Pros: Nice top air display of details, a price point leader here
Simple medium small shape never fails to get perfect fitment
A 5 driver Hybrid doing the definitive Hybrid sound
Knowles 31736 composite dual balanced armature for highs
Medium frequency 2 Knowles 29689 balanced armature
Polymer PU composite 10mm Dynamic Driver
Can be powered off phone, yet comes alive with better sources
Strangely shows the exact stage personality of each and every source
Offers a subtle U shape tune with all the lows and all the highs vividly
A clean & controlled low-end offering pace and sculptured bass notes
Cons: A forward treble positioning may be just slightly hot for the treble sensitive
Sound Rhyme SR5 "The Underdog" Redcarmoose Labs March 17th, 2024
Who is Sound Rhyme? Well they are a fairly new manufacture, at least a new one that has come to light in the last few months. You know, the latest big IEM thing..........with many local members getting into the brand and discovering products from the line.
Sound Rhyme: So you know the deal, a new manufacturer comes along and gains a following, yet all this just happened, and is happening as we speak. Sound Rhyme is the brand of the moment!
@AmericanSpirit He started a Head-Fi Sound Rhyme thread back in early February of 2023 beginning with (the one IEM we are reviewing today)……the $149.00 4BA/1DD SR5. He called it an “undiscovered hidden gem”….this business moves fast, as now you can choose from seven Sound Rhyme IEMs. Anyway, this is the second Sound Rhyme I have been introduced to, and I have to say the company is doing a number of things right. AmericanSpirit also introduced the SR5 to the Head-Fi community in this single post.
It’s important to note just how fast Head-Fi moves as this single introduction to Sound Rhyme as a company took place with that single Discovery Thread post back in the middle of February 2023. As such AmericanSpirit was onto something.
To quote AmericanSpirit……. “TLDR; “Hit!”, Highly Recommendable as extremely high cost performing warm-neutral with U-hint. Has extremely wide range from sub-sub-bass to TOTL styled finesse articulation for 8-9khz, 15khz, and 20khz detail highlight, the reverb generation.
Usually vocalist-IEM doesn’t have diffusion field but this SR5 does have both, vocal richness as well as wide diffusions.”
In retrospect:
Maybe this was the perfect way to introduce the IEM brand…........with this single example?
The SR5:
10mm high polymer DD
Knowles ED29689 x2 (Mid)
Knowles 31736 composite tweeter x2 (Mid- High)
4 way crossover
The SR5: What we have in many ways can be viewed as the underdog. Meaning sure I’ve only heard one other Sound Rhyme, the SR7. And while to be truthful I actually love the SR7 more. Meaning its playback is bigger and more technical, covering more ground yet of course costing more at $369.00. Plus the SR7 has switches. Later I will do side-by-sides with the SR5 and SR7…..but let's just say the sonic value of diminishing returns are wildly apparent upgrading to the SR7……..no you don’t go up (a huge percentage) in sound value with way over 2X the price.
And really that is the entire point of this review, that the underdog SR5 is quite the performer, that it has a balance in playback, a character of being a vocal IEM yet with the added class upgrade of a bigger more expensive IEM in regards to technicalities.
Package:
Packaging photos Penon Audio
The case:
Normally I don’t talk too much about the added extras. I mean sure they are important here, except just looking at this screw down case……….in no way would you guess it came with an IEM costing just $149.00?
Sure common sense would suggest that you take out the 2 pieces of foam inside the screw down case and use it with the included cable as a water tight and bullet-proof transport device. But take note that this works like a charm as we still gain the benefits of the lower foam insert permanently glued onto the bottom and under the lid!
In such a set-up we can enjoy a water tight, no-rattle..........super compact traveling case.
It you don’t want to go through the trouble of unscrewing the case lid each time, Sound Rhyme has included a second leather magnetically closed case for alternative use.
Adding a cleaning cloth to the inside of the case:
As such an extra cleaning cloth goes one-step-farther to guarantee safe transport against a single inner bevel (which could be harmful in scratching the IEMs) right at the lip. Of course if you feel like changing cables each time, the IEMs can be transported as they came with the screw down case foam inside, leaving room for the IEMs alone.
Faceplate:
As such the stock faceplate is cool in an understated way. If you by chance shine a UV light onto it you will witness a green afterglow that lasts almost 1 second. This style of faceplate has been used by qdc, and EPZ among others. If by chance you want more faceplate choices an extra $45.00 gets you a huge choice of four pages of alternative faceplate ideas.
