Yanyin Aladdin

TECHNICAL SOFTNESS
YANYIN ALADDIN
by PROblem


Tested thanks to @Dagola. Could be bought at HIFIGO

INTRO & SUMMARY
YANYIN, a new brand born in 2020, landed on the hifi (chifi) territory with this hyped earphone that fits on the sub300 bracket. This Hybrid 3BA / 1DD comes in a nice packaging, it seems to be the first official launch of the brand but lacks in accessories.
The tuners of the earphone point the sound to a mature-intimate presentation, looking for a soft/comfy tuning that tries to make a name on this market. The relaxing but coherent presentation seems to be the firm of the brand.
At the time of this review, YANYIN launch 4 earphones, more expensive than this, with their own firm on every of them.



DESIGN & BUILD 81%

• Resin capsule with custom mold, no edges and really nice build construction, 2pin connector
• A gray painting for the body and a beautiful liquid graphite faceplate with beautiful logo of YANYIN and the name of the iem on silver letters
• The weight is over average, with a custom shape mold
• A high-quality vent on the top, the same that comes is more-expensive equipment
• The isolation is nice, and nobody is going to listen nothing of your earphones
• The fit is nice, this type on CIEM build usually adapt nicely to my ears, but the comfort is not at the same level, after a couple of hours I need a rest, because the size of the tourbillon
• Spartan packaging, no case included. Cable is nice braided, with a silver plated 2 cores white cable

PERFORMANCE & TUNING 87%

• I don’t believe on extreme power requirements, but the ALADDIN seems to be enhanced with nice amps and get the bass controlled, with the K9 I obtained better bass control
• I would recommend a medium gain on something warm like K9 or Q5S, improving the intimate stage and giving more clarity to the bass frequencies. Also, the AKM will give you more sparkling on the high frequencies
• For tips, get the comfier silicone you got, something like FINAL AUDIO E will suit perfectly, or the KBEAR 07 are nice as well. FOAM could be too much muddier for the bass

The hybrid combination of this iem, with a Bio-Diaphragm Dynamic Driver Tuning, that reminds me of my lovely NIGHTHAWKS, gives a soft presentation with necessary details on the rest of frequencies. On this occasion, the mids are the stars of the show, make them in the center of the stage, without throwing them to your face.
The timbre and tonality are just perfect, probably on the “warm” side, because of the relaxed presentation, but for me are pretty neutral, just a little bit of color to make them less analytical and more enjoyable.
Just my two cents about the bass, I would like to be a little more detailed, its too much “hump” for a technical earphone like this, and tends to bleed on the mids, is the only counterpart I can find on i



LOWs 79%

• An Over-Neutral bass, soft, not giving all the information that bass got, it´s muddier than resolving
• Texture is poor and tends to bleed on some tracks with prominent bass
• Got a lot of punch, but lacks on dynamics and rumble, this could be bad for audiophiles, but give them a pleasing relaxed sound for long listening sessions
• For other YANYIN I’ve tried on the past, this seems to be the firm of the brand, not giving the technical performance on these frequencies, just this engaging bass that fits with a lot of genres

MIDs 91%

• The presence of the vocals is just superb, cohesive, and in the right place, this is the strongest point of this earphone.
• Lovely voices, with so much body in both genres, if you want an earphone to enjoy the singer and instruments, this is the right one
• All instruments sound nicely, from piano to synthesizers, from electric guitars to violins. One of the best BA tuning on mids for timbre
• With bass-tracks tends to got some bleeds on mid-frequencies

HIGHs 89%

• Relaxed, but the details are there, nothing's gonna hide from you
• Sparklyness, sounds are gonna fly over your head and come from every place
• The definition is not the best, but more than necessary

TECH & STAGE 87%

RESOLUTION 86%

• Isn´t the most resolving earphone but has the ability to layer really nice, if we don’t talk about bass bleed. Would show every floor of sound, but not going to give you all the info
• The lack of texture on the bass is the main reason for the softness of this earphone, on mid frequencies the voices got more body, but the rest are relaxed on the presentation with no edges
• The details are present, got some sparkle on the high frequencies, but it's far from being the best on definition

TIMBRE 93%

• It's coherent on the timbre, the softness, the quality of the instruments played, just superb…
• The voices comes with body, right timbre, and presence, nothing to say here
• Same history for the instruments, amazing presentation

STAGE 87%

• More horizontal than vertical, mid frequencies tend to be present a little upper your eyes, making them apart for the rest. The bass and details comes from sides, but the bass is bigger enough to be present on all scene
• The spaciousness is average, not intimate but near to that

IMAGING 87%

• Nice separation, except on bass-tracks, on which you are gonna find some bleed
• Feels to be on the “down-center” of the scene, with mids coming upfront you
• Resolving and capacity to show every detail.

DYNAMICS 76%

• Bass tends to lose coherence on complex tracks, being muddy sometimes
• Slow recovery with nice hump, but tends to bleed with so much bass
• Agility is less-average

OUTRO & VALORATION 85%

Making an earphone with this style on your first try it's something special, is not the most resolutive, probably got some bleeds on the bass, and the fit is clearly an issue… but the rest is superb. If you are looking for a mid-focused, relaxed presentation but with other technical abilities that clearly make this a winner. Voices got character, are clearly pushed to be the star of the show and suits a lot of genres, this iem achieve to get one of the best timbre on the sub300€ bracket.
Probably the fit and packaging are the worst of the product, so proceed with caution if you have small ears.

I really loved to write this review, enjoying music and put all my effort on describe what are the good/bad things of an IEM, thanks to all people that arrive to the end of this review, you can find more information about comparison versus other earphones, and some albums I recommend hearing with this item.

Enjoy music, that is why we are all here. Feel free to comment.

COMPARISONS

As always, we are going to compare versus a similar price range, or just with similar tuning earphone.

Vs. QOA Adonis

Vs. Mangird Tea

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS
Clicking on the image of the album open the webplayer of TIDAL

I try to write my reviews in a slightly different style and format. The goal is to reduce it to the most useful and necessary information, making reading and skimming the review easier and faster. We all sometimes lack time to read or watch in-depth reviews, so this review should offer an alternative.

You'll find more reviews in this style here on Head-Fi on my website Flightless Bird.


Since first listening to it, the Mangird Tea is one of my favorite IEMs I keep coming back to. Despite owning significantly better (and more expensive) IEMs, the original Tea just have something special that almost no other IEMs achieved to date. The way the Tea preset vocals, putting them front and center, is almost unmatched. Obviously, I was excited, almost aroused, when I heard about the Yanyin Aladdin being close to the Teas.

Frequency Response​

This measurement has been taken with a IEC711 coupler. You can find more in my Graph Database.

About the IEM​

• Decent design; I really like the faceplates, but the shells are a tad boring
• Great fit, should also work for rather small ears
• Simple but solid and elegant cable
• Tips could be better

Sound Impressions​

• As somewhat expected, the vocal performance in most songs is just great. Female as well as male vocals are clearly the focus of the tuning.
• Separation can be a bit too unclear, especially in more "hectic" songs.
• Often lacking slightly in sub-bass (which I prefer rather impactful). Especially problematic in songs that strongly rely on sub-bass.
• Details and resolution are about what I'd expect at that price point. Quite good, but not as good as the best in the category, like the Blessing 2.
• Typically rather fun and "danceable" IEM, not that analytic or technical.

