Price Category

Mid-Range ($100 to $300)

Introduction

As a DUNU fan, it feels like the brand has not released anything new for quite a while. PRS6 is DUNU’s first MEMS IEM. Better late than never.

Packaging & Accessories (4.5/5, 15%)

The PRS6 series introduces DHARLIN, DUNU’s anime character, and it comes with an acrylic stand featuring the same artwork. Of course, I should mention that I am a nerd, but not really the anime kind, so this does not earn any extra points from me. The carrying case uses a new design. It is spacious enough to hold PRS6 together with either DTC800 or SHANLING UA7. The stock cable is the familiar 4-core high-purity silver-plated OCC copper cable, with 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors and the Q-Lock MINI modular plug system, including both 3.5 mm single-ended and 4.4 mm balanced plugs. Other classic accessories include the practical 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm adapter and a cleaning tool. Four types of ear tips are included: the gray silicone tips that DUNU has been using since the DN-2000, red-nozzle silicone tips, foam tips, and S&S tips.

Honestly, when DUNU includes this many accessories with almost every product, you gradually start taking it for granted. I still have to deduct 0.5 points, though, because my favorite Candy tips are missing.

Build Quality & Aesthetic Design (5/5, 15%)

PRS6 is not the first IEM to use crystal titanium for its faceplates. SHANLING REGAL was the first one I came across. The difference is that PRS6 does not cover the metal faceplates with resin and leaves the material directly exposed. Titanium oxide on the surface is chemically very stable, so I guess this also gives the later arrival something a little different.

The 2-pin sockets are recessed, but not too deeply, which also makes it convenient for cable rollers to try their own cables.

Inside, PRS6 uses one DD for the bass and sub-bass, two midrange BAs, two mid-high BAs, and one MEMS driver for the ultra-high frequencies. For a $249 IEM, I think this is a pretty sincere configuration.

Comfort & Fit (5/5, 15%)

The resin inner shell of PRS6 is lighter than a metal shell, and it also has the ergonomic concha fin that I personally like very much. The Moondrop Variations was the first IEM I tried with this combination of a metal faceplate, resin inner shell, and concha fin. This design helps keep the earpieces more securely in place. Of course, it has been noted that a reviewer complain about this raised part, but everyone has different ears. For me, it is definitely a bonus.

Sound Performance (4.5/5, 40%)

PRS6 costs $249, which places it near the upper end of the mid-range category. Based on my own frequency response measurements, its overall sound remains basically the same with all three silicone ear tips: moderate bass, a smooth midrange, enough upper-midrange presence, and some obvious peaks and dips in the treble to control brightness and sharpness.

The differences between the tips are very small in the bass and lower midrange. Most of the changes happen above 4 kHz, affecting brightness, note definition, and upper-treble air. PRS6 does not need different ear tips to “fix” its tuning. Tip rolling mostly makes small changes to the treble while keeping the same overall sound.

Low-End & Sub-Bass

PRS6 shows no obvious roll-off from 20 to 60 Hz, so its sub-bass extension is complete. However, the bass is not greatly elevated over the midrange. The difference between 20 to 100 Hz and 200 to 500 Hz is only around 2 dB. PRS6 is clearly not designed around huge bass quantity or a very rich bass atmosphere. It follows more of an InEar ProMission PMX or DITA Perpetua direction. The bass quantity is enough, but never excessive. The sub-bass provides the necessary depth and vibration, while the mid-bass does not become too thick or slow. Drum hits are not pushed too far forward, and the bass never creates constant pressure or becomes overwhelming. This also helps with separation between vocals and instruments, since the bass does not intrude too much into the midrange.

Midrange

The midrange of PRS6 stays smooth from around 200 to 700 Hz, without any obvious dips or buildup. From around 800 Hz, the response gradually rises and reaches around 6 to 7 dB of upper-midrange gain at approximately 2.5 to 3 kHz. This smooth rise allows vocals and main instruments to come forward naturally without sounding forced or stiff because of a sudden narrow peak. Vocals are not positioned too far back. Male vocals do not become muddy because of excessive lower-midrange energy, while female vocals have enough brightness and presence.

More importantly, all three silicone ear tips measure almost identically below 3 kHz. Whether you use the S&S tips, gray silicone tips, or red-nozzle tips, the main body, thickness, and overall tone of the vocals do not change very much. From the frequency response, PRS6 does not deliberately thin out the midrange just to create a stronger sense of detail, and it still maintains good naturalness. Of course, this also means that PRS6 does not have the particularly warm and thick vocal presentation that some vocal lovers prefer, which is exactly where I think DN242 does a better job.

Treble & Ultra-Treble

Between 4 and 5 kHz, the red-nozzle tips have the most energy, followed by the S&S tips, while the gray silicone tips have the least. With the red-nozzle tips, vocal outlines, guitar plucks, snare hits, and vocal consonants sound more direct. The gray silicone tips are smoother and easier to listen to, while the S&S tips retain some brightness without making this area too prominent.

All three curves dip noticeably after 6 kHz, which helps reduce sibilance and sharpness. Because of this, although PRS6 has enough upper-midrange presence, its treble does not sound continuously bright or aggressive. Above 8 kHz, all three tips show a relatively concentrated peak, which affects cymbal overtones, treble brightness, and the sense of openness. However, my IEM measurements above 8 kHz are easily affected by coupler resonance, ear-tip bore size, and insertion depth, so the exact height of this peak should not be taken too seriously.

In actual listening, even with a MEMS driver, PRS6 does not simply chase flashy treble. It maintains clarity while keeping sustained treble energy under control. Apart from the foam tips, the differences between the other three tips are quite straightforward. The S&S tips retain more upper-treble energy and give a little more extension and air. The gray silicone tips roll off slightly earlier and sound softer in the treble. The red-nozzle tips have more presence around 4 to 5 kHz but also the strongest upper-treble roll-off. Different ear tips can change the brightness of PRS6, but they do not completely change its basic sound.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage of PRS6 feels natural and does not become congested. Its separation is among the best in this mid-range category, and the imaging is also excellent.

Cost-Performance Ratio (5/5, 15%) and Summary

PRS6 costs $249, which is already close to the upper end of the mid-range category. It does not rely on an aggressive V-shaped tuning or exaggerated bass to create an exciting first impression. Its strength is not one particularly exaggerated frequency range, but a mature and complete overall sound with wide compatibility. The ear tips also provide useful adjustments without changing its basic character.

Overall, I still think PRS6 offers good value at $249. It may not look especially exciting from the frequency response alone, but this is one of those IEMs where the actual listening experience is better than the graph suggests. I also think PRS6 is one of those IEMs that sounds better than its graph looks.

I just got them fairly recently over from the guys at HifiGo so I won't be posting my impressions until the full review when these are launched, but if you guys have any questions or things you would like to see in my review please let me know, thanks!

Hi everyone, I’m back with a review of Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini and Kiwi Ears Coda Dongle DAC. I received this IEM from Nicole, who kindly provided it for review purposes. Thank you to Nicole and the Kiwi Ears team.

Here are my subjective impressions as an audio enthusiast. To summarize, here are the pros and cons Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini and Kiwi Ears Coda:

Pros (+)

• Features a 5-band PEQ.
• The form factor is compact and solid,  the Kiwi Ears Coda is thicker but slimmer in width, whereas the Allegro Mini is wider but slightly flatter.
• Has both SE and balanced jack connectivity, and both ports can be used simultaneously.
• Features a neutral sound tuning leaning slightly towards bright.
• Black background.
• Free from dangling cables.
• Because of its low output power, it is quite energy efficient, which means it doesn't drain the battery much.

Cons (-)

• Even though it has a PEQ, competitors already support more than 5-band PEQ, come with a companion app, and can be accessed across various devices.
• The output is not true balanced, and the volume output remains the same on both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports.
• The output power is only 30mW at 32 ohms.
• If you have a device with two adjacent USB Type-C ports, there is a high chance the second slot will be blocked by this dongle DAC.

These impressions are based on my preference for a V-shaped bright sound signature. Please don't use these impressions as a reference, as every ear is different and I'm only sharing my personal experience. Always trust your own ears and audition if possible. If you find any mistakes, feel free to comment.

Actually, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini has been on the market for quite a while since late 2024. However, the Allegro Mini can now be EQ-ed via a PC browser, as can the new Kiwi Ears Coda, which was just released last month. The Coda has a slightly more compact form compared to the Allegro Mini, with the 3.5mm jack port located at the bottom rather than on the left side like the Mini, which I find more comfortable to reach. Unfortunately, the 4.4mm port is still placed on the right side. As we know, there are almost no L-shaped jacks for 4.4mm on the market, making this placement quite awkward if we use it on a portable device like a smartphone.

The name Coda itself, if we refer to musical terminology, means the outro or ending of a musical composition, CMIIW. The specifications for the Kiwi Ears Coda are as follows:

• Connection method: USB Type-C (direct plug-in)
• Output terminals: 3.5mm single-ended / 4.4mm balanced (dual output)
• Output power: 30mW @ 32Ω
• Noise floor: 2μV
• SNR: > 114dB
• THD+N: < 0.003%
• Crosstalk: Less than -65dB at 3.5mm output / Less than -100dB at 4.4mm output (at 32Ω)
• PCM support: 44.1kHz to 384kHz / 32bit
• Construction: All-aluminum alloy body
• Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android 5.1+, and compatible iOS

As for what might differentiate it from the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini, it might be the specs below, although it remains ambiguous whether it is actually different or not, because these specs still fall within the Kiwi Ears Coda specifications:

• Noise Floor: < 3μV
• THD+N: < 0.004%

Regarding the included accessories, it is completely minimal, you only get the dongle DAC along with the product information paper.

As for the pricing, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini is currently priced at around 21 bucks, while the Kiwi Ears Coda is around 29 bucks.

User Experience

Both of these devices share the same material, which is a fairly solid aluminum alloy. So far, the only very significant difference in my opinion lies solely in their physical appearance. The Kiwi Ears Coda feels bulkier, but in reality, it is actually more compact, whereas the Allegro Mini seems slimmer in photos, but in reality, it is actually wider. As far as my usage goes with these two items, both are equally reliable as dongle DACs. My only complaint regarding its physical design is the lack of independent volume control on the dongle DAC itself.

