become too hot maybe, or they thought the red-line effect was cool? What ever the story we can at least enjoy this masterwork for the sounds and musical ideas, even though the recording process is questionable, if not revolutionary!

It goes without saying that this style of music is designed to draw emotion. The fact that it borders on sensory overload, is an understatement. This is in no way, shape or form background music, it just is not! Such demands are tolerated but maybe here we are given sonic-relief? The fact that this musical example truly showcases the forgiveness present in our HOOK-X replay.

Strangely though not blue, but Fluorescent Green, the RAPGO HOOK-X actually looks futuristic like something a TRON character would wear! The air-holes on the faceplate.............the curves of the shell.........the colored beveled trim....................would all be a prop/fit-in with this movie. The cable is matching the color trends too, a spiral of black/green thread separates a construction.

Again another signpost that we are in the future too, just like the TRON Arena. The fact that this headphone cable has been crafted as an intertwining spiral with the right and left signals completely encased in their own glowing fabric encasement!

At 46 seconds the real bass hits, and while it has impact it’s kinda this whole flowing mood, where nothing is too abrupt, even though it is spectacularly an abrupt musical piece. This is maybe the magic at hand? The fact that everything is slightly sanded down to a digestible level. Not bad in any way, but smooth!

But more importantly I hear the bass emphasis that is the skeletal framework here......walking the pace. With Sony Hybrid Tips the bass is perfect and even slightly better than the included tips, in my opinion. Also any hint of that blanket of distortion making the HOOK-X sound almost low-res, has been removed. What happened was the “rough” midrange was lowered into the lower midrange and any hint of that fizzy/fuzzy stuff was pleasantly removed!

We now find the bass to be our tale teller. As this musical story unfolds we are taken to places of drama. Within this small song is in-fact a world, an entire world of knowing. Knowing the subtle aspects as they are presented and feeling the experience. What is happening is the violins are in syncopation with the bass. Of course this is in a way........the whole soundtrack...............at least the musical ideas we remember. But more important than generalization of the music, we are now right in the middle. At one minute 9 seconds it seems maybe all this is math. Do Daft Punk have a method to their madness? Of course they do!

At one minute 20 seconds we are now shown a high pitched (treble) shaker! As a new sonic addition we are presented with a subtle brilliance. And I can’t help but find the separation here unique. The fact that it comes in sounding almost like it was there all along. But of course these guys know exactly what they are doing. This small rhythm was a planned add, that would be used to show a style of climax in the piece. And the fact that the HOOK-X was guilty of portraying it perfect. Just perfect!

Because when well done, it’s all in the details. Then the drums again from the beginning are used. But they are actually the same drums used in other places. Just the fact that the drums are used in the song previously “Arena”............should be of no surprise. It’s as if these songs where cut up from a larger musical presentation, that in fact this whole thing all runs together like some giant live show! And not only that but “Arena” (the song prior) has the same DNA. There is a method here. A repeated theme with the drums. Still none of that takes away from the unique experience “Rinzler” is. The fact that this song has a pace emphasis where there is a give and take. Some kind of breathing is going on. It’s alive!

Yet it is all incredibly simple. It’s maybe like the very first thing you learned to play on the piano? But before you know it, it’s now the real climax at 1 minute 55 seconds...............fully following flowing into saturation and actual recorded distortion. Still this has a place with the RAPTGO HOOK-X, being total entertainment. Somehow everything is packaged up for consumption, all is tolerable, nothing too much, when this seems like it could maybe almost......be too much!

This is of of course the result of electronics and an 85 piece orchestra recorded at AIR Lyndhurst Studios in London.

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Daft Punk TRON: Legacy OST 44.1 kHz - 16 bit
Outlands:

I could very well be accused of being too myopic choosing another TRON song..............so be it. Truly though the RAPTGO HOOK-X are in their element. I simply like the way the low end is presented. The fact that it has dimensions of tone. This is why we are here, at Head-Fi anyway. To experience this stuff the way it was meant to be heard.

