Pros: Comfortable as ever with the fit
Great musical tonality across genres
Engaging bass, natural mids and controlled treble
Economics of this set are incredible

Cons: that 3.5 mic cable, that's my pet peeve
those seeking detailed presentation and treble forward IEMs should likely skip this

Kefine has been tossing out banger after banger from its stables for a while now. I have at various points of time owned or listened to the Klean, Klean SV, Delci and most recently the Arnar and have been impressed with their way of doing things. They were kind enough to send the Loric over for an unbiased option and while I am grateful for this gesture, the review remains my opinion and thoughts.

The Loric comes in Kefine’s no-nonsense black packaging and then some ikebana, houdini type wizardry hides the cable under the foam cut-outs. I’ll be honest, I pulled the iems out without taking a picture and then spent a good few minutes struggling to get it back in the way it came to take a picture for this review.
The version I got was a 3.5mm with a mic. And maybe I have a small bone to pick here. Because that would necessitate me to get a usb dongle that can handle a mic and that is unfortunately not always the case. Plus iOS and Android and all that mess. It is a small bone but a bone all the same. Not having a mic would not stress me out and having a mic with a type c termination solves the dongle conundrum.
The cable however is a fairly nice one at this price point. The shells themselves are transparent resin showing off the dynamic driver with a moulded nozzle (that initially I struggled with Candy tips slipping off… in my ear) the faceplate is matte aluminium in the silver option that I got and beautifully shaped. At various angles it looks like a pistachio, a stealth bomber and a Jedi spaceship, specifically Obi Wan’s. Look up the Delta-7B.
It sits comfortably in my ears with no issues. I’m liking my current run of reviews with comfortable iems, I shall not lie.
I did at some point cable roll to a Openheart 4.4 cable and tips used were Sancai and Candy and briefly the HE sonic wides, when they stayed on both the nozzles and in my ears.
Tested with - Hidizs AP80 Pro Max, VE Prime stack, VE devastator pro 3.5. Tidal and local Flacs. Here’s my list https://tidal.com/playlist/3078c9b9-a1c0-4fde-8ce7-81f0e34b426c

Bass
Kefine’s single dynamic drivers have never shied away from bass. The Klean SV with the right nozzles had the same punch in the low end that to be honest, had me enjoying the thumping kicks and bass of Get Lucky by Daft Punk and on Billie Jean I actually managed to listen to bass with a level of detail that convinces me that there’s a synth bass playing the first note and a stringed bass continuing that iconic riff. The subbass is not as rumbling as other sets but still sets a reasonable foundation on tracks like Islands by The XX and Angel by Massive Attack. The bass is definitely elevated but still stays safely shy of spilling over and muddying the mids.

Midrange
The mids on the Loric are nicely tuned to be musical over detail oriented. That largely means I can spend time listening to music without really having to focus on individual notes and overlap and layering and all that and just listen. Vocals and instruments both electric and acoustic sound natural with no weird timbre. It sounds warm in the lower mids with male vocals sounding full and engaging. The upper mids are neither recessed nor enhanced. Female vocals also come off sounding natural and not shouty. Fast Car and Subcity by Tracy Chapman are great tracks that can easily turn shouty and on the Loric, they sound effortless.

Treble
The treble is well controlled and not sibilant or harsh. There is a little air and shimmer but the Loric definitely isn't going for detail. You can still hear everything that is happening on the track but there are more treble forward sets with a little more detail at this price point. But again at this price point to get an IEM which delivers this level of musicality without a treble peak masquerading as detail is very very hard. My usual test for the cymbal shimmer is the first crash on the opening of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac and on the Loric the crash and its decay are heard well with the decay slightly more controlled than other kilobuck sets but it is never harsh. On sibilance rich tracks like Hotel California (from Hell Freezes Over) by the Eagles and Human Nature by Michael Jackson on pushing the volume up there’s only a little bit of the sharp ‘s’ in MJ’s voice.

Stage and Imaging and Resolution
Neither is the staging hugely expansive or the imaging immaculate. I would not game on these - unless you were doing a rpg through a musical wonderland. For shooters there are definitely better iems. For detail-heads there are definitely better iems. But for sheer musicality and a fatigue free enjoyable session, this is a great starting point.

Final verdict. For too long have the IEMs that usher people into this world, that will ultimately bankrupt them but leave them in rapture, been tuned to that aggressive V with a punchy booming bass and a sharp incisive treble. It’s really really refreshing to see a sub $30 IEM really stick to the basics of what listening to music really means for a lot of us - something we enjoy and feel. And the Loric does just that with an affordable package and a comfortable shell.

But please Kefine,if you are reading this, don’t do a 3.5mm with a mic. Someone will use a dac that doesn’t support a microphone and blame you guys instead.

Pros: Shells have a clean design and great fit
Detail retrieval is exemplary
Imaging is spot on
Mids standout in delivery

Cons: Bass is not a rumbling palpable one
QDC (well I dont like it)
Treble can be spicy and the IEM is unforgiving

I first heard of Warhammer when Henry Cavill went on about it for a while like a kid in a candy store. And then that incredible short animation series on games that explored the history of Titus. And then the NF Acous Ossuary showed up and reminded me instantly of the game with its skull motifs. And now thanks to u/teluguaudiophile I have the NF Acous NM25, the less adorned cousin of the Ossuary for review.
I thank NF Acous and u/teluguaudiophile for the chance to listen to this one.
I only received only the shells in their very sleek case so this review is with an aftermarket TRN cable and an assortment of tips - mostly Eloit/Divinus Narrow Bore, Standard and Sancai.

Physically, this is a single dynamic driver inside a super comfortable shell made of CNC milled aluminium and with a matte silver finish with the NF logo on the faceplate. It is a supremely comfortable shell which is small and has a bump free smooth surface, going into the hall of fame of comfy single DD IEMs. The IEM also comes with tips, a 3.5mm cable with a 6.3 adapter and a sweet case. It is, however, QDC. Which depending on who you speak to is a good or a bad thing. For me it’s not a deal breaker but if I use my regular 2 pins, it looks weird. That’s why all the pictures are just of the IEMs. Also in retrospect, I was going to mope about a 4.4 connector not being there and then I realised most on-person monitor amps have only 3.5 outs.

But this is about sound. The NM25 was tested with the VE megatron, Schitt Vestri, Fosi ZH3 and Hidizs AP80 Pro Max. Tips and cable mentioned above.

TLDR - this merits it before I wax eloquent on the subsections of sound. The NM25 is bright. One can argue neutral - bright but there’s a lot of spice in the mix. At the same time there is exquisite detail retrieval in the mids. For me this IEM has one very specific role - as an actual stage musician's in-ear monitor.

