Reviews by gadgetgod
IKKO Audio is mainly known for its IEMs mainly the OH series consisting of OH1, OH10, and the flagship from the brand OH7. I even recently reviewed both the OH1 and OH10, you can check them on Head-fi with my user name or you can check them out at my blog here. Recently I got to know they also manufacture some high-quality portable USB Type-C DAC/AMPs with the IKKO Zerda ITM03. So, Today I am gonna share my impressions of the same.
Disclaimer:-
I got the Zerda ITM03 through a review circle organized by Hifinage India. I am not affiliated with them. All thoughts in this review are based on my impressions of the device over the past few days. But as a kind gesture for including me in the review tour and letting me experience IKKO Audio Products, I am including the purchase link of Zerda ITM03 through Hifinage below.
https://hifinage.com/collections/ikko-audio-portable-usb-amp-dac/products/ikko-itm03
Packaging & Accessories:-
Each and every IKKO product I have used to date(OH1, OH10, and now ITM03) has impressed me with its colorful, designer packaging. Both the OH1 and OH10 had anime-designed packaging and here the Zerda ITM03 also has colorful packaging. There are IKKO and Zerda branding logos with some technical info printed on the front of the package. On the back, we have an image of the ITM03 along with its key features and technical specification. Please refer to the images below for these.
When we pull out there’s a warranty card and just the ITM03 USB DAC/AMP. I am actually kind of disappointed here as they didn’t even include a Type-C to normal USB adapter in the package. This is kind of a bummer at least for me.
Package Contents:-
>ITM03 USB Type-C DAC AMP.
>Warranty Card.
Design & Build Quality:-
One thing I am sure of now, I would never be able to complain about IKKO’s build quality. I mean I tried their OH1 fantastic metallic build, I tried their OH10 even better copper build, and now the ITM03 again a well-finished, matte-finished metallic build. The color blue is something similar to the OH1, from pictures the ITM03 might look edgy but it has a smooth texture that feels really premium to touch. The cable here is completely shielded according to the brand it is an OCC silver-plated cable. It has a Type-C connector that is non-removable. IKKO Audio says it can also be used with iOS devices using a Lightning connector, I guess for that we will be needing a Lightning to Type-C connector of some sort. Also, there’s a glowing red light inside the 3.5mm headphone port as it also supports optical output.
In terms of build, as I stated above No Complaints at all. In fact, it is a very well-built device.
Driving Power, Pairings, & Sound Impressions:-
For the purpose of this review, I used the ITM03 with my smartphone Honor View 10 and my DAP Cayin N3 Pro. While it drastically improved the sound quality through my smartphone using it with N3 Pro is kind of useless and not necessary at all. So everything that I will be writing this review is mostly based on my usage of ITM03 with my smartphone.
While the Honor View 10 still retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, it surely lacks power and dynamics for high-quality IEMs. When I tried my FiiO FD5 directly with the View 10 it was driven at adequate volume but lacked the openness and dynamics of the output. Using the ITM03 in the chain helped a lot even at like half the volume.
Since ITM03 is a source, sound impressions are mostly based on the transducer paired. So I will be including the sound impressions in this segment itself.
With FiiO FD5:-
FD5 is a highly sensitive pair. It never needs much volume though it will lack its dynamics and openness with bad sources such as a smartphone directly. And honestly, one won’t notice this unless he/she has used FD5 with better sources. With the ITM03 the FD5 is powered only at around half the volume. The pairing is quite natural and warm. There is no harshness, no fatiguing even after long listening sessions(pair FD5 to a bright source and you will understand what I am talking about here).
What’s better here with ITM03 is that the FD5 gets enough power to shine, open freely, and provide a clean, smooth, transparent output. I feel like it gets slightly colored, warmer than neutral. Vocals, mids sound airy and transparent, bass feels lacking a slight bit of punch here(I am used to using FD5 with my N3 Pro more). But overall if you ask me, the pairing is quite good and melodious.
With AudioSense T800:-
I recently got the T800 from a friend for auditioning, and man its intimacy is fantastic. About its pairing with the ITM03, it's again fantastic. It sounds musical, smooth, and engaging. I don’t find the pair lacking anything, again the pair is being driven at about half the volume at adequate listening levels for me.
Based on the above pairings, I find the ITM03 to have a warm and musical sound signature. It produces beautiful mids and great extensions at both ends. What it lacks is a slight bit of punch in the lower end that is evident in punchy IEMs such as the FD5. In terms of dynamics such as layering, Imaging, or soundstage, the ITM03 performs quite well for its price range. Overall I find the ITM03 output to be quite enjoyable and melodious. It can easily surpass some entry-level Hi-res players priced around its price segment.
As for the included Optical output, I don’t have optical-3.5mm cable and as I stated earlier IKKO hasn’t included much of accessories in the package. I honestly was not even able to use it at all.
Some Final Words:-
I personally have not used many DAC/AMPs. I actually don’t like using my smartphone for music, as I listen about 5-6 hours minimum every day, and using my smartphone is not my preferred mode of music. Since my childhood, I have used iPods, MP3 players, and now Hi-res players for the past few years. But using the ITM03 surely is an enjoyable experience. It allows one to enjoy hi-res music at the ease of their smartphones and to be honest also performs quite decently for its price. If you are looking to buy a portable USB DAC/AMP, the ITM03 is a smooth-sounding, melodious device that is well-built but misses on some basic accessories in the package.
Disclaimer:-
I got the Zerda ITM03 through a review circle organized by Hifinage India. I am not affiliated with them. All thoughts in this review are based on my impressions of the device over the past few days. But as a kind gesture for including me in the review tour and letting me experience IKKO Audio Products, I am including the purchase link of Zerda ITM03 through Hifinage below.
https://hifinage.com/collections/ikko-audio-portable-usb-amp-dac/products/ikko-itm03
Packaging & Accessories:-
Each and every IKKO product I have used to date(OH1, OH10, and now ITM03) has impressed me with its colorful, designer packaging. Both the OH1 and OH10 had anime-designed packaging and here the Zerda ITM03 also has colorful packaging. There are IKKO and Zerda branding logos with some technical info printed on the front of the package. On the back, we have an image of the ITM03 along with its key features and technical specification. Please refer to the images below for these.
When we pull out there’s a warranty card and just the ITM03 USB DAC/AMP. I am actually kind of disappointed here as they didn’t even include a Type-C to normal USB adapter in the package. This is kind of a bummer at least for me.
Package Contents:-
>ITM03 USB Type-C DAC AMP.
>Warranty Card.
Design & Build Quality:-
One thing I am sure of now, I would never be able to complain about IKKO’s build quality. I mean I tried their OH1 fantastic metallic build, I tried their OH10 even better copper build, and now the ITM03 again a well-finished, matte-finished metallic build. The color blue is something similar to the OH1, from pictures the ITM03 might look edgy but it has a smooth texture that feels really premium to touch. The cable here is completely shielded according to the brand it is an OCC silver-plated cable. It has a Type-C connector that is non-removable. IKKO Audio says it can also be used with iOS devices using a Lightning connector, I guess for that we will be needing a Lightning to Type-C connector of some sort. Also, there’s a glowing red light inside the 3.5mm headphone port as it also supports optical output.
In terms of build, as I stated above No Complaints at all. In fact, it is a very well-built device.
Driving Power, Pairings, & Sound Impressions:-
For the purpose of this review, I used the ITM03 with my smartphone Honor View 10 and my DAP Cayin N3 Pro. While it drastically improved the sound quality through my smartphone using it with N3 Pro is kind of useless and not necessary at all. So everything that I will be writing this review is mostly based on my usage of ITM03 with my smartphone.
While the Honor View 10 still retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, it surely lacks power and dynamics for high-quality IEMs. When I tried my FiiO FD5 directly with the View 10 it was driven at adequate volume but lacked the openness and dynamics of the output. Using the ITM03 in the chain helped a lot even at like half the volume.
Since ITM03 is a source, sound impressions are mostly based on the transducer paired. So I will be including the sound impressions in this segment itself.
With FiiO FD5:-
FD5 is a highly sensitive pair. It never needs much volume though it will lack its dynamics and openness with bad sources such as a smartphone directly. And honestly, one won’t notice this unless he/she has used FD5 with better sources. With the ITM03 the FD5 is powered only at around half the volume. The pairing is quite natural and warm. There is no harshness, no fatiguing even after long listening sessions(pair FD5 to a bright source and you will understand what I am talking about here).
What’s better here with ITM03 is that the FD5 gets enough power to shine, open freely, and provide a clean, smooth, transparent output. I feel like it gets slightly colored, warmer than neutral. Vocals, mids sound airy and transparent, bass feels lacking a slight bit of punch here(I am used to using FD5 with my N3 Pro more). But overall if you ask me, the pairing is quite good and melodious.
With AudioSense T800:-
I recently got the T800 from a friend for auditioning, and man its intimacy is fantastic. About its pairing with the ITM03, it's again fantastic. It sounds musical, smooth, and engaging. I don’t find the pair lacking anything, again the pair is being driven at about half the volume at adequate listening levels for me.
Based on the above pairings, I find the ITM03 to have a warm and musical sound signature. It produces beautiful mids and great extensions at both ends. What it lacks is a slight bit of punch in the lower end that is evident in punchy IEMs such as the FD5. In terms of dynamics such as layering, Imaging, or soundstage, the ITM03 performs quite well for its price range. Overall I find the ITM03 output to be quite enjoyable and melodious. It can easily surpass some entry-level Hi-res players priced around its price segment.
As for the included Optical output, I don’t have optical-3.5mm cable and as I stated earlier IKKO hasn’t included much of accessories in the package. I honestly was not even able to use it at all.
Some Final Words:-
I personally have not used many DAC/AMPs. I actually don’t like using my smartphone for music, as I listen about 5-6 hours minimum every day, and using my smartphone is not my preferred mode of music. Since my childhood, I have used iPods, MP3 players, and now Hi-res players for the past few years. But using the ITM03 surely is an enjoyable experience. It allows one to enjoy hi-res music at the ease of their smartphones and to be honest also performs quite decently for its price. If you are looking to buy a portable USB DAC/AMP, the ITM03 is a smooth-sounding, melodious device that is well-built but misses on some basic accessories in the package.
Earbuds are something that I prefer for a nighttime relaxing listening session at home. I love how open, how smooth they can sound without hitting hard on the pocket at all. Today I am gonna present to you my review for the latest NiceHCK EBX21 Flagship pair of earbuds.
NiceHCK is a China-based HiFi audio equipment manufacturing brand. They specialize in high-quality earphones and cables that enhance the listening pleasure of users. They have widely acclaimed products such as the NX7 series of IEMs, and the EBX series of earbuds. I have previously owned their NiceHCK EBX earbuds that I actually liked a lot for their open, wide sound signature. A few weeks back the brand released their latest flagship pair of earbuds, the NiceHCK EBX21. I received the unit of EBX21 from HiFiGO a week back, today I am going to share my in-depth review for this pair of earbuds.
Disclaimer:-
This unit of NiceHCK EBX21 earbuds is provided to me by HiFiGO. I am not paid or affected by any means to write positive or negative about the pair. All impressions in this review are completely my own based on my usage with the pair. You can buy the EBX21 from HiFiGo from here.
You can also read my review on my blog here.
Package & Contents:-
To avoid any unnecessary customs charges I requested HiFiGo to send me the unit without any outer packing. So I just received the pair with its carry case, connector cable, and few pairs of donut and full foam covers. You can check out the unboxing video of EBX21 on HiFiGo’s YouTube channel here. Also, the unboxing video has a 4.4mm terminated cable while I got the 3.5mm terminated one by choice.
Contents That I Received:-
>NiceHCK EBX21 earbuds.
>MMCX connector cable.
>Denim-textured Carry Case.
>Two pairs of Full foam covers.
>Two pairs of donut-style foam covers.
>Silicone rings(two pairs).
>Cable Organiser.
Design & Build Quality:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 is one of the best-looking pair of earbuds that I have ever seen to date. And yes that includes their previous flagship EBX earbuds and several others that I have owned and used till now. The earpieces have an MX500 style similar design and feature a premium build with CNC machined aluminum alloy material. They feature a silver matte finish with a pointy, edgy design on the top. On the bottom, we have MMCX connectors. We also have NiceHCK logo along with R and L printed on the side of the earbuds for the Right and Left sides respectively. Being metallic the pair does carry some weight when compared to other plastic earbuds. In terms of design and build quality, the EBX21 provides a rich matte look with a sturdy metallic build.
The included cable is also of very good quality. It features two cloth-sleeved wires with a metallic Y-splitter and a 3.5mm termination plug. The termination plug also has NiceHCK logo printed on it. It also has Red and Blue colors on the connectors to denote the Right and Left sides respectively. I have heard that this cable itself costs about 100$, well I guess a flagship pair surely requires such a good quality cable. The included carry case is again of very good quality. It has a rich denim-textured finish with NiceHCK logo on top of it. It secures the pair easily with the cable and foam covers.
Fit & Noise Isolation:-
The earpieces here sit firmly on the outer area of my ear. They don’t go too deep into my ears and are really good for long listening sessions. I find them very comfortable for my medium-sized ears, no fit issues as such. Though being an earbud the Noise Isolation is not good or anywhere comparable to IEMs.
Driving the EBX21:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 is a very easy to drive pair. It can easily be powered right off a smartphone such as Samsung Note 9 or even an entry-level Bluetooth DAC/AMP such as the Hidizs H2. For the purpose of this review, I used the pair with Samsung Note 9, Hidizs H2 Bluetooth DAC/AMP(With iPhone 11), Cayin N3 Pro, and Topping E30+L30 Desktop combo. Here are my findings with these pairings.
With Samsung Note 9:-
To no surprise, the EBX21 is powered really well at like 10/15 volume level on the Samsung Note 9. At full volume(15/15) it becomes unbearably loud. The clarity and details are pretty good, no muddiness in this combo.
With Hidizs H2(iPhone 11):-
A pretty solid combination here. The pairing sounds natural and cleaner than the Note 9 Pairing. For volume, I hardly had to go above 80% on the iPhone 11.
With Cayin N3 Pro:-
There are two modes with the N3 Pro. With its such high sensitivity, it becomes really loud with Tube amplification, so I used it with Solid State combination here. The pair sounds really clean and outstanding, the extensions and clarity here is just amazing.
With Topping Desktop Stack:-
Well not surprising but this much power is not at all required here. I listened at -9dB gain and about 30% volume on the L30 for this pairing. It is really clean with a neutral sound approach. Detailing and clarity are similar to the N3 Pro combination here.
So, even if you only have your smartphone with you, don’t worry you will get the best out of the EBX21. Though it is suggested to use Hi-res players for better signal decoding.
Sound Quality:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 has a neutral sound tonality with a wide soundstage presentation. The soundstage really goes from one corner of my mind to the other, when eyes closed it really provides the feel of a huge hall full of performers just only for me. Really a great listening pleasure. It presents a very clean background with all the different sources I connected it with. Another thing that impressed me with the EBX21 is the smooth transitions and natural tonality of the musical instruments as well as the vocal artists. Both the male and female vocals are a pleasure to listen to with their rich tonality and clarity. The only drawback with this pair is that being an earbud it lacks sub-bass rumble extensions but that is the case with almost all earbuds. Here’s the frequency-wise sound description.
Lower-End:-
The bass response of the EBX21 is focused primarily on the mid-bass section. It produces some decent mid-bass slams that are extended quite well. Drum kicks in Rasputin hit deep and precise. Though the pair shows some lack of extensions in the sub-bass portion, though that doesn’t actually bother me at all as I prefer it for relaxing music sessions. The lower-end shows good control, it is controlled well-within its region with no bleed to the other frequencies.
Mid-Frequencies:-
The mid-frequency response is where I love the EBX21 the most. It sounds natural and airy with high-clarity among acoustic instruments and vocals. Both the male and female vocals are transparent and carry a natural tonality to them. They don’t get harsh, shouty, or fatiguing even at louder listening levels. The pair presents a pleasurable listening experience it doesn’t get tiring even after long listening sessions.
Treble-Frequencies:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 has a natural, detailed, non-fatiguing treble frequency response. It retrieves good detailing even from complex tracks such as Down With Sickness By Disturbed. The cymbal crashes in Dreams by Fleetwood Mac extend quite well and show good treble extension capabilities of the pair. The main attraction here is that with such high-grade detail retrieval there is no harshness or sibilance, it’s always a pleasure to enjoy music with the EBX21.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
In terms of soundstage & Imaging, the EBX21 is a stellar pair. It provides a super-wide soundstage experience with outstanding instrument clarity and detailing. Different musical instrument placement is precise and easily noticeable.
Final Impressions:-
In my experience with the EBX21, it is a solid performer with a natural sound approach. It presents crisp, clean output with lovely vocal clarity and smooth detailing throughout the frequency range. I find none of the frequency being too overpowering or taking control over my usage period of over 50-60 hours for this review. If you are looking for something smooth sounding with a fatigue-free experience, the NiceHCK EBX21 can easily be your next pair of earphones!!
NiceHCK is a China-based HiFi audio equipment manufacturing brand. They specialize in high-quality earphones and cables that enhance the listening pleasure of users. They have widely acclaimed products such as the NX7 series of IEMs, and the EBX series of earbuds. I have previously owned their NiceHCK EBX earbuds that I actually liked a lot for their open, wide sound signature. A few weeks back the brand released their latest flagship pair of earbuds, the NiceHCK EBX21. I received the unit of EBX21 from HiFiGO a week back, today I am going to share my in-depth review for this pair of earbuds.
Disclaimer:-
This unit of NiceHCK EBX21 earbuds is provided to me by HiFiGO. I am not paid or affected by any means to write positive or negative about the pair. All impressions in this review are completely my own based on my usage with the pair. You can buy the EBX21 from HiFiGo from here.
You can also read my review on my blog here.
Package & Contents:-
To avoid any unnecessary customs charges I requested HiFiGo to send me the unit without any outer packing. So I just received the pair with its carry case, connector cable, and few pairs of donut and full foam covers. You can check out the unboxing video of EBX21 on HiFiGo’s YouTube channel here. Also, the unboxing video has a 4.4mm terminated cable while I got the 3.5mm terminated one by choice.
Contents That I Received:-
>NiceHCK EBX21 earbuds.
>MMCX connector cable.
>Denim-textured Carry Case.
>Two pairs of Full foam covers.
>Two pairs of donut-style foam covers.
>Silicone rings(two pairs).
>Cable Organiser.
Design & Build Quality:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 is one of the best-looking pair of earbuds that I have ever seen to date. And yes that includes their previous flagship EBX earbuds and several others that I have owned and used till now. The earpieces have an MX500 style similar design and feature a premium build with CNC machined aluminum alloy material. They feature a silver matte finish with a pointy, edgy design on the top. On the bottom, we have MMCX connectors. We also have NiceHCK logo along with R and L printed on the side of the earbuds for the Right and Left sides respectively. Being metallic the pair does carry some weight when compared to other plastic earbuds. In terms of design and build quality, the EBX21 provides a rich matte look with a sturdy metallic build.
The included cable is also of very good quality. It features two cloth-sleeved wires with a metallic Y-splitter and a 3.5mm termination plug. The termination plug also has NiceHCK logo printed on it. It also has Red and Blue colors on the connectors to denote the Right and Left sides respectively. I have heard that this cable itself costs about 100$, well I guess a flagship pair surely requires such a good quality cable. The included carry case is again of very good quality. It has a rich denim-textured finish with NiceHCK logo on top of it. It secures the pair easily with the cable and foam covers.