Even before the 32 second “blast” we hear what sounds like a supporting set of violins....way off to the right. Now of course orchestras “talk” to themselves. But this sound is not reverb. It’s maybe the resonance of slower delay in instruments? What ever it is it’s singularly fantastic. And I’m not even 30 seconds in! Now I hear it better, there is another accompaniment that is of stings! Of course. It’s a style of synchronization or syncopation.... I’m not a classically schooled at this....only enjoying it all!

I will say the RAPTGO HOOK-X walks a fine line. That line contains detail and seems to go right to the edge of too hot, but it never is. They seem to have this FR down nowadays? The fact that with “Outlands”..............the cello counterparts the big bass drop in drums. But the best part too, is the decay.............that you can truly experience the orchestral decay..............and it sounds exactly right. At the climax at 2 minutes 16 seconds there are three musical elements made of three sections of the orchestra.

So you have a burst of violins and cello and drums and yes, they are in conversation, yet they would almost be fighting now. Fighting but also in-synchronized harmonic fashion. OK, they are not actually fighting but yelling. This yelling is all good! As the next song “Adagio for TRON” is a homecoming for the theme. Reintroducing the main theme once more. But that’s another song in this soundtrack for another IEM on another day!


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The Cure-Faith 44.1 kHz - 16 bit
All Cats are Gray

One of my favorites pieces of music to review IEMs. This release came out in April of 1981. Being both classic and representative of the time, it showcases both an incredible instrumental performance and vocal statement. We find “The Cure” in their infancy and arguably their best form. Robert Smith vocalist was just transitioning into use of the six string bass guitar though supposedly Smith here only does vocals, keyboards and piano. We are first introduced to the pace of the song via heavily reverberated drums. Interestingly enough this type of drum sound was really the sound of the times. Especially showcased in the Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” from the same year........these sounds really were new in 1981. Obviously the Cure is not Phil Collins and their drums are not Phil Collins drums.......plus it sounds like a drum machine with reverb. This was more underground.....and unpopular. Here once more we are met with the 9 second mark recording artifact. This small “sssss” sound I use to judge detail and resolution in IEMs. It’s maybe a dirty knob movement or microphone cord? Just a 1/2 second sound to let us know we are hearing detail.............because if this sound is not heard, we are in trouble.

What is great about the HOOK-X is the cymbal detail. The fact that at one minute 9 seconds we get the second major cymbal crash. Such are the songs signposts. Funny too as there are cymbal treatments where the tail end of the reverberations fall into a slight sound that actually sounds like angry-cats. Like cats making a slight screeching sound....like cats maybe outside? This of course sounds faint....but they are there. Often recording engineers will use strange recording techniques to surprise the listener. It would not be too much of a stretch to guess they did something unrecognizable to the cymbals.......like dipping them in water or hitting them with power-tools to create this surprising sound. I don't know how they did it, but (not knowing) is half the fun. It's this level of detail that's a delight with the HOOK-X.

You have to wonder how the creation of the actual ACaG recording took place? A couple attempts to get it on tape previously produced boredom...............though somehow magic was discovered upon this final take? Maybe it’s the details? Maybe it's the cats in the cymbals? But whatever it is there is still a nonchalant vibe here. Like they could care less about the fact that it WAS being recorded. Maybe the song was recorded way too many times......? The facts are that they changed recording studios. This seems to be the one take that will forever be special.

Then we hear the two separate synths finding their true separation with the HOOK-X. And the bass.....it’s part this song from the start. A maybe more laid back rendition of bass, yet totally musical. Though the bass emphasis and subtle changes can be heard in their entirety. That’s what is maybe special about planars, the fact they reproduce the instruments slightly different. The fact they are more integrated together......... like a sanded down perspective? Yet those drum machines also have space. The piano has a subtle floating aspect that sounds so natural...........though I don’t think I ever heard it quite this way before? It’s composite in that the instruments are all both in tune and timbre, yet parts make it out of the union. The emphasis is just that...........an emphasis with the HOOK-X and it’s soft and responsive. The velvety way Robert Smith’s voice is introduced. His voice isn’t necessarily that far out-front, just like all the rest, it’s somehow coherent............and cohesive, yet linear in attack. There is almost no front and center to the vocals? But none of it is wrong, it’s just right really? A blend, maybe even more blended than I’ve ever heard this song......a more connected way. The tail-ends and decay of Robert Smiths voice.........and we can hear multiple tracks; the fact that he of course is singing along with himself. He almost doesn’t sing very much in this song, his few words are maybe expensive and......... and not to be waisted.

