Introduction:
The AFUL PERFORMER 8 IEM has taken the audio community by storm with its promise of delivering an excellent auditory experience. I had got chance to listen to it at one of my local audiophile meetups.



Build and Design:
The AFUL PERFORMER 8 IEMs exude a sense of luxury and craftsmanship from the moment you hold them in your hands. The build quality is good, it has an ergonomic design that ensures a comfortable fit even during extended listening sessions. The housing is made of premium materials that not only contribute to their durability but also minimize unwanted resonance, allowing the IEMs to reproduce sound with good clarity.

Sound Quality:
The AFUL PERFORMER 8 IEMs' standout feature is their sound quality. Equipped with eight carefully tuned drivers (7BA+1DD Hybrid Configuration), these IEMs produce a good audio experience. The bass is deep, tight, and controlled, providing a satisfying foundation to the music without overpowering the other frequencies. The mids are rich and articulate, capturing intricate vocal nuances and instrument details with astonishing precision. The highs are crisp, and airy, and extend gracefully, adding a layer of brilliance to the overall sound signature.

AFUL PERFORMER 8 IEMs also have a wide and immersive soundstage. Whether it's a live concert recording or a studio album, these IEMs manage to replicate the spatial characteristics. This makes instruments and vocals positioned precisely within the auditory landscape. The depth on the other hand is average.



Comfort and Fit:
Comfort is paramount during long listening sessions, and the AFUL PERFORMER 8 IEMs excel in this aspect. The ergonomic design, along with a variety of included ear tips, ensures a snug fit that effectively isolates external noise. I was able to wear them for hours without experiencing any discomfort or fatigue, making them suitable for both casual listening and professional use.



Conclusion: The AFUL PERFORMER 8 IEMs have undoubtedly raised the bar for in-ear monitors. With good build quality, superior sound reproduction, and a comfortable fit, these IEMs are a must-have for music enthusiasts who demand an overall package. The attention to detail in both design and sound engineering is evident, resulting in a product that offers a truly immersive and captivating listening experience.

Burson is an Australian brand that took the world by storm with its revolutionary flagship 'Conductor' line of DAC/AMP products back in 2019. They revolutionized power supply technology with their proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS). This was a game-changer for audio equipment. Now Burson offers a lot more DAC/AMP and other sound equipment, such as Soloist, Playmate, Supercharger 3A/5A, etc.

I have been trying to post this review for quite some time because I wanted to have a comparison of their various op-amps. I have been using the V5i-D (I was so impressed the first time I used them in my little bear that I have V5i-Ds on all my supported portable setups) and V5 Discrete Op-Amps (for giving a desktop-like feel to my portable setups) for the past few years, and I would like to thank Burson India for sending me their latest V6 Vivid Op-Amp for the comparison.

In terms of design, the V-5i series are partial discrete Op-amps and come in both singular and dual supply architecture, whereas the V5/V6_vivid are fully discrete Op-amps, i.e., they permit the use of high-quality compensation capacitors, and allow for two pole compensation schemes that are impossible to implement in IC designs and are designed to serve in desktop setups.

For the following review, I have decided to use these op-amps on different kinds of devices. To properly understand the impact of the OpAmp rolling, I chose each device with different characteristics from the others. Depending on the architecture of the device, the op-amps have been tested in both singular and paired modes. I have used the following portable devices for this review: Xduoo-XD05, Little Bear B4 and Little Bear B4x, and Zishan DSD. Some devices such as Burson Playmate2 require more than one op-amp whereas devices such as Xduoo xd05 use a single op-amp. Also, the architecture changes depending on Single Supply, using the wrong op-amp or not caring about the actual pin structure can lead to damage to your device as well as the op-amps.

Burson Playmate2-


Little Bear B4x and B4 -

As soon as I switched from the stock op-amps on all these devices, there was a huge difference in terms of performance, quality, and tonality. Moving to V5i-D from the stock op-amp, there was a noticeable increase in all the parameters; the overall sound became more engaging, more detailed, and more textured. The soundstage was enhanced, and the dynamics became far richer and more exciting. The upgrade also improved the overall performance in terms of output power. Using V5i-D on the Xduoo-XD05 gave me the best synergy I had with my DT880-250 ohm on any portable setup I had so far, as per my taste.

Again, switching from V5i-D to full discrete op-amps like V5 discrete or V6 vivid made a huge difference. With portables, although they took a hit on battery life and the portability of the setup, I now had to either modify the casing or use them as non-portable equipment. The difference in quality and performance was such that it immediately gave the imitation that I had moved to an actual desktop setup with amazing power and overall sound quality. The texture became even richer with the increase in transparency and details. The sound became more intimate and enjoyable. In terms of staging, there was also a minor change, with much-improved imaging and micro details.

Now if we compare the V5 discrete and the V6 vivid, there is a slightly less noticeable difference as compared to the above comparisons. The V6 vivid outperforms the V5 discrete by a narrow margin. It is slightly more transparent and does enhance the soundstage. Overall, it feels slightly more enjoyable and punchy. Other than that, there isn't much of a difference to notice, but if we have to pick a winner, the V6 Vivid is unquestionably the king of Burson op-amps.

I would highly recommend upgrading the stock op-amp of any portable device with the Burson V5i series and the V5/V6 series for desktop setups. I felt they were better than other op-amps I have tested, such as the NE5532 (slightly mid-centric) and the LM4562 (more balanced sound), for overall performance, aesthetics, and sound quality as per my taste and the best part is they come with a lifetime warranty.

Introduction:
Moondrop is a distinguished name in the audiophile community. This brand emerged in 2015 in China, when a group of hobbyist engineers came together to design interesting Hifi products. Soon their efforts took the market by storm and they came up with "Blessing", "A8" etc that set the stage for them.

Their latest entry is the Chu, a single dynamic driver IEM made of 10mm Nano-crystal coating composite titanium-coated diaphragm, N52 neodymium magnetic circuit, and Ultra-thin imported 0.035mm, CCAW Coil.
Coming to the IEM, with a metallic body and glossy black finish, the earpieces are nothing less than a piece of jewelry. The faceplate's design is minimalistic and impactful. The faceplate has a leafy pattern in gold. The heavy weight of the earpieces is re-assuring and somehow reminded of the USSR enterprise and the remarkable lines "To boldly go where no man has gone before"



The earpieces despite of heavyweight, as of small form factor, are very much comfortable to wear for long durations. This IEM looks much more expensive for its price.

The package contains 3 pairs of Moondrop spring ear tips shelved in a square black box, a beautiful black case, ear hooks, attached cable. The attached cable is unbraided with a soft rubber sheath ending with a 3.5 mm jack.

Disclaimer:
I have received it as part of the review circle sent from Hifigo in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and are based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price ranges. One can purchase Moondrop CHU at :
https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-chu?variant=42673560912111

Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired to Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ) without any other amplification on a portable setup. And, it has also been paired to a lotto paw S1 dongle with Vivo X50pro and directly to an LG V30+ Phone.




Sound:
The highs on Chu sound are pretty good. The detailing is above average and it's tuned to sound non-fatiguing. Although there is the elevation at the lower treble that does make it feel splashy at times.

Mids are forward, detailed and clear. The instrument sounds the way, natural, and has quite good timber. The vocals can be lean at times but the timber is quite good.

The Bass section is very well tuned. It has an overall elevated response to make it a fun IEM. The sub-bass rumble is there with a soft punch in the mid-bass region. It's not a typical bass head IEM, on the other hand, it's more like a soothing sweet kind.

Soundstage and imaging are average, which is totally fine as per the price segment. The headroom while watching movies and games is compact but imaging on the other hand is quite good, especially for playing competitive games.



Final Verdict:
I have tried Moondrop Chu while gaming, watching movies, and listening to music, and overall it's quite a fun IEM with a few analytical characters. It's totally banging for the buck. I really loved the overall tonality and comfort. It comes lavishly accessorized which is hard to find in IEM of this price range. I would personally recommend chu eyes closed in the sub 50$ range for both audiophile and non-audiophile populations.

