Whizzer Kylin HE10

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Whizzer for furnishing this unit. It can be gotten here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005270401168.html (no affliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 10.2 mm carbon nanotube diaphragm dynamic driver
• Impedance: 36 Ohms
• Frequency response: 15 Hz - 40 kHz
• Sensitivity: 119 dB/Vrms
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm, 5N silver-plated oxygen free copper, 3.5 mm
• Tested at $70 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, the following are included:
- Whizzer VC20 silicone tips (S/M/L)
- Whizzer SS20 silicone tips (S/M/L)
- Whizzer ET100 silicone tips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Round hard case
- Cleaning brush

For a sub-$100 USD pair, the accessories are very decent. Perhaps the addition of foam tips or a modular cable would have been the icing on the cake, but this is just nitpicking.



3 variants of Whizzer's inhouse silicone tips are provided.
- The VC20 tips have the narrowest bore, and boost bass the most, with a compromise of a smaller soundstage.
- The SS20 tips have the widest bore, and increase treble and soundstage.
- The ET100 midpoint between the 2, though it has the deepest insertion and is the most inflexible - it may be uncomfortable for those that are sensitive to deep insertion as such.






A 5N Litz OFC silver-plate cable is included. This cable is apparently shielded with silver foil externally. Said cable is very well braided with minimal tangling. Microphonics are minimal, with a chin chinch for added grip. Strangely, it does not have lettering to notify the user of the left and right terminals - there is just a dot on the right terminal.




Completing the accessory line-up, we have a cleaning brush to remove debris, and a hard round metal case. The case is really solid, with cushioned interiors, and its contents should easily survive a fall.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock SS20 tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT

The HE10's chassis is designed by J.IDEA+. It is fashioned from high-precision 5-axis CNC machining, via vacuum plating. They look superbly elegant, with a metallic grey inner body and a rose gold outline. Whizzer's logo is emblazoned along the gold rim.

The shells are built like a tank, yet are very light in weight. I had no issues with regards to comfort, despite using the HE10 for a month of testing.

Do note that the HE10's 2-pin ports are semi-protruding. While after market 2-pin cables can be paired with it, if the cable does not have a shroud, cosmetically, the protruding port may be visualized, which may mar the aesthetics.



Being a vented IEM, isolation is below average, but the HE10 should still be usable outdoors. I did not find any driver flex on my set.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Whizzer HE10 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is moderately easy tp drive, though amplification may help it scale.


INTERNALS

The HE10 incorporates a 5th generation 10.2 mm CNT diaphragm DD. Its engine is an imported CCAW voice coil, which can generate a magnetic flux of 1.6 Tesla - this is marketed to lower distortion.



The acoustic cavity is modified using a FEA (Finite Element Analysis) process. The HE10 utilizes a dual cavity system, with a high-density multi-damping system on the front cavity, and a rear cavity to control resonance waves.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Whizzer HE10 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the HE10 is a smooth Harmanish set.

Timbral accuracy is organic as per its single DD roots, and vocals and acoustic instruments are natural. Folks who listen to jazz and classical will have a field day with the timbre.

Sadly, the HE10 is bang average when it comes to technicalities, and this department is nothing to write home about. The HE10 has an average soundstage, and instrument separation and layering is lacking. Music gets congested when complex riffs with competing instruments come out to play, and imaging is fuzzy. Micro-details and clarity aren't class-leading too.

The HE10 is a sub-bass focused IEM. The bass rumbles well with great extension, and is just a level shy of true basshead badness. Bass quality isn't tight or clean though, with average texturing and some mid-bass bleed. Bass speed may be on the slower side.



The mid-bass bleed warms the lower midrange, thickening this area and adding warmth. However, as a consequence, the midrange isn't transparent, nor clear. The upper mids have about 9 dB ear gain, pushing vocals forwards without overt shoutiness (this is balanced by the big bass, so the region is generally safe).

The HE10 has an early treble roll-off, and there is a lack of air and sparkle. Sibilance is kept to a minimal, though we lose resolution in the treble. Treble-sensitive folk will love the fatigue-free sonics, though trebleheads might lament this tuning choice.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made with other sub $100 single DDs. Planars, hybrids and pure BA types were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.




Tripowin Olina SE

The Olina SE is a Harmanish set with less bass and more treble. The Olina SE has greater air and sparkle, and the bass is tighter and faster. However, the Olina SE can come across as a bit more fatiguing and sibilant in the upper frequencies.

The Olina SE is thinner in note weight, though it has faster transients and sharper edge definition to notes. The Olina SE is more detailed, with better imaging and soundstage.


Simgot EA500

The EA500 has 2 tuning nozzles to give greater versatility. The red nozzle confers a Harmanish tone, whereas the black nozzle provides neutral bright sonics.

