review – Audio Reviews

Reecho Insects Awaken 4-BA IEM Complete Review – Getting it Right

Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir (Munich, Germany) — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 17:04:50 +0000

Pros — Hand-painted shells are quite beautiful
– Warm V-shaped tuning that works across a variety of genres
– Good soundstage and imaging
– Good isolation, comfortable fit

Cons — Didn’t come with an usable carry case
– Lower mids are slightly scooped resulting in thinner male vocals
– Bass lacks rumble
– Artificiality in the timbre

INTRODUCTION

Reecho is a relatively newcomer in the IEM scene. They seem to have garnered some recognition thanks to their Seasons Series of IEMs (Spring, Summer) which tried to make a niche in the $100–150 bracket.

Reecho Insects Awaken is their latest release and seems to be their “flagship” of sorts, at least in the international market. It’s a 4BA setup and at $330 aims to take on some of the favorite mid-rangers, which is never an easy task. Quite a bit to explore, thus without further ado.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Penon Audio was kind enough to send a review unit of the Reecho Insects Awaken. Disclaimer.

Sources used: Questyle CMA-400i, Cowon Plenue R2

Price (while reviewed): $330

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

IN THE BOX…

The packaging of the Reecho Insects Awaken is a looker indeed. I personally don’t like to describe boxes but this here demands a few words. The IEMs are placed inside a multi-tiered jewelry-box like contraption. The doors swing outwards and you slide out each compartment for the IEMs/cables/tips etc. Very neat and unlike anything I’ve found in the price bracket.

Unfortunately, the stellar unboxing experience doesn’t quite translate to the accessories. There is no compact carry case, for one, as you’re supposed to use on the compartments in the box as carrying case (they are too large for that purpose). Moreover, the cable on mine came with reversed polarity so I had to go for another cable in my possession. This might be a unit-specific issue and you will get a new cable in such cases as a replacement but it’s an inconvenience nonetheless.

Fortunately, the tips are of good quality, and the cable itself looks well-built. Just that I expected more when I started unboxing them.
3.5/5

APPEARANCE, HAPTIC, AND BUILD QUALITY

Reecho Insects Awaken (man I’m gonna have a hard time getting used to this name) has a 3D printed resin shell, which is quite common nowadays. What’s not so common is the hand-painted shells where the colors are apparently poured inside the cavity and thus has subtle differences between units which makes each of them unique. I personally like the faceplate artwork, it’s quite appealing.

Since this is an all-BA design with no vented BA drivers, there’s no visible vent. The nozzle has two separate bores (one for the bass, another for mid+treble from what I gather). The nozzles have differing size too which is at times overlooked in certain designs. Overall, I like the design and find the build solid. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the flush 2-pin connector which doesn’t feel as secure as recessed ones.
4.5/5

ERGONOMICS, COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

Due to their pseudo-custom design and surprisingly lightweight nature, the Reecho Insects Awaken has superb wearing comfort. They also isolate noise well due to the sealed housing.
4.5/5

TECH INSIDE

The Reecho Insects Awaken is a 4 balanced armature configuration, with two Knowles RAF-32873 full-range drivers tasked with tackling the bass (15–500Hz), and the composite/dual Knowles 30017 driver handling the midrange/treble. The unique thing about this implementation is that Reecho used two full-range drivers solely as bass drivers. They achieved this is by employing a dual-acoustic ultra-low frequency acoustic filter where one filter handles frequencies between 5–50Hz and the other deals with frequencies between 50–500Hz. I was personally a bit perplexed as to why they didn’t just use a vented BA (for better bass slam) or one of the Knowles bass drivers in tandem but after listening to the Insects Awaken I came to respect Reecho’s decision.

SOUND

The general tuning is sub-bass focused/V-shaped with extended treble.

Sound impressions are made using the Spinfit CP-145 tips and stock blue tips. Stock cable was replaced with $35 CEMA Electro Acousti OCC one (2.5mm)

Bass: The bass on the Reecho Insects Awaken has a strong sub-bass focus. It has a pretty sizable boost between 20–80Hz and thus emphasizes the sub-bass notes by ~10dB over the lower-midrange. In case of a regular dynamic driver IEM this amount of sub-bass rise would only make sense in a bass-head tuning. However, due to the BA drivers and their lower excursion, this sub-bass doesn’t become overzealous for the most part.

Sub-bass rumble is adequate, though it doesn’t sound as good as some dynamic driver offerings in this range. Mid-bass has good amount of body and slam making snare hits sound satisfactory. There’s no discernible bass bleed into lower-mids, though in bass-heavy tracks the sub-bass masks male vocals. Bass does lack texture as is common with BA drivers. In fast flowing bass sections the drivers seem to smear the notes a bit, sadly.

In short, the bass-focus will satisfy those who listen to a lot of modern music. It won’t replicate the rumble and texture/thickness of a good ol’ dynamic driver but for an all-BA offering it’s quite good indeed.
4/5

Mids: The lower-mids on the Reecho Insects Awaken, as stated before, is recessed compared to the bass/upper-mids/treble. Aside from the masking effect, the male vocals are also a bit behind female ones in songs where you’ve both of them. Baritone vocals lack their usual heft as a result. Fortunately the upper-mids are devoid of any shoutiness and remains smooth, non-fatiguing throughout. There’s a peak at 3KHz that’s just about on the same level as the sub-bass shelf which reigns in the shrillness.

All is not rosy, however, as we encounter the dreaded BA timbre here. The vocals sound alright but string instruments lack the body and tactility one might expect. Same applies to percussion instruments.

One thing that’s above-average here is the microdynamics. Subtle gradations in volume is well portrayed unlike many other offerings in the range. Resolved detail is also above-average.
4/5

Treble: The treble on the Reecho Insects Awaken is quite extended. It does have a peak around the presence region (5.5/6KHz) and then starts gradually rolling off. This peak can become a bit problematic on some cymbal heavy tracks as it brings the leading edge of cymbal hits on the forefront, but at the same time this was quite enjoyable in some of the metal tracks that I regularly listen to (e.g. Lamb of God discography). The audible extension goes until ~12KHz or so after which the treble becomes muted. This leads to sensation of airiness to some degree. Rest assured: the Reecho Insects Awaken is not a dark sounding IEM and will cater well to those who want some airiness in the presentation.
4/5

Soundstage: Staging has good width, average height, and good depth. It won’t give you an out-of-the-head experience but won’t sound congested either. Layering of instruments is also quite well executed. I found the Reecho Insects Awaken to be very good for watching movies and gaming for these reasons.
4/5

Imaging: Vocals are projected slightly at the front while instruments surround them. Spatial cues originate from cardinal and ordinal positions unlike some other IEMs in the range. Instrument separation is great in most cases (for the price) but can suffer in tracks that have heavy bass emphasis (the sub-bass focus congests the air between instruments). For most cases, however, the imaging/instrument positioning is excellent.
4.5/5

Source and Amping: At 13ohms and 110dB of sensitivity, the Reecho Insects Awaken is very easy to drive. However, it is prone to source hiss, so I’d recommend a source with low noise floor. Also I won’t recommend connecting it to sources with high output impedance and high voltage swings.

