Whizzer A-HE03 Kylin

The Art Nouveau style was developed at beginning of the 20th century and gained immense popularity around the world. Its main distinguishing feature from other styles was the quintessence of high aesthetics, futurism and correct, but very complex lines, with abundant use of gold. Whizzer, in developing the HE03D, took these same principles, but embodied them not only in design, but also in sound, a kind of musical golden ratio

IEMs have a 12mm DLC 1DD driver. The shells are made of thick metal, look very reliable and impressive, due to the sophisticated design. The cable is made of oxygen-free copper, it is soft and does not tangle. On the one hand, it is concise, thin and not pretentious, but on the other hand, it is very high-quality and beautiful, its reliability and durability do not raise doubt. Shell, cable, eco leather case and all packaging are of impeccable workmanship

HE03D shells have an anatomical shape on one side, on the other hand they are not similar to shells from other manufacturers, they are medium in size and will fit 95% of people. I am very comfortable in them, even their weight is not small, I don’t feel at all, the weight balance and the angles of the shells are calculated accurately and correctly

Don't ask me to compare with other iems from Whizzer, it makes absolutely no sense, they have no similar ones and there are many reasons for this. New shell and materials, new driver camera architecture, new driver, unique authentic tuning

Sound. I'll start again in my own way and not according to the canons of the audio world, but I rarely live according to the canons and other people's rules (I mean not the state laws and the laws of God/ morals lol). HE03D after listening revived fresh memories of my favorites of the end of 2021, which will be relevant for a very long time, these are Kato and Autumn, I already wrote about them. So, they sound similar, but there are also differences

The sound of the HE03D has the main feature that I usually put iems/headphone on a pedestal for, it's honesty, neutrality and detail. I have iems in my collection that color the sound a lot, but I love them too, but I don't listen to them often

HE03D paint honest images, they are musical and neutral. They have an amazingly wide stage and excellent separation of plans. Each frequency has a good readability, the sound is presented with volume and a little pomposity, but this does not turn their sound into something false and not natural. This effect is achieved due to the emphasis on micro-detailing, which fascinates and opens up new facets of your favorite music

The bass is very tight, snappy and fast, the mids have body and weight, but are pushed back a little, but this can be easily adjusted by changing the eartips. High frequencies are legible and rich in detail. The overall tone is deceptive, because these iems are truly chameleons. These are the first IEMs that change the character of the sound very much just by replacing the eartips, this is something I have not seen before

For example, the new Whizzer EASYTIPS ET100 turns the HE03D into bass cannons, building the sound around the bass, shutting out the mids and making the sound more V-shaped. Included is a generous set of eartips for different sound tastes, with which you can customize the HE03D to your liking

The sound of the HE03D has a pleasant velvety and tube-like quality that captivates from the first notes of listening to music. These IEMs are absolutely universal for all genres of music from Rock, Electro to Trip-Hop, Rap and Jazz. Not demanding on the quality of the material, but with quality material and quality source, HE03D reveal the whole philosophy that Whizzer put into them

Whizzer HE03D deservedly takes the first place on a par with Kat..and Autu...in my ranking of the best Single DD under $200

Whizzer, BRAVO!

Having touched the great, remember that great has no limit! ©

#Whizzer #WhizzerHE03D #PEACEOFHIFI @Whizzer

I read and watch many contradictory reviews about this iem, almost them complained it's bass, boring mid and roll off high make congested sound, just a few people gave Kylin compliment. I owned Whizzer A15 Pro, it build amazing sounded really good for me. Nothing make me more courious than a beautiful earphone with many contradictory reviews and the price is also good.

Source: ZX300. I found that Kylin needs more power than i expected. I have to turn high gain for more clear and tighter sound. It needs sometime for reaches its best also.

Build quality, Fitting, Comfort:
Many reviews talk about build quality, and design, so i just want to say something short and simple PREMIUM AND BEAUTIFUL. The fit and sound isolation are averge, it's not fit deep inside the canal, shallow than usually, not the best secure but not easy to fall out, exchange is comfort it make. For me Final Type E size M is good seal

Sound quality:
- Bass: just my subjective opinion, Whizzer is really really masterful at this area. I don't know about Whizzer A15 but A15 Pro Haydn gave me a good experience of bass. Kylin's mid bass is tight, bit slower side, good control, a bit deep, a bit soft, a bit accented. Sub bass is density, still good control, and rumble in the electronic music, not fatigue at all. Not the perfect for electronic music but it sound really good

- Midrange: mid is detailed and clear, a bit fuller than A15 Pro and P1. Good resolution, warm and nature, accented at upper mid. It's not attractive at first time listen, but emotional.

- Treble: Kylin have good energy of treble, non fatigue. for people who like crispness treble may not like. Sounded quite relax. Kylin not sounded like a big stage, it's like in a chamber, that's mean you feel closer to performers

Comparison:
- A15 Pro: Kylin has deeper bass, a bit slower, better sub bass quality and quantity. Fuller and better in detailed mid and treble,

- Tinhifi P1: P1 has much more less bass responsed, really fast, almost no accented in mid bass and sub bass. Mid both a bit warm and nature. The treble is big difference, P1 is crispness, detailed. I wish P1 had Kylin's bass

Conclusion: I think Whizzer Kylin is the best undervalued iem, i feel not fair for them. Whizzer Kylin is deserves or even more the price 160$ when they first sale it out, 80 - 100$ for now is bargain. I also found out who is good reviewers, who is the worse after many reviews i read before i bought this iem =))). Sorry for my not good English

Introduction
The real name of Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 is Batman earphone, right? No just kidding (Whizzer logo really looks like Batman’s logo). Kylin name is enough than A-HE03 for me. Before Kylin I have heard about their A-15 model but was not fortunate enough to try. Now whatever Whizzer doing one thing is clear that their earphones are at least very beautiful and well built. From box to packaging and from cable to earphone shell everything is crafted very carefully and feel premium in hand.

Disclaimer – This unit is a loaner one from my fellow audiophile and for this review I have not received any kind of compensation from Whizzer or from any seller and doing it only out of curiosity. More than 50 hours of burn-in is given before starting any critical listening.

Specifications
Model - A-HE03,
Material - Aluminum magnesium alloy,
Driver - 10.0mm Beryllium Dynamic driver + Knowles 2BA,
Sensitivity - 98 dB SPL/mW,
Impedance - 28 Ω,
Frequency response range - 12Hz-40 KHz,
Connector - 2Pin,
Plug - 3.5mm L type,
Cable - 120 cm 5N OFC+SPC 120mm braided line,
Outer packing size - 160X140X80(mm).

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/whizzer-a-he03.html


Packaging
My audiophile friend didn’t send me the outer box, tips & carry case so no pictures are attached of these in this review. Still after seeing other reviews and YouTube unboxing videos I can say packaging is premium and presentation is really good especially the leather carry case.

What's in the Box?
Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 (Silver dark Blue/ Gray),
0.78mm 2-pin 5N OFC+SPC cable,
Leather Case,
3 Pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M & L),
2 Pairs of Foam ear tips,
Warranty and User Manual.



Tips – As I have said earlier, it is a loaner unit and didn’t received the stock tips. So opened my mighty Eartip collection box and picked up similar looking wide bore silicone and foam tips for this review. Tips always play an important role to create the overall sound output and same thing happened with Kylin, narrow bore tips changed its sound a bit. I have described the tip rolling effects in sound analysis part later.

Cable – The cable is just beautiful. Whizzer maintained that gray and gold color scheme from plug to end 2 pin connector and its giving the cable a premium look. L shaped 3.5 mm plug ( 5N OFC & SPC written on it), twisted hybrid cable , Kylin branded Y splitter, light weight chin slider & soft ear hook everything is just perfect. The cable is medium soft and not so thick. 0.78 mm 2 pin connectors are used but design is not conventional. You can use a third party 2 pin cable but it’s not going to fit flush with the IEM and that’s why me didn’t tried Kylin with different cables.



