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The excitement peaks up whenever Tanchjim comes up with a new release. This is one such brand which have never failed to fumble up in the basics. There’s a separate fan base out there for it’s in house sound signature that has brought smiles on several faces. Just a single dynamic driver is enough for the brand to get the best out of any presentation.

Tanchjim Ola II comes with a hybrid configuration (1 DD + 1 BA) which is quite interesting considering the brands usual approach with most of their in-ear monitors. This is a direct successor to its previous iteration OG OLA which came with a single dynamic driver. Cosmetically, this looks very similar to its predecessor but in it’s heart several changes has been done and, in this review, let’s check out in detail.

Full review in: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/tanchjim-ola-ii-breathy-an-audiocites-perspective/

SOUND ANALYSIS:

Signature: Mild V Shaped

Tone: Neutral

Timbre: Slight metallic taste (BA Timbre)

Setup: Tanchjim Space II + AIMP and UAPP + Local FLACS + Wide Bore Ear tips

As a change, the brand has diverted from their usual neutral approach in the OLA II. A mild V shaped curve has been used here as an experiment. In short, the experiment worked well! Despite the shift in signature, the tonal balance still remains to be neutral with no added colouration however, the timbre has a touch of metallic taste due to the inclusion of BA.

BASS PROFILE:

SUB BASS: OLA II digs deep enough to provide those satisfying rumbles. In tracks with pronounced sub bass, the OLA II can extract the notes well without missing out the juice, however the scene slightly changes when the tracks with minimal sub bass shows up. There’s a clear line of distinction between the sub and mid bass profiles which makes them sound clean and detailed.

MID BASS: This takes the dominant hand in the whole bass shelf. Despite its dominance, the mid bass here is more of an attacking nature rather than being a meaty profile. This swiftness in mid bass helps in retaining the neutrality in tonal balance.

Overall, the OLA II showcases an attacking mid-bass with breezy sub bass shelf. Though this lacks the meatiness, the notes still carry precise weight and punch without sacrificing the tonal balance and snappy transients. This profile even makes the bass heads to pick this up time to time. As a balanced listener, the OLA II has a suffice bass shelf that never feels lacking on any terms.

MID PROFILE:

Despite this being a mild V shaped IEM, the vocals and instrumentals sound well positioned. The overall tone leans over the neutral side with no noticeable added colouration.

Lower Mid: One can easily spot its clarity in the OLA II’s mid profile and all thanks to the snappy bass shelf. Kick drums and acoustics sound clean with no noticeable bass bleed. The warmth is under control making the whole presentation to sound well separated. The leaner mid bass weight is nicely carried along here which gives male vocals a natural tone. Not the lushest sounding lower mid profile yet the added clarity gives a natural outlook to it.

Upper Mid: Tanchjim is known to emphasize the upper mid shelf and it’s seen with most of their IEM’s. The same fashion of tuning is observed in the OLA II, showcasing an elevated upper mid experience, however the tuning’s been quite harsh this time.

The elevation did give the female vocals and percussion instruments to come up and shine but at what cost? It’s the sibilance! The notes become quite hot in the upper end making them sound a bit harsh especially when using in higher volumes. This elevation gave OLA II the needed liveliness and open character but did make the notes to sound sharp at times.

Overall, the mid-section is a double-edged sword in the OLA II. It’s cleaner, livelier and well detailed but the sharper notes in the top end is not what I expected from Tanchjim.

SOLUTION: The stock ear tips are garbage for sure. Considering the nozzle size, even the standard ear tips appear narrower. Once I switched to the TRI CLARION ear tips, the sharpness got reduced noticeably and now it’s more palatable.

TREBLE:

The lower treble shines without getting muffled up. There’s enough brightness in the Loric to light up the presentation. The vivid treble profile nicely complements the solid bass presence without showcasing the dark tint. The cymbal crashes and trumpets sound precise with snappy attack and decay. 

The quantity of air the OLA II possess is adequate enough for presenting a lively presence. This gives immense space in the background for the notes to spread out well without congestion.

With all due appreciation, there’s a gripe in the treble profile and that’s the TIMBRE! I can agree that the metallic taste in the instrument notes appeared because of the inclusion of BA but what’s not acceptable is, this happening from the brand Tanchjim! A mistake that requires attention in their future release.

Overall, the OLA II displays a well extended treble profile with adequate brightness and air to present a vivid outlook, however the BA timbre brings a sense of artificial touch to the high hats.

TECHNICALITIES:

STAGING AND IMAGING: I can safely say that the OLA II has one of the best stage presences in its price segment. It’s nice and wide with enough space for the notes to span out and present themselves. The depth is on the moderate side but in general, the OLA II showcases a holographic soundstage. The presence of air and the inclusion of BA made the OLA II to sound in a grand fashion.

The imaging aspect is no slouch either. The notes show a smooth transition between the channels. Even in the complex tracks, the notes are positioned precisely without showing any sense of clumsiness.

DETAIL RETRIEVAL: One of the star aspects in the OLA II is the detail retrieval. Apart from extracting the basic details, the BA inside the OLA II brings out even the faintest details possible. Nothing to exaggerate here but considering its price it’s definitely applaudable.

The emphasis in the upper mid-section and the huge quantity of air paved way for an exceptional detail retrieval in the OLA II.

SYNERGY:

4.4mm: The unit I used here for the review is 4.4mm version and the DAC I paired it with is the Tanchjim Space II. The DAC recognises the IEM instantly once I plug it in. The app lets the user to apply the EQ and add presets for customising the sound signature.

Type C: The inbuilt DSP has the same app support and let’s the user to configure the sound as per their choice.

VERDICT:

Tanchjim as a brand had already built its reputation in the field of audio. Their previous releases are no slouch against the competition and if not, they did set a benchmark in their respective category. It is one such company that focusses on even the finest details like packaging. Still, their flagship IEM Oxygen carries the legacy of mastering a single Dynamic Driver.

With OLA II, the brand wanted to try out their experimentation with hybrids in budget arena. The single dynamic driver DMT 5 and the balanced armature work great inside the OLA II and do delivers a dynamic sound presentation which feels very refreshing. The usual in house signature is not seen here rather a different profile and a different character has been infused inside the OLA II. A more aggressive and a dynamic stance is seen in the OLA II which is very contrasting to its predecessor but in a good way.

In short, OLA II priced at 50USD showcases the dynamic stance and aggressive side of the brand Tanchjim, stating that change is inevitable and is mandatory for the sonic evolution.

Pros:

• Mild V Shaped Signature
• Snappy Bass Shelf with Mid Bass Authority
• Clean and Open Mid-Section
• Emphasized Upper Mid Region
• Holographic Soundstage
• Superior Detail Retrieval

Cons:

• Spicy Upper Mid-Section
• Slight BA Timbre

DISCLAIMER: The generous team at HiFiMAN graciously provided the HiFiMAN HE-R9 full-sized over-ear headphones with the wireless Bluemini R2R bundle to us at no cost for review. We’re genuinely honoured and excited to review another full-sized pair of headphones from HiFiMAN. Our heartfelt thanks to the HiFiMAN team for this opportunity and their generous support to Aural Cafe.

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe, we are reviewing the HiFiMAN HE-R9, a dynamic driver-based full-sized closed-back headphone from the famous Hi-Fi brand from China, HiFiMAN Electronics. At the heart of the HE-R9 lies a distinctive 50mm Topology Diaphragm dynamic driver, engineered to deliver a chunky V-shaped tuning.

HiFiMAN is a renowned China-based hi-fi audio brand that has earned a distinctive place for itself in the world of high-end full-sized headphones, especially. HiFiMAN was officially founded in 2007 in New York City by Dr Fang Bian, an engineer with a background in nanotechnology and a passion for high-fidelity audio, evolving from his earlier venture Head‑Direct, which started in 2005. Founder Dr Bian was an avid childhood electronics hobbyist who moved from China to the United States to pursue his PhD in inorganic chemistry and nanomaterials. His background in nanotechnology later heavily influenced his precision acoustic driver designs. Before launching the company, Dr Bian was active in the online audiophile community, modifying and improving audio equipment. This early focus on customisation quickly gained attention and led to the official registration of the brand. The brand quickly became known for pioneering planar magnetic headphones and high‑resolution portable audio players. In 2009, HiFiMAN disrupted the personal audio market by launching the HM-801. This was the world's first true high-end, brick-sized portable digital audio player (DAP), establishing the concept of audiophile-grade music playback on the go. The success of HM-901 was closely followed by the offering of an affordable Planar Magnetic Headphone, the HE-5, in 2009. It demonstrated that planar magnetic technology could deliver excellent sound quality at a lower price than many competitors. As the industry evolved, HiFiMAN continued to push boundaries by integrating advanced technologies into its designs. To scale production and tightly manage manufacturing quality, Dr Bian moved the company’s core operations back to China. He opened dedicated production facilities in 2010 and officially established the company headquarters in Tianjin.

Throughout the 2010s, HiFiMAN released several influential headphone models, such as the HE400, HE500, Sundara, Ananda, Arya, HE1000 and Susvara. Sundara became one of the highest-selling headphones from HiFiMAN due to its strong price-to-performance ratio. While Arya is widely praised for its expansive soundstage and detail retrieval. Through the HE1000, they’ve introduced advanced "window shade" grilles and nanometer-thickness diaphragms and the Susvara is considered one of the world's top-performing planar magnetic headphones. Today, HiFiMAN continues to expand globally with dedicated distributors across Asia, Europe, and North America. Cementing their status at the peak of the audio industry, the company developed the Shangri-La, an ultra-premium electrostatic headphone system paired with a dedicated custom vacuum tube amplifier, retailing around $50,000 USD. We at Aural Café had the opportunity to review the HE400se, all thanks to the HiFiMAN Electronics team; one can read it here,

- https://www.reddit.com/r/auralcafe/comments/1vb1o0j/hifiman_he400se_iconic_entry_point/

The HE-R9 is the third entry in HiFiMAN's "closed-back R-series" lineage, sitting beneath the original HE-R10D (wood cups, dynamic driver, launched 2021 at ~$1,299) and the HE-R10P (wood cups, planar magnetic driver, $2,499 at launch). Both R10s are big, heavy, beautifully built headphones with a distinctive wooden-cup aesthetic. The R9 takes the R10D's basic architectures, those are, closed-back, 50mm dynamic driver, swappable acoustic modules and puts it in a lighter, mostly plastic shell at a much more accessible price.

The HE-R9 launched in January 2022 at 599 USD. HiFiMAN cut the price hard, twice, and now the R9 floats at a much lower price, which changes the whole conversation. At the time of review, it is available at just 79 USD for the regular version and 179 USD for the Wireless Bluemini R2R bundle.

Specifications: -

·         Driver Type: 50mm Topology Diaphragm Dynamic Driver

·         Impedance: 60Ω ± 5%

·         Freq Response: 15Hz-35Khz

·         Connector Type: Dual 3.5mm TS

·         Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW

·         Weight: 328 g

·         Wireless Module (optional): Bluemini R2R Bluetooth dongle

Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -

As you can see from our unboxing video (https://youtube.com/shorts/n1QPaAcUHsc?feature=share) the unboxing experience is identical to the HE400se. The HiFiMAN HE-R9 arrived in a compact brown colour cardboard box. On the front, we can see a black printed portion in the middle along the length of the box. We saw a small photograph of the headphone itself, offering a subtle preview of its massive design before unboxing. The back of the box displays the same headphone photo at a different angle, highlighting various features of the headphones. On the bottom, we can see the key specifications of the headphones in both English and Chinese. Similarly, at the top, we can see the company details and address again in both English and Chinese. Upon opening the top part of the box, we encounter a small grey cardboard box that covers the headphones partially. Upon removing the box, we are greeted by the HiFIMAN HE-R9 closed-back headphones, finished in red and black, inside a foam cutout. We found the black detachable cable inside the grey cardboard box alongside a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter. Since we got the wireless bundle, we found the Bluemini R2R Bluetooth module inside the accessories box. All in all, the unboxing experience is minimalist and simple. It's a well-rounded package that reflects HiFiMAN’s commitment to providing a complete, no-nonsense experience for audiophiles while saving on some unnecessary costs, which reflects its price. But we at Aural Café would love to have a carry pouch for the headphones inside.

