The discovery thread!

[thaslaya]

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.

I owned the SR5 quite awhile ago and while I enjoyed it, I didn't really find it to be standout for the price. I ended up selling pretty quickly and moving on but I'd love to revisit it at some point and see how it stacks up against some of my current favorites.

ISN AUDIO EBC80 IMPRESSIONS​

A Study in Subtle Brilliance


Much 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 + 2BCD
2 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:​

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 BCD
Low 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 :​

I love a nice detailed review as much as the next guy and I can tell you put a lot of effort into these but might I suggest only posting the entirety of the review to the particular product page and posting a snippet or link here in the thread? When I personally see walls of text like this I usually just scroll by without reading since it slows me down. Plus this information will be more readily accessible for those searching for reviews if posted on the product page too.

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.

Oh yeah I agree the Caldera open is a little too cold and clinical for my usual tastes but it's still mighty impressive. I'm hopefully getting a chance at the Closed version soonish and I really think it will hit all the right spots for me with its warmer tonality, better isolation, and top tier technicalities.

I’ll have some time to listen to the Volume S tomorrow hopefully, but just going by the graph I’m assuming they’ll be quite lean in the bassier config. We shall see!

For me the OG Volume actually hits right between the 2 configurations on the S and is my preference. Let me know if you need to borrow mine for your review brother!

It's wild as in the reviews my explanations are long and almost indecipherable. Lol

You said it not me! This might be the first time I agree with you

Tell me your thoughts about this graph, please. Thank you.

Measurements time

Twistura WoodNote


Kiwi Ears Etude



STA Pro Max

That awful channel matching aside, I like the Pro Max pretty well. My review should be dropping tomorrow

I also love the musical warmth of the S12 (2024)

This right here is why I love the S12 2024 and it remains my favorite planar

The Defiant is truly a gatekeeper at $100.00. One of the new gatekeepers.

I have a review unit on the way and I'm really excited to try this one out after so much positive feedback

Dunu Vulkan 2 Marketing blurb

(1x 10mm DD, 1x 8mm DD, 6 Knowles BA; approx $350)

I NEED that case! DUNU always has fantastic accessories

Two fantastic recs by thaslaya and FWAL2, let me add a third one: Chord MOJO 2. Essentially, all good sources will make Volare sound good.

Why doesn't it have 4.4??? Ugh I need 4.4 in any source I own! But according to Mark Ryan it's all a meme and I'm dumb but that's OK. We like what we like. I also hear a difference in sources so

Very technical... I generally prefer the power boost on most IEMs... and since I'd rather buy cables in all 3.5 or 4.4 [not all can be modular] I'd rather just buy 4.4 since it does have benefits for me and I'm not sure I've found a situation where 3.5 is clearly better, although I've not extensively tried to do scientific A-B tests either... maybe I'm just biased haha

I'm biased because I simply prefer 4.4 for the more robust feel. If I get any sort of extra benefits from using it that's just icing on the

Anyway, lots going on this week! Coming out of review hiatus, setting up a small tour of my TX04 and hopefully getting a couple sets in for demo/review soon... Feeling a bit more engaged with the hobby so lets goooo.

Taking a break can definitely help. I need to get through my backlog and then take a short one myself. Starting to feel more like a job than a passionate hobby

Dita Audio MECHA , Nicehck Himalaya two other solid choices

I second the Mecha. Really strong vocal performance in that one!

My thoughts on the Letshuoer Cadenza 12 are HERE.

This is a big boy IEM and could easily be someone's endgame. For me, it's just a bit too expressive in that treble, but still, my overall impression can be seen in the reflection below.



Thanks to AG Europe for organizing the tour!

I see a shiny thumbs up from Nik so I know he likes the Cadenza 12 . It's one of my favorites too

Got the Campfire Audio Clara and Elysian Apostle. I’ll have a more detailed write up later but I think I’m only keeping the Clara.

The Clara is impressive and probably the better all-rounder outside of true bassheads. Even if it has a little more niche tuning, I think the Apostle is really damn impressive. Looking forward to your thoughts on both!