Design / Build – Hats off to Whizzer for their fresh design, even reputed brands using clone designs again and again for their new IEMS now a days. All Wizzer products are created with a new concept and fresh design which really demand our appreciation. Kylin is no exception. Unique colors, edgy design, smooth body, brass nozzle & shinny Whizzer logo... wow such a beautiful design. The shell is made out of two parts CNC machined Aluminum-magnesium alloy, its strong and light weight. One thing is unfortunate though, Kylin shells are really small and doesn’t want to fit properly in large ears but once it fits then really comfortable for long listening sessions.

Gear Used – Kylin is easy to drive and I have used,
DAP – Fiio M3K, Cayin N3, Iphone SE.
DAC AMP combo with PC – Fiio Q1 Mk2+ Topping NX3s stack, Audioquest Dragonfly Black, Fiio Q5, Schiit Modi 3+ XRK class a stack.

Tracks / Albums Listened –
Eagles - The Very Best Of The Eagles
Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Tidal MQA)
Etta James - At Last!
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Phil Collins - The Singles (Expanded)
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version)
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Legends- Elton John
Michael McDonald - Wide Open
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Sting - The Best of 25 Years



Sound
Hybrid IEMs are everywhere now, from 20$ to 200$. Manufacturers trying different combinations and different materials/ different B.A units to achive a perfect blend in their products. It’s mentioned by Whizzer that a 10 mm Beryllium Dynamic driver is used for lower frequency part and two Knowles (TWFK-30017-000) drivers for Mids and Highs. I have not used any IEM before that have used Beryllium Dynamic driver, so was a bit curious about its performance but now really didn't get why manufacturers are actually running behind this Beryllium Dynamic driver. Sonically Whizzer is a ‘V’ shaped tuned IEM, still it has some elements to cherish.

Bass – With stock like wide bore tips lower frequency response is more than enough, quantity is way higher than its quality. Mid bass and Sub bass region is way more emphasized but texture is at least there. Quality wise it’s not that great though. The decay is slow but mostly accurate. Try to avoid warm sources like Cayin N3 with Kylin. For example songs like ‘Instant Crush’ by Daft Punk and ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson gave me headphone like bass which is very much enjoyable. Now if you don’t want Bass to spoil all your music you can use a pair of narrow bore tips. I have noticed a small drop in mid bass region with narrow bore tips.

Mids – Midrange is undoubtedly recessed. Upper mid is forwarded than lower mids as a result male vocals sound less energetic. Female vocals are much more clear, lively and natural than male vocals. Kylin managed to reproduce good amount of space and micro details in upper mid range. For example Michael McDonald’s ‘Just Strong Enough’ with Kylin sounding less resolving but songs like ‘Confetti’ by Sia is much more clear .Personally I suggest narrow bore tips again , with narrow bore tips male vocals improved a bit and harshness from female vocals are almost gone.

Treble – Treble is well extended and like we expect from a B.A driver. The higher frequency part is airy and good amount of space can be noticed but no particular spike is there, speed and accuracy is also good. With narrow bore tips Kylin is a bit sibilant. For example songs like ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac, ‘Key to the Highway’ by B.B. King and Eric Clapton sounding ok but still treble part is a bit dry, somehow the sparkling effect is missing.

Soundstage & Imaging – Soundstage it’s moderate, with some tracks feels wide but not super wide. Imaging is very good, every instrument can be identified and Kylin managed to handle complex tracks quite easily.



Tape Mod
Air pressure vents are also important to achieve desired tuning. I have tried blocking these vents and managed to get desired results from different IEMs before. Same thing happen with Kylin too. Two air vents are there in Kylin and here are some combinations that I have tried and the results are –

• Vent near 2 pin connector blocked using tape – Now treble is way lower than before.
• Vent near the nozzle blocked using tape – Now sub bass increased a lot.( Not desired)
• Both vents closed using tape and with narrow bore tips - Now good controlled bass with sparkling treble, mids now even more forward then before and better details too. (My favorite)

Conclusion
Undoubtedly Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 is a very well designed and good looking earphone. Accessories are also very good & beautiful; sonically it’s a safe/decent one too. 159 $ may a bit higher price but still I can recommend it easily. Bass lovers can go for Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 without any hesitation. I would like to give it as a gift to someone who is as beautiful as the earphone itself.

I’ve heard about Whizzer not long ago with their A15 and A15 Pro IEM offerings and was intrigued since the metallic look and its aggressive thunder-like logo easily calls attention yet that was all I got to with the Whizzer brand, aesthetic peeks.

The aesthetic peeks came to an end when Whizzer’s current audiophile offering came knocking on my door, the Kylin A-HE03, a single dynamic (PEK composite diaphragm, I’ve seen it being said to have Beryllium yet I’m skeptical at its price point) and dual BA (TWFK-30017-000) driver hybrid IEM encased in an Aluminum-Magnesium alloy shell which comes in 3 colorways; Gray, Red, Navy Blue. The Kylin A-HE03 is spec’d out with a 12Hz to 40 KHz Frequency Response, 28 Ohm Impedance, 98dB Sensitivity and a price of $160 from Linsoul Audio’s Amazon site which provided the review unit. Would my inevitable end of Whizzer’s aesthetic admiration be a positive or negative experience now that I’m here to finally hear how it performs? A question begging to be answered by this realview.

Purchase link: Linsoul Amazon Whizzer Kylin A-HE03

So far so good, the Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 came in a black box with full foam cut-outs with a white cardboard case with the necessary product information and specifications which was done well. The accessory set included the Kylin A-HE03 IEMs, round snap-on synthetic leather Kylin case lined internally with velvet, a pair of pseudo-comply foam ear tips (T400 and T100) and a set of translucent silicon ear tips (S, M, L) with blue bore nozzles. The IEM housing has a jagged faceplate similar to the recent trend set by the Huawei Mate 20 back surface. The Whizzer logo on the faceplate was in gold and matched all 3 of the colorways being offered and has a vent underneath the 2-pin housing. The underside of the IEM shell features the white L-R markings and another vent along with a distinct gold-plated nozzle with a metal mesh. The overall build was sturdy and caused no noteworthy annoyance when used.
The included stock cable was a pseudo ALO/Kimber-braid 5N OFC/SPC with metallic L-plug housing, Y-split and chin-slider. The strain relief on this cable is excellent and the presence of a clear over-ear memory wire with a gold-plated plastic end was a very exquisite addition which complimented the overall premium aesthetic look of the stock cable, not to mention that the .78mm 2-pin housing was also transparent allowing for the gold-plated contact points to shine through. There was no microphonic noise observed and the storage aspect of the stock cable was slightly bothersome with its fold-retaining braiding.

A predominantly warm sounding set of IEMs with a strong emphasis on the low-end frequency. I used its stock M silicon ear tips driven by the xduoo x3ii and the Sony CAS-1 desktop setup off an MSI GF 62 8RE laptop via Foobar2000 v1.4 for the realview. This set of IEMs also underwent the “recommended” 50-hour burn-in process.

Michael Jackson’s “Baby Be Mine” and “The Girl is Mine” in 16/44 FLAC introduced the low-end performance of the Kylin with a zealous approach. The sub bass impact was powerful and doesn’t shy from being loose with its sub bass control giving it a slow decay impression. The bass on this is emphasized and fat as can be. Bass lovers would find this easy to flirt with.