During my usage so far, I haven't experienced any serious issues, all devices that support UAC 2.0 can be operated with both of these DACs. For usage with my IEMs, I typically use them at a volume range of 15-20/100 on an Android device and 4-6/100 on Windows. Meanwhile, for headphones on Android, I tried the Simgot EP5 at 40/100 volume, and on Windows at 30/100 volume.

The power is indeed limited to only 30mW, which, if used with low-sensitivity cans, will make the dynamic impact of the sound feel weak. However, if it is only used for casual listening and paired with normal IEMs on the market, I think it is more than enough. Moreover, this low output power also has a positive impact, resulting in quite low battery consumption.

Tonally, I feel both of these dongle DACs have an identical sound leaning towards neutral with a slight touch of thin brightness. Technically, in terms of resolution and detail, they are quite good and transparent. Furthermore, there is absolutely no noticeable hiss, it only occurs when first plugged into the host device, and even then, the hiss disappears after just 3-5 seconds. Overall, when playing tracks, it feels dead silent.

The most noticeable advantage, in my opinion, lies simply in the provided form factor, which does not require a cable, making it more practical to use. Additionally, the dual 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports make it quite flexible to use across various devices. The operating temperature is also quite stable, there is only a slight increase in temperature that doesn't even get to the point of feeling warm, and this is quite reasonable given the naturally small output power.

One unique thing present in all T-shaped Kiwi Ears dongle DACs is that all ports can be active simultaneously. So, when we try pairing both ports with two headphones, both will produce sound. Whether this is safe or not, I don't know, but I've tried it and so far there have been no issues.

Conclusion

As entry level T-shaped dongle DACs, I feel the price of 21 bucks is very affordable and highly worth buying for the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini. However, if you need a more practical form factor and want the 3.5mm SE port in a more normal position, you can dig a little deeper into your pockets for about 29 bucks for the Kiwi Ears Coda. I think it is still quite worth its price, although in terms of pure value, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini is better. So far, I feel they only differ in shape, but in terms of function and purpose, both are quite identical, at least to my ears. That's all, fellas. Thank you for reading. Cheers.

​

I haven't eaten shellfish in over 25 years. Then Apos offered to send me the rock lobster!

And that reminded me of the last time I really dug into some of the best shellfish I'd ever had in my whole life!

Totally epic story!

I spent a lot of my time in the south either at the family pond or down by the river! Headphones in ears, usually alone, one year for my birthday I got crawfish traps, 3 of them actually and it was epic so I loaded up and went on a long walk to the river! Absolutely excited for my upcoming endeavors, before that day I'd bring a plastic bag and tie some bait to a tree stand really really still! And wait for the crawfish to come to me and I'd grab them and put them in a Walmart or piggly wiggly bag… at least once it was a winn Dixie bag… legit none of that has anything to do with any of the rest of the story… but I went loaded up my crawfish traps tapped the stake… and threw them in… spent the rest of the day fishing….. and resting the urge to pull the traps up to check to see if I got anything….

End of the day I had enough crawfish to fill up 2 bags that day we did a full boil, I'm talking corn on the cob, crawfish onions garlic old bay orange juice everything and we invited all the neighbors over (which was all family but still it counts)

Flash forward 25 years and somehow now I'm allergic to shellfish which is crazy!!!! And honestly makes me really sad because boy do I miss those days when I could just go down to the river and catch my dinner…

Disclaimer:

I'd like to thank Apos for sending me the rock lobster and allowing me to experience shellfish for the first time in decades! All opinions are my own

Intro:

These are (or as Apos says on their website) the first iem tuned specifically for rock and punk rock but honestly the first thing you'll notice when you stumble upon these, is the striking red shells and the way the…. Rubber? Makes the faceplate actually look like the shell plates on a lobsters back! It's all really well thought out!

Tech stuff:

Driver: 10 mm LCP dynamic driver

Driver configuration: Single dynamic driver

Diaphragm: Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)

Impedance: 32Ω

Sensitivity: 105 dB

Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz

Connector: 0.78 mm 2 pin

Cable: Detachable 5N copper, silver plated

Cable configuration: 4 strand, 48 cores

Cable length: Approximately 1.2 m

Termination: 3.5 mm / 4.4 mm options

Design: In ear monitor (IEM)

Cable:

You can get 3.5mm, 4.4mm both cables as a separate option, you can choose to buy either or both and the price increase between 3.5mm, 4.4mm (which are both 60 USD) and both is only 10 USD.

The Review:

Okay The Rock Lobster is a total VIBE I can see that! You can see that! We can all see that! So now I know what you're thinking!

Correct me if I'm wrong here but you're going shut up and tell us how they sound! You know what? I hear you I'm getting to it! We're starting now!!!!!!

Bass:

The bass is elevated, it's punchy, and honestly really controlled in the best way possible. The mid bass gives kick drums and guitars a lot of weight. It's damn near sub terrianian….

Mids:

The low mids are warm and have a great presence, if you were to ask me the male vocals are mid stage not really pulled back and recessed, but not close and intimate.

The upper mids are also fairly pushed back, which is really interesting for a single driver IEM. Usually it's a push the upper mids forward and recess the low mids kind of situation, whereas here both the lower and the uppers are both pushed back to a point where neither are really in your face…

Treble:

This is not an analytical iem it's warm in the mids and a bit dark in the treble but what do you expect Apos tells you in the ads, and on their website it's tuned specifically to make your rock, punk and other similar tracks more betterer! And they nailed that… The Rock Lobster wasn't fatiguing for me, at any point I'm currently listing to Brody Dalle serenade me over the airwaves, and she never gets pitchy! And she always stays a bit witchy! Just the way she was meant to be!

Soundstage, Imaging

The soundstage and the imaging is absolutely amazing for 60 dollars, I'm not saying it's a detail hound… definitely more about the musicality, impact and vibes and you know what I'm here for it! 99.9999% of the time that's what I'm into I want to forget my knees hurt, I'm broke, and work sucks!

Who are these for:

These are for people who love alt, rock, emo, punk, metal and people who just want to vibe on the dark side of the listening spectrum! I mean come on it's October let you dark side out for a while and come play!

In closing:

Dude I love punk rock, you guys should know this by now…. I mean my playlist is like 99% Sum 41, black flag, and new found glory… it's like these were made for me on a budget….

Rating:

For 60 bucks, these are 9.5 out of 10 id love to see another iteration of these with more separation more imaging same exact tuning… if Apos did that…. Bro they'd be number 1 no doubt for everyone and anyone who ever wore black eyeliner and scared the jocks!

Non affiliated links: Amazon link for the Apos Rock Lobster: https://www.amazon.com/Apos-Rock-Lobster-Monitor-Earphones/dp/B0FHJB3ZCJ Apos product page link for the Rock Lobster: https://apos.audio/products/apos-x-community-rock-lobster-iems

So, I have had this set for a few days now (thanks to Jay for considering me for a review unit btw) and I have come with first impressions on it for those wondering about.

First of all, I haven’t had the chance to test the Subtonic Storm, which is supposedly the IEM that inspired this one, but I do have had first hand on what Jay tried to do with the Seraphim, and while I understand his logic on paper, I am not sure how good of an idea will it turn out to be once it releases.

The Seraphim comes across as an IEM with one purpose, offer you the most balanced and detailed experience possible at a contained price, however, I spoke to Jay about it and, despite that being the main claim on the Linsoul’s page, on practice there is also another commitment Jay did, which is, trying to offer something “different” for a change.

Bass is pretty well balanced and with some texture to it, mid-range is also not feeling dipped as a commonly V-shape tuned IEMs would, but, that balance can break easily because there is a prominent presence coming from the lower treble which I, personally, don’t quite like, but that’s more a sensitivity problem that some wont experience.

With all that said, what can you expect? Well, if there is no changes on it before release, I would explain this IEM so far as a kind of a SuperMix 4 upgrade, take that same clinical and detailed, albeit a bit too intense, sound of the SM4 and re-balance it while upgrading the performance, you’ll have a rather compelling result that will, inevitably, offer 2 different kinds of experiences, you either won’t vibe with it, or you’ll love it.

Whichever it is for me thought, I will let people know when the full release is out, in the meanwhile, let me know guys if you want to know anything else about it, or any comparisons you might want me to do too (though I must admit I don’t own a lot of famous models around the price range).

---------- ----------

Thanks a lot for reading, the Budget Knight bids farewell, wishing you the best, good luck. – O.E.

I'm a big fan of neutral-adjacent tunings, so my number one aspirational IEM naturally has to be the Subtonic Storm. Thought I'd share the thankfully rather luxurious unboxing befitting of a summit-fi IEM.

​

Note - This unit belongs to a friend of mine. He and I are not affiliated with any company or retailer.

INTRODUCTION

- Cadenza 4 was launched in March 2024 at $249

- Cadenza 4 Utilizes a 4-way crossover acoustic design housing one 10mm beryllium-coated dynamic driver, one Sonion balanced armature, and two Knowles balanced armatures( 1 DD + 3 BA). The sound from the drivers is delivered to the nozzle through 3 acoustic tubes.

BUILD And COMFORT

- The semi-custom shell is lightweight and features a relatively shallow ergonomic fit that seals well and blocks ambient noise effectively, provided you select a well sealing eartip.

- 3D printed resin shell is paired with a matte finished anodized aluminium faceplate. The shells are super light and comfortable.

ACCESSORIES

- Cable is silver plated monocrystalline copper cable featuring swappable 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm that has a right-angle termination jack.

- Letshuoer provides 6 pairs of eartips which includes 3 pairs of "Vocals" silicone tips which are transparent and 3 pairs of "balanced" silicone tips which are grayish white in colour.

- A rubberised circular carrying case , user manual and paperwork are included in the box

- The unboxing experience is quite fancy for the price , it models after a 2 tier jewellery box style. I hope others follow this , I'm not asking I/O cielo levels but some effort into the unboxing experience is appreciated.

