Sound Rhyme PRADO

Review Of The Soundrhyme Prado​

Introduction​

This is my second time evaluating a Soundrhyme product; the brand was founded in China and has been a seasoned player in the audiophile industry, notably the Chi-Fi sector, since 2017. The firm specializes in making in-ear monitors priced between $60 to $1700, improving audiophiles' lives in the most musical way possible. The SR5 was the first IEM I was able to try from Soundrhyme, and I fell in love with it because of its musical and genuine sound. As a result, I can't wait to try Prado, which I was fortunate enough to receive as a review sample. Before beginning, I'd want to clarify a few items.

Disclaimer​

*This is a review unit, courtesy of Penon and Audio Geek Brother_hood of Audiophiles. All thanks to them for providing. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “Prado.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*For the most of this review, I maintained the tuning setting at "II" as the IEMs have tuning switches.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Prado based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The Prado now has a freaking multi-hybrid driver with 16 drivers, including 4 Sonion electrostats for super highs, 4 balanced armatures for highs, 4 Sonion(28u) balanced armatures for mids, and 4 Sonion(38aj) balanced armatures for lows, all connected via a four-way crossover. The shell that houses this huge system is quite big, and I contemplated adopting smaller eartips since I was able to get a proper seal and comfortable wearing these for extended periods of time. However, consider the fit on these. Shells are composed of skin-friendly resin and incorporate a two-switch tuning mechanism that allows for four different tunings, which I will discuss later. The cable that is given is a 4 strands 5N OCC silver-plated + graphene Litz type-6. Despite having such a wonderful specification, the cable feels odd and relatively cheap for a 1700 $ IEM. I mean, the quality of the material used to cover the cable does not allow the cable to act properly, and the quality of the two pin connection shells and termination plug seems poor as well. However, it works perfectly, so I have no complaints other than the inconvenience. I'm not sure what more is available save the IEM and cable, however the cord includes replaceable plugs in 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm. Technical parameters include an impedance of 21 Ohms, a sensitivity of 119dB, and a frequency response ranging from 5Hz to 70kHz.

Sound​

Prado is one of the most balanced and natural-sounding IEMs I've ever heard, especially when it merely has BAs and Electrostats.The brand Soundrhyme really delivers on what they believe in and what their brand name stands for. I've heard their other IEMs and even reviewed their SR5, which is their budgeted option, and from what I've seen, all of their IEMs tend to bring a natural and cohesive sound; however, how well it tonally sounds and how expressive the sound is depends on how it is specifically tuned. After listening to them for an extended period of time, I realized that the noteweight is excellent, with enough intensity to provide a tonally appealing and nicely resolved sound. In other words, I believe the sound is incredibly musical, with engagement, excitement, and smoothness throughout the presentation, and I am astonished that Soundrhyme was able to get such a reaction with only BAs and Electrostats, as the bass sounds smooth, rich, and thick, with a warm presentation. I mean, the treble is so broad and airy, and the midrange is so roomy and rich, that the total presentation exudes musicality and balance. Let's go further into the sound to learn more about it.

Treble​

The Prado has the smoothest response I've ever heard on an IEM, with tremendous extension and adequate energy to allow small notes to emerge readily. I'm used to hearing IEMs with detailed and complex seeming responses that provide harsh and crisp notes, but this is not the case with the Prado. I believe the Prado's treble has a very smooth and silky response that extends well in terms of quality and quantity. The voices and instruments in the high treble sound extremely expansive and have great airiness, allowing the vocals to feel complete and full; the instruments lack clarity, but the roundness and appealing tone provide a very comfortable and soothing response. The lower treble increases in vigor but does not sound inconsistent; the voices and instruments have a vibrant and clear response that is emotive and well-represented in the mix. Milet's tracks, such as Anytime Anywhere, seem genuine and clean, with her voice having a richness and right noteweight that I find quite natural. I mean, the purity of each voice note is evident, resulting in a calming but fascinating response. The instruments have rounded notes that are precise enough to let the vocals seem clear and distinct. Tracks like AURORA's Black Water Lilies sound magnificent and clear, yet her voice lack steadiness and complexity, resulting in a spectacular presentation. The way the notes are rendered results in a heavy and thick response, which blurs the line between her singing and the instruments. As a result, the treble area is presented in a calming, extensive, and natural manner.

