Instead of first impressions, we offer completely flavour-neutral optical treatments before following up with our exhaustive reviews of the products’ performances.

Current Photography

1. BQEYZ Autumn vs. BEQYZ Summer (Jürgen Kraus)
2. Hidizs MM2 (Jürgen Kraus)
3. IKKO OH2 vs. IKKO OH1S (Jürgen Kraus)

Vintage Photography (prior to March 2022)

1. AME Custom Argent Hybrid Electrostatic (Jürgen Kraus)
2. Anew X-One (Jürgen Kraus)
3. Blon BL-05 Beta (Jürgen Kraus)
4. Blon BL-05 Beta (Jürgen Kraus)
5. Blon BL-05 MKI & MKII (Jürgen Kraus)
6. BQEYZ Spring 1 (Jürgen Kraus)
7. BQEYZ Spring 2 (Durwood)
8. CCA CA16 (Durwood)
9. Drop + JVC HA-FXD1 (Jürgen Kraus)
10. Fidue A65/A66 (Jürgen Kraus)
11. FiiO FD1 (Jürgen Kraus)
12. FiiO FHs1 (Jürgen Kraus)
13. Hill Audio Altair • RA (Jürgen Kraus)
14. iBasso IT01 V2 (Jürgen Kraus)
15. Hilidac Atom Pro (Jürgen Kraus)
16. Ikko OH1 (Jürgen Kraus)
17. KBEAR Believe (Jürgen Kraus)
18. KBEAR Diamond (Jürgen Kraus)
19. KBEAR hi7 (Jürgen Kraus)
20. KBEAR KB04 (Jürgen Kraus)
21. KBEAR Lark (Jürgen Kraus)
22. Kinboofi MK4 (Jürgen Kraus)
23. KZ ASX (Jürgen Kraus)
24. KZ ZSN Pro (Slater)
25. Moondrop Crescent (Jürgen Kraus)
26. Moondrop Illumination (Jürgen Kraus)
27. Moondrop Kanas Pro Edition (Jürgen Kraus)
28. Moondrop SSP (Jürgen Kraus)
29. Moondrop SSR (Jürgen Kraus)
30. Moondrop Starfield (Jürgen Kraus)
31. NiceHCK Blocc 5N Litz UPOCC OCC Copper Earphone Cable
32. NiceHCK Litz 4N Pure Silver Earphone Cable (Jürgen Kraus)
33. NiceHCK NX7 (Jürgen Kraus)
34. NiceHCK NX7 Pro (Jürgen Kraus)
35. Queen of Audio Pink Lady (Jürgen Kraus)
36. Revonext QT5 (Slater)
37. SeeAudio Yume (Jürgen Kraus)
38. Senfer DT6 (Slater)
39. Sennheiser IE 300
40. Sennheiser IE 500 PRO
41. Shozy Form 1.1 and Shozy Form 1.4
42. Shozy Form 1.4 (Jürgen Kraus)
43. Shozy Rouge (Jürgen Kraus)
44. Simgot EM2 (Jürgen Kraus)
45. Simgot EN700 Pro (Slater)
46. Smabat ST-10 (Jürgen Kraus)
47. Tin Hifi T2 Plus (Jürgen Kraus)
48. Tin-Hifi T4 (Jürgen Kraus)
49. TRN-STM (Jürgen Kraus)
50. TRN V90 (Jürgen Kraus
51. TRN-VX (Jürgen Kraus)
52. Whizzer Kylin HE01 (Jürgen Kraus)

The post Photography appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Intro

BLON released the A8 Prometheus following several models that fizzled after the success of the legendary surprise hit BL-03. The shell on the BLON A8 Prometheus is out of this world, part sci-fi, part abstract art it’s hard not to marvel at the odd looking structure. Advertised as a sports running flagship earphone, seemingly a bit oxymoronic it surprised me by fulfilling both prophecies. However, I came to realize like the Aliens movie franchise, there was something hiding waiting to surprise.

Disclaimer: They were on loan from the Art Haus von Loomis Johnson

Tested at $85: They can be purchased in the usual places such as Aliexpress, Amazon, Hifigo, Keephifi, etc.

Good Traits

Physical Attributes

Earphone makers that want to set themselves apart from the seemingly endless options these days must stand out. The shell on the BLON A8 is nothing short of different. I don’t recall anything else like it. The outer shell is a 3D hollow structure with a smaller enclosure for the single lightweight diaphragm dynamic driver.

It doesn’t boast any exotic particular materials DLC, Beryllium, Titanium, Unobtanium, etc, but sometimes you don’t need these to pull off a good sounding earphone. Since the shell is metal, this helps reduce weight and it would have been really cool if the structure was optimized to reduce wind noise..haha give it a couple of years and some manufacturer will figure this out and sell it at a premium price. While it’s not designed to reduce noise, it did an amazing job staying put in my ears even during a simple 3 mile hike.

The connectors on the BLON A8 are another oddity, they angle the earhooks towards your head which I thought surely would cause the earphones to push out of my ears. Maybe the opposite was true, it helps create some extra friction to reduce movement of the cables.

Hot tip: It’s important to play around with eartips on these. I did not get the included eartips from Loomis Johnson who previously reviewed the BLON A8. Instead I started with the olive shaped ones from my Tin Audio T2 Plus which turns them into bassy monsters reminiscent of the BMG DMG/Nicehck M6.

The Azla Sedna Light shallow was better, but shallow widebores similar to the ones included with TFZ King Pro were the best. The shallow widebore lets the midrange and treble shine a little more and in my case the seal was “loose” or not tight. This helped cut down on the steep bass rise, just as the BMG DMG third party nozzle with an extra vent release.. Since this is probably hard to duplicate, most of my comments will be based on using something similar to the stock tips.

Package Contents

• Burlap Storage sack
• Eartips
• 2 Pin removeable cable 1.2m silver cable

Sound

Tested with an LG V30, Sony NW-A55, Liquid Spark + JDS Labs Atom

Something was up with the BLON A8, every time I put them in the sound would be different, one minute they were bass monsters the next more balanced (not neutral). I consulted other reviews to see what was going on…

Sculpted bass, but then bass, bass and more bass?

“The Blon A8 Prometheus surprises with its bass quality—tight, well-sculpted and wholly free from bloom and bleed, with adequate but not massive  subbass throb” -audioreviews.org

“The BL-A8 have meaty, punchy bass. If you’re a bass head, you are in for a treat.” -Headphonehonesty

“BLON BL-A8 has meaty and thick lows. This model is perfect for bass heads as it gives a meaty deep rumble” -Headphonics.com

“If you crave those deep, visceral sub-bass rumbles that almost make you lose control of your sphincter then the BL-A8 will oblige.” -primeaudio.org

BASS is all about weighty slam, and it’s in a hurry to please the headbanger, so much so that sometimes the bass take the front stage and hollow the resolution. -nobsaudiophile.com

Originally I though the tips I was using allowed for a light seal. The real reason was more about the stem of the eartip pushing down over the vent hole. I am not sure why BLON made a decision to put a vent hole in the stem, perhaps it was a last minute tuning decision easier to rectify with the nozzle vs the shell? Who knows…well now we all know to watch out for this.

It makes sense why the shallow wide bore eartips work very well since these are less likely to push down over that vent hole. Another possibility is to use something with a thicker tighter stem so it doesn’t slip down. A combo of short, thick and tight would be super ideal, keep it clean folks.

Final Remarks

Rather than rehash what my fellow com-padre Loomis has already laid out for the BLON A8 Prometheus, I have to agree with his take on them and am wrapping this up early. I think these are attention grabbing socialites that did not make the splash they could have if it were not for the troublesome placement of that nozzle vent hole. Good effort BLON, one of your better ones minus the misstep on hole placement. I rank these cool to have if you use the right tips and avoid blockage.

BLON A8 PROMETHEUS SPECIFICATIONS

• Impedance 32ohm
• Sensitivity 115db
• 10mm driver
• 3.5mm 1.2m silver cable (mic optional)
• Color Options Silver/Gun Metal

GRAPHS

BLON A8 Left vs Right

BLON A8 Nozzle vent partially covered / eartip inconsistencies

Contact us!

DISCLAIMER

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post BLON A8 Prometheus Review (2) – Smoking Hot Tip: Black Hole Ahead appeared first on Audio Reviews.

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The eartips are listed in alphabetical order.

Latest Additions

May 2022 additions: Acoustune AEX07, Acoustune AEX50, Azla SednaEarFit Vivid Edition.

Mar 2022 additions: Simphonio Diamond Earfit, Softears Liquid Silicone Ear Tips.

Feb 2022 additions: Canyon Silikon-Eartips ET400 (Bass), ALPEX Hi-Unit HSE-A1000.

Testing Parameters and Disclaimer

The following tests of silicone eartips are based on my evaluations and listening observations. All test are conducted in a quiet listening environment. Fit is ensured such that eartips are properly inserted and seated into the ear canal with good seal. I have to elaborate, your experiences may vary.

Associated equipment list: Sources – JWD JWM-115, Shanling M0, Zishan DSD and Topping DX3 Pro.IEMs – Tin Hifi T2, KBEAR Diamond, TRI I4 and Moondrop Kanas Pro

Disclaimer: All scores are subjected to change without notice. I may update or add new scores every few months when I acquire new eartips.

NOTE: I don’t have favorite eartips but if I want neutrality, SpinFits CP-145 is my first pick usually. For IEM tuning, I always use reversed KZ Starline, follow by stock eartips from the manufacturer. 

A

Acoustune AEX07

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.00

For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange. The AEX07 sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Improved overall tonal texture and clarity over the latter. Note weight is is denser than AET07a however it sounds less congested than AET07. A good middle-ground between its two predecessors. My new favorite Acoustune eartip.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AEX50

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular 
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 1.50
Midrange: 2.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 3.50

What was Acoustune thinking when they came out these?! 

These eartips are “directional” (meaning you must wear them in a certain way) and a pain in the butt to put on. You need lots of patience and time to get them to sit well inside the ears. Getting the proper “ear seal” is nearly impossible. There is literally zero isolation. The design adopts a WW2 helmet-like umbrella shape with double “wings” design. The wide wing is to face the inner-part of the entrance to the ear canal, and the narrow wing facing out (see attached photos). 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get them to fit in my ears properly not matter how hard I tried. Although made of soft memory polymer, they become uncomfortable, irritating and warm inside my ears after a while.

Sound-wise, these eartips thin the sound so much that they make your TOTL IEMs sound like 1950s transistor radio. Everything sounds distant, lean and sibilance. 

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AET06
Bore size: double flange, regular
Stem length: extremely short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 5.0
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 5
Similar to AET08 in many ways but with an even tighter bass punch. Vocal is bodied and three-dimensional
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AET06a (Enhanced comfort)
Bore size: double flange, regular
Stem length: extremely short
Feel: firm and pliable (slightly softer than AET06a)
Bass: 4.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 5
Virtually identical to AET06 with a hair bit cleaner and more sparkling upper-midrange and treble. Feels softer than AET06 thus less pressure inside the ears.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AET07
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange. Similar to SpinFit CP-145 in many ways but with better bass texture and vocal presence.
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Acoustune AET07a
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
Slight improvement over Acoustune AET07 in texture, detail, tonal purity and vocal clarity.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Acoustune AET08
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 5
For vocal, midrange and solid bass
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Acoustune AEX07

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.00

For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange. The AEX07 sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Improved overall tonal texture and clarity over the latter. Note weight is is denser than AET07a however it sounds less congested than AET07. A good middle-ground between its two predecessors. My new favorite Acoustune eartip.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AEX50

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular 
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 1.50
Midrange: 2.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 3.50

What was Acoustune thinking when they came out these?! 

These eartips are “directional” (meaning you must wear them in a certain way) and a pain in the butt to put on. You need lots of patience and time to get them to sit well inside the ears. Getting the proper “ear seal” is nearly impossible. There is literally zero isolation. The design adopts a WW2 helmet-like umbrella shape with double “wings” design. The wide wing is to face the inner-part of the entrance to the ear canal, and the narrow wing facing out (see attached photos). 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get them to fit in my ears properly not matter how hard I tried. Although made of soft memory polymer, they become uncomfortable, irritating and warm inside my ears after a while.

Sound-wise, these eartips thin the sound so much that they make your TOTL IEMs sound like 1950s transistor radio. Everything sounds distant, lean and sibilance. 

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

ADV Eartune Fidelity U Elliptical Silicone Eartips (horizontal fit)
Bore size: small (4mm)
Stem length: short
Feel: flexible, soft and pliable
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 3.5
An interesting elliptical eartip which fits two ways and can affect sound. The not so interesting part is it projects a smaller soundstage and vocals get thrown backwards. In both fittings, I experienced quite significant treble roll-off and details lost. Isolation is NOT GOOD!
Sample from ADVSound, courtesy of co-blogger Baskingshark.

ADV Eartune Fidelity U Elliptical Silicone Eartips (vertical fit)
Bore size: small (4mm)
Stem length: short
Feel: flexible, soft and pliable
Bass: 3.0
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 3.5
An interesting elliptical eartip which fits two ways and can affect sound. The not so interesting part is it projects a smaller soundstage and vocals get thrown backwards. In both fittings, I experienced quite significant treble roll-off and details lost. Isolation is NOT GOOD!
Sample from ADVSound, courtesy of co-blogger Baskingshark.

AKG Anti-allergenic Sleeves for K3003
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 5.0
Yes, it is called “anti-allergenic sleeves”. If you can find these at your local earphone stores, GET IT! These sound extremely close to Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC but at half the cost. If you are not used to the grippiness or tackiness of the XELASTEC, AKG is the best alternative. Vocal is forward with very good dimension and ambience. 3D. Best of all it doesn’t affect bass and treble.
Purchase from a friend who bought from AKG outlet in Germany

ALPEX Hi-Unit HSE-A1000
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.25
These wide bore eartips bear an uncanny resemblance to JVC Spiral Dot in look but they don’t sound alike. The HSE-A1000 is brighter, more open and livelier. Midrange has more sparkle and life. The bass is cleaner, tighter and more textured. Best of all, they cost only a fraction of the JVC. I am surprised how good these are. What a hidden gem!
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Audiosense S400 Soft Silicone Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: flexible and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.5
Both Baskingshark and Vannak Pech are fans of this eartip. It adds “round-meatiness” (a.k.a smoothness and body) to the music without clouding the low-mids. Vocals can be a tad forward but still very pleasant. I would rank its sonic signatures between SpinFit CP-145 and Final Audio Type E eartips. Similar to SpinFits, it has a pivoting cap design.
Purchased from Audiosense Official Store on AliExpress

Audio-Technica FineFit ER-CKM55M
Bore size: small
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flrm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3
Vocal presence: 4
Bassy eartips that accentuates on vocal. Soundstage is smaller than most tips.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

Azla SednaEarFit Crystal (Standard)

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 5.0

Another pricey eartip offering from Azla. Feels just like XELASTEC. Both XELASTEC and Crystal excel in the midrange and vocals. Their most obvious differences are in the upper-mids and mid-bass range where Crystal adds a touch more instrument presence, separation and space. Mid-bass is cleaner and clearer than XELASTEC yet doesn’t sacrifice warmth and body. It is good to note that Crystal does not have the upper-midrange “ringing” that plagues XELASTEC.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarfit Crystal (for TWS)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 5.0

Another pricey eartip offering from Azla. Feels similar to XELASTEC but with a shallower in-ear fit. Both XELASTEC and Crystal excel in the midrange and vocals. Their most obvious differences are in the upper-mids and mid-bass range where Crystal adds a touch more instrument presence, separation and space. Mid-bass is cleaner and clearer than XELASTEC yet doesn’t sacrifice warmth and body. It is good to note that Crystal does not have the upper-midrange “ringing” that plagues XELASTEC. Can be used for both IEM and TWS.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Azla Sedna EarFit (Regular)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
For long nozzle good midrange
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla Sedna EarFit (Light)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
A “lighter” version of the regular Sedna EarFit. More balanced-sounding overall.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarFit (Light) Short
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
A “short-stem” version of SednaEarFitLight. Both nozzles are brought closer to the eardrums thus enhancement in overall clarity and vocal presence, which means stereo image and presentation are slightly more forward.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Azla SednaEarFit Vivid Edition

Bore size: narrow 
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.75

At first glance, these look like colourful version of SednaEarFitLight Short. Upon close examination, they are very different in looks, feel and sound. SednaEarFit Vivid Edition feels softer and plusher. It has a narrower bore and sounds livelier than SednaEarFit Light Short. Bass is punchier, better texture and definition. Vocals sound cleaner, clearer and slightly forward. Upper-registers are brighter and slightly more extended than SednaEarFitLight Short. This eartips definitely deserve the “Vivid Edition” title. Not suitable for bright or shouty IEMs. 

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 5.0

The most expensive eartip in my collection. Isolation is impeccable. If you love vocals, THIS IS IT! Vocal presence is extremely 3D. Best of all it doesn’t affect bass and treble. Projects soundstage a bit narrower than regular SednaEarFit.

B

BGVP A07 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET07. Heck… It sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange and top-end sparkle. I find this eartip to have better bass texture, dynamics and vocal presence than SpinFit CP100 and CP145. The A07 is often labeled as “vocal” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP A08 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 5
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET08, this eartip adds thickness to bass and midrange. However, unlike Acoustune AET08, I find it a speck bright. The A08 is often labeled as “bass” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP Electric Blue “ArtMagic VG4” Silicone Vocal Eartip
Bore size: regular 
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.0This eartip comes stock with BGVP ArtMagic VG4, ArtMagic V12 and DH3, labeled under “vocal” eartip. Highly-praised by Singaporean audiophile Reza Emmanuel as his standard reference, I must say this eartip is extremely comfortable, literally fatigue-free for long listening sessions.

Sound is clean, tight and very well-textured. Bass and low-mids are detailed, punchy and dynamic. Midrange is clear with excellent separation. Upper-mids and treble are smooth and extended with good amount of air and spacial cues. Vocal position is ‘just nice” – that is neither too forward nor too laid-back. Soundstage is realistically wide without sounding too spread-out. Similar to SpinFit, this eartip comes with a pivoting umbrella/cap.
Specially-ordered from BGVP Taobao Official Store as they do not sell this eartip individually. 

BGVP E01 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
Looks identical to Final Audio Type E eartips it has a balanced sound that tames harshness. I find it lacks the smoothness of original Final Audio Type E eartips. This style of eartip is often labeled as “balance” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP S01 Eartips
Bore size: Very wide with narrow opening
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 3.0
Vocal presence: 3.0
A very interesting eartip with an exceptionally wide nozzle and narrow opening. Treble is vastly emphasize with a hint of bass and midrange. Works very well for dull-sounding earphones but make sure you can fit it 6.5mm diameter bore.
Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BVGP W01 Eartips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short and stubby
Feel: short and flexible
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5Short stem and wide bore brings nozzle closer to the eardrums thus enhancement in overall clarity and vocal presence, which means stereo image and presentation are slightly more forward. A slight boost in mid-bass is noticeable. 
Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP Y01 Eartips
Bore size: Very wide with narrow opening
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 3.0
Vocal presence: 3.0
A very interesting eartip with an exceptionally wide nozzle and narrow opening. Similar to BGVP S01 but with a smidgen more bass. Works well for dull-sounding earphones but make sure you can fit it 6.5mm diameter bore.
Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

C

Canal Works CW Dual Nozzle (CWU-DECM)
Bore size: wide / short cap
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 3.75
For neutral tonality with slight bass reduction and laid-back vocal compared to SpinFit CP-145. Otherwise both sound quite similar.
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Canal Works CW Single Nozzle (CWU-ECM)
Bore size: small
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.25
Eerily similar to Radius Deep Mount but with slightly less vocal presence and less transparent. Not suitable for bright earphones.
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Canyon Silikon-Eartips ET400 (Bass)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 3.25
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 3.0
Canyon is a German company however these eartips are made in China. Interestingly, I find these eartips very pleasing, especially in staging. The ET400 is laid back yet retains imaging scale and focus very well. Although the packaging says “bass”, the ET400 isn’t bassy or rumbly. I would classify it as balanced with a touch of midrange warmth.
Purchased from Canyon Official Taobao Store.

CleanPiece Anti-bacteria Silicone Eartip
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 3.0
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 3.0
An interesting audiophile’s “sanitary” product from Japan, and made in Japan. How true is the anti-bacteria, anti-microbial and anti-virus properties I don’t know (it comes in a plastic “petri dish”) but I do know these eartips roll-off treble and thicken bass and mid-bass. You lose clarity but gain body and smoothness. Recommended for bright and harsh sounding IEMs.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

E

EarrBond Barreleye Blue 
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with sturdy core
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4.0
Different from EarrBond New Hybrid series, Barreleye eartips use a sturdy silicone core which give an surprisingly good seal without the squishy feel of foam. Similar to the New Hybrid series, sound is laid back. Barreleye Blue has better clarity, instrument separation, treble extension, stage depth and layering than Barreleye Green and New Hybrid.