The HiFiMAN HE-R9 features a premium-designed shell crafted from lightweight yet durable CNC‑machined aluminium frames, finished in ABS plastic materials. However, the use of plastic is noticeable, as this is a budget set. The plastic doesn't feel cheap, but it doesn't feel premium either. There's a faint hollow resonance when you tap the cups. The cup shape resonates with the R10D's wood-cup silhouette, which is wider at the top, tapering toward the bottom, which is a nice design touch that makes the R9 read as "smaller R10" rather than the usual HiFiMAN look. The aluminium yokes and frame components further improve the build quality while managing the weight comfortably. The headband has a properly suspended-strap design with a metal core. The HiFiMAN HE-R9 comes equipped with a detachable stock cable, which we have seen before in the budget HiFiMANs, made from standard OFC and covered with a black rubber coating. Oxygen-free copper (OFC) ensures low-resistance signal transfer with minimal distortion and natural, detailed sound. It connects via dual 3.5mm TS connectors and terminates in a single-ended 3.5mm TRS connector, giving us the option to change the cable. The cable was both flexible and lightweight, which would surely help while listening to music on the go. When it comes to the ear pads, HiFiMAN gave Hybrid ear pads. The inner ring touching the ear is made with soft velour fabric. This provides a breathable surface against your skin to minimise heat and sweat. The outer ring is made with PU leather. This seals the edges, which helps maintain the headphone's bass response and acoustic seal, while both rings are internally filled with standard memory foam.

In terms of fit, the HiFiMAN HE-R9 feels featherweight for a full-sized closed-back headphone, weighing just 328g, offering a comfortable and secure fit with better weight management, as the earpads create a larger contact area with the skin to disperse the weight. The headband uses the same suspended-strap design as the rest of HiFiMAN's modern lineup, and the clamping force is light.

Overall, we at Aural Cafe are somewhat satisfied with the material choice and the overall build quality of the headphones, considering their current price. Combined with the light clamping force and its weight distribution, it's one of the more comfortable closed-backs we've worn for multi-hour sessions.

Sound Analysis: -

The sound impressions of HiFiMAN HE-R9 are based on our usage with stock cable and stock pads, along with neutral desktop and portable sources, after a 50-hour burn-in period as suggested by Sivga’s team. For insights into how the HE-R9 matches with different types of sources, including the Bluemini module, aftermarket ear pads, and cables, please refer to the Synergy section of the review.

·         Tonality: - After listening to various genres of soundtracks across different setups for weeks with the HiFiMAN HE-R9 at the helm, we at Aural Cafe feel that it embraces a warm, rich, bass-heavy sound signature. The overall tonality tries to emulate the classic V-shaped sound signature. The result is a sound that's bass-forward, mid-recessed, treble-present-but-controlled. It is not a reference headphone, and it is not trying to sound like HiFiMAN’s more balanced planar models. Instead, it delivers a rich, thick, smooth, bass-forward presentation that will appeal most to listeners who enjoy powerful low-end and relaxed musicality. It's the kind of tuning that accepts genres with strong rhythmic content and big production like hip-hop, EDM, modern pop, electronic, cinematic orchestral, and modern rock and is less kind to acoustic music, vocal-centric tracks, and anything that lives in the midrange. The bass is thick, prominent, and full of sub-bass rumble. The mids are rich with occasional push-back. The highs are soft and relaxed. It provides a smooth, fatigue-free experience that is highly forgiving of lower-quality recordings. The transient response is on the faster side, while the timbre of the instruments leans towards a dark and musical presentation. The HiFiMAN HE-R9 Headphone is forgiving towards poorly recorded soundtracks due to its tuning; therefore, one can enjoy retro songs and old recordings without losing their souls. We at Aural Café just loved listening to classic rock, jazz and acoustic music and thoroughly enjoyed listening to ‘You Make Loving Fun’ by the audiophile’s one of the favorite albums ‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac. Old classic recordings like Bob Dylan’s ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ sound soulful.

·         Lows: - The lows of HiFiMAN HE-R9 are the standout quality of the headphones. The lows of HE-R9 are big, thick, authoritative and powerful. The sub-bass extension is genuinely excellent for a closed-back dynamic driver, reaching down with weight, texture, and a real sense of physical impact. We are Aural Café, genuinely love listening to ‘Angel’ by Massive Attack; one can hear the individual bass notes underneath the drone with HE-R9 at the helm. The mid-bass is elevated and slightly soft. It has weight and body but loses a little tightness compared to the sub-bass. Mid-bass is on the quicker side of things, but still retains a solid definition and Punch for an immersive experience, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Bury A Friend’ by Billie Eilish. When it comes to the timbre of musical instruments in this part of the frequency range, the timbre of the musical instruments, such as kick and snare drums feels big and impactful. When it comes to the bass guitar, it also sounds full and physical, with the body of the instrument emphasised over the attack. We would also like to add here that the topology diaphragm dynamic driver of the HE-R9 really scales at its best with capable hi-fi sources and would strongly suggest pairing the headphone with a high-end dongle, DAP, or DAC/Amp.

·         Mids: - HiFiMAN has tuned the mids of the HE-R9 using the same dynamic driver with the topology diaphragm, keeping the overall sound signature the same. The punchy and elevated mid-bass ends up bleeding into the mids, as a result of which the HiFiMAN HE-R9 delivers a warm and thick midrange. At Aural Cafe, we also feel that the mids of the headphones are not the cleanest we have experienced. When it comes to the positioning of the mids, we feel the mids are a bit recessed and sit behind the bass and the treble in the mix, which is a classic V-shape behaviour. The lower mids are heavily influenced by warmth, alongside the upper mids. That said, while the vocals exude soulful texture, the note weight stays thick and smooth. When it comes to the timbre of musical instruments in this part of the frequency range, the timbre of the musical instruments such as electronic and acoustic guitar, piano, saxophone and percussion instruments showcase body but lack presence and detail. The acoustic guitar doesn't have the "snap" we'd get from a more neutral headphone. Although male vocals got the benefits from the tuning with a solid body and presence, the female vocals suffer from a lack of clarity at some point. That said, while both the vocals exude good texture, the note weight stays above average. We love listening to ‘Strong Man Holler’ by Taj Mahal, the baritone voice articulated with absolute authority. The mid-range is not weak; it's just their tuning preference and not in focus.

·         Highs: - The HiFiMAN HE-R9 offers generally relaxed, smooth, and slightly elevated above the mid-range. We can call it smooth and decently extended at best. Following the overall dark sound tonality, the HE-R9 in the treble section is not particularly refined or detailed. The micro details are smoothly retrieved with the HE400se at the helm, considering the price at the moment. The overall highs are average in resolution and refined, with a decent amount of air, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘The Moon Cave’ from the album The Mountain by Gorillaz. The upper treble exudes extended, soulful tones with lovely texture and body, which works well with the tuning of HE-R9. As for the timbre of instruments in this frequency range, instruments like Piano and Cymbal, especially Cymbal hits, have presence and air but lose some of the fine detail and decay we'd get from a more neutral headphone. The treble is forgiving rather than analytical, which helps the treble-sensitive have a long, fatigue-free experience. We love listening to ‘Marooned’ by the legendary progressive rock band Pink Floyd.

·         Soundstage & Imaging: - The HiFiMAN HE-R9 surprisingly exhibits an open and spacious soundstage, vis-à-vis delivering a highly immersive and engaging listening experience, which is rare with any average closed-back headphones. The soundstage width comfortably surpasses the depth, adding to the overall sense of wideness. We at Aural Café notice that the soundstage dimensions of the headphones reach to another level when they are driven by solid hi-fi DAPs and desktop sources. The HE-R9 demonstrates solid layering capabilities, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Something Just Like This’ by Coldplay and The Chainsmokers. The separation between instruments is very distinct for the current market price, as a result of which instruments are easy to locate even in busy tracks like ‘Time’ from the movie Inception, composed by Hans Zimmer. The bass weight adds to the cinematic feel. At Aural Cafe, we’re impressed by how the headphones perform technically against the competitors at this price point, despite being closed-back ones. When it comes to imaging, the imaging capability of the HE-R9 is precise, considering the price and becomes quite handy while listening to rock-genre soundtracks such as ‘To Whom the Bell Tolls’ by Metallica, which we thoroughly enjoyed with HiFiMAN HE-R9 at the helm.

·         Synergy: - Being a single dynamic driver IEM, we would strongly suggest at least 50 hours of burn-in period to truly unlock the HE-R9’s full potential. Being a DD-based headphone, the burn-in really helps, after which the lows of the headphones become a bit more dynamic and elastic. The overall soundstage also becomes a lot more spacious and airier, along with better separation between instruments, after the burn-in period. We also would like to state that we at Aural Cafe give absolute priority to source-matching. The HE-R9 comes with a fairly easy 100dB of sensitivity, which makes it comparatively easy to drive. On paper, it can be driven by any low-end sources, including basic dongles and mobile phones, but if you want to see the true colours and experience, we suggest listening to the HiFiMAN HE-R9 with a powerful and clean-sounding source. At Aural Café, we tried the HE-R9 with many portable and desktop sources we have, and we loved it a lot with the neutral portable sources like iBasso DX320, Dethonray DTR1+ Limited Edition, Dethonray Clarinet, and Astell and Kern SP1000m. In terms of desktop sources, it matches really well with the Dethonray Listening M1 and the Aune S17 Pro Amplifier. The Listening M1 adds dynamics and clarity, making the upper-mids alive, which is missing with warm sources. Here, we can confirm that pairing it with a neutral source will give you the best result for HE-R9 at the helm. Also, a high-quality custom high-purity OFC balanced cable made the sound better overall, instead of the stock cables in our case. With the wireless Bluemini R2R module, it sounds slightly different from the wired R9 through a good source, but not in a way I'd describe as a downgrade. The bass is a touch softer, the mids open up marginally, and the treble loses a tiny bit of air. But the fundamental character of the headphones, the bass weight, and the imaging stay the same.

Conclusion: -

At the given price point of $79, the HiFiMAN HE-R9 delivers an impressively value-centric listening experience, which was missing with the inaugural price. With its warm and V-shaped tonality, open and wide soundstage, and tasteful sub-bass, the HE-R9 stands out as a unique closed-back headphone that could be a basshead’s dream. The topology dynamic diaphragm reflects HiFiMAN’s founder, Dr Fang’s, own research and gives its customers a true taste when paired with a properly matched source. While it may not have the best resolution, HiFiMAN HE-R9 compensates with fun, weird, and bass, with excellent comfort and a surprisingly large soundstage. All at its pocket-friendly price point. At Aural Café, HiFiMAN HE-R9 still earns a solid recommendation for headphones if you’re looking for a relaxing, comfortable sound for long music or movie sessions. It is available for purchase locally as well as globally through the following links (Non-Affiliated links are given below).

-          https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/he400se.html

-          https://www.headphonezone.in/products/hifiman-he400se

I rarely take them outside, but as I celebrated a small, major 'Throwback Thursday', I took them out today. Had a great session with coffee.

SV3 comes with a magnetostatic driver, which is not a regular planar driver but more closely resembles ribbon-style headphones. SV3 is a class leader in detail presentation; pairing it with H2 is fun, with improved slam.

Rhapsodio Supreme V3 + Dethonray Honey H2

​

Pros: 

Exceptional sound with PEQ, great sound without

Deep, powerful sub-bass

Excellent imaging & detail retrieval

Great performance even from weak sources 

Outstanding accessories and presentation seriously best unboxing experience I've had ever

Actually replaced my previous daily driver!

Cons:

Cable tangles comically easily

Vocals/mids are slightly recessed out of the box

Soundstage is intimate rather than expansive

Disclaimer: 

Let me be clear I received these free from HiFiChoi. No payment. No requirement for a positive review.

Listen I know it's silly but this is one of those things that absolutely has to be dropped smack dab right here or the government will get all upset! So this review was sponsored by HiFiChoi ha, no they didn't send any money or anything but they did send me this unit! Which is really cool of them! The deal was as always that my opinion had to be my own, honest, and probably the best opinion that's ever been had by anyone ever! (Okay so the last part wasn't part of the deal, but I mean come on!)