I never thought that I would find myself
In bed amongst the stones
The columns are all men
Begging to crush me
No shapes sail on the dark deep lakes
And no flags wave me home
In the caves
All cats are gray
In the caves
The textures coat my skin
In the death cell
A single note

Rings on and on and on


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The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
44.1 kHz - 16 bit (Polydor Ltd. UK, 833 736-2)

I chose this album not because the sound goes with the HOOK-X, even though it does. But because it represents a paradigm shift to the tectonic plates. A shift in popular culture.

A shift to open-back designs
A shift to Planar
A shift to Piezoelectric


Frankly the rest.............................is history. Sorry (other) IEM companies.


Much like the HOOK-X......... Arthur Brown was an unknown, but formed upon the grassroots of culture. It was his apparent strangeness that caught hold, and the wild juxtaposition of elements in-which his fame somehow formed?

Here an older song results in a just "OK" sound, nothing special, or nothing bad. Some transducers gussy up the tones, though here we are left with the true reality of music.

So to get to the bottom of why older music sounds just “OK” is due to the transducers just playing back the reality of the signal. That and we are on the faster and thinner side of the fence anyway. But the stereo rendition of “Fire” plays back with consummate “fun”. There is a passage before the actual song where Vincent Crane does a Hammond C-3 performance! It goes without saying that Vincent’s Hammond is the perfect accompaniment to the album. With all that Arthur Brown is known for..........arguably Vincent Crane’s contribution to the mood is crucial. Yet just like the HOOK-X, Arthur Brown is basically unstoppable. Being an egomaniac maybe? Or just really egocentric........we are gifted with this otherworldly performance. A swirling take on an audio-journey complete with poetic narrative and splendor. Somehow an unexpected progression into the ultimate core of 1968 Psychedelic Rock. While produced by Kit Lambert and Pete Townsend.....no one truly knew how big of a splash the album would make on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean! And while many would single this out as a one hit wonder, many are still under the spell all these years later!

"Fire"
I am the god of hellfire and I bring you
Fire, I'll take you to burn
Fire, I'll take you to learn
I'll see you burn
You fought hard and you saved and earned
But all of it's going to burn
And your mind, your tiny mind
You know you've really been so blind
Now's your time, burn your mind
You're falling far, too far behind
Oh no, oh no, oh no!
You're gonna burn
Fire, to destroy all you've done
Fire, to end all you've become
I'll feel you burn
You've been living like a little girl
In the middle of your little world
And your mind, your tiny mind
You know you've really been so blind
Now's your time, burn your mind
You're falling far, too far behind
Oooh
Fire, I'll take you to burn
Fire, I'll take you to learn
You're gonna burn
You're gonna burn
You're gonna burn, burn, burn, burn,
Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn
Fire, I'll take you to burn
Fire, I'll take you to learn
Fire, I'll take you to bed

Fire, I'll take you, fire

The stuff you get:

  • RAPTGO HOOK-X Earphones
  • 0.78 2pin OCC Silver Plated Coaxial Shielded Wire + 2.5mm/3.5mm/4.4mm Plugs
  • Earphones Bag
  • Headphone Silicone Tips (S M L)
  • Warranty Card And Instructions

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Really I view all three sets of tips falling into the medium sonic character, which may be perfect for folks. So you have black inner rings, green and clear. Each set finds themselves to be both a nice shape as well as having an incredibly gummy texture. They fit great, are very well made while each bestowing a “tuning” unique to each color. Though you may want to look outside the given collection for wider bore (imaging/treble) tips or super narrow bore (bass) tips.

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Form-Factor:
Everything about the build in fine. They are not that heavy, but a nice weight. They don't really leak sound, the cable is not microphonic. One of my favorite parts probably is that they are made from metal. The 2 pins are in the perfect position for cable rolls. All and all I give the form-factor a perfect 10/10.