Today, I have got the TACable Amber IEM upgrade cable with me. In this industry where most IEM upgrade cables are priced on the premium side, TACables has been releasing some really good cables at affordable prices. The Amber is a high-quality triple hybrid cable available for just around 60$. It has got a combination of gold-plated OCC, silver-plated OCC, and OCC copper tribrid configuration. The cable comes with a swappable termination plug system with 3.5mm single-ended, 2.5mm bal, and 4.4mm bal plugs in the package. Let’s begin with the review today.

Unboxing and package:-
Amber comes in a generic cardboard box. It’s a small package designed specifically for cables. Inside we get the cable itself along with the included termination plugs. Well, there’s nothing else to see here.



Contents Of The Package:-
>TACables Amber cable.
>Termination plugs(3.5mm+2.5mm+4.4mm).



Design:-
Amber has a soft feel, it is by no means hard or rigid to touch. With all its tribrid configuration the cable is slightly heavy than the stock cable of any given IEM. TACable has given it an 8-strand strong build structure with 4 strands for each side. The strands are braided in a Litz braided structure. It comes with 2-pin 0.78mm connectors. But from what I gather people can buy it in MMCX too. The connectors here have Red and Blue rings to denote the right and left sides respectively. All three of the connectors have TACable branding logo printed on them. In terms of design and look, the cable looks very solid and well-built. The connectors can be switched easily by simply pulling out the current one and aligning the pings on the next connector and simply pushing it towards the cable. Extremely easy to switch.

Sound Changes:-
Amber is mostly transparent and doesn’t affect the sound quality of any connected earphones much. But it seems to me that the cable adds an extra bit of energy in the higher frequencies and also improves the clarity of connected earphones. It shows better clarity with the connected earphones, they sound cleaner. The lower end and midrange are identical to the stock cable(Here I am talking about the Moondrop Kato that I used with Amber).

I also tried it with Kinera IDUN Golden. It seemed to benefit the earphone with a wider stage presentation too. In comparison to its stock cable, with the Amber I found IDUN Golden to sound cleaner, wider, and retrieve better details. Tonally, the pair still retains its original signature with no added warmth or brightness.

Third I tried the Amber with Legacy 2 from Thieaudio, The pair opens up a bit with added air that improves spaciousness with the set. Other than that frequencies and other responses are identical to the stock cable.

Final Words:-
Amber is a nicely built IEM Upgrade Cable that brings more clarity and energy with the connected earphones. It doesn’t tangles easily, comes with swappable termination plugs, and provides a transparent sound. Moreover, the Amber comes at an attractive price point of just 60$. I really liked this cable for both its performance and its price.

Introduction:
Ikko is a Chinese company founded in 2019. Its innovative spirit and commitment to the idea of 'Audio Freedom' and high fidelity have enabled it to win Japan's top visual and Audio VGP award for 3 consecutive years. It is the first Chinese company to win the Japanese VGP award for its entire product line.

Its new IEM OH2 comes with IKKO patented SVAS(Separating Vector Acoustic System) that enables the IEM to achieve precise volume output in a limited space. The looks of this IEM are in line with IKKO's signature style of elegance and innovation. It comes in 5 colors- Purple, White, Gold, Gray, and Green. The small triangular shell is easy on the eyes as it is on the ears. The shell is a beautiful amalgamation of chrome lining, a transparent section next to chrome along with a matte finish faceplate. The final result is breathtaking.

It is bundled with a high purity OFC silver-plated cable with MMCX 0.78mm detachable design. The package also has a leather pouch to carry the IEM easily.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of the review circle sent from Hifigo in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my listening and my sources and are based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase the following IEM from:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KZMW43P/ikko+oh02/
https://hifigo.com/products/ikko-oh02

Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired to Hiby RS6 without any other amplification.



Highs:
The treble hits my favorite tuning. It's relaxing and smooth and has a bit of dark touch to it. Treble is very soothing and tamed, but has a decent sparkle in it to keep one engaging. The level of details is very good and creates an overall enjoyable atmosphere.



Mids:
The mid-range is very well tuned in ikko OH2, there is a slight hint of warmth and the presence factor is very good. The bass tuning complements the mid-range very well and brings out the necessary weight to the notes creating an overall musical tonality. There is an organic touch to vocals and the instruments sound fuller.



Lows:
This is not at all bass-oriented IEM, but it does a very decent job in the bass department. The bass response is mostly concentrated towards mid-bass. The physicality of bass is not missing at all. There is a minor bleed that can be observed from transitions from mid-bass towards the lower mid-range. There is an early roll-off for the sub-bass region. For a bass lover, it may lack a certain depth and punch but for a mid-range lover, it packs a decent amount of mid-bass rumble to satisfy the needs.



Technicalities:
There is a decent sense of separation and imaging is also quite good. The soundstage performance is also decent with quite a good width. The height and depth are a bit average and give an overall intimate feel to the signature which compliments the overall tuning.



Final Verdict:
Ikko OH2 provides a very good price to performance ratio for a single dynamic driver. It’s a perfect balance of aesthetics and performance. The mid-range performance is quite good and is a very enjoyable and musical pair of IEMs. Overall tonality is a bit neutralish and has a musical touch to it. I loved the soothing dark treble response it gave along with the decent technical performance.

Introduction:
Kinera is a brand of YuTai Electronic Acoustics, that has been in the business for more than 10 years now. Based in Dongguan, China, YuTai is a pioneer in 'Bone Conduction' technology. In the last few years, Kinera has produced a series of exceptions products which include Odin, Idun, Seed, BD005, Idun Deluxe, and single dynamic driver SIF.

URD is the latest jewel in the crown. It is a 5 driver(2DD +1BA + 2 Sonion EST) tribrid in-ear monitor with stunning looks and killer design. The earpieces are an absolute delight to look at. The faceplate is particularly striking with a pattern that creates an illusion of depth. This blue pattern on a marble white shell with 'Kinera' and 'URD' etched in golden, gives this IEM an extraordinary look and a feel of some sort of aquamarine landscape. It's lightweight but a little too big. The nozzle design is not straight and can be hit or miss in terms of fit.



It is bundled with an impressive 6N OCC Copper cores, Silver-plated OCC cores, and gold-plated OCC wire cores cable. The cable feels sturdy and compliments the shells perfectly in look and feel. The cable is equipped with swappable plug types along with 3 fittings - 3.5mm SE, 2.5mm balanced, and 4.4mm balanced. The package also comes with a gorgeous fabric finish blue carry case that compliments the overall looks and feel of the product.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of the review circle sent from Hifigo in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my listening and my sources and are based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase the following IEM at:
https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-urd-1

Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired to A&K SE200 and Hiby RS6 without any other amplification using balanced out.



Highs:
The treble region in URD is managed by dual EST drivers but it was indeed a surprise that the overall feel of the treble region was relaxing and smooth but very well extended. I personally love this kind of tuning and thus enjoyed this aspect of URD a lot. But for some people there might be a miss of sparkle in this region. There is no miss in details of any kind, the cymbals and other bells and whistles sound very well, and not at any point of time it becomes exhausting or harsh.



Mids:
The mid-range is well managed by BA drivers and is presented in a smooth and detailed manner. Overall mids sound musical and balanced. There is a hint of warmness in vocals that makes it sound even more melodious. I personally loved both male and female vocal presentations on it. The instruments in the mid-region like pianos, guitars, and violins sounded full of details but nevertheless very much smooth and relaxing.



Lows:
The low range is managed by dual-diaphragm dynamic drivers, as a result of which URD is able to produce a decent bass rumble. The bass impact is full of texture and details. The sub-bass also has a nice presentation to it. The bass is deep that can satisfy the craving easily and it's presented in a very controlled manner. Not even at a single point in time, the dual-driver lose the control to make it feel bloated or overwhelming in terms of bass response.



Technicalities:
The overall technical performance of URD is very good, there is a decent soundstage with above-average height and width. The depth and separation are also very good. The detailing and microdynamics are also very well defined and go very well with the soothing tonality of the IEM.