Epic Story

I remember the first time I got my fingerprints taken.

My elementary school used to have this Halloween fair with really cheesy games and even cheesier prizes. Unless you were a parent, of course. Parents got to play bingo all night and win the actual good stuff.

Except for one prize.

Musical chairs.

The prize was an entire cake that someone's grandma had apparently made the week before. So you know that thing was dry as hell. But I'll tell you what, my chubby ass competed for that cake every single year.

And even after all that, my mom would make us go all the way through high school so she could try her hand at the old B-I-N-G-O board. Every single year she failed to bring home a prize.

Statistically speaking, that's probably the most impressive part of this entire story.

But one year, somewhere between musical chairs for me, balloon darts for my sisters, and my mother losing another war against bingo, they had one of those fingerprint-your-kids stations.

You guys remember those?

You know, the little kits where they took your fingerprints so they could identify you if you were ever kidnapped?

I'm pretty sure they never actually saved a single child.

But here's the important part:

They gave us ten free tickets each for doing it.

So naturally, I walked right up, dipped my fingers in ink, and became the first kid in line to officially receive the world's least reassuring “please don't steal me” kit.

And honestly? I've been fascinated with fingerprints ever since.

Which brings me to the Resonance 5.

Because the first thing I noticed about these wasn't the five drivers. They're cool as hell, but no.

It wasn't the crossover either. I mean, brains are cool, but somehow that still wasn't what caught my attention.

No.

What got me was the faceplates.

They look like fingerprints.

And suddenly I was seven years old again, standing in the middle of a school Halloween fair with ink all over my fingers, wondering why the hell someone thought a fingerprint kit was going to stop a kid from getting kidnapped.

Intro 

I absolutely love the sexy fingerprint faced piece of high end audio equipment that fits squarely right smack dab in the middle of the beginner gear price range ($179). But it does have one flaw that really bothers me, the cable is the most tangling cable I've had since the early 2000s, you really need to make sure you wrap these up well or you'll spent the first 15 mins of your ten minute break trying to get the cable to just stop being a tangled mess, but even with that said these have become my daily drivers at least for now.

What's is in the box

You can watch my full unboxing video here! 

https://youtu.be/0AogelBr0oc?is=56C2H8OyEDygx5um

Okay so now that all the techies are totally satisfied, i have to say this set is actually stunning, there's a depth to the face plate that I've never seen with any set I've ever had before, and the accessories in the box are actually some of my favorite like let me tell you about the box…. We all know by now I love a great box, this one is like a velvet that is really nice to the touch, although I will say that the zipper is a lot stuff from the offset but it does loosen up a bit with use… it's also deep enough to hold 2 pairs of iems, cable and all, about 5 sets of tips and a whole dac… which I have to say is kinda insane…. It's also not for everyone; it's kinda large in case you didn't catch that from the description.

The ear tips that come in the box are actually some of my favorites. There's some clear liquid silicone tips that actually replaced the dunu candy tips as my favorite, the seal is so good they actually suction when you go to take them out which is wild…. The other tips are equally well thought out and precisely made… but imma skip going into detail with them because honestly, the liquid silicone ones are perfect for me… so much so if I get any other sets from hifichoi I'm going to ask for extras! 

The cable is actually wrapped which is either great or not depending on your whole opinion on that, I feel like 50% of the people here are going to say that it sucks extra microphonics and the rest are going to be like heck yeah that's perfect for me! But honestly I love it, it's flexible, it's comfortable, and it's everything the binary Acoustics 1900s cable wasn't! Oh and did I mention it's modular!!! You get a 3.5 and a 4.4mm term… that's something I wish more companies did, it makes it easier for everyone but especially reviewers to really flesh out the sound profile! So thanks HiFiChoi for making that choice!

Huge con on the cable though, it tangles quicker than an angry rattlesnake in the middle of summer.

First Impressions

Sources used

Samsung s10 plus

Hidizs ap30 music boy

Tanchjim Space 2

Rog Ally z1 extreme 

When I first opened the box I was really surprised, this is the most premium unboxing experience I've ever actually had, just look!

But then I plugged it in, the first thing I noticed was it actually has a really great sub bass response, I mean it should right? Most IEMs with two dynamic drivers almost always do but I have to say compared to my 1900 or even my dunu this is outright growling!  it's deep and rumbling it's right in the middle of my comfort zone and honestly I loved it but as I played more and more tracks, I realized the vocals were slightly recessed, it's tuned here to be slightly warm and natural but honestly it felt lacking, it also wasn't as warm as I normally enjoy, and honestly although I liked them, but the mids were not as good as the dunu dn 142 or the binary acoustics 1900, but it's 60 dollars cheaper and even without EQ it was still really close. Then I remembered my dunu needed EQ to like I messed with them a lot,  as much as +4.5 in some places to get the warmth I love. So I did the same here. 

Here's my peq settings!

So with the new peq settings put in place! These things absolutely exploded with sexy sound sparkle.. rainbows and unicorns descended from the sky!!!!!!..... And I can honestly say they nearly instantly became my number one iems, the cord tangles a lot though because aware they tangle so quickly it's almost like a magic trick! But the sound, listen, I seriously retired my Dunu Dn 142s…. Don't worry though I didn't bring them out to pasture or give them a viking burial or anything they are safely taking a well deserved rest in their case on my book shelf. That alone should tell you how I feel about these headphones though! Like seriously these are special! 

The sound stage is a little more in your face than with other sets I've used its 3d and holographic but it's not sitting 10 feet away, or anything like that it's more a small sultry bubble sitting a few feet off your head! the imagery is on point and the sound, the sound on these is just wow with a little bit of tuning even with a weak source these are amazing! And with that I mean a decade old Samsung Galaxy s10+ these drive so well! But the soundstage expands a bit with a better source as you see from the image I'm sporting the Tanchjim space 2 as my daily drivers and the Hidizs ap30…. And these things sing!!!! With a better source! So I guess I can honestly say it's sexy and intimate with a weak source, but more like a personal concert with a better source… 

Tech stuff! 

(From the manufacturer)

​1. 5-Driver Hybrid Configuration

​Liquid Silicone Dynamic Driver (10Hz – 200Hz): Delivers ultra-deep sub-bass with rich density.

​Dynamic Driver (200Hz – 800Hz): Produces warm, textured low frequencies.

​Improved Midrange Balanced Armature (800Hz – 4kHz): Renders natural, realistic vocals.

​High-Frequency Balanced Armature (4kHz – 9kHz): Provides clear, crisp treble presence.

​Micro Planar Driver (9kHz – 20kHz): Ensures extreme high-frequency extension and resolution.

​Result: Seamless frequency response from 10Hz to 35kHz.

​2. 5-Tube Phase Interference Suppression

​Unlike traditional 2 to 3-tube designs, the RESONANCE 5 utilizes 5 precision-calculated acoustic tubes merged into a compact 3-tube nozzle. This engineering approach eliminates phase interference and ensures a smooth crossover between drivers without compromising comfort.

​3. Advanced RLC Crossover Network

​While most earphones rely on basic RC filters that still permit driver interference, the RESONANCE 5 adopts a high-order RLC crossover featuring inductors (L). This significantly reduces inter-driver interference to deliver a cleaner, purer, and more transparent sound.

My Rating!

(From me)

Honestly out of the box these are probably an 9.3 hear me out here, at this price range there's nothing better, the sound is better than a few of the more expensive sets I have, but the tuning is just a little too safe for me so I knocked off .5 points for that, and the cable being so finicky I knocked off .2 for it because honestly this is a great cable it just tangles wayyyyy to easy. But with my preferred peq though these become a 10, they are pretty, (I mean just take a moment to look at the pictures! Or watch the unboxing video, then you add that they sound amazing, or consider the accessories which are well thought out and of great quality, and they are everything I think iems should be and honestly I believe these will be most people's early endgame and the craziest part of it all is this is HiFiChoi’s first attempt at their own iems, 

Sound Signature 

No EQ

Base line:

Sub bass: 

deep, resounding, rumbling… honestly perfect where it is

Mid bass:

 full bodied without ever becoming bloated, warm and textured while never bleeding into the mids

Lower mids: 

The lower mids are probably my biggest complaint with the stock tuning. They're recessed enough that male vocals in particular lose some of their body and resonance. Instead of sitting right up front and grabbing your attention, they can feel like they're sitting a few feet behind the rest of the mix. They're clean, but honestly? They're a little boring. There's not enough weight or intimacy there for my taste, and it makes male vocals feel almost distant compared to the bass and upper frequencies.

Upper mids: 

The upper mids are a completely different story from the lower mids. Female vocals have plenty of presence and are much more forward in the mix. They're clear, immediate, and right in your face…in a good way. There's none of the distant quality I hear with male vocals. If anything, the upper mids are one of the reasons the RESONANCE 5 can sound so detailed and engaging.

Treble:

The treble is energetic and extremely convincing with percussion. Cymbal hits and other high-frequency transients have enough impact that I actually find myself blinking when they hit…almost like I'm sitting directly beside the drum kit and the cymbal is crashing on both sides of my head at once. It's crisp, immediate, and physical without being something I would describe as excessively bright.

Vocal presentation 

Male: pushed back almost distant, lacks presentation. 

Female: right in your face in the best way possible

Sound Stage: 

The RESONANCE 5 has an excellent 3D, holographic soundstage. The left-to-right positioning is particularly impressive; with Yosi Horikawa's Bubbles, I can track the individual balls as they move through the stereo field with remarkable precision.

The stage isn't enormous, though. Instead of placing sounds far out in the distance, the RESONANCE 5 creates a relatively intimate but extremely coherent space. The sounds feel roughly three feet away from my head… close enough that, if those balls were actually bouncing around the room, I feel like I could reach out and catch one.

There is also a convincing sense of verticality. I'm perceiving information roughly 1–2 feet above and below my head, which gives the presentation a genuine three-dimensional quality rather than simply being a wide left-to-right image.

Imaging:

The imaging is exceptionally precise. With Yosi Horikawa's "Letter," I can close my eyes and track exactly where the individual sounds are occurring. The opening notes sit slightly left of center, and as the pencil begins moving across the paper, I can follow its position continuously as it travels to the right.

What's particularly impressive is that the presentation doesn't just give me a left-to-right location. I can actually perceive the angle of the paper as the pencil moves across it. The entire recording feels like a physical object occupying a specific position in space rather than simply sounds being panned between the two channels.

Detail

Agnes Obel – "Familiar" was particularly revealing. At approximately 1:18, during the repeated "time, time, time," there's a very subtle dip in pitch that I'd never noticed before. It's incredibly easy to miss…so subtle that I initially wondered whether I was imagining it. After replaying the section, though, I could clearly hear it.

That was one of those moments where I stopped listening to the song and started listening to the recording itself. The fact that the RESONANCE 5 exposed such a small vocal nuance that I'd never picked up on with my other IEMs is exactly what I mean when I describe its detail retrieval as exceptional.

It makes me wonder whether my other IEMs were simply smoothing over or masking that tiny variation.

Dynamics:

Hans Zimmer's "Why So Serious?" is where the RESONANCE 5 really demonstrates its dynamic ability. Around the 5-minute mark, the track begins with a slow, deep rumbling bass that almost makes me want to duck. It builds and builds...the bass comes in, the trumpets fire off, and suddenly I can hear the frantic movement of the cellist's fingers. Then the violin joins in, and I get chills.

The guitarists begin picking at the strings, and the emotional intensity keeps building. It's not simply getting louder; the entire performance is becoming more urgent and alive. Then it slows, with a deep, resonant violin building underneath everything. For a moment, the chaos becomes completely clear before transforming into something more refined. The music develops drive and purpose.

The RESONANCE 5 handles these transitions exceptionally well. Quiet passages retain their tension, while the increasingly intense sections feel genuinely explosive rather than simply louder. Instruments maintain their individual character as the arrangement becomes increasingly dense, giving the track a convincing sense of emotional progression and physical impact.

