Got the Kiwi Aethers, thanks to @Redcarmoose inspiring me! Can't thank him enough! Love my Hidizs MP145s and now the Aethers! I use the hiby R5 gen2 which I love. Wish the Android wasn't outdated or id probably buy another as a backup...Anyone who buys an Aether and runs it from a phone, Apple dongle or low-powered DAP is a fool. And they have no one to blame but themselves.
One, the Aether is a planar. Those drivers demand juice. Two, it's a HUGE planar driver for an IEM. They squeeze even more juice from the orange.
The Aether sings with power. It easily will end up being one of, if not THE, No. 1 value IEM I'll try or buy this year. But if someone complains the Aether sounds lifeless and they're using a phone, Apple dongle or weak DAP, I'll laugh them away like a Mormon missionary coming to my front door and trying to convince this fairly devout Catholic to convert.
Please let me know what this "vacation" thing is. What is that all about? What is time off?
If anyone is stuck in the rainy deep freeze of the Northeast on Sunday and is homebound, tune in to FOX at 10 a.m. ET for the Indy 500 pre-race show and the race at 12:45 p.m. ET. Should be a hell of a show, and we can always use the ratings. Thanks!
Hmm ... whose word do I trust more for non-compromised authenticity and truth, HBB or White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt? Tough call ...
I have owned the Audeze LCD-2C, Audeze LCD-X 2021, HiFiMan XS and Dan Clark Audio Aeon Noire, all mid-fi planars. While not top-end like those you described, yes, those planars don't excel in timbre and "natural pacing" like a quality DD. Planars are known for their speed and can -- emphasis on can -- have thin, metallic timbre compared to DDs.
The discovery thread!
- Thread starter Dsnuts
- Start date
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I do not own the Volare, but I would recommend you to try the FiiO KA15. Ever since it gets a lot of my ear-time because it does nearly everything right for my taste.
The only thing that I would like to see improved is the noise floor aka. hiss, that could be lower for some of my high sensitive IEMs.
Read the review of @Ichos over here, as he nailed it from my perspective:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fiio-ka15-dac-and-headphone-amplifier.27557/reviews
I also own the DC04Pro and don't like their stage presentation. KA15 is the complete opposite and therefore chances are high that you do not need to look somewhere else.
(The DAC is below your budget with 95 USD on Linsoul, but trust me it plays above this price point, not even considering features like EQ etc.)
Otherwise go for DC Elite, Nunchaku or try Dethonray Clarinet / Clarinet Pro.
Tanchjim Luna might also be something for you, but KA15 is cheaper and has more features.
Edit: Ok Volare has a very low impedance of 4.8Ω so you might want to choose a DAC with <0.6Ω output impedance.
Like DC Elite over 3.5mm port
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Redcarmoose
Headphoneus Supremus
Good, glad to hear it! I just want everyone to be happy in their audio journey. When I found the Aether to be exceptional, I had to relay the message to folks. Notice I don’t always talk about every new IEM like I did about the Kiwi ears Aether. It’s special, and I’m happy to hear you found it special too, there are a lot of choices nowadays!
caryking
100+ Head-Fier
I have the Kaei TAP1 Pro with the PSU2 as well as the Woo Audio Topaz. I’m a huge fan of tube amps; however, I’m getting an overall better performance from the Woo Topaz. The Topaz provides a fuller more impactful sound. Typically, Tubes would do that better; however, not in this case. On the TAP1, I have upgraded it with 4 627bp op amps. So, changing the Op amps to something like V7 classics would do what?
If not op amp changes, what other Tune amp should I consider? I’d love to try the Woo Eclipse; however, I’m fully committed to 4.4mm input and outputs and the Eclipse is only 3.5 or 6.3 outputs.
Thoughts?
If not op amp changes, what other Tune amp should I consider? I’d love to try the Woo Eclipse; however, I’m fully committed to 4.4mm input and outputs and the Eclipse is only 3.5 or 6.3 outputs.
Thoughts?
alexandros a
Headphoneus Supremus
THIEAUDIO Oracle MKIII - 2024 Updated Version Review
.. This month I was truly blessed... . I had the unbelievable luck to experience /review/test two unique/different in their own way tremendous sets......Yanyin Canon Pro..
and this one.......
Well this one has been (as well) for me an utterly overwhelming experience.. so.... feel free to read for yourselves and find out if that one suits your musical taste in sound or not........worths every single penny..
Attachments
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I have the original TP35 and was hoping this app works for it too but no luck. The app is not available through the normal channels though so download at your own risk.You could or buy the new EPZ TP35PRO
This think is crazy good, small , and combine that with this Android and web app is insane what you can do with programmable and store PEQ Equalizer settings, everything.
Killer Dongle so far $86 CDN list price!
I just found this on AliExpress:
C$92.88 | EPZ TP35 Pro
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNhj2gn
Personally I wouldn't support AKLAIM ever again.
