Yanyin Canon II

Yanyin Canon II Review: It Takes II To Tango​

Watch full review here: ​

$379 (PHP 21,000.00)

PROS:​

• Beautiful shell
• Very snug fit and seal
• Very comfortable
• Thick, rich, and nuanced bass with great texture
• Organic sounding mids with good note weight and definition
• Well-extended treble with good microdetail
• Technicalities punch above its price

CONS:​

• Lackluster inclusions
• Not the widest/most immersive stage
• Occasional roughness in the treble
• Tuning switches has minimal changes

WHO THIS SET IS FOR​

• People who want a thick, rich and nuanced bass
• People who want a neutral bass boost set
• People who want a snug fitting and good sealing set
• People who want a technically competent, warm sounding set

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR​

• Hardcore timbreheads
• People who want a smooth, natural sounding treble
• People don’t like tuning switches
• People who want more accessories

RECOMMENDED GENRES:​

• HipHop
• R&B
• Pop
• Funk

SHORT REVIEW:​

The Yanyin Canon II completely redefined my idea of what I liked in IEMs. It provides such a rich, deep and nuanced bass while keeping a harmonious balance on the midrange and treble. Never has a set captivated me this much, and it truly is a feat considering its $379 asking price. It’s not perfect, as the treble might come across a little gritty and a lack of accessories. But all is well considering how good this thing sounds as a whole. RECOMMENDED!

FULL REVIEW​

Every once in a while, you get to try something that makes you rethink your preferences. As a treblehead, I tout myself for enjoying clean, crisp, and transparent sound that’ll bring out all the detail in the music that I listen to.

But what happens when a seemingly unassuming set arrives at my doorstep and shatters my perception of what I think I like? And what makes it so damn good, despite its completely opposite approach to what I like? Let’s talk about the $379 Yanyin Canon II.

DISCLAIMER: The Yanyin Canon II was sent to me in exchange for my honest thoughts. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. I was not paid. Rest assured, my thoughts and opinions on this product will be my own honest opinions and will not be affected by the facts beforehand.

PREPARE THE CANON, TOO!​

Prior to the Canon II, I was not familiar with Yanyin. I was aware that they made the original Canon (as it would be weird to call the first product in a lineup with a 2) as well as HBBs collaboration with them named the Mahina. Both were rather boutique sets but very well-received by the community.

In fairness, they are quite a new brand in the grand scale of Chi-Fi. But that doesn’t mean they’re inexperienced. They consist of enthusiast audiophiles with the goal of delivering top-tier audio performance without breaking the bank. In this review, you’ll see why Yanyin is a brand you might want to start paying attention to in the upcoming years as they’ve begun to show their potential with the Canon II.

Unboxing and Inclusions​

The Canon II admittedly does not come exactly in the prettiest box. It’s a very simple black box with very difficult-to-understand text so you’ll have to make the effort of reading the text.



But opening the box, you’re met with a rather pretty postcard of the Canon 2 that covers the goodies.



Here’s a full list of the inclusions:
(4x) Eartips SML
(1x) Pleather Pouch
(1x) 3.5mm Cable
(2x) Yanyin Canon II IEMs
(1x) Tuning Switch

The Canon II is definitely not going to be winning any awards in regards to its inclusions, but they are welcome nonetheless. The eartips aren’t the best earips to pair with the Canon II, but they are functional enough to be used in a pinch or when you have literally nothing else.



The carrying pouch on the other hand is quite nice. It feels very premium with its faux leather finish, velvet internals and big enough webbing to fit the case of eartips and maybe a small DAC. It’s nothing too special, but it’s once again very welcome.



I can’t help but feel like more inclusions would’ve definitely made the Canon II a more desirable set to get for the price of $379. You have companies giving high-quality modular cables, premium ear tips and cases for under $100, so the only reason I can assume that Yanyin was not able to was that they put all their focus into providing a pair of fundamentally good in-ears

BUILD & FIT​

Before we talk about the beauty that is the Canon II on the outside, let’s talk about its internals; The Yanyin Canon II features a hybrid driver configuration of 1DD and 4BAs. However, that 1DD is special as it’s not your usual DLC LCP, or Beryllium diaphragm. This uses bio. diaphragm. In simple terms, this basically means it’s paper, but many sets in the past have featured this bio-diaphragm and all of them feature a rich, deep, and thick bass. Think the Sony MDR R10 with its textured bass. That should give you an idea of what the Canon II might be.



But moving to externals, the Canon 2 is your usual resin-made IEM with a very beautiful looking green and black colorway that honestly makes it look like a starry space filled with green-colored celestial bodies.



As the trend goes for many ChiFi sets today, the Canon 2 features 2 dip switches. I’ll talk more in-depth about what they do, but having only 2 was definitely a breath of fresh air for me as I don’t have to fiddle around with different configurations that might just end up having little to no changes whatsoever.



But probably the best thing about the Canon II’s exterior is its fit. This thing fits so snugly in my ears that I ended up using this for commutes more than I wanted to. It was such a stable fit in my ear and didn’t induce any air pressure build-up meaning this was arguably the best-fitting IEM I’ve tried since the AFUL Performer IEMs. Seriously, this was an absolute treat to wear from the moment I put it in all the way to the 8th hour of my listening session.

SOUND​

NOTE: As the Yanyin Canon II features tuning switches, I will be describing the sound on the stock configuration which is the all-up (II). I’ll be comparing the other modes in its own section

Sound Signature​

The Yanin Canon II features a warm neutral sound signature with extra low-end emphasis, somewhat warm and rich mids, and a neutral mid to top end. There’s a very slight sharpness in the upper frequencies that might come across as a little unnatural sounding, but it was kept to a minimum thanks to the emphasis on the low-end

Drivability and Source Pairing​

Despite the 27/40ohm and 112db sensitivity rating of the Canon II, I HIGHLY recommend pairing this with a cleaner and more powerful source. I found that on cheaper sources, the bass can often sound mushy and smoothened out, but even something like the old ZIshan U1 with the AK4493 chip made the Canon II sing like it has never done before. Also, using a better source will allow the Canon II to sound pretty good on low listening sessions which was an absolutely treat for me.

Bass​

I’m not kidding when I say this, this is probably the best bass I’ve heard in any set under $1000 that I’ve personally heard. There may be some voodoo magic happening here but the bass of the Canon II is just so rich, thick, and texture while keeping it clean enough to not intrude on the midrange. It’s almost crazy how a 300hz tuck would sound this good, considering I usually prefer a more linear bass presentation. But the Canon II showed it had a lot of tricks up its sleeve just from the bass alone.

I especially loved listening to Bruno Mars’ songs on the Canon II. Chunky has never sounded more chunky than on the Canon II. The bass guitar from the first verse exuded such texture and nuance that I have not heard in an IEM anywhere else. It walked the fine line between being boomy and being tight and I LOVE IT. No set has ever sounded just dirty enough to make it sound heaps fun while hiding a tie and a suit under its party clothes.

Another track is Get On the Floor by Michael Jackson. This is a track I love to listen to when testing the bass quality and quantity balance of sets. And boy, this is by far the best set to do it out of all sets I’ve spent a considerable amount of time on. Each slap and pluck is so nuanced and textured that you might even think this was tuned specifically to make this track sound good.

Mids​

When you have that much focus on the bass, you’d expect the midrange to be somewhat sacrificed. Not on the Canon II. At least, if you’re not into thin and lean-sounding vocals. The overall midrange presentation of the Canon II exudes richness and nuance in both vocals and instruments. I would say that lower mids have a slightly more defined emphasis compared to the upper mids, but the upper mids are just as nuanced and rich sounding as the lower mids without pushing itself to be the star of the show.

Going back to Bruno Mars, That’s What I like sounded absolutely amazing on the Canon II. Bruno’s Vocals along with the accompanying instrumentation had near perfect harmony. I also want to note the bass on this track on the Canon II is absolutely fantastic, but we’re done fawning over that. The mids are so well balanced on Bruno Mars’ vocals and just goes to show how you can get a pretty meaty low end without sacrificing midrange clarity and nuance.

However, I should note that this is not the most open-sounding midrange. Due to the warmth and somewhat tamer upper midrange presentation, it ends up putting a lot of instruments in front of you more than around you which is a respectable trade-off for having such a rich presentation. But this does mean you’re not getting a very immersive or out-of-your-head listening experience with this Canon II.

Treble​

This is arguably the Canon II’s Achilles heel as despite providing a respectable amount of treble emphasis and extension, it suffers from something many hybrids struggle with which is finding that balance of sparkly and tight treble with good microdetails and a smooth treble to compliment the low end. Due to the somewhat looser nature of the Canon II’s bass, the treble tries its best to slow down. But the treble still pushes ahead very slightly when it comes to the attack of electric guitars and the following reverb sounds slightly disjointed. It’s not that big of a problem, especially if you’re in it for the bass. But it’s something you should take note of when purchasing this and expecting perfect timbre.

Tambalan by UDD is a great example of how good the treble of the Canon II can be, but also where it might fall short. This song has very well-defined percussive hits that complement the rich and nuanced bass. While sounding quite crisp and detailed in most instances, the chorus really brings out the somewhat incoherent nature of the Canon II that puts the percussive over the bass. Again, not necessarily a deal-breaker per se but timbre heads beware.

Technicalities​

Now this genuinely surprised me. Warm/bassy IEMs usually compromise technicalities for musicality. But not Canon II.

Despite its warmth, it stays resolving with good separation, layering, and imaging capabilities. I’ll talk more about the imaging capabilities in the gaming section, but damn these are surprisingly capable. You could tell they really refined the drivers on the Canon II due to how musical-leaning its tuning is for how well instruments are separated and layered. And don’t get me started on dynamics.

That Bio-film diaphragm may just be magic because for the amount of bass this has, it never sounded muddy and every note just sounded too snappy and well-defined while having a thickness that usually comes across just as muddy.

But like I said previously, this isn’t the most out-of-your-head listing experience which is to be expected for IEMs. But the Canon II in particular doesn’t try to do that with its tuning either as it’s more linear and pushes detail more than inducing a more expansive head-stage.

VARIANTS​

Up Down (10) - Balances the bassier and fun nature of the 11 configurations with the tightness and sub bass focus of the 00 configuration

Down Down (00) - Pushes the midbass down and makes this a more vocal-oriented set. I thought I’d like this configuration more, but it emphasized the roughness in the treble which I didn’t like as much.

Down Up (01) - Very similar to the 10 configuration but slightly louder.

REAL WORLD USAGE​

Casual Use​

While desktop use was great and I had a lot of fun watching YouTube videos and movies, commutes were where the Canon 2 really stood out. Its very snug-fitting shell, great seal, and warmer-leaning sound signature guarantee that for from the start of your commute til the end, you’ll have an amazing time. And for the days I had these, these absolutely amazing and blocked off a lot of fundamental noise while slightly blocking out the smaller noises like low engine rumbles, high-pitched sounds and the like. I was able to enjoy both music and visual media on the Canon II and it was just an amazing experience that I didn’t expect an almost $400 would be able to do, considering many sets here are more music-focused than anything.

Gaming Use​

Gaming is another segment that the Canon II excels in due to its tuning. I found that many games NEED extra low-end emphasis to bring out smaller, low-frequency sounds like footsteps and ruffling that might not be present in leaner sets. This means that games like Valorant and Escape from Tarkov were an absolute treat on the Canon II. However, the trade-off with the stage makes it barely out of my top reccs for gaming IEMs. Especially for the price, I still think you can get cheaper sets catered to gaming better than the Canon II. But if you’re going on double duty with music and games, the Canon II won’t disappoint.

COMPARISONS​

Before I talk about comparisons, I just want to say that this price range is a wild west right now. Not a lot of competent sets here, so I might end up comparing the Canon II to stuff either more expensive or cheaper than the Canon II. Just a heads up!

VS AFUL Performer 8​

Probably the closest comparison I can think of against the Canon II, the Performer 8 has a more linear sound presentation with extra treble spice compared to the Canon II. Where I was genuinely surprised was with how both sets achieved a very impressive bass presentation while doing it differently.

The Performer 8 is tight, it’s clean but it goes very deep and has a very distinct low-end kick that gives a lot of life to the music you listen to while keeping the mids sounding neutral thanks to its somewhat eargain-cut tuning.

The Canon II on the other hand boosts that bass to a borderline boomy level, but just under it to provide a very fun but still well-done presentation.

And funnily enough, both sets suffer from top-end sharpness and edginess that might contrast the slower low end. The incoherency isn’t as bad on the Performer 8, but it pushes the treble a little too much to the point of it sounding borderline sibilant. This is a problem that the Performer 5 had but to a lesser degree.

But in the end, I’d personally choose the Canon II as it balances out the overall sound better than the Performer 8 despite the Performer 8 sound just a tad bit more “neutral” and cleaner than the Canon II

VS Simgot EA2000​

A complete contrast to the warm neutral tuning of the Canon II, the EA2000 is bold, bright and brash. It throws a lot of treble energy onto you with enough bass to taste. I would say both sets are complimentary and it’ll end up depending on your preferences, but the EA2000 exhibits a level of coherency despite the insanely overly emphasized treble with an equally as snappy low end with a lot of texture, tightness and cleanliness.

The EA2000 has a cleaner bass presentation with a more nuanced texture and detail (probably thanks to the PR) but is fundamentally borked by the upper mids and treble being overly emphasized compared to the Canon II’s generally more balanced sound.

Both sets are great, but timbre heads or treble sensitive would probably be better off with Canon II

VS Softears Studio 4​

Another contrasting set in configuration and tuning, the Studio 4 has one of the most neutral tuning I’ve heard in any IEM. Seriously, tuning-wise the Studio 4 is probably the best IEM that I’ve tried and that’s insane.

But that just means that it doesn’t have the same kick and fun that the Canon II has. While the Studio 4 aims for neutrality and proper monitoring prowess, the Canon II is what you’d use to enjoy your mix by adding a little bit more low-end and top-end spice.

Surprisingly, both sets have similar technical abilities. The Studio 4 dampens a lot of the sharper transients while the Canon II’s low end balances out the emphasis in the top end.

Very complimentary sets and two that you should consider if you wanted a formal and party in-ear duo.

VS Letshuoer S15​

From hybrid to planar, the S15 features a warmer, more natural-sounding tuning compared to the Canon II. This also means that the S15 ends up being a more chill listening experience compared to the Canon II’s fun and energetic sound.

Where the two fundamentally differ is how coherent the overall sound it. Despite being a planar set, the S15 captures this perfect balance of speed and musicality that no other planars have achieved before. This means that it isn’t as sparkly as other planars do, but it puts it ahead in terms of tightness and resolving ability compared to the Canon II.

Where the Canon II leaps ahead, however, is just how much more enjoyable the Canon II is when listening to more energetic genres. The S15 follows a very similar philosophy to the Studio 4, but takes a warmer, more midcentric approach that makes it a considerably more linear-sounding IEM compared to the Canon II.

Once again, another complimentary set and two that ride the fine line of too fun and too boring.

CONCLUSIONS:​

In my impressions video, I called the Canon II one of the best to do bass under $500, maybe even $1000. And I stand by that. The Canon II’s bass is the perfect blend of musicality and tightness that no other IEM has achieved under $1000 that I’ve tried.

And the fact that it does that while keeping the mids and treble generally well balanced and compliments the bass is an insane feat, even if the $379 for a 1DD + 4BA might seem a little steep. It’s worth every single penny in my opinion.

But it’s not perfect. No IEM is, but the Canon II still suffers from hybrid issues with the treble just being a tad bit faster than the decay of the bass. This is common for a lot of hybrids, even at higher price ranges, so in a way I understand the limitation of this form. But that just goes to show that even the best has its downfall. And the Canon II is the closest I can get to the perfect definition of fun.

Thank you so much for reading my review of the Yanyin Canon II. Big thanks to Joseph Yeung and Yanyin Technology for sending over the Canon II for review. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://www.linsoul.com/products/yanyin-canon-ii

If you have any questions or concerns, contact me on my Facebook page or at obodioreviews@gmail.com

Enjoy music and have a great day!

NOTES and DISCLAIMERS

• Just your regular music lover trying on different audio gears to see how music can be enjoyed more.

• This unit was provided by Yanyin for the Philippine Tour of Yanyin Canon II. I am thankful to be part of this and to have this opportunity to try it out. Much thanks for Sir Eiji Romero and the Yanyin Community.

• I did not gain any form of incentives from this review and all stated here are my opinions of the set, as this hobby is subjective and may have varying results.

SOURCES, GEARS and SOFTWARES

• Fiio KA13
• iBasso DC04 PRO
• iPhone 15 PRO
• Apple Music
• Musicbee
• Native Flac Files (16 bit - 24 bit)

All my listening was done with Tangzu Sancai Balanced Ear tips.

INTRODUCTION

Hii friends, I’m Allan from the Philippines. Here to share my review on this unit, the Yanyin Canon II, the successor of the OG Canon.


SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver: 4BA + 1DD
• Connector Type: 2-pin
• Impedance: 27-40ohm
• Sensitivity: 112dB

BUILD, COMFORT AND DESIGN

The Canon II comes in just a cardboard box as any “chi-fi” brands comes with, Id say it loses its “premium touch”. Inside it comes the paperworks, warranty card, the ejector pin to play with the switches, the leather box, silicone eartips in a small plastic box.



Overall quality of the cable is great for the price point but would be great to expect modular ones for the price.

The IEM shell is made from medical resin and its galaxy faceplate is astonishing.







SOUND IMPRESSIONS


BASS

Bass has some weight to it and texture without bleeding and not sounding bloated. It’s fast when it's time to attack and has that deep, rich rumble, though at higher volumes the rumbles started to sound a little too muddy. Volume scaling is a must when listening to bassy tracks.

MIDS

The Canon II shines more with male vocals as it is very rich and full bodied while female vocals are more laid back or relaxed in a manner that it sounds warm that gives that comfort. Whether it is male or female vocals both have that rich organic tone to them. Also it has that natural timbre that every instrument sound full

TREBLE

Treble comes short as it lacks those attacks and bites when it is needed. It lacks that spark that treble heads look for. Also it somewhat lacks those nuances in the tracks. For the treble sensitive people, they can appreciate this set as it is inoffensive. Its non fatiguing and can listen for hours but be mindful of the volume as I experienced some harshness due to higher volumes, just keep it in comfortable volumes.


TECHNICALITIES

The sound stage is very wide and deep. This set is also ideal to use for gaming thanks to its wide soundstage.
The layering and separation of the vocals and instruments are great as I can hear each one composed and coherent though finer details are far from each other due to the tuning of the set as it is very dark. We can’t have everything and it's due to having some sacrifices.

CONCLUSION

The Yanyin Canon II is a great set as it ticks all of my boxes as a person who wants to enjoy music with what companies have to offer. The versatility of this set can be enjoyed for long hours as it is safely tuned and can compliment a wide music library. For the price this is easily one on the top of the price bracket.

This is my first to write a review and my first to try an IEM from the Yanyin Company. Thank you for the opportunity.


P.S I am not affiliated with any audio companies. This is my 100% honest review.

Disclaimer(s)
This unit that I currently have is supervised by Yanyin and I was chosen to be part of the Philippines tour of the Yanyin Canon II which gave me the opportunity to review this IEM. Without this opportunity I would not have had a chance to try out this product. Thus I am thankful to Sir Eiji Romero & Yanyin for providing this opportunity.

Your usual disclaimer as follows, I did not gain any form of incentives in this review, and all opinions are my own. Note that this review is subjective and may differ from others, thus results may vary.

Introduction
Yanyin Technology introduces the Canon II, an In-Ear Monitor designed to plunge listeners into a dark and immersive sonic realm. As the successor to the original Yanyin Canon, the Canon II promises a distinct auditory experience. Let's delve into the nuances of its design, sound signature, and overall performance.



Tech Highlights
Configured with a 1DD+4BA setup, the Canon II embraces a dark sound profile, delivering a substantial bass impact, rich mids, and smooth treble. While the tuning switches offer options, the overall focus is on creating a captivating dark signature.



Design
The Canon II features an eye-catching all-resin shell, housing the drivers in a stylish and attractive design. The build quality is decent, although the non-modular cables and its plain set of stock tips might leave some users expecting more at this price point.



Comfort & Isolation
The Canon II features an eye-catching all-resin shell, housing the drivers in a stylish and attractive design. The build quality is decent, although the non-modular cables and its plain set of stock tips might leave some users expecting more at this price point.

(My other photo got corrupted, so pretend there's an image of my ear with the Canon II here)

Packaging & Accessories
The unboxing experience leans towards the standard, with packaging that lacks a premium touch. While foam padding dominates the package, essential accessories are included. However, expectations for a more premium presentation might not be fully met.

• Stock Cable
  • The Canon II's cables, while functionally adequate, miss the mark in terms of modularity. Despite this, the cables contribute to the overall aesthetic experience, maintaining a balance between thickness and functionality.
• Tips
  • The stock eartips provided is generally "okay" but finding the right tips enhances comfort and ensures optimal isolation for an immersive listening experience. Though I recommend using the TangZu's Sancais (be it wide or balanced) if you feel that seal becoming too much of a vacuum.
• Case
  • The case of the Canon II's is relatively small and pocketable yet can still hold both the drivers and its relatively thick cable, though it's made of leather/faux leather, its prone to stain easily and may lose its clean simple aesthetic.

Sound Impressions
The meat of the review, soooo the Yanyin Canon II crafts a dark and inviting sonic landscape, immersing listeners in a rich and textured auditory experience. With a focus on substantial bass, enveloping mids, and safe treble, it caters to those seeking a captivating and non-fatiguing sound signature.

• Bass
  • The Canon II's bass is a standout feature, boasting weight, texture, and a controlled midbass punch. The sub-bass delivers deep, solid rumbles, contributing to the overall dark and immersive character of the sound.
• Mids / Midrange
  • The midrange offers a soothing warmth, enhancing the richness and natural timbre of vocals. While vocals shine, certain instruments may lack the expected impact, presenting a laid-back characteristic that might not suit most folks' preferences.
• Treble
  • Tuned to a safe and rolled-off extent, the treble maintains smoothness but sacrifices some clarity and fine details. While this might be ideal for those sensitive to treble, enthusiasts valuing intricate nuances may find the tuning slightly lacking.
• Technicalities
  • The Canon II's soundstage provides a reasonably wide and deep headstage, preventing congestion. However, the finer details and definition remain somewhat distant due to the dark tuning. The tuning switches, while present, might not significantly alter the overall profile.

Conclusion
The Yanyin Canon II is a warmish-dark IEM that's safe for treble sensitive folks and one that you'll love and enjoy as you further listen to it, it's a set that's balanced and relaxing that leaves you forgetting that you still have it on when you're hype focused on something (I know I have).

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Some fluff for those who're asking what I'm running

• Sources & Gears
  • Fiio KA13
  • Fiio UTWS5
  • Fiio BTR15
  • iBasso DC04Pro
  • Hiby FC6
  • Hiby R3 II
  • TRN BT20XS
  • TRN TE
• Softwares
  • Foobar2000/MusicBee
  • UAPP/Hiby Music
  • Spotify/Apple Music
  • Deezer/Qobuz
  • Local FLAC Files

Disclaimer: The Canon 2 was graciously provided by Yanyin for an honest review.



NOTES:

One of the definitions of the word Canon is “a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine:” With the Canon II Yanyin has set out to produce an iem aimed at reproducing sound that is genuine and faithful.

Yanyin is not your typical company. Their releases are spaced much farther apart than traditional Chi-Fi companies and it’s obvious that some time and attention are paid to each new product release.

The Canon II is the second iteration of the well respected OG Canon. Physical differences are obviously the looks and the reduction in the number of switches from three to two. Interestingly the switches on the Cannon 2 only affect the low-end gain, adding a bit more heft depending on switch position.

There are other more impactful differences of note including:

• the use of a better fitting mold for better comfort and fit.
• The use of front venting said to reduce or eliminate driver flex and add airiness to the sound.

Driver compliment consists of a 10mm bio-cellulose dynamic driver set in its own tuning chamber internal to the overall iem chamber. Four independent balanced armature drivers are then employed in pairs with one pair responsible for the midrange and the last the treble. This 1DD+2BA+2BA configuration is all then managed by a 3-way crossover said to have been more optimized that that present in the OG Canon providing greater bandwidth and overall performance.

The Canon 2 is fairly easy to drive but deserves a more revealing source with ample power delivery and control. I found that a more neutral source faired best with my preferred switch settings. The C2 is also source dependent, in particular this was noted in the bass. Care should be taken to audition not just various sources but tips as well to achieve that best synergy.

Regarding the switches, they have been well implemented and they do just adjust the bass gain with little effect on the rest of the frequency range except for the apparent tonal balance. Sound quality does not take a hit regardless of switch position. My preference was to have both switches off and that is how the majority of my listening and impressions were formed.

SPECS:

Driver" 1DD+4BD
DRC: 27-40Ω
Sensitivity: 112dB
Frequency: 5Hz-25kHz
Plug: 0.78mm+3.5mm/2.5mm/4.4mm
Earphone Material: Medical Resin
Cable: 4-strand graphene single crystal copper silver-plated Cable





Build, Fit & Quality:

The Canon II is a beautiful iem. The smooth black and shiny resin shells are adorned with a gorgeous multicolored faceplate. Build quality is commensurate with the price.

The retail presentation is also well done and the quality of the included accessories also matches the asking price. The cable is quite nice, although I wish more manufacturers would include a quality modular cable as my preference is for 4.4mm balanced and most of my gear is set up to accommodate this.

Fit is very good in my ears as the shell is on the larger but still manageable size. I never encountered an issue with comfort even during longer listening sessions.





SOUND:

BASS:

The Canon 2 offers a bass that has ample weight without sounding bloated. Here we have a low end that is sub-bass focused over mid-bass. Bass goes very low but still remains composed even at higher volume levels. I did find that the quality of the bass was definitely source dependant with it sounding best on the E1DA dongle or the a50s desktop amp. Initially using a different source, the bass came off as powerful but somewhat loose. Source rolling should be paid attention to in order to extract the best bass quality form the Cannon 2.

