Soranik MEMS-3S

Background: I've listened to 5 different Mems 3 series units before writing this review, with the first one around September last year. Each one had slight tuning variations, though the unit borrowed for this review is the final retail version. In the past, I had also borrowed a non-S Mems 3 to compare against gear like the HiFiMan Arya. I'm personally quite familiar with Mr. Hieu, the company owner, so this review may have some bias, although I'll try my best to be fair. After this, the review unit will be passed on to someone else. I haven't received any payment from Sonranik (I once requested a stock cable but was denied lol).

-Design:

• Open-back design but doesn't leak too much sound, probably suitable for air travel. It isolates sound about as well as my Odin despite being open-back. Lightweight shell with decent build quality, but the nozzle orientation is quite awkward, causing discomfort as it seems to want to skew diagonally into the ear canal, making extended wear unsuitable for my ears. Fun fact: when ordering, you can request a customized shell design from the company. I've personally seen some very beautifully made custom shells.
• The company currently has 2 main energizer/amp options: the AP0 and new AP1. Personally, I didn't notice much difference between the AP0 and AP1 except that the AP1 is more powerful with higher gain (perhaps a slightly more V-shaped tuning on the AP1). I heard the CEO say the difference would be bigger when using weaker sources like DAPs and dongles, but unfortunately I mostly have single-ended gear now apart from the Topping A90D as my only 4.4mm balanced output device. I generally still prefer single-ended over balanced in most cases.

-Gear used for review:

• E1da 9038D, Qudelix 5K, Topping A90D, some diy dac/amp from Happy audio on taobao.
• Stock cable (in the past when I borrowed a non-S Mems 3, this stock cable was the bassiest of the 3 options and likely more suitable for most listeners than the other two)
• Dunu S&S tips.
• IEMs for comparison: 64 Audio Tia Fourté, Empire Ears Odin.
• Also had the chance to try other gear like R2R DACs/amps from Mr. Thien, Chord Mojo 1, FiiO Q5, Kan amp at meetups.
• This review will have some comparisons and references to other IEMs I've heard like the Mems 3, Rhapsodia Supreme V3, Annihilator 2023, and LCD-i4 based on test tracks: Polyphia's "Playing God" and "Cruel Angel's Thesis".
• Just before writing this, I had demos of the Sony MDR-Z1R, IER-Z1R, and WM1ZM2.
• I'll also mention the Crafters Audio Aurum as I had it recently.

*About sound:
The first impression is a very wide soundstage and crystal clear treble. However, with the stock tips, the bass was lacking according to anyone I let audition it, but it was much better after switching to Dunu S&S tips (gave this feedback to the CEO, heard that more tips may be included later).

The tuning can be described as having the bass of a V-shaped sound and treble of a well-done U-shape, with a "wow factor" from the apparent detail and enormous stage.

-Tonality:

• Let's start with the highlight - the treble. It is indeed boosted, but mainly in the air region above 10kHz rather than encroaching on the lower treble where sibilance issues arise. It's a smooth, full-range boost rather than an offensive peak like the U12T's treble spike I dislike. This contributes to a big, airy sound without being harsh, and quite smooth while helping create a sense of detail. However, this tuning also reveals recording flaws, so it may not suit those wanting a more laid-back listen, though it's probably the least bright of the Mems I've heard.
• Bass: Initially with the stock tips, I thought the bass was boring, lifeless with no note weight and an overly thin sound. But when I switched to Dunu S&S tips, the bass was dramatically better - it rumbled with excellent slam and was nearly Odin-tier, just with slightly faster decay. This bass can handle anything without getting fatiguing. It's one of the few IEMs I can listen to continuously for 4-5 hours without sound fatigue (fit fatigue aside) as the bass keeps up with the treble without drowning out the midrange.
• Midrange: This sounded boring and plasticky with stock tips, but gained fullness and lost the plasticky timbre after the tip swap. However, with certain instruments having very high harmonics, there's still a sense that the timbre is slightly off due to the boosted air region pushing those upper harmonics higher than neutral. Overall it's still quite smooth, just slightly skewed in timbre from the treble boost affecting harmonic balance. Using a warm source would help.