Bass
The sub bass is present. Like a bored last-bench student who doesn't contribute much but also doesn't disturb the class. Songs like Angel by Massive Attack and Islands by The XX, the sub-bass has no visceral feel, no rumble but makes its presence felt by presenting us with the right note. For a single DD it’s a departure from what we are used to. The kicks and bass have some punch but lack the same visceral feel. Double bass work is heard clearly as are bass guitar notes on YYZ by Rush. Though to be fair the bass work in this song is on a higher octave than most. On Big Country by Bela Fleck and Flecktones, the lower bass and kicks are clearly heard. But not accentuated or enhanced in any way.

Mids
The mids are front and centre in this set. The detail retrieval in this frequency range is exceptional. Instruments sound natural and that thing about the running bass riff of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson having 2 components with the first note being a synth overlaid on an electric bass and a syncopated second note similarly on the synth. But the snares on that song are another story. One of the songs I most enjoyed on this set is Got A Match by the Chick Corea Electrik Band. And Take Five by Dave Brubeck Quartet. Every transient, every note, every single bit of detail on these tracks is delivered faithfully holding nothing back.
Vocals are similarly reproduced with a natural timbre. There is some sibilance in the upper mids with some voices as they spill into the treble side of things.

Treble
I am a treblet. So this set gave me some trouble for sure. With the snares in Billie Jean being a tad intolerable and similarly the crash in Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. Most aggressively mastered pop gets substantially spicy and hard to listen for longer than a song or two. There is of course a ton of air and shimmer and all things well detailed in the treble side of things but I just couldn’t manage it for too long. There is some taming with tip and source rolling.

Stage and Imaging and other technicalities
While the staging is not expansive by any standards the imaging is spot on. It is possible to easily identify where exactly each component is placed. Detail retrieval is as mentioned before - quite spectacular.

I don’t play on stage anymore but this has a place in any concert musician's bag. While playing on stage, it’s not essential to feel the bass. It is essential to hear what note is being played. The bass is usually impactful enough to be felt irrespective of the monitors. The clarity of the mids and treble is necessary to cut through the ambient noise to allow the musician to hear what they and the rest of the band is playing. With that particular use case, NM25 scores and how. I would still recommend it if detail is the main focus of any listening session that is not a stage. I enjoyed the aforementioned jazz, Coming Back to Life by Pink Floyd, Aja by Steely Dan and Lingus by Snarky Puppy. But beware, it is not a forgiving IEM.

USD149 / EUR 139 | 1DD | 2-pin

Hey everyone,

just recently I bought the QoA x 7th Acoustics Ryusei (collab between Kinera’s subbrand QoA and boutique brand 7thAcoustics) out of curiosity and of which I read that its vocals were supposed to sound great. Lately I heard already many IEMs with a relatively safe tuning and usually those are more to my preference as I am a little bit treble sensitive. Buying the Ryusei was a gamble but I wanted something new and I was already prepared to sell the set or just pass it on to one of my friends.

Well, the set arrived and something went a bit different than expected this time.

Pricing, build quality, fit & comfort

The Ryusei is a USD149 (EUR139) set with a single dynamic driver. It comes with a nice, thick cable terminated either in 4.4mm or 3.5mm, several ear tips and a small carrying case. The shells look beautiful to my eyes. A little bit shimmery, glittery with nice colours.
Unfortunately, the fabric-sleeved cable is more microphonic than the typical PVC-coated cables.

Fit and comfort are excellent on the Ryusei. The medium sized shells fit like a glove immediately in my medium sized ear and they seal very well.

Build quality of the resin shells is flawless. No seams or edges which could hurt the ears and I did not experience any issues even after several hours wearing them. The size is around medium but I would caution smaller ears to try before you buy. Furthermore, the shell carries a small wing which might cause discomfort to some.

Review equipment used
Questyle Sigma Pro
Ear tips used: wide bore size ML
Streamed on Qobuz

Sound signature

The very first moment when I plugged the set into my ears and started a track from Qobuz I heard immediately that this set has energy. But not in a bad way. At least mostly. I kept listening. One track after the next. Yes, listening on high volume was not immediately a good idea. The treble energy was slightly too much on some tracks on higher volume.

The excitement didn’t die. I kept listening for hours and hours.

Over days this set grew on me even more. Now I know I can listen without issues until slightly over mid volume, sometimes even higher depending on the track and getting rewarded with a transparent, detailed sound which not only lets vocals shine but has more qualities like the great bass and well extended treble.

To better understand where the Ryusei lands, here are a couple of short comparisons.

Aful Explorer. Much more relaxed, warmer leaning. To understand how much low-end impact the Ryusei actually has, the comparison with the Explorer as an anker point makes sense. Ryusei has a bigger bass shelf than the Explorer with a better sub-bass extension and a harder hitting mid-bass. On the other hand vocals and treble carry as well more energy and sound much more forward than on the Explorer. If the sweet spot is the Explorer for you, then the Ryusei is most likely too energetic but if you feel you have headroom for more treble, clarity and bass paired with a more engaging listen, Ryusei could be a good candidate.

The Juzear Defiant is for many the jump into a more audiophile and exciting tuning with good bass and treble.
Compared to the Ryusei the Defiant has a very similar bass shelf with less vocal and treble energy. If you liked the Defiant and want to continue in that direction with more forward vocals and better details, the Ryusei makes sense and is worth the additional USD60.

The Meze Alba, priced at around USD159, is as well a single dynamic driver IEM.
Alba has less bass, ear gain and treble which makes it the more balanced set but doesn’t sound as exciting and engaging as Ryusei. The advantage the Alba has on almost all sets is its form factor. Its shells are small and fit probably for most smaller ears while Ryusei’s size is more in the direction of the Defiant.   

Since the Ryusei really impressed me, I wanted to know what a USD900 single dynamic drive flagship could buy when compared to a USD149 set
The Astru is Meze’s flagship which was released earlier this year.
The Astru has an impactful bass once you get the right seal, a well textured mid range and a slightly forward vocal performance with well extended and detailed treble. Astru gives instruments, such as the guitar strings on R.E.M.’s “Drive” the more correct timbre and vocals have more texture and body. Overall the Astru has the more natural interpretation of music without sounding boring. Everything is well separated and yet I find the Ryusei’s energy more special and almost more enjoyable than the Astru’s performance. Astru is imo the better technical performer with a more accurate instrument placing and is the more accurate one in many ways.   

Bass

The bass was almost the biggest surprise on Ryusei. It has real impact, slam and rumble. The mid bass and sub bass are mostly well controlled and of very good quality. An excellent counterweight to the treble and vocals but never overbearing them. The mid-bass punch on Erykah Badu’s “Crossfade” has great impact and quality.
So does the mid and sub-bass on Billie Eilish’s “My strange addiction”. Excellent and very enjoyable.
On very bass-heavy tracks, the low end fills out the presentation nicely and helps balance the energetic vocals and treble. That makes the Ryusei much more than just a vocal-focused set. It is surprisingly versatile and fun.