The Cable:
Normally I don't give the included cables too much emphasis, except here is the exception to the rule. As it turns out the cable is the exact same cable that comes with the SR7. A silver plated copper affair that has great feel in the hands. The ear-hooks are of average pressure and in can come in your choice of 3.5mm or 4.4mm.
Build: Finding itself rather small compared to the the HiSenior Okavango 6 BA + 1DD, and even smaller in comparison to the Sound Rhyme SR7 6 BA + 1 DD Universal IEM......we are gifted with perfect fitment. The metal nozzle end holds ear-tips on perfectly without movement. Take note of the careful semi-custom shape which allows the IEM to form that much closer to your ears. Really as of a few years ago they have dialed this fitment thing to exact standards, allowing basically this exact style of shape to be almost commonly found, especially since we are not trying to put too many parts inside the SR5.
You will note a single air-vent off the side.
The SR5 parts inside:
High frequency: Knowles 31736 composite dual balanced armature.
Medium frequency: 2 Knowles 29689 balanced armature, improve voice resolution, medium frequency density balance.
Low frequency: use of 10mm composite diaphragm dynamic driver with an impedance 16Ω. Uses a Polymer PU composite diaphragm. And a N52 NdFeB shell, gold-plated magnet.
Response to staging:
Here is the deal. When testing often an attribute of an IEM comes to light which is not totally normal. Meaning I test IEMs every week, actually a couple times a week. But once in a while an ability will surprise me......so much so that I have to ask myself.........in the moment.........does every IEM do this? The ability to relay soundstage correctly is an inherent ability of the SR5. Now I'm not just talking right to left. No, I was able to choose sources which pumped the staging ability into forward and back, top to bottom. It was the SR5's ability to exactly transfer stage size into audible levels of character. As such we can discover what ability your sources have to keep the stage medium, or to go hog wild in stage displacement.
Back-to-backs:
Left to right:
$369.00 Sound Rhyme SR7 6 BA + 1 DD Universal IEM
$149.00 Sound Rhyme SR5 4 BA + 1 DD Universal IEM
$299.00 The HiSenior Okavango 6 BA + 1DD Universal IEM $239.00 The HiSenior Mega5P 4 BA + 1 DD Universal IEM
The SR7 phenomena: $369.00 Sound Rhyme SR7 6 BA + 1 DD Universal IEM
One of the later discovered traits of the SR7 was that just by its nature it seemed to add a style of robust authority to whatever DAP I tried it with. Meaning the SR7 would add playback girth and density to whatever was upstream. Use the SR7 with a phone or even an entry level DAP like the HiBy R3 II and find a welcome home owning an ongoing fireplace which seemed to add coziness and even love……….If I can stretch these ideas? This home had the furnishings and full-on comfort of much more expensive IEMs, and as such could be welcomed with open arms.
As such we were immersed in such SR7 character traits which upon first learning became a riddle, a riddle of warmth in question being slightly too much………then later decided upon being exactly right. Yep, the SR7 is like that, especially if you live with it on a daily basis, rotating through as many IEMs as I do. What this means in the end is there is a sizable stage and that stage is filled with lush excesses, though topped off with details, only not all the details……..yet 100% musicality. So that’s the SR7.
Where the SR5 comes off easily more accessible. It is the more strait-laced friend that does not take chances, nor challenge fate with chances with too many ideas of warm wildness. Yep, the SR5 is out to prove that it knows the ropes inside of playback and could in fact be chosen over the more expensive SR7 simply by being more up-front and normal. This normality is simply an attribute I place on sound replay after side-by-sides. This business of comparing IEMs side-by-side is really not that difficult or confusing, especially with two IEMs like the SR7 and SR5 to compare. Where sure there are only 2BAs between the two to make differences……..yet that would be misleading to most. Except of course the differences between the two IEMs is way more than that…….as they are tuned differently and have very different destination ideas from the start. Where sure the SR7 has the tuning switches which offers more ways to go, but I have landed on both switches up getting the biggest stage. And while attempting to create a closer brotherhood by dialing the SR7 switches to the vocal setting or pop music setting further substantiated the fact that one IEM is a cat, and one IEM is a fish. That in-fact going back and forth between the SR7 with switches, and the SR5……one starts to almost hear the SR5 as more filled-in. Yep, even with less drivers, the airiness obtained inside the midrange and treble went to solidify the fact that the SR5 is not messing around here. Even the bass between the two SR7 and SR5 was very close to the same. I mean that is basically what everyone is saying about the SR5…….that its basic demeanor is nice bass, elevated upper midrange/trebles which promotes vocals and a Hybrid separation with added airiness that you never get tired of................or is never too much. You see, this was a hard pill to swallow for this reviewer, only because I love the SR7. Sure I know it is not perfect, but the SR7 baths in personality. It is this personality that becomes endearing. Where we can kind-of make the SR7 become like the SR5…….it never truly is, even with switches changed. The bass always stayed the same but after each flick of a switch the midrange and treble were altered to be closer to the SR5, except at times there was more contrast in the treble and at other times it actually seemed less filled in from midrange/treble character. There are more BAs for the playback, and switches to work wonders, this can’t be a correct summarization? But it is, and that’s the magic the SR5 brings to the table. A switchless model that is dialed in just right, being able and capable to playback many genres and many DAP upstream characters, all with-in acceptable levels. Where is the SR5 missing stuff? Well………it is the harmonics inside those correct tones which (as an example) get found and broadcast by the SR7 better. Fuller, of more detail, and of more realistic tone. There is simply more information combining to create a slightly softer but more filled out stance tonally in the end. And it is partially that stance that goes along to provide the SR7’s total personality, regardless of switch positioning.