Song Impressions​

Comparisons​

Mangird Tea​

I’ve decided to compare the Yanyin Aladdin to the original Mangird Tea instead of the newer Tea MkII because I slightly enjoy them more. The original Tea just have some kind of special sauce that make listening to them a experience that not a lot of IEMs can compare to.


Advantages Tea:

• Better design. The Teas are some of the most beautiful IEMs available.
• Slightly better fit
• Vocals are a litte more „special“ and present
• Better balance between sub- and mid-bass
• A little more technical (esp. resolution)

Advantages Aladdin:

• Cheaper
• Fit probably easier for most people
• Treble a bit more laid-back
• Better cable
• Mids sometimes even more present, more „in your face“ in a good way

Winner:
When choosing between these two quite similar IEMs, I’d still go with the Tea. Their reproduction of vocals is just a little more special, making the Tea a unique IEM you just have to love. The Tea just has that special magic that not a lot of other IEMs can match.

Softears Volume​

In contrast to the Tea, the Softears Volume have quite a different tuning than the Yanyin Aladdin. Still, the Volume are an IEM around the same price that I quite like and enjoy listening to. The Volume are way more V-shaped, with more bass and especially quite more treble than the dark Aladdin.


Advantages Volume:

• Amazing design and accessories
• More fun and exciting
• Sub-bass more impactful

Advantages Aladdin:

• Cleaner, more straight-forward tuning
• Vocals way more present and resolving
• Treble less prone to be peaky

Winner:
Honestly, the choice between the Aladdin and Volume mostly comes down to preference. If you prefer a darker, litte more laidback tuning with focus on mids and vocals, then go for the Aladdin. If you’d like a little more excitement with a slightly V-shaped tuning, then go with the Volume.

Conclusion​

The Aladdin were my first experience with Yanyin IEMs and didn’t disappoint. They mostly delivered what I expected and hoped for: a tuning similar to the original IEMs, with its strength in giving the vocals the presence and place on your inner music stage they deserve.


Especially at the quite fair price of 250 USD, the Aladdin offer a great experience with a tuning that sets them apart from most other IEMs around that price. Still, while you can’t really go wrong with the Aladdin, I feel like the 50 USD more for the Mangird Tea might just be the way to go if you’re looking for that kind of tuning.

Positive:

• Vocals focused tuning
• Smooth, somewhat laid-back tuning
• Some of the clearest and most present mids
• Again, great and intimate vocals, equally for male and female singers

Negative:

• Fit can be tricky
• Limited accessories
• Bass often not detailed enough
• Not that detailed, especially compared to its competition
• Sub-bass not impactful enough

Ranking​

In my personal ranking list I’d rate the Yanyin Aladdin at a solid B- for sound quality and B for value. I wouldn’t rate it quite as good as the Mangird Tea (A-/A) or even the 7Hz Timeless (B/A-) but still a tad bit better than the Fiio FD5 or Tripowin Mele.

Introduction

As usual, when faced with a new brand, I usually turn to internet search engines to get some information. But this time I haven't found much and there is no information on the box either, apart from the address and the company that produces it (Fuzhou Yanyin Technology Co., Ltd.). Otherwise, it seems that this is a recently created brand (2020), whose founders are experts who have come together to create a new project. And what is clear from this Aladdin model is that they are: clearly their tuners and designers are very competent and experienced people, you don't get to create IEMS like this overnight.
Back to the product itself, the Aladdin is a hybrid IEMS with one dynamic driver and three balanced harmonic drivers. They have a separate ducting system for low frequency, mid/high frequency and ultra-high frequency, with the intention of reducing harmonic distortion and resonance, allowing the sound to reach the ears in the purest and most lossless way possible. It also features a carefully designed three-way crossover with specially dedicated resistors and capacitors. The capsule is constructed from medical grade resin, which has a flowing pattern in black and silver tones. Its shape has been created based on a multitude of real patterns, to create a more pleasing shape to the wider audience. Finally, the cable used is pure silver-plated copper with a coaxial structure, to reduce interference. Really, it all seems to work very well and thanks to a great tuning, the Yanyin Aladdin promises a lot, but seems to be able to deliver even more... Let's see their full potential below.



Disclaimer

Penon Audio Store, offered me this model, in exchange for writing an honest review. I want to make it clear that all my opinions written in this review have not been conditioned by this fact, nor will I ever write anything that I do not really think or feel here. I will only write about my personal opinion in relation to the revised product.



Specifications

• Driver Type: 1 x 9.2mm bio-diaphragm dynamic driver + 3 x BA drivers.
• Frequency Response: 5Hz-22kHz
• Sensitivity: 108dB
• Impedance: 10Ω
• Material: medical resin housing for headphones.
• Cable: silver-plated 2-strand low-loss audiophile cable.
• Jack connector: 3.5 mm gold-plated.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm

Packaging

The Yanyin Aladdin comes in an eminently white box, measuring 213x123x54mm. Almost all of the lettering is written in silver ink, in Chinese and English. In the top left corner is the brand logo and in the right corner is the model name. In the centre is a realistic photo of the IEMS with the cable. It is worth noting that the outer side is clearer and both the logo and the model name are more prominent than in reality. The capsule is also black, while the revised one follows the fluid grey pattern, but much more sandblasted. At the bottom is a short description of the model in both languages. On the back is an exploded view of the capsule (in Chinese only). The company address, a QR code and other linear codes. The QR code has a link to WeChat. After removing the outer cardboard, the box is opaque and matt, completely dark, with the logo inscribed in glossy black. Once the box is opened, a description of the model can be read on the back of the lid, in Chinese and English. Inside is a large foam mould that protects the IEMS with its cable and 6 pairs of silicone tips. After removing them, they are two parts, you access a new level of foam, which contain a box also dark, in which are the rest of the accessories. To sum up:

• The two capsules.
• One silver-plated copper cable, with 3.5mm SE jack and 0.78mm 2Pin connectors.
• 6 pairs of black silicone tips, sizes SxMxL. Both sets are the same.
• One blue leather pouch.
• One VIP card.
• One quality control card.
• One guarantee card.
• Product manual

The box is a bit big for the contents. The set of tips is repetitive, not very varied, no foam tips. The leather bag is small and not rigid, so it doesn't protect enough. I find that the quality and quantity of the accessories is not up to the price and sound of the Aladdin.



