The PENON official thread

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Can someone identify this cable?

A very beautiful one that would have been great for my Tri i3 MK III or the Tangzu Legend/Wu Zetian.

Quick question: What would be your recommended tips for ISN H60 to bring out its max potential? Or any tips that makes the H60 sound the best, in your opinion.

Easy answer. AZLA Crystal (OG. Not 2). They allow that IEM to breathe, doesn't get in the way of the bass, but also helps with soundstage and treble extension (squeezes out the last drop). I've tried no less than 15 tips on the H60, and always came back to the Crystals.

 

[Redcarmoose]

PENON APEX
Audiophile In-earphone IEM Cable
Oil-immersed single crystal copper + gold-plated copper + liquid nitrogen silver
8 strands,106 cores per strand, 24AWG, single strand is 1.5mm
Transparent dark blue PVC skin
OFC gold-plated 2pin connectors
OFC gold-plated plug
Cable length is 1.2m

 

[GroovyAudio]

Cross post from descovery thread

Alright guys, I've managed to fix the cable with my Penon Archangel. Thanks so much @Dsnuts for your suggestion to use a hairdryer. The iem are now sitting better in my ears and I don't need to spend money on another cable so that's a win for me.

I've listened last night for a about an hour using NF MS42 S size eartips, BUT get this, despite being a very chunky iem, every eartip works with it, I can't believe it honestly. I mean TRI Clarion, Divinus Wide Bore, EVEN the Tangzu Normal and wide bore works, what magic is this?? I was never able to use those tips on my other iems but Archangel nozzles somewhat makes them work. I haven't tested them in the long run how they feel in my ears but now I have so many option to choose from and all of them changed the sound to the point where I don't even know what to pick. I would say a wide bore tip will work better on Archangel but it will take a while for me to test them all.
For now with NF MS42 S size works and after an hour of listening there was a slight discomfort on my right ear, but not the left one surprisingly. With H60 6.9mm nozzles after 30-35 minutes of listening I was having a lot of pain in both of my ears so I'm glad Archangel seems to fit a lot better (more test to be done here).

Now that I rambled a lot about eartips and comfort, well, how do they sound??

OH MY GOD! So... words... difficult to find them to describe this beauties. Just wanna say a BIG THANK YOU to @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 for his comparison with H60! You're the man, mate! This is the UPGRADE that I've wanted after departing with my beloved H60. I mean WOW!!! Archangel is a pure monster, A H60 on steroids if I may.
I don't know about EBC80 and Shocks, I didn't have these iems to test but for me this Archangel is THE UPGRADE to my H60.

The bass... those carbon nanotubes are not joke folks. The bass is visceral, tight, punchy, I mean my MG800 has a very good subbass with a very good rumble but Archangel is simply in another league. Just wow!

Mids
Do you expect anything other than simply magical?
We have the Penon mids here: sweet, creamy and syrupy. Exactly like H60!
Intruments, male and female voices sound incredible. I had tears in my eyes while listening last night. I don't remember who posted a few pages ago a song by Men I Trust - To Ease You. Incredible song so I decided to look more into them and I absolutely love this band. Emma's voice is angelic and Archangel truly shows that.



Another band that I discovered thanks to @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 is Magnolia Park and their new album VAMP. The song "Crave" is my favorite and it sounds thunderous on Archangel.



There are some OST from Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed 2000 that I enjoy. I don't know if you guys played NFS in your childhood but I grew up with this games. I really recommend you to give these OST a try. Made by Saki Kaskas (RIP) and Rom Di Prisco.



Also some cool guy made these covers from NFS II OST:



There's also another great composer Mellow Sonic that made remixes of these OST's. Check it out if you have time!


Treble
Very extended, lots of sparkles but never fatigue and this comes from a guy who is treble sensitive. This treble reminds me of Fiio FA19 which cost $1000. I admit I didn't like the tunning of FA19 but the treble stood out to me. On Archangel I was shocked! Those sonion BA's are showing every detail, every nuances like a champ. Simply outstanding! I'm not really a treble guy, I just don't care that much because bass and mids are more important to me BUT this treble is just mind blowing to me.

The Soundstage
An explosion of sound coming from all directions, man and I thought my MG800 has a huge soundstage and indeed they have BUT Archangel goes to another level completely. I guess those BC drivers really help with the stage expansion. I've never heard anything this big before.

I just can't ended here. I need to say more about this Archangel. We all like to listen to music here but I believe the most important aspect is how these iems make you feel while listening.
Archangel takes you on a trip like you're in a another dimension, just you and the music surrounding you. Guys, is just... an ethereal thing. I know I've praised this so much but for me this is it, the end game iem. I can't possible ask for more because Archangel gives you everything you want. This iem represents the saying "you can have your cake and eat it too".
I won't lie saying I won't ever purchase another iem but at $800 I'm set. I would probably explore the $300 market just for curiosity sake.

Thank you for reading this far!