For me the DX1's fit is a major hurdle. I have trouble with small shells and shallow insertion but no problems with huge shells. The DX1 felt similar to other small IEMs like the Letshuoer S08 so it really depends on your ears.
I really want to try this one too and hopefully we both can at CJ SoCal in a few months
. I feel like the price is a little high though and my personal opinion is that Cayin products are typically priced higher than most competitors so we will see if it's worth it.
Hideous looking??? How can you say such a thing...blasphemy I tell you.
There's plenty of stuff I prefer over the Storm. It's not the holy grail people claim it to be. Just a high performing TOTL set. Tuning is and will always be king for me.
Howdy, everyone.
It’s been a while. I’ve been off all forms of audio forums for a few months now. I won’t be 100% back, but I did want to say that I hope all of my buddies here are doing well and also I wanted to say thank you to those who reached out personally, you know who you are. That really does mean a lot to me and it won’t be forgotten
Good to see you sir! Don't be a stranger
Agree that it looks a little lean. I'm discovering more and more that I like mid-bass.Jays Audio Top Pro review really emphasized the treble quality on this set. Might be a good one for the trebleheads. Looks a bit too lean in the <250Hz area for me.
For me the Caldera Open has the best timbre of any full sized headphones I've tried so far and it's a planar
Also, yes go to CanJam! Try out all the fancy stuff for yourself
Might I suggest the Muse HiFi M5 Ultra? Portable tube amp with Bluetooth and also Transitor mode which bypasses the tubes so it has two sonic flavors built into 1 device.
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Sound Rhyme SR5 - is a hidden audiophile masterpiece!
Hello, friends!
Many of you may already be familiar with the Sound Rhyme SR5 headphones - and I wouldn't even be surprised if some of you have owned them for a long time. They're far from new, after all. But here I am just now getting my hands on them for the first time... and honestly, I'm kind of an audiophile shock. I immediately unpacked them, plugged them into the source, and pressed play... and from the very first second - WOW. That's not an exaggeration. It's not just a good headphone, it's literally a real boost of emotion, as if I had live music poured into my ears right now. The SR5 literally burst into my ears and stayed there.
But you know what's crazy is that these hybrid headphones even today sound absolutely relevant, despite the huge competition, and despite the times. And they definitely sound an order of magnitude above their price point, it's literally a real diamond.And it's right there when you hear it and you realize, “This is it.” Everything is in place, and you get instant gratification without any reservations, I didn't even warm them up, and I didn't change the cable, I just plugged them in and started listening.
The bass here is a treat in its own right.
Powerful, but not smeared. Clear, collected, fast and very textural. You don't just feel “bass”, you feel its shape, density, and movement. The sub-bass goes deep, but it doesn't muffle, it doesn't fill everything like basshead headphones, it's controlled, technical, clean, with great response and great body. It doesn't fill space, it literally shapes it, and creates a strong enough foundation for the rest of the stage. It's the kind of bass that makes you involuntarily start bobbing your head to the beat.
The midrange is the breath of life.
They sound neutral in tone, but with some special inner drive. Very natural, but not boring, on the contrary, emotional, lively, full of nuances. The vocals seem to come alive, as if a person is singing directly into your ear, and you can hear his breathing, character and intonations.
The instruments sound real too: guitars - with well audible plucking and body, strings - with lively pitch, piano - with natural attack and harmonic body. All the images are well separated each instrument takes its place in the space, but at the same time the scene does not disintegrate, it is organic. The sound is not dry and technical - on the contrary, it is rich and fluid, with a sense of musical breath.
The treble is a delight.
They sound clean, transparent, technical, yet soft and delicate.
There is no hint of sibilants or harshness. There is brilliance, sparkle, light, but intelligent and controlled.
Cymbals, percussion, guitars sound bright, with excellent attack and decay, but at the same time not sawing, not tiring, but on the contrary - inspiring.
This is the case when you turn on the track and catch yourself thinking: “This is how the top should sound" - open, detailed and with character, but without a drop of annoyance.
The soundstage in the SR5 is sweeping, deep, and expansive.
It's not just wide - it's layered. You can feel the depth, the space between instruments, and the volume of the room. Everything in the sound seems to breathe - there is both air and perspective. The separation of sources is clear, but at the same time the scene does not disintegrate - it is solid, but with well perceptible plans. It's a sound you want to get lost in and listen to again and again.
Conclusion.
All in all, the Sound Rhyme SR5 is really more than just a headphone. It's emotion, engagement, and a sense of true discovery. And I'm genuinely glad I finally got to know them.It's the kind of thing where you put on music and you don't care how much they cost - they sound like they cost twice, if not three times as much.
They're headphones that don't just deliver sound - they immerse you in it. If you haven't heard them yet, it means you haven't even heard what a real quality hybrid with soul can do.