The EA500 is a definitely a brighter IEM across both tuning nozzles, with less bass. The EA500's bass is however, faster and cleaner, and it is way more technical, boasting better transients, clarity, imaging, soundstage, instrument separation and micro-detailing.

On the flip side, the EA500 has a thinner note weight, and can be more fatiguing around the upper mids/lower treble region, with some shout noted in the upper mids.


DUNU KIMA

The KIMA is another Harmanish tuned fare. The KIMA has inferior soundstage, imaging, micro-details and instrument separation, and sounds more compressed than the Whizzer HE10. It has less air and sparkle than the HE10, but the upper midrange is a bit more forwards.


CONCLUSIONS



The Whizzer HE10 is a very safely tuned Harmanish single DD, with smooth and sibilant-free sonics. Timbre is very natural and this IEM can be used for hours-on-end without fatigue. The aesthetics are also downright alluring, and accessories, ergonomics and build are quite impeccable.

Sadly, the HE10 may not be a treblehead's cup of tea, due to the lack of air and sparkle, and the technicalities department is quite average, with middling resolution.

In the big scheme of things, being average or even above average is going to make it quite tough to stand out from the cut-throat competition at the sub-$100 market. Perhaps the HE10 will have a place in the ears of consumers who want something analoguish with a pleasant tone, with not an ounce of fatigue in the tuning. However, for technical junkies, this IEM might not be the best option, and there are rivals out there that can give more mileage in this area.

Introduction

After more than 10 reviews since I started writing, I wanted to change the format I use and combine it with another hobby I love: gaming. That's why, with this new Whizzer model (and from now on), I will try to show the build and accessories in more entertaining way using photos and summarizing my experience with them as captions attached to those pictures. Additionally, the sound section will include my gaming experience and subjective description of the sound, along with the albums I listened to for drawing my conclusions. I hope you enjoy it!


Watch the video review here

Check out previous reviews here (or in spanish here)


Unboxing, Build & Comfort







Build: It features a strong yet lightweight metal alloy with nice gold accents. The 2-pin connection is recessed (also compatible with other 0.78mm 2-pin cables). The nozzle size is approximately 5.5mm.

Driver: It utilizes a dual cavity 10.2mm dynamic driver with a carbon nanotube diaphragm.





Cable: The outer part consists of two protective layers of silver, while the inner part is made of two high-purity copper cores (5N + Litz) plated in silver. It's an excellent cable priced below $100 USD, with connectors similar to QDC ones. It has a pleasing aesthetic, good flexibility and sound quality.





Tips: Three varieties of EasyTips are included: 3 pairs of ET100 (straight, similar to other balanced tips but with a kind of protrusion), 3 pairs of VC20 (vocal, narrower), and 3 pairs of SS20 (my favorite with a wide bore).



Case: Made of hard plastic, it offers good internal protection and enough space to hold the IEMs and their cable.

Filter brush: A nice addition (I didn't take pictures, hehe).

Comfort: The ergonomics and size of the HE10's nozzle fit me very well. Using TRI Clarion tips, the seal is impressive, and the comfort is top-notch. Highly recommended.


Subjective sound description


Credits: Ian Fann

Sound profile: Following the Harman target curve with a certain warmth in the bass region (V-shaped signature).

Gear used: IFI Zen Air Can (AMP) + Fiio E10K (DAC) / TempoTec Sonata HD PRO (dongle)


Gaming

Recently, I started playing the remake of Resident Evil 4, and that's what I've been using the HE10 for. As soon as I tried these IEMs with some music, I knew they would be fantastic for shooter-type games. Why? The bass is strong but not overwhelming, and most importantly, the treble plays it safe and lacks a bit of sparkle resulting in a quick decay of sounds in this range. This translates to less strident gunshot sounds to the ear, which I really appreciate.



One of the most important aspects for me in any game of this kind is being able to correctly identify where the sounds are coming from and how far the character/thing emitting them is. Here, the HE10 did a great job. I could easily distinguish where each voice was coming from, shouting things like " Puedes correr, pero no te puedes esconder" or " Hay que atraparlo". The distance was also relatively easy to differentiate, especially in situations like entering a new section of the map where enemies are further away or when a zombie is just a wall apart.