Final Verdict:
In a nutshell, Kinera URD is an IEM that is very good-looking and has very nice smooth tuning to it. The only downside for me was its wavy large nozzle design that started causing a bit of pain in the ears over a short period of time, which I think can be further resolved using some tip rolling, unluckily I was a bit short of time and was traveling while listening to URD so was not able to test different tips on it. I loved the overall warmish and musical tonality of it. I would definitely recommend URD if one is a bit treble sensitive and looking for a multi-driver IEM with EST drivers.

In recent times, Crinacle has partnered with multiple brands including KZ, Moondrop, and FiiO with its tuning suggestions. See Audio announced their collaboration with Crinacle at the beginning of this year with the revelation of SeeAudio X Crinacle Yume Midnight, in brand’s words a Yume taken to another level. I guess we all are familiar with See Audio Yume, the debutant IEM for See Audio in the international market. Crinacle and See Audio has worked closely in adjusting the tuning profile of the triple driver hybrid Yume and designing the all-new Yume Midnight.



It is actually a three-way collaboration with HiFiGo as the official selling partner worldwide for the Yume Midnight. As per the official information from the brand, they have kept the driver config the same but brought some adjustments in the internal cavity structure and also given a new tuning to the Yume Midnight allowing it to produce an improved listening experience for the user. I got a unit to audition the Yume Midnight courtesy of a review tour being organized by HiFiGo. I have spent a good time with the pair, Today I am sharing my personal impressions on the same. Let’s begin before wasting any more time.

Disclaimer:
This unit was provided to me by HiFiGo for the purpose of this review. I assure you all thoughts in this review are only my own based on my own experience with the pair. You can check out technical details and purchase the Yume Midnight from the HiFiGo website link below:
https://hifigo.com/products/seeaudio-x-crinacle-yume-midnight-iems



Build:
While the OG Yume had a colorful and fun look, the new Yume Midnight looks more stealthy with its carbon fiber faceplates. The cavities here are made up of solid resin material same as that of the OG Yume but they now have a better fit thanks to the new ergonomic shape of the cavities. If you have used or tried the OG Yume, you must be familiar with its pointed design, which killed the fit for many users with that pointed design. The cavities have a unibody resin mold with a metallic nozzle. On one side we have the See Audio branding and on the other, we have the Midnight branding printed on the faceplates. The only Crinacle branding on the cavities is at the inner side close to the nozzle. I would say, the Yume Midnight looks really good to the eye with its rich carbon fiber faceplates.
The shells are lightweight and comfortable. They have an average-sized nozzle that doesn’t disturb fit by any means. I get a perfectly comfortable fit with the pair. I am pretty sure with the Yume Midnight most users will experience a comfy listening experience.

I like the included two-pin cable too. It has a rich build with a soft insulated cover and metallic shielding on the connectors. From the technical specs page of Yume Midnight, this is a high-purity silver-plated OCC copper cable.



Power Requirements:
The Yume Midnight runs well off any source you might offer it, be it a smartphone or a decent enough DAC/AMP. I used it with my Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ) music player.

Sound:
See Audio Yume Midnight sounds identical to the OG Yume with a smooth and forward presentation. Vocals take the limelight here with a rich tone and good clarity to them. They sound forward and close to the listener. The main difference I notice with the new Yume Midnight over the OG Yume would be its improved lower-end response. The lower end has not got a better punch and a clean texture. Earlier with the OG Yume, I felt the pair to have a flatter bass response, but with Midnight they have now rectified that issue. Treble sounds relaxed and inoffensive. It lacks sparkle and energy to my preference and sounds way too smooth. Extension in the treble region is also improved over the previous model.

The lower end produces a fast and punchy response that complements the other frequencies well. It has got a quick decay and precise drops, good enough to create a balance in the sound now. If there was a bit more quantity added to the lower end, the sound would lean towards the fun side rather than a balanced one. I don’t find the bass to lack any bit, it has got a good extension, it has got clean texture, it has got good rumble, but all in a balanced manner. The pair doesn’t emphasize the lower end, still, the emphasis is mainly on the midrange.



Yume Midnight still remains true to the sound of the Yume with its mesmerizing midrange. The vocals are clean and detailed, they are forward but not intimate. It’s good to hear such beautiful vocals, reminds me of the OG Yume. They sound slightly warmer than natural but often have that BA timbre to them, although they hook you with their crisp clarity every single time. The midrange has got good amounts of air to present different instruments on the stage in a clean manner. They don’t sound congested or lean by any means.

The Treble region is relaxed, actually too relaxed for my taste. It has good details, air, and clarity for instruments but lacks the sparkle I look for in an IEM. Though I must say, the treble region has got good extensions.



The soundstage has got good width here, it’s neither super wide, nor it is intimate, but it is wide enough to create a big area presentation in our head. It has also got good depth to it, although it isn’t tall much. Imaging and Layering with the Yume Midnight are good.


A Short Comparison Against See Audio Anou(OG Yume):
For all those who don’t know, See Audio Yume(OG) was known as Anou in China. I got to audition the Anou before the release of Yume in the international market courtesy of a friend. It was a good set but as I mentioned before in this review had a flatter bass response. I personally think See Audio has now improved that part with the Yume Midnight, although I would love if they have added a bit of sparkle and energy to the treble region here. Though there are better extensions in the treble region here with the newer Yume. It has also got better width to the stage, Depth and Height are identical to the OG model. Looks are pretty evident, OG Yume had a colorful shell design, the Midnight looks stealthy with carbon fiber faceplates.



For my reviews on OG Yume, you may read at:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/see-audio-yume-anou.24866/reviews
https://theaudiocollector.blogspot.com/2021/02/seeaudio-anou-new-vision-for-music.html

Final Words About SeeAudio X Crinacle Yume Midnight:

SeeAudio X Crinacle Yume Midnight is my first experience with the Crinacle tuning profile(I have heard the ZEX Pro, but talking about mid-fi price here). I can say it hits right at some points like a properly balanced not overpowering bass response, absolutely blissful midrange, and a smooth inoffensive treble. The only con that I can put up here would be the lack of sparkle in the treble region but that’s my personal preference. If you want an IEM for a relaxing session or smooth listening, the Yume Midnight at 200$ is a great set.

Introduction:
DUNU is a well-known name in the audiophile community. It is an old player that has given us many gems like DN-2000J, Studio SA6, Zen, and many more. Falcon pro eclipse series is a worthy addition to Dunu's product line Up. These earpieces are an elegant example of DUNU's excellent craftsmanship. The shiny metallic earpieces have a mirror finish faceplate with frosted borders. The faceplate has DUNU written over it. These earpieces are as easy on the eyes as they are on the ears. The design is simple and powerful. Overall look and feel it's extraordinary.



It is bundled with a high-purity 6N silver-plated OCC copper cable with a new Q-Lock Lite modular plug system. This plug system works perfectly with all the termination plugs, 3.5 mm SE, 2.5 mm balanced, and 4.4 mm balanced. The splitter and jacks have the same frosty finish as the faceplate border, adding to the aesthetics.

The package carries a whole lot of stuff as exciting as the IEM itself. It comes with a green-colored zipped carry case, modular termination plugs, 3 pairs of filters, each for transparency, reference, and atmospheric immersion respectively. Other than this, the package also contains a microfiber cleaning cloth. A cleaning brush, a 3.5 mm to 6.5 mm adapter, and some rings to hold the filters tightly.

Disclaimer:
I have got the Dunu Falcon Pro from Hifigo. All sound impressions are subjective to my listening/sources and are based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price ranges. I am not affiliated with Hifigo by any means. One can purchase Dunu Falcon Pro from the following link:
https://hifigo.com/products/dunu-falcon-pro
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JCCKNHK/dunu+falcon+pro+iem/

Sources:
The following review is based on the pairing of Falcon Pro to the Hiby RS6 (Balanced out) without any other amplification on a portable setup. And, it has also been paired to Schiit Vali2+Mutibit Stack in terms of desktop setup, which I personally enjoyed more with this IEM.