Construction and Design

The capsules are made of medical grade resin. The outer shape resembles the African continent and the capsule has a very rounded, ergonomic and pleasant semi-custom design.
The outer face follows a flowing black pattern with grey veins. There is a slight mix of fine glitter of each colour on this side. On the right capsule, in the centre of the outer face, you can see the brand logo, constructed with silver filaments. On the other capsule, with the same construction, you can read the name of the model: "Aladdin". The inner side does not follow the flowing pattern, but its colour is a mix of flowing, but uniform dark grey with a clearer glitter, which highlights the shimmer of the IEMS.
At the edge you can see the two-pin gold connection, which is completely integrated into the body of the capsules, but a translucent plastic plate. Turning the corner next to these connectors there is a hole covered with a grid, which is surrounded by a red plastic ring for the right side, blue for the left side. A little higher up you can read "Aladdin 103W-027", in gold letters and in two lines. As I said, all the curves are very rounded and the inner side has the classic shape that fits the IEMS in the ear canal and in the concha.
The nozzles are completely metallic and of the same colour. They are protected by a dense, metal grille. Their approximate height is 4.5mm and diameter 5.2mm. In the middle there is a small bevelled edge, which allows to anchor the tips more securely.
The cable has two strands of high-purity, silver-plated copper. It is a low-loss audiophile cable. The coating on each strand is transparent plastic, which allows the colour of the silver to be seen. The connectors are 2Pin 0.78mm external connectors. These pins are mounted on a plastic plate, red for the right side, transparent for the left side. The connector sleeve is a silver metallic cylinder, with two marked rings and a small bevel on the end next to the cable. The cable coming out of it is protected by a semi-rigid sleeve which gives it the over-ear shape. The divider piece is a small silver metallic cylinder, matching the rest of the connectors. The pin is a smaller translucent plastic cylinder. The 3.5mm SE gold-plated jack connector sleeve is also a silver metallic cylinder. It has three rings marked on it, two on the edge next to the cable and one near the jack connector. A plastic sleeve protects the cable outlet. There is a grey velcro strip, with the brand logo in white, which allows the cable to be tucked away.
Internally, they use 4 drivers, a dynamic driver with a 9.2mm bio-diaphragm and 3 BA drivers, whose construction or brand, I have not been able to find. They also use a three-way frequency divider built with specially imported resistors and capacitors. In the introduction it has been mentioned that there is a separate ducting system, connected to the drivers, for the low frequency, for the mid/high and for the ultra high frequency, with the intention of reducing harmonic distortion and resonance.
The beauty of the capsules and the standard of construction is undeniable. It is easy to think that metal is a more robust material, but the comfort and shapes that can be achieved with resin, associated with its advantages (weight, warmth, softness, etc.), make its use, durability and performance at a high level. And it is very commonly used in high-end IEMS capsules.
Perhaps, the only point to note is the size of the nozzles, somewhat short.
The cable, although the one in the reviewed model is SE, seems to be available with other types of balanced connectors.
On the other hand, the technology used for the design of the interior of the IEMS is in keeping with the quality of the final sound of the set.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

The fit is as good as most semi-custom capsules. The size of the nozzle allows a shallow insertion, even a little bit further, but due to its diameter, it depends on the individual. With my morphology it is no problem, but it stays in that outermost area. Although its fit is very occlusive, achieving a high level of isolation, above many of its rivals. They are perhaps the IEMS I own with the best insulation with this type of fit. There is no doubt that the level of sealing achieved is so good, that the movement of the capsules is minimal, being great to use them on the street, walking, doing chores at home, in the office, etc.



Sound

Profile

The profile of the Yanyin Aladdin could be described as a soft lowercase w. It has a high sub-bass point that decreases in intensity relatively quickly, but with a slight slope. This is because its entire curve is very balanced and smooth. The rest of the profile rises or falls off centred on a narrow dB band. This gives an idea of how balanced the profile is, in which there is no room for any peaks or jumps. Balance, equilibrium, naturalness, smoothness and sweetness create a silky, velvety and mellow sensation that makes the Aladdin one of the most pleasant, complete, detailed and explicit IEMS in my collection. Without a doubt, the tuning is one of the strong points of this model, something that allows a long and continuous use, so smooth and pleasant, that it even invites to turn up the volume, without anything sounding shrill or out of place. A real luxury.



Bass

My biggest fear when I try any earphone is that I will find a model with a light bass, because if so, it can already be very good in the rest of the ranges, so that I can enjoy them. And the Aladdin is not the case. The precise emphasis on the sub-bass and the subsequent treatment of the mid-bass generates enough power to fully satisfy me. As much as I like bass, I couldn't ask for a single dB more, anywhere in the lower range of these Yanyin, after listening and evaluating how this range sounds. This great tuning has the virtue of isolating the bass from the rest of the range, without making it sound listless, abandoned, distant or displaced. Here I can see that there is a great technical level, a conjugation between the dynamic driver and the frequency divider, which denotes an excellent work to generate that distance between the elements of the midrange and the low range, but without losing the cohesion, nor the musical continuity between them. In this way the Aladdin mixes technicality with harmony, in a low end that has most of the things a bass-lover can demand from an IEMS. The sound is deep, wide, spacious and separated; notes and hits are fast, decay and recovery can be seen throughout. The only thing I could miss is a slightly rougher texture, bringing a more brute and raw feel, a point of more viscerality. But that's not the case, as these Yanyin are eminently sweet and silky and that's something that limits that more descriptive and outlined texture, turning it into a more velvety and delicate one. The result is a more fluid bass, which is able to slide behind the voices and the midrange in general, but without losing responsiveness, prominence or ability to represent individual notes, as well as being excellently detailed. In no case is the bass camouflaged or obfuscated. When it is the protagonist, it appears with great presence, authority and precision. But when there are more elements belonging to the midrange or upper range, it is when the bass brings out its ability to recreate different planes, navigating the depths and sides of the scene, widening the image, but without losing definition, detail, texture or punch, or even representation. In this way, bass lines are never diluted in front of lead vocals or solo instruments. And that's something that allows bass to follow, without being lost by overlapping the rest of the notes. And this is not something that many IEMS can do. Surprising as well as marvellous.
And, of course, it's time to talk about the timbre, the dynamics and the organic, almost analogue feel of this range. And what can I say that you can't already imagine... Because it would be repetitive and redundant, as I will have to write it again for the rest of the ranges. So I'd better get started. I find the low end timbre slightly warm, but with great precision. The dynamic range feels expanded by the ability of the IEMS to generate depth and laterality, as well as a very horizontal stereo feel. The low end not only expands frontally, but extends to both sides generating a great surround feel. In this way, the separation of the elements is large, both in space and presence. The weakest and strongest points are placed with great precision and separation between them, but without loss or omission. This representation of dynamics is more exposed the better the source, giving an idea of potentially excellent IEMS for the price.



Mids

As any presenter who predicts a great show would say, the mids are there to say: Come and see! It would be better to say: come in and listen. But here, to be rigorous, I have to write: come in and read.
I don't consider the Aladdin as a mid-centric IEMS, because in this way, I would be underestimating the rest of the ranges and you have already read that bass is not just anything. However, it is clear that the tuning favours the midrange to flourish in a more lush, shimmering and representative way than the sidebands. It's not a case of "make way for the midrange". The sound follows its cohesive, harmonious, sweet and musical pattern. Hence its representation is always respectful, but it is difficult not to emphasise such profusion as there is. And don't get me wrong, this prominence is not due to pure presence, but clearly due to quality, skill, naturalness and technical abilities, without forgetting the sweetness and harmony that exists in the whole sound. One of the things that surprises me most about this range is the ability of the BA drivers to represent a sound that is as real and natural as it is smooth and detailed. It is difficult to explain that these drivers, whose name I have not found, are of such a high quality that they stand out above their price. However, it is so, and once again the three-way frequency divider will have something to do with balancing such a pleasant, yet shimmering sound. That splendour is shown in a rounded way, represented by a delicate body, not too big, not too powerful, but adequate, balanced and respectful of the rest. If it were denser, I think it would be oppressive for the other elements. But, fortunately, this is not the case. In this way, the voices are drawn close, wide, yet with a medium and sensitive thickness, which allows them to extend their development, embellishing it with all their real details. It is here that the dynamics come to the fore again, in how the fundamentals and their harmonics feel represented, while being accompanied by natural, yet evident nuances. It's about the BA's ability to make real, natural-sounding technical aspects sound natural, pure and harmonious, from the tiniest to the largest. The level of layering that I already highlighted in the bass, here becomes superior and closer, becoming more evident and perceptible. In this way, and again, these Yanyin have a special skill in highlighting solo elements and then mixing them without losing their initial prominence. This is how both simple pieces with few instruments excel in their recreation, as well as those much more complex, dense or overloaded passages, are also reproduced with equal or superior aptitude and competence. This is the kind of dynamics I am talking about, capable of filling the picture when there are few elements, with detail, nuance and air, showing depth, height and separation, as well as expanding much more complicated and baroque passages. Pure delight mixed with technical skill and dynamics.