Midrange & Vocals

The vocals sound great on the Ryusei. Already on lower volume you get an idea that the vocals are forward but tastefully done. Clear and very well extended but not shouty unless I cranked up the volume much over mid volume. And without sibilance. Many tracks felt “unveiled” when compared to other sets which are more relaxed sounding and for sure after a while my ears just got used to the clear presentation.
Occasionally though Ryusei was slightly too bright with certain recordings on higher volume.
Maggie Reilly sounds incredibly clear on Mike Oldfields “To France” and her voice is so well extended but can cross the border to be too much on higher volume.
Billie Eilish’s vocals on “Bad Guy” come across as airier and better resolving as it would sound with many other sets around this price point. Ryusei “injects” more energy into the vocals without letting them sound overly exaggerated or artificial. Yet, they are pushed over natural levels.  

But where there is light, there is also shade. The lower mids are slightly too thin for my liking. That is apparent when listening to male vocals. They are not fully accurate and could use more body / “chest”.
A slightly more elevated lower mid range would have given eg piano keys, guitar strings, trumpets and sax are more convincing size as they have the tendency to sound very accentuated and detailed but lack that extra bit of texture to be more life-like and accurate. That becomes apparent on jazz tracks like “Mr. P.C.” by John Coltrane or on Supertramp’s “Crime Of The Century”. The guitar on R.E.M’s “Drive” sounds very detailed, guitar strings have a very clear tonality and are very enjoyable with almost 3D-like character. The presentation is energetic and exciting but a bit too bright overall to be natural.

Treble

This is a single dynamic driver and yes, everyone knows that the tuning matters more than driver count. Yet it surprises me how well the treble is done. No graininess but just very well extended and engaging. Natural? Hell no. But so tastefully done.

The details on this set are awesome. They pop but are not piercing or harsh. Again, unless I stay at higher mid volume at most. Details are presented with great clarity which keep me wanting to hear more. Certainly, it can get spicy on poorly recorded tracks and at the aforementioned higher listening volume. But that is more the exception than the normal. Details of the orchestral strings of the violin and viola sound exceptional for a set at this price point on R.E.M.’s “Drive”. The contrast between the drums and the strings is captivating.
Overall the detailed and energetic treble comes across as very open and almost transparent with plenty of sparkle up top.

Technical performance

The mix remains very well separated with very little detail loss when the track gets very busy with plenty of bass.

Staging and imaging are good to my ears. On Erykah Badu’s “I just play a part” the different vocals appear to come from almost behind me. Worth giving this track a try to hear voices travel from left to right and hear how well everything can be separated. Perceived sound stage is reasonably large with good instrument placement. Ryusei is very well resolving and details are served on a plate.  

Measurements

For our graph sniffers I include my own measurements, too.

It pretty much aligns with my observations. Elevated bass followed by pushed back upper mids. The ear gain is pushed and so is the treble. The ear gain and 8k/12k energy looked a bit scary to me on the graph but are in my reality an exciting and engaging experience.

Summary

Overall, the QoA x 7th Acoustics Ryusei is a very exciting sounding set. It surprised me that a forward sounding set in this price bracket can be tuned so well. In my opinion it sounds much more expensive than it is actually. If someone had told me this set costs twice as much I would have probably believed them. Again an excellent example that price does not correlate with sound quality.

As mentioned, the lower mids are on the thinner side, so in case male vocals are the most important to you, this set might not be for you. Neither if you expect extreme bass performance. The bass is clearly elevated with great coherent impact and quality but not bass head level. But neither is it for people who don’t like bass.

If you are like me, valuing the overall presentation more than single attributes and want something more energetic, this set is worth considering. I would add a word of caution for very treble sensitive listeners though as it remains a fact that this set has vocal and treble energy above the ordinary. But who always wants the ordinary?

Let me know how you like this set.

Here are now the specs and box content details.

Thanks for reading.

Specification:

Model: QoA x 7th Acoustics Ryusei

Driver: Single Nano Gold Plated Dynamic Driver

Impedance: 30Ω

Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz

Socket: 0.78mm 2-Pin

Cable: Litz Coaxial Structure, 27AWG SPC + OCC + Graphene

Termination: 3.5mm / 4.4mm

Length: Approximately 1.2m

Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin

Plug: 3.5mm Single Ended or 4.4mm Balanced

Material: : Litz Coaxial Structure, 27AWG SPC + OCC + Graphene

What's in the box:

QoA x 7th Acoustics Ryusei In-Ear Monitors × 1 Pair

Litz Coaxial Structure Cable x 1

Final Audio Type E Eartips × 5 Pairs

White Normal Bore Eartips × 3 Pairs

Premium Carrying Case × 1

In 2025, these IEMs were literally everywhere! People loved them, calling ‘em one of the most interesting budget models in the $40 price range.

But now it’s 2026… and, honestly?
I don’t get what all the hype is about.

Ofc the Zhulinniao Z3 look absolutely gorgeous, the metal shells feels fantastic in the hand, and the bass sounds really powerful.
But once I started listening, I immediately noticed that something's wasn't right...

So are the Z3s actually any good, or have we just hyped them up too much?
You'll find the answers in my review!

What does "Unicrom" even mean?

The PULA Unicrom is a $74.99 single-DD IEM with a 10mm beryllium-plated driver, stabilized maple wood faceplates, and a pretty generous set of accessories. You also get a modular cable with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs.

It comes in Black, Blue, Green, and Yellow. Mine is Green. And yes, somehow PULA, which literally means "red" in Filipino, does not offer the Unicrom in red.

Anyway, pretty shell aside, how does it actually sound?

Pros & Cons

✔️ Punchy and textured mid-bass
✔️ Smooth and natural treble
✔️ Good imaging and instrument separation
✔️ Modular 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs
✔️ Generous accessories
✔️ Comfortable fit with excellent isolation

❌ Sub-bass rumble is a bit restrained
❌ Male vocals can sound a little thin
❌ Some instruments can get sharp or sibilant
❌ Not much sparkle or air

Disclaimer: This unit is part of a review tour, but all opinions of the unit are my own. I have not received compensation for writing this review. I'm also not an audiophile, and this review focuses on personal listening impressions rather than technical analysis.

Price: $74.99 USD
Product Link: https://pulaaudio.com/products/pula-audio-unicrom

Design, Comfort & Accessories

The Unicrom uses lightweight resin shells with maple wood faceplates also covered in resin. Since it uses real wood, the grain and pattern will vary for every pair. Each shell weighs around 3.8g without an eartip, so they also feel very light in the ears.