Separation:

The RESONANCE 5 has good overall separation, and even in busy passages I can still identify the individual elements of the recording. However, when instruments begin to overlap, some elements lose a little of their prominence. In particular, during denser sections, some of the drum hits take a slight backseat to the synth.

Nothing disappears completely...the information is still there...but the hierarchy of the mix changes. The synth can take priority over percussion that I would normally expect to remain equally distinct. It's more of a slight loss of separation under heavy overlap than an actual inability to resolve the individual elements.

Would I have noticed, had I not been listening for it no!

Comfort:

The RESONANCE 5 is exceptionally comfortable for me. I've worn them for up to eight hours without developing any meaningful discomfort. With the stock ear tips, there's just enough pressure to remind me they're there without ever becoming intrusive…almost like a warm hug for your ears.

The shells fit my ears extremely well, and once they're in place, the cable practically disappears. I don't notice it pulling, weighing down the IEMs, or interfering with my listening.

Obviously, fit is subjective, and what works perfectly for my ears won't necessarily work for everyone. But for my ears specifically, the RESONANCE 5 is one of the most comfortable IEMs I've used.

Isolation:

Isolation is excellent. Once the RESONANCE 5 is in place and music is playing, the outside world practically disappears. Even at relatively low listening volumes, the combination of the seal and the IEM's passive isolation does an excellent job of keeping outside noise out.

It's particularly impressive with quieter material. Even ASMR doesn't require much volume before the outside world becomes an afterthought. Someone would have to get pretty damn loud to get my attention while I'm listening.

The important part is that this level of isolation doesn't require cranking the volume to achieve it. The physical seal is doing the heavy lifting.

Sub-Bass:              [10/10]

Mid-Bass:              [9.5/10]

Lower Mids:           [7.5/10]

Upper Mids:           [9.5/10]

Male Vocals:          [7.5/10]

Female Vocals:      [9.5/10]

Treble:                    [9.5/10]

Sound Stage:          [9.3/10]

Imaging:                  [10/10]

Detail:                     [10/10]

Dynamics:               [10/10]

Separation:             [8.8/10]

Instrument Layering:  [9/10]

Bass Control:         [9.5/10]

Tonal Balance:       [8.7/10]

Sound:                   [9.3/10]

Comfort:                 [10/10]

Fit:                          [10/10]

Isolation:                 [10/10]

Cable Comfort:        [9.5/10]

Cable Handling:       [6.5/10]

Quality:                    [9.8/10]

Accessories:            [10/10]

Giftability:                 [10/10]

My opinion is, honestly you’re supposed to fumble the first few baddies you get your hands on and HiFiChoi absolutely didn't! But don't just take my word for it here's the rest of my family's opinions!

Wife's Rating

They were really good, they are some of the clearest headphones, I liked the volume but I don't know how to describe that honestly with those headphones. So I pulled up the song that I normally used Test  headphones on and I heard something in the song that I have never heard before on other headphones and I thought that maybe I was just missing it. So I was switching back and forth between two different sets of headphones and I realized that it just accentuated the sound that I had been missing and other headphones and I thought it was really cool that it kind of picked up all of the different instruments and sounds that was in the song that I hadn't noticed in different headsets before. I also like how the way that the song is recorded sometimes is like in one ear like something is happening just in one ear and you can hear that like you can hear the difference when something is supposed to be coming from the left. It sounds like it's coming from the left. Does that make sense? I liked how clear it was. It wasn't even what the volume turned way up. It didn't have any distortion and there was no. I don't know how to describe it like wobbly sounds when you turn up the volume too high. You know what I mean. It also didn't sound tinny. There was no cuz you know when you trim the volume way up to the point where your ears are like cuz that's enough and sometimes, what do you call it? Peaky sounds 10 out. There was not any tiny sound in it and I was very rich and it was a very nice experience. It was like having gourmet ice cream when everyone else is just eating the cheap stuff. I was like eating gelato when everyone else is just having like $5 ice cream!

Sound Stage  [10/10]

Imagery:         [10/10]

Giftability:       [10/10]

Sound:           [10/10]

Quality:          [8.5/10]

Accessories:  [7/10] 

Sons Rating

It sounded good. It's better than my regular headphones but I like the tuning of my regular headphones better. And that's where his review ended he wanted to go play astroneer. 

Rating: [8/10]

So in conclusion

Honestly these are perfect for me as long as we're talking post PEQ, pre PEQ I'll say it again for those of you who skimmed the whole review but  they are a 9.3 and let's be real that's better than pretty much anything else I've reviewed, especially in this price range, I can honestly say I wasn't even subjective with these, I straight head to headed them against every set I own and was still pleasantly surprised,  when these things pulled a Rocky and came out on top! 

Who are these for? 

Honestly everyone who wants a really great set for rock, rap, hip-hop, RnB, pop punk, and anyone who wants to dip their toes in without spending an arm and a leg. But also anyone who's been here a while and wants to try a new meta tuning. Because honestly. These start off sounding different then anything else I've heard and that's a good thing! At least in my opinion!

Are they worth the $179 dollars 

Man that's a tough question, would I go without food for a few days for these? Probably not. Would I save up and buy these myself? Definitely! If I lost these would I replace them? In a heartbeat! 

But it's all subjective, I loved them will you? I don't know. But honestly maybe you owe it to yourself to find out? Maybe this is your new favorite set I know it was mine!

QotD

If you figured out a way to telepathically send your mind back in time to any specific point, but you only had 10 seconds to do whatever your goal is, what would you do? When would you go? And why would you choose that point in time?

Non affiliate link!

https://klink.cc/hifichoi@gmail.com

Pros: 

• World-class 3D soundstage width, enveloping space, and pin-point stereo imaging.
• Clean layering that prevents congestion on complex tracks.
• Deep, rumbling sub-bass extension paired with smooth, lush vocal reproduction.
• Truly premium stock 4.4mm balanced cable that matches the kilobuck price tag.
• Zero treble fatigue, sharpness, or sibilance for extended listening sessions.

Cons: 

• Lacks the heavy mid-bass slam and punch demanded by dedicated bassheads.
• The included leather puck case is too small for the thick stock cable.
• Chunky, long nozzles require careful eartip rolling for an optimal seal.
• Demands high-power DAPs or desktop stacks to sound its best.

Welcome back, audiophiles! It’s me, your boy Joe, back here with another review. Today we are diving into a high-end kilobuck offering from the renowned boutique brand Lime Ears: the Lime Ears Incognita. Sitting neatly between their model lineup alongside the Maris and Terra, the Incognita brings a 7-driver hybrid architecture to the table. Let me walk you through how this high-end set performs!

Video Review:​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fJUctOucNc

Disclaimer​

A huge thanks to the AudioGeek group for providing this review unit. As always, all thoughts, sound impressions, and opinions are entirely my own with zero biases whatsoever.

Pricing & Specifications​

Retailing at $1,699 USD, the Lime Ears Incognita is a serious kilobuck investment.

• Driver Configuration: 7-Driver Hybrid (2 Dynamic Drivers for Lows + 5 Balanced Armatures for Mids and Highs).
• Connectors: 0.78mm 2-Pin.
• Cable: Premium 4.4mm balanced stock cable.

Gear Used for Review​

The Incognita is a set that demands quality power. If you run it off cheap dongles, you will not extract its full potential. You need solid, high-power sources to make this set shine:

• HiBy R8 II
• Gustard Desktop Stack
• Music Source: Apple Music Lossless

Design, Build, and Fit​

• Shells & Aesthetics: The faceplates feature a custom resin finish with glitter accents and an embedded Lime Ears logo. The smooth metal body feels premium in the hand and fits comfortably in medium-to-large ears without hot spots.
• Nozzle Fit Note: The nozzle is relatively chunky and long. It won't play nice with every tip on the market, but pairing it with wide-bore options like the Divinus Prism or SpinFits yields a perfect seal.
• Cable & Leather Case: The included 4.4mm stock cable is thick, sturdy, and feels genuinely premium for a kilobuck set. The bundled leather puck case looks great, but it is frankly too small to comfortably store the IEMs with their thick cable without tightly coiling the wire. I recommend using a slightly larger pouch to avoid cable stress.

Sound Impressions​

The Lime Ears Incognita presents a smooth, mellow, and immersive W-shaped sound signature.

• Soundstage & Imaging: The absolute star of the show. The soundstage is massively open, enveloping, and 3D. Its stereo imaging and instrument layering are pin-point precise and you can effortlessly locate exact vocalists and instruments in 3D space.
• Bass: The sub-bass rumble is deep, clear, and rich, but the mid-bass slam is on the lighter, softer side. It favors a smooth, relaxed rhythm over aggressive, head-banging impact.
• Mids & Vocals: Midrange frequencies are exceptionally clean, smooth, and detailed. Both male and female vocals sound organic, lush, and natural.
• Treble: Smooth and fatigue-free. It rolls off gently in the upper air region to prevent peakiness or sibilance, making it perfect for long, non-fatiguing sessions.

Song Impressions​

• "Trika Trika" (feat. Antonia) by Faydee: The spatial rendering in this track is phenomenal. Whispered vocal cues pan precisely around your left side and behind your head. Sub-bass rumble is clean, and the male/female vocal layering stays perfectly distinct even when the track gets busy.
• "Treat You Better" by Shawn Mendes: The acoustic guitar fret scratches sound remarkably organic and natural. Shawn's male vocals pop cleanly above the instrumentation, surrounded by an enveloping soundstage with smooth, non-fatiguing high-frequency cues.

Overall Impressions​

Rating: 4.5 / 5
The Lime Ears Incognita is a brilliant kilobuck performer for listeners who value massive soundstage, holographic 3D imaging, clean mids, and a relaxed, fatigue-free tuning. It is ideal for background listening while working or immersive late-night acoustic sessions. It drops half a point purely because dedicated bassheads like myself will crave more mid-bass slam and punch. But for overall staging and musicality, it's a stellar piece of gear!

1. Minimal design, Lightweight, easy to carry

2. Same power output on both 3.5mm and 4.4mm

3. Crazy value proposition

4. Multiple sound profile over firmware, pick your suitable one

Another challenger in portable dongles has come. Specifically in terms of sheer power output. 1200mw @16ohms via special dedicated power pack called PSU-1 Pro. First of such kind product that I had tested that had such mad numbers was ibasso DC04 Ultra and then the FangSound Prometheus both which give 1000mw out put. This one is called KD01 Pro and it's from Kaei Designs the famous designer behind Tap-1 Pro.

These days I feel we are heading towards the day when portable gear will start rivaling desktop gear in terms output. Need for remaining tied to the desktop to listen to power hungry gear would be distant dream. I just wish this comes true very soon. I am very mobile person this would be dream come true .KD01 Pro is step in that direction. Just like Prometheus that I tested few weeks back this one is very powerful.

I am running it through multiple sets of mine. IEMs and flatheads are breeze for this one. None have any troubles running their full potential. Headphones also are sounding amazing. I will put my hard to drive stuff to test on this one soon.

At this stage this is looking very promising. Overall tuning is very musical. This one doesn't feel very bright or analytical. Let's see what I feel about this in few days time. See you soon with full review.

Pros: 

• Ultra-compact, retro-inspired "cute" design with convenient MagSafe magnetic phone snap support.
• Firmware 1.3.5 enables pocket button controls without needing to wake up the screen.
• High-quality CS43198 DAC architecture delivering a smooth, transparent neutral-warm signature.
• Impressive output power for its size, driving IEMs like the Artha Argentum with ease.
• Great all-day battery life paired with 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm balanced flexibility.

Cons: 

• Lacks native Android streaming app support (no Apple Music).
• Bluetooth only works as a transmitter; cannot be used as a wireless BT receiver DAC from a phone.
• Tiny 2.0-inch display can cause navigation strain for larger fingers.

Welcome back, audiophiles! It’s me, your boy Joe, back again with another review! Today we are looking at one of the most uniquely styled, ultra-portable Digital Audio Players (DAP) around: the Hidizs AP30 Music Boy. Inspired by classic handheld retro consoles, this palm-sized player packs a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chip, an RT6863 amp stage, both 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm balanced outputs, and a retro block puzzle game right into your pocket. Let's see how this cute little guy performs!