ABBA’s “I Have A Dream” in 16/44 FLAC gave the Kylin A-HE03 a laid back midrange performance. The lower midrange benefits from the low-end bleed but leads to a rather less distinct midrange articulation. The feminine vocals had a notable addition of air to them and made it sound less natural. The upper midrange is off timbre. An overall midrange impression of being less engaging and lively is to be argued with the Kylin. It’s almost stellar lower midrange makes the Kylin glued on the user’s ears.

Amy Winehouse’s “Cupid” in 16/44 FLAC came out slashing and piercing for the higher frequency performance, not much to take it off your ears right off the bat but almost guiding you towards such outcome. It delivers an edgy performance. Sibilance came to the party as well. Don’t get me wrong, I personally love my IEMs bright and treble bites are very enjoyable on this with the lower frequency bleeding being an extra saving grace.

Spacious, the vents are doing its job that is. There is great depth and clarity to the various instrumental tones. Panning is observable as well. Imaging has great accuracy to them and had more width and height to its presentation than depth, an aspect that makes the Kylin an admirable soundstage and imaging performer.

Don’t quote me sexist on this but I personally find it that we, the male gender (the females are welcome too) are first and foremost visual individuals and the Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 is a real eye catcher at its price point with its well-thought form figure and design language, heck even the color options presents an already head-cracking choice. The accessory set is complete with that synthetic leather case being a winner, the stock cable looks premium and did a great job of staying on my ears except when it’s time to store them, a trade-off I’m welcome to get all day every day. Conclusions should be short and brief and I’m already dragging sentences here. The Kylin’s sound signature is its weak link, it caters to the low-end and higher frequency lovers leaving midrange fanatics longing if not utterly disregarded but then again at its price point, you could easily say hi to ear tip rolling which the Kylin is very responsive to.

Introduction

The Whizzer Kylin is a unique looking IEM with a very attractive blue aluminum shell with a gold-plated Whizzer logo that stands proud of the shell. This IEM retails for $159 and comes in a nice package including a selection of tips and a very nice and attractive PU Leather round case. The case itself, is also engraved with the Whizzer logo and the model name, “Kylin.”


In terms of fit, I found that these were quite challenging to wear. The IEM housing is rather small, which fits very comfortably when you can keep it in. I found the shallow nozzle to be frustrating to keep a good seal and to remain secure in my ear. It took several rounds of tip rolling to finally land on something that worked well enough. I ended up using Symbio-W hybrid tips, though it still occasionally came loose from my ear.




Sound Quality


The Kylin has a general V-shape sound signature with elevated bass and recessed mids. To balance it, the treble is extended and boosted. I found the soundstage to be medium width, and imaging to be good, though not great.



On initial listen, it sound quite bassy, but after swapping around tips, I found the bass to not be overbearing. The IEM features Knowles BA drivers, so one would expect that the bass is relatively tight compared to a dynamic. In general, I found the bass to be mostly clean and tight.


The mids are recessed and slightly compressed. Vocals do seem to fall a little behind the rest of the track, but it’s nothing of major concern. On it’s own, I never felt the mids to be troubling. It’s only when I started A-B-ing with other IEMs that I found the mids/vocals to be slightly compressed and missing something. This was more evident when comparing it to the BGVP DMG, which comes in at the same price range ($149 MSRP). The DMG is also V-shaped but the mids are more coherent and cleaner than the Whizzer Kylin.


When you move up to treble, the DMG also sounds more extended and detailed. This seems to be backed by my MiniDSP measurements when comparing them overlayed on each other.


They both generally follow a similar shape, with the Kylin extend more in the bass, but dropping off more in the treble region. So it seems like you can pick and choose your poison here.




Overall


I found the Kylin to be a decent to good IEM. It has issues with fit for me, and some compression in the mids. It does have good bass response that doesn’t feel muddy or bloated. It’s only when I compare it to the similarly priced DMG that I find some general problems with it. That’s not to say the DMG is a perfect IEM, but in my opinion, the DMG is a better coherent, fun, IEM than the Whizzer – but only slightly more. As they are the same price, I’d recommend the DMG over it.

Note: Bass response can be bloated or not -- depending on tips and seal. I had a lot of trouble getting good seal all the time, so maybe not getting good seal cause a tamer bass response and worse mids, and vice-versa. Either way, there's something slightly off here.

My background- I am a professional musician, producer and audio engineer with experience in the performing, recording and pro-audio industry. I test products on a technical and musical level and try to write reviews as simple as possible from a music fan's perspective.

Genre preferences- I majorly listen to rock, acoustic, pop and metal genres and occasionally checkout EDM music which is doing the rounds on the radio and charts.

Reference Songs list-
1. Foo Fighters- The Pretender, Best of You & Everlong
2. Imagine Dragons- Radioactive & It’s Time
3. Coldplay- Paradise, Up in Flames & Everglow
4. Ed Sheeran- Thinking out loud, Bloodstream & Galway Girl
5. Gavin James- Always & Hearts on Fire
6. John Mayer- Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, Stop this Train & Say
7. Switchfoot- Meant to live & Dare You to Move
8. Linkin Park- Papercut, One Step Closer & Somewhere I belong
9. Maroon 5- She will be loved, Payphone & Lost Stars
10. I Am Giant- Transmission
11. Karnivool- Simple Boy & Goliath
12. Dead Letter Circus- Real You
13. Lamb of God- Redneck & Laid to Rest

Specifications- Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 is a hybrid with 1 Dynamic Driver and 2 Balanced Armatures. Here are the specifications in detail.

Dynamic Driver: 10mm Beryllium
Balanced Armatures: Knowles TWFK-30017-000 (Mids and Highs)
Impedance: 16Ω
Sensitivity: 98dB SPL/mW
Frequency response range: 12Hz - 40kHz
Connections: Angled 3.5mm / 0.78mm 2 Pin
Housing material: Stainless steel

Included in the box-
- Whizzer Kylin A-HE03
- 0.78mm 2-pin 5N OFC+SPC cable
- Faux Leather Case with magnetic lock function,
- 3 Pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M & L)
- 2 Pairs of Foam ear tips (T100)
- Warranty and User Manual





Unboxing Experience- I have to tell you that it has one of the best unboxing experiences in the market in its price range. Though I don’t really care about the packaging till the IEMs arrive safely packed, the packaging box is quite attractive and well made. Everything inside the box is presented and tucked in their own compartment well.

Build Quality- This IEM is beautiful! The shells are made up of stainless steel with a seam in the center and the nozzles are made of copper. The Whizzer logo protrudes on the faceplate and it would’ve been better if they were embedded in the body but nevertheless look extremely cool.

The cable is a 5N OFC + SPC cable. It looks good and is well made but it’s a little thin. A bit more volume to it would’ve been great. The ear hooks are pre-formed and the ear hook’s terminations are made up of pot metal which I don’t really like but they do the job and I’m fine with that. The cable is a bit tangly but not too much to be a problem.

Fit and Comfort- The IEMs are extremely light and once in your ears, you won’t feel them at all. They can be worn for long periods without any discomfort. Ear tips is where the IEM falls short. With the stock tips, I do not get a good seal and fit. The foam ear tips don’t help either. But if you have a stash of various tips, I suggest you tip roll and find the best match. I managed to get a decent fit with wide hard bore ear tips out of my stash and they lit up the IEM’s sound as well.

Sound- Below is a picture of the ear tips I used for this review. It keeps the bass under control a bit better than the stock tips.




Bass- IT IS BIG! You are surely not going to crack any bass player jokes. On technicality, the sub bass extends really low but along with the mid bass is boosted a little too much and could’ve been controlled a little better. The bass notes aren’t as crisp and sharp as I like since the sub bass overpowers upper bass clarity. But in Rock and Metal or with songs with brighter mixes, unless the bass is extremely prominent in the mix (like in bands like Karnivool and I Am Giant), the IEM works quite well and will make you consider being a bass player even though you’ve always wanted to rip solos like Slash from Guns N’ Roses. But in EDM’s bass heavy songs, it does get fatiguing after some time and you would like to grab the equalizer and tone it down a bit.