-Technicality:

• Based on reference tracks and memory, this is likely more detailed than the non-S Mems-3 and on par with the Rhapsodia Supreme V3, probably because it's less bright than the old Mems so lower treble no longer masks fine details. However, the Mems-3S decay is a bit too fast, causing some loss of sustain/realism for certain instruments. Some may perceive a lack of detail in the decay region, leading to reduced musicality.
• Comparing to the Annihilator 2023, it's about on par but the Mems has slightly less treble decay from my A/B testing (not 100% sure how the new Mems S compares). Against the LCD-i4, the Mems isn't an issue and may even feel more detailed despite the LCD's more holographic staging("thanks" to its wonky tuning).
• Compared to the Odin and Fourté, the Mems is competitive in overall detail retrieval and arguably more revealing in the treble due to its brighter tuning, initially giving a greater "wow" factor. However, all the details are ultimately present in the other two as well, just less forwardly presented. The Mems' treble boost contributes to that initial "wow."
• Against the IER-Z1R, the Mems is noticeably better (though the IER's midrange tuning is quite poor). Versus the better-tuned MDR-Z1R, the Mems doesn't have the veil or laid-back quality, sounding cleaner and clearer. On busy tracks like the "Playing God" guitar cover, the MDR-Z1R can sound a bit sluggish while the Mems remains crystal clear. The same can be said when compared to the Crafters Audio Aurum - despite both having treble boosts, the Mems handily outresolves the Aurum.

-Staging: Very wide in terms of width, though height and depth aren't quite as outstanding. Depth is inferior to the Fourté and Odin - the Odin can stage rearward better, while the Fourté has an edge in staging forward presence and is taller overall. However, the Mems' imaging remains very good, and though just good in note weight rather than thick like the Odin or enveloping like the Fourté (which is a preference thing), many may prefer the clean, effortless presentation this allows for certain instruments..


-Comparisons to full-size open-backs (HD800S and Arya V2/V3):
The Mems' staging is quite similar to the HD800S, with both having a sound well-suited to classical/orchestral tracks by maintaining excellent separation and positioning of individual elements within their wide, airy soundstage. On the other hand, the Mems 3S's bass doesn't quite match the HD800's lean low-end, as it has fuller, punchier bass overall. So while sharing some similarities to the HD800S's staging capabilities, I now think the Mems 3S is more akin to the Arya in overall tonality - a bit more V-shaped than neutral, but not as dry or affected by the mild 1-2kHz dip that can cause a lack of body on the Aryas. The Mems' bass doesn't have the holographic, enveloping quality of the Aryas, but it also avoids coming across as too thin.


-Compare in more details:

+Odin:

• The Odin has an edge in bass quality, with deeper extension and better spatial propagation that contributes to a more realistic feel, even though the overall bass quantity is similar between the two. The Mems' bass feels a bit more contained and in comparison. The Odin's staging is also more holographic overall, mainly due to better front/rear projection compared to the Mems 3S, though the Mems has a slightly wider maximum width. On the other hand, the Mems' treble boost gives it an apparent detail and crystalline quality advantage over the Odin. Midrange timbre still slightly favors the Odin as well.
• Note weight goes to the Odin too, with a thicker, more solid character, while the Mems leans thinner - helping create a clean, clear and effortless presentation for certain instruments that can sometimes sound more true-to-life, or alternatively veer into sounding overly sterile depending on the track and source gear. The Mems has an airy, shifted timbre that can provide a refreshing, fatigue-free listen. It's worth mentioning that due to the >10kHz boost, perception will also depend on one's ear structure, age/hearing capabilities, and choice of ear tips.
• Which one I prefer comes down to the moment, as they offer different flavors - both are good but with contrasting strengths. Having the option to switch between the two is ideal, though I can't definitively say one is outright better than the other overall. The Odin's downside is its finicky fit with the driver flex, while the Mems suffers from a long, slightly diagonal nozzle that doesn't work well with my ear shape.