But probably the best part is simply how they fit. The included tips as well as aftermarket tips have a freedom of positioning to arrive at placement success.

They even do really well to block outside sounds. I guess this would be due to having a lot of material inside the shells between your ears and the outside world?

The nozzles hold tips on really well. There has been particular design effort on just how the included tips seem to match the nozzle shape? Such a discovery shows just how advanced we have become from only a few short years ago.

Bone Conduction:
It’s interesting as you really don’t notice the effect of bone conduction till it’s removed. Meaning it’s in hindsight that you seem to miss it. It’s a subtle way that the IEMs get an add in listening. It’s a set of lower frequencies that you can tell are not coming from your ear drums. But especially noted when you return to regular IEMs without it. It’s not a gimmick but another add, that simply enhances the bass character.


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So, you made it this far.....what about the sound?
The Sound:

Bass
I’m not going to fully go into how I got to this point, but the HOOK-X has 85 hours burn-in and the sound has both added thickness and maturity. Somehow during that time the imaging became clearer and soundstage became wider. I don’t want to tell you about the labor pains..............only show you the baby!

The Bass Experience:

Both clear and analog. Being well defined, sculpted, fast and pure. I know those are a lot of adjectives, well try the HOOK-X and you will see for yourself. It’s not that anything is disjointed somehow, that everything is coming from the same grocery store. Yet there is separation and elements which are defined. At first there really wasn’t all that much bass. I even accused the HOOK-X of being thin and airy, never to alter or blossom-out. But no.........the HOOK-X proved me wrong, becoming all grown-up with a full-example of character. The fact is the bass bumps and scales and does it all just the way we want it. Any ineptness has been left at the doorsteps.

In fact this is great fast-bass at any price point. What? Any dollar value. Maybe it’s that bone conduction or something. Truly I don’t know? My job is not to know only to explain.

The bass has a pure, fast and a position in the soundstage which is agile yet not totally thick, meaning I’ve heard thicker DD bass, but that’s not the point. Here we are gifted with a faster, nimble and almost transparent, yet real bass. The attacks are legendary as the leading edge cuts through and is always heard. All this means that the quantity is right, even though leaving room for all the rest of instruments to be heard.

There is a politeness to everything that takes the cake.


Just the right amount of decay and reverb, which maybe means it’s faster than other methods of producing bass, yet it’s all good. A stripped down and still “there” bass. All I can say is the word Planar, and hope you may get the clue? As it’s a different neighborhood we are visiting, and not exactly a place I’ve been to before. Probably the way the bass pushes into the music, that fact that it comes and goes with additional precision and still has texture. Though the texture isn’t big and totally tactile, it’s almost invisible at times, but that is in-fact which makes it unique. The fact that it caresses the midrange in ways never before thought possible. So there is really no occlusion going on. No frequency is being stifled or smeared in the mids.

It’s the tale of the perfect neighbor who knows and understands his boundaries!

The Midrange Experience:

At the start I really thought these were all about a dynamite midrange, and in a way they still are. But really the full-spectrum is represented. The fact that it’s all just so attached.............somehow fused together, and because the treble and bass are in a way attachments to the main “thing” the midrange, it still seems like more mids, mistakenly.

But the true love of the HOOK-X is still for the love of mids.

I mean that’s where it all goes down, the midrange. Yet there are those embellishments which always take place outside the midrange, those upper treble areas, those lower (bass) realms that seem like they are not really as low or as high (as normal) due to the cohesiveness! If that even makes sense? Meaning the magic here is that nothing seems like it’s the odd tone or even a need in any one frequency, yet it still seems like it’s all midrange. All.

Like the treble has now joined forces into the mids, that the bass (while still low) has now (also) joined the mids strangely enough. All is one!

Again, I guess this is the Planar experience? The personality is unique yet totally accessible. The music is different but still very natural, like getting your first glass of water on vacation in a new country. Same, same but uniquely different, but still water. As natural as water is, when it does have a character.........but that character is just the unique glass your experiencing at that place in time. But the question here is cost. These are $239.00, and how do you quantify that single aspect. I really have lost track of price. Concentrating of qualities which are beside the point. When normally price is always a critical factor, I guess because these are such an enigma, that I forgot about the price?