 

[Sybir]

Guys, a quick one: if I'm using UM Mest Mk2 and SR DTE900 on my daily basis with DX320, would purchasing Penon Archangel be a sort of upgrade or complement of my set? What I'm still looking for is a Rock/Metal Holy Grail at a rather reasonable price point.

 

[Dsnuts]

Got bit of news from the Penon front. They will be exhibiting for their first ever Can Jam @ Shanghai https://www.head-fi.org/threads/canjam-shanghai-2025-june-14-15-2025.976304/post-18665290 Its about time is what I am saying.

 

[Cimourdain]

Got bit of news from the Penon front. They will be exhibiting for their first ever Can Jam @ Shanghai https://www.head-fi.org/threads/canjam-shanghai-2025-june-14-15-2025.976304/post-18665290 Its about time is what I am saying.

do we have any insight on what iem they gonna bring to the show? Only Penon side or ISN as well?

 

[Dsnuts]

If I was a guessing man. It will be all their recent releases including Tansio Mirai stuff and ISN stuff.

 

[emdeevee]

Got bit of news from the Penon front. They will be exhibiting for their first ever Can Jam @ Shanghai https://www.head-fi.org/threads/canjam-shanghai-2025-june-14-15-2025.976304/post-18665290 Its about time is what I am saying.

Hear Hear!!! Finally!!! Archangel will do well, as will Rival, who is yet to be displayed at a canjam!!

 

[Dsnuts]

I would imagine they will have a display of their best cables as well. Penon has a lot of stuff so it will make for a good show. Wish I could be there to check out all of it. If any of you guys are attending Can Jam in Singapore coming up mid June. Please take some photos of the booth and all that is shown.

I vote that Mr Chi Kong hire super hotties for the booth. He got money. He can do it!!

 

[marcos antônio]

[

Guys, a quick one: if I'm using UM Mest Mk2 and SR DTE900 on my daily basis with DX320, would purchasing Penon Archangel be a sort of upgrade or complement of my set? What I'm still looking for is a Rock/Metal Holy Grail at a rather reasonable price point.

I can safely recommend Thieaudio Origin, it was the best I've tried for Metal, complete bass with texture, weight, control and speed, thick mids and defined ,your guitar base will sound more heavy \,,/ and smooth highs and good brightness, wide and deep soundstage, I'm interested in Archangel, it's complementary.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Guys, a quick one: if I'm using UM Mest Mk2 and SR DTE900 on my daily basis with DX320, would purchasing Penon Archangel be a sort of upgrade or complement of my set? What I'm still looking for is a Rock/Metal Holy Grail at a rather reasonable price point.

Ok, as a almost 50 year listener of mostly metal and hard rock, where it was 95% of my listening playlist until 2 years ago, when jazz took the drivers seat, but still listen to metal on the reg, and also use it extensively for review sessions, my top 5 metal BOSSES are as follows (these are supremely apt IEMs for metal!!!)

1. ISN EBC80
2. ISN H60
3. CCA Trio
4. Juzear x ZEOS Defiant
5. Penon Archangel/Sound Rhyme SP01 (when they actually become available to the public, then the Letshuoer DX1 will take the place of the SP01)

 

[Saraugie]

Ok, as a almost 50 year listener of mostly metal and hard rock, where it was 95% of my listening playlist until 2 years ago, when jazz took the drivers seat, but still listen to metal on the reg, and also use it extensively for review sessions, my top 5 metal BOSSES are as follows (these are supremely apt IEMs for metal!!!)

1. ISN EBC80
2. ISN H60
3. CCA Trio
4. Juzear x ZEOS Defiant
5. Penon Archangel/Sound Rhyme SP01 (when they actually become available to the public, then the Letshuoer DX1 will take the place of the SP01)

Love seeing EBC80 in the #1 spot.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Love seeing EBC80 in the #1 spot.

For metal, the ISN EBC80 is a beast. It has the technicalities to keep up with busy passages and fast double bass/kicks, but also the midrange quality and treble extension to help with lo-fi recording and poorly mastered tracks, which is the trait that usually separates a true metal BOSS from a pretender. It also has excellent spatial cues from the BCD. So you don't lose details in the mix that with metal in particular, you can lose if the drivers aren't up to snuff, plus no bass smear, which is one of the main offenders with transducers with metal. The dreaded bass smear from being overwhelmed in the mid bass with note resolution, snap and speed.

Now the Penon Archangel is lower on the list right now because I haven't done a lot of metal listening with these IEMs. Mostly reggae and jazz, which they KILL ON! I'll be spending more metal time with the Archangel soon, as soon as I wrap the Defiant review by Wednesday.

 

[DannyBai]

Can someone identify this cable?

That looks like the ivipQ 530 cable.

I’ve seen a few XINHS cables I’ve purchased for much less are now 500-800 bucks, lol.

 

[Kordonrules]

That looks like the ivipQ 530 cable.

I’ve seen a few XINHS cables I’ve purchased for much less are now 500-800 bucks, lol.

Looks like you’re correct, $269.76 to be exact.