Music

Albums/singles:

• “Live After Death” – Iron Maiden
• “The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!” – Megadeth
• “21” – Adele
• “25” – Adele
• “Antonio Vivaldi : Les quatre saisons” – Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
• “Beethoven: The last 3 Piano Sonatas, Opp. 109, 110, 111” – Anne Queffélec
• “Sibelius: Complete Symphonies” - Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Klaus Mäkelä
• “Dirt Femme” – Tove Lo
• “New York” – Frank Sinatra
• “Greatest Hits” – Queen
• “DRIVE” – Tiesto

Bass

The boosted subbass and bass give these IEMs their warm tonality (not basshead levels but enough for a proper representation of the entire spectrum). The subbass delivers a magnificent rumble with admirable extension, truly a delight for listening to deep bass notes in rock-like genres and fantastic for enjoying EDM. The bass also holds its power in the signature, but the real star is the subbass. There's a good amount of midbass, but the definition is a bit lacking, affecting the clarity during the impact of drum kicks. Despite this, the signature chosen by Whizzer aligns with my preference, but I must point out that the bass can subtly bleed into the midrange in certain songs.


Mids

Organic and with just the right weight, they sit slightly behind in the mix. However, this doesn't take away from the fact that the vocals retain a natural timbre, especially bringing female vocals with higher registers to life. Male vocals become gentle and serene in comparison. To clarify, I personally found the reproduction of female vocals to be vivid and forward without being bothersome, while male vocals sound a bit calmer or tranquil.

In string instruments, the main violins carry a good weight in each note. One instrument that surprised me was the harpsichord, which presents itself with a lot of character and is distinguishable even when used more in the background. Winds have less weight, making them sound smoother and losing a bit of detail. Obviously, this will depend on the type of instrument, for example, trumpets try not to be too strident, while oboes or flutes acquire an "extra" touch of gentleness, which softens their details.

Then, particularly with the piano, whether it's the star of the song or acting as an accompaniment, it truly stands out in this range. The texture and weight of each note on this instrument are excellent.

Finally, the sound emitted by electric guitars is well done but with a sense of moderate tactility. It's not remarkable, but it's not a point I consider highly negative. I would have liked a bit more sharpness and distinction between each strum played by the artists.


Treble

As I mentioned in the previous segment, the treble plays it safe: brightness was turned down, along with a lack of sparkle in its reproduction. This affects the definition of cymbals and bells' percussion, but on the other hand, it helps to prevent listener’s fatigue since the attack ceases somewhat abruptly. Overall, it strikes a good balance, sacrificing some resolution, although I know treble enthusiasts may not love its representation.


Soundstage & Imaging

As I briefly mentioned during the gaming section, the soundstage and imaging of the Whizzer HE10 is decent, not enough to build a monument around it, but sufficient to avoid getting lost in the three-dimensional scene. I found the width to be average, and the depth is adequate but not its strongest point. That's why its imaging is more precise in identifying instruments/voices from left to right rather than distinguishing those in front of those behind on the stage.



Whizzer Kylin HE10 vs Moondrop Aria


Credits: Ian Fann

• The subbass has more quantity and quality in the HE10. The rumble is much more notable thanks to the focus on this frequency.
• The Aria's signature leans a bit more towards the midbass, reflected in a more prominent reproduction of kick drums. However, more quantity doesn't mean better quality, as both are on par. Aria bleeds more into the midrange.
• The HE10 excels in naturalness in the mids. Overall, the Aria muddles this frequency a bit more with its bass, slightly subduing the vocals.
• Similarly with instruments, the warmth of the HE10 provides more body and texture to instruments in this range.
• The Aria's treble has more sparkle and air, but in both IEMs, I don't find this range overly bright. The Aria slightly favors treble resolution by a small margin.
• Instrument separation slightly favors the Aria, so the imaging goes to this set. The soundstage feels identical. I can't pick a winner, both perform well in this aspect.

With the packaging and accessories that Whizzer offers with the HE10, it seems like an excellent choice over the Aria for those who prefer mid frequencies with more warmth, body, and naturalness, and without as much bass bleed.


Conclusion

In a sea full of IEMs trying to follow the Harman target, the Whizzer Kylin HE10 left me more than satisfied by presenting something that few in this group can achieve: mids with appropriate presence almost all the time, setting itself apart from the V-shaped signatures of other models.

From my analysis, the most relevant drawback is the lack of sparkle and air in the treble, but beyond that, this Whizzer model offers remarkable performance along with stunning design and top-notch accessories for $70 USD.


Final notes:
I want to thank the Whizzer team very much for sending me this product for review. The opinions in this review are 100% honest and my own.

You can find the Whizzer Kylin HE10 here: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...279e2ddbIyoNhn&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

Disclaimer:

• I don’t read and read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as how earphones should be used.
• Whizzer sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• Hiby R3 Pro Saber
• Fosi Audio DS1
• Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: stock medium vocal eartips, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 3.5 SE plug, 40-60% volume, low gain and high gain.


Sound signature:

• The Whizzer Kylin HE10 follows the KAI target - which basically is a modified Harman Target by the company. As a result, the HE10 will sound warm, balanced-warm, fun-sounding, v/u-shaped at most, depending on the source paired and hearing perception you have.