None of this should undermine the exotic (rare) yet truthful and mainstream playback performed by the SR5…....as it is doing a lot with a little. Getting just the right amount of bass to go that step forward to make you realize that you are listening to a Hybrid in action. Boom!
The bass playback is wonderfully separated into the stage, a place all its own, yet owning a smooth and pleasant tone holding details and correct pace. The bass has the frequency range, only it is naturally fast and doesn’t interfere with the midrange. As such the midrange and treble also go the extra mile to guarantee you that Hybrid separation sensation into the stage. There is this character the BAs do that is the very reason why we purchase Hybrids in the first place. Yet the treble and midrange (while holding contrast) are still very blended with the total character of playback, showing an upper-end sophistication far above the SR5’s humble price point. The SR5 has a style where you start to guess the vocals both male and female are better than the SR7, that while sure the stage is larger with what the SR7 does (especially on the stage switch settings). But the SR5 is going forward to proclaim a cleaner and less nonsense form of IEM playback, it is simply not messing around here. I hate to say it but the vocals really are special here and would be perceived as better in most cases, than the SR7. Only while vocals are sitting slightly back farther the SR7 is offering a more filled-in and finer detail of sound design…….....only showing-up less vivid than the SR5?
$299.00 The HiSenior Okavango 6 BA + 1DD Universal IEM
Probably what shows up first is how good but still different the Okavango is. Really surprisingly the bass is heavier (than the SR5) and that is almost the last thing I was expecting? There are more BAs here, and in small ways you can extract such clues. There is finite small extra extensions of treble drum elements out into the stage, only somehow I’m finding the SR5 both slightly less detailed due to less drivers actualized, but the Okavango tuning here is a tad less forward in the upper midrange/treble, that like the SR7 we are simply getting a slightly toned down level of replay in the upper midrange and treble with more bass. Now you would think that would get the Okavango into dark water……..when nothing could be farther from the truth.
Dark water for the Okavango?
That this is all very small differences enabling both IEMs to ride out almost (in-a-way) the same basic tune profile. It is just that the Okavango somehow comes off a more filled out example in stage, with a more robust bass but a softer treble, yet only ever so soft in comparison to the SR5. I mean sure you can hear the extra money and where it went with the Okavango, only this slight brightness could almost be looked at as more resolving as far as the SR5 goes. There is a slight element of more smoothness with the Okavango, but after spending as much time as I have with the SR5……..at this point that Okavango smoothness is hard to grasp onto……it would take a few hours to maybe say it was correct. Where yes, more energy into stage realization becomes the SR5’s theme and road to success.
$239.00 The HiSenior Mega5P 4 BA + 1 DD Universal IEM
Just so you know the Mega5P is the closest to our SR5 in size. And while close to the same price with the Mega5P being more money………the sound in many ways has the SR5 gaining ground, as I gave it a half star more in review score.
This Mega5P smoothness this could be a bad thing or a good thing……….but it's a tad warmer/smoother. Yep not holding that forward SR5 energy into both the upper midrange or treble. The next thing is the Mega5P bass is probably at the same level as the SR5, but comes off not as controlled or as precise. Not that it is bad in any way, just that is what it is, slower and not as clean of attack or let-go. When you combine that with the tailored back midrange and treble energy……..the vividness and separation get lessened. I say all this and it may give you the idea that the Mega5P has something wrong with it, and it doesn’t, it’s just one is vanilla ice-cream and the other is vanilla with sparkles on-top.
Do you know which one has the sparkles?
But besides that, the part here that I don’t want to get misinterpreted is the fact that the Mega5P is of a more cohesive demeanor, that it is almost less having the Hybrid effect. And of course when the treble details emerge out of this sleepier night, those gorgeous Mega5P treble details are still separated and dislocated into view, they just are not as contrasty or vivid………..and if you are susceptible to such extra heat, the Mega5P may be more your cup of tea.