Hello, friends!
Many of you may already be familiar with the Sound Rhyme SR5 headphones - and I wouldn't even be surprised if some of you have owned them for a long time. They're far from new, after all. But here I am just now getting my hands on them for the first time... and honestly, I'm kind of an audiophile shock. I immediately unpacked them, plugged them into the source, and pressed play... and from the very first second - WOW. That's not an exaggeration. It's not just a good headphone, it's literally a real boost of emotion, as if I had live music poured into my ears right now. The SR5 literally burst into my ears and stayed there.
But you know what's crazy is that these hybrid headphones even today sound absolutely relevant, despite the huge competition, and despite the times. And they definitely sound an order of magnitude above their price point, it's literally a real diamond.And it's right there when you hear it and you realize, “This is it.” Everything is in place, and you get instant gratification without any reservations, I didn't even warm them up, and I didn't change the cable, I just plugged them in and started listening.
The bass here is a treat in its own right.Powerful, but not smeared. Clear, collected, fast and very textural. You don't just feel “bass”, you feel its shape, density, and movement. The sub-bass goes deep, but it doesn't muffle, it doesn't fill everything like basshead headphones, it's controlled, technical, clean, with great response and great body. It doesn't fill space, it literally shapes it, and creates a strong enough foundation for the rest of the stage. It's the kind of bass that makes you involuntarily start bobbing your head to the beat.
The midrange is the breath of life.They sound neutral in tone, but with some special inner drive. Very natural, but not boring, on the contrary, emotional, lively, full of nuances. The vocals seem to come alive, as if a person is singing directly into your ear, and you can hear his breathing, character and intonations.
The instruments sound real too: guitars - with well audible plucking and body, strings - with lively pitch, piano - with natural attack and harmonic body. All the images are well separated each instrument takes its place in the space, but at the same time the scene does not disintegrate, it is organic. The sound is not dry and technical - on the contrary, it is rich and fluid, with a sense of musical breath.
The treble is a delight.They sound clean, transparent, technical, yet soft and delicate.
There is no hint of sibilants or harshness. There is brilliance, sparkle, light, but intelligent and controlled.
Cymbals, percussion, guitars sound bright, with excellent attack and decay, but at the same time not sawing, not tiring, but on the contrary - inspiring.
This is the case when you turn on the track and catch yourself thinking: “This is how the top should sound" - open, detailed and with character, but without a drop of annoyance.
The soundstage in the SR5 is sweeping, deep, and expansive.It's not just wide - it's layered. You can feel the depth, the space between instruments, and the volume of the room. Everything in the sound seems to breathe - there is both air and perspective. The separation of sources is clear, but at the same time the scene does not disintegrate - it is solid, but with well perceptible plans. It's a sound you want to get lost in and listen to again and again.
Conclusion.All in all, the Sound Rhyme SR5 is really more than just a headphone. It's emotion, engagement, and a sense of true discovery. And I'm genuinely glad I finally got to know them.It's the kind of thing where you put on music and you don't care how much they cost - they sound like they cost twice, if not three times as much.
They're headphones that don't just deliver sound - they immerse you in it. If you haven't heard them yet, it means you haven't even heard what a real quality hybrid with soul can do.
ISN AUDIO EBC80 IMPRESSIONS
A Study in Subtle BrillianceMuch thanks to the "Audio Geek India Brotherhood of Audiophiles" and the OG “Audio Geek” for kindly loaning this set of the ISN Audio EBC80 to me for over a week. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and tweaking around the sound of this set.
This is a purely subjective impression based on my personal experience. I am an enthusiast, not a professional, and my evaluation reflects my own tastes, opinions and listening habits. A more detailed explanation of my testing methodology, evaluation tracks, and equipment used is included in the appendix at the end.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Driver: 2EST + 2BA + 2DD + 2BCD2 Sonion Electrostatic Driver for Ultra-high frequency
1 Knowles Balanced Armature for High frequency
1 Sonion Balanced Armature for Middle frequency
2 8mm liquid silicone Dynamic Driver for Low frequency
2 Sonion Bone Conduction Driver for Full frequency
Impedance: 13 ohm
Frequency range: 5 Hz-40 kHz
Sensitivity: 106dB
Connector: 2pin 0.78mm
Plug: 3-in-1 detachable gold-plated plug (3.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.4mm)
WHAT I LIKED:
Aesthetics and Build Quality
I love the blue! Before a note is played, the ISN EBC80 makes its presence known visually. Its blue-turquoise marbled faceplate, flecked with gold, is striking but not flashy, organic yet luxurious. The resin shell is larger than average but ergonomically contoured, sitting deep in the ear canal without pressure points. Hours of listening yield no fatigue, just immersion.The build is robust, bordering on custom-tier. The nozzle angle and stem length provide a flexible seal with most tips. The supplied blue shielded cable complements the shell’s design aesthetically, though performance-wise, this stock option can be upgraded for better synergy.