Treble

So much harmony, sweetness, silkiness and mellowness comes at a cost in the upper range. It is clear that there is precise control in the energy developed by the treble. This is the compromise adopted in this velvety tuning. Yanyin has chosen to smooth out the high response rather than exploit it in presence. But with commendable maturity. It is clear that these are not brilliant IEMS, but rather nuanced. There is no hint of darkness, nor is this one of their discernible attributes, but I can't deny that there is warmth and tranquillity in the sound. The treble is never piercing, just as the upper mids are never penetrating. The crunch feels soft, unsurprisingly, but the range enjoys very good extension and a remarkable level of air. Its linearity generates that degree of extension and there are no hollows to represent a misleading timbre. There is no trace of metallic sound either. Of course, the control of this area does not in any way impair the level of detail or the reproduction of high notes. It is not a question of emphasising treble to gain nuances, we are not at a beginner level, but at a higher level, where technicalities are represented by skill, quality and not by presence. It is here that the BA's naturalness and ability re-emerge: all the high notes are well represented, all of them are felt and perceived, accompanying the sound, showing themselves when they are necessary and occupying the space they should, so as not to clash within this harmonious balance.
Needless to say, there is no trace of sibilance, but elements such as the cymbals or the singers' s's have their magical end, and it is not the aforementioned. It is a skill within the reach of few. And it is naturalness, delicate and balanced, but well represented, audible and never omitted. Control is not omission, nor is presence emphasis, and this is a great example.



Soundstage, Separation

I could not stop talking about the width of the scene, the laterality of the sound, its depth, even its height, expansive and enveloping capacity, when describing the ranges. The sound of the Aladdin cannot be explained without commenting on these abilities. The capacity for layering, the aptitude to recreate bass planes and lines, the skill to send elements to different levels and positions, the suitability of the stereo distribution, of the horizontality of some elements and their opposition on both sides should be emphasised. The scene does not appear three-dimensionally ethereal, but rather advocates occupying a more real, but certainly large, space. There is a holographic feel, but it is not forced, just as the surround impression is very coherent, more typical of a well-conditioned stereo room than of a multi-track sound typical of a cinema. When an image is reconstructed in a way that matches reality, you don't need anything more than good stereo. And that's what these Yanyin do. And all this, too, is thanks to a great separation, a spherical distance, an excellent sense of air and highly praiseworthy spatial positioning.



Comparisons

ISN H40

The H40 is an IEMS of undisputed quality, which has already been elevated to the Olympus of the classics. And, in fact, the Aladdin bears many similarities to them. Starting from a similar capsule, also made of resin, the shape of the Yanyin is slightly more rounded and a bit smaller. The capsule is less wide and longer, I find them more comfortable than the H40s. Profile-wise there are similar lines, but the H40s are fuller in the low end, with a more extended bass, something that gives them more body and more density in the mid-range, as well as a more pronounced warmth. However, the Aladdin's midrange is cleaner, more present and closer. If the Yanyin's are sensitive and move with very little power, the ISN's are a little more so. Both IEMS don't need power to shine and from very low down they give a lot of quality, presence and energy.
Turning to the sound and starting with the bass, as usual in my reviews, there is little to cough up to the H40s in this range. I see a slight and subtle point of comparative colour in the Yanyin versus the ISNs, in the bass tone. Whereas the H40s have more power and a darker colour, something that gives them a sense of extra depth. It also contributes that they have a slower and longer decay. The recovery of the Aladdin is faster, which gives it a superior cleanliness in this range, very little decay and more respect for the rest of the band. The elongation of the ISNs contributes to a more perceptible note texture, and there is that enjoyable roughness. Its bass is not only extended frontally, but also horizontally, it is wider and fuller. In the Yanyin there is more precision and finesse. It also has its power, but more control and restraint. As I have already said, I can't fault the Yanyin's low end, because qualitatively it is very good. But a bass-lover like me will always love the bass of the H40s, as the goat is the goat. But let me have the Aladdin's close to me, because then the mids come in. And so it is, the tables turn when you get into the midrange. The exuberance that the H40s possess in the low end, passes to the Aladdins in their mid-range. There is a higher level of closeness in the Yanyin and although the vocals sound more full-bodied and grounded in the H40s, they have a point of darkness that feels replaced by clarity and a starring transparency in the Aladdin. If the H40s provide a remarkable and very pleasant warmth to those vocals, the Aladdin's bring a little more freshness and lightness, less roughness, but more nuance and a little more sparkle and delicacy, they feel a little more alive. Whereas on the ISNs they feel like they're in a smoky old club. Something that, on the other hand, also has a very suggestive appeal. If the H40s feel rich in the low end, it's the same in the mid-range of the Aladdin. That life, that cleaner, purer touch, that clarity invites you to turn up the volume and be close to the singers and instruments, to seek that more immersive and surrounding feeling. On the other hand, the greater density and corpulence of the first half of the mid-range of the ISNs give it a sense of power, density and sound pressure that continues to engage. On the other hand, the brightness and sparkle is less noticeable and the sound is more nuanced. It's not that the Aladdin's are a waste of light, but they do have a more open sound with more air, more clarity and more obvious and suggestive details. And this ties in with the high end, where that idea persists. Both are smooth, but there is more excitement in the Aladdin's treble set. This flare and sparkle is easier to follow and perceive, and has a more natural and less muted timbre than the ISNs. Sometimes they even seem clipped rather than muffled. This does not happen in the Aladdin and their tuning in the high range seems to me more coherent and realistic than that of the H40, because there is less omission and more extension. Also the amount of air plays a good role in this respect, where the H40s feel a bit more limited at the audible end.
The H40 scene is deeper, but there is more height in the Aladdin. In terms of width and three-dimensionality it can be relative. There are songs where some represent a more ethereal and expansive scene and other times it's the other way around. I suppose it must depend on the emphasis of the song. In the songs with more bass the H40s expand their scene. On the songs with more mids and highs it's the other way around. Even the Aladdin's, in these cases, offer a slightly higher soundstage. Perhaps this is due to their higher level of transparency. I also find them slightly superior in the distance between elements and separation. The darker sounding feel of the H40s works against them.
Technically, the Aladdin's also have a bit more detail, that higher level of resolution and their sparkle provide the advantage.
Both are IEMS with enormous quality and an excellent price/performance ratio and only our taste for one band or the other can make us decide between one or the other.



