The Simphonio Dragon 2+ is the culmination of function and form. This is a top tier earbud that pushes the limits of its own design.
**Disclaimer, the Simphonio Dragon 2+ was provided for my honest review with the help of Penon Audio.**
https://penonaudio.com/simphonio-dragon-2plus.html
Brief History:
Simphonio is a fairly new name to the audiophile world, however the company behind it, Sunrise Audio, has been a player for a while now. Sunrise Audio has had past hits with the Dragon name before. Including the SW-Dragon and the newest SW-Dragon II. So, as you can tell, they like putting the Dragon name on their high end earbuds. Sunrise Audio has also produced some well reviewed earphones as well. That tradition continues with Simphonio's Xcited2. But this article is all about their best earbud.
Specifications:
- Brand: Simphonio
- Model: Dragon 2+
- Driver: 15.8mm Dynamic Neodymium magnet
- Frequency Response:20-25000 Hz
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Output Sound Pressure Level:110±3dB/mW
- Maximum Input Power:3mW
- Cable Length: 1.2M 6N OFC
- Weight: 14g
Contents:
- Simphonio Dragon 2+ Earphone
- 4 pairs of foam eartips
- 2.5mm female to 3.5mm male adapter
- Leather carry pouch
Th leather pouch with its embroidered logo, is quite premium in material and feel. I do wish for this price point that Simphonio added some alternate color foam eartips, like maybe a bronze to match the cord. Also, the addition of some earhooks would be a nice welcome as well.
Build:
The Dragon2+ takes the basic design of the earbud and pushes it to level 11. Starting from the bottom, the 2.5mm plug is crafted with precision as it extends itself with tough flexible strain relief. The 6N OFC copper cable is braided neatly from end to end. The Y splitter provides a nice added weight and uses the same casing as the 2.5mm plug. The housings themselves look to be just a simple black paint at first glance, but on further inspection, they have coating that projects a beautiful luster at close range.
The 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter includes the for mentioned 6N OFC braided cable. The black adapter piece while made from metal (and not from plastic as I first thought), is of solid construction, but it is angled design seems to stand out from the flow of the rest of the build. I would have also have liked to have seen a slightly more serious 3.5mm plug.
The Dragon2+ is a handsome earbud that looks the part of a luxury earbud.
Sound:
Before I breakdown the signature of the Dragon2+, I want to say that clarity is beyond impressive. The sound quality is silky smooth from top to bottom. This is an amazing earbud that can produce magical music representation.
I also want to say that I took the advice of Earbud Collector Extraordinaire @golov17 and burned in the Simphonio Dragon 2+ for just about 200 hours before doing any critical listening.
Bass - The lows are quite reserved and do take a backseat to the mids and highs. Tuning for this earbud was clearly focused for the mid-range. With the Dragon2+ you never have to worry about any bleeding from the lows. The restraint in the bass helps to give this earbud its clean character in playback. What is left over are lows that portray an authentic, yet subtle version of the original intention of the sound engineer.
Mids - As have already stated, the mid-range is showcased with the Dragon2+. Putting on "Sad Lisa" by Cat Stevens leaves a truly haunting impression. Vocals are accurate, strings are crisp and keys are powerful. Songs of this nature show off the extremes in transparency that this earbud is capable of producing.
Treble - Playing with the overall feel of cleanliness. The highs are a big part of the Dragon2+ signature. While the upper range is on full display and all of its glory I never found these earbuds to be overly harsh or bright. It gives you all the details without any of the pain or fatigue.
Soundstage - Wide, ultra wide. The Dragon2+ has wonderful depth and in return helps to provide great instrument separation.
Driving and Source Selection:
Being an earbud of this magnitude, one might assume that you would need a fancy rig to get the most out of the Dragon2+. While there is no denying that almost any product would befit from the highest quality sources, it really is not as big of a factor with this Simphonio earbud.
I used the Dragon2+ with a plethora of DAPs, Amps and DACs, I can tell you that this earbud excelled with every interaction. While I could go over each individual source in further detail, in the end it does not really matter. This is a very easy earbud to drive. One of the few I have tested over the years that just did not care if it was a $100 Micro DAP, or a $2000 DAC/Amp pairing. The Dragon2+ has its distinct sound signature that just makes the best possible impression with whatever I threw at it.