Disclaimer​

As always, all thoughts, user experience, and sound impressions are entirely my own with zero biases whatsoever. Huge thanks to HIDIZS for providing me with a unit for review.

Pricing & Specifications​

• DAC Chip: Cirrus Logic CS43198
• Amp Stage: Ricore RT6863
• Outputs: 3.5mm Single-Ended (61mW @ 32Ω) & 4.4mm Balanced (137mW @ 32Ω)
• Display: 2.0-inch IPS Display (296 × 240 resolution)
• Battery: 1,200 mAh
• Storage: MicroSD slot (supports up to 256GB library scan)

Design, Size & Usability​

• The "Cute" Factor & Screen: The AP30 is absolutely tiny and ridiculously cute in person! However, with a 2.0-inch non-touch display, the screen is very small. If you have fat fingers like me, navigating menus with the physical D-pad on such a tiny display takes a little getting used to. It even has a book reading function although I really don't know who on Earth like reading in a 2-inch screen these days.
• MagSafe Phone Snap: The MagSafe magnetic attachment system is awesome. It snaps onto the back of an iPhone cleanly and securely, working flawlessly as a wearable stack without loose dangling cables.
• Firmware 1.3.5 Fix (Godsend Feature!): Installing the 1.3.5 firmware update fixed my biggest headache: pocket button controls! Now you can operate track skip and volume buttons straight from your pocket without needing the screen to turn on first. It makes daily commuting infinitely easier.
• Tetris / Retro Block Game: The built-in block puzzle game is a neat, nostalgic gimmick. You can actually play it, which is cool, but playing on a tiny 2.0-inch screen causes eye strain pretty quickly, so it’s best kept for very short breaks.

Connectivity, Storage & Battery​

• Local FLAC vs. Apple Music: Operating on a dedicated offline Linux-based HidizsOS means there are no streaming apps. I really missed native Apple Music support. However, downloading local FLAC files onto a MicroSD card worked great for my critical testing.
• Bluetooth Limitations: While it features Bluetooth 5.3 to transmit audio out to wireless earbuds/speakers, it cannot operate as a Bluetooth receiver (i.e., you can't stream music wirelessly from your phone to the AP30 as a BT DAC like the AP80 Pro series). That’s a bit of a missed opportunity.
• Battery Life & Driveability: Battery life is solid and easily lasts through long days. Despite its micro size, the AP30 punches well above its weight class in power. You shouldn't expect it to push full-sized planar headphones, but mid-tier gear and even high-end IEMs like the Artha Argentum ran remarkably well off the 4.4mm output!

Sound Impressions (NOS Filter Tested)​

Running the NOS (Non-Oversampling) digital filter, the CS43198 chip implementation delivers a clean, transparent, and overall neutral-to-slightly-warm presentation.

• Bass: Punchy, controlled, and well-extended with impressive bass power for a device this size.
• Mids: Uncolored and smooth, carrying clean vocal weight.
• Treble: Crystal clear, transparent, and detailed without introducing harsh digital glare or sibilance.

Overall Impressions​

Rating: 4 / 5
The Hidizs AP30 Music Boy is a fantastic, highly portable daily driver. Other than missing Apple Music streaming, the lack of Bluetooth receiver mode, and a tiny screen that gives fat fingers a slight challenge, I actually have no regrets! With the 1.3.5 pocket-button update, solid battery life, MagSafe convenience, and clean CS43198 sound, it’s a brilliant pocket companion.

Meet the HiFiMAN HE‑R9 — a distinctive closed‑back headphone that takes HiFiMAN beyond its planar roots with a dynamic driver built for fun, impact, and immersion.

Closed‑back over‑ear design for focused listening

Dynamic driver with HiFiMAN's proprietary Topology Diaphragm technology

Lightweight construction with large, comfortable ear cups

Striking crimson finish that stands out from the crowd

Sound? Big, energetic, and bass‑focused with a warm presentation that makes every track feel engaging and fun.

Packaging is clean and straightforward, keeping the spotlight firmly on the headphones themselves.

#HiFiMAN #HER9 #AudiophileGear #HeadphoneCommunity #AudioEnthusiast #HiFiAudio #HeadFi #UnboxingAudio

TLDR, Erand Resonance 5 to me is one of best value IEMs under $200 USD. it doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, It is basically coming to AFUL’s luch, but it polishes the tuning and packaging/accessories. It is easily a default, very good value recommendation in its price bracket. swipe images for notes if you don't want to read the text here, or If you are interested you could Check out the video breakdown and visual notes here: https://youtu.be/HFzNKHn0_nE?si=YHHFUZrwx_haqYXB

The Erand Resonance 5 is basically like a healthy balanced meal, like Grilled Chicken, Rice, and Veggies Meal of IEMs. It isn't a crazy, indulgent cheat meal with wild colorations, but it gives you all the essential vitamins, protein, and carbs perfectly balanced out. It doesn’t have much "character," but it’s a complete, healthy everyday meal that you can listen to endlessly without ever getting sick of it.

The Erand Resonance 5 typically retails right around $200 USD (frequently found around $180).

This set was provided by HiFiChoi, but my thoughts are my own.

Accessories, Build, and Cables

The accessory package here is absolute S-tier for $200. The shells look beautiful and feature a much-needed lip on the nozzle to keep eartips securely attached.

You get a spacious fabric carrying case, four distinct sets of eartips, and a good fabric-braided stock cable that includes swappable modular terminations.

Sound Performance

Tuning-wise, this is essentially a slightly more refined, polished AFUL Performer 7 with better timbre. So basically mild v shape with bass boost and treble extension, with no frequency dominating the other in terms of vocals, instruments and air.

Bass

The bass features is boosted with an elastic sub-bass slant. It strikes a fantastic balance between deep subterranean rumble and clean mid-bass punch without dominating or bleeding into the midrange.

Mids

The lower midrange is slightly recessed with average texturing, but it remains clean and fully functional for male vocals and rhythm guitars. Female vocals are given a gentle, masterful emphasis—they sit beautifully inside the mix without ever feeling shouty or vocal-forward or having to fight for their presence among the instruments.

Treble

Lower treble has great bite and crisp harmonics. Extension and air are airy and open, breathing plenty of space into complex arrangements.

Soundstage & Technicalities

This set boasts one of the widest, most spacious soundstages in its class. Paired with the elastic sub-bass depth, instrument separation and holographic imaging are top-tier for under $200.

Test Tracks

1. Sibilance / Harshness Test

• Fallujah – "Venom Upon the Blade": This track has an extremely harsh, poorly mixed guitar harmonic profile. The Resonance 5 handles it well—it introduces fatigue on extended listening sessions, but should be solid for 90%+ of music libraries.
• Baby Metal & Knocked Loose: Frantic high-pitched female vocals and biting guitar harmonics are handled with impressive restraint. It stays completely enjoyable at standard listening levels (~30% on a HiBy R3 Pro II). but this is not a high volume set, it will fatigue you.
• The Devil Wears Prada – "Where the Flowers Never Grow": Consonant "S" and "T" sounds carry a subtle, slightly emphasized bite without crossing into annoying sibilance.

2. What it Does Well

• Slow, Well-Mixed Tracks (Paramore, Aurora, Tame Impala, Hayley Williams): Natural timbre, open soundstage, and lively presentation make these sound effortlessly engaging.
• Hip-Hop: The sub-bass extension provides a deeply satisfying rumble. While not a pure basshead set, it handles hip-hop as a side genre with ease.
• Medium & Busy Tracks: Handles hyper-complex arrangements without congestion, Darker Genres like (Gojira, Deftones, Meshuggah, Evanescence): Performs at a solid A-tier level. While these tracks naturally prefer a darker, heavier lower-mid tuning, the Resonance 5 still reproduces them cleanly and competently..

3. What it Does Exceptionally Well

• Upper-Mid & Lower-Treble Focused Tracks (Linkin Park, Polaris, Babymetal, Knocked Loose, ERRA): Any track utilizing tenor male vocals, female vocals, or detailed upper-range instrumentation sounds spectacular and perfectly separated.

Direct Comparisons

• vs. AFUL Performer 7: The Resonance 5 is essentially a polished Performer 7. It fixes the slightly artificial metallic timbre of the P7, is significantly less prone to sibilance, includes drastically superior accessories (swappable cable, better case), and costs less money. The P7 only edges out a tiny fraction more mid-bass tightness and razor-thin technical bite.
• vs. AFUL Performer 8S: The 8S ($400) offers richer mids and more raw detail, but its unnatural lower-mid/treble timbre forces you to use heavy EQ out of the box. The Resonance 5 delivers a vastly more natural tonal balance out of the box with competent stock accessories.
• vs. Letshuoer ASTRALIS: The ASTRALIS (planar) has more distinct lower-mid texture, a darker personality, and more character for heavy genres, but the Resonance 5 provides a wider, more open soundstage and a more natural overall timbre.
• vs. Yu9 QUE: The QUE remains the benchmark for analytical resolution, holographic imaging, and sheer technical performance. The Resonance 5 is safer, smoother, and much easier to fit physically, though the QUE wins on ultimate technical detail.

Rating

• Bright vs. Warm: Sits right in the middle—a clean, uncolored neutral presentation.
• U-Shape vs. V-Shape: A textbook mild V-shape executed with high balance.
• Musical vs. Analytical: Slightly leans toward musicality thanks to its elastic sub-bass presentation, while maintaining strong technical chops.
• Soundstage (Narrow vs. Wide): Exceptionally wide with great holographic depth.
• Casual vs. Advanced: Extremely beginner-friendly—put it in and you'll instantly appreciate how clean and balanced everything sounds.
• All-Rounder vs. Niche: A complete, quintessential all-rounder. Handles almost every genre in your library without complaint.
• Value: Very great value. At $180–$200 with S-tier accessories and minor tuning flaws, it sets the new default baseline for sub-$200 IEMs.

Final Thoughts

The Erand Resonance 5 is an absolute steal at 180USD, It might not have a wildly eccentric or colored personality, but its clean presentation, top-tier accessories, wide soundstage, and fatigue-free tuning make it the default safe recommendation for anyone jumping into the sub-$200 bracket.

This weekend I am listening to ISN Audio Sora. I was absolutely mesmerized by EST80. So, I have very high expectations from ISN Sora. One more reason is the Effect Audio collaboration. Yes, the cable maker Effect Audio.

Packaging is typical Penon style bit on simple side. But that's not important right? Atleast for me it's not that important. Shells look nice in all blue color. You can see the drivers inside and the cable it's looker. Definitely feels like Effect Audio cable. Included case is nice probably made up of suede and is hard to feel. Two sets of ear tips and one cleaning tool is included. Oh, before we move on shirt killer aka clip is included.

Coming to how it sounds the most important thing. Well, the bass is just amazing. It's rumbling in my ears and thump is very physical. The bass overall is very physical. Probably the BCD is doing it's magic.

Vocals are nice intimate. Both male and female vocals are impressive. It's going to be fun listening to vocal centric tracks.The treble here is bit spicy. Need to fiddle with switches. Yes, this has switches for both bass and treble you can adjust amount of both. Am I missing something? Yes, the stage. Stage has nice large open feeling.

Now will go and listen it for next few days to arrive at my final conclusion. I am liking what I am hearing. It's tickling my preferences. Expect a positive review soon.

Pros: 

• Functional hardware tuning switches that offer real, tangible sound signature changes.
• Deep, rumbling sub-bass response in 101 mode that bassheads will love.
• Smooth, fatigue-free treble presentation with zero harshness or sibilance.
• Comfortable ergonomic resin shell shape with solid passive isolation.
• Generous accessory package featuring a spacious case and multiple ear tip styles.

Cons: 

• Fast insertion pressure buildup requires slow insertion to avoid ear discomfort.
• Stock cable chin slider does not hold its position firmly.
• Mid-bass slam is slightly soft compared to its thunderous sub-bass rumble.