Conclusion

The Yanyin Aladdin are the IEMS you expect when you pay the price. Regardless of their sound signature, the musical quality is unquestionable and there is no dispute about that. When an enthusiast buys an IEMS he wants to be assured that he will get what he is looking for. I can't guarantee that the Aladdin will suit all preferences, but the sound is really good and in that sense you will always get it right. What you will also get is one of the most coherent and natural smooth tunings on the market. The low end has been tuned to your liking without you knowing it. Maybe you've been looking for what the bass should sound like in a harmonious profile and you never knew until you tried these Yanyin's. And they are so good because they make the midrange better, which is simply stellar. The compromise comes in the high end, which is not as explicit as some might look for. But then again, we're arguably in for some of the best treble tuning, from sweet, velvety-sounding IEMS. If we add to this the fact that they are technically excellent, that they have a natural and realistic timbre, with hardly any BA sound, we are back to the beginning of the conclusion: there may be many good IEMS, but the Yanyin Aladdin are one of the best hits of the year.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• Tempotec Sonata E44.
• Earmen Sparrow.
• S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII + iFi ZEN CAN.
• Tempotec Variations V1-A + Hidizs DH80S.
• Hidizs S9 Pro.
• Burson Audio Playmate.
• E1DA #9038D.

Ratings

• Construction and Design: 91
• Adjustment/Ergonomics: 89
• Accessories: 60
• Bass: 91
• Mids: 92
• Treble: 87
• Separation: 91
• Soundstage: 92
• Quality/Price: 94

Purchase Link

https://penonaudio.com/yanyin-aladdin.html

You can read the full review in Spanish here:

https://hiendportable.com/2021/11/21/yanyin-aladdin-review/

Introduction: Yanyin is a new company established just last year in 2020, made up of various industry veterans who are now embarking on a new venture. Their first “music series” earphone and likewise their first product to reach Western markets, the Aladdin, is a hybrid 1DD+3BA IEM that has been making waves recently on HeadFi for its remarkably mature tuning (especially for a freshman effort).



According to the packaging literature, Yanyin has named the Aladdin in honor of the Aladdin Suite by Carl Nielson. This score was originally composed for a dramatic adaption of the Aladdin stories, and was moreover intended to accompany dances inspired by various world cultures. We can therefore surmise that Yanyin intended this IEM to embody a certain romanticism, as well as to exemplify a broadness of spirit and capacity for versatility. Have they succeeded? Read on to find out.

I would like to thank Penon Audio for providing a sample of the Aladdin in exchange for my honest review. The Aladdin retails for $245 and can be purchased here. Specifications are as follows:

• Driver: 1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature
• Frequency response: 5Hz-22kHz
• Input sensitivity: 108dB
• DRC: 10Ω
• Material: medical resin custom earphone shell
• Cable: low loss 2 strands silver-plated cable
• Pin: 0.78mm detachable design
• Plug: 3.5mm gold-plated plug

Packaging & Accessories: The Aladdin comes to us packaged in a white slipcover, which when removed reveals a stately black box with only the company logo and some Chinese characters embossed on the front. The box opens vertically to reveal to us the IEMs themselves encased in black foam, and beneath them two sets of silicon tips in S/M/L sizes. Underneath these is a small black box with some literature as well as a blue carry bag. The IEMs come with a preinstalled 2 core SPC cable, quite comfortable and supple, with 2-pin connectors and a 3.5mm termination. Others have reported that Penon is willing to substitute a balanced cable upon request at the time of order.



The simplicity of both the packaging and the contents does not at all diminish the quality of the included accessories, which I find to be more than satisfactory. The stock cable is quite nice even if not luxurious, with very unobtrusive ear hooks and a working chin slider, and it drapes nicely and doesn’t have any problems with being tangly. Others have reported that the eartips match up very well with the Aladdin sonically, but personally even the small size is a bit too large for my canals. I would have liked to see a wider variety of tips included (both sets appear to be virtually identical) as well as a SS size for people with ears like mine. I also would have liked a hard shell carry/storage case of some kind, and with even the $99 FiiO FD3 which I recently reviewed including a very nice Pelican case it doesn’t seem too much to ask for a $245 IEM to include more than a pouch.



Build & Comfort: Although Yanyin may have cut some corners as far as accessories go, they absolutely did no such thing with the build of the IEMs themselves. Aesthetically I really like gray color scheme with silver highlights, and the faceplate pattern looks really good as well. Yanyin claims to have employed “big data analysis” in designing the shell ergonomics, and while I have my personal qualms with big data I have absolutely no complaints with the resulting IEM shell Yanyin has produced. It ranks pretty much at peak comfort for me, fitting my ear like a glove and remaining practically unnoticeable even over lengthy listening sessions due to the exceptionally light weight. Although there is a fairly sizable vent for the dynamic driver, isolation nevertheless is solidly above average for me, no doubt helped by the IEM perfectly filling my ear cavity. Driver flex never made any appearances. To sum up, I wish that every IEM could share a build exactly like the Aladdin.



Initial Impressions: Now for the real meat of the review: the sound! To be honest, when I first put the Aladdin into my ears I was a bit underwhelmed. But then I had a realization: although I knew that I tended to listen to my earphones at rather low volumes, I never understood to what a great extent this was in order to keep the upper mids and treble from becoming harsh and fatiguing. The Aladdin, with its quite restrained pinna gain and treble region, does not need to be kept in check by lower listening levels, and so I am free as scarcely ever before to really crank the volume! The result is a full, midcentric sound with immersive imaging, characterized by a soft romanticism and imbued with immense versatility — in short, just what Yanyin seemed to promise by its choice of nomenclature.



Signature: As just mentioned, the Aladdin is a clearly midcentric unit, being quite neutral except for a slight subbass elevation. The low level of pinna gain and treble means that there is a slight warmth to the overall presentation, and this along with a fairly soft attack means that this is a musical neutrality rather than an analytical one. However, such soft and musical neutrality does come at a cost: there is a relative lack of dynamism, and some might find this IEM to be somewhat dull if they prefer tunings with a bit more energy and zest. Nevertheless, for myself I find that the Aladdin’s exceptionally balanced and refined tonality is perfectly suited for my entire library (though I do not listen to metal or rap).


Bass: Although I was initially drawn to the Aladdin for its midcentric nature and its very refined treble tuning, I was actually quite surprised to discover that the bass is my favorite region on this IEM. The tuning is absolutely perfect, with just enough sub-bass to give a good impact and authority when called upon. Rather than a bass shelf, the Aladdin instead descends gradually to meet neutrality at approximately 200Hz, ensuring that there is absolutely no bloat or bleed into the mids. The entire bass region is extremely textured and detailed, and is both very tight and fairly speedy. While those craving a lot of midbass slam will need to look elsewhere, all others will be hard-pressed to find any cause for complaint in the lows on offer here.


Mids: I was really quite blown away by how well the midrange is presented on the Aladdin. Note weight is spot on throughout for both instruments and vocals. The entire midrange is exceptionally liquid, and timbre and tonality are quite natural. While I wouldn’t exactly call male vocals warm, they nevertheless have extremely satisfactory body to them and never come across as thin or anemic in any way. Female vocals and strings are silky-smooth, although the low pinna gain means that both lack some bite and energy. Once again, the Aladdin is going for a portrayal of a certain delicate softness, and Yanyin here demonstrates an almost unmatched ability to implement BAs in a natural and lifelike fashion.


Treble: The Aladdin boasts one of the most refined and even treble tunings I have ever come across, with only the mildest of peaks and valleys to be found along the way, scarcely even deserving of such names. Extension is also quite good, and I honestly could not tell if it was the IEM or my hearing that rolled off just over 15k. There is a good amount of air here, even if it is not the most ethereal treble I have ever heard. BA timbre is of course somewhat present, although it is really quite remarkably well-controlled, and there is far less incoherence as a result than most hybrids evince.