Fit & Noise Isolation:-
The earpieces here sit firmly on the outer area of my ear. They don’t go too deep into my ears and are really good for long listening sessions. I find them very comfortable for my medium-sized ears, no fit issues as such. Though being an earbud the Noise Isolation is not good or anywhere comparable to IEMs.
Driving the EBX21:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 is a very easy to drive pair. It can easily be powered right off a smartphone such as Samsung Note 9 or even an entry-level Bluetooth DAC/AMP such as the Hidizs H2. For the purpose of this review, I used the pair with Samsung Note 9, Hidizs H2 Bluetooth DAC/AMP(With iPhone 11), Cayin N3 Pro, and Topping E30+L30 Desktop combo. Here are my findings with these pairings.
With Samsung Note 9:-
To no surprise, the EBX21 is powered really well at like 10/15 volume level on the Samsung Note 9. At full volume(15/15) it becomes unbearably loud. The clarity and details are pretty good, no muddiness in this combo.
With Hidizs H2(iPhone 11):-
A pretty solid combination here. The pairing sounds natural and cleaner than the Note 9 Pairing. For volume, I hardly had to go above 80% on the iPhone 11.
With Cayin N3 Pro:-
There are two modes with the N3 Pro. With its such high sensitivity, it becomes really loud with Tube amplification, so I used it with Solid State combination here. The pair sounds really clean and outstanding, the extensions and clarity here is just amazing.
With Topping Desktop Stack:-
Well not surprising but this much power is not at all required here. I listened at -9dB gain and about 30% volume on the L30 for this pairing. It is really clean with a neutral sound approach. Detailing and clarity are similar to the N3 Pro combination here.
So, even if you only have your smartphone with you, don’t worry you will get the best out of the EBX21. Though it is suggested to use Hi-res players for better signal decoding.
Sound Quality:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 has a neutral sound tonality with a wide soundstage presentation. The soundstage really goes from one corner of my mind to the other, when eyes closed it really provides the feel of a huge hall full of performers just only for me. Really a great listening pleasure. It presents a very clean background with all the different sources I connected it with. Another thing that impressed me with the EBX21 is the smooth transitions and natural tonality of the musical instruments as well as the vocal artists. Both the male and female vocals are a pleasure to listen to with their rich tonality and clarity. The only drawback with this pair is that being an earbud it lacks sub-bass rumble extensions but that is the case with almost all earbuds. Here’s the frequency-wise sound description.
Lower-End:-
The bass response of the EBX21 is focused primarily on the mid-bass section. It produces some decent mid-bass slams that are extended quite well. Drum kicks in Rasputin hit deep and precise. Though the pair shows some lack of extensions in the sub-bass portion, though that doesn’t actually bother me at all as I prefer it for relaxing music sessions. The lower-end shows good control, it is controlled well-within its region with no bleed to the other frequencies.
Mid-Frequencies:-
The mid-frequency response is where I love the EBX21 the most. It sounds natural and airy with high-clarity among acoustic instruments and vocals. Both the male and female vocals are transparent and carry a natural tonality to them. They don’t get harsh, shouty, or fatiguing even at louder listening levels. The pair presents a pleasurable listening experience it doesn’t get tiring even after long listening sessions.
Treble-Frequencies:-
The NiceHCK EBX21 has a natural, detailed, non-fatiguing treble frequency response. It retrieves good detailing even from complex tracks such as Down With Sickness By Disturbed. The cymbal crashes in Dreams by Fleetwood Mac extend quite well and show good treble extension capabilities of the pair. The main attraction here is that with such high-grade detail retrieval there is no harshness or sibilance, it’s always a pleasure to enjoy music with the EBX21.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
In terms of soundstage & Imaging, the EBX21 is a stellar pair. It provides a super-wide soundstage experience with outstanding instrument clarity and detailing. Different musical instrument placement is precise and easily noticeable.
Final Impressions:-
In my experience with the EBX21, it is a solid performer with a natural sound approach. It presents crisp, clean output with lovely vocal clarity and smooth detailing throughout the frequency range. I find none of the frequency being too overpowering or taking control over my usage period of over 50-60 hours for this review. If you are looking for something smooth sounding with a fatigue-free experience, the NiceHCK EBX21 can easily be your next pair of earphones!!
IKKO Audio is a HiFi audio brand based in China. They specialize in high-resolution in-ear monitors with OH1 and OH10 being their most successful pairs. A few days back I reviewed the entry-level OH1 from IKKO Audio that you can check out here. Today, I am gonna share my views on the OH10, a similarly priced model with a similar design and driver configuration but a different ear shell material. So before wasting any more time, Let’s Begin.
Disclaimer:-
I am a part of the IKKO Audio product review tour arranged by hifinage.com in my country. All thoughts in this review are my own, based on my own usage of the product since last week. If you are based in India, you can grab it from Hifinage from the link below.
https://hifinage.com/collections/ikko-audio/products/ikko-oh10
Packaging & Accessories:-
The packaging of OH10 is similar to that of OH1. It has an anime-style beautiful packaging with an IKKO branding logo and Obisidian branding on the front. Obsidian is actually the full-name of OH10(IKKO Obsidian OH10). We also have some key features on the front of the packaging such as Copper Cavity, Comfortable to Wear, and Dynamic Sound. The inner denim finish box pulls out of this beautiful outer packaging. As we open it, we get a direct look at the very beautiful OH10 earpieces sitting firmly into their foam cutouts with a beige-colored leather carry pouch that holds the 3.5mm terminated cable. There’s also the IKKO lapel pin on this first layer of the packaging. On the second layer we have a box having six pairs of silicone ear tips, still, no foam tips included in the OH10. The packaging is, to be honest exactly the same as that of the OH1 nothing new except the girl anime on the front haha. All in all, it's a very beautiful and decent-looking packaging.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of IKKO OH10 earpieces.
>One 2-pin 3.5mm terminated cable.
>Three pairs of grey silicone tips.
>Three pairs of black silicone tips.
>One carry pouch.
>IKKO Lapel Pin.
Design & Build Quality:-
On one hand, the design and look of the OH10 is similar to that of the OH1 but it is different in its own way. Instead of aluminum alloy blue ear shells, the OH10 features glossy metallic finish copper ear shells. These definitely look better with a strong build. They have elevated 2-pin connectors on the top with Red connector on the right earpiece and black on the left. The same colors are denoted on the right and left sides of cable connectors. The earpieces have a dynamic driver vent on the inner side. The ear nozzle is of average length giving no issues in fit. One thing is there though, the earpieces being made of copper are quite heavy and might give trouble to people who are used to Resin ear shells. These are heavier than OH1 earpieces. Other than that, I find the OH10 earpieces to have an elegant look with a solid build, they are not going anywhere even if you drop them.
The included cable is of average quality, I didn’t like it at all. I mean it just doesn’t do justice to the heavyweight of the earpieces. They should have included a heavier cable. In terms of accessories, the silicone tips are of good quality but there is still an absence of foam tips with OH10.
Fit & Noise Isolation:-
The IKKO Oh10 despite being a bit heavy, provides a very comfy fit to me. The earpieces sit firmly on my ears and never fall off. I am using stock medium-sized grey ear tips. They cover the entire ear canal, providing good levels of noise isolation.
Driving The IKKO OH10:-
The IKKO OH10 is a very easy to drive pair. For this review, I used the pair with my Topping E30+L30 combo and Cayin N3 Pro Hi-res player. The player ran off quite easily with both the pairings(On N3 Pro I was at 55/100 volume at Medium gain), I am pretty sure it can be powered easily off smartphones too. Here is my findings for the two pairings I tested.
With Cayin N3 Pro(Tube Timbre):-
With the Cayin N3 Pro, the pair is driven pretty well at medium volume levels. It shows its true potential here with good extensions at the lower end and a wide soundstage presentation. The tonality of this combo is also well complemented by each other, the pair sounds really good here.
With Topping Stack:-
The OH10 doesn’t scale much. It sounds similarly extended like with the N3 Pro. In this combo, the volume was easy at 40% on low gain(-9dB). The tonality of this combo is also pretty good and extensive. Please forgive the messy desk in the image haha.
Sound Impressions:-
The OH10 might have the same design and packaging as that of the OH1 but it sounds quite a bit different. The pair has a natural tonality and timbre to the instruments with a wide soundstage presentation. I loved how smooth it sounds with a deep well-extended lower end. Yes, the lower end is also an attraction here like with the OH1, but the OH10 definitely sounds cleaner and wider. The tonality of the pair is melodious and fun to listen to. Vocals sometimes surely sound a bit grainy to me that spoils the mood for me especially male vocals. Here’s a frequency-wise sound response.
Lower End:-
The OH10 produces a clean, powerful lower end with impactful slams and thunderous sub-bass rumble. The main attraction here is the clean background with such tight controlled bass. It really feels like IKKO has mastered the art of providing an excellent sub-bass rumble with clean background for the under 200$ segment. Drums in Bailando by Enrique are precise and deep, Sub-bass in Bad Guy by Billie Eilish also shows good rumble. All this complements the other frequencies well and provides a fun element to the output.
Mid-Frequencies:-
The mid-frequencies are transparent and wide. They sound very spacious providing a wide airy soundstage for the listener. Acoustic instruments such as Guitars show good clarity and airiness. With a clean background instruments actually come out with good detailing. Vocals are slightly grainy especially male vocals, for example, Cannonball by Damien Rice shows very good airy guitar strings but his voice sounds a bit grainy. This is not present with Taylor Swift though, so female vocals are better presented.
Treble:-
IKKO OH10 has a sparkly treble response with smooth instrument detailing. There is no sibilance or harshness in any of the instruments even at louder volumes. Treble rolls off in the upper treble portion making the instruments such as Piano’s, Violins lacking some bit of extensions in the top end. Though it doesn’t bother me, I find the treble response to be lively and fun. The Slow violin in I Don’t Want To Change You by Damien Rice is simply mesmerizing to listen with the OH10.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
The soundstage might be the main attraction in the OH10. The pair sounds wide, like the feel of an auditorium right into our ears. Instrument detailing and placement is also quite good with the OH10 providing superb instrument clarity and placement.
Final Verdict:-
In my opinion, the OH10 is a refined version of the OH1. It sounds cleaner, it sounds wider, and also it looks better too. If I am asked to choose one between the two, I would choose the OH10 for its super-wide soundstage presentation and cleaner sound output. Really liked the tonality and timbre of the OH10 too.
Disclaimer:-
I am a part of the IKKO Audio product review tour arranged by hifinage.com in my country. All thoughts in this review are my own, based on my own usage of the product since last week. If you are based in India, you can grab it from Hifinage from the link below.
https://hifinage.com/collections/ikko-audio/products/ikko-oh10
Packaging & Accessories:-
The packaging of OH10 is similar to that of OH1. It has an anime-style beautiful packaging with an IKKO branding logo and Obisidian branding on the front. Obsidian is actually the full-name of OH10(IKKO Obsidian OH10). We also have some key features on the front of the packaging such as Copper Cavity, Comfortable to Wear, and Dynamic Sound. The inner denim finish box pulls out of this beautiful outer packaging. As we open it, we get a direct look at the very beautiful OH10 earpieces sitting firmly into their foam cutouts with a beige-colored leather carry pouch that holds the 3.5mm terminated cable. There’s also the IKKO lapel pin on this first layer of the packaging. On the second layer we have a box having six pairs of silicone ear tips, still, no foam tips included in the OH10. The packaging is, to be honest exactly the same as that of the OH1 nothing new except the girl anime on the front haha. All in all, it's a very beautiful and decent-looking packaging.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of IKKO OH10 earpieces.
>One 2-pin 3.5mm terminated cable.
>Three pairs of grey silicone tips.
>Three pairs of black silicone tips.
>One carry pouch.
>IKKO Lapel Pin.
Design & Build Quality:-
On one hand, the design and look of the OH10 is similar to that of the OH1 but it is different in its own way. Instead of aluminum alloy blue ear shells, the OH10 features glossy metallic finish copper ear shells. These definitely look better with a strong build. They have elevated 2-pin connectors on the top with Red connector on the right earpiece and black on the left. The same colors are denoted on the right and left sides of cable connectors. The earpieces have a dynamic driver vent on the inner side. The ear nozzle is of average length giving no issues in fit. One thing is there though, the earpieces being made of copper are quite heavy and might give trouble to people who are used to Resin ear shells. These are heavier than OH1 earpieces. Other than that, I find the OH10 earpieces to have an elegant look with a solid build, they are not going anywhere even if you drop them.
The included cable is of average quality, I didn’t like it at all. I mean it just doesn’t do justice to the heavyweight of the earpieces. They should have included a heavier cable. In terms of accessories, the silicone tips are of good quality but there is still an absence of foam tips with OH10.
Fit & Noise Isolation:-
The IKKO Oh10 despite being a bit heavy, provides a very comfy fit to me. The earpieces sit firmly on my ears and never fall off. I am using stock medium-sized grey ear tips. They cover the entire ear canal, providing good levels of noise isolation.
Driving The IKKO OH10:-
The IKKO OH10 is a very easy to drive pair. For this review, I used the pair with my Topping E30+L30 combo and Cayin N3 Pro Hi-res player. The player ran off quite easily with both the pairings(On N3 Pro I was at 55/100 volume at Medium gain), I am pretty sure it can be powered easily off smartphones too. Here is my findings for the two pairings I tested.
With Cayin N3 Pro(Tube Timbre):-
With the Cayin N3 Pro, the pair is driven pretty well at medium volume levels. It shows its true potential here with good extensions at the lower end and a wide soundstage presentation. The tonality of this combo is also well complemented by each other, the pair sounds really good here.
With Topping Stack:-
The OH10 doesn’t scale much. It sounds similarly extended like with the N3 Pro. In this combo, the volume was easy at 40% on low gain(-9dB). The tonality of this combo is also pretty good and extensive. Please forgive the messy desk in the image haha.
Sound Impressions:-
The OH10 might have the same design and packaging as that of the OH1 but it sounds quite a bit different. The pair has a natural tonality and timbre to the instruments with a wide soundstage presentation. I loved how smooth it sounds with a deep well-extended lower end. Yes, the lower end is also an attraction here like with the OH1, but the OH10 definitely sounds cleaner and wider. The tonality of the pair is melodious and fun to listen to. Vocals sometimes surely sound a bit grainy to me that spoils the mood for me especially male vocals. Here’s a frequency-wise sound response.
Lower End:-
The OH10 produces a clean, powerful lower end with impactful slams and thunderous sub-bass rumble. The main attraction here is the clean background with such tight controlled bass. It really feels like IKKO has mastered the art of providing an excellent sub-bass rumble with clean background for the under 200$ segment. Drums in Bailando by Enrique are precise and deep, Sub-bass in Bad Guy by Billie Eilish also shows good rumble. All this complements the other frequencies well and provides a fun element to the output.
Mid-Frequencies:-
The mid-frequencies are transparent and wide. They sound very spacious providing a wide airy soundstage for the listener. Acoustic instruments such as Guitars show good clarity and airiness. With a clean background instruments actually come out with good detailing. Vocals are slightly grainy especially male vocals, for example, Cannonball by Damien Rice shows very good airy guitar strings but his voice sounds a bit grainy. This is not present with Taylor Swift though, so female vocals are better presented.
Treble:-
IKKO OH10 has a sparkly treble response with smooth instrument detailing. There is no sibilance or harshness in any of the instruments even at louder volumes. Treble rolls off in the upper treble portion making the instruments such as Piano’s, Violins lacking some bit of extensions in the top end. Though it doesn’t bother me, I find the treble response to be lively and fun. The Slow violin in I Don’t Want To Change You by Damien Rice is simply mesmerizing to listen with the OH10.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
The soundstage might be the main attraction in the OH10. The pair sounds wide, like the feel of an auditorium right into our ears. Instrument detailing and placement is also quite good with the OH10 providing superb instrument clarity and placement.
Final Verdict:-
In my opinion, the OH10 is a refined version of the OH1. It sounds cleaner, it sounds wider, and also it looks better too. If I am asked to choose one between the two, I would choose the OH10 for its super-wide soundstage presentation and cleaner sound output. Really liked the tonality and timbre of the OH10 too.
IKKO Audio is a fairly new name in the industry. It is a China-based audio equipment brand specializing in HiFi audio gears such as IEMs, USB DAC/AMPs, and more. They gained international attention with their OH1 and OH10 IEMs. Today I am gonna share my impressions of the IKKO OH1, a hybrid pair of IEMs featuring a dual-driver hybrid setup inside beautiful aluminum alloy shells. So let’s begin.
Disclaimer:-
The IKKO OH1 is provided to me for auditioning by Hifinage.com in return for my honest opinion. All thoughts in this review are based on my own experience with the pair over the past week. You can purchase the OH1 in India from Hifinage from the link below.
Ikko OH1
You can also read my work on my personal blog at www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Package & Accessories:-
The IKKO OH1 comes in a very cool anime-style packaging. It has a beautiful anime printed on top of it with the IKKO Meteor branding logo(Meteor OH1 is the full name of OH1) along with some features such as comfortable wear, aluminum alloy shell, dynamic sound. On the back, we have some more details about the pair in different languages. We have to pull out a denim-style heavy cardboard case from this outer packing. This holds the beautiful OH1 along with all the included accessories. The packing presentation is superb and premium. IKKO nails it in this department with its quality accessories and beautiful anime packaging design.
Package Contents:-
>One pair IKKO OH1 earphones.
>One 2-pin cable with 3.5mm termination plug.
>One carry pouch.
>Three pairs of Blue silicone ear tips.
>Three pairs of Black silicone ear tips.
>One IKKO lapel pin.
>Customer service card.
Design & Build Quality:-
The IKKO OH1 earpieces are built like a tank. They are made up of aluminum alloy and are quite heavy if we compare them to Resin made shells. I personally have no issues with their weight as well as I have previously used other metallic IEMs such as the CA Solaris OG and Tin HiFi P2. In terms of design, the OH1 looks quite unique with its Blueish tone and textured faceplates. Loved the beautiful looks and elegant design of the OH1. The included cable is a 4-core cable with two-pin connectors and a 3.5mm termination plug. The connectors have a red color indicator on the right side.
I personally don’t like using such carry pouches as they are not as efficient as carry cases. While I liked the strong hefty aluminum build of the earpieces the included carry pouch is just above average.
Fit & Noise Isolation:-
The ergonomically designed OH1 earpieces sit firmly into my medium-sized ears. They cover my ear canal completely and provides a good level of noise isolation even when I am outside. I get no issues with a bit heavyweight of the metallic shells in fact I find them sitting firmly into my ears and no fall-off issues.
Driving the IKKO OH1:-
The IKKO OH1 is a very easy to drive pair. I enjoyed it with my smartphone Honor View 10, Cayin N3 DAP, NX4 DSD portable DAC/AMP, and Topping E30/L30 DAC/AMP combo. It doesn’t require any such high-resolution player and provides good sound quality directly through smartphones. Here are my findings with the different pairings.
With Honor View 10:-
The OH1 is driven at adequate volume with good bass depth and detail retrieval at around 11/15 volume levels of the View 10. It shows no lack in detail retrieval and sounds pretty good.
With Cayin N3:-
OH1 sounds a bit warmer than neutral in this combo. There is no need to go above 60/100 volume for adequate volume with this combo. Bass and treble showed good extensions.
With NX4 DSD(paired with N3/ MacBook using USB DAC function):-
The pair sounds neutral with an emphasis on the bass portion. The output is wider as compared to the previous two pairings. Also, it gets loud even at 50% volume on the NX4.
With Topping E30+L30 Combo:-
There is no need to go this powerful for OH1. It required like 30% volume only and sounded cleanest among all the pairings. The signature is similar to that with NX4 DSD.