However due to its emphasis in the upper-midrange and treble regions, Barreleye Blue isn’t suitable for bright, sibilant or harsh sounding earphones. Group member Vannak Pech described the sound as if “when you apply contrast filter to your image…”.
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

EarrBond Barreleye Green
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with firm core
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
Different from EarrBond New Hybrid series, Barreleye eartips use a firm silicone core which gives an surprisingly good seal without the squishy feel of foam. Similar to the New Hybrid series, sound is laid back. Barreleye Green adds body and bass punch but it lacks the clarity, instrument separation, treble extension, stage depth and layering of Barreleye Blue. 
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

EarrBond New Hybrid Design
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and spongy
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.25
EarrBond is softer and more squishy compared to other hybrid eartips, thus more comfortable for long-listening sessions. The moment you put them on, they simply disappear into your ear canals. Furthermore, they isolate well too. Sound-wise these are a bit too laid back for my taste. Also, I could detect some sibilance on a some female vocal tracks. In term of wearing comfort and isolation, this win hands down.
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

Elecom Spare Ear Cap (EHP-CAP10)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 4.25
The brand Elecom is relatively unknown outside of Asia. These eartips surprised me with their exceptionally good sound and budget-friendly price. For ￥250 or US$2.50, you’ll get 4 pairs of eartips consist of X-Small, Small, Medium and Large sizes. Sound-wise, it is neutral tonality with emphasis in upper-bass and midrange regions (which adds body) as well as in vocals. I rank these higher than SpinFit CP-145 and on-par with Final Audio Type-E (black) eartips. Everybody should get these eartips if they ever come across it.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

Epro Horn-shaped Tips
Bore size: cone-shaped, tempered (4mm nozzle end, 5mm bell end)
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4 25
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
Made of graphene and unlike most eartips, Epro has a cone-shaped tempered bore of 4mm at nozzle end to 5mm at the bell. It adds warmth, body and texture to vocals It tames harsh and peaky treble exceptionally well too. It DOESN’T roll-off highs and kills the air and ambient like some other foam tips. What I really enjoy about the Epro is that it adds a buttery smooth to the overall sound which make harsh-sounding earphones, such as the KZ ZS6, listenable again.
Purchased from Treoo Singapore

Epro Truly Wireless Horn-shaped Tips
Bore size: cone-shaped, tempered (4mm nozzle end, 5mm bell end)
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
Made of graphene and unlike most eartips, Epro truly wireless horn-shaped eartips have a cone-shaped tempered bore of 4mm at nozzle end to 5mm at the bell. It adds warmth, body and texture to vocals. It tames harsh and peaky treble exceptionally well too. Not suitable for bass-heavy earphones.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

F

FAudio “Vocal” Premium Silicone Earphone Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 5
Accentuates on vocal and midrange but it also makes sibilance more noticeable. My favorite vocal eartip is still the SednaEarFit XELASTEC.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

FAudio “Instrument” Premium Silicone Earphone Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 5
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.25
Very punchy, fun, musical-sounding eartips. Sub-bass is exceptional. Vocal and mids are laid-back. Soundstage is average.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Fender SureSeal Tips
Bore size: tapered widebore
Stem length: short
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
Vastly similar to Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC, Fender SureSeal offers a more laid-back presentation with balanced sound. Mid-bass is a tad fuller. Soundstage slightly wider than XELASTEC but imaging is less precise. SureSeal does not suffer from the upper-midrange ring that plagues XELASTEC especially with DD-based earphones. Expect dust-magnet. All thermoplastic elastomer eartips require regular washing and sanitizing to prevent ears infection.
Purchased from Amazon.jp.

FiiO Silicone (Balanced Ear tips)
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.25
Nice sounding eartips with a toned down bass and treble.
Purchased from FiiO store on Taobao (Mainland China)

FiiO Silicone (Bass Eartips)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
This is similar to many stock tips like those from TRN.
Purchased from FiiO store on Taobao (Mainland China)

FiiO Silicone (Vocal Eartips)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 2.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 5
These tips cut bass drastically!
Purchased from FiiO store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Filter H270 TPE Eartips
Bore size: regular with grille
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 5.0

Is this US$7 per pair Chinese-made TPE eartip comparable to Azla SednaEarFits XELASTEC and Fender SureSeal? I am sorry to say the H270 eartip doesn’t feel and wear like a TPE eartip. Thus, I do suspect it isn’t made of TPE at all. Probably made of silicone at best. Nonetheless, H270 is a very lively-sounding eartip. Bass is quite punchy.

Sub-bass rumble is good. Midrange is crisp and clear. Treble extension is very good. Soundstage and imaging are good. If you can overlook the fact that this isn’t made of TPE like they claimed, this is a pretty decent eartip. In terms of sound, it is closer to SureSeal than XELASTEC. Both eartips have accentuated upper-mids and treble.
Purchased from Filter Taobao official store

Filter H370 Latex Eartips
Bore size: elliptical-shaped, regular with grille
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 2.0
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 3.0
Soundstage: 3.0
Vocal presence: 3.5

This Chinese Filter H370 does remind me a bit of ADV Eartune Fidelity U Elliptical eartip but performs far worse… Yup, in my encyclopedia of eartips this one is pretty bad. First thing you will notice is how boomy and wooly the bass is. It is so bad that it bleeds into the mids. Upper treble is rolled-off, thus lacking a sense of space and openness. All-in-all, the H370 is a dark-sounding eartip with poor technicalities. Comfort-wise is quite good though. What a pity!
Purchased from Filter Taobao official store

Final Audio Type A
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4. 8
Vocal presence: 4
Less common than Type E. Let’s call this Type E with a slightly boosted treble and thus lesser bass. As a whole it gives better clarity. The overall tonality remains quite balanced.
Purchased from Amazon.jp.

Final Audio Type B
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and plush
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
Less common than Type E. Let’s call this Type E with a slightly boosted bass. Overall sound is more round robust as well. My favorite eartips for diffused-field oriented earphones
Purchased from Amazon.jp

Final Audio Type E
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tame harsh earphones
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

Final Audio Type E (Clear, Clear/Red) 2020 Edition)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4 25
Vocal presence: 4.5
Sounds cleaner, clearer, brighter and tighter bass than conventional black Final Audio Type E eartip. Improved vocal lucidity. Tonally more accurate as well.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Final Type E Silicon Eartips for True Wireless (black)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 5
Vocal presence: 4
Probably my favorite eartips for true wireless earpieces. These eartips really open-up the sound without adding sibilance or harshness. Bass is tight, controlled, distinct with great texture and clarity. Vocal is neither too forward or backward… Just nice! Currently, my reference to gauge against other TWS eartips.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Final Type E Silicon Eartips for True Wireless (clear)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 5
Vocal presence: 4
Overall, similar to Final Type E True Wireless (black) but with slightly less bass.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

J

JVC Spiral Dot (Regular)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tame harsh earphones
Purchased from Japan through a friend

JVC Spiral Dot SF (Short Flange / Shallow Fit)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short (shallow fit)
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
These eartips are meant for true wireless earpieces. These have more bass and vocal presence than SpinFit CP-350 and CP-360. Comparable to Final Type E True Wireless (black) but sound less open and less treble extension.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

JVC Spiral Dot++ (EP-FX10)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: supple and grippy
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 3
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tames harsh earphones. Cleaner but lesser bass and midrange compared to regular Spiral Dot. Very comfortable for long listening sessions.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

JVC/Victor EP-FX2 (Poor men’s Spiral Dot)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
You get 80% performance of Spiral Dot at 30% of its price. Comfortable for long listening. Good value for money.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

K

KB EAR 10 Silicone Eartips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 3 5
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tames bass-heavy earphones. Smooth tonality suitable for long listening sessions.Purchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KB EAR A07 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET07. Heck… It sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange and top-end sparkle. I find this eartip to have better bass texture, dynamics and vocal presence than SpinFit CP100 and CP145. The A07 is often labeled as “vocal” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao storePurchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KB EAR A08 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 5
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET08, this eartip adds thickness to bass and midrange. However, unlike Acoustune AET08, I find it a speck bright. The A08 is often labeled as “bass” eartip for most stock tips offering.
Purchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KB EAR “Columbia” Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
This eartip is worthy of the title “Sony clone”. Sounds virtually identical to Sony EP-EX11M eartip, which my sensitive ears couldn’t tell them apart. For neutral tonality with slight treble roll-off.
Purchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KZ Starline
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3
Vocal presence: 2.75
Purchased from KZ store on Taobao (Mainland China)

These stock KZ eartips come in two versions. The older version was included with KZ ZS3 and KZ ZS5, etc, were no longer available. They are softer and more pliable compare to current ones. Sound-wise, co-blogger Slater prefers the former. They give smoother midrange and cleaner treble. The ones tested here are the current/ new version.

KZ Starline (reverse)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4*
Vocal presence: 3
For bright, clear and crisp sound
*soundstage has more depth and height than width
Purchased from KZ store on Taobao (Mainland China)

KZ Whirlwind Silicone Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 2.0
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.50
Similar to Tennmak Whirlwind, these eartips reduce bass and mid-bass significantly. Projects vocals forward with good presence.
Purchased from KZ Official Store on Taobao

M

Marunana 七福神 silicone eartips
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4Vocal presence: 4.25
Marunana eartips is recommended by a friend who discovered it from a native Japanese audio enthusiast. These eartips are surprisingly affordable (880¥ for 12 pairs!). Great midrange texture and vocal presence. My only nitpick is they tend to cloud the mid-bass a little but it adds body to lean earphones.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Moondrop Spring Tips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft with pliable stem
Bass: 2.50
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 5.0
These originally come stock with Moondrop KATO. First impression is how suppressed the bass and mid-bass are, which thins the overall note-weight and body. Midrange is textured with good details. Vocal is forward with very good presence.

Treble has good sparkle and crisp, however it lacks that last bit of extension and airiness. Great match for earphones with too much mid-bass or has bleeding mid-bass. The caps are too soft in my opinion. They flap over every time I remove them from my ears, which is very annoying.
Purchased from Moondrop Taobao Official Store

O

Ostry OS100 Tuning Eartips (Blue)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.25
Vocal presence: 3.5
Sounds 90% identical to SpinFit CP145 but with a touch more bass and narrower soundstage.
Purchased from Ostry Official Store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Ostry OS200 Tuning Eartips (Red)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.25
Soundstage: 3
Vocal presence: 3.5
Similar to Ostry OS100 but with a tad more bass and less crisp in the treble. Quite a balance-sounding eartip. Narrows soundstage.
Purchased from Ostry Official Store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Ostry OS300 Tuning Eartips (Black)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 5
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 2.5
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 3.5
The most bass-heavy Ostry tuning eartips of all. Also rolls-off treble the most. It adds tightness and punchiness to the overall sound. However, I find them a bit too forward for my taste.
Purchased from Ostry Official Store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Ortofon silicone eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: very soft and pliable
Bass: 2.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
For good midrange, best female vocal, tames bass and brightens treble
Purchased from Ortofon direct (Denmark)

Q

Queen Lab Hybrid Silicone Memory
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5 
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4 5
Exceptionally good vocal presentations for hybrid. Tighter bass and clearer midrange compared to Symbio W. My favorite hybrid eartip. 
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

R

Radius Deep Mount
Bore size: small
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
Just like the company’s slogan – Pure Comes True, Deep Mount is the most transparent of all eartips I have tested. Not suitable if your earphone is already bright.
Purchased from Bic Camera (Osaka, Japan)

RHA dual density silicone eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
These eartips enhance details and stereo imaging extremely well. Tighten bass. Projects midrange and treble frequencies more than some eartips. Not recommended for bright earphones.
Purchased from RHA in UK

S

Sennheiser Momentum Eartips
Bore size: regular with “sound beam”
Stem length: very short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 3. 5
Vocal presence: 3.5
This is the stock eartip from Sennheiser Momentum series of earphones. It has a bold, thick and robust sound signature with buttery-smoooth upper-midrange and treble. Can sound overly warm and muddy when used on dark-sound earphones. Clarity, soundstage, imaging, and details are average.
Purchased from Sennheiser Singapore

Simphonio Diamond Earfit
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 2.50
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 5.0
Vocal presence: 5.0
This eartip has rhombus patterns stamped around the cap (or umbrella) thus the name “diamond” Earfit. This eartip bears some resemblance to Moondrop Spring Tip, however Diamond Earfit is a bit shorter height-wise. Vocal is forward with very good presence. Midrange and treble feels more open and livelier than Spring Tips. Just like Spring Tips, Diamond Earfit thins bass and mid-bass, reduces note-weight. Skip if you prefer bassier eartip.
Purchased from RoadRunner Taobao Store

Softears Liquid Silicone Ear TipsBore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 3.0Midrange: 5.0Treble: 4.50Soundstage: 5.0Vocal presence: 5.0
Very pricey eartips from Softears. Appearance and texture feel just like SednaEarfit XELASTEC, although it says “Liquid Silicone”. Frankly, I have no clue what liquid silicone is other than those used in aesthetics surgery.

However, I find these eartips sound very much cleaner, clearer and airier than both XELASTEC and Crystal. Midrange and vocal presentation are outstanding. Softears Liquid Silicone does not have the upper-midrange “ringing” that plagues the original XELASTEC eartips. Unfortunately, these eartips attracts dirt and dust just like XELASTEC, so clean them regularly if you decide to try.
Purchased from Softears Taobao Official Store

SonicMemory Cup Tips
Bore size: cone-shaped, tempered (4mm nozzle end, 5mm bell end)
Stem length: short
Feel: medium soft and pliable
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 3.75
An alternative to Epro Horn-shaped Tips. It has an overall softer yet balanced tonality. Bass not as impactful and robust. Vocals don’t stand out as much. Nonetheless, I do enjoy the “air” it gives to the sound. Also, these eartips present slightly wider soundstage and more spacious than Epro. Comes with antibacterial properties added, which is a good thing if you don’t have sensitive skin.
Purchased from SonicMemory Taobao Official Store

SonicMemory Fungus Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with a sturdy stem
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 3.50
These eartips look like little pink champignon mushrooms thus the name “fungus” tips. A balanced-sounding eartip with emphasis in bass and low-midrange. Vocals sound slightly nasally and laid-back. Treble lacks air and extension. Soundstage is of average width. If you prefer an open and airy sound with wide-staging, do consider its sibling the SonicMemory Cup Tips. Infused with antibacterial properties.
Purchased from SonicMemory Official Store on Taobao

Sony Clear White
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: pliable and soft
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.5
I consider the Clear White an improvement over Sony Triple Comfort. This enhances overall clarity and vocal presence without sounding overly bright or harsh. Top-end sounds more airy. Bass texture improved as well. My only gripe is it isn’t as smooth as I would prefer but this is a small trade off in my opinion.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

Sony EP-NI1000M Noise Isolation Earbud Tips

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: spongy and sturdy
Bass: 5.0
Midrange: 4. 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 5.0

This is the most expensive eartips in my collection as of October 2021. These tips retail for US$20 A PAIR! Yes, you hear that right… Two Hamiltons for a pair of eartips!

Deemed to be a replacement for Sony Triple Comfort (EP-TC50), these are eartips with an attitude. They sound like silicone but seal and isolate like a good pair of foam tips. Extremely comfortable and stable fit.

Are they better than XELASTEC? All I can say is both are very different. If you are always a “foam person”, the EP-NI1000 sounds more lively and open than, say, Comply or Dekoni.

Heard from a friend that these eartips don’t last long, so it is better to keep them dry and away from heat. Purchased from Amazon, Japan

Sony Spare Earbuds EP-EX10A / EP-EX11

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5

Neutral tonality with warm mid-bass and slight treble roll-off. Midrange is smooth and laid-back. Ideal choice for bright and lean sounding earphones.
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

Sony Triple Comfort
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: spongy and sturdy
Bass: 5
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.25
For similar to Sony Hybrids but with boosted bass
Purchased from Bic Camera (Osaka, Japan)

Sony Hybrid (discontinued)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
For neutral tonality with treble roll-off
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SPEAR Labs nFORM XTR SERIES 500
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: spongy and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 3.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
An alternative to Sony Hybrids (EP-TC50M). Compared to the Sony, nFORM has a clearer and tighter bass, with forward midrange. Human voice can sound nasally (a common problem with foam-based eartips). Soundstage is narrow and stereo imaging less distinctive and precise. Nonetheless, nFORM is extremely comfortable for long listening sessions. Suitable for bright and lean sounding earphones.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

SpinFit CP100
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.25
For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

SpinFit CP100+
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 3.75
Slight improvement over the original CP-100 especially in the midrange and upper-midrange. However, I feel the top-end is less airy than CP-100. Bass also lacks a bit of punch and dynamics. The “plus” addendum probably comes from the better portrayal of the human voice. True enough, vocals sound slightly more forward and crispier.

Imaging, focusing, instrument and vocal separation definitely improved over its predecessor. Personally, CP-145 is still my most favourite SpinFit.
Purchased from Amazon.sg (Singapore)

SpinFit CP145
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.5
For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange and vocal
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP155
Bore size: regular
Stem length: long
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
1 mm longer than CP-100 and CP-145, the additional length and bullet-shaped caps of the CP-155 allow deeper insertion to bring more bass and fuller vocal. 
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP220
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular (double flange)
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
For neutral tonality with emphasis in bass, midrange and vocal. For clarity and bigger soundstage, choose CP-240.
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP240
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular (double flange)
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4
Exceptional clarity with good treble extension. Soundstage is one of the biggest I have heard. Vocal presentation is forward. Can get sibilant when matched with bright earphones.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

SpinFit CP350
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short (shallow fit)
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 2.0
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.5
These eartips are originally meant for TWS wireless earpieces but a friend of mine suggested they are very good at cutting down bass and midbass. Indeed, these are the “Diffuse Field Target-equivalent” of eartips. They clean up the bass.

Reduces mid-bass bloat or muddiness. Upper-midrange is sparkly and treble extension is one of the best I have heard among universal eartips. Vocal is forward with good clarity. NOTE: SpinFit CP-350 has a very shallow fit. Make sure the earphone nozzle length is at least 5mm in order to fit securely.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

SpinFit CP360
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.0
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence’ 5
These eartips are meant for true wireless earpieces. If you find SpinFit CP-350 too short, this one fits between regular CP-145 and CP-350. Bass and low-mids are stronger than CP-350. Vocal is forward with good clarity.
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP500
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.0
A lesser known SpinFit model. CP-500 gives tighter, punchier bass, better vocal presentation than the popular (and common) CP-100 and CP-145. May add sibilance and harshness to bright-sounding earphonesPurchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

Symbio W
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 3 75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.5
For good midrange, slight treble roll-off
Purchased from Symbio direct (Hungary)

Symbio Orange Peel
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 3
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 3.5
Good midrange. Punchier bass, better treble extension and more open-sounding compare to Symbio W.
Purchased from Symbio direct (Hungary)

T

Tanchjim T-APB Air Pressure Balance Silicone Eartips T300T (Treble Enhancing)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4.5 
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4What’s is T-APB? Simply put it, a hexagonal-shaped internal wall of the nozzle that Tanchjim claims “enhance the comfortness (is there such a word?) by evenly balancing the air pressure inside the ear canal, thus to prevent swelling of the ear canal caused by prolonged use of earphone”

… Marketing aside, the T300T (Treble Enhancing) eartip does pushes some high frequency through but it causes the entire bass spectrum and low-mids to “muddle up”, resulting in a loss of texture and low-end details. Does not go well with “thick-sounding” IEMs but good match for leaner-sounding ones BUT be very careful as it might brighten sound too much. 
Purchased from Hifigo

Tanchjim T-APB Air Pressure Balance Silicone Eartips T300B (Bass Enhancing)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.75What’s is T-APB? Simply put it, a hexagonal-shaped internal wall of the nozzle that Tanchjim claims “enhance the comfortness (is there such a word?) by evenly balancing the air pressure inside the ear canal, thus to prevent swelling of the ear canal caused by prolonged use of earphone”

… Marketing aside, the T300T (Treble Enhancing) eartip is surprisingly neutral despite the “Treble Enhancing” name tag. I find the vocal slightly laid-back and lower-mids a tad muffled. Otherwise, a good choice for IEMs with diffused-field tuning, such as those from Tanchjim and Moondrop.
Purchased from Hifigo

Tennmak Whirlwind
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 2
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
Reduces bass and mid-bass significantly. Let vocal shines through.
Purchased from Tennmak Store on AliExpress

TRN Silicone Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: flexible with firm stem
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.25
Treble: 3.0
Soundstage: 2.50
Vocal presence: 3.0
Listening to these eartips is like having a thick veil covers the entire frequency spectrum. They simply muffle sound! Bass is clumpy, lacks texture and details. Midrange and upper-registers cover by a layer of haze. Vocal is lackluster and lifeless. Staging is flat and narrow. Imagining is fuzzy. One of the worst eartips I have tested so far.
Purchased from TRN Official Store on AliExpress

W

Whizzer Easytips ET100 (natural)

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 3.5

A very interesting eartip that looks like a toilet plunger. The shape may be odd but the sound isn’t. Balanced, clean and clear tonality that is neither too bright nor too bassy. Seals and isolates well too.
Purchased from OperaFactory Taobao Official Store

Whizzer Easytips SS20 (soundstage)

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 5.0
Vocal presence: 3.5

As the title implies, this eartip improves soundstage, and this isn’t a gimmick. It really adds dimension to sound, giving it a more spacious presentation.
Purchased from OperaFactory Taobao Official Store

Whizzer Easytips VC20 (vocal)

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 2.5

Not very good. This eartip clouds midrange and boosts low-mid a bit too much for my taste. Resolution is poor as well. Everything just sounds stuffy and dull. Perfect for bright-sounding IEMs though.
Purchased from OperaFactory Taobao Official Store

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The post Tweaking Tips – A Simplified Guide To IEM Silicone Eartips UPDATED 2022-05-27 appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Cons — Poor tuning leads to bright, harsh sound with thin note weight.