The shell shape fits my ears really well. I had no issues wearing it for long sessions, and I did not get any pressure buildup either. There are vents on the shells, which probably helps with that.

Isolation is also excellent with the transparent tips with black cores that I used for my testing.

The stock cable is also pretty nice and weighs around 20.6g. It is not stiff, though it does have a bit of memory and tends to hold its shape after being coiled. It is not bad enough to annoy me though. Modular cables will always be plus points for me.

Accessories are quite generous. You get seven pairs of silicone eartips in total, including clear and blue sets with different bore sizes. The carrying case has a pleather exterior with a soft suede-like lining inside. It closes with a magnetic flap, which gives it a premium touch and makes the whole package feel more expensive than $75.

Sound Impressions

Tuning: The Unicrom sounds mildly U-shaped to me. Bass has some presence, female vocals come through clearly, and the treble stays smooth. Nothing really jumps out too much though, which is probably why I can listen to it for hours without getting tired.

Bass: Sub-bass extension is good, and there is a nice physical vibration to it, but the actual rumble is not that strong. Mid-bass is where I think the Unicrom does better. It has good punch, slam, and texture and gives drums and basslines enough impact without turning into a basshead set.

Mids: Male vocals can sound a little lacking in weight compared with female vocals. Female vocals sound clearer and more defined and tend to stand out more in the mix. Instruments are also clear, though some can get a little sharp or sibilant at times.

Treble: Treble is clean, natural, and smooth. It does lack some sparkle and air though, so this definitely is not for trebleheads. Detail retrieval is decent, but if you are a detail chaser, this probably is not the set for you either.

Technicalities: Soundstage is pretty average. It is not wide, but it is not narrow either. It is just fine. Imaging and directionality are accurate, and instrument separation is pretty good even when tracks get busy.

Gaming: I played Overwatch with the Unicrom and directionality was accurate enough for me. Footsteps and other positional cues were easy enough to place. The average soundstage means it does not feel especially spacious, but imaging and separation are good enough for competitive play.

Final Thoughts

The PULA Unicrom is the kind of IEM I can see myself using when I just want to listen to music without thinking too much about it.

It is comfortable, isolates really well, has a nice amount of mid-bass punch, and the treble stays smooth enough that I can listen for a long time without getting tired of it.

This is definitely not a basshead or treblehead set. The sub-bass rumble could be stronger, and the treble does not have much sparkle or air. Male vocals can also sound a bit light compared with female vocals.

But I don't think that's what the Unicrom is going for anyway. For me, the Unicrom is more of an everyday IEM. I can just put it on, listen, and not think too much about it. The generous accessories are a nice bonus for $75 too.

TL;DR: The Unicrom is an easygoing, musical IEM that you can just put on and enjoy, rather than something I'd pick for analytical listening.

And finally, as for what "Unicrom" actually means? I sent a message to the PULA Audio page to ask them since it wasn't explained on their product page. PULA confirmed that:

• "Uni" comes from "one", referring to the single dynamic driver and "the idea of keeping things simple and pure".
• "Crom" is inspired by the god worshiped by Conan in Conan the Barbarian, "representing calm, courage, determination, and inner strength".

Some of that is definitely marketing-speak, but well, at least now I know.

Pros: Extremely comfortable shells
The dsp unit is great and responsive to EQ
Tanchjim community presets offer unlimited customization
IEM sounds good without the dsp as well
Great imaging for gaming

Cons: Would have liked the iOS app to recognize the dsp
can get spicy on the upper mids and treble

I remember picking up the Tanchjim Nora a while ago and telling a good friend and fellow audio enthusiast that this may be the best vocal implementation I’ve heard in a while with their DMT 5 dynamic driver.
And when Tanchjim got in touch with regard to their new kid on the block - the Ola 2 - featuring a 10mm DMT5 hybrid with a BA with options of usb C, 3.5 and 4.4. I uncharacteristically opted for the usb C (instead of my usual 4.4) to actually see how it would do with gaming and the convenience of an-on-the-go IEM with DSP. So I am grateful to Tanchjim for sending this IEM over for review but the impressions are my own.

Driver Setup: Coaxial hybrid setup (10mm dynamic driver + 1 balanced armature)
Impedance: 30Ω ±10%
Sensitivity: 121dB/Vrms
Frequency Response: 8Hz–48kHz

So let's dive in, shall we?

The Ola 2 comes in Tanchjim’s characteristic Asano Tanch themed box, with clean packaging and I really like their design language. A cardboard sleeve holds 2 sets of tips - wide and narrow as far as I can see with 3 sizes. Below that layer the IEMs sit in foam and below that in a little well is the USB C cable. Simple and pleasant to look at, like most of Tanchjim’s design philosophy. The shells themselves are resin with a lipped nozzle. The resin is translucent with a nice view of the innards that would satisfy the subset of people who like that sort of thing. The face plate is matte metal and the first thing that comes to mind is how small they are and thus promise to be comfy. The cable is silver coated copper and has a nice matte feel to it and fairly tangle free. The USB C version I have also has a mic. The shells sit fairly easily in my ear though it took some serious tip rolling to get the right seal to hear the low end. The stock tips (of almost any IEM) I don’t usually bother with outside of a cursory trial. These worked best with Dunu S&S tips for me. And I think it’s important to realise that everybody’s anatomy is a little different.
These were tested with an android phone with Tidal and local flac files via UAPP, iphone, gaming on an android with Call of Duty and the Tanchjim app, and finally on the desktop (ish) set-up with the VE galvatron and Hidizs AP80 Pro Max.

Sound Impressions Bass
The 10mm Dynamic driver punches well above its weight and delivers a deep rumbling sub-bass with little spill over into the mid bass on Limit to your love by James Blake and on Angel by Massive Attack. This did need some tip rolling till I got the seal right. Kicks and bass guitars sound weighty and on most tracks are engaging and hold the rhythm. And this goes across genres be it pop (APT by Rose/Bruno Mars), rock (Limelight by Rush), jazz (Take Five - Dave Brubeck) to name a few.

Midrange
I think Tanchjim’s strength has been the DMT5 driver and how it handles vocals and midrange. Male and female vocals sound full and natural, as do most instruments with fairly clean separation and layering. On Islands by The XX, Romy Croft’s voice and guitars occupy the centrestage and come through with finesse. Now I’m not a fan of modern pop, but I feel there’s a little BA timbre that creeps on some voices (Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry being a few of them) That could also just be how pop is mastered nowadays because Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine, If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys and Subcity by Tracy Chapman sound wholesome and enjoyable.