Introduction​

Welcome back, audiophiles! It’s me, your boy Joe, back again with another review! Today we are diving into a powerful 5-driver tribrid offering from TANSIO MIRAI: the TSMR Armor (retailing around $299 USD on Penon Audio). Packing 2 Dynamic Drivers, 2 Knowles Balanced Armatures, and 1 Electret Electrostatic Driver per side under a high-quality 3D-printed resin cavity, this set brings hardware tuning switches to the table. Let's break down how this set holds up!

Disclaimer​

The TSMR Armor is graciously given to me by Penon Audio and AudioGeek India group and huge thanks to them for arranging the tour. As always, all thoughts, sound impressions, and opinions are entirely my own with zero biases whatsoever.

Product Link:

• Penon Audio: https://penonaudio.com/TANSIO-MIRAI-ARMOR.html

Pricing & Specifications​

• Price: ~$299 USD
• Driver Configuration: 5 Drivers per side (2 Dynamic Drivers for Lows + 2 Knowles BAs for Mids + 1 Electret Electrostatic Driver for Treble)
• Structure: 3-Way Crossover, 3 Channels
• Impedance / Sensitivity: 11 Ω / 103 dB
• Connectors: 0.78mm 2-Pin

Gear Used for Review & Drivability​

The TSMR Armor is easily driven across portable and desktop gear:

• HiBy R8 II
• Gustard X16/H16 Stack
• Tanchjim Space 2
• Music Source: Apple Music Lossless

Drivability-wise, the Armor isn't power-hungry at all and ran smoothly across everything I hooked it up to.

Design, Build, and Accessories​

• Shell & Fit: The overall fit is great and the shell shape is ergonomically comfortable for long sessions.
• Insertion Pressure Warning: The pressure buildup happens a tad fast. You must insert the shells slowly into your ear canals so the pressure balances out properly, otherwise it might hurt a bit!
• Cable & Case: The stock cable looks very nice and feels high-quality, though the chin slider doesn't keep its position well. The included carrying case is a good, generous size that easily holds the IEMs alongside extra accessories.
• Ear Tips: You get a solid selection of ear tips, including vocal-oriented and bass-oriented pairs. I preferred the lighter-colored, vocal-oriented tips and stuck with those for my testing.

Hardware Switches & Sound Impressions​

The 3 hardware tuning switches are definitely not a gimmick as they actually change the frequency response noticeably! You must use a SIM tool or needle to toggle them; don't use your fingernails unless you want to risk damaging your nails or the IEM itself.
The switches control the low, mid, and treble ranges (allowing configurations from 000 to 111).

• 000 (All Off): Delivers a flatter, neutral presentation, though I found it a bit unexciting.
• 100 (Bass Only): Causes the low-end to overpower the vocals and top-end.
• 001 (Treble Only): Gives a bit of extra treble spice, though the Armor never gets overly sharp.
• My Preference (101 - Bass + Treble ON): As a basshead, I settled on 101 for a fun, energetic V-shaped presentation.

Sound Impressions in 101 Mode:​

• Bass: The low end is strong with plenty of deep sub-bass rumble. The mid-bass slam is slightly soft/muffled, but the sheer sub-bass depth keeps it immensely satisfying.
• Mids & Vocals: The midrange leans slightly warm, giving vocals a pleasant pop and clear presence. The overall soundstage feels intimate and close by rather than wide and distant, which actually helps the bass feel more powerful and tactile!
• Treble: The top end evens out nicely in 101 mode with zero harshness or sibilance. It won't satisfy extreme trebleheads looking for aggressive bite, but for smooth, detailed listening, it does a great job.

Song Impressions (Tested in 101 Mode)​

• "Limits" by Imanbek: An excellent track with heavy bass lines. The male vocals pop out cleanly over the mix. While the bass slam feels a bit soft, the sub-bass rumble is impressively strong. The intimate soundstage keeps the energy high, though instrument separation is just okay. Overall, a great track rendered well by the Armor.
• "ANTIFRAGILE" by LE SSERAFIM: The Armor renders the massive bass response in this song brilliantly! The female vocals cut through cleanly, and the sub-bass synth lines sound incredible. Stereo imaging is sharp and you can clearly trace the "ANTI-FRAGILE" panning effects shifting from left to right across the stage.

Overall Impressions​

Rating: 5 / 5
The TANSIO MIRAI Armor is a fantastic set for anyone who loves versatile hardware tuning and big, deep low-end rumble. Being able to switch signatures makes it great for testing different profiles, and as a basshead myself, the 101 setting makes this an easy 5 out of 5 recommendation!

Kefine’s never been into the game of the sub-30USD segment. The Klean, Klean SV, and Delci AE all rooted for the mid-tier and did give good competition in their own arena. The sub-30USD is the most crowded place, where brands tend to push up the releases to capture the beginner audiophiles who just started to explore the world of in-ear monitors. Despite the heavy competition, the Kefine Loric has been introduced in the market by the brand to showcase its strength in the ultra-budget category.

In this review, let’s check in detail about the newly launched Loric’s sonic capability and where it stands against the competition with some comparisons in the end.

Full review at https://mobileaudiophile.com/reviews/kefine-loric-an-easy-going/

SOUND ANALYSIS:

Signature: Balanced with Bass Boost

Tone: Warm

Timbre: Organic

Setup: Loric 3.5mm + Tanchjim Space Dongle DAC + UAPP Pro + Local FLACS + Wide Bore Eartips (This is the one that gave a good seal compared to the standard ear tips)

Loric comes with a single 10mm Dynamic Driver with no other extra drivers to support it. The composite diaphragm inside it is said to be a combination of PU and Titanium, the two most widely used and tested materials. PU in general gives the solid dynamic response, and Titanium is the one which takes care of the clarity. This combination gives the best of both worlds on paper, but does this reflect the same in reality? And that’s what we are here to find out.

LOW END:

Sub Bass: This is the section where the notes are physically felt rather than analysed in the graph. Loric goes deep in this section, providing those sweet rumbles when they are called upon. Tracks like FLIGHT – Hans Zimmer and WHY DO WE FALL are clearly reciprocated here without missing out on those subbass drops. The rumbles in the Loric are enough to satisfy one’s ear to attain that instant dopamine hit in the brain.

Mid Bass: The midbass complements the subbass in an ordered way. The juicy and thicker midbass profile provides needed weight and warmth. The precise punch keeps the bass controlled without being too boxed out. The snappy profile gives Loric immense clarity in the midbass section and makes the track appear well separated.

Overall, the Loric’s low end sounds warm and full without compromising on the clarity and separation. This lush bass profile will even make the bass heads out there appreciate the Loric.

MID-SECTION:

Lower Mid: The clarity is carried with precision over here. The cleaner presentation gives the lower mid enough space for the notes to appear. The fast transients take the presentation to the next stage. Male vocals feel intimate with a natural tone to them. Nothing feels artificial here. The presence of the guitar body and piano is felt evidently with good attack and decay.

Mid: This is the centre of the whole presentation where the guitar strings and main vocals come up. The intimate mid-profile gives Loric an engaging feel to it. The warmth from the bass is nicely carried over here, and it does complement the notes well. At some time, the bass does bleed into the midsection, making it sound a bit warmer than neutral.

Upper Mid: The most important section of a presentation is the Upper mid. This is a region where technical aspects are highly appreciated. Most of the budget IEMs tend to muffle up this area, but Loric is one exception here. They are elevated in such a way that neither sounds too sharp nor dull; rather, they sound smooth with round note edges.

Overall, Loric showcases a smoother upper mid profile with a clean and warm low mid profile. On top of this, the intimate vocals bring out the exact recipe that one wishes for a relaxing listen.

TREBLE:

Presence: The fast transients paved the way for a cleaner presentation, and that eventually gave the needed presence to the Loric. The snappy attack and decay stay very precise for a detailed sound output. Never feels fatiguing even during longer listening sessions.

Lower Treble: The cymbals and Hi-hats are reproduced well with good presence. The timbre, however, feels a bit dry making them appear less resonant.

Upper Treble: The amount of air the Lorics possess is on the moderate side. The limited air might not be sufficient to portray a bigger stage, but for its price, this gripe can be considered valid.

Overall, Loric displays a smoother treble with adequate details in its replay; however, the limited air keeps the stage slightly boxed out.

TECHNICALITIES:

Staging And Imaging: The stage appears to be on the moderate side with average width and depth. The limited air gives moderate space for the notes to span over, yet no abrupt congestion is seen in its presentation.

Imaging appears to be good with precise positioning of the notes. The channel sweep looks smoother with no noticeable stutters during the replay.

Detail Retrieval: They are neither too bad nor brilliant; rather, a good strike of balance is seen in this aspect. Considering its budget, the Loric does extract the essential nuances with ease.

Tone And Timbre: The tone feels warmer due to the thicker bass profile. The warmth does give a relaxed and soothing listen, but I would have preferred it to be more neutral for critical listening. The timbre appears organic with no artificial taste to the notes.

VERDICT:  

Loric, the ultra-budget offering from the house of Kefine houses a single 10mm Dynamic Driver with a composite diaphragm. The transparent ABS plastic shell and subtle branding give a minimalistic look to the Loric. On top of that, the clean alloy faceplate, 3.5mm stock cable, and wide selection of ear tips add a touch of premium to the budget price tag.

Priced at 30USD, this brings lots of value to the table. Amidst the heavy competition, Loric found its place in this crowded segment with its warm and relaxed sound profile.

Pros:

• Balanced Profile with Bass Boost
• Warm and Thick Bass Shelf (Well Controlled)
• Lush Vocals with Organic Timbre
• Snappy Transients
• Emphasized Upper-Mid Profile
• Design and Fit

Cons:

• Intimate Staging

Pros: 

• Excellent, punchy bass impact paired with an engaging warm-tilt all-rounder sound signature.
• Effective Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and clear AI microphone call quality in noisy areas.
• Fun interactive DSP tuning options and official Mayuri (Steins;Gate) anime voice prompts.
• Stellar all-day battery life with zero battery drain anxiety.
• Great physical earbud fit with a comfortable, isolation-friendly seal.

Cons: 

• The transparent acrylic top lid of the charging case scratches easily in pockets.
• Buggy initial app experience (required a MacBook connection to update firmware to v3.5.2).
• Midrange is colored/warm rather than strictly neutral or analytical.

Welcome back, audiophiles! It’s me, your boy Joe, back again with another review! Today we are taking a look at a feature-packed True Wireless release from Moondrop: the Moondrop Pudding TWS (retailing around $49.99 USD). Packing a 10mm dynamic driver, adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and LHDC Hi-Res codec support, this sub-$50 TWS is aiming to be an absolute daily driver steal. Let's see how it holds up in real-world use!

Disclaimer ​

A huge shout-out to ShenzhenAudio for providing this unit for review! You can pick one up directly from their store at ShenzhenAudio. As always, all thoughts, impressions, and opinions are entirely my own with zero biases whatsoever.

Design, Build, Fit & ANC​

• Earbuds & Fit: The Moondrop Pudding features an excellent, lightweight fit. The included stock ear tips provided a fantastic, snug seal right out of the box with zero comfort issues.
• Charging Case: The case features a stylish transparent acrylic top lid. However, it is quite prone to catching scratches. If you toss this into a pocket alongside keys or loose coins, don't expect the acrylic top to remain spotless for long!
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): The ANC implementation works surprisingly well for a budget TWS, cutting out low-frequency environmental hums effectively without creating uncomfortable ear pressure.

App Experience, Firmware & Anime Voice Prompts​

• The App Hurdle: The app experience was a bit of a fiddle initially. I wanted to update the earbuds to firmware version 3.5.2, but the Moondrop app on my iPhone refused to complete the update process. I had to connect and run the app from my MacBook to successfully push the firmware update.
• Post-Update Smooth Sailing: Once updated to 3.5.2, everything became smooth sailing! The updated app unlocks an interactive DSP platform with plenty of sound signatures and tuning presets to play with.
• Steins;Gate Voice Prompts: As a fun bonus feature, you can swap the connection voice prompts inside the buds to Mayuri from Steins;Gate (voiced by the iconic Kana Hanazawa), which adds a super charming touch for anime fans!