Could they be my only IEMs? Yes, gloriously they could.

They can actually do it all. The way I test this is fairly simple. I just take a look at a list artists on my DAP and run down the list. I keep playing different genres until I get to where it’s doesn’t sound right. Though here there is only 1980s stuff that sounds thin simply because the mastering is thin. Any notice of diminished interaction, so it’s the song file, not the IEMs. At the same time you actually want that style of honesty, as it’s showing what’s up.

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The Treble Experience:
96 kHz - 24 bit Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

"Beautiful Lie"


This is maybe out of character but I want to use a song to explain the treble. This album was in-fact the creative work of one of Head-Fi’s very own members. In charge of the total sound of the movie..........was his responsibility. Though this album would have been a favorite anyway..............even if I did know someone who worked on it.

This starts out with attacks being whole composites of sounds, though they quickly pass and we are left to explore a simple piano theme. Taking place on the upper registers of a piano, we are almost stifled as to the simplicity of it all. It holds a musical passage though.......... maybe this start is meant to show a character's vulnerability? Normally superheroes are about strength, but here? Challenging the stereotype?

Such is the contrast to the very start..........this contrast causes both aspects of the beginning to contain even more a variation of perceived character.

Even the title is maybe meant to show things are not what they seem on the surface. The HOOK-X not only works to show those slight keys, but the dramatic washes that accompany the keys make them even more vibrant in contrast. There is a backwards introduction to the theme. The song is truly a start of a movie soundtrack..............as the creation seems as if it was first made as an improvisational piece, but of course it’s not. The HOOK-X provides the single vocal statement and hearing it, it becomes a surprise being another level of treble. The choir is really a single voice never multiplying into anything other than a single expression of an individual. Once again we are asked to comprehend this single lonely start. As if it’s only one individual against the world. And we are left with this panning synth wash way-up-high, just as in the beginning the song circles back to it’s origin. Only this time we are missing the bells, somehow the bells were witness to the start? No need for bells.............as this is the end of the song. In our memory is the main theme..................really primarily the violins and synth washes, as the song ends.

The Sound In General:
We as reviewers are supposed to listen and report back. Only we are venturing into the unknown. We are putting these things we never had in our ears....in our ears. We are describing sound. First off the HOOK-X actually never got really good till 50 hours, though in hindsight it still wasn’t broken in. If you don’t believe me stop reading, I truly don’t care. At 85 hours the HOOK-X was a whole new beast. The reason I’m describing all this is truly you will not know what you have till at least 85 hours of continuous play. Then and only then you can say I told you so. Because I just did! You yourself will know too!

The HOOK-X is a masterpiece. Beyond anything you can grasp for the USD $239.00. Why? Simply because it’s super super clear. The way it does clear is with fantastic positioning. The musical elements are actually pretty far outside. But not just that, the instrument tone and timbre is correct. I’m actually looking for negatives, but there are none. Silly me, I sound like a fool. But I could get rid of everything and simply ride of into the sunset with the HOOK-X. I know those are pretty big words........yes....I just wrote them. They are that good.

Though to be fair here they need the best files in your library to be their best. They simply respond with what they have to work with, that’s all. A window into your own big musical world. I’m grateful to have this opportunity. It’s life changing, really it is. And before I forget I will try to describe what’s going on. Sure there has to be something up. I mean there is no way a $239.00 headphone can be total endgame? Can it? Can it? There are no more “if you like this” or “only with this genre” or “only if you like this style of bass” or whatever! I think they call it an absolute.

.......not qualified or diminished in any way; total.

Because folks it’s 2022. And this is the kinda surrealism that’s going on. Don’t believe me? Think I’m making this up? Buy a pair. When I heard other reviewers say there is nothing bad to say about the HOOK-X, I thought they were just saying that. I didn’t realize they absolutely mean it?

