Thhifi Character

TONALITY: 8.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 8/10


THhifi seem to be a new sister company of BGVP. For now they release 2 hybrid earphones, the Character 1DD+1BA that I will review today and the Face Red 1DD+2BA i hope to review one day. They call themself an ''a young and energetic music earphone brand. We have professional ID/MD design team, professional audio tuning team, professional 3D printing team and first-class processing supporting factory.'' This company seem to take pround of chinese culture, especially Tang dynasty. I respect that.

Priced at a rather not very competitive 170$ price, the Character use a fascinating 9.2mm double magnet dynamic driver with a resin diaphragm, this type of material promise great flexibility in transient response due to ''light weight and natural rebound'' as THhifi state.


The model of balanced armature driver used isn't reveal, but we know Thhifi use 3d modeling to tube both drivers individualy, another proof of seriousness in term of proper acoustic design.


All of this is beautiful promises, but let see in this review if these can stand appart in sub-200$ IEM market.

SPEC


Model Name: Character
Driver: 1DD+1BA
Sensitivity: 106dB @ 1kHz
Distortion: ≤ 1.6%
Impedance: 10.5Ω
Frequency Response Range: 20Hz – 20kHz
Wire Length: 1.2m ± 5%
Net Weight: 6.7g

CONTRUCTION&PACKAGING​

The Character are well built and feel sturdy. The housing is made of CNC metal which is both ligth and durable. For an hybrid, it isn't the smalles housing but it's not gigantic too. The nozzle being a bit short, this might be problematic for some, it wasn't for me tough.
MMCX connector are protruding, which i'm not a fan of since it might be more prompt to cable connectors stress and damage.


The included cable is OK, but nothing impressive for an IEM of this price. It's a basic 4 cores silver plated cable. It seem to keep it's bend easily too.





Packaging is quite interesting, since it come in a wooden box. It's generous enough in term of accessories too, we get lot of silicone ear tips (12 pairs-4 models), a clothes bag, a nice leather carrying case and the so-so cable I talk about. Yeah, we are so spoil with fancy cable in chifi world that we are snobbish about OK cable now. Oh, and we have a cleaning brush, which I personally use to perfectly brush my mustache.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS​

(Gear paired with: Tri TK2, Questyle M15 and Xduoo Link2 Bal)

TONALITY offer a crisp V shape approach, near basshead level, with a chunky well rounded boosted mid bass that have heavy impact and lean bright mids and treble. It's a fun tuning with capable enough technical performance, aimed to enjoy beat heavy music not so much instrumental or music without beat or bass like classical or folk music.


BASS is extremely addictive to my ears, thick and juicy, very round and heavy in it's impact, with good attack grip and vibrant rumble with lot of physicality to it. It's a club-like kinda bass, not a linear one that extend in a clean resonance, yet it's not muddy or dirty, it have more grunt than long sustain rumble like a U shape tuning. Still, as shown in a track like Moonlight from IAMDDB the sub bass line are very meaty with well articulated rumble, so I do think the Resin dynamic driver can dig down to 20hz. The flexibility is there too, i mean, when you have a whole DD used just for low section, you expect great performance from it and it is the case here unlike lotta other hybrid on the market. It's all betting on bass quantity AND quality, since texture is rich-lush-nuanced, extension is deep, attack is speedy yet not lacking in smooth articulation or swallowing upper low presence of kick drum. Kick drum is well define and it's impact timing isn't affect by either sub bass slam or line. Yet, the bass have hint of warmth to it too. I mean, I struggle to know if it's guilty pleasure or not since it's not boomy nor lacking extension, ok, perhaps separation with mids lack a bit of clean air


MIDS pay the cost of both the V shape balance and superior presence and timbre thickness of the bass response. Yep, it is leaner part of the audio spectrum here, but not to the point of feeling dark or lacking in sound info. One thing sure, the Character isn't made for female vocal lover nor for mid centric enthusiast. Think about a warmer leaner Ikko OH10 and your not far from the mids of the TH, in fact, timbre here is smoothed, quite organic and non sibilant, yes, it's a bit thin but not overly dry...it's just the dynamic that feel a bit dull and static, while the bass seem bigger than nature, the mid range feel smaller. But you know what? I learn to like these mids because the resolution is quite good and the smoothed edge make it rather fatigue free, still, as said, instrumental or beat less music will not be immersive, have a distant and lean dynamic and lack sens of excitment up to about 4khz.…but at least, the presence is brightly and safely there and doesn't feel veiled. For those that have listen to single balanced armature IEM, they will find the mid range very well done and gently crisp.