Mids- Mid-range as a whole, sounds good and natural in tonality. The lower midrange is a bit dominated by the bass but midrange and upper mid-range is where the Kylin starts picking up and showing that it’s not just a bass head’s IEM. Vocals sound really good, natural and well balanced. Higher pitched vocals including female vocals sound a tad bit more prominent than male vocals. Snares in rock music have good body and impact. The mid-range as a whole sounds warm and vocal based music shines the best. You’d love to sit back and relax and put some light vocal music on. Adam Levine, Ed Sheeran Chris Martin and Gavin James’ vocals sound really good and I enjoyed them quite a bit.

Treble- Now this is where the Knowles BA starts showing off that it is the best and most consistent player in the team. The treble is slightly boosted; it has good clarity, airiness but is never harsh. The sibilant region is well under control most of the times and sounds smooth. Distortion guitars in songs like Lamb of God’s Redneck, Linkin Park’s One Step Closer, Foo Fighter’s Pretender and Switchfoot’s Meant to live, all sound powerful, punchy and will make you head bang instantly. John Mayer’s acoustic in Stop This Train sounds warm and nice whereas Ed Sheeran’s intro acoustic in Galway girl sound crisp and energetic. All in all, the treble has a rich tonality, good resolution and is surely the MVP of this IEM.


Soundstage, Imaging and Separation- Kylin has a good wide soundstage with good imaging as well. Depth is not as deep but the reverb trails are still pretty clear. All instruments are placed accurately in the image. Panning in Switchfoot’s Meant to Live intro is wide and you can feel that the guitar players are playing in the opposite ends of a big recording room. The sound feels airy and instrument separation is also quite good. Porcupine Tree’s multiple instrument heavy tracks don’t sound cluttered and have a nice amount of detail and separation.


Comparisons- I do not have a lot of IEMs around $150, so I will compare it to some popular ones quickly.

Whizzer Kylin vs Tenhz P4 Pro ($150)- P4 Pro is an all BA IEM. It’s bass is a lot more controlled than the Kylin but still has enough impact. The mids are better on the P4 Pro as they have better detail and separation. I prefer the highs of the Kylin as they are a little better in quality and definition, and extend further into the air region than the P4 Pro. Kylin’s soundstage is a bit wider than P4 Pro. P4 Pro has better separation and layering across all the frequency ranges.

Whizzer Kylin vs iBasso IT01 ($109)- Even though the IT01 is a v-shaped IEM, Kylin has way more bass than them. The mids on the IT01 are a little more recessed than the Kylin but IT01 has better separation and clarity, majorly because the bass does not interfere with the lower mids as it does in the Kylin. The treble of the Kylin extends further and has better clarity and presence. Surprisingly Kylin’s soundstage is wider than the IT01 but IT01’s depth might just be a tad bit more.

Whizzer Kylin vs Tansio Mirai TSMR-3 ($189)- TSMR is a way more technically proficient and a better tuned IEM. It has switches that help you tune the IEM as well and at the moment, is the under $200 king for me. The tuning across the whole spectrum is better balanced. Bass is better controlled, mids are rich and have good definition and treble also has better quality and is more nicely levelled with the rest of the frequency spectrum. But even after all that, if you are a big bass head, you are going to prefer the Kylin because even in the Bass Mode 100 of the TSMR-3, the bass is boosted just a little above neutral. I personally like good bass too and TSMR’s bass is enough for me but bigger bass heads might just want the Kylin more.


Conclusion- If I have to summarize it in short, it’s a bass head’s IEM with good clarity in upper mids and treble. If you don’t mind big bass, get a good fit with the right tips like the ones I am using, they are actually quite fun and enjoyable. They are beautiful and look like they are something from a much more expensive price bracket. The packaging, leather case and a nice-looking cable, further adds to it’s bling value. If Whizzer had tuned the bass a bit better, with better control and clarity, the Kylins could have become one of the best players in its price range. Still, if you are a bass head who loves big bass with good definition in the other frequency bands, I suggest you check the Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 out.

Whizzer is quite popular brand for IEMs originating from China with only few items in their current protfolio that managed to attain a wide spread around the world. The availability of Whizzer IEMs in local shops of different countries is the best proof for that. We’ve seen many good comments and mostly positive feedback from the owners of previous A15 and A15Pro models along with the emerging attention for their latest IEMs — Kylin (A-HE03). We’ve also got a chance to review this latest item and ready to share our own findings with the readers.



Whizzer Kylin technical specifications:

• Type: hybrid, 1 dynamic + 2BA drivers
• Dynamic driver: 10mm, beryllium
• Armature drivers: Knowles, 1 x midrange + 1 x treble
• Sensitivity: 98dB SPL/mW
• Impedance: 28Ω
• Frequency response: 12Hz — 40kHz
• Connector: 2Pin, 0.78mm
• Plug: 3.5mm, L-shaped
• Cable: 1.2m, 5N OFC+SPC, braided
• Shell material: aluminum magnesium alloy

Other stated features:

Ultra HD experience: high-resolution Knowles balanced armature drivers provide with a complete sense of details in mid and high frequency ranges.

Aluminum-magnesium alloy shell: CNC machined, high-rigidity alloy contributes greatly in the suppression of vibration which ensures audio fidelity

Vibration suppression frame & PEK composite diaphragm: further enhancement based on the Whizzer acoustic system significantly enhances the wide-band and transient performance of low frequencies



Packaging, design and materials:

Designers in Whizzer surely know how to draw the attention to their product and definitely mastered core design guidelines and techniques.

Kylin comes in a pretty large black box covered with extra layer of white cardboard with excellent quality of printed graphics and additional details about the product. Here you’d find the product picture, brand and model name, full technical description, list of accessories, build structure of IEMs and lots of other data.



All text and pictures are neat and perfectly aligned. The design is far from being dull and tells us that this is a matured product with the necessary attention paid to each single element. Even such elements as special cutouts for easy cover removal and exposing product name simultaneously are showing how smart and rigorous their approach was during developing this concept.



The box itself is black with model and brand name embossed on sides. Top part is foldable and held by a strong built in manget.



Inner box compartment is separated into two layers. Top insert is made of soft foam which securely holds IEMs in place and there is an additional aluminum plate containing product name and serial number glued to its surface.



An envelope with a small user guide leaflet and warranty card is put in a special opening on the opposite side.



Bottom layer contains the cable and storage case with some additional accessories inside.

Box contens:

• Kylin IEMs
• cable
• 3 pairs of silicone eartips
• 2 pairs of memory foam eartips
• storage case
• user guide
• warranty card

Storage case looks very nice.

IEMs are made of two magnesium alloy parts with tiny concentric grooves at the very top around shiny gold brand logo that stands out from the surface.



There are 2 compensation openings — one on the edge of the cover and another one is on the inner side of the base, close to the output nozzle.



Channel indicators are printed there as well.

Output nozzles and protective grills are made of aluminum and resemble the golden brand name appearance.



Bases of 2-pin connectors are made of semi-transparent plastics and add some aesthetics to the overall look, especially when the cable is connected. No free play here.



Stock cable is 5N + OFC & SPC braided, with semi-transparent plastic 2-pin connectors and earguides, aluminum Y-splitter, limiter and 3.5mm jack housing. All cable joints have good banding protection elements.



In overall, the design is gorgeous and very unique. Lots of smaller design elements, perfect crafting, ideal aligment of parts, good choice of colors and interesting shape. Kylin could be kept in ones collection at least for the design concept and quality of implementation.