Bang-for-buck: The competition is stiff at around the $300 bracket. You got the perennial favorite Moondrop Blessing 2/Blessing 2 Dusk, the neutral-head’s bible Etymotic ER2XR, and the plethora of other multi-BA/hybrid offerings that pop up in this particular bracket every now and then and get hyped to the moon. Despite all that, I find the Reecho Insects Awaken to be competitive in terms of sound quality and it looks gorgeous to boot. It does lack the visceral bass thump/tactility of a dynamic driver in a hybrid configuration (very popular lately). However, those who’d prefer an all-BA setup due to the faster transients of such drivers and won’t mind/want a V-shaped tuning will find the Insects Awaken a good option.
4/5

KBEAR Believe Review I – Beryllium For All

KBEAR BElieve Review II – Bearly Believable?

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs Cayin YB-04 ($400): The Cayin YB-04 is a relatively obscure model but has quite a bit of similarity with the Reecho Insects Awaken in terms of driver setup/price. The Cayin YB-04 also has a dual-BA for the low-end and two BA drivers for mids and highs. In terms of build quality, I prefer the Cayin model over Reecho Insects Awaken simply because of how dense it feels in hand. As a result, comfort suffers though, and the Reecho Insects Awaken is far more comfortable to wire (and also has a more snug fit).

As for the sound, the YB-04 has a very anemic low-end and has more upper-mid/lower-treble emphasis compared to the Insects Awaken. This results in a sense of better perceived clarity at the expense of potential listening fatigue. Soundstage is similar on both but imaging is better on the Insects Awaken. Given the superior bass response and a warmer presentation in the mids, I’d pick the Insects Awaken over the YB-04 myself all things considered. However, if you want more clarity and even more extended treble, the Cayin YB-04 will be the better pick.

vs Moondrop Blessing2 ($300): The Moondrop Blessing 2 (and the Crinacle tune version dubbed Blessing2 Dusk) has pretty much become the standard in the sub-$500 category. Compared to the Insects Awaken, the Blessing 2 has a similar build but inferior comfort. The Blessing2 has a thick nozzle and that can be problematic for many.

However, if you can get past the fit issues the Blessing2 has an overall superior sound to the Insects Awaken IMO in terms of overall technicalities. Due to being a 1DD+4BA model, the bass on the Blessing2 has better texture and dynamics (even though it’s nowhere near the best bass in this price bracket). The vocals on the Blessing2 has better articulation and the lower mids are fuller, though it can get slightly hot on certain tracks which the Insects Awaken avoids. Treble has similar extension though the sense of air is better felt on the Insects Awaken. Soundstage is wider on the Insects Awaken but depth/height is similar. Where the Blessing2 trumps the Insects Awaken is even better imaging (the Blessing2 has pretty much the best imaging in its price-class, along with a couple IMR IEMs). One thing that’s a big issue on the Blessing2 is its incohorency. The dynamic driver sounds radically different from the BAs which showcase even stronger BA timbre than on the Insects Awaken.

To summarize: if fit is not an issue and you don’t mind the incohorency — the Moondrop Blessing2 will be the better buy (though I hate the stock cable). However, if you want a more coherent presentation, wider stage, airier treble, and more agile sub-bass response the Reecho Insects Awaken might suit you better. I personally don’t like the Blessing2 that much due to the incohorency so there’s that.

vs Dunu Studio SA6 ($550): The Dunu Studio SA6 retails for $220 more than the Reecho Insects Awaken and thus does not really share the same price bracket. However, since I already have one in possession and both are all-BA offerings I decided to do a little comparison.

The Dunu Studio SA6 has a six BA driver setup with two vented Sonion woofers that offer near-DD like thump/rumble. You can also control the amount of low-end with a switch on the housing. It has a more snug fit and far better accessories than the Insects Awaken. In terms of sound, it is indeed a wholesale upgrade on all front. Probably the stage width is where Reecho gains some upper-hand but overall resolution, staging, separation is perceptibly superior on the Dunu Studio SA6.

That being said, whether it’s worth spending the extra $200 on the Studio SA6 for the superior bass response and fuller lower-mids is something a buyer should decide themselves.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Reecho Insects Awaken doesn’t do much wrong, frankly. It’s tuned well, has no glaring tonal flaws, and the issues it suffers from are more inherent to BA tech itself (timbre/lack of bass texture). I can recommend the Reecho Insects Awaken to those who want an all-BA IEM with a slight V-shaped tuning and good imaging. The Reecho Insects Awaken works across a variety of genre and will suit movies/gaming purposes as well. It’s flown under the radar so far due to the hype surrounding Blessing2, but those who wasn’t impressed with Moondrop Blessing2’s incoherency or had fitting issues should give this one a try IMO.

On the next release I hope they don’t scoop the lower-mids as much as it’s done on this one, and also employs vented Sonion woofers instead of the current Knowles one. Reecho seems to have found a good tuning formula and managed to pique my interest with that, so I am eager to see what they come up with in the future.

MY VERDICT

Overall Rating: 4/5

Recommended. An overall solid offering suffering from some BA timbral issues.

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DISCLAIMER

The Reecho Insects Awaken was sent as a loaner for the purpose of this review.

Available for purchase from Penon Official Store

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

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EarMen Sparrow USB DAC + Preamp + Headphone Amp, Review – Super Trouper

Jürgen Kraus (Calgary, Canada) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 17:20:54 +0000

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The EarMen Sparrow is a $200 battery-less warm-neutral sounding dac/amp with dual output: single ended 3.5mm and the more powerful 2.5 mm balanced. It is class leading in terms of both power and sound quality. The EarMen Sparrow supports playback from iPhones, Android smartphones, MacOS and Windows computers. It also plays all 32bit/384kHz formats: PCM, DoP, DSD64, DSD128 and MQA. It is the best dongle I have come across (in the $200 category) and was on my personal favourite gear list of 2020.