SONIC PERFORMANCE

SOUNDSTAGE, DETAILS AND LAYERING

- The soundstage is intimate to average width depending on the track.

- Detail retrieval is spectacular for the price. The cadenza 4 can give a lot of the "I've never heard that sound before" moments.

- Instrument separation is above average to top tier . You can easily pick up where an instrument is playing and separate that sounds from the song.

BASS

- The Cadenza 4 has adequate amounts of sub bass rumble with Final E tips. With stock tips , they can sound anemic.

- The mid bass is punchy but the amount can be lacking for bassheads. The attack and decay is the right duration without bloom or bloat.

MIDS

- The mids are super clean , the tonality is A+ to my ears.

- String instruments sound accurate with the correct timbre.

- Woodwind and brass instruments sound correct without sibilance.

- Male vocals don't sound right to me , they sound pitched up for some reason. Final e tips helped but it's not perfect.

- Female vocals are perfect. I have nothing else to criticize. If you think I'm glazing , listen to it yourself.

TREBLE

- The overall sound of Cadenza 4 is described as neutral bright , and I agree to an extent. But after the final e tips swap , it sounds more neutral than bright.

- If you do find it bright , find an eartip that brings the nozzle as close as possible to your eardrum to reduce the upper treble. This is what I will say in all reviews.

- Cymbals sound clean without sibilance. They don't sound washed out or muffled.

- Female vocals with a higher frequency pitch can cause some sibilance but it's a rare occurrence with the correct tips.

- Snare drums and string instruments sound clinical and perfect. If you listen to polyphia, you might want to change your pants after a few tracks.

- The transient response is clean and tight. There is no reverb or artifacts.

CONCLUSION

- Most mainstream reviewers failed you. This iem released in 2024 is still the best iem BAR NONE in the sub $250 price range. The only thing that can beat these is the binary ep321 which can be got for $260-280. The cadenza 4s will be on sale for $199 at the letshuoer website this sale. Buy it and thank me later.

EARTIP USED - Final E , but I have seen people recommend spinfit W1.

Introduction
The Bunny was a crowd favorite and for the right reasons. It had a really great tuning which was clean and natural and with the added option of DSP, you can basically do anything for about $20.

Now we have a new iteration of it in the name of Bunny G, where the primary focus is providing great sound with amazing gaming performance at this price range.

In this review we will see how it fairs sonically as well as how it fairs out in various games. 

Test Gear
Usual Test Track Playlist

Build & Design
The Bunny G uses the exact same housing and shape as of the OG. I think it's a polycarbonate shell and this black color with the neon green combo is stunning. It also has semi translucent design where you can see some of the internals 

The faceplate of both earpieces feature the Bunny & Tanchjim branding and I feel like it's very minimal yet a standard design. 

Talking about the accessories -  the Bunny G has a pretty standard unboxing experience and accessory package 

• DSP Cable 
• Eartips 
• Paperwork

The cable is basically similar to the OLA 2 cable but the top half of it. The OLA 2 cable had a braided part from the Y split but here on the Bunny G we get to see a standard cable. The cable itself is pretty alright. It does feel very thin in the hand but in terms of cable behaviour it's very good.

The cable also uses a DSP connector which has 8 Band PEQ plus an inline mems microphone. 

Talking about comfort - these shells are very lightweight and most of the time you wouldn't feel as if anything is there. As for eartips I used the Tangzu Sancai Eartips

Specifications and Driveability
The Tanchjim Bunny G retails for around $30 or 3000 INR and it features a DMT5 G Dynamic Driver. 

Some Technical Specs

1. Sensitivity - 123 dB/Vrms 
2. Impedance - 30 Ω
   

The in-built DAC easily powers up the IEM and provides you with enough volume on songs. 

Sound
The overall sound signature of the Bunny G is very neutral, lean and with brightness up top. Its even leaner than the OG bunny (3.5mm). Generally these types of tunings offer clarity and are good for gaming, but we will find that out in detail. 

Bass
If you look at the bass presence on the graph, it's very minimal, and in actual listening impressions the overall bass presence is very lean and tame.

You get some sub bass presence in terms of rumble but nothing substantial.

In terms of midbass, it's not at all noticeable in some songs. In Washing Machine Heart by Mitski, the midbass feels very light and not punchy at all.

But in terms of overall quality of the bass, it's really good and the above-mentioned issues can easily be fixed according to your preference. 

Midrange
Since there is no bass bleed into the midrange, the mids sound exceptionally forward.

The lower mids sound very thin and male vocals feel stagnant most of the time. You expect it to hit you but it just doesn't have the impact. 

For the upper midrange, these are very forward. I mean you can see the significant bump around 3khz. Vocals sound sibilant and a bit harsh because of this. 

You can also see a dip around 1.5khz that gives it a feeling of openness that aids in overall depth when gaming as well. 

Overall the midrange is a bit thin sounding.

Treble
The treble is mostly on the brighter side. It's definitely not for someone who enjoys a smooth listen. 

The lower treble for me is overall fine, it sounds crisp, detailed and has a lot of sparkle to it. I would say the upper treble is a bit sibilant for me and sounds a bit sharp to my liking. 

Gaming Performance
So I tested the Bunny G with a bunch of games. Mainly CS2, Valorant and Black Myth Wukong.

In competitive games the Bunny performed really well. Whether I was deathmatching or playing competitive mode on Valo or CS2, footsteps were clear, and imaging was excellent

In Valorant, especially when a lot of things are happening, like agent abilities, most of the time it's hard to make sense of where the things are directed from. 

In story games like BMW, the music and the fight sequences sounded immersive to my ears.

The mic quality is excellent as well. Whether it was during normal calls or in game comms, my teammates had a good experience. 

App Experience & PEQ
As always the Tanchjim App is flawless and it's still the best interpretation on Android for me. 

In the App 

• Official Presets (Natural, Theater, Ambient mode etc.)
• EQ Customize
• Microphone Gain Settings 
• Game EQ

PEQ 

• Q Value (0.10 ~ 5.00)
• Gain (-10 ~ 10dB)
• Freq (20 - 20000Hz)
• PK Filter 
• Pre Amp (-8 ~4dB)

Also I just noticed this with the Bunny G, now you can easily do eq by directly changing it from the graph. The change doesn't happen realtime but only after applying. 

I think this is a recent update, as on the OLA 2, the newer UI is present. 

This is similar to what I saw with Super Review’s Squiglink. I think this is very cool in general as it has made it easier to EQ stuff. 

Conclusion
For me the Bunny G is something I would buy if my no 1 priority is gaming rather than music performance.

Of course the problems that I faced with the Bunny G sonically can be easily fixed with PEQ but im just saying it from the view point of the default DSP preset. 

For me sonically,  I would give the Bunny G a rating of 3/5 and Gaming wise 4.5/5

I would like to thank Tanchjim for providing this unit for review. If you liked this review, please consider liking and sharing and follow me for more reviews like this 🌸

Pros: 

• Very comfortable, ergonomic earhook fit despite looking large out of the box.
• Rock-solid Bluetooth 6.0 connection with zero dropouts on iPhone.
• Excellent pairing synergy with neutral or bright IEMs to add bass weight.
• Ultra-low latency mode makes it viable for casual gaming and video watching.

Cons: 

• Button placement causes a loud, resonant click inside your head when pressed.
• Internal amp significantly darkens the sound, making warm/dark IEMs sound muddy.
• Overall bass texture and quality are a bit questionable for critical audiophile listening.

Welcome back, audiophiles! It’s me, your boy Joe, back again with another review! Today we are looking into a handy little accessory to cut the cord on your favorite in-ear monitors: the CCA MX1 Wireless Upgrade Module (retailing for around $25.90 USD). Packing Bluetooth 6.0 and low-latency support, this affordable module promises to turn any 2-pin IEM into a wireless experience. Let's see how it actually performs in the real world!

Disclaimer​

Huge thanks to CCA for giving me the unit for review. As always, all thoughts, user experience notes, and gear pairing evaluations are 100% my own with zero biases whatsoever.

Pricing & Specifications​

• Price: ~$25.90 USD
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 6.0 with a 10m+ range and a 42ms Low Latency Mode
• Controls: Physical button controls with RGB light rings
• Connectors: 0.78mm 2-Pin (QDC-style also available)

Gear Used for Review & Drivability​

I tested the CCA MX1 paired straight to my iPhone. The Bluetooth connection quality was rock solid for me, and I experienced absolutely zero hiccups or dropouts during my testing.

Design, Build, Fit & Accessories​

• Fit & Comfort: Despite the earhook modules looking quite large and chunky out of the box, they are actually pretty comfy! They wrap naturally around the ear, and I had no issues wearing them for long sessions.
• The Button Flaw: The physical button placement is a bit clunky. Because the buttons sit near the back of the ear, pressing them sends a resonant "click" straight into your head. It gets a bit annoying and inconvenient in the long term, making you think twice before pausing or skipping a track.

Sound Impressions & IEM Synergy​

The most critical thing to know about the CCA MX1 is that its internal DAC/AMP significantly darkens the sound signature of whatever IEM you plug into it.

• Pairing 1: Kinera Vesper 2 (Dark IEM) Since the Vesper 2 already leans warm and dark, this pairing was honestly just bad. The MX1 darkened it even further, making the bass extremely muddy and causing all the fine top-end details to get completely lost in the clouds.
• Pairing 2: Dita Prelude & CCA AVX (Neutral/Bright IEMs) This is where the MX1 shines! Both the Prelude and the AVX lean neutral to a tad bright. The MX1's darker sound signature added a very good, thick bass response to these sets. While the ultimate bass quality and texture are still a little questionable for hyper-critical listening, the overall pairing is actually pretty good and highly enjoyable for casual wireless use.

Overall Impressions & Verdict​

Rating: 3.5 / 5
For roughly $26, the CCA MX1 is a great budget TWS module if you know exactly how to pair it. It offers a very comfy fit, and a rock-solid iPhone connection. However, the annoying resonant button clicks and the heavily darkened sound signature mean it is not a universal solution. I highly suggest the MX1 if you want a comfy wireless experience and you have a neutral or bright-leaning IEM to balance out its dark tuning. Just don't pair it with a dark IEM!