---

Edit to add: I forgot I was going to talk a little about the DC Elite. I wanted to compare it to the Questyle M18i and these two are REALLY close in sound quality. The Elite has a very slight edge in technical performance maybe like 5-10% at most. It's a very subtle difference. The Elite also has a bit more depth to the sound but the M18i is cheaper and has BT so I'm happy with it . I also don't really like the volume wheel because the incremental steps are not as small as I want them to be. I'm really glad I finally got to try it out but I'm happy to settle for the M18i for a more technical sound. I would definitely pick up the GO bar Kensei at the same price over the Elite because it has more filter options, XBass, XSpace, and IEMatch. Thanks to the awesome @zkmd for letting me borrow his unit for a few days!

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

About the VIP campaign from Hidizs to the MK12 Turris, I'll share this info they sent me:

We’re thrilled to finally share the official HIDIZS MK12 Kickstarter launch details!

Kickstarter Launch Date: June 10th, 2025, at 10:30 AM (EST)

Pricing Details:

---MK12 Turris - VIP Exclusive - Limited 200 units only!
Pay a $10 deposit now to secure MK12 Turris for just $109 (MSRP: $199)!
Deposit link: https://www.hidizs.net/products/hid...e-91-magnesium-diaphragm-hifi-in-ear-monitors

*The $10 deposit promotion for the MK12 Turris will go live from May 26th to June 9th.
(Note: The deposit link is not yet active—stay tuned for updates!)

How it works:
VIP members pay a $10 deposit to lock in this exclusive price.
On Kickstarter launch day, you’ll receive a secret link via email to complete your purchase.

---Limited Super Early Bird (300 units only!)
MK12 Turris: $129.00 (MSRP: $199.00)
MK12 Turris + S8 Pro Robin: $179.99 (MSRP: $298.00)

---Early Bird
MK12 Turris: $139.00 (MSRP: $199.00)
Limited Gradient-Tint Titanium Alloy Edition - 499pcs worldwide: $229.00 (MSRP: $299.00)

Kickstarter Link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/project...91-magnesiumtm-diaphragm-earphones?ref=5s78oh

Secret link ,Kickstarter, deposit - 3 red flags. I hate to hate but seriously. Never trust Hidisz and they're marketing schemes.

 

[Barndoor]

Intriguing buy for bass heads who loved the KE Punch

Actually the opposite for me. Loving the KE Punch means I'm covered on bass heads and not particularly intrigued. The unlikely best case is it will be a side grade.

 

[Avadhuta]

I love a nice detailed review as much as the next guy and I can tell you put a lot of effort into these but might I suggest only posting the entirety of the review to the particular product page and posting a snippet or link here in the thread? When I personally see walls of text like this I usually just scroll by without reading since it slows me down. Plus this information will be more readily accessible for those searching for reviews if posted on the product page too.

Thank you for the suggestion. I'm new here, will make sure to keep these amendments in the future reviews.

 

[SushiiFi]

It's a Linux, Hiby OS.

Nice, then battery life will be very good. Can be a good option for people with offline libraries.

 

[Uprox]

Nice, then battery life will be very good. Can be a good option for people with offline libraries.

I gonna buy R3 pro II to update my old R3 pro. But first I will been look up reviews about SQ, QC and fixing bugs.

 

[Hypops]

@MakeItWain when he sees this:

https://www.linsoul.com/products/punch-audio-martilo?mc_cid=f68a8417eb&mc_eid=99e414656c

Hmm. Basshead. No glitter. Large, semi-custom shells. Richard Simmons gif. These might break my fast.

CAMPFIRE AUDIO ALIEN BRAIN review

Harmonious Frequency Syncopation!!

Thank you for the read, likes, shares, and comments! I appreciate all of you!

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/campfire-audio-alien-brain.28208/reviews#review-38164

Feet to the fire: are these a four-star set (excellent) or a five-star set (all-timer)? 4.5 stars is a milquetoast "both sides" cop-out like telling me you love all your children equally.

It's called "the hammer" for a reason. It's a misspelled hammer, but hey, it's chi-fi. It wouldn't be chi-fi if it didn't have any misspelled words! Gotta driam big!

I initially thought the same thing. Then I remembered what happened to the word "Estrella" when it got into reviewers' mouths. May as well make it an "L" since everyone's just going to pronounce it that way anyway!

Intriguing buy for bass heads who loved the KE Punch.

And better looking to boot.