INTRODUCTION

Do all dongles sound equal? Are most dongles just ornaments? Should we rather go for a desktop dac/amp instead to get more value for money? All of the above have been mentioned in discussions lately. For years I have had a single dongle dac/amp, the Audioquest Dragonfly Black. I mainly used it with my iPhone and life was good. Until…

To make this clear a priori: the EarMen Sparrow is the best-sounding dongle I have tested too far…but also the most expensive one. And it is not an ornament.

EarMen is a company registered in in the US, where most of its stakeholders are located – and from where they focus on the North American market. EarMen are a subdivision of premium audio gear producer Auris Audio. The production is in Krusavec, Serbia [video of production facilities]: Made in Europe.

Wall Of Excellence

The EarMen Sparrow is on our Wall of Excellence.

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: 42*22*8 mm

Purchase Link: EarMen Shop

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

In the box is the EarMen Sparrow, the warranty card, and two cables: USB-C to USB-C, and USB-C to USB-A. This allows the Sparrow to connect to Android phones/tablets, and any Windows/Mac computer. It features the ESS Sabre ES9281PRO dac chip – which is well implemented.

The EarMen Sparrow also works with iOS devices but requires the Apple Camera Adapter, which adds to a “monster snake”. The $30 ddHifi TC28i adapter offers the same funcionality but cuts the snake’s length enormously.

The actual EarMen Sparrow is a sturdy and filigree CnC machined aluminium construction with top and bottom covered by glass…although I wished it had come with a sheath to protect it from being scratched.

In contrast to most other dongles does the EarMen Sparrow offers two different circuits and sockets: a single-ended output through a standard 3.5 mm socket and a balanced output through a 2.5 mm socket. Both outputs/sockets work simultaneously. And it is the balanced output that makes the EarMen Sparrow particularly attractive.

The logo is illuminated depending on input:

White – Connected
Green – PCM/DXD/DSD
Magenta – MQA
Red – Not Connected

EarMen Sparrow connected to iPhone 5S via the Apple Camera Adapter.

EarMen Sparrow connected to iPhone 5S via ddHifi TC28i adapter.

THE IDEA OF BALANCED AUDIO

Balanced audio is a method of connecting audio equipment using balanced lines [Wikipedia]. Such lines reduce susceptibility to external noise caused by electromagnetic interference. This is particularly beneficial for recording studios, which use kilometres of lines. For our purpose of portable audio, reduced interference results in a clearer, cleaner signal. Headphonesty compared “balanced and unbalanced” audio connections in this article. And yes, it works.

FUNCTIONALITY

The EarMen Sparrow contains no battery and is powered by the source device. It works plug ‘n’ play with computers, tablets, and phones (Windows/Mac/Android/iOS). And it requires adjusting the respective sound panel settings in Mac and Windows computers. Volume is controlled from the source device – there are no buttons on the EarMen Sparrow. It is as easy as that. The EarMen Sparrow decodes all 32bit/384kHz formats: PCM, DoP, DSD64, DSD128 and MQA.

Sound panel in Apple’s OS X preferences.

AMPLIFICATION

The EarMen Sparrow is one of the most powerful dongle dac/amps on the market according to AudioScienceReviews.com. Its 2.5 mm balanced output delivers 2.0 Vrms into 32 Ω and 4.0 Vrms into 600 Ω. This results in a power of 125 mW and 20 mW, respectively. The 3.5 mm single-ended output is 1.4 Vrms into 32 Ω and 2.0 Vrms into 600 Ω, which translates to 61 mW and 7 mW, respectively.

From audiosciencereivews.com. The yellow bars refer to the EarMen Sparrow’s two outputs.

I don’t have a balanced cable for my 300 Ω Sennheiser HD 600 Pro, however the single-ended output drives them “ok”. The balanced circuit delivers enough power to drive the 70 Ω Sennheiser HD 25 on my Mac, which indicates that this is good enough for any iem. In fact, imo the EarMen Sparrow drives even the most power-hungry earphones very well with my Mac.

A bit of an enigma is the dependency of the EarMen Sparrow on my sources: it provides way more power when sourced by my Mac, but appears to be throttled by my iPhones 5s and SE (1st generation). I speculate this is caused by the Sparrow’s power consumption. Sound quality is not compromised and power-hungry earphones such as the TRI I3 are still driven sufficiently well. Newer phones and Android devices may not throttle the EarMen Sparrow’s power. The Sparrow, like most powerful dongles, appears to be a bit of a battery drain on phones.

UPDATE June 2021: Power Consumption Test: Parameters and Raw Results

I tested the power consumption of several portable headphone amps connected to my iPhone 5S. The conditions were as identical as possible: 3 h test, volume calibrated to 85 dB ± 0.5 dB white noise with Dayton microphone, no sim card, BT off, no other apps open; network on, 32 ohm Blon BL-03 iem, Genesis’s Supper’s Ready (from the Seconds Out album) played in an endless loop.

The iPhone’s battery was fully charged at the start of the test and the remaining charge was measured thereafter. The result is shown in the table below. Since the tests were performed at different times and considering the ongoing battery deterioration, the results have to be seen with a grain of salt.

SE: single ended circuit; HUD 100 refers to the Earstudio HUD 100 model.

[collapse]

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

The EarMen Sparrow is a neutral-warm sounding dac/amp (more neutral than warm), and therefore offers the best of both worlds. Whereas a warm dac/amp (such as ifi Audio products) harmonizes best with neutral earphones/headphones (e.g. JVC HA-FDX1, neutral amps (e.g. Earstudio HUD 100) pair best with warm iems (e.g. Sennheiser IE PRO series). Neutral amp with neutral iem may sound like metal on metal – and warm with warm may come across as thick and syrupy lacking clarity and transparency. The EarMen Sparrow appears to strike the right temperature balance to harmonize with most kinds of earphones. The other trait is its good extension in both directions and its full body and natural dynamics. The Sparrow has this quasi-analog sound.

And while the sound through the single-ended output is good, it is fantastic through the balanced output. The difference in sound quality is mindboggling (I A/B-ed a balanced cable between both sockets – with a 2.5 mm female to 3.5 mm male adapter for single ended). Apart from the power gain in the balanced circuit, headroom and clarity opens up substantially…the midrange comes out nicely…this worked even for the ~$3000 Vision Ears Elysium. After several months of using the EarMen Sparrow on my Mac, I conclude that the balanced output is as good as a desktop amp for iems – on a computer.

EARMEN SPARROW COMPARED

The neutral sounding $70 Tempotec Sonata BHD dac/amp with its balanced output is an impressive sounding device. The EarMen Sparrow, however, offers a richer, more analog sound, a larger headroom, and more power. It is also more versatile with its additional 3.5 mm single-ended output. The less powerful Sonata BHD has a leaner, sleeker but less creamy/soft/weighty sound with more clarity.

