[Cecala]

I recently found out about these the other day and find comments interesting. I'm not about to read 236 pages worth of info although if I may ask some questions here:

What are the differences between the EST50 and the H50?
Somebody mentioned that the best cable to extract the most benefit was the 'mix', on their website they have quite a few in that range. Which one is being referenced here?
Where is the best place to purchase these?
There are a mind boggling range of (cheaper) quality iems now available, it's becoming an astronomical challenge to ultimately choose one.
Thanks.

 

[Dsnuts]

EST50 is the flagship ISN earphones and cost as much. It is using more premium drivers for its sound qualities 10mm silicone dynamic+ Sonion BA for mids + Knowles BA for treble and 2X Sonion EST drivers for the ultra highs. It is more of a bass focused yet balanced L presentation for its sound signature. One of the best bass tribrids for its price.

The ISN H50 is actually the newest hybrid from ISN which is more of a w shaped signature. Its is using lesser BAs but some good ones none the less with a nice 10mm composite dynamic and 4 BAs for its mids and treble tuning. These have a wide engaging full bodied sound with nice treble sparkle.

Both these sets are completely worth their price of admission but if you plan on getting the H50 and then something like the mix.. Then that becomes basically the price of the EST50. Do you absolutely need an upgrades cable on these? Not really but you bet they scale to better cables. This being said if you want your trebles mids and bass with a wide stage the H50 is a good place to start. The EST50 has a more refined sound from bass to its treble and has one of the best bass specialist dynamics for earphones I can think off in its silicone dynamic. IF your a bass fan than maybe going for the EST50 might be the way to go. They do require a good burn in though.

Either phone will do you just fine and both are engaging in different ways but the price differences are there for a reason.
Only place your going to buy these are from Penon audio. It is a Penon brand earphone. My friendly advice is get one and go from there you can always buy an upgraded cable later.

By the way it is the Mix I recommend for the EST50 and the Penon GS849 I recommend for the H50, if you must get the best synergy with a cable.

 

[Cecala]

EST50 is the flagship ISN earphones and cost as much. It is using more premium drivers for its sound qualities 10mm silicone dynamic+ Sonion BA for mids + Knowles BA for treble and 2X Sonion EST drivers for the ultra highs. It is more of a bass focused yet balanced L presentation for its sound signature. One of the best bass tribrids for its price.

The ISN H50 is actually the newest hybrid from ISN which is more of a w shaped signature. Its is using lesser BAs but some good ones none the less with a nice 10mm composite dynamic and 4 BAs for its mids and treble tuning. These have a wide engaging full bodied sound with nice treble sparkle.

Both these sets are completely worth their price of admission but if you plan on getting the H50 and then something like the mix.. Then that becomes basically the price of the EST50. Do you absolutely need an upgrades cable on these? Not really but you bet they scale to better cables. This being said if you want your trebles mids and bass with a wide stage the H50 is a good place to start. The EST50 has a more refined sound from bass to its treble and has one of the best bass specialist dynamics for earphones I can think off in its silicone dynamic. IF your a bass fan than maybe going for the EST50 might be the way to go. They do require a good burn in though.

Either phone will do you just fine and both are engaging in different ways but the price differences are there for a reason.
Only place your going to buy these are from Penon audio. It is a Penon brand earphone. My friendly advice is get one and go from there you can always buy an upgraded cable later.

Thanks for the time and effort, now that I recall it was yourself which recommended the 'mix' cable. I primarily listen to classical and OSTs, although also to a healthy dose of EDM, Club, Lounge, Dark ambient and Downtempo. So I would like good rumble in the bass and a wide sound-stage with extended treble. Your advice would be to get the EST50?
Also how well are these made from this manufacturer?

 

[Dsnuts]

Penon is the company responsible for making these. They are all semi custom poured resin. So far as builds goes not much gonna happen to a solid block of resin. You can ask others about Penon audio. They are sponsored here on Headfi and produce arguably some of the best IEMS for your money. You can ask around here on headfi from folks that have bought stuff from them and what their experiences have been like.