The sound in general..........is totally a new paradigm.
So what’s going on here is we are truly surrounded by sound. So the detail that gets found is simply due to the imaging leaving room and actual space between sound elements. The bass walks this line where certain tones actually travel out to a different area of the soundstage. I’m not sure if the music was mixed this way, or it’s just the character we are working with? But I truly never heard my library like this. So try to imagine a song you know............only supersized. Due to everything being bigger you now gain perspective to be able to experience more. You can aurally see into the music better than before. There are no downsides to this phenomenon, this is not a question of giving up anything at all. At first I did hear a slight blanket of distortion that was perceived as fuzz. After I switched to Sony Hybrid Tips that all went away. Burn-in brought a wider soundstage, as well as slight smoothness. But the other thing that happened was I guess the Planar drivers and maybe the Piezoelectric drivers somehow became not only smoother but their sound output was then showcased with world class imaging. It’s the kind of imaging that would make a normal audiophile sit down and ask for a big glass of water. It challenges all you have ever learned or know about audio.......and even that is an understatement. It’s just something new due to the four concepts already gone over.
  1. Bone Conduction
  2. Piezoelectric Drivers
  3. Planar Drivers
  4. Open-back shells
I can’t over emphasize the difference that these ideas make. But all put together they seem to enhance each other’s normal intrinsic value? The end result may cause your significant other to gain a great loss of attention due to increased listening times. That’s what happened to me!

It’s not that any of your music sounds different.............but in a way it does. The arraignment of positioning may in fact be subtlety different except because it’s fabulous you never notice any reposition of sound elements.

Stuff is detailed, crystal-clear and fast! Really fast! Maybe just slightly less physicality, but the trade off is nimbleness and agility!

The effect is just hearing more. Especially this trait becomes known in the vocal areas. As when higher detail is arranged for the vocals you start to notice how many variations there are. They of course were always there except never revealed. The phenomenon that is super noticeable is pace.

Because the sound elements are removed just as fast as the were created, there is now more room for new additions.

This dealing with the time element means that transient components are first rate. So these gifts are all across the board. Though to try and at least try to throw rocks, there are way more IEMs which do better with decays and reverberated elements. That single issue is in the reverb.........where the instruments actually can come off as sounding a hair thin.

Also truly maybe all tones could be perceived as going up a notch in tone due to this loss of physicality. But again it takes a lot of searching to not take the HOOK-X performance at face value, with-out being critical. I can only imagine the young-ins who will be blown away at the playback......and due to their naivety may take years to find fault here. So maybe these are possessing attributes of smaller book-shelf speakers and maybe not the giant floor-standers? Still the illusion is thick and potent!


Conclusion:
First off......this sound is the exact reason I love this price bracket. Reason being is every once in a while you hit oil, you find gold, you stumble upon a four leaf clover. I truly admire this level of replay at any price. I’ll say it again, this sound is special at any price. So why again do I like this price bracket? Because anyone can make $1000 sound good. Well not everyone, but there is more of a chance your going to hit pay dirt with an expensive purchase. The riddle.....the confusion here.....comes from the magic in that this cost $239.00! Now still $239.00 is a lot of money, especially if you don’t like the sound! But if you do truly groove with what the HOOK-X is doing (and you will) then it’s money wisely spent. I know I’m into IEMs, so maybe you think I like all kinds of signatures? And I do, but the HOOK-X is truly one of a kind. It’s unique and maybe slightly different but different in the most like-able of ways. You see that’s all they are doing.....they are somehow able to stack up the special sauce and apply it with finesse.

With the HOOK-X RAPTGO knocked the ball out of the park. As a company they have included a quality build, a unique design, and a grouping of needed extras. Just the fact that the HOOK-X does music like no other IEM ever made, makes the decision to buy it a no-brainer.


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


Interestingly enough I used the Sony Hybrid Tips for the bulk of this review. Though upon reaching the 85 hour burn-in mark texture and bass seemed to bloom. There was an absolute thickness to be found. So finally after gaining total respect for RAPTGO/Minami Medical Technology (Guangdong) Co. Ltd....... I decided to try their included IEM tips once more. As fascinating and unbelievable as it sounds, the included tips actually showed promise. So much so that I can't really recommend going out and finding the rare discontinued Sony Hybrid Tips. Though maybe call it expectation bias, the Sony Hybrid Tips did sound slightly different than the included "green-ring" tips. This would make sense as the sound bore inside the Sony Hybrids are just slightly more narrow in construction.


Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm/3.5mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm/3.5mm
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
Apple iPhone




End of Review.
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itwasluck
itwasluck
Wow, this was a very in-depth review. I really hope they fit me well but ATM I am having trouble picking between these and the Z12s. I just want something similar to my LCD-2Cs but in IEM form.
Redcarmoose
Redcarmoose
itwasluck

Thank-you, It was a super-fun review to write..............I got carried away! :)

They should fit you as they seem to fit most people. Though take note, I was ridiculous in posting my first impressions in the HOOK-X thread. They (for me anyway) sounded way different after about 60 hours of burn-in. Where the bass started to become way more prominent. I should have the S12 PRO to review soon, I thought I would have them by now?
itwasluck
itwasluck
No problem, it just shows how much you care for sound quality. I have heard from others as well that these definitely need to be burned in before they start sounding how they "should". I look forward to your S12 Pro review, the Z12 has -2dB more bass but it should help me determine how I would feel about the Z12.

antdroid

Headphoneus Supremus
Interesting Driver Config + Analog Sound
Pros: Warm, cozy analog sound
Swappable connectors (all included)
Open-back shell design
Above average soundstage and imaging
Very comfortable design
Cons: Mid-range lacks detail and resolution
Lacks isolation, if you care about that
Cable can get tangled easily


The RAPTGO Hook-X is an interesting new hybrid IEM that mixes two less common driver technologies together along with an even rarer open-back shell to create an exciting and somewhat refreshing new product on the market. The Hook-X retails for $239 and is sold by online retailer Linsoul. The product page can be found here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/raptgo-hook-x

As you suspect, this product was provided free of charge from Linsoul for review. And with that, let's talk more about this new in-ear monitor that's gaining some momentum in the community.

The Hook-X is a semi-open back design that has several perforations on the faceplate allowing sound to travel in and out. This isn't nearly as open as the Audeze iSine Planar series of IEMs, nor is it even close to an open-back headphone. It also still isolates more than ear buds, but it does let some sound go through and that's something I personally have been wanting a while just for my personal awareness around me, and the ability to relieve any pressure build-up and heat.

Inside this unique shell houses a 14.2mm planar magnetic driver and a "custom 18-layer double-side piezoelectric driver." With that said, I don't believe this is the same type of PZT ceramic driver that is found on previous IEMs which, in every case I've tried, have been piercingly bright and obnoxious to use. Nope, this is a different beast. In fact, the product box says its a bone conductor driver.

Bone conductor, you say? Like the Unique Melody MEST series? Like Aftershokz? Perhaps. It is also a known fact that bone conductor drivers are piezoelectric as well. So, I think that may end this confusion. And how does it sound? Well, that's the interesting part, and I'll talk about that after I discuss some cables and accessories.




Yes, as per usual, this product comes with a bunch of tips, and a fake-leather gray zip-up case. It's actually a decent case with a pocket inside and plenty of space to store things.

The cable included is green, just like the accents of the shell, and the cable connectors and also share green accent rings as well. The green braided cloth sheathing has a glowing green look to it, and it does look pretty neat. In actual use, it can become a tangled mess at times, but not too bad and not too annoying.

The connectors at the shell are flush-mounting 2-pins, and the opposite source end is a swappable cable feature. Included are a set of standard 3.5mm, and balanced 4.4mm and 2.5mm modular connectors. This specific modular connector-type is similar to the ones found on a lot of the newer chi-fi products coming out, such as from Kinera, Tripowin, and TRN. I am not 100% sure they are interchangable, but they all feature a push/pull insertion method with 4 pin connectors, and aren't held by a mechanical locking mechanism. Either way, it extends the length of the source connection by about 1/3rd of an inch and is not too distracting.



Sound Impressions​

So about that bone conduction thingy: My first impression putting these on and playing a variety of indie rock music was essentially, "wow, this is different." I couldn't totally put into words exactly what I was hearing. It sounded tonally balanced, and nothing really bad to say overall about its frequency response, which later measured just as well. But, there was just something unique about how it sounded in the mid-range, which coincidentally reminded me quite a bit of listening to your normal, average bone conducting earphone, such as the ones made by Aftershokz.