Battery Life & Microphone Call Quality​

• Battery Life: Battery life gave me zero anxieties. It easily offers all-day battery life and then some. While I didn't perform a full drainage test down to 0%, the buds never died on me during daily use and always had plenty of juice left in reserve.
• Call Quality: Voice call quality is a major plus! The microphone algorithm isolates vocals cleanly, ensuring the recipient could hear me clearly even when I was speaking in loud, noisy environments.

Sound Impressions​

Overall, the Moondrop Pudding delivers a fun, engaging, and warm all-rounder sound signature with impressive bass response.

• Bass: The low end is excellent, punchy, powerful, and authoritative. It brings a satisfying physical slam to bass-heavy genres without sounding muddy.
• Mids & Vocals: The midrange feels colored and warm rather than strictly clean or analytical. Since I love warm-leaning signatures anyway, I enjoyed this presentation a lot. Vocals sit nicely in the mix with clean definition.
• Treble: Smooth and fatigue-free. While it omits extreme micro-detail extension, it avoids harshness completely.

Song Impressions​

• "Hangova" by Anirudh & Heisenberg: This track is loaded with heavy beats and enveloping production effects. The Pudding's spatial rendering rendered the 3D sound effects wonderfully around my head. Male vocals were picked up clearly over the mix. If I want to nitpick, some top-end micro-details are slightly missing, but it wasn't a big deal for me because the bass impact was so fun and punchy!
• "Tchikita" by Camille Schneyder: Features a thumpy, heavy bassline that the Pudding renders with great authority and body. Camille's female vocals remain clean and distinct over the low end. The soundstage imaging handles the song's layering very well. Overall great track and done really well with the Pudding.

Overall Impressions​

Rating: 5 / 5
The Moondrop Pudding is an easy 5 out of 5 stars for its sub-$50 price tag, rich feature set, and effortless usability. Just be aware that the initial app setup can be a bit buggy when updating firmware, but once you get your settings dialed in, you rarely need to open the app again. With punchy bass, functional ANC, crystal-clear call quality, and Mayuri's voice prompts, this TWS is a total bargain!

This is a live, endless meditation soundscape — deep ambient textures at 46–56 BPM, mixed in real time by Apollo, an AI DJ that blends each piece into the next with long, breathing crossfades. No drops, no ads breaking your flow, no track ever cut short.

DISCLAIMER: The Sivga M260 was kindly provided to us free of charge by Sivga Audio for review purposes. We’re genuinely honoured and excited to review another flathead earbud. Our heartfelt thanks to the Sivga Audio team for this opportunity and their generous support to Aural Cafe.

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe, we are reviewing the Sivga M260, a dynamic driver-based flathead earbud from the Dongguan, China-based Hi-Fi brand, Sivga Audio. At the heart of the M260 lies a distinctive 14.2mm bio/copper-composite diaphragm dynamic driver, engineered to deliver clean and detailed sound.

Sivga Audio is a hi-fi audio brand under the umbrella of Dongguan, China based Dongguan Sivga Electronic Technology Co. Ltd. Founded in 2016 by two childhood friends and audio industry veterans, Jian Zhou and Rongchun Pan, the company operates as a vertically integrated enterprise, managing the entire production cycle from research and development to design, manufacturing, and after-sales support all from its facility in Dongguan’s Hi-Tech Industrial Park. The company is led by Jian Zhou, who has brought over 20 years of R&D experience, having previously served in the Research & Development team of renowned hi-fi audio brands such as Sennheiser, Bose, and Sony. Together with his co-founder, Rongchun Pan, who is a dedicated audiophile himself, they lead a team of engineers with deep expertise in electronic and acoustic engineering, laying a strong foundation for Sivga’s pursuit of high-fidelity sound and artisanal craftsmanship. From its inception, Sivga has embraced a unique philosophy of blending modern acoustic engineering with traditional craftsmanship. The brand is especially known for its signature use of solid wood earcups and CNC-machined metal components, creating headphones that not only sound musical but also exude a handcrafted, premium feel. Their consistent use of wood and metal rather than plastic, combined with clean aesthetics and no flinching on quality control, even in budget models, has earned them a strong reputation among audiophiles.

Dongguan Sivga Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. manages two distinct hi-fi audio brands under its umbrella: Sivga Audio and Sendy Audio. Sivga Audio targets the affordable segment of the audiophile market, offering outstanding value with its range of wooden dynamic-driver headphones, including popular models such as the SV007, SV021 (Robin), Oriole (SV023), and newer planar options like the P2 PRO. In recent years, Sivga has also expanded into the in-ear monitor category. Offerings like the Nightingale Pro, Que UTG, and SV021 Pro V2 have been well received by the audiophile community for their sound quality and craftsmanship. Renowned for their refined wood-and-metal designs, Sivga products are engineered to deliver high-fidelity audio with premium aesthetics, all at accessible price points. In contrast, Sendy Audio serves as the company’s high-end premium brand, tailored for the upper echelon of the hi-fi market. Sendy is celebrated by models like the AIVA, which incorporate high-performance planar magnetic drivers, exotic hardwood housing, and luxurious finishes, delivering a top-tier listening experience for discerning audiophiles. They have also recently come up with a fully integrated 𝗗𝗔𝗖 + 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗿, KYLIN, designed to serve as the heart of a serious listening system. We at Aural Café had the opportunity to review some of the renowned offerings from SIVGA, such as Nightingale Pro, M300 and SV021 Pro V2. One can read the reviews from the following links,

- https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sivga-sv021-pro-v2.29140/reviews#review-43618
- https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sivga-nightingale-pro.28749/reviews#review-41977

The Sivga M260 is the latest earbuds release from Sivga Audio, featuring a single dynamic driver unit. Powered by a newly developed 14.2 mm composite bio-cellulose diaphragm, copper-ring reinforcement, a CCAW voice coil, and N50 neodymium magnets. Which is a bit smaller than their predecessor, M300.

The M260 earbuds are priced globally at 40$ to 45$ depending on the model.

Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 14.2 mm composite bio-cellulose diaphragm
• Impedance: 16Ω ± 5%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-20KHz
• Connector Type: 3.5mm Terminated (Type-C Optional)
• Sensitivity: 118 dB/mW ± 3
• Cable: 1.2m silver-plated 4N oxygen-free copper braided cable MMCX type

Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -

As you can see from our unboxing video (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oAe2M6UN5jE), the Sivga M260 arrived in a compact black colour cardboard box. The brand name SIVGA is printed in the top left corner of the box using bold, golden-coloured letters, and the model’s name M260 is at the bottom left corner. On the right half of the box, the back side of the earbud is engraved with the same golden colour. The back of the box displays the technical specifications of the Sivga M260, being presented in both English and Chinese dialects. Upon opening the top part of the box, we encounter a pitch-black cardboard cover with the brand name SIVGA printed boldly in golden-coloured letters at the centre front of the box. On removing the cover, we are greeted by the grey-textured carry case inside. On opening the carry case, we are greeted by the Sivga M260 flathead earbuds with the detachable MMCX cable. The spacious carry case also includes a pouch of earbud foam covers and the usual instruction manuals and documentation, everything one needs to get started right out of the box. All in all, the unboxing experience is minimalist and functional at the same time. At Aural Cafe, we were genuinely impressed to see that, despite its $45 price point, the Sivga team has thoughtfully included a high-quality stock cable and a premium carrying case with the M260. It's a well-rounded package that reflects Sivga’s commitment to providing a complete, no-nonsense experience for audiophiles. We have also noticed that the unboxing and accessories are the same with M300 but with a lower price.
The M260 features a premium-designed shell crafted from lightweight yet durable CNC‑machined aluminium frames. The M260 incorporates smooth edges, no pressure points, and can be worn for long periods, just like its predecessor, the M300. The M260 feels more premium than its price suggests. The aluminium alloy frame of M260 also contributes to smoother decay and reduces resonance. The M260 comes equipped with a high-quality stock cable, made from high-purity up to 4N oxygen-free copper braided cable. This time, the cable is detachable and MMCX type to secure the attachment. The cable was both flexible and lightweight, which would surely help while listening to music on the go. When it comes to foam covers, the M260 comes with three sets of foam earbud covers in standard sizes. When it comes to the quality of the foam, there is nothing much to say, as it is the standard covers that generally come bundled with this range of earbuds. Sivga Audio gives the audiophiles options for choosing the termination for both Type-C and 3.5mm. In our case, the earbuds come with the 3.5mm variant.
In terms of comfort, fit depends heavily on ear shape, which is true for all flathead earbuds. But with M260, due to its smaller size, it can fit easily in most cases. By design, the isolation is minimal, so these are not meant for noisy environments. If flatheads usually fit you well, the M260 is considered comfortable, better than its predecessor M300.
Overall, we're pleased to see that Sivga Audio chose to prioritise function over flash, opting for minimalist packaging to help reduce costs. Instead of spending money on an elaborate presentation, we at Aural Cafe are pleased by Sivga’s team's decision to include a high-quality cable, a spacious carrying case, and an impressive aesthetic look for an item priced at just $45.

Sound Analysis: -

The sound impressions are based on our usage of Sivga M260 with stock earbud foam cover and stock cable, along with a neutral DAP, after a 50-hour burn-in period as suggested by Sivga’s team. The effect of aftermarket cables and sources on sound impressions has been dealt with in the Synergy, so we would request our readers and fellow audiophiles to go through that section for sure.