Musical experiences:
Here is the thing, I simply choose my music tests by intuition. Same as the IEMs used for side-by-sides. Sure I think about the IEMs to compare in a logical fashion, only at times I don't exactly know (or I am not conscious) of the total reasons for an IEM comparisons or musical genre choice test subjects? More often than not this results in a great learning thing. Sure the side-by-sides were/are of more expensive IEMs in comparison, yet those exact IEMs turned-out to be the perfect examples of IEMs to use as they delineated (by example) both the strong points and the weak points of the SR5......plus they were close enough to enlighten (us to) the true character of the SR5.
While in the forums the SR5 gets chosen a lot for Orchestral Music, this review can't be written to leave that out.
Reason being is the SR5's true cleanliness of stature and profound airiness. This air should be noted as probably the single thing that separates the SR5 from its contemporaries. Being normally you have to pay a little more, or a lot more for these treble details. Yet they have been done in a sophisticated way where they just push the frequencies to that zone without going farther. In fact when I study my musical choices below I have found some great examples of both opportunity to express what the SR5 does well, and have examples of slight challenges for this little guy. Yet the very last song Episode has an introduction of the brightest treble in my musical collection. Not only that........ but the song is played back with one of the brightest sources I own, or should I say one of the most V sources I own. Typically this would be a recipe for disaster as we are combining a bright song file with a bright source, then combining that with wide-bore ear-tips........providing the clearest replay with the biggest stage.
Ear-tips:
Still the wide-bore ear-tips get us the fastest bass. The results were reassuring in that (for me anyway) the SR5 performed at the detailed max. What that means is the SR5 had the ability to both show an involved and intricate treble ability......full of cymbals and very separated treble effects.....yet it walks that line of not being too fiery or unpleasant. As such as a listener I have my own treble threshold just like everyone else, yet still I think it is average, as I can at times find IEMs to be too glaring or too pushed out into a forward upper midrange. That’s also realizing that as listeners we will often reduce playback volume at times (just slightly) to compensate for treble energy. In comparison to the SR5 there are examples of the IEM art that allow for vast increases in volume to hear the music, yet the personality of the SR5 we are never finding the need to push the volume for clarity, as clarity is always found at many different volume levels.
Clarity at multiple volume levels:
As such you can still add volume to a treble pushed song and enjoy a balance while still activating the spacial clues and imaging that simply goes along with such (increased) levels of playback. Once more the air here is our friend, and one of the special additives which is typically not found at this price level. Sure there are more IEMs at this price point that do this kind of bass, yet here the details and cleanness of the bass texture goes forward as another introduction to further the overall value in the end.
E-Mantra
Expedition Frozen Taiga
When Darkness Comes 44.1 kHz- 24 bit
Here I’m utilizing the Sony WM1A with MrWalkaman’s Firmware, the SR5 of course hooked to the Penon ASOS Plus cable. 80% of the time I use my regular clear wide-bore silicone ear-tips. Here is the thing……..I use this source most all the time. Meaning pretty much all the other Dongles and DAPs don’t get used as much. This creates a relationship with tone that is almost misleading. Why? Well you are so used to the DAP that you may even overlook an IEM character in places. Where there are many ways we are nourishing the midrange attitudes of the SR5 and allowing the bass to become slightly more controlled, offering up an even faster approximation of low-end.
Also the WM1A stage is crazy wide anyways then amplified by the aftermarket software into a kind of palace of sonics.
Due to trying to gain a better well rounded idea as to playback, this set-up will be my first and last time to put such DAP into use. Here we are both bathing in slightly chillier water than what is to follow source/tonal wise. The bass with its extra low-weight gives the feeling of carefully walking that magic line……..being just right, but at the same time we don’t want any less. With this style of music being dependent on bass quality for emphasis of the message it parlays………still all is well. As such the tone is once again a clue as to the balance we have found. Why? Not like this song would ever have any stridence of off-recording tone to it……….except there are bigger fish to fry……we simply never want to get bored. Yep, boredom is a quality of playback that has maybe something to do with what you are used to……..as far as sonic stimulus? I have tried to understand the smallest aspects of how and why boredom can happen? But to study a piece of music………..new, slightly new additives are used to combat this (at times) uncontrollable off-effect. It can be the very reason you push fast forward to the next song……..looking, searching for satisfaction. It may be resulting from the music, it may be resulting from the quality of tone playback……..it could be a combination of both?