TREBLE is just slightly more lifted than mid range, so the presence and attack is more lively and energic, adding much needed excitment to sound balance with head turning (and banging) bass performance. It's quite typical balanced armature highs here, fast and snappy with short sustain and hint dry timbre. Not alot of sparkle or decay to be found here but percussions are well define and sharp without going splashy or trebly as well as without feeling too boosted. Part of treble is a bit dark, so it's not a details beast yet doesn't feel lacking too much. I feel the TH are made for electronic and pop, or anything beat drive with simplistic instrumentation. Well, TH can deal with complex track like Elephant9 jazz rock but the resulst will be a bit fuzzy in excited passage, cymbals crash will cut short too and sens of openess on top will be lacking making instruments feel compressed against each other. Electric guitar doesn't sound bad but have hint too much distortion gain-sustain and lack proper definition, so a bit shouty with softed edge. All in all, pretty average treble, yet not disastrous or agressive. Acoustic guitar have good bite and resolution, with minimal resonance.


SOUNDSTAGE is both average wide and deep, making presentation rather intimate as if your in a small circular room with 2 bookshelf speaker and a sub woofer in the middle.


IMAGING struggle with layering and bass presence stole proper positioning of other instrument. Presentation here isn't realist and near in mono. Simply put: i can't precisely pin point instrument placement because they lack space and air between them.


MUSICALITY APPRECIATION


Since the Character sound great with electronic, rap, soul and R&B and not too bad with Jazz, i tend to adore their rythm axed musicality. I rarely get addict to bass and this is the case here, this chunky heavy hitting and hint warm low end is so yummy to my ears, yet not to the point of overshawing everything in disastrous way like extremist basshead tuning can achieve...
I mean, the bass have both the well define grip we seek for, the heavy club like thumping and a flexible sens of rumble and tight but present resonance....what can we ask more and is it really guilty pleasur when definition is well rounded and impact well controlled? If TH have push 2db more the boost, this might equal in total wrongness, but the balance is there and I don't struggle to feel and find the mids and even less the treble which have an energic snap and bit...
We never know when a love story is irrational or not, it might be here, but i'm not ashame of saying so, to me this is the side grade offering to Ikko OH10 brighter hybrid sub-200$ champ.
For mids and treble, the TH are ''jack of all trade, master of none'' while for bass they are master of all trade.

COMPARISONS​

VS IKKO OH10 (1DD+1BA-190$)


OH10 is crisper and more W shape. Resolution is higher as well as sens of openess. Bass is more textured and slightly less boosted as well it seem more rolled off since sub bass line are less extended and rumbly. TH bass is chunkier and rounder as well as more heavy. Mids have more upper mids bite and presence making female vocal more upfront and present, while male vocal are a bit more bodied with the TH and timbre less bright. Overall mid range is more recessed and less detailed with the TH. Treble is notably more vivid and detailed with the OH10, it dig more sound info and have an airier more open feel as well as more sparkle and brilliance. TH feel very tamed in highs edge and bite here. Now, for the soundstage, it's both wider and deeper with the OH10. Imaging is notably more accurate too.
All in all, technical performance of the OH10 is superior, especially for mids and treble, this make the OH10 more versatile for wider music genre too, but if you search for warmer bassier version of these, the Character might be a great bet.