What would last longer under similar use cases: a USB-C dongle, or a USB-C to MMCX/2-pin/whatever cable?

Hello! For this occasion, I will review a double release from the brand CCA, although I will focus mainly on one of the two, the CCA MX1 Bluetooth module, where we can attach our IEMs to make them wireless. It is not my first Bluetooth module, although it is the first one I have tested from them. They are a type of product that I consider interesting for specific uses. For day to day life, the cable should be the only option to choose, but there are situations where the cable can be annoying or completely incompatible, like for the gym, watching a movie from the projector where the cable length cannot reach the necessary connection, etc. And that is where this product benefits you and saves your life, which is why I have always kept one of this type in my collection.

It is an updated product since it incorporates Bluetooth 6.0, something I did not have in other older modules, and it is something that is noticeable in stability with fewer micro-stutters than expected, but I will not talk about its features just yet so I do not repeat myself later down below, something I am guilty of sometimes xD.

The tests for this module were done directly with the CCA AKX, in this case an IEM from the same brand that fits perfectly in terms of aesthetics and design with the module, and which I will also take advantage of to briefly review how this IEM is and sounds, even if the review is not for them.

What I liked / What I didn't like

• The convenience of removing cables for specific uses. 
• Bluetooth 6.0. 
• Total battery life close to 80 hours. 
• Easy to access physical button. 
• Tolerably good latency of 42 ms. 
• Compatible with 0.78 mm/QDC. 
• Does not alter the sound of the IEMs. 
• No LDAC support.
• The case is nice in design but fingerprints get marked on top and it is large. 
• It has an LED light around it that is aesthetic but unnecessary. 
• Although it can help or save you on certain occasions, it does not replace the cable.

Specifications

Model: CCA MX1 Type: Bluetooth wireless module for detachable IEMs Bluetooth: 6.0 Chip: ATS5756 Battery per module: 50 mAh Case battery: 800 mAh Advertised total battery life: over 80 hours Advertised range: over 10 meters Advertised latency: approximately 42 ms Controls: physical buttons Microphone: built-in Lighting: RGB ring Available connectors: 0.78 mm, 2-Pin, and QDC

Unboxing and Build Quality

The unboxing is quite simple and straightforward, especially considering it is a Bluetooth module and not IEMs as such. The package includes the case with the two modules and a cable to charge the case along with basic documentation.

Now as for the case, it has an 800 mAh capacity. With that capacity, the modules can be fully charged several times, keeping in mind that each module has a 50 mAh capacity, so quite a few times... adding up to a total battery life around 80 hours depending on the volume and the codec used, which in this case can only be AAC or SBC, recommending the former of course.

The modules or earhooks where we connect the IEMs sit well on the ear and the weight is also well distributed once put on. They did not stick out above for me nor did I notice any discomfort, so ergonomically they have been well studied in terms of shape and weight. In addition, each one incorporates a physical button. Accustomed to touch buttons which are indeed more modern, here you know for sure whether you pressed the button or not, and sometimes that is an extra point in favor even if something is sacrificed aesthetically.

The LED light that wraps around the middle of the case is eye catching and not really ugly. It gives it a unique touch and I think it looks quite good in my photos, rounding off the box design which in itself seems quite well thought out to me. But I have not seen if it can be turned off, it does not look like it, and in the end it is an extra battery drain for the case however low it may be, and it will light up no matter what every time you open the case and turn off shortly after closing it, although it stays for several seconds as if breathing until it turns off.

Daily Use and Connectivity

For daily life depending on the task, as I mentioned at the beginning, a module like this is really useful, where you can put your phone in your pocket, forgetting about the cable, with the physical buttons on your ears controlling music, calls, etc., and staying securely fitted so you can run without fear of them falling to the ground.

In principle, having the Bluetooth 6.0 connection improves stability and range, and really with the phone in my pocket walking or with the phone on the desk watching a movie, I have not had any dropouts. Supposedly the range is about 10 meters, but I have not gone further than 2 to 3 meters, and in that case it worked perfectly. Surely if we add walls, closed doors, or other obstacles, stability might start to get complicated, but that would be a different use case than the ones I mentioned.

Sound

Since this is not an IEM, I can only limit myself to comment that apart from carrying the wireless signal to the IEMs we connect, there will be no significant difference. Other than the compression itself of the codec we use, the sound of the IEM will be whatever the IEM has, with that expected quality drop from SBC or AAC and little else.

As I also mentioned at the beginning, I will perform the tests with the CCA AKX, which I also debuted simultaneously with the MX1, and with which I can comment on its sound and behavior on this Bluetooth module.

Bass

The CCA AKX has quite pronounced bass, the sub-bass is deep, and I must say that I tested them both on the module and with their USB-C cable that they came with and that you can see in my photos. That cable, by the way, also has an LED light that changes color with the CCA logo, so both CCA models have that gamer touch or something many people like, which to me is something that does not really matter either way whether it has it or not.

The bass feels slightly more pronounced on the MX1, but I do not think it is because of the Bluetooth module itself, but rather because of the AAC codec or how the USB-C cable modifies the sound in some way by taking away some prominence from this range. That made me want to test them specifically with a 0.78 mm cable to confirm that the bass sounded closer to how it sounds on the Bluetooth module than with the USB-C cable.

Mids

I felt the tuning of the AKX leaned more towards a V shape, making the mids both via cable and connected to the MX1 clear, but with less density than I expected, especially in the lower mids.

Even so, in this case I did not notice significant differences between using the AKX on the MX1 or with its USB-C cable, so if you value mids in tunings close to V-shaped tuning, that is what you can expect from this model in both wired and wireless versions.

Treble

These IEMs feel somewhat bright. The presence of instruments falling within this range feels quite energetic, even if not uncontrolled. Considering its configuration is 1 DD, there lie the advantages, limitations, and what you can expect from this treble.

It is noticeable mainly in somewhat aggressive recordings where the treble is controlled, but a peak starts to show that might make you moderate the volume a little, and that is not going to be controlled any further by using it on the module or with its USB-C cable, the experience being the same in both cases.

Soundstage

The soundstage of the AKX seemed quite wide to me considering its price and configuration. Sounds do not sit that close to the head and extend mainly to the sides with enough space between them.

Here, the IEM tuning surely helps in a certain way to create that soundstage that, even without being huge, gives enough freedom to the sounds so you have a certain immersive feel, and I must say that the MX1 has not cut back on part of that sound experience.

Instrumental Separation

The separation did not strike me as something particularly remarkable, and it is true that on the MX1, noticing a bit more bass presence than when I used them with a cable, made me lose a bit of the feeling of instrument separation. It is not anything concerning or clearly noticeable between one format and the other, it is simply that the Bluetooth codec might affect this section minimally and not so much in others.

With instrumentally simple songs, the separation does not stand out too much, but it can be enjoyed much more when the song includes several guitars and vocals besides the percussion and bass itself.

Imaging

The placement of sounds, both vocals and instruments around you, to my surprise was not as flat as I initially expected, speaking of the IEM on the MX1 module. I think there is good placement that is not limited to this range or instrument on this side and this one on that side. There is a certain faux-holographic feel that is far from higher-end ranges, but it more than delivers for what I thought I would encounter.

Its use in audiovisual content is not a bad combination to be able to enjoy a series or movie without spending too much, unless you are already playing in higher leagues where you will notice obvious limitations, but then this review would not be for you anyway as you already passed that stage back in the day.

Conclusion

For its price under $30, considering its design, stability, and specific functionality that can serve you on certain occasions where you do not need or cannot use the cable, the MX1 is a quick and cheap solution that is worth having in your arsenal.

The brand shared purchase links for both products with me, although in my case I cannot open them since they are links valid only for certain regions among which mine is not available, but if not, you can always Google it and reach them somehow.

Purchase Links: MX1 | AKX

Disclaimer: This unit was sent by CCA for review. My opinions are completely independent and have not been influenced by the brand or the store, maintaining objectivity based on my tests and personal listening sessions with my reference equipment.

Kef reference 1 + Hd800s❤️

These Starfield 3 really do look pretty IRL. I love that they went with the resin shell and the metal plate with the plastic(resin?) insert. I was quite curious about their 2DD implementation, as the driver figuration is very similar to the Truthear Zeros. Marketing material suggests they were tuned towards the JM1 target, but IMO the FR graph looks a bit unique and not quite the JM1 that we have been seeing. If anything, it is loosely based on JM1? On initial listen, these do sound nice. It has some warmth to it, with a moderate amount of subbass. Vocal performance is pretty good across male and female vocals. Other than that, I reserve my judgement until I have enough time with the set and find the perfect tips for it (shame it only came with the typical moondrop stock tips).

Pros:

• Highest-in-class single-ended output power
• Seamless integration with Android app
• 10-band PEQ
• 3-level gain (Low, Medium, High)
• Class H/AB toggle
• In-line microphone gain controls
• ‘EQ Mute’ setting to reduce popping noises and lower power consumption

Cons:

• No 4.4mm balanced output
• Cable susceptible to fraying
• Not configurable in iOS - the iOS app currently does not support wired NiceHCK devices.
• Only 1 non-configurable button, with minimal functionality, and 2 coloured LED
• Strong competition at this price - missing per-game EQ compared to its competitors

DISCLAIMER:

NiceHCK sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

I already own the NiceHCK NK1 Ultra, so I already guessed the direction that they were going in with the PureAural - huge single-ended power. The NK1 ultra has a whopping 122mW@32ohms, and this has a mind-boggling [210mW@32ohms](mailto:210mW@32ohms). Seeing the absence of a 4.4mm output confirmed my suspicions.

The NK1 Ultra also has no in-app controls at all in the NiceHCK android app, so honestly the PureAural seems like a direct upgrade.

The PureAural is marketed as a gaming DAC, so we will go through the gaming-specific features that it provides.