Executive Summary

The Tin Hifi T2 EVO is a mistuned evolution of the Tinaudio T2 that lacks in tonality but convinces in technicalities.

Introduction

Tin Hifi (then Tinaudio) appeared as a sensation on the scene in 2018. Their $50 T2 was a neutrally tuned iem built like a tank, a rarity within the sea of V-shaped tunings. Aficionados embraced it, vulgarists taped the front vent off to increase bass…shame on those :).

The company changed their name to Tin Hifi and continued releasing iems which were hit and miss…I remember a whole army of reviewers publishing their thoughts of a new release simultaneously upon the distributor’s command. These days are over, as a single YouTuber has a much bigger outreach.

To our all surprise, the T2 EVO shares design and build with the original T2, which gives you that retro feeling. Different are the driver, the smiley on the faceplate, and the shiny finish, as well as the cable’s metal strain relief. But the haptic remains essentially the same. 

Earpieces’ red-blue colour coding at the connector is reversed compared to the original T2 because T2 EVO is meant to be worn over-ear only (the EVO’s stock cable features earhooks).

Specifications

Physical Things and Usability

Just like the original T2, the T2 EVO’s accessories are spartan: storage sack, cable, two sets of the same silicone earpieces, a pair of foams, paperwork, and the earpieces. The shiny metal earpieces are as good as it gets in terms of build and haptic.

The connectors remains MMCX despite huge quality issues with Tin Hifi’s original T2 and also their T4. But, I noticed that these MMCX connectors sit VERY snug, so that I don’t expect any problems.

Fit is now exclusively over-ear as the stock cable features memory wire. Fit is good, comfort is ok, isolation is average. The stock tips were too small for me, SpinFit CP145 worked well. Owing to the low sensitivity, the T2 EVO loves amplification.

Tonality and Technicalities

Equipment used: Mabook Air + DragonFly Red/Earstudio Hud100 + JitterBug FMJ; SpinFit CP145 eartips.

TL;DR: the Tin Hifi T2 EVO is a technically competent neutralish earphone that falls completely short on its poor tuning which introduces a brightness too hot for most.

Boy, this earphone could be good. Really good. It has all the ingredients. Unfortunately, the company refuses to tune properly. A frequency response graph peaking between 4 and 5 kHz (in the human ear’s most sensitive area) and that shark fin at 15 kHz indicate an impending disaster.

What the upper midrange boost mainly does is adding midrange clarity. As an unwelcome side effect, it sharpens and attenuates vocals, which have a good note definition, but they are just too thin and sibilant. That’s where the original T2 are much better.

Bass in the EVO is reasonably tight but somewhat blunt (results vary with tips). Extension is good, but kick could be harder, culprit is lack of mid bass peak/the linear tuning. I’d call the low end rather ordinary but it is at least not overwhelming. Its bluntness removes some sparkle.

Vocals, although lean are rather realistically reproduced with reasonable intimacy. Midrange resolution is good as the lack of body leaves “a lot of space between notes”.

Treble rolloff starts in the upper midrange already, but it is revived by a shark fin peak at 15 kHz, which introduces fake resolution and clarity, air, and pain in the ears of younger listeners. Cymbals sound splashy.

Soundstage is not the widest or deepest (deep enough), but it is refreshingly tall. Timbre is very good, too.

Separation and layering are actually decent whilst dynamics is not the greatest. This iem could be very good wasn’t it for the tuning.

Tin Hifi T2 EVO modded

Covering the 90% of the screens with micropore tape reduces the glare and increases the perceived mid bass (by reducing the upper midrange). This also enriches male voices to some extent, but not enough to call it a perfect fix. As a downside, the bass becomes slower and boomier but staging improves. The micropore mod certainly improves things but still does not make you run to the store and buy the EVO.

Tin Hifi T2 EVO vs Tinaudio T2

The original Tinaudio T2 is easier to drive, it has a very similar basic signature, it is slightly less bassy and the vocals come out better. The T2 EVO is not a progress, tonally, but it is in terms of technicalities. The EVO offers wider staging, a more articulate note definition, it sounds sleeker whereas the original T2 is technically less refined but has better air.

Concluding Remarks

Tin Hifi got it totally wrong with the T2 EVO. Instead of presenting a true update of the classic T2, they bodged it by delivering an overcooked tuning that will be hurting the eardrums of most. Another lost opportunity. If you need to get a Tin Hifi budget earphone, stick to the decent T2 Plus. Or get an original T2 second hand, it is worth it.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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All Our 284 Earphone and Earbud Reviews (with Links)

Disclaimer

The Tin Hifi T2 EVO was supplied unsolicited by NiceHCK and I thank them for that.

Get the Tin Hifi T2 EVO from NiceHCK Audio Store

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post Tin Hifi T2 EVO Review – Tape Me appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Fast and tight bass.
Good imaging and layering.
Great tonality, generally non fatiguing.
Good timbral accuracy for a pure BA setup.
Branded cable and eartips. 2 pin cable – better lifespan than MMCX in general.
Easy to drive.

Cons

Poor isolation.
Provided Xelastec tips may cause excessive suction in the ear, and also gives nasal vocals.
BA bass – bass lacks movement of air and decay, with lack of subbass extension.
Below average soundstage.
Lacking in micro-details and dynamics.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The See Audio Bravery is a 4 BA IEM with a relatively non fatiguing U shaped tuning While the tonality and timbre (for a pure BA setup) is good, the technicalities are not classleading, and there are some limitations such as a BA bass.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 4 x Balanced Armature (two Knowles BA drivers for the bass, one Sonion BA for the midrange, and one Knowles BA driver for the treble)
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20kHz
• Impedance: 18 Ω
• Sensitivity: 110 dB/mW
• Cable: 2 Pin (0.78mm), 6N OCC Hakugei cable.
• Tested at $289 USD

ACCESSORIES

The Bravery comes in an anime girl packaging. This could very well be the reason for buying this set, it is one for our otaku and weeb friends!

Included are:
1) Specially customized 6N OCC Hakugei cable – very premium looking and well braided with a cloth sleeve. They do not tangle, but unfortunately there are some microphonics present. The Hakugei brand of cables is quite well known in audio circles and adds some elegance to the packaging. I won’t comment on whether cables change the sound signature (that usually ends up in flamewars haha), but See Audio didn’t skimp on the cables at least.

2) Azla Xelastec Sednafit eartips – they also didn’t skimp on this portion, these tips are expensive! The Xelastec eartips provide good grip and boost vocals in general with other IEMs, but some may find these tips to be a lint and dirt magnet, and they are rather sticky. Ironically, the Xelastec tips may cause the vocals to be nasal with the Bravery, which we will talk about later.

3) Foam tips – S/M/L – they tend to tame the treble and increase isolation.

4) Round hard case – is that a playboy bunny logo on it? For our otaku anime friends?

The accessories provided are okay for a close to $300 USD set. As discussed above, the cable and eartips are “branded” and will have added to the costs.

I liked that See Audio provided a cable with a 2 pin connector, I had my fair share of mishaps with MMCX type connectors after switching cables once too often, they ended up like spinning windvanes.

For the purposes of this review, the stock Xelastec tips and stock cables were used, so as not to change the sound signature with aftermarket gear.

BUILD/COMFORT

Build wise, the Bravery is made of resin and feels very solid. In fact they look like semi customs. They are quite beautiful too, but of course we are more interested in how it sounds!

Comfort wise, it is a mixed bag. While the shells themselves are comfortable, some might find that the provided Xelastec tips can create a suction effect in the ear, this may be uncomfortable for some.

I didn’t have driver flex on my set, but this is partially related to ear anatomy an types of tips used, so YMMV.

ISOLATION

I usually use pure BA setups for travelling or stage monitoring, as they tend to be unvented and provide better isolation than vented DD type sets (in general).

Disappointingly, the isolation on the Bravery is poor, due to the vented bass design. This set didn’t pass my subway test, and I wouldn’t recommend them for use in a noisy environment – to protect hearing health and also cause one will lose details and the bass frequencies in a noisy place.

DRIVABILITY

I tested the Bravery with a Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp, Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp, Sony NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Plus v2 Mr Walkman Mod), smartphone, Shanling Q1 DAP, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro, E1DA 9038D, and a Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 Amp.

The Bravery are easy to drive, amping doesn’t really give much value add.

SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

The See Audio Bravery is a U shaped set, with a relatively non fatiguing tuning. In the department of tonality, the Bravery is actually quite good, with no major flaws, perhaps only having poor subbass extension.

Timbral accuracy on the Bravery is good for a pure BA set. It won’t beat some pure single DD setups in terms of timbre, but most acoustic instruments sounded quite organic here. Vocals however may sound a bit thin and nasal with the provided stock Xelastec tips, but this can perhaps be mitigated to some extent with other eartips.

The bass of the Bravery is midbass focused, it is north of neutral but far from true basshead levels. Subbass extension is lacking, movement of air and bass decay are not that natural sounding though, as per most BA bass sets (even though this is a vented BA bass).

The bass has rather good quality though, texturing is decent, and the bass is fast and tight. So the Bravery goes for quality over quantity in terms of the bass, although the BA bass may be a dealbreaker for some.

Mids on the Bravery are pretty well balanced, in keeping with the good tonality of this set. The provided Xelastec tips however, may give vocals a nasal tinge, and also cause a lack of note weight in voices. Layering and imaging in the midrange is good though, and is a standout on this set.

The upper mids on the Bravery are rather subdued, it doesn’t have the usual shouty banshee upper mids that plague a lot of CHIFI, so this set is rather non fatiguing.

Treble extension on the Bravery is okay, but not the best considering it is a pure BA setup. Sibilance is mild, so this is a good set for our treble sensitive brethren. Those that want more sparkle and air and micro-details and clarity might need to consider alternatives though.

In technicalities, the Bravery have below average soundstage for a close to $300 USD set (in height, depth and width), especially when the stock Xelastec eartips are used. Imaging and layering are good, though clarity, instrument separation and micro-details are not class-leading at this price range. Dynamics sound a bit subdued on this set, even with amping, so that’s one area that can be improved on.

COMPARISONS

Well if anime and weeb packaging matter to you, then only the See Audio Bravery has the anime girl packaging, among the competitors below. (This may be a dealbreaker for some!!!)

Single DD types were left out of the comparisons as they have different pros and cons among the different transducer types. Most of the comparisons were with pure BA IEMs, only the LZ A7 (tribid) is the exception, but it is in a similar price bracket to the Bravery.

Audiosense T800 ($298 USD)

The Audiosense T800 is an 8 Knowles BA setup. The T800 is more V shaped. The T800 has much better isolation and fit.

The T800 is brighter (some may find it fatiguing) but it has better air and treble extension. Subbass extension on the T800 is also better, and even though both sets have vented BA bass, the T800’s bass sounds quite close to a DD bass in terms of decay and movement of air.

In terms of timbral accuracy, the Bravery is better, but the T800 has better technicalities and soundstage. The T800 is more in your face with the music, whereas the Bravery is more laid back and subdued.

The T800 is more fussy when it comes to sources, as the very low impedance of 9ish ohms requires a source with output impedance < 1 ohm, otherwise this may skew the sound signature. Whereas, the Bravery is more source agnostic.

LZ A7 ($338 USD)

The LZ A7 has 10 tuning options in view of various tuning switches and nozzles, and it is more versatile as such. It can be tuned to be V shaped to U shaped to neutralish.

The LZ A7 has better accessories, better isolation and better fit. The LZ A7 also has better technicalities though it looks uglier (there’s some fairy tale story emblazzoned on the shell haha). The LZ A7 has more more air and faster transients in view of it incorporating a piezo driver for the high frequencies.

QDC Anole VX (from $2556 USD, depends on custom versus universal shell)

The QDC Anole VX is a summitFI 10 BA set which, like the above LZ A7, is more versatile in view of it having 3 switches; this offers 8 different potential sound signatures.

Well it may not be a fair comparison due to their different selling prices, some folks mention that the Bravery and Anole VX graph similarly (on some switch settings for the Anole VX). Well, graphs only tell half the story at best, and the Anole VX is one of the most technical sets I’ve ever heard.

It is seriously no contest: the Anole VX eats the Bravery in technicalities for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper on A/B testing, though of course diminishing returns are par for the course, when one dabbles in summitFI TOTL pricing.

Audiosense DT200 ($149 USD)

The DT200 is a 2 knowles BA warm neutral set that has better timbral accuracy than the Bravery. Bass quality and technicalities are better on the Bravery, but the Bravery is around 2x the price of the DT200. The DT200 sounds more smooth and laid back compared to the Bravery.

Isolation and comfort is better on the DT200.

CONCLUSIONS

The See Audio Bravery is a 4 BA IEM that features a relatively non fatiguing U shaped tonality. While the tonality and timbre (for a pure BA setup) is good, the technicalities are not class-leading. The Bravery is easy to drive, but as per most other pure BA setups, this set is likewise limited by BA bass extension and naturalness. Comfort is also hit or miss, but this is a YMMV situation as we have different ear anatomies.

See Audio definitely didn’t skimp on the accessories, and the provided accessories are quite premium – Azla Xelastec eartips and a Hakugei cable. Unfortunately, the Xelastec eartips may not have the best synergy with the Bravery, as it causes a narrower soundstage and nasal vocals. These Xelastec tips are also a dirt and lint magnet.

The See Audio Bravery are decent in my book, but at this price range, the competition against other big boys is huge and there are admittedly other competitors with better technical performance.

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You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.

DISCLAIMER

This unit is part of a HIFIGO review tour. This unit will be passed on to another audiophile in Singapore for the tour, after this review.

The See Audio Bravery can be gotten here: https://hifigo.com/products/seeaudio-bravery.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

The post See Audio Bravery Review (2) – A Brave Front appeared first on Audio Reviews.

A device gets attached to this Wall of Excellence when based on our private and of course subjective experience it performs so well within its technical and price category as to even discourage considering homologous alternatives.

If it ain’t here, WE don’t want it!

Please note that our WoE will not be limited to devices we actually published a review of. Nonetheless, all WoE devices have for long time been or still are part of our operative gear.

We start small and plan to expand our wall according to merit.

This Site is being consistently updated…please bookmark it and keep checking back!

In-Ear Monitors

Past excellences, now discontinued or superseded

Headphones

Digital Audio Players (“DAPs”)

Desktop Amplifiers

Desktop DACs

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Dongles are little DAC/amps without battery that are powered by their source device.

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Cons — No (affordable) linear power supply offered as add-on; learning curve; awkward operation with 2 hands; bluetooth module not yet implemented.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Khadas Tone2 Pro is an innovative miniature desktop dac with integrated headphone amplifier that offers a ton of functionality qualifying it as a competent “Jack of All Trades”.

INTRODUCTION

Khadas is a Shenzen company run by a team of audio enthusiasts. Their first release was the infamous “Toneboard”, a $99 dac/amp that came “naked” without housing. Much of the company’s inventory caters to electronics junkies with soldering skills.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE KHADAS TONE2 PRO

The Khadas Ton2 ProPro is a miniature integrated dac-amp that works with Window and Mac computers as well as with Android and iOS devices. It shares certain features with traditional dongles such as the EarMen Sparrow or DragonFly Cobalt in that it is connected to a phone or computer via USB. But a dongle relies entirely on the power of its source and only outputs into 2.5 mm/3.5 mm/4.4 mm audio. The Khadas Tone2 Pro can be powered by its audio source or independently, and has more output options/possibilities than a dongle. It shows, however, less flexibility when connected to a phone because it needs an external power supply in this setup.

The Khadas Tone2 Pro’s distinctive features are:

• Unique encoder knob
• Flexible power supply options (source device or linear power supply)
• Balanced RCA connectors (cable available from Khadas; backwards compatible for connecting a single-ended headphone amp)
• Reversible S/PDIF coaxial input/output (for connecting a CD player or use as USB to coax converter)
• 4.4 mm balanced headphone socket (plus single-ended 3.5 mm socket)
• Add-on bluetooth module (still being developed)

SPECIFICATIONS

Khadas lists the Tone2 Pro’s full specs in every detail; they can be downloaded here. The most important ones are:

DAC chipset: ESS ES9038Q2M 32-Bit Stereo Mobile Audio DAC
Amplifier chipsets: I/V Stage: TI OPA1612 x2, LPF Stage: TI OPA1612 x2, Buffer Stage: RT6863D x3
Output Impedance: <0.3 Ω
SNR: 119-121 dB (depending on output)
Up to 32bit 384KHz sample rate, bit-perfect DSD512, and -118dB THD+N (line-out).
MQA decoding
Compatibility: Windows/Mac, Android, iOS

Maximum output, single-ended circuit (3.5 mm socket):

• 35.3 mW @ 150 Ω (2.0 Vrms)
• 125 mW @ 32 Ω (2.3 Vrms)
• 114 mW @ 16 Ω (1.35 Vrms)

Maximum output, balanced circuit (4.4 mm socket):

• 83 mW @ 300 Ω (5.0 Vrms)
• 167 mW @ 150 Ω (5.0 Vrms)
• 211 mW @ 32 Ω (2.6 Vrms)
• 123 mW @ 16 Ω (1.4 Vrms)

Full Specifications: https://dl.khadas.com/products/tone2/specs/Khadas_Tone2_Pro_Specs.pdf
Product Page: https://www.khadas.com/tone2pro
Purchase Links: hifigo or amazon
Tested at $199.90

PHYSICAL THINGS AND FUNCTIONALITY

In the box are the actual device, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and the manual. The very small Khadas Tone2 Pro ‘s enclosure and the encoder knob are made of aircraft grade aluminium, with a polycarbonate bottom cover on a soft silicone pad – in order not to scratch the underlying surface.

The manual is pretty confusing when it comes to setup with a computer (Mac is not mentioned at all but it worked just upon plugin), firmware update, and operation, but there are excellent videos available that offer all necessary solutions.

User Manual: https://dl.khadas.com/products/tone2/manual/tone2pro_user_manual.pdf

Firmware Upgrade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRswdL1HPZU

Balanced RCA: https://www.khadas.com/balanced-rca

Khadas Discussion Forum: https://forum.khadas.com

Khadas Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/khadas.official

CONNECTIVITY: THE SKY’S YOUR LIMIT

The Khadas Tone2 Pro offers a variety of connections – and therefore a variety of usages.

Inputs: USB-C (computer/phone/raspberry-type single-board computer), I2S (linear power supply, bluetooth module), coaxial (CD-player).

Outputs: 3.5 mm and .4 mm “balanced” headphone sockets (can be used simultaneously), balanced RCA (backward compatible), and the coaxial can be reversed with a firmware change.

INTRODUCING BALANCED RCA

Khadas developed “balanced” RCA connectors which they implemented in their Tone2 Pro. You can connect balanced RCA cables and stream to a balanced amp. While this is a great idea, such cables do not exist yet, and other manufacturers have yet to embrace the balanced RCA technology (but Kadhas sell you a $40 balanced RCA to XLR adapter). No third-party amp with balanced RCA connectors exists presently. Good that these connectors are backward compatible – you can use your old RCA cables.

However, balance amps exist and in order to connete them with the Tone2 Pro, Khadas are selling RCA to XLR adapter. Problem solved…for now. But other manufacturers will have to embrace the balanced RCA technology for the technology to survive.

THE CRAZY VOLUME KNOB IS ALSO A JOYSTICK

Khadas introduce a hybrid digital/analog volume control knob that works like both a normal rotary knob and joystick.

You can turn it like a standard volume knob but also push it sideways…but you need to hold the light device with the other hand during operation…awkward when it is sitting on an amp. Typically each two lateral pushes cycle you through the different modes from volume through track forward/backward, gain, input selection, and digital filter. Here the overview of all modes (from the user manual):

In each mode, you rotate the knob to change the functions as indicated in this graphic. Any setting is visualized by a colour combination in the RGB ring light at the base of the knob. While it is painful to read is, you just watch these two videos to get the details:

PRACTICAL USE OF THE KHADAS TONE2 PRO

In real life, you can use the Khadas Tone2 Pro as follows, for example:

CD player/streamer/computer/tablet/phone –> Khadas Tone2 Pro –> headphone

CD player/streamer/computer/tablet/phone –> Khadas Tone2 Pro –> headphone amp –> headphone

CD player/streamer/computer/table/phone –> Khadas Tone2 Pro –> stereo amp –> loudspeakers

To give you some idea: I first connected the Khadas Tone2 Pro to my computer via USB-C and also used the computer as power source. This was just fine for listening to iems and even the 300 ohm Sennheiser HD 600. I then added power by connecting the Schiit Magni 2 Uber headphone amp via RCA cables. The Khadas Tone2 Pro now served as pre-amp.

I then moved to my stereo system and connected the Khadas Tone2 Pro to my CD player via coaxial RCA. I also connected my phone to the Khadas Tone2 Pro’s USB-C port…and had two music input sources to choose from. I switched between the sources using the rotary function of the dial after having it set to “Input” mode….and listened to CDs with my Sennheiser HD 600 connected to the Khadas Tone2 Pro 3.5 mm socket. I now had to option to use the RCA out to connect the Khadas Tone2 Pro either to a headphone amp or to the stereo’s power amp.

Streaming music from your phone to the Khadas Tone2 Pro via Bluetooth would be an interesting asset. This functionality has not been implemented yet – a add-on Bluetooth module is presently being developed.

SUPPLIED POWER VS POWER SUPPLY

The Khadas Tone2 Pro is driven from the USB-port of your computer without problems. I was told that a notebook is an electrical firestorm and that there is some electrical noise associated with Mains power at 20, 60, and 180 Hz on laptop USB.