Comparisons:
*Note, the other earbuds in this comparison cost about 1/3rd the price.
One of my favorite earbuds of all time is Wong Kuan Wae's "Blur". I find it has an excellent close to neutral balance, also with great clarity. When listening back to back with the Dragon2+, the two both show great range. Though the Blur does include a more noticeable quality sub-bass, while the Dragon2+ has a hint of sparkle up top. Wong Kuan Wae's earbud is not finicky, but does like to be used with higher end, more powerful sources. Both of these show off why I am in love with earbuds with their palpable signatures.
Another interesting earbud is the NICEHCK EBX. It is in quite the contrast of the other earbuds in this comparison. The EBX is a full metal, detectable cable, heavy hitter. Build materials are top notch and heavy. Fit is very different from the light housings of the Dragon2+ and this can factor in when thinking about both comfort and extended use. Sound wise, while the EBX is pleasant and similar in signature to the Dragon2+, Though to my ears, the EBX lacks ultimate character that the Simphonio portrays.
Overall Thoughts:
The Dragon2+ is an expensive earbud. How does one justify this extravagance when looking to purchase? For me, it is their versatility to stay true to their designed tuning with all types of music and sources that shines through. Not many earbuds out there can show this type of clarity in multiple setup scenarios.
Any "downsides" would stack up to personal preferences with sound signatures and output assignments. For those looking for a neutral sound or something with more bass and a dedicated 3.5mm plug, then this might not be the earbud for you. Though I would be willing to bet that anyone that does want their own Dragon2+ already has a set purpose in mind for this wonderfully made Simphonio product.
My rating: 4.5/5
The Dragon2+ is an excellent earbud. It sounds fantastic and looks amazing. It will hit your wallet hard and is not intended to be end game, neutral monster. Instead it knows what it does well and sticks to it strengths. For what it is and what it can do, the Dragon2+ gets one of my highest recommendations.
**You can see more of my photography and follow me at:**
www.facebook.com/JustinMinerPhotography/
www.instagram.com/justinminerphotography/
I've also started a Facebook Group for earbud fans:
Earbuds Anonymous: www.facebook.com/groups/EarbudsAnonymous/
--
**Disclaimer, the Simphonio Dragon 2+ was provided for my honest review with the help of Penon Audio.**
https://penonaudio.com/simphonio-dragon-2plus.html
Brief History:
Simphonio is a fairly new name to the audiophile world, however the company behind it, Sunrise Audio, has been a player for a while now. Sunrise Audio has had past hits with the Dragon name before. Including the SW-Dragon and the newest SW-Dragon II. So, as you can tell, they like putting the Dragon name on their high end earbuds. Sunrise Audio has also produced some well reviewed earphones as well. That tradition continues with Simphonio's Xcited2. But this article is all about their best earbud.
Specifications:
- Brand: Simphonio
- Model: Dragon 2+
- Driver: 15.8mm Dynamic Neodymium magnet
- Frequency Response:20-25000 Hz
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Output Sound Pressure Level:110±3dB/mW
- Maximum Input Power:3mW
- Cable Length: 1.2M 6N OFC
- Weight: 14g
Contents:
- Simphonio Dragon 2+ Earphone
- 4 pairs of foam eartips
- 2.5mm female to 3.5mm male adapter
- Leather carry pouch
Th leather pouch with its embroidered logo, is quite premium in material and feel. I do wish for this price point that Simphonio added some alternate color foam eartips, like maybe a bronze to match the cord. Also, the addition of some earhooks would be a nice welcome as well.
Build:
The Dragon2+ takes the basic design of the earbud and pushes it to level 11. Starting from the bottom, the 2.5mm plug is crafted with precision as it extends itself with tough flexible strain relief. The 6N OFC copper cable is braided neatly from end to end. The Y splitter provides a nice added weight and uses the same casing as the 2.5mm plug. The housings themselves look to be just a simple black paint at first glance, but on further inspection, they have coating that projects a beautiful luster at close range.
The 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter includes the for mentioned 6N OFC braided cable. The black adapter piece while made from metal (and not from plastic as I first thought), is of solid construction, but it is angled design seems to stand out from the flow of the rest of the build. I would have also have liked to have seen a slightly more serious 3.5mm plug.