+Fourté:

• The Fourté has a much wonkier tuning overall (though not as extreme as the IER-Z1R which I A/B'd against). Each has its own timbre issues - the Fourté comes across as overly hollow and lacking in the upper midrange, while the Mems 3S can have an overly thin, plasticky quality to the upper treble for some (personally I think this improves after finding the right tip). But in terms of timbre irregularity, the Fourté is clearly worse without EQ.
• Where the Fourté has an advantage is staging and holographic presentation, though its maximum width still falls a bit behind the Mems 3S. However, the Fourté's note weight, imaging precision, forward projection, and overall "flexibility" of its staging are better than the Mems. It also has an edge in height presentation. But these strengths come at the cost of an extremely uneven frequency response. That said, even with EQ the areas where the Fourté outperforms are still present, just not to the same over-the-top degree since that staging was partly enabled by the wild tuning deviations.
• The Fourté is significantly more comfortable for my ears though, as the nozzle doesn't have the same diagonal entry angle or depth as the Mems. I also prefer the Fourté's heftier feel and premium build with aluminum and copper rather than resin (though lighter resin shells are a preference for some). The Fourté also has an internal apex module making it very suitable for air travel (I've flown 3 flights with it), though I've heard the Mems is also great for flying since it doesn't have pressure balancing issues at different altitudes.

-Conclusion:
The Mems 3S has excellent sound quality - clear, capable of retrieving the finest musical details, and not afraid to be compared against other top-of-the-line IEMs, flaws and all. Its staging is also exceptionally wide, with no issues matching full-size open-back headphones (to my ears, it comes closer to the Arya's presentation than most other IEMs).
To be honest, this IEM is quite similar to full-size open-backs in terms of (in)convenience - it's really meant for home use most of the time, as carrying it around can get rather cumbersome. It's justifiable to call this a full-size headphone experience packed into an in-ear form factor. The most reasonable solution for portable use would probably involve a Bluetooth dongle like the FiiO BTR15, clipped to the AP0/AP1 amp and stowed in a pocket or bag. But for many, this still won't match the convenience of simply plugging the Fourté into an affordable Bluetooth adapter like the $10 TRN BT20XS and being able to freely take your IEMs everywhere.

The Soranik Mems3s is a true technical marvel, pushing the boundaries of what an in-ear monitor (IEM) can achieve.

Detail review:
Important note:The following review is conducted with the stock energizer (AP0).
Though being an iem, the Mems3s scales well with powerful sources. I've even tried it with a "crazy" portable stack and the result was mind-blowing.

Bass:
The Mems3s exhibits a fast, precise bass response that leaves a lasting impression. Its agility allows for well-separated bass notes, even during complex passages. Whether it’s the thump of a kick drum or the resonance of a bass guitar, the Mems3s handles it with finesse.
Midrange:
Prepare to be astounded by the Mems3s’ midrange capabilities. It paints an intricate sonic canvas, revealing macro and micro details alike. Imagine sitting in the front row of a live orchestra—the Mems3s brings that level of realism. Each instrument occupies its own space, creating a holographic presentation.
Treble:
The Mems3s’ treble extends into the stratosphere, reaching up to 80 kHz. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the delicate shimmer of cymbals, the airy decay of vocals, and the sparkle of high-frequency harmonics. The treble is both articulate and ethereal, adding layers of texture to your listening experience.
Technical Prowess:
What truly sets the Mems3s apart is its technical prowess. It’s not just about frequency response; it’s about how effortlessly it handles complex passages. Transients are lightning-fast, imaging is precise, and separation is surgical. Whether you’re dissecting a symphony or analyzing a jazz quartet, the Mems3s reveals every nuance.
Soundstage and Imaging:
The Mems3s boasts an open-back headphone staging that sets it apart from other IEMs. Its holographic imaging creates a sense of space that rivals even full-sized headphones. Personally, I would say that it reminds me of the Arya which is a great headphone that I have been using as my benchmark for how a good open-back headphone should be.
Overall Impression:
While it’s unfair to directly compare the Mems3s to other IEMs, it doesn’t claim the title of the absolute best iem I’ve heard. Personally, I still prefer the Annihilator 23 and Supreme V3. However, the Mems3s operates in a league of its own, offering a unique listening experience that’s hard to match.
Remember, audio preferences are subjective, and what matters most is how the IEM resonates with your personal taste. The Soranik Mems3s certainly stands out as an impressive contender in the audiophile world!