Bass has great impact and even more so when the various dip switch selections are enabled. I did find that with both switches set to on, the bass at times became distracting and overpowering. Of course, this is a personal preference and the action of the switches will cater to the spectrum of bass lovers.

The thickness of the bass I found alluring, even on tracks which were not bass focused. On tracks which had strong bass presence the Canon 2 always rose to the challenge. “Angel” by Massive Attack sounded wonderful with that dominant bass line presented with a splendid meatiness to it.

The only negative I could find here is that in terms of audible texturing the Canon 2 lacked that last measure of detail retrieval. But with respects to organics and musicality, it does quite well.

MIDRANGE:

An iem lives or dies by the quality of its midrange. The Canon 2 has a midrange that is ripe with organic qualities that really draw the listener in. With respect to the metrics of resolution and detail retrieval the C2 also does very well.

This is a midrange that is engaging and musical. Listening to “He’s a Carioca” by Eden Atwood I was immediately pulled into the track. At times this made the Canon 2 hard to review as the act of listening to music took over.

There is a comforting warmth to the mids that adds to the overall affect. Vocals, both male and female, have a rich organic tone to them. If anything, the midrange of the Canon 2 leans more towards organic and musical than clinical and hyperdetailed.

The upper mids are more tempered than a number of recent sets I have listened to. I am not a lover of overzealous pinna gain and the presentation offered by the C2 suited my preferences very well.

Layering and separation are interesting with the Canon2 as they really only come into prominence when complex passages are played. “Beautiful Lie” by Vick Lavender is a heavily percussive and busy track which on the majority of sets sounds jumbled and one dimensional. The Canon 2 is not one of those sets. I was able to easily hear each instrument and sound with ease the Canon2 staying coherent, composed and musical.

Timbre was good with instruments such as the double bass on “Maiden Voyage” by the Robert Glasper Trio sounding impressively natural and full. Playback of transients, while not being as sharp as on some competitors, was clean with good attack and natural decay.

The midrange of the Canon 2 is a win. Here we have a set that while bearing a respectable level of technicalities, offers an organic playback that easily pulls the listener in. Well done.


TREBLE:

Comparing the Cannon2 to the OG Canon the newest version, latest is heard to have more energy up top while being more composed at the same time. Treble here is well extended with no harshness noted,

There is enough sparkle and air to keep the Canon2 sounding open and detail retrieval follows suit. The treble tuning here follows the midrange in that there is an obvious nod towards musicality as opposed to razor sharp technicalities. As such there is a perceived smoothness to the treble which limits the bite just a touch but adds to the “comfortably musical” nature of the sonics.

An easy to listen to yet pleasingly detailed and expressive treble which compliments the overall tuning and rest of the frequency range.

IMAGING AND SOUNDSTAGE:

The Canon 2 throws up a moderately sized soundstage with above average space representation. Width is commendable with depth and height presented to a lesser degree but having natural dimensions.

Soundstage is not just about dimensions but having an organic headspace, and Canon 2 does quite well here. Vocals tend not to stand out front as much but due to the resolution offered do not get lost. Imaging is precise as well aided in no small part to the Cannon 2 layering and separation capabilities

I would say that compared to the majority of sets I have heard in the recent past, the Canon 2 does better than most here.




CONCLUSION:

At $379 USD, the Canon 2 is a clear successor to the OG. It offers a pleasingly musical sound that had me listening to tracks I had not heard in quite a while. The combination of good looks, high quality build and great sound are not as easy to come by as some will have you believe. Yanyin have achieved this goal beautifully.

I really loved the OG Canon and was initially apprehensive as to what the Cannon2 was bringing to the table. I need not have worried. If an engagingly musical set with great build quality and sound that rivals iems which are much more expensive, in particular in the midrange, is what you are after, the Yanyin Canon 2 should be on your shortlist.

The Yanyin Canon 2 gets a strong recommendation.

YANYIN CANON II

The tone of pleasantness….

Pros:
+ Laid-back and highly musical.
+ Great extension on both-ends.
+ Warm, sweet, lush vocals
+ Wide, expansive stage.
+ Good instrument separation.
+ Natural timbre for a hybrid setup.
+ Anti-shout tuning.
+ Not that fussy on source synergy
+ Good driver coherency.
+ Good quality stock cable.
+ Useable tuning switches.
+ Best for vocal/acoustic genre

Cons:
- Pillowy bass response. Not the most well textured DD-bass.
- The bass can sound abit loose depending switches/tracks.
- Mid-bass can sound too boomy on higher volume.
- Treble lacking bite.
- A slight grain on trailing of vocals.
- Unforgiving to low-fi artifacts.
- Average detail retrieval for the price.
- Overall dynamic transient is soft.
- Not an all-rounder tuning.
- Can be boring for some.
- Eartips dependent.
- Require a sim card-pin to play with the switches.


[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! Please Avoid This!
2 ★★ Subpar Offering, There Are Better Options Out There!
3 ★★★ Decent With Some Caveats! You Should Consider This !
4 ★★★★ Not Perfect But Solid Choice ! This Should Be In Your Shortlist.
5 ★★★★★ Class Leading! You Should Go Right Ahead & Buy One!

YANYIN CANON II 4 ★★★★




SOUND-SIGNATURE:
The Canon II follows the suit of being neutral with a bass-boost. Depending on the tuning switches, the amount bass-boost can be altered slightly. The Canon II has great extension on both ends while giving its mid-range/vocals a slight focus. The overall sound is very well balance yet natural that is laid-back and pleasant to the tone.

BASS/LOW-END
The bassline is best describe as soft, thick, smooth, laid-back and not overly forward that is slightly biased towards mid-bass over sub-bass.

The sub-bass has adequate extension and density but the transient is not going to be the sharpest nor the tightest in definition. As a result, the rumbling texture can be perceived as quite blurry, almost muddy at time as it tends to lingers just a tad too long for a bassy tracks. The teasing of echoes and reverbs allows it to recapture the immersion of music ambience.

The mid-bass presence is rather thick with the attack being fast and soft at the same time. Due to the narrower amplitude of attack, any sensation of kick, slam, punch and thump just sounds abit too woolly, lacking physicality on impact. Percussion instrument that lies in this region like bass guitar, kick drums, drum snare are most likely not going to have a satisfying replay.

Ghetto bass replay has sufficient elasticity/re-bound rate while bass-drop remain clean and smooth. One thing to note that there are times when the mid-bass can get a tad too boomy which can be mitigate with the switch (1) turned down. The trade-off is the low-end will sound leaner with clearer and cleaner mid-range.

All of which contributed to an average level of bass detailing and dynamics which might not impress a true bass-head. Having said that, those flaws are mostly just nit-picks. In reality, it is not that appalling as to bring detriment to your music experience.

Those who prefer a non-aggressive bass reproduction might find it attractive. To be fair, bass performance was never been its no. 1 priority especially, when considering its tuning approach. If bass quality is what you’re after, its best to look elsewhere.

MID-RANGE/VOCAL
It is quite the mid-centric set. Regardless of tracks, the mid-range/vocal elements were given a good spotlight as if they have their own dedicated spaces to shine. Still, it is not a vocal specialist per se. It is not the intimate or forward type of mid-range/vocals but it is not overly recessed which took a neutral positioning and centred image on stage. It does trade some of the vocal clarity for added euphony. Micro-contrast could be better but it is not severely lacking.

The rendition of male and female vocals offers relatively equal performance with good voice texturing and reverb. Vocals overall sounded lush and rich which is truly rewarding on male vocals. However, this tuning is not that ideal for some female vocal or any artist that lives in the higher octave. They can sound abit too thick and husky at times. And in addition to that, the polite upper-mids overtone tends limits the higher range of vocal, making them unable to scream or sing to the fullest. The upside is, it makes out to be a proper “anti-shout” set.

To the contrary, it can take away some of that engagement or emotion from a singer. Speaking of emotion, the attack on some instruments is rather gentle especially on strings/guitar plucks, piano hits and violin strums. The note-hits lack distinction just a tad on replay.

On some instances, there is a smidge of grain on vocal transient, specifically on the trailing-end of vocals. If your music exhibits this low-fi artifact, it is going to translate that to some degree.

Despite the setbacks, this sort of mid-range tuning is very likeable if you prefer a more relax presentation that is not overly dull on dynamics.

TREBLE/HIGHS
Just like it's mid-range, the treble complexion underpins the same “safe or inoffensive” behavior. Yet, it still offers a well-extended treble which is nigh perfect for the tuning. The air presence is just about right to provide listeners with adequate sense of openness to the stage.

The treble brightness was never lacking in the first place. However, the main issue is, the treble is severely lacking in terms of bite. The notes although, they have good level of sustain with precise decay, the attack is considered blunted almost. The micro-nuances and texturing are overly smoothed-out, losing its crispy touch which trimmed some of that treble definition. This make’s people perceive it as dark despite having great-extension up top. The cymbal strikes and hit-hats splash do loose some of those metallic edges while electric-guitar or synthetic noise/electronics zings and shimmering just sounded dull overall.

Those treble sensitive people might appreciate this approach but treble-heads might disappoint. Having said that, it has great sibilance control, zero hotness with minimal peaks and troughs, regardless of listening volume. There is a slight micro-grain or haziness on electric-guitar replay which is only apparent on higher volume.

In terms of sheer treble refinement, there’s no major defect other than nit-picks here and there. Sadly, it is not the most well-define treble in its class with its clarity and transparency being average by todays standard. It is by no means terrible but acceptable when all things considered.

There you have it; a smooth, gentle, non-fatiguing treble response that is great for a long listening session.


TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:
- The overall sound-field of the Canon II is above average. The stage plays more width with good depth and headroom. The vocals/mid-range took a neutral positioning that is neither too distant or forward. The vocal is well-centralized but it tends to blend with the background elements as it doesn’t stand out that much on stage. The stereo-imaging between channels is precise but not the sharpest in class.

- Instrument separation and layering on the Canon II is rather solid. Thanks to the spacious stage, every instrument has adequate spaces between them. The background is not the darkest hence the separated elements may not have the clearest-cut. However, the borders of each element of sound starts to get blurry just a tad on busier tracks.

- Detail retrieval could be better given it’s $380USD price tag. Macro detail is solid but micro detail is slightly behind its main competitor. Sure, it is not a detail-monster but it should be more than adequate for most listeners. Dynamically, it is rather laid-back but not too dull to a point it become soulless.

- For A hybrid setup, the timbral approach of the Canon II is quite natural but it is the not truest to life. It is not that it is lacking note-weight but rather, the transient is on the softer side. The gentle nature of its attack takes away some of the note definition that gives those instrument that dynamic feel or sense of realism on replay. Still, the BA timbre is kept minimal with pleasing tonality throughout the spectrum.

- The cross-over between drivers are very well executed, resulting with a cohesive sound for a multi-driver setup. The timbre contrast within the tri-frequency is very low to detect without paying attention. And there is no driver-flex is heard.

TUNING OPTIONS: Switch (1) – UP or DOWN and Switch (2) – UP or DOWN
DOWN-DOWN – Lean bass, least boomy , has the best mids to treble clarity, most open sounding.
DOWN-UP/ UP-DOWN – The best balance of everything. [Personal Pick] [As tested UP-DOWN ]
UP:UP – The highest bass-boost but lacks control. It gets too boomy & muddy, smearing mid-range and nerfing the treble brilliance a little.

" SYNERGY, VOL.SCALING, POTENTIAL TWEAKS "

- DAC/AMP: The good thing about the Canon II is it’s very easy to drive and not very source picky to achieve a good level of fidelity. Of course, it will scale with better implemented DAC/AMP. No question. To me, the Canon II is best paired with something that is neutral-bright Like the Tanchjim SPACE for example. It does liven the treble a tad while giving it’s a low-end a tighter response. If you find it to sound boring, it is best to pair it with something that is more coloured, vibrant or energetic. In short, the Canon II is not that source picky but quite reactive to different pairing!

- EARTIPS: With the wrong eartips it’s either going to sound too boomy or lean. After plenty of tip-roll, I find the Spinfit CP100 to fit it best. It gives is the bass better control and body with enhancing the mid-range/vocal forwardness just a tad.

- CABLE: The stock cable is very good. There is no need to change to a better one. Sonic wise, I find it had good balance between crisp and smoothness. It is light and non-microphonics which is great. If you’re trying to tweak it, I would recommend a pure silver with graphene mixture cable which quite expensive versus a silver-platted copper wire. But it will definitely improve some of its transient, giving instrument and vocals more texture and crisp that is missing from the stock cable. If you feel the bass is abit too loose, it is best to swap to copper cable for added bass control and presence.

- VOLUME SCALING: Thanks to its well-balance tuning, it does scale very well with volume. You can pretty much crank the volume quite high. However, when the volume gets higher the the bass muddiness starts to get more apparent. If you’re used to a proper low-end, this might annoys you.

~ SHORT COMPARISON ~

EPZ 530 x EPZ CANARI x No-Brand 2 Flange (M)

Right off the bat, the stage of the 530 is slightly narrower and not as tall but in terms of depth they’re nigh identical. In terms of instrument separation, the 530 may not sound as spacious as the Canon II, the gap between instruments aren’t as big. But the 530 has greater consistency on maintaining the borders of each element of sound. It is very apparent on busy passages. And the transition of sound between channel is noticeably more vivid with the 530.

The overall timbre of the Canon II will come across as the more natural and pleasant of the two. The overall micro-detail on the 530 is definitely a step up. Dynamic wise, it is more energetic especially, on the treble region.

The treble has greater extension. It sounded crispier and livelier up top. The 530 may suffers from a slight sharpness and sibilance. And get fatiguing on higher volume.

The mid-range and vocal of the 530 is more intimate and expressive. It’s airy-er and has greater transparency, giving its vocals a better leading surface of texture but the Canon II will come across as the more mid-focus of the two as the bass and treble took a step back in mix. The vocals on the Canon II have that warm reverb, sweet and pleasant tonality to the sound which makes it very soothing to listen to. Having said that, some would be deem Canon II to be abit too safe and not as soulful which is not further than the truth.

As for the bass, both of them are rather mid-bassy and soft on their attack. The 530 BA bass may not have that DD sub-bass rumble of the Canon II but the 530 has better control over its bassline whereas the Canon II can get a tad boomy at times.

The 530 is trickier to drive as it is very picky too source and tips. You’ll be surprise how different it can sound on different setup. Meanwhile the Canon II is much more hassle free to achieve good fidelity. The truth is, they both are very different in what they’re trying to be. In fact, they complement each other very well.

The Canon II remains to be the one to pick if you’re after a more natural, relaxing, smooth with vocal focus in mind. But if you value micro-detail, treble extension, and engagement the 530 is an easy pick.

FINAL THOUGHTS.
The Yanyin Canon II is not a set that will wow you from the get-go. It is a set that will crawl under your skin, the longer you spend time with it. It is not a set that you use to have fun it. It is a set for people who appreciate a relax, well-balance and pleasant sound. I’ve owned a set like the EPZ 530 and the 7hz Timeless. Those sets will impress you the moment you hear it but it gets fatiguing the longer you listen to it. On a long tiring day, I see myself gravitates towards the Canon II more than any of the sets that I’ve own. There is no denying that from a technical standpoint, it is not really that groundbreaking. And it has plenty of setbacks that can irks people. I remember vividly not liking the Canon II that much during my 1st hour of assessment. When dissecting the elements of tri-frequency one by one, I have come across with a lot of minor flaws. But when everything it put back together, it kind of worked. Those flaws become character and I started to understand what it is trying to be. There is something about the overall tonal balance and timbral approach that is very soothing to the ears. It is just so musical to listen to especially on a slow, vocal-centric/acoustic tracks. In that sense, it does it brilliantly. Now that, my time for the tour has come to an end. I am going to miss it genuinely. It's a set that I would love to add to my collection someday. With that being said, if you love this sort of sound-signature, it gets a solid recommendation from me!

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]​

RATING
1: Trash (F)
2: Horrible (E)
3: Bad (D)
4: Subpar (C)
5: Decent/Average (B)
6: Good (A-)
7: Great (A)
8: Superb. (A+)
9: Masterclass/Top-Drawer (S)
10: Perfection (P)
====================================
YANYIN CANON II [1DD-2BA-2BA]
MSRP: $380USD
Tuning: Neutral - Bass boost. [UP-DOWN SETTING]
= Quality =
Bass: 6/10 Mids: 6.5/10 Treble: 6.5/10
Male/Female: 6.5/6.0
= Technicalities =
Micro-Detail & Resolve: 6/6
Instrument Timbre/Note Definition: 7/6
Dynamic-Range : 5.5/10
Layering & Separation: 6.5/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 7-6-7
Stereo Imaging : 6/10
Ambience : 6.5/10
Cleanliness 7/10
Build/Comfort: 7/9
Value: 7/10 [AS-TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 7/10

SETUP (As tested)
Stock Cable 3.5 SE
Spinfit CP100 (M)
Tanchjim SPACE (Main)/xDuoo Link2BAL
===================================
EPZ 530 [1BA-2BA-2BA (3-WC)]
MSRP: $390USD
Tuning: Bright-Neutral
= Quality =
Bass: 6/10 Mids: 7/10 Treble: 7.5/10
Male/Female: 6.5/7
= Technicalities =
Micro-Detail & Resolve: 7.5/7.5
Instrument Timbre/Note Definition 6/7
Layering & Separation: 7.5/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 6-5-6
Dynamic-Range: 6.5/10
Stereo Imaging 7/10
Cleanliness: 8/10
Ambience: 6/10
Price/Performance: 9/10 [AS-TESTED]
Build/Comfort: 8/9
Personal Enjoyment: 7/10

SETUP (As tested)
Stock Cable 3.5 SE
Spinfit CP100 (M)
Tanchjim SPACE (Main)/xDuoo Link2BAL

Pros:
+ Excellent mid-range/vocals transparency.
+ Amazing treble extension.
+ Highly competent BA bass performance.
+ An "anti-shout" set.
+ Highly technical performer.
+ Insane price : performance value.
+ Premium packaging & accessories.
+ Beautiful wooden (stabilized) shell.
+ Great ear-gonomics. Comfortable & Light.

Cons
- Instruments falls short on transient and note weight.
- Dynamic range could have been better.
- Overall timbre is leans toward hi-fi sound rather than analogue sound.
- Exhibit a bearable level of sibilance [YMMV]
- A slight sharpness on lower-treble.
- Some male vocals can sound abit too sharp.
- A hint of treble haze (nit-pick level)
- Not for DD-bass connoisseur.
- Unforgiving to low-fi source.
- Very reactive to different tips/source/cable
- Can get fatiguing on higher volume.
- Treble sensitive ears must be wary.
- Not the best for Rock/Metal genre.

SOURCE & GEARS​

Native FLAC Files [44.1Khz 16bits-96Khz 24bits]
Foobar2000 [Laptop] [Ugreen USB C Adapter]
Huawei P20 PRO [Phone][ App- Foobar2000]
Dongle DAC/AMP only :
Moondrop DAWN 4.4
Tanchjim SPACE
xDuoo Link2BAL

PLAYLIST (AS TESTED)​

1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry.
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now.
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!!
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”／Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 ／Sanmon Shosetsu
2021 OWV – Fifth Season
2021 加藤　ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.-
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière - Sweet Dreams
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Far far away
2023 Genjitsu no Yohane – Hey, dear my friends
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)

Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit from Yanyin Tour Malaysia . Big thanks to the @Carson Thong & the team for making this possible!

If you like me to review your IEM/DAC/AMPS please hit me up:
https://www.facebook.com/DevaPainAkatsuki/

Extra Photos

Today, we look at a five driver hybrid IEM from Yanyin, the Canon 2.

Forewords​

• What I look for in an IEM is immersion. I want to feel the orchestra around me, track individual instruments, and hear all of their textures and details. I’m not picky about tonality, as long as it does not get in the way of immersion.
• I rate IEMs within with a consistent scale from 1 (poor) to 3 (Adequate) to 5 (outstanding). Ratings are assigned by A/B tests against benchmark IEMs, regardless of the retail price.
• Ranking list and measurement database are on my IEM review blog.
• Terms used in my reviews are consistent with the glossary by Headphonesty
• This review is possible thanks to the sample sent by Yanyin (thank you @Joe Bloggs !) The unit has been returned to Yanyin. You can find Canon 2 on Linsoul here (unaffiliated link): https://www.linsoul.com/products/yanyin-canon-ii

Sources for listening tests:

• iBasso DX300 (for all A/B tests)
• FiiO K7
• Hidizs XO

Local FLAC files ripped from CDs or bought from Qobuz were used for most casual listening and A/B tests. My playlist for A/B tests can be found on Apple Music here.

All of my listening was done with Final Audio Type E medium ear tips. I listen at a medium volume. I usually turn up the volume until the midrange is fully audible and detailed, unless a treble peak or overwhelming bass prevents me from doing so.

Specs​

• Driver: 4BA + 1DD
• Connector Type: 2-pin
• Impedance: 27-40ohm
• Sensitivity: 112dB

Build and ComfortPermalink​

Canon 2 comes in a simple cardboard box.

Inside the box, you would find a leather box that stores both the IEMs and the cable. 3 pairs of silicone ear tips are stored in smaller plastic box, hidden underneath the paper works. The packaging is quite efficient and effective.

The cable is decent with a 4 wire design and metal hardware. Personally, I’m more impressed by the leather carrying case. It’s quite enjoyable to hold and use.



The earpieces are medium in size and constructed from a black resin. The yellow letters and the color-coded vents are quite reminiscent of the Elysian Acoustic Labs Diva 2023.

Similar to that IEM, Canon 2 also features metal nozzles, though the size of these nozzles are more agreeable.



Due to the more restrained size of earpieces and nozzles, Canon 2 should be comfortable to wear for most people. Unfortunately, my ears do not seem to work well with these IEMs. I found that the nozzle angle is slightly off, preventing the IEM from lying flat against my ears. I also experienced slight pressure build up. I would recommend using shorter and smaller ear tips with these IEMs, as the nozzles are slightly longer than usual.

Subjective Experience​

We start the subjective impression with vocal music from Pentatonix.

When I listen to the opening song of the album, Bohemian Rhapsody, my first impression was how “muscular” the presentation is. Even with the least bassy configuration, Canon 2 was still able to highlight the bass line by Avi. The kick drum created by Kevin’s beatboxing also sound punchy and dynamic. At the same time, the bass does not overpower the rest of the mix. Canon 2 does not have the a squeaky clean bass line, but I did not detect any smearing or bluntness.

The midrange vocals of Mitch and Scott also present in the mix. On the other hand, the soprano line of Kirstin is less highlighted and requires a bit more effort separate and follow. All voices sound full and natural. The details are also good, though I did find myself wanting a bit more texture and nuances.



Let’s move on with Mendelssohn violin concerto performed by James Ehnes.

Again, Canon 2 provides a muscular presentation. I particularly enjoy the rumble and physical sensation from the cellos and the doublebass.

The rest of the orchestra sounds natural and pleasing. However, I’m not entirely happy with the slight hollowness in the tonality of the violin, as if there is a slight over emphasis in the upper midrange. I found myself constantly turning the volume up to hear more body and details in the violin, and then quickly turning the volume down to avoid the shrillness when the violin and the woodwind section play louder, such as around 5:00.



Next, we come back to pop music with a live performance by Ed Sheeran.

All of the previous pros and cons are carried over. Canon 2 provides a strong bass response. Kick drums are particularly thumpy with clean note attack. My only criticism here is the slightly lack of texture at the decay end of bass notes.

Moving on the midrange, I found Ed Sheeran’s voice to be dominating in the mix and placed quite upfront. Again, I hear a slight imbalance toward upper midrange, leading to occasional glares and shoutiness. Turning up one of the tuning switches can balance the midrange to a degree, but the upper midrange glare and shoutiness are still there.

The treble is present, but not highlighted within Canon 2. On the plus side, I did not hear any treble harshness or sibilance.



In order to have a closer look at the resolution, I listen to the four seasons violin concerti of Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Janine Jansen and orchestra.

I was not immediately impressed by the resolution of Canon 2, In fact, my first impression from denser music, such as the third movement of the Summer concerto, was that Canon 2 makes it a bit harder to follow individual instruments.

Upon closer listening, my impression improved. It seems that Canon 2 favours coherency and integration rather than the separation of instruments. I found that instruments do not smear into each other. It’s just that there is not a lot of space between instruments, and the instruments do not pop out with laser sharp definition. On the plus side, I appreciate the extra details and textures from the cellos and contrabass, which are barely audible on other IEMs such as Moondrop Blessing 2.



For the soundstage test, I listen to the Live album by Hans Zimmer.

At a glance, the soundstage of Canon 2 does not seem very special because it does not push the center of the midrange back and away from the head. However, the soundstage of Canon 2 becomes much more interesting when the music becomes more complex with distant background elements, such as choral sections. With this music, Canon 2 can show a clear separation between foreground and background elements. At times, it can create a convincing illusion that the background elements come from outside the headstage. In direct comparison, I found the depth illusion of Canon 2 to be a solid step ahead of IEMs with flatter soundstage, such as the Moondrop Blessing 2. On the other hand, both IEMs trade blows in terms of the incisiveness and clarity of the stereo image. Frequency Response ===

Frequency response of Supernova against the Harman in-ear target. Measurements were done with an IEC-711-compliant coupler and might only be compared with other measurements from this same coupler. Visit my graph database for more comparisons.



It is helpful to think of an IEM as a filter that highlights or subdues different parts of the incoming audio signal. This effect can be measured objectively by the squiggly lines above, called Frequency Response (FR) graphs, which measure how loud an IEM is at different frequencies from 20Hz (bass) to 20kHz (upper treble). Subjectivity is how your ears and brain interpret the effect of that filter on your music and decide whether it is “enjoyable.” There are some “rules of thumb” when it comes to tonality, but most interesting IEMs usually bend the rules masterfully.