Spectral Tuning and Cohesion
The ISN EBC80 avoids the common pitfalls of budget EST/BCD hybrids—there’s no splashy artificial sheen in the treble, nor exaggerated sub-bass rumble. Instead, what emerges is a tuning that prioritises cohesive tonality and musical integrity across the entire spectrum.The frequency response leans towards a gentle U-shape: present bass, lucid mids, and elevated but not piercing treble. It doesn’t chase target curves or mimic other house tunings—it simply sounds right. Everything feels "placed" rather than boosted. There’s a composure to this IEM that inspires trust in the tuning choices made.
Bass Texture, Subtlety, and Restraint
This is not a bass-head IEM. It’s something more refined. Bass on the EBC80 shows nuanced texture over quantity. There’s grip, there’s tone, there’s breath. Each low-frequency note carries micro-detail—resonance, air movement, surface texture—that speaks to careful tuning and driver integration.Sub-bass reaches deep enough to establish a solid floor, but the presentation leans emotional rather than physical. Mid-bass offers clean warmth—articulate and decaying with realism. The low end supports rather than dominates.
Electronic percussion has snap but never becomes plasticky. Orchestral swells retain dimensionality without sounding overblown. The tuning suits classical, soul, acoustic, and fusion genres far more than those demanding maximal low-frequency energy.
Midrange Realism and Vocal Presence
Here the EBC80 delivers its most emotionally potent performance. The midrange is full of heart—lush, smooth, detailed, and spatially layered. Vocals have presence without being pushed forward, and unlike many hybrids, there is no disconnect between lower and upper mids.Instruments like piano and acoustic guitar are rendered with realism—wood, hammer, and string clearly delineated. Flutes and violins avoid shrillness and show surprising body. The IEM handles instrumental and vocal interplay with smoothness and no tonal confusion.
Treble Detail and Control
The treble here is clean, well-extended, and restrained. Not splashy or dry—just purposeful. You get sparkle, not sizzle. There's clear detail retrieval without the artificial crispness that plagues many EST sets.Cymbals decay with shimmer, not hiss. High-frequency instruments are rendered with speed but not sharpness. The EST drivers are doing their job—not to impress, but to integrate.
There's a naturalness in upper harmonics that avoids plasticky or dry overtones. This makes long sessions enjoyable. Even dense compositions maintain composure.
Soundstage, Imaging, and Spatial Realism
The ISN EBC80 creates an expansive yet coherent soundstage. Not artificially wide, not boxed-in—it’s like sitting mid-row in a well-treated studio. The stage expands when needed but contracts to intimacy when the music demands it.Imaging is particularly strong. Layered elements echo with precise lateral spread. Orchestral sections wrap around the listener. You can track instruments entering and exiting the stage with clarity.
Decay and spatial layering feel analog—notes fade gently, not abruptly. You can move through complex musical passages without losing your sense of place.
Technical Performance With Musical Intent
The ISN EBC80 does not aim to wow through raw technicality. Instead, it resolves with soul. Micro-details like fret slides, ghost snares, vocal reverb trails, or ambient mic bleed are all present—but they’re not etched out unnaturally. The resolving power is organic.Its transient response is fast enough for complex passages, yet never sounds “urgent” or clinical. It prioritises realism over excitement. This might frustrate some—but it deeply rewards the patient listener.
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
Treble Sparkle and Air
Despite using EST drivers, the EBC80 doesn’t dazzle in the upper treble. There’s detail, yes—but not brilliance. High frequencies can sometimes feel matte rather than crystalline. Listeners seeking excessive top-end shimmer may find it overly polite.Sub-Bass Authority
The sub-bass rolls off gently, focusing more on tone than rumble. This makes certain high-energy or cinematic tracks feel slightly underpowered. It won’t shake your chest—it will hum supportively. A deliberate tuning decision, but not universally satisfying.Transient Edge and Speed
Due to its smooth tuning, the EBC80 sometimes softens sharp transients. Fast-paced or percussive-heavy music can feel slightly blurred in attack. It lacks the percussive bite of ultra-fast drivers in complex passages.Stock Cable and Tip Dependency
The stock cable is visually appealing but not upto the IEM’s potential. An upgrade to a higher-quality cable brings better micro-dynamics and layering. Tip choice is critical: some tips enhance stage and treble, while others smoothen but narrow the image. Out-of-box performance is good—but full potential requires matching.The ISN EBC80 is a rare Mid-Fi IEM that doesn’t try to impress—it tries to move. It trades fireworks for flow, edge for elegance. It’s not a monitor. It’s a performer. It understands music, not just sound. If you listen to music that breathes—vocal-centric, orchestral, acoustic—the EBC80 might feel less like a device and more like a companion. It’s imperfect, sure. But its imperfections are slight. And its strengths are deeply, addictively musical.