For the following review, I have used the "Transparency Filters", although the filters don't make much noticeable difference in sound, still, it's worth mentioning over here that which I have used to describe its sound

Highs:
The Highs are very well implemented, the frequency response is clean, transparent, and full of energy giving a very musical experience. The treble extension is very good and not at all sibilant, peaky or harsh at any point in time but quite relaxing and fluidic. There is a feel of airiness and openness to it.

While listening to Guns N' Roses - November Rain where all the instruments come up with nice crisp micro detailing and a very immersive experience thanks to the good imaging capabilities, the electric guitars, flutes, violins, upper notes of the piano, rest all bells and whistles made it a very amazing experience with a lot of chills at various parts of the track. The overall presentation was very much open and clean. Just loved the treble response on it.



Mids:
The mid-range of Falcon pro is very sweet and fluidic. There is a lush and warmth in the mids with a nice texture to every note. Instruments like saxophones, violins, and cellos sound very deep and lush and have a nice body to the notes.

Lower mids have some warmth in them and have a presence factor carried by bass impact as a result the male vocals have a very nice thick presentation with soothing warmth in them. Listening to Eric Clapton singing "Wonderful Tonight" had a similar impact and was very much enjoyable.

Coming to the upper mids again the emphasis is towards the texture and details. There is an increase in the sharpness of notes making it sound very open and lively. The things become more vivid and transparent. While listening to "Astrid S - It´s Ok If You Forget Me" the presentation becomes very much vivid and open, and the vocals sound bit angelic at times.

Lows:
The bass response of Falcon Pro is robust, deep, huge and instantly sets you up in a groovy mood. The attack is very good and with quite thick notes makes it a very pleasurable experience. The texture and rumble are again very good, and the IEM shines very well using a desktop setup. Although the bass is extensive but still does not at any point in time feels like getting out of control nor fatiguing but created an overall musical experience one craves for.

The sub-bass production is way more refined than most of the IEMs in this price range; it was full of texture and the rumbles just feel nice. In quantity, it does feel shy as compared to mid and upper bass.

I have tested Falcon Pro on various bass-oriented tracks and it didn’t fail even for a single time to give me a wow factor by initiating an instant groove from its punchy bass response and while its V-shaped signature sets up an instant dance mood wherein no time I feel my hands up in the air.

Listening to the “Bass Rani” album by Nucleya was such an awesome experience - what a rumble on all the bass drops, it was entirely fun listening to each track. A similar experience was there while listening to “Ni Jana Song by Jasleen Royal” – The Presentation of the bass response was outstanding and the feeling one has while anticipating the drop was damn amazing. it didn’t lose the wow factor; not even for a single drop.



Technicalities:
Falcon Pro shines very well in terms of depth and has extremely good imaging capabilities. The soundstage has a very good width and quite a decent height to it. Listening to Bassnectar – Reaching Out and Dream Catcher has similar impacts with very good bass response, imaging, and instrument separation and does not fail to give a holographic presentation. The overall tonality and presentation is amazing

Again, coming back to Guns N' Roses - November Rain, it was an amazingly enjoyable experience with all the depth, micro and macro detail, and the overall tonality and fluidity that it doesn't fail to give me the goosebumps and chills.



Final Verdict:
Falcon Pro has become my new favorite, it shines very well on portable as well as desktop setups and is very versatile as of the modular cable it comes with it. The carry case adds quite a premium feel to it. The fit and comfort level is top-notch. Coming to the sound, it is a very well-tuned mild V-shaped tuning. The tonality is top-notch and has extremely good imaging and separation. The soundstage and depth are also top-notch. The treble and bass response are well extended with an airy and open presentation. The mids have a lush and organic factor to them. Last but not least, Falcon Pro scales very well to desktop as well as portable setup and gives a musical and relaxing feel. After such a long time I have found such an amazing IEM, and I am totally in love with it that whenever I use this IEM I tend to lose the track of time especially on my Schiit Vali2+Mimby Setup.

Introduction:
Burson is an Australian brand that took the world by storm with its revolutionary flagship 'Conductor' lineup DAC/AMP products back in 2019. They revolutionized the power supply technology with their proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS). This was a game-changer for audio equipment.



Super Charger 3A is a power supply bespoke to Burson devices operating at 24V/3A. This proprietary tech by Burson changed the way role of power supplies in the audio setup for good and forever.

By the looks of it, it’s a simple device. A black square box which you plugin from one side and get the output from the other side. The plugin side comes with 3 different adaptors for different geographies in the world. I got an EU adaptor, a UK adaptor, and an AU adaptor. The output goes from a 2.5mm barrel plug.



Disclaimer:
I have received Burson Super Charger 3A by brand in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources.

Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired to DROP + THX AAA™ 789 LINEAR AMPLIFIER which has been fed input using Hiby RS6 as a fully balanced architecture. I have tested this stack on various IEMs like CA Solaris, Sony M9 as well as with full-sized cans such as Focal Clear, Hifiman Ananda, HD800s.



Technology:
The quality that makes this power supply truly special for not just Burson's equipment but any device that uses its 24V /3A DC supply is its ability to reduce the noise that creeps into the audio circuitry through the power supply. The functionality of a power supply is to convert the AC of the main supply to DC supply by flipping the negative cycle of current giving a smooth positive supply. They generally operate at a frequency that is audible to human ears. This device is operating at a frequency higher than a human's hearing threshold thus reducing the noise.

This increase in frequency also increases the charging frequency of the capacitors inside the audio equipment.



Sound Quality:
The architectural improvements sound simple in theory but the impact they have on the overall sound quality of the setup was astounding. The devices used indeed have a much bigger role in creating the overall experience, but using adding this power supply further refines the sound and improves the listening experience of an existing setup.

The sweeping noise floor gets lower. The lower noise in operating circuitry smoothens the glare and shrill ends of the high frequencies without rolling them off.

There is this complete dark background, making even the slightest of dynamics change noticeable. The notes became more textured and felt more refined than before with all the added clarity and micro detailing. This is a minute but quite noticeable enhancement one can only feel when comparing the same sound with an off-the-shelf power supply.

There is also a noticeable improvement in the sound stage, both height and depth enhanced a bit and with added depth made it quite holographic with even better dynamics output.

I enjoyed listening to works of "Yosi Harikawa" be it "Vapor" or "Spaces" the experience become the next level that I have never expected would have been delivered using my current system with so much dynamic fluidity. All credit goes to Burson Super Charger 3A which made me feel that the entire setup is working so seamlessly and effortlessly.

Introduction:
Tin Hifi is located in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. It is a reputed name in audiophile circles. This company has the vision to gift the world with high-quality sound at an affordable price. With their idea in mind that High-Quality music should not be a luxury speaks to every music lover Tin Hifi has launched Tin Hifi T3 plus in the market.

Tin Hifi T3 plus has a single 10mm dynamic driver unit that features an LCP diaphragm. They have a dual-cavity design to maintain a proper pressure inside the driver cavity for switch movement of the diaphragm. The pair adopts a high-quality LCP(Liquid Crystal Polymer) diaphragm coil for quality sound reproduction. The LCP diaphragm reduces the unnecessary vibrations resulting in clean, distortion-free sound output.

The earpieces are made of skin-friendly resin and come with a 2pin standard connector.



Disclaimer:
I have received Tin Hifi T3 as part of the review circle sent from Hifigo in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my listening and my sources and are based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. The IEM can be purchased at:
https://hifigo.com/products/tinhifi-t3-plus
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M2QWLMZ/tin+hifi+t3+plus/

Sources:
For this review, the unit has been paired with Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ) and Schiit Vali2+ Modi Multibit Stack.



Highs:
The Tin T3 Plus offers a U-Type signature. The treble region fells slightly boosted and have a very good extension to it. The overall presentation is very airy. The overall treble is on the relaxing side and does not cause any fatigue or harshness despite the very good extension. I loved all high-pitched instruments while listening to Mark Knopfler's Romeo And Juliet.