I happened to have a set with me just two weeks back, and had quite a bit of time listening to one of them, so I did have that interesting playback and presentation of music recently pushed into my mind. Literally? It's a different sound if you have never heard it before. It plays music, but it comes across more soft, more grainy in a way, and is not anything I would call high-definition, high resolution audiophile sound.



The Hook-X's initial impression has that type of mid-range to me. In my first pass through with, again, a lot of indie rock, vocal-led guitar music. I put down the IEM and wrote down my impressions online, as a record.


My first impressions of the Hook is that it actually has a mid-range that reminds me of the softness and lower-resness of Aftershokz, which I have listened to recently within the last couple weeks. That said, its a pleasant sound, maybe too smoothed over, and missing exacting detail and edge. It's tonality is for the most part fine, it just presents sound a little softer and different. I wouldn't call this hi-res audio for some reason, but this is just my initial impressions after about an hour of listening. These are very comfortable to wear and the color of the cable is really nice. Connectors are also swappable.


After coming back and listening several times with this IEM throughout the past week, my impressions went from medicore, to not bad, to somewhat enjoyable, to "wow, I just listened to these for 4 hours straight and it's way too late in the evening!"

What changed? Nothing really. Well, I did get a new DAP in-between listening sessions and going from the Hiby R5 Saber to the iBasso DX240 is a pretty big jump in quality. But, I did quite a bit of listening on the Chord Mojo/Poly as well, so I can't say it's just do to the step-up in source quality.

I think the Hook-X can take a little bit of getting used to to really enjoy its presentation style and uniqueness that is a little different than the other two recent planar IEMs on the market making a splash right now. In those, I mean the 7Hz Timeless and the LetShuoer S12, which I both enjoy and recommended in the past.



The Hook-X has a much more analog, cozy, and comforting sound to it that is different than the faster, edgier, and more in your face, high-definition-like sound of the other two planars. It does not necessarily put out the best hi-res quality, but it's still an enjoyable listen and beats other IEMs in a few areas, which made me spend hours and hours at night listening to this IEM.

What it does bring is a somewhat natural, analog, and somewhat lively sound that has good imaging and a good sense of space and openness. This could be partially attributed to the open-back nature of the shell, but the frequency response may also play a bit into this with a less forward upper-mid-range than other IEMs. I was surprised that I was able to overlook the grainy nature of the mid-range, which is pretty important to me, and just chill-out and relax to hours of various rock and jazz music and even listening to some old skool R&B jams.

The treble is extended and while it doesn't have the most air of IEMs, it still has plenty of output in these extreme areas to provide proper sounding percussions and reed instruments, all while not sounding muted and congested.



Final Thoughts​

The HOOK-X puts together an interesting package. It cost just a tad more than its competition, but is one of the rare semi-open in-ears on the market. It has an interesting sound signature that originally I disliked, and as I listened more, you can say that it "hooked" me in.

If you're looking for something that is clear, crisp, and forward, with the sound and presentation that is fast and hi-definition, this isn't the one you're looking for. If you want a more low-key, cozy and an analog-feeling sound that is easy on the ears and willing to sacrifice clean and clear mid-range, this isn't a bad choice at all. Normally these "analog" type sounds turn out to be horribly tuned (outside of say the Vision Ears and Sony gears), but this one is did a surprisingly good job of drawing me in over time and making me enjoy it as a nice alternative to my normal listening pattern.
J
jmwant
Nice review. With all these planars coming up, I'm hopeful that someday soon we'd get timeless sq in a sub $100 planar.
Cecala
Cecala
No, I would prefer a new Timeless around the $400 mark. Imagine how good that would sound!!!
itwasluck
itwasluck
This is more my speed, I've had the LCD-2Cs for years and it's truly my end-game. I don't need anything else but then I got into IEMs recently and lets just say I'm quite happy with all the "planar war" going on because now I think I've found the perfect IEM alternative!
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