PEQ & TUNING OBSERVATIONS:
The ISN EBC80 is fundamentally well-tuned, but benefits from gentle EQ to correct subtle imbalances and enhance listening synergy with specific genres. It responds beautifully allowing it to preserve its organic, resolving tone while enhancing clarity, depth, and bass impact without over-hyping any region. A few of the tuning ideas I tried:- Boosted sub-bass and low-mid presence to reinforce foundational weight without muddying the mids
- Targeted shelving and notch cuts in upper treble to reduce slight glare and metallic edge from EST drivers
- Added air between 6k–8kHz to preserve brilliance while avoiding sibilance
- Gentle dips in 2–4kHz to tame potential vocal sharpness in dense mixes
CONSIDER THIS SET IF YOU:
- Love blue!
- Want balanced, musical tuning with above-average technical performance at a reasonable price
- Appreciate a blend of detail retrieval, clean layering, and natural warmth
- Enjoy vocals, acoustic, blues, classic rock, and large-ensemble genres that demand depth and coherence
- Are looking for a Mid-Fi EST-hybrid with tasteful tuning rather than artificial sparkle
BUT RECONSIDER IF YOU:
- Crave maximum sparkle, crystalline treble, or hi-fi brilliance for electronic/synth-based music
- Need a slam-heavy bass experience for EDM or trap genres
- Prioritise a flat-neutral reference tuning or strict adherence to measurement targets
APPENDIX:
Listening Preferences
My music library spans various global genres. I do not enjoy EDM, repetitive beat-driven dance tracks, modern varieties of pop with overly auto-tuned, ultra-polished, pitch perfect and sweetened vocals with hyper-clean instruments. Listeners with a taste for such music may find my impressions less aligned with their preferences.Evaluation Method
While I listened to hundreds of tracks on this set, a selected playlist of 50 test tracks (with testing parameters) is printed below. Also spent many more hours casually listening in real-world scenarios—while working, walking the dog, cooking, etc. I believe that the truest test of any audio gear is how much joy and emotional connection it enables, outside of critical listening.Equipment used
Chord- Mojo2, Poly, Hugo2, 2Go, Denafrips- Pontus II 12th, Ferrum- OOR+Hypsos, iPhone, Macbook Pro, Mac Studio, along with multiple cables (including one highly specced custom pure Cu+Ag balanced cable) and ear-tips.Music playback: Apple Music, Qobuz, Foobar2000, Neutron, Local hi-res files.
Test Tracks:
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Nice review mate
Thank you very much for sharing your first impressions of the Hidizs!Permit me differ in both affirmations: 109 usd is no budget by any means...
And a neutral bright iem is not a safe recommendation for a beginner...
Anyway, some impressions about the Hidizs MK12 Turris, well I have to mention the Tanchjim Origin as my new favorite iem but this Turris a solid close second, is so well tuned, is bassy with a nice quantity and quality of sub and midbass, not so much bleeding into the lower mids, a safe but clean and with nice presence in the pinna gain, a not offensive take in the upper mids, a very well appreciated dip into the 6 kHz region, and a safe but sooo well extended treble, plenty of technicalities, it fits so well in my tastes it displaced my Dunu Falcon Ultra from that place in my top IEMs.
The tips I'm using with it? Those Sea Anemone eartips are nice, it have a kbear 07 vibe but with better materials lol.
According to Rainie from Hidizs, the MSRP would be 200 +/- usd and it will be launched in june 10. For what it is, IMHO is a very competitive price.
How do you find the fit in terms of comfort? They look quite big compared to the Tanchjim Origin or the Dunu Falcon Ultra.
What exactly is a “low-powered dongle?”
I usually use R4 on high gain or DC-Elite. Are those powerful “enough”? Because they sound great to me in those sources. Is there a good higher-powered DAP or DAC that I should get for those purposes? The M21 looks promising…
Uh-oh… this is calling my name nkw and at 150$… even more temptingSound Rhyme SR5 - is a hidden audiophile masterpiece!
Hello, friends!
Many of you may already be familiar with the Sound Rhyme SR5 headphones - and I wouldn't even be surprised if some of you have owned them for a long time. They're far from new, after all. But here I am just now getting my hands on them for the first time... and honestly, I'm kind of an audiophile shock. I immediately unpacked them, plugged them into the source, and pressed play... and from the very first second - WOW. That's not an exaggeration. It's not just a good headphone, it's literally a real boost of emotion, as if I had live music poured into my ears right now. The SR5 literally burst into my ears and stayed there.
But you know what's crazy is that these hybrid headphones even today sound absolutely relevant, despite the huge competition, and despite the times. And they definitely sound an order of magnitude above their price point, it's literally a real diamond.And it's right there when you hear it and you realize, “This is it.” Everything is in place, and you get instant gratification without any reservations, I didn't even warm them up, and I didn't change the cable, I just plugged them in and started listening.