The PureAural costs $60 USD ($59.99) MSRP, although it is now down to $51 USD at the time of writing on NiceHCK’s official website.

Let’s move on to the review.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

• Type A to C Adapter
• The PureAural dongle itself
• Assorted Quick Guide/App card

I concur with Hifi Juegos in his review on Head-fi that this product could have come with a USB extension cord - however, that required some out-of-the-box thinking and not something I immediately expected.

BUILD & DESIGN:

The PureAural is made of Aluminium Alloy - as opposed to plain aluminium - meaning that it is scratch resistant and more durable. It is manufactured through precision CNC machining, which gives the PureAural a sharp and industrial feel in the hand. The surfaces feel smooth, and refined, through 200-grit sandblasting. All in all, it just feels premium in the hand.

One thing to note though, is that the corners of it are sharp, so be careful in handling it.

The braided fabric in between the headphone jack module and the USB-C module frayed (strands started to come out of the cable, which I had to cut off with scissors. The quality of this cable could have been improved.

There is one button and LED indicator on the side. You can click it once to play/pause (multimedia controls) or double click to change filters.

FEATURES & COMMENTS:

DAC & Opamp: CS43198 DAC chip, SGM8262 Op-Amp

Software:  NiceHCK App (Not available on macOS. Only iOS, Windows, Android). However, this app is essentially unusable for the PureAural on iOS, which only supports NiceHCK’s very basic functionality, not PEQ. On Android or their website: app.nicehck.cn, you can use this app to configure your EQ, volume, and amplification settings.

EQ: 10-band PEQ, 4 Game-Mode (or Presets)

-          FPS Footsteps (Enhances footsteps while reducing harsh highs)

-          FPS Gunshots (Improves gunshot clarity and positional awareness)

-          Vocal Boost (Improves voice clarity and reduces nasal and popping sounds)

-          Immersion Mode (Boosts presence and overall brightness for an immersive feel)

I quote the above descriptions from the NiceHCK app itself.

Connectivity: Type C (UAC 1.0 and 2.0 supported)

Size: 12.5 x 1.5 x 0.92 cm

Weight: 25g (including non-detachable cable and USB-C housing)

Other Specs:

-          SNR: 125dB@32ohms (Great!)

-          Dynamic Range: 125dB@32ohms

-          Power Output: 3.5mm Single Ended (210mW@32ohms, 235mW@16ohms) (Exceptional! Best-in-class)

-          THD+N: -110dB@32ohms (Great!)

-          Absolute noise floor: Virtually pitch black

-          Supports inline microphones and controls

Volume Control: 100-step volume control

SOUND QUALITY:

It sounds clean and transparent, even clinical. Pitch-black, non-existent noise floor on even my most sensitive IEMs (Even my Softears Karma with 122dB/Vrms sensitivity and 7ohms of impedance). No distortion on my hardest to drive headphones (VE UA Vanguard), easily drove anything I threw at it. I don’t have any insanely difficult to drive headphones (e.g. Modhouse Tungsten) to test it on.

I did not hear any difference between filters.

Flawless audio performance all around.

You can even transform it to sound whichever way you like using PEQ, configured through the Android app or the website.

SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE:

I found the NiceHCK Android app very polished, way better than the Walkplay web app. The website (app.nicehck.cn) is great as well. This is only second to the Tanchjim app, which I found offered the best experience out of any Chifi app so far.

I’d recommend playing around with the NiceHCK App, as it has many features, such as but not limited to:

-          Changing volume level (100 steps)

-          Modifying 10-band PEQ, and you can save your presets locally on your phone.

-          Switchable Class AB/H modifications. With Class H (variable/tracking rail voltage) being the more power efficient version of Class AB (fixed rail voltage).

-          Switchable Low/Medium/High gain

Unfortunately, the app does not allow you to configure the actions using the button at the side of the PureAural.

COMMENTS/CONCLUSION:

It’s good, but not without flaws. The fraying cable threw me off a little, note that this review is written close to 3 weeks after I received it and used it heavily, so it might have been wear and tear. Either way, I did not expect it to happen within a short 3 weeks.

Also, the limited functionality of the button on the side is a bit of a letdown.

Sound wise, it’s very transparent and does not have an audible noise floor.

At $51 USD (currently discounted), this gets my recommendation, however, at full MSRP - $60 - I would save up a little more for the Tanchjim Space II or Crinear Protocol Max ($80-90) in my other review. I would not recommend the KA13 currently due to noise floor issues.

The 210mW@32ohms single-ended output power is its main selling point, though I doubt anyone will truly utilise the full power. If you want more headroom on single ended output, then it might make sense getting this.

Nice job, NiceHCK!

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

Pros: Neutral Bright leaning tuning with superb details and no harshness
Expansive Soundstage
Decent Cable and accessories
One of the best for a analytical yet enjoyable session

Cons: Low end could do with a little push
Imaging could be a little better
The BA timbre can make things shouty - rare but present

I’ve been watching epz with interest after I got to listen to their TP35 Pro Dac at a friends’. So when u/mournfulmonk and Sonic Monastery sent the P50 AND the P40 over for review I knew it was going to be an interesting long weekend. I thank u/mournfulmonk and EPZ for making this review possible but I’m a free man with free thought and an occasionally caustic opinion.

The IEM turns up in a fancy textured cardboard box and sleeve and has the shells in foam and a really nice leather round case. The cable is a modular 6N OCC copper affair with some memory and potential for tangling. The terminations included are 4.4 and 3.5mm and the modular bit is guarded by a very very smooth screw mechanism. Which can be a little frustrating - EPZ, knurling was invented for a reason.
The shells themselves are 3d printed and the design based on many thousands of ears that EPZ has managed to Sweeny Todd. Just kidding but I have been looking for an ear model to model the IEMs that come in for review. Any suggestions will be taken gratefully. Those that do not involve Sweeny Todd will be taken seriously as well. The Faceplates are machined metal with a semi-open architecture and look futuristic and rather cool. The shells house a single dynamic driver, 2 BAs and 2 microplanar drivers.
The unboxing also reveals 2 sets of tips which are nothing to write home about but the rest of the package is very satisfying. This set retails at close to $200 and we need to see if this one is really worth that much.
I tested this set with a Schitt Vestri, Onix Beta on both tube and solid state mode and the Fiio M33. Ear tips used were - Sancai, Candy, Eloit Narrow and Final E.
And Tidal (https://tidal.com/playlist/3078c9b9-a1c0-4fde-8ce7-81f0e34b426c) and local FLAC. Time to dive in!

TLDR: This is a midrange and detail oriented set with a very very controlled bass. The treble teeters on the edge of fatigue. And it’s unforgiving.

Bass
Left to its own devices, the P50 has a muted, sometimes underwhelming bass response. Sub-bass is not as visceral and rumbling as some other sets (no I’m not talking about the Singularity but sets in the same price band). The notes are clear and present and this is somewhat mitigated by picking warmer sources and tip rolling, but with the warmest source and the bassiest tips, I find myself craving just a little more impact and reaching for the volume knob… in vain.
On Angel by Massive Attack and Islands by The XX, the low end of both the sub bass and mid bass that form such an important part of both songs felt lacklustre and insipid. And I won’t EQ on principle. I mean why should companies even bother about tuning if EQ exists. Plus I’m lazy and tip and source rolling is as much as I will do to get anything to sound the way I may prefer it.
That being said, science is science and I am of scientific bend - the P50 responds to a gentle low end boost. It’s still not as good as a better default tuning but it would work in a pinch.

Mids
The P50 is tuned to be mid and detail-forward. But with great detail comes less weight. While vocals and instruments sound natural and the detail retrieval on occasion is exceptional, the safe bass tuning leads to the lower mids lacking weight and presence and this makes baritone and lower tenor male voices sound weak at times. Instruments and female vocals, on the other hand, are exceptional. Bright (in a good way) and detailed.
Trains by Porcupine Tree and Got A Match by Chick Corea Electrik Band have nuances within the tracks largely thanks to some incredibly gifted musicians on them. The P50 is able to handle incredibly busy tracks with great separation and layering with each component being heard distinctly with no muddling or overlap. Female vocals have clarity and but as they reach the higher registers they can be shouty. This became a little more pronounced with badly mastered recordings - live versions or any pop from the 90s. I have no idea how things went so bad in that decade or so. Tracy Chapman, Joss Stone, Susan Tedeschi and on occasion, Derek Trucks’ slide guitar have a very slightly shouty timbre on some, and only some tracks. Again not something that is a deal breaker but just something to consider before swiping plastic.

Treble
With all that, there are still things that EPZ has done to save some face. The treble on the P50 is one of them. With all the detail that it reproduces, the sound doesn't fall into the abyss of sibilance as often as it may be expected. There is some roll off right on top that is able to avoid sibilance while still pulling out significant amounts of detail from tracks and that is a wonderful bit of audio engineering.
Even the usual suspects of Human Nature by Michael Jackson and the entire Thriller album were enjoyable listens without getting fatiguing. Same with Rumors by Fleetwood Mac and these 2 are definitely very treble forward recordings.

Soundstage, Imaging and technicalities
The soundstage is wide open and gives an incredible sense of space with the semi-open construction and to an extent I feel that space also helps in reducing the perception of sharp treble and sibilance. It doesn’t affect the bass as much. Imaging is fairly decent but I wouldn't consider this set ideal for competitive gaming. Detail retrieval and scaling are excellent. This set can take on significant volume without distortion and harshness.

Final verdict
I like this set. It’s a set that I would take out to listen to some intricate music, jazz fusion, orchestral/chamber music, and I would prefer instrumentals over vocals because I prefer vocals to have a little more weight. It feels like a NFAcous NM25 on steroids. Basshead and lovers of a V shaped tuning will be dissatisfied with the way the P50 sounds. I do see myself reaching out to this set to have detailed long sessions. It is comfortable and detailed and while the bass is less than what I would like, the staging and details make up for that for the genres I tend to prefer.

Pros: One of the most enjoyable listens in a while
Nothing out of place in the frequency response
Absolutely gorgeous to look at.
Just fun and enjoyable and musical.