Mid Range​

The midrange response is not particularly similar to IEMs in this price range; to put it simply, they are extremely well balanced, whether voices or instruments, but they are not too highlighted in the mix. Of course, they are the most prominent in the mix, and I couldn't discover any suppressed responses, despite the fact that the richness and attractive response make it seem clean and balanced. Now, the upper midrange has the same synergy as the lower treble, but the voices and instruments are more prominently exposed; the vocals seem larger and richer in such a wide presentation. I feel the response has nice spaciousness, allowing the voices and instruments to sound clean without interfering with each other's presentation. The lower midrange adds heaviness and thickness to the mix, allowing the notes in the upper frequencies to feel warm and rich, resulting in a tonally pleasing and calming response. The voice and instruments are deep yet clean in response, which, in my opinion, sounds hefty without being boring or hazy. Tracks like Love Me Again by John Newman sound clean because his vocals have that girth and heft in the notes that prevents the notes from sounding lean and unatural; there is no softness in his vocals, which would have made it sound off and artificial, as drivers like BAs are mostly capable of doing.Now, the instruments on these songs have a quick tempo in terms of striking and resolving, and I think it sounds remarkable and clean, even if the notes don't allow for that separation between the instruments. Tracks like Never Alone by Kohona Lam seem musical and pure, with her vocals being highly appealing and engaging, allowing her presence in the mix to be effectively established, and when the instruments strike, the notes do not feel affected or repressed, but rather more captivating and mesmerising. As a result, the midrange sounds rich, warm, and natural.

Bass​

I love and dislike the bass response. Now it appears that the bass has a good emphasis on both mid bass and sub bass, and neither of the two sounds authoritative; I mean, the response is warm and rich, and it doesn't sound too controlled, but it is controlled in a way that prevents muddying or bloating, though there were some tracks where the mid bass leaked in the lower mid range, which felt influential but didn't include any changes in the upper frequencies. The sub bass has a reasonable presence, but I thought that the rumbling feeling was absent, while the punches were more described as thumps. To put it simply, the notes were not particularly emphasized, which is typical for such a tuned response. The mid bass has terrific smacks and heaviness, allowing the warmth to permeate into the higher frequencies. Though I found the notes to be clear and controlled, they were also quite textured or detailed, maybe due to the overall bass's rich and hefty presence and the BA's response. Tracks like Mos Def's Auditorium sound really thumpy and full-bodied because the bass notes, particularly the bass guitar, sound very organic and each note is effortlessly surfaced, and when it comes to the drums or kicks, the notes have heft and noteweight, though they don't come across very well defined. Overall, the bass area sounds authentic, warm, and rich.

Technical Performance​

Regarding the technical agility of this IEM, I have to say that someone looking for a set of IEMs with a detailed and intricate sound would prefer something like Crimson by Symphoniom or Artha by Filpears. However, considering the price at which these are being offered, these have decent details and a clean presentation overall; if not better, they are on par with any IEM priced under 1700 USD in terms of overall technical performance. I also think that the soundstage, imaging, and separation are particularly noteworthy for an IEM with a musically and tonally inclined sound. Now let's get more specific.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

Though I do think the notes might have been crisper and sharper, the stage is large enough to sound broad and deep to give a highly defined response, especially with a clean and precise imaging. The notes' excellent distinctiveness from one another contributes to the separation being excellent.

Speed & Resolution​

While both macro and micro subtleties are visible in the Prado's respectable resolution, the details are not as expressively expressed. In particular, micro nuances might be difficult to discern when there is a lot going on in the background. The notes' assault and decay have a solid tempo that permits a respectable resolved response.

Sound Impressions

Tuning switches ​

Therefore, I think the switches perform honestly and extremely well for an IEM that costs 1700 USD. The majority of configurations exhibit variations in the treble and bass response. Specifically, one configuration solely highlights the bass, while the other emphasizes the treble area. The impressions for each setting are listed below.

Switches set at 00

The treble sounded expansive but not overly prominent in the mix, which kind of brought a lively presentation. The bass felt subdued, which allowed a more relaxed and mid-centric presentation. This is the standard setting, where I felt a more prominent mid range with less bass thump and heaviness. Additionally, I thought the voices sounded more open and were less dominant.

Switches set at I0

Deep bass settings emphasize the bass heavily because of their weight and thickness in the mix. The lower area also seems richer and fuller with a strong presence. Although I didn't think this affected the presentation as a whole, I did think the vocals were warmer and a little muffled—especially the treble section, which seemed a little subdued.

Switches set at 0I

The treble sounded the same in the "clear voice" settings, but the bass was left more balanced and subdued, making the vocals seem lighter and more delicate but crisper. Although it was hardly audible, I did occasionally sense a faint metallic tone emerging. One could say that the response became somewhat brighter, but I thought the mid range, particularly the vocals, sounded clean and precise.

Sources​

Sony WM1A - When listening to the Prado with WM1A, the treble response was more expansive and airy, and the bass notes had greater dynamics and sounded fuller while maintaining a huge, rich, and well-rounded sound. The overall presentation sounded well-balanced and calming, although the mid range—especially the upper mid range—sounded emphasized. Vocals on songs like Anly's Sukinishinayo seemed full-bodied, open, and filled at the same time. Despite the bass notes feeling too thick and deep to provide clarity to the mix, the instruments had a more dense response and were still quite calming to listen to.