VS KINERA IDUN GOLDEN 2 (1DD+2BA-170$)


The Golden are intensely more detailed, clean and crisp....it's quite a shock the number of extra micro details and nuance in sound layers I get here, yet it's not agressive and offer a more realist and neutral tonality than the TH Character.
Bass is notably less boosted, dryer and leaner with minimal punch to it but a more textured timbre and better definition in term of separation, it feel faster tighter in attack too with better grip. TH extend deeper, is rounder meatier and have more rumble and weight.
Mids are fuller, brighter, cleaner and more detailed with better sens of layering and imaging and wide more open presence. It have more natural resonance too, less lean dynamic and overall technical performance like accuracy, attack speed, note weight and dynamic variation are all way better.
Treble follow same path than mids, it's fuller and more detailed and it extend further too, making the TH feel quite dark and half cook in highs and more compressed in dynamic. Golden have more air, bit more brilliance but is quite similar in lack of sparkle (like with all BA in fact).
Soundstage is about same wideness but way way deeper. Imaging is from another league here, with excellent layering and static positioning which both lack with the TH.
All in all....while in same price range, the Golden 2 feel from another league here in term of plain technical performance while tonal balance is surely better too since it's fuller and more cohesive, but more mature and neutral too so perhaps not as fun as the bassier warmer Character.


VS AUDIOSENSE AQ4 (1DD+3BA-180$)


AQ4 are basshead W shape, warmer and about 4db more boosted in mid bass. While bass quantity is bigger, quality is inferior to the TH which have deeper extension, cleaner less dark definition and hint more texture and grip. But the magic trick of AQ4 is being able to have more open wide and present mid range, thicker and more natural timbre, female vocal being so much more bodied and enjoyable. Again, its warmer tough, with more bass bleed from AQ4 and resolution isn't as clean. Treble sound fuller thicker and less thin with AQ4, but if feel less snappy and airy too, again less clean.
Surprisingly soundstage is notably wider and taller as well as offering a more holographic-3D spatiality. Imaging have better layering, though it lack spacing between them, still, i can pin point instrument more precisely in the space as if TH is unidimensional.
I consider AQ4 as guilty pleasure due to big bass and warmed resolution, but musicality is way fuller and lusher as well as more upfront in dynamic, mid range especially is less lean and recessed here so my vote go to AQ4 which have inferior bass quality than TH Character.

CONCLUSION​

The Thhifi Character might not have reinvent the wheel with this fun and balanced sounding hybrid, but at least they have well tuned it and create something very enjoyable and comfortable to listen too, very entertaining and even rewarding in term of bass performance and response.


With so much incoherent or unpleasant hybrid in the market (Thieaudio, Fiio and KZ come to mind to not name them), the fact BGVP decide to focus on easy listening headbanging musical ride will surely appeal diversify crownd since these are not immature V shape tuning, but a proudly bassy crisp L shaped tuned earphones with good enough technicalities and resolution as well as versatile performance.

If you search one of these not so common IEM that deliver both bass quantity and quality in high amount, and even find a special way to keep mids and treble presence clear and alive too without going too agressive, the Thhifi Character is a great bet.

This is the type of IEM that will please both audiophile and basshead.

THHIFI is a fresh chifi brand to keep an eye on.


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PS: I wanna thanks PICKUP AUDIO store for reaching me out and sending me this review sample. I didn't have any expectation about this IEM, and i'm not affiliated to this new Aliexpress store either. As always, you have my 100% honest unbiased audio impressions.


You can buy the Thhifi Character for 170$ here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004494912692.html


You can give a look and follow THhifi here:https://thhifi.com/en/#about

DISCLAIMER

This unit is a loaner from Youtube reviewer Ian Fann. Thanks for the loan! It will be returned to him after the review.

The IEM can be found here (no affliate links): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004494912692.html





SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 DD (9.2 mm) + 1 BA hybrid
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20000 Hz
• Impedance: 10.5 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 106 dB (no units provided)
• Cable: MMCX
• Tested at $159.99 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:

- Cable
- Vast array of different eartips
- Cable clip
- Cleaning brush
- Leatherette case
- Velvet pouch
- Bamboo box



The accessories are quite premium for a midFI CHI-FI IEM, nothing to complain about!




The cable is a high purity 15-core oxygen free + 24 core copper silver-plated cable. It is well braided with minimal microphonics and is quite usable from a haptic point of view. Unfortunately, it is a MMCX cable, and I had a bit of difficulty connecting the cable on one side of the housing. In my IEM journey, generally I still prefer 2-pin cables, as MMCX connectors may not be the most robust with frequent cable changes.




There's a vast array of eartips included (24 to be specific), and one will definitely find something to fit you. So play around with the eartips and see what suits you, as eartips are as personal as shoes, due to our different ear anatomy. The various tips can affect isolation, comfort and even the sound of the IEM.