Since I review stuff for them I am not the best to ask for that. But I can tell you even before I was reviewing for Penon I have bought so many items from them which I still own today. Including my Special edition Ibasso DX160 and PB3 amp to name a few and numerous cables and other IEMs and they send you stuff fast at a reasonable price.

EST50 is not the best for orchestral music, not bad there but not the best as the EST50 is not an analytical signature. It is a highly refined musical signature with bass, for your other genres they are excellent for. It is the H50 that will be better for classical due to its upper treble emphasis and mids imaging. And on the opposite end the H50 does EDM and sub genres good too. It is more sub bass focused but shows good versatility due to having good presence in all 3 regions of sound.

It sounds like your looking for a more higher end sound than the H50. The EST50 with the Mix will provide that.

 

[ehjie]

Thanks for the time and effort, now that I recall it was yourself which recommended the 'mix' cable. I primarily listen to classical and OSTs, although also to a healthy dose of EDM, Club, Lounge, Dark ambient and Downtempo. So I would like good rumble in the bass and a wide sound-stage with extended treble.

I'd suggest the H40.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/isn-earphones-impression-thread-new-isn-h50.920551/

Also how well are these made from this manufacturer?

Currently owning the H50, quality is very good for the price. So is reliability - both the product and seller
https://penonaudio.com/
Don't expect exquisite unboxing experience, but neither spartan is the packaging, with decent contents for the money.

08-Dec.21 on hand.

I primarily listen to classical and OSTs, although also to a healthy dose of EDM, Club, Lounge, Dark ambient and Downtempo.

I cannot reco. my 50s for this genre' . They (the 50s) may have fairly good neutral mids, excellent treble detail retrieval, airy, very extended, sparkly. Fairly large out of head sound field, but the Bass - the 40 has better quantity in the bass. The 50s sub bass may not be enough...

 

[Cecala]

It sounds like your looking for a more higher end sound than the H50. The EST50 with the Mix will provide that.

So you're saying that this particluar cable will tame the bass to some degree and make it palatable for classical?

 

[Cecala]

I'd suggest the H40.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/isn-earphones-impression-thread-new-isn-h50.920551/

Currently owning the H50, quality is very good for the price. So is reliability - both the product and seller
https://penonaudio.com/
Don't expect exquisite unboxing experience, but neither spartan is the packaging, with decent contents for the money.

08-Dec.21 on hand.


I cannot reco. my 50s for this genre' . They (the 50s) may have fairly good neutral mids, excellent treble detail retrieval, airy, very extended, sparkly. Fairly large out of head sound field, but the Bass - the 40 has better quantity in the bass. The 50s sub bass may not be enough...

Bass 50H/EST50 less than 40H? I don't expect or WANT an exquisite unboxing experience, I prefer all the money spent on the product. In any case the box will spend all it's time in storage.

 

[Dsnuts]

Bass got good control but there is a good quantity of bass on the EST50. Its got the most emphasis out of the 3 regions of sound. I suppose you can go for a pure silver cable something like the ISN AG8 for classical on the EST50. But the Mix is called the Mix due to having both crystal copper and pure silver. Best of both worlds and expands the sound of the EST50. A versatile cable for a versatile EST50 even though it has bass emphasis.

I agree with @ehjie, EST50 is like a direct upgrade on the older ISN H40s more than the H50s as the H50s went for a different type tuning altogether.

 

[ehjie]

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/isn-earphones-impression-thread-new-isn-h50.920551/post-16932325
+1 on the GS849 + H50.
Using Final type black

@T 3:27 may not have the bass quantity, but the bass quality and overall resolution is fantastic with low level detail to boot...

 

[ian91]

Fairly large out of head sound field, but the Bass - the 40 has better quantity in the bass. The 50s sub bass may not be enough...