Unfortunately, such unique cone shape of the output nozzle played a bad role when it came to fit. Nozzle diameter starts to increase right after the joint with the shells and this prevents it from sitting deeper inside the ear even with the choice of the smallest tips. This consequently leads to lack of lows and partial loss of overall sound integrity. The only solution to check the sound was to hold IEMs by the fingers which is not the best way to do it So, just keep in mind that if you’d regularly chooise S-sized eartips for any other IEMs — Kylin might not fit your ears at all.

Sound quality:

Tested with Hidizs AP200 & AP80 DAPs.



Lows and midbass:

Kylin are definitely bassy IEMs with quite an accent on this range. The amount of lows is a bit more than enough to our liking and lacks the details and texturing. It has a good contouring and does not interfere with other ranges but at the same time feels desynchronized and plays independently creating a gap between the weighted mixture of mids & treble and straight forward standalone appearance of the lower end. Bass is kind of lifeless — just present and overemphasized with weak connection to the dynamics and speed of other frequencies. Good thing is that such nature and extra emphasis on lows eventually leads to warmer tonality and helps to mask out sibilances or the excessive crispness on treble.

Midbass section is much more alive and engaging. Overall dynamics is quite good and the power is enough for the drums to sound naturally. The only problem is a slower decay of lower end that would also result in a bit indistinct articulation compared to some IEMs with better woofer tuning in the mix.



Mids nd vocals:

Mids are much better cooked and we thinf that it is a main advantage of Kylin IEMs. This range feels well balanced, showing no significant change between male and female vocals. The resolution decent, especially when it comes to string instruments. Female vocals might sound a bit more clear and emotional due to the influence of the lower treble but in overall mids feel very natural and musically rendered. No problems with lisping or excessive harsh peaks. The tonality is kept on the warmer side.



Treble:

Treble is bright, crisp and elevated creating another accent in the entire sound picture and giving it slightly V-shaped form. Although, this range is not as perfectly detailed as seen in multiple treble driver IEMs. Anyway, treble resolution and extension are more than average to create a good feel of airiness and transparency and to add the essential clarity. We also like that all sounds has a sufficient amount of thickness instead of being too sharp and sparkling. No problems with excessive harshness, sudden peaks or sibilances either.



Soundstage:

Layering of instruments, good treble extension and higher amount of lows help to define fairly large stage. The widest stage was spotted in drum-heavy tacks where some drums sounded very distant from the center and precisely located on horizontal and vertical axis while vocals sounded very close to stage front. Instruments in the midrange were gathered closer to a singer, while violins and cymbals fill the rest of the space between drums and vocalist.



Sound in overall:

Whizzer Kylin sound could be described as V-shaped, with significant emphasis on lows and another but less heavy emphasis on treble. Mids are fairly balanced and natural. We would still label those as having bright tonality due to higher treble extension that attracts much more attention than lows.

Compared to Shozy & NEO CP:



Shozy & NEO CP lacks in sub-bass|bass region and the rest of the ranges are tuned more delicately and have a warmer tonality. Treble extension and clarity is not as prominent but this is due to much less accented range. CP IEMs are more neutral and sound more balanced. Mids are very close to Kylin, with the same warm timbre and absence of harsh peaks.

Compared to Kinera IDUN:



Kinera IDUN demonstarte much more neutral tuning with less impact on lows and treble. The resolution and extension of treble is as good but the gain and amount are lower. At the same time, IDUN lows lacks the presence and power. Mids also remind of Kylin sound — well balanced and accurate.



Conclusion:

Whizzer Kylin represent another masterpiece in terms of packaging and design that deserve its own place on the shelf among other most attractive concepts. Georgeous look, perfect crafting and excellent first impression. Fit is not the best though and we have warned people who would regularly use the smallest eartips. Sound-wise, there are some strong positive traits like balanced presenation of mids, natural voices, good treble range extension and fairly high resolution. Lower range is more than necessary and not very detailed to our liking but it might become a good choice for the bass oriented music fans. All in all, Whizzer Kylin creates another option to consider concerning its quite unique tuning, sound picture and excellent appearance.

You can purchase Whizzer Kylin at PenonAudio

Whizzer KYLIN A-HE03 Review: Great Build, Interesting Sonics
My first contact with Whizzer, a Chinese earphone maker, was right after the release of their freshmen IEM, the A15. It’s stainless steel construction and tear-drop design made it a refreshing member of my review queue. Well, a lot has changed since then, and Whizzer is now on their third earphone: the A-HE03. It's a pretty big departure from the design language of their previous IEMs and paves a path for itself with a sound signature notably independent from its older relatives. It has also earned a Hi-Fi certification! But has Whizzer synthesized these factors into a compelling purchase? Or is this just another middling product?

You can purchase the Kylin A-HE03 here, for $150.

About My Preferences: Heads up, I’m a person! As such, these words are my opinion, and they are tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind:

• My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, mid-bass.
• I have a mild treble sensitivity.

Source: The Kylin was powered like so:

LG V40-> earphones

or

Hidizs AP100 3.5mm out -> FiiO A5 3.5mm out -> earphones

or

HiFiMAN SuperMini -> earphones

or

PC optical out -> HiFiMe SPDIF 9018 Sabre DAC 3.5mm out -> earphones

All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.

Tech Specs

• Material: Aluminum-Magnesium alloy
• Driver: 10mm Beryllium Dynamic Driver + 2x Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers
• Sensitivity : 98 dB SPL/mW
• Impedance: 28 Ω
• Frequency response range: 12Hz-40Khz
• Connector: 2-Pin
• Plug: 3.5mm
• Cable : 120 cm 5N OFC+SPC 120mm braided line

Sound Signature
Sonic Overview:
The Kylin implements a wide V-shaped sound signature. It has some peaks in the treble and mid-bass, with some smaller ones in the upper-midrange. It has a warm bass presentation with a somewhat warm lower-midrange implementation.

Sonic Breakdown:
Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy, Little One, Show Me How To Live (Live at the Quart Festival)

Using balanced-armature drivers generally gives an IEM pretty good treble expression, and the Kylin is no exception. Its lower and upper treble are cohesively staged, each pulling in a good amount of detail and texturing. Little One’s spectral intro showcased just how well the Kylin’s treble can succinctly capture transients.

In the intro of Show Me How To Live, claps and whistles can be distinctly heard in concert with the drummer hitting his high-hats. Speaking of high-hats, the Kylin does a pretty good job of resolving individual hits. Its precision and instrumental separation are pretty darn good, adding quite a bit to the treble’s quality overall.

Midrange: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams, Too Close, Little Black Submarines

The Kylin’s midrange is competent, just as its treble is. Articulate, concise, and well-staged, the A-HE03’s midrange paints a well-textured and toned picture of each instrumentation you listen to. I very much enjoyed listening to Flagpole Sitta’s energetic choruses and impassioned drum line. I had a similarly good time hearing the Kylin’s take on Little Black Submarines, intense bridges and all. It did an admirable job capturing the semi-muted vibrations in the string plucks during Little Black Submarine’s finger-picked intro.

The A-HE03 has a mild preference towards male vocals. While it can portray some great instances of female singing, it generally lacks a little of the sweetness that a more linear midrange might have. In general, V-shaped midranges have mild male vocal preferences, so this isn’t a flaw or fault one could possibly assign uniquely to the Kylin.

Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)

The Kylin’s bass has a large presence. It is more concerned about quantity than quality, and that shows in its presentation. While I quite enjoy how it performs in songs like In For The Kill and Gold Dust, there’s room for improvement when playing back songs such as War Pigs and Moth, where cohesion between the mid-bass and lower midrange matter quite a bit. So as a professional nick-picker I’d say it's worth noting if you’re an audiophile or particularly anal about bass presentation.

Packaging / Unboxing
Whizzer’s packaging for their products has steadily become more sensible over time. The A15’s packaging was a bloated mess, but the Kylin’s is pretty slim by comparison. As for the packaging itself, it's a slick unboxing experience.