Powerful, but not smeared. Clear, collected, fast and very textural. You don't just feel “bass”, you feel its shape, density, and movement. The sub-bass goes deep, but it doesn't muffle, it doesn't fill everything like basshead headphones, it's controlled, technical, clean, with great response and great body. It doesn't fill space, it literally shapes it, and creates a strong enough foundation for the rest of the stage. It's the kind of bass that makes you involuntarily start bobbing your head to the beat.
They sound neutral in tone, but with some special inner drive. Very natural, but not boring, on the contrary, emotional, lively, full of nuances. The vocals seem to come alive, as if a person is singing directly into your ear, and you can hear his breathing, character and intonations.
The instruments sound real too: guitars - with well audible plucking and body, strings - with lively pitch, piano - with natural attack and harmonic body. All the images are well separated each instrument takes its place in the space, but at the same time the scene does not disintegrate, it is organic. The sound is not dry and technical - on the contrary, it is rich and fluid, with a sense of musical breath.
They sound clean, transparent, technical, yet soft and delicate.
There is no hint of sibilants or harshness. There is brilliance, sparkle, light, but intelligent and controlled.
Cymbals, percussion, guitars sound bright, with excellent attack and decay, but at the same time not sawing, not tiring, but on the contrary - inspiring.
This is the case when you turn on the track and catch yourself thinking: “This is how the top should sound" - open, detailed and with character, but without a drop of annoyance.
It's not just wide - it's layered. You can feel the depth, the space between instruments, and the volume of the room. Everything in the sound seems to breathe - there is both air and perspective. The separation of sources is clear, but at the same time the scene does not disintegrate - it is solid, but with well perceptible plans. It's a sound you want to get lost in and listen to again and again.
All in all, the Sound Rhyme SR5 is really more than just a headphone. It's emotion, engagement, and a sense of true discovery. And I'm genuinely glad I finally got to know them.It's the kind of thing where you put on music and you don't care how much they cost - they sound like they cost twice, if not three times as much.
They're headphones that don't just deliver sound - they immerse you in it. If you haven't heard them yet, it means you haven't even heard what a real quality hybrid with soul can do.
PENON X EFFECT AUDIO ARCHANGEL IMPRESSIONS
A Lyrical Titan in a World of Numbers
Much thanks to the "Audio Geek India Brotherhood of Audiophiles" and the OG “Audio Geek” for kindly loaning this set of the Archangel to me for over a week. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and tweaking around the sound of this set.
This is a purely subjective impression based on my personal experience. I am an enthusiast, not a professional, and my evaluation reflects my own tastes, opinions and listening habits. A more detailed explanation of my testing methodology, evaluation tracks, and equipment used is included in the appendix at the end.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Drivers: 2 DD + 4 BA + 2 BCDLow frequency: 2 coaxial 8mm PET + carbon nanotube diaphragm
Middle frequency: 2 Knowles composite middle frequency Balanced Armature
High frequency: 2 Sonion composite high frequency Balanced Armature
Full frequency: 2 Sonion composite bone conduction driver
Impedance: 12ohm@1kHz
Sensitivity: 105dB@1kHz
Frequency response range: 10~40kHz
Connector: 2Pin 0.78mm
Cable: 26AWG 8-wire UP-OCC smelting process, single material Litz with silver-plated copper central core, 6 multi-sized core bundles with EA UltraFlexi insulation.
Plug: 4.4mm EA Standard Rhodium Plated Brass Straight Type
WHAT I LIKED:
Aesthetics and Build Quality
At first glance, the Archangel reveals a confident elegance that sidesteps flash. The full resin shell—expertly moulded and featherweight—sits deep and naturally in the ear. Its ergonomics aren’t merely functional; they’re near-forgettable in the best way, enabling long, uninterrupted listening sessions even though the shells are certainly large. The finish is premium without being ostentatious, with a matte translucency that invites rather than shouts.The supplied cable is supple and well-terminated, with zero memory issues and excellent strain relief. It neither impedes performance nor demands immediate replacement, which is uncommon in this segment. The overall craftsmanship gives a sense of quiet authority—the feeling that this was built to serve the music, not the shelf.
Bass Presentation – Texture, Warmth, and Musicality
The Archangel’s low-end isn’t about brute force—it’s about soul. Bass is lush and round, but not slow. There is a fullness to the sound that lends weight to instruments and gravity to the mix. Whether it’s the deep fundamental of a string or the percussive thump of a drum, each note is textured and blooming, delivered with a confidence rooted in control rather than aggression.This is bass that engages emotionally. Its sub-bass presence is never overblown, but firm enough to establish a confident foundation. The mid-bass, in particular, carries a warm, analog character. It glows rather than rumbles, favouring resonance and tone over sheer slam.