The sound signature of Canon 2 aligns with the Harman in-ear target, but with some useful modifications. The mid-bass is boosted above the target, giving Canon 2 that muscular presentation. Interestingly, Canon 2 traces the frequency response of the Diva 2023 closely from above 300Hz.



Zooming into the midrange, we can see that Canon 2 pushes the frequencies around 1.5kHz forward comparing to the target. This tuning choice partially explains why vocals and instruments are more upfront with Canon 2. Luckily, the upper midrange was dialed down a bit to avoid making the midrange too intense. This tuning choice also helps Canon 2 avoid the harshness and shoutiness that is common among IEM tuned according to the Harman target. The subtle warmth in the tonality of Canon 2 can also be explained by the more subdued upper midrange.



The treble of Canon 2 does not roll off early. It is relatively smooth with no problematic peak and dip.



The bass of Canon 2 changes depending on the tuning switch. In general, the more switches you turn on, the warmer and bassier Canon 2 becomes. However, Canon 2 never sounds overwhelmingly bassy, because the bass is never higher than the upper midrange across all tuning options. All base tuning options also emphasise midbass over subbass, meaning you will hear the bass more than feeling it.

Resolution​

Resolution is a fascinating subject due to the difficulty of pinning down what it really is. To me, “resolution” can be broken down into three components: (1) Sharpness, incisiveness, or “definition” of note attacks (see the figure above). (2) The separation of instruments and vocals, especially when they overlap on the soundstage. (3) The texture and details in the decay side of the notes. The first two give music clarity and make it easy to track individual elements of a mix. The last provides music details and nuances. Smooth and well extended treble response plays a crucial role.

As I mentioned previously, Canon 2 favours coherency and integration rather than the separation of instruments. Even though instruments do not smear into each other, their placement and separation are not laser sharp. On the plus side, Canon 2 does a good job at presenting the details and textures of most instruments in the midrange, though it lacks the last bit of micro details and nuances that I expect, coming from something like the Andromeda 2020 and the U12T. In direct comparisons, I found Canon 2 to trade blows with Moondrop Blessing 2, though I prefer the way Canon 2 presents the violin with more weight and depth due to the extra bass.



In conclusion, I would say the resolution of Canon 2 sits somewhere between Moondrop Blessing 2 and Andromeda 2020. I consider this level of resolution to be good.

Soundstage Imaging​

Stereo imaging or “soundstage” is a psychoacoustic illusion that different recording elements appear at various locations inside and around your head. Your brain creates based on the cues in the recording, which are enhanced or diminushed by your IEMs, your DAC, and your amplifier. Some IEMs present a wide but flat soundstage. Some present a “3D” soundstage with layering, depth, and height. In rare cases, with some specific songs, some IEMs can trick you into thinking that the sound comes from the environment (a.k.a., “holographic”)

When it comes to soundstage imaging, again, Canon2 favours coherency and integration rather than separation. However, with the right kind of recording, this IEM can still show a convincing sense of depth and sell the illusion that the background elements come from outside the headstage.



In summary, I found the soundstage and imaging of Canon 2 to sit between the level of Blessing 2 and Andromeda 2020. It lacks the incisiveness and layering of Andromeda and above, but it commendable in terms of how 3D it can present the soundstage, comparing to other good performers like Blessing 2.

Conclusions​

In conclusion, Yanyin has done quite a few things right with Canon 2. I particularly enjoy the muscular presentation that works well with both modern commercial music and classical recordings. Its warm tonality is pleasant without veering into muffled or muddy territory. The switches on the IEM contribute meaningfully to sound adjustments. The midrange also stands out with commendable texture and detail.

While the Canon2 IEM has some great qualities, it does show a bit of hollowness in the midrange with certain recordings. For me, I also wish that this IEM has a sharper separation and better note definition.

So, should you get Canon 2?

If you haven’t got a competent IEM in the level and price bracket of Canon 2, this IEM is a worthy candidate for your collection. However, if you already have some competent IEMs, Canon2 does not offer many compelling reasons. In many ways, Canon 2 highlights the challenge of the current hyper-competitive IEM market. Don’t get me wrong, Canon 2 is a good IEM. But being good in a market filled with good options is a tricky position to be.

Absolute Sonic Quality Rating: 3.5 (Very Good)

Bias Score: 3 (I’m lukewarm about this IEM)



My review is also available on YouTube:



Updated: November 26, 2023

Yanyin Technology, a relatively new audio brand established in 2020, has gave me the opportunity to review their latest product, the successor to the original Yanyin Canon, the Yanyin Canon II. Since I have no prior experience with Yanyin products, this will be my first review of one of their In-Ear Monitors.

DISCLAIMER:​

• I have no affiliation with Yanyin and have not received any monetary compensation during or after writing this review. This is a loan unit in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
• As a non-professional reviewer, I aim to use simple terms that can be understood by both beginners and experts in the hobby.
• Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this review are subjective and based on my personal experience with the unit. I encourage you to try the product yourself to form your own opinion.

PACKAGING​

​

The unboxing experience of the Canon II has "chi-fi" screaming on the box. The packaging itself lacks a premium appearance. Upon opening the box, it becomes evident that it appears to contain numerous items, but in reality, it is predominantly filled with foam padding.​

BUILD QUALITY​

Regarding the build quality, I would describe it as decent. The Canon II uses a 1DD+4BA configuration. The drivers are encased in a striking all-resin shell with an attractive and stylish design. The cables, while adequately thick and functional, are not designed to be modular, which is somewhat disappointing considering the price of the Canon II.

SOUND​

The Yanyin Canon II produces a dark yet inviting sound that completely immerses my ears in a rich, immersive audio experience.

BASS

The Yanyin Canon 2's bass possesses a substantial amount of weight and thick texture without an excessive bloat. The midbass offers a modest punch that doesn't bleed into the mids, the sub-bass dominates the bass region, delivering deep and solid rumbles.

MIDS

The midrange offers a soothing and enveloping warmth that brings out the richness and natural timbre of vocals. However, I did notice that the instruments fail to stand out as I'd prefer, particularly when seeking the distinct guitar bite in tracks like Polyphia's "Playing God" and Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing." They tend to sound somewhat laid-back and lack the expected impact. Even in piano-heavy compositions like Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: 1. Moderato (starting at 5:56), the piano strikes feel a bit too light. On the bright side (or on the warm side), for those who prefer this laid-back and warm characteristic over clarity, these IEMs are non-fatiguing and well-suited for extended listening sessions. The upper-mids exhibit a roll-off, which impacts the bite of specific instruments, resulting in a softer texture and a notable sacrifice in terms of clarity.

TREBLE

The treble is tuned to a safe and rolled-off extent, but this comes at the cost of sacrificing clarity and fine details. This can lead to issues with instrument definition, making cymbals, for instance, sound somewhat dull. The Canon II will find it a challenge to retrieve micro-details. If you're someone who values intricate treble nuances, this tuning may not be suitable. On the other hand, if you're treble-sensitive and prefer a milder treble, this could be an ideal choice for you.

TECHNICALITIES

When you gain something, you lose something. This applies to Canon II's philosophy (in my personal take) because of its safe, darker tuning we lose some of the finest details. However, it doesn't mean the Canon II is a total slouch. Although the soundstage lacks an expansive and holographic feel, it still manages to provide a reasonably wide and deep headstage, preventing it from feeling overly congested. I can discern the instrument placement with some clarity, but the finer details and definition remain somewhat distant, and the roll-off hampers its ability to reproduce those intricate nuances.

TUNING SWITCHES

To be fair, I did not find the tuning switches having significant changes to the overall profile of the Canon II. Well, me might hear some adjustments here and there but it is not that crucial and I believe I find the Canon II perfect as it is without the switches. But yeah, I'll have them do their way. To conclude, I won't bother discussing too much about the switches.

DEVICES USED​

• Astell&Kern SR25
• HIDIZS S9 PRO PLUS
• Fosi Audio DS1
• Audioquest Dragonfly Red

TEST TRACKS​

CONCLUSION​

Pros:

• Thick bass
• Rich, immersive mids
• Safe, smooth treble
• One of the decent dark sounding profile
• Decent build-quality

Cons:

• Rolled-off treble
• Expect technicalities to be underwhelming
• Tuning switches doesn't do much
• Underwhelming inclusion for a $379 deal

On my take, it's a rarity to come across earphones with such a dark profile that still perform admirably. While this might be a bit too extreme for some, I personally find them to be quite remarkable and a unique offering in a market saturated with earphones featuring Harman or V-shaped sound signatures. Additionally, the design is quite appealing, although the tuning switches seem somewhat redundant, as they don't change the Canon II's sound that much. Nevertheless, if you're in search of a dark sound profile that provides a rich, immersive, and captivating listening experience, these earphones are worth considering.

Yanyin Canon II (originally posted at avaliasom.com)

Presentation


Hello, friends of AvaliaSom. I'm Marcelo Dosec, and the one I bring you is the Yanyin Canon II, a unit that was kindly sent by Yanyin herself for review here, on Fabrício's channel and on Antenor's channel . We have no obligation to speak highly of the earphone, just provide our independent opinions about it. Xiè xiè, Yanyin.

This IEM costs 379 USD (or around 730 USD applying the 92% Brazilian taxes in current legislation).

The Canon II is the successor to the Yanyin Canon, an earphone that I tested on video and was impressed with its competence and versatility, as it had three tuning keys and each one took care of a frequency range. It was like having a little three-band equalizer in each ear, a feature that endeared the Canon to Greeks and Trojans alike.

Unlike its predecessor, the Canon II only has two switches, and they only take care of the bass. The two switches activated bring a considerable boost in the subs and medium-bass, while by activating switch 1 or 2 only, there is only a discreet increase and, in practice, I already find the bass sufficient with the switches deactivated, especially as it brings more weight on the subs.


The unboxing of the Canon II is very luxurious, with an all-black glove-shaped box that features the name of the IEM in bright green and details about the earphone (in Chinese) on the back. The interior box is rigid and all black, with the phrase “Belongs to the audiophile” highlighted. I believe that the brand needs to have a lot of confidence in the quality of its product to include this phrase in the box, therefore already giving a spoiler about what I thought of the IEM, congratulations Yanyin.


Inside the rigid box we immediately come across a card that shows a rendering of the earphone and details in Chinese about how to activate the keys. Just below, there are two smaller boxes. The one on the left has the warranty cards, and by removing it, we have access to the small tip case. These are good quality silicone tips, which are very similar to the Truthear Nova tips .


In the other small box we have the leather case, which contains the IEM already plugged into the cable. And speaking of the cable, it is a beautiful example with 4 cores of silver-plated graphene and copper wires. It has a beautiful metal connector, the same material as the splitter and chin slider. When purchasing, you can choose a 2.5 mm, 4.4 mm or 3.5 mm cable like the one in the test. For the headset, the connection is 2-pin 0.78 mm.


As for the IEM itself, it is a beautiful piece made entirely of resin, with holographic art that combines shades of green and blue on the faceplate, also featuring the brand's logo on the right earpiece and its name on the left earpiece. The shell is opaque, bearing the unit's serial number, and features a metal nozzle with a very restrictive grille at the tip. The 2-pin connector is flush with the IEM.

Its sound is generated by a 10 mm dynamic driver with a biological material diaphragm, which takes care of the bass. The mids and mid-highs are handled by a pair of BAs (balanced armatures), while another pair of BAs is responsible for the highs and highs. There is no information about the BA model or the use of crossovers.

Comfort


The Canon II has a very anatomical body, and to my ears the comfort was excellent. Although it is bulky, it is a very light IEM and has a long nozzle that allowed me to use the S tips for deeper insertion. As a result, the seal is excellent, as is the passive isolation of external sounds, and the pressure generated in the ear canal is reasonable, but not annoying.

Musical Sound

I tried it on different sources, which are: iPhone SE (my “DAP”), Dell Laptop, Apple Dongle, Truthear Shio, iFi Uno, Cayin RU6 and Topping DX3 Pro+.

By the way, I invite you to check out my headphone test playlist on Spotify . This is a dynamic playlist, and the songs can change at any time, but they will always follow the purpose of presenting all the points I mention in my musical evaluation of the headphones.

Regarding sources, the Canon II is very democratic, and plays well from any source. However, it scales very positively with more refined sources, and matches even better with more analytical ESS chips, given its darker tone.

NOTE: The following notes serve as a comparison parameter only in the price range in which the IEM falls.

• Bass: Level 5/5, Extension 5/5, Speed 5/5, Texture 5/5

Man, what sensational bass! In my memory, the best bass comes from the AudioDream Vertere and the FiiO FH9 and, without a shadow of a doubt, the Canon II's bass reaches there. But I say this based on the bass with the switches off, as I personally found the bass to be excessive in any configuration with the switches on. Okay, it might be fun in EDM or hip hop, but for me it goes beyond the point.

With the switches off, the earphone already delivers a delicious sub impact in a “Gangsta's Paradise” or any similar genre, but it's in the bass drums and bass that this guy impresses. Listening to a Gojira “Drum Solo” with the Canon II is a memorable experience, and the same can be said for the bass line in any Charlie Brown Jr song .

The texture is also captivating, with the cellos of “Nothing Else Matters” by Apocalyptica so natural and holographic that they seemed to be playing in my house. If you have questions about what “audiophile bass” is, a Canon II answers that exactly.

And when it comes to speed, this driver with a biological diaphragm can handle any track, no matter how intense the kick drums are. I don't even need to say that he plays “Intra Venus” in the best possible way, right?

• Midrange: Level 4/5, Presence 5/5, Clarity 5/5, Voices 5/5, Transparency 5/5

I could listen to Portuguese fado with the Canon II for the rest of my life. The way this IEM delivers the voice of Ana Moura , Mariza or Camané is delightful , and the sound of the Portuguese guitar on this earphone is as beautiful as it is in real life. What a show! I dare say that it owes nothing to a 64 Audio U4s here, even though it costs a fraction of the most expensive earphone.

Hearing the contrast between Mariana Aydar's voice and Lecy Brandão's voice in this version of “Zé do Caroço” is a delight, whether due to the naturalness of the voices or the wonderful transparency of the instruments that play in the spectrum. The midrange sounds with a lot of presence, but doesn't overpower the other frequencies. It is correct, and nothing more.

The highest notes that Louane hits sound very controlled and at the same time expand in a tasty way. Both the piano and the voice in “Je vais t'aimer” share the stage democratically on Canon II, and I had to listen to this track more than once to appreciate all the beauty that this earphone can demonstrate.

I always listen to “Hello” by Evanescence to check the sibilance, and the Canon II doesn't even dream of sibilance, and in parallel it makes Amy Lee 's voice stand out as it should. And speaking of highlights, listening to “This I Love” with the Canon II is a heavenly experience.

• Treble: Level 3/5, Brightness 4/5, Airiness 4/5, Extension 5/5, Timbre 5/5

I'm a treblehead, yet it's impossible to complain about the highs that the Canon II delivers. Okay, the shine isn't one that makes me jump out of my chair, but so what? The brightness it delivers is very correct, perfectly contained, and tends not to fatigue even the most treble-sensitive ears.

The splash of the dishes in a “September in Montreal” is very correct, very natural, enchanting in just the right way, as is the case with their extension. I also made a point of listening to “Espera” , a track whose cymbal input is remarkable, and the Canon II exceeds it. Too good!

And the violins? Boy, it was like closing my eyes and imagining Lindsey Stirling performing “Carol of The Bells” in my room, a remarkable experience. The timbre is very correct, with a very correct, impeccable range.

• Technicalities: Sound Stage 5/5, Image 5/5, Layering 5/5, Separation 5/5, Details 4/5, Resolution 5/5

From what I have experienced recently, I realize that above 200 USD, the technical level of the earphones is close to ideal. If there are reasons to complain, they are always very personal complaints or nitpicking, always in accordance with the subjectivity of our hobby.

And the Canon II is yet another representative of these ideal technicalities. The soundstage is very wide, very holographic, with excellent layering. The image formed in “Las Perlas de Tu Boca” is wonderful, at the same time as the level of detail is very high, and although it does not deliver all possible microdetails, it delivers enough.

I give my honorable mention to the separation of instruments in this IEM, very coherent and precise, and the resolution also deserves a standing ovation. It's among the best I've ever heard, even if compared to earphones whose numbers are much higher.

Sound in Games

In battle royale games like PUBG , the Canon II performs optimally. It presents the location of sound emitters in any direction of the 360-degree spectrum, including excellent distance perception. On maps where there is enemy movement above or below your position, the Canon II also presents these sounds with good accuracy. Rating 5/5.

In FPS games like Valorant , the Canon II accurately transmits the movement of opponents across the map, even in intense exchange situations. And thanks to good midrange tuning, teammates' voices via VOIP are heard very well during matches. Rating 5/5.

In casual games, like Genshin Impact , the immersion provided by Canon II is wonderful. There is a delicious feeling of a large and living world, with excellent naturalness in the sounds of nature, for example. Rating 5/5.

And finally, in simulation games like F1 2023 , the intensity with which the Canon II delivers engine sounds, the sound of the zebra attack and other surrounding sounds is remarkable, creating a fantastic immersive environment. Rating 5/5.

Sound in Films, Series and Productivity

With a deliciously engaging and immersive tuning, I loved enjoying any movie with it, especially action movies like “John Wick 4” or even “Fast and Furious 10” . But he also performs pleasantly in films more focused on dialogue.

And speaking of the quality of dialogues, the Canon II serves perfectly as a study or work companion, because even though it has bass present, the IEM excels even in bad recordings or in those meetings where the audio quality is terrible.

Conclusion

I've already tested more than 200 audio gears, ranging from 15 USD KZs to the very refined 64 Audio Tia Fourtè or the Brazilian AudioDream Somnium EST ER . And even with so much experience accumulated in a short time, I still manage to surprise myself. And I must confess that my expectations were low, given that the Canon OG for me was just a good earphone and nothing more.

However, from the first song, Yanyin Canon II was pure surprise and passion, feelings that grew every minute I spent with it. Do you know the “wow effect”? I had it with the Canon II, and I still have it. Track after track, minute after minute, this IEMengages and captivates without ceremony, and it becomes difficult to put it aside.

Its name makes perfect sense: canonical. It is perfectly in accordance with the dogmas of audiophilia, and deserves to bear the phrase “Belongs to the audiophile” on its box. With so many qualities, it surpasses the Aful P8 at 400 USD on my list of recommendations . Barely, but it beats it.

Big hug!

𝒀𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝑰𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈

|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

Yanyin never really got as big of a fanbase or is not as mainstream as other brands. For this matter Yanyin products are kind rare in the wild and are severely underrated.
Yanyin released a follow-up to the well regarded Canon with the Canon II.



Priced at around $379, it firmly sits in the start of the midrange section of the market. Built with a medical-grade resin shell and is equipped with a Biological Dynamic Driver and 4 Balanced Armature Drivers, the Canon II certainly isn’t cheap but is it worth the asking price?


|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

• I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the brands I review and do not give out preview privileges.

• This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

• My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

• I don’t do rankings or tier lists as they can get outdated immediately as a reviewer can change their thoughts of a product to a certain extent. If you do want a recommendation then feel free to reach out so I can help out

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𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆.
𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗬𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁. 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.
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| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |

It comes in a decently-sized rectangular box with striking lines scattered all over with a Canon text and the Yanyin logo.
All the standard bells and whistles are present in the box. All the required information is present such as specifications and manufacturer details. Although the specifications in foreign text, I won't even try to decipher what it is and a QR code. The box is built well and will definitely protect the goods from during shipment.



| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Sliding off the initial cover reveals another box. Removing that will great you a handy guide for the switches(written in Chinese), an envelop, and the case that contains the star of the show and its cable.


The said envelope contains the paperwork, a switch tool and a PVC VIP card which is quite a surprise and made me feel that the package was extra premium.


Underneath that is the provided ear tips contained by a small plastic case
The provided case is made out of faux-leather and holds the IEM drivers along with the very nice cable.



𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:
Switch manual
Switch tool
PVC VIP Card
Rectangular faux-leather case in brown
Yanyin Canon II drivers
4-core high graphene silver-plated SCC cable(2.5/3.5/4.4)
Regular translucent black ear tips (S/M/L)
Small translucent ear tip case

Overall, I feel like some $300-ish sets can offer more included in the box compared to the Canon II. I find the free PVC card to be a surprise. The cable feels great and works well. It doesn't weigh too much, flexible and feels premium. It comes with mostly the essentials which is not bad but some may expect more for $300


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The Canon II has these streaks and splatters of varying color of glitter. It looks nice in good light and isn’t too flashy when worn. It also has the Yanyin branding on the right driver’s faceplate and the Canon text on the other. The rear of the Canon II has the vent and the switches for tuning. The nozzle seems to be made out of metal with nice lips to keep the tips secure. The top of the drivers has nothing going on except the 2-pin female connectors.



Yanyin built the Canon II using black medical-grade resin. It seems like it is translucent but is hard to take a peek at its contents. The Canon II has a pseudo-custom fit, it has this minor wing/ protrusion to help grip onto one’s ear better.
It feels nice in the hand. Very light yet feels sturdy. However, due to the use of a black resin base, it can show hairline scratches if you're a bit too rough with your use case.



This set is packed with a single biological dynamic driver and 4 balanced armature drivers. This is a common setup for this price but what sets the Canon II apart is the changes done to the dynamic driver which they call a “ Biological driver”.
A good feel in the hand, nice design, and a unique driver configuration all resulted to a nice physical attributes and traits that help make the experience better


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The Canon II has good isolation. It can block common excess noise such as fans or a light drizzle of rain along with the noise of daily commute, though still isn’t better than any active noise-canceling TWS available.

In conclusion, it does provide a good enough isolation to keep you immersed and in the nitty gritty when jamming to music


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

I’ve had no problem using these for hours and hours. The combination of a warm sound and an unobtrusive fit makes it a breeze to use for prolonged periods of time. It does have a small wing/protrusion that can bother others. The pseudo-custom fit probably helps with the isolation of the Canon II. It also has a good occlusion effect and good pressure management. It feels just about right for IEM.

This is a subjective topic but it passed on my with flying colors


** 𝗞𝗕 𝗘𝗮𝗿 𝟬𝟳(𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 | 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲(𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴) | 𝗛𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗭 𝗦𝟵 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘀 **


| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

Easily drivable. I find it very friendly with source and even my Apple Dongle does a good enough job to push out volume.
This is great for those who don’t have a powerful source available to them or prefer going lowkey and have a smaller dongle DAC than those with chunky partitions.


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

Right off the bat the Canon II has the bass as the highlight. It produces good bass that can impress, suffice and even turn others to bassheads or sought a more warmer sound.



I used the balance preset as I find it the best compared to all other configuration that gives me the jack of all trades in terms of benefits


| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

Both sub bass and mid bass sound amazing. They’ve got good depth, quantity and texture. Mid bass hits are fast and quick in decay while the sub bass provides a good rumble while still sounding clean. Even despite the prominence of the bass in the sound, it never stepped it’s boundaries and kept it tidy.

Nothing much to say here other than a really well executed low-end from the Canon II. There is nothing I can say about it but just praise.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

Because of the bass, Mids have a really good body. Vocals both male and female sound full and rich but really sibilant voices can still sound harsh. Instruments have good note weight. I really enjoyed e-guitars with the Canon II for its really weighty approach to the sound.

It does less push forward compared to the bass but that also gave it a sense of “grandiose” on more orchestrals pieces of music.
Another great performance by the Canon II. The mids are also great but not as in front of the presentation compared to the bass.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

Very good detail retrieval and resolution, but it can sound harsh and very spicy on some tracks though not as common as other sets. Transients are great and overall not fatiguing. It doesn’t have any weird timbre to give it an unnatural reproduction of sound too.

All in all. It has good highs but you can easily go overboard considering you can easily push the volume with the Canon II


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Another win for Yanyin. The Canon II has great imaging and layering making great for analytical and all forms of gaming. Staging really wide and deep makes you immersed in whatever it is you're consuming. It can definitely go through tracks with very busy passages without sounding congested with ease.

|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||

This review sounds too positive to the point I may be called out a shill, but never in my time in this hobby has something tick a huge number of boxes that I was looking for at the time.

It is probably my top contender for the $300 price range. Though all of what I said was my opinion, I really did find these near flawless
So if you are someone looking for something with good bass but doesn’t want to skimp on the technicalities, then buy the Canon II and call it a day.

Today I'm giving my impressions on the YANYIN Canon II.
Canon as in a piece in which the same melody is begun in different parts successively, so that the imitations overlap: Not Cannon as in artillery or Bass-Cannon but this does have some tasty Bass.

The Box is an all-black box there is documentation on it, its graphics simple and good.
Inside there are a set of tips in various sizes, a very nice case and a good quality cable. The Canon 2 has a colorful design and is made with smooth ergonomics, so it is comfortable for all day use with isolation being very good.
Constuction consist of 1 Biological Dynamic Driver and 4 Balanced Armature Drivers
High Quality Graphene Single Crystal Copper Silver-Plated Cable
Medical Resin Shell, Galaxy-looking Faceplate
2 Tuning Switches, for 4 different musical styles. The Canon is available in 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4.4mm, the one I received was 3.5mm. The switches work to give subtitle changes to the Bass and overall presentation.
For my review I will be returning them to stock position.
As always, my opinion is my own and I do not get paid take part in affiliate links or am influenced in any way other than by what I hear.


Specs:
Driver
1DD+4BD
DRC
27-40Ω
Input
112dB
Frequency
5Hz-25kHz

Sound Impressions:

First the equipment used, it's all wired not Bluetooth devices are used in the testing. HiRes files from high quallity MP3 to DSD, Flac and Alac are used. Today's equipment was the ifi Hip-Dac3 , Gryphon and UNO, Dongles include the Questyle M15, Hidizs S9 pro plus, XO and the Fosi DS2.