The evenness of the treble, however, does mean that Yanyin has had to pull the entire region back somewhat in order to avoid sibilance, harshness, and fatigue. So I have to say that the lack of shimmer and sparkle is probably the biggest compromise that the Aladdin makes, and consequently some tracks can seem somewhat dark and unenergetic. Yet this does mean that this IEM is, for all intents and purposes, practically fatigue-free. Whether this general trade-off accords with your personal needs and preferences is something only you can decide.



Soundstage & Technicalities: The Aladdin is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to technicalities. Its biggest shortcoming without doubt is that it is fairly soft in attack (although decay is pretty natural, if a bit on the quick side). This softness of attack does impart the sense of delicate romanticism that I have previously mentioned, but on the other hand of course it does mean that resolution and micro details suffer somewhat. On the other hand, the soundstage is quite well proportioned, being fairly spherical even if not the largest in absolute terms (though it’s not intimate either). Imaging is very good, although not pinpoint-accurate. And separation and layering are both quite outstanding.


Conclusion: The Aladdin, more than almost any other IEM I have ever tried, perfectly exemplifies the phrase “jack of all trades” — although the usual refrain must be added: “master of none.” Aside from comfort and build, there is almost nothing that the Aladdin does that other IEMs in the price range cannot do better... except for one crucial thing: play an entire library well. And even more compelling than this is the fact that the versatility in question is not one that is simply anodyne and lifeless, but rather imbued with a hint of romanticism and refinement. With the Aladdin in my ears, I am more than happy to crank up the tunes!

Yanyin Aladdin

Hybrids in our hobby have evolved and you can most certainly see the progression of the mix of driver types and designs to incorporate them for newer designs. The Aladdin does not stand out as something unique nor does the name of these earphones evoke an insta-buy reaction when you look into the design. What is apparent to me however is that these folks are very serious about their sound they are going for. The Aladdin is the end result of a new group of industry veterans that decided to go their own ways and make something new under the name Yanyin. This group of tuners and designers started the company in 2020 so this happens to be their intro offering. I do believe they have some higher end earphones but not quite available for the international market yet. I was approached by Penon to give the Aladdin a good shake and see how they fall in the scheme of things.

I would like to thank Penon audio, the Aladdin was sent for review purposes. If you feel you need to get a significant earphone at the price you can get yourself a set here. This is how I hear them after a week's worth of burn. Sound was assessed using my sources Fiio M15, Shanling M6pro, M5s, M3s, Ibasso DX160, Pioneer XDP-30r, Ibasso PB3 and IFI Black Label for amping.

First let me get the clear negative out of the way. These are 10 ohm earphones, their low impedance if you're not aware, will not mesh well with higher output sources and amps. This is a case where more power will be a bad thing for these. These are very easy to drive due to that lower impedance but if you're not aware of the sensitivity to higher output devices you're going to get a much different sounding Aladdin and not for the better. It is very highly advised to use the Aladdin with a low output source which most digital audio players nowadays have. For folks that do strictly balanced out using earphones in most cases will see an increase of fidelity and sound but in this case the single ended performance of the Aladdin might actually be more beneficial as single ended out of most players has the lowest impedance out. If you use the Aladdin on a higher impedance out source the sound becomes thin and bass becomes very anemic. Your better, more IEM friendly sources are highly advised when using the Aladdin.

Packaging is a larger rectangular box with not a great variety of accessories. A pouch, 2 sets of silicones with a standard silver plated copper type cable in single ended. A bit basic to be honest but that's ok. That is forgivable if the sound will be worth it. But I do wish these guys threw in more of a variety of tips vs the bare minimum is what you're getting.
Once again your best aftermarket tips and cables apply to the Aladdin.

Build of the Aladdin is the tried and true semi custom resin design but with a vent toward the back of the shells for the 9.2mm bio dynamic being used for bass + 3 BAs, I believe are Knowles varieties doing the bulk of the sound. The official size in my guesstimate vs other similar designs is officially medium shown here.

This universal design is very good and I don’t find any issues with the tight build of the Aladdin. Isolation is about average for all resin designs with a vent for bass, but is more on the good side of isolation. Foams seem to help a bit for better passive isolation. Resin shelled earphones does well with passive isolation in general over other universal designs and that is no different with the Aladdin. Overall I have no issues with the build and or quality of the construction of the Aladdin. Your investment should provide years of daily music enjoyment.

Base tuning of the Aladdin is harmonish with a reference level balancing for the 3 zones critical of a higher end tuning. Again nothing that stands out at this point but when you start analyzing their strong points. It becomes very clear, the Aladdin is a highly refined sounding iem. Not something most earphones sound like at the price point.

I was expecting a well balanced iem which it is, I was expecting excellent dynamics, which it also is, I was expecting good to average technicalities and detail for the design. This is the part that blew away my expectations of the Aladdin.

Even on open listen the Aladdin sounded different than what you would expect at the price level. They sound extremely well proportioned at each part of the sound. Very nuanced, detailed in all the right places. Smooth even fluid with some of the best imaging and layering of sound that I have heard at the price range.

I was not expecting this level of refined sound on the very first listen. Truth be told, most IEMs I have heard on open listen are not a great experience. Seems to be the norm for me but I expect something to be off on open listen. Nasal tonal character or veiled mids a boomy unrefined one note bass, treble that makes your eyes pop out.
I got none of that, instead the sound just flows with the very first track I listened to, sounding absolutely flawless with liquid tonality, velvety smoothness, extremely dynamic and layered beyond what I was expecting.

So fluid in presentation I immediately posted my experience on open listen and promptly started a thread for them here. This is something I knew immediately I was dealing with a different level of sound. This type of sophistication for the sound at this price, to be honest, I never expected at all. Oh boy, yet another hybrid was my thought.

Right away I was thinking I have heard this balancing with these dimensional qualities from one of my earphones, it was the IBasso IT07. An $899 earphone and those were the closest that I can reference this sound against. If you don't know, IBassos IT07 is no joke of an earphone. IBassos best sounding earphones by far. I will have a comparison on the bottom of this read against them.

Technicalities on the Aladdin is a clear stand out. Its wider full dimensional stage qualities is done so well you can hear on well recorded tracks, full on layers to the sound.

Foreground vocals, mid ground instruments, background percussion. This is something that earphones double the price has a difficult time doing. So I was certainly not expecting this level of imaging. Its detail is also a stand out, it does macro details so well, it takes the strengths of the balanced armature precision and maximizes the effectiveness in the Aladdin at the same time emits one of the most natural sounding tonalities for BAs, Its sound separation abilities don’t only stand on one plane of sound it has layers of it.

Stevie Ray's guitars hovers in the air and you can clearly image Stevie's heavy soulful vocals. Imaging like this is why we buy them big boy sets and here you have it on the Aladdin.

I always assumed this level of layering only existed on top tier models of hybrids that use 2-3X the drivers of the Aladdin.The folks that massaged and tuned the drivers on this set clearly know what they are doing to achieve such a superbly crafted dimensional sound. It is due to that impeccable imaging and that layered immersion that enhances detail of the Aladdin naturally and not using some gimmicky forced edgy treble emphasis that tries to accentuate the mids to make up for an uninspiring flat one note mid band. Added to these aspects a dynamic rangy liquid tonality with that balancing and you get yourself one heck of a nice sounding earphone.