Build
Construction Quality
The Kylin’s shells are crafted out of high-quality metal. If you look closely one can see that it has a finely lined texture. However, to the feel, the Kylin’s shells are entirely smooth. A metallic Whizzer logo is affixed to the faceplate firmly and with precision.

On the matter of nozzles, I find myself impressed with the Kylin. Even among metal-nozzled IEMs, the Kylin is sturdy. It has a finely-machined lip and a metal debris filter recessed beneath the said lip.

The Kylin’s cables are detachable and replaceable. They utilize the 2-pin standard. The Kylin’s particular implementation uses extruded connectors, so it may be incompatible with some aftermarket cables.

The cable for that ships with the Kylin is quite visually attractive. It is a silver-copper hybrid cable that makes use of a braided geometry. There’s plenty of stress relief, and the 3.5mm jack and Y-splitter are encased in a nicely-finished metal, as is the chin slider.

Comfort
I found the Kylin to be very comfortable, even during extended listening sessions. During a recent trip, I found myself to be able to semi-comfortably listen to the Kylin while laying on my side, which is a plus. It fits in incredibly small ears too.

Accessories
Inside the box you’ll find:

• 2x pairs of foam eartips
• 3x pairs of silicone eartips
• 1x hard carrying case

Normally, I expect an IEM of this price-point to have a little more in the accessory department, but I actually didn’t find it difficult to get a fit so I think I can give the A-HE03 a pass.

The Kylin’s case has a semi-padded exterior, topped off with faux leather, and a hard-framed interior. It stays closed primarily via friction and doesn’t seem to have any immediate “accidental opening” issues. While I’d like to see a magnetic closing mechanism, this one is fine for now.

Comparisons
1: Kinera H3 ($99)

The H3 is an odd beast when compared to the Kylin. It has a W-shaped sound signature with a very-much-emphasized treble. By comparison, the Kylin’s treble and midrange are much more synergistic, ebbing and flowing together in ways that a W-shaped sound signature generally can’t support. Despite the fact that the Kylin and H3 share the same driver configuration (2x BA, 1x DD), the difference in component quality is clear, leading in favor of the Kylin. Obviously, this can be chalked up to disparities in age and pricing, but in my mind its the winner here is clear.

2: Periodic Audio Ti ($200)

The Periodic Audio Ti is by far one of my favorite V-shaped IEMs. It nails both dynamics performance and sound signature integrity. It’s a benchmark IEM for me. The Kylin has a deeper V-shaped sound signature than the Ti does, but has a somewhat similar midrange expression. The Ti’s treble is a little less energetic and doesn’t get that “BA boost” that the Kylin’s does, though the Ti’s treble fits more cohesively with its midrange than the Kylin’s does. Now, as far as the bass goes, the Ti’s is significantly more controlled and responsive. While it doesn’t quite have the quantity that the Kylin’s does, I find that some listeners will surely think that it is worth the trade to gain access to the quality of bass that the Ti provides. Though it is worth noting that the Ti does indeed cost more than the Kylin does.

Summary
The Whizzer Kylin A-HE03 is an interesting beast. It has outstanding build quality and aesthetics, and a new take on driver configuration not seen before from Whizzer. Its accessory package seems to be high-quality, if not entirely fleshed out. The A-HE03’s sound signature is a bit of a mixed bag with top-notch midrange and treble performance in its price range, but a fairly mediocre showing from its bass. While I enjoyed the A-HE03 on a personal level, I can certainly see how less bass-inclined individuals would take an issue with it. So for all you bass-heads like me, the Kylin is a sure pleaser. Be sure to check it out!

As always, happy listening!

About me

I'm somewhat new to the world of Chi-Fi, previously using full sized headphones for listening to music.
I started my journey in mid 2018, ordering several KZ products, before slowly moving up in price range.

This will be my first review of an IEM, so you will have to take my somewhat limited experience into consideration when reading the review.

We are today checking out the Whizzer A-HE03 Kylin.

This set was acquired for my own money from Penon Audio.

Packaging & Accessories

Packaging is great with a fancy box, and you've probably seen the accessories already.
You get a round nice leather-like box with them, with Kylin engravement.

You get a copper/silver cable with 2 pin connector with them.

The kylin comes with 2 pairs of foams, and a selection of silicone tips.

Build Quality

Build quality is great, and I can't fault it.
The shells are solid and light. There is a R and L indicator easily visible on each shell.

The 2 pin termination is well executed, and will prevent any bending.

The cable quality is OK, not the best - not the worst. There is a red indicator just before the termination on the right side, and it's a pre-shaped loop. The cable ergonomics are nice. There is no microphonics from the cable.

Fit, comfort and isolation

Fit can be somewhat tricky with this one, right tips are essential for a good fit.
The shells are not large by any means ( and I have small ear canals ).

I can hear everything easily around em, more or less, even with foam tips and good seal - so isolation is not a strong point by any means.

Comfort is very good, and I can wear these for hours without any discomfort.

Sound

I listen to all sorts of music, and various genres are used for judging.

• Separation is excellent, you can pick out each and every instrument that the Kylin's are able to present and pick up, without things getting distorted. Strongpoint of this IEM, and it's a real treat to listen to.

• Imaging is average to good, but not excellent.

• Soundstage is somewhat average, it's not bad, but not great either.

• Treble & detail retrieval is fantastic, you get to hear a lot of micro details, and the treble is extended without being harsh. These are not sibilant. The treble is semi-smooth, and is a strongpoint of this IEM.

To summarize the sound signature of this IEM.

Lower end

The Whizzer's bass slam pretty hard. The sub bass and mid bass can be overpowering on some tracks that I listened to. One example of that would be Astrid S - Hyde, where unfortunately the amount is too much for my taste, and while the bass not necessarily bleed into the other frequencies, the pure amount of bass overshadow the other frequencies in the song.

The bass quality is not the best I've heard either.

The amount of bass you get is source dependent. From my phone it's boomy, and way too warm. I was initially very dissapointed as my first listen were from my phone, but the bass does behave alot better out of my Dragonfly Black.

Instruments

Instruments ( guitars, pianos etc ) sounds good, but can be somewhat track and genre dependent.

The Kylins excel in accoustics, pop, rnb etc, but when it comes to Metal I think the bass decay is too slow, and the clarity and attack of the music suffers. Though, if you do like the bass slam and warmth in metal, this will not be a problem for you.

Vocals

Female vocals are forward and extremely clear and detailed. On some tracks it can almost be too much, examples would be "Aurora - Warrior", where it can tend to be shouty, and I have to lower my volume. But in general this is a huge strongpoint of this IEM, and calling it shouty is almost being picky - considering how good female vocals sound.

"Ingrid Michaelson - Lady in Spain" is a track where the Kylin ticks all the boxes for me, vocals, instruments, seperation. It's such a delight to listen to, and every instrument get to play it's music, vocals are so present, it's so utterly detailed.

Male vocals are generally recessed, but you will not notice this in every track. The Kylin is an oddball when it comes to this, as some tracks it's quite the opposite. "Simon & Garfunkel - Sound of Silence" is a track that gives me goosebumps listening to with this IEM, it's so perfectly delivered. The vocals are forward, and so detailed that I feel that I'm in a room witnessing a concert. These can really shine on certain tracks.

In general, one could debate that vocals may miss some fullness, as the vocals can be presented as quite "cold", but the details are there. This will be a matter of taste, personally - I like more naturalness / livelyness in the vocals, but I do at the same time appreciate the clarity and details that the Kylin delivers.

Select comparison

• Toneking T88k

The Toneking is more balanced,and Vocals are more "full" and have a more natural body and tonality.