Bass:
The lower end presents with a nice blend of power and control, there is an excellent amount of detail here Bass lovers will appreciate.
The Sub-Bass is more prominent with far reaching depth, I found the rumble wonderful. While not the swiftest Bass it still has a above average speed to it. Mid-Bass however does have more speed and a nice tight impact to it. Bass in general has a nice wide and encompassing field, kind of like sitting in front of a nice stereo rack system with big full range speakers. I want to sit in a comfortable chair and let the bass surround me listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Thats the vibe I get off of these great sounding IEM.


Mids:
The midrange is clear and transparent, due to the control from the bass. the mids in general are very detailed and a nice splash of technicalities here make for an engaging listen. The Mids themselves are not overly thick but maintain a decent body and richness. Vocals have a centered position with a little forwardness. Both male and female sound natural and full.

Treble:
The Highs are delightful, providing you are not a treble head audiophile. To me there is nothing wrong with the extension it has a fair amount of energy and sparkle, and the details here have a natural smoothness that compliments its realistic presentation. Another great feature is the lack of harsh spikes and in your face brightness.

Soundstage:
This is another strong point of the Yanyin Canon 2, staging is vast. The height and depth are above average and while still begin a natural expansion the width is very open. It's not overly wide to the point of holographic or unnatural borders but it's still big enough. The imaging is impressive and very accurate.

Afterthoughts:
The Yanyin Canon II is a very well-balanced. IEM it compliments a wide variety of music.
I personally love this IEM it has the perfect blend of Technicalities, Dynamics, and Details. There is great instrument separation. If you are looking for something that could be used all day and is well balanced this one may be just right.

First I want to give a shoutout to @Joe Bloggs for his absolute professionalism. He provided me with Canon 2 as a replacement for my Canon 1 that got lost during the shipping between one of the Aliexpress stores and Yanyin. It was supposed to go for repairs/replacement but never made it.

Joe’s got some of the most professional communication that I’ve had pleasure dealing with - not just in IEM/Aliexpress context, but all professional communication I’ve come across in my life, including for luxury products. Simply impeccable, and can totally recommend him as a rep if you need any info on whichever brands he's working with.

Disclaimer

Take my review with a grain of salt, as I’m not a professional reviewer. This is my first review here, and is probably going to be my last. Having worked professionally with written product reviews, I’m tired of it, especially when doing them for free . Also, I prefer to just enjoy the music these days with a good pair of IEMs rather than A-B comparing different gear to see what sounds 10% better here, 5% worse there, etc. chasing some perfect unicorn IEM that doesn’t exist.

Without getting too far ahead of myself - enjoying the music & forgetting about everything else is exactly what Canon II allows me to do. Immersion into music - to me - is the main selling point of this IEM.



My Experience

IEMs: From “proper” $60+ range IEMs, I’ve got experience with Canon 1, Truthear Hexa, and now Canon 2.

Sources: I messed up my Qudelix 5K with some water damage, so until the 11.11 deals hit I’m listening from cheap Realtek USB dongles. Fortunately, YanYin products are very easy to drive by design, IIRC someone was actually having issues putting too much power there through a balanced ending. A better source will probably improve micro-details, but it shouldn’t change the sound too much.

Canon II Vs. Truthear Hexa

Compared to Canon II, Truthear Hexa is more exhausting for prolonged listening sessions when it comes to the highs. Hexa's Harman tuning feels somewhat cleaner and more clinical, but also lacks the liveliness, engagement, and immersion of the Canons. That goes for both Canon I and Canon II. Hexa is still a good IEM for $89, but it’s just too sterile to work across all genres long-term. Doesn’t give you that “wow” effect, beyond maybe just the quality that you get for $89. Maybe for classical music it’s less noticeable, but overall it fails to pull you into the music and make you wanna dance to it. Both of the Canons - I feel - are tuned way better for musical immersion. In summary Canon 2 vs. Hexa: More details, better engagement, relaxed highs, better for prolonged listening sessions, sucks you into the music, the music feels more alive.



Canon II vs Canon I (from memory)

One issue I discovered with Canon 1 is that I get both highs and bass fatigue. My preferred setting for listening was 010, which elevates the mids, and leaves the bass and the highs as they are. But even with 010, the V-Shape was just a little too elevated for me in the ends for relaxed long sessions of listening. My ears eventually got tired, and I needed to take a break. Everything had a little bit too much color, was too intense.

I'm happy to say that they've fixed that with Canon II - at least in the “DD” switch setting. They’ve also fixed the venting issue that Canon 1 had. The pressure buildup in the ear was a very minor thing, but I did notice that with the first model. With this model, there’s no pressure buildup.



Summary & Conclusion:

My favorite part about Canon II is that they’ve finally included a neutral-ish signature with the switches in “DD” mode, which is also the one I’ve been listening to the most. It’s still bassy, but there’s just enough bass that in my opinion is perfectly balanced for a warm, engaging, lively sound. A little bit more - and it's too much for me personally. Which is also why I probably won't be using the switches too much, aside from leaner metal & classical tracks.

The mids are great, and the highs are not fatiguing in the least (while still being present). When listening, I realized that yeah, you could crank the highs just a bit more for more of a "wow" effect - there is space for that - but I'm happy that the YanYin team decided not to do so. The slighly relaxed highs and pinna gain is exactly what I'm looking for in an IEM these days.

Can’t help but mention the bass quality. It’s there, it rumbles deep, it’s like being in a cinema with the right track. It’s definitely an IEM for bass lovers. Even on "DD" setting there's enough rumble and bass, when you push the switches up it becomes boomy for me personally. But I know that some people seek out those bassy IEMs, and this one will definitely deliver with the switches turned up without sacrificing the details.

Overall Canon II makes my music engaging, lively, lush, and full of details. The sound pulls me in and makes me want to move along in the rhythm. It’s just got that magic “musicality” factor that Harman IEMs like Truthear Hexa & others don’t. I couldn’t ask for more details in the music - everything’s there from the small sounds of the finger plucking guitar strings, to various decays etc. I play both bass and guitar, and listening to bass guitar on Canon II is just like me playing with the amplifier, with all the mini-details present. Every instrument just feels very alive in these.

Honestly, if you’re going to pay this much money for an IEM it better have that X factor, the musicality, or whatever it is that you’re looking for. This one has the musicality.

While I would have preferred three different variations on neutral tunings as I’m not a basshead, that’s simply not the DNA of Canon. It’s an IEM for bass lovers, and I’m happy that I can enjoy it with the “DD” settings without getting fatigued.

Overall 4.5 stars, just because I have a feeling there's other options for the price these days in addition to this one. But for me, in "DD" setting, it's pretty much a 5/5 and I'm not interested in trying out any more IEMs (or spending any of my hard-earned money on any) while I have this one.

Thanks again to @Joe Bloggs and the YanYin team, much love!

TONALITY: 8.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10
TIMBRE: 8.5/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 8.2/10
IMAGING: 8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
ACCESSORIES: 8/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.2/10

YanYin is a rather new audio company from China, I think it's been around for about 3 years.
They get on the audiophile map with hybrid IEM like the Alladin and first Canon or tribrid like the Moonlight.
Today I will review their latest offering, the Canon2, which is the the follow up of first Canon.

Like the first version, it's an hybrid using 1 biological dynamic driver and 4 (unstated) balanced armature.

Priced 380$, the Canon2 enter a very competitive sub-500$ market where we expect consequent sound benefit, let see in this review if this IEM stand apart from rest of IEMs offering.



CONSTRUCTION&ACCESSORIES



The beautifull design of Canon2 is sure a looker, a glossy sparkly one due to it's shinny backplate colorful design thast show different shade of colors depending of reflection of light.

The construction is all made of thick medical grade resin plastic that feel smooth on hands and isn't prompt to easy scratching which promise long durability. Well, their one metal part and it's the nozzle, so this is only concern in term of potential damage.

The 2pin connector is flat on top of body, i prefer slightly recessed connector for more easy connection but this one look sturdy and have no gap around it.

Then you have the 2 mini switch at the side of shell, again its well embeded in body without gap, but you need a tool to change switch position which can be annoyin on the go. In fact, while walking i seek for small sharp rock on the ground when i want to change the switch, yes, that my survivalist nomad solution.

As for the shell size, its a bit bulky and not really thinked for deep insertion, yet I don't think it's too big for people with small ears.

The included cable is nice enough. It's a 4-strand graphene single crystal copper silver-plated Cable that come in 3.5mm single ended or 2.5mm or 4.4mm balanced depending the choice you make. It doesn't feel like prime high end cable due to rather basic plug but it's a flexible, soft and light cable that don't add weight to the fit.



For the box presentation, it's elegant and minimalist. You have this nice cable, a good quality leather carrying case, 3 pairs of silicone eartips. If i want to be nit picky, i would say more ear tips would have been welcome.


SOUND IMPRESSIONS



The Canon2 is a smooth and gently lush sounding IEM, with an organic cohesion that goes from warm bassy U shape to mellow crispy U shape. The tuning switch here don't inflict greatly on tonal balance and feel a bit unecessary. I mean, like most IEM with switch it play with dynamic driver impedance that boost the bass and mid bass at different level without adding much well felt punch.
2 switch up or 1 up 2down are both warm and bassy U shape with slightly darker mids than both switch down or 1down2up.
Switch ONE inflict way more on sound balance than the 2 which just add or stole a hint of teble air and edge.
Cleaner crisper and most lean U shape tuning is both switch down. So we can say one switch would have been enough and switch 2 is near plain decorative.

For this review, I will focus on 2 switch up and down for bass department, then for mids and treble, it will be mostly 2 switch down since it's cleaner in term of resolution.

The Canon2 are among those harman target chifi interpretation, it's a safe, smooth and polished tonality, with rather organic and natural timbre, it's not spoil with thin mids especially with bass boost that add lower mids warmth. Yet, it's not an highly exciting, engaging or dynamic musicality, but after the ultimately boring Tanchjim Kara, these feel bassy and fowards enough in mid range which has an higher pinna gain, yet, isn't shouty.



With bass boost we are less into classic harman territory and barely into mellow warm V shape, but the slam is too gentle and sub bass focused for calling it punchy V shape. For this we would surely need a second dynamic driver to go all in mid bass boost instead of impendance boost that tend to boost a vibrant, dense boom and had rumble sustain.
Whatever the switch you choose, the sub bass is put fowards and better extracted and layered than kick drum. It's thick sub bass, it's warm and juicy, not very edgy or speedy. It's rather opaque too and don't have a lean extension with boost on, so for acoustic music it's better 2 switch down, we have slightly more texture and overall less warmed bass line release which can be negative for acoustic double bass.
Don't expect basshead fun, it's a rather smooth and organic bass presentation and with 2 switch UP, I can get most fun with soul and r&B but big beat with complex percussions isn't suggest, nor speedy thumpy track, it's more enjoyable with slow music with digital sub bass and boom.
The cello sound pleasant, has a natural timbre enough but is very polished so it's hard to perceive the string stroke or pulling. It's a bit dull and solo bach sonata didn't captivate my attention nor trigger any emotion in me.
Kick drum are dark and a bit flat, for fast rock it will lack hard edgy definition and listener will struggle to follow drummer in any music style that is speedy.
All in all, safe lush bass, non offensive and laid back, the sub bass can be charming but it lack a bit of elasticity, presene and proper well define separation (especially with bass boost)

The mids are for me highlight of the show even if I would not call the Canon2 mid centric because they are too lean and a bit thin too, yet not in a dry way.
They are sirupy and relaxed, the upper mids isn't very loud so it's rather fatigue free. We don't have alot of presence texture boost so fine definition of each instrument is a bit softed in edge and darken in attack lead. Yet overall mid have this natural tone and timbre, liquid way since it's near texture less.
The female vocal shine more than male vocal, it's most fowards ''instrument'' with violin, its a hint breahty and its sibilance free. It's not shouty too. Presence is well centered and even with bass boost the mids will not go plain muddy, but they will be darken and less clean than with 2 switch down that make them pop up more, making them feel louder too.
Piano is a bit light in note weight and lean in dynamic but not too recessed, tone is realist but texture thickness is lacking for proper separation of each note hit, we don't have alot of natural resonance too so it's hard to discern which pedal is pressed or not.
Saxophone feel a bit thin and compressed in center stage, but it's transparent and well layered.
We can say the Canon2 are female vocal specialist, but don't expect monitor level of imaging with them due to smoothen upper mids bite.

And now the treble might be very refined and well balanced with rest of spectrum but it's a bit dark and lean, it's not very sparkly nor very snappy. Again, very safe, too safe I would say and not enough extended. This isn't the kind of IEM that will reveal new micro details yet it's not lacking either.
Percussions are rarely snappy and stay in the back, the lead clang of attack is softed so it affect the pace readibility. With cymbals crash, we will hear more a soft splash that leading hit of it's release.
Same goes for acoustic guitar, it lack bite as well as lower harmonic for bodied presentation so it sound light and soft, not very lively and like with harp and clavichord, it lack long brilliant sparkle release for proper airyness of higher pitch note with metallic string.
In fact, i can't find which instrument benefit from this polite yet sometime gently bright treble, I would say violin which rarely need sparkle is one of well restitute instrument, its transparent, textured enough and can deal with fast phrasing well enough.
Anyway, these aren't for treble head. The treble is neutral mostly but smoothen in dangerous texture or attack spike.

The Soundstage feel open enough, it's average wide, not very tall and have good deepness that can be affect by bass resonance with bass boost.

Imaging is average due to softed definition sharpness, we dont have lot of clean space between instrument for accurate instrument tracking yet the sound layering is effortless and avoid muddy macro dynamic.


COMPARISONS



VS SOUNDRHYME SR7 (1DD+6BAs-380$)

SR7 is an hybrid with 2 switch too, again its mostly about bass boost but this time it can go legit basshead because the tuning is more V shape and mid bass boost more focused. Overall dynamic feel more W shape and lively, as well as more open and holographic than flatter Canon2.

The bass hit harder and have more brighten sub bass line, yet not as deep and warm rumble, it pack a rounder punch and kick drum isn't as recessed. Canon2 feel more mellow in punch even with extra bass boost, whole bass is darker and less textured, bass line have less presence texture and attack edge yet are thicker and more sustain in rumble vibrance.

The mids are more liquid and lean with Canon2, vocal jump more at you with SR7 and are a hint brighter in presence, definition of instrument is better articulate and the stage feel more open too, we have more upper mids bit too than smoother leaner Canon2. Mids are a hint thicker with SR7 too, especially with bass boost.

The treble is notably darker with Canon2, its evident that with 2 more BAs the SR7 extract more sound info and offer a better macro dynamic experience, percussions aren't half cooked like with Canon2 and sound layers are less homogeneous and lean. Yet, the balance is more refined and less prompt to fatigue with softer treble of Canon2, SR7 is mroe crunchy and excited in highs attack.

Soundstage is notably wider, deeper and taller with the SR7.

Imaging is superior with SR7 too, due to less darken delimitation of instrument definition and more open sound layering.

All in all, SR7 is bassier, punchier, more engaging in term of dynamic and for tonal balance, I do prefer the mid bass boost but it's less smooth and refined, less mature tuned than Canon2. Technical performance is superior in everything but upper treble attack control. Yet, we have treble excitment here at least.

VS HIDIZS MS5 (1DD+4BAs-400$)

We have slightly similar balance here, both of these are U shape but MS5 is brigther and has more scooped mid range yet a bit more mid bass punch.

The tonal balance is notably more wonky and less cohesive with MS5, we do feel the mix of different driver more and bass feel a bit detached with its clean boom, it's faster in attack, rounder, but a bit thinner in sub bass which is again thicker with Canon2, yet the separation isn't as good...or detached!

Mids are quite horrifious with the MS5 so in that regard Canon2 is a big step up, its lusher, smoother fuller sounding and has more note weight. Timbre is less dry, more natural, instrument and vocal has wider presence and female vocal are sumptuous compared to shouty dryish one of MS5.

Then the treble feel detached too, and more boxy with the MS5, it's more agressive in micro details and percussions are more upfront but their more unwanted resonance, its more splashy, less snappy than Canon2. Highs are more realist and full sounding, less spiky and distracting than rougher MS5.

Soundstage is similar in wideness and tallness, but deeper with MS5 due to more recessed center stage.

Imaging is more boosted in presence brightness with MS5 so it's easier to pin point instrument, yet it's not realistic at all and mess up with percussions positioning.

All in all, its evident Canon2 is notably superior in both tonal balance and technical performance....it can't even compete. Even if darker tuned.



CONCLUSION



The Yanyin Canon2 is a very refined sounding earphones with an multi persona richness that can go from neutral to bassy and warm U shape.

Canon2 is safely tuned, offer a smooth laidback musicality that will appeal both fan of pop and instrumental due to good macro resolution that feel effortless. It's not an IEM that offer audacious and energic musicality that can benefit more agressive music genre likie rock or Drum&Bass, but it's one of those IEM you can get lost in for hours without feeling fatigued too.

While i would not suggest those to treble head or hard mid bass punch seeker, i feel the Canon2 is the solution for the fan of Harman target that find vocal and upper mids to loud with offering from the like of Moondrop.


This is the very first IEM I test from YanYin and I certainly feel it's a chifi company that worth to be follow, the tuning cohesion is very impressive for such an hybrid.

If you seek for a ''Jack of all trade, master of none'' IEM that captivate in the long run, Canon2 sure worth the bet.

Recommended!








----------------------------------------

PS: I want to thanks YanYin for sending me this review sample. As always, i'm not affiliated with any distributor or audio companies and those are my 100% honest subjective audio impressions.

You can order the Canon2 for 380$ here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/yanyin-canon-ii

I’m so used to reviewing IEMs from the bigger audio brands that a lot of the smaller brands and their hidden gems fly right past me. While I’ve never heard of Yanyin before, they seem to have a few mid range IEMs out in the market. I was offered to check out a demo unit of the Yanyin Canon II for a bit so I jumped on the offer. The Canon II is a 4 BA and 1 DD hybrid IEM coming in at $379.00.

Quick shoutout to @Joe Bloggs for sending a unit out to check out and review. While I always appreciate the chance to test and review products sent in from manufacturers or dealers, it never affects the rating of my reviews.

The Yanyin Canon II can be pickup below:
https://www.linsoul.com/products/yanyin-canon-ii?_pos=1&_psq=yanyin+can&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Onto the review of the Yanyin Canon II! My personal preference is a hybrid/tribrid IEM where I get good hitting bass and have a detailed treble with decent mids. When it comes to an over ear headphone I prefer a spacious sound with a deep low end, the mids to be more forward and the highs to be a little bright with some sparkle. I listen to a lot of genres but I hover in the classic rock, blues and edm music with some rap here and there.

Gear Used​

IPhone 14 Pro Max with headphone adapter, Hiby R6 PRO II, Moondrop Moonriver 2 Ti, Moondrop Blessing 3, Dunu SA6 MKII, Eversolo DAC-Z7/SMSL SP400 desktop stack.

Looks and fit​

The shell reminds me of some of the older THIEAUDIO shells but only becuase it uses the same looking vent that is color coded red and blue. The shell is lightweight and fits my ears pretty well. The shell has the switches on the back which are flush with the body so I never had the switches touching my ears while wearing them. The faceplate is a green-ish color on my unit with sparkles in the faceplate. The design will be subjective but I’m not a fan of the faceplate design at all. I would prefer no sparkles and a different color over the green-yellow color I see in my unit. Minus the complaint about the faceplate, it looks and feels good enough that I would still daily this IEM.

Isolation and sound leakage​

The passive isolation isn’t bad for being a vented hybrid IEM. It is slightly above average in isolation vs other hybrids. The sound leakage isn’t terrible either. It will still leak a decent amount of sound so lower volumes will be required if you don’t want to annoy anyone in a quiet area.

Packaging and accessories​

Inside the box they have the manuals/warranty card, some ear tips and finally, the nice leather like case with the IEMs and cable inside. I would prefer a smaller box to make better use of the room but overall, a basic set of accessories. I do really like the leather-ish case they include.

Sound(overall)​

These final impressions were done off the Eversolo DAC-Z8 connected to the SMSL SP400. These impressions are what the Canon II sounded like to my ears. This was also using the new soon to be released Spinfit OMNI tips. Things like ear tip selection and DAC/amp selection will produce different results and impressions vs what my ears hear on my specific gear.

The Canon II with my preferred tips sounds like it's a darker tuned IEM. I would call it more of a neutral-warm-ish IEM but it has a darker background signature overall. Meaning it has a deeper bass but doesn’t suffer the normal warm bass sound and instead has a strong bass presence that is fast and doesn’t linger around more than needed. The Sub-bass performance is strong and quick sounding. Decay is short so it has good impact and slam but it sounds tight and strong. The mid bass is about average in weight but again sounds quick and gives off a strong bass presence without the warmth or slight bloat one might hear on warmer sounding IEMs. The mids are pretty accurate and instruments sound more natural than sharp and clinical. The vocals sound more natural but do have a little sense of bassy tone at the end of tones. This definitely adds to the darker tuning overall. The vocals never get sibilant either so it has a good balance here. The upper-mids don’t sound boosted and I would call them more neutral sounding so the upper-mids sound super enjoyable with almost all the tracks I tested with. The treble also sounds fairly neutral and matched to the upper mids so this makes for an enjoyable upper end of the frequency response. The treble is surprisingly detailed and sounds sharp and with a short decay so I was surprised initially. After a few weeks of listening, I would say this pulls in details really well for its price. It however doesn’t sound very bright so those looking for a more splashy and intense treble might want to look elsewhere.

As for the bass switch on the shells. There are a total of three tuning options via the switches. I went from the standard to the next level of bass and it was a little too strong for my tastes. Not bad but I can see this being a basshead IEM with the highest bass setting. I would personally leave it on the stock setting.

Soundstage/Imaging​

The Canon II does staging about average and sounds more intimate. It however has a bigger sense of space within its soundstage. I’m gonna guess this is due to the darker tuning that has a little more bass presence. Imaging was accurate and I could pick out things easily in the Canon II’s stage.

Sensitivity/Drivability​

The Canon II is pretty easy to run powerwise. I had no issues powering it off any of the devices I used. It had no sensitivity issues at all with any of my balanced cables either. I didn’t feel it scaled much either on higher end gear so any dongles in the $50-$200 range will be more than enough for this unit.

Stock cable​

The stock cable is a silver plated cable with a good looking weave and texture. The cable furniture all has an industrial silver metal with texture for easy grip. It doesn’t tangle much and looks like a good stock cable. Just nothing fancy going on here and that’s fine. I would leave the cable as is unless you get it in 3.5mm and decide later you want a balanced cable.

IEM comparisons​

Moondrop Blessing 3​

The B3 does come in $60 less than the Canon II but I still wanted to compare the two regardless. The B3 has a decent sub-bass performance but lacks some mid-bass power so it can sound lean compared to the Canon II which has a better balance in the bass . The Canon II does however have a darker overall tuning so it sounds way better in the bass department. Both IEMs do well in mids and vocals with the B3 sounding a little more artificial in the vocals over the Canon II. The upper mids sound more sibilant on the B3 over the Canon II but both are at under the sibilance line compared to other IEMs I’ve used. The treble is stronger on the B3 but both pull in really good details. The bigger difference is that the B3 is lean sounding and bright and the Canon II is dark sounding and neutral. The Canon II sounds more lively and interesting over the B3 on pretty much any track I listen to. The B3 has a slightly wider soundstage but I do prefer the more intimate and darker tuning of the Canon II which gives it’s staging a sense of more space.

DUNU SA6 MKII​

The DUNU SA6 MKII is a neutral-warm IEM and it costs $200 more than the Canon II. I think both have good bass performance but I do like the darker tuning of the Canon II. The mids are neutral on both and the vocals both sound more life-like and realistic on both. The upper mids and treble is where the two start to sound different. The Canon II has a little more energy in the upper mids and treble but it sounds like little spikes of energy and both still sound neutral to my ears. The SA6 MKII sounds like it lacks a little sharpness than the Canon II but it does sound a little more detailed than the Canon II. Both do soundstage pretty well but the darker sounding Canon II does feel like it has more space in its average staging vs the average staging of the SA6 MKII. Both great but neither is a clear winner and I would use both for different situations.

Amping Combinations​

Moondrop MoonRiver 2 Ti​

The MR2 Ti has been one of my favorite dongles as of late and I’ve been using it more often at work with my Macbook Pro. The neutral-warm sound signature of the MR2 Ti works really well with the Canon II. It was probably my favorite pairing and added a little extra warmth to the Canon II tuning. This in combination with the good detail retrieval of the MR2 Ti makes for a good listening experience with all the tracks I listened to. A wonderful pairing.

Eversolo DAC-Z8/SMSL SP400​

This desktop combo is what I use to review all my current audio gear with. I didn’t find the Canon II really scales past something like the Moondrop dongle I mentioned earlier. It did sound the best on my review desktop stack but then again, this stack gives the best results in terms of sounding neutral yet dynamic. It really does seem to bring out the best of any IEMs/Headphones without adding unwanted color to the sound. It won’t hurt to use a nice desktop unit or high end DAP for the Canon II but I find it nice that you can get a good amount of performance out of the Canon II without having to spend the same amount or more on source gear for this IEM.

Overall thoughts​

Well! I’m a fan of the darker sounding Canon II. I wasn’t sure what to expect since this was my first time listening to an IEM from this brand. My first impressions are pretty positive and I’m interested in checking out their products going forward. The Yanyin Canon II is a nice diamond in the rough that is the Chi-Fi IEM market. The Canon II gets a full recommendation! I really liked the dark tuning and it doesn’t seem to really fail at anything which is a win in my book. Great job to the team at Yanyin and I look forward to what’s next! Thanks for reading!!!

Disclaimer

• Huge thanks to Yanyin for providing the opportunity for me to review the Yanyin Canon II via a tour. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.