The leatherette semi rigid case is a nice addition, looking quite elegant yet practical. There's a velvet pouch and a bamboo box with Chinese calligraphy packaging, so these are also nice aesthetic touches.


BUILD/COMFORT

The Character is made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy via 5 axis CNC precision manufacturing. It is literally built like a tank, very solid and I think it can even survive a drop. Surprisingly, the housing is not that heavy and it is actually very ergonomic. Comfort and fitting are excellent and I've used it for hours without noticing it is inside the ears.



The Character's namesake comes from the Chinese calligraphic characters emblazoned on the housings. It ties in with the packaging and aesthetics, but on first look, I thought that these look like a pair of kidneys? Well they are priced in the lower midFI pricing, so I don't think one needs to sell their kidneys to fund this set, but nevertheless, the external appearance of the Character IEM is pretty unique to say the least.

Sporting a mirror-like finishing, the shells may be scratch or finger-print magnets, so do be careful with them! Back to the discussion about MMCX connectors, the connectors on the shells are protruding (not recessed), so they can potentially be damaged if one is not careful.

I didn’t find any driver flex during usage, YMMV once more, as this is dependent on ear anatomy and type of tips used.


ISOLATION

Isolation is above average, it is usable on-the-go, but don't be expecting unvented BA type isolation.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Character with:
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Tempotec Sonata HD Pro dongle (BHD firmware)
- Smartphone

The Character is easy to drive, amplification is not truly essential.

However, in view of the 10.5 ohm lowish impedance, please take note that the Character is best paired with a source with < 1.3 ohm output impedance, based on the audiophile rules of eights (https://www.headphonesty.com/2019/04/headphone-impedance-demystified/). Pairing the Character with a source with high output impedance may skew the frequency response.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

The Character sports a bassy V-shaped signature. This is assuming it is powered via a source with < 1.3 ohm output impedance.


Frequency response graph of the THHIFI Character via an IEC711 compliant coupler.

The Character's bass is quite north of neutral, and is sub-bass focused. Bass is just a level or two shy of true basshead levels and the sub-bass extends well with a deep rumble. The mid-bass is a bit pillowy and one-noted, lacking texture though. Bass speed is also on the slower side and there's an apparent mid-bass bleed. Hence, those that want a fast and tight bass might need to look elsewhere.

In view of the pronounced bass quantity, the Character is quite a good IEM for head-bopping fun, and fairs well with bass forward music genres such as EDM and hip-hop. However, purists or those who want a more neutral bass for certain genres (eg classical, acoustic, jazz) might find the bass a bit intrusive.

The midrange is recessed as per the V-shaped signature. The lower mids are warmed by the aforementioned mid-bass bleed, and coupled with the recession, this frequency band isn't very transparent and instruments/vocals can sound a bit compressed. So mid lovers might find this area wanting. The upper mids are boosted and forwards, but they are generally not shouty or fatiguing, unless the Character is used at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve).

The treble is slightly boosted at the lower treble, but the upper treble rolls off quite fast and veers on being dark. So trebleheads might find the Character lacks a bit of sparkle and air and micro-details and clarity take a hit as such. Sibilance is minimal.

In the technicalities department, soundstage is wide, though soundstage height and depth are bang average. Imaging is quite good, but micro-details and instrument separation are below average at this price-point, music can sound smeared with complex riffs or competing instrumentation. There's some BA timbre present for instruments in the upper frequencies, though it is acceptable in my book, not the worst I've heard.




COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made with similarly priced hybrids around the $100 - 200 USD range. Pure BA, planars and single DD IEMs were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.


IKKO OH10 (1DD + 1 BA)

The IKKO OH10 is one of the "gold standard" V-shaped basshead hybrids at the $100ish region.

The IKKO OH10 has a heavier shell and I had discomfort with using it for longer sessions, which isn't the case with the Character. Both have solid build and well accessorized.

In technicalities, the OH10 is superior by a league. The OH10 has a more expansive soundstage, better imaging, micro-details and bass texturing than the Character. The OH10 also has better treble extension, with more air and sparkle.