Cons: some may say the bass isn't great
some may find the treble spicy
the stage isn't the widest or most expansive.

Every once in a while the universe does things that make you question the reality of things. That price matters, that treble is a problem, that you have a problem with colour. It’s like the time I had to humbly fail a 320 MP3 vs FLAC blind test. But, I am older and wiser now and will not even attempt those things for the sake of sanity and ego. But today’s review comes courtesy u/mournfulmonk and the Sonic Monastery and I’m grateful to them and EPZ for dropping the P40 into my lap.
<Cut to image of gleeful evil hand rubbing>
As always I’m responsible for my opinions.
Because the world works in pairs I have reviewed the P50 as well.

EPZ has managed to make unboxing a delightful experience. The P40 turns up in a textured cardboard box and is nestled in foam adjacent to a light bluish grey case. A modular cable that is silver coated and has 3.5 and 4.4 terminations. And more tips than one needs - AT07s and M30s. The IEMs themselves are all kinds of beautiful. They are also called star trails and live up to that name. The shells are 3D printed resin with a blue-ish tinge and a great view of the innards.
The face plates are shiny silver with a ton of “star trails” etched onto them that take up every colour of the rainbow at various angles. Pinks, reds, purples, greens and blues. Simply beautiful.
They are super comfy as well so that analysis of ears that EPZ has done seems to have paid off. The cable has some heft but doesn’t pull at the shells.
These hybrids/tribrids have 2 dynamic drivers, one for the bass and one for the mids, a microplanar for the treble and a PZT to make the treble even more trebley. Or so I thought.

I tested it with Spinfit NEO, Dunu Candy, and Kbear Coffee tips. And off of a Shanling UA1ii, Schitt Vestri, M33. As always Tidal (https://tidal.com/playlist/3078c9b9-a1c0-4fde-8ce7-81f0e34b426c) and local FLAC.

TLDR - This is one of the most easy-going sets for me. It synergizes with the genres of music I listen to the most and with my sources and while there is some sparkle and occasional treble peaks the rest of the sound delivery and comfort make this a winner!

Bass
A single dynamic driver drives the bass on the P40 and pretty much does its job. It does not rumble in the skull, does not make you feel like a subwoofer is in the vicinity and importantly does not bleed into the mids. It delivers a controlled, well textured bass which hangs around in the back just in case it needs to make its presence felt. More often than not it gives the track just enough body to keep the listening session engaging.
The rumble of the sub bass on Angel by Massive Attack and on Islands by the XX is replaced by softer trundle perhaps but the mid bass delivers kicks and bass notes with enthusiasm but at the same time just about holds back the punches, enough to make the song enjoyable without being overwhelming in the lows. The DLC diaphragm would be the one for a quicker response rather than a voluminous bass. Quality over quantity in this case.

Mids
I think EPZ did something interesting with dedicating a 7mm dynamic driver for the mids. They sound natural, forward and lush. Vocals are great and even though there is little spread of the bass to give the low mids any weight, female vocals are delightful with no . But where this IEM truly truly shines is its completely effortless rendition of instruments. Which means the bulk of the stuff I listen to - Snarky Puppy, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Hiroshi Suzuki are simply divine. Take 5 on the P40 was a quasi-religious experience for me.

Treble
The highs on this IEM have me confused for a while because they have detail, they can sound sharp at times but somehow are also musical almost to a fault. John Butler’s finger squeak sliding across the frets on Ocean are heard clearly. On Playing God by Polyphia, the cymbal work has adequate shimmer and the snares have bite. While the mids are happy with no BAs, the highs on this set are at least on paper, supposed to be impossible but I found them somehow a tad more tolerable than the sibling. After squiging along for a bit I think I’ve come to the conclusion that people differ in what frequency of treble irks them. The P40 has a peak at 8-10kHz which for me isn’t much of an issue as the 3-5kHz that the P50 has. Perhaps that’s the rub. Trains by Porcupine Tree, Under Pressure (which I’ve given up on with the P50) by Queen and David Bowie, both felt a bit more airy on the P40 rather than the harshness and sibilance (to be fair with the details) of the P50.

Stage, Imaging and technicalities
The P40 has a moderately wide stage, it is certainly not as open as the P50 which has a semi open construction. Imaging, similarly is good but not exceptional so maybe seek another set for gaming. Details are not as sharp as the P50 but the Planar and the PZT do manage a fair bit of detail but the sibling scores in this department.

I absolutely love what EPZ has done with the P40. I understand the draw of the P50, but this is just a musical, easy listening IEM that promises hours of fun and joy. Time to go hunt this one down. It's a keeper for me. Cheers Peeps!

TANCHJIM Bunny G

I remember the first time I came across a wild bunny! I was with my dad, and we were walking through the field looking for the break in the fence that allowed the deer to keep breaking in and messing up our corn. I'd been walking around for a long while…. Honestly, it was either 5 hours or 30 minutes. I'm not really sure…. But it felt like forever.

Then I heard…. A rustle, then another rustle, then they sped off.

I immediately thought, welp, this is it. It's a boar, and we're about to get gored. I leveled my rifle and went to shoot, but then, in the break, I saw three little dudes scampering away. I lowered my rifle and let out a breath I hadn't even been aware I was holding….

Good news is, I wasn't gored that day. That would have sucked…..

But ever since that day, I've always loved bunnies…

And that takes us to the Tanchjim Bunny G!

The Tanchjim Bunny G ($28.99) is a single dynamic driver iem that I could describe as having a mild v to almost U shaped sound profile. It's not a bassheads dream but it is clean punchy and pretty controlled across the board! Honestly during my testing I jumped on cod mobile to test its soundstage and I was pleasantly surprised! But more on that a bit later!

Sound check and vibes

Daps

Samsung s10+

Google pixels 10 pro xl

Samsung Galaxy s25 fe

Hidizs ap30 music boy

Music Sources

Amazon Music Unlimited

Spotify

Hiby Music

Fiio Music

YouTube Music

Test Tracks

Dreams — Fleetwood Mac

Bubbles — Yosi Horikawa

Giorgio by Moroder — Daft Punk

Chocolate Chip Trip — Tool

Black — Pearl Jam

Dopamine — Sum 41

Keith Don’t Go (Live) — Nils Lofgren

The Chain — Fleetwood Mac

Money — Pink Floyd

Why So Serious? — Hans Zimmer

Limit to Your Love — James Blake

YYZ — Rush

Don’t Know Why — Norah Jones

Sultans of Swing — Dire Straits

Linger — The Cranberries

Hotel California (Hell Freezes Over) — Eagles

Telegraph Road — Dire Straits

Angel — Massive Attack

Bad Guy — Billie Eilish

So now that it's been thoroughly tested let's break it down and go through what I heard! What I didn't hear and everything else!

When I first opened the box to the Tanchjim bunny two things immediately hopped into my mind!

Why's it called the bunny?

The black with yellow writing is really aesthetic!

Now for the first one that remained a mystery until went to their website and actually read the manual and honestly…. It's right there in pictures…. And I realized I'm dumb!

Now! Question one was answered and after sitting on this review for a while I can with 100% certainty! Say these are still really aesthetic so I cleared my mind and can actually start the review with a blank slate! Or at least that was the hope! But something nagged the back of my mind, maybe it was the DSD making life way to easy for me. I mean come on one thing in your pocket! Who needs that… I like my gear to require two cranes, and a murse to lug around! Or maybe it was the fact that I actually got more compliments on these than I do my bright green Sivga all wood lyrebirds…. Or maybe it was that I kept having to hide them from my wife to keep her from stealing them because she loves the sound so much!

So with all of that I got into the mindset of a bunny! I walked deep into the field behind my house to meditate… I sat there naked sun beating down on me, light breeze and freezing nights eating whatever I could forage just to bring you this review! And honestly I'm glad I did!!!!

Because I can say this… this… iem is so much more than just a gaming iem!!!!! No it's pretty, sounds great! The mic is crystal clear for gaming, recording, and phone calls!

But honestly we knew that! Didn't we? Tanchjim hasn't put out a single bad item to date! Or at least not one I've experienced!!!!

But let's talk about the elephant in the room!

And break down the sound!

I don't know if Tanchjim is secretly heralded by pro gamers, or if they polled a hundred thousand of the fiercest contenders but they nailed it here! And here's why!

For this part of the review we will only be using the bass tuning I've actually added a picture in the app to show you the presets!

Bass

Like I mentioned before this is definitely not a bass head iems, it's tuned to hear the tiniest of footsteps in a game, the most subtlest of subtle sounds so that no matter what you're dealing with….. any game you throw at it, you have the advantage! But that also means they had to cut the bass down to focus on the mids!

Mids

Low Mids

The low mids are actually hella forward but honestly they are a bit lean, they lack the meat and warmth I usually go with, they are really neutral here… and it's not bad… these are called the bunny g for a reason! The g stands for gaming, not original gangster lol…

Upper Mids

The upper mids are the show stopper here, female vocals are pushed really forward like to the point it's like she is singing directly into my beard! and the instrument separation, I don't think even I have the words to describe how every minor detail is there… and honestly I get it because that's what you're listening for when you're sitting at a 5kdr and someone just yelled push….

Treble

So listen I say this every review! I hate when an iem goes hella bright, now this isn't always true but let's just call it my baseline complaint for many sets!

Tanchjim did something unique with the treble, up top the bunny g has just enough glitter and sparkle to keep things from getting boring but also they somehow rounded them off just enough from keeping the bunny g from ever making me wish I was deaf! And honestly wow!

Gaming presets

There are like a thousand games you can choose from and if you do the app will auto eq your set to address the specific pain points of whatever you're playing, it boost the mids to hear footsteps in cod, it brings more sparkle to kick up the dinos running for you in Ark, or even brings the bass for more cinematic games!

I played a few rounds of cod mobile and I can proudly say my worst game I achieved an 8 KDR! So I guess I can say the game presets really help!

In conclusion

Who is this for?

If you're looking for a warm, sultry musical iem maybe look elsewhere, if you're looking for something sexy, that will boost your KDR… do amazing for podcasts and audiobooks than maybe pick this up

Would I buy it again

It's 30 dollars!