The Khadas Tone2 Pro features a second USB-C port (labelled I2S), designed for input from a Linear [Voltage] Power Supply (“LPS”). An LPS supplies a constant current, which minimizes electrical noise and generates ultra-clean signal-to-noise ratios. But I was warned that the “wrong” LPS could make the Khadas Tone2 Pro (and similare devices) “dull and uninspiring” sounding. When in use, I2S prioritizes the LPS over the USB source. Separating data flow and power, and supplying power from a “clean” LPS serves the purpose of improving sound quality. This is particularly important when the Khadas Tone2 Pro is used as dac. Any distortion/impurity in the signal will be exaggerated by the attached power amplifier.

And while an LPS may feed the Khadas Tone2 Pro with “clean” power, this also opens a can or worms.

First, an LPS is expensive. At a minimum, you spend 40% of the Khadas Tone2 Pro’s purchasing price – when you live in North America. In Europe, a quality LPS sets you back 120 EUR. And even if you convert your old microwave into an LPS, it takes $50 in parts. This is cost prohibitive.

Second, these LPS are bulky and heavy, which is contradicting the idea of the Khadas Tone2 Pro’s lightweight and small dimensions. This is less of an issue when don’t locate the LPS on your desk but use it as a kick plate underneath.

Third, the music coming out of the computer’s USB port will still carry impurities.

Khadas failed to design an affordable LPS as an add-on, which I consider a flaw considering all the good ideas that went into the Tone2 Pro. After all, the buyer wants a perfectly functional device out of the box.

So, what are the alternatives? After all, any dac or amp comes with its own power supply – and you don’t have to worry about it – and therefore not pay extra through your nose. I tested a $15 powerbank (stable power supply), Apple stock 5 V chargers for iPhone and ipad (all switched-mode power supplies but of good quality), and two low-noise power supplies provided by ifi Audio (for a separate review). The potential issue with switching currents is electrical noise being introduced to the signal.

First of all, all of the above principally powered the Khadas Tone2 Pro. So the question is whether LPSs are overkill. We will answer this question below.

SOUND IN DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

Equipment used: MacBook Air, iPhone SE (first generation), Marantz SACD8005; Khadas Tone2 Pro, Schiit Magni 2U; KBEAR TRI I3, Shozy Form 1.4, Sennheiser HD 25 and HD 600; ddHifi adapters DJ35AG/DJ44AG; diverse power supplies (ifi Audio iPower & iPower X, Apple iPad 12 W switching power supply, Tzumi 10,000 mAh power bank); Snake Oil Taipan and Radio Shack RCA interconnects; Amazon basics coaxial RCA cable.

Setup 1: Khadas Tone2 Pro with MacBook Air and TRI3 and Shozy Form 1.4 earphones with DJ35AG/DJ44AG adapters

This test served the purpose of comparing the single-ended and balanced circuits using 2.5 mm balanced cables and the DJ35AG/DJ44AG adapters. I used the easily driven Shozy Form 1.4 and the harder-to-drive planar magnetic TRI3 earphones, both on low gain.

The balanced circuit was much superior over the single-ended one in that the sonic experience was much more three dimensional and atmospheric, with a much better spatial cues, more note weight…and it was simply louder. The technicalities were all quite good with one downside: the timbre was rather digital and a bit edgy for the cello sonatas I had started my test off with…and the sound was lively and crisp with rock music, though the bass could have been a bit meatier.

I mentioned it above: both outputs work simultaneously…two can listen.

Setup 2: MacBookAir with Khadas Tone2 Pro and Sennheiser HD 600 headphones

I could only test the “weaker” 3.5 mm single-ended output with the 300 Ω Sennheiser HD 600 headphones…and I was pushing the Khadas Tone2 PRO’s limits (on high gain). I achieved an astounding headroom considering this small device, although the dynamics stayed on the “polite” side. This combination principally worked, but it had reached its limit. I would not push any harder-to-drive headphones.

Setup 3: Marantz SACD8005 with Khadas Tone2 Pro and Sennheiser HD 600 headphone

This experiment served testing the coaxial input from the CD player with uncompressed music. I used a $12 CAD amazon basics coaxial cable that is surprisingly well made. The SACD has its own integrated headphone amplifier so I could A/B from the same source.

This combination sounded quite impressive with lots of headroom and transparency. In comparison, the integrated Marantz headphone amplifier (with unknown but probably high output impedance) sounded somewhat muffled with less extension.

Setup 4: MacBook Air with Khadas Pro into Schiit Magni 2 Uber and Sennheiser HD 600/HD25 headphones

In this setup, the Khadas Tone2 Pro was only used as a dac, with the Schiit as the amp. And it literally rocked. The punch returned to the Senns and so did naturalness. Yes, this combination sounded more natural than the Khadas’s integrated amplifier. Switching from the 300 Ω HD 600 to the 70 Ω HD 25 added some lightness and ease…but this probably has to do with the Schiit’s limited output rather than the T2 Pro.

I also played with cables and compared the sturdy Snake Oil Taipan interconnects (with their German Sommer wire) with some 20-year-old Radio Shack ones. And, compared to the Radio Shack ones, the Snake Oil added…no, not snake oil, but bass, as if a subwoofer had been added. Which one is better comes down to personal taste.

I then replaced the Khadas Tone2 Pro with the Dragonfly Cobalt as dac, which also sounded great but slightly less substantial. This probably lies in the quality of Khadas’s dedicated RCA outputs.

And what did the different power supplies contribute?

I tested the Khadas Pro with the different power supplies (ifi Audio iPower/iPower X, Apple iPad 12W switching supply, Tzumi power bank, Macbook’s USB power), musically sourced by the MacBook. Since the Khadas prioritizes the I2P port (it switches automatically when an external power source is connected), A/B-ing was easy.

What did I expect between Mac power and external power? From discussions and company advertisements/claims, the electric noises should should have been decreased – and the sonic impact should have increased with an external low-noise supply.

What differences did I hear? Absolutely none, zero, zilch. This relates to the Mac as the music source while using the Khadas as amp and as dac in combination with the Schiit amp. I would have expected this for integrated amp, but additionally amplifying the signal with the Schiit should also have further amplified the noise.

I also alternated the external power supplies when playing music from the Marantz SACD player…and could also not hear any differences between them. But I noticed an excellent clarity and headroom, which probably reflected the uncompressed nature of the music compared to the compressed formats on the Mac.

In the end, there were too many unknowns to allow for a conclusive answer on the LPS question other than that an external power supply likely does not make the world or a difference. The cheap compromise would be the power bank.

Talking to audio engineer Amir from Audio Science Reviews (who had also reviewed the Khadas Tone2 Pro), he told me that different power supplies can make a small measurable difference, which are not significant enough to justify their purchase. The Khadas Tone2 Pro’s performance is superb without.

I don’t object.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Khadas Tone2 Pro is not only a “Jack of all trades”, it is also a master of many. It incorporates a lot interesting concepts and innovations – and it works by itself or in combination with essentially anything. It has come a long way from the original “naked” Toneboard for the DIY person to this turnkey device that will provide users with lots of fun…after an initial learning curve. A unique product that is uniquely good.

Recommended.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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You find an INDEX of all our dac/amp reviews HERE.

DISCLAIMER

The Khadas Tone2 Pro was kindly provided by hifigo for my review. Thank you very much.

You can get the Khadas Tone2 Pro from hifigo or amazon.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

GALLERY

The post Khadas Tone2 Pro Review – Impossible Is Nothing appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Unlike most of the biased media today competing for viewers in a echo chamber of their desired audience, there were ways to achieve neutral viewpoints in 2020. Earphones are hardly earth shattering topics, but they are providing us hopefully with some nice relaxation time in the age of exceptional abnormality. Sometimes there are multiple ways to reach a neutral-ish signature. The Ibasso IT00, Tin Hifi T2 Plus, and Moondrop Starfield all meet my criteria for neutral-ish, but each deciding to highlight a particular range of the frequency band. Ibasso’s trick is bass, TinHifi T2 Plus was midrange, and Moondrop Starfield highlighted a nicely done non-offensive treble. Since these have all been reviewed to death and are all highly recommended for approximate $100 or less choices, I thought it would be interesting to summarize them and highlight the differences.

Ibasso IT00 ($69-79) Bassy neutral

The bottom third of the frequency spectrum dominates this neutralish signature, with a flattened top end. I wouldn’t call this bass bleed because the whole lower midrange is very full as well. Painted with a broad brush, the bass tends to linger into the midrange giving bass hits a bathroom decay while the top end comes in feeling more living room decay. Cymbal hits and such are soft as if being struck by chopsticks, missing some visceral impact. In other words most of the space or atmosphere comes from down low. Mids are pleasant and clear, but a little recessed to prevent it from sounding too in your face. Guitars and pianos have stage presence, but the rest gets a little lost. Male vocals sound very full, and female vocals have a singing in the shower essence. The Ibasso is easily driven, but with more volume comes stronger bass. Timbre is nice with the only coloration coming in through the lower midrange.

Staging feels a tad crowded ok for girl and guitar, but bigger band stuff are all competing for attention. One of the biggest annoyances is the driver flex due to the thin diaphragm of the driver which makes it easy to drive. It’s hard to know if this leads to long term issues or not, but something I find very annoying. Fit is traditional universal, very lightweight due to the plastic shell. Two different sets of tips- black and white, the white ones have a thicker stem at the base which adds more controlled bass, while the black ones give the feeling of less bass impact. The Ibasso IT00 seems like a middle ground between the IT01 and the IT01s as far as the tuning goes. I have to wonder if they just installed a thinner screen filter to allow the lower treble to accentuate the experience. If I had the newer IT01 with removed screens, it would be an interesting experiment.

Tin Hifi T2 Plus ($40-59) Mid-centric Neutral

Closest to neutral pleasing mid-centric while adding a splash of bass. The more abstract astronomically themed appearance of the bunch, the Tin Hifi T2 Plus channels alien spaceship to finally give us a comfortable Tin Hifi model. The slippery little suckers pop right in broadcasting immediately focused vocals, while the here one minute gone the next bass is masked by the midrange focus on this set. The Tin Hifi T2 Plus bass is fuller than the Moondrop Starfield that has a lower bass impression making the Starfield sound a little thin in comparison. The bass and treble are only there as backup support to the sweet candy middle on the Tin Hifi T2 Plus. It really highlights the layering present in the Tin Hifi T2 Plus while at the same time exposing the Ibasso IT00’s rather arid mid-section. I think Tin Hifi’s holographic midrange however tops the bottom fullness of the Ibasso if trying to compare their strengths. Bass is gentle with a slight roll off on the lowest octave giving bass notes good weight, but not enough gogo juice to tickle, making the bass heard but not felt. The treble is signature Tin Hifi, but without the typical sibilance found in the other T2/T3 models. Where the Moondrop Starfield starts to drop in treble output the Tin Hifi T2 Plus rises slightly to a final peak coming off a little sharper than the Starfield. Sharper and slightly agitated treble lead to brassy crescendos. Snares pop while cymbals tingle. Less constipated sounding than the IT00, The Tin Hifi T2 Plus lets loose in the lower treble to help give the midrange extra clarity. The Tin Hifi T2 plus has a wider stage footprint than the IT00 and more depth as well. In terms of driveablity from a mobile device, both require nothing extra with the IT00 edging out all three in terms of sensitivity.

Moondrop Starfield ($95-109) Neutral slighty bright

The Moondrop Starfield is second kid to the Kanas Pro/KXXS. It lacks the finer things in life the first child received and may get the hand me downs (same shell, less premium cable), but it also gained the wisdom of their parents to tweak the path forward. The Moondrop Starfield’s bass is snappier than the the Tin Hifi T2 Plus, and unlike the Ibasso IT00 the bass was painted with a finer brush focusing more on 100hz and below only. Cymbals and snares have almost equal emphasis with snares still lightly edging out cymbal crashes. Both the Tin Hifi T2 Plus and the Ibasso IT00 seemed a little scared to take on the presence region, and this is the standout region of the Moondrop Starfield. It sounds more mature, less grungy, no constipation. The vocal midrange is more soft spoken than the slightly honky Tin Hifi T2 Plus, but not as boring sounding as the Ibasso IT00. As we follow the midrange down to the depths of the bass region we have a nice level playing field with the bass coming in only at the end. The bass kind of floats by itself which allows it to add grunt only to lower bass. You don’t get the same guitar grunge from the Ibasso IT00, again a little more mature. Cellos and bass have less of a boxy feel, which allows for a less tiring sound. Moondrop Starfield’s soundstaging feels more distant allowing everything to pull away from your headspace. They all seem to have different staging, with the Ibasso IT00 recessed, the Tin Hifi T2 Plus forward, and the Moondrop Starfield fairly even. I like what Moondrop has achieved with the treble on the Starfield over the Kanas Pro, that has a slight timbre off-ness in the upper treble.

OUTRO

So there is no right or wrong here, only what is preferred and all good contenders for something vanilla. If these were ice cream sundaes, the Ibasso IT00 is covered in hot fudge (bass), the Tin Hifi T2 Plus is hold the nuts and go easy on the fudge, and the Moondrop Starfield is drizzled with a hint of fudge and topped with whipped cream (sweeter treble). Since I already owned the Ibasso IT01 and the Moondrop Kanas Pro, the Ibasso IT00 and Starfield are minor changes. Personally the Tin Hifi T2 is the interesting one to own out of these three, giving it a ranking of nice to have neutralish IEM.

GRAPHS

• Ibasso IT00 Stock vs Filter removed
• Tinhifi T2 Plus Left vs Right
• Moondrop Starfield Left Vs Right (a little troubling this particular set has a level mismatch in the bass.)
• IT00, T2 Plus, Moondrop Starfield

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DISCLAIMER

Nothing to disclose here.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

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

The post Ibasso IT00, Tin Hifi T2 Plus, Moondrop Starfield – Neutral DMZ for 2020/2021 appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Gear of the Year: Just in time for Christmas we list our our personal favourites of 2020 – the portable audio we personally enjoyed most. Note, these are not necessarily the best, but the ones we…you got it. Therefore, these are highly personal, subjective listings. Please be aware we don’t offer reviews for everything we like/we list here (yet).

That Christmas tree on the right is a carryover from last year. It stood in the lobby of the Windsor hotel at the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro…and it should be a symbolism for looking forward to travelling again. Viva Brazil!

Most of our reviews would have not been possible without our 2020 cooperating partners. We thank:

Acoustic Effect, ADV, Akoustyx, Apos Audio, Azla, Bill Barraugh/Audiotiers, Blon, Cozoy, CVJ, ddHifi, Dekoni, Dunu, EarMen, Earstudio, Hifigo, iBasso, ifi Audio, KBEAR, Keephifi, Moondrop, NiceHCK, Opa Audio Store, Sennheiser, Shenzhenaudio, Shozy, Smabat, Tempotec, Tronsmart, TRN, Vision Ears, V-Moda, Wooeasy Earphones Store, Yaxi, Don’tkillusifweforgotyoujustsendusanotandwefixit. 

For the companies: you can check for your products/yourself in the search field on the right-hand side.

Note: we do not make any money (or getting compensated by products) through the gear we review. No affiliate links, trackers etc. We keep the conflict-of-interest potential as low as possible by attempting to stay at arm’s length.

As to the popularity of our reviews with you, the reader: our top-viewed BLOG POSTS for 2020 were (click to go to the respective article):

1. Simplified Guide To Silicone Eartips (~13,000 views in early Dec 2020)
2. Tin Hifi T2 Plus Review
3. Blon Bl-03 Review
4. KZ ZSN Pro Review
5. Blon Bl-05 Beta Photography
6. Tempotec Sonata HD Pro Review
7. Moondrop SSR Review
8. Drop JVC HA-FDX1 Review
9. Apple Audio Adapter Review
10. Earphones Of The Year 2019
11. Sennheiser IE 500 PRO Review
12. Reversing Starlines Eartips
13. TRN V90 Review
14. Moondrop Starfield Review
15. Sony MH755 Review

Total Number of Blog Posts in 2020: 186

Facebook Group (est. 2020-01-01)| https://www.facebook.com/groups/audioreviews: >5200 members

YouTube subscriptions | https://www.youtube.com/c/audioreviews: 660

Our most-watched YouTube Video of 2020:

And yes, this blog grew and grew and grew in 2020. We are now 8 reviewers on 3 continents. Below are our personal favourites of 2020…

Baskingshark…Singapore

My 2020 favourites in the following categories are:

Earphones

$300 – 500 USD:
LZ A7. Provides a mind boggling 10 tuning configs (or more with aftermarket tuning nozzles). It has excellent technicalities, good fit, good isolation, and the best part that surprised me is that the LZ A7 has very natural timbre for a BA/piezo containing tribid (other than the higher treble frequencies handled by the piezo). Most folks would find an ideal sound signature with it, maybe except diehard bassheads. 

$200 – 300 USD:
Audiosense T800. It has good technicalities, is “fun sounding” and excellent isolation nearing 30 dB. Even though it contains a BA bass, it sounds like a DD bass due to a vented subwoofer. The T800 may be a bit on the bright side, so it isn’t the best option for treble sensitive folks, but you can use knowles filters, warm sources or eartips to tame the treble.

@ $100 – 200 USD:
TRI I3. Smooth, balanced, grand and coherent despite the weird 1 planar + 1 BA + 1 DD config. It needs amping though, the planars handling the mids are quite power hungry. It has one of the best soundstages at the $100ish region when amped, with sweet planar mids. Treble is safe, bordering on darkish, so maybe not for trebleheads.

KBEAR BElieve. “Bearly believable” for a full beryllium set at this price? The KBEAR BElieve sports a smooth and refined U shaped tuning, great technical chops in the mids and treble areas for a single DD. It has good timbre for acoustic instruments but is very hard to drive, as per the 98 dB sensitivity. It sounds muddy, congested and slow in the bass with a low powered source, but scales beautifully when optimally amped, so those that don’t intend to get an amp best look elsewhere. With power, the KBEAR BElieve does hit about 70% of the technical performance of the famed DUNU LUNA, at 10% of the price! 

@ Sub $100 USD:
HZSound Heart Mirror. Nice mirror like shells, as per its namesake, it is a neutralish bright set, excellent timbre for acoustic instruments. I like how it manages to get a forward upper mids without going into harsh or shouty territory, a very fine line to balance. The Heart Mirror has good transients and speed on the driver. Note weight is thin and soundstage is not the best though, and it needs amping to shine, sounds meh from a smartphone. Good set for vocal lovers and timbre lovers, but maybe not so all rounded due to the lack of bass, but it takes to EQ in the bass like a champ.

Favourite earbud for the year:
SMABAT ST105 Black Gold. Neutralish set with subbass and upper mids boost. If you have always looked down on earbuds for not having subbass, think again. The SMABAT ST10S Black Gold has the best subass quantity and extension I’ve ever heard in a bud. It has excellent technicalities, is MMCX
detachable and can be worn over ears or cable down. It needs amping though, as per the 150 ohm impedance. Not to be mixed up with the SMABAT ST10S Black Silver, which is tuned differently (and has lower impedance).

Best lucky bag/Fukubukuro/Mystery bag:
Urbanfun YBF-ISS014 – it is extremely exciting to see whether u get a beryllium vs “noble metal” driver. Or a working versus wonky mmcx. Even newer batches of the Urbanfun have been reported to have QC problems in the audio forums.The Urbanfun can be summed up in this statement by Forrest Gump: “My Mom Always Said Life Was Like A Box Of Urbanfuns. You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get.”

Best price to peformance joke IEM of the year:
TRN golden ears $14,750.00 USD IEM paired with $3400 USD xiaofan ortiz “king of the gods” cable. Mere mortals cannot hope to use these gear if not you’ll be struck down by lightning! I hope the Bellsing BAs inside are also made of gold!

Biodegraded…Vancouver, Canada

Sorry, from me you get stuff that mostly hasn’t been reviewed. In no particular order; and most aren’t new this year.

Digital transports:
Pi2Design Pi2AES (+ Raspberry Pi)
For streaming (via wifi or Ethernet cable) digital music from your computer, you could go cheap and crap like a Chromecast or Airport, brutally expensive like an all-in-one streamer from Naim or PS Audio, or this $US 149 HAT for a Raspberry Pi which will produce excellent quality AES or S/PDIF digital audio to feed into your audiophile DAC. DIY aesthetic & philosophy, audiophile quality, fantastic convenience once you figure out how to set it up (variety of OS solutions, some better than others).

Amps/Preamps:
Ifi Audio Zen Phono RIAA phono preamp
$US 149 for excellent resolution and transients and the ability to work with a wide range of cartridges. Might benefit from an improved power supply such as Ifi’s own iPower, but my jury remains out on that. Audioreviews summary here.

Amp accessories:
GE JAN 5670W vacuum tube
Cheap and widely available true new-old-stock military-surplus tube that works really well as a 6DJ8/6922 preamp tube substitute (great in the Schiit Vali 2).  Nice tight lows, smooth but detailed mids, sparkly highs. 6922 to 5670 adapter required to translate the I/O pin pattern so nothing blows up.

Headphone accessories:
Yaxi pads for Porta Pro / KSC75 / PX-100
Tastefully boost bass and treble while (on the Kosses) lowering the prominent 5kHz peak. And they’re comfortable! Audioreviews summary here.

IEMs:
Drop/JVC HA-FDX1
Champion single-dynamic earphone with great DD timbre and almost BA-fast transients. Slightly boosted in the uppermost mids, heavy in the ears, intermittent availability, but huge bang-for-buck. Audioreviews summaries here and here (note that Loomis isn’t their greatest fan).