EarMen Sparrow Dongle DAC/Amp – Brief Second Opinion

Also check out Biodegraded’s second opinion.

VALUE – IS THE EARMEN SPARROW FOR YOU?

Is the EarMen Sparrow worth its $200? Any answer has to be subjective. For people who regularly deal with >$300 earphones without blinking: yes, no questions asked. Simply makes them sound better.

For the rest of us: yes, but for any or all of these three specific purposes – from my perspective: for the balanced output that sets the EarMen Sparrow sonically and power wise apart from its competition. Second, it is best used with iems or less power-demanding headphones. And third, for use mainly with a computer, where the Sparrow flexes its muscles best.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

I have used the EarMen Sparrow for a few months now. It took me so long to publish my review because I didn’t know what to write – it just worked great for me, and I used it a lot for earphone testing. The Sparrow is the best sounding dongle I have listened to so far (up to $200), albeit also the most expensive.

What sets it apart from the competition are sound quality and power of its balanced circuit. I don’t think one needs anything “bigger” to drive earphones – it was good enough for the $3000 Vision Ears Elysium. And since it does not have a battery, there is no planned obsolescence – the Sparrow will last for a long long time.

It is the balanced output that makes the Sparrow fly high: first it opens up the headroom and then it makes it a most powerful dongle – ahead of the competition. The EarMen Sparrow is just a very fine dac/amp. One of my favourite devices of 2020…and likely 2021, also. Basta!

Until next time…keep on listening!

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DISCLAIMER

The EarMen Sparrow was provided by EarMen upon my request. I thank them and also the audiofool who had established the contact. The audiofool has reviewed the Earmen Sparrow here.

You can purchase the EarMen Sparrow from the Earmen Shop.

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About my measurements.

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

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PHOTOS…

…with ddHfi TC28i lighting to USB C

Gear Of The Year – Our Personal 2020 Favourites

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Whizzer Kylin HE01 Review (1) – The Whizzard

Jürgen Kraus (Calgary, Canada) — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 08:30:00 +0000

Pros — Great midrange and technicalities; fluid, cohesive tonality; easy to drive; great ergonomics; complete accessories.

Cons — Bass could be more textured; optics not for everybody.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Whizzer Kylin HE01 is a well designed, well accessorized, warm and fluid sounding single DD earphone with a fast driver that provides hard beats, and excellent midrange and treble articulation and definition. I treasure the Whizzer Kylin HE01’s fluid, cohesive presentation. A personal favourite.

INTRODUCTION

As a reviewer, you are are often frustrated when a whole batch of iems supplied for review are uninspiring. Then, there are these models which “are good for their price”, which still may not give one much inspiration in the long run, considering you have better iems in your collection or memory. But there is the rare iem that is appealing and enjoyable independent of price. The Shozy Form 1.4 was one of these rare examples for me, and the Whizzer Kylin HE01 is another one. Yes, the Whizzer Kylin is that …good. I used them in all combinations, be it just with a phone up to the Earmen Tr-amp.

SPECIFICATIONS

Drivers: high magnetic circuit metal composite moving coil
Impedance: 18 Ω
Sensitivity: 112 dB/mW…easy to drive
Frequency Range: 15 – 40,000 Hz
Cable/Connector: 5N OFC oxygen-free copper
Tested at: $80
Company Page: http://www.whizzer-tec.com
Product Page/Purchase Link: Whizzer Official Store

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

The Whizzer Kylin HE01 is generously accessorized. The earpieces come in a padded metal box, two sets of silicone eartips (“reference” and “vocals”) are included as well as a cleaning tool and the “literature”. The 5N OFC oxygen-free copper cable is tightly braided, has metal connectors and a chin slider, and exhibits zero microphonic. High quality.

The earpieces are made of of metal and resin and appear sturdy. They are ergonomically very good with LONG nozzles that go deep enough into my teutonic ear canals. Fit and comfort are very good for me, isolation is ok, too, depending on eartips used.

The appearance is marketed as retro look…but I am not sure what era. My not-so-young wife (don’t tell her…) associates it with “little old ladies”. But, the shells are refreshingly different from the repetitive (and often oversized) standard designs – one has to fall in love with them for that reason alone – and I somewhat did (again, please don’t tell her…).

Yes, the Whizzer Kylin HE01 works fine out of the box. Bonus!

And it can be driven easily even by the weakest source.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

Follow these links for some background information:

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

Equipment used: iPhone SE (1st generation) with and without Earmen Sparrow/Audioquest Dragonfly Black; MacBook Air with EarMen Sparrow or EarMen TR-amp; stock cable, both sets of stock eartips.

To give you the “helicopter view” up front: the Whizzer Kylin HE01 is a warm and (mostly) clean sounding single (and nimble) dynamic-driver iem with a natural timbre. Its strong points are the midrange, upper treble, and technicalities.

That slightly elevated bass is very well extended but could be more layered and articulate. It is not wooly or thumpy, and it provides a good kick, but it also may be perceived as borderline boomy. You have heard this type of bass over and over before. I am sure, tip rolling may modify the low end, however I was testing with the stock tips. Nevertheless, while the bass i technically not the greatest, its slight boost can be fun and it provides a solid base for the midrange.

But where things become interesting is from the lower midrange up: vocals are very articulate for a DD, they are only marginally recessed with medium note weight, and are well sculptured with a good note definition. This results in good midrange clarity and transparency – and really good detail resolution and separation. The bass does not affect the midrange. Also, that pinna gain of 12 dB at 3 kHz is reasonable and provides the right energy to voices. No shoutiness. The midrange is not neutral as in Moondrop or Tin Hifi iems but a tinge warm, which makes it particularly appealing to me.

The drop-off starts in the upper midrange and continues through the lower treble, which explains the lack of shoutiness but it also removes a bit of sheen from the midrange/vocals and subdues high sustainers such as cymbals and string instruments. Treble resolution is also very good. The highest notes are hit with accuracy and minimal smearing.

That midrange clarity plays into a very wide soundstage with average depth. But the music really plays outside your head. As said before, technicalities are very good, delivering just the right punch/dynamics. I appreciate the fluidity of the sonic presentation. Needless to say that speech intelligibility is excellent, too.

As to the included “reference” and “vocals” silicone tips. Although the main difference, according to the graphs, lies in the upper midrange, my listening perception focuses on the low end: the reference tips increase the bass. This is not surprising as the human ear hears the frequency spectrum in its full context….and it had been demonstrated well with the three filters of the JVC HA-FDX1.