Price(MSRP)

• $379.00

Source(s)

• Jcally JM6 Pro
• Truthear Shio
• FiiO KA13

Ear tips

• Dunu S&S

Packaging

• IEM.
  • Attached to 1 pair of generic silicone ear tips (M sized)
• Hard case.
  • Leather-ish texture.
• 3 pairs of genetic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
• Switch toggle pin
• 4-strand graphene single crystal copper silver-plated Cable
  • Very premium and comfortable cable
  • Tangles a little bit from time to time.

Build Quality

• Resin shell, quite lightweight and solidly built

Fit

• Nozzle has average width but slightly shorter than average.
• Fit is quite comfortable for me, but it is quite large and bulky.
• Had no issues with the ear hooks of the stock cable as well, really comfy.

Tonality

• Very mild V shaped, close to neutral with bass boost
• For the switches, the changes are very subtle, but they do still make a difference in my listening experience, more as a fine tuning option.
• The changes are mainly in the bass region. (U = Up, D = Down)
  • UU - Most amount of sub bass and mid bass, makes the bass sounds quite boomy and smeared the midrange a little bit.
  • UD/DU - Middle between the UU and DD configuration, perfect if you find UU configuration a little boomy or thick but DD configuration too clean.
  • DD - Noticeably less boomy from UU configuration , but there is still a tiny bit of it. Midrange is also significantly cleaner and less smeared by the mid bass.
• The review below will be based on the DD configuration.

Bass

• Adequate amount of sub bass, but mid bass is somewhat more prominent than the sub bass.
• Sub bass rumble is present and goes sufficiently deep but nothing too impressive.
• Mid bass has good slam, impact, body, and really good texture.
• Overall, it is very satisfying, and I really enjoy them. Really sounds different compared to a lot of other IEMs I have tried, credits to the biological dynamic driver.
• However, the bass can get a little boomy sometimes, and it is more noticeable especially in the UU config. I also hope that the bass can be a touch tighter and faster.
• Quantity is sufficient to be fun and engaging enough but definitely not enough for bass heads.

Midrange

• Midrange has that touch of warmth to make it sound decently natural, while maintaining good clarity and cleanliness. Also slightly recessed.
• Male vocals performs quite well, decently lush with good forwardness to it. Has enough body to not sound too thin but not overly hefty to the point where they sound muddy.
• Female vocals takes a more relaxing position, being pushed off a little more compared to male vocals.
  • While it sounds pleasing and smooth for the most part, I noticed some unevenness in the extension and the last notes of female vocals, which somewhat annoys me.
  • This is especially noticeable for energetic female vocals with a higher pitch.
• Instruments and overall midrange is natural enough for a hybrid, no hints of metallic BA timbre throughout except the weird upper midrange and lower treble which sounds unnatural to me.
• Note weight and density is more on the neutral side which doesn't come off as overly thin or hefty, maybe a hint of thinness on the upper midrange but that's about it.

Treble

• Treble is on the relaxed side, barely enough sparkle to not sound dull but treble heads definitely wants more.
• Lower treble which extends from the upper midrange sounds somewhat gritty to my ears, but get smoother as it progresses to mid treble and upper treble.
• Other than the uneven lower treble, everything else sounds quite smooth.
• Extension is excellent, it is very well extended up to the upper treble and sounds very airy.
• Details are present and can be perceived easily, and they don't sound too forced in your face.

Technicalities

Resolution

• Resolution and detail retrieval is really good, considering that the details are not overly emphasized or highlighted.
• I'm not sure if it competes with the most detailed IEMs of this range like the Blessing 3 as I don't personally own something within this range, but from my previous short experience with Blessing 3, I think it does holds up fairly well.

Soundstage

• Soundstage is quite spacious and wide with decent depth and height, nothing overly impressive but not too bad either.

Imaging

• Imaging and accuracy is average, I can track most positions roughly but can't pinpoint the most precise locations and placements of everything.

Separation

• Separation and layering is good.
• Instruments and vocals have a really clean separation among each other, which is expected of a hybrid of this caliber.

Conclusion

• As a conclusion, I think the Yanyin Canon II is a pretty safe and well balanced IEM with competent technical capabilities which competes fairly well against competitors in this price bracket.
• However, the upper midrange to lower treble transition is just weird and uneven from my own personal listening experience, which makes energetic female vocals sound a little gritty.
  • I prefer a slightly more energetic and smoother transition
  • It might not be a deal breaker for some, but it is for me.
• Personally, I still prefer the OG Canon, which sounds more natural, engaging and exciting to my ears. The female vocals on the Canon II is just not doing enough for me, but other fields such as technicalities and venting is definitely a step up from the original.
  • I did not write a detailed comparison as I don't personally own the OG Canon, but I have tried it multiple times from my friend.
  • However, your preference may vary. I personally prefer a smother and slightly more energetic approach for female vocalist.

　









Thanks for reading!

Yanyin Canon II Review​

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Yanyin Canon II Review​

“The Worthy Successor”​

Intro​

It’s my pleasure to introduce you all to one of Yanyin Audio‘s latest hybrid iems, the Yanyin Canon II. The Canon II is actually the successor to the very popular Yanyin Canon “OG”. This of course is my full written review of the Canon II which came to me straight from the good people of Yanyin, coordinated by Joseph Yueng. I have been a fan for quite some time of the original Yanyin Canon. I’ve spent a multitude of hours with them in my ears and have enjoyed every minute of it. During my time with the OG Canon, I never actually reviewed them due to scheduling constraints, but I’ve casually loved the sound and so I was very pleased to learn I was going to be able to audition this newer model.

Yanyin​

Established in 2020 Yanyin Technology is a relatively new audio brand but by the atmosphere surrounding their releases it would seem that they’ve been around for a decade. Developed from a foundry studio since as far back as 2012 the Yanyin company hit the ground running since their conception. Specializing in research & development from “experienced earphone production masters” with years of production experience. This is one audio brand who seem to hit the nail on the head with everything they do as this can be evidenced by some of the more popular recent releases over the course of the last year or two. We have the of Yanyin Aladdin, Yanyin Canon, Yanyin Rosemary, Yanyin Moonlight, Yanyin X-HBB Mahina, Yanyin Moonlight Ultra as well as the set I’m reviewing today, the Yanyin Canon II. Each set has been very well received in the Audio community and each set leaves its own distinct mark on the hobby. I’d say Yanyin is doing pretty well friends.

Like I said, the OG Canon is still one of my favorite sets in the price point and I will try to answer whether the newer set is an actual upgrade, side grade, or dare I say a… downgrade. I’d also like to get a handle on whether the Canon II can stand amongst some of the best in the price point. I will try to explain this set the best I can and even throw in a comparison or three. With all that said, let’s dive in, this’ll be a fun one…the Yanyin Canon II!

Gear used for testing​

–Ifi Go Blu

–Moondrop Dawn 4.4

–Hidizs S9 Pro

–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2

–Shanling M6 Ultra

Packaging / Accessories ​

Unboxing​

The Canon II arrived at my door in a fairly large rectangular box with pretty cool polygonal lines on the front and… Okay I won’t bore you anymore with that. The box is nice. Inside the box you will first see a sheet of paper with instructions (in Chinese) of the usage of the dipswitches. Under that is a box sitting in a foam cutout. Inside that box you’ll find the faux-leather case. Inside the case is the cable with the beautiful Canon II earphones pre-attached. Next to the black box you’ll find a small plastic case which holds the eartips. You also receive a dip-switch tool for operating your switches. So, it’s not the most impressive unboxing I’ve ever seen but also, it’s just an unboxing. Who cares right? Yanyin provides the essentials, and those essentials are more than decent.

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Eartips​

Do you remember when I said that the accessories that mattered were “more than decent”? Well, I may have forgotten one part of that. Possibly the eartips are a bit meager for such an expensive set of earphones. Folks this is a $379 pair of iems and for that it should probably be expected to get a vast number of eartips to suit one’s needs.

The included eartips are some semi-wide bore gray eartips which honestly are very nice. Yanyin provides four pairs in total (S, M, M, L). I actually used the large sized set for a bit. However, as I began tip-rolling I found at least four sets of tips worked very well for me. The JVC Spiral Dots EPFX10 eartips, the KBear 07, the Final Audio E-Tips and the Divinis Velvet tips. In my opinion, all four of those will work nicely with the Canon II. With all that said, the included tips are very much similar to KBear 07 tips which are some of the best in the game on a budget and they do fit the Canon II’s tuning very well. I have no issue with the tips included as they are very nice, but I always like to give some other options as well. I kept going back and forth between the four sets that I mentioned above, but the majority of my listening was done using either the Final E-tips or the Divinis Velvet tips.

Carrying Case ​

The included case is a tan colored case with a magnetic clasp that opens and closes with a nice smack of magnetism. Man, I wish I used cases more because I hate to see such a beautifully made case go to waste. Yanyin provides a very nicely crafted case that is perfectly suitable for an expensive set of earphones like the Canon II. The faux leather feels very much like actual leather and the microfiber soft inside is really well stitched in there to keep your earphones scratch free and safe. I find that there is just enough room for the earphones and cable along with maybe some extra tips inside. The case is a very nice accessory that should get plenty of use from many hobbyists.

Cable​

The cable is the exact same cable given with the original Canon which… I can’t complain about it because I think that cable is awesome. Though Yanyin does specify that it is an upgraded cable, I can’t tell the difference. Anyways, I love the thickness, the look with that glossy metallic white is perfect against the colorful Canon II’s and the braiding is dope. It’s just an awesome looking cable that I’d love to buy a few more of. Yanyin provided me with the 3.5 single ended version but luckily, I had the 2.5 balanced version with my original, so I am using that one primarily.

The cable itself is a gloss metallic white with a sheen to the insulation covering that I think makes the Canon II POP! It is made out of high-purity single crystal copper and a high-quality silver plating. You can order the Canon II with either a 3.5, 2.5, or 4.4 connections. I see no reason to swap cables, this one is perfect friends though at times I do like to throw on the Dunu Hulk Pro cable because it looks absolutely bonkers cool with this set. However, for the most part the included cable is perfect… Nice job Yanyin!

Build / Design / Internals / Fit / ​

Build Quality ​

Once again Yanyin nails the build with a nicely durable and stout feeling all resin shell. Yanyin promotional advertising states that the shells are fully crafted out of 100% medical grade resin. Of course, you can get all resin shells at much cheaper prices anymore, so this is not unheard of. However, there is something which sets the Canon II apart in the overall feel when they are in hand. I can’t quite explain how something can “feel” durable but nevertheless, this is the case. There is a premium quality to the OG Canon as well as the newer Canon II that is unmistakably robust. The Canon II evokes a level of pedigree that isn’t easy to put into words. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that the Canon II looks absolutely beautiful. You’ll see two dip-switches on the back side of the Shells as well, but I’ll get into that later. Nevertheless, I cannot say anything bad about the build at all. They are also lightweight, ergonomically and strategically crafted to seat well inside of most human ears. One thing to note is that Yanyin did add in a front vent to help with driver flex which some had complained about in the first Canon. Just very well done.

Stunning New Looks Galaxy-Like Hand-Crafted Face Covers:-
Yanyin Canon II features premium medical-grade resin material ear shells. The shells feature stunning designs with a galaxy-like starry pattern on the beautiful hand-crafted face covers. With glittery looks and a comfortable design, the Yanyin Canon II is an amazing pair of IEMs!!
Yanyin Promotional​

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Internals ​

Just like the previous Canon, the latest revision and iteration is also a five driver Hybrid setup as well. That is, one “upgraded” Dynamic Driver and four Balanced Armature Drivers. To be more specific, the Dynamic Driver is a 10mm Driver with Bio-Cellulose Diaphragm in a dual-chamber setup (the DD has its own chamber) with four “individual” Balanced Armature Drivers. There aren’t any twin BAs in this iteration of the Canon which is nice to see. Two BA’s handle the mid to high areas of the mix while the other two are dedicated to the high-highs. There isn’t really any info on the BA’s that I can find other than “high performance Balanced Armatures”. However, they are fantastically tuned, but I’ll get into that later. There is also a three-way crossover circuit board as well as three-way acoustic tubing which really dialed in the frequency range with obvious bandwidth improvement and range from the first Canon.

It is pretty obvious upon first listen that Yanyin truly did seek out to make an upgrade and not just a “money-grab-side-grade” when implementing and tuning the Canon II. This is less common than I’d like to admit, almost to the point of me calling it a rarity. For as good as the OG is (and it is damn good) the latest Canon seems outfitted with a more cohesive and expressive driver configuration which has been dialed in to more pinpoint areas of the frequency. Not to take anything away from the OG Canon because I still adore that set but this is a different flavor, and the Internals have a lot to do with that.

Five-Driver Hybrid Goodness:-
In order to ensure top-quality sound performance, Yanyin has featured five driver hybrid setup on the Canon II. The pair houses four high-performance balanced armature drivers for unmatched resolution and clarity. The 4 BA drivers are combined with a customized Dynamic Driver unit with a third-generation biological diaphragm and dual-chamber spatial design!!
Precisely Designed Frequency Crossover:-
Yanyin has carefully adjusted the tuning and driver arrangement using precise frequency crossover. The DD unit produces a powerful lower-end response delivering enhanced tight bass with a deep-diving response. Two BA Drivers are here for mid to high-frequency response and another two for a detailed high-frequency response. The overall tuning of the pair is highly coherent promising high-resolution clarity and dynamics.
Yanyin Promotional​

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Dip switches​

Yanyin made a change in the dip-switches from the previous Canon in a couple ways. First, they deleted one of the switches from “three”, down to “two” switches, which I completely agree with. Honestly, unless there is a large enough change in sound then there’s no need to add a million switches. They just become more cumbersome and not really worth the novelty of having them. Two is great. Also, these newer switches solely operate & affect the low-end, in the “up” position by adding dBs to the low-end. I was given some pamphlet piece of cardboard which visually shows each switch orientation setting. But… the explanation of what the picture shows was written entirely in Chinese… which I can’t read. Oh well, it was easy enough to figure out. Anyways, Yanyin states that you can get four tunings in total depending on the switch orientation. However, I’d argue that “UD” and “DU” are the exact same sound and not much of a difference at all. In all reality there is three different tunings and there is most certainly a difference between them. It doesn’t sound like three different earphones in one, but it does sound like three variations of one tuning.

What do the switches do?​

I’m not going into a huge spiel about each switch orientation, but I’ll simply say that all switches down you’ll hear less bass and a more mid-friendly sound, a little bit of a neutral hue. One switch up adds a little bit of low-end thump (my preference) which sounds more like mid-bass inflation. Also, this is the orientation that I conducted my review of the Canon II. Now, pluck both switches up and you’ll get a bit more low-end beef. The bass gets a bit more energetic, fuller and… well… Bassier. I for one can listen with both up and I can be perfectly content. The bass still somehow doesn’t overshadow the mix to any great degree. However, for my style of casual and critical auditory joy I am all about the first switch up and second down. Just enough warmth and plumpness to go with instrumentation, voices, bass guitar fullness and those sweet bass drops. There is a reason they called this set “Canon”. Of course, I think it has nothing to do with the bass, just a happy coincidence I suppose. The Canon can truly be a… Canon.

Four Sound Tunings With Dual Tuning Switches:-
Yanyin has designed the Canon II with two independently controllable low-frequency switches. They allow the user to adjust the output to their liking and preference. Two tuning switches ensure four output tunings with the set.
Yanyin Promotional​

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Fit​

The fit is lovely. Truly. Of course, I’m talking about the fit in my ears. I actually have zero clue how this set will fit your ears. To me they fit like a perfect glove, and I don’t get any driver flex, they aren’t heavy, they don’t have sealing issues and the Canon has very good noise isolation. One thing which does help is the slightly longer nozzle. Just past medium length (if that means anything to you). Clearly this will change from person to person, but I honestly find this set to have a nicely ergonomic shape that I have to imagine will fit most folks in the hobby.

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Drivability​

The Canon II is actually a pretty easy set to drive. Rated at 27-40 ohms (depending on dip-switch orientation) and a sensitivity of 112 db’s the Canon II can be driven off of almost anything with a 3.5, 2.5, or 4.4 female port. Now, this doesn’t mean that these lil baddies won’t scale with more power or to the audible sonic ability of your source. Quite the contrary. I actually found Yanyin’s latest Canon to thrive with more juice and really plays to the fidelity of the gear I’m using.

Mobile Listening​

Listening with the IFi Go Blu (CS43131 dac chip) from the 4.4 balanced side, the Go Blu has a ton of power and the Canon II sounds positively dreamy with this setup. I wouldn’t have thought that too. The Go Blu is slightly on the warmer side and so is the Canon II, so I thought they would possibly be a double-negative of warmth. Well, it turns out the Go Blu is a great mobile source for the Canon II. Just as well when I took the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 (same CS43131 dac chip) which is actually much cleaner sounding, more punchy, more neutral, and also a ton of power for a mobile setup. These two are wonderful paired together. The Canon II was able to melt right into both source tonalities and come across beautifully with each. The same cannot be said about the OG which I do prefer with a more neutral setup. The Hidizs S9 Pro… same deal. The Canon II swoops in and blends in like they were meant to be.

Daps​

I don’t have a desktop setup anymore, mainly because I don’t enjoy listening that way. So, I look towards DAPs to get me a more powerful look at how my music will sound through earphones which are tested a bit more. I’ll spare you the wait, both sounds fantastic. Using the iBasso DX240 (ES9038PRO dac chip) with its more neutral but crazy resolving sound and punchy delivery, like a Dawn 4.4 on steroids sounds amazing. However, my absolute favorite way to enjoy my jams through the Canon II is with my favorite Dap under $1,000…the Shanling M6 Ultra (AK4493SEQ dac chip) The M6 Ultra takes the sound of the Canon II and simply elevates it. Using medium gain the Canon II comes across rich and clean with a resolute coloration that may be one of the funnest technically savvy playbacks I’ve heard in a long time.

In the end​

When all is said and done, you’ll be good with most anything you have. The Canon somehow has this innate ability to hone into any source sound and make it better. That is of course if you enjoy the sound signature. I for one really enjoy it so I’ve been very happy with all of my pairings. I truly didn’t expect this, but the Canon II is somewhat of a chameleon friends.

Sound Impressions ​

Now we get to the heart of the review. Probably what you all came here for. The Canon II generally has a warmish/neutral tonal coloration with a warmer lower half and clinging closer to neutrality as you rise through the frequency. Of course, this isn’t always the case but “generally” this is what I hear. If I were to try to categorize the sound signature, I would probably say it’s a slightly warm U-shape or a very slight V-shape. I would call the overall note body as lean-lush as it’s dense enough but also with a tightly condensed note structure. The Canon II also has fantastic coherency of Drivers as well folks. The sound comes across as very vivid and rich across the board with an expressive display of macro-dynamics for the price point. You won’t hear any undue sibilance or any annoying glare from odd peaks on the Canon II. What you will get is a highly resolving and intricate sound that’s pregnant in fullness, dynamism and lathered in warm emotionally charged auditory precision.

Quick look between the 20’s​

I provide this section for a quick look into the sound. A little snippet if you will. The Canon II obviously has an emphasized low-end which can be even more emphasized with both switches up. That said, the lows are very clean, beefy, with a heavy punch, capped with a tight enough attack & decay per the quantity. The midrange is also clean and has no veil whatsoever. The mids replay vocals of both males and females with great note weight and keeps great musicality while holding onto the finer details in music. The treble region is lifted just enough to allow some levity to the mix and just enough to “up” the resolution of the mix as well. The stage is large, imaging is spot-on, and details are easy to come by. Which is not always the case with a colored sound. Coherency is great across the frequency as well and to be honest I’m having a hard time coming up with Cons here people. Other than for those who simply don’t like this type of sound.

Bass Region ​

Starting off with the bass, I hesitate to call it the star of the show, but kinda feel like I have to. Even if there isn’t any truth to it. I could very easily say the midrange is as well. It truly is a very nicely tuned bass region for a dynamic and fun sound-sig. I almost liken it to the Hiby Zeta (Zeta Review HERE) as the bass region is plump and deep yet also is well defined, not one noted, and it can be a bruiser. You have that thick and weighted center of gravity down low with the emphasis sounding like it peaks in the mid-bass… without taking anything away from the sub-bass. Truly and honestly, if you like an emphasized and boomy type low-end but also crave that clean, wet, and definitive bass display then look no further. One of the best, if not “thee best” low-end replays within the price point for me folks. I’d say “hands-down” but I want to retain some decorum. Eh, who am I kidding, I lost that a long time ago. The low end jams! This is a bass that is not overbearing and achieves this with its note definition and succinct note delivery.

Sub-bass​

The sub-bass palpably reverberates that densely deep extension that so much of my library caters to. You can flat-out feel the gurgling grunge and the bulbous dirty resonance from the track “Heavy is the Ocean” from Bush. The song begins rumbling right away and slowly builds momentum until the Hook. Please trust… the Canon II is at home here. Also understand that this isn’t a sub-bass that overshadows anything else either. At least “per what it is”. This is a sub-bass that takes what it’s given and roars it back at you with a mostly concise compactness. There is tactility that’s served with a haptic vibration which stays tight to the fundamental note with good harmonics. Certainly, meant for fun and certainly made to dig pretty deep. That said, the Canon II has a speedy enough sub-bass that it still maintains its macro details with a nicely carved out delineation from the mid-bass. The sub-bass is speedy as well and can take on quicker tracks with relative ease. Also, the sub-bass isn’t over saturated either.

Good clean fun!​

Or listen to “Paradigm” by The Head and Heart. Listen as the deep and guttural sub-bass tightly rattles as the Canon II still maintains control while clearly displaying the lead vocalist. There isn’t any smearing or any mud, and there definitely isn’t any over-saturation in this area of the mix. The song plays as it’s supposed to, and the recording is good which helps a lot. Also “Home Sweet Highway” by Ashley Mcbryde is another track out of hundreds in my “low-end” Playlist. I had a star next to my notes for the bass on this track as it has a great feel to it. What I noted was the rubbery ductility of the bass as it comes and goes in concert with the cleanliness of the bassline contrasted next to the other instrumentation. It’s just good ole’ clean fun folks.

Mid-bass​

The mid-bass has an uncanny ability to boom and then get out of the way. It can detonate and leave the room clean as a whistle. Friends, the Canon II is playing a different game. I don’t want to oversell as there will most definitely be those who want less of an emphasis. Or more. Shoot, some may not enjoy this bass at all. These are MY THOUGHTS. Also, I wouldn’t outright call this “basshead”. I wouldn’t do that. This is more like “Bass-hifi”. “Humble Beginnings” by Bazzi has that hard edged and crystalline note outline when the bass drops. There isn’t a hint of fuzz or pillowy behavior here. This is… “mass x concrete x beef ÷ detail = YC2. It’s clean, seemingly speckless, untainted by the usual haze of a bigger bass section while employing a rigid and swift attack / decay / sustain in relation to the emphasis. Not overly quick either as the Canon II still maintains that nicely atmospheric DD type timbre.

Bass guitar is edgy and a plump replaying a gravelly sound on most any track I play on them. Songs like “John Wayne” by Whiskey Myers. You have those dirty and quick successive bass guitar riffs that set the pace and tone for the song. On the Canon II they come across as robust surges of bass energy without losing its timbral integrity. It’s just a very fun sound folks, and that fun holds onto its technical verity and exactness very well for a robust bass. I don’t want to put forth that this is just a bass dominant sound either because it isn’t. It’s simply good bass.

Mid-bass cont…​

Take “Billie Jean” (MJ remake) by Weezer. This track is perfect for really dialing in the sound of a single booming kick drum. You can hear the fabric or the density of the note edge, the robustness or the hollowness of a single boom and that is followed directly by a powerful snare. This progresses just as you remember on the MJ original version yet with more power and dynamism. On the Canon II the sound has this effortless hollow boom that carries swift but absolute authority. It has a tacky leading edge to crest each note which when added together (hollow boom/tacky note edge) is very satisfying. The kick drum is very well isolated and localized. This of course is tailed by the snappy deep “pang” of the snare. Of course, I get this sound on many sets as many sets can do it well, but I have to hand it to Yanyin because the Canon II makes me want to listen to it over and over again.

Downsides to the bass region​

With everything in audio there are always issues or downsides to everything. When trying to come up with those faults in my critical listening I came up with some subjective gripes which some people may or may not have. First off, the bass is bigger. Not basshead sized (at least with the 1st switch up) but big. I know so many people who like that ultra tight (BA, Planar, tight DD), fast decay, zero sustain, tight release and intricately kempt bass… I get it. Also, not everyone is a fan of genres which cater to a bigger bass section which ultimately means that a big low-end is just a nuisance. Also, if I were to pinpoint any issue, I could say that the bass is more colored than it is timbre accurate. Granted, it sounds fantastic, but it isn’t without obvious coloration. With that said, this is a very clean low-end guys and gals. Very well done and I’m very impressed.

Midrange​

The other “Star of the show”… Maybe. The midrange is mostly a lush representation of my musical library, which actually probably sounds closer to natural than not. I call this lean-lush (density without being too bulbous) and liken it to lean muscle mass. Human voices have some heft to them with this set, some soundwave mass and texture. Instruments are the same. I think you need a tad bit of warmth to sound natural which means a little bit of color sounds about right to me. I have zero idea where people got that a neutral sound is a natural sound. For the most part, I’m not in that camp. Neutral definitely can sound very natural. You need some richness in any sound and the Canon II has an uncanny ability to come across 3Dish. There is presence all around midrange Instruments.

Also, I honestly don’t hear a severe recession folks. Really. The distance of the midrange is about right to me. The midrange is forward just enough to sound highlighted and focused. It doesn’t sound distant to me. Vocals in front, Instruments slightly further back, spread out, cymbals out wide (generally). The midrange has air to it while remaining lean-lush with a nicely wide stage for the midrange to work in. Best of all, the Canon II is musical to its core and a perfect set to enjoy many different genres and the midrange perfectly exemplifies this.