Sound Quality:-
The IKKO OH1 has bass emphasized sound signature. Especially in the sub-bass portion. The pair produces such a powerful rumble in the sub-bass portion that it can literally satisfy the bass hunger of a basshead. But it’s not only the bass that this pair delivers, it delivers a neutral response for the mids and a safe, smooth treble frequency response. The best part is even with such powerful bass there is no muddiness in the other frequencies. Both the male and female vocals show good resolution and clarity. Let’s share my impressions in different frequencies.
Lower End:-
This is where the OH1 shines a lot. Powerful sub-bass with good extensions, check. Quick, punchy mid-bass slams, check. The OH1 delivers a clean, powerful lower end that complements the other frequencies. The bass slams are tight, controlled well within their region showing no muddiness or leakage to other frequencies. Such thick bass provides weight to the instruments such as pianos, guitars, and more. Listening to EDM, Hip-Hop artist is a groovy and fun experience with the OH1.
Mid-Frequencies:-
The mid frequencies are a bit recessed. But they don’t lack in performance, presenting us with a transparent presentation. Acoustic instruments such as Guitars, are presented with good detail and body. Both the male and female vocals sound engaging and immersive.
High-Frequencies:-
The OH1 presents relaxed, smooth treble frequencies. There is no harshness or sibilance present with any of the instruments even at louder volumes. Cymbal crashes, Electric guitars sound engaging and detailed, the detail retrieval is actually quite good across the frequency range. Complex genres such as heavy metal are presented well with good clarity.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
The OH1 has an intimate sound presentation. It has average width and depth, but with good clarity shows good instrument separation and imaging for its price range.
Final Verdict:-
I personally loved the fun sound signature of the OH1. IMO it has the best sub-bass in its price segment. That thick rumble adds weight to the tones and provides an extraordinary experience. Actually thinking of grabbing a unit of OH1 for myself, but I am waiting for trying the OH10 too before pulling the trigger. In my opinion, at about 150$, IKKO OH1 is a pretty solid pair to own.
Disclaimer:-
The IKKO OH1 is provided to me for auditioning by Hifinage.com in return for my honest opinion. All thoughts in this review are based on my own experience with the pair over the past week. You can purchase the OH1 in India from Hifinage from the link below.
Ikko OH1
You can also read my work on my personal blog at www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Package & Accessories:-
The IKKO OH1 comes in a very cool anime-style packaging. It has a beautiful anime printed on top of it with the IKKO Meteor branding logo(Meteor OH1 is the full name of OH1) along with some features such as comfortable wear, aluminum alloy shell, dynamic sound. On the back, we have some more details about the pair in different languages. We have to pull out a denim-style heavy cardboard case from this outer packing. This holds the beautiful OH1 along with all the included accessories. The packing presentation is superb and premium. IKKO nails it in this department with its quality accessories and beautiful anime packaging design.
Package Contents:-
>One pair IKKO OH1 earphones.
>One 2-pin cable with 3.5mm termination plug.
>One carry pouch.
>Three pairs of Blue silicone ear tips.
>Three pairs of Black silicone ear tips.
>One IKKO lapel pin.
>Customer service card.
Design & Build Quality:-
The IKKO OH1 earpieces are built like a tank. They are made up of aluminum alloy and are quite heavy if we compare them to Resin made shells. I personally have no issues with their weight as well as I have previously used other metallic IEMs such as the CA Solaris OG and Tin HiFi P2. In terms of design, the OH1 looks quite unique with its Blueish tone and textured faceplates. Loved the beautiful looks and elegant design of the OH1. The included cable is a 4-core cable with two-pin connectors and a 3.5mm termination plug. The connectors have a red color indicator on the right side.
I personally don’t like using such carry pouches as they are not as efficient as carry cases. While I liked the strong hefty aluminum build of the earpieces the included carry pouch is just above average.
Fit & Noise Isolation:-
The ergonomically designed OH1 earpieces sit firmly into my medium-sized ears. They cover my ear canal completely and provides a good level of noise isolation even when I am outside. I get no issues with a bit heavyweight of the metallic shells in fact I find them sitting firmly into my ears and no fall-off issues.
Driving the IKKO OH1:-
The IKKO OH1 is a very easy to drive pair. I enjoyed it with my smartphone Honor View 10, Cayin N3 DAP, NX4 DSD portable DAC/AMP, and Topping E30/L30 DAC/AMP combo. It doesn’t require any such high-resolution player and provides good sound quality directly through smartphones. Here are my findings with the different pairings.
With Honor View 10:-
The OH1 is driven at adequate volume with good bass depth and detail retrieval at around 11/15 volume levels of the View 10. It shows no lack in detail retrieval and sounds pretty good.
With Cayin N3:-
OH1 sounds a bit warmer than neutral in this combo. There is no need to go above 60/100 volume for adequate volume with this combo. Bass and treble showed good extensions.
With NX4 DSD(paired with N3/ MacBook using USB DAC function):-
The pair sounds neutral with an emphasis on the bass portion. The output is wider as compared to the previous two pairings. Also, it gets loud even at 50% volume on the NX4.
With Topping E30+L30 Combo:-
There is no need to go this powerful for OH1. It required like 30% volume only and sounded cleanest among all the pairings. The signature is similar to that with NX4 DSD.
Sound Quality:-
The IKKO OH1 has bass emphasized sound signature. Especially in the sub-bass portion. The pair produces such a powerful rumble in the sub-bass portion that it can literally satisfy the bass hunger of a basshead. But it’s not only the bass that this pair delivers, it delivers a neutral response for the mids and a safe, smooth treble frequency response. The best part is even with such powerful bass there is no muddiness in the other frequencies. Both the male and female vocals show good resolution and clarity. Let’s share my impressions in different frequencies.
Lower End:-
This is where the OH1 shines a lot. Powerful sub-bass with good extensions, check. Quick, punchy mid-bass slams, check. The OH1 delivers a clean, powerful lower end that complements the other frequencies. The bass slams are tight, controlled well within their region showing no muddiness or leakage to other frequencies. Such thick bass provides weight to the instruments such as pianos, guitars, and more. Listening to EDM, Hip-Hop artist is a groovy and fun experience with the OH1.
Mid-Frequencies:-
The mid frequencies are a bit recessed. But they don’t lack in performance, presenting us with a transparent presentation. Acoustic instruments such as Guitars, are presented with good detail and body. Both the male and female vocals sound engaging and immersive.
High-Frequencies:-
The OH1 presents relaxed, smooth treble frequencies. There is no harshness or sibilance present with any of the instruments even at louder volumes. Cymbal crashes, Electric guitars sound engaging and detailed, the detail retrieval is actually quite good across the frequency range. Complex genres such as heavy metal are presented well with good clarity.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
The OH1 has an intimate sound presentation. It has average width and depth, but with good clarity shows good instrument separation and imaging for its price range.
Final Verdict:-
I personally loved the fun sound signature of the OH1. IMO it has the best sub-bass in its price segment. That thick rumble adds weight to the tones and provides an extraordinary experience. Actually thinking of grabbing a unit of OH1 for myself, but I am waiting for trying the OH10 too before pulling the trigger. In my opinion, at about 150$, IKKO OH1 is a pretty solid pair to own.
True Wireless has already become a huge market with thousands of products to choose from. While there are some cheaper ones that are easily available on Aliexpress for as low as 20-30$, some premium brands like Apple, Sennheiser, Shanling, and many more have focused on audiophile-grade Truly Wireless Set of earphones too. Today I am gonna review one such high-resolution pair of truly wireless earphones from a well-known Chi-Fi brand Tipsy, called the Tipsy TM1. To be very honest, I have not tried many TWS as I was hugely disappointed by my first pair of TWS, something called Noise X5(a TWS gifted to me by my friend from India). It was way below my expectations from an earphone of about 70$ price range. After that, I got to try Sennheiser Momentum, a very solid pair though priced heavily at about 299$(Retail price). So, basically, the Tipsy TM1 is my third pair of TWS and I am surprisingly impressed by its sound quality. It has a price tag of about 120$ at the time of writing this review. You can purchase it from Aliexpress here if you want.
Disclaimer:-
This unit of Tipsy TM1 is sent to me by my friend who is organizing an audition circle for the pair in my country on behalf of Tipsy. All the impressions in this review are completely my own based on my usage with the pair.
Tipsy TM-1:-
Tipsy is a well-known name in the industry for their HiFi IEM’s such as the Dunmer Pro. The TM-1 is their first pair of Truly Wireless earphones in the international market. Tipsy has a reputation in the market for their gorgeous looking IEMs and the TM-1 is also not an exception. The brand advertises it to have hand-made ear shells that actually look really good in real life. The pair features an 8mm Diamond-like nano diaphragm dynamic driver unit with Qualcomm QCC3040 Bluetooth chip providing Bluetooth V5.0 connectivity. It supports the latest features like cVc noise reduction tech, smart touch controls, IP54 dustproof and waterproof ratings, and many more features. It is available to purchase from Aliexpress at a price of 120$ at the time of writing this review.
Packaging & Accessories:-
Tipsy TM1 has very good packing for a pair of TWS of this price range. It is a small rectangular cardboard box with a TM-1 branding image on top of it with some technical details(like Qualcomm QCC3040 chip & more). As we open up the packaging we are directly greeted with the pair and its charging case on the first layer of the packaging. Below lies our other accessories that include a USB Type-C charging cable, some pairs of ear tips, and a setup guide for the earpieces. Well, that’s just it for the contents of the package.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of Tipsy TM-1 TWS earphones.
>One charging case.
>Three pairs of soft silicone tips(White).
>Three pairs of hard silicone tips(Black).
>One USB Type-C charging cable.
>User manual.
Design, Build Quality & Fit:-
The Tipsy TM-1 is a very beautiful-looking pair. Tipsy advertises it to be hand-made, they actually look phenomenal. The earpieces have a marble finish on the faceplates that add to the premium look of the pair. They are designed in a simple ergonomic design with light-weight aesthetics providing a very comfy fit covering the entire ear canal. The pair is very comfortable to wear even for long music sessions. Also since the earpiece covers the entire ear canal, the pair provides excellent noise isolation.
The included charging case is very compact and sturdy. One can easily carry the pair daily in their pocket without any trouble. The included silicone tips are of average quality nothing special in them. I got the best fit with the white soft silicone tips included in the package.
Connectivity:-
I used the pair with two different sources, one is my iPhone 11 and the other is my Cayin N3. I found no issues in connectivity both the earpieces got connected immediately with each other when I pull them out of the case. The best part is the connectivity range, they have a wide connectivity range, I wandered around my office space while the connected source device was on my table that too without any lag or connection break. Pretty impressed by the connectivity of the pair.
With iPhone 11:-
The TM-1 pairs well with a normal smartphone like the iPhone 11. It is at the adequate audible volume at about 60-70% of the volume range on the phone. Pretty enjoyable experience.
With Cayin N3:-
I have no idea why but the volume is very less when connected with N3. I listened at full volume at high gain for adequate volume levels on the N3. Personally liked the pairing with smartphones.
Touch Functionality:-
Both the earpieces support touch functionality on the earpieces. While playing music if I touch on any of them it gets stopped though it's not always instant and seems to lag a bit. Touching on any of them starts the music playback again. But it’s a bit laggy and not smooth.
Mic Quality:-
Tipsy advertises the TM-1 to support cVc noise reduction tech for crisp voice-over calls. It provides pretty decent voice clarity, for a TWS I am pretty impressed with its mic quality.
Sound Quality:-
Now come’s the most important part of an earphone, its sound quality. And to be honest, I was not expecting the TM-1 to sound this good. They have a very decent bass response with fantastic mids and sparkly, fun treble section. The Lower end sounds natural that is neither overpowering nor too dull. It adds the required punch to make the output enjoyable and fun. The vocal response is very pleasant and carries a natural tonality to them. It is quite amazing to see a TWS performing such well, though there is a noticeable background hiss, especially at louder volumes. Other than that the pair performs very well.
Lows:-
Tipsy TM-1 has a decent low-end response, nothing too over or heavy. The slams are precise and to the point, the sub-bass shows good rumble. It is not thunderous or ear kicking, but It is decent enough to complement the other frequencies and provide an enjoyable output. Dance Monkey by Tones & I provides a groovy output with its quick punches.
Mids:-
The mid-frequency response with the TM-1 is very good. Instruments specially Guitars, Pianos, are presented very well with a crisp, detailed, airy response. Both the male and female vocals have a good sense of weight to them. I loved listening to acoustic and pop artists like Angus & Julia Stone, Damien Rice, Taylor Swift, as the pair complements vocals with a lovely natural tonality and crisp clarity.
Highs:-
Tipsy TM-1 presents the users with an energetic treble with enough sparkle to make the output fun and enjoyable. There is no sibilance or harshness even at louder volumes. The output is very clean and detailed, producing good details in our music. The pair performs well even for complex tracks like God Of War by Tina Guo, Down With The Sickness by Disturbed, and more heavy-metal tracks.
Soundstage:-
The Tipsy TM-1 doesn’t have any super-wide or huge soundstage. It sounds just adequate, but with crisp instrument clarity, the output feels perfect. Imaging and instrument positioning is pretty good with the pair.
Battery Life:-
The Tipsy TM-1 has pretty good battery life. The pair lasts for about 5 hours on a single charge, while the charging case allows for about 7-8 full charges on a single charge. So in total, we are getting about 40 hours of battery life.
Final words:-
In my opinion, if you are looking for a fun-sounding TWS pair with good comfort and enjoyable sound output, the Tipsy TM-1 is a great option to consider. It delivers a crisp, detailed performance with good battery life. If I plan on ever going the TWS way, this might be the one where my search will end as it is quite affordable!!
Disclaimer:-
This unit of Tipsy TM1 is sent to me by my friend who is organizing an audition circle for the pair in my country on behalf of Tipsy. All the impressions in this review are completely my own based on my usage with the pair.
Tipsy TM-1:-
Tipsy is a well-known name in the industry for their HiFi IEM’s such as the Dunmer Pro. The TM-1 is their first pair of Truly Wireless earphones in the international market. Tipsy has a reputation in the market for their gorgeous looking IEMs and the TM-1 is also not an exception. The brand advertises it to have hand-made ear shells that actually look really good in real life. The pair features an 8mm Diamond-like nano diaphragm dynamic driver unit with Qualcomm QCC3040 Bluetooth chip providing Bluetooth V5.0 connectivity. It supports the latest features like cVc noise reduction tech, smart touch controls, IP54 dustproof and waterproof ratings, and many more features. It is available to purchase from Aliexpress at a price of 120$ at the time of writing this review.
Packaging & Accessories:-
Tipsy TM1 has very good packing for a pair of TWS of this price range. It is a small rectangular cardboard box with a TM-1 branding image on top of it with some technical details(like Qualcomm QCC3040 chip & more). As we open up the packaging we are directly greeted with the pair and its charging case on the first layer of the packaging. Below lies our other accessories that include a USB Type-C charging cable, some pairs of ear tips, and a setup guide for the earpieces. Well, that’s just it for the contents of the package.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of Tipsy TM-1 TWS earphones.
>One charging case.
>Three pairs of soft silicone tips(White).
>Three pairs of hard silicone tips(Black).
>One USB Type-C charging cable.
>User manual.
Design, Build Quality & Fit:-
The Tipsy TM-1 is a very beautiful-looking pair. Tipsy advertises it to be hand-made, they actually look phenomenal. The earpieces have a marble finish on the faceplates that add to the premium look of the pair. They are designed in a simple ergonomic design with light-weight aesthetics providing a very comfy fit covering the entire ear canal. The pair is very comfortable to wear even for long music sessions. Also since the earpiece covers the entire ear canal, the pair provides excellent noise isolation.
The included charging case is very compact and sturdy. One can easily carry the pair daily in their pocket without any trouble. The included silicone tips are of average quality nothing special in them. I got the best fit with the white soft silicone tips included in the package.
Connectivity:-
I used the pair with two different sources, one is my iPhone 11 and the other is my Cayin N3. I found no issues in connectivity both the earpieces got connected immediately with each other when I pull them out of the case. The best part is the connectivity range, they have a wide connectivity range, I wandered around my office space while the connected source device was on my table that too without any lag or connection break. Pretty impressed by the connectivity of the pair.
With iPhone 11:-
The TM-1 pairs well with a normal smartphone like the iPhone 11. It is at the adequate audible volume at about 60-70% of the volume range on the phone. Pretty enjoyable experience.
With Cayin N3:-
I have no idea why but the volume is very less when connected with N3. I listened at full volume at high gain for adequate volume levels on the N3. Personally liked the pairing with smartphones.
Touch Functionality:-
Both the earpieces support touch functionality on the earpieces. While playing music if I touch on any of them it gets stopped though it's not always instant and seems to lag a bit. Touching on any of them starts the music playback again. But it’s a bit laggy and not smooth.
Mic Quality:-
Tipsy advertises the TM-1 to support cVc noise reduction tech for crisp voice-over calls. It provides pretty decent voice clarity, for a TWS I am pretty impressed with its mic quality.
Sound Quality:-
Now come’s the most important part of an earphone, its sound quality. And to be honest, I was not expecting the TM-1 to sound this good. They have a very decent bass response with fantastic mids and sparkly, fun treble section. The Lower end sounds natural that is neither overpowering nor too dull. It adds the required punch to make the output enjoyable and fun. The vocal response is very pleasant and carries a natural tonality to them. It is quite amazing to see a TWS performing such well, though there is a noticeable background hiss, especially at louder volumes. Other than that the pair performs very well.
Lows:-
Tipsy TM-1 has a decent low-end response, nothing too over or heavy. The slams are precise and to the point, the sub-bass shows good rumble. It is not thunderous or ear kicking, but It is decent enough to complement the other frequencies and provide an enjoyable output. Dance Monkey by Tones & I provides a groovy output with its quick punches.
Mids:-
The mid-frequency response with the TM-1 is very good. Instruments specially Guitars, Pianos, are presented very well with a crisp, detailed, airy response. Both the male and female vocals have a good sense of weight to them. I loved listening to acoustic and pop artists like Angus & Julia Stone, Damien Rice, Taylor Swift, as the pair complements vocals with a lovely natural tonality and crisp clarity.
Highs:-
Tipsy TM-1 presents the users with an energetic treble with enough sparkle to make the output fun and enjoyable. There is no sibilance or harshness even at louder volumes. The output is very clean and detailed, producing good details in our music. The pair performs well even for complex tracks like God Of War by Tina Guo, Down With The Sickness by Disturbed, and more heavy-metal tracks.
Soundstage:-
The Tipsy TM-1 doesn’t have any super-wide or huge soundstage. It sounds just adequate, but with crisp instrument clarity, the output feels perfect. Imaging and instrument positioning is pretty good with the pair.
Battery Life:-
The Tipsy TM-1 has pretty good battery life. The pair lasts for about 5 hours on a single charge, while the charging case allows for about 7-8 full charges on a single charge. So in total, we are getting about 40 hours of battery life.
Final words:-
In my opinion, if you are looking for a fun-sounding TWS pair with good comfort and enjoyable sound output, the Tipsy TM-1 is a great option to consider. It delivers a crisp, detailed performance with good battery life. If I plan on ever going the TWS way, this might be the one where my search will end as it is quite affordable!!
My love for earbuds goes long back. I have tried and owned more earbuds ever as compared to IEMs. I just love how smooth, how open they sound and sometimes they don’t break the bank for that haha. Today I am here to review one such of a bud, The Cat Ear MiMi, a 9$ bud from Cat Ear Audio, a fairly new name in the audio industry. It is actually a new brand found recently. They currently have three products in the market, The Cat Ear Mia(IEM), The Cat Ear Tuxedo(Earphone Upgrade Cable), and the talk of the town, the Cat Ear MiMi(Ear Bud). So let’s begin with today’s review.