Headphones:
Fostex T50RP Mk3 with cheap angled pads and other mods
Closed or semi-open (depending on how much you stuff the cups) planar magnetic phones that with a little effort (see eg here for ideas) can be made both neutral and extended while retaining deep bass and technicalities. Need amp power to perform.

Players:
USB Audio Player Pro
Gets better with every update. Neutron is more configurable, but unnecessarily so. Put this on your Android phone, plug in a USB DAC/amp, and enjoy great lossless sound quality on the go. Equalizer plugins available. Android only though.

Durwood…Chicago, USA

CCA this year might as well been a lump of coal, it’s only two letters shy of selling your soul. If you want to talk to your boring Uncle Bob, (no offense Bob’s of the world) get yourself an iBasso IT00 or Tin Hifi T2 Plus you knob. Your uncle Bob is the guy who has lots of interesting things to say, but leaves you wondering what did you just listen to today. My only favorites this year were TRN STM who is the punk that your family doesn’t like to talk about and the Shozy Rouge as your killer looking date that likes to party but not shout. Waiting to see if Shozy Form 1.4 is in good form, only thing I decided to buy during the holiday sales storm. BQEYZ Spring 2 was a nice lively upgrade to the BQEYZ Spring 1, but fix that bass man, maybe take some lessons from the Nicehck NX7 Daniel son. Some of my friends from last year are still good folks to have around, Sony MH755, BLON BL03 for sleeping, and TinHifi T4 (I just wish you would hang in my ear longer than a few minutes of sound). Simgot EN700 is a carry over as well. I like a mild V if you can see.

Jürgen Kraus…Calgary, Canada

Blon BL-05s: These are very articulate playing single DDs also appeal to me through their hideous colour. Probably my most used items of the year (together with the JVCs and Shozy Form 1.4 below). Following the footsteps of the popular Blon Bl-03 – the Blon Bl-05s disappeared fast in the big black hole of anti-hype. And for a good reason: they look like the Bl-05, smell like the Bl-05, measure like the Bl-05, but the Bl-05 had been thrown on the market prematurely, and they sucked. The more distinguished audience may have realized that Bl-05 and Bl-05s have different drivers and sound completely different.

Drop JVC HA-FDX01: Hailed as arguably the best single DD on the market until Dunu Luna and Final Audio A8000 took over, this labour of love was originally only available 665 times….which has extended to above 2000 by now while the price dropped to $200. Carryover from 2019. Still my best earphones because of their organic timbre and great resolution.

TRI I3: Planar magnetic. Something totally different. Big and bold sounding yet soothing. Nothing offensive, nothing dull.

Sennheiser IE 400 PRO ($349): The best of their PRO series. Classic Sennheiser quality midrange. Super ergonomics. Nobody will dislike this one.

Shozy Form 1.4 ($199): The Shozy team somehow got their tuning 100% right. The Form 1.4 simply sound appealing to my ears…warm and fuzzy.

Guilty Pleasure: I pull the $70 FiiO FD1 out for the road: nice’n’punchy.

Vision Ears Elysium in the Endgame category. At 2500 EUR hand made by elfs and some Rhine mermaids in Cologne, out of reach for longer than a week (borrowed). Produce vocals better than real life but also melts credit cards. Cymbals as crisp as Swedish bread…

Perversions and Subversions: the Moondrop Spaceship at $20 beats the Moondrop SSR and SSP…less accurate but the better “junk food” for my ears. Moondrop have a history of undercutting their own mid-tier earphones with their budget offerings…we remember the $30 Crescent and the $180 KPE.

Inasmile Cable Protector: Discovery of the year. 20 cents that protect my fraying Apple cables from total breakage.

I still use the Koss PortaPro headphones with Yaxi earpads for video conferencing and listening when I need comfort around my ears. Also great are the Koss KSC75. Grab all of them when you can, they are affordable standard staples. And my standard full-sized cans are still the Sennheiser HD 600.

Tempotec Sonata HD Pro dac/amp dongle ($40): comes at the price of an adapter – but with all possible adapters to connect this little rascal to anything, including iPhones. Good enough to drive any iem. The very best dongles are the $199 EarMen Sparrow run on their balanced output, and the $120 Earstudio HUD100. In terms of larger portable dacs/amps (with integrated battery), I like the $199 ifi Audio Nano BL, the $149 ifi Audio hip-dac, and the $249 EarMen TR-amp. And I don’t think I need a bigger desktop amp.

Question mark of the year: The KBEAR Believe with their Japan sourced Beryllium drivers were too cheap to be true…which was underlined by some competing cheater Be-less Beryllium earphones and doubt seeded by the Dunu competitor. Hey, but the Luna have that Chi-Fi peak…

Personal Disappointment of the year: the continuing Chi-Fi peak between 2 and 4 kHz that kills western eardrums…TRN are leading the charge…the TRN BA8 cuts steel like butter.

Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir…Munich, Germany

I’ve tried and reviewed more stuff this year than ever, and part of it (actually, most of it) is due to the awful home-arrest that we’ve all succumbed too. Hope things get normal soon, sigh.

IEMs: 

Final E500 ($20): This otherwise “cheap/beater” IEM does one thing better than *anything* under $100 – binaural tracks and gaming. At least it did so until its brethren VR3000 came out, but I’m yet to hear that and that’s got a 4x price tag attached to it. People call the Sony MH755 the best value IEMs, for me it’s the Final E500.

Dunu Studio SA6 ($550): This is a great all-rounder IEM. Great bass for an all-BA IEM, the lower-mids are full and organic whereas upper-mids tread the fine line between forwardness and shoutiness. The treble has good amount of sparkle and air. Great design and accessory pack. Really, hard to pick a fault.

Honorable mentions: Final E5000, Samsung Galaxy Buds, Moondrop Blessing 2, Sony IER-M9, Final FI-BA-SS, Dunu Luna

Headphones:

Koss PortaPro X + Yaxi Pads ($40): Just buy one. Don’t be stingy. Thank me later. 

Sennheiser HD650 ($300): The once and forever king. The HD6XX esp is a no-brainer. Scales better than any headphone I’ve tried.

Honorable Mentions: Hifiman Sundara, Focal Clear, Final D8000

DAPs:

Sony NW-A55 ($200): If your primary need is to run efficient IEMs, look no further. Great ergonomics, actually usable UI, good display, fantastic battery life, and then there’s the MrWalkman mod to turn it even more awesome. The only “budget” DAP I recommend. 

Questyle QP1R ($600): Questyle made the QP1R 6 years ago. It’s still one of the best DAPs out there when it comes to overall dynamics.

Honorable mentions: Cowon Plenue V, iBasso DX160, Sony ZX300

Desktop sources:

YULONG Canary II ($230): One of the best budget all-in-ones I’ve come across. Criminally underrated too which is a royal shame.

Questyle CMA-400i ($800): The all-in-one system I ended up with after countless trials and tribulations. Perfectly aligned to my tastes.

Honorable Mentions: iFi Zen Can, Headamp GSX-Mini

And that’s a wrap. Hopefully 2021 brings us better times.

KopiOkaya…Singapore

This year there are 8 of us, thus there are more choices for our readers to choose from.

This year also marked the year of COVID-19…. Meaning, people are staying home longer and more often, thus they can listen to their gears on desktop systems other than portable music players and phones. Fortunately, desktop gears are much better and more affordable now.

Desktop DACs:

Denafrips Ares II (US$700): I don’t own one but my friend do. If you like natural, organic sound with a huge, deep, tall soundstage and don’t mind its higher price tag, look no further… This is it! 

Topping E30 (US$130): A nice warm-neutral DAC. It doesn’t sound as natural, as organic or has a huge soundstage like the Ares II but it offers great audio at an affordable price.

Note: Extremely sensitive to the quality of power supply used. Make sure you power it with something decent like the iFi iPower X.

Desktop Amps:

Yulong Canary II (US$250): This is actually a DAC/Amp with a Class A amplification stage. It posseses a warm-neutral sound signature with lots of low-end drive thanks to the Class A topography. Very good value and performance consider this is both a DAC and an amp! 

Topping L30 (US$140): My current reference amp… If you have noticed, so far I don’t have any balanced amp in my list. When I tune earphones, I never tune them in balanced, simply because if it sounds good in single-ended, it should sound even better in balanced… Well, this is usually the case! The L30 is great (for me) because it has a gain REDUCTION switch for IEMs with high sensitivity… Not many headphone amps have such feature. This is a very neutral, clean and transparent amp that doesn’t colour the sound of the source. That’s all I ask for when tuning earphones.

Portable DAC-Amps:

FiiO BTR5 / Shanling UP4 / EarStudio ES100 MK2 / Qudelix 5K (US$120 or less): I don’t want to decide which is better. To me, each has its pros and cons but my point is… acceptable Bluetooth quality listening is finally here! Almost everybody owns a smartphone these days, so why not use it as a music player? Some of you despise this idea but c’mon… A TOTL DAP still runs slower than my $150 Android phone operating on Android 10.

Earphones:

Etymotic ER4XR (US$350): My reference for tuning hybrid earphones. If you are familiar with Etys you should know their earphones have a near-neutral Diffuse Field Target tuning. The “XR” version has slightly more bass. 

Etymotic ER2XR (US$100): Similar to the ER4XR except this uses a single dynamic instead of balanced armature, thus my reference when I tune dynamic earphones. The ER2XR has more natural timbre and punchier bass than ER4XR. You can forget about Moondrop SSR/SSP if you plan to buy one. This is better.

Note: Etymotic earphones are to be worn deep inside the ear canals touching the bone… #Etyheads call “deep insertion”. This can cause discomfort to first time Etymotic users but you will get used to it eventually… I used to hate it but I am OK with it now.

Headphones:

Singapore is too damn warm for headphones, unless using air-conditioning while listening to music… Sorry, I am too cheap for that. Electricity is expensive here.

Loomis Johnson…Chicago, USA

TRN STM–$20 wunderkind is not, as Durwood aptly states, a purist’s earphone, and it veers towards sounding over-pixilated and artificial. However, it has that certain toe-tapping rightness that keeps me reaching for it over much pricier “audiophile-tuned” pieces. Did I mention it’s $20?

KBEAR Diamond—you can spend a lot more and get a bigger stage or a richer timbre, but this smooth, highly-resolving single DD is awfully refined for the price, with class-leading coherence and premium aesthetics and build.

Cambridge Melomania TWS—they don’t have ANC, EQ customizability or the bells and whistles of their Apple/Samsung peers, and microphone is sub-standard. However, they sound damn good for wireless buds—and are surprisingly good value at <$99. 9 hour battery life a plus.

Honorable Mentions: Shozy Rouge, Shuoer Tape.

Slater…Cincinnati, USA

Slater is short for “See Ya Later”…and you will see him later…

And This Was The Previous Year:

The post Gear Of The Year – Our Personal 2020 Favourites appeared first on Audio Reviews.

SPECIFICATIONS

Driver unit: 10 mm woofer
Impedance: 32 Ω ±15%
Sensitivity: 104 ± 3 dB @1 kHzV 0.126V dB/mW
Frequency range: 20 – 20000 Hz
Cable/Connector: MMCX, gold plated
Tested at: $59
Purchase Link: Wooeasy Earphones Store 

Soundstage on the Tin Hifi 2 Plus is fairly wide and stereo separation good, but as with the Tin Hifi T4 imaging isn’t great, with the same tendency to bunch the performers towards the center of the stage.  The Plus is coherent overall, without conspicuous spikes or dips, but extension is limited at both ends; higher frequencies lack some sizzle and micro-detail. Vocals (esp. male), however, are forward and very cleanly presented.

All that said, this ain’t my cup of tea. As with the original and with the T4, note texture of the Tin Hifi 2 Plus is unnaturally lean and timbre somewhat artificial—compared to something like the BQEYZ BQ3, the Tin Hifi 2 Plus sounds digital and robotic, while price peers like the KZ ZS7 or TRN BA-5 aren’t paragons of accuracy, but are richer-sounding and more engaging.  In general, I found the Tin Hifi 2 Plus to be about 80% of the T4, which for around $30 has more oomph, a bigger stage and registers as the better buy if you like Tin’s house sound.

Disclaimer: Loaner from Durwood.

Contact us!

THE VIDEO…

The post Tin Hifi T2 Plus Review (2) – Better, But… appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Cons — Sizes don’t fit everybody; not cheap.

Distinctive Features: Size definition different from other brands; long-stemmed (2 of the 4 varieties).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Azla SednaEarfit Original Series consist of four varieties of bulbous silicone eartips with wide bores, two of them long stemmed, two short stemmed. The long-stemmed/short stemmed varieties come in regular and light, referring to membrane thickness and therefore comfort. Because of their special features the Azla SednaEarfit Original Series is entirely complementary to other premium brands such as SpinFit.

INTRODUCTION

Azla is an innovative company out of Gangnam, Korea that designs and produces their designs domestically. I had introduce the company in this previous article. Azla SednaEarfit Original Series are wide bore silicone eartips that have been very popular with audiophiles for quite some time. Hard to get outside of Asia in the past, many European and North American users relied on Japanese sources for their supply. Azla kindly sent me a generous amount of SednaEarfit tips over a year ago – and I had ample time testing them. In the meantime, the company has released another kind, the Azla SednaEarfit Xelastec, which will be subject to a future review.

THE FOUR TYPES OF THE ORIGINAL SERIES

Here the four types of AZLA eartips, depicted in size L (14 mm diameter of canopy). They are all wide-bores with identical umbrellas that and come in long stemmed and short stemmed, and with thick membrane (black; “regular”) and thinner membrane (translucent white, “light”).

Here some images that makes these distinctions clear.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

All models have in common that the sizes are unusual. L is 14 mm and ML is 13.3 mm diameter, regular L of most other brands is at 13.5 mm. But: the short-stemmed SednaEarfits have a 4.5 mm inner stem diameters that fits most earphone nozzles – it is the most universal size. The long-stemmed Azlas have an inner diameter of 5.4 mm but fit the same; I wonder whether this is a typo. Also unusual is the shape: all models are equally bulbous. Here the Azla SednaEarfit size chart:

The regular SednaEarfit and SednaEarfit Light further are special in that they are wide-bores with long stems. The long stems work very well with short-nozzles such as in the Blon BL-03, Blon BL-05/Bl-05s, and essentially all Tanchjim iems. There is no other tip design that does that other than the “reversed KZ Starlines“. The short-stemmed varieties work best with – you guessed it – long nozzles, frequently found in Bluetooth earphones.

In contrast, the Spinfits are narrow-bores which takes them out of competition with the Azla: the eartips of both brands are complimentary; one does not replace the other.

The umbrellas shapes between the SednaEarfit Original Series varieties are identical. The principal difference between the Regular and Light models is the membrane thickness: the black Regular ones are thicker, they are probably the sturdiest eartips on the market. I jokingly compare them to plungers (see photo underneath). The thinner Light tips have less tension, they are more supple and excert less pressure on the ear canals, which some may find more comfortable.

TONALITY?

There is no doubt that eartips are one of the the cheapest and effective ways to alter sound towards personal preferences, more so than cables, and both are less finicky than our reversible modding suggestions. However the perceived sonic changes through eartips rely on individual ear-canal shape.

As a rule of thumb, the bulbous shape of all four Azla SednaEarfit Original Series varieties mainly affect and reinforce the low end (for my ears). They solidify, tighten, and firm up the bass and sub-bass which boost its perception tom some extent. Good for improving muddy, softer low ends. This principally also adds volume to deeper voices. The long stemmed types also correct for short nozzles to get basic seal.

The thicker membrane of the regular black varieties probably minimizes in-ear resonance and produces a marginally thicker, fuller bodied low end than the Light varieties that are marginally leaner…in some cases. These differences may be small and perceived differently by different users with their individual ear-canal geometries. Test it for yourself before I start fantasizing too much.

Co-blogger KopiOkaya wrote on the Azla SednaEarfit Original Series in his famous Simplified Guide To IEM Silicone Eartips – make sure your dog is on the leash before I tell you: our most watched blog article – from his personal perspective:

Azla Sedna EarFit (Regular)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
For long nozzle good midrange
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla Sedna EarFit (Light)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
A “lighter” version of the regular Sedna EarFit. More balanced-sounding overall.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarFit (Light) Short
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
A “short-stem” version of SednaEarFitLight. Both nozzles are brought closer to the eardrums thus enhancement in overall clarity and vocal presence, which means stereo image and presentation are slightly more forward.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

PERSONAL USE

I certainly had a long testing period and these Azla tips have made it permanently on the nozzles of many of my earphones. Note that I don’t use the short varieties permanently, mainly because I don’t have any Bluetooth earphones. Before I go into the nitty gritty, I just list these earphones:

AZLA SEDNAREARFIT

• Blon BL-05
• Blon Bl-05S
• Cambridge Audio SE1
• Fidue A66
• NAD VISO HP20
• Tanchjim Blues
• Tanchjim Cora
• TinHifi T2 Plus
• TRN V90s
• TRN VX

AZLA SEDNAEARFIT SHORT

NA

AZLA SEDNAEARFIT LIGHT

• Blon BL-03
• B&W C5 Series 2
• Cozoy Hera C103
• LKER I8

AZLA SEDNAEARFIT LIGHT SHORT

NA

In summary, I mostly used the regular black original ones – and wonder whether the coincides with the general purchasing pattern.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Azla SednaEarfit Original Series silicone tips belong into every earphone enthusiast’s toolbox. Yes, they don’t come cheap, just start with small amounts…if they are not sold out right now. The main difference is not between the Regular and Light varieties but between the long-stemmed and short-stemmed ones. It appears that the long-stemmed SednaEarfit tips, Regular or Light, are more universally deployable, as they specifically target short earphone nozzles.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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DISCLAIMER

The SednaEarfit Original Series silicone eartips were kindly supplied – and int generous amounts – by Azla in Gangnam, Korea. I thank them very much, also for their patience.

Find more information on the Azla SednaEarfit Original Series on the Azla Product Page.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY…

The post Azla SednaEarfit Original Series Eartips Review – Take The Plunge, Gangnam Style appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Good build.
Very good technicalities at this price range.
2 pin connector – better lifespan than MMCX general.
Good isolation.
Tight bass.

Cons:

Overpriced, many better sets for the same price or lower.
Harsh and fatiguing due to the overly boosted upper mids/lower treble, not the best option for treble sensitive folks.
Hollow lower mids, off tonality in the mids.
BA timbre.
Thin note weight.
Dearth of accessories.
Not the most comfortable fit for longer sessions.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A picture paints a thousand words. The TRN BA8’s graph looks like a volcano that is gonna explode! (See graphs below!)

Okay, honestly the graph is scarier than it sounds. Though the TRN BA8 still sports a mild V shape tuning that is bright, with an overly boosted upper mids and lower treble. It has very good technical performance, but the upper mids/lower treble are harsh and fatiguing and the lower mids are a bit off in tonality. Fear inducing PTSD graph and dearth of accessories aside, at the $140ish price bracket this supposed flagship is releasing into, there’s honestly much better sound to be obtained for the coin.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver Type: 8 BA (Customised 30095 high frequency x 3 + 29689 midrange x 2 + 50060 midrange x 2 + 22955 low frequency x 1)
• Frequency Response: 20 – 20000Hz
• Impedance: 20 ohms
• Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
• Cable type: 2 pin
• Tested at $141 USD

ACCESSORIES

In addition to the IEM, it comes with:

1) Hard round case (metal) – FYI, it costs $3 USD on aliexpress.

2) Silicone tips (S/M/L)

3) 4 Core OCC Cable – tangly and thin.

The packaging the TRN BA8 came in was huge, it is easily one of the bigger packages for the last 50 – 60 CHIFI IEMs I have opened. I opened the box like a kid opening a Christmas present, only to find to my astonishment, that the dearth of accessories was shocking. I mean, I wasn’t expecting a treasure trove of accessories as TRN is not known to be the most generous with accessories, but at least I expected it to be something befitting a $140 USD flagship set. (I know TRN released a way more expensive joke $15000 USD golden ears IEM Halloween prank recently, but I’ll just pretend that it never existed cause it is unlikely to be sold. Even if someone with fool’s gold buys the golden ears TRN IEM, there’s a big possibility of infamous TRN QC issues, so let’s just take the TRN BA8 as the current flagship of TRN).

Anyway, back to the accessories (or lack thereof) in the TRN BA8, I don’t really give much weightage to accessories usually, as after a few months in this hobby, most of us would have some aftermarket tips and cables lying about, but this is really astonishing for a purported flagship IEM of TRN. I’ve seriously seen $30 – 40ish USD IEMs with better accessories, eg HZSound Heart Mirror, KBEAR Lark etc! The TRN BA8’s cable and eartips are exactly the same as those seen in budget TRN gear, and perhaps they added the hard case to make it look more premium, but that hard case can be easily bought for $3 or cheaper on Aliexpress.

I know some CHIFI companies cut costs at the accessories area to save money, but this is really a case of penny wise, pound foolish. I hope the $15000 USD golden ears TRN IEM that TRN is selling doesn’t come with the same pitiful assortment of accessories, or at least if they do, I hope TRN makes them all from gold (golden eartips, golden cables, and gold 24 carat Bellsing drivers inside too, pretty please).

BUILD/COMFORT

Personally, I found the TRN BA8 has so so comfort, it can get can be a bit painful for longer listening sessions. We all have different ear anatomies though, so some may find it comfortable, so YMMV.

I’ve no complains about the build, it is very sturdy and well constructed.