I would agree here. ISN H40 for a more V tuning (more bass and upper midrange) with excellent soundstage and detail. H50 is more balanced but ultimately a different take that I find less exciting for OST.

 

[alexandros a]

in case anyone interested :

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1221974387914138/permalink/4998410766937129/

my complete VIEW : MEXT vs ISN H50

 

[alexandros a]

Guys.... I strongly advise (if not challenge)
anyone owning H50 miraculous monitors here to listen to these above 4 gems....
To be more precise in the last 4th song "ILUITEQ - Above, the sky" the amount of ambience that is created by H50 is so unique and unbelievable that can fly anyone directly to the moon.........
what a lucky man am I owning such a miraculous monitor.... I really thank ISN AUDIO every day for creating such a gem..

 

[ehjie]

Guys.... I strongly advise (if not challenge)
anyone owning H50 miraculous monitors here to listen to these above 4 gems....
To be more precise in the last 4th song "ILUITEQ - Above, the sky" the amount of ambience that is created by H50 is so unique and unbelievable that can fly anyone directly to the moon.........
what a lucky man am I owning such a miraculous monitor.... I really thank ISN AUDIO every day for creating such a gem..

Listening to it right Now using the 50s. Vast! Lots of low level details.

Cool is an understatement, Magnificent is apt...

Kindly Try this one.
EST50, H40, H50 and other ISN in ear headphone owners Rejoice!!!
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 350px; height: 470px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer...kcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="">House Full Of Caverns by Falling Up</a></iframe>

 

[alexandros a]

Listening to it right Now using the 50s. Vast! Lots of low level details.

Cool is an understatement, Magnificent is apt...

Kindly Try this one.
EST50, H40, H50 and other ISN in ear headphone owners Rejoice!!!
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 350px; height: 470px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer...kcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="">House Full Of Caverns by Falling Up</a></iframe>

Thanks for nova man....
on H50 is indeed something else.....
fabulous sound spatiality!

 

[ehjie]

Using pure copper japanese litz 4 core cable
H50 Weathering
06-Mar = 20hrs
07-11 = 40hrs
13-18 =48hrs
20-25 =48hrs
27-01(apr)=48hrs
----------------
204hrs

We're past the 200 hr mark. So, what changed?
From the Top, i hear better definition, extension, more air, more clarity. It's like 2 ba receivers are working, separation is very defined
Mids on the neutral side (neutral NOT thin). Separation is excellent. Details are very good to excellent.


Bass - tight, what we should expect from a dynamic - well textured, decent rumble. No rewards for quantity, but quality is excellent - zero bleed, sub bass is on the fore...

ISN H50
204 Hours
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/isn-earphones-impression-thread-new-isn-h50.920551/post-16897880
02-09 April = 60hrs.
11-16 = 60hrs.
18-23 = 60+28(2 cons. days @24hrs)=88hrs
-----------------------------------------
208hrs
GT= 400 ++ Hours weathered. It's time to Listen to the Music.
To summarise, the 50s tuning is along the lines of say the IT07, and CA Solaris - wide U shape, neutral bass, neutral mids and extended treble, on the moderately bright side, more of a treble head's ear candy. Detail heads won't be disappointed either. The top end has generous amounts of air, extension, sparkle.
Mids are neutral and fairly detailed. The Bass is neutral, sub-bass focused more than mid bass.
The sound field is on the large side, elliptical shape staging, of course not as deep and wide as the Ibasso & Campfire flagships, but decent depth nonetheless.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable set.
For my ears, my set faired very well on Final type E black tips, as well as CP-240 and the Shure quiet comfort.
For folks that hear differences on cable rolling, I use premium pure copper 4 core japanese Litz-4, that I borrowed from my 1670. More bodied bass and mids was very welcoming and the controlled upper treble as well. In the future, I will get a pure copper from ISN.
The H50 represents very good value for money in my book...