Disclaimer:-
The unit was sent to me by Cat Ear Audio for the purpose of this review. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the pair, all the impressions in this review are completely my own based on my usage with the pair.
Cat Ear MiMi:-
The Cat Ear MiMi is a budget-friendly pair of earbuds priced at just 9$. It features a large 15.4mm dynamic driver unit placed inside beautifully designed ear shells. The pair is designed by ShoonTH, the parent company of Cat Ear Audio. The pair is available to purchase from various online stores, In India, the MiMi is available to purchase from theaudiostore.in. Previously I have owned several pairs such as Ry4s MMCX, Ve Monk Plus around the same budget. Currently, I own a pair of Ve Monk Plus SL(Special upgrade cable version). So I will be comparing the MiMi against the Monk Plus SL though there is a huge price difference(9$ of MiMi vs 50$ of Monk Plus SL).
Packaging & Accessories:-
For a pair priced at just 9$, the MiMi comes in very beautiful packaging. It's actually a small rounded metal case with a Cat Pawprint on the top. The case holds the pair of MiMi and two pairs of donut style foams. The metallic case is more than enough to comfortably carry around the MiMi. Other than this there is nothing else, and what other glitters or shines one might expect from a pair priced at 9$ only.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of Cat Ear MiMi Earbuds.
>Two pairs of Donut Foams.
>One metallic case.
Build Quality:-
The MiMi is a very well built product. The ear shells are elegantly designed with transparent acrylic material. They have a silver trim on the top that has the Cat Ear logo printed on it. The shells are connected to a non-removable silver-plated cable that terminated at a 3.5mm plug. The pair is very nice to hold in hand and has a very elegant look to it. Cat Ear has done a brilliant job for the MiMi. From packaging to the build, the pair looks simply brilliant.
Fit:-
I have no issues with fit with the Cat Ear MiMi. The beautiful ear shells sit firmly into my ears. Since it's an earbud we all know there is no point to discuss noise isolation as that is average as with every other earbud I have tried so far.
Driving The Cat Ear MiMi:-
With an impedance rating of just 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 110dB/mW, the MiMi is very easy to drive. It can be enjoyed easily with a normal smartphone with a 3.5mm jack. I found no noticeable scaling with the pair with better sources like DAP or Topping E30+L30 combo. Here are my impressions on pairing with different sources.
With Honor View 10:-
The pair sounds melodious and smooth. There is no sibilance or background noise with this combo. There are no complaints, one can simply enjoy good quality music with MiMi and their smartphones.
With DX120:-
There is not much scaling when used with the DX120. Though I must say the bass surely feels a bit more extended in this combo. Bass slams are better and goes deep with the DX120.
With Topping E30+L30:-
This might be an overkill for the bud. I used it at a low gain(-9dB). The background sounds cleanest, though other than that the sound is quite similar to the other two pairings. So not much scaling with better power. One thing to note is that this is the cleanest pairing for the MiMi, the other two pairings sounded a bit muddy to me.
Sound Quality:-
To be honest, at 9$, I was not expecting much with the MiMi. But the pair sounds very melodious and smooth. It brings out beautiful vocals and presents one with a smooth, musical output. Though vocals get a bit shouty at louder volumes. Like they are too much into the face at louder volumes(Above 65 on DX120, about 3 ’o'clock on Topping combo, full volume on View 10). Bass slams are tight and impactful complementing the other frequencies well. Highs have a spark to them, making the pair shine with good detailing in instruments such as violins and flutes. Here’s a frequency wise response of the pair.
Lows:-
The lows are quite powerful considering this is an earbud. I found the pair to be shy in the sub-bass, there is not satisfactory rumble in the sub-bass portion. Though the pair behaves well in complex bass-heavy tracks such as Bad Guy by Billie Eilish but lacks some punch in sub-bass. The bass slams are precise and presented well complementing the other frequencies well. Have I heard better bass in earbuds? Surely yeah, but they are way above the price the MiMi is being offered for.
Mids:-
Now, this is where the melody comes from. The MiMi sounds like it has a mid-focused tuning. Vocals, acoustic instruments sound lush and detailed. They add a warm touch to the output making the output melodious and smooth. I found no fatiguing or sibilance even at louder volumes, though the vocals become too into the face at louder volumes. Other than that the pair produces fantastic details in mid-frequencies.
Highs:-
The treble response is pretty solid. The treble frequencies are smooth and relaxed. It doesn’t sound harsh or sibilant even in heavy metal tracks and retrieves a good level of details from the music. Overall I find the MiMi to have a relaxing, warm tonality providing a great listening experience for the users.
Soundstage:-
I find the soundstage to be intimate rather than being too wide or huge. But it is more than enough for the genres that I generally listen to such as Rock, Pop, EDM, and Bollywood Regional music. Instrument separation is quite good.
Comparison With VE Monk SL:-
There is a huge difference between these two in terms of price point. The MiMi is available for just 9$ while the Monk SL has a price tag of 50$. Here are my impressions between these two:-
>Cat Ear MiMi is easier to drive when compared with 64 Ohms Monk SL.
>MiMi has more upfront vocals.
>MiMi has a tangle-free cable.
>Monk SL sounds more open, wider with a superb stage presence.
>Monk SL Bass is cleaner, more precise.
>Monk SL shows better extensions on both ends.
>Monk SL doesn’t get shouty even at louder volumes.
These might make the Monk SL look a better buy, but It has a price tag that is five times of MiMi.
Final Verdict:-
Considering the price, the MiMi is a steal of an earphone, It is very very easy to drive, it performs pretty well considering its price point. If you are looking to buy a pair under the 10$ price point, the CEA MiMi is the one to consider. Previously I had the standard Ve Monk Plus as my favorite pair of earbuds under the 10$ price segment. Now the Cat Ear MiMi goes head to head with that outstanding gem. This is a really big thing to say considering this is the very first pair of earphones from the brand. I see huge potential in Cat Ear Audio, looking forward for more products from them.
Disclaimer:-
The unit was sent to me by Cat Ear Audio for the purpose of this review. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the pair, all the impressions in this review are completely my own based on my usage with the pair.
Cat Ear MiMi:-
The Cat Ear MiMi is a budget-friendly pair of earbuds priced at just 9$. It features a large 15.4mm dynamic driver unit placed inside beautifully designed ear shells. The pair is designed by ShoonTH, the parent company of Cat Ear Audio. The pair is available to purchase from various online stores, In India, the MiMi is available to purchase from theaudiostore.in. Previously I have owned several pairs such as Ry4s MMCX, Ve Monk Plus around the same budget. Currently, I own a pair of Ve Monk Plus SL(Special upgrade cable version). So I will be comparing the MiMi against the Monk Plus SL though there is a huge price difference(9$ of MiMi vs 50$ of Monk Plus SL).
Packaging & Accessories:-
For a pair priced at just 9$, the MiMi comes in very beautiful packaging. It's actually a small rounded metal case with a Cat Pawprint on the top. The case holds the pair of MiMi and two pairs of donut style foams. The metallic case is more than enough to comfortably carry around the MiMi. Other than this there is nothing else, and what other glitters or shines one might expect from a pair priced at 9$ only.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of Cat Ear MiMi Earbuds.
>Two pairs of Donut Foams.
>One metallic case.
Build Quality:-
The MiMi is a very well built product. The ear shells are elegantly designed with transparent acrylic material. They have a silver trim on the top that has the Cat Ear logo printed on it. The shells are connected to a non-removable silver-plated cable that terminated at a 3.5mm plug. The pair is very nice to hold in hand and has a very elegant look to it. Cat Ear has done a brilliant job for the MiMi. From packaging to the build, the pair looks simply brilliant.
Fit:-
I have no issues with fit with the Cat Ear MiMi. The beautiful ear shells sit firmly into my ears. Since it's an earbud we all know there is no point to discuss noise isolation as that is average as with every other earbud I have tried so far.
Driving The Cat Ear MiMi:-
With an impedance rating of just 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 110dB/mW, the MiMi is very easy to drive. It can be enjoyed easily with a normal smartphone with a 3.5mm jack. I found no noticeable scaling with the pair with better sources like DAP or Topping E30+L30 combo. Here are my impressions on pairing with different sources.
With Honor View 10:-
The pair sounds melodious and smooth. There is no sibilance or background noise with this combo. There are no complaints, one can simply enjoy good quality music with MiMi and their smartphones.
With DX120:-
There is not much scaling when used with the DX120. Though I must say the bass surely feels a bit more extended in this combo. Bass slams are better and goes deep with the DX120.
With Topping E30+L30:-
This might be an overkill for the bud. I used it at a low gain(-9dB). The background sounds cleanest, though other than that the sound is quite similar to the other two pairings. So not much scaling with better power. One thing to note is that this is the cleanest pairing for the MiMi, the other two pairings sounded a bit muddy to me.
Sound Quality:-
To be honest, at 9$, I was not expecting much with the MiMi. But the pair sounds very melodious and smooth. It brings out beautiful vocals and presents one with a smooth, musical output. Though vocals get a bit shouty at louder volumes. Like they are too much into the face at louder volumes(Above 65 on DX120, about 3 ’o'clock on Topping combo, full volume on View 10). Bass slams are tight and impactful complementing the other frequencies well. Highs have a spark to them, making the pair shine with good detailing in instruments such as violins and flutes. Here’s a frequency wise response of the pair.
Lows:-
The lows are quite powerful considering this is an earbud. I found the pair to be shy in the sub-bass, there is not satisfactory rumble in the sub-bass portion. Though the pair behaves well in complex bass-heavy tracks such as Bad Guy by Billie Eilish but lacks some punch in sub-bass. The bass slams are precise and presented well complementing the other frequencies well. Have I heard better bass in earbuds? Surely yeah, but they are way above the price the MiMi is being offered for.
Mids:-
Now, this is where the melody comes from. The MiMi sounds like it has a mid-focused tuning. Vocals, acoustic instruments sound lush and detailed. They add a warm touch to the output making the output melodious and smooth. I found no fatiguing or sibilance even at louder volumes, though the vocals become too into the face at louder volumes. Other than that the pair produces fantastic details in mid-frequencies.
Highs:-
The treble response is pretty solid. The treble frequencies are smooth and relaxed. It doesn’t sound harsh or sibilant even in heavy metal tracks and retrieves a good level of details from the music. Overall I find the MiMi to have a relaxing, warm tonality providing a great listening experience for the users.
Soundstage:-
I find the soundstage to be intimate rather than being too wide or huge. But it is more than enough for the genres that I generally listen to such as Rock, Pop, EDM, and Bollywood Regional music. Instrument separation is quite good.
Comparison With VE Monk SL:-
There is a huge difference between these two in terms of price point. The MiMi is available for just 9$ while the Monk SL has a price tag of 50$. Here are my impressions between these two:-
>Cat Ear MiMi is easier to drive when compared with 64 Ohms Monk SL.
>MiMi has more upfront vocals.
>MiMi has a tangle-free cable.
>Monk SL sounds more open, wider with a superb stage presence.
>Monk SL Bass is cleaner, more precise.
>Monk SL shows better extensions on both ends.
>Monk SL doesn’t get shouty even at louder volumes.
These might make the Monk SL look a better buy, but It has a price tag that is five times of MiMi.
Final Verdict:-
Considering the price, the MiMi is a steal of an earphone, It is very very easy to drive, it performs pretty well considering its price point. If you are looking to buy a pair under the 10$ price point, the CEA MiMi is the one to consider. Previously I had the standard Ve Monk Plus as my favorite pair of earbuds under the 10$ price segment. Now the Cat Ear MiMi goes head to head with that outstanding gem. This is a really big thing to say considering this is the very first pair of earphones from the brand. I see huge potential in Cat Ear Audio, looking forward for more products from them.
BGVP has produced some amazing in-ear monitors in their all BA “DM” series. While I am not a fan of the highly appreciated DM6 as I found it too piercing and sharp, I love my pair of DM7 that was gifted to me by a fellow audiophile friend. It is actually my favorite pair after I sold the Solaris in need of some funds. Last month around BGVP announced their latest flagship pair from the “DM” series, the all-new BGVP DM8.
The BGVP DM8 is the latest flagship multi-BA driver IEM from the brand featuring eight Knowles BA drivers on each side. They have used 5 Knowles BA drivers and 3 Sonion BA drivers in a four-way frequency division. The pair has a price tag of 349$, but is it worth the 350$ price tag??? We will surely find that out in this review!!
Disclaimer:-
BGVP themselves organized a review tour for this flagship IEM in my country through one of my friends, and I got the opportunity to audition these for this review. I am in no way affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the DM8. All the thoughts and impressions in this blog are completely my own based on my own time with the pair over the past week.
I hope you enjoy reading my blog, if you do find it interesting do follow on my Facebook page here. You can buy the DM8 from HiFiGo for 349$ from here. I am not getting any affiliation benefit with HiFiGo for this link.
Unboxing:-
Earlier BGVP IEM’s used to have a very simple packaging, this time things have taken a colorful turn with the DM8. The outer packaging is quite colorful and is actually a bit bigger than the previous models like the DM6 and DM7. Inside the packaging, the arrangement looks delightful. It has so neat placement of the contents that it simply looks beautiful and eye-catchy.
On the top, we have our very beautiful DM8 earpieces sitting firmly into their branded foam cutout. The ear tips are presented in a very beautiful manner. They are arranged on hard cardboard stick type designer panels. There’s a plain cardboard case with earphone cable printed on top of it, as the print suggests, it holds our cable. The metallic carry case holds the 4.4mm and 3.5mm adapters as the included cable has a balanced 2.5mm termination. Overall the packaging arrangement is quite neat and looks superb. I just loved how BGVP has designed the packaging for the DM8.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of BGVP DM8 IEMs.
>One MMCX cable with 2.5mm termination.
>2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter.
>2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter.
>One pair of Memory Foam ear tips.
>Nine pairs of silicone ear tips(3 pairs vocal, 3 pairs balanced, 3 pairs bass ear tips).
>Metallic carry case.
Build Quality & Fit:-
I got the transparent variant of the DM8 for review. The ear shells look very beautiful with silver shiny face panels. The left earpiece has BGVP DM8 branding and the right one has BGVP logo branding on the faceplates.
The ear nozzle is quite short though there are no issues in fit thanks to the ergonomic design with the pair. One can easily see the professional internal placement of drivers through the transparent inner cavities. It’s actually quite amazing to see how professionally BGVP has placed the eight drivers, acoustic tubes, and the audio motherboard for these many drivers inside such small earpieces. We also have a vent on the side of the earpieces. As for connectors, the DM8 features MMCX connectors on top of both the earpieces. Honestly speaking, the pair has a robust build quality and looks absolutely fantastic.
The included cable is thick and heavy. It has shielded corners near the connectors for an easy over the ear fit.
In terms of fitting, the DM8 fits like a charm. The cable might be heavy, but the earpieces are lightweight and have an ergonomic design. They sit very firmly inside the ears and provide a super comfy fit for long music sessions.
Driving the BGVP DM8:-
The BGVP DM8 is a very easy to drive pair. It has an impedance rating of 27 Ohms with 110dB/mW high sensitivity. I used the pair with my iBasso DX120 and Topping E30+L30 combo. Both the combos were nice but here are my impressions of both of them.
DM8 with E30+L30:-
I am in love with this stack ever since I got it. And now when paired to the DM8 it sounds like Audio Nirvana!!! Even though the pair doesn’t require this much power, I had to use it at the low gain(-9dB), The pair sounds fantastic with a super clean background and deep punchy bass. I love how minutest of the details pop out on a pitch dark background with this combo.
DM8 with DX120:-
The pair shows beautiful lush details. The bass slams are precise and perfect though they lack a little bit of extension when compared head to head with the Topping E30+L30 combo. But if you ask me portably I found this stack to be a great one too.
Sound Quality:-
I love how BGVP is progressing things with their DM series now. My first IEM from the series was the DM6 which I just couldn’t cope with for its super-sharp treble response, with the DM7 it was improved with no harshness at all. It sounded aggressive but not harsh. With the DM8 it is improved even further with a smooth, detailed response. There is still a little bit of aggressiveness but I guess that is due to the BGVP’s upfront sound representation.
Another thing to complement here is the rich Bass presentation. Multi-BA IEM’s that I have tried before like the QOA Mojito(6BA), Audiosense DT200(2BA) have a slow bass response, but with the DM8, the bass presentation is simply amazing providing the user with deep punchy bass and a fantastic sub-bass rumble. Now let’s describe how the DM8 sounds according to different frequency response.
Lows:-
As stated above, the DM8 bass is fantastic. In fact, it doesn’t feel like a BA producing the bass, the sound is quite similar to DD. The bass slams have a rich, fine texture to them with a quick, punchy response to complement your music. The best part is the bass is controlled well within its region, there is no overlapping or unnecessary muddiness in the output even in heavy bass tracks like La La La by Y2K.
Mids:-
The mid frequencies seem to be the center point of attraction in the output to me with an upfront representation. When I got the DM8 I also had the Tin HiFi P2 for review and I personally found the mid frequencies to be more upfront in DM8 as compared to the P2. The detail retrieval and vocal presentation are simply perfect, listening to an acoustic-vocal song like First Time by Macy Gray is a fantastic experience with the DM8. I just simply loved the vocal clarity!!! There is ample airiness in this segment to provide a spacious stage feel in the output.
Highs:-
BGVP DM8 has a slight bit of sparkle and energy in the treble portion. This is though nothing when compared to the DM7 that makes the DM7 much more aggressive. I guess BGVP has done this to make the DM8 smoother and relaxing. Detail retrieval is still good and presents the user with a non-fatiguing signature. There is no sibilance or harshness even at louder volumes. If you listen to complex tracks like God Of War Theme By Tina Guo, you will find the instrument detailing and layering to be detailed really well. Though as a personal preference, I prefer the extra aggressiveness of the DM7.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
The BGVP DM8 has a wide soundstage representation. Eyes closed while listening to your favorite music, you will find yourself in a wide space with ample tallness and depth. Imaging and detail retrieval is simply perfect.
Now some comparison time!!!
BGVP DM8 Vs BGVP DM7:-
In my experience with both of them, BGVP seems to have tamed down the high frequencies in the DM8. The DM8 sounds more relaxed while the DM7 sounds more aggressive. I personally found the detailing to be a bit better in DM7 but the extra aggressiveness can sound fatiguing to some people during long listening sessions.
For long listening sessions, the DM8 is a better choice with a relaxed response.
I found the bass extension in DM8 to be better with a cleaner, well-textured response. All in all, I like the DM7 for a more fun signature and the DM8 for a relaxed signature.
BGVP DM8 Vs Tin HiFi P2:-
The BGVP DM8 can be powered easily even with entry-level hi-res players while the Tin HiFi P2 needs a truckload of power. For bringing out the true potential of P2 one has to pair the IEMs with a desktop-grade powerful amplifier.
For smooth frequency response, the DM8 excels as it has a relaxed signature while the P2 has a bit of sparkle in the treble portion.
I love the planar bass that the P2 delivers when powered properly. There is nothing as clean as a properly implemented planar driver bass. P2 also produces powerful rumble in the Sub-bass region.
The BGVP DM8 has more upfront vocals when compared to P2.
Between these two everything comes down to your source, the P2 can't be powered easily while the DM8 can be powered super easily using hi-res players or even smartphones.