I liked that it came in a 2 pin config, generally better lifespan than MMCX in general.

ISOLATION

Isolation is good as per most all BA sets that are generally not vented.

DRIVABILITY

I tested the TRN BA8 with a Khadas Tone Board DAC -> Topping L30, Shanling Q1 DAP, Ziku HD X9 DAP -> Fiio A3, android smart phone, Sabre HIFI DAC (ESS ES9280C PRO) and a Tempotec Sonata HD Pro. The TRN BA8 is easily drivable from lower powered sources, no marked scaling of the sound was noted with higher powered sources.

Since the tuning of the TRN BA8 is on the bright side, I preferred pairing it with warmer sources to tame the lower treble/upper mids. Do note that the TRN BA8 sounds the best when played at a low to average volume. With boosting the volume, the upper mids/lower treble can get extremely hot due to the Fletcher Munson curve.

SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

A picture paints a thousand words as they say. The TRN BA8’s graph really reminded me of some exploding Hawaiian Bad Volcano, no pun intended, or at least Ayer’s Rock (between the 2 – 6 kHz regions). I was bracing myself for a screaming banshee on seeing it, and was getting ready to lose a few years of hearing (and ears of hearing also). This graph looked like it could really give PTSD and flashback nightmares for the next few months, but for the sake of audiophiledom and to do this review, I took a listen. I closed my eyes and said a prayer before turning on the amp. Slowly. Gingerly. Carefully. One volume pot marker at a time. Ah, I am still alive, my eardrums haven’t perforated yet! Honestly, the graph isn’t as painful as it looks, though it is still somewhat shouty, fatiguing and hot in the upper mids/lower treble, but the TRN BA8 actually ain’t as bad sounding as the graph looks. Could be worse. A eardrum could have burst there.

So scary PTSD inducing graph aside, the TRN BA8 does sports a mild V shaped tuning that is bright. Some good aspects about the TRN BA8 are that it is a technically proficient set. It has very good details, imaging, clarity and instrument separation at the $100ish price range. Soundstage is also above average in all 3 dimensions and music sounded rather spacious.

Timbre for acoustic instruments is so so, as per a set with pure BAs, definitely most pure DD sets have it beat in the timbre department, but it isn’t the worst BA timbre I’ve heard. Note weight is on the thinner side.

Bass:

Bass on the TRN BA8 is slightly north of neutral, midbass is more predominant than subbass. This is not a basshead set. The bass is tight, above average in texturing and on the faster side, as per most BA bass sets. The subbass extension is actually not bad for a pure BA bass, thought it won’t beat some DD bass in decay, movement of air and extension. There is only a slight midbass bleed, but this is somewhat source dependent. I have to say the bass is my favourite part of the tuning on this set.

Mids:

In a nutshell, the mids are the most controversial area of the TRN BA8. The upper mids of the TRN BA8 are much more forward than the rest of the mids, an almost 15ish dB difference, and this weird tonality in the mids does overemphasize vocals and guitars, making the mids sound unnatural. Female vocals are more forward than male vocals, but the lower mids are very hollow. This leads into a shrill and thin upper midrange that can get very hot, especially at higher volumes (Fletcher Munson Curve).

On the plus side, this boosted upper mids can give great clarity and details to the music, but the flipside is that the 2 kHz area is very fatiguing and harsh, though it isn’t as bad as the PTSD inducing graph looks. I found this 2 kHz area shouty especially with high vocals and horns/trumpets, and sometimes on badly recorded music.

Pure multi BA sets are commonly used for stage monitoring cause of their better technicalities and isolation (they are generally unvented) than equivalent single DD types. They also tend to have faster bass than DD bass. Fatiguing upper mids aside, I would still be hesitant to use the TRN BA8 for stage monitoring cause the tonality in the mids is rather off. Unless you have EQ on hand to somehow even out the vast chasm between the upper and lower mids.

Treble:

Lower treble carries on from the boosted upper mids, giving good details and clarity, but at the expense of harshness and fatigue.

Thankfully, the rest of the treble gradually dips thereafter, and it does extend quite well, but the upper treble isn’t that hot. The TRN BA8 sports an open and airier treble, with only mild instances of sibilance. Technicalities are good as expected in the treble, and trebleheads will like this set.

COMPARISONS

As per comparing oranges to apples, I’ve left out single DD sets from the comparisons.

TRN VX (6BA + 1 DD) ($69 USD)

The TRN VX is another banshee with a hot upper mids/lower treble and sibilance. I honestly couldn’t use the TRN VX for more than 5 minutes without EQ or a micropore mod. The TRN VX has thinner note weight, poorer timbre and technicalities and more sibilance. In stock form, the TRN VX has much harsher upper mids than the BA8. Accessories (or lack thereof) are similar between the 2, but there’s the added $3 USD metal hard case in the TRN BA8 to give some semblance of royalty to the purported TRN BA8 flagship.

The TRN BA8 is an upgrade over the TRN VX, but it is not doubly better as the price would suggest. Trebleheads and detail freaks may like these two sets, but I wouldn’t recommend both for treble sensitive folks, unless you want to play with EQ or some micropore mods.

TRI Starsea (2BA + 1DD) ($109 USD)

The TRI Starsea has better fit, better accessories, and tuning switches to give 4 different sound signatures. Hence it is more versatile than the TRN BA8. The TRI Starsea has a slightly more compressed soundstage and slightly poorer technicalities (instrument separation, clarity, details). Imaging is about on par between the two, but the TRI Starsea isn’t as harsh in the lower treble/upper mids than the TRN BA8, even on the brighter tunings.

The TRI Starsea is harder to drive and scales much more with amping, with regards to the bass heft. The TRI Starsea is also quite source picky, and benefits from a source with the lowest output impedance possible (ideally close to zero), in view of the very low 9ish impedance. On using it with higher output impedance gear, the FR may be skewed. The TRI Starsea is less dynamic and more “monitor” like. The TRN BA8 on the other hand is quite source agnostic.

TRI I3 (1DD + 1 Planar + 1BA) ($145 USD)

The TRI I3 sports a U shaped tuning, and is very coherent and balanced despite the weird mishmash of driver configuration. The TRI I3 is more power hungry and harder to drive due to the planars inside. The tonality in the mids and timbre are much more natural in the TRI I3 than the TRN BA8.

Imaging is about on par between the two sets when the TRI I3 is adequately powered, though the TRN BA8 edges it slightly in the areas of details and instrument separation. Clarity is more pronounced on the BA8 cause of boosted upper mids/lower treble, whereas the TRI I3’s treble is very safe and almost borders on dark, with less treble extension. The TRI I3 is much smoother and less fatiguing, especially in the higher frequencies as such, though on rare occasions, there is a 3 kHz spike that rears its ugly head on the TRI I3 with poorly recorded material or say in trumpets/saxaphones. When amped, the TRI I3 has a better soundstage than the TRN BA8.

Accessories are better in the TRI I3. Isolation is poorer on the TRI I3. Shell size is larger on the TRI I3, and the shell is heavier.

Audiosense DT200 (2BA) ($149 USD)

The Audiosense DT200 is a 2 BA set that is tuned warm neutralish. The Audiosense DT200 has better timbre and tonality than the TRN BA8, with less fatiguing highs. In fact, the Audiosense DT200’s treble is a bit dark. Technicalities like soundstage, imaging, instrument separation, clarity are better in the TRN BA8.

Accessories in the DT200 are one of the best at its price point, it comes with a myriad of foam tips and silicone tips, a very nice cable and brush, and a pelican like hard case (that is purportedly waterproof too). The TRN BA8 comes with a $3 hard case and some miserable tips and tangly budget cable.

Overall, even though the TRN BA8 beats the Audiosense DT200 in technicalities, I would argue it is easier to find a highly technical CHIFI than one with good timbre/tonality at this price point. The TRN BA8 is too fatiguing and harsh for me to use for longer sessions, compared to the smoother and more laid backed Audiosense DT200.

Hisenior B5+ (5 BA) ($78 USD)

The Hisenior B5+ is about half the price of the TRN BA8, and it is a midcentric (N shaped) set with more marked subbass roll off and higher treble roll off than the TRN BA8. Both are pure BA sets, but the Hisenior B5+ has knowles drivers.

Technicalities (clarity, imaging, instrument separation, details) and soundstage are better on the TRN BA8. The TRN BA8 is more harsh and fatiguing. Hisenior B5+ is more natural in the timbre and vocals department and the tuning is smoother. In view of the midcentric tuning, the Hisenior B5+ is great for vocals, but may not be that all rounded for certain genres eg bass forward genres like EDM.

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

CONCLUSIONS

Thanks for reading so far. The TRN BA8 isn’t that great, but it isn’t the worst tuned set. However, the big elephant in the room is why did it launch at the $130 – $150 USD price range? If TRN released their usual $30 – 50 USD fare, the expectations will be lower, but now that they try to muscle into the $100 USD pie, there’s tough competition against esteemed bigboys such as the TRI I3, ISN H40, Fiio FH3, TRI Starsea, ThieAudio gear, Shozy Form 1.4 etc. I honestly can’t recommend the TRN BA8 at its current price of $130 – 140 USD. Maybe at 50% and below of the TRN BA8’s current price, then possibly it can be a very very very soft recommendation.

The TRN BA8’s PTSD inducing graph is admittedly scarier than it looks, but the tuning is still rather fatiguing and hot in 2 – 6 kHz regions, as per the graph. The tonality is also a bit off in the mids, with a very hollow lower mids. Having said that, the TRN BA8’s technicalities are very good. If technicalities are of more importance to you over tonality, and if you are a treblehead, then perhaps this set may be up your alley, but most others may not enjoy the tonality or harshness for longer listening sessions. Different strokes for different folks as they say.

However, to add insult to injury, the accessories provided in the TRN BA8 are laughable for a $140ish flagship, and are almost no different from their budget IEMs (save for an additional $3 USD metal hard case to remind us that it is indeed a flagship).

I’m not really a BA bass fan, but have always appreciated that some of the pure multi BA sets I own (such as the Audiosense T800, some midfi Westones and the Hisenior B5+) can bring different benefits to the table, eg fast bass, good technicalities and good isolation (cause generally these pure BA types ain’t vented). In fact I use these pure multi BA sets mostly for stage monitoring due to the above reasons. But despite the good technicalities, the TRN BA8 wouldn’t be getting any air time as a stage monitor nor a general purpose IEM for me due to the harsh, fatiguing tuning and off tonality in the mids.

I thought that the cheaper TRN VX was pretty bad in stock form without EQ/mods, but TRN continues this similar tuning (or lack thereof) in the TRN BA8, with a higher price to boot. The TRN BA8 is also their most expensively priced IEM to date (let’s ignore the joke $15000 USD golden ears TRN Halloween prank iem), but unfortunately in this case, the sound does not justify the price. I borrowed the TRN BA8 from coblogger KopiOKaya for the purposes of this review. I couldn’t wait to return it to him pronto once the review was done.

MY VERDICT

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DISCLAIMER

This set was borrowed from coblogger KopiOKaya for this review.

It can be gotten at $141 USD from the TRN Official Store: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001302669695.html

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post TRN BA8 Review (1) – PTSD Inducing Graph, Screaming Banshee? appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Overall tonality of the Heart-Mirror is neutral-cool… Nothing offensive or harsh on the top-end. If you enjoy a clean and clear presentation, you are in for a treat.

Soundstage is average. Just slightly narrower than BLON BL-03. Imaging and instrument separation are distinct with good amounts of space around and in-between. Vocal is upfront but “not in-your-face”.

Bass is not the fastest I have heard in a dynamic earphone but it isn’t the slowest either (KBEAR Diamond is faster). I did notice bass tightens and speeds up a bit when amp’ed. However, amping doesn’t help with the sub-bass, and I feel it is lacking some low-end rumble.

A LOT OF FOLKS want to know if they really need an amp with Heart-Mirror… My answer is “YES!”… If you want the best sound from this earphone. Is it hard to drive? No! It sounds pretty decent with Apple dongle BUT the overall sound is even leaner than playing with an amp. ONE THING FOR SURE… You HAVE TO match it with a warm source (a tube amp or tube buffer for example) to sound really soothing to the ears. If not, certain tracks with saxophone or trumpet can sound quite uncomfortable.

After spending close to 10 hours with the HZSound Heart-Mirror, I could, more or less, nail down its sound characteristics. If you already own the BLON BL-05s, Heart-Mirror isn’t an upgrade (but an upgrade in fit and accessories). It is definitely an upgrade in tonality and technicality over the BLON BL-03. HOWEVER, you lose the musicality, listenability and fun-factor that the BL-03 is known for. To me, HZSound Heart-Mirror lacks richness, note weight and dynamics. These are the elements that I consider essential for an enjoyable listening.

If you already own the HZSound Heart-Mirror and would like to add some mass to its bulimic sound, here are some “weight gaining” diet you could try:

– Replace stock silver-plated cable to OFC pure copper
– Replace stock eartips to Acoustune AET08 or Final Audio Type E (black)
– Use a tube amp or add a tube buffer
– Use a warm sound source

I find myself enjoying HZSound Heart-Mirror when matched with iFi Audio Hip-Dac (XBass enabled).

Fellow Singaporean, colleague and co-blogger, Baskingshark wrote a very thorough review on the HZSound Heart-Mirror. He compared it against the Moondrop SSR, Tin Hifi T2 Plus, BLON BL-05 and BL-05s. Those who are interested in the Heart-Mirror may want to checkout his full evaluation:

Equipment used:

• Topping E30 + L30 stack
• Redmi Note 9 Pro + Apple USB Type-C dongle
• Redmi Note 9 Pro + iFi Audio iDSD Nano BL / iFi Audio Hip-DAC
• Stock cable + Stock “Sony lookalike” siliconeeartips Kios

MY VERDICT

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DISCLAIMER

Get the HZSound Heart-Mirror at $49 USD at KeepHifi

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post HZSound Heart-Mirror Review (2) – Reflection Of My Heartfelt Truth appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Pros

Light and comfortable. Good fit.
Smooth and organic tonality.
Good technical performance for a budget single DD (though still won’t beat multi BA/hybrids in general).
Good timbre.
Fixes fit issues and midbass bloat of the BLON BL-03, fixes shouty upper mids of the BLON BL-05 (non S).
Quite all rounder for most music genres.
Above average isolation.
Good price to performance ratio.

Cons:

Gaudy coloured shells, takes guts to wear it outdoors!
Distorts with higher volume/overly robust EQ.
Same crappy accessories (stock eartips/cable).
May be overly safe in tuning, some may find it lacks pizzaz.
Bass is not the most textured.
Fares better with amping. May not be getting full potential with low powered smartphones.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

It does take a brave BLON cultist to wear the BLON BL-05S down the street, due to the unconventional radioactive green shells. But don’t judge an Oppoty by its cover, this is one set with an excellent price to performance ratio, boasting an organic and coherent tonality, good technical performance and accurate timbre for a budget single DD set.

This third Oppoty’s the charm. You Better Belief It! After the false dawn of the BLON BL-05 (non S), which didn’t have the best reviews for overly shouty upper mids, the BLON BL-05S has tamed the upper mids of the BLON BL-05 (non S), and simultaneously fixed the midbass bloat and fit issues of the venerable BLON BL-03. I’m glad BLON “Never gave up” after the BLON BL-05 (non S) fiasco.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver Type: 3rd generation 10 mm carbon diaphragm (single dynamic driver)
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW
• Cable type: 2 pin 0.78 mm
• Tested at $39 USD

ACCESSORIES

In addition to the IEM, it comes with:

1) Silicone tips.

2) Stock cable.

3) Sackcloth pouch.

Essentially the famous (or rather infamous) stock accessories of previous BLON iterations is here to greet us. This includes a barely serviceable cable and the usual BLON tips and lame sackcloth pouch. The familiar BLON box advising BLON cultists to “LET MUSIC BURN”, together with BELIEF and NEVER GIVING UP and OPPOTY greets us in a rainbow coloured hue.

Budget CHIFI companies need to cut costs somewhere, so as to pass down a cheaper price to the consumers, and accessories are usually the first area they target. Some CHIFI (cough cough TRN BA8 and TRN VX) retailing at more expensive prices may also have a similar dearth of accessories, so I won’t beat BLON with a stick for this and can close one eye. Anyway, what’s more important is the IEM’s internals and how it sounds, and I think those of us in this CHIFI hobby might have some aftermarket tips and cables lying about, so no biggie swapping the BLON BL-05S’s stock tips and cables out.

With regards to whether aftermarkets cables affect the sound on the BLON BL-05S, well that’s a big can of worms that is beyond the scope of this review. Suffice to say, I respect both camps. You save a lot of money in this hobby if you don’t believe in cables, while cable believers will have a new area in the audio chain to play with to achieve audio nirvana. Anyway, I think we’ll agree that most aftermarket cables will still be better asthetically and haptically than the stock one provided by BLON.

BUILD/COMFORT

The BLON BL-05S is very well fitting, similar to its BLON BL-05 (non S) older brother, it is very ergonomic and comfortable. It is much better fitting than the infamous BLON BL-03’s poor fit with stock tips/cables, due to the latter having a too short nozzle.

I didn’t find any driver flex. I liked that the BLON BL-05S came with a 2 pin connector, as I had tons of issues with MMCX connectors and their general longevity in the past.

The BLON BL-05S has a very garish radioactive green lick of paint. I tried wearing it outdoors and got a myriad of looks from passerbys, ranging from the disapproving to curious to disbelief (these heathen have no Belief in the BLON cult!). It was as though they were observing an alien device from another planet.

And this is the most dangerous thing about the green shells that I have to warn you folks about: your significant other will definitely notice that a new IEM has come in the mail, due to the obvious colour. And no, they will not be green with envy (no pun intended) seeing another IEM added to the collection. In fact, you might even be chased out of the house or have to sleep on the floor at night. There’s no excuse to disguise it as one of the other conventional black or silver coloured IEMs in your pokemon (gotta catch them all) collection of IEMs. Even my wife, who isn’t into audio, knew it was a new IEM from the colour. I took the Oppoty opportunity to try to disguise it as a preexisting Moondrop SSR (both had the radioactive green colour), but no dice, the Moondrop anime waifu box wasn’t present and it was just a lame mispelling of Oppoty and Belief on the box that let the cat out of the bag.

The radioactive green colour unfortunately doesn’t glow in the dark, so I don’t know what is the purpose of said colour, maybe to be radical and stand out from the cut throat competition at this price bracket? Perhaps for the local mainland Chinese who like jade, it might be an auspicious sign, but I got a feeling a lot of Westerners may not be willing to wear this colour outside. I hope BLON can consider producing the BLON BL-05S in conventional colours in the future, it shouldn’t be so difficult to do a new paint job isn’t it?

ISOLATION

At the risk of getting arrested by the police for wearing the garishly coloured shells out in the subway (for the sake of audio!), I found that the isolation of the BLON BL-05S is above average. As per most vented single DD sets, it won’t beat non vented multi BA types in this area.

DRIVABILITY/SOURCE

For the purposes of this review, I tried the BLON BL-05S with a Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 amp, Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp, Shanling Q1 DAP and Tempotec Sonata HD Pro. The BLON BL-05S is drivable from low powered smartphones, but scales better in soundstage, details and dynamics with amping. I preferred warmer sources with it in general, to give a bit more heft in the bass.

Unfortunately the BLON BL-05S distorts with higher volumes or overly robust EQ, that’s one area of weakness in the driver. So for those that like to blast their music or fiddle with a lot of EQ, this might be one area that may be a potential dealbreaker.

SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

The BLON BL-03 was lauded for excellent tonality and timbre, but had an achilles heel of a bloated midbass that couldn’t keep up with fast/complex bass movements. Not to mention the BLON BL-03 had fit issues due to the too short nozzles (which necessitated most folks to buy aftermarket tips +/- cables) and it had below average technicalities to boot. The next BLON, the BLON BL-05 (non S), tried to fix these problems by lowering the midbass quantity and fixed the fit issues of the BLON BL-03, but was decried for having shouty upper mids/lower treble and a somewhat off tonality in the mids (probably a seesaw effect due to the bass reduction).

I’m glad to report that this third OPPOTY is the legit charm. The BLON BL-05S combines the best characteristics of both the older BLONs and irons out their major deficits. The BLON BL-05S fixes the midbass bloat and lowers the midbass quantity of the BLON BL-03, and fixes the poor fit of the BLON BL-03. It also manages to tame the shouty upper mids/lower treble of the BL-05 (non S) with a better balanced tonality in the mids. The icing on the cake, is that the BLON BL-05S is technically superior to both the BLON BL-03 and BLON BL-05 (non S) too.

The BLON BL-05S sports a mild V shaped tuning, rather consumer friendly and coherently tuned, it is quite all rounder for most music genres as such.

BLON BL-05S’s bass is just slightly north of neutral, more subbass than midbass focused. It isn’t a basshead set for sure. For a DD set, the subbass doesn’t have the best extension, I would have preferred more subbass quantity and extension actually, but the BLON BL-05S’s bass is faster than the BLON BL-03’s bass, though it’s not that well textured or accurate compared to some DD peers at the same price range. There’s no midbass bleed and those that found the BLON BL-03 too bass heavy might like this set in the bass department.