Mids:
The mid-range is very transparent full of texture and has very nice timber. All instruments sound good on it and are very engaging. Vocals are nice and crisp. It is a very good IEM for long sessions.

Lows:
The bass is punchy and has a nice attack and decay. There is a very nice sub-bass extension to it but on the other hand, lags a bit on the mid-bass front. For me, the lack of mid-bass did not bother me at all as the sub-bass complimented the treble extension very nicely on my setup.

Technicalities:
The staging capabilities of Tin T3 Plus are quite good for the price. It offers an oval soundstage which is complemented with nice depth. The separation is above average and very good as per a single driver design.



Final Verdict:
In a nutshell, Tin Hifi T3 plus is a U-shape IEM, that has been tuned to be quite natural and relaxing. The treble and sub-bass have a very nice extension to it and compliments the ovalish soundstage and depth. The mids are transparent and crisp with good texture and timbre. For me, Tin Hifi T3 plus is a bang for the buck if one is looking for an IEM for long listening comfortable sessions.

Introduction:
TRN has recently introduced TRN VX pro as their latest hybrid IEM retailing at sub 100$ range using a 1DD+8BA driver setup. Even at a budget price the quality of earpieces it top notch with full metallic housing. The stock cable on the other hand feels bit degrade to the overall build quality. The IEM is very much comfortable to wear and is design is very ergonomic and elegant.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from Hifigo in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. The IEM can be purchased at: https://hifigo.com/products/trn-vx-pro

Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to LG V30+ and Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ).



Highs:
The TRN VX pro offers a typical V-Type signature. The treble region is bit boosted and is very well extended. The overall presentation is very airy. The detailing in treble region is quite average. But the overall tonality is very good. Unlike other multi driver IEMs of this range which are prone to sibilance, VX pro does much better job. During my testing it never became harsh or sibilance whatsoever track I threw to it.

Mids:
The mid-range is laid back and relaxing. The mid tones are rich and the vocals sound lush. Overall the mids sound engaging. The instrument details and textures are quite nice done for the price. The overall texture and tonality have a slight organic touch to it.



Lows:
The bass does get boomy, I would say talking in terms of quantity is too much and can fill in all the desires of a casual basshead, but in terms of quality I would say it's not that clean. At times it does feel over powering but not to such extend to cause any fatigue. Talking about sub-bass, the IEM does a decent job as well.

Technicalities:
The staging capabilities of TRN VX pro are quite good. The overall depth and width feels very good although it is not that precise but yet fills the complete headroom. The separation and details are average.



Final Verdict:
In a nutshell I would say that TRN VX pro is a typical V-shape IEM, Mids do feel bit recessed and generally pushed to the background but has good timber and sounds well weighted and organic. The treble and bass performance is quite good and in this price range it’s a monster IEM with 1DD+8BA driver setup. I do recommend to upgrade the cable to a better for much improved performance.

Tin Hifi is located in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. It is a reputed name in audiophile circles. This company has a vision to gift the world with high-quality sound at an affordable price. Their idea that High Quality music should not be a luxury speaks to every music lover.

The first thing you will notice when you see P1 plus is how well ergonomic and elegant its design and build is. The shells are made of stainless steel with two vents. The smooth triangular faceplate is gorgeous. Its look and feel is eerily similar to P1; It's the Planer tuning in P1 plus that marks the difference between them.

It comes with a standard set of items one would expect to come with earphones this range. The box has a silicon eartips, some foam tips ,a leather carry case and a stock cable.

The stock cable is interesting, it's a 5N OFC(Oxygen Free Copper) MMCX type cable, with metallic Y-splitter and connector which pairs beautifully with the earpiece shell. This time it has been braided very nicely as compared to loose braiding in the P1. I do appreciate the fact that Tin Audio considered all the criticism that P1 faced during its time and worked very efficiently and flawlessly in designing of the P1 Plus.



Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ) using ifi xCAN as amplifier portable setup. And, it has also been paired to Schiit Vali2+Mutibit Stack in terms of desktop setup.

Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from HifiGo in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase it from the following link:
https://hifigo.com/products/tinhifi-p1-plus



Highs:
The high frequency range is very nicely done on P1 Plus. The treble is very smooth and relaxing. I have tested with many treble oriented tracks such as "Rehna Tu" from "Delhi6", It performed very well with all those busy instruments and was not at all sibilant or harsh at point of time. Although I must say that P1 plus is not one of those IEMs which are very detailed and precise yet feels very much versatile in day to day casual use for longer durations without causing any fatigue.

Mids:
The tuning of mid-range felt towards neutral side. The best part of P1 Plus is its upper mids range to lower treble tuning which feels slightly elevated giving it more space and air in the vocals adding a good amount of atmosphere to them and making them more lively and lifelike. The overall mid-range perform very well, and it was a delight listening to vocal and orchestral music on it with good texture, speed and dynamics.

Lows:
Coming towards the Bass performance is both hit and miss in case P1 Plus. To be honest if you like good quantity of bass in your music then definitely it's not the IEM for you. But on the contrary it has a very good sub-bass rumble and extension. I tried various EDM tracks on it, it does create a good impact on every drop but yet leaves bit unsatisfactory in terms of quantity.

Technicalities:
I found P1 Plus average in terms of technical performance. The details and separation are quite average, neither it the most precise IEM out there but does its job well for casual listening. The soundstage width and height are again on average side but then comes the most interesting part, that is the depth. I find the depth of P1 plus very good and it engross you into it. Last but not the least, P1 plus scales very well to equalizer, which makes it a very versatile IEM.



Final Verdict:
P1 Plus is a very versatile IEM of budget range planar driver IEMs. It comes with very nice accessories and has a very premium factor to it. The design is very ergonomic and elegant. The mids and treble have very good tonality to it and it's an absolute pleasure to listen to it for longer durations. It performs very well to equalizer. The bass quantity undermines it a bit but it grows onto you like a fine wine with time. I would suggest a slight warm source pairing to it, and scales well with little amplification although it's not mandatory like its predecessor P1.



Comparisons:
The best comparison would be with the talk of the town 7Hz Timeless. The 7HZ Timeless has gained very much popularity in very short span of time due to its aesthetics and performance in the budget planar IEM world and comes are nearly same price bracket as of P1 Plus. Both P1 Plus and Timeless comes lavishly accessorized. Performance wise Timeless is direct plug and play where as P1 does like a little amplification. Timeless has a very musical and fun signature with slightly emphasized bass and treble region where as P1 Plus has a very neutral tonality. The separation, resolution and soundstage is slightly better on the Timeless where as P1 plus is clear winner when it comes to the depth. Also if EQ is your thing, then P1 outperforms timeless in this factor very nicely.

Introduction:
Even if one is not familiar with TKZK , there is hardly anyone in audio community who doesn't know Tin Hifi. This is a well-established name in the audiophile industry and has given smashing hits like T2, T3, T4 etc. TKZK is their new venture that has just started its journey with Wave.

The wave is very decent 1BA and 1DD hybrid design. The product is packaged in a black box with a picture of earphone in the middle and the name of brand and product etched in gold on the top and bottom. The box contains earphones, stock cable, ear-tips and a small carry pouch. The accompanying accessories are not extravagant but that is understandable given its price range.

The earphones however do have a quality built irrespective of the price tier. The design is simple yet powerful. It comes in 2 colors, grey and blue. The faceplate has a metallic look with wave patterns, it is also encased in resin giving it a shiny appearance. The earpieces are slightly big in size but surprisingly comfortable to wear. The overall look and feel is aesthetically pleasing. This is accompanied by 1.2 m silver plated stock cable.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent by brand in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range.

Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to A&K SE100 (ES9038 Pro), Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ) and Cayin n5ii without any other amplification on portable setup.



Highs:
The Wave is an example of one of very nicely tuned treble region, there is a slight roll off in the upper treble region giving it a very detailed yet not harsh perspective in the high frequency region. The treble has decent extension and sparkle to it and not at any point its sibilant or harsh to ears specially the electric guitars.