Final Verdict:-
BGVP has done a fantastic job with the latest DM8. The bass response here feels nowhere near a BA bass, it can easily compete with the fast and quick bass response from a Dynamic driver. Is it worth its 349$ price tag??YESSSSSS, I would easily recommend this for its easy drivability, detailed, relaxed sound signature, and beautiful looks!!! But when it comes to my personal preferences, I like the excessive aggressiveness of the DM7.
The BGVP DM8 is the latest flagship multi-BA driver IEM from the brand featuring eight Knowles BA drivers on each side. They have used 5 Knowles BA drivers and 3 Sonion BA drivers in a four-way frequency division. The pair has a price tag of 349$, but is it worth the 350$ price tag??? We will surely find that out in this review!!
Disclaimer:-
BGVP themselves organized a review tour for this flagship IEM in my country through one of my friends, and I got the opportunity to audition these for this review. I am in no way affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the DM8. All the thoughts and impressions in this blog are completely my own based on my own time with the pair over the past week.
I hope you enjoy reading my blog, if you do find it interesting do follow on my Facebook page here. You can buy the DM8 from HiFiGo for 349$ from here. I am not getting any affiliation benefit with HiFiGo for this link.
Unboxing:-
Earlier BGVP IEM’s used to have a very simple packaging, this time things have taken a colorful turn with the DM8. The outer packaging is quite colorful and is actually a bit bigger than the previous models like the DM6 and DM7. Inside the packaging, the arrangement looks delightful. It has so neat placement of the contents that it simply looks beautiful and eye-catchy.
On the top, we have our very beautiful DM8 earpieces sitting firmly into their branded foam cutout. The ear tips are presented in a very beautiful manner. They are arranged on hard cardboard stick type designer panels. There’s a plain cardboard case with earphone cable printed on top of it, as the print suggests, it holds our cable. The metallic carry case holds the 4.4mm and 3.5mm adapters as the included cable has a balanced 2.5mm termination. Overall the packaging arrangement is quite neat and looks superb. I just loved how BGVP has designed the packaging for the DM8.
Package Contents:-
>One pair of BGVP DM8 IEMs.
>One MMCX cable with 2.5mm termination.
>2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter.
>2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter.
>One pair of Memory Foam ear tips.
>Nine pairs of silicone ear tips(3 pairs vocal, 3 pairs balanced, 3 pairs bass ear tips).
>Metallic carry case.
Build Quality & Fit:-
I got the transparent variant of the DM8 for review. The ear shells look very beautiful with silver shiny face panels. The left earpiece has BGVP DM8 branding and the right one has BGVP logo branding on the faceplates.
The ear nozzle is quite short though there are no issues in fit thanks to the ergonomic design with the pair. One can easily see the professional internal placement of drivers through the transparent inner cavities. It’s actually quite amazing to see how professionally BGVP has placed the eight drivers, acoustic tubes, and the audio motherboard for these many drivers inside such small earpieces. We also have a vent on the side of the earpieces. As for connectors, the DM8 features MMCX connectors on top of both the earpieces. Honestly speaking, the pair has a robust build quality and looks absolutely fantastic.
The included cable is thick and heavy. It has shielded corners near the connectors for an easy over the ear fit.
In terms of fitting, the DM8 fits like a charm. The cable might be heavy, but the earpieces are lightweight and have an ergonomic design. They sit very firmly inside the ears and provide a super comfy fit for long music sessions.
Driving the BGVP DM8:-
The BGVP DM8 is a very easy to drive pair. It has an impedance rating of 27 Ohms with 110dB/mW high sensitivity. I used the pair with my iBasso DX120 and Topping E30+L30 combo. Both the combos were nice but here are my impressions of both of them.
DM8 with E30+L30:-
I am in love with this stack ever since I got it. And now when paired to the DM8 it sounds like Audio Nirvana!!! Even though the pair doesn’t require this much power, I had to use it at the low gain(-9dB), The pair sounds fantastic with a super clean background and deep punchy bass. I love how minutest of the details pop out on a pitch dark background with this combo.
DM8 with DX120:-
The pair shows beautiful lush details. The bass slams are precise and perfect though they lack a little bit of extension when compared head to head with the Topping E30+L30 combo. But if you ask me portably I found this stack to be a great one too.
Sound Quality:-
I love how BGVP is progressing things with their DM series now. My first IEM from the series was the DM6 which I just couldn’t cope with for its super-sharp treble response, with the DM7 it was improved with no harshness at all. It sounded aggressive but not harsh. With the DM8 it is improved even further with a smooth, detailed response. There is still a little bit of aggressiveness but I guess that is due to the BGVP’s upfront sound representation.
Another thing to complement here is the rich Bass presentation. Multi-BA IEM’s that I have tried before like the QOA Mojito(6BA), Audiosense DT200(2BA) have a slow bass response, but with the DM8, the bass presentation is simply amazing providing the user with deep punchy bass and a fantastic sub-bass rumble. Now let’s describe how the DM8 sounds according to different frequency response.
Lows:-
As stated above, the DM8 bass is fantastic. In fact, it doesn’t feel like a BA producing the bass, the sound is quite similar to DD. The bass slams have a rich, fine texture to them with a quick, punchy response to complement your music. The best part is the bass is controlled well within its region, there is no overlapping or unnecessary muddiness in the output even in heavy bass tracks like La La La by Y2K.
Mids:-
The mid frequencies seem to be the center point of attraction in the output to me with an upfront representation. When I got the DM8 I also had the Tin HiFi P2 for review and I personally found the mid frequencies to be more upfront in DM8 as compared to the P2. The detail retrieval and vocal presentation are simply perfect, listening to an acoustic-vocal song like First Time by Macy Gray is a fantastic experience with the DM8. I just simply loved the vocal clarity!!! There is ample airiness in this segment to provide a spacious stage feel in the output.
Highs:-
BGVP DM8 has a slight bit of sparkle and energy in the treble portion. This is though nothing when compared to the DM7 that makes the DM7 much more aggressive. I guess BGVP has done this to make the DM8 smoother and relaxing. Detail retrieval is still good and presents the user with a non-fatiguing signature. There is no sibilance or harshness even at louder volumes. If you listen to complex tracks like God Of War Theme By Tina Guo, you will find the instrument detailing and layering to be detailed really well. Though as a personal preference, I prefer the extra aggressiveness of the DM7.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
The BGVP DM8 has a wide soundstage representation. Eyes closed while listening to your favorite music, you will find yourself in a wide space with ample tallness and depth. Imaging and detail retrieval is simply perfect.
Now some comparison time!!!
BGVP DM8 Vs BGVP DM7:-
In my experience with both of them, BGVP seems to have tamed down the high frequencies in the DM8. The DM8 sounds more relaxed while the DM7 sounds more aggressive. I personally found the detailing to be a bit better in DM7 but the extra aggressiveness can sound fatiguing to some people during long listening sessions.
For long listening sessions, the DM8 is a better choice with a relaxed response.
I found the bass extension in DM8 to be better with a cleaner, well-textured response. All in all, I like the DM7 for a more fun signature and the DM8 for a relaxed signature.
BGVP DM8 Vs Tin HiFi P2:-
The BGVP DM8 can be powered easily even with entry-level hi-res players while the Tin HiFi P2 needs a truckload of power. For bringing out the true potential of P2 one has to pair the IEMs with a desktop-grade powerful amplifier.
For smooth frequency response, the DM8 excels as it has a relaxed signature while the P2 has a bit of sparkle in the treble portion.
I love the planar bass that the P2 delivers when powered properly. There is nothing as clean as a properly implemented planar driver bass. P2 also produces powerful rumble in the Sub-bass region.
The BGVP DM8 has more upfront vocals when compared to P2.
Between these two everything comes down to your source, the P2 can't be powered easily while the DM8 can be powered super easily using hi-res players or even smartphones.
Final Verdict:-
BGVP has done a fantastic job with the latest DM8. The bass response here feels nowhere near a BA bass, it can easily compete with the fast and quick bass response from a Dynamic driver. Is it worth its 349$ price tag??YESSSSSS, I would easily recommend this for its easy drivability, detailed, relaxed sound signature, and beautiful looks!!! But when it comes to my personal preferences, I like the excessive aggressiveness of the DM7.
Attachments
Tin HiFi, a brand with which I started my journey as an audiophile. Though my love for music was there since my childhood I started exploring the land of audiophilia about two years back with my very first pair of HiFi IEMs, the Tin T2. Before that, I used to buy Skull Candy earphones that would always die between a month or two. But the T2 lasted for me for about six or seven months before I sold them(I had explored a lot till then). After the Tin T2 I just never stopped, DUNU DK3001 Pro, CA Polaris V2, BGVP DM6, and on and on….
But every now and then I was keeping an eye on the industry and I was always looking at a pair of Tin HiFi IEMs, whether it be their T4 or the P1. I always wanted to buy the P1 but just never got the opportunity to get one for myself. And then I heard about the upcoming P2, an upgraded Planar Magnetic Driver IEM. But it costs double that of the P1. But I managed to grab a pair of P2 for the purpose of this review. So before wasting any more time, let’s begin.
Disclaimer:-
This unit of Tin HiFi P2 was provided to me by HiFiGo.com for the purpose of this review. I am managing a review circle for the Tin HiFi P2 here in my country on behalf of HiFiGo. For my benefit in this, I got this unit at a discounted price to keep the unit for myself once the review circle ends.
I am not paid or affiliated by anyone to write positive or negative about the pair, All the impressions in this blog are based on my personal experience with the pair. You can buy the Tin HiFi P2 from HiFiGo for 339$ from the link here. I am not getting any benefit or affiliation from this link but including it as a gesture for getting the unit at a discount. You can also read my review at my personal blog here.
Tin HiFi P2:-
The Tin HiFi P2 is a successor to the highly appreciated planar magnetic IEM Tin HiFi P1. It is their latest flagship to lead their product range. The pair costs about 339$. It features a second-generation Planar Magnetic Driver from Tin HiFi inside stainless steel ear shells. Now the question is, the brand has almost doubled the price from its predecessor P1 model But is it worth it? I will try to answer that in this review.
Technical Specifications:-
>12mm Planar Magnetic Drivers.
>Impedance: 32Ω±15%.
>Rated-power: 5mW.
>Max power: 10mW.
>Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz.
>Sensitivity: 90 ± 3 dB.
Accessories:-
Since I received the unit for the purpose of this review, I received only the product with the stock cable, a high-quality leather case, five pairs of ear tips, a 2.5mm-3.5mm connector, and a 2.5mm-4.4mm connector.
Build Quality:-
The earpieces look quite good with stainless steel metallic body. They are a bit heavier when compared to Resin bodied ear shells. They have a triangular curvy shape with a grainy, sandpaper design on a beveled faceplate. The pair is smooth to touch even on the grainy portion on the faceplate. There is a small vent on the inner side of the cavity just adjacent to the ear nozzle. Though the nozzle here is not too long it makes the pair sit firmly into my ears and provide me with a comfy fit. For cable connectors, the pair has a QDC 2-pin 0.78mm connectors. I have no personal preference to connector type. But I liked these QDC 2-pin connectors as they make the connection looks secure with no chance of damage to the covered connectors.
The included cable is quite strong and heavy. It is an 8-core braided 6N high-quality copper cable with 2.5mm balanced termination. At the top, the cable has angled transparent QDC 2-pin connectors with color-coded housing(Red for the Right side and Blue for the Left side). IT is heavier than what we get in normally get with IEMs and has a tight braiding. I find the pair and accessories to have very good, premium build quality.
Fit:-
With Stainless Steel ear shells, the pair holds some weight as compared to Resin made ear shells. They provide a comfortable and firm fit despite being small. But I had issues in fit with the stock silicone tips as the pair kept on falling off my ears, though using Spin Fit CP100 fixed this for me. Fit with the stock Foam tips is good, but I am not habitual to Foam tips so I use the pair with Spin Fit CP100.
In terms of Noise Isolation, I find the pair provide above-average isolation. Isolation is not that good in very noisy environments like streets, but at home, you can expect good isolation for a regular volume of Television in your room.
Driving the P2:-
In my experience so far, I have never experienced a pair of IEMs with so much scaling power. Its power intake is similar to my Hifiman Sundara(planar magnetic). I mean you can listen to music with your regular smartphone, your hi-res player, but they just won’t do justice to the P2. For the purpose of this review, I used the pair with Honor View 10 smartphone, iBasso DX120 hi-res player, and a Topping E30+L30 desktop combo on my windows system(using Foobar, Youtube). Here’s my finding for these combos:-
Honor View 10:-
The P2 can not be played at adequate volumes using smartphones like the View 10. It just doesn’t provide the stage and extensions that the pair is capable of. I found the output to lack depth, dynamics, and resolution. It was just being played but was not at all enjoyable.
iBasso DX120:-
With the DX120 I found the output to be restricted, Restricted in terms of staging and extensions again. Mids sounded muffled and muddy, I am pretty sure an entry-level DAP like the DX120 doesn’t give enough power to the pair to shine.
Topping E30+L30:-
Now, this is the combo that does justice to the Tin HiFi P2. The pair shows great slams in the lower end, The stage has a great sense of depth, resolution, and clarity are just amazing. For volume levels, my Knob is at 12 ‘o'clock at high gain(+9dB) and at 3 ‘o'clock at mid-gain(0dB). These are actually the same settings I use for my Sundara. Quite insane a pair of IEMs taking power similar to a pair of full-size headphones.
Though I must say this here, I don’t have access to other powerful DAPs like the FiiO M11 Pro, iBasso DX160, or any other. But back then when I used to own both of these, they can power up my Sundara with the 4.4mm balanced cable. SO, I guess they can power the P2 well with their balanced port too. But this is just a wild guess, I have not tried these or any other powerful DAPs with the P2.
Sound Quality(Based on my usage with Topping Combo):-
Once you have powered the Tin HiFi P2 well, now it’s your time to enjoy a blissful, super immersive music experience. I love how the Planar Bass works, it has more emphasis on the mid-bass slams as compared to the sub-bass. But the sub-bass also comes on the front with a powerful rumble in tracks like Bad Guy By Billie Eilish. The pair maintains a crisp high-resolution clarity throughout the frequency range, though it holds a slight bit of sparkle in the treble portion that actually makes the pair sound bright. I am a bit sensitive to harsh treble, but I don’t find the pair to be harsh or fatiguing even in complex tracks like the Wonder Woman Theme by Tina Guo though this sparkle brings a slight bit of resonating effect on flutes and other similar instruments.
Lower End:-
Tin HiFi P2 produces an impactful lower end. The bass slams are precise, controlled, and so powerful. One thing I love about Planar drivers is the cleanliness of the bass slams, Yup they take too much power for these slams. But once powered, believe me, you are in for a treat!! The pair releases all of its horses with a perfectly presented lower end. There is a good extension, there is good depth, and there is a powerful rumble in the lower end. And not to mention nothing is overpowering, you are getting a super clean response with no muddiness in the lower end.
Mids:-
Mid frequencies are a bit recessed, but the clarity is outstanding. The details are presented beautifully with well-extended acoustic instruments. There is a slight bit of warmth with lush vocals. It sounds like there is a slight bump in the upper mids as the Vocals are on the front line with beautiful crisp detailing. Vocals by Yao Si Ting in I Cry smoothens out the soul with their crisp clarity. Damien Rice, one of my favorite artists has rich vocals in his songs such as 9 Crimes, Cannonball, Blower's Daughter, and more. If you try out complex tracks like Zombies by Bad Wolves, the detail retrieval is amazing. But if you don’t provide ample power to the pair, the mid-frequencies become muffled and muddy(Happened for me when I paired it with DX120).
Highs:-
The Highs portion adds a sparkly touch to the output. This area adds a bright factor to the output, bright yet not harsh. The Cymbal drops in Dreams by Fleetwood Mac sounds precise and to the point with very good extensions. There is no harshness but I find a resonating effect with instruments like Flutes. The output is more immersive rather than being aggressive.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
Tin HiFi P2 has a wide soundstage with a good sense of depth. In terms of imaging, the pair shows very good detailing and layering of instruments. Instrument separation is fantastic.
Comparison Time:-
BGVP DM8 Vs Tin HiFi P2:-
What’s a better time to review the Tin HiFi P2 when you also have the BGVP DM8 in your house for review(It’s coming sooner than you expect). Here are my findings between these two:-
>The DM8 has a more relaxed tuning as compared to the P2.
>Bass slams are cleaner, powerful in P2 as compared to the DM8.
>Sub-bass is better in P2.
>DM8 has more airiness on the stage.
>P2 sounds more immersive.
>DM8 is very easy to drive as compared to the P2. P2 needs a boatload of power to shine properly.
Tin HiFi P2 Vs Hifiman Sundara:-
Well, I know no one expected this, an IEM vs a full-sized open-back headphone. But they both feature a Planar Magnetic driver, and at the end isn’t it all about the sound output so why not?? Here are my findings:-
>Sub-bass is better in P2, Sundara sounds shy in terms of Sub-bass.
> P2 here has a better sense of intimacy and immersiveness as compared to the Sundara.
>With Open-back architecture, the Sundara wins in terms of airiness on the stage.
>Sundara’s output sounds cleaner than that with the P2.
>Both take almost similar power intake, One might need a powerful source for both of these.
Final Verdict:-
I loved the Tin HiFi P2 with its performance and looks. The lower end slams are so perfect and soul-soothing that it just takes the listening experience to an all-new level. I am actually a fan of Planar Bass(Love when the slams drop in Sundara too). Some people might find the treble area too bright or overdone, but to my preference, it sounds perfect. Will I recommend the Tin HiFi P2 to you?? Well if you have something to power it properly, I will recommend this eyes closed!!. But if you don’t have anything that can give ample power to the Tin HiFi P2 then I would suggest you look somewhere else.
But every now and then I was keeping an eye on the industry and I was always looking at a pair of Tin HiFi IEMs, whether it be their T4 or the P1. I always wanted to buy the P1 but just never got the opportunity to get one for myself. And then I heard about the upcoming P2, an upgraded Planar Magnetic Driver IEM. But it costs double that of the P1. But I managed to grab a pair of P2 for the purpose of this review. So before wasting any more time, let’s begin.
Disclaimer:-
This unit of Tin HiFi P2 was provided to me by HiFiGo.com for the purpose of this review. I am managing a review circle for the Tin HiFi P2 here in my country on behalf of HiFiGo. For my benefit in this, I got this unit at a discounted price to keep the unit for myself once the review circle ends.
I am not paid or affiliated by anyone to write positive or negative about the pair, All the impressions in this blog are based on my personal experience with the pair. You can buy the Tin HiFi P2 from HiFiGo for 339$ from the link here. I am not getting any benefit or affiliation from this link but including it as a gesture for getting the unit at a discount. You can also read my review at my personal blog here.
Tin HiFi P2:-
The Tin HiFi P2 is a successor to the highly appreciated planar magnetic IEM Tin HiFi P1. It is their latest flagship to lead their product range. The pair costs about 339$. It features a second-generation Planar Magnetic Driver from Tin HiFi inside stainless steel ear shells. Now the question is, the brand has almost doubled the price from its predecessor P1 model But is it worth it? I will try to answer that in this review.
Technical Specifications:-
>12mm Planar Magnetic Drivers.
>Impedance: 32Ω±15%.
>Rated-power: 5mW.
>Max power: 10mW.
>Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz.
>Sensitivity: 90 ± 3 dB.
Accessories:-
Since I received the unit for the purpose of this review, I received only the product with the stock cable, a high-quality leather case, five pairs of ear tips, a 2.5mm-3.5mm connector, and a 2.5mm-4.4mm connector.