Lower-midrange​

The lower mids are generally where I attribute male vocals to, even though this obviously isn’t always the case. Still, males have great note body with just enough warmth, but also just enough crispness to have good note definition. You’ll find most instruments sound fantastic too. The realistic note body goes a long way and the high level of resolution in the sound is the icing on the cake… Game over. However, as far as male vocals are concerned, tracks like “Sand in My Boots” by Morgan Wallen is a perfect example of this 3D-like note presence. The actual structure of Morgan’s southern drawl has some note body friends! There’s nice layering in this track and the instruments surrounding him too. Or the acoustic track “Everything” by Ben Howard. His voice is presented very forward, intimate and very clean too. Males really sound great with the Canon II.

Upper-Midrange​

Female vocals on the Canon II have won my heart. There is this well-defined shimmer for female vocalists and can come across nicely to my ears. Again, note weight is there, it’s broad enough, soft when it needs to be soft, rich when it needs to be rich, but also there is a levity to a woman’s voice. Also, you have this airy separation in this region as I don’t hear anything even close to cramped or congested. There is space to operate for voices and instruments. There’s also this organic flavor to the sound which isn’t just a product of the timbre, but also from the actual structure & clarity within a note. “Who Are You Dreaming Of” by Rhiannon Giddens honestly sounds like the Canon II is putting on a clinic. Her voice is so very well-articulated and has an awesome presence in the mix. Honestly, I could go on and on like this over females on the Canon II.

“How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding is pretty special listening with the Canon II as well. She has this knack at making the softer and svelte in her voice also powerful somehow and not every set capture this very well. Don’t get me wrong she sounds great on most any set but an earphone like the Canon II adds that last little bit of emotional glaze and catches every little modulation and inflexion in her vocals.

Instrumentation​

As far as instrumentation goes, I don’t find issue with almost any instruments that show up in my library listening with the Canon II. They have the body they need, the detail retrieval they need, the resolution they need, the separation and imaging are also afforded to instruments. Strings sound fantastic. “3 A.M.” by Gregory Alan Isakov begins with an acoustic guitar with melodic harmonics and great imaging next to Gregory’s voice. The pluck of the strings has that pointed “ping” with just enough sharpness to sound legit. Violin is lacking nothing to me. Depending on the recording of course. Percussion is all great. From kick drums, to snares, to timpani, to cymbals etc., they all have plenty of punch, pang, pap, and enough lift up top to make them exciting. Flute, trumpet, piano all seems to be very well laid out as well. Now I’m sure you can find some off the wall tracks that don’t sound perfect as a lot has to do with the actual recording (and the source) too, but generally the Canon II sounds great for instruments in the midrange.

Downsides to the midrange​

If I were to list some possible issues with the midrange, I would think that some folks may want a hair more of that detailed and airy dryness… for those who dig a more analytical sound. Some may want an actual “mid-centric” sound where vocals are the masterpiece, way out front and on a pedestal. The Canon II is pretty well balanced for a fun sound signature and the mids sound fantastic, but there are those sets that strategically emphasize the vocal ranges that obviously would outshine the Canon II. Obviously, there are also downsides to those types of sets as well. Some may want even more of a smooth and lush sound with even meatier note body too. I could see some who would think the Canon II would be better with more warmth, without question I can see this. Remember, these are my thoughts. Honestly, I don’t know how a person wouldn’t like this midrange but, it takes all kinds. That is what makes us amazing and also what makes this hobby amazing.

Treble Region ​

The treble has just the right amount of lift to come across just north of shy. Meaning, there is a nice amount of bite and levity to lift the whole of the spectrum as well as add some pep to the sound too. You need a little sheen with your lush. The treble region has an “almost safe” approach. Enough that I would call the treble non-offensive, it’s not at all risky or trying to push the limits. Now, does this make the treble bad? Absolutely not! The treble has a great transition from the mids with very nice coherency and enough of an etched out and clean note delivery to call the detail retrieval very good. The resolution up top is really fantastic as that is one area that Yanyin definitely improved with the Canon II. Also, you’ll notice good extension past 10k as the secondary harmonics of cymbal strikes don’t sound faded or tinsley or splashy at all. Listen to “Right Here, For Now” by Bakar and you’ll hear what I’m talking about in the very first seconds.

Listening to the song “Keel Over and Die” by Old Crow Medicine Show shows off the BAs within the Canon II’s ability to render a very fast paced treble melody. In fact, the Canon II doesn’t skip a beat. Nothing gets mashed up or blended. “Gerri Marie” by Durand Jones also shows off the abilities of the Canon II with its symphonic beginning and the very organic and full sound. Honestly, I have yet to hear a track and feel dissatisfied or disappointed in this set.

Nice Treble​

I should also make mention that if you bring both switches “down” the treble region gets an obvious bump and there is a little more brightness to the sound. Not so much that I’d call it forced resolution either. The Canon II is one set which employs drivers of the type and quality which can replay beautifully defined highs and doesn’t need special tuning tricks to pull it off. The treble has a nice bite and even some punch when needed. It all depends on what track you are listening to, but that should go without saying. The point is, Yanyin knows how to tune a very fun sound, a big sound, even bassy and still come across lifted, articulate and highly detailed. Truly a fantastic job Yanyin!

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Technicalities ​

Soundstage​

The Canon II stage size is one which fills the entirety of my mindscape. Very wide in width for the price point and full height with good depth. You have this big sound which stays true to the furthest reaches of the stage. Meaning, what you hear out wide comes through just as definite as what you hear towards the center. Again, depending on the track. This will always matter when referring to the soundstage. However, a track like “Hook” by Blues Traveler is one I use all the time to define a stage size because it is recorded so well. It’s wide and big and will tell you exactly how well your earphones etc. sound as far as the stage is concerned. The Canon II sounds very impressive for $379 in this respect.

Separation / Imaging ​

Separation of elements within an imaginary psycho-acoustically rendered stage come across very well delineated and clean. The Canon II has great resolution across the mix as well as that big stage I was talking about. You simply have space to operate and the cleanliness to make a defined note. You have the forward and backward depth to provide a glimpse of 3D sound which also greatly helps. Imaging follows suit perfectly. Really there hasn’t even been one track that I felt sounded bad in this regard. I think that hobbyists who enjoy picking apart musical arrangements will enjoy the Canon II.

Detail Retrieval ​

Let me first state that the Canon II was not tuned to be a detail marvel. This was simply not what this type of tuning usually provides. My interpretation of what Yanyin was going for was a definite improvement over its predecessor. That in turn means big macro-dynamics, lushness with that warm/neutral sound yet very resolving with an emphasized bass region. All of these attributes don’t usually translate to “good at details”. However, color me surprised because the Canon II does an admirable job of illuminating the minutiae within my music. There is very nice control over the whole of the frequency. I can list multiple tracks where I can hear the details just as well as many sets more known for such a thing. I almost feel that the Canon II is somewhat of an outlier in this way.

Expectations in check​

However, please understand that just because this set can bring out the finer subtleties in music you still have to consider bassier tracks. In bass heavy songs the Canon II will obviously not illuminate some of the minutia in other frequencies as good just because of the emphasis. This usually is not something that is an issue and also, who honestly cares about details in bassy jams. Also, you have to keep expectations in check as there is certainly iems within the price point which have better detail retrieval. Of course, those sets also offer a more dry and less musical approach. Translation, they’re more boring. The Canon II is a beast, but it’s a controlled beast.

Comparisons ​

Note: Understand, to keep this review under a certain number of words I have to speak in very general terms when comparing. I cannot dive deep into differences between any of these sets. Also, these comparisons are not a duel to the death. My main focus is to try to simply show differences but I’m not always successful at this. Still, sometimes it does turn out to be “ones better than the other”. I try to compare logical sets that I actually have at my disposal so they may not always make perfect sense.

Xenns Mangird Tea ($299)​

Oh Mangird Tea, how I’ve loved you. I have spent so much time with you that… OK this’ll get weird if I go any further. Folks the Mangird Tea OG is one of those sets that just hit all the sweet spots for me. It is another hybrid iem with 1DD and seven BA’s. It is a gorgeous iem that is just about at legend status in the hobby. I never got a chance to actually review them, but I have spent more time with the Tea than any other set I have. That said, there are certainly differences that are obvious between these two. In fact, they offer very distinctly different sounds. Really, they complement each other very well.

Differences
To begin, the Yanyin Canon II is the better looking iem, let’s just get that out of the way. Both are gorge, but I’d take the YC2 if I were picking a set soley for looks. Both are built about the same, all resin shell, yet the Canon II has the dip-switches. The Tea is a hint easier to drive and has the more neutral sound to the Canon II’s warmish/neutral tonal color. This is really a question of preference between the two and I’m simply comparing them for a reference. Both sets are very good in the price segment for their own reasons.

Bass Region ​

I’ll make this quick because these are very much different. Straight up the Canon II most certainly has the bigger bass across the board. The Tea isn’t without rumble as the sub-bass can dig moderately deep, but the mid-bass takes a quick slope and wide glide down, whereas the Canon II has a more pregnant bump in the mid-bass. The Canon II has much harder note density which I can actually feel, while the Tea has the more focused and detailed low-end. Canon II booms heavier, it’s more fun and aids in helping many instruments and voices to come across a bit thicker. The Canon II has much more slam and boom.

Midrange​

This is an area where the Tea kind of steals the show as the Tea is made for vocals in my opinion. Truly one of the best vocal sets you can get. However, the Canon II is simply wonderful in this area as well. Still, I’d take the Tea’s vocal delivery over the Canon II. They are silkier, more forward with just the right amount of velvety shimmer. Instruments like bass guitar, snares, even strings probably come across a bit better on the Canon II just because of the thicker body to the sound. Despite that the Tea simply has this special quality in the midrange to sound wonderfully euphoric and pleasant in my opinion. That said, the Canon II has a fantastic midrange with very pleasing vocals which when paired with the rest of the frequency it begins to show the Canon’s pedigree next to the Tea.

Treble Region ​

Between the two the Canon II has the more sprightly, energetic and lively treble. The Tea comes across smoother and milkier up top while still holding some shimmer. However, the Canon II is simply better in many regards here. It has the greater amount of controlled luster, shine, smoothness and bite, while the Tea is less animated and lively. Detail retrieval in the treble region goes to the Canon II.

Technicalities ​

Both sets offer a nice stage, but the Tea is a bit more intimate. This does not inherently make the Canon II better either. Just different. The Canon II has a wider stereo image with the midrange a hint further back in the mix. There is also a hint better depth in the Canon II’s replay but I’m splitting hairs. Both sets have a perfectly reasonable stage size that works very well for each set’s respective tuning styles. Separation is great in both as well as imaging, but I’d have to give the nod to the Canon II in these regards. The same goes for detail retrieval.

In the end​

Again, this was not supposed to come across as a “better or worse” battle. I wasn’t pitting one against the other here. I compared the two simply to give a glimpse of what the Canon II sounds like for those who have heard the Tea. Did I succeed? Maybe…maybe not? I will say this, I absolutely adore both sets. As far as the Tea is concerned, this is one set that if you can find one being sold second-hand somewhere you should really think about picking one up. Truly it is a special iem for special circumstances and a nice respite from the popular tuning styles. Still, I’m all about the Canon II at the moment and it simply does more for the money and is much more fun sounding. Yet at the same time it’s the more sophisticated and finely developed of the two…respectively.

Yanyin Canon (OG) ($349)​

Prior to the announcement of the latest Canon II, I would’ve said that hands-down the OG Yanyin Canon is most certainly one of the top three iems under $400. To be honest, it probably still is… For me. Anyways, the original Canon is also a five driver Hybrid consisting of one Dynamic Driver and four Balanced Armature Drivers. Yanyin has made a few upgrades in the driver tech as well as the tuning. We have brand new upgraded “individual” BA’s, an upgraded DD, along with the addition of a better acoustics internally due to the chamber, tubing, as well as the crossover allocations.

Differences
To begin, the latest Canon has one less switch, which I celebrate. Also, the OG Canon’s switches affected all three areas of the mix whereas the latest Canon only affects the bass region. I think the Canon II is leaps and bounds a better-looking earphone from that maroon/gray colorway of the OG. Both sets accessories are about the same. To be honest the latest Canon is more of a tuning change with a slightly more polished sound as well as a more mature of a sound altogether.

Bass Region ​

The Canon series is quickly becoming a reference to great bass replay. Both sets offer a tactile and haptic sub-bass that rumbles nicely though the newer set seems to keep a tighter noose on those vibrational resonances. The OG Canon has more of an emphasis in the mid-bass and comes across as more boomy. The new Canon has better control with less slam to a slight degree there. This coincidentally also means the OG has a bit more bass bleed into the lower mids. The Canon II on the other hand has an improved slope from the mid-bass to the low-mids that could almost be considered a tight tuck. This makes for a much cleaner sound. It also helps to make the Canon II punchier, snappier for percussion, with a denser and more palpably textured body and better-defined note outline. Just more energetic and livelier in comparison. However, I freaking love both bass replays. Truly. They both give a different flavor down low. Both offer a fun yet disciplined sound for the quantity they have. Despite that, I find the Canon II to have a more polished low-end with a more tactility and texture while the OG has the more theatrical and slightly more Bulbous sound.

Midrange​

The midrange of both sets has a slight variation from each other. The OG Canon has a slightly more forward midrange with a hint more warmth than the newer Canon II. The Canon II comes across with better clarity in the lower midrange with less body in note weight than the OG Canon. The OG can get a hair shouty in the upper midrange while the Canon II has a less pronounced ear gain which helps females to come across a bit more natural to my ears. I do like the newer Canon just sounds more polished and detailed yet doesn’t lose out on musicality. The OG just takes a different path with a smoother midrange by a hair and a little heftier note weight. The New Canon has more crispness when called upon yet can also sound velvet and emotional. Kind of the best of both worlds.

Treble Region ​

I find a good difference between the two lies in the treble region. The OG Canon has a brighter hue with a more sparkly treble, but also a more strident and sharp treble. The newer Canon II is simply more refined up top. Truly this is an upgrade folks. That is of course if the sound agrees with you. I hear a slightly better timbre on the new Canon while the OG Canon can sound a hint artificial somewhere around the lower treble. The newer Canon has just the right amount of smoothness and bite whereas the OG can become shouty listening to certain songs. Perhaps better haptic feedback in the treble too on the newer set. Both sets offer nice detail retrieval up top, but the newer set seems to do so with less forced resolution.

Technicalities​

As far as stage size, both sets offer a nice stage. It is difficult to get a discerning feel for them. That said, the OG Canon has a more intimate sound with closer mids while the newer set is a hint more spread out and realistic. Separation is undoubtedly better in the newer set as the sound is simply clearer and has better resolution to my ears. Imaging is spot-on on both iems as they portray Instruments and voices very well in an imaginary stage. I’d also have to surely say that detail retrieval is evidently better on the Canon II.

In the end​

Honestly, if you own the OG Canon I really don’t know if it’s worth it to pick up the latest set. They are probably different enough, but I don’t know if I feel it’s worth it. I will say that the newer set is most certainly an upgrade to my ears. I have spent way too many hours with both sets and can confidently say that the Canon II is simply cleaner across the board. Not to take anything away from the OG because I love it for its fun and vivacious sound. Ya know, I could probably say that the older set is probably the more fun set, just not the more refined set.

Fiio FH9 ($599)​

Another set that I’ve grown to love. The Fiio FH9 (Review HERE), which is a seven-driver hybrid consisting of one 13.6 Beryllium Coated DLC Dynamic Driver and six custom Knowles BA’s. Truly a flagship level iem in every regard and at every angle you spin them. The FH9 is one of the sickest looking iems in the Audioverse…my opinion of course and a very competitive iem at its price point. The FH9 comes equipped with nozzle filters that slightly alter the sound. I chose the FH9 as a comparison because I wanted to see how well the Canon II could hang next to a bona-fide stud of a set in a higher price tier. Obviously, this is not the fairest comparison, but I think we will learn… Something.

Differences
There are a number of differences between the two sets. The FH9 is an all-alloy set whereas the Canon II is all-resin, yet both are built and designed very well. The FH9 is accessorized in the usual ridiculously nice “Fiio way” with a ton of extras and all of them are of great quality. The Canon isn’t bad, but it is usual to expect more from something this much more expensive. Tonally the FH9 is a bit more on the warm side then the Canon II. Also, the FH9 has more of a balance across the mix and so it isn’t probably considered as “fun” as the Canon II but is still “fun” to me. Let’s look a hair closer at the sound difference between the two.

Bass Region ​

Beginning at the low-end the Canon II has a deeper and more authoritative slam with more emphasis throughout. The FH9 comes across as better defined and quicker for complicated bass arrangements in my music. Still for those who enjoy a deeper and more bold bass region than the Canon II will have you covered. At these prices (>$400 & >$650) you should really expect great bass no matter the form and quantity it comes in and I feel both sets are awesome here. The FH9 is just a bit leaner but just as dense and probably a bit better detailed but that is up for debate. However, they are simply tuned differently. I for one enjoy the Canon II a bit more but I will always love the FH9.

Midrange​

The FH9 has a smoother sound throughout the midrange while the Canon II is a bit crisper. I find the Canon II to have a bit more energy where some may call the FH9 kind of flat. Still, in that flat presentation (I don’t think it’s flat) the FH9 has a very well detailed response to my music and a bit better resolution than the Canon II. Vocals on both sets sound fantastic. Males come across warmer with heftier note weight on the FH9 while the Canon II has the cleaner and more energetic male vocal. Females on the other hand are much more energetic on the FH9 but I’d actually prefer the Canon II here. There are moments the FH9 can get a hint bright. With that said, I do think the FH9 is more refined, even despite the possibility of glare from the pinna gain area. Honestly, the Canon II has the more musical midrange of the two while the FH9 is a bit more audiophile.

Treble Region ​

Both treble regions are well done and very clean. The FH9 however comes across a hint brighter and crisper with slightly better treble texture and bite. The Canon II comes across smoother and easier on the ear. I find the FH9 to carry better detail retrieval up top yet in the same breath the Canon II does pretty well itself. Both sets have pretty good extension but the FH9 simply sounds a bit more emphasized in the upper air regions. I don’t think either is head and shoulders better than the other. In fact, I’m mostly splitting hairs because both sets really do perform very well.

Technicalities ​

As far as soundstage is concerned, the Fiio FH9 has a semi-open shell which does add a sense of more air to the sound. Perhaps a bit more open. Both soundstage replays are above average but the FH9 does stretch it a bit more. Separation is great in both sets and so is imaging. Detail retrieval goes to the FH9. It’s just more balanced across the mix and very resolving. Of course, we are talking about miniscule differences here.

In the end​

Listen, I realize the FH9 costs quite a bit more and it outperforms the Canon II in some key areas but honestly, I like the Canon II more. This is another battle of preferences. The “better” isn’t always the most adored. These two are very different in the way they present my music, but both sets truly do well in their price points. Some days I prefer one and some days I prefer the other. One thing is for sure… both sets are absolute ballers! The FH9 as a whole is just a hair less energetic yet macro-dynamics are just as full and vivid. I find the Canon II has a bit more of that fun coloration to the sound.

Is it worth the asking price? ​

I don’t like answering this question because it entails a very subjective answer. Not everyone is in the same income bracket, and we are all so much different in so many ways. Basically, what is good for one may be polar opposite to the next guy. Also, some may only dream of purchasing a $379 iem while to others it’s pocket change. So, I answer this question simply for me. My situation. I have three kids' folks and $379 is an irresponsible amount of money to spend when you have very good sounding iems for cheaper. That said, I’ve been known to splurge from time to time. Perhaps recklessly even. For me the Canon II represents such a fun tuning that comes across so very clean and mature for the type of sound. For me it’s a yes, in fact it’s a 100% yes that the Canon II is worth the asking price.

The Why? ​

First off, name another iem in the $300 to $450 price range that does exactly what the Canon II can do? I’m waiting. I’ll answer for you, you can’t. This set has such a nice balance of fun, dynamism, macro-dynamics, detail retrieval, and flat-out clean resolve that when mashed together you get an iem that should cost more. I would say a “master of none” but “stud at everything” type of set. Also, it’s built and designed FREAKING BEAUTIFULLY! My word, these designers need a raise! Look at this set folks! For me, the Canon II just fits my type of sound at the moment, and I find it very difficult to find a ton of faults with the tuning that would render the Canon II “not” worthy of its price.

Of course, there will always be detractors or folks who simply like something different. That’s life, we are different, thankfully. I could certainly see some folks who would think the bass is too emphasized, or the treble isn’t elevated enough. For instance, I could understand those who love a neutral/bright sound not enjoying the Canon II very much. It certainly isn’t perfect either. I could definitely use more note weight in certain areas of the midrange and could use more treble body and vivaciousness. However, when I have them in my ears, I forget all about my subtle preferences and simply enjoy. I think Yanyin did a fantastic job on this set.

Ratings (0-10)​

Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Yanyin Canon II ratings below, that would be $300-$400 iems of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an earphone what it is. A “5” is exactly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against, this is important. $300-$400 US is a fairly small scope of iems and so seeing a “9. 0” for instance, is pretty understandable. My ratings are never the same, never cut n’ dry, and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings it will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.

Aesthetic ​

-Build Quality: v 9.0

-Look: 9.8

-Accessories: 9.0

–Overall: 9.3

Sound Rating ​

-Timbre: 9.1 The timbre and tonality are fantastic.

-Bass: 9.7 Some of the best bass in the price point, fun meets mature

-Midrange: 9.2 The mids are fantastic on this set in my opinion

-Treble: 9.4 Great treble timbre, detail & emphasis for the price

-Technicalities: 9.0 The Canon II does well here, esp for the tuning

–Overall: 9.3

Ratings Summary:​

I’ll say it in every review; ratings are not a helpful way to actually understand an earphone, from a buyer’s perspective or a reviewer’s perspective. I’m sure it’s nice to see numbers to help make a decision a bit easier, but so much is lost in that. Take the Canon II for example. This set is clearly one of the best in this price point (that I’ve heard). Yet it yields a 9.3 overall sound score. Shouldn’t one of the best be scored higher? That’s because the individual parts don’t truly explain what the Canon II is when it is all put together. The Canon II is another set that shouldn’t be judged simply by breaking down each sound attribute. This is a set that needs to be judged as a whole. At which point I’d give it a “9.8 or 9.9″… as a whole. However, there are certainly better iems in each individual attribute area like “Timbre”, “Technicalities”, “Midrange” etc.

Pretty Darn Good!​

However, looking at something like “Technicalities”. I gave the Canon II a score of “9.0”. Pretty darn good. Still, it’s all about perspective. The Canon II is phenomenal in all Technicalities per the type of tuning it has. Bigger bass, fun, dynamic, nice and expressive macro-dynamics, lean-lush timbre. Yet in the same breath the detail retrieval is great, resolving ability is awesome, transient response is perceivably very good too, separation & imaging are both very well done. Maybe I should’ve narrowed down the scope of the ratings to “fun sound tunings in the $300 to $400 price point”. If that was the case the Canon II would get 9.9’s across the board. Anyways, enough of my mindless blabber, the Canon II represents one of the best sets in the price point in my humble opinion and the ratings do speak to that.

Conclusion ​

To conclude my full written review of the Yanyin Canon II, I want to again thank Yanyin Representative Joseph Yeung and Yanyin for providing this great set for a feature at the website and across social media. Thank you, you are all very kind and I truly couldn’t review a set like this without you. Also, to anyone who chose to read this review and click that link, I thank you too. I love writing reviews and giving my opinion and I do hope it helps the person reading to make a purchasing decision.

One more thing, I always finish up my review by imploring you all to get a second opinion. Don’t rest on my word people! Take what you’ve read here and check out other reviews too. Read, listen to, or watch other perspectives about the Canon II so that you don’t go and spend a ton of money on a set that you will regret. Not everything is for everybody and just because I adore this set certainly doesn’t that mean you will. This review is just a baseline look at this iem from one reviewer’s perspective. We are all very much different. I hope all of you are well and good. Try to stay safe, take care and always… God Bless!

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INTRODUCTION:​

Greetings, fellow audiophiles! Here we find ourselves once again, delving into the realm of my most cherished hobby, exploring the world of audio gears. Today's spotlight is on a territory that resonates deeply with my passion, and I'm thrilled to present to you the Yanyin Canon II in-ear monitors!

This marks my inaugural encounter with a product from the Yanyin brand, and my anticipation was palpable, as I've been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to audition their IEMs. Yanyin, as a company, is a relative newcomer when juxtaposed with industry stalwarts that have been entrenched in this sonic game for an extended period. Their approach, however, is one that I deeply admire – quality over quantity. In an era where new products flood the market with alarming frequency, Yanyin's dedication to crafting exceptional audio experiences without breaking the bank sets them apart. It's a familiar refrain in the audio world, but let's delve deeper to see if Yanyin truly lives up to this lofty ideal.

Now, let's delve into the nomenclature behind the name "Canon." I took the liberty of inquiring with a representative to decipher the significance of this model name. Interestingly, "Canon" isn't a reference to artillery but rather a nod to the world of canonical music techniques and compositions. Reflecting on my own musical journey, which began with piano lessons at a tender age of 7 to 10, classical music and its intricacies often eluded my understanding. Yet, as I matured in my craft, I came to appreciate the distinct character of canon movements – the art of repetition and the principle of imitation. Now, let's explore how these musical concepts align with the IEM we hold in our hands.

Before I proceed, I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Yanyin and the generous Joseph Yeung, also known as Joebloggs, for facilitating and loaning the Yanyin Canon II tour unit for us audiophiles here in the Philippines to put under scrutiny. Their trust in our community is profoundly appreciated, and I look forward to unearthing the auditory treasures that the Canon II has in store for us.

FOREWORD:​

• The gear on hand has undergone at least 10-15 hours of use before it was assessed.
• No EQ is ever applied in my reviews.
• For the sake of convenience, I try my best to use a stock setup. Not everyone has access to personal ear tips or cables. If personal ear tips, cables, or accessories are used, you will be notified.
• As I try to be objective, my claims inevitably will be subjective and biased to my personal preference. I cannot stress more that you should take this with a grain of salt for we have different perceptions to sound and what we hear.