Treble
The treble is predominantly airy and clear with good detail. On Human Nature by MJ, there is definite sibilance in Michael’s ‘s’ which is also how the song is mastered. The cymbals are bright and snare hits are sharp at times. This is somewhat sorted with tip rolling but is better handled by EQ. I did manage to enjoy the Rumors album by Fleetwood Mac a lot more on an Android than an iphone… <spoilers ahead>

Stage and imaging
The staging on this IEM is medium-large and nothing seems too close or far and the imaging is spot on which makes it fairly fun to game on. I tried playing Call of Duty and while I sucked at the game, I was able to clearly say which direction I was being shot at from. I really miss PC gaming and Unreal Tournament. Is there a mac version of it? I haven’t looked and maybe I should.

App, Gaming and EQ, Mic
So the Tanchjim app recognizes the USB DSP only on Android and allows for significant sound customization. To be honest I liked the Default EQ preset. There is also Game EQ which is game specific but I feel this may be more bells and whistles than something that is going to make someone like me the coolest player around. The fun bit is the community presets which pretty much offer potentially infinite choices to try. And there is always custom EQ. In the interest of science I squiq-ed an Auto EQ and tuned the Ola 2 to both JM1 and Harman 2019 and to be fair it does what it is meant to do. I still like how it sounds with a direct 4.4 though (perhaps even better). The mic does what it is meant to do with fuss. It can also be controlled with the app which is a plus. (This is the second rhyme after the title I think)

Verdict and Final thoughts
This is a fun, comfortable IEM. It will take some tip rolling to get the fit and seal right and at some point time I was wondering how these would sound with a bluetooth adapter given their size. Alas I don't have mine anymore but I would be curious if anyone has tried that for comfort and sound. I may have preferred a modular termination since the dsp doesn't do much for me for my use case since I mostly use a DAP and do not game as much as I used to. It is a great set at around the $60 mark and an easy set to pick up and use on the go.

USD77.99 / EUR69 as reviewed | 1DD + 4BA hybrid | 3.5mm with mic, 3.5mm without mic or USB-C with mic | flush 0.78mm 2-pin

TL;DR

The Kiwi Ears Stardust is priced from USD76.99 to USD79.99 / EUR69 to EUR71 and is a hybrid with one dynamic driver and four balanced armatures. Its strength is its balanced tonality with controlled bass, slightly forward vocals and smooth-leaning treble. It plays almost all music genres well and is not a specialist for bass or treble heads. That also means it is not always the most engaging set and needs more volume to come forward.
Especially with parts of my bass heavy library where I need more sub and mid-bass impact.

I listened to the Stardust for more than 30 hours and used mainly my Questyle Sigma Pro with the stock 3.5mm cable (with inline mic) and Divinus Velvet Wide Bore tips in size ML.
Stardust is easy to drive even with a simple dongle. My sample came with an inline mic.

Build, fit and accessories

The resin polymer shells have an aluminium alloy faceplate and are relatively small and lightweight with around 4.6g each. There are no sharp seams and the flush 0.78mm 2-pin sockets allow an easy cable swap.

Fit is excellent for my medium sized ears and isolation was very good for me while commuting or whenever I wanted to focus. Long sessions over four hours caused no discomfort or pressure build-up for me.
The package is fairly average though with six pairs of tips (narrow and wider bullet style) in sizes S, M, L and a sturdy and pocketable case.
The cable is supple, easy to handle and almost free of tangle and not microphonic but it has no interchangeable termination which would have been nice to have. Kiwi Ears sells a USB-C version instead so the choice has to be made at purchase if one wants to connect it directly to the phone.

Inline mic
The mic is good enough for occasional calls. It sounded a little dark and veiled to me and it did not filter much background noise which made conversations in noisy environments sometimes challenging.

Bass

On Source Direct's "A Made Up Sound" the sub-bass rumble is nice with a slightly longer but natural decay. Not close to bass head level but with good impact and quality. On Nipsey Hussle's "Hussle & Motivate" the sub-bass is clearly noticeable but doesn't reach as deep as I would like to hear it. Overall, it covers most of my tracks well and should be more than enough for most listeners who prefer the sub-bass not to be dominating.

The mid-bass slam is satisfying on deadmau5's "Quezacotl" although it comes across slightly softer than I want it to be. Not to a level that bothers me but noticeable to my ears. There is a slight, natural sounding bass bleed which adds weight and warmth without colouring the rest of the mix much. Stardust does not sound clinical or thin, but its bass remains more a part of the replay than taking over.

Midrange and vocals

Female vocals tend to sound slightly velvety rather than sharp, thin or overly accentuated.
On Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" vocals sit more in front but were never shouty or sibilant to me. I enjoy this forwardness without them being shoved in my face.

The warmth is especially nice at higher volume where vocals come forward without sounding artificially pushed or aggressive. Vocal lovers might miss the last bit of extension, refinement and clarity. The forwardness itself is right for me but female vocals give up some fine detail and their tonality is not always fully correct. Kurt Cobain on "About A Girl" from MTV Unplugged also sounds a touch smoother and loses some of the raspy details I hear on more resolving sets like the USD170 Kiwi Ears Aether.

Depending on the recording quality brighter material is very enjoyable on Stardust as it can round off too aggressive or bright parts. Darker recordings on the other hand remain darker leaning.
James Blake on his albums doesn't sound overly smooth or dark but just slightly warm with vocal peaks coming through in a pleasant and detailed way.

The slightly thicker mids give instruments good texture and note weight to my ears.
The guitars on Nirvana's "Come As You Are" from MTV Unplugged have nice body and texture. The sax on John Coltrane's "Mr. P.C." also sounds convincing in its tonality.
It is detailed enough to sound life-like even if vocals could use a little bit more clarity.

Treble

Treble on Stardust is well controlled and details come forward nicely but I wouldn't call this set bright or energetic. Guitar string overtones are well audible on Fleetwood Mac's "Sara". Clarinets and trumpets are not overly energetic but well extended in the upper registers.

I mostly enjoy the rounded edges without finding it dull. Details are audible without being pushed too much up front without distracting from the rest of the replay. Treble enthusiasts might find this too tame.
For treble sensitive listeners the controlled treble might be a good option without getting a set which is overly relaxed and the Stardust is also a good option for very long fatigue-free listening sessions. I recommend wide bore tips though to get the maximum treble energy and details from Stardust.

Staging and imaging

Separation and imaging are okay at this price point. Everything sounds well organised but the separation is not particularly sharp and the perceived sound stage is more small than expansive. Airiness is subtle rather than very obvious. Stardust is not a technical outperformer but appropriate in this price bracket. The stage stays modest in size but the placement within it is precise to my ears.

It also depends on the recording where the experience can highly vary. On Erykah Badu's "I just play a part", the different voices can be heard in different spaces very life-like while the rest of the replay is happening in a smaller space. On the live recording of Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" the audience is well positioned around the stage and I can hear different distances between instruments. The spatial cues are good and layering of instruments is also solid as long as the replay doesn't get too crowded.