TRI Starsea (2 BA + 1DD)

The Starsea is a very versatile IEM, as it has tuning switches to change the sound profile to give it a V-shaped to U-shaped to neutralish tuning.

The Starsea has superior isolation, though some may find driver flex/pressure build up in the ears with it.

In addition to being more versatile due to the various switches, the Starsea has superior technicalities - imaging, soundstage, clarity, micro-details are better. Albeit, even on the bassiest switch, the Starsea still does not have as good bass extension/quantity than the Character. Note weight is thinner on the Starsea too, but the Starsea is a more technical IEM for sure.


CONCLUSIONS

The THHIFI Character is a bassy V-shaped set that is pretty decent. It is quite "safe" in tuning, eschewing a shouty/fatiguing tonality for something more consumer friendly. It isn't very technical or analytical and is something more to chill back to. Bassheads will like this set, and the Character also incorporates an excellent packaging/accessory line-up with a very ergonomic and solid build. Imaging and soundstage width are quite good too.



Not everything is rosy though. The Character has some tonal flaws - a one-noted bass, lack of air/sparkle, and perhaps an overly recessed midrange - and technicalities are also not class-leading. In addition, one other point to note, the lowish impedance makes this IEM quite fussy with source pairing due to the audiophile rule of eights.

At the $100 - 200USD price range, the Character meets some heavy competition, with sets such as the IKKO OH10 still being a "reference" for a V-shaped hybrid at this price bracket. The Character just lacks that last bit of pizazz, and sadly, falls short of being a truly great midFI IEM.

The THHIFI gets a soft recommendation in my book, perhaps if it was priced below $100 USD, then it would have been a more solid recommendation. At its current pricing, the IKKO OH10 still is the king for a V-shaped $100ish hybrid, and being average nowadays is as good as being forgotten in a few weeks' time, that's how fast this industry moves.

For one of their first forays into the cut-throat midFI segment, THHIFI has actually done okay. I do hope they can garner some feedback and this will build a strong CHARACTER (no pun intended) for their future releases. I sure look forward to what this company can achieve in the future!

THHIFI CHARACTER








Full Review:
https://www.mobileaudiophile.com/thhifi-character-review/Full

Before I get into the review, I’d like to thank Pickup Audio for supplying the Thhifi Character to mobileaudiophile.com. This goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway. I will always describe exactly what I see and hear, nothing more and nothing less. Nothing will pull me away from an objective review. The suppliers understand this and so kudos to them for letting the product speak for itself.

Thhifi is a brand-new company out of China with a fresh take on the creation of iems. I believe the whole idea behind their very first line of in-ears is to artistically create a housing loosely depicting certain Characters in the culture. This was a bold way to begin in the Audio hobby and truthfully, I think it works. The style of these well-built iems is unique, and building something unique in this hobby is very few and very far in-between.

I created a 1st impression post recently. I was very happy with what I heard right away. This full review is to see how the Character replays after burn-in and prolonged usage.
For simply being a first effort within the Iem ‘verse, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the product as well as this company. I see so many audio products pass in front of my eyes, and many have their own flare and differentiating quality. However what Thhifi created has to be born from a vision and purpose. You have to get behind something like that.

No longer is this a 1st impression but now I have many hours with this set glued to my ears and the gauntlet of my library to test them with. Let’s see how the Character can really do with different genres and my objective judgment.



Gear Used

–Fiio KA3
-IFi Go Blu
-Ibasso DX240 w/ Amp8 MK2


Thhifi knows how to launch a new product. A square box wrapped in a decorative sleeve is what first arrived at my door. By the way, the sleeve is so tight… why do they do this to us? Pull that sucker straight off with two hands and a little shimmy shake. The only clean way to do it.

A lightly colored wooden box, possibly Bamboo, is the first thing I saw while removing the sleeve. Fitting very snuggly the box has a coped-out lid which sits perfect on top. Within the wooden box you’ll find the usual boring paperwork, get those out of the way. Next is the beautiful Character iems in all their splendor sitting in the usual cut-out foam. Maybe splendor is a bit embellished. They look nice though.