WHIZZER KYLIN HE01 COMPARED

Let me be subjective for once. I much prefer the Whizzer Kylin HE01 over the Moondrop Starfield and TinHifi T4. Both Starfield and T4 are less cohesive and fluid. In the midrange they are much thinner, sharper, and hollower than the Whizzer Kylin HE01. These two are classic cases of “earphones good for the price…” as they lack compared to more expensive iems. The Whizzer Kylin HE01 sounded enjoyable even when compared to the very good Moondrop Illumination…albeit not as good. My ears can’t read price tags and they really like the Whizzer Kylin HE01 a lot.

But let’s continue the “slaughter”. The KBEAR Diamond, in comparison, sound much thicker in the bass and thinner in the midrange…I wonder who helped tuning them :).

The Tin Hifi T2 also don’t match the liveliness of the Whizzer Kylin HE01 and can’t keep up with midrange and treble resolution.

The best of this rest is still the Blon Bl-05s, which have a somewhat glaring upper midrange but similar midrange articulation….and substandard accessories.

In summary, the Whizzer Kylin HE01 is the most cohesive, articulate, and engaging iem of the lot to me. My pick. And I would not have expected this, quite frankly. A pleasant surprise indeed. And – for once everything works just fine ootb…but I am repeating myself.

You find reviews of all of the iems mentioned above here.

Whizzer HE01 Review 2 – Whizz Kid

Photographed: Whizzer Kylin HE01

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Whizzer Kylin HE01 is an enjoyable, fluid sounding single DD earphone that strikes the balance between fun (“bass”) and audiophile (“midrange and treble”). And it is comfortable, all of which qualifies it as a daily driver. The company has implemented a few technical, ergonomic, and optical ideas that make this earphone distinct from its competition.

The biggest appeal/non-appeal and potential selling point may be the rose-gold optics. For those who like the Whizzer Kylin HE01’s appearance a lot, there is no reason to stop you from getting it – as this iem has not real weak points and holds up very well against its peers.

I have to admit (secretly), that I quite enjoy this earphone, mainly for its nice punch/dynamics and its comfort/fit. The Whizzer Kylin HE01 is a great find for me.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Cayin N3Pro Full Review: The Chameleon

Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir (Munich, Germany) — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 07:02:00 +0000

Pros — Great build quality and ergonomics
– Tube mode offers a very different flavor of sound: colored yet engaging/fun
– Little hiss in tube mode suitable for sensitive IEMs
– Good connectivity options and MQA full unfolding

Cons — Average battery life
– Display could be better
– People looking for a neutral sound will be disappointed/not for neutralheads
– Poor EQ options and average output power

INTRODUCTION

Tube amplification is a rather divisive topic.

For some, it’s the holy grail and a step closer to the “analogue” feel. For others, it’s just gooey warmth that robs instruments of detail and also introduces coloration by adding distortion products.

Cayin, in their usual out-of-the-box manner, decided to give listeners the best of both worlds. This is not the first DAP with tubes from them, that would be the flagship Cayin N8. However, it’s the first somewhat affordable one, and thus carves itself a niche in an otherwise highly competitive price segment. Does it perform up to expectations though? Let’s find out.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. The Cayin N3Pro was sent part of Cayin’s review tour (thanks Andy Kong). Disclaimer

IEMs/Headphones used: Final E5000/FI-BA-SS/Sonorous III, Dunu Studio SA6, IMR R1 Zenith, Reecho Insects Awaken, Sennheiser HD650

Firmware version: 2.0 (MQA support enabled)

Price, while reviewed: $480.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

IN THE BOX…

The Cayin N3Pro comes with most of the stuff you’ll need out of the box. The screen protectors are pre-applied, for one, and you also get a silicone bumper case. Lastly there is the USB type-C cable. It’s nothing fancy but all these are fairly usable and of pretty decent quality. However, I would recommend spending a bit extra for the Dignis Leather case. At ~35 euros it’s fairly affordable given it’s a Dignis case. The color palette isn’t my favorite but it’s not that offensive a hue either.
4/5

APPEARANCE, HAPTIC, AND BUILD QUALITY

Cayin always have had great build quality and the N3Pro is no exception. The entire frame is sandblasted aluminium, sandwiched between glass (tempered?) front and back. At 195gm it’s not the lightest DAP but the weight does add a reassuring heft in-hand. There is nothing on the top of the player. On the right side there are the three playback buttons and a volume-wheel/power button combo. The buttons have a nice feedback with no mushiness. The volume/power button combo can feel a bit wobbly but the overall scrolling is quite smooth. On the left side you find the micro-SD slot (up to 1TB capacity). On the front there is a touch-sensitive button at the bottom which by default takes you to the Now Playing screen and acts as an indicator LED, which RGB colors representing various sampling rates/file types (e.g. purple for MQA). Up top is the 3.2″ IPS display. Between the display and the button there is a small window through which you can see the tubes with a red underglow during playback.

At the bottom of the unit you’ll find the three output ports (3.5mm headphone out, 3.5mm line out, 4.4mm balanced out) and the type-C charging cable. This is where I encounter my first gripe with the N3Pro: the location of the lineout port. As it stands it’s quite easy to mistake the headphone jack for the lineout jack in the dark (and the Dignis case hides the markings altogether). Mistakenly plugging your sensitive headphones/IEMs to the very powerful line out won’t be a pretty picture and might damage the drivers. I’d have preferred better physical separation, perhaps slotting the balanced port in the middle and flanking the phone-out/line-out on either side. Or just do it like many others do and make line-out an option from the menu by combining line-out/3.5mm out.

Apart from the rant regarding the port orientation: I have no qualms about the N3Pro’s build. It feels positively dense, the buttons have good feedback, and the ports are at the bottom for once.
4.5/5

DISPLAY, UI, HANDLING

Display: The Cayin N3Pro has a 3.2″ IPS display with 480*360 resolution (~180ppi). It’s nothing groundbreaking and the IPS display doesn’t have the best of contrast/color accuracy. However, viewing angles are good and it’s moderately sharp. Side and top bezels are fairly slim and symmetric unlike the TOTL Cayin N6ii (reviewed here) so that’s a plus.
3.5/5

UI/Responsiveness: Cayin decided to not go the Android route this time around and that’s a welcome change IMO. The OS here is Hiby OS with some bits and pieces customized especially for Cayin (e.g. the tube mode selector). By default you are taken to a launcher of sorts with all the most used menus available at a glance. Swiping up from bottom will show additional settings for playback (gapless, repeat, EQ, filters etc.) and device (wifi, BT, firmware upgrade etc.). Swiping down from the top will slide down a notification shade where you can select various tube modes, gain level, USB/DAC modes, tube/solid state selector etc. along with the handy brightness slider. It’s a very well-thought out design and improves the usability of the N3Pro by a margin.