Mids:
Mid-range is very much neutral, slight lift in upper mid-range but not much harsh. The upper mid-range is very much in line with lower treble and it gives very nice clarity and presentation but this suffers a bit at higher volumes. The overall mid-range presentation is very good and so does the detail retrieval in this area. The resolution as of elevated upper mids feels very good. Male vocals sound not at all sublime and recessed where are female vocals shine out very well along with very nice musicality.

Lows:
It is not a bass heavy IEM but the quality of bass is quite nice for the price. I really liked the way bass has been presented on it. Its not bass shy at all and have apt quantity to suit for most of the genres. Overall bass has nice punch to it with natural body and gives compliment to the treble extension. The Sub-bass also have very good extension and gives a decent rumble and authority even though its less in quantity.

Technicalities:
The Wave has very good micro contrast, The detail retrieval and resolution is very decent. The overall signature is towards the intimate side. Soundstage is above average.



Final Verdict:
TKZK Wave to me is very nicely tuned IEM for casual listening. Its very comfortable to ears both design wise and sonically. The treble is well extended still not harsh, the mids are natural and the bass is very nice in terms of quality. The overall signature is neutral towards slight bright side and does pair very well with warm sources.

Introduction:
Hakugei - a brand known for its exemplary custom cables has now bought to us a new sub brand by the name of TACable with Obsidian as their latest offering in the budget range. The cable has been priced at around 20USD.



Build, Design and Sound:
The Obsidian is has remarkable exceeded my expectations in terms of both quality and sonic performance. Its feels quite sturdy and premium for the price it has been offered in the market. The sliders, splitters and the termination everything is metallic and promises durability of the product. The relief stain provided at the end of termination is also sturdy and comfortable.

The Obsidian consist of 133 cores of 50% Black Litz 5N OCC and 50% Silver-plated Litz 5N OCC wires with DuPont PVC insulation. The whole cable has that black and white look thus it looks very classy and subtle. I have received t the cable with 3.5mm termination on 2Pin connections but it is also available in at various customizable terminations such as 3.5mm/2.5mm/4.4mm over variety of different connector options such as 0.78 2pin/MMCX



Now coming towards the most interesting topic, how does this cable perform in terms of sonic changes. To me I have tested the cable on my Noble Sage, KZ ZAS and following were my observations. There was no major improvement in the lower frequency spectrum, on contrary it mellowed down a little bit but in a good way, the quality somehow seemed bit improved in terms of texture but quantity decreased at bit. There was very minimal impact on the treble region but yes I do say it was slightly improved in terms of airiness as well as the note separation. The texture and timber has also got slight more natural touch to it with bit more refined micro details. Now coming to mid-range is what has impacted the most, to my taste it got bit relaxed and smooth. To the soundstage I felt had no noticeable impact width wise but slightly verticality has been improved.

The best part for me about the cable apart from its sonic performance was the build and the comfort. The cable is completely tangled free and light weight. It has extremely low microphonics and feels very much sturdy for even rough use.



Final Verdict:
I would say for 20USD, TACable Obsidian is perfect bargain for the money if one is looking for a replacement cable in budget that maintains the tonality of the IEM while making sound bit soft on mids and improve overall dynamics a bit. The performance of cable absolutely depends on what kind of stock cable one is moving out from. I would recommend this cable mostly to mids focused IEMs as of the sweetness it added to them during my testing and the improvement of timber and texture.

Introduction:
Hidizs is a Hong Cong based audio company known for delivering quality portable audiophile equipment like DAP, DAC, Amps and IEMs. S8 is an offering by Hidizs that surprises us with its features, size and price. It is a USB DAC-AMP that comes with 4 types of connector and is super useful for all types of sources we use, be it an android phone, an iPhone or any laptop. With most of the phones getting away with the headphone jack, USB dongles solve a dire need of the hour. This does not need any kind of app installation even on laptop. Just connect it with the device and you are good to go.

In just an inch square of size S8 packs so many capabilities that it mind blowing. Its design is minimalistic and simple. CNC machined aluminum case makes it sturdy and strong. It's extremely lightweight so super easy to carry. It comes in two colors, white and black. The front side has just 2 buttons on them, the top side has a headphone jack and bottom side has a micro-USB port. The design has an elegant simplicity and classiness.

It also comes with a nice feature of intelligent detection for headphone/IEM impedance as given in marketing manual which maybe be used for balancing the power consumption of the device, or could be just a marketing gimmick am not sure about that. Also it has an exclusive support for hiby app control giving one nice eq tweaking freedom using MSEB features.

Along with the device, the package also has
• 2.0 USB to micro cable
• Micro to lightening cable.
• Micro to Micro OTG
• Micro to Type-C OTG
• Silicon case
• User Manual

Features:
• DAC Chip : CS43131
• Supported sampling rate : PCM up to 32bit 384kHz, DSD up to DSD256
• Compatibility : Universal
• Output : Single-ended stereo output (3.5mm)
• Single-ended output power 2x 30mW @ 32Ω
• Single-ended output frequency response 20Hz - 50kHz
• Single-ended output THD+N 0.002% (1kHz)
• Single-ended output SNR 120dB
• Single-ended output channel separation 78dB @ 32Ω
• Single-ended output impedance < 1Ω

About Product:
• Case material CNC machined Aluminum, Rear panel material Glass
• Physical buttons Volume +, Volume -
• Dimensions : 47 x 18.8 x 7.8mm
• Weight : 9g



Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired with my phone Vivo X50 Pro and Samsung tab S6 lite without any other amplification on setup.

Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from Hifinage in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with DAC/AMP of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase it from the following link.



Highs:
The treble is well extended with nice micro-contrast. I did not find any kind of unwanted peaks or harshness. Treble felt slightly boosted to bring out all the micro details, with bright IEMs it tends to get little tiring with time.

Mids:
In terms of Mids, S8 sounds bit forward and aggressive. The instruments are nicely separated and have an airy effect. The vocals, both male and female are clean sounding.

Lows:
This has above average thumping base for such a small device. The subbase is clean without any bleeding effect. Mid-base complements the subbase very well. It does the job perfectly. Although low power impact can be seen in bass with some of IEMs making them less punchy. But overall as a budget device it does the job perfectly.

Technicalities:
Soundstage has decent depth and width with good separation between instruments. This does not have the best resolution one can find in USB DAC Amps but it's definitely of among the good ones but overall environment effect is quite airy and has a feel good factor to it.



Final Verdict:
Hidizs S8 pairs well with power efficient IEMs, and is perfect for day to day listening. It is a kind of device that significantly improve the quality of sound when connected to a casual source thanks to the very good implementation of CS43131. I have not faced any kind of pairing issues with this and it's very easy to carry around as of its low form factor. The power consumption also felt minimalistic so need not to worry much about the battery life of the source. For the price range this gives a decent listening experience and recommended for headphone/IEM impedance upto 150ohm.

Introduction:
7Hz , aka "Theta wave" is a team of engineers enthusiasts bound by their common love of music and an idea to summon musical trance through their equipment. Timeless has got a lot of attention these days in all the audio forums as it one of the few planar driver IEMs out there.

Each timeless earpiece is cut out of aviation-grade aluminum alloy material and then shaped using a high-precision CNC machining process followed by the highest strength level of hard oxidation treatment. The result is a product with a high aesthetic value along with ergonomic comfort. The metallic earphones have a raw charisma to it. Perfectly round faceplate engraved with concentric circles give another worldly appearance to it. The overall look and feel is classy and stunning.

7Hz is bundled with a silver-plated single crystal copper inner core with a silver foil outer layer. Its smooth and complements the earpieces perfectly. The carry case is very sturdy and feels like a rugged brick of aluminum (brushed metallic design) with promising safety of IEM and gives an extra edge to the overall premium feel. It also comes with an extra pair of nozzle filters in case anyone damages stock ones while cleaning or modding it.