Yet just like a well vacuumed house, you know it, you can feel it.........and bask in the knowledge that (this) is the best you can do. You have worked and now is time to relax, to get recharged.
Satisfaction:
You see the opposite of the word boredom could be satisfaction. You are satisfied and are not hungry for any more than what is on your plate at the time. This is the set-up at the moment. Simply the song, the cable, the DAP and the IEM. Why…….? Truly I don’t know. I can put some guesses to work here, but I don’t have all the answers. There is a dose of even and complete playback. There is an amount of correctness……..there is the approximation of tones to where the message was transferred to the listener with the desired amount of stimulus, yet nothing is wrong or out of place. Many “experts” might say no, you can’t have that, because the WM1A is not bass heavy enough to proclaim success with this style of bass heavy music? Well……the proof is in the reception and the validation of completeness here. But with the SR5 (maybe nowhere yet in my testing) am I finding the stage so special……..the fact that the music information is not only thick but wide right to left, it is going down and up……….there is nothing more to ask for. And because the SR5 is slightly more clean than your run-of-the-mill bass provider, it is intrinsically faster. Stuff is getting out-of-the-way right before the next transient takes place. It’s that with a mellow song like this.........there starts to become a timeless feeling, a feeling of euphoria……….and more euphoria. I have to move on to more music tests, yet this playback has me smitten here…………and like that perfect place, I don’t want to move on, I don’t want to move forward in this review…………but more (music) ideas are to be found and maybe more realizations as to the SR5 quality lay uncovered?
Still this is kinda the apex of the review……..as at times you simply through experience of listening, or by just chance, you have fully sold your (reviewer) self on the IEM in question.
This may be by chance fully mentally acclimated into the sonic character, that or you just found an album you like and relate to? We all do this, sometimes more often, sometimes less often but it is the magic we are all searching for……..it is simply musical involvement. Forgetting the little things in life, and grabbing hold and living in the moment.
E-Mantra
Neverending Story
Neverending Story 44.1 kHz - 16 bit
Here we are using the HiBy R3 II and a file player (TypeC USB 3.1) to the GO bar as the source hooked up to the Penon ASOS Plus cable with my regular wide-bore ear-tips. This is grand in that really one of the fortes here is how well the SR5 introduces purely electronic soundscapes. This style of chill-out smoothness takes a totally adequate position into staging, and imaging parleys…….even though this doesn’t go the very widest in my source collection. Still the images are brisk and warm, clear and showing a kind of unarguable coherency? The bass in this set-up is not too much at all, but holds that charm when everything is just right. Probably best of all the SR5 does reverberations and holds note weight here………I mean if that is missing from IEM replay the score may drop by two stars here at Redcarmoose Labs? You see everything can be correct, but if note-weight and reverberations are not there 90% of the time we are in trouble.
And the wild thing is normally note-weight and reverberations go hand in hand……..as you normally don’t get one without the other.
Deep Forrest
Deep Forrest
Sweet Lullaby 44.1 kHz - 16 bit
Here we are challenging playback with a different set-up. A stage not as big as the next device to be used, the Sony WM1Z………..yet this set-up holds its own fabulous benefits. Here we are using the HiBy R3 II as only a file server to the ifi GO bar as the Dongle. Due to the HiBy doing USB 3.1 we are able to access 100% of the power potential of the GO bar. Still with the ASOS Plus we are accessing a smooth yet relatively brisk sonic attitude. Here the GO bar actually comes off slightly more rolled-off than the Sony WM1Z……..though this is truly special. And not just special, it is somehow very coherent….maybe due to the Dongle, or just synergy? Such spacial juxtapositions go to showcase a nice but not gigantic stage……….you see the SR5 is going to go along with whatever signal you feed it. Show the SR5 a giant stage like the WM1Z does and reap the rewards, but showcase a cohesive and purely still exciting and natural GO bar style of playback and that is what you get. Rolling through about 5 other recordings……..the proof is in the testing. So it is not the song here, but the playback stream. The SR5 produces the stage it is given to play with.
Theater of Tragedy
Assembly (Remastered)
Episode 44.1 kHz - 24 bit
I didn’t go into this (too much) yet, but now it is as good a time as any. Due to the resolve we are able to fully understand the demeanor of our source. Here for this song I used the Penon ASOS Plus cable and the WM1Z DAP. Resulting in a kind of treble test, but the ASOS Plus offers a wide stage and a smoothness of sorts, not the smoothness of a pure Copper cable, but a nice middle ground where we are getting the wide-band effervescence of the silver (additive) and the staging...............but joined with a totally correct smoothness which just works-out in the end. The song Episode turns out to be the brightest song I know of. And while bright it is because of the extra adds of treble and upper midrange elements are used to propel a kind of sonic thrill to the song. Big imaging and itemization of every little thing in the upper ranges. Yet here you would think we would get too much emphasis with the 1Z doing its thing. Yep the 1Z can be spicy being it has more treble emphasis than the mid-centric WM1A, adding a fishbowl effect of treble imaging spacial in size, and spread out forward and back, right and left outside of your head.