The UI is fairly pedestrian all in all but has good responsiveness. Scrolling through the library is fast and also has fast/alphabetical scrolling. The album art thumbnails aren’t cached though (or takes a while to load from memory) so they appear a bit late. Some high resolution album arts weren’t even displayed which was a bit of a letdown. Lyrics support was also a hit-or-miss. There was no proper PEQ support, only a basic 10-band EQ support which was a letdown. The biggest offense of the UI is that the iconography looks like something designed back in 2006. Other than that it’s a functional UI that gets the job done without getting in the way.
4/5

Connectivity: BT 5.0 with LDAC, WiFi (no 5GHz sadly), USB type-C with SPDIF functionality— it’s got all the stuff I will possibly need. Given there is no direct support for streaming I am fine without 5GHz wifi (not that 2.4GHz isn’t enough). You can also use the N3Pro as a BT amplifier to stream music from your smartphone (via the Hiby Music app). Using as a DAC was also very straightforward: select USB mode as “DAC” from the dropdown menu (swipe down from top) and you’re good to go (ideally install the Cayin USB driver as well from here). Bitperfect playback was also possible. I couldn’t make it unfold MQA from the Windows Tidal app though, but offline Tidal files were supported with full MQA unfold.

Solid connectivity overall. No glaring gaps whatsoever.
5/5

Battery Life: The N3Pro utilizes a 4100mAh battery which last ~8hrs of real-world uses (in tube mode). This figure will vary depending on the file format and how much volume/output power you require. Nonetheless, I’d call this about average for the price class. Standby battery drain is pretty good however and setting up idle shut-off saves even more battery. As an aside, it takes ~15 seconds to boot from cold so powering it off when not in use is a viable option. It takes ~3+ hours to fully charge the battery. No fast charging here.

There are DAPs with far better battery life at this price bracket, but I’m gonna cut Cayin some slack because of the tubes.
3/5

TECH INSIDE

Tubes: The N3Pro houses two matched Raytheon JAN6418 miniature tubes which are suspended inside a silicone housing. As per Cayin these increases shock absorption. Despite that, there is a high-frequency ping every time you put the N3Pro on a solid surface with some force, or just walk around briskly with them in the pocket. The ringing noise isn’t distracting during busy music passages but in quite passages it can stand out quite a bit. Just an eccentricity you gotta live with if you want the tube goodness I guess.

The miniature tubes and the SIlicone chassis for mounting them

The tubes are not in the typical OTL setup, rather they operate in conjunction with the differential amplifier and mostly alter the timbre. The operational diagram can be seen below. I couldn’t detect any hiss even with sensitive IEMs (Final FI-BA-SS in this case) while in tube mode. Another topic of discussion: tube burn-in. These tubes will need ~10–20 hours to settle in. The sound will have noticeable changes esp in the higher frequencies until then.

SOUND

Cayin N3Pro can have at least 4 different sound signatures. The differences are sometimes subtle, and at times drastic. To summarize: there are subtle differences between the solid-state sound from the single-ended and balanced out. Then there are drastic differences between the Triode and Ultralinear modes for the Tube mode. Before going further, some relevant specs:

The Cayin N3 Pro uses dual AK4493 DACs in true balanced configuration (so in balanced mode each DAC handles only one channel).

Tube Mode: There are two different operation modes for the tubes: Triode and Ultralinear. Keep in mind that the tubes will warm up for 5 seconds before playing tracks if you stop playback for a while.

Triode mode has a very intimate presentation with up-front midrange and the typical tube bass with smoothed out leading edge of bass notes. It doesn’t sound blunted though and has pretty good resolution (though the balanced out has better layering and staging). Overall the Triode mode is the one I used the mode during the course of this review and the one I’d recommend you to try first if you plan on getting the N3Pro. I liked how the N3Pro sounded in Triode mode with both warm and bright IEMs/Headphones so you can pretty much set it on and forget it.

The Ultralinear mode is polar opposite. It throws an artificially wide stage and has a very aggressive leading edge of notes. The imaging is quite odd in this mode and I just don’t enjoy the presentation. Your mileage may vary and you may find it appealing with specific pair-ups/music but for my library and the headphones I tried this mode was a no-go.

Solid-state Mode: The solid state mode is rather uninspiring. The single-ended output is decent but nothing to write home about in terms of overall resolution and staging. The balanced out is better in this regard but still about average given the competition.

The other thing to notice about the solid-state mode is the coloration. The single-ended mode has a warm tilt with more focus on mid-bass. The balanced out is more… balanced sounding but still not what I’d call “neutral”. The warm tint is there all along. Separation from balanced out is pretty good, but there are better performers in this price bracket if you are after channel separation and soundstage width.

There are six selectable reconstruction filters: Sharp, Slow, Short Delay Sharp, Short Delay Slow, Super Slow, Low-dispersion Short Delay. The differences between them weren’t that drastic or immediately noticeable (unlike some other DAPs in this range). You are welcome to fiddle with them and see if you notice any drastic difference. I mostly stuck with Slow for this review.

Overall, it’s a difficult task to assign a rating to the Cayin N3Pro’s sound quality. It changes so drastically between modes after all. That being said, the general sound is definitely a step up from your average smartphone and in tube mode it’s a very engaging DAP indeed.
4.5/5

Amp performance: The N3Pro could get the Sennheiser HD650 loud at high gain but couldn’t bring out the full dynamics and imaging prowess of them. The HD650 is not unusable at all and quite decent in fact with the N3Pro single-ended out but it’s just not as good as some desk setups out there in this price range. The balanced out mode faired better in terms of power but had similar issues with dynamics and presentation.

The most power hungry IEM that I’ve got: Final E5000, got loud enough from the balanced out but lacked the bass control it exhibits from better sources. At 93dB/mW and 15ohms of impedance the E5000 is very particular about amping and the Cayin N3Pro couldn’t drive it as well as, say, the Questyle QP1R does.

