Shozy Form 1.1 Or Shozy Form 1.4 – Price Difference Justified?

INTRODUCTION

There has been recent discussion about the two Shozy models, Form 1.1 and Form 1.4 – and whether the Shozy Form 1.1 is as good or of similar quality as the Form 1.4., at $125 cheaper. In order to test this, each has to be compared to its classmates – and then both against each other. This will not be a review of the Shozy Form 1.1; I have sent it on to co-blogger Biodegraded for that purpose.

SPECIFICATIONS SHOZY FORM 1.1

• Driver unit: Beryllium-Coated Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature
• Impedance: 19 Ω @ 1KHz
• Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
• Frequency range: 20 – 20,000 Hz
• Cable/Connector: 0.78mm 2Pin
• Product page: http://www.shozy-hk.com/form11
• Tested at: $75
• Purchase Link: HifiGo

SPECIFICATIONS SHOZY FORM 1.4

• Driver: 4 balanced armatures, 1 dynamic driver
• Cavity: Imported medical resin (3D printed)
• Faceplate: Imported wood stabilized panel
• Technology: 3-way crossover
• Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
• Frequency: 20 Hz – 20KHz
• Impedance: 16 ohms @ 1KHz
• Cable: 2-pin 0.78 mm
• Product page: http://www.shozy-hk.com/form1pt4
• Tested at $199
• Purchase Link: HifiGo

PHYSICAL SIMILARITIES

I did a photographic comparison about the two – and an extensive review of the Short Form 1.4:

Photo Page

Shozy Form 1.4 Review

Both share the same cable and accessories (eartips etc.), the earpieces are essentially of the same build with the same finish. The shells of the Form 1.1 are slightly smaller. Advantage Form 1.1 (for the small shells).

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES: SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

First of all: the Shozy Form 1.1 are excellent earphones, and excellent value at $75 imo. They have no annoying weakness and are slightly harder to drive than the Short Form 1.4.

The Shozy Form 1.4 have become my go-to hybrid iem as I really like its tonality. In terms of technicalities, they are not sticking out of the $200 pack. You find details in my review.

The Form 1.4 and 1.1 share certain similiarities, mainly at the low end: both have this beautiful silkiness which I have nor heard in any other earphones. This gives both a similar temperature at the low end.

As to the sonic differences: the Form 1.1 are overall brighter. They have a flatter but wider stage and leaner note weight, they are “hotter” from the upper midrange up. This makes vocals brighter and leaner compared to the Form 1.4 but the cymbals come out cleaner. Leaner also means clearer. The sonic context of upper and lower end makes the Form 1.1 less bassy and overall brighter in my perception (although they have physically more bass according to the graph). In fact, the Form 1.1 is less congested at the low end, which is another bonus point. The elevated bass has to bail out the upper end.

The Form 1.4 are easier on my ears and sound overall more accomplished and refined. They have more body, have a more three-dimensional stage/more depth, more bass rumble, more intimacy, and richer vocals. Everything is bigger in the Shozy Form 1.4, I’d guess the larger number of drivers provides for more overtones/better harmonics. Bingo.

An analogy would be the difference between a bookshelf loudspeaker and a floorstander of the same line by the same manufacturer. Everything will be bigger and richer/more substantial in the floorstander.

So, yes, there are quality differences between the two but I didn’t find the Form 1.1 less enjoyable…this in the short run…it may not hold over time. enjoyment is not always relying on price.

ARE THE SHOZY FORM 1.4 OVERPRICED?

Shozy did not do themselves a favour by sending out a bundle of two review earphones that share build and accessories, at a $125 price difference. I only had the Form 1.4 available and hence had to compare it to its external competition only. I find the Form 1.4 better sounding to my ears than the $150 BQEYZ Spring 1 or the $250 Kinboofi MK4. They may be technically inferior but they are tonally superior. On the other hand, the $250 JVC HA-FDX1, my single DD favourite, are tonally better than the Form 1.4 but lag in technicalities.

If comparing the Shozy Form 1.1 to their peers such as the Moondrop Starfield, KBEAR Diamond, or Tin Hifi T4, they are not inferior – rather the opposite is the case.

Comparing Form 1.4 and Form 1.1, as done by many reviewers: if you use the Form 1.4 as much as I do, the money is well spent. If, on the other hand, the $75 Form 1.1 is just another nondescript iem in your collection and ends up in the drawer, then the money was not spent wisely. In other words, one can sometimes save money by spending more.

I was in a similar situation with the 2017 Brainwavz B100 and B200. I had bought the B100. The B200 had the same tuning but sounded much more detailed…and was much more expensive. I later got a demo of the B200 for $50 and the B100 is somewhere in my car now…$70 lost.

I once forked out $250 for the JVC HA-FDX1…and will not need any other single DD…I would have to step up to the Dunu Luna at $1600 to upgrade. The JVCs are special in that they are neutrally tuned single DDs…they save me money in the long run.

WHICH ONE IS GOOD FOR YOU?

Considering, you have the cash and are a purist, and you are going to USE THEM ALL THE TIME, go for the upscale Form 1.4, which is not overpriced imo compared to the competition. But if you want bang for your buck, are building a collection, and UESE THEM ONLY OCCASIONALLY, get the Form 1.1.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Here my personal opinion summarized – and it is just an opinion:. The price difference between the models may not be justified, but not because the Form 1.4 are too expensive – rather the Form 1.1 are too “cheap”. Price them at $99, and the discussion would have possibly never existed. In detail:

1. Nobody needs both earphones.
2. The Form 1.4 is a more refined, accomplished earphone when A/B-ing. The Form 1.1 does not live up to it, sonically.
3. If you want bang for your buck/quantity, get the Form 1.1; it is still a darn good earphone.
4. If you want something really special/quality, get the Form 1.4.
5. If you have heard the Form 1.4, you may want to get rid of your Form 1.1.
6. The price difference between the two is entirely in the eye of the beholder. A 4+1 is more expensive to produce than a 1+1.
7. If anything, the price of the Form 1.4 is not too high but the price of the Form 1.1 is rather low imo.
8. Check for sales of the Form 1.4, they are sometime available at $150.
9. Additional decision criteria: how much time would you spend with each of the two? Would, having the Form1.4, stop you from buying many more $75 iems…in this case, the $199 will save you money in the long run.

Both, the JVCs and the Form 1.4s have in common that they give me the “wow” factor, every time I use them. A small difference can have a large effect in the long run. Isn’t that what everybody wants?

Until next time…keep on listening!

You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.

DISCLAIMER

The Shozy Form 1.1 were provided for my analysis by the Shozy team upon my request. I thank them – and will pass the Form 1.1 on to the next audioreviews.org reviewer for more to come.

Shozy Form 1.1: get them at HifiGo

Shozy Form 1.4: get them at HifiGo

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

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