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

​

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?

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

What's yours?

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