Female vocals are more forward on Kylin. Kylin wins on instrument seperation, and the treble is more extended, revealing more details in music.

I think vocals on the Toneking are better, but that may be a matter of preference.

Bass quality is on another level on the Toneking, and it doesn't bother you on bass heavy tracks. The Kylin sub bass maybe digs a little deeper if I were to guess. The amount of bass on the Kylin is just way too much, and the Toneking sounds a lot better booth in amount and quality.

Toneking wins easily when it comes to soundstage.

Toneking T88k is considered a much more balanced contender, and it get more time in my ears than my Whizzer.

Kylin wins on comfort, as my ear canals are small, and the Toneking start to nag me after maybe an hour or two of use.

Summary

All in all, the Kylin is a mixed bag which excel in some areas, while it's not performing in others. The main problem for me is that the bass is generally over-emphasized, affecting some tracks more than others. Male vocals are also recessed, and this is easy to notice.

That set aside, I think the Kylin represent excellent value, and it will get ear time with me. The praise that this set has been given by some is deserved in my opinion, and I don't regret buying it.

Greetings!

Today we're checking out a new Whizzer flagship, the A-HE03 Kylin.

Whizzer is still a fairly new brand with only a few earphones to their name. The A15, the A15 Pro Haydn, and now the A-HE03 Kylin. The Kylin is their first hybrid and at first glance it seems they've taken a positive path sourcing armatures form well-known manufacturer Knowles. If you're going to dive into the congested world of hybrid earphones, you might as well get drivers with a recognizable and trusted name behind them. Still, parts are only one part of the equation and other brands have worked wonders with “no-name” drivers. It's how they're tuned and implemented that sets your product apart.

How did Whizzer do? Let's find out.

Disclaimer:

Thank you to Lillian with Linsoul for arranging a sample of the Kylin for the purposes of review. There was no financial incentive provided to write about this earphone. The thoughts within this review are my own and do not represent Whizzer, Linsoul, or any other entity.

At the time of writing the Kylin retailed for 159.00 USD https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/Whizzer-A-HE03-IEM

Source:

The Kylin is pretty easy to drive and doesn't seem to be overly affected by output impedance of the source device. As such, it spent most of it's time being powered by a Shanling M0 or the Radsone EarStudio ES100 either plugged into my Asus FX53V laptop via USB, or over LDAC/Bluetooth, connected to my LG G6 ThinQ. I really don't think amping is needed, or that it makes a huge difference with this earphone.

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures in my headphones I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even and natural mid-range response, with reduced mid-bass. The HiFiMan RE800, Brainwavz B400, and thinksound On2 offer varied examples of signatures I enjoy. I generally listen at very low volumes, so keep this in mind when reading my thoughts on how an earphone sounds.

Specifications:

• Driver: 10mm PEK dynamic + Knowles 30017 000 dual mid/treble armatures
• Impedance: 28 ohms
• Frequency Range: 212Hz – 20kHz
• Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW
• Maximum SPL: 107dB/mW
• Cable: 1.3m, copper

Packaging, and Accessories:

Whizzer knocked it out the park with the packaging of their previous model, the A15 Pro, yet they stepped things up another notch here with the Kylin. I always appreciate quality packaging as it leaves a good impression. Whizzer is off to a strong start here.

Like many other products, the Kylin's packaging sees an inner package surrounded by a cardboard sleeve. On the front of the sleeve is the expected branding and model designation along with a nicely modeled digital representation of the product. A notch in the sleeve down the right side shows Kylin printed in gold cursive on the matte black box beneath. Down the left side of the sleeve you find a list of contents/accessories, while on the back you find another digital image, a breakdown of the construction and materials used, as well as the specification list. It all looks and feels very premium, even more so once you remove the sleeve.

The matte black box within is wonderfully textured. Almost like sandpaper, sans the pain. It feels wonderfully tactile. Outside of the gold Kylin lettering mentioned above, there is some additional text on the lid and magnetically sealed flap printed in a contrasting glossy black. Lifting the flap and diving inside, the Kylin's earpieces are set snugly within a large foam platter. Just below them is an ovular silver plaque on which is written “Kylin A-HE03” and a serial number. It all feels quite similar to what KZ did with the AS10 and BA10, but nicer. Beneath the foam tray which you remove via a plastic pull tab are two inserts, one holding the cable and the other a gorgeous leatherette carrying case. Inside the case are two sets of tips set within cardboard holders. A neat touch that many might overlook is that the bottom of the foam tray has a cutout holding a cardboard envelope in which lies some documentation, that being the manual and service card. In all you get:

• Kylin earphones
• 0.78mm 2-pin 5N OFC & SPC braided cable
• Clamshell carrying case
• Single flange silicone tips (s/m/l)
• Foam tips (s/m)

While you are not getting a ton of gear with the Kylin, the presentation is top notch with quality materials used. The carrying case is a standout item with it's luxury looks and construction. The silicone tips are quite similar to those that came with the Simgot EN700 Pro and are made from a very durable, dense, yet flexible silicone that provides a reliable seal. I quite like them, just not on the Kylin but we'll touch on that later.

Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

As with it's packaging, the Kylin's build impresses. The magnesium alloy shells are composed of three parts. The back shell is emblazoned with a raised, gold-colored Whizzer logo, a small forward facing vent, and a texture not unlike a finger print. The inner shell is smooth and composed with a pinhole vent to control driver flex and L/R printed for channel differentiation. The matte blue paint job on these parts is applied without fault. Lastly, you have a gold-colored nozzle with a prominent lip for holding tips on securely. It all fits together flawlessly with each part lining up as they should. Another aspect of the Kaylin seemingly inspired by Simgot's EN700 Pro is the horizontal positioning of the circular ports for the 2-pin cable.

And speaking of the cable, it's okay. Visually it is a nice piece of equipment with it's two-tone copper/silver braid. Oddly, the purity rating is a step down from the cheaper A15 Pro's cable which was 6N vs. the Kaylin's 5N. Like the Simgot EN700 Pro's plugs, they are rounded with a silver ring at the end where it sits flush with the housing of the ear pieces. The preformed ear hooks are topped off with golden caps, unlike most earphones which end with the guide material and nothing else. A nice bit of attention to detail. The stubby y-split and chin cinch seem to be made from aluminum alloy or similar metal with the y-split featuring the Kylin name and some tasteful gold beveling. The 90 degree angled jack is amply relieved with a 3mm extension to account for phone cases. We again are seeing some gold accents here. The cable above the y-split thins out considerably. I found it very susceptible to tangling, and it seems to retain kinks and bends more readily than is preferred. While not overbearing, some cable noise is present and is retained even with the chin cinch snuggly in place. Cold weather performance is appreciably poor with the sheath getting extremely stiff and unmanageable. For a cable on an earphone in this price range, it is a little disappointing.

The shape of the housings of the Kylin are similar in effect to the EN700 Pro and Auglamour R8 in that they are designed to sit in a vertical orientation. With the exception of the Simgot due to it's extra width and overall girth, designs like this do not sit in my ear with the same security as other over-ear earphones since there is little beyond the ear tips to support them and hold them in place. The Kylin finds a solid middle ground between the R8 and EN700 Pro. With the right tips, it inserts and sits comfortably without any sharp edges, but requires fairly consistent readjustment to maintain a good seal. Others certainly won't experience this and I am sure will wear them just fine. For me, comfort is good but the overall fit and stability could be better.

The Kylin's isolation is about average. With silicone tips in place, the two vents let in some outside noise but not a ton. Typing on a keyboard with no music playing you can clearly hear the keystrokes without them sounding muffled, they're just quieter than they otherwise would be. Listening to the Kylin amidst the din of my local Tim Horton's, a small raise in volume is needed to counter the noise around me. As is usually the case, foam tips help considerably with boosting isolation and are recommended if you need some quiet.