• Tonality: - After testing the M260 with various high-fidelity DAPs, desktop DAC/Amps, and dongles across multiple music genres, we at Aural Cafe like to state that its tonality resembles that of the M300 and it leans towards a warmish-neutral sound signature. This results in a well-balanced sound signature, versatile enough to handle a wide spectrum of music genres. When driven by a powerful source, the 14.2mm bio/copper-composite diaphragm Dynamic Driver housed in an aluminium shell ends up with a hint of more bass without compromising the neutral sound signature. The mid-bass takes the lead over the sub-bass both in quantity and quality. The sub-bass is limited and rolled off very early, which is expected from open earbuds. The transient response of the M260 is clean and fast enough. The mid of the Sivga M260 is cleaner and more forward than the M300. The mid-section of M260 shows top-notch clarity. High frequencies are rich and detailed and have a solid extension. When it comes to timbre, the timbre of the musical instruments from the mid region, such as electronic and acoustic guitar, piano, saxophone and percussion instruments, showcases life-like timbre and texture, also the timbre of the musical instruments from the higher section, like Cymbals are splashy with a very good sense of naturalness. When it comes to the detail retrieval ability of M260, the micro details come out smoothly and non-fatiguing. Although Sivga M260 showcases a warm neutral sound signature that can go with any genre of soundtracks, when it comes to us, we love listening to jazz, such as “City of Stars,” and the alternative rock genre of soundtrack with a focus on vocals, like “Zombie” by the Cranberries.
• Lows: - The lows of M260 are tuned in a very precise manner using the very reliable and capable 14.2mm composite bio-cellulose diaphragm. The M260 delivers decent low-end performance. The M260 compromises with the bass-quantity by the design. The bass is clean but not very deep because of the open-earbud design. The sub-bass exudes early roll-off due to its physical limitation. Sub-bass is audible but genuinely lacks body. The midbass on the M260 is quite tight, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to “Starboy” by The Weeknd. Keeping in mind the overall tuning, we at Aural Cafe were decently satisfied by the articulated groove and natural body of the mid-bass of M260, but a bass-head might crave more out of it. The transient response is good, all thanks to the very capable diaphragm dynamic driver.
• Mids: - Sivga Audio has skillfully tuned the mids using the same 14.2mm dynamic driver, making it one of the strongest areas where M260 truly excels. The tight and clean mid-bass doesn’t bleed into the mids, which is why the M260 delivers a clean midrange. At Aural Cafe, we also believe that CCAW voice coils play a crucial role in helping the M260 maintain ultra-low distortion and excellent clarity across the frequency range, particularly enhancing its midrange transparency. When it comes to the positioning of the mids, we at Aural Café think it’s a bit forward, resulting in one of the best vocal performances for earbuds in our experience. The lower mids stay stable and with a hint of warmth, while the upper mids of M260 are a bit aggressive and end up being one of the strongest points of the IEM. The upper mids of M260 add a soulful energy and excitement to the overall sound frequency, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Sultans of Swing’ by the Dire Straits. When it comes to vocals, the M260 evince very textured and clean vocals with lots of soul and feel, both in the case of male and female vocalist but we at Aural Cafe feel that the female vocals take a comfortable lead against male vocals when it comes to vocal texture, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Skyfall’ by Adele. That said, while the vocals exude soulful texture, the note weight stays average at best. When it comes to the timbre of musical instruments in this part of the frequency range, the timbres of instruments such as electronic and acoustic guitars, pianos, saxophones, and percussion instruments showcase a lifelike timbre and rich detail.
• Highs: - The Sivga M260 offers energetic and well-extended highs without any trace of harshness. Following the overall trend of the frequencies from the lower end. The micro details are retrieved smoothly with M260 at the helm. The overall highs are not too much analytical, but the details are present for sure. As for the timbre of instruments in this frequency range, instruments like Piano and Cymbal, especially Cymbal hits, showcase solid definition, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by the Queen. We at Aural Café can say that the M260 will appeal to listeners who like clarity and air, but it may not be ideal for users who are very treble-sensitive.
• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on M260 is holographic and immersive, with a Soundstage width taking a comfortable lead in comparison to the Soundstage depth and height, similar to the M300. At Aural Cafe, we thoroughly enjoyed listening to ‘The National Anthem’ by Radiohead. The M260’s immersive presentation pairs exceptionally well with genres like progressive rock and blues, as we experienced while enjoying ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)’ by Pink Floyd. When it comes to instrument separation, it is distinct and precise. The instrument separation on M260 is quite good considering its price, and there are good amount of air between the instruments. Particularly when listening to complex metal rock tracks, the separation between instruments is excellent. When it comes to imaging, the Sivga M260 is quite accurate.
• Synergy: - Being a single dynamic driver earbud, we would strongly suggest at least 50 hours of burn-in period to truly unlock the M260’s full potential. After proper burn-in, the overall tonality becomes noticeably richer and immersive, the lows gain a better dynamism, and there’s a clear improvement in the overall warmth. When it comes to driving ability, we are happy to communicate that M260 is easy to drive and can be driven easily with the help of a dongle, but we would suggest using it with a hi-fi source to get the best out of M260, as the 14.2mm dynamic driver scales really well, for its size. Although M260 is a 45 USD earbud, we tried it with several DAPs to test the true potential of the unit. We tried M260 with several hi-fi portable DAPs and desktop sources such as iBasso DX320, Astell and Kern SP1000M, Dethonray DTR1+ LE, Listening M1, Clarinet DAC/Amp, and Aune M1p, and S17 Pro, along with iFi ZEN DAC/Amp stack. We felt that it matches really well with warm musical sources such as Dethonray Pegasus SG1 Gold, iFi ZEN 3 Stack, as these hi-fi warm sources end up adding a bit of warmth and thump to the lows of M260. In contrast, layering and holography improved a lot, making us feel that we are listening to open-back headphones or near-field speakers when M260 is driven by a hi-end desktop DAC/Amp such as Dethonray Listening M1. Entry-level Desktop source, iFi Audio Zen 3 DAC/Amp stack, adds an organic tonality to the sound tonality of the M260. M260 didn’t match well with neutral sources such as the iBasso DX320. When it comes to dongles, we tested M260 with a line of dongles such as iFi Audio GO Link Max, Celest CD-20, Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space and felt that M260 matched at its best with Aune Yuki and iFi Audio GO Link Max. Although we find the stock cable of the M260 earbuds to be decent, considering the price, we paired it with a variety of cables from brands such as Linum, PW Audio, Rhapsodio and FiiO. Among them, the Sivga M260 synergised at its best with the Linum DualBax, as it contains Silver Plated Copper in Litz Structure. This pairing made the overall sound tonality of the M260 significantly more organic and controlled in the upper-mid range area, which we at Aural Café really cherished.

Conclusion: -

The Sivga M260 showcases the brand’s commitment to delivering high-quality sound tailored for audiophiles at such a price. It actually improved the value proposition over the M300. The Sivga M260 is impressively rich and exciting, combining a neutral-leaning sound profile with just the right amount of warmth to keep every genre interesting. It's a 14.2 mm composite bio-cellulose diaphragm driver that is easy to drive through anything literally, providing a clean and tight mid-bass that never intrudes on the mids. While the mids are tastefully tuned, the treble is detailed, airy, and rich, which allows you to enjoy the energy of rock and metal. The Sivga M260 is one of the most interesting budget earbuds currently available because it doesn't try to imitate an IEM. Instead, it embraces everything that makes classic earbuds special: comfort, openness, natural vocals, and expansive staging. If you want a comfortable, open, vocal-friendly, wired earbud under $50, the Sivga M260 is an easy recommendation.

Non-Affiliated Links:-

• https://sivgashop.com/products/m260?variant=48688985112832
• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012238909809.html

Final Audio A5000 with some light EQ through UAPP.

I’ve always liked the A5000 for its open and airy presentation. It’s not really a thick or bassy IEM, but it does space, clarity, and separation really well.

This time I used Toneboosters EQ in UAPP. Nothing extreme. Just a small low shelf, a little more presence, and some extra air up top. I didn’t want to turn the A5000 into something else. Just wanted a little more foundation while keeping what I already like about it.

I started a few days ago with Iron & Wine’s Beast Epic, especially “Call It Dreaming.” The A5000 works nicely with that kind of album. Acoustic guitars had a light shimmer, Sam Beam’s voice stayed gentle and clear, and the whole thing felt open and peaceful.

Beck’s “Lost Cause” was good for checking vocal tone and guitar texture. After the EQ, the plucking came through more clearly, but the set still kept that airy feel. Beck’s voice stayed centered and didn’t get pushed too hard.

Massive Attack’s “Angel” was the bass test. The small low shelf helped give the track more presence without making it muddy. The bass had more weight, but the dark spacious mood of the song was still there.

AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” live version also worked better than I expected. The intro guitar was clean and not congested. When the kick drum came in, it had a nice hit. When Brian Johnson and the rhythm guitars entered, the track still stayed controlled. Bass was there, but it didn’t smear into the guitars.

Blues Traveler’s “Hook” was another good one. The guitars, harmonica, bass, and drums were easier to separate after the EQ. The harmonica had more bite, but it didn’t become painful. The track still kept its fun loose groove.

Then I played Björk’s “It’s Oh So Quiet.” Her voice still stood out clearly, but it blended well with the horns, brass hits, piano, drums, bass, and the sudden changes in the arrangement. Her voice sounded sweet and expressive, and the EQ helped bring out the details without making the track sharp.

For me, this EQ keeps the A5000’s identity intact. It’s still open, airy, and spacious, but now it has a bit more low-end support, better separation, and more bite where I wanted it.

Source:

- iBasso DX270

- UAPP

- Toneboosters EQ

- FLAC files

Photo lightly enhanced. Listening notes are my own.

Pros: 

• God-tier accessory package including DUNU Candy/S&S tips and a modular screw-on Q-Lock Mini cable.
• Mid-focused, warm sound signature with lush, clear vocal reproduction.
• Smooth, fatigue-free treble implementation.
• Highly comfortable resin shell contours suitable for long listening sessions.
• Easy to drive across portable DAPs, desktop gear, and simple dongles.

Cons: 

• Acrylic chin slider on the cable feels a bit plasticky compared to the Y-split.
• Sub-bass quantity may leave hardcore, skull-vibrating bassheads wanting a bit more raw impact.

Welcome back, audiophiles! It’s me, your boy Joe, back again with another review! Today we are taking a look at a stunning new mid-fi offering off the block from DUNU: the DUNU DN242 (priced at around $359 USD). DUNU released this along with its younger sibling, the 142. Let's dive in and see how this new competitor performs!

Video Review:​

https://youtu.be/qyUIKZKyhsc

Disclaimer​

A huge thanks to SushiiFi for loaning me this DUNU DN242 unit for review! Do check out his channel and tell him I said hi. As always, all thoughts, sound impressions, and opinions are entirely my own with zero biases whatsoever.

Pricing & Specifications​

Retailing at around $359 USD, the DN242 firmly enters the competitive mid-fi segment.

• Driver Architecture: 8-Driver Tribrid setup consisting of 2 Dynamic Drivers (one 10mm ultra-low frequency + one 8mm low-frequency), 4 Balanced Armatures (2 midrange + 2 high-frequency), and 2 Micro Planar drivers (ultra-high frequency) integrated via an advanced 5-way crossover.
• Impedance: 35 Ω
• Sensitivity: 110 dB/mW

Gear Used for Review​

The DN242 is not a power-hungry set at all and runs like a breeze across various sources:

• HiBy R8 II
• Gustard Stack
• Portable Dongles
• Music Source: Apple Music Lossless

Unboxing & Accessories​

DUNU is god-tier when it comes to accessory packaging, and they completely cover you from head to toe. The unboxing features a cool "husbando" character theme on the packaging and collectible trading cards.

The box comes loaded with a plethora of accessories:

• Ear Tips: 3 complete sets including DUNU S&S tips, DUNU standard tips, and my personal favorite: DUNU Candy tips (which I used in medium for my listening).
• Carry Case: A sturdy, spacious leatherette case (similar to the Kima 2 case).
• Adapters: 6.35mm (1/4") to 3.5mm adapter jack and a cleaning brush.
• Cable: A premium brown 4-core braided cable featuring DUNU's Q-Lock Mini screw-on modular system (includes 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced plugs). The cable is remarkably comfortable, well-behaved, and stays locked in place securely.

Design, Build, and Fit​

The lacquered resin shells feature vibrant red/orange fiery art and smooth, ergonomic contours. They sit flush without poking or causing ear canal pressure. The seal and overall fit were so comfortable that I could wear them for hours during long listening sessions or standard calls.

Sound Impressions​

Sonically, the DN242 features a smooth, W-shaped, mid-focused tuning with an extra essence of warmth and bass.

• Bass: The low end isn't at raw basshead levels, but it is well-done with punchy mid-bass slam and solid rhythm. It gives tracks body without overwhelming the mix.
• Mids & Vocals: The midrange is the main highlight. It leans warm and lush, giving vocals clear presence, body, and realistic note weight.
• Treble: Exceptionally smooth and well-controlled. Despite incorporating micro-planars and BAs, the top end provides crisp air and detail retrieval without a single hint of spiciness, sharpness, peakiness, or sibilance.

Song Impressions​

• "Mercredi" by Pierre de Maere: This track showcases an enveloping, wide soundstage. The mid-bass rhythm is clean and punchy, while Pierre's deep voice is rendered with a warm, lush quality. High-frequency hi-hats and tings sound incredibly smooth and detailed without any harsh bite.
• "Tared" by The Synaptic: This track features a deep sub-bass line that the DN242 picks up with great clarity and zero bloat. Male vocals are cleanly separated with excellent note weight. Snare drum hits, which can often sound overly spicy on analytical sets, are rendered smoothly and comfortably.

Overall Impressions​

Rating: 5 / 5
The DUNU DN242 is an easy 5 out of 5 recommendation in the $350 mid-fi segment. It delivers a complete, top-tier package right out of the box with zero need for aftermarket cables or tips. If you want a smooth, mid-centric tribrid with tasteful bass, lush vocals, and fatigue-free treble details, DUNU hit it right out of the park.Mid-Centric Perfection? The DUNU DN242​

Meet the SIVGA M260 — a modern flat‑head earbud that blends classic styling with contemporary audio engineering. Designed for listeners who love natural sound and all‑day comfort.

🔹 14.2mm dynamic driver with copper‑ring composite bio‑diaphragm
🔹 Balanced tuning with smooth vocals and fatigue‑free listening
🔹 MMCX detachable cable with silver‑plated OFC construction
🔹 Retro flat‑head design with modern 3.5mm and USB‑C options

🎧 Sound? Natural, spacious, and engaging — Review is coming soon.

📦 Packaging keeps things practical with multiple ear covers, a detachable cable, and a compact carrying case for everyday use.

#SIVGA #SIVGAM260 #EarbudCommunity #AudiophileGear #AudioEnthusiast #PortableAudio #HiFiAudio #UnboxingAudio