Build Quality:-
The earpieces look quite good with stainless steel metallic body. They are a bit heavier when compared to Resin bodied ear shells. They have a triangular curvy shape with a grainy, sandpaper design on a beveled faceplate. The pair is smooth to touch even on the grainy portion on the faceplate. There is a small vent on the inner side of the cavity just adjacent to the ear nozzle. Though the nozzle here is not too long it makes the pair sit firmly into my ears and provide me with a comfy fit. For cable connectors, the pair has a QDC 2-pin 0.78mm connectors. I have no personal preference to connector type. But I liked these QDC 2-pin connectors as they make the connection looks secure with no chance of damage to the covered connectors.
The included cable is quite strong and heavy. It is an 8-core braided 6N high-quality copper cable with 2.5mm balanced termination. At the top, the cable has angled transparent QDC 2-pin connectors with color-coded housing(Red for the Right side and Blue for the Left side). IT is heavier than what we get in normally get with IEMs and has a tight braiding. I find the pair and accessories to have very good, premium build quality.
Fit:-
With Stainless Steel ear shells, the pair holds some weight as compared to Resin made ear shells. They provide a comfortable and firm fit despite being small. But I had issues in fit with the stock silicone tips as the pair kept on falling off my ears, though using Spin Fit CP100 fixed this for me. Fit with the stock Foam tips is good, but I am not habitual to Foam tips so I use the pair with Spin Fit CP100.
In terms of Noise Isolation, I find the pair provide above-average isolation. Isolation is not that good in very noisy environments like streets, but at home, you can expect good isolation for a regular volume of Television in your room.
Driving the P2:-
In my experience so far, I have never experienced a pair of IEMs with so much scaling power. Its power intake is similar to my Hifiman Sundara(planar magnetic). I mean you can listen to music with your regular smartphone, your hi-res player, but they just won’t do justice to the P2. For the purpose of this review, I used the pair with Honor View 10 smartphone, iBasso DX120 hi-res player, and a Topping E30+L30 desktop combo on my windows system(using Foobar, Youtube). Here’s my finding for these combos:-
Honor View 10:-
The P2 can not be played at adequate volumes using smartphones like the View 10. It just doesn’t provide the stage and extensions that the pair is capable of. I found the output to lack depth, dynamics, and resolution. It was just being played but was not at all enjoyable.
iBasso DX120:-
With the DX120 I found the output to be restricted, Restricted in terms of staging and extensions again. Mids sounded muffled and muddy, I am pretty sure an entry-level DAP like the DX120 doesn’t give enough power to the pair to shine.
Topping E30+L30:-
Now, this is the combo that does justice to the Tin HiFi P2. The pair shows great slams in the lower end, The stage has a great sense of depth, resolution, and clarity are just amazing. For volume levels, my Knob is at 12 ‘o'clock at high gain(+9dB) and at 3 ‘o'clock at mid-gain(0dB). These are actually the same settings I use for my Sundara. Quite insane a pair of IEMs taking power similar to a pair of full-size headphones.
Though I must say this here, I don’t have access to other powerful DAPs like the FiiO M11 Pro, iBasso DX160, or any other. But back then when I used to own both of these, they can power up my Sundara with the 4.4mm balanced cable. SO, I guess they can power the P2 well with their balanced port too. But this is just a wild guess, I have not tried these or any other powerful DAPs with the P2.
Sound Quality(Based on my usage with Topping Combo):-
Once you have powered the Tin HiFi P2 well, now it’s your time to enjoy a blissful, super immersive music experience. I love how the Planar Bass works, it has more emphasis on the mid-bass slams as compared to the sub-bass. But the sub-bass also comes on the front with a powerful rumble in tracks like Bad Guy By Billie Eilish. The pair maintains a crisp high-resolution clarity throughout the frequency range, though it holds a slight bit of sparkle in the treble portion that actually makes the pair sound bright. I am a bit sensitive to harsh treble, but I don’t find the pair to be harsh or fatiguing even in complex tracks like the Wonder Woman Theme by Tina Guo though this sparkle brings a slight bit of resonating effect on flutes and other similar instruments.
Lower End:-
Tin HiFi P2 produces an impactful lower end. The bass slams are precise, controlled, and so powerful. One thing I love about Planar drivers is the cleanliness of the bass slams, Yup they take too much power for these slams. But once powered, believe me, you are in for a treat!! The pair releases all of its horses with a perfectly presented lower end. There is a good extension, there is good depth, and there is a powerful rumble in the lower end. And not to mention nothing is overpowering, you are getting a super clean response with no muddiness in the lower end.
Mids:-
Mid frequencies are a bit recessed, but the clarity is outstanding. The details are presented beautifully with well-extended acoustic instruments. There is a slight bit of warmth with lush vocals. It sounds like there is a slight bump in the upper mids as the Vocals are on the front line with beautiful crisp detailing. Vocals by Yao Si Ting in I Cry smoothens out the soul with their crisp clarity. Damien Rice, one of my favorite artists has rich vocals in his songs such as 9 Crimes, Cannonball, Blower's Daughter, and more. If you try out complex tracks like Zombies by Bad Wolves, the detail retrieval is amazing. But if you don’t provide ample power to the pair, the mid-frequencies become muffled and muddy(Happened for me when I paired it with DX120).
Highs:-
The Highs portion adds a sparkly touch to the output. This area adds a bright factor to the output, bright yet not harsh. The Cymbal drops in Dreams by Fleetwood Mac sounds precise and to the point with very good extensions. There is no harshness but I find a resonating effect with instruments like Flutes. The output is more immersive rather than being aggressive.
Soundstage & Imaging:-
Tin HiFi P2 has a wide soundstage with a good sense of depth. In terms of imaging, the pair shows very good detailing and layering of instruments. Instrument separation is fantastic.
Comparison Time:-
BGVP DM8 Vs Tin HiFi P2:-
What’s a better time to review the Tin HiFi P2 when you also have the BGVP DM8 in your house for review(It’s coming sooner than you expect). Here are my findings between these two:-
>The DM8 has a more relaxed tuning as compared to the P2.
>Bass slams are cleaner, powerful in P2 as compared to the DM8.
>Sub-bass is better in P2.
>DM8 has more airiness on the stage.
>P2 sounds more immersive.
>DM8 is very easy to drive as compared to the P2. P2 needs a boatload of power to shine properly.
Tin HiFi P2 Vs Hifiman Sundara:-
Well, I know no one expected this, an IEM vs a full-sized open-back headphone. But they both feature a Planar Magnetic driver, and at the end isn’t it all about the sound output so why not?? Here are my findings:-
>Sub-bass is better in P2, Sundara sounds shy in terms of Sub-bass.
> P2 here has a better sense of intimacy and immersiveness as compared to the Sundara.
>With Open-back architecture, the Sundara wins in terms of airiness on the stage.
>Sundara’s output sounds cleaner than that with the P2.
>Both take almost similar power intake, One might need a powerful source for both of these.
Final Verdict:-
I loved the Tin HiFi P2 with its performance and looks. The lower end slams are so perfect and soul-soothing that it just takes the listening experience to an all-new level. I am actually a fan of Planar Bass(Love when the slams drop in Sundara too). Some people might find the treble area too bright or overdone, but to my preference, it sounds perfect. Will I recommend the Tin HiFi P2 to you?? Well if you have something to power it properly, I will recommend this eyes closed!!. But if you don’t have anything that can give ample power to the Tin HiFi P2 then I would suggest you look somewhere else.
DeLuCo
@almarti I used to pair mine with a New HiBy 6. Was OK, but had to set gain on ‘high’ and volume on 85-90. So I’ve bought recently a THX 789 amp and a SMSL S-9 DAC, which really was a watershed in my relationship with these tiny notable wonders. Today they are my first choice on IEMs, and can’t hear otherwise.
When I first heard of SeeAudio a few weeks back I was super hyped to try out their very first pair of in-ear monitors, the SeeAudio Anou. I was actually approached by a very good friend of mine who was organizing a review tour for this IEM here in my country. As the pair reached me about a week back, the pair got released internationally with the name of SeeAudio Yume. Both the Yume and Anou are the same product from SeeAudio. They just have different faceplate designs. The Anou was released a while back in mainland China and it has got superb reviews from the people who got to try it early. The pair rocks a triple driver hybrid setup with very beautifully designed earpieces. It is available to purchase from HiFiGo for just 169$. Let’s begin with the review.
You can also check out my review on my blog at the link below:-
https://gadgetgenerations.com/seeaudio-anou-iem-review-perfection-under-200/
Buying Link from HiFiGo:-
https://hifigo.com/products/seeaudio-yume-1dd-2ba-hybrid-in-ear-earphone
SeeAudio:-
Well, I guess this is their debutant pair in the market so the brand also needs an introduction. SeeAudio is a new brand focused primarily on combining creative frequency response adjustments to create exquisite looking, elegant sounding earphones. The core team consists of professional acoustic engineers with many years of experience in the development and production of customized earphones. Their very first pair, the See Audio Anou right here is said to follow the Harman Target Curve. Let’s find out how it performs.
Disclaimer:-
I got the unit as part of a review circle organized here by SeeAudio themselves. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the pair. All the thoughts, impressions in this review are my own impressions made after listening to the pair throughout the last week. I would like to thank SeeAudio for seeing the potential in me and making me a part of the review tour. Check out their Facebook page from the link below:-
https://www.facebook.com/Seeaudio2020
Packaging & Accessories:-
By the time the unit landed in our country, the retail packaging was not ready for Anou. So I got just the earpieces, three pairs of ear tips, and a 4-core braided copper cable. The case in the pictures used in this review is my personal belonging and won’t be a part of the final packaging. As per the brand, the Anou/Yume will be bundled with four pairs of silicone ear tips and two pairs of foam tips. About the case, I have no information provided to me.
Build Quality:-
The Anou is a very beautiful looking pair of in-ear monitors with black ergonomic earpieces. There is a glittery dual-color pattern on the faceplates with orange and green shade along with the SeeAudio branding logo on the left earpiece and Anou on the right. The earpieces look like they are 3D printed and are made up of Resin material. They have a vent near the two-pin connectors to neglect any DD driver flex. The aluminum nozzle is of a short size so the penetration isn’t too deep in the ear canal. The pair overall looks quite amazing and eye-catchy.
About the bundled cable, it is very soft and has a metallic Y-cable splitter. The 3.5mm Termination Plug also has See Audio branding printed on the casing of it.
Fit:-
With a small nozzle, the earpiece doesn’t go deep into your ears. It actually sits firmly on the outer side of the ear canal, though to my surprise the noise isolation is quite good. I got a very good fit but I doubt for fit with people with small ears as the earpiece fit my medium-sized ears completely. Other than that no complaints here from my side.
Driving The SeeAudio Anou:-
The SeeAudio Anou is quite easy to drive. It has 108dB sensitivity at 32Ω impedance ratings. For the purpose of this review, I used the pair with my smartphone Honor View 10, my hi-res player iBasso DX120, and my desktop Topping E30+L30 stack, and here are my findings.
With Honor View 10 Smartphone:-
I had to push the volume for about 80% and the pair sounds decent. But to be honest, it lacked extensions at both ends with this pairing. The volume was adequate but I felt the lack of extensions as with other sources.
With iBasso DX120:-
The player rocks the pair at just 50% volume. Bass feels deep and punchy, also the treble extensions are just fabulous here. Plus the pairing here has a cleaner background as compared to the smartphone only. The DX120 is not a very powerful player, but it surely powers the pair well. So I would suggest getting at least a hi-res player for using the Anou to its full potential.
With Topping Stack:-
Some of us might think that this is overkill for an IEM with such low power requirements. Well, I thought the same but L30 features -9dB low gain so why not try the pairing. With the Topping Stack, the combo is just superb, the background is super clean, there is no background noise, the bass punch is real. Though the main difference between the other two pairings is the staging. The soundstage actually opens up here though the pair has more depth to its stage than the width and it's pretty evident with this combo. Loved this combo the most.
Sound Quality:-
In terms of sound quality, the Anou is quite a transparent pair with a neutral sound response. I loved how precise the bass slams drops and with such a rich texture. It actually compliments the other frequencies very well. The mid-portion shows a great sense of airiness and depth. Both the male and female vocals stand out with a rich sense of lushness, I just loved listening to my favorite track by Damien Rice, The Blower’s Daughter. The treble portion is a bit laid back providing a smooth non-fatiguing response even in complex tracks like Dani California by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Simply loved the overall sound output for its smooth non-fatiguing presentation.
Lower End:-
The real lower end opens up when paired with a better source such as DX120 or the E30+L30 combo. It feels quite punchy and has an emphasis on the mid-bass region. doesn’t sound overdone by any means. I noticed the bass slams were precise and controlled well within its region. They were brought out quite beautifully whenever the drum kicked in Instant Crush by Daft Punk. Sub-bass is a bit shy though comes out in bass-heavy tracks like the Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.
Mids:-
The midsection is quite natural and transparent. It produces an amazing sense of airiness on the stage that makes acoustic instruments, Pianos sound beautiful and detailed. The acoustic guitar in Heart Full Of Wine by Angus & Julia Stone sounds pretty detailed, simply loved it. For vocals, I found that both the male and female vocals stand out in the pair, and conveys the emotions well. When Yao Si Ting sings Speaks Softly My love, I just get lost in her voice, simply magical.
Highs:-
The higher frequencies are presented in a laid back manner, but that doesn’t make the pair boring in any way. It retrieves crisp detailing in instruments, just that there is no sibilance or fatiguing in Violins, Electric Guitars, or mouth organs. With the SeeAudio Anou, I was able to listen to music for hours in a single sitting without getting tired.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
I loved the soundstage representation of the SeeAudio Anou. It has more depth to it rather than width and presents a very beautiful airy stage for your music to shine on. In terms of dynamics, the pair performs quite well and shows good imaging/layering characteristics.
Final Verdict:-
For just 169$, I just can’t believe how well the SeeAudio Anou performs. It has a bit of shyness in the sub-bass portion and a slight bit of roll-off in the upper treble portion, but that doesn’t stop the pair from performing. It performed quite well for the genres that I prefer(Rock, Pop, Indian Regional, Vocals) and presented me with a relaxed non-tiring sound response. I would recommend the Anou eyes closed for its super smooth music presentation. Now on to some comparisons.
SeeAudio Anou Vs Etymotic ER2XR:-
>Both will have their own fit issues with the users as one deeply penetrates(ER2XR) and the other sits on the outer cavity of your ear(Anou). Anou might give fit complaints with users with small ears.
>The Anou presented a better soundstage with a good sense of depth while the ER2XR had a narrower stage presentation.
>The ER2XR produces a more natural response, better sub-bass while the Anou presents a more fun and smoother presentation.
SeeAudio Anou Vs BGVP DM7:-
>The DM7 has an aggressive sound as compared to the Anou.
>DM7 produces better bass extensions.
>Anou sounds smoother while the DM7 sounds brighter.
>DM7 costs almost double the Anou.
You can also check out my review on my blog at the link below:-
https://gadgetgenerations.com/seeaudio-anou-iem-review-perfection-under-200/
Buying Link from HiFiGo:-
https://hifigo.com/products/seeaudio-yume-1dd-2ba-hybrid-in-ear-earphone
SeeAudio:-
Well, I guess this is their debutant pair in the market so the brand also needs an introduction. SeeAudio is a new brand focused primarily on combining creative frequency response adjustments to create exquisite looking, elegant sounding earphones. The core team consists of professional acoustic engineers with many years of experience in the development and production of customized earphones. Their very first pair, the See Audio Anou right here is said to follow the Harman Target Curve. Let’s find out how it performs.
Disclaimer:-
I got the unit as part of a review circle organized here by SeeAudio themselves. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the pair. All the thoughts, impressions in this review are my own impressions made after listening to the pair throughout the last week. I would like to thank SeeAudio for seeing the potential in me and making me a part of the review tour. Check out their Facebook page from the link below:-
https://www.facebook.com/Seeaudio2020
Packaging & Accessories:-
By the time the unit landed in our country, the retail packaging was not ready for Anou. So I got just the earpieces, three pairs of ear tips, and a 4-core braided copper cable. The case in the pictures used in this review is my personal belonging and won’t be a part of the final packaging. As per the brand, the Anou/Yume will be bundled with four pairs of silicone ear tips and two pairs of foam tips. About the case, I have no information provided to me.
Build Quality:-
The Anou is a very beautiful looking pair of in-ear monitors with black ergonomic earpieces. There is a glittery dual-color pattern on the faceplates with orange and green shade along with the SeeAudio branding logo on the left earpiece and Anou on the right. The earpieces look like they are 3D printed and are made up of Resin material. They have a vent near the two-pin connectors to neglect any DD driver flex. The aluminum nozzle is of a short size so the penetration isn’t too deep in the ear canal. The pair overall looks quite amazing and eye-catchy.
About the bundled cable, it is very soft and has a metallic Y-cable splitter. The 3.5mm Termination Plug also has See Audio branding printed on the casing of it.
Fit:-
With a small nozzle, the earpiece doesn’t go deep into your ears. It actually sits firmly on the outer side of the ear canal, though to my surprise the noise isolation is quite good. I got a very good fit but I doubt for fit with people with small ears as the earpiece fit my medium-sized ears completely. Other than that no complaints here from my side.
Driving The SeeAudio Anou:-
The SeeAudio Anou is quite easy to drive. It has 108dB sensitivity at 32Ω impedance ratings. For the purpose of this review, I used the pair with my smartphone Honor View 10, my hi-res player iBasso DX120, and my desktop Topping E30+L30 stack, and here are my findings.
With Honor View 10 Smartphone:-
I had to push the volume for about 80% and the pair sounds decent. But to be honest, it lacked extensions at both ends with this pairing. The volume was adequate but I felt the lack of extensions as with other sources.
With iBasso DX120:-
The player rocks the pair at just 50% volume. Bass feels deep and punchy, also the treble extensions are just fabulous here. Plus the pairing here has a cleaner background as compared to the smartphone only. The DX120 is not a very powerful player, but it surely powers the pair well. So I would suggest getting at least a hi-res player for using the Anou to its full potential.
With Topping Stack:-
Some of us might think that this is overkill for an IEM with such low power requirements. Well, I thought the same but L30 features -9dB low gain so why not try the pairing. With the Topping Stack, the combo is just superb, the background is super clean, there is no background noise, the bass punch is real. Though the main difference between the other two pairings is the staging. The soundstage actually opens up here though the pair has more depth to its stage than the width and it's pretty evident with this combo. Loved this combo the most.
Sound Quality:-
In terms of sound quality, the Anou is quite a transparent pair with a neutral sound response. I loved how precise the bass slams drops and with such a rich texture. It actually compliments the other frequencies very well. The mid-portion shows a great sense of airiness and depth. Both the male and female vocals stand out with a rich sense of lushness, I just loved listening to my favorite track by Damien Rice, The Blower’s Daughter. The treble portion is a bit laid back providing a smooth non-fatiguing response even in complex tracks like Dani California by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Simply loved the overall sound output for its smooth non-fatiguing presentation.
Lower End:-
The real lower end opens up when paired with a better source such as DX120 or the E30+L30 combo. It feels quite punchy and has an emphasis on the mid-bass region. doesn’t sound overdone by any means. I noticed the bass slams were precise and controlled well within its region. They were brought out quite beautifully whenever the drum kicked in Instant Crush by Daft Punk. Sub-bass is a bit shy though comes out in bass-heavy tracks like the Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.
Mids:-
The midsection is quite natural and transparent. It produces an amazing sense of airiness on the stage that makes acoustic instruments, Pianos sound beautiful and detailed. The acoustic guitar in Heart Full Of Wine by Angus & Julia Stone sounds pretty detailed, simply loved it. For vocals, I found that both the male and female vocals stand out in the pair, and conveys the emotions well. When Yao Si Ting sings Speaks Softly My love, I just get lost in her voice, simply magical.