Under that you’ll see a blue leather case with just enough room for the earphones and cable. It’s good quality and looks nice. Wrapped up nicely inside the leather case is a white mmcx cable. A blue leather cable tie holds the cable tight with copper-colored buttons. You get a cleaning brush. Also you will get four small packages of varying ear tips ranging from smaller bore to wider. Those are all decent quality. However, I think the best tips for the Character (for me personally) are without a doubt the KBear 07 tips. I used them for the entire review after going back and forth with every tip at my disposal.

Thhifi offers quite a lot and all of it is obviously good quality and packaged with class and care.



Thhifi CharacterQuite a nice packageBlue Leather CaseAll four types of ear tipsThe included cloth drawstring bag


Looking at these shells they honestly are… well…art. What a beautiful design, a purposeful design. The Character has exactly that…character. This look may or may not be for you. However, I’d like to think we can all at least agree that the Character has a very premium and modern design. I love the stenciled look of what I’m assuming is Chinese writing (which I don’t understand). A bright red plating rests underneath the 5 axis CNC machined faceplates which really does Pop against the silver polished aluminum.

Lightweight and striking is the Aluminum which adorns the entire shells. The promotional states that a process of polishing, oxidation and coloring went into the final product which is in my hand as I write this. The workmanship is evident. Thhifi added grooves along the sides all the way around the Character as well. Very nice touch, sophisticated but artsy and really helps to make the faceplates Pop. The look and feel are one which takes a lot of thought and skill.

These feel premium on top of looking premium. The shells are extremely sturdy and structurally sound without any loose or fragile feeling parts and peices. Mmcx connectors protrude out about ⅛” and are tight and rigid. I also see one small vent at the rear of the Character by the mmcx connector. No other vents are anywhere else that I see. I haven’t had any issues with driver flex as the pressure relief seems to be enough to ward that off.

The cable is made of High-Purity, Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) wires as well as Oxygen Free Copper Wires plated in silver. Fifteen OFC cores as well as twenty-four silver plated copper cores equals 156 in total. Again, it is an mmcx cable and terminates in a straight 3.5 jack. It is white in color and gives the impression of durability and quality. The cable is just as nice as any upgrade cable one would buy to enhance their earphones. Functionally it is perfect and doesn’t hurt the sound at all. Really a very nice cable addition. I used the included cable for much of the review unless I went to a balanced source. Obviously, I did switch things up for that purpose with a white Kbear 24 core SPC balanced cable.

The Character’s shell houses one 9.2mm dynamic driver with a resin film diaphragm and a dual magnet structure as well as an in-house custom tuned balanced armature driver. A process of 3D printing was used to construct the internal acoustic cavity which houses both drivers. Thhifi added two independent sound tubes for each driver as well.

Notice the fantastic build quality below







This will be short. The Character are pretty easy to drive. I imagine that most sources would be able to appropriately drive this set. Lower powered sources should be fine as well. Listed at 10.5 ohms and 106 dBs sensitivity, the Character has no real issue with lower powered sources. I think a decent dongle dac would be perfectly fine.

Starting off I used the Fiio Ka3 and that pairing was very nice using the 3.5 single ended jack. I also used my favorite little bluetooth device the Ifi Go Blu and I had fantastic synergy with that set-up, using it with single ended as well as balanced. I did perceive a slight elevation with the added power in separation of Instruments within the stage while going balanced as opposed to single ended. Next, I listened on the Ibasso DX240 with amp8 Mk2. I noticed a slight degree of better sound from this set-up. Which is as it should be, a better source normally equates to better sound. This normally occurs with the DX240.

I realize that I didn’t put much effort into this section but, it’s pretty simple, use what you got, and you’ll be fine. I’m sure you will love this set with any decent dongle-dac and I imagine simply driving the Character from a mobile phone would suffice. I do think that the Character has the ability to scale well with power, however. I don’t think you need some grandiose desktop set-up but something like a good dongle dac or dap will really help this set to shine.





After about 50 hours of burn-in I did notice the tonality ever-so-slightly shift from warmer and smoother to an almost neutral tonality. Still smooth sounding and still warm down low yet cooler as you head up the frequency. I hear almost a V-shaped to Harmon tuning with the Character. I hear a very safe tuning with the Character as well. Nothing grating or boosted too much above any other areas of the mix. There also aren’t any huge dips in the spectrum either. The overall tonality did shift through burn-in or usage, I am certain of that.