Fit wise there is no need to be afraid looking at the huge size of disk, as per my opinion its more of an aesthetic thing that remains outside the ear, the insides of IEM are neatly designed for the comfortable fit and get support from the ear canal. The earpieces are quite light weight and does not cause any fatigue even for long listening sessions.

The IEMs are very energy efficient and doesn't require any external amplification to shine out.



Disclaimer:
I have received Timeless as part of review circle from Hifigo in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase the same from the following link.



Highs:
In this price range I would say it's one of the best treble extension I have heard so far. All thanks to the planar magnetic driver. It is not overdone, to be distracting. DDs normally tend to suffer in this region but this using a planar driver is able to do the job done effortlessly and helps to add the required micro contrast to the sound. But a downside here, it came out sibilant at multiple times on various tracks.

Mids:
Timeless is not at all mid-range focused IEM, instead the major focus areas are the treble and the sub-bass regions. There is a slight elevation in the upper-mids. Tonality wise I do felt it performed very well given the price range.

Lows:
It's not a bass head IEM for sure but it does have ample quantity of bass. The major focus is towards the sub-bass region. The bass characteristics are full of texture, punchy and full bodied. The bass is very much controlled. The mid bass does also have a nice texture to it along with speed and details. Overall bass is nice but feels bit soft to my taste.

Technicalities:
The details and micro contrast is very good on it. Soundstage has an environment feel to it for which most of the planar drivers are known for. The layering and separation is quite good for the price. The microdetails and micro contrast is very good as this price point of view.



Final Verdict:
7HZ Timeless has a fun and engaging sound signature, there is an elevation in bass but not at all overdone, I would say there is a balance between quantity and ability to regain the details. Overall bass feels bit soft as per my taste. The tonality is very good with nice with good layering and imaging capabilities. The treble is nice and crisp with good extension to it. These are not at all reference monitors but designed to make the music sound very much enjoyable. The build is very good, comes with a very premium and sturdy case which stands out at first glance. Cable is also of very good quality, although bit slim and tends to tangle a bit and comes with either 4.4mm or 3.5mm connector. The best part is that it's one of few planar IEMs out there which are great in tonality that are very much energy efficient and doesn't require any external amplification to shine out; although I would recommend to use foam tips as of the sibilance factor I have observed with the stock ones.



Comparison:
Well I have been using Tin Audio P2 for quite a time and it has been my daily driver for my night setup which to my opinion beats a lot of top mid-range IEMs as per my taste in music. I should not be comparing these two as there is huge price difference between these two, but as this is new elephant in the room so why not. Performance wise I liked that Timeless is very much energy efficient and unlike P2 it doesn’t need any additional amplification to shine out. Both of these suffer from sibilance with the stock tips, rest talking in terms of sound quality for me P2 is an excellent performer in terms of mids and lows, where as if we talk in terms of extension in treble, timeless performs effortlessly but P2 given proper amplification gives much more air and micro contrast in this region as well.

Introduction:
Kinera is a brand of YuTai Electronic Acoustics, that has been in the business for more than 10 years now. Based in Dongguan, China, YuTai is a pioneer in 'Bone Conduction' technology. In last few years , Kinera has produced a series of exceptions products which include Odin, Idun, Seed, BD005, Idun Deluxe and single dynamic driver SIF. Skuld is the latest jewel in crown. It is a 5 BA driver in-ear monitor with stunning looks and killer design.

It is interesting to know that Skuld takes its name from Norse mythology, in which is means "Goddess of the Future" whose job is to decide fates of people. Kinera left no stone untuned to ensure that the packaging and presentation of Skuld reflects grandeur of its name. The ear-pieces are an absolute delight to look at. The hand painted faceplate is absolutely stunning with its blue and green patterns, shimmering golden dots fill the blackish background behind this pattern, resulting the feel with a nicely lit night sky. The magnificence of this design increases manifold with the name "skuld" etched across this faceplate in golden. Its lightweight and comfortable on ears due to its acoustic structure.

It is bundled with an 8 core-192 strands Silver-plated copper alloy cable with soft PVC outer insulation. The cable feels sturdy and compliments the shells perfectly in look and feel. The cable is equipped with universal 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors and a balanced 2.5 mm termination plug. The package also comes with one unit each of 2.5mm to 4.4mm and 2.5mm to 3.5mm connector and a very premium looking carry case.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from HifiGo in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase it from the following link.

Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to A&K SE100 (ES9038 Pro) and Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ).

Highs:
Treble has been tuned fantastically in Skuld, the highs has good extension in them but they are extremely relaxing, buttery smooth with no unwanted peaks or harshness in them. These are just perfect for the ones who are treble sensitive. The lower treble has again done very well making female vocals and the instruments sound fuller. One can feel a darker side in mid and upper treble region, and its again depends on personal preferences. To me it's just perfect the way it has been tuned and I really loved listening to it.

Mids:
The mids are very tastefully done and has a feel of relaxation to them. It has that dreamy factor which indulges the listener to another level. It's more of a unique signature of its own. The male vocals carry nice weight in them. The female vocals sounds as good as the male vocals, They have nice texture and decay. Jazz music just fantastic on it.

Lows:
The bass on Skuld is on the neutralish side. The mid bass is bit more focused as compared to the sub bass. The sub bass has a minor presence factor but yes in some tracks a decent rumble is present. There is not bleed into mids at all. Bass control is again buttery smooth and blends into nice transitions.

Technicalities:
Soundstage is above average, Its stereo but well extended. The soundstage is not much wide but the depth and the height its very good giving more of a grandeur presentation specially to the jazz and orchestral music. It has above average imaging and very nice layering to it. The sense of direction is average. The micro-details and resolution is also average. The transitions are smooth and precise.



Final Verdict:
Kinera Skuld looks gorgeous and comes with all the premium accessories. At this price point if one has to go for all BA setup, I would say they are worth the money. It has the most smooth tuning I have heard at this price point. The highs are sweet, mids are dreamy and bass response is just smooth just like fine aged scotch. There are definitely not meant as studio monitors as of average resolution and micro dynamics but for a relaxing lounge type of experience one craves after an hectic day at work to help you sleep or meditate with its buttery smooth grandeur presentation.

Introduction:
BGVP is a well-known Chinese company mainly involved with customizing and producing high end Hifi earbuds, earphones and other electronic products. DN3 is the latest addition in their DN series. It has a classic dual driver(1BA +1 DD) configuration.
If I have to describe the looks of DN3 in one word I would say Futuristic. It has an aluminum shell which is a breath of fresh air after seeing so many resin made ear pieces. The precision of CNC-machine cut is simply mind blowing. The faceplate has a

The stock cable is pretty decent and is a 5N silver-plated copper cable with MMCX connectors. It also comes with a carry case that has semi hard shell covered with fabric. There is wide selection of eartips provided (Bass eartips, Vocal eartips and Memory Foam eartips) in the box along with three sets of different sound filters.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from the brand itself in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. This review is based on the bass eartips as provided with the package.

Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to A&K SE100 (ES9038 Pro) and Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ).



Highs:
The highs are close to neutral with a roll-off at high treble region. The higher notes and all the horn and whistles are slightly under emphasized, clear yet not as sharp giving an average clarity and resolution. This is perfect for a relaxed listening and loved it as per my personal preference of treble taste. The variations in instruments are well done and do not felt any issues in the tonality.

Mids:
Mids are slightly forwards and bit sibilant. All mid centric instruments seems to get very much coherent without getting muddy. Upper mids specially the female vocals come out more forward and shouty. Lower mids sound very clean although at times I have noticed a little bit bleed of bass into it. The bass response is heavy making instruments like drums more elevated yet the vocals manage to be a step or two more forward to them without any distortions. The tonality of all instruments sounded neutral.

Lows:
DN3 has a nice elevated bass response, it does manage to get the sub bass rumble ongoing using the bass tips, but sub bass roll off seems bit early. The transitions in mid and sub bass feel quite average. Mid bass slam is hard but not sharp. The best part is that even at higher volumes there are no major distortions observed. Summarizing the same I would say both mid and sub bass has quite emphasis with mid bass having bit more punch to it.