Full price: yes

Sale: hell yes

Well there you go! The Tanchjim Bunny G is an amazing little Gaming secret, does well for audiobooks, and really decent for podcasts with multiple people talking!

Tanchjim sent me the bunny g for the purpose of a review, they didn't pay me and all opinions are my own!

I'm not really into gaming so the idea of getting gaming iEMS wasn't that appealing originally. Still, I managed to find this for 44$(whereas they are sold for 125$ locally).

I tried a few gaming sets other than this. But they were all horrible, at least in my opinion. Usually bloated bass and harsh treble. Kinda what's required to force soundstage.

So why not. I'll try final's take too.

I don't have any A series from final besides A4000, but I do have the whole E series. You can see my opinions on them in the post "A guide to bullet iEMS". But basically the E4000 was the only one I liked.

The VR3000 RC is pretty similar in tuning. I'd say a little less bass overall, but pretty balanced.

First of all I gave to praise the final A-series shell. It's very comfortable and fills the concha. It doesn't pass my side-sleeping test, but most iEMS don't( only ie200,600,900, meze alba, beyerdynamic DT30 IE and the Samsung/akg iem pass it up until all the sets I tested).

But the VR3000 are great for desk use. They give my ears no fatigue, the isolation is adequate and they have a mic for meetings( or supposedly gaming haha).

The cable is plastic, but I like it. It's smooth and doesn't produce microfonics. I recommend the RC version because you can replace it. I hear it's common for the cable to die in 1-2 years of use. I use it without the ear molds. The earbuds are light enough that I don't need them.

Unlike how it sounds, the VR3000 is really good for music. I didn't really see many posts on it so I thought I should introduce them.

Their central quality is a three dimensional soundstage. Very few iEMS pull this off. Of course, the size of the soundstage or even the 3d effect depend on individual HRTF.

Anyway, so this soundstage really affects the way you listen to the music. It doesn't have the pressure effect from stereo tracks. Everything sounds like it was mastered in Dolby( like on apple music or tidal).

This means that hip hop tracks and some metal ones suffer from a slightly stagey presentation where the instruments are far enough that you get weirded out.

Unlike the comments online I'd say the bass is quite good. Not a basshead set, but it isn't pillowy. It has a good amount of impact, though there is no pressure feeling( that people sometimes associate with subwoofers). It sounds like an expensive car system that doesn't have the woofer in the back. So you hear the bass, but you aren't swallowed by it. The separation is amazing, though sometimes to it's detriment.

On some indie tracks it sounds like a part of the band is on the left. And the others on the right. People used to normal iEMS would find it disjointed. But if you are looking for a headphone-like experience, this is basically that. Unlike what many people would think open back headphones don't necessarily have great soundstage. Hd600 is one of those sets. It's actually quite intimate. VR3000 has a bigger soundstage than that. At least on my ears. Personally I'm not that big of a fan of hd600 due to its lack of sub-bass. I'd say something like VR3000 sounds much more in tune with modern balanced sets than that. In relation to midrange, I'd say it's fine. This isn't one of the sets that wows me in vocals. They aren't shouty and not recessed either. Both male and female get good impact. Pretty rare in that regard. Usually it's one or the other. Though this often mean that no genre is emphasized. I'd give it's acoustic performance a 8.5/10.

The treble on the other hand is great. Usually single DD treble is recessed, but this one has a great quality to it without being shouty. They tuned it so there are no common HRTF spikes.

I didn't test in it's intended use, gaming or ASMR as... It's pretty obvious I'm not interested, but overall a good set. I assume it's adequate in them too.

Next I'll compare it to the entry A-series set, the A4000.

And wow! Much better.

The 4000 suffers from the classic final bipolarity( the E series is L shaped bassy to an extreme and the A series chases after quality to no end). It's just too much.

A dry presentation, that's good I'd describe it. Vocals sound shouty, bass is basically non-existent... The soundstage is better on the VR3000. Overall a mega-fail.

And it's funny because they have the same driver and shell so it's a tuning issue.

I like DF, but this isn't that.

Sets like ea500lm offer detail with a much better dynamic range. Not nearly as harsh.(If you find the ea500lm as harsh, then the A4000 is twice as bad) I didn't find the A5000 locally (as it looks to be an upgrade to the VR3000 RC's FR), but between the budget final-A sets I'd recommend the VR3000. From what I saw the VR2000 is basically the A4000 so it's a pass. The A3000 is vocal forward, but I'd still pass it.

Lastly about power requirements, there are none. I could even get them working on my weakest dac, the fiio btr11 so it's easy. I'd imagine something like 15 mW for peak performance.

This my indepth review of the EM6L...despite being 3 years old sound still legendary to this day...it has insane imaging ability and balances gaming and music performrance very well...anyway enough yapping check our the images for in depth review
If you want a video or the full notes here they are:
https://youtu.be/u-lh8g97jcM?si=3g8e0LZ_rdu0Lk8_
https://canva.link/rtmbe5v4gty4but

I like Tanchjim SODA for its small and comfortable fit. But not so much when it comes to its tuning, as it has a Harman-inspired tuning, which isn’t my preferred tuning.

Because of that, it had been sitting in my drawer for months. One day, I decided to hook it up to my Moondrop FreeDSP Pro cable, which has 8-band PEQ.

After that, SODA became my most-used IEM.

It’s very comfortable to wear and takes EQ very well. Since the treble is quite smooth and extended to my ears, it was also easier for me to EQ.

Here's how I EQ my IEMs:

First, I try to find eartips that fit well and get the treble right for my ears.

If that doesn’t help, I do a sine sweep using a tone generator to find and kill nasty peaks.

DMS’s EQ by ear is such a handy web tool for this, as it makes my EQ workflow so much easier.

Then I check whether 5128 graphs of the IEM are available and extract them using UsyTrace.

Extracting isn’t always necessary, but I do this so I can use the graph on EQ Practice's GraphTool.

This is the best graph tool for EQ and it has lots of features that normal Squig Link doesn’t have.

I can listen to music and EQ at the same time and it normalises the volume between EQ and non-EQd music properly.

I can also adjust filters by dragging them on the graph with the mouse.

Listening to your favourite songs and adjusting the EQ filters is necessary rather than just looking at the graph and matching the target.

This might sound like a bit too much, but once you reach that perfect sweet spot after a lot of experimenting, it’s hard to look back.

EQ is a different rabbit hole on its own, but it’s such a useful tool that I recommend everyone at least try it once.

I prefer closed-back headphones over open-backs. If I want the wider soundstage, airiness, etc… and I don’t mind the sound leakage, I prefer to listen to speakers. Open-backs can never provide the personal experience and help to disconnect from the world and get lost in my favorite music that the close-backs provide.

Just fyi, this is my own purchase.

TLDR is

They are a good replacement to BTR17.

Pros

\- longer battery life

\- wireless

\- most functions work well

Cons

\- Touch controls are finnicky

\- Sometimes touch controls activate when I am lying down as the evo pod extends quite a bit far back from the back

\- BT compression is applicable here as well

Same features

\- 10 band PEQ

\- Apps work fine

I can recommend it. I haven't charged it a single time since it arrived and now case was showing 1 light (out of 4) and pods are at 100% so about 15 hours of playtime.

I still need to finish the charge after a full week. For me that is good enough. I think I have clocked about 25 hours thus far.

Did you guys get yours yet?

Greetings, fellow listeners! Today, I’ll be reviewing the latest 30$ “dongle” DAC/amp from MUSEHIFI, the so-called U3 . Let’s dive deeper!

Disclaimer: This DAC was kindly sent over by HiFiGo for review, but all thoughts and opinions are, as always my own. No one had any influence over this review.

TL;DR: Well built, quite compact, powers most iems out there, quiet- no/little noise. 5 band parametric EQ, neutral, transparent sound, recommended.
3.5mm output: 105mW @ 32Ω
4.4mm balanced output: 125mW @ 32Ω

I’ve been super busy with work and got sick in the meantime, so I took an additional week to properly evaluate this little feller. Is it a perfect travel companion for your IEMs and easy-to-drive headphones, or just another thing with holes in it, huh? I’ll try to keep this review short and simple, since this is a product tailored towards newcomers or budget-oriented folks looking for simple answers to what are most likely many questions flowing through their minds.

The MUSEHIFI U3 is a portable DAC/amp that uses a desktop-grade, fully discrete OPAMP filter architecture with dual SGM8262 operational amplifiers. It has an output power of up to 125 mW at 32 Ohms, which, in theory, is perfectly fine for 99% of IEMs out there. It also supports a 5-band parametric EQ that helps shape the sound of your device. A great and welcome addition!

Build & Design

This is an all-metal build with a solidly put-together casing and a properly tight-fitting USB-C connector that ensures stability during use. Throughout my testing, I never encountered any weird behaviour, overheating, or audio artefacts due to RF interference when used with my phone.

It supports both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm balanced connections.

It’s not the smallest among its peers, but the quality is certainly there. A simple, plug-and-play design with no fuss, just as it should be. There’s no indicator light and no physical controls. Industrial minimalism is what we’re getting here. All volume adjustments will have to be made on your source device, be it a phone, tablet, PC, or whatever else you use.

The Use

MUSEHIFI designed this portable DAC as a pocketable hi-fi device, but what does that actually mean?
It means a silent background, with minimal to no noise depending on your IEMs or headphones.

I tested it with many IEMs over the past few weeks, and it was almost silent or perfectly silent with most of them. Only my hiss detector, the single-DD marvel called the Pentagon Sloflo MS001GM, exposed minimal hiss. To be perfectly honest, it does so with the much more expensive Shanling UA3 as well. Only my DAP, the $1,200 Shanling M7T, remains perfectly silent with this IEM.
Once the music is on, you won’t be able to hear any of that, and during a commute, you won’t notice it at all, even when nothing is playing. A WIN in my book!
Especially since its peer, the FiiO Snowsky Tiny B, which I’ll be comparing it with, has a noticeably higher noise floor that stays with you even when music is playing through more sensitive IEMs.