I hear a fatigue free sound (for the most part) with ample low end to accommodate most any genre. A slightly recessed lower mid region gains added girth from the carryover of the bass. Accentuated and elevated is the upper midrange to a nice degree. They tie in nicely with the treble areas. For the most part the Character has a more natural playback with some coloration in the lows and upper mids. All in all, this is a well-tuned iem.




Bass

Starting off with the lowest areas of the mix… the sub-bass. I hear a very low and deep buzz with good vibration as the Character can dig pretty deep. The sub-bass gives off that sonorous resonance of a good and somewhat tighter playback. It is satisfying and controlled enough to handle many genres.

Good texture can be imagined while listening to the Character. For instance, bass guitars have a good and guttural growl which I can feel, and basslines have that deep buzz that we all love so much. “John Wayne” by Whiskey Myers is freaking awesome as it begins with that haptic energy filled grunt of the bass guitar. The Character handles it like a champ. An almost tactile feel outlines sub-bass notes with pretty good texture.

Mid-bass has a very good impact. “Good” to me is a hard-hitting sound with slightly colored elevation in the area. I like a drumming punch delivered with pushing weight. I like texture and realism. The Character can quench that ideal to an extent. The mid-bass maintains control without sounding flabby or bloated. In the bass region I hear a hair more of a mid-bass focused sound, but the difference is very minimal.

For the most part both regions of the lows have great presence and play nice together. Bass drops have a bouncy and swift attack, but the decay is a bit slower. I wouldn’t call it slow per-say but I also wouldn’t call it a quick bass. In fact, it is just enough for me. Bass drops carry authority and have a very nice presence which to me is satisfying. I like that the bass hangs around just a slight bit longer to give my music that atmosphere that I enjoy.

The Character has a nice attack but slightly softer outro to bass drops. There is weight to this area, yet it isn’t so over-pronounced. I don’t hear gritty hard edges all the time. Bass notes are rounded and clean but not as stone solid as some other sets. Some iems specialize in this area and have it down to a science. The bass of the Character on the other hand presents its bass as a part of a whole, appropriate to the overall sound, which I’m assuming this is what THHIFI was going for. I gotta say, it checks out good to me.

I can’t find any real negative except maybe there is a softer note edge at times in the mid-bass. This is partially helped by the grittier sub-bass. It is a smoother bass with ample weight and is turned well in the face of the rest of the mix.



Midrange

The midrange will always be one of the most important areas for me, where the bulk of the vocals reside, both male and female. Perhaps the lower midrange may be a titch more recessed than I’d like. I would like to have a hair more energy or dynamic flare. Still not bad by any means. I hope to make that clear. Resolution is nice in this area and notes are well defined.

Male vocals on the Character take the slight spill over from the mid-bass and are presented warmer and full. I hear a decently thick and well-defined note weight. Check out “Blue Wall” by Noah Guthrie. A simple acoustic guitar and his awesome voice. I hear dense clarity. Just a pinch further back than I like but not at all a negative. More of a personal preference. There are iems in the price point which replay this area better to me, yet I have nothing at all to complain about.

Instruments sound natural to me. Of course, this means something different to everyone. What is natural to my ears may not be the same to you. Listening on medium gain on the Ibasso Dx240 Instruments sound well separated and distinct for the most part. Remember that source plays a part in all of this also. So many variables in the audio game to take into account. Especially when listening to or reading reviews.

Females are not as recessed and have a good emotional tilt to them. “Take Me Away” by Morgan Wade is a great example. She has a raspy voice in her southern twang that cuts through with firmness but also with finesse. The inflection of her voice is very authentic to a real-world voice which should be the barometer by which we judge what is and what is not natural I suppose.

The midrange is quite nice as a whole. I’d like maybe a touch more energy here but in truth Thhifi did a great job. Resolution is great, pace and timing seem nice, and all instruments & vocals have a pleasant and realistic timbre.





Treble

The upper end of the spectrum is a bit cooler in tonality and does add some levity to the overall sound of the Character. That said, there is a quicker roll-off with the dive starting around the presence region. Don’t fret because that dive is a nice steady roll-off which still presents info to the air region. I hear a good and non-fatiguing replay which doesn’t strain the ear in hopes to illuminate details to the surface. This is a smoother treble without any sharp peaks.

The treble region mostly stays under the shimmer point yet executes instruments in this area well enough with a good body and a resolute sound. I don’t hear that glistening treble that sparkles inside my head space. However, I do hear a well composed region that doesn’t splash the trailing sheen of a cymbal. There is an edge to the sound if that makes any sense. The Character could use a bit more extension here but truthfully it sounds respectable.

I hear good details here with pretty good clarity. The treble isn’t its strong suit, but I wouldn’t call it a negative either. Also, depending on your preference this may actually be a huge bonus. Like it or not the treble is snappy and refined enough. The highs have sufficient airiness without anything harsh to my ears. Treble also has just enough luster to offset the warmth of the lows and truthfully brings it all together between the two drivers. The details that I mentioned won’t amaze and they certainly won’t be noted amongst the greats in the price point, but they also aren’t veiled and masked over.




The soundstage is presented very well. I hear a good-sized stage in terms of width, height and depth. I wouldn’t characterize the Character as 3D really, though that three-dimensional, photo-realistic imagery can at times be heard. Of course, there are larger stages out there in iem-land but the Character sets things up nicely. Above average in width, about average height and a sense of depth is easy to discern. Nothing crazy like a colosseum of grand size, instead the picture the Character paints is a well perceived and befitting stage which is suitable in all directions.

Honestly, I don’t get all worried about stage size people. I never have. Be it big or be it small, so long as it all comes together unified and consistent and makes sense to the replay then I am a happy guy. To put it simply, the Character makes sense. I still would classify this as above average as a whole.

Imaging and separation go hand in hand and the Character achieves both very well. What we have is quality drivers which were tuned with quality in mind. I don’t hear anything out of place with this set. My usual songs for staging all check out. For instance, “Secrets” by Billy Strings is great. His ability to play those strings is so very fast and precise and the Character misses nothing. Also, Billy’s vocals, two banjo’s (I think) and bass guitar all sound partitioned off from each other. So, I hear good enough control. I would say the Bass guitar is a bit pushed to the rear but still very audible.

Also “Misery Business” by Paramore is very dynamic and big. One could call it a congested track at times. The Character handles every instrument great. Spacing and pacing is great. I’d say the only hiccup comes at the chorus where a tiny bit of blending happens. Still the Character does fantastic.

Details are well drawn out amongst even some more complicated tracks. I’m not saying they are masterful, but I also don’t think this set was tuned to be. This is a musical set with quality sounding components and a tilt toward the natural side of tonality and timbre. Details and miniscule little pieces of a song can certainly be heard. That said, there is also added color here and there, which can overshadow the smallest finite sounds at times in busier sections. Resolution is good throughout, but I wouldn’t present this as a detail king. What I hear is a very good showing. I personally enjoy the balance that Thhifi tuned this set to. Fun and dynamic but also controlled and well mannered.




To finish up this review of the Character, I want to thank
PickupAudio
Again for providing mobileaudiophile.com with this set. I had a great time with the Character, and I do think it makes a case for being one of the better hybrid driver iems in its price point. Of course, a statement like that has a few caveats attached. One being that you do have to prefer this type of tuning. Obviously, preference is the final word for anyone looking to purchase an audio device. The second condition, this statement can only be determined by what I have actually heard with my own ears so… take that with a grain of salt.


This is a very cohesive sound as well as a fun sound with a technically adept playback. The Character is built beautifully and like a tank with its very well constructed aluminum shells and artistic design. I am enthusiastic about the beginnings of this young company. I hear well done and deep basses with a melodic midrange and a treble region which has just enough air to balance everything out. This is an altogether easy set to listen to for long periods of time without wanting to rip them out of your ears.

I want to thank anyone who has chosen to read my thoughts on this iem. I’m simply a fan of music and the devices which replay my music. I do not consider myself a professional, whatever that means. I encourage every one of you to seek out other reviews about the Character to gain other perspectives besides mine. We all hear differently; we have different gear, and we have different preferences and each of these variables can be added up many different ways. Basically, do your homework and hopefully I have helped at least a little bit in your purchasing decision. Again, thank you, please stay safe and take good care.