Highs:-
The higher frequencies are presented in a laid back manner, but that doesn’t make the pair boring in any way. It retrieves crisp detailing in instruments, just that there is no sibilance or fatiguing in Violins, Electric Guitars, or mouth organs. With the SeeAudio Anou, I was able to listen to music for hours in a single sitting without getting tired.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
I loved the soundstage representation of the SeeAudio Anou. It has more depth to it rather than width and presents a very beautiful airy stage for your music to shine on. In terms of dynamics, the pair performs quite well and shows good imaging/layering characteristics.
Final Verdict:-
For just 169$, I just can’t believe how well the SeeAudio Anou performs. It has a bit of shyness in the sub-bass portion and a slight bit of roll-off in the upper treble portion, but that doesn’t stop the pair from performing. It performed quite well for the genres that I prefer(Rock, Pop, Indian Regional, Vocals) and presented me with a relaxed non-tiring sound response. I would recommend the Anou eyes closed for its super smooth music presentation. Now on to some comparisons.
SeeAudio Anou Vs Etymotic ER2XR:-
>Both will have their own fit issues with the users as one deeply penetrates(ER2XR) and the other sits on the outer cavity of your ear(Anou). Anou might give fit complaints with users with small ears.
>The Anou presented a better soundstage with a good sense of depth while the ER2XR had a narrower stage presentation.
>The ER2XR produces a more natural response, better sub-bass while the Anou presents a more fun and smoother presentation.
SeeAudio Anou Vs BGVP DM7:-
>The DM7 has an aggressive sound as compared to the Anou.
>DM7 produces better bass extensions.
>Anou sounds smoother while the DM7 sounds brighter.
>DM7 costs almost double the Anou.
Tipsy Blue Aurora:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora is a single Balanced Armature driver IEM, an entry-level offering from the brand. Yes, you heard it right the Tipsy Blue Aurora is the budget offering from the brand priced at just 75$. The beautifully designed earpieces are identical to that of Dunmer’s. The only difference being the Blue Aurora earpieces have as the name suggests Blueish faceplates while the Dunmer earpieces have black faceplates. You can order one for yourself from Linsoul.com.
Disclaimer:-
I received both the Tipsy Dunmer and the Tipsy Blue Aurora as a part of the review circle organized by the brand in my country. All impressions in this review are my own which I have noted keeping its price point in my mind. I am not affiliated with any brand to write positive or negative about the products. Read my review on my blog at www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Build Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has really beautiful super lightweight earpieces. Yeah, they are pretty identical to those with the Dunmer but if you ask me I loved the blueish Aurora-like faceplates that add a sparkle to the already beautiful looks of the pair. They come bundled with a 4-core cable with gunmetal colored connectors and a termination plug that is again identical to what we get with the Dunmer. Though the cable with Dunmer is actually an 8-core and has a chrome finish on the connectors and termination plug. Overall in terms of build quality, I found the pair to be a better-looking one as compared to the 120$ Dunmer.
Even with identical looks, the earpieces are actually a little bit smaller as compared to the Dunmer earpieces and provide a better fit. They seal the ear canal completely providing proper noise isolation while maintaining good comfort.
Powering the Tipsy Blue Aurora:-
The Blue Aurora is an easy to drive pair, it has a sensitivity rating of 105dB/mW at a 16-ohm load. It can be driven easily off your smartphones, but I always suggest using a portable Hi-res player for smooth decoding and quality sound output.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has a mid-centric sound signature that is mainly focused on vocal response. The pair produce some brilliant vocals with rich detailing and clarity. Apart from the excellent mid-frequencies, the pair sounds quite dull in the lower end. The bass response is quite slow and not deep at all. I mean it might sound boring to some people who prefer some groovy thumps in their music. When it comes to the high frequencies, the treble portion shows good detailing. But again here the pair suffers an early roll-off in the upper treble that takes away some of the extensions from the pair. The pair doesn’t sound veiled or dark at all, it has a smooth non-fatiguing signature with superb lush vocals.
Lower End:-
I am not particularly a bass head but I love some punch, some quick precise thumps in my music. It adds life to my music(personal preference of course), but with the Blue Aurora, I miss that feeling. The lower end doesn’t leave any impression at all, it just feels completely bland and boring in the bass region. The sub-bass region is the same, with not much feel to the rumble even in bass-heavy tracks.
Mid Frequencies:-
This is where the pair marks its territory. It produces some really beautiful full-bodied vocals. The mid-frequencies are represented in such a manner that they actually make the output thick and lush. I personally love listening to some Indian music especially MTV Unplugged sessions, the pair excels in this territory with its beautiful vocals and rich acoustic instrument detailing.
High-Frequencies:-
The Blue Aurora produces some decent details in the lower-treble portion but it suffers roll-off early in the upper treble portion. This on one hand makes the output smooth, non-fatiguing, and sibilance free. On the other hand, it takes away the bright sparkly touch to the output that I personally prefer.
Soundstage and Instrument Separation:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora excels in the soundstage department too. It produces an excellent soundstage with adequate width and depth. I tested Binaural tracks by Yosi Horikawa and they are greeted with a good enough soundstage on the Blue Aurora. In terms of imaging capabilities, I feel the pair do just fine. Nothing exceptional here.
Final Verdict:-
I really love how beautifully the earpieces are crafted in the Blue Aurora, but it is very saddening to know the signature is not for me. I mean I would have loved some extra punch in the lower end. Apart from that, If you are looking to buy a pair with beautiful vocals and acoustic detailing, the Blue Aurora will surely serve you well.
The Tipsy Blue Aurora is a single Balanced Armature driver IEM, an entry-level offering from the brand. Yes, you heard it right the Tipsy Blue Aurora is the budget offering from the brand priced at just 75$. The beautifully designed earpieces are identical to that of Dunmer’s. The only difference being the Blue Aurora earpieces have as the name suggests Blueish faceplates while the Dunmer earpieces have black faceplates. You can order one for yourself from Linsoul.com.
Disclaimer:-
I received both the Tipsy Dunmer and the Tipsy Blue Aurora as a part of the review circle organized by the brand in my country. All impressions in this review are my own which I have noted keeping its price point in my mind. I am not affiliated with any brand to write positive or negative about the products. Read my review on my blog at www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Build Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has really beautiful super lightweight earpieces. Yeah, they are pretty identical to those with the Dunmer but if you ask me I loved the blueish Aurora-like faceplates that add a sparkle to the already beautiful looks of the pair. They come bundled with a 4-core cable with gunmetal colored connectors and a termination plug that is again identical to what we get with the Dunmer. Though the cable with Dunmer is actually an 8-core and has a chrome finish on the connectors and termination plug. Overall in terms of build quality, I found the pair to be a better-looking one as compared to the 120$ Dunmer.
Even with identical looks, the earpieces are actually a little bit smaller as compared to the Dunmer earpieces and provide a better fit. They seal the ear canal completely providing proper noise isolation while maintaining good comfort.
Powering the Tipsy Blue Aurora:-
The Blue Aurora is an easy to drive pair, it has a sensitivity rating of 105dB/mW at a 16-ohm load. It can be driven easily off your smartphones, but I always suggest using a portable Hi-res player for smooth decoding and quality sound output.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora has a mid-centric sound signature that is mainly focused on vocal response. The pair produce some brilliant vocals with rich detailing and clarity. Apart from the excellent mid-frequencies, the pair sounds quite dull in the lower end. The bass response is quite slow and not deep at all. I mean it might sound boring to some people who prefer some groovy thumps in their music. When it comes to the high frequencies, the treble portion shows good detailing. But again here the pair suffers an early roll-off in the upper treble that takes away some of the extensions from the pair. The pair doesn’t sound veiled or dark at all, it has a smooth non-fatiguing signature with superb lush vocals.
Lower End:-
I am not particularly a bass head but I love some punch, some quick precise thumps in my music. It adds life to my music(personal preference of course), but with the Blue Aurora, I miss that feeling. The lower end doesn’t leave any impression at all, it just feels completely bland and boring in the bass region. The sub-bass region is the same, with not much feel to the rumble even in bass-heavy tracks.
Mid Frequencies:-
This is where the pair marks its territory. It produces some really beautiful full-bodied vocals. The mid-frequencies are represented in such a manner that they actually make the output thick and lush. I personally love listening to some Indian music especially MTV Unplugged sessions, the pair excels in this territory with its beautiful vocals and rich acoustic instrument detailing.
High-Frequencies:-
The Blue Aurora produces some decent details in the lower-treble portion but it suffers roll-off early in the upper treble portion. This on one hand makes the output smooth, non-fatiguing, and sibilance free. On the other hand, it takes away the bright sparkly touch to the output that I personally prefer.
Soundstage and Instrument Separation:-
The Tipsy Blue Aurora excels in the soundstage department too. It produces an excellent soundstage with adequate width and depth. I tested Binaural tracks by Yosi Horikawa and they are greeted with a good enough soundstage on the Blue Aurora. In terms of imaging capabilities, I feel the pair do just fine. Nothing exceptional here.
Final Verdict:-
I really love how beautifully the earpieces are crafted in the Blue Aurora, but it is very saddening to know the signature is not for me. I mean I would have loved some extra punch in the lower end. Apart from that, If you are looking to buy a pair with beautiful vocals and acoustic detailing, the Blue Aurora will surely serve you well.
Tipsy is a fairly new name in the industry, they manufacture some beautiful looking pair of in-ear monitors. The brand seems to be focused primarily on the budget segment. I have got two of their famous pairs for the purpose of review, the Tipsy Dunmer and the Tipsy Blue Aurora. Today, I am gonna share my review for the Tipsy Dunmer, their single dynamic driver IEM offering available for just 120$ from linsoul.com.
Disclaimer:-
I got the Tipsy Dunmer unit as a review sample unit from a review circle organized by Tipsy in my country. I received only the pair with its cable and a few pairs of ear tips. The review is based on my own personal experience with the pair. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the Dunmer. Check out my other work on my personal blog www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is a beautiful pair with hand-crafted premium ear shells with superb looking faceplates. The pair is equipped with a single Dynamic Driver on both sides presenting a punchy sound output.. I personally love single DD IEMs, my personal favorites are Moondrop Starfields, Etymotic ER2XR, Tin HiFi T2 Plus. All these are from similar budget segments like the Tipsy Dunmer, let’s see how well the Dunmer actually performs.
Build Quality & Fit:-
Tipsy designs its products quite beautifully and the Dunmer is no exception here. The pair has beautiful hand-crafted earpieces with finely textured faceplates. The inner cavity catches your fingerprints with its shiny lustrous finish. They look simply exceptional, beautiful, and premium. The pair comes with a simple 8-core cable with black shielding on it. The connectors, Y-splitter, and termination plug are of quite good quality. In terms of build quality, I have no complaints with the Tipsy Dunmer.
Regarding the fit, I got a properly sealed fit for me with the Tipsy Dunmer. It was comfortable and sit firmly into my ears without any trouble for long listening sessions.
Powering The Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is not a demanding pair, it can be powered easily with smartphones too. I tested the pair with my Honor View 10 and found no lack of power. But using the pair with a HiFi DAP like the iBasso DX120 surely gives an ultimate experience.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents a smooth non-fatiguing sound output with a V-shaped sound signature. I personally feel it has more emphasis on the lower end as compared to the other frequencies, bass sometimes bleeds into mids too in heavy bass tracks. Vocals and acoustic instruments sound pretty crisp and detailed. The high-frequencies are reproduced in a smooth presentation. Overall it is a fun-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval and interesting bass in the output. It holds a good sense of energy and liveliness in the output.
Lower End:-
The lower end instantly catches the attention with its powerful sub-bass rumble and mid-bass slams. The bass feels punchy, fast, tight, and leaves a lasting impression. It makes the output energetic and lively. It complements Hip-Hop, EDM music and will satisfy the bass hunger of many, but it also leaks some of the lower ends into mids in bass-heavy tracks like Bad Guy By Billie Eilish.
Mids:-
Mids are recessed and are presented in a crisp manner. The detailing of acoustic instruments, vocal clarity is top-notch. Listening to live-recordings, vocal artists like Damien Rice, Rock artists like Linkin Park, Red Hot Chilli Peppers is a pure bliss with the pair. Love the clarity of mid-frequencies here.
Highs:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents the treble frequencies in a super smooth manner. Instruments like Violins, Electric guitars sound pretty smooth even at high volumes. But the pair also suffers roll-off in the ultra-high frequencies which take away some of the extensions that might be there but it also makes the output non-fatiguing. The pair retrieves good details from my music.
Soundstage & Separation:-
The soundstage is above average in the Dunmer. I mean it's just adequate, it's neither super-wide nor narrow. It feels just adequately wide and high for a fun listening experience. With decent detailing, the pair also provides decent instrument separation.
Final verdict:-
In my opinion, the Tipsy Dunmer is a fun pair with elevated bass, powerful sub-bass rumble, crisp vocals, and smooth treble frequencies. It will definitely satisfy the bass hunger for the users. If you are looking for a simple-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval, the Tipsy Dunmer might suit your needs.
Disclaimer:-
I got the Tipsy Dunmer unit as a review sample unit from a review circle organized by Tipsy in my country. I received only the pair with its cable and a few pairs of ear tips. The review is based on my own personal experience with the pair. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the Dunmer. Check out my other work on my personal blog www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is a beautiful pair with hand-crafted premium ear shells with superb looking faceplates. The pair is equipped with a single Dynamic Driver on both sides presenting a punchy sound output.. I personally love single DD IEMs, my personal favorites are Moondrop Starfields, Etymotic ER2XR, Tin HiFi T2 Plus. All these are from similar budget segments like the Tipsy Dunmer, let’s see how well the Dunmer actually performs.
Build Quality & Fit:-
Tipsy designs its products quite beautifully and the Dunmer is no exception here. The pair has beautiful hand-crafted earpieces with finely textured faceplates. The inner cavity catches your fingerprints with its shiny lustrous finish. They look simply exceptional, beautiful, and premium. The pair comes with a simple 8-core cable with black shielding on it. The connectors, Y-splitter, and termination plug are of quite good quality. In terms of build quality, I have no complaints with the Tipsy Dunmer.
Regarding the fit, I got a properly sealed fit for me with the Tipsy Dunmer. It was comfortable and sit firmly into my ears without any trouble for long listening sessions.
Powering The Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is not a demanding pair, it can be powered easily with smartphones too. I tested the pair with my Honor View 10 and found no lack of power. But using the pair with a HiFi DAP like the iBasso DX120 surely gives an ultimate experience.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents a smooth non-fatiguing sound output with a V-shaped sound signature. I personally feel it has more emphasis on the lower end as compared to the other frequencies, bass sometimes bleeds into mids too in heavy bass tracks. Vocals and acoustic instruments sound pretty crisp and detailed. The high-frequencies are reproduced in a smooth presentation. Overall it is a fun-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval and interesting bass in the output. It holds a good sense of energy and liveliness in the output.
Lower End:-
The lower end instantly catches the attention with its powerful sub-bass rumble and mid-bass slams. The bass feels punchy, fast, tight, and leaves a lasting impression. It makes the output energetic and lively. It complements Hip-Hop, EDM music and will satisfy the bass hunger of many, but it also leaks some of the lower ends into mids in bass-heavy tracks like Bad Guy By Billie Eilish.
Mids:-
Mids are recessed and are presented in a crisp manner. The detailing of acoustic instruments, vocal clarity is top-notch. Listening to live-recordings, vocal artists like Damien Rice, Rock artists like Linkin Park, Red Hot Chilli Peppers is a pure bliss with the pair. Love the clarity of mid-frequencies here.
Highs:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents the treble frequencies in a super smooth manner. Instruments like Violins, Electric guitars sound pretty smooth even at high volumes. But the pair also suffers roll-off in the ultra-high frequencies which take away some of the extensions that might be there but it also makes the output non-fatiguing. The pair retrieves good details from my music.
Soundstage & Separation:-
The soundstage is above average in the Dunmer. I mean it's just adequate, it's neither super-wide nor narrow. It feels just adequately wide and high for a fun listening experience. With decent detailing, the pair also provides decent instrument separation.
Final verdict:-
In my opinion, the Tipsy Dunmer is a fun pair with elevated bass, powerful sub-bass rumble, crisp vocals, and smooth treble frequencies. It will definitely satisfy the bass hunger for the users. If you are looking for a simple-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval, the Tipsy Dunmer might suit your needs.
Queen of Audio(QOA) might be a new name in the industry but from what I have heard about them, they are a sister brand to Kinera and have a professional team with years of experience. Like Kinera designs and names, all their IEMs related to gods from the Norse Mythology QOA products are inspired by cocktails. Earlier they released Pink Lady, a triple hybrid driver IEM with beautiful looks. It grabbed decent reviews from the people around them. My review is still pending for it lol but I promise to deliver it soon. Earlier this year, they released their second IEM, the QOA mojito. It is a very beautiful pair with sparkling looks and a powerful 6BA setup on each side. Today I am gonna share my experience with the Mojito with you all.
Disclaimer:-
I received the QOA Mojito for review purposes from the review circle organized by hifigo.com in my country. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write any positive or negative thoughts about the pair, all impressions are based on my personal experience with the pair.
Buying Link:-
QOA Mojito 2 Sonion BA+4 Knowles 6BA Driver In Ear Earphone IEM
You can also read my review at my blog here:-
https://gadgetgenerations.com/queen-of-audio-mojito-review-lovely-vocals/
Unboxing:-
The QOA Mojito comes in a beautiful cardboard case that looks like a cookie/chocolate packaging. As I open up the packaging, the first thing I notice is the beautiful earpieces sitting firmly in the foam cutouts. There are six pairs of silicone ear tips, three black and three color matching to the IEM color. The package also has a leather carry case that holds the 3.5mm terminated copper cable. The package looks beautiful and comes with all the required accessories. Though if you use foam ear tips, you don’t get them in the package.
Package Contents:-
>Pair of QOA Mojito IEMs.
>2-pin pure copper cable with a 3.5mm termination plug.
>Six pairs of silicone ear tips( 3 pairs of color-matched, 3 pairs black).
>Leather carry case.
Build Quality & Fit:-
One thing everyone will praise about the QOA Mojito is the beautiful looks of the pair. I got the Grape Sparkling Wine color, believe me, it looks very beautiful in hands. They are made with natural wood and have that wooden texture feel to them. Both the earpieces with me have different unique textures with a smooth finish. The cable included looks to be of very good quality, it is very soft, connects firmly to the earpieces, and has a straight plug 3.5mm termination plug.
Earpieces are actually very lightweight and provide a very comfortable fit to me using the stock color matching ear tips. I get proper isolation from outside noise.
Driving the QOA Mojito:-
The QOA Mojito has a low impedance rating of 23 Ohms with a high sensitivity of 118dB, it is very easy to drive. I used it with my smartphone Samsung Galaxy S10, my DAP iBasso DX160. I was able to enjoy music at around 50-60% volume on both the devices with more than adequate volume.
Sound Quality:-
The Mojito is a dark/veiled sounding pair of in-ear monitors. It shows impactful mid-bass slams with a rich textured feel to them complementing the main attraction, Vocals. The vocals have a lush, crisp clarity to them with natural tonality. Vocals are actually one of the best I have heard so far, superior to DK3001 Pro. The Bass portion shows good powerful slams but is a bit less in quantity and speed as compared to dynamic driver IEMs. High frequencies show decent details but suffer early roll-off resulting in mediocre performance in the high frequencies.