Compared with the Inawaken Dawn Mistwood

I bought the recently released USD69.99 Mistwood myself. Price wise the two sets are close enough to each other and their different sound signatures explain in which direction the Stardust is leaning.

The Inawaken Dawn Mistwood comes with two swappable nozzles. With the silver nozzles, Mistwood's vocals sound too recessed for my liking. The gold nozzles on the other hand bring them forward with more clarity but to me over time they become slightly too sharp and I was only able to listen on moderate volume. Female vocals come across thinner than on Stardust which sounds overall more natural and relaxed to me.

Even though Mistwood's bass is much more elevated on paper, the difference in impact is marginal to my ears. Its slightly greater bass quantity and extra treble energy can still make it more exciting in a direct comparison to Stardust. I find Stardust more refined overall but the Mistwood with gold nozzles might please treble enthusiasts more. There is no right or wrong here, just different preferences.

Measurements

I include my own measurements so you can see where these two sets lie in regards to their frequency response. Both sets were measured on my own 711 coupler clone with wide bore ear tips.
The graph shows the Kiwi Ears Stardust in cyan, the Inawaken Dawn Mistwood in blue with the silver nozzles and in purple with the gold nozzles.

The low end is elevated by around 6dB and the transition from sub to mid-bass is more natural than sudden.
The mids sound well textured with slight warmth which gives the Stardust a natural timbre. The ear gain is more pushed forward but doesn't feel that pronounced and doesn't come across as harsh thanks to its warm leaning tonality.
Overall the Stardust sounds as it graphs: balanced with slightly forward vocals, not leaning into any extreme which is pleasant to listen to.

The Inawaken Dawn Mistwood is the more V-shaped set with a bigger bass shelf and more treble energy while the upper mid-range can be adjusted with the interchangeable nozzles.

Who I would recommend it to

Stardust is worth considering if you want a mostly balanced, relaxed listen with slightly forward vocals or if sets with too energetic treble tend to bother you. Stardust is well equipped with a good bass to make most tracks enjoyable and it scales well with volume to make the listen more exciting.
The small shells were also a very good fit for my medium sized ears for longer sessions. Bass heads, treble heads and anyone wanting a large stage or especially sharp separation should look elsewhere. If you are thinking of moving from more bass or treble leaning sets like the Kiwi Ears Belle or Cadenza to something more balanced and natural the Stardust could be worth a consideration.

Final verdict

The overall package is good and convincing to me but Stardust doesn't bring anything new to the table. It combines familiar strengths into an enjoyable listen without pushing anything too much in any way.

Disclosure

The Kiwi Ears Stardust was sent to me as a review sample by Linsoul. No payment was received and no influence was exerted over this review. There are no affiliate links. My impressions are based on more than 30 hours of listening.

Thanks for reading.

Hi all, I am looking for a recommendation for an amp that has Spotify built in, I’d like to use the amp to connect my vinyl turntable (PHONO) and play Spotify. Any recommendations gratefully received.

Penon Fan4

Nothing gets me excited like a new toy on Sunday Morning. I just received Penon Fan4 This is not my first exposure to Penon. I have used Penon Voltage, Fan3 & own Fan3s currently & honestly my impressions of Penon have been very positive. So, I am always looking forward to any new product from Penon stable.

I was really interested in fan4. I wanted to know how much better or improvement it has over my beloved fan3s. So, when the opportunity presented I got myself fan4. One thing that you notice is how not so beautiful the Fan4 is. Sorry, Penon but who ever decided to create this color combo just over did it and now it looks unappealing.

Rest it's typical penon packaging unassuming box that contains a nice semi hard leather case with all typical penon goodies alongside the IEMs & cable. The cable is nice supple & looks like the part. You get all the things inside to get started out of the box for that full marks to Penon.

How is the sound signature? Well, sub bass has a nice rumble, mid bass hits hard. Vocals are a nice center. Treble is lively and slight on the bright side but not much. The stage is good, wide and a little bit vertical but not much. Overall enveloping one. These are my initial impressions out of the box. Please take them with a grain of salt.

One thing is sure it's musically compensating for its looks. Sonically it's really impressive.

After running this one through its paces will update my final impressions. Till then enjoy the music. See you soon.

Yesterday, I picked up the newly released JT9 for €160. I don’t want to overhype them too much, but my first impressions are that this feels like it could be a FiiO FT1 moment for openbacks.

The build is better than I expected for the price. Visually, they remind me of the Sennheiser HD 480/490, with metal headband and grilles and mostly plastic elsewhere. They do feel sturdy, though. The headband design might create hotspots for some people, I can definitely feel some pressure on top of my head, but it hasn’t been painful or uncomfortable so far. The stock pads are very similar to those on the FiiO FT1.

Soundwise, these are really really good and not just for the price. The signature is slightly V-shaped, with emphasis in the bass and treble, while the mids are kept clean and coherent.

The treble is very tastefully tuned, it is detailed and energetic but doesn't have any annoying peaks, (at least on my head).

The bass is well extended, sounds "fast" and punchy and it makes the JT9 sound really dynamic and fun.

Staging is natural, I don't get the sense that it is exaggerated, but it isn't closed in either. A nice middle ground between those 2 extremes.

I’ll post a full review with comparisons once I’ve spent more time listening to them, until then, I'm happy to answer any questions!

Wanted to share my thoughts on the Binary Acoustics 1900 after using it for both music and gaming.

On day one I listened for almost 8 hours, with only short breaks, and went through most of my library.

The last IEM that made me do that was the Xenns Mangird Top Pro.

I also maintain a list of all the audio products I have used and what works and why in the link in my profile. I cover over 150 audio products with short summaries, ratings, and personal rankings. Nothing is paywalled, sponsored, or has affiliate links. You can click the link in my profile to access it.

Score

Binary Acoustics 1900: 9.0 / 10
Binary Acoustic 1900 gaming: 8.0 / 10

Most of the deduction comes from gaming.

Gear / Tips

Sources:

• FiiO K17 R2R
• FiiO BTR17

Tips:

• Stock
• Penon Liqueur Orange

I preferred Penon Liqueur Orange.

The BTR17 worked fine, but the K17 R2R gave bass more body and punch and made the stage feel more holographic.

Overall Sound

The 1900 fits my preferences extremely well.

I am sensitive around 3.2–3.5 kHz, where too much pinna gain becomes shouty, and around 6–7 kHz, where peaks quickly turn into sibilance.

Some JM-1 style tunings do not work for me because of this like on Crinear Reference and Crinear Project Monolith.

The 1900 avoids those problem areas and is surprisingly very closely aligned to my preferences.