Technicalities:
It provides a fine stereo presentation with the nice transitions. The stage I would say is quite average, its neither too wide not too intimate. Separation on other hand is quite decent with adequate Imaging capabilities. It has an average resolution and micro dynamics.



Final Verdict:
Well to be honest I find DN3 is a value for money, having lavish accessories and good build quality. DN3 does not has an aggressive V-shape sound like most of its competitors and has average technical capabilities but provides a nice elevated bass response, close to neutral mids and a relaxed treble response giving a warm sound signature. Female vocals sound does bit sibilant but male vocals on the other hand are smooth and intimate, close to the ear. DN3 has average details and soundstage along with comfort level.



Comparison:
I have got a chance to audition Arya earlier sometime and DN3 has performed quite similar. The major difference will be in terms of packaging and accessories, DN3 comes with various eartips whereas Arya has quite nice cable and carry case. If you are looking for a warm and intimate IEM then DN3 is a good option but if you want something similar with a bit more vocal push then I would say go for Arya.

SeeAudio is a Chinese brand fairly new to the international market. But they have a couple of great products under their belt namely, Anou(aka Yume) , Neo, Kaguya. My first experience with SeeAudio was when I reviewed Anou. It was an absolute delight and fun IEM, although the bravery is quite different in terms of technology and price. The Yume was a hybrid design and costed around 180USD whereas the latest entry in the market is the much awaited Bravery is a pure BA IEM and cost around 280USD.

Bravery has quite an eye catchy design. See Audio has made sure to include Bravery with a premium set of accessories. It comes with a customized 6N OCC Hakugei cable with 2-pin 0.78mm connectors; comes bundled with three pairs of Azla Sednafit XELASTEC ear tips(S, M, L) and a nice carry case similar to Yume. The driver arrangement is as 2 BA Low+ 1 BA Mid+ 1 BA Highs and based on the Knowles and Sonion BA drivers and has a nice vented design.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from brand itself in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range.

Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to A&K SE100 (ES9038 Pro) and Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ).



Highs:
The treble is bit on bright side, and helps cutting through the thickness in the mid-range adding the appropriate air. The extension is very good balancing the warmness giving the required energy to it. The details and resolution is above average. The treble does feel bit sharp and aggressive at times but compliments the overall signature.

Mids:
The mids have nice BA texture to them and overall nice tonality. Both male and female vocals sounds full of emotions. The lower mids have a natural feel to them and have nice texture whereas the upper mids are bit forward and relaxed. There is nice presence feel to the notes of all the instruments. The only thing I don’t like about the mids is that Bravery tend to throw vocals at your face.

Lows:
The bass feels bit elevated, the sub bass extends to mid bass gives a nice presentation of flowing bass. The sub-bass architecture is kind of missing as of all BA setup; instruments like bass drums feel hollow although the sub bass extension is good but its missing the strength.

Technicalities:
Bravery excels very much in terms of technical capabilities, It has very good implementation of imaging and separation. The soundstage is just average in terms on width and height. It has very good layering capabilities. During my testing it has never faced any difficulties rendering busy tracks with precision. Micro dynamic on the other hand felt bit lacking along with the depth.



Final Verdict:
In my opinion SeeAudio Bravery is very capable IEM. It has a nice warm and mildly V-shaped tuning with above average technical performance. The looks and accessories are very much premium. Although peaks in treble can be observed but it does complements the thickness in the mids as well as the bass performance. If you are looking for a relaxing all BA driver IEM under 300$ range then I would say this is good option out there to consider.

Introduction:
Portability is the need of current time and a powerful USB Amp DAC is kindling desire of every audiophile who cannot carry their beloved desktop setup everywhere. I am a victim of this problem myself. This USB Amp DAC by Lotoo solves that purpose beautifully while giving a remarkable listening experience.

In a thickness of mere 13mm and a length equivalent to a big pen drive, Paw S1 packs in itself a plethora of features. Lotoo, an audio brand of Infomedia, is a well-established name in Audio industry. Paw S1 is a well-deserved addition in their current lineup. Paw S1 comes in a sleek black box with a model and its name stylishly displayed on the front side, the other sides of the box display technical features and other relevant information about the product.

Inside the box, one would find the unit along with an USB type-c to USB type-c OTG cable, manual and warranty card. The device has a classy black aluminum body with a little display screen on the front side. The design is futuristic with all the important processing information like volume , equalizer stats displayed on this screen. It has both 3.5mm and 4.4 mm output making it useful for a variety of headphones and earphones. The overall feel of this unit is premium and gets one excited to use this along with phone or laptop to upgrade the standard listening experience.



Disclaimer:
I have received as part of review circle sent from Conceptkart in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with DAC/AMPs of similar hardware configurations and price range. One can purchase same using the following link:



Specifications:
DAC Chip : AKM AK4377
Supported Format: PCM 32K-384KHz DSD64/DSD128
Weight/Size: 27.10g, 66mm x 22mmx 13mm
Max Output: 3.5mm:70mW/ch @32Ω 4.4mm:120mW/ch @32Ω
Output Port: 3.5mm Unbalanced and 4.4mm Balanced
USB Port: USB Type C
Noise Level: 3.5mm: -118dBu 4.4mm: -114dBu
Screen: OLED 128x32
THD+N : Low gain: 106dB(0.0005%) High gain: 108dB(0.0004%)
S/N: 3.5mm: 123dB and 4.4mm: 122dB



Pairing:
The device is well capable of Plug and Play and can be paired to all variety of devices out there be it Android Phones/Tablets, Iphone/IPAD or PC. During my testing it worked flawless on all streaming platform out there flawlessly be it Tidal, Qobuz or Apple Music. Standard USB to USB-C connector for PC has been provided in the box along with a USB-C to USB-C cable. USB-C to lightening cable can be purchased separately as it's not a part of the bundle.

For my testing the S1 has been paired to my laptop, Vivo X50pro and Samsung s6 lite Tab. I really loved the pairing it had with Fiio FD5 and Hifiman HE400i_2020. I was amazed to see such beautiful tonality and dynamics from a dongle at such price point. Overall the tuning I would say is from neutral to warm side and the sound is very much organic that one can expect out of a dongle. There is not much difference in single ended and 4.4 balanced output in terms of tonality, but 4.4 connection does feel slightly more powerful with bit more dark background.



Highs:
Treble response is towards the neutral side and has a sense of airiness to it. The dynamics and detailing is top notch and can easily compete to lot of mid-fi DAPs out there. The overall tuning in treble region is towards the relaxing side on stock conditions but different EQ presets can help one change that particular tuning factor.

Mids:
The mids and vocal notes are weighted and maintains quite high resolution. Vocals are quite prominent and have a very smooth transaction. It has a very musical feel to it with all the emotions in the mids. The timber and tonality is very rich and has lush factor to it. The upper mids felt having bit more energy making it quite resolving.

Lows:
The bass response is very good with S1. The mid bass has good energy and is like a bliss for some of the mid bass centric IEMs out there. The sub bass is also quite prominent and doesn’t feel lack of energy at all giving a decent rumble. The bass response is dynamic and very much textured and has a very nice feel good factor to it.

Technicalities:
The separation is very good along with fine imaging. The staging feels very good. The width I would say is average but what amazed me is the depth and the height specially while using the Movie EQ for watching some Netflix and stuff.



Final verdict:
I have used Dragonfly black and red a lot but I would say Kudos to Lotoo for delivery such a versatile dongle at this price range. I really loved the overall design, screen and the sound tonality of the device. I have not felt any power limitation using it and in my honest opinion this dongle is capable of giving heads on competition to a lot of mid-fi DAPs out there. Only downside that I have observed is bit of network interference that could be due to unshielded cable as well but I am not sure on that part. The power consumption is also minimal, I have not observed any major drains while use power hungry IEM/Headphones over high gain setting. The overall sound signature is musical and can works very to predefined equalizers. I enjoyed the EQ presets a lot for different use cases such as watching movies, playing games or simply listen to music. I am definitely going to buy this one for my day to day use.