Yet, this isn’t without trade-offs. There’s a deliberate choice here—one that favours organic cohesion over speed. Quick percussive hits don’t feel surgically carved out. Instead, they roll in like a tide, shaping the rhythm with a human fluidity that aligns beautifully with acoustic, vocal, and orchestral works.
Midrange – Naturalism and Vocal Density
Here, the Archangel earns its title. The midrange is its spiritual centre. It feels alive—full-bodied, textured, and strikingly organic. Male and female vocals alike are rendered with a natural warmth and emotional saturation that few hybrid setups can achieve. There’s a sense of intimacy and immediacy, but without artificial forwardness or honed aggression.The tuning avoids the pitfalls of either thin neutrality or excessive coloration. There’s a smooth, valve-like glow to midrange instruments—one that flatters acoustic textures and imbues harmonics with a sense of realism. Wind instruments breathe, bowed strings resonate with wood and resin, and pianos carry both hammer and soundboard.
Most impressive is the emotive weight this midrange delivers. Notes swell and decay with a sense of life and phrasing that feels less like digital reproduction and more like performance. Each dynamic contour is shaped with care. There’s grain where there should be grain, breath where there should be breath. It doesn’t just resolve detail—it communicates intent.
Treble – Smooth Extension, Natural Decay
The treble of the Archangel is both polite and purposeful. It extends well enough to preserve air and resolution, but avoids sharp peaks, exaggerated brilliance, or edgy metallic sheen. This makes the treble non-fatiguing and immensely listenable across long sessions.There is a refinement in how it treats high-frequency energy. Cymbals decay naturally without splash; bells shimmer rather than pierce. The tuning here prefers tonal coherence over the pursuit of surgical micro detail. And that’s the crux—this is treble designed for music, not measurement.
For some, this may present as laid-back, especially when expecting crystalline or ultra-bright tuning. But within the Archangel’s tonal universe, it’s the perfect complement to the mid and bass structure—ensuring everything stays bonded together.
Soundstage and Imaging – Immersion, Not Illusion
The Archangel’s soundstage isn’t merely wide—it’s deep. It creates a venue, not a panorama. Instruments appear layered not just laterally, but in height and depth. Vocals occupy their own acoustic bubble, ambient reverbs trail off into believable decay zones, and backing instrumentation forms a realistic envelope around the listener.Imaging is highly resolving without being clinical. Instrument positions are precise yet breathe—they don’t appear as laser-sharp points, but as textured bodies within a 3D space. This spatial realism elevates orchestral and ensemble recordings, allowing the listener to move through the music, rather than stand outside it.
The combination of this depth and fluidity provides a transportive quality. The IEM seems to “disappear,” leaving behind only the room, the ensemble, and the emotion.
Technical Proficiency with Musical Sensibility
The Archangel may not chase hyper-detail or sparkle wars, but that does not mean it lacks resolution. Rather, it delivers information in context. Micro-details are present—fingertip pressure, vocal sibilants, bow re-articulations—but they’re embedded organically, not spotlit for shock value.Attack and decay are both controlled and emotive. There’s elasticity in the way the driver handles dynamic swings—punches feel dense, but not brick-walled. Transients rise and fall with a sense of phrasing, rather than metronomic regularity. This matters immensely in music where dynamics are tied to storytelling.
Moreover, the Archangel exhibits minimal smear or congestion even in complex musical passages. Its separation is confident, but never mechanical. Notes are allowed to blend when they should, and resolve when they must.
This makes the Archangel a powerful companion for genres rooted in harmonic complexity, emotive performance, and dynamic nuance.
Synergy and Scalability
Unlike many ultra-resolving or impedance-sensitive IEMs, the Archangel is refreshingly undemanding. It sounds excellent from all gear and yet still reveals meaningful improvements when scaled up to higher-end sources. It doesn’t collapse under budget gear, nor does it flatten out with neutral rigs.The IEM also plays well with a wide variety of musical styles—though it excels with acoustic, classical, soul, jazz, and ambient music where its tone and spatial realism shine brightest.
