Azla SednaEarfit Original Series Eartips Review – Take The Plunge, Gangnam Style
Pros — Unique in design (long-stemmed wide bores); unique in size (sizing differa from the the rest of the eartips universe; super-high quality silicone; product of intensive research.
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!
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.
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PHOTOGRAPHY…