The BLON BL-05S’s lower mids are a tinge recessed compared to upper mids, though the lower mids don’t seem as recessed as on the BLON BL-05 (non S). There’s a slight upper mids boost at the 2 kHz area, but it isn’t shouty at all (despite what the graphs would suggest). The BLON BL-05S can still on rare occasions get hot in the upper mids with boosted volumes (fletcher munson curve), but at moderate volumes, it is very tamed compared to most of the budget CHIFI out there. Female vocals are still more forward than male vocals, but not shouty. The upper mids/lower treble on the BLON BL-05S is much better than the BLON BL-05 (non S) in being not as harsh. The BLON BL-05S is more well balanced in tonality for the mids as such, and I liked that the mids were rather transparent. I would have preferred a bit thicker note weight in the mids, but this is just nitpicking.

Treble is quite well extended on the BLON BL-05S, with a good amount of details, but without sibilance/harshness. I’m treble sensitive and this treble actually falls on the safer side tuning wise, maybe trebleheads and those wanting a bit more pizzaz in their music might find the treble too tame actually. Perhaps for the cable believers, you can try using a silver plated cable with the BLON BL-05S and see if it does bring some clarity and details to the forefront.

Technicalities (in imaging, instrument separation and details) are better in the BLON BL-05 than the older BLON siblings. Against other multi BA/hybrids at the same price bracket, perhaps the BLON BL-05S can’t beat them in the technicalities department, as is expected of the limitation of a single driver. But for a sub $50 USD single DD set, I would consider it as having good technicalities for sure, with the driver being one of the faster single DDs I have heard at this price range. The BLON BL-05S’s soundstage depth is about average, but the width and height is above average. While the soundstage is not exactly classleading (my pick goes to the Final Audio E3000 at this price range), music never sounded congested on the BLON BL-05S for me.

Timbre is accurate for acoustic instruments as per its single DD roots. Note weight is moderate – it isn’t as thick as the BLON BL-03’s note weight, but isn’t as thin as that in the BLON BL-05.

COMPARISONS

I chose some common budget single DD sets to compare below. I left out multi BA/hybrids from the comparison as the different transducers have their own pros and cons, so it would be an apples to oranges comparison as such.

As per the above graphs, though the graphs of these 3 BLONs appear similar from afar, these sets actually sound very different (they do use different drivers too among the three and slight changes in bass/upper mids can cause a see saw effect in how the ears perceive the rest of the frequency spectrum). Suffice to say, the BLON BL-05S manages to fix the shouty upper mids of the BLON BL-05 (non S) and fix the midbass bloat of the BLON BL-03 very successfully.

VS the BLON BL-03:

The BLON BL-05S is different in tonality and tuning to the original BLON BL-03, so it is not a direct upgrade in a sense. Those wanting an upgraded version of the analoguish bassy warm tuning of the BLON BL-03 best look elsewhere. The BLON BL-05S has a tinge of warmth but is not as warm tuning wise compared to BLON BL-03. BLON BL-05S has a clearer treble but less subbass quantity, though subbass quantity on the BLON BL-03 is a bit tough to discuss among different individuals as most are using different aftermarket tips due to the poor fitting stock tips of the BLON BL-03. And different aftermarket tips give different isolation and bass amounts.

The BLON BL-05S has a more tamed midbass with minimal midbass bleed, with better technicalities (in imaging, clarity, instrument separation and soundstage and details). It fixes the slow and bleeding midbass of the BLON BL-03 with faster bass speed. I find it more balanced than the bassy BLON BL-03 actually.

The BLON BL-05S has better fit for sure, and better isolation, no need to mess with aftermarket tips.

Both have very legit timbre as per their DD roots, but BLON BL-03 has slightly better instrumental timbre in terms of timbral accuracy.

I feel they are complimentary sets, the BLON BL-03 having slightly better timbre and having a warm bassy analoguish tuning. The BLON BL-05S has better balancing in the mids and midbass, and it brings better fit and technicalities to the table. I think the BLON BL-05S has fixed the 2 main issues of the BLON BL-03 (ie crap fit and the midbass bloat), though it loses a bit of the warm analoguish bassy sound. One can consider the BLON BL-05S to be the BLON BL-03 MK2 that all BLON cultists are clamouring for, but the tuning is a bit different to really describe it as a direct spiritual successor, as bass forward music still has more midbass punch on the BLON BL-03.

VS the BLON BL-05 (non S):

I think most will agree the BLON BL-05 (non S) wasn’t that well received in view of the overly shouty upper mids, and its mids were off tonally wise, so the BLON BL-05S is a big improvement in this area. BLON BL-05S’s mids are more balanced, with the upper mids not being as hot (and the lower mids not being as recessed) as the BLON BL-05 (non S).

The BLON BL-05S doesn’t have as cold a tonality as the BLON BL-05 (non S), and timbre sounds more natural than the BLON BL-05 (non S).

Fit and isolation is similar between the two siblings. Technicalities are better than the BLON BL-05 (non S).

Overall I think the BLON BL-05S has made the BLON BL-05 (non S) superfluous. The BLON BL-05S is better in the 3 Ts: tonality, timbre and technicalities, no contest. So for those who are wondering between the 2, just skip the BLON BL-05 (non S). The BLON BL-05 (non S) will probably be a footnote now that the BLON BL-05S is in town.

VS the Tin HIFI T2 Plus

The Tin HIFI T2 Plus is a crowd favourite, sporting a U shaped tuning that is coherent and balanced, having good timbre and tonality. The Tin T2 Plus has a very inoffensive signature, but I find the Tin T2 Plus lacking a bit in dynamics and attack/bite compared to the BLON BL-05S.

The upper mids on the Tin T2 Plus are less boosted, with also less midbass punch/bass quantity than the BLON BL-05S. The Tin T2 Plus has slightly more extension/quantity in the treble and the bass is a bit more accurate than the BLON BL-05S.

The Tin T2 Plus also has poorer isolation, and has slightly poorer details and imaging than the BLON BL-05S when both are amped decently. Tin T2 Plus has better clarity and instrument separation. The Tin T2 Plus that I have unfortunately has a wonky MMCX connector on one side, and from forum reports it seems a few other users have been having MMCX issues from this model too and some of the older Tin HIFI MMCX ones (eg Tin T4, Tin T2 Pro). I think the penny has finally dropped for Tin HIFI and they are shifting towards 2 pin connectors in their newer releases (I prefer 2 pin connectors to MMCX ones for longevity any day). But if you are considering the Tin T2 Plus, it might behoof you to get it from somewhere with a good returns policy eg Amazon, in case an MMCX lemon comes in the mail.

Overall, just focusing on sound (and setting QC aside), I would consider the BLON BL-05S to be a sidegrade or at best marginal upgrade (if we were to split hairs here). Both are very good budget single DD sets, it may boil down to your sonic and music genre preferences. The BLON BL-05S has slightly better imaging and dynamics and edges it for me over the Tin T2 Plus most of the time. Maybe for classical genres, I’ll take the Tin T2 Plus for its more neutralish signature, though I personally find the Tin T2 Plus a bit boring and less dynamic for other genres, so it gets less air time for me, but YMMV.

VS the Moondrop SSR

The Moondrop SSR is tuned somewhat diffuse-field neutral with an upper mids boost, with a colder tonality and thinner note weight and poorer isolation. It has less bass and is much more sibilant than the BLON BL-05S. Moondrop SSR is shoutier at the upper mids/lower treble than the BLON BL-05S, especially when used at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson Curve). Moondrop SSR is the technical superior of the BLON BL-05S in the areas of better clarity, imaging, details and instrument separation.

I’ve said this before, but the Moondrop SSR actually sounds nice at low volumes, but by pumping up the volume a few dB, the 3 kHz area is shouty and is too much for me (Fletcher Munson Curve). The Moondrop SSR has very polarizing reviews, and I think this may be due to the different volumes all of us are using it at, and volume levels are typically not mentioned by reviewers or consumers. Not to mention the different sources, tips, hearing health we all have may affect our perception of upper mids/treble in the Moondrop SSR. After doing A/B testing using the same source, tips (and even cable), I’ll take the BLON BL-05S any day over the Moondrop SSR, as the 3 kHz peak and the sibilance on the SSR is a deal breaker for me.

Different strokes for different folks though, I know a lot of our friends like the Moondrop SSR, especially those that use it at lower volumes. The Moondrop SSR actually has better technical performance than the BLON BL-05S, but unfortunately it isn’t my cup of tea in terms of tonality, and I’ll take tonality over technical performance as my first priority.

VS the iBasso IT00

The iBasso IT00 is a U shaped set that comes with better accessories but unfortunately has driver flex. The iBasso IT00 has better extension at both ends (subbass/treble). The iBasso IT00 is more basshead, and is warmer sounding with a thicker lower mids. Upper mids are less boosted on the iBasso IT00. Technical performance is about thereabouts between the two sets.

The BLON BL-05S distorts with higher volume/overly robust EQ, and may lack a bit of dynamics compared to the iBasso IT00, but overall I would consider them sidegrades, with the iBasso IT00 perhaps better for bassheads/bass forward music and those that love a coloured and thick lower mids frequency.

VS the HZSound Heart Mirror

The HZSound Heart Mirror is tuned neutralish bright with less midbass quantity and is less “fun sounding” than the BLON BL-05S, especially when bass foward music is involved. The HZSound Heart Mirror sounds a bit more analytical and colder. Timbre and technicalities are better on the HZSound Heart Mirror. Both sets have fast drivers for a single DD but the HZSound Heart Mirror wins in transient response speed. The BLON BL-05S has lesser upper mids boost than the HZSound Heart Mirror and is generally less fatiguing for longer sessions than the HZSound Heart Mirror.

Isolation is better on the BLON BL-05S. The HZSound Heart Mirror is $10 – 15 USD more expensive, and this may be explained by the better accessories on the HZSound Heart Mirror. Both sets do better with amping, but the HZSound Heart Mirror scales much more with amping. Unfortunately, the BLON BL-05S driver distorts with higher volumes/EQ, so that’s an area of weakness when pumping up the volume compared to the HZSound Heart Mirror.

I see the V shaped BLON BL-05S and neutralish bright HZSound Heart Mirror as complimentary sets with different tunings to suit different music genres/preferences. The HZSound Heart Mirror is superior in vocals and instrumental timbre and technical performance (though this is with amping), but is a bit thinner in note weight and colder in tonality. For bass forward music or for something warmer and less analytical, I’ll still pick the BLON BL-05S. If one has no powerful source available (eg just a low powered smartphone), then go for the BLON BL-05S instead, as the HZSound Heart Mirror needs amping to sound good.

CONCLUSIONS

The BLON BL-05S succeeds in fixing the main issues of the BLON BL-03 (ie poor fit, poor technicalities and bloated midbass) and the BLON BL-05 (non S) (in the shouty upper mids), and also adds better technicalities to the mix. It has one of the better technicalities in a budget single DD set, with fast transients, though multi BA/hybrids at the same price bracket will generally trump the BLON BL-05S in this department.

Timbre on the BLON BL-05S is good, the tuning is rather coherent and smooth with no major peaks/troughs in the tuning. It has good price to performance ratio and should be a good all rounder for most music genres. Crap accessories aside, the BLON BL-05S does distort with higher volumes/overly robust EQ, so that’s one area to take note for those that like to blast their music or fiddle with EQ. The colour of the shells may be a potential deal breaker too, though I would take a weird/ugly looking yet good sounding earphone over a beautiful but lousy sounding set any day.

The BLON BL-05S isn’t a direct successor to the BLON BL-03 in my opinion, as it loses the analoguish midbass heavy sound signature of the BLON BL-03 to pursue better balance, speed and technical performance. Otherwise, the BLON BL-05S is a set that lives up to the name “price to performance ratio”. So this third Oppoty‘s the charm. You can Belief that and I’m glad BLON Never gave up after the BLON BL-05 (non S) fiasco. Let music burn!!!!

MY VERDICT

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DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Wooeasy for providing this review unit. The BLON BL-05S can be gotten from the Wooeasy Earphones Store! at $39 USD.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post BLON BL-05S Review (3) – Third Oppoty’s The Charm, You Better Belief It! appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Pros

Beautiful shell. Light and comfortable. Good build.
Fast transients.
Good details, clarity, imaging, instrument separation for a budget single DD.
Neutral bright tuning with very few instances of hot upper mids/lower treble.
Very good timbre for vocals and acoustic instruments. Good for vocal lovers.
Good price to performance ratio.
Generous accessories.

Cons:

Shells are fingerprint magnets, can be scratched too.
Bass lite, lacks midbass punch (good news is that it takes to bass EQ well).
Average soundstage height/depth when not amped.
Will need amping to perform optimally.
Thin note weight.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The HZSound Heart Mirror is a well tuned neutralish bright set, with to die for vocals, excellent timbre and tonality. It boasts fasts transients and good technicalities for a budget single DD set. Despite the brighter tuning, there’s very rare instances of shoutiness that plague the usual upper mids boosted contenders at this price range. It’s as beautiful sounding as it looks, though soundstage, lack of midbass punch and thin note weight are my nitpicks in the tuning. The best compliment I can give a neutralish bright set like the HZSound Heart Mirror, is that a basshead like me thinks it is a keeper.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver type: 10mm Carbon Nanometer DD
• Frequency range: 15Hz-40kHz
• Impedance: 32Ω (±15%)
• Sensitivity: 106 ± 3dB
• Cable Connector: 2Pin 0.78mm
• Tested at $49 USD

ACCESSORIES

In addition to the IEM, it comes with a very generous assortment of accessories:

1) Silicone tips (S/M/L) x 2 variants (total of 6 pairs). The white tips are stiffer with a longer nozzle, whereas the black ones are flimsier with a shorter bore. Actually the black coloured ones look and feel suspiciously similar to Final Audio E black tips, except without the grooves on the stem, and indeed they function in a similar way in tightening the bass and taming the treble a tinge.

2) One pair of foam tips.

3) Shirt clip.

4) Cloth case.

5) Carabiner.

6) 4 core OFC Silver Plated Cable – The cable is very well braided and of good quality, no microphonics. As for sound, if you are a cable skeptic, please skip to the next section. Otherwise, personally I felt the HZSound Heart Mirror synergizes better with pure copper cables as this set is already neutralish bright and bass lite, and the copper cables perhaps thickens the sound and bass a tinge, YMMV.

BUILD/COMFORT

The HZSound Heart Mirror comes in a beautifully polished metal shell, sporting a similar look to the Moondrop KXXS and TRI I3. It isn’t as heavy or large as the TRI I3, and is very ergonomic and comfortable. I can wear it for hours without issues.

The shell lives up to the namesake of Heart Mirror, it is beautiful but unfortunately is a fingerprint magnet. HZSound does wrap protective stickers around the shell, but after unboxing them, one should be careful when bringing this set outside the house as the metal finish can be easily scratched.

I didn’t detect any driver flex on the HZSound Heart Mirror.

I liked that it came in a 2 pin config for cable housing, I had many bad experiences with MMCX connectors in general.

ISOLATION

Isolation on the HZSound Heart Mirror is slightly above average, as per most vented DD sets. It won’t beat pure BA unvented sets in this area, but should be sufficient for outdoor usage.

DRIVABILITY/SOURCE

I tried the HZSound Heart Mirror on a Samsung Note 5 phone, a Ziku HD X9 DAP, a Shanling Q1 DAP, a Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 amp, a Sabre HIFI DAC (ESS ES9280C PRO) and Tempotec Sonata HD Pro. The HZSound Heart Mirror is drivable from lower powered sources, but scales a lot with amping in the areas of dynamics, details and soundstage. As such, I would recommend that one considers a more powerful source when using the HZSound Heart Mirror, so as to get it sounding its best.

The HZSound Heart Mirror is a neutralish bright set, so I generally preferred pairing it with a warmer source.

SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

As discussed, the HZSound Heart Mirror is a neutralish bright set, veering towards the analytical and colder side in tonality, with a neutralish bass and a boosted upper mids. This tuning is quite atypical in the sub $50 region in CHIFI, but this is a well done upper mids boost with minimal shoutiness. The HZSound Heart Mirror manages to balance a razor thin edge of getting vocals to be forward in the upper mids without sounding harsh, and I’m very sensitive to the 2 – 4 kHz regions in general. On rare occasions, such as in poorly recorded material, then the upper mids sounded shouty, but IMHO, the HZSound Heart Mirror’s upper mids are much smoother than the upper mids of the BLON BL-05 (non S) and Moondrop SSR.

Technicalities are good, with the driver really excelling at transients. Multi BA/hybrids at the same price point will still be better (in general) for technicalities, but the HZSound Heart Mirror has one of the better technicalities for a budget single DD set. Clarity, instrument separation and imaging and details are very good. I liked that it could keep up with complex music passages despite not possessing multiple drivers in the config.

Unfortunately, the HZSound Heart Mirror’s soundstage isn’t the best at this price bracket, with the soundstage being deep but about average in width/height when not amped. Thankfully, soundstage increases in width with amping, so do consider using an amp with this set to do the sound justice. Different aftermarket eartips may also help to some extent in the soundstage, so do try tiprolling to see what changes for you.

Timbre for vocals and acoustic instruments is excellent on the HZSound Heart Mirror, I daresay it has more authentic timbre than the famous BLON BL-03. In view of the foward upper mids, this set is very good for vocal lovers, with instruments being a bit in the background compared to vocals. Note weight is on the thinner side, would have preferred more meat on the bones.

Bass:

Bass on the HZSound Heart Mirror is neutralish in the midbass and subbass with quite good subbass extension. Subbass is perhaps a tinge emphasized in quantity over the midbass, but this is tip dependent to some extent too. Midbass lacks a punch in bass forward music, and borders on the anemic side quantity wise when there’s bass predominant movements in the music.

Bassheads will hence not like the bass quantity, but the bass quality is thankfully good. Bass is quite textured, fast, with no midbass bleed. Decay is below average. I liked that the driver on the HZSound Heart Mirror takes to bass EQ very well, so no biggie for bass boosting for our basshead brethen (unlike some other sets that distort with EQ).

Mids:

Lower mids are pretty neutral, with the upper mids having a boost to give vocals good clarity. Vocals are a treat on this set in terms of vocal nuances, details and timbre. Female vocals are slightly more forward than male vocals, with instruments being a bit in the backseat compared to vocals. There’s a slight 4 kHz dip to balance the upper mids and prevent it from going into shouty territory. As discussed, the upper mids are actually smooth, compared to some similarly boosted upper mids CHIFI sets at this price bracket.

On rare occasions, such as with poorly recorded material or with pumping up the volume a lot (Fletcher Munson Curve), then the upper mids were a bit shouty, but by and large, the upper mids balances a very fine line of being forward without being shouty/harsh, at moderate volumes.

Treble:

The HZSound Heart Mirror extends moderately well in treble. Sibiliance is mild. It has plenty of detail and clarity to suit trebleheads, but isn’t the most airy set. Personally, I felt the treble is managable compared to the garden variety TRNs/KZs. Cymbals and high hats are not splashy and quite well done.

COMPARISONS

As per comparing apples to apples, I left out multi BA/hybrids/exotic drivers from the comparisons, as the different transducers have their inherent strengths and weaknesses. Also, since the HZSound Heart Mirror is a neutralish bright set, I decided to pick some single DD types that were not too bass heavy but yet have a boosted upper mids for A/B comparison here.

BLON BL-03, which is midbass heavy, is not mentioned below as the tuning of the HZSound Heart Mirror is very different to the analoguish warm tuning of the BL-03 (and I feel both sets have a complimentary tuning). But I’m fairly certain someone will ask about comparing the Oppoty sooner or later. So suffice to say, the HZSound Heart Mirror beats the BLON BL-03 in aspects of timbre, fit, accessories, bass quality/speed and technicalities (maybe except soundstage and note weight). The BLON BL-03 is better for those wanting an analoguish warm bassy sound with thicker note weight. As for cost, the BL-03 may end up costing the same or thereabouts as the HZSound Heart Mirror due to most folks needing to get aftermarket tips/cables due to the poor fit on the BL-03.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the original Tin T2 with me now to do A/B, but the Tin T2 Plus will be discussed in the comparisons below.

So mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?

Moondrop SSR

The Moondrop SSR is tuned somewhat diffuse-field neutral with an upper mids boost. Both sets have good technical performance for a single DD set, maybe the Moondrop SSR edges it slightly in clarity, details and imaging. Timbre for acoustic instruments is very good in both sets. The Moondrop SSR has quite bad sibilance and a thinner note weight compared to the HZSound Heart Mirror. Isolation is better on the HZSound Heart Mirror.

The Moondrop SSR actually sounds nice at low volumes, but by pumping up the volume a few dB, the 3 kHz area is shouty and is too much for me (Fletcher Munson Curve). The Moondrop SSR has very polarizing reviews, and I think this may be due to the different volumes all of us are using it at, and volume levels are typically not mentioned by reviewers or consumers. Not to mention the different sources, tips, hearing health we all have may affect our perception of upper mids/treble in the Moondrop SSR. After doing A/B testing using the same source, tips (and even cable), I’ll take the HZSound Heart Mirror any day over the Moondrop SSR, as the 3 kHz peak and the sibilance on the SSR is a deal breaker for me.

Different strokes for different folks though, I know a lot of our friends like the Moondrop SSR, especially those that use it at lower volumes. The Moondrop SSR actually has better technical performance than the HZSound Heart Mirror, but unfortunately it isn’t my cup of tea in terms of tonality.

BLON BL-05 (non S)

The BLON BL-05 (non S) is also shouty in the upper mids/lower treble compared to the HZSound Heart Mirror, with the latter being smoother and overall more refined. Timbre, tonality and technicalities are better on the HZSound Heart Mirror, maybe except for clarity.

Accessories are better on the HZSound Heart Mirror, though the BLON BL-05 (non S) has better isolation.