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
Treble Sparkle and Brilliance
While the top-end is refined and smooth, it leans polite. Some may find it lacks the crystalline air or overt brilliance that defines more analytical tunings. This tuning choice preserves long-session comfort, but may underserve genres or listeners who desire more bite and dazzle in the upper registers.Bass Speed and Slam
The bass, though warm and emotive, is not the fastest. It trades speed and surgical slam for fullness and bloom. As a result, ultra-fast rhythms or layered sub-bass sequences can occasionally feel soft at the leading edge. The sense of rhythm is fluid, not percussive.Resolution and Micro-detail Retrieval
Despite its beautiful cohesion, the Archangel isn’t a microscope. Listeners looking for hyper-isolated textures or forensic detail levels may find it a touch too romantic. It chooses to emphasise tone and flow rather than dissect every recording artefact.Genre Selectivity
The Archangel’s tuning excels with music that breathes—acoustic, emotional, textured. However, highly synthetic or hyper-aggressive genres may reveal its limitations. In such contexts, the slight softening of transients and relaxed top-end may feel dynamically compressed or overly smooth..The Penon Archangel is not about shock and awe. It’s not here to dissect, dazzle, or dominate. Instead, it does something more enduring—it invites you to listen. Not to gear. Not to graphs. But to music.Its strengths lie in coherence, warmth, depth, and presence. It delivers notes as emotional events, not just sonic particles. This is an IEM for those who hear music not as data, but as story. It may not be perfect. But for listeners who value emotional realism, tonal fluidity, and immersive staging, the Archangel doesn’t need to be. It simply needs to sing. And sing it does—effortlessly, endlessly, and with soul.
PEQ & TUNING OBSERVATIONS:
The Archangel is fundamentally well-tuned, but benefits from gentle EQ to correct subtle imbalances and enhance listening synergy with specific genres. The EQ here focuses on refinement: unlocking clarity and sparkle without disturbing the Archangel’s lush tonality and immersive staging. A few of the tuning ideas I tried:- Subtle lift in upper treble (9–11kHz) to restore “air” and shimmer to cymbals and strings
- Controlled mid-bass trim to counter slight bloom in dense recordings, particularly in multi-layered genres
- Upper mids cleaned via narrow Q cuts to reduce warmth veiling and restore perceived vocal space
CONSIDER THIS SET IF YOU:
- Prefer a rich, natural, full-bodied sound that prioritises tone over hyper-detail
- Seek vocally expressive mids, lifelike dynamics, and immersive stage without clinical sharpness
- Love genres like jazz, orchestral, soul, ambient, unplugged, and story-driven recordings
- Want comfortably tuned DD with coherent tonality and graceful decay
- Enjoy tweaking with inbuilt switches
BUT RECONSIDER IF YOU:
- Want ultra-fast transient attack for modern metal, DnB, or technical progressive music
- Prefer cold, analytical, or hyper-resolving tunings
- Are sensitive to warmth or mid-bass emphasis that can soften detail in busy arrangements
- Have small ears, shells are larger than usual
APPENDIX:
Listening Preferences
My music library spans various global genres. I do not enjoy EDM, repetitive beat-driven dance tracks, modern varieties of pop with overly auto-tuned, ultra-polished, pitch perfect and sweetened vocals with hyper-clean instruments. Listeners with a taste for such music may find my impressions less aligned with their preferences.Evaluation Method
While I listened to hundreds of tracks on this set, a selected playlist of 50 test tracks (with testing parameters) is printed below. Also spent many more hours casually listening in real-world scenarios—while working, walking the dog, cooking, etc. I believe that the truest test of any audio gear is how much joy and emotional connection it enables, outside of critical listening.Equipment used
Chord- Mojo2, Poly, Hugo2, 2Go, Denafrips- Pontus II 12th, Ferrum- OOR+Hypsos, iPhone, Macbook Pro, Mac Studio, along with multiple cables (including one highly specced custom pure Cu+Ag balanced cable) and ear-tips.Music playback: Apple Music, Qobuz, Foobar2000, Neutron, Local hi-res files.
Test Tracks :
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Waqar
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Yes your rec made me buy it and it really is a source dependent iem.
At least with what i testet with.
Yeah that sounds like it could be a problem, but can be fixed with to a degree with the right tips.
But lets see and i appreciate your feedback on this.
I am rolling the dice on this one and lets see how it turns out, because i have been wanting to get a Letschouer iem. And i am a sucker for a good dynamic driver, and this one feels like right up my ally.
It depends a lot on your ear anatomy, of IEMs that is similar in design DX1 fit me better (SONY Z1R, FIIO FD15). And it fit better than Simgot EA500lm and EA1000, because the DX1 atleast have long enough nozzles and small enough shell to be positioned deeper than models like the Simgot.
But this is also so individually, since we all are different. I had to tip roll, and use larger tips to get secure fit.
Yup, totally agree. I have tried it twice, and the second time was with desktop gear and cable costing probably as much as the STORM. While it has a very nice tuning, the stage and resolution is not above some good champions around $2000 or less. It has its following, and many love it.
For me the Caldera Open has the best timbre of any full sized headphones I've tried so far and it's a planar
Also, yes go to CanJam! Try out all the fancy stuff for yourself
Tried it for the first time last weekend, I much more preffer the dynamic headphones from ZMF. For some reason the sound is to clinical and bright for me on Caldera, the closed version is better for me as it has more warmth. I still want to try it again, maybe at home in a more silent environment.
It is a good entry into the Letshuoer IEMs, quality is excellent and it compete with some single DDs costing many times more
The included tips don't fit me well
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