I mean this was slightly different than what I have been listening to with the SR5………but so good I had to pull the SR5 out of my ears to make sure there was no testing confusion going on. Yep, it was just that good, reason being (maybe ) natural staging, correct instrument tone and fun inner textures. Everything worked here…….and better than worked.......it was one of the single best examples of music today. This goes one step further to justify that the overall treble and upper midrange tonal choices (with the SR5) are both correct and forgiving.
Conclusion: So there you have it, my take on the SR5. And it can be your choice too if you think getting a low-cost IEM with a big attitude is what you are after? Sure there are bigger stages for the finding, except maybe not at $149.00…….you see that’s what Hybrids do best. They go about their own fashion ideas of stage size........normally the biggest in IEM land. 2nd to that are the contrasts.........yep there for the finding are tone differences found between the bass and the top-end here. Mainly that single treble detail and sculpturing is what set the SR5 apart from similarly priced offerings. What is on offer is a mild U shape affair with clarity in both the vocal department and bass playbacks…….a structuring of these imaging elements........that through contrasts make-up the overall character. Even if you have purchased above the SR5 price point before, or if this is the most expensive IEM you have taken a chance on, I can promise you the SR5 is very even, complete and correct, yet still holding those charms that makes you want to listen to it all the time.
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon/ISN Audio for the love and for the Sound Rhyme SR5 Universal IEM review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
ifi GO bar Dongle
HiBy R3 II DAP
Incredible and suggestive entry. Although very subjective, as always. Consulting with a trial error master is always convenient. It could be better than the NEO3? Everything stays at home.
With patience and a lot of reading I will have my small and coherent collection of extremely portable digital audio...I love small things.
Right, my take on the Sound Rhyme SR5(150 USD). I had them for quite a while in my IEM collection. I personally paid around 130 euro for the set. Ordered them 19 december 2023 so around the new year sales. On AliX
Driver: 10mm composite diaphragm dynamic + 2 Knowles balanced armature 29689 + Knowles composite dual balanced armature 31736
Impedance: 26Ω
Sensitivity: 108dB/mw +-3dB
Distortion: +-1% looking at my REW files
Cable: 0.78 pin but no cores or thinkess or how many strands were given. i’m guessing a 8 core OCC silver plated
SR5 is a 1+4 like there are many on the market these days the hybrid wars were in full swing. From what I have seen most people like to compare it with the Aful P5. Well what can I say about that. Compared to the P5 that i have as well i found a Aful sounding a little darker than the SR5. How to make this short and sweet. Aful feels very mature in his sound signature while the SR5 feels kinda more wild and free. But I can see the comparisons between the 2, price is close to each other if the P5 is on sale while the SR5 has an MSPR of 150 USD on Penon website.
Tonality: To its warm but has decent details but some are lost or don’t come across fully.
It tends to walk a fine line between balanced and being warm. That makes it smooth and relaxed. while there are a lot of IEM on the market at the moment of writing. A couple of examples I'm thinking of are the P5 duh, and Pula PA02 found these quite similar but the Sr is 50$ cheaper. The overall sound mixes nice and clean in every nook and crevice.
Bass is nice and clean and any genre with a bit more bass will shine in. The presentation is very natural but kept his warmth in it. Dense without losing his control over it. The focus is laid on the sub bass then over the mid bass. The thumps and slams are more active and approachable. Overall a very good bass without bleeding in the mids. Even if the attack and decay are not the fastest out there, It gets the job done for sure. Also it kinda enhances the appeal of the sound in some way.
Mids, Vocals have a very open quality and the instruments have definitely enough space to come to their right. The SR5 outstandingly stand-out in his mids and in and how they come across. Vocals are natural and organic and have a kinda richness to them. The instruments compliment the vocals really well without fighting easily with each other even on buster tracks. For me this makes this stand out over some other sets.
Treble might be too safe and boring sounding for some of us. But that comes when you have a balance/warm set. This is very soft and delicate in his treble without giving details giving that overly sharp detail. While maintaining the essential details and bringing them across very politely. It also comes across naturally and has some allure to it that I can’t pinpoint where it comes from yet. Vocals are developed smoothly and fully without being reduced to a single note. It makes the sound overall more rounded, without losing vividness. It is the best in his class, probably not.