Lows:

• The lows are substantially elevated, a bit subbass dominant, and thick. Attack and decay leans to the natural side, which means that this isn’t too clean and too boomy at the same time. There is still some texture to it, preventing me from calling it “monotonous”. Bassheads may not find the bass on the HE10 as chunky or hard hitting as what the 7HzLegato has, but it sure is fun and enjoyable on most bassy tracks used with it.

Mids:

• The mids are also on the natural side, and suffer a bit of slight midbass bleed, keeping things warm, smooth, lush, and thick. Lower midrange sounds thick, lush, and smooth without any instances of recession perceived, even on busy tracks. Upper mids are mildly elevated, with a good amount of clarity, air, and sparkle. Those people with sensitive ears will enjoy the HE10 due to its fatigue-free sound as this never sounded sibilant or even peaky on my tests.

Highs:

• Moving to the highs, it is there, present, adequately extended, but will sound “lacking” or “relaxed” in terms of extension. Treble aficionados will find these lacking, but for the majority of people in this hobby, and even to those who are just “passing by” in this hobby, this will be enough for most genres you throw at it. Detail retrieval is average as it can render the primary details existing in the played track.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• As for the technicalities, it isn’t the strongest suit of the HE10. It does the job well and justified for its asking price, but nothing new to write home about. The soundstage is on the average side in terms of width, height and depth. It is more on the “natural” type as well and does not have that wide effect just like what you hear on open back headphones or some IEMs within this price. Separation and layering are average and may experience some slight congestion on some busy tracks. Imaging is also average and is able to render some spaces and position between the vocals and instruments.

Comparisons!

VS Simgot EA500

• The Simgot EA500 is a brighter, more bass-light set while the HE10 is the complete opposite. The EA500 has better overall technical performance when compared, but the HE10 has the “natural” sound.

VS Simgot EW200

• The Simgot EW200 is better in almost everything compared to the HE10, except for the packaging. The EW200 is cheaper though. The HE10 is a warmer sounding IEM and is also more safe compared to the EW200.

VS Celest Pandamon

• The Pandamon sounds more balanced and technical compared to the HE10. Its overall technical performance are also better compared to the HE10. Both may be perceived as “airless” in terms of the treble extension, but the Pandamon pulls and renders more detail on the top end.

VS KZ X HBB PR2 (V1, with Black Mesh)

• The PR2 is harder to drive since it is a planar IEM and leans to a more “fun yet controlled” sound and may sometimes come across “too clean”. The HE10 sounds more natural and less technical.

VS Moondrop Aria, Aria SE, Chu, LAN, Starfield

• In a nutshell, all of these IEMs are inspired by the Harman Target. The HE10 is warmer compared to these IEMs, and slightly excels on the separation and layering and naturalness of the mids.

================================================================================================================
Pros:

• A master of overall mass appeal under 100 USD!
• All-rounder, fatigue-free sound signature.
• Very good tonal performance.
• Elevated yet composed bass response.
• Lush, smooth, warm midrange.
• Non-fatiguing upper frequencies.
• Average technical performance.
• Excellent build quality. All metal, smooth edged IEM under 100USD!
• Excellent quality and quantity of accessories. 3 sets of eartips!
• Excellent fit, comfort and isolation.
• Excellent packaging craftsmanship. This sure is visually pleasing!
• Easy to drive to its full potential.

Cons:

• The overall sound isn’t bad by any means, but it is somewhat redundant compared to the recent IEMs that exist under 100USD (could be a good or a bad thing, your call).
• The treble can be perceived as “too safe” by some ears (subjective).

================================================================================================================
The Whizzer HE10 overall is a well-crafted IEM under 100 USD, in terms of packaging, build quality, and sound. Despite not being the “best” sounding IEM in my book, It managed to sound really good and pleasing for most people who have tested this unit sent to me, including myself. Having the Harman Target as a reference for a tuning of an IEM is a double edged sword - it will be liked or maybe even loved by most people, but will be “redundant” to some people who have the same similar sounding IEM in their collection. Nevertheless, I will still wholeheartedly recommend this IEM to anyone who just wants a bit of everything under 100USD. A safe, very good recommendation indeed!
Pairing recommendation/s:

• Source: This sounds just fine when plugged straight to a phone, but is vastly better when used with a proper source.
• Eartips: The eartips are more than enough and fits most ears well. However, you may use your preferred eartips.
• Cable is really, really good. Probably the best stock cable of an IEM you can get with this price, just like what you would get with the Simgot EW200. It is subjective though.

Thank you for reading!

Non-affiliated link here!: https://whizzer.store/product/whizzer-kylin-he10-2/

Additional Photos Here: