Shozy Rouge Review (2) – Touched for the Very Second Time
INTRO
Shozy Rouge not to be confused for Rogue as my simple brain wants to correct, these things are jewelry masquerading as earphones. The 1 dynamic driver + 2 balanced armature Knowles hybrid earphone is not the only one in their lineup, but the name seems to suggest it is geared towards musician audiophiles interested in glamour. Fairy tales and unicorns aside, the Shozy Rouge will do more than having your significant other wondering what you are sticking in your earholes.
COMFORT / ISOLATION
Fitment of the Shozy Rouge is uneventful and slips right in without much fanfare. Isolation is good because it fits tightly forming a good seal not just with ear tips but the shell as well. This tight fitment does make it noticeable during long sessions. Cable is unobtrusive and retains shape a bit.
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Some stuff like a large sized carrying case, basic tips and non-fancy looking 2 pin cable. Note: I tested them with Alza Sedna light eartips and their stock tips.
SOUND
As I listen the first thing that pops out is the upper treble emphasis on cymbals and guitars. Sparkles and rainbows ensue. It has an effortless weightless quality to the treble not found in many other budget offerings that struggle to present this area without sounding too harsh or piercing. There is some tuning in the upper midrange that stops short of sibliance making an appearance.
Vocals are a bit recessed, less on male voices with more grunt down lower whereas females tend to fall into the background a bit more. Voices sound dryer as if just having a conversation with me instead of really singing. Bass is snappy and light, not impactful enough to warrant a noise ordinance call – in other words not for bassheads. The bass is the kind you find in nice high quality bookshelves or towers that need some subwoofer backup to really get things shaking. Thinking about 5-6” woofer bass over 10-12” bass. It definitely does not steal the show – that belongs to the bright-ish treble. I find myself really having to concentrate on what is happening with bass guitars it just sort of blends which is great for those who might be offended or get tired of thumping and pulsating bass drones. Electric guitars really shine however.
TECHNICALITIES
Staging is great I sense good width and depth with more air over ambiance even with the bright treble lean. Instrument separation is great in the mids through treble. Reproduction space sounds studio like or intimate club feel. Good at microdynamics, easy to pick out those random sounds that get lost or masked in other sets, the Shozy Rouge is definitely an analytical sounding IEM with it’s precision of reproduction. THe Shoozy Rouge is a very sensitive earphone even at 32ohm, yet with with more amplification the bass is more powerful and adds more rumble. If we look at the impedance plot this makes complete sense since the bass driver actually has an ~150ohm impedance. My fellow buddy Loomis did tell me they come alive with MOAR POWA! Okay he did not say it like that, but he was right on the money. If you haven’t already read his review you probably should.
MIC DROP
If whimsical looking and sounding earphones are up your alley the Shozy Rouge are a clear winner. Quick and fast flat bass teamed with bright analytical sparkles, these are excellent sounding earphones from Shozy. Jurgen should have a comparison of the Form 1.4 against these in the near future for those willing to skip a few pints or coffees at the local watering hole and a more neutral color scheme. The Shozy Rouge are definitely a noticeable step up from the usual budget affairs.
SPECIFICATIONS
Tested at $179
Each pair of the Shozy Rouge in ear monitors are different due to the hand painting nature, resin arts varies but you will get a similar and stunning result, don’t forget every pair will be unique and one-off!
Drivers Configurations
Proprietary Dynamic Driver + Dual Knowles Balanced Armatures
Sensitivity: 113db/ mW
Impedance: 32Ohm
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Cable: 0.78mm 2Pin
GRAPHS
- Left vs Right
- Silicone vs foam
- Impedance Plot
MY VERDICT
DISCLAIMER
Loomis enticed me to listen to these after consuming a few adult beverages on his porch. He did correct me they are Rooouge not Rogue…duh.
Get the Shozy Rouge from HIFIGO
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