Been listening to the Diamond for the last few days and felt it was time to drop some first impressions.
Packaging/Accessories I'm one of few who actually care about packaging since it sets my first impressions and reflects on the sort of respect a company will give it's products and customers. Doesn't mean it has to be flashy and packed to the gills with stuff, just well thought out. The Diamond fits into that category with an easy to open box that displays most of the included goodies front and centre once opened, except the cable and some extra tips which are tucked inside the case that is protected inside another, smaller cardboard box. You get lots of tips too (2x foam, 2x s/m/l single flange), though they're somewhat redundant. It would have been nice if there was a little more variety in shape/style. Overall a positive unboxing experience.
Build/Comfort The first pictures I saw of the Diamond had me thinking KZ AS10/CCA C16 in terms of shell design. I was fine with that since they fit well and were comfortable, if not a bit bulky. Now that I have the Diamond in hand, the shape is still very KZ-esque, but smaller and not as deep, heavier (metal vs. plastic), and with a nozzle angle that leads to a more natural fit. Minus a few very minor blemishes in the coating on the top of each housing, they look fantastic. The carbon fibre faceplates look excellent and each component part of the build, four in total I think (faceplate, main body, and a two piece nozzle system), fit together tightly and with minimal seams. Only time will tell, but for now the build seems to be rock solid. The stock braided cable is quite nice too, reminding me of those from HiFiHear. It is flexible and light with a useful chin cinch and preformed ear guides, something I always appreciate. Strain relief is lacking completely at the y-split and minimal at the straight jack, but the numerous strands feel durable enough to make this less of a concern than it is on a more traditional cable. Isolation also seems excellent for a dynamic driver only iem, but I'll need to give that a more thorough run down before the final review.
Sound Given the early release content I had read, I had a good idea of what to expect from the Diamond prior to giving it a listen and I wasn't surprised. "Safe" is the word I'd use to describe the tune. Lots of bass that digs very deep and is well textured. Mids that could stand to be a bit more forward but remain clear and coherent. Timbre that comes across accurate-ish, if not a hint light, bright, and dry. Treble that is well extended but rolled off up to giving the Diamond a dry and detailed, but not fatiguing presentation, with just a hint of sparkle. Control could be a touch improved as cymbals display some looseness and splashiness, though it's nothing extreme and well in line with the price tag. Sound stage isn't particularly large or airy with giving off a very much "in-the-head" feel. I'm fine with that if imaging is great, and so far the Diamond seems to be. The small stage does lead to it sounding somewhat congested with busy tracks though, as instrument separation and layering aren't outstanding. With more laid back and chill music full of low and slow basslines, the Diamond is definitely something I could see myself pulling out for long listening sessions.
Final Thoughts So Far While the tune is a bit too bassy and mid-light for my tastes, this is absolutely something I could see the majority eating up since it pairs so well with pop, hip hop, rap, etc. Add to that an attractive design, good ergonomics, and a sub-100 price tag and the Diamond is doing a lot more right than wrong. Looking forward to spending more time with it leading up to the final review.