All in all, the Cayin N3Pro isn’t what I would call a “powerhouse” like the venerable A&K Kann Alpha. It’s mostly meant to be used with IEMs and moderately efficient headphones. Low sensitivity planars and high-impedance full-size cans aren’t the best use-case, though that’s the case for most DAPs in this price range.
4/5

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs Cowon Plenue R2 ($550): The sound signatures couldn’t be more different between these two DAPs. Whereas the Cowon Plenue R2 has a near-neutral tone out of the balanced out (and the single-ended out has just a bit more warmth) the Cayin N3Pro is noticeably warmer even in solid-state mode/balanced out combo. The Plenue R2 opts for its fantastic DSP effects named JetEffects to add various degrees of coloration. The PEQ options are also noticeably better. The N3Pro on the other hand is quite colored by default and has no PEQ options. The Cowon player lacks MQA support and WiFi/BT 5.0 however, so Cayin N3Pro is definitely more feature rich.

In terms of the rest of the aspects: display is far superior on Cowon Plenue R2, whereas UI navigation is faster and simpler on the Cayin N3Pro. I do prefer the design of Cowon’s UI more despite somewhat cumbersome navigation. Battery life is far superior to the N3Pro on the Cowon R2 and I get ~18hours of music playback regularly.

vs Fiio M11 ($500): Soundwise, Fiio opted for a lean, mean, brittle signature with the M11 and kind of forgot that something called bass exists… Well it’s not that bad but the bass texture and extension is quite poor for such a pricey device. It lacks in dynamism as a result but does bring out more top-end detail though it gets too fatiguing for me. I much prefer the N3Pro.

As for the rest: M11 is Android, N3Pro is not, so you know which one you need. Display is better and handling is also easier on the Fiio DAP. Battery life is better on the Fiio M11 by a couple hours more (11hrs or so).

vs iBasso DX160 ($400): The iBasso DX160 is a benchmark champ with very good figures on the usual test-bed metrics (THD, IMD+N, Crosstalk etc.). Perhaps the Cowon Plenue R2 beats it but they’re quite close and the DX160 has even better output power. Against the N3Pro the differences aren’t as stark. Both opts for a warm-ish tone, though the N3Pro in tube mode has more coloration and fun factor. I prefer the balanced out of the DX160 more vs the balanced out of the N3Pro, but the tube mode is lacking on the DX160 and I crave for that unique signature.

DX160 is Android too but performance is subpar and there will be hiccups. It also has some RF interference issues while using WiFi. The display used to be excellent on the first-batch DX160 but the later 2020 revision has brought in a worse display. Still, it’s better than that on the N3Pro. Battery life is similar on both.

vs Questyle QP1R ($600, discontinued): This gem of a DAP is sadly discontinued but if you can get a second-hand QP1R — give it a strong thought unless you need Android smarts. The dynamism of the QP1R is unlike anything in its price bracket. Certain TOTL DAPs like the Cayin N6ii (with T01/E01 motherboard) will beat it on that aspect but then you’re spending nearly twice as much. QP1R also has a more neutral presentation and can render an abundance of detail. The staging isn’t the widest but imaging is precise.

The OS, sadly, is outdated on the QP1R. There are no smart options anywhere neither is the UI touch friendly. Battery life is worse as well (7 hrs vs 9 hrs on the N3Pro). The QP1R also hisses more on sensitive IEMs (though it sounds better still than on the N3Pro). Build quality/fit and finish is even better on QP1R, despite the apparent solidity of N3Pro’s build. Display is again better on the N3Pro though QP1R has a higher quality display (in terms of contrast etc.).

If you only care about music playback or want to use the DAP as a DAC/Amp/pre-amp at times the QP1R is the better choice. I do realize it’s a very niche device so the N3Pro will be more suitable for general use and will offer more flexibilities.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Cayin’s N3Pro is a fun sounding DAP with two different tube flavors and the usual bells and whistles you expect from a mid-tier DAP in terms of output options. It’s a unique offering in the price range if you’re after a fun sounding DAP and don’t care too much about neutrality. The display and UI elements could definitely be better but the performance is good enough for most use cases and the connectivity options are solid.

The Cayin N3Pro earns my recommendation, mostly because it dares to bring tube sound to the masses inside a DAP and the overall execution is quite graceful indeed.

MY VERDICT

Overall Rating: 4.25/5

This is a great DAP if you mostly intend to run IEMs and want a warm, fun sound signature.

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Cayin was kind enough to send the N3Pro as a review unit, part of the review tour organized by Andy Kong over at head-fi.

You can buy the Cayin N3Pro from Hifigo.

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Simgot EM2 Review I – Refined and Revealing

Loomis T. Johnson (Chicago, USA) — Thu, 02 May 2019 15:20:11 +0000

You find a series of photos of the Simgot EM2 on our blog HERE. And since we don’t do half things, another review of the Simgot EM2 by Jürgen is HERE.

Simgot EM2—new (single Knowles BA/DD) hybrid from Simgot, whose single dynamic EN700 Bass is still one of the best-tuned $100 phones I’ve heard. Packaging and accessories are lavish (silver cable, great leather case); the unboxing experience is orgasmic. Build is solid, although I prefer the metal aesthetic of the Simgot EN700 to the less elegant-looking acrylics of the Simgot EM2. Sleek, tear-shaped shells provide for excellent fit and comfort; for some reason these isolated well outdoors and less well in the gym. Very efficient and easily driven with a mobile; however these also scale well with more powerful sources, which deepens subbass impact.

I hear these as mildly U-shaped, with a neutral to slightly bright tonality and moderately crisp note texture. Soundstage is very holographic, with more width than height, and layering and imaging is pinpoint. With the “bass” eartips (and esp. with foams), subbass extends quite low and, in contrast to the EN700, the EM2 has impeccable bass control and speed, although midbass is fairly flat and modest in quantity; these lack the seismic slam and physicality of, say, the Ibasso IT01 and are not optimal for EDM or technoid genres. (Note that the included “treble” tips do, as advertised, markedly attenuate high end, but render these overdamped/ bass shy and somewhat unbalanced; in general the Simgot EM2 are extremely tip-sensitive). Mids are slightly recessed but very revealing; voices have very good clarity and audibility despite sounding slightly far back from the center stage. High end is well extended, with a nice sibilant-free sheen and sparkle and are also very detailed; I heard new subtleties on familiar recordings and these sort out complex orchestral passages very, very capably. Driver coherence is flawless; the EM2 lack the sizzly, overbusy character of many of the new breed of cheap multidriver Chifis. They are, however, ruthlessly revealing of bad recordings.

Compared to the EN700, the EM2 are more analytical and “audiophile tuned”–more revealing, with a rounder stage and tighter (if less voluminous) bass; next to players like the Tehnz P4 or even the Moondrop Kanas the EM2 sounds less smoothed-over and more accurate. That said, I won’t say the EM2 are clearly better than the EN700 or the Moondrop Kanas, which sound “tubier” and beefier than the EM2, although the EM2 are the better choice for critical listening, esp. with less bass-heavy fare. Very fairly priced at $115.

