Anew X-One Review – Filet Mignon?
Pros — Holographic listening experience; super build incl. cable.
Cons — Large shells, small selection of included silicone tips.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Anew X-One offer a classic V-shape done well with a robust sound and excellent headroom, staging, resolution, and transparency that provide for a holographic listening experience. The V-shape can be varied with three different tuning modules/chips. The overall temperature is warm on the low end and neutral from the lower midrange up.
INTRODUCTION
The >$300 4 BA + 1 DD X-One is only the second model of Chinese company Anew after the $129 2018 Anew U-One single DD earphone. The U-One was hyped by the notorious Penon in-house shills reviewers but dismissed by Gadget-Oluv as not sounding “right”.
The current Anew X-One includes 3 sets of tuning chips that vary the frequency response above 2 kHz. To give it away, the Anew X-One is a really good earphone, but you have to like its signature. One thing you have to give Anew is that they don’t spread themselves thinly but focus on one thing at a time.
SPECIFICATIONS
Driver unit: 1 DD + 4 BA
Impedance: 20 Ω
Sensitivity: 108 ± 1 dB/mW
Frequency range: 20 – 20,000 Hz
Cable/Connector: MMCX
Tested at: $329
Purchase Link: NiceHCK Store
PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY
The Anew X-One comes in an extra fancy heavy waterproof case that will survive any airplane crash. But on the few days you don’t fly to work, you can carry it in the included grey, roomy, dirt-repellent polyester bag. Also included are the earpieces, 3 sets of tuning chips & extraction tool (in a small case), and four pairs to silicone tips. The tips selection is a bit lean for an earphone of this price imo but the largest tips work for me and were used for testing. The high-purity-silver-plated copper cable is an impressive monstrosity with super sturdy connectors. The headphone jack is serious business. It comes with a chin slider and has zero microphonics.
The earpieces of the Anew X-One are big poppin’ cherries, they are made of aluminium alloy, and they are as sturdy as it gets. I used to compare them to toilet bowls (because of their curvature and white lacquer). Despite their size, they fit well in my ears. The overall haptic and build of the Anew X-One are impeccable. Did I mention an airplane crash before? The tuning chips sit snug in the shells and can be pulled out easily with the included plastic tool. I have done this over and over again and the shells were not scratched. While the shells are comfortable over long periods despite their size and weight, isolation is only soso (with the stock tips used).
Owing to their very low impedance of 20 Ω (at 108 dB/mW), the Anew X-One work well just with a phone. But the ifi Audio nano bl dac/amp really opened the stage up. Although I don’t believe in break-in above a few seconds, I followed the instructions and initially ran the Anew X-One in for ca. 125 hours. Safe is safe.
TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES
My tonal preference and testing practice
Let’s first discuss the three tuning modules of the Anew X-One.
The manufacturer claims…
- Blue module: low frequency gain
- Black module: medium low high frequency moderate
- Red module: high frequency gain
While this does not make entirely sense, it is also not true. But these falsehoods migrated through the blogosphere. Check for yourselves what fantasies have spouted on them. Believing is good, measuring is better: my measurements show that the frequency response with all chips is identical below 2 kHz and that red is tamest towards the high end – the opposite of what is claimed. It is not acceptable that a >$300 earphone is characterized so poorly by the manufacturer.
Analyzing the frequency responses of the Anew X-One generated by the three different tuning chips in detail, yields the following:
The frequency responses are identical below ~2 kHz and above ~8 kHz (measurement error considered)
The differences are between the upper midrange and lower treble, where the human ear is most sensitive
In terms of “hotness”: black > blue > red chip
Although the low end is identical with all tuning modules, the red chip produces the strongest low-end perception. This is because the human ear hears the whole frequency spectrum in context and the upper midrange counteracts the magnitude of perceived bass. This effect has been readily demonstrated, for example, in the JVC HA-FDX1 earphone with its three tuning filters.
The overall sound signature (with all of the three tuning modules) is V-shaped with a strong low end and variations in the midrange (depending on the chip used). It is a bit of an unusual tuning in this price range, but it is done well. The low end is warm, and midrange and treble are more on the neutral side.
I felt sonically most comfortable with the red tuning module as it yielded the most organic and soothing frequency response to my ears. The good thing: you can modify that to your liking with the other two chips. After all, some like it hot.
As to the nitty gritty in sound (red chip; iPhone SE first generation alone or with nano bl dac/amp): yes, the graphs indicate it, there is a healthy low end. Lots of sub-bass rumble, it is omnipresent. First it was a bit much for me, but now I am craving it. That (actually mostly subtle) rumble never interferes with the midrange as it is so low down in the frequency spectrum. The bass itself is not the tightest, not the fastest, and not the most textured or layered. But it is also not rubbery or boomy, and it is never overwhelming. Bass is organic, and I perceived it not as strong as the graphs indicate. I would describe the bass as realistic in terms of speed. Nothing wrong with that.
Lower midrange/vocals presentation is very good and the star of the mix. Sure, vocals are a bit recessed – as would would expect from the measurements – and they are more on the lean side. BUT: voices are natural, well sculptured in 3D and very realistic…which makes them even intimate. I repeat: very realistic vocals reproduction! Temperature is on the neutral side. Deploying the blue and black chips thins the vocals progressively out and makes them pointier and sharper…they may migrate a bit forward but at the expense of richness and note weight (this also reduces perceived bass quantity, but we had this already). The black tuning chip produces harmonics that make the midrange too hot for my ears in the long run – which should not stop you liking that.
Back to the red chip and continuing with the upper midrange: high piano notes have good not weight and are well resolving. The extension into the treble is smooth and there is no drop-off before 10 kHz. Treble is clean, well resolving, and becomes more subtle in the higher regions.
Technicalities of the Anew X-One are impressive. The transitions between the drivers are seamless and the timbre is organic (maybe could be a bit softer in the mids, but I am nitpicking). Staging is superb: big and wide and tall as they say, with a good depth, also…which creates a holographic listening experience. This is supported by great midrange transparency and resolution. The stage is occupied by covid-19-protected musicians as it seems: at least 2 m space between them, and they are sitting well layered. Lots of space on that stage. Overlapping voices are nicely imaged and separated but there can be some congestion when the stage becomes too crowded. Dynamics (punch) is realistic.
VALUE
Where are my $300+ ? Inhowfar are the Anew X-One better than the $150-200 class such as the BQEYZ Spring 1/2, Shozy Rouge/Form 1.4, of the KBEAR TRI I3? Well, it is the imaging and staging that are quite a step up. Yes, the basic flavour is similar to some of your <$100 fare, but the Anew X-One excels much in headroom, 3-dimensionality, resolution, and transparency over the budget models. Much finer dining. In the end, you get three earphones in one and can change the sonic signature whenever you feel like it or your taste has evolved with time. The money is also in the cable and that waterproof case.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The Anew X-One is a very good earphone and worth its money. This review should help the potential buyer to decide whether the tuning is for them: it is V-shaped, pleasant, but not flat, bright, and L-shaped as one would expect in this price category. Yes, the Anew X-One is for the meat and potato guys, but it offers filet mignon and La Bonnotte spuds quality. Bon appetit!
Until next time…keep on listening!
You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.
DISCLAIMER
The Anew X-One was supplied unsolicited by NiceHCK Audio Store – and I thank them for that.
Get it from NiceHCK Audio Store!
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You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.
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