I have significantly toned down my purchases. I have noticed some slight changes in the prices from a toned-down tariff situation, but not consistent across stores. I have the TSMR Armor in hand and am working toward the Szalayi. I should have it by August. I have a backlist of iems to listen to, but have been distracted by life. The best, recent purchase is the Hifiman HE6 v2 for less than $350 new. You get power to those and they sing. I still read here daily and look forward to new developments in our hobby.

Coincidentally, I'm also taking a more relaxed approach to IEM purchases, and I have also been listening a bunch to my HE6se v2. The Alien Brain has my attention, but not at its MSRP. Might just wait a year or two and pick it up at a more Hypops-friendly price. Other than that, not much on my radar.

I've posted a bunch in the past on my thoughts about balanced cables and connections, so I won't go through the whole rigamarole again. Instead I'll just say that I agree with 90% of what Mark says in this video.

The one thing he's missing is that balanced cables and connections often go hand-in-hand with differential circuits. That's where the audible benefits lie in the form of reduced noise floor and reduced crosstalk. But with the big caveat that the negative tradeoffs (higher impedance and reduced volume pot headroom) aren't worth it when it comes to IEMs, just full-size headphones and speakers. I only use 3.5mm SE for IEMs these days and have sold off all of my 4.4mm IEM cables. Just not worth the significant potential drawbacks. But I do use balanced cables (connected to gear with differential circuits) with my speakers and most of my full-size headphones.

 

[nikbr]

Tomorrow new R3 pro II starts!

MSRP $199

https://store.hiby.com/products/hib...F_qCvQm0HO4q4hb930_aem_0NV5B1wz7DDp1OB48oNtCg

I sure hope this is much improved over the R3II 2025.

Lime Ears Terra – When Looks and Sound Both Steal the Show

Pros

• Metallic shell with great build quality
• Stunning faceplates
• Energetic treble

Cons

• Nozzle is long and thick
• Cable rolling maybe required to find the best sound as per your preference

First of all, a huge thanks to Audio Geek Group India for providing me this unit to review. Lime Ears Terra is hands down the most gorgeous IEM I have had the pleasure to review. It has moved Supernova to the second spot. For the first two days I hardly did any listening I was just taking photographs. The faceplate are gorgeous and look different as per the lighting conditions and I had a lot of fun taking photos and videos.




Driver Configuration - 1x 7mm Titanium Dynamic Driver for sub-bass/bass - 2x Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers for low-mids - 2x Vented Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers for mids/high-mids - 1x Custom Knowles RAU Driver for high frequencies

Build Quality and Comfort – Terra is made from aerospace-grade aluminum with opal faceplates under a clear resin. In terms of looks this is an absolute stunner. It is a medium sized shell with long and thick nozzle. The nozzle has something very unique a custom Knowles RAU driver. It’s visible through the metal mesh and is one of the reasons for its energetic treble. I have no issues with long nozzles and this one fit me comfortably with Divinus Velvet tips and
AZLA SednaEarfit tips. My longest listening session was over 3 hours and it didn’t cause any discomfort. There are no vents on this IEM which gives it excellent noise isolation which I enjoyed during my office commutes.





Sources and efficiency – I tested Terra with Apple music through Cayin RU7, Acoustune AS2002, Hiby R4 DAP and an Apos Gremlin AMP. It sounded great with everything else but I felt the best pairing was with the Acoustune AS2002. The Terra is an efficient IEM and was able to run comfortably on all my sources.




Cables Used – This IEM comes with a high-quality copper cable so first I tried this with an Effect Audio Ares cable but I didn’t like the pairing as the sound felt quite sterile and the treble was borderline peaky. Switching to an Effect Audio Eros signature cable changed the whole experience and brought out a wider soundstage, excitement and made the treble more fun. I stuck to this cable for my entire listening session.


Bass – The bass is handled by a single 7mm DD. The sub bass is powerful but does not give you that rumble. My primary genre is EDM and lo-fi so I would have liked a little more bass slam. That said, it's still adequate for most other genres and the rest of the sound qualities definitely makes up for this. Bass texture is also really good and holds its own among the best in the kilobuck range.

Midrange – The treble is very natural and doesn’t feel boosted in any way. Vocals are lively and well-articulated, standing out clearly in the mix without overshadowing other elements. I enjoyed male vocals on this set as they felt very rich and engaging. The midrange feels very musical and emotional.