SPECIFICATIONS

Transducer: 10 mm high magnetic compound dynamic driver & Knowles balanced armature RAF-32873
Polymer compound titanium-plated diaphragm N50 strong magnetic circuit, Acoustic hanging system, Brass stabilizing rings
Frequency Response: 15 Hz – 40 kHz
Sensitivity:　 ≥101dB（at 1000Hz）
Impedance: 15Ω
Distortion: <1% 101dB（20μpa）
Channel Imbalance: <1.5dB（at 1000Hz）
Rated Power: 10 mW
Cable: 4 cores of SPC braided cable
Simgot Amazon Store: LINK

DISCLAIMER

I got the EM2 unsolicited and free from Simgot; I bought the other IEMs mentioned above.

Our generic standard disclaimer

Simgot EM2 frequency responses with included tips: narrow-bore (red) and wide-bore (blue).

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RUIZU X02 8 GB Review – The Budget Sonic Pocket Knife

Jürgen Kraus (Calgary, Canada) — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 09:44:48 +0000

Pros — Extremely multifunctional and therefore useful; supports most audio formats; 8 GB built-in storage; intuitive operation; handy size; great value.

Cons — Not quite high-end sound; small screen; included earbuds are useless.

DISCLAIMER

I don’t like awarding stars but am forced to do so. Reasoning is that it is impossible to be consistent between items over time. A description does not change but a firm stars rating depends largely on other review items. While I think, he RUIZU X02 is a highly recommendable item and great value for money, it will never sound as good as a player ten times its price. I thank Ashley of RUIZU for the review sample.

INTRODUCTION

I am relatively new to the world of low-priced dedicated mp3 players. Yes, I had two ipod nanos (third and fourth generation) and an early ipod touch – but that was a long time ago. And I had picked up a cheap and awful-sounding Apple clone at Beijing’s silk market in the mid 2000s. Today, low-priced mp3 players are largely sidelined by smartphones which sport the same functionalities – and more. One function, however, is missing in smartphones, and it has only existed in the fourth-generation ipod nano: an analog radio. Although the respective chip is said to exist in iphones, it is not activated as analog radio usage consumes about five times as much battery as “normal” operation. Manufacturers are simply afraid of a wave of uninformed customers claiming (non-existing) battery failure.

On my search for a portable radio for my commute, I was surprisingly contacted by Ashley from RUIZU on amazon and asked for a review. So, why not? As it turns out, the RUIZU was so much more – a truly versatile device.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: X02
Screen Size: 1.8in
SNR: 90 DB
Audio Format: MP3/APE/FLAC/WAV/OGG/AAC/M4A/WMA
Recording Format: MP3/WAV/ACT
Video Format: 128 * 160 AMV Video
Lyric Format: LRC
FM Radio Frequency: Europe/N. America: 87.5-108KHz,
Japan: 76-90KHz Languages: 28 (Chinese, English, Japanese,
Korean, Deutsch…)
Built-in Storage: 8 GB
SD Expansion Card: Up to 128 GB
Battery: 3.7 V, 460 mAh
Music Playing Time: 80 hours
Charging Time: 1-1.5 hours
Dimensions: 8.8 * 3.8 * 0.7 cm / 3.46 * 1.50 * 0.28 in
Weight: Approx. 30 g / 1.04 oz
Price (at the time of the review): ~ $25
Where to buy: amazon, gearbest, aliexpress, etc.

IN THE BOX…

1 * MP3 Player
1 * Earbuds
1 * Charging Cable
1 * User Manual

BUILD AND HAPTIC

The player is amazingly small and light – and it sits well on my palm. The case is coated with soft, smooth rubber that leaves a pleasant feel on my fingers. The 1.8-inch screen is rather small, smaller than in my old ipods. The RUIZI is operated with a panel that resembles Apple’s click wheel – but there is no rotational component to it: operation is by clicking only. The circular panel is subdivided into four buttons, each defining a quadrant. An additional button is in the centre. The clicking is accurate but feels and sounds a bit basic.

The screen comes in colour and has a relatively coarse resolution and slow refresh rate…which is just fine for normal operation.

At the player’s lower end, there is an on-off switch and a micro-usb port. On the right side, there is a slot for a TF card and the headphone jack.

FUNCTIONALITY

Music player (shuffle, repeat, speed adjustment, playlists …)
FM radio (auto-tuning and 30-station preset)
5-band equalizer (presets and custom)
Voice and radio recorder
Video and photo player
E-book reader
Clock (screen saver…very handy) Stopwatch
Alarm clock
Sleep timer (1- 99 min)
Calendar

OPERATION

The menu is intuitive and self-explanatory. I didn’t use the manual (much) as the font was too small even for my glasses. There are some nifty shortcuts such as auto-preset of 30 radio stations. Album covers are displayed.

FILE TRANSFER

Easy: works the same as any external hard drive. You create album folders and add music to them. It is easy to click through your folder system. The same accounts for videos and photos.

EARBUDS

The included RUIZU-branded earbuds resemble the older Apple buds, the ones that came with the iPod Classic and earlier models. But that’s where the similarity ends. The included buds have too high an impedance and are essentially impossible to drive with both the X02 and my ipod nanos alike. I therefore used the TRN V80 for testing the X02’s sound.

SOUND

The player has a surprisingly open presentation and good instrument separation. The sound is clear but sometimes a bit on the sharp side both owing to an artificial treble lift. Treble can therefore be strident at higher volumes but equalization can help. Depth, richness of sound, energy, and bass are all ok but by no means a challenge for my iPhone 5S. Sub-bass is a bit lean. The X02 offers a healthy volume, strong enough to warrant the included volume limiter function. Radio reception is good and sounds good.

In comparison (using the Yinyoo NY06 triple driver earphones) the ipod Nano fourth generation sounded darker, smoother, with more depth and with much more bass and a fuller body. The RUIZU sounded clearer and brighter. Resolution was on par. But: the ipod cost six times as much and that was 9 years ago – and it has much fewer functions.

To summarize the sound: it exceeded my expectations…nothing wrong with it when you use earphones better than the included ones – but it is also nothing exceptional. Yes, you can listen to music with the X02 and it is fun.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The strength of the RUIZU X02 is its versatility and I treasure it particularly for its radio. It is small, fits in a shirt pocket and is therefore handy for travel or the daily commute – with an outstanding battery life. The sound is clear and overall satisfactory when you are on the road but it won’t please audiophiles…which is expected at this price. The RUIZU X02 is what it is: a very affordable sonic pocket knife that will provide many hours of pleasure.

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