The Dragon2+ is a handsome earbud that looks the part of a luxury earbud.
Sound:
Before I breakdown the signature of the Dragon2+, I want to say that clarity is beyond impressive. The sound quality is silky smooth from top to bottom. This is an amazing earbud that can produce magical music representation.
I also want to say that I took the advice of Earbud Collector Extraordinaire @golov17 and burned in the Simphonio Dragon 2+ for just about 200 hours before doing any critical listening.
Bass - The lows are quite reserved and do take a backseat to the mids and highs. Tuning for this earbud was clearly focused for the mid-range. With the Dragon2+ you never have to worry about any bleeding from the lows. The restraint in the bass helps to give this earbud its clean character in playback. What is left over are lows that portray an authentic, yet subtle version of the original intention of the sound engineer.
Mids - As have already stated, the mid-range is showcased with the Dragon2+. Putting on "Sad Lisa" by Cat Stevens leaves a truly haunting impression. Vocals are accurate, strings are crisp and keys are powerful. Songs of this nature show off the extremes in transparency that this earbud is capable of producing.
Treble - Playing with the overall feel of cleanliness. The highs are a big part of the Dragon2+ signature. While the upper range is on full display and all of its glory I never found these earbuds to be overly harsh or bright. It gives you all the details without any of the pain or fatigue.
Soundstage - Wide, ultra wide. The Dragon2+ has wonderful depth and in return helps to provide great instrument separation.
Driving and Source Selection:
Being an earbud of this magnitude, one might assume that you would need a fancy rig to get the most out of the Dragon2+. While there is no denying that almost any product would befit from the highest quality sources, it really is not as big of a factor with this Simphonio earbud.
I used the Dragon2+ with a plethora of DAPs, Amps and DACs, I can tell you that this earbud excelled with every interaction. While I could go over each individual source in further detail, in the end it does not really matter. This is a very easy earbud to drive. One of the few I have tested over the years that just did not care if it was a $100 Micro DAP, or a $2000 DAC/Amp pairing. The Dragon2+ has its distinct sound signature that just makes the best possible impression with whatever I threw at it.
Comparisons:
*Note, the other earbuds in this comparison cost about 1/3rd the price.
One of my favorite earbuds of all time is Wong Kuan Wae's "Blur". I find it has an excellent close to neutral balance, also with great clarity. When listening back to back with the Dragon2+, the two both show great range. Though the Blur does include a more noticeable quality sub-bass, while the Dragon2+ has a hint of sparkle up top. Wong Kuan Wae's earbud is not finicky, but does like to be used with higher end, more powerful sources. Both of these show off why I am in love with earbuds with their palpable signatures.
Another interesting earbud is the NICEHCK EBX. It is in quite the contrast of the other earbuds in this comparison. The EBX is a full metal, detectable cable, heavy hitter. Build materials are top notch and heavy. Fit is very different from the light housings of the Dragon2+ and this can factor in when thinking about both comfort and extended use. Sound wise, while the EBX is pleasant and similar in signature to the Dragon2+, Though to my ears, the EBX lacks ultimate character that the Simphonio portrays.
Overall Thoughts:
The Dragon2+ is an expensive earbud. How does one justify this extravagance when looking to purchase? For me, it is their versatility to stay true to their designed tuning with all types of music and sources that shines through. Not many earbuds out there can show this type of clarity in multiple setup scenarios.
Any "downsides" would stack up to personal preferences with sound signatures and output assignments. For those looking for a neutral sound or something with more bass and a dedicated 3.5mm plug, then this might not be the earbud for you. Though I would be willing to bet that anyone that does want their own Dragon2+ already has a set purpose in mind for this wonderfully made Simphonio product.
My rating: 4.5/5
The Dragon2+ is an excellent earbud. It sounds fantastic and looks amazing. It will hit your wallet hard and is not intended to be end game, neutral monster. Instead it knows what it does well and sticks to it strengths. For what it is and what it can do, the Dragon2+ gets one of my highest recommendations.
**You can see more of my photography and follow me at:**
www.facebook.com/JustinMinerPhotography/
www.instagram.com/justinminerphotography/
I've also started a Facebook Group for earbud fans:
Earbuds Anonymous: www.facebook.com/groups/EarbudsAnonymous/
--
Congratulations on the nice review, and happy you also like the Dragon2+