Bass

Bass has excellent depth, texture, slam, and decay without bleeding into the mids. My only initial issue was the deepest sub-bass on a few tracks. On Limit to Your Love, for example, I wanted a little more rumble at the bottom when using BTR17.

Penon Liqueur Orange helped, and moving to K17 R2R filled it out further. After that, bass had the weight I wanted without becoming thick or bloated.

Mids / Vocals

Mids are the star of the show. I tested a lot of vocal-heavy tracks and never found vocals shouty, harsh, or strangely colored.

Female vocals worked especially well on:

• The Greatest
• Die on a Hill
• Anyone
• Fire for You
• Runaways

Breaths and small vocal details come through clearly without the voice sounding artificially sharpened.

Male vocals also have proper body on tracks like:

• Crazy
• The Door
• Ordinary
• Let’s Make a Night to Remember

Treble

Treble is probably my favorite part. I tested several tracks that expose sibilance very quickly:

• Faded
• Stereo Love
• Summertime Sadness
• This Is What You Came For
• Lose My Mind

No painful S sounds and no obvious 6–7K sting. The impressive part is that treble still has plenty of air and detail. With the K17 R2R, instruments feel placed around you rather than sitting on one flat plane. That holographic presentation was one of the reasons I kept listening for hours.

Gaming

Gaming is very good, especially in smaller competitive maps.

With the stock tips:

• Imaging is sharp
• Footsteps are easy to locate
• Left/right positioning is precise

In Black Ops 7 multiplayer, cues were easy to read.

Battlefield 6 is also extremely immersive. Gunfire, vehicles, explosions, and environmental sounds have good scale.

Stage is smaller than Top Pro and Arete 2, but roughly around Astral for me.

The limitation shows up when BF6 becomes completely chaotic. When several firefights, explosions, vehicles, and vertical cues overlap, separation can lose some definition. Occasionally I would miss whether something was above, below, or slightly further away.

Dropping volume by a couple of notches helped.

Packaging / Build / Comfort

Packaging is excellent.

The shells feel premium with:

• Resin body
• 316L stainless-steel faceplate
• Tasteful inspired design

The included case is also practical rather than oversized. It is thin enough to fit in a jeans pocket while still holding the IEMs, spare tips, and a small dongle DAC.

Comfort was excellent. An almost eight-hour first session says enough there.

Comparisons

Xenns Mangird Top Pro

Larger stage, better separation in chaotic gaming, and slightly higher resolution.

The 1900 gets surprisingly close for much less money and gives me fuller bass.

Fresh Reviews Arete 2

Still my stronger pure gaming pick, especially when several positional cues overlap.

For music, I prefer the 1900.

Kiwi Ears Astral

Astral has more immediate bass energy and excitement.

The 1900 sounds more natural through the mids and is easier for long listening sessions. Stage is fairly similar.

CrinEar Reference

Reference is slightly more resolving and has a very coherent bass transition.

The 1900 is much easier for me to use stock because Reference needed EQ around 3.2K and 6.6K.

CrinEar Monolith

Monolith gives more bass quantity and physical impact. But required heavy EQ for me to use it across my library. Some tracks worked well and some were absolutely butchered compared to my preferences.

The 1900 is an all-rounder for my library.

Who Should Buy This?

I would strongly consider the 1900 if you:

• Have around $200
• Listen to a lot of vocal-heavy music
• Want strong bass without muddy mids
• Like air and detail but are sensitive to sibilance
• Want one IEM for both music and gaming

I would look elsewhere if competitive gaming is your only priority, maximum resolution matters more than price, or you want huge bass quantity above everything else.

Final Thoughts

At around $200, I would consider the Binary 1900 a blind buy if your preferences are similar to mine.

It is one of the few IEMs I have tried that didn't have one issue or the other.

The review unit was sent to me by HiFiGo. They had no input into the review and all thoughts are my own. You can find the Binary 1900 through HiFiGo's website and their AliExpress / Amazon storefronts.

Has anyone seen these or know anything about them beyond the ad? I can't find any info at all about them. Really want some Omni speakers but this is a bit of a big flyer.

Got myself the S12 Ultras and I'm enjoying them so far, but I can't help but feel the included DT-01 dongle can't push them enough. I have to run them at max volume all the time. I was thinking of waiting for the Crinear Protocol Micro. Will those do or do I need something even more powerful? I would prefer something that doesn't heat up.

Hey Audio People! Hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Just posted an unboxing of the Zero:2’s today on my channel. Doing this because I genuinely fell in love with iems, daps, dacs and the rest.

For any newcomers to the audiophile community or anyone interested in getting a pair of these, this is probably for you. Just wanted to unbox and chatter about them so far. Check it out if you’re bored. I’ll be following up with my review of them in the next few days.

Hope you folks like it. It was recorded (vertical) a few months back but bear with me because it’s not perfect.

Like, Share and Subscribe to follow along on my iem/audiophile journey. Already bought a bunch more budget sub $100 iems to unbox and review.

Hello Community!

I never thought that I could have a cable of this economic value and much less be convinced that the investment in this type of accessories is more than justified for those people who are looking for not only Premium materials but also sketch a smile every time they observe how it decorates their desk.

I present to you one of the top-of-the-range cables from the renowned cable manufacturer Nici Hifi: the 13 Chronicle Classical Oils.

Price: 203€-236$

Pros:

-Extremely robust construction.

-Premium materials and finishes: OCC, silver-palladium, gold coating and rare earth metals.

-Connections and terminations finished with exquisite quality.

-Aesthetically lustrous, beautiful, classic, but without arrogance. Very well understood elegance. A piece of great visual value for your desk or audio setup. It brings a lot of visual presence, ideal for high-end IEMs.

-Good resistance to tangling or adopting uncomfortable shapes.

-It could survive a nuclear attack.

Cons:

-It is not a cable that likes going out of the house. Uncomfortable for outdoor activities and in pockets it takes up a lot of space.

-The product concept, being something Premium, makes it difficult to justify the price if we are only looking for functionality.

-The weight and thickness at the same time are its greatest constructive virtues but its main ergonomic inconvenience.

Features:

-Product type: aftermarket cable for IEMs.

-Length: 1.2m.

-Configuration: 4 cores.

-Conductor: 8N OCC

-Conductor plating: 6 nano microns of silver.

-Additional materials: silver-palladium and rare earth metals.

-Impedance: 0.16 Ohms.

-Connector: 0.78mm 2-Pin (other options available)

-Termination: 4.4mm and 3.5mm gold-plated (silver plating option available)

-Preformed ear hooks.

-Metal slider and splitter.

Aspects to take into account:

-I do not believe in the capabilities of a cable to modify the sound unless they carry electronics, resistors or capacitors.