Technically, I have to say this set is above average. In how it brings notes and details across, it makes it a very easy and all day listen set without losing a lot of detail. But I do think also the lack of resolution and details makes the technical prowess sound average. While the imaging and layering are quite accurate, I still think there is room for improvement, especially in the imaging, while the stage and separation in sound are very practical. But what did you expect from a 150 USD set? That it doesn't have improvement points. We always find nit picks from a set where it can do better.
All said and done, can i recommend this set in this time of market euhmm probably yes depends on your use case and you library of music want. Do you want to lean over and just relax and listen to some music? Is this set good? Do you want a more analytical sound where you hear every little detail? I might have to say no. But the second option was never the goal of the SR5 in my eyes. Feels to me more a straight competitor in the Balanced/Warm set. Are they probably better ones out there? Probably yes, But I still like the Sound Rhyme Sr5 for what it is
Pros: 1. Warm and balanced sound signature
2. Safe tuning
3. Smooth treble
4. Warm and pleasant vocals
5. Organic bass
Cons: 1. Details and Imaging
2. Weak energy in the treble
3. Some may find it sound boring
Review OF The Sound Rhyme SR5
Introduction
I'm reviewing a Sound Rhyme product for the first time, and I'm eager to see what else they have to offer. The Sound Rhyme is not an entirely fresh company, but it only became well-known to me recently after hearing great things about it from other audiophiles and other media sources. The brand was founded in China and continues to thrive with the same passion for providing audio enthusiasts with the best sounding experience. According to my research, they have a fantastic selection of IEMs and have only entered that market for electroacoustic goods. I'll be reviewing the SoundRhyme SR5, a mid-fi IEM with 5 drivers, today. Whether it is a recent release or a treasure trove is up for debate. I want to make a few points clear before continuing.
Disclaimer
*This is a review unit, courtesy of Concept Kart. 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 "SR5."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the SR5 based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.
Specification
A patented four-way crossover connects the SR5's five hybrid drivers, of which one is a dynamic driver and four are balanced armatures. The dynamic driver, a composite 10mm driver, handles the bass, and the balance armatures, two of which are Knowles 29689 BAs for the midrange and other two of are Knowles 31736 composite dual BAs for the high frequencies. The shells are made using PMMA acrylic fibre and 3D printing. The faceplate of the shell is luminescent, which means that with enough UV or sunlight exposure, it will glow in the dark. The shells are quite lightweight and ergonomically designed, and they give my ears the best fit while remaining completely comfortable. Even after prolonged listening sessions, no fatigue is felt. I should blame my ear canals even though the supplied eartips didn't do a good job of creating a seal. Nevertheless, the foam ones offered a perfect seal. An 8-strand, silver-plated cable with a premium feel and a light weight is included with the SR5. The accessories that come with the package are a metal case, a leather zip case, two different types of eartips with various sizes, three sets of which are silicon and the other two sets foam. In terms of the technical specifications, the sensitivity is 108dB, and the impedance is 16 Ohms. 20Hz to 20kHz is the range of the frequency response.
Sound
The SR5's sound is more focused on sounding balanced and warm. Even though the signature is not new to this market, it sounds very well balanced, especially in comparison to its rivals. The SR5 stands out among IEMs in this price range because it has balanced, warm tones, which are typically associated with a more relaxed and soothing listening experience. The fact that these do not in any way sound offensive is another advantage of this IEM. The mix sounds surprisingly clean and warm in every crevice and nook. In contrast, the mid range sounds forward enough to give the vocals more presence in the mix, the treble sounds clean and expansive with good details, and the instruments sound in tune. Although it doesn't feel like it, the bass is almost present enough to keep the mix balanced and enjoyable to listen to. Let's explore sound in greater detail.
Treble
A balanced and warm-sounding IEM typically has a delicate and soft treble that acts very expansively while not giving the details more edge but rather enough to maintain the very essence of the notes. The same is true for the SR5, as it preserves the treble region's natural and alluring sound. The notes are clear, but the details are not very transparent. As previously mentioned, the upper treble extends fairly well, with good details and no offensive mixing artifices. The vocals are delivered smoothly and fully without becoming distorted or reduced to a single note. The instruments sound fantastic as well; for example, the cymbal crashes are well-presented and give off a realistic vibe while not being entirely transparent in their expression. On the other hand, the lower treble sounds more lively and gives the vocals and instruments better exposure, resulting in a more vivid presentation from the vocals and a much crisper, more approachable sound from the instruments. The sound is more rounded, cleaner, and fresh when I talk about the treble region as a whole rather than analytical, detailed, or sharp sounding.