Sound:

Tips:Small bore tips like the CP100 from Spinfit seem to be the best match to my ears. The stock wide bore tips made the bass extra bloated and texture-less. Manufacturers have been doing a much better job of pairing tips to the product lately, but my experiences with the Kylin shows Whizzer dropped the ball here. On the plus side, you'll have a quality pair of wide bore tips to use somewhere else if you so choose.

The Whizzer utilizes a triple driver setup with Knowles armatures handling the mids and treble. It is evident too as those are the best parts of the presentation. With a warm, heavily v-shaped signature, the Kylin has an unapologetically consumer friendly sound that should please most listeners.

Treble is light and airy with nice extension and excellent space between notes. Not much emphasis is placed on this region though, so cymbals and some other effects are downplayed more than they should be at times. It is well controlled and clear, free of sibilance and easy to listen to for long periods, even on raunchy tracks like The Crystal Method's “Grace feat. LeAnn Rimes”. Details are crisp and well defined yet rarely ever harsh, making aggressive metal tracks from bands like Havok and Sepultura plenty listenable, even at higher volumes than I generally listen at.

The midrange sees a scoop in emphasis mostly effecting male vocals making this one of the more noticeably v-shaped earphones I've come across in recent memory. Listening to The Door's “The End” sees Jim Morrison's vocals set much further back than I am used used to. This directs your attention everywhere else as a result. Nice for those preferring instrumentals over vocals. Female vocals are fine on Jessie J's “Bang Bang” but on Lenzman's “Open Page”, Riya's vocals take the back seat and have a slight hollowness to them. At least the tonality is quite good the vast majority of the time and timbre distinct with everything sounding as it should, minus the whole balance and prominence thing.

Bass is where the Kylin starts to lose me. The bass driver presents itself with more warmth and a slightly deeper tonality than the armatures leading to a disjointed presentation that reminds me I'm listening to a hybrid. It also doesn't help that the overall presentation down here is somewhat woolly and one note with an abundance of mid-bass that overshadows the nicely extended sub-bass region. Whereas the A15 Pro was gutless in the bass, Whizzer's hybrid follow up tosses too much into the ring without the texture and dynamicism needed to back it up.

The Kylin's sound stage isn't something I would consider overly wide and deep, but not necessarily small or constrained either. Pretty average in the grand scheme of things. For example, using them while playing 'Dirt Rally' in the cockpit view makes the car feel smaller than it is. Rocks and stones ping off the undercarriage and around the wheel wells with less distance than I've experienced with other earphones. Imaging is quite good with with well-stepped and accurate channel-to-channel transitions. Tracks are well layered with strong separation keeping the Kylin from feeling congested. Overly mid-bassy tracks do tip toe over into the technicals, but it is pretty uncommon.

With all the hype that the Kylin was getting around the time of the 11.11 sales, I'll admit that my expectations were to hear something special. In the end, it is like a pretty average earphone with a fairly generic, v-shaped tune. Too much bass for my preferences, namely mid-bass, with a lack of texture being the cherry on top. Male vocals lack emphasis and the treble is quite downplayed too. It's great in that it is easy to listen to for long periods, but it doesn't get my blood rushing at all. It doesn't do anything better than the competition, while falling short in a couple key areas.


Select Comparisons:

Whizzer A15 Pro Haydn: Both Kylin and Haydn are very well constructed with flawlessly crafted metal shells. Haydn has a cloth and rubber sheathed cable with a unique spring style memory wire that works well enough, though I prefer the Kylin's preformed guides. I prefer the Haydn's cable because it is more flexible and less tangly. A huge plus for the Kylin though is the move to a 2-pin system. The Haydn's MMCX connectors were terrible, easily detached simply by wobbling the earphone. When it comes to fit, the Haydn's broader earpieces better conform to the shape of my ear and feel more natural to wear.

Immediately noticeable is the Kylin's low end and how much more prominent and visceral it is than the Haydn's. It extends better and provides more physical feedback, though it's not as well textured or quick. Haydn's mid-range is slightly more forward, particularly with male vocals. Kaylin's mids are slightly warmer and smoother with a similar level of texture. Treble is more prominent on the Haydn but lacks the refinement of the Kaylin sounding rougher and less detailed. Sound stage on the Haydn is larger and deeper. Imaging performance seems similar, though the Kylin does a better job of layering and separating sounds despite a more constricted stage.

BGVP DMG (balanced filters): The DMG and Kylin both feature all-metal shells with smooth matte paint jobs. Build quality is equally good between both with the Kylin getting some additional style points with the raised logo. The DMG is pretty bland in comparison. The DMG's cable is significantly better. It is much more plush and flexible with no memory and very little cable noise. It's pre-formed ear guides are also softer and more comfortable, though they lack the snazzy end caps Whizzer installed in the Kylin's cable. DMG uses MMCX plugs which are nice for the plethora of 3rd party alternatives available, though I find 2-pin systems more reliable so Kylin gets the nod there.

These two have a similar tune with lots of bass, lush mids, and clear treble, but the DMG does it better. Bass is more textured and less mid-bass heavy, though the Kylin digs a little deeper. Neither is particularly punchy. The DMG's mid-range is a touch colder and more articulate with additional detail with a more natural tonality. Treble is a little tighter and smoother on the Kylin, and less emphasized, but feels smoothed over and not quite as detailed. DMG has a larger and more dynamic sound stage with much greater depth. Imaging is slightly more precise on the Kylin but it can't separate and layer quite like the DMG.

Kinera IDUN: Unlike others in this section, the IDUN forgoes metal shells for a custom style acrylic. As a result, it lacks the durable feel of the Kylin, though visual appeal is still strong. The pressed wood face plates on my version look stellar up close with a ton of texture. When you flip it over you can check out the drivers and inner workings, something you can't do on the Kylin. As with the DMG, the IDUN's cable is vastly superior. It shares a two tone look with the Kylin's cable but is twice as thick yet still significantly more flexible. It also avoids kinks and bends and transmits next to zero cable noise. It comes across way more premium. Only fault with the Kinera is that the plugs for the 2-pin system look like they were made for another earphone entirely. Whizzer did a much better job matching theirs to the product.

The IDUN has less bass than the Kylin but rolls off earlier. It is more textured and impactful. IDUN's mids are cooler and more forward though timbre is more accurate on the Kylin. Detail again goes to the Kinera. Kylin seems to smooth over micro-details that the IDUN highlights. Treble on the Kinera is much more emphasized and makes the Kylin sound quite rolled off, even though it isn't. Cymbals are just so much more energetic through the IDUN. Sound stage is similarly done on both with neither really giving me a broad sense of space. IDUN feels a little more accurate when it comes to imaging and it layers and separates with a hint more competency.

Final Thoughts:

Whizzer's A-HE03 Kylin certainly makes a strong first impression. It's packaging is beautifully designed with lots of useful information on the exterior, and a premium feel on the interior. While it doesn't come with a ton of accessories, those that are provided are fantastic, from the quality ear tips to the gorgeous leatherette carrying case. The earphones themselves are wonderfully crafted with a nice design and should be quite comfortable for most. The cable is a bit of a miss due to a tangly sheath that performs especially poorly in cool weather. The sound signature is nothing particularly special and is competent enough, but the overabundant and untextured bass, recessed male vocals, and lack of upper end energy keeps me from really warming up to them. Despite it's issues, the cheaper A15 Pro made for a more technical and entertaining listen to my ears and would be my recommendation in the Whizzer lineup.

After spending a couple weeks with the Kylin, it's turned out to be more show than go. Not a bad earphone, but not one I'm fully on board with. There are better options out there at this price range when looking at earphones with this signature.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler


Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)
Aesop Rock – Fishtales (Track)