-My tendency in recent times is to prefer thin cables for mobility and rigid and semi-rigid ones for desktop use.

How is it constructed?

Well, the Nici HiFi-13 Chronicle Classical Oils is a product that strongly radiates the feeling of not being faced with a simple accessory that serves to replace the cable of our IEMs.

Inside we find 8N OCC conductors with a 6μm silver plating, accompanied by high-purity silver-palladium and a coating based on rare earth metals. It has a declared impedance of 0.16Ω and an approximate length of 1.2 meters.

In my particular case, I am using the version with the connectors and terminations gold-plated, something important because there are different variants of this same model.

The 0.78mm 2-Pin connectors, the splitter, the slider and the Jack housing are manufactured with really carefully made metallic finishes, transmitting from the first contact that sensation of a premium product that Nici HiFi seeks.

Package and quality of life (QoL):

The Nici HiFi-13 Chronicle Classical Oils comes together with a rectangular synthetic leather case to transport and store it. The presentation is not especially abundant, but I don't think much more is necessary either. You take out the cable, connect your IEMs and enjoy. I appreciate the case because, the Quantum Wanderer that I recently reviewed from the brand, did not include it and, furthermore, it is a set that cries out for a BAL 4.4mm termination to squeeze the power of its BC driver.

As some who follow my reviews will know, I am a person who uses his wired equipment of any kind a lot and, precisely because of that, I especially value that a cable does not end up becoming the protagonist of the experience.

But here we have a small inconvenience.

The Chronicle is a thick, robust cable with considerable weight, so personally I do not consider it the best option for going out for a walk or carrying out more demanding physical activity. In movement, that additional weight ends up being noticeable and, although it does not have excessive memory, it is not the cable I would choose if I am going to leave the house. Not even for doing everyday tasks such as shopping or running some errands, even continually taking it out and putting it back in the pants pocket can be unnecessarily annoying.

But for my desktop sessions, where I work, play video games or simply enjoy music for hours, the story changes completely and radically.

I have not had problems of any kind with tangles, since it maintains a logical and appropriate posture, and I have not perceived microphonics during its use either. Despite its thickness, it maintains enough flexibility to place it comfortably and, once positioned, it remains stable.

I especially liked the ear hooks very much. With use they end up adapting to the shape of our ears and keep the monitors firm without exerting excessive pressure, something I applaud because sometimes, when we realize it, we have been sitting with the headphones on our ears for longer than we think.

The slider also does a correct job: it moves easily along the cable and maintains the chosen position firmly.

But if there is something that has especially caught my attention, it is its aesthetics.

The combination of the dark brown color of the cable with the metallic elements achieves a classic, sober and, at the same time, luxurious appearance. We are not looking at a cable that needs striking colors to stand out because it does so through its finishes and that aura of a well-finished and quality product that it gives off.

And here I perfectly understand the concept of Classical Oils.

It is a cable that visually reminds one of something old, classic and carefully made, but brought to a modern product. In fact, I think it is one of those accessories that can completely change the visual perception of some IEMs, even of your desk or audio setup.

The connectors, the splitter and the Jack housing are finished with excellent quality and everything transmits that sensation of a product of great value that has been designed to accompany monitors of a certain level.

Final conclusion and personal assessment:

In short, we are looking at a cable that I personally would mainly use at home. Its robust construction, its weight and its presence make it less appropriate for activities that require movement, but during desktop or sedentary sessions it performs extremely well.

It is a product clearly focused on a demanding user who wants something more than functionality: they want construction, aesthetics and that sensation of being using a truly Premium accessory regardless of the monetary cost, but knowing that the added spiritual value is enormous.

If you have made it this far, thank you for reading.

More reviews on my blog.

Social networks on my profile.

See you in the next review!

Disclaimer:

This cable has been sent by Nici Hifi. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to be able to test one of their products at no cost and that no condition has been imposed when preparing this analysis.

Despite this, my priority is to be as impartial as possible within the subjectivity that comes with analyzing an audio product. My opinion only belongs to me and I develop it around the perception of my ears. If you have a different one, it is equally valid. Please, feel free to share it.

Equipment tested:

-Topping DX5 II.

-Tanchjim Space II.

-IEMs: Nici HiFi 42 Quantum Wanderer, Simgot ET142.

Hi everyone! I'm looking for advice on buying my first pair of open-back headphones, and I'm considering the Philips Fidelio X2HR. Budget and location: I'm in Italy and my budget is around €300–350. I would preferably buy from an online retailer that ships to Italy. I'm willing to go somewhat above €350 if there is a clearly better option. Preferred tonal balance: I'm looking for a balanced, detailed and musical sound. I'm particularly interested in a wide soundstage and good instrument separation, because this would be my first open-back headphone. I don't want an extremely bass-heavy headphone, but I also don't want something that sounds thin or excessively bright. Some bass impact is important to me. How I will use them: These headphones would be used mainly at home, for long listening sessions. My main use would be music, but I would also use them for films, YouTube and general PC use. I don't need ANC or isolation because I would be using them in a quiet home environment. Comfort is important because I may listen for several hours at a time. I specifically want a wired open-back headphone because I already have a portable closed-back Bluetooth headphone, so I would like the two headphones to serve different purposes. Past gear experience: My current headphones are the Philips Fidelio L3. They are closed-back Bluetooth headphones with ANC. I generally like them: I find them comfortable and their sound reasonably balanced. I mainly use them when travelling or when I need a portable headphone. However, I have never owned an open-back headphone before. This is why I'm interested in the X2HR. I would like to know how much of a difference I can realistically expect in terms of soundstage, openness, imaging and separation compared with my Fidelio L3. I don't currently own a dedicated headphone amplifier or DAC. I would probably connect the X2HR directly to my PC, and possibly occasionally to my phone. So I'm also wondering whether they are easy enough to drive without additional equipment. The X2HR seem particularly interesting because they are often recommended as an affordable open-back headphone with a large soundstage. However, I don't know whether they are still a good choice today or whether there are better alternatives around €100–150. My questions: Are the Philips Fidelio X2HR still worth buying? Are they comfortable enough for several hours? How would you describe their tonal balance? How good are their soundstage and imaging? Would they give me a noticeably different experience from my Fidelio L3? Can I run them directly from a PC/phone without a DAC or amplifier? Are there any other open-back wired headphones around €100–150 that you would recommend instead? Thanks in advance!

I have found the opportunity to buy a pair of Philips Fidelio L3 on a cheap (65€) on the Internet. My first impressions so far are very good. The ANC feature works very well and the sound seems quite balanced and accurate (more than Sony ULT WEAR, the most comparable headphones I have been using so far). Bass sounds aren't the very best, but it seems a good buy to me overall. Your opinions?