SPECIFICATIONS:​

Maker: Yanyin
Model: Canon II
Drivers: 1 x biological diaphragm DD, 4 x BA drivers
Impedance: 27-40 ohms depending on tuning switch
Sensitivity: 112db

PACKAGING & DETAILS:​

Getting straight to the point, the packaging of the Canon II leaves much to be desired. Given its $379 price tag, I had higher expectations. I'm a firm believer that unboxing should be a part of the overall experience, and unfortunately, this aspect fell short. It's worth noting that apart from Yanyin's address and office location, all the text is in Chinese, leading me to speculate that this product might not have been intended for international release. However, this remains my own conjecture.

The design of the unassuming black box is punctuated by a neon green accent, which does resonate with the Canon II's overall aesthetic. Let's delve into the contents and my impressions of each component briefly.

CASE:​

The case, I must say, is a sight to behold, exuding an air of opulence with its leather-like texture and appearance. Adorning the top, the Yanyin logo is elegantly engraved, further enhancing its aesthetic charm. Its rectangular shape ensures ample space for the Canon II without subjecting it to undue compression. Inside, a plush padding graces every nook and cranny, and the light brown color scheme harmonizes seamlessly with your collection of watches, wallets, and compact bags.

A clever addition is the net on the inner lid of the case, providing a cozy abode for small accessories. However, it's worth noting a minor drawback: the case doesn't fully open due to the presence of an internal belt, which somewhat hinders the unveiling of its treasures. But, to be clear, this is a mere nitpick. Overall, the case exudes a sense of premium craftsmanship and sturdiness, assuring that your Canon II is enveloped in protection worthy of its stature.

EAR TIPS:​

Let's discuss the ear tips now. It's worth noting that there's only one type of ear tip included in the package. From my research, these appear to be Yanyin's proprietary ear tips, reputed for their performance. However, I'll be candid; I found these tips to be somewhat on the stiff side, which doesn't entirely align with my personal preference for a softer feel.

Nevertheless, I must acknowledge that from a sonic perspective, these tips seem to deliver benefits that align nicely with my auditory preferences. For the sake of this review, I've opted to stick with the stock ear tips, despite my inclination toward a softer alternative.

DOCUMENTATIONS:​

Now, let's address the paperwork that accompanies the Canon II. A bundle of documentation appears to be sealed in an envelope, and regrettably, the seal is so tight, and as this is a tour unit, I did not want to rip it open. I was told by our good friend from Yanyin that they are indeed documents that were bilingual.

Additionally, there's another set of instructions with some images of the switches and notes about it. This cardboard paper is labeled "Product Characteristics". For the sake of convenience, I have the translation for you directly from Yanyin. Good for us eh?

"The new generation Canon II employs an all new, more universally comfortable earmold. The driver complement comprises a bio-cellulose 10mm dual-chamber DD and 4 individual BAs (not any twin BAs) in 1DD+2BA+2BA 3-way configuration both in terms of crossover electronics and acoustic tubing. The crossover has been optimized compared to the Canon I for improved bandwidth and greater performance e.g. listening to complex orchestral performances and OST soundtracks, exhibiting the instruments’ attack and decay more realistically, portraying the works’ spatiality better. The crossover has been optimized to enhance bass impact while cleaning up the mids. As the tuning for the mids and treble has matured on this model while bass level remains the main point of contention among audiophiles, the switches have been streamlined to 2, both in charge of bass gain. The bass gain may be adjusted via the switches to provide different tonality for different listening / music needs, with both switches conveniently functioning equally in terms of the shape and level of bass boost when flicked up compared to down, for quick easy adjustment on the fly."

Click to expand...

APPEARANCE:​

The Canon II's visual appeal is undeniable, boasting craftsmanship that's both robust and artistically conceived. Its design exudes a lively color palette with vibrant neons, where green, teal, and purple playfully dance in striking horizontal stripes.

On the right unit, the Yanyin logo makes its presence felt,

while the left unit proudly bears the label "Canon."

The placement of the tuning switches, positioned near the base and clearly marked "ON" alongside another symbol whose meaning eludes me, adds a touch of intrigue.

At the base of each earpiece, you'll find serial number indicators and carefully placed vent holes, a thoughtful addition for extended listening sessions. These vent holes are distinguished by the colors red and blue, intuitively indicating whether it's the left or right earpiece. In sum, the Canon II's aesthetics have exceeded my expectations, surpassing even my TOTL entry, the Unique Melody MK3, which leans towards a more minimalistic design. Notably, the use of resin materials has resulted in a comfortable wearing experience, devoid of any discomfort or irritation.

CABLE:​

While it may not boast the bespoke craftsmanship of boutique cable makers, it certainly gets the job done. The cable's quality aligns with its price point, offering a serviceable but unremarkable experience. It does bear a resemblance to the cables often paired with BQEYZ IEMs, if you're familiar with those.

There are no significant gripes to be had, nor are there any standout features. The cable strikes a balance in terms of weight and thickness, providing an overall average experience. To get into the technicalities, it features a 2-pin, 0.78mm termination and is constructed from graphene single crystal copper with silver plating – quite a mouthful, I must say.

On a personal note, I can't help but wish for a modular cable option at this price range, but I understand that such preferences can vary widely among users. A little rant now and then is only natural!

COMFORT:​

The Canon II's fit and comfort level are truly exceptional, ranking among the best I've experienced. I can attest to the fact that I've enjoyed marathon listening sessions with these IEMs, and they've never caused a hint of discomfort or soreness. Despite falling into the medium-size category, which may raise concerns for some, as an Asian user, I found the size to be perfectly accommodating and not at all bothersome.

One notable feature is the exceptional isolation achieved with the stock ear tips. They create a snug fit that leaves no room for concern about them slipping off my ears during use. This level of secure fitment further enhances the overall listening experience.

TUNING SWITCHES:​

I must admit, I'm not typically a fan of tuning switches, but I'm willing to make an exception for the Canon II. Much like the Dunu SA6 MK2, I find myself appreciating fewer options more. When faced with an array of endless choices upfront, it tends to overwhelm me. The good news is that the Canon II keeps it simple, offering a mere four tuning options, or perhaps, just three. To clarify, the first switch is labeled "ON," while the second features a mysterious symbol that I can't quite decipher. So, when I refer to "up/down," it means adjusting the "ON" switch up and the symbol switch down. Let's keep it as straightforward as possible.

- **For More Bass (Up/Up):** This setting caters to those with an appetite for amplified bass. We'll delve into the quality of this bass later, but it's safe to say that it can satisfy the cravings of mild to moderate bass enthusiasts.

- **For Detail Enthusiasts (Down/Down):** If you're seeking a more neutral presentation that accentuates midrange and treble details by taming the bass, this configuration is the way to go.

- **Balanced (Up/Down or Down/Up):** This happens to be my personal favorite, as it maintains thumpy, punchy, and engaging lows while preserving details.

Now, originally, there seemed to be four tuning options, but as I and other co-reviewers discovered, there's no noticeable difference between "up/down" and "down/up." So, for all practical purposes, you have three tuning options to explore. Additionally, it's important to note that these tuning options primarily affect the low frequencies. Here’s a measurement from our friend Baskingshark to shed more light on the Canon II's sonic profile.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS:​

The Canon II was carefully matched with my trusted audio sources, including the Fiio M11 Plus Ltd, Cayin RU6, Centrance Dacport HD, and Fiio K9. All connections were made using single-ended terminations. This ensemble was thoughtfully coupled with my extensive collection of offline FLACs, along with subscriptions to Apple Music and Qobuz.

TECHNICALITIES:​

The Canon II envelops us in a soundstage that, while not quite reaching the realm of holographic presentation, offers a commendable sense of depth, height, and width. In this facet, the Canon II's performance surpasses the ordinary and aligns with the expectations of discerning audiophiles.

When it comes to imaging, this IEM shines as its most distinguished characteristic. It breathes life into every element of your music, affording them the luxury of space while portraying them with unparalleled clarity, precision, and pinpoint accuracy. The ability to delicately layer elements and unravel intricate chordal harmonies is one of its standout features. This attribute proves to be a boon for both vocalists and instrumentalists, allowing them to revel in the intricacies of their craft.

Timbre, often a challenging aspect for hybrid-configured IEMs, emerges as a triumph for the Canon II. It strikes the rare balance of tonal correctness, avoiding any semblance of artificiality in its rendering of instruments and vocals. Everything resonates with a natural and faithful rendition, a testament to the Canon II's exceptional sonic integrity.

Now, let's delve into coherence. During my initial listening sessions with the Canon II, I encountered sporadic moments where certain elements in the music felt slightly out of place or, to put it more precisely, out of sync. However, these occurrences were exceptionally rare. Upon revisiting those particular segments of tracks, the issue seemed to vanish, though not entirely. It's worth noting that this facet could benefit from some refinement. Encouragingly, after a week of usage, this anomaly significantly diminished, hinting at the potential for further improvement. It's a facet I felt compelled to highlight, not as criticism, but as constructive feedback for Yanyin's consideration.

Lastly, in terms of driver speed, the Canon II displays remarkable agility and responsiveness. It effortlessly tackles even the most complex and intricate musical compositions, confidently maintaining pace with the intricate demands of audiophile-grade tracks.

BASS:​

Now, we come to the star of the show – a revelation for those who revel in a bass-forward sonic profile. The Canon II isn't for the purists seeking true flat or neutral sound signatures; instead, it embraces and accentuates the low end. When configured with the up/up switch setting, it caters to the cravings of bassheads, delivering a bass response that's nothing short of remarkable.

This bass is substantial, substantial to the point of being downright chunky and meaty, packing a weighty punch that immerses you deeply in your music. It's nearly impossible not to be swept away by its presence, adding an engaging layer to every note and rhythm. What truly sets it apart, however, is the level of cleanliness and precision it brings to bass reproduction. To be candid, I found myself yearning for this caliber of bass presentation when comparing it to my Mest MK3 – it's simply that exceptional.

And here's the icing on the cake – you're not confined to a bass-dominated soundscape. By simply switching to the down/down configuration, you unlock a realm where midrange and treble details shine with newfound clarity. Whether you're delving into rock, pop, reggae, funk, disco, trance, house, soul, jazz, or orchestrations, the Canon II's bass is unequivocally addictive. It adds an intoxicating layer to your music that's hard to resist.

MIDRANGE:​

Close on the heels of the exceptional bass performance, we find the midrange claiming a well-deserved second spot. It proudly wears the badge of tonal correctness and propriety, showcasing a richness that avoids any hint of thinness. Among hybrid IEMs, the Canon II boasts one of the finest midrange presentations in terms of timbre. It breathes life into vocals, creating an engaging, pristine connection that tugs at the heartstrings. Now, as an instrumentalist, my heart leans more toward instruments than vocals, so let's delve into that realm.

Pianos, in their lush, rich, and weighty glory, take center stage. Guitars, on the other hand, are a tapestry of textures and details, unraveling their sonic stories with finesse. Organs carry that desirable raspiness, while rock guitars wield a gritty, biting edge. Be it male or female vocals, neither takes precedence over the other, ensuring an equitable treatment for both. For those who revel in the mid-centric realm, the Canon II offers a delectable treat.

Although I've had the pleasure of testing some IEMs that excel in the midrange department, the Canon II has managed to impress me in this facet. The only IEM that currently outpaces the Canon II in terms of midrange prowess is none other than the illustrious Dunu SA6 MK2, a comparison we'll delve into later.

TREBLE:​

Describing the Canon II's treble, I'd use words like smooth, buttery, and inoffensive. It manages to strike a balance that avoids the pitfalls of sounding veiled or overly warm. While maintaining a pleasant tonal balance, it still manages to convey details with an airy quality, although I find myself yearning for a bit more in this department.

Cymbals retain their gratifying presence with a moderate bite, though some micro details at the highest frequencies are slightly less pronounced. When it comes to brass sections and boisterous trumpets, the Canon II continues to offer a satisfying rendition. Even the most demanding sax altissimo notes, those soaring above the norm, are portrayed with impressive detail without ever veering into sibilance.

In the high registers where pianos often dance, the Canon II delivers exceptional details without overly accentuating them in a manner that might leave treble enthusiasts craving more. It walks the fine line admirably, assuring those with sensitive ears that it will cater to their delicate auditory faculties with finesse.

COMPARISONS:​

Aful Performer 8​

The P8 certainly brings a more neutral disposition to the table, characterized by its more defined attack and faster transients. It can boast a technical advantage, albeit by a modest 10%. However, the P8 does have a downside – it leans towards a slightly dry sound signature, which may not resonate with those seeking engagement and an emotional connection in their music.

This is where the Canon II shines, infusing music with a lifelike quality, soul, and an emotional depth that draws listeners in. While, for my critical musical pursuits, the P8 might take the lead, when it comes to forging a genuine connection with one's music, which should be the essence of the musical experience, the Canon II unquestionably takes the crown. It's a choice I'd make any day for that authentic and emotionally resonant musical journey.

Softears Studio 4​

If the Canon II offers a touch of warmth in its treble, the Studio 4 takes warmth to the next level. It's warm to the point where the sparkle and openness you might expect from the treble are somewhat compromised. The Studio 4 was meticulously designed for on-stage performances, where a myriad of sonic variables comes into play. A great deal hinges on the sound engineer's ability to sculpt the overall sound of the band. Softears, with the Studio 4, has taken measures to safeguard us, the musicians, from the unexpected and often loud impulses of our bandmates. This protective measure gives rise to the warm signature.

Both the Canon II and Studio 4 exude a sense of organic musicality. However, the Studio 4 holds the upper hand in certain technical aspects like separation and layering. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that both IEMs are on equal footing and share the same boat, each possessing its unique set of strengths and characteristics.

Dunu SA6 Mk2​

The SA6 mk2 still retains its throne when it comes to orchestral tracks and delivering an organic musical experience. While the SA6 MK2 edges slightly towards warmth, it offers a minute difference that sets it apart. Additionally, the SA6 MK2 and Canon II provides a bass boost feature for enhanced engagement. However, when it comes to bass presentation, the SA6 mk2 maintains a more neutral stance.

In terms of technical prowess, the Canon II takes the lead, boasting superior imaging, clarity, precision, and accuracy. This is where it shines, eclipsing the SA6 MK2 in these aspects. Given the price difference, with the SA6 MK2 being the more expensive option, I find myself once again leaning towards the Canon II. The discrepancy in their musicality and timbral accuracy is so minor that I'm more than willing to make that sacrifice for the Canon II's compelling performance.

TEST TRACKS:​

Here are some tracks I usually listen to when reviewing:

That’s the way of the World by EWF
Africa by TOTO
The Girl in the Other Room by Diana Kral
Balmorhea album All is wild, All is Silent
Sila by Sud
Smooth Escape by D’Sound
Never too Much by Luther Vandross
P.Y.T by Michael Jackson
Ain’t no Sunshine by Eva Cassidy
Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC
Another one bites the Dust by Queen
Good times bad times by Edie Brickell
Alice in Wonderland by Bill Evans
Ain’t it Fun by Paramore
Redefine by Incubus
Far Away by Nickelback
Lovesong by Adele
Lingus by Snarky Puppy
Harvest for the World by Vanessa Williams
Love Bites by Def Leppard
No Such Thing by John Mayer
As by Stevie Wonder
Whip Appeal by Babyface
Ain’t Nobody by Chaka Khan
Futures by Prep
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Every Summertime by NIKI
SADE tracks
AC/DC tracks
Queen tracks


And many more… I always listen to High resolution format, being the least quality 16bit/44khz FLACS be it offline or online.

VERDICT:​

A bass presentation that aligns seamlessly with my penchant for pure music enjoyment, a midrange that oozes with lushness, and a treble that, while inoffensive, manages to shine and convey intricate details – this trifecta is an irresistible combination that I simply can't get enough of. Yanyin has admirably achieved and executed their vision with the Canon II. It stands as a testament to top-tier audio quality wrapped in a refreshingly practical price tag.

For me, the litmus test of any gear is its ability to take me on a musical journey. Even as we converse, I find myself lost in the Canon II's spell, often stopping in my tracks to savor the music it unfolds. This IEM is an all-rounder, effortlessly adapting to any genre it encounters. While I did encounter a minor hiccup in coherence initially, rest assured, that anomaly dissipated with prolonged exposure to the Canon II.

This set strikes a near-perfect balance between engagement and technical prowess, a rarity in the audio world. If you have $379 to spare, I wholeheartedly recommend the Canon II; it's a must-have for audiophiles and musicians who take their craft seriously. It confidently punches above its weight, rivaling IEMs that bear price tags upwards of $500. As an added bonus, the tuning switches provide a genuine avenue for tailoring the Canon II to your precise preferences – a feature that proves far from gimmicky.

My heartfelt gratitude once again to Yanyin and Joseph Yeung for granting me the opportunity to experience this tour unit. I will undoubtedly miss this IEM, and if circumstances allowed, I'd eagerly add it to my collection without a moment's hesitation.

PRICE: $379​

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀!

This is a review of the Yanyin Canon II, which Yanyin themselves (through Joseph Yeung) have provided me to take a look at and review.

𝘋𝘐𝘚𝘊𝘓𝘈𝘐𝘔𝘌𝘙: 𝘐 𝘞𝘈𝘚 𝘗𝘙𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋𝘌𝘋 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘜𝘕𝘐𝘛 𝘐𝘕 𝘌𝘟𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘎𝘌 𝘍𝘖𝘙 𝘈 𝘕𝘖-𝘍𝘙𝘐𝘓𝘓𝘚, 𝘜𝘕𝘉𝘐𝘈𝘚𝘌𝘋 𝘙𝘌𝘝𝘐𝘌𝘞. 𝘐 𝘈𝘔 𝘕𝘌𝘐𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘙 𝘗𝘈𝘐𝘋 𝘕𝘖𝘙 𝘊𝘖𝘔𝘔𝘐𝘚𝘚𝘐𝘖𝘕𝘌𝘋 𝘛𝘖 𝘗𝘙𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋𝘌 𝘈 𝘚𝘒𝘌𝘞𝘌𝘋 𝘙𝘌𝘝𝘐𝘌𝘞.

Full and more detailed review on YouTube here, which is the longest and most encompassing I've done to date:

Although albeit a young company, Yanyin comes out in full cylinders with the Canon II. It is almost a complete IEM in paper AND in experience: fun bass without being too overbearing, revealing while not overdoing it, and natural while maintaining an impressive amount of technical prowess. And to add the cherry on top of an already-impressive IEM, switches are made available to the user to carefully curate their low-frequency experience. A user-centric philosophy will never be loss, and that feature in Canon II elevates it further from the extremely high pedestal I have put it in from a subjective perspective.








𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚
$379 (USD)
~₱21,500 (PhP)

𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨
𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱: Balanced Armatures (4), Biological Dynamic Driver (1) [low frequency drivers are controlled with physical switches (2)]
𝗣𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: 0.78mm 2-Pin
𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗴 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: 3.5mm unbalanced / 4.4mm balanced (optional)
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 27-40 Ω (depending on tuning mode)
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 5Hz – 25KHz
𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆: 112dB/Vrms

𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 (out of 5)
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The box for the Yanyin Canon II reminds me very much of Razer, the gaming company. The contrast between the bright greens of the "Canon" text together with the mattes and gloss of black in the back strongly resembles that of the design language of said gaming company. At the back, technical specifications can be seen. I appreciate the minimalist energy displayed in its packaging, as it subconsciously directs our attention to the contents of the box, which should be the main attraction rather than its packaging.




𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭
As we open the box, we are greeted with a card. Its printed back-to-back: the front displays a portrait of the IEM adorned with a text saying "New Arrival", and the back with some instructions on how to use the switches embedded in the Canon II. I would strongly advice to use Google Lens on the back part of this card, as it is all printed in Chinese typography. Nonetheless, the minimalist approach in the packaging extends to how the product is first presented. There are only two compartments in the inside of the box: one for the case with the IEM + cable inside, and one for the paperwork + case of tips. It is more of a straight-to-business type of presentation rather than showing off to sell you the product you already bought. Although I appreciate excellent presentation, this is still undeniably good stuff coming from straightforward minds.



𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬
Yanyin gives you the essentials right inside the box for you to go straight into enjoying the Canon II: a hefty and sturdy synthetic leather hard case, eartips in a nice plastic case, a single-crystal copper plated with silver cable, some paperworks, and a SIM-ejector tool to actuate the switches present in the IEM.



𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 & 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 .5 (out of 5)
✳ The 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
The Canon II is made out of a medical grade resin material, and it is very evident that this material was the right one for this build. Yanyin has also indicated that these IEMs are handcrafted using said material, resulting in graceful curves and intricate body molds, resulting in an immaculate-looking IEM body. It is also pretty much seamless around the edges, which can hugely help in durability when the IEM is put into sudden pressure changes (falling to the ground). 3D Printing has its own downfalls, as it can produce some rough edges and outlines around an IEM body, and can be prone to fragility if quality control isn't up to par. Using resin AND handcrafting it completely eliminates both of these problems, albeit taking more time and precious man hours to complete. The Canon II also has a nice heft to it due to the usage of the resin material, which inspires confidence and trust in how the IEM is built overall.




✳ The 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
From the first time that I have fitted this IEM into my ears, it already became apparent that it wouldn't be as comfortable or efficient an experience to ears of smaller sizes. It is definitely a chonky boi, with both width and length of the IEM body that's sitting inside of your ears in a bigger ratio compared to other IEMs in the market. This is a non-problem to me, as I have bigger ears than your average Asian. As they say, YMMV (your mileage may vary). The nozzle of the Canon II is also a bit longer than your average ones, resulting in a deeper fit than those of mid-length ones. This hugely contributes to the overall feel of the Canon II in your ears and the amount of noise isolation in can give to you, so it is adamant that you proceed with tip-rolling with this IEM. This is to ensure you get the most of the Canon II while feeling the best from it, as it is quite a bigger and chonkier IEM compared to ones that may be in your collection already.


𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 (out of 5)
𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗗: (𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘍𝘓𝘈𝘊 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵, 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 24𝘣𝘪𝘵/48𝘬𝘏𝘻 𝘰𝘳 24𝘣𝘪𝘵/96𝘬𝘏𝘻)
𝘋𝘢𝘧𝘵 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘬 - 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘢𝘧𝘵 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘬 - 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 2007 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘦 - 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘶𝘢 𝘓𝘪𝘱𝘢 - 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘪𝘢 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦 - 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 & 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦 - 𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘍𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘺 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘺 (𝘌𝘗)
𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯 - 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳 - 𝘛𝘰 𝘗𝘪𝘮𝘱 𝘈 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 - 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘯 - 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 - 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘞𝘢𝘺 𝘛𝘰 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 - 𝘐𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 - 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘵 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘚𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 - 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘚𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘖𝘮 - 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵 - 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘵 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 - 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳 - 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘧𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 - 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘧𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 - 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘒𝘰𝘳𝘯 - 𝘒𝘰𝘳𝘯 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘒𝘰𝘳𝘯 - 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘐𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦 - 𝘕𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘳 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 - 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 - 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩 – 𝘌𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢 - ...𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘭 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢 - 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 – 𝘛𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯
𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 - 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘹 𝘖𝘮𝘦𝘨𝘢
𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘩 - 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 (𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮)
𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗗: 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘺 𝘚8+; 𝘍𝘪𝘪𝘰 𝘟3 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘐𝘐𝘐; 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘴; 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦 𝘔15; 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 (1) 𝘸/ 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘊-𝘵𝘰-3.5𝘮𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 (𝘜𝘚 𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵)
𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘: 𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘈𝘓𝘞𝘈𝘠𝘚 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 & 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘐𝘌𝘔 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵.



𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
- The Canon II has quickly become my daily driver the first second that it has laid upon my ears. It latched itself to me as it closely sounded to what my preferences in sound signature was and still is (more detail about it here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...a15cciWdMl&id=100077203561922&mibextid=CDWPTG). That type of sound signature was still pretty much reserved for kilobuck IEMs at the time when I wrote it, especially with Empire Ears IEMs. Nowadays, it seems like this type of L-shaped sound signature is the new meta, with multiple IEMs at different price brackets sharing the same characteristics. It's honestly a fun time for me, personally, that the time of tunings like this one has finally arrived and I'm hearing all the different takes that various companies attempt in their offerings. The Canon II definitely fits the bill when it comes to this trend: thick sub-bass presentation with lots of texture coming through through its slight curve into the mid-bass, clear and straightforward midrange, and a relaxed treble with just the right amount of sparkle without overdoing it. These general descriptions perfectly fit into what Canon II is offering for its user, but the biggest difference between it and others lies in the level of nuance and refinement.

The Canon II is a dances gracefully between the strengths of the trend it follows, while knowing its limitations and not trying to overcompensate for them. I would like to avoid terminologies such as "$___ killer" and "punches way above its price", as these terms are often way too overused and generates unnecessary amounts of hype, which can kill the innate goodness of an IEM when enjoyed for what it can offer. Amidst this, the Canon II is my personal recommendation if you're inside the price bracket that it's in. It got it all in terms of my preferences: fun bass without being too overbearing, revealing while not overdoing it, and natural while maintaining an impressive amount of technical prowess. And to add the cherry on top of an already-impressive IEM, switches are made available to the user to carefully curate their low-frequency experience. A user-centric philosophy will never be loss, and that feature in Canon II elevates it further from the extremely high pedestal I have put it in from a subjective perspective.



𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐭
- What quickly caught my ear the first time I tried on the Canon II was its impressive imaging capability. From what I've experienced from me introducing Hi-Fi audio to uninitiated ears, people notice these first two things in their first exposure: the amount of bass and how natural the stereo image comes through in the equipment. Harking back to my own days as an audio newbie, these were also the two things that impressed me while using the Canon II. It's one of the few IEMs that I've tried that has nuance to the image it outputs to the user. Many great IEMs with superior imaging capabilities can sometimes flop in displaying nuance to imaging: it can be both be overdone by separating instruments too much that it can feel incohesive or underdone by having too much in the middle channel resulting in instruments within the same frequency level clashing to each other. Canon II never had a problem with these two, as one can hear the layers and levels to instruments as they are played to the user. It has great performance with dynamics; softer passages are rendered softly, and louder ones have the impact that its intended to generate. Due to this mastery over dynamics, it was such a treat listening to both progressive material with complex passages (ala Porcupine Tree, late era Death, etc.) and simple pop songs with simpler presentation (New Order, early material Michael Jackson, etc.). The smoothness of the midrange perfectly complements the great dynamics and superior imaging capabilities, as one can clearly hear the performances of both vocal and instrument parts. I don't want to display too much audio quakery and meander by over-detailing, but every note weight, depth, and thickness coming out of the Canon II is just so luscious and detailed that it never fails to get a smile out of me. It particularly excels in lower frequency performances such as 8-stringed guitars in djent/thall (this is a subgenre of metal for those uninitiated), tubas and double bass in a symphony orchestra, baritone male vocals (David Bowie in Blackstar never fails to amaze me), electric bass solos (mini solos and little riff deviations from Sleep's Al Cisneros sounds so good in these), and so much more.

And the bass. The bass on the Canon II is one of the best I've heard recently, as it displays the same level of nuance and refinement that's present on the aspects I've discussed above. Every bass impact hit with both power and palpable tactility, a combination of which is rarely seen together in sub-kilobuck IEMs. One can be achieved by sacrificing another in most cases, but the Canon II readily makes itself available for the two to match together in perfect harmony. It's truly one of the best bass performances that I've experienced, one that needs to be experienced to be truly believed. I've always been a fan of biomaterials used in dynamic drivers, as they have the potential to output a very powerful yet natural sound; the Canon II maximizes that very same potential to its utmost advantage, thus leaving the listener awestruck. From the subtle 808 kicks in the last chorus in Korn's song Chi to the goosebumps raising groove/feel change in Kendrick Lamar's DNA., this IEM openly expresses those moments to utmost bass satisfaction, leaving no note unturned. Couple that with the extremely easy drivability of the Canon II (only at 27-40 Ω) and the choice to choose your own preferred bass levels through the switches, it quickly becomes a portable beat-dropper IEM which you can plug to anything that has an audio jack.

If you're planning to buy this IEM, I mostly recommend these two settings for the switches:
𝐔𝐔 (𝐮𝐩,𝐮𝐩) - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 "𝘧𝘶𝘯" 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴.
𝐔𝐃 (𝐮𝐩,𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧) - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘯-𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯.



𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭
- It's really hard to find cons in an IEM that really fits your subjective preferences. I do recommend you to search for other reviews of this product to guide your purchase more accordingly, with the help of other reviewers that have different preferences than mine. Nonetheless, I'll still try my best to provide you with some nitpicks.

The number one nitpick that I can say is that the soundstage that it provides is small and intimate. If you prefer a cavernous soundstage experience, the Canon II is definitely not for you. As an absolute enjoyer of big soundstage performance, that was one of the things I first noticed in the Canon II that I'll consider remotely negative. Couple that together with the impactful bass, you'll get a claustrophobic experience at times. Listening to bass heavy genres made me feel really cramped in, despite the amazing imaging it has. It feels overwhelming: lots of detailed sonic information coming at you from such a tight space.

Another nitpick that I can see people pointing out with the Canon II is its treble performance. In my lens, I am completely satisfied with what it can bring, especially with the price it comes at. I'm not much a fan of shining treble, as it can sound very forced at times and have that dreaded BA tonality. The Canon II isn't an IEM for trebleheads that crave the utmost resolution from their IEMs. It's relatively flat from a treble standpoint and doesn't extend that much into air frequencies. You can actually see this right away when you read its technical specifications: it only reaches until 25KHz. Most IEMs nowadays try to strive to reach the 40KHz zone, which can definitely produce a brighter tonal experience.

Albeit these nitpicks, I still find the Canon II to be one of the most delectable IEMs that I have ever had the privilege to try. As I have indicated at the start of this section, I recommend you to look for reviews of my fellow colleagues to get a better holistic picture.



𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩 (𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝟱):
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜:
𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 & 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩: .5
𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘠𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸):
https://www.linsoul.com/products/yanyin-canon-ii

Canon has many definitions, it could mean the authentic work of a writer, a body of standards and principles or in fanfiction, a set of events that are accepted by a fan based and/or from the official author to have actually occured on the narrative of the story, In this sense, the name of the earphones suggest a sense of authenticity in the sound it produces.

But the actual inspiration of the naming scheme, according to YANYIN, was the particular term in music theory that for a piece of a musical composition relying on counterpart techniques where a melody was followed by a series of mirror notes of the exact melody played after specific time intervals. Classical composers like Franz Hayden, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Johann Pachelbel and Johann Sebastian Bach, all had their own styles of canon composition that really defines the musical structure up to this day.

YANYIN TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD is one of the newcomer audio companies that really took a storm in the portable audio scene last year with their offerings like the Aladdin, the Canon (Gen 1), the Mahina (which was a collaboration with HBB) and the Moonlight. It is said the company was founded by a group of audiophiles who want to provide the best possible audio product that fellow audio enthusiasts and professionals for a reasonable price. When I saw some of their first impressions and reviews in some reputable audio enthusiasts sites. I really yearned to be able to test one of their products someday.



Fast forward and after over a year, I finally have it as YANYIN offer me a chance to do a review of their latest product, The YANYIN Canon II. The Canon II is the continuation and improvement of the previous Canon. Like its predecessor, it has dynamic driver + balanced armature hybrid driver configuration but YANYIN claims that its internal parts like electronics and passive crossovers have been slightly improved like better transient attack and decay, better bandwidth performance and a refinement of separation and layering capabilities. It is also said that the further development and refinement of its crossovers also improves the bass response, gives cleaner and clearer midrange and smoother yet detailed treble quality.



As given by the new official representative, Mr. Joseph Yeung in addition to the additional info available on on the LINSOUL page, The Canon II drivers consist of a single 10mm dual chambered dynamic with bio-cellulose a.k.a. paper-cone diaphragm along with its supporting 4 custom balanced armature drivers. The dynamic driver will simply handle the low frequencies for better depth and more lively presence. The balanced armature drivers handle the rest of the frequency range regions for harmonious and cohesive sonic performance. These drivers were connected in a 3-way configuration on an electronic crossover along with specific acoustic tubes for each frequency range.




These drivers are encapsulated in high quality medical-grade resin shell that was moulded through a handcrafted process to ensure a well-done craftsmanship. It takes a UIEM-style contours as its form factor which is already a proven design for fitting versatility to all ear sizes. The said shell chassis of the Canon II is an overall improvement over its preceding model as it was slightly redesigned to mitigate some previous feedbacks like some instances of driver flex. Its faceplate was beautifully designed as it reminds me of the planet Uranus or the galaxy itself. It is also noted that this set has two toggle switches at the top part of the shell for handling the low frequencies to give some tuning variables to choose depending on our preferences. Canon II uses a proven 0.78mm 2-pin connector as its detachable mechanism.



YANYIN Canon II has a premium-grade cable as its stock part which is very supple, smooth and flexible so that it offers some resistance from entanglement. The cable employs four cores of graphene mono crystal silver plated copper wiring for better sonic performance and low chances of having a microphonic effect. You can choose a type of termination plug upon ordering it as it offers 3.5mm SE, 2.5mm balanced or 4.4mm balanced.



Regarding its product packaging, YANYIN Canon II indeed has typical midranger product packaging with a decent amount of inclusions. It has black-coloured rectangular box with a well-organised placement of accessories inside of it.



Here are the following contents inside:

■ the pair of YANYIN Canon II IEMs.

■ Stock cable (2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm plug according to your choice at the time of purchase)

■ Faux-leather IEM storage case.

■ Four(4) balanced bore ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ paperwork like instruction manual, tuning guides and warranty card.




As for amplification requirement, despite having multiple types of drivers on its transducers, YANYIN Canon II is an easy to drive that a more common portable multimedia device like smartphones, tablets and DAPs will be able to deliver a decent power output for optimum performance. A sufficient amount of power will give a full range and dynamic sound quality.


When it comes to tonal aspect, YANYIN Canon II offers a variation of U-shaped sound signatures.

Legend (■ = up, □ =down)

■■ - It has the most prominent bass boost among its tuning setting modes.

□□ - Sub-bass is somewhat the focal point of its tuning while attenuates the mid bass texture. Some might even perceive it as "warmish-neutral".

■□ & ■□ - The most "balanced" sounding among its tuning setting modes, it has marginal emphasis in the bass to midbass over the □□ tuning mode.


(Graph was provided by @baskingshark , credits to him)




LOWS/BASS:

My initial impression of its bass characteristic is that it is quite punchy, precise and well-articulated bass response and that it is well-separated and very clean sounding for a midrange hybrid driver set-up.

I can ascertain its good quality sub-bass depth as it has discernable rumble and reverberations coming from subbass-focused instruments like low toned bass guitars, octabasses, synthesisers and drum machines. On the mid-bass part it was quite textured even on the □□ setting mode. The ■□ and □■ will give a substantial and sustaining note weight for some instruments while ■■ will give a fuller and darker timbre on bass-baritone vocals. I'll break down the several sound characteristics of each instrument and vocal type in different settings.

Bass guitars

□□ - Quite a clear-cut one as I was able to hear clearly those fretting, slapping and tapping plucking techniques as they have a more sustaining and rasping sound.

■□, ■□ - it sounds more resonant and has a broader sound to give a decent growl on it.

■■ - it has a more weighty and sombre tone that definitely roars on more domineering bass lines from Patricia Morrison on Lucretia My Reflection, Lemmy Kilmister on Ace of Spades and Cliff Burton on Motorhead.

Bass kick drum

□□ - Perceptibly, it has a rumbling and sustaining sound as I was able to feel its speed and precision.

■□, □■ - Apparently, it has a thudding and sonorous sound from this tuning setting.

■■ - Gives more authority and slam as it has a thunderous and full sound.

Bass-Baritone vocals

□□ - Just have enough weight on it. It appears to have a dark tone on them.

□■, □■ - Has a tad more substantial weight compare to □□ setting as it added volume and darker tone. Andrew Eldritch and Peter Steele have an espresso-like texture sound with a gravelly and resonant voice quality from them.

■■ - This setting makes the voice become a more dense and wool-like sound that gives a deeper, rumbling and darker tone. Both Louis Armstrong's and Barry White's vocals are almost accurately depicted here in my opinion as a I clearly hear their tonal colour.


MIDRANGE:

Even though it has a noticeable tad of recessed presentation of its midrange in ■■, ■□ and ■□ modes. It has a well-texture, clean, expansive and expressive sound that vocals, either male or female and instruments, all sound very natural, with good note weight and almost sounds accurate enough that I was able to enjoy them for a long listening session.

As a listener who is quite fond of midcentric tuning, I enjoy listening and determining the capability of an IEM based on rendering and projecting vocal quality. The CANON II definitely passed my test with flying colours as I feel the naturalness of its timbre. Again here are some of my observations on vocal quality based on its tuning setting modes.

□□ - It has an ample note weight on baritones, tenors, contraltos to sound natural while giving more sense of spaciousness and a tad energetic sound on mezzo-sopranos and sopranos vocals. Mezzo-sopranos like Andrea Corr, Stevie Nicks (in her old Fleetwood Mac days), Sinead O'Connor, Cecilia Bartoli and Sharon Den Adel have their fiery, smooth and tender vocals. Soprano vocals have silvery, sweet and silky tone that makes it an almost accurate and articulate sounding on singers like Mariah Carey, Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, Alison Krauss and Olivia Newton-John in dramatic to soubrette genres. Coloratura sopranos particularly like Diana Damrau and Olga Pereyatko sounds quite decent but a light, agile and energetic vocal have some slight limitations on the Canon II on hitting high upper extension.

Instruments of any type sound very organic and almost realistic such that I was able to be captivate and have a pleasant euphonic sound to my lugholes. But I'll be more focus on strings, woodwinds and some percussive on this one. On strings, guitars both acoustic or electric have a very balanced to good overtone sound and violins have a lively and vibrant sound. And then on woodwinds; flutes have an ethereal and rich sound, piccolos have a graceful, agile and light sound from it, and both clarinets and saxophones have mild, melancholic and sonorous sound that complements well on some orchestral tracks. Pianos have rather warmish-balanced tone for a very even and well-balanced sound.

■□, □■ - This is where most baritones, contraltos, countertenors and even some mezzo-sopranos excels. Baritones have that smooth and lush sound as one would enjoy, as heard from e.g. Eric Woolfson of The Alan Parsons Project, Scott Weidland, Eddie Vedder, Jimi Hendrix and Billy Idol. Tenors have warmer, spicy and ringing tones as heard from modern contemporaries like Robert Plant, Freddie Mercury, Klaus Meine and Prince. Operatic ones especially lyric sopranoists like Placido Domingo have a graceful and dazzling sound while a heavier spinto such as Luciano Pavarotti has a darker and brassy tone. Countertenors like Andreas Scholl, King Diamond and Geddy Lee have these agile, warm and musky sound characteristics while hitting on their respective high chesty and falsetto range. Contraltos have a natural vocal weight projection on this setting as I listen to Annie Lennox, Toni Braxton and Tracy Chapman with their rich, smokey and well-rounded sound well represented by the Canon II.

On instruments, percussions like snares have a clear and precise sound, tom drums have a resonant and sustaining sound, field drums have retain their hard and venerable sound sig, and kettledrums have a deep and resonant sound. For brasses like trumpets and trombones, the former have a more brilliant and full sound while trombones have that "heroic" and penetrating sound. Strings like violins have the sensuous and sweeter sound while violas have that lively and introspective sound.

■■ - the warmest of all tuning settings. Baritone vocals particular on Kavalierbariton and Verdi have those steely, rich and fuller sound just as heard from Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Robert Merrill. As for instruments, brasses like trumpets have substantial sound, horns have a sonorous and resounding sound and tubas have robust and hearty sound. Field drums seem to sound more sombre to boomy while kettledrums a rounded and thunderous sound.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of the Canon II appears to have a well-balanced, practically smooth character with just the sufficient amount of shimmer and crispness. It is probably one of the most refined and well-calibrated smooth treble responses that I have encountered in my years in audio enthusiasm as it has some similarities with Sennheiser HD600's treble quality which I really adored. The refinement on tuning of its treble frequencies will forestall the possible instances of sibilance and harshness while retaining a natural vocal presentation and well-rendered attack from both percussive and rhythmic instruments as I perceive those gradual slopes on upper midrange up to the brilliance part of the treble region.

Cymbals have a rather lustrous and undulating sound with decent sizzle from each strike. Hi-hats sounds are depicted accurately with their distinctive chick sound as it has a shortened buzzing tone while glockenspiels have their silvery and bell-like sound. As for quantity of air and harmonics, it has a rather modest airy extension and fair amount of sparkle.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

It has a rather moderately spacious head room as it has an above-average to wide lateral range on its sound/speaker stage with excellent height ceiling and good depth on distance between front and back to have that sense of immersion within its spatial cues.

On imaging, it projects an atmospheric presentation on its sound field and I was able to pinpoint the placements of vocals and instruments in a precise and accurate manner. It has excellent and well-defined separation of instruments and vocals, then well-placed and articulate layers of tones and frequency of each instrument that give a good depth and note texture such that playing complex tracks will be an easy-peasy for the Canon II as it can handle them effortlessly.

It has an excellent cohesive performance on its hybrid driver configuration as the dynamic driver performs a fast transient speed while balanced armatures were able to showcase their competent sound isolation.

The resolution capabilities of this set is remarkable in both macro-dynamics and micro-dynamics. It has well-rendered notation attacks, a strong rendition of reverb and ambience on its note dynamics and a reasonably sharp micro-detail definition as it extract a good amount of details and nuances.


PEER COMPARISONS:

HIDIZS MS5

● Both IEMs are of similar price range, MS5 possesses more inclusion like a variety of ear tips to choose from. Unlike Canon II, its shell is made of composite materials made of acrylic resin for its faceplate and a solid aluminium alloy on its nozzle and cavity base. Instead of opting for tuning switches, MS5 has its own tuning filter system which offers 3 different types of sonic profiles.

● As for tonality, since it has 3 sonic filters, I will compare them on a case to case basis. Bass response MS5 is more impacting and authoritative on red tuning filter but it is less clean sounding, Midrange presentation is way too recessed on MS5 in red tuning filter but somehow texture albeit Canon II is more refined as it is slightly recessed and at the same time it has correct note density on both vocals and instruments to sound way more natural. Treble response on MS5 especially on rose gold and silver tuning filters is somewhat a mixed bag, for sure it is more sparkling and airy than the Canon II but you will also encounter some jarring and shrill female vocals and instrumental attacks.

● Technical performance on both sets are quite contrasting. While the MS5 has excellent imaging, separation and layering capabilities, it's overall soundstage dimensions is rather average as it doesn't give me that spacious headroom that I want especially on a midrange set. While it has a good resolution capability, MS5's takes it in more "digitally" while the Canon II retains an organic and balanced timbre.


AFUL Performer 8

● In my opinion, Performer 8 is truly a rival for the Canon II. Both are of hybrid driver configuration but Performer 8 has more balanced armature drivers with its vaunted "RCL Network Frequency Division Technology". While the Canon II resin shell chassis are handcrafted, Performer 8 shell's undergo a 3D-printing process to ensure uniformity and better production, and the shells of the Performer 8 are smaller. They both have excellent product packaging and presentation. The Performer 8 doesn't have any gimmicky features like detachable tuning filters or toggle switches.

● When it comes to tonality, Performer 8 has a mild-U, almost a balanced-neutral sound profile. Performer 8 is comparable to the □□ setting of Canon II. It has good sub-bass presence but when I compare it to Canon II, its midbass is somewhat lacking punch and texture, yielding quite a dry presence, but it has a similarly clean bass response. On midrange, it has vocals and instruments with sufficient note weight for a have clean and articulate sound but Canon II has a fuller and robust note weight to give more definition on male vocals, rhythm and percussive instruments. The treble response is similar to the Canon II, smooth, clean and sufficiently energetic, but the difference between them was the quality of their brilliance part of the treble region in which Canon II has a tad more treble air and sparkle.

● As for technical capabilities, this is where the Canon II excels. For sure the Performer 8 has a capable imaging, separation and layering performance but its sound/speaker stage is on the intimate side which is quite average in my opinion. Resolution capabilities are on par for both sets as they both possess good macro-dynamics and capable micro-detail retrieval. Both sets have pleasant and natural timbre quality and both are well-balanced but each with their distinctive tonal capabilities.



The YANYIN Canon II is truly one of the most marvellous sets I have encountered at under £320/US$400. With its well-balanced, remarkable resolution, articulate sound quality and the consistency and cohesion from its hybrid driver configuration, I will definitely recommend this one without any hesitation at all.

If you want a lush, harmonious and detailed sound that can yet be enjoyed by treble-sensitive folk, this set is perfect for you. Job well done, YANYIN!

YANYIN Canon II is now available at LINSOUL, if you are interested to purchase, check it out the unaffiliated link down below.

★★YANYIN CANON II - LINSOUL★★

For more infos about YANYIN products, you can check it out on the provided link down below.

◆◆YANYIN FACEBOOK PAGE◆◆

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: YANYIN CANON II
IMPEDANCE: 27-40Ω
SENSITIVITY: 112dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5Hz – 25KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (4) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS



Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)


Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to YANYIN nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to JOSEPH YEUNG of YANYIN for providing this review unit as a loaner unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Linsoul for furnishing this unit.
The Yanyin Canon II can be obtained here (no affiliate links): https://www.linsoul.com/products/yanyin-canon-ii





SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x biological diaphragm DD and 4 x BA drivers
• Impedance: 27 - 40 Ohms (depending on tuning switch)
• Frequency response: 5 Hz - 25 kHz
• Sensitivity: 112 dB
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm, graphene single crystal copper silver-plated cable; option for 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm termination
• Tested at $379 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 4 pairs of silicone eartips
- Case
- Cable
- Tuning switch card-pin



The accessories are very spartan for a midFI priced IEM, and this is disappointing. Gear at this price usually comes loaded with a variety of foam and silicone tips, in addition to cleaning brushes or even modular cables, with all these being absent here.

The included silicone tips are serviceable from a comfort and sonic perspective. They come in a little plastic case, which is a nice touch. The brown leatherette rectangular case is hard on the outside, with internal webbing and a soft material, to cushion its contents.

The included cable is a graphene single crystal copper silver-plated cable. This is very well-braided with good heft. Microphonics are minimal and it comes with a chin cinch to assist stability. It is one of the better stock cables I've encountered in my IEM journey, in addition to having a 2-pin connector (which should be theoretically more robust than MMCX with frequent cable swaps). When placing an order, one can opt for a 2.5 mm or 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm termination.

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


BUILD/COMFORT



The housings are fashioned from medical-grade resin, and each shell is individually handcrafted. The faceplates showcase a unique starry/space theme motif, and this is a breath of fresh air amongst the hackneyed black or silver-shelled IEMs.



Each housing has an individualized serial number!

Comfort and ergonomics are excellent. The shells are light with no awkward protrusions on the inner aspects. I faced no discomfort despite using the Canon II for extended listening sessions.




I did not encounter any driver flex on my pair. Isolation is average, in view of the vented DDs, though this IEM is still usable in noisy environments.




This IEM's selling point are the tuning switches. We will discuss about their sonic changes in further detail below, but I'm glad to report that the switches are easily manipulated, and lock with a satisfying click.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Canon II 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 relatively easily driven across all tuning switches. It does scale slightly with amplification, but this is not truly essential.


INTERNALS/TUNING SWITCHES

The Canon II is a hybrid with the following drivers:
- 1 x biological diaphragm DD handles the bass
- 2 x BA drivers settle the midrange
- the remaining 2 BA drivers take care of the treble

There is no publicized information on the BA brand/type, but these drivers are housed within a dual-chamber acoustic design, with a crossover implemented.

This IEM has 2 tuning switches, to give 4 potential sound signatures:

Graph of the Yanyin Canon II across various switch configurations. 8 khz is a coupler artefact peak.

As per the graphs above, the tuning switches are very subtle, giving about 2 dB difference across the most of extreme of switches, and they mostly act from 400 Hz and below (ie switches only affect the lower mids and bass frequencies).


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

The rest of this review will be done with the Canon II on the all switches up configuration (ie most bassy config).

Tonally, when used at moderate volume levels (Fletcher Munson curve), the Canon II can be described as a warm U-shaped set, with a sub-bass boost. This is quite pleasant and inoffensive. Perhaps only bonafide bassheads and trebleheads may quibble about the tuning, and most others should find it acceptable.

This IEM is sub-bass focused. Bass extension is deep with a good rumble felt. In terms of bass quality, it is fast and clean, with very good texturing. Mid-bass bleed is absent as there is a slight mid-bass scoop out.

The lower midrange continues on from the aforementioned scoop out, and is a bit thin as a result. However, this area is very transparent and clear due to no big bass encroachment. This allows instruments to be easily showcased on a dark background, with the Canon II having top-notch imaging and layering. The upper mids are safely tuned, with a 5 - 6 dB ear gain. No shoutiness is heard at all - unless folks pump up the volume to high levels (Fletcher Munson curve) - and vocals may be slightly behind the instruments in the mix.

The treble is quite smooth, with no sibilance. It rolls off early and we do not get much sparkle or air in this IEM, but as a result, the Canon II can be used for hours on end without any fatigue. Micro-details are still acceptable despite the toned-down treble. Indeed, the Canon II doesn't need to cheat to artificially boost this area to give "fake" details, and we can still hear fine nuances in the music.

Timbre is surprisingly well done, despite this IEM packing 4 BAs. There's not much BA timbre heard in acoustic instruments like strings, brasses and woodwinds, and most BA containing hybrids flop in this department. Coherency is good with the DD bass driver keeping up well with the BAs in timbre and speed.

On to the technicalities department. As alluded to previously, the Canon II has superb imaging and layering. Micro-details are still present, but perhaps there will be other steroid infused hybrid rivals that have boosted treble with greater clarity. Soundstage is above average in all 3 dimensions, and music does not sound congested at all, due to the good instrument separation and layering on hand.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made against other midFI hybrids. Planars, single DDs, and pure BA IEMs are omitted, as the different transducers have their own pros and cons.




AFUL Performer 5

The Performer 5 is a U-shaped set. The Performer 5's bass isn't as textured or tight, and it has way worse BA timbre, sounding very artificial in the higher frequencies handled by the BAs.

Technically, the Performer 5 is also a step behind, with inferior imaging, soundstage and instrument separation. The Performer 5 is quite incoherent with the slower DD bass unable to keep up with the faster BAs in speed.


Sony XBA-N3

The N3 is a bullet shaped IEM with worse isolation and driver flex.

Tonally, the N3 has a way bigger mid-bass, though the bass isn't as tight and bleeds. The N3 also has less treble extension. The N3 has a bigger soundstage, but loses to the Canon II in other technical areas such as micro-details, imaging and instrument separation.


CONCLUSIONS

The Yanyin Canon II is a beautifully crafted hybrid, with solid ergonomics and easy drivability. It features a warm U-shaped tonality that should be a crowd-pleaser, with perhaps only diehard bassheads and trebleheads finding this IEM tonally not to be their cup of tea.

Surprisingly for a BA containing hybrid, the timbre is organic, and the imaging and layering is a highlight, in addition to the tight and fast bass on show. This IEM also does well in coherency, which cannot be said of some competitor hybrids.

Sadly, for a midFI priced IEM, the accessories are sparse, and the tuning switches are not too substantially different from each other. Personally, I would have preferred to have seen a "tunable" IEM with more light-or-day differences in tonality, so as to bestow greater versatility in the frequency response.

Nevertheless, for folks wanting to get a well-balanced IEM that does most departments well, the Canon II is definitely something to consider in the conversation. Additionally, its excellent ergonomics, not too coloured tonality and solid technical chops will make it suitable as a stage monitor or audio tool for musicians or mixing work.