Further impressions of the fengru s300 as promised. Tonally this is definitely a midcentric iem with laidback treble and thick, lush mids. Anyone looking for pure resolution or for extra sparkly treble can skip these. Bass is pretty awesome, great micro and macrodynamics despite the thicker signature, and surprisingly good extension. For those not used to this signature bloat might be perceived but personally as someone who really enjoys this signature the bloom just adds body and richness to the lower mids, and if you listen past the bloat, texture and dynamics are still well maintained. Good punch and rumble as well. Mids are exceptional. Rich, lush and extremely well textured. Timbre is spot on as well and tone is lovely, with notes having proper weight behind them. Vocal texture is also handled extremely well. Highly recommended for any mids lovers. Treble it just kind of there, laid back in presentation, lacking a bit of sparkle and extension but that’s typical for this signature, and further directs attention to the lovely mids. Rendering is smooth and texturing is actually pretty solid.
Technicalities wise these aren’t winning any prizes in terms of resolution, but what you do get instead is close to top tier dynamic nuance, texturing and layering. Staging is forward and intimate, but the exceptional layering results in a good sense of space between instruments and lends great depth to the soundstage despite the intimate presentation.
vs ty-hiz 314 300ohms
Tonally the 314 300ohms is warm sounding bud with added treble sparkle. Mids while still warm are not as full bodied and lush as the s300. As a result, resolution is marginally better, but timbre is nowhere near as satisfying as the s300. Treble sparkle and extension are noticeably better on the 314, and staging feels larger as a result of the airier presentation. However, it’s worth noting that although the 314 pushes images further from you than the s300, it doesn’t layer nearly as well and staging as a result is bigger, but flatter and more one dimensional. The s300 while more intimate showcases relative space between instruments far better and hence creates the more dynamic and layered stage. Presentation is not unlike an audeze or hd650, where they image fairly close but show great nuance when it comes to portraying space between instruments.
vs k’s 300
Another budget 300ohm bud, though it’s close to twice the price of the s300. Technically these share a lot of the strengths of the s300, also having excellent layering and dynamics, though with a different tonal presentation. Wouldn’t be surprised if they were using the same driver. The k’s 300 signature is more of slightly warm and dark and slightly bassy, reminiscent of the vido. Lower mids are leaner on the k’s 300, resulting in faster perceived transients and better clarity. It also results in a slightly hollowed out, cavernous effect on the sound, which increases perceived stage size, with a slight cost to tonality. The k’s 300 sounds massive and if anyone is looking for a not too expensive bud that can match some headphones in staging, the k’s 300 is the one I’d recommend. Overall the more neutral presentation through the mids and better resolution means the majority of people likely will prefer the k’s 300 over the s300. But for the select few who love their mids or who want to add a really great rendition of a midcentric sound to their collection, the s300 with its high performance and low cost is a no brainer.