FiiO M15S - The Prado with M15S produced a response that was crisp and clean to listen to. The presentation was still melodic, but it was also more detailed and distinct, particularly in the higher frequencies. The lower treble also seemed livelier and crisper, even if the higher treble sounded almost the same. The vocalists and instruments sound more energetic in the upper mid range. Conversely, the bass had a more subdued tone and a punchier, rumblier response. Tracks like Miliyoh's Kono Yumega Samerumade had vocals that were passionate and personal, but the music was crisp and snappy, deep and powerful but under control.

Tracks​

Millet - Anytime Anywhere
Anri - I can’t stop the loneliness
Kohana Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Uru - Kimino Shiawasewo
Uru - Kamihitoe
Kujira Yumemi - Kenka
Majiko - Kokoronashi
Anly - Sukinishinayo
Kohama Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Miliyah - Kono Yumega Samerumade
Rokudenashi - The Flame Of Love
Yu-Peng Chen - A New Day with Hope
Yu-Peng Chen - Another Hopeful Tomorrow
Yu-Peng Chen - For Riddles, for Wonders
Valentino Khan - Satellite
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Jawns - Erotica
ISOxo - how2fly
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Weeknd - Popular
YUNGBLUD - When We Die(Can We Still Get High)
Bring to Horizon - Kool-Aid
Middle Kids - Bend
FLETCHER - Leads Me On
Loathe - Aggressive Evolution
The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
Sigrid - Burning Bridges
AURORA - Black Water Lilies
AURORA - Runaway
X Ambassadors - Renegades
Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Can’t Hold Us
Goyte - Somebody That I Used To Know
Jay-Z - Run This Town
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Ladytron - Ghost
Travis - Love Will Come Through
LINKIN PARK - Somewhere I Belong
DJ Shadow - Six Days (Remix)
Hoobastank - The Reason
Ricky Martin - I Don’t Care
Tool - 7empest
Tool - Vicarious
A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song
Zack Hemsey - Vengeance
Elton John - I’m Still Standing
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin
Micheal Sembello - Maniac
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
A.R. Rahman - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

In the end, The Prado is among the greatest IEMs for musical and natural sound that I have heard around or at this price range. It is consistent and has a tone that is subtle enough that it doesn't tire out the listener no matter how long they use it. I believe Soundrhyme done a fantastic job using simply electrostats and balanced armatures driver to create a warm, melodic sound.I can therefore recommend Prado to anyone who is looking for a mysterious sound because I was completely engrossed in such a beautiful and soul-reaching response. I understand that people who want that cohesive, warm, and musical sound without any strong peaks and dips but rather a smooth and relaxed sound should give these a chance.

SoundRhyme Prado - Flagship impressions​

Thanks to AG and (Penon) SoundRhyme for the review unit of the Prado.

All views of the iems are mine and are not compensated for in any manner.

OVERVIEW​

SoundRhyme have been making waves with their SR and DTE lines of iems in their mid-budget segment with very good value fun tuned iems.


The Prado is their flagship (https://penonaudio.com/Sound-Rhyme-PRADO.html) sporting an incredible number of drivers - 4 EST and 12 BA drivers.

With a nicely speckled shell and faceplate, the iems are relatively small and compact for the number of drivers in the iems. The shells are resin with a sparkle effect
and a very light construction. The iems use the 2pin connection and have a medium large nozzles leaning on the broad side a little more.

The iems sport 2 tuning switches per side with the following configuration according to the product info on Head-fi
1, 2 off: pop music
1, 2 on: wide sound field
1 off, 2 on: clear voice
1 on, 2 off: deep bass

DRIVEABILITY​

The iems are fairly easy to drive off dongles (middling 40s on the Lotoo PAW S1 and the Questyle M15i. I drove them off the 4.4 balanced output of both dongles.

OVERALL SOUND SIGNATURE​

The iems are tunable via the switches, and the sound signature does change a bit with the switches on and off.

With 1 and 2 off, the signature is a relatively fun sound without overemphasis on either the bass or the treble end. The mids are decently present in this configuration

With 1 on, the bass is more pronounced and more forward. As a result the sound is quite warm, but with decent amout of details. The mids take a slightly recessed position.

With 1 off and 2 on, the treble is a little more extended and offer a lot of detail retrieval. There is a touch of brightness that creeps in with poor recordings.

With 1 and 2 on, the V profile is very prominent with deep bass and treble extension.

With the bass switch on, there is a lot of bass rumble, but there is a little bit of muddiness that is felt. Decay is slightly off with a little more sustain on the bass, with a thud being more prominent than a slam.

Fun tuned for sure, and a lot of fun can be had. Also I reached for the toothpick to change the switches for each genre change that I did as part of the audition, and the iems did change the sound quite significantly.

CONCLUSIONS​

The Prado is a nice looking and compact flagship with a large number of drivers, and a fun tuning with a lot of promise.