Treble – This is the star of the show. It has a nice energetic treble but never gets to the point of sibilance or harshness. Because the bass is not boosted too much the treble gets a good opportunity to shine. My only nit pick is that the treble lacks a bit of air at the top.

Soundstage and Imaging – This set has a nice wide soundstage with good width and decent height. The imaging is also pin sharp and accurate.

Gaming – Doom the Dark Ages released recently and this game is known for its soundtrack which is a mix of industrial, electronic and ambient metal. This IEM was a perfect companion while playing the game. All the environmental effects came through with clarity and the sound design of weapons and shields had a satisfying, weighty impact. It was an absolute treat to kill demons while listening to the banger soundtrack and play as the all-powerful Doom Slayer.

Conclusion – At first, I wasn’t particularly impressed with this IEM when paired with the stock copper cable. Fortunately, some cable rolling made a noticeable difference, allowing me to fully appreciate what this set has to offer. Not only is it visually stunning, but it also manages to captivate you the moment the music starts. I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more IEMs from Lime Ears. And please forgive the photo spam—this IEM is just too pretty not to photograph!

Terra is indeed a work of art. Usually, I prefer a less colourful design, but the way these colours flow in real life is special. Like the flow of music when it grabs you and makes you drift away.

Why doesn't it have 4.4??? Ugh I need 4.4 in any source I own!

It's better this way. It gives you an excuse to purchase another awesome accessory - the ddhifi 3.5 to 4.4 adapter. Different ones to choose from.

---

Did I tell you guys before that the Project M is special? Treble doesn't necessarily work for me all day every day, but when the mood is right, it's perfect. And that bass freshness and tactility, mmmmh!

 

[SushiiFi]

I gonna buy R3 pro II to update my old R3 pro. But first I will been look up reviews about SQ, QC and fixing bugs.

Yeah, wise to wait up and see how's the response in the market and reviews

 

[Ineras]

Hmm. Basshead. No glitter. Large, semi-custom shells. Richard Simmons gif. These might break my fast.

I'm very tempted as well, it's an interesting driver config. I hope they implement the planar treble well. I love that KE Punch EST treble, I think it's so well done. It's super clean and clear with no harshness even on ESS dacs, just extends on and on. It really is a very natural sounding set for a basshead.

 

[MakeItWain]

@MakeItWain when he sees this:

https://www.linsoul.com/products/punch-audio-martilo?mc_cid=f68a8417eb&mc_eid=99e414656c

Can confirm.

This was me.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Once upon a time, there is competitor of Xiaomi brand, Meizu.
long story short, they can't compete against Xiaomi and fell behind.
still floating around in China but nowhere as dominant as Xiaomi internationally

now they have subbrand called Lifeme for audio gear and they just released a collab iem with Knowles
The name seems to translate to Ink-String, its a hybrid iem with 1x Gold Plated membrane DD and 1x RAN-62462 fullrange BA
Priced for around $40 ish.



---

Luong Le share this thing on facebook audio group and i was like, "oh mainstream brand collabing with knowles... wait GOLD PLATED DYNAMIC DRIVER? for $40?"
not sure whether this item will reach outside china tough. supposedly some Lifeme product still sold via Aliexpress, so if any of you want to try the novelty of Gold plated membrane...

Meizu was the early cheap DAP maker on Alix. 2017-2020, during those early years of Alix, Meizu was a popular buy for getting FLAC/hi res DAPs for super cheap, and I was one of those who bit, but none of them were very good. They'd use Rockchip DAC chips, and the sound was mid at best, so I sold them all, and never bothered again.

Speaking of Alix, have you Americans noticed that it's taking forever to get your Alix orders? There was a time where it would take a month or longer ON AVERAGE to get your Alix orders in, and most of the time, you'd order, and then forget about it until it actually showed up, and it was almost like a welcomed surprise. Then in the last couple years, I had stuff arrive in a week, which was lightning fast from China! Now the stuff I ordered a month ago to get just under the ramping of tariffs are just now showing up, and I still have two KZ that are still floating through the mail system. Slowly. We're back to the old Alix delivery speed, which is a snail's pace.