BLON BL-05S

The BLON BL-05S is an upgrade over the aforementioned BLON BL-05 (non S), with less shouty upper mids, and better timbre, tonality and technicalities than the BLON BL-05 (non S). Accessories are similar (unfortunately as bad) as the BLON BL-05 (non S).

Compared to the HZSound Heart Mirror, the BLON BL-05S has a bit more boosted midbass quantity and is more “fun sounding” and hence probably more versatile in the tuning, especially when bass foward music is involved. The HZSound Heart Mirror sounds a bit more analytical and colder. Timbre and technicalities are a tinge better on the HZSound Heart Mirror. Both sets have fast drivers for a single DD but the HZSound Heart Mirror wins in transient response speed. The BLON BL-05S has lesser upper mids boost than the HZSound Heart Mirror and is generally less fatiguing for longer sessions than the HZSound Heart Mirror. Isolation is better on the BLON BL-05S.

Both sets do better with amping, but the HZSound Heart Mirror scales much more with amping. Unfortunately, the BLON BL-05S driver distorts with higher volumes/EQ, so that’s an area of weakness when pumping up the volume compared to the HZSound Heart Mirror.

I would consider both sets sidegrades with complimentary tunings to suit different music genres/preferences.

Tin T2 Plus

The Tin T2 Plus is very well balanced and non fatiguing U shaped (or mild V shaped) set, and I can see why it is a big crowd favourite. It has a more boosted bass than the HZSound Heart Mirror, though it has slightly poorer timbre and technicalities than the HZSound Heart Mirror. HZSound Heart Mirror’s driver is faster too for transients, with the Tin T2 Plus having some lingering cymbal decay during splashes/hits. Upper mids aren’t as boosted as on the HZSound Heart Mirror, and coupled with the Tin T2 Plus being bassier, overall it gives a warmer and less cold tonality than the HZSound Heart Mirror. The Tin T2 Plus is hence more versatile in view of the tuning especially for bass forward music.

Likewise, I would consider both sets sidegrades with complimentary tunings to suit different music genres/preferences.

CONCLUSIONS

So, mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?

Well I’m glad to say the HZSound Heart Mirror is as beautiful sounding as it looks, though it is not perfect, with soundstage and a thin note weight and a lack of midbass punch being my nitpicks in the tuning. The HZSound Heart Mirror is otherwise a very well tuned neutralish bright set, with to die for vocals, excellent timbre and tonality. It boasts fasts transients and good technicalities for a budget single DD set. Despite the brighter tuning, there’s only rare instances of shoutiness that plague the usual upper mids boosted contenders at this price range, when used at moderate volumes.

The BLON BL-03 was my previous gold standard for instrumental timbre in the sub $50 USD region, but it has now been dethroned by the HZSound Heart Mirror in the area of timbre. My favourite aspect of the HZSound Heart Mirror is that it boasts a vocal forward tuning without veering on the shouty side, which is a very fine line to balance. Vocal lovers should give this set a try if the OPPOTY opportunity allows.

The best compliment I can give the HZSound Heart Mirror is that a basshead like me uses it in my weekly rotation (without bass EQ to boot).

MY VERDICT

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DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Ann from KeepHIFI for providing this review unit.

It can be gotten here at $49 USD: KeepHifi

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

The post HZSound Heart Mirror Review (1) – Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who Is The Fairest Of Them All? appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Cons — Retro shape and squeaky green colour not for everyone; cable and eartips a write-off.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Blon BL-05s earphone is a well tuned single-dynamic-driver budget earphone that excels in its coherent and organic sound. Its speedy 10 mm dynamic driver handles the most complex music well. Simply a great allrounder that will be a general crowdpleaser and provide listening pleasure independent of price. It is a true upgrade from the popular Blon BL-03 and the best Blon to date.

INTRODUCTION

Yes, my night table is full of Blon BL-05 iterations. The original came with a piezo and was so shrill that it never made it beyond the testers’ ears. The first regular BL-05 also did not make my cut but the beta of the current Blon BL-05s eventually attracted my ears’ interest. Finally, the current BL-05s Mk3 war released (MK1 was the Blon BL-03 and MK2 was the Blon BL-05) – and it is an improved version of the beta in that the upper midrange has been corrected downwards. No screamer – we are relieved. You can read up on the history concealed in my night table in the note by co-blogger KopiOkaya. For me, the Blon BL-05s is one of these timeless, priceless earphones that I like using, despite its budget design and performance.

SPECIFICATIONS

Driver: 3rd generation 10 mm carbon diaphragm dynamic driver
Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW
Frequency Range: 20 – 20,000 Hz
Cable/Connector: 2pin 0.78 mm
Tested at: $40
Purchase Link: Wooeasy Earphones Store

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

Huh…unboxing! My favourite chapter…not! Not much to be said about the Blon BL-05s: earpieces, eartips, cable, baggie, and paperwork. Yawn. The cable works fine, technically, but it is an insult to the eye and fingers – and it does not live up to the well-made metal earpieces…which come in a single colour: a loud green known from inside public swimming pools. For the case you dropped them in one, there is no chance in hell to ever find them again. According to the company’s propaganda, the shells are made of a zinc-alloy and the golden stuff you see is actually 24K gold.

You may find shape and colour awful, HOWEVER, the shells are ergonomically excellent: they fit me well and were therefore comfortable over longer periods…and I find them easily in my dark backpack. I am ashamed to admit it: I like the colour. Isolation is not that great for my ears, though.

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) and MacBook Air with EarMen Sparrow dac/amp; stock/pure copper/silver-plated balanced cable (none worth more than $12)…Azla SednaEarfit long-stemmed wide bore silicone tips…as the included tips were too small for my ears.

First, a word on assessing single-dynamic drivers. It is obvious that single DDs sacrifice detail resolution for organic timbre, sonic cohesion, and low harmonic distortion. Multi-hybrids hosting a group of drivers are bigger and heavier in comparison, and they offer better technicalities. Single DDs are typically smaller and more comfortable. Depending on how you look at it/what criteria are subjectively applied, some prefer one and some the other. On average, I see single DDs rated lower than multis. I am more an organic timbre/cohesion guy as I look more at the overall appeal to my ears than the nitty-gritty details.

OK, the graph is nothing to write home about. But it is not always about the graphs as they give you information on quantity but not on quality of sound. This Blon BL-05s has a moderate sounding upper midrange: no shoutiness. It has a speedy driver and it offers a very coherent, organic, smooth yet lively and very appealing overall sound. And that could be it in terms of sound description. Now take the comfortable fit, forget about the colour, and run to the next online store…ok, one step back: why is it appealing despite its technical mediocrity?

The low-end perception may be strongly influenced by the eartips used. With the Azla SednaEarfit the low end very well extended, very tastefully dosed, well controlled, and not boomy or rubbery. It is fast but not the most layered low end…however the speed holds up well down to the lowest octaves. The punch from below is pleasant and very appealing to my ears.

The vocals/low midrange are a bit recessed – surprise, surprise – but the voices are relatively full and rich – and realistic – because of a well behaved upper midrange and the good driver quality – without being congested or muffled. A great treat after so many agressive Chi-Fi midranges tested.

Moving up, cymbals come across as realistic. Nothing splashy up there, everything well behaved with a mild sheen.  Decay of the high notes is as natural as expected – and they resolve well. The treble adds that decent sparkle to the mix.

Soundstage is expansive, wider than deep – and tall. Tall soundstages with much headroom in budget earphones are rare. Resolution, layering, and separation between voices and instruments are actually quite good and probably not any worse than in some $150-200 single DDs. Note definition is sharp across the board and there is no significant smudging. The Blon BL-05s are one of these earphones where no particular detail is fantastic but they all combined yield an enduring, pleasant listening experience independent of price.

Soundstage and headroom open substantially up in all directions when driving the Blon BL-05s with the $199 Earmen Sparrow dac/amp’s balanced output (and that lone $10 balanced cable I own). It is truly amazing what open soundscapes this combination produces. One could say the Blon BL-05s react well to amping.

Timbre is organic as we have known from the original Blon BL-03, but packaged in a more compact, cohesive sound. This cohesion, together with the fit, makes this earphone attractive to me.

WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?

I would offer the Blon BL-05s in a variety of colours. This squeaky green is not to everybody’s gusto. I would also include better cable and eartips, even if this upped the price by $5 to $10.

BlON BL-05S COMPARED

You find reviews of all of these single-dynamic-driver iems mentioned below here.

The $109 Moondrop Starfield has a less homogenous sound, particularly the transition from the warm low end and the neutral lower midrange could be smoother…and the treble rolls off a bit early towards the top. The Blon BL-05s is sparklier in the treble and has better bass control and imaging. The $79 KBEAR Diamond is similarly homogenous sounding as the Blon BL-05s, but the midrange is more recessed, which was actually a main point of criticism. The $79 Tin Hifi T4 has a thinner, aggressive midrange and does not offer the BL-05s’ cohesion…and the $60 Tin Hifi T2 Plus lacks the Blon Bl-05s’s dynamics and punch but may be a better choice for the realistic reproduction of classical music (punch may be enjoyable but is not necessarily realistic). The $40 Moondrop SSR is much brighter and more neutral sounding than the Blon BL-05s, which offers great transparency enjoyable at low to medium volumes but it can be painful when played loud; its brightness has been the subject of controversy in forums.

The older sibling Blon BL-03 ($40) graphs very similarly as the Blon BL-05s, but is has a looser bass. While it beats the Blon BL-05s optically, its shorter nozzles generate a fit problematic for many. The BL-05s’ upper-mids are not as smooth sounding as the BL-03’s, but they make up for it with crisper and more agile treble. Finally, although the graphs between the original Blon BL-05 and the Blon BL-05s may not be monumentally different, they are so in a sensitive part of the range: from the midrange trough of the original Blon BL-05 (600 Hz) to the ~2k peak is about 12dB, whereas on the Blon BL-05s it is about 9dB. These differences are therefore perceived as significant. Of all the three Blon models, the BL-05s has the best bass control and the best imaging.

It is interesting to note that the sonic differences between the Blon models are significant although they graph very similarly. Note that all three Blons have different drivers and the Blon BL-05s’ is the fastest. This shows that quantity (graphs) and quality (sound; drivers) are generally not directly correlated.

In summary, I pick the Blon BL-05s out of all of the above single DD models.

I HAVE THE ORIGINAL BLON BL-03…SHOULD I?

Yes, the Blon BL-05s are smoother all around, they have a better driver, and they fit better. Be prudent and pull the trigger when the price is right. But should you, if you already have the Blon BL-05? Quite frankly, I don’t know as I pretty much avoided the BL-05. Just ask the guys in our Facebook Discussion Group: thttps://www.facebook.com/groups/audioreviews/

UPDATE: I did a quick comparison between the Blon BL-05 and Blon BL-05s: they sound completely different owing to their different drivers. In comparison, the original BL-05 sound slow and plump and the BL-05s sound swift and relaxed. Same housings, similar graphs but different sound. To me, the original Blon BL-05 are a redundant model that should have never been released.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Blon BL-05s is an agreeable, compact, coherent sounding earphone that has provided me with much pleasure so far. It is cheap, green, and many may find it ugly – others may find it refreshingly different. It fits well, and I feel myself reaching for it over and over again. As I tend to say “the best earphone is the one you use”, and I use this one a lot. The only downside is that the cable and eartips are underwhelming and grabbing a $10 8-core pure copper/silver-plated copper cable adds to the price. Is it worth the upgrade? Yes it is darn well. After some teething with the original BL-05, the BL-05s is a worthy successor to the BL-03 in terms of both sound and ergonomics.

The Blon BL-05s go on my [unpublished] Best-Of-2020 list. They join the only other one on there so far, the $199 Shozy Form 1.4.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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DISCLAIMER

The review unit as well as another four pairs of betas as well as the BL-05 were provided unsolicited by Wooeasy Earphones Store. Larry Fulton and I had been involved in the tuning. We did not receive any compensation for our input and – as always – do not receive any revenue through the purchase links.

Get the Blon BL-05s from Wooeasy Earphones Store!

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About my measurements.

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

The post Blon BL-05s Review (1) – New Gold Dream appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Cons — Rather fast decay for a dynamic driver; recessed mids.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The FiiO FD1 is a fast, energetic dynamic-driver earphone with a strong sub-bass, a forward upper midrange, and a well resolving treble. It excels through a huge headroom but cold be a bit more organic sounding and less dynamic.

INTRODUCTION

FiiO (est. 2007) is a Chinese company that originally produced good quality, affordable portable amps and accessories for iPods and iPads. Today, the company has diversified into into bluetooth and accessories, and they have, among others, produced some popular high-quality earphones. The FiiO FD1 is the sibling of their FH1s model and both their currently their lowest priced earphones at $70.

SPECIFICATIONS

Driver: 10 mm Beryllium plated dynamic driver unit
Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 109 dB/mW
Frequency Range: 10 – 40,000 Hz
Cable/Connector: 0.78 mm 2-pin
Tested at: $70
Product Page: https://www.fiio.com/fd1
Purchase Link: https://hifigo.com/products/fiio-fd1

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

The FiiO FD1 share the generous accessories of the FH1s with the content coming in a high-quality waterproof acrylic box. There are two different sets of silicone tips (S/M/L), and one pair of foam tips. I found the largest of the black silicone tips produced the best sound for me, the grey ones with the red interior were a bit boomy to my ears….I measured the frequency responses with both sets of tips – and they were identical.

The cable is connected via 2-pins with 0.78 mm spacing, it feels smooth and pliable, it is tightly braided, comes with a chin slider, has no microphonics, and is therefore perfect for my purpose. The shells are made of resin with some special celluloid faceplate, they are relatively thick (because of the dynamic driver) however light, and they appear to be well built. The whole assembly looks and feels as crisp and clear as it sounds. 

Despite their size, the earpieces are very comfortable, the seal is good, and they are easily driven with my iPhone SE (first generation).

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

The FiiO FD1 is a vivid, upper midrange and sub-bass forward earphone with strong dynamics and speed across the frequency spectrum. It has a lot of headroom and can be easily driven by a phone.

The low end is dominated by a healthy sub-bass: it is well-extended, well-layered visceral, and punchy. But since the main push comes from the very low end, it is never boomy or fatiguing. While this is not very realistic, it can be lots of fun in some tracks.

The bass sometimes bleeds into the lower midrange, which is somewhat recessed. Vocals are of decent quality, well shaped, but could be richer and denser. They can be a bit thin, pointy, and aggressive fuelled by that immense upper midrange elevation. And there is some sibilance. But if you took the upper midrange out, the bass would be overly dominant.

Treble is the star of the mix: high notes are well resolving, well extended, and have a good weight and clarity. Really well done!

Soundstage is of slightly above average in terms of width and depth (because of the somewhat buried upper bass), but really tall, which results in headroom above its class. Timbre is acceptable but the sound could be more organic: the strong dynamics and speed overpixelate the image to some extent and make reproduction too brash/brazen to be natural. Decay is super fast for a dynamic driver and too fast for classical music imo. Again, good for certain musical genres but not realistic. But it has the advantage that is freshens up old recordings from “analog to digital”. Imaging is also soso: spatial cues, instrument separation and layering are average.

FiiO FD1 COMPARED

The $45 Tin Hifi T2 Plus offer a much less dynamic sound however better tonal accuracy. They are the opposite of the FiiO FD1 and cater more to the classical/acoustic crowd. The $70 FiiO FH1s offer the better detail resolution and imaging however a less realistic timbre. The $80 KBEAR Diamond sound more organic but are also more recessed in the midrange. The $50 Tanchjim Cora are perfectly middle-of-the-road tuned and somewhat boring against the FD1.

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

CONCLUDING REMARKS

This is another glass half full/half empty situation. You get a lot of technical abilities for your $70. The FiiO FD1 are an attractive choice for people who like a lively, dynamic sound that does not need amplification. They will shine particularly with electronic or rock music and not so much with classical or acoustic music. Because of their elevated sub-bass, they are well suited for the daily commute, as this signature counters the street noise.

On the other hand, the Beryllium coating makes the drivers very fast so that you perceive the dynamics are overdone if you expect natural reproduction: the FiiO FD1 is very punchy (inasmuch as the Tin Hifi T2 Plus is not) and therefore not quite laid back.

Independent of my rant, I kept pulling them out to use on my neighbourhood walks.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.

DISCLAIMER

The FiiO FD1 was kindly supplied by HifiGo for my analysis. Thank you very much.

Get the FiiO FD1 from HifiGo!

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

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

The post FiiO FD1 Review – Faster Pussycat appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Cons — Elevated upper midrange not for everybody

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Earstudio HE100 is a bright-neutral earphone on the upper end and warm on the lower end with a punchy bass added. The frequency response is a very gentle U-shape. It has a very good technicalities but you have to be able to handle that broad 3 kHz peak.

INTRODUCTION

Earstudio by Radsone is an upsurging company out of Korea that has had a strong presence at drop.com and several discussion forums, recently. Their first success was the famous Earstudio ES100 Bluetooth receiver and currently their powerful miniature HUD100 dac/amp, which I reviewed [here]. The Earstudio HE100 are the company’s first earphone. They are an upgraded version of the Sonicast Dirac MK2. According to Radsone, the HE100 deliver a more balanced sound and are better suited for cold weather. They share the frequency response with the Sonicast DIREM E3. And the DIREM E3 enjoy a very high appreciation by some purist experts. Dear reader, you are in for a treat, the HE100 are not your average funster earphone, they require a bit of understanding to be appreciated – and will then be appreciated even more. The HE100 are earphones for the expert.

SPECIFICATIONS

Driver unit: single dynamic, hi res
Impedance: 27 Ω
Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW
Frequency range: 10 – 40,000 Hz
Tested at: $59.99
Product page: https://earstudio.store/products/he100
Purchase Link: Earstudio Store

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

The Earstudio HE100 comes with 3 pairs of silicone eartips (S/M/L), a shirt clip, a textile storage bag, and a manual. The shells are made of aluminium with nozzles of plastic added. Haptic is good, the earpieces feel solid.

The cable is fixed – sigh – and has a classic round cross section. It is nylon coated between the 90-degree-angled headphone jack and the separator/chin slider, but the two individual strands leading to the earpieces are plastic coated. And they are rather microphonic. There is an inline one-button remote with mic on the right-hand side.

Fit and comfort of the earpieces are great, isolation is only soso. The Earstudio HE100 are probably meant to be driven by a phone on the go (inline mic!) and my iPhone did a fine job. I used the largest stock tips.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

The Earstudio HE100 is a speedy single-dynamic-driver earphone characterized by a warm low end whereas the rest of the frequency spectrum is on the neutral side, with brightness infused by that strong broad 3 kHz peak. Call it a gentle U-shape.

Bass is boosted above neutral in order to balance the strong upper midrange. Sub-bass extension is good and still tight, but the low end does not come across as strong as in the graph. It is perceived as well-dosed, articulate, and has a pleasant, subtle, energizing punch, it bleeds a bit into the lower midrange, which it is somewhat painted over the upper midrange.

Midrange is generally on the neutral side and is very clear and clean. The lower midrange, that is the vocals area, is sitting in a valley between bass and upper end and is slightly attenuated and sharpened by the upper midrange.

The upper midrange is strongly elevated which adds clarity and sharpness to the image, but it also lowers the ceiling of the soundstage. The tuners obviously intended to combine a punchy low end with an overall clear, transparent sound. The price paid for his is splashiness in the upper midrange and the immediately adjacent lower treble. In my perception, the upper end dominates the sound despite the elevated lower end, and cymbals/hi hats sound tizzy. This signature is popular in Asia, and it does not come as a surprise that the Earstudio HE100 are popular in Korea.

Soundstage is impressively wide, not so deep, and it lacks a bit of height. Instrument separation and timbre are very good. Spatial cues is also good. Overall, very well resolving for a single dynamic driver, and wonderful imaging at small to moderate levels, but it may get shouty when you turn the volume up.

WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?

I would definitely shave the broad 3 kHz peak a bit which would heighten the stage and enrich the midrange (and the low end, too, for reasons of balance). This can be done with our various reversible modding techniques, explained here.

EARSTUDIO HE100 COMPARED

The Earstudio HE100 wipe the warmer $59 Tin Hifi T2Plus and the less hot $99 Tin Hifi T4 dry in terms of detail resolution. They share a lot of their frequency response with the $40 Moondrop SSR, however are punchier at the low end. They are tonally more accurate than the $30 KBEAR KB04 and much more so than than the fun $23 KBEAR KS2 (which have the largest soundstage of all of the above).

WHY WOULD YOU WANT IT (OR NOT)?

The Earstudio HE100 will appeal first and foremost to the audiophile crowd that appreciates tonal accuracy at a good resolution. It is not for LOUD listening of rock and electronic noise as this may lead to premature fatigue. Fans of classical music will lick their fingers.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Earstudio HE100 are very well-made earphones that feel good in my hands and ears – and they have a very refined sound and exceptionally good technicalities for their class. B ut: you cannot be deterred by a “spicy” upper midrange. In the end, it comes down to personal preference. If you like the extra energy of an elevated upper midrange, you will enjoy the tastefully dosed bass punch and the clear, wide imaging and excellent detail technical abilities of the Earstudio HE100.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Contact us!

You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.

DISCLAIMER

The Earstudio HE100 was provided by Radsone up my request. I thank them for that. This unit was passed on to co-blogger Biodegraded…maybe is will write another review. We don’t get any remuneration from that $45 promotion.

Get them for $45 right now!

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

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