Mid Range
The vocals have an open quality, and the instruments have enough space to sound fuller, which is not at all surprising in the mid range. Though SR5 would undoubtedly stand out in terms of its presentation of the vocals and instruments if I were to compare it to any other balanced sounding IEM in this price range. The vocals and the instruments sound much more expressive and fuller in sound in the upper mid range, which has the impression of having more energy than the lower treble. The vocals have a richness to them—whether speaking of the note weight or the density—and they sound natural and calming to listen to. I don't find any offensive qualities introduced in this range either. The instruments complement the vocals and bring out a well-positioned and spacious presentation of the upper mid range. They play in unison and have enough space to sound fuller and more organic. Although the vocals and instruments sound muddled and heavy, the lower midrange does not come off as particularly muddy or dull but rather as mostly dense, giving the higher frequencies a foundation to act on with better details while maintaining the timbre as naturally as possible. The bass guitar does have a rich, organic sound. Overall, the mid range is presented in a calming, organic, and harmonious manner.
Bass
When I listened to any bass-heavy music with the SR5, I didn't notice any differences in sound or tuning from other in-ear monitors I had previously heard. The presentation is excellent with a more natural presentation that maintains the warm, dense signature while never relinquishing control and incorporating influences. The bass is well-controlled, but there isn't enough composure or contrast. The sub bass is where the emphasis is more so than the mid bass, but because of the lack of better texture and details, the sub bass rumble or punch doesn't come across as impressive. The response is still felt and heard, but the thump and slams seem more active and approachable. Although it is impossible that the mid bass is powerful or hard hitting, it does have a strong presence in the mix. To make the mid range sound more dense and organic, the mid bass does leak into it. Kick drum impacts do have distinct characteristics and are simple to identify, but because they lack expression, the impact is ambiguous. In short, the bass is well-controlled but surprised by the texture and details. Overall, the bass region is presented in a controlled, natural, and persuasive manner.
Technical Performance
When compared to its competitors, the technical performance is above average, but I do think the lack of resolution and details makes the technical prowess sound average. While the imaging and layering are quite accurate, I still think there is room for improvement, especially in the imaging, while the stage and separation in sound are very practical. Let's talk about this in more detail.
Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation
In addition to the positioning of each element feeling more in a three-dimensional space, the stage is wide enough to sound spacious and it does add nice depth to the characteristics. Because of the clear and instant separation between elements, it is also simpler to determine where the sound is coming from. On the other hand, the imaging could have been more precise and clear.
Speed & Resolution
Although there is less exposure to details, whether they are macro or micro, the resolution is adequate for a balanced sounding IEM. Even though the attack or decay of notes isn't the fastest, it gets the job done and enhances the appeal of the sound.
Sound Impressions
Sources
Tempotec V6 - The SR5 sounded more detailed and clear when used with the V6 than any other sources I used. While the bass sounded the same, the treble felt more expressive in terms of details and the midrange had a more defined sense of how it was being present in the mix. There were no technical changes that I noticed, except that the stage seemed bigger. To my taste, the pairing with the V6 is very favourable.
iFi Hipdac - When used in combination with the Hipdac, the mid range—especially the vocals—felt immediately more forward-thinking and progressive. The instruments also appeared to be more active and prominent in the mix. Less expansive and particularly prone to dark presentation, the treble sounded. Although the lack of texture and details was still audible, the bass felt more dynamic with lively impacts in the mid bass and sub bass. The technical performance felt the same, with the exception of the stage, which grew more immersive. Even though the vocal and instrument presentation was more prominent, I still preferred the presentation when the SR5 was combined with the V6.
Tracks Used
Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measure
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun
Conclusion
To wrap up this review, I can without a doubt suggest the SoundRhyme SR5 to anyone looking for a well-balanced IEM that primarily focuses in the mid range where the vocals and the instruments sound open and expressive in a way that sounds natural. Even though the presentation as a whole lacks clarity, it still sounds natural. You will love the vocals just as much as I did. At the very least, try this piece.
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Not that it is bad in any way, just that is what it is, slower and not as clean of attack or let-go. When you combine that with the tailored back midrange and treble energy……..the vividness and separation get lessened. I say all this and it may give you the idea that the Mega5P has something wrong with it, and it doesn’t, it’s just one is vanilla ice-cream and the other is vanilla with sparkles on-top.
Incredible and suggestive entry. Although very subjective, as always. Consulting with a trial error master is always convenient. It could be better than the NEO3?
With patience and a lot of reading I will have my small and coherent collection of extremely portable digital audio...I love small things.
Thanks!