The treble tuning also falls in line with how well the Aladdin is tuned. Aladdin has one of the most complete, balanced treble tunings I have heard in the price range with no excessive imbalance or irritating mount spikes that cause fatigue for the treble tuning. Treble is just one of many stand out features of the Aladdin, BA timbre might indicate these might sound a touch metallic and a bit digital for the treble. Treble presentation much like the outstanding mids is very natural in tone, is tight, has clean crisp treble transients, the perfect treble sustain a touch of air and most importantly so cohesive with the mids It is seamless and effortless. This is how you want your treble tunings. Aladdin's treble tuning shows finesse with the right emphasis that once again is difficult to find at this price range.

There is a certain level of sophistication and execution of Aladdin's treble that has two standout aspects to their sound; excellent spectrum of tonal accuracy and with the necessary extension for a higher end sound. A very mild boost at the upper treble design gets the Aladdin treble with just the right amount of shimmer and sparkles whilst remaining clean, crisp and tonally correct. The treble aspect of the Aladdin does not take 2nd place to the mids or the bass. It plays an equal footing for the presentation and I can argue it is just as nuanced as it is for their mids.

Why the name Aladdin? It was because of its spectacular imaging for the mids. It has to be, It is at times magical in how it does the dimensional sound so much better than so many earphones. Some might call it holography or 3D. The only things missing from this presentation is the smell of high end perfume and the cigarette smoke in the background of the lounge bar. Old time well recorded tracks just simply sounds stupendous.

The music induced reverb that flows through the air, little nuances from the venue or studio the track was recorded in comes through easily on the Aladdin.

Live recordings sound amazing because you can literally hear the air surrounding the space it was recorded in. Not only hearing the audience clap, the impromptu mistakes during live takes but reverb picked up from each instrument depending on what part of the stage and where the microphone was placed. The distance from the guitarist to the vocals to the drummer. You're not supposed to pick up something like that on a $245 earphone!. I haven’t heard anything in this price range that does this, until I heard the Aladdin do it. The mids is perhaps its real trump card for the Aladdin. The mids have the right amount of body a healthy note weight, has a broader than average mids presentation due to how clean and tight the bass and treble aspects are to their sound presentation, balancing the mids to be perfectly proportional. Both male and female vocals are superb on the Aladdin. It is very difficult to find any real glaring faults here and that is what is completely surprising.

Then there is its bass presentation. Bass tonality is supremely organic and its impactful timbre spot on. Not to mention it has an outstanding sub bass presence. I had headfier @Acebee reach out to me asking me if there is enough bass. You want an accurate bass portrayal or an over exaggeration?

The Aladdin has the former. Accurate bass is better than overly bassy exaggeration as that just means it will depend on how the bass was recorded. If your track has bass emphasis it will come out emphasized. If it is a light acoustical bass renditions it will sound like what it was meant to sound like. No boomy mid bass hump and most importantly the bass doesn't stand on its own. Much like how well tuned the rest of the sound signature is . Bass is a part of this design with an uplift for the sub bass region. This design allows the Aladdin to have a naturally clean broader sounding mid range.

You all know I am a fan of bass. Weak or missing bass get no play from me. However, there is a clear difference for higher end bass vs the standard pow pow bass you hear in a lot of try hard earphones. Mid bass is tight, speedy, agile tonally correct, much like the rest of the sound and most importantly it's got a healthy amount of sub bass injecting some fun to that tuning. The quality of the bass does not lag behind the quality of the mids or the treble. Bass strings and synthetic sub bass, double drum kicks to 808s all of it sounds spot on like it is supposed to sound. If it rumbles it better rumble well and the Aladdin passes my bass tracks easily with very good definition in the region showing an almost reference like texture for the deep reaching sub bass.

These guys went over each aspect of the design with a fine scope. There is not a part of the sound tuning that was overcooked or overlooked.

The bass dynamic matches up so well with the 3 BAs that are in the Aladdin. It is one of the most cohesive hybrids I have ever heard actually and I own much higher end hybrids and tribrids that don’t have the cohesion of the Aladdin. If you're more of a fan of high quality accurate bass vs having a huge amount of bass just for that extra thump. You’re gonna be a huge fan of Aladdin's bass presentation.

Overall there are only a few products throughout the year I consider significant. I am not gonna lie, the Aladdin here is significant. It is easily my top recommendation at this price range. These folks that are tuning these are masters at what they do. The sound quality for this price is not only fantastic it is just down right stupendous and for that it clearly deserves one of a few 5 star ratings I have given out this year. These are the earphones that will make you clearly understand how expensive higher level earphones truly are in comparison because diminishing returns start with these. These will give you more than a glimpse of much higher end earphones. If they sold these for double the price I would still give these a 5 star rating. I can see a lot of folks selling off their sub earphones in the $500-$700 range to be replaced by these. This level of sound sophistication and mastery for the money they are asking for a set I have never seen before. It just doesn't exist.


Bonus.
Compared to the IBasso IT07
Both sets are very efficient and both sets are balanced extremely well at all 3 zones of the sound. Right away when going to the IT07 its upper mids sounds just a tad cooler in tonality in comparison to the Aladdin. Otherwise how both these sets throw out imaging and detail in the mid bands with a very identical tonal character for the lower mids presentation even though the IT07 uses its dynamic to present the lower mids, sound like siblings. Similarities in balancing, lower mids emphasis and tonal qualities are there.

Treble has some differences in how it was tuned for the IT07 vs Aladdin. Aladdin uses a slight upper treble lift which does not highlight vocals as much as IBassos mild treble shelf at around 6K-8K which gives mids a bit of extra clarity and presence on the IT07. IBasso treble sounds just a pinch forced in comparison to the Aladdin's more natural treble tuning. IT07 does have the upper hand in treble detail and has a bit more in the way of sparkle for the trebles but the Aladdin sounds only just a touch behind the IT07 treble for emphasis otherwise the presentation overall is identical. Both have clean mids and the lower mids to bass transition are very identical. Very similar in bass presence with both having sub bass focus with great bass tonality.
IT07 has a bit more sub bass authority but otherwise these are pretty much trading punches.

IT07 has the slight upper hand in technical aspects like stage and sound separation and a bit more precise imaging, but you would be surprised just how close the Aladdin gets to the IT07 here at almost 1/4th the cost. I shouldn't be comparing the Aladdin to the IBasso flagship here is my point. Either I should be disappointed with the price of the IT07 or there is some supreme value with the Aladdins. Unless something much more significant comes out this year that will blow these away. ( Gonna doubt it especially at this price) These are now my new reference for the price level. Thanks for reading and as always happy listening.

Driver configuration:

1 bio-diaphragm dynamic driver - bass

2 balanced armature – midrange

1 balance armature – treble

3-way crossover, 5Hz-22kHz, 108dB sensitivity, 10ohm impedance

Other relevant information:
Source: Shanling M8 (4.4mm PO mode, low gain)

Burn-in: circa 50 hours

Cable: Silver-copper mix / Tips: stock

Genres evaluated: world music, jazz, classical, ambient, electronic, folk, hip hop, pop, metal

The Yanyin Aladdin can be purchased here from Penon Audio. This unit was provided for the purpose of review, however all opinions are my own. Penon have not had sight of this review prior to its publication.

Preamble

My experience in this price range largely comes in the form of the Mangird (now XENNS) Tea, a $300 6BA+1DD hybrid. The first hybrid I purchased and one that I sold some time ago. I have some recollection of the sound, but not enough to make definitive comparisons. I can only say for certain the reason for selling it at the time – I found it too cold with some timbral and coherency issues. It just didn’t have the musicality to back up the technicality, for me at least. I have generally steered clear of BA setups since the Tea, favouring single or multi dynamic driver IEMs, with a brief foray into the land of the tribrids and quadbrids where there is often less reliance on BA drivers.