I have significantly toned down my purchases. I have noticed some slight changes in the prices from a toned-down tariff situation, but not consistent across stores. I have the TSMR Armor in hand and am working toward the Szalayi. I should have it by August. I have a backlist of iems to listen to, but have been distracted by life. The best, recent purchase is the Hifiman HE6 v2 for less than $350 new. You get power to those and they sing. I still read here daily and look forward to new developments in our hobby.

Exactly, Lee. Alix treats U.S. customers with resentment. I just got a IEM case, that showed up seriously banged up. I ordered 5 cases previously, and they all showed up pristine and with care, and this one show up with complete disregard. In no way do I want to deal with the store about it, so I still used it, and put it in it's slot, but between shipping and the completely inconsistent pricing relative to the lowering of tariffs, I'm done with Alix. I also have been enjoying my back catalog, and satisfied with that. Plus I've blessed to have some killer friendships in Head-fi, and have gotten to audition some amazing IEMs, the latest being the CFA Alien Brain. *chef's kiss*

Every time I read such a soulful ode to the miraculous properties of cable, I lose the desire to return to everyday reality. I suggest that such reviews should start with the words: " Once upon a time..."

I'm more firmly entrenched in the cable believer camp, as I've heard what alloys and quality builds can do for transducers, but with the various fluff pieces (even if they are wonderfully written by ICY and others) about Penon cables, I tend to react the way you do. To be honest, it can be a bit much.

Tomorrow new R3 pro II starts!

MSRP $199

https://store.hiby.com/products/hib...F_qCvQm0HO4q4hb930_aem_0NV5B1wz7DDp1OB48oNtCg

Big NOPE from me. We just got the R3 (2025) just a couple months ago, this is nothing but a re-shelled R1, and my R3 II is beautifully machined and has the elegant and huge volume wheel, with some of the best sonics in the budget DAP realm, and it's $120-$179, depending on sales. How is this an upgrade? How is it an upgrade to the freshly released 2025 edition?

Interesting, is it an android player or hiby os player?

Hiby OS, and dammit...that UltraSuede back has drawn me in!! LOL Sometimes it's the small things?!

Not really a new discovery to me, but
I disagree with his fundamentals, on Balanced vs. single ended.


7:51, is more power just louder ?

While there are no absolutes, when it comes to how any given IEM will react to a given source, the overwhelming majority of my collection plays fuller (not just louder), on my desktop amp (THX AAA 789), vs. my portable amps (e.g. FiiO BTR7, Qudelix 5K, . . ); which among other tangents, have less power, than the desktop rig.



11:47, with more power, comes less range, of volume control

I've never felt my range of volume control to be handcuffed, on any of my amps.



12:15, channel imbalance, at very low levels of volume (0% - 5%)

Okey Dokey, good to know, As I've never had a need to play my tunes @5% volume



13:30, Rougher, harder . . . compatibility

There's a crude joke in there somewhere, but I'm not going to drill deeply into the resistance, when inserting your chosen termination. On compatibility, in 2025, the only hardware that I own, that only has a 3.5mm connection, is an older iPad.

Channel imbalance does happen at low volumes with a couple of my sources, but there's end run arounds for that usually.

Please share your impressions of the Volume S when you're ready!

The Volume S is up and down my rotation for me. Sometimes it's not very exciting. Sometimes the midrange seems a bit thin. Sometimes there's grain in the upper mids treble region, and then we get synergies like with the Sony NW-ZX100, and I couldn't take them out of my ears, as the sonics were balanced, crisp, and the bass was hitting just right. Still worth owning if you're on the fence. It's a Softears winner despite it's source pickiness.

Hmm. Basshead. No glitter. Large, semi-custom shells. Richard Simmons gif. These might break my fast.


Feet to the fire: are these a four-star set (excellent) or a five-star set (all-timer)? 4.5 stars is a milquetoast "both sides" cop-out like telling me you love all your children equally.


I initially thought the same thing. Then I remembered what happened to the word "Estrella" when it got into reviewers' mouths. May as well make it an "L" since everyone's just going to pronounce it that way anyway!


And better looking to boot.


Coincidentally, I'm also taking a more relaxed approach to IEM purchases, and I have also been listening a bunch to my HE6se v2. The Alien Brain has my attention, but not at its MSRP. Might just wait a year or two and pick it up at a more Hypops-friendly price. Other than that, not much on my radar.