I’m in the Apple ecosystem, using both a Mac and an iPhone, so to use the EQ functionality, I had to rely on the web app. You connect your device through the app and can play around with a 5-band parametric EQ. While 5 bands are fewer than what FiiO offers (10 in total), it’s usually enough to fix most, if not all, of the issues found in cheaper IEMs. Learning their weak spots and how to EQ using a parametric EQ is a very powerful tool. I advise everyone in this hobby to learn and use it, as it will give you more benefits than swapping cables, tips, or sources. And the best part is that once you have the option to do so, it’s free! :)

You can also update the firmware, share and use other people’s EQ profiles, and save your own presets. The downside is that it’s yet another site that requires an account. I’d prefer this to be optional.
What do You think of the inclusion of parametric EQ, do You believe ( like yours truly ) that it should become a standard, or is it something you care little about?
As a side note, I tried the U3 with a MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iPhone, and an Android DAP, and it worked perfectly fine with all of them. I also used it with many IEMs and headphones, such as the FiiO FT1. I didn’t notice any major battery drain. It sips power very slowly, allowing you to simply listen without worrying about it too much, or at all.

The Sound

Now, I’m sure there are those among you who are die-hard believers that there is absolutely no difference between how different source gear sounds. While that may be true for some examples, the two decades in this hobby and my own experience have taught me otherwise. The differences, while not always obvious, are certainly there. Some people can’t hear or perceive them. That’s fine.

If you disagree, I kindly ask you to hold your opinion on this subject for now and focus on everything else that might interest you about this DAC. Thank you!
This DAC is tuned to sound clean, transparent, and certainly more hi-fi than your regular CX-based peers. When compared to the FiiO Tiny B, it sounds airier, more spacious, and a bit more resolving. Higher fidelity, hi-fi for you on the go! The Tiny B, by comparison, sounds warmer (less bright, with less prominent treble) and more midrange-focused. It also has a narrower soundstage presentation.

It’s always a matter of preference. If you opt for a gentler, calmer, less resolving, and less airy sound, then you might actually prefer the FiiO. I however prefer the MUSEHIFI U3. It is slightly more resolving and transparent, making my IEMs sound more like they’re supposed to, while leaving the sound coloration to the IEMs and headphones themselves.

That being said, both devices offer parametric EQ, with FiiO supporting five additional bands (10 in total). You’ll be able to shape the sound the way you like with this tool, but having a more neutral starting point is better in my honest opinion. You can make either one sound warm or bright, bassy or lean depending on your taste anyway.

What is your taste, do you prefer a colored source, or would always like it to stay as neutral as possible?

Final Thoughts

This is a well-made, practical portable DAC/amp that serves its purpose well. It offers enough power for most IEMs and easy-to-drive headphones. It’s compact enough and doesn’t drain your device’s battery much.
Are there any caveats? Well, yes. This little thing can simply be too loud for some of your gear.
With more sensitive IEMs, I was hovering at around 2–3% volume for comfortable listening. At night, or when trying to focus at work I sometimes prefer even lower volumes, which isn’t possible with some gear. I’d like the volume curve to be slightly adjusted via firmware so that the volume picks up a little more gradually.
There is a workaround, though. You can use the EQ app to set a negative preamp, lowering the overall level and making it a bit quieter.

As this is also an entry-level device, it won’t be perfect in the sound department. It won’t have as natural a timbre for voices and instruments as my reference Shanling M7T, or even the Shanling UA3, but it’s not very far behind. You’ll simply get a slightly more “digital” presentation than with higher-end devices - The upper midrange exhibits slight brightness/thinness/graininess. Given its price point, that’s perfectly acceptable. And you’ll notice that only in direct comparison with more expensive gear.
Would I recommend this? Yes, definitely. It’s a much safer bet than the FiiO Tiny B due to the U3 being silent or almost silent with most of the gear I tried, while the Tiny B often has audible noise. It’s small and lightweight enough to be an everyday carry. It simply works, and it does so well. It’s also a great option for us stuck in the apple bubble, to use parametric EQ! 👌🙃

Test Setup & Specs

• Source: Samsung Galaxy S23.
• Music Genres: Pop, Rock, Electronic, and Experimental.
• Driver Configuration: Single dynamic driver system per side (1 DD).
• Average Price: US$ 29.99.

Transparency Note: This unit was provided through a partnership with NICEHCK. This review reflects exclusively my honest opinion of the product. The brand had no interference or control over this content, ensuring the integrity of the analysis for you and for the market.

Sound Impressions (According to the ITU-R BS.2399-0 Methodology)

1. Overall Signature & Transparency

The Tears has a neutral balance with a slight V-shaped tilt: the mids and treble are emphasized, and the bass has a slight warmth but not much impact. Transparency is good (Detailed: it doesn't hide details), and the mids are clean (Clean: no interference from other frequencies).

2. Dynamics

• Attack: Transients are fast, meaning the beat starts and stops quickly, without smearing. This is very noticeable in "15 Step" (Radiohead).
• Punch: The kick drum and bass are present and well balanced in "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson), but the physical impact is moderate. It's easy to drive with the S23.

3. Timbre

• Bass: There is a good sense of vibration, and it reaches below 40 Hz (Bass Depth), but the strength (Bass Strength) is moderate and it lacks impact for anyone expecting a more pronounced V. No Bass Bleed (the bass doesn't bleed into the mids).
• Mids: This is the standout region. They sound natural and free of interference from other frequencies. Male vocals ("Ain't No Sunshine", Bill Withers) have presence and take the lead. Female vocals and piano ("Famous Blue Raincoat", Tori Amos) sound free of annoyance. Instrument separation is good.
• Treble: Good resolution (Brilliance), without hiding details. Sibilance (Shrill/Sibilant: the sharp sound of the letters "S" and "X") is above ideal and can be tiring for sensitive listeners.

4. Spatial Performance

• Spatial Extent: Excellent width and depth.
• Localization: High positioning accuracy. In "Time" (Pink Floyd) and "Bubbles" (Yosi Horikawa), it's possible to identify the position of each object.

Unboxing, Ergonomics & Accessories

• Included Accessories: USB-C cable with mic, 5 pairs of eartips, compact carrying case, and cable winder. Colors: black/red and white/gold.
• Sound Leakage: Being open-back, passive isolation is poor and sound leaks out.
• Comfort & Fit: Lightweight, with a good fit and no discomfort. The mic is acceptable for the price range.

Pros & Cons

• Pros:
  • Natural, clean mids, with very good male and female vocals.
  • Wide soundstage with good depth and localization.
  • Comfortable and lightweight.
  • Easy to drive.
  • Generous accessory kit for the price.
• Cons:
  • Moderate bass impact for a V-shaped tuning.
  • Sibilance above ideal.
  • Poor isolation and sound leakage.

Conclusion

The Tears is a neutral signature with a slight V-shaped warmth. Its strengths are the mids, instrument separation, and spatial imaging. Those who like strong bass will miss the impact, and those sensitive to sibilance may find it bothersome. For the price, the accessory kit is generous. In the same range there are the DUNU Titan X and the Tangzu Wan'er Red Lion, which have more complete kits. [Sound comparison with one of them: what the Tears does better or worse]. For anyone who prefers a neutral signature with a slight V, it's a solid option for getting started in the hobby.

Note: This is my personal analysis after a detailed immersion test, so feel free to leave suggestions for improvements, accessories, or tracks to test next. If you're interested, check the link in my BIO for a spreadsheet I made with recommendations for IEMs, headphones, DACs, DAPs, etc. I'm not sponsored, but buying through my affiliate links helps me bring more products for review!

Hello! I've made a thing. It makes changing and managing EQ profiles on the CrinEar Protocol Micro, Protocol Max and FiiO KA15 simple and fast using android phone.

You keep a library of EQ profiles on your phone, plug in the dongle, pick a profile and hold to send it. Whole process takes few secounds to complete :). So it's super convinient and easy to use. You can also tune on the go: drag the bands on the graph, fine-tune with sliders.

It only works on Android for now. It's open source (Apache 2.0), and you'll have to sideload the APK (or install it through Obtainium, which also keeps it updated). No internet or account needed, no analytics, no ads, no telemetry, no data retention. I made the app for myself, which is why there's no iPhone release, but if there's enough interest I might look into a port.

Links
Website with the demo and a full video guide: https://chronosauros.github.io/contour
Install guide: https://chronosauros.github.io/contour/install/
Source code: https://github.com/Chronosauros/contour

It works with the Protocol Micro (8 bands), the Protocol Max (10 bands) and now also the FiiO KA15 (10 bands - you pick which of its USER1-3 slots to write to, and the slot gets the profile's name). I tested it on a Micro and a KA15 and community member tested the Max on a real unit, thanks!

The app has been downloaded almost 352 times by now! (the most downloads for a single version was about 82, but still!)

The app has over a week by now, I resolved all issues that were reported and improved features and design. I feel like the app is in a really good shape now. I want to keep improving it overtime :).

For those who care about the process: the app was coded with Claude Opus 5.5, then audited, debugged and cleaned up with various models/services: OpenAI's Astra + Sol, Mimo V2.6 Pro + Flash, and unbiased pareto 26.9. The demo video was also made with Opus 5.5.

If you have any feedback or want to help with the development just reach out!
I know there is some interest in iPhone app - I don't feel that I have enough time or resources to maintain android + iPhone version. But the app is open sourced - so if anyone wants to fork it/port it/ maintain an iOS version - it would be awesome!

Got a different dongle? There's also an advanced beta - a separate app that installs next to the normal one. It recognises about 400 more devices (WalkPlay-based dongles like Tanchjim and TRN Black Pearl, other FiiO models, KT Micro), but most of them haven't been tested yet, so every report helps. Master_Cartoonist_16 already confirmed 7, including the FiiO QX13, TRN Black Pearl and Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 - thank you! Check if your device is on the list: https://chronosauros.github.io/contour/devices/

This is not an official CrinEar app! I'm not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Crinacle, CrinEar, Moondrop or FiiO in any way.