I saw the Yanyin Aladdin and the superficial side of me immediately liked the look of the swirling greys and blacks on the faceplate. I was also interested in the tuning. It looked Harman-ish but with a linear bass roll off to mids and some sparkle up top. A tuning that was quite different to my current stable of IEMs. More importantly, I wanted to find out how far competitive DD+BA hybrids had come in this price range since 2019.

‘Aladdin’ is an Arabic name meaning ‘nobility of creed’, an individual with clear aims that are guided by high principles. Read on to find out if the Aladdin is a fitting namesake...

Accessories and Packaging

This part isn’t exactly a home run, but it’s not all too bad either. The packaging is your usual affair, largely in Chinese and with English translation. The included cable is a nice silver-plated copper that’s pleasant to handle, terminating in a 3.5mm gold-plated plug. I used it briefly prior to this review without issue. I soon changed to a 4.4mm cable for the purpose of balanced DAP input. You get two sets of S, M and L silicone tips with a reasonably narrow bore. However there are no foam tips or what I would consider wide or shallow bore tips. Included is a suede carry case with a snap-shut top, a warranty card, date of production sticker and interestingly, a VIP card. I’m not sure what this entitles me to just yet - but I does make me feel like a very important person…!







Design, Build, Fit and Comfort

The aesthetic of the Aladdin appealed to me from the get-go. The shell has a ‘quicksand’-like grey and black dust that catches the light beautifully and looks very smart. The shell is medical grade resin with a transparent layer overlying the galactic quicksand beneath. The Yanyin logo sits on the right and ‘Aladdin’ on the left. Personally, I’m not a fan of the chosen font but I can live with it. There is a rear vent on each unit covered with a fine mesh to give everything inside room to breathe. The nozzles are made of metal with a lip halfway to catch and hold the attached tip.

The Aladdin is contoured well with smooth edges, supposedly driven by ‘big data’ research. It fits well in my 'average' ears and doesn’t move an inch. There is some pressure in my antitragus but the body of the Aladdin almost fully occupies my concha providing a great seal, achieving reasonable isolation. I can wear these for hours without issue.







Sound

Bass – sub-bass focused, deep extension, solid rumble and weight with a light touch of impact, well textured throughout, incredibly natural and organic.

Comments –

Some of the most tastefully tuned bass I’ve heard. The subbass tilt and with a linear roll off reveals great texture to both organic and artificial tones, avoiding the indulgent midbass boom that can detract from the detail hidden in the bass and mids on some IEMs.

Attack and decay is very natural and has a very realistic presentation of udu drum, bass and cello strings. Midbass impact is present but is non-fatiguing with what I would consider a lighter touch. This bass tuning makes most of my other IEMs appear self-indulgent and when I move back to them, I immediately miss the rich textures of the Aladdins bio-cellulose DD.

Subbass extension is very deep and textured to the furthest reaches with a nice thump. Combine that with the large soundstage and excellent imaging you have a very atmospheric experience. The bass surrounds the head giving a palpable landscape to music. Listening to ‘Remnant’ an album by the artist Lorn, that is subbass heavy, is an incredible experience on the Aladdin.

Midrange – good instrument timbre and with fundamental and harmonic detail, exceptionally smooth presentation, non-fatiguing, no sibilance, upper mids / lower treble may lack ‘edge’ or ‘bite’ depending on your preferences

Comments –

Instrument tone, timbre and weight was a big concern for me going into a BA hybrid at this price point. The majority of my musical enjoyment sits in the midrange and if not reproduced ‘right’ I lose interest very quickly.

I was pleasantly surprised here. Instrument timbre is reproduced faithfully and everything sounds tonally correct. I would describe the midrange as lush but detailed. There is not an ounce of shout or any heavy-handed emphasis into the uppermids that could detract from enjoyment here.

The tuning works with both male and female vocals. The two BAs perform admirably giving detail and nuance to the midrange. Female vocals are great with plenty of subtlety and emotion, certainly one of the many strengths of the Aladdin.

There is a tube-like liquidity to the way the Aladdin expresses the midrange and that’s right up my street. It is easy-going, non-fatiguing with perfect note weight and definitely not lacking in detail.

Again, complementing the midrange are excellent technicalities that bring this to life on a pleasant sonic stage.

Treble – natural extension, plenty of definition, not piercing, enough air for me

Comments –

I always find it hard to evaluate treble but straight out of the box I knew this was a winning tuning. The naturally resolving treble gives everything healthy definition and extension without becoming a fatigue fest. String instruments sound very natural with plenty of resonant detail, especially harp, guitar, kora and violin. The treble is exacting with very tight control as you would expect for a BA. Thankfully, it doesn’t pierce or sound unnaturally metallic.

Technicalities

Soundstage – great lateral extension, good height, almost spherical in perceivable shape

The soundstage was great straight out of the box but has opened up some over time. It’s very natural, outside of the head and never leaves the music feeling congested nor stretched or unnatural. Very satisfying. A tip change from stock can enhance this still further (more on this later).

Imaging and Instrument separation –

Near enough ‘holographic’ placement in well recorded tracks. You can pick out information like direction and depth of specific elements in a track. Everything has its own space to play out. Motion is expressed with excellent graduation from left to right around the head with no awkward exchange in the centre of the sound field.

Layering –

Very good layering of track elements. There’s no wall of sound to be found here. Busy tracks are handled with no muddying of detail.

Conclusion

Who is the Aladdin for? Well, it’s a great entry point for those new to the IEM audiophile hobby and for those that have yet to find their preferred signature. It would be the next logical step for most who like a balanced tuning and are looking for a technical upgrade into the next price bracket. Another group would be those that have a broad music library and need a one-size-fits-all everyday carry.

Does it best the Mangird Tea? In my opinion, at least from memory, in nearly all respects, yes it does and that’s with 3 less BA drivers on board and at a cheaper price point. It’s tonality is inviting and versatile and it’s technicalities are exciting, giving an out-of-the-head experience. In many ways I see the Aladdin as the Sundara of the IEM world. It’s a very strong value proposition and a safe recommendation.

The Aladdin may not appeal to those who are attached to a V-tuning. The way it presents music is not indulgent but it is, at all times, luxurious. I rarely go through my library which is quite broad in scope - artificial to organic, grand to intimate, aggressive to meditative - and find myself happy at every turn. I could take this IEM with me and know I have all eventualities covered.

So what is the ‘noble creed’ of the Aladdin? In a few words I would say: precision, poise, faithful reproduction and versatility.



Final remarks - tips for your tips

I used stock tips for this review.

Some tip rolling may be required as usual. Start with the stock silicones, they’re not bad at all. They present the IEM as the tuner intended – expertly balanced and tonally/timbrally correct.

If you want to lean further into the technical strengths of the IEM and capture more air and widen the stage, try a wide and shallow bore tip. However, this does enhance the presence of some the upper mids/lower treble, with some sibilants (sh/ss/ch) becoming more prominent. This could prove fatiguing or harsh for some. It also enhances the perception of BA timbre in the treble slightly. It is worth experimenting however as I can cope with it fine. I had success with Oriolus/Jaben single flange silicone stock tips (purchasable online, pictured below), but I’m sure any wide and shallow tip will have a similar effect.



Edit 08/08/21 - adjusted score from 4.0 to 4.5 to better reflect the review & my assessment over time.