ddHiFi Janus1 (E2020A) Review – The Silky Way
Pros — Natural, smooth sound; silky vocals in foreground; driver stands for good note definition; innovative design and generous accessories; works will with just a phone.
Cons — Poor bottom end extension.
In this Article
Executive Summary
The ddHifi Janus (also referred to as Janus1 or E2020A) is a well-accessorized, mid-centric, articulate iem that is very well suited for listening just with a phone. It has been superseded by Janus2.
Introduction
ddHiFi have been bringing us innovation + functionality + design since 2017. Their products work well, look good, and it is no surprise that the whole company made it onto our Wall of Excellence. Most recently, the company added a new category to their portfolio: earphones. And the Janus is their first iem release. As you can see from the images, the Janus follows the design ideas of some of the ddHifi adapters, which makes it optically distinct from any other iem on the market.
Specifications
| Driver: composite dynamic driver |
| Impedance: 32Ω |
| Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW |
| Frequency Range: 20-20,000 Hz |
| Socket: MMCX + 0.78 mm, 2pin |
| Cable/Connector: BC120A (Forest) Air Series Earphone Cable/MMCX |
| Tested at: $200 |
| Product Page: Janus E2020A |
| Product page: C80B Genuine Leather Storage Case |
| Product Page: C10B Magnetic Cable Clip |
| Purchase Link: discontinued…get it from wherever if you can |
Physical Things and Usability
In the box are the earpieces and accessories worth >$90 when purchased individually: the $60 BC120A (Forest) Air Series Earphone Cable, the $25 C80B Genuine Leather Storage Case, an $8 C10B Magnetic Cable Clip, 2 sets of eartips (red-stemmed “bass type” bulbous narrower-bore, and black-stemmed “treble type” short widebores), and 10 MMCX port covers. The whole assembly, that is earpieces and cable, are extremely light and small, and fit in the smallest shirt pocket.
The earpieces contain a flexible printed circuit board that contributes to their lightweight. They feature two different connectors on opposite ends, one 2pin/0.78mm, and an MMCX. That’s the reference to Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings…an obviously very flexible deity. He is commonly represented by a double-faced head (frequently on antique coins).
The very light Forest cable comes with with MMCX connectors and a 2.5 mm balanced CNC machined alloy plug. It contains 4 conductors made of 6N OCC copper (that is 99.9999% purity) mixed with kevlar fibre. The outer material is interesting as it looks and feels waxy (= dirt resistant) like Twizzler candy, made of thermoelastic elastomer. The cable is free of microphonics. A truly superb cable.
The case is made from cowhide leather and coated to be stain and fading resistent. It smells nice. The interior is lined with microfibre and the lock is magnetic. Also interesting is the double-sided magnetic cable clip that adheres to the case, if not needed, but can also be used to attach the cable to a coat or bag when used on the road. See the Gallery section at the end.
The earpieces are extremely comfortable and can be worn over and under ear as the cable does not have any earhooks. The wide-bore tips worked best for me. The Janus are reasonably easy to drive (despite their 93 DB sensitivity) and some rare earphones that do not substantially benefit from amplifying. They sound great with my iPhone.
Tonality and Technicalities
Equipment used: MacBook Air, iPhone SE (1st gen.); AudioQuest Dragonfly Red/Earstudio HUD100 w. JitterBug FMJ, AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt, both sets of stock tips (red-stemmed bass type, and black-stemmed treble type); 200 hours of break in.
O dear, that graph looks more like of an earbud than of an iem, some “graphologists” may say. The low end is already rolling off in the lower midrange and the upper midrange is rolled back. One would expect the Janus1 is vocal centric with a wide stage and no congestions by a bass bleeding into the lower midrange. And yes, that’s right. And the obvious absence of a 2-4 kHz peak could mean it is not shouty and fatiguing. Yes, you are right.
But, most of all, the Janus1 does actually sounds darn good to my ears. So good that I have used it a lot in the last few weeks, particularly before going to sleep. As said, it sounds great just with my iPhone, no amplification needed. Another case of tuning that fits the driver (and not the other way round)?
The overal sonic signature is marginally warm with the smallest tinge of brightness. Presentation is relaxed, cohesive, and imo well suited for chilling.
Now from graphology to the cumbersome listening business: you think there is no bass extension? Actually not quite. The extension is principally there, it is just “a bit hesitant” and not very strong and the rumble is very subtle. But the (relatively) nimble driver makes somewhat up for the lack of quantity. The lowest frequencies remain well composed and are not fuzzy. Bass remains subtle and relatively tight. Punch and dynamics are there, too, but also subtle.
Vocals, male and female, are intimate and forward, which is probably the Janus1′ biggest asset. They are natural, of medium weight, and with good (note) definition and excellent articulation. There is no sharpness, rather the notes appear to be coated by a thin film of silk. Very pleasant and relaxed on my ears. The subtle bass also keeps the midrange transparent and clean. All this makes for great speech intelligibility.
The Janus1 has therefore become my go-to for listening to talk radio as it brings out voices without congestion (from the low end). If you think most iems are good for talk radio, think again.
Lower treble is back, and treble below 15 kHz is sweet and polite. No hint of stridency, just pleasant. Cymbals are lined up behind the vocals, but, like the vocals they are well defined. No smearing. The downside is limited air and sparkle, which again benefits the voice reproduction. Can’t have it all.
Stage is wide but not deep. Nevertheless, spatial cues and placement on stage are good, however the stage can get crowded. Dynamics are good to my ears and there is decent articulation. Yes, there is enough slam for me, but it may be too polite for others. What did I say, chilling? Timbre is excellent, spot on realistic.
The Janus1 is so unique in its design, sonic signature, and accessories, that it is pointless to compare it to other iems. And even more so as it has been discontinued.
Fun Fact: Other examples of great-sounding iems with “unusual” frequency responses are the Dunu Zen, the Final Audio E3000/E5000, and Meze RAI Solo, to name just a few.
Concluding Remarks
In summary, the Janus1 (2020a) is a vocal-centric, organic sounding earphone with an extra portion of silk, giving a relaxed presentation, which makes for a chilling and civilized listening sensation. It is not an adrenaline pump or a bass canon, but rather a well measured set that even works well with a simple source such as a phone.
Once you get your ears into its sonic signature, you can’t let go for hours. The Janus1, just like so many other product by ddHifi, are from the category “and now something completely different”.
The Janus1 has been discontinued and replaced by the Janus2, which is a totally different beast. You will find the Janus2 review (with Janus1 comparison) in this article.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Disclaimer
The Janus1 was provided by ddHifi for my analysis. I thank them very much.
Get it from wherever it is still available.
Our generic standard disclaimer.
You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.
Gallery