I've posted a bunch in the past on my thoughts about balanced cables and connections, so I won't go through the whole rigamarole again. Instead I'll just say that I agree with 90% of what Mark says in this video.

The one thing he's missing is that balanced cables and connections often go hand-in-hand with differential circuits. That's where the audible benefits lie in the form of reduced noise floor and reduced crosstalk. But with the big caveat that the negative tradeoffs (higher impedance and reduced volume pot headroom) aren't worth it when it comes to IEMs, just full-size headphones and speakers. I only use 3.5mm SE for IEMs these days and have sold off all of my 4.4mm IEM cables. Just not worth the significant potential drawbacks. But I do use balanced cables (connected to gear with differential circuits) with my speakers and most of my full-size headphones.

No. It's a 4.5. It's not a 5, because based on my scoring system, it lost points for it's soundstage being on that side of intimate (though it's not small), and the resolution isn't top tier (I'd consider AFUL Cantor, Lime Ears Maris and Terra, and Thieaudio Oracle MK III to be kilobuck level peak resolution), so 4.5 (maybe 4.2, but Head-fi doesn't allow you to break it down into that type of increment) out of 5. Nothing has scored a perfect 5 so far. There's always a con or two. So it's closer to 4 than 5. Maybe the first FWAL2 5 star will be sitting at Can Jam? Who knows?

---

TRN Shell (clear nozzle) + ivipQ 512 cable + Hiby R3 II (untethered) = *chef's kiss*

The depth, clarity, note weight and transients are simply stellar. Clearly the best TRN ever.

 

[Hypops]

I'm very tempted as well, it's an interesting driver config. I hope they implement the planar treble well. I love that KE Punch EST treble, I think it's so well done. It's super clean and clear with no harshness even on ESS dacs, just extends on and on. It really is a very natural sounding set for a basshead.

Yeah, the KE Punch is pretty much an endgame set for me at this point. The few other sets I keep around are mostly just for flavor and variety. I'm very curious what a different sub-$1k basshead set might give me (Alien Brain, Legion), but as it stands, the Punch ticks all of my boxes except for its visual styling. After picking up an aftermarket cable and case and getting some Tri Clarion tips on there, it's not missing anything I might want or expect from an IEM.

My sole hesitation with this newcomer (Martillo/Martilo, it's written both ways on Linsoul's site) is its use of dual DDs. I'm not convinced of the need, especially considering that most other basshead sets do just fine with a single DD. Regardless, I threw my hat in the ring for the Linsoul giveaway. Not gonna turn away a shot for a freebie.

EDIT:

No. It's a 4.5. It's not a 5, because based on my scoring system, it lost points for it's soundstage being on that side of intimate (though it's not small), and the resolution isn't top tier (I'd consider AFUL Cantor, Kiwi Ears Maris and Terra, and Thieaudio Oracle MK III to be kilobuck level peak resolution), so 4.5 (maybe 4.2, but Head-fi doesn't allow you to break it down into that type of increment) out of 5. Nothing has scored a perfect 5 so far. There's always a con or two. So it's closer to 4 than 5. Maybe the first FWAL2 5 star will be sitting at Can Jam? Who knows?

Good to know.

Review score rant: once star ratings go to half stars, they lose their value as a scoring system for me. But I'm clearly in the minority. I don't see a 5-star rating as "perfect," but merely as exceptional. Since most reviewers on HF seem to assign either a 4, 4.5, or 5 star score and ignore the rest of the scale, it'd be more useful if reviewers just went to a basic three-point system IMO ("no," "maybe," "yes"). But again, I'm sure I'm in the minority opinion.

 

[XERO1]

Here are a couple pics that were taken at Munich High-End 2025 of a prototype of an upcoming dongle from Campfire Audio.

I got the pics from here:
https://www.hifipig.com/high-end-munich-2025-world-of-headphones-report/

Looks pretty sweet!

 

[nikbr]

My sole hesitation with this newcomer (Martillo/Martilo, it's written both ways on Linsoul's site) is its use of dual DDs.

I wasn't all that impressed by any dual DD config either, until the H60 came my way. That's truly the first well behaved bass I've heard from a Double Dee setup. Overall, I still feel doubling up is unnecessary and moot.