Lower End:-
The lower end shows good texture, impactful slams, brings layered feeling to the music but it lacks in quantity and speed when compared to a DD IEM. It is slower compared to dynamic driver bass but it leaves its impact. I must say the mid-bass slams are pretty powerful and rich in texture. The sub-bass portion shows its presence with good rumble complementing my music. For me, It is more than adequate with rich layered slams and feeds my hunger for thumping in music.
Mid Frequencies:-
The mid frequencies take a step forward as compared to the lows and highs. Sometimes I feel like it has an “A” shaped sound signature with elevated vocals. They are decently detailed with high-resolution natural vocals. It’s right and the presentation is forward for the user. Vocals are actually the main attraction of the pair. They sound really soothing and crisp with a natural tonality and never sound fatiguing or shouty even at louder volumes. Listening to vocal-centric artists like Damien Rice, Gloria Gaynor is bliss with the Mojito where they pop out in a rich tone.
High Frequencies:-
The treble portion suffers early roll-off in the tuning of QOA Mojito. This makes the pair sound veiled and makes instruments like Violins, Electric guitars lack some extensions. The plus point here is that it shows no signs of sibilance or harshness even at louder volumes. It is very smooth and transparent.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
QOA Mojito has a very good soundstage presentation. It is wide, deep, and produces a big headroom for the user with ample airiness. The headroom is more than adequate for different genre’s of music and shows good imaging capabilities.
Conclusion:-
Overall the Mojito is a decent pair of in-ear monitors with outstanding looks, superb build quality, and a high-quality cable bundled in the package. In terms of sonic performance it produces some of the best vocals out there with impactful yet slow bass performance, and a veiled treble portion. For people who love bright sounding IEM’s, this might be a disappointment for you. But if you crave for smooth performance and natural vocals, the QOA Mojito has that in an ample amount to make it an excellent choice for you.
QOA Mojito Vs TFZ Secret Garden 3:-
I compared the QOA Mojito with TFZ Secret Garden 3.0 which is also an all BA driver IEM and features 3 BA drivers on each side as compared to the 6 on the Mojito. Not to mention both the pairs look outstanding but in my opinion the Mojito outperforms it in terms of looks and build quality with premium stable wood ear shells.
In terms of sonic performance, The TFZ SG3 produces a brighter signature as compared to Mojito and has better extensions in the higher frequencies. While the Mojito produces better vocals and bass-slams, the SG3 produces better instrument details with a little bit better bass quantity. The soundstage is more or less similar in both the earphones. So if you are someone like me who craves rich vocals, the Mojito is the one to go for.
Disclaimer:-
I received the QOA Mojito for review purposes from the review circle organized by hifigo.com in my country. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write any positive or negative thoughts about the pair, all impressions are based on my personal experience with the pair.
Buying Link:-
QOA Mojito 2 Sonion BA+4 Knowles 6BA Driver In Ear Earphone IEM
You can also read my review at my blog here:-
https://gadgetgenerations.com/queen-of-audio-mojito-review-lovely-vocals/
Unboxing:-
The QOA Mojito comes in a beautiful cardboard case that looks like a cookie/chocolate packaging. As I open up the packaging, the first thing I notice is the beautiful earpieces sitting firmly in the foam cutouts. There are six pairs of silicone ear tips, three black and three color matching to the IEM color. The package also has a leather carry case that holds the 3.5mm terminated copper cable. The package looks beautiful and comes with all the required accessories. Though if you use foam ear tips, you don’t get them in the package.
Package Contents:-
>Pair of QOA Mojito IEMs.
>2-pin pure copper cable with a 3.5mm termination plug.
>Six pairs of silicone ear tips( 3 pairs of color-matched, 3 pairs black).
>Leather carry case.
Build Quality & Fit:-
One thing everyone will praise about the QOA Mojito is the beautiful looks of the pair. I got the Grape Sparkling Wine color, believe me, it looks very beautiful in hands. They are made with natural wood and have that wooden texture feel to them. Both the earpieces with me have different unique textures with a smooth finish. The cable included looks to be of very good quality, it is very soft, connects firmly to the earpieces, and has a straight plug 3.5mm termination plug.
Earpieces are actually very lightweight and provide a very comfortable fit to me using the stock color matching ear tips. I get proper isolation from outside noise.
Driving the QOA Mojito:-
The QOA Mojito has a low impedance rating of 23 Ohms with a high sensitivity of 118dB, it is very easy to drive. I used it with my smartphone Samsung Galaxy S10, my DAP iBasso DX160. I was able to enjoy music at around 50-60% volume on both the devices with more than adequate volume.
Sound Quality:-
The Mojito is a dark/veiled sounding pair of in-ear monitors. It shows impactful mid-bass slams with a rich textured feel to them complementing the main attraction, Vocals. The vocals have a lush, crisp clarity to them with natural tonality. Vocals are actually one of the best I have heard so far, superior to DK3001 Pro. The Bass portion shows good powerful slams but is a bit less in quantity and speed as compared to dynamic driver IEMs. High frequencies show decent details but suffer early roll-off resulting in mediocre performance in the high frequencies.
Lower End:-
The lower end shows good texture, impactful slams, brings layered feeling to the music but it lacks in quantity and speed when compared to a DD IEM. It is slower compared to dynamic driver bass but it leaves its impact. I must say the mid-bass slams are pretty powerful and rich in texture. The sub-bass portion shows its presence with good rumble complementing my music. For me, It is more than adequate with rich layered slams and feeds my hunger for thumping in music.
Mid Frequencies:-
The mid frequencies take a step forward as compared to the lows and highs. Sometimes I feel like it has an “A” shaped sound signature with elevated vocals. They are decently detailed with high-resolution natural vocals. It’s right and the presentation is forward for the user. Vocals are actually the main attraction of the pair. They sound really soothing and crisp with a natural tonality and never sound fatiguing or shouty even at louder volumes. Listening to vocal-centric artists like Damien Rice, Gloria Gaynor is bliss with the Mojito where they pop out in a rich tone.
High Frequencies:-
The treble portion suffers early roll-off in the tuning of QOA Mojito. This makes the pair sound veiled and makes instruments like Violins, Electric guitars lack some extensions. The plus point here is that it shows no signs of sibilance or harshness even at louder volumes. It is very smooth and transparent.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
QOA Mojito has a very good soundstage presentation. It is wide, deep, and produces a big headroom for the user with ample airiness. The headroom is more than adequate for different genre’s of music and shows good imaging capabilities.
Conclusion:-
Overall the Mojito is a decent pair of in-ear monitors with outstanding looks, superb build quality, and a high-quality cable bundled in the package. In terms of sonic performance it produces some of the best vocals out there with impactful yet slow bass performance, and a veiled treble portion. For people who love bright sounding IEM’s, this might be a disappointment for you. But if you crave for smooth performance and natural vocals, the QOA Mojito has that in an ample amount to make it an excellent choice for you.
QOA Mojito Vs TFZ Secret Garden 3:-
I compared the QOA Mojito with TFZ Secret Garden 3.0 which is also an all BA driver IEM and features 3 BA drivers on each side as compared to the 6 on the Mojito. Not to mention both the pairs look outstanding but in my opinion the Mojito outperforms it in terms of looks and build quality with premium stable wood ear shells.
In terms of sonic performance, The TFZ SG3 produces a brighter signature as compared to Mojito and has better extensions in the higher frequencies. While the Mojito produces better vocals and bass-slams, the SG3 produces better instrument details with a little bit better bass quantity. The soundstage is more or less similar in both the earphones. So if you are someone like me who craves rich vocals, the Mojito is the one to go for.
Moondrop released their latest installment in the hybrid multi-driver range of in-ear monitors in the form of Moondrop Blessing 2. The Blessing 2 is coming as a direct update to the Moondrop Blessing. While the previous one was priced at around 400$ price tag, the latest version comes at a price tag of 320$ and offers a variety of features. The Blessing 2 features a five driver hybrid unit on each side with 4 Balanced Armature units and one large Dynamic Driver unit. The drivers have a three-way configuration with the DD driver handling the lower end, Dual BA Drivers handling the Mids section, and another Dual BA unit handling the Higher end.
Disclaimer:-
I got Moondrop Blessing 2 as a sample unit from Hifigo.com at a discounted price for this review. You can buy the unit from their store here. Please note that I just got it for some discount I am not paid by anyone to write a positive/negative review. Also note that I received a sample unit so it came without any packaging. So my review won’t be including the unboxing part. The unit was burned in for more than 120 hours before writing this review today.
Build Quality & Fit:-
The Moondrop Blessing 2 has got an amazing and tough build quality, the pair looks brilliant. It has medical grade 3D printed resin shells with Stainless Steel faceplates. The right side faceplate has Blessing 2 branding printed on it. And as per the latest update from Moondrop now you can get the left earpiece custom-printed. You can choose from a variety of designs at just 30$ extra. From the inner cavity of ear shells is completely transparent and you can see different drivers placed around neatly.
The build quality is superb, but I found one issue here. The earpieces are quite big and they sit on the outer side of our ears. People with small ears might find issues in getting a perfect fit, for me, I have medium-sized ears and it provided a comfortable fit for me. Apart from large-sized earpieces, I didn’t found any issues with the build quality of Moondrop Blessing 2.
The cable included I the package is a 4-Core braided Copper cable with 0.78mm two-pin interface. The cable feels rich and premium, it has a Moondrop branded circular Y splitter. It terminates at an L shape 3.5mm plug. But I feel like the cable could be improved, my other IEM DK-3001 Pro from DUNU comes with an outstanding cable, though I know its 150$ costly.
Sound Quality:-
In terms of Sound Quality, the Moondrop Blessing 2 has a bright and detailed sound signature. The pair provides the users with an airy soundstage and a brilliant level of imaging. It performs closely with my Dunu DK-3001 Pro, it’s just the Dunu has a warmer signature as compared to the Moondrop Blessing 2. The pair holds great strength throughout the entire frequency range. It shows a beautiful synergy paired with my FiiO M11 Pro. I got the unit from a friend of mine who reviewed the unit first. He told me that there was some peakiness in upper mids, but after his burn-in period of about 50 hours, it got settled. I myself didn’t felt any type of peakiness. Now I will tell more about the pair with different parts of the frequency range.
Lows:-
There is a 10mm dynamic driver handling the lower end of Blessing 2. The Lower end shows a quick and snappy bass response, it has a neat and clean bass section. The drum thumps in Bad Liar by Imagine Dragons are quick and neat, they show good depths. They have a natural response, they don’t overlap over the other frequencies or sections of the frequency range. Listening to EDM tracks like, Instant Crush by Daft Punk is a fun experience, the bass thumps feels accurate and lively. If you listen to bass-heavy songs like Bad guy by Billie Ellish, Say my name by David Guetta, you will love the controlled bass response.
Mids:-
The mids section is transparent and natural, you will hear good acoustic details with detailed and lush vocals. Listening to songs like A Heartbreak by Angus & Julia Stone, The Animals Were Gone by Damien Rice, Lost in Japan by Shawn Mendes, Speak Softly Love by Yao Si Ting, and more, I loved the natural and lush vocals. They sounded natural, neither thick nor thin. Guitars and other instruments in unplugged songs, like those on MTV Unplugged sessions, Cover Sessions by Boyce Avenue carry an airiness around them.
Highs:-
The Highs are transparent and airy. This section is smooth and detailed, there is no harshness or sibilance with any of the musical instruments even at louder volumes. Violins by Tina Guo in songs like Wonder Woman Main Theme, Apocalypse instruments have a full-body representation. The airiness provides an amazing instrument separation experience with the pair. Here I would like to also tell you that I am sensitive to harsh treble, but I felt the treble region here to be smooth and transparent.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
The soundstage representation is quite wide and deep paired with brilliant instrumental imaging. When you close your eyes listening to music here on the Blessing 2 you can feel the stage from one corner of your mind to the next.
Timbre:-
The Instruments have got a natural tonality and timbre here with the Blessing 2, the airiness also makes instrumental details pop out from the music.
Final Verdict:-
Finally, I must say that I loved the Moondrop Blessing 2, it reproduces brilliant details in my music with a sense of airiness all around. It has a bright sound signature but it doesn’t feel peaky or harsh even a bit. The pair stands head to head with my main IEM DUNU DK-3001 Pro which is priced about 150$ more than the Blessing 2. At a price of 320$, I feel like it is one of the must-have pairs under the 500$ price range.
Now time to do some comparisons with similarly priced products:-
Moondrop Blessing 2 vs DUNU DK-3001 Pro:-
I love my pair of DUNU DK-3001 Pro. Earlier it used to be my all-time favorite under the 500$ price range. The DUNU DK-3001 Pro has a warmer sound signature as compared to the Blessing 2, but the Blessing 2 offers a better price to performance ratio. The Blessing 2 provides the users with a similarly detailed sound output for 150$ less, but the DUNU surely comes with a better cable with a pure single crystal copper cable with modular plug design. I am gonna keep both the IEM’s as I just can’t decide between them which one is better LOL.
Moondrop Blessing 2 vs QOA Mojito:-
The QOA Mojito is the latest IEM Priced at around 400$ with a 6 BA driver configuration. The Blessing 2 here shows better bass response, though the bass is cleaner in QOA Mojito but it feels less in quantity and snappiness. The Mojito produce lesser details as compared to the Blessing 2 and while the Blessing 2 feels like a balanced sounding pair, the Mojito sounds more like mid centric one with more emphasis on acoustic and vocals. I liked the QOA Mojito for listening to regional Bollywood songs or acoustic songs, but as a balanced and pair for any genre, I liked the Moondrop Blessing 2 more.
Thank You.
Disclaimer:-
I got Moondrop Blessing 2 as a sample unit from Hifigo.com at a discounted price for this review. You can buy the unit from their store here. Please note that I just got it for some discount I am not paid by anyone to write a positive/negative review. Also note that I received a sample unit so it came without any packaging. So my review won’t be including the unboxing part. The unit was burned in for more than 120 hours before writing this review today.
Build Quality & Fit:-
The Moondrop Blessing 2 has got an amazing and tough build quality, the pair looks brilliant. It has medical grade 3D printed resin shells with Stainless Steel faceplates. The right side faceplate has Blessing 2 branding printed on it. And as per the latest update from Moondrop now you can get the left earpiece custom-printed. You can choose from a variety of designs at just 30$ extra. From the inner cavity of ear shells is completely transparent and you can see different drivers placed around neatly.
The build quality is superb, but I found one issue here. The earpieces are quite big and they sit on the outer side of our ears. People with small ears might find issues in getting a perfect fit, for me, I have medium-sized ears and it provided a comfortable fit for me. Apart from large-sized earpieces, I didn’t found any issues with the build quality of Moondrop Blessing 2.
The cable included I the package is a 4-Core braided Copper cable with 0.78mm two-pin interface. The cable feels rich and premium, it has a Moondrop branded circular Y splitter. It terminates at an L shape 3.5mm plug. But I feel like the cable could be improved, my other IEM DK-3001 Pro from DUNU comes with an outstanding cable, though I know its 150$ costly.
Sound Quality:-
In terms of Sound Quality, the Moondrop Blessing 2 has a bright and detailed sound signature. The pair provides the users with an airy soundstage and a brilliant level of imaging. It performs closely with my Dunu DK-3001 Pro, it’s just the Dunu has a warmer signature as compared to the Moondrop Blessing 2. The pair holds great strength throughout the entire frequency range. It shows a beautiful synergy paired with my FiiO M11 Pro. I got the unit from a friend of mine who reviewed the unit first. He told me that there was some peakiness in upper mids, but after his burn-in period of about 50 hours, it got settled. I myself didn’t felt any type of peakiness. Now I will tell more about the pair with different parts of the frequency range.
Lows:-
There is a 10mm dynamic driver handling the lower end of Blessing 2. The Lower end shows a quick and snappy bass response, it has a neat and clean bass section. The drum thumps in Bad Liar by Imagine Dragons are quick and neat, they show good depths. They have a natural response, they don’t overlap over the other frequencies or sections of the frequency range. Listening to EDM tracks like, Instant Crush by Daft Punk is a fun experience, the bass thumps feels accurate and lively. If you listen to bass-heavy songs like Bad guy by Billie Ellish, Say my name by David Guetta, you will love the controlled bass response.
Mids:-
The mids section is transparent and natural, you will hear good acoustic details with detailed and lush vocals. Listening to songs like A Heartbreak by Angus & Julia Stone, The Animals Were Gone by Damien Rice, Lost in Japan by Shawn Mendes, Speak Softly Love by Yao Si Ting, and more, I loved the natural and lush vocals. They sounded natural, neither thick nor thin. Guitars and other instruments in unplugged songs, like those on MTV Unplugged sessions, Cover Sessions by Boyce Avenue carry an airiness around them.
Highs:-
The Highs are transparent and airy. This section is smooth and detailed, there is no harshness or sibilance with any of the musical instruments even at louder volumes. Violins by Tina Guo in songs like Wonder Woman Main Theme, Apocalypse instruments have a full-body representation. The airiness provides an amazing instrument separation experience with the pair. Here I would like to also tell you that I am sensitive to harsh treble, but I felt the treble region here to be smooth and transparent.
Soundstage and Imaging:-
The soundstage representation is quite wide and deep paired with brilliant instrumental imaging. When you close your eyes listening to music here on the Blessing 2 you can feel the stage from one corner of your mind to the next.
Timbre:-
The Instruments have got a natural tonality and timbre here with the Blessing 2, the airiness also makes instrumental details pop out from the music.
Final Verdict:-
Finally, I must say that I loved the Moondrop Blessing 2, it reproduces brilliant details in my music with a sense of airiness all around. It has a bright sound signature but it doesn’t feel peaky or harsh even a bit. The pair stands head to head with my main IEM DUNU DK-3001 Pro which is priced about 150$ more than the Blessing 2. At a price of 320$, I feel like it is one of the must-have pairs under the 500$ price range.
Now time to do some comparisons with similarly priced products:-
Moondrop Blessing 2 vs DUNU DK-3001 Pro:-
I love my pair of DUNU DK-3001 Pro. Earlier it used to be my all-time favorite under the 500$ price range. The DUNU DK-3001 Pro has a warmer sound signature as compared to the Blessing 2, but the Blessing 2 offers a better price to performance ratio. The Blessing 2 provides the users with a similarly detailed sound output for 150$ less, but the DUNU surely comes with a better cable with a pure single crystal copper cable with modular plug design. I am gonna keep both the IEM’s as I just can’t decide between them which one is better LOL.
Moondrop Blessing 2 vs QOA Mojito:-
The QOA Mojito is the latest IEM Priced at around 400$ with a 6 BA driver configuration. The Blessing 2 here shows better bass response, though the bass is cleaner in QOA Mojito but it feels less in quantity and snappiness. The Mojito produce lesser details as compared to the Blessing 2 and while the Blessing 2 feels like a balanced sounding pair, the Mojito sounds more like mid centric one with more emphasis on acoustic and vocals. I liked the QOA Mojito for listening to regional Bollywood songs or acoustic songs, but as a balanced and pair for any genre, I liked the Moondrop Blessing 2 more.
Thank You.
H T T
I haven’t tested the 3001 Pro. I was going off memory of a review that compared the 2001 and, I thought, the 3001 Pro. Perhaps it was the 3001 and I misremembered?
gadgetgod
Because from what i feel the DK3001 Pro is a slightly warm pair with good detailing, a few friends of mine have listened to both the DK3001 Pro and DK2001 and they say they both are sonically very different.
But I can't guarantee as i haven't listened to 2001 myself.
But I can't guarantee as i haven't listened to 2001 myself.
When at home I will paired them with Chord Mojo (3